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 PQ 1572!06E5"l8ir''''"^ 
 
OLIVER OF CASTILE. 
 
The 
 
 History of Oliver of Castile 
 
 REPRINTED FROM THE UNIQUE COPY 
 
 OF WYNKYN DE WORDE'S EDITION OF 151 8 
 
 PRESERVED IN THE LIBRARY AT 
 
 BRITWELL COURT. 
 
 0!r7i<kr- cJ-'S- (cusfjio. 
 
 EDITED BY 
 
 ROBERT EDMUND GRAVES, B.A. 
 
 Assistant Keeper in the Department of Printed Booics, 
 British Museum. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 PRINTED BY BLADES, EAST & BLADES, 
 
 23, ABCHURCH LANE, E.G. 
 
 1898. 
 
 ll 
 
 H 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of this book is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924027414246 
 
TO 
 
 THE PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF 
 
 CJ^e !So]cl)ut:gl)e Club 
 
 THIS VOLUME, 
 
 IN FULFILMENT OF THE INTENTION OF THE LATE 
 
 SAMUEL CHRISTIE-MILLER, 
 
 IS DEDICATED AND PRESENTED BY 
 THEIR OBEDIENT SERVANT, 
 
 WAKEFIELD CHRISTIE -MILLER. 
 
 Britwell Court, 
 
 February, 1898. 
 
%])z ^ojcbitrgl^e Club. 
 
 MDCCCXCVIII. 
 
 THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY, K.G., 
 
 PRESIDENT. 
 
 DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE, K.G. 
 
 DUKE OF BUCCLEUCH, K.G., K.T. 
 
 JIARQUESS OF LOTHIAN, K.T. 
 
 MARQUESS OF BUTE, K.T. 
 
 EARL OF PEMBROKE AND MONTGOMERY. 
 
 EARL OF CRAWFORD, K.T. 
 
 EARL OF ROSEBERY, K.G., K.T. 
 
 EARL COWPER, K.G. 
 
 EARL OF POWIS. 
 
 EARL CAWDOR. 
 
 EARL OF CREWE. 
 
 THE LORD BISHOP OF LONDON. 
 
 THE LORD BISHOP OF SALISBURY. 
 
 LORD ZOUCHE. 
 
 LORD AMHERST OF HACKNEY. 
 
 LORD ALDENHAM, Vice-President. 
 
 LORD MALCOLM OF POLTALLOCH. 
 
 HON. ALBAN GEORGE HENRY GIBBS. 
 
 RIGHT HON. ARTHUR JAMES BALFOUR. 
 
 SIR WILLIAM REYNELL ANSON, BART. 
 
 SIR JOHN EVANS, K.C.B. 
 
 SIR EDWARD MAUNDE THOMPSON, K.C.B. 
 
 COLONEL JOHN SCOTT, C.B. 
 
 CHARLES BUTLER, ESQ. 
 
 INGRAM BYWATER, ESQ. 
 
 RICHARD COPLEY CHRISTIE, ESQ. 
 
 WAKEFIELD CHRISTIE -MILLER, ESQ. 
 
 CHARLES ISAAC ELTON, ESQ. 
 
 GEORGE BRISCOE EYRE, ESQ. 
 
 THOMAS GAISFORD, ESQ. 
 
 ALFRED HENRY HUTH, ESQ., Treasurer. 
 
 ANDREW LANG, ESQ. 
 
 CHARLES BRINSLEY MARLAY, ESQ. 
 
 JOHN MURRAY, ESQ. 
 
 EDWARD JAMES STANLEY, ESQ. 
 
 REV. EDWARD TINDAL TURNER. 
 
 VICTOR WILLIAM BATES VAN DE WEYER, ESQ. 
 
 WILLIAM ALDIS WRIGHT, ESQ. 
 
INTRODUCTORY NOTE. 
 
 I HE History of Oliver of Castile, although uncon- 
 nedled with any of the great cycles of mediasval 
 romance, is not without interest. The tale is 
 chiefly of a domestic charadler, and is often told 
 in language suggested by Holy Scripture. Dibdin, 
 in his Typographical Antiquities, has given copious extradfs from 
 it, and remarks that few ancient romances describe more vividly 
 the pageantries of a tournament or the equipment of a knight. 
 The story was probably written in French towards the close of 
 the fifteenth century by Philippe Camus, although he modestly 
 claims to be no more than its translator from the Latin. Camus 
 appears to have lived in Spain, and he is known also by his French 
 versions of Clamades and Claramonda, and other Spanish romances. 
 
 The first edition of Oliver of Castile was printed at Geneva in 
 1482, and it appears to have soon become popular, for translations 
 of it appeared in Spanish in 1499, in Flemish about 15 15, in 
 English in 15 18, in German in 1521, and in Italian in 1552. 
 Except in Spain, where the romance still retains its popularity, no 
 
edition of it has been printed for more than two hundred years. 
 The EngUsh version was the work of Henry Watson, who calls 
 himself an " apprentice of London," and who translated also 
 Valentine and Orson and The Church of Evil Men and Women. 
 A.11 three books were issued from the press of Wynkyn de Worde. 
 
 The only extant copy of this first English edition was formerly 
 in the possession of Richard Heber, at the sale of whose books in 
 1835 it was purchased by Mr. WiUiam Henry Miller, and is now in 
 the library at Britwell Court. Unfortunately it wants the titlepage, 
 which is not unlikely to have consisted of the large woodcut of an 
 armed knight on horseback which the printer had used elsewhere 
 to represent Robert the Devil and Richard Coeur de Lion, the title 
 being placed on a riband above the cut. There are numerous 
 woodcuts in the text, several of which are repeated again and 
 again. It was selected by the late Mr. Samuel Christie-Miller 
 for reprodu6lion as his contribution to the series of works printed 
 for the Roxburghe Club, and in accordance with his desire it has 
 been reprinted both verbally and literally, even to the very defedlive 
 pundluation. 
 
BIBLIOGRAPHY. 
 
 French %)ersion. 
 
 [AJ La treflaincfte et trefbien heureufe louenge et mani- 1 ficence 
 de nouftre fauueur ihefucrift Et de fa trefdoulce | et trefglorieufe 
 mere qui font mouuement de toutes | bonnes oeuures et operacions/ 
 et fans le quel nul bien ne peult | eftre comencie ne acheue le 
 phelippe camus efperat la treflaifte | grace ay entreprins de tranflater 
 cefte prefente hyftoire de latin | en francoys a la requefte et com- 
 mandement de mon trefredoub | te feigneur mofeigneur ihean de 
 ceroy feigneur de chunay non | regardant de la couchier en aultre 
 ou en plus bel laguaige que | le latin le porte/ car ad ce euffe peu 
 faillir de ligier Si prie a ceulx | qui la liront ou orront lire qlz 
 aiet pour excufe mo petit et obfcur | entendement En priant nouftre 
 feigneur quil me donne grace | de la parfaire par telle maniere que 
 elle puiffe eftre plaifante a | greable et prouffitable aus lifans et 
 efcoutans. Icelle. | 
 
 Cy commence le liure de oliuier de caftille et de artus dall 
 garbe fon trefloyal compaignon. 
 
 [Co/o/)Aon.-] Cy fine liftoire de oliuier de caftille Et de fon 
 loyal compai-|gnon Artus dalgarbe Et de helaine fille au roy 
 
dangleterre et | de henri filz de oliuier q grans faiz darmes firent 
 en leurs teps | comme cy deuat auez oy Dieu pardoint aus tref- 
 paffes Amen. | Imprime a genefue Lan mil cccc . Ixxxij . le . 
 iij . iour de iuing. Folio. 
 
 First edition, printed at Geneva, probably by Louis Cruse or 
 Garbin, in 1482. It is in Gothic type, without titlepage, and is 
 printed in long lines: signatures, a-g in eights, h-i in sixes, the first 
 and last leaves being blank. 
 
 There is a magnificent copy, with both blank leaves and with 
 rubricated initials, in the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris. 
 
 2. Oliuier de Caftille. [ Colophon ;] Cy fine Ihyftoire de 
 Oliuier d' caftille Et de Artus dalgarbe fon loyal compaigno 
 Et de helayne fiUe au roy d'agleterre °\. d'hery filz d'oliuier q gras 
 fais darmes firent en leur teps. Dieu leur pardoint t a tous 
 treffpalTez Amen. Folio. 
 
 Second edition, printed by Louis Cruse or Garbin at Geneva, 
 about the year 1492. It is executed in the same Gothic type and 
 has three of the large ornamental initials belonging to the set used 
 in the Sept Sages de Rome, printed at Geneva in 1492. 
 
 It consists of fifty-two leaves, and has woodcuts: signatures, 
 A-Hiiij. 
 
 The prologue contains the following statement : " Or eft ainfi 
 "que apres que la didle hyftoire fut pmier imprimee ceft trouuee 
 "icorredle en aulcuns lieux et ipfaite et auffi q les ititulations des 
 " chapitres ne febloient pas par tout contenir le cas cleremet. Et 
 " pour ce que Maiftre loys garbin cytoyen et ipmeur de genefue a 
 "efte p aulcus folicite de limprimer a la decoratio de Ihyftoire et 
 "vifible deledlatio des lifeurs et a la ofolatio des defiras. il a fait 
 "faire les hyftoires deuat les chapitres pour redre la didte hyftoire 
 
" plus fru6lueufe au plailir d' chafcu Et fas adioufter ofter ne 
 "diminuer a fait faire les ititulatios des chapitres felon la matiere. 
 "et auffi vng petit de diuilion en la matiere. Seblablement a fait 
 " fupplier les imperfedtiones et amender les incorreftions trouuees, 
 "tellement que au plaifir de dieu fe peut cognoiftre et entendre 
 " clerement. Et au comencemet du liure a mis la table par ordre 
 " Et en la fin a fait vne briefue °t vtile epilogatio pour fcauoier en 
 " brief reduire a memoire tout le cotenu dudit liure come aflfes a 
 " plain fe monftre par les chapitres qui font briefs et entendibles, 
 "et a tous defirans honneur ou falut proffitables." 
 
 There are copies in the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, and in 
 the library of the late Baron James de Rothschild, who in 1878 
 purchased for 20,000 francs the copy which had belonged to 
 M. Ambroise Firmin-Didot. 
 
 3. Oliuier de caftille et Artus dalgarbe Nouuellement 
 iprime a Paris. 
 
 [Colophon i] Cy finift Ihyftoire de Oliuier de Caftille Et de 
 Artus dalgarbe fon loyal copaignon Et de Helaine fille au Roy 
 Dangleterre/ et de hery filz de Oliuier qui grans faidtz darmes 
 firent en leurs teps. Imprime a paris Par la veufue feu lehan 
 trepperel Et lehan iehannot Imprimeur/ et Libraire iure en 
 luniuerfite de Paris Demourant en la rue neufue noftre dame A 
 lefeigne de lefcu de France. Quarto. 
 
 This edition must have been printed between the years 15 11 
 and 1522, for Jean Trepperel died in 15 11, and Jean Janot in 
 1522. It is in Gothic type and has woodcuts on the titlepage 
 and in the text. 
 
 Copies are in the British Museum and in the Bibliotheque 
 Nationale, Paris. 
 
4. Lhyftoire de Oliuier de Caftille & de Artus Dalgarbe fon 
 loyal compaignon. Et de helayne fiUe au roy dagleterre. Et de 
 Henry filz dudidt Oliuier qui gras faiftz darmes firent ensemble. 
 On les vend a Lyon au pres de noftre dame de Confort chez 
 Oliuier Arnoullet. 
 
 [Colophon ;] Cy finift lhyftoire de Oliuier de caftille. . . . 
 Imprime nouuellement a Lyon par Oliuier Arnoullet. Le . xxx . de 
 luing . Mil . ccccc . xlvj. Quarto. 
 
 Copies of this edition, which is printed in Gothic type, and 
 has woodcuts on the titlepage and in the text, are in the British 
 Museum (Granville CoUedlion) and at Britwell Court. The latter 
 was formerly in the Gaignat, Heber, and Seilliere CoUeftions. 
 
 5. L'Hyftoire de Oliuier de Caftille, et Artus d' Algarbe 
 Preux & vaillans Cheualiers, Auec les proefles de Henry de Caftille 
 filz de Oliuier, & de Helaine fiUe du Roy d' Angleterre. Et les 
 grandes aduentures ou ilz fe font trouuez contre leurs ennemys, 
 comme pourrez voir cy apres. 
 
 A Rouen. Chez Loys Coftd, Libraire demeurant a la rue 
 Efcuyere aux troisfff [croix] couronn^es. [1550?] Quarto. 
 
 Printed in Roman chara6lers, with rude woodcuts on the title- 
 page and in the text. 
 
 A copy is in the British Museum. 
 
 6. L'Hiftoire d'Oliuier de Caftille et d' Artus d' Algarbe preux 
 et vaillans Cheualiers. Auec les proueffes de Henry fils d'iceluy 
 Oliuier, & de Helaine fille du Roy d' Angleterre. A Paris, Par 
 Nicolas Bonfons, rue neuue noftre Dame, a I'enfeigne Sain6l 
 Nicolas. 1587. Quarto. 
 
 This edition is printed in Roman characters, with a woodcut 
 on the titlepage and another on its verso. 
 
Copies are in the British Museum and in the Bibliotheque 
 Nationale, Paris. 
 
 Spanish Uersion. 
 
 1. La hiftoria delos nobles caualleros OUueros de Caftilla y 
 Anus Dalgarue. 
 
 [_Colophon :~\ A loor & alabanqa de nueftro redemptor jefu 
 chrifto y de la bendita virgen nueftra fefiora fandla maria : fue 
 acabada la prefente obra en la muy noble y leal cibdad de Burgos 
 a XXV dias del mes de mayo. Aiio de nueftra redempcion mil 
 cccc.xc.ix. Folio. 
 
 First edition in Spanish, printed in Gothic charadlers, and 
 illustrated with woodcuts. There was a copy in the colledlion 
 of the late Baron Achille Seilliere. 
 
 1. [Another Edition.] Valladolid, Juan de Burgos, 1501. 
 Folio. 
 
 This edition, printed in Gothic characters, occurs in the 
 Catalogue of Du Fay, No. 2,393. (Brunet's Manuel du Libraire, 
 IV. 184.) 
 
 3. [Another Edition.] Valencia, 1505. Folio. 
 
 This edition, printed in Gothic type, is mentioned in Gallardo's 
 Ensayo de una Biblioteca Espafiola. 
 
 4. La hiftoria delos nobles caualleros Oliueros de caftilla 
 y artus dalgarbe. 
 
 \_Colophon :~\ Acabafe la famofa hiftoria delos muy virtu ofos 
 & muy effor^ados caualleros Oliueros de caftilla & artus dalgarue 
 en que fe conto de muchas : & grandiflimas auenturas que en fu 
 vida les auinieron, & aflimefmo delas grandes proezas : & famofos 
 
hechos que en armas hizieron. El qual fe emprimio enla muy noble 
 & muy leal cibdad de Seuilla: por lacobo cronberguer aleman. Afio 
 del fefior de mill & quinientos & fiete afios a quatro de junio. Folio. 
 There is a copy in the BibUotheque Nationale, Paris. 
 
 5. [Another Edition.] Seville, 1509. Folio. 
 
 6. [Another Edition.] [Colophon:'] ... El qual fe emprimio 
 en la muy noble e muy leal cibdad de Seuilla: por lacobo crom- 
 berger aleman. Ano del feiior d' mill e quinientos e diez Afios a 
 XX dias de Nouembre. Folio. 
 
 7. La hiftoria de los nobles caualleros Oliueros de Caftilla : 
 & Artus dalgarbe. 
 
 \_Colophon .-] Acabafe la famofa hyftoria de los muy effor^ados 
 cauall'os oliueros d' caftilla & artus dalgarue. La qual fe emprimio 
 en la muy noble & muy leal ciudad d' Seuilla: por Juan cromberger. 
 Aiilo del fenor d' mil e quinientos y treynta y cinco Alios. Folio. 
 
 Printed in Gothic letters, with a large woodcut on the titlepage 
 and others in the text. 
 
 A copy is in the library of Alfred H. Huth, Esq. 
 
 8. La hyftoria de los nobles caualleros Oliueros de Caftilla 
 & Artus d' Algarue. 
 
 [Colophon ;] Fue imprelTa en la . . . ciudad de Seuilla por 
 Dominico de Robertis a onze dias d' nouiebre MDxliiii. Folio. 
 Printed in Gothic charadlers, with woodcuts. 
 
 -■j 
 
 9. La hiftoria de los dos nobles caualleros Oliueros de Caftilla 
 y Artus de Algarue. 1554. 
 
 [Colophon ;] Fenefce la hyftoria delos muy efforgados 
 caualleros, Oliueros de Caftilla y Artus de Algarue. Impreffa 
 
en Burgos al Sarmetal en cafa de Pedro de Satillana. A cofta de 
 Luys Ortiz, y copania, efte afio de .M.D.Liiij . Quarto. 
 
 Printed with Gothic letters, and with a large woodcut on the 
 titlepage, but none in the text. The Seilliere copy is now in the 
 library at Britwell Court. 
 
 10. Libro del noble y esforqado cauallero Oliueros de Caftilla, 
 y de fu buen amigo Artus de Algarue. Impreffo con licencia en 
 Alcala de Henares, en cafa de luan Graciana que fea gloria en. 
 Afio 1604. Quarto. 
 
 A copy, formerly in the Heber Library, is now in the British 
 Museum (Grenville Colledlion). 
 
 1 1 . Historia de los muy nobles, y valientes cavalleros Oliveros 
 de Castilla, y Artus de Algarve. Y de sus maravillosas, y grandes 
 hazanas. Compuesta por el Bachiller Pedro de la Floresta. 
 Madrid, Pedro Joseph Alonso y Padilla. [173 5 -J OSfavo. 
 
 A copy, formerly in the collecStion of M. Yemeniz, was after- 
 wards in that of M. Ricardo Heredia. Pedro de la Floresta, to 
 whom the romance is attributed in this and subsequent editions, 
 was merely the editor. 
 
 12. Historia de los nobles cavalleros Oliveros de Castilla y 
 Artus de Algarve. Cordoba, [1750?] Quarto. 
 
 A copy is in the library of Alfred H. Huth, Esq. 
 Several abridged editions have been printed at Madrid, 
 Barcelona, and Valladolid during the present century. 
 
 Flemish Uersion. 
 
 Eeen feer Schone ende fuuerlike hyftorie van Olyuier van 
 Cafi:illen. Ende van Artus van Algarbe lijnen lieuen ghefelle ende 
 oeck mede van die fchone Helena des conincs dochter va Enghelant. 
 
[^Colophon :\ Hier eyndet die hyftorie va olyuier van caftillen : 
 en va linen getrouwen ghefelle Artus van Algarben. Eii va die 
 fchone Helena dochter van den Conine van Enghelant. Eii va 
 heynrick fone van Olyuier Die in hare tijde eii leuen grote 
 vromichede eii grote fayten van wapenen deden. Alfoe als ghi 
 hier voer gehoort hebt God wille harer lielen ontferme efi gedachtich 
 wefen : efi alien kerften ghelouigen iielen Amen. Eii is gheprint 
 Tantwerpe hi mi Henric eckert va Homburch woerede bider 
 Canimerpoerte Int huys van Delft. Folio. 
 
 This edition was printed at Antwerp by Henrick Eckert van 
 Homberch between the years 1500 and 152 1. It is printed in 
 Gothic charadlers, and has a woodcut on the titlepage and others 
 in the text. (Hain's Repertorium Bibliographicum, * 12,0 10.) 
 
 Bnglish Versions. 
 
 I. [Olyuer of Caftylle.J 
 
 SjColophonr^ Here endeth y'= hyftorye of Olyuer of Caftylle, 
 and of the fayre Helayne doughter vnto the kynge of Englande. 
 Inprynted at London in Flete ftrete at the. fygne of the fonne by 
 Wynkyn de Worde. The yere of oure Lorde . M.CCCCC. and 
 .xviij. Quarto. 
 
 The earliest English edition, printed in black letter, and illus- 
 trated with woodcuts, several of which are repeated again and again. 
 The only copy known is in the library at Britwell Court. It was 
 formerly in the colle6lions of James West and Richard Heber. 
 
 1. The Register of the Stationers' Company, under the date 
 of 12, March, 1582, contains the entry of a licence to Thomas East 
 to print " Oliver of Castile," but no copy of this edition has yet 
 been discovered. 
 
3- The History of Olivaires of Castile, and Arthur of 
 Dalgarve. Translated out of the Spanish into the Italian Tongue, 
 by Francesco Portonari : And from the Italian made English, By 
 Mark Micklethwait, M.A. London : Printed for A. and J. 
 Churchill, and Fra. Hildyard Bookseller in York. MDCXCV. 
 Obiavo. 
 
 Copies are in the Bodleian Library (Douce CoUedlion) and in 
 the library of Alfred H. Huth, Esq. 
 
 German 'Version. 
 
 I. In difem biich werde begrifFen vn gefunde zwo wunderbar- 
 licher hyftorien gantz lieblich zelefen/ ouch dienen zefil erfarnyfz. 
 Die erfl hyftori von zweyen trliwen gefellen/ mit namen Olwier 
 eynes kiinigs fun vfz Caftilia/ vnd Arto eynes kiinigs fun von 
 Algarbia/ wolches ktinigrych zu vnfern zyten ift vnter de kiinig 
 von Portugal. Die ander hyftori fagt von zweyen bruderen 
 Valentino vnnd Orso/ deren vatter eyn keifer zu Conftantinopel/ 
 vnd ir muter eins kiinigs dochter in Franckrich gewefen/ mit 
 namen Peppin/ gezogen vfz frantzolifcher zunge in diitfch durch 
 Wilhelm Ziely von Bern in ochtlandt. Anno M . D . XXI. 
 
 \_Colophon:'] Getruckt durch den furfichtigen Adam Petri von 
 LangendorfF/ Burger zu Bafel. In dem iar/ do ma zalt nach 
 Chrifti vnflers herre geburt Tufent fiinffhundert Zwentzig vn ein 
 iar. An dem . xiiij . tag des Monats Febrii^rij. Folio. 
 
 The above title is within a woodcut border, and there are 
 woodcuts in the text. 
 
 Copies are in the British Museum and in the library of 
 Alfred H. Huth, Esq. Another copy was in the colleftion of 
 the late Baron Seilliere. 
 
2. Ein fchone vnd kurtzweilige Hiftory, die da fagt vonn 
 zweien Konigs Kindern, Welcher einer Olwyer ift genannt gewefen, 
 eins Konigs Son aufz Caftilia, Vnd der Andere Arto geheiflen, der 
 auch eins Konigs Son aufz Algarbia genannt wirdt. . . . M . D.LVI. 
 
 \^Colopho?i :] Gedruckt zu Franckfordt am Mayn, durch 
 Weygandt Han, inn der Schnurgaffen zu dem Krug. OSiavo. 
 
 Second edition of the preceding translation, illustrated with 
 woodcuts. A copy is in the British Museum. 
 
 Italian 'Version. 
 
 1. Oliuieri di Caftiglia, et Artus di Dalgarue. Tradotto di 
 Spagnolo in lingua Tofcana per Francefco Portonari .... 
 
 In Vinegia, appreffo Francefco Portonari, da Trino. MDLII. 
 06iavo. 
 
 Printed in Italic type. Copies are in the British Museum, 
 the Bodleian Library (Douce Colledlion), and at Britwell Court. 
 The last was formerly in the Seilliere Colledlion. 
 
 2. [Another Edition.] Venetia, Luca Spineda. 1612. 
 OSiavo. 
 
 3. [Another Edition.] Venetia. 1622. OSIavo. 
 
T^he prologue vpon the hyjiorye of Olyuer of Cajiylle. 
 
 Ycaufe that the memorye is the reteynynge & nature 
 humayne for his fragylyte is ftrongely mouable / 
 goodly hathe ben introduce that the reafons con- 
 cludynge intendybly y^ faynges / and alfo auctorytes 
 of fayntes and dyfcrete men/femblably hyftoryes and 
 examples worthy of commemoracyon ben reduced by 
 wrytynge / for to fhewe to them that ben to come that whiche hathe 
 be fayd and done before to the inftruccyon and faluacyon of the foule 
 of euery good cryfte man. ^ Now it is thus that is this prefent 
 tyme the fcryptures by the arte and ingenyous praftyke of Pryntynge 
 be multeplyed in fuche a wyle that dyuers fayre and comodyous 
 enfygnynges / and enfamples ben had / of whiche fewe folkes had the 
 bokes and congnyffaunce / & nowe they ben put forth and vttred for 
 fo lytell a pryfe that it can not be lyghtely lefle / neuertheleffe bycaufe 
 of the vnderftadynge comune / that is better contente for to reteyne 
 the hyftoryes / and examples than other thynge / dyuers hyftoryes 
 ben put in wrytynge. And amonge y^ other hyftoryes is one founde 
 of longe tyme wryten / the whiche is named the hyftorye of Olyuer 
 of Caftylle / and Arthur of Algarbe his loiall felowe / the whiche 
 for theyr vertues / and to loue better honoure than to confente to 
 euyll / had grete aduerfytees / and meruaylous fortunes and aduen- 
 tures / the whiche by grete loyalte and ardaunt charyte / and alfo 
 fydelyte and promeffe / toke an ende folytarye. 
 
^ Here begynneth the table of this prefent boke. 
 
 ^ Tabula. 
 
 ^ The fyrfte chapytre fpeketh of y^ natyuyte of Olyuer of 
 Caftylle / and of the dethe of his moder. Capitulo. i. 
 
 •[[ How Olyuer was borne to be baptyfed / and the body of his 
 mod' borne to be buryed. And how Embaffodours were comyfed 
 for to mary y^ kynge agayne. Ca. ij. 
 
 ^ How the maryage was treated betwene the queue of Algarbe 
 Arthurs moder / and y^ kynge of Caftylle Olyuers fader. Capitulo. 
 
 iij- 
 
 ^ How y^ Kynge of Caftylle wedded y^ queue of Algarbe / 
 and ledde her in to Caftylle with her fone Arthur y* refembled 
 Olyuer. Capitulo. iiij. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer and Arthur were put to lernynge / and of the 
 luftes that were made by them. Capitulo. v. 
 
 ^ How the queue of Caftylle began for to loue Olyuer dyf- 
 honeftlye. Capitulo. vi. 
 
 ^ How the queue gaue Olyuer for to vnderftande that ftie 
 loued hym carnally / and of the couerte anfwers of Olyuer to 
 honoure. Capitulo. vij. 
 
^ How Olyuer departed all trouble of the requeftes of his 
 ftepmoder / and how he prayed god for to reuoke her from her 
 carnall defy re. Capitulo. viij. 
 
 ^ How the quene yet agayne declared her courage to Olyuer / 
 defyrynge hym to fulfyll her carnall defyre / & of Olyuers fayre 
 denyenge. Capitulo. ix. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer refufed vtterly y^ quene his ftepmoder of all 
 her dyfhoneft loue. And how fhe menaced hym to the dethe. 
 Capitulo. X. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer abode all alone in his chambre where as he 
 made dyuers complayntes / and of the lettre that he wrote to his 
 felowe / and wherat he fholde knowe yf that he had ony thynge 
 but good. Capitulo. xi. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer departed all alone without ony company / 
 and came to a hauen of the fee where as he founde a fhyp in the 
 whiche he entred with a knyght that he founde there of Englande. 
 Capitulo. xij. 
 
 ^ How Arthur of Algarbe came in to y^ chambre of his broder 
 Olyuer / that made grete dole for his departyng. Capitulo. xiij. 
 
 ^ How the Kynge of Caftylle came in to Oliuers chambre / 
 and of the grete dole that he demeaned wha he foiide hym not. 
 Capitulo. xiiij. 
 
 ^ How the kynge fente after his fone / and of his lamentacyons / 
 and of them y' the quene made whan fhe fawe that all doloure was 
 comen by her caufe. Ca. xv. 
 
 ^ Of the grete fortune that happened to Olyuer vpon the 
 fee / and how he and the Englyffhe knyght were preferued from 
 drownynge. Capitulo. xvi. 
 
 A 2 
 
^ How the knyght Olyuers felowe deyed. xvij. 
 
 % How Olyuer dyde burye the knyght / and of the luftes that 
 were publyflhed in Englande / and he that fholde do beft fholde 
 haue y« kyges doughter to wyfe. xviij. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer was aflayled of theues / the whiche he flewe / 
 and of y^ whiche happened to hym vpon the waye towarde London. 
 Capitulo. xix. 
 
 ^ How a knyghte came and recomforted Olyuer / and of the 
 promeffes that they had togyder. Capitulo. xx. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer came in to y^ hermytage. Capitulo. xxi. 
 
 •[[ How Olyuer fawe dyuers knyghtes and other folke / in grete 
 eflate and dyuerfly clothed. Capitulo. xxij. 
 
 ^ Of the grete loye that Olyuer had whan he fawe y« fayre 
 fledes and the ryche clothynges that his knyghte had brought hym / 
 and how he armed hym / and of the ryche pauylyon and beaute of 
 the fayre Helayne doughter of the kynge of Englande. Capitulo. 
 
 xxiij. 
 
 ^ Of the grete meruaylles that Olyuer dyde at the torneyment / 
 and how he dyde better tha ony other. xxiiij. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer retorned in to the hermytage the feconde tyme 
 without makynge hym for to be knowe. xxv. 
 
 •[[ How Olyuer came y° feconde tyme to the torneyment and 
 how he wanne the fygne of the defendauntes of the luftes. 
 Capitulo. xxvi. 
 
^ How Olyuer dyde withdrawe hym in to the hermytage after 
 that he had vaynquyffhed the torneyment and of the dyfpleafure of 
 the kynge and his doughter by caufe of the deed men. Capitulo. 
 
 xxvij. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer came in to y'= torneymet the thyrde daye and 
 bare awaye the honoure aboue all by his grete proweffe / and how 
 the kyge commyfed .xx. knyghtes for to take hym / to the ende y' 
 he knewe what he was. xxviij. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer was taken by the knyghtes that the kynge 
 had commyfed / and how his feruauntes vanyffhed awaye / & how 
 he founde clothes & fynaunces. Ca. xxix. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer founde grete fynaunces / feruantes and clothes / 
 and how he was ledde to the banquet and in to the courte with 
 grete honoure of the knyghtes that had taken hym. Capitulo. 
 
 XXX. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer came in to the kynge of Englandes courte / 
 where as he was receyued with grete reuerence of y« kynge / and 
 of all the other lordes and ladyes. Ca. xxxi. 
 
 ^ How in fecrete the pryce was ordeyned for Olyuer by the 
 luges commyfled / and the counfayll of the kynge approued for to 
 aduertyfe Olyuer. Capitulo. xxxij. 
 
 ^ How the kynge of Englade came towarde his doughter and 
 demanded her to whome her femed that y^ pryce fholde be gyuen 
 to / and of her anfwers. Ca. xxxiij. 
 
 ^ How the pryce of the torneyment was brought to Olyuer by 
 dyuers lordes and ladyes / and what was the pryce. Capitulo. 
 
 xxxiiij. 
 
^ How Olyuer requyred the kyng of Englande that he wolde 
 reteyne hym of his courte / and that he myghte be keruer afore his 
 doughter Helayne / the whiche was accorded to hym. Capitulo. 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer was reteyned of the kynges courte and kerued 
 afore his doughter / & made the othe accuflomed. Capitulo. 
 
 xxxvi. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer was furpryfed of the loue of Helayne / & cut 
 his fynger in feruynge her. Capitulo. xxxvij. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer layde hym downe fyke / and how Helayne was 
 fyke for hym alfo / and how by her faders leue fhe wente and 
 vyfyted hym. Capitulo. xxxviij. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer after y' the fayre Helayne had vyfyted hym 
 came in to the courte / and of the meffenger of the kynge of Irlonde 
 that came and defyed the kynge of fyre and blode. Capitulo. 
 
 xxxix. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer requyred the kynge of Englande for to gyue 
 hym men to go agaynft them / & fo he had. Ca. xl. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer after y' he was departed in armes from London 
 came afore a towne that the Iryffhmen had befyeged / and 
 vaynquyffhed them. Capitulo. xli. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer fente the kynge of Englande lettres y^ his 
 enemyes were dyfcomfyted and torned in to flyghte and of his 
 enterpryfe taken. Capitulo. xlij. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer entred in to Irlonde and affyeged a kyge the 
 whiche was focoured of foure kyges / the whiche he dyfcomfyted. 
 Capitulo. xliij. 
 
^ Howe the caftell and towne where as was aflyeged a kynge 
 of Irlonde / dyde yelde them. Capitulo. xUiij. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer after dyuers thynges fente to denounce his 
 comynge to the kynge of Englande / and of the honoure that was 
 done to hym. Capitulo. xlv. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer came in to the courte accompanyed of feuen 
 kyges pryfoners / of the whiche he made a prefent to the kynge 
 of Englande. Capitulo. xlvi. 
 
 ^ How the kynge of Englande gaue his doughter Helayne to 
 Olyuer / in guerdon of the feruyces that he had done to hym. 
 Capitulo. xlvij. 
 
 ^ How the Kynge made Olyuer for to aryfe that was on his 
 knees / and of theyr gracyous wordes / and how Olyuer handfeft 
 the fayre Helayne. Capitulo. xlviij. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer wedded the fayre Helayne / and of the folemp- 
 nyte that was made. Capitulo. xlix. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer wa^ vertuous in appefynge noyfes & debates / 
 and how his wyfe was with chylde of a fayre fone. Capitulo. L. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer wente on huntynge / and of the vyfyon of his 
 wyfe y« whiche fhe tolde vnto her hufbade. Ca. li. 
 
 ^ How the fone of the kynge of Irlonde of whome Olyuer had 
 flayne his fader at the torneyment founde Olyuer all alone from his 
 men / and toke hym pryfoner / and of the grete dole that was made 
 for hym. Capitulo. lij- 
 
 A4 
 
^ How Arthur of Algarbe was regent of Caftylle / and of the 
 enterpryfe that he made for to fynde his felowe olyuer. Capitulo. 
 
 Uij. 
 
 ^ How Arthur departed and put hym on the waye for to fynde 
 his felowe Olyuer / & of his aduentures. liiij. 
 
 ^ How Arthur flewe a meruaylous beeft in y« foreffc. Iv. 
 
 ^ How Arthur beynge fore hurte & lyenge in the wood / 
 appered to hym an auncyent knyghte that heled hym / & tolde vnto 
 hym y^ place where as his felowe was pryfoner. Capitulo. Ivi. 
 
 ^ How Arthur by the comaundement of the knyghte / wente 
 to London to the kynge of Englande / and of the loye that they 
 made to hym thynkynge that it had ben Olyuer. Capitulo. Ivij. 
 
 ^ How Arthur came and vyfyted Helayne that wende that he 
 had ben Olyuer her hufbande / and of the folempnyte that was 
 made. Capitulo. Iviij. 
 
 ^ How Arthur laye with Olyuers wyfe without vylaynous 
 touchynge / and how he departed for to fynde his felowe Olyuer. 
 Capitulo. lix. 
 
 ^ How Arthur toke the kynge that helde Olyuer in pryfon and 
 made hym delyuer hym clene. Capitulo. Ix. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer and Arthur departed from Irlonde / & how 
 Olyuer by Ire keft hym of his hors bycaufe that he had layne with 
 his wyfe. Capitulo. Ixi. 
 
^ How Olyuer demeaned grete dole for the dyfpleafure that he 
 had done to his felowe Arthur. Capitulo. Ixij. 
 
 . ^ How Olyuer departed from London / and came to y^ place 
 where as he hadde lefte his felowe / and how he cryed hym mercye. 
 Capitulo. Ixiij. 
 
 ^ How Arthur after that he was heled / by the lycence of the 
 kynge of Englande paffed in to Irlonde and had vengeaunce of the 
 kynge that helde Olyuer his felowe in pryfon. Capitulo. Ixiiij. 
 
 ^ How Arthur layde hym downe of a grete fykeneffe / & of 
 the grete dyfpleafure that Olyuer hadde. Ca. Ixv. 
 
 ^ Of the dreme & vyfyon that Olyuer had foure nyghtes 
 togyder / & in lykewyfe it femed to Arthur that his helthe was in 
 the power of his felowe Olyuer / and that whiche ought to be done 
 for to hele hy. Capitulo. Ixvi. 
 
 ■ ^ How Olyuer for to redre helthe to his felowe Arthur flewe 
 his two chyldren for to haue theyr blode / and gyue it hym to 
 drynke. Capitulo. Ixvij. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer in a bafyn of fyluer brought y« blode of his two 
 chyldren to his felowe Arthur / and made hym for' to drynke it / 
 wherfore he was all heled. Ca. Ixviij. 
 
 ^ Of the grete myracle'y' god fhewed to Olyuer of Caftyll 
 for his loyalte / in reuyuynge his two chyldren that he had flayne. 
 Capitulo. Ixix. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer afore the kynge of Englande and the other 
 barons of y^ realme / and euen afore his wyfe tolde his aduentures / 
 and meruaylous fortunes. Ca. Ixx. 
 
 B 
 
^ How Olyuer fente his felowe Arthur in to Caftyl for to 
 denounce his comynge/and how the kynge of Englade accompanyed 
 Olyuer and his fayre doughter Helayne in to Caftylle. Capitulo. 
 
 Ixxi. 
 
 ^ How the whyte knyght appered to Olyuer & oppreffed hym 
 for to kepe his promeffe / that was to gyue hym the halfe of that the 
 whiche he had wonne at the torneymente. Capitulo. Ixxij. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer and his wyfe demeaned grete dole bycaufe that 
 the whyte knyght toke one of theyr chyldren for his halfe / and the 
 whiche it was / and of other myfleryes. Capitulo. Ixxiij. 
 
 ^ How the knyght had pyte of Olyuer hauyge knowlege of his 
 loyalte / and quyted hym all. And how he made hym knowen to 
 hym. Capitulo. Ixxiiij. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer gaue his doughter in maryage to Arthur kynge 
 of Algarbe / and of the dethe of Olyuer and Helayne his wyfe. 
 Capitulo. Ixxv. 
 
 ^ How Henry of Cafi:ylle Olyuers fone was pryfoner / and 
 deyed in turkye. The laft chapytre. And after is the epylogacyon 
 of all the boke. 
 
 ^ Finis tabule. 
 
H 'The prefentacyon and introyte of this prefent booke. 
 
 O the ryght holy and ryght well eurous louynge 
 and magnyfycence of oure faueoure Ihefu cryft/ 
 and of his ryght doulce and gloryous moder faynt 
 Marye / the whiche ben the mocyons of all good 
 operacyons / & without the whiche none can be 
 begonne nor ended. I Henry Watfon apprentyfe of 
 London truftynge in the grace of god hathe enterpryfed for to 
 tranflate this prefent hyflorye out of Frenffhe in to Englyflhe / oure 
 moders tonge / at the comaundement of my worfhypfuU mayfter 
 Wynkyn de worde / not hauynge regarde for to laye it in another / 
 or in more dyfFufed termes tha the Frenffhe dothe fpecyfye / for in 
 doynge fo I myght lyghtly haue fayled, Wherfore I requyre all 
 them that fhall rede it / or that hereth it redde / for to holde for 
 excufed my lytell and obfcure vnderftandynge. In praynge our 
 lorde that he gyue me grace for to fynyffhe it by fuche maner 
 that it may be pleafaunt and agreable / and profitable vnto the 
 reders / and vnto the herers of the fame. Ame. 
 
 B 2 
 
■'^ Of the natyuyte of Olyuer of Cajiyll j and of the dethe 
 of his moder. Capitulo. i. 
 
 Ycaufe that I defyre y^ hye and notable faytes of xyght 
 noble and ryght valyaunt men of honour and prowefle 
 for to brynge them in to memorye and recommenda- 
 cyon / and alfo to the ende that all noble and vertuous 
 hertes may be moued and ftyred for to do well / in lyke wyfe as our 
 predeceffours hath done afore vs / and in efpecyall / they of the whiche 
 this prefent hyftorye treateth of. ^ I fynde wryten that after the 
 dethe of the ryghte noble / and valyaunt lorde / and prynce. 
 Carlemayne the grete Emperour / and Kynge of Fraunce / after that 
 he hadde fubdued / & brought vnder his obeyffaunce / in to our holy 
 cryfle fayth the Spanyerdes. ^ There was a kynge in Caftyll / y^ 
 whiche was a ryght puy flaunt prynce / that was moche beloued of all 
 his fubgedles / that at that tyme was depryued of the ryght heurous 
 felycyte / that is in maryage / whiche is to haue lygnage / and gene- 
 racyon / for the whiche caufe all his fubgedtes were gretely at 
 myfeafe / for they defyred nothynge foo moche as to fe an heyre 
 of his body that myght be fucceflTour of the realme after y^ deceafe 
 of this good kynge. His wyfe the whiche was the doughter of the 
 kynge of Galyce / that was a fayre lady and a vertuous / amonge 
 her prayers and oryfons / that fhe made to our lorde forgate not to 
 requyre hym by his debonayre clemenfe / that he wolde fende her 
 a chylde / to the ende that the countree abode not without an 
 herytour. Our lorde Ihefu cryft herynge the requeft that this 
 good quene made to hym / forgate her not / for in fhorte tyme 
 after flie conceyued / and whan terme was come fhe was delyuered 
 of a fayre fone / of the whiche the kynge / and all his fubgedtes 
 were gretely reioyfed / but theyr loye was foone turned to forow 
 for the quene had trauaylled fo fore / y' fhe lyued not two houres 
 after the byrth of her fone / the whiche was grete dyfpleafure to the 
 
kynge that loued her lo moche / And certaynly he had good caufe / 
 neuerthelefle he was not lefte alone makynge that forowe / for all his 
 fubgeftes bare hym company. 
 
 H How Olyuer was borne to be baptyjed j and how his moder was 
 borne to be buryed. And how the Embajfadours were tranfmyfed in 
 to Algarbe for to mary the kynge agayne. Capitulo. ij. 
 
 Fter the coplayntes innumerable of the kynge / and 
 of his fubgeftes / y^ quene was layd on here and 
 for to gyue comforte they ordeyned that the chylde 
 fholde be borne to be baptyfed / with the corps of 
 the quene. And foo it was done in grete lamentacyons / and 
 the chylde was named Olyuer and after that y^ feruyce was 
 fynyffhed the kynge retorned in to his palays / in the which 
 palays he demeaned his forowe by longe fpace of tyme / and he 
 toke no comforte but in his ryght amyable fone Olyuer. And 
 in kyffynge hym oftentymes he fayd vnto hym / Alas my dere 
 fone thy natyuyte hathe torned me to grete loye / and alfo vnto 
 grete tryfteffe and dolour / but in all humylyte I befeche our lorde 
 that he haue mercy on thy moders foule / And that he gyue the 
 grace that thou mayft be fuche one as my herte doth requyre. In 
 fuche wordes and femblables he complayned hym often vpo his 
 felowe and fpoufe that he hadde foo feruently loued. The noble 
 men of his courte / and alfo other of the realme were ryght dolaunt 
 bycaufe that as them femed the kynge was becomen all defolate / 
 and not foo famylyer with them as he had ben accuftomed afore the 
 dethe of the quene / wherfore they fayd that the kynges lamentynge 
 endured ouer lohge / wherfore it is expedyent to vs for to take 
 aduyfe in what maner we may caufe hym for to cefTe it / for he 
 muft put it out of his memorye / for he is yet yonge & lufty ynough 
 for to haue pgeny & chyldren / & there is nothynge y' may caufe 
 
hynn, fo fone for to cefle his forowe / and make hyrri locounde as to 
 mary hym vnto fome yonge lady / where as he maye take his pleafure 
 and delyte in al gladneffe. Thefe wordes were not fayd alonly in his 
 abfence / but alfo in his prefence for they that were mooft couerfaunt 
 with his perfone / declared it often vnto hym / and exhorted hym for 
 to be maryed / yf that they myght fynde one that were acceptable 
 for the dygnyte. At that tyme the kyng of Algarbe was deed / and 
 his wyfe was abyden wydowe / the whiche was one of the mooft 
 excellenteft ladyes at that tyme of the worlde / the whiche had a fone 
 by her ryghtfuU lorde and hufbande that was named Arthur / the 
 which was a meruaylous fayre chylde / and Olyuer & he were bothe 
 of one aege. The kynge of Caftyll had ben aduertyfed of the beaute 
 of the quene of Algarbe / wherfore he fente his Ambaffatours / for 
 to haue her to his quene / y'^ whiche Embaffatours whan they were 
 comen theder / were receyued with grete tryumphe and honoure / in 
 fo moche that fhortly after fhe was accorded to them by y^ lordes 
 of the realme / as ye fhall here. Whan they were brought in the 
 prefence of the quene and her counfayll / they declared the caufe of 
 theyr comynge/y^ whiche was gladly herde bothe of her kynnefmen/ 
 and the other barons / and after that the Embaffatours hadde 
 reherfed that the whiche they had in commaundement by theyr lorde 
 and kynge / they withdrewe them in to theyr lodges / with whome 
 wente many knyghtes and fquyres for to conueye them. 
 
 ^ How the maryage was treated bytwene the kyng of 
 Cajiyll Olyuer s fader j and the quene of Algarbe j Arthurs 
 moder. Capitulo. iij. 
 
 S the quene fawe her accompanyed with y^ mooft 
 parte of her frendes. And them that fhe mooft 
 trufted in fayd. Lordes ye knowe the caufe wherfore 
 the kynge of Caftyll hathe fete his Embaffadours 
 hether / wherfore I praye you for to haue regarde in this mater / 
 
for I am flie that by our good counfayll wyll be agreable to 
 do ' that the whiche ye fhall determyne. Thefe w^ordes fynyflhed / 
 Ihe toke leue and wente in to her chambre / and lefte them alone 
 with that mater. And fynably / they were all of one accorde / 
 that the maryage fholde be made / And retorned towarde the 
 quene / faynge that as them thought there was but fewe prynces 
 of more auctoryte than the kynge of Caftyll was / wherfore ihe 
 myght not be lyghtly better bellowed. And in efFedle they fhewed 
 her the yonge aege that fhe was yet in / and alfo the tendre 
 aege of her fone. Wherfore they counfaylled her that fhe fholde 
 accepte the requeft of the Kynge of Caftyll / The quene anfwered / 
 my frendes I haue tolde you / & yet dothe / that your good 
 counfayll and aduyfe / is well my wyll. And therfore make the 
 refponce / and anfwere to the EmbafTadours on my behalue / 
 fuche as ye fhall thynke moofl expedyent / for I fhall perfourme 
 it. And then they thanked her / and after departed from thens / 
 fyue / or fyxe of the mooft notableft / the whiche were chofen 
 for to gyue the anfwere vnto the EmbafTadours of y^ Kynge of 
 Caflyll. And whan that they were comen to theyr inne / they 
 fayd to them. Our honourable lady the quene / of her grace 
 and benygnyte / hath accorded vnto your requeft / not all of her 
 owne voluntary wyll / but at the inftaunce of her frendes / and 
 Barons. To whome it femeth good / and vtyll / for the profperyte 
 of bothe partyes. That ye retorne whan it fhall feme you good / 
 and tell your lorde / that as often as it fhall pleafe hym / he 
 may fende for her / or come in his perfone. For they put all 
 to his noble dyfcrecyon. NeuerthelefTe feynge that bothe partyes 
 were wydowes / vnto theyr aduyfe / it were mooft conuenyent 
 that he came theder for to wedde her. And that the fpoufaylles 
 fholde be doone / without ony grete excefTe of vytaylles / more 
 than apperteyned to fuche a feeft. And as for the furplus that 
 he fholde do as it pleafed hym. 
 
ir How the Kynge of Cajiyll efpoufed the queue of Algarbe j 
 and ledde her in to Cajiyll / with her yonge fone that refembled 
 Olyuer. Capitulo. iiij- 
 
 Racyoufly the Embaffadours thaked y^ quene / and 
 her noble counfayll / faynge that they wolde gladly 
 tell theyr refponce vnto theyr lorde / and kynge / 
 y' fhall be well contente of this vnyte. And then 
 at theyr requeft they were ledde before the quene / whome they 
 thanked / & toke theyr leue at her full honourably / and of all the 
 other barons. And after that they had taken theyr leue / vpon 
 the nexte morowe they departed. But ye may ymagyne that or 
 they departed / the quene had fent them many ryche / and grete 
 gyftes. Of theyr waye and lourneyes I can not tell you / but 
 they made fuche dylygence / that they defcended in the towne 
 where as at that tyme the kynge remayned. And as bryefiy as 
 they myght / they wente towarde the kynge that all redy was 
 aduertyfed of theyr retornynge. And after the reuerence done / 
 they recounted to hym how they had fpedde and wroughte / 
 Wherof the Kynge was meruaylloufly locounde / and at that 
 tyme he was delybered for to goo theder within a thre wekes / 
 or a moneth for to efpoufe the quene. And in lykewyfe as the 
 kynge had deuyfed / fo it was accomplyffhed / and departed from 
 Caftjdl with a lytell copany. And then as he was vpon his waye / 
 he fente worde to the quene pronouncynge his comyge. The 
 whiche receyued hym with grete melody. And haftely y^ fpou- 
 faylles were fumptuoully made / in fuche a wyfe as apperteyneth 
 to a kyng and a quene. The yonge Arthur with al his puyfTaunce 
 made good chere to the kynge his ftepfader. Alfo whan the 
 kynge behelde hym / hym thought that he fawe his fone Olyuer / 
 for to aege and bygnefle they refembled fo moche that they 
 coude not dyfcufle y^ one frojn another / wherof the barons 
 
that came with j^ kynge was gretely abaffhed. Soo whan the 
 weddynge was fynyflaed / and that the kynge had foiourned there 
 a moneth or two / he commyfed in his ftede a ryght noble 
 knyght / to be protectour of the realme of Algarbe. And after 
 thofe thynges done he departed / & ledde w' hym his newe quene / 
 and Arthur her fone. They rode fo longe that they arryued in the 
 cyte where as the kynge dyd mooft remayne / and were receyued 
 with grete tryumphe and loye. The kynge comaunded that 
 Arthur fholde haue fuche eftate as his owne fone Olyuer had/wher- 
 fore fro that daye forwarde / they were nouryfllied togyder / and 
 loued foo perfoundly togyder that it myght neuer be loft / as ye 
 fhall here more euydently after enfuynge / and for a good caufe 
 why / for they refembled fo moche that oftentymes they toke 
 one for another. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer and Arthur were commyfed to a noble knyght / 
 
 for to pra5iyfe them in feat es of armes / And of the Jufles made by 
 
 them j and who wanne y" pryce. Capitulo. v. 
 
 T was fo that Olyuer / and Arthur began for to waxe 
 grete. Wherfore they were taken from the kepynge 
 of the ladyes. And gaue to them a ryght prudent / 
 and valyaunt knyght / for to demonftre / & enduce 
 them in feates of armes / as it apperteyneth to kyges fones. He 
 receyued the two noble chyldren / that were bothe of one aege / 
 and of one beaute / and inftruft ed them in all good maners. 
 Than whan they began for to haue knowlege / they loued togyder 
 with fo perfyte loue / that they made alyaunce togyder of fraternall 
 copany / in promyfynge neuer for to fayle vnto the dethe departed 
 them / for confyderynge y^ wyll of theyr lorde / that kepte them 
 bothe fo rychely / & put in theyr vnderftondyng that it fholde 
 be impoflyble that euer theyr grete loue fholde fayle. The kynge 
 
and the quene / and all the barons of the countree / feynge the 
 two chyldren fo perfyte felowes togyder / and loue fo inwardly 
 were gretely reioyfed / and thanked oure lorde therof with mylde 
 hertes / yf I name them perfyte without ony defaute blame me 
 not / nor meruayll you not of it / for certaynly of beaute / bounte / 
 prudence / and humylyte / that ought to be in ony noble herte / 
 was in tho two noble men. They may dyfportes amonge the 
 knyghtes and fquyres / and amonge ladyes and damoyfelles / as 
 in dauncynge / and dyuers other games / they founde none that 
 myght paffe them / as for dyfportes that be vfed by noble men 
 in tyme of peas / as at tennys / lepe / fprynge / wraftle / caft the 
 ftone / call the barre / or ony other games / none wolde compare 
 with them two. And bryefly all thynge that they applyed them 
 to / became them well. As vnto the regarde of luftes / and 
 tourneymentes / it was defended them by the kynge theyr fader / 
 bycaufe y* they were to tendre of aege as at that tyme. 
 Notwithftandynge whan the kynge fawe that they were puyffaunt 
 ynoughe for to welde armour at theyr eafe / he gaue them lycence 
 for to do crye a luftynge / and a turneyment. The whiche 
 Olyuer / and Arthur made for to be cryed / that thre auenturous 
 knyghtes fholde lufte agaynft all comers / the whiche fholde 
 fynde the there the fyrfte daye of the lufty moneth of maye in 
 complete barneys / for to luft agaynft theyr aduerfaryes / with 
 fharpe fperes / and the fayd thre champyons fholde luft .iij. dayes 
 in thre colours / that is to wete / in blacke / gray / & vyolet / 
 and theyr fheldes of the fame hewe / and them to fynde on the 
 thyrde daye at the lyftes. There lufted dyuers yonge knyghtes 
 of the kynges courte. And the luftynge was more afperer of 
 thofe yonge knyghtes than euer they had fene ony in that countree / 
 and by the reporte of the ladyes they dyde fo knyghtly euerychone 
 y' it was not poflyble for to do better as them thought by theyr 
 ftrokes. But aboue all other Olyuer and Arthur, his loyal felowe 
 
had the bruyte and loos. The luftynge endured longe / it was 
 meruayll to fe the hydeous ftrokes that they delte / for the luftynge 
 had not fynyffhed fo fone /but that the nyght fepared theym / 
 neuertheleffe the aduerfary party abode tyll the torches were lyghte. 
 But the ladyes and damoyfelles / that of all the luftynge tyme had 
 ben there were wery / and wolde departe / wherfore the lufters 
 departed in lyke wyfe / and wente and dyfarmed theym for to come 
 to the banket or feeft / and whan that the banquet was fynyffhed 
 and done / the daunces beganne. And there came the kynge 
 and y^ valyaunt knyghtes of armes / for to enquyre of the ladyes / 
 and damoyfelles who that had beft borne hy as for that daye. 
 The ladyes whiche were all of one accorde / & agreement / fayd 
 that Olyuer and Arthur had furmoilted all y= beft doers of that 
 lourneye. And bycaufe that Olyuer / and Arthur were bothe of 
 one party /and that they coude fynde but lytell dyfFerece bytwene 
 theym of knyghthode / they knewe not the whiche they myght 
 fuftayne. But in the ende they fayd that Arthur had done ryght 
 valyauntly / neuertheleffe they fayd that Olyuer had done beft / 
 vnto theyr femynge. And therfore it was concluded that the pryce 
 fholde be gyuen vnto Olyuer / as for the beft of them of within. 
 And another noble knyght of the realme of Algarbe / that came 
 with the queue had the pryce of without / wha the pryce of the 
 luftes that hadde ben made / was broughte before Olyuer by 
 two fayre damoyfelles he waxed all rede and was as afhamed at 
 that prefent tyme / & fayd that it was of theyr bounte for to 
 gyue hym the pryce and not of his deferte / neuertheleffe he 
 receyued it / and as it was of cuftome in guerdonnynge them he 
 kyffed them. And fone after they brought the wyne and fpyces / 
 and thenne the daunces and the feeft toke an ende as for 
 that nyght. 
 
 c 2 
 
^ How the queue of Cajiyll beganne to be amourous of her 
 /one Olyuer of folyfjhe hue and dyjhoneji. Capitulo. vi. 
 
 He two yonge me after that the feeft was fynyflhed / 
 and the leue take / they wente vnto theyr chambre. 
 Olyuer thynkynge that he wolde not be contente with 
 that pryce. And Arthur on the other fyde fayd that 
 he wolde do fo moche yf he myght / that another tyme he myghte 
 gete the pryce / but not for enuye of the honoure of his felowe. 
 But good courage and good wyll caufed hym to haue thofe 
 thoughtes. On the other partye the kynge all redy entred in 
 to his chambre for to go vnto his reft / the quene alfo thought 
 exceffyuely on the feeft that fhe had fene the daye tofore. And 
 in efpecyall on the two yonge knyghtes was all her thought. 
 Of the whiche the one of them was her owne fone / the whiche 
 ye may thynke dyd not dyfpleafe her / and fayd vnto herfelfe. 
 Lady Mary what dure and afpre ftrokes I haue fene the gyue 
 and receyue to daye. How gentylly it became the kynges fone 
 Olyuer for to daunce / and the clothynge that he ware / certes 
 that lady or damoyfell fholde be well happy y' he wolde loue. In 
 thefe thoughtes fhe wente to bed and fell on flepe / but that 
 was not but y' fhe thought in her flepe that fhe fawe hym 
 daunce all aboute the chambre that had pleafed her fo moche 
 the daye before. So bega the quene for to entre in to foo grete 
 a foly that it neuer lefte her / and that was grete pyte and 
 dommage as ye fhall here afterwarde. The daye fpronge / and 
 at the houre that they were accuftomed for to ryfe in the courte/ 
 Olyuer and his felowe Arthur arofe and made them redy in the 
 fame wyfe that they were accuftomed / and in that eftate they 
 wente in to the kynges court. Whan the quene fawe them / fhe 
 made them better femblaunce / & better chere than fhe was 
 wonte to doo / and called the kynges fone aboute the necke / 
 
and badde them good morowe. And fayd alowe bytwene her 
 tethe. Olyuer my frende I thynke that god hath made you 
 for to be loked on in this worlde. Olyuer herde it well / and 
 meruaylled hy moche wherfore fhe fayd it / for he wyft not 
 whether fhe fayd it for good / or for euyll / neuertheleffe he put 
 it in oubly / and thought no more vpon it. 
 
 ^ How the quene gaue Olyuer for to vnderfiande y* Jhe loued 
 hym I and that fhe dejyred for to fynne with hym. And how 
 olyuer anfwered her couertly / and all to honoure. Capitulo. vij. 
 
 Y fpace of tyme this pafled ouer / neuertheles 
 Olyuer was not afhamed to be amonge ladyes / & 
 damoyfelles / and was neuer wery of luftynge and 
 turneynge / or other feates of armes that apperteyned 
 to ony noble prynce. And whan that he knewe of ony greate 
 aflemble / he wolde not haue fayled but that he wolde haue ben 
 there / whether that he had ben ferre or nere / and therfore 
 euery body had grete loye of hym / and fayd it was a grete 
 reioyfynge to the kynge of Caftyll the whiche was al redy ferre 
 altred in aege for to fe his only fone & heyre fo replenyffhed in 
 all vertuous operacyons / but fortune the whiche is mayftreffe of 
 all aduerfyte & forowes adnychylled his cofolacyon / & fepared 
 fro hym his ele6le welfare by y^ quene his wyfe. The whiche 
 beholdynge the gyfte of grace that nature had gyuen hym fo 
 fayre a chylde / fhe was foo taken with his loue that it is meruayll 
 to recounte it / for whan fhe was by herfelfe in ony fecrete place 
 alone / as in her bedde / or elles where fhe fayd full often. Ha 
 a Olyuer ryght fayre creature y^ treafoure of my thoughtes. I 
 owe well for to curfe thy refplendyffhynge beaute / for I am 
 conftrayned for thy excellence to do the thynge that neuer quene 
 dyde / for I muft habandon the loue of my lorde / and hufbande 
 
for thyne. And yf that thou haue not compaffyon vpon me the 
 furpkis of my dayes fhal be in anguj^flh and dolour. In this 
 wyfe the quene complayned fo longe / that Olyuer and his felowe 
 came for to fe her. Whome fhe receyued with loyous femblaunt. 
 And whan ony perfone axed her wherfore fhe fhewed more fygne 
 of amyte to olyuer than fhe dyde to Arthur her owne fone / fhe 
 fayd that fhe dyde it for to pleafe the kynge y^ better with all. 
 She toke Olyuer by the hande and made hym by force for to 
 fytte downe befyde her. And began for to deuyfe with hym of 
 dyuers maters / and amonge other deuyfes fhe demauded hym 
 by the fayth of his body / yf that he were not amorous of fome 
 fayre lady. And he fayd naye. And then fhe fayd vnto hym 
 Olyuer my loue. I can not byleue that the whiche ye haue fpoken. 
 And therfore I requyre you that ye tell me the trouthe in what 
 place fhe remayneth that is fo eurous for to be your louer. 
 Madame anfwered Olyuer / in good fayth ihe hathe none abydynge. 
 For there is fo many excellent ladyes in this realme / that I can 
 not tell the whiche I may loue. And alfo I doubte to be refufed. 
 Wherfore madame I know well that ye do but mocke with me 
 for Ihe Iholde be but a lytell happy for to haue my loue. For 
 I am not a man that as yet hathe done ony thynge / wherof I 
 oughte to enquyre ony lady of loue. And therfore vnto this 
 houre I haue not done fo moche / nor wonne / wherfore I oughte 
 to be contente. The quene herynge the anfwer of y^ yonge 
 knyght / was fore abaffhed. For the more that fhe deuyfed 
 with hym / the more fhe founde hym conftaunt and ferme in his 
 purpofe / and alwaye fhe contynued in her folye / in fo moche 
 that Olyuer apperceyued a parte of her wyll and defyre. Wherfore 
 he helde his peas and fpake not fo moche as he had done before. 
 And fhe feynge that he fpake no more fayd vnto hym. My 
 frende yf ony grete mayftreffe requyred you of loue / wolde ye 
 refufe her / certes madame fayd he. I am not foo happy / nor 
 
no woman fo folyfh / for to requyre me of loue / and therfore 
 there is none anfwer. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer departed fore troubled of the requejles that 
 his Jiepmoder had made to hym. And how y' he prayed to our 
 lorde I for to reuoke her from her folyjhe / and corrupte volente. 
 Capitulo. 'u^ij- 
 
 Lyuer that was not well pleafed for to be in fuche 
 deuyfes with his fayre moder / made to his felowe 
 a fygne that he fholde calle hym the whiche dyde 
 fo / and fayd. My broder the houre paffeth that 
 we fholde go there as ye wote of/ and therfore I put you in 
 remembrauce. Olyuer anfwered that it was true. And then he 
 toke his leue of the quene / the whiche dydde ftrayne his fyngres 
 togyder at the departynge. Olyuer was tha ryght dyfpleafaut by- 
 caufe that he knewe her in fuche eftate / but he durft make no 
 femblaut vnto his felowe / for drede and fere / that he wolde 
 haue ben to dyfplefaunt. So as they were out of the queues 
 chambre / the quene drew herfelfe aparte in to a lytell garderobe / 
 and lete herfelfe fall vpo a bedde / and fayd vnto her felfe. My 
 loue ye be not foo folyffhe / but that ye knowe thafFayre in the 
 whiche I am oppreflyd / and certaynly it fhall not be lefte thus / 
 for to morowe ye fhall haue knowlege of all my forowe / and 
 dyfeafe. And alfo Olyuer vpon that other fyde / was in grete 
 thought as well as y^ quene his ftepmoder was / for whan he 
 was in his lodgys / he wente in to his chambre all alone / where 
 as he dyde faye knelynge / My bleffyd creatour thou haft formed 
 me vnto thy femblaunce / and haft gyuen me indygne more beaute 
 than I am worthy for to haue /the whiche fhall be caufe of my 
 deftruccyon / yf that thou by thy grace put not remedye. Wher- 
 fore I praye the that thou wouchefauf for to kepe the honour of 
 
my fader / and me / and that I be not occafyon of the euyll 
 wyll / wherin I fe her at this prefent tyme / for I wyll not accorde 
 therto for to deye. And therfore I requyre you with humble 
 herte that it wyll pleafe y^ for to take her out of that dampnable 
 opynyon / and that thou reduce / and brynge her in to fuche 
 efbate / and wyll / that as a good and loyall fpoufe / fhe may 
 kepe her towarde her hufbande. 
 
 ^ How the quene yet agayne declared her courage to Olyuer j 
 the whiche ivas J that fhe wolde that he Jholde do her dyfordynate 
 nayll j and y^ fayre anjwers that Olyuer gaue her. Capitulo. ix. 
 
 IN the morowe after that Olyuer was come in to his 
 faders courte / aboute the houre of dyner / he 
 durfte not leue his olde cuftome / the whiche was / 
 for to go and vyfyte the quene /and alfo to the ende 
 that none Iholde apperceyue his afFayre. Incontynent as he had 
 falued her / he withdrewe hym in to the thyckeft prees of the 
 ladyes / bycaufe that he wolde not be alone with the quene his 
 ftepmoder / but that auaylled hym but lytell / For the quene 
 without ony fhame wente and fetched hy agayne / and toke hym 
 by the hande / faynge that fhe wolde fpeke with hy. And by forfe 
 whether he wolde or not Ihe made hym for to fytte downe by 
 her. And fatte thynkyge / and mufynge a grete whyle / and fayd 
 neuer a worde. Wha the quene fawe that he fayd neuer a worde / 
 fhe was halfe afhamed and chaunged coloure / and fayd to hym. 
 My loue haue ye no remembraunce of the deuyfes that we had 
 togyder. Truely madame fayd Olyuer. My memorye is fo fmall / 
 that I haue reteyned but lytell / or nought. Ha my fwete herte 
 fayd the quene I fuppofe y' your vnderftondynge is not fo dull / 
 to forgete in fo fhorte fpace / that the whiche is fayd vnto you. 
 But I apperceyue by your langage / that ye knowe my mynde 
 
better than I can recorde it to you. Madame I wote not what ye 
 wolde faye. Certaynly fayd Ihe my loue / to y^ ende that ye 
 knowe it. I tell you that I wyl be yours. And therfore I gyue 
 me vnto you all holly. It is not of newe that ye be lorde ouer 
 me / and of my wyll / But fere / & fhame hathe caufed me 
 to kepe it clofe by loge fpace of tyme. NeuerthelefTe all doubtes 
 put abacke I put you in memorye that I am not of your kyred 
 fo nere / but that ye may do all your pleafure with me / as ye 
 wolde do to your lady and loue / and I alfo of you in lyke wyfe / 
 wher thrugh we may haue incopreable loy and folace togyder. 
 And yf that my fortune be fo vnhappy / that my requefb be not 
 vttred I fhall occyfe myfelfe. And therfore my loue / in you 
 lyeth my lyfe and my deth. whan Olyuer vnderftode this / he 
 was more abaffhed than euer he was before / and fayd vnto her in 
 this wyfe Madame where as ye fay that ye loue me I thanke you 
 hertly and as for that / that ye name you my louer / it can not 
 be no gretter than it is as for my parte / for as vnto my moder / 
 and mayftreffe / there is no feruyce but that I wyll do it at your 
 commaundemet / as I am bounde for to do. I can not thynke 
 that ye be fo chyldyffhe that ye wolde loue me otherwyfe than a 
 good moder fholde / and ought to loue her chylde. For I holde 
 my felfe for fuche one / that I had leuer deye than for to do ony 
 thynge that were contrary to the honour of the kynge my fader. 
 And yf that I dyde otherwyfe / the houre of my byrth ought 
 well to be curfed. 
 
^ How Olyuer refufed all the requejies of his fayre fiepmoder. 
 And how /he menafed hym vnto the dethe. Capitulo. x. 
 
 He quene ryght furyoufly / and Irefully brake his 
 wordes in fayng. Olyuer curfed be thy beaute / 
 whan y' thou arte fo eleuate in pryde / to refufe fuche 
 a quene as I am / but fro hens forth / y^ name of a 
 frende y' was gyuen to the by me / and that hathe ben fyxed in 
 the profoiidenefle of my fecrete thoughtes / and alfo y^ reioycynge 
 of my herte / by thy grete outragyous cruelte fhall be torned in 
 to grete amerenes. For I fhall name the my mortall enemye / as 
 one that is a deftroyer / and fleer of ladyes. For thou arte a 
 murderer of me / and fhall be caufe of my deth / and that ryght 
 fhortly. But it fhall not be without the. For in all the maners / 
 and facyons that can be / vnto me pofTyble I fhall abredge thy 
 lyfe. For me thynketh that it is reafon fyth that I mufl dye for 
 the / and y' thou arte caufe of my dethe / that thou be parteyner 
 of my dolour and anguyflhe / notwithflandynge I praye to our 
 lorde that he pardone the / the innumerable euylles that by the 
 are lykly for to befall. And then fhe fayd vnto hym. Aryfe of 
 my quyffhen / and go thy waye / for it is impofTyble to me / for 
 to be here in the prefence of the people / withoute that my forowe 
 fhall be apperceyued / Olyuer arofe and toke his leue of the quene / 
 the whiche went in to a lytell chambre / where as fhe demeaned 
 her forowe fo meruayloufly that it were impofTyble for to recounte / 
 and tell it. Olyuer wente towarde the kynge & falued hym. Soo 
 after that he had ben there a whyle he wente vnto his place / and 
 his felowe with hym / whiche knewe full well that his broder 
 made not foo good chere as he was accuftomed for to doo / and 
 demaunded hym what meuyd hym / that he was fo fadde. And 
 whan he fawe that he wolde not tell hym / he thought in hymfelfe 
 that he wolde not demaunde hym no more / lefte that he fholde 
 
be dyfpleafed with hym. All that daye Olyuer abode in his 
 chambre / and for to couer the better his dyfpleafure / he made 
 his men for too vnderftande that he was not well at eafe / and 
 that he was a lytell dyfmayde. For the whiche thyge his felowe 
 Arthur was ryght dolent / and forowfuU / but it was impoffyble 
 to hym for to amende it / this notwithflandynge / he wolde not 
 departe from hym / but after fouper Olyuer requyred hym y' he 
 wolde go towarde the kynge / and the ladyes for that nyght. 
 And that he wolde kepe hym without makynge ony menfyon of 
 his fykenes / and that at his comynge agayne he Iholde fynde 
 hy a bedde. So at the requeft of his broder he was contente for 
 to goo / and fayd to hym / My good broder Olyuer it is your 
 wyll that I Ihall go in to the courte / and bycaufe that it fhall be 
 late or that I come agayne / and that I myght happen awake you 
 I bydde you good nyght. And I pray god gyue you gode reft 
 fo that your fykeneffe may to morowe be aledged. And tolde 
 hym that he wolde not lye with hym y' nyght. Then Olyuer 
 embrafed hym / with the teres in his eyen and fayd to Arthur 
 that he abode ouer longe. Arthur apperceyued the teres in his 
 eyen / wherfore he was fore abaffhed. For he knewe hy for fuche 
 a man / that he dyfcomforted hym not for a lytell thynge / neuer- 
 theleffe he made no femblaunt / but departed with grete lametacyon. 
 Alas yf he had knowen wheron his felowe dyde thyke / his forowe 
 wolde haue doubled / for he fawe hym not after vnto the tyme 
 that they hadde bothe fuffred many aduerfytees / as ye fhall here 
 more playnly afterwarde. 
 
 D a 
 
^ How Olyuer abode all alone in his chambre / where as he 
 made dyuers complayntes / and lamentacyons / and of the lettre 
 that he wrote vnto his felowe Arthur / and at what thynge he 
 fholde haue knowlege / yf he hadde ony euyll aduenture. Capitulo. 
 
 xi. 
 
 S Olyuer fawe that he was left alone / and that his 
 loyall felowe was gone / he abode al penfyf / and 
 fadde. And fayd vnto his chamberlayne that he 
 wolde go vnto bedde / and y' he Iholde make euery 
 body to auoyde for that nyght. And badde his chamberlayne 
 that he fholde make prouyfyon of paper / and ynke. So whan 
 euery body was departed / and that there was no moo lefte 
 within the chambre but his chamberlayne / he made hym redy 
 and wente to bedde. And then he badde his chamberlavne that 
 he fholde go his waye for that nyght / for there is one that wyll 
 lye with me / the whiche wyll not be knowen. The chamberlayne 
 dyde his lordes commaundement / and departed / and Ihytte the 
 dore after hym. And whan that Olyuer faw that euery body was 
 auoyded / there is no herte may thynke / nor exprefle / the in- 
 numerable lamentacyos that he made. And fyrfte of all the grete 
 goodes / and honour / that in that countree he had receyued. And 
 after / for the ryght bytter dolour that for his fake were lykly 
 for to come / as well vnto the kynge his fader / as vnto his 
 felowe / and in generall al them of the kyges courte / where as 
 he was fo derely byloued. This notwithftandynge he concluded 
 in hymfelfe that he wolde departe / habandonnynge londes / 
 pofleflyons / and honours / faynge that the worldly honours / 
 were nothynge in comparyfon of the fpyrytuelles / y^ whiche hathe 
 neuer ende / and fayd that he oughte not for to kepe his carcas 
 fo deyntely / that was ordeyned in this worlde for to be wormes 
 mete / as his honour and his foule / the whiche fholde be tormented 
 
in helle / yf that he wold byleue the dampnable opynyon of his 
 fayre moder. He thought in hymfelfe that it were better for 
 hym for to departe be tymes / than ouer late / for he had no 
 more truft nor confydens in the quene / feynge and confyderynge 
 y^ wordes that fhe had fayd vnto hym. Then he toke the paper 
 and the ynke / and began for to wryte a lettre the whiche adreffyd 
 vnto his felowe. In the whiche after y^ gretynges and falutacyons / 
 made as amyably as ony myght be made / he put in y^ lettre that 
 for certayne caufes he was departed from the courte in praynge 
 hym ryghte debonayrly that he wolde pardon hym of that that 
 he had not aduertyfed hym of his departyng / for certayly it had 
 ben impoffyble vnto hym / for to haue departed in his prefence. 
 And this notwithftandynge yf that he were ferre from his fyghte / 
 yet he fholde not be longed from his herte / for in what coutre / 
 or in what place that euer he were / he wolde holde hym for his 
 good broder / & frende / and that neuer on his fyde he wolde 
 forgete hy. Afterwarde he prayed hym that he wolde make his 
 recommendacyons ryght humbly vnto his fader the kynge and 
 the quene / and vnto all theym the whiche iTiolde demaunde after 
 hym. And then he wrote aboue. My broder bycaufe that I wote 
 neuer wha I Ihall fe you agayne. I leue with you this lytell glafle / 
 the whiche is ful of clere water as ye may fee / and I praye you 
 that ye loke euery daye ones vpon it for my loue / for yf I haue 
 ony euyll aduenture / that water that is in the glafle fhall become 
 all blacke / and that fhall fygnyfye that I am in fome euyll 
 aduenture or empeffhement. And then my loyall broder and 
 faythfuU felowe I befeche you that for the grete loue and amyte / 
 that we haue had togyder that yf fo happen / that ye wyll departe 
 from the courte of my fader / and neuer reft tyll that ye here 
 fome tydynges of me. My broder and true felowe / in you is all 
 my hope and truft / aboue all them in the worlde. Other thyge 
 my broder I wote not what to wryte to you / but that ye may be 
 
fure that I fhall deye yours. I praye to oure lorde Ihefu cryft / 
 that he gyue you as moche good / and grace / as my herte 
 defyreth. Amen. 
 
 II How Olyuer departed all alone without ony company / and 
 came to a hauen of the fee j where as he foude a Jhyp all redy Jor 
 to departe / in the whiche he put hymfelfe j with an EnglyJJhe 
 knyght that he founde there. Capitulo. xij. 
 
 Nd whan the lettres were made. Olyuer made hym 
 redy / and whan he was redy / bothe booted / and 
 fporred / and his fwerde by his fyde / he wente in 
 to his liable at the houre of mydnyght whan that 
 euery body was retrayed vnto theyr ynnes / for it was a place 
 all alone a good waye from the kynges courte / and at that tyme 
 there dwelled no body nor none of his feruauntes / and at that 
 tyme / there was no warre in the realme of Caftyll / but all peas / 
 and therfore he myght the better / and the more fecretely do his 
 wyll / fo he toke a hors the whiche that femyd hym belt / and 
 fadled hym / and then he lepte vpon hym / but that was not / 
 but that afore his departynge / he put the lettre and the glafle in 
 his chambre in the mooft redyeft place to his femynge / and there 
 as it myght foneft be founde. And alfo he had taken a lytell 
 purfe / in the whiche he had put a thoufande nobles / and other 
 lytell bagges that were not of fo grete value / but what of fyluer / 
 and other thynge / they were worthe as moche. He founde the 
 gate of his place open / and the kyge at that tyme was in a place / 
 where as no gates were Ihytte. Olyuer rode forth / and exployted 
 fo moche with his eafe / and alfo with the fayre lyght of the mone / 
 that he palTed the towne lyghtely. And whan that Olyuer was 
 a lytell paffed the towne / he retorned his ryght beauteous vyfage 
 towarde the place where as he had ben nouryffhed / and fayd. 
 
Ha kyge of Caftylle / thou lefefte in this nyght thyn onely begoten 
 fone. And thou ryghte fruftuous reah-ne / thou lefeft thy prynce 
 and ryghtwys heyre. And thou my broder Arthur / thou lefeft 
 thy faythfull felowe. And there he toke his leue of them all in 
 fayge. Adew ladyes and damoyfelles / and thou ryall palayfe / in 
 the whiche I haue taken my nouryture. I pray to god that he 
 preferue all them that ben enhabytyng therin / from all euyll 
 aduentures / and that he wyll tranfporte the queue / and gyue her 
 knowlege that the euyll wyl that fhe hath towarde me procedeth 
 not of a luft / and ryghtfuU caufe / from her. As thefe wordes 
 were fynyflhed / he retorned his ftede in to the waye / in wypynge 
 awaye the teres of his amyable face / and of his cloke that was all 
 arowfed with the haboundaiice of teres that he had fhedde. In 
 fuche forowe he neuer ftynted rydynge tyll that he came to a 
 lytell vyllage / by the whiche was a hauen of the fee. And he 
 came theder foo well to poynt and in fo good an houre / that he 
 founde a grete lorde the whiche wolde departe from thens / and 
 with hym was a gentyll knyght of Englande / that was all redy 
 within the Ihyppe / and dyuers other gentylmen that wente towarde 
 the Cyte of Conftantynoble. Olyuer demaunded of the maj'fter 
 maryner / yf that he wolde lette hym go with them /and he wolde 
 cotente hym ryght largely for his fraught. But the mayfter 
 marynere anfwered to hym / that he wolde not. Wherfore Olyuer 
 was ryght fory / & dyfpleafaunt / but at the inftaunce / and requeft / 
 of the Englyfflie knyght / the whiche was all redy aborde / he was 
 content. And then Olyuer gaue the mayfter of the fhyppe his 
 noble courfer / for to doo with hym his good pleafure. And after 
 that Olyuer had gyuen hym his courfer / he entred in to the 
 fhyppe / the whiche abode but for the tyde / and whan that the 
 hye tyde was comen / they departed. The gentyll Olyuer was all 
 alone for he had no knowlege / nor none acquayntaunce with no 
 body within that fhyp / but by the fufFraunce of god almyghtye / 
 
he acquaynted hym foo with the Englyffhe knyght / that they were 
 fo good frendes / & loued fo perfytely togyder / that he myght 
 ryght well auaut hym that god had gyuen hym good encountree / 
 and ryght good auenture / of the whiche Olyuer had ryght grete 
 neceflyte / as ye fhal here in this prefente hyftorye afterwarde 
 more playnly. We Ihall leue here to fpeke of the noble knyght 
 Olyuer / in lettynge hym goo in the garde / and kepynge of our 
 lorde Ihefu cryft / and of y^ wynde / and of the fee / and that he 
 wyll of his ineftimable grace conduyte hym to a good porte and 
 hauen. Amen. 
 
 ^ How Arthur of Algarbe came in to the chambre of his fe low 
 Olyuer / the whiche made innumerable regrettes / and lamentacyons I 
 bycaufe of his fodayne departynge. Capitulo. xiij. 
 
 Ere aboue ye haue herde of the departyng of the 
 noble Olyuer / fone of the Kynge of Caftylle. Whan 
 it was daye / erly in y<= mornynge his feruauntes came 
 to his chambre for to be at his vpryfynge / as they 
 were accuftomed. And whan that they were comen theder they 
 founde the garde of his perfone without the dore / wherfore they 
 meruaylled gretely. In the meane whyle that they abode afore 
 the dore / and that the hour of dyner approched nere / his fyrft 
 chamberlayne came / and founde this company afore the chambre 
 dore / the whiche as yet had not entred in to the chambre wherof 
 he was abaflhed meruaylovifly / and demaunded what tydynges / 
 & fayd to hym that Olyuer had bydden the euenynge before that 
 they fholde departe / and axed hy why he was not in the chambre. 
 And ouer that he demaunded hym / yf that theyr lorde were redy / 
 and he anfwered. I was not there to daye and therfore I can not 
 tell )rou whether he be redy or not. For yefternyght whan he went 
 
to bedde he commaunded me to departe out of the chambre / 
 and that I fholde not come agayne tyll that he made me to haue 
 knowlege of it / and therfore I lette the keyes within the chabre 
 dore / and as yet I dare not knocke at the dore / leeft that he be 
 euyll contente with me / but it fhall be well done that ye knocke 
 at y^ dore / and fo he dyde / but none anfwered hym / as in a 
 place where as was no body / fo they were there a longe whyle / 
 in this meane whyle Arthur that had herde maffe alredy came 
 for to fe in what eftate his broder had borne hym that nyghte. 
 And whan that he knewe that none of them hadde yet entred in 
 to the chambre / he doubted leeft his felowe hadde fome grete 
 empeffliment bycaufe of y^ fykenefle of the daye afore. So he 
 called one of the fquyers of his chambre / that bare the keyes of 
 that doore / in the fame wyfe as Olyuer hadde / for they twayne 
 had neuer but one chambre / and made to open the chambre 
 dore / and after entred all alone / and fhytte the dore after hym. 
 As fone as he was in the chambre / the fyrft thynge that he dyde / 
 was that he wente ftreyght vnto the bedde where as he founde 
 no body / wherfore he was fore abaffhed. And began for to 
 ferche all aboute / as well at y^ draught as elles where. And 
 whan he fawe that he coude not fynde hym / he was fo dyfpleafaut 
 that he wyft not what to faye / or do. And thus as he fought 
 vp and downe in the chambre / thynkynge and mufynge vpon this 
 thynge / he keft his regarde a fyde / and afpyed the lytell glaffe of 
 his felowe / that he had fene afore tyme / fo he approched nere / 
 and toke it in his hande / and in takynge it / he apperceyued the 
 lettre / and he fawe euydently that the fuper fcrypcyo was of his 
 felowes hande wrytynge / and fo toke it and began for to rede it 
 ouer. And whan he vnderftode the tenour of the lettre / yf all 
 the forowes / and anguyffhes that euer he had in his lyfe / had 
 comen to his remembraunce / yet he lliolde not haue had the .C. 
 parte of the dolour / and anguyffhe that he fuftayned at that 
 
prefet tyme / and had his herte fo replete with amerenes / that it 
 was force to hym for to lette hym fall downe vpon a couche 
 bedde. And then he began for to complayne hym fo dolefully / 
 that it wolde haue molefyed y^ dureft herte of the worlde / and 
 fayd vnto hymfelf. Alas my lorde / my broder / and my faythfull 
 felowe / certaynly I byleue not but and ye had loued me fo pro- 
 foundly / as I loue you / ye wolde haue gyuen me fome knowlege 
 of your departynge. And truely it hadde be impoflyble for me 
 to haue departed from you / as ye haue departed from me. Alas 
 my broder I knowe you for fuche one / y' ye be not departed 
 withoute grete occafyon / and to my fymple wytte I dyde you 
 neuer tryfpaffe / nor deferued agaynft you / but yf that your 
 pleafure hadde ben that I myght haue knowen fomewhat of your 
 dyfpleafure / & yf that it be poflyble to me for to knowe it fholde 
 deye in the payne / but that ye were reuenged at your owne wyll. 
 Ryght noble kynges fone the prouyfyon fente fro heuen / for the 
 falute of this coiitree / what fhall your fader / and my moder faye. 
 And in fayng this he fwowned. And who that hadde fene hym / 
 wolde better haue luged hym deed than quycke. 
 
 ^ How the kynge of Cajiyll Olyuers fader came in to the 
 chambre / and of the grete forcwe that he made whan he founde 
 hym not. Capitulo. * xiiij. 
 
 LI the noble men of the courte that abode at Olyuers 
 chambre dore feyng that they had no tydynges of 
 Arthur / that was entred in to the chambre / made 
 it for to be knowen to the kynge theyr fader / 
 and the fyrfte chamberlayne of Olyuer fayd vnto hym. My 
 fouerayne lorde your fone Olyuer was yefterdaye a lytell dyfeafed / 
 & made to auoyde all the gromes of his chambre / and abode all 
 alone. And yet at this houre all the grome of his chambre / was 
 
without the dore / the whiche be not as yet entred. And as 
 touchynge my parte I haue knocked at the chambre dore / but 
 there was no body that anfwered me. Alfo my lorde Arthur his 
 broder not longe ago / is entred / but we haue had noo more 
 tydynges of hym than afore. And therfore I put you in memorye 
 of thefe thynges / for to do therwith your good pleafure. Then 
 the kynge fayd y' he wolde go theder in his perfone for to knowe 
 what it myght fygnefye. And came vnto y^ chambre dore / y^ 
 whiche was locked / but he made it to be opened / and entred in 
 to the chambre with lytell company / And incontynent as he 
 fawe not his fone Olyuer vpon his bedde / he doubted well that 
 there was fomewhat y' wolde not pleafe hym to moche. And 
 as he loked here / & there / he apperceyued Arthur that was 
 lyenge vpon y^ couche bedde / that femed better deed tha alyue / 
 and as yet he was not come to hymfelfe. And whan the kynge 
 apperceyued hym he fayd vnto hym. My frede I trow that thou 
 knoweft fomewhat that I knowe not / and in faynge that / he 
 approched more nerer to hym / and fawe that he remeuyd not. 
 Then he layde hande on hym and felte that there was fome lyfe 
 in hym / and therfore he made to put wyne / & brede in his nofe / 
 and dyde fo moche that he came to hymfelfe. And whan that 
 he myghte fpeke he fayd deth for thy parte take this dylTolute 
 creature. And in faynge thofe wordes / the lettre felle oute of his 
 hande / the whiche was redde afore the kynge / in grete fyghes / 
 and wepynge of the reder. And whan y^ kynge knewe the de- 
 partynge of his valyaiit fone Olyuer y' he loued fo derely. It 
 was not poffyble to hym for to here all that the lettre conteyned / 
 for whan that he entred in to the mater where as it fpake of the 
 departyng of his fone / as hye as he ftode he lete hymfelf fall 
 downe to the erthe. It was grete pyte to haue ben in the chambre / 
 for they wyft not to whome they myght attende / eyther to the 
 fader / or to the broder / or to the feruauntes / for all y' whan he 
 
 E 1 
 
myght fpeke he afcryed and fayd. O ryght myferable kynge / 
 wherfore dothe not god fende to the the dethe / truely nothynge 
 Iholde be to me foo pleafaut as the dethe / nor nothynge fo 
 dyfpleafaunt as to lyue / alas my chylde thou made thy moder 
 to dye / and Ihall be caufe of thy faders alfo that loueth the fo 
 tenderly. The whiche feynge thy ryghte fayre yongthe floryffhynge 
 in all good werkes / and vertues / delyted in the / and that in 
 myn olde aege I fliolde make my ryght arme of the / and of my 
 realme / and of al my frendes. And to the contrarye the fwerde 
 redoubtable and furyous / of myn enemyes / and of thyne / but 
 now I fe well that all thefe thyges ben fayled / & put oute of 
 thought with the. And by the all the good hope that I truft 
 to haue durynge my lyfe is to lyue in forowe. Neuertheles I 
 praye to god to gyue me grace to here it pacyently and thou 
 my welbeloued fone I commyt in to his garde and kepynge. 
 And that he gyue the as moche good as my herte defyreth. 
 
 IT How the Kynge fente after his fone Olyuer / & of his 
 comflayntes j and of them of the quene whan Jhe fawe that by 
 her all that forowe was happened and comen. Capitulo. xv. 
 
 N fuche wordes fo femblables / ledde the ryght dolent 
 kynge and the quene / the gretteft forow that myght 
 ■ be. And there was nothyge myght comforte them. 
 Neuertheles a lytell whyle after the kynge wente 
 faynge. Alas my frendes / for to comforte this poore / and 
 defolute kynge / and fader the whiche hathe loft all his loye / 
 that is his fone / Wherfore I befeche you euerychone / to put you 
 on the waye for to here fome tytynges of hym / or yf that it be 
 poflyble for to fynde hym / for whome I haue fo moche dolour / 
 and anguyffhe. Then the mooft parte of theym departed at the 
 commaundement of the kynge / and put them vpon the waye / and 
 
for to make fhorte proceffe / they were in foo many places / and 
 countrees / that it is meruayl to recounte it. And neuertheleiTe 
 they herde no tydynges that were ony thynge pleafaut in that 
 behalfe. And therfore they retorned towarde the kynge / vnto 
 whome they tolde all that they had founde. And whan he 
 knewe that his loffe was vncurable / he layde hym downe in his 
 bedde all melancolyous. They that behelde hy / thought y' he 
 wolde neuer haue ryfen from thes the quene feynge the grete 
 maladye of the kynge / and alfo knowynge that all thefe euylles 
 proceded from her / y^ grete furour / and angre of the nyght 
 afore / was chaunged in to pyte / forowe / and dyfpleafure / 
 faynge thus. O vnhappy and curfed woman / thou arte caufe 
 of the exyle and loffe / of the mooft fayreft / the mooft gentyll / 
 the mooft wyfe and the mooft knyghtely that euer was in Caftylle / 
 thy defteny ought well to be curfed / and who y' knewe thy 
 cafe / they ought to punyflhe y^ ryght bitterly. Alas my ryght 
 fayre loue Olyuer / and my ryght dere herte for to be drawen 
 with horfes / and for to fuffre martyrdome / it is impoffyble for 
 me to amende the dyfpleafure and iniurye that by me hathe ben 
 fpoken vnto you / as fhe that was not mayftreffe of herfelfe / 
 but was fubgedte by my fragylyte to wrathe / not knowynge thy 
 grete bounte and loyalte / and bycaufe that thy loffe is vncouerable / 
 and that it procedeth from me / and of my caufe / neuer fhall I 
 haue loye. And as infortuned I fhall vfe y« furplus of my lyfe 
 in praynge our lorde that he wyll kepe thy ryght fayre yongth 
 from all encomberaunce. Who that wolde tell the complayntes 
 of them of the countree / it wolde be to longe to tell it / and 
 therfore I holde my peas / and retorneth to Olyuer. 
 
IF Of the grete fortune that happened to Olyuer on the fee. 
 And how he and the Englyffhe knyghte were preferued from 
 drownynge . Capitulo. xvt. 
 
 E haue fufFycyently herde fpoke here afore of the 
 departynge that Olyuer made / that was fone and 
 heyre of the kynge of Caftyll / And how he put 
 hym vpo the fee / where as he was two mothes / 
 or there aboute. It befell vpon a nyght that a tempefl: / and 
 meruaylous orage toke them / wherfore it was force to the fhypmen 
 for to habandonne theyr fhyppe at the pleafure of god / vnto 
 whome they recommaunded them full often / as they that abode 
 but his mercye. In that eftate they were the fpace thre dayes / 
 in ryght grete torment. And the tempeft was fo hydeous / and 
 terryble / that vpon the thyrde daye theyr fhyp ftroke on grounde / 
 by fo grete force that it claue in two pyeces / and all were peryffhed 
 excepte Olyuer / and fyr lohan Talbot. Whiche feynge londe / the 
 whiche was not ferre of / tooke fome comforte. For whan they 
 fawe that theyr fhyp was clouen / and that all theyr felyffhyp 
 were peryffhed / they fayd that it was better that they put themfelf 
 for to fwymme / for to faue theyr lyfe as longe as it myght be 
 poffyble. And therfore eche of them in makynge the fygne of 
 the croffe / and recommaundynge them in the kepynge of our 
 lorde / lepte in to the fee / and began for to fwymme / truftynge 
 for to faue themfelfe / the whiche was impoflyble for them / vf 
 that our lorde had not extended his grace / for they were 
 fwymmynge fo longe / that there was neyther of the but that 
 he lacked breth / and were at the poynt to haue ben loft. And 
 alfo the water was fo colde / and foo afpre that yf they had 
 fufFred none other euyll / it hadde ben inoughe for to haue deyed. 
 And in that eftate they lenthed not ferre the one from the others / 
 and requyred our lorde with all theyr hertes of his mercy / and 
 
grace / and that he wolde haue pyte on them / for they trufted 
 neuer to haue efcaped. Neuertheleffe our lorde that euer purueyeth 
 for his true feruauntes / fente them focour / for they were all 
 abaffhed whan that they fawe by theym a whyte herte / the whiche 
 Olyuer toke by the homes / and mounted on his backe. Talbot 
 the whiche was not ferre from hym / gate vp behynde Olyuer. 
 And in y"^ eftate the herte bare them to the lande / and then he 
 vanyflhed awaye / & then eyther of them as well as they myght 
 haue laudes and thankynges to god / that of his infynyte grace 
 had preferued them / & this done they enforced the for to go 
 vnto a lytell place / the whiche was not ferre from y^ fee fyde. 
 This place was a gentylmans of the coutree / and whan he fawe 
 them in that plyte / he had grete pyte on them. And made 
 them a good fyre / and warmed / & chaffed them ryght well / 
 & layde them in a fofte bed. And he dyde to them all the 
 pleafure that he coude. And whan that they were a lytell amended / 
 he demaunded theym how they were efcaped. And they recouted 
 to hym all y^ daunger / and peryll that they had ben in / and 
 how that god of his endlefle grace hadde faued them by myracle / 
 wherof theyr hooft had grete meruayll. Notwithftandynge he 
 byleued them ryght well / for he wyft well that there was nothynge 
 impoffyble to god / wherby we may haue alwaye memorye herof / 
 to the ende that yf we fynde our felf in ony daunger / or peryll 
 by fortune / and alfo to the occafyon for to flee fynne / for wha 
 a fynner gothe to commyt fynne / and remembreth the mercy / 
 and puyffaunce of god / and deuoutely reclaymeth the ayde of our 
 lord. Then god permytteth / and gyueth them fuche comforte / 
 that they ben delyuered from all temptacyon as to the purpofe 
 of thefe two / the whiche he preferued from the peryll of the fee. 
 
IF How the knyght that was Olyuers felowe deyed j and of that 
 the whiche happened after his dethe. Capitulo. xvij. 
 
 Yght as they deuyfed. Olyuer demaunded in what 
 countree they were in. And they tolde hym that 
 it was Englande. Wherof the knyght that was with 
 Olyuer / was moche reioyfed / notwithftandynge that 
 he was fore fyke. And enquyred of his hooft yf he knewe not a 
 knyghte that was called fyr loha Talbot. He anfwered / that he 
 had often herde fpeke of fuche one / but he neuer fawe hym / 
 but he faed that his pryncypall abydyng was in Caunterburye / 
 as they fayd all aboute / and fayd that he was but twenty myle 
 from thens. Thenne the fyke knyght fayd vnto hym / bleflyd 
 be god that hathe brought vs hether / for I am that fame fyr 
 lohan Talbot / that I fpered after afore / and my dwellynge is 
 in the cyte of Caiiterburye. And bycaufe that I knowe that 
 without the mercye of god I am neuer lyke to releue of my 
 maladye and alfo that I fele my dethe approcheth. I befeche 
 you that ye make me to be caryed to Caunterbury / to the ende 
 that I may make my teftament / & ordynaunces as a good cryften 
 man. And ye fhall be well recompenfed. Olyuer feynge this 
 knyght foo greuouflj' vexed with that maladye / he was ryght 
 penfyf / and forowfull / as he y"^ whiche knewe not whether for to 
 goo / or reforte. And then the gentyll Olyuer fayd A'nto hym. 
 My lorde / and my frende I am ryght dyfpleafaut of your maladye / 
 & bycaufe that I haue founde with you fo good company I fhall 
 neuer habandon you / yf that it pleafe you / tyll y^ tyme that I 
 haue fene as our lorde wyll expofe your fykenes / for as for my 
 parte I thanke god that I am all guaryffhed / and in good poynt / 
 and redy for to mounte on horfbacke / for to conueye you whether 
 that ye pleafe. The knyght thanked hym full humbly / and fayd 
 that al his volete was for to go there as he had fpecyfyed / and 
 
that he requyred none other thynge / and all was at the dyfpence 
 of his hooft / and wolde take nothynge of them. And then he 
 was caryed in a hors here to his place / and Olyuer rode with 
 hym / but he lyued not longe after he was comen in to his place / 
 and his frendes made grete forowe for hym / but after his dethe 
 they fhewed hy but lytel fygne of amyte / bycaufe of moneye that 
 he oughte to a burgeys of the cyte / he was in the fentence of 
 curfynge / vnto the tyme that the burgeys were contended / & 
 he had ben the fpace of feuen yere in that fentence / as he the 
 whiche had not wherof to paye / but yf that he fholde haue 
 folde ryght largely of his godes / for to haue payed his dette 
 withall / and in fuche eftate he deyed / wherfore the burgeys was 
 not content but yf that he were payed that the knyght were put 
 in holy grounde / but his heyres feynge this concluded / and 
 loued better for to burye hym in the prophane / and vnhalowed 
 grounde / tha for to paye his dette / as they the whiche loued 
 not y^ foules of theyr frendes / fo well as they dyde the goodes 
 moundaynes. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer made the knyght for to be buryed j ^ of the 
 Jujles that were publyjjhed in Englande / the whiche was this j 
 that who that dyde beji fholde haue y" fayre Helayne in maryage / 
 that was the kynges doughter. Capitulo. xviij. 
 
 Lyuer feynge the grete falfte / and auaryce of the 
 frendes of that deed body / was nothynge well contente 
 with them. He dyde all the dylygence that he myght 
 that he were buryed / as wel towarde hym that he 
 oughte the good to / as to them that fholde paye it / too the 
 ende that the knyght the whiche he had knowen in his lyfe / for a 
 good / and a vertuous man / myght be buryed in holy grounde / 
 but it was impoffyble for hym to fynde ony appoyntement / for the 
 
knyghtes frendes wolde not do nothynge. And the burgeys fayd 
 that he wolde do nothynge excepte that he were payed all alonge / 
 that whiche was his duete. Olyuer feyng that there wolde be none 
 other thynge / enquyred what the fome of y^ deth dyd drawe to. 
 And founde that it drewe to a .Ix. pounde. notwithftandynge that 
 durynge his vyage he had fpente a good parte of his .M. nobles / 
 that he had but lefte a lytell more than halfe / yet he was delybered 
 for to content the burgeys / and payed hym. And alfo he made 
 the feruyce of the knyght ryght honourably / for whiche caufe he 
 was moche prayfed of euery body / and to the contrary the frendes 
 of the deed bodye / was moche blamed as it was ryght. Olyuer 
 the whiche had but a lytell money lefte / foiourned a lytell fpace 
 of tyme in Caunterburye / where as he herde tytynges that the 
 kynge of Englande / at the inflaunce of his fubgeftes had made 
 a crye of a torneyment / that fholde lafte thre dayes. And theder 
 myght come all noble men. And he that fholde doo beft by the 
 faynge of the prynces / and prynceffes / the whiche was commyfed 
 therto / fholde haue his onely doughter in maryage / yf that 
 fhe had wyll vnto hym. The whiche doughter at that prefent 
 tyme / was holden for y^ mooft fayreft lady that was in all the 
 monarchye of the worlde. And the Kynge her fader wolde not 
 mary her to noo grete prynce / bycaufe he wolde not haue her 
 lenthed fro hym. For he loued her fo feruently / that he coude 
 make no good chere / y^ daye that he fawe her not. Alfo he dyd 
 thynke that for the welfare of the countree / it was more necefTarye 
 for to gyue her to a hardy / and a valyaunt man / thought that 
 he were poore / than to a grete lorde / that had not thofe vertues. 
 And alfo as touchynge nobleffe and rychelTe / fhe had ynoughe 
 for the bothe / and for that caufe he had made crye the torneymet/ 
 that the mooft valyaunteft of the feeft / fholde haue his ryght 
 beauteuous and fayre doughter in maryage. And that after his 
 deceffe / his kyngdome myght falle in to the handes of the valyaunt 
 
knyght / and lorde / for to kepe and defende it from all them 
 that wolde greue it. There were foure hodred knyghtes commyfed 
 of within for to refyfte agaynft all comers. And it was .xi. monethes 
 fyth that the feeft had be publyffhed thrughe all the realmes 
 cryften. This notwithftandynge vntyll that tyme Olyuer had 
 herde no tydynges therof / and there was no more but .xv. dayes 
 to the torneyment / wherfore Olyuer had grete dyfpleafure / bycaufe 
 that hym thoughte that he myght not come theder fone ynoughe / 
 & alfo bycaufe that he had but lytell moneye for to go theder 
 withall. Neuertheleffe he made hym redy for to be there / in 
 the beft wyfe that he myght / yf that our lorde fente hym 
 not fome empeffhement / that he coude not go. And fro that 
 houre he beganne for to fele the fparcles of loue / & fayd to 
 hymfelfe that he fholde be well eurous yf that after his grete 
 aduerfyte and euylles he myght attayne vnto fo hye a thyge as for 
 to haue her in maryage / of whome he herde fpeke foo moche 
 good / thrughe the vnyuerfall worlde. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer was ajfaylled by theues / and Jlewe theym j and 
 of that whiche happened hym vpon his waye towarde London. 
 Capitulo. xix. 
 
 Lyuer hauynge ryght grete defyre & wyll for to be 
 with the other at the tornaymente aforefayd / con- 
 fyderynge that y^ terme was fhorte / payed and 
 W contended his hooft / and after departed frome the 
 cyte of Caunterbury / all alone withouten ony company towarde 
 the cyte of London. Where as the grete / and folempne feeft / 
 fholde be holden. And therfore dyuers grete lordes were comen 
 theder all redy. And there came fo many that all the lodgynges / 
 and ynnes were full. Soo as Olyuer exployted hym fo on his 
 lourneye that he was a good dele auaunced / as he the whiche 
 
 F 2 
 
thought that he fholde neuer come theder tyme ynoughe/for to 
 fe her for whofe loue he toke that lourneye / and fo he paffed 
 on his way in fuche thoughtes / and in thofe thoughtes he came 
 into a lytell buflhy wodde / fomwhat out of his hye waye / & he 
 had not longe gone therin/whan he mette .xv. theues the whiche 
 were armed in complete harnays / and cryed to hym faynge that 
 he was but deed / and he was enuyronned with them or euer he 
 loked vp / and lefte his penfees of loue. And whan he fawe that 
 he coude not efcape without medlynge / he fette his hande to 
 his fwerde and fmote one of them vpo the heed fo afprely / that 
 he claue hym to the tethe / and foo fell downe deed. And than 
 he fmote on the ryght hande / and on the lefte hande / fo im- 
 pyteoufly that he cutte armes / and hedes / in a fuche wyfe / 
 that the hardyeft of them durft not abyde hym a buffet / for he 
 had fette his backe agaynft a thycke hedge / fo that his enemyes 
 myght not endommage hym behynde. And for to make it 
 fhorte he dyde fo moche by the helpe of god / that he flewe .xi. 
 of them / and the remenaiit fled fore wounded. Whan Olyuer 
 fawe that he was delyuered of them / he thanked god of that 
 vydlorye / and alyghted of his hors / and tayde hym to a tree / 
 and then he began for to bynde fome of his woundes / in the befte 
 wyfe that he myght / but they were not mortall / wherof he gaue 
 thankyges to god. And fo as he toke kepe to his woudes / his 
 hors brake loofe / for he had not tayed hym faft. And fo wente 
 awaye with his cafket of moneye the whiche was at the arfon 
 of the fadell / and was gone all redy a good waye or euer Olyuer 
 apperceyued hym. Neuerthelefle whan that he apperceyued hym / 
 he begane for to renne after hym as well as he myghte / and 
 Olyuer ranne fo longe / and fo faft / that he was all mooft bretheles. 
 And in that eftate the hors came rennynge before the place where 
 one of the theues was hydde / that had efcaped from Olyuer. 
 And whan the fayd thefe faw the horfe / he knewe hym well 
 
ynoughe / and ranne after hym / & toke hym / and incontynente 
 mounted vpon his backe / and rode his waye with caiket and all. 
 Whan Olyuer apperceyued hym / he knewe well ynoughe y' he 
 had loft his horfe / and his caiket with moneye / wherfore ye 
 may well thynke that he was ryght dyfplefaunt / for he founde 
 hymfelfe without moneye / and alfo in a ftraunge coiitree / where 
 as he hadde no knowlege / and whan he faw that all was loft / 
 he fayd to hymfelfe. O good fwete lorde Ihefu cryft I requyre y^ 
 comforte this poore vnhappy catyf / for all myn efperaunce and 
 hope is onely in the for I fe well that fortune is contrary to me / 
 and that yf it procede not of thyn infynyte grace / myne enterpryfe 
 can neuer be encheued / wherfore good lorde I put me totally in 
 to thy grace and mercy. In praynge the good lorde Ihefu cryft 
 that thou dyftinge it after thyn owne wyll / for lyghtly I can not 
 haue worfe than I haue had hetherto / wherof I thanke the. 
 
 ^ How a knyght came for to comforte Olyuer j and of y^ 
 promejfes that they had togyder. Capitulo. xx. 
 
 Yght fo as Olyuer complayned hym of his myf- 
 auenture / there came a man to hym the whiche 
 plucked hym by the flewe dyuers tymes faynge. 
 Olyuer of Caftylle be nothyng abaffhed bycaufe that 
 I take you out of youre thought. Olyuer lyfte vp his heed 
 whan he herde his name pronounced / and wyft not whether 
 that he hadde dremed it / or not / and as all abafftied in makynge 
 the fygne of the crofle fayd vnto hym. I coniure the in the 
 name of god that thou do me no harme / and that thou tell me 
 who gaue the knowlege of my name. The man that femed bothe 
 fayre and reuerent fayd. My frende haue no doubte of me / for 
 I am a cryften man / and byleueth as well in god as thou dooft / 
 and meruayll the not yf that I knowe thy name / for thou ought 
 
to knowe that y^ feldes hathe fyght / & euery wood hathe fowne. 
 I knowe y' thy dyfpleafure hathe adnychylled thyn vnderftandyng 
 for and thou had thought on thy fayte / thou wolde not haue 
 made thy complaynt fo hye / for I haue herde all y' thou haft 
 fayd / and how thou haft wyll for to goo to the torneyment that 
 fhall be holden at London within this fyxe dayes. Alfo how thou 
 haft ben dyfmouted and loft thy moneye. I am beholden vnto 
 you for fome feruyce and pleafure that thy mooft nereft frendes 
 hathe done vnto me / therfore I am he that wyU ayde the for to 
 accomplyffhe thy good and hyghe enterpryfe / in praynge our 
 fauyour / that he wyll gyue the grace well for to fyenyffhe it / 
 and but yf it holde at the I fhall furnyffhe the of armour / and 
 of horfes / fo well that it fhall fuff'yce the. But it fhall be on 
 fuche a condycyon / that thou fhalt promyfe me that of all that 
 thou fhalte wynne by occacyon of the torneyment halfe / yf it be 
 my pleafure to demaunde it / and take it. Olyuer feyng the ofFre 
 that the knyght made hym / fayd vnto hym as euyll auyfed of 
 afterclaps. My frende yf the hour be fuche / & that my fortune 
 wyll confente that thou do to me this pleafure. I promyfe y' vpon 
 the parte that I truft to haue of paradjrfe / that yf ony good come 
 to me by occafyon of thy feruyce / that y" fhalte be perteyner 
 of the luft halfe / or of the gretteft parte / yf it were his pleafure 
 for to demaunde it. At thefe wordes the knyght anfwered / it 
 fuffyfeth / and prayed hym that he wolde remembre hym whan 
 tyme wolde requyre it. And after thofe wordes were fynyffhed / 
 the noble knyght fayd vnto hym. Myne owne fpecyall frende 
 Olyuer meruayll the of nothynge of that that thou feeft but kepe 
 alwaye this lytell path that thou fyndeft on the ryghte hande / 
 and thou Ihalt fynde an hermytage / and there thou fhall haue 
 tydynges of me / but I go theder / but there I fhall fetche the 
 whan tyme is / fo they departed / and Olyuer wente on his \\'aye / 
 and prayed the knyght to remembre hym. 
 
^ How Olyuer came in to the hermytage j and of the lagage 
 that he had with the holy hermyte j of whom he was confejfed. 
 Capitulo. xxi. 
 
 N a lytell whyle Olyuer had lofte the fyght of his 
 knyght / and wyfl not where he became / for all that 
 he forgate not to holde the waye that he had fhewed 
 hym / and foo exployted hym that he came to the 
 hermytage with day / but he foude the dore fhytte / wherfore he 
 knocked foo longe that y^ good hermyte the whiche was in his 
 oryfons came and opened the dore / and was all abaflhed / for he 
 was not acuftomed to open the dore at that tyme a daye. Whan 
 Olyuer apperceyued the hermyte / he falued hym / and y^ good 
 ma rendred hym his falute In demaundynge hy what aueture 
 brought hym theder at that tyme a daye. And Olyuer anfwered 
 hym. My fayre fader I praye you that I may be your gefte and 
 clerke for this nyght / for I knowe none other place here aboute / 
 where as I myght go to. And then the holy ma fayd vnto hym. 
 My frende the hous and the goodes that god hath gyue me be 
 at your commaundemet. Then Olyuer entred in to y'^ chapell / 
 and fouped with the hermyte / that gaue hym brede and water 
 ynoughe / in faynge to hym / Syr ye be not vfed to fuche vytaylles / 
 but and ye had fayd Saynt lulyans pater nofter / ye had founde 
 better lodgynge / notwithftandynge take it in pacyente / for and 
 I hadde better / ye fholde haue better / but beware that ye fwere 
 not. In fuche wordes or femblables / was Olyuer occupyed the 
 mooft parte of the nyght. And whan it was tyme they wente to 
 reft / but Olyuer flepte not fo well nor fo longe in the mornynge / 
 as yf he had layne on a fether bedde. Whan the gentyll Olyuer 
 apperceyued the daye he arofe / and ayded the hermyte for to 
 faye maffe / the fame maffe dyde Olyuer here v/ith grete deuocyo / 
 and after that the maffe was fynyffhed / he confeffed hym to y^ 
 
holy hermyte / and amonge other thynges he recouted vnto hym 
 of the knyght that he hadde founde in the foreft / and how that he 
 had called hym by his name. The holy hermyte aflayed hym 
 faynge. My fayre broder and frende / ye faye that all y^ falutacyons 
 that he hathe made vnto you / hathe ben in goddes name / for 
 and it had ben ony thynge elles but good / he wolde not haue 
 fente you hether in to this holy place / notwithftadynge that I 
 am indygne. Wherfore me femeth that ye can not do euyll for 
 to gyue credence to it. It is parauenture a knyghte of this countree 
 that hathe vnderftande your cafe / as he hathe tolde you / by 
 occafyon that ye fpake foo hye / And the beft counfayll that I can 
 gyue you is to remyt you in the holy garde of our faueour / and 
 requyre hym that he wyll defende you from all euyll / and from 
 all yllufyons of the euyll enemye. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer of Cajiylle fawe come towarde hym dyuers 
 knyghtes and other folke in grete tryumphe and araye. Capitulo. 
 
 O as ye haue herde / foiourned Oliuer in y^ hermytage 
 with the good holy man by y^ efpace of thre dayes / 
 or four/& there was no more but two dayes vnto y« 
 I begynnynge of y^ torneyment. This hermytage was 
 within two myle of Lodon. And whan Olyuer wente for to 
 dyfporte hym without the wood he myght fe the cyte all at full / 
 and the place where as the torneyment fholde be the whiche 
 was all enclofed aboute / and there he fawe them aflaye theyr 
 fadelles / and theyr coufers / and in lyke wyfe theyr barneys / 
 wherin he toke no grete pleafure bycaufe he doubted y' his 
 knyght fholde forgete hym. And bycaufe that the tyme was 
 fliorte / he was in grete doubte / and repented hym fore that 
 he had byleued hy fo lyghtly. And that alfo in the meane 
 
whyle that he had foiourned in the hermytage / that he had not 
 gone in to the cyte / for to fe her for whofe loue fo many noble 
 men put themfelfe in payne and leoperdye / and ofwhome he had 
 herde fo moche good fpoke of/ but he durfte not habandonne the 
 hermytage / left that his knyght fholde not fynde hym in defaute / 
 faynge that he was not there as he hadde appoynted hym to abyde. 
 And in that eftate he pafled the two dayes. And whan it came 
 vnto y*^ daye that euery gentylman and lorde oughte for to be & 
 fynde hymfelf vpon the lyftes / and ye may ymagyne in what dolour 
 was the poore Olyuer. And yf that his herte was fory / and 
 dyfpleafaunte / no body ought to meruayll them / for he ftode afore 
 the dore of the hermytage alwaye herkenynge yf that his knyght 
 came / for there fell not a lefe / but that he wende that he had 
 comen / he abode fo longe that he was out of all efperaunce and 
 hope. And he ftode in that eftate fore mufynge / he herde grete 
 noyfe of ryders amonge the leues. And then Olyuer thought 
 that it was fome grete gentylman that rode to the torneyment / 
 as the other lordes dyde. And the he keft his regarde that waye 
 where he herde the noyfe / And afpyed to the nombre of fyftene 
 gentylmen clothed in blacke farfenet. And the furplus of theyr 
 habyllementes was of the fame colour / and they were mounted 
 on blacke courfers / and theyr courfers were trapped all in blacke 
 veluet / and eche of them hadde a fpere in his hande / that 
 was couered with blacke veluet. And then he fawe come after 
 theym ten knyghtes habylyed in longe gownes of blacke veluet / 
 and furred with martres / and ledde after them a courfer morell / 
 the whiche hadde bufkynges of clothe of golde vp to the bely / 
 and he was enuyronned with .xv. pages mounted vpon courfers 
 of y^ fame colour / and bulkynges of the fame colour. And 
 after them was .Ix. or foure fcore pages of the fame lyueray 
 referued that it was clothe. 
 
^ Of the grete Joye that Olyuer had whan he fawe the fayre 
 
 Jiedes j and the rye he far ententes that his knyght had brought to 
 
 hym I and how he armed hy / & of the ryche pauelyon of the fayre 
 
 Helayne the kynges daughter of Englade j & of her beaute. Ca. 
 
 Is folke clothed and habylyed as ye haue herde afore / 
 rode vnto the hermytage and then euery body houed 
 and abode there all coye / and falued Olyuer that was 
 afore y^ dore/and he full gentylly rendred to them theyr 
 falute. And as he behelde that fayre company / hy thought that the 
 knyght with the longeft gowne was y^ fame knyght that fpake vnto 
 hym in the wood / wherof he was ryght gladde / and wete for to 
 falue hym / but as foone as the knyght apperceyued hym comynge 
 he alyghted of his horfe / and came agaynft hym / and after he 
 fayd to hym. Olyuer good frende thefe me that ye it here I haue 
 brought them vnto you. And bycaufe that we ben comen from 
 ferre / for to do you feruyce and honour I praye yovi that ye do lo 
 moche at this torneyment that ye haue honour / and that we lefe 
 not our payne. Olyuer anfwered hym ryght curteyfly. My lorde 
 and my frende / ye do fo moche for me / that I can neuer rendre 
 you the guerdon / wherfore fuche as I am ye may comaunde me / 
 for the body is yours / and at this tyme I can not gyue you no 
 better thynge. I praye to god that he gyue me grace for to deferue 
 it agaynft you / and that he gyue me ftrengthe for to doo as well 
 as I haue the volente / Thefe wordes fynyffhed y^ knyght fayd to 
 hym that it was hye houre for to arme hym. And therfore in a 
 fayre grene place y' was afore y^ hermytage / there was a chayre 
 brought / wherin Olyuer fet hym for to take his refeccyon / and 
 then after they armed hym dylygently. In y^ meane whyle that he 
 armed hym / the ladyes came in to the felde / and brought with 
 them y^ fayre Helayne doughter of the kynge of Engl an de / and 
 
ledde her in to the pauelyon that for her was ordeyned / and it 
 was hanged with tapyfferye of clothe of golde ryght ryche / and 
 there was a chayre reyfed vp on hye in y^ whiche chayre was .x. 
 ffceppes or that they myght come to y^ fyege aboue / ouer the 
 whiche was a canape of purple veluet charged full of grete perles 
 oryentales / and had in the myddes therof a Carbuncle / that 
 rendred fo grete lumere y' it was meruayll for to beholde it. In 
 the fyege aboue as I haue receyted to you was fette the excellent 
 Helayne / And vpon eche of the forfayd fteppes fatte two luges. 
 That is for to knowe a prynce / and a pryncefle / echone after his 
 degree. The other ladyes and damoyfelles the whiche was there 
 without nombre / put theym in theyr places / and fcafFoldes that 
 were for the ordeyned / and enfygned. And in lyke wyfe on the 
 other fyde was a grete company of noble and valyaunt knyghtes 
 and lordes of this realme of Englande. Ye may well thynke that 
 it was grete tryumphe and grete folace for the men of armes / 
 for to beholde fo fayre a companye aboute the noble / and excellent 
 Helayne / and euery thynge fo well ordeyned as that thynge was 
 there / for her fake / the whiche was fo rychely apparaylled that 
 none can not reherfe the lyght that the precyous ftones rendred 
 that were aboute her / the whiche embelyffhed her excellent vyfage. 
 Who that hadde fene her in that eftate / he wolde haue thought 
 that fhe hadde ben a thyng of the other worlde / for I thynke that 
 at her nayffaiice and byrthe / nature had put all her excellence / 
 and grace. Yf that fhe was femely of body / and excellent of 
 vyfage / it was nothynge in comparyfon towarde the gyftes 
 of grace / wherewith Ihe was endowed / for all excellence / and 
 bounte / honoure / & hubleneffe / doulfure / and fwetneffe / and all 
 other vertues and good condycyons that in ony woma of noble 
 lygnage apperteyned / floryffhed in her. And therfore he fholde be 
 ryght eurous in this wretched worlde that myght attayne vnto fo 
 hyghe a thynge as for to haue for his parte y^ floure and lyefle 
 
of this worlde. And euen thus euery body put hymfelfe in payne 
 for to conquere her. And there was not one but that hym femed 
 that he wolde conquere her / or elles deye in the payne. 
 
 II Of the grete meruaylles that Olyuer dyde at the torneyment 
 aboue them all. Capitulo. xxiiij. 
 
 Nd then the ladyes were not foo fone in the fcafFoldes/ 
 but that the four hondred knyghtes were vpon y^ 
 felde / redy for to withftande all comers / as ye haue 
 herde before / for the torneyment Iholde lafl; thre 
 dayes. The fyrft daye was ordeyned for to luft. The feconde 
 daye for to torneye / not as they do nowe a dayes / but with 
 fharpe fwerdes / and not rebatred. The thyrde day was for to 
 fyght on fote / and euery body myght haue an axe of armes / 
 and a fwerde aboute hym. And bycaufe that they were many 
 knyghtes / they had grete place / they w'out had knowlege that 
 they of within were alredy at the lyftes vpon the felde / and all 
 the ladyes redy for to beholde them whiche Iholde do beft / euery 
 knyght put hym in deuoyre for to lufte the fyrfte. Neuerthelefle 
 Olyuer was not the fyrfte / for there was many there afore hym. 
 As the kynges fone of Scotlande / and dyuers kynges of Irlonde / 
 and many other prynces / and grete lordes / the whiche were fo 
 manerly clothed / that it was tryumphe for to beholde them. 
 There was but fewe fperes broken afore Olyuers comynge. And 
 whan he was amonge the prece he fmote his hors with the fporres / 
 and made his hors to torne foo gentylly / that euery body loked 
 vpon hym. And in efpecyall it pleafed the ladyes moche his 
 fyrft entrynge in / fayng that the blacke knyght was beft in poynt / 
 and the fayreft armed of all the place / and after began the luftes / 
 and euery body put hym in payne for to do well. The knyght 
 that was Olyuers gouernour fayd vnto hym / my frende beholde 
 
vpon this fcaffolde the fayre lady that ye fhall conquere / yf that 
 it holde not at you / take good courage / and thynke for to doo 
 well. And then he toke a fpere and gaue it to Olyuer y^ whiche 
 toke of it no regarde / for he had fyxed his fyghte vpon the 
 excellent Helayne. And foo he hadde his fpere in the reft a 
 grete whyle / without ony mouynge from one place / as he that 
 thought nothyge on it. And fo as the knyght behelde hym in 
 that eftate / he fayd vnto hym Olyuer he flepe. And thenne 
 Olyuer as a perfone that is awaked out of his flepe / fmote his 
 hors with the fporres without auyfynge where he wente / and 
 y^ fyrfte thynge that he recountred with his fpere / that was longe 
 and ftronge meruayloufly / was a poft that helde vp a fcaffolde / 
 and vpon that fcaffolde was moche people / and he fmote it 
 downe / and all them that were vpon it. Then there was grete 
 laughter of them that fawe it / & fayd that it was a meruayllous 
 fl:roke. The ladyes excufed hym / faynge that he had not clere 
 fyghte / or that his hors was not at his wyll. Olyuer was ledde 
 backe to his felowes fore afhamed / and they gaue hy a newe 
 fpere. The fyrfl: that he encountred with was one of the kynges 
 of Irlande / named Maquemor / y^ whiche was fmyten downe 
 horfe and all. Then ye fholde haue herde the heraudes crye / 
 fee the aueturous knyght armed in blacke / that with one onely 
 ftroke hathe fmyten downe a .C. perfones / & with the feconde 
 ftroke a kynge / ye fhal fe hy do meruaylles of armes to daye. 
 Olyuer herd thefe wordes / wherfore he put hymfelfe in payne for 
 to doo well. And there was none that myght abyde hym a fl:roke 
 with a fpere. Neuertheleffe euery body put hymfelf in deuoyre 
 as wel within as without / but aboue all Olyuer bare y« pryce / 
 the whiche dyde not dyfpleafe y^ fayre Helayne / y' fayd to 
 herfelfe / that and he were as knyghtly vnarmed / as he was 
 armed / that he myght be y^ floure of all them in the place. 
 
^ How Olyuer re tome d in to y' hermyte the fecond tyme without 
 makynge hym to be knowen / and how he was abylled in newe 
 garmentes. Capitulo. xxv. 
 
 N lyke wyfe as ye haue herde endured the luftes 
 vnto the nyght fepared them. And thenne the kynge 
 'and his doughter Helayne retorned in to the cyte. 
 And then the lufters departed for that nyght. And 
 the moofi: parte of the knyghtes of the torneyment in dyfarmynge 
 theym deuyfed of the blacke knyght / faynge that they had grete 
 volete for to fe hym dyfarmed / for to knowe yf he were as femely 
 a knyght on fote / as he was on horfbacke / & yf y' his gowne 
 became hym as well as harneys. And there was many at the 
 banket / the whiche wolde not haue be there yf they had not 
 thought to haue founde hym there for no pryfe fholde not be 
 gyuen vnto the laft daj^e. And whan it came to the daunces / 
 and that Olyuer was not there / euery body meruaylled / fo eche 
 dyde the beft that he coude. Olyuer was in the hermytage by 
 the coufayll of his knyght / the whiche was departed from hym / 
 and he had tolde hym that without doubte he wolde retorne vnto 
 hym in the mornynge betymes / wherfore Olyuer thanked hym / 
 and abode in the hermytage that nyght / in thankynge our lorde 
 of his good auenture. The good hermyte made hym loyefull 
 chere to his power / but he made not foo good chere as they 
 dyde at London. The noble Helayne was fet in the halle / in 
 y^ fame wyfe that fhe was fette at the luftes / to the ende that 
 euery body myght beholde her. After that the daunces were 
 ended they brought fpyces. And after the fayre Helayne was 
 conueyed to her chambre / with foyfon of ladyes / and fo the 
 feeft ended for that daye. Nowe ye oughte to vnderftande that 
 euery perfone made hym y*^ beft at eafe that he myght for that 
 nyght / for to be vpon the morowe more freffher than Olyuer. 
 
Soo the nyght pafled and the daye came / wherfore euery body 
 put hym in deuoyre for to fynde all that them belonged for the 
 feconde lourney. And whan that it was tyme for to departe 
 Olyuer apperceyued a grete company of folke / all habylyed in 
 rede / in the fame eftate that they were clothed the daye afore 
 faue y' it was rede. Whan they approched Olyuer he wente and 
 falued his knyght that was clothed in a longe gowne of cramofyn / 
 and behynde hy was Olyuers hors / and the pages of the daye 
 afore / were clothed in fatyn cremofyn. The courfer on the 
 whiche Olyuer fholde ryde was a bayarde. And the horfe was 
 hofed in clothe of golde ryght ryche. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer came the feconde daye to the turneyment / and 
 how he Jmote downe the Jiandarde of they of within. Capitulo. 
 
 xxvi. 
 
 Nd then Olyuer came to the torneymente and was 
 the fyrft that entred in to the felde of them of 
 without / but ye may well thynke that it was not 
 without grete beholdynge of the ladyes / and in lyke 
 wyfe of theym of within / ye may well thynke that Olyuer thus 
 accompanyed as ye haue herde / was beholden of kynges and 
 queues / lordes and ladyes / and of all them that were there 
 prefente / and he the whiche knewe it / the befte wyfe y' he myght 
 made hym lyghteft for to be armed / for to gyue grete ftrokes. 
 And bycaufe that he wolde not trauayle the hors vpon the whiche 
 he ought for to werke as he hadde nede therof. He mounted 
 vpon a lytell hors that was ryght well accuftomed for to make 
 fome pleafaunt thynge before the ladyes / and therfore he faylled 
 not at that tyme / wherfore the fayd Olyuer was beholden of 
 euery body / and fayd the one to the other / beholde what a 
 femely knyght he is / for by fymylytude of his body he ought 
 
well for to encheue a hye enterpryfe / fe how honeftly and knyghtly 
 he rydeth / for he remeueth noo moore for all that his horfe can 
 do / than yf he were not vpo his backe. Amonge thefe deuyfes / 
 the kynges fone of Scotlande came ryght rychely clothed / and 
 ftrongly accompanyed with valyaunt knyghtes / that wolde torneye 
 that daye with hym / and alfo the mooft parte for the garde of 
 his perfone. After came the kyng Maquemor and two other 
 kynges of Irlonde / of whome I knowe not the names. And after 
 came the duke of Burbon / and the Erie of Flaundres. And 
 then came in the duke of Glocecetre / the duke of Lancaftre / 
 the duke of Bedforde / the duke of Northfolke / and the duke of 
 Somerfet. And fo came in the erle of Northumberlande / the 
 Erie of Leycetre / and y^ erle of Salyfburye / and fo many other 
 lordes / that was it meruayll. Whan all thefe prynces / and lordes 
 were aflembled / & that they fawe there came no moo / it was 
 cryed by the Kynge that euery man Iholde do his deuoyre. Then 
 the two fygnes / that is to knowe that of within / and in lyke 
 wyfe that of withoute began for to approche. There ye myghte 
 haue fene cleue many bafynettes / and many a knyght beten 
 downe to y^ erthe. Olyuer that was mounted vpon his courfer / 
 helde his fwerde in his hande / wherwith he dyde meruaylles of 
 armes / he wente fekynge them that hym thought were the mooft 
 valyaunteft / and with them he had ado gladly / and whan he 
 hadde remembraunce / or leyfer to loke on hye / and that he 
 myghte beholde the fayre Helayne / his force & hardynefle 
 doubled. Wherfore none may recounte the valyauntnes & feates 
 of armes that he dydde / Now it was ordeyned that & the fygne 
 of them of within myght by force of armes be broughte to a 
 place that was there / by theyr aduerfary party / that the torneyng 
 fholde be accomplyffhed. Therfore they of without put themfelfe 
 in payn for to wynne it. And Olyuer the whiche refted neuer in 
 one place / and to whome euery body made waye / encountred 
 
hym that bare the fygne of the of within / & gaue hym fuche a 
 ftroke that he made hym bowe his heed vpo the hors necke / 
 and was fo aftonyed that he hadde almooft fallen to the erthe / 
 and Olyuer retorned his ftroke thynkynge for to haue cutte the 
 fhafte of the fygne / but he founde it fo ftronge / and fo well 
 banded with yron / that he coude not empayre it / but it was 
 force to the knyght that helde it / for to lette it go fro hym and 
 fo it fell to the erthe / then ye myght haue herde grete fhoutes 
 on bothe partyes / & they of within put themfelfe in deuoyre 
 for to reyfe vp theyr fygne agayne. But that was impoffyble for 
 them / bycaufe of the valyaunte Olyuer that defended it / with 
 y^ good helpe that he had of his partye. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer retorned in to his her my t age / after y' he had 
 wonne the vyctorye of the torneyenge / and of the dyfpleajure that 
 the kynge and his daughter had bycaufe of the deed knyghtes. 
 Capitulo. xxvij. 
 
 T the refcowes of that fygne / was many a knyght 
 flayne on bothe partyes / but moore of them of 
 within / than of without / wherof the kynge was not 
 well content for to fe his men dye fo. And then he 
 comaunded to two or thre knyghtes the whiche were ordeyned 
 whan there moued ony debates / that they Iholde put them in 
 payne for to repeafe them / to go haftely and departe them / the 
 whiche without pyte llewe eche other. They dyd the kynges 
 commaudement / but or they myght come to y^ place where the 
 debate was / there was dyuers meruaylous ftrokes gyuen. And the 
 hyftorye fayth that a valyaunt knyght of within whan Olyuer 
 dyde fo many feates of armes approched to hym / and toke his 
 fwerde in bothe his handes for to gyue the gretter ftroke / and 
 eue fo as he hadde bothe his armes eleuate for to fmyte Olyuer. 
 
 H 
 
Olyuer apperceyued it / and hafted hym for to fmyte fyrfte / and 
 gaue hym fo grete a ftroke that he made to fle in to y^ felde / 
 y« fwerde with bothe his armes / wherfore all they y' fawe it 
 meruaylled. And in lyke wyfe the kyge began for to blyffe hym 
 fayng / yf this rede knyght that was yefterdaye clothed in blacke 
 lyue loge / or yf y^ fyghtynge be not departed / he wyll make 
 dye the mooft parte of my men / he is a lyuynge deuyll / fe how 
 his fwerde dothe cutte / he hathe done foo moche / that it is of 
 the fame colour that his armour is of. The knyght that he hathe 
 fmyten downe fhal neuer cut no purfe. In that eftate deuyfed 
 the kynge / and on y« other parte the ladyes hadde alwaye theyr 
 eye on hym / but the fayre Helayne had not the courage for to 
 beholde hym / bycaufe of the efFufyon of blode of her gentyl 
 knyghtes / but it was not longe after / but they were departed / 
 and was cryed by the kynge that none fo herdy vpon payne of 
 dethe for to torneye ony more for that daye. And therfore euery 
 body dyde withdrawe hy / and it was tyme for Olyuer to retorne 
 into his hermytage / whether as his knyght dyd brynge hym / 
 and thenne toke leue of hym / and tolde hy that he wolde not 
 forgete hym the nexte morowe. The kynge and his excellent 
 doughter retorned in to the noble cyte. And fouped y' nyght in 
 the fayre Helayns chambre / the whiche was not well at eafe 
 bycaufe fhe hadde fytten foo longe / and alfo for the flaughter 
 that fhe had fene / wherfore fhe fayd to her fader. My lorde my 
 fader be ye not dyfpleafaunt for the pyteous fyghte that was to 
 daye / ye make your men to deye without caufe. I byleue not 
 that it is for me / for and I knewe it I Iholde rather make an othe 
 neuer to be maryed / wherfore I befeche you that ye wyll accorde 
 me y' they luft or torneye / no more in the facyon that they haue 
 done to daye. The kynge anfwered her. My doughter thynke 
 for to make good chere / and take no thought of nothynge / for of 
 this that is happened I am more dyfpleafaunt than ye be / Therfore 
 
I fhall put fo good remedye / that it fhall not happe as it hathe 
 done to daye. And thenne he gaue her good nyght / in faynge 
 that he fawe well that Ihe had no talent for to daunce that nyght / 
 and fhe anfwered naye. And for the caufes aforefayd there was 
 no daiices that nyght. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer came to the torneyrnet the thyrde tyme / and 
 hadde the honoure aboue them all by his grete prowejfe / and how 
 the Kynge comyfed .xx. knyghtes for to brynge hym afore hym / 
 to knowe what he was. Capitulo. xxviij. 
 
 Han the kyge was in his chabre he enquyred how 
 many knyghtes there had ben flayn & founde 
 deed of the of w'in to the nobre of .xlvi. & of the 
 of without .XV. wherfore the kynge was moche 
 angrye / & commaunded that .xlvi. other knyghtes fholde be put 
 in the places of y^ deed knyghtes / and yf there were ony hurte 
 that myght not helpe themfelf on the morowe / that they fholde 
 put in other. The thynge was done fo / and vpon the morowe 
 the Kynge wente in to his fcaffolde / where as he dyned / and 
 the fayre Helayne alfo durynge the dyner tyme they fpake of 
 nothynge but of the torneyenge of the daye paft. And the 
 kynge fayd that he was ryght dyfpleafavit bycaufe that he 
 myght not fe hym that dyd fo grete dedes of armes / wherfore 
 he commaunded .xx. knyghtes that they fholde haue alwaye 
 regarde to hym and that they Iholde not fayle to brynge hym 
 to the banket / for he wolde fe hym. He commaunded alfo 
 that the nombre of two thoufande fyghtynge men were armed / 
 for to kepe the felde from all debates and noyfes. The meane 
 whyle the mayfters ftewardes and controllers / were in the palaj-s 
 makynge all thynge redy for the banket and feeft / that fholde 
 be at nyght / the whiche fholde be without comparyfon of al 
 
 H 2 
 
that euer hadde be fene in this realme. The houre approched 
 that they fholde fynde them in the felde. And the foure hondred 
 knyghtes of within / with the two thoufande came in to the 
 felde / wherof feme of them hadde leuer haue be commyfed to 
 make redy y« feeft / for the example that the rede knyght had 
 gyuen them the daye afore / the whiche all redy dyd arme hym / 
 & was comen vpon his hors clothed in whyte and all his folke 
 in the fame fute / in the fame manere that they came the daye 
 afore / faue that they had ben clothed in rede / and foo came in 
 to the felde on horfbacke / & put hemfelfe befyde the kynges 
 fone of Scotlande / and all the other alyght in lyke wyfe. And 
 then whan all were affembled / the kynge badde two knyghtes 
 for to goo loke how many they were of without. Then they 
 wente downe / and tolde the Lordes the kynges wyll and com- 
 maundement. Then they toke a gyrdell and made them for to 
 paffe vnderneth / and founde that they of without were well 
 foure hondred. And a knyght by the commaudement of the 
 kynge fayd that euery body fholde vngyrde his fwerde / and fayd 
 that the axe fufFyfed / and after that the batayll was begonne / 
 the Kynge fente men for to departe them / and badde that none 
 were fo hardy for to fmyte on the heed with the trenchaiit after 
 y' tyme / & aduertyfed them y' the pryce fholde be gyuen at 
 nyght / to hym that hathe deferued it. And thenne it was tolde 
 them that they myght begynne whan it fholde feme the good. 
 Then they begane for to fmyte in fuche wyfe that it was a 
 goodly fyght to beholde them. It was a femely fyght for to 
 beholde howe Olyuer demeaned hym with his axe / for he 
 fmote fo puyflauntly that he made hym a waye large ynoughe. 
 Whan they approched nere the one fmote vpon y« other fo 
 impetyoufly that it was meruayll they myght ftande. Olyuer 
 dremed not / for he gaue fo pefaunt ftrokes / that hym that he 
 hytte aryght he made hym to kyffe the grounde / and he 
 
dyde foo moche that there durft not abyde afore hym / 
 foo with force of fmytynge / his axe that was grete and longe 
 dyde breke. And whan he fawe that / he approched hym to a 
 knyght and pulled his axe out of his handes / by fuche a 
 myght and by fuche a chyualrous puyflaunce / vertue and alfo 
 manere that whether he wolde or not he made hym kyffe the 
 grounde. Twayne of the kynges of Irlande / had grete enuye 
 at Olyuer / bycaufe they fawe the pryce coude not efcape hym / 
 & therfore by grete dyfpleafure they affaylled Olyuer / the whiche 
 defended hym fo valyauntly / that he clone one of them to the 
 tethe. The kyge feynge that it myght not endure without grete 
 debate / fayd that it fufFyfed. And fo they departed whether 
 they wolde or not. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer was taken by the knyghtes that the kynge had 
 corny fed j and how his feriiauntes vany/Jhed awaye / and after how 
 he founde foyfon of moneye j and vefymentes. Capitulo. xxix. 
 
 Nd then the kynge and the ladyes retorned in to 
 the cyte / & euery body withdrewe the in to theyr 
 habytacyons / fo the deed kyges body was borne in 
 to London by his men / where as his body was 
 enfeuelyd / and put in a hors lyttere couered with blacke / and 
 in that eftate / in grete lamentacyons was ledde in to his realme. 
 Olyuer was yet in the felde where as he cryed after his hors but 
 none anfwered hy / nor he coude efpye none of them that came 
 with hym / wherof he had grete meruayl / and was fo dyfpleafaunt 
 that he wyfb not what to do / notw'ftandynge his armour / he 
 put hym felfe on the waye towarde the hermytage all afhamed / 
 faynge that he fawe well his euyll auenture / and that in all fortune 
 was to hym contrarye. And therfore he delybered in hym felfe 
 for to habandonne the good that myght come to hym by 
 
occafyon of the torneyment / and not for to make hym to be 
 knowen to ony perfone lyuynge. Euen fo as he wente thynkynge 
 on his euyll aduenture / the .xx. knyghtes that by the kynge 
 were commyfed / and ordeyned for to haue regarde on hym / 
 foughte hym on euery fyde / and dyde foo moche that they 
 apperceyued hy goynge alone. Then they fmote theyr horfes 
 with the fporres / and dyd fo moche that they ouertoke hym / 
 and fayd to hym. Getyll knyght lette it not torne you to dyf- 
 pleafure / yf that we do that the whiche was comaunded vs by 
 the kynge for he hathe comaunded vs for to witholde you / y^ 
 whiche requyreth you / that it wyll pleafe you / for to be this 
 nyght at the daunces / and at the banquet / and therfore by hym 
 we laye handes on you. It was force to Olyuer to obeye the 
 commaundement of the kynge. And therfore all alhamed he 
 retorned to London with the forfayd knyghtes. But durynge the 
 waye it was not withoute plefaiit thoughtes / for whan he be- 
 thoughte hym of the grete pompes / and ryche habyllementes 
 that he had durynge the other dayes / and now he founde hym 
 alone w'out ony knowlege / and that it was force for hym to be 
 at y^ banket and feeft with the other / without gowne / or other 
 clothynge / faue in his barneys / but yf he foiide fome that wolde 
 lenne hym a gowne / he was in foo grete dyfpleafauce / that he 
 wolde haue ben a .M. myle thens yf it hadde ben pofTyble for 
 hym. In that eftate they rode tyll they came to London / and 
 dyflodged one of the .xx. knyghtes for to lodge hym / and 
 demaunded hym in what place they wolde fynde his feruauntes / 
 for to fende for them. The poore Olyuer all afhamed fayd. 
 Certaynlye I can not tell you where to fynde theym / but for 
 this nyghte I fhall be mayfter / and varlet. As they were in 
 thefe deuyfes the hofteffe came to Olyuers perfone and fayd to 
 hym alowe. My lorde it is not longe ago fyth one of your 
 feruauntes was here / and gaue me this lytell fardell / tellynge 
 
me that your clothes were in it / and hathe layde the bogette 
 vnder your beddes heed. For all your feruauntes ben gone / 
 and ye fhall fynde the nomore. And tolde me that the knyght 
 that ye wote of / recommaundeth hym to you / and putteth you 
 in memorye of the promyfe y' ye made to hym / the whiche 
 prayth you that ye wyll haue it in remembraunce. Olyuer heryge 
 his hoftefle / was more abaffhed than euer he had ben and 
 feynynge that he knewe well ynoughe what it wolde meane/wente 
 fyrft to his beddes heed / and founde y'^ bogette that his hoftefle 
 hadde tolde hym of / and founde the keye in the locke / and 
 tailed it / and felte wel ynough that it was heuy / and vndyde it / 
 and in lokynge in to it he apperceyued that it was nothynge but 
 golde / & good nobles of Englande. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer founde grete fynaunces / feruauntes and 
 clothynges / and how he was broughte in to the Kynges courte 
 with grete reuerence of the knyght es that had takefi hym. 
 Capitulo. XXX. 
 
 Lyuer that foude hymfelfe all alone in his chabre / 
 fat hym downe / for the .xx. knyghtes hadde taken 
 leue of hym / and were gone for to dyfarme them / 
 to be at the feeft / & feynge that he had tyme 
 ynoughe / begane for to tell his moneye / and founde that there 
 was .v.M. nobles / wherfore he thanked god and the noble 
 knyght that had / had foo good remembraunce on hym. Whyles 
 that he put vp his golde in to his bougette / entred in to y^ 
 chambre fyue gentyll fquyers clothed in whyte fatyn & .x. varlets 
 clothed in whyte clothe / whiche falued hym faynge. My lorde / 
 your mayfter ftewarde hathe ben here this after none / and hathe 
 gyuen eche of vs a gowne and tolde vs that it was your lyueray / 
 and that ye fhold reteyne vs in your feruyce / and therfore we 
 
come towarde you to knowe and it be your wyll / for there is 
 none of vs but that he hathe good mayfter / for fome be the 
 Erie of Flaundres men / and the other the dukes of Somerfet. 
 And thus eche of vs hath good mayfters / but they haue as 
 many feruauntes as theym nedethe. And for the valyautneffe 
 that we haue fene in you / we become your feruautes yf it be 
 your pleafure. Olyuer anfwered the and fayd. My frendes of 
 your grace ye faye more good of me than I haue deferued. 
 And as I vnderfirade eche of you hathe a good mayfter / and 
 better than I am / but and it be your wyll I reteyne you all. 
 And to morowe fyth that ye be men of knowlege I fhall enquere 
 of your eftate / and thenne to eche of you I Ihall gyue fuche 
 eftate as to you apperteyneth. One of y^ feruauntes fayd to 
 hym. My lorde your mayfter ftewarde hathe ordeyned me your 
 palfreynere / therfore ye fhall tell me yf it pleafe you what I 
 fhall do with your horfes. For I haue fyue good courfers / & 
 two lytell hobyes ryght fayre / of whiche he badde me take good 
 heede. And bycaufe that it is ferre to the courte I thynke ve 
 wyll not go on fote therfore yf it pleafe you ye fhal tell me 
 whiche of your horfes ye wyll haue / and what harneys I fhall 
 put vpon hym whether that of veluet crymofyn / or that of 
 beten golde & yf that it pleafe you that your four pages fhall 
 come towarde you. Olyuer was moche abaffhed / and made the 
 fygne of the croffe / and fayd to hym. My frende go in goddes 
 name / & fadle one of the two lytell hobyes whiche thou loueft 
 beft / and put on hym the harnes of beten golde / and make y= 
 pages come with two torches for to lyght me in to the courte. 
 And the Olyuer commauded for to vndo the fardell / and fo it 
 was done. And founde thre fortes of clotynge for hym / of the 
 fame colours y' he hadde worne durynge the torneyment / that is 
 to wyte / blacke / rede / and whyte. The hofen were of fcarlet / 
 the gownes of veluet / the doublettes of blacke damafke fygured / 
 
and the hatte of blacke / vpon the whiche was a ryght gentyll 
 and ryche ouche of ftones ryght curyoully wrought / & there 
 was in it an e / & an o / togyder. Wherfore he began for to 
 kyfle it / and fayd alowe. Fayre fader god yf that thou wylte 
 extende foo moche thy grace on me / that my fortune were 
 fuche that Olyuer & Helayn myght come fo nere togyder as 
 thefe two lettres / I fholde be moche beholden to thanke thy 
 grete maiefte. In y^ fame wordes Olyuer clothed hym / and 
 founde that his clothynge were fo well made for hym / that 
 there coude none amende them. He was not fo fone clothed 
 but that his hors was redy abydynge hym at the dore / and his 
 foure pages. And within fhorte tyme after y^ knyghtes that had 
 brought hym theder / came for to fetche hym / and tolde hym 
 that it was hyghe tyme to goo in to the courte. Then they 
 mounted on horfbacke / and the torches were lyghted that 
 conduyted them in to y« courte. 
 
 % How Olyuer came in to the courte of the ryght noble kynge of 
 Englande / where as he was receyued of all y" lories j and ladyes 
 11/ grete foye. Ca. xxxt. 
 
 Ha Olyuer was afore the gate of y^ palays he 
 began for to fmyte his hors with y« fporres / y^ 
 whiche made lepes without nobre & dyde all that 
 his mayfter wolde haue hy do / he made fyre to 
 fprj'nge out of the payment in fuche haboundaunce y' euery body 
 loked out at y« wyndowes to beholde hym / & in fuche eftate he 
 came to the place where it was tyme to alyght. And bycaufe y' he 
 was fo femely a knyght / there was grete prece to beholde hym. 
 There was fo huge a nombre of folke that with grete payne he 
 myghte defcende / and paffe forthe / The tydynges came to the 
 kynge / and to the other pryces that theder were comen / how 
 
 I 
 
y^ whyte knyght was comen / and mounted vp the fteyres / and 
 fayd that and his beaute were loft / that in all the worlde it 
 myghte not be recouered / and in lyke wyfe thefe tydynges were 
 pronounced to the ladyes / the whiche demaunded what maner a 
 man he was / and it was tolde them that he was a heed of werke / 
 & that there was neuer fene a more fayrer knyght. And durynge 
 thefe wordes he entred in to y*^ halle where as all the lordes 
 were / and falued the kyge. The whiche by femblaunt made 
 hym ryght grete chere and honour / and fo dyde all the other 
 lordes / the whiche fholdred one another for to fe hym / for his 
 excellente beaute. There was many that at his comynge wolde 
 that he hadde ben a thoufande myle thens / and in efpecyall 
 they that hadde done befte nexte hym dyde curfe hym in theyr 
 courage / but his phyfnamye and maneres were fo fwete / that 
 he fholde haue ben ryghte curfed y' wolde haue done hym ony 
 harme. So as he was fefted on euery fyde / y= ryght fayr 
 and good Helayne accompanyed with dyuers grete lordes and 
 ladyes came in to the hall apparaylled & aourned fo rychely / 
 that her habyllementes were worthe a realme / for there was neuer 
 fene the pareylles or lyke. Her beaute enlumyned the palays / 
 the whiche exceded all natures werke. And thynke not that that 
 Helayne for whome Troye receyued foo many aduerfytes paffed 
 this. But bycaufe that comparyfons be heynous / and noyfous I 
 holde my peas in retornynge to my purpofe. The fayre Helayne 
 of Englande feynge the thought of her lorde and fader fet her 
 vpon her knees / and made to hym reuerence and honoure as it 
 apperteyned. The kynge her fader toke her by the hande and 
 made her for to aryfe / in faynge that fhe was ryght well come. 
 And thenne fhe was falued of all the other knyghtes & lordes / 
 vnto whome fhe rendred echone theyr falute after theyr qualyte/ 
 as fhe coude do full well. Thenne was Olyuer brought afore 
 her / the whiche knewe hym as fone as fhe fawe hym. For he 
 
was eafy for to knowe amongeft them all. Wherfore Ihe behelde 
 hym voluntarylye / and it was force to the knyghtes and fquyres 
 for to withdrawe them aparte / for to make place to the ladyes 
 and gentylwomen / to the ende that they myght fe hym the 
 better at theyr eafes. And there was but fewe of them that 
 were for to marye / but that they thoughte within theymfelfe / 
 and wolde that Olyuer had conquered them by force of armes / 
 as well as he hadde done y^ fayre Helayne. 
 
 ^ How in fecrete the pryce was ordeyned for Olyuer by the 
 Juges commyfed / and the counjayll of the kyge approued for to 
 aduertyfe Olyuer. Capi. xxxij. 
 
 Lytell whyle after thefe thynges deuyfed / the tables 
 were fpredde / and incontynente as all thynge was 
 redy y"^ trompettes blewe for water to waffhe theyr 
 handes. And then the kyge and his doughter 
 waffhed / and all the other lordes in generall. And the Kynge 
 made to enquere of Olyuer / of his kyne / and what he was / 
 and of what marches / to the ende that y^ honour were done to 
 hym after his eftate. He anfwered to them that demaunded 
 hym that he was a poore knyght of Spayne / & not of a hye 
 place. There was not one neyther the kyng nor the other / but 
 that men femed well by his phyfnamye / that he was of a good 
 houfe / and that alfo without grete puyiTaunce he coude not haue 
 furnyfflied the habyllementes that they had fene hym haue 
 durynge the feeft: / Whan tyme was the kynge fatte hym downe 
 at the table / and with hym all the grete lordes and ladyes / 
 referued Helayne / that was fette vp on hye in the myddes of a 
 table that was eleuate / to the ende that fhe myght be fene of all 
 theym in the halle. At the ryght fyde were the prynces luges 
 fet at the fame table / and on the other fyde were the .x. prynceffes 
 
 I a 
 
at the fame table. Olyuer wolde not fytten downe at the kynges 
 table. Notwithftandynge he was prayed fo moche / and com- 
 maunded that it was force for hym to obeye. There was other 
 tables without nombre where as the other knyghtes and ladyes 
 were fette. Who that wolde deuyfe to you the feruyce and the 
 myfteryes that was there / it fholde be to longe to recoute it. 
 There was no mete that replenyffhed the fo fone / as to beholde 
 the excellent Helayne / fhe was the repofe of the wery / and 
 the couragynge of the valyaunt. And there was not one but 
 that they thought that god hadde made her for to fhewe his hyghe 
 puyffaiice. This feeft dured fo longe tyll that it was tyme to 
 vnferue / & there was none of them all that thought other 
 thynge / faue to make good chere / and alfo they were not 
 requyred otherwyfe. The tables taken awaye & graces gyue to 
 our lorde of his goodnes / the daunces began / and incontynent 
 the .X. prynces / and the .x. pryncefles withdrewe them a parte 
 in to a lytel chambre for to knowe who had done beft / and 
 they were in grete plete. The one helde with the kynges fone of 
 Scotlande / and the other w' the erle of Flaundres / & the other 
 with the good duke of Somerfet. But the mooft parte helde 
 with Olyuer. In fuche wyfe that there was none of theym but 
 that they gaue theyr voyce to Olyuer / & whan the kynge thought 
 that they myght well haue done / he habandonned the daunces 
 and came towarde them / & demaunded theym what thynge that 
 they had done. One of theym kneled downe & fayd. Our 
 fouerayne lorde ye haue of your gode grace commyfed vs for to 
 faye frely the trouthe. Alfo we haue made our othe that we fhall 
 not take regarde to the magnyfycence of the lygnage nor lord- 
 fhyppe / And vs femeth that the beft doer of all this aflemble 
 hathe ben Olyuer / not for one daye alonely / but for all the thre 
 dayes / & we fawe neuer knyght do fuche dedes of armes as he 
 hathe done / therfore we aduertyfe you therof/for to do therwith 
 
your good pleafure. The kynge anfwered and fayd. My fayre 
 cofyns / and my good frendes / and you my fayre ladyes 
 here prefente I here well ynoughe what ye haue fayd / and 
 knoweth that it fholde be agaynfh reafon to take y^ pryce from 
 hym y' hathe deferuyd it. And truely who had axed me myn 
 aduyfe I wolde haue fayd the fame that ye haue tolde me / but 
 for all that ye ought to knowe that this is not a lytell thyng. 
 For he that wynneth the pryce / wynneth my doughter / and 
 cofequently all my realme for to be kynge ouer j^ou al after my 
 deceafe. And bycaufe that ye gyue the pryce to a ftraunger 
 vnknowen of vs all I wolde vnder correccyon foo that it feme 
 you good / y' he were aduertyfed of this thynge by one of you / 
 and how the pryce fhall be gyuen to hym. And he the whiche 
 fhall aduertyfe hym / maye faye alfo to hym / that I am delybered 
 for to make vnto hym a requeft / that is for to knowe that he 
 were cotente for to abyde a yere in my courte afore that my fayre 
 doughter Helayne be gyuen vnto hym / for to knowe his mures 
 and condycyons. And alfo I Ihall promyfe hym by the fayth 
 that I owe to knyghthode that durynge that tyme I fhall not 
 mary her / & yf that he be a man worthy her / & that I knowe 
 none other thyng tha I do tyll this prefent tyme / that whiche he 
 hathe wonne fhall not be taken from hym. And alfo I fhall put 
 in doubte ryght grete lordes that be here / and yf that I gaue 
 her to hym in theyr prefence / they myght cofpyre fome euyl 
 agaynft his perfone / wherby ryght grete inconuenyentes myght 
 come to hym / and there is myn aduyfe. Wha the kynge hadde 
 fynyffhed his wordes / they withdrewe themfelfe a parte. And 
 founde in counfayll that the kynge had fayd ryght well / and 
 fayd it fholde be wel done to knowe Olyuers wyll / afore that the 
 requeft were made on hyghe. Bycaufe that it fholde be fhame 
 to the Kynge yf it were not vnto hym accorded. Thus there is 
 no thyge but good / and the kynge hathe no wronge to knowe 
 afore the loue. 
 
^ How the kynge of Englande came toivarde his fay re daughter I 
 for to demaunde her to whome her femed that the pryce ought to 
 be gyuen I and of her anfivers. Capitulo. xxxtij. 
 
 Ne of the prynces was ordeyned to fpeke to Olyuer / 
 wherfore he came in to the hall where as y^ ladyes 
 were / and toke Olyuer aparte / and fayd to hy all 
 that ye haue herde afore. Olyuer had alwaye doubte 
 of y' thynge / by caufe of the grete multytude of lordes that 
 were there / to whome hy thought they wolde foner applye than 
 to hym / & thought afwell that yf he were not contente that it 
 Iholde be force to hym / wherfore he anfwered to the prynce. 
 My lorde ye mocke with me for I haue not deferued the honour 
 that ye do to me / but and ye fpeke in fadneffe / and that it 
 pleafe the kynge to make to me a requeft / as I here you faye. 
 I tell you that it is no prayer / but his commaundement to the 
 whiche I wyll not dyfobej^e / and fayd no more / nor the lorde 
 alfo but retorned towarde the kyge / and aduertyfed hym of that 
 whiche he hadde founden in Olyuer / and fayd that he founde 
 neuer a more dyfcreter ma / nor more worthy and that he was 
 dygne of moche good. And the Kynge was ryght loyous of 
 that reporte / and began for to tell in what maner he wolde 
 that ye pryce were gyuen / and who fholde bere it / and tolde 
 them that he wolde make them haue knowlege / the houre that 
 the pryce fholde be gyuen. And then he departed and came to 
 the daunces where as he founde his doughter / y^ whiche he toke 
 by the hade / and fayd to her. My fayre doughter ye mulle tell 
 me to whiche of thefe lordes that ye haue fene here / ye haue beft 
 wyll to / & whiche hathe done befte by your aduyfe. My lorde 
 my fader I haue no more wyll to one tha to an other. Ye be 
 my fader reafon it is that I obey to you / for your pleafure is 
 myne / and alfo me thyketh that they haue all done fo well that 
 
none can amende it / Then the kynge demaunded her yf that fhe 
 wolde be as well cotente yf Olyuer hadde the pryce / as yf a 
 gretter lorde had it. She anfwered / it is a fayre thyge to do 
 ryghte to euery body. Ye be wyfe and knoweth what ye haue 
 to do. The kyge whiche was dyfcrete fente for y^ pryce / y^ 
 whiche was brought in the maner that foloweth. 
 
 ^ How the pryce of the torneyment was brought to Olyuer by 
 dyuers lories and ladyes / and what it was. Capitulo. xxxiiij. 
 
 Here came fyrfte many torches / and offycers for 
 to make place. After came a Kynge of armes rychely 
 clothed holdyge on hyghe with bothe his hades a 
 grete and maffyfFe cheyne of golde / charged & en- 
 ryched with precyous ftones. After hym came two fayre ladyes / 
 clothed in lyke habyllementes / the whiche became them fo 
 well that it was a pleafaiit fyght to beholde them. Thefe ladyes 
 were accompanyed with four knyghtes clothed in lyke wyfe / 
 and eche of the ladyes were on the ryght hande of two knyghtes. 
 And in fuche eftate they came afore y^ kyges perfone / to whome 
 they dyde the reuerence as it apperteyned. And the they 
 demaunded hym yf it were his good pleafure that the pryce 
 were gyuen. And he anfwered ye. Then they began to walke 
 aboute the halle / and came to the place where as Olyuer was 
 hydde amonge the prece. To whome the Kynge of armes fayd 
 that he fliolde come forth / and that it was to hym that they 
 wolde fpeke / and after that he was comen forth the kynge of 
 armes fayd to hym in this wyfe. Carbucle and gemme of all 
 proweffe and hardyneffe / the kyge our fouerayne lorde / and 
 the ladyes of this company / by the grete and hyghe faytes of 
 armes that in you hath be fhewed / and comen to theyr know- 
 lege / dothe prefente to you this noble cheyne / in gyuynge 
 
you the pryce of y« thre dayes w' tryumphe and glorye / aboue 
 al them that theder hathe ben comen / or founde them there. I 
 make you no mefyon of my ryght redoubted mayftreffe / and 
 lady Helayne bycaufe that the Kynge my fouerayne lorde make 
 y^ to you a requeft / that is that the ryght that ye can demaude 
 of her by the crye that was publyffhed by his comaundement / 
 that it wyll pleafe you for to be cotente & for to dyfFerre and 
 abyde vntyl a yere be paffed. And he dothe promyfe you that 
 enduryng that whyle / my lady Helayne his doughter fhall not 
 be maryed / and then he fhall do fo moche towarde you that ye 
 fhall be well contente / For fhe fhall be appareylled for you / 
 euen as fhe fholde be at this prefente tyme / for he wolde not 
 take fro you for no thynge / that the whiche ye haue deferued. 
 Oliuer with a fymple voyce all rubycude anfwered that he had 
 not deferued the honour that they prefented hym / but fyth that 
 it was the kynges good pleafure / and the lordes and ladyes / 
 he Iholde be a grete fole / and myfproude to refufe it. As for 
 the furplus touchynge the kynges requeftes / he anfwered that 
 his requeftes were comaiidementes / in praynge yf that he had 
 wonne ony thynge that it fholde not be taken from hym. For 
 he was well in wyll for to take it / yf it fell to hym. This 
 notwithftandynge he was well contente that the kynges wyll were 
 accomplyffhed / and to abyde a yere. And thanked the kynge / 
 and the ladyes that had made hym that prefent. And toke the 
 chayne of golde and put it aboute his neck. And then they 
 demauded hym his name / and furname he made hymfelf Olyuer / 
 but he fayd that his furname myght not be knowen at that 
 prefent tyme. And bycaufe that the heraude coude not tell how 
 to gyue his name in knowlege that the pryce was gyuen to / he 
 beganne for to crye in this maner wyfe. To this blacke / rede / 
 and whyte knyght / the fioure of chyualrye / that by force of 
 armes hathe obteyned the lafte tryumphe of the torneyment 
 hathe ben delyuered the pryce. 
 
^ How Olyuer requyred y" kynge of Englande that he wolde 
 reteyne hym of his courte / & that he myght kerue afore his 
 doughter j the ivhiche he vttred hym afore all his barons. Capitulo. 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 Hen was Olyuer ledde afore the kyge / y^ whiche he 
 thanked hubly of the grete honour that he had done 
 to hym without deferuynge / and befought hym for 
 to haue alwaye memorye of hym / and of his promyfe 
 that he had made hym / and to reteyne hym of his courte. The 
 kyge anfwered in faynge that he wolde do it with ryght a good 
 wyll / & that fuche eftate as he wolde demaunde / fholde be 
 delyuered hym / and with that that he fholde not fere hym / 
 but that he wolde haue memorye of hym / & that bycaufe of 
 the pryce that was his he fholde lefe nothynge. Syr fayd 
 Olyuer I can not tel you how ye vnderftande it / truely I can 
 nothynge lefe / of what wherof I had neuer nothynge / but I holde 
 you for fo valyaunt that ye wyll not go agaynft your worde ye 
 gyue me for to chefe and take fuche eftate as fhal pleafe me / 
 wherfore I thanke you. ^ And therfore I praye you that ye 
 wyll be cotente that I be fquyre keruer afore my lady your 
 doughter. And the Kynge anfwered in refufynge hym / and 
 fayd that his doughter was not accuftomed for to be ferued of a 
 knyght. Notwithftandynge he requyred and prayed fo moche that 
 the kynge was cotente that his wyll were fulfylled. Neuertheleffe 
 that he was worthy to haue had a gretter eftate than that / 
 Then he made hym to ryfe and toke hym by the hade / & ledde 
 hym towarde his doughter / and then commaunded her that fhe 
 fholde kyffe hym / bycaufe that hym femed that Olyuer had well 
 deferued it / and at the leeft yf that he had no more honour but 
 that for to content hy the better. The fayre Helayne in accom- 
 plyffhynge the wyll of the Kynge her fader / toke Olyuer by 
 
 K 
 
y^ hande y' was alredy on his knee / and kyffed hym in touchyge 
 her mouthe agaynft his. This kyffe thrugh perced y^ herte of 
 Olyuer and his entraylles / and entred and lodged in the mooft 
 fecreteft: place of his herte / and neuer after departed / that done 
 fhe made Olyuer to aryfe / the whiche thanked her. After the 
 daunces were begonne agayne / and endured a grete fpace of 
 tyme / and after came the wyne and fpyces / and wha euery body 
 had dronke and that it was oure for to go to bedde / the grete 
 prynces / & lordes toke leue of the kynge / and of the fayre 
 Helayne / for to retorne on the morowe in to theyr countrees / 
 and thanked the kynge of the grete chere and honour that he had 
 done to them in his courte. The kynge prayed hym that they 
 wolde yet abyde a daye or twayne. But they wolde not abyde 
 but badde hym adew. And whan it came that the kynges fone 
 of Scotlande toke his leue of y^ fayre Helayne / he fayd to her 
 alowe as in reprochynge / y' he was ryght loyous that fhe was 
 foo well aflygned. Helayne that was not folyffhe / vnderftode 
 well that all that he hadde fayd / proceded of enuye / wherfore 
 fhe helde her ftyll and fayd nothynge / but toke leue of hym 
 & of all the other / the whiche wente in to theyr lodgynges & 
 on the morowe departed. The kynge Maquemor of Irlande / 
 and another that was his neyghbour for ony prayer that the 
 kynge dyde make / wolde not come to y^ feeft but all euyll 
 contente were departed/ without takynge leue /for the dyfpleafure 
 that they had of the dethe of the kynge of Irlande theyr frende / 
 and that the kynge had made therof fo lytell accounte. And 
 affermed & promyfed the one to the other that yf it were 
 poflyble for them whan they were comen in to theyr countree / 
 that the kynge of Englande fholde repente hym to late. 
 
^ How Olyuer was reteyned of the Kynges courte and kerued 
 afore his daughter / and made his othe. Capitulo. xxxvi. 
 
 Lyuer badde good nyght to the kynge and to his 
 fayre doughter Helayne / and confequentlye to all 
 the other. And he was conueyed to his lodges / by 
 dyuers gentylmen of the kynges courte / that all redy 
 had grete volente for to be acquaynted with hy. Olyuer comen 
 in to his lodges / made theym for to drynke / and then he 
 thanked them for y« trauayll y' they had taken for hym / & 
 fayd to them. My lordes I wyll be from henfforth your feruaunt / 
 broder / and felowe. And yf there be ony thynge that I may 
 do for you / there is none of you but that ye fhall fynde me 
 redy at nede. Then they all departed / faue one gentyll fquyre / 
 the whiche Olyuer reteyned w' hym / for to lye with hym / & 
 alfo to the ende that he Iholde haue the more acquayntaunce 
 with the lordes of the courte. The nyght pafTed and the daye 
 came. And wha it was tyme Olyuer arofe and clothed hym in 
 newe robes / that he had made make all the nyght. And was 
 led to the courte by his fquyre / and foiide the kynge y' was 
 alredy at the maffe / the whiche fynyflhed / the kynge comaunded 
 that Olyuer fholde be ledde towarde his fyrft knyght chamber- 
 layne / the whiche he had ordeyned for to fpeke to hym. Wha 
 Olyuer was comen / y^ fyrft chamberlayne fayd to hym Olyuer 
 my frende the kyng hath ordeyned me for to receyue your othe / 
 and that I gyue to you retynue of .xx. horfes. And yf it be 
 your pleafure for to ferue my lady his doughter as ye haue 
 requyred / as well ye may do it / as yf ye were of leffe eftate. 
 Olyuer thanked the kynge / and made his othe. And as he 
 y^ whiche thoughte neuer tyme ynoughe for to fe her that had 
 gyuen hym that gracyous kyffe / requyred that for that daye 
 he myght kerue afore her / and fo he was ledde into her chambre / 
 
 K a 
 
where as Helayns table was fpredde / the whiche made no longe 
 taryenge but came. Whan Olyuer fawe her / he gaue her good 
 morowe / And fhe rendred hym his falute ryghte curteyfly / 
 and behelde hym gladly. And then flie fat her downe at the 
 table. Where as Olyuer began for to kerue afore her. And 
 in caftynge vp her eyen demaunded hym yf that it was his wyl 
 for to kerue afore her. Olyuer anfwered / madame it is my 
 pleafure for to do you all the feruyce that I can / fo that it torne 
 you not to dyfpleafure. Olyuer my frende fayd Ihe nay / but I 
 thanke you / how well y' I had wolde that ye had deported 
 you of this offyce / but fyth y' it is youre wyll / it is well 
 myne. So Olyuer kerued afore his fayr mayftres all alonge the 
 dyner / but it was not withoute foyfon of regardes and lokes. 
 Whan the table was vp / he was a lytell whyle with the ladyes / 
 and then he wente towarde the kynge / to whome they had tolde 
 that Olyuer dyde ferue at his doughters dyner / & fayd that 
 he was the gentylleft feruaunt that euer they had fene. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer was furpryfed of the hue of Helayne and cutte 
 his fyngre in feruynge her. Ca. xxxvij. 
 
 Hefe thynges dyde paffe / and Olyuer was a grete 
 whyle in y^ courte fo well beloued that all that 
 knewe hy fayd good of hym. The kyge hymfelfe 
 coude not prayfe hym ynoughe / & fayd often that 
 Olyuer was bothe fayre & good / ;faynge that he and his 
 doughter were wel ferued. The fayre Helayne in lyke wyie 
 feynge the graces and beautees that god and nature had endowed 
 that yonge knyght with / dyde prayfe hym ftrongly in her herte / 
 but fhe made no femblaunt for doubte of fome folke. For ye 
 knowe well ynoughe that they fay oftener the euyll than the 
 good / for all that wha they demaunded her / fhe fayd that fhe 
 
fawe nothynge in hy but all good / and that he was a ryght 
 gracyous knyght / & in fuche eftate he had put hym in the 
 grace of all them that knewe hym. And in lyke wyfe at y^ 
 begynnynge had ben cofpyred dyuers enuyes agaynft his perfone/ 
 but by the grete wyfdome & doulceneffe that remayned in hym / 
 he had fubdued & ouercome his eu}'l wyllers / in fuche wyfe 
 that euery body loued hym. Alfo none can not recorde to you 
 y^ newe thynges that were begonne / enterpryfed / and acheued by 
 hy / as well luftynge as other dyfportes and playes. Ye haue 
 well herde how Olyuer had receyued a kyffe of his excellent 
 mayflreffe / and I haue alfo tolde you that he kepte it fo well / 
 that he lofl it not whan he wolde/for loue in a fhorte fpace had 
 defaced his loye and lyefTe / & with that helde hym fo fhreyte 
 in his bondes that he coude not ete nor drynke / flepe nor reft 
 in bedde / and he was not at his eafe nor peas the houre that he 
 hadde loft the fyght of his lady and mayftreffe. And was not 
 in no place but that hym thought that he fawe the reprefentacyo 
 of his excellente lady afore his eyen. In fuche eftate he was a 
 fpace of tyme / and in fuche wyfe he adnychylled hym that he 
 became in fuche eftate that he cared no more of noo good dede. 
 Thyftorye faj'^th that on a tyme as he kerued afore his mayftres 
 at the table as he that was not mayfter ouer hymfelfe began to 
 beholde her / and in beholdynge her he made many fyghes of 
 loue that proceded from his herte. Then the fayre Helayne 
 apperceyued that he thought ftrongely vpon her / and fhe had 
 no thyge kerued afore her for to ete. For Olyuer had gyue her 
 none / wherfore fhe fayd by dyuers tymes. Olyuer my frende 
 I wolde ete gladly yf ye gaue me wherof. Olyuer that thought 
 on other thynges herde her not at y« fyrft tyme. And whan 
 his vnderftandynge was comen agayn / all afhamed he began for 
 to ferue / and as he that had no thought on that whiche he 
 dyde / cut his fyngre all mooft of. Wherfore he departed from 
 
thens incontynent / and gaue another to ferue. Helayne apper- 
 ceyuynge thefe thyges knewe & apperceyued clerely y^ thought 
 of Olyuer / wherof {he was nothynge gladde / whan Ihe fawe hym 
 in fuche poynt for her loue. 
 
 % How Olyuer layde hym doivne in his bedde foore fyke / and 
 how that Helayne was fyke alfo for hym j & of theyr complayntes / 
 and how Helayne gate leue of her fader to go vyjyte Olyuer. 
 Capitulo. xxxvii/'. 
 
 Lyuer come in to his lodgys entred all alone in to 
 his chambre / and layde hj^m downe vpon his bedde / 
 in complaynynge hym fo pyteoufly / that it was grete 
 pyte for to here. He curfed the god of loue that 
 had wounded hym fo profoundly with his flambynge darte and 
 bounde hym in his bandes foo vyolently / wherfore he fawe 
 appertely that he mufl nedes deye / for he abode none allegeaunce / 
 nor mercye of his anguyffhous maladye. Ha kynge of Englade 
 fayd Olyuer yf thy worde had ben verytable / as a kynges ought 
 to be / I had not fallen in this extremyte that I am nowe in. 
 Thus as ye haue herde demeaned Olyuer his forowe by longe 
 fpace of tyme / and contynued fo in that he was greuoufly fycke / 
 and layde hym downe in his naked bedde. Wherof the Kynge 
 and all they of the courte were ryghte dyfpleafaunt. And the 
 kynge vyfyted hym ryght famylyerly / and made hym to be 
 fumptuoufly kepte / and taken heede to of his phyfycyons. But 
 aboue all them that were dolaunt / the noble Helayne paffed / 
 notwithfladynge fhe made no femblaunt outwarde. And on a 
 tyme as y*= phyfycyens came to her / as it is theyr cuftome for 
 to vyfyte prynces and prynceffes / fhe demaunded them how 
 Olyuer dyde / and yf that he amended not. They anfwered 
 naye / and fayd that they had grete doubte of his lyfe. Whan 
 
Helayne herde thefe tydynges fhe was fo dolent that fhe myght 
 fcarfely fufteyne herfelfe. The fhe withdrewe her in to her 
 garderobe / and gaue them to vnderftande that fhe was fycke / 
 & therfore fhe layde her downe on her bedde / & made her to 
 be couered / for to couer the better her dole. And whan the 
 ladyes were voyded / fhe began to faye with a fofte voyce. O 
 god almyghtye creatour of heuen and erthe / the whiche after thy 
 pleafure dyfpofeth all erthely thynges. And thou ryght doulce 
 quene of heuen / lady of the worlde / and empreffe of helle alfo 
 truely as thou bare .ix. monthes in thy bleffyd flankes the veray 
 fone of god thyn efpoufe / and that conceyued hym a vyrgyn / 
 and delyuered hym a vyrgyn / and y' arte aduocate and refuge 
 of all defolate creatures I befeche the that thou wylte counfayll 
 me vnhappy and vnfortuned woman. O gloryous vyrgyn Marye 
 wherfore hathe thy bleflyd fone gyuen me foo moche beaute for 
 to be caufe of the dethe of the mooft fayreft / and mooft 
 valyaunteft knyght that euer was fene / the whiche am indygne 
 of this grace. Wherfore I befeche the that thou kepe this gentyll 
 knyght / the whiche hathe not myfdone me in no maner of the 
 worlde / wherby I fholde put hym in this ryght daungerous 
 peryll / and that thou dyfdeyne not for to tell me myn honour 
 faued / how that I myght gyue hym allegeaunce of his maladye. 
 Whyles that fhe complayned fo to god and to our lady / a 
 lyghte fompne toke her / wherthrughe fhe was conftrayned to 
 flepe. In her flepe her femed that our lady fpake to her and 
 fayd. Helayne my fone & I haue herde thy requeft. The 
 knyght for whome thou haft prayed is fycke to the dethe. And 
 bycaufe that thou arte caufe of his maladye / thou muft be caufe 
 alfo of his guaryffhyge and helthe / go towarde thy fader and 
 demaunde hym lycence for to go fe hym / & whan thou fhalte 
 be there / put hym in memorye that the yeres ende approcheth 
 nere / & that thou fhalte haue fo good mynde on hym / that it 
 
Ihall fufFyfe hym. Helayne a waked ryght loyous of her vyfyo / 
 and in thankynge god and our lady arofe / and wente towarde 
 her fader / the whiche gaue her leue to go vyfyte Olyuer / and 
 fo fhe wente theder with a lytell company. And whan fhe was 
 entred in to the chambre / fhe approched towarde the bedde 
 where as Olyuer was / that alredye had loft his knowlege / and 
 with the teres in her eyen named hym her frende / in demaundynge 
 hym how he dyde. Olyuer knewe the voyce of his mayftreffe / and 
 lyfte vp his eyen in makynge a lytell fyghe anguyffhous / for 
 other thynge coude he not anfwere. Helayne apperceyued that 
 he had but lytell knowlege / wherfore fhe approched more nerer/ 
 and fayd with a lowe voyce. Alas my frende what lacke ye / 
 wyll ye leue me a wydowe / do ye not knowe y' the ende of the 
 twelue monthe approcheth. By my trouth my frende your 
 maladye doth greue me fo fore that ye can not byleue it / 
 wherfore I pray you that ye wyll thynke for to guarylihe you / 
 and yf there be ony thynge that I can do for you / tell it me. 
 And eue fo god helpe me myn honoure falued / I knowe no ma 
 for whome I wolde do more than for you. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer after that the fayre Helayne had vyjyted hym 
 
 came to the courte / and of the mejfenger of the Kynges of frlande / 
 
 fente to the Kynge of Englande j for to defye hym of fyre and blode. 
 
 Capitulo. xxxix. 
 
 S Olyuer herde y^ fwete voyce of his mayftres that 
 recomforted hym fo fwetely / he forced hym for to 
 fpeke / and with grete payne thanked her / and with 
 payne myght he abfteyne hym from faynge that 
 fhe was caufe of his dethe / and as Ihe that loued hym / fayd 
 to hym / Fayre fyr thynke for to waxe hole / and come to y*^ 
 coutte. For vpon my fayth ye fhall be ryght welcome. Then 
 
fhe toke leue of hym and retorned / and it was neuer a daye 
 after / but that flie fhente for to knowe how he dyde / and with 
 that fhe fente hym ryght largely of her wynes / and dyde fo 
 moche that within fhorte tyme he was ftrouge ynoughe for to 
 promayne hym aboute his chambre / as he that had had a good 
 phyfycyen in his maladye. And it was not longe after that he 
 wente in to the courte / and whan he felte hymfelfe that he was 
 entyerly hole / he ferued his mayftres as he had done before. 
 The whiche made hym greter chere than fhe was accuftomed to 
 do. In fuche wyfe y' Olyuer was more beauteuous than euer 
 he had be afore. Helayne that apperceyued that Olyuer was 
 out of daunger / put hym in remembraunce of the regrettes and 
 complayntes that fhe had made for hym durynge his maladye / 
 wherof Olyuer had his heed dyuers tymes fore troubled. ^ It 
 happened vpon a whytfontyde / on the whiche daye he helde open 
 courte. And there was the mooft parte of the lordes of Englande 
 affembled / euen fo as he was at dyner / and his doughter fette 
 befyde hym / came a meffanger afore the table / the whiche began 
 for to faye. That fame god all puyffaunt / that gouerneth all 
 thynges / gyue honoure and glorye & good aduenture to the 
 hyghe and puyffaunt prynces / & my fouerayne lordes the feuen 
 kynges of Irlande / by whome I am fente hether / and that he 
 confounde the crowne of Englande / the whiche is not worthy to 
 be named Kynge. Now herken tyraunt what I haue in charge 
 for to faye to the by the kynges of Irlande. They fende the 
 worde by me / and defyeth the of fyre and bloode / and that they 
 wyll depofe the of thy realme / as he that is not worthy for to 
 holde it. Some of them hathe ben comen to thy courte for 
 to knowe more playnly thy gouernynge / wher as they haue 
 apperceyued thy grete crudelyte and tyrannye / and howe that 
 by thy fynguler and dampnable wyll / hathe accomplyffhed thy 
 tyrannye on colde bloode withouten ony caufe reafonable / wherfore 
 
thou arte caufe of the effufyon of blode humayne / and of the 
 femblable cryften. And therfore take heede to that whiche thou 
 haft to do. For I tell the that they ben alredy defcended on 
 thy grounde / and fliall do fuche luftyce on the as apperteyneth. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer after that the mejfanger hadde fynyfjhed his 
 ivordes I requyred the kynge of Englande for to gyue hym men of 
 armes / and that he wolde goo agaynji them / the whiche was 
 vttred vpo hym with a good wyll. Capitulo. xl. 
 
 Ynyffhed the wordes of the meflanger / the kynge 
 enclyned his heed / and fone after lyft it vp agayne / 
 and began to rolle his eyen / & to bende his browes 
 in fuche wyfe that he refembled a man extracte oute 
 of his mynde / Whan the meflenger fawe the kynge make fuche 
 chere / he wolde with a good wyll haue ben in his moders bely. 
 There was none that anfwered / for the courte at that tyme was 
 to troubled that it was grete meruayll to beholde it / for all they 
 in the halle kepte fcylence / and fayd neuer a worde. Whan 
 the valyaunt Olyuer fawe all the companye fo fore abaffhed for 
 fo lytel a thynge / as hym femed / he fette hymfelfe on his knees 
 before the kynges perfone / and all afhamed beganne for to 
 fpeke and fayd Ryght myghtye Emperour & redoubted fyr. I 
 befeche you that your ryall mayefte be not dyfmayed agaynfte 
 me / yf that I auaunce me to fpeke foner than I oughte to do. 
 Syr ye haue herde the iniuryes that thefe caytyfs kynges of 
 Irlande hathe impofed on you by the faynge of the herauldes. 
 And for bycaufe that 1 knowe you foo valyaunt and fo puyffaut / 
 and with that that ye hadde leuer deye than it fliolde abyde 
 thus without vengynge you on your enemyes / that alredy ben 
 entred in to your realme / wherfore I fupplye me in all humylyte 
 that vnto me yonge man / notwithftandynge that I am not 
 
dygne / and that I haue lytell fene vnto this prefent tyme 
 that ye wyll do me that honoure for to gyue me a certayne 
 nombre of men of armes / fuche as your good pleafure fhal 
 be / and that ye fhall fynde by the delyberacyon of your good 
 counfayll / for to go agaynfte thefe vnhappy folke / that 
 withoute caufe wyl vfurpe your lordfhyppe. ^ The kynge 
 anfwered vnto Olyuer and fayd. Olyuer I fhall counfayll me 
 on the requeft that ye make to me after dyner / and after I 
 Ihall make you to knowe my wyll. And then he commaunded 
 that the meflaunger of the Kynges of Irlande fholde be fette 
 to dyner. And foo it was done. Wha the kynge was ryfen 
 from the table / he afTembled his counfayll. And then was 
 gyuen an anfwere to the meffanger that he fholde faye to his 
 mayfters that they myght be well fure that the Kynge doubted 
 theym but lytell / and that he hadde good wyll for to kepe his 
 herytage / & that yf they myghte wynne it that it fholde be 
 theyres / but by the pleafure of god it fholde not happen fo / 
 and then they gaue fome gyfte vnto the meffanger. And then 
 the fayd meffanger departed and retorned towarde the kynges of 
 Irlade that alredy were entred in to the realme of Englande / to 
 whome he tolde the anfwere that he had receyued. And then 
 y^ kynge of Englande accorded to Olyuer his requeft / for the 
 grete valyauntneffe y' he had fene hym do afore tymes. And 
 gaue to hym .x. thoufande men of armes / the whiche comen he 
 toke leue of the kynge / and the kynge gaue hym foure thoufande 
 nobles at his departynge / the whiche Olyuer toke in good thanke. 
 But afore that he departed from the cyte he dyftrybued it vnto 
 the poore men of armes that had nede therof / and more to / 
 and he dyde foo moche that they fpake of nothynge but of his 
 grete largeffe / wherfore he gate the loue of euery body. And in 
 y' maner departed after that he had taken leue of his mayftreffe/ 
 the whiche commaunded hym vnto god. And he fpedde hym 
 
 L 2 
 
fo well on his lourneye that he came within thre myle of his 
 enemyes. And whan it came to theyr knowlege they reyfed vp 
 theyr fyege that they had layde aboute a ftronge place / and 
 putte theym all vpon a playne in fayre ordenaunce redy to abyde 
 bataylle. Olyuer in lyke wyfe prayed and requyred all his men 
 for to do well / in fhewynge theym that they fholde haue more 
 honoure without comparyfon / yf ony good aduenture happened 
 them / than yf the kynge were there in his perfone / and eche 
 of them promyfed to do his deuoyre. And in that good wyll 
 they approched fo nere theyr enemyes that they myght fe them 
 clerely / the whiche were foure agaynft one man. But they were 
 not men of fuche chap for the mooft parte were comune men 
 and euyll armed at all poyntes. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer after that he was departed from London in 
 armes came afore a towne that was bejyeged of the fryjjheme j 
 and how he fought with them and vaynquyfjhed them. Capitulo. 
 
 xli. 
 
 Yght fo as thefe two hooftes approched togyder / ye 
 myght haue herde fuche a noyfe that it was hydeous 
 to here / and whan it came to the ftrokes gyuynge / 
 ye Iholde haue fene fheldes clouen / and helmes & 
 hauberkes broke / ftedes and knyghtes fmyten downe / hedes and 
 armes cut of / and many one pulled downe that neuer rofe after. 
 Olyuer wente thrughe the batayll maulgre all his enemyes / and 
 dyde fuche dedes of armes that he made hym to be knowen 
 within a lytell ftounde of euery body / wherfore they fledde afore 
 hym and made hym waye. For all that he hytte he fmote 
 downe / none can not reherfe vnto you the meruaylous ftrokes 
 that he gaue / for bothe his frendes and his enemyes were all 
 abaffhed to beholde them. He efcryed as hye as he myght / yf 
 
the kynges of Irlande be here I fhall make them crownes. One 
 of the kynges of Irlande that was a valyaunt man tooke a grete 
 fpere in his hande and came towarde Olyuer / Olyuer that fawe 
 hym come pulled a fpere frome hym that was nexte hym / and 
 fmote his hors with the fporres and mette togyder fo ftrongly 
 that it was not in the horfes puyffaunce to fufteyne them / 
 wherfore bothe fell to the erthe / but the kynge neuer arofe 
 after / for Olyuer had perced his hauberke and fmyten hym to 
 the herte / wherof it was grete dommage / for he was a valyaunte 
 man. Then ye fholde haue fene Englyffhmen and Iryfmen 
 renne to the focoure of theyr lordes / and there was flayne moche 
 people on bothe fydes. Olyuer was on fote amongeft his enemyes 
 where as he fmote on the ryghte hande and of the lefte hande / 
 and dyde fuche dedes of armes that it was grete meruayll. His 
 cuttyge fwerde made his enemyes to flee afore hy. For all that 
 maulgre them all he mounted on his hors / and then beganne 
 the batayll more fyers and more afpre than it hadde ben of all 
 the daye afore. And in that fame bataylle / Olyuer with his 
 propre handes toke two of the mooft gretteft Kynges of Irlande. 
 And then after that Olyuer with grete payne perced the hooft and 
 dyde foo moche that in defpyte of all his enemyes / he came 
 vnto the chyef ftandarde of the Iryffhmen / the whiche by force 
 of armes he fmote downe to the grounde / and with one ftroke 
 he fmote of his heed that bare the ftandarde / & fo he deyed / 
 Thenne ye fholde haue fene Iryffhemen gretely abaffhed wha 
 they fawe theyr chyfe ftandarde fall to y^ erthe they toke grete 
 payne for to rere it vp agayne / but they coude not. And 
 fynably / by y^ valyauntnefl"e of Olyuer and the courage that 
 he gaue his men the Iryffhemen were dyfcomfyted / and fo they 
 fled. The chafe endured more than two myle / and there was 
 foo many flayne y' it was a pyteous fyght for to beholde it / and 
 euery body faued hym that myght. And than they came by 
 
nyghte and by daye to theyr fhyppes / and in grete haft they 
 entred in to theyr fhyppes / and fayled in to Irlande where as 
 they tolde theyr pyteous dyfcomfyture that gaue grete dyfcomforte 
 vnto all theym of that countree. Olyuer made to fowne the 
 retreyte / to the ende that none wente ferder forthe / wherfore 
 euery body retorned. And whan it came to repafle by the waye 
 where as the batayll was done / and fawe the grete efFufyo of 
 blode / there was none of them but that theyr hertes abhorred. 
 And Olyuer hymfelfe had the teres in his eyen and fayd. My 
 bleflyd creatour I praye the that by thy grete mercye thou wylte 
 pardon me the efFufyon of blode of thefe cryften men. Neuer- 
 thelefle take that Olyuer fayd thefe wordes / yet he was ryght 
 loyous and gladde of the vyctorye / and gaue louynges and 
 thankynges to almyghty god / with a good herte. In that maner 
 they came vnto the towne that hadde ben affyeged afore of the 
 Iryffhemen / where as they were receyued with grete tryumphe and 
 loy and with procefl'yon of all the chyrches / and all the belles 
 were rongen at his entrynge. And they gaue Olyuer grete gyftes / 
 the whiche he gaue vnto his men / and in lyke wyfe of all the 
 butyn that he had wonne he wolde haue nothynge. After he 
 fente for the capytaynes of his armye / and whan they were 
 comen he fayd to them / fayre lordes ye knowe the vyctorye 
 that god of his grace hathe gyuen to vs agaynft oure enemyes. 
 And therfore it fholde be good to fygnefye thefe tydynges to 
 the Kynge our fouerayne lorde. Wherfore I praye you that the 
 dede bodyes maye be nombred / to the ende that we maye wryte 
 to hym the more certaynlye. It was tolde hym y' the kynge 
 fholde haue fhortlye tydynges / for it fholde be to longe to abyde 
 the tellynge of them. But as it femed them they myght not 
 fayle to wryte .xx. M. of theyr enemyes deed / without puttynge 
 other nombre / and fewe of theyr men. 
 
^ How Olyuer fente worde to the Kynge of Englande of theyr 
 vyctorye. And of the enterpryfe that Olyuer made to go in to 
 frlande. Capitulo. xlij. 
 
 Nd wha the lettres were made by Olyuer and by 
 the lordes / they were gyuen vnto a meffaunger / 
 and badde hym make all dylygence that he coude / 
 the whiche he dyde / and whan he was comen to 
 London he prefented them to the kynge / and whan the kynge 
 hadde redde them alowe / ye may well thynke that he was ryght 
 loyous and gladde. And therfore he made theym for to be 
 redde on hyghe / and whan it came to the knowlege of them of 
 the courte / there was none but that he thanked god. And the 
 Kynge commaunded that thefe tydynges fholde be publyffhed 
 all aboute. And after mounted on horfbacke and dyuers other 
 lordes in his companye and fo came to the cathedrall chyrche 
 of Poules in y^ whiche he gaue louynges /and prayfynges to 
 oure lorde / and to the valyaunte Olyuer. ^ I retorne here to 
 Olyuer the whiche affembled al the greteft of his armye / & 
 demaunded them yf they had ony talent to doo a good thynge / 
 And they anfwered ye & that it fholde not holde at them. Then 
 Olyuer fayd / my lordes frendes and felowes god hathe gyuen vs 
 fo fayre aueture that we can neuer thanke hy ynoughe. Therfore 
 me femeth feynge oure good begynnynge yf that it ftycke not 
 at you we maye do yet fome good thynge. For ye ought for 
 to knowe that there was neuer men more abaffhed than our 
 enemyes were whan they knewe the veryte how it wente / that 
 one of theyr kynges was flayne / and the other twayne taken / 
 and with this all theyr men of warre flayne / in whome they 
 afFyed them. And thus the as me femeth feynge y' we be not 
 ferre from theyr marches / yf that we put vs in to theyr countree 
 haflely / afore that theyr grete anguyffhe and forowe were pafled / 
 
and without gyuynge them leyfer to thynke on theyr afFayres / 
 we Iholde fynde them fo vnpurueyde / that in them fholde be 
 lytell refyftence / and there is myne aduyce vnder correccyo / 
 for as me femeth yf that we myght conquere this countree ye 
 fholde be worthy to haue grete louynge and recomendacyon / 
 and fhall be dygne neuer to be put out of memorye amonft 
 the noble & valyaunt men. Thofe capytaynes herynge the wordes 
 of Olyuer preyfed hym moche in theyr hertes / and well femed 
 theym that that whiche he had fayd proceded of a hyghe and 
 noble courage / therfore all of one accorde without loge counfayl 
 fayde vnto hym. Olyuer we ben departed for to ferue the Kynge 
 agaynft his enemyes / and the after / and therfore we telle you 
 that where fomeuer ye wyll go / we fhall folowe you as they that 
 wyll lyue and deye with you / and neuer to fayle you. ^ Olyuer 
 feynge the afFeccyon of thofe noble men towarde hym / and the 
 good wyll that they hadde / to do the kynge feruyce / thaked 
 them / in ofFrynge vnto them bothe body and goodes. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer entred in to yrlande and ajjyeged a kyge / the 
 whiche was focoured of foure other kynges j that the fayd Olyuer 
 dyfcomfyted. Capitulo. xliij. 
 
 Y this maner was concluded the vyage in to Irlande / 
 and toke in the towne as many pauelyons and tetes 
 as they myghte gete / and all thynge that was 
 neceflarye for theyr vyage / and departed from thens / 
 and toke with them a thoufande men on horfbacke / and as 
 many on fote / without theyr nombre. And alfo they toke with 
 them as moche artyllerye & other habyllementes of warre as that 
 they myght well haue without dyfgarnyffhynge of the towne / 
 and it was tolde them afore theyr departynge / by them that had 
 charge for to bury the deed folke y' they had founde deed of 
 
theyr enemyes .xxiiij.M. and of theyr me .xij.C. wherfore theyr 
 frendes were ryght dyfpleafaunt. And they affembled fhyppes 
 and entred into y« fee / and dyde fo moche that in fhorte tyme 
 they were oute of the realme of Englande / and entred in to 
 Irlande where as they began for to do moche harme / and foiide 
 but fewe places that refyfted agaynft them / for they be not fo 
 ftronge as thefe of this regyon. They that were taken by force 
 had no mercy but that they flewe them all. They that dyde 
 yelde them to theym afore that they befyeged them / were taken 
 to mercye. And w' this they fered fo fore theyr enemyes / that the 
 mooft parte of them yelded them or they came to them. Then 
 y^ kynges of y*^ countree that were efcaped fro the batayll were foo 
 fore abaffhed that they coude not put no counfayll to theyre 
 afFayres / for theyr folke were yet full of forowe / bycaufe of the 
 dolorous fortune that hadde happened theym. Wherfore they 
 habandonned all in the wyll of god / and alonely fortefyed the 
 places where as they wolde retray them / but this was not but 
 that they gaue often affaultes and fcarmofhes to the Englyfhmen 
 ryght fubtyllye gouerned on theyr fyde / wherthrughe there was 
 many men flayne on bothe partyes. And in fuche wyfe by fuc- 
 ceffyon of tyme that the mooft parte yelded them to the. And 
 y'= ryche themfelf helped for to warre agaynft theyr lordes. In 
 that eftate they wente and aflyeged a place / where as one of the 
 kynges of Irlande was / that hadde ben newe crowned. And 
 was his fone that Olyuer dyd flee at the torneyment. The 
 whiche they aflaylled ryght quyckely / and boyftoufly / and 
 there was done on the one fyde and on the other grete dedes 
 of armes. For they that were within the caftell defended them 
 vygoroufly / foo that they receyued that daye but lytell dommage. 
 The kyge Maqucmor was aduertyfed of thefe thynges / and how 
 the fyege was afore the place of his coufyn. Wherfore he was 
 ryght dyfpleafaunt. And fwore by his crowne that it fholde not 
 
 M 
 
abyde fe. He affembled as moche folke as he myght. And 
 then he the thyrde kynge came for to aryfe the fyege. Olyuer 
 was aduertyfed of all thefe thyges / wherfore he put hymfelfe on 
 the felde for to abyde them. And lefte a partye of his folke for to 
 kepe the fyege. He put his folke in ordynailce / and abode his 
 enemees all redy for to fyght / the whiche abode not longe or y' 
 they came. And whan they fawe that Olyuer was alredy on the 
 felde / they knewe well that they coude not efcape without med- 
 lynge. And then they put theyr folke in ryght fayre ordenaunce / 
 and began for to fhote gonnes and Olyuer and his folke remeuyd 
 not / but abode the with ferme fote / and with one crye receyued 
 them at the poyntes of theyr fwerdes & fperes. And there was 
 flayn at the fyrft recountre dyuers me on bothe partyes. Full 
 many ladyes loft theyr lordes / and many chyldren were faderles / 
 and full many maydens loft theyr louers there. Olyuer cutte 
 of hedes and armes in fuche maner that neuer ma dyde more 
 dedes of armes than he dyde. Notwithftandynge the Iryffhmen 
 folde theyr lyues ryghte derely / as men replenyfftied with 
 prowefle / for as them femed and they loft that batayll / that 
 in lyke wyfe they fholde lefe theyr countree / wherfore theyr 
 courage doubled and dyde as well as they myght. In that 
 eftate dured the batayll almooft vnto theyr nyght / but in the 
 ende the Iryffhemen were dyfcomfyted / as they that myghte 
 not endure the fadde ftrokes of the Englyffhemen. ^ The 
 purfuyte dured not longe bycaufe of the nyghte. The Kynge 
 Maquemor and two other kynges were taken / wherof Olyuer 
 was ryght gladde / for he had alredy fyue / and fo there was 
 no moo lefte but two / wherof there abode one enclofed in y' 
 place where the fyege was. Whan the nyght was comen Olyuer 
 in his tente made the Kynges pryfoners to be feruyd ryght 
 honourably. And on y« morowe he made to crye that euery 
 body fholde put hym in payne for to do his deuoyre to take 
 
y^ place. Then ye fholde haue fene many a valyaunt knyght 
 and fquyre / and me of armes go to the aflaulte but they of 
 within defended them foo valyavitly that it was grete meruayll. 
 And the kyge fayd that he hadde leuer deye than for to yelde 
 hym in to the handes of his enemyes / and to hym that hadde 
 flayne his fader. 
 
 ^ How the cajiell and place ivhere as one of the Kynges 
 of yrlande was in was taken. Capitulo. xliiij. 
 
 Ven fo as ye haue herde endured the fyege by longe 
 fpace of tyme afore y*^ caftell. Durynge the 
 whiche tyme Olyuer made often the kynge of 
 Englande to knowe of his demeanynge. And 
 fente hym often worde that he fholde haue noo doubte of them / 
 for they had nothynge but good. The artyllerye that was there 
 endommaged ftrongely the caftell / and fo moche that a grete 
 parte of the walle was fmyten downe / and then it was affaylled 
 at that fyde. Olyuer was in that affaulte and bare hym fo 
 valyauntly that he was the fyrfte that entred in / wherfore al 
 his men folowed hym. And at that tyme was the caftell wonne / 
 and the kynge taken. But afore that he was taken he dyde 
 grete dedes of armes / and all the other were flayne. Olyuer 
 departed from thens / and lefte good garnyfon there. He 
 put hym on the waye for to goo conquere the realme of the 
 fone of hym that he hadde flayne in the fyrft batayll. But that 
 fame kynge abode not his comyng / but came agaynft Olyuer 
 without ony armoure at all / berynge in his hande a braunche 
 of Olyue in y^ fygne of peas. And whan he fawe Olyuer he 
 fayd to hy O ryght valyaunt conquerour / afore whome nothynge 
 can endure / by the furoure of thy fwerde thou hafte fubdued 
 feuen kyngdomes / and haft the kynges pryfoners wherfore I 
 knowe that my perfone alonely can not refyfte agaynfte thy 
 
 M 2 
 
perfone and puyflaunce. Therfore I come and yelde me at 
 thy wyll / and do ofFre me and my realme for to feme the. 
 Olyuer thanked hym and tooke hym by the hande / & fayd 
 that he fholde foupe with hym that nyght. Then Olyuer com- 
 maunded that the tetes fholde be pyght in a fayre grene felde 
 that was not ferre from the / by the whiche dyuers ryuers and 
 fountaynes paffed by / wherfore the place was more delectable. 
 Olyuer coniaunded that the kynges that had be pryfoners of 
 longe tyme / the whiche were abyden in a ftronge fortreffe not 
 ferre from the fholde be brought to hym / and made to faye 
 to his cooke that he fholde make redy the fouper in y^ beft 
 maner that he coude / for he wolde feeft the feuen kynges in 
 his pauylyon. And wha the houre of fouper approched / he 
 made them to fytte downe at a table / and fouped rychely. After 
 fouper Olyuer made auoj^daunce / and fayd vnto the feuen kynges 
 howe that they were pryfoners / not to come of them / but at 
 the plefure and wyll of the kynge of Englade / that they hadde 
 fo vylaynoufly offended and made grete doubte that he wolde 
 punyffhe them greuoufly as it apperteyned / & tolde them that 
 they fholde be ledde to hym on the next morowe / and that 
 they fholde thynke on that that they wolde doo / for to amende 
 the offence that hadde ben done by them. 
 
 % Hoiv Olyuer after dyuers thynges /' Jente for to denounce 
 his comyng to the kynge of Englande / and of the honour that 
 was done to hym. Capitulo. xlv. 
 
 One after djaiers wordes came y^ fpyces & y^ wyne / 
 & after they wente vnto bedde vnto the morowe / 
 y' euery body by the comaiidement of the capytayns 
 made the redy to departe and foo euery thynge 
 packed & truffed they retorned towarde London. And than 
 
Olyuer called vnto hym a ryght valyaunt knyght and one of 
 y^ capytaynes Englyffhe / to whome he prayed moche curtayfly 
 that he wolde goo towarde the kynge & denounce to hym theyr 
 comynge / and that he coude tell hym the thynges better than 
 ony coude wryte theym. The knyght in accomplyffhynge the 
 wyll of Olyuer put hy felfe on the waye & he dyde fo moche 
 that within a lytell fpace he arryued at London / and falued the 
 kynge / and made the recomaundacyons ryght humbly frome 
 Olyuer and all his felowes / and than he began to tell hym how 
 they were on y^ waye to retorne / and that y^ feuen kyngedomes 
 of Irlande were conquered / and put in y<= obeyflaunce of his 
 feptre. And that Olyuer brought hym the feuen kynges pry- 
 foners for to doo with them his good pleafure. And began to 
 deuyfe hym of y^ valyaunce that he had fene Olyuer do / and that 
 with payne it was credyble that the whiche he hadde fene Olyuer 
 accomplyffhe. And fayd fyre after god and his holy moder gyue 
 thankynges vnto the ryght valyaunt knyght Olyuer / for by his 
 ryght arme ye haue obtayned vyctory of all your enemyes. And 
 certaynly I thynke that neuer god gaue to no man fo moche 
 goodnefle as he hath gyue to this fame. The kynge herynge 
 thofe loyous tydynges was fo replenyffhed with loye that he was 
 a longe fpace or that he myght fpeke. NeuerthelefTe fone after 
 he enbraced the knyght and fayd. My frende ye be ryght 
 welcome. I thanke god / the armes / and the fwerde of the ryghte 
 gentyll knyght / of the loyous tydynges that ye brynge me. And 
 after commaunded hym for to tell it on hyghe. So he began 
 for to recounte it more lenger than he hadde done to the kynges 
 perfone. And alwaye prayfynge and louynge Olyuer / faynge 
 that it was a thynge of the other worlde / and not for to byleue 
 to theym that had not fene it. Thefe tydynges were fone 
 fpredde aboute in the ladyes chambres / and came to the eeres 
 of the fayre Helayne that was moche loyous of that whiche Ihe 
 
herde / and her thought that and he hadde ben kynge and fhe 
 quene / that all the worlde fholde haue be the better. Wherfore 
 her courage blamed ftrogly her fader bycaufe that he kepte from 
 fo gentyll a knyght that y^ whiche was due to hym. The kynge 
 enquyred and demaunded the daye of his comynge / and made 
 to ordeyne a ryghte grete feeft at theyr comynge. He com- 
 maunded all the grete lordes and prynces of his realme for to 
 be there. And whan it came that Olyuer approched nere the 
 Cyte / all the prynces wete agaynft hym / and there was none 
 of them but that they dyde hym honoure and reuerence. The 
 kynge hadde ordeyned that he fholde be ledde in grete tryumphe 
 thorughe the cyte. And therfore the ftretes were hanged / and the 
 fyres alyghted / and the belles rongen on all fydes. ^ Alfo the 
 proceflyons on all fydes wente agaynfte hym to the gate of the 
 cyte. And whan Olyuer apperceyued the proceflyons he alyghted 
 of his hors / and confequently all the grete lordes that dydde 
 hym that honoure. And in that eftate they came vnto y^ cathe- 
 drall chyrche of Poules where as they gaue thankynges and 
 louynges to almyghty god and to our lady. And then they 
 mounted on horfbacke / and then Olyuer fente the feuen kynges 
 pryfoners in to y^ places that were ordeyned for them. And he 
 all armed wente towarde the kynge / the whiche he falued ryght 
 humbly. Wha the kynge apperceyued hym he wente agaynft 
 hym / and began for to kyfle hym & coUe hym faynge / my 
 ryght fwete frende / bleflTyd be the fader that engendred the / 
 and the moder that bare the. And thanked be my bleflyd lorde 
 that euer gaue the wyll for to come in to this countre the whiche 
 at this prefente tyme is fo gretely honoured and redoubted by thy 
 fwerde. I praye to god that he gyiie me fpace for to deferue it 
 to you warde. Olyuer anfwered to hym. Syr thanke our lorde / 
 and after the valyaunt men that ye gaue to me / and not me / 
 for take that I havie done the beft that I can / yet I haue not 
 
deferued the honoure that ye do to me. The kynge anfwered 
 that he was aduertyfed of euery thynge / and commaunded hym 
 to go and dyfarme hym. And whan the houre of fouper fholde 
 approche that he fholde retorne / & that he fholde brynge with 
 hym the feuen kynges / for he wolde foupe with them in his 
 palays. Olyuer wente towarde his mayftres / to whome the kynge 
 hadde commaunded / that all the honoure that fhe coude make 
 hym / that fhe fholde do it. And therfore whan fhe fawe Olyuer 
 come towarde her / fhe wente agaynfte hym and toke hym by 
 the hande and kyffed hym in faynge that he was ryght welcome / 
 and that fhe was glad of his welfare / but bycaufe that the 
 fouper tyme approched that he fholde fetche the kynges pry- 
 foners / he abode not longe there / but toke leue and wente in 
 to his lodgynge. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer came in to the courte accompanyed / of the feuen 
 kynges pryfoners j of w hie he he made a prefent to the kynge of 
 Englande. Capitulo. xlvi. 
 
 Han y' Olyuer was dyfarmed / and habylled of newe 
 ^ clothes / he came ryght well accopanyed of noble 
 me of y^ kynges courte / y' had grete defy re for 
 to pleafe hym / in to y'^ lodgys of the feue kynges 
 the whiche he falued / and fayd to them that the Kynge his lorde 
 wolde fpeke with them and foupe with them / they fayd that 
 they wolde go gladlye / and mounted on horfbacke / and Olyuer 
 alfo with them that conduyted them. And wha they entred in 
 to the courte dyuers lordes / and prynces of Englande came 
 agaynft them that dyde lede them towarde the kynge / the whiche 
 whan he fawe them in his chambre / he remeuyd not from his 
 place / y^ other bowyge theyr knees lowe ynoughe. And whan 
 they approched nere the kynge / the kynge toke of his hatte 
 
and in marchynge thre or foure paas agaynft them / fayd that 
 they were ryght welcome. And whan he had falued the all / 
 he began for to deuyfe with them of dyuers thynges pleafaunt 
 withoute makynge ony mencyon of warre. And fo longe they 
 were in thefe deuyfes that the houre of fouper was comen / 
 and the water blowen. The Kj^nge of Englande had ordeyned 
 that thre tables fholde be fette in the halle. One more eleuate 
 and hygher tha the other. And at that table the kynge fatte 
 hym downe / and commaunded Olyuer for to fytte with hym / 
 the whiche durft not dyfobeye the kynges commaundement. 
 And therfore all afliamed he fatte hy downe / and there was 
 no moo. After he commaunded that the Kynges of Irlande fholde 
 be fette. The mayfter cot roller that knewe well ynoughe what 
 he fholde do / made them for to fytte at the feconde table / 
 and all the other prynces the which were without nombre fatte 
 at the thyrde table / and were ryght fumptuoufly feruyd. 
 
 ^ Hoiv the kynge of Englaiide gaue his fay re daughter vnto 
 Olyuer in guerdon and rewarde of the hye feruyces that he had 
 done to hym. Capitulo. xlvij. 
 
 Yght as they hadde fouped / and that the tables 
 were taken vp / & graces rendred vnto god / the 
 kynge comaunded for to go fetche his fayre dougter 
 Helayne / to the ende that the daiices were begonne. 
 And the noble & valyaunt knyght Olyuer wente for to fetche 
 his goodly and excellent mayftres. And whan that fhe was comen 
 and that llie had falued her fader / fhe falued after the feuen 
 kynges / euen fo as fhe coude full well do it / and the other 
 lordes enfewynge. Then were the daunces begon the whiche the 
 kynge behelde gladly. And in beholdyge Olyuer dauce / he 
 thought in hym felfe how it lliolde be poflj^ble for to rendre to 
 
hym the guerdon of his feruyce. And thoughte foo moche that 
 a more gretter thynge he myghte not gyue hym than his doughter / 
 that afore he had wone by force of armes / but bycaufe that he 
 hadde taken her from hym / paraueture he wolde haue dyfdayne 
 for to take her agayne / wherfore he concluded for to fpeke to 
 hym after the daiices in the prefence of all them that were there / 
 or that wolde be there. And euen foo as he had thought it he 
 dyde it. And whan all was faylled / and that his doughter was 
 comen for to gyue hym good nyghte. He made to be fayd to 
 her that whan fhe fholde be in her chabre / that fhe fholde not 
 hye her vnto bedde. The whiche dyde euen fo. After he called 
 Olyuer in the prefence of the kynges of Irlande / and of the other 
 prynces and lordes that were there. Olyuer my frende I begyn 
 for to haue knowlege of my caas / and how that of longe tyme 
 I haue with holde that whiche ought to be yours / that is my 
 doughter. That the whiche dyde moue me therto was bycaufe 
 that I knewe not / fo playnly your eftate as I do nowe. But 
 truely and Helayne were quene of all y^ worlde I wolde thynke 
 her wel beftowed on you / as to the mooft valyaunteft knyght 
 of y« worlde. Thus I then knowynge all thefe thynges fhall 
 gyue to you the mooft dereft thynge that I haue / y' is my 
 doughter / yf it pleafe you for to take her to your wyfe. 
 Wherby after my deth ye may be kynge of Englande / the 
 whiche wolde be ryght happy to haue fuche a lorde. The 
 fynyfflied the kyng his wordes. Whan Olyuer fawe that the 
 kynge had fynyffhed his wordes / he fette hym on bothe his 
 knees / and began to faye thefe wordes. Ryght honourable 
 lorde / truely there is no feruyce but of a kynge for I may 
 wel auaunte me / that with lytell deferuynge I haue the greteft 
 guerdon that euer hadde man / wherof I gyue louynges to god 
 and to you graces and thankes / nor neuer poore man as I am 
 hadde the hondrethe parte of the honour that ye do to me. I 
 
 N 
 
praye to god that he gyue me grace to deferue it vnto your 
 hyghnefle. For by you my name fliall be chauriged / and they 
 that fhall here fpeke of this mater / fhall name me the feruaunte 
 hyghly guerdonned. 
 
 ^ How y^ kynge made Olyuer for to aryfe that was on his 
 knees / and of y^ gracyous wordes that he fay d to his doughter / 
 and how Olyuer handfeji her. Capitulo. xhiij. 
 
 Hen the kynge commaunded Olyuer for to aryfe / and 
 fente for his doughter. And whan fhe was comen / 
 he toke her by the hande and ledde her to hym 
 and fayd. My frende fe here my doughter that 
 I gyue you to your wyfe / in acquytynge my promeffe. Olyuer 
 thanked hym ryghte humblye. The poore Helayne that of al 
 this knewe nothynge / was more abaffhed than euer fhe had 
 ben afore / and began for to chaunge coloure / wherby her beaute 
 was not mynyffhed. Whan the kyng fawe her in that eftate / 
 he fayd to her. My ryght dere doughter I haue all troubled 
 you as femeth me / wha I haue gyue you to a man without 
 knowynge your wyll. But by the helpe of god he fhall do 
 nothynge to you but that ye may well fufFre and endure / as 
 I deme. Then Olyuer began for to laughe at the wordes that 
 the kynge had fayd. Wherfore Helayne was more afhamed than 
 fhe had ben afore. The archebyffhop that was in the halle dyde 
 handfefte them. Then began for to fpeke by the kynges com- 
 maundement an auncyent knyght / y^ whiche adreffyd his wordes 
 vnto the kynges of Irlande / and fayd to them that the kynge 
 his fouerayne lorde for the loue of the folempnyte that fholde 
 be on the morowe / and alfo for the loue of Olyuer / he was 
 contente to rendre to them theyr realmes / quyte theyr raunfons / 
 and fende them agayne in to theyr countrees without ony 
 
dommage / by fuche moyen / that eche of them fholde do hym 
 homage / and holde of hym theyr landes. With this that as 
 often as y^ kynges good pleafure fholde be for to fende for the / 
 in warre / or in peas / that they fliolde come and ferue hy. 
 And fro thens forth to holde hym for theyr fouerayne lorde / 
 They knowynge that of two euylles it is the befte to efchewe the 
 worfte / accorded to the kynges requeft / & dyd homage vnto the 
 kynge of Englande. ^ And after thefe thynges / and that they 
 had daunced ones aboute for the efpoufayles euery body wente 
 to bedde / but Olyuer llepte not that nyght / but watched al y' 
 nyght / as he y' wolde with a good wyll . haue ben a daye elder / 
 & thanked god of his goodnes. For hym femyd that he was 
 lyfte out of his euyll adueture / and fo paffed the nyght. And 
 whan the daye was comen and that it was tyme for hym to 
 aryfe / the kynge that knewe well ynoughe that Olyuer coude not 
 haue his gownes made fo foone / fente hym / thre or foure 
 gownes of clothe of golde beten. And wha Olyuer was ap- 
 paraylled / all the prynces and lordes came and fetched hym / 
 and fyue kynges of Irlande came / and the other twayne abode 
 for to accompany the fayre Helayne. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer wedded the fayre Helayne / and of y" folempnyte 
 of the efpoufaylles. Capitulo. xlix. 
 
 Yght fone after that all thefe thynges were redy. 
 Olyuer came in to y^ courte accopanyed as ye haue 
 herde afore / & wente to y^ portall of y^ chapell / 
 where as he foude y^ Archebyffhop redy. They 
 hadde not be loge there whan that they herde comynge to them 
 grete foyfon of trompettes / and mynftrelles / and began for to 
 fowne / and come towarde the chapell after them / and there 
 came dyuers kynges and herauldes of armes / and after came the 
 
 N 1 
 
Vffhers. And after theym then came Helayne aourned as it ap- 
 perteyneth to a bryde / and to a lady of fo ryall a lygnage. She 
 was accompanyed of dyuers ladyes and damoyfelles that folowed 
 her. And with this fhe was on the ryght hande of two kynges. 
 And came a fofte paas vnto the place where as Olyuer abode 
 her / And they hadde not ben longe there whan the kynge 
 came / at whofe comynge they were wedded. The feruyce was 
 done. The tables were layde / & then they fet them to dyner 
 after that the ladyes were retorned frome the chambres. Who 
 that wolde deviyfe to you the feruyce of the fayd dyner / the 
 gyftes that were gyuen as well on the one fyde as on the other / 
 it fholde be to longe a thynge to recoute. The yonge men of 
 the kynges courte that neuer were dyfFerent to no thynge that 
 was for luftes made crye a luftynge for the after dyner / where 
 as the ladyes were. Alfo a torneyment was cryed .xvj. agaynft 
 .xvj. that was a ryght fayre fyght to fe. Olyuer lufted not by- 
 caufe he fholde not be defouled / & to the ende that he Iholde 
 be freffhe for to daunce at nyghte / but he was mouted on a 
 grete courfer and dyde meruaylles. He ferued one of the kynges 
 of Irlande / that for to do hym honoure lufted / and foure of 
 the other alfo. And dyde foo well that tvvayne of the fyue had 
 the pryce / one within / and the other without. And it was gyuen 
 theym or that they departed from the tyltes / as they that hadde 
 done beft. And after that euery body v/as come to the courte 
 the ladyes were clothed in newe gownes. And then they wente 
 to the banquet that was alredy apparaylled. Yf they were well 
 feruyd it is no nede to demaunde it. For there was neuer a 
 fayrer feeft in England / after that of the grete torneyment / that 
 had ben afore. And whan it was after the banquet y^ daunces 
 began / and Olyuer ledde the fayre Helayne at the daunces / that 
 euery body fawe gladly. For all the worlde fayd that they had 
 neuer fene a more fayrer couple of folke togyder. After that 
 
y^ daunces had endured a longe fpace of tyme / the fayre & 
 noble Helayne was ledde vnto bedde. And then wyne & fpyces 
 were broughte. The whiche Olyuer abode not / For he was 
 alredy in his chambre where as he dyfabylled hym. And whan 
 he knewe that the bryde was a bed / incontynent he put 
 hym on the waye towarde the chambre. And whan he was 
 there he chafed all the ladyes out excepte one. And came 
 towarde the table where as the banquet was on / and keft it to 
 the erthe / to the ende that he fholde not be awaked / then he 
 came to the dore / and locked it / and wente to bedde to her 
 that of longe tyme he hadde loued / & fhe hated hym not / 
 wherfore they were the better contente togyder / and of the furplus 
 I holde my peas. But the hyftorye fayth that vpon that fame 
 nyght they engendred a chylde male / the whiche dydde fythe 
 moche good / and exalted our cryfte fayth agaynft the farafyns / 
 in vengynge the dethe of our lorde Ihefu cryft. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer was vertuous in appefynge ftryfes / and noyfes j 
 and how his wyfe was grete with a fine j the whiche was named 
 Hery. Capitulo. L. 
 
 Han it came to the kynges knowlege that Olyuer 
 had caften downe the table y' the baket was on / 
 he began for to laughe. And fayd y' he had ryght 
 well wrought / wherfore no body wolde not medle 
 for to entre in y^. chambre / & was not awaked of no body vnto 
 the morowe / at a .xi. of the clocke / and y' the kynge had 
 dyned / the whiche came vnto the chambre dore / and beganne 
 for to call them / and fayd that it was daye & tyme for to ryfe / 
 Olyuer the whiche llepte not came in his fherte and opened the 
 dore to the kynge / the whiche entred alone / and came vnto his 
 doughters bedde / where as he coforted her as well as he myght. 
 
In faynge y' he knewe it well of longe ago that fhe was to yonge 
 for to flepe with the me. The whiche anfwered nothynge vnto 
 hym for ony thyge that he coude doo. Wherfore he toke leue 
 of her / & fayd to her that fhe was euyll contente with hym fythe 
 that fhe wolde not fpeke to hy. After that he was departed / 
 the ladyes came and toke her vp. Thenne whan fhe was redy 
 fhe wente to mafle / but this was not without foyfon of regardes 
 of dyuers lordes and ladyes / the whiche with one accorde luged 
 y' fhe halted not. The mafle was fayd / and the dyner pafled / 
 the whiche was ryghte plenteuous of all goodes. And y^ kynge 
 helde open courte by the fpace of .xv. dayes / after the whiche 
 all the lordes toke leue of hym. And the kyng abode in his 
 fymple eftate / referued that Olyuer had his eftate as a kynges 
 fone / and reteyned dyuers gentylmen of his courte. The kynges 
 of Irlande toke theyr leue for to retorne home / In ofFrynge 
 them alwaye at y^ kynges pleafure / & Olyuers / for god had 
 gyuen hym fuche grace that euery body loued hym. The debates 
 and dyfcordes amonge the gentylmen Olyuer appeafed to his 
 power. The poore knyghtes by his largefle were made ryche. 
 He was the defendour of wydowes and Orphelyns / and to his 
 power to all dyfcomforted and dyflblute he gaue comforte and 
 coufayll. Shortly all vertues that were poflyble to be in a mannes 
 mortall body / floryffhed in this ryght valyaunt and gentyll 
 knyght / in fuche wyfe that euery body louyd hym & bleflyd his 
 comynge. And helde the kynge for v/yfe and prudent that fo 
 fone coude knowe his codycyons / and that he had fo kepte his 
 doughter to mary her fo vertuoufly / without thykynge on 
 couetyfe / fo the kynge lyued in grete eafe within his courte / & 
 in grete louyge and glorye without. And was fo moche fered 
 and redoubted that none durft do hym dyfpleafure / but was 
 mayfter and lorde of all his neyghbours. The fayr & good 
 Helayne that was with chylde was not of lefle recommendacyon 
 
ayenft her / for all vertues that a woman ought for to haue 
 habounded in her. It happened that after that fhe had borne 
 her terme / flie was delyuered of a fayre fone / the whiche was 
 named at the fonte ftone Henry. And this chylde gaue fo moche 
 loye to the kynge / and to all them of the real me y' it was 
 meruayll. But that fame chylde wyft and knewe that he ought 
 yet to be the mooft dereft holden of all the other. For he was 
 one of the befh and valyaunteft knyghtes that euer was. Neuer- 
 thelefle he was not kynge of Englande / for he deyed yonge / 
 wherof it was grete dommage. ^ A loge tyme dyde paffe and 
 fo moche that the fayre Helayne was with chylde agayne / 
 the whiche was delyuered of a fayre doughter / y<= whiche was 
 ryght folempnelye baptyfed and Ihe was named Claryffe. The 
 fayre Helayne and Olyuer were fo affotted and doted on theyr 
 chyldre that it was a grete meruayll / and I am not abaffhed. 
 For they ought well to be fo. The moder hadde them alwaye 
 bytwene her armes / and myght not forgo the fyght of them. 
 It was the paffe tyme of Olyuer / for the realme of Englande 
 was in peas / and wyft not wherin to occupye hym faue to goo 
 on huntynge / and haukynge / and for to make good chere. 
 
 ^1 How Olyuer wente on huntynge j & of the vyjyon of his ivyfe 
 the whiche Jhe tolde vnto hy. Capi. li. 
 
 Lyuer paffed his tyme loyoufly / foo as ye haue 
 herde. ^ It happened that the hunters made hym 
 to knowe that the gretteft wylde bore that euer was 
 fene / was in the foreft fyue myle thens. Olyuer 
 that loued well hiitynge was ryght loyous / and fayd that he 
 wolde go ryght gladly / wherfore on an after none he departed 
 from the cyte / & lodged hym in a vyllage by y^ foreft where 
 the wylde bore was in. That nyght his wyfe dremed a meruay- 
 
lous dreme / for her thought that flie was on huntynge with her 
 lorde / and that fhe fawe a Tygre meruayloufly grete / that with 
 his teeth / and his nayles deuoured Olyuer / and bare hym awaye 
 Ihe wyfte not where. Of his vyfyon all trymblynge the fayre 
 Helayhe awaked / and coude not flepe after that. And on the 
 morowe fhe fente worde to her lorde / & requyred hym that 
 he wolde not hunte as for that daye / for and he dyde her herte 
 luged her that he fholde haue fome hurte. Olyuer herynge the 
 meflage of his wyfe dyde no thynge but laughe / for hym femed 
 y' dremes were but fantafyes / wherfore he fente worde to his 
 wyfe that fhe fholde make gode chere / & that he wolde 
 brynge her fome venyfon / then he mounted on horfbacke and 
 wente to y^ foreft / and vncoupled the houndes / and began for 
 to hunte. The Olyuer put hym in to the foreft / and folowed 
 the houndes / wherfore he dyde folye. For yf he had byleued 
 the counfayll of his wyfe / it had not happened to hym as it 
 dyde. For fo as he folowed the houndes as nere as he myghte 
 the wylde bore came that was on fote / and trauerfed afore hym. 
 Olyuer that was wel horfed fmote hym with the fporres / and 
 ranne after. And he dyde fo moche that he had loft all his men 
 within a lytell whyle. Alas yf he had knowen of the euyll 
 aduentui'e / he wolde not haue putte hym fo foone in the 
 foreft / but as he that toke no hede rode on alwaye without 
 kepynge ony waye / fo as his euyll aduenture ledde hym. O 
 kynge of Englande truely of a longe tyme thou fhalte not fe 
 thy fayre fone Olyuer / nor thou ryght fayre Helayne of a longe 
 tyme thou fhalt not fe thy lorde and hufbande. 
 
^ How the Kynges /one of "Jrlande j of ivhiche Olyuer had 
 
 Jlayne his fader at the torneyment j founde Olyuer all alone fro 
 
 his me I & toke hym pryfoner j and of the grete for owe that was 
 
 made for hym. Capitulo. Uj. 
 
 Fore that Olyuer apperceyued that no body dyde 
 folowe hym / he was ferre from his folke. And 
 whan he founde hymfelfe alone / he blewe his home / 
 but none anfwered hym. Wherfore he put hym on 
 the waye in an vnhappy houre. For the more that he wente 
 forwarde / the ferder he was from them. Thus as he wente fo 
 the wylde bore that was ferre from hym / came amogeft a com- 
 pany of men that pafled thorughe the foreft / the whiche wente 
 to London. And the chyef was one of the kynges of Irlande / 
 that fame that Olyuer had flayne the fader of at the torneymente. 
 As he fawe the wylde bore / with fuche houndes as he had he 
 folowed / and ranne foo moche in the foreft that they recoutred 
 Olyuer whiche was all. alone. Then Olyuer auaunced hym and 
 falued the kynge / but the kynge dyfdayned to fpeke to hym. 
 And he efcryed to his men faynge / here is the murderer that 
 hathe flayne my fader. Wherfore I do pray you that ye wyll 
 take hy alyue / for I can not auenge me better than at this tyme. 
 And whan Olyuer herde thefe wordes he fet hande to his fwerde / 
 and defended hym ryght valyauntly. But in the ende whether 
 he wolde or not he was taken. And the kynge made a hode 
 all clofe to be put on his heed / to the ende that he fliolde not 
 be knowen / and in that eftate he made hym to be ledde to a 
 porte of y« fee where as he was put in a fhyp and ledde in to 
 a fortreffe of Irlande that was that fame kynges. In the whiche 
 Olyuer was put in pryfon full of vermyne / and had brede and 
 water ones a daye. Abydynge the retornynge of the kynge / 
 that fholde do luftyce on hym at his pleafure. And to the ende 
 
that his treafon were not knowen / he retorned not / but wente 
 to London towarde the kynge his fouerayne lorde / y« whiche he 
 founde gretely dyfcomforted / for he had herde no tydynges of 
 Olyuer the whiche was foughte on all fydes. O what pyteous 
 and innumerable lamentacyons was made whan y^ trouthe was 
 knowen that he coude not be founden. Certaynlye neuer fo 
 grete dolours was not demeaned in no coutre. The good kynge 
 fayd. Ha ryght noble realme thou haft wel loft the floure of 
 thy crowne / and the mooft parte of thyn armoure. Alas my 
 ryght fwete fone thou was he y* trauaylled whan I repofed me / 
 & he by whome I was redoubted / and he by whome I was 
 obeyed / and he by whome I lyued in reft and in furete. 
 ^ Thefe regrettes were nothynge in comparyfon to the pyteous 
 lamentacyons that his doughter made. She myght neyther ete 
 nor drynke / but had layde her on a bedde as fhe had ben 
 deed / in fuche wyfe that all they that fawe her had grete pyte 
 on her. And whan ftie myght fpeke flie efcryed faynge. My 
 bleflyd creatour wherfore dydde thou euer gyue me hym / that 
 in his departynge dothe leue me in fo grete doloure / and 
 dyftrefle vpon the erthe / certes yf it were thy bleflyd pleafure 
 I wolde be in his company / then Ihe complayned her vnto the 
 bleflTyd vyrgyn Marye in faynge. Ryght fwete vyrgyn mary 
 moder of god what may I haue done to the / that thou haft 
 fepared me fro the fyght of my ryght amyable lorde and huft)ande 
 that fo derely loued me. With fuche or femblable wordes the 
 ryght fayre Helayne meuyd all theym aboute her / that they 
 coude not comforte her. ^ I fhall leue her to fpeke of the 
 kynge of Englande and his doughter / & all theym of his realme 
 demeanynge theyr forowe. And fhal fpeke of them of the realme 
 of Caftylle / and of Arthur Kynge of Algarbe / and Regente of 
 Caftylle. 
 
•[[ HoisD Arthur Kynge of Algarbe and Regent of Cajiyll 
 made an enterpryfe for to fynde his felowe Olyuer. Capitulo. 
 
 liij. 
 
 E haue herde here before how Olyuer was departed 
 from Caftylle / and of the meruaylous dule that the 
 good kyge demeaned bycaufe of his departyng / the 
 whiche neuer lefte hym vnto the dethe / for within 
 fhorte fpace it made hym fynyflhe his dayes / and lyued not longe 
 after the departynge of his fone. For the whiche caufe Arthur 
 kynge of Algarbe / and felowe of Olyuer / by the confente of 
 dyuers lordes of the countree / was chofen for to be Regente of 
 Caftylle vnto the retornynge of Olyuer. And bycaufe that the 
 afFayres of the realme of caftyll be gretter than they of Algarbe 
 the whiche is but a lytell coutree. Arthur helde hym mooft 
 in Algarbe. And forgate neuer to vyfyte the glaffe of his felowe. 
 And foo moche that he apperceyued that the fayd glaffe was 
 fuche as the lettre fpecyfyed. That is for to knowe that the 
 water was troubled and gretely obfcure. In fuche wyfe that it 
 was almooft lyke ynke. And whan Arthur apperceyued it fuche/ 
 with grete haboundaunce of teres he began for to faye in this 
 maner. O ryght noble ryght valyaunt & loyall felowe / I fe well 
 that ye haue fome grete empeffhynge / or fome euyll aduenture / 
 or infermyte of body wherfore I am ryght dyfpleafaunt. And 
 bycaufe that at a nede one knoweth his frende I make auowe 
 to god and promyfeth hym by the fayth that I owe vnto hym / 
 and to the crowne that I bere / that euen as fecretely as ye 
 departed from this realme / fhall I departe alfo. Nor neuer as 
 longe as I lyue fhall I not refte / tyll that I knowe whether that 
 ye be alyue or deed. The in wypyge his eyen / he departed 
 out of the chambre / and came in to a halle. And commailded 
 to make lettres for to affemble all the thre eftates / and all the 
 
 o 1 
 
prynces of the countree. And whan they were all affembled / 
 he began for to fhewe them and fayd that it was not poflyble 
 for hym to gouerne bothe y^ realmes well that he had in his 
 charge. And therfore his wyll was for to commyfe fome dyfcrete 
 prynce in his ftede to be Regent of Caftyll. For he wolde 
 retorne in to that of Algarbe / bycaufe that he loued it more / 
 for bycaufe that it was his propre herytage / and that it was 
 the place of his byrthe. Therfore he wolde knowe of them / 
 yf it were theyr good pleafure y' he refygned his eftate at his 
 dyfcrecyon to the mooft wyfeft as hy femed. Or yf they wolde 
 chefe one after theyr dyfcrecyon and counfayll. They anfwered. 
 Ryght puyffaunt kynge of Algarbe we haue not holden you for 
 Regente / but for kynge vnto the comynge of Olyuer as ye do 
 knowe / for we neuer founde you dyfobeyffaunt. And alfo there 
 is none of vs but that we wolde do you as fone pleafure as to 
 our fouerayne lorde. Your wyll and departynge is full greuous 
 vnto vs. But fyth it is fo that we can not kepe you / chefe 
 whiche of vs it fliall pleafe you and gyue hym your ftede. For 
 we Ihall holde youre eleccyon. For all that we fhall neuer 
 haue man foo dere as you. Arthur thanked them / & dyde 
 chefe a good prynce that was ryght vertuous for to be regente. 
 And then he toke leue of them in grete wepynges. And then 
 he toke a certayne nombre of men with hym / and he dyde fo 
 moche that within a fhorte fpace he came in to his realme / and 
 whan he was there / he recommaunded to his coneftable all the 
 gouernaunce of his countree. And after commaunded al his 
 men to obeye to hym / and fayde that he wolde go in to a place 
 all alone / the whiche was not ferre of. And that with the grace 
 of god he wolde not tarye longe. This done he departed in a 
 fayre mornyng and wente his waye withouten ony company / 
 faue of god alonely / to whome I praye that he be in his garde / 
 for grete nede he hadde therof / as ye fhal here here afterwarde. 
 
^ How Arthur departed j and put hym on the way e for to fynde 
 his felowe j and of the aduentures that he had. Capitulo. liiij. 
 
 N fuche maner as ye haue herde departed the 
 valyaunt and gentyll Arthur from his countree. 
 And began for to ferche tydynges of his felowe / 
 as he that hadde wyll neuer for to refte tyll that 
 he had herde tydynges of hym. The fyrfte countree that he 
 arryued in was Portyngale / in the whiche he founde nothynge 
 that was pleafaunt vnto hym. After he fought the remenaunt 
 of Spayne / and came in to that of Fraunce / and wente fo 
 moche on one fyde and other that he came to Calys / where 
 as he founde men that wente in to Englande / and therfore he 
 mouted on the fee for to go theder. Ye maye well thynke that 
 he was longe in ferchynge the coiitrees that ye haue herde aboue. 
 In this meane whyle Olyuer his felowe was alwaye in pryfon / 
 with brede and water / and ofte bette as he that had neuer hope 
 to departe thens. And defyred nothynge but the dethe. ^ As 
 Arthur was on. y^ fee for to go in to Englande / there happened 
 a wynde contrary to aryfe on the fee / and droue them in to the 
 marches that the maryners knewe not atte that prefente tyme. But 
 whan that they had longe beholden & fene it / they apperceyued 
 that it was one of the countrees and realmes of Irlande / the 
 ferdeft from y' of Englande. Whan Arthur herde faye that it 
 was one of the realme of Irlande / he prayed them that they 
 wolde fet hym a lande / for as hym femyd / as fone myght he 
 here tydynges of y' whiche he foughte / as in another countree / 
 fo as he dyde by the wyll of god euen fo as ye fhall here. Wha 
 Arthur was on grounde / he wente on fote in praynge our lorde 
 for to adreffe hym on his waye. He was well the fpace of two 
 monethes in that coutree. And whan he wolde haue ony thynge 
 he mufte make fome fygne / or elles they coude not vnderftande 
 
hym. He hadde neyther hors nor mule for to ryde on / wherfore 
 he wente on fote / and foo longe he wente that on a daye he 
 founde hymfelfe in a thycke foreft / in the whiche dyuers wylde 
 beeftes dydde remayne. They had wel made hym fygne that 
 he fholde not entre in to that foreft but he had not vnderftonden 
 them. He wente all the daye alonge the foreft withoute fyndynge 
 of ony aduenture. The nyght toke hym wherfore it was force 
 to hym for to flepe. And whan it came vpon the morowe / he 
 put hym on y« waye ryght euylly broken his fafte. And he had 
 not longe gone whan he apperceyued a grete and an horryble 
 lyon ftrongly oppreflyd with hongre. For he had founde no 
 praye of longe tyme. Wherfore whan Arthur fawe and ap- 
 perceyued that he came towarde hym he appareylled hym for 
 to fyghte for he was armed at all poyntes / and alfo he had a 
 good fwerde. He toke of his mauntell and wounde it aboute 
 his arme /and then he drewe out his fwerde / and kyffed the 
 hyltes / in recommaundynge hym to god / and wete towarde 
 the lyon / that doubted hym but lytell. For wha it came to 
 approche he gaue hy fuche a ftroke with his pawes that he rente 
 his cloke / and mo than a hondreth mayles of his haubergon. 
 And it was force to Arthur for to fall to the erthe / but as a 
 valyaunt knyght he gate hym on his fete. And incontynent he 
 began for to aflayll the lyon ryght afprely. And whan the lyon 
 felte hymfelf hurte / he began for to cafte a crye fo meruaylous 
 that all ys foreft dyde rynge of it. And Arthur recouered another 
 ftroke / and fette it fo well on that he fmote of his hede / and 
 fo the lyon deyed. 
 
^ How Arthur beynge in the foreji was ajfaylled of another 
 meruaylous beeji / of the whiche he was vyctoryous. Iv. 
 
 S Arthur fawe that he was delyuered of y^ lyon / 
 he thaked god with a meke herte / and whan it came 
 vnto y^ nyght and that he founde hym not out of 
 the foreft / noo more than yf he hadde not remeuyd 
 out of one place / he was moche dyfpleafaunt / as he that of all 
 the daye had not eten / but his comforte was whan he thoughte 
 vpon faynt lohan Baptyfb that lyued by rotes / and hym femyd 
 that he fholde be ryght mefchaunt yf he myght not lyue with 
 fuche vytaylles for a fpace of tyme. So he began for to ferche 
 aboute the foreft / and began for to eete herbes and rotes fuche 
 as he founde by fo grete appetyte for hongre / that he had 
 neuer eten capon in his countree that had femed hym fo good. 
 And whan the nyghte came he put hym on a lytell tree / for 
 drede of dombe beeftes. Then within the nyght whan the 
 mone was fayre and clere / he herde a thynge come a ferre that 
 made foo grete a noyfe that it was a hydeous thynge to here 
 for in his waye he fmote downe all that he mette to the erth. 
 And whyfteled foo hye that it thrughe perced Arthurs eres. The 
 whiche wha he herde that meruayll / he bega for to blyffe hym / 
 in recommaundynge hym vnto god / praynge hym for to be his 
 defendour agaynft that beeft that he fawe comynge. And euen 
 fo as he recommaunded hym to god /this meruaylous beefl; came 
 towarde y^ tree that he was mounted on / and fmote the tree 
 with his tayle fo empyteoufly that he fell downe to the erthe / 
 Whan the poore Arthur founde hymfelfe on the grounde / yf 
 that he had fere and drede I am nothynge ameruaylled / and I 
 thynke well that he wolde haue be in his countree agayne with 
 a good wyll. But as a valyaunte knyght he prayed god that he 
 wolde haue mercy on his foule. For he thought that his lafte 
 
daye had ben comen and fette hande to his fwerde for to defende 
 hym / yf the beeft affaylled hym. For he had no wyll for to 
 delyuer y^ fyrft affaulte the beeft was pafTed wherof Arthur was 
 ryght loyous / but within a whyle the beeft retorned towarde 
 hym agayne in enuyronnynge hym. Then he made hym to 
 torne thre or foure tornes / and made hym for to fall agayft a 
 tree fo harde that it lacked but lytell that the herte of the valyaunt 
 Arthur dyde byrfte. ^ Arthur was not fo foone vp but that the 
 beeft was befyde hym and he as wyfe lenyd agaynft a tree. And 
 whan y^ beeft thought for to haue fmyten hym / he fmote y«= 
 tree / wherfore he endommaged hym but lytell or nought. But 
 her tethe was longe and cuttynge meruayloufly / wherwith fhe 
 ftrayned hym in fuche wyfe that yf it hadde not ben the tree 
 that he helde hym by / he Iholde nothynge haue refyfted. For 
 alredy he was fo fore wounded that he had nothynge on hym 
 but that it was perced. He reuenged hym valyauntly and gaue 
 hym grete and fadde ftrokes but fhe hadde fo harde a fkynne 
 that in no wyfe he myght dommage it. The ftynke of her 
 alonely greued Arthur as moche as all the remenaunt. The 
 whiche whan he fawe the beeft that for nothynge that he had 
 done fhe was as freffhe as fhe was at the begynnyng of the med- 
 lynge / he began for to reclayme our lorde / in praynge hy that 
 he wolde haue pyte on his creature / and fayd. ^ Ha my ryght 
 fwete lorde and felowe by the caufe I fhall fynyffhe here my 
 lyfe / but and I hadde fene the afore my dethe. I fholde ende 
 the furplus of my lyfe with a better wyll. 
 
^ How Arthur lyenge in the woode all hurte / appered to hym 
 an auncyent knyght the ivhiche helyd hy j and after tolde vnto hym 
 the place where as Olyuer was pryfoner in. Capitulo. hi. 
 
 N complaynynge hym the beeft kepte hym foo 
 ftraytlye that he fmote hym downe to the erthe 
 vnder hym / and helde hym fo faft with his nayles 
 that all that he had holde of was in pyeces / in fuche 
 wyfe that Arthur myght not remeue hym. For all that oure 
 lorde the whiche neuer forgeteth his frendes at theyr nede / 
 forgate not this getyll knyghte / nor wolde not fufFre the loffe 
 of hym. For y^ beeft that helde hym fo ftraytlye / lete goo her 
 holde that ftie helde with her feete / for to take hym with the 
 tethe to deuoure hym/ but whan Arthur felte his armes delyuered / 
 he that had yet his fwerde fmote hym vnder the nauyll / the 
 whiche was not fo harde as the backe / and thryfted hym to the 
 herte. And whan the beeft felte hym wounded / in caftynge a 
 grete crye lete hym fall to the erthe. And Arthur that felte 
 hym delyuered / gaue hym fo many ftrokes that he flewe hym. 
 It was not longe after that the daye came / but that recomforted 
 hym nothynge for he myght not from one place / as he that 
 abode but the dethe / bycaufe of the woundes that he had receyued. 
 And thus as he was in daiiger as ye haue herde / yet agayne he 
 herkened towarde the foreft / and apperceyued a thyge comynge 
 towarde hym / wherfore he thoughte better to haue ben deed 
 than afore. Therfore he fayd / Ryghte gloryous vyrgyn Mary 
 be myn aduocate / and that ye wyll to daye prefent my poore 
 foule afore the face of thy bleflyd fone. For I fe well that the 
 houre is comen that I muft departe out of this worlde. That 
 thynge approched more nerer and nerer. And whan he was all 
 mooft at hym. Arthur knewe y' it was a man clothed in whyte 
 whiche began for to faye Kynge of Algarbe god falueth the. 
 
And whan Arthur herde hym named kynge / he made the fygne 
 of the croffe and fayd vnto hym / arte thou a thynge of the 
 other worlde. I thynke y' thou arte tranfmyfed from god / 
 fyth that by hym thou haft falued me. For otherwyfe thou 
 coude not haue knowen my name / And therfore I praye the 
 that thou haue pyte on me / & that thou do fo moche that I 
 may be aledged of my hurtes / and that I maye be put out of 
 this foreft wherin I haue had fo moche to fufFre. This man 
 anfwered to hy Arthur thou haft not fayled for to fay that 
 I^am of god. For fo it is. And thynke that I am comen 
 for your aledgemente. Then he alyghted of his hors / and 
 fatte hym downe on the erthe befyde hym / & drewe out of 
 his purfe a boxe of golde full of precyous oyntementes / with 
 y^ whiche oyntement he anoynted and touched all his woudes / 
 and gaue hym a rote for to ete. And incontynente as he 
 hadde tafted of it / he was as hole and fafe as euer he 
 hadde ben. Wherfore his medecyne clothed in whyte dyde 
 bydde hym that he fholde thanke god / by whome he was fente 
 theder. Arthur dyde fo as he had comaunded hym / and gaue 
 louynges to god. Thenne the whyte man made hym for to 
 moute vpon his hors behynde hy and fayd to hym that he 
 fholde put hym out of the foreft. And then in goynge he fayd 
 to hym. Kynge of Algarbe / I knowe well wherfore that thou 
 arte departed out of thy countree. It is for to feke Olyuer of 
 Caftylle thy felowe wherfore I fhall tell you tydynges. Knowe 
 that after his departynge he arryued in the realme of Englade / 
 where as he hathe gouerned hym fo well that by his proweffe he 
 hathe wonne y^ onely doughter of the kynge the whiche is one 
 of the fayreft ladyes of the worlde / but a myfhap is fortuned 
 to hym / for a kynge of Irlande the whiche loued hym not / 
 bycaufe he had flayne his fader / hathe taken hj'^m profoner / 
 and hathe put hym in a dongeon / where as he fufFreth as moche 
 
myfery as ony man is poffyble for to fufFre. But haue no 
 doubte of his lyfe. For he fhall neuer deye vnto the tyme 
 that thou haft: caften hym out / and yf that I had to counfayll 
 the / and y' thou wolde byleue me / I wolde counfayll the for 
 to goo fyrfte to London / for to comforte the kynge and his 
 doughter. For thou knoweft that thou refembleft Olyuer / & 
 that it is all one thynge / wherfore Helayne fhall thynke that 
 thou arte her lorde / and fhall guaryffhe bycaufe of thy comynge / 
 and truely yf that thou hafte the not thou fhalte neuer fe her / 
 for fhe is fyke vnto the dethe / go and lye with her to the ende 
 that they byleue the better that thou arte Olyuer / but beware 
 the well thou thynke not on vylanye / nor dyfhonoure / for thou 
 fholde ofFende to gretely. And after that thou feeft her in y^ 
 waye of helthe departe the and come vnto this foreft / for thou 
 fhalte here tydynges of me here. In thefe deuyfes he ledde 
 hym out of the woode / and made hym defcende / then Arthur 
 fette hym on his knees / as afore a holy thynge and thanked 
 hym / but incontynent he loft the fyght of hym without 
 knowynge where he became. 
 
 ^ How Arthur by the counfayll of the whyte knyght wente 
 towarde the kynge of Englande at London / And of the foye 
 that they made hym thykynge that it hadde ben Olyuer. 
 Capitulo. Ivij. 
 
 S Arthur foude hym alone in his waye / he thanked 
 god / and dyde fo moche that he came to the fee / 
 where as he foijde a Ihyp that wente in to Englande / 
 and entred in to it / & whan he was in Englade / 
 the fyrft towne y' he entred in was Bryftowe / where as he was 
 knowen for Olyuer. And incontynent the tytynges were fpred 
 all aboute. And fome adreffyd them vnto London / and came 
 
 P 2 
 
and tolde the kynge. The whiche whan he knewe it / he was 
 fo replenyfflied with loye / and his herte foo clofe with loye / 
 that he hadde letten hymfelfe fall to y^ erthe / yf fome of his 
 feruauntes had not fufteyned hym but for all that they muft here 
 hym to bedde / where as he was a fpace of tyme without ony 
 knowlege. Neuertheleffe he felle aflepe / and whan he was awaked 
 he demaunded of them of his chambre yf it were true that Olyuer 
 was alyue / and yf he dyde come. They anfwered hym ye / 
 wherof he was ryght gladde / and thanked god but afore he 
 knewe not whether that they had tolde it hy or yf that he had 
 dremed it. Thus as they were in thefe deuyfes came a fquyre 
 and knocked at the chambre dore that fayd that they fholde axe 
 the kynge yf he wolde fee Olyuer / the whiche wolde come 
 fhortely / for he was not more tha a myle of. The kynge fente 
 fone for his horfes and mounted vpon hym / for to goo agaynft 
 hym. In lyke wyfe euery body wente in to the feldes / for to 
 fe hym that was fo moche defyred. And whan Arthur apper- 
 ceyued the people that came agaynft hym / the teres were in 
 his eyen / and began for to bewayle his felowe. And dyde fo 
 moche that he approched the kynge / and whan y« kynge ap- 
 perceyued hym that he had not fene of thre yere before / hym 
 femeth that it is none other but Olyuer and alfo to al the other 
 of his companye / wherfore with bothe his armes abrode he ranne 
 to hym / and beganne for to embrace hym fo ftrongly that it 
 was meruayl / but he myght not fpeke one worde to hym. And 
 whan that he myght fpeke / he fayd that he was ryght welcome / 
 & that he had done grete almeffe for to retorne and comforte 
 this realme that was fo replenyffhed with dolour bycaufe of his 
 departynge. Arthur anfwered to hym. My lorde that the whiche 
 hathe ben done / was done agaynft my wyll / nor other thynge 
 I maye not faye / but by the pleafure of god I Ihall gyue more 
 loye and lyeffe vnto this realme bycaufe of my retornynge / 
 
than euer there was forowe for my departyng. And am more 
 redyer for to do you feruyce than euer I haue ben. Wherof I 
 doo thanke god. 
 
 ^ How Arthur came and vyjyted Helayne / the whiche hadde 
 wende y' he had ben Olyuer her hujbande j and of the Jolempnyte 
 that was made. And howe that he laye with her withouten 
 vylanye. Capitulo. Iviij. 
 
 Fter thefe deuyfes Arthur falued the noble men that 
 were in the kyges companye / and generally al the 
 other / but there came fo many / that it was not 
 poffyble for them for to entre in to y« cyte. Wher- 
 fore it was force for them for to brynge a grete and a hye chayre 
 of Cypres / vpon the whiche Arthur mounted / to the ende that 
 he were fene on euery fyde / for to contente the people y^ better. 
 Then it was cryed that euery body fholde retorne / & after 
 Arthur mounted vpon horibacke. And whan he entred in to 
 London / none can not deuyfe to you the loye that was made 
 on euery fyde / y^ ftretes were hanged ladyes and damoyfelles 
 were at the wydowes / the noyfe was fo grete that it was meruayll 
 for to here. And in fygne of more gretter loye / bothe more 
 and leffe cryed Te deum laudamus. And whan they approched 
 the palays Helayne that was ftrongly fyke / herde y^ noyfe 
 where as fhe laye / and demaunded what it was / but none durft 
 not tether / for fere leeft that the fodayne loye fholde haue ben 
 to grete. Wherfore they abode the mayftres that dyde tell a 
 ferre what it was. Whan fhe knewe it w' her handes loyned vp 
 to heuen fhe beganne for to thanke god in faynge. O redemp- 
 tour of humayne lygnage I rendre to the graces and thankes / 
 whan that afore my dethe I maye fe hym that hathe put me in 
 foo grete doloure. ^ Come now dethe whan that thou wylte / 
 
for I Ihall abyde the loyoufly / fyth that I knowe that my 
 fouerayne lorde is comen / it can not greue me. The fayre 
 and good Helayne hadde grete talent for to fee hym that fhe 
 wende hadde ben her hufbande/but Arthur was in grete thought 
 how he myght demeane hym towarde y^ wyfe of his felowe. 
 For all that whan his botes were of / he wente towarde Helayne 
 for to knowe how fhe dyde / And whan fhe fawe hym / fhe 
 was a grete whyle or that fhe myght fpeke. But whan that fhe 
 myghte fpeke / fhe fayd that fhe dydde well fyth that fhe fawe 
 hym in good helthe. The oure of fouper came / and therfore 
 Arthur toke leue of her / and prayed her that fhe wolde make 
 gode chere / and that fhe wolde thynke for to make her hole. 
 The ladyes and damoyfelles of the cyte of London were fomoned 
 to fouper / & there was made a meruaylous loye / but yet it 
 fholde haue be more gretter yf it hadde not ben for Helaynes 
 maladye. And it was defended by the kynge that none fholde 
 werke of .viij. dayes but eche anenfl hym made the feefl as 
 grete as they myght. Arthur by the counfayll of the medecyns / 
 was excufed for to lye with Helayne bycaufe of her maladye / 
 wherof he was loyous without makynge ony femblaunt / but 
 w' in fhorte fpace fhe gate vp and founde guaryfon & helth. 
 And fo moche that within a lytell tyme the phyfycyens gaue 
 hym leue for to lye with her / foo as he dydde. And whan he 
 was in bedde with her / he remeuyd not oute of his place / but 
 the fayre Helayne dyde not fo / for fhe that of longe tyme had 
 not had the enibrafynge of her lorde / bega for to approche / 
 but Arthur drewe backe and fayd to her / my loue withdrawe 
 you in to your place agayne for I haue made auowe that neuer 
 by embracynge / nor otherwyfe I fhall touche your body tyll 
 that I haue payed a pylgrymage that I haue promyfed vnto 
 faynt lames / wherfore I praye you that ye be contente / and 
 after I fhall come to you agayne / for as fone as I may I wyll 
 
paye it / and after by the grace of god we fhal make good chere. 
 Helayne herynge Arthurs wordes dyde his comaundement In 
 faynge to hym that it was well reafon for to holde that whiche 
 he had promyfed to god and to Saynt lames. Then Ihe began 
 for to deuyfe a ferre with hym / in demaundynge hym where 
 as he had ben / Arthur badde her that flie fholde not fpeke to 
 hym / for Ihe myght not knowe it / wherfore Helayne deported 
 her at that tyme. 
 
 IF How Arthur vnder the vmbre for to goo to Saynt yames / 
 departed for to fynde his felowe Olyuer / & of the whyte knyght 
 that ledde hym nere where as he was. Capitulo. lix. 
 
 N fuche eftate was Arthur well the fpace of a 
 mone / he in the kynge of Englandes courte the 
 whiche made hym as good chere and honoure as 
 he wolde haue done to Olyuer / thynkynge that it 
 hadde ben he / and alfo dyde Helayne / & all the other. And 
 whan he fawe that Helayne had ouercomen her maladye / and 
 that there was no more daunger / he came towarde y« kynge 
 and fayd to hym that he dyde owe a Ayage to Saynt lames / 
 and that he mufte nedes do it withouten ony companye / wher- 
 fore he prayed hym that he wolde be contente that he myght 
 go alone / and that he wolde retorne agayne as fhortely as he 
 myghte. The kynge alked hym yf that he was wery of his 
 wyfe alredy / and he anfwered nay. After he toke his leue of 
 the kynge for to departe / and on the morowe the kynge prayed 
 hym that he wolde not tary / and alfo that he fholde take fome 
 company w' hym / but Arthur wolde not do nothynge / and fo 
 departed all alone after that he had taken his leue of the fayre 
 Helayne / and promyfed her that he fliolde retorne ryght fliortly. 
 He dyde foo moche that he arryued in the foreft where as he 
 
had fouden the whyte knyght. Neuertheles he durft not entre/ 
 for fere of the wylde beeftes / and therfore he abode the trouthe 
 of his knyght there. And he was there foo longe that he ap- 
 perceyued hy comynge. Then Arthur falued hym / and he 
 rendred to hym his falute. Thene he made hym to mounte vp 
 behynde hym / and fayd to hym. My frende Arthur haft thou 
 good wyll for to haue agayne thy felow / dareft thou put the 
 in auenture for to recouer hym. Truely fayd Arthur there is 
 nothynge but that I wolde do it for to recouer hym. Now I 
 Ihall tell y« fayd y« knyght / thou arte armed at all pyeces / 
 wherfore thou ought to be the more hardyer. I aduertyfe the 
 that the kynge that holdeth Olyuer in pryfon / is a good myle 
 fro his place with a lytell company. There is from hens theder 
 .xxxiij. myle / and there is but thre knyghtes with hy all a fote / 
 but and I thought that thou durft fyght with them all foure for 
 to gete agayne thy frende. I fholde lede the theder in a lytell 
 fpace. Arthur thanked hym / and prayed hym that he wolde 
 do fo. The knyghte fmote y« hors with the fporres / and he 
 had not fo fone done it / but that in a moment he was there 
 as the kynge was. The he fhewed hym to Arthur and fayd. 
 Arthur defcende adowne for yonder is thyn enemye / and yf 
 that thou recouer Olyuer / tell hym that the knyghte clothed 
 in whyte dothe falue hym / the whiche dyde brynge the heder. 
 
 II How Arthur toke the kynge that helde his feloive in pryfon / 
 and how that he delyuered hym. Ca. Ix. 
 
 Ncontynent Arthur alyght / and toke leue of y*" 
 knyght / the whiche vanyffhed fone awaye / & 
 Arthur dyde fo moche that he approched to the 
 kynge. And incontynent he efcryed hym to the 
 dethe / and then he fette hande to his fwerde & gaue one of 
 
his knyghtes fuche a ftroke / that he cloue hy to the tethe. 
 The feconde he fmote of his harme and his fholder. The thyrde 
 he keft downe deed. The kynge had but a Ihorte dager wher- 
 with he defended hym valyaiatlye / but in the ende he fledde / 
 and Arthur folowed hym & gaue hy fo grete a ftroke with 
 the platte of his fwerde that he fmote hym downe aftonyed / 
 & then he fayd to hy. A fals traytour kynge / thou canft 
 not denye but that y^^ haft the kynge in thy pryfon / wherfore 
 enforce the for to rendre hym to me / or elles I make auowe 
 to god I fhal fmyte of thy heed. The kyge cryed hym mercy 
 and fayd / O noble knyght faue my lyfe and I fhall rendre 
 hym to the agayne. Arthur promyfed hy that he wolde faue 
 his lyfe / fo that he wolde fende hym to hym incontynente / 
 & that he wolde promyfe hym to lette them go fafe. ^ The 
 kynge promyfed hym that he wolde do fo. And then he 
 departed all mate / and dyfcomfyted / and he dyde fo moche 
 that he came in to his caftell. And incontynent as he was 
 there / he commaunded that Olyuer fholde be drawen out. 
 Whan Olyuer was afore hym he fayd. Kynge I pray the that 
 thou flee me afore that I entre in agay in pryfon. The kynge 
 fayd to hym that it wente not foo / for a knyght hathe acquyted 
 thy pryfon / and I promyfed hym to fende the to hym. Thene 
 he badde gyue hym newe clothes / fo as it was done / and then 
 he gaue hym leue / but at the departynge he fayd. Olyuer I 
 fe my dethe approche / fyth that I delyuer the / and I haue 
 well deferued it. Neuertheles yf prayer maye haue place. I 
 befeche the for to pardo me. Olyuer that was more fympler 
 than a mayden / fayd to hym. My frende that that ye haue 
 done to me / hathe ben withouten caufe / for all y' I promyfe 
 you that as for me I Ihall neuer tell no body of the Iniurye 
 that ye haue done to me / but & it be knowen by other / 
 & that fome make you warre / I wyll not helpe you. The 
 
 a 
 
kynge thaked hym and fayd that he wolde abyde tyll than. 
 They mounted bothe on one hors all alone withouten other 
 companye. And wente fo moche that they founde Arthur. 
 ^ Olyuer knewe hym fooner than Arthur dyde hym. Wher- 
 fore he fet fote on grounde and ranne to hym with ftratched 
 armes and embraced hy. Who that hadde fene the knowlege 
 of thefe two faythful felowes / he Iholde haue had a harde herte 
 yf he hadde not wepte. They helde eche other embraced with- 
 out ony fpeche. Olyuer feynge his felowe that myghte not 
 fpeke / he had his herte fo full of loye and pyte that he myght 
 do nothyge but kyfle hym and colle hym. On the other fyde 
 Arthur that fawe y^ fayre face in whiche the ladyes toke theyr 
 folace for to beholde it fo pale with pryfonynge where as he 
 hadde ben in / hadde not leffe forowe than Olyuer. For all 
 that he was the fyrft that fpake and fayd. My ryght fwete 
 lorde & felowe / this lourneye hathe ben fore defyred on my 
 partye. I gyue louynges to god that I haue founde you. A 
 whyte knyght hathe brought me hether / the whiche falueth 
 you / & charged me to tell it you. Olyuer anfwered hym. 
 Arthur my broder by your boute & loyalte ye haue done fo 
 moche for me / that I can neuer rendre you to guerdon. I 
 praye to god that he rendre you the rewarde / for I am not 
 fuffycyent for to do it. 
 
^ How Olyuer and Arthur departed frame the realme of 
 Jrlande / and toke theyr waye towarde London. And how 
 Olyuer by Jre keji Arthur downe of his hors / bycaufe that he 
 hadde layne with his wyfe. Capitulo. Ixi. 
 
 His notwithftandynge that they bothe fhold haue 
 done dyfpleafure to the kynge of Irlade that was 
 there prefent / for all that he feynge the know- 
 lege and loue that they fhewed / demaunded theym 
 yf that they wolde that he fholde gyue to eche of theym a 
 good courfer /but thenne they fayd naye / but and he wolde 
 gyue to them the hors that he rode on / he fholde do them 
 a grete pleafure / and that it fholde fufFyfe at that tyme for 
 them bothe. The kynge fayd that he was contente / and gaue 
 hym theym. Thefe tweyne mounted vpon hym / and Arthur 
 rode afore / for he was a lytell wounded. And fo they put 
 them on the waye / and dyde foo moche that they arryued 
 in Englande. But afore that they were there ye maye well 
 thynke that they had dyuers wordes togyder / and eche of 
 them demaunded of others tydynges. Whan they came in to 
 Englande Olyuer fhaued his berde to be y" more gentyller. 
 But they wolde haue none other hors / but that fame that they 
 were comen on / and cocluded to tell the trouthe of theyr 
 aduenture / without declarynge the place of his pryfonemet / 
 and alfo without gyuyng ony knowlege of whens they were / 
 nor whome. And they of Englande were all abaffhed to fe 
 thefe two men vpon one horfe / & femblable. And fayd that 
 Olyuer had broughte one of his brederne fro faynt lames / 
 but they coude not knowe whiche was Olyuer. Thus as ye may 
 here the two felowes approched within a myle of London. And 
 foo as they deuyfed Olyuer demaunded Arthur yf euer he hadde 
 ben at London. And he fayd ye more than a monethe / by 
 
 a a 
 
the counfayll of the whyte knyght / for to comforte the kynge / 
 and the lordes of the realme / and alfo for to gyue helthe vnto 
 Helayne his wyfe / the whiche at that prefente tyme was fyke 
 vnto the dethe / and that he hadde made them for to byleue 
 that he was Olyuer / Olyuer demaunded hym howe that he hadde 
 gouerned hym towarde his wyfe. And Arthur fayd to hym 
 that he hadde layne with her. And wha Olyuer herde thefe 
 tydynges / he put out of remembrauce the feruyce that his 
 felowe hadde done vnto hym / and as haftye and full of furour/ 
 he kefb Arthur downe that was mounted afore hym / fo rudely 
 without more enqueryge / that he brake one of his legges in 
 fallynge. Then he lepte in to the fadell and paffed forthe on 
 his waye without retornynge hym / or makynge femblaut of ony 
 thynge / and whan he was paffed he wyft not what he fholde 
 do for to retorne and flee hym. But he thought within 
 hymfelfe that he fholde myfdo to gretely / feynge the loue that 
 hadde ben afore tyme bytwene them. And alfo y^ grete feruyce 
 that he had done for hym / as to haue taken hym oute of that 
 place fo full of myferye / from whiche he fliolde neuer haue 
 departed yf he had not ben. Wherfore he cocluded y' for all 
 thefe feruyces he wolde leue hym his lyfe / but this was not 
 but that he thought that he hadde done his wyll with his wyfe / 
 and gaue hymfelfe meruayle howe that in fo noble a herte 
 myght lodge fo moche treafon. 
 
H How Olyuer demeaned grete forowe for the dyfpleafure that 
 he had doone vnto Arthur his felowe ivithouten caufe. Capitulo. 
 
 Ixij. 
 
 Lyuer rode longe in thefe thoughtes. And whan 
 he came to the courte/and that the tydynges came 
 to the kynge / and to Helayne that Olyuer was 
 comen agayne / they were all abaflhed / for they 
 knewe well that in fo Ihorte a fpace as he hadde be out that 
 he coude not haue ben there. Neuerthelefle they were ryght 
 gladde & loyous. And the kynge made hym grete chere wha 
 he fawe hym. But with payne he coude knowe hym bycaufe 
 he was fo lene / and demaunded hym what fykenes he had 
 fyth his departynge / and who had put hym in fuche eftate. 
 For as hym femyd he fawe neuer man fo fore chaunged in fo 
 fhorte fpace. And Olyuer fayd to hym that neuer fyth his 
 departynge he had had helthe. Fayre fone fayd the Kynge ye 
 be comen in to this countree for to helpe you. And then he 
 demaunded hym why he hadde not ben at faynt lames / as he 
 had tolde them at his departynge. Olyuer fawe well that his 
 felowe had made them to byleue at his departynge that he 
 wente to faynt lames / wherfore he fayd. My lorde my malydye 
 hathe letted me / and yf it pleafe god / whan that I am hole 
 I may do it better with myn eafe / and with gretter company, 
 whan it came after fouper / he toke the foneft leue of the 
 kynge that he myght / as he that hadde grete wyll for to lye 
 with his wyfe the whiche was fo excellente / and that of loge 
 tyme he had not fene her to whome he coude none euyll wyll 
 of ony thyge that was happened her / nor that his felowe had 
 done. For he knowe wel that fhe coude not do withall / and 
 that ygnoraunce made her for to do it thynkynge that it had 
 ben he. whan he was a bedde with his wyfe •/ he began for 
 
to colle her and kyfle her / wherof flie was all abaffhed & 
 fayd. My lorde ye haue forgeten the promeffe that ye made 
 to Saynt lames. Olyuer demaunded her what it was / and how 
 quod Ihe / doo ye not thynke on that ye haue layne with me 
 more than a monethe withouten touchynge of me / and that of 
 all that whyle I myght not haue of you one onely kyffe / and 
 ye tolde me that it myght not be tel that your vyage were 
 done. I haue herde you faye that ye haue not ben there / and 
 therfore I praye you my dere lorde yf that ye haue promyfed 
 ony thynge to god / that ye wyll holde it. Olyuer demaunded 
 her of euery thynge fo ferforthe / that he apperceyued the loyalte 
 of his felowe. wherefore tenderly wepynge he withdrewe hym 
 abacke from his wyfe / and of all that nyghte he flepte not / 
 but fayd to hymfelfe that he was the moofh vnhapp3"e / that 
 euer was borne of moder. And that the euelles and trybulacyons 
 that he had endured had not doone hym the hondreth parte 
 of dyfpleafure that he had at that prefent tyme. And fayd that 
 and his felowe had ony hurte / that he fholde neuer haue loye 
 and that yf he were deed that he Iholde flee hymfelfe / for had 
 well deferuyd it. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer departed from London and came to the place 
 where as he had lefte his felowe / and cryed hym mercy. Capitulo. 
 
 Ixiij. 
 
 Ecydently he abode in that doloure and dyftreffe 
 tyll it was daye / and incotynente as it was daye 
 he arofe & made to fadell his hors vpon y«^ whiche 
 he mounted and dyde fo moche/that he arryued 
 in y^ place where as he had lefte Arthur / and whan he founde 
 hy not he began for to ferche hym on euery fyde / and as he 
 wente heder / and theder / he herde towarde the wood a voyce 
 
that conplayned hym ryght bytterly / wherfore he wente theder- 
 warde. And whan he approched nere there / he knewe y^ it 
 was his felowe / that with ryght grete payne had withdrawen 
 hym oute of the waye vnder a tree. And whan Olyuer fawe 
 hym he fet fote on grounde. And truely he had foo grete 
 doloure that he myght not fufteyne hyfelf. And I thynke yf 
 that god had not helped hym / that he had fallen in dyfpayre / 
 and fmyten hymfelfe thrughe y^ body with his fwerde that he 
 hadde drawen oute. And the fyrfte worde that he fayd to his 
 felowe was fuche in caftynge hymfelfe on his knees afore hym / 
 with the naked fwerde in his hande. ^ Alas my broder beholde 
 this caytyfe in pyte / the whiche hathe fo greuoufly offended 
 the / wherfore take this fwerde and flewe me / & with all my 
 herte I pardon the / for the furplus of my lyfe Ihall be in 
 dyftrefle and forowe. Arthur feynge his felowe fo meke hym 
 towarde hym fayd. My ryght dere broder / & loyall felowe I 
 praye to god that he pardon you / and I doo. And thynke 
 that it is a thynge more poflyble for to deuyde all the thynges 
 that god hathe made / than to departe the loue of vs twayne / 
 tyll the dethe. Whan Olyuer herde hym fpeke fo hubly / he 
 wolde gladly haue ben deed. And coude not tell what to do 
 faue to wepe perfoiidely befyde hym. Wherfore Arthur prayed 
 hym for to loke how that he myght be hadde thens / for he 
 fuffred / & had fufFred the nyghte afore fo moche dolour bycaufe 
 of his hurte that it was meruayll. And then Olyuer axed hym 
 yf that he myght abyde fo longe / tyll that he hadde ben at a 
 lytell vyllage nere them for to fetche a charette / Arthur fayd 
 ye / and prayed hy for to hye hym. Olyuer wente and made 
 fuche dylygence y' within a fhorte fpace he brought one / vpon 
 the whiche he put hym / and in this wyfe he was brought to 
 Lodon fore fyke / and Olyuer was in it alfo for to here hym 
 companye,. And made for to be gyue hym a houfe / and 
 
feruauntes. After that this was done Olyuer made all the kynges 
 phyfycyens and furgyens for to come / the whiche put Arthur 
 in poynt. And they dyde fo moche that within fhorte tyme he 
 wente aboute the chambre. Olyuer that vyfyted hym often 
 tolde to his wyfe how euery thynge wente / and had ben / and 
 that by the fpace of a moneth another man had layne with her / 
 the whiche was all abaffhed / and fwore to hym that in no 
 maner of the wo ride he had not touched her / not afmoche as 
 to kyffe her. The kynge in lyke wyfe dyde demaunde of Olyuer 
 what maner a man he was / that he hadde brought in fuche wyfe 
 theder. And Olyuer fayd vnto hym that it was one of his 
 good felowes / the whiche hadde ben nouryffhed with hym fythe 
 his yonghthe. And thenne Olyuer beganne for to recoute vnto 
 the kynge of Englande / the grete loyalte / and alfo loue that 
 he had to hym / & in lyke wyfe how y' he had layne with his 
 wyfe and the maner how that he had conduyted hym and after 
 the payne / & trauayle that he had fufFred for to put hym out 
 of pryfon where as he was in. And of the grete valyautyfes 
 that he hade done for that caufe. then he recounted the pyteous 
 guerdon & rewarde that he had gyuen hym. wherefore he prayed 
 the kynge that he wolde honoure hym as moche or more than 
 hymfelfe. For he was more worthy it than he. 
 
 H How Arthur after that he was heled fajfed ouer f fee / 
 and had vengeaunce on the kynge that had kepte Olyuer pryfoner. 
 Capitulo. Ixiiij. 
 
 He kynge was gretely abaflhed / and fayd y' it 
 was one of the meruaylous hyftoryes that euer he 
 hadde herde / & fayd to Olyuer that he coude neuer 
 do hy fo moche honour / but that he ought to doo 
 hym more / and alfo yf yt he loued hym wel / he Iholde do 
 
nothynge but that he oughte to do. For neuer broder had 
 done for another that y' he had done for hym / wherfore he 
 coude not to moche deferue it. And that as touchynge his 
 parte he wolde doo hym as moche honour as fholde be poffyble 
 to hym / and fente for his chamberlayne / and his mayfter 
 ftewarde / and other gouernours / and commaunded them that 
 fuche and femblable eftate as his fone Olyuer had / fholde be 
 gyuen to Arthur. And began for to tell them all alonge that 
 y^ whiche Olyuer had reherfed to hym / referued that he made 
 no mencyon how that Arthur hadde layne with his doughter / y<= 
 whiche was not a thynge for to recounte / for it was a defloyalte/ 
 but the kynge kepte hym well from tellynge of it / bycaufe that 
 there was / and is many folke / y' paraueture wolde fooner haue 
 thoughte euyll than good / wherfore he deported hym. ^ After 
 the kynges commaudement all thynges were ordeyned as he had 
 deuyfed. And dyuers knyghtes and fquyres were reteyned of 
 Arthurs houfholde / the whiche began for to gete vp / and the 
 kynge vyfyted hym ryght often. Alfo dyde the fayre Helayne / 
 that made no femblaunte of nothynge. And foo moche paffed 
 on thefe thynges that Arthur was heled. And whan it came y' 
 he myghte walke aboute in the courte / and haue acquayntaunce 
 with the noble men that remayned therin / euery body began 
 for to loue hym / bycaufe of the humblenes that he was replete 
 with. And the kynge hymfelf loued hym alm.ooft as moche as 
 Olyuer his fone in lawe. And wha he fawe that he was in the 
 grace of euery body / he forgate not y'^ wronge that the kynge 
 of Irlande hadde done to his felowe / wherfore he demaunded 
 hym on a daye yf that he hadde ony wyll for to auenge hym. 
 And Olyuer fayd naye / and fayd that he had perdoned hym. 
 And how quod Arthur haue ye fo feble a courage that ye dare 
 not auenge you on your enemye / by the fayth that I owe to 
 god / it fhall not abyde foo. And then all euyll contente he came 
 
 R 
 
towarde the kynge / & tolde hym all alonge in what pryfon 
 Olyuer hadde ben in / and prayed hym y' he wolde gyue hym 
 men for to auenge Olyuer /for he knewe well that Olyuer hadde 
 no talente for to doo it. Whan y' the kyng herde Arthur fpeke 
 fo / he toke it more greuoufly at his herte than Arthur dydde / 
 wherfore he fayd to hym. My fayre frende lette my fone haue 
 his wyll / for it may be that he hathe made fome promeffes 
 afore that he yffued oute of pryfon. Ye be well the man for 
 to auenge hym without ony more that he niedle hym therof. 
 And then the kynge reyfed vp a grete armye of y^ whiche Arthur 
 was the chyef Capytayne / the whiche were not foo fone arryued 
 in Irlande but that the Kynge theyr enemye the whiche had 
 knowlege of theyr comynge / gaue them batayll / where as was 
 flayne dyuers men vpon bothe fydes / but fynally the Iryffhmen 
 were dyfcomfyted / and the kynge fledde / & was affyeged in 
 one of his places / that was not well garnyffhed with vytaylles / 
 wherfore it myght not holde longe. So whan he fawe y' he 
 had noo more mete / and that it was force for to yelde hym / as 
 a valyaunt man he fayd that he had leuer deye in the felde in 
 auengynge his dethe with the cuttynge of his fwerde on his 
 enemyes / than for to yelde hy at theyr volente / and prayed 
 the lytell folke that he had for to do well / and then armed them 
 and made to open the gates of the fortreffe in fmytynge on theyr 
 enemyes / and flew many at the fyrfte bronte / but there was 
 foo many men agaynft them that they coude not efcape. And 
 fynably the kynge and all his men were flayne. After his dethe 
 all his realme yelded them / and were contente for to haue 
 fuche a lorde as the kyng of Englande wolde aflygne them. 
 
1l How Arthur fell in a grete maladye / and of the dyfpleafure 
 that Olyuer had. Capitulo. Ixv. 
 
 ^^^^^ ^ Hefe thyges done Arthur and his company retorned 
 in to Englande / where as they were fefted of the 
 kynge / of Olyuer / and of all y^ other lordes. And 
 the kynge gaue Arthur the realme of Irlande that 
 he had conquered of newe. And the Iryflhemen were fent for / 
 the whiche came and dyde hym homage & feate/wherby Arthur 
 was more puyffaunt tha afore / but this was not but that he 
 demaunded often of Olyuer what thynge dydde meue hym y' 
 he made hy not to be knowen / for then euery ma wolde haue 
 made hym better chere / and the kynge wolde haue ben ryght 
 loyous / for to haue maryed his doughter fo hyghlye. Not- 
 withftandynge that it fuffyfed hy. Alfo he tolde hym how that 
 after his departynge his fader had neuer loye / and thought that 
 angre hadde put hym to dethe / wherfore Olyuer wepte ryght 
 ftrongely for the dethe of his fader / for hym femed yf that he 
 were deed / that it was for his fake / & prayed hym that he 
 wolde not as yet tell what he was / for it was yet tyme ynoughe 
 for to make them to be knowen / and that whan 4:hat it fholde 
 pleafe them they myght do it. Arthur that wolde all that his 
 felowe wolde / dydde not dyfobeye hym in nothynge. Alfo Olyuer 
 made to bere more honour vnto hym than to hymfelfe / and 
 pleafed hym the . mooft that • he myght. Truely the two loyall 
 felowes made fo many nowe thynges that all they of the realme 
 reioyfed them. Al theyr thoughtes was but for to make good 
 chere and loyous & that the whiche the one wolde the other 
 wolde alfo / and theyr two hertes were more agreynge tha theyr 
 femblaunce / that was all one thynge. Thus as je here they 
 paffed the tyme in loy / but fortune that is moder of all trybu- 
 lacyon had enuye of the goodnes of thefe two loyall brederen 
 
and perfyte felowes / for in a lliorte tynie all theyr laughynges 
 and loyes were chauged in to wepynges and lamentacyons / for 
 Arthur was foo greuoufly fyke that the phyfycyens iuged hym 
 but deed but he was not fo happy for to deye / at euery tyme 
 that he wyffhed it. His fekenes was without comparyfon of aril 
 them that euer hadde ben fene / for in a maner of wormes de- 
 fcended from his braynes / the whiche ete all his face / wherby 
 he was fo ftrongely dyffygured / that there was neuer man more. 
 Out of his body yfTued fo grete a ftynke / that none myght 
 approche hym faue Olyuer / y' at euery thynge was aboute 
 hym / and wolde not departe fro hym. He fente for all y^ 
 mayftres furgyens on euery fyde / and prayed theym yf that 
 they coude fynde ony remedy for his fayre broder that they 
 fholde fpare for nothynge. And fynably none coude put no 
 remedye to it / And this fykenes helde Arthur fo longe that 
 he was blyde. Whan Olyuer fawe hym fo blynde that he femed 
 better deed than alyue / he mayde ryght grete forowe / fo moche 
 that euery body hadde pyte on hym. Often Olyuer fayd vnto 
 Arthur / my broder yf there be ony thyng that ye knowe that 
 I may do for to helpe you /fpare it not for vpon my fayth I 
 wolde be the pooreft man in the worlde / fo that ye had your 
 helthe. 
 
 % Of the dreme and vyjyon that Olyuer had by four nyghtes j & 
 in lyke ivyfe it femed to Arthur that his helthe ivas in the power of 
 Olyuer his felowe / and y^ he muf do 'it for to held'hym. Capitulo. 
 
 Ixvi. 
 
 Y broder and faythfuU felowe fayd Arthur ye doo 
 me more good than I haue deferued wherfore I 
 thanke you / and pray you that ye wyll pray to 
 god for to fende dethe to me for and it were his 
 wyll I wolde fayne be out of this myferye. ^ It happened that 
 
Olyuer flepte vpon a nyghte / and dremed that it was well 
 poflyble to fynde helthe for his felowe. And Arthur dremed 
 in lyke wyfe that it was in Olyuers power for to hele hym / 
 and they had this vyfyon foure dayes togyder / wherof Olyuer 
 was fore ameruayled. He came to fe his felowe and declared 
 to hy his dreme / and his felowe fayd that dremes were but 
 abufyon / notwithftandynge he tolde hym that by thre dayes he 
 had dremed / and hym thoughte y' a thynge fayd to hym that 
 he myght hele hym / and none other. Olyuer fayd to hym 
 wolde to god that it were in my power for to hele you / for 
 and I myght do it / ye fholde be Ihortly hole / or elles I praye 
 to god that he neuer gyue me his paradyfe. Wha it came to 
 the nyght and y' Olyuer wente to bedde / he fette hym on his 
 knees afore his bedde prayng our lorde y' he wolde gyue hym 
 knowlege of that vyfyon / that foo often tymes had happened 
 hym. And with this that he wolde tell hym in what maner 
 that he myght hele his felowe. Then he layde hym downe / 
 and he was not foo fone a Hepe but that a voyce fayd to hym 
 fo hyghe that he awaked. Olyuer thy felow may not be heled 
 tyll that he drynke of the bloode of two Innocetes / fone and 
 doughter / the whiche muft be flayne / and theyr blode medled 
 togyder / and thenne gyue it hym to drynke / but he muft 
 not knowe of it wha he shal drynke it / for and he knewe it 
 he wolde not drynke it for nothynge. Whan Olyuer herde 
 this he was al abaffhed and thought for to haue refoned hym 
 ferder forthe / but the kynge was gone and fayd no more. 
 Helayne had herde nothynge of all this. Vpon the morowe 
 he wete to fe his felowe as he was accuftomed / and axed hym 
 how he had done that nyght. Arthur knewe hym by his voyce / 
 for he had loft his fyght / and prayed hy for to approche to 
 hym. And whan he felte hym he enbraced hym fayng My 
 ryght fwete broder ye be my dethe and my lyfe / for a voyce 
 
hathe tolde me this nyght that it is poflyble for you to hele 
 me /nor other thynge coude I not knowe. Olyuer fayd to hym 
 what he wolde well that it were fo / & then he departed fro 
 thens / and after that he had herde maffe / he withdrewe hym 
 aparte in to a lytel chambre / and began for to thynke on that 
 whiche he had herde on the nyghte afore / then he fette hym 
 on his knees before an ymage of the gloryous vyrgyn Marye / 
 the whiche he had of cuftome for to falue / and began for to 
 faye thus / Ryght gloryous vyrgyn Marye I praye the that 
 by thy pyte thou wylte counfayll this vnhappy. I haue my 
 felowe fyke the whiche hathe done fo moche for me that I can 
 neuer deferue it. It hathe ben fayd to me whether it is by god 
 or not / that who fholde fie two chyldren a fone and doughter / 
 and that theyr blode were medled togyder / and that it were 
 gyuen hym to drynke / that he fholde hele. Ryght fwete 
 lady I haue two chyldren / a fone & a doughter of kynges 
 blode. ^ NeuerthelefTe yf that I knewe that I fholde not 
 ofFende the hyghneffe of thy fone and the / I fholde flee my 
 two chyldren / for to rendre to my broder his helthe. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer for to gyue helthe & guaryjon to his feloive / 
 Jlewe his two chyldren for to haue the bloode that Arthur myght 
 drynke it. Capitulo. Ixvij. 
 
 Ha Olyuer had made thus his coplaynte to y^ 
 vyrgyn Marye / & that he had had dyuers ymagy- 
 nacyons / as well of the loue y' he had to his 
 chyldren / as y' whiche he had to his felowe / he 
 concluded for to flee his two chyldren for the loue of his felowe / 
 faynge y' he hadde nothynge more dere than his felowe / and that 
 y^ loue that he loued his two chyldren with / was nothynge for 
 to compare to that the whiche he loued his felowe with / 
 
Wherfore he departed fro his chambre / and came in to that 
 of his two chyldren. And whan he was entred he comaunded 
 all the ladyes for to auoyde oute / the whiche dyde his com- 
 maundement. And whan he founde hymfelfe alone he Ihytte 
 the chambre dore / and bare a bafyn / and a naked fwerde in 
 his hande vnto the bedde of the two chyldren the whiche flepte / 
 and were not yet ryfen / Whan he approched nere the bedde / 
 he lyfte vp the couerlette / and founde them flepynge ryght 
 fwetely. The lytell fone that was of y'= aege of .v. yere awaked / 
 and incontynente as he fawe Olyuer / nature taught hym for to 
 make hym chere / and in fmylynge named hym fader. The 
 doughter that was the yonger neuer lefte flepyge whan the 
 fayd Olyuer fawe the / he confydered whiche of them two he 
 fholde flee fyrfte / & bycaufe that the fone began for to fpeke 
 to hym / he hadde foo grete pyte in his herte that he reculed 
 abacke / & for all the worlde he wolde not haue fmyten them / 
 and then he fayd to hymfelfe. How may nature fayle fo moche 
 for to fufFre the fader for to flee his chylde. Nor how may 
 there be foo moche cruelte in a man for to cofente to murdre. 
 Alas y^ fayre & good Helayne / what pyteous tydynges fliall 
 corne vnto your eeres / whan that ye fhall knowe y' I haue 
 flayne your chyldren / what fhall ye faye. Certaynly your 
 pyteous herte may not endure it. And with that that ye lefe 
 your chyldren / ye fhal lefe your hufbande alfo / for he dare 
 not abyde in this realme for y^ fere of your fader that fliall 
 put hym to dethe / for he is well worthy. And certes the 
 dombe beeflies hathe more reafon than I haue / vnto whome 
 nature dothe teche for to kepe theyr fruyte to the dethe / and 
 truely I ought for to refemble vnto them. I oughte to put me 
 in peryll of dethe for to faue my chyldren /but thus it fliall 
 not go. And in faynge this he approched to the bedde / and 
 yet lyfte vp the couerlet agayne / and drewe hym by the arme 
 
and fayd. Vnhappy chyldren / ye ought well for to curfe your 
 fader / and his lyf whan he hathe engendred you and put you 
 in this worlde from whiche ye muft departe. Thus faynge full 
 doloroufly with the teres defcendynge a longe his face / and the 
 fwerde in his hande redy for to fmyte / nature & reafon put 
 afore hym that it fholde be to grete dommage / & cruelte. And 
 lyberalyte fayd to the contrary / that for to rendre helthe to 
 his felowe he coude not do to moche / y'^ whiche he byleued / 
 and in puttynge all feres behynde / with one ftroke he fmote 
 of bothe theyr hedes / and then he put the bafyn vnderneth / 
 and receyued as moche blode as he myght haue / and thenne 
 he layde them in theyr bedde agayne / and the hedes in theyr 
 places foo as they hadde ben alyue. He toke a mautell with 
 the whiche he couered it / and fo bare it / in lockynge the dore 
 after hym and toke the keye with hym / to the ende that none 
 fhold entre to know what was done. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer in a bafyn of fyluer brought the blode of his two 
 chyldren to his felowe j and made hym to drynke it j and was all 
 heled. Capitulo. Ixviij. 
 
 Lyuer all alone holdynge the bafyn in his handes 
 came in to y<= chambre of his felowe and made to 
 auoyde all them that were there / and then after 
 he toke a lytell pot full of the blode that was yet 
 all hote / and gaue it to his felowe Arthur for to drynke / that 
 knewe nothynge what it was. And the hyfhorye maketh mencyon 
 that as fone as he had tafted of it all the vermyne of his heed 
 fell of And with this he kefte oute all the vapours of his body/ 
 in fuche wyfe that he felte hymfelfe of all poyntes heled / faue 
 the fleffhe that was eten of his vyfage was not fo fone comen 
 agayne. But Olyuer by thre or foure tymes waffhed it / and 
 
gaue hym the furplus for to dryke fo moche that he had agayne 
 his fyght and his helthe. And whan Arthur felte hymfelfe 
 heled / he kneled downe for to kyfle the feete of his felowe. 
 And Olyuer that was gladde of the guaryfon and helth of his 
 felowe fayd to hym. My frende gyue thankynges to god /and 
 after to my chyldren the whiche I haue flayne for thy hehhe / 
 And to the ende that thou byleue • it the better lo there y^ 
 bafyn that is yet all blody of theyr blode. Arthur heryge and 
 feynge this meruayll / hadde fo grete abhomynacyon / and was 
 foo meuyd at his herte / that with payne it can be fpecyfyed / 
 and fayd to hym. ^ Ha ha Olyuer how may there reft fo grete 
 cruelte and tyrannye in a manes herte as in thyn/that hathe 
 flayne thy two chyldren for me that am a ftraunge man / and 
 nothyng of thy kynne. Truely I wolde be deed / fo that it hadde 
 not happened fo to the. Olyuer fayd to hym my frende I was 
 theyr fader / and feynge that I haue put them to dethe / thou 
 arte nothyge culpable /for it was not at thy requeft / wherfore 
 holde the contente. But my ryght loyall felowe there is another 
 thynge / for it is nedefuU that the departyge of vs twayne be 
 made. Wherfore I recommende my wyfe vnto the / and praye 
 the that thou wylte comforte & helpe her. For I knowe well 
 that fhe fhall haue grete nede of helpe whan flie fhall knowe 
 that the whiche is happened. All the golde of the worlde fholde 
 not kepe me yf the kynge knewe it. Wherfore it is force for me 
 for to departe / and go in to fuche a place where neuer tydynges 
 fhall be herde of me / and where as I maye ferue god al y« 
 remenaunt of my lyfe for to purge my vyces & fynnes. Whyles 
 that Olyuer fpake to his felowe / the lady that had the kepynge 
 of the two chyldren had be at Helayne and complayned her 
 ftrongely of that / that fhe knewe not in what eftate the chyldren 
 were / and excufed her faynge that and there came ony euyll 
 to them / that it was by the fayd Olyuer. 
 
^ Of the grete my rack that god dyde to Olyuer for his 
 
 loyalte / in reyfyng his two chyldren to lyfe that he hadde 
 
 Jlayne. Capitulo. Ixix. 
 
 Lyuer thought that it fholde be a thyge inhumayne 
 for to fe his two chyldren byheded / wherfore he 
 wente in to the chambre where as they were /for 
 to haue put them in a place where neuer tydynges 
 fholde haue ben herde of them. And this wolde he do afore 
 his departynge. Wha he had lyfte vp the couerlet / he opened 
 the wyndowe that was fhytte for to fe them more playnly / and 
 then he came towarde his chyldren with y^ teres in his eyen / 
 and in caftynge his regarde on them / he apperceyued that they 
 hadde lyfe / and played bothe togyder. ^ Whan Olyuer fawe 
 this myracle / for pure loye he fell in a fwowne to the erthe. 
 And wha he was aryfen he enbraced and kyffed them a .M. 
 tymes / and thene he fayd. ^ O innumerable puyflaunce of 
 god that no man can comprehende I rendre vnto the prayfynges 
 & thankes / of the goodnes that thou haft done to me poore 
 fynner / in fhewynge thy grete pyte and mercye. He toke his 
 two chyldren in his armes and lapped them in a clothe all blody. 
 And the fyrfte that he encountred was his felowe Arthur to 
 whome he fayd. Broder reioyfe the / goo and fe the kynge / 
 and do fo moche that he folowe me to the chyrche that I go 
 to. In lyke wyfe my wyfe and all them of the courte that ye 
 may fynde. Then Olyuer paffed forth all alone thrughe the 
 ftretes / and he dydde foo moche that he came to the cathedrall 
 chyrche of Poules where as he commaunded that all the belles 
 fholde be rongen / to the ende that all manere of folke fholde 
 come theder. He mounted on hye for to be herde of euery 
 body. And then he began for to faye whan he fawe that the 
 kynge was comen / and that the chyrche was full of folke. 
 
Ryght puyffaunt kynge of Englande thou haft maryed thy 
 doughter to a man vnknowen / for ye knowe that I neuer 
 reherced to you of my lygnage / notwithftandyng thynke that 
 my condycyons be not fo hye and foo vertuous as they ought 
 to be / and that apperteynethe to my lygnage / the whiche is 
 ryall / for I am fone of a kynge and of a quene / and at this 
 prefente tyme kynge of Caftyll. But neuer fyth the deceffe of 
 my fader / and that the realme is fallen to me I haue not be 
 there. But my wyll is nowe for to go theder/and make me to 
 be crowned kyge and my wyfe quene. Wherfore I befeche you 
 noble kynge that ye wyll accompany me and youre doughter 
 theder / for it is reafon that I retorne better accopanyed than 
 I came forthe. Notwithftandynge that I had taken leue of the 
 ryghte puyflaunce Kynge of Algarbe / my faythfull felowe that 
 is there. I lefte hym a lettre by the whiche I prayed hym that 
 yf he fawe the water of a glaffe that I had lefte hym chaunge 
 his coloure / that he fholde put hym in queft after me / for I 
 fholde than haue nede of helpe. He forgate it not / for he loked 
 fo moche that he fawe it chaunge /and it was at the houre that 
 I was taken in Irlande. Whan he apperceyued it / he that is a 
 kynge redoubted / and regente of Caftyll in abydynge of my 
 retorne / hathe habandonned landes and poffeflyons / and all 
 other thynges for my loue / and all alone without ony company 
 put hym on the waye / and made auowe to god that he fholde 
 neuer reft tyll that he hadde herde tydynges of me. 
 
 s 2, 
 
^ How Olyuer afore the kynge of Englande and the other 
 barons of the realme j tolde his aduentures and meruaylous 
 fortunes. Capitulo. Ixx. 
 
 Fter Olyuer began for to recoute all the aduentures 
 of Arthur / as well of them of the foreft / as of y^ 
 other / and how that he hadde foughten with the 
 kynge of Irlande / & four of his knyghtes that helde 
 liym in pryfon / & dyde fo moche by force of armes that he 
 dyde vaynquyffhe hym / and flewe his men. And after fayd 
 in this maner contynewynge by conclufyon. By the moyen 
 of my broder & loyall felowe Arthur I am delyuered from the 
 place where as I fholde neuer haue yffued out. And in guerdon 
 of all thefe thynges I broke one of his legges. Now it is hap- 
 pened after all thefe thynges that he hath had a meruaylous 
 fykenes / not foure houres ago. And fo as I defyred fome 
 thynge y' myght hele hym. It happened me to haue a vyfyon / 
 and was tolde to me y' who that wolde gyue hym a drynke 
 of the blode of two Innocentes / fone and doughter medled 
 togyder / that he fholde haue helthe. So it is happened for to 
 gete hy helth y^ with this fwerde I haue flayne my propre 
 chyldre / and byheded them for to rendre to hym his helthe / 
 the whiche he hathe / wherfore I gyue thankynges vnto our 
 fauyour. And after that I fawe hym heled I thought for to 
 haue departed from this realme. But yet I came in to the 
 chambre for to fe my chyldren that I had flayne / the whiche 
 by the wyll of our lorde that hathe extended his grace / and 
 pyteous mercy on me poore fynner / hath founde them alyue / 
 and playnge the one with the other. Wherfore faders and 
 moders that hathe chyldren / thynke in what doloure I was in 
 wha I put them to dethe. And what loye that I haue herde 
 whan I fe the reuyued. Then he toke his two chyldre and 
 
afore all the people fhewed them alyue / lapped in the clothe 
 that was all bebledde of theyr blode. Wherfore all they that 
 were there prefent / were mouyd with inwardly pyte / that with 
 wepynges and lametacyons they made a grete bruyte. The kynge 
 wepte for grete loye and pyte. The poore Helayne that fawe 
 her chyldre fo / myghte not fupporte herfelfe but fell in a 
 fwowne. And whan fhe was comen to herfelfe / llie came to 
 her chyldren in fhewynge to the moderly loue / & fhe coude 
 not be fulfylled with kyflynge / and pyteous remuneracyon. 
 Bryefely it was a pyteous thynge for to be in that chyrche / 
 for fome wepte for loye and the other for pyte. And whan 
 the forowe was a lytell afwaged the kynge al wepynge came 
 and enbraced Olyuer faynge. ^ Noble kynge bleflyd be our 
 lorde whan he hathe gyuen me the puyflaiice for to mary 
 my doughter fo nobly / as to a kynge that is extracte of fo 
 noble a lygnage. Ye recoute vnto vs y^ mooft meruaylous tale 
 that euer was herde in ony countree. And ye maye well ymagyne 
 that they that fhall here it after vs fhall faye thus for for euer- 
 more the compaynye of you and of your broder as loge as the 
 worlde fhall endure ought to be recounted for the not femblable 
 that euer was herde or that fhall be. 
 
 ^ How Olyuer Jente Arthur in to Cajiyll j for to notyfye his 
 comynge. And how the kynge of Englande accompanyed Olyuer 
 in to Cajiylle. Capitulo. Ixxi. 
 
 He myracle was publyffhed thrughe the realme of 
 Englande. And after all thefe thynges they beganne 
 for to make loyous feeftes in welcomynge the kyge 
 of Caftylle that was than knowen. And euery body 
 fayd that the kynge was happy for to haue maryed his doughter 
 foo. And fayd that it was meruayll that he had kepte hym fo 
 
longe clofe. The kynge of Englande fente for the lordes and 
 ladyes of his countree. And helde one of the greteft feeftes that 
 euer he had made. Olyuer prayed theym all that they wolde 
 accompanye hym in to Caftylle to be at his coronacyon. And 
 they accorded hym all / and the kynge hymfelfe fayd that he 
 wolde go with hym / and Olyuer thanked hym. And after 
 prayed the kynge of Algarbe his felowe that he wolde do foo 
 moche as to goo in to Caftylle for to denounce his comynge. 
 Arthur fayd that he wolde do it gladly. He departed from 
 Englande well accompanyed / and dyde foo moche that they 
 arryued in Caftylle / where as he tolde the comynge of the 
 kynge / & of his wyfe the kynge of Englandes doughter. Whan 
 y'= tydynges were denounced that he was come / and that Olyuer 
 came after / euery body thanked god / and apparaylled them for 
 to receyue hym in the mooft honourableft wyfe that they 
 myghte. They of the realme affembled them / and by counfayll 
 ordeyned for to make feeft from the fyrfte towne of the realme 
 where as he fholde entre / vnto the lafte that he Iholde pafle 
 by. And all at y^ expence of the realme. Whan Olyuer 
 thought that his felowe myght be well in Caftyll / he made 
 that the kyge was contente to departe. And departed from 
 London the fayreft / and the mooft noble companye / and the 
 beft in poynt that euer was fene vpon a daye. Helayne was 
 accompanyed of ladyes and damoyfelles in fuche wyfe that it was 
 grete pleafure for to beholde theym of theyr lourneys I can not 
 deuyfe to you / but they dydde foo moche that they arryued 
 in Spayne / where as they were feefted of all the grete lordes 
 that they pafled by. And whan they approched nere Caftylle 
 Arthur and all the grete lordes came agaynft them. And wel- 
 comed theym ryght gracyouftye / and loyoufly in thankynge 
 god of theyr comynge. Then they made reuerence to theyr 
 lorde / & to theyr newe queue alfo. The whiche femed them 
 
the fayreft lady that euer they had fene. Alfo they falued the 
 kynge of Englande in ofFrynge them to his feruyce / And whan 
 they were entred in to the fyrft towne of the realme / the ftretes 
 were hanged / & pagentes vpon fcafFoldes / and there was foo 
 many other playes that they wyft not y^ whiche they myght 
 beholde. The ladyes were in the wyndowes foo rychely clothed 
 that it was meruayll. And whan it came that they entred in to 
 the prynces place / all that they had fene afore was nothynge 
 to that y^ whiche they fawe there. They were fo wel feruyd at 
 fouper that it was meruayle. And fynablye in all the townes 
 that they pafled by they founde newe thynges and alwaye better 
 and better. From the begynnynge of the realme all the com- 
 panye were at the good Olyuers expences. In that eftate they 
 came vnto the cyte of Vaudolytys / where as they founde the 
 olde quene of Caftyll Olyuers ftepmoder / & Arthurs owne 
 moder / the whiche at the requeft of her fone Arthur / was come 
 oute of the realme and countree of Algarbe for to faye vnto 
 the fayre Helayne that was newe quene / that fhe was welcome / 
 and to Olyuer fem.blably. Alfo in that fame Cyte was the mooft 
 ryalte as in the pryncypall cyte. ^ And whan it came that 
 they were defcended at the palays / y^ quene Arthurs moder 
 came agaynft them ftrongely accompanyed with ladyes and 
 damoyfelles / & welcomed the newe quene / & alfo y« kynge 
 of Englande her fader. And on y^ morowe Olyuer was crowned / 
 & helayne alfo. And at the dyner the kynge of Englande / the 
 kynge of Caftylle / the kynge of Algarbe / & the two other 
 quenes were fet at one table / & all .v. were crowned. 
 
^ Here it deuyjeth how the kynge and f other lordes and ladyes 
 dyde departe. And how y" whyte knyght appered to Olyuer / 
 and opprejfed hy for to holde his promejje / whiche was for to 
 gyue hym y'^ halfi of his wynnynge hycaufe of the torneyment . 
 Ca. Ixxij. 
 
 Fter thefe thynges and that the kynge of Englande 
 hadde ben there by the fpace of two monethes / he 
 demaunded Olyuer yf that he wolde not retorne in 
 to Englande / and he anfwered hym naye. And 
 fayd that he was more at his eafe in his realme that had be fo 
 longe without a kynge / than for to retorne in to Englande. 
 Then the kynge concluded to departe / and Olyuer conueyed 
 hym out of his realme. And whan it came that they fholde 
 take leue the kynge of Englande fayd to hym. My fone and 
 my frende Olyuer I recomaunde vnto you my doughter your 
 wyfe / and I pray you yf that I haue nede that ye wyll forgete 
 not me. And Olyuer fayd to hy naye / and that as often and 
 as many tymes as he fholde haue to do with hym that he 
 fholde fynde hym redy. And fo they toke leue / and the kynge 
 of Englande wente towarde Englande / & the kynge of Caftylle 
 retorned / in to his coutree / where as he founde his broder 
 Arthur kynge of Algarbe / y^ whiche wolde retorne in to his 
 coutree / and ledde agayne his moder that tooke leue of the 
 kynge without makynge ony mencyon of ony thynge y' had 
 happened afore. And whan he founde hymfelfe alone / and was 
 delyuered of all ftraunge men / he vyfyted his realme / and made 
 his ordynaunces foo fayre and fo good that euery body was 
 contente. He with helde dyuers lordes of the realme of Caftylle 
 of his courte / with fome of Englande that were abyden with 
 hym. And as he had ben there a whyle he was knowe of all 
 the noble men / that loued hym as theyr lyfe. They were all 
 
reioyfed of the two fayre chyldren that they had / the whiche 
 dyde encreafe in aege / in condycyons / and in beaute that it 
 was meruayll. And whan it came to the knowlege of them of 
 the countree of the fayre myracle that had happened / all the 
 worlde was abaffhed how he had / had the courage for to flee 
 them / for they knewe wel as to the regarde of the myracle 
 that the puyfTauce of god is fo grete that none can com- 
 prehended it. Thus as ye here the kynge of Caftylle lyued 
 in loye with his fayre and good fpoufe / refours of all his 
 fykenefles and aduetures / and aledgynge of all his dolours. 
 Euery body loued and dreded hym fo moche that neuer kynge 
 of Caftylle was foo obeyed of his fubgectes. It happened on a 
 fomer daye aboute foure a clocke that the daye was fayre and 
 clere / and as the kynge of Caftylle flepte with his wyfe / a 
 thyge came and knocked at the chambre dore foo meruayllous 
 ftrokes that it hadde almooft broken the dore. The kynge 
 awaked and demauded what it was. That fame thynge anfwered 
 open the dore & thou flialte fe / or elles I fhall breke it. Whan 
 the kynge herde hym fpeke foo he put on his fherte / and toke 
 his naked fwerde in his hande and came and opened the dore. 
 It was not foo foone open but that he knewe that it was his 
 knyght / that at his nede had alwaye focoured and feruyd hym. 
 And yet he was clothed in the whyte gowne that he hadde 
 at the houre that he departed fro hym. Whan the kynge fawe 
 hym he toke hym in his armes and fayd. My frende ye be 
 welcome. And he anfwered / welcome or yll come / yet am I 
 comen / and not for to tell you ony thynge that is pleafaiit. 
 The kynge fayd that he coude faye nothynge that fholde 
 dyfpleafe hym / for he had good remebraunce of the promefle 
 that he had made to hym / and was redy for to holde it. 
 
^ Here it maketh mencyon of the fayd whyte knyght. And 
 of the grete dolour that Olyuer and his wyfe demeaned for theyr 
 chyldren / of whiche the whyte knyghte toke the fine for his 
 parte / and of other myjieryes of the quene. Capitulo. Ixxiij. 
 
 Hey entred bothe in to y^ chambre where as they 
 founde Helayne a bedde / that was all abaffhed wha 
 fhe fawe the knyght clothed in whyte entre in to 
 the chambre. ^ The kynge badde her aryfe / foo 
 as flie dydde / and whan fhe was redy / the knyght prayed the 
 kynge that he wolde kepe his promeffe / and that he wolde 
 kepe his fayth/ The kynge Olyuer hadde then all the thynges 
 redy and apparaylled. For it was of longe tyme purueyed in 
 abydynge the whyte knyght / and had departed all thefe thyges 
 in twayne / and began for to faye vnto the knyghte in this maner. 
 My frende I Ihall begynne at the lewelles of my wyfe without 
 the clothynge that hathe ben eftymed a mylyon of golde / lo 
 there the keye take the whiche that ye wyll / for all is departed 
 in halfe / & my treafoure in lyke wyfe ye fhall chefe the whiche 
 halfe that ye wyll. After the mouable goodes of my ho us that 
 I am ferued with / 1 thynke that ye haue but lytell to do with 
 them / faue the veffell. And that vpon his fayth he hadde 
 departed in two all that he hadde wonne and moore to / for 
 the mooft parte of his treafour proceded of the realme of 
 Caftylle / and that and he had euer ony thynge of that of 
 Englande / he fholde be lorde of the luft halfe as he hadde 
 promyfed hym. The knyght fayd that he was not contente 
 and fayd to hym. ^ Kynge ye leye to me of that whiche ye 
 faye / for ye do not departe it fo to me as ye haue promyfed. 
 Haue ye not wone wyfe and chyldren. The kynge fayd ye. 
 Then fayd the knyghte I oughte to haue parte. ^ Whan the 
 kynge vnderftode hym he fet hym on his knees / & prayed 
 
hym with loyned handes that he wolde leue hym his chyldren/ 
 and that he wolde gyue hym the halfe of his realme and with 
 that y*^ refydue of his treafoure. In lyke wyfe the poore Helayne 
 in grete humylite with the teres in her eyen prayed hym y' he 
 wolde haue pyte on her / and on her burde / and that he were 
 contente for to take that the whiche her hufbande dyde ofFre 
 hym / by fuche moye y' the chyldren fholde abyde to them. 
 The knyght fayd to hym. Dame I wyll do nothynge for you 
 nor for none other. And yf that ye wyll not do it / it is well 
 in my power for to make you recompence it full derely. Then 
 the kynge commaunded the moder for to fetche her chyldre/ 
 the whiche fhe dyde and founde them a bedde and made them 
 to aryfe / and clothed them / and then broughte them. Whan 
 the kynge fawe them he demaunded the knyght yf that he 
 wolde be contente for his realme & his treafoure for to rendre 
 to hym his chyldren / yf prayer myght haue ony place. The 
 knyght fayd naye. Now fayd y^ kynge fyth that it gothe thus / 
 chefe whiche that ye loue beft. The knyght fayd that he wolde 
 haue the fone / bycaufe that he knewe that he loued hym befl. 
 The kynge all wepyge toke his fone by the hande and gaue 
 hym to the knyght faynge / My fone and my chylde I recom- 
 maunde the in to the garde of our lorde / the pleafure of thy 
 yongthe hathe lytell endured me. Who that than had fene 
 the poore Helayne take leue of her chylde / he fholde haue had 
 a harde herte yf that he had not wepte / and Helayne wepte 
 haboundauntly faynge. Chylde ryall wherfore haue I borne 
 the whan that I mull be confentyng of thy perdyccyon. O 
 ryght noble realmes of Englande and of Caflylle to daye ye 
 Ihall lefe your kynge and lorde. After this the knyght wolde 
 haue halfe of the fayre Helayne / the which thynge Olyuer 
 coude not vnderftande how it myght be but yf that he Iholde 
 llee her / wherfore he comytted the dede to the knyght. And 
 
 T 2 
 
then the knyght anfwered vnto hym that he was noo murderer 
 of ladyes / and alfoo y' it was no reafon that he fholde paye 
 hym with his hande / for he knewe well that he mufh paye hym 
 hymfelfe y' the whiche he had promyfed hym / and then fayd / 
 yf that thou hye the not it fhall myfthynke vs bothe. Whan 
 Olyuer fawe that he myght haue none other thynge / he came 
 towarde his wyfe & fet hym on his knees in praynge her that 
 Ihe wolde pardon hym her dethe. The good helayne fayd that 
 fhe wolde pardon hym with good herte and then fhe embrafed 
 hym in faynge. Ryght noble kynge the dyfFerence is grete of 
 the loyous acquayntaunce that we had fyrfte togyder / at the 
 tyme that ye were called Olyuer. Ha the ryghte dolourous 
 departyge that to daye fhall be made of vs two. After that 
 Ihe hadde fayd thefe wordes / fhe made her oryfons to god and 
 to the virgyn Mary / in cryenge mercy to god for all her fynnes / 
 & that he wolde put her foule in the glorye of paradyfe / & 
 that yf her lorde had done ony fynne for to flee her / that he 
 wolde pardon hym. And whan fhe had ended her prayers and 
 fayd her oryfons / fhe came towarde her lorde and hufbande / 
 and kyffed hym with the teres defcendynge from her eyen / and 
 fayd that fhe was redy for to abyde the dethe. Wherfore fhe 
 toke leue of hym / and of her two chyldren / and fette her vpon 
 her knees with her hades ioyned towarde heuen / in recommaun- 
 dynge her vnto god. As fhe that abode but the ftroke of 
 dethe. Whan the kynge fawe her in that eflate as a man halfe 
 oute of his wytte approched and in lyftynge vp his fwerde wolde 
 haue clouen her in two pyeces. 
 
% How the knyght had pyte on Olyuer hauynge knoivlege 
 of his loyalte / and quyted hym all. And then he made hym to 
 be knowen hym / and tolde hy what he was. Capitulo. Ixxiiij. 
 
 Han y^ knyght fawe this pyteous aduenture / he 
 lete not y« fwerde auale a downe / for he withelde 
 his arme & fayd / abyde kynge that I maye fpeke 
 to you / & to you quene / here me fpeke. Then 
 he began for to fay & demaunde the kynge / yf that he had 
 no remembraunce of a knyght that was named fyr lohan Talbot 
 the whiche was deed in his company in the fentence of curfynge. 
 And yf that he remembred hym not how that he payed the 
 dette to the purgeys / and made hym to be buryed. The kynge 
 anfwered ye. And I tell the fayd the knyghte that I am that 
 fame knyghte / and that fame that ferued the at the torneyment 
 of Englande / and bycaufe that thou haft done me pleafure / I 
 rendre to the all thy moneye / and all hooly thy fynaunce that 
 thou hafte gyuen me. And in lyke wyfe I rendre to the thy 
 fone / and quyte the in lyke wyfe the halfe of thy Vv^yfe / that 
 whiche I haue done hathe ben for to affaye the and thy 
 fraiachyfe. To the furplus I fhall tell the wherfore at the fyrfte 
 daye of the torneyment I clothed y^ in blacke / that was 
 fygnefyaunce of y^ obfcurete that I was in. The fecode daye 
 that was in rede / fygnefyed my paynes in purgatorye. The 
 laft daye in whyte / fygnefyed my faluacyon / for fo as y^ whyte 
 is vyrgyn / for it was neuer foylled by fteynynge / wherby it 
 is pure and clene. In lyke wyfe I am fo at this prefente tyme / 
 for by the and by the caufe / I am aledged of all my doloure / 
 and now I go in to the holy glorye of paradyfe / to fe y^ pre- 
 fence of my creatoure that is the reioyfynge of the faued / 
 wherfore I take leue of the / for there as I go thou mayft not 
 come yet / but be thou fure that I fhall praye for the. Then 
 
he vanyCfhed awaye / and in theyr prefence he mounted in to 
 heuen gloryoufly in caftynge the beames of his clerenes vpon 
 the wyndowe that the kynge and the quene lened vpon. The 
 whiche in a lytell whyle was oute of theyr fyghte. ^ Then 
 they fette them vpon theyr knees in rendrynge graces to theyr 
 creatour / and after that they had made theyr oryfons in 
 thakynge god / they began for to make the one to the other 
 ryght pyteous acquayntaunce / foo moche and by fuche maner 
 as yf the quene had ben aryfen from dethe at that fame houre. 
 The kyng of Caftyll that neuer had receyued one goodnes / 
 but that he hadde receyued ten euylles agaynfl it / lyued in 
 loye w' his ryght welbeloued wyfe / and had neuer dyfpleafure 
 after that / faue all loyes vnto the houre of his dethe. Helayne 
 was ftrongely feke for the fere that flie had hadde durynge the 
 whiche maladye Arthur came in to Caftyll for to fe Olyuer / 
 to whome Olyuer made ryghte grete chere / and fone after that 
 Helayne gate vp / the whiche was caufe of more gretter loye / 
 and all loye & myrthe was in the realme of Caftylle / there 
 was no fpekynge of nothynge faue to make good chere. The 
 fone and y^ doughter of the kynge were alredy grete / in fo 
 moche that y^ doughter was redy for to be maryed. Wherfore 
 the kynge fayd vpo a daye to the kynge of Algarbe / my broder 
 I haue but one felowe in all the worlde / and that is you. For 
 ye may wel auaunte you that ye be parfonere of the goodes 
 that god hathe gyuen me. And therfore as A-nto my broder I 
 wyll tell vnto you myn aduyfe. Fynably ye be to mary & as 
 yet hathe no wyfe / wherfore I am gretely ameruaylled that ye 
 haue abyde foo longe. I haue two chyldren a fone and a 
 doughter / and by my fayth yf that I thoughte that ye were 
 contente for to mary you / I wolde gyue you my doughter in 
 maryage / and therfore loke and my doughter dothe pleafe you / 
 & yf that ye thynke that fhe is for you I gyue her to you. 
 
Or yf that it femeth you better dies where take it. Ye maye 
 faye here pryuely your wyll / for y^ loue that I haue to you 
 maketh me for to faye thus to you. 
 
 *ir How Olyuer of Cajiylle gaue his daughter in maryage to 
 his felowe Arthur of Algarbe / and of the dethe of Olyuer 
 and of Helayne his wyfe. Ca. Ixxv. 
 
 Nd whan that Arthur Kynge of Algarbe herde the 
 kynge of Caftylle fpeke fo humbly he thanked hym 
 in faynge y' he dyde to hym more honoure than 
 apperteyned to hy / and fyth that it was his pleafure 
 for to gyue hy his doughter / that he fholde be ryght 
 vngracyous for to refufe her. Whan the kynge of Caftylle 
 vnderftode that his felowe hadde grete wyll for to atteyne to 
 this maryage / he fente incontynent after all the noble me of 
 his countree. And whan they were all affembled he made y^ 
 fpoufaylles of Arthur and his doughter fo grete and fo plenteous 
 of all goodes / that it coude be noo more. And this feeft 
 endured a longe tyme. In the whiche whyle tydynges came 
 in to Caftylle that the kyng of Chyppres was affyeged of the 
 infydeles / and requyred the kynge of caftylle of helpe and 
 focoure / and alfo all the other cryften prynces. Whan this 
 tydynges came to the knowlege of the yonge prynce the kynges 
 fone / he made a requefte to his fader that he wolde gyue hy 
 leue and ayde for to goo to the whiche he accorded / and gaue 
 hym a grete armye but he retorned neuer after agayne / as 
 treateth more at longe the cronycles of Caftylle. For after 
 that he hadde delyuered the realme of Chyppres of theyr 
 enemyes / he wente in to Turky where as he conquered dyuers 
 realmes that he made for to be Cryftenned. And yf that he 
 had not deyed yonge / he had ben a man for to haue conquered 
 
the mooft parte of the worlde. The kynge of Algarbe ledde 
 his wyfe in to his countree. And thre yere after his departynge/ 
 a ryght greuous maladye toke y« Kynge of Caftylle by the 
 wyll of cure lorde that of thefe thynges dyfpofeth at his plea- 
 fure / and was fo fyke that Helayne his wyfe / as fhe that abode 
 not but his dethe fente for the kynge of Algarbe / the whiche 
 was not fo fone arryued / but that the kynge of Caftyll palled 
 oute of this worlde in grete wepynges and lamentacyons of all 
 his fubgectes and frendes / and generally of his me and all 
 them that knewe hym. And whan the tydynges were pronouced 
 to Helayne / maulgre all them that kepte her Ihe came to fe 
 her lorde that was deed / & whan fhe was entred in to the 
 chambre and that Ihe approched the body / Ihe efcryed on hye. 
 A ryght puylTaunt kynge how I fe thy fayre face pale / by the 
 dethe anguyffhous / and thy furyous armes affebled / and in 
 faynge this Ihe lete herfelfe fall vpon the body / and Ihe arofe 
 neuer after / for of doloure her herte dyde breke and deyed. 
 Wherby the doloure was redoubled. ^ The poore kynge of 
 Algarbe demeaned fo grete dole that it was pyte for to fe. And 
 made innumerable lametacyons fo moche that it Iholde be to 
 longe to recounte it. In lyke wyfe the quene of Algarbe came 
 for to fee her fader & her moder that were deed / & Ihe made 
 fo grete dole that with grete payn Ihe myght be comforted. 
 Bothe the deed bodyes were buryed in one tombe / the whiche 
 was ryght pyteous to beholde. 
 
^ How Olyuers fone deyed in turky / & how Arthur was 
 kynge of Englande and of Caftylle. Ca. Ixxvi. 
 
 [One after that the grete dole had bP in Caftylle / 
 Olyuers fone that atte y^ tyme was theyr kyge was 
 enpryfonned by fome farafyns in y<^ marches of 
 Turky / but that was not but that afore his pry- 
 fonynge he had be crowned of thre realmes that he had 
 conquered / and bycaufe that there was no moo apperteynynge 
 he3Tes in caftyll than y^ queue of Algarbe Arthurs wyfe / they 
 made her queue / and crowned her hufbande kynge of the 
 countree / in doynge to hym fayth and homage. ^ A lytell 
 whyle after came tydynges to the kynge of Caftylle and of 
 Algarbe / that the Kynge of Englande grandfader of his wyfe 
 was decefled. And that the Duke of Gloceftre that was coufyn 
 germayne to the Kynge of Englande / had made hym to be 
 crowned kynge of the realme. Wherfore he fente in to Englande 
 for to knowe and it were by the confente of the noble men 
 of the countree. And for to knowe yf that he fholde not be 
 receyued for kynge as reafon wolde. It was anfwered to hym 
 naye / Wherfore he affembled a grete copany of folke / and 
 w' grete puyffaunce came and defcended in Englande / and dyde 
 fo moche by force of armes / after dyuers grete bataylles / that 
 he that fayd hym kynge was taken and put in pryfon / where 
 as he neuer yffued oute after. After he made hym to be 
 crowned kynge as reafon wolde / and y^ Englyfftiemen receyued 
 hym for theyr lorde / and foo he was kynge of Englande / of 
 Caftylle / and of Algarbe / & alfo he was kynge of one of y^ 
 realmes of Irlande. The furplus of his dayes he lyued in grete 
 profperyte and encreafynge of all goodes. He had thre chyldre 
 of his wyfe two fones and one doughter / that after his decefTe 
 they helde his lordfhyppes. The eldeft was kynge of Englande 
 
and of Irlande / and the other kynge of Caftylle / and his 
 doughter was maryed to the kynge of Portyngale / and he 
 had with her the realme of Algarbe / that yet apperteyneth to 
 hym. The two fones gouerned well & wyfely theyr realmes. 
 And were redoubted / and full dere holden of theyr fubgectes 
 and neyghbours. After / the dethe of the Kynge theyr fader / 
 and of the queue theyr moder. The furplus of theyr dayes 
 they lyued holyly in feruynge god and the gloryous vyrgyn 
 Marye. Then they pafTed out of this worlde ryght gloryoufly / 
 god for his holy grace haue mercy on theyr foules. And gyue 
 gode lyfe and longe / and encreafynge of all goodnes vnto all 
 them that this hj^ftorye fhall rede or here redde / and that 
 wryteth it or maketh it to be wryten / and alfo to all them 
 that fhall fe it. Ame. 
 
 51 "The epylogacyon of the booke. The laji Ca. 
 
 'Ryftotle the phylofophre fayth that the thyges 
 y' be fepared be vnderftonden & knowe more 
 dyftynctely / for y"^ whiche caufe the table hathe 
 ben made and put in the begynnyge of this pre- 
 fente boke for to vnderftade it y*^ better. And bycaufe that it 
 fholde feme to dyuers y' fome paflyues of thyftorye by fym- 
 plytude of impoffylyte ought not to be byleued for a trouthe / 
 for the meruayll y' is fayd. To the declaracyon of the paffages 
 of thyftorye by maner of epylogacyon this lafle chapytre is 
 compryfed. And to the regarde of Olyuer and Arthur that 
 were fo lyke / the dyfFyculte is not to grete / for whan y' two 
 chyldren be of one aege / and of one felte complexcyon hauyng 
 fome fymj'lytude of vyfage / & corfage / facylly one may be 
 taken for another / namely bycaufe they be nouryffhed togyder / 
 fpekynge all one langage / clothed in feblable clothes / inftructe 
 
vnder one mayfter / holdynge and kepynge all one maner of 
 doynge and countenaunce / all this togyder / and dyuers other 
 thynges make the them be fayd femblable. 
 
 ^ To the regarde of the quene that was efpryfed of the 
 loue of Olyuer / it was but fragylyte naturall of women that 
 foloweth fenfualyte agaynft honoure. 
 
 ^ Touchynge y*^ water of the glafl'e that ought to trouble 
 at Olyuers daunger / by this ye muft not vnderftande that it 
 was water elemental! in his nature / but bycaufe that Olyuer 
 was all vertuous / & that his vnderftandynge was all gyuen to 
 good / and to loue god / perfeuerynge in good and vertuous 
 operacyos / and fleynge all vyces and fynnes / god permyfed 
 that Arthur had knowlege of y^ aduerfytees happened to Olyuer 
 his felowe by the chaungynge of the water of the fayd glaffe / 
 by the prayer of his felowe Olyuer made vnto god / eue fo 
 as he had wryten in the lettre / and all this to the ende that 
 of them were memorye afterwarde / for to knowe the puyffaunce 
 of god / and the meruayles that on them he wolde fhewe / as 
 on his frendes & good cryften men / and for to gyue example 
 vnto the other. 
 
 ^ Afmoche as it toucheth of the fortunes happened vnto 
 Olyuer and Arthur / as well on the fee as on the lade it is 
 but a thynge naturall / and of femblable happeneth often by 
 the dyfpofycyon of the weder / but that whan y' they were 
 preferued from deth / that was y^ wyll of god / and thynges 
 myraculous that were fhewed on them. 
 
 ^ To the regarde of the whyte knyght that appered fo to 
 Olyuer / and gaue hym comforte and ayde in his nedes / god 
 had fente hym in rewardyge hym in this worlde of y^ grete 
 goodneffe and werkes of myferycorde that he hadde accom- 
 plyfQied in procurynge the abfolucyon of that fame knyght 
 that was holden for accurfed. 
 
 u a 
 
^ Where as it toucheth that Olyuer was taken by one of 
 the kynges of Irlande / and retayned pryfoner / and after 
 delyuered out of pryfon by Arthur / god caufed all this / to 
 the ende that the kynge of Irlande that vniuftely and without 
 caufe was enemye of his herte and traytour / for alredy by iuft 
 warre he had made to hym homage / and to the kynge of 
 Englande / the whiche put hy in his realme agayne / abode not 
 vnpunyffhed in this fame worlde of his euyll and traytourous 
 wyll / to the ende that all traytours take enfample by hym / 
 and kepe them from falfynge of theyr othe. 
 
 ^ To the regarde that Arthur coude not be heled but yf 
 he dranke of the blode of two Innocentes / fone & doughter / 
 god had done it and gyue it to vnderftande by reuelacyon for 
 to preue y^ loyalte and true loue of thefe two felowes / as we 
 rede of Abraham that was contente for to make facrefyce of 
 his fone Yfaac vnto god / in lyke wyfe Olyuer was foner . cotente 
 to hele his felowe by fleynge of his chyldren / than for to fe 
 hym deye / and it maye be that his chyldren were deed / and 
 after reuyued / or elles that god couered the murdre and femed 
 to Olyuer that they were deed / foo as it femed to the lewes 
 that Moyfes had homes / yet had he none. 
 
 ^ And afmoche as it toucheth that Olyuer was contete 
 for to flee his wyfe the queue for to kepe his promefTe vnto 
 the whyte knyght Syr lohan Talbot / to whome he hadde 
 promyfed the halfe of his wynnynge at the torneyment / he 
 was fo grounded and refolued in loyalte y' of his promyfe he 
 coude not nor durft not excufe hym. As we haue of kynge 
 Herode y' loued of faynt loha baptyft / but yet he wolde kepe 
 his promyfe to his doughter and make hym to be byheded / 
 than to fayle and breke y^ fayth of his othe. ^ And bycaufe 
 that to god is nothynge impoflyble / he hathe done for oure 
 doctryne dyuers myracles that ben worthy of memorye per- 
 
petuall / as }"= hyllorye fpecyfyeth here afore / made to y'= 
 prayfynge of god and of his gloryous moder / and to the 
 honour of the noble me / and to the felycyte of all loyall & 
 true louers. to the example of pacyentes / to the hope of the 
 cheualrous / and to the fertylyte and occupacyon of the tyme 
 falutarye. Amen. 
 
 ^ Here endetli y" hyjiorye of Olyuer of Cajiyile / and of the 
 fayre Helayne doughter vnto the kynge of Englande. Inprynted 
 at London in Flete Jirete at the Jygne of the fonne by Wynkyn 
 de Worde. The yere of our e lorde .M.CCCCC. and .xviij. 
 
€nml\ ^nivmiiifi | 
 
 Sitotig 
 
 FROM THE INCOME OF THE | 
 
 FISKE 
 
 ENDOWMENT 
 
 THE BEQUEST OF 
 
 FUND 
 
 lyibrarian 
 
 of the University 
 
 1 868-1 883 
 
 /^.i<?/ »f 3 
 
 1905 
 
 3:84