sayd se hym come y t beteth all downe before hym He is a grete fole that gooth agaynst hym his spere spareth no man but y t he hurteth hym or felleth hym Sydoyne sawe well that the ladyes all other preysed him she sayd no worde but kepte her selfe close that no man sholde apperceyue that she had more Ioye of hym than of another how moche that her herte hadde all maner of Ioye Ryght well Iusted the duke of Of trytche and he of Loreyne the erle of Sauoye the erle of mountbelyart many other but it were to longe to tell And all the good Iusters on the monday and on the tewesdaye were ryght worshypfully feested At y e souper on the tewesdaye the feest was grete and large they gaue the pryce on the mondaye of the vtter partye to the erle of mountbelyart ryght a good knyght and he had the gyrdell and the Gypsere of Sydoyne bycause that she was chosen for the fayrest of the feest The pryce of without on the tewesdaye was yeuen to the duke of Ostryche Soo hadde he the sparohawke with the ryche loynes and the chapelet of Sydoyne Ponthus hadde the pryce on mondaye as of within And he wolde that the pryce vpon tewesdaye within sholde haue ben gyuen vnto the lorde de la Roche the whiche hadde beste Iusted of all the other saue oonly Ponthus the whiche no man myght come nere by fer The ladyes sente a rynge with a greate Rubye vnto Ponthus And an ouche ryghte ryche vnto Bernarde lorde de la Roche Heraude mynstrelles ledde grete Ioye and grete noyse After souper they carolled and daunsed sange songes tyll mydnyght than they dranke and ete spyces And after that the straungers toke theyr leue of the kynge and of Sydoyne and of the grete ladyes And they departed on wednesdaye by tymes whan they had herde masse Ponthus conueyed thē to y e castell of gyron where he had ordeyned them a dyner after dyner he wolde haue conueyed theym ferther but the lordes wolde not suffre hym yet he offered hymselfe ryght moche vnto theym so they toke theyr leue that one of that other The lordes bothe grete small they praysed moche Ponthus of his good felawshyp of his good chere that trewly he was the goodlyest knyght the best and the moost gracyous of the worlde at theyr aduyse that there was none lyke hym and also they praysed moche Sydyone of her beaute of her curtesye and that he that sholde haue her sholde be well eurous And Ponthus tourned agayne to the kynge and to the ladyes After dyner the ladyes and the knyghtes of Brytayne toke theyr leue of the kynge of his doughter The kynge and his doughter came syngynge sportynge theym towarde syclynere On a tyme Sydoyne Ponthus spake togyder So sayd Sydoyne vnto Ponthus ye haue hyde you longe tyme from vs I meruaylled moche that I herde none other tydynges frome you Madame sayd he I sent you euery weke a messanger Ye saye trouth swete frende sayd she ye sente me the moost notable messangers that myght be founde Neuertheles it wolde haue done me grete pleasure to haue wyst who had sente them syth that they came from you for euery man sayd ye were in hungary And also I meruaylled moche that ye dyde me none otherwyse to wete of your goynge awaye therfore myne herte was in ryght grete disease A madame he sayd I was here nyghe you that were in my herte in my thought and all y t euer I dyde I thought to do it for your loue for to encrease your good renowne for I wyst well that ye sholde be chosen for the fayrest of Brytayne so I haue done soo moche that the best knyghtes that men knowe of eche countre be come for to se you and to put them in your mercy But for all that madame in good fayth it was not I that dyde it it was ye madame wherfore I thanke you for the power and the hardynesse ye gaue me for of my selfe I durste not haue vndertake it Ponthus sayd she I wote well that this goodnes and worshyp cometh to you frome god and frome none other but that is for that ye loue god and drede he hath gyuen you the grace and the hardynesse and the strength soo ye ought for to thanke hym hyghly Madame he sayd so do I but I thynke well that the enterpryse came frome you Now Ponthus sayd she leue we this talkynge for in good fayth y e gretest Ioye myn herte may haue is for to here good tydynges of you as longe as I fynde you trewe for the worshyp of me of my lord madame said he of that be ye certayne for I haue leuer to be deed than thynke other wyse by my fayth Upon this talkynge arryued Guenelet one of y e .xiiii. felawes ¶ How Ponthus was accused to the kynge by Guenellet y t was amerous of Sydoyne his doughter THis Guenellet was ryght enuyous a fayre speker and a grete flaterer Soo had he grete enuy at his mayster and had so grete sorowe that ony sholde be more mayster in the courte than he Soo sawe the kȳge was olde aged and he thought that by fayre speche and flaterynge he wolde be mayster he thought to put out and estraunge his mayster whiche was the preuyest w t y e kȳge to doo hym treason So he sawe the kynge alone in the wood where as he hunted and sayd vnto hym I shall tell you a grete counseyll so that ye wyll swere vpon kynges wordes that ye shall not dyscure me I shall swere it to you sayd the kynge whiche was all good and true mystrusted hym in no thynge My ryght dredefull lorde sayd Guenellet ye haue nourysshed me and made me and all the good that I haue is of your well doynge therfore oughte I for to haue you better than other fader and moder or all the worlde soo maye not my herte suffre your domage nor dysworshyp therfore wyll I tell you a thynge whiche toucheth gretely agaynst your worshyp How moche that I loue Pōthus more than ony man saue onely you So wolde I suffre no thynge that sholde be ayenst your worshyp Syr it is thus that Ponthus loueth my lady your doughter therfore be ye well aduertysed for he is a ryght good knyght Soo I haue doubte that some foly loue may fall bytwene them wherof she ye myght haue grete shame and dyshonour A sayd the kynge Guenellet I se well that ye loue me ryght well and that ye wolde not be glad of my dysworshyp soo am I ryght moche beholdynge to you for euer more I thanke you gretely And thus thanked hym the kynge as he y t wende that he had sayd trouth And sayd Guenellet ye ought not to thanke me for I holde me so moche boūde vnto you that there is no thynge y t ony
¶ How Broadas sone to the Soudan toke Croyne and slewe the kynge Tyber SO befell it as fortune iâ— wolde one of the thre sones came as y e wynde brought his nauy by grete tourment that he passed besyde Croyne in galyce and there he came vp So toke he the londe in a balyngere and toke of the men aboute the ryuage And whan he had taken them he asked of them who was lorde of that countre And they answered sayd that it was the reaâ—me of Galyce and that kynge Tyber was kynge therof Than asked the Sowdans sone what lawe they helde And they answered sayd the lawe of Ihesu cryst ThaÌ„ made he to withdrawe his nauy so as he wolde haue withdrawen hym fro the realme from the countre toke twelue shyppes and made theym to be ledde to the porte of the towne of Croyne charged them that they sholde make them marchauntes of swetâ— gommes of spycery and of clothes of golde and of sylke And than they sholde at euen go lye in the towne in theyr hauâ—ergeons vnder theyr gownes and aboute the poynt of the daye they sholde go vpon the walles of the gate towarde the see And that they sholde geâ—e the gate the walles and that they sholde helpe them to scale to come vp in to the towne And so as he had deuysed it was done So came the twelue vesselles made them marchauÌ„tes and solde spycery clothes of damaske solde grete chepe ynough And sythen the marchauntes lodged in the towne as nyghe the gate as they myght And dyde make redy ryght good mete made theyr hoost to soupe with them whiche thought none euyll nor no gyle whan they had well sported them they wente to rest had take theyr poyntment 〈…〉 poynt of daye vpon the gate and deuysed theyr ordynaunce And whan tyme came they wente vpon the walles and at the same tyme the Soudanes sone whiche was named Broadas the fyrst sone of theym came to the fote of the wall with a grete nombre of ladders so wente vpon hyghe And they aboue the wall drewe theym vp soo many that with in a lytell whyle there were vpon the walles more than a thousande and gate the gate and the towne without ony gayn saynge and dyde there moche harme And syth assayled y e castell and there in was the kynge Tyber and hym they toke by strengthe and y e kynge defended hym as moche as he myght ryght vygorously and he wolde neuer yelde hym and so longe he defended hym that he was deed and slayne and that was ryght moche harme and the quene tho wente out by a posterne had but a mantell wrapped aboute her and went in to deserte And an olde preest toke the kynges sone .xiii. chyldren more with hym wihche he taught and wente out and ledde theym all and hydde theym in an olde roche besyde a gardyne and there were they two dayes without mete or drynke the olde preest whiche was called syr Denys had so grete drede whan y e chyldren wolde go out of y e caue he came tofore them and sayd vnto theym goo not out yf ye wyll not dye and so he withhelde theym two dayes but at the thyrde daye Ponthus sayd to hym mayster better it is to dyâ— with swerde than to be enfamyned and to dye for hunger for thenne sholde we be cause of oure dethe homysydes of our selfe by auenture we sholde mowe fynde some remedy The preest sayd that he had moche leuer to dye of hunger than to fâ—ll in the daunger of theyr enemyes handes and trembled for drede and by strengthe Ponthus steâ—te out of the caue he his cosyn germayne Polydes and were apperceyued and ledde to the kynge Broadas whiche than named hym to be cleped kynge of the countre And whan the kynge sawe these .xiii. chyldren whiche were meruaylous fayre he asked what children they were And ponthus answered and said y t they were chyldren whiche y e kyÌ„ge made to be nourysshed for goddes loue for to serue hym whaÌ„ they were of greter age And of what seruyse sayd Broadas Syr sayd Ponthus that one sholde haue gouerned his grehoundes and the kyÌ„ges 〈◊〉 houndes And that other the gosshawkes 〈…〉 hawkes of the towre and the other of nedes in the hall and in the chambres O sayd the kynge clothed he his seruynge people so worthely as ye be clothed ye seme to be grete lordes sones after the estate I se you in Syr sayd Ponthus we be but vauasoures and of small gentylmen comen By mahowne I wote not what ye be but of beaute ne of well spekynge haue ye not fayled but it behoueth that ye leue your lawe whiche is no thynge worth take mahownes lawe And I shall do you moche good And yf ye wyll not do it I shall make you to dye a myscheuous dethe now chuse whiche that ye wyll Sothely sayd Ponthus of the dethe mowe ye well ordeyne to your pleasynge but for to forsake our lawe for to take mahownes ne shall we neuer do for to dye therfore No sayd the kynge to the dethe be ye thenne come so sayd he that they sholde dye an euyll dethe ¶ How a crysten knyght saued .xiiii. chyldren that is for to wete Ponthus and his thyrtene folowes in a shyppe vpon the see THan sterte forth a crysten knyght whiche had take mahounes lawe for drede of deth had alwaye his herte to Ihesu cryst the whiche knyght y e kynge loued ryght moche and sayd Syr I take the charge vpon me to delyuer you yf they wyl not byleue in mahoune I shall ordeyne for them in suche maner that neuer shall they hurte youre lawe I praye you sayd the kynge bethynke you And I take theym you to gouerne Than went Ponthus the other to haue be deed but god remedyed theym the knyght ledde them to his place made them strongly aferde afore the kynge And whaÌ„ he was at his place he made his folkes to withdrawe them and than asked of theym for to assaye them in this wyse ye must byleue in mahoumet or ye be but deed And they answered sayd they sholde neuer byleue vpon hym to dye therfore And whan he sawe theym swere he had ryght grete Ioye asked them yf they had ete ony mete that daye and than he made them to ete drynke for they had grete hunger A sayd one of theym wherfore ete we syth that we shall go to the deth Do waye quod Ponthus by the grace of god we shall lyue yf it be to his pleasynge we shall hope in him he shall saue vs. Soo ete they prayed our lorde to haue mercy vpon them The knyght herde what Ponthus sayd praysed hym ryghte moche and sayd in his herte that it sholde be grete pyte yf suche chyldren sholde dye for they were meruayllous fayre fayre spekynge Soo departed he fro
to neyghboures by all the countre that is to wete vpon normandye to the vycounte of auerenches to rhe erle of Mortayne and to paynel and in to Mayne to the vycounte du lieu to the lorde de la vale de doucelles of Sygle also to the coūtesse of Anioye for the erle was deed her sone was but .x. yere olde And there was wrytē to payne of chateau Goutyer to Guyllam de roches to Bertram de donne to Androwe de la toure in to poytowe was wryten to the erle of poytyers he was departed to goo to Rome also there was wrytē to Geffrey de lesygnen to leoncel de manleon to Henry de la marche Soo were they chosen for the best knyghtes in that countree and the kynge of Brytayne prayed theym that eche of theym sholde do all the good knyghtes and squyers to wete therof that they knewe in these countrees and that wrote so hastely y t he myght not wryte to all Eueryche of them that these letters were wryten vnto wrote to all them y t they thought wolde arme them eueryche of them wyste that the sarasyns wolde gete brytayne the crystyente all maner folkes came drawȳge downe to y e nede eueryche in the best wyse that they myght soo many y t within the .xv. daye there was of all coūtrees neyghbours ryght moche folke the barons were all redy the assemble was made at vennes the kynge made theym grete chere dyde them grete worshyp So departed they to go towarde breste where y e hoost of sarasynes were whiche pylled the countre set it at destruccyon But than were there gone foure thousande for to see the hoost and they doubted to haue a batayle men approched vnto quypercorentyne there the kynge Ponthus the barons ordeyned theyr bataylles The kynge had a batayll partye of his barons for y t he was olde there was take to gouerne hym the vycounte de lyon the lorde of clymaux of y e brytons brytonauntes And of Galos Guy de vetre Rowlande de dueil Rogier de ronge and y e other batayll was take vnto Ponthus to Herlāt to gouerne Of y e normannes y e erle of Mortayne the vycounte of Auerenches the gouernaunce the erle of Mans gouerned the mansaus of the gree of barons and knyghtes of anioye Guyllam de roches Androwe de la toure and the lorde of donne were ordeyned to gouerne the herupoys that be the aungeuynes And the poyteuynes were gouerned by Geffrey de lesignen the erle of manleon The normannes were nombred .xi. hondred the manseaus .ix. hondred the aungeuynes .x. hondred the poyteuynes two hondred and the brytons foure thousande and of the normannes and the manseaus were one batayll and of the poyteuynes and the Torengeaulx that other batayle for of Touraine there was Bansaye maille la haie Amboise And so made they foure grete bataylles wherof Ponthus and Harlant made the vāwarde for the kynge Sythen the erle of Mans and he of Mortayne the aungeuynes the poyteuynes made the rerewarde So rode they towarde theyr enemyes and laye vpon the felde ordeyned the halfe dele amonge theym to watche and the other halfe dele to slepe And aboute mydde nyght they had a grete fraye for Reynault de sully and Aygret de poully with well a thre hondred sheldes come drawynge downe to the nedes the whiche men knewe than whan men knewe them they made of theym ryght grete Ioye So put they theym with theyr wyll with the aungeuynes And the kynge sayd vnto them to Bertram de dōne to Androwe de la toure fayre lordes god bethanked there is moche folke of vs of grete worthynes our refuge our dongeon is in you in your handes So ye come without that ye were desyred in good ordynaunce assemble not tyll ye se we haue grete nede of you Ponthus Harlant the senesshall ordeyned the barons Ponthus sayd vnto y e kynge and the lordes My lordes yf ye wyll leue me I counseyll that we goo vpon them tofore daye or aboute the poynt of daye and or they be armed or theyr horses sadled and or that they be sette in ordynaunce they shall be halfe dyscomfyted for they holde theym soo grete folke that they doubte no man And therfore me semeth that it shall be so done that they shall be the easelyer dyscomfyted Sothely sayd the kynge all the barons this coūseyll is good Now take we our horses for it is tyme. Than euery man armed hym and lepte vpon theyr horses And the weder was styll and fayre the mone shone ryght clere So rode they towarde y e hoost of y e sarasynes whiche were towarde preste in theyr pauylyon had taken theyr counseyl y t syth they were not fought with y t they wolde ouer ryde brytayne lede w t theym engynes ladders for to assayle townes castelles they doubted not to haue batayle made no watche ne none awayte to tell of but helde them as folkes assured for y e grete nombre y t were of them Now befell that the bataylles approched so nygh y t they sawe the sarasyns whiche y t occupyed wel two myle There were many pauylyons of many dyuers coloures ¶ How Ponthus y t had the fyrst batayle recomforted his felawes how bernarde de doe landry de la tour Guyllyam de roches socoured Ponthus his folke THan Ponthus whiche ledde the fyrst batayll sawe them sayd to his folke Se here the enemyes of our fayth whiche wyll dissheryte vs we be in the seruyce of god almyghty wherfore no man ought to haue doubte that one of vs ne is worth an hondred of them I pray you of two thynges that one to trust all in god for by his myght ye shall come aboue them That other that ye take none hede to no pyllynge to no couetyse but go to dyscomfyte them put theym out of this countre for y e honour of our lawe for the pyte of the comyn people whiche dwell out of the fortresses haue so moche trauayll for the goodes and y e profytes wherby we lyue And for that we be ordeyned for to defende the chyrche theym And whan he had sayd all vnto theym that he wolde he sayd Now forth my frendes thynke euery man for to do well Than euery man toke herte vnto them smote theyr horses with the spores towarde the tentes made a grete crye smote downe tentes and pauylyons to slee turkes some sterted out naked and wende to haue armed them the other fledde fro pauylyon to pauylyon So was there on theyr syde grete hewȳge and grete crye on all partyes and the daye began to appere and wexed clere Brytons slewe all that they myght holde y e other put a fyre in the lodges in suche
wyse that it was all clere Kynge Karados was all afrayed made his trumpes and his trumpettes to blowe anone euery man armed them lepte vpon his hors that myght So were they all ouertaken for on all parties men ranne vpon them surely but there were soo grete nombre of theym wherfore or men myght haue conquered the thyrde parte of his hoost that other were on horsbacke armed and assembled them by grete flockes vpon a grete playne with ryght a grete batayll with his folkes well armed eche helde theym in ordynaunce with the chyeftene for it was come to the nede Than sholde ye haue sene the sarasynes enbatayll them in grete maner alwayes they were ouertake in suche wyse that they were more than .vii. thousande deed that was aboute the fourth parte of theyr folke all had well nyghe fledde And kynge Karados whiche was of grete courage of that that he was on horsbacke toke his baner in his honde for to make his folke to come agayne they herde his voyce his crye so gaue he hardynes to the moost cowarde of theym And aboute the sonne rysynge was there grete hewynge and grete crye for at that tyme the thre bataylles of our folke were assembled vpon the sarasyns there was a ryght pyteous stoure of our folke whiche set fyre in theyr lodges and slewe theym Kynge Karados rayled a batayll of well a seuen thousande turkes and wolde haue come to smyte vpon the syde of y e batayll of our folke whiche had moche to do and so moche that they wente abacke And than sayd Androwe de la toure Bertram de donne Guyllam de roches Lordes it is tyme to departe se our folkes whiche lese theyr places and also beholde a grete batayle whiche cometh to smyte vpon them abyde we not tyll that they smyte for that sholde be peryll Thā dressed he his spere vpon his thyghe and wente renged ayenst the kynge Karados ¶ How Ponthus helped the kynge of brytayne that was ouerthrowen had hym out of the prees ¶ How Ponthus helped the kynge of brytayne that was ouerthrowen and had hym out of the prees ANd whan he sawe theym come he tourned to themwarde made hym redy afore for to go gyue theym strokes with his spere and his cosyn germayne Broalys whiche was a good knyght wente to smyte Bertram de donne Androwe de la toure The kynge bette downe Bertram Androwe bette downe Broalys toke his hors gaue it to Bertram de donne he sayd vnto hym felowe that is not the fyrst seruyce ye haue done me The sarasynes assembled aboute Karados there were many fayre Iustes bytwene two batayles Guyllam de roches Geffrey de lesygnen eche of thē bete downe his but I knewe not theyr names Than assembled they on all parties There was grete frusshynge of speres many folkes ouerthrowen that had no power to releue themselfe than set they theyr handes to theyr bryght swerdes of stele there was grete noyse of the dede and of them that were hurte On that other partye y e kynge of brytayne faught whiche was fallen of his horse in the batayle and was ryghte sore brused but that Ponthus came vpon hym of auenture whan he sawe the kȳge on the erth his hors aboue his body it nedeth not to aske yf he was ryght sory and heuy And wete well that he was in waye to be deed ne had be Royart deronge Mountfort and the lorde of Clymaus these thre amonge other susteyned the grete dede suffred moche But Ponthus set his body in auenture to rescue his lorde sette his hande on his swerde smote on the ryght honde on the left sleynge men hors and dyde dedes of armes so y t all meruaylled of hym gretly so moche he dyde that all fleldde with his strokes In lytell whyle he departed the grete prees with the helpe of Harlant the senesshall and his cosyn germayne Polydes these two felawes sewed hym what partye that euer he wente And Ponthus dyde so moche of armes that he rescowed the kynge alyght to helpe hym vp agayne The kynges ryght arme was broken ryght euyll ledde for he was ryght olde and brused for he was of an hondred yere of age more but he had ben a ryght good knyght and of grete courage on horsebacke was he set maugre his enemyes Whan Ponthus apperceyued that his arme was broken So sente they him out of the batayll wolde he or not was withdrawen And the batayll was ryght cruell on that one syde on that other And Ponthus behelde that the batayll on the best syde had moche a do where the erle of Dongres was Gautyer de rays Bernarde de la roche Geffrey dauncemys Bryaunt de quynten Mountfort many other barons of brytayne whiche were ouerthrowen were in grete auenture to be deed or taken For ayenst one bryton was .x of the sarasynes but aboue all set he hym in grete defence Bernarde de la roche Than sayd Ponthus se our folke whiche haue grete nede of helpe go we and rescue them than smote they the hors with the spores theyr swerdes in theyr handes came so styffely that they frusshed all tofore them And Ponthus wente tofore them sleynge all that euer he smote bette and slewe and maymed folke soo moche that the hardyest made hym waye So dyde they so moche within a lytell whyle that they recouered our folke put the sarasynes to flyght wolde they or not And made them to resorte agayne in to the grete batayle whiche was ryghte greuous and peryllous for the grete nombre of paynyms the whiche smote vpon the crysten mennes helmes Kynge Karados helde with grete dystres the erle of Mans and the lorde of Craon and had ouerthrowen them and many of the manceaus and herupoys as Hamelyn de sylle Geruays de la porte Thy bault de matheselon Peter de doncelles Sauary de la hay Gerarde de chateau goutyer Guyllam de roches Geffrey de lesygnen and Leoncel But they defended them on fote were assembled whiche auayled them moche Androwe de la toure and Bertram de donne sette grete payne for to recouer theym but there was soo grete prees of sarasynes and soo grete a folke that vnnethes myght they come to them tyll that Guyllam de roches sawe Ponthus whiche that made the renges to shake with the helpe that sewed hym Syr it is nede se yonder a grete partye of our barons the whiche ben on fote Than smote they on that syde and brake the prees in suche wyse that they recouered the erle and theym the whiche hadde nede and ryght soone they were on horsbacke agayne And thā the batayll began ryght cruell for at that tyme there was none that wolde besene a cowarde Grete crye grete hewynge there was on euery partye And kȳge Karados dyde
grete and meruayllous dedes of armes he and Broalys and Corbatan his vncle Tho were the thre knyghtes of all the sarasyns whiche susteyned most theyr folke makynge the grete stoures the grete dedes of armes whiche most releued agayne in theyr grete nede ¶ How the kynge Karados was dyscomfyted by Ponthus and his folke POnthus behelde the kynge whiche dyde ryght grete dedes of armes sawe hym ryght rychely armed with perles precyous stones and vpō his helme a ryche crowne of golde and slewe many of the crysten people and had ouerthrowen Guyllam de roches slayne Guyllam de dygnan and bette downe many knyghtes woūded Than said he to Androwe fayre lorde what an aduersary haue we of that kynge of his two knyghtes whiche be besyde hym yf they dure longe they wyll doo vnto vs moche harme And yf these thre myght be sette on fote or to the deth it semeth me that we sholde haue y e hyghe hande of them Syr sayd Androwe de la toure goo to that one we shall go to the other two Than sayd Ponthus I shal go to y e kȳge put me in auenture of all his strength And he wente forth gaue the kynge so grete a stroke that he bette hym downe of his horse to y e erth and at the fallynge he brake his canell bone And Androwe bette downe Broalys smote of his ryght arme that he dyed withall And Harlant the seneshall smote Corbatan agayne so felony that he bette him downe and whan these thre were defowled it nedeth not to aske yf they sarasynes were abasshed for y e dyscomfyture was there ryght grete all theyr power was fallen and they dwelled as shepe wtout shepeherde Than toke they theym to dyscomfyture and to lese londe And than our cresten folke toke boldnes vpon theym and to haue the crye of them so slewe they many of them from thens forth The kynge myght vnnethes releue agayne so slewe hym one that bare the lyon that was Reynault de vytre or deglysson I wote neuer The sarasynes wyst not where to flee or to hyde them On y e coost towarde the nauy was a ryght grete stoure of sarasynes whiche wyste not yet of the deth of theyr kȳge and hadde bette downe Bausaye mayle Geruays daner the mount Iohn̄ payne de rochefort there helde they strayghtly our folke But whan they sawe theyr folke slayne they meruaylled moche and whan our folke w t whome they fought sawe them affrayed they toke herte to them ranne vpō them And also there came to rescowes Geffrey de lesygnen leoncel the herupoys and brytons soo many that they made them to leue the place there was grete slaughter of paynymes and of sarasynes ¶ How the sarasynes were ouercomen drowned POnthus dyde meruayllous dedes of armes for he slewe folke also hors all that he toke with the stroke was deed defouled or beten doune his shelde was to all presented he departed the grete strokes with his bryght swerde So Ioyned there theym togyder Geffrey de lesygnen Androwe leoncel Guyllam de roches Bernarde la roche Harlant the seneshall And whan they were assembled togyder they dyde meruayllous dedes of armes for there where they sawe y e grete prees they bette in and broke in amonge theym and made theym to make waye who that euer it happed w t theyr good swerdes of stele none ne durste abyde theym And Ponthus whiche dyde meruayllous dedes of armes was knowen by the strokes whiche he departed on the ryght syde and on the lefte So cryed he vnto them they be dyscomfyted the paynymes whiche were as bestes without shepherde for theyr kynge and theyr capytaynes were tho deed so coude they take no good counseyll ne sette noo remedy in them so they lete themselfe be to all hewen Soo was there within a lytell whyle suche slaughter that all the feldes were strawed with deed men and with maymed they fledde towarde the nauy drowned them in the water and our folke pursewed theym made them to be drowned perysshed Ponthus toke a lytell vessell slewe well a .xxx. whiche hasted them for to saue theym toke foure all on lyue and asked theym where the tresour the ryches of y e kynge was And they shewed hym a fayre shyppe than he sayd lede me thyder or ye shall dye they ledde hym thyder And Ponthus his cosyn germayne Polydes seuen of his felawshyp sterte in to the shyppe slewe caste out all that they founde therin in to the water So loked they the cofers where as the kynges golde was and his syluer fayre felowes kepe me this vessel sayd Ponthus to his seuen felowes I wyll see yet yf there be ony yet that wyll lyfte vp the heed ayenst vs. Than lepte he out of the shyppe and come to the londe by a vessell but there was none that defended hym but all were slayne or drowned Brytons herupoys Torengeaus Manseaus pooteuynes and normans ranne in to the shyppes and in to the vesselles and the other serched the tentes and the pauylyons and there was none so poore but that he had ynoughe and that one more than that other Men serched the feldes eueryche for his frendes And they founde the vycount of Auerences deed And Ihon̄ paynell Turnebeef and the lorde of villyers so made the normans grete sorowe for they were good knyghtes And what of the Manseaus Hongres de beaumount Margeron and y e lordes of doncelles And Amaulry de sylly Of the herupois Gassos de mountereul Rowlande de chenulle Endes de penaunces and Fresylde la hay Of poyteuynes Gautyer de chateau neuf Androwe de montagu and Hubault de la forest And other brytons Peter de duel Raoul le reis Iohn̄ dauauger hardy de leon Huberte de dygnan Godfrey de roham Aubrey de rays and many other good knyghtes eueryche made theyr frendes for too be borne in to theyr coūtre and the hurte for to be kepte Ponthus made the grete shyppe and the grete tresoure for to come vnto his place at vennes And he departed grete foyson vnto good knyghtes and vnto the good folke of armes soo largely that he was ryght hyghly praysed and alowed therfore The kynge was withdrawen agayne to quypercorentyne there assembled al y e grete lordes The kynge feested the straungers and gaue them grete gyftes after that euery mā was of degre And than he sayd vnto theym lordes ye be come gramercy vnto you in to goddes seruyce in to the seruyce of the holy chyrche and of the poore people And by the grace of the hyghe lorde and by your grete prowesses and hardynes ye haue delyuered this countree of mysbyleuers whiche wolde haue dystroyed our holy lawe And it is sothe that his purneyaunce hath gyuen you this holy gyfte and this grace for ayenst one of you there was syxe of them So
well that he sholde not mowe haue it he sayd vnto hym Mayster gyue me the horse that Sydoyne gaue you Sothely sayd Ponthus that wyll I not gyue but go in to the stable take whiche that lyeth you for there be ynoughe fayrer than he Sothely sayd he I wyll haue none other yf I haue not hym ye may not haue it sayd Ponthus O sayd Guenellet refufe ye to gyue me an hors I ought lytell to trust in your good dedes O sayd Ponthus suffyseth it not you for to take or to chose amonge all my horses yf ye haue not ynough of one take two at your owne choyse Guenelet passed forth made hym ryght heuy and sayd in his herte I wote well I shall not haue it but it shall be well dere bought yf I lyue longe Soo thought he malyce and thought fyrst to hynder hym to Sydoyne so went he to go speke to a gentylwoman whiche was one of Sydoynes maydens sayd vnto her that he loued her ryght moche that he wolde saye her a grete couÌ„seyll but that she sholde swere vpon holy euangyles that she sholde not dyscure hym And she swore vnto hym A sayd he I loue well the kynge his doughter my lady and her worshyp as he whiche hath nourysshed me therfore I wolde holde no thynge whiche were ayenst them Wete it well quod he that Ponthus my mayster hath made my lady and yours byleue that he loueth her more than ony other woman of the worlde but wete it well y t he dodth begyle her for I am well apperceyued y t he loueth another more than her y t is foly to sette her herre so on fledde folke And it is sayd often tymes who that wolde haue grace ouer all this worlde many tymes ben deyceyued and therfore it is good that she take hede betymes A sayd the gentylwoman I had wende that he had ben the trewest y t was lyuynge and alwayes I am syker that he besoughte my lady neuer but of honoure and of goodnesse I byleue it well sayd he but all that shyneth is not golde The gentyl woman wende that he had sayd trewe wente vnto her lady and made her to swere that she sholde not dysâ—ure her and that she sholde make no semblaunt of that she sholde saye vnto her And syth she sayd her as it was done her to vnderstande that Ponthus loued another more than her all the maner And whan Sydoyne hadde herde her It nedeth not to aske yf she had grete sorowe in her herte what semblaunte that euer she made but there ne shewed she none outwarde as she was ryght wyse And it befell that Ponthus came to se her as he was wonte to do of custome made tho gladde chere Sydoyne was mornynge pensyfe made hym but lytel chere And Ponthus was ameruayled came to Elyos her gentylwoman asked her what her ayled sothly she sayd I wote neuer but it was wel a two dayes agone that she was not so glad as she was wente to be And Ponthus drewe agayne vnto her and sayd Madame what chere â–ª make ye me haue ye ony mysease is there ony thynge lyuynge that I myght set remedy therto A sayd she no man woteth now a dayes in whome he may trust to the worlde is so ryght meruayllous and straunge for to knowe Than sayd Ponthus vnto her A Madame for goddes mercy tell me wherfore that ye saye these wordes is there ony body whiche hathe mysdone ayenst you Naye she sayd but so moche I saye you therwithall she departed wente in to her chambre ryght sory ryght pensyfe Ponthus myght gete none other â—hynge of her ne haue no good chere as he was wonte so apperceyued he that he was hyndred to her by flaterynge And he sette hym in way to haue wyst more but that was for nought for more ne wyste he not at that tyme. That nyght was he ryght sory pensyfe without slepe sayd wery sorowfull wretche what haue I sayd or what haue I done who hathe hyndred me to my lady Alas what is he or she that wyll slee me or murthre me vntruly without ony deseruynge where ben they y t wolde benymme me al my worldly Ioy make me nyght day to langour sorowfully Thus complayned hym Ponthus yf he hadde sorowe Sydoyne had no lesse than he sayd in herselfe Alas who sholde euer trust ony man I haue be well dysceyued for I thought that he had ben the trewest aboue all knyghtes how hath nature fayled to forgete to sette in the gracyousest the best holden of honoure of courtesye of worthynesse of larges of all good maners faylynge no thynge but trouthe How forgate she to sette that in hym that was pyte harme Soo sorowed the fayre Sydoyne and by this waye had vntrouth I set trouble bytwene them two and the two louers were tho in grete sorowe by suche flaterynge Ponthus whiche had slepte lytell rested hym rose vp erly and wente for to here masse and after that he sente to seke Elyos the whiche he loued moche for that that he wyste his lady loued her moche and y t she wyste all the pryuete of her lady A he sayd Elyos my swete loue moche haue I meruayled of y â— that my lady sayd vnto me in suche wyse I thynke I neuer shall haue Ioye A syr she sayd ye ought not to do so for I thynke that my lady ne dyde it not but for to assaye you or that there be some euyll reportes whiche shall be fouÌ„de lesynges So se I nought wherfore ye ought to take suche dyscomforte A quod he my loue I wote not what to thynke but I shall go out a lytell and I shall not come agayne tyll I that I knowe y t my comynge please her So ne sayd he no more at that tyme he drewe hym agayne to his chambre and called a squyer vnto hym whiche was named Gerarde Gerarde he sayd make you and two yemen myne horse and myne harueys pryuely redy for two houres tofore daye I wyll goo oute a lytell where I shall be nyghe one yere So leue I Harlant y e seneshal my lyeutenaunt for he is a true man and a good knyghte Than came he to the kynge and sayd vnto hym that he wolde go out a lytell And the kynge sayd vnto hym Ryght swete frende go not ferre but that I may se you oftentymes for in you is all my Ioye and the sustynaunce of all my lyfe and the gouernauÌ„ce of my realme My lorde he sayd I thynke not to tary nor to go in place y t yf I wote y t ye haue ony thyÌ„ge to doo w t me that toucheth your worshyp that I ne shall come to you afore all other Alwaye y e kynge sette grete payne for to let his goynge but he myght not in no wyse So toke he his leue of y e kynge pryuely
not for fere that he hadde that I sholde haue be wrothe with hym he wolde not haue lefte the countre It was vnto me grete foly for to put in doubte that his swete herte sholde not haue be trewer than ony other than she wepte and sorowed in her herte for very fere that she sholde haue loste hym soo she sorowed daye nyght There were many grete complayntes in the courte for the goynge awaye of Ponthus The kynge was heuy and myght haue no reste and oftentymes wysshed after hym and so dyde his cosyn germayne and all his felowes and all maner of people bothe grete and small and the courte was in grete heuynes for hym It was but lytell whyle after that Bernarde de la Roche came vnto courte and asked fayre Sydoyne sayenge that he was her prysoner the kynge sente for her and she came with a grete foyson of ladyes and of gentylwomen and theyr assembled knyghtes and all maner of people bothe grete and small to here the lorde la roche Bernarde And whā she was come downe in to the hall tho Bernarde kneled doune to her spake on hyghe y t al men myght here hȳ sayd Madame to you sendeth me y e blacke knyght w t the whyte teres the whiche by his worthynesse hath cōquered me in armes bad me y t I sholde yelde me prysoner to y e fayrest gentylwoman of this realme So haue I enquyred of all the knyghtes squyers y t were there whiche was the fayrest they all helde them to one voyce to you So yelde I me to you in to your pryson as your knyght ye to haue power to doo as of your owne yet he bad me y t I sholde salewe you from hȳ Sydoyne wexed reed was asshamed by cause y e men helde her y e fayrest Trewly sayd she I thanke them all but they haue symply aduysed me And I thanke the knyghte y t sent you hyder but tel me yf ye wote fro whens he is Truly said he madame nay O sayd y e kȳge may no man knowe what he is truly no sayd Bernarde but so moche I say you he is the goodlyest knyght armed y t euer I sawe the best can smyte bothe w t spere w t swerde And me semeth y t he is somwhat more thā was Ponthus he is moche lyke hȳ but it is not he for men say y t he is in y e realme of poulayne or in hūgary at y e warres whiche ben there There was moche spekȳge of y e blacke knight how y t he sholde y e nexte tuesdaye fyght w t Geffrey de lesygnen w t Androwe de la toure on y e other tuesday than after y t w t y e Erle of mortayne The kȳge all y e ladyes made grete chere vnto y e lorde de la roche they dyde ete all togyder in the hall w t the kȳge at mete Sydoyne bourded w t Bernarde and sayd tho vnto him lorde de la roche I am ryght Ioyfull to haue suche a prysoner as ye be So ye ought to haue grete doubte of the prysonynge that ye shall haue to suffre And Bernarde began for to smyle said Madame yf ye shewe me none harder prysonȳge thā this is I shal suffre it wel And wete it well as I thȳke or this yere be passed ye shal haue more largely and so shall I not be allone After dyner began the daunces and the karolles but Sydoyne daūced but a lytell and yet wolde she haue daunced lesse ne had ben for fere y e men sholde haue perceyued her sorowe ¶ How Ponthus conquered Geffrey de Lelygnen and sente hym vnto Sydoyne THe daye fayre clere the lorde of Lesygnen the whiche was a meruayllous good knyght was armed and on horsbacke came before the fountayne And y e blacke knyght lepte out of his pauylyon his spere in his hande y e shelde aboute his necke as sone as eche of them sawe other they let theyr horses renne gyuȳge grete strokes with theyr speres So that bothe horses fell vpon theyr arses almoost all was ouerthrowen Neuerthelesse they rose agayne toke other speres grete strōge sharpe they afferred eche frome other came agayne as faste as theyr horses myght dryue for to Iuste y e one ayenst y e other gaue so grete strokes on y e sheldes y t all ouerthrewe bothe knyghtes horses was so rudely y t the hors of Geffrey felle y e heed vnder the body myght not stere neyther knyght nor hors for Geffrey had his legge his thygh vnder y e hors was ryght sore brused But ponthus rose agayne vpon his horse yet he was sore ashamed y t he was ouerthrowen So loked he on the knyght y t myght not stere frome vnder his hors than he alyght came to y e knyght dyde so moche y t he drewe hym from vnder his hors he had his fote out of Ioynte so he myght not stande but vpon one fote yet he layde his honde on his swerde as he y t was of grete herte grete hardynesse And whā Ponthus sawe y t he myght not stonde but vpon one fote he wolde not smyte hym but lete hym smyte a stroke or two sayd vnto hym Syr knyght I se you in a symple party shame it were for me for to assayle you And geffrey sayd wherfore I holde me not ouercome as longe as I may holde my swerde in my hande whā he wende to stryke Ponthus he mette with a stone w t his fote whiche made hym for to ouerthrowe And whan Ponthus sawe y t he dyde helpe hȳ for to ryse agayne And sayd vnto hym Syr knyght yf ye were hole I wolde renne vpon you but I se well your dysease ye shall not yelde you to me but to the fayrest gentylwoman of all brytayne y t whiche shall take you to her mercy and salewe her from the blacke knyght soo I praye you that we do no more than we haue done for I wote well yf ye were in good estate ye wolde not leue me soo hole as ye haue letfte me for I knowe well your worthynesse of tyme passed And whan Geffrey sawe the debonayrete and grete bounte of the blacke knyght he praysed hym moche and sayd Syr I shall go where y t it pleaseth you to cōmaunde me And yf I wyste that it sholde not displease you I wolde aske you your name And ponthous answered hȳ agayne Syr ye nor none other shall wete it at this tyme. And Geffrey helde hym styll and wolde no more enquere And ponthus toke his leue of hym wente his waye pryuely in to the forest by the pathes as he was wonte to do So the people that sawe the batayll meruayled moche and sayd Ryght curteys is the blacke knyghte haue ye not seene his debonayrete and his
grete gentylnes how he wolde helpe hym vp Moche they praysed hym and gaue hym grete loos Soo they came to Geffrey de lesygnen that myght not bestere hym So he sayd vnto Androwe de la toure fayre frende and felowe I shall abyde tyll the nexte tuesdaye comynge for to holde you felawshyppe for to goo vnto the fayre Sydoyne yf ye sette no better remedy in you that I haue done in me Syr sayd Androwe de la toure of y e auenture of armes may noo man Iuge for they be ryght meruayllous and ye myght not doo therto of this auenture for it was befall of your horse wherof noo man may beware And I thynke not for to haue shame yf I pursewe suche knyghtes as ye and Bernarde de la Roche Soo they spake of many dyuerse thynges and so he was taken lyfte vp as softely as men myght was ledde vnto Moūtfort where y t he was dyght y t he myght ryde with a palet ¶ How y e thyrde tuesdaye Ponthus conquered landry and sente hym vnto Sydoyne THe nexte tuesdaye came from euery parte people to se the batayll at the houre of pryme the blacke knyght with y e whyte teres came of y e other syde came landry than they caste theyr speres in the restes with y e guffanons hangynge with grete Ire eche of them smote other without ouerthrowynge soo they passed forth came agayne ryght rudely so moche that they persed theyr sheldes and brake theyr speres and than they toke theyr swerdes and eche gaue other grete strokes where they myght reche So they were a grete whyle on horsbacke so befell that Ponthus dressed hȳ well smote landry wtall his strength that he made hym astonyed whan Ponthus had do so he sawe hym staker soo he toke hym by the helme drewe hym with all his strength so y t he cast hym to y e erth but neuertheles he rose vp agayne whan Ponthus sawe hym at the erth he sayd that he sholde not assayle hȳ on horsebacke y e other on fote for it sholde tourne hym to shame but anone he alyght put his shelde tofore hym his swerde in his hande came rennynge vpon hȳ And Landry dressed hym made hym redy to defende hym for he wyst well he had not a do w t a chylde Ponthus came smote hȳ a stroke the swerde glaunced smote away a quarter of his shelde landry smote hȳ ayen grete strokes where he myght reche hym and ryght well he defended hym to his power lyke a good knyghte for he was meruaylously stronge harde manly soo he endured moche Ponthus gaue hȳ grete strokes where he myght hyt hym So he meruaylled moche how he myght endure ayenst hym so longe Soo they brake theyr sheldes theyr helmes they were so wery at the fyrst assaute that they must nedes reste theym to take theyr brethes they lened vpon theyr swerdes for werynesse And than Androwe spake fyrst sayd Syr knyght I wote not what ye be but soo moche I saye you y t I wende not in the mornynge to haue founde so moche strength worthynes in you as I haue proued but before or ye haue conquered me in armes ye must do more than ye haue done yet ye sayd Ponthus by the holy fayth ye shall yelde you to the fayre gentylwoman or myne herte lyeth bere her this gyfte of this swerde Than he lyft vp his swerde smote Androwe as he whiche hadde grete angre shame that he endured so longe ayenst hym And so began the batayll soo harde that the blode ranne from them doune to the groūde And Ponthus hadde gyuen hym a grete stroke vpon the temple so that his helme was broken so tourned he his shelde toke his swerde with bothe his handes and smote Androwe so grete a stroke that he was all astonyed and it was no meruayll for ryght longe had the batayll endured bytwene them bothe y t with grete payne they myght stonde So ofte he smote hym that he apperceyued well that Androwe was wery astonyed of strokes that he had gyuen receyued so he hasted hym more more soo moche that he sawe hym staker so he came put hym with all his myght and caste hym downe and fell bothe to the erth but Ponthus fell vpon hym soo y t Androwe myght not ryse Ponthus sayd vnto hȳ Syr knyght yelde you Androwe sayd no worde endured moche payne had grete sorowe to yelde hym So sayd he to hȳ agayne as he whiche was ryght courteys Syr knyght yelde you to the fayre gentylwoman I praye you and that there be no more debate bytwene you and me for we haue preued vs ynough togyder And than Androwe knewe well the grete courtosye of the knyght whiche that he faught with sayd vnto hym to her shall I yelde me gladly syth that it pleaseth you It suffyseth me sayd Ponthus than he rose vp ryght wery and moche trauayled of the grete strokes and of the grete batayll that had so longe endured soo he came to his hors with moche payne lepte vp and wente in to the forest where he sawe the thyckest soo faste that euery man loste the syght of hym And Geffrey de lesygnen many other came to Androwe asked how he dyde he sayd well after the disease that he hadde but that he had foūde his mayster A sayd Geffrey fayre frende we shall go you I togyder to the ryght fayre lady we shall yelde vs to her mercy Syr sayd Androwe I shall bere you felawshyp for it were no reason that ye sholde go without me And so bourded that one felawe with y e other Soo he was vnarmed had grete foyson of woundes but he stode in no daunger for he had no woūde that myght lette hȳ to ryde So wente they on the thyrde daye after to yelde theym to fayre Sydoyne And the kynge made theym grete chere grete Ioye as to two of the beste knyhgtes that men myght fynde in ony londe moost named of worthy knyghthode So they came to Sydoyne put them in to her mercy And she whiche was ryght wyse and gentyll receyued them with grete Ioye fested them dyde them grete worshyp gaue them mantelles of sylke furred with veer gyrdelles fayre ryche on euery gyrdell a ryche gypsyer the knyghtes thanked her sayd well was befall them of her pryson that she was not harde for to endure Lordes sayd she I wote not who is y e knyght that sendeth you hyder but he ye do me ryght grete worshyp without cause for fayrer goodlyer ben ynough in this realme who that wyll seche them chose them Madame sayd choknyghtes we must byleue the comyn for all haue the sen you for the fayrest Soo they bourded ynoughe of many thynges abode
there two dayes y t one w t the kyÌ„ge that other w t her after y t she gaue them leue So they departed for goo se the batayll of the erle of mortayne whiche was a ryght good knyght ¶ How the fourth tuesday Ponthus conquered Thybault de bloys erle of mortayne sent hym as y e other also of other knyghtes on tuesdaye ensewynge SO the olde gentylwoman the dwarfe came out of y e pauylyon had a bowe turkoys and her foure arowes as ye haue herde before the heremyte with the vyser ledde her by the brydell and made her sygne to whiche she sholde shote as at for that moneth And the olde gentylwoman smote fyrst in y e shelde of Thybault de bloys the whiche was named for a good knyght And the other arowe in the shelde of damp Martyne The thyrde arowe in the shelde of Henry de mouÌ„t maurency and the fourth arowe was in the shelde of Roberte de resyllyon These were the foure knyghtes moost named of whome that the sheldes of theyr armes were hanged vp whan she had shote her foure arowes she withdrewe her to the pauylyon And anone after the blacke knyght came out armed with all his armes his shelde aboute his necke the spere in his hande And on the other syde came in Thybault the erle of mortayne ryght rychely arayed with grete foyson of trumpettes and taboures And as soone as eche of theym sawe other they lette theyr horses renne and gaue grete strokes But Ponthus reuersed so the erle that he hadde almoost beten hym downe vnto the grounde So they sette hande vpon theyr swerdes and eche of them ranne vpon an other ryght rudely but Ponthus smote so myghty strokes and so harde that he kerued a two all that euer he hyt the Erle defended hym to his power Soo endured the batayll ryghte longe but Ponthus whiche was grete and stronge toke hym by the helme and drewe hym so sore that he rente it frome hym threwe it to to the grouÌ„de And than abode in his coyfet of yren on whiche he gaue hym a grete stroke sayenge vnto hym that he sholde yelde hym but he smote hym not with the cuttynge And the erle endured moche but nedes he muste yelde hym whyther he wolde or not Soo he badde hym yelde hym to the fayrest lady of Brytayne So he departed wente in to the forest as he dyde before And the erle wente yelde hym vnto fayre Sydoyne as the other knyghtes dyde whiche dyde hym grete worshyp and so dyde her fader the kynge The nexte tuesdaye faught Tybault de bloys soo all the other tyll the yeres ende after folowynge But it were to longe taryenge to tell the Iustes and the bataylles that euery man dyde in that moneth in all the other monethes in all the other monethes folowynge for there were many fayre Iustes grete bataylles and many noble dedes of armes the whiche sholde be to longe for to tell who that wolde rehers theym all But the ende was that they were all ouercome in armes and sente in to the pryson of fayre Sydoyne So they were two fyfty knyghtes prysoners of the best that men myght fynde in ony londes for to conquere worshyp Euery man herde sawe that the good knyghtes wente to assaye themselfe that he chose alwaye the best that men myght fynde to do dedes of armes Euery man desyred for to be of y e nombre for to assaye them ayenst hym And so grete was the voyce the renowme ranne thrughe frauÌ„ce almayne by all other countrees that all knyghtes came henge vp theyr sheldes So there came many of the realme of frauÌ„ce of other realmes countrees And Ponthus chose alwaye by worthynes the best faught but with one of euery countree bycause his name sholde go the ferther So was there of the nombre of the two fyftye The duke of Osteryche the duke of Lorayne the Erle of baar the erle of Mountbelyart the erle of mouÌ„fort and other dukes and erles Syr Wylyam of bayrs Syr Arnolde of henaude the erle of Sauoye other dyuerse good knyghtes soo leue I of theyr names for it were ouer longe to tell so I torne agayne for to abredge my mater soo that it befell y t whytsontyde was come at the yeres ende that all y e prysoners came for to yelde them ther as it was ordeyned Ponthus dyde make a grete halle couered with leues and a fayre grene fast by the fouÌ„tayne of meruaylles that men called Belenson And sent for al maners of mete wynes for all maner of stuffe thaÌ„ he wrote vnto the kynge of Brytayne saynge The blacke knyght w t the whyte teeres w t all humylyte honoure moost mekely recoÌ„maundeth hym vnto your moost noble excellent grace The blacke knyght besecheth you mekely that it please your hyghnesse for to be at this feest of Pentecost in the forest of briciâ—iun at the fountayne of meruaylles with the fayrest ladyes and geÌ„tylwomen that is in all your realme And also y t it pleaseth you not to forgete my lady your doughter for to se counsayll to whome y e pryce shall be gyuen that is to hym the whiche hathe best Iusted and myghtyest foughten of the two and fyghty knyghtes for euery tewesdaye of the yere Whan the kynge had sene the lettres he hadde ryghte grete Ioye and sayd that the blacke knyght had done him grete worshyp y t there sholde he be than he sente for his doughter tolde her the tydynges that was sente hym And charged her for to sende for the fayrest ladyes and gentylwomen of his realme to come vnto her at y e Penthecost And fayre doughter ye ought for to doo it for y e knyght hath done you grete worshyp that by his swerde hath sente in to your pryson so many good knyghtes lordes wherof grete worshyp is fal vnto you also vnto your realme for the whiche I am moche beholdynge vnto y e blacke knyght Fayre Sydoyne kneled downe and sayd syth that it pleaseth you I shall do your coÌ„maundemente So she dyde wryte lettres vnto y e grete ladyes of Brytayne that they sholde be with her the frydaye afore whytsondaye And that they sholde brynge in theyr coÌ„pany the fayrest ladyes and gentylwomen that men myght fynde The ladyes that herde the maundemente of Sydoyne they had grete Ioye and made theym redy and came to that Iourney And there was a grete assemble So they came vpon whytsondaye to the fouÌ„tayne with theyr tentes and pauylyons and they were pyght there aboute that they semed as it were a grete hoost Ponthus came agaynst the kyÌ„ge And he hadde sente the day tofore .xiii. gownes of a sute to his xiii felowes and one to herlaunt y e senesshall bycause that they sholde bere him felowshyp It nedeth not to aske yf his cosyn germayne and his felowshyp had
grete Ioye of the worshyp that god had sente hym whan they kynge wyst y t it was Ponthus y t had done so moche in armes it nedeth not to aske y e Ioy he had of it and the chere y t he made hym colled hym kyssed hym than he sayd vnto hym ye haue longe hyd you frome vs and men sayd that ye were in hungary and in poullayne at warres y t were there but in good fayth myne herte tolde me that it was ye that dyde suche meruaylles Ponthus wexed rede sayd nothynge for he was ashemed that the kynge praysed hym so moche ¶ How Ponthus made to make a conuys and made to be gyuen vnto euery knyght after as they hadde deserued AFter that he wente agaynst Sydoyne y t was accompanyed with many fayre ladyes And salewed her mekely she yelded him agayne his salutacyon as she that had all Ioye y t herte myght thynke than she sayd vnto hyÌ„ in smylynge O Ponthus ye haue hyd you loÌ„ge tyme froÌ„ vs in this forest I doute me y t ye be become an ermyte wylde A madame sayd he saue your grace I am easy to tame And than he departed frome her as he that was all taken in the loue of his lady that of loÌ„ge tyme he had not sene her And than he wente too se the ladyes the whiche were all dysguysed with grene bowes garlondes and he sayd vnto them My ladyes I praye god that eche of you haue that y t your hertes desyre for in good fayth it is a good syght to se soo fayre a company The ladyes yelded hym his salutacyon the whiche were full of Ioye for to se hym for they loued hym meruayllously well aboue all knyghtes And the one sayd to another It is Ponthus the good and fayre knyghte thanked be god of the grete worshyp that he hathe sente hym and I praye god that he wyll kepe hym vs as the best knight of the worlde and this was there speche ferre and nere So they arryued at the fountayne bothe y e kynge and the ladyes with grete Ioye And on that other syde came the knyghtes straungers The kynge and the ladyes made them grete Ioye And there was grete sowne and noyse of dyuers maners of myÌ„stralsy so that all the wode ronge of it And the kynge and ponthus dyd grete worshyp to the dukes and lordes as to the duke of Ostrytche of Lorayne of baar to the erle of dampmartyn of Sauoye of mouÌ„tbelyart to other dyuers grete lordes So they wente and herde masse that the bysshop of Rennz sange after that they came to the halle And the kynge the dukes and Sydoyne were sette at the hygh dese and after euery man after as he was Greate was the feest and grete was the hall and on the syde were hanged the .lii. sheldes of the knyghtes conquered Ryght straunge and fayre thynges were made bytwene the courses as armed chyldren that fought togyder dyuers other thynges and syxe olde knyghtes and syxe olde squyers some bare the spere the gouffanon blacke with the whyte teeres of grete margaretes oryente perles a ryche cercle of golde meruayllously wrought of ryche perles and of good stones The other bare the ryche swerde with the pomel of golde And the gyrdell of sylke wrought with golde grete margaretes and perles with precyous stones that it was a fayre syght to se. And this rychesse had ponthus won in the shyp of the Soudans sone So he sayd hymself that he myght no better beset them than afore so many notable prynces and grete lordes for he shewed all his dedes ryght honourably The knyghtes and y e ladyes wente aboute the halle syngynge as though they wyste not to whome they sholde presente theym And than they came before the lorde de Lesygnen and presented hym the spere and the ffouffanon and the ryche cercle of golde y e whiche they set vpon his hede for y e beste Iuster And after they came to Androwe de la toure and presented hym the ryche swerde and the ryche crowne set vpon his heed whyther he wolde or no for he excused hymselfe moche wende to haue refused it saynge that they dyde hym worshyp that he had not deserued and that there were dyuerse other that had better wonne it than he had and he wexed rede was ashamed but Ponthus hadde so ordeyned it for he sayd in good fayth that he had yeuen hym moost a do as for one daye Also Geffrey hadde ryght wel Iusted Than beganne mynstrelles for to playe of all maner of mynstrelsy and also the herauldes began to cry that men sholde not haue herde thondrynge for al roÌ„ge bothe wood and forest of the noyse There was gyuen many dyuerse meases and good wynes and also grete yeftes vnto heraudes and mynstrelles Ponthê° came behynde the kynge and sayd to hym in his ere Syr it please you we shall do crye the Iustes ayenst to morowe and on tewesdaye at Uennes bycause y t ye sholde knowe these prynces and these dukes for it shall be your worshyppe A sayd y e kyÌ„ge in good fayth it is a good and a trewe counseyll and I praye you that it be done Than Ponthus called an heraude and made hym to crye that the whyte knyght with the rede rode shall be this mondaye and tewesdaye in y e cyte of Uennes with fyue felowes and hymselfe shall make the syxte for to withstande all maner of knyghtes with speres And he that shall haue the pryce on y e mondaye without forth shall haue the gyrdell and the gypsere of y e fayrest of the feest And he that dooth best on the tewesdaye shall haue the sparohawke mewed with the loynes of perles and margarytes and a chapelet that the fayrest of the feest shall gyue hym And he of the ynner partye that shall Iuste best shall haue a rynge of the fayrest ¶ How Ponthus made a Iustes to be cryed in the cyte of Uennes and how he smote downe the strongest that he recountred ON y e morowe after they departed by tymes wente and herde masse at saynt peters of Uennes and than they wente and dyned and after dyner the kynge the ladyes wente to the schalfoldes And than came Ponthus his hors al whyte with a grete rede rose that betokened his lady his fyue felowes of the whiche one was Bernarde de la Roche the vycount of Lyon the vycount of donges Polydes and Herlaunt y e senesshall all good knyghtes The Iustes were grete on the mondaye and on the tewesdaye there were many grete Iustes and many grete strokes gyuen But ouer all knyghtes Ponthus Iusted beste for he bete downe knyghtes horses dyd suche meruaylles y t euery knyght doubted to mete w t hym so he set bothe herte wyl bycause y t his lady was there present bothe grete small praysed hym moche the ladyes
the tydynges of frauÌ„ce and many other tydynges but the kynge founde hym so wysely answerynge that he was all ameruayled And than he wente vnto the quene and to the lordes knyghtes and sayd vnto theym that he had not of a grete whyle spoken with so wyse nor with so gentylmanly a man as is that goodly knyght in talkyng And truely sayd the kynge myne herte sayth me y t he is gretter more noble than he maketh hymselfe So he dwelled there a longe tyme and the more that men sawe hym the more they loued and praysed hym ¶ How Ponthus put the stone before y e ladyes at london at the request of syr Harry his mayster SYr Iohan the kynges eldest sone had grete sorowe for that he had not founde hym afore his broder Harry of all maner of dysportes he coude well entermete hym as hawkynge huntynge he wold neuer auaunt hymselfe of nothynge y t he dyd his maner his behauynge pleased well euery man he loued well holy chyrche euery daye he wolde here masse gyue his almes to y e poore people his byggest oth was in good fayth it was thus or it is thus On an euenynge the erles sone of Gloucestre y t was a fayre knyght and a stronge but he was somwhat proude he cast y e stone with the kynges sones many other so he ouer caste syr Iohan well a foure fyngers auauÌ„ted hym selfe y t he had cast before them all So syr Harry bad Surdyt y t he sholde put the stone syr sayd Surdyt I can not but syth y t it pleaseth you I shall do as I can So he wente to the stone and put it with the ferdeste A sayd syr Harry by the fayth y t ye owe to the woman of y e worlde that ye loue best put it as ferre as ye may whan he herde that he was soo coniured he bethought hym of his lady sayd syr ye haue coniured me â—ore for I owe to grete fayth to my lady my moder A sayd Geneuer the kynges eldest doughter Surdyt Surdyt it may not be that ye be now vnpurchaced and be so moche so goodly Madame quod he I am so symple so boustous that none wolde lyste for to loue me God wote wele sayd Geneuer And than she thought in her herte y e wolde god he loued me as moche as I wolde loue hym And than Surdit toke the stone and put it wel a .vii. large fore afore them all whan y e kyÌ„ge the ladyes sawe y e cast they meruaylled y e erles so ne was abasshed sayd I am ouercome Than sayd syr Harry to Surdyt why haue ye so longe taryed of this caste A syr sayd he had it not ben y t ye coÌ„iured me so sore I wolde not haue medled me for I haue dyspleased hym me forthynketh for it was but for to obeye your pleasure ye wote well y t it sytteth not me to be in no mannes dyspleasauÌ„ce So his mayster apperceyued well his gentylnesse Geneuer came to her brother sayd vnto hym Fayre broder come play you in my chambre and brynge youre newe knyght with you Fayre syster I wyll well sayd he So they wente to playe and to dysporte them in her chambre then came wyne and spyces and after they began to daunce and to synge but with grete payne they coude make Surdyt for to daunce saynge that he coude not daunce but whan he hadde a whyle daunced he daunced best of all and also with grete payne they myght make hym for to synge and at the praynge of the kynges doughter he sange a songe the best of all he made hymselfe alwaye vnconnynge of euery thynge but at the last he dyd euer best After that they had songe the kynges sone his syster began to sharpe whan they had harped a whyle they prayed Surdyt for to harpe but with grete payne they made hyÌ„ for to harpe At the last he harped a newe laye passynge well A sayd Geneuer Surdyt in good fayth I haue grete Ioye that ye can that laye for we haue had grete desyre for to knowe it for it is the laye that the good knyght Ponthus made for his lady as it hathe ben tolde vs and we suppose wel for whome he made it Madame sayd he I wote not who made it Soo he was some what ashamed and chaunged coloure whan he thought on her he made it for â–ª So he taught it to Geneuer and to her syster whiche made it to be wryten And so the two doughters came to the kynge and to the quene and shewed theym Truely sayd the kynge lerne it fayre doughters I praye you for it is ryght good and the knyght playeth it well Of all dysportes and playes he coude ryght well on a tyme Geneuer resonned hym sayd Surdyt se ye in this realme lady or gentylwoman where ye set your herte and your pleasaunce tell it me in good fayth I am she that with good herte wyll helpe you in worshyp Madame sayd he I thanke you for alwaye haue I nede of your good ladyshyp and helpe but as in that I loue them all as I ought to doo good ladyes A Surdyt sayd she ben they all incomune is there none that hathe auauntage one ouer another Madame they ben all soo good y t there may no man to moche preyse them nor loue theÌ„ in worshyp and as for me the loue of a poore knyght is but of lytell thynge A sayd she he is not poore that hathe the beaute the bounte the good condycyons and y e good behauynge that ye haue for in good fayth I knowe none so fayre nor so grete a lady in this countre that she ne ought to holde herselfe ryght wel worshypped for to be byloued of suche a knyght as I hope that ye be Madame I am ryght fer froÌ„ suche one as ye saye but it pleaseth you for to talke and dysporte you with so poore a knyght as I am A sayd she ye byleue me not in good fayth I saye but as I thynke al waye the knyght toke her talkynge in myrthe and in bourde and gaue her no maner of comforte in so moche that she aspyed that he was not in wyll for to loue the whiche dyspleased her moche for yf she had fouÌ„de in hym ony maner of comforte y t he wolde haue loued she wolde haue dyscouered herselfe more largely and so apperceyued her well Surdyt often tymes many fayre ladyes gentylwomen gaue him many wordes of loue preue lokes y t they wolde haue loued hym yf he wolde haue loued them but he made all fayre chere wtoute gyuynge ony comforte of loue wherfore there were many ryght sorowfull in especyall the kynges doughters ryght wysely demeaned hym selfe Surdyt and pleased all Many nyghtes he thought on his lady and made layes of her the whiche fell all in complaynynge of sorowe that he sholde alway
wayle and also for the Erle of wayles and for all the lordes of Englonde And whan they were all assembled togyder there was a grete armee The kynge sente forth his two sones and y e Surdyt well a foure myle from the hoost of the sarasynes for to ordeyne theyr bataylles wherof the kynge of Scottes was the chyfe ledder of all the hoost The fyrst batayll ledde y e kynge of Irlonde And the kynge of Cornewayle ledde y e seconde batayll The erle of wales ledde y e thyrde Syr Iohan the kynges eldest sone ledde the fourth Syr Harry ledde the fyfth batayll And the Surdyt ledde the syxte batayll So there were syxte grete bataylles And they were nombred moo than thyrty thousande men besydes all the fote men as arbalastres and archers Whan that the kynge Corboran herde telle of theyr comynge he made mo than .xii. bataylles y t were nombred moo than .xl. thousonde without fote men Soo they were ryght fyers proude as they that had neuer ben dyscomfyted in the space of .xii. yere y t they departed frome the Sowdan of babyloyne Soo our men rode to them warde in good ordynaunce whā they sawe the hoost of the turkes and sarazyns y e helde so grete a countre they were gretely ameruaylled but they helde themselfe well assured for they were clene shryuen and houseled Surdyt came before the batayles and comforted them sayd fayre lordes dysmay you not for the grete nombre that they be for our quarell is the quarell of Ihesu cryst that fedde fyue thousande men with fyue barly loues and two fysshes Also he may gyue vs vyctorye one ayenst an hondred so be euery man of good herte smyte surely vpō them for he that well assaylleth or defendeth vpon theym y t haue no fayth god helpeth hym go we hardely with out ony fere And ye shall se them anone dyscomfyted The euery man toke good herte for the wordes of surdyt And they answered Syth that it pleaseth to god that Surdyt was there they were not aferde for to be dyscomfyted Than they smote the horses with the sporres and ran one ayenst another And there was a grete sowne of trompettes and tabours that a mā sholde not haue herde the thondrynge There was many ouerthrowen that syth had no power for to ryse the batayll lasted tyll that all y e bataylles were assembled on bothe partyes so that ther was grete noyse of speres and of swerdes Surdyt made hymselfe away whersoeuer he wente whome that he stroke he was deed eyther maymed Feragyne one of the sarazyns had slayne syr Iohan y e kȳges eldest sone of Englonde that was grete harme The bataylles were ryght cruell And Corboran the hethen kynge dyde grete dedes of armes and sawe syr Henry Surdytes mayster was rychely armed and dyde many grete dedes with his handes he toke a spere grete sparte came vpon a morell stede smote syr Henry in y e syde that he perced his harnays that it entred halfe a fote in to the body and that was grete domage for he was a good knyght a manly Surdyt serched the prees made all to flee before hym with grete strokes that he deled as he passed he sawe his mayster fall to the grounde w t a spere in his syde It is not for to aske yf he was ryght sory And he began for to smyte on the ryght syde and on the lefte made hymself a grete waye with the helpe of the kȳge of Irlonde that alway abode by hym And than he alyghted of his horse lyfted vp his mayster asked hym how he fared And he sayd well so y t he were auenged on hym y t soo hurte hym What is he sayd Surdyt It is Corboran the kynge of this hoost ne doubte you not sayd Surdyt for I shall auenge you or elles dye Soo he dressed hym vp lepte on horsbacke bare hym oute of the prees And than Surdyt gadered to hym an hondred good speres or more sawe the guffanon of kynge Corboran And stroke to that parte brake the prees so moche that he sawe where that Corboran dyde meruayllous dedes with his handes and he was rychely armed had a crowne of golde vpon his basynet Surdyt sayd vnto hym Ha fals cowarde that hast slayne my mayster y u shalt go no ferder So he smote hym so grete a stroke that he was all astonyed laye vpon his sadell bowe And Surdyt smote agayne and smote the heed from the body and bare y e heed out of the batayll vnto his mayster And whan syr Henry sawe the heed he sayd blessyd be god I shall now dye the more meryly And gramercy sayd he to Surdyt Syr sayd he thȳke not to dye for ye shall se the sarasynes anone dyscomfyted syth that they knowe the deth of theyr kynge And he said sothe for as sone as they wyst it they put no more defence in them were all abasshed and sorowed sore for to se themselfe without an heed And Surdyt entred in to the grete prees began to do grete dedes of armes for to gyue boldenes to all his felawshyp And he bete downe sarasynes dyde suche dedes of armes that euery man knewe hym by the grete strokes that he gaue Soo thry fledde before hym as shepe before the wolfe Soo they began to dysseuer and fledde by the countre as wylde bestes And the Englysshe men and Irysshe men and the scottes began the slaughter vpon them on euery syde there were slayne so many that y e feldes lay all strawed of deed men the archers and the fote men whan they sawe ony ouerthrowen they all to hewed theym The sarasynes wyste neuer where to hyde theym nor to saue themselfe many of theym fledde towarde the shyppes but Surdyt and the Englysshe men helde them so shorte that they myghte not escape but put theym in to the see that they drowned theym selfe Grete was the mortalyte vpon them they called vpon mahowne but he neuer dyd helpe them tyll all were slayne and drowned ¶ How Ponthus pylled the shyppes of the sowdan ANd Surdyt came to a bote and endtred in coude speke well latyn and asked where was kynges shyp with all his tresoure so one of the sarasynes tolde hym Come forth sayd Surdyt in to this bote brynge me thyder or thou shalte dye the other sayd that he sholde brynge hym well So he toke ores thre sarasynes rowed to the grete shyppe wente in y e shyppe was passynge grete well poynted So there were some within that wende to haue defended them but Surdyt layde haude on his swerde slewe and drowned all that were therin So there abode no more therin but hymselfe and the thre sarasynes that hadde brought hym thyder Soo they sayd that they wolde be crystened syth that mahowne had lette theyr lorde to be slayne all theyr felawes And after that they were crystened and
Surdyt gaue theym moche good Than sayd one of y e sarasynes se these grete hutches and these grete cofers they ben full of golde and syluer that our mayster had robbed and spoyled vpon crysten londes that were nyghe the see Soo no man myght thynke the grete ryches that was within Eueryche other lordes toke of the shyppes for there were well nyne hondred and the flode fayled theym There was so grete wȳnynge that euery man was ryche by that Iourney Surdyt called of his men suche as he trusted betoke theym y e shyppe to kepe cōmaūded theym that it sholde be broughte to London to one of his lodgynges that lay vpon the water for he thought to wage men of armes for to go in to his realme that the sarasynes kepte in seruage And neuerthelesse he gaue many grete gyftes that euery man praysed hym of his largesse That nyght passed was vpon a tuesdaye the wednesdaye they serched y e felde for to wete who was deed of the crysten people Soo they founde the kynges two sones of Englonde the erle of wales the baron of staunforde the erle of Gloucestre thre other barons and .xii. knyghtes well a two M. of crysten people So some were borne in to theyr countrees the remenaūt buryed at an abbay The kynge and the quene had grete Ioye of the vyctorye and all they sayd with one voyce that the good knyght Surdyt had dyscomfyted the felde and yf he had not ben they had loste the felde but his grete knyghthode saued them dyscomfyted the felde and theyr enemyes So he had all the pryce but he was ryght sorowful of the dethe of the kynges two sones The kynges and y e quene made grete Ioye to Surdyt so dyde all the ladyes they sayd vpon hym that by hym they were quyte of theyr enemyes Surdyt wept whan he sawe the kynge for pyte of his mayster the kynge comforted hym sayd that in more noble seruyce myght they not dye than in the seruyce of god for to kepe y e countree and our holy lawe ayenst the mysbyleuers ¶ How the kynge of Englonde the kynge of scottes made a parlyament wolde haue gyuen vnto Ponthus to his eldest doughter THe kynge behaued hȳ ryght fayre all thoughe he were sorowfull in his herte Than y e kȳge helde his grete counseyll And there was his brother of scotlonde his neuewe of cornewayle all the lordes And the kynge sayd vnto theym fayre lordes ye se y e grete meruayles that haue fallen in this realme how I haue lost my two sones how I am aged and the quene is not yonge Soo we must be aduysed who shal holde the realme after me and who shall gouerne it in myne age The kynge of scottes stode vp sayd I haue your syster to my wyfe And I gaue my syster to your wyfe and so I holde me for your broder And therfore my counseyll is thus Gyue your doughter vnto Surdyt And ye shall be dredde doubted your realme well gouerned And all answered with one voyce he hath well sayd the kynge of Englonde accorded therto with all his herte And the kynge of scottes was charged to speke vnto Surdyt Soo he wente and sayd vnto hym Surdyt ye ought well to thanke god of the vertues that he hath gyuen you for euery man loueth you The kynge and all his coūseyll haue chosen you to haue his eldest doughter and to be kynge after hym in his lyfe to gouerne his realme Syr sayd Surdyt I thanke the kynge and all his lordes of the grete worshyppe that they profre me but they ben symply aduysed as me semeth for it is not syttynge that soo grete a kynges doughter and heyre sholde take so poore a man as I am and of so lowe a kynred And yf god wyll the noble blode of Englonde shall not be abessed by me What is that ye saye quod the kynge we be all one fader and of one moder And more ouer there is so moche worshyp and worthynes in you that ye be worthy to haue a better They spake moche of this mater but they coude fynde noo waye that he wolde consente so fayre he founde Surdytes excusacyons that it was meruayll to here And whan he sawe that it sholde not be he wente agayne to y e kȳge and his counseyll tolde hym what he had foūde how that Surdyt thanked y e kynge how that he exscused hym Truely sayd the kynge he is maryed or ensured or elles he loueth suche one as he wyll not be vntrewe to Truely sayd all the lordes we wene y t it so be Who so euer was glad or sory the kȳges doughter was ryght sory what semblaūt y t euer she made and sayd to herselfe Alas what eyleth me y t god hath not gyuen me y e grace that I myght not haue hȳ Truely I se well that he hath set his herte in some other place where as he wyl kepe kepe his trouth or perauenture he is maryed sore she cōplayned in her hert sorowed for ouer al men of y e worlde she loued hym best ¶ Now here I leue of Surdyt of the kynges hous of Englonde tourne agayne to Sydoyne to the kȳge of Brytayne THe terme dureth yet that Ponthus set to Sydoyne but Sydoyne hathe many a streyght thought heuynesse bothe daye nyght wysely she demeaned herselfe that no man sholde aspye her heuynes saue Elyos the whiche knewe all her counseyll sayd vnto her Alas by me is gone out of this realme the best and the goodlyest knyghte of all the worlde often tymes she sorowed and wysshed for hym but Elyos comforted her in the best wyse that she myght Now it befell that Guenellet had all his desyre for he was mayster of al the kȳges hous of Brytayne by his grete wyles subtyll speche Soo he put out Harlant the senesshall out of his offyce and made y e kynge his heuy lorde and hadde all the rule in his handes Sydoyne was desyred of kynges and of dukes but she wolde here speke of no maryage Soo amonge all other the kynge of Bourgoyne herde speke of her of the erle of moūtbelyart his cosyn that Sydoyne was the fayrest the connyngest that was in ony countre So the kynge was of her so amerous that he myght haue no rest so he enquyred by whome the kȳge was ruled and gouerned And they tolde hym by a knyght that hyght Guenelet So he sente hym many presentes grete gyftes and made hym large promys so that he wolde labour that he myght haue Sydoyne And soo for couetyse Guenelet letted not but laboured y e kynge sayd vnto hym Syr mary your doughter whyle ye be in good helth allye you with some good kynge that shall be wysely done Here is the kynge of bourgoynge that desyreth her and he is ryght noble and a ryche kynge
that she hath suffred and how that she may no lenger abyde than tuesdaye in Pentecost that than she shall be maryed vnto the kynge of Bourgoyne y e whiche is full of euyll tatches but Guenelet made the maryage that had grete gyftes of y e sayd kynge So Sydoyne sendeth you worde by me that ye wyll sette remedy in this mater vpon all the loues y t is bytwene you her And whan he herde of the grete trouth of his lady the teres fell frome his eyen he sayd yf god wyll he sholde set remedy so they spake of dyuers thynges ¶ How the kynge of Englonde knewe Ponthus of what lygnage he was exscused hym that he had not more honoured and worshypped hym THe tydynges wente in to the courte that there was come a man of lytell Brytayne y t knewe well Ponthus the whiche named hymselfe Surdyte whan the kynge and all his housholde wyste of it they were sore ameruaylled And the kynge and the quene sayd to the kynge of scottes it was neuer but that my herte sayd thought that he shold be of greteter byrth than he made hymselfe by the noble dedes of hym A sayd y e quene I meruayll me no more though he wyll not haue our doughter for I haue herde saye that he loueth our cosyn Sydoyne of Brytayne without ony shame Truely sayd the kynge it may well be whā he wyll not be maryed in this coūtre So at souper tyme Ponthus came in to the hall his knyght with hym the whiche was rychely arayed as in clothes of sylke furred with sables so he was a ryght goodly knyghte to se. The kynge of Englonde and the kȳge of scottes came ayenst Ponthus sayd vnto hym A Ponthus why haue ye made vs to do ourselfe suche dysworshyp as ye haue done for ye sayd that ye were but a poore knyghtes sone so therby they were disceyued we haue gretely offended for bycause we haue not done you worshyp as we ought for to haue done but all the blame is in you for in good fayth we dyde but as we knewe whan Ponthus sawe the grete courtesye of y e kynge how he dysblamed hym selfe he sayd vnto hym All thoughe I be a kynges sone it is but a lytell thȳge for a man dysheryted is but lytell praysed so it is a lytell thynge of poore noble his dedes ben ryght symple and therfore men ought to sette lytell by hym A sayd the kynge saue your grace he that hath the noblesse the bounte with the good condycyons and worthynes that is in you it is worth a kynges raunsom for ye be lykly to conquere your owne and dyuers other Ponthus was asshamed of the grete prees and chaunged his wordes in to other maters The kynge made hym to syt at souper bytwene the quene and his doughter whyther he wolde or not but it was with grete payne After souper they wente to dysporte them in the gardyn at dyuers dysportes Ponthus came to the kynge of Scottes and the kynge of Irlonde and the kynge of cornewayle and some of the grete lordes and they set theym downe in an erber and than he sayd to the kynge Ryght hyghe and myghty prynce and to you al my lordes and frendes I wolde made a request vnto you all my lordes frendes I wolde make a request vnto you of a nedefull mater of myne Than he tolde them how y e sowdan had sente his thre yongest sones for to conquere vpon crysten realmes and how he delyuered them grete army and nauy and tresoure and how that he sayd vnto them he that shall moost conquere and be moost worthy of knyghthode he sholde be best welcome to hym And how one of them londed in Galyce and by wyle and treason they gate the towne of Columpne in Galyce and of the grete sorowe myschefe that he dyde and how they slewe the kynge his fader And than he tolde theym how that an olde preest hydde them two dayes and two nyghtes in an olde caue in a roche and of y e grete fere that they had and as the wolfe gooth out of the wode for honger ryghte so I and my thyrtene felowes of grete lordes sones wente out of the caue and how they were taken and also how the knyght saued theym and how they landed in lytell Brytayne and how theyr shyppe brake vpon a roche and how they were saued And as he tolde his tale many of the lordes the teres fell frome theyr eyen for to here the peryll and the shrowe that he escaped from ¶ How Ponthus departed out of Englonde with a grete company of people ANd after whā he had all tolde his tale he said vnto theym that he wolde goo for to conquere the myssebyleuers that helde his londe that was his faders for I thanke god sayd he I haue ben in the felawshyp of them where as the pryde of two of theym hathe ben dystroyed soo is there no more on lyue but the thyrde that holdeth the realme y t was my faders and that I oughte for to haue and I vnderstande y t the countre is well gouerned wysely fewe people of the countre slayne for they lyue in seruage paye trybute euery pece a besaunte of golde for the grete tresoure that the kynge reyseth he suffreth euery man to lyue in what byleue that euer he wyll Syr sayd the kynge of Englonde I offre you my body with good herte all thoughe I be olde and aged after my men and my tresoure Syr sayd Ponthus I thanke you hyghly The kynge of scottes the kynge of Irlonde and the other kynges the lordes all they offred hym body men and goodes soo there was none but y t they offred themselfe to hym Ponthus thanked the kynge and all the lordes ryght humbly and wysely and sayd vnto the kynge and to the other kynges and lordes y ◠that god of his grace yelde theym the worshyppe that they offred hym My lordes sayd he to the kynges I shall neyther lede kynges nor other grete lordes but men of armes sowdours a twelue thousande the whiche that I wyll wage I thāke god I haue ynough wherof and he sayd trouth for at the laste batayll he founde ynoughe in kynge Corborans shyppe ryghte grete tresoure so moche that it was meruayll to here with grete payne it myght be nombred They offred hym ynoughe of golde haueour but he wolde none take of them but toke of euery kynge of the best men that they had so many that he had well a twelue thousande men well arayed in good shyppes Soo he waged theym at theyr owne wyll they had grete Ioye for to go with hym he ledde with hym y e erle of Gloucestre the erle of Rychemonde and the erle of Derby chyeftaynes and captaynes of the englysshe men Of scottes the Erle of Douglas and of euery countree a lorde to gouerne the men of theyr countre
whan they were in the shyppes wel arayed and garnysshed of al thynge that theym neded and had taken theyr leue of the lordes and of theyr frendes they drewe vp sayles had wynde at wyll departed with grete Ioye out of the hauen of hampton And Ponthus toke his leue of the kenge the quene of Genneuer her doughter So there was ynoughe of sorowe wepynge they made Ponthus to promys them to come agayne se them as soone as he myght come vnto an ende of his warre And he thanked theym hyghly of the grete honour that they had made hym The kynge of scottes and the kynge of Irlonde the kynge of cornewayle they conueyed Ponthus whyther he wolde or not to y e shyppes and there he toke his leue of them with grete heuynes and the kynge of Irlonde sayd vnto hym Now I se well that ye loue me not ye that haue done so moche for me that neytheyr I nor my realme may neuer deserue it to you ye wyll not suffre me to go with you to bere you felawshyp Syr sayd Ponthus I thanke you I refuse not your good helpe after that I fynde in my countre yf nede be but I shall neyther lede you nor none of myne lordes tyll that I knowe more how that the countre standeth for certayne causes Soo they toke theyr leue that one of that other thus departed Ponthus from the realme of englonde with his army And his goynge was sore complayned of the men of the londe So he sayled daye and nyght that he londed by Uennes he ordeyned his nauy to abyde in the hyghe see and sayd that he wolde not that they sholde come to londe nor shewe past a forty shyppes and that they sholde make them marchaūtes to come for salte to y e bay So he ordeyned well his nauy all his nede toke with hym certayne vessell where as he wolde londe and well a thre hondred fyghtynge men londed by nyght bytwene Auroy ▪ vennes there he ordeyned that they sholde not goo thens tyll they herde tydynges of hym that they sholde come to hym lyke as he sholde sende theym worde and this was on the mondaye of Pentecost and the weddynge sholde be on the tuesdaye of y e kynge of bourgoyne and Sydoyne Than he lepte on horsbacke he and a man with hym on the tuesdaye in the mornynge betymes And as he rode he met with a poore palmer beggynge his brede the whiche had his gowne all to clouted and an olde pylled hatte so he alyght and sayd to the palmer frende we shall make a chaunge of all our garmentes for ye shall haue my gowne and I shall haue yours and youre hatte A syr sayd the palmer ye bourde you with me In good fayth sayd Ponthus I do not so he dyspoyled hym and cladde hym with all his rayment he put vpon hȳ y e poore mannes gowne his gyrdell his hosyn his shone his hatte and his bourden And than his man sayd vnto hym syr what do ye be ye out of your wytte that haue gyuen your clothes for suche an habyte Holde thy peas sayd ponthus thou wotest not why that I do it kepe the pryuely thy two horses here at y e townes ende go not awaye tyll that I come agayne to the. ¶ How Ponthus departed from his dwarfe wente to Uennes lyke a pylgrym how he founde Guenelet and the kynge of Bourgoyne SO he wente forth with his bourden came in to the waye where as the kynge of bourgoyne sholde passe And anone after he sawe comynge his somers and his offycers than after he sawe the kynge come rydynge on a palfray comynge togyder he and Guenelet the traytour the kȳge helde his hande on Guenelettes sholdre as they passed Ponthus sayd Se here two well nourysshed felawes for bothe they haue grete belyes A saynt Mary sayd he to Guenelet your bely hathe receyued many a fatte morsell of the courte ye are full well shapen for to be a veray grete flaterer of the courte Guenelet wexed reed was an angred tourned his hors and sayd vnto hym what fals trewande must thou myssay me so he wolde haue stryken hym with his warderer Ponthus lyft vp his bourden and came to hymwarde and sayd that he wolde make his berde yf he touched hym the kynge sayd to Guenelet lete the trewande go for men sholde haue no worshyp for to touche hym So they wente forth And Ponthus that loued theym not made as he had ben a fole mocked them folowed after came to y e courte as he sawe y t men went in he threste in amonge the prees the porters wende for to haue put hym out toke hym by bothe sholders for to haue put hym abacke but Ponthus threwe hym vnderfote and passed forthe sayd that he was one of the poore men that sholde ete before the bryde in y e worshyp of god and of his apostles ¶ How Sydoyne knewe the pylgrym Ponthus by a rynge that she had gyuen hym or he went for to dwell in Englonde AT the solempne feest of this maryage of the kynge of bourgoyne and of Sydoyne at after mete the bryde sholde gyue them drȳke her owne handes suche was the custome there So Ponthus went and set hym downe as for one of y e poore men grete was the weddynge and grete was the feest Ponthus ete but lytell but loked vpon his lady the whiche was ryght symple all for wepte for Guenelet had affermed ouer all y t Ponthus was in Irlonde she wende veryly that it had be soo After mete whan the tables were take vp they ledde the bryde vnto her chambre for to chaunge her aray and her attyre for to go vnto the scaffolde for to se the Iustes And as they went to her chambre there was a tresaunce where as the .xiii. poore men were And there were two gentylwomen that one had a grete potte of syluer full of wyne that other helde a cuppe of golde Sydoyne toke the cuppe and gaue euery man drynke And Ponthus was the laste and he toke the cuppe and dranke and lette fall in the cuppe a rynge of golde with a dyamounde the whiche that she hadde gyuen hym as ye haue herde before whan he had dronken he sayd vnto her pryuely Madame drynke the lytell remenaunt for the loue of Ponthus And whan she herde the name of Ponthus her herte lepte in her breste and soo she dranke the remenaūt and as she dranke she apperceyued knewe the rynge so she was all entred in to Ioye and wyste neuer what to thynke Than she called Elyos her gentylwoman and badde her in counseyll that she sholde brynge the moche poore man in to her warderobe the other poore people wende that she wolde haue gyuen hym some thynge or some grete gyfte for the loue of god for they knewe her for a good
woman ryght charytable and whan she was in her warderobe there was none but she Elyos the poore man Than Sydoyne spake fyrst and sayd vnto hym Swete frende and loue who toke you the rynge that I founde in the cuppe I praye you tell me and hyde it not from me Wote ye not quod he to whome ye toke it to yes sayd she is he deed or a lyue tell me Truely sayd he he is on lyue She Ioyned her handes togyder thanked god and sayd lorde I thanke the of thy grace O madame wende ye that he were deed ye truly said she for Guenelet had soo affermed it ouer all Madame sayd he yf ye sawe hym what wolde ye saye what sholde I saye sayd she neuer erst befell me so grete Ioy as I sholde haue Whan he herde all this he fordyde no more his speche toke a cloth and rubbed his vysage anone she knewe hym A sayd she ye be Ponthus the thynge in the worlde that I moost loue nexte god my fader and ye be ryght welcome Than she had grete Ioy halfed hym A madame sayd he I haue grete Ioye y t ye be so well and rychely maryed and he sayd it for to assay her A my swete loue sayd she speke neuer therof for I shall neuer haue other than you yf it please you for to haue me for I swere to you bothe with mouthe and w t herte and so y ◠latter dede standeth for nought for the fyrste othe must be holden A madame thynke neuer for to take a poore man beggynge his brede and to leue a ryche kynge and a myghty I wolde neuer coūseyll you so for to acquyte your trouth Ryght dere knyght and loue sayd she I shall neuer haue other but you for I sholde be a thousande tymes more at hertes ease to suffre in youre felawshyp the pouerte dysease that ye suffre than all the rychesse with y e myghtyest kynge that is And yf ye haue ony pouerte or trybulacyon god hathe sente you for to assaye you the whiche after wyl sende you of rychesse more than euer ye had so that ye haue good truste in hym Whan Ponthus herde of the grete trouthe of Sydoyne and stedfastnes of her the teres fell from his eyen after smyled sayd Madame neuer truer nor better lady was there neuer than ye be I shall hyde no thynge fro you wete it for trouth that I haue more golde syluer and precyous stones Iewelles seuen tymes than hathe my lorde your fader and also I haue .xii. thousande men of armes waged for halfe a yere to conquere the realme that was my faders so dysmay you for no thȳge but I shall tell you what ye shall doo make Polydes my cosyn germayne for to lede you and that he kepe him with you and all my felowes suche as loue me and I shall come se you in suche araye Soo he tolde her how he sholde be arayed and ordeyned and I may no lenger abyde with you And toke his leue and folde her in his armes halsed her and yet durste not kysse nor desyre for to kysse her ¶ How Ponthus came to the Iustes and Iusted at auenture with the kynge of Burgoyne and ouerthrewe hym so that he dyed SO he wente his waye haltynge as he had ben a lame begger came to his man that abode him lepte vpon horsbacke came to the wode where as he had lefte his felawshyp whan they sawe hym in suche plyght they knewe hym not and some there were that wolde haue taken hym for a spye but he began to laughe sayd I am Ponthus quod he to them and than euery man knewe hym so there was game ynoughe Syr sayd the erle of Gloucestre almoost we had doo you shame how be ye thus dysguysed Fayre lordes quod he I dyde it for a cause I wolde not ben knowen Than ordeyned he y t euery man sholde arme them for to come to y e Iustes that they sholde come by ·xx by .xxx. to the scaffolde that none sholde Iuste but by his cōmaundement he tolde them of the maryage and of the grete feest that was there So Ponthus arayed hym and fourty knyghtes all in a sute of the best of the notablest of all his felawshyp And he tolde theym all his mater that he had to doo So they came to Iuste in the ranges the brytons the bourgoygnyons were sore ameruaylled what they were y t were so nobly arayed that so well Iusted And Sydoyne was come before to the scaffoldes with ladyes and gentylwomen Polydes ladde her by the brydel and therfore was Guenelet ryght wrothe that Polydes had taken it from hym saynge vnto him that she had so cōmaunded hym And she had tolde hym afore that he sholde se Ponthus his cosyn germayne wherfore Polydes had so grete Ioye that no herte myght thynke it and than she tolde it to all his felowes saue onely Guenelet wherfore they were all as Ioyous as they myght be it is not to for aske yf Sydoyne had all worldly Ioye in her herte So she sawe Ponthus comynge the whiche was more semelyer than ony other knyght more goodlyer he Iusted from ranke to ranke bette downe knyghtes horses and brake speres dyde meruayles in armes Sydoyne bowed downe to Polydes tolde hym Se ye yonder knyght armed in purple and asure with a whyte lady that holdeth a lyon enchayned ouer the lyon ben letters of golde that sayth God helpe the fourty felawes And they ben all in sute of hym saue onely they haue no letters of golde truely he with y e letters of golde is Ponthus your cosyn germayne and all the other ben of his felawshyp So Polydes helde hȳ with Sydoyne lyke as she had cōmaūded hym The kynge of bourgoyne came in to the felde vpon a grete Iennet of spayne he was rychely armed with hym forty knyghtes in a sute euery man his spere in his hande so they begā to renne Iuste And whan Ponthus sawe them he dressed hym towarde them and began to ouerthrowe bothe hors man soo that euery man was abasshed for to mete with hym The kynge of Brytayne y t was on the scaffoldes with the ladyes the olde knyghtes asked who was that goodly knyght that had the lady in his shelde holdeth a lyon enchayned with letters of golde and hath so many knyghtes in a sute euery body sayd that they wyste neuer saue that he hytteth none but that he ouerthroweth So he ouerthrowe beteth doune knyghtes and horses and what dedes of armes that he doth he is a stronge aduersary ▪ Truly the lady of Dueyl whiche was ryght wyse a fayre lady I sawe neuer no knyght erst y t coude soo well ryde an hors nor none y t resembled so moche Ponthus on whose soule god haue mercy Than sayd the kynge to Sydoyne
fayre doughter I wolde not that he sholde mete with your husbonde for I am aferde y t he sholde hurte hym for his strokes ben ouer harde My lorde sayd she yf he be wyse he shall kepe hym fro hyÌ„ for yonder knyght is to harde They had moche talkynge of Ponthus of his knyghthode but all they were in grete thought for to wete what he was It taryed not longe after y t Ponthus of auenture encountred with the kynge of bourgoyne so he sawe hym ryght nobly rychely arayed armed he thought well that it was the kynge or some grete lorde of Bourgoyne than he smote his horse with his spores and hytte hym in the myddes of y e shelde his spere was grete stronge so he toke hym as he whiche had ynoughe of strength and hardynes and in especyall to do dedes of armes before his lady that of soo longe tyme he had not sene her so the stroke was so grete that he bare the kynge ouer the croper of his hors that he loste the brydell of golde and that other was yonge and stronge bare hym backwarde fell in to a grete pytte full of stones and Ponthus wende for to haue lepte ouer but they fell all in so sore the kynge vndernethe all that he was deed and his hors deed The Bourgoynyons were all heuy and sory for theyr lorde and euery man cryed y e newe wedded kynge is deed Ponthus herde it y t whiche recked but lytell of it and no more dyde Sydoyne Ponthus alyghted of his hors and all his felowes wente vp vnto the scaffoldes and dyde of his helme and anone euery body knewe hym he came to Sydoyne and toke her by the hande and sayd Madame ye must be my prysoner saue ye shall haue good pryson She wexed reed and had grete Ioye in her herte an answered agayne yf I owe to be your prysoner I muste nedes suffre it The kynge was gone downe of the scaffoldes the whiche was ryght sory for the deth of the kynge of bourgoyne but whan it was tolde hyÌ„ that it was Ponthus that had done al the meruayles and y t he had takeÌ„ his doughter he was ryght Ioyfull sayd y e god hathe ordeyned y t he shall haue her we may gyue her to no better knyght for truly there is in hym so moche worthynes y t he is able to haue y e kyÌ„ges doughter of frauÌ„ce but truly I wende he had be deed as men dyd me to vnderstande Than he came ayenst Ponthus Ponthus sayd y t good lyfe gyue hym god as to his lorde there was grete Ioye bytwene them It is not to aske yf the lordes the ladyes made hym grete Ioye And his cosyn germayne and his felawes made hym grete Ioye saue Guenelet whiche made Ioye with mouth but not with herte The cyte and al the people thanked hyghly god sayd that god had vysyted them for we shall now haue a kynge whiche shall kepe vs from all harmes dyseases Grete was the Ioye of this auenture Ponthus helde with hym the erle of Gloucestre the erle of Wynchestre the erle of RychemouÌ„de dyuers other barons knyghtes of Englonde and all the remenaunt he sent to the shyppes The kynge made grete Ioye to these lordes and soo dyde Sydoyne and in especyall to the erle of Gloucestre the whiche was ryght a good knyght he asked hym of the welfare of the kynge of Englonde whiche was his cosyn The erle tolde hym of the auentures that was befall to the kynge to the realme how by the worthynes of Ponthus they had the ouer hande of the kynge of Irlonde and how that he toke hym in the myddes of all his men ledde hym awaye whether he wolde or not all the maner also how that he wolde not put hym to no raunsom but made a ê“eas bytwene bothe kynges And also the erle tolde hym how the soudans sone londed with grete nombre of people how they were by Ponthus dyscomfyted slayne how Ponthus wanne the grete tresoures of the sayd hethen kynge that be so grete that it is meruayll for to here for he had not cessed to robbe pyll vpon crysten londes well the space of .xii. yere After he tolde hyÌ„ how y t he named hyÌ„selfe Surdyt de driot voyce and made himselfe but a poore knyghtes sone Whan the kynge herde that he had so named hyÌ„selfe he auysed hym sayd that he dyde it bycause that he had aledged mater ayenst him and the name was by cause that he sholde haue his doughter and the cause that he named hyÌ„ de droit voyce bycause he wolde haue foughten with two or thre and many studyed vpon these names After the erle tolde the kynge how the kyÌ„ge of Englonde all his couÌ„seyll had offered Ponthus to haue Genneuer his eldest doughter to be kyÌ„ge after y e decesse of her fader in his lyfe to be gouernoure of Englonde how he exscused hyÌ„ wolde not be it And also he tolde hyÌ„ y t by a naked knyght he was knowen y t he was the sone of Harlant how the kynge all the lordes helde themselfe asshamed for y t they had done him no more worshyp than they dyde bycause he was a kynges sone The kynge of Brytayne had grete Ioye to here tell of the grete worshyp of Ponthus yet well more had Sydoyne the lordes y t were there for it was ryght a noble a good tale to here After y t the erle had tolde his tale the lordes of Brytayne called the kynge asyde sayd to hyÌ„ Syr what thynge wyll ye do do speke vnto Ponthus in haast y t he take your doughter than shall ye all your realme be well kepte for we be in doubte y t he wyll not take her bycause of y e kynges doughter of Englonde for y t is moche better maryage than this also he hath so grete tresoures ryches y t setteth but lytel by ony dauÌ„ger Fayre lordes sayd the kynge I praye you that ye wyl thynke theron for I desyre it moost of ony thyÌ„ke in the worlde for neuer erst befell vs so good an auenture Than wente the lordes comyned togyder and gaue the voyce to speke to the vycouÌ„t of lyon for to speke to Ponthus Syr they spake to hym ryght goodly how that he was fyrst saued in y e couÌ„tre of bryatayne and how that the kynge loued hym and how that by enuy false lesynges the kynge he were at debate how that the kynge was aged how that he was to lyght of byleue there is no man wtout some tatche And therfore y e kynge for the loue that he hath to you for the welth profyte of the countre he offreth you his doughter to be kynge after hym And Ponthus y t desyred none other thyÌ„ge answered Than
of margaretes that it was meruayll for to se the grete ryches that it was worthe for it was praysed more than thyrty thousande besauntes of golde The kyÌ„ge sawe theym and sayd to his doughter Fayre doughter ye be not maryed to prynce dyssheryted god hath gyuen hym and you fayre good and ryche and noble lo ye ought to thanke god After that Ponthus gaue to the kynge ryght fayre gyftes and good Iewelles as precyous stones perles and cuppes of golde and to the barons of Brytayne he gaue gyftes of golde ryches after that they were he was moche praysed for his grete gyftes and of his grete largesse The day of the maryage were the lordes of Englonde of Irlonde of scotlonde rychely arayed and they of brytayne dyde them grete worshyp Grete was the feest grete was the Ioye of mynstrelles and of heraldes Grete gyftes gaue them Ponthus There was many rhynges bytwene y e courses And there were made many meruayllous thynges Ponthus made auowe whiche was moche spoken of for he sayd thus bycause that men sholde nâ—t saye the kynges doughter hath taken a man without londe therfore I make myne auowe that neuer shal I come in her bedde tyll that I be lorde of the realme and londe whiche was my faders crowned or elles I shall dye therfore And I auowe to god y t I neuer kyssed her nor requyred her of thynge that sholde tourne to disworshyp whan that I departed out of this countree nor thought more to doo vnto her than vnto myne owne moder Soo he sayd thus bycause of the wordes the kynge had meued before tyme for the whiche he departed from brytayne And whaÌ„ Sydoyne wyste y t he had made this auowe she was ryght Ioyfull therof all thoughe she had leuer haue had his felawshyp so it was moche spokeÌ„ of some sayd that he was a ryght good man and a trewe knyght and some sayd that he had delayed the grete frendshyp disporte that she supposed to haue hadde with hym Than sayd the kynge in good fayth I was to hasty to byleue suche tales so lyghtly The feest was ryght grete but the kynge wolde not that yere sholde be Iustes for the auenture of that befell of the kynge of bourgoyne for fere that some myschefe sholde haue befallen And than they began to synge daunce and made many geÌ„tylmanly dysportes And at euen Ponthus came in to the chambre to Sydoyne and said vnto her A my swete loue all my Ioye my herte my lyfe all my sustynaunce I haue ben to hasty of the auowe that I haue made but in good fayth I made it for to saue your worshyp for the wycked tongues of the worlde are alwaye redy to reporte the worste And for trouth my fayre loue I shall suffre greter dysease than ony body for the grete desyre that I haue to be bytwene your armes but god wyll I shall be there hasty for it is the gretest desyre that myne herte hath My swete loue and lorde sayd she wote it well that all your pleasure is myne we ought to desyre no thyÌ„ge so moche as worshyp and good name so ye haue done well for to put awaye the doubte of the mysse sayers Inoughe they talked togyder than they halsed and kyssed there was moche Ioye feestynge of armes tyll the .xv. dayes were passed There was y e monstre and the brytons were nombred foure thousande fyue hondred armed men And of the normans twelue hondred and were all waged payed for syxe monethes It was a fayre thynge for to se theym assemble with the nauy of Englonde ¶ How Ponthus departed from Brytayne for to go â—onquere his countree PPonthus toke his leue of y e kynge and of Sydoyne And by flatery this Guenelet dyde soo moche that he abode with the kynge with Sydoyne as all gouernour keper of them And Ponthus toke hym a party of his tresoure to kepe So at the departynge there was wepynge ynoughe of Sydoyne and of the ladyes Ponthus kyssed her toke his leue and betoke her the moost parte of his Iowelles rychesse to kepe Than he departed wente by londe passed by nauntes came to sable danlon to derbendelles there was his grete nauy And there arryued Geffrey de lesygnen Androwe de la toure with grete felawshyp And than Ponthus receyued theym with grete Ioye as the two knyghtes straungers of the worlde that he loued beste than he gaue theym grete gyftes And than came Guyllam de roches a good knyghte Paraunt de rocheforte the lorde de douay Pyers de donne Gerarde de chateau goutyer Iohn meleurier with the herupoys Of the manseaus beaunmount la vale Sygles de doncelles and other of the countre of mayne Of Tourayne baussay mayle hay of other tourangeaus Of poytw the vycount of toures the erles brother of marche maulyon chastemur la garnache dyuers other Ponthus gaue them grete gyftes that they all were abasshed of his largesse sayd that there was none to serue hym he is worthy to conquere and to gouerne all the worlde by his grete courtesye and largesse To euery baron knyght he delyuered shyppes after that they had people And than they toke the see and departed with grete Ioy. It taryed not longe that all the nauy assembled soo it was a good syght to se the shyppes and the sayles drawen vp that it semed a grete forest So they had wynde at wyll passed the yle of doloron And whan they were a .vi. myle from the columpne Ponthus made the ancres for to be caste and all the shyppes to abyde he sayd to the lordes to the chyefteynes it were good to entre in to the countre by nyght for the mone shyneth and therfore lette vs londe a thre or foure myle from columpne and than to withdrawe our nauy agayne for I wolde not sayd Ponthus that they of y e countree sholde knowe vs for certayne causes Than he ordeyned aboute y e sonne goynge downe that they sholde departe and so they dyde And soo they londed a foure myle frome the cyte of columpne Whan they were londed they sente theyr shyppes in to the hyghe see bycause that they sholde not be aspyed Than they hydde them in a valey vnder a grete wood and helde themselfe as preuy as they myght ¶ How Ponthus founde his vncle the Erle of desture syr Patrycke y e knyght in a chapell by columpne THan Ponthus toke an hors rode out at the wood syde for to se yf he myght fyÌ„de ony man of the couÌ„tree for to wete and to knowe the rule of the londe So it befell y t he came to a lytell chapell ryght deuoute It happened of fortune y t the erle of desture Ponthus vncle syr Patrycke y e knyght y t saued him his .xiii. felawes were rysen afore day So these two knyghtes loued togyder as bretherne and they
hadde saued the people from the deth made them to yelde trybute to the hethen kynge in abydynge the mercy of god of theyr delyuernaunce Soo they were vp before day to come on pylgrymage to that chapell that they sholde not be aspyed of y e sarasynes So it befell whā Ponthus sawe y e chapell he wente thyder and a lyght and wente in and it was in the sprynge of the daye so he loked and sawe two men knelynge before y e auter for the whiche he had grete Ioye for he supposed they were crysten men syth they were in y e chapell in theyr prayers And whan y e two knyghtes herde hym come they were sore aferde wende to haue ben aspyed of the sarasynes And Ponthus asked theym what they were name you hardely tell me what ye be what lawe ye holde of sayd Ponthus god wyll I shal not hyde my name nor my god for in good fayth I am a crysten man thā sayd his vncle ye be ryght welcome for your felawshyp pleaseth vs well also we be crysten men in herte but we pray you that ye well tell vs what ye be In good fayth sayd he my name is Ponthus I was y e kȳge of galyce sone whan his vncle the erle of desture herde it he ranne to hym his armes abrode and halfed hym kyssed hym and sayd A my ryght dere neuewe blessyd be god that he hath gyuen me the grace that I may se you or I dye Whan Ponthus sawe that he was his vncle felte the good chere and the good wyll y t he made hym he had grete Ioye sayd vnto hym For the loue of god syr what ye gyue me grete Ioy in myn herte yf it be as ye say The day began for to wexe clere so eche of them knewe other and whan they knewe they kyssed wepte bothe two neyther myght speke a worde whan they myght speke the erle sayd A fayre lorde neuewe how durst ye come hyder thus allone for yf ye be aspyed ye are lyke to be deed Fayre vncle sayd he I am not allone but I haue here with me more than .xxviii. thousande men of armes as of the floure of Englonde of Scotlonde of Irlonde of Brytayne of other countrees aboute Whan his vncle herde it he kneled downe and Ioyned his handes thanked god hyghly of his grace than he tolde hym the gouernaunce of the londe how the countre and the people were saued but that they yelde trybute to the kynge Broadas And than he shewed hym syr Patrycke the knyght that had saued hym And they twayne had saued all the countre Ponthus came to hym toke hym in his armes and sayd that he was all his So they spake ynough of dyuers thynges And Ponthus ledde theym for to se his meyny and whan they sawe them they had grete Ioy It behoueth sayd the two knyghtes that ye ordeyne you your bataylles And so he made his ordynaunce and set in a valey foure thousande men of armes that whan the kynge sholde come out of the towne for to fyght they sholde fall behynde hym that he sholde not withdrawe agayne to y e towne And also they delyuered to syr Patrycke fyue hondred men of armes for to laye in a certayne place that whan the kynge all his power were come out of the twone they sholde go in as thoughe they were sente for to kepe the towne and thus it was ordeyned amonge theym Than sayd syr Patrycke fayre lordes this assemble is made by the pourueyaunce of god that hath sente vs Ponthus the ryghtfull lorde of this countree The Erle of desture sawe his sone Polydes y t whiche was a ryght goodly knyght so he kyssed hym and made hym grete Ioye Than sayd the erle of desture lorde sette you in ordynaunce for I shall goo tell the kynge Broad as that crysten men are entred for to robbe this countre he shall come out with as many men as he may shall come rennynge without ony ordynaūce wherfore he shall be the more easy for to dyscomfyte And sende ye forth a lytell balyngere for to fetche a thre score shyppes to come to the londe sette some hous on fyre soo he shall not knowe of your grete power wherfore he shall come all dysarayed without makynge ony ordynaunce Than the Erle toke his leue and departed came to the towne reght erly he came to the kynge as a man afrayed the kynge rose vp and he salewed hym by mahowne than he sayd to the kynge Syr the crysten men be come for to pyll and to robbe your countre and they ben but two myle frome the towne be they many sayd the kynge Syr I wote neuer but as I may apperceyue there ben a thre score shyppes Fye sayd he be they no more by mahowne in an euyll tyme be they come So I shall tell you for I dremed this nyght that I became a grete blacke wolfe and y t ye set vpone me a grete whyte greyhounde a braket and y t the greyhounde slewe me A syr sayd the erle to the kynge ye oughte not to byleue in dremes ye saye trouth sayd the kynge Go and make to blowe vp the trumpettes do crye that euery man do arme them Soo we shall take the fals rybaudes and robbers on the see the whiche I shall make them all to be slayne and to be drawen at the hors tayles Ye saye well sayd the erle whiche thought it sholde not go soo The erle wente forth armed hym made to crye that euery man sholde arme them So euery man armed them and lepte on horsbacke The kȳge was rychely armed and wente out of the towne without makynge of ony ordynaunce but who so myght go wente Soo there wente forth mo than .xii. thousande on horsbacke with out fote men archers arbelasters of suche as had none horses ¶ How Ponthus slewe Broadas y t slewe his fader Ponthus had ordened his bataylles sette in a valey foure thousande mē of armes for to fall bytwene them the towne And syr Patrycke came with his fyue hondred fyghters in to a preuy place for to wynne the towne he abode tyl that he sawe his tyme to departe The kynge smote his hors w t the spores to y t parte where he sawe y e smoke towarde y e see and sawe not past a .iii. score shyppes now on them they be all shente theyr god shall neuer saue theym but y t they shall dye an euyll deth he abode not tyll he was passed the place where the .iiii. thousande men were than he behelde afore hym sawe y e grete bataylles in ordynaūce so he was ameruayled of this dede wende to haue withdrawen hȳ for to haue set his men in ordynaūce he ordeyned a grete party for he was a wyse knyght an hardy in armes and as he made his ordynaunce he herde
for some of them dyde yelde them and were conuerted Ponthus gaue them good ynough to lyue vpon and the remenaūt that myght flee they fledde wherof some were slayne by y e spanyardes and by theym of y e realme of Castyle other perysshed in dyuers places myscheuously Wherof y e Sowdan of babyloyne was syth ryght sorowfull for to haue loste thus his thre sones and his men he was ryght angry with mahowne sayd before all men as a man out of his wytte that the god crucyfyed had ouercome hym that he was of greter vertue than mahowne whan he hadde not saued his sones his men And so there was grete complaynt for theym in babyloyne in damaske Ponthus made leches to be sought for to hele the people that were woūded and hurte in the batayll hymselfe vysyted them often made men to brȳge them all that theym neded he fested felawshypped the lordes and gaue theym grete gyftes And also he founde in a toure the grete tresour of kynge Broadas the whiche was a grete thynge to tell And whan he had ouer ryden the countre and clensed of the mysoyleuers he founde moche people the londe well laboured bothe of vynes and of cornes From all the countrees the people came rennynge for to se theyr ryghtfull lorde as it had ben to myracles they loued hym well for his grete renowne and worthynes his bounte and his courtesye for there was none so symple nor so poore but that he wolde speke to here hym mekely he was ryght pyteuous of the poore people he loued god and holy chyrche And whan he had done all his dedes he came to the columpne to his crownacōn where he was full solemply crowned by the handes of the bysshop at whiche daye he helde a notable a royall feest And thyder came to hym the kynge of Aragon his vncle that was his moders brother the whiche had grete Ioye to se hym of his vyctorye he tolde hym how kynge Broadas had warred vpon hym and how there was takē a trewes bytwene them for a certayne tyme in to the tyme that god had set remedye and thrughe his grace he hath ryght well purueyed of the pyte by you Thus complayned the kynge to his neuewe yet he tolde hym that he abode y e comynge downe of the kynge of Fraūce the kynge of spayne that sholde haue come this somer but I thanke god it is now no nede The feest was grete of the kynges crownacyon there was made many straunge thynges The grete lordes of the countre they came dyde theyr homage And also the fayre ladyes hadde grete Ioye that they were comen out of hell and of seruage where as they had lyued in sorowe heuynes now they be aswaged in to Ioye myght in to paradyse as them semeth They lyked well theyr kynge in so moche that they had Ioye to loke vpon hym and all maner of people thanked god hyghly of theyr delyueraunce There was songes and many mynstrelsyes whiche were to longe to tell ¶ How Ponthus knewe his moder amonge y e poore people that wente askȳnge theyr brede for goddes sake how he put his crowne vpon her heed THe kynge dyde brynge presente by .xii. fayre ladyes and .xii. olde knyghtes grete gyftes Iowelles to the good knyghtes chyeftaynes some of fayre coursers other of fayre cuppes of golde and syluer of fayre clothes of golde of sylke and many other grete Iowelles soo y t all men were ameruaylled of his largesse He was a man ryght pleasaunt and of grete courtesye of good condycyons So there befel a grete meruayll for the custome was that before the kynge sholde be serued .xiii. poore people for the loue of god and his apostles So it befell the erle wente vysytynge the tables as god wolde he behelde the table of the poore people and sawe a woman that loked vpon the kynge as she behelde hym the teeres fell downe frome her eyen The erle loked vpon her auysed her so wel that by a token she had in her chynne he knewe well that it was y e quene moder vnto kȳge Ponthus And whan he knewe her sawe her in so poore estate that her gowne was all to clouted and all to rente he myght not kepe hym from wepȳge so his herte swymmed for pyte to se her in soo poore araye And whan he myght speke he thanked god and wente behynde the kynge his neuewe sayd to hym Syr here is a grete meruayll wherof sayd the kynge The best and y e holyest lady that I knowe my lady the quene your moder is here in where is she sayd he and he with grete payne myght tell hym for pyte and whan he myght speke he tolde hym in counseyll Syr se her yonder w t the .xiii. poore folke at y e fyrst ende and y e kynge Ponthus behelde her and she apperceyued it and put her hode afore her eyen wepte And the kynge had grete pyte in his herte and sayd vnto his vncle Fayre vncle make noo semblaunt that none aspye it but whan we are vp fro the table I shall goo in to the warderobe thyder brynge her pryuely to me and so it was done Whan the tables were taken vp and graces yelden to god the kynge departed pryuely and wente in to his warderobe and the Erle of desture his vncle brought thyder the quene his moder pryuely And whan kyge Ponthus sawe her he kneled downe before her toke his crowne set it on her heed And she toke hym vp all wepynge kyssed hym often she kyssed hym and halsed hym sore they wepte she her sone the erle And whan they myghte speke kynge Ponthus sayd vnto her A madame so moche pouerte and dysease ye haue suffred endured A my swete knyght and sone sayd she I am come out of the paynes of hell and god hath gyuen me paradyse whan it hath pleased hym to gyue me soo longe lyfe that I may se you with myne eyen and that I se vengeaunce for my lorde your fader that tho tyraūtes put to the deth and also that I se the countree voyded of the messebyleuers and the holy lawe of Ihesu cryste to be serued I wote well that this trouble and sorowe hath endured well a .xiii. yere as by chastysynge of god for the grete delytes lustes that were vsed in this realme soo me semeth now that god hath mercy on his people that he hath kepte you and sente you for to delyuer the countre of the mysbyleuers Ryght well spake the quene wysely as an holy lady that she was Now I praye you sayd the kȳge tell me how ye escaped how ye were saued Fayre sone I shal tell you whan y e crye was grete in the towne in y e mornynge your fader slayne I was in my bedde your fader armed
hym w t an hawberke and his helme ranne forth without ony more abydynge as the hardyest knyght that was as men sayd Whan he was departed herde the crye I was sore a ferde toke one of my womennes gownes wente my waye with my launder I founde of auenture the posterne open y t some people had opened soo I went out wente to the woodes faste by the landes where as dwelled an holy heremyte the whiche had a chapell and a lodge at the wodes syde So I abode there and my chamberer whiche was aged came euery daye to fetche the almes at the kynges hous And therby we lyued the heremyte she and I so ye may se how god hath saued me In good fayth sayd y e kyÌ„ge her sone ye ledde an holy lyfe so dyde she for she wered y e hayre wente gyrde with a corde was an holy lady The kyÌ„ge had grete Ioye grete pyte of his moder Than he sente for his taylloures and dyde shape kyrtelles gownes and mantelles for his moder of veluet bothe blewe purple made them to be furred with veer and ermyne fables whan it came to theyr souper they brought in the quene rychely arayed And whan the kynge of Aragon her brother sawe her he toke her in his armes and kyssed her sayd that he wende not that she had ben on lyue The lordes and the ladyes of Galyce had grete Ioye of the quene dyde her grete worshyp for they helde her for a good an holy lady And they were all ameruaylled fro whens she came for they wende she had be deed Her brother the kynge of Aragoon was set at souper at the tables ende and after the quene than her sone the kynge Ponthus for the day of his crownacyon he must kepe his estate The quene was of goodly porte semed well to be a grete lady she was ryght humble had grete Ioye of the goodnes and worshyp that she sawe in her sone Than she sayd to her sone Fayre sone I haue grete desyre for to se our doughter your wyfe for the grete goodes I haue herde of her Madame sayd he ye shall se her hastely yf it please god That daye passed with grete Ioye grete dysportes of ladyes of syngynge of daunsynge and of other maner playes That nyght kynge Ponthus dremed that a bere deuoured quene Sydoyne his wyfe and she cryed sayd A Ponthus my swete lorde suffre me not thus to dye This auysyon fell to hyÌ„ twyes or thryes so he was sore afrayed ther with grete meruayll in his herte what it mente In the mornynge in the sprynge of the daye he called vp his men and sente for his vncle syr Patrycke so they came to hym he tolde them his auysyons he sayd myne herte telleth me that my wyfe hath some sekenes or in some trouble so I wyll no lenger abyde here for I wyll go as faste as I can to se her Whan they sawe his wyll they durste not agayne saye hym Than sayd the kynge fayre lordes I thanke god and you this countree is clensed of the myssebyleuers and I thynke well y t by you two the couÌ„tre hath be saued and the people kepte fro the deth by your good rule as it was goddes wyll So I bethynke me of Moyses Aaron that god set to saue the people of Israell so ye shall haue meryte and the guerdon of god And as for me I am ryght moche bounde to you wherfore fayre vncle I make you my leutenauÌ„t syr Patrycke shall be senesshall constable of this realme for it is grete reason that ye that haue done soo moche good saued the countre ye to haue the rule and the gouernaunce And ye syr Patrycke my dere frende ye saued me soo I shall gyue you londe good so largely y t ye shall not lese your good seruyce Syr Patrycke kneled downe and thanked hym Than the kynge coÌ„maunded them that the estate of y e quene his moder were kepte and that she sholde haue her coÌ„maundement as it were to his owne propre persone also y t they sholde susteyne the poore as well as the ryche that the ryche sholde not greue nor ouerlay the poore And than he coÌ„mauÌ„ded theym to repayre chyrches glasse wyndowes of all other thynges where as they were broken to make them vp agayne I shall take you ten thousande besauntes of golde therto he ordeyned ryght well for his realme all thynges that neded And than he went and herde his masses sent his dyner in to the shyppe and toke his leue of his moder the quene sayd vnto her herynge all men Madame I leue you the realme and the tresoure that I haue all in your grace gouernaunce I haue coÌ„mauÌ„ded coÌ„mauÌ„de all men to obey you as I my propre persone better I leue you myn vncle and syr Patrycke my good knyght y t whiche I haue made my constable seneshall of this realme myne vncle my leutenaunt Soo he toke his leue wepynge she prayed hym that he wolde come agayne in shorte tyme for she wolde fayne se his wyfe and he toke his leue of the lordes the ladyes of the countree and wente to the shyppes euery man arayed hym dressed hym to the see Kynge Ponthus came vnto y e barâ—ns tolde theym what auysyon there was befall hym wherfore he sholde neuer be at hertes ease tyl he had sene his wyfe So he toke the see sayled so longe tyll he sawe the costes of Brytayne ¶ Of y e false letters and treason that Guenelet dyde ayenst Ponthus wherfore he dyed with grete myschefe as ye shall here hereafter GUenelet was abyden keper of the kyÌ„ge and of his doughter for kynge Ponthus had gyuen hym all the gouernauÌ„ce as ye haue herde before wherfore he had grete Ioye Neuerthelesse he myght not kepe hymselfe nor chastyse hymselfe from treason so he bethought hym that he wolde haue the quene Sydoyne to his wyfe by what waye and that he wolde be lorde and kynge of the countree eyther by fayre or by foule so he wolde set hymselfe in auenture Soo the deuyll tempted hym so moche y t he dyde stuffe the cyte and the castelles sente for sowdyours gaue theym syluer in hande for to haue the loue of them of armes So is syluer of an euyll vertue for the good men put them in peryll of deth And whaÌ„ he had stuffed all the fortresses he dyde make a fals seale of kyÌ„ge Ponthus and made two false letters that one to the kynge and that other to the quene Sydoyne the whiche specyfyed that kynge Ponthus recoÌ„maunded hym to the kynge that all his men were dyscomfyted slayne and hymselfe hurte to the deth without ony remedye So he prayed hym that for his welfare for the welth of the countre that he wolde gyue his doughter
he myght not come in by that meane he thretened her sore and swore that he sholde take her by force make her his wenche yf she wolde not be his wyfe badde her chose whiche that she wolde A said she whiche that was angry to here tho vngoodly wordes Traytoure thou shalte not come therto and god wyll for thou shalte dye an euyll deth for this false enterpryse Than he waxed angry and sayd syth that he had done so moche he wolde fynysshe it what soo euer befall Soo he toke the kynge and put hym in pryson for fere that he sholde gader no men of armes ayenst hym And than he came to the bourgeys sayd vnto hym how quene Sydoyne was gyuen hym of her husbonde by good letters also the kynge her fader was accorded therto hycause that she wolde haue be wedded to a man of nought the whiche wolde haue hated and dystroyed y e countre but sayd he yf I haue her I shall kepe the fraunchyses and lybertees shall kepe you as golde doth the stone So I haue set the kynge in a chambre for he is al doted and hath no wytte he wolde lyghtly consente vnto the lewde courage of his doughter wherby the countre sholde be loste yf it befell as they thynke but I shal kepe them well therfro with goddes helpe youres for to saue the welfare of brytayne So he gaue largely to them that he supposed myght noye hym he dyde it in suche wyse wenynge to them that he had sayd trouth wherfore they durste not ones aryse nor meue and also he had many straunge sowdyours ¶ How Guenelet made to assayle the toure where as Sydoyne was in WHan he had spoken with the bourgeys and y e people he came to the toure assayled it So there was within but .v. men foure women that threwe downe grete stones defended the toure well also there was the moost parte of them y t dyde but fayne for they wolde not that she sholde be taken The assaute lasted a grete whyle And whaÌ„ Guenelet had fayled he was ryght sorowfull angry thought at y e leest he wolde haue enfamysshed them In good fayth sayd quene Sydoyne we haue vytayll ynoughe for a moneth or more in the meane tyme god shall helpe vs and sende vs rescowes And whan Guenelet vnderstode her he wende to haue renne madde for anger for he was all dystraught bycause he fayled of his purpose wolde wysshed y t he had neuer begon but syth that he hath vndertaken it he wyll fynysshe it or elles dye therfore Soo he set good watche wardes aboute the toure that there sholde no vytayll come to them than he bethought hym of a grete malyce for he came to the kynge prayed hym that he wolde go to his doughter for he woteth well y t he sholde tourne her of her foly that she hath taken in honde and tolde hym that he wolde not famysshe her but fall to a trety The kynge was good trewe thought none harme but wente to his doughter tolde her how she was in waye to be deed shewed her many ensamples And she answered hym to the contrary how he thought well the letters were false and ye wote well sayd she that other tymes hath he sayd that he was deed Soo I shall rather dye but yf I knowe y e very trouth In good fayth sayd the kynge it may well be as ye saye for I knowe no man of knowlege that hath ben there and harde it is where as none escapeth So they ben somwhat comforted for the grete vntrouth that they knowe in hym Guenelet asked the kyÌ„ge that he sawe aboue at the wyndowe Syr what wyll she doo Soo helpe me god sayd the kynge I may not spede for she is yet all sorowfull and angry for her lorde wherfore I may haue no good answere No sayd Guenelet by the holy fayth ye shall abyde with her and bere her felawshyp for to ete pesen plommes for ye shall bothe two dye for honger or I shall haue her So the kynge abode with his doughter wherfore she had the soner pyte for the honger and dysease of her fader Foure dayes or fyue they had mete ynoughe but at the syxte day theyr vytaylles fayled them for them had neyther brede nor flesshe So they were two dayes that they ete no mete saue a lytell chese eche of theÌ„ a draught of wyne The kynge began to feble sore Quene Sydoyne had noo more but syxe apples wherof she gaue her fader euery daye two she wepte and sorowed for the grete dysease that her fader was in and that dyde her more sorowe than her owne So loked ofte tymes out at a wyndowe towarde y e see yf she myght se ony thynge come Soo she wysshed ofte tymes after her lorde kynge Ponthus and than she wepte and made grete sorowe desyrynge her owne dethe sayd to the kynge A my lorde it had ben better for you that I had ben deed longe ago than to gyue you suche a payne or that ye had suffred so moche honger for me The kynge wepte and sayd I had leuer dye fâ—r honger rather than yonder traytour sholde haue you by this meane Quene Sydoyne called hym and sayd fals traytour how mayst thou suffre the kynge to dye whiche is soo good a man Alas sayd she is it y e norture that he hath made of the whan thou hast besyeged makest him to dye for honger and for thurste that often tymes hathe gyuen the good mete and drynke is this the guerdon that thou yeldest hym She sayd hym moche shame but it auaylled noo thynge for he made his othe that he sholde made hym too dye for veray greate honger yf she wolde not consente to be his The kynge dyed almoost for honger laye in his bedde and myght not stere And whaÌ„ quene Sydoyne behelde hym she sayd that she had leuer dye or languysshe all her lyfe than her fader sholde dye for her than she sayd vnto hym wepyÌ„ge My ryght swete lorde fader I may no lenger suffre your sorowe nor the honger ye abyde I haue leuer to for dye or elles to be in sorowe al my lyf languysshynge than to se you in this plyght The kynge wepte and wyste neuer what to saye for to se that he sholde haue his doughter by this waye it greued hym sore on the other syde to se hymselfe dye her togyder it dyde hyÌ„ harme for they sholde be cause of theyr owne dethe So he sorowed sore sayd that he had to longe lyued so he coude not counseyll hymselfe sayd vnto her Fayre doughter I wote neuer how we may be auysed nor what counseyll I may gyue you so moche sorowe I haue but for to se you dye I may not suffre it And I wolde that the deth toke me so that kynge Ponthus were on lyue
in the towne on y e stronger partye for he wolde auenge hym well on the traytour y t wolde haue you ayenst your wyl And the squyers the gentylwomen the whiche were at the deth wood for honger as it was noo meruayll for it was passed foure dayes and more that they had eten no maner of thynge they sayd Madame ye shall be cause of the deth of the kynge youre fader of you and vs it were better to take the vnhappy man than for to do wors Whan she sawe that she muste nedes do it for to saue her fader more than for her owne deth that she recked not of she sayd that syth it is so she shall do her wyll Than she wente to y e wyndowe dyde call Guenelet and he came so she tourned agayne sent her fader badde hym to speke to Guenelet yf he myght fynde none other remedy that ye sholde accorde with him so that he haue .viii. dayes or more of respyte yf ye may to recouer vs of the honger sorowe that he hath set vs in The kynge rose vp spake to Guenelet and she wed hym that by strength he sholde neuer gete y e loue of her that he wolde leue his enterpryse he sholde gyue hym townes castelles or what thynge y t he wolde haue He answered agayne y t he wolde not take all y e realme but y t he wolde haue her syth y t her lorde had gyuen her to hym Than sayd the kynge here is but lytell reason I doubte me y t ye wyll not reioyse her longe All auayled not y t the kynge sayd for he was more in cursydnes than he was afore And sayd not for to dye he wolde leue his enterpryse what so euer befall The kȳge asked hym a monethes respyte at the monethes ende he sholde gyue hȳ an answere And Guenelet wolde ryght nought do but the kȳge dyde so moche y t he had foure dayes of respyte after the foure dayes he sholde wedde her that she cōsented therto And thus was the mater agreed sworne yet sayd Guenelet y t she sholde not departe out of y e coure tyll the daye came y t sholde be wedded he had grete Ioye and dyde bere her euery daye of the best metes that he myght fynde than he helde the kynge well auysed After the fourth daye the feest the araye was grete for Guenelet flyed for Ioye for to haue so fayre a lady that he loued so moche The kynge wente and fetched her doune and she came all be wepte and was so heuy that she had leuer haue dyed than lyued and wysshed in her herte after her lorde kynge Ponthus and sayd Alas in an euyll houre was I borne for symple chaūge haue I now made So she was ledde to the chirche and the bysshop fyaunced them wedded them The teres fel often thycke from her eyen The mete was ordeyned there was many dyuers thȳges of trumpes taboures fydelles Ryght mery Ioyous was Guenelet but I doubte it was ayenst his mysse auenture as it pleased god for euery mā shal be rewarded after his seruyce y t day was the feest ryght grete ¶ Here leueth to speke of them and retourne agayne to kynge Ponthus POnthus the kynge whiche was in the shyppes and had taken the see and hadde taken leue of his moder and of his vncle and of his Barons of the countre and had all ordeyned as ye haue herde afore He dyde drawe vp the saylles and had wynde at wyll and saylled soo longe tyll they arryued in the yle of there faste by the rochell there toke leue of hym the poyteuynes the aungeuynes manseaus torengeaus So kynge Ponthus toke his leue of them thanked them moche and gaue them grete gyftes Than he toke the see agayne he and the other nauy of Englonde of brytayne And the wynde fell all calyne kynge Ponthus toke two small Balyngers and a thre score felawes with hym and began to rowe Qunene Sydoyne had dremed that her lorde came wherfore she had sente one of her squyers to the see syde to se yf ony thynke came So he was lepte on a courser and he behelde the two balyngers sawe in them a standarde So he supposed wel that it was of the army of galyce wherfore he toke his hode made a sygne of callynge Kynge Ponthus behelde and sayd se yōnder a ryder and that maketh vs a sygne of callȳge it semeth as though he had grete haast or elles he mocketh vs haast you that we there at hym And whan he knewe that it was kynge Ponthus he cryed vnto hym A syr haast you what is there is there ony thynge ¶ How the kynge Ponthus slewe Guenelet in playne souper THan the squyer tolde hym how that Guenelet had serued hym frome poynt to poynte And whan kynge Ponthus herde this he blessyd hym and was ameruaylled that euer he thought to do suche grete treason Now sayd y e squyer they shall be anone at souper so it shall be harde to come in I shal tell you sayd kȳge Ponthus how we shall do we shal dysguyse vs at yonder vyllage we shall go in daunsynge with pypes and tabours and we shall bere presentes saynge that we ben felowes whiche haue grete Ioye of the maryage by that meane we shall come in with the daunses In good fayth sayd the squyers it is well sayd and soo it was done Kynge Ponthus and his felowes dysguysed theym in gownes of the good mennes of the subbarbes And they went daunsynge in to the courte So it was nyghe y e sonne goynge downe and men lete theym entre in to the hall wel dysguysed Some had hatres of strawe and of grene bowes and some had hodes stuffed with heye some were haltynge some were croke backed euery man made after his owne guyse Guenelet had grete Ioye and sayd ye se well how the comyn people haue grete Ioye of our weddynge here be fayre dysportes that they make vs but he knewe not of y e busshemēt wherby he was sone angred ▪ And whan kynge Ponthus and his felawshyp had daunsed twyes or thryes aboute the hall and had beholde the hyghe deys and sawe Guenelet that made grete Ioye and grete feest of the daunses and wayted at the table Kynge Ponthus came thyderwarde and caste awaye his dysguysynge so that euery man knewe hym and sayd to Guenelet A tryatour false and vntrue how durste thou thynke so grete treason ayenst me and the kynge and his doughter whiche haue nourysshed the and done the soo moche good a symple guerdon haste thou yelded theym agayne therfore but now y u shalte haue thy payment Guenelet behelde hym the whiche was all loste wyst not what to answere for he thought he had ben deed Kynge Ponthus drewe a lytell sweede ryght sharpe smote hym so that he claue his heed
the body to the nauyll after he cutte of his heed in sygne of a traytoure in two peces made hym to be drawen out coÌ„maunded y t he sholde be borne to the gallous whan the kynge and his doughter sawe the kynge Ponthus they lepte fro the table came rennynge theyr armes abrode halsed hym kyssed hym Quene Sydoyne wepte for Ioye kyssed his mouth his eyen and she myght not departe frome hym Kynge Ponthus had so grete pyte for the dysease that they had suffred that the teres fell from his eyen so sore his herte was And whan theyr hertes were somwhat lyghted the kynge sayd Fayre sone it had but lytell fayled that ye sholde haue loste the syght of your wyfe me Than he tolde hym of the grete treason of the false letters of the hunger that he made them to suffre Kynge Ponthus blessyd hym was all abasshed sayd that neuer erst was borne suche a traytoure nor neuer was thought suche a false treason I bethynke me sayd he of Ihesu cryst y t had .xii. apostles of the whiche one solde hym And so we came hyder .xiii. felowes as it pleased god wherof one was wors than Iudas but thaÌ„ked be god he is well payed of his rewarde A sayd the kynge yf ye had lenger abyden ye had be yet more mocked God wolde it not sayd kynge Ponthus Now lete vs leue this talkynge sayd the kynge for this mater is well fynysshed to my pleasure and lete vs thynke for to lede Ioye dysporte and also tell vs of your dede how ye haue spedde Ryghte well I thanke god sayd kynge Ponthus Than he tolde hym of the batayll of the dyscomfyture how the countre was clensed well laboured and than there were some that tolde all the rule the maner how he was crowned They had all grete Ioye to here of the fayre auenture that god had sente hym Than they set theym downe to souper and songe daunsed ledde Ioye Quene Sydoyne was mery glad it is not to aske how in her herte she thanked god mekely to be escaped from soo grete peryll That nyght they were wel eased for both theyr hertes had ben in dystresse They talked of many thyÌ„ges had ynoughe of Ioye and dysporte togyder for they loued full well togyder They loued god and holy chirche were ryght charytable pyteuous of y e poore people That nyght the sowdyours of Guenelet fledde awaye who so myght go wente All y e people thanked god of y e comynge of kynge Ponthus they wente on pylgrymages processyons yeldynge graces to god for euery man wende he had be deed ¶ How the erle of rychemonde toke leue of Ponthus came in to Englonde tolde the kynge of the grete dedes of armes y t Ponthus had done ON the morowe after arryued the nauy of Englonde of brytayne of normandy whan they herde the treason of Guenelet they hadde moche meruayll how euer he durste thynke suche falsenesse The kynge of Brytayne receyued theym with grete Ioye And kynge Ponthus withhelde with hym the Erle of Gloucestre well a .xii. knyghtes more and sayd that within .xv. dayes he wolde go in to Englonde to se the kynge and y e quene her doughter Genneuer sayd to the erle of Rychemonde recoÌ„maunde me to theym and yf my lady Genneuer be not wedded I shall bryÌ„ge her an husbonde yf it please the kynge her to take hym So he tolde hym in his ere y t it was his cosyn germayne Polydes the whiche was a ryghte goodly knyght full of good condycyons lykely to come to grete worshyppe In good fayth sayd the erle ye saye trouth I can thynke the kynge wyll be ryght glad of hym haue hym in grete chere for the grete loue he hath to you So he conueyed hyÌ„ as fâ—rre as he myght and after toke his leue of theym So they departed came in to theyr owne countre with grete Ioye The erle of Rychemonde came to the courte and fouÌ„de the kynge the quene and the kynge of scottes that was come to them The kynge asked hym of the tydynges And he tolde hym of the begynnynge and endynge of all auentures And how the countre was delyuered of the sarasynes how that the countre and the people hadde be saued by the Erle of desture syr Patrycke in suche wyse that it was well laboured pleopled of men by y e trewage that they yelded wherby they lyued in peas And than he tolde hym of the grete treason falsenes of Guenelet afterwarde he tolde them of y e grete gyftes the good chere grete gentylnes y e kyÌ„ge Ponthus had shewed them And whan he had all tolde he called in couÌ„seyll y e kynge y e quene her doughter Genneuer the kyÌ„ge of scottes tolde them how kynge Ponthus wolde come thyder within .xv. dayes and had withholde with hym the erle of Gloucestre how he had spoken to hym of y e maryage of his cosyn germayne of Genneuer The kynge asked what maner knyght he was he answered y t he was the goodlyest knyght he knewe saue onely kynge Ponthus I tell you sayd he that he resembleth moche of person and of condycyons saue that he is somwhat lesse By my fayth sayd the kynge I accorde me yf it please my doughter And she kneled downe sayd what it pleased hym to coÌ„maunde her she sholde do The quene the kynge of scottes praysed agreed to the maryage And y e kyÌ„ge of scottes sayd syr it nedeth not to mary your doughter to a kynge or a lorde y t wolde not dwell in this realme for a kyÌ„ge or a grete lorde perauenture wolde not dwell in this countre that were not good for the people nor for the countre And wete well that as longe as kynge Ponthus lyueth there shall be noo man so hardy to assay to greue his londe Than sayd the kynge that he had sayd soth Genneuer that loued so moche the kyÌ„ge Ponthus sayd in her herte that the knyght pleased her more than ony other enquyred of hym frome ferre of the Erle and of the knyghtes that haue ben at y e warre that haue sene hym and the more that she enquyreth the better she fyndeth And the more she loueth hym Now hath she no desyre so grete as to se hym and she prayeth vnto god that he may come soone ¶ How kynge Ponthus made a grete feest at vennes and a grete Iustynge for to feest y e strauÌ„gers where as he wonne the pryse aboue all other THan kynge Ponthus tourned agayne to vennes whan he had conueyed the lordes of Englonde and of the countrees beyonde Soo they wente for to here masse and after they wente to mete And than sayd kynge Ponthus vnto all the barons of Brytayne Fayre lordes yf it pleaseth you we must
to the kynge of scottes laughynge I wote neuer what shall be of the speche that the erle of Rychemonde brought And the kynge smyled sayd ye haue sene hym what saye ye by hym pleaseth he you she wexed all reed and sayd I shall doo as my lorde ye wyll So he sawe well y t she lyked hym he came to the kynge and sayd to hym that it was good to wete of y e mater of his nece Than sayd y e kynge of Englonde ye saye trouth withdrawe you in to yonder chambre And the kynge withdrewe hym and sent for the kynge of Irlonde and the kynge of cornewayle and for the prynces and barons of his realme And whā they were come he tolde them how the erle of Rychemonde had spoken to hym from kynge Ponthus of the maryage of his doughter of Polydes and he sayd vnto them Fayre lordes ye knowe wel that I am aged may bere no more none armes nor laboure nor trauayll for to kepe you yf nede befell So it behoueth that our doughter were maryed to a man that were lykely to kepe you and to holde you in rest peas yf ye take a grete lorde or prynce perauenture he wyll make his dwellynge in his owne countre so sholde ye dwell wtout gouernour yf ony wronge were done to ony of you or too ony of this realme he sholde be fayne to goo out of the countre to seke ryght of his request therfore me semeth it were better for to take a yonge knyght of hyghe kynred that sholde abyde dwell with you and that wolde thynke hymselfe to be beholden to haue worshyp by his wyfe and in so moche he sholde be the more enclyned to obey you and the realme so I wyll tell you all the mater that hathe be spoken vnto me Than he declared them how that kynge Ponthus had spoken to y e erle of Rychemonde of Genneuer of his cosyn germayne the whiche men holde for a good knyght and of good condycyons So there was moche talkȳge bothe of one of other that longe were to tell but the ende was that they were al accorded sayd that they myght no better doo for the surete welfare of the realme for to be abeyed and out of trouble and that as longe as his cosyn kynge Ponthus lyueth there shall no man be so hyrdy for to meue warre ayenst them ¶ How Polydes kynge Ponthus cosyn wedded Genneuer the kynges doughter of Englonde ANd whan the kȳge sawe that they were consented he sayd to the kynge of scottes and the Erle of Rychemonde the whiche were worshyppefull knyghtes Go sayd he to the kynge doo hym to wete of all this mater saye hym that for his loue we wyll haue his cosyn These two departed and called kynge Ponthus a syde and tolde hym ryght gracyously how the kynge and the lordes were consented for the loue and worshyp of hym to the maryage that he had spoken of to the Erle of Rychemonde Kynge Ponthus thanked the kynge and all his barons ryght mekely sayd y t they dyde hym grete worshyp for the whiche god graūte hȳ grace to deserue it And so longe wente came the kynge of scottes that he assembled them in the quenes chambred And there came the archebysshop of Caūtorbury the whiche fyaunced theym It is not to aske yf Genneuer hadde grete Ioye in her herte all thoughe she made tho symple for she loued and praysed hym moche the more for the good name that men gaue hym and also for the loue of his cosyn the whiche that she loued so moche before tyme. And also Polydes thanked god hyghly in his herte that he had sente him so grete a worshyp in this worlde and to haue so fayre a lady and of so goodly behauynge So the daye of weddynge was sette y e eyght daye after Grete were the feestes and grete were the Iustes y ◠whiche began the morowe after the day of maryayge for kynge Ponthus wolde not accorde that there sholde be done dedes of armes the day of the maryage And that he sayd for the kȳge of bourgoyne y e whiche dyed the day of his maryage For to tel of the well Iusters it were to longe to tell but ouer all kynge Ponthus Iusted best for he was without pere Ryght well Iusted Polydes the kynge of Ironde and the lorde de lesygnen the lorde de la toure the lorde Moūfort of brytayne these had the voyse of al well Iusters It were to longe to tell so I passe lyghtly it were a grete thynge to tell of the grete feest and of the grete ordynaunces of the seruyces of the vowes and of the pryces that were gyuen of all dysportes The feest dured from the mondaye to the frydaye ¶ How kynge Ponthus departed from Englonde AFter mete kynge Ponthus toke his leue of y e kynge and of the quene but with grete payne they gaue hym leue Genneuer conueyed hym well a two myle they had moche goodly talkynge togyder she sayd vnto him that she loued her lorde Ponthus moche the more bycause she had loued hym couertly and that she praysed hym the more that he had kepte truly his fyrst loue Kynge Ponthus smyled and sayd that there was noo wyle but that women knewe and thought Soo they spake ynoughe of dyuers thynges than he made her to tourne agayne with grete payne sayd vnto her My lady and my loue I am your knyght and shall be as longe as I lyue so ye may cōmaunde me what it pleaseth you I shall fulfyll it to my power than he sayd afore Polydes my fayre lady my loue I wyll that my cosyn here loue you obey you that he haue no pleasaunce to none so moche as vnto you yf there be ony defaute do it me to wete I shall correcte hym Syr sayd she he shall do as a good man ought to doo God graunte it sayd he So he toke his leue departed The kynge of scottes and the kynge of Irlonde the kynge of cornewayle they wolde haue conueyed hym vnto the porte but he wolde not suffre them There was grete heuynes and courtesye bytwene them at theyr departynge after they toke theyr leue of hym retourned agayne to the kynges hous And kynge Ponthus came to the porte called to hym his cosyn Polydes asyde sayd vnto hym thanked be god ye ought grete guerdon to god for ye are in the waye for to be a ryght grete kynge a myghty of armes of haueour of noble lordshyppes soo ye ought for to thanke god hyghly And therfore it behoueth you for to haue foure thynges yf that ye wyll reioyce in peas and peasybly THe fyrst is that ye be a very true man that is to wete loue god with all your herte drede to dysobey hym yf ye loue hym he shall helpe susteyne you in all your nedes
loue worshyp holy chyrche all the cōmaundementes this is the fyrst seruyce that men sholde yelde to god ¶ The secōde is this that ye sholde bere worshyp and seruyce vnto them that ye be comen of to them of whome ye haue and may haue rychesse worshyp that is to saye loue and serue y e fader of your wyfe wherof moche worshyp seruyce to them that ye be comen of be to hym a very ryght sone kepe you that ye angre hym not suffre endure what langage or wordes that shall be sayd vnto you or of what tales that shall be reported to you some for to pleale you some by flatery or elles for malyce couert of suche men as wolde not the peas bytwene you and hym for fayre cosyn he that well suffreth of his better of his greter he ouercomoth hym It is a grete grace of god of y e worlde towarde hymselfe to haue suffraunce for dyuers reasons the whiche sholde be vnto longe to tell ¶ The thyrde reason is for to be meke gentyll amyable large and free after your power to your barons to your knyghtes squyers of whome that ye shall may haue nede yf ye may not shewe them fredome largesse of your good at the leest be to theym courteys debonayre bothe to grete and to lytell for bothe be good the grete shall loue you the lytell shall prayse you ouer all of your good chere and so he shall auayll you a ryght heralde soo moche ye shall be praysed ouer all And also it is to vnderstande that ye shall be so more to your wyfe than to ony other for dyuers reasons for by worshyp courteys berynge to her ye shal holde the loue of her bounde vnto you and for to be dyuers rude to her she myght haply chaunge and y e loue wherof ye sholde reioyse she myght gyue it to another where as me myght take suche a pleasaunce wherof that ye sholde be ryghte sory and that sholde ye not withdrawe whan ye wolde So is there grete peryll and grete maystry to kepe the loue of maryage also beware that ye kepe your felfe true vnto her as it is sayd in the gospell that ye sholde chaunge her for none other yf ye doo thus as I saye you god shall encrease you in all welth in worshyppe yf ye se her angry appease her agayne by fayrenes and whā she cometh agayne to herselfe she shal loue you moche the more for there is no courtesye but that is yolde whan an herte is fell and angry men wrath it more it ymagyneth thynges wherof many harmes may be fall ¶ The fourth reason is that ye sholde be pyteous of the poore the whiche that shall requyre ryght of the ryche or of y e myghty that wolde greue them for therto be ye sette and ordeyned all tho that haue grete lordshyppes for ye came in to the worlde as poore as they dyde as poore shall ye be the daye of your deth and ye shall haue no more of all erthe saue onely your length as the poore people shall haue and ye shall be bylefte in the erthe allone without ony felawshyp as the poore people shall be and therfore shall ye haue noo lordshyp but for to holde ryght wysynesse without blemysshynge or doubte of ony mayster or represe neyther for loue nor for hate for thus god cōmaūdeth her euery fryday in especyall the clamour of the poore people and of women wydowes put not theyr good ryght in respyte nor in delacion nor byleue not alway your offycers of euery thynge that they shall tell you Enquere before the trouth for some of theym wyll do it for to purchace domage vnto the symple people for hate and some for couetyse to haue theyr good whan they se they may not do with hym what they wyll soo they came with false reportes It is a peryllous thynge of a grete lorde to be lyght of byleue What shall I tell you he taught shewed hȳ many examples And tho Polydes thanked hym sayd vnto hym Syr I knowe wel that ye loue me of your goodnes ye haue purchased me the welfare the worshyp that I haue therfore I praye you that euery yere we may mete and se vs togyder for that shall be my comforte all my sustynaunce I graunte it sayd kynge Ponthus And after whan they had spoken and talked of many thynges they toke theyr leue eche of theym of other halsed and kyssed togyder none of them had power to speke one worde that one to that other for meruaylously they loued well togyder And whan that kynge Ponthus had his herte somwhat clered y t he myghte speke he toke his leue of the lordes of Englonde and offred hymselfe moche vnto them And Polydes tourned agayne to the kynges hous where as men made hym ryghte grete Ioye Polydes withhelde well the good doctryne of his cosyn for he serued obeyed the kynge the quene and made hymselfe to be byloued bothe of the grete and of the lytell by his largesse by his courtesye Ryght well he loued god holy chyrche and was pyteous charytable vnto the poore people The kynge the quene loued hym as theyr owne chylde and aboute a seuen yere after y e kynge dyed thā was Polydes crowned kynge of Englonde peasybly And ryght good loue was bytwene them his wyfe the olde quene soo he reygned in good peas grete Ioye So here I leue to speke of Polydes retourne agayne vnto kynge Ponthus ¶ How the kynge Ponthus arryued in Brytayne HEre doth kynge Ponthus sayle so longe on the see tyl he his barons were londed in brytayne And than they wente vnto the kynges hous where as they were receyued with grete Ioye of all maner of people And whan they hadde soiourned well a seuen dayes Geffrey de lesygnen Androwe de la toure the straūgers toke theyr leue departed And kynge Ponthus gaue them many grete gyftes ryche presentes thanked them whelde them as his felowes and his frendes than he conueyed them a two myle whether they wolde or not and there they toke theyr leue eche of theym of other The kynge of brytayne ne lyued but aboute a thre yere after for he was ryghte aged And than was kynge Ponthus crowned kȳge of Brytayne was ryght well byloued of the nobles of all maner of people he was ryght good ryght full of Iustyce charytable and pyteuous on the poore Ryght well they loued togyder he and the quene his wyfe ledde a ryght good an holy lyfe dyde many almesse dedes And whan the housholde remeued fro one place to another he dyde crye that all they that he ought ony good vnto were it for his housholde or for ony other thynge y t were taken for hym that they sholde
come to hym or to his offycers and all he dyde paye for he sayd that they were foles that abyde to theyr heyres or to theyr executours for fewe were contented also they that helde the good from the poore people sholde haue therof full lytell meryte He vsed ledde a ryght good an holy lyfe So than they wente dwelled a yere in Galyce where as they were well byloued dredde doubted worshypped The erle of desture thanked moche the kynge his neuewe for the grete worshyp that he had done to his sone The kȳge gaue grete londes herytages to syr Patrycke that had saued hym in the shyppe and he that had done so moche good to the countre Ryght grete reuerence and worshyppe bere quene Sydoyne vnto the olde quene her lordes moder The kynge sente for his vncle y e kȳge of Aragoon and for lordes and barons of the countrees aboute and made grete Iustes that dured well a ten dayes ¶ How Ponthus Sydoyne came to saynt Iames. ANd after they all and the quene wente on pylgrymage to saynt Iames in galyce And after his ertournynge agayne they dwelled not longe that they wente to warres in to spayne ayenst y e sarasyns and he ledde w t hym the barons of Brytayne of anioy of mayne of poytow of tourayne of Normandye Of the normans he ledde the erle of mortayne the vycounte of auerenches Tesson paynel many other knyghtes Of mayne hongres de beaumount Guy de la vale and dyuers other of anioy Pyers de donne Androwe de la toure Guyllam de roches the lorde of Nermount Iohan de poytow the lorde de lesygnen Guy touars leoncel de manleon hongres de partenei Of Tourayne Hubert de mayllye Hondes de Bassye patrycke damboyse many of theym of brytayne of goscoyne they were well a .xv. M. dyscomfyted y e hethen folke there dyde many grete dedes of armes and toke many townes and castelles and than in the wynter euery man wente home in to his countre and euery man gaue grete loos and pryce to kynge Ponthus For he payed them well of theyr wages and gaue them gretes gyftes in so moche that they sayd there was no ryght chyefteyne but he y t he was lykely to conquere all maner of countrees by his knyghthode largenes courtesy for all maner of good cōdycyons ben in hym after the rule of god the worlde in hȳ is all goodlynes for he oweth grete guerdon to god He dwelled a lytel whyle after in galyce than came agayne in to brytayne than he wente sawe his cosyn whiche was crowned kynge of Englonde where as he was receyued with grete Ioye It is not to aske yf the quene Genneuer set grete payne to feest hym make hym grete chere After that wente the kynge of Englonde in to Gascoyne in to galyce to se his fader and his kynnesmen gaue theym grete gyftes And than he tourned agayne in to Brytayne where as he was moche made of had grete chere And after that he wente agayne in to his owne realme Kynge Ponthus y e quene reygned longe ynoughe· And lyued to the pleasure of god And than they dycessed fynysshed to y e grete heuynes sorowe of theyr people But thus it is of the worldly lyfe for there is none so fayre nor so ryche so stronge nor soo goodly but at the laste he must nedes leue this worlde Deo gratias ¶ Here endeth the noble hystory of the moost excellent and myghty prynce hygh renowmed knyght kynge Ponthus of Galyce of lytell Brytayne Enprynted at London in Fletestrete at the sygne of the sonne by Wynkyn de Worde In the yere of our lorde god M. CCCCC.xi