ARTHUR OF LITTLE BRITAIN. J. MOYES, PRINTER, Greville Street, Hattoo Garden, London. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014 https://archive.org/details/historyofvaliantOObern THE HISTORY OF Slaltant Mmtffi ARTHUR OF LITTLE BRITAIN. a Eomance of Cfjtoalrp, ORIGINALLY TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH BY JOHN BOURCHIER, LORD BERNERS. A NEW EDITION: WITH A SERIES OF PLATES, FROM ILLUMINATED DRAWINGS CONTAINED IN A VALUABLE MS. OF THE ORIGINAL ROMANCE. ** Mato i>m put mout?> pour cparite, u IBotpe Bnicljt ant) lali? fre, M 9inD ijerftenctf) to mp spell, W 2Df oataiHe, ant of cpetoalrie, '« 2Df IatiC0 loue, anD Bruerie, " 3non 31 tool ?ou tell*" Chaucer. LONDON: PRINTED FOR WHITE, COCHRANE, AND CO., FLEET STREET. 1814. THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. The Old Romance of Arthur of Little Britain has strong claims on the attention of those who are attached to this species of com- position. In the incidents, although devoid of historical accuracy, we discover strong traces of invention ; and the continual references to the habits and customs of the ages of chivalry, afford a clear and amusing comment on the usages of that very interesting period. To the English reader, the translation, of which the following is an accurate reprint, particularly recommends itself, as it was made by Lord Berners, whose valuable Version of Frois- sart's Chronicles, together with other works, has rendered his name deservedly dear to the admirers of our early literature. This, from his prologue, would appear to be one of his first productions; but, on the other hand, it seems to indicate less adoption of French words, or rather a more full acquaintance with the English lan- guage, than his Froissart : at all events it discovers the same unaffected energy of composition, and elegant simplicity of style, which characterize that, his greatest work. Rare as is a perfect copy of his Froissart, much rarer to be found is The Hy story of Arthur of Lytle Brytayne ; and the Editor thinks, therefore, that he is not doing an unacceptable THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. service to the antiquary * and the man of letters, by giving to the world a correct reprint of a work, which must be as necessarily useful to the former, as probably amusing to the latter. The Count de Tressan, in his + very elegant selections from the early romances of chivalry, lias entered into a pleasing analysis of the original work ; but if the reader expects to find in that abridge- ment a correct epitome of this romance, great, indeed, will be his disappointment. The Count has given various particulars, which might be, perhaps, necessary to excite the attention of the Parisian world to the perusal, but which form no part of the parent work ; and he has, without the slightest explanation or apology, entirely varied the denouement, as well as other portions of the narrative. In- deed the greater part of the tale which professes to be abstracted from the original, is the production of M. de Tressan's own brain. It might be almost supposed t hat he had not read the original; but that taking his information from the recital of another, he had sup- plied, from his own imagination, the chasms which his inform- ant's want of recollection made in the tale. He professes to make his extract from the Paris edition, printed by Bonfons in 1584 ; yet in the passages which he selects as specimens of the " vieux langagc" he has been equally inattentive ; he has interpo- lated as well as omitted. * Sec St. Palaye'S remarks on the reading of ancient romances, in his Me'moires sur VAncienne Chevalerie, vol. ii. p. 107. in which lie points out the advantages to be derived by the antiquary from the perusal of this class of writings. Monsieur Le Grand also says : " Quiconque a im pen In et s'est accoutume a lire avec attention, sait, que non- " settlement chaque people a son stile propre ct sa fa^on de conter ; mais encore, que " dans les ouvrages de pure imagination, tels que les Romans, et dans ccux meme des " Romans qui ne sont composes que des fictions les plus extravagantcs, on voit les " ma-iirs, le caracterc, l'esprit d'une nation, pcints d'une maniere aussi vraie, ct souvent plus saillantc, que dans son histoire meme." — Preface an Fabliaux ou Colitis, lie. Paris, 1781, torn. i. p. lxx. t Corps cFExtraiil de Romans de Chceultrie. Paris, 17.52. torn. i. p. 1U4. THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. The period at which the original work was written is unknown ; and it is only from circumstances appearing in the tale itself that the date of the composition can be conjectured. That it was pro- duced long subsequent to The Romances of the Round Table, has been supposed, because the hero is not selected from the gallant chivalry which surrounded the throne of Arthur. It is true that he is derived from the blood of Lancelot du lac ; but a period is fixed for his existence, which appears much posterior to that knight's achievements. In addition to this, one of the characters introduced is, the Marshal de Mirepoix, a title which first existed in the reign of Louis the Young, who mounted the throne A. D. 1137. The learned compiler of the catalogue* of books which belonged to the Chevalier de Sardiere, expressing his surprise that the author had not chosen his hero from one of the three great families of chivalry, (viz. the Knights of Arthur, the Blood of Amadis, and the Paladins of Charlemagne), conjectures that it was composed to- wards the latter end of the fourteenth or beginning of the fifteenth century, during the reign of Charles VI. of France. As one ground for this opinion, he states, the hatred which the writer discovers towards the Count of Armagnac, who was of the faction of the Duke of Orleans; and in addition, he considers, that the dresses and customs portrayed in the work, lead to the same conclusion. The Count de Tressan adopting the latter idea, for supposing such to be the date of the composition, suggests also other reasons for his belief. He discovers a strong resemblance in the language to that of Froissart, a writer contemporaneous with Charles VI. : the influence of the spirit which actuated the court of England * " Catalogue des Livrcs de la Bibliothcque dc feu M 1 '. J. B. Denis Guyon Cliev. Seigneur de Sardiere, ancien Capitainc an Regiment du Koi, et l'uii des Seigneurs du Canal de Briare." Paris, 1759. THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. became, at this period, predominant in France ; and he traces, he says, in the romances of this period, a marked anxiety to give celebrity to every thing connected with England. — If by the latter assertion he means to infer, that from the compliments paid to this kingdom in the romance, he finds an additional argu- ment in favour of his hypothesis respecting the period when the work was composed, I must confess myself totally unconvinced by his reasoning ; since there is nothing throughout the work, which i have been able to discover, that in any degree tends to exalt the English character : and, in fact, the only allusion to England is the matrimonial alliance formed between Arthur's father and the daughter of the Earl of Lancaster in England ; this supposition, therefore, is too absurd to be reasoned on. "We know that Lc La- bourcur, Brantome, and other French writers, for a long period ac- cused the gallant Froissart of undue partiality to the English : and from the frequency of the charge, its truth became generally credited. It remained, however, for the candid St. Palaye to disprove this ridiculous accusation, but which could not prevent Tressan from making one equally unfounded with respect to the work before us. Assuredly any person attentively perusing this work, cannot hesitate for a moment to believe that it was the production of a Frenchman ; and of a Frenchman fully possessing the characteristic vanity of his country. No stronger proof need be adduced of the truth of this observation, than the continual inflated compliments which the author pays to (he appearance and gallantry of the French knights, who accompanied the Duke of Brittany into the realms of King Emendus, when he went to the relief of the fair Florence*. From the circumstance of Hector, son of the Count of Blois, • Would any writer attached to England at that period, with the knowledge of the infraction of the treaty of Bretigny so fresh iu his recollection, utter the warm encomium on the " good faith" of Frenchmen, which we find at ch. cii. p. 483? THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. receiving the honour of knighthood at the same time with his cousin Arthur ; and from the determination of the latter (as M. de Tressan asserts,) to repair the misfortunes and losses which the father of Hector had experienced, the Count derives an additional argument that this romance was composed in the reign of Charles VI. ; as at that period the descendants of Charles de Chatillon, Count of Blois, were dispossessed of their property, and set up a claim to their lawful right to the dutcby of Brittany. In the first place, the Count reasons on false data ; there is nothing in the original which justifies the assertion that Arthur promised to repair the losses which the Count of Blois had suffered ; the only passage relative to the subject, but which can in no wise be tortured to the meaning sought to be given to it by M. de Tressan, is that, in which the old Count states his determination not to part with his fief to his son whilst he lives, and the possibility that the sovereignty may be taken from both of them ; a circumstance which in reality never happened. It appears difficult, therefore, to conclude from the text, that any such meaning as assumed by M. de Tressan was intended by the author. In addition to this, an acute and able writer*, the Abbe Rive, has clearly proved that there were no historical events in the reign of Charles VI. to warrant such an assumption. Charles VI. commenced his reign in 1380, and which continued to 1422. The Abbe Rive has entered into a lengthened detail of the history of • The Abbe Rive published a thin tract in 4to. describing two MSS. Romances in the Collection of the Due de la Vallicre, entitled, Notices Historiques it Critiques de deux Manuscrits de la Bibliothique de M. le Due de la Vallicre, dmtt I'un a pour litre ' Le Roman d'Artus, Comte de Bretaigne ;' et Vautre, ' Le Rommant de Perteney ou de Lusignun.' Paris, 1779 — For the perusal of this curious and scarce volume I am indebted to Mr. Douce, whose kindness on this, and other occasions, I ac- knowledge with gratitude. a THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. the House of Cliatillon or Rlois, and of the events in which it was engaged from the year 1341 to 1433 ; in the whole of which long period nothing is found that can, in any shape, corroborate the Count de Tressan's argument. Although the Abbe Rive seems inclined to believe that the period conjectured for the composition of this Romance was that above mentioned ; yet he denies also the force of his countryman's argu- ment, founded on the similarity of the language to that of Froissart. Nothing, he says, can be .less solid. He considers it a substantial answer to such reasoning, that those who might be employed to copy the MS. would adapt the language to the taste of their own age ; a conjecture which is warranted by so many instances in which ancient works have been modernised. After all, perhaps the best argument in favour of this Romance having been composed at, or about the period above alluded to, is to be found in the reference to the dresses and habits of the 15th century. Continual descriptions of the costume in which the parties are clothed occur; and some of them are so marked, as to correspond most exactly with the figures portrayed in the illumi- nations of some of our early MSS. At cap. ii. p. 3. we are informed, that " Arthur was mounted on a grete courser, his hat hangynge on his back by a lace of sylke, his bonet on his head," &c. — We have only to refer to the frontispiece to the 2d volume of Strutt's Dress and Habits, and we discover the precise garb in which Arthur was clothed. This print is an accurate copy from an illumination in a most beautiful MS. of the Roman de la Rose, in the British Museum, Harl. 4425 ; supposed to be executed in the 15th century. In cap. xxv. p. 62. Arthur and his companions meet with M a messenger, with a javelyn in his hande, & scochen of arms on his breste," &c. — This description, perhaps, does not so completely THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. assist us in our researches as the former one, although we may still derive some benefit from it. The accurate and inquisitive Strutt says, that the earliest representation of a messenger is in a MS. of the 13th century, Harleian, 1528; where he is described with a small shield, blazoned with arms, fastened to his left side, but carrying no weapon. In the ensuing century we find that the herald carried the blazoned shield behind him, and that he was armed with a spear. He is thus delineated in Strutt's Dress and Habits, in pl.Lxxxin,which is copied from a drawing in JV1 S.Roy. 16. G. vi. In the above-mentioned Roman de la Rose, a messen- ger is frequently represented ; but in every instance he bears the arms of his master on his breast, and carries no weapon. In the 15th century, Strutt says the small shield of arms was discontinued ; and the tabard, the modern state garb of a herald, was substituted for it*. Reasoning, therefore, from these circumstances, it may be said, that this Romance boasts an earlier date than that before assigned to it, and that it was the production of the early part of the 14th century, if not written in the one preceding. As it is impossible, however, to define the exact time at which fashions in dress have varied or ceased, it becomes difficult to decide, on such evidence alone, the date of any work of antiquity. In the absence, nevertheless, of positive proof on the subject, there appears tolerably strong negative evidence from the work itself, against its being composed so late as the period assigned to it by the respectable authorities above mentioned ; and which evidence I am not aware has been before brought forward. In cap. civ. p. 497. when the Emperor's host was about to be attacked by Arthur and the French knights his auxiliaries, we are told that " there yssued fyrst oute the baner of Britainc wyth the * Yet wc are told, on good authority, that messengers wore the arms of their employers on their breasts, or left shoulders, so late as the end of the 16th century. — Qiuircs de J'auchet, ed. 1610, p. 517. THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. dickered armes*." This passage will afford us some assistance in the research, as to the point of time when the minstrel or herald produced this Romance. It should seem that the arms borne by the dutchy of Brittany were entirely, in heraldic phrase, i( ermine," until the year 1213 +. About that period, Philip Augustus, King of France, exercising the privilege which the feudal doctrine of wardship vested in him, married Alice the heiress of Brittany, daughter of Guy de Thouar and the unfortu- nate Constance (whose sorrows have been made familiar to us by our great dramatic poet), to Pierre de Dreux, surnamed Mauclerc. This young lady had, in her infancy, been betrothed by the monarch to the Count de Penthievre, a nobleman nearly allied to the throne. It is supposed, however, that Philip was apprehensive that the princely domain of Brittany, added to the Count's patri- monial territory, would render him too powerful a subject ; and the youthful, but richly endowed heiress, was therefore assigned over to Pierre de Dreux. The first Count of Dreux was the fourth son • In both the MSS. hereafter mentioned this distinction of ' checqucred' arms is not to be found; yet it exists in the edition of Bonfons, 1584; the only French printed copy to which I have been able to refer. Mr. Douce, whose knowledge on this point may be safely relied on, attributes the probable date of these MSS. to the 15th century ; and a fair inference, therefore, may be drawn, that the printed edition was taken from an earlier MS. than either of those above referred to. It would have been futile in the printer to interpolate such a phrase; since it could not flatter any national or individual feeling to particularize au impress on the shield of Brittany, which had long ceased to exist. On the other hand, it seems probable the later MSS. would, by adapting the language (according to the Abb6 Rive's supposition) and the usages to existing institutions, omit a circumstance which had become disused and antiquated. Still, however, in an illumination in one of these MSS. a knight appears, whose shield is correctly emblazoned with the chick y or and azure, which is copied in this edition. t Falciiet, 514. On the other hand, Lobiueau, speaking of Pierre dt Dreux, says: " C'est lui qui a appnrti les ermines en Bretagne." — Histoire de Bretagtw. Paris, 1707, torn. i. 197. THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. of Louis le Gros, who flourished in the 1 2th century : this house bore for arms " chequte or et azure.'''' By his above-mentioned descendant the cheeky was first introduced into the shield of Brittany : he, however, quartered the ermine with it in the dexter chief*. This continued to be the armorial bearing of the dutchy until the sovereignty of John the Hid ; who about the year 1317 + altogether excluded the cheeky, retaining the ermine alone; which ever since (or at least up to the period of the French Revolution) has been the distinguishing insignia of the province of Brittany. John III. died in 1341, and on the shield attached to the recum- bent figure on his monument, nothing appears but the ermine. From hence a fair inference arises that this Romance was written long prior to the reign of Charles VI., and that it must have been composed even anterior to the accession of Duke John III., when the chequers ceased to form part of the arms of the dutcby. It has been supposed by M. La Curne de • Amongst the Cotton MS9. in the British Museum, is an old French poem relative to the achievements of those who assisted Edward I. at the siege of Kaerlaverok, A. D. 1300 ; and in which the arms of John of Brittany are described as above, and are thus particularized : " Banniere avoit coint£ et par£e " Dc or e de astir eschequere " Au rouge ourle o jaunes lupars " Dc ermine estoit la quart pars." Caligula, A. xviii. rev. fol. 23. Warton in his History of English Poetry has very inaccurately transcribed this passage : he has introduced the word " determine" at the beginning of the fourth line ; thus altering entirely (or rather rendering unintelligible) the sense. The above blazon perfectly agrees with that in the early chronicler, who, speaking of the alte- ration introduced by Pierre Mauclerc, says, " Portoit en ses annes ung eschiquier dor et daziir horde de gueulles a petiz liepars dor, et a lescu ung quarticr dermines." — Let Grandes Croniques de Bretaigne, 1532, rev. fol. 86. t Lobineau, Hist, de Bretagne, torn. i. p. 302. THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. St. Palaye*, that most of the romances of chivalry were com- posed by heralds t ; (wc actually know that several of them were so J) ; and wc may easily believe that such an officer could not be ignorant, in that warlike age, that the cheeky had ceased to be the impress of Brittany ; an event so important in the contem- plation of those, whose time and attention must naturally have been directed to the inquiry ||. The MSS. of this Romance, now in existence, are not nume- rous §: Montfaucon particularizes only three. In the Collection of the late Duke of Roxburghe, was that which was formerly in the possession of the Due de la Valliere, referred to by the Abbe Rive, and which is now in my possession : it is on paper, and from the writing appears to be of the 15th century. Previous to its be- coming the property of the Duke of Roxburghe, it had been in the Crevenna Collection. Another, on vellum, is in the possession of Lord Thurlow. To his lordship's kindness, in allowing me the free use of this MS., and his liberality in permitting some of the beautiful illuminations which adorn it to be copied, for the pur- * Memoircs sur VAnciennc Cheraleric, torn. ii. p. 123 ; and see also Menestrier sur Chevalerie Ancienne et Modvrne, ch. v. p. 225 ; and Walton's Hist, of Eng. Poetry, vol. i. p. 331, et seq. t The tronvenn and minstrels seem to have considered this as an attack on their privileges, and accordingly resented it. Serious disputes arose between them and the heralds, in the reign of Philip Augustus; to use the words of Fauchet (iny authority), " Je croy pour lean estats." — OEuvres de Fauchet, 1610, rev. f. 516- i La Tvison d'Or ; I'Jlistoire du Petit Jehan de Safari, by Anthoinc de la Salle ; also Ogier le Danoys, Jierthe au Grand-pied, and Cleomades, all written by Adenez, king at arms to Henry, Duke of Krabant, in the 13th century, ice. &c. || The heralds in early times were always men of rank. — Qiuvres de Fauchet, 1610, rev. f. 517. § Montf. liihlioth. Manuscript, p. 688 *, letter E, torn. i. ; p. 954, letter B, torn. ii. ; and p. 1329, letter C, same volume. • This is the reference of the Abbe Rive ; but I have been unable, on inspection, to discover the article. The second it stated by Montfaucon to be in the Colbcrtiue Collection, and the last in that of the Prt ti- ded de Mcsmc. THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. pose of decorating this edition, I consider myself greatly indebted ; and it gives me pleasure to bear testimony to the manner, equally spirited and faithful, in which the artist has executed these En- gravings, which I am confident the possessors of this work will agree with me in considering as accompaniments infinitely more elegant and appropriate to a " Romance of Chivalry," than the rude and shapeless wood-cuts given in Redborne's edition. After frequent inquiries, I am unable to obtain tidings of any other MSS. of this romance in the kingdom ; at least the two grand magazines of this species of wealth, the British Museum and the Bodleian Library, do not possess any. The MS. Romance particularized by the Abbe Rive, bears the name of the Petit Artus de Bretaigne, and has been, as he says, confounded with that called Le Grand Artus, by Lenglet*, Quadrio t 5 de Bure J, and Osmont||. The Abbe's usual accuracy appears here to have deserted him, since I cannot find that either Lenglet, de Bure, or Osmont, have fallen into the error attributed to them ; they all expressly distinguish the Artus de Bretaigne (by the Abbe designated as the Petit Artus) from the Grand Artus, or the possessor of The Round Table. It is true, however, that Quadrio has mistaken them for one and the same person. The first printed edition in the French language bears date in the year 1493, and was in the library of the Due de la Valliere, although Lenglet du Fresnoy, Quadrio, de Bure, Osmont, and Tressan, have considered that of 1502 as the earliest. These writers have also omitted all notice of the 3d edition in 1536. The fourth, and I believe the last, was printed in 1584. This latter, though not common, is the least difficult to be obtained. Of the English translation we have notices of only three editions : the first, according to Ames, was printed by Robert Copland, * La BibliothZque da Romans, torn. ii. p. 175. t Quadrio, torn. iv. p. 491. • De Bure, Bibliogr. Insfr., torn. iv. p. 131. H Osmont, torn. i. p. 55. THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. without date ; but which Herbert, from the title page, conjectures not to have been the first : he confesses he had not seen the book. The next was printed by Robert Redborne, from which the present is reprinted*. Warton speaks of one printed as late as 1609 ; but this, from the way he mentions it, it is evident he had not met with +. It only remains to say, that in this reprint, (which has been executed with very great care,) the precise language and even orthography of Rcdborne's edition have been preserved, except in a very few instances, where either from the carelessness of the translator, or the error of the printer, the passage was unin- telligible : on such occasions, both the MS. in the Editor's pos- session, and that of Lord Thurlow, together with the printed French edition, have been referred to for the elucidation of the text. There appears occasionally some confusion in the names of the persons introduced : for instance, in the first chapter of the translation the name of the Earl of Leycester is substituted for that of Lancaster, which occurs in the French original, and in another part of this translation : but as the Editor professed to give an exact reprint, and as no historical fact would suffer from the inaccuracy, he did not deem it necessary to make the alteration. Of this reprint only 200 copies are taken off; viz. 175 on small, and 25 on larffe paper. h P P E. V. U. January, 1814. • The copy above mentioned was purchased at the sale of the Duke of Rox- burghe's library, and was in many respects imperfect : on application, however, to Earl Spencer, that nobleman readily afforded the Editor an opportunity of sup- plying the lacuna, by a transcript from his own fine and perfect copy. t See Ritson's Observations on the History of English Poetry, p. 46. This romance appears to bate become popular in England at an early period, probably through the medium of this translation ; hence — " Hannibal and Tompey, with Ti islam, Gallaliad, Orckney." (Stanyhurst's Poems, 1583, p. 104,) where the name of the last-mentioned knight is evidently taken from this work, C €&e frgftorg of t&e mooft noble ant toalpaunt fenggbt attfmt of Iptdl brptapne, translates out of frenfffje in to cngluf&c bp t&e noble Slo&anlBourg&cber fenpgfjtlorne Earners, netolg 31mprpntcD. THE PROLOGE. HERE FOLOWETH THE TRANSLATOUR'S PROLOGUE. For asmoche as it is delectable to all humayne nature to rede and to here these auncient noble hystoryes of the chyualrous feates and marcyall prowesses of the vyctoryous knyghtes of tymes paste, whose tryumphaunt dedes, yf wrytynge were not, sholde be had clene oute of reraembraunce : and also bycause that ydelnesse is reputed to be the moder of al vices ; wherfore somwhat in eschew- ynge therof, and in the waye of lowli erudycyon and learnynge, I John Bourghchere, knyght, lorde Berners, haue enterprysed to translate out of Frensshe in to our maternal tongue, a noble hystory, makynge mencyon of the famous dedes of the ryght valyaunt knyght Arthur, sonne and eyre to the noble duke of Bry taync ; and of the fayre lady Florence, doughter and heyre to the myghty Emendus, kynge of the noble realme of Soroloys ; and of the grete trouble that they endured, or they attayned to the perfourmauncc of theyr vertuous amorous desyers : for, fyrste, they ouercame many harde & strauge aduenturcs, the whiche, as to our humayne reason, sholde seme to be incredible. Wherfore, after that I had begon this sayd proccsse, I haue determined to haue left and gyucn vp my laboure, for I thoughte it sholde haue be reputed but a folye in me to translate be seming suche a fayned mater, wherin semeth to be so many vnpossybylytees : how be it than I called agayne to my remembrance, that I had redde and seen many a sondrye ir THE TRANSLATORS PROLOGUE. volume of dyucrse noble hystoryes, wherin were contayned the redoubted dedes of the auncyent inuynsyble conquerours, & of other ryght famous knightes, who acheued many a straunge and wonderfull aduenture, the whyche, by play nc letter as to our vnder- standynge, sholde seme in a maner to be supernatural! ; wherfore I thought that this present treatyse myght as well be reputed for trouth as some of those : and also I doubted not but that the first auctour of this boke deuysed it not with out some maner of trouthe or vertuous entent: thewhiche consyderacyons, and other, gaue me agayne audacyte to contynue forth my fyrste purpose tyll I had fy nysshed this sayd boke ; not presumynge that I haue re- duced it in to fresshe ornate polysshed Englysshe, for I knowe my selfe insuffycyent in the facondyous arte of rethoryke, nor also I am but a lerner of the language of Frensshe : how be it, I truste my symple reason hath ledde me to the vnderstandinge of the true sentence of the mater, accordinge to the whiche I haue folowed as nere as I coude, desyrynge all the reders and herers therof to take this my rude traslacion in gre ; and yf ony faute be, to laye it to myn vnconnynge and derke ingnorauce, and to mynysshe, adde, or augmet, as they shall fynde cause requysyte ; and in theyr so doynge, I shall praye to God that, after this vayne and transytory lyfe, he may brynge them vnto the perdurable joye of hcuen. Amen. Thus endeth the translatours prologue. TABULA. HERE AFTER FOLOWETH THE TABLE OF THYS PRESENT HYSTORIE. CAP. I. PAGE The fyrste chapyter maketh niencyon of the byrth of the noble knyght Arthur, soone and heyre to the Duke of Brytayne. 1 CAP. II. How the Duke of Brytayne delyuered his sonne Arthur to the gouer- naunce of a prudent knyghte named syr Gouernar, who dyd ensigne him in all goodlye maners & dedes of amies, so that afterwarde there was nou lyke vuto him. 2 CAP. III. How Arthur founde in the forest a noble lady w'out socour, and w l her a fayre yonge mayde, her doughter, named Jehannet, before a lytle lodge, the whyche they had made of y e braunches of the trees ; and how that Arthur was amorus of the sayd Jehannet. 4 CAP. IV. Howe Arthur caused to be delyuered to Jehannet, & her moder, y e reuenues y« belonged to the stang or ponde of the forest, wherby there stode a fayre goodly place of pleasure ; and afterward Arthur didde often tymes resorte thyder to passe the tyme with them.. . • • 7 CAP. V. How within viii. dayes after, Arthur and Gouernar wente to the stange to se the ladye, and Jehannet her doughter.* 9 b vi TABULA. CAP. VI. PACE How that the duke and duchesse toke counsell to mary theyr sone Arthur; and how they sente theyr stewarde to the lady Luke of Ostrige for to deraaunde her doughter for Arthur. 11 CAP. VII. How the senesshall demaunded the daughter of Ostryge for Arthur of Brytayne, the which request with great joy was graunted hym.« • • • 13 CAP. VIII. How y' Arthur was sore dyspleased for y' his father wold mary him to y e doughter of Ostryge, bycause it was sayde she was of yll gouernaunce. 14 CAP. IX. How that Arthur wente to se Jehannet, and declared to her how y e duke, his father, should mary him ; wherof he was sore dyspleased for y e loue of her.«««« • • 15 CAP. X. How that Arthur, & Hector his cosyn germayne, were made knightes for the loue of Arthur, who than did ensure Perron, doughter to y e lady Luke of Ostrige. And of the great tornay that was there done at Nauntes for the loue of Arthur. 17 CAP. XL Howe that Arthur wedded fayre Perron, doughter to the lady Luke of Ostryge ; and of the protestacion that he made before all the barony. • «... 22 CAP. XII. How this ladye Luke of Ostryge sente for Jehannef, and caused her secretly the fyrst nyght to lye with Arthur, bycause y* Perron was no mayde, to the entente y« Arthur shold not perceyue 23 TABULA. vii CAP. XIII. PAGE Howe that Jehannet who that was a bedde with Arthur in the stede of his wyfe Perron, & or she wolde suffer hym to touche her she demaunded her endowrye. 26 CAP. XIV. Howe that Arthur, Hector, and Gouernar, wente erly in the mornynge to se Jehannet at the stange, who shewed vnto Arthur all the treason of his wyfe, and howe that she had layne with him al that nyght in the stede of Perron ; wherof he gretely meruayled. 27 CAP. XV. Howe y* Gouernar vaynquysshed in batayle syr Aunsel, & caused him to make knowledge of this treason, & confessed how y l he brought Jehannet fro the stange for to lie al night w* Arthur. 33 CAP. XVI. How Arthur demaunded licence of his fader and moder to go play hym oute of his owne countre ; for he wolde goe seke aduentures, to shew therby his force and prowesse. 36 CAP. XVII. How the myghty Kynge of Sorolois, called Emendus, helde open courte in his realme, where as was foure puyssaunte kynges, who were all his subiectes ; and here ye shall here of thynges meruaylous. 40 CAP. XVIII. The dyscrypcion of the facyon and sytuacyon of the Mount Perylous, the whiche was conquered by the prowes of Arthur.* • • • • 42 CAP. XIX. Howe it was determyned that the Quene Fenyce shoulde take her chambre in the palays besyde the castel of y e Porte Noyre. 45 TABULA CAP. XX. PACE How that the doughter of the myghty Kynge Emendus, and of Fenice his queue, was destyned ouer the fountaine in the herber of the Mounte Perillous by foure quenes of the fayry. The chyefe of theym was named Proserpyne, who was the niooste fayrest creature than of all the worlde. • • •• 47 CAP. XXI. How the Kinge of Valefounde sente his son to j e citie of Sabba for to he brought vp in the company of Florence. 49 CAP. XXII. How y* the Quene Fenice, moder to Florence, died : & how she made her testament, giuinge to her doughter a ringe, in puttyng her tberby in possession of the reahne of Blaunche Toure. • ibid. CAP. XXIII. How that the Quene Fenice, moder to Florence, was nobly entiered- • 52 CAP. XXIV. How that the emperour of Inde the More deniaunded of Kynge Emendus the fayre Florence, his doughter, in manage, aud of the answere that Kinge Emendus made to hym ; aud also of the terme that was taken to mary Florence: and how that mayster Steuen knewe, by the regardyng of the pianettes, that theyr was commynge out of the West a knight, who should acheue the aduentures of the Porte Noyre, and how he should haue and enioye the white shelde and the swerde, and obtayne Florence in maryage : wherof she was greatly comforted, for in no wise she loued the emperour. 53 CAP. XXV. How that Arthur slewe twelue knightes, who had token awaye a yonge damoysell fro her father and mother, & had tyed her to a tree, there to haue defouled her vyrgiuitye; who was saued by Arthur.* 59 TABULA, CAP. XXVI. PAGE How that Arthur, Hector, & Goueruar, slewe xxx. theues in a grete forest ; the whiche was a grete welth to all the countre, for they had pylled and wasted the countre all aboute. 63 CAP. XXVII. How that syr Delalaunde shewed to Arthur the occasion why >* this tomay was fyrst taken by the lorde Bcauiew. 69 CAP. XXVIII. How that Arthur had the honoure in the tournay that was made at Vyen bytwene the marshal of Myrpois and the Erie of Beauiew, where as was dyuerse great kynges, earles, barons, and many other good knyghtes, ryght valyaunte ; whereby Arthur gate him great thanke and prayse, and was greatly honoured of all ladyes and damoyselles there assembled. • 76 CAP. XXIX. Howe that Arthur the second day had the honoure of the tourney, and soo wytli hym abode the pryce of the felde. 86 CAP. XXX. How that the marshall of Myrpoys for enui that he had bicause that Arthur had the honoure of the tournay, and bycause he bad beten him dow ue, for he had wende hymselfe to haue ben the best knyghte of the worlde ; therefore he defyed Arthur, and chalenged hym to juste. And howe that Arthur vanquysshed hym, & brake one of bis armes, and two rybbes in hys syde. 93 CAP. XXXI. Howe that Arthur was crowned to be kynge of all the knyghtes of the tournay; and they promysed hym fayth and trouth, to serue him in dedes of armes alwayes and in euery place where as it semed him best; and the yonge Kynge of Malogres did crowne him. 96 X TABULA. CAP. XXXII. PAGE Howe that Arthur after his crownacyon toke leue of the yonge kynge, and of all the other lordes and knightes, ladyes and damoyselles, who conuayed hym on hys journaywarde, and had great sorow to leue his company 98 CAP. XXXIII. How Arthur and his company aryued in the erledome of Brewle, marchynge agenst the londe of Sorolois, & entred into the cyte of Brewle, the whiche was besyeged by the Duke of Orgoule named Malaquys, bycause y e erle wold not let him haue his doughter in maryage, wherfore by false treson he slewe the erle. 99 CAP. XXXIV. Howe that Arthur wente alone to the Duke of Orgoule, & gaue him his answer, & bade him abyde no lenger for the fayre Alyce. For he shewed hym how y* he had giuen her to Hector his cosyn ; and how that he had promysed to her hys head bycause he slewe her fader by treason : with the whiche answere the duke was sore dys- pleased, so muche that there was bitwene them a great batayle.* • 107 CAP. XXXV. How Hector, & Gouernar, & sir Othes, rode out of the cyte, well accompanyed, to rescowe Arthur, who al alone assayled the Duke of Orgoule and all his armye. 1 09 CAP. XXXVI. How Arthur, Hector, Gouernar, & sir Othes, discomfyted Peter y e Cornu, broder to the duke, who was comen to him with iiii.C. knightes, and there this Cornu was slayne, & all hys people slayne and taken prysoners. And how Arthur toke the dukes hors named Assyle, y« best hors as than of the worlde. 114 TABULA. CAP. XXXVII. p AGE Howe that Arthur and his company vtterly dyscomfited the duke, and strake of his head, and dydde sende it by Gouernar to the fayre lady Alyce and to her moder, as he had promised before. • • « 117 CAP. XXXVIII. How Arthur and his company wente to the cyte of Orgoule for to take it by force, but the bourgeyses thereof broughte vnto hym the keys, and didde vnto hym homage, and so dydde all the nobles of that countrye, as vnto theyr chefe souerayne lorde. 122 CAP. XXXIX. Howe Arthur made his cosyn Hector Duke of Orgoule, by the assente of all the lordes of that countre. 126 CAP. XL. Howe that Arthur & Gouernar departed asonder, and of the terryble aduentures that eche of theym founde or they mette agayne. 128 CAP. XLI. How Gouernar, after that he was departed fro Arthur, found in a greate forest two knyghtes armed, who had beten and wounded an other knyght, and wolde haue rauyshed his syster : and howe he rescowed her, and dydde vanquysshe all her enemyes. 130 CAP. XLII. How that Gouernar came to a strong castell called the Brosse, & vanquyshed the knyght that kept it. And howe that afterwarde he was kepte in that castel agenst his wyl, in grete daunger of detb, tyll at the last Arthur delyuered him, as ye shall here hereafter.* • • 132 CAP. XLIII. How that Arthur conquered the castell of the Porte Noyre by his prowes, and slewe all them that kepte it: and how after that, he i TABULA. PAGI entred into the halles of the palays, wher he was assayled of two grete and horrible lyons, and of a grete gyaunt, & how he ouer- came them all wyth grete payne, and acheued all the meruayllous aduentures of the castel, the which are right wonderous to reherse. 135 CAP. XLIV. How Arthur, after y' he had acheued y e aduentures of the palays & delyuered the prysoners, & after how y* he acheued the aduenture y l was in the galary goyng in to the gardin of the Mount Perillous, & by his might with a grete barre bet down ii. massyue ymages of coper, eche of them holding a flayle, yt was of such wyght y« x. men myght scant lyfte one of them fro the erth, wherwith they were euer beting wyth greate strokes made by enchauntment, to thentent that none sholde passe in to the gardyns of the Mount Peryllous; & so than fayled & ended all the enchauntementes of that place.* • •« 146 CAP. XLV. How mayster Steuen went with Arthur in the palays w'in the castell, to y e enteut to see the wonderfull adueutures that Arthur had there acheued 1 49 CAP. XLVI. Howe Proserpyne, 4S0 CAP. CHI. How that King Jonas, al alone, came to the castel of the Clere Toure, and there dyd his message from themperour of Ynde the More. 487 CAP. CIV. How that themperour and Kyng Jonas, accompanyed wyth fyftye thousande men of warre, came to the Clere Toure for to haue made assaute therto ; and than thei founde the gates open, and entred bothe in to the towne and in to the castell, for they thought verily that all the Frensshe men had ben fledde : but they were deceyued ; for than the Frensshe men lepte out from theyr en- busshementes and shette faste the gates, and there slewe Kynge Jonas and all the fyftye thousande, soo that none escaped alyue but one, and the emperour, who was taken prysoner. 493 1 TABULA. XXV CAP. CV. How Gouernar went into tbe relme of Soroloys, to thentent to giue knowlege to Kyng Emendus liowe y l themperor had besyeged his doughter, Florence, in her castell of Clere Toure, desyrynge hym too hast liys hoost to rescowe her at that tyuie. 500 CAP. CVI. How that Arthur, accompanied with the Fienche men, dyscomfyted Kynge Florypes, brother to themperour, & slewe al them y* were in his company. • • 503 CAP. CVII. How mayster Steuen, by his art & conning, caused themperyens to go a wronge waye from Arthur, and so encountred y e Kynge Emendus & al his hoost. • 510 CAP. CVIII. How that themperour dyed in prison for sorow, whan that he knewe that hys kynges and people were al slayne & dyscomfyted. 515 CAP. CIX. How that King Emendus came to the Blaunche Toure, with al his noble company, to the burying of themperour and of the other iiii. kynges. ••••• 518 CAP. CX. How after the dyscomfiture of themperour and al his people, y e king gaue lycence to al his hoost to depart euerye man home, & went him selfe to Argeuce, there too make the weddyng betwene Arthur and Florence ; and how that Florence went to the Porte Noyre to make chere to the Duches of Britaine, and to the other ladyes, & to bringc them to Argence to her fader, Kyng Emendus. 522 xxv i TABULA. CAP. CXI. PAGE How Florence, because of the doubt y' she had lest y' Jehannet should take fro her Arthur, she gaue her to Gouernar, & gaue them the relme of Mormal, and caused theym to be ensured togyder the same houre ; and also y* same time she caused y* lady Margaret to be ensured to maister Steuen. 525 CAP. CX1I. How Arthur wedded y e fayre Florence, doughter to the mighty Kyng Emendus, with great honour & triumphe, and Kynge Gouernar wedded the fayre Jehannet, and mayster Steuen wedded the fayre lady Margarete of Argenton, all in one daye and one houre. 529 CAP. CXIII. How the Frensshe knightes, & those of Soroloys, of Argence, of Orqueney, of Mormal, of Ismaelytc, of Valefounde, and of Sabary, dyde tournay togyder; wherof Arthur and Gouernar had the honour. > 534 CAP. CXIV. Howe after the maryage of Arthur, the barons and ladies of Fraunce returned into theyr owne countryes, except King Alexander, whom King Emendus kept styl, & made vuto him grete chere : and he taryed there soo longe, tyll that Florence was delyuered of a fayre son, who Kinge Alexander held on the font. 539 CAP. CXV. How King Alexander returned into his country, and led w» hym Arthur, Gouernar, Hector, and master Steuen ; & taryed in Bri- tayne so long, tyl Florence sent for Arthur, becaus y* her father, Kyng Emendus, was departed this life, wherfore she made gret lamentacioi). 541 TABULA. xxvii CAP. CXVI. PAGE How Arthur was sent for because of the deth of King Eniendus; and how y' he was crowned Kyng of Soroloys. 542 CAP. CXVII. Here is deuysed how longe that Arthur lyued, and howe that he was buried. 543 Thus endeth the table of this present hystory. 3Et)j>0torp OF ARTHUR OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. CAPITULO I. THE FYRSTE CHAPYTER MAKETH MENCYON OF THE BYRTH OF THE NOBLE KNYGHT ARTHUR SONNE AND HEYRE TO THE DUKE OF BRYTAYNE. After the death of good kynge Arthur who was ryght noble and gentyll, specyally in cherysshynge and enhaunsynge of nobyl- nesse, and mayntaynyng of the chyualrous knyghtes of the worlde, as was Gawyn and Lancelotte and many other noble knightes as it is more plainly conteyned in dyuers auncyent cronycles : it is of trouth that in tho dayes in Brytayne there was a duke ryghte pru- dente & aboue all other ryghte vertuous, ryche and puyssaunte botlie of hauyour and frendes, who was come and extraughte of the noble hygh lygnage of the valyaut knyght Laucelot du lake, who was in bis dayes of right hyghe & noble prowesse as it is more at large comprised in the bokes makynge mencyon of his chyualryc. This Duke had to name Johan, and was so endued wyth sapyence y l tbe kynge who as than gouerned all Fraunce, loued and honoured hym aboue all other, in soo moche it was sayde where so euer he wente, beholde yonder is the wyse man of Britaine ; he was sworne of the kynges preuye and streayte B '2 TIIYSTORY OF ARTHUR counsayle so that the kynge was onely gouerned by his noble aduise because of the gret trouthe and stedfastnessc y l was euer foude in hym. This duke hadd a ryghte noble lady to his wyfe of good & holy life who was doaghter to the eric of Leycester in Englande, & they loued togyder ryght feruently by cordyall loue al theyr lyfe, and in accomplyshing betwene them the werkes of maryage ordeyned by nature, fynallye it pleased the good Lorde to sende theyra a fayre sonne, who in the remembraunce of good kyng Arthur and of his hye renowne, was named Arthur. This chylde was goodly & of ful greate beaute : for afterward he grew to be the mooste fayre creature that than was founde in all Crystendome, and the duke & duches loued hym so well that they entended to no thynge but all onely to the prouffyte of theyr chylde, and specyally to enhaunce his honour and rychesse. CAP. II. HOW THE DUKE OF BRYTAYNE DELYUERED HIS SONNE ARTHUR TO THE GOUERNAUNCE OF A PRUDENT KNYGHTE NAMED SYR GOUERNAR WHO DYD ENSIGNE HIM IN ALL GOODLYE MANERS & DEDES OF ARMES, SO THAT AFTERWARDE THERE WAS NON LYKE VNTO HIM. And wha this chyld Arthur was nyne yere of age than the Duke his fader delyuered hym to be kcptc vnder the gouemaunce of a noble & a gentyl mayster named Gouernar, who was ryght pru- dent, puyssaut & hardy, vertuous & vygorous of bodye & well proued, who amonge other thynges dydde teach this noble chylde Arthur the play of the chesse & tables so y x non was in coninge lyke vnto him. And wha he was of .xx. yere than his mayster taught hym the manere of skyrmyshe, so that w'in a lytle season ther was none able to be copared w' hym. Thus amended this chylde frome daye to daye & grew so goodly y' in al the worlde there was none OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 3 sene lyke him, nether so fayre, so gracyous ne so courteyse, in so muche y l (he kynge of Fraunce desyred oftetyraes y l he sholde haue be noryshcd & brought vp wyth his one chyldren. How be it y e duchesse his moder coude in no wyse suffer it, ne scant to let him be oute of her presence neuer a day, she loued him so entierly. So longe thys chyld soiourned w* his moder y' it was gretlye noyful to his hert, in so mocbe that therby he became ryght pensyfe & sore troubled in his mind. So that Gouernar hys mayster demaunded of hi what was the cause of his sorowe. In good fayth mayster sayd Arthur, this long soiorning and abyding at home greatly noyeth me, for I wolde gladly go and play me in yoder fayre forest, and to hunt and chase after a grete harte ; for it hath ben now a grete season sythe I went ony where foorthe. Sertaynly sayde Gouernar, fayre Arthur it pleaseth me ryght wel your noble mid. There, go to my lord your fader and desyre hys lycece that ye may go chase in y e forest. Than Arthur went forth toy e duk his fader and demaunded of hym lycence. Wha the duke hard this tydyng and wyl of his son, he had grete ioy & ryght swete dyd graute hym his request & commaunded & desyred Gouernar that he shold take good hede to hym & not suffre hym to renne ne to folowe to faste after his dysport. Gouernar answered that he wolde take good hede to him. Than Arthur caused y e huters to be warned & to make redy his greyhoudes, houndes & other raches for he wolde go the nexte daye be tyraes to chase in the forest. And the nexte mornynge Arthur & Gouer- nar mouted on theyr horses w' grete ioyc & .x. other gentylmen to kepe them company. And Arthur was mounted on a grete courser, his hat hangynge on his backe by a lace of sylke, his bonet on his head, & the hunters wcnte before ledinge his greyhoundes and houndes. Thus they ryde forthe toward the forest in grete ioye. 4 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR CAP. III. HOW ARTHUR FOUNDE IN THE FOREST A NOBLE LADY W'OUT SOCOUR, AND W* HER A FAYRE YONGE MAYDE HER DOUGHTER, NAMED JEHANNET, BEFORE A LYTLE LODGE THE WHYCHE THEY HAD MADE OF Y e BRAUNCHES OF THE TREES, AND HOW THAT ARTHUR WAS AMOKUS OF THE SAYD JEHANNET. In this tyme there was in the realme of desert a knyght of grete power and right riche of hauiour and frendes, and he was Lord of a castell called the Toure. This knyght was named Vyciers and was of such vertue that he douted nothlge .x. knyghtes armed, and was of so valiat corage that sin the time that he coude fyrst beare armes he was neuer but there as he knew where as the fayte of armes were occupied, and employed hiselfe cuer in "iustes and tornayes and in dedes of armes and dyd so to be alowed y' there was no speklge of him but that he was the noblest knight of the world : but finally he led so his life that he speded and wasted his goodes so largely to thetet to get hym laudc and prayse, that at the end he became therby very pore, and tha was faync to sell and to make shyfte of all y' he had both of his owne & of the good lady his wyfe, and so dyed in grete pouerte. And whan he was buryed suche persones as he was detter vnto, toke all the londes & goodes that perteyned other to hym or to the lady his wyfe, so y' there by the good lady his wife fledde & departed pryuely out of y l coutree, so y* non of her frendes wyste where she was become : for she thoughte she hadde rather to lyue poorely in a straunge countrye ferre fro her fredes & aqueyntaunce tha to endure pouerte in her owne countrye where she had ben nobly broughte vp in be- fore. So this lady went & her doughter with her, who was of the age of .xiiii. yeare ryght beautefull, how be it she was porely arayed, & had to name Jehannet. And they trauayled so loge by theyr iomeys y' by aduenture they came in to the forest where Arthur & Gouernar were vsed to chase & to hunte. And in a desolate OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 5 place of the forest ferre from ony hye way ther these two ladyes dyd reste them and made theym a lodge to abyde in of boughes and of suche thinges as they coude gette. Thus they contynued the space of a moneth. And this lady went eueri day right porely to the nexte vylage for to gete suche thinges as she & her dough- ter neded. And so it fortuned y' the same day y l Arthur & Gou- ernar departed fro the courte of his fader and was entred into the sayde foreste, anone his houndes had founde a grete harte. And a noble knyghte y l was in his copany named the lorde Olyuer of Iryac folowed after this harte on a grct courser & all the other huters after hym. And this yonge Arthur began to folowe after, how be it Gouernar toke hede y ( he sholde not folowe to faste, so y' this sayde lorde Olyuer and all other were past forth by hym & were gon so ferre into the thicke of y e foreste, y* Arthur & Gouer- nar had clene loste both sight and heringe of the and of theyr houdes. And so by ges they folowed fayre and esyly after : so log they folowed y' by aduenture they came to the same place where as the lodge was made for the lady and her doughter, who were bothe the same tyme syttynge wythout the lodge dore. And as soone as Arthur sawe them he lyghted downc of his hors and Gouernar w* hym. And wha this lady sawe Arthur she was gretly abashed, for she thought well y l he sholde be some grete man, & therew 1 she rose and Arthur right swetely saluted her. And the lady in like wise agayne to him. And at y 1 tyme it was aboute thre of the clocke. And whan the ladye sawe Arthur & Gouernar dyscende from theyr horses, she remembred the state of her fader & of other getilmen y' she had scene before in her owne countree where as she had be norysshcd vp in, wherof her hertc was grctely ashamed & troubled. Than Arthur tokc her by the hande & her modcr also & set them downe all togyder. Than Arthur de- manded of the yonge-mayde & sayd, Fayre swetc damoyscll what is your name ? As our Lord helpe me syr I am called Jehannetj Jc- lianet good loue, where were ye borne ? Certayne syr I was not born in this coiitre. Than her modcr sayd, Syr trucly my doughter sayth sothc, for trucly she was borne in the lod of desarte in a caste! called the Tour. Truly sayd Arthur, to whome was she 6 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR doughtcr ? As God helpc me syr to a knygbt right stronge & puyssaut, who in his tyme loued cucr dedes of arraes & was acqucted w' many noble men. How be it his fortune was such or he dyed y l he lost away & wasted both his londes and goodes and myne that was his poore wyfe, and were broughte so ferre vnder, that lytell or nothing was left vs. And after his death such per- sones as he owed ony thynge to, and peraduenture some other y* he owed nothing to, they were tha so importune on me that I was fayne to sel al y' I had. And whan I saw that I was so ferre broughte vnder & y l I had nothyng lefte me wherby to lyue, the occasion thcrof caused me to steale awaye by nyght, for I thought 1 had leucr go lyke a poore woman a beggynge in a straunge countre tha there where I was lady and gouernour. And therwith ryght pyteously she wept and sayd, A gentyll knyghte nowe am I come in to this coutre alonely accompanyed w* this yog mayde my dere doughtcr, who was wot be brought vp in fayre places and ryche halles and chambres, & to lye in the bed incor- teyned wyth sylke. And nowe it behoueth her to lye on the mosse in this lodge couered wyth grene bough es. Than Arthur answered and sayde, A fayre lady, why didc not ye requyre youre frendes to helpe and socour you in your necessite, at leste to gyue you mete & drynke & clothing ? In my mid that had be more honor- able for you tha thus desolate to come in to this straiige coutrye. As God helpe me syr, sayd this lady, pore folkcs hath but fewe frendes : howe be it I ought to haue many, but betwene the riche & the poore there wanteth frendes, for the ryche maketh his frendes of his money & the pore is euer put out in euery place. And as to me sorowfull creature who hath bene a grete lady & moche honoured & haue had moche people vnder my obeysauce, I thoughte grete shame to requyre ony creature in my owne cutre to helpe or soccoure me ; and specyally for this yonge mayde my doughter, she is come of goodly lygnage. Alas as for me I am olde, and al- wayes she hath serued me ryghte well, & now she is lyke w' me to lese her tyme ; & therw' she began agayne to wepe. And whan Jehanet sawe her moder so wepe she coude not abstayne her selfe from wepyng tenderly. And whan Arthur sawe them so full of OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 7 sorowe, he had grete pyte, and sayd to the lady : My right dere lady wepe ye no more, but sette youre harte in rest, for fro hesforth I wyll be in the stede of youre olde lorde, & in all good honoure to loue & cherish you to the best of my power. And all this whyle Jehanet made styll grete lamentacio. So there Arthur toke the yonge mayde in his armes, & ryght swetely sayd : My right dere ladye & loue, abandon youre herte to ioye and leue this sorowe, for as God be my socoure I shall cause you haue more honoure & welth than as yet euer came to you, for I am and shal be your owne good louer and wyll take you in to my handes to delyuer you fro all pouertye, faythfully assuryng you to kepe the honour of you & of youre bodye as moche as youre owne propre broder wolde or myght do. CAP. IV. HOWE ARTHUR CAUSED TO BE DELYUERED TO JEHANNET & HER MODER Y e REUENUES Y l BELONGED TO THE STANG OR PONDE OF THE FOREST WHERBY THERE STODE A FAYRE GOODLY PLACE OF PLEASURE, AND AFTERWARD ARTHUR DIDDE OFTEN TYMES RESORTE THYDER TO PASSE THE TYME WITH THEM. In this season y l Arthur had this comunycacio w f these ladycs, ther came to the the mayster forester named Pyere who was also receyuer of the reuenewes of the forest, & he had al y' day soughte his mayster Arthur ; & by aduenture there he foud him talking w' these ladyes. And incotynent y ' Arthur sawe hi he called hym by his name and demaundyd of hi yf he had receyucd at y' mawdeleyu tyde y c reuenewes of the forest ; and Piers answered and said, Syr I haue alredy at your comaudement to the some of .fyue .C. pounde. Well, quod Arthur, I comaudc the incontynente to delyuer it to this lady & to her doughter : also the maner place pertayn- 8 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR ing to the stang of this forest wherein thou hast dwelt to this tymc. It was so that in this stage or water the wylde beastes of the foreste dyd euer thyder resorte to drynke, and joynynge to this water there were houses and maners the which the duke had gyuen to Arthur his son to playe hi in the forest, and this Pyers was keper thereof to Arthurs behoue. Than sayde Arthur to Pyers, I delyuer to y u these .ii. ladyes : and I charge the y l truly y u kepc & ho- nour them and brig them to my maner, and to deliuer to them such as is apertenaute to so goodly ladyes as they be, and as such a man as I am haue taken into my hades & kepyng. Therfore kepe the well & truely. For, by the fayth y' I owe to my lord my fader, yf I knowe y c y u entende or ymagen agaynst this lady or her doughtcr any dyspleasure, I shall cause the to suffre foule death. And 1 warne the lokc y l they lacke no thyng. Syr, sayd Pyers, I trust I shall so demeane me, y ( both you & they shall be w l me con- tentc. And so wha Arthur had ben there a grete season, he toke his leuc there of this lady and of her doughter. So Pyers dyd conduyte them to the said maner & bought for them abylementes & jewelles, mete and drynke of the best y l coude be goten, & all other thynges y c was couenyent for noble Iadys to haue : and garnysshed euery offyce in y e house w' plate of syluer & w c all other necessary thynges. And whan Arthur and Gouernar wer departed fro these ladyes, they rode after the tracke of syr Olyuer of Iryac and his companye, and at the laste they mete togydcr ferrc in the forest in a grete depe valey where as syr Olyuer hadde kyllcd thre grete hartes, and was brekyngc of them. And thenvith Arthur came to hym & laughed ryght swctcly. Than resorted other of the hunters fro all partyes. And so there Arthur com- maunded a seruaunt belongynge to the sayd Pyers to take one of these hartes & to bere it fro him to the sayd lady and to her doughter. And the seconde Arthur dyd gyue to an abbotte that was come to theym by aduenture. And the thirde he com- maunded that it sholde be conueyed to the duke his fader, who hadde greate ioye thcrof. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 9 CAP. V. HOW WITHIN VIII. DAYES AFTER, ARTHUR AND GOUERNAR WENTE TO THE STANGE TO SE THE LADYE AND JEHANNET HER DOUGHTER. The eyght daye after that Arthur was come fro the foreste he rose erly in a fayre morninge, and sayd to Gouernar : Frende, lette vs go leape vppon our horses and goo se oure damoysell in the forest, we two alone. Gladly, syr, sayd Gouernar. So Arthur toke a sparhawke on his honde, and Gouernar a gerfawcon. And Arthur aparayled hyra selfe all in grene silke, and his hatte auayled with a fresshe chaplet of floures on his heade. And they rode so longe that by the sonne rysynge they came to the stang, and foud the lady and Jehannet ready aparayled ryght nobly : for Pyers, the forester, had purueyed them of all thinges necessarye to suche ladyes. And as than Jehannet had dronken good wynes and taken her sustenaunce of good metes, and had forgote all her sorowe ; wherby her beaute was newly renewed. And whan Arthur sawe her, she pleased hym moche better tha she dyd whan he sawe her fyrst. And so toke her by the fayre hande and sette them downe togyder a parte. And in the meane seaso the lady her moder and Gouernar were talkynge togyder. And the mornynge was very fayre & clere, and the earth all bedewed wyth clere syluer droppes, and the byrddes sange melodiously on euery braunche ; so that these ii. yonge lusty louers gretly reioysed, and had great myrthe in theyr hartes bicanse of the swete season, as it was metely for suche yonge people to playe & to laughe. And they loued to- gyder with good herte without thinkinge of vylany or shame eche toother. Than Arthur sayd to her al laughyng : My swete da- moysell haue ye ony maner of louer ? And halfe smillg and beholdynge Arthur ryghte swetely, she answered : By the fayth that I owe to you my owen dere lorde, I haue one ryghte fayre and gracyous. And where is he my swete Jehannet? By my c 10 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR faytb, syr, he is of a coiitrc wherof he is lorde. .And, fayre loue, howe is he called ? Syr, be you not dyspleased, this that I haue sayde is suffycyent at this presente time. How be it, syr, I wolde ye knew that king Arthur was a noble knyght and of grete vertu, and, syr, I wolde my louer were so good yf he be not better all redy. But one thlg, syr, I assure you, he resembleth more to you than to ony other vnder the sonne lyuynge, bothe goynge, and in comynge of bodye and all other thynges that one persone may be lykened to an other. My owne swete and fayre damoysell, sayd Arthur, I wolde fayne se hym. And by the fayth that ye ow to me, if it be to you no vylony, I praye you shewe hym to me, & I promyse you faythfully, I shall loue & cherysshe hym ryght derely ; and for the loue of you, yf y l he wyll, he shal be one of my house, yf he be no greater of lygnage ne of rychesse than I am. My right dere lorde, sayd this daraoysel hubly, I thanke you : bowe be it, he is no greatter gentylman than ye be, but he thynketh well to haue as grete honour and frendes as ye haue ; but as now ye may not se him, but it may well be that here after ye shall haue knowlege of hym. And soo thus they comoned togyder of manye thinges tyll it was tyme that Arthur sholde retorne to the courte, for as than it was aboute pryme. Than Arthur toke his leue of the lady and of Jehannet. And so he and Gouernar mounted on theyr horses and rode forth, alwayes deuisyng of the maner of this damoysell Jehannet. And at the last Arthur sayd : Mayster howe saye you ? by the swetnesse of our damoysell and of the frenesof her herte, and how sagely & gracyouslye she answer- eth to euerye demaunde, remembrynge also her gentyll maner & noble countenaunce, her beawtefull facyon of body and of vysage : as God helpc me, mayster, all these thynges, and manye other that seameth of vertue to be in her, causeth that I loue her hyrtely. Syr, sayde Gouernar, as God helpe me, all that ye saye is of Irouth : how be it, myne owne dere lorde, take good hede to your honour, and remcmbre how grete a lorde ye be, both of lygnage, honoure, and of frendes; and thinke how that she is but a poore gentylworaan as to your knowlege. And if ye do her ony vylony OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. |] to her body, as in takynge from her that he can not render agayne, syr, it were to you a grete synne, and ye ought therein to be mOre blamed than a nother meane persone. Mayster, sayd Arthur, I praye to God neuer to helpe me yf I thynke to go aboute to dysshonoure her, but I wyll loue her & kepe her honoure fayth- fully, in lyke case as she were myne owen proper sister, without euer desyringe onye velany to her body. So they rode forthe talkyng til they came to the courte, and than went to dyner, for it was by that time nere vpon two of the clocke. CAP. VI. HOW THAT THE DUKE AND DUCHESSE TOKE COUNSELL TO MARY THEYR SONE ARTHUR, AND HOW THEY SENTE THEYR STEW- ARDE TO THE LADY LUKE OF OSTRIGE FOR TO DEMAUNDE HER DOUGHTER FOR ARTHUR. In this wyse Arthur soiurned a great longe space, so y* there was no weke but that twyse or thrise he and Gouernar wolde ryde to the stange without any other copany. And it fortuned one day he taried there lenger tha he was acustomed to do, wherfore he was sought all aboute, by the comaundement of the duke his father : how be it, no tydinges coude be herde of hym but that he & Gouernar were gone togider to sporte them, but no man wyste whyther. And than the duchesse sayd to the duke, Syr, I wote not what meaneth that our soone thus goth forth so pryuely euery day, & no man can tell whyther, for he taketh none with him but Gouernar; veraylye, I doubte me of our chylde, least that he sholde set his herte & loue on some perso wherby we shold haue any velony : syr, he is now of yeres sufficient to perceiue & to know the fayte perteyning to loue, wherfore I wolde he were nobly maried, for it is tyme, he is .xxii. yeres of age. Madame, 12 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR quod the duke, ye haue ryght wysely sayd ; and I acorde well thereto ; but to whome thinke ye best it were to giue him in mariagc ? Syr, sayd the ladye, in my minde it were wel doone that we should demaude the fayre Perron of Ostryge ; & I trust my lady Luke, her moder, wyl be therof right glad. Veryly, ma- dame, sayd the duke, I haue harde saye that this lady Perron halh not wyselye demeaned her selfe, but hath had greate blame for her unwyse kepyng company w l a knight of her countrey ; and I wolde for no good y' we should demaunde such a person as hath deserued blame. A syr ! sayd the lady, beleue not ye the reportes of them that lusteth to say yl, for, as God helpe me, she is slaun- dred wrongfully : for I am sure there is not a better maide lyuyng : wherfore they are in greate sin that reporteth otherwyse of her. Dame, sayd the duke, yf it be so, I am right ioyfull : than let vs send thyder in al hast. Than was called to them syr Olyuer y l was senesshall." And the duke sayde to hym : Syr Olyuer, I wyll ye go to Ostryge, to my ladye Luke, & desyre of her, in my behalfe, Perron her doughter to be giue in matrymony to Arthur my sone. Tha syr Olyuer prepayred him to ride forthe, and .x. other knightes in his company, and so departed and rode forth so longe, that the Wednesdaye after Mawdeleyn-tyde they came to Ostryge. And whan syr Olyuer was in the great hall, where as the lady Luke was acompanyed with many great barons, ladyes, and damoysels, he dyd right reuerently salute her and all the other lordes and barons, as a messenger sent fro the duke & duchesse of Britayne. And this lady Luke right honourablye dyd receyue hym and all hys company, and demaunded what was the cause and the occasyon of their comynge. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. is CAP. VII. HOW THE SENESSHALL DEMAUNDED THE DAUGHTER OF OSTRYGE FOR ARTHUR OF BRYTAYNE, THE WHICH REQUEST WITH GREAT JOY WAS GRAUNTED HYM. Than syr Olyuer began hys proposicion, & sayde : Righte hye and myghty prynces ! my lorde and ladye of Brytayne hath sed vs hither to publishe vnto you theyr ententes, for they are ryght desyrous to haue loue and affinitie with you, as it well appereth, for they haue harde suche brute & fame of my lady Perro your doughter. Wherfore thei haue sent me hither to your presece, to requyre you, in theyr behalfe, to gyue your doughter Perron in mariage to Arthur theyr sone, who is ryght gentyl, noble, & valiaunt. Madame, this is the efFecte of our request. In the name of God, sayde the lady Luke, humbly I thake the duke your lorde, y' it wyl please him to haue wyth vs acquentaunce, wherof I haue right great joye. And with a good hert I gyuc freely to him my doughter Perron to be all holly at his comaude- met. Madame, sayd Oliuer, this dede ought greatly to be thanked ; and how say you, fayre lady Perron, do you acorde to this mariage ? Syr, sayd Perron, I shall euer fulfyl the pleasure of my lady my moder. Certaynly, fayre lady, than doo you wysely ; for I ensure you ye shall be coupled to him y' is both fayre and goodly. Than this lady Luke & her doughter did giue to syr Oliuer & to hys companye manye noble jewels, & other thinges. And theyr apoyntment was to be at Nauntes within .viii. dayes of the middcll of the next August. 14 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR CAP. VIII. HOW Y l ARTHUR WAS SORE DYSPLEASED FOR Y l HIS FATHER WOLD MARY HIM TO Y e DOUGHTER OF OSTRYGE, BYCAUSE IT WAS SAYDE SHE WAS OF YLL GOUERNAUNCE. Than the senesshal toke leue of the lady Luke and of the fay re Perron, and retorned into Brytayne. At whiche tyme he founde the duke than risen fro diner and the duchesse with hi. And Arthur and Gouernar were playing at the chesse, & as sone as the duke saw syr Oliuer he made him good chere : and the knight right humblye saluted them, and thanked them greatly for the greate loue and gyftes that the Duchesse of Ostrige had done to him for their sakes, and shewed them how the lady Luke wolde be at Nauntes, and bring with her Perron redy aperayled, to be giuen to Arthur aboute the middell of August next ensuyng. And wha Arthur herde that his fader wolde mary him, he stepped forth & left his playe and sayd : What is y l , right dere fader, wyll ye marie me ? Ye, fayre sone, sayde the duke, right nobly. And good fader, vnto whom wyll ye gyue me ? Fayre sone, vnto the gentil Perron of Ostryge. What syr ! as it is noysed she hath trespased w l a nother knight ; set ye so little by me that ye wyll now gyue me Perro, who is of yl name and fame ? Certainly it is not your worshyp ne honour so to do, nor to none of my frendes : therfore, in no maner of wyse I wyl take her. Fayre sone, sayde his moder, be not displesed, ne beleue no euil reportes y' is sayd by this ladi : it is great sin to say such thinges as cannot be proued, for I am in certayne that she is a clene may den. And therfore we wil that ye shal haue her, or els ye shal gretly dys- please my lorde your father, & me also. Wei, madame, said Ar- thur, sith that it behoueth me to take her, & that it is your pleasure y l I so do, I am content : how be it, yf she be of suche condicions as is sayd of her, I shal neuer loue her. Than sayd OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 15 Gouernar to the duke, Syr, ye wyl that Arthur 6hall haue this damoisell ; neuerthelesse, pleaseth you syr to know, that if this case be found true, tha let Arthur leue and forsake her. And yf that she dyd neuer suche trespas, tha let Arthur kepe her as he ought to doo hys wyfe. But how shall thys be knowen ? sayd the duke, for where as wysedorae is, suche thinges are lightly done so couertly, that it is harde to know. Syr, sayd Gouernar, let it be enquyred wysely of such as to presume should know of the matter. Also let the damoy sell her self be wysely examyned, & yf she be good she wyll kepe her selfe ; yf she be otherwyse, perauenture it will be espied. I am content with this, sayd Arthur. And for that time they left theyr cominlg of that matter. Than the duke sent out his comaudementes to all his barons, knightes, & damoy- sels, that they sholde be al redy at Nauntes bi the middes of August, for tha he wolde kepe open courte, and make A rthur his sone, knight, and marye hym to the fayre Perron of Ostryge. The duke also dyd write to the Erie of Bloys, broder germayne to the duchesse his wyfe,. and also sent for the Erie of Aniou, who was nere of kinne to the duke, and also to the Archebysshop of Tours, desyringe them to be at Nauntes at the sayd daye. CAP. IX. HOW THAT ARTHUR WENTE TO SE JEHANNET, AND DECLARED TO HER HOW Y c DUKE HIS FATHER SHOULD MARY HIM, WHEROF HE WAS SORE DYSPLEASED FOR Y e LOUE OF HER. Xhan Arthur & Gouernar toke their horses & rode to the stage in the forest, where as they founde Jehannet & her moder, who made great joy & feest; and Jehanet behelde Arthur, who was as than right pale for dyspleasure, & demanded of him what was the cause of his displeasure. Certaynly, my loue, said Arthur, greater displeasure coulde neuer haue fallen. For my lorde my father wil now mary me, the which I forthinke w l al mi herte, be 16 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR cause of the loue y l I haue to you, for I thinke veryly ye wyl not be contet therw' ; and your displeasure perseth rayn herte. A min owne swete lord, sayd Jehanet, for Gods sake trouble not your selfe for no cause, for in certayne I am in like case fallen in a treat ie to be maried. A good loue, sayd Arthur, I prai you to whome ? Syr, so God helpe me, to him of whome I haue spoken to you of here before. Is y l of a trouth, faire damoisel ? quod Ar- thur ; and I requyre you wha shal ye be maried ? Jn trouth, the same propre day that ye shal be maryed. Now, fayre damoysel, by the faith that ye owe to hi, I desyre you let me se hi. Syr, ye may not se hym as yet, but for certayne he shall be aperayled in y* same clothyng & sute as ye shall be the day of your wedding. In the name of God, sayd Arthur, I haue of this great meruayle; for ye haue sayde here before to me that he is as great of liguage as I am, and as gretly endued wyth hauyour and frendes, and how y l he resembleth to me in all pointes, and also howe that he hath a ryche & a puissaunt vncle. I wote not whome I shold thinke, without ye meane al this by my self, for I know wel the Erie of Bloys is my vncle by my moders side. Wel, sir, sayd Jehanet, nor I wyll not shew you at this present time. So thus they commincd together of that and of other thlges, tyll finally Arthur tooke leue of her for that tyme, and retourned to the courte of his father. And thus dayly he rode to se this fayre day moysel J ehannet, til it came to the next day before his wedding. And the Erie of Aniou and the Archebysshop of Tours were come, and also the Erie of Blois, who brought with him Hector his son, who was a gentill and a fayre creture, & was extraught of the linage of Brytayne, & was cosin germayn to Arthur, & also of one age, for thei were borne bothe in one yeare. And as Arthur saw him he made him great ioy and feest, and al wayes kept companye togy- der. And so there came fro all partes lordes, knightes, ladies, & damoysels, by great flockes, for to go mete the ladi Perron of Ostryge. And than mounted the duke and al other barons & knightes to go lykewyse to encountre Perron, who was as than come within the space of halfe a lege, & brought with her a great copany of lordes, knightes, ladies, and damoysels. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 17 CAP. X. HOW THAT ARTHUR & HECTOR HIS COSYN GERMAYNE WERE MADE KNIGHTES FOR THE LOUE OF ARTHUR, WHO THAN DID ENSURE PERRON, DOUGHTER TO Y e LADY LUKE OF OSTRIGE. AND OF THE GREAT TORNAY THAT WAS THERE DONE AT NAUNTES FOR THE LOUE OF ARTHUR. And whan all these noble people were assebled together, the duke and duchesse and all other lordes made great ioye and feest at the metynge of thys lady Luke and Perron her doughter. And the duchesse toke her in her arraes, and sayd : A ! myne owne swete doughter, ye be into this countrey right welcome ; and kissed her, oftentimes wepyng for joye, for she was so fayre a creature y 1 the duchesse coulde not absteyne her self fro clypping & kissing her. And therew' called to her Arthur, and sayd : Fayre sone Arthur, beholde here this fayre lady who is & shall be yours. Madame, sayd Arthur? wyll it please you to suffre her to mout vpon her horse, & we shal speke of thys matter well ynoughe here after. So they went all to horse and rode forth to Nauntes. And there lordes, knightes, & other toke vp theyr lodginge in the citie, and some were harboured in the palais with the duke. And whan it came to the tyme to speke of the maryage, than Arthur sayde in open audyence : My lorde my father, and also my ladye my mo- ther, ye wyll cause me here to take this damoysell : and yet I knowe not what name or fame that she is of. How be it, syr, I say surely bothe to you, & also to you, my lady Luke, who is mo- ther vnto her, that I take her agaynste my herte, bycause of the suspeccyons, noise, and yll renowmes, the whyche that I haue harde saye and reported of her. Neuerthelesse, it behoueth me to take her, to exchewe therby the displeasure of my lorde my fader, & of my lady my moder, & other of my frendes, for I perceiue wel it is theyr mindes. How be it, 1 say openly here to you all, yf y* I finde such noyse as renneth on her to be of trouth, I ensure D 18 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR you y' whyle I lyue she shal neuer haue one good day with me in rest. A ! my fayre sone, sayd the duchesse, what & ye finde her good & true, and that all such ill noyse as ye haue harde of her be vntrew and false. Well, madame, sayde Arthur, than shal I loue her as I ought to do my wyfe. Than the duke called forth the archebysshop of Nauntes, and so caused Arthur to be there openly fiauced to Perron, and on the next day to be maryed. Tha began great feest and ioy in the palays, and dausyng of ladies & damoyselles, & frusshyng of speres, & bateryng of harneys w 1 swerdes in euerye strete of the citie. Than the duke sayde, that who so euer wolde take the ordre of chilualry w* his son Arthur the nexte daye, with a good wyll he wolde gyue them the ordre. Tha Arthur sayd to Hector his cosyn : Syr, I requyre you to morow take the ordre of knighthode with me, & fro hensforth let vs kepe copanye togider in iustes, & tornays, & in al other thinges as sworne bretherne. Fayre cosin, sayd Hector, I requyre you let vs go know the pleasure of my lord my father, whither that he wil agre to this or not. Ye say well, sayd Arthur. Than Arthur ca before the duke his fader and al other lordes, & helde his cosyn Hector by the had, & sayd openly to the Erie of Bloys : My lorde, my vncle, I requyre you let my cosyn Hector be made knight to morow w l me, for we shal loue togider the better euer after. Certaynly, sayd the erle, fayre neuew, Hector hath as yet to lytle londe to susteyne therwyth the noble ordre of knight- hode. And y l he sayde, by cause he wold not y* is sone shold be made knight so sone. Truly, syr, said Arthur, he hath richesse inough to be a knight, for as loge as ye lyue he can not fayle. And though he fayle of you, yet God hath so prouided for him y' after your dayes he shal be Erie of Blois. Ye, fayre neuew, quod the erle, we may both be disceiued by that, for it may so fortune that I may lese all my right in the erledome of Bloys, & his also. Nor let not my sone Hector loke to be lord ouer me, for as loge as I Hue, one fote of the londe of the erledom of Bloys geteth he not. No, syr, saide Arthur, 8t tourned to Hector and said : Fayre cosin, it shold seme wel by the saying of my lorde your fader how that he is very pore. How be it, I desire you to be knight w* me, & I OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 19 faithfullie promise you y* 1 shall giue you as much lode or more as my lorde your fader wil giue you, and I pray you fro hesforth let vs be togider as copanions in horse, in abilimetes, in lade, in house, & in euery thinge : and so I retayne you fro this preset time forthward. As God help me, fayre so, sayd the duke, who had hard what Arthur had sayd to Hector, I am wel cotent that ye thus retaine Hector your cosin: also I requyre him that he wil be your copanion. And to the Erie of Bloys he said : Also, syr, I de- syre you to giue licence to your son Hector, that he may be knight with his cosin Arthur. Tha the Erie of Bloys dyd laughe therat, and sayd to the duke: Syr, as God me helpe I am ryght wel contete : but of one thing let him be sure, that as longe as I liue he shall neuer be the Erie of Bloys. Than Arthur sayde to hys cosyn Hector : Well, syr, we be yonge ynoughe, therfore we shall seke to get our lyuing, for I trust God shal help vs. Than he sayd to the duke his father : Syr, Gouernar hath serued & norisshed me vp swetelye ; therfore 1 requyre you let me make him knight; and whan I may, I wyl do better to hym. Certaynly, fayre sonne, it pleaseth me right well. So than they were made knightes with great tryumphe : & there was made great joye & fest both with lordes and ladies, and a great tornay was there ordeyned for the loue of these new knightes. And whyle this triumphe and tornay endured, Arthur sayd to Hector : Fayre cosyn, come on with me, we wil go se the most swete and gentyl damoysel y l euer ye saw. In the name of God, quod Hector, I am well content. And so Arthur, Hector, & Gouernar mounted on theyr horses and rode forth to the manoyr of the stage, where as they foud Jehanet and her moder lening in a wyndow talkyng togyder; & whan they saw Arthur, they came to hym & made great ioye. And than Jehanet demaunded of Arthur : Syr, quod she, what gentyl man is this that ye haue brought with you ? Fayre loue, sayd Arthur, he is sonne to the Erie of Bloys, and he is my cosyn germayne. In y* name of God, sayd she, he is hyther welcome for your sake. Than Jehannet behelde well Arthur, and she perceyued by his coute- naunce y* he was troubled, therfore she desyred of hym to know what he eylled. In good faith, god loue, this day haue I made a 20 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR dolorous jorney, for I haue fyaunced a woman agaynst ray wil, y e whiche I sore repet, bycause it is grefull to me to leue youre com- panye. Certayne, fayre loue Arthur, quod she, take no dysplea- sure thoughe you haue fiaiiced a lady : for certaynlye in the same propre houre that ye fyaunced your ladye, I was fyaunced to my loue. And my dere loue, quod Arthur, I requyre you, who is that, and where is he? By the fayth y' I owe vnto you, syr, I knowe ful wel where he is. Wei, fayre lady, sayd Arthur, 1 pray you than shew him to me. Surely, syr, that wyll I not do as yet, but I promise you to shew hym to you within these thre dayes next commyng. And, syr, know you for certayne, that he resembleth to you both in comynge, in goinge, in hauioure, in frendes, gentyl- nes, in facion of body, and in al other thinges. In the name of God, sayd Arthur, I meruayle greatly, for by your wordes it shold appere y l it were myself : for there cannot two persons be resem- bled togider but theyr must be som faute & difference. I beleue ye deuise these wordes for me : how be it, I am troubled agayne wha I thinke how ye saye that ye were fiaunced to day, and how that ye shall be maryed to morowe the same propre houre that I shal be wedded in. As God helpe me, syr, sayd Jehannet, it is of trouth he resembleth to you w'out faylyng of any poynte. Veryly, sayde Arthur, I cannot thinke whome it should be. And so they talked together so longe til it was tyme for Arthur to departe, for he doubted to be blamed of hys frendes. So he toke leue of the ladyes and departed : & as they rode, Hec- tor sayd to Arthur : Syr, vndouted this is a fayre yonge lady, right gracious, swete, & fayre behauing. As God help me, fayre cosyn, sayde Arthur, she is mine owne : how be it, she is a poore damoy- sell, nor hath no thynge but y l she hath of me ; but by the faythe that I owe vnto my lord and father the Duke of Brytayne, I loue her better al naked, than she that I shal haue w l all the riches of the world, for I must take her agenst my wyll. And therforc, cosyn, I am veryly purposed, that as sone as thys tryumphe is passed, and all straungers be departed, and myne vncle youre fader and all gone, than I thynke to aske lycece of my fader to goo seke aduentures in some straungc coiitrees, and to take with me alonelye Gouernar, and OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 21 to abyde fro home the space of .v. or .vi. yeres. And so shall I leue her that troubleth me, for in her company in no wyse I can abyde. Truely, syr, sayd Hector, and yf y' ye wyl thus goo, by the fayth that I owe to you, I wyll departe wyth you, and neuer to leue you whyle that I lyue. A ! good cosyn Hector, quod Arthur, it pleas- eth mee verely well to haue youre companye, and hertely I thanke you thereof. How be it, I beseche you kepe this thyng secret, that it be not knowen tyll the tyme of our departynge. And as soone as Arthur was departed frome Jehannet, she dyd sende all aboute for mynstrelles, and instrumetes of musyke, and caused all the house to be hanged wyth sylke, and commaunded all her folkes to make as greate joy and feest as they coude ymagen. And so this Arthur rod forth al wayes til he came to Nauntes, where as the tables were redy couered to souper. And the duke sette hym downe, and all other lordes, euery man in his place, and they were serued ry ght rychely wyth grete joye ; and after souper they played and sported the euery man as he beste lyked, tyll it was season to go to rest; for than it was past mydnighte. And so the duke than entred into his chambre. And Arthur, Hector, and Gouernar, wet to se Jehannet ; and whan they came nere to the place of the stange they herde greate noyse, & myrthe of instrumentes, and found all the house newly hanged, and the ladyes arayed w* ves- tures of pleasure. And they founde as greate apparayle as thoughe a kyng sholde haue come thyder. And Jehannet was apparayled as though she shoulde haue be maryed incotynet. And wha she harde that Arthur was come thyder, she came goodly vnto him. It was meruayle than to beholde her, she was so fayre. And as sone as Arthur saw her coming, his herte srayled, and sayde vnto hymselfe : A Jesu ! a gentyll and a gracyous metynge is this. As God helpe me, I had rather to haue your company than to be cn- combred wyth her that I muste haue ; and therw 1 he clcpped her in his armes, and sayd : My swetc loue, God that fourmed all the worlde send you a better daye than I haue had a nyght. Syr, sayde Jehannet, God gyue you as good a daye as he hath done to me; for this same nyght I shall be wyth my louer; and God send you in lykewyse wyth yours. Certayncly, sayde Arthur, I repute THYSTORY OF ARTHUR her not for my loue that I shall be with ; but ye y* shall be, as ye saye, wyth your louer, shal be nerer to ray herte than she shall be. But I praye you, swete Jehanet, shew me your louer. Syr, I haue all redy promysed you y' ye shall se him within these thre dayes, therfore I beseche you to abyde tyll that seaso. With a good wyll, sayd Arthur ; and so taryed there so longe tyll it was fayre daye, and than it behoued hym for to departe. CAP. XI. HOWE THAT ARTHUR WEDDED FAYRE PERRON, DOUGHTER TO THE LADY LUKE OF OSTRYGE; AND OF THE PROTESTACION THAT HE MADE BEFORE ALL THE BARONY. Now sheweth the history, howe y l wha Arthur, Hector, and Gouernar, were departed frome Jehannet, they came to the courte. And by that tyme were all lordes, knyghtes, and al other, risen fro theyr rest. And the Archebyshop of Toures was ready to synge masse and solerapnyse the matrymony. And than the duke and the duchesse, and all the other lordes, knyghtes, ladyes, and da- moysels, dyd conuey Arthur and this ladye Perron to the chyrche. And there, in the sight of all people, & in open audyence, Arthur sayd : I wyll that it be knowen, y* if euer I fynde trewe suche wordes as I haue herde saye of this lady, thoughe I were wedded to her a houdred thousande tymes, yet I wyll leue and vtterly for- sake her. And, on that condycio, I am now contente to take her to my wyfe, and none other wyse. And therto was wel acorded her moder and all other of theyre frendes. And so wyth greate solemnyte they were wedded togyder, & grete was the feaste and joye that than was made in al the cyte : ladies & da- moyselles dydde daunce, and made grete ioye and myrthe, and made chaplettes and tokens, & dyd gyue them to lordes and knyghtes in the sygne of loue. Hatr To face p&*je 22, Plate 2. To faa page : OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 23 CAP. XII. HOW THIS LABYE LUKE OF OSTRYGE SENTE FOR JEHANNET, AND CAUSED HER SECRETLY THE FYRST NYGHT TO LYE WITH ARTHUR, BYCAUSE Y 1 PERRON WAS NO MAYDE, TO THE ENTENTE Y* ARTHUR SHOLD NOT PERCEYUE IT. We must knowe howe that dame Luke duryng all this seasS that this greate joye and myrth was made, she was in grete thoughte in her herte bycause she knew wel y l her doughter Perron was no mayde, therfore she doubted greatly to haue vylonye. And, ther- fore, she wyste not what was beste for her to do. So at the Iaste, she called to her one of her owne knyghtes, in whome she trusted beste in all her besynesse ; and than she shewed vnto him all the demenoure of Perron, and desyred hym to gyue her, in that behalfe, the beste counsayle y»'he knewe, for she sawe wel howe that Arthur wolde fayne fynde some cause by her to the entente that he myghte be departed fro her company. For, syr, quod she, yf Arthur fynde that she be no mayde, than I doubte me of vylany. Therfore, I requyre you, for Goddes loue, to coun- sayle me in this case. Than this knyghte, who had to name syr Aunsell, answered & sayd : Madame, syth it is thus, the case muste be suffered as easely as it may be. For whan the dede is done, than it is tyrae to take cousayle both sage and secret. I shall tell you what we shall do : here is by, dwellynge at the stange in the forest, a poore damoysell ryght fayre and yonge, who hath a moder a ryght good aucient lady ; and I thinke verely she be a good mayde. Sende vnto her moder parte of your syluer and golde, and promyse to doo for her many other thynges, so that she wyll lende you her doughter for this fyrste nyghte, to lye wyth Arthur tyll mydnyght be paste. And I thynke verely ye shall haue her, yf she be wysely entreted, and secretly. And than, yf ye haue her wha Perron sholde be layde in the bedde, she shal be in her stede tyl that Arthur be a slepe, and than she shall ryse : '24 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR and so than Perron shall lye downe by Arthur. A, syr ! sayd the lady, for Gods sake thynke on to brynge this mater aboute. Take my charyot & fyuc hondred poundes of golde, and bere it vnto her moder, and shewe her how I shall gyue her large londes, and rentes, and shal mary her doughter ryght hyghly, soo that I maye haue her this nyght. So tha incontinent this knighte lepte on his horse, and tooke wyth hym the golde and the charyot, and caused it to be couered, and rode vnto the stange, where as he founde this fayre lady and her doughter, & dyde salute them ryght swetely, and drewe theym aparte, and sayde to the lady : Madame, I am come hyther to you fro my ladye Luke of Ostryge, who ryght tenderly sendeth gretynge vnto you, as she that fro hes- forth wyl be your enspecyall louer and frende, and aboue all other wyll loue & honour you : and in the sygne of loue she hathe sente you fyue hondreth poundes of golde : and ferthermore promyseth 3'ou to gyue you greate londes and goodes, and to mary ryght hyely Jehanet your doughter, so that ye wyll do her that bounte and pleasure, now at this tyme, as to sende your doughter to her, to the entente to lye thys fyrst night with Arthur of Brytayne tyll myd- nyght. For the case is soo, that Perron her doughter is not in soo good poyntc as she wolde she were, for she hath trespaced wyth another knyght. Therfore, good lady, I humbly requyre you for to be her speciall louer and frende in this mater; greate charyte it is one lady for to saue y e worshyp and honoure of another. Than sayde the lady, I thanke my lady Luke for the greate loue and honour that she preseteth to me, yf theyr were eyther loue or honoure in this case, syr knyghte, as me thynketh here lacketh loue, whan she requyreth my shame and dyshonoure ; for she wolde that I shold sell to her my doughter for her moneye. Cer- taynly that I shall neuer do it to dye therfore. I praye you bere her agayne this money, & God gyue her good aduenture. Than J ehannet sayd vnto her moder : Madame, for Goddes sake be ye not dyspleased wyth my wordes ; for, sauyng your grace, this desyre that this knyghte maketh is no sellynge of me, for my lady Luke is a greate and noble pryncesse. Therfore her velony sholde be more spoken than yf she where of a meane estate ; and OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 2.5 all women oughte to put theyr payne to couer & to hyde suche maters ; and also euery woman to helpe & sustayn the blame and defame of other. And this lady requyreth not youre vylonye, for she dooth it to hyde her owne dyshonoure. Truely doughter, quod the lady, the moder y' demeneth not wysely her chylde is to be blamed ; and yf my lady Luke haue not kept this lady Perron her doughter as curyouslye & as wysely as I haue doone you, and by the which neclygence now she is renne into foly & daunger, let her take it a worth & thanke no body but her selfe. Madame, sayde Jehannet, it is a harde thynge to ouercome youthe ; for yf thys lady Perron haue doone amysse, who hath ben easely & swetly norysshed, and euery creature desyrous to serue her in gre, madame, beholde the myghte of loue by whome she was ouercome. For she loued, & was loued agayne. ♦Remembre also the greate ease wherin she hath all her yongth bene norysshed, the whyche ouercame her, & putte in to her herte amorous loue. Madame, haue pitie on the sinner ; for, by the fayth y l I ow to you, I wyll fullfyll y e pleasure of my lady Luke. In sauyng of her ho- nour I shall put myne in jeopardy. How be it, syr knight, take agayne your money ; for yf I shold take money, I shoulde sell my bodye, the whych I wyll not do. Fory' I doo is freely for the loue of my lady Luke ; and she shall do me good whan it shal please her best. Than her moder sayd to her : Syth ye wyll nedes do as ye lyst, and yf ye do foly, take the aduenture that wyll fall therof ; for moche better is worth a woman to be poore and true, than to be folysshe & riche. Ye shall not go for me, nor by my wyll ; for honour surmouteth all thlges. Madame, y' ye saye is of trouth : how be it I requyre you suffer and let me alone. Syr knyght, let us departe ; we tary very longe. Myne owne fayre damoysell, sayde the knyght, I humbly thanke you ; and for cer- tayne I ensure you ye shall be ryght hyely rewarded, & therto I wyll be pledge. Than the knyghte lefte the golde there, for ony thynge y' Jehannet coulde do the contrary. And so Jehannet mounted in to the chariot, and rode forthe ; and whan they were come to the courte, the lady Luke receyued her ryghte pryuely, & kepte her tyll it was tyme to go to bedde, and E 26 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR than pryuely they layde J chanet in the bedde in the stede of Perron ; and the conrtaynes of the bed wer hanged betwene the lyght and her. And than came Arthur and the duke his fader. And tha the duke sayde : Sone Arthur, ye shall gyue to Perron your wyfe this nyght y c charter of her endowry, wherin is comprysed the londe of the cyte of saintes and of Poys, attenynge to the boundes of Gasgoyne : and also ye shall giue her this rynge, w' this ryche & precyous emeraude ; this endowry mounteth well to the some of .x. thousande poude by annuall rente. Than it was tyme for Arthur to go to bedde ; and whan he was goyng therto, the lady Luke sayde to hym : Good dere loue Arthur, I requyre you that ye speke this nyght as lytle as ye maye doo to Perron my dough- ter ; for she is somwhat shamfast. Veryly, madame, quod Ar- thur, with a righte good wyll, and so wente he to bedde. CAP. XIII. HOWE THAT JEHANNET WHO THAT WAS A BEDDE WITH ARTHUR IN THE STEDE OF HIS WYFE PERRON, and there, in the presence of them al, he recounted al the treason, and how that he went for Jehannet, and brought her to his lady Luke ; and how that he was of counsayle that she should be put a bedde with Arthur, in the stede of Perron. Than he had iugemet for his trespace, suche as he had deserued. So than Gouernar was led home by Arthur & Hector, and caused to be vnarmed, whome they founde wythout any hurte : wherof they thanked God. And than Jehannet had as great ioye as anye creature coulde haue ; and she clypped and kyssed Gouernar oftentymes with good herte. Than all the other erles and barons came to Gouernar, and de- manded hi how he did. He answered and sayd : Right wel, thanked be God ; and fclte none hurte. The same proprc houre the lady Luke departed sodaynly out of the courte, & her dough- ter Perron, and with her great shame and foule rebuke. And whan they were in the felde on theyr way, than this lady Luke sayde vnto her doughter : Thys great shame that we haue hast thou caused ; for now we shal neuer haue honour, nor be reputed ho- 36 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR norable ; and therwitk liertely she wept : wherof Perron tooke so great inwarde thought, that she dyed within .xx. dayes after. And so thereby Arthur was agayne at his liberte. And Jehanet fro thensforth reraayned styl in the courte with the duchcsse, and was ryght well beloued with euery creature. And the duke and duchesse were well acorded that she sholde kepe styll the endoury that Arthur had gyuen her. And so she kepte it tyl suche season as Arthur caused her to be crowned a queue, and gaue her Go- uernar in manage, as it is more playnely conteyned in this pre- sent boke. CAP. XVI. HOW ARTHUR DEMAUNDED LICENCE OF HIS FADER AND MODER TO GO PLAY HYM OUTE OF HIS OWNE COUNTRE; FOR HE WOLDE GOE SEKE ADUENTURES, TO SHEW THERBY HIS FORCE AND PROWESSE. After the ende of ,xv. dayes, tidinges came vnto the duke and to Arthur, that the fayre Perron was decessed, and passed out of this worlde : of the whiche tidinges Arthur hadde ryght grcate ioye, and spccyally Jchannet. How be it, the kynge, for his ho- nour and worshyppe, caused her obsecuyce to be done ryght solempnely in he chirche. And than after thys the courte depart- ed, and euery man repayred in to theyr owne countreys, sauynge all onelye Hector, who remayned styl with Arthur. And so in great ioye and myrth they cotinewed with the duke, and Arthur wha it pleased him to take his pastauce with the fayre Jehannet. So it fortuned on a nyght that Arthur, Hector, and Gouernar, were all thrc lodged in one chambre : and on a night Arthur was sore troubled in his slepe, & torned and sighed manyc times, so y< Hector and Gouernar harde him, and sayd eche to other : Ar- thur is not well at his ease, let vs go wake him. And tha Gouer- OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 3? nar woke hi, and axed him what he ejdled. A ! frende Gouemar, sayd Arthur ; I have be sore troubled in my slepe ; for I dremed that I was fer out of this countrey. A ! syr, saydc Hector : we ought to go into straunge countreys ; for before this tynic ye haue promised so to do. Therfore set your minde no leger to tary at home, but shortely lette vs departe. As God helpe me, cosyn, sayde Arthur, the day is come, that for to haue the citie of Paris I wyl tary no lenger ; for to morow wil I axe licence of my fader and of my moder ; and will haue w* me no more copany but you and Gouemar, and J aket my squyre. Syr, sayd Gouernar, ye say well ; for a yonge man w'oute payn is litle worth. How be it, syr, I doute me greatly y 1 ye shal get no leue. Verely, sayd Arthur, I shal assay to morow next. And so they lay still all that night tyll it was daye. Than rose Arthur and hys company. And whan the duke was vp, Arthur came before him with his bonet in his hande, and kneeled downe to the erthe, and humbly requyred both hys fader and mo- der y' it wolde please them to giue hyra licence to go play hym a seaso out of that countrey ; wherewith in there myndes they were sore dyspleased, and entysed him as muche as they myght to leue his enterpryse ; but in no wyse they coude torne his minde : and at the laste, wyth sore weping, they gaue him licece, and enquyred of him with whome he wolde be acopanicd. Right dere father, I wyl haue none other company, but alonely my cosin Hector and Gouernar, and Jaket my squyre. "Wei, dere son, syth ye wyl not abyde, take w' you gold and syluer at your pleasure. Than Go- uernar came to Arthur, and demaunded of hym what space it wolde be or he wold retorne into his owne countrey. Verely, quod Arthur, the space of fiue yeres. So then anonc these tidinges were sprad a brode in the courte, and all aboute the countrey, how that Arthur wolde depart out of that countrey, and tary out fyue yeres. And at the last Jehannet herd therof, wherwith all her bloud trembled and quake, and ranne out of her chambre to the palays, whereas the duke and duchesse were together right sore weping. And than she perceyucd wel how I hat it was of trouth : wherw ith nie her lif had past, and therw 1 she fel downe in a deadlie traunce in the armcs of her mother. And 38 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR whan she reuyued, she cryed & sayd : A ! Arthur, my swete loue, with thys iorney shall this poore orphelyne lose her good lord and chief father. A ! Arthur, my dere herte, wyll ye thus leue me ? And wha the duke saw her make this great lamentacion, than opened his herte, and rendred many a salte tere with his eyen. And in this season Gouernar aperayled all suche necessary thinges as was metely for theyr departyng. Than Arthur tooke leue of his father and moder, who were right sorowful of his departynge. And than he went to Jehan- net to take his leue of her ; and as soone as she sawe him she ranne and toke him in her amies, and sayd ryght pyteously : A ! right swete syr, the ende of my herte and loue, how can you fynde in youre herte to leue this poore orpheline ? And whan Arthur harde her speke so swetely, it touched nerer to his herte than of all the sorovv both of fader and moder, and of all his kynne. But, fynally, he commaunded her to God, and sayd : Fayre swete loue, 1 requyre you to praye to God for me ; for I promysse you, yf I lyue, I wyll do you more good and honour than as yet euer ye had ; & so kyste her swetely and departed, & mounted on his horse ; & he was in a garmente couered al with grene, gyrte about w 1 a rede lase ; and bothe he and Hector and Gouernar were al in a sute in scarlet hosen ; and eche of them a chaplet on theyr hedes lyke yonge lusty louers. And they roode so longe tyll they were oute of the towne. Than Arthur entred in to a grete thought, & rode musynge a greate space. And whan Hector sawe him in y* case, he called Gouernar to hym, & sayd : Frende, se ye not howe Arthur rideth musyng ? 1 holde it beste we breke hym out of his thoughte. Therwith Hector called Ar- thur, and demaunded of hym what him ayled to ryde so sadly. And whan Arthur harde hym, he tourned his hcade to hym warde, and sayde : Fayre cosyn, I praye you come ryde here by my syde, and Gouernar on the other syde. And whan Arthur was belweoe them, he sayde: Frendes, I haue mused all this season of mydreame that 1 had this laste night: whan ye woke me, I tolde you parte, but not all ; and surely it is the chefe cause wherefore I haue take on me this iorneye. Herken to me, and I Piatt 4. To /art pagt 38. flatr 4 . To race, page 36. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 39 shal shewe you all my hole dreme ; for no thynge can I hyde fro you. This laste nyght, whan I was in my fyrste slepe, me thought I was in the moost fayrest place in all the worlde, where I sawe a fresshe fountayne ; and me thought the beaute therof caused me to syt downe on the brym therof, and with the fayr clere water therof washed my face and handes. .And, fynally, I cast vp mync eyes alofte ; and on my ryght hand me thought I sawe the richeste pauilion pyghtc that euer was sene ; and in the hyght of this pauylyon was an egle of golde, the richest and the fayreste that coude be deuysed ; & properly me thoughtc I sawe this egle come downe & lyght on my bosome, & shewed me so greate sygne of loue, that it pleased me so muche that I coulde not be satysfyed w 1 behoklynge therof; & me thought it flykered aboute me wyth her wynges, in the sygne of grete loue. And at the last me thought I sawe where came to me warde a grete griffon, foule and hor- rible ; and he broughte wyth hym a great multytude of serpentes, whervv' all the earth aboute me was couered ; and me thought they wolde haue taken fro me myn egle, who was ryght ferde, and couered her euer by me, and loked on me swetely ; in maner as thoughe she wolde haue sayde : Arthur, kepe me. And than me thoughte I toke my swerde in my hande, and so fought with this gryffon & al these serpentes, by whome me thought I suffered moche payne in great peryll : but at the laste me thoughte there came a turtyll to helpe me, & brought with her many douues. And out of an other parte I sawe where came a sparhawke, acco- panied w' many faucons. And all these dyde me suche socoure, that we slewe y c gryffon and all the other serpentes. And so- daynely than me thoughte that the egle and y c turtyll and I were in a hye toure, and bothe you Hector and Gouernar with me. And to vs me thoughte came people w'out nombre ; and me thoughtc there was a lyon & foure grete leopardes ; and all they diddc enclyue theym selfe to me warde, & didde me grete honour. And they were al crowned w * golde ; & me thought they gaue the egle frely to me. And she pleased me soo well, that I woulde neuer haue departed by my wyll fro her company. And euer syth I woke, my herte and loue hath ben. so set on y c egle, that 1 can 40 TIIYSTORY OF ARTHUR not draw my herto fro her ; for I lone her so enfycrly, y' as longe as I lyuc I shall neucr cease to Irauell & laboure tyll I haue found her. And this is the veryc cause wherfore I am departed out of myn owne countrec. Yerely, syr, sayd Gouernar, this betokeneth y' greatc honour shall come to you ; for, syr, ye knowe wcl the lyon, who, as yc thoughte, dyd gyue you the egle, is a beest ryall ; for the lyon is kyng of all beestes, and the egle is kynge of all foulcs. Soo the sygnyfycacyon therof is, that a kynge shall gyue you a quene ; how be it grete payne shall ye fyrst suffer. And the griffo y' wolde liaue taken fro you youre egle, betokeneth some grete man y' woulde haue her that shall be gyuen to you. Therfore it shall behoue you to conquere her with the swerde. And, syr, I Gouernar, your servaut am here y* neuer shall fayle you whyle I lyue. No more shall I, fay re cosyn, sayd Hector, by the fayth that I owe vnto my lorde my father. Frendes, sayd Arthur, 1 hartely thankc you. And so they rode forth on theyr waye. And because ye shall vnderstande the sygnyfycacyon of the egle and the lyon, therfor we shall leaue for a season spekyng of Arthur and his company rydyng on theyr iorney ; & ye shall hearc of this egle tyll tyme shall be that we retourne agayn to Arthur. CAP. XVII. HOW THE MYGHTY KYNGE OF SOROLOIS, CALLED EMENDUS, HELDE OPEN COURTE IN HIS REALME, WHERE AS WAS FOURE PUYS- SAUNTE KYNGES, WHO WERE ALL HIS SUBIECTES ; AND HERE YF. SHALL HERE OF THYNGES MERUAYLOUS. In the seaso that Arthur thus rode, as ye haue herdc here before, there was in the realme of Soroloys a kyng ; the whiche realme is in Ind the More, ioyning to the greate see called Betee, and also OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 41 to (he Rede See betwene Mesopotanye & Perse. This kynge had to name Emendus, ryght puyssaunt of hauyour & frendes ; and he had vnder him four kynges, myghty and puyssaunt, who were vnder his obeysauce, & helde all theyr realmes of hym. Wherof the fyrste was kynge of Orquany, the which is on the syde of Babilon, the which realme extendeth to the Rede See ; & this lande was full of gyauntes. The second was kyng of the realme of Mormall, the whiche is in the lond of Sodome and Go- morre, & it extendeth to the londe ioynynge to the Dead See. And this kyng myght well brynge in batayl better tha a hodred .M. fyghtynge men. The thyrde hathe the gouernance of the realme of Valefounde, a very obscure & darke londe, & the people therof as blacke as sote ; and it extedeth into the oryent, where as the son ryseth, the whiche people were greatly doubted in battayle or warre ; for they were without pyte, and dydde eate raw fleshe lyke dogges. The fourthe kynge was of the realme of Ismaelyte, the which extendeth into Eghypt, and vnto the land of Femene. These .iiii. kinges were subiectes to the mighty kig of Soroloys, Emendus, who hadde to wyfe a noble lady named Fe- nyce, by the reason of the countre y' she was borne in ; for it was named Fenyx, bycause in that countree bredde a byrde y x was called fenyx. And in all the worlde there is neuer but one ; & as it is sayde, whan she is olde and auncyent, there she maketh her neste of drye thornes on the heyghte of an hye mountayne, as nere the sonne as she can ; so y' by the hete of the sonne the nest quick- eneth, & flameth on fyre ; & in ther she breneth her selfe, & of her asshes there is another fenyx engendred. This sayde lady Fenyce, wyfe to kynge Emendus, was quene, by enherytaunce, of the Clere Toure, the whiche was a noble ryche cyte. And by greate force she had subdued the cytye of Comeyne & of Cos(an- tinople, of Cornite, of Macedonye, of Phesale, of Boeme, & of all the coutre of Denmarche. She was a ryght hye & a mighty pryn- cesse, & right good & vertuous ; so y' it was harde than to haue founde ony ladye comperable to her. And so it fortyned in the freshe mery moneth of Maye, as at the feast of Pentecost, y e kyng Emendus helde open courte at the cyte of Cornyte ; at the whiche G 12 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR feaste were these foure foresayd kynges, and al the seuen perres of his realme. And thys feast was great, & the courte ful of peple. And the fyrst day of this feaste the kyng Einendus was in his palays, lenyng on a rodile of golde y' he helde in his hand ; & aboute hym stode these four kynges and his .vii. perres, accorapa- nyed also wyth the hye and myghty duke of Alatre, & .xxiiii erles. And his noble queue Fenyce satte by hym, greate with chylde, & nere to her tyme of delyueraunce. And the kynge of Orquany behelde her well, who was her nere cosyn, & sayde : Madame, me thynke it sholde be metelye for youre grace, fro hensforth, to drawe to the place where as the kynge wyll y l ye shall take your chabre ; for 1 thynke youre tyme approcheth on fast. In dede, fayre cosyn, said the quene, ye saye ryght truely : how be it, I knowe not as yet where as my lorde wyll I shall lye. And therto the klg answered, & sayd : In dede as yet I am not determyned in what place she shall lye in. Than sayd the kynge of Mormall, who was a sage prynce : Syr, I wyll coiisayle you : let the quene lye at the Porte Noyr ; & whan she is delyuered, let the chylde be borne to the hyll of Aduentures. And, syr, yf ye do thus, I thinke ye shall do wysely. By my fayth, quod the kyng of Valefounde, I wote not what to say in this mater, whether it were better to bere the chylde thyther or not ; for this is youre fyrst chylde, and it is harde to tell what destynye the chylde shall be of ; yf it shall be good, than were it well done y l it were borne thyder ; but peraduenture y e aduentures of this chylde maye be suche, that it were better they were hydde & kepte secrete, than to be openly knowen ; for in aduenture lyeth often tymes as well yll as good. Well, quod the kynge Emendus, madame, I wyll that ye go to the Porte Noyre ; and whan that ye be delyuered, I wyll that the chyld be borne vp to the mount Perylous, there to knowe what destyny that the chylde shall be of. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 43 CAP. XVIII. THE DYSCRYPCION OF THE FACYON AND SYTUACYON OF THE MOUNT PERYLOUS, THE WHICHE WAS CONQUERED BY THE PROWES OF ARTHUR. In thismoute Pervious there was a castell named the Porte Noyre. This castell was ryght stronge and of grete surtye : and it was made & ordeyned by Proserpyne, who was on of y e quenes of the fayry : & the cytuacyon of this castel was suche, that .x. legges of length there ranne a grete ryuer about the cyrcuyte of this cas- tell, the whiche was soo depe fro the erth, and bakes so bye, that scante the water myghte be sene rennynge vnderneth ; & it ranne soo rudely, that who so euer entred in to it was vtterly perysshed. It was blacker than smythy water, & it smelled abhomynably. Also it was full of cuttyng and sharpe rockes swarmynge full of vermyn. This ryuer enuyronned this castell ouer all sydes : & ioynynge to this ryuer there was all aboute this castell moun- taynes so hye, that no creature coude mount vpon theym, ney- ther on horse nor on fote ; and they were so bare and harde, that the byrdes, wyth gret payne, coude scant reyse, or get onye gresse or sustenance theron. And among these mountaynes there was a passage of the largenesse of a charyot way, wher- by one myghte go and enter into the castell. And in cer- tayne places there were barby canes that defended the entre fro al people. And vnder these mountaynes there was a grete marys, depe and foule, soo that none myght entre into it, but incontynent he was loste and peryshed. And there were pyttes of water in- numerable, y l it semed in a maner to be an arme of the see : howe be it, there was nother barke ne shyp that myght abyde it. And this mares was so depe, y l it might well be thought that it attayned downe to the abysme and swalowe of the earth ; the which mares endured well the largenesse of .ii. legges, wherin there was a pas- sage of the bred of a spere length made by nygramancye, wheron 44 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR there were .xxx. drawe brydges. And so this mares enuyronned the castell ouer all partyes, and the mountaynes cyrcued the mares, and the ryuers the mountaynes ; so that it was impossyble to be assauted, besyeged, or wone. The castel also was closed w' double walles made of chalke stone & sande, & grete barres and cram- pones of yren and stele fyxed in lede. The walles were .xv. fote thycke, & .xxxv. of heyghte, enuyronned wyth three hondred toures, cramponed and knyt togyder wyth gret chaynes of yren ; & the barbycanes were bended & bordred wyth stele. To say the trouth, this castel of y e Porte Noyr doubted not all the worlde. And in this castell were halles of vehement aduetures, where as no creature myght entre wythout dethe ; and manye knyghtes had be there peryshed, suche as toke on them to fordo the enchaunte- mentes of that place. But, at the conclusyon, all suche there dyed & fynyshed there mortall lyues ; for none coude neuer bryng the aduentures to an ende, saue alonely Arthur of Britayne, as ye shall after here. And before the gates of this castell, a lytle hyer on the hyl, there were palays, halles, and chambres, wyth grete & hye stronge batyl mentes, where as foure kynges myght well haue bene harboured ; and to those palays men myght go surely w'out ony peryll ; for thyder came all such as passed through the coutre. And out of this palays men myghte go to the mount of Aduentures, where as foure quenes of the fayry walked euery nyght, and did muche hurte to them that came thyder agenst theyr wylles. And to this hyll acustoraable these ladyes came nyghtly. The chyefe of them was called Proserpyne, a freshe yonge lady, & a fayre w'out coparyson ; for yf all the beauties of al women in, the worlde had ben assebled togyder in to one personne, yet she shoulde not haue had the fourth parte of the beaute that Proser- pyne was of, who was quene and ladye of the other thre, & was chyef lady of this castell of the Porte Noyr, & of the mount Pe- ryllous, wher as she had pyght a ryche pauylyon, with a splayed egle of golde in the toppe thereof ; the whiche was the same egle that Arthur sawe in his dreme. And in a nother tent by was the whyte shelde of the fairye, and the good swerd named Clerence ; (he whych shelde was of suche force and myghte, that it coulde OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 45 not be hurte nor enpayred, neyther for iren nor stele, nor for none other thyng. The which shelde was ordained too healpe no crea- ture, but all onelye hym that it was destenyed vnto. Nor the swerde shold not be pulled out of the shethe, nor healpe no man, but alonely by hym that it was predestynate vnto. CAP. XIX. HOWE IT WAS JJETERMYNED THAT THE QUENE FENYCE SHOULDE TAKE HER CHAMBRE IN THE PALAYS BESYDE THE CASTEL OF Y e PORTE NOYRE. So thus, as ye haue hearde before, the mighty kyng Emendus was agreed that Fenyce, hys queue, should lye a chyldbedde at the Port Noyre, and that her chylde shold be borne vp to the mout of Aduentures. And he ordayned that the kynge of Orqua- nye, her cosyn germaine, shoulde go wyth her, and the archebys- shoppe of Cornyte, who was brother to the kynge Emendus : and also the quene of Israaelyte, and manye other ladyes & damoy- selles, lordes and knyghtes, sholde acompanye thys quene Fe- nyce. And soo there they made to the kinges, and the .xii. perres of the realrae, faythful assurauce that they wouldc make true reporte of euery thynge that they shoulde here or see in the mounte of Aduentures. And also y e kynge Emendus and the twelue peres sware, and made faithful assuraunce, that what so euer sholde be destinied of that chylde, that they shoulde not wythstond in ony poynte the childes desteney, but to kepe and to mayntayne the chylde lyke y c Sonne of a kynge. And of thys pro- myse there was made a charter, sealed by kyng Emendus, and by his twelue perres of hys realme ; and was deliuercd into the kep- ynge of the archebyshoppe of Cornyte. And soo by that time it was season to here masse. And whan the masse was fynyshed, the 46 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR tables were layde ; and tlier they were serued ryght rychely, as it apertayned too the honoure of suche a noble kynge. And thys feeste and tryumphe endured the space of .xv. dayes. Than the kynge Emendus dyd gyue greate plente of golde and syluer, horse and harneys, to lordes and knyghtes, and euery persone after theyr degree ; and so euerye man repayred into there own countres, and the queue Fenyce prepayred al her besynesse for to remoue to the niounte Perillous. And so she toke her leue of the king, and toke wyth her all suche companye as ye haue hearde deuysed heare before, and laboured so longe in her iorney, that at the laste shee aryued at the Porte Noyre, and went to the palays before the gate of the castle ; and there she remayned tyll by proces of tyme that she was brought a child bedde with a fayre doughter. Than the archebyshoppe toke the chylde vp in hys armes, and wente there wyth to the mout Peryllous. And withe him was the kynge of Orquanye, and the quene of Ismaelit. And whan they were aboue on the hyll, they founde there a fayre and a goodlye grounde ; and sawe where there was a maruayllous fayre fountayne, rounde aboute the whyche there were sette foure ryche chayres ; and on euerye fountayne there was pyghte a pereon of stone, wherin there was ordayned a place for a child to lye in : in the whyche place they layd fayre and easely thys noble chylde. And than they with drewe theym selfe into a pryue place there by her, & se what shold fortune after. Than anone it began to waxe derke. And within a lytle space they sawe where there came foure the fayrest ladyes of the worlde, two and two together, wyth greate torches and lychtes before them, and where al crowned with gold, like noble quenes. The first was so excellent fayre, that the beauties of the other thrc were nothing to be compared to her, who was quene and lady ouer the other three ; and the castel of the Porte Noyr was perteyning to her, and also the fayre pauylyon with the egle of golde, wherin was an ymage holding in her handes a chaplet made of pauncees ; the whiche ymage, in all poyntes, resembled to this faire quene Proserpine : wherin was also the white shelde and swerde enchaunted. The whiche pauylyon was not ferre pyght fro the fountayne where as this childe was layd in Plate .A 7r Hue ptip* fra'Jiekith Airaxtt OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 47 the pereon. And so than these foure quenes, wrapped in maun- telles of silke, set them downe in the sayde foure chayres, and the chylde was in the raiddes betwene them all foure. CAP. XX. HOW THAT THE DOUGHTER OF THE MYGHTY KYNGE EMENDUS, AND OF FENICE HIS QUENE, WAS DESTYNED OUER THE FOUN- TAINE IN THE HERBER OF THE MOUNTE PERILLOUS BY FOURE QUENES OF THE FAYRY. THE CHYEFE OF THEYM WAS NAMED PROSERPYNE, WHO WAS THE MOOSTE FAYREST CREATURE THAN OF ALL THE WORLDE. Than this quene Proserpyne began first, and sayde : I perceyue wel here is the doughter of our dere fredes the kinge Emendus, whome he hath sente hither to vs with greate triumphe : therfore it is good reason that wee doe hym some good and pleasure. Ma- dam, sayd the other thre quenes, begyn you, and we shall folow. Certaynly, sayd she, with a right good wyll. Fyrst, I wyll y* this chylde be named Florence, and that she shall be floure of beautie of all other creatures as longe as euer she shall liue. And properly I wyl she shal resemble to me both in face, in body, in countenauce, in goinge, and commynge ; and in all other thynges so lyke, that whoso euer se vs bothe together shall not consyder nor dyscerne the one fro the other. And also to her I gyue thys my castell of the Porte Noyr, and my pauylyon, with the image holdynge the chaplet ; and also my whyte shelde and swerde. And therwith she helde her peace. And than the seconde quene sayde : Madame, syth that ye haue made her to be fayre w'out copatyson, I wyl also that she shall be gracious and amyable. Wel, quod the thyrde quene, syth I see that she shall be exced- inge fayre and gracious withoute comparison ; and, raadame, seen 48 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR she shall baue your semblaunt, and your shelde & swerde, I wyll that the best knight of the worlde shall baue her in mariage. And I wyl that he shall bere the white sheld and the swerde, and that they shall helpe none other creature but alonely hym. And I wyl that he shall achyeue the aduentures of this castel, and shal put to death Malegrape the monstour. And to him 1 giue the sheelde and the swerde, & the chaplet y' the ymage holdeth in the pauylion. And also I wyll that he shall haue this mayde Flo- rence in maryage. Than the fourth quene sayd : Wei, syster, syth ye haue gyuen this mayde to (he best knight of the worlde, I wil tha that yf any other be so bolde to take her, that incontinent he shal die or he haue power to touche her. And therwith all these quenes rose and wente there wayes. And than the quene of Ismaelite, & the kyng of Orqueny, and the archebysshop, toke the childe, and bare it to her mother ; and there openly recounted to her all y l they had harde and seen of these quenes of the fayry. Than the archebysshop dyd chrysten this chylde, and gaue her to name Florence. And than the quene of Ismaelite, and the kinge of Orquenye, helde her on the founte ; the which childe was kept vp with foure norses. And she grew and amended dayly, so that she was towarde to be fayrest creature of y c worlde. And whan the quene was purified, she wente to the citie of Sabba, where as the kynge Emendus was accompanied wyth his kinges, and the seuen peres of his realme. And this was at AU-halowentyde, where as he kept a great open courte. And whan the quene was come, the king met her with great triumphe. And she was led to the palays w' a king and an archebysshop ; and there openly re- counted al the destyny of the childe, & how that she should be giuen in maryage to the best knight of al the worlde. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 49 CAP. XXI. HOW THE KINGE OF VALEFOUNDE SENTE HIS SON TO Y e CITIE OF SABBA FOR TO BE BROUGHT VP IN THE COMPANY OF FLORENCE. In this tyme the kinge of Valefoude had a sone who was named Steuen, and he was sent to Sabba to be norysshed vp in the com- pany of Florece. And so these .ii. chyldren were brought vp to- gyther so longe til this childe Steuen coulde go to scole : than the king Emedus sent hym to the scole of Athenes, there for to learne. And by processe of tyme thys childe there lerned so well & pro- foundly, that he became a souerayne clerke, specially in astro- nomy and nigromancy, that in no parte there coulde be founde none like him in conninge. Than the kynge Emendus dyd sende for hym to be in his court. Than Florence desyred of her father that he myght be her clerke, and of her counsayle : and the klg w' a right good wyll dyd graunte her request, and Florence loued him right wel, for he serued her right nobly and trulye, and she had after right great nede of him, as ye shal here more playnly wha time shal be to speke therof. CAP. XXII. HOW Y l THE OUENE FENICE, MODER TO FLORENCE, DIED ; & HOW SHE MADE HER TESTAMENT, GIUINGE TO HER DOUGHTER A RINGE, IN PUTTYNG HER THERBY IN POSSESSION OF THE REALME OF BLAUNCHE TOURE. This quene Fenice loued greatly her doughter Florece, who was the mooste fayrest creature that as than coude be foude in al the worlde. For there was none that euer saw her, but incontinent H 50 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR they were rauysshed with her persaunt beaute. And the queue her moder kept her so derely, that there were but fewe men that had any sight of her : for y e kyngc her ownc father saw her not so oft as he wolde haue done. In this maner she was kept tyll she was • xviii. yere of age. Than it fortuned on a season that this king Emendus helde open courte at Pantopone, and to him were come al his other kinges and noble baronage ; at which time the quene his wyfe was ryght sore dyseased of the feuer, and euerie day inpayred more and more ; and so the secondc day of thys feast, thys noble quene Fenyce than as she lay in her bed, she saw where as her doughter Florece stode sore wepynge before her beds side, wher- with she began to make a pitefull lamentacion, and sayd : A ! dere doughter Florence, I haue kept and cherisshed you vnto this day with greate honour and ioye : and now is the season come y f I must nedes leue you; and I fere me, y' after my death ye shal haue nede of me. And therewith she sente for the kynge Emendus her husbande, and for other foure kinges, and for al the seuen peres of the realmes. And whan they were al come into her presence, she sayde to the kinge Emendus her husbande : Right dere lord, I am sure it is not out of your remembraunce the destiny of our dough- ter Florence ; therfore, syr, now in my last daies 1 humbly requyre you that ye wil kepe and vp holde the promise and othe as ye haue made in that behalfe heretofore, to the whiche ye are bounde to by your seale and wrytinge. And suffre her neuer to be giuen to other Iorde in mariage but to him that she is predystinate vnto. In the name of God, quod the king, madame, I faythfully assure you to vp holde al that I haue promised. Well than, to you, syrs, quod the quene to y e other kinges & vii. peres : How say ye, wyl ye all vpholde the same ? & al they answered, y l they wolde neuer agre to y e cotrary. Tha y e quene toke a ringe of her finger, and openly she sayd : Florence, my fayre doughter, I giue you my realme of Blanche Toure, and put you in sesenyng and possession therof by this ringe. And so Florence toke the ringe & deliuered it to the archebysshop her vncle to kepe. Tha the quene sayd to the king of Orqueny, and to the archebysshop : OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 51 Fayre lordes, I leue in your kepinge my dere doughter Florence, praying you to kepe her well & truly : for, syr bysshop, she is your owne nese. And to you, syr king of Orqueny, she is cosyn and goddoughter, therfore ye ought to take good hede to her. And to you, ray owne dere lorde and husbande, & to all other, I humbly requyre pardo for any thinge that euer I haue trespaced agaynst any of you, besechinge you all to pray for my soule, and to the sauegarde of the blessed Trinite I you commit. And therwith she marked her with the signe of the crosse, and commended to God her spirite ; and therwith lost her speche & mortall lyfe. Than began in the courte so great sorow and lamentacion, that it was pitie to behold and here, for the klg foundred all in teeres, and al other that was there present. Than Florence stepped forth all in a rage, and piteosly cried and sayd : Alas ! I sorowful and poore orpheline of moder syde. A herte ! why dost thou abyde any lenger in my woful bodie ? A ! dere lady & moder, howe is it that ye be thus gone & leue behynde you your sorowfull doughter Florence ? Therwith she wrange her lyly whyte handes, and sayde : Alas ! I sorowfull & desolate creature ! And therwith she wolde haue lepte and kyssed the dead corse of her moder ; but her herte fayled her, and so fel downe to the erthe in a deadly traunce. And euery body tooke so muche hede on there owne sorowes, so that no body toke hede of the wofull Florence, til at the last the archebysshop & maister Steuen toke her vp in his armes, & so reuiued her, & bare her out of the sight of the dead corse : and than to her there came the abbes of our ladies monestery in that citie, and al her couent for to coraforte her. And so these sorowful tidinges anone ranne ouer al the citie, wherfore all the belles in euery chyrche began to sound. And euery creature made great sorow for the deathe of the queue. And the king caused her bodi to be kept aboue the ground .xx. dayes, for to abyde the barons and knightes of the realme of Blaunche Toure for the entente that they should be at the entierment of theyr quene and lady. 52 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR CAP. XXIII. HOW THAT THE QUENE FENICE, MODER TO FLORENCE, WAS NOBLY ENTIERED. Aboute the ende of .xx. days theyr came a knight to kinge Emendus fro the emperour of Inde the More, who had hearde tidinges, howe that the quene Fenice was departed this transitorie life, and he desyred the kinge to prolonge foure dayes lenger the cntermet of the quene ; for he sente worde that he wolde be with him by that season ; wherof kinge Emendus was very glad, that so hie a person as the emperour was, wolde take on him for to be at the beryenge of the quene his wyfe. And whan the day came of his comyng, he was receiued ful right honourabli, and tha the seruyce was ministred to the deade bodie ful right hie and solempnely, and so she was layde in the cathedral chirch of all the citie. And thys emperoure abode there styll a greate space after- warde wyth the kynge, to the entente to putte hym of his great sorow. And all other kinges, erles, & barons, departed euery man into his owne coutrey. And also the archebissliop retorned to Cornite, and so toke his leue of the king his broder, and led with him Florence his nese. And also Florence toke leue of the king her fader, and of the emperour, who was as than all bedewed with weping, and not araied as perteined to her estate, but after the maner of a sorowful morner. How be it, in suche state as she was in, she was of great beaute, wherby this emperour was striken with so great ioy that he lost al his coutenauce. And fro hensforth he loued & desyred so muche Florence, that he thought on nothing but alonely on her. And thus departed Florence w' the arche- bissliop her vncle, & trauailed so longe til at the last she ariued at Cornite on a Friday about the houre of euensong time, & there was receyued honourably, and there remayned a great season. And mayster Steuen euer serued her wel and truely, and she trusted more in him than anye other after the death of the quene her moder. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 53 CAP. XXIV. HOW THAT THE EMPEROUR OF INDE THE MORE DEMAUNDED OF KYNGE EMENDUS THE FAYRE FLORENCE HIS DOUGHTER IN MARIAGE, AND OF THE ANSWERE THAT KINGE EMENDUS MADE TO HYM; AND ALSO OF THE TERME THAT WAS TAKEN TO MARY FLORENCE: AND HOW THAT MAYSTER STEUEN KNEWE, BY THE REG ARDYNG OF THE PLANETTES, THAT THEYR WAS COMMYNGE OUT OF THE WEST A KNIGHT, WHO SHOULD ACHEUE THE ADUENTURES OF THE PORTE NOYRE, AND HOW HE SHOULD HAUE AND ENIOYE THE WHITE SHELDE AND THE SWERDE, AND OBTAYNE FLORENCE IN MARYAGE : WHEROF SHE WAS GREATLY COMFORTED, FOR IN NO WISE SHE LOUED THE EMPEROUR. Thus the emperour abode styll wyth the kinge Emendus, and departed together fro Pantopone and wente to Masedone ; but euer the emperour was in great trouble and thought, for the loue that he had in Florence ; soo that the kinge Emendus demaunded of hym what he eyled to be so sad. And the emperour answered, and said : Syr, I shal tel you the trouth, for I can not sende to you a more certayne messenger than I am my selfe, for ye must beleue myne saying rather tha any other meane messenger. Syr, it is of trouthe how that ye be a great pry nee and of right greate power ; and also, syr, it is wel knowen how that my strength is not smal : for I thlk as now we two ar in maner the greatest men that reygneth in anye place of the worlde. Therfore it is a great welth to vs to continue together as faythful fredes. And truly, fro hensforthe, I wyll be your frende and your louer. Certaynlye, syr, it is so, I am a man to marye, and I thynke I cannot set mi loue in no place so well and nobly as on Florence your doughter : therefore, syr, here with mine owne mouth I desyre you to haue her in mariage. A, syr ! quod the king, it may not be, for she maye haue none other mariage but suche as she is desteined vnto j for yf that anye other j4 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR presume to take her, he is but vtterlye loste and dead. And also I haue sworne and set to my seale to vpholde her destinie, and neuer to breake it. Syr, sayde the emperour, beleue you then of suche fantasies as is the fayry ? Surely, syr, they haue no power nor might ; but I requyre you gyue me your doughter, and soo wee shal be togither as fredes. Truly, syr, said y e king, I wil be glad therof : but I promysed to my quene to kepe faythfullye the promys that I had. In the name of God, sayd the emperour, syr, your queene is dead & past, who shall neuer retorne agayne ; she shal neuer demaunde nor sew you for the brekyng of anye coue- naunte made to her, & theyr is none other y l wil be so hardy to reproue your dede : for yf they do they shal lese theyr heades : wherfore, syr, I requyre you fulfyll my desyre, and than ye shall binde me to be youre faythfull frende. Wei, syr, quod the kinge, yf my doughter be content therewyth, it shall please me right wel : wherfore let vs ride to morow towarde Cornyte, and speke wyth her, and know her minde in thys mater. So be it, in the name of God, quod the emperour. And on the nexte day be tymes they lept on theyr horses, & rode forth to Cornite, and rode so longe, that on a Wednesday they arriued at the citie of Cornite, & so went to the palais. Than the archebysshop came to se the kinge, and brought w ith hym Florence. And than they all together wente vp in the palays, & entred into a fayre chambre. Than the emperour and the kyng set them downe together, and betwene them the fayre Florence. And at the laste the king Emendus sayd : Fayre doughter, your moder is departed thys lyfe, & it is now tyme that fro hensforth that I prouyde for your noble estate ; ye be a great lady and a puyssaunt. Therfore I wyl mary you to this noble emperour here present. And whan Florence hard her father speke to her of manage, all her blode bega to quake and trimbil, for she hated the emperour euer sith the begynning of her youth : how be it, she answered ryght wysely, and sayd : Dere lord and father, ye know wel that it is not yet .iii. monethes sith the death of my lady my moder : and yf I should mary me so newlie, I shold be greatly blamed. Therfore, syr, I requyre you let this ycre passe, tha, syr, I wil take cousayle & OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 55 toll you what I wil do. And wha the emperour hard her speke so reasonably, he coude not endure to charge her any ferther as than, and acorded to abide the terme of her desyre : and behelde wel how that she chauged colours and sore trembled, & so dyd the kinge her father also. How be it, he made no semblaunt. And so they were together a longe season, till at the laste she toke licence of them and departed into her owne chambre sore amased, and so abode tyll the archebysshop and mayster Steuen were comen fro the courte. And as sone as they Avere entred into the chabre of Florece, they saw well where as she was sitting, sore sighing and wepinge. Than the bisshop toke her by the hand, & demaunded of her why she made that lamentacion. As helpe me God, vncle, sayde Florence, my lorde my fader kepeth not well the couenauntes that he made to my lady my moder, for now he is in the mynde to marye me vnto thys emperour : and there is no thinge that I hate so muche as I do hym. Certaynlye I had rather to sufFre death than to haue him ; and I haue no lenger respyte tha the ende of this yere. Why, madame, quod mayster Steuen, haue ye pur- chased so longe a respyte ? In fayth, I faythfully ensuyre you, that I wyll gyue you two yere lenger, for I waraunt you, that two yere after your daye ye shall not be maried to him. Mayster, sayd Florence, I thanke you of your good coforte. Wel, quod the bysshop, the emperour dothe foly to demaude you agaynst your wyl : for, perauenture, there may fortune lytle good come to hym therby. Than the bysshop toke her by the hande, and ledde her into a fayre gardyne to sporte her. And so on a fayre grene benche she satte her downe, betwene the bysshop & mayster Steuen, and soo passed the tyme w< many goodli sportes. And than it began to waxe late, and the euenynge was very clere, and the sterres shone ful bryght. Than mayster Ste- uen dyd beholde the a grete space, and at the last he said : Madame, for certayne I knowe by the course of the pianettes, that there is a knyght comynge in to this countre, and is now well onwarde on his waye, who shall achyue the aduentures of the castell of the Porte Noyr or this yere be passed. And surely it is he that shall haue 56 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR the whyte sbyelde and tbe swerde Clarence. Verelye, sayd the byshop, yf this be of trouthe, the emperoure raaye goo fysshe in an other place, for here he hathe well fayled ; for I am sure it is the same knyght that my lady Florence is predestynate vnto ; therefore I am ryghte joyous of the hurte of the eraperour. And howe saye you, mayster, do you not hate bym ? Yes, syr, thereof he may be as sure, as that an ell of clothe wyll make his hede a hode : whereat the bysshop dyd laughe. And thus they were longe togyder in this talkynge, tyll it was season to go to rest. Tha they brought Florence to her chambrc, and departed to theyr owne lodgynges, and aboute mydnyght this lady awoke. And tha fell into her remembraunce the dyspleasure that she had to the emperoure, and as she was thus thynkynge, she behelde the foure mortees of waxe y l stode brennynge before her beddes fete : ther- wyth she sawe where there came in to the chambre a fayre lady whyte as the lylly, with a mantell of grene hangynge aboute her sholders w l a lase of golde, and a crowne of golde on her heade, and she helde an other lady by the hande, and sayde vnto her : Fayre syster, sawe you not well the leoparde with the seuen heades all crowned wyth golde, who hath the loke of a brim bore, and the herte of a lyon, the body armes oflede, & the fote of a whyte harte ? And whan she had thus sayde, the other lady demanded of her what all thys myghte meane ; for herein are dyuerse thinges to be consydered. Than she answered, and sayd : Syster, this leoparde shall haue the eagle of golde that is on my pauylyon, & by hym shall the gates be opened of my castell of the Porte Noyr ; and than shall all the enchauntementes fayl. And therewyth bothe these ladyes vanysshed avvaye, so that Florence wyste not where they were sodaynly become : wherwyth she was righte sore a frayed, for she wyst not what it myght meane. In lyke case, the same vysyon came the self night to the archebyshop, and also to mayster Steuen, where as they laye seuerally eche fro other; wherofthey had grete meruayle what theyr dreame myghte sygnyfye. And within a lytic space after the lyghte of the daye began to apere, than the archebyshop rose, and mayster Steuen also, to do theyr attedauce on theyr lady. And whan it was tyme OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 57 to synge masse, mayster Steucn wente fro Florecc, who was than redy apparayled, and so wcnte to churche. And there the arche- bysshop songe masse ; and whan it was fynyshed the bysshop saluted Florence, & demaunded what good reste she had taken that nyght paste. As God helpe me, dere vncle, sayd Florence, neuer as yet came to me suche a fortune as dyde this nyghte ; nor I was neuer soo afrayde : for aboute mydnyght I awoke, and as I laye wakyng, I sawe properly before my bedde the moost fayreste fygure of a lady that euer I sawe, and she had a crowne of goulde on her heade, and be semynge there was an other quene in her companie crowned in lyke wyse, who was also, as me thoughte, a very fayre lady, but nothynge to the regarde of the other quene. And suche wordes me thought she sayd vnto her felowe. And there Florence recounted worde for worde as ye haue harde here before, of all herre hole vysyon, and howe that they were so- daynely vanysshed awaye fro her. And whan the byshoppe hearde tliys, he sayde : A ! fayre nese Florence, by the faith that I owe vnto you, eue in like case as ye saye, it fortuned to me thys same nyght : & for certayne 1 thoughte properly it had ben you ; for, by my soule, the quene that I sawe, yf yee were bothe togyther, I coude not dyscerne the one fro the olher, ye resemble soo nere together. In the name of God, sayde mayster Steuen, thys vysyon appered also properlye to me, in euery thynge as ye haue rehersed ; and verely also I thought it had ben my ladye Florence heare present. Vcrelye, sayde the bishop, thys thinge is not thus fortuned to vs all thre wythout some reson : mayster, I requyre you go loke what significacion it may be of. Tha the x mayester wente frome theym and entred in to hys chabre, and toke his bokes, and loked on thys mater so longe tyl he perceyued fy nally the mystery thereof. And so came agayne to Florence, and sayd to the bysshop : Syr, let vs set our hertes in joye and rest, for verely my lady heare nedeth not to care for the emperoure as in beynge of her husbande, for there is an other free knyght, swet and fayre, who is the foutayne of all chyualry, for hys prowes surmounteth & shall do all other. Therefore know for certaine, that where as the vision shewed ys howe that out of the west 58 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR shold come a leopard, y e which signifieth a gentyll knyghtc borne about the countree of Fraunce ; and where as this leoparde hath the loke of a bore, & the herte of a lyon, in lykewise, this knight is the hardiest y' euer was boorne. And where his bodi shold be of stele, betokeneth that there is no knyght so stronge & harde to abyde a brounte as he is : and where it is sayd y' his arraes be of leed, the which is a heuy thinge, betokeneth the heuy strokes of this knight, the whicli cilnot be susteyned And as for the fete of the hart, the whyche is a lyght beest & a myghty ; in like case, thys knyght is stronge & lyghte, & quycke to go towarde hys enemyes. And where as he shall haue the egle, y e whiche is souerayne & kynge of all foules : in like forme, this knyght shall haue my lady Florence, who is quene & souerayne of al beaute & rycbesse aboue all quenes of the worlde ; the which shal be the confusion of the emperour of Inde. And where as he bereth .vii. hedes crowned w 1 golde, sygnyfieth that this knight shal bere the crownes of .vii. kingdocs, the which he shal cdquere wyth his swerd. And where as that y e gates of the castel of the Port Noyre shall be opened by him, and that al the enchafitcmentcs shal than fayle, representeth the hye prowes of him that shal bcre doune al the aduentures of the Port Noyre : & surely thys is the signyficacyon of oure hole dreame or vysyon. Therfore it is ne- cessarye y' I repayre to the palais of the Port Noyre, to knowe whan this knight cocth, and too see, by hys estate, what maner a manne he is. Verely, sayd the byshoppe, I alowe well that ye soo do, as ye haue deuised, & that ye remoue thitherwarde as hastely as ye can. And whan Florece herde tydynges of thys knyght, she was sodaynely striken w l so grete loue, that fro that houre forwarde she gaue vnto him her herte. Thus she loued hym truely, & wyst not how ; and Arthur loued the egle, & as than had neuer seen it. So than thys lady Florence made grete feste and joye al that daye. And the nexte daye, betymes, mayster Steuen arose, & pre- pared for his departynge ; and than he toke lycence of kyng Emendus to go to the castel of the Porte Noyre, for maters perteynynge to hys ladye Florence, and the kynge gaue him OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 59 leue. Than the maister came to Florence, and to the byshop, and toke leue of them: and so than Florence toke hym by ere, and sayde : Gentyll mayster, if yonder knyght come to the Porte Noyre, brynge him to me, if it maye be possible, for verily I haue grete wyll to se hym, & know of his estate. Ma- dame, sayde the mayster, w l a ryghte good wyll, if I can brynge it aboute. And so departed, and foure other knyghtes wyth hym, and rode so longe, that on a Saterdaye he came too the Porte Noyre, and toke his lodgynge at the palais without the castle gate : for ther was none that entred into the castle without deth. And so in thys palais this mayster Steuen remayned a greate season, nye a hole yere. Now let vs leue too spcake of the mayster, and Florence, and of the courte of kyng Emendus, & of the emperoure of Inde. And nowe let vs retorne to Arthur and his company. CAP. XXV. HOW THAT ARTHUR SLEW E TWELUE KNIGHTES, WHO HAD TOKEN AWAYE A YONGE DAMOYSELL FRO HER FATHER AND MOTHER, & HAD TYED HER TO A TREE, THERE TO HAUE DEFOULED HER VYRGINITYE; WHO W r AS SAUED BY ARTHUR. Arthur, Hector, & Gouernar, were rydynge, after they de- parted fro the court of the duke his fader, .xv. daies, without abiding in ony place, or fyndinge of onye aduentures, wherof ony mencion is made t and rode so long, that at the last they came in to the countre of Denmark, & entred into a grete thycke couerte, the which endured a grete space : & at the last they founde a grete stange or water, & a fayre grene medowe joynyng therlo ; the which conteyned the space of two myles & a halfe : and so they rode styll by the syde of the medowe, fynally in the botome of a grete valey. Than the espyed a stronge toure, closed w l myghty 60 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR walles. And Arthur sawe wel howe the gates of the place were open ; and soo they lyghted of there horses, and entred into the toure, and wente vp into the hall, & all the way they founde no creature ; wherof they had grete meruayle : &, at the last, Arthur harde the voyce of a woman in a lytle charabre besyde hym, who cryed ryghte pyteously, and sayd : A ! lady vyrgyn Mary ! helpe me, and send me som maner of socour ! And therwith Arthur lept into the chambre, & there found a right fayre lady, who had ben drawen all aboute the chambre ; and her yelowe heere drawen and cutte of her heade ; and she was so sore beten, y l she had no power to helpe her selfe. And in this chambre there stode a table redy couered, wherreon there stode wyne and met gret plete; wherof Arthur had grete meruayle, and demaunded of the ladye, who it was that had done so moch trouble and shame. And whan the lady saw Arthur, & herde hym speake, she was sore abasshed, and all afrayde, sayd : A ! gcntyll knyght, 1 requyre you doo me no more hurte, for I haue harme ynoughe all ready. Fayre lady, sayd Arthur, be nothinge afrayde, for I wyll warraunt and defede you fro all enemyes ; therfore shewe vnto me who hath thus enlreted you. Than wyth moche payne the lady rose vpo her feete, and sayde: Syr, as God helpe me, there departed fro hens ryghte nowe .xii. knyghtes all armrd, & they haue thus pyteously arayed me, as ye se. And I thynke they haue slayne my lorde my husbonde ; and haue away w* them my dere doughter, to defoule her virgynyte, yf God doo not pouruey some remedy for her. Well, fayre lady, quod Arthur, where is the lord of this place ? Syr, I cannot saye whether he be alyue or dead ; I beseche you seke aboute for him ; for 1 thike I shall finde hi other quycke or dead. Than Arthur soughte all aboute the place. And at the last, in a lytle house, he founde hym, & his handes bound behynde his backe, sore wounded in the head & on the sholders. Than Hector dydde lose his handes, & Gouernar dyd serche his woundes ; & Arthur demaunded hym, why he was so delt w'. Syr, in good fayth, quod the knyghte, 1 knowe none other cause, but y' the laste day there was a straunger dyd ouer- ftirowe the mayster of the sayd .xii. knyghtes : wherfore, thus OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 61 they haue arayed we withoute cause, & they haue ledde awaye my doughter, to do her shame and velany. And as they thus talked togyder, the lorde of the place sawe where his squyer & clerke lay dead, wherof he had grete ruth. Well, quod Arthur, this is a grete outrage : come on frendes, get vs our harneys. And whan they were all armed, they folowed after these knyghtes, and rode so longe, tyll at the laste they found the cheyf mayster of them, at the en- terynge into a fayre forest, who was besy about this damoysell to haue fyled her. Than Arthur descried him, and sayd : A ! yll & shameful knight, not so hardy y 1 thou ones touche her ; for I en- sure thou shalte come to her fader in the spyte of thi herte, to the entente y* he shall take vegeaunce of thy trespas : and therfore I the defye. Therw' he & all his company lept on theyr horses, & the capytayne of theym broched his horse agenst Arthur, & stroke him so rudely, that he brake his spere to his fyste; but Arthur stroke hym so puyssauntly, that his speare heade entred clene throughe his body, whercw' he fell downe deade to the earthe. Than Arthur drewe out hys swerde, & smote the seconde soo feruentely that he perced hys hert. And the third he stroke so, that he cut hym downe to the sadel. And fro the .iiii. he toke his hed fro the sholders. And Hector, for his parte, stroke one of them so rudely, that he entred hys spere into hys body more than a fote. And than he toke his swerde, and stroke amonge them so rudely, that he made them al before him to knele. And also Gouernar made .ii. of theyr heades to flee into the feldcs. And whan the remnaunt sawe that their companye were thus delate wythall, they toke them to flyght for drede of dethe. And as they fledde, they sayde eche to other : Let vs saue oure selfe fro these deuylls of hell, for they be none erthelye creatures. And soo Arthur folowed theym no ferther, but came to the damoysell, where as shee was fast bounden to a tree, and dyd lowse her, and caused her too mounte on a horse of one of the knyghtes that was slaine ; and than brought her agayne to her fader. And whan he sawe hys dough- ter, his herte reuyued, and kneled downe before Arthur, and vendred to him many gret thankyngs. Than Arthur toke him yp 62 TIIYSTORY OF ARTHUR by the hande, and so remayned there all y l daye and nyghte : and the ncxte mornynge he and all hys company toke leue of they re hoost, and of the damoysel, who loned Arthur wyth all her herte. And so they departed and entered in to theyr jorney, & rode forth so longe, (yll they cam in to the countree of Vienne ; where as they met a messenger hauynge by semynge grete haste, wyth a jauelyn in his hande, & scochen of amies on his breste, and a boget wyth leteers hangyng at his sadel bow. And there Arthur cur- teysly dydde salute hym. Syr, sayde the verlet, God gyue you ryght good aduentur. Good frende, quod Arthur, to whome do you pertayne ? Syr, 1 dwell with my lorde the Erie of Beauiewe. Gentyll frende, quod Arthur, can ye tell vs onye nouelles ? Syr, I can not tell yf ye knowe ony thyng of the torney that my lorde of Beauiew hathe taken agenst the Marshal of Myrpoys, the whiche shall be holden on the Monday nexte after holy rode daye. Is it of a trouthe, good frende, quod Arthur, that the Erie of Beauiew hath taken on hym this enterpryse ? Ye, syr, w'out fayle. And good frende, I prayc you, what maner of man is youre lorde ? Syr, as God helpe me, he is a noble man, for the Erie of Forestes is his vncle, and the Erie of Mount Belyale is his cosyn germayne ; and as of hym selfe, he is as curteys, as gentyll, as free, and as meke as a doue. But the Marshall of Myrpoys is contrary, for he is fyers and cruell, and a dyuerse man to dwell w'all : how be it, he is a good knight of his handes, & is of that hardynesse, & of so fyers a courage, that he fcreth nothyng thre or foure knyghtes, to fyght agenst them all; wherfore my lorde dooth puruey him of the best knyghtes that he can getle ; therfore he hath sente me to a knyght of his who is reputed ryghte valiaunt and sage, & well proued in dedes of chyualry, who is named syr Delalaunde. Good felowe, I praye you, how farre dwelleth the knighte hens ? Syr, his house passeth not two leges fro this place : wherfore, fayre lordes, yf ye thynke to be wel harbored this nyght, by my counsayle gette you to a litell castell here by the which is called Rochebyse, wherin there is a valyaunt and a ryche aun- cyent knighte : therfore, siers, the best that ye can do is to repay re thyder, for this forest is dangerous to passe throughe ; the wayes be OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 63 soo dyuers, that it is harde to kepe the ryght way w'oute a gyde, and specyally be nyghte ; and as now it begynneth to waxe very late. Well, good frende, quod Arthur, I thanke you for youre good wyll; kepe on youre jornaye, and God sende you good aduenture : and we shal do as well as God wyl suffer vs. And so the verlet departed, and wente to the knyghte syr Delalaunde & dyd his message, & delyuered hym his letters to the Erie of Beauieu. CAP. XXVI. HOW THAT ARTHUR, HECTOR, & GOUERNAR, SLEWE .XXX. THEUES IN A GRETE FOREST ; THE WH1CHE WAS A GRETE WELTH TO ALL THE COUNTRE, FOR THEY HAD PYLLED AND WASTED THE COUNTRE ALL ABOUTE. And whan Arthur was departed fro (he varlct, he & his company rode so long, tyl they entred Tto the same foreste that the varlct had shewed (heym of before, and rode all the daye & coulde fynde no house, nor mete, nor drynke for them, nor for theyr horses ; and than it began to waxe late. And in this forest acos- tomable there dydde repayre .xxx. theues, who dyd robbe all aboute where as they coude gette ony praye; so that no creature durst stere nor passe through the countree, and specially throughe y e forest, if it were ony thynge late. And so by fortune these theues encountred the stufle & caryages pertoynynge to Arthur and hys company : and incontyncnt they toke al the stuffe, & dyd bette and iltrete theym that were conductours tlierof ; tyll, at the laste, Jaket, Arthurs squyre, drewe his swerde, and to hvs power dydde helpe & ayed to defende his maysters stuffe ; but they were so many on hym that he was sore wounded. And ther- wyth Arthur & hys company came to them. And whan Arthur espied his seruaunt Jacket sore wounded and in great ieoperdy, he drew his swerde, and stroke so the fyrste that he claue his hed * 64 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR downe to the chynne. And fro the seconde he stroke of the head ; and fro the thyrde he share clene awaye the sholders w* the arme. And than Hector and Gouernar ryght strongly layd on euery syde amonge these theues. And so, by the helpe of Arthur, they slewe and kylled all that euei were before theym : and they were all dead. Than Arthur commaunded to serche for his people, where as they were wont to resort vnto. And so thus by the prowes of these thre knightcs, these .xxx. theues were brought to deth and confusion. And at the last they founde a fayre ancient man vnder a tre, lienge all naked, bounde faste with two cheynes, so that he could not help himself. Than Arthur dyd louse him, and gaue hym all the abylmcntes that was on the dead bodyes of the sayde .xxx. theues : wherfore the good man humbly thukcd Arthur, and specially for sauyng of hys lyfe. Than Arthur and his copany rode forth, and trauayled so long, til at the last they founde a stronge house, and knocked so longe at the gate tyll there came to them a verlet, bare legged, redy to go to bed, for all other in the place were as than gone to thcyr restes : and than this foresayde varlet demaunded of theym, who it was that knocked so fast at the gate that time of night. Good freende, quod Gouernar, it is a knyglit, that wold fain this night haue lodgyng for hym & hys copany. Syr, sayd the varlet, if it please you to tary, I wyll go speake with my lordc and mayster, and shew hym your mynde : how be it, I thinke he be now at his rest, for he is olde & ancient, and hath ben in his dayes a very good knight, & as yet he is glad to here speking of good knightes, & loueth them that haunteth noble dedes of armes ; & therwith y c varlet departed, & went to his master, & said : Syr, there is at your gates .iii. knightcs armed, and are, be semyng, goyng to Vienne to the tornay : and they desyre, by way of gentilnesse, this one nightes lodgynge. How saye ye, syr, shall I open to them the gates? Hie the a pace, quod the lorde, for I am not content that thou hast made them to tary without so long; and wha they be entred, come agayne to me, and bring me worde what maner of me y l they be, and what harneys and armes they here. Than the varlet went agayne to the gate & set it wide open, and suffred Arthur & his copany toentre, Plate- 6 Ta face fwc 8f. Rate 6 To fate "page 64 OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 65 whereof they had great nede. Than the varlet behelde Arthur, & saw wel that he was like a gentilman, being long & wel fornysshed, & meruaylously fayre, aboue al his company. And next him he sawe Hector, who was ryght fayre, hie, & well made. And also he behelde Gouernar, who was in al poyntes like a ma bigge and browne of coloure. And also he perceyued wel how all theyr barneys were fayre and ryche. Tha was there torches brought forth, & varlets ranne for theyr horses. Than the first varlet retorned agayne to his lorde, and sayd : Syr, syth y l I was borne I neuer sawe so goodlye knightes as they be, & specially the chief of the ; & as for theyr armour it is bothe fayre & ryche : for, I ensure you, it should seme that they be right greate men, and comen of a noble lygnage. Wel, quod the lorde, loke that thou in al haste apparayle theyr lodginge ; and see that they be serued right honourably. Well, syr, quod the varlet, it shal be done incontinent. Than the lorde sayd to the lady his wife, who was as than lyenge a bed by him : Madame, by reason of your honour and gentylnesse, ye should ryse and kepe companie with yonder noble knightes : for I thinke they be some greate men ; for it shall greatly anoye them, and they se not the chyefe of the house to make the some chere : for, as God helpe me, I wolde haue great ioye to speake w' them, yf I might aryse and not hurt myself ; therfore, madame, in myne absence, I pray you go & make to them the best chere that ye canne. Syr, sayde the lady, with a right good wil, syth it please you, I shall so do. Than this ladye rose, and apparayled her selfe ryght fresshly, who Avas a ryght fayre yonge lady of the age of .xxi. yere. And whan Arthur and Hector saw her, they rose, & curteysly eche of them dyd salute other, and she sat her downe betwene theym. Than Arthur sayde : Madame, ye haue taken a great payne to leue the copany of your lorde, to come to se vs. Syr, it pleaseth my lorde that I shal do so : and, therfore, I am come to you in the stede of hym ; for he wold, wyth a right good wyl, haue come to you hym selfe, yf he myght so haue doone : but, syrcs, he is ansient, and it wolde sore anoye him to haue broken his reste. And so thus they talked of dyuerse thinges. And in the meane season there was K 66 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR mete prouided for them, and than the tables were spred & coucred, & so than they washed, and sat the downe, Arthur & the lady to- gether, & Hector & Gouernar : but Hector had his eyen on the lady, and did neyther cate nor drynke ; the whiche Arthur & Gouernar right wel espied. Tha Arthur sayd to hym : Frende, it is yours, al y' ye se. Syr, sayd Hector, I haue seen some thinges of y e which, yf I might, 1 wolde fayne be mayster. A ! Hector, quod Gouernar, a manes will ought euer to folow the ordre of reason ; and so, I beleue, ought yours to do. And therwith they lefte these wordes : howe be it, all that lytle or nothinge refrayned Hectors looke, for alwayes styll he behelde this lady tyll it was tyme for the to go to theyr restes : and so they toke their leues of the lady, and thanked her for the great chere that she had made theym. And on the nexte clay betymes they departed, & entred into the forest. The morningc was fayre, and clere, and warme, for it was as than aboute the ende of Apryl. So these lordes rode forth in gret joy, tyll at the last Gouernar sayde to Hector: Syr, was your wyl accoplysshed this last night, where as ye sayd ye wold gladlye fulfille youre wyll ? To saye the trouth, I thinke your wyll was on our hostes, who was both fayre and yonge. By my fayth, quod Hector, I wold haue ben right glad to haue fulfylled my wyl with her, for vndoubted she is fayre and gracyous, and I loue her with all my herte. And, syr, what was your wil ? quod Gouernar. By my fayth, sayde Hector, y* she should haue ben all night in myn armes, & I in hers. Now, truly, syr, sayd Gouernar, y" wil was neyther good nor honest, for it was against reaso ; for y e good lorde her husbiid did cause her to rise fro him, to the entente to honour vs and to kepe vs company ; remebring also, how honestly she receyued vs, & so good chere as we had of her. And, syr, wolde you haue than done velanye to y e good lorde, as to haue hadde hys wyfe vnto his dishonoure in hys owne house ? By the fayth that I owe vnto God, it hadde not ben well doone, nor yet it was none honest thoughte. A ! syr Gouernar, quod Hector, I am sure ye be so sage in scyence y* ye wyl do no foly ; " \ sdoine is greate if the cat neuer touched mvlke ; as much to say OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 67 as, wha loue toucheth, wysedome is than oftentymes ouercome. Well, as for al that, quod Gouernar, it maketh no mater ; but yet I say as 1 sayde, y' it would not haue ben wel done of a gentylma to haue doone as ye saye ; for it were rather treason so to do ; wher- w l Hector began to be sore chafed, & sayde : What! Gouernar, sayst thou that I am a traytour ? Thou liest falsely, I was neuer none ! and drew nere to Gouernar, and layd his hand on his swerde. Than sayd Gouernar : Stryke me not. I saye not that ye be a traytoure, nor ye be not so great a man that youre noblenesse forthynketh me, for I wolde ye were greater than ye are : yet for ally' I say, that this dede accordinge to youre wysshe had ben treason, remembryng y e trust and confidence that the good lorde had in vs, and in the coloure thereof, to haue taken his wyfe to hys dishonour ; surely, I say, it is no thought of a noble ma. Wyth the which wordes Hector was so chafed, and drewe his swerde, & stroke Gouernar on the helme so rudely, that he was therwyth sore astonyed : wherewith Arthur was sore dysplcased, and blamed greatli Hector therfore. And tha Gouernar sayde : Syr, stryke me no more, for by the fayth that I owe to our lorde, yf ye doo, I wyll not pardon you ; for ye shall haue as good as ye brynge : how be it, as for that ye haue done, I wyl suffre it for the honoure here of my lord Arthur, and for the great lygnage that ye be of. Why, good syr, quod Hector, what wolde ye do elles, any great hurte, that shall be soone seene ? and so stroke Gouernar agayne on the helme a great blowe ; wherw' Gouernar drew his swerde, & rudelye stroke Hector on the helme, for he was a good knight : and so there began a great & a sore batayle betwene these two knightes. And Arthur dyd his payne wyth fayrenesse to depart them ; but they were so sore dyspleased and chafed eche wyth other, that Arthur coud in no wysc cause them to lene. And wha Arthur saw that, he drewe his swerde & stroke Hector so rudely, that he made him to stoupe down toy c necke of his horse; & with an other stroke, he stroke Gouernar so sore, that he was sore astonied therewith, & nie had fallen fro his horse ; & than Arthur wolde haue recouered on him a nothcr stroke, but Gouernar went from hym. Than Arthur came to Hector, and wolde haue stryken at him agayne : but than Hector 68 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR sayd : Cosyn, what wyll ye doo, are ye dyspleased with me ? Ye, veryly, sayd Arthur, ryght sore : for Gouernar shewed to you your folye, and ye therfore liaue stryken hym here in my presence, wherof I am not content. Syr, sayde Hector, I repente me : but he dyspleased me sore, y* I coude not refrayne my selfe as at that tyme. Well, quod Arthur, nowe than fro hensforth be in peace, or by the faythe that I owe to my lorde my father, the fyrst of you that beginneth shal lose my copany, and also my good wyll for euer : therfore, come on Gouernar, and make amedes vnto my cosyn Hector, in y' ye haue stryken him. Syr, sayde Gouernar, wyth a ryght good wyll. Than he put of hys helme, & desyred Hectors good wyl. Now, cosyn Hector, quod Arthur, make ye hym amendes. Syr, sayd Hector, right gladly ; for it forthinketh me greatly the displeasure y l hath ben betwene vs : & so he dyd also of his helme. And there eche of the kyssed other, and so entred forthe into there jorney ; & rode forthe so longe, tyl the were passed the forest. And than they sodaynly encountred the knight syr Delalaunde, and the messenger that they had met with the day before ; and there eche of them did salute other. Than syr Dela- launde demaunded of Arthur into what parties he wolde drawe hym vnto. Certaynly, sayd Arthur, it hathe ben shewed me that at holy rode tyde nexte coraraynge, there shoulde be at Vienne a greate assemble of noble men and good knightes. Therfore I am ridynge thytherwarde to se that noblenesse, and to be acqueynted wyth some of the good knightes that wyl be there. Truly, sayde syr Delalaund, it is of trouth that there shall be a great assemble of noble knightes, for there shall be a great tornay. I pray you, syr, sayd Arthur, for whome & for what cause was it fyrst taken ? Syr, yf I should shew, quod syr Delalaunde, ye should than know some thing sounding to my velany. Neuerthelesse it semeth y' ye be a noble man, and the chyef of your company : therfore I shal shew you as I know. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 69 CAP. XXVII. HOW THAT SYR DELALAUNDE SHEWED TO ARTHUR THE OCCASION WHY Y l THIS TORNAY WAS FYRST TAKEN BY THE LORDE BEAUIEW. Syr, it is of trouth my lorde y e Erie of Beauiew hath alwayes loued me syth the beginning of my youth : and so it fortuned, whan I was yonge and lusty, I thought to go playe me oute of myne owne countrey, acompanied alonely w' my squyre, hoping to vayn- quysshe all the valure of the worlde. And so at the last I came into the land of Myrpois, and fell there in acqueyntaunce w l two noble lordes of great lygnage, who dyd me great honour. And one of them had a right fayre lady to his wyfe, named the fayre lady of Rossylon, for whome this tornay was fyrst take. And she had such fauoure in me and loue, that within a lytle whyle I was made chyefe ruler and senesshall of all her countrey, and was of her strayte counsayle : and nothinge done without it had be done by me : for she trusted more in me than in any other person of the worlde. And in like case I was wyth the good lorde her hus- bande. And so I continued in thys loue and fauour well the space of syxe yeres and more : and it fortuned one yere, y' for my sake they kept a Christmas wyth open courte : wherto came many knightes of the countrey. And whan the fyrst daye of this began, this lady of Rossilon, wife to my sayd lorde, she was as than fresh- lye apparayled, as it aperteyned to the feast and to her estate. At whiche time to me she semed so fayre, so gentill, and so proper, that 1 thought 1 had neuer seen her half so fayre before. And as than her beautc stroke so inwardely to my hearte, that I lost ther- by both meate and drinke, y l euery day I began to waxe so lcne of body, that euery ma had meruayle what I eyled, and demauded often tymes of me, what was the cause that I so enpayred. But euer I did as priuely as I could : but at the ende it auayled me nothinge ; for, at the laste, loue constrayned me to shew vnto my loue, & lady, 70 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR all the dolour and payne of myne inwarde herte. And on a day, as it happened, I rose very erly, for the thoughtes of the nyght kylled me : and ryght as than I founde thys lady leanynge in a windowe. And so boldely I lened me downe by her, & than she gaue me good morowe, and desyred that God should sende me helth. Wei, madame, quod I, than the Kinge that all hath formed giue you a better day tha I haue had a night, and also better helthe ; for my helth is very ferre of : the whiche right sore troubleth me. Than this lady torned her towarde me, and sayde : Syr, how is it that your health is so ferre fro you ? might it not be brought nerer to you for golde nor for syluer ? Madame, quod I, peradueture, yf I shewed you, ye wold put therto no payne nor counsayle : how be it, ye myght right wel do it : so than it were better that I kept it styll secrete than to shewe it, and than to be neuer the nerer. Syr, sayd she, I requyre you ; I wyll with all my herte be glad to put my payne to bryng you to ease and helth : wherfore it is a great shame for you, for whan ye may haue coun- sayle and remedie and wil not seke for it, but thus to suffre payne and vnhertes ease ; the whiche, I ensure you, greueth right sore both my lorde and me. Therfore, good frende, by the fayth that ye owe vnto me, shew me your grefe. And therewith she came nerer to me, and enbraced me in her amies, and shewed me great sygne of loue and swetenesse, as these women be acustomed to do whan they wyll draw out of a mans mouthe that is enclosed in the herte. And whan I sawe her gentylnesse and swete behauiour, my herte was rauysshcd, and brought into y' case, that of a great season I coulde speke no worde for wepyng. But, syr, quod thys knight to Arthur, though I shewe thus vnto you my nysenes, I pray you think no folye in it, but take it in grec ; for, indede, syr, yongth doth many thinges. By my fayth, syr, no more I wyll : and therfore procede forth in your tale. Syr, than I sayd vnto this lady : Madame, what so euer fortune fall therof, I wyll shew you all my desyre. Madame, it is of trouth I haue set my herte and al my thought on you, more than on all the remenaunt of the worlde, w' so faythfull profounde loue in myne herte, as it wel appereth, and shall do by me, for nother person I loue nor can OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 71 lone, but alonlye you. And therwith my herte fayled me, y' 1 coulde speke no worde more. Therwith I sat me downe, and she by me. Than she answered, and sayd : What ! syr Guy Delalaunde, it is tha thus as ye say ? Ye, mada, sayd I, without fayle. Well, syr, quod she, say ye these wordes, other to assay me, or els for very loue ? I requyre you tel me y e trouth. By my soule, ma- dame, quod I, this that I haue sayd, is for the great myschif that I am in without your helpe ; therfore, lady, for Gods sake haue pitie on me. And therwith I ioyned togyder my handes Avith great vnease of hert. Than she behelde me wel, & sayde : Syr, ye be a right wyse and sage knight ; therfore beholde wel yf your desyre be not preiudicial to any person. Madame, quod I, for trouth I se and know well that I desyre agaist my lorde treason and falsenesse, who loueth and honoureth me so muche aboue all other : how be it, madame, I se & know well that yongth and loue bryngeth me to this, so that mesure & reason fayleth in me. Therfore I hadde rather to dye tlian to lyue. Than this lady, who was ryght wyse and sage, sayd : Syr, be in reste, and let ioy en- crease in your herte, for we wyll speake more of thys matter at a better leaser. This she sayd to giue me coforte, & not to the entente that she wolde in any maner wyse trespace agaynsle her husbande. So thus in this maner I draue of the tyme a great season : but as sone as I coulde get her at a good leaser and conuenient place, I was euer resoning with her of this mater, & lay imporlunatly, daily requyring her to haue pitie of my mortall distres. And so it for- tuned on a day that we were togeder lenynge in a window loking out toward a fayre forest. Than I spake to her so fayre, and in so rufull maner, that she coulde no lenger driue of my request. And sayd : Syr, your suite is so importune, that it behoueth me to assente to fulfyll your desyre & wil : how be it, syr, se ye not yon- der great oke standinge in the forest? Yes, madame, sayd 1, right well. Well, quod she, I am content to fulfill your minde on this condicion ; looke that this same day twelue moneth, & this same propre houre, that ye fayle not to be vnder yonder oke, & without fayle thyder to you wyl I come, redy apparayled to acoplish j our entente ; and before that day loke neuer for to haue 72 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR it. A! myne owne dere ladie, humblye I thanke you of your good wyll : syth I cannot haue it no soner, at the least I shall passe the tyme more ioyously in hoping of that fortunate daye. Wher- fore I wyll take my leue nowe of you, for ye shall not se me agayne till y l tyme be come ; for yf I shouldc abyde in your dayly presece, your beauteful eyen should slea ine to abide so longe, for that thinge that I desyre. And so than I toke leue, praying her to kepe couenaunte w l me. And so she ensured me she wolde. Than I toke licence of my lorde her husbande, shewing hi how I wolde departe into myne owne countre for a season, & he waslothc to gyue me leaue ; but wha he saw that I wolde needes departe, he ofFrcd me to haue forsaken his owne countrey, and to haue gone with me, he loued me so entyerly. And so at the laste, with much sorow I gat leue, and departed priuely on a night, and dysgysed my selfe, and went wand ring aboute the coutrey tyl the yere was past. And tha thys same day and houre that myne apoyntement was, I came to the sayd oke in the forest before the castel wyn- dowc ; and incontinent I perceyued where this lady stode talking w l my lorde her husbande in the same window where as she and I made our apoyntement togither. And than I made so many tokens & sygnes, that at the last she perceyued me, & than she be- gan to smyle : and whan her lorde saw her laughe, he demaunded the cause why. And she answered, & sayde : Syr, for nothynge. For nothinge ! quod the lorde ; I am sure ye wyll not laughe for nought : therfore shewe me the cause ; for surely I wyl know it : therfore I commaunde you to shew it. Syr, quod she, syth it pleaseth you, 1 am content to shewe you ; but fyrst, syr, 1 requyre you, tell me wha that ye saw or harde of syr Guy Delalaunde. In good fayth, madame, not of a greate seaso, wherof I am ful sory : for yf I had knowen that he wolde haue taried soo longe a space, I wolde haue sought hym out or this time. Wei, syr, quod thys lady, he is not now fer hece ; syr, it is of trouth he hath before tills time desyred me of loue, and in a maner his suite was importunate. And the loue that he bare me was so feruent. that he was right sore dyseased therby, the whiche was right well seen by hym whyle he was here w l vs. And so there this lady tolde the OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 73 lorde her husbande al the mater that was betwene her & me, unto that same presente day. And than she shewed bim, and sayd : Syr, this is the same day that I promised hym to haue fulfilled his deiyre, to the entente I thought y l by this day he wold haue forgotten this mater ; but soo, syr, ye maye se hym vnder yonder great oke, where as he is al amaced, bycause he findeth me not there as I promysed hym. And, syr, ye maye se by hym, how y' these folyshe louers are ouercome wyth loue. And this is y' cause that he departed fro you, for he myghte not endure no lenger the great tourment y l he was in. Ye, madame, quod the lorde, is it thus ? than I commaunde you on y e loue that ye bear vnto me, that ye goo and apparayle you in the freshest maner that ye can do, and than come agayne hyther to me. Than the lady dyd his comaundement, & came agayne to hym. And than he sayd : Madame, I wyll and also desyre you, as derely as ye thynke to kepe my loue, that ye go to yonder knyght vnder y c oke, and suffre hym to do what so euer he wyl w' you, and recomaunde me hartely to hym. A ! syr, sayd the lady, for nolhynge wyll I do thus ; for yf I had euer thought to haue fulfilled his folyshe desire, ye sholde neuer haue knowen it by my wyll. And, syr, yf I should now do it, it were to me great vylany, bothe tofore God & al the worlde. Madame, sayd the lorde, I wyll take al the synne on me : and I swerc to you faythfully on my trouth, that I wil loue you and kepe you more derely euer after : tberfore I wyll that ye do thus incontynent. Well, syr, sayd the lady, it behoueth me thus to do, syth it is youre pleasure : yf honoure come therby, take it to you ; and yf shame come therby, ye must take it of worth. And soo than this lady came in to the forest to me, and as soon as I sawe her I was neuer soo ioyful of ony thyng. I thought I would quyte al the worlde. Than 1 came to her, & enbraced her in myne arme ryghte swetely, and sayde : My ryghte dere ladye ! my hartes desyre ! ye be to me ryghte hartely welcome. Syr De- lalaude, quod she, God put into your harte that ye do no wrdg nor trespacc ayenst ony persone. Syr, my lorde my husbonde hartly recommaudeth hym vnto you, as to his own good frede. How so, madarae, quod J, where is my lord ? Certainly, said she, L 74 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR he is here by in his caslelle. But, madame, sayde I, hovvc is it, doeth he know that ye be come hyder to me ? Ye, syr, sayd she, as God helpe me : for he hathe caused me to be apparayled in the freshest maner, to the entent I shold please you the better : and so he hath sent me hyther to you, to the entent to fulfyll all your wyl and desire : and therfore beholde me here all readye for to accomplyshe your wyll ; as for hurte or yll shall none come to you therby, neither by my lorde, nor yet by none other for hym : and so my lorde dooth faithfully assure you, and sendeth you worde by me, that he loueth you in a maner better than he dooeth hymselfe. And whan I harde the great courtesy of my lord, and how that he loued me as well as hymselfe, and how that he sent me the thyng that he loued best in all the world, to fulfyll my desyre therwith, and how that he would sufl're that vylany for my sake ; therw' fel away clene all my foly and vnresonable desyre. For than I thoughte it was better to leue my sensual apetyte, than to haue done that 1 had enterprysed in my harte ; for 1 thoughte than it shoulde haue bene a great shame for me to do vilany to so noble & gentyll a Iordes harte. Than I kneled downe before the lady, requyryng her of pardon of the great outrage and foly that I thought ayenst her, desyrynge her, for Cioddes sake, to helpe to make my peace again wyth the good lorde her hiisbonde. Than she toke me by the hande, and broughte me into the castell, before the presence of her lorde. And as soone as he sawe me enbraced and kyssed me. Than 1 kneled downe before hym, and cryed hym mercy, and ther the peace was made bytwenc vs, and cuer syth he hath loued me as wel as cuer he dyd before, or better. Now, fayre syr, I haue shewed you al myne aduenture. the whyche is ryghte well knowen of many folkes. And so it fortuned, y 1 but now of late my lorde Beauiew was at a feest with the Erie of Forest, and ther my said lorde tooke this ladye Rossylon by the hande to daunce: and the Marshal of Mirpois was ther present, who is ryght enuious. And whan he sawe this my lorde and lady daunce togyther, he sayd how that my lorde of Beauiew shoulde be the seconde. Than the lorde of Beauiew w ist wel ynoughe whathemente, and sayde: Syr marshal!, as for syr Guy Dela- OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 75 launde, he is a ryghte good knyghte, bothe xvyse and true. The marshall aunswered, and said : His bounte apered wel, wha he toke his owne lordes wyfe. Syr, sayd the Erie of Beauiew, tlioughe he desyred her loue, yet I dare well saye, that he neuer trespaced neyther agaynste his lorde, nor yet agaynst her ; for he dyd not dysguyse hymselfe lyke a rybaude, for to come vnto the wyfe of hys forester, as some hath done y l I know ryght well. Wherwyth the marshall was sore chafed, for it touched his owne delyng, and sayde : Syr, ye be but a fole to say these wordes to me. And thus thei multiplyed in language so fer, that the Erie of Forest and the Erie of Neuers had moche ado to appease them ; and so for this entent was the tournay take of bothe parties, whiche shal be this Wednesdaye next cornyng : and there wyll be many gret lordes of the marshalles partye, as the Erie of Foys, the Erie of Mou- belyall, and the Dolphyn of Vvenes, and many other knyghtes, and also Alexander the yonge Kynge of Malogre. And of my lordes part} r e wyl be syr Jakes, Earle of Forest, & the Erie of Neuers, & diners other : therefore, syr, I doubte me gretely of my lord the Erie of Beauiew, for I wolde be right sory yf he had not the honour ; therfore I praye you and al youre company to be at this tournay on my lordes party : for whan ye se hym ye wyll saye it were pite but he shold haue the vyctory. Syr, thus I haue shewed you all the trouth of the mater. Veryly, syr, sayd Arthur, wyth a good wyl I shal be w* your lorde. But, syr, 1 pray you, shal this lady of Rossylon be at this tournay .' Syr, as God helpe me, she shal be there, and many other great ladies & damoyselles ; & also it is ordeyned by comyn accorde, that he that dooth best shal be made like a king oner al other erles, barons, & knyghtes, that shall be there assembled, & shall be crowned wyth golde as a kynge : and al they, with all y 1 power that thei can make, shal be content to go w* hym in battayle, whether so euer he wyl haue them ; and so fro thensforth he shal be called kyng of the copany : & this marshall entendeth to haue this honour yf he may ; for surely he is a good knyght of hys handes, & moche goodnes is in hym, yf his tongue were not : but that lytic more shameth all the remenaut, as it dooth to all them that God hath giuen an yll tongue vnto. 76 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR CAP. XXVIII. HOW THAT ARTHUR HAD THE HONOURE IN THE TOURNAY THAT WAS MADE AT VYEN BYTWENE THE MARSHAL OF MYRPOIS AND THE ERLE OF BEAUIEW, WHERE AS WAS DYUERSE GREAT KYNGES, EARLES, BARONS, AND MANY OTHER GOOD KNYGHTES, RYGHT VALYAUNTE; WHEREBY ARTHUR GATE HIM GREAT THANKE AND PRAYS E, AND WAS GREATLY HONOURED OF ALL LADYES AND DAMOYSELLES THERE ASSEMBLED. And after that syr Guy Delalaude had shewed al this processe to Arthur & to his company, they rode forth togider, & so came to Lyon sur le Rone, and so passed ouer the brydge and rode through the towne, & in a fayre medowe vnder y e townes syde they espyed where tentes & pauilyons were rychely pyghte : at whych tyme there were assembled many grete and noble kynges, erles, baros, and other knyghtes, as well of the one party as of the other. And than syr Guy Delalaunde sende a messenger to (he Erie of Beauiew, certyfycng hym how he had brought in valyaut knyghtes with him, and that in ony wyse he shoulde refayne them to be of his company. And whan (he Erie of Beauiew, and (he Erie of Forest, and the Erie of Ncuers, harde these tydynges, they came out of theyr tentes, & saw where syr Guy Delalaunde and Arthur & his company came rydynge. And soo whan they came nere thei lyghted & salewed these carles, who dvd beholde Arthur, and perceyued well howe that he was a meruaylons fayre knyghte, great, and bygge, and well furnysshed, and semed wel (o be of great fyersnes and of greate estate ; and also they saw Hector, a bygge knight, & a wel made, both of body, armes, and legges ; & also thei behelde Gouernar, who was a great and a bigge man, and wel made therto ; and that these cries praysed moche these knyghtes in their hartes. Than the Earle of Beauiew toke Arthur by the hande, & sayd : Syr, ye be ryght hartely welcome into the countre of Vyenncs, praycnge you hartely to take your lodging with me, & wyth these other two erics here presente. Than OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 77 Arthur sayd : Syr, with a ryght good wyll ; & so thei ledde hym into theyr tentes, and there Arthur, Hector, & Gouernar, Avere vnarmed. And whan they were oute of theyr harneys, euery man beheld Arthur, for he was meruaylous fayre ; so that tydinges came into y e ladyes tentes, howe that syr Guy Delalaude was come, and had brought wyth him thre goodly knyghtes, & specially one of them, who was the fayrest and goodlyest that euer was seen ; so that there was no bruyte nor talking throughout al the hoost, but of these thre knightcs. Some said, of whence be they? who knoweth them ? Thus was the comrnoning of them in euery place. Tha Arthur & his company yssued out of the tentes, & behelde the fresshe baners, and standardes, & stremers, waueryng in the wynde, pyght before euery tente & pauilyon ; & harde also the trompettes, tabouryns, & homes, sownynge in euery corner of the felde ; and great coursers braynge, and knightes renning, assayenge of horses, castynge of speres, shynynge of sheldes ayenst the sonne, & glysteryng of holmes, & knyghtes by great company talkynge togider : also they espyed the great tente of the ladyes, in the hey ght thereof, pyght a great shinynge apple all of burned golde, & ladyes & damoyselles therein syngynge and dauncynge. Than Arthurs hartc began to smyle, and sayde to Hector : Cosyn, how saye ye, is it not better to be here, and to se all this noble- nesse, than to crepe into our moders lappes ? Yes, veryly, sayde Hector, for here nowe shall appere who be noble men. Ye saye trouth, sayde Arthur ; & therwith rctourned into the Erie of Beau- iews tente, and wente to souper ; and fyrste sale downe the Earle of Neuers & Arthur nexte hym, and than the Erie of Forest and Hector, & the Earle of Beauiew and Gouernar, & there they were rychely serued. And after souper thei plaied and sported the tyll it was tyme to goo to theyr restcs ; and so than wente to theyr lodgynge tyll the nexte mornynge : at whiclie tyme they rose and harde masse, and than walked & talked togyder withoute theyr tentes. And therwyth there came to them a knyght fro the Marshall of Myrpoys, and sayde to the Erie of Beauiew : Syr, whan so euer ye wyll begyn this tournav, my lord the marshall is al redy. Now, as God helpe me, sayde the Erie of Neuers, let vs go to it 78 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR incontinent. But, syr knight, I pray you tell me what company dooth your lord tournay w l all ? Syr, sayde y e knyght, he hath in his company well to the nombre of .ix.C. redy apparayled to tournay. In the name of God, said the Earle of Forest, that is an yl partye, for I thinke our company passeth not .v.C. Well, syr, sayd Arthur, what than ? Care not for the nombre of people : therfore let vs shortly goo and se these noble men, and I truste God wyll helpe vs. Well, syr, sayde the Earle of Beauiew, as God wyll, soo be it. But, syr, wyl ye than helpe vs, and be of our partye ? With a ryght good wyll, syr, sayd Arthur, Hector, & Gouernar also. And than this knyght of y e marshalles praised moche Arthur in his harte, and soo retourned to hys mayster, who as than was in the company of the yoDge Kynge of Malogre, and with them the Erie of Mountbelyal, and the Erie of Foys, and the Dolphyn, who was a ly tie dyseased, & therefore he would not as that day tournay. Than the knyght sayd to the marshall : Syr, the Erie of Beauiew demaundeth of you the tournay incontynent. But, syr, one thynge I tell you, syth ye were borne ye savve neuer thre so goodly knyghtes as syr Delalaude hath brought wyth him; but I can not know of whens thci be, but one of them surmounteth the other two bothe in beaute and goodly ties. Jhesu ! sayd the Kynge of Malogre, what knyghtes be thei ? In good fayth, syr, sayd the knyghte, there can no man tell. Wyll they tournay this daye ? sayd the kynge. Ye, syr, veryly, sayd the knyght ; for right now, whan y e Erie of Beauiew fered that he had not copany sufficient to answere your power, I hard y e chefe of these .iii. knyghtes say vnto hym : Syr, care not for y', for God shal helpe vs ; let vs shortly go sc them. Than it semeth, sayd the kinge, that he hath a good harte. Ye, syr, sayd the marshall, he beleu- eth y* there is not in all the world his pere in dedes of chyualry ; therfore let vs go shortly se what he can doo. He sayde trulyer than he was ware of; for Arthur coude ryght wel gyue great strokes, as was ryght well proued after, by his noble dedes. Than was it comauded that trompettes & homes should be blowen, and than knightes in euery part went to theyr barneys. Than the OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 79 marshal, and the Erie of Mountbelyal, and the Earle of Foys, & well to the nombre of .ix. hondred knyghtes, were anone redy armed : and the yonge Kynge of Malogres was mounted on a great courser, and the Dolphyn wyth him, to the entent to se this tour- nay, for they woulde not turnay as y* day. And incontinent as the ladyes and damoyselles harde the sownynge of the trompettes & homes, they yssued out of theyr pauylyons : and there was to- gither in company, the Countesse of Neuers, and the Countesse of Forest, and the Countesse of Mountbelyall, and the lady of Rossylon, & a lady who was the Marshals syster, named dame Blaunche. And than the Countesse of Neuers sayd : Let vs now take good hede of thys knyght that is come with syr Guy Dela- launde, and se what he can do. In the name of God, said y e ladye of Rossylon, there be thre as I vnderstantle, but I wote not what they be. And all this season Arthur was in company with y* Erie of Forest, and with the Erie of Neuers, & the Erie of Beauiew : and whan thei were redy armed, they mounted on theyr horses : and the Erie of Neuers and Arthur rode fyrst togyder, and after them the Erie of Forest and Hector, and the Erie of Beauiew and Gouer- nar, and after them all the other of thecr copany : and in ryghte good ordynaunce tbey rode forthe to the tournay. And than the lady of Rossylon said to the other ladyes that were in her com- pany : Beholde, yonder is one of the strauge knyghtes that com- meth riding with the Erie of Neuers, & an other wyth the Erie of Forest. In the name of God, sayd the marshalles syster, the thyrde cometh with the Erie of Beauiew : it semeth that the erles maketh moche of these .Hi. strauge knyghtes, but they knowe not as yet the force of the marshal my broder ; but whan they mete here in the tournay, than shall they haue of hym suche acqueintaunce, that thei wil wyshe that they had not come here this daye. Noo, fay re lady, sayd the lady of Rossylon, I praye you than she we them some courtesyc : sende some worde to them that they flee awaye before they se the marshall your broder; for I am sure yf thei se him they are but lost for eucr. At whych wordes all the other ladyes dyde laughc, and had great sporte. So thus the Erie of Neuers and Arthur rode forthe tyll it was tyme to bcgyn the 80 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR tourney. And than the Earle of Neuers saw the marshall on the other parte, redy apparayled to just, and shewed him to Arthur. Tha Arthur sayd : Syr, he coraeth very hastely, wherfore I requyre you let me encounter hym fyrst. Go youre waye in Goddes name, sayde the erle. Than Arthur rusht forth so rude- lye as thonder had fallen fro heauen, & al the other knightes of the turnay beheld him wel, and prayscd him moche iu theyr heartes. Than the lady of Rossylon sayd to y e marshalles syster : Fayre ladye, I trowe yonder knyght hath espyed youre broder, for ye may se howe faste he flyeth. And at that course the marshall hytte Arthur in the myddes of hys shyelde, and brake hys spere ; and Arthur strake him so rudely on the helme, that he sheltered hys speare all to peces : wyth the whych stroke he sente both knyght and horse to the crth ; and at an other course, Arthur strake an other knyght so sore, (hat he brake a grete pece of hys helme and shelde, and ouerthrewe hym flatte to the earth, in a gret traunce, sore wounded. And whan the yong King of Malogres sawe that, he sayd to the Dolphin: Saint Mary! who is yonder knight, he semetli too be the beste knyghte of the worlde. Yere- lye, syr, sayde the Dolphyn, I neuer saAve suche strokes gyuen of anye knyght here before. Than sayde the lady of Rossylon to the marshalles syster : Madame, behold howe yonder stealings knyghte flyeth ; but your brother, the marshal, holdeth ttgayae : 1 hadde wendc he durst haue gojie no ferder, for feare of your bro- ther. At whyche tyme Hector also, for his parte, strake a knight with so great force, that he ouerthrewe hym playne too the erth ; & Gouernar strake an o(her downe horse and man, and put hym selfe in the thyckest of the prese, and dyd maruayles iu amies ; soo that all that behelde hym prayscd hym greatlye. Than the ladye of Rossylon sayd : Fay re ladye Blaunche, how say ye, are not these straunge knyghtes ryghte valyaunte ; therefore, madame, for Goddes sake cause the marshal your broder to absente hym selfe out of their syghtes ; and in your soo doyng, I thynke verely you shall do a gret almes dede. Than Arthur rusht into the gretest prease, and strake on the ryght hande, and on the left, so gret strokes and so heauy, that it was maruayle ; for there was 7- Tc face page So Plats 7. To fare page So . OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 81 none that euer abode hym but he auoyded the arson of hys sadel and fell to the earth. At the last, Arthur espyed where there was a squyer holdyng in hys hande a spoke, or a great pece of an olde broken charyot, the whyche he pulled out of his hande wyth suche a myghte, that he caste downe the squyer flatte too the earthe : where at the ladyes and damoyselles dydde laughe. And than Arthur put vp hys sworde, to the entente y l he should raayme or hurte no man : but with that pece of the charyot he thrust in to the prese, and gaue therewith so great and heuy strokes, that all that he touched wente flatte to the earth. For he was of that condy- cyon, that the more he hadde to do, the more grewe hys strength and vertue : he vnbarred helmes, and claue asounder sheldes, and maruaylously bet downe knightes : for whome someuer he touched were so astonyed, that eyther he auoyded the sadell, or elles hys horse bare hym in a traunce all aboute the fyelde. And alsoo Hector and Gouernar dydde as well for theyr partes, as anye knyghtes ought or myghte doo. Soo it fortuned, as Arthur wente searchynge the renkthes and preses, he encountred the Erie of Foys, who had nygli vnhorsed one of the knyghtes of the Erie of Beauieus partye ; than Arthur prycked forth hys horse, and strake the earle soo rudely, that he thrust downe both horse and man flatte to the erth : than Arthur turned agayne to hym, and whether he wolde or not, he caused hym to be yelden prysoner to the Earle of Beauiew, who was lorde of that tournay on hys partye. Than the knyghtes of hys turnay assembled them togyther by plupes, here .x., and there .xv., and yonder .xx., and soo fought egerly togyder ; soo that whan one was fallen another dyd releue hym. Some laughed, and some playned ; but Arthur was euer in the moostc thyckest of the prese, and fared so amonge them as the wolfe doth among shepe ; and layd on Avyth so greate and heauye strokes, that he frusshed downe all that euer lie touched. Than the Earle of Beauiew sayd, and so dyd all other knyghtes, how that they neuer sawe knyghte of so grete vertue, nor in valure in dedes of aimes. The ladyes and damoyselles also gretly mar- uayled at hym, and saydc : That better than he is was there neuer none. And they concluded amonge them, that he was lykely too M 82 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR attayne to Wynne the crowne of that tournaye, if he continued hys prowes accordynge too hys begynnynge. So than it fortuned that a great parte of the marshals company ranne al at ones on the Erie of Neuers and on his company, who were farre ouermatched : wherfore he was sore bestadde, and lost many horses, and many of his knightes sore beten,&hymselfeouerthrowen downe from his horse, and was lykely to haue be taken & y elded to the marshall. But than an heraude of armes began to crye, and sayd : Ha ! Arthur of Brytayne ! where art thou nowe ? the Erie of Neuers is beten, & nere taken prysoner. And Arthur, whan he hearde that, who as than had, by the helpe of Hector & Gouernar. dyscomfyted a great route of knyghtes, and whan he espyed the Erie of Neuers on the ground, he sported forth hys horse, and ranne into the thyckest of the prease, and strake so the fyrst that he encoun- tred, that he fell downe to the erthe both hors & man ; than he strake on the right syde and on the lefte wyth so myghtye strokes and heauy, that he bet downe all that was before bym, so that none durst abyde hym. And also Hector and Gouernar layde on so on all sydes, that al that were before theym trembled for feare. And so by clene force, in the spite of al his enemyes, he horsed agayne the Earle of Neuers : and whan he was thus remounted, Arthur than lepte agayne intoo the prese, and dyd maruayles with hys handes ; for he claue asonder sheldes, and vnbarred helmes, and bette downe knyghtes by great heapes. Thus was Arthur re- garded of al people, who sayde eche to other : Jhesu ! what a wonders good knighte is yonder ! God defende & kepe hym ! And the yonge Kynge of Malogres had hys eyen euer vpon hym, and sayd to the Dolphyn : 1 thynke yonder knyghte be none earthly man ; I wene he be some spyryte of the ayre, for he all confoundeth. Than the ladye of Rossylon sayd to the marshals syster : Madame, ye haue done ryghte well; for I beleue surely ye haue prayed your broder that he sholde do noo hurte to these straunge knightes : and al the other ladyes had ryght greate sporte at the mery gestyng of these twoo ladyes. And thus alwaies Arthur was fighting ; and at laste there were .iii. knyghtes ran al at ones on the Erie of Forest, and bet hym downe to the earth, and wold haue OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 83 taken hym prysoner. But whan Arthur sawe the erle at that mys- chefe, he spored hys hors thyderward : and the fyrst that he en- countred he drauc downe flatte to the earth ; and the seconde he toke in hys arraes, and rasshed hym out of the sadell, and cast hym downe on hym that he had before ouerthrowen : the whych greued hym ryght sore, for the knyght was grete and heauy, because of the barneys that was on hym. Than he that laye vndernethe sayde : A ! syr, ye be but yll welcome to me, nor he that sendeth you hyther : I praye God he maye haue some yll aduenture, for ye haue all too brused me wyth youre fallynge. Than Arthur tooke the knyghtes horse and caused the Erie of Forest to mount thereon. And Arthur put hym selfe agayne into the thyckest prese, and be- gan agayne to fyght as fresshely as though he had done nothynge before of all that daye, soo that he was dradde in euery place, for there was none durst abyde hym, but al fledde fro hym : soo at the last he came where as the chiefe standarde was, where as he found the marshal!, who dyd hys payne to bete downe all that was afore hym : at whyche time he had stryken fro Gouernar his shyelde. And therwyth Arthur strake hym on the helme so rudely, that he draue him down too the earthe all astonyed : and Arthur toke hys horse and gaue it to Hector, for hys horse fayled hym, he was so sore wouded ; and than Hector mounted on hym. And this stroke was seene of the kynge, and of the Dolphyn, and of all the ladies and damoysels : and they all sayde : That the marshal had bene the best knyght of all the worlde, but nowe he hath mette hys mayster; for certaynely yonder fayre knyghte surmounteth in prowesse all other knyghtes of the worlde. Than the lady of Rossylon sayd vnto the marshalles syster : Madame, youre broder is not so yll and myscheuous as ye spake of here before : so ye may behold these straunge knyghtes howe they are before hym, and yet he dooth no tliynge too theym ; I thynke he slepeth, for ye maye se yonder howe styll he lyeth on the grounde ; for al that season he lay styl on the earthe, sore astonyed, in a greate traunce. And whan all the knyghtes of hys partye saw hym lye so styll vpon the grounde, they feared least he had bene dead, and sayde that one vnto that other : Yonder is the deuyll ; I thynke he wyll confounde 84 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR vs all, therefore let vs depart out of thys fyelde : and therwyth they al went theyr wayes ; & so there remayned styll Arthur, Hec- tor, and Gouernar. And whan that the yong kynge, and the Dolphyn, and manye other, saw Arthur alone in the fielde, they came to hym and salewed hym, and sayd : Syr, God kepe you the best knyght of the world, and encrease your noble honoure and valure ! JVly lorde, sayde Arthur, God that al thyng hath fourmed of noughte, may encrease your bounte and be youre sauegarde ! and, syr, sauynge youre grace, I am none suche knyght worthy for to haue suche prayse as ye gyue me. Well, syr, sayde the kynge, we haue sene ryghte well how it is : therfore, myne owne swete frende, I requyre you that ye wyll be one of my house, and ye shall be my companyon. Syr, sayde Arthur, I am ryght well yours where so euer I be ; howe be it, I haue a lorde already, who hath nourysshed me lyke hys owne chylde. Syr, in good trouth, sayde the Erie of Forest, it is good ryghte than that ye loue hym. And as they were thus talking togyther, the marshal rose from the grounde ; and whan he sawe that the tourney was done and fynysshed, and that he hadde done nothynge to hym that had beaten hym downe, he was ryghte sore dyspleased ; and than he sente a knyght to the Erie of Beauiew, desyrynge hym for to haue the tournay to begyn agayne the nexte daye, and how that he wolde encountre yet agayne wyth Arthur. This knyght founde the Erie of Beauiew in the companye of the yonge kynge and of Arthur. And than he sayde : Syr, my lord the marshal saleweth you, and desyreth you agayne too haue a tournay to morowe. By the good Lorde, quod the yonge kynge, youre mayster ought for to suffyse and be contente of that whyche hath bene done here thys daye, Avherefore it is reason that he now resteth hym selfe. For the kynge ful well thought that the marshal woulde not be in ease tyl that he were reuenged of Arthur. A ! syr, sayde Arthur, the marshal is not yet weary, and he wolde thynke my lorde of Beauiew for recreaunt yf he sholde refuse his request: therefore, syr, for Goddes sake graunt hym. Syr, sayde the erle, wyth a ryght good wyll, sythe it pleaseth you : but, syr, I requyre you than to helpe our party. Verely, syr, sayde Arthur, wyth all my OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 85 heart, to the beste of my lytell power. So than there was graunted too be an other tournay on the nexte daye. Than syr Guy Dela- launde came vntoo Arthur and ledde hym to be vnarmed. So than Arthur toke hys leaue of the kynge, who wolde right gladly haue had hym in hys companye. And than all the people ranne to beholde Arthur, and sayd wyth a comyn voyce : Beholde hym that all hath vanquysshed ! Than whan Arthur was vnarmed y e Erie of Beauiew kept him company ; and also Hector and Gouer- nar were vnarmed. Than the ladyes and daraoyselles retourned intoo theyr pauylyons, alwayes speakynge of Arthur : and than they assembled theym togyder by plumpes, here ten and there twelue ; and all the countesses were togyder in one parte, and wyth theym the marshalles syster dame Blaunche, and the ladye Rossy- lon, speakyng euer of Arthur. Verely, sayde the Countes of Forest, syth I was fyrst borne I neuer sawe soo good a knygbt, nor so valyaunte, nor so well doynge in armes, as he is. It is of a trouth, sayde the ladye Neuers ; saw ye not howe that he brake the great companyes of knyghtes, and tourned and ouerthrewe all that euer he touched ? By my soule, sayde the Countes of Foys, I saw hym whan he enbraced a knyghte in hys armes al armed, and caste hym downe vpon an other knyght, and brused hym ryghte sore therewyth ; and also, sawe ye not howe y l he strake the mar- shal downe to the grounde ? To saye the trouthe, he is the best knyght of the worlde, and the mooste hardyest. And, more ouer, all the beauty of the worlde that ca be comprysed in a man, is in hym. Also he is replete wyth all grace and vertue, for hee is free, meeke, and gentyl as a lambe. By the fay the that I owe vnto God, sayde the ladye Rossylon, my ladye the Countes of Forest, I woulde he were youre knyghte ! I beleue you wel, sayde the ladye Blaunche, for than I thynke verelye ye would speke with him oftentimes whan other ladyes were abedde faste on slepe, wyth as fewe a companye as ye myglite wythout raakynge of any e noyse; but shame haue she that wyl forfayte wyth an other that is not her owne. Certaynely, answered the lady Rossylon, I thynke there be but fewe in this world borne, that lyueth clene bothe in thought and in dede : how be it, I am not she y' closeth priuely knightes 86 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR in her chaurabre by nyghte tymes, wythoute the lycence of my lorde, nor kepe none vnder my couerture : howe saye you, fayie lady, know you any otherwyse by mee ? yf ye doo, spare not, but speake it here openly : yf ye be of that condycions, or haue done soo, ye oughte than the rather too be the more secrete ; yf ye knowe that malady to be in an other, whan you knowe youre owne estate, leue the enquyryng of any farder than nedeth of any other ; for 1 am in certayn that ye be sometyme in the shadowe oftener than I am in the sonne : with company oftener than I am alone. Than al the ladyes and damoyselles began to laugh, and tourned all the matter intoo japes and sportes. And all this while Arthur was in the Erie of Beauiews tent, and there was wyth hym syr Guy Dela- launde, and there he was well serued, and muche honoured of euerye man. And after souper they passed forthe the tyme in great ioy and moche myrth, tyll it was conuenyent tyme to go to theyr restes. CAP. XXIX. HOWE THAT ARTHUR THE SECOND DAY HAD THE HONOURE OF THE TOURNEY, AND SOO WYTH HYM ABODE THE PRYCE OF THE FELDE. The nexte daye bctymes Arthur arose, and all the other erles, barons, and knyghtes, to heare masse; and after, they armed them all of both party es, and soo than came intoo the fyelde there as they should turney : and as soon as Arthur and the marshall sawe eche other, tbey apparayled them to renne togyder, and dasshed too theyr horses, and encountred so rudely, that they all to brake theyr speres, the whyche were greate and bygge, as though they had beene but redes, and so passed forth wythoute hurtynge of eche other : and whan that Arthur hadde perfourmed hys course, he en- countred an other knyghte, and strake hym soo with the tronchon OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 87 of his speare, that he was therwith sore wounded and fell downe to the erth. Than Hector and Gouernar began to stryue, and to beare downe knyghtes vygoryousely, and dyd enforce theym to doo noble dedes of armes. Than Arthur fought soo amonge them wyth suche vertue, that he caused al the rankethes and prease of knyghtes to auoyde and gyue hi place : euery thyng fell too hym as he woulde wysshe it, for he felled sheldes, and bette downe knyghtes, and wanne horses, and enforced prysoners to yelde them at hys pleasure, so that al fledde before hym, for none durste en- countre his mighty strokes. Than the ladye of Rosselyn, who was as than nere to the Countes of Forest, sayd to the marshalles sys- ter : Madame, yet I sayde truely yesterday, whan that I sayde how that this knyght was metely too be retayned with a great lady, wherfore I wolde he were partaining with my lady the Countes of Forest here presente ; for he is noo knyghte to be comyn to all ladyes, such as wheleth aboute the chymney, as I thynke some suche ye knowe ryght well, for there be many that choseth not by the wyll one all onely, but are glad to take suche as they maye get ; for elles, paraduenture, they myght tarye very longe or they founde suche a knyghte as thys is. Than the Countesse of Neuers sayde to the Countesse of Forest : Marye, madame, this lady payeth wythout anye gage sellyng. Truely, sayd the Countes of Forest, they that speaketh fayre, fayre shal here agayne : but thys marshals syster spake yesterday vylanye to my lady Rossylon, & therfore now she remembreth her therof. And so it fortuned, that in this season the lord of the castel Yssem- bart, and Reynold of Piereyle, and wel .xv. other knyghtes of theyr route, toke theyr counsaile to renne al at ones ayenst Arthur, too the entent to brynge hym to the grounde. And whan they sawc that Ar- thur hadde bene wel trauayled, and that they thought he had bene weary, than they al togyder ran at hym and strake him on all sydes, and charged him with so many strokes that his hors enfoudred vnder hym : howe be it, as hys hors fell he toke syr Issembart, that was before hym, in hys armes, and cast hym downe to the earth in the spyte of his herte. And whan they were booth at the grounde, than Arthur stepte vpon his fete and layde handes on syr Issen- 88 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR bartes hors, and mounted thereon ayenst the wyl of al hys enemyes. And whan Reynolde of Pierrele sawe that, he went wyth suche good ayde as he had and enbraced Arthur wyth both hys handes, and soo eche of them helde other ryghte sore, and therwith other knightes came soo fyercelye on them, that they were dryuen downe to the erthe both hors and man. Than Arthur lepte on his feete agayne, and as he that was ryghte sore dyspleased, ran to the Erie of Foys and toke hym in his armes with a gret force, and pulled hym soo rudelye, that the gyrthes, and paytrell, and har- neys, all too braste, and so the erle ouerthrew wyth the sadell by- twene hys legges : than Arthur lepte on the horse bare backed, and tooke from a squier a mace of stele that he bare in his hande, and layd on wyth bothe hys handes, and strake the fyrste that he encountred soo rudelye, that he tourned hys legges vpwarde : and than he wente to an other knyghte and strake hym soo sore, that he was so astonyed t her wyth, that hys horse bare hym halfe a myle or that he wyst where he was. And so in this ragyhere Arthur droue downe .x. knyghtes or euer he rested ; and layde on euer bothe on the ryghte sydc and on the lefte wyth so great yre, that he con- founded all that euer he touched : he was in such a furour, that he wyst not well whether he was on horsebacke or on foote, wyth sa- dell or withoute sadell ; and fomed soo at the mouth, that al those that than sawe hym, sayd that he was out of hys wytte, soo that all fledde before hym, and gauc hym waye wheresoeuer that he wente : and dydde so muche, that he escaped clene from all the knyghtes whyche were in the thought for to haue put hym to rebuke and shame ; so that the place where as he stode was clene auoyded. Than came there to hym Hector and Gouernar. Whan they sawe hym wythout a sadel they were greatly e maruayled thereof: and so therwyth Hector rode toward a knyght so fyercely, that he bare hym downe to the grounde, and Gouernar tooke hys hors and brought hym vnto Arthur. And whan Arthur apperceyued that lie had noo sadell vnder hym, he maruayled gretely, for he was soo sore trauayled before, that he toke noo hede thereof. Than he axed of Hector and of Gouernar how he hadde loste hys sadell, and wheder he hadde any foil or not. And than they shewed hym all OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 89 how it was, whereat they dyd laugh. And whan that Arthur was mounted intoo the sadell, he sawe before hyra where as there stode all the countesses, and dyuerse other ladyes and damoyselles, wythoute theyr tentes for to behold the tourney ; than he spurred hys hors, and came to the, and alighted down to the erth, and humbly salewed theym, & sayd : Fayre ladyes, God, that al fourmed, gyue ioye and honoure to al youre noble company, the whiche is ryght fayre and gentyll. Syr, sayde they all, ye be hyther ryght welcome. Well, fayre ladyes, sayde Arthur, for Goddes sake be not dysplesed that I am soo bolde too come too you, for it should haue bene greate vylanye to me, seyng that I was so nere your presence, yf I had not done my duety in salewyng of your noblenesse. And in the meane tyme, as they thus talked togyder, the Erie of Foys and his rout ranne on the Erie of Forest and his companye, & helde hym soo harde and shorte, that he brake all the route of his companye, and nye had taken prysoner the Erie of Foresl, for he was beten downe to the earth. And whan the countes, his wife, saw her lord so nye ouercome, she saj'de vnto Arthur : Syr knyghte, of what company be ye of in this tourney ? Fayre lady, said Arthur, I am of the company per- taynyng to the Erie of Forest. Certenly, syr, sayd the ladye, I beleue not that, for yf ye were of hys company ye wolde not suf- fre hym too be delte with as he is now : but 1 thinke ye loue better ease and rest than to tournay ; and in your so doyng, ye do wel and wysely, for it is better to be in the shadow tha in the sonne light. Whanne Arthur hearde her saye so, he was gretly abashed, and tourned hys vysage toward the turney, and sawe where the Erie of Forest was beten fro his horse, and stode defendyng of himself on fote. And than he sayde to the Countesse of Forest : Madame, for Goddes sake I aske you mercye, for I thoughte ful lyfel that my lorde youre husbonde had bene in this case : but, by the grace of God, I shal sone helpe and socoure hym. Ye, sayde the lady, I know ye be very ferce : ye se him now almost at a gret myschcfe, and yet ye stande here styll preachyng to vs. And whan Arthur herd that, he was sore dysplesed, and so mouted on his hors, and N 90 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR without any longer delay he rusht into the thyckest of the route soo rudelye, that hys hors went like the thunder : & al the ladies bc- helde him right well, and sayde : God kepe and defende the fro myschefe or shame. And Arthur rushte into the prese, and strake the first so rudely, y' he ouerthrew bothe hors and man ; than the ladyes began to laugh : than Arthur toke an other with his handes by the sholders, and cast him rudelye to y e erth : tha he toke his mase of stele hanging at hys sadel bow, and strake so fiersly ther- wyth rounde aboute hym in euery place, that he brake the prese and bet downe knyghtes, soo that there were none that durste ap- proche vntoo hym, but they all fledde before hym as the smal fowles doolh afore the fawcon. Than Arthur came to the Erie of Forest, and brought him a new hors, and helped hym to mount thereon. Than Arthur rode to the Erie of Foys, and the erle gaue hym a great stroke on the helme, but Arthur moued noo more for al the stroke than though he had stryken a great toure ; but Arthur strake hym agayne so fiersly, that he caused hym to auoyde the arson of hys sadel ; and J aket, Arthurs squyer, toke the horse. Than Arthur sayde to hym : Jaket, I wil thou go with that hors, and pre- sente it fro me too my lady the Countes of Forest, who right now blamed me ful sore. Syr, quod Jaket, with a right good wyl ; and so wente forth with the hors. And Arthur al thys season helde vnder hym the Erie of Foys, in suche wyse, tyll at the last the Earle of Forest came to them, and so there to him the Erie of Foys was fayne to yelde hym sclfe. Than Arthur put him selfe againe into the prease, and strake so on all partes, that fynally euery man fledde from hym, and left him in the place all alone. Than Arthur cried openly, and sayde : Yf there be any knyght that dare come, let hym appere ! But he myghte haue taryed there long ynough or any that was ther wold haue comen to him. Than syr Gui Delalaunde came to him, and sayde : Syr, I haue promysed you, that I shuld shew vnto you the ladye of Rossylon ; pleaseth it you now, therefore, to come with me, & ye shal se her ? By the fayth that I owe to God, I wil go with you gladly. And tha thei two, and Hector, & Gouernar, rode forthe to the ladies tente; and by the way they encoutred Jaket, who had done his message. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 91 And he shewed to Arthur how that the Countes of Forest ryght hartly did thanke him. And whan thei were before the tente, thei lyghted. And than generallye all the ladyes and damoyselles came to themwarde, wyth greate feeste and ioye. And whan Ar- thur was within the tente wyth the ladyes, who afFectually behelde him, than the Countesse of Neuers, and the Countes of Forest, right hartely dyd welcome hym. And he answered, & said : Fayre ladies, great welth and honoures God maye sende vnto you all. Than the Countesse of Foys dide salewe hym, & said : Syr, yet I oughte not thus to salewe you, syth ye haue so yl entreted my lorde my husbande this daye. A ! my ryghte dere ladye, sayde Arthur, ye ought not therefore to blame mee ; for it was but the fortune of that play. Truly, syr, sayd she, ye say nothing but trouthe, nor I bere not to you therefore any euil wyll. Than the Countesse of Forest said, who had spoken to hym before ryght rudely : Syr, I humbly requyre of you pardon : and I wyll make you amendes in y' I haue soo rudely spoken to you before this tyme ; wherefore, noble and gentyll knyghte, take noo regarde to the vayne wordes of a woman, whoo lightly openeth her mouthe to speake ; but beholde your great bounte and noblenes where wyth ye be gretly endued ; but, syr, that I said was because I sawe my lorde at a great mischefe. Than came to theyrn syr Guy Delalaunde, holdynge the ladye of Rossylon by the hande, & said to Arthur: Syr, I haue before thys tyme promysed you, that I should shew you my ladye of Rossylon : syr, beholde her, for here shee is nowe present before you. And whan Arthur sawe her, he made great ioye of her, and promysed her faithfully to be alway her owne knyght. And she agayne right highely thanked hym, & all other ladyes & damoyselles affectuously beheld hym, and re- quired him that he would take the payne to vnarme him amonge them ; for thei sayd, that thei woulde fayne sc hym vnarmed ; and somewhat for curtesye, he with said their desyre. But fynally they desyred hym soo affectuously, that nedes he was fayne to agre to their requeste : & whan he was vnarmed, he was of bodyc right maruailous fayre and gentyl to beholde ; for he was bygge, longe, 92 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR and sireyghl. Than these ladies behelde him maruaylousli, and said eche to other, how that she should be right happy y l rayghte haue suche a knight to her louer. And all these countesses & great ladies wysshed eche of them that he might haue ben partayn- inge to theyr lordes. Than a ladye brought to him warme water in a basin of syluer, to wasshe his necke and visage, because of the sweting in his barneys. And the lady of Rossylon put a mantell of scarlet aboute hym, the whiche was pertaining to the Coutesse of Neuers, to the entent he shuld take no colde after his labour : and so he remayned a good space amonge them, and fynally toke his leue. Tha the ladyes desyred him that he wold be their knight, and that he would suffre his harneis to remayne styl amonge them tyl he had nede therof, and that he would vouche- saue to were the mantell of scarlet styll on him. And Arthur dyd graunte them theyr desyre, and so mouted on his horse, and all his company, and rode forthe, tyll at the laste he mette with all the hole assemble of bothe parties, and there was the yonge King of Malogres, and all the other foure erles, and the Dolphyn, and fyue hundred other knyghtes. Than the yonge kynge sayde to Arthur: Syr, ye be ryght hartely welcome, as he that is the floure of all chyualry, & the best knyghte of all the worlde ; & there he desyred hym greatly to abyde with him, and that they myghte be com- panions togider euer after, & frendes. But Arthur excused hym as well as he myght. And all this season he had on the fresshe mantell of scarlet, wherein he semed bygge, and longe, and mer- uaylously streyght, and fayre ; & generally all y e knyghtes be- helde hym, & sayde, how that he was byely rewarde of God, for he was fayre, & hardy, & of his chiualry surmouted all other : for ■ thei all sayde, that the valure of al other knightes wer as nothing to the regard of his noblesse. Te fiue piioc pz. 7W 8. To face pdoe gz. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 93 CAP. XXX. HOW THAT THE MARSHALL OF MYRPOYS FOR ENUI THAT HE HAD BICAUSE THAT ARTHUR HAD THE HONOURE OF THE TOURNAY, AND BYCAUSE HE HAD BETEN HIM DOWNE, FOR HE HAD WENDE HYMSELFE TO HAUE BEN THE BEST KNYGHTE OF THE WORLDE ; THEREFORE HE DEFYED ARTHUR, AND CHALENGED HYM TO JUSTE. AND HOW E THAT ARTHUR VANOUYSSHED HYM, & BRAKE ONE OF HIS ARMES, AND TWO RYBBES IN HYS SYDE. Than the marshall, who had his hart enflambed w' greate yre, bjcause that Arthur had put hym to the worse, and also bycause he herde so moche good and honour spoken of hym, wherof he had so great enuy in his harte, and so great despyte, that he could not holde hym selfe in rest, for he bileued hym selfe to be the best knyght of the worlde : than openly he spake so hygh and lowde, that euery knyght mighte here hym, and Arthur also, sayeng in this maner of wyse : Certainly this straunge knight can not swoune, whan he is ledde by the hande with fayre ladyes and damoyselles, and clothed with their mantelles : he lacketh noo thynge but a softe pelowe, to playe theron with some of these damoyselles. And whan Arthur herde hym, he answered, and sayd : Syr, yf these ladyes take me by the hande, I thanke them therof ; for it is by theyr courtesye, and not by my deseruynge : therfore I loue theym the better, and wyll be the gladder for to serue them, and to be a faythfull knight to theym al in general. For, as God helpe me, so moche is a knyghte worth as he can descrue prayse of ladyes and damoyselles. And the marshall, full of yre, answered : In fayth, as for you, ye be but lytell worth, and that semeth well, whan ye are fayne to take the reuersion of these ladyes olde clothynge. Well, syr, sayd Arthur, as for all that, loke, what so euer they do to me, I am ryght well content therwith : 1 thynke I haue no (hinge of yours : yf 1 haue, take it fro me yf ye dare. Certaynly, sayd the marshal, if ye had ony thynge of myn, soo woldc I do; thynke 94 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR not the contrary ; for I wolde not spare neythcr for you nor for none other to take it, grudge therat who wolde. Than Arthur, all smyllge, sayd : Well, syr, than I am ryght happy that I haue noo thynge of youres ; for yf I had, me thynketh I sholde not kepe it longe by your wyl. And wha the marshall sawe hym smyle, he thought he dyde it for despyte of hym, and sayd : Syr, wyll ye do so moche for all these ladj es sakes, that ye and I may playe togyder with two fayre speres ? Syr, sayd Arthur, ye be so valyaunt a man, that ye ought not to be refused nor denied for so litell a request. Than the marshal was blamed of the kige and of all the other knyghtes, and they wolde full fayne haue letted these justes, bycause they thoughte that Arthur was wery of the labour which he had in the tournay before. But the marshall sayd : He hath promysed it me, and therfore, yf it please hym, I trust he wyl not fayle me : yf he doo, I wyll say that he is recreaunte. Naye, sayd Arthur, by the fayth that I owe vnto God, I wyll not fayle you. And so euery man prayed God, that the shame might fall vpo the marshall, bicause of his proude disdainefull mynde. Than Arthur demaunded incontinent for his harneis. Tha syr Guy Delalaunde wente vnto the ladyes tente, and shewed theim how that the marshall had chalenged Arthur to juste with him againe. Than rendred the ladyes to him all hys harneys, and praied God for to giue vnto Arthur the honour of those justes: for thei said, how that the marshal was a fole, and of an outragious wilfull minde ; wherfore thei praied vnto God that he shulde spede the worse. Than dame Blaunche sayd to the lady of Rossylo : Madame, I bileue now that your straunge knight shall haue yet, or it be nighte, grete nede of some soft bedde to lye in your chambre, by that tyme my brother hathe brewed a caudel for his heed ; for I ensure you he neuer as yet encountred so dere a physycien. Well, madame, sayd the lady of Rossylon, fayre and easely : at the ende shall be seen who shall wynne the wager ; as yet ye can make no boost, for ye haue wonne nothing. Tha Arthur and the marshall both dyde arme them ; and whan thei were bothe in the felde ther was brought to them grete speres ; and than thei spurred their horses with so great randowne, that the OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 9o blode dasht oute of their sydcs, forthei were bothegood and redoubted knightes; but the marshal was not to be compared vnto Arthur, for sith Arthur w as fy rst made knyghte he fered no man ly uynge, wherfore the marshall dyde folye to enterpryse ony thynge agaynst hym ; but pryde dooth oftentymes many harmes to his mayster. The marshall at the fyrst course strake Arthur, and brake his spere to his fyste ; but Arthur, for all that, moued no more than though there had ben but a rede broken vpon hym. But he strake the marshall soo rudelye, that he bare downe horse and man to the erth. Than began to laugh al the ladyes, and damoyselles, knyghtes, and squyers. Than the lady of Rossylon sayd to dame Blaunche : Madame, youre broder is not so fell and so outragious as I had wende that he had bene, for he taketh no more of the erth but his owne length : I thynke he slepeth ; beholde howe pryuely he lyeth styll. And whan the marshall awoke out of hys traunce, he was sore ashamed in that he was so ouerthrowen, and demaunded yf he had ouer- throwen Arthur : than it was shewed hym naye ; wherwith he was ryght sore displeased : yet than agayne he prayed Arthur, on his knyghthode, that he wolde just with hym an other course. But all that euer herde hym thought he played the proude fole, and counseyled hym the countrary : but all that auayled not, for he sayde he wolde nedes yet juste ones agayne. And whan y' Arthur herde hym of that mynde, he had greate dysdayne thereat, & wexed angry in his herte, to considre his folysh presumptuous mynde, and sayde : Well, if he wyll nedes abyde the seconde, I thynke he wyll gladlye let the thyrde passe. So than they toke muche greater speares than they had before, and in grete yre ranne togyther so egerly, that it semed the earth enfoundred vnder theym : and the marshall stroke Arthur ryghte rudely, for he was a good knyghte, and sheuered his spere all to peces : but Arthur hyt him with his spere, the which was great and bygge, so that the sadell, paytrell, girthes and all brast, and hors and man wente to the groude so rudely, that wyth the fall, the marshal had one of his armes broken, and also two of his rybbes, and his body sore brused, so that he laye styl a greate season without mouynge : and than all the knyghtes that sawe the stroke were gretely abasshed. 96 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR and sayd eche to other, how that the marshall was beten downe to the erth both horse and man, and in greate ieopardy of his \yfe. CAP. XXXI. HOWE THAT ARTHUR WAS CROWNED TO BE KYNGE OF ALL THE KNYGHTES OF THE TOURNAY ; AND THEY PROMYSED HYM FAYTH AND TROUTH, TO SERUE HIM IN DEDES OF ARMES ALWAYES AND IN EUERY PLACE WHERE AS IT SEMED HIM BEST; AND THE YONGE KYNGE OF MALOGRES DID CROWNE HIM. Than wha the marshal was thus ouerthrowe, the ladies dyd laughe, & sayde : Blessed be God ! pryde alwayes ouerthroweth his maister. Than the lady of Rossilon sayd vnto the lady Blaunche : Madame, now it semoth that your brother hath loste the wager ; it had bene better for hym that he had bene in your chaumbre : he speketh no mo wordes, he hath ly tell care now for the flyes, beholde how that he shaketh his legges. Than al the other coutesses and ladyes that were there present did laughe, and sayd : the pryde of him is now wel abated ; God kepe & defende suche a knyghte, that can gyue suche valyaunte strokes. As God helpe me, said the lady Rossilon, the marshall is now in good rest. I trowe he hath lytell lust to remount againe : let him be wel apayed, for now he hathe that he sought for. And so eche of theym spake theyr verdyte. Than the yonge kynge and l.lU 12 To fin e paar. 1QQ. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 199 all his company : for all onely one noble knight hath slayne the raoster ; the whiche knight, by his prowesse, hath acheued all the ferefull aduetures of the Porte Noyre. He is the moste fayre knight, & the most gracious, that euer I saw w' min eyen. And whan he saw the fayre Florence sitting by the king, her father, he kneeled downe to the erth, & said : Right dere lady, this sayd noble knight sendeth to your noble grace, for a preset, the head of the sayd monster, as to the most hye & puissaut lady of the worlde now liuing : and to you he offreth hymselfe, to do all that he may for so noble a lady as ye be. And truly, madame, it shal be a great tresour, to haue and to retain so noble & so valiaut a knight as he is, for he is the floure of all the worlde, & in bounte sur- mounting all other. Than the head was dyscouered, and shewed to the kyng and to themperour : and thider ran euery body that was in the courte to beholde it. Than they toke kniues and swerdes and strake at it, but none coude enpayre it, for it was so excedynge harde. Than euery ma praysed much the knight that had slayne the monster, & sayde, how y' in all the worlde there was not his pere : & some sayd also, y l this knight is he that hath acheued the ad uentures of the Porte Noyre: and the kynge dyd muche prayse hym, and determyned to sende to seke for him. Sende to seke for hym ! sayd the King of Orqueney ; it were lytle ynough to sende a kynge for hym ! for it were not metely for a symple knight to go seke for such a knight of so hie prowesse as he is of. Wei, syr, sayde Crystelyne, Brysebar is abyden w l hym, & they are gone togither to the Porte Noyre ; and, yf he can, he wyll bringe him vnto your courte. Tha all the kinges and princes counseyled the kyng, that he sholde not sende for him, but abyde the comirige of Brisebar. Than Florence rose, and sayd to the kinge, her father : Syr, and it lyke your grace to giue me leue to departe in to my chambre, for this foule head troubleth me sore to loke thero : & so she toke her leue of the kyng & of the cmperour. And whan she was in her secrete chambre, she called to her the Kynge of Orqueney, in whome she faythfully trusted ; & so they sat them downe togeder : & than she said : Sir, of great valure is the knight that hath slayne 200 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR the monster, and doone so many valyaut dedes : therfore, I pray you, can you tell me what he is ? By the fayth that I owe vnto you, madame, I cannot tell you : but let vs send for Cristelyne, to knowe yf he canne tell vs ony thinge of hys estate. Than incontinent he was sente for in all the haste : and than Florence caused the chaumbre for to be clene auoyded, sauynge of the Kynge of Orqueney, and of the quene, his wyfe. And Avhan Cristeline was come to them, than Florence demaunded of hym, what maner of knight it was that offred his seruyce in such wyse to her ? Madame, said he, as God helpe me, I can not shew your grace : but more fayrer, more gracious, nor more gentiller hert of a knight, cannot be founde agayn in all the wyde worlde : nor a goodlier man of armes, nor of hier prowesse, cannot be lightly ymagined. Wei, frend, sayd Florence, and what message hath he sent to me by you ? Madame, he shewed me how that he is your knight, & redy to do you seruyce at all times. Myn ! said Florece : and therwith she sighed, and than there entred into her herte a great & a fcruent loue : in so much, that al other were clene put out of her minde : & therw 1 she stode in a stoudy, with- out speakinge of anye worde. And than the Quene of Orqueney demaunded of hym, what armes the knight dyd bere ? Madame, sayd he, a chekered armes, and a white shelde. Wei, sayd Florence, is this of trouth ? Ye, truly, madame, said the knight ; and also he hath a swerde that can helpe no man but hymselfe ; but he doth therwith what him list. Madame, I say vnto you, that aboue al other he is the best of aH the worlde, & so he is reputed in euery place. Tha was Florence ouercome with loue more tha she was before, & thought wel y* it was he y' mayster Steuen, her clerke, abode so loge for at y e Porte Noyre. Tha she gaue Cristelyne CC.li. of lade, for the thiges that he brought her fro the said knight. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 201 CAP. LV. HOW THAT ARTHUR & MAYSTER STEUEN WENT TO THE GARDEIN PERTAYNING TO THE PAL AYS OF THE PORTE NOYRE, AND ENTRED INTO THE RICHE PAUILION WHERE AS THE IMAGE WAS HOLDING IN HER HANDES THE CHAPLET, THE WHICH SHE DID SET ON ARTHURS HEAD, IN SIGNIFIENG HOW THAT HE SHOULD HAUE THE FAYRE FLORENCE, TO WHOME THE YMAGE WAS RESEMBLABLE I FOR THERE WAS NONE Y ( SHOULD HAUE FLORENCE IN MARYAGE WITHOUT HE SHOULD DIE AN EUIL DETH, WITHOUT IT WERE HE THAT THE YMAGE DYD GYUE VNTO THE SAYD CHAPLET. In the mcane tyme that Cristelinc, Brysebars neuew, was at y e court wytli the Kinge Emendus, as ye haue herde before, Arthur and Lis company were at the Porte Noyre, in greate joye and myrth. And tlia the abbot had songe masse, and so they were all togyder in the palays, and entred into the gardyn ; and so went talkynge togyther, tyll at last mayster Steuen toke Arthur by the hande, and said, how that he wold speke with him in counsaile. Than they departed togyther fro the other companie, and went talkyng togyder tyll they came to the riche pauilion, and entred into it, and stode before the image that helde the chaplet in her handcs. Than the mayster sayd : Syr, this ymage is ryght fayre : how be it, the fygure y l it doth represent is x. tymes fayrer, the whyche is the fayre Florence, doughter to the myghty Kynge Emendus : &, syr, whan y* she was fyrst borne, she was brought vp into the Mout of Aduetures, & there was gyuen her this riche pauylyon by the quene of the fayry : & there they destenied on her, that no creature shuld haue her in manage, but all only he that thys ymage shold gyue vnto the chaplet that she holdeth in her handes, as ye may se : & I hope veryly it shal be you, bycause of the great prowessc that is in you, & I pray to God it may be so: &, syr, now here is none but you and I, therfore I praye you go to 2 D 202 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR the ymage. and than we shall know the trouth. A ! mayster, sayd Arthur, for Goddes sake I aske mercye : so hye a thing as is the loue of y* noble lady Florence, is not apertenaunte to so symple a persone as I am ; thcrfore it were foly to me to goo to the ymage, presumynge to attayn to so hye a felicitye. By my head, sayd the maister, ye shall go : & therfore I pray you so to do, for my hearte gyueth me good comfort that ye shal spede. Well, sayd Arthur, syth ye wyll nedes haue me to go, I am content : but first ye shall go before me. With a good wyll, sayd y e mayster, soo that ye wyll promise to folowe me yf soo be that I mysse. As God helpe me, sayd Arthur, so wyll I do. Than the mayster went and kneled downe before the ymage : but though he had kneled there x. yere together, he shuld nothing haue spedde : yet he was ryghte fayre, and a good clerke, & right gracious, & also sou to a kyng : but, for al that, the ymage did nothinge to him. And whan the mayster sawe that, he rose, & caused than Arthur to do as he dyd, the which he was ryght loth to do : but, at the last, w' much payne, he kneled downe before the ymage; & incontynente the ymage tourncd towarde him, and, to his seming, it blusshed as red as scndall, & fayre and easely the ymage dyd set the chaplet on his heade. And the same season that this ymage dyd set the chaplet on his head, the noble lady Florence was in her chambre, talking with Cristelyne ; who tolde her, how y e knyght that slew the monster had a whyte shield and a sword that could not be enpayred. At the whyche tyme she felte in her herte the vertue of the propertie of the same ymage in the riche pauilion, the which represented her similitude: where- byc there entred into her hert such a loue, that she lost al her countenaiice, & blusshed twise as muche as the ymage dyd before Arthur : and therby, in a maner, she fell in a traunce, & lost the vse of her speache. And whan the Queue of Orqueney saw her in that poynt, she cryed right hiely, and said : Our blessed lady, Saint Mary ! saue my lady Florence fro deth or ieoperdy ! & than Cristelyne tokc her in his armes. Than other ladyes came into the chambre ; and whan they sawe her in that poynt, they toke and laydc her on her beddc : & anone it was spreddc al about the OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 203 court, howe y* the noble Florence was sore sick : wherwith the courte was sore troubled, & the kyng and themperoure were right sory whan they herd therof. And whan that Florence was well come agayne to ber selfe, than the Quene of Orqueney demanded of her, what she ayled, to be in y l case so sodenly ? And she answered, and sayd, y' it was because that she remembred the foule horriblenes of the head of the dead monster, wherby ber herte fayled her. Than incontinent the kynge comauded that the head shuld be brent, to thentent that it sholde no more be seen : & so it was done in all haste. And as for Arthur he was al this season before the ymage, with the chaplet on his head. And he was than so taken wyth loue, that there was none in al the world that pleased him, but al onely the fygure of her y' owed the chaplet : and therwith he rose on his fete, and the chaplet on his head. And whan the niayster sawe thai, he had neuer so great ioy afore, and sayd : Syr, God encrease in you bounte and noblenesse, for as for honour ye are therwith as now gretelye endued. Syr, now I se, and know wel, that ye shall be my lorde : therfore I owe to you faith and trout h ; and fro hence forth I wyl to you make homage, and holde my lande of you. A! maister, said Arthur, suffre not your selfe so to say, for the son of a king ought not to holde his lande of so symple a knyght as I am : how be it, the maister dyd so muche, that at the last Arthur receiued him for his man. And whan he had so receyued bym, the maister sayde : My lord, I owe vnto you fayth & troth, and truely that shal I kepe : & from hens forth hardely do somvvhat but after my cousailc : for I shal helpe you to accomplysh this enterprise more than any other ma lyuing. Maister, sayde Arthur, & I shall beleue your counsayl, & put my selfe all onely into your handes : for, as God help me, the loue that is in my hearte greueth me sore, & yet I wotc not who it is that I loue. Sir, sayd the maister, take y e chaplet fro your head, & giue it agayn to the ymage to kepe, tyll ye aske it agayne an other season. Maister, said Arthur, with a good wyl ; & so toke the chaplet, & delyuered it agayne to the ymage. And than the ymage dressed her vp, and stodc styll as she dyd before. 204 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR Than y* maystcr sayd : Syr Brisebar wil desire you to go to the court wyth him, but ye must deny hym, as for this seaso : for, after my mynd, ye shal first go to acheue the aduentures of the Tene- brous, or Darke Towre : and take with you no company, but only Bawdwyn, your squyer, and ye shall depart to morow betymes : and I wyll go to the court with Brisebar, & shal think ryght wel of euery thing that is behouable for the contentacion of your mynd. In the name of God, said Arthur, so let it be. And as they wer thus talking together, there came to them y' abbot, & the Markes, his brother, Gouernar, & Josseran : & as for Bawdwyn & Jaket, apparayled for the diner in the palais. And than the abbot said to Arthur : Sir, I haue be here a great season, wherof I thank you : and also I am euer bound vnto you, becaus ye haue deliuered out of pryson my brother, the Markes. Syr, now it is time y 1 I rctorne agayn vnto my dolorous abbey, y* whiche was wont to be the floure of beauty of all that country, & now it is the priso of al vnhappines and mysforlune : & he that hath caused all this, I praye to God that he may die an euyl death, who is sir Isembart, the false neuewe of the Duke of Bygor; for, by his meanes, a false enchaunter hath taken away clenc y c light of the heauen fro our abbey, so that we ly ue euer in darkenes : and also he hath taken away all our rentes and londes, wherwith nye we are therby fainisshcd for hungre : & also he hath falsly, by treason, slayne my brother, the noble lorde of Argenton, and hath disherited my ncce, his doughter, and hath gyuen her to a lcwde boye, who is his barboure : and now, at this nexte Mawdelyne tyde, he purposeth that they shall be maryed togither, the which shall be gret pitie, that euer so good and beautiful a lady as she is, shuld be cast away vpon so vile a person : for yf she were not my nece, I wold sayc she were worthy to haue a ryghte good prynce ; wherfore 1 complayn me to God and to al gentylnes, & specially, syr, humblye 1 require you to helpe to take vengeaunce of him, and of such as taketh his part. By the fayth y' 1 owe vnto the Duke of Britayne, sayd Arthur, I shall put to my payne, if I canne, and wyl be there at this Mawdelayn tydc : and than I shal hclpe to ayde the damosell, to the best of my OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 205 power. Syr, sayde mayster Steucn, than shall ye do well, for ye speake as a gentilman should say. Than said Brysebar: Svvete syr, let vs ii. go together to the court, & there ye shall se the noble Kynge of Soroloys & al his barony, the whych is right great and hie : & also ye shall se my lady, the gentyl Florence, who shall retayne you for one of her knightes; and ye shall haue than in your company an hundreth knightes of great valure, wherof I am the symplest and moste insuf- fycyent of them all : and so, by you, shal the company be enforced, and y e renown of them doubled throughout all the world : and I shall promyse you, aboue al other, to kepe you true and faythfull companye. And whan Arthur herde hym say all this, he smyled a lytel, and sayd : Dere frend, Brisebar, I thank you heartely for your noble profer, and certaynly suche as my pore body ca do, is, and euer shal be, ready to do my lady Florence seruyce ; for where so euer 1 be come, her seruaunt shall I be : but as at this time, to the courte maye 1 not goo : for fyrst I must fynysshe an enterpryse that I haue taken on me, if God wil giue me the grace to accomplysshe it. And than Josseran de- maunded of him, what enterpryse it was? As God help me, said Arthur, it is to atcheue the aduetures of the Toure Tenebrous. And whan Brysebar herd that, he said : Syr, for Goddes sake let that enterpryse alone : for certaynlye all the power that my lorde, the Kynge of Soroloys, hath, is not sufficient to attayne to acheue that aduenture -. therfore, syr, in my mynd, it were a great folly for you to take suche a thynge in handc as no man can acheue. Than maister Steucn sayd : Syr Brysebar, let him alone, for he hath a great herte ; though it be a grcate enterpryse, yet I truste God shall helpe hym : for sy the he hath taken it in hande, I am sure there is none that can let hym of hys myndc. Wei, sayd Brisebar, syth he wyl not be turned, I wil go with him. And so wyl I also, said Josseran. Well, syrs, said Arthur, 1 thank you : but surely I wyl haue none w* me, but all onely Bawdewin, my squyer. In the name of God, sayd the mayster, so be it : & ye, syr Brysebar, and I, wyll go together to the court ; and ye, syr Markcs, & Josseran, Gouernar, & Jaket, al ye shal abide here 206 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR styl, and kepe styl this castell tyl ye haue other worde. Ye saye wel, sayd Arthur. And therewyth they went al togyther to the palays to dyner, and were richely serued : and al that daye they made great feast and ioy, and at nyght wente to theyr restcs. And the nexte mornynge, betymes, they arose, and herde masse, the whyche the abbot dyd synge. And, after masse, Arthur mouted on hys horse, and so dyd the abbot, and mayster Steuen, and Brysebar, and so tokc their leue of Gouernar and other : & so issued out of the castel, and rode together the space of fbure leges : & at the last they came to an entrynge into a forrest, where as was a forked waye : and there the mayster and Brysebar toke their leuc, and rode forth theyr way on the ryghte hande, the whiche was the next hye way to the citie of Cornitc, where as King Emendus was the same season. And y e abbot went his nexte waye to his dolorous abbey. And Arthur toke his way on the lyfte hande ; and so rode forth all the day, lyll it was nere hande nyght; and so aryued at a getyl sqnyers place, called the Maner of Plessis : the whych squyer doubted himselfe greatlye, for he had suche enemyes that had mortally defyed hym : therfore he sayd to Arthur : Syr, ye be hither right heartely welcome: but I beseche you in all haste to depart hence shortlye, for the sauynge of youre selfe, for 1 can not warrant you in my house, for mine enemyes are right myglity, and 1 loke echo houre whan they shal assayle me. Than sayd Arthur : Syr, care ye not for that, but, and it may please you, 1 pray you let me haue lodgyng here with you this night : and, syr, 1 ensure you, if thei come while I am here, I trust I shall make a good peace betwene you and the, either with fayrenesse or otherwyse. Syr, sayde the squyer, I am content ; and God giuc you grace to do that ye haue sayd. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. £07 CAP. LVI. HOW THAT ARTHUR SLEW AND DISCOM FYTED XV. KNYGHTES, RIGHT E MIGHTYE AND PUYSSANT, WHO WERE COME TO ASSAYLE HIS HOOST, WHO WAS CALLED THE SQUYER OF PLESSIS. Thus was Arthur recciued of the squyer, who made hym ryght good chere to hys power : and the same tyme the squyers enemyes had there a spye, who retorned and shewed to the, how that there was come to the squyers house a straunge knyghte, by semyng ryght myghty and puissaunt; and howe that he had promised to the squier to help hym, if he had any nede that nyghte. Than they al answered, and sayd, how that knyght myght be sure he should se them that same nyght : for they said they wold not let theyr enterprise for one knyght, for they were to the nombre of xv. And whan it was nyght they all apparailed them selfe on horsbacke, and came to the squyers hous all armed, and righte rudely assaulted his hous : and the squier, and suche seruauntes as he hadde, defended them selfe as well as (hey coulde wyth crosbowcs, and suche other wepons as they had within. And whan Arthur knewc wel thys, he armed him, and toke his whyte shelde, the whych dyd cast a great clerenesse by nyghte, and toke his good swerde Clarence in his hande. And whan he was thus armed, tha he loked out of a wyndowe, and demaunded of theym wyth out, what they soughte there, and what they woulde ? And they answered, how y [ they sought for to haue his head. My head ? sayd Arthur; loo! take it here, for here ye maye se it, and I shall brynge it oute shortlye untoo you. Than he dcsyred them within to leue theyr shotynge and to set open the gate, and to lette downe the brydge ; and accordyng to his dcsyre it was done. And Arthur issued oute all alone, and ran at them : and they all at once ran at hym ; and Arthur drewc out Clarence, his good sworde; the whyche, for 208 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR his goodnes, was also called trauchfer, that is for (o say, cutter of yron, and strake the fyrst so thenvyth, (hat lie claue his heade to the eyen ; and he made (he head flye from (he secondc ; and from the thyrd he strake of hys armc and sholdre clene from (lie body ; and (ban (he rcmenaunt layde all at ones on hym, but all (hey nothynge dyd enpayre hym. And (han Arthur dasht fur(h with his horse, and encountred so one of them, that he ouerthrewe bothe horse and man into a great dyche, the whych was about the place ; and there he was drowned. And whan a great mighty knight, who was raayster of them all, and he that fyrst began this warre, sawe his people so hardly delte withall with one knight, he was ryght sorowfidl ; and therwyth dasht at Arthur, and gaue hym a great stroke on (he shclde with a great mace of yren ful of great pryckes of stele; the whyche he layd on with bothe his handes : the whiche stroke rebounded agayne upwarde, for it couldc not enpayre his shelde nothynge : and than Arthur lyfie up hys swerde, and strake hym on (he head, and the stroke was herde a great way of: but the stroke dyd glyde downe to his ly ft c armc ; so that arme, and sholdre, and all, flewe clene into the field : and the swerd dasht intoo the arson of his saddell, and claue it clene asonder, and dyd cut asonder the cropcr of (he horse; and therwilh horse and knyght, and al, dasht down to the ground. Than Arthur laid on among (he other, bothe on (he lyfte syde and on (he rygh(e syde, and made heades, armes, handes, legges, and fete, flye cleane into the fyelde. Than the remnaunte began (o flye : but than it was (o late, for (here was none but eyther he had Ioste an arme, or a legge. And wha (he squier vnderstode how that his gest was thus jssued out al alone, and fyghtyng with hys enemyes, (han he armed hym selfc, and ranne oute into the fielde ; bu( (here he founde nothynge (o doo ; for by (hat tymc Arthur as than had made an ende of them all, and soo was retournynge homewarde. And whan the squyer sawe that Arthur had ouercomen al hys enemies, he thought verely that he was of hye prowesse ; and so he thanked him moche, and sayde : Syr, ye tolde me trouthe whan ye sayd, y* ye would make the peas betwene myne aduersaries and me ; for nowe I am OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 209 amonge them, and yet they saye nothynge to mee. And soo Arthur and the squyer entered into the place, and closed fast the gates after them, & drewe vp the bridge, and so wente to their restes. And in the morning the squier wente out to se wbyche of his enemyes were shiyne ; and amonge the other he founde his principal enemy slayne ; wherof he had great ioye, and ofFred him selfe, therfore, to become Arthurs man, and wold haue gone with hym, but Arthur wold not sufFre hym : but so he departed from the squyer : and anone the wordes were spredde abrode in all the countrey, how that a knyght, with a white shielde, had slayne and ouercome xv. knyghtes : the whych wordes came to the hearynge of mayster Steuen and Brysebar. Verely, sayde mayster Steuen, that same is Arthur, who hathe righte great valure in hym. As God helpe me, said Brysebar, it is he. I se well that he is a ryghte valyaunt knyghte, for he is the best in all the worlde. Thus Arthur rode forth tyll it was thre of the clock ; and there he foud, betwene twoo mountaynes, a great vylayne, huge and mightye, blacke and hery out of all measure, and he bare on his sholdre a great croked leuer. And whan he sawe Arthur, he ranne to hym, and toke his horse by the brydel rayne, and demaunded of hym, saying thus : Fayre syr, what maner of man be ye ? Frende, sayde Arthur, I am a knyght straunger. Ye, syr, said the vylayne, be ye a knyght ? And what seke ye here in these pastures, that I haue in my kepyng ? Good felow, sayde Arthur, I go on myne aduenture where as God wil bring me vnto. Why, syr, sayde the vylaine, go ye than to seeke for aduentures ? yf ye be so well harted, that ye dare folowe after mee, I shall brynge you vnto a straunge aduenture : but I thynke ye dare not folowe me ; for I thynke ye be one of the knightes that wyl menace and threten whan ye stand by the chymney warmyng of you after souper, and in the mornyngc all is forgoten. And whan that Bawdwyn herd the vylayne say so to hys mayster, he began to laughe greatly at him, and said : Well, good felowe, leadc hym whether so euer thou wylt, and I warrant him he wyll folowe the. Syr, sayde the vyllayne, I spcake not to you : as for you, I 2 E 210 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR se well ynoughe ye be not of that force and myght, that ye can dra we the wyne and drinke it, and pay not for your shot or ye go : I speake to your mayster, therfore let hym answere me, yf that he dare. Frende, sayd Arthur, as for Bawdewin, my squier, is but a folc ; take ye no hede whatsoeuer he sayth, but hardely bring me whether so euer ye wyll, and truely I shall folowe you as longe as my life wyll laste. Yc, but syr, sayd the vylayne, yf ye folowe me, whan it cometli to the nede, than I fere me least ye wyl leue me, and runne away lyke a cowarde. Naye, sayd Arthur, I promyse you faythfully I wyll not forsake you as longe as I may. Well, sayd the vylayne, than come on your waye forthe ; and I promise you, yf there were ten suche as ye be, I shall brvng you thyther where as none of you all shoulde escape from the deth, in likewise as I haue caused mani a one to do. Than the vylayne wente furth, and Arthur folowed hym. And at the laste they entred into a great valley, betwene two greate mountayncs, where as they foud a lytel lodge, where as meat and drynk was solde to trauailing men. Than the vylayne sayd to Arthur : Syr knyghle, it is nowe good season that ye gyue youre horse some repast ; for, after this, ye shal fynde no mo houses tyl it be nyglife, at whyche tyme I shall brynge you vnto suche a lodgyng, the whichc shall not be good for you ; for there shall ye lese your lyfe. Than there Arthur alyghted, and gaue hys horse meate, and dyd eate and drynke him selfe. Than the vilayn said : Syr knight, eate and drinke with great joye alwayes : but I ensure you thys shall be the laste that euer ye shall take. And whan Bawdewyn herde that this vylayn thus alwaye manaced his mayster, it grcued him right sore, and sayde : A ! thou foule churle, holde thy tonge fro thretenynge thus of my mayster : what ! wenest thou to make him abashed with thy wordes ? Naye, I warrante the, he taketh lytell hede thereto; for, do the worst thou canst, he defyeth thy malice. Than the vilayn began to roule hys eyen, and to bende his browes, and toke his leuer in both his handcs, and wold haue stryken Bawdewyn, but Arthur helde him, and sayd : Frende, take no hede what my squyer OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. fill sayeth; for I tell you he is but a fole, therfore speke to me what ye wil, & let hyra alone. And whan the good wife of the lodge herde him speake so swetely to the vylayne, and was so loth to dysplease hym, and whan he was vnarmed she saw that he was so goodly a creature, that she loued him in her herte, & praysed hym moche, and demaunded of hym, whether he wente ? Arthur answered, and sayde : Good love, I folowe this good felawe. Certaynly, syr, sayd the wyfe, he is no good felawe ; but he is the moost foulest and falsest traytoure lyuynge : therfore, gentyll knyght, I haue grete pite of you, and ye are vtterly lost and dede, yf ye go with hym ony ferder; for this foule vylayne dothe nothynge but watche suche knightes as passeth through this coutre, to thentent to brynge the thyther where as he is in full purpose to bringe you vnto ; for fro thence there was neuer none that euer returned agayne without deth : therfore, gentyll knyght, returne agayne ; for it were great losse of suche a knyght as ye seme, to be thus destroyed. Than Bawdewyn said : Syr, howe fele ye your hert ? Wyll ye recule backe agayne, or els wyll ye goo forth ? Frende, sayd Arthur, how should euer ony lady or damoysell employe theyr loue on me, yf it should be sayd that I haue fledde away for the menacynge of a foule churlyshe vylayne ? Nay, as God helpe me, I had rather suffre deth. Well, syr, sayd Bawdewyn, than ye thynke on loue, I se wel ; but, and it touched me as it dooth you, I wolde thynke on no lady, nor on loue in this poynt ; for I wolde loue myne owne lyfe better tlia to trust on theyr prayse or rewarde. And wyth these wordes the vylayne came to them, and sayd : Syrs, what noise is thys of cowardyse that I here ? Syr knyght, I se well your herte fayleth you ; for ye are aboute to make couenaunte to retourne agayne : therfore I thynke well ye wyll leue me whan nede is. Frende, sayde Arthur, truly I shall not forsake you. Well, sayd the vylayne, than arme you shortely, and let vs goo hense, for your last dayes drawcth faste onwarde truely ; therfore make haste. 212 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR CAP. LVII. HOWE THE GREAT VYLAYNE BROUGHT ARTHUR WHERE AS HE FOUGHT E WYTH A GREAT AND A TERRYBLE LYON ; BUT FYN ALLY ARTHUR SLEWE HIM : AND HOWE, AFTER, HE FOUGHTE WYTH A GREATE GYAUNTESSE AND AN HORRYBLE GYAUNT, AND BY HYS PROWESSE HE CONQUERED THEYM BOTHE ; AND, AFTER THAT, FOUGHTE WYTH A GREATE GRYFFON : AND THYS WAS THE BEGYNNYNGE OF THE ADUENTURES OF THE TOURE TENEBROUS, WHEREIN YE SHALL HERE MANYE TER- RYBLE AND MARUAYLOUS THYNGES, THE WHYCH WERE ACHEUED BY THE ONELY PROWESSE OF THE VALYAUNTE ARTHUR. Whan that Arthur had well repasted hym selfe and hys horse, than he armed hym, and mounted on hys horse, and folowed the sayde vylayne, tyll at the laste they came intoo a great valey, darke and depe. Than sayde the vylayne to Arthur : Syr knighte, now ryde ye on before and ye dare, and I shal folowe you. So than Arthur rode before ; and as they rode, on theyr ryghte hande there were hewers of woode ; and as soone as they saw Arthur and the vylaine, than they knewe wel that he was brought thyther by the foulc churle ; tha they cryed alowde, and sayde : A ! genfyll knyght, for Goddes sake retourne againe; for and ye goo any ferther, ye are but deed. A ! thou foul vylayne, we praye to God that thou mayest dye an euyl death ; for many a noblema hast thou caused to dye. And whan Bawdewyn herde these wordes, he sayde to hys mayster : Lo ! syr, now ye may remembre your loue ; ye may heare what these people sayth : certaynlye I woulde not thynke on the fayrest creature of all the worlde in this poynt. And whan Arthur herde Bawdewyn saye so, he laughed at hym, saynge thus : Frende, by the faythe that I owe vnto my lorde, my fader, I can not tell whether I goo, nor what peryll there is therin ; but what peryll soo ever I shall fynde, I wolde Slate j3. Tf hue page 2J3. -Plan- 13. To fwce poj/e zi3. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 213 it were double as mouche, on the condicion that I were in certayne that she that I sawe neuer loued rue as well as I loue her. And whan the foule vylayne herde hym saye so, in his herte he praysed hyra moche, and knewe well therby that he had a valyaunt herte. And thus they rode forth so longe, tyll at the laste the foule churle cryed out, and sayd : Syr knyght, now it wyll appere what ye can doo ; for now ye shall haue nede to defende yourselfe. And, with that worde, Arthur loked on his lyfte hande, and sawe where there was comynge to hymwarde a grete and a myghty lyon. Than Arthur fered his horse, lest that the lyon sholde haue slayne hym ; therfore he lyghted downe to the grounde, and deliuered his horse vnto Bawdewyn, and dressed hym towarde the lyon. And whan the lyon perceyued hym, he lepte and strake at hym wythe his pawes, thinkinge to confounde him : but Arthur put his shelde before hym, and the lyons stroke dashte theron so sore, that Arthur was all astonyed with the stroke. Than Arthur strake at hym with Clarence, his good swerde, as he passed by hym, and strake of clene his tayle : and whan the lyon felte hymselfe so hurte, he habandoned with all his power his body agaynst Arthur, and with his sharpe tethe he toke Arthur by the helme, and they entred into the bokles of his barneys; but, as God wolde, they touched not his flesshe ; and with his fote he strake Arthur such a stroke vpon his shelde, that and it had not been the better shelde, it hadde bene cloven all to peces ; and with hys other fote he toke Arthur by the ryghte sholdre : but Arthur swarued from hym, or elles he had bene torne asonder ; for in the swaruynge awaye he lost a greate quarter of his harneis ; and therwith Arthur lift vp his good swerd and dasht it vp to the harde crosse in at the throtc of the lyon ; and there wyth the lyon dyd cast out a greate crye and a hydeous, and so fel down to the groiid starke dead : and therwith incontynent he espyed agayne where as there was comyng to hymwarde a greate gyauntesse with a great fawchon in her hande, soo well steled, that there was nothinge but it would cut asonder; and therewith she came vntoo Arthur, and strake at hym right egerly : and whan Arthur sawe the stroke comyng on hym, he quickely 214 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR caste his shelde before him. And thys gyauntesse was terribly angry for the death of ber lyon, wherefore she gaue Arthur such a stroke vpon the sholdre, y' he was ryght sore astonyed there withal : but, as God wolde, the fawchon brake asondre in two peces, and his shelde was therwith nothinge enpayred. And whan the gyauntesse saw that her fawchon was broken, she lyft vp a grete spere that she had standynge by her, and thoughte to haue stryken Arthur therwith vpon the head ; but Arthur stepte vnder the stroke, and closed wyth her ; and than she toke Arthur by the head, and so arasshed clene of his helrae so rudely, that she braste asonder al the buckelles wher withal it was tyed ; and with the pull that she made, she stepte backwarde with the helme, and than Arthur with his good swerde strake her clene thrughout the bely, and therwith she fell backwarde, for she was soo hasty to revenge her lyon, that she came to Arthur all vnarmed, wher in she was but a fole ; for a man may be anone to hasty to come to his enemye : and whan she fell she gaue suche a crye, that all the valey range of the noyse, so that a grete gyannt, who was her mate, herde it wel ; and than he ranne to a grete leuer, and toke it in his hande, and came rennynge so rudely, as thoughe a grete multytude of men hadde come togyder, lie mad so grete a noyse : and by that tyme Arthur had stryken of the heed of the giauntesse, and rouled it in the middes of the waye, and dyde set agayne his helme vpon his heed. And whan the gyaunte sawe that his wyfe was deed, and his lyon also, he fared lyke a fende of hell, and toke his leuer and dasht at Arthur, thynkynge to haue stryken hym downe to the groude ; but Arthur stepte asyde lyghtly, and the stroke lyght on a grete rocke soo rudely, that his handes tynger so sore therwith, that the leuer fel from hym to the groude : and than he stouped downe for to haue taken it vp agayne ; and whyle that he was stoupynge downe, Arthur toke Clarence his good swerde, and gaue vnto hym suche a stroke, that one of his boystous armes flewe clene in to the felde. Than the gyaunte lepte forth, and toke Arthur in his oilier arme, & yf that his whyte shelde had not ben, he hadde ben frusshed asonder, for he gaue Arthur a grete stroke with the stubbe of his hurtc arme. Plate Mf . To fee page z*4- liui'Healh direxit. Plate 14. To fa£t page 224. Plate 6. 7b u i f paiie ?14 iha' Hertth .iir&rtt Plate Jfi. To face p/tae 214 . OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 215 And than Arthur aduysed hym well, and vnder his arme he dasht Clarence his good swerde vp to the harde crosse, and so he fell downe starke dead. Than there came a greate gryffon, and stryuyned Arthurs horse cleane throughout al the body, and thought to haue borne him awaye. And whan that Arthur sawe his horse hurte, in hys heart he was right sorowfull, and strake at the gryffon wyth his swerde, and strake asonder both his legges ; and therwith the gryffon flewe away with great payne, and bothe hys legges remained styl vpon the horse; and the horse bledde so fast, that he fel down deade in the place ; wherewith Arthur Avas ryght sore displeased. Than the vylayne came to him, and sayd in thys maner of wyse : Syr knight, in a thynge the whiche can not be remedyed, must nedes be suffered in the best wyse that a man may : your horse is slaine, take ye no care for hym, for there be horses ynough : ye haue slayn the gyaunt and the giauntes, and also theyr lyon, and the gryffon ; but, for all that, I promise you that your ende draweth fast onwarde ; and, as for thys nyghte, let vs go herborowe vs in the gyauntes house hereby, the whyche is a strong place, and there we shall fynd great plentye of good wynes and meates ; and there ye shall se manye fayrc and bryghte harneyses ; and also there ye shall se heades, armes, legges, and fete of muche people, the whyche the gyaunte hath taken and broughte to that place alyue, for the gyauntesse woulde neuer, by her wyl, eate none other meate but mannes flesshe. And soo they entred into the place. And the same daye the gyaunt had taken a knyght, and brought hym deade into the place vpon his owne horse, and as than the horse was yet on lyue. And whan the vylayne saw the horse, he toke hym by the brydell, and broughte hym to Arthur, and sayde : Syr knyghte, youre owne horse is deade, therfore I gyue you this horse. I thanke you hertely, good felawe, sayde Arthur. Than Bawdewyn dyd shy tie faste the gate, and there they dydde rest theym all that nyghte. And on the nexte mornynge ensuyng betymes, Arthur rose, and armed hym, and mounted on his horse, that the vylayne had gyuen hym. Than the vylayne came forth, and sayd : Syr 216 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR knyght, folovv me, for now I wyl go forth. Goon than before,, sayd Arthur. And so Arthur rode forth after hym all the longe daye, tyll it was nere nygbt ; and than at the last they came to a myghtie strong toure, the whiche pertained to a knyght named sir Roger the Scot. Than the vilayne sayd to Arthur : Syr knyght, it is now good tyme to lodge vs here, now in this castel, al thys night; let vs goo entre in to this place : but one thynge 1 ensure you, the knyghte that oweth this place is the moost shamefullest traytoure that now is Iyuynge ; for there is none that entreth into this place, but shamefully he dothe murdre them whyle they be in their beddes : he is also cosyn germayne to the Duke of Bygor, & neuewe to syr Fyrmount, who was but nowe of late slayne at the castell of y e Roch, by a knyght straunger ; therefore nowe let se what ye wyll do, whether ye wyll go lodge in this place, or not. Well, sayde Arthur, I se well and I lye wythoute I shall be shrewdly lodged ; and sythe thys knyght is of that lignage that ye speke of, he is my mortall enemy : howe be it, as yet I can not complayne on hym, for he dyd me neuer no trespasse ; therefore certaynly I wyl go thyther to take my lodgynge. And whan the vylayne herd him say so, he thought wel how that he was of great corage, and loued him therefore muche in his hcrte : howe be it, he sayde vnto hym : Syr, in Goddes name soo be it, let vs go thyther ; and if anye yll come to you thereby, I am not to blame ; I maye not doo wythall, for I haue gyuen you warnynge thereof. Than they entred into the courte of that place. And as sone as syr Roger sawe Arthur, he knew him ryghte well, and was in certayne howe that it was he that had done soo muche prowesse at the castell of the Roche, and had slayne syr Fyrmont, and hadde sore wounded syr Isembarte hys cosyn, and neuewe to the Duke of Bygor; and than his herte began to tremble for great anger, notwithstandinge he made to them great chere outward, and cleped and kissed Arthur, and sayde : Syr, ye be ryghte hertely welcome into my house : as God helpe me, I haue more ioye of your commyng, than of any other manne liuynge : but to hymselfe inwardly he sayde : Yet, or it be mydnight, I will haue that head of yours cleane from your sholders. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 217 Than the vylayne came vnto them, and cryed as loude as euer he could : God kepe the lorde of this place accordynge to his hertes desyre : and these wordes he sayde thre tymes. Than Arthur sayde : Yf hys hearte be good, well haue he, and yf it be other wyse than good, God amende it. Than Arthur was brought vp into his chaumbre, and there he dyd warme hym. And in the meane tyme, this knyght, syr Roger, came to hys squyer, and demaunded of hym howe and in what maner he myght slea Arthur ; for, if we make anye assaulte on hym, he wyl slea vs both ; for there is none lyke hym in all the wyde worlde, nor none so soore to be doubted : for he dyd meruaylous dedes of amies at the castell of the Roche. Syr, sayde his squyer, I knowe certaynlye that we can not endure against hym : but I shall tell you what we shall doo : we shall make his bed this night aboue in youre toure, and sette it ouer the trappe doore of the dongeon, and we wyll take away all the bordes in the bottome of the bedde, and in the stede of the bordes sette small staues to sustayne vp the clothes; and soo whan he shall lye downe in the bedde, he and the clothes and all shall tomble downe in to the dongeon, and than we shall soone cast downe his squyer after him, and than slee this foule vylayn ; & whan they be in the pytte, we wyll take speres, and so slee them ; or elles let vs hete thre or foure cawdrons with hote scaldynge-water, and cast it downe vpon theyr hedes, and so shall we slee them. And wha this syr Roger herde his squyer saye soo, he was ryght well content with hym, & cleped and kyssed hym, and sayd : This mater is ryght well deuysed ; for as ye haue sayd, so shall it be done. Therwith the vylayne yssued out of the chaumbre from Arthur, with his grete leuer on his nccke ; and as soone as he sawe syr Roger counsellynge with his squyer, and other standynge togydcr, rownynge in corners, than he began to escrye to them, & sayd : What maner of people be ye, for what mater be ye thus counseyllynge togydcr ? What ! is it for some maryage ? Beware y 1 there be noo treason amonge you ; for, y f there be, I shall frusshe you downe with ray leuer. Than Arthur issued out of his chaimbie. And whan syr Roger sawe hym, he toke hym b\ TIIYSTORY OF ARTHUR the hand, and sayde : Syr, it is time that we wasshe our handes, for j r our souper is all ready. Syr, as it pleaseth you, sayde Arthur. Than they wasshed and sate them downe at the table, and were righte well serued : and the vylayne was set downe at an other table, behynde Arthur ; and so they gaue hym parte of al their meates and drynkes that they hadde, and he dyde ete and drynke excedyngly moche, for they could not satysfye hys apetyde. And after souper, Bawdevvyn, Arthurs squyer, toke hede to his horses. And than Arthurs bedde was made in the same place where as it was deuysed before. And the vyllayne layde hym downe on foure quysshens by the fyre in the hall, as he that hadde wel eaten and dronken, and so fel fast on slepe, & snorted ryght sore : wherfore, syr Roger, that was knighte of the place, would haue wakened him ; but Arthur would not suffre him, but caused hym to be couered with a grene couerlet, and so let hym lye. And wha it was time for hym to go to his bedde, than the torches were lyghted vp, and the knyght couayed Arthur to his chaumbre ; and at hys taking leue of Arthur, he offered w' hys monthe hym selfe, and all his householde, to be redy at his comaundemente : but in his herte inwardly, he thought to be redy to cause hym to lose his lyfe. And whan he was departed, Arthur wente to his bedde ; and as he layd hym downe, he and the bed and all fell into the great pytte : and the knyght and hys seruauntes were readye watchyng at the doore. And whan they heard the russhe, they entred into the chaumbre, and toke Bawde- wyn and dyd caste hym downe too hys mayster ; and Arthur receyued hym in hys armes, because he should not be hurt in the fallynge downe. Than there rose a greate cryc and noyse throughoute all the place; and some bare speres and barres of yron, to caste downe at Arthur, to slee him in the pyt ; & euer Arthur watched well their strokes, and dyd auoyde them as well as he myghte. And at the laste, by the reason of the great noyse, the vylayne arose oute of hys slepe. And so whan that he hearde that great brute, he wyst well that Arthur was betrayed. Than he mounted vp into the chaumbre, with his greate leuer in his handes, and there he saw wel that they OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. were aboute to enforce them selfe to slea Arthur. Than he tokc his leuer, and strake so the knyght, syr Roger, in y* necke, that he caused his tonge to hange out of his mouth nye half a fote ; and therwith he fel down into the pyt to Arthur. And the vylayne than sayd to Arthur, Syr knyght, gnawe well on that morsell, ye shall haue more anone. Than he lyft vp his leuer agayne, and strake syr Rogers squyer suche a stroke on y* hed, y l his head was frusshed harde to his shulders, & he fell also down into the pyt after hys mayster. Than the vylayne sayd to Bawdewyn, Good squier, cut hys throte, and make him sure. In the name of God, sayde Arthur, it shal not nede, for he hath ynoughe alreadye. Than the vylayn dressed him at the renaunte that held torches in theyr handes to gyue lighte, and dasht theym downe one after another : and some fled awaye, and he folowed after, and slew them all. Than he entred into the kechyn, & there he found the coke boylyng of a gret caudron full of water, the which should haue ben cast down on Arthur : tha he toke the coke in his armes, and did caste hym into the cawdron all boyl- ynge, and dyd hold him downe with his leuer, & sayd : Thou shalt sethe without salte, tyl thou be ynough ; and if thy flesshe be harde soden, I shall broyle the on the coles. Than he ran to a ladder, and bare it to Arthur in the pyt. Tha Arthur and Bawdwin issued out : and as soone as Arthur was without, he ran to his swerde, & demaunded if there were any more to do in that place r As God helpe me, syr, sayd the vylayne, I trowe not. Than they light vp torches and descended downe, and found an olde house ful of deade raennes bones ; such as the traytours of that place had slayne. In the name of God, sayd Arthur to the vylayne, ye haue holpen me nowe lyke a frende, for al your vncurteis wordes here before. Wei, sayd the vylayne, I wyl that if ye can scape to morow from that aducntur whether as 1 shal bring you, the whyche I thynke you can not do, that than ye shall promyse me to do for me a thynge, suche as I shall desyre you. Frende, sayd Arthur, and I promise you, that to the vttermost of my power I shal do any thing that ye desire me, yf a knight may do it wythout reproche of vylany. Well, sayd TI1YST0RY OF ARTHUR the vylayne, I beleue that all this promise shall not nede ; for though ye were in a maner made of yro, yet I thinke ye shuld not scape fro death : but as for this nighte I shall kepe you fro any daunger. And so he made Arthur a fayre bedde, and lay all nyghte in the flore by him : & so he was that night his chamberlaine ; and so he was euer after, all his lyfe, for, after- warde, Arthur dyd muche good to him. So thus they went to bedde, and toke theyr reste tyll the nexte mornyng that Arthur rose. CAP. LVIII. HOWE ON THE NEXT MORNYNGE THE VYLAINE BROUGHT ARTHUR TO ANOTHER ADUENTURE, NYE TO THE TOURE TENEBROUS: WHERE AS HE WAS FIRSTE ASSAILED WYTH TERRIBLE MON- STROUS BYRDES, AND GREATE GRIFFONS WITHOUT NOMBREI & AFTER Y* HE WAS ASSAILED WITH Willi. KNIGHTES; AND HOW HE BI HIS PROWES SLEW THEM ALL. AND ALSO HE BETTE DOWN THE GRET MAHOMET OF BRASSE, OUT OF THE WHYCHE THERE ISSUED OUTE A WYND, THAT IT TOURNED ABOUT GREAT MYLLSTONES LYKE POWDER: AND ALSO HOW THAT HE ENTRED INTO THE CASTELL TENEBROUS, AND QUENCHED THE FYRE WHICH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE GREAT DARKENES, THE WHICH CONTEYiNED THE CIRCUITE OF V. LEGES COMPASSE, AS YE SHAL HERE AFTERWARD. In y e next morning betimes, Arthur rose and armed him, & mouted on his horse, and toke his wai, euer folowing y c vilayn : & so he rode forth tyl it was about thre of the clock ; & than they entred into a great valey, and euer they rode lower and lower : it was than a fayre seaso, for the sonne shone clere : & by that tyme they had ryden twoo leges and a halfe, they were in OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 221 so much darknes, that they had clene lost the sight both of the Sonne, and also of the day ; for it was there as dark as though it had be aboute midnyght. Than the vilayne sayd to Arthur : Syr knight, can ye tel fro whens al thys darknes cometh ? If ye can fordo it & make it clere, than shal ye get thereby a perpetual honour : & know you for certayn, that as yet there was neuer none that euer entred any ferder that euer retourned agayne ; therefore if youre hert fayle you, enter no ferder ; for, if ye do, ye shall dye as other haue done here before. Frende, sayd Arthur, howe is it that all this darkenes is here in thys place ? I wyl tell you no more, sayd the vylayne, but I rede you be sage & wise, for it standeth you wel in hand. And therwith Arthur departed fro them and entred into the derkenes, and the vylayn & Bawdewyn abode styll at the beginninge of the derkenes; & so they lost the syght of Arthur, but they myght se the shynynge of his sheld as farre of as one myght shote an arowe. Thus he rode forth well the space of halfe a lege ; & at the last he foud a ryuer, great and depe, & black as pitch, and the bankes were so hye, that vnnetli the water mighte be sene runnynge vndemeth ; and it was so full of serpentes and lyzardes, that none could entre amonge them without he were slayne : and aboue his head flewe monstrous birdes, and diuers griffons, who wer able to beare away an armed knyght, hors & al ; and that they were in as great a multitude as though thei had ben starlings. And Arthur dydde couer his head with his sheld ; and the griffons dasht therat with their talentes, & anoyed bothe Arthur and his horse righte sore. And euer Arthur florysshed about hym wyth hys good sword Clarence, & what so euer he touched dyd hym no more hurt after. Also there were flies that were as great as nuttes and as blackc as pytche, and they stange both hym & his horse ryghfe sore, so that the bloud yssued out after : but & it had not bene for the clerenes of his shelde, he had bene slayne there and he had had a M. mens liues ; but by the bryght shynyng therof he mighte well se rounde aboute hym, and perceyue well whan any of these thinges came to himwarde ; wherby he made as good defence as was for him possible. And thus he rode a longe season 222 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR by the ryuer syde ; & at the last he found a lytel strayte way, the which he must nedes passe, without he would haue tourned agayne : and at the last Arthur dasht into the strayte way, & anon the vermin that was there ran to his hors ; so that shortly he was ful of them as though they had bene flies : and they souked so muche bloud of the hors, that he began to wax very feble. And wha Arthur sawe that his horse would fayle him, he hasted as fast as he might to get oute of that strayte waye ; and so wyth moche payn he gate his hors out therof : and incontinent the horse fel down dead. Tha Arthur set his fete to y e erth as well as he might. And tha there came a knyght at Arthur or he was ware, & hit him on his shelde, the whiche he helde not fast in hys hande ; therfore the stroke dyd glent, and the spere helde & brake not. And as the knyght passed forth, Arthur toke hym by the rayne of the brydell, and caught hym by the arme & pulled hym so rudely, that he made him auoyde his horse : and soo he fell downe into the water and there was drowned, & deuoured with the foule vermyn that was therin. Than Arthur lepte on the same knyghtes horse, and toke his spere. Than an other knyght cryed, and sayd : Syr knyght, beware of me. Than Arthur tourned & encoutred hym : and the knyght brake his spere ; but Arthur strake hym so rudely, y' his spere went clene thrughout hys body ; and so he fell downe deed. Than (here ran at hym x. other knyghtes al at ones ; and they strake him on al sydes with great and myghty strokes : tha he toke his good swcrde and strake one of them soo rudely, that he claue hym clene (o the sholdres ; and an other he claue from the sholders downe to the backc bone : and delte amonge them such strokes, that he confounded all that he attayned vnto. And by that tyme he hadde great nede of such herbes as mayster Steuen gaue hym : and also his whyte shelde and good swerde dyd hym there good seruyce ; for suche knyghtes as he hadde slayne were chosen me, & ryght puyssaut, but Arthurs chyualrye surmounted all other; for there he dydde 60 muche wyth his handes, that he slewe all y' euer were agaynst hym. Than he rusht forth with his horse, and wyst not whether, til at Ihe last he hearde thegryndynge togyther of two milstones, To raa /we 223 . Tlate Jb. To fixe page 222 ihafHaith iltrejit. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 223 one vpon another, as they do in a myll ; wherby all the earth about Arthur did shake : and the cause why that these stones went thus aboute was, for there stode by them a great fat of brasse, wherin there was a great mahomet syttynge vpon a barre of yren made by enchaunteraent ; who blewe from hym soo greate a wynde, that these stones turned therby so swyftly, that no creature could passe by them wythout death. Than Arthur approched to these myl- stones : but than he felte so terry ble a wynde, that he was fayne to alyght downe of his horse, and wente on fote as well as he myght ; but he sawe wel that he coude not come nere these stones without he should dye, therfore he went rounde aboute them to se what wayes he myght come to them : and at last he founde a lytle brydge, whiche was so narowe, y l one man could not passe by another : and vnder thys brydge there was so great a pyt, that the botom therof could not be perceyued ; and there were also xii. knyghtes that kepte thys brydge ; vi. at the one ende, and vi. at the other, all armed w 1 crosbowes & hatches, and maces of stele in theyr handes. And wha the vi. fy rst knyghtes sawe Arthur, they ran at hym all at ones, & gaue hym many great strokes on hys shelde, but neuer they could enpnyrc it. Than he toke his good swerd, and strake so the fyrst, y' he claue his heed asonder; & fro the seconde he stroke of his arme clene w l the sholdre ; & fro the thyrde he beraue his head : and whan y' other thre sawe how theyr felowes were slayne, & how that nothinge coulde endure ayenst hym, they fledde towarde the bridge; but Arthur ouertoke so the hyndermest, that hys brayne flewe clene into the feldc ; and the seconde for haste lepte into the pyt, and there brake his necke ; and the tbyrde he ouertoke on the brydge, and toke hym in hys armes, & dyd cast hym ouer the brydge downe into the pyt, and (here he dyed myserablye : ther- wyth he hasted hym ouer the brydge; and than the other vi. rannc all at ones at hym, and thought to haue dasht him downe into the pyt; but Arthur, lyke a valiaunt knight, lept in amonge them, & layde on with his swerde round aboute hym in suche wyse, that within a shorte space he departed life and death asonder of v. of theym ; and than the syxt kneled downe before Arthur, & besought 224 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR him of mercye, and prayed him, for Goddes sake, that he would not sle hym. Take no fere, sayde Arthur, for tby lyfe is saued, soo y' thou wylt tell me fro whence this grete wynde cometh. Syr, sayde he, it cometh out of yonder great vessell of brasse that ye may se yonder : for therein is a mahomet made all of lether, syttyng on a gret barre of yron, made by the crafte of enchaunt- mente : but who soo coulde ouertourne this mahomet, the wynd shold than cease. "Well, sayde Arthur, abyde me here styll, & I wyl go se what I can do. CAP. LIX. HOW ARTHUR BETTE DOWN THE GRETE MAHOMET SYTTYNGE IN THE VESSELL OF BRASSE, AND THEREBYE THE WYNDE WAS CEASED. Than Arthur wente forth, & thought to hauc gone boldly to this vessell of brasse ; but y e wynd was so byg, that he was fayn to lie on y c erth all alonge, & so to crepe on handes & fete tyll he came to the vessell, & drewe after hym his shielde, his swerd, and a longe spere, & dasht therwith the mahomet so rudely with so many strokes, that at y e last this foule mahomet ouerthrew vp so down in the vessell, & incontinent the enchauntment ceased, & the stones stode all styll, for than there was no maner of wynd. Than Arthur stode vp on his fete, and came agayn to the knight, & demaundcd of hym what towre it was y' he sawe stande before him in the derke : for all this season he had no lyght, but by the reason of the shyning of his sheld. Tha the knyght answered, and sayd : Sir, the Duke of Bygor hath a neuew who is named syr Isembart : he is lorde of this place : and he hath suche enuy to all people, that he caused this tour to be made by a subtyll enchaunter, & all this grete darknes which ye hauc bene in, the OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 225 whiche endureth v. leges in circuite, in the which compas there was no land ayred nor sowed the space of syxe yeres paste : and so all suche people as were wont to dwell therm, are fledde away and f'amisshcd for hong-re : and this enchaunter, by his craft, also made this riuer y* ye haue passed, the which neuer man dyd before thys tyme, withoute death : for euer tliys darknes hath contynually endured, sauyng one day in the yere, and that is on new yeres day, the whyche daye the vi. knightes that ye haue slaync, the which were of the best knightes that coulde be found in all this lande, (how be it, nowe they haue found their mayster) the whiche knightes dyd prouyde for vs y e sayd day, for all thynges as was nedefull for vs to haue : & I and al my company, who wer in al the numbre of xii. persons, we kept alway this passage betwene these mylstones, the whyche turned euer without rest, sauyng on Saynt Martyns daye, and than we might passe out to the foresayd vi. knightes, and fetche in all such thynges as was prouided for vs al the hole yere. And so this toure was beset roiid about, what with knyghtes, and with these milstones, and with wynd, and w l darkenes, so that it were, in a maner, impos- sible to entre into this toure w'oute death. Well, sayde Arthur, she we vnto me what is the cause, and from whence cometh al this darknes. Syr, sayd he, it cometh out of a greate pitte that is in this toure : and there be greate gryffbns that descendeth downe into thys pyt, and in the bottome therof there is a great hideous fyre, made so by crafte, that no man can tell how : out of the whych there ryseth so blacke and so thicke a fume and smoke, the whych ryseth out of this pit by certayne dores and wyndowcs, wherby the light of the son and of the brighte skye is so quenched, that it is euer contynually darkc, the which derknes conteineth the circuite of v. leges compasse, as I haue shewed you before : wherforc all this country is clcne wasted & destroied, and all the people fledde out therof. And why, sayd Arthur, did he all this crueltc ? Certaynly, said the knight, I shal shewe to you : It is of troutli, that here by there is an abbey of white monkes, who were woni to be reputed ryghte noble, and of great possessyons : & most comonly kynges or prynces, whan they paste by that place, 2g 226 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR they would there rest and herbour them, and there they should be well serued : and it was named the Abbey of the Grace Dieu. And the abbot is a right wise man and a noble, for he is brother vnto the lorde of Argcnton, who was falslye slayne, by treason, by this dukes neuew ; the whych fortuned to come to the sayde abbey vpon an Ester day in the fore none, in the same seaso that the abbot and al his hole couent were in solemne processyon : and because that the couent did not, at his fyrst comyng, leue the seruyce of God that they were in, to haue layde the tables, & to haue brought him meate and drynke to haue fy lied his paunche : therfore he was so displesed, that incontynent he lepte on his horse, and so was departing, and his false enchauter with hym. And whan the abbot kncwe that, as soone as he myghte, he came to hym, and desyred him to tarye : but in no wyse he could make hym to chaunge his purpose : but in the most shamefullcst wyse that he could, he rebuked them, and called them foule rotten churles ; promysynge to do them as greate dyspleasure as could lye in hys power to doo. So he hath done, as ye may se, for he hath caused them euer syth to Iyue in great darknes : and also he hath taken from theym all theyr rentes and possissyons, which they heldc vnder hym, or in his rule, in al the londe of Argcnton : for, in al that cyrcuyte, labourers coulde not laboure for tlieyr lyuyng for lacke of lyghte, wherefore many of them be famisshed for hunger ; and, to saye the trouth, in thys sayde abbey the ser- uyce of God hath not be minystred this fyue yere. Well, sayd Arthur, that is greate domage : but, I praye the, tell me howe may this darkenes be fordone ? Syr, sayd the knyght, the enchaunter, whan he made this fyre, was ryghte sore dysplesed, because that there sprang oute of the earthe, euen by this terryble fyre, a fayre fountayne : wherby he right well knew that this fyre should be quenched, if anye knyghte myghte attayne to come therto, and to cast the water therof into the fyre, and so than al the darknes should cease for euermore after. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 227 CAP. LX. HOW THAT ARTHUR KNTRED INTO THE TOURE TENEBROUS, AMD HOW HE THERE QUENCHED THE FYRE, WHERBY ALL THE TER- RYBLE ENCHAUNTEMENTS CEASED. Xhan Arthur sayd : Frend, brynge me to this sayd toure. Thau he weute on before, & Arthur folovved hym : & so wente fast by the greate wyndowes and dores of the toure, the which were of xvi. speres length square ; out of the whyche there yssued soo great haboundaunce of fume, that his bryght shelde lost clene his shynyng : wherfore he was sore troubled, for than he could se no maner of thynge : how be it, they dyd so muche by gropyng, that at the laste they came juste to the toure ; and there they founde the walles pyght ful of sharpc barres of yren, set as thicke as the prickes of an vrchins skyn, of the length of halfe a spere, to then- tent that no creature should approche nere to the walles : so there was none entre but at a lytle wycket, and with moche payne the knyght dyd open it. And whan that it was opened, there yssued out so greate haboundaunce of smoke, that the derkenes thcrby was doubled throughout all the countrce ; so that neyther candell nor torche coulde brenne in no place : ncuerthelesse, Arthur entred in at the wycket, and left the knyght wythout : the smoke and hete was ryght greuous to hym ; for yf there had not ben more valure in hym than in ony other, he had bene there clene ouercome. And alvvayes he went downewarde on the stayres, and sawe nothyng ; but he felt so manye greate strokes, that oftcntymes thereby he was constrayncd to knele on hys knees; but he coulde not tell from whctis they came, or who dydde gyuc them to hym : and euer he flourysshed aboute wyth his swerd, but it auayled hym nothynge, for he strake he wyst not wherat; and so fynally he was fayne to couer his head wyth hys shelde, for or ellcs he had ben frusshed thoughe he had ben of yren : and alwayes thus he wente euer downwarde on the stayres, tyll at the laste he came downe to the 228 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR botom : & there he founde a fa3're greate fawte, and there he felt so great hete, that he swette so therhy, that he was nye ouercome : and as he felte aboute hym, he perceyued that he was nye the fyre ; and as he went ferder, he founde out the fountayne by the reason of the colde ayre y 1 he felte, wherof he was ryght gladde ; and soo than he toke his shclde & plunged it into the water, and bare as muche water therin as he coulde, and dyd caste it into the fyre ; and euer he fetched more water, and contynually dyde caste it into the fyre : and euer as the fyre quenched the darkenes began to mynysshe ; and the more water he dydde caste into the fyre, the clerer the lyght began to waxe : and at the conclusion he dydde caste soo muche water, that the fyre was clene quenched : than myght he se clerely all aboute hym. Than he perceyued on bothe the sydes of the stayres, how there stocle greate ymages of brasse holdynge in theyr handes greate maces of stele, the whyche had doone hym moche trouble as he wcnte downevvarde, but than theyr power was ended, for whan the fyre was quenched, the enchaunte- ment was fynysshed. Than Arthur, wha he sawe that all was done, he retourned vp agayne the stayres, and was ryghte wery of hys trauayle, what for hete and swctynge, and the greate strokes that he had receyued : and so cainc agayne to the lytic wycket, where as the knyghte was styll abydynge. And whan he sawe Arthur hole and sounde, and on lyue, he kneled downe before hym, and sayd : Syr, ye be welcome as he that is chefe floure of all chyualry of the worlde. Tban Arthur set hym downe vpon the grene grasse to take his brethe, and did of his helme and shelde. So thus all the countre was clene delyuered fro darkenes, soo that cuery bodye myght se clerely aboute theym ; wherof the abbot and all hys couent had great joye : and so they went all and ren- dred thankes to Almyghty God in theyr churche. And than the abbot sayd to all his bretherne : Syrs, let vs go and se hym that hath thus delyuered vs fro all thralldome, yf God wyll gyue vs the grace to fyndc hym, for verely 1 thynke it be the gentyl knyght y ( was at the Porte Noyre. '1 han the abbot and al his couent yssued out of the abbey wyth comyn processyon, and so came to this sayd toure, the whyche was OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 229 not ferre thens : and there they founde Arthur syttynge on the grounde, and the knyght by hym. And whan Arthur sawe them, he toke to hym hys shelde and helrae, and hys spere in hys hande. And whan the couent wyth the processyo came before hym, he kneled downe before the crosse, and all the cduente kneled downe before hym, nor they woulde not aryse tyll he was vpon his fete. And than there came to them Bawdewyn, & wyth hym the foule greate vjlayne who hadde broughte Arthur to all these forsayd aduentures. And whan Bawdewyn sawe the procession and al those monkes, than he thought veryly that Arthur had bene dead : than he began to cry and to braye, and to make all the sorow of the world, and sayd : Alas! vnhappy creature as I am, that thus haue lost my lord and mayster, the floure of all the worlde in all noble chyualry ! Alas ! death, why doost thou not take me ? And thus, as he made thys great sorow, at the last he espyed Arthur wher as he stode ; than hys heart came to hym agayne. And the abbot came to Arthur, and sayd : Ryght noble and vertuous knight ! ye be ryght hertcly welcome, as he that hath delyuered vs, and all thys countre, out of suche tourmente and pryson as we were in a longe space : and, by the pleasure of God, by your meanes the seruyce of God from hens forth shall be mynystred in our churche. Syr, I and all my hole couent hartely desyre you to come and take your rest wythin oure abbey, now after your great trauayle. And Arthur with a ryght good wyll dyd graut thein, for he was very wery. Than Bawdewyn toke his shelde, and the great vylayn toke hys spere and helme, and often tymes sayd vnto hym : Gentyll knyghte, God gyue the joye, and encreace thyn honour and bounte ; for thou haste acheued that neuer man, could do before thys tyme : therfore nowe, by the pleasure of God, and by thy hye prowesse, the fayre damoyscll of Argenton shall be delyuered oute of trouble and care, and oute of the handes of the Duke of Bygors neuewe ; for thou haste promysed me to goo where so euer that I shall brynge the, therfore I now desyre the for to kepe thy promysc. Well, sayde Arthur, I ensure you faythfully that I wyll not breake my promyse. Sir, said the abbot, God gyue you the grace to brynge this lady out of thral- 'J 50 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR dome : for I knowc well ye liaue prowesse suffycyent to acheue that enterprise, thoughe it were a greater mater. That is of trotith, sayd the vylayne, for it hath ben right well proued ; for I haue broughte hym by all the places where as ony harde aducnturc hath ben, to prone thcrby his chyualry and noble vertue : how be it, the dukes neuewe is greately to be redoubted ; but, for all that, I doubte not but that he shall be well chastysed : and soo ther- wyth they wente all to the abbey, where as the abbot made theym ryght great honoure and chere; and therfore all the belles in the church were rouge continually thrc dayes and thre nightes for greate ioye. And so, for a ly tell space, Arthur, & Bawdwyu, and the great vylaine, sported them there in the great feast of ioy. ISovv, for a tyme, let vs leue Arthur in this abbey, & let vs speke of the mighty Kyng Emendus, and of the fake Florence, his doughter. CAP. LX1. HOW AFTER THAT BRISEBAR & MAYSTER STEUEN WER DEPARTED PRO ARTHUR FRO Y e PORTE NOY RE, THEY ARYUED AT CORN ITE, WHERE AS KING EMENDUS WAS, AND IN HIS COMPANY THE EM PEROUR E OF YNDE, AND HIS OTHER FOURE KNYGHTES, HOLDYNGE THE SAME TIME A GREAT SUMPTUOUS OPEN COURT: AND THERE MAYSTER STEUEN & BRYSEBAR RECOUNTED TO THEM A L, IN OPEN AUDYENCE, THE NOBLE CHYUALRY OF ARTHUR: AND THIS SAME MEANE SEASON THERE CAME INTO THE COURTE A KNIGHT ALL ARMED, AND BROUGHTE TYDYNGES TO THE KYNG E, HOWE ALL THE ADUENTURES OF THE TOURE TENEBROUS WERE ACHEUED BY THE ONELY PROWES OF ONE NOBLE KNYGHT. Whan that the mighty Kyng Emendus hadde holden a gret solemne court at a fest of Ester, in a gret citie of his called Sabary, the xv. daye of Ester the emperour would haue departed, but the OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 231 kyng would not suffre him, but entreted hym so fey re, that he was content to abyde : and soo they were determyned to kepe theyr Whytsontyde at Cornyte, and so they dyd : at which time the kynge kepte the moost sumptuous and open courte that he kepte syth he was kynge. Soo thus the emperoure abode styl wyth the kyng tyl to the time it was Whytsontyde ; against the which tyme the kynge had sente for all the nobles of hys realmc, to be at the sayd feast at his citie of Cornite. And so whan the daye ap- proched, (lie kynge wyth all hys noble company rode to Cornite : & there mette with him his noble doughter, the gentyll Florence, accompanyed with y° Archebysshop of Cornite, her vncle, and brother vnto the kyng, her father : and so this citie was than rially replenisshed with kynges and knightes. And whan the kyng was entred, lie alighted downe at the peryon, and soo mounted vp into the palays : and the nexte day the emperoure came thyther, and the kynge, and Florence, his doughter; and all hys hole barony dyd encountre and conuey hym to his lodgynge, the whych was in the Abbey of Saynt Quintine : and than the kyng & Florence retourned agayne vnto theyr palays. And the thyrde daye before the feast there came to the courte the Kynge of Orqueney, and the noble Kyng of Mormall, and (he Kynge of Valefoude, and the Kyng of Sabary ; also thyther came the lord Neuelon, senesshal vnto the fey re Florence, and syr Ancell, his neuewe, and the lorde Poole, syr Steuen, and syr Miles of Valefounde, lord of Damas, and syr Artaude, lorde of Arsacc, & syr Moraiit, lorde of Fenisse, and syr Olyuer, lorde of Sabary ; and also there was syr Victer, lorde of Amason, and syr Moslin the Scot, and syr Sanxton of Ostelin. And all these were of the retinue of the noble Florence ; and there were so many other, that a greate parte of theym were faync to be lodged wythoute the cytyc. Than the court was so full and so pleteous, that (here was neuer scene none suche before. Than the kynge caused to be cried, that whosoeucr would take on hym the noble ordre of knyghthode, that he shoulde be dubbed knighte with hys own handes. The nexte daye^ the whych was the fyrst day of the feast, than (here began in ( lie cour(e soo nuic he frost and joye, (hat (here was neuer THYSTORY OF ARTHUR sene no such in all the courfc before: and on Whytsondayc, after masse, the kynge made in hys palays fyfty newe knyghtes, vnto whorne he dydde gyue armes, and horse, and hartleys. And Florence dyd gyue thein gownes of skarlet, and mantelles of grenc, furred wyth ermynes : and soo all these new knyghtes were stand* ynge before the kinge, who dyd gyrde aboute them theyr swerdes, and ryghte swetely laughyng dyd giue them the neck sfroke of knyghthode : and Florence dydde lace theyr mantelles about theyr neckes. And the emperour dyd make in his lodgynge xl. knyghtes. And the other foure kinges eche of them made xxx. knightes. And so than the emperour and the other kynges dyd mounte on horsebacke, and all these new knightes wyth them, and soo came to the palays : and than began homes and bussynnes to blovve, and taboures, and rebeckes, & other instrumetes to sowne, and to make the inoost melody of the world. And than there assembled together al the juglers & tombleTS, and al resorted to the palays. And whan they were all assembled at the courte, there were to the numbre of two hundred & x. newe knightes. And so the kynge and the emperour sate downe, and the fayre Florence betwene them : and al the other kinges were set eche of them after their degre. And the iuglers and mynstrelles began to make ioye and feast; ladyes and damoysellcs began to daunce; lordes and knyghtes dyd juste and tournay ; trompettes, and clarions, and other instru- mentes of musyke, began to sown; and all the cyte was hanged with cloth of golde & ryche arays. And as they were in this great myrth &joy, there alyghted, at the peryon, syr Brysebar, and maystcr Steuen was rcmaynynge at the castell Keynarte, but two leges thens : & there he made the peas betwene the burgeyses of the towne and the meane people, for they had ben before longe at discorde. And whan syr Brisebar was mouted vpon the palays, all the barons and knyghtes ran & welcomed hym, & made for hys comyng great joye & feest, & specyally syr Neuelon, the senes- shall, & syr Ancell, & syr Mylcs of Valifounde, & all other, made hym suche cherc, y', for prese, he had greate payne to come (o the kyng : & as soonc as the kynge sawe hym, he made great joy, OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 233 and toke hym by the hande, & caused Iiym to syt downe before hym. Than was al the courte ryght joyfull of hys comyng, for before there were none lacking of al Florence knyghtes, but he & Arthur. Than the kynge sayd : Syr Brisebar, ye sent hyther to me the heed of the foule great mosler, the whyche is slayne, thanked be God ! but I pray you tell me how he was conquered ? Syr, sayd Brysebar, your grace sent me thyther wyth a great company : how be it, we dyd nothynge there : for we founde there fyghtyng wyth the monster, the moost gentyl knyght y l now lyueth, and moost freest of herte, moost curteyse, swete, and amyable, & the moost valyaut & redoubted knyght that euer was gyrt wyth swerd : for he all only stroke of the monsters heed in my syghte, & dyd there suche prowesse of armes, that no manne can do like him. In the name of God, quod the kynge, it is great valure in one man to bryng to deth suche a foule beest. Syr, sayd Brysebar, ye can not know the valure and hye prowesse whiche is in thys knyght : for it is he that, all onely, hath acheued the straunge aduentures of the Porte Noyre ; and it is he that wyth his body dyd maruayles at the Roche, where as syr Fyrmont with v. hondred mo dyd laye in a wayte for hym : and there he Lepte into a shyppe full of hys enemyes, whan he perceyued that 1 and other of my company were taken prysoners, and so ledde forth to the castell: and there he sustayned, all onely, the medlynge amonge all his enemyes, the whyche was all y* comynalte of the towne of the Roche, and of the countre all aboute : and there lie slewe syr Fyrmont, and more than three hondred of hys companyo, and rescowed vs out of pryson : and also he rescowed the knyght of Plessis of all hys enemyes. What wyll ye that I shall saye ? He is the floure of all chyualry ! there is not his pere in all the worlde! And he hadde scant vttred these wordes, but that there came into the palays a knyght all armed, and dressed hym to the kynge, and sayde : Ryght hye and myghty puyssaut kynge ! 1 haue brought vnto you good and true tydynges ; that is, how that the straunge aduentures of the Tenebrous Toure are acheued, and all the enchauntementes clene fordone, and the greate darkenes is now tourned to lyght and bryghtnes, & all the knyghtes that kepte the Qh 234 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR toure are all slayne, and the great lion, and gyaunt, and gyaunt- esse, are slayne, and the countrc deliucred fro al the harde aduen- tures that they had longe endured. Fayre frend, sayd the kyngc, and who hathe done all thys dede ? Syr, that hath done a knyght al onely, who wereth a whyte shelde : and, for a certayne, I sawc hym vnarmed in the Abbey of Grace Dieu ; but ncuer, syth God was borne, hath there bene seen soo fayre a creature, so gentyll, nor so gracyous. And whan Florence herde spekyng of the whyte shelde, she thought than veryly y' it was her shelde, the whiche was in her pauylyon at the Porte Noyre, and thought veryly that it was her frende & louer, Arthur, that bare it, of whome she herde so muche good reported : and thus wyth her owne thought her herte trebled, and sodenly therby she blusshed (how be it, she made no semblaut,) & to her selfc she sayd : A ! swete frende, noble and true hert, whan shall I se you, so that I may speke wyth you at good leyser? Than the king sayd : In the name of God, thys knyght is right valyaut ! What is the cause, syr Brisebar, that ye brought him not to y e court wyth you, to thentent that we myght be acquaynted wyth hym, so that he myght be our frende, and we hys? As God helpe me, sayde the Kyngc of Orqueney, it were a greate rychesse to haue suche a shelde as he is nere vs : and veryly, as for my parte, I had rather haue the companye of hym, than of the rychest persone nowe lyuyng ; and, syr Brysebar, ye dyd ryght yll youre deuoyre, whan ye dyd not your payne to bringe him to this courte. Syr, sayd Brysebar, by the fayth that I owe vnto my lorde, the kynge, I dyd the beste of my power to haue brought hym hyther ; but he answered me, y' he must nedes go fyrst to the Toure Tene- brous, and sayd : if God did gyue hym the grace there to escape that adueture, he wold be at this Mawdelayn tyde at Argence, to make battayle ayenst syr Isembarte, y* Duke of Bygors neuew, for the fayre mayden of Argentons sake : for he shewed me, how y l he had promysed to her vncle, the Markes, & to mayster Steuen, that he wolde do the best of hys power to get agayne the fayre ladyes herytage : & how that he wolde shewe vnto the dukes neuewe, that falsly and vntruly he had dyshcryted her, & by false treason OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 235 slayne the lorde of Argenton, her father. It is of trouth, sayd the knight that brought thyther the tydynges fro the Tenebrous Toure, I waraunt hym he shall ryght well helpe that lady in her ryght. But, by the fayth y l I owe vnto God, sayd the Kyng of Orqueney, yf suche a batayle shall be there, yf God wyll, it shall not be wythout me : for veryly I wyll be ther at the same tyme. Syr, sayd Phylyp of Orqueney, fayre vncle, suffre me to go with you, for truly so wyll I do. And I also, quod syr Nephelo. And I wyl not be behynd, sayd Brisebar, yf God be pleased, for ther we shal se maruayles of this knight. And tha in y* court ther bega to be a grete parlyament amonge the knyghtes, & a faythful auowynge to go to the sayd iourney ; & so they were of one accord wel to the nobre of v.C. knyghtes, & they al promised faythfully, in open audience, to be at the sayd batayle, & helpe & to ayde y* sayd damoysell. Than Florence sayd to the King of Orqueney : Fayre cosin, we shal do ryght well to go thyther to help this lady, & also to acquaynt you w' this gentyll knyght : & for Goddes sake bring him hyther, and I promyse you to loue hym ryght derely, & to giue him suche gyftes and londe, that he shall be ryght ryche & puyssaunt. Well, fayre nece, said the king, I shall do the best of my power. 236 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR CAP. LXII. HOWE THE EMPEROUR WAS AFERDE L E EST FLORENCE SHULDE CAST HER LOUE ON ARTHUR, WHERFORE HE DEMAUNDED OF THE KYNGE, HER FATHER, TO HAUE HER IN MARYAGE W'OUT ONY LENGER DELAY : WHERWYTH THE KYNGE WAS CONTENT, BUT FLORENCE WOLDE NOT AGREE THERTO : WHERWYTH THE KYNGE, HER FATHER, WAS WYTH HER RYGHT SORE DYSPLEASED, AS YE SHALL HERE AFTERWARD. Whan that the emperour had herd the great praise & laude y' generally was giue to Arthur, & perceiued wel how y l he had the loue of al y e court, & herde wel the good wordes y' Florence spake of hi, wherby there strake into his hert a jalousy & a fere lest y' she shuld cast her loue on him : therfore he toke Kyng Emendus by the hand, and said : Syr, I would fayne speke with you in counsayl ; but I pray you, syr, let your doughter be pre- sent. Soo than they bothe rose, and Florence with them, and softely she smyled vnto the Kyng of Orqucney, and sayde to hym in counseyle : God gyue grace, that of this counsaile good may come therby ; but I fere me the contrary. So tha they thre entred into a chaumbre, and leaned them downe in a fayre wyndowe. Than the emperour began to speke to the kinge, and sayd : Syr, it is of a trout h, that it is a great season past syth ye gaue to me your good wyll, that I shold haue in mariage j* fayre lady Florence, your doughter, here presente : but she hath euer excused her selfe, because of the late departyng out of this worlde of the quene, her mother : for she thought it was not pertayning to her, to haue bene maryed so soone after her decese : it is now so grete a season syth, that there can no blame be reputed to her now to be maried : therefore, syr, nowe I require you that ye wyl incontinent deliuer her to me, according to your promyse made to me before this tymc. In the name of God, sayde the kynge, it is but reason and OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 237 right that I should so do, and so I wyll do : wherfore, fayre & swete doughter Florence, ye wer borne in a good houre, whan so noble & so hye a person as the emperour is, wyl haue you in maryage, wherby great honoure and wele shall come to vs all, and to all our countryes. Let vs incontinent sende for my brother, the archbysshop, to thentent to ensure you togyther. Right dere father, sayd Florence, it is yet ryght ouer soone to raary me ; & for certayne I am not in purpose, as yet, to be maryed to him, nor yet to non other : I think first to se ii. yeres more passed at y e least. How so ! sayd the kyng, damosell, wyl ye than do agenst my wyl, as in the refusynge of the emperour to be your lord in the way of mariage ? Syr, sayd she, I haue no care for no lorde, but onely for God & for you : for surely I wyl not consent to no maryage. Ye shall, sayde the kynge, or elles ye shal right sore displese me. Syr, quod she, your displesure shuld greue me aboue al other thinges : but by the faith y* I owe to you, I wyl not as yet be maried. No! sayd the kynge, than I se well y c ye wyll do nothinge as I comaunde you; therefore ye shal do it whether ye wyl or not ; & so toke her by the hande, to thentent to haue dely- uered her to themperour. And whan she saw that, she was not content, and pulled her hande to her agayne, too thentent that the emperour should not touche it. And whan the kyng saw that, he was ryght sore displeased, and sayde : Damoysel, ye haue set you against mine accorde and assent, and therefore I promise you, that fro henceforth of my help and counsayle ye shal fayle ; therfore fro hensforth do as wel as ye can : & I straitly charge you, auoyd & come no more in my syglit, nor presence, nor where socuer that I be. And whan Florence saw her father so sore dyspleased, she said : Right dere father, if ye be thus dysplesed w' me, ye do not well therin : but syth it is your pleasure that 1 should take them- perour, or elles to lese your coiiseyle and helpe, & also not to come in your syghte, the whiche is a ryghte sore sayenge of the fader to his chylde, but syth it is so, 1 humbly requyre your grase of respyte the space of a moneth, tyll suche tyme that I may speke with my counseyle in that bchalfe. Lady, sayd the emperour, it is to longe a respyte, for I wyll departe hcnse ryghte shortely : for I <238 TIIYSTORY OF ARTHUR trowe it be bye tyme, for I haue ben bere a longe season ; and al that bath your loue caused : wherfore I wold faine, or I depart, knowc how or in what wyse my loue shall be rewarded. I saye not nay, but it is good for you to take auysement, and I am cotent that ye so do a daye or two. Well, sayd the kyng, I am content that she shall haue respyte tyl to morowe at this same houre, & no lenger. Well, sayd Florence, this counseyle is ayenst my herte & wyll, that I sholde take a man ayenst my herte, seynge y l I am a quene, & doughter to the moost puyssaut kynge of all y e worlde ; certaynly this greueth me ryght sore : ther with she began ryght piteously to wepe, & to make right grete sorowe. And whan the kinge sawe her wepe, he sayd to her : Auoyde out of my syght, and let me not se you tyl to morowe agayne at this same present houre, and than answere me, wheder yc wyll take hym and my good wyll therwith, or elles leue hym and lese mi good wyl and fauour for euer more. Than Florence issued out of the chaumbre all wepynge. Than the iiii. kinges stepte to her whan they sawe her wepynge, and lefte all the feest, & mynstrclles & jesters left than al theyr sporte and playe : and the Kynge of Orqueney toke her bi the hande, & demauded of her, why she wepte so sore ? Dere cosyn, said she, my lord, my fader, is right sore dyspleased with me, and hath comemauded that I sholde auoyde out of his presence. Than she saw her vncle, the archebysshop, & sayd to hym : Fayre vncle, let me go with you to your lodgynge ? Wyth a ryght good wyl, sayd he, & shame haue he y' thus causeth you to wepe. So thus al the kinges conuayed her to her vncles lodgynge, and so dyd the moost parte of all the barons of the conrte, and also all the new knyghtes : and they al abode stil at Florence courte. And whan she was thus in her lodgyng, the kynges retoumed agayne to the Kyng Emendus court, but the Kyng of Orqueney, and Philip his neuew, abode styll wyth Florence : and y l King of Orqueney demaunded of her why that she wepte ? Cosyn, sayde she, my lord, my father, woulde mary me and gyue me to the emperoure, & would haue ensured vs (ogither w'out any counsayl takyng, eyther of you, or of any other OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 239 of my frendes : &, as God helpe me, I had rather dye than to haue themperoure, for I hate no thynge so muche in all the worlde as I doo hym ; for as longe as I lyue I wyl not haue him : therfore it is but a greate foly to enforce me therto. Fay re lady & cosyn, said the kyng, as God helpe me, or he haue you agaynst your wyl, there shal be persed a thousand helmes. Ye, sayd Philyp, the Duke of Sabary, or that daye come there shall be brente a hundreth townes, therof be ye sure ; therefore, fayre ladye, be ye in peas, and set your hert at rest. Well, sayde the archebysshop, let vs go to the court and speke with thys emperour. So thus they rose, and went forth, & left Florence in peace. And thus they mo u ted vp into the palays, and founde the Kyng Emendus & the emperoure toge- ther, who were as than yssued out of the chambre. Than the archebysshop sayd to y e kynge : Fayre broder, I mer- uayle gretely what cousayle ye haue had, to cause thus to come to your court so many noblemen & other fro so farre coun- tryes, to thentent to trouble & displease them by the onely wordes of thys man, the emperour, here present, who would haue my lady Florence, your daughter, in mariage against her wyl : but, syr, I ensure you, as long as I Hue, agenst her wil he getteth her not. As God helpe me, saide Philyp, y* Duke of Sabary, he had nede to haue brought mo men hether than he hath done, yf he thinketh to haue her awaye to her dyspleasure. Why ? said themperour, & who is he that wyl say me nay ? Is it you ? I wold there were none to depart y e matter but ye and I, to se who should lede her awai. Verely, sayd the Kynge of Orqueney, it is none egale matche, a duke agenst an emperour : howe be it, as God helpe me, yf ye had her agaynst her wyl, and none other to medle in the matter but al onely you, I thinke ye should not reioyse her so easely as ye thynke of : and be ye in certain, that in that qua- rell he wyl & shal defende her against you : and therm do the best ye can w' all your power, & begin whan ye wyll, for he doubteth you nothynge, nor shall do. And whan the Kyng Emendus hearde theym saye these wordes, he was right sore displesed, and sayd : What is this, syrs, are we taken prisoners ? Lay ye thus in a w'ayt to menace thus, in my presence, my lorde and frende, the 240 TI1YSTORY OF ARTHUR empcrour ? Truly if ye cotinue in this purpose, yc sbal know that I am ryght sore dysplcscd wyth you all. Than the archbysshop answered hym agayne right sharplye ; and so there began muche hurlynge and burlyngc in the courte, and ni ache ado was there likely to haue be done : but, as fortune was, in the raeane seaso raaister Steuen was aryued at the palais, & entred into the hall, & xl. knightes wyth hym. And whan he herd thys noyse and stryfe, he spake aloude, & cryed : Peace ! for Goddes sake ! and dyd soo muche, that he apeased sorawhat y* noyse. And as sone as the Kynge of Valefound saw raayster Steuen, hys son, he ran & enbraced and kj'ssed him, and demaunded howe he dyd ? And he answered, and said : Sir, right wel, thanked be God. And than all other kynges dyd welcome him, and so did Kynge Emendus, & also the emperour : and de- manded of him, how he had done sith his departing out of the courte ? And he answered, and sayd : Ryght wel. Than he perceyued right wel how that the kyng and the archebisshop were right sore displesed togither ; wherfore he said to y e kyng : Syr, what chere is with you ? this daye is a right hye & solempne daye ; whye is your barons and courte thus troubled ? tl>3's day should be of sporte and playe. Mayster Steuen, sayd the kynge, 1 cannot be mery : for your lady, my doughter Florence, hath dysplesed me : for she wyl not do that thynge that I would haue her to do, wherwith I am nothingc content; wherfore, I pray you, assaye and ye can reduce her to my mynde. Syr, sayde maister Steuen, I trust I shal do so moche, that of reason ye shal be content. So of this matter they talked a great space. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 241 CAP. LXIII. HOWE FLORENCE, WHAN SHE KNEW THAT MAYSTER STEUEN WAS COME TO THE COURT, SHE WAS RIGHT GLAD: AND HOWE Y* HE, WITH HIS POLICIE, GATE HER LENGER RESPYT: Y* WAS TYL BARTYLMEWE TYDE NEXT AFTER. Al this season was y l noble lady Florence in her chabre, making right great sorow, sore wepynge, and saying to her self : A ! noble Arthur! swete frende ! fre & gentyll of hearte ! I neuer saw you, and yet I loue you with all my herte. I had thought to haue ben vnmaryed tyll the season of your comynge to thys courte : but now I se well that I must nedes take hym that I hate moost. I loue you, but I can not haue you. A ! fortune ! how arte thou tourned ayenst me ? I hate hym y l I muste haue ; I loue hym that I must lese : certaynly, dere loue Arthur, if ye lose me thus, ye shal haue great domage ; for ye shal lese her y* loueth you truly. A ! mayster Steuen, why haue I not you here now in my great nede ? If ye knewe of my sorowe, I am sure nothynge coulde let you, but y l ye wolde tourne vp so downe this maryage. And as she thus complayned piteously, tidinges came to her lodg- ynge, that mayster Steuen was comen to the courte. And as soone as she herd that, her hert began to come agayne to her ; for than she thought veryly that she neded to care for nothynge. Than she ryght hastely sent for hym. And as soone as the mayster knewe therof, he sayde to the kyng : Syr, my lady hath sent for me to come to her grace. Go your way, sayd the kyng. So thus the mayster departed, and the archebysshop wyth hym, and the Kynge of Orqueney, and hys ncuewe syr Phylyp, Duke of Sabery ; and soo they all aryued togyther, where as Florence was. And the other kynges abode w 1 the king and themperour. And the noble barons of the courte, and all the newe knyghtes, were at Florence lodgynge ryght sore displeased, bycause of her dyspleasure : but they were all gladde whan the Kynge of Orqueney, & mayster 2 1 242 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR Steuen were comen. Than the mayster entred into Florence chambre, & goodly dyd salute her ; but as than she could speke no worde, but toke hym by the hande and caused hym to syt downe by her syde. And wha her hert came to her, she sayd how y l he was ryght welcome, as he whome she desyred to haue, at that tyme, aboue all the creatures of y e worlde. Than the mayster sayd to her : Madame, is thys a fayre aray that ye make thus for your estate, thus 1 sayde the kynge, and thys pleaseth me ryghte well. Than the kynge toke Philyp by the hand, and sayd to Arthur : Dere frende, here I put intoo youre hand & keping, Duke Philyp, my neuewe. Loo ! syr, here take him to you. And also, neuewe, I put into your hand thys knight : in lykewyse take him to you. Than these two knightes enbraced togyther, and promised eche other faythful copany. And sir Emery was gladde bycause that he had lodged in his hous suche a copany of noble men, that hys herte laughed for joye. And al the other baros of the cyte beheld meruayllously Arthur, and praysed hym moche in theyr hertes. And than the vylayne, who was in the company with the lady, cryed as lowde as he coulde : He is come that shal glue lyght ! And the kynge and al other dyd laugh at him right hertely. Tha the tables were set vp, & water was brought forthe. Than the kynge sate dovvne, & Arthur by hym, & than the bys3hop & Duke Phylyp : & so they were serued ryght rychely, for syr Emery made them chere w' all his herte : & wha dyner was done than they all entred into a fayre gardyn ; & there were togither y e kyng, & Arthur, the lady Margarete, & the archebysshop, & other, to the nombre of vi. persones : & al the other company were w'out wyth sir Emery : & they talked all of Arthur, & sayd, how y' he had of God a ryght great gyft, for he was both fayre & of noble maners, & had acheucd suche aduentures as were gretely to be doubted : how be it, they sayd he had enterprysed a grctc thynge, to moue ony warre ayenst the Duke of Bygor & hys neuewe. Syrs, sayd Brysebar, doubt nothynge of hym, for I knowe well he hath achcued often x. tymcs a greter enterprise than this is. And as tha the king helde the lady by the hand, & sayd : Fayre lady, behold here your knyght, who I thlke shal do you good scruice to morow. Syr, sayd the lady, I pray to God send him good grace and fortune. So they were thus longe talkynge togyther tyl it was time to go to their restes. Than euery man departed ; and the kynge, Arthur, Phylyp, and mayster Steue, lodged al togyther in one chabre. And the lady departed into her chaumbre, ryght joyous of her good adueture that God had sent her, and all that nyght she slept but lytic for joye, but was THYSTORY OF ARTHUR 262 alwaycs in her prayers, thankyng God and besechyng hym (o be ayde and socour to her charnpyon ; and in lykewyse dyd syr Emery and al other of the cyte. CAP. LXV". HOW THAT THE NEXT DAY THE MAYSTER ANSWERED FOR THE LADY, AND ARTHUR TOKE HER OUAREL IN HAND AYENST THE DUKES NEUEWE, SYR ISEMB ARTE. In the mornyng the kinge and Arthur rose, and all other baros and knightes of the cyte, & went and herde masse ; & after masse they range the comyn bell of the towne, and therby assembled all the comynte of the cyte togythcr before syr Emeryes hous, to thentent to kepc this knight Arthur, that the duke nor none of hys shuld do him ony hurt or treason : and the same daye there came to syr Emeryes hous al the kinges power, and al syr Phylyppes strength, and all other knyghtes pertaynyng to kyng Emendus, who were com thither to se the batayle betwene Arthur & the dukes neuew. Tha the king entred into the hall ; & there was Arthur, & mayster Steuen, syr Phylyp of Sabary, syr Brisebar, syr Artaude, syr Olyuer, & syr Vyceer, & also the ladi Margarete ; & there they deuysed how they shuld be demened in y' journey. Tha the Duke of Bygor set to sir Emeryes house, comaudynge hym that he shulde incontinet bryng the lady Margarete w' hym to hys courte : & also the duke caused to be crycd thrughout al the cyte, y l on payne of deth al the nobles of the cyte shuld come to the court to make theyr homage to his neuewe, syr Isembarte. And whan the dukes messengers had shewed the lady hoAV that she shulde come to the courte to thentent to be maryed, tha the maister answered, and sayd : Syrs, shew vnto the duke your lord, how that shortly she shal come to the courte, & there do eucry thyng as OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 263 she ought for to do of reason. Than departed the messengers, & wente to the duke & his neuewe, & shewed them how y l the lady was not vnpuruayed of good counseyle, for all the knyghtes of the cyte were in her copany, and moo than v. C. other, & all the moost parte of al the comyns of the cyte : and also they shewed how there was a knyght wyth her who wolde mayntayne her quarell. And whan the dukes neuewe herde that, his hert mounted in pryde, and said : What knyght is that ? for certaynly yf he medell ony thynge wyth y* mater, I shall hange hym by the necke, & therfore he is but yll come to be of her counseyle. Howe be it, there is an olde proue that sayeth, oftentymcs he wanteth of hys wyll that folysshely thynketb, and so fared it by this dukes neuewe; for or it was nyghte he was in a greater balaunce of jeopardy than this knyght was, for he left his life to pledge. Than the kyng and Phylyp wente into the palays, and the duke and hys neuewe dyd encountre them, and so broughte them into his courte, and there in the open hall they sate theym downe. Than anone after came the lady, and Arthur on her one syde, and the mayster on the other syde^ and all the other noblesse and burgeyses & comyns of the cyte dyd enuyron them ; and soo thus they were a great company, & entred into the palays. And whan the kynge savve her he rose, and soo dyd the duke ; but hys neuewe, of proudc herte, sate styl, and wolde not rise ; whereof he was moche blamed of euery parsone that sawe him. And whan the people were all sylence, than mayster Steuen sayd to the duke : Syr, ye haue commaunded here our ladye Margarete, that she sholde come to your courte : syr, beholde here she is, to know what is your pleasure & wyl. Than the dukes neuewe, as he that was fel and full of pryde, rose on hys fete, and sayd : Syr clarke, we haue nothynge to do wyth you, therfore be ye in peas, & let vs alone. Sir, said the maister, for a poore clerke I am reputed with the that knoweth me ; and as for that I have sayd is for this lady, & I thynke she wyl auowe my sayengc : howe saye ye, madame ? be ye pleased that I shal speke for you, or not? Certaynly, sayd the lady, 1 wyll holde ferme & stable all that euer ye haue sayd, or shall saye : and as to 264 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR you, syr duke, I rcquyre you doo me ryght this daye : and yf ye wyll not, here, in open audyence, I put bothe me and all my goodes and londcs into the handes of the Kynge of Orqueney, and of syr Phylyp, his ncuewe, Duke of Sabary, who are bothe here present. Certaynly, fayre damoysell, sayd Duke Phylyp, double ye nothyngc that ony body shall doo you wronge, where as I am present. Well, madame, sayd the kynge, and I receyue you wyth a ryght good wyll into my handes, syth it is your pleasure so to put your selfe. Than the Duke of Bygor sayd : Damoysell, 1 shal do you ryght ; therfore, mayster, speake ye on, and shewe what ye wyl in this ladyes behalf. Syr, sayd the mayster, I say howe that ye, and your neuewe, haue sente for my lady Margarcte, who is nowe here presente : therfore, yf it please you, shewe vs what is the cause. Than the dukes neuewe, syr Isembart, sayd : Syr clerke, I shall shewe you y* cause : it is so, I am fully pur- posed to g} r ue her in maryage to a barboure of mine. And also, here openly 1 straitly comaund al the noble men, & burgeyses of this citie, & of al the lond of Argenton, on paync of lesynge of their landes, that incontinent this same day they come & do tlieyr homage to me as to their chief lord and goucrnourt & they that wyll not do thus, I forbyd them their heritages that they holde, & not to be so hardy as to entre into it any more. Than the mayster sayd : Syr, than we parceyue wel what good ryght ye wold do to thys ladye, yf there were no knyght y' wolde answere you : how be it, I wil not spare to speke accordyng to right : Syr duke, it is of troth that all the comentie of nl the lond of Argenton, as well all the noble men & burgeyses as the comen people, haue herde and seen, and are well assured, that syr Vicier, sometime lorde of al the londe of Argenton, was rightfull heyre ; & this noble lady Margarcte, here present, was lawfully descended of hym, as she y l is rightful heyre of all the herytage and goodes pertaynyng to her sayd father : and therfore, syr, as wel all the hye barons of this cite and londe of Argenton, & knyghtes, and burgeses, as wel other mcane people, as wel' as suche as be here present as they that bene absent, reputeth, taketh, & holdeth her for theyr natural lady, as she y' is the ryghtfull heyre of all the londe of Argenton. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 265 Furthermore, syr, I saye that syr Isembarte, your neucw, here present, is in mynde wrongfully, without cause, to dysherite this lady of her propre herytage, and hath already put out al her offycers, & hath set in theyr stede seruauntes of hys owne : therefore, syr, we desire you that al this ladies londes may be delyuered agayn to her, and that she maye be recompensed for such wrongs as she hath had : or elles let hym shewe a lawfull cause why that she should loose her londes. Syr clerke, sayde syr Isembarte, I wyll shewe you no cause whye : but I wyl kepe it whether she wyl or not. Sir, 'than, said the maister, here lacketh ryght : but, syr duke, as ye be a ryghtfull judge, let vs haue right here this day. Tha the duke sayd : What, fayre neuewe, ye muste nedes tel the cause why ye would holde her heritage. Wei, syr, sayd he, syth it pleaseth you, I wyll shewe him the cause. Syr clerk, I say it is so, y' the father of this lady, for y* gret loue that he had to me, after that we were ones accorded togither before the duke here, my vncle, than at the last it fortuned so y' a greuous maladye toke him, y* which sicknes cost hym his life ; & or he died, because of the good company that I kept him, and for the entyer loue that he had to me, he gaue me generally all his londes, without reseruyng of any thing to him self, or to any of hys ; and so gaue me hys gloue in recordc of full possession therof : & know well this lady is his doughter : how be it, her own father did desherite her, and not I : how be it, her father desyred me that I should make her a nonne, and to gyue her xxx. pounde of yerely rent to fynde her wythall : but because that her father loued me so wel, and because it is an hard thyng for to make a younge lustye damoysel a nonne, for oftentymes suche are afterwarde dysmayed, for it is harde to resyst agenst nature ; therfore, in eschewyng of suche incon- ueniences, I purpose to mary her, & assigne to her C.C. poud of yerely rent : wherfore I wyl y* she shall make her homage to me, as to her chiefe lorde. Than the mayster sayd vnto y e duke : Syr, I shal make sufficyent answere in thys case : but fyrst we wil haue assuraunce of hym, y' for whatsoeuer be sayd, he shall moue at this time no strife therfore ; and my ladye here, for her 2 M 266 TIIYSTORY OF ARTHUR part, in lykewyse shall make you assuraunce. Why, said sir Isembertc, who is here that wyl be pledge or medle for the ladye ? Than syr Philyp, Duke of Sabary, steptc forthe and sayd : I am here present, who wyl be pledge for this lady ; & in like wyse sayd moo than v.C. other barons. Wei, sayd y e Duke of Bygor, and I wyll be pledge for my neuewe. That is sufficient ynough, said the master : Syr, truly than I shal answere you, and saye, that where as yourc neuew sayth, that this ladies father had a great sicknes : whereto, syr, I answere & saye, y' your neuewe here, syr Isembarte, dydde murther and slee hym, and all hys, falsly by treason, lyinge in a wayte for hym by the waye, by a prepensed malyce, wythout any defiaunce, cause, or occasio gyuen on his part : and forthermore, where as he sayth, that he is in possessyon of al the landes of Argenton, the whych is of trouthe, but that is by fraude ; for he kepeth it falsly w'out reason or ani cause. Syr, yf he wyl knowledge him self of the murther of this ladies father, and how that wrongfully he holdeth her land : sir, in this ladyes name I require you, and so do we al, that we may hauc right iudgement of hym ; and that it may be done to hym as it oughtc to be done to a traytour, murtherer, comen thefe, or robber. And, syr, if he deny all this, suffre this lady to proue al this to be of trothe, by her knight, who is here present by her, & rcdi to maintayne her quarell body to bodye agenst your neuew, syr Isembarte. And whan the rcmnaut of the ladies barons herde the maister speake so boldely, eche of them dyd poynt on other, & sayde : This mayater doubteth lytell the pryde of syr Isembarte ; who, whan he herde him selfe called to his own face, murtherer, thefe, & robber, he was so ful of felony, y l he blusshed for dispite, & closed his fyst and stept forth, & thought to haue strykcn the mayster w' a knife y c he had in his hande ; but the people departed them. And wha Arthur saw that, he layde his hand on his swerde, he sayd : Syr, fayre & easely, I wold counsayl you ; for be ye in certain, that yf ye laye any hand on him, all the worlde shal not saue your lyfe. Than the greate vylayn bcgii to cry iii. times : He is come that shall OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 267 gyue lyghte ! Than the Kynge of Orqueney laughed at tlic vylayn. And whan Philyp of Sabary saw Arthur mouecl, he stept forth, & mo than v.C. with him of knightes, and enuyroned the lady and Arthur, about to ayd and to defende them yf nedc were. Than tydynges ran abrode in the cite, how that Arthur was likely to be slaync in the palays : wherfore thither came runing al the hole comente of the citte, & brast open the palais gates, & thought to haue slayne bothe the duke and his neuew : but the King of Orqueney, wyth muchc payne, apeased y e people : til at the last a seruant of the dukes came to hym, and said : Syr, do ye right to these folkes, or els ye are but dead & al yours ; for all the comente of thys cite are here without in your palays, & hath broken open youre gates ; therfore dele wisely, I rede you. And whan the duke herde y', he doubted hym selfc greatlye, and woulde fayne that he had bene at home in his own coiitry. Than Arthur saide to hym : Syr, it is of trouth al y l (he mayster hath sayde of your neuew ; how y' he is a murtherer, traytour, thefe, & robber : here is my gage to proue it true ; my body agaynst his in mortal batayl for this ladies sake. Tha the vylaync began to crye as he dyd before, as though he had bene wode : therw 1 Arthur caste downe before the duke hys gloue. And tha the duke answered, & sayd : Syr knyght, ye speke ryght largely : I wote not what rnoueth you thus to do : but I praye you refrayne your wordes : yf so be y' my neuewe hath done ony trespasse ayenst this lady, I am puyssaut ynough to make her suche amendes, that she shal holde her well content : and I praye you, fayre damoysell, put all this mater in to my handes, & I promyse you I shall soo do y' ye shal be wcl content. Syr, sayd the mayster, ye are a ryghte wyse and a sage prynce, and are wel worthy to gyue couseyle in many great maters. Syr, ye maye gyue good counseyle in thys matter, yf it please you to doo as I shall shewe you. Youre neuewe dyde stryke of, by treason, this ladyes fathers heed : & if ye wyl, therfore, stryke of your neuewes heed, & gyue it to this damoysell in recompence of her fathers heed, than she shall be content : or elles she shall be defended by her knyght. And whan syr Isembarte herde all y', he was soo 268 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR sore chaued wyth yre, y l he said y l there sholde neuer be made none accorde in that mater, but al onely by the swerde. And whan y 1 I haue vanquysshed thys knyght, I shall hange hym by the nccke ; and shall brenne this clerke & damoysell in a fayre fyre. Than he dyd caste downe his gage : and therto he was well couseyled by hys knyghtes ; for they beleued veryly, that there was not in all the worlde soo good a knyght as he was. Than the vylayne cryed out : He is come that shall gyue ligbt ! Than the niaister sayd to the duke : Syr, do as ryght requyreth : receyue these gages. And so, wyth great payne, at the last the duke toke them vp : and than the batayle was judged to be incotinent the same daye. Than syr Isembarte went to arme hym : & the lady ledde Ar- thur to syr Emeryes hous, & there his knyghtes dyd arme hym. And the mayster sayd to hym : Syr Arthur, bere thys daye in this mortall batayle your whyte shelde. And he answered, & sayd : Yf God be pleased, I wyll not bere it for fere of one knyght, nor yet for two such as he is. Than it was knowen thrughout al the cyte, how their lady was arrayng of her chapyon at syr Emeryes hous ; & how y' the batayle was judged to be the same day. Than al y* belles in euery churche began to rynge, & all y* people of cyte, & of y° coutre, besought God to helpe & socour Arthur : & all the processyons of the cyte assembled them togyther, with theyr relyke, & crosses, & holy water, and chanons, preestes, & clarkes, in copes of golde & sylke, & all barefoted, praying to God for theyr ladyes champyon. And all tbese pro- cessyos came & mette Arthur in the strete ; who, as than, was mouted on hys horse, & Phylyp, Duke of Sabary, with him, and more than v.C. other knyghtes in bis company. And whan Arthur sawe these processyons, & the bysshop mytred and all barefoted, hys herte lermed and wepte for pyte ; & dyd lyght of hys horse and kneled downe : & there the bysshoppe dyd sense hym, and blyssed hym wyth the crosse ; and Arthur dyd k ysse it, and enclyned his heed downe, and the bysshop dyd gyue hym hys blessynge, and sayde : That Lorde that was nayled on 1 he crosse, be your ay de & socoure thys daye & euer. And all OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 269 the knyghtes and other answered, & sayd, Amen. Than the processyons retourned agayne to theyr churches : and Arthur and all his company mounted agayne on theyr horses ; and soo thus he was brought in to the felde. The hole clergy of all the cyte were on theyr knees makyngc theyr prayers to God, that he shoulde that day be helpe and socoure to theyr lady, & to her champyon. Than the Kynge of Orqueney came to the felde, and comaunded his neuewe, syr Phylyp, Duke of Sabary, to kepe the felde, soo that there should no wronge nor treason be wrought there that day. Than syr Phylyp armed hym sclfe ; and toke in his company syr Brisebar, sir Neuelon, syr Ancean, syr Artaude, and wel to the nombre of v.C. knyghtes of the courte of Kynge Emendus. Tha the lady came to the feld with mo tha a M. of her men wyth her. Than syr Isembart was armed : and as he passed forby the people, euery ma sayd : Go thy way ; Ave praye to God that thou maist dye an euyl deth. And whan he was in the felde where as Arthur abode for hym, than the maister sayd to the duke : Syr, a mortall batayle ought not to be done without an othe. Than the duke caused to be brought forth a relike, one of the bones of Saynt Vyncent, and an arme of Saynt George. Than Arthur toke his othe, and sayd : By these glorious sayntes relykes that be here presente, and by all the other sayntes of heucn, syr Isembart, the Duke of Bygors neuewe, who is here presente, murthred, or caused to be murthred falsly and without cause, Hie lorde of Argenton, father to my lady Margarete here present, and wrongfully he wolde dysheryte her : and thcrwith he kyssed the sayntes and bokes ; and soo lepte vp on his horse as lyghtly as though he had ben but in a jacket ; and soo set him selfe aparte, and stretched hym on hys horse. And all that regarded hym sayd : Beholde the hye countenaunce of yonder knyght ; se howe he dresseth hymselfe on his horse and plungcth downe his shelde : and the kynge and other also dydde well beholde hym, and praysed hym in theyr hertcs abone all other knyghtes that euer they sawc. Than syr Isemburte toke his othe, and sayd : That, as God and the holy sayntes myglit helpe hym, lie neuer slcwc the lorde of Argenton, nor neuer thought it : and than 270 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR he wolde haue kyssed the sayntes, but he myght not : and in hys rysynge he had suche a payne in the heed, that almoost thcrby he hadde loste his syght : wherfore all the people that sawe hym, sayd : This knyght hath but an euyll countenaunce ; it semeth he is in the wrongc. Than he lepte vpon hys horse ryghte heuyly ; and Arthur was rcdy on the other parte of the felde. Than the Duke of Bygor prayed syr Isembarte, his neuewe, that he wolde leue the batayle, and sayde howe that he woulde make the peas and accorde : but in no wyse he wolde do soo ; but sware that he wolde neuer make no peas tyll that he had the heed of hys enemy, and the lady brcnte. But many folkes thynke to do many thynges, the whyche the hurte thcrof lyghtcth on theyr owne neckes ; and so it dyd on hym. And whan that the duke sawe that he coulde make no peas, he commaunded that they shulde doo theyr best. Than bothe the knyghtes let theyr horses renne with great randon, and strake echc other with great and myghty speres : & bothe knyghtes were of great force : and they encountred soo rudely, that bothe theyr speres all to shcuered to theyr fystes ; and they russhed soo togyther with theyr bodycs and helmes, that they fel downe bothe to the crth. But Arthur, who was the more luslyer knyght, quyckely lepte vpon his fete, and drewe out Traunchefer, his good swerde. And all that season syr Isembarte laye styll on the earth, his fete vpwarde & his head downe warde. And whan Arthur sawe that he laye soo vneascly, he stepte to hym and lyfte hym vp, and layde his shielde vnder his head, and withdrewe hym selfe a lytell from him : wherfore he was greatly praysed of the kyng, and of all the other people. And the kyng sayde to his neuewe : Syr Philip, it semeth wel thys knyghte hath a ryghte noble and a gentyl hcarte. Verely, sayd the Duke Philyp, it can be none otherwyse but that he must nedes be extraught of a noble blode ; for there is in him no touch of shame or vylanye. And whan syr Isembarte was reuiued out of hys traunce, he start vpon his fete, and toke his shelde to him, and drew his swerde, and came vnto Arthur and gaue him a gret stroke on the shekle, and strake away a great piece of his hawberke ; and the stroke dyde glyde downe to the earth. Than he said to Arthur : Ye made me righte OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 271 now to fall in a slepe ; but, or it be night, I shall make you to slepe in such a wise, that ye shal neuer wake. Than Arthur answered him, and sayde : Syr, ye promyse very muche, but I can not tell you whether ye shal be able to paye it : and therewith Arthur strake hym on the helrae wyth suche force, that he bare away a gret piece therof ; so that one of his eares might wel be sene : than he caste his shielde before hym, and Arthur gaue him suche another stroke, that he claue his shielde asunder in the myddes; and the stroke dyd glent by his arme, so that the bloud folowed : and wyth the same stroke the swearde entred into the earth nye a foote : and all the people that sawe that stroke sayde : Saynte Marye ! what knight is yonder ! who maye sustayn his strokes ? there is no knight like hym : and truelye so he was, as than, the best knyght of all the worlde ; for he was of that con- dycyon, that the more he had to doo, the more hardynes was in hym, and strength. And whan syr Isembarte felt hym selfe wounded, he strake Arthur on (he helme ; so that it entred til it came to the coyfe of stele, and than the stroke dydde glent e downe towarde to the lyft syde, and strake awaye as muchc of the hawberk as it touched ; but it came not nere hys flesshe : for in certayne, yf that syr Isembart had ben a true and a faithfull man, he had ben a right good knight ; for he neuer founde hys matche before that tyme : but, as than, he had to do with him that abated his pryde. Than Arthur strake him on the helme, and claue asonder both helme and coyfe ; and so as the swerde tourned, it carued awaye one of his eres from his head, and a gret piece of the brawne of his sholdre, and part of hys barneys iuste vnto the bare rybbes. And all tho that saw it, sayd : Jesu ! how may any suche strokes be gyuen of any knyghte lyuynge? And whan syr Isembarte felte him selfe so wounded, he was enraged for yre, and sayde : Vassayle ! me thynkcth ye haue founde me ; but, by all the Sayntes of Paradise, I shall reuenge me ! Than lie lyft vp his swerd, and strake Arthur on the shield soo, that he bare awaye a great piece of hys barneys. And whan Arthur felt the stroke so heuy and puissant, he stepte asyde, as he that was bothe stronge and lyghte, and well and warely he put the stroke by : the whychc 2? 2 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR was nedcfull ; for yf the stroke had light vpon hym ful, by lykely- hood he liad ben ryglit sore wounded. And than Arthur began for to waxe angry, and toke hys swerde in hys hande with great yre, and dressed liym toward syr Jsembarte, and strake him so rudely, that he strake away arme, and shouldre, and all the flesshe of hys syde vnto the bare rybbes, and dyd cutte his legge nyc clcane asonder in the thycke of the thygh ; and yet, for all that, the swerde entred into the earth halfe a fote. Than syr Isembart fel down to the erth : & Arthur stept ouer hym, and poynted his swerde towarde hys vysage, and sayd : False recreant knight ! without thou wylt make open knowledge of thy defaute, I shall put my sweard into thy head. Than he cryed Arthur mercy, and sayd: Free knyghte, slee me not; but sende for myne vncle, and for the lady Margarcte, and for all the other barons, & than shal I shewe you all the case. And whan they were all come, than he sayd : Damoysell, certaynly I slewe falsly, by treason, your father, and wrongfully, without a cause, haue disheryted you; wherfore I rendre agayne to you your lande, and crye you mercy in that I haue trespassed to you. Than answered the damoyselle, & said : Syr, God do iugement to you for his part ; for as for me, nowc haue I but ryghte, that ye be in this case that ye be in. And whan the duke herde that, he desyred the damosell for Goddes sake to pardon him and to saue his lyfe ; for he hath loste an arme and a legge, and I require you let that suffyse at thys tyme. Fayre ladye, sayd Arthur, howe say you ? haue I done ynough at thys tyme, or elles shall I do anye more ? And euer syr Isembarte laye sty 11, and euer cryed for mercy, and sayde : I yelde me an recreaunte, and vanquysshed Iyke a traytour & murtherer. Than the duke kneled downe before the lady, & helde vp his handes, & required her that he myght haue his neuewe in the same plyte as he was in. And wha the comen people of the countrey saw the duke desyre the ladye to pardon hys neuewe, they were in greate feare leaste that she would haue graunted hys request ; wherfore a great company of them rusht into the prese, tyll they came there as syr Isembarte laye sty 11, and they all at ones layd on hym in suche wise, that they left no ioynt together OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 273 wyth other. And wha the Duke of Bygor sawe that, he was afrayed of hym selfe, and so toke his hors and fledde his way homewarde into hys owne country as fast as he might. Tha the Kyng of Orqueney sayde : Madame, God and this knight hath thys day done you great honour. And than syr Philyp demaunded of Arthur howe that he did ? Syr, sayde he, ryghte well, I thanke God. Than al these lordes & knyghtes mounted on their horses ; but the lady & muche other people wente barefoote vntoo the great cathedrall churche of the citie, and there she rendred thankynges vnto our Lorde Jesu Christe : and wythin a lytell whyle after, Arthur, and syr Philyp, and all other lordes and knightes, came thyther on pylgrimage ; and than the bishop and al the hole clergye receiued Arthur wyth solempne processyon ; and soo, for great ioye, all the belles of the citie were ronge thre dayes togyther ; and all the burgeses throughout euery strete where as Arthur should passe, did hange oute of theyr wyndowes and on theyr walles, cloth of golde and of sylke, and rych carpettes and cusshyns, and coueringes of grene, & riche aparayle of erne- rines lay abrode in euery wyndowe ; and fayre ladies and damoselles beholdyng Arthur theyr champyon. And whan y e lady had done her prayers, she yssued oute of the mynster. Than began iuglers, and tomblers, & mynstrelles to make great ioye and sporte. And the kyng led thys lady on the one syde, and Duke Philyp on the other syde, and so led her forth to the palays ; and all the other barons broughte forth Arthur : & as he passed throughout euery strete, burgeyses, & ladyes, and damoy- selles, for ioye, dyd cast at hym floures of pleasure, & sayd : God encreace in you boiite & honour. And the great vylayne ran, euer dauncyng before for joy, and cryed : Euer now darkcnes is tourned to lyght. And whan the kyng had brought the lady to the palays, he sayd : Nowe, fayre lady, ye be welcome home to your owne ryghtfull herytage. Syr, sayd she, God graunte you y e hye ioye of heue, and kepe and preserue my good knyght y' hath delyuered me fro mine enemies, and saued my lond. Tha anone after Arthur entrcd into the palays, and the master and al other lords and knightes w l him. Tha the ladi said to Arthur: 2 N 274 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR Gentyl knyght ! ye haue dclyuered to rac ray londe, the whych was lost as to my vse, for I had nothynge therof ; and now I haue it agayne by your noble prowesse ; wherfore I holde y' I haue of God and of you : wherfore I wyl to you make faythful homage, & take you for my lord : the whiche knowledge I wyl make here openly before al the nobles y' be here present. A ! madame, sayd Arthur, for Goddes sake say ye neuer so to me, for that shal ye not do. Syr, said she, ye haue giuen it to me, & of you I holde it : I am but a woman alone, & am in purpose neuer to be maryed, seynge y l my lord & father is deed, the whiche I thanke myn enemyes; but now they haue suche rewardes as they haue deserued : and I know wel, as soone as ye departe out of this coiitre, the Duke of Bygor wil assayle me agayne in the reuenging of his neuewes death, and, yf he can, take away from me y' ye haue giuen me. Fayre lady, sayd Arthur, I promyse you I shall helpe you to kepe your ryght to the best of my power : and wha so euer, and as often as ye send to me, I shal leue al thinges & come to you where so euer 1 shall be. Sir, said the lady, God gyue you a CM. thankynges : but, syr, I swere to you by the faith that I haue borne to my lorde and father, y l 1 wil kepe no fote of londe of y' ye haue gyuen me, without I make to you homage therfore. And wha the king herd that, he said to Arthur : Sir, take her homage, syth she will nedes do it : and in like wise counseyled him Duke Philip, and maister Steue, and many other ; and at last, w* moche paine, Arthur toke homage of the lady, and of diuers other baros of y e londe. Tha began there to be made great feest and ioye : and sir Emery, Brisebar, & Artaude, were gouernours of the feest & triumphe. And whan the mete was redy, tha water was brought forth, and so ther wasshed the king, & the bisshop, and the lady Margarete togyther; and tha Arthur, and Duke Philip, and maister Steue ; and so al other, and euery ma after his degre : and so they were all in as great mirlhe & ioye as coulde be deuysed : the whyche ioye endured but a lylle season ; for all their ioy was soone toumed into great trouble : for all the courte was in great displeasure, as ye shal here after, who lystcth to rede or here therof. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 275 CAP. LXVI. HOW THE SAME SEASON, WHILE THE KYNGE OF ORQUENEY & ALL THESE OTHER NOBLE PEOPLE WERE AT DYNER IN GREAT JOYE AND MIRTHE, THERE CAME IN A MESSENGER FRO THE WOUNDED KNYGHT TO ARTHUR, DESIRINGE HIM TO COME AND HELP HIM, OR ELS HE WOLDE WYTE HIM OF HIS DEATH : WHER- W l ALL THE COURTE WAS SORE TROUBLED, AND CEASED ALL THEIR JOYE, FOR THE LOUE OF ARTHUR : FOR INCONTYNENT HE DEPARTED FRO Y e COURT, AND WENT FORTH W 1 THE MESSEN- GER; & HOW Y' ALL THE COURTE FERED GREATLY ARTHUR FOR THAT ENTERPRYSE, FOR THERE WAS NEUER NON THAT EUER RETURNED AGAIN ALYUE FRO THAT ADUENTURE. As this noble courte was in this forsaid great joye, and whyle y f they were at dyner, there entred in to the palays, on horse backe, a squyer, hys swerde gyrte aboute hym, w l hys hatte in his hande. And whan he approched nere to the table where as the king sate, he began to crye as lowde as he could : Where is the knight that is called Arthur of Brytayne ? yf he be in this courte, let hym answere me. And wyth those wordes all the courte was in peas, soo that euery man might well here hym. And whan Arthur herde how that he demauded so for hym, he answered, and sayd : Frende, yf ye demaude for Arthur of Brytayne, there be many folkes reputeth me to be the same : therfore, beholde I am here redye ; for I am the same man that ye demaunde for : saye what ye wyll. Syr, sayd the squyer, I am sente to you ; therfore ye shall here what I shall say. Syr, it is of trouth, how that my mayster, syr Octhebon of Hurtebise, hath hearde tydynges of you and of your aduentures : and so hath he done of many other that could do hym no good. Syr, this knyght is very seke in his bodye, for I thinke verily he is nere to his deth : therfore he sendeth to you by me, that incotinent, without ony lenger delaye, that ye come to hym & gyue hym hclth, accompanyed al onely but wyth your 276 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR squyer ; & yf ye doo not thus incontynent, through your defaute he shall dye : of the vvhych deathe, I here, in his name, appele you before the kyng and all this noble court. And than Arthur aunswered hym, and sayd : Frende, howe is it so that I shoulde gyue hym helthe ? I am but an yll physycyon to helpe hym that is so seke as ye speke of. Syr, come on your way, and he shall shewe you all the maner of his sekenes. Well, sayd Arthur, thynkcth he than that I can gyue hym ony good couseyle ? Ye, syr, said the squyer, if ye be of that hardines and valure as it is of you reported. Well, frende, sayd Arthur, sufFre than tyll to morowe, and I shal this day take my leue of all these barons, & so folowe you. Syr, sayd the squyer, are we now in Brytayne ? Yf ye wyll go, come on your waye streyght, for I wyll departe : how be it, I wyl that ye know that my sayd mayster appeleth you of hys deth. In the name of God, sayd the Kynge of Orqueney, of an yll deth I praye to God that he may dye ; for he hath caused the deth of many a noble knyght, and soo he wyll do now of this knyght, & soo shall we lese hys company. Truly, quod Brysebar, woldc to God I had here his head ! Tha the squyer answered the kyng, & sayd : Syr, if I myght ansvvere a kyng, I wolde saye, that ye should not curse my mayster before me. And as to you, syr knight, that would haue my maisters head, ye wold not go & seke to haue it for your weyght of fyne golde : ye wold fain haue it so it myght cost yon nothing ; but ye were neuer so hardy to go seke for it : the cause is, ye durst not. And as to you, syr knight Arthur, ye cause me to tary here oner longc : eyther come on your way, or els abide here still. And so the squyer was goyng hys waye. Than Arthur stepte fro the table, and demaiided for hys bar- neys, and sayd, that al the world should not cause hym to tary any longer. Than Arthur went & armed hym, and came agayne into the hall, and sayd : I wyll departe ; & so toke his leue of the kinge and of al the hole barony, who were right sorowfull of his departyng. Than sir Philyp, and moo than v.C. other knyghtes, would haue gone w' hym ; but the squier, messenger, wold not suflre any creature to depart with him but al oncly Bawdwyn, hys squyer. Than maister Steucn came to Arthur, and sayde : Syr, OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 277 ye go in a great aduentur of death, for your return is ryghte jeo- perdous ; but yf God gyue you that grace to retorne, leue ye for nothynge, but that ye come to the tourney before Cornyte at Bar- tylmewtyde nexte comynge : for there shall I be, and my ladyes pauylion with me. I wyl now retourne to the Porte Noyre, & I shall sende Gouernar after you. Certainly, maister, said Arthur, if God wil that I shal escape this aduenture, I shall be at y* sayd tournay : wherfore, as now, to God I comaunde you. And so mounted on his horse, and toke with him his white shield, and Clarence, hys good swerde ; the which were ryght nedeful to him in that journey : & so he rode forth, and Bawdwyn, his squier, with him. Tha was al the court sore troubled for his departynge. Than the kinge comaunded to take vp the tables, & to trusse all his stufFe, for he said he wolde depart incontinente. Than the ladye Margaret had thought to haue caused him to tary, but she could not in no wise. And soo in the same houre he departed, and al other lords & knightes : so y' there abode with the lady Margarete no moo but her own knightes. The mayster also sayd, that he would go to y e Port Noyre. And whan all the courte was departed, the maister came to the lady, & sayd : Madame, wyl ye comaunde me any seruyce vnto the Markes, your vncle, who is at y e Porte Noyre ? And the lady desired hyra to tary two or thre dayes, tyl suche time as she had set all her londe in some good ordre, & than she promised to go with him to the Porte Noyre to se her vncle : y e whyche request the mayster dyd graunte her with al his herte, for lie loued her entierly, & had set al his heart and loue on her : how be it, she knewe it not as than. Than the lady ordeyned her bailiuers, and prouostes, & other officers & kepers of her londs, bi the aduise and good consul of the mayster, and receiued homage of al her people : and there she made syr Emery principal gouernour aboue all other. And whan she had ordeyned al this, tha she toke her horse and xii. of her knyghtes with her, and so rode forth with the mayster to se her vncle. And as they rode together, y e mayster dyscouered to her all his courage, how that he loued her with perfit and faithful honest loue : with the which wordes her hcrt 278 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR was so fyred, y l fro that time forward she loued him entyrely, and dyd nothynge but after hys counsayle, and promysed to owe him her good wil & fauour. And so at the last they aryued on a Saturday at the Porte Noyre. And when they were come thyther, there mette them Gouernar & Jaket : & so the maister & Gouernar toke down the lady. Than Gouernar & Jaket demauded how that Arthur did ? And the maister answered, & said, how that he was in good helth & mery, & how y' he was as tha newly departed to the castel of Hurtbyse, in y e countre of y e lost yle; & shewed him how that he desired that he should come after hym ; wherof Gouernar had great ioy, and departed the next day. And whan the lady sawe Gouernar so byg and so goodly a knight, she demaundcd of y* master what knyght he was ? And he answered her, & sayd, how y' he pertayned to Arthur. In the name of God, said she, I think it right well, for he semeth to be of bye prowesse. Vercly, madam, said he, & so he is. Than Gouernar toke the lady, and led her into the palays. Than the Markes came forth the same time and met them, who knew nothinge before of her comynge. And as sone as she saw her vncle, her hert trembled whan she remembred the deth of her father : & so she ran & enbraced hym, wepynge both for ioye and for sorowe : for ioy that she saw her vncle, & for sorowe of the remembraunce of her father. And whan the Markes sawe her, and knewe wel y l she was his nece, incontinente he remembred the deth of her father, his brother ; with the which remembraunce his herte closed in suchc wise, that of a great space he could speke no word ; and so sate them downe on a benche. And Avhan the lady could speake, she said : Fayre vncle, & dere frende ! I neuer 6awe my dere father sythe he departed wyth you : I praye you tel me whether ye haue sene him or not: I pray you answerc to me a pore orphelyne bothe of father and mother. And whan her vncle herde her saye soo, hym thought his herte dyd breke for sorowe, and sayd : A ! myne owne nece, & dere loue ! bothe ye and I haue lost hym ; and ye are disherited : therfore we ought wel to com- playne on oure domages. And, syr Isembart, I pray to God thou maiest dye an yll deth, y l hast thus brought vs into this dolorous OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 279 chaunce. Syr, sayd the lady, of an yll deth he is dead. And so was about to tell him all the matter, but she could not for wepyng. Than the raayster came to the, and shewed the Markes that Arthur had conquered syr Isembarte in playne batayl, and had rendred to y e lady agayne her londes ; and how that she had made homage vnto Arthur. Tha the Markes sayd : Certainly, fayre neee, ye haue done ryght wel to make hym homage ; for he hath deliuered vs out of pouertie, & hath made vs ryche, and he hath wel aduenged you of youre mortall enemy, and he hath deliuered me oute of the dolorous pryson that I was in : wherefore, yf euer I may se hym agayne, I wyl become his man. Thus they talked together so long, that at the laste the mayster made theym to forget theyr sorowe, and to be ioyous & mery. And so they went to dyner, & were serued right richely : and so al y' day they wer together. And thus this lady abode a great space at the Porte Noyre, and euery day sported with her vncle : and so they made right great ioy and feast together. CAP. LXVII. HOW Y« GOUERNAR, IN SERCHYNG OF ARTHUR, HAD THE HONOUR OF A TOURNEY Y f WAS MADE BY Y e ERLE OF THE YLE PERDUE, & THERE GOUERNAR WAS AMOROUS OF THE COUNTES. AND HOW T 1 THE ERLE CHARGED THE COUNTES Y l SHE SHOLD NOT SPEKE TO GOUERNAR, WHEROF EUYLL CAME TO HYM; FOR THE NEXTE DAY GOUERNAR DYD BEETE HYM WELL IN THE TOUR- NAY, & LAY ALL NIGHT AFTER WITH THE COUNTESSE, HIS WYFE. In the mornynge betymes Gouernar toke hys leue of the lady, and of the maister, and of the noble Markes, and rode forth on his waye, and Jacket, hys squyer, wyth hym : and he was ryght rychely beseen, and mounted on a good and puyssaunte horse; 280 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR and soo rode forthe viii. dayes, and neuer coulde here anye tydynges of that he sought for : tyl at the laste he aryued in the londes of Ynde the More, bytwene the realme of Soroloys and the em pyre. And there he sawe a great ryuer ; & at a crosse waye he encountred a messenger, who bare a scochyn on hys brest, & also a boxe full of letters, and rode a great pace. And this was aboute Saynt Laurence tyde. Than Gouernar dyd salute the varlet, and demaunded of hym what tydynges, and of whence he was ? And he answered, & sayd : Syr, I am pertaynynge to the Erie of the YIe Perdue, and am rydynge to the stronge castell to a knyght named syr Jakes, to thentent y< he sholde come to him to go w l him to a tournay : for themperour of Ynde hathe somoned my maister, y e said erle, to wayte on hym to Corny te at this Bartylmewe tyde nexte comynge, bycause of a turnay that is taken there bytwene hym & the mighty Emedus, Kynge of Soroloys : and bycause my lord thynketh not to be vnpuruayed of good knyghtes, he hath made to be cryed a tournay on Mondaye next comynge, to thentent to chose of y e best knightcs y l cometh thider, to haue them wyth hym to the sayd great tournay at Cornyte : therfore I must go to the sayd syr Jakes, to cause hym to be wyth my said lorde on Monday nexte comynge. Well, good frende, sayd Gouernar, go on your waye. God sende you good aduenlure! So than the varlet departed. Than Gouernar sayd to Jacket : I am in purpose to goo to thys sayd turnay, for it may happe ryght wel that we may there here some tidinges of my lorde Arthur. And so they rode so longe, tyll at the last they aryued at the Yle Perdue ; where as they founde many knyghtes y c were rcdy come, so y l all the lodgynges were taken vp ; wherfore he had moche payne to gete hym ony lodgynge ; but, at the laste, he mette w' a good burgeyse, who receiued hym frendly into his hous. And whan Gouernar was chaunged, he called to hym hys hoste, & demauded hym all the maner of the erle, and what maner of man he was ? who answered, and sayd : Syr, he is a ryght valyaunt man, & a hardy knyght ; for there are but fewe that may compare wyth hym in dedes of armes : & he hath to hys wyfe the moost fayre lady that is in all OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 281 the worlde, except the Kyng of Soroloys dougliter; & for her beaute hyther resorteth many strange knyghtes, both dukes, erles, and many other good knightes : & bicause he dooth tournay to niorow, he knoweth well y' many knygh(es wyll be at hys house for to se his wife, therfore he hath caused the gates of hys castel to be fast shette ; and hath defended, that what so euer he be shal not entre : tlie gates were not open syth none yesterday. No ! sayde Gouernar ; in the name of God I shall assay to entre, &, yf I can, to se the fayre lady. Than he called to hym Jacket, and comaunded hym to brynge forth hys horse : for he sayd he wolde go & assay his horse ayenst the nexte daye that he sholde tournay» And so Jacket brought hym his horse, & he mounted theron ; and so rode forth throughout y e stretes of the towne 64f 2$: OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 283 countesse : Fayre ladye, I am a knyght that passeth tlirughout this coutry, and it was shewed me how that ye were in thys castell: wherfore I thought I would not passe by without seynge of you ; therefore I am come to you, to ofl're my selfe to be your knighfe, & to do that I may do for your sake : wherfore, madame, I requyre you to shewe me what is youre pleasure, for I am sore desyrynge to knowe it. And the countesse spake no word agayne, but cast down her loke to the grounde, wherwith she was ryghte sore greucd at the herte. And whan Gouernar sawe that she spake no worde, he was ryght sorow full, & sayde : Madame, wyll ye not speake to me ? I haue herd renowned of you, that ye were fre & gentyll of hearte, and of suche courtese, that ye could beare none yre nor no malice in your herte, nor do any vylany to any maner of persone : wherfore, fayre lady, aunswere me some maner of worde. How be it, for al that, she spake no worde agayne. And therwith water was brought forth, and all they wasshed, and sate downe to dyner. And the earle caused Gouer- nar to syt nexte to the ladye, to thentente to doo hym the more anoyauce and shame. And there Gouernar carued to the lady ryght goodly with his knyfe, and oftentymes spake to her, but she woulde neucr gyue answere agayne : wherewith Gouernar was so sore dyspleased, that be neytlier dyd eate nor drynke but a lytel ; for he sawe well how the lady spake to all other, but in no wyse she would speke to him. And also the coiitesse was right sore displeased in her hearte, because she durslc not speake to him. And thus they were in thys case tyl they were taken vp fro y* diner. And than Gouernar toke her boldly by the hand, and sayd : Madam, I wold fayne speake a ly tell wyth you. And soo he led her vnto a fayre wyndowe. Than he sayd : Swete lady, it is for none yl, or despite, or for any Irespace, that I haue made to you or to anye of yours, that ye do to me suche hardnes y l ye wil not speke to me : ye haue the name to be the moste free and gentyllest of hearte of any lady now lyuynge, for al bounte and courtesy is sayd to be in you : therfore, swete lady, shew some- what of your courtesy to me as in speakynge but one woorde : and, fayre and gentyl ladye, do me soo muche honor as now to speke to 284 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR me ; for, as God hclpe mc, I am ashamed, if ye do no<, for eucr : for it shal be sayd to morow of mc, how that I am but a folysshe knight and outragyous ; for by myne outrage, it shal be sayd that I haue lostc the herynge of the speche of the moost fayre Iadjc of the worlde : madame, I requyre you put fro me this reproche : open to me a lytic your swete mouth, wherein is all curtesy, and spcke to me some worde : for, madame, as God helpe me, my herte dyeth in my body, for I am in fere leest that ye be dyspleased Mtyth me for some trespace that I haue done : but for al y* she spake no worde agayne to hym, and yet she was as sore greued in her herte as he. Gouernar stode and talked so longe to thys lady, tyl at the laste two of her gentylwomen came for her, that she should go into her chambre and take her reste. Than Gouernar, at her deparlynge, layde hys arme aboute her, and sayd : Madame, I se well 1 must ncdes departe from you at thys ty rue : I wyll go to my lodgynge ryght sorowful, and ye shall go & reste you, & slepe, & take Iy tell care for my greate grefe : how be it, madame, I saye vnto you, that I wyl neuer departe fro this towne tyll ye haue spoken to me. And so, thus talkynge, he brought her to her chambre doore, and he sawe well where there was a waye out of the chaumbre in to a fayre orchcyarde. Than he sayd : Madame, ye wyll not speke to me ; but 1 promyse you I wyl come this same nyght in yonder orchcyarde, & soo to your chaumbre, to speake with you, thoughe I dye therfore. Syth I haue taken that enter- prysc in my mynde, eyther I wyl dye, or elles ye shal speake to me. And therwyth the countesse entred into her chaumbre wyth- out spekynge of ony worde to hym. And than Gouernar retourned to hys lodgynge into the towne, ryghte sore dyspleased in hys herte. And whan Jacket sawe hym come on fotc, he demauded of hym where was hys horse ? And lie answered, & sayd : In fayth, frende, it gooth not wel wyth me. Ha! ha! sayd Jaket, I trowe ye haue played away your horse, bycause ye woulde not toumay to morowe with the knyghtes of this countre. Well, shamefull knyghte, to morowe, whan I se other genlyl knyghtes toumay, I shall shewe them how that ye lye aslepe in your chaumbre. Than Gouernar layde hym downe on OF LYTLE BllYTAYNE. 2S.5 a bedde, all replete w' yrc, tyll it was nyght. And than the sayd erle comaunded all hys knyghtes, that they should departe and goo to theyr restes, bycause they shoulde be trauayled on the next daye. And also he sayd to the countessc, hys wyfe : Madame, go thys night into your chaumbre and take your rest, for I wyll thys nyglit ly alone ; for I am sure I shall be ryghte sore trauayled to morowe. And whan it Mas derke nyght, and the coutesse taken her leue, and entred into her chambre, than rose Gouemar, and badde Jacket, his squyer, to gyue hym his swerde. And Jacket demaunded of hym what he wolde doo? 1 wyll go out & playe me, sayd Gouernar. By the fayth that I owe to God, sayd Jaket, I trowe ye wyll go lye in a wayte by the hye way, for to robbe some marchaut to by you a newe horse wyth all. Gouernar answered no worde agayne, but departed fro hym ; and as than euery bodye was in theyr lodgynges, for it was than somwhat late, and the rnoone shone very bryght, and the watchemen were on the walles of the castell, and so wente often aboute. And at the laste Gouernar came to the hygh walles of the orcheyarde, the whyche joyned on the one syde toward a fayre forest. And there Gouer- nar sawe well, on the other syde, the wyndowes of the chaumbre where as he sawe the lady entre whan he departed fro her. Than he clam vpon a grene oke, and dyde so moche, that at the last he gate vpon the wall : & there he stode styl pryuely a good space, because of the watchemen that went about ; for, as than, they were in that quarter. And whan they were passed, he gate hym downe by another tree ; and so stode sty 11 by the walles, vnder the shadowe of the trees ; for the moone dyd hym grete anoyaunce, because she shone so clere. And at the last he gate hym into the myddes of the garden, vnder a fayre pyne tre, where as there was a ryght fayre foutayne : and there he stode a great space, & durst not stere for feare of spying ; for he knewe well, that yf he styrred, the watchmen, who as then were not a slepe, should se hym ; and he knewe well that, and he were espyed and taken, he shoulde notte lightly escape wythout deth : therfore he kepte hym selfe as pryuely as he couldc. And al thys season the countesse was in her chambre in her 286 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR kyrtel, barefoted and bare legged, and on a carpet of sylk, and her damoyselles aboute her ; and there they began to speake of the knygbt who bad gyuen bys horse to speake wyth her : and one of the damoselles, who was named Poncet, sayde, howc that be was of right great valure and bounteful of hert. By the mother of God, said Eglentyn, an other of her damoyselles, ye saye ryghte truly ; and where as he is gentyl of hert, in lyke wyse be is passynge fayre, and more gracious of wordes than my lorde is. Trudy, sayd Poncet, I meruayl me greatly, how that my lady could haue so barde a heart, as whan he spake so swetely to her, that she woulde gyue hym no maner of answere. Trudy, sayd Eglentyne, as I remembre I hearde hym saye at hys depart inge, that he would come thys same nygbt into thys garden. By the good Lorde, sayde the other, I remembre well I hearde hym say so. Well, sayde the countesse, I care not whether become or not; yf he doo, lette hym kepe faste that he shall wynne : lette vs go to our beddes : & that she sayd to couer her courage, and to breake theyr wordes : and so she sente awaye from her all her gentyll women, sauynge Poncet and Eglentyne, for they two were of her preuy cou- sayle. Than she sayd to them : A ! dere lady, the mother of God! what shall we do yf this knygbt cometh into the garden this nygbt ? yf he be espyed of the watchemen, it shall be thoughte that I haue caused hym to come hyther ; soo shall I be shamed, and he destroyed ; the which should be a great domage ; for he is a right fayre knyglit. By the good Lord! said Egletyne, madame, yc say righte truely : therefore, Poncet, fdowe, let vs twaine go se whether lie be come or not. Than Poncet toke a grene mantell and dyd cast it on her, and so went forth together playeng, to the entente the watchmen should knowe that it were they : and, at the laste, Poncet lokcd vnder the pyne tree, and there she sawe where he stoodc. Than she sayde : Syster Eglentyne, there is no more but now let vs do for the best, for yonder I se hym : and inconty- nentc they approched too the fountayne, and made semblaunt to wasshe theyr fete and handes : and Poncet toke her mantell and dyd cast it on the knygbt, and toke a fyne keuercbefe and dyd knytte it on hys heade ; and so toke hym by the arme, & did OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 287 leade liytn forth into tlie countesse chaumbre, as though he had ben one of her felowes. And as sone as Clour-mar sawe y e Iadie, he cast of his keuerchefe & his mantell, & kneled downe, & sayde: Madame, I pray God gyue you good lyfe and good nyght. And she answered, and sayd : Syr knyght, in an yll nyght and tyme ye be entred into my chambre without my licence ; wherfore ye be not welcome vnto me : but, for your labour, I shall cause you to be hanged by the necke : and these wordcs she spake fayre and easely, because she wolde not be hearde. And forthermore she sayde : Syr knyght, howe durste ye be so bolde to breake my wallcs & entre into my chambre ? By the mother of God, ye shal dye therfore. Than Gouernar answered, & sayd : Ryght dere and swete lady ! blame me nothynge therfore ; for, as God helpe me, my herte dyed in my bodye whan so hye a lady as ye be wolde not speke to me : for, as it is sayd that all gooJnesse and gentylnesse is coprysed in your persone : wherfore, fayre lady, now doo wyth me what it shall please you : syth ye haue spoken to me, stryke of my head & ye wyll : loo ! here it is al redy : and so he layde forth his heed to the coutesse, to haue had her stryken it of yf she lyste. And whan the countesse saw him humble him- sclfe so mekely, her hert began to melte, & so toke of him some pyte. A ! madame, sayd Poncet, this knyght hath euyll enployed his curtesye that he hath done to your porter, as to gyue him hys good horse for youre loue, and nowe ye to speke so rudely. He hath done more bounte and curtesy, syth he came hyther, than euer dyd onye that euer came vnto this place to se you, though they were neuer so noble or great : it is reason that he may fele that he hathe not yll enployed his gyft that he hath gyuen for youre sake : and also he hath ieoperded hys lyfe in this behalf: it came of a great gentilnes of herte to gyue awaye his horse, and of a great valure of courage to put this his lyfe in aduenture for your sake : full ly tell durst thus haue done ony knyght of this countre, who be afrayde of euery foly : they lacke in tlicyr hcrtes suche bonte and valure. 1 say not all thys all onely for his sake, for I neuer sawc him afore (his dayc : but, as helpe me God, I se by reason y l loue hath caused hym thus to do ; for yf he had not TIIYSTORY OF ARTHUR loued you, he wolde baue done nothynge of tbys y l is done : thcr- fore, madame, for Goddes sake make hym amcndes of the yll cruelte y' ye dyd to him this day, & speke to him more curteysly. Poncet, sayd the lady, I can not, I am so full of yre ; for he hath dyspleased me with his cominge hider : for it is no thanke to him though I wer shamed for this dede. Madame, sayd Poncet, yf ye put hym out of your cliaumbre at this time of nighte, he shall be espyed of the watchemen, & so taken & slayn, & you sbamed ; for euery man that shal knowe therof, wyll saye that ye caused hym to come : & tbe more that knovveth therof, the worse it is ; for whan a thynge is doone, it is conuenycnt to let it passe as casely as may be, and to kepe it secrete; for all is lytle ynough. Syr knyght, knele ye downe and crye my lady mcrcye, in that ye be come hither without her lycence. Than Gouernar kneled downe, & sayd : Madame, for Goddes sake forgyue me this trespace. And she beheld him meniaylouslye ; for he was fayre & gracyous, and he was bare heded : & Poncet strake dowe hys heare wyth her hande, for it was somwhat ruffled wyth the wynde, and sayd : A ! madame, beholde & se what maner of knight this is : and who is soo harde herted that wyll not forgyue hym that putteth hym selfe in suche adueture, all onely to se a fayre noble lady ? Certaynly I pardon hym in your name ; for I am sure, madame, ye wyll be content therew 1 . Than the countesse dyd smyle, & sayd : Alwayes ye wyl playc the fole : but so she toke Gouernar by the hande, & caused him to aryse vpon his fete. Than Poncet bad hym syt downe by her lady ; but, for courtcsye, he would not at the fyrst biddyng. Than Poncet sayd : Syr knyght, now ye nede not to take any care for anye of the knightes of this castel for your coming hythcr : and without ye haue fere of a woma, syt down by my lady, and make your own peace. Therw' Gouernar sate down, and enbraced and desyred the ladye yt she wold pardon him : and so she did. And than Gouernar, all smylyng, cast forth many prety & goodly wordes ; and euer he foud the lady gentyl & swete of her answeres. Than Poncet said : Sister Eglentine, my lady, me thinketh, is mery now : I trow she care not for vs : let vs go watch in y* next chaumbre, for I thynke she would fayne be a OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 289 bed ; and soo they wente theyr way : and the lady called them again, but that was very softely, for it was with a dead voice. And than anon Poncet herd the curteyns drawen about the bed, and she knewe well there were no mo creatures but the lady and the knight together. Than Gouernar began a lytel to speake fayre, as these louers dothe whan they would haue their desyres ; and at the last he dyd so muche, that they were agreed to lye together ; and so to bed they went : and there they toke suche pastaunce together, as these louers are wont to do whii they be in lyke case. And than Gouernar demaunded of the lady, why she had done bym so much vylany, as in that she would not speake to hym in her palays ? In the name of God, said the lady, the cause was, for my lord comauded me so to do, and I durst not dysplease hym : how be it, that greued me ryght sore so to do. Well, madame, it is often seene, that too much restrainyng is not good ; but, as in thys case, he y' hath the domage let hym wepe hardely : & so he enbraced and kissed the lady, & thus they were together til it Avas nere hand day. Tha the lady said : Syr knyghte, I requyre you rendre vnto my lorde the vilany that he hath done to vs, in suche wise y t ye iust to morow agenst him ; & let him fele and know how that ye be dyspleased. By the mother of God, sayd Go- uernar, so shall I do : I warant ye shal se hym flye to the erth . Tha the lady began to laughe. Than Poncet came to the beddes syde, and sayde : Madame, is all the yll wyll any thyng mynysshed ? is all this warre now fayled ? I beleue that the peace be made : I trowe ye hnue made amendes thys nyghte to the knyght. By the good Lorde, sayd the lady, Poncet ye play alwaye the fole. Up, syr knyght, sayd Poncet, for it is tyme for you to ryse. Than Gouernar rose & apparayled hym. Than the countesse said : Sir, yesterday ye dyd giue awaye your horse for my sake ; wherfore I wyl gyue you agayne as good a gyfte ; Poncet, bryng me hyther yonder lytel casket that lieth on my presse. And whan she hadde it, she sayde : Holde, syr knyght, I gyue thys casket to you, and al that is therein. Madame, sayd Gouernar, by the leue of God I wyll not take it ; for I thanke God 1 am riche ynough, & haue so valyaunt a maister, 2 p THYSTORY OF ARTHUR that he wyl gyue me goodes sufficyent. By the fayth y l I owe to God, said the lady, though ye were a kyng, yet I gyue it vnto you ; and without that ye take it, I ensure you I wyl neuer speke to you more whyle I lyue : I giue it to you frely, but for a remem- braunce for the loue that I haue in you, and to bie you therwith a newe horse; and I require you to morow dele w' my lord as ye haue promised me. Madame, by the fayth that I owe vnto you, sayd he, I ensure you I shall make hym reuerse from his horse. Than y' lady and Poncet dyddc smyle ; and so than departed Gouernar fro them, and toke the casket with him, the which was ful of coyned gold : and as than al the watchmen were a slepe, for than it was at the poynte of day. CAP. LXVIII. HOWE THAT GOUERNAR DYDDE BETE DOWNE, AT THE TOURNEY, THE ERLE OF THE YLE PERDUE. Xhus wha Gouernar was departed fro the countesse, he came to his owne lodginge, and there he founde Jacket, hys squyer, slepynge on a fourme before the fyre ; & so he awoke hym. And whan Jacket saw hym, hys herte trembled because of hys sodayne wakyng, & sayd : Thys is a fayre tarying, I trowe, for a wyse man to come now to his lodgyng ; and than he did lyght vp a torche, and there in the charabre Gouernar did open hys casket, wherein there was of golde and jewelles beyonde two thousande pound. And whan Jacket sawe it, hys herte was afrayed, and sayd : Syr, I thynke ye haue robbed some abbeye : beware ye be not hanged to morow. A ! Jacket, frende, said Gouernar, hold thy peas ; holde here C.C. pound, and loke that I haue to morowe a good horse, and gyue all the remnaunt of the money to poore people. Ye, said Jacket, ye be very liberal of other mennes OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 291 goodes, for I trow all thys coste you nolhynge : ye be a large gyuer of almes. I thynke it were better that ye caused the abbeye to be couered wyth lede fro whence ye stale thys money. But so than, as sone as it was fay re day, Jacket wente into the market place, and there he founde hys owne maysters horse to be soulde : and there he boughte hym for an hundreth pounde, and soo broughte hym to Gouernar, who was ryghte gladde of hym. And after that none of that day was paste, harowdes did crye in euery strcte : knightes lepe vpon your horses, and get you shortlye to the fielde. Than homes, bussjmes, tabourynes, trompettes, and claryons, began to sowne maruaylouslye. Than knyghtes quickelye dyd arme theym : and than the gates of the castell were sette open, and the erle dyd yssue out wyth a great company of knyghtes wyth hym, and came into the place where as the turney shold be : and by that tyme Gouernar was armed and mounted vpon hys horse ; and he was greatly beholden that tourney of euery bodye, for he was a ryght fayre knighte in harneys. Than the countesse, and other ladyes and damoiselles, were mounted on the castell walles to behold the tourney, the whyche was in a fayre grene, ryghte vnder the castell wal. Than Poncet & Eglentine saw where as Gouernar came riding toward the tourney, in a narowe lane. Madame, quod Poncet, beholde yonder knyghte, by semynge he sholde be some noble man. Truly, sayd the lady, he is the most semelyest knighte in all y c rowte. Madame, sayd Poncet, 1 thinke ye would his honour and profyt. By the good Lord, sayd the lady, I wold he were a kynge. Than anon in the field the partes were disseuered, & Gouernar was agenst y e erle. Than hcrawdcs cried : Knyghtes, do your best. Than began the tourney ryght hard & sharp : & Gouemer aduysed wel the erle, and ran at him ryght rudely ; and the erle strake hym so sore, that he made him some- what bowe on hys horse : but Gouernar strake hym, and mette hym with his bodye so rudely, y' he made hym auoyde his horse, & the legges vpwarde. Than Jacket tokc the erics horse, and brought hym to the countesse for a present. And whan the ladyes sawe where the erle dyd fall, than Eglentyne sayd : A ! yonder is one w' his fete vpwarde. That is true, sayd Poncet, that is my lord 29'-: THYSTORY OF ARTHUR the crle ; beholde how he shaketh his legges. Well, sayd the countcsse, me thynketh yonder knyght holdeth my lord very shorte. Madame, sayd Poncet, he acquyteth hym of hys promyse. Thus Gouernar helde the earle so shorte, y 1 he was fayne to yelde hym, whether he wolde or not. Than all the cries company came al at ones on Gouernar ; but he was stronge and lyght, and gaue so greate strokes and heuy, that he confouded all that euer he attayned vnto : and at the bronte he vnhorsed moo than viii. knyghtes. And whan Jacket had made hys present vnto the countcsse, who thanked hym moche, than he retourned agayne vnto hys mayster : and soo he hadde ynough to do euer to cary the horses of them that hys mayster had ouerthrowe to the burgeyse, who was hys maysters hoste. Than Gouernar aduysed well where there was togyther a great flocke of knyghtes. Than Gouernar dasht amonge them so rudely, that at his fyrst comynge he ouerthrewe two knightes togither; and so wythin a shorte space he departed the knyghtes asonder, and gaue suche strokes all aboute hym, y' euery man fledde before hym : & all the ladyes sawe hym do meruayles wyth hys handes ; & they maruayled howe that euer he coulde endure suche payne wyth his body. And than as he retourned fro that company, he mettc agayne the earle, who as than was remounted. Than Go- uernar dasht into the prese tyll that he came streyght where as the erle was, who, as than, handled ryght sharpely a knyght of the parte that Gouernar was of. Than Gouernar dressed hym to the erle, and enbraced hym by the shouldres, & dasht hys horse wyth his spurres, and ouerthrewe bothc the erle to the ground, and also the knyght that the erle fought wythall ; and there he made the erle to yelde hym agayne. And whan the countesse sawe that, she smyled ryght swetely, and said : Poncet, frende, yonder knyght hath beten downe two at ones ; blessyd be hys vertue ! he is nowe well auenged of the erle, my husbonde, who wolde not suffre me to speke wyth him. Than the erles company set on Gouernar ; but he defended hym selfe ryght maruaylously : but they oppressed hym soo sore, that hys horse enfoundred vnder hym : and than Gouernar vygorously lepte on hys fete, and there OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 293 he aduysed the erles senesshal, who hadde at that tyme ryght sore anoyed hym ; and he Avas well moiited vpon a good blacke raorell horse. Than Gouernar lepte vp to him, and toke him aboute the necke wyth his handes, and pulled hym so sore, that he made hym to auoyde the saddell, whether he woulde or not, and soo fell to the grounde. Than Gouernar toke hys horse and quyckely lepte vp into the saddell, and in a greate yre dasht in to the prese, and gaue so myghty strokes, that he made all to flee before hym : and by that tyme the erle was remounted agayne ; and the thyrd tyme he came bebynde Gouernar, and enbraced hym wyth bothe his handes, to the entent to haue lyfted hym out of hys saddell ; but he coulde no more remeue hym, than thoughe he had lyfted at a great toure. Than Gouernar tourned hym to the erle, and toke hym by the head, and pulled hym downe to hys horse mane, & gaue hym so many strokes, that he all to brused hym : wherwyth he fell downe to the earth in suche plyte, that he coulde not remeue for all the good of the worlde. Than there fel on hym all the earlcs company : and by that tyme the earles senesshall was remounted ; and so he came to Gouernar, and wha he sawe hym do such dedes of hye prowesse, he praysed hym moche in his herte, and thought to tournay noo more that daye ayenst hym, but sayd : Syr knyght, be ye in certayne, y l as many horses as fayle you thys day, I shall puruey you euer of an other. Than Gouernar dasht into the prese, & rounde aboute hym he layde on their heades and vysages, that he made them to blede lyke beestes : & at the last hys horse fayled him ; and than the earles senesshall brought to hym an other hors. And whan he was remouted, he strake in as fresshely among them as though he had done noo thynge of all that day before : and than he dyd so moche by hys prowesse, that euerye man gaue hym place & departed, & left hym in the feldc all alone. Tha the erle was borne into the castell in a horse lytter, for he was sore brused. And his senesshall came to Gouernar, & desyred hym muche to go to Ihc castell ; but Gouernar wolde not, but sayd : What should 1 do there ? I knowe not what maner of people ye be ; for amonge you ye dayne not to speke to ony strange knight. Tha the senesshall wyst well that he sayd that 294 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR by the countessc : wherfore he blamed moche the erle in his herte, in that he had comaunded her so to do. So than Gouernar retourned to the burgeyse, his hoste, who made him ryght great chere & feest : and the knightes and burgeyses of the townc came thither to se hym, and sayde one to an other, Beholde here the valyaut knyght ! Gouernar had wonne that day xv. good horses : than he vnarmed hym, for he was somwhat wery of his trauayle. And wha the erle was in his castell, he comaunded that the gates should be set open, & that euery man should come in, who soo euer wolde : and than he was vnarmed, and the countesse, his wife, came to him, & demaunded howe he dyd ? And he answered, and sayd, how that he was sore brused. A ! syr, sayd she, & who hath done that ? I am right sory therfore. Truly, said he, thus hath arayed me the same knyght that gaue yesterday his horse to my porter, to thentent to se you. Syr, sayd she, I byleue it well ; for I thinke he was dyspleased wyth you bycause that ye forbade me that 1 shold not speake to hym : I thynke he remem- bred y' to daye ; wherfore it is good to be wel ware to whome a man dooth a dyspleasure. Than the erle came into the hall where as all the other knightes were ; and there they were talkyng and enquyrynge eche of other, what knyght had done best that day : and so they all did giue the prayse to Gouernar. In y" name of God, said the erle, he hath beten me downe thre times this same daye ; therefore I requyre you gete hym hyther to me; for I shall acqueynt me wyth hym ; for I wyll gyue hym the one halfe of all my londes, on the condycyon that he wyl abyde & dwell wytli me. Certaynly, syr, sayd his senesshall ; and on that condycyon I wyll gyue him yerely a thousand pounde : for, accordyng to the trouth, he is a ryght good knyght. Than the erle commaunded his senesshall to go for hym ; and so he dyd ; and founde hym at his hostes hous, who made hym ryght great chere and honour. And than the senesshall said : Syr, the erle hertely desyreth you to come and speake wyth hym in the castell ; and, syr, for Goddes sake abyde & dwell wyth hym, and he wyll gyue you the one halfe of hys londes, and I shall gyue you a thou- sande pounde yerelye, & kcpe you true and faythfull company : OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 295 &, thus talkyng, they went forth togyther towarde the castell : and as soone as the erle saw hym, lie rose vpon hys fete, and so dyd all the other knyghtes, and dydde hyrn muche honoure : and the erle caused G'ouernar to syt downe by hym. Than these tydynges ran anone into the countesse chambre, how that the good knight was come : than the ladyes had great delyte to se hym. Than Poncet sayde : Madame, I thynk thys knyght pleseth you ryght well ; therfore let vs go se hym. Certainly, said the countesse, with a right good wyll : so than they wente into the hall. Than the earle & Gouernar dyd ryse, and ryghte courteysly dyd salute the lady. Tha the countesse sayd to Gouernar : Syr, ye shoulde not salute mc ; for I haue done you more vylanye than euer dyd lady to any knyght without trespas. Madame, said he, it is no trespasse for so bye a lady as ye are, to take her plesure of so symple a knyght as I am. Than y' erle sayde : Sir, ye haue thys day beten me fro my horse, the which neuer as yet knight dydde before ; wherfore I owe vnto you a great raunsome. Syr, sayde Gouernar, sauynge youre grace, I am not of suche vertue nor of such valure as to do so hie a chyualry as ye speake of. Wei, syr, sayd the erle, I knowe well how it is : but, syr, I require you be of my house, & ye shall be there comaunder therof; for I wyll y* what so euer ye comaund shall be done. Syr, sayd Gouernar, I humbly thanke you : howe be it, I can not accomplysshe your desyre : & the more the earle desyred hym, the more he sayd nay. Than y e erle sayde to the countesse : Madame, I praye you desyre hym ; and so she dydde ryghte swetely : how be it, she was not greatlye bound to do so muche at her husbandes desire : but Go- uernar wisely excused him, and sayd : Fayre lady, it can not be; for I haue a lorde already, who must nedes be serued of me, & of other far better knightes than I am. Certaynly, syr, sayd the senesshal, yf there be more prowesse in him than is in you, he surmounteth than all the knightes of y e world. Certainly, sir, sayd Gouernar, he is able to caste suche vi. as I am into the ryuer. Truely, sayde the erle, tha do ye well to serue him faithfully ; wherfore I wyll requyre you noo ferder: howe be it, that for- thynketh me. 296 TIIYSTORY OF ARTHUR Than y* countesse was right sore displesed because he would not abyde. Than y e souper was redy, & water was brought forthe, and so they sate downe and were well serued. After souper Gouernar toke lyccnce of the erle, & of the countesse, & of all other knyghtes : and than torches were lyghted vp, and the senesshal conuayed him to his hostes house : & the erle comaunded that his host should take nothyng of hym for his dispence. Than Gouernar toke his leue, and the nexte mornyng betimes departed ; & commaunded his hoste to God, and gaue him al the horses that he had wonne in the tourney : & the burgesses thanked him hertely, & said : In al places where as Alexander y e Gret dyd conquere, ye may go w'out ieoperdy, & do as muche as euer he did. And so Gouernar entred into hys way, & rode to seke his lord Arthur. Now let vs leue spekyng of Gouernar, & let vs retourne to Arthur and to the King of Orqueney. CAP. LXIX. HOW THAT AFTER ARTHUR WAS DEPARTED FRO ARGENTON TO GO TO THE CASTELL OF HURTBYSE, TO THE WOUNDED KNIGHT WHO HAD SENT FOR HYM : IN HIS WAY, AT THE LAST, HE FOUND, AT THE ENTRYNG OF A FAYRE FOREST, THRE LADYES OF RIGHT EXCELLENT BEAUTY, OF WHOM THE CHEFE WAS CALLED PROSERPIN, OUENE OF THE FAYRY, WHO GREATLY DESIRED ARTHUR OF HIS LOUE, BUT IN NO WYSE HE WOULD AGRE THERTOJ & THERE HE LOST HIS VARLET THAT WAS HIS GUYDE, WHERFORE IT BEHOUED HIM TO TARYE THERE ALL THAT NYGHT, FOR IT WAS DARK, AND WYST NOT WHYTHER TO GO. So it was, that when the kyng of Orqueneye was departed fro Argenton, he rode streight into his own country, for to make redi h is people to go, at Bartylmewtide, to the turney at Cornite ; & flats IS. To rate ptwe 297. r/aut Jg. To fact page z$y ZB3Mh/hi7p. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 297 Duke Philip went to Sabary to apparaile his people; & syr Neuelon, syr Ancean, syr Artaude, & al the other knightes of Kinge Emendus, returned to the kinges courte : and there re- counted the hye prowesse of Arthur; & how he had sped at Argenton w' the Duke of Bygors neuew ; & how thaty* Wounded Knight of the castel of Hurtbise had sent for hym, and how that he was gone thyther. Than the kyng was sory in hys herte : for he had great fere of him lest that he should neuer returne agayne, for he knew wel that many good knightes were perished there. And in especyall Florence was ryght sorowful, for there was none y' could recofort her. And Arthur euer rode forth after the squier, & so rode iii. dayes together w'out finding of any aduenture. And the iiii. day he rode tyl it was none : and than they aryued at a knyghtes place, who was vncle to the squyer that was Arthurs guide ; & there they were wel receyued, and so sat down to dyner, & were wel serued. And whan they hadde dined, than they mounted on theyr horses agayn, & so rode forth tyl it was night : & than they entred into a lytel narow way, betwene a fayre forest & a grene medow ; and so they rode forthe wel y e space of halfe a mile, and y e mone began to shine fayre & bright, and at the last they came to a way y' they muste nedcs entre into the thick of the forest. And at last Arthur espied, vnder a fayre oke, a delectable place, where as he saw iii. faire ladies, maruelously white and of gret beauty : but she y' was in y* myddes was soueraine most fayre, for she al only had more beauty than bothe the other ii., and yet they were as fayre as could be deuysed. And whan Arthur had espyed them, he set his fete to y* earth, & lighted fro his horse : & she that was in the middes rose whan the other two were vp, & there Arthur saluted the right curteisly, and they him agayn. And the squier that brought Arthur thither, toke one of the ladies in counsaile : and wha they had talked togythcr a good space, they went into y* thick of the wood, they ii together alone, and were not sene again of al the night. And the other that was in middes, had to name Proserpin : & she toke Arthur and set hym downe by her, and helde him by the hand, & beheld hym faythfully in the vysage, & sayd : Syr, ye 2q TIIYSTORY OF ARTHUR be ryghte hertely welcome. And lie answered, & sayd : Madame, I pray God kepe you fro all yll. Syr, sayd Proserpyne, I haue greate desyre to se 8c spekc with you, if ye be he that hath conquered the batayle agenst the Duke of Bygors neuewe. Madame, as God help me, sayd Arthur, I woulde full fayne y l there were such valure in me as that 1 might acheue suche a dede. Well, sayde Proserpyne, I knowc ryght wel how it is, and also of other of your dedes ; &, syr, ye be in certayne that ryght grete renowne renneth on you, how that ye be free, swete, fayre, & gracyous, & to be a good knyght aboue all other: & as for beauty, I se wel how it is. Well, madame, sayd Arthur, I praye God amende in me that lacketh of that ye speake of. That is wel said, quod y* lady. Than she layd her hand on his hed, & demauded of him what was his name ? Madame, quod he, I am called Arthur. Arthur ! sayd she, nowe, and by the faith y l ye owe to her that ye loue best, & to Saynt George, haue ye any louer yet ? I am sure my demaunde is but a folly : for so fayre a knyght, so yonge, and so valiant in amies as ye, can not be wythoute a louer; wherfore I am in certayne ye haue one : but 1 pray you shew me what she is, by the fayth y' ye owe vnto her, & I promise you neuer to accuse you. And therwith she beheld hym, and smyled a lytel, & said: I pray you speke, and shew me the playnes, by the troth that ye owe to father & mother, yf ye haue any alyue ? Madam, said Arthur, ye coiure me right sore : therfore, as God help me, I shal shew you y e troth. Madam, it is so, 1 can not tell whether y 1 I haue a louer or not : but of one thynge be ye sure, I am a louer, fori loue w' all myne cntycr hert. And what is she? quod the lady, I pray you by the faith y l ye owe vnto her. As God help me, said he, I cii not tell you ; for I neuer sawe the person y' I loue. What! said the lady, tha ye loue, and wot not who; who hathe set you on this foly ? wherfor loue ye thus? Mada, quod he, I loue becaus of the gret goodnes & valure y' is in her, for she is a swete, gracious, & a gentil lady of hert. Why, sir knight, how know ye y' ? Madam, it hath be shewed me y' she is of suche condycions. Wel, quod the lady, what & there haue be shewed you more tha troth in y' behalfe, who than shal do you OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 299 right ? I demaund of you, thinke you y l al that is said of me and other to be of troth ? Certainli, mada ; nay, some list parauentur at somtiine to speke more than they know. Wei, frende Arthur, quod she, tha ye be but a fole : by my counsail leue suche foly, & lese no lenger your time w'out reson : ye be now in your youth & in your beuti, wherforc ye shold haue daily your loue in your amies, and lede a louers life in myrth and in solace : and wha it is time to stryke, for her sake, both w l speres and swords, & cast doune these knightes to the erth by ii. at ones; and leue seruing thus of the muse, or els ye shal be called no more Arthur, but ye shal be called y* knight that museth : therfore leue this loue ; but behold here, and se in your copany if there be any thing (hat pleseth you, chose which ye wil. The squier that brought you hither museth not ; for he is w l his loue, and hath her al this night in his armes : behold here the copany of me, who is right fayre and yonge, gentyl and puissant, holding in mi hand greate heritage : and I am doughter to a king, and both my father & mother dead : and now I am entred into my londe to kepe my relme, which is gret and noble. I am also right yonge, about the age of xvi. yeres, & would loue right wel some gentil knight that wold help me to kepe my lond and relme, and to counsayle me for my wele in al my busines : suche one wold I loue and kepe entirely. Arthur, ye nede not to be deceiued by youre loue, louyng of the muse, & take me here in dede. And whan Arthur herde her, he beheld her wel, and, wyth a gret perfound sygh, sayd : A ! dere ladyc ! as God helpe me, my heart is set on her that I shewed you of, wyth al my faithful loue and thought, in suche wyse, that I am not maister of my selfe, nor my herte is not myne own : for it hath forsaken me for this sayd ladi, so y l I am no thing lord of min owne hert, nor w' al the power y' I haue I cannot withdraw it fro her : for I thinke verily y' she hath put my hert into her hert, therfore I haue good hope y' thei shal be good companyons, and faythfull togyther, seyng y l it wyl not come agayne to me, & leue his swete companyo ; therfore, fayre lady, blame me not, though ye loue me, that I do not accoplysshe youre desyre, for, as God helpe me, I can not, for my hcarte is not mine 300 TIIYSTORY OF ARTHUR owne : therfore, madame, blame me not, syth my herte hath forsake me for an olber : but, as I be saued, ye be ful getil and noble, & ryght happy shal lie be that sbal attayne to your grace : for your beaute is such, y* euery person y l seeth you wyll put to theyr payne to seke the wayes to attaine to youre hye loue : for, by the fayth y l I owe to my lorde & father, I had rather haue your loue, if it myght be, than to be kyng of all Fraunce ; but, by my soule, madame, ye may behold here my body w'out hert, vyne wythout sauour : a fayre body w'out loue auayleth nothyng. Wei, frende Arthur, quod Proserpyn, many there be that fyndeth fautes & wyl seke for no remedy : you lay the blame on your hert : suche folkes as wyl not do as they be requyred, ca fynde fables ynougli to finde occasion of excuses : ye haue long musedj & yet ye purpose to muse leger ; hardely loue ynough, & loue there y f youre dreme & fantasy sheweth you, & therby ye shal haue very moche joy by lykelehode, for your musyng wyl do you moche honoure : by the fayth that I owe to you, I loue my louer faythfully : & I saye it by you, beholde here Arthur who dremeth & museth, beholde here the shadowe wythout the sonne lyght, beholde here the body wythout hert : this is he that loueth & woteth not who, therfore he is feeted of none : therfore, frcnd Arthur, take to you the best cou- seyle y l ye ca, & God be with you ! Than she rose fro hym, and departed into the woode, & her company wyth her. Tha Arthur abode ther alone but wyth Bawdwyn hys squyer: for the squyer y l brought him thither was departed, therfore he wiste not whether to goo. Than Bawdewyn sayd : Syr, as God helpe me, ye ought to be blamed. And why so, good frende ? said Arthur. Sir, bycause this gentyll noble quene that was ryght now w l you, who is so fayre, so swete, & so gracyous, and she wolde fayne haue had your company & loue, & thus ye to let her depart, and wold not enbrace & kysse swetely her pleasaunt lytle mouth ; wherfore, in my mynde, ye are greatly to be blamed : for, as helpe me God, I wolde not hau done soo, thoughe I had lost my head in the payne. A ! good frende, sayd Arthur, and what chere tha shuld the swete Florence baue, and what shulde she set by me, yf I shulde do as muche to another as I shulde do to her yf OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 301 it pleased her ? What ! wold ye haue me to make of my mouth a trayne for euery body, yf she kepe her mouthe close for the loue of me, and I than to habandon me to all the worlde : what honoure than were it to me to be comyn to al the world ? what shulde it than be sayd on me ? he is but a rybaude. Wei, syr, sayde Bawdewyn, for all that I coulde not haue done so. Thus they mounted on theyr horses, and entred into the wode, & rode, they wyst not whither, so longe, tyl at the last they loste theyr waye, that they rode they wyst not whyther : &, at conclu- syon, they came agayne to the same oke from whens as they wente before : and there they taryed all that nyghte, & laye on the colde earth in the thycke busshe, and tyed theyr horses to a tree. CAP. LXX. HOW ARTHUR CONQUERED THE CASTEL OF HURTBYSE, THE MOOST STRONGE PLACE OF THE WORLD NEXT TO THE PORTE NOYRE, WHERE AS WAS THE DAMOSEL BY WHOM THE WOUNDED KNIGHT WAS HURT: AND THERE ARTHUR DYD SO MUCHE BY HYS PROWESSE, THAT THE SAYD KNYGHT RECOUERED HELTH. In y e morning betimes Arthur & Bawdwin rose, & shoke theyr eares to put awaye the fethers fro their heyre ; & so mounted on horses, and found a lytel way, the which brought the clene out of the forest. Tha Arthur was ryght sore displesed in his mynde, because he had lost the squier y l was his guide in y l maner,. for he knew not where to fynd hym the hurt knight. And so they rode forth so log, tyl they entred into a fayre medow : and than they saw, on a fayre hye moutain, standing a goodly castell, y e whych was closed wyth double walles and gates. And at the fyrst gate there was one that watched the passage for all comers : and as 302 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR soone as he sawe Arthur, he toke a home, and blew therin so fierslj, that al the valey ronge thcrew 1 : and therwith there yssucd out of y* castel a knyght all armed, and well mounted, & he made toke to Arthur that he should beware of hym. Than Arthur toke his shelde, and florissbed with his spere, and met so rudely together, that the knightc brake his spere : and Arthur strake him so, that his spere went throughout his body more tha a fote : and so pulled out his spere againe, and dressed hym self agenst an other knight that came rudely at him ; and he strake Arthur in suche wise, that his speare brake in the myddes : but Arthur strake him so fiercely, that he ouertlirew both hors & man to the erth stark dead. Than there yssucd out of the castel v. knyghtes, and they all ran on Arthur at ones: and Arthur tha toke his sword, and strake so the fyrst, that he claue hys head clene asonder ; and the other dydde kyl hys horse vnder hym : but than he set his hand on the hors of him that he had slayne before, and so lept into the saddel : and the first that he encountrcd loste hys head. And whan the other saw that, they fled away as fast as they myght, and Arthur folowed theym : and in hys pursue he slew two of them ; & as the fyft wold haue entred in at the castel gate, Arthur strake of hys head clene fro the sholders. Than he entred into the castel ; and there he sawe before him an other strong wal, and it was so hye, that it was meruayl ; and it was enuyroned al aboute with a greate decpe water that yssued oute of sondrye fountaynes. And as he behelde howe that he might entre into the place, there came to hym the same squyer that caused hym to come fro Argence, and he dyd salute hym. And whan Arthur sawe hym, he knewe hym ryghte well, and demaundcd of hym the cause why that he left him in the forest? As God help me, sir, my lady led me forth, and I durst not displese her. Wei, sayde Arthur, and where is the knight that ye sai hath sent for me ? Syr, quod the squyer, he is in a chambre in this castel, where as I thinke he shal neuer se to morowc thys tyme ; for, syr, ye tary fro hym ouer longe, whych is great synne. Frend, sayd Arthur, I praye you bring me wher as he is, y l I might speke w l hym. Than the squyer broughte hym to the knight, and Arthur did OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 303 salute him. And (he knight right pitcously, and with a soft voice, said : Sir, ye be hertely welcom. Syr, sayde Arthur, ye haue sente for me : beholde nowc here 1 am ; therefore shewe me youre wyll. Than the knyght enforced hym selfe to speke, & sayd : Syr, for Goddes sake be ye not dyspleased though ye be come hyther for my sake ; for, syr, the seke creature scketh euer for helth ; & to y l entet, that ye shal be in certain of my sekenes, yf ye be not dyspleased, I shal shewe you all my grefe. Than the knyght vnarmed hymselfe, & layde his body all naked. Tha Arthur sawe on his backe v. greate woudes, made w' a knyfe y c was enuenymed, & thei begii at his sholdres and endured downe to his thyghes ; & the woudes were sore riikled, & of such large- nes, that he myght wel haue layde in euery woude all his arme. And wha Arthur sawe that, hys herte trembled for pyte, & demaunded who had gyue him tlio strokes ? Certaynly, syr, sayd the knyght, I shall shewe you : It is of a trouthe I loued ryghte hertely a fayre damoysell, who is ryght noble and gentyl, and she me in lyke case : & whan I might I dyde resorte vnto her ; and she is in a chambre aboue in this castel : & at the last thys loue that was bytwene vs was knowen by her frendes, wherwyth they were ryght sore dyspleased ; & so laye in a wayte on me at a season y' I was w' her : and as I wolde haue departed, they toke me, & haue arayed me, as ye se, w' enuenymed kniues, so that I can haue no helth ; & the damoysell is fast kepte in pryson, in a chambre here aboue, to thentent that she shoulde not come to me to gyue me health, for she can do me more good than all the creatures of the worlde ; and yf I myght haue ony creature that myght fynde the meanes to speke with her, she wolde sende me suche oynte- mentes, that should make me bothe hole & sounde. And, syr, the vii. knyghtes that ye haue delyucred me of, dyd kcpe the gates, to the entent that no surgyen shoulde come hyther to hele me. Syr, I haue ben four yerc in this sore tourment that ye se me in, and there is non in all this place that wolde bringe me suche thynges as my ladye & loue wolde sende me, & they wyl suff're Hone to speke with her fro me, & therfore I musle nedes dye. Well, syr, sayd Arthur, & how should onye body entre into the 304 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR castell, syth the gates be shytte ? Syr, sayd the knyght, there is none that can entre at the gates, for they be ouer stronge : but, syr, in the castel diche there is a lytle shyppe, by the whyche the knightes that ye haue slaine were wot to entre into the castel ; & by the shippc ther is a lytle false gate, wherby ye may entre into the castell yf it please you, and so ye may bring fro my lady the oyntmet that shall helpe me. Syr, sayd Arthur, I shall do my power. And tha he sayde to the squyer : Frende, bring me to the shyp, and I wyll entre into the castell. Than the squyer brought hym to the shyp, and Arthur entred into it. And tha the shyp went forthe wythout ony maner of touchynge : & Arthur was not gone ferre from the banke, but there came flyenge aboute hym moo than iii.M. quarelles shotte oute of crosbowes; and Arthur sate in the shyp, and couered him with hys whyte shelde, and the quarelles dyd Jyght as thycke theron as thoughe it had rayned ; in suche wyse, that all the shyppe was rased wyth quarelles : and in this maner he approched to the posterne ; & whan he came to the entre, he founde styckynge roundc aboute the gate great longc sharpe speres w c beedes of fyne stele. Than he toke hys good swerde in hys handc, and layde on these speres as faste as he coulde, and so dyd cut them clene asonder in the myddes; and there he dyd soo muche, that by cleane force he entred in at the posterne : and whan he was wythin, there rose suche a wynde, that Arthur had muche payne to holde hym on his fete: and than there fell so great haboun- daunce of raine, that he stode to the mydde legge in water ; the whyche water ranne so faste, that he was fayne to staye hym by his spere : for what for the wynd and swyftenes of the water, he had moche payne to stande vpryghte : and at the last, and with gret trauayl, he dyd so moche, that he yssued out of the straytnes of the posterne. And than he herde a thynge make a great noyse in the castel : & therw' there came on hym at ones mo than v. hundred persones redy to fight agaynst hym : and so they assayled him rudely on al partes, and they did cast at him speres, stones, dartes, and staues, right gret piety : & he gaue agayne ryght great strokes, & frusshed downe all that euer he attayned vnto : how be Tlatc jo- To face papr 304 Tiate ii}. To fact page 304. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 30.5 it, y e prcse was so gret, that they caused hjm to knele down on hys knees ; & there quickely he stepte vp agayn, & dasht in among them, and was right sore chafed : & his strength than began to encrease, & the more he had to do, the more grew Ins strengthe : & so he cut asonder all that euer he attayned vntoo ; and so, by clene force, he drew hys backe backe to a wall, & there rested hym. Tha his enemies ran to crosbowes & to speares, and so charged hym with many gret strokes. And whan he felle hym- selfe so sore oppressed, he was sore chafed therw' ; and so haban- doned him selfe among the, & gaue great strokes; for whom so euer he touched, he claue him to the sholders. And than they began to flye before hym, and he folowed them : but he was right sore wery, for they behynd hym dyd him muche payne and tra- uayle. In thys case, thus fightyng, he was fro thre of y c clock tyl it was none : and thre tymes he was dryuen downe on hys knees, and yet, for al that, euer he rose agayn in the spyte of them all. And as he was thus fighting, at the laste he herde the sowne of a gret home, aboue in the castel ; and as sone as all tho that fought against Arthur herd the blaste of the home, they all sodainly departed, without any word speakynge : & so there remayned but al onely Arthur, wherof he had great maruayle. Than Arthur dressed hym toward the castell, and entred into it ; and so at y e last he entred into the fayre halles, & there found neyther man nor woman : and than he serched al aboute the place, but he coulde fynde noo creature. At the last he entred into a fair ryche chaumbre, and there he sawe the most fayre and rychest bed that euer was sene, and it was al redy made to lie down therin. Than he approched therto, and sate downe on the syde therof, and his sword in his hande : and than he herd well moche people coming and goyng in y c same chambre, and herd dores and windowes open and shette, but he could se nothing, whereof he had greate maruayle. And whan he had sytten a good space on the bedde, and well rested him, at the last he saw where there came into the chambre a great company of ladies, and damosels, and knightes, and squiers ; and in y e myddes amonge them he saw where there was a yonge fayre quene, crowned with golde, in a syrcote of 2 n 3<)6 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR ermynes, and a mantell of vyolet sylke : and she was of right great beauty ; and foure knyghtes ledde her, and shee was enuyroned all aboute wyth other fayre ladyes. And as sone as he sawe her, he knewe well that she was Proserpyn, the quene, whom y' he found in the forest the nyghte before. And than he rose vpon his fete. Than y e quene came runnynge too hym, and enbraced hym aboute the necke, and sayde : Syr, ye are ryghte hertely welcome into my house. Fayre lady, quod Arthur, I pray to God giue you bothe helthe and moche joy. Arthur, said the quene, now are ye past al jeopardies ; for now that ye be I my copany, ye be in a surete : therfore put of your harneys, for ye shall be in as good suretc as myne own propre body. Madame, quod Arthur, I thake you : how be it, 1 haue not, as yet, acheued that thinge as I came hyther for; for here is bynethe in this castell a seke knight, who hath set me hither to a damoysel that shulde giue hym helthe ; & I haue promysed to bringe him that she wolde delyuer me for his helth : therfore, madame, I requyre you, yf she be here in your company, cause me to speke w' her, yf it please you, & therby I shall accoplysshe my couenaiit to the knight. Frede, quod the ladi, be ye no more dismayed of the knight; for I promyse you he shal haue helth for your sake, & that right shortly. Than the quene called to her a lady, who was called Argence. And tha she said to Arthur : Syr, beholde here y e same lady y' the knight was hurte for, & it is she that can giue hi helth : ther- fore, Argece, 1 wil that ye go to your knight, & thynke on his helth as a louer ought to do to another. Madame, quod Argece, w l a right good wyll ; & as to you, sir knight, I thake you a hodred M . tymes, syth that I haue leue to goo to my louer for youre sake : &, syr, ye haue wone therby of hym to be to you a true and a faythfull knight ; and of me ye shal haue a (rue seruaut : therwith she departed. And Proserpyne comauded y' Arthur should be vnarmed. Than there ran aboute Arthur knyghtes & ladyes ; and one toke awaye hys shelde, an other his swerde, an other hys helme ; and so echc of them layde to thcyr hades to helpe hym. And wha he was vnarmed he stode in his doublet ; & tha the ladies brought him warme water to wasshe his necke, & his OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 307 vysage, & haddes ; and tha the fayre ladyes dyd wype hys vysage w l fayre whyte kerchcfes. Than Bawdewyn carae & brought hym bis gowne to put on ; but y e queue wold not suffre y £ , for she made hym to put on a grene kyrtell & a syrcote of scarlet : than the quene toke her owne mantel fro her neck, the which was of purple sylke, & put it on Arthur : tha he was so fayre and gentill, that one coulde not be satysfyed wilh beholdynge of hym : for all the ladyes than sayd, how that the knight was a gracyous persone ; grete ioye should y' lady haue, that might haue suche a louer as he was. Than the quene toke hym by the hande, the whiche was a ryght goodly syght to beholde, for they were bothe fayre & yonge : and thus hade in hand they wente throughout the chambre, talkyng of many thynges : and whan they hadde thus talked togyther a great space, the quene comaunded euerye body to departe, & to leaue them alone togyther : & so they did. And than the quene toke hym by the hande, and sayd : Arthur, let vs goo syt downe on yonder beddes side ; and soo they dyd : & by that tyme the chambre was clcane auoyded, sailing all onely of Bawdewin, who sayd vnto his mayster, Syr, I thynke it best y l I go & see your harnes & amend it, for it is ill brused ; & it is harde to tell whether ye shall haue any thyng to do shortly or not. And whan Arthur heard him, he wist ful wel what he ment ; and ther- fore he smyled, & so Bawdewyn departed. Tha the quene sayd to Arthur : Min owne sweete & true loue ! I am now wel pacyfied in my hert, now y' I haue you in my house, as of him in all the woorlde that I moost desyre to se & speake withall; & therwith she layde one of her armes aboute his necke, and wyth the other hande she dyd stryke downe his here, & said : Arthur, ye be come to y c place where as ye be much loued w' a faithful hert : wherfore ye shal be lord & gouernar of al y e lond y' I haue in gouernance : wherfore I wil make you my knight, & souerain louer by y c way of mariage : & first I present my selfe to you & al the power y c I am lady ouer ; and I ensure there was neuer ma as yet there as you be now : therfore refuse not the honor & profite that I ofire you. Tha she toke a ryng fro her finger, and said : By this gift I put you in ful possession of me 308 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR and al mine; tberforc, gentil knighte, I requyre you receiue it. .And whan Arthur bcrdc Iier thus speke and saw the ring, tha he beheld wel the lady, & saw the gentilnes and fairenes y l was in her, and felte her swete breth, & saw her smyling countenance : at the last his hert came to hym & remebred Florence : the he culd not kepe bym fro weping, and cast out many a profound and depe sigh, and beheld wel Proserpin, and said : A ! gentil and noble lady ! your amorous words perseth my herte so, y' I fele my self at the gretest mischief that euer dyd any creature : for if I were y* most hie and noble king that euer was, syth Alexander the Great, and if I had lerned in loue al the daies of my life, and at the ende might attaine to that case that I am in now, I shold wel think my payne & labour right well enployed, and hyely rewarded : for if al the kinges of y e world were al in one person, & al theyr goodes and honors, and al partes thereof were gathered together into one person, & if it plesed you to take him to your seruice, he shold wel think him self right hiely and derely gouerned : but, madame, 1 am but a simple person to be compared to your hie estate ; therfore ye sholde abate grelly your renowne, yf ye should take such a straunge knight as I am : wherefore ye wold be blamed muche of your people ; wherfore, madam, for Goddes sake aduise you better, & let this passe ouer, and take such a noble person as is mete for youre estate and honor. Syr, quod the lady, I quite al the world for you ; for I wil non other but al onely you : therfore receiue me, for I wyl it shal be so, and none otherwyse : and if ye wil defend your opinion by her that ye told me of this last nighte in the forest, ye can not do so by reaso, for ye neuer saw her, nor she you, nor neuer spake w* her; therefore there is no couenaunte made betwene you & her, but that lawfully ye may leue her and ye lyst : therfore ye can not excuse you to do thys my desyre, w'out it be for cowardise that ye haue to enterpryse the gouer- naunce of a realme. And whan Arthur had wel vnderstand her, he answered, and said : Mada, as God helpe me, I tolde you the trouth as it is ; & I wold be glad to do that thing that sholde plese you : how be it, of one thyng be ye in certayne, that I haue set my hert there, as I haue shewed you, soo that I can neuer call it OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 309 agayne. Ye may behold here my body ; take it & it please you ; but my hcrt remayneth in an other place w' her who hath it in kepynge. Than there was a lady came to the quene & shewed her that her dyner was redy. And than she sayde : Syr knight, tbynk wel on thys matter ; I gyue you respyte tyll to morowe. And so she toke Arthur by the hand and led hym into the hall ; & there he saw so manye bordes couered, and so greate plenty of ladies, and damoselles, and knightes, and squyers, that he had great maruayl to behold the noblenes that he saw there. Than the quene sayd alowd, that euery body myghtc here her, Syr lordes & ladyes, behold this knyght, who shall be lord & capitayne of al my seygnory. And wha they horde that, thoy cryed all w' one voice, He is welcome ! God kepe him ! blessid be the houre y c euer he came hither! & they all beheld hym maruaylously, & praysed moche his fresshe beaute & goodly demenour. Than there began grete feest & joy, with moche honourable Iryumphe, & so were set to dyner & serued ryghte honourably: & after dyner they sported them a longe season : & at last the quene called to her two of her ladyes, the fayrest of all the company, & comauded them y* they shuld lode Arthur a playenge ; & that they shuld shewe to him suche chere, to cause hym to loue one of them, yf they coulde brynge it about. And they answered, they wold do the best y ( laye in theyr power. So they ii. ledde forth Arthur in to fayre chambres & gardyns of pleasure ; & they dyd as moche to drawe hym to loue one of them, as euer dyd woman to drawe onye man to loue : for theyr dclyngc w' him was suche, that it woldc haue be harde for ony other creature to hane w 'stand theyr occasyds ; for yf a woman be mynded to cast forthe her hokes & lyncs to take ony man thcrw', it is very harde to scape out of theyr dauger ; for in suche a dede a woman is more subtyll than the detiyll ; for he causcth a woman of suche dysposycyon to do that thynge y' he can not do hym selfe : in Iykewyse thys quene comauded these ladyes to do y c she coulde not do her selfe : but Arthur, for al theyr pleasaut occasyons, wolde neuer bende; for all y l they dyd or sayd was very noyous to him, for alwayes he had in hys herte the remembrauce of the fayre Florence ; & so in this 310 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR case he was bytwene them tyl it was tyme to go to rest. Than he was conuayed to hys chambrc wyth xl. knyghtes, & a great multy- tude of torches ayenst hys comyng : the queue also was redy in hys chambre; & than w'in a lytle whyle after the spyces & wync had ben eten & dronken, than the queue & al other toke their leue of Arthur & departed out of his chambre; & than he went to hys bed : & there was brennynge al night before hys beddes fete iiii. chortes of wax. And wha euery bodyc was a bedde, there came to Arthurs bed side a fayre damoysell, sent to hym fro the quene : & she was in a syrcote of ermynes, & ouer y l a ryche mantell of sylk; & so she lened downe on the bed to Arthur, and with her had stryked downe his head ryght swetely ; & there she made him suche lowly coutenauce, y' he myghte perceyue well how she wolde haue had hym to haue taken her into his bed. And at laste Arthur sayde : Fayre lady ! I am in fere leest ye wyl take colde with your taryenge soo longe here : thcrfore eyther come to bedde to me, or elles go your way hens. Sir, quod she, I wyl ly wyth you wyth great joye : but fyrst ye shal assure me to take me for your loue, and ncuer to haue other. A ! fayre lady, quod he, y' can I not do, for I loue an other, and so tha shuld I be false of my promyse. Well, syr, sayd she, than I wyl go my way. Ye say wel, quod Arthur; I praye God sende you good aduenture : & so therwith she departed : & Arthur slept as longe as it pleased him, til it was fayre daye in the mornynge. Than Bawdewyn opened the wyndowes, for Arthur wolde aryse. Than the quene entred in to his chabre, and Arthur sate in his bedde doynge on of his doublet. And as soone as Bawdewyn sawe the quene, he sayd vnto Arthur: Syr, behold who cometh hyther to you: by myne aduyse, letle not her escape at this & yet thei be not our fredes. Than of theperours company there came King Jonas, & after hym there came Kynge Clamados, & than after came themperour him selfe ; & he was ryght sorowful whan he knewe of the deth of Kynge Godifer & of his copany, & how tha al the tresour & 414 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR vitaile was taken into the Porte Noyre : & so the emperour was lodged on the left syde of the castel. Than Florence said to the bisshop : Syr, how saye ye, is not yonder people sufficyet to take a lady prysoner ? Certaynly, madame, quod Arthur, it is of trouth they are gretely to be doubted. Syr, sayd Hector, let vs go to them, and gyue them theyr welcome. Verily, sayd the mayster, now shal be seen who is a noble man : veryly I am sone to a kyng, therfore ought I by reason to loue dedes of chyualry & to bere barneys ; therfore bycause of this mater I would fayn be made a knyght : & tha I wold gladly, syr Hector, go in your company to bydde yonder galauntes welcome, for I wold be loth y l ye sholde go & I to tary behynde. And whan y e byshop herde the mayster say y' he wold be made a knyght, he had therat great laughter & sporte, and said : Mayster, by the good Lord ! it is moche better to be in a chabre with ladyes & damoyselles, than to be yonder without, & to abide the breking of sharpe speres : & it is hard to fynde a clerke to be a good knyght. Well, syr, said the mayster, all y' maketh no mater : for 1 truste to do so well, y l 1 shal brynge in one daye in to this place ii. of those kynges prysoners. Than thei all y' herde him began to laugh : & so al y l day they sported them at y* maisters wordes tyl it was time to go to rest ; and than euery man wet to bed, and toke their restes tyll the nexte morning. In the morning all these lordes arose betymes, and assembled them togyder in the middes of the palays. Tha Hector sayd to Arthur : Cosyn, yonder people without hath good lyste toslepe, for there is none to wake them ; by y e good Lord me thynketh we be very slow ; let vs go to them and se how they do. In the name of God, quod syr Clemeso, so let it be, for we do not our deuoyrs to abide so log : therfore let vs issu out & dele valiautlj' w l the. In the name of God, quod Arthur, euery ma to harneis. And so euery man wet to arme the. Florece was not at. y' poyntment; but whan she knew therof, she came to them, and sayde : Syrs, what mene ye to do ? this mater must be done wysely, for ye know not preseisely as yet for what cause this grete assembly be come aboute this castell : peraduenture thei be come to do honour to our OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 415 mariage bytwene Arthur and me; for I can not bileue that the king, my fader, be com on me in harneys : wherfore, in my minde, it were not best to assayle them first; but, yf they assayle vs, tha let vs defende our selfe in the best wise we can. Syr Markes, ye are a noble ma to goo on my message to the kynge, my fader : wher- fore I pray you go to hym, & humbly comaude me to his grace, & say, y* I requyre him to sende me worde of his minde, & why that he is come hyder in this maner of wyse at this tyme. I pray you marke wel these words that I haue sayd to you ; a wyse man nedeth no teching : but & ye se that he wil nedes kepe styll hys frowarde mynde to me warde, tha I wyl that ye say to hys iiii. kynges & to al his chyualry, how that I sende them word how that thei be al my men & subiectes: wherefore, yf there be any of them so hardy to drawe ony swerde ayenst me or ayenst ony of myne, tell the, that by the fayth that I owe to my lady Egletyne, my dere moder, on whose soule Jhcsu haue mercye ! that 1 shall cause them to be hanged by the neckes, though that they bee neuer soo noble or gentil. And after that, I wyl ye enquyre why this emperour is come thus in to my realme : & yf ye se that he be come for our yll, & that he would haue batayle, shewe hym pry- sysely that he shal haue bataile right sharpe and stronge to morow betymes, without ony longer delay. In the name of God, sayde Duke Philyp, I se well we haue a good heed of our hous. Madam, ye folow right wel the noble steppes of your lygnage. Wel, niadame, said y e Markes, I trust I shal so fulfyll your mes- sage y ( ye shall be content. And so he toke his leue of Florence & of al the hole barony, & rode forth tyll he came before the King Emendus, at which time he was accompanied with his iiii. kynges : & also there was thempe- rour, and all his kynges, and other dukes, erles, barons, and knightes : there was also the Kynge Jonas, and Kyng Clamados, and diuerse other noble men pertaining to themperour. Than the gentyll Markes entred in to the same place, & did salute the king and al his company, and sayd : Syr, I am come to you fro my ladye Florence, your doughter, the moost noble and gentyl lady liuing, who ryghte derely commendeth her vnto your grace, as to 416 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR her owne dere fader. And, syr, she is gretely abasshed of this grete company in harneys that ye haue brought hyder at thys tyme : for, syr, it is a grete abasshement to a noble gentyl raayden to se so many helnies & sheldes shyning ayenst the sonne : wher- fore, syr, she requyrcth you to know your pleasure & mynde. Than the kinge, with a fycrse loke, said : Syr knight, I wil not receyue her salutacyon, for I louc her not at my herte : but I hope to do her domage bothe of body & of goodes. Syr, said y* Markes, & for what cause ? Certainly, said the king, for she hath done me shame and despyte : for she hath gone awaye fro me with a straiige knyght, and she is come to hyde herself in this castel, & ther folyshely she kepeth company with this straunge knight; the which is a shame to her for euermore : & also she hath done me despyte, for I had gyuen her to this emperour to haue bene his wyfe, & she wyl not folow my wyl : and therfore, bicause of the shame that she hath done me, and dooth yet, lyke a false strupet, I shall put her into a perpetuall prison, to thentente that she shall do me neuer more shame ; & I shal hange the ribawde knight by the necke that caused her thus to do : for the despyte that she hathe done to me 1 shal do her an other, for 1 wyll neuer departc liens tyll I haue brought this castel downe to the harde earth. Tha the noble Markes answered, & said : Syr, as touching the shame that ye lay ayenst my lady for comingc into thys castell, I shall answere you. Syr, my lady is of great noblenesse & honour, and a quene, called by the ryghte of her moder : wherfore it is right y' some tyme she go & se her owne coutre, and to take her pleasure of her own : &, syr, in that she departed without your lycence, was for fere and double of this emperour, to whome ye haue gyuen her ayenst her wil & herte ; for she doubted lest that he wold haue had her ayenst her wyll : and therefore the mayster, by his clergy, made you to be abused at the churche dore. And, syr, she came not hider so simply y { she ought to be blamed, for she brought w' her Duke Phylyp, and tharchebysshop, and wel v. hundred other knightes in her company ; and, syr, the byshop is her vncle & youre broder, wherfore he wold be as loth that she should do ony otherwise than wel, as your selfe would be : but that OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 417 nedeth not to be fered ; for she is of suche wysedorae, that she ca rule her selfe wel ynough : for ther is not a wyser lady againe in al the world : &, syr, also Duke Phylyp hathe ben alwayes with her : & therfore suche people as be dayly with her, can reporte her deling ; and so can not you that knoweth nothing therof ; and yet ther is none that speketh ony vylany of her but you ; y e whiche thing, syr, me thinketh ye oughte not to do : and, syr, in dede yoder good knight Arthur is with her : & though it be so, that she hath retained him to her seruaunt, I thinke therin she hath done wysely : and so haue not ye done in lettlg him depart out of your courte ; for he is the floure of al (he chyualry of the world, & she, by her wysedome, hath retayned him ; for whan he wente out of your courte, he lefte not his felaw behind him : and, syr, if she haue a good knyght retayned vnto her, she is not suche a lady, but that she is of suche habilite that she may right wel guerdon hym for hys seruyce. Syr, she is not come to this castell in the despyte of you, nor yet for the loue of hym that ye so sore despyse : but, syr, she did it bycause y* ye would gyue her to suche a man as she neuer loued, nor can not loue, nor wyll not loue, as longe as she Iyueth, without it be by force : &, syr, she is not so poore a lady, but that and ye wold giue her neuer so riche a man ayenst her wyl, yet ye may be sure there should neuer good lyfe be longe bytvvene the: & bicause that this emperour would haue her, & she loueth hiin not, therfore she is come to that most strog castel that she hath, where as she careth neither for hym, nor yet for any other y' wold do her any dyspleasure : therfore, syr, take hede what ye do ; for ye know wel y' ye wold haue her to do clene cotrary to that was destenyed to her in the Mout Perillous at her natiuyte : &, syr, a thynge predestynate is harde to be broke : but, syr, I shal shew you what ye shal doo; fro hens forth leue medlyng ony ferdcr in this mater : for of one thing I make a warant, that ther is in her company & host a grete nombre of the best knyghtes of the world. Syr, leue this mater, and dele like a true king, and agre to y' promesse that ye were before accorded vnto ; & y' was, who so euer shold haue the chaplet of the ymage, shoulde in lykewyse reioyse my lady Florence, your doughter : & 3 a 418 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR to this ye haue wryten your hande, & set to your seale : and in likewise bath done al your iiii. kynges here preset, and all the xii. peres of your realme. Now, syr, ye do ayenst your owne seale & couenaunt that ye made lyke a kyng, thus to sende for your people in harneys to asseble ayenst a •woman : the fader ayenst the doughter ! it is vnnatural, & a gret shame ! It is no dede of a kynge to doo ayenst his own couenaut & promes. Syr, for Goddes sake forbere for doig of any hurt ayenst your owne child, for ony singuler loue y' ye haue to this emperour. Certainly, sayd the kynge, I wyll not forbere my minde ; for all the tresour of the worlde shall not cause me : but y l knight shal be hanged by the necke, & she put in to perpetuall pryson. Wei, syr, sayd the markes, than begin whan ye wil, & do the best ye can ; peraue- ture all shal not be as ye wold haue it : but, neuerthelesse, to you iiii. kinges, & to al y e xii. peres, & to al other knightes y l be here present, I saye vnto you all, my lady Florence sendeth you word by me, y' she meruayleth gretly y' ye be come hyder in harneys to warrc ayenst her, cosidering that ye be all her subiectes, & she is your ryght lady & mastres : therfore, lordes ! take good hede what ye do ; for she straitly chargeth you, that ye nor none of yours drawe no swerde nor wepe ayenst her, nor none of hers: for and ye do, she promyseth, by the fayth y' she oweth to my lady Eglen- tine, her dere mother y' was, that there is none, of what degre so euer he be of, but that she wyl cause him to be hanged by the necke lyke a false traytourc : wherefore, syrs, by my counsail, take hede what ye do. Than the Kynge of Orqueney sayd to the Kynge Emendus : Syr, ye cause vs to haue gretc maruayl y* ye haue somoned vs to come hither in harneys to make warre agenst our natural lady, and to do agest our promesses, writinges, and seales. Syr, it is of troth I am your man, and 1 ought to go with you whether so euer ye wyl haue me, in any iuste quarrell : but reason nor ryght wyl not that I sholde make war agenst our ryght ladye, whose subiectes & men we be and must be : for she is, & shal be, our lady by iust inheritaunce : but, by y e fayth y' I owe to God, and to my crowne of the realme of Orqueney, neither I, nor none of mine, shal moue OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 419 any war agenst her. And of the same accord were al the iiii. kinges and xii. peres ; for eche of theym sayd, that they wolde neuer bere harneys agenst their own lady, nor do agest their own promesses made before. Than the Kinge Emendus sayd : Lordes ! 1 can not tell what ye wyl do : but I promyse you all, that 1 wyl neuer depart out of this place tyl I haue destroyed this castel, and al the knightes y l be thcrin hanged by the neckes. And they al aunswered him, and said : Syr, do as it pleseth you, and we shal gyue you the lokyng on : but we wyl not helpe therto, nor none of ours. Than the markes sayd to themperour : Syr, my lady wold fayn know why ye be thus entred into her realme with suche nubre of men of war ? Certaynly, syr, sayd themperoure, I am come hither to seke her as for mine owne, for she is giuen to me by her father, and because that she denieth my wil : therfore I am come hider to haue her, -wheeler she wyl or no ; and I wyl do worse to her, than I wolde do to a false traytour : & I shal hang by the neck y l rybaude knight that kepelh her at his plesure, and Duke Philyp of Sabary also, who doth sustaine her in her folysshe mynde. And whan the Kyng of Orqueney herde themperour menase and threte, & say so of his neuewe, Duke Philyp, he sayde : Ye, syr emperoure, fayre and easely ; for, or ye can bringe y l about, ye shal haue no cap nor hat too put on your hed : for thoughe y' she be giue to you, yet she is not deliuered (o you : ye niai vvel muse on her delyueraunce ; but I ensure you ye get her not so lyghlly as ye wene : and, syr, as for the knight whom ye do menase to hang by y e necke; syr, it were a gret synne so to do, for his nourisshing coste hym more than soo : but, syr, take to niorow some appointment betwene him & you, to do some dedes of amies togider, or elles take part of your men, & so shal he do of his, & than and ye ca take him, bind him fast, and than hang him by y* necke, & tha shal ye be clene out of suspection bitwene Florence and him, for tha ye may be sure he shal trcspassc you no more : syr, loue hath broughte you hither; bul ye, nor al your knights, are nothing worth, w'out ye do some dedes (o be piaysed : sir, niout on your horse to morowe, for loue gouernelh you : my lady is so fayre, and 420 TIIYSTORY OF ARTHUR she wolde gladly se you giue some fair stroke w l your sworde for her loue ; for alway good knightes gctteth grace among fayre ladyes : therfore, syr, to morow wyn her amourous grace w l some dede of chiuahy, for in good faythe ye haue it not. Well, quod themperour, get me y* knyght y' sporteth hi so w' her. Ye, syr, quod the markes, he wyl not so lyghtly be get ; for, syr, he is within, and ye be w'out in the rayne : and he is in the shadow abiding in the sighte of thys fayre ladi, y' which is a gret shame to you : therfore put him out of this castell, & get your self in : but, syr, how say ye ? shal this asseble be made to morowe or not ? Bi my faith, said the emperour, I shal make him assemble to morow of iiii. thousand, and also of xviii.M. men ofarmes. Sir, said y e markes, wil ye promise this faithfully? Ye truely, said theperour. And I promyse faithfully for the other parti, said the markes, y 1 ye shal be receiued. And than he spake as loud as he could, and said : Lordes & fredes ! suche as be subiectes to my lady Florence, y' on payn of your liues y* ye moue not nor make no war agest my lady Florence, nor agenst none of hers. And than he said to theperour : Syr, for Goddes sake begin the batail betymes, because of the hete. Than the King Clamedos said to y e markes : Is this lady Florence so fayre as it is said ? A ! syr, said the markes, think ye nothing on her; for your emperour doth ynough for you bothe. AVell, frende, sayd the kyng, I here say she hath wyth her a swete lytel rose, white, tender, & yong, who is called Floret. Syr, said the markes, indede there is suche one w' my lady, and I ensure you she is righte swete ; & she maketh oftentimes for me, and suche other knightcs of my copany, goodly chaplets : and, sir, as yet to my knowledge she hath no loue nor paramount : and, syr, me think ye haue a iolly wanton eye; there- fore, syr, come & se her to morow, for she shal be on the walles of the castel, & I shall shewe her vntoyou if I cii mete w l you : and, syr, when ye haue sene her, set your fete togyther, & assay if ye can lepe vp to her : take on you to morow this enterprise for the- perour. With a good wil, said he ; and said to themperour : Syr I require you let me haue the batail to morow. Well, quod the- perour, sith ye wil nedes, 1 am content : and so he toke his gloue Plate 22. To fate paac 420. To face page 4zo. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 421 in pledge, and y e king thanked hym. And the markes departed, & went to the castel, and recoiited to Florence and to Arthur word for word, as ye haue herde before. Than they answered, y* they had of him a right good messenger, & graunted him the batail (he next dai w' xxx.M. agenst the Kyng Clamados. CAP. XC. HOW PHILIP, DUKE OF SABARY, & MASTER STEUEN, SON TO THE KING OF VALEFOUND, WER MADE KNIGHTES ; AND OF THE DISCOMFITURE Y l ARTHUR MADE ON THEMPEROUR. And whan Duke Philyp of Sabary herd how y* they sholde haue a batayle the next day in the morninge, he sayde to the lady Florence : Madame, I requyre you let me be made a knight, for I may not be in the place where as so many noble men be, without I wer a knight. By the faith that T owe to God, sayd Florence, w l a right good wil. Than maister Steuen stepte forth, and sayde : Madame, my lorde the archbisshop, here present, reputeth me but as one more metely to bete furres than knightes : but, madam, by the fayth that I owe to God, I wolde fayne be made a knyght, and thereof I requyre your grace : & than eucry body began too laugh. Wei, syr, quod he, laugh not thereat, for I iapc not: I wyl be made a knight and I may. Than he went to the ladye Margaret of Argenton, and said to her in her care : Mine own dere lady ! wil it not plese you that I be made a knyghte ? I beseche you gyue me leaue to be one. And she answered him fayre and softly in counsail, and said : Yes, ywys, swete loue ! I wold be glad therof. Than he rose fro her, & sayd alowde : My lady Margarete of Argento, how say ye, shal I be made a knight ? Certainly, frende, quod she, I wold be glad thereof, on the con- dycyon that ye wil take arraure & horse, and other abilemetes of 422 TIIYSTORV OF ARTHUR my gyft. Madam, sayd he, I thank you ; and I slial be glad to folow your plcsure, w l the licence of my lady Florence. Certenly, quod Florence, I am content therw'. And wba al y e other lordes and knightes saw that the master mened good faith, they were right glad therof ; and so went as for that night to their restes. And in the morning, for Duke Philip, Florence prepared horse & harneys, and al other abilemetes ; & fair lady Margaret ordeyned in like wise for maister Steuen : tha tharchbisshop sange y e mass ; and Arthur did gyrde on the maisters sword, and Hector did on Duke Philips : than Arthur and Clcmeson led forth the master betwene the, and Hector and syr Perdicas led forth Duke Philip : and so they offred to the bishop, and he didde giue them y' neck strokes of knighthode, accordinge to the vsage y f was than in y' country. Than Arthur and Hector armed the : and tha caused a gret home to be blowen ; and by the sowninge thereof, euerye knight went to their harnes ; and tha thei toke their leues of Flo- rence. And than Arthur said to the markes, and to syr Clarebalf, and to syr Othes : Syrs, I pray you go and fortify the gates of this castel w' iiii.C. pauesses ; and so they did. And tha they issued out of the castel in good ordinauce, and Arthur ordeyned their bataile ryght strong and maruelous. In y* first batayle there was him selfe, syr Brysebar, and sir Clemeson, and in their com- pany vii.M. hawbcrtes; and they Avcre comaunded to kepe their right way vnder the nioutayn : than folowed after the, Hector, & Gouernar, and Florence scnesshal, w* iiii.M. w* them : and the master, and Duke Philyp, & syr Perdycas, went about the moun- tain, to thentent to close round about themperyens, and they had with them viii.M. Than theperour, on his part, called hym the King Clamados, and said : Syr, go annc you and your me, and go make assaut to the castel of the Port Nov re : and yf ye fortune to cncoutre the knight Arthur, loke y l ye take him, and bring him aliuc to me, for 1 wil make him be hanged so hie and so nere to the castle, y l I'lorence may se hi euery day whan she wil. Syr, quod the king, doubt ye not, it shal be done : but it is an olde said sawe, he y' reckeneth withoute his hoost must reken twise ; and so dyd he, OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 4G5 for he fayled of hys enterprise. Than the king caused to be blowen a gret trumpe, & than eueri man ran to his harnes ; and the King Clamados ordened iii. batails, and therle of tbyle Perdue did lede y e first batail, and the Duke of Calion w' him, and they had in their copany x.M. men ; and the second bataile was led by the Duke of Galace, and he had w l hym x.M. men. And the Kinge Clamados him selfe led forthe the third bataile, & other x.M. with hym : and so they went forth with baners dysplayed, and toke the ryght way toward the castel, the whiche way Arthur was commyng towarde the felde ; and so they wente forth so longe, tyl at last the Duke of Calyon and the erle of the Yle Perdue, who led the fyrst batayle, encountred Arthur, & Clemeson, and Brisebar, and their copany. Than Clemeson desired of Arthur to haue the first cours with his spere, and Arthur dyd graunte hym. Than he dasht his sporres to his horse sydes, & ran at y € Duke of Calyon, who came ayenst him, & they met so rudelye, y l Clemenson strake so y e duke, y' his spere went clene throughout his body, and so the duke fel down to the erth. A Jesu! sayd Arthur, what ayde is thysat the first meting! Our enemyes hath by this dede a gret losse and discomforte. And whan therle of the Yle Perdue saw the duke dead, there arose in his host a gret and terrible cry, and they ran al at once on Clemenso, but he like a valiaunt knight defended him selfe w' hys sworde, and gaue right gret and puissant strokes among them. Than there was none coude holde Brysebar, but he ruslit into the prese, & the fyrst y' he encountred wythal he bet downe to the earth ; and the second neuer did crye after. Tha Arthur and his company came into the prese, and there bet downe and slewe knyghtes by greate hepes ; and Arthur, with his good sword Clarece, plunged in amonge his enemies, and bet down knightes and horses in suche wyse, that al fled before him, as they woulde haue fled fro the death, for there was none that abode hi, but that he receiued deth at his handes. And Clemenson stode styl and beheld him, and had gret wonder at his dedes; and as he stode loklg on him, Arthur encountred so a knight, that he claue him to the teth. Than Clemenson toke of his dedes gret hardincs on hym, and dasht into the thickest of the prese, & syr 424 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR Brisebar folowed him so far, that thei were enclosed rounde about ■with theyr enemies; and the prese was so great, that their horses were slaine vnder them, and so by greate force they were taken prysoners and led forth out of the feld toward themperor; but, as fortune wold, Hector met them : and as sone as he saw them, he sporred his hors w 1 his sporres, & strake so the fyrst, that he claue him to the chyn ; and fro the second he toke away his sholdre. Than Gouernar toke his sword in his hande, and did helpe Hector to discomfyt them that led away the prysoners, & in the spyte of them all they were remouted, and so returned again to the host. And Hector turned his horse and strake in the prese so rudely, that wyth the fyrst that he met he strake of his hed, and or he ceased he slewe x. eche after other : and at last Hector, Cle- menson, Brysebar, & Gouernar, mettogyder; and betwene them they did such exsyse among themperours people, that al fled before them. Than therle of Galace came into the felde w* x.M. in his copany : and than the batayl began to be so terrible, that there was many slayne and hurt of both parties. And wha Arthur saw so many emperiens assembled togidcr ayenst his men, he dasht to his hors w l Clarence in his hand, & strake so rudely in y e prese, y' he cut of hedes, legges, armes, & hands, & vnbarred helmes, & claue asonder shelds, and cofounded and bet down al y' euer he touched ; & at last he encountred therle of y' YIe Perdue, but he thought he wolde not slee hym, but he strake him w ( the pomel of his good sword on hie on the helme so rudely, y' he was so astonied w' the stroke, y 1 he wist not where he was, and so al in a traunce he fel on his hors necke : and in the releuynge he strake at Hector, who as than had broken part of the prese to thentent to folowe Arthur ; but Hector gauc hi suche a stroke, that he auoydcd the sadel and fel to the erth. Thai Brisebar and Gouernar toke him, & so he was sent into the castel to Flo- rence like a prysoncr. And whan the Duke of Galace saw that he had lost hym, he was right sorowful, and in gret rage dasht into the prese and met w' syr Ansel, and gaue him such a stroke, that his sword went clene throughoute hys bodye; but yet, as God wold, he was not woiided to the deth, but he fel downe to the erth OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 425 in a gret traunce. Than Gouernar loke and conuaied hi out of the prese, & sent him to the castell. And whan Florence saw her knight, sir Ansel, so sore wounded, she was right sorowful, and caused her surgiens to serch his woundes. And whan Arthur saw the stroke that the Duke of Galace had giuen syr Ansel, be was ryght sorowful, for he wende verely y* he had bene dead : therw' be broched to hys horse, & encoutred the duke w' great malice, & gaue hym such a stroke, y l he claue him to the sholders. And whan his people saw y l he was slain, and that they had, as than, no capytaine, they were gretly abasshed, & tourned them to flie ; but Arthur and Hector chased the, til at last thei met with the King Clamedos & x.M. in his companye, and so they all dasht togider ; & than there began a terryble batail ; but the kinges company was so gret, that Arthur and his copanye had muche to do to defend theyr lyues : tyl at last maister Steuen, & Duke Philip, & syr Perdycas, were come rounde aboute the mountain, so y c they were at y e backes of theyr enemies ; so y c King Cla- medos toke no hede therof, tyl they were on them vnware. And as soone as mayster Steuen saw y e kinges host, he blewe suche a blast, that there arose a myst in the kings host, that they were so abasshed therwith, that they had thought to haue fled away : but than Duke Philip and the mayster rusht into the prese, and eche of them bet down him w' whom they encountred : and there the maister did maruailes in armes. And at last Gouernar saw him, and said to sir Clemenson : By the good Lord ! syr, mayster Steuen, by semyng, hath gyuen vp hys mynde to be a priest ; for I wene he wyll ncuer synge masse : beholde yonder how valiautly he fyghteth ! for there he sawe him giue right grete and valiant strokes. What shal I say more ? So muche dyd Arthur there, and his company, that y e Kyng Clamedos and al his were clene dis- comfited, and fled away as fast as they myght to themperours tent, & recouted to him al the losse that he had in that batail ; and shewed him how that the Duke of Calion and the Duke of Galace were bothe slayne, and the erle of the Yle Perdue taken prisoner, & al his company slain : and said also, Syr, verely there was neuer seene suche a knyght as Arthur is ; and he hath in his company of 3i 426 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR the moste valyaunt knyghtes of all the worlde. And whan them* perour herde al thys, he Mas so sorowfull and full of dyspleasure, that he was nere enraged out of his wytte : than he caused homes and trompettes to be blowen, to thentent to cause his people to armc the : and so theraperour him selfe armed him, and also dyd Kyng Jonas, and xv. thousande in their company. And whan Arthur herd that, he sayd to his people: Sirs, thanked be God, it is ryghte well happed to vs in the begynnyng of thys warre, and our people this day hath taken grete payne, wherfore they ought to be wery : wherfore, in my mynde, it were best that we draw our selfe agayn into our castel, and let vs se what this emperour wyl do to vs : wherto euery man was agreed : and so they withdrew the, and mounted vp into the castel, and entred into the palais. Than Florence demaunded of Arthur how that he dyd ? And he answered, and sayd : Dere lady ! thanked be God, right wel. And in lyke wyse did the fayre lady Margarete to maister Steuen. Than the erle of y e Yle Perdue came to Arthur, who receyued him right swetely, and said : Syr, be of good chere, and be not dismayed ; for ye shall haue here but a good pryson : and the erle thanked him right swetely. CAP. XCI. HOWE THAT THEM PEROUR SPAKE WYTH OUENE PROSERPINE, WENYNG TO HYM THAT IT HAD BENE THE FAYRE LADYE FLORENCE, BUT HE WAS DECEYUED ; FOR SHE DYD SET A GREATE DYSCORDE BETWENE HIM AND THE KING EMENDUS, AS YE SHAL HERE AFTER. Whan y l themperour & his copany wer redy aparailed, thei lept on their horses & folowed after Arthur w e xl. thousand in his copany. And whan he came nere to y e castel, he beheld y* OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 427 situacion therof a gret season ; and at the last he sawe the Quene Proserpine and a damosel w l her, issuing out of the castel : and he thought verely y l it had ben Florence that had ben fled out of the castel : and with that sight he clene forgate his displeasure, and all the losse y' he had in the battayle before : and so he dasht to his horse, and a xxx. persons w e him. And wha he had ouertaken her, and sene her perfytely in the face, he sayde to hym selfe, Verely thys same is Florence ! and so than he forgat al maner of other thinges, and layd his handes on y e raine of her horse, & sayd : Fay re damosell ! whether are ye goyng so fast thys way ? Certaynly, syr, said she, it hath be shewed me, that ye and the king, my father, are ryght sore dyspleased w l me; but, syr, it greueth me more your displesure than mi father : wherfore, syr, I thinke to go to an abbey here by, and there to be made a nonne for youre dyspleasure all onely. Damoysell, sayd themperour, if it please you, we two shall be soone agreed. Syr, sayde she, I thanke j'ou ; but hovve shall that be ? wyl ye haue me to youre wife, & I you to my husbond ? Ye truly, said themperour. Syr, said she, I am content therwith ; but how shal I do, for the kyng, my father, wyl sle me if he maye haue me vnder his rule ? &, syr, by the fayth y' I owe vnto oure Lorde, my body was neuer defouled with yonder knight Arthur, nor yet w* any other. Well, fayre lady ! sayd themperour, and yf that be of trouth, I ensure you youre father shall do you no hurte, but my parte shal be therein. Syr, sayd she, may I trust on this ? for it sore forthinketh me y* euer I dyd any dysplesure to you. Ye truely, said themperour, think not the contrary : therfore now be in peace. And so them- perour toke her w l him into hys tente, and cleped and kissed her oftentimes : y' at the last it came to the heryng of King Emendus, how that themperour had a gret batail with them of the castel, and how that he had lost al his people that he had sent thider. Than he armed him, and wel to the nubre of xxx. thousand, and came to the emperours tent to comforte hym of hys losse : than it was shewed to themperour, how that the kyng was comyng towarde him. He shal be welcome, sayd themperour. A ! syr, sayd Proserpine, I am now vnder your kepynge ; for Goddes sake, let 428 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR my fader do me no vilany ! Be not afrayde, for I warrant you, sayde thcmperoure. Than the king entred into the pauilyon ; and as soone as he sawe Proserpyne, he wende verely it had be Florence, his doughter, & sayd : What, thou strumpet ! art y u now here ? where is that rybaud knight Arthur, that hath kept the thus long ? is he nowe become thy sauegard ? I trowe now thou wenest to make thy peace : but, by the fayth that I owe vnto the crown of Sorolois, thou shall neuer escape out of pryson as longe as I lyue : thou shalt do me no more shame, nowe that I haue the. Syr, said themperour, for Goddes sake be not soo sore dys- pleased, for she hath done no trespace ; & if she haue, I forgyue it her for euer : and, syr, so shal ye do for y e loue of mee. And, Florence, I requyre you knele downe before your father, and cry him mercy. Syr, said she, w 1 a right good wyll. Than she kneled downe before her fader, & sayd : Gentyl king, and dere fader! haue mercy on me, & forgyue me your yl wyl. And the kynge, who was styl ful of feruent yre and despyte, lyfte vp bys fote and strake her therwith in the middes of the brest, & so ouer- threwe her wyde open to the erth. And whan themperour sawe that, he was ryght sore dyspleased, & sayd : Syr kynge, ye haue done me grete vilany ; for 1 had assured her, that she shold haue had no hurte, neyther of you, nor of none other ; & she is in my pauylion and in my kcping ; and she is myne, and yet ye bete her here before my face. Well, syr emperour, said the king, in an yll houre she is aryued here ; for, whether ye wyll or not, she shall be cast in to perpctuall pryson. Than the kinge toke her by the arme, and drewe her to hymwarde, to thentent to haue ledde her forthe out of the tent ; but themperour toke her in his armes, & said : Syr kynge, holde you styll ; or, by the fayth that I owe to myn empyre, yf ye set handes on her ony more, ye and I shal be cnemyes togyder for euermore. Than was the kynge more dys- pleased than he was before, and lyft vp his hande, & gaue her a grete blow or two vnder the cheke as she stode in themperours arraes. Than themperour sayd : What ! stryke ye her for all my praier, and betwene mine armes in my keping I By the faythe OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 429 that I owe vnto God, it sore greueth me ; & therwith he toke his swerde in his hande, & gaue the king a puissaunt stroke. Than the kyng drew his swerde, & gaue agayne themperour a grete stroke : than the kynges company assayled themperour, and thera- peryence ran on the king ; and so ther were well to the nombre of xxx. thousande on bothe parties. Than there began amonge them a grete battaile & a fyerse, so y l ther were many slayne and hurt. And amonge them ther was such a noyse, that Arthur and his company might well here them as they were in the castel ; & they went to the wyndowes and looked out at theym, to know what noyse that was, and ther they sawe a fyerse bataile without in the felde amonge theyr enemyes : & they sent out a spye to knowe the trouthe what it myght be ; & he went and came again, and re- ported to Florence, & to them all, how it was, and for what occasyon the batayle was bytwene the kynge & themperour. Keuer trust me, said Florence, but y' Proserpyne is in them- perours tent, and they wene all how that I were there amonge them ; for I remembre well she sayd ones to me, and to Arthur also, how y* she wold cause as moche hate & stryfe to be amog them, as euer was loue. Verely, madame, said Arthur, ye say very trouth, for I am wel remembred so I herde her ones say. And euer this bataile encreased more & more, for the people drewe to on bothe parties : the whiche had tourned to grete domage on both partycs, yf the iiii. kynges had not ben ; for they did so moche, that with grete payne and ieopardy they departed theym ; and than sodeynly Proserpine was vanysshed away, soo that none wist where she was become. And as soone as euery man was vnarmed, themperour departed and went his wayc toward his owne countre : and his people com- forted hym to (he best of theyr power. And the kynge was in his tent, and trembled for yre. And therwith there came to hym one of the emperours dukes, and sayd : Syr, my lorde themperour quytelh you of the gift of Florence, youre doughtcr ; for he careth neythcr for you, nor for her, nor for none of your loues, nor for nothing that ye haue or shall haue ; and by me lie defyeth you, and biddelh you to be ware of hym at this nexte Eester ; for than 430 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR he wyll come and make war ayenst you with an hondred thousande men of warrc. Than the King of Orqueney sayd : Syr, say vnto your emperour, that yf he come he shall fynde that wyll speke with hym not to his pleasure ; & I ensure you, yf he come not, he shal be sought where so euer he be, to thentet to haue his heed brought into this countre : therfore shewe hym, that yf he wil come and brig him self into this realme, he shall ease vs of moche payne. Than the duke departed, and the Kynge Emendus abode styl in grete malencoly. Than the King of Valefoude said to him : Syr, here is begon a great besynes, & many inconuenietes are lyke to folow therby : therfore, syr, it shal be nedeful for you to puruey for people, & for the best knightes that ye can gete ; for thempe- rour is a puissaunt prince, & hathe many frendes. Gentle kynge ! suffre your selfe to be couseyled both to your profyt & honour : syr, for Goddes sake leue this abusio thus to lay syege to your doug liter, & do no more ayenst your owne promesse & agrement, nor striue no more ayest your doughters desteny ; for there is no profyte can come to you therby, but many yll inconuenyences may ensue therby, & hath done all redy, as it hath appered by the Duke of Bigor, for he hath receyued deth ; &, syr, ye wer in grete dis- pleasure with the King of Orqueney & with me, & banished vs out of your courte ; also, syr, ye were in grete abusyon at Cornyte at y e chirch dore, whan ye wede to haue maried Florence to them- perour, & now ye be falle w' him at grete mortall warre. And, syr, this emperour hath lost a king, & ii. dukes, & all theyr people slayne : and all this is done bicause ye be obstinate ayenst Florece desteny : therfore now, syr, do yet the best : appease your selfe & make peas with your doughter, & w l the good knyght Arthur, & desyre hyrn to aide you ayenst this emperour ; for one thynge I say, y l he hath in his copany many of the best knyghtes of al the world : &, syr, if ye may haue them, ye nede not to fere the- perour, nor yet all the world. Syr, I couseyle you thus to do. Ye, said the king, & wold ye haue me to do thus ? how shold I than haue ony honour or fame in this worlde, syth she shamefully hath forsake me, & is gone away w* this strauge knight ? Well, OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 431 syr, quod the Klg of Valefoud, your doughter, I ensure you, right sagely behaueth her self, as she that nothlg wyl do ayenst her desteny ; & bycause ye wold haue constrayned her to haue maryed ayenst her wyl, therfore she is come in to this stroge castell for /.lt<- 24. To face page 4^.1. -Plate 24. To face pa/ie 4j3 OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 473 for Goddes sake yssue not out of the castel, for ye be not able to resyste ayenst their power, thei be so many in nombre and ye soo few : but I requyre you defed this castel as wel as ye may. Ma- dame, said Arthur, be ye in rest and peas, and let vs alone hardely. Than he mounted on his horse, and so dyde his other foure com- panions, and to the nombre of xl. other knightes of the castel, & so he rode to the gate, and caused the porter to set it open. Than Arthur, by grete randon, dasht into y e prese with his white shelde couered al in blacke, and holdyng a grete hatchc in both his handes, & laid on rounde about hyni on those Sarasins, that he made hedes, armes, and handes, to flye into the felde, and bet down horses and Sarasyns in suche wyse, that it was maruayle to behold him : and Hector and Gouernar, on their partye, bette dovvne Sarasyns by grete hepes : and the mayster, Brysebar, & syr Perdycas, dyde as valyauntly as onye good knightes ought to do : but, aboue all other, Arthur dyd excellently ; for he layde on rounde about hym, & confounded al that euer he attayned vnto ; so that euery man fledde fro before hym, & said how that he was a deuyl of hel, and none erthly creature ; for he auoyded the stretes where as he passed, & made gret hepes of dead knightes, so that Florence knightes had grete meruayle of him ; and also Florence, and the Quene of Orqueney, and the ladi Margarete, blissed them at his dcdes, & sayde how that he lacked but lytell of the prowesse of Arthur. And at the last Hector was beten downe, for his horse was slaine vnder him; and soo his enemyes had thought to haue ledde hym awaye as a prysoner : and therwith Arthur came thider, and in that fury he slew moo than xv. knyghtes, and remounted Hector agayne on his horse in the spyte of al his enemyes ; and than he dasht agayne into the prese and bette downe all that euer he attayned vnto : and Brysebar and the mayster dyde ryghte well theyr partes, but specyally Arthur made place before hym. And whan Florence sawe these v. knightes do so valiauntly, she said vnto suche knyghtes as were aboute her : Syrs, for Goddes sake, and ye loue me, goo and helpe to rescowe yonder fyue knightes. Than the grete comyn bell was souned, and euery man than ranne to theyr harneys, and so they were to the nombre of an 3p 474 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR hondred and an halfe on horsebacke, & iii. hondred on fote, who ■were in log jackes and grete basenettes on their hedes, w' good swerdes girte aboute them, and longe speres in theyr hades, to the entent to slee with them theyr enemyes horses : and soo thei yssued out of the castel and slew many of the Sarasyns, that within a lytle whyle they were nere all dyscomfyted. And whan the Sowdan sawe this people so ouerladen and slain, he caused a grete grisley home to be blowen : than euery ma that herde it ranne to their harneys, so that they wer to the nombre of xxx. thousand : and the Sowdan was a yonge lusty couragious knyght, and mounted on such an horse, that ther was none lyke him in al the world in goodnes ; for who so euer was mounted on his backe, neded not to doubt ony man lyuynge : for what by force of the horse and of the man, there was none by lykelyhode that might resyst ayenst him. Than the Sowda dasht vnto his horse with his sharpe sporres, and he rushte forth as though he had flowen in y e aire lyke a byrde. And whan Arthur sawe hym coming, he desyred gretely to haue that horse : than he toke a great myghty spere and ran at the Sowdan, and brake hys spere by the might of that horse, for the horse was able to haue borne two men armed without any payne : and as Arthur passed forth after his course, the Sarasyns enclosed hym rounde aboute : than he drewe his good swerde Clarence, and there he slew of hys enemyes wythout nombre ; but thei charged him with so many strokes, that they slew his hors vnder him : than he lepte on his fete & dyde put hys whyte shelde before hym ; and with Clarence, hys good swerde, he did cutte so among his enemies, as a carpenter doth hewe chyppes out of a gret tree : and thei did shote at him with their bowes of Turkey, wherwyth they dyde him moche trouble ; & more had done and hys good whyte shelde hadde not bene. Than Florence sayde, as loude as she coude crye : Saint Mary ! swete Virgin ! saue and defende yonder good knyght fro all dauger and peryl ! And whan Arthur harde her voyce, his hardines encreased ; for such was the maner, of the more that he had to do, the more was his strength, and was euer of more courage : and tha OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 476 he lyghtly lept in amonge hys enemyes, and began so to deseuer a sonder the grete flockes of the Sarasyns, that none approched nere him, but y' he receyued death for his mede. At the laste Hector espyed hym, and saw how that he was on foote ; wherwith he was so dyspleased, that he was in a grete rage : tha he couched hys spere, and ran at the Sowda, who was rennynge at Arthur ; but Hector strake hym so rudely, that he persed hym to the harte, and soo he fell downe dead : than Hector toke hys good horse and delyuered hym vnto Arthur. And wha Arthur hadde hym, he was more gladder of the horse than he would haue ben of all the tresour in Fraunce. Than he mounted vp on him and rusbt into the thickest of the prese, and ther he dyde meruayles wyth his handes ; for there he cutte of armes, handes, and legges : he claue a sonder helmes, and made hedes to flye in to the felde, and bette downe knyghtes & horses all togyder in hepes ; and than ther was none that he encoutred witlial that escaped from the deth. Than ther came vnto hym the mayster, syr Brisebar, and syr Perdycas, and xl. other knightes vpon horsebacke of Florence company, and thre hondred on fote : than they al layde on these Sarasyns, and bet them downe lyke dogges. Than Arthur encountred the Sowdans broder, and gaue him suche a stroke with his good swerde Clarece, that he claue hym downe to the sadel. And whan the Sarasyns sawe howe that the Sowdan and also his broder were dead and slayne, thei made suche roring and sorow among them, that the emperour, as lie was in his tent, myght well here the noyse, and deraaunded what it was? And one shewed hym how that it was y e Sowdan who was scarmusshlg wyth them of the castell. And therewyth ther came to hym a knyglit who hadde one of his armes clene striken of, & sayd : Syr emperour, the Sowda is deed, and his broder, Saladyne, also slayne ; for, sir, ther be come vi. as I thynke rather deuylles of hell than ertlily creatures, for they haue all slayne and cofounded ; and specially there is one among them that makcth waye where so euer that he cometh : there is none so hardy that dare abyde him a stroke of his handes, but all fleeth before him : therfore, syr emperour, call your me to harneis, or elles we shal be all slayne. Than the em- 476 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR perour was sore dyspleased, and sayd : What hondred deuylles of hell hath brought hider these vi. knyghtes who thus confoundeth all my people ? Than he cryed, To harneis ! and caused homes to be blowe in his boost. Than euery man ran to their harneys, soo that anone there were togyder more than an hondred thousande men. And Arthur, Hector, Gouernar, y e maister, Brisebar, & syr Perdycas, wer all besprente with the blode of the Sarasyns that they had slayne. Than the Quene of Orqueney, who had all the daye well aduysed Arthur and his dedes, sayde vnto Florence : Madame, certaynly I thynke that yoder knight is Arthur; for, as I deme, yonder shelde is your whyte shelde, and I thynke he that is by hym is Hector, the mayster, Gouernar, and syr Brysebar. Madame, sayd Florence, that can not be, for thei are as blacke as ony ynke. And as they thus talked, thei sawe where as the emperour was corny ng, and a hondred thousande folowing after him. A ! swete lady Mary ! sayde Florence, kepe and defende nowe yonder knyghtes, for I fere me now that they shal be slayne. And the emperour came thiderwarde as faste as be might, with grete noyse of trompettes, tabours, and homes. And whan that the mayster harde that, he came to Arthur, & sayd : Syr, we haue to lytle nombre of people to abyde yonder emperour at this tyme : we haue done al ready sufficient for one daye : therfore, syr, let vs retourne agayne to the castel, for our company are ryght sore trauayled. Ye say wcl, said Arthur; cause the retraite to be blowen; & so it was done. Than Arthur & his peple entred into the castell, & closed the gate after them, & drew vp the brydge ; and they had slayne in that batayle to the nombre of xv. thousande Sarasyns. Than Arthur mounted vp into the palays ; & Florece mettc w' him, & she dyd of his helme, and thanked him gretly, & al his company, of the paine & labour that thei had take for her sake that day. Than they lokcd out at the windowes, & saw where as themperour was beholding the dead bodies of the Sowdan, & of his broder, & of the xv. thousand other Sarasyns. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 477 CAP. CI. HOW TRUSE WAS TAKEN FOR A MONETH BETWENE THEMPEROUR AND ARTHUR. And than Arthur, out of a widow, called downe to the emperour, & said : Syr emperoure, ye do your selfe grete shame & vylany : ye haue yl counsayle thus to come on a woman by stelth, and vnder thassurance of truse that was take betwene my lord, her fader, & you, thus to cause so numbre of people to come on her. Syr, if there were in you eyther valure or trouth, ye wold not thus haue done : first ye sholde haue giuen her waminge, and haue made your defyaunce, & haue giuen her certayne day of batayle, and than to haue taken her yf ye myght. This, sir, sholde haue bene your honour, & not thus to awayte her in her chambre, with all (hys numbre of people, and she nothing knowyng thereof before. Well, sayde themperour, what so euer thou art, thy tong is fayre fyled : wolde to God 1 had y' head of thine y' lokest so blacke! Why, syr, sayd Arthur, and wolde ye than so fayne haue my hed ? Truly, sayd themperour, on y' condicion I wold it had cost me one yeres rent of al my Iandes. Ye, syr, sayd Arthur, than gyue thys lady a certayne day of batayle, that she may in the meane season send for her people, so y l she may answer you : and, syr, I promyse you that I wyll be there; & than get my head and ye can. Truly, said themperour, I am content : but what assurance shall I haue that ye wyll be there ? Syr, sayd Arthur, by the fay th y l 1 owe vnto my special lady. Wei, sayd themperour, and I giue her daye for a moneth, & truse in the meane season. And so than the assurance was made on bothe partyes. Than Arthur sayd, holdynge Florence by the hande : Syr emperour, beholde what a jewel this is. Sjt, ought not a man to be ryght iolly to obtaync suche a lady ? so teder, so swete, so ruddy of colour! Than y e emperour was sore displcsed, and sayde : What ! y u pratyng fole ! me thinkcth thy vysage is couered 478 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR ouer w* blacke cordewan : wold to God I had the in my kepyng ! Sir, sayd Hector, all smylyng, take no hede of his saying, for he is but a fole. Than theraperour departed, & went to bis tent. Than Arthur said to Florence : Madame, we haue now truse w* themperour ; so that we may wel prouyde for men or the trewse breke, for the terme thereof is a monethe. Wel, syr, quod Florence, I thanke you therof, & of the paine y* ye & your copany hath taken this day for my sake : but, syr, I shall deserue it whan I may. Madame, it is alredy deserued. But, madame, may it plese you to leue the louing of the knighte y l ye say ye loue so wel, and take me to your louer, & gyue me your loue, and I promyse you I shal deliuer you from thys emperour : for this other knight is now in Frauce in gret sport, and thinketh but litell on you, for he hath many fayre ladies in his country at his comaundement. Syr, said Florence, his sport and ioy is a great plesure to my hert : for I am his both wyth hert, thought, & body, and neuer to be fals to him : for, as helpe me God, I had rather suffre my hed to be striken of, than I sholde do or think any false- nes to him. Why, madame, loue ye than him so inwardly & so truely ? Ye, or elles, sayde she, I pray to God I neuer haue ioye in thys worlde. Well, than, sayd he, I se wel that my loue can not preuayle. No, be ye sure, said Florence ; thcrfore be ye in peace, and speke no more to me therof. In like wise the mayster praied the lady Margaret of her loue, desyryng her to loue hym & to forsake the clerke. And she answered, y* to dye in the payne she wolde neuer be false to hym. Than Arthur sayde to the maister : Let vs leue these ladyes, for we are come to late ; for by seminge they are ensured to other. Syr, sayde Florence, I know not your name ; but I desyre you go and vnarme you, and than we wyl go to dyner, for our mete is ready e. Than they were ledde into a chambre, and vnarmed. And than Brysebar, whan he sawe his owne handes soo foule and black, it abhorred him, and said : The deuyl take this blackenes so that we were rydde thereof. Than he sayde to the mayster: Syr, I requyre you take awaye thys blackenes fro me, and fro al my copany. Than the maister laughed a grete pace, and so dydde al OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 479 hys company. Well, sayd Arthur, I am wel agreed that it sholde be nowe taken awaye fro vs al, for it is time. Than the master toke a box, and dyd anoynte theym all, and than they al were in theyr fyrst coloure. Than Arthur toke on hym as chefe, and in a goodly syrcote he entred into the palays, where as Florence taryed for them to washe their handes. And as soone as she sawe them, she knew well Arthur, and them al. Than she ranne to hym, and enbraced and kyssed hym swetely before them al, and sayd : Myne owne lorde, dere hert, and loue ! ye be ryght hertely wel- come, as he for whome 1 haue wepte many a salte teare : but, syr, I praye you who made you so blacke as ye were ryghte nowe ? Madame, by the fayth that I owe vnto you, mayster Steuen : and there recounted to her al y* cause why. Than there began gret fest and ioye throughout al y c castel, & also throughout al the town, whan it was knowen how that Arthur and Hector were comen in to the castel : than they were in their myndes better assured than though the Kyng Emendus and all hys power had bene there. And lady Margaret made as grete chere to the mayster as was to her possible. And so they went to dyner, and were ryght rychely serued. And after dyner Arthur sayd to Gouernar : It is nedeful for vs now to puruey for euery thynge that is necessary to vs, to thentent that we be not deceyued at the daye of oure batayle; therefore I wyll that ye go to my lorde, the Kynge of Soroloys, & recommaunde me humbly to his grace, and shewe hym how that I am at the Clere Toure ; and recounte to hym how that we haue spedde, and how that we haue truse for the space of a monethe, and than is the daye set of batayle betwene themperour and vs. Also salute fro me the Kynge of Orqueney ; and say how that I desyre him to somon, agaynsl the sayde terme, all the power of Soroloys, both on horsebacke and on fote, so that they may be here about the end of foure wekes ; and I wyll in the meane tyme go vnto my lorde, my fader, and too al his company, and brynge them hyder. And whan Florence herde that, she sayd : Syr, haue ye brought them into these partyes ? Ye, madame, truly : and with my father there is a noble kyng of that coutry. And, fayre loue, where be 480 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR Ihey ? Madame, I left them at the Porte Noyre. Well, saydc Florence, I requyre you go to them, and bryng them hyder : for I woulde gladly be acquaynted with my lorde, your fader, whose doughter I am, and truslynge so shall contynue : but I praye you tell me how doth my lady, your moder ? Madame, I ensure you she is also at y e Port Noyre, accompanyed wyth fyue or syxe countesses, who hauc left theyr own countryes to come hyder to se you. A ! dere herte ! sayd Florence, blessed be the houre that euer ye were borne, sith that ye haue broughte so noble a company wyth you to se me : for now my fader, Kynge Emendus, shall not thynke that I am yl bestowed on you. Syr, I requyre you let me se them as shortly as ye can. Tha Gouernar toke his leue, and departed towarde Soroloys. CAP. CII. HOW THAT THE YONGE KYNGE OF MALOGRE, AND THE DUKE OF BRITAYNE, WYTH DYUERSE OTHER ERLES AND BARONS, AND ACOMPANIED WITH A GREAT ARM YE OF MEN OF WAR, ARYUED AT THE CLERE TOURE, TO THE ENTENT TO SOCOUR FLORENCE AND ARTHUR, WHO WERE BESYEGED BY THEMPEROURE; WHO HAD NYE ENRAGED OUT OF HIS WYTTE, WHAN HE KNEW E THAT THEY WERE COME INTO THAT COUNTREY. In the morning betimes Arthur departed, & toke w' him Hector and Brisebar, & toke w 1 him v. other knightcs of Florence, & the master abode styl w l Florence. Thus Arthur rode forth a iii. leges, and than he espyed the baner of the duke his fader, and of al his hoost : for the yonge Kynge of Malogre hasted hym as muche as he myght, for the feare that he had of Arthur. And whan Arthur sawe the baners and standardes wauering with the wyud, and the helmes and sheldcs shynynge ayenst the sonne, OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 481 than his hert smiled, and said : A ! gentil Frauce ! God encrease thine honour and noblenes ! And than he approched nere to his fader, and made hym reuerence : and there was great ioye at their metynge. And the duke demaunded of hym howe that he hadde spedde? And he recounted to hym, and to his company, al y e hole matter as it was done : and so they rode forthe togither tyll they came into themperours hoost. And al that season Florence was lening oute of the bafylmentes of the toure, for with her eyen she had conuayed Arthur before as farre as she myght ; and at the last the Quene of Orqueney had espied the Frenche hoost comynge, and sawe the Frenche baners displayed with the wynde. Saynte Mary ! said she, fayre lady Florence, what people be yonder, that I se comynge hyderwarde ? I thynke it be themperour. And wha Florence sawe them, she was in fere of Arthur, and sayde : Alas ! I doubt that yf they haue encountred my loue Arthur, that they haue slayne him; and ther- with she began to wepe. Than a knyght, who came streyght from Arthur to thentent to shew her how that he was coming, sayd : Madame, be wel assured, for yonder people that ye se comynge are pertaynynge to my lorde Arthur. Than she apeased her selfe : and fyrst she sawe the greate baner of the Duke of Britaine, and saw helmes and sheldes flambe ayenst the sonne : also she behelde the goodly company of yonge knyghtes mounted vpon good horses, and she herde horses braye and bete with theyr fete : than she praysed muche in her herte the noble countrey of Fraunce : she thought it was a better syghte of theym than it was of the men of warre of her owne country ; for they were more better horsed, and harneysed a great dele more properly. And than they saw coming, after that, the gret baner royall of the Kyng of Malogre, and her heart reioysed to se the noble company that came with hym : than she sawe the Erie of Neuers baner, and the noble Burgonyons ryghte properlye besene : than therle of Foreste, and the dolphin in his company ; and than came therle of Foys ; and than the Earle of Mountbelyall ; than the lorde Beauieu ; and laste of all came the banner of Myrpoys : and al thys company were to the numbre of xv. thousande knightes, chosen for the nones. Than Florence sayd : 3q 482 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR A ! my swete loue Arthur ! it semeth wel that ye are not behated in your own countrey, syth ye brynge wyth you so many noble men of warre, and of so great dygnytye. Certaynly, madam, sayd Margaret, these people wyll dystroye thys emperoure and all hys boost : they seme noo men, but rather aungelles of heauen : beholde, madame, howe lyghte and quycke they be in their armour ! A ! noble realme of Fraunce ! blessed be thou, syth suche people cometh out of the ! And whan their people were lodged, than Arthur caused the king, and the duke his father, and al the other erles and barons, to mount vp into the castell. Than the kynge sayde too Arthur : Syr, I requyre you shewe me the gentyll Florence. Ye, fay re son! sayd the duke, shewe me my dere doughter that shall be. Syr, ye shall se her anone, sayde Arthur. Than he sente before Duke Philip too Florence, to thentent that she should make her selfe fresshe against theyr comyng : and as sonc as she sawe Philyp, she made to hyra ryghte greate ioye, and demaunded hym howe that he dyd, and howe that he liked by the realme of Fraunce. Madame, sayd he, I lyke it verye well, for I ensure you Fraunce is a noble gentyl countrey. Madame, beholde here cometh the noble Duke of Britaine, fader to Arthur ; and with him King Alexander of Malogre, and dyuerse other erles and barons, who are coming hither to se you ; & Arthur desyreth you to aparaile your selfe w' vestures of joye. Than she went to her chaumbre, and apparayled her selfe according to her estate, and as to receiue such noble men as were come to herwarde : and the Quene of Orqueney & the fayre lady Margaret dyd helpe her. Than these lordes alyghted at the peron, & so mounted vp into the palais. Than the master ran to Florence, and said : Madam, come on your way, & se the Duke of Britain, & the king, and other erles and barons. And she who was the gentyl rose on the lily, yong and tendre, alwayes hauyng a smylyng countenaunce, and the mooste gracyous of al the worlde, yssued out of her castel, and two knightes ledde her forth ; and two other knightes led the Quene of Orqueney. And whan the yonge kynge, and the Duke of Britaine, & other erles, sawe her, they marueled greatly of the excellent beauty y' God had giuen her. Than the king stept OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 485 forth, and his bonet in his hand, and enclined him selfe (o her, and right swetely did salute her. And she answered him, and sayde : Syr, ye be ryghte hertely welcome into this count rey ; the whych is, and shal be, at your noble commaundement, and al other thinges wherof I haue anye power. Than the kynge dyde salute al the other ladies eche after other. Than the Duke of Britayn came to Florence, and sayd : My right dere lady ! God encrease your noble honour, as vnto the raooste noble ladye of al the worlde. Than Hector sayd : Madame, thys is the Duke of Britaine, father to Arthur : wherwyth she was ryght gladde, and enbraced hym, and sayd : Syr, ye be right hertelye welcom into the lond of Florence, your doughter, as he y l shal be myne own lord : into whose handes and protectio fro hens forth I put me and al my realme of Soroloys. Than he toke Florence by the hand, and wolde not let her depart for no bodye that came to them. Than all the other erles and barons did salute her, and she redred agayne to them suche salutacyon, y l euery man was wel content; and euerye man marueled gretly of her beauty, and of the wyse and sage wordes that she had to euery body. So than the king, and the duke, and Florence, sate them downe togyther ; and the lady Margaret toke therle of Neuers, and therle of Forest, & sate down w l them; and therle of Mountbelial, and y* dolphin, and the lord Beauieu, wer lokinge out at the wyndowes, and behelde the emperours greate hoost : and at last Arthur and the master came to them. Tha the dolphin said: Sir Arthur, as God helpe me, I haue grete desyre to knowe what people these be that be here with this eraperour, & to se how they can couche their speres. Let vs go to them, sayd the lorde Beauieu, & let vs make them know how Frenche men be come hyder. A gret shame take he, sayde therle of Mountbelyal, that fayleth, or wyl abyde behynde. Well, syrs, sayd Arthur, yf it please you, we shal not do thus ; for than shold wo breke our truse, and not kepe our promes made to them : for than they wold repute vs fals in breking of our coue- nauntes : and, sir, Frenche men haue bene alwaies reputed true ; therfore let vs abyde tyl the daye be come, w'out so be that they breake the truse their selfe. And, sir, sayd the lord Beauieu, how 484 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR longe shal youre truse yet endure? Syr, quod Arthur, it must endure yet a xv. dayes. A ! syr, sayde the dolphyn, if it were not you, shame haue he that set the daye so longe. What! all thys longe season we shall but lye here styl lyke swyne, and do no good. And as they thus talked they herd grete noyse without in themperours hoost; for there was a gret rumour amonge them because of the Frenche hoostes commyng into the castel ; and ther- with they saw euery man runne to their harnes : and anon they espied themperours senesshal mouted on a good horse, & a great spere in his hand, and his shelde about his necke, & he came streyght towarde the Frenche hoost, who were lodged without the castel gate, to thentent to know what people they were : but the lorde De la Launde, whan he saw him coming in y* raaner, he thoughte he desired too haue justed wyth some of the Frenche men : than he mounted on his hors, and toke a gret spere, and ran at y e senesshal. And whan the dolphin sawe that, he sayde to Arthur : Sir, me thinketh by the lorde De la Launde, that he thinkcth but lytel on your truse ; for, yf he dyd, he doothe not wel thus to do: I praye you beholde how fast he runneth. Ye, syr, sayd Arthur, 1 se him wel : God kepe his body from any hurt. And whan the senesshal saw hym corny ng so fast towarde hym, he plunged hym selfe in hys sadell, and dyd caste his spere from him, and put his shelde behynd him ; for he wold not just, because of brekyng of the truse. And whan the lorde De la Launde sawe y l , he knew wel he was not comyng to just, therefore he discharged him selfe, and reined his hors. Than the senesshal saluted him, & demauded what people they were y l were newe come to the castel with such an host? Certenly, syr, they be people of Fraiice, who dyd here tidynges of a great warre that this empe- rour shold haue shortly ; & therfore we be come into this country as soudiours, retaynyng vs who so cuer wyll. Souldyours ! quod thcseneshal; & therewith he lyfte vp his eyen, and beheld the hooste ouer al : and there he saw the goodly yong squyers vntruss- ing of their somers & cariages, and pitching vp of their tetes and pauilions ; and he saw y e goodly knights ren their horses vp and OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 485 downe in the feldes, some lyghtyng, and some mountyns:; and there he sawe the armerers furbyshe the harneies, & the speres and sheldes flaming agenst the sonne, the baners, standardes, and stremers, wauering with the wynd. Than he sayde to hym selfe : Saynte Mary ! what people are these ? are they mortal men, or aungelles of Paradyse ? whoo may endure ayenst them ? A ! Frauce ! an honourable country aboue al other ; blessed be thou that nourisshest vp suche people ! Than he sayd to the lorde De la Laund : Getyl syr, wil not these people abyde, and be retayned with my lorde themperour tyl his warre be done, and he shal giue them suche wages and fees, that of reason they shal be content ? Syr, sayd the lorde De la Launde, yf ye wyll knowe the certay ne, go and speke with our lordes and maysters, who are entred into the castel to go speke with a ladye : I wote not what she is ; but, as it is reputed, she is right gracious and fayre. Saynt Mary ! sayd the senesshal, yf I go thyther, I doubte me of them wythin the castel leaste they take and kepe me styll there as prysoner ; wherfore I wyl go fyrst and speke with my lorde themperour. Than he departed, and went streight to themperours tent, and said to him : Gentyl emperour, there is come out of the noble realme of Fraunce the moste goodlye company of men of warre that euer was sene in al this world ; and, as 1 deme, they be wel to the nombre of xv. thousande : & one of the shewed me how that they were souldiours, and the capitaines are gone into the castel to speke with Florence. Syr, I feare me lest that Arthur hath retained them on his party, for he can get muche people ; therfore, syr, after my counsaile, ye shal sende to them in fayre maner, and desyre ye them to become your men duryng your warre : and yf they wyl do so, than gyue them largely bothe of golde and of syluer, and suche other thynges as they nede ; for, syr, and ye may get them, ye shall be able to conquere al the world yfyc lyst. Than the Kynge Jonas sayde to themperour : Syr, it were but well done to knowe what people they were, & wherfore they be come, for I vnderstande that Arthur hath bene in Frauce : and, sir, it myght fortune that he hath brought them with him, to thentet to auoy you : and, syr, yf they be come to make warre ayenst you, 486 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR than begyn ye fyrste on them, and rather to daye than to morow, and strike of al their heades, and hange vp theyr capytayne, and slee Arthur quycke : and as for the strompet Florence, deliuer her among our knaues and boyes, for she hath done you ful great anoyaunce : and therefore, syr, sende to yonder people of Frauce, who are new come, wenyng to Wynne al the worlde, and commaund them to come to your seruice : and if they wil be with you, than entrete them as ye shold do straungers ; and if they wil not come to you, than comaunde them, on paine of theyr lyues, incontynent to depart out of this coiitry : and, syr, yf they wyl not do thus, graunte me the enterpryse, and I shall ensure you to get you all their heades. Than the senesshal was in hys mynd dysplesed with the folysh proud wordes, and sayd : By God ! syr king, yf ye eate no mete tyl al this be done, I fere me lest it wyl be to late for you to ete : but, syth it is your mynd, I counsayl my lord y* emperour, here present, to giue you leue to acheue this enterprise, eyther to bryng them to my lordes seruyce, or elles they to departe out of this realme, or elles al their hedes. In the name of God, sayd the Kyng Jonas, I praye & requyre my lorde themperour to giue me lycence to acheue this enterprise yf I can, and I promyse fayth- fully to go speke w l them or that I slepe, without ony loger delay, and I shal knowe what is their wylles and myndes. Certainly, gentle kynge, quod themperour, ye haue a noble valiaut herte : do as it pleaseth you, for I gyue you leue. Than he toke his gloue, & the kynge toke it, and thanked him ; & soo than they wente to dyner. And all the noble company of Fraunce and Brytaine were in the Clere Toure, where as they dined in grete delyte and sporte, and were serued right richely ; and after diner thei sported them tyll it was aboute one of the clocke. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 487 CAP. CIII. HOW THAT KING JONAS, AL ALONE, CAME TO THE CASTEL OF THE CLERE TOURE, AND THERE DYD HIS MESSAGE FROM THEM- PEROUR OF YNDE THE MORE. Xiian Kyng Jonas yssued out of the emperours boost, al armed, wel and fresshely mounted : and so all alone, without ony com- pany, he came to the Clere Toure ; and vnder a fayre olyue tree he alyghted, and mounted vp into the palays : and there he founde Florence, & the Kynge of Malogre, and the Duke of Britayne, settynge togyder. Than the Kynge Jonas spake before Florence, in open audience, so y* euery man myghte well here bym, & sayd : The hye souerayne God, who all tbynge formed of noughte, defende & kepe the puyssaunt Emperour of Ynde the More, and all his frendes, where soo euer they be, here or elles where. Fyrste to the, Florence, there as thou syttest, I saye fro the mighty empe- rour, y' thou go to him, al onely in thy kyrtel, on the bare fete, w< thy heere hangynge about thy sholdres, and on thy knees crye hym humbly mercy of y* gret outrage that thou hast done to bym, and I thynke that he wyll haue mercy on the, that thou shalt not dye no cruell deth : for yf thou wylt doo thus, I thynke he wil giue the pardon of thy life, and mary the to one of the gromes of his kechyn : & yf thou wilt not do thus, know for certaine, y* to morow nexte comming, this castel shall be rased down to y' hard earth, and thy selfe brente in a fayre fyre, and the lurdcn that is called Arthur hanged vp by the necke. Than Florence bega to smyle, & said : Syr Jonas, shew vnto your emperour, that, or al this be perfourmed, there shal not abyde one tothe in his heed, but I shal cause them to be rasshed out, eche after other : and as for comyng into my castell ayenst my wyl, lette him knowe well I haue suche people aboute me that shall defende it ryght wel ayenst hym, for therof they be desyrous. Than the dolphyn stepte forthe, as he that was full of yre bycausc of the rude wordes y* Kyng Jonas had 488 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR spoken of Florece and Arthur, and said to the kynge : Thou foule olde churlysshe vilaine ! yf thou were not a messenger I wold rashe out thyn eyen out of thyn heed with myne own hades. What ! art thou come hyder to speake vylany to so hie a lady and prin- cesse as Florence is, to saye that she should be giuen to a kechin grome in mariage ? Thou olde fole ! say vnto thine emperour, that he com to my lady Florence, crepyng on his handes and knees, and to take of suche jugement of death as she wyl assigne him to dye of : and yf he wil not so do, let him flye fast out of this coutre ; for as for me, nor none of my company, haue taken no trewse with him ; therfore I vtterly defie hym : & fyrst, here before thy face, thou abused folysshe dotarde ! I defye the, & al thy malyce. And whan King Jonas saw the grete peryll & dauger y' he was in, he was nye for angre out of his wytte, and therwith he set his hande on his swerde : and than Brisebar stepte to him with a grete leuer in his hande, & said : Syr kinge, fayre & softely ; not so hardy in thy heed y* thou ones stere ; for, & thou do, thou shalt neuer speke word more with thine emperoure. Than he helde his peas, & stode styll ; for he sawe wcl y l yf he had moued, he had bene but dead. Than Brisebar sayd : Yf y" hast ony more to saye, speke, & auoyde fast out of this presence, yf thou loue thyne own lyfe. Than the Kinge Jonas sayd to the King of Malogre, & to the other lordes of Fraunce & Britayne : Syrs, it is so, the hie & myghty puyssaunt emperour hath harde spekyng of you, how y' ye be come hider with moche'people in harneys ; for what cause he knoweth not, wheder it be to be with him, or ayenst hym : yf it be for him, and that ye wyl com and dwel with him, he wyl gyue you golde & syluer, rentes, & londes, & great possessions : & he wyl loue and honour you in suche wyse, that of reason ye shal holde you ryght wel content. And yf ye be come to be ayenste hym, he wolde know it, to thentent that he wyll take cousaile what he shal do ayenst you : & in this behalfe shew me your myndes. Than the Kinge Alexander of Malogre spake first, & said : Syr, ye seme to be a wise man, I wote not what I should cal you, for I know not your name : but this I say vnto you, shew vnto your OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 489 emperour, that he hath to lytel londe, & is of to sraal a power, & hath to lytel store of golde & syluer, to retayne to hys seruice such people as we be : but yf he wil dwel w l vs, & serue vs truely, let hym come to vs, & we shal do ryght well for bym : & yf he haue no wife, we shal mary him to one of our damoyselles, who hath ben longe one of our lauenders. And whan the Kyng Jonas harde him, that he called hym a wise man, & that he would mary his lorde the emperour to a lewde damoysel, he was than so angry for despyte, y l he was nye in a grete rage, & sayd to King Alex- ader : Syr, ye haue an outragious hart to cal me a wise man, & wold mary my lord to one of your damoyselles, and he is the moste mighty prynce, & moost honoured y' euer bare crowne of gold on his head : & more ouer ye wold haue hym to come & serue you ; therfore, syr, I saye vnto you on hys behalfe, that he shal be to morow assembled ayenst you with xx.m. speres in his company; therfore beware of hym, and of his; for, in his name, 1 defy you, and all yours. And, syr dolphyn, to you I saye, beware that ye come not ther : for, & ye do, I promyse you to take that head of youres clene fro your sholdres. Than he went to JBrisebar, & toke him by the chyn so rudely, that he made al the teth in his head to dashe togyder, and sayd : By the fayth y l I owe vnto themperour of Ynde, I shal neuer depart out of this countre tyl I haue hanged the by the necke before Arthur & al these Frenshe men that be here present. And whan Brysebar felte hym self so rudely handled, and so churlishely thretned, he strayned his tethe togyder, and frounsed and glared w' his eyen as though he had ben wode : and therwith he lift vp his leuer, and gaue King Jonas therwith suche a stroke bitwene the sholdres, that he fell flat to the earth : and Brysebar dasht downe with hys knees on hys bely, and wyth a shorte knife he cut of a gret parte of the heere of his berde ; wherwith King Jonas braied, and cried out a grete pace. And Duke Philyp did laughe therat, and said : Syrs, beholde what a good barbour Brisebar is ! me thynketh he dooth lyue very harde : beholde howe the h eres come out, rotes & all. Than Florence rose, and sayd : Frende Brysebar, aryse, and let hym alone", for he is a messenger. Therwith Brisebar departed 3 R 490 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR fro hym. Than the kynge arose, and went downe the staires al astonyed ; & so mounted on his horse, & wente to themperours hoost ; & by that time the sonne was farre drawen into the Weste. And whan themperour sawe Kynge Jonas in y c case, he demaunded of hym who had arayed him in that wyse ? And he answered : Syr, the Frensshe men in the Blauche Toure hath thus arayed me. And ther he recounted to themperour how y l they woulde mary hym to one of they r lauenders, and would haue hym to serue them. Ye ! said themperour, are thei than of that mynde ? Than I comaude you, that to morowe nexte ye bete downe this castell ; & that the harlot Florence be taken & bret, & the ribaude Arthur hanged by y e necke, and al the remnaunt slayne. Tha Kyng Jonas sayd : Syr, I vndertake, on paine of my heed, that all this that ye haue deuysed shal be done to morow betimes. And so he went to hys tent as for that night. Than the noble knyghtes in the castell went to counseyle, to detcrmin how they should do the nexte daye ; for thei knewe well that there sholde be batayle made to them. Than maister Steuen sayd to Kyng Alexander : Syr, I knowe well that thys Kinge Jonas, that lately departed fro vs, wyl make on vs a fyerse assawte to raorowe nexte ; thcrfore there is no more to doo, but now let it be seen what Frensshe men can do : & yf we holde them rudely at this beginning, they shal be the lightlier discomfyted here after : nor also thei wil not so lightly agayne assemble ayenst vs : thcrfore let euery knight shewe forth the best that thei can do, & blessed be he that now shal do valiauntly ! Syr, me thinketh that it were best that ye sende for al your people that lycth without in the tentes, & let them come into the castell as pryuely as they can, without any noyse, & conuai all theyr stuffe w l them : for now all this night themperours people wil slepe fast, bycause thei thinke to fyght to morow. And whan our people be come into thys castel, let vs all kepe our selfe in our harneys as pryuely as we can, and than we shal let downe the brydges, & set ope the gates ; & so in the morning oure enemyes shal thynke that we be all fledde awaye this night for fere ; & than I thynke we shal se this King Jonas, and al hys comyany, come & entre into this castell : OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 491 & as soone as thei be entred, tha we may stepe to the gate and close it fast ; & so tha thei can not escape vs, nor they that be without shal not helpe them : for yf we sholde go and yssue out, & fight in the plaine felde with them al, we should haue ouer moche to doo, & by lykelyhode lese many of our people, for thei be in nombre an hondred ayenst one of vs : & whan we haue slayne al them that shall be entred wythin this castel, than let vs set open the gates, & let the remenaunt entre who wyll : and yf they wyl not come to vs, we may go wha we wil & loke on them in theyr tentes : & the moo that be deed, the fewer enemyes we shal haue. And whan Florence herde the maisters cousaile, it pleased her ryght wel, and said, how that she would that they shold do as he had deuised. Madame, sayde Kynge Alexander, youre grace not displeased, we shal not do thus. Ye be doughter vnto a hye and a mighty puissaunt kyng, and I am also a kynge ; and it were shame for such people as we be to take our enemyes closed in a nette or cage, for rather we shold go seke them in the open felde with baners dysplayed. Ye say ryght wel, sayd Florence : but, syr, they haue done ayenst me more vylanye and trespace than this case is in ; for thei be come hyder into my countre, and hath enclosed me here in my castell withoute ony reasonable cause ; wherfore it is no shame to take aduauntage of them if we can. In the name of God, madame, sayde the dolphyn, ye saye but trouth ; for it is good polyce in warre to spye auantage on our enemies, so that there be no treason in the case : wherfore let vs doo thus as is deuysed. I am agreed therto, sayde the Duke of Britayne ; for tyme ynoughe here after we may issue out on the : but I promyse you I wyll be the porter, and kepe the gate : and I shall gyue them fre entre, as many as wil come, without ony daunger : but at the goyng out of the tauernc it shall behoue theym to paye for theyr scotte ; for suche shal entre y l shall not fynde agayne theyr goyng oute. Than euery knyght dyd laughe at this newe porter. Than Florence enbraced hym, and sayd : A ! myn owne dere lorde and father ! it appereth ryght wel how that ye be of the fyersnes of Arthur your sone. And so at the lastc they agreed all to thys counsayle. THYSTORY OF ARTHUR Than Brisebar mounted on hys horse, and rode fortli to the Frenshe hoost without the castell, and came to syr De la Launde, who had the guydynge of them: and they two togyder dyde conuay that same nyght al theyr hoost as couertly as thei coude into the castell, so that none of the emperours people espyed theym : and they within the castel dyd rest them al that nyght tyl that it was nere on the poynt of the daye lyght ; than they harde masse, and after that thei ordred al their people : and the Duke of Brytayne and al his company kepte the gate, and entred into the grete sellers and vawtes ioynynge thereto; and kept themselfe priuely and close, without any noyse : and in the market place of the towne was the dolphyn; and in another strete the Erie of Forest and the Erie of Mountbelyall ; and in an other corner was y e Erie of Neuers and the Erie of Foys : and the yong Kyng of Malogres, mayster Steuen, Arthur, Brysebar, and syr De la Launde, accompanyed wyth fyue hondred other knightes, kepte the passage to the palays ; and Duke Phylyp and Duke Hector wer in the palays with Florence. And al these noble men and all theyr company were redy armed, and all closed in chambres, sellers, & vawtes : and so kept themself close without any noyse makynge. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. CAP. CIV. HOW THAT THEMPEROUR AND KYNG JONAS, ACCOMPANYED WYTH FYFTYE THOUSANDE MEN OF WARRE, CAME TO THE CLERE TOURE FOR TO HAUE MADE ASSAUTE THERTO ; AND THAN THEI FOUNDE THE GATES OPEN, AND ENTRED BOTHE IN TO THE TOWNE AND IN TO THE CASTELL, FOR THEY THOUGHT VERILY THAT ALL THE FRENSSHE MEN HAD BEN FLEDDE : BUT THEY WERE DECEYUED ; FOR THAN THE FRENSSHE MEN LEPTE OUT FROM THEYR ENBUSSHEMENTES AND SHETTE FASTE THE GATES, AND THERE SLEWE KYNGE JONAS AND ALL THE FYFTYE THOU- SANDE, SOO THAT NONE ESCAPED ALYUE BUT ONE, AND THE EMPEROUR, WHO WAS TAKEN PRYSONER. In the morning, wha Kyng Jonas saw the day begyn to spring, he lept out of hys bedde, and made to be cryed thrughout al his host, y l eueri ma shold to harneis, to y* entent to make assaut to the Clere Toure. Tha King Jonas assebled ther togider to the nobre of xv. thousande persones. Than there came to hym a knight, & said : Syr, Florece and al the Frenshe men are fledde away this same night priuely, for the gates of the castel and town stondeth wyde ope ; & the Frensshe men hath left behynde them moche bagage there, as thei were lodged w'out the towne. And whan Kyng Jonas hard y l , he had neuer so great ioye before, and sayd : I knew well that as soone as thei knew y' I would come ayenst them, they durst not, for theyr lyues, abyde ony lenger. I am angry wyth nothynge but with that Florece shold thus escape vs. Tha he caused a great home to be sowned. Than ther assem- bled about hym on horsebacke wel to the nombre of xl. thousande : & with great noyse of tropettes, tabors, & homes, thei rode to themperours tente, who was as then rysen out of his bedde, & stode without his tente w* great plente of people aboute hym. And as sone as King Jonas saw hym, he alyghted, and sayde : Syr, I am ryght sore displesed, for Florece & al the galautcs of 494 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR Fraiice arc this night priuely fled away. I am sure Arthur hath led them into his countre. But, syr, and it please you, mout on your horse & go ryde to the castel and take the possession therof, & so shall ye haue the conquest before King Eraendus doth come : for whan he is come, ye shal haue a great auautage of him : for than he shal be without, & fayne to lodge in the felde ; & ye shal be at your ease within the towne & castel. And wha that themperour harde how that Florece was escaped fro him, he was nye oute of his mynde for dyspleasure. Than he demaunded for his harneys, and so armed hym, & dyuerse other with hyin : so what of his company, and of King Jonas, thei were to the nombre of fyfty thousande. So themperour rode forth with baners dy splayed, & with great noyse of trompettes, homes, and tabours, and came to the fyrst gate of the castel. Than there the emperour sawe the foundacion of the grete walles, the which wer ryght hye & thicke ; and the grete and depe dytches ful of water ; and the gates rychcly buylde, mighty and stronge ; & the sharpe cuttinge porte cullesses of bright stele : also he behelde the hye and mighty toures pyght full of waueryng fanes. Than he praysed the castel so moche in hys harte, that he would not giue it againe for al the gold of the world. And than he said to Kyng Jonas : Veryly this castel pleaseth me right well : I shal make it my chambre. He sayd trulyer than he was ware of; for there died he in grete myschefe, and was buryed in the castell. Syr, sayd Kynge Jonas, here ye and I wyll take vp our lodginges : & thus oftetimes people speketh of a thing that they knowe but lytle what the conclusyon shall be. Than, by aduenture, as the emperour loked in at a windowe of the chefe toure, he had a blushe of Florece, for as than he was paste the fy rste gate and warde. Than he sayde to her : A ! gentil pusel ! make good chere, for verily ye haue themperour to your host. And wha Florence harde him say so, her hart trembled for fere, & said : A ! swete loue, Arthur ! it is nedeful this day y' ye be the chefe floure of al other knyghtes ! Swete harte ! deliuer me this day of this emperour. And by y' time themperour, wyth all hys 1. thousande, were passed the gates & wardes, & were come to the chefe palays, than y e noble & free OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 495 Duke of Britayne rusht out of his enbusshe, & lift vp the bridge, & closed fast y e gates, and did put out his stadarde ouer the wall of the gate into the castel warde, and caused to be blowen a grisley home. Than knyghtes lept on horses on euery syde. Than Arthur came down out of the chefe dongeo wel mouted on horsebacke, wel armed, & cried : Brytayne ! Saynt Malo ! Than he broched to his horse, & w l greate randon he dressed hym to themperour, & strake hym so rudely with his spere, that he bare downe emperour, horse, & all, in a hepe. Than Arthur had thoughte to haue taken hym; but he myghte not, the prese was soo thicke. And whan Arthur saw that he was holde so short with so grete a nombre, he toke Clarece, his good swerde, in his hande, and did cut down therwith all that euer he attayned vnto. And wha Kynge Alex- ander and hys company saw the noble prowesse of Arthur, thei toke on them grete hardines. Than Kynge Alexander ran and encountred Kynge Jonas so rudely, y' he flewe clene ouer his horse crope, hys legges upwarde : & wyth hys fall he had almost ouerthrowen the dolphyn, who layde on with his swerde as a man outofhiswyt. And whan he sawe Kynge Jonas make a forke with his legges vpwarde, he lyfte vp hys swerde & strake him bi- twene the legges so rudely, that his ryght legge flewe clene into the felde, and sayd : Go thy waye, thou doting fole ! couer thyne arse ! shame haue thou ! And there this Kynge Jonas was all to troden wyth horse fete. And the cmperoure was so brused wyth hys fal, that nye the chyne of his backe was broken asonder, and soo was layde vnder a pyne tree on his shelde, & coude not stere to helpe hym selfe. Than al the erles, and the lorde Beauieu, syr De la Laundc, & Brisebar, dasht into the prese, and dyde there suche valyauntnes in armcs, that thei dyde, in a maner, with their enemyes as thei list them selfe ; for they were nere hande dys- comfyted bycausc of faute of their capytaynes : and so than they had thought to haue tourned agayne to the gate ; but than the noble Duke of Brytayne was before them, who ryght sharpely receyued them ; for the Brytons strake of their heades, armes, & legges : but specially Arthur delte wonders strokes about them, and bette downe all that euer he attayned vnto ; so that euery man 496 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR fled before hyra. To make shorte processe, these noble menne dyde so raoche, that all the emperyens wer clene discorafyted and slayne : how be it, they endured moche payne and labour fyrste, for they were a great norabre of people ; & by that time it was aboute none. Than Arthur and all hys companye vnarmed them, and toke theyr dyner ; than they retourned to the palays : and as they went, they sawe lyeng vnder the pyne tree the emperour, who had hys chine sore brused and almoost broken. Than Arthur caused hym to be fayre and easely vnarmed, and made hym to be borne to the palays, & to be layde in a fayre goodly chambre, and appoynted vi. knyghtes to wayte & giue attendauce on hym, & x. squyers to serue him. Than Arthur caused all the beste surgiens of the countre to be brought to him, to hele him of his sore hurtes : and Arthur kept the emperour as honourably as a man ought to kepe suche a persone as he was. Than Arthur sayd to his company : Lordes ! what shall we do w l yonder grcte boost that is without ? for I thynke that yf they ones knowe that themperour be taken, and Kyng Jonas slayne, they wyl flee awaye, and so shal they escape fro vs : therefore let euery man giue hys aduyse what is best ferder to be done. Verely, syr, sayd mayster Steuen, my counsayle is, y' in the heyght of the hyest toure in tbys castel that ye set out themperoures banner dys- played, to thentent that they without in the boost may se it, and than they wyl thinke verely y' themperour hath wonne thys place, & so than they wyl abide styll and thinke him selfe wel assured : and, syr, as soone as euery man of our companye hath dyned, let vs yssue out wyth baners dysplayed and fighte with them ; for people w'out a gouernour are halfe discomfyted, for they shall haue noo vertue nor power ayenst vs : and let vs make King Alex- ander our captayne and gouernour, for a king ought to gouerne an hoost : and than let vs do soo, that Kyng Emendus, whan he com- meth, may haue but litel to do. Than euery man sayd howe that the mayster had well aduysed, and agreed al so to do. Than euery man went to dyner : & whan they had dyned, euery man cryed : To harnes ! and so armed them. And they without in the hoost were ryght ioyfull whan they sawe theyr lordes baner dys- OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 497 played in the toppe of the castel. And than Kynge Alexander and Arthur ordeyned y* the baner of Britaine sholde be in the way ward, and that Arthur sholde be in y e company of his fader, the Duke of Britayne ; & nexte after him in batayle sholde be the Erie of Mountbelyal, & than the Erie of Neuers, than therle of Foys, & than therle of Forest; next after, the lord Beauieu, & than the dolphin, & than the lorde De la Launde, and syr Brisebar ; and than, laste of all, Kynge Alexander, theyr chefe capytayne, and mayster Steuen in his company. And whan all these noble men were thus set in good ordynaunce, & theyr baners dysplayed, than Florence behelde well theyr noble & hie countenances, & praysed them muche in her herte, and sayd : A ! gentyl coutry of Fraunce ! ryght noble art thou ! God kepe the therein, & mayntayn it, sith thou hath nourysshed vp suche a noble com- pany of knightes as here be now at this tyme present. So than there yssued fyrst oute the baner of Britaine wyth the chekered armes, and so al other, euery ma in good ordynaunce. And whan the emperyens sawe them come forthe, than they knewe wel howe that themperour & Kynge Jonas were bothe slaine or taken ; and than they were so abasshed, y l they had thought all to haue fledde away. Than Kinge Florypes, broder to themperoure, and Kynge Brandalas, and Kinge Clamados, cosin germayne to Kyng Flo- rypes, mounted al on theyr horses, and rode al about theyr boost, and dydde encourage theyr people. Than the Kynge Florypes called to him y e Erie of the Yle Perdue, and comaunded him to ryde ayenst the Frenche boost, & demaude of theym what people they were, and what they would ? and to shew them that yf they demaund batayle, they should haue it on the Mondaye nexte folowynge wythout any fayle, so that they wyll gyue trewse in the meane space. Soo than the erle rode streyght to the Duke of Brytayne, who was in the formest bront, and ryght nobly dyd salute hym. And whan Arthur sawe hym, he made to hym ryghte great ioy. And than the erle desyred hym that he wold cause hym to speke w l theyr chefe capytayne. Than Arthur brought hym to the presence of Kynge Alexander. Than the erle dyd hys reuerence and saluted hym, and demaunded of the kyng 3s 498 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR for what cntencyon he and al hys company dyd approche soo nere to the emperours boost ? Certaynely, frende, sayde the kynge, it is so that ye & your company be entred into the londe pertayn- ynge to the gentyl lady Florence ; & ye haue wasted & exyled al her coutry and subiects wrongfully, & w'out ani resonable cause ; & ye haue besieged & assalted her here in her castell, w'out any defiauce made to her before : wherfore we are riding in purpose to areyse youre syege, and to dryue you oute of thys coutrey yf we can. Syr, quod therle, cause your boost to tary, and returne againc to your castel ; and King Floripes, broder to themperour, desireth of you truse and respit of batayle tyl Monday next coming, & than he promyseth you to deliuer you bataile wythout any fayle : for, syr, al oure boost is sore troubled because of our emperour, for we wote not where he is : for, syr, we se wel y l the castel is not deliuered too hym, syth we se al you here redy to bataile, and he is abiden behind, and al his : we wote not where to seke hym. Certaynly, syr, quod the kyng, your emperour is within the castel in pryson, and (he chine of hys backe nye broke asonder; and as for your King Jonas is dead, and al tho that came with the : but, syr, as for the respite y' ye demand, I shal take counsayle in y' behalfe, and than gyue you an answere. Than (he king sent for al his lordes, and shewed them y e rcquestes of Kyng Florypes, and desired (hem to giue him counsaile in y* behalfe. Than the Duke of Britaine desyred the master to giue fyrst his aduise. Than the master sayd : Lordes ! it is of (roth. y l (his King Floripes is a cruell prince and greatlye redoubled : for (hroughout al theperors londe, the people wyll do more for hym, than for themperour him selfe. And, syrs, ye may wel se before you all the hylles & great valeycs be ful of men of warre, so that for one of our compani (here is an C. of theyrs : and also though themperoure were dead, yet these people are not wythout a captayne as long as they haue w e them thys Kynge Floripes : therefore, my counsayle is, let vs giue them thys truse tyl Monday, syth it cometh of theyr own desyre, for our people are ryghte sor trauayled of the payne y' they haue had this morning, and theyr horses be also ryghte wery & sore chafed : OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 499 and, sir, there be many of our knightes and people sore wounded, so they may wel take their rest the space of these foure dayes, and so by Mondaye euery ma and hors shal be wel refresshed : how be it, on the other syde, I se wel that as now theyr hoost is, in a maner, wythout any ordenaunce, and in great trouble for the myssynge of theyr emperoure ; soo that if we shold go on them at this point, I thynke that we sholde dyscomfyt them al : but we sholde haue no honour in that behalfe, for we should do nothyng but dyscomfite people that were but as halfe dead : therefore let vs accomplish theyr request, and on Monday let vs assemble ayenst them ; and th a, yf God gyue vs the vyctory, than our prayse and honour shal be the more greter and more laudable. And whan the mayster had thus deuysed, they were all agreed to hys saying. So than the Kynge Alexander graunted the trewse too the erle tyll the Monday folowynge. Than the erle returned and sayd to Kynge Fiorypes, & to suche other as were with hym : Syrs, it is so the Frenche men hath graunted to you trewse tyl Monday nexte ; and as for themperour is in pryson sore wouded, and the King Jonas slain, and al their companye: but of one thynge I ensure you all, sythe God fyrst made mankynd, there was neuer so goodly a sort of men of warrc assembled togyther as they bee ; and, as God helpe me, yf we were halfe as many mo people as we be here already, we could not endure ayenst them, they ordre theyr batayles in so goodly a maner. Holde your peace, syr eric, sayd Kyng Fiorypes, and if ye be aferd flye away ; for, as God helpe me, as soon as Mondy is come, I shall neythcr cate nor drynke tyll I haue agaync my broder, them- perour, and put them al to deth by the sword. Tha he sent for al the noble men of y e host, & chefe captaines, and toke their faith and trotli to helpe him in his quarell. Than Kynge Alexander and al his company returned again to the castel, and alighted at y e gate. And there Florence met the and couaied them vp into the palais : & tha she demanded theym the cause why they retourned agayne so soone w'out batayle ? Madam, said the Duke of Britaine, it is so y' Kynge Fiorypes hath desyred of vs trewse tyl Monday next corny ng ; the which we 500 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR haue graunted him. In the name of God, said Florence, so be it. So than euery ma vnarmed the throughout al the castell ; & after they went and visited themperour, & kept him copany : how be it, he was sore enpaired because of the hurt y' he had. Now let vs leue to speke of the, and return to Gouernar y l was going on message into the realrae of Soroloys to Kyng Emendus. CAP. CV. HOW GOUERNAR WENT INTO THE RELME OF SOROLOYS, TO THENTENT TO GIUE KNOWLEGE TO KYNG EMENDUS HOWE Y* THEMPEROR HAD BESYEGED HIS DOUGHTER, FLORENCE, IN HER CASTELL OF CLERE TOURE, DESYRYNGE HYM TOO HAST HYS HOOST TO RESCOWE HER AT THAT TYME. Whan that Gouernar was departed fro Blaunche Toure, as ye haue herde here afore, he rode so longe fyl at last he ariued at the fayre citie of Palestyne, and there he herde fydyngs of the myghty Kyng Emendus howe y l he had knowlege that themperour had besyeged his doughter in her castel of Blaunche Toure : wherfore he assembled his hostes togyder as fast as he might, to thentent to rescow Florence, his doughter : and there it was shewed him how y l the chefe gouernour of hys boost was the King of Orqueney^ who was put to the wayward with xxx. M. hawberts, and after him y* King of Morraal with other xxx. M. and than the Kynge of Valefound wyth other xxx. M. and than the King of Ismaelyte with other xxx. M. And tha the mighty Kyng Emendus wyth C. M. in his company, and than there were of Duke Philyppes company xv. M. and of the lady Margaretes of Argentons copany xv. M. who were brought by syr Emery. And whan Gouernar herde these tydynges, he was right ioyful, & so mouted on his hors, and rode so long tyl he came within a dayes iourney of the OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 501 citye of Cornyte. Than he encoiitred y e King of Orquencys baner w' a right noble company, & so rode forth & passed by al those great routes. At laste he spyed syr Ansell, neuewe to syr Neuelon, Florence marshal ; & ech of them enbraced other : & so to them there came syr Rowlade of Bigor, & syr Viceer of Damason, & sir Artaude, & syr Morys of Fenice; & al these wer Florence knights; and al these knew wel Gouernar, & made to him grete chere. And at last y e King of Orqueney came to the, & he enbraced Gouernar, and to hi made right gret fest and chere. Than Gouernar dyd alyght ; but the king made him to remount agayne, & demaunded of him how that Arthur did. Syr, quod Gouernar, he is at y e Blaunche Toure ; there I left him : & w l him Duke Hector, Brisebar, & master Steuen. Syr, it is so, y' themperour hath besyeged Florence in the castel, & he hath with hym people without numbre; and he had enclosed the castel rounde aboute or we entred : howe be it, we entred by the subtyl wytte of mayster Steuen : but, syr, I am sure there is, by this tyme, wyth Arthur the most noble company of al the worlde ; for he hath brought with him, out of hys country, the Kynge of Malogres, and iiii. erles, and iiii. barons, and also y e mighty Duke of Britayne, his owne fader, & they are wel to the numbre of xv. thousande knightes of Frauce of great price and valure : wherfore I think by th3's time they haue made some maner of scarmysshe w* their enemies, for they are hardy knyghtcs and couragious : for it is gret maruayle yf they lye thus longe styll. Ye ! sayd the kyng, is Arthur than ofthatvertue and strength y l he hath brought with him suche people ? As helpe me God, I am ryght ioyful thcrof ! Now it shall be wel knowen yf he be an orphelyn in his own cofitry or not. Syr, sayd Gouernar, he hertcly doth salute you, & desyreth you to haste your people as fast as ye ca toward hym, for the rescowynge of Florence. Wyth a ryght good wyl, sayd the kynge ; with Goddes grace we shal be there by Wednesday next comyng at night : let vs go & speke wyth my lorde (he Kyng of Soioloys. So they passed forby the gret hostes ; and Gouernar sayde : Beholde ! I trowe here be all the world of people. Than rauche people demaunded tidings of Arthur, and so did al the 502 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR kynges in their owne propre persons : so at last they approched the grcate host of Kyng Emendus, and passed forby al the gret routes til they came to Kynge Emendus : and as sone as he saw Gouernar, his hert reioysed in his body, & enbraced him, & demaunded tidinges of Arthur ? Syr, sayd Gouernar, I leffe hym at the Blauche Toure : & there he recounted to the kyng how y* they entred into the castell, & shewed him how y' Arthur had broughte with him, out of his country, the most noble company of al the world, & also his fader, y e Duke of Britain : and there he shewed the names of them al, both of the king, erles, and barons ; wherof the king had grct ioye. Than the Kynge of Orqueney sayde : Syr, your doughter is not yll bestowed : I thynke he wyl defende her ryght well ayenst themperour. That is true, quod the kinge; but is ther any gret company w l these noble men? Ye, syr, truly, quod Gouernar; for, or I departed fro them, they had discomfyted y e Sowdii, & also his broder, and xxx. M. Sarasyns of his company. That is a gret thing, quod the king. Syr, quod Gouernar, Arthur desyreth your grace too auaunce your host as hastely as ye cil : and now, syr, I wil returne againe to Blaunche Toure, for I thinkc long to know the state of my lord Arthur : and so he toke his leue. Go your way, frend, quod the king, and salute fro me my doughter Florence, Arthur, and al suche as be come w l him, and thank them on my behalfe for coming into this coutry to the ay ding of my doughter. Than tharchbisshop enbraced Go- uernar : and so Gouernar departed ; and he and y c King of Orqueney wente togider to his boost. And whan syr Ansean of Valefoud knew y' Gouernar wold depart againe, he said to the King of Orqueney : Syr, my lady Florence is beseged ; wher- forc I wyl, by your lycence, go w l Gouernar, and se my Iorde mine vncle who is w' Arthur. Tha stept forth syr Myles, and syr Rowland of Bygor, & syr Viccer, and syr Artaude & syr Morante, & they al demaunded licence of the kyng to go with Gouernar ; and he gaue them al lycence. Than they toke theyr harnes and mounted on theyr horses, & went forth on theyr way, and passed al y e hostes. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. .505 CAP. CVI. HOW THAT ARTHUR, ACCOMPANIED WITH THE FRENCHE MEN, DYSCOMFYTED KYNGE FLORYPES, BROTHER TO THEM PEROUR, & SLEWE AL THEM Y* WERE IN HIS COMPANY. So it was, that the nexte day after that the trewse was taken, Arthur rose vp erly in the mornyng, and entred into the palays, and there he found the dolphyn & the lorde De la Laund ; and so eche of them did salute other. Than the dolphin said : As helpe me God, it anoyeth me greatly thus long to be closed in mewe ! I wold gladly go and sporte me abrode in the feldes ; but fyrste let vs go take oure harneys wyth vs, because oure enemyes be so nere vs. And so they al iii. did arme them, and Brisebar also, & mounted on theyr horses, and issued out at the gates, and rode downe by a fayre valey by the riuer side, til they wer wel the space of a mile and halfe fro the castel. Tha the dolphin beheld wel the plesant riuer, & the goodly medowes on both sides, and praised muche the countrey in his mind : than he dasht his sporres to his horse, and galoped down along by the ryuer syde, tyl he came to a tbycke woode : & whan he had thought to haue returned againe, he perceiued a knight, armed, yssuyng out of the same wood, mounted on a good horse, and came rennyng towardes him by great randon : and whan the dolphyn saw him, he encountred hym w* suche force, y l the knyght brake his spere; but the dolphyn strake hym so rudely, y l he put his spere through bis body, and so the knight fel downe dead. Thau Arthur sayde to his company: I se well the dolphyn is a knight of gret valure ; and had scant fynysshed hys wordes, but that he pcrceyued yssuyng out of the wood King Clamados, with ii.C. in harnes w l hym, comyng ayenst the dolphyn wyth great ficrcenes. And whan the dolphin saw y l , he dasht to his hors, and toke his sword, and strake so the first, that he claue him down to the tethe : than al the rcmcnant ran on him at al sydcs : but than Arthur rushte into the presc ; and the first that he cncoutred, he 504 TIIYSTORY OF ARTFIUR dasbt his spere clene tliroughe hys body so farre, that he wounded an other knyght that was behynd him nye to the deth. Than he drewe out his sworde, and layd on among them that were in hand Avith the dolphin, and gaue among them so gret strokes, y' he cut of armes, hedes, and legges, and bet down knightes, and claue asonder sheldes, and made gret place afore him, for none aprocbed nere hym but that he receiued deth. And also y* dolphyn dyd as nobly as any knight could do: and Arthur beheld him, and vnder his helme dyde laughe at hys noble valure. Than Brisebar & syr De la Launde dasht into the prese so rudely, y' eche of them bete downe hys enemy : than they layde on w' theyr swordes like two wyld lions. And whan y c Kynge Clamados saw his people so slayne wyth iiii. persons, he was right sorowful & rcplet w l yre, and said : If al the other Frenche men be like these iiii., al the world can not endure ayenst them ; but, by the fayth that I owe vnto themperour, I shal ryd one of them out of thys mortal lyfe. And therwith he lift vp his sword, and strake Brysebar so rudely, y' the gentyl knyghtc was nye stryken downe, for his hors with the stroke fel down on hys knees : than there fel on him so many folkes, y l they drew him downe to the earth. And whan the lord De la Laund saw that, he began for to crye as fast as he myght : Hclpe, Arthur ! for Brisebar is elles lost ! Than the dolphya espyed that, and rushte into the thickest of y e prese : and he and syr De la Launde dyd as muche as they could to rescowe Brise- bar, but it auayled the not, for there wer to many on him : and so he was taken prisoner, & dcliuered to xx. men to kepe : and they led hym forth out of the host ryght rudely, and than vnarmed him, and did bete him right yll. And whan Arthur knewe that Brisebar was taken & led out of the felde, he was righte sorowful and sore displesed : than he dasht into the prese so rudelye, y' he confounded al that euer he attayned vnto, and claue asonder sheldes, and vnbarred helmes, & unnayled hawbertes, & cut of heades, hades, and armes, and threw downe knightes, for none abode him wythoutdeth ; so that al fledde before him : and he, and the dolphyn, and syr De la Launde, helde theymselfe euer togider in a front. OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 505 And all thys season Brysebar was ledde forth out of the felde tyl they came to y e fote of a gret mountayne, betynge and yll intreatyng of Brysebar theyr prysoner : but it was not longe after tyl they were dyspleased and sorowful, for wythin a lytel whyle after they dranke of the same cup : for Gouernar, syr Ansel, syr Myles, syr Rowland, syr Vicier, syr Artaude, and sir Morant, the same time descended down thys same mountayne, for they were comyng out of the realme of Sorolois, as ye haue herde here before. And whan that Gouernar saw those people dele so foule wyth Brisebar, his bloud trembled in his body for fere of Arthur ; for than he doubted y l the Blaunche Toure had ben taken and destroyed, and his lorde Arthur deade. Than he sayd to Row- lande : Saynte Marye ! I doubt me greatly of my lord Arthur, for yonder is some of our compani that is taken prysoner : therefore, gentyll knightes, helpe to rescowe hym, who soo euer it be. Than Gouernar rode forth with grete randon ; and whan he aproched nere to them, he knewe ryght well how that it was Brisebar y* was taken prysoner. Than he set his hand on his sword, & laid on amonge them lyke a wolfe among a meyny of shepe, and dydde cut downe and slewe al before him : so within a whyle al tho xx. knyghtes were al slayne. Than Gouernar came to Brysebar, and sayd : A ! frende ! it semeth wel this people dyd neuer nourysh you vp, that thus foule & shamefully haue delte w* you ; wherof I am ryght sory : and so loused him out of his bandes. And whan Brysebar sawe hym, he had ryght great ioye, and sayd: A ! frende ! euer at nede a man shal know his frend ; but, for Goddes sake, hast you to helpe my lord Arthur, who is at greate myschyefe here by thys riuer syde; for, as helpe me God, I am more sory for hym than for my selfe. And whan Gouernar herde that, he galoped forth incontinent, & al hys company after them. And as soone as they came to theyr enemies, they founde the lorde De la Launde ouerthrowen to the erth and take prisoner, and was leding forth : and therwyth Gouernar layde on founde aboute hym, and his company with him ; & they bet downe knightes on euery syde. Than Gouernar toke a horse, and deliuered it to syr De la Launde : and, in the spite of al his enemies, he made him to 3 T 506 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR remout. And than Gouernar went al about sekynge of Arthur, and syr Rowland with him ; & at the last they found him in the thyckest of the prese, where as he did maruailes in armes : and the dolphin did hclpe hym to the best of hys power. And whan Gouernar saw hym, he dasht in among the, and frusshed downe al that euer he attayncd vnto ; for he was a maruailous good knight, and of gret vertue : and sir Rowlade and his vi. felowes did helpe them to theyr powers : & Gouernar wente before, doyng great mervayles. And whan Arthur sawe hym, his harle quickened, and toke gret pyte of the payne & labour that he sawe hym lake 8z endure so longe : and therwith he layde on more rudelier than he had done before of al the day : for such was his maner, the more he had to do, the more grew euer his strength & hardines. Than came in Brysebar, well armed, and horsed, for he had bene before at a good market, where as he had choyse of the best ; & lie bare downe his cncmyes before him by grete hepes. And whan King Clamados saw so his people dyscomfyted, be tourncd hymsclfe to flye, & sayd to a knyght that was by him : Go and hast you to themperours hoost, & bryng with you iiii.C. hawbertes to socour me. And so the knyghte rode as faste as he myghte lyl he came to Kynge Florypes & to King Brandolyn, who were sekyng all about the hoost for Kyng Clamados, but they coude here nothynge of hym ; wherwyth they were gretely dys- pleased : and at last the knyght messenger came to them, and sayde to Kynge Florypes : Gentyl kynge, haste you to socour the noble Kinge Clamados, who is yonder by the ryuer syde ; and he & his company are fighting with x. Frenshemen, who I thynke are out of theyr myndes : I beleue thei be not erthly people, but rather fendes of hell, who are come for to destroy vs all : for I am sure they haue slayne, by this time, nye ii. hondred of the best knyghtes of Kyng Clamados : and, syr, King Clamados his selfe is wounded in v. places of his body; and without ye haste you the faster, he is but eyther dead or take. Saynt Mary ! frende, sayd King Florypes, and howe is it they haue not slayne all these Frenshc men, sith thei be but x. persones ? Slayne ! syr, sayd the knyght, nay speke not therof : but, sir, pray to God to kepe you OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 507 fro myschyefe, & that they approche not to nere you whan ye shal medle with them, for ther is none that approcheth to them without death. Syr, hast you, or els ye wyl lese your good Kyng Clamados. Than Kynge Florypes commaunded a great grisley home to be blowen : than all the hoost armed theym hastely, & mounted on theyr horses, & toke theyr speres & sheldes ; and made so great bruyte & noyse, that Duke Phylyp, as he was in the castel, herd the ; and loked out at a wyndow, and sawe all the hoost armynge them, & mouting on their horses. And than it was shewed hym, how that Arthur, & the dolphyn, syr De la Launde, & syr Brysebar, were yssued out of the castel all armed, and were riden downe by the ryuer syde. And whan he saw al the people of the hoost drawynge thyderwarde, he thought wel that ther was some fray lowarde, wherfore he feared gretly of Arthur & his companye. Than he caused the gret watche home of the castel to be blowen iii. times, so y 1 it was herd throughout the towne and castel : whereby euery ma knew wel that ther was some newe tydynges ; wherfore thei armed them, and mouted on theyr horses. And than al the erles, lordes, & knightes, did arme them, and so mounted on their horses, sauyng the Duke of Brytayne, King Alexander, and the mayster, who as than were not risen out of theyr beddes : & al these lordes & knightes, with baners dys- played, yssued oute of the castel ; & thei wer well to the nombre of xv. thousande, in iiii. batayles, wel renged, & in goode ordre : & they rode downe alonge by the ryuer syde, & Duke Phylyp rode formest, tyll at laste he met wyth the fyrst company of the emperours hoost ; & they encoutred rudely togider : & so both partyes euer encreased, so that ther was bytwene them a great mortal batayle and a fycrse : thcmperiens were xl. thousande, and the other parte were but xv. thousande : how be it, thei slew many of their enemyes : & Kyng Brandalyn was chiefe gouernour of themperours hooste. And in this meane season Arthur & hys ix. felawes did so moch, that thei clene dyscomfyted al King Clamados company. Than Kynge Clamados was right sore displeased, & ran at Arthur, & strake hym on the whyte shelde, for he thought y* he wolde set lytle by al his losse, so y l he might ouercome him ; THYSTORY OF ARTHUR but the stroke rebouded again w'out doyng of ony hurte, for the shelde was to harde for hym to enpayre it : and whan the kyng saw y*, he was nye wode for angre, & therwith gaue Arthur another gretc stroke ; but al auayled hym nothing. Than Arthur strake at the kynge, who was aferd of the stroke, & thought to step a lytle a syde : but it was late, for Arthur light so on hym, that he clauc his shelde clene asonder in the middes, & the stroke entred into his sholdre, and strake clene of the arme from his body : & as the swcrde dyd glent down, it share also clene away the calfe of his legge. And whan the kynge saw that he was so sore wouded, he turned hym, & flewe away as fast as he myght, and x. other w vth hym, for ther were no mo lefte alyue of hys ii.C. men, and yet they were all maymed & hurte. Than Kyng Clamados fledde til he came to the remenaunt of themperours hoost, wher as he founde Kyng Florypes ; and there he fell down before hym, & sayde : A ! gentle kyng ! why do ye tary thus long, y* ye take not vengeaunce on these Frenshe glotons, who haue thus araied me ? Wherfore, kyng, hast you, & socour our people. And whan Kynge Florypes saw hym in that case, he was right sorowful, & sware a grete othe, & sayd, that he would neuer ete tyl he had the hedes of (hem that had thus yll arayed hym, & broke the trewse. Than he comaunded homes & trompettes to be blowen, soo that euery man wythin the hoost dyde arme them, & mounted on theyr horses, & made grete noyse & bruite ; so that the Duke of Brytaine, as he was in his chambre within the castel, harde well the great noyse. And tha he demauded of his seruautes what it might be ? Sir, as God helpe vs, it is our company that are fyghtyng without in the felde wytli the emperours hoost ; for, syr, al the lordes of this castel are issued out, sauing you, and Kyng Alexander, who I thynke be yet in his bedde. Saynt Mary ! sayd the duke, & is not my baner there among them ? No, syr, truely, nor none of your men. And, quod the duke, I lese myne honour thys daye : gete me my harneys : and so hastly he armed him. And tha he entred into the chabre where as Kyng Alexander was, & recounted to hym all this matter. Than the kyng was right sory y c he was not gone forth with the hoost : so tha he armed him, and al his, and OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 509 mouted on thej'r horses : and soo in good ordinaunce they yssued out, with baners dysplaied, and rushte in to the batayle to helpe their company. And whan Arthur & his ix. felawes had dyscom- fyted clene Kyng Clamados and hys company, he wend ther had ben no more to do at that tyme : & so than he demaunded yf ony of his copany wer hurte or sore wounded. And they all sayd, that, blessed be God, ther was none of the that had ony great hurte. And therwyth they harde great noyse, and dashyng togider with speres and swerdes, and harde cryynge : Brytayne ! Wei, sayd Arthur, I beleue that our company of the castel be fyghtynge with the hoost without ; wherfore let vs go helpe them. And by that time thei had rydden a lytle waye forthe, thci saw where as the batayle was right fyerse & cruel. Than Brysebar espyed where as King Floripes came towarde them with an hondred thousande men ; and so shewed theym to Arthur, and sayd : Gentyll knyght, and noble lorde, and our chefe souerayne lord ! nowe is it nedefull that ye shewe your noble valure in this iourney ; for, syr, beholde yonder comcth King Florypes with al the world of men after him. A ! noble Kynge Emendus ! how is it that ye come not to socoure this noble company ? Frende, sayde Gouernar, be ye in certayne that ye shall haue by hym shortely noble helpe & socoure : let vs leue our (alkynge, & goo on our enemyes ; for, as God helpe me, I shall ones go throughe them, or elles 1 shal lye on the groude in quarel, for I doubte no deth. Well, syrs, sayde Arthur, doubte not for al the worlde as longe as I lyue : but, syrs, holde you euer close nere me, for 1 promyse you ye shall se me ouerthrow so many knightes, y l it shal be paine for you to nombre them : let vs go on them, for we tary to longe. Sir, sayd the dolphyn, doubte ye not of vs, for as longe as we lyue we shal neuer fayle you. Therwith they dasht into the prese, & ouerthrew knightes by grete hepes ; but specyally Arthur dyde wondersly, for he was tha as freshe as though he had done nothynge of al the daye before. Thus we wyl leue them fyghting, and retourne to mayster Steuen in the castel, who knew nothing of all this mater. 510 THYSTORY OF ARTHUR CAP. CV1I. HOW MAYSTER STEUEN, BY HIS ART & CONNING, CAUSED THEM- PERYENS TO GO A WRONGE WAYE FROM ARTHUR, AND SO ENCOUNTRED Y* KYNGE EMENDUS & A L HIS HOOST. So it was, y* whan raayster Steuen had laye in his bed as longe as it pleased him, than he arose & wet into the hal, and there he foiide Florence & the lady Margarete : and than he had grete maruayle that he saw no body elles, and demaunded of (hem wher as al the noble copany were become ? And Florence answered him, and sayde : A ! gentyll mayster ! now is suche besynes com, that we haue grete nede of your helpe ; for Arthur & al our com- pany are without, fightinge with themperours hoost, who are an hondred thousande, & our copany are but xviii. thousand : and also, more ouer, Kyng Florypes is coming on them with an other C. thousande : wherefore, by all lykelyhode, our people shall be destroyed : wherfore, gentil mayster, as ye be sone to a kynge, helpe nowe our noble chyualry by your clergye. And whan the mayster harde these tidinges, he went to his chabre & toke his bokes, & dyde so moche by his connyng, that he raysed a grete myste in King Florypes hoost, soo y* eche of the coude scat se other : wherby thei lost their hye way to come on Arthur & his company, & toke the streyght waye y l the King of Orqueney & the gret hoost of y' mighty Kyng Emendus was coming, & or they wyst their horses were nere togider. Tha the King of Orqueneys hooste spyed and knew wel, by theyr baners & standardes, y l they were of their enemyes. Than they ran to theyr barneys, & sadled theyr horses & mounted on them. And the good Kyng of Orqueney was clene armed, & wel mouted on a grete mightye horse, & rode formest of all his company, the whiche was well to the nombre of xxx. M. And next after hym came the Kyng of Mormall w l other xxx. M. And whan they were nere to theyr enemies, than the King of Orqueney ranne ayenst Kyng OF LYTLE BRYTAYNE. 511 Brandalin, "who brake his spere al to peces : but the noble Kin