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
ye not the kynges sone of galyce no madame I am his cosyn germayne A sayd she sothely I wende ye had ben he So made she hym as grete chere as she myght but for all that she was ryght angry for she helde herselfe be mocked And than called she the seneshall asyde and sayd vnto hym A seneshall ye haue begyled me how so madame ye sholde haue brought me y e kynges sone of Galyce ye brought me his cosyn germaine wherfore haue ye do y t what may ye thynke therin wherfore holde ye me so vnwyse Than the knyght kneled downe sayd A madame mercy for goddes loue dysplease you nought for in good fayth I thought but well but I myght not brynge hym at this tyme. Do waye said she than sholde ye haue abyde as yet not haue broughte a nother for hym ye doubte you of me I am not so yonge but that I can kepe myn honoure my worshyp doubte it nought Madame sayd the seneshall I thought but well but I doubted the kȳge your fader whiche loueth you so moche y t yf ye made hym but a lytel better chere thā ony of his felawshyp y t they sholde haue enuye to hȳ that there myght come euyll therof the worlde is so full of euyll langage that there were as ye thought but good worshyp they sholde saye and note otherwyse Ha sayd she seneshall ne haue no doubte for I had leuer to be deed thenne ony man myght repreue me of my worshyp be ye certayne therof madame god it wolde also wysely as I haue you more dere than ony woman lyuynge syth ye assure me so I shall brynge hym to you Now I praye you then quod she ne tarye not longe And y e seneshall wente to seche hym Sydoyne wente vp in to her warderobe where she had a lytel wyndowe whiche opened towarde y t syde where as they shold come So ne was there but she Elyos her welbeloued gentylmā Elyos said she take me my myrour loke yf me nede ony thȳge by god she sayd Madame ye be ryght well Loke thā yf he come Elyos went often many tymes to se yf they came so lōge was one of thē at y e wȳdowe for to abyde y e comynge of hym whiche she desyred so moche than Elyos came rennynge strongely sayd Madame madame se where he cometh y e fayrest of y e worlde Sydoyne came rennȳge sterte forth al at ones vnto that syde she sawe y e seneshall come hym togyder she sawe hym so fayre so goodly y t she was al meruaylled And than she spake sayd A A Elyos my loue me semeth he is meruayllous fayre Fayre lady sayd Elyos he is no man he is an aūgell neuer sawe I soo fayre a creature of man god hath fourmed hym w t his propre handes By my fayth sayd Sydoyne Elyos my fayre loue ye saye trouth I byleue the also as she whiche was caught w t y e loue of him Than came she doune in to her parlyament chābre w t her ladyes gentylwomen it taryed not longe y t he the seneshall came in Ponthus auaūced hȳ enclyned hȳ ryght lowe salewed Sydoyne her felawshyp Sydoyne toke hȳ by y e hande wende for to haue made hym sytte vpon a cuysshyn besyde her but he sayd Madame y t is no reason y t I sholde sytte so nyghe you soo made he moche courtesye But she sayd wherfore make ye suche courtesye be ye not a kȳges chylde as I am Do way madame it is no cōparyson for ye be a myghty kȳges doughter I am y e sone of a kynge dysheryted haue no thȳge but y e good doynge of my lorde your fader whiche hath done me so moche good A Ponthus qd she leue of these wordes for god hath not made you as nature sheweth for to vnmake you ye be shapen to haue moche more good worshyppe than euer had your fader god it graunte ¶ How Sydoyne spake gracyously to Ponthus began for to loue hym without ony poynt of vylany MAdame I may not se that waye but all be it in the mercy of god now sytteth downe quod she I cōmaunde you So sate he a lytel bynethe Thā she sayd to the ladyes I pray you make the Seneshal sporte and wete yf that he hath ony thynge forgoten of his songe Madame I may no thynge forgete So toke they hym for to daunce and for to synge and to lede Ioye Sydoyne whiche seete hym in wordes of many thynges helde hym ryghte wyse of his age and amonge all other thynges she sayd vnto hym Ponthus ye haue be longe tyme in Brytaygne haue not sene vs. Madame he sayd I am in gouernaunce soo must I nedes obeye That is reason she sayd but I aske you haue ye ony lady and these ladyes whiche ben here in please they you Madame yes sothely for it is a noble felawshyp to se. Now sayd she haue ye yet set your herte vpō ony lady or gentylwoman for to be her knyght whan tyme cometh Madame in good fayth naye for the seruyce of me sholde be but lytell Ponthus she sayd saue your grace ye be come of soo good a place y t ye be lykely to serue the gretest gentylwomā and y e fayrest of all brytayne Soo had they bytwene theym fayre langage ynoughe soo moche y t she sayd vnto hym Ponthus whan ye haue y e estate of knyght hode I wyll y t ye holde you for our knyght and whan that I here y t ye do some good I shall haue ryght grete Ioye to here it madame I thanke you God graūte me y t I may do some good y t it may be pleasaunt to you to all your ladyes but I am lytell shapen therto for y e dede of a poore man is but of lytell thȳge Thā she sayd I shall saye you I wyll well y t ye wete how well that I holde you for my knyght y t whā tyme cometh that ye shall be knyght y t yf ye do better thā ony of myne other knyghtes I shall holde you moost dere and ye shall fayle no thynge that I haue And I shall saye you what ye shall do ye shall swere to serue me aboue all other in worshyp doubte not I thȳke but good and worshyp A madame he sayd I thanke you as moche as ▪ I may of this grete worshyp whiche y t ye proffre me god graūte me to deserue it I shal saye you she said I shal loue you as my knyght whan tyme shall come in suche maner that yf I apperceyue that ye thynke ony vylany neuer shall I loue you after Madame I had leuer be deed than for to thynke that were not to your worshyp to my lordes your fader Also than ye shall swere this to me promytte as a kynges
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
erthly man myght do for his lorde but that I wolde do it for you onely to dye for to alength your lyfe yf it nede were But syr I tel you how ye shall preue hyÌ„ yf he saye that he loueth her not bydde hym swere make an othe ye shall se perauenture that he wyll not Now Guenellet had herde saye of Ponthus in the partyes of Galyce of spayne a kynges sone sholde make none othe of thynge y t were put vpon hym as longe as he myght fyght therfore yf he dyde he sholde be dysworshypped therfore tolde he this to the kynge for he wyste well y t he wolde make none o the and by that waye he wolde set the kynge hym at dystauÌ„ce for to estrauÌ„ge hym from the countre for to haue the more rule gadered in to his owne hande for an enuyous man may no thynge suffre The kynge was all pensyfe angry of these tydynges as he whiche loued his doughter meruaylously well was aferde to haue dyshonoure Whan he was come fro y e wode alyght of his hors Ponthus whiche was there came tofore hym wenynge to haue taken his swerde his gloues as he had done before of customes but the kynge tourned hym frome hym warde and made no semblauÌ„t to hym nor to speke to hym whan Ponthus apperceyued it he wyste well y t the kynge was dyspleased with hym soo wente he to hym sayd syr how is it that ye are dyspleased with me for goddes loue tell me what I haue forfayted Ha sayd the kynge whiche was ryght angrye Ponthus Ponthus I haue made lytell nourture of you whan ye haue auysed you for to dyshonour me how syr sayd Ponthus by what waye By that waye sayd y e kynge that ye loue my doughter for to dyshonoure her And I haue no chylde but her and she is all my Ioye and all the lengthynge of my lyfe Syr said Ponthus who tolde you so yf there be ony that dare saye it nowe I am redy for to preue it with my body that he lyeth falsely saue your honour Nay sayd the kynge yf ye wyll swere vpon holy gospels that ye loue her not as I haue sayd parauenture I wyll byleue you Syr for to say that I loue her not as I owe to loue the doughter of my ryghtfull lorde I say not the contrary but that I wolde doo thynge or thynke that sholde touche the dysworshyp of her or of you I shall answere as a true knyght ought to do and syr ye wote well ye ought not to aske me none other thynge to my worshyppe for ye wote well ynoughe that a kynges sone oughte not to make none othe of noo thynge that were put vpon hym as longe as he myght defende hym with his body And that is the vsage of the countre where I was borne I wote neuer sayd y e kynge whiche was ryght fell and angry of the wordes that he had herde Syr sayd Ponthus yet wyll I offre you more that I wyll fyght with two or thre yf there be ony that wyl mayntene it for I fele my quaryll so good and so clene that I am all in certayne that god shall helpe me as a true Iuge A sayd the kynge ye holde yourselfe so stronge so knyghtly y t ye wote well there dare none fyght w t you A syr sayd Ponthus I offre you all that euer I may with my worshyp profre The kyÌ„ge passed forth and sayd y e batayll sholde not be done as for y â— dâ—de ¶ How Ponthus toke leue of the fayre Sydoyne WHan Ponthus sawe that he was ryght sorowfull and angry bycause y t he was a kynges sone he was sory for to make an othe y t it sholde torne hym to dyshonour and to reprefe and on the other syde bycause the kynge wolde do hym no ryght So he came to the kynge and toke his leue of hym sayd vnto hym that he wolde not dwelle in his courte in mysbyleue nor in suspeccyon and thus departed he and came vnto Sydoyne and tolde her how the kynge had sayd vnto hym and how he had offered for to fyght with two or thre and how that the kynge wolde do hym no ryght and wolde make hym to be sworne to his dysworshyp And whan Sydoyne vnderstode this it nedeth not to aske yf she had grete sorowe and sayd A god whiche ben these false tryatours flaterers that so grete vntrouth and lesynges haue contryued for by my fayth I dare swere in god that in our loue was neuer vnclenly thought But thus it is that enuye may neuer deye Madame said he by my fayth ye saye trouth But I wyll take my leue of you with as grete sorowe and heuynesse as euer toke knyghte of his lady A sayd she swete loue ye were better to make the othe for ye may do it surely and to put away all blame A madame sayd he neuer sholde I dare be sene in the countre where I was borne And neuer god wyll that I be the fyrste of kynges sones that sholde make an othe for it sholde be a reprefe to myn heyres for euer more Madame how moche that the body go the from you a whyle I shall be with you at the seuen yeres ende and I be a lyue yf soner I come not wherfore I praye you yf it please you to kepe you frome maryenge vnto that tyme ye may A sayd she how the terme is set longe and I shall be the whyle so sorowfull and shall haue so many heuy dayes sorowfull houres to suffre At these wordes she was all vanysshed fell in a swowne They had bothe theyr hertes soo heuy that with grete payne they myght speke saue onely that they embrased eche other and the teres fell downe fromr theyr eyen And Ponthus put his hatte before his eyen and departed and wente to his chambre and shytte the dore to hym and than his herte waxed all heuy and sayd to hymselfe y t he was the moost vnhappyest knyght that lyued whan suche a lady may receyue blame for hym without ony cause And also he leseth all Ioye for to leue y e countree and the syght of his lady where euer he gooth So he complayned and bewaylled hymselfe sorowfully whan he had ben a whyle in suche payne and sorowe he refrayned and enforced hymselfe to be of good chere yf he had sorowe Sydoyne had no lesse for she entred in to her garderobe and called Elyos with her whan she sawe no mo but they two and that they were alone than began her sorowe soo meruayllous grete that it was pyte to se. ¶ How Sydoyne complayned ryght pyteously the departynge of her louer Ponthus A Sayd she Elyos my loue he gooth his waye y e fayre the good y e floure of knyghthode and of curtesye and the best on lyue and the best instructe and he that hathe best maner of demeanynge amonge all maner
kȳge sayd that this coūseyll was good and true and so was it done ¶ How the kynge of Irlonde by the counseyll of Ponthus dyned in the hall with the kynge of Englonde SYr Henry brought hȳ in to the hall The kynge of Irlonde was a ryght goodly knyght and of the age of .xxx. yere he was ryght rychely arayed as in purple mantell furred with fables Eeuery man behelde hym The kynge of Englonde and the quene made hym grete chere for the worshyp of Surdyt was set bytwene the kȳges doughters at mete The kynge of Irlonde was ryght sadde and made symple chere Surdyt came before hym sayd vnto hȳ Syr be of good chere for ye haue good pryson for to be set bytwene two so fayre ladyes Truely sayd y e kȳge as longe as god gyueth me so good pryson I ought not to be dysmayed After mete tho Surdyt began for to bourde with the kynges yongest doughter and sayd Madame how lyke ye the kynge of Irlonde and yf I thought he myght please you I wolde touche of maryage bytwene you and him all thoughe it sytteth me not to do it for poore men are seldome herde amonge grete lordes A Surdyt quod she fayre swete syr are ye bethought theron Ye madame yf I thought that it were to your good pleasure God wote said she he sholde please me well yf it pleased my lorde my fader and my brethren yf so be that I myght not haue another that is neyther kȳge nor duke but he is y e best knyght of y e worlde Madame it is harde to knowe y e best for there be many good so he thought well that she sayd it for hym so dyde she so he wolde not supporte her and fell in to other maters After that they wente to playe and sporte theym in the gardynes some at the chesse and some at the tables and at other dysportes And at after souper they songe and daunced And on the morowe after the kynge helde his grete counsayll and there was the kynge of scottes that had wedded his syster And the kynge had wedded y e kynges syster of scottes And there was the kynge of cornewayle the prynces and y e barons for to wete what sholde be done with the kynge of Irlonde So it was spoken of in dyuers maners that longe were to tell Soo at the laste the kynge asked Surdyt and sayd Surdyt saye ye youre auyse for it is reason youre wyll be herde for by you we haue hym in subgeccyon Fayne he wolde haue exscused hym sayd Syth it pleaseth you that I shall saye forgyue it me yf I speke rudely as a man symple and of lytell connynge but it semeth me that the warre that is bytwene you is onely but selfe wyll fulnes of hertes of grete lordes and it is not after the holy lawe nor the cōmaundement of god for he sayth loue thy neyghboure as thy selfe And also whan god was borne the aungell came to the shepeherdes and anoūced them the byrth of god than wente agayne vp in to the skye sayenge Gloria in excelsis deo et in terra pax hominibus bone voluntatis That is for to saye y t glory be to god y e fader peas to men of good wyll also whan god came in to ony place he sayd to his apostelles peas be amonge you therfore yf god haue gyuen you grete realmes and lordshyppes it is not that the ryche sholde warre vpon the poore for the poore people of the countre ben dystroyed and exyled and ye ought for to kepe them and nourysshe them in peas So I shall tell you how that I thynke that gode peas sholde be amonge you and that ye gyue hym your yongest doughter with the debate that is bytwene you and what it pleaseth you ouer All men sayde that blessyd be he that soo hathe thought and sayd for it is a ryght true counseyll soo this counseyll was holden Than sayd the kynge of Scottes fayre dere frende syth that from you is come so good a counseyll and so pleasaunt to euery man as we may see perfourme ye this dede and go speke with the kynge your prysoner brynge vs worde what his wyll is for we charge you of all this mater Surdyt sayd that he sholde go with good wyll syth that it pleaseth theym So he wente and spake with the kynge of Irlonde and tolde hym that god loueth theym y t loueth peas to theyr neyghbours and how y t many men were lost by theyr hye courage theyr couetyse And than he asked hym yf it myght be that he wolde haue the kynges yongest doughter and that his raunsom the debate bytwene theym were forgyuen A sayd y e kynge yf ye myght brynge it aboute I were moost beholden to you nexte god of all the worlde and wyll ye that it be soo sayde Surdyt yf I may brynge it aboute ye sayd the kȳge with all myn herte there is nothynge I desyre so moche Soo Surdyt departed and came to the counseyll where as they abode y e answere And they asked hym how he had done and he sayd that y e kynge of Irlonde thanked them moche and that this mater pleased hym with all his herte And how he had grete desyre for to haue her with the accorde bytwene theym And the kynge of Englonde made y e archebysshop of cantorbery for to handfest theym a moneth after they were wedded there was a grete feest for the kynge of Irlonde came with an hondred knyghtes in a sute And he gaue vnto Surdyt foure stedes syxe coursers ten thousande besaūtes of golde with grete foyson of clothes of of golde of purple and of sylke gode furres of veer and of sables he was moche beholden vnto the kynge of Irlonde for the grete gyftes y t he gaue hym And whan the kynge had wedded her he ledde her home in to his owne realme where as she was ryght well beloued and worsshypped ¶ How Corboran the thyrde sone of the Sowdan arryued in Englonde and how Ponthus occysed hym IT befell in the .vii. yere y t there came tydynges in to the courte y t the soudans sone whiche was named Corboran had robbed pylled many Yles realmes had done moche harme to the crysten people had may countres trybutary to hym soo he londed in Englonde as his two bretheren dyd one in Galyce another in lytell Brytayne So he was sore dred for he came wel w t a .ix. C. shyppes what grete what small And whan he was londed he defyed the kynge of Englonde And badde that he sholde auoyde the realme or elles to forsake his fayth and yelde hym trybute All the countree was aferde for the grete nombre that he had of men The kynge toke his counseyll and sente for his people Thenne he sente for his broder of Scotlonde and his sone in lawe of Irlonde and for his neuewe of Corne
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
it were grete foly to refuse hym And the kynge sente vnto Sydoyne hymselfe sayd vnto her fayre doughter I am olde and aged I haue no chylde but you ye be desyred of many kȳges grete lordes and I haue herde saye he that refuseth reason reason wyll refuse hym so it befalleth often wherof god gyue grace it do not so by you Fayre doughter y e kynge of Bourgoyne desyreth you and he is neuewe to the kynge of Fraunce he is ryght myghty and a ryche kynge Soo me semeth he ought not to be refused and as for me yf it lyke you I am accorded therto Syr sayd Sydoyne it is noo nede yet to be wedded Truely sayd the kynge ye haue so longe forborne I knowe noo cause why but I shall neuer loue you but yf ye accorde you to this She was sore abasshed and heuy that her fader helde her soo shorte she sayd vnto hym Syr ye wote well there is no thynge ye wyll cōmaunde me to do but I wyll doo it with a good wyll My ryght dredefull lorde I tell you in counseyll that there is a sykenes in me I dare not tell it but with y e grace of god I shall be hole of it but it wyll be fyrst somer or aboute Pentecost at that tyme I shal fulfyl your wyll Truely sayd the kynge it suffyseth me I forgyue you tyll y e terme that was the seuenth yere that Ponthus set terme that he departed frome Sydoyne The kynge was well pleased with his doughter tolde vnto Guenelet of y e terme that she had set hym Guenelet sayd that it was well done he sente vnto the kynge of Bourgoyne that the maryage was graunted to be on tuesdaye in Pentecoste Sydoyne was in grete dysease sente dyuers tymes to wete yf she myght haue ony tydȳges of Ponthus she coude none here bycause he had chaunged his name and so was she in grete sorowe bothe daye nyght whan he tyme drewe nyghe she was sore dysmayed and sente after Harlant and sayd vnto him A Harlant my dere frende I haue grete sorowe that my lorde is so affonned on Guenelet whiche maketh hym for to do many straunge thynges one is to put you out of your offyce and also by his fals wyles he wyll put awaye the beste knyght that at this daye bereth armes as men saye y t was Ponthus that ye taught nourysshed thre yere the whiche loued you so well he maketh my lorde to do many shamefull thynges by his fals flaterynge in lyke wyse he maketh me to be gyuen to the kynge of Bourgoyne ayenst my wyll for men saye y t he hath many euyll condycyons also he is aged corsyous and lame and dronklew but I may not do ayenst my lordes cōmaundement so the terme draweth nygh of Pentecost And I wote well yf Ponthus wyfte it he wolde set remedy therto so I praye you that by your counseyll remedy may be had for there is no man in the worlde that I wolde discouer me to saue onely vnto you ¶ How Sydoyne sente Olyuer sone to Harlant in to Englonde for to fynde Ponthus MAdame sayd Harlant neuer god wyll that ye shall haue an housbonde of suche condycyons But I shall tell you what we shall do Olyuer my sone is one of the knyghtes as ferre forth as I knowe y t Ponthus loueth best he shall go in to Englonde enquere of hym in to scotlonde Irlonde whyther he be a lyue or deed so he shall knowe the trouth A sayd she in good fayth ye saye well So Harlant spake vnto his sone whiche wente w t good wyll charged hym of all y e mater bytwene Ponthus Sydoyne toke hym money ynoughe for his exspences Soo Olyuer passed the see londed at hampton where he requyred of Ponthus And he founde well that seuen yere afore there was passed in to the courte y e goodlyest knyght the best that euer men myght se but he named hym self Surdyt de driot voyce Olyuer supposed y t it was he that he had chaunged his name for certayne causes soo he rode forth he his man came thrughe the forest where he founde theues bycause he coude not well speke the langage of the countre bycause they sawe hym well arayed rychely they ranne vpon hȳ and toke hym dyspoyled hym toke from hym all that euer he had and hurte hym foule but he escaped from them in the forest and saued hymselfe so he had grete honger thurste grete colde So he sorowed sore for he myght fynde no comforte of his dysease the lettynge of his enquest greued hym wors than all his losse He passed the forest and wente beggynge his mete fro dore to dore tyll he came to the kynges hous and it was the same daye that the kynge of scotlonde had spoken vnto Ponthus of the maryage of his nece Genneuer ¶ How Olyuer founde Ponthus in the courte of y e kynge of Englonde POnthus was in the courte where as he behelde Iustes dysportes of yonge knyghtes dyuers maners Olyuer was all naked dyspoyled loked aboute hym sawe Ponthus knewe hym well So he came kneled downe afore hym sayd to hym My lorde Ponthus god gyue you good lyfe increase you in the worshyppe that ye be in Ponthus was all abasshed sayd vnto hym Frende to whome speke ye Syr I speke to you that I knowe well for ye be ponthus the kynges sone of Galyce ye haue forgoten the countre of Brytayne thoughe I be poore naked it is befall me in sekynge of you And ye ought to knowe me for I am Olyuer the sone of Harlant And whan Ponthus herde hym he loked vpon hym knewe hȳ well And than he toke of his mantell caste it aboute syr Olyuer toke hym by the hande kyssed hym wepynge myght no worde saye vnto hym Thā he toke hym by the hande ledde hym in to his chambre and it was a grete whyle or he myghte speke And whan that he myght speke he sayd vnto hym A dere brother and frende how doo they in your countre how be ye thus arayed tolde hym all the mater frome the begynnynge to the ende Ponthus cladde hym with the best clothes that he had and whan he was arayed he a ryght goodly knyght Than he tolde vnto Ponthus how he was robbed in poynte to be deed and how y t he came beggȳge his brede fro dore to dore after he tolde hym how Guenelet had all the rule of Brytayne and how the kynge byleued in no man but in hym how that he had put out his fader of his offyce of the seneshall shyppe of brytayne And after he tolde hym of Sydoyne how that she sholde neuer consent to no maryagesyth that he departed of the grete dysease
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
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
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
he thanked the kyÌ„ge hyghly his lordes and that he was the fyrst lorde that euer dyde hym good or worshyp he woteth well he coude neuer deserue it vnto hym and yf he were of the vylue and worthynes to haue the gretest lady of the worlde he wolde not take her to refuse the kynge his doughter his barons the countre of moche he is beholde to them y t he loueth them ouer all other The barons had grete Ioy of the answere and they wente tolde y e kynge to whome it pleased well ¶ How Ponthus was fyaunced vnto the fayre Sydoyne doughter of the kynge of Brytayne THey sent for y e bysshop for to fyauÌ„ce them And on the mondaye seuen nyght after Pentecost was set y e day of maryage Sydoyne had grete Ioye Ponthus also It is not to aske yf they had an C. tymes greter Ioye than they shewed Grete was y e Ioy in brytayne of the maryage bothe of ryche of poore Ponthus whiche was ryght wyse and wolde haue no maugre of no body he came to Guy of bourgoyne the kynges brother to Aymberte de chaloys to y e erle of mountbelyart y t whiche were come w t the kynge of bourgoyne excused hyÌ„ to them sayd vnto them y t he was ryght sory of this auenture of y e kyÌ„ges deth that in good fayth whan he Iusted w t hyÌ„ he wyste not what he was And they answered sayd y t they byleued hyÌ„ well for it was but auenture of armes therfore he ought not to be dismayed for he myght not do ther to So Ponthus offred them all maner of gentylnes on the morowe after he ordeyned y t the seruyce was done for the soule in the goodlyest wyse gaue .iii. d. sterlenges to all theym y t wolde aske it so there was neuer sene in the couÌ„tre before so grete almes for the whiche he had grete pryce the kyÌ„ges frendes coude hym grete thanke thanked hyÌ„ moche The body of the kynge was enbaumed and layde in a chayre ryght well stuffed besene of fayre horses in to his countre of Bourgoyne to be buryed And Ponthus made the body to be coÌ„ueyed with grete torches well a .vi. myle dyde it all the worshyp that he coude all thoughe he were not sory of his deth Than y e lordes of bourgâ—yne made hym to tourne agayne toke theyr leue of him they gaue praysynge to Ponthus saynge there was no knyght but he of worthynes of largesse of courtesye for he loueth god holy chyrche that he hathe soo well done his deuoyre y t they were all ameruaylled Ponthus came ayen to vennes wente to Sydoyne and kyssed her and they talked togyder of many pleasaunt thynges he bourded with her and sayd vnto her yf that she coude ony maugree to his spere that had delyuered her of her husbande she wexed reed and sayd vnto hym Syr it is peryllous for to doo dedes of armes with you whan that kynges dye but I can you good thanke for that ye haue done so well for his soule for all his frendes shall thanke you gyue you grete pryce Ponthus sayd thynges that ought to be shall fall ye ought not for to be full gladde ye shall haue none dower bycause ye set neuer fote in his bed with hym thus he bourded with her talked of many dyuers thynges And than he wente to the kynge to his barons sayd Syr ye haue herde how that I haue waged people for to conquere with the helpe of Ihesu the realme that sholde be myne whiche that the sarasynes occupye kepe so wolde I fayne it pleased your hyghnesse to haue of the men of your realme suche as wyll take wages I shall truely paye them for halfe a yere A sayd the kynge sone ye oughte not for to aske but take my men at your wyll to conquere your herytage my tresoures all that euer I may haue yf it pleaseth you I wolde con you good thanke to suffre me to go in your felawshyp for I am olde and so it sholde be but lytell losse of me also in better nor in more profytable seruyce for my soule myght I not dye than in the seruyce of god Ponthus thanked hym hyghly and sayd that at this tyme he sholde not go but he sholde abyde at home kepe his countre as for tresoure he wolde none haue of hyÌ„ for god had sente hym ynoughe for this nede and other to but he refused not his men for it be they of the world that he moost loued and in whome he moost trusteth at a grete nede· The barons the knyghtes of Brytayne had grete Ioye of this goynge euery man arayed hym for to go euery man profered for to go with hym and he thanked them all and thaÌ„ he sayd vnto them that euery man sholde be redy within .xv. dayes after at vennes ordeyned by all the costes to seke shyppes vytayl for to be at that day redy Euery baron arayed hym stuffed hym of vesselles and of men of armes the best that they myght fynde ¶ How Ponthus made a mauÌ„dement of brytons poyteuynes normans angeuynes for to go in to galyce to conquere his countre y t the sarasynes helde POnthus sente for the Barons of Anioye of mayne of poytow of other countres aboute and he sayd y t he wolde wryte vnto them So he sente to Geffrey de lesygnen Androwe de la toure ouer al men and it was tolde hym that two were late comen home from beyonde the see frome the realme of germany where as they had ben well a two yere in warre ayenst the sarasynes A sayd Ponthus they ben good knyghtes worthy men well is he felawshypped that hath them in his company Than were there sente letters to them and to dyuers other by the countrees aboute as in to normandy Anioye Mayne Toreyne and poytow to them that they subposed that had wyl for to auenture themselfe to gete worshyp that they ben assembled with hyÌ„ the .xviii. day aftee at the toure of derbondell faste by thalamount there they shall fynde shyppes fyluer so the messangers departed And whan the barons and the knyghtes herde the tydynges of hym how the sarasynes helde his realme they had all grete Ioye for to go and euery man was redy at that day assygned Ponthus sente thrughe all the countrees golde and syluer for to gete shyppes in brytayne in to normandy poytow for to come some to vennes some to sable daulon in poytow THan after that Ponthus sente for his greate shyppe and sente for a parte of his ryches for to come vnto vennes ayenst the daye of his maryage he sente many ryche presentes to Sydoyne of crownes of sercles of gyrdelles of chapelettes of purses of perles of golde of purple of precyous stones