wife/ but cruelly and fiercely answer unto her. False strumpet dyshordynate of as much as thou art with child I ought little to rejoice me/ for I am so much informed of thy government that I have nothing/ and that dysloyally thou haste abandoned thyself unto other than me. When they saw that the Emperor would not refrain him nor appease his Ire for nothing/ by a common accord they took her and led her in to a chamber. And the most amiably that they might held her with words in showing unto her her great fault/ and the sorrowful lady was dysorned in the chamber that had her face disdained with blood. The ladies that were next her person brought her fair water to wash her withal. And at that hour entered in to her chamber her squire named Blandymayn. And when he saw her in such estate/ he wept for pity/ and said unto her. Ha madame I see well that you are falsely betrayed. I beseech god that cursed be the person that hath purchased you this evil. For god my right dear lady take a little comfort unto you. And if you will by leave me I shall lead you in to France again toward the king Pepyn your brother/ the which gave me unto you for to serve you in your necessities/ the which thing I would do after my puissance. believe my counsel and we shall return in to France again./ For you may be sure that the Emperor shall make you die shortly with great shame and dishonour. Then answered the dolorous lady. Ha Blandymain my friend it should be to me to shameful and dishonest for to go in such manner without other deliberation. And it might be believed lightly that the Emperor had good cause/ and that I were culpable of the deed. Wherefore I had liefer die an evil death/ than for to recover blame for a thing that I am innocent of/ & accused with out cause. After these things thus said/ the Emperor that was with the barons a little moderate and satisfied of his Ire/ he sent for his wife Bellyssant/ the which was brought before him quickly. When he saw her his heart trembled for sorrow for this that he durst not put her to death/ because of her brother king Pepyn/ and his puissance. With tude words he said to her. False and cursed woman by the is mine honour vyturped Wherefore I swear god that and it were not for thy brother's sake/ the valiant king Pepyn/ I should make the to be brent in a fire/ out for his sake thy life shall be prolonged at this present tyme. Now I do the to wite that from this hour I banish thee/ & expulse the from my country and Empire/ in commanding the expressly that to morrow thou depart out of this city/ for if I see the any more/ thou shall never have respite till thou have suffered death. And yet I command all them of my country/ that there be none so hardy of them to accompany you/ or convey/ save alonely your squire Blandymayn that you brought out of France with you. Go where as you will go at your adventure/ for thou shall never sleep by my side/ nor in my bed/ Soon after the commandment of the Emperor that was short and sudden/ without sojourn or delation/ the empress Bellyssant/ and her squire Blandymayn mounted on horseback and came in to the city. Where as was shed full many a tere/ both of lords and ladies/ knights/ and squires/ with all the coming people/ the which cried and sorrowed out of measure/ for they made such lamentations that there was never seen/ nor heard so piteous a thing. Every body ran unto the gate/ for to command the good lady unto god that by the false archbishop was so piteously banished. And at the issue of the gate they made the pytefullest cry that ever was herd. Now goeth Blandymayn that conduiteth the sorrowful lady Bellyssant/ And hath taken the way to go toward the realm of France. When the lady was out of the walls of the city/ and that she saw herself in the fields piteously adorned/ like a woman shamed and dishonoured/ she wailed bitterly. For she considered the lineage/ and the blood rial that she was issued out of/ the right high magnificence imperial that she had been put in. And after thought on the miserable and dolorous fortune that was turned upon her so suddenly/ she said. Alas alas wherefore tarrieth death that he will not come & abridge my life/ and finish my dolours and anguishes/ Alas I was borne in an unhappy hour for to suffer such pain/ and for to fall from so high estate unto such poverty/ for of all the unhappyes I am the most unhappiest. Now is all my joys transmued in to distress my laughings changed in to weepings/ my songs converted in to sighs. In the stead of the cloth of gold that I was wont for to were/ I am as a woman public full of injuries and vytupere committed & adorned. And of precious stones of inestimable valour/ on all sides I must the remnant of my miserable life arouse my vesture with bitter tears/ that shall make my life and my days to finish. O you pastorelles of the fields consider my great dolours/ and weep mine exile. Now pleased it god and the virgin Mary that I were descended of as poor estate as the poorest of the world/ at the least I should have dolour to see me in such poverty. Alas wherefore lighteth me the son/ and wherefore doth the earth sustain me/ for I have no need that the dangerous fountain of distress oppress me so sore. For it is not in mine human puissance/ to bewail the profound sorrow that my poor heart endureth. O false envy and treason/ I aught well for to curse the with my heart/ for by the to day I am the most sorrowfullest creature living upon the earth. A my brother the king pepin/ what shall ye do with this poor discomforted. It were better for you that I had never been borne of my mother/ or that from the womb of my mother I had been put under the earth. In making this asper complaint the lady abode in a swoon upon the horseback/ & she was almost fallen down or that Blandymayn might come unto her/ then he dressed her up and said unto her. Alas madame take unto you some comfort/ and enter not so in to despair/ have steadfast trust in god/ for even so as you are innocent he shall keep you and defend you always/ Then he espied a right fair fountain/ toward the which he led the lady. And also near it as he might he set her down for to repose her and refresh her. Here I will leave to speak of them/ and will speak of the archbishop that persevered in his malice damnable and dyabolyke.  

¶ How the archbishop put him in the habit of a knight/ and mounted on horseback for to follow the Empress Bellyssant that was banished. Ca iiij.  

Archebys'.   
When the archbishop saw that the lady was departed/ he thought in himself that he would go after her/ and that with her he would do his pleasure. He left rochet and other vesture/ and as irregular and apostate/ gird his sword about him/ and mounted upon a swift courser/ and followed fast after/ for he had one of the best courser of all Constantinople. He road so fast that within short time he had riden a great way. And of all them that he met he asked tidings of the noble lady Bellyssant. And they showed unto him the way that she held. So long road the false traitor archbishop that he entered in to a mighty great forest and a long/ he took the high way and enforced him to ride a pace. He had not riden long when he apperceived the lady with Blandymayn/ the which were beside the fountain where as the lady was descended for to refresh her/ and rest her for she was weary and heavy full of sorrow and dolour/ so that she might not sustain her. Whiles that Blandymayn comforted the sorrowful lady/ the archbishop drew near them/ and knew the fair Bellyssant/ but she knew him not a far because that he was disguised/ but when he approached she knew him well enough. Alas said she Blandymayn/ I see now come toward us the false archbishop that is cause of mine exile. Alas I am to sore afeard that he do me not some villainty. Lady said Blandymayn/ have of him neither fere nor doubt. For if he come for to do you evil or displeasure I shall put my body for to defend yours unto the death. At these words was arrived the archbishop that light of his horse/ and salved the lady in the best manner that he might and said. Right dear and honoured lady/ if so be that the Emperor hath dechaced you/ if you will accept me for to be your love/ and accomplish my desire/ I shall do so much toward the Emperor that he shall put you in your first estate/ & be exalted more higher than ever you were/ wherefore advise you/ for I do it for your great honour and profit. Ha said the lady/ disloyal and cruel adversary of all honour imperial/ I aught well to have cause to love thee/ and hold the dear/ when that by thy false malice thou haste made the Emperor understand that I have miserably borne me toward his majesty/ and made me be deject from all honour and prosperity./ Thou hast put me in the way of extremity and misery/ and is the causer that I shall finish my days in dolorous distress/ for there is not a more discomforted lady in the world than I am. Lady leave such words/ for by me there can nothing come to you but good For I am puissant enough for to change your dolour and discomfort in to joy & solace/ more than ever you had. In saying these words he inclined him toward the lady/ and wend to have kissed her. But Blandymayn start between them and gave the archbishop so great a stroke that he felled him unto the earth/ and broke twain of his teeth. The archbishop gate him up and drew his sword quickly. And Blandymayn took a glaive that he had brought with him and assailed him right asperly/ and the archbishop him. They fought so long that they were both sore wounded. And as they were thus fighting/ there arrived on them a notable merchant/ that escried unto them also far as he might see them saying. lords lords leave your debate/ and tell me fro whence it proceedeth/ & I shall tell you who hath right or wrong. sir said Blandymayn let us finish our enterprise. Alas said the lady succour us/ for here is the falls priest that will take mine honour from me by force/ which is the cursed archbishop/ that hath separed me by treason from my lord and husband the Emperor. When the merchant understood her/ he had great pity on her/ & said to the archbishop. Sir leave your enterprise/ & touch not the lady/ for and the Emperor knew of this deed/ he would make you die an evil death before all the world. Also soon as the archbishop under stood the merchant speak/ he left the battle quickly and began for to i'll thorughe the wood. He was right sorrowful that he was known/ for he thought well to have had his pleasure of the lady. But he enterprised such a thing/ whereby his treason was known afterward/ and disclosed as it shall be recounted to you afterward. After the departing of the archbishop the lady abode in the wood beside the fountain trist & sorrowful/ with Blandymayne that was wounded. The merchant that was abiden said. Alas lady I see that by the archbishop ye are falsely betrayed/ and have been expulsed from the Emperor. Now god give me grace to live so long that I may accuse him of this miss deed/ and to purchase his death. Lady to god I command you the which give you patience & comfort So the merchant took his leave/ and Blandymayn thanked him many times. Then Blandymayn mounted the lady upon her horse/ and after mounted upon his own/ and went unto a lodging that was there beside/ where as they abode by the space of eight days for to he'll Blandymayn. When he had rested him/ & that he might ride they put them upon the way toward France. And the sorrowful lady complained her by the way and said. Alas Blandymayn my friend/ what may my brother & all the lords say of my piteous case/ when they shall know that for a villainous deed I am so shamefully deject from the Emperor/ and as a common woman banished the Empire of Constantynoble. Alas I am right certain that my brother will believe lightly that I am culpable of the deed/ & make me die shamefully/ for he is right fierce of courage/ lady said blandymayn be of good cheer/ & put your trust in god. In speaking thus Blandymayn that the lady