a) i rot v4 ; Sah et ee Seeks Takinsaie phytd.) - fa See pes a to 0 pew aL ti > * peeanaies wd aa Dean . + a a ae ae Se ee Keeani om ee Gua prac rereata le Mass Roles pied eet es re re > * moar te Agen » ap ere Pn ety 9 he ieeateek dene RO to mle etemetantakgeee nah eh lscila bp horaibiag cobalt ie Oe ee Sen Re Db -nbstedngeinthepaiy ee ey News on: tom | ae - aT me ae : ot ay UNIVERSITY ‘=: ale err Pe, oxide ae Ae EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY 68 Extra Original Series D' Arras Melusine Vol. ho . eacnti fgss°Ns 7256 nO spe Sorter es kat ® 2 Pete eee o Jee t ® a : Ag © Garly English Text Society, Extra Series, LXVIII. AM elus We, ay 4 gsane ENGLISHT ABOUT 1500 a-p. + ae NIVERSITY EA Yt bee LIBRARY iat Ys Raat QHIO STATE U EDITED FROM A UNIQUE MANUSCRIPT bee weet te IN 9 Mee Lk ey % ; Hae ze Se ee he ek. . THE LIBRARY OF THE BRITISH: MUSEUM “ F BY 4 4 Re ca ne OK: TON ELD, PART I. “TEXT, ‘NOTES, AND ‘GLOSSARY. Gago English Tut ‘Soviety. Committee of Management: ~~Director >~DR. FREDERICK J. FURNIVALL, M.A. Treasurer: HENRY B, WHEATLEY, Esoq.. Hon, Sec.: W. A. DALZIEL, Esa.,- 67 VICTORIA: ROAD, FINSBURY PARK, N. Hon, Sec. for America: Pror. F. J. CHILD, Harvard Coll,, Cambr., Mass., U.S.A. H. HUCKS GIBBS, M.A.” Dr. J, A..H. MURRAY, M.A. Pror, E, KOLBING, Ph.D. Pror. NAPIER, M.A., Ph.D. S. L. LEE, B.A. EDWARD B. PEACOCK, Eso. Rev. Pror. J. RAWSON LUMBY, D.D. - Rev. Pror. WALTER W.SKEAT, Lirt.D, » Rev, Pror. J. E. B. MAYOR, M.A. Dr. HENRY SWEET, M.A. Rey. Dr. RICHARD MORRIS, M.A. * Dr. W. ALDIS WRIGHT, M.A. Pror. J. ZUPITZA, Ph.D. (W ith power to add Workers to their number.) Bankers: THE UNION BANK OF LONDON, 2, PRINCES STREET, E.C, The Early English Text Society was started by Dr. Furnivall in 1864 for the purpose of bringing the mass of Old-English-Literature within the reach of the ordinary student, and of wiping away the reproach under which England had long rested, of having felt little interest in the monuments of her early language and life. On the starting of the Society, so many Texts of importance were at once taken in hand by its Editors, that it became necessary in 1867 to open, besides the Original Series with which the Society began, an Hwtra Series which should be mainly devoted to fresh editions of all that is most;valuable in printed MSS, and Caxton’s and other black-letter books, though first editions of MSS. will not be excluded when the con- venience of issuing completed Texts demands their inclusion in the Extra Series. During the twenty-eight yéars of the Society’s existence, it has produced, with whatever shortcomings, an amount of good solid work for which all students of our Language, and some of our Literature, must be grateful, and which has rendered possible the beginnings (at least) of proper Histories and Dictionaries of that Language and Literature, and has illustrated the thoughts, the life, the manners and customs of our forefathers, : But the Society’s experience has shown the very small number of those inheritors “of the speech of Cynewulf, Chaucer, and Shakspere who care two guineas a year for the records of that speech. ‘Let the dead past bury its dead’ is still the ery of Great ‘itain and her Colonies, and of America, in the matter of language. The Society has nexyer had money enough to produce the Texts that could easily have been got ready fort; and many Editors are now anxious to send to press the work they have pre- pared, The necessity has therefore arisen for trying whether more Texts can be got out by the plan of issuing them in advance of the current year, so that those Members who like to pay for thein by advanée Subscriptions, can do so, while those who prefer to wait for the year for which the volumes are markt, can do so too. To such waiters, the plan will be no injury, but a gain, as every year’s Texts will then be ready on the New Year’s Day on which the Subscription for them is paid. iz The success of this plan will depend on the support it receives from Members, as ~._ lt is obvious that the Society’s printers must be paid half or two-thirds of their bill se "“extowithin a few months of its production. Appeal is therefore made to all “are advance Subscriptions, to pay them as soon as they get notice “future year are ready. In-1892, the Texts for 1893 were 1894 and 1895; those for 1896-7 will be ready in 1894, . xtRA Series], due in advance on the 1st of JANUARY, sondon, E,C., or by Cheque, Postal Order, or Money- ~ Dauzig., Esq., 67, Victoria. Rd., Finsbury Park, “London, (United-States Subscribers must pay Original Series, and 1s,.a year for the Extra “d separately at the prices put after them in ‘Society, which constitutes membership, is £1 1s. a year* 2 Society’s Account at the Head Office of the Union : ~ — 2 | Original and KLxtra Series Books, 1894-7. 3 November 1894. For this year the Original-Series Texts were issued in 1893, and so were the Extra-Series: Texts. The Texts of both Series for 1895 are now ready, as well as the Original-Series Texts for 1896 and 1897. The Extra-Series Texts for 1896 and 97 will, it is hoped, be issued in 1895. Members are askt to send their two- or three-years’ subscrip- tions for both Series at once in advance. The Original-Series Texts for 1894 are—No. 102. Part I of Dr. R. von Fleischhacker’s edition of the englisht Lanfranc’s Cirurgie, about 1400 A.p., a treatise perhaps more valuable for Dictionary purposes than any yet issued by the Society, which takes up to Chaucer’s death the whole class of surgical and medical words (besides many others of common speech) which we before had only from the black-letters of Queen Elizabeth’s time. No, 103, is Prof, Napier’s edition of a 12th-century Homily on the Legend of the Cross, with an Introduction on the different Legends about it, an incomplete Chester Hymn to the Virgin of the 13th century, and a short Paper on the soft 4nd hard g’s of the Ormulwm MS., with a facsimile. The Extra-Series Texts for 1894 are No. LXV, the 3rd and last Part of Sir Bevis of Hamton, edited by Prof. Kolbing, Ph.D., and No. LX VI, Lydgate’s and Burgh’s Seerecs of Philisoffres, edited by Robert Steele, B.A., Lydgate’s last and unfinisht work. For 1895, the first Text of the Original Series is No. 104, Part I of My. Gollancz’s re- edition of The Exeter Book, from the unique MS., a collection of the choicest Anglo-Saxon lyric poetry, with a modern English translation. The second is Part I of the Prymer or Lay Folks’ Praycr-Book, from the MS. ab. 1420 4.p., in the Cambr. Univ. Libr., ed. by Mr. Hy. Littlehales, with two leaves of Facsimiles. This forms a valuable portion of the Society’s Pre-Reformation vernacular Liturgical Series, undertaken on the recommendation of the late Canon Simmons. The Extra-Series Texts for 1895 are two prose Romances from unique MSS., about 1500 A.D., englisht from French originals: The Three Kings’ Sons (of France, Scotland, England), Part I, the text, ed. Dr. F. J. Furnivall ; Melusinc, Pt. I, the text, ed. A. K. Donald, B.A. The Original-Series Texts for 1896 are both dialectal: No. 106, Richard Misyn’s—he was Prior of Lincoln—englishings in 1434 and 1435 of Richard Rolle of Hampole’s Fire of Love and Mending of Life, edited by the Rev. Rt. Harvey, M.A., Headmaster of the Cork Grammar School ;—this Text, tho not in a pure dialect, is interesting for forms like sari, for serve, &e. ;—and No. 107, The English Conquest of Ireland, 1166-85, two parallel-texts of about 1425 and 1440, of which the earlier has now and then dyng, tynge, for thing, &c., edited by Dr. Furnivall. The Extra-Series Texts for 1896 will doubtless be the Second Part of the prose Romance of Melusine—Introduction, with ten facsimiles of the best woodblocks of the old foreign black-letter editions, Glossary, &c., by A. K. Donald, B.A. ; and a new edition of the famous Early-English Dictionary (English and Latin), Promptoriwm Parvwlorwm, from the Win- chester MS., ab. 1440 a.p.: in this, the Editor, the Rev. A. L. Mayhew, M.A., will follow and print his MS. not only in its arrangement of nouns first, and verbs second, under every letter of the Alphabet, but also in its giving of the flexions of the words. ‘The Society's edition will thus be the first modern one that really represents its original, a point on which Mr. Mayhew’s insistance will meet with the sympathy of all our Members. For 1897, the Original-Series Texts are, No. 108, Child-Marriages and -Divorces, Troth- plights, Adulteries, Affiliations, Libels, Wills, Miscellanea, Clandestine Marriages, Depost- tions in Trials in the Bishop’s Court, Chester, A.D. 1561-6, with Lntries from the Chester Mayors’ Books, 1558-1600, ed. Dr. F. J. Furnivall,—a most curious volume, full of the social life of its time ;—and Part II of the Prymer or Lay-Folks’ Praycr-book, edited by Mr. Henry Littlehales, with a Paper by Mr. Bishop on the Origin and Growth of the Prymer. The Extra-Series Texts for 1897 will probably be Dr. Norman Moore’s re-edition of The Book of the Foundation of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, from the unique MS. ab. 1425, which gives an account of the Founder, Rahere, and the miraculous cures wrought at the Hospital ;—Lydgate’s Assembly of the Gods, ed. Dr. Oscar L. ‘Triggs, and The Oraft of Nombrynge, with other of the earliest englisht Treatises on Arithmetic, edited by R. aay B.A., or Alexander Scott's Poems, 1568, from the unique Edinburgh MS., ed. A. K. onald, B.A. 2) Ay. The first Original-Series Text for 1898 will be No. 110, Queen Elizabeth's Englishings of Boethius de Oonsolatione, Plutarch’s De Curiositate, and part of Horace, De Arte Poetict, edited from the unique MS. (a portion in the Queen’s own hand) in the Public Record Office, London, by the late Miss C. Pemberton, with a Facsimile, and a note on the Queen’s use of @ for long ¢ During 1892, two unexpected sources of help to the Society sprang up. First, Mr. Henry Littlehales of Bexley Heath, who had printed a MS. of the English Prymer, ab. 1400 A.Dey kindly offerd to copy, and pay for the setting, not only of the Cambridge University MS of the Prymer, ab. 1425 a.p., but also of a series of extracts from the Rochester Diocesan Reg- isters, illustrating the religious condition and social life of the diocese. 3; The second promise of help came, most gratifyingly, from the University of Chicago. Two Professors in the English Department there, Mr. MacClintock and Mr. Oscar Triggs—with the | 642514 q fe 4 Texts preparing. Texts of both Series for 1898-9. Deguilleville. assent of their Principal, Dr. Harper—agreed to edit and print at the Chicago University Press, two Early English Texts to be issued jointly by the University and the E. E. T. Society, the Society paying for its electrotypes. Prof. MacClintock chose the theological collection of John Lacy of Newcastle, A.D. 1434, and Prof. Triggs chose Lydgate’s Assembly of the Gods. The latter of these is now at press in Chicago. Such relief as the E. E. T. Soc. gets from the above-named helpers will be devoted to its Reprinting Fund. The out-of-print Texts for 1866 are greatly wanted by members and collectors to complete their sets of the Society’s publications. j An urgent appeal is hereby made to Members to increase the list of Subscribers to the E. E. Text Society. It is nothing less than a scandal that the Hellenic Society should have nearly 1000 members, while the Early English Text Society has only about 300! The Original-Series Texts for 1898 and 1899 will be chosen from books already at press: Part II of the Minor Poems of the Vernon MS., edited by Dr. F. J. Furnivall ; Mr. Gollancz’s re-edited Hxcter-Book—Anglo-Saxon Poems from the unique MS. in Exeter Cathedral—Part II ; Dr. Bruce’s Introduction to The English Conquest of Ireland, Part II ; Dr. Furnivall’s edition of the Lichfield Gilds, which is all printed, and waits only for the Introduction, that Prof. E. C. K. Gonner has kindly undertaken to write for the book. Prof. Mead has sent to press the completion of the prose Merlin, for which the Society has been looking in vain from its Treasurer since 1870. Miss Mary Bateson has at press George Ashby’s Active Policy of a Prince, &c., from the unique MS, a.p. 1463. Mr. Utley is home from Roumania, and promises to finish Lyndesay’s Works this year. Dr. G. Herzfeld’s re- edition of the Anglo-Saxon Martyrology is all in type.. Part II of Dr. Holthausen’s Vices and Virtwes needs only its Glossary. Mr, Steele has in type, besides the earliest Treatise on Arithmetic, englisht from Johannes de Sacro Bosco, two prose englishings of the Secreta Secretorwm from MSS. at Lambeth, the second of which is very rich in new words. A version by James Yonge in 1428, made for the Earl of Ormonde, has been copied from its Rawlinson MS. at Oxford, and collated with the later Lambeth MS. All three versions differ widely. The Texts for the Extra Series in 1898 and 1899 will be chosen from The Three Kings’ Sons, Part II, the Introduction &c. by Dr. Leon Kellner; The Towneley Plays, re-edited from the unique MS, by Mr. George England and A. W. Pollard, M.A.; Part IL of The Chester Plays, re-edited from the MSS., with a full collation of the formerly missing Devon- shire MS., by Mr. G. England (at press); the Parallel-Text of the only two MSS. of the Owl and Nightingale, edited by Mr. G. F. H. Sykes (at press); Hoccleve’s englishing of De Regimine Principwm, 1411-12, ard Robert of Brunne’s Handlyng Synne, edited by Dr. Furnivall ; Deguilleville’s Pilgrimage of the Life of Man, three prose versions—two English, one French—edited by G. N. Currie, M.A. Some of these Texts will be ready in 1894. Members are therefore askt to send Advance Subscriptions for 1895, 1896, 1897 and 1898, in order that the 1895-8 books may be issued to them as soon as the editions are finisht. — The Society’s experience has shown that Editors must be taken when they are in the humour for work. All real Students and furtherers of the Society’s purpose will be ready to push-on the issue of Texts. Those Members who care only a guinea a year (or can afford only that sum) for the history of our language and our nation’s thought, will not be hurt by those who care more, getting their books in advance; on the contrary, they will be benefited, as each successive year’s work will then be ready for issue on New Year’s Day. Membersare askt to realise the fact that the Society has now 50 years’ work on its Lists,—at its present rate of production,—and that there is from 100 to 200 more years’ work to come after that. The year 2000 will not see finisht all the Texts that the Society ought to print. ? Mr. G. N. Currie is preparing an edition of the 15th and 16th century Prose Versions of Guillaume de Deguilleville’s Pilgrimage of the Life of Man, with the French prose version by J ean Gallopes, from Mr. Henry Hucks Gibbs’s MS., Mr. Gibbs having generously promist to pay the extra cost of printing the French text, and engraving one or two of the illuminations in his MS. Guillaume de Deguilleville, monk of the Cistercian abbey of Chaalis, in the diocese of Senlis, wrote his first verse Pelerinaige de ’ Homme in 1330-1 when he was 36.1 Twenty-five (or six) years after, in 1355, he revised his poem, and issued a second version of it, and this. is the only one that has been printed. Of the prose representative of the first version, 1330-1, a prose Englishing, about 1480 a.p., was edited by Mr. Aldis Wright for the Roxburghe Club in 1869, from MS. Ff. 5. 30 in the Cambridge University Library. Other copies of this prose English are in the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow, Q. 2. 25; Univ. Coll. and Corpus Christi, Oxford ? : and the Laud Collection in the Bodleian, no. 740. A copy in the Northern dialect is MS. G. 21, in St. John’s Coll., Cambridge, and this is the MS. which will be edited by Mr, Sidney J. Herrtage for the BE. E. Text Society. The Laud MS. 740 was somewhat condenst and modernised, in the 17th century, into MS. Ff. 6. 30, in the Cambridge University Lib- 4 He was born about 1295. See Abbé Gouser'’s Bibliotheque frangaise, Vol, IX, p. 73-4.—P. M. These 3 MSS. have not yet been collated, but are believed to be all of the same version. Anglo-Saxon Psalters. More Money wanted. Saints’ Lives. 5 rary:? ‘The Pilgrime or the Pilgrimage of Man in this World,” copied by Will, Baspoole, whose copy ‘‘ was verbatim written by Walter Parker, 1645, and from thence transcribed by G. G. 1649 ; and from thence by W. A. 1655.” This last copy may have been read by, or its story reported to, Bunyan, and may have been the groundwork of his Pilgrim’s Progress. It will be edited by Mr. Currie for the E. E. T. Soc., its text running under the earlier English, as in Mr. Herrtage’s edition of the Gesta Romanorwm for the Society. In February 1464,” Jean Gallopes—a clerk of Angers, afterwards chaplain to John, Duke of Bedford Regent of France—turned Deguilleville’s first verse Pelerinaige into a prose Pélerinage de la vie humaine.* By the kindness of Mr. Hy. Hucks Gibbs, as above mentiond, Gallopes’s French text will be printed opposite the early prose northern Englishing in the Society’s edition. The Second Version of Deguilleville’s Pelerinaige de ? Homme, A.D. 1355 or -6, was englisht in verse by Lydgate in 1426. Of Lydgate’s poem, the larger part is in the Cotton MS. Vitellius C. xiii (leaves 2-308). This MS. leaves out Chaucer’s englishing of Deguilleville’s ABC or Prayer to the Virgin, of which the successive stanzas start with A, B, CO, and run all thro’ the alphabet ; and it has 2 gaps, of which most of the second can be fild up from the end of the other imperfect MS. Cotton, Tiberius A vii. The rest of the stopgaps must be got from the original French in Harleian 4399,4 and Additional 22,9375 and 25,5948 in the British Museum. Lydgate’s version will be edited in due course for the Society. Besides his first Pelerinaige de U’homme in its two versions, Deguilleville wrote a second, “de l’ame separee du corps,” and a third, ‘‘de nostre seigneur Iesus.”” Of the second, a prose Englishing of 1413, The Pilgrimage of the Sowle (perhaps in part by Lydgate), exists in the Egerton MS. 615,’ at Hatfield, Cambridge (Univ. Kk. 1. 7, Caius), Oxford (Univ. Coll. and Corpus), and in Caxton’s edition of 1483. This version has ‘somewhat of addicions’as Caxton Says, and some shortenings too, as the maker of both, the first translator, tells us in the MSS. Caxton leaves out the earlier englisher’s interesting Epilog in the Egerton MS. This prose englishing of the Sow/e will be edited for the Society after that of the Man is finisht, and will have Gallopes’s French opposite it, from Mr. Gibbs’s MS., as his gift to the Society. Of the Pilgrimage of Jesus, no englishing is known. As to the MS. Anglo-Saxon Psalters, Dr. Hy. Sweet has edited the oldest MS., the Vespasian, in his Oldest English Texts for the Society, and Mr. Harsley has edited the latest, c. 1150, Eadwine’s Canterbury Psalter. The other MSS., except the Paris one, being interlinear versions,—some of the Roman-Latin redaction, and some of the Gallican,— Prof. Logeman has prepared for press, a Parallel-Text edition of the first twelve Psalms, to start the complete work. He will do his best to get the Paris Psalter—tho’ it is not an interlinear one—into this collective edition ; but the additional matter, especially in the Verse-Psalms, is very difficult to manage. If the Paris text cannot be parallelised, it will form a separate volume. The Early English Psalters are all independent versions, and will follow separately in due course. _ Through the good offices of the Examiners, some of the books for the Early-English Ex- aminations of the University of London will be chosen from the Society’s publications, the Committee having undertaken to supply such books to students at a large reduction in price. _ The profits from these sales, after the payment of costs arising out of the issuing of such Texts to Students, will be applied to the Society’s Reprints. Five ofits 1866 Texts, and one of its 1867 (now at press), still need reproducing. Donations for this purpose will be welcome. . should be paid to the Hon. Sec., Mr. W. A. Dalziel, 67 Victoria Rd., Finsbury Park, London, N. 3 Members are reminded that fresh Subscribers are always wanted, and that the Committee ean at any time, on short notice, send to press an additional Thousand Pounds’ worth of work. The Subscribers to the Original Series must be prepared for the issue of the whole of the Early English Lives of Saints, sooner or later. The Society cannot leave out any of them, even though some are dull. The Sinners would doubtless he much more interesting. But in many Saints’ Lives will be found valuable incidental details of our forefathers’ social state, and all are worthful for the history of our language. The Lives may be lookt on as the religious romances or story-books of their period. : _ The Standard Collection of Saints’ Lives in the Corpus and Ashmole MSS., the Harleian MS. 2277, &c. will repeat the Laud set, our No. 87, with additions, and in right order. (The foundation MS. (Laud 108) had to be printed first, to prevent quite unwieldy collations.) The Supplementary Lives from the Vernon and other MSS. will form one or two separate volumes. Besides the Saints’ Lives, Trevisa’s englishing of Bartholomeus de Proprictatibus Rerum, the mediwyal Cyclopedia of Science, &c., will be the Society’s next big undertaking. Dr. 4 Another MS. is in the Pepys Library. * According to Mr. Hy. Hucks Gibbs’s MS. : * These were printed in France, late in the 15th or early in the 16th century. 4 loth cent., containing only the Vie humaine. : ; ae 5 15th cent., containing all the 3 Pilgrimages, the 8rd being Jesus Christ Ss, , ® 14th cent., containing the Vie humaine and the 2nd Pilgrimage, de UV Ame : both incomplete. ¥ 7 Ad. 1430, 106 leaves (leaf 1 of text wanting), with illuminations of nice little devils—red, green, tawny &e,—and damnd souls, fires, angels &c. J — 6 The Original Series of the “ Early English Text Society.” R. von Fleischhacker will edit it. Prof. Napier of Oxford, wishing to have the whole of our MS. Anglo-Saxon in type, and accessible to students, will edit for the Society all the — unprinted and other Anglo-Saxon Homilies which are not included in Thorpe’s edition of lfrie’s prose,! Dr. Morris’s of the Blickling Homilies, and Prof. Skeat’s of lfric’s Metrical Homilies. Prof. Kélbing has also undertaken for the Society’s Extra Series a Parallel-Text — of all the six MSS. of the Ancren Riwle, one of the most important foundation-documents of Early English. Mr. Harvey, too, means to prepare an edition of the three MSS. of the Earliest English Metrical Psalter, one of which was edited by the late Mr. Stevenson for the Surtees Society. ; In case more Texts are ready at any time than can be paid for by the current year’s in- come, they will be dated the next year, and issued in advance tosuch Members as will pay advance subscriptions. The 1886-7 delay in getting out Texts must not occur again, if it can possibly be avoided. The Director has in hand for future volunteer Editors, copies of 2 or 3 MSS. Members of the Society will learn with pleasure that its example has been followed, not — only by the Old French Text Society which has done such admirable work under its founders — Profs. Paul Meyer and Gaston Paris, but also by the Early Russian Text Society, which was set on foot in 1877, and has since issued many excellent editions of old MS. Chronicles &c. Members will also note with pleasure the annexation of large tracts of our Early English territory by the important German contingent under General Zupitza, Colonels Kélbing and Horstmann, volunteers Hausknecht, Einenkel, Haenisch, Kaluza, Hupe, Adam, Holthausen, Schick, &c. &c. Scandinavia has also sent us Prof. Erdmann ; Holland, Prof. H. Logeman, — who is now working in Belgium ; France, Prof. Paul Meyer—with Gaston Paris as adviser ; —Italy, Prof. Lattanzi; Hungary, Dr. von Fleischhacker ; while America is represented by — Prof. Child, Dr. Mary Noyes Colvin, Profs. Mead, Perrin, McClintock, Triggs, &e. The sym-— pathy, the ready help, which the Society’s work has cald forth from the Continent and the United States, have been among the pleasantest experiences of the Society’s life, a real aid and cheer amid all troubles and discouragements. All our Members are grateful for it, and recognise that the bond their work has woven between them and the lovers of language and — antiquity across the seas is one of the most welcome results of the Society’s efforts. ; ORIGINAL SERIES. Half the Publications for 1866 (13, 14, 15, 18, 22) are out of print, but will be gradually — reprinted. Subscribers who desire the issue for 1866 should send their guineas at once to the © Hon. Secretary, in order that other Texts for 1866 may be sent to press. . The Publications for 1864-1897 (one guinea each year, save those for 1866 now half out of print, two guineas) are :— : . Early English Alliterative Poems, ab. 1360 a.p., ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. 16s. 1864 — Arthur, ab. 1440, ed. F. J. Furnivall, M.A. 4s. . Lauder on the Dewtie of Kyngis, &c., 1556, ed. F. Hall, D.C.L. 4s. Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight, ab. 1360, ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. 10s. 3% . Hume’s Orthographie and Congruitie of the Britan Tongue, ab. 1617, ed. H. B. Wheatley. 4s. 1865 . Lancelot of the Laik, ab. 1500, ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat. 8s. ‘ . Genesis & Exodus, ab. 1250, ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. 8s. . Morte Arthure, ab. 1440, ed. BE. Brock. 7s. . Thynne on Speght’s ed. of Chaucer, a.p. 1599, ed. Dr. G. Kingsley and Dr. F. J. Furnivall. 10s. . Merlin, ab. 1440, Part I., ed. H. B. Wheatley. 2s. 6d. . Lyndesay’s Monarche, &c., 1552, Part I., ed. J. Small, M.A. 3s. . Wright's Chaste Wife, ab. 1462, ed. F. J. Furnivall, M.A. 1s. —_ HOD HDAAAAR wD +4 ’ a 13. Seinte Marherete, 1200-1330, ed. Rev. O. Cockayne; to be re-edited by Prof. Herford, M.A., Ph.D. 1866 5; 14. Kyng Horn, Floris and Blancheflour, &c., ed. Rev. J. R. Lumby, B.D. oa. 15, Political, Religious, and Love Poems, ed. F. J. Furnivall. sf 16. The Book of Quinte Essence, ab. 1460-70, ed. F. J. Furnivall. 1s. [In print.] i. 17. Parallel Extracts from 45 MSS. of Piers the Plowman, ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat. 1s. [Jn print.] Pe 18. Hali Meidenhad, ab. 1200, ed. Rev. O. Cockayne. < 19. Lyndesay’s Monarche, &c., Part II., ed. J. Small, M.A. 33. 6d. [Jn print.) és 20. Hampole’s English Prose Treatises, ed. Rev. G. G. Perry. 1s. [Jn print.] a 21. Merlin, Part II., ed. H. B. Wheatley. 4s. [In print.) 22, Partenay or Lusignen, ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat. 3, Dan Michel’s Ayenbite of Inwyt, 1340, ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. 10s. 6d. (In print.) ue . Hymns to the Virgin and Christ; the Parliament of Devils, &c., ab. 1430, ed. F. J. Furnivall. [At Press. 1867 . The Stacions of Rome, the Pilgrims’ Sea-voyage, with Clene Maydenhod, ed, F. J. Furnivall. 1s. 2. = . Religious Pieces in Prose and Verse, from R. Thornton’s MS. (ab, 1440), ed. Rev. G. G. Perry. 2s. . Levins’s Manipulus Vocabulorum, a ryming Dictionary, 1570, ed. H. B. Wheatley. 12s. ae * Of these, Mr. Harsley is prepari é iti i i j : Thorpe’s book, not issued te the “Eifrie Society, ate aii eee One eS ee tol et oe Of the Vercelli Homilies, the Society has bought the copy made by Prof. G. Lattanzi, bp bp mm to bo an to = The Original Series of the ‘ Early English Text Society.” 28. William’s Vision of Piers the Plowman, 1362 a.p, ; Text A, Part I., ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat. 6s. 29. Old English Homilies (ab. 1220-30 a.p.), PartI. Edited by Rev. Dr. R. Morris. 7s. 30. Pierce the Ploughmans Crede, ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat. 2s. 31, Myro’s Duties of a Parish Priest, in Verse, ab. 1420 a.p., ed. E. Peacock. 4s. 32, Early English Meals and Manners: the Boke of Norture of John Russell, the Bokes of Keruynge, Curtasye, and Demeanor, the Babees Book, Urbanitatis, &c., ed. F. J. Furnivall. 12s, 33. The Knight dela Tour Landry, ab. 1440 a.p. A Book for Daughters, ed. T. Wright, M.A. 8s, 34, Old English Homilies (before 1300 a.p.). Part II., ed. R. Morris, LL.D. 8s. 35. Lyndesay’s Works, Part III. : The Historie and Testament of Squyer Meldrum, ed. F. Hall, 2s. 36. Merlin, Part III. Ed. H. B. Wheatley. On Arthurian Localities, by J. 8S: Stuart Glennie. 12s. 37. Sir David Lyndesay’s Works, Part IV., Ane Satyre of the Three Estaits. Ed. F. Hall, D.C.L. 4s. 38. William's Vision of Piers the Plowman, PartII. Text B. Ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat, M.A. 10s. 6d. 39. Alliterative Romance of the Destruction of Troy. Ed.D. Donaldson & G. A. Panton. Pt.I. 10s. 6d. 40, English Gilds, their Statutes and Customs, 1389 a.p. Edit. Toulmin Smith and Lucy T. Smith, with an Essay on Gilds and Trades-Unions, by Dr. L. Brentano. 21s. 41. William Lauder’s Minor Poems. Ed. F. J. Furnivall. 3s. 42. Bernardus De Cura Rei Famuliaris, Early Scottish Prophecies, &e. Ed. J. R. Lumby, M.A. 2s. 43. Ratis Raving, and other Moral and Religious Pieces. Ed. J. R. Lumby, M.A. 3s. 44, The Alliterative Romance of Joseph of Arimathie, or The Holy Grail: from the Vernon MS.; with W. de Worde’s and Pynson’s Lives of Joseph : ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat, M.A. 5s. 45. King Alfred’s West-Saxon Version of Gregory’s Pastoral Care, edited from 2 MSS., with an English translation, by Henry Sweet, Esq., B.A., Balliol College, Oxford. PartI. 10s. 46. Legends of the Holy Rood, Symbols of the Passion and Cross Poems, ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. 10s. 47. Sir David Lyndesay’s Works, Part V., ed. Dr. J. A. H. Murray. 3s. 48. The Times’ Whistle, and other Poems, by R. C., 1616; ed. by J. M. Cowper, Esq. 6s. 49. An Old English Miscellany, containing a Bestiary, Kentish Sermons, Proverbs of Alfred, and Religious Poems of the 13th cent., ed. from the MSS. by the Rev. R. Morris, LL.D. 10s. 50. King Alfred’s West-Saxon Version of Gregory’s Pastoral Care, ed. H. Sweet, M.A. PartII. 10s. 51. The Life of St Juliana, 2 versions, a.p. 1230, with translations ; ed. T. O. Cockayne & E. Brock. 2s, 52. Palladius on Husbondrie, englisht (ab. 1420 a.p.), ed. Rev. Barton Lodge, M.A. PartI. 10s. 53. Old-English Homilies, Series II., and three Hymns to the Virgin and God, 13th-century, with the music to two of them, in old and modern notation ; ed. Rev. R. Morris, LL.D. 8s. 54. The Vision of Piers Plowman, Text C: Richard the Redeles (by William, the author of the Vision) and The Crowned King; Part III., ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat, M.A. 18s. 55. Generydes, a Romance, ab. 1440 a.p., ed. W. Aldis Wright, M.A. PartI. 3s. 56. The Gest Hystoriale of the Destruction of Troy, in alliterative verse ; ed. by D. Donaldson, Esq., _and the late Rev. G. A. Panton. PartII. 10s. 6d. 57. The Early English Version of the ‘‘ Cursor Mundi” ; in four Texts, edited by the Rev. R. Morris, M.A., LL.D. Part I, with 2 photolithographic facsimiles. 10s. 6d. 58. The Blickling Homilies, 971 a.p., ed. Rev. R. Morris, LL.D. PartI. 8s. 59. The ‘‘ Cursor Mundi,” in four Texts, ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. PartII. 15s. 60. Meditacyuns on the Soper of our Lorde (by Robert of Brunne), edited by J. M. Cowper. 2s. 6d. 61. The Romance and Prophecies of Thomas of Erceldoune, from 5 MSS. ; ed. Dr. J. A. H. Murray. 10s. 6d. 62. The ‘‘ Cursor Mundi,” in four Texts, ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. Part III. 15s. 63. The Blickling Homilies, 971 a.p., ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. PartII. 7s. 64, Francis Thynne’s Embleames and Epigrams, a.p. 1600, ed. F. J. Furnivall. 7s. 65. Be Domes Dege (Bede’s De Die Judicii), &c., ed. J. R. Lumby, B.D. 2s. 66. The ‘‘ Cursor Mundi,” in four Texts, ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. Part IV., with 2 autotypes. 10s. 67. Notes on Piers Plowman, by the Rev. W. W. Skeat, M.A. PartI. 21s. 68. The ‘‘ Cursor Mundi,” in 4 Texts, ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. Part V. 25s. 69. Adam Davie’s 5 Dreams about Edward II., &c., ed. F. J. Furnivall, M.A. 5s. 70. Generydes, a Romance, ed. W. Aldis Wright, M.A. PartII. 4s. 71. The Lay Folks Mass-Book, four texts, ed. Rev. Canon Simmons. 25s. 72. Palladius on Husbondrie, englisht (ab. 1420 a.p.). Part II. Ed. 8, J. Herrtage, B.A. 15s. 73. The Blickling Homilies, 971 a.p., ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. Part III. 10s. 74, English Works of Wyclif, hitherto unprinted, ed. F. D. Matthew, Esq. 20s. 75. Catholicon Anglicum, an early English Dictionary, from Lord Monson’s MS, A.p. 1483, ed., with Introduction & Notes, by S. J. Herrtage, B.A. ; and with a Preface by H. B. Wheatley. 20s. 76. Aelfric’s Metrical Lives of Saints, in MS. Cott. Jul. E 7., ed. Rev. Prof. Skeat, M.A. Part I. 10s. 77. Beowulf, the unique MS. autotyped and transliterated, edited by Prof. Zupitza, Ph.D. 25s, 78. The Fifty Earliest English Wills, in the Court of Probate, 1387-1439, ed. by F. J. Furnivall, M.A. 7s. 79. King Alfred’s Orosius, from Lord Tollemache’s 9th century MS., Part I, ed. H. Sweet, M.A. 13s. Batra Volume. Facsimile of the Epinal Glossary, 8th cent., ed. H. Sweet, M.A. 15s. 80. The Early-English Life of St. Katherine and its Latin Original, ed. Dr. Einenkel. 12s, 81. Piers Plowman : Notes, Glossary, &c. Part 1V, completing the work, ed. Rev. Prof. Skeat, M.A. 18s. 82. Aelfrie’s Metrical Lives of Saints, MS. Cott. Jul. H 7., ed. Rev. Prof. Skeat, M.A., LL.D. Part II. 12s, 83. The Oldest English Texts, Charters, &c., ed. H. Sweet, M.A. 20s. 84, Additional Analogs to ‘The Wright’s Chaste Wife,’ No. 12, by W. A. Clouston. 1s. 85. The Three Kings of Cologne. 2 English Texts, and 1 Latin, ed. Dr. C. Horstisann. 17s. ten - 1867 1868 ” 1869 1870 1874 ”? ” 1875 2? ” 1876 ” ” ” 1877 SS 1879 ” 1880 8 The Extra Series of the “ Early English Text Society.” 4 86. Prose Lives of Women Saints, ab. 1610 4.p., ed. from the unique MS. by Dr. C. Horstmann. 12s. 1886 $7. Early English Verse Lives of Saints (earliest version), Laud MS. 108, ed. Dr. C. Horstmann. 20s. 1887 88. Hy. Bradshaw’s Life of St. Werburghe (Pynson, 1521), ed. Dr. C. Horstmann. 10s. o¥ : 89. Vices and Virtues, from the unique MS., ab. 1200 a.p.,ed. Dr. F. Holthausen. PartI. 8s. 1888 90. Anglo-Saxon and Latin Rule of St. Benet, interlinear Glosses, ed. Dr. H. Logeman. 12s. . : 91. Two Fifteenth-Century Cookery-Books, ab. 1430-1450, edited by Mr. T. Austin. 10s. 92, Eadwine’s Canterbury Psalter, from the Trin. Cambr. MS., ab. 1150 4.p., ed. F. Harsley, B.A. Pt. 1. 12s. 1889 93. Defensor’s Liber Scintillarum, edited from the MSS. by Ernest Rhodes, B.A. 12s. 94, Aelfric’s Metrical Lives of Saints, MS. Cott. Jul. E 7, Part III., ed. Prof. Skeat, Litt.D., LL.D. 12s. 1890 95. The Old-English version of Bede’s Ecclesiastical History, re-edited by Dr. Thomas Miller. PartI. 18s. ,, (With Reprints of No. 16, The Book of Quinte Essence, and No. 26, Religious Pieces, from R. Thornton’s M8.) 96. The Old-English version of Bede’s Ecclesiastical History, re-edited by Dr. Thomas Miller. Pt. LI. 15s. 1891 97. The Earliest English Prose Psalter, edited from its 2 MSS. by Dr. K. D. Buelbring. PartI. 15s. ”? 98, Minor Poems of the Vernon MS., Part I., ed. Dr. C. Horstmann. 20s. 1892 99, Cursor Mundi. Part VI. Preface, Notes, and Glossary, ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. 10s. a9 100. Capgrave’s Life of St. Katharine, ed. Dr. C. Horstmann, with Forewords by Dr. Furnivall. 20s. 1893 101. Cursor Mundi. Part VII. Essay on the MSS., their Dialects, &c., by Dr. H. Hupe. 10s. ¢ ad 102. Lanfrane’s Cirurgie, ab. 1400 a.p., ed. Dr. R. von Fleischhacker. Part I. 20s. 1894 4 103. The Legend of the Cross, from a 12th century MS., &c., ed. Prof. A. 8. Napier, M.A., Ph.D. 7s. 6d. ] 104. The Exeter Book (Anglo-Saxon Poems), re-edited from the unique MS. by I. Gollanez, M.A. Part I. 20s. 1895 105, The Prymer or Lay-Folks’ Prayer-Book, Camb. Univ. MS., ab. 1420, ed. Henry Littlehales. Part I. 10s. ,, 106. R. Misyn’s Fire of Love and Mending of Life (Hampole), 1434, 1435, ed. Rev. R. Harvey, M.A. 15s. 1896 j 107. The English Conquest of Ireland, a.p. 1166-1185, 2 Texts, 1425, 1440, Pt. I., ed. Dr. Furnivall. 15s. oa 108. Child-Marriages and -Divorces, Trothplights, &e. Chester Depositions, 1561-6, ed. Dr. Furnivall. 15s. 1897 109. The Prymer or Lay-Foiks’ Prayer-Book, ab. 1420, ed. Henry Littlehales. Part Il. 10s. ” 110. Queen Elizabeth’s Englishings of Boethius, Plutarch &c. &c., ed. Miss C. Pemberton. 15s. 1898 ais ” 112. 1899 TS: ” EXTRA SERIES. The Publications for 1867-1895 (one guinea each year) are :— I. William of Palerne; or, William and the Werwolf. Re-edited by Rev. W. W. Skeat, M.A. 13s. 1867 II. Early English Pronunciation with especial Reference to Shakspere and Chaucer, by A. J. Ellis, ; F.R.S. PartI. 10s. >. 1 III. Caxton’s Book of Curtesye, in Three Versions. Ed. F. J. Furnivall. 5s. 1868 IV. Havelokthe Dane. Re-edited by the Rev. W. W. Skeat, M.A. 10s. 53 V. Chaucer’s Boethius. Edited from the two best MSS. by Rev. Dr. R. Morris 12s. “ VI. Chevelere Assigne. Re-edited from the unique MS. by H. H. Gibbs, Esq., M.A. 3s. % VIL. Early English Pronunciation, by A. J. Hllis, F.R.S. Part II. 10s. 1869 VIII. Queene Elizabethes Achademy, &c. Hd. F. J. Furnivall. Essays on early Italian and German Books of Courtesy, by W. M. Rossetti and Dr. E. Oswald. 13s. ag IX. Awdeley’s Fraternitye of Vacabondes, Harman’s Caveat, &e. Ed. E. Viles & F. J. Furnivall. 7s. 6d. X. Andrew Boorde’s Introduction of Knowledge, 1547, Dyetary of Helth, 1542, Barnes in Defence of the Berde, 1542-3. Ed. F. J. Furnivall. 18s. 1870 XI. Barbour’s Bruce, Part I. Ed. from MSS. and editions, by Rev. W. W. Skeat, M.A. 12s. XII. England in Henry VIII.’s Time: a Dialogue between Cardinal Pole & Lupset, by Thom. Starkey, Chaplain to Henry VIII. Ed. J. M. Cowper. Part II. 12s. (Part I. is No. XXXII, 1878, 8s.) 1871 XIII. A Supplicacyon of the Beggers, by Simon Fish, 1528-9 a.p., ed. F. J. Furnivall; with A Suppli- cation to our Moste Soueraigne Lorde; A Supplication of the Poore Commons ; and The Decaye of England by the Great Multitude of Sheep, ed. by J. M. Cowper, Esq. 6s. XIV. Early English Pronunciation, by A. J. Ellis, Esq., F.R.S. Part III. 10s. XV. Robert Crowley's Thirty-One Epigrams, Voyce of the Last Trumpet, Way to Wealth, &c., a.p. 1550-1, edited by J. M. Cowper, Esq. 12s. 1872 XVI. Chaucer’s Treatise on the Astrolabe. Ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat, M.A. 6s. ” XVII. The Complaynt of Scotlande, 1549 a.p., with 4 Tracts (1542-48), ed. Dr. Murray. PartI. 10s. a XVIII. The Complaynt of Scotlande, 1549 a.p., ed. Dr. Murray. Part II. 8s. 18738 XIX. Oure Ladyes Myroure, a.p. 1530, ed. Rey. J. H. Blunt, M.A. 24s. ” i XX. Lonelich’s History of the Holy Grail (ab. 1450 a.p.), ed. F. J. Furnivall, M.A., Ph.D. PartI. 8s. 1874 XXI. Barbour’s Bruce, Part II., ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat, M.A. 4s. XXII. Henry Brinklow’s Complaynt of Roderyck Mors (ab. 1542): and The Lamentacion of a Christian a against the Citie of London, made by Roderigo Mors, a.p. 1545. Ed. J. M. Cowper. 93. a XXIII. Early English Pronunciation, by A. J. Ellis, F.R.S. Part IV. 10s. ”” XXIV. Lonelich’s History of the Holy Grail, ed. F. J. F urnivall, M.A., Ph.D. PartII. 10s. 1875 XXYV. Guy of Warwick, 15th-century Version, ed. Prof. Zupitza. Part I. 20s. ’ XXVI. Guy of Warwick, 15th-century Version, ed. Prof. Zupitza. PartII. 14s. 1876 XXVII. Bp. Fisher's English Works (died 1535), ed. by Prof. J. B. B. Mayor. Part I,the Text. 16s. Works preparing for the “ Karly English Text Society.” 9 XXVIII. Lonelich’s Holy Grail, ed. F. J. Furnivall, M.A., Ph.D. Part III. 10s. 1877 XXIX. Barbour’s Bruce. Part III., ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat, M.A. 21s. x XXX. Lonelich’s Holy Grail, ed. F. J. Furnivall, M.A., Ph.D. Part IV. 15s. 1878 XXXI. The Alliterative Romance of Alexander and Dindimus, ed. Rev, W. W. Skeat. 6s. es XXXII. Starkey’s ‘‘Englandin Henry VIII's time.”’ Pt. I. Starkey’s Life and Letters, ed. 8. J. Herrtage. 8s. ,, XXXIII. Gesta Romanorum (englisht ab. 1440), ed. 8. J. Herrtage, B.A. 153, 1879 XXXIV. The Charlemagne Romances :-—1. Sir Ferumbras, from Ashm. MS. 33, ed. 8. J. Herrtage. 15s. re XXXV. Charlemagne Romances :—2. The Sege off Melayne, Sir Otuell, &., ed. S. J. Herrtage. 12s. 1880 XXXVI. Charlemagne Romances:—3. Lyf of Charles the Grete, Pt. I., ed. S. J. Herrtage. 16s. Pe XXXVII. Charlemagne Romances :—4. Lyf of Charles the Grete, Pt. II, ed. 8S. J. Herrtage. 15s. 1881 XXXVIII. Charlemagne Romances :—5. The Sowdone of Babylone, ed. ‘Dr. Hausknecht. 15s. XXXIX. Charlemagne Romances :—6. Rauf Colyear, Roland, Otuel, &c., ed. S.J. Herrtage, B.A. 15s. 1882 XL. Charlemagne Romances :—7. Huon of Burdeux, by Lord Berners, ed. S. L. Lee, B.A. Part I. 15s. XLI. Charlemagne Romances :—8. Huon of Burdeux, by Lord Berners, ed. 8. L. Lee, B.A. Pt. II. 15s. 1888 XLII. Guy of Warwick: 2 texts (Auchinleck MS, and Caius MS.), ed. Prof. Zupitza. PartI. 15s, 5 XLIII. Charlemagne Romances:—9. Huon of Burdeux, by Lord Berners, ed. 8S. L. Lee, B.A. Pt. III. 15s. 1884 XLIV. Charlemagne Romances :—10. The Four Sons of Aymon, ed. Miss Octavia Richardson. Pt. I. 15s. 9 XLV. Charlemagne Romances :—11. The Four Sons of Aymon, ed. Miss O. Richardson. Pt. II. 20s. 1885 XLVI. Sir Bevis of Hamton, from the Auchinleck and other MSS., ed. Prof. E. Kélbing, Ph.D. Part I. 10s. ,, XLVII. The Wars of Alexander, ed. Rev. Prof. Skeat, Litt.D., LL.D. 20s. 1886 XLVIII. Sir Bevis of Hamton, ed. Prof. E. Kélbing, Ph.D. PartIl. 10s. XLIX. Guy of Warwick, 2 texts (Auchinleck and Caius MSS.), Pt. II., ed. Prof. J. Zupitza, Ph.D. 15s. 1887 L. Charlemagne Romances :—12. Huon of Burdeux, by Lord Berners, ed. 8S. L. Lee, B.A. PartIV. 5s. LI. Torrent of Portyngale, from the unique MS. in the Chetham Library, ed. E. Adam, Ph.D. 10s. LII. Bullein’s Dialogue against the Feuer Pestilence, 1578 (ed. 1, 1564). Ed. M. & A. H. Bullen. 10s. 1888 LIII. Vicary’s Anatomie of the Body of Man, 1548, ed. 1577, ed. F. J. & Percy Furnivall. PartI. 15s. LIV. Caxton’s Englishing of Alain Chartier’s Curial, ed. Dr. F. J. Furnivall & Prof. P. Meyer. 5s. LV. Barbour’s Bruce, ed. Rev. Prof. Skeat, Litt.D., LL.D. PartIV. 5s. 1889 LVI. Early English Pronunciation, by A. J. Ellis, Esq., F.R.S. Pt. V., the present English Dialects. 25s. ,, LVIL. Saxton’s Eneydos, a.p. 1490, coll. with its French, ed. M. T. Culley, M.A. & Dr, F. J. Furnivall]. 13s. 1890 LVIII. Caxton’s Blanchardyn & Eglantine, c. 1489, extracts from ed. 1595, & French, ed. Dr. L. Kellner.17s. ,, LIX. Guy of Warwick, 2 texts (Auchinleck and Caius MSS.), Part III., ed. Prof. J. Zupitza, Ph.D. 15s. 1891 LX. Lydgate’s Temple of Glass, re-edited from the MSS. by Dr. J. Schick. 15s. “0 LXI. Hoccleve’s Minor Poems, I., from the Phillipps and Durham MSS., ed. F. J. Furnivall, Ph.D. 15s. 1892 LXII. The Chester Plays, re-edited from the MSS. by the late Dr. Hermann Deimling. PartI. 15s. % LXIII. Thomas a Kempis’s De Imitatione Christi, englisht ab. 1440, & 1502, ed. Prof. J. K. Ingram. 15s. 1893 LXIV. Caxton’s Godfrey of Boloyne, or Last Siege of Jerusalem, 1481, ed. Dr. Mary N. Colvin. 15s. ” LXV. Sir Bevis of Hamton, ed. Prof. E. Kélbing, Ph.D. Part III. lds. 1894 LXVI. Lydgate’s and Burgh’s Secrees of Philisoffres, ab. 1445—S0, ed. R. Steele, B.A. 15s. c. LXVII. The Three Kings’ Sons, a Romance, ab. 1500, Part I., the Text, ed. Dr. Furnivall. 10s. 1895 LXVIII. Melusine, the prose Romance, ab. 1500, Part I, the Text, ed. A. K, Donald. 20s. 3 LXIX. (?) Melusine, the Prose Romance, ab, 1500, Part II., Introduction by A. K. Donald. 1896 LXX. (?) Promptorium Parvulorum, c. 1440, from the Winchester MS., ed. Rev. A. L. Mayhew, M.A. PartT. ,, LXXI, (?) Lydgate’s Assembly of the Gods, ed. Prof. Oscar L. Triggs, Ph.D. 1897 LXXII. (?) The Towneley Plays, ed. Geo. England and A. W. Pollard, M.A. is LXXIIlL. 1898 LXXIV., EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY TEXTS PREPARING. Besides the Texts named as at press on p. 12 of the Cover of the Early English Text Society’s last books, the following Texts are also slowly preparing for the Society :— ORIGINAL SERIES. Thomas Robinson’s Life and Death of Mary Magdalene, from the 2 MSS., ab. 1620 a.p. (Tewt in type.) The Earliest English Prose Psalter, ed. Dr. K. D. Buelbring. Part II. The Earliest English Verse Psalter, 3 texts, ed. Rev. R. Harvey, M.A. Anglo-Saxon Poems, from the Vercelli MS., re-edited by I. Gollanez, M.A. Anglo-Saxon Glossesto Latin Prayers and Hymns, edited by Dr. F. Holthausen. Aelfric’s Metrical Lives of Saints, MS. Cott. Jul. E 7, Part IV, ed. Prof. Skeat, Litt.D., LL.D. All the Anglo-Saxon Homilies and Lives of Saints not accessible in English editions, including those of the Vercelli MS. &c., edited by Prof. Napier, M.A., Ph.D. The Anglo-Saxon Psalms; all the MSS. in Parallel Texts, ed. Dr. H. Logeman and I. Harsley, B.A. Beowulf, a critical Text, &c,, ed. Prof. Zupitza, Ph.D. Byrhtferth’s Handboc, edited by Prof. G. Hempl. The Secret of Secrets, 3 prose versions from MSS., 2 at Lambeth, and one by Jas. Younge, 1420, ed. R. Steele,B.A. The Rule of St. Benet: 5 ‘l'exts, Anglo-Saxon, Harly Wuglish, Caxton, &c. (Hditor wanted.) . ' “0 Works preparing for the “ Karly English Teat Society.” . The Seven Sages, in the Northern Dialect, from a Cotton MS. (Editor wanted.) : The Master of the Game, a Book of Huntynge for Hen. V. when Prince of Wales. (Zditor wanted.) Ailred’s Rule of Nuns, &c., edited from the Vernon MS., by the Rev. Canon H. R. Bramley, M.A. Lonelich’s Merlin (verse), from the unique MS., ed. by Miss Mary Bateson and Prof. E. Kélbing, Ph.D. Merlin (prose), Part LV., containing Preface, Index, and Glossary. Edited by Prof. W. E. Mead, Ph.D. Early English Verse Lives of Saints, Standard Collection, from the Harl. MS. Early English Confessionals, edited by Dr. R. von Fleischhacker. ; . A Lapidary, from Lord Tollemache’s MS., &c., edited by Dr. R. von Fleischhacker. Early English Deeds and Documents, from unique MSS., ed. Dr. Lorenz Morsbach. Gilbert Banastre’s Poems, and othcr Boccaccio englishings, edited by Prof. J. Zupitza, Ph.D. Lanfrane’s Cirurgie, xb. 1400 a.p., ed. Dr, R, von Fleischhacker, Part II. William of Nassington’s Mirror of Life, from Jn. of Waldby. (£ditor Wanted.) A Chronicle of England to 1327 A.D., Northern verse (42,000 lines), ab. 1400 4.D., ed. M. L. Perrin, B.A. More Early English Willis from the Probate Registry at Somerset House. (Editor Wanted.) Early Lincoln Wills and Documents from the Bishops’ Registers, &c., edited by Dr. F. J. Furnivall. Early Canterbury Wills, edited by William Cowper, B.A., and J. Meadows Cowper. Early Norwich Wills, edited by Walter Rye, and F. J. Furnivall. The Cartularies of Oseney Abbey and Godstow Nunnery, englisht ab. 1450, ed. Rev. A. Clark, M.A. The Macro Moralities, edited from Mr. Gurney’s unique MS., by Alfred W. Pollard, M.A. A Troy-Book, edited from the unique Laud MS. 595, by Dr. E. Wiilfing. Alliterative Prophecies, edited from the MSS. by Prof. Brandl, Ph. D. Miscellaneous Alliterative Poems, edited from the MSS. by Dr. L. Morsbach. Bird and Beast Poems, a collection from MSS., edited by Dr. K. D. Buelbring. Scire Mori, &c., from the Lichfield MS. 16, ed. Mrs. L. Grindon, LL.A., and Miss Florence Gilbert. Nicholas Trivet’s French Chronicle, from Sir A. Aclaud-Hood’s unique MS., ed. by Miss Mary Bateson. De Guilleville’s Pilgrimage of the Sowle, edited by G. N. Currie, M.A. Stories for Sermons, edited from the Addit. MS. 25,719 by Dr. Wieck of Coblentz. Early English Homilies in Harl. 2276 &., c. 1400, ed. J. Friedliinder, The Pore Caitif, edited from its MSS., by Mr. Peake. EXTRA SERIES. Vicary’s Anatomie, 1548, from the unique MS. copy by George Jeans, edited by F. J. & Percy Furnivall. Vicary’s Anatomie, 1548, ed. 1577, edited by F. J. & Percy Furnivall. Part Ul. [At Press. Bp. Fisher’s English Works, Pt. II., with his Life and Letters, ed. Rev. Ronald Bayne, B.A. [At Press. illiam Staunton’s St. Patrick’s Purgatory, &., ed. J. T. Herbert, M.A. A Parallel-text of the 6 MSS. of the Ancren Riwle, ed. Prof. Dr. 2. Kélbing. Trevisa’s Bartholomeus de Proprietatibus Rerum, re-edited by Dr. R. von Fleischhacker. Bullein’s Dialogue against the Feuer Pestilence, 1564, 1573,1578. Ed. A. H. and M. Bullen. Pt. II. The Romance of Boctus and Sidrac, edited from the MSS. by Dr. K. D. Buelbring. The Romance of Clariodus, re-edited by Dr. K. D. Buelbring. Sir Amadas, re-edited from the MSS. by Dr. K. D. Buelbring. Sir Degrevant, edited from the MSS. by Dr. K. Luick. Robert of Brunne’s Chronicle of England, from the Inner Temple MS., ed. by Prof. W. FE. Mead, Ph.D. Maundeville’s Voiage and Travaile, re-edited from the Cotton MS. Titus C. 16, &c., by Miss M. Bateson. Avowynge of Arthur, re-edited from the unique Ireland MS. by Dr. K. D. Buelbring. Guy of Warwick, Copland’s version, edited by Prof. Zupitza, Ph.D. The Sege of Jerusalem, Text A, edited from the MSS. by Dr. F. Kopka. Liber Fundacionis Ecclesie Sancti Bartholomei Londoniarum : englisht ab. 1425, ed. Norman Moore, M.D. Awdelay’s Poems, re-edited from the unique MS. Douce 302, by Dr. B. Wiilfing. William of Shoreham’s Works, re-edited by Professor Konrath, Ph.D. The Wyse Chylde and other early Treatises on Education, Northwich School, Harl. 2099 &c., ed. G. Collar, B.A, Caxton’s Dictes and Sayengis of Philosophirs, 1477, with Lord Tollemache’s MS. version, ed. 8. I. Butler, Esq. Caxton’s Book of the Ordre of Chyualry, collated with Loutfut’s Scotch copy, ed. F. S. Ellis, Esq. Lydgate’s Court of Sapience, edited by Dr. Borsdorf. } Lydgate’s Lyfe of oure Lady, ed. by Prof. Georg Fiedler, Ph.D. Lydgate’s Reason and Sensuality, englisht from the French, edited by Dr. J. Schick. Lydgate’s Dance of Death, edited by Miss Florence Warren. Lydgate’s Life of St. Edmund, edited from the MSS, by Dr. Axel Erdmann. 1 Richard Coer de Lion, re-edited from Har]. MS, 4690, by Prof. Hausknecht, Ph.D. The Romance of Athelstan, re-edited by Prof. J. Zupitza, Ph.D. ; The Romance of Sir Degare, re-edited by Dr. Breul. Mulecaster’s Positions 1581, and Elementarie 1582, ed. Dr. Th. Klaehr, Dresden. Caxton’s Recuyell of the Histories of Troye, edited by H. Halliday Sparling. Walton’s verse Boethius de Consolatione, edited by Dr, Liddell, U.S. A. The Gospel of Nichodemus, edited by Ernest Riedel. Extracts fiom the Registers of Boughton, ed, Hy. Littlehales, Esq. The Diary of Prior Moore of Worcester, 4.D. 1518-35, from the unique MS., ed. Henry Littlehales, Esq. The Society is anxious to hear of more early Dialect MSS. John Lacy’s copy, in the Newcastle-on-Tyne dialect, 1434, of some theological tracts in MS. 94 of St. John’s College, Oxford, is to be edited by Prof. McClintock. More Hampoles in the Yorkshire dialect will follow. The Lincoln and Norfolk Wills, already copied by or for Dr. Furnivall, unluckily show but little traces of dialect. More members (to bring money) and Editors (to bring brains) are wanted by the Society. dtlelusine, Garly Guglish Text Society. Gxtra Series, LXVIII. 1895. BERLIN: ASHER & CO., 18, UNTER DEN LINDEN. NEW YORK: C. SCRIBNER & CO. ; LEYPOLDT & HOLT. PHILADELPHIA: J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. - t i : f ec fee gene 4 miev Groom r GU Conmiertt me fuv & elusine, COMPILED (1382-1394 A.D.) BY JEAN D’ARRAS ENGLISHT ABOUT 1500. EDITED FROM A UNIQUE MANUSCRIPT IN THE LIBRARY OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM BY A. K. DONALD. PART TEXT, NOTES, AND GLOSSARY. LONDON : PUBLISHT FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY By KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER & CO,, PATERNOSTER HOUSE, CHARING-CROSS ROAD. 1895. ’ : ' mos ‘ } Pi é >) «Extra Series, rxvin 7 a | ee R. CLAY & SONS, LIMITED, LONDON & BUNGAY. TABLE OF CONTENTS. PROEM ... a one as AS Be Gee vr Cap. I. How Melusyne & her two sustirs shewid them to Raymondyn at the fontayne of Soyf or thurst / Cap. II. How the Erle of Poytiers prayde the Erle of For- ests for to comme to the Feste that he made of hys sone / Cap. III. How a forester came to denounce to the Erle Emery how there was within the Forest of Coulombyers the moost meruayllows wildbore that euer was sen byfore / Cap. IV. How the Erle went to the chace and abies with hym ... Cap. V. . How. Raymondya vibes i Erle of Poyter, his vnele : Cap. VI. How odes came to =the anette of ae wher he founde Melusyne, and two other ladyes with her Cap. VII. How pees by the pao oun of the ey: went to Poytiers Cap. VIII. How the Exle Ene was neat vnto ) options deed within a Lyttere Cap. IX. How Raymondyn eed ae hys aie aa sawe a Chapell whiche neuer he had seen before / Cap. X. How Raymondyn, after that the barons had acon theire homage vnto the yong’ Erle / demanded of the Erle a yefte, the whiche he graunted to hym / Cap. XI. How Raymondyn founde a man that bare the skynne or hyde of a hert / and how he bought it / Cap. XII. How they that were ordonned came and Ea ee to Raymondyn his yefte / Cap. XIII. How Raymondyn toke his Bue of ihe Erle of Poitiers & retourned toward his lady / Cap. XIV. How the Erle of Poytiers camme to the eer of Raymondyn, acompayned of alle the Barons in hys land TABLE OF CONTENTS, Cap. XV. How species Ne and eee were wedded togider/ .. Cap. XVI. How ee were vdsuiphale antha at agus / Cap. XVII. How after an the Knightes & peed Jousted Cap. XVIII How the fees eats the ee aes Raymondyn and Melusyne laye ... Cap. XIX. How the Erle of Poytiers asi the’ Enle of Forests / the barons and ladyes, toke ica leue of on mondyn and of Melusyne / : Cap. XX. How Vryan & Guyon ick ter ‘a bothe ee fader & moder, and of the help that they had of pem - Cap. XXI. How Uryan & Guyon tooke leue of theire moder Melusyne and entred theire ship / ae Cap. XXII. How the Sawdan was slayn byfore Famagoce Cap. XXIII. How Vryan & bap came oe the kinge, he beying in his bed syke : Cap. XXIV. How Vryan er Enya, Avante vnto the kinge of Cypre Cap. XXV. How Anthony & Regnald ayecoieyted the kynge of Anssay tofore iucembourgh bi and how he was take Cap. XX VI. How the kyng of Assy was nee byfor the pucelle Crystyne ... , Cap. XX VII. How the Ete of peer ao to hym me the barons of Lucembourgh to Counseylle Cap. XXVIII. How sees machi Ca Dakin of Lucembourgh / . Cap. XXIX. How the es of hee sent a messager toward the king of Anssay his brother / : Cap. XXX. How the duc Anthony toke hys ee of the Duchesse Crystyne, and went toward praghe wth hys oost Cap. XXXI. How the kinge of Craco dide do take the body of kynge ria that he had se and commanded it to be brent Cap. XXXII. How the Ri of Craco was ae in Casi Cap. XXXIII. How the kynge Zelodius & the other sara- cyns were brent and bruylec Cap. XXXIV. How the two brethern were at buryeng a aa obsequye of kynge Federyk of behayne ... PAGE 52 54 54 56 58 107 114 143 233 235 TABLE OF) CONTENTS. Bap XXXV. How Regnauld ees megan daughter to the kynge of Behayne / Cap. XXXVI. How the knightes & seg jose after dyner Cap. XXXVII. Fee aftir ionoeeh ie Pain by the admounesting of hys brother beheld Melusyne hys wyf within the bathe, wherfor he toke hys brother the Erle of Forest in grete indignacéon ‘ es eee Cap. XXXVIII. How getiray slough Gta it geaunt, in garande . ee Cap. XXXIX, How Be Pei aes to cat was professed monke at Mayllezes, by consentement of hys fader & moder ie ae & +e Cap. XL. How the two messangers of Raymondin cam in garande toward geffray Cap. XLI. How Geffray wzth is grete sank shy thatvey of Mayllezes, & brent bothe thabbot & al the monkes there Cap. XLII. How Melusyne felle in a swoune, for this that Raymondyn, her lord, wyted her 43 Ag ue Cap. XLIII. It is shewed herafter, how se came to her self ayen, and spake to Raymondyn 4a , Cap. XLIV. How es tee ig & ay tae felle bothe i in a swoune Cap. XLV. How Manly oe es testament a ee Cap. XLVI. How eho in fourme of a ogren flough out at a wyndowe .. : Cap. XLVII. How Raymondya d dide do brenne his sone called Horryble... Ps oo Cap. XLVIII. How} Melusyne came ae raya to > vps her two children Cap. XLIX. How geffray with ae an toeth rane p ayenst the geaunt & ouerthrew hym with hys spere / . Cap. L. How the geaunt fled & Geffray folowed see ma LI. How Geffray went & entred into the hoH for to yght with the geaunt / - i e LIT. How Geffray fonde the Piette of the king of Albany, his granfader Helynas, within the mountayn Cap. LIII. How geffray eas the U Absa that the geaunt kept in pryson Cap. LIV. How the age A ake eeatit ae ei a Charyott ‘ TABLE OF CONTENTS, Cap. LV. How ee was the deth of the Erle of Forestz hys vnele . Cap. LVI. How Geffray mae to Tousynen Lopiard bys flee and prayed hym of mercy # Cap. LVII. How Raymondyn came bikia ies Pope of Romme and confessed hys synnes to hym Cap. LVIII. How Geffray went to Romme & posta bys synnes tofore the Pope Cap. LIX. How ae rodyfiyed the monastery of May leses ; Cap. LX. How aie nee of Ae es Lee fhe ey a Cap. LXI. How the kyng wold haue ad sshed is force the lady, but she vanysshed away ; Cap. LXII. How the king was bete & ed een ane knew not of whom ; ae ~ oa ax: Notes aND ILLUSTRATIONS List oF PROVERBS IN THE ROMANCE OF MELUSINE... GLOSSARY Inprex or Proper Names (PERsons) InpEx or Proper Names (Puacgs) dttelusine. [A Chronicle of Melusine in olde Englishe. compyled by Ihon of Arras, and dedicated to the Duke of Berry and Auuergne, and 4 translated (as yt shoulde seeme) out of Frenche into Englishe.*] of alle to calle the name of the creatowr of alt 8 Creatures, whiche is very & trew maister of alle thinges made & to be made, that oughten somwhat to entende to perfection of wele. Therfore att the begyn- nynge of this present historye / though that I ne be not 12 worthy for to requyre hym / beseche ryght deuoutly his right highe & worthy mageste / that this present history he wyl helpe me to bring! vnto a good ende / & to fuldoo it att hys glorye & praysyng And to the ‘16 plaisire of my right high, mighti, and doubtid lord Iohan, sone to the kyng of Fraunce, Duc of Berry & of Auuergne. The whiche hystory I haue bygonme after the veray & true Cronykles, whiche I haue had of hym 20 and of the Erle of Salesbury in England, & many other bokes that I haue sought & ouerredde for to accom- plysshe hit. And bycause that his noble sustir Marye, doughtir to the kyng' Iohannve of Fraunce, duchesse of 24 Bar, had requy’red my said lord for to haue the said historye / the whiche in fauour of her hath doon as moche to his power as he might, to serche the very 1 This title is added in xviith cent. handwriting, MELUSINE, N the begynnyng of all werkes / men oughten first. May the Creator help me to bring this book toa good end! This History was compiled (in French) for the Duchess of Bar, 2 fol. 1b. 2 at the command of her brother John, Duke of Berry and Au- vergne, and was com- menced on St. Clement’s Day, Nov, 23, 1387. 1 fol. 2. David said that the judgments of God are un- fathomable. It is foolish, therefore, not to believe that inarvellous things are true, for the Creature cannot compre- hend the designs of God. MELUSINE WAS WRITTEN IN 1387. [cu. Ti. trouth & true historye / and hath commanded me for to do drawe alle alonge thystory whiche heraftir foloweth /. And I as of herte dyligent / of my pouere witt & connyng, [do] as nygh as I can the pure trouth 4 Wherfore I humbly & deuoutly beseche & pray to my Creatour, that my of hys gracyous commandement, said lord wil take it in gree / and also all them that schall rede or here it / that they wil pardonne me yf 18 haue said eny thinges that ben not to theire good gree. Whiche this present hystorye I byganne the Wens- day, saynt Clementis day in Wynter, the yere of our | lord M1. cece. Ixxx. vij. beseching alle them that shaH 12 rede, or here it redde, that they wil pardonne me my fawte, yf their be eny. ffor certaynly I haue com- posed it the moost justly that I coude or haue mowe, aftir the Cronykles whiche I suppose certaynly to 16 be trew. Cap. I. How Melusyne & her two sustirs shewid them to Raymozdyn at the fontayne of Soyf or thurst /. 20 Auid !the prophete saith, that the Iuggements and the punysshinges of god ben as abysmes without bottom & without ryuage. And he is not wyse that suche thinges supposeth to comprehende in his wit / & 24 weneth that the meruaylles that ben thrugh the vni- uersal world, may nat be true, as it is said of the thinges that men calle ffayrees / and as it is of many other thinges wherof we may not haue the knowleche of alle 28 them. Now thenne the Creature ought nat therfore for to traueille, by outrageows presumyng to knowe & to comprehende in his wit & vnderstanding the Iugements of god / but men oughten / thinkynge / to be meruaylled 32 of hym / and meruaylling / to considere / how they may OH. I.] BELIEVE TRAVELLERS’ REPORTS OF MARVELS. worthily & deuoutly prayse and glorify hym that Iugith so, and ordeynith suche thinges after hys plaisure & wille without eny gaynseying’./ 4 he creature of god that is raisonable, oughte moche besily to vnderstande aftir the sayeng of Aristote, that the pynges which he hath made & creatid here bynethe, by the presence pat they haue in themself, 8 certyfyen to be suche as they are / As saynct paule seyth in thepistle that he made to the Rommains / sayeng in this manere / that the thinges that he hath doon, shalbe knowen & seen by the Creatures of the 12 world / that is to wete, by the men that can rede & adiousten feyth to pactowres whiche haue ben byfore vs / as to wete & knowe the landes, the prouinces & the straunge Countrees. and to haue ouerseen & vysyted 16 the dyuerse Roywumes / haue founde so many of dyuerse meruaylles aftir common exstimacion, that thumayn vnderstanding is constrayned of god / that soo as he is without ryuage & without bottom / soo are the thinges 20 meruayllous & wounderfull in many dyuerse landes. aftir their dyuerse nature / that saaf theire Iuggement. I suppose that neuer no man / but only Adam. hadd parfytt knowlege of the thinges Inuysible or that may 24 not be seen. Wherfore I me bethink fro day to day to proufytte in science, & to here & see many thinges / which men suposen not to be true. the which, yf they be trew / I putte them fourth into this termes byfore 28 you / to thende that the grette meruaylles that ben conteyned in this present hystory may be byleued. Wherfore I 1think to treate to the playsure of god / and after the commandement of my said right mighty 32 and noble lord./ Ate vs now leve the Auctoures with peas / and retourne we to that we haue herde say and telle of owr auncyent and old tyme / and that this day we 36 haue herd sey what in the land of Poitow was seen in Men should rather think how worthily to praise him, Reasonable creatures should believe what is seen, and should give credence to travellers who see many marvels, Adam alone had perfect know- ledge ; but the author daily learns more and more, and tells what he has seen, that his history may be believed, 1 fol. 2d. Leaving the Authors, Jet us turn to what has been seen in Poitou, B 2 In ancient times fairies and gob- lins often ap- peared in Poitou, and played many pranks. Gervaise tells of other fairies, which performed menial duties. He also says that the fairies sometimes took the form of beau- tiful women, whom men have married on cer- tain conditions ; OF GOBLINS AND FAIRIES IN POITOU. [cu. I. dede / for to couloure! our hystory to be trew / as we hold hit soo / and for to shew & publysshe it thrugh the true Cronykles / as we suppose to doo /. We haue thenne herd say and telle of owr auncyents, 4 that in many partes of the sayd@ lande of Poytow haue ben shewed vnto many oon right famylerly many ma- nyeres of thinges / the whiche somme called Gobelyns / the other ffayrees, and the other ‘ bonnes dames’ or good 8 ladyes / and they goo by nyght tyme and entre within the houses without opnyng or brekyng of ony doore / and take & bere somtyme with them the children out of theire cradelles. and somtyme they tourne them out of 12 theyre wit / and somtyme they brenne & roste them before pe fyre / and whan they departe fro them, they leue hem as hoole as they were byfore / and somme gyue grette happe & ffortune in this world. And yet haue 16 I herd say of oon Geruayse, a man worshipful & of cre- dence, that somme other fauntasyes appyeren by nyght tyme vnto many oon in dyuerse places, in lyknes of wymen with old face, of low and lytil stature or body / 20 whiche dide scoure pannes & potts, and dide suche thinges as a mayde or seruaunt oughte to doo / lyberaly & without dooyng of ony harme. And also he saith for certayn, that in his tyme he hadd a frend that was 24 auncyent & old, whiche recounted for trouth / that in hys dayes he hadd seen many tymes suche thinges. and saith yet the said Geruayse, that the sayd fayrees toke somtyme the fourme & the fygure of fayre & 28 yonge wymen / of whiche many men haue hadd som dovghtirs, and haue take to theire wyues by meanes of som couenauntes or promysses that they made them to swere vnto them / the som / that they shuld neuer see 32 eche other / on the satirday / and that by no maner wyse they shuld nat enquyre where they were by- comme / the other / that yf they had eny children / 1 Fr. coulouren. CH. 1.] MARVELLOUS TALES OF FAIRIES. that theire husbandes shuld neuer see them in theyr child bed@ / And as long’ as they kept theyre cove- nauntes they had good fortune and were euer in pros- 4 peryte / but assoone as they faylled of theyr promysses or couenauntes they fell doun fro! theyr good happ & fortune / and aftir these thinges so happed to haue broken theyr couenauntes / the other were conuerted & 8 tourned into serpentes. And yet more sayth the *said Geruayse, that he byleueth this to be permytted & doon for som mysdedes that were doon ayenst the playsure of god / wherfore he punysshed them so secretly & so 12 wounderly wherof none hath parfytte knowlege / but alonely he / and they may be therefore called the secrets of god, abysmes without ryuage and without bottom / For none knoweth nothing perfyttly to the 16 regarde of hym / how be it that sometyme of his pro- uysion ben many thinges knowen / not only of oon / but of many other. It is seen often whan a man hath yssued out of hys cowntree / and hath seen many 20 awounder & meruayllows thynges whiche he neuer wold haue byleued hit by here sayeng', without he had hadd the sight of hit / but as for me that haue nat walked ferre, I haue seen somme thinges that many oon shuld With this seyth the said Geruayse, & setteth fourth an ensaumple of a knyght, named Sir Robert du Chastel Roussel of the prouince of Asy / the whiche knight by auenture on an 28 euen founde oon of the fayree in a medowe / and wold haue had her to his wyf / and in dede she assentid to 24 nat byleue without they sawe it. hit / by suche couenaunce that neuer he shuld see her naked / and were longe togider / and the knight grew 32 & wexed prosperous fro day to day. It happed long tyme after that / that he wold haue seen the said Nymphe naked / as he dede / in so moche that the said nymphe putte her heed in to a watre and was 1 MS. has ‘ for,’ and so long as the conditions were kept, they were prosperous and happy ; but when they were broken, they became poor, and their wives were turned into ser- pents, 2 fol. 3, Gervaise thinks this is because of some misdeeds, for which God has punished them, Travellers often see marvellous things ; but even I, who have not been far, have seen some marvels, Sir Robert du Chastel Roussel found a fairy in a meadow, and was married to her on condi- tion that he should never see her naked, For a long time he was prosper- ous ; but one day he broke his promise, 6 CASTLE OF LUSIGNEN FAIRY-BUILT. MELUSINE’S CHILDREN. [CH. Kr and his wife was changed into a serpent, whilst he himself grew poor, I have to tell how the Castle of Lnsignen was built by a fairy, and how from the same woman a noble race descended, which shall reign for ever, First I will tell you whence she came. 1 fol. 3b. The children of Melusine and Raymondin were Uryan, King of Cyprus ; Guyon, King of Armenia; Raynold, King of Bohemia ; An- thony, Duke of Luxembourg ; Raymond, Earl of Forest ; Geoffrey, of Lu- signen; Theodo- ric, of Partenay ; Fromont, of Mailliéres, Once upon a time, in Albany, lived a brave King tourned in to a serpent, whiche was neuer seen after that / And the knyght fro day to day wexed pouere and declyned from his prosperyte. As for prouerbes & exemples I wil none bryng! more vnto you / and 4 that / that I haue doon / it was bycause pat I suppose to treate how the noble ffortresse or Castell of Lusyg- nen was bylded & made of a woman of the fayree, and the manyere how / after the juste & true cronykle /8 without to applye ne adiouste to it nonething / but that it be approuued Iuste & trew, and of the propre or owne matere / And ye shall here me spek & say of the noble lynee whiche yssued of the said woman / that shall 12 regne for euer vnto thend of the world / aftir that it appiereth that it hath euer regned vnto this tyme present. But bycause that I byganne first to treate of the fayree / I shall telle you how & of whens cam 16 the said woman whiche bilded the noble !ffortress of Lusygnen, beforsayd./ | f erafter folowen the names of the estates of the children whiche yssued of Melusyne, and were 20. bygoten of Raymondyn in wedlok. And first yssued Aftir hym cam King Guyon, which regned myghtily in Armenye. kyng Uryan, whiche regned in Cypre. Item, King! Regnald, whiche regned right mightily 24 in Behaygne. Item, Anthony that was duc of Lucem- bourgh. Item, Raymond that was Erle of fforest. Item, Geffray with the grette toth, that was lord of Lusygnen. Item, there yssued also theodoryk, which 28 was lord of Partenay. Item, flroymonde, that was monke into thabbey of Mailleses,? the whiche Geffray with the grette toth brent the said Abbey, & thabbot also with an hundred religyous or monkes./ 32 [ is true that there was somtyme in Albany? a kynge that was moche worthy & valyaunt / And as sayth thystory / he had of hys wyf many children / 2 Fr, Maillicves, 3 Fr, Albanie. — — SS CH..- 1.] THE ADVENTURE OF KING ELYNAS, HE SEES & that Mathas whiche was fader to fflorymond was hys first sone / and this kinge had to name Elynas, and was right. worthy & mighty knight of his land./ 4 And it happed that after the decess of his first wyf / as he chaced in a fforest nighe to the see, in the which forest was-a moche fayre fontaynze / that, sodaynly he had so grett athurst / that as constreyned+ he tourned 8 & yede toward the said fontaynne. And whan he ap- prouched to the said fontayne / he herde a voyce that song! so melodyously & so swetly / that he suposed none other / but it had the voyce of an Angel / but soone aftir 12 he knewe that hit was the voyce of a woman. Thenne descendid he & alyghted fro hys hors to thende he shulde not make gret affray / and walked fayre & softly toward the fontayn in the most couered wyse that he 16 coude. he sawe there the fayrest lady that euer he the dayes And whan he camme nygh to the fontayne / of hys lyf had seen to his aduys or semynge. Thenne he stode styl al abasshed of the grett beaulte that he 20 perceyued in the same ladye, which euer songe so melodyously and so swetly. And thus he stood styl / asmoche for the bewte of the lady / as for to here her swette & playsaunt voyce / and hyd hym in the best 24 wyse that he coude vnder the leevis of the trees / to 2thende that the said lady shuld not perceyue hym / & forgate all the chasse and grett thurst that he had afore. And byganne to think on the songe & on the beaulte 98 of the lady. & knew nat yf it was daylight or nyght, ne yf he slept or wakked, / hus as ye shall now here was kynge helynas so In so moche that he was as rauysshed 32 abused / aswel of the right swete songe / as of the bewte of the said lady that he ne wyst whether he slept or waked, For euer styl she songe so melodyously that it was a swete & melodyows thing to here / Thenne 1 ‘honstreyned’ in MS, PRESSYNE. 7 named Elynas. After his first wife’s death he was hunting, and being thirsty, went towards a fountain, When he ap- proached, he heard beautiful singing, which . he thought must be of some angel ; but, walking towards the fountain, he sees a beautiful lady (Pressyne). He hides himself to listen to her, 2 fol. 4. and to look upon her beauty : by both he is en- tranced. As he stands there, he remembers nothing ; but two hounds at last disturb him. He goes to the fountain to drink, and humbly salutes the lady, who returns his salutation, He asks her who she is, He knows all the lords and ladies of the neighbour- hood, and is surprised that she is with- out retinue, He asks her pardon for his rudeness in questioning her, KING ELYNAS MAKES LOVE TO PRESSYNE. [CH. I, the kynge Elynas was so rauysshed & abused! that he remembred of nothinge worldly / but alonely that he herd & sawe the said lady, and abode there long tyme. Thanne camme rannyng toward him two of hys houndis 4 whiche made to hym grett feste,? and he lept & mevyd hym as a man wakynge from slep / and thenne he remembred of the chasse, and had of new so grett athurst / that without hauyng aduys ne mesure he yede 8 fourth vpon the ryuage of the fountaynne, and toke the basyn which heng' therby & drank of the watre. And thenne he beheld the said lady whiche had lefte her songe & salued® her right humbly / beryng vnto her 12 the gretest honour & reuerence that he might. Thanne she that coude & wyst moche of wele & of honour, rendred to hym his salutacion right gracyously, ‘Lady,’ said Elynas, the kinge / ‘ of your curtoysye be 16 nat you dyspleased yf I requyre of you to knowe of your estate / of your beyng & what ye are / For the cause that moueth me therto is suche / as now I shall Right dere lady vouche ye saaf to 20 wete & knowe that I can & know‘ so moche of the reherse to you. beyng of this countree, that there nys within this foure or fyue myle neyther Castel ne ffortres, but put I knowe / except that same fro whens I departed this 24 day by the mornyng', whiche is two myle hens or ther- aboute. Nor there nys neyther lord ne lady within this Countrey but that I knowe them wel, and therfore gretly I meruaylle & wounderly am abasshed, fro whens 28 may be suche a fayr and so gent a lady as ye be / so exempt & vnpurveyed of felawship. and for godis loue pardonne me / For grette outrage is to me to demande of you therof / but the grette desire & good wylle that 32 my herte bereth toward your gracyous personne, hath caused hardynes within me for to doo it.’ / 1 Fr, abusé, 2 Fr, feste. 3 Fr, salua. 4 Fr, scay et congnois, CH. 1. KING ELYNAS AND THE LADY PRESSYNE. 1¢ Cire Knight,’ said the lady / ‘ there is none outrage / but it commeth to you of grette curtoysye & honour. And knowe you, sire knight, that I shall nat 4 be longe alone whan it shal playse me / but from me I haue sent my seruawnts, while pat I dysported me.’ Thenne cam fourth to? that word oon of her seruaunts, wel arayed, whiche rode on a fayre Courcer, and att his 8 right hand led@ a palfroy so richely enharnashed® that the kyng Elynas was moche abasshed of* the grette richesse & noble aray that was about the said palfray. Thanne said the seruawnt to his lady: ‘Madame, it is 12 tyme whan it shall playse you to comme.’ And she fourthwith said to the kinge: ‘Sire knight, god be with you, and gramercy of your curtoisye.’ thenne she went toward the palfray / and the kinge hyed hym, 16 & helped to sette her on horsbak moche prately.° And she thanked hym moche of hit, and departid /. And the kyng yede to his hors, and lept on his bake. thanne camme hys meney, whiche sought hym, and 20 sayd that they had taken the herte. And the king! said to them / ‘that playseth me.’ Thenne he byganne to thinke on the beaulte of the said lady, and so moche he was surprysed of her loue, that he ne wyst what 24 contenawnce or manyere he shuld hold / and said to his meyne / ‘goo you alle before / and I shall folow you soone.’ They yede at hys commandement theire way / and wel they perceyued & knew that he hadd 28 found som thinge / And the king hastly tourned his hors, & toke the way that the said lady had ytaken / & folowed her. hystory recounteth to vs, that so long folowed the 32 kinge Elynas the lady, that he found her in a fforest, where as were many trees high & strayt / and [it] was in the season that the tyme® is swete & 2 Fr. a. 3 Fr. enharnacié, 4 Fr: de, 5 Fr, douleement. 6 Fr, temps, 1 fol. 4b. She replies courteously. Her servants have retired whilst she amused herself. A servant then brings a paltrey, richly capari- soned, and the lady, bidding the King furewell, mounts and rides away. The King also mounts, but his attendants ar- rive, having killed the deer. Being enamoured of the lady, the King dismisses his retinue, and rides after her. He overtakes her in the forest, 10 The lady, hear- ing the noise of his horse, waits for him ; but when he comes up, King Elynas is inuch abashed, $ fol. 5. The lady asks him why he follows her, to which he re- plies that he is ushamed to let ler go unaccom- panied through his land, She excuses him, and begs him not to delay his return merely for that, upon which he declares his love for her, KING ELYNAS DECLARES HIS LOVE TO PRESSYNE. [ou. 1. gracyous, & the place within the forest was moche delectable. of the hors of the kynge Elynas, that rode fast, she And whan the lady herde the noyse said to her seruaunt: ‘Stand we. styl, and late vs abyde this knight, For L byleue that he cometh ynto vs for to telle to vs a part of his wille, wherof he was nat as tofore aduysed, For we sawe hym lepe on his hors all thoughtful.’ ‘Madame,’ said the seruaunt / ‘at your plaisure.’ Thanne camme the kinge nigh vnto the lady / and as he had neuer seen her before, he salewed her, moche affrayenge, For he was so sur- prysed? of her loue that he coude nat holde conten- aunce. Thanne the lady, that knew ynoughe as it was, and that ®she shuld comme to her entrepryse / said to hym: ‘ Kynge Elynas, what goost thou sechyng' aftir so hastly / haue I oughte borne away of thyn owne?’ / And whan the king! herde hym named, he was moche abasshed, For he knew nat what she was that spak with hym / and neuertheles he ansuerde to her: ‘My dere lady, nought of myn owne ye withbere / ‘but only that ye passe & goo thrugh my land / and it is grett shame to me / sith that ye be astraunger,* that Ine doo you to be conueyed worshipfully thrugh my land / whiche I wold moche gladly doo yf I were in place, & had tyme & space for to doo it.” Thenne ansuerde the lady: ‘ Kynge Elynas, I hold you for escused, & pray you yf ye wyl of vs none other thinge / that ye leue ne lette nat yowr retourne for that cause.’ And Elynas ansuerde / ‘wel other thing I seke, lady’ / ‘And what is it?’ said she / ‘telle it to me hardyly.’ ‘My right dere lady, sith that it is your wille & plaisir for to knowe it / I shall telle it to you. I desire moche more than eny other thing’ in the world forto haue your good loue & your good grace.’ ‘ By my feith,’ said she, ‘kyng Elynas, to that haue ye 1 Fr, delectable, 2 Fr. sunpris. 4 Fr, estrangiére, 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 CH. 1. | not faylled / yf that ye think theron but wele & honour, For neuev man shal haue my loue in hys auauntynge.’ ‘Ha, my dere lady, I ne think on my 4 lyf on none cas dyshoneste.’ Thenne perceyued the lady pat he was esprised! of her loue, & said to hym / ‘yf ye wil take me as your wyf by mariage, and be sworne vnto me that ye shal nat see me duryng my 8 childbed, nor to peyne your self in no manere of way for to loke on me att that tyme / And yf this ye wil doo & swere / I am she that shal obey to you as a wyf ought to obey her husband.’ Thanne pe kinge anoone, 12 and with good wille, sware & promysed to hold that Without longe reherecyng they were sut al the land of the kinge Elynas was moche abasshed who was byfore is said. spoused, & ledd@ longe a good lyf togidre. 16 this lady / how be it that she gouerned her wel right But Nathas, that was sone to the and [it] happed that she was at her childbed of thre doughtirs / the wysly & valiauntly. kynge Elynas, hated her ouermoche. 20 whiche she had bornne 2ryght gracyously alle her tyme, & was deliuered of them thre at ende of ix. monethis / the first borne was named Melusigne, the second Melyor, and the iij** Palatyne. The kynge Elynas 24 was nat thanne present at that place, but kynge Nathas his sone was there, and beheld hys thre sustirs, that were so fayre that it was meruaylle. and thanne he went toward the kinge his fader / and thus he said to /28 hym: ‘Sire / Madame, the quene Pressyne your wyf, hath made & is delyuered of thre doughtirs, the most fayre that euer were seen / comme & see them.’ Thenne kinge Helynas, that remembred nat of the promysse 32 that he had made to Pressyne his wyf / sayd / ‘ ffayre And yede apertly? & entred anoon witiin the chambre wheras Pressyne bathed her sone / so wyl I doo.’ thre doughtirs. and whan he saw them / he said in 1 empris. 3 Fr, apertement. KING ELYNAS BREAKS HIS PROMISE TO PRESSYNE, 11 avowing the honesty of his passion. She will marry him, if he will proinise never to see her in childbed ; to which condi- tion he assents, They are marriod, and live long to- gether ; but Nathas, the son of King Elynas, dislikes her (Pressyne) ; and when she is in childbed of three daughters, 2 fol. 5b. Melusine, Melior, and Pala- tyne, persuades the King to visit her, He, forgetting his promise, enters her cham- ber, and greets her joyfully. She reproaches him for breaking his promise, say- ing he has lost her for evermore, but that she knows Nathas is the cause of all; whereupon she disappears with her three daugh- ters, and is never seen again, King Elynas is much afflicted at the loss of his wife Pressyne and his daugh- ters, and laments for seven years, His people think him mad, and make Nathas their king, whom they marry to the Lady of Yeris ; 4 fol. 6. and from the two is born Floryimond, with whom the history is not concerned, Pressyne goes with her daugh- ters to Avalon, or the Isle Lost, PRESSYNE AND HER THREE DAUGHTERS DISAPPEAR. [CH. I. this manere: ‘god blesse the moder & the doughters, & toke of them grette Ioye. And whan pressyne herde hym, she answerde to hym, ‘ Fals kinge, thou hast faylled thy couenaunt, wherof grett euyl shal 4 comme vnto the / and hast lost me for euermore. And wel I wot that thy sone Nathas is cause therof, & departe I must fro. the lightly.t but yet I shalbe auenged me on thy sone by my sustir & felow, my 8 lady of the yle lost.’ And these thinges said / [she] toke her thre doughtirs & had them withher / and neuer aftir she was seen in the land / fi Paani saith to vs, that whan the kinge had lost pressyne his wyf, and his thre doughters, he was so wofuH & so abasshed that he wyst not what he shuld doo or say. but he was by the space of seuen yere that he dede none other thinge, but compleyned & sighed, & made grette playntes & piteows lamenta- cions for loue cf Pressyne his wyf, whiche he louyd of lawfull? loue. and the peuple in hys land said that he was assoted.? and in dede they gaue & betoke the gouernement ouer them & of alle the lande to Nathas his sone. Which gouerned valiauntly, and held hys fader in grette charyte. And thenne the barons of Albanye gaf to hym vnto hys wyf agentyl woman, And of these #two yssued fflorymond, whiche afterward toke moche of peyne & whiche was lady of Yerys. traueyll. Neuertheles, oure hystory is not enterprysed ne begonne for hym / and therfore we shall hold oure peas of hym, and we shall retourne to oure hystorye. historye saith, that whan Pressyne departed & yede with her thre doughtirs, she went in to 12 ~) 20 ~) He ~ Aualon, that was named the yle lost, bycause that aH 32 had a man ben there many tymes® / yet shuld not he conne retourne thither hymself alone / but byhapp & 1 Fr. soudainement. 2 Fr, leal. 3 Fr, assoté, 5 Fr. tant y eut esté de foys. ed — CH. a MELUSINE AND HER TWO SISTERS. grett auenture. And there she nourysshed her thre doughtirs ynto the tyme that they were xv. yere of age / and led& them euery mornyng on a high 4 mountaynne whiche was named, as thystory saith & recounteth, Elyneos, whiche is asmoche for to say in englissh as fflorysshed hyH.! For from thens she sawe ynough the land of Albany.? and often said to her 8 thre doughtirs, waymentyng & sore wepyng: ‘See, my fayre doughters, yonder is the land wher ye were born / and ye shuld haue had your wele & honour, ne had be the dommage of your fader, that bothe you & me hath 12 putte in grett myserye without ende vnto the day of dome, whan god shal punysshe the euyl folk / and the good he shall enhaunse in theire vertues.’ | Dini tholdest doughtir, demanded of her 16 moder Pressyne: ‘What falshed® hath doon oure fader, wherby we must endure so longe this greef & sorow?’ Thanne the lady, theyre moder, byganne to telle & shew vnto them all the manere of the 20 faytte, so as ye haue her@ tofore. And thenne whan Melusyne had herde her moder, and that she vnder- stode all the faitte or dede, She tourned the talke of her moder,* & demanded of her the commodytees of 24 the land / the name of the Cites, tounes, & Castels of Albanye / and rehercyng these thinges they al descendid doun fro the hyH, & retourned to the yle of Aualon. And thanne Melusyne had & drew *apart her two 28 sustirs, that is to wete Melyor & Palatyne, & said to them in this manyere: ‘ My dere sustirs, now loke & byhold we the myserye wherin oure fader hath putt both oure moder & vs all, that shuld haue be so wel att. 32 ease & in so grette worship in oure lyues. what think you good of your best aduys for to doo / For as for 1 Fr. montaigne florie. 2 Fr, Ybernie, 3 Fr, faulecte. 4 Vr, remist sa mere en aultres parolles, 13. where she brings up her daughters. She takes them every morning to a high mountain, * called Elyneos, and shows them the land in which they were born, Melusine asks what was their father’s wrong doing, and Pressyne tells them the whole story. 5 fol. 60. Melusine then conspires with her sister 14 MELUSINE AND HER SISTERS IMPRISON ELYNAS. [cH. 1. to punish King Elynas for the sorrow he has brought upon them and their mother, by imprisoning him in a moun- tain of North- umberland, This they accord- ingly do; but when they tell their mother Pressyne, she is very grieved and angry at their untilial conduct, 7 fol. 7. my parte I think to auenge me therof / and as lytel myrthe & solas that he hath Impetred! to oure moder by hys falshed / as lytel joye I think to purchasse vuto hym /.’ Thenne ker two sustirs ansuerde to her 4 in this manere: ‘Ye be owr oldest sustir, we shall folowe & obey you in all that ye wil doo & shall ordonne theirof.’ And Melusyne said to them / ‘ ye shew good loue, & to be good & lawfull? to oure moder, 8 For by my feyth ye haue said right wel. and I haue aduysed yf it semeth you good that we shall close. or shett hym on the high mountayne of Northomberland, named Brombelyoys / and in myserye he shalbe there 12 all’ his lyf.’ ‘ My sustir,’ said either of bothe sustirs / ‘lette now hye vs for to doo this / For we haue grette desyre to see that oure moder be auenged of the vnlawfulnes that owr fader dede shew vnto her.’ 16 Thanne the thre doughtirs dide so moch, that by theyre false condycion they toke theyr fader, & closed or shett hym on the said mountayne. And after that they had so doon, they retourned to theire moder, 20 and to her they said in this manere: ‘ Moder, ye ne oughte to retche* ne care more of the vnlawfulness® & falshed of owr fader / For therof he hath receyued hys payment, For® neuev he shal yssue ne departe fro 24 the mounteyne of Brombelyoys, wheron he is closed & shett by vs / and peve he shall waste hys lyf & his tyme with grett dolour and woo.’ / ‘Ha / ha / alas!’ said theire moder Pressyne to them / ‘how durst you 28 so doo / euyl herted doughters, & without pyte / ye haue not doon wel, whan he that begat you on my body ye haue so shamfully punysshed’ by your proude courage. For it was he of whom I toke all 32 the playsaunce that I had in this mortal world, 1 Fr. impetré. 2 Fr. Leal, 3 MS. has ‘as.’ Fr. toute. 4 Fr. challoir. 5 Fr, desleaulté. 6 MS. has ‘ffro.’ Fr, car. ee ee oft. 1] whiche ye haue taken fro me, therfore, knowe ye wel that I shall punyssh you of the meryte aftir youre thou, Melusyne, that art tholdest, & that 4 oughtest to haue be the moost knowyng / all this is deserte. comme & doon thrughe thy counseyH, For wel I wot that this pryson hath be gyuen to thy fader by the / and therfore thou shalt be she that shalbe first 8 punysshed therof. For notwithstandyng the vnlaw- fulness of thy fader / bothe thou & thy sustirs he shuld haue drawen to hym, and ye shuld shortly haue ben out of the handes of the Nymphes! & of the And fro hens fourthon I gyue to the / the gyfte that thou shalt be 12 fairees, without to retourne eny more. euery satirday tourned vnto a serpent fro the nauyll dounward / but yf thou fynd ony man pat wil take 16 the to hys wyf / and that he wil promytte to the that neuer on the Satirday he shall see the, ne pat shall declare ne reherce thy faytt or dede to ne personne / thou shalt lyue thy cours naturell, and shall dey as a 20 naturel & humayn woman / and out of thy body shall yssue a fayre lynee, whiche shalbe egret & of highe proesse. but yf by hap or som auenture / thou shuldest be seen & deceyued? of thyn husband / 24 knowe thou for certayn that thou shuldest retourne to the tourment & peyne wher as thou were in afore / and ever thou shalt abyde therinne vnto the tyme that ; And 28 thou shalt appiere by thre dayes byfore the fortresse or Castel whiche thou shalt make, and thou shalt name it aftir thy name / at euery tyme whan it shall haue a new lord, and lykwyse also whan a man of thy 32 lynee shal dey. the right highe Iugge shal hold his jugement. And thou, Melyor, to the I gyue a Castel in the grette Armenye, whiche is fayre & riche, wher thou shalt kepe a $Sperohak vnto the tyme that the grett maister shall hold his Iugement. 1 Fr. japhes. 2 Fr, decellée. MELUSINE AND HER TWO SISTERS ARE PUNISHED. And al 4 15 For punishment she condemns Melusine, the eldest and the most in fault, to be turned into a serpent every Saturday, until she finds some one who will matry her, and promise never to see her on that day, If he break his promise, she must return to her punish- ment until the Day of Judg- ment, appearing before her castle for three days, when- ever it shall have a new lord, or when one of her descendants is about to die. Melior is con- demned to keep a sparrowhawk in a castle in Armenia, until the judgment ay 5 % fol. 76. 16 and all knights who shall watch there a certain time without sleep, shal] have any gift they desire, except herself in Inarriage. Those that per- sist in this last request shall be unfortunate to the ninth genera- tion. Palatyne is to be imprisoned on Mount Guygo, with the treasure of King Elynas, until one of their lineage shall de- liver her, and obtain the treasure, The sisters then go their several ways, Be not displeased that I tell you these things. I will now pro- ceed to the history itself,. but will first tell you how King Elynas ended his days. After living a long time upon the mountain, he lied, 2 fol. 8. PALATYNE’S DOOM. KING ELYNAS DIES. [on. I. noble and worthy knightes descended & comme of noble lynee, that wil goo watche there the day byfore the euen, and theuen also of saint Iohan baptiste, whiche is on the xx. day of Iung,! without eny slep, 4 shal haue a yeft of the of suche thinges that men may haue corporelly / that is to wete, of erthly pinges without to demande thy body ne thy loue by maryage And al thoo that shal demande the 8 without cesse, and that wyl not forbere & absteynne nor other wyse. them perof / shalbe infortunate vnto the ix. lynee, and shul be putt from theire prosperytees /. And thou shalt be closed, palatyne, & shette on the mountayn of 1 Guygo, with al the tresoure of thy fader, vnto the tyme that a knight shal comme of our lynee whiche shal haue al that tresoure to help therwith for to gete & conquyre the land of promyssion / & shal delyure 1 the from thens /.’ Thenne were the thre sustirs full heuy of herte & sorowfull, & departed fro theire moder. And Melusyne went & toke her way al alone thrughe the forest & thikk busshes. Melyor also departed, & yede toward the Sperhaak Castel in the — grette Armenye. And Palatyne also went to the mounteyne of Guygo, wher many a man hath seen her /. And I myself herd it say of the kinge of And be nat you displesed yf I haue recounted vnto you 9 ~ Arragon and of many other of hys royawme. this auenture, For it is for to adiouste more of feyth, & for to veryfy thistory, And fro hens fourthon I 2 wil entre into the matere cf the very & true hystory. but first I shall telle to you how the king Elynas fynysshed his dayes in this world / and how Pressyne his wyf buryed hym wethin the said mountayn in a3 moche noble tombe, as ye shal here heraftir. / ~ Onge tyme was the Kyng Elynas on the said moun- tayne in so moch, that deth which bringeth ?euery 1 Fr, juing. 2 6 4 2 CH. 1. THE TOMB OF KING ELYNAS, personne to an ende toke hym. Thanne camme ther Pressyne his wyf and buryed hym there / and on hym ‘ made to be sette oon so noble & so riche a tombe, pat 4 neuer byfore ne syn that tyme was seen none suche ne so riche. For on the tombe were riches without com- paracion as of precyous stones and other Jewellis / and about it were grett & highe Candelstykes of fyn gold, 8 and lampes & torches whiche brennen both day & nyght continuelly. And on the said tombe stood vp right a Statue or ymage of Alabaster, kerued & made aftir the lengthe, lyknes, & fourme of Kinge Elynas / 12 and the said ymage held in her handes a table! of gold, And there the lady Pressyne stablysshed a stronge geaunt to the whereon was writon the forsaid auenture. sauegarde of the tresoure byfore said / the whiche 16 Geaunt was wounder fyers & horryble, and al the Countre therabout he held vnder his subgection. And also aftir hym many other geaunts kept it vnto the tyme & commyng of Geffray with the grett toth / of 20 the whiche ye shall more here herafter. Now haue ye herde of the King’ Elynas and of Pressyne his wyf. And from hens fourthon I wil bigynne & shew the trouth of thystory of the meruaylles of the noble Castel 24 of Lusignen in Poitow. hit was bilded & made./ hystory recounteth to vs that there was somtyme And why & by what manere in the Brut Brytayne? a noble man whiche fell at 28 debate with the nevew of the king’ of Bretons. and in dede he durst therfore nomore dwelle within the land / but toke wth hym al his fynaunce & goodes, and went out of the land by the high mountaynes. And as 32 telleth thistorye he founde on a day nighe by a fon- tayne a fayr lady to whom he told al his Fortune & aduenture / so that fynally they enamoured® eche other, 1 Fr. tablier. 2 Fr. la brute bretaigne. 3 Fr, s’amouérent. MELUSINE. lv and Pressyne buries him, and erects a rich tomb to his memory, bearing a statue of the King. She places a giant to guard the tomb and the treasure, who was suc- ceeded by many others, until Geoffrey with the Great Tooth came, Now I will tell you of the mar- vellous Castle of Lusignen, A noble man of Brut Britain, falling out with the nephew of the King, leaves the land ; and meeting a beautiful lady near a fountain, 18 he marries her, and in her land builds many towns and castles ; ' 1 fol. 85. and the country is called Forests. The knight, quarrelling with the lady, she suddenly disappears. He afterwards marries the sister of the Earl of Poitiers, and has many children by her, of whom the third born was named Raymon- din, 4 fol. 9. The Karl of Poitiers holds a great feast in honour of his son Bertrand, THE BIRTH OF RAYMONDIN. [cH 1. and the lady shewed to hym grett loue, & dide vnto hym moch comfort. and he began within her land, that was wast & deserte for to byld & make fayre tounes & strong Castels. and was the land within 4 1short tyme peupled raisonably / And they dede calle the land forestz, bycause that they founde it full of grett wodes & thikk bushes, And yet at this day it is called Forestz. It haped that this knight & this lady 8 fel at debate togidre. I ne wot not goodly how ne wherfore / but that right sodaynly departed the lady fro the knight, wherfore he was woful & heuy. and notwithstandinge he grew & encreaced ever in worship 12 and in prosperite. The noble men thanne of this land / seeyng that they were without a lady purveyed hym of oon to hys wyf, a moche gentil & fayre woman, sustir to the Erle of Poiters, which regned at that tyme, & 16 he begate on her many children males. emonge the whiche was oon / that is to wete the iijde borne, whiche was named Raymondyn, and was fayre, goodly & gracyous, moche subtyl & wyty in all thinges. And 20 that same tyme? the said Raymondin might be xiiij yere of age./ Cap. II. How the Erle of Poytiers prayde the Erle of Forests for to comme to the Feste 24 that he made of* hys sone./ 4 he Erle of Poyters held a grett feste of a sone that he had, and wold haue made hym to be dowbed a knight. And no more children he had, but 28 only a fayre mayde that was called Blanche / and the sone had to name Bertrand. [Thanne the Erle Emery]® manded & desyred a moch fayre company for loue of the knighthode of his sone / and amonges other he bode 32 2 Fr. icelluy temps. 8 Fr, pour. 5 omitted by the translator. SS ee OH. I. ] THE EARL OF POITIERS’ FEAST. & prayed the Erle of Forests to comme to the feste, & that he shuld bring with him thre of his sones, the oldest, For he wold see them. Thanne the Erle of 4 Forestz went at his mandement in the moost honour- able wyse that he coude, and with hym he led thre of his sones. The feste was grette, and there were made and dowbed many a knight for loue of Bertrand, sone 8 to the Erle of Poyters, that was pat day proferred to thonourable & worshipfu ordere of knighthod. And also was ther made and dowbed to a knight, theldest sone of the Erle of Forestz, for he jousted moche wel 12 & fayre. And was the fest contynued and holden the space of viij dayes. And the Erle of Poyters made & gaf many & moche fayre & grett yeftes. And at the departyng of the feste the Erle of Poyters demanded 16 of the Erle of Forestz, & prayed hym to leue with hym Raymondin his nevew, and that he shuld neuer care for hym For he wold puruey for him wel. And the erle of Forestz graunted it / and thus dwelled the said 20 Raymondyn with the Erle of Poyters his vncle, that loued hym wel. And after toke the feste an ende moche honourably & frend/y. And as now cesseth thistory to spek of the Erle of Forests, whiche re- 24 tourned with his two sones & al his fellowship ynto his Countre. And begynneth oure hystory to pro- cede fourth / and to spek of the Erle Emery, and of Raymondyn./ 28 Cap. III. How a forester camme to denounce to the Erle Emery how there was within the Forest of Coulombyers the moost meruayl- lows wildbore that euer was sen byfore./ 32 hystorye certyffyeth to vs and also the veray Cronykles that this Erle Emery was grauntfader 1 In French version Cap, III. begins from this point, 19 to which the Earl] of Forests and his sons are invited. At the feast many are knighted. When it is over, the Earl of Poitiers asks the Karl of Forests to leave Raymondin in his charge, which is done. The grandfather of Earl Emery was 8t. William. The Earl was worthy, and learned in astronomy, and devoted to his nephew Raymondin, 2 fol. 10, He had hounds and hawks, and one day went to hunt a wild boar in the Forest of Cou- lombiers, EARL EMERY GOES OUT TO HUNT. [ou. Ill. to saynt William that was Erle, and left al worldly pocessyons for to serue oure Creatour, and toke on hym the ordre & Religion of the whit mawntelles, an And therof I wil not 4 make grett locucion or talking’; But I will procede fourth on owr matere, and to spek of the Erle Emery. Thistory thanne telleth to vs that this Erle was moche worthy & valyaunt a knight / and that loued euer 8 noblesse, And was the most wyse in the science of ordre or Religion so called. Astronomye that was in hys dayes, ne byfore syn that Aristotles regned. That tyme that the Erle Emery regned / thistory sheweth to vs that [he] coude many a 12 science,! & specially he was parfytte in the science of Astromy, as I haue said tofore. And knowe ye that he loued so moche his nevew Raymondin that he might and so dide the child his vnele, and peyned 16 hym moche to playse & to serue hym at gree, and to It is wel trouth ?that this Erle had many houndes and many haakes of al no more. doo hym playsir in all maners. maneres. and [it] befell as thystory recounteth that 20 oon of the Foresters camme vnto the Erlis Court, & de- manded? or told that in the Forest of Coulombiers was the moost meruayllous wildbore that had be seen of longe tyme byfore, and that at hym shuld be the best 24 & fayrest dysport that eny gentylman shuld euer haue. ‘By my feyth,’ said the Erle, ‘these tydynges plaise me wel. late the hunters & houndes be redy to morow by tymes. & we shall goo to the chasse.’ ‘ My lord,’ 28 said the Forester, ‘at your playsire.’ And al thus he departed fro the Erle / and made redy al that apar- teyned to the chasse for to hunte at thoure that he had apoynted./ 32 1 Fr. gue de moult de sciences estoit plain, 3 Fr, denoncier, CH. IV. ] THE BOAR HUNT. Cap. IV. How the Erle went to the chace and Raymondyn with hym. ND whan the day was comme that Erle Emery with grette foyson of barons and knightes departed out of the Cite of Poyters / and Raymondyn rode euer byside hym on a gret Courser the swerde girded about hym and the shelde thehge ouer hys sholder, And whan 8 they were comme to the Forest they byganne fourthwith to hunte, And the wildbore was founde that was fel & proude, & deuoured & kyld many houndes and toke 4 his cours thrugh the Forest, For he was strongly 12 chaffed, and they byganne for to folowe hym waloping a good paas, but the wildbore doubted nothinge / but meuyd & wered hym in suche a manere that there ne was so hardy a dogge ne hound that durst abyd hym, 16 ne so hardy a hunter that durst hold the spere styl anenst hym for to hit & broche hym. And thanne camme bothe knightes and esquyers / but neuer oon was there so hardy that he durst sette foot on the grounde 20 for to withstande & haue launched at hym. Thenne camme the Erle that cryed with a highe voyce. sayeng’. And whan Ray- mondyn herde thus spek hys vncle, he was in hymself 24 vergoynouse? and shamed / and alighted from his courser and sette feet on grounde / and holding the swerde naked, yede courageously toward the said bore, and gaf to hym a strok with grette anger / And the 28 bore dressed toward hym and made hym to faH on hys knees, but soone he stood up, And as preu* hardy and valyaunt wold haue broched and threst hys swyrde within the booris heest / but the bore fledd, and so 32 fast he ranne that there was neyther man ne hound but that he lost the sight of hym, but alonely Ray- mondyn that was on horsbak, and so fast he folowed ‘shal this swyne? abasshe us alt.’ 2 Fr, filz de truye. 3 Fr. vergongne. 4 Fr. preus, Earl Emery, his nephew Raymondin, and many knights 1 fol, 10. go to the forest. They come upon the boar, but the dogs and the knights are afraid of him, Earl Emery cries, ‘Shall this swine abasshe us all?’ Raymondin, ashamed, dismounts, and attacks the boar, whichruns away; Raymondin follows on horseback, 22 leaving all the hunters behind. His uncle, afraid, gallops to him, and bids him give up the chase, but Raymondin heeds not ; 2 fol. 11. and the hunt continues. The horses fag, leaving Earl Emery and his nephew alone on the track, They rest under a tree, from which the Ear] studies the sky, and praises God, THE BOAR HUNT. [CH. Iv. the bore that he outranne al thoo that were at the chace, & lefte them behinde and founde hym self alone. Wherof the Erle, his vnele, was aferd / les that the bore shuld distroye hym. Wherfore the Erle waloped aftir hys nevew Raymondin and with a high voyce escryed hym. ‘ Fayre nevew, leve this chasse, and cursed be he that anounced it to vs, For yf this swyne hurt you I shall neuer haue joye in my herte.’ But Ray- mondyn, whiche was chaffed,! doubted not of hys lyf, ne toke heede to none euyl Fortune that might befall “to hym therof / but euer withoute cesse folowed the said bore, For he was well horsed. And the erle folowed euer hys nevew. What shuld auayll yf herof I shuld make a longe tale. Alle theire horses byganne to be chaffed and wery, & abode fer behinde, saaf only the Erle and Raymondyn, whiche chaced the bore so longe that the nyght fe on them./ Thanne the Erle & his nevew stode styl and rested pem vnder a grette tree. And the Erle gan to sey to Raymondin, ‘ Fayre nevew here shall we abyde tyl it be mone shyn.’ And Ray- mondyn said to hym, ‘Sire, aftir your wille shall I doo.’ And soone aftir roos the moone fayre and bright./ Thenne the Erle that knew moche of the science of Astronomy dide loke & behelde the skye and sawe the sterres full bright & clere, and the moone that was moche fayre without tache or spot, ne none ob- scurte or darknes was seen about it /. he ganne sore to wepe. And aftir grette & deep sighynges said in this manere. ‘Ha/ha/ right mighty and veray god, how erette ben the meruaylles that thou haste lefte here bynethe / as to knowe parfytly bothe the vertues & 4 8 12 20 the nature of many wounder and dyuerse condycions 32 of thinges, and of theire significacions or betoknynges. This might not be perfightly knowen, yf thou shadd nat vpon the men somwhat of thy full & deuyne grace, 1 Fr, eschauffe. CH. IV. | And specyally of this meruayllous aduenture, the whiche I now see by the sterres whiche thou hast cre- ated & sitte by ordre on the firmament or skye / and 4 that I knowe by the high science of astronomye / of the whiche by thy grace pou hast lente to me oon braunche of knowlege wherof I oughte to preyse / to thanke and to regracy! the hertily in thy highe 8 mageste, wher to none may be compared. O veray & highe sire, how might this be raisonably as to know- lege humayne without it were by thy terrible jugement, For no man shuld not mowe haue & receyue wel for 12 to do euer euyl. And notwithstandyng I see & per- ceyue wel by *the highe science of Astronomy / of whiche somme vnderstandyng I haue / to me leued3 of thy pure grace what hit segnyfyeth or betokneth, (16 wherof moche meruailled I am.’ These wordes said / the Erle byganne to wepe and to sighe more strongly than he dide byfore. Thanne Raymondin whiche hadd kyndled the fyre with hys fyreyron and that had herde 20 the moost part of all that the Erle Emery had sayd / said to hym in this manere / ‘ My lord, the fyre is wel kyndled,comme and warme you. and I byleue that within a while we shall haue somme tydynges of your meyne, 24 For as my thought ryght now I herd barking of dogges,’ ‘By my feith,’ said the Erle. ‘of the chace I gyue nomore force / but of that I see’ / And thanne he be- helde vpward ynto the sky and wept ful sore / And 28 Raymondyn pat so moche loued hym, said to hym / ‘Ha / ha / my lord, for godis loue lette that thing’ be. For it apparteyneth not to so highe a prince as ye be, For to putte or sette hys herte therto / ne for to en- 32 quyre of suche artes, ne of suche thynges. but wel it behouyth to you, and that shalbe wel doon to regracye, and to thanke god of that he hath purueyed you and promoted vnto so highe and so noble a lordship as 1 Fr, gracier, 3 Fr, presté, EMERY AND RAYMONDIN REST UNDER A TREE, 2 fol. 116, and weeps. Raymondin kindles a fire, and asks the Earl to warm himself, and says he hears the dogs barking. The Earl being still in tears, Raymondin tries to divert his attention, 24 but he says he sees wonderful adventures in the sky. Raymondin asks what they are. The Earl says, that if a subject 1 fol. 12. were to slay his lord, then that subject would found a noble line, Raymondin answers, that he cannot believe it, because it is against right and reason, While they speak they hear a great alfray ; they stop and listen ; EARL EMERY READS THE HEAVENS. [OH. IV. youre is. And as me semeth it is grette symplenes to take ony sorowe or heuynes of suche thinges that may not helpe / hyndre ne lette’ / ‘Ha / ha / fole,’ said the Erle, ‘yf thou wyst and knew the grette meruaylles & 4 wounderfull auentures that I see, thou shuldest be al abasshed.’ Thanne Raymondyn, that thought none euyl, ‘My right dere & doubted lord, I pray you to telle it to me / yf it is thinge that I 8 ‘By god,’ said the Erle, ‘thou shalt knowe it / and I wold that neyther god ne the world shuld demande of the nothinge of it / and that thad- answeryd@ in this manere. may knowe.’ ‘uenture shuld befaH to the, on myn owne self / For 12 from hens fourth I am old and haue frendes ynoughe for to hold my lordshipes. but yet I loue the so moche that I would that so grett a worship were haped to thee / And the auenture is suche / that yf at the same ooure a subget dide 1slee hys lord he shuld becomme the moost mighty and moost worshiped that euer camme out of hys lynage or kynrede, And of hym shuld procede and yssue so subtle a lynee / that of it shuld be 20 menciouwn and remembraunce made vnto thende of the world. And know thou for certayn that this is trouth which I telle to the.’ that neuer he shuld mowe byleue that it were trouth / 24 Thanne ansuerde Raymondyn and that it were ayenst al right and reason / that a man shuld haue wele for to doo euyl, and for to doo suche a mortal treson. ‘ Now byleue thou it surely,’ said the Erle to Raymondyn, ‘ For it is as I teH to the.’ 28 ‘By my feith, said Raymondin / ‘yet shall I nat by- leue it.’ And as the Erle Emerye and Raymondin spak of the said auenture togidre, they herd al alonge the wod a grette affray / and Raymondyn toke thanne 32 hys swerd that lay on the erthe. and lyke wyse dede the erle, And abode longe thus thinkinge for to knowe what it was, and stode byfore the fyre / on that syde as them semyd that the stryf was. And longe in suche 36 CH. v.] RAYMONDIN SLAYS HIS UNCLE, EARL EMERY OF a state they abode tyl that they sawe a wounder grette & horryble bore moche chaffed commynge toward them. Thanne gan sey Raymondyn, ‘ My lord, clemme 4 you vpon som tree lest that this wyld bore hurte you, and lette me dele with hym.’ ‘By my feyth,’ said the Erle / ‘ god forbede that I leue the in suche auenture al alone.’ And whan Raymondyn. herde this, he went 8 & stode byfore the bore hauyng hys swerd on his feet, - and wilfuH? for to dystroye & slee hym / and the wild bore tourned hym and went toward the Erle. Thenne byganne the dolour of Raymondyn / and the grette 12 hape that therof camme aftirward to hym, As the very & trew history recounteth to vs. Cap. V. How Raymondyn slew the Erle of Poyters, his vnele. 16 aye this part recounteth thystory, that whan Ray- mondyn cam ayenst the said bore for to kepe hym that he shuld not hurte his lord / the bore anoone hurted to hym, & ranne fast toward the Erle, whiche 20 seeyng the wyld bore comme / lefte his swerd, and toke a short spere, and strayght held it dounward before hym. And the Erle, that knew & wyst moche of the chasse, broched the bore thrughe the brest / but the 24 Erle fe doun on his knees. And thanne Raymondyn, holdyng hys swerde in his hand, camme toward the bore, and wold haue smytte hym betwene the foure# legges, For he leye vpsodounne the bely vpward. and suche 28 a stroke gaaf Raymondyn to the bore, that the blade of hys swerde brake / so that the poynte of it sprang! ayenst the Erlis stomak, & wounded hym sore / in so moche that he deyed therof. And Raymondyn, which 32 was sore chaffed / seeyng hys wepen broken, and not 1 Fr, l'espée au poing, mistranslation for ‘in his fist,’ 2 Fr. par bonne voulenté de la destruire, 4 Fr. quatre. poitiers. 25 soon the boar approaches them, Raymondin goes to slay him, 3 fol, 125, The boar comes near the Earl, who pierces him, Raymondin strikes also, but his sword breaks and wounds the Earl, so that he dies, 26 RAYMONDIN SORROWS FOR HIS LORD’S MISHAP. [om 1 fol. 13. Raymondin kills the boar, and then sees that his uncle is dead. He weeps and laments pite- ously, and remembers that such an adventure would make a man famous. 2 fol. 135. yet perceyluyng' his mortal werk / toke the spere, & so strongly broched it thrughe the bore, that he slew hym. But whan he dide loke toward his vncle, and that he sawe hym all bloody / he went, and wold haue 4 had hym to stand vpon his feet, but it was for nought. he thenne pulled out of hys brest the piece of the swerd, and knew that it was hys dede /. Moche meruayllously thanne byganne Raymondin to sighe & 8 to complayne, & wept and lamented pitéously, sayeng in this manere: ‘Ha / ha / false fortune, how moche art thou peruerse & euyl, that hath doon to be slayn by me hym that loued me so moche, and that had doon to me 12 so moche good? Ha / god fader almighty / wher shal now be the land where this harde & false synner shal mowe abyde / For in certayn all they that shall here spek of this grett mysdede shal juge me / & with good 16 right, to dey of a shamfull deth, For a more false ne more euyl treson dide neuer no synner. / Ha / erthe cleue & open the / & deuoure thou me fourthwith, and lete me faH with the moost obscure & derk angel 20 within helle, pat somtyme was the fayrest of all other in heuen, For wel I haue deserued it.’ In this dolour & woo was Raymondyn a longe space of tyme, & was moche poughtfull & wroth / and bethought hym self, 24 & said in this manere /‘ My lord & vncele, that lyeth deed yonder, sayd to me / that yf suche an auenture shuld comme to me, that I shuld be worshiped more than ony man of my lynage. but I now see wel al the 28 contrary / For truly I shalbe pe moost vnhappy & dyshonoured man that euer was borne of woman / and by my feyth I haue wel deserued it / it is wel raison & right. But notwithstanding 2syth that now it may 32 none operwyse be / I shal dystourne me out of this land, and shal ‘yoo som wher for to purchasse myn aduenture, suche as god wil send to me in to somme good place, where as I may take & do penitence for my 36 cH. V.] RAYMONDIN RIDES TO THE FAIRY FOUNTAIN OF SOIF. 27 synne.’ And thanne Raymondyn camme to hys lord / and sore wepyng, kyssed hym with so heuy & wooful herte / that thenne he had nat mow say one only wore 4 for all the gold in the world /. And soone aftir that he had kyssed hym, he layed his foot on the sterop Raymondin sadly kisses his dead lord, and lepe vpon his hors / and departed, holding his way leaps on his horse, and rides thrugh the myddel of the Forest, moche dyscomforted, through the 8 & rode apas vnknowing the way, ne whether he went / but only by hap & att auenture, And made suche a sorowe that there nys no personne in the world that coude thinke ne sey the v™ part of hys dolour /. 12 We Raymondyn departed fro his lord, and that he had lefte hym deed beside the fyre, and the wild bore also / he rode so longe thrugh the Forest, euer wepyng and complaynyng so sore that 16 it was gret pite for to see & here hym / that about mydnyght he aprouched nygh to a fontayne of fayerye, named pe fontayne of soyf / And many one of the Countre per about called hit the fontayne of fayerye, 20 bycause that many a meruaylle fet & happed there many tymes in tyme passed. And was this fontaynne in a wounderfull & meruayllows place / and ouer it was aroch of meruayllows height / and al alonge the said 24 Fontaynne was a fayre medowe, nygh to the high Forest, And wel trouth it is that the moone dide shynne at that tyme ryght clere & bright, And the hors ledd Ray- mondyn whiche way that he wold, For no heede nor '28taduys he had of nothing, for cause of the gret dysplaysaunce that he had within hym self. And notwithstanding that he slept, hys hors ledd hym in this state so longe that he was comme wel nygh to the 132 fontayne. And at that same tyme were there [thre] ladyes, that played & dysported them / amongzs the whiche oon was auctorised of the other as maistresse & _ lady ouer them, Of the whiche lady I wil now spek / 36 aftir that thistory telleth. orest till he comes nigh to the fairy Fountain of Soif. He falls asleep on his horse, 1 fol. 14. which journeys on to the fountain, where three ladies disport themselves. 28 Unknown to himself Ray- mondin is carried by his horse fol. 145. past the Fairy Fountain, The chief lady there feignedly complains of Raymondin not greeting them, she stops his horse, and reproves hii, Ravmondin does not hear, MELUSINE SEES RAYMONDIN ASLEEP ON HORSEBACK. [cH. Viz Cap. VI. How Raymondyn camme to the Fontayne of soyf, wher he founde Melusyne, and two other ladyes with her. Hystory saith, that so longe bare the hors Ray- 4 mondyn thus pensefull! & heuy of herte of the myshap that was comme to hym, that he ne wyst where he was, ne whither he went / ne in no manere he ledd hys hors / but his hors ledd hym where that he wold, 8 For Raymondin touched ?not the brydeH / and herd ne saw nought / so sore was hys wit troubled. And thus he passed byfore the fontaynne where the ladyes but the 12 hors that sawe them, was sodaynly afrayed, and fledd were, without hauyng eny sight of them. thens, rannyng moche fast. And thanne she that was the gretest lady of them thre, sayd in this manere: ‘By my feyth, he that rode now & passed byfore vs, 16 semyth to be a moche gentyl man / and, neuertheles, he maketh of it no semblaunt / but he sheweth the semblaunt of a vylayne or kerle, that hath passed And 20 all this said she feynyngly / to thende that the other shuld nat perceyue to what thinge she tended, For she so before ladyes without to haue salewed them.’ wyst & knew wel how it was with hym, as ye shal here say in thystory herafter. And thanne she gan 24 say to the other: ‘T goo to make hym spek, For he She departed fro the other two ladyes, and yede to Raymondyn, and toke the hors by the brydell & made hym to stand styl, and 28 said in this manere: ‘By my feyth, sire vassal, hit semeth to be asleep.’§ commeth to you of grette pryde or of grette rudesse for to passe byfore ony ladyes without spekyng or somme salutacion / how be it that bothe rudesse & pryde 32 And the lady cessed as thenne of her wordes / but Raymondyn herde nor vnderstod, ne 3 ‘a sheep’ in MS, may be in you.’ 1 Fr. pensif. | &. CH. VI. ] MELUSINE AWAKENS RAYMONDIN. ansuerd her not. And she, as angry & wroth, sayd ones ayen to hym: ‘ And how, sire musarde, are ye so _ dyspytous that ye dayne nat ansuere to me?’ And yet 4 he ansuered neuer a word. ‘By my feith,’ sayd she within her self, ‘I byleue nonze other / but that this yong man slepeth vpon his hors / or ellis he is eyther dombe or def / but as I trow I shal make hym wel to 8 spek, yf he euer spak byfore.’ And thenne she toke and pulled strongly hys hand, sayeng in this manere : ¢Sire vassal, ye slep.’ Thanne Raymondyn was astonyed land affrayed, as one is whan another awaketh 12 hym fro slepe / and toke hys swerd, wenyng to hym that it had be hys vnclis meyne, that wold haue take and slayn hym. And the lady thanne perceyued wel that he yet had not seen her, and, al lawghing, bygan 16 to say to hym, ‘Sire vassal, with whom wyl you bigynne the bataille? / your enemys ben not here, And knowe you, fayre sire, that I am of your party or syde?’ And whan Raymondyn herd her spek, he be- 20 held her, and perceyued the gret beaulte that was in her, and toke of hit grett meruayH, For it semed to hym that neuer byfore he had not seen none so fayre. And thenne Raymondyn descendid from hys hors, and 24 bowed hys knees, and made reuerence vnto her, and said: ‘ My dere lady, pardonne to me myn Ignoraunce & vylonny that I haue doo toward you, For certaynly I haue mystaken ouermoche anenst your noble per- 28 sonne. And neuertheles, I ne sawe ne herd neuer what ye haue said tyl that ye toke me by the hand. and knowe ye, that I thoughte moche at that tyme on a thinge that sore lyeth nygh to my herte / and vnto 32 god I pray deuoutly that amendes I may make vuto you / and that of hys grace I may at myn honowr be out of this peyne, whiche hurteth myn herte sore.’ ‘By my feyth,’ sayd the lady / ‘it is wel said, For as 36 for to bygynne eny thinge, the name of god most first 29 which enrages her ; she sees he sleeps, and wakes him suddenly, 1 fol. 15. whereat he is affrighted, but the lady soothes him. He admires her beauty, for he had seen none so fair before. He asks pardon for his neglig- ence, The lady asks Raymondin where he travels to; 1 fol. 155, he says he has lost his way, but she calls him by his name, and tells him not to deceive er, This abashes Raymondin. MELUSINE QUESTIONS RAYMONDIN. [cH. VL be called to mans help / and I byleue you wel / that ye herd not what I haue said / but, fayre sire, whither goo you att this tyme of nyght / telle hit hardyly to me / yf goodly ye may dyscouere it. And yf you 4 knowe not the way / wel I shalt dresse you to it / For there nys neyther way ne path but that I knowe it wel, and therof ye may trust on me hardyly.’ ‘ By my feith,’ said Raymondyn, !‘gramerecy, lady, of 8 your curtoysye. And ye shal knowe it, my dere lady, sith that youre desyre is for to know it, I haue lost the high way syn almost yestirday none vnto now / and I ne wot where I am.’ Thanne perceyued she that 12 he? kept hys faytte secret fro her / and said to hym: ‘ By god, fayre frend Raymondyn, ye shuld not hyde nothinge fro me, For I wot wel how it standeth with you.’ And thenne whan Raymondyn herd that she 16 named hym by hys owne name, he was so abasshed that he wyst not what he shuld ansuere. And she pat sawe wel that he was shamfuH of that she had named hym, and that she wyst so moche of hys secret & 20 CounseyH, sayd to hym in this manere: ‘ Forsouthe, _| Raymondyn, I am she after god that may best coun- The lady recounts to him his adventure, which abashes him yet more. He asks how she knows of it. seylle the / and that may furthre and enhaunse the in this mortal lyf. and all thin aduersytees & mysdedes 24 most be tourned in to wele / nought auaylleth to the for to hyde them from me. For wel I wot that thou hast slayn thy lord / as moche by myshap / as wyl- fully / how be it that at that ooure thou supposest not 28 to haue doon it. and I wot wel all the wordes that he told vnto pe of the arte of Astronomye, wherin duryng hys lyf he was right expert.’ Whan Raymondyn herde this he was more abasshed than he was tofore / 32 and said to the lady: ‘ Right dere lady, ye telle to me the trouth of alle thinges that ye say; but moche I meruaylle me how ye may so certaynly knowe it / and 2 ¢she’ in MS, CH. vi. | MELUSINE PROMISES TO MAKE RAYMONDIN A GREAT LORD. 31 who told it so soone to you?’ And she ansuerd to hym in this manere: ‘Be not thou abasshed therof, For I knowe the full trouth of thy faytte. And wene 4nor suppose thou nat that it be fauntesye or dyuels werk of me and of my wordes, For I certyfye the, Raymondyn, that I am of god, and my byleue is / as a Catholique byleue oughte for to be. and I lete the 8 to wete that without me and my counseyll / thou mayst not comme to thende of thy faytte. but yf thou wilt byleue stedfastly all that thyn vncle Emerye said vnto the, hit shalbe profytable to the, with the help of /12 god and of me. And I say so moche that I shal make the for to be the gretest lord that euer was of thy lynage, and the gretest and best lyuelod? man of them aH.’ Whan Raymondyn vnderstod the promysse of 16 the lady / he remembred the wordes that hys lord told vnto hym. And consyderyng within hym self the grete parels® wherin he was as exilled and banysshed out of hys Countre & fro his frendes, said [to hym- 20 self|* that he shuld take thauenture for to byleue the lady of all that she shuld doo or say to hym, For but ones as he said he shuld passe the cruell paas of the deth. And to the lady he ansuerde full humbly in | 24 this manere: ‘ My right dere lady, I thanke you moche of the promysse that ye do and proffre tome. For ye shall see & knowe that this shal not abyde or tarye by me for no traueyll that ye can aduyse / but that I ' 28 shall euer doo your playsire, yf it be possible to be doo / and that a cristen man may, or ought to doo, with honour.’ ‘By my feyth, Raymondin,’ said the lady / ‘that is said of free herte, For I shall not say _ 32 nor counseille you nothing / but that good & wele shal comme therof. but first of alle,’ said she / ‘ye most promyse to me that ye shall take me to your wyf.; and make you no doubte of me / but that I am of 2 Fr, terrien. 3 Fr, pérelz. 4 Fr, s’advisa. * Not by witch- craft,’ she replies, ‘T fol. 16, and advises him to believe what Earl Emery foretold, and promises to make him a great lord. He thanks her, and undertakes to do her pleasure. She asks him to marry her; 2 fol. 196, he promises, She asks him never to try to see her on Saturdays ; this he also promises. RAYMONDIN. PROMISES TO MARRY MELUSINE. [oH. VI. god.’!_ And thanne Raymondyn yede & ganne say, & sware in this manere, ‘Lady dere / by my feith / sith — that ye ensure me that it is soo / I shal doo aftir? my power all that ye wyl commaunde me for to doo / And 4 indide I lawfully? promytte you that so shal I doo.’ ‘Yet Raymondyn,’ sayd she, ‘ye most swere another ‘What it is, my lady,’ said Raymondyn, ‘I am redy / yf it be thinge that goodly I may doo.’ 8 ‘ye,’ said she / ‘and it may not tourne to you to no thinge.’ dommage* / but to all wele. Ye muste promytte to me, Raymondyn, vpon all the sacrements & othes that a man very catholoque & of good feith may doo and 12 swere, that neuer while I shalbe in your company, ye shal not peyne ne force yowr self for to see me on the Satirday / nor by no manere ye shal not enquyre that day of me, ne the place wher I shalbe.’ And whan 16 she had thus said to Raymondyn, he yet ageyn said to her in this manere: ‘ On the parel of my sowle I swere to you / that neuer on pat day I ne shal doo nothing that may hyndre ne adommage® you in no manere of 20 wyse’ / ‘and I,’ said she, ‘ne shal doo nor thinke to none other thing’ but in what manere I shall mowe best encresse in worship and honour, both you and your lynee.’ And Raymondyn yede & gan sey to her 24 in this manere, ‘Soo shall I doo it to the playsire of _ god.’/ The lady bids Raymondin go to Poitiers, where the citizens will ask tidings of his uncle. He is to say he has not seen him, ‘FJNHanne, said the lady / ‘I shal now telle how ye most doo / doubte you not of nothing. but goo 28 fourthw7th vnto Poyters, And whan ye shal comme there / many one ye shal fynd commyng fro the chasse that shall axe to you tydynges of the Erle, your vnele. and to them ye shall ansuere in this manere / “how / 32 is he not yet comme ayen?” And they shal sey “‘ nay.” and thanne ye shal say, ‘‘I neuer sawe hym syn that 3 Fr. leaulment. ° Fr, soit en vostre prejudice, 1 Fr. de par Dieu. 4 Fr. prejudice. OH. vt.] the chasse was at the strengest, and whan ye lost hym” / and semblaunt ye most mak to be abasshed more than eny other. And soone after shul comme the 4 hunters and other of hys meyne, and !shal brynge with them the corps deed within a litere / & his woundes shal seme to euery man aduys to be made by the wild- bores teth. and they shal say alle, that the wildbore $8 hath slayn hym, And yet they shall say that the Erle _ kyled the sayd bore / and many one shal hold it for a thus the dolowr & woo shal The Erle Bertrand, his 2sone, & hys doughtir Blanche, & alle ober of hys hardy & valiaunt dede. bygynne to be moche grete. meyne, bothe lesse & grete togidre, shal make grete | sorowe / and so shall ye doo with them. and ye shall And aftir this nobly doon, and the terme assigned & take whan putte on you the blak gowne as they shall. the barons shall comme for to doo theire obeysaunce & _ homage vnto the yong! Erle, ye shal retourne hither to me the day byfore the lordes & barons make theire 20 homage / and that tyme att this same place ye shalt _ fynde me.’ - from Melusyne to haue take hys leve of her / she said to hym in this manere: ‘ Hold, my redoubted frend / . 24 for to bygynne & assemble owr loue, I gyue you these two tynges, of whiche the stones ben of grette vertue. For the one hath suche approprieté, that he to whomme : hit shal be gyuen by paramours? or loue, shal not dey 28 by no stroke of no manere of wepen, ne by none 4 armes / as longe as he shal bere it on hym / And the _ other is of suche vertue, that he that bereth it on hym 4 shal | haue victory of all his euyl willers or enemyes } / al 32 be it pletyng in Courtes, or fyghtyng’ in feldes,® or ellis _ whersoeuer it be: and thus, my frend, ye may goo surely,’ Thanne toke Raymondin leue of the lady, and embraced & kyssed her swetly & moch frendly 3 Fr, en plaidoirie ow meslee. Thanne as Raymondyn wold haue departed 2 Fr. par amours. MELUSINE, MELUSINE GIVES RAYMONDIN TWO MAGIC RINGS. and to feign sur- prise at his ab- sence, 1 fol. 17. When Emery’s body is found they will think the boar killed him, and will mourn, which Ray- mondin must do too. After doing hom- age to the new earl he is to return to the Fountain. Before Ray- mondin leaves Melusine she gives him two rings ; one has power to keep him safe from hurt, the other will insure victory to the wearer. Then Raymondip leaves hislady , 34 fol. 17 6. 4 RAYMONDIN GOES TO POITIERS, [ CH. VII. lag she on whom all hys hoop was leyd, For he was as thenne? so moche esprised® of her loue / that al that she sayd / doubtles he held it for trouth. it was, as ye shall here herafter in thystorye./ 4 and raison Cap. VII. How Raymondin, by the counseyl of the lady, went to Poytiers. Aymondyn lepte vpon his hors, and the lady dressed and putte hym in to the high way of 8 - Poytiers, and [he] departed fro the lady. And at and rides fast to Poitiers, 5 fol. 18. When he arrives they ask for his lord ; he answers that he has not seen him since the great chase be- gan, Others arrive, departyng Raymondyn was ful sory, For he loued alredy so moche her felawship, that wel he wold euer haue be with her. Thenne thinkynge, he byganne 12 fast to ryde toward the Cite of Poyters. And the said lady retourned toward the said Fontaynne, where the two other ladyes were, & abode her there / of which ladyes thystory leueth here to speke/. 16 Ow saith thystorye, that Raymondyn rode so fast that soone he was comme into Poytiers, where he 5founde many one that were retourned fro the chasse, which demanded of hym, ‘where is my lord?’ 20 ‘how,’ said thanne Raymondyn / ‘is he not comme?’ / And he said to them, ‘I sawe hym neuer syn that the grete chasse bygan, and that the bore scaped fro the houndes.’ And while that 24 they spak of this matere among! them alle / the hunters & other folk arryued there fro the chasse, som now and thenne, the whiche all said as Raymondyn had and they ansuerd ‘nay.’ | sayd. And som said that neuer they had seen suche 28 — And many one said that the bore was comme fro somme other & so meruayllows a chasse, ne so horryble a bore. land, For none so grete / nor that ranne so fast sawe they never. Thanne was euery man meruaylled / how 32 — * Fr. desjd, 3 Fr. surprins. 4 Fr. il avoit raison. 6 Fr. comment, CH. vill.] the Erle taryed so longe. and they went to the yate for to see if he camme, & abode hym per a longe space. and euer camme folk that said as. the other had sayd / 4 and that they lay all that nyght in the sayd Forest, For they had lost theyre way. Thanne was all the peuple of Poyters wooful & heuy for loue of theyr lord, that taryed so longe / and specyally the Countesse, the said 8 Erlis wyf. but more woofull & heuyer they were within a lytel while after/. Cap. VIII. How the Erle Emery was brought vnto Poytiers deed within a Lyttere. 19 Hystorye !telleth vnto vs, that so long they abode at the gate with Raymondyn, that they sawe commynge toward the Cite a grete multitude of peuple. and as they dide approuch & camme nygh, they herd 16 and vnderstod the piteows voyces of them, wherof they were all meruaylled / and bygan many one to doubte lest that they shuld haue hadd som trouble or somme empeschement.? And so longe they abod, that they 20 whiche bare the corps of theire lord camme vnto them, sore lamentyng' & piteously waylyng', sayeng’ to them in this manere: ‘wepe ye, and wepe ayen, & clothe you alt in blak, For the bore hath slayn owr good lord, 24 the Erle Emerye.’ And after the corps camme two hunters, that bare the grette bore. entred into the Cite, makyng! grete sorowe. and thus they And alle the peuple of the Cite, seeyng theyre lord deed, by- 28 ganne pyteously to crye / sayeng in this manere: ‘Ha / ha, cursed be he of god that first anounced this chasse.’ The sorow & dolowr was there so grete that no man sawe 2neuer no greter. And making suche sorowe camme 32 vnto the Palleys / and there was the Corps leyed, And bycause one oughte not to kepe ne mayntenne longe 2 Fr. empeschement, EARL EMERY’S BODY ARRIVES AT POITIERS. 35 but still no Earl Emery, whereat the people mourn, 1 fol. 185. A crowd is seen approaching the city gate ; their piteous voices make the townsmen marvel, They arrive, bear- ing their lord’s body ; two hunters fol- low, bearing the boar, The citizens, weeping, 2 fol, 19. arrive at the palace, where they lay their lord, 36 and all the peo- ple sorrow. Raymondin sor- rows more than any other. The Harl’s obse- quy is done in the Church, afterwards the boar is burnt. Four days after the Barons try to comfort the Earl’s family. , Soon after the Barons are sent for, to do homage to their new lord, 2 fol. 198. on knowledge of which Ray- mondin returns to his land, THE OBSEQUIES OF EARL EMERY. [cH. VIilI., sorowe, I passe it ouer lyghtly. The Countesse & her children made ouergrete sorow / and so dide the Barons and alt the Comynaltee of the land. And knowe ye also / that so dide Raymondyn, as it foloweth./ 4 aymondyn made grete sorowe and greter than eny R other, and sore repented hym of hys mysdede, And so moche / that yf it had not be the hoop & com- fort of his lady, he had not mowe withhold hym self, 8 but pat he had sayd vnto them al hys auenture, for cause of the grete contricion that he had of the deth of ‘hys vnele and lord. But I wil not spek long of this matere, Soone thobsequye was doon moche nobly & 12 tichely within the Chirche of our lady of Poytiers, after the custome that was at that tyme, And ye muste knowe that the good folk of the land that had lost peir lord were full of heuynes and of sorow / and they 16 fourthwith toke the said bore, and byfore the said Chirch of our lady they brent it / And as it is wel trouth that there nys so grete a sorowe, but that w7tiin foure dayes! it is somwhat peased / the barons of the 20 land thanne yede and swetly comforted the Countesse and her two children aftir theire power / and so moche | they dide that her grete sorowe was somwhat peased. But pe sorowe of Raymondyn grew & wexed more and 24 more, as wel bycause of his grete mysdede / as for the grete loue of whiche he loued hys vncle. It was thanne ordeyned & concluded by the CounseyH that alle the Barons of the land shuld be sente fore, & boden to 28 comme at a certayn day for to doo theire homage to theyre gracyous lord, the sone of the said late Erle. And assone 2as Raymondyn knew of it, he toke hys hors and alone yssued out of Poytiers and entred within the 32 Forest, for to goo & hold hys couenawnt vnto his lady./ 1 Fr, trois jours. — i el lt CH. IXx.] Cap. IX. How Raymondyn retourned toward hys lady, and sawe a Chapell whiche neuer he had seen before. / ) 4 Hystory telleth to vs that so longe rode Ray- mondyn that he camme into the Forest of Cou- lombyers, & passed thrugh the lytel toune, & went vpon the mountayne and yede so longe that he perceyued 8 the medowes whiche were vnder the roche, that was aboue the Fontayne of Soyf, and sawe a hous made of stone in a manere of a ChapeH. And knowe ye that Ray- mondyn had be there many [a] tyme, but neuer tofore he had seen it / and went neuer to hit; And before the place he perceyued many ladyes, knyghtes, & Squyers whiche made to hym grete feste and praysed hym gretly. Wherfor he meruaylled gretly, For one of them 16 said to hymme: 1‘ Sire, alight & come toward my lady that abydeth aftir you within her pauyllon or tente.’ ‘By my feyth, sayd Raymondyn / ‘hit plaiseth me wel so for to doo.” Soone he descendid from hys hors & 20 yede w7th them, which conueyed hym toward the lady moche honourably. And thanne the lady camme to mete hym, & toke hym by the hand and Jedd hym into her tente, And satte both vpon a bed? of parement 24 moche ryche / and all the other abode without. Thanne byganne the lady for to raisonne? with Raymondyn, & said to hym in this manere: ‘My dere frende, wel I wote that wel ye haue hold‘ alle that I introduysed, or 28 taught you of, And therfore fro hens fourthon I shall trust you the more.’ ‘Lady dere,’ sayd Raymondyn / ‘I haue founde so good a bygynnyng! in your wordes, that nothing ye shall commande to me that humayn 32 body may or oughte to comprehende or vndertake / but that I wyl & shal doo it after your playsire.’ ‘Raymondyn,’ said she / ‘for me ye shall yndertake 2 Fr. couche. 3 Fr, a arésonner, 4 Fr. tenu. RAYMONDIN RETURNS TO THE FAIRY FOUNTAIN. 37 Raymondin rides to Coulombiers, where he sees & new chapel, and knights and ladies. 1 fol. 20. He is asked to dismount, and is led by his lady to a tent. His lady ex- presses confi- dence in him, and he in her. A knight an- nounces dinner ; Raymondin mar- vels at the great company, 1 fol. 200. and asks his lady whence they come, She tells him they are at his service, After dinner his lady leads Ray- mondin beside the bed; where she tells of the homage thatis to be done to Earl Bertrand, Raymondin is to 0 to Poitiers, but to let every one do homage before he does, mondyn saw this appareyll, he meruaylled moche / and A GRAND DINNER. [ou. IX. no thing, but that of it ye shal comme to. your wor- ship /.2 Thenne camme there a knyght whiche kneled before her / and after his reuerence made / dressed hys | wordes toward her, & said: ‘My lady, al thing’ is 4 : redy / ye shal comme whan it playse you.’ And the lady ansuerde & said / ‘Couere your heed, fayre sire.’ Thanne the lady & Raymondyn wesshe theire handes & sette them at a moche ryche table. and within the 8 sayd pauyllon were many other tables dressed, where dide sette many knightes and ladyes / and whan Ray- demanded of hys lady fro whens so grete a felawship 12 was comme vnto her. And to hys demande the lady an- suerd nothing’, Wherfore Raymondyn asked of her ayen, ‘My lady, fro 1whens are comme ynto you so many of gentyl men and ladyes?’ ‘ By my feyth, Raymondyn, 16 my frend,’ sayd the lady, ‘it is no nede to you for to be meruaylled therof, For they be all at your com- mandement, & redy for to serue you / & many other also that now ye see not.’ Thanne held Raymondyn 20 hys peas / and so many courses & of dyuerse metes were before them brought, that meruayll it was to see it, And whan they had dyned, they weshe theire handes / and graces said & all thinges doon / the lady 24 toke Raymondyn by the hand & ledd hym beside the i beed, & euerychon voyded the pauyllon, and wheras they lyst went, or wher they oughten for to haue goo, eche one aftir theyre estate /. 28 Hanne said the lady to Raymondyn: ‘ My frend, to morowe is the day that the barons shal comme for to doo theire homage vnto the yong Erle Bertrand. And know you, my frend, that there must ye be / & 32 shal doo as I shal telle you, yf it playse you so to doo / Now vnderstand & reteyne wel my wordes. Ye shal abyde per vnto the tyme that all the Baronnes shal haue doo their homages, and thenne ye shal putte your self 36 CH. IX. | RAYMONDIN’S INSTRUCTIONS. fourth byfore the said Bertrand, and of hym ye shal demande a yefte, for the salary & remuneracioun of And 4 telle to hym wel, how that ye ne demande of hym alle the seruyse that eue ye dide vunto his fader. nothre toune, ne Castel, nor other thing of no grete value. and I wote wel that he shal acorde or graunt it to you. For the barons shalle counseylle hym for to 8 doo soo, And as soone as he shal haue graunted your requeste / demande of hym to haue on this roche & about it / as moche of ground as the hyd or skynne of a hert may comprehende./ and freely he shal gyue it to you. In so moche that none shal now lette nor empesche you therof, by reason of thomage, nother by charge of rente or other ordynawnce, and whan he shall haue graunted it to you, take perof his leftres, 16 vnder hys grete Seele, and vnder the scelles of the And whan that al this ye shal haue doo / on the morow next peris,2 or lordes pryncipal of the land. folowing’ after that / as ye shalbe comyng homward 20 agayn / ye shal mete on your way a good man, which shal bere within a sac the skynne of a hert / and ye shall bye it / and for it ye shal pay asmoch as the said man shal aske you for it / and after ye shall make it 24 for to be cutte in the smallest and narrowest waye that is possible for to be cutte, after the manere of a thonge. And after, lette your place be delyuered vnto you / the whiche ye shal fynd all marked & kerued, and all 28 the trees pulled to the ground, there as it shal plaise me for to be / And as for to bryng' the two endes of the sayd thong!? of the hyd togidre about the said place / yf it happe that greter ground may be com- 32 prysed within it ye shall doo it to be leyd dounward vnto the valey / & there, at both thendes of the said thonge or leder / shal spryng out of the roche a fayre fon- taynne, whiche in tyme to comme shalbe full necessary 2 Fr, pers. 3 courroie, 39 and at last he is to ask from Bertrand a gift of the rock, and , as much land as a hart’s skin can cover, 1 fol. 21, and to get a char- ter for it, signed and sealed. Raymondin is to buy a skin of a man he will meet, and have it cut into a thong, then get the land delivered, and lay the thong down, when a fountain will spring out where the ends meet. 40 Then he is to return, Raymondin sets out for Poitiers. 1 fol. 210. Raymondin rides to Poitiers, where he finds many barons, 2 fol. 22, who render hom- age to the young Earl, RAYMONDIN ASKS A GIFT. [cH. x. and conuenable. Goo penne fourth, my dere frend / and doo hardyly doubtles all that I haue said. For all your werkes shalbe of good expediciown, and wthout eny trouble or lettyng’ / and on the mornne next after that 4 your yefte shalbe graunted and your lettres delyuered to you, ye shall retourve hither to me.’ Raymondyn thanne ansuerde, ‘My lady, after my power I shal fulfylle al your playsire’ / And thenne they embraced 8 and kyssed eche other / and toke leue one of other./ Here cesseth thystory of them / and begynneth for to spek of Raymondyn, whiche toke hys hors, and rode toward Poiters as 1hastly as he myght./ 12 * * * ' * * Cap. X. How Raymondyn, after that the barons had doon theire homage vnto the yong’ Erle / demanded of the Erle a yefte, the whiche he graunted to hym./ 16 Hystorye telleth to vs, that Raymondyn rode so longe that he camme vnto Poytiers, wheras he founde many a high baron, which were comme there for to make homage to the yong’ Erle Bertrand / and they 20 dyde grete honour and reuerence to Raymondyn, and preysed hym right moche. And the next morow they yede all togidre vnto Saynt Hylary of Poyters, where the deuyne seruyse was ‘doon right worshipfully, And 24 atte that seruyse was the yonge Erle reuested lyke a Chanoyne, as theyre prymat or Abbot / and dyde hys deuoyre as it apparteyned / and that of custome was for to be doo. Thenne cam the barons 2tofore hym / 28 and there one after another, and eche one after hys degre rendred to hym hys homage. And thenne, after alle these thinges were doon / Raymondin putte hymself fourth before the barons / and with meke & 32 humble contenaunce or manere, said to them: ‘ Emong! CH. X.| you, my lordes, nobles, Barons of the Countre! or Erle- dom of Poytwo, vouchesaf ye to here & knowe the requeste whiche I wyl putte & make vnto my lord 4 the Erle. nable / I beseche that it playse you for to pray hym to and yf it seme you? to be lawfull & raison- graunt it to me.’ And the Barons ansuerd with right a good wiH, ‘ we shall doo it.’ went before the Erle, to whom Raymondyn spake Thanne they altogidre first moche humbly, sayeng in this manere: ‘ Right dere sire, humbly I beseche and requere you, that in remuneracion, or reward, of alle the seruyses that ever I dide vnto my lord, your fader / on whos sowle god haue mercy, ye vouchesaf of your benigne & noble grace for to gyve to me a yefte, the whiche shall cost you but lityl. For knowe you, Sire, that I ne demande of you neyther tounne, Castel, nor fortresse, ne nothinge of grette valew.’ Thanne ansuerde the Erle, ‘yf it playseth to my barons / ful wel it playseth to me.’ And the Barons said to hym in this manere: ‘Sire, syn it is thyng' of so lytyl valewe, as he speketh of, ye oughte not to refuse it to hym / For he is wel worthy therof, and wel he hath deserued it.’ And the Erle said to them, ‘Syn it pleseth to you for to coun- 24 seylle me soo / I graunt it’ / ‘demande now,’ said the Erles to Raymondyn, ‘ what ye wy.’ 16 ‘Sire,’ said he, ‘gramercy.? Other yefte I ne axe of you, but pat ye wyl gyue to me, about the fontaynne of soif that is 28 nygh to the roches & wodes / as moche of grounde as the hyde or leder of a hert shall mow comprehende or #g00 aboute, bothe of lengthe & brede.’ ‘ Forsouthe,’ said penne the Erle / ‘this I ought not to refuse to you. 32 I gyue it to you, said the Erle, ‘freely, without rede- uaunce nor homage to be doon to me, nor to my successours for euermore.’ Thenne Raymondyn kneled 1 Fr. messcigneurs, nobles barons de la conté, 2 Fr, se il vous semble, 3 Fr, grans mercis, THE EARL OF POITIERS GRANTS RAYMONDIN’S DEMAND. 4] Raymondin tells the barons he intends to make a request to the Earl. He says he asks nothing of great value, only as much land as a hart’s skin can com- pass, 4 fol. 225. The Earl grants the request, and gives letters of gift, sealed by the Earl and Barons, They hold a feast until they go to rest. At mass Ray- imondin prays for a good end to his enterprise. 1 fol, 28. Raymondin finds # man with a hart’s skin to sell, THE BARONS HAVE A FEAST. [CH. XI. & thanked hym ryght humbly / and requyred of hym lettres of hys gyfte, the which were graunted & made in the best and moost surest wyse that could be deuysed / and were Seelled of the grette Seal of the 4 Erle, by thassent and relacion of alle the Barons of the land / whiche also dide putte theire Seelles therto. Thanne they departed fro the chirche of Saynt Hylary of Poytiers, and yede fourth vnto the halle, where the 8 feste was grete and joyous, and swete melody was there herd of almaner Instruments of Musyque. and of many & dyuerse meets they were serued at the table. And after dyner the Erle gaaf grette yeftes / And wel trouth 12 it is, that it was sayd perof many one, that among? alle the other Raymondyn was the moost curtoys / moost gracyous, and of fayrest contenawnce. And thus passed the day tyl the nyght camme that euerychon 16 went to take hys reste. And on the mornne next they roos and yede for to here masse vnto the Abbey of Montiers / and there Raymondyn prayed god deuoutly that he wold help hym att his nede, and to brynge hys 20 enterpryse to a good ende, and to the saluacion of his sowle & prouffyt of hys body. And he abode within the chirche, makyng! hys prayers vnto thoure of Pryme./ 24 -~ Cap. XI. How Raymondyn founde a man that bare the skynne or hyde of a hert / and how he bought it / 4 Ow telleth thystorye to vs, that whan Ray- 28 mondyn had herd hys masse, and that he had ended his prayere / he went out of the chirche / and at thyssue of thabbey byond the Castel he found a man whiche bare within a sac vpon hys bak the hyde 32 of an hert, which man camme toward Raymondyn, and said to hym in this manere. ‘Sire, wyl ye bye this CH. x1. | RAYMONDIN BUYS A HART'S SKIN. hertis skynne that I haue within my sack, for to make good huntyng cordes for your hunters.’ ‘ By my feyth,’ said Raymondyn / ‘ye / yf thou wilt selle it; 4 and at one word! what shall I paye for hit?’ ‘By my feyth, sire, said the man, ‘ye shall paye to me for it ten shelynges, or ellis ye shall not haue it.’ ‘ Frend,’ said thanne Raymondyn to the said man /‘ bryng it 8 home with me and I shall pay the there.’ And he answerd, ‘With a good wille.’ Thanne he folowed Raymondyn vnto his hous, and there he delyuered hys hyde / and Raymondyn payed hym for it. And anone 12 after, Raymondyn sent for a Sadelmaker,? to whom he said: ‘My frend, yf it plese “you, ye muste cutte this hyde in fourme of a thonge, in the narowest & smallest wyse that is possible to be doo.’ The Sadler dide cutte 16 it, and after they leyd it agayn within the sac thus cutte. What shuld I nowe prolonge the matere.* It is trouth that they whiche were commytted for to delyuere to Ramondyn his yefte, rode, and Ray- 20 mondyn with them, toward the fontayne of soyf, so long’ that they cam ynto the roche that standeth ouer the said fontayne, where as grett tranchis or keruyng' was made within the harde roche / and they fond al 24 about it grete trees throwen doun to the ground, wherof they were gretly meruaylled, For it was out of mans mynde that euer trees were cutte there aboute. Raymondyn, that thanne wel knewe that his lady had 28 wrought there, held hys peas. within the medowe they toke the thonge out of the sac /. And whan they were 1 Fr. en ung mot. 2 Fr. sellier, 4 Que feroye ores plus long prolongation. 43 which he buys for ten shillings, 8 fol. 236. and has it made into a thong bya saddlemaker, Raymondin and the Earl’s men ride to the foun- tain, where they mar- vel to find trees eut and rocks hewed, 44 1 fol. 24. The Earl’s men are abashed at the length of the thong. Two men appear to help thei ; THEY MEASURE THE LAND. (OH. XII. Cap. XII. How they that were ordonned camme and delyuered to Raymondyn his yefte ./ : Han they that shuld delyuer the yefte saw the hyde cutte so smalle, they were of it alle abasshed / and said to Raymondyn pat they wyst not what to doo / And there incontynent camme to them two men clothed with cours cloth / the whiche said in this manere. ‘We are comme hither for to helpe you.’ Thanne they toke out of the sack the hyde and bare it vnto . the bottomme of the valley, as nigh the roche as they they set stakes to hold the thong ; it compasses the rock and part of the valley. At the end of the thong a fountain springs forth. The men are abashed at the fountain and the great compass of the thong. 2 fol. 246, coude / and there they dide sette a stake in the erthe, and to this stake they fasted the one ende of the hyde / and as they went they sette stakes for to hold with the said thonge rounde aboute the roche / and whan they were comme ayen to the first stake, there was yet agrete remenant of the thong'/ and for to sette and fournysshe it they drew it dounward to the valey / and so fer they went wzth it, that they camme to the ende of it. And ye must knowe that after that, it is said in the Countre, and as the very and true history witnesseth / there sprange at [the] ende of the said thong! a fayr fontayn, the which rendred so moche of watre that a ryuere wexed or grew therof. Wherof many a mylle dyde grynde corne / and yet now grynden. Thanne they that were there sent for to delyuere to Raymondyn the place, were moche abasshed / aswel of the fontayne that they see spryng' sodaynly before them, as of the grete compace of the ledder, whiche conteyned wel the space of two mylles of grounde./ Historye to vs recounteth that they whiche were ordonned for to delyuere the said yefte, as byfore is said, were moche abasshed whan they sawe the watre spryng sodaynly & ranne al along’? fourth by the valey. And also they were meruaylled of the grete grounde that the thonge compassed. but neuertheles + ’ , 8 » = 129 24 28 32 ee CH. XII. | THE LAND IS DELIVERED TO RAYMONDIN. they delyuered to Raymondyn the ground that was gyuen to hym after the texte or tenowr of hys lettres. And as soone as they had delyuered it, they wyst neuer 4 where the said two men that were comme there for to helpe hem becamme, ne whither they were goon. hanne they departed alle togidre, for to haue re- tourned vnto Poyters, where as whan’ they were 8 comme, they dide telle and recounte vnto the Erle and to his moder this meruayllows auenture. the lady said to her sonne in this manere : ‘ Byleue thou neuer of no thinge me / of that I shall say! / but yf 12 Raymondyn hath founde somme auenture in the Forest of Coulombyers, For the same Forest is somtyme full And the Erle an- ansuerd: ‘by my feyth my lady / I byleue well that of moche meruayllous auentures.’ 16 ye say trouth / and long’ syn I haue herd say that aboue the fontayne that is vnder the same roche, men hath seen fat & happ many a wounder and mer- uayllows aduentures, but as to hym, I pray to god 20 that he may enjoye it to hys honour and prouffyt.’ ‘ Amen,’ said the ladye. Raymondin arryued / whiche kneeled soone byfore the Erle and thanked hym of the worship & curtoysy that 24 he had doon to hym. ‘By my feyth, Raymondyn,’ said the Erle, ‘ye thanke me of a lytil thing, but betre I shall doo to you, with godis grace, in tyme to As they spake thus togidre, comme.’ ‘ Now, my frend Raymondyn,’ said the Erle, 28 ‘it is told to me of a grete and meruayllows auenture whiche is happed as of present in the place that I haue doon to be delyuered to you by my yefte. Wher- fore I pray you that ye wil telle to me the pure & very 32 trouth of hit.’ ‘My right dere lord / yf they that at ?your commandement haue delyuered the place to me haue not told you of more than they haue seen / they haue doo wel. ‘My feyth, sayd Raymondyn. 1 Fr, Ne me croy jamais de chose que je die. And thanne t 45 They deliver the land to Ray- mondin, The Earl’s men return to Poi- tiers, and recount to him the adven- ure. The Earl and his mother speak of the marvels that have happened in the forest. Raymondin ar- rives and thanks the Earl for his gift ; the Earl pro- mises him more favours, 2 fol. 25, 46 RAYMONDIN COMES TO THE EARL OF POITIERS. [cH. XIIL. Raymondin tells of the marvellous spring, and the compass of the thong, Neuertheless it is trouth that the space of grounde compassed aboute with the hyde conteyneth two mylles, And as for the two men whiche camme there clothed with cours cloth, and haue holped for to compasse & to 4 mesure the place / and also of the ryuere whiche sourdred! sodaynly / of alle this, my lord, it is pure trouth. ‘By my feith, Raymondyn,’ sayd the Erle, ‘ye telle to vs a grete meruaylle /. In good feyth, 8 Raymondyn, lyke as it semeth to vs and supposen, ye most nedes haue founde som aduenture, and I pray ‘ you that ye wyl declare it vnto vs, for to haue vs out and says that he loves to dwell by the fountain ; then bids adieu to the Earl, and returns to his lady. $ fol. 25 6. of the melencolye of it.’ ‘My lord,’ said Raymondyn, 12 ‘yet haue I not founde but wel & honour / but my ryght dere lord, I loue my self for to be & there to dwelle more than in eny other place, bycause that it is commonly renommed? auenturows and welhappy coun- 16 tre /and so I hope that god shall send to me some good auenture whiche by hys plaisire shall be to me worship- full & prouffytable bothe to my sowle and to my body. And, my ryght dere lord, enquyre ye me nomore therof / 20 — For certaynly, as of present, I can telle you nomore of : it /.’ Thanne the Erle, that moche loued hym, held therof hys peas, bycause that he wold not angre hym. And this doon, Raymondyn toke hys leue of the Erle 24 and of his moder. And for as now I shall say no more of them, And shall say how Raymondyn re- tourned toward his lady, where as he wyst that he had lefte her /. 28 Cap. XIII. How Raymondyn toke his leue of the Erle of Poitiers & retourned toward his lady./ SN this partye, to vs telleth thistorye that Ray- 32 mondyn, whiche was moche enamoured of his 1 Fy, est sows. 2 Fr, venomme. CH. XIII. | RAYMONDIN TALKS WITH MELUSINE, lady, departed at this ooure fro Poytiers hastly al alone, and rode tyl he camme vnto the high Forest of Coulom- biers, and descended fro pe hylle doun in to the valey 4 and camme to the fontayne where [he founde]? his lady, that moche joyously receyued hym, and said to hym in this manere: ‘ My frend, ye begynne wel for to kepe and hyde oure secretes: and yf ye perseuere thus, grete 8 wele shall therof comme to you / and soone ye shall see and perceyue of it.’ Thanne spake Raymondyn and sayd in this manere: ‘Dere lady, I am & shalbe euer redy for to doo aftir my power all your playsires,’ 12 ‘In dede, Raymondyn,’ said the lady / ‘tyl ye haue wedded me / ye ne may no ferther see ne know of my secretes.’ ‘ Lady dere,’ said Raymondyn, ‘I am alredy therto.’ ‘not yet,’ said the lady / ‘ For first ye must goo 16 ynto Poitiers for to pray the Erle and his moder and alle your other parentes and frendes,? that they wil comme and honoure you with their personnes at youre wed- dyng’, in this place, on monday next commyng'. to 20 thende that they see the noblesses that I think and purpose for to doo for to enhaunce you in honour & worship / and that they take no suspecion but that ye be maryed after your estate and degree. And wel ye 24 may teH to them that ye shall wedd the doughter of a kinge / but no ferther ye shall not dyscouere of it. and therfro kepe you as dere as ye haue the loue of me.’ ‘Lady dere,’ sayd Raymondyn, ‘ doubte you not therof.’ 28 ‘Frend,’ sayd the lady, ‘haue ye noo care that for what folke that ye can bryng / but that they all shalbe wel and honourably receyued & wel lodged and wel festyed / bothe of delycyous meetes and drynkes, and 32 of allmaner athing' acordyng / as wel to them as to theire horses. Therfore, my frend, goo surely and be not doubtous of nothing’.’” They thenne kyssed eche other / & Raymondyn departed fro the lady / of whiche l omitted in MS. Fr. ou il trouva. 47 His lady joyously receives him ; but tells him, that he can know no more of her secrets until he marries her, which he pro- mises to do at once. 2 fol. 26. His lady tells him to go to Poitiers and in- ' vite the Earl and his friends to the wedding, and to tell thein that he is to marry a king’s daughter, 48 RAYMONDIN INVITES THE EARL TO HIS WEDDING. [cH. XIII. Raymondin goes thistory sylenceth / and bygynneth to spek of Ray- to Poitiers, where he finds the Ear] with many of his barons. Raymondin invites the Earl to his wedding at the Fountain of Soyf ; 1 fol. 266. The Ear] is abashed at not being taken into confidence before, But Raymondin says that love has done what it liked with him. They ask his lady’s lineage, which he cannot tell, mondyn which goth toward Poytiers. / Ow telleth to vs thistorye that so longe ieee N Raymondyn after that he was departed fro his 4 lady that he camme to Poiters, wher he fonde the Erle and his moder & grete foyson of Barons with them, whiche were right wel glad of his commyng' /-and de- manded of hym fro whens he camme. And he ansuerde 8 And after that they had spoken longe tyme of one thing* and of other, to them that he camme fro his dysporte. ‘Raymondyn yede byfore the Erle & kneled & sayd to hym thus: ‘Right dere lord, I moche humbly besech 12 you, on alle the seruyses that-euer I shall mow doo to you, pat ye vouchesaaf for to doo to me so moche of honour as to comme on monday next to my weddyng’, to the fontayn of Soyf. bryng thither with lyou my lady your moder, and And whan the Erle vnderstode ‘How,’ said the Erle, ‘fayre Cousyn Raymondyn, are ye as now so straunged 20 and that it playse you to 16 alle your barons also.’ hym he was moche abasshed. of vs that ye marye you without that we know therof tyl the day of weddyng'? For certayn we gyue vs thereof grette meruaylle, For we wende yf your wylle had be to take a wyf/ to haue be they of whom ye 24 shuld first haue taken counseyll.’ Thanne ansuerd Raymondin, ‘My right dere lord, dysplayse you nat therfore, For loue is of so grete puyssaunce that she maketh thinges to be graunted and doon as it playseth 28 to her / and so ferfourth I haue goo in this matere that I may not flee it; but neuertheles all were it soo that I myght doo soo / yet by myn assent I shuld not be fro it.’ said the Erle, ‘ telle vs what 32 she is and of what lynee.’ ‘By my feyth,’ said Ray- mondyn, ‘ ye demande of me a thing' / to the whiche I ‘Now thanne,’ can not gyue none ansuere, for neuer in my lyf I ne dide enquyre me therof.’ ‘Forsouthe,’ sayd the Erle, ‘it is 36 CH. XIII. ] THE EARL ACCEPTS THE INVITATION. grett meruaylle. Raymondyn taketh a wyf that he knoweth not, ne also the lynage that she commeth of.’ «My lord, said Raymondyn, ‘sith it suffyseth me as 4 therof, ye oughte wel to be playsed, For I take no wyf that shall brawle or stryue with you / but only with me / and I alone shall. bere eyther joye or sorowe for it, after. that it shall please to god.’ ‘ By my feyth,’ 8 sayd the Erle to Raymondin, ‘ye say right wel / and as for me I ne wil kepe you therfro / but sith it is soo, I pray to god deuoutly that he wil send you peas & good auenture togidre / and right gladly we shall goo 12 to your weddyng', and with vs shall comme thither my lady and many other ladyes and damoyselles of our baronye.’ And Raymondyn ansuered, ‘ My lord, right gretly I thanke you, & as I byleue, whan ye 16 shalbe there and shal see the lady / ye !shalbe pleased of her.’ And thenne they lefte to speke of this matere, and spake of one thing! and of other so long, that tyme And notwithstanding, the Erle 2() thought euer on Raymondyn and his lady, and said in hym self that somme Fortune he had fonde at the fontayne of soyf./ . of souper camme. N this manere thoughte longe the Erle, so moche that the styward? cam and said to hym: ‘ My lord, all is redy, yf it plese you for to comme.’ ‘ For- south, said he, ‘it plaiseth me well.’ Thanne they weshe theyre handes, sette at the table / and wel they 28 were serued. 24 And aftir souper they spak of many materes, & after they went to bed. On the morowe erly, the Erle aroos & herd his masse and made the barons to be manded & boden for to goo with hym to 32 the weddynge of Raymondin / and they camme incon- tinent. And the said Erle sent hys message for the Erle of Forestz, whiche was brother to Raymondyn. In this meane while? made the said lady alle redy in 2 Fr. maistre @hostel. 3 Fr, demantiers. MELUSINE, 49 This abashes the EarL The Earl wishes Raymondin good luck, and promises to attend the wed- ding ; 1 fol. 27. but ever won- ders about Ray mondin and his Jady, and their fortune. After mass the Earl bids his barons to the wedding, and sends word to the Earl of Forests. 50 Melusine makes ready ina meadow a noble feast. The Earl and his company set out to the wedding ; 1 fol. 27 b. he inquires about Raymondin’s wife, but can find out nothing. At last they come to the fountain, and then to the meadow, at which they marvel, because of the many tents, knights, ladies, cooks, and the fair chapel, THE EARL GOES TO THE WEDDING. [CH. XIlt. the medowe vnder the Fontayne of Soyf, and suche appareill was there made, so grete & so noble, that for to say trouth / nothing’ acordyng for suche a Feste fawted ne waunted there, but honourably might a4 kinge w7th alle his estate haue be receyued therat. The sonday camme that alle made them self redy for to goo to the fontayne of Soyf, at the weddynge of Ray- mondyn. The night passed & the day camme. And 8 thanne the Erle with hys moder / her ladyes & damoy- selles / and with alle the barons, ladyes, & damoyselles ‘of the lande / toke hys way toward the fontayne. And as they rode thither the Erle enquyred of Raymondyn 12 the estate of hys wyf, but nothinge he would telle !to hym therof. Wherof the Erle was sorowfull, And so longe they yede talking togidre that they camme vpon the hille, where they sawe the grete trenchis or keruyng 16 in the harde roche that sodaynly were made / and the fontayne also whiche sourdred? & sprang? ther habound- auntly. Thenne meruaylled therof euerychone, how so sodaynly that might haue be doo. And they yede 20 fourth and biheld dounne toward the medowe and sawe grete plente of fayre & riche pauillons or tentes, righ[t] high® / so grete, so noble, and so meruayl- lously facyoned that euery man awondred therof. and 24 namely,* whan they dide see & perceyued so grete company of noble folke, as of knightes & squyers, that went vp & doun in the medowe and without, for to goo fetche suche thinges as neded to the feste. And 28 also might they see there right grete foyson of ladyes & damoyselles richely apparayled & arayed, many horses, palfreys, & coursers were there. There might they see kychons & Cookes within, dressing meetes of 32 dyuerse maneres. And ouer the fontayne they sawe a fayre chappel of owr lady & ymages within right connyngly kerued & entaylled, and of almener of 2 Fr. sourdit. 3 Fr, si treshaultz. * Fr. par especial. CH. XIV. | THE ANCIENT KNIGHT. ornamentes so richely ordeyned, that neuer so grete richesse they had seen before that tyme in no churche, wherof they meruaylled moche, and said oon to other. 4 ‘T ne wot what it shall befaH of the remenaunt, but here is a fayre bygynnyng' grete, & shewyng! grete noblesse & worship.’ / Cap. XIV. How the Erle of Poytiers camme 8 to the weddyng of Raymondyn, acompayned of alle the Barons in hys land. : O[w] telleth to vs thystorye, that whan the N Erle & hys folk were descended doun fro the 12 montayne / an auncyent knyght, nobly & richely clothed and arayed, whiche rode on a fayre ship richely & nobly aourned? & wel horsed / camme 16 gladly & with mery contenawnce toward the Erle. First he mete with the Erle of Forest & with Ray- mondyn & theyre felawship, for they rode before. And whan he perceyued Raymondyn, whiche wel he 20 knew among? other / he yede tofore hym & made to hym honour & reuerence, and his brother Erle of Forest he salued moche honourably, & theyre felawship also. And shortly to spek, this auncyent knight 24 receyued them worshipfully, sayeng! to Raymondin in this manere : ‘ My lord, I pray you that I may be ledde before the Erle of Poitiers yf it playse you, *for I desyre to spek with hym.’ And so Raymondyn made 28 hym to be ledde vnto the said Erle. And whan thauncyent knight camme before the Erle, he salewed hym swetly, sayeng', ‘my lord, ye be welcomme.’ And the Erle ansuerd / ‘and ye are wel mete with me. nowe 32 telle ye to me why ye dide axe aftir me.’ Thanne said the knight thus to the Erle : ‘ Sire, My lady Melusyne 2 Fr. aourné, 1 fol. 28, An ancient knight comes to meet the com- pany, and salutes them, He asks Ray- mondin to lead him before the Ear! of Poitiers, 3 fol. 28 b. which Ray- mondin does, 52 THE EARL OF POITIERS MADE WELCOME. [cH. XV. The ancient of Albany recommendeth her to you as moche as she orMehisines may / and thanketh you of the gret & high honowr oo that ye doo vnto Raymondyn your Cousin & also vnto her whan ye vouchesauf of your grace to comme hither 4 for to bere vnto them felawship att their wedding.’ ‘By my feyth,’ said the Erle, ‘In this cas / as ye may telle to your lady / is no thankes to be had, for I am holden for to do vnto my Cousyn all worship & honour 8 possible to me to be doo.’ ‘Sire,’ said thauncient knight, ‘ye say full curtoisly / but my lady is sage for ‘to knowe what she ought for to doo / and toward you she hath sent both me and my felawship also.’ ‘Sire 12 knight,’ said the Erle, ‘this playseth me wel. but knowe ye that I wende nat to haue found lodged so nygh to me so noble a lady as your is, ne that had so many of noble folk with her as she hath.’ ‘Ha, sire!’ sayd the 16 knight, ‘ whan my lady wil she may haue of knightes & squyers more than she hath now with her / for she ne dare doo / but to commande.’ And thus talking one to other, they camme vnto the pauyllon. And the 20 The Earl is Erle was lodged there within the moost riche lodgys lodged in the richest pavilion that euer he had seen before. After every man was he ever had seen, 2 fol. 29, lodged honourably after his estate / & they! said that and the rest of | within theire owne places at hom they were not so 24 the company k . after their estate. wel lodged. Theire horses were lodged within the grett tentes / so at large & at theire ease / that no palfrener was there but that he was full wel playsed. And alle they meruailled fro whens so moch of goode 28 and suche plente of richesses might comme there so haboundauntly. / Cap. XV. How Raymondyn and Melusyne were wedded togider. / 32 mas Merl Of Pals Fter them camme the Contesse moder vnto the iers mother and 4 ; eg said Erle, and blanche, her doughtir, and with them many ladyes & damoiselles. And CH. XV. | MELUSINE IN WEDDING ARRAY. thanne Melusyne, sage & wyse, sent toward her pauncyent knight, that had hol@ companye to the Erle, and also wit hym she sent many ladyes land 4 damoyselles of high and noble Estate that moch honourably salued and honoured the Countesse and her doughter / and ledde them to be lodged in a fayr pauillon made of riche cloth of gold, richely set with 8 perlys & with precyous stones.. And, shortly to spek, they were alle so wel & so rychely lodged that moche they meruaylled of the grete riches that they see within the pauyllon. And there was the Countesse 2 receyued with moch grete and melodyous sowne of almaner instruments and alle they in her companye were honourably lodged. And whan the Countesse had rested a lytil while, and that she was arayed with 16 her ryche rayments / also her doughtir Blanche. Knyghtes & Squyers / ladyes and damoyselles of her companye went into the chambre of the spouse, the whiche Chambre was fayrer and passed of ryches alle 20 the other chambres, but whan they sawe Melusyne, & perceyued her ryche tyres / her riche gowne, alle set with precious stones & perlys / the coler that she had about her nek, hir gerdeH & her other rayments, that 24 she had on her, they all meruaylled gretly / and specially the Countesse, that said / consideryng that grete estate / Neuer had I wende ne supposed that no queene ne Emperesse had be in alle the world, that 28 might haue founde suche jewellis so riche & so grete in value. What shuld I make long plee / the Erle of poiters and one of the moost hygh barons, that is to wete, the Erle of Forest, addressed and ledde the 32 spouse vnto the said Chapelle of owr lady, which was so rychely aourned, & arayed so nobly that wonder it was to see / as of parements & ornaments of cloth ? of gold, purfeld and sett witi perlys and precyous stones, 36 so wel wrought and so connyngly browded, that 53 1 fol. 29 b. and are wel- comed by the ancient knight, and so richly lodged that they marvel much, The Countess and her daughter are richly dressed, and go to Melu- sine’s chamber, where they mar- vel much at her rich array. The Earls of Poitiers and Forest lead Melusine 2 fol. 30. to the richly adorned chapel, 54 where the wed- ding takes place. After divine service the company dine, 1 fol. 80 b. They are served by squires, and eat off gold and silver plate divers meats. After dinner the knights and squires arm and leap on horse- back, the ladies go to the scaffold. Jousting begins, 2 fol. 31, THE WEDDING AND THE WEDDING FEAST. [CH. XVI, XVII. meruaylle it was to loke on. fayre ymages straungely kerued / as of Crucifixe & figure of owr lady, all of pure and fyn gold / and bokes were there, so wel writon and so riche that in alle the world rycher bokes might nat haue be: And there was a bysshop that wedded them & songe masse before them. Cap. XVI. serued at dyner./ How they were worshipfully Ftir that the deuyne seruyse was doon they rested them, and soone after the dyner was redy wzthin a moche riche and grete pauyllon Eche one satte there aftir hys degree. and serued they were of dyuerse & in the myddes of the medowe. good meetes, and of many and dyuerse wynes, and haboundaunce of ypocras ! was there. ‘There serued the squyers richely clothed one lyke another, whiche were grete in nombre. ‘They were serued alle in plat of pure gold & syluer, wherof alle the companye was meruaylled. And.assoone as one messe was taken fro the table, the othe[r] messe was redy. And so of dyuers meetes they were serued many a cours moche honourably. / Cap. XVII. How after dyner the Knightes & Squyers Jousted. Nd after that they had dyned, and the tables were take vp & graces said, and that they were serued with ypocras & spyces, the Knyghtes and Squyers went & armed them and lept on horsback. And thenne the spouse & many other ladyes were sett vpon the scaffold or stalage. Thanne byganne the Joustyng / the Erle of Poytiers jousted moche wel 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 and so dide the Erle of Forest and alle theire knightes 32 and *squyers. but the Knyghtes of the spouse dide CH. XVII. | THE WEDDING FEAST. meruail, For they ouethrew bothe knightes and horses vnto the grounde. Thanne camme there Raymondyn that satte on a fayre & strong courser, alle in whyte, 4 & at hys first cours he ouerthrew the Erle of Forestz, his brother / and so valyauntly he demened hym self that there ne was knight on both partyes but that And thann the Erle of Poitiers 8 seeyng his appertyse of armes meruaylled what he he redoubted hym. was / and dressed hys sheld, & holding the speere alowe ranne ayenst hym / but Raymondyn that knew hym wel distourned hys hors and adressed his cours 12 toward a knight of Poitou and suche a strok he gaaf hym, that both man & hors ouerthrew to the erth. And shortly to spek Raymondin dide that day so wel that euery man said that the knight with the white 16 armes had jousted right strongly. The night camme and the justyng ended. Wherfore eche of them went agayn in to theire pauyllons where they toke alitil reste / but soone after was the souper redy. And 20 thanne they yede in to the grete tente / and after they had wasshen they set them at table & wel and richely they were serued / and after souper were the tables take vp / and they wesshed theyre handes. & graces 24 were said. This doon the ladyes wente asyde pryuely and toke other gownes on them & camme agayn for to daunse. The feste was fayre / and the worship was there grete / so that the Erle and alle they that were 28 comme with hym meruaylled gretly tof the grette ryches & honour that they sawe there. And whan it was tyme they ledd the spouse to bed / moch honour- ably within a wonder meruayllous & riche pauyllon. 32 And there the Erles of Potiers and of Forests betoke her vnto the ladyes handes. And thanne the Coun- tesse of Poitiers and other grete ladyes had the spouse to bed, and dide endoctryne her in suche thinges that 36 she oughte for to doo / how be it that she was ynough DD Melusine’s men being victorious, Raymondin over- throws the Earl of Forest, and demeans himself so that all are afraid of him, The Earl of Poi- tiers runs against him, but Raymondin turns aside and fells a knight of Poitou. Every man praises the prowess of Ray- mondin, They have sup- per in the great tent, then they have a dance. 1 fol. 31 5. They lead the spouse to bed, the Countess tells her what to do, 56 but finds she knows every- thing. The ladies wait for Raymondin, who is speaking with the Earls, A knight sent by the ladies 3 fol. 32. comes for Ray- mondin, and tells him that all is ready, whereat the company laugh. Raymondin is led to the bridal chamber and brought to bed ; THE WEDDING NIGHT. [oH. XVIII. purueyed therof. but notwztistandyng she thanked them moch humbly therfore. And whan she was abed the ladyes abode there vnto tyme that Raymondin camme, whiche was yet talkyng’ of oon thing! and of 4 other with the Erle of Poitiers & with his brother, whiche thanked Raymondyn of pat he first dide jouste with hym. ‘ By my feyth,’ said the Erle of Poytiers, ‘fayre Cousyn of Forests, ye haue longe syn herd say / 8 how somtyme the loue of ladyes causeth peyne & traueyll to the amerows louers, and deth to horses.’ ‘My lord,’ ansuerde the Erle of Forestz, ‘my brother shewed it wel this day to me.’ And Raymondyn, that 12 was somwhat ashamed / said in this manere: ‘ Fayre lordes, stryk of the flatte! ./ and gyue not to me so moche praysing. For I am not he which I mene? that dide soo / For I am not he that bare the whyte armes / 16 but fayne I wold that god had sent to me the grace to doo so wel.’ And at thoo wordes camme there a knight, whiche by the ladyes was sent thither / and said to them: ‘Faire lordes, Jape not ouermoche, For knowe 20 you wel °that as now on other thing he most think.’ ‘By my feyth,’ said the Erle of Poytiers, ‘ ye say trew as I byleue.’? And yet agayn said the knight: ‘my lordes, comme & brynge with you Raymondyn, For the ladyes 24 axen after hym / for his partye is al redy.’ And perof byganne they to lawghe / and said that he muste haue witnes therof / and that they byleued it wel. Cap. XVIII. How the bysshop halowed the 28 bed wheron Raymondyn and Melusyne laye. T thoo wordes they went and ledde Raymondyn in the pauyllon and soone he was brought to 32 bed. And thanne camme there pe Bysshop that had 1 Fr. frappez du plat. 2 Fr. je ne suys mie celluy que. CH. XVIIL. | THE COVENANT OF RAYMONDIN. spoused them and dide halowe theire bed. and after that euerychon toke his leue / and the courteyns were drawen aboute the bed. And of this matere recounteth 4no ferther thystorye, but speketh of the other, of which som went to bed, and som went agayn to the daunse and ellis wher them lyste for to g00, And after thystory I shaH speke of Raymondyn and of the 8 lady, how the[y] gouerned them bothe togidre. and what wordes they had among’ them two as the[y] laye togidre. HYstorye telleth to vs in this partye that whan they euerychon departed and goon out of the Pauyllon and the stakes of hit joyned & shette, Me- lusyne spak and said to Raymondyn in this manere: 12 ‘My right dere lord and frend, I thanke you of the 16 grete honour that hath be doo to me at this day of your parents & frendes / and of that also / that ye kepe so secretly that which ye promysedt me at oure first couuenaunte,? and ye moste know for certayn that yf 20 ye kepe it euer thus wel, ye shalbe the moost mighty & moost honoured that euer was of your lynage. And ye doo the contrary, bothe you & your heyres shall fat litil & litil in decaye & fro your estate. Ne of the 24 land that ye shall holde & possesse, that tyme ye hold not your promysse / yf it be so that ye doo it, whiche god forbede, hit shal neuer be aftir possessed ne holden And thanne to her 28 ansuert Raymondyn: ‘My right dere lady, doubte you not of hit, For yf it playseth to’ god / that shall neuer befaH by me.’ And the lady ansuerd to hym in this maner: ‘ My right dere frend / sith it is soo that 32 so ferfourth I haue putte my self I most abyde the alle hoH by you ne by your heyrs.’ wylle of god, trustyng euer of your promesse. Kepe you thanne wel, my fayre frend & felawe that ye For ye shuld be he, 2 Fr. convenant, 3fawte not your Cowuenaunt. 57 then the bishop hallows the bed, the curtains are drawn, 1 fol. 32 0. and the company retires, After the tent is closed Melusine thanks her lord for his friends’ presence at the wedding, and for him keep- ing his promise, and foretells hon- our to him and his if he remains faithful, but woe if he be false ; 3 fol. 33. upon which Ray- mondin pledges himself again to keep the cove- nant. They beget that night Uryan, afterwards king of Cyprus. 2 fol. 33 6. When the sun is high the lovers rise. Raymondin dresses and goes with the Earls to mass, after which the feasting and revelling begins again. The ladies dress Melusine and go with her to mass. 3 fol. 34. THE DAY AFTER THE WEDDING. [cH. XIX. after me, that moost shuld lese by it.’ ‘Ha / Ha, lady dere,’ said Raymondin, ‘ therof ye oughte not to be in doubte / For that day, faylle to me god, whan I fawte ‘ Now my dere frend,’ said the lady, 4 ‘lete vs leue our talkyng therof. of Couuenant,’ } For certaynly as for my part there shal be no fawte. but that ye shal be the moost fortunat & happy that ever was of your lynee, and more puyssaunt thanne any of them shalbe / 8 without it be for fawte of your self.’ And thus lefte they theyre talkyng. And as thystorye reherceth, was that nyght engendred or begoten of them both the valyaunt Uryan. whiche aftirward was kynge of 12 Chipre, as ye shall here herafter. Cap. XIX. How the Erle of Poytiers and the Erle of Forests / the barons and ladyes, toke theyre leue of Raymondyn and of 16 Melusyne. / 2 Hystorye telleth to vs in this partye that so longe abode these two louers, beyng abed, that the Thanne aroos Raymondyn and made 20 And as thenne were alle redy, both therles of Poyters and of sonne was hye. hym redy, and yssued out of the Pauillon. Forests waytyng aftir Raymondyn, whiche they ledd to the Chapell and there they herde their masse deuoutly / 24 and after they retourned ynto the medowe, where the feste & reueH bygan of new, moche grete. but therof we leue to speke. and shall say of the Countesse & other ladyes, which aourned & made redy Melusyne. 28 And after they yede and ledd melusine moche honour- ably vnto the Chapel *forsaid And there they herd masse. thoffertory of whiche was grete and riche. And after that the deuyne seruyse was doon, they 32 What shuld I make 1 Fy, convenant, retourned vnto the Pauyllon. CH. XIX, ] MELUSINE’S GIFTS. long tale herof; the feste was grete and noble, and lasted XV dayes complete & hole. gaaf many grete yeftes and jewels both to the ladyes And after the feste the Erle, and the Countesse his moder, and And Melusyne ~4& damoyselles, also to knightes & squyers. alle the barons, ladyes, and damoiselles of theire felaw- ship, toke leue of Melusyne, whiche conueyed the said 8 Countesse and her doughter vnto & byonde the litil tounne of Coulombiers, And at departyng Melusyne gaf to the Countesse a fayre & moche riche owche of gold, in value vnestymable. and to blanche her 12 doughter, a gerland all set with perlys with saphirs rubyes and with many other precyous stones in grete nombre. And alle they that sawe the said owche and gerland, meruaylled gretly of the beaulte goodnes & 16 value of it. Melusyne bothe to more & lesse, that none there was And ye moste knowe, that so moche gaf at the feste / but that he preysed gretly Melusyne of her yeftes. and alle abasshed & meruaylled they were 20 of her grete ryches. and they alle sayd that Raymondyn was gretly mightily and valiauntly marryed. And after that all these thinges were doon and perfourmed, Me- lusyne toke leue of !the Erle and of the Countesse 24 moche honourably, and of alle the Baronye. and with a fayre and noble compayny retourned to her pauillon. And as they rode on theire way, the Erle of Poytiers said to And Raymondin conueyed euer the Erle. 28 him in this manere: ‘Fayr Cousyn telle me, yf ye goodly may, of what lynee or kynred is your wyf / how be it that thauncyent knight dide thanke us of thonowr & worship that we bare to you by hys lady 32 Melusyne of Albanye. but yet I demande it of you / bycause that we gladly wold knowe the certaynte of it. For of asmoche that we may perceyue by her estate & behauyng, nedes it muste be, that she be yssued & 36 comme fro mocfi noble ryche and mighty lynee. And 59 Melusine gives great gifts to the company, and conveys the Countess and her daughter beyond Coulombiers, and gives them rich jewels. All the company are abashed at the richness of Melusine’s gifts, and say that Raymondin has married well. 1 fol. 34 b. As Raymondin accompanies the Earl of Poitiers, the Earl asks the lineage of his wife, 60 because he is afraid he has not paid her due honour, Raymondin is wroth at the question, but answers fairly 1 fol. 35. that he did not ask her, and so only knows that she is a king’s daughter ; which can easily be seen from her behaviour, He requests that they will not ask him again about her lineage, MELUSINE’S LINEAGE. [OH. XIX. the cause whiche moeueth vs for to desyre and be willing to knowe it / is bycause that we doubte to haue mesprysed anenst thonour that apparteyneth to be doo vuto her noble & goodly personne’ / ‘But my feyth,’ 4 said the Erle of Forest, ‘al thus was my wylle to have said soo.’ hystorye saith that thanne Raymondin was gretly wroth, whan he herd the requeste 8 that the Erle of Poytiers, his lord, made vnto him / and also likewyse the erle of Forest hys brother. For he loued / doubted and preysed so moche his lady / that he hated alle thinges 12 whiche he demed desagreable to her. Not withstand- ing he ansuerd to them full softe & fayr : ‘ By my feyth, my lord / and you my brother, !playse it to you to knowe / that by rayson naturel fro whosoever I hyd 16 my secrete / fro you I ought not to hyde it / yf it were suche thinge that I knew of, or might say. and ther- fore I shall answere to you, to that ye haue demanded of me / after that I knowe of it. Ye thanne muste 20 knowe, that neuer I ne demanded ne dyde enquere me so fer of it / as now redyly ye haue demanded & en- quyred of me, / but so moche I knowe, and may wel say of her, that she is a kyngis doughter, mighty & 24 high terryen, And by the state, behauyng, & gouerne- ment that ye haue seen in her, ye may perceyue ynough, that she nys ne haue be norysshed in mendy- cite or pouerte / but in superfluyte of honowr & largesse, 28 and among! plente of goodes. And I requyre you as to my lordes and frendes, that ye ne enquyre nomore therof. For none other thinge ye ne may knowe therof by me. and suche as she is, she playseth me 32. wel, and am right wel content of her. And wel I knowe that she is the rote of alle myn erthly goodes present & to comme.’’ Thenne ansuerd the Erle of Poytiers: ‘By my feyth, fayr Cousin, as for my part I 36 li CH. XIX.] THE GUESTS DEPART, think not to enquere of you nomore therof, For as ye haue putte vnto vs wysely the high honours, riches, ~maneres, and behauying of my Cousin, your wyf, we 4 oughte to conceyue of ourself, that she is of noble birth & extraction, and of right high and mighty lynee.’ ‘By my feyth, my lord,’ said the Erle of Forest, ‘ye say southe. and of my part I thinke nat to enquyre, ne 8 demande of hym eny ‘thing more therof / how be it that he is my broper.. For certaynly I hold hym right wel ensuered perof aftir myn aduys.’ But, helas! he aftirward faylled Couenawnt. wherfore Raymondyn lost 12 his lady, and also the Exle of Forest toke deth therfore by Geffray with the grete tothe, Whereof it shal be spoken herafter more playnly. Raymondyn thenne toke leue of the Erle, & of his brother, and of the 16 barons, and retourned to the fontayne of Soyf. And also the Erle of Forest toke leue of the erle of Poytiers, of hys moder, and of hys sustir, and of aH the barons right honourably, and panked them alle of thonour 20 that they had doon to him at hys brothers weddyng. And thanne therle of Potyers, his moder, and hys Suster, with alle theire felawship & meyne retourned to poitiers, and euery one of the Barons retourned to 24 their Countrees. but there ne was none of them / but that he merueylled & gretly wondred of the grete riches that they had seen at the wedding of Raymondyn. | And here resteth thystorye to spek of them / and shal 1 28 spek of Raymondyn & of his lady, how they were after the departyng' of theire parents and frendes. / hystory recounteth to vs that whan Raymondin was retourned toward his lady / he founde the _ 32 feste greter than it was before / and also greter plente of noble folk than neuer was there before. Alle whiche folke yede, & said to hym with a high voyce: ‘My lord ye be weleomme as he to whom we are seruaunts, And pis said the ladyes as | 36 & whom we wy]l obey.’ 61 which they pro- mise ; 1 fol. 35 b. but, alas, they do not keep it, so Raymondin loses his lady, and the Earl of Forest his life. The company break up, and return to their countries, and they marvel at the great richness of the wedding. Raymondin re- turns to his lady, and finds the feast still going on, and many noble folk at it, who greet him, 1 fol. 36. which Ray- mondin thanks them for. Melusine takes him apart, and thanks him for his demean- our to his brother and the Earl, and promises to make all goods to abound, She next day sends away many of her people. When the feast was over Melusine got a great many workmen, who felled the trees and cleaned the rock, on which they prepared a foundation, where they build- ed so quickly that every one wondered ; 2 fol. 36 b. but no one knew whence the work- men came, The fortress was strongly built with two double walls and wards THE BUILDING OF THE CASTLE OF LUSIGNAN. [cH. XIX. wel the lordes. And thanne Raymondin ansuerd to them, ‘gramercy of the !honowr that ye proffre to me.’ And there thanne camme Melusyne, who moche honourably sayd to hym: ‘ welcomme be ye’ / and had 4 hym apart, & reherced to hym word by word alle the talking that was betwix the Erle and hym. and also what his brother, Erle of Forest, had said, And yet said the lady to hym: ‘ Dere frende Raymondin / as 8 longe as ye shal contynue soo / alle goodes shall habounde to you. Fayre frende, I shall to morowe gyue leue to the moost partye of our folk that ben here comme to our feste. For other thinges we must 12 ordeyne.’ Raymondyn ansuered : ‘ ladye, so as it shall playse you.’ And whan the morowe camme Melusyne departed her folke / grete quantyte went theire way / and suche as she wold abode there. And now resteth 16 thystory of the thinges byfore said. and begynne to treate how the lady bygan to bylde the noble fortresse of Lusignen. / N this partye telleth thenne thystory that whan the 20 feste was ended and that suche as she wold were goon / she anoone aftir made to comme grete foyson of werkmen / as massons, Carpenters, and suche that can dygge & delue. Whyche at her commandement fylled 24 dounne the grete trees, and made the roche fayre and clene. ‘There Melusyne sett euery man to werk. eche one dide his Crafte. they encysed the roche & made a depe & brode foundement. and in few dayes they 28 brought the werk so ferfourth / that euery man wondred of suche a fayre and stronge bylding so soone doon. And euery Satirday Melusyne payed truly her werk- men / and meet & drynk they had ?in haboundaunce. 32 but trouth it is / that no body knew from whens these werkmen were. and wete it that soone was the Fortres made up / not only with one warde / but two strong wardes, with double walles were there, or oon coude 36 CH. XIX.] THE FEAST AT THE CASTLE OF LUSIGNAN have comme to the stronge donjon of it. Round about | ' the walles were gret tours machecolyd, & strong pos- — ternes / and also barreres or wayes gooyng out fourth 4 encysed and kerued w7thin the hard roche. The Erle of Poytiers / the barons and alle the peple meruaylled moche of the said werke that so soone was doon, so ; grete, so stronge, & so fayre. Then the lady Melusyne 8 and her husband Raymondyn lodged them within it. and anoone after Raymondin made to calle to a feste there, alle the noble men therabout. There camme the erle of Poytiers, both hys moder and hys suster / the 12 Erle of Forestz, the Barons & noble men of theire And also there was so many laydes & damoyselles, that they landes, also of other countres and nacions. wel might suffyse att that day. There was jousting, 16 dauncyng, and grete joye made with frendly and curtoys deeling. And whan Melusyne sawe tyme and place conuenable, she presented herself before the two Erles / barons and noble men, and humbly said to | 20 them in this manere: ‘ My fayre and good lordes, we thanke you moche of the high honoure that ye haue doon to us now at this feste—and the cause why we haue prayed you to comme I shal declare it to you.’ jf 24 < Ordes,’ said the lady, ‘here I haue assembled your noble personnes, for to haue your Counseill how this fortresse shall be called. for that it be in mynd how that it hath be happely bylded & made.’ 28 ‘By my feyth, fayre Cousyn,’ said the Erle of Poiters, ‘we as in general sayen to you, as oure wylle is / that ye your owneself shall / as right is / gyue name to it. For emong we alle is not so moch wyt as in you alone 32 that haue bylded up & achyeuyd so strong and fayre a place as thesame is / and wete it, that none of us shall entremete hym to doo that ye spek of.’ Thanne said Melusyne: ‘ Dere Sire, Wylfully and for the nones 36 ye haue kept pis ansuere for to jape with me, but what 63 protecting the onjon. Every one mar- velled at its beauty and strength. Raymondin gives a feast, at which was jousting and dancing ; and at a conve- nient time Melu- sine declares why the feast is given: it is to name the fortress. 1 fol. $7. The Harl of Poi- tiers says she should name it, because of her wisdom 5 she answers that they mock her, 64 but the Earl: replies, that as she has built the best castle in the land, she must name it. Melusine then names it Lusig- nan, ; Which the Earl says is a good one, because it means ‘ marvel- lous’ in Greek. 1 fol. 57d, All the company think it a good name. And it. was pub- lished abroad, and even unto this day the castle is so called. The company breaks up, taking with them many rich gifts. Melusine has a son, THE NAMING OF THE CASTLE OF LUSIGNAN. [cH. XIX. therof is, I requyre and pray you that therof ye telle to me your entencion.’ ‘Certaynly, dere Cosyn,’ sayd the Erle of Poytiers, ‘none of us alle shal medle with aH . byfore you. For by reason / sethen ye haue so moche 4 doon as to haue achyeued & made the moste strong and fayre place that ever man sawe in this Countree / ye owe to gyue name to it your owne self after your playsire.’ ‘Ha /ha, my lord,’ said Melusyne, ‘sith it ne 8 may none otherwise be, / and that I see your playsire is that I gyue name to it, hit shalbe called after myn ‘But my feyth,’ said the Erle, ‘the name setteth full wel to it for two causes, First 12 bycause ye are called Melusyne of Albanye, whiche name in grek language is as moch for to say / as thing owne name, Lusygnen.’ meraayllous or commyng fro grete merueylle, and also this place is bylded and made meruayllously. For I 16 byleue not other wyse / but that as longe as the world shal laste shall there be founde & seen somme Wonder & meruayllous thinge.’ Thanne they alle ansuerd in this mane7e : ‘My lord, no man in the world might gyue 20 © betre name, that bettre shuld sette to it than she hath doo after manere of the place / also aftir the interpretyng made by you of her owne name.’ and on this oppynyon Whiche name within few dayes was so publyed, that it was knowen thrugh alle the land. and yet at this day it is called S00. & worde were alle of one acorde. 24 They soone aftir toke leue, and Melusyne and Raymondin also gaaf hem dyuers & riche yeftes at 28 And herafter sheweth thystory how Raymondin and Melusyne / right wysly, mightily and theire departyng. honorably lyued togidre. / fter the feste was ended, Melusyne, that was grete 32 with child, bare her fruyte unto pe tyme that alle wymen owen to be delyured of their birthe. and thanne she was delyuered of a man child, whiche was moche fayre, and wel proporcyoned or shapen in alle 36 CH. XIX. ] THE BIRTH OF URIAN. hys membres / except his vysage that was short and ; large / one ey he had rede, and the other blew. he was baptysed, & named was Uryan, and wete it that 4he had the gretest eerys that euer were seen on eny child of hys age / and whan they. were ouergrowen, they were as grete as the handlyng ofa fan. Melusyne penne called to hym Raymondin, and to hym she said 8 in this manere: ‘My ryght swete felawe & frend, I wold not see thyn owne herytage to be lost / which by raison thou oughtest to haue by vertue of ! patrymonye, for Guerrende Penycence and all the marches aboute 12 apparteynen to the & to py brother / goo thanne thither, and make the king of Bretons to be sommed that he wyl receyue you in your ryght & enherytance / shewyng to hym how your fader slew his nevew in 16 deffense & warde of hys owne body. For which encheson doubting the sayd kyng / lefte the Countrey, and neuer durst retourne / and yf he wyl not receyue For afterward you to ryght, be not therof abasshed. '20 he shal be glad, & fayne whan he shal mow doo it.’ Thenne ansuerd Raymondyn, ‘ there nys nothing that ye commande me, but that I shall doo after my power. For wel I considere & see that all your werkes ne ‘24 tenden but to wele & worship.’ ‘Frende,’ sayd the lady, ‘it is wel rayson, sith that all your trust ye putte on me that I hold to youtrouth. It is trouth that your fader, by hys predecessors, oweth to haue many grete 28 thinges in bretayne, the whiche shulle be declared unto you whan ye be there. It muste thanne be by you understand, that Henry of Leon, your fader, that tyme he was in Bretayn for hys worthynes, grete policye & . 32 valiawntnes, and as he that drad no man that owed hym euyl wyH, he was moche loued with the kinge there / in so moche that the said kynge made hym hys Seneschall & Captayn general ouer alle his men of 6werre. This king of Bretons had a nevew / but no MELUSINE. 65 fair of body, but of short visage, and one eye red, and the other blue, He is named Urian, and he had ears as large as a fun handle. Melusine tells Raymondin of his patrimony, 1 fol. 38. and bids him go to the king of Britain, to enter into his inherit- ance, He promises to go. Henry of Leon, Raymondin’s futher, was Seneschal and Captain- General to the king .of Britain, F 66 who had a nephew as his heir, 1 fol. 38 8. This heir was made jealous of Henry, by mischief- makers telling him that Henry was to take his place ; and by Josselin Dupont, who told him that letters of grant had been made secretly in favour of Henry, 2 fol. 39. RAYMONDIN’S FATHER, HENRY OF LEON. [CH. XIX. child begoten of his body he had. Whyche nevew, by the introduction of som, had grete enuye on Henry, your fader. For to! hym they said in this manere: “Ha! Ha! right-full heyre of Breytayne. Woo is us to see your grete domage / that is / you to be putte doun fro the noble enherytaunce of Bretayne. yf by fawte & lak of courage ye suffre it, what shal men say? pey poyntyug you with the fynger shal sey, Loo, yonder is the fole that for his feynted herte hath be putte out of so noble enherytawnce as is the royame of ” Bretayne.” And whan he understode the said enjurows wordes, he said: “ Who is he that dare vsurpe & take fro me my right, I knowe none / but that god wyl haue me to be punysshed. and wel I wot, pat the kinge, my lord & oncle, wyl not take ony other to be hys heyer than my self.”” Thenne sayd one of them to hym: ‘By my feyth, ye are [not] enfourmed in this matere, For the kinge, your oncle, hath made & ordeyned hys heyre, Henry of Leon, and as now letters of graunt ben therof made.” Whan the yong man herd these wordes, he as wood wroth ansuerd to them, “wete it for certeyn / that if I knew these wordes to be trew, I shuld putte hastly remedy thereto / in so moche that neuer he shold hold land ne no possession.” And thenne ansuerde to hym a knight named Josselyn Dupont : “certaynly it is soo / and for we wold haue none other to be kynge in brytaynne but you, after the decees of pe kinge, we warne you therof. For this hath the kyng your oncle doon secretly, for ye shuld not knowe of it. and wete it that alle we that now are here, were present whan that couenaunt was made. aske my felawes yf I say trouth 2 or not.” he demanded 32 of them yf it was so, And they ansuerd “ye.” ‘ he yongman thanne said, ‘‘ Fayre lordes, I thanke you of your good wylle whiche ye shewe to me, goo youre way. For wel I shall kepe Henry therfro,” 36 4 8 q 12 16 CH. XIXx.] AN AMBUSH AND HOW IT ENDS, They toke theyre leue, For they rought not: for no thing that might fall therof, so that they might see your faders deth. For enuyous and wroth they wore 4 that the kinge louyd hym so wel, and for nought sette they were by hym. knowe ye muste, that on the sonday next, in the morning, the kingis nevew armed hym self / yede in to the wod of Leon Castel, and 8 there wayted tyl your fader passed by, whiche he perceyued gooyng alone to hys dysport about hys Castel of Leon / thinkynge on none euyl ne harme / and sodaynly cryed on hym, “ Now shalt thou dey, false 2 traytour, that fro me woldest haue and vsurpe myn herytage”’ / and foynyng at hym with hys swerd, wold haue ouerthrawen youre fader, but he glanched asyde / and so the kyngis nevew / for he recountred ayenst 16 nothing, fell doun to the grounde, and the swerd secaped fro hys hand that then your fader toke up, the sayd neuew that sawe hys wepen lost, toke a lytil knyf that he had and ranne ayenst hym / but yowr fader, with the pomel of the swerd, gaaf to hym suche a stroke on the heed / that notwithstanding hys yron hat, he broke hys heed so that he fe doun deed, but 1whan he knew that it was he / he was sory and woo / 24 retourned home / toke all hys hauoyr and goodes meuable, and came in to the Shyre that men now call Forests, and grette help & comfort he founde in a lady, of whyche as now I kepe me styl to spek ony ferther. 28 And after the departyng of her fro hym, he toke by maryage the sustir of hym that thoo dayes gouerned the erledome of Poytiers, on whyche he gate many children of the whyche ye are one. / 32 ¢ rend,’ said Melusyne, ‘now haue I deuysed and i rehereed to you how your fader departed fro Bretayn, and lefte hys landes and possessyons voyde, without lord, whiche owen to be yours. You thenne 36 shal goo toward an yncle of yours whiche is called 67 The Sunday after hearing this, the king’s nephew laid in wait for Henry, surprised and attacked him, but was killed by your father, Henry of Leon, 1 fol. $9 b. who was sorry, and left the country for the Shire of Forests, where he married. Melusine tells Raymondin to go to his uncle, F.2 68 Alain of Quin- gant, and to tell him the tale, and get one of his sons to eall Josselin before his king, and there accuse him of his deed. Oliver Dupont is to tight Ray- mondin, but he is to lose, and he and his father are to be strangled, 1 fol. 40. and Raymondin is to get posses- sion of his land. Raymondin with many men goes to Brut Britain, where they pay their way. The king sends to learn RAYMONDIN’S PATRIMONY IN BRUT BRITAIN. [cH. XIX. Alayn of Quyngant / and ye shal make you to be knowen of hym / and he shal byleue you ynough of aH that ye shall sey. the hath two wrorthy knightes to hys sones, the whiche are grete men with the kinge, 4 and loueth hem wel. by one of them, your Cousyns, ye shall make J osselyn Dupont, that as yet is alyue, to be called byfore the kyng, and there ye shalle acuse hym of the treson by hym & other machyned / thrugh 8 whiche the kyngis nevew, willing to haue destroyed your fader, was hym self slayn. And ye muste knowe ‘that on this quareHt his sone, called Olyuer Dupont, shall fyght ayenst you therfore. but ye shall haue the 12 vyctory ouer hym / and bothe fader and sone shal be condampned to hang and to be strangled. For the fader shaH! vttre and knowe alle the treson / and a your grounde and enherytawnce shalbe adiuged to you. 16 And thus shall ye be putte in pacyfyque or peesable possessyon of it by the Peerys or lordes pryncypal of the land. Now my ryght swete frend & felawe, douteles goo surely. For certaynly god shal helpe you 20 in all your juste & true dedes.’ hanne ansuerd Raymondyn: ‘Madame, I shall endeuoyre me to achyeue & fulfil your com- mandement.’ Raymondyn toke leue of Melusyne / 24 and acompanyed wrth grete nombre of knightes and squyers, rode fourth so long on hys way, tyl they came in Brut Brytayne, wher the peuple was abasshed & moche wondred what suche grete nombre of 28 straungers wold haue. But for they payed wel & largely for that they toke, they were ensured that they wold & sought but good. For thauncyent knight of the meyne of Melusyne rewled and gyded them alle 32 in aH honour & goodnes. And for they were not so vnpurueyed / but that wt them they had armures, with them yf nede were to arme them with / the kinge that knew of it, sent to them to wete what they 36 CH. XIX. | THE JOURNEY TO BRUT BRITAIN. sought, whiche message demanded of Raymondyn yf hee In this messagery or embassade were sent two wyse knightes, owed euyl wyH to the kyng & to hys royame. 4 whiche wysly enquered of Raymondyn as byfore is sayd what he sought and what he wold. to whome Raymondin full curtoysly ansuered thus. ‘Fayre lordes, ye shaH teH to my liege that I come but! for 8 good and wele, and for to haue the lawful right in hys Court of suche thinges as belongen to me, For the whiche I shall presente myn owne personne byfore hys mageste, the same requyryng of socour and help.’ ‘ For- 12 south,’ ansuerd the two knyghtes, ‘ye shalbe welcome whan it shal playse you to do soo. and wete it wel that the kynge, our liege, is rightwyse & juste / and nothing as fer as right requyreth shal not be by hym denyed 16 by ony wyse. but telle vs yf it lyke you whither ye are now bounde.’ ‘Certaynly,’ said Raymondyn, ‘I wold I were at Quyngant.’ Thanne answerd one of them, ‘ ye are wel on the way toward it, and wete that 20 ye shall fynd there Aleyn of Leon, whiche shaH make you good chere. and also ye sha fynd there two knightes, men of wele and honowr, and hold strayte this way and ye shal not mys of it, and with your leue 24 we retourne on our way toward oure liege.’ hanne these two knightes were fer fro Ray- mondyn and hys felawship an halfmyle, they byganne to say one to other: ‘By my feyth, yonder 28 are gentyl and curtoys folkes, worshipfu & honour- able. For certayn they come not into this land with- out it is for some grete matere.’ and yet sayd, ‘lete vs go thrugh Quyngan ; and to aleyn we shal anounce 32 theyre commyng.’ they toke the way toward it, and rode so fast that soone they came there where they found Alayn, to whome they said & announced the commyng of Raymondyn 2and of his men. Whiche 36 Alayn wondred mocli of it. And thanne the trew 69 if Raymondin intends evil to him, 1 fol. 40 6. Raymondin tells the messengers that he comes to obtain his rights, on which he is welcomed. He tells them he is going to Quingant. The messengers leave, and on their way home praise Ray- mondin and his men, and pass by Quingant, where they an- nounce to Alain the coming of Raymondin’s party. 2 fol, 41. 70 Alain sends his sons to meet and attend to them. The ancient knight gets a stock of food, and pitches the tents, and pays well for everything. The brethren meet Raymon- din, and invite him to the castle of Quingant, 1 fol. 41 b. The invitation is accepted, end they ride on to the town, where the ancient knight comes to them ; RAYMONDIN ARRIVES AT QUINGANT. [cH. XIX. man dide calle to hym hys two sones, of whiche one was called Alayn & was eldest, and that other yongest lad to name Henry, and he sayd to them in this manere : ‘My good children, lepe on horsbak and ryde 4 on your way to mete yonde straungers / receyue ye them worshipfully, and see that they be wel and honestly lodged. For it is told to me, that they be six houndred horses or theraboute.’ but for nought he 8 spak. For thauncyent knyght of Melusyne was come before that / and seeying the toune was to lityl for to haue herberowed so moche peple in it / had made to be dressed tentes & pauyllons, and sent aboute in the 12 Countre for suche thinges that necessary were to them, which he payed or mayd to be payd largely, in so moche that more vytayH was there brought than pey neded of. And thanne Alayn was aH abasshed whan he herd of 16 that grete hauoyr & appareyH that they made there, and wyst not what therof he shuld thinke or say. ow sayth thystory, that so long rode the two brethern with theyre felawship togidre, that 20 they mete with Raymondin, & fuH curtoysly wel- commed hym, and prayed hym by byddyng of Alayn, theyre fader, that he vouchesauf to comme and be lodged within the Fort or Castel of Qyngant with 24 theyre fader, that shuld make hym good chere. ‘ Fayre lordes,’ said Raymondyn, ‘ gramercy to your fader, and thanked be you of your curtoysy that ye thus proffre to me,! But at your requeste I shall goo toward your 28 fader for to rendre to hym reuerence. For glad & fayn I were to see hym, for the wele & honour that I have herde say by hym.’ Contynuyng suche wordes & oper they rode tyl they came nygh the toun. And 32 thann came there thauncyent knight to Raymondyn, and sayd: ‘Sire, I have made yowr pauyllon to be dressed vp, and tentes ynoughe for to lodge you & al your men, and thanked be god we are wel purueyed.’ 36 ol eh Oil CH. XIX. | RAYMONDIN MEETS ALAIN, HIS UNCLE. ‘Ye haue doo wel,’ sayd Raymondin / ‘goo and make ye mery and chere my men, and loke not for me this nyght, For I goo to the Fortresse with this two gentyl- 4 men.’ And thenne departed he fro thauncyent knight / toke with hym a few of hys moost famyler men, and yede to the Fortresse wher the lord of the place aborde for hym styH at the gate. Whan Raymondyn thanne 8 sawe hym as to hys lord and yncle he made reuerence & salewed hym mekely. Wherto shulde I vse prolixe but of the faitt or matere whiche I owe to uttre and say, Lete vs or longe wordes of theyre acoyntaunce. 12 penne say. Whan they had souped / wesshen & graces said / the lord of the place toke Raymondyn by the hand / had hym apart upon a benchi / there to deuyse both togidre, whyle that the other souped / the whiche The lord Alayn thanne wyse and subtyl, and that knewe moche 16 pe two bretheren chered & honestly seruyd. of wel and honour, bygan to raissonne with Raymondin in this manere: ‘Sir knight, grete joye I haue of your 20 commyng hither, For certaynly ye are full lyke to a brother of myn whiche was valyaunt, fu wyse and worthy. he departed !fro this land xl. yere goon, for a stryf that befeH betwix the nevew of the kinge that 24 reyened at that tyme and hym, and wete it that this is the iiij™ kynge that haue reyned syn that tyme vnto now. And bycause that, to me seemeth ye resemble my brother, I am the more glad & fayn to see you.’ 28 ‘Sire, said Raymondyn, ‘therof I mercy & thanke you / and or I departe from you I shall make you certayn wherfore and by what inconuenience the stryf that ye spek of happed betwixt the nevew of the kyng and 32 youre brother. For wete it, that for none other cause I come hither, but for to shewe publiquely the pure trouth & certeyntee thereof.’ han Alayn herd these wordes he was moche abasshed, and loked on Raymondyn moche 36 and Raymondin tells him that he will stay at the Castle. He rides to the Castle, and makes reverence to his uncle, After supping his uncle takes him aside, and tells how glad he is to see him, 1 fol. 42, 4 because of his likeness to his lost brother. Raymondin tells his uncle he comes about the strife between his uncle’s brother and the late king’s nephew, which abashes Alain ; ms (4 who asks how he knows about the strife. Raymondin asks if any counsellor of the late king yet lives, and is told of one 1 fol. 42 b. whose son was lately dubbed a knight ; whereupon Ray- mondin tells their names to be Josselin Dupont the father, and Oliver the son, and promises to tell Alain more if he will go to court. Alain grants Raymondin’s request, ALAIN’S PROMISE TO RAYMONDIN. [cu. XIX. ententyfly, and after sayd, ‘and how shal that mowe be? ye haue not yet the age of xxx yere / by you may not be recounted the faytte, the trouth of whiche none For whan the stroke of the 4 mysdede happed. my brother sodaynly departed / so might neuer knowe. that I ne none other herd neue syn whither he was become.’ ‘Sire, yf ye vouchesaf / telle mee yf there is as now yet lyuyng eny man that had on that tyme 8 auctorite or rewle aboute the kinge that regned whan the stryf befeH.’ no more I knowe, that had gouernaunce in Court that ‘By my feyth,‘ said Alayn, ‘one and ‘same tyme, and he hym self vsurpeth & holdeth my 12 For the kyng gaaf it to hym, for hys first begoten sone to brothers landes as his owne enherytaunce. enjoye it for euevmore, the which !hys sone is now of late dowbed & made knight.’ ‘ For southe,’ sayd thenne ‘And how know 16. Raymondyn, ‘ wel I wote hys name,’ ye hyt?’ said Alayn. ‘By my feyth,’ sayd Raymondin, ‘he is called Josselin Dupont / and hys sone hys named ‘Sire knight,’ sayd Alayn, ‘ye say trouth. ‘Sire, sayd Olyuyer.’ 20 But telle me how ye this may knowe.’ Raymondyn, ‘no ferther ye shaH as now know therof. but ye vouchesaf to come & your two sones with me, unto the kinges Court / wete it that I shall declare 24 vnto you the quarrell & stryf so clerly that, yf ye euer loued your brother, Henry of Leon, ye shal be thereof fayn & glad.’ And thanne Alayn heryng the name of hys brother called, he was more abasshed than before. For he wend none other but that hys brother had be long deed. And thenne he thoughte longe in hymself or he ansuerd ony word. hus, as I haue sayd to you / moche long thought 32 Alayne, and aftir he ansuerd: ‘Sire knight, I graunt & acorde me to your requeste / sethen that here I ne may knowe your wyH. For therat I lang moche. I gladly shall hold you company ynto the kynges 36 CH. XIX. | Court.’ ‘gramercy,’ sayd Raymondyn, ‘and wel I shal kepe you fro dommage.’ Wherto shuld I make long proces, Alayn manded or sent for a grete foyson of hys 4 frendes, & made hym redy in grete estate for to goo to the court. The kynge that knew theire commyng departed fro Storyon, where he laye, & came to Nantes. For the two knightes whiche thé kinge sente 8 Raymondyn were retourned, & had recounted to the kinge the ansuere of Raymondyn, and the maner of his estate. And therfore the kinge was come to Nantes and manded a part of hys baronye, For he wold not 12 that Raymondyn shuld fynd hym vnpurueyd of men. And amonge other he sent for Josselin Dupont for !to haue his CounseyH on the demande that Raymondyn What shuld I thauncyent knight came before & made wold make. For he was moche sage. 16 saye more? to be dressed bothe pauillons & tentes & purueyed for alt thinges necessary. Wherfore the folke of the toune were moche abasshed of the grete appareyl that 20 he caused to be made / Thenne came Raymondyn, Alayn, and bothe his sones, and descended into the chief Pauillon, where they made them redy and arayed them fut richely, for to goo toward the kinge / and 24 after they departed fro the tentes, acompanyed with xl knightes wel horsed and honestly arayed that wonder was to see /and had his barons with hym. And whan they come to the kinges place they descended 28 fro theire horses / and Raymondyn / Alayn and his two sones entred within the halle, there the kynge was acompanyed with his barons / made to the kinge reuerence / after siewyng, salewed the barons & lordes, 32 the kinge weleommed & receyued pem joyously / called to hym Alayn, and said to hym in this manere : ‘ Tt gyueth me grete wonder,’ said the kinge to Alayn, if ‘of this gracyous straunge knight, with whome 36 ye are so acoynted / What he seketh in this land.’ ‘Ha / ALAIN GOES TO THE KING OF BRUT BRITAIN. =] Cs Alain sends for his friends ; the king comes from Nantes and sends for some of his barony, 1 fol. 43. and for Josselin, The ancient knight prepares tents for Ray- mondin, in which Alain and his sons dress themselves to go before the king. They set out with forty barons ; arriving, are welcomed by the king, who asks Alain about his friend, the strange gracious knight. 74 Alain tells the king that he marvels at the knight's sayings, but believes that all will be made plain soon. Raymondin learns that Jos- selin is present, 1 fol. 43 6. with his son Oliver, Raymondin addresses the king, and praises his justice ; the king asks why? AT THE COURT OF THE KING. [cH. XIX. ha, sire,’ ansuerd Alayn. ‘I am an houndred tymes more meruaylled of the wordes that he yestirday shewed vnto me / than ye are of his commyng, but soone shul be declared al that we lang aftir & desire 4 to knowe.’ Thenne Raymondyn, dressyng hys wordes to theldest sone of Alayn, sayd softly in this manere, ‘Sire knight, say me of your Curtoysye, yf one called Josselyn Dupont be now in this company or nat.’ Thanne sayd Alayn, ‘ye—and wold to god so that the kyng shuld not be dyspleased that I had slayn hym. For he enjoyeth !therytage that apparteyneth to one our “oncle which we shuld haue.’ And after these wordes Alayn sayd to Raymondin / ‘it is yond auncient knight that sitteth by the kinge. And wete it for certayn that he is replenysshed w7th all falshed & malyce / and yonder is his son Olyuyer that weyeth not an ownce lasse in at wykkednes & euyH.’ ‘By my feyth, Sire knight,’ sayd Raymondin / ‘ye soone shal be auenged of hym yf god wyl.’ And leuyng theire talkyng, Raymondin hadd hymself fourth before the kinge, to whom he said in this manere: ‘ha, high sire & mighty kinge, It is wel trouth that common renowmee ranneth thrughe alle landes. that yowr Court is so noble & so raysonnable that it may be called fountayne of Justice & raison / and that none ne commeth to your Court but that ye shew & gyue to hym good Justice and raisonnable after the good right that he hath.’ ‘By my feyth, sire knight,’ said the kinge / ‘it is trouth. but wherfore say you so, fayn I wold wete it.’ ‘*Forsouthe, sire,’ said Raymondin, ‘ for to vttre & shew it vnto you / I am come hither / & for none other cause. but, Sire, yf it plaise you / or I telle it you / 32 ye shaH promyse me that ye shal susteyne me ayenst alle personnes. after right & raison. For that / that I shal say is in a part your wele prouffyt & honour. For no kinge acompanyed of a traytour is not wel 36 Se ee ”—SC CH. XIX. | JOSSELIN DUPONT. lodged ne sure of his personne.’ ‘By my feyth,’ said the king, ‘ye say trouth / say on hardily. For I swere to you by aH that I hold of god, that I shal doo to you 4 alle Justice & rayson after the good right that ye shal haue / and that shal I doo doubteles / yf it were ayenst my brother.’ ‘Sire,’ said Raymondin, ‘an houndred thousand thankes & mercyes / ye say as a valyaunt kynge 8 & !trew man. For first were kynges stablysshed for to rendre or yeld to euerbody juste jugement in alle thinges.’ . S oble mighty kinge,’ said Raymondin / ‘it is wel 72 N trouth that one, yowr predecessour kynge, reyned somtyme moche mightily & valyauntly that was in the tyme of Josselin Dupont and of Alayn, whiche bothe are here now present before your majeste / this 16 kynge whiche I spek of, had a moche fayre & noble yong man to his nevew. that tyme was in this Countre a baron whiche was called Henry of Leon, the whiche was brother to Alayn here present.’ ‘ By my feyth, sire,’ 20 said thanne Josselyn, ‘he saith trouth. and ouermore the same Henry of Leon slew the nevew of your prede- cessour by treson / fledd out of this land, and neuer syn came hither ayen. And then the kinge seased 24 his landes and possessyons, and anoone after gaf them to me.’ The kinge thanne ansuered, ‘we haue herd ynoughe of this matere / but suffre this knight fynyshe his raison which he hath bygonne.’ 28 O this ansuerd Raymondyn, ‘ Sire kinge, he hath wel raison to speke of hit, For ferthermore he shal be constrayned to say / how be it that as now he hath said amys & not trouth of that he saith that 32 Henry of leon slew the kinges nevew in treson, For he knew wel why & wherfore it was, and there nys no man lyuyng that can say the trouth of it but he alone, For they that were of his acorde and conspiracéon ben 36 al deed. Therfore sire kynge, vouchesaf to command and promises to do justice to Raymondin, for which Ray- mondin thanks him. 1 fol. 44. Raymondin speaks to the king of Josselin, Alain, and of Henry of Leon ; whereupon Jos- selin says that Henry slew the nephew of the king’s prede- cessor, and fled the land ; but the king orders him to let Raymondin finish his story. Raymondin denies what Jos- selin said, but asserts that Josselin alone knows the truth of the matter, 76 and asks the king to bid Jos- selin tell all. ‘1 fol. 44 0. This abashes Josselin, who asks if Ray- mondin has come to dishonour him. Raymondin tells the king of the treachery of Jos- selin toward his father, Henry of Leon. How Josselin told the king’s nephew that he was dis‘nherited hecanse of Henry, 2 fol. 45, RAYMONDIN’S TALE. [cH, XIX. hym telle trouth al on hye, that eueryone here may There it.’ And whan Josselin vnderstode that word, he wexed sore abasshed ; neuev'theles, he ansuered in this manere: ‘Sire knight, are you come into this 4 land forto vndertake eny thinge in dyshonowr of me?’ And Raymondin ansuerd appertly : ‘ Fals traytowr, he fourueyeth nat that saith the playn trouth.’ Thanne he said agayn to the kynge: ‘ Sire, it is wel trouth that 8 Henry of Leon was a moche valiant & hardy knight, curteys and wel condicyoned, & moche was beloved bothe of the kinge and of his nevew / and vsed the _kynge moche of his counseil, For he was he on whom 12 he trusted most. It haped that dyuerse traytours beyng that time about the kinge, of which Josselin here present was one, as chef causer of the mysdede that tyme perpetred or doon / came to said kingis nevew, 16 & to hym they said in this manere: “ Gentyl Squyer, alle we that are here byfore your presence ben sory & woo of your grete dommage and shamfuH losse whan ye shall be dysheryted of so noble a land as is the 20 royame of Brytayne” / and he ansuered to them / “ how shuld that mowe be doo? the kynge hath none heyre but my self.” “On my god,” said thanne yond Josselin to hym, “ Wete it pat he hath made & stablisshed his 24 heyre, Henry of Leon, and I byleue that this Henry hath enchaunted hym and the barons of the land also, For therof ben lettres passed & sealled with theire sealles annexed to the kingis grete seall / and al this 28 they aH togider affermed on theire feyth for trouth.” “By my feith,” said the squyer thanne / “here is grete inconuenyence yf that be trew that ye telle me.” ?And thanne Josselin with his complices alle with an acorde 32 sware yet ayen to hym that it was trouth. Wherfore the said yonge squyer was sory and woo. Josselin thenne seeyng that he byleued theire falsed to be certayn, said yet agayn to the squyer in this manere: 36 Ol XEx.] RAYMONDIN’S TALE. “Yf in you lyeth so moch hardynes that ye dare vnder- take to auenge the wrong doon to you by Henry of Leon, We alle shal helpe you therto.” And the squyer 4 ansuerd, “my courage and wylle ben agreed to do soo.” Thenne said Josselin, “goo thanne & arme you in a manner vnknowen, and we sha abyde you with out the toune, and shaH ledd you in to suche a place O noble & mighty kinge, sethen I fynde now myself. in Court of gnty King J y 8 where ye shal auenge you at your ease.” right & iustice / and that I may see myn enemye, I wyl no more be hyd, but lete euery man knowe that 12 1 am the sone of Henry of Leon.’ Thenne they were alle abasshed of that word, but they held them styl / and Raymondyn spake fourth in this manere./ Ss kinge, it is trouth that my fader had take ee 16 of the kinge, and was goon in to hys Countrey / and was wonnt euey mornyng for to goo in a wode nygh by his fortesse to dysporte hym, sayeng hys matyns alone. And this fals traytour Josselin, with his 20 complices, ledd the said kingis nevew and embusshed them there. My fader, that thoughte no harme, came that same ooure / and whan Josselin perceyued hym commyng he said to the squyer / ‘‘now it is tyme to 24 auenge you, For he is without eny armure or wepen / he may not escape you / and yf we see that ye nede of help! we shall helpe you.” The squyer, thanne esprysed with euyl desire, departed fro them and ranne toward 28 my fader and escryed hym to deth / and as he wold haue thrested the swerd thrugh my faders body. my fader glanched asyde / and as god wold he that fyersly ranne felt to the ground. My fader penne toke the 32 swerde that scaped fro the squyers hand, and with the pomel of it smote hym under the eere by suche strengthe that the squyer feH doun ded. And thenne whan my fader saw hym lyeng on the ground deed he 36 dyscouered his face, and anone he knew hym, wherfore v7 and urged him to avenge him- self, and promised to aid him. Raymondin declares that he is the son of Henry, which abashes them all, He continues the story of Josse- lin’s treachery ;. how an ambush was laid, 1 fol. 45 0. and how the king’s nephew tried to slay his father, but was slain himself. 78 How Henry fled from the land on recognizing his enemy, fearing the king's ire ; which pleased Josselin, who thought he would then be able to rule the king. JOSSELIN CHALLENGED. [cH. XIX. he made grete sorow and was sory and woo / and after the dede & euylhap, doubtyng the furowr & yre of the king, yede there hys hauoir was / toke it and fledd with at from pis land. And thanne Josselin the fals 4 traytour sayd to hys complices and felawes: ‘* Now are we come to our entencion & wylle. For the kinges nevew is deed, and yf Henry be take he may not scape fro deth. that we lyst after our guyse / lete vs not meve us tyl Now shal we gouerne and doo with the king 8 he be ferre from vs / and after we shal take the corps & putte it ina byere that we shal make with brawnches ~ & Jeues, and so we shal bere it toward the king, to 12 Raymondin challenges Jos- selin, 1 fol. 46. his son Oliver, and one of h.s friends ; but no one ac- cepts the challenge. Alain, under- standing now who Raymondin is, embraces him, whom we shal say that Henry of Leon slew hym in treson.” Ha / ha, noble king, aH euen so as I say, dide that yonder fals traytowr / and yf he say nay / here I And 16 bycause, sire kinge, that I wil lete euery man knowe presente & cast my gage of bataill agenst hym. that I doo vndertake pis not for auarice / but for to kepe my right and enherytawnce / and for to declare, manyfeste, and !shewe the vylonny and euyl treson 20 that this fals traytour Josselin and hys complices dyde to Henry of Leon, my fader, for to haue hym out of conceytte, and to be putte fro the kingis Court, I besech your highnes that he may take hys sone Olyuer 24 and another yet of his frendes / and I shal fight ayenst them thre without fawte, prouyded alwayes the noble and juste jugement of your Court / one after another’ / but there 28 And whan and sayeng these wordes he kyst his gage. was none that spake or ansuerd ony word. Alayn and his two sones vnderstode alle that Raymon- dyn had said / what for joye to see theire faders nevew - and Cousyn to them / and what for pyte to here telle 32 the trayson so machyned ayenst theyre faders brother & vnele to them / ranne to kysse and embrased Raymondyn. > OH. XIX. | han the king of the Bretons sawe that no body ansuerd to these wordes so proferid in hys presence / sayd al on high that euery one there might 4 here hym, ‘ how now, Josselin, are ye deef?/ I now per- ceyue wel & see that the prouerbe that is said commonly is trew / that is / “that olde synne reneweth shame,” For this knight straunger bringeth you tydynges, 8 moche strawnge and a wonder medecyne fro ferre land / ’ Thanne ansuerd aduyse you of that ye shal ansuere. Josselyn to the kyng: ‘Sire kinge, I am not he pat And 12 also wel I byleue that he saith it but in jape & sport.’ from hens fourth oweth to ansuere such thinges. Thanne ansuerd Raymondin, ‘the mocke fals! traytowr shal tourne on the. I now requyre you, noble king, that this matere may be discuted / lete him haue as 16 raison requyreth for his treson / and I to be punysshed yf in eny poynt forsayd [I] haue myssaid or mesprysed.’ Thenne said the kinge, ‘doubt not of it, For so shal I doo. 20 this quareH & acusacion.’ Josselyn,’ said the kinge, ‘ ye muste ansuere to Whan thenne his sone Olyuyer herd what the kyng said to his fader / he ansuerd to his wordes: ‘Sire, that knight is so sore adrad that he trembleth for fere / he weneth as me 24 semeth to take the cranes flighing, by my feith he shall wel fayH & mysse of that he hath said, For my fader is a true man in alt his dedes / and I vouchesauf & graunt the bataiH as he hath ordonned / and there 28 is my gage / he shal be wel happy yf he dyscomfyte me and another of my lynage suche as I shalt chese. /’ han the king herd that word he was moche wroth, & ansuerd in thie manere / ‘that shalt 32 nat happe in my Court as long as I shaH lyue pat one knight alone shal fyght ayenst two for oo maner quareH / and grete shame is to you / only to haue thought it in your herte / and wete it / that by 36 semblaunt ye shew nat your fader to haue good quarell. JOSSELIN’S SON OLIVER ACCEPTS THE CHALLENGE. 79 The king orders Josselin to de- fend himself, who says that he believes that Raymondin is joking. 1 fol. 46 6. Raymondin denies it, and asks the king to bring the matter to an issue, In answer to the king, Josse- lin’s son Oliver agrees to fight Raymondin, helped by another of his lineage. The king is wroth at the proposal to pair two knights against one, BEFORE THE FIGHT. [OH. XIX. And fro this ooure fourthon I gyue you journey of batayH at the requeste of the knight straunger on suche day that he shaH assigne.’ ‘ By my feyth,’ said thenne Raymondin, ‘I am euen now redy therto, for myn 4 armures are not ferre. and thanked be your highnesse an hondred tymes of your lawful graunt.’ There had ye herd grete rumoure made on aH sydes, for aH said, ‘yonder is the moste valyaunt knight that euer we sawe 8 requyryng his ryght.’ but what so euer was woofull therof, Alayn of Quyngant & his two sones were fayn & glad that so shuld be doo / & said to Raymondin, ‘Fayre Cousin, be not !abasshed of nothing in the 12 world. take boldly the bataiH for you, and for us both ayenst that same fals traytowr / For yf god wil we shaH soone haue worship therof.’ ‘ Fayre lordes,’ said Raymondin, ‘take who wil bataiH for hymself. 16 For the same I shal haue for my part, and doubte you not but that I shal bring it to a good & worshipful ende god before with the good right that I haue therto.’ 20 hilles the rumour was among the folk, the kinge, moche wyse & subtyl / for that the parties were of grete & high parentage & lynee / doubtyng of some grete inconuenience that might happe 24 emong them / commanded sodaynly the gates to be shette that none might entre ne yssue / & ordonned men armed to kepe euery man therfro. and aftir callid his ConseiH apart / shewed to them and reherced aH 28 the quareH. and they counseilled hym of that was nedefuH to be doo. Thanne retourned the kinge vnto the halle, where he made to be commanded by hym, that none there, on peyne of deth, should be so hardy 32 to spek ony word but pat he were commanded. The kinge thenne spak & said, ‘now, fayre lordes, ye muste vnderstand how this quareH is now not litel, for it is for lyf or grete dyshonowr for euermore to the one 36 CH. XIx.] MASS AND PRAYER, partye. and wete it for certayn that I ne owe ne also wyl not refuse ryght to be doo in my Court. Olyuier, said the king, ‘wil you deffende your fader of this 4 treson?’ ‘Sire,’ said he / ‘ye certaynly,’ / . and thenne the king ansuerd / ‘the lystes ben alredy dressed, and therfore I ordeyne the batailt to be to morow exploited. And wete it / that yf ye be dyscomfited & ouercome, 8 bothe yowr fader and ye shul be hanged. and not lesse shal haue your partye aduerse, yf the! cas myshappeth to hym. Make you thanne redy toward / and gyue in oure hand hostages & pledges / and first your fader 12 shaH abyde.’ and thenne the king made Josselin to be ledde in to pryson in a stronge toure. and thanne said the king to Raymondin, ‘Sire knight, whome shul ye gyue vs for hostage?’ Alayn and his two sones came 16 thanne fourth & said, ‘sire, we pledge hym.’ ‘By my feyth,’ said the king, ‘it suffyseth vs wel. and therfore ye shal not hold pryson. For wel I wote that the knight had not emprysed the bataiH without he wold 20 perfourme it.’ And thus departed bothe parties fro the presence of the kinge. and Raymondyn with hys folk, acompanyed of hys vncle & Cousins, yede toward his pauillons, and aboute euen tyme he went in to the 24 chirch CathedraH, and there he watched, making hys prayers to god with grete deuocyon / And Olyuer also came to hys hous with grete foyson of them of hys lynee, and made his hors & harneys redy. On the 28 morowe they herd masse, and after armed them / and the king and the Barons of the land were sette on the scafoldes rounde aboute the listes / and gardes to the champ or feld were ordeyned, and the Chayers sette. 32 And about the coure of pryme came Raymondin with fayre felawship, armed moche goodly & richely / the spere on the rest, and on hym hys cote of armes, browded with syluer & azure / and entred ‘the lystes 36 vpon a grete destricr wel harneysed vnto the nayle of MELUSINE, Oliver under- takes to fight. The king ap- points next day for the battle, and tells that the loser shall be hanged. 1 fol. 47 5. Pledges are taken from the combatants, and both parties leave the king. The combatants pray and hear mass, On the morrow the lists are guarded, and at noon Ray- mondin appears richly armed and well mounted, with his com- panions, and enters the lists ; and makes rever- ence to the king and barons ; 1 fol. 48. dismounts and waits for his adversary, who at last appears nobly armed with his father. Raymondin swears the justice of his cause on the Gospels, and likewise Josselin and Oliver, but very timorously. A herald pro- claims that no signs are to be made ; the lists clear. A herald shouts ‘Do your duty’ to the combat- ants. 2 Fol. 48 5. IN THE LISTS. - [cH. x1x. the foot / as for gage of bataille / and there he made reuerence & salewed the king & the Barons. ‘By my feith,’ said eueryone / ‘it is long syn we sawe so fayre man of armes ne of so fayr contenawnce / he hath not 4 beste werke that hath such! a man in hand to jouste or fyght with hym.’ fro the destrer as appertly as he had be vnarmed, and Thenne descended Raymondin sette hym in the chayer abydyng after his aduersary. 8 It is trouth that long after that came Olyuer,. right wel & nobly armed, and sett on a moche ryche destrier / and wel-he semed man of grete fayttes / and so was he / & before hym came Josselin, his fader, on 12 a palfray, and made reuerence to the kinge & hys barons. Moche semed Josselin abasshed as thanne / | What shuld I make long tale / the holy Euangiles were there 16 For that euery man said he had euyl cause. brought, wheron Raymondin swore that Josselyn had euyl cause, and that he had doon the treson as he had byfore declared / and after he kneled & kyssed the And 20 after Josselin sware, but he stakered, and so timerous book, and sette hym self ayen on the chayere. he was that he coude not touche the boke / and also Olyuer, which knew wel the trouth of aH, swore ful feyntly / and that doon he sette hym self agayn in his 24 chayere. and fourthwith a herault cryded with an high voyce on the kingis byhalfe / that none, on peyne of deth, shuld be so hardy to speke ony worde ne to make eny signe or tokon that eny of the Champyons might 28 vnderstand or perceyue. And thenne eueryman voyded the place, saaf only they that were stablisshed to the garde of the champ & Josselin. And anoone Raymon- dyn lepte on horsbak moch appertly and toke hys 32 spere, and on the other syde Olyuer had hys destrier redy, and lept on lightly, and toke hys spere with sharp yron / and thenne cryded a herault thryes. ‘lete 36 ranne your horses & 2 doo your deuoyre.’ CH. xix] OLIVER AND RAYMONDIN FIGHT. H™ saith the veray hystory, that whan the cry was made Raymondin had leyed the ende of hys spere to the grounde alonge the hors nek, and 4 thryes lhe made the signe of the crosse. and while he dede so hys enemy ranne at hym, and with hys spere hytte Raymondin on the brest or he was ware of hit moche rudely, For dooyng so he putte to it alle his 8strengthe & myght, but Raymondin bowed neuer therfore / and the spere of Olyuer brak in to pieces, and with that strok the speere of Raymondyn fell to ‘Ha, traytour,’ said then Raymondyn / ‘thou folowest wel the right euyl lynee of whiche thou the ground. yssued. but that may not auaylle the.’ and toke the sterope that hynge at sadelbowe, that had thre poyntes wel assured, eche of them seuen ench long. and at 16 retourne that Olyuer supposed to haue doo, Raymon- dyn smote hym on the helmet with the sterop that oo poynte of it entred & perced the helmet so that the nayl of the vmbrel brake, and the vysere hing at oo 20 syde / and the visage of Olyuyer abode aH dyscouered, wherfore he was moche agast and abasshed. Neuerthe- les he drew out hys swerde & wel shewed contenawnce of a knight that lytil redoubteth hys enemye. and so 24 they faught long space togidre and gaaf eche other grete strokes / and there might men see grete appertyse of armes, At last Raymondin alighted on foot and toke vp hys spere that laye at ground & came with 28 grete paas toward his foo mortaH, whiche the best wyse that he coude dystourned fro Raymondin that he made to goo after hym alonge the Champ. For he dide with hys hors what he wold,! and by that manee dooyng 32 he supposed to haue made Raymondyn wery that nedes he muste reste hym, and so the day shuld be soone passed. But Raymondin whiche that perceyued, yede & appertly to[ke]? hys hors that he ledde with one hand, & 2 Fr. prinst. 85 Raymondin, his spear couched, making the sign of the cross, is struck fiercely on the breast by Oliver's spear ; but he does not bow; Oliver's spear shivers, and Raymondin's falls. Upon which Raymondin breaks Oliver's helmet with his stirrup ; his visor falling discovers his face. They continue to fight fiercely with swords until Raymondin alights from his horse and takes his spear, and goes to attack his foe, who runs away from hin. 1 fol. 49. Raymondin then, leading his horse 84 and carrying his spear, approaches Oliver, who suddenly spurs his horse against Ray- mondin, but has it stunned by a blow from the stirrup, and is dis- mounted by a spear stroke, and wounded and beaten ; and held by the throat, Raymon- din kneeling on him. After a time Raymondin asks him to yield, or die. 2 fol. 49 b. He replies he would prefer to die by Raymon- din’s hand ; who pities him, and asks if he knew of his father’s treason. He says he did not ; = OLIVER DOWN. [CH. XIX. toke the spere at other hand / and softly one pas after another came towarde hys enemye. And whan Olyuyer sawe hym come, perceyuying his manere he wist not how ne in what manere Raymondyn wold assayH 4 hym / and sodaynly spored his horse, wenyng to haue come & hurted Raymondyn as he had doon byfore. but Raymondin kyst at hym yet ayen the sterop by grete anger, and hitte Olyuyer hors at foreheed with 8 suche strength that the chaunfreyn entred deep within the hors heed, so that it bowed the legges behind to therthe. Olyuyer thanne sporid his destrier, but as the hors redressed hym, Raymondyn with hys spere 12 smote Olyuyer at right syde of hym, so that he ouer- threw hym to therthe, and so wonderly a strok he gaf hym betwix the mayH panser & the Corset that the spere heed entred deep in hys body / and ar he might 16 be delyuered Raymondyn cast on hym so many strokes that he might no more meve hym self, and by force plucked the helmet fro the heed of hym, and putte hys knee on his naueH, and the hand senester at hys nek, 20 and held hym in suche destresse that by no manere waye he might not meue hym. hystory telleth in this partye that Raymondin held Olyuyer as aboue is said long espace of 2 tyme, and whan he sawe that he had the best ouer hym he drew a knife! that heng ? at his right side and said to hym, ‘ False traytour, yeld thyself vaynquyssed, or ellis thou art but deed.’ ‘ By my feith,’ said Olyuyer, 28 — ‘I have leuer dye by the hand of suche a valyawnt knight as ye be than of another.’ Raymondyn thanne toke grete pite on hym and demanded of hym, vpon parel of the sowle of hym / yf he nothing knew of 32 the treson that Josselin his fader had doon / and he ansuerd nay, and he was not yet borne pat tyme that this’ treson happed. and how be it that it plaised to 1 Knight in MS. Fr. version cowstel. CH. XIX.]. JOSSELIN’S CONFESSION. god that Fortune were as thenne contrary to hym, nowithstanding yet he held his fader for a trew man / lawful and not gilty of that same dede. And thanne ‘4 whan Raymondyn, that wel wyst the contrary, herd hym, he was sorowful & woo, and bete hym so moche on the temples with hys fust armed with his gantlet that he made hym so astonyed that he ne saw ne herd ‘Sne wyst what he dide to hym / And thanne stode vp Raymondin and toke hym by the feet and drew -hym ynto the lystes, And syn he putte hym without fourth / and retourned & came before the scafold of 12 the kinge, the visere lyfte on hye, & said: ‘Sire, haue I doo my deuoire, For yf I haue eny thing more to doo I am redy to it to the regarde of your Court & ordynaunce?’ ‘ By my feyth,’ said the king, ‘sire knight, 16 ye haué quytted your self full wel.’ And the king penne commanded that Josselin and his sone shuld be bothe hanged, and they to whom the king comanded this execucion to be doo wente soone, & without delay 20 they seasid Josselin, who anoone cryed to the king piteously for mercy. And pen the king yede and said to hym that he shulde !telle the trouthe of the quarell, and peradventure he night haue grace. 24 henne said Josselin, ‘Sire, to hyd the trouth it auaylleth not / haue pite on me yf it plaise you, For certaynly it was doon in the manere & fowrme as the knight hat purposed & said / and wete it pat my 28 sone Olyuyer was not yet borne.’ ‘By my feith, Josselin, said the kinge, ‘ here is grete falshed, and yf it ne had be goddis playsire that ye shuld be therof punysshed, he had not lefte you lyue so long in this world. and -32.as to my part, ye shall not fayH of the punycyon.’ Thanne he said all on high to them that were ordeyned, that anoone bothe fader & sone shuld be hanged. And thenne came fourth Raymondin & said to the king: 36 ‘ Sire, I thanke youas I may of the good justice that ye but Raymondin, knowing he lied, beats him on the temples. Then Raymondin asked the king if he had done his duty ; who said he had well, and commanded Josselin and his son to be put to death, 1 fol. 50. Josselin confesses his treachery. 86 Raymondin pleads for Oli- ver’s life, as he — is brave and valiant, and free from the guilt of the treason ; and for Josselin’s, because he is so old, desiring only that he should make restitution of the estate, THE TRAITOR’S DOOM. [CH, XIx. haue doon to me / but, sire, I moued with pite requyre you of your mysericorde to be shewed on Olyuyer. For seeyng his valyauntyse & worthynes, also consideryng that he is not gilty of the treson it were grete dommage of hys deth. For yet shall he mow doo wel. And as to the fader, for this that I see hym olde & feble / of my part, sire king, yf ye vouchesauf to graunt hym grace therof I shuld be fayn & glad, soo that I haue myn herytage to my behouf, and that the prouffytes & _ fruytes that he hath leuyed & receyued of it, syn he the money to be used to found a priory. 1 fol. 50 d. But the king orders them to be hanged, and restores Raymondin his estates, and gives him all Josselin’s land, for which Ray- mondin does homage, Raymondin is feasted by the king of Brut Britain, had therytage in hys handes, be by extimaczon reualued in money. that same payment to be by you, sire king, ordeyned to edefye or bigge a pryorye, & monkes therin to be rented with reuenues & possessyons after the quantyte of the said money to pe regarde of you and of your Counseill. the said monkes to pray for the sowle of the kinges nevew perpetuelly.’ The kinge thanne said to his barons, ‘ Fayr! Sires, here ye may see the free courage of a knight that prayeth to me to respyte hys enemys fro deth. but by the feyth that I owe to god Josselin nor his sone shal neuer doo treson ne cause no man to goo out of my land as exiled.’ and fourthwith he made them to be hanged, and rendred to Raymondin his enherytawnce and al Josselyn’s land : with aH. Wherof Raymondin thanked hym moche humbly and made to hym his homage. After byganne the feste to be moche grete, and held the king grete & noble Court open to al men, & was moche glad of that : he had recouered & goten so noble a knight in his land. but for nought he made joye, For soone ynoughe he shall see that Raymondyn had no grete wylle: to abyde and dwelle in Bretayne, for moch longed to hym the sight of Melusyne. ow in this parte telleth thystorye that Raymondyn N was moche wel festyed of the king of the brut 8 12 Lo eG Bretayne that he!d grete & honourable Court for loue 36 CH. XIX, | THE SPOILS OF THE VICTOR. of Raymondin, and the barons of Bretayne made grete joye for his commyng, and specyally his vnele Alayn and hys two children, & they of his lynage. And 4thanne came Raymondin to the king and said to hym thus: ‘Sire king, I pray you & beseche that ye vouchsaf to graunte & acorde that I gyue the Baronye of Leon that was to Henry my fader, on whos sowle 8 god haue mercy, to Henry my Cousyn / and so the land shal bere the name of his ryghtful lord / and you the name of your liege man, For he is of the right lynee.’ ‘By my feyth,’ sayd pe kinge, ‘sire, sith 12 it playseth you thus wel it plescth vs so to be.’ Thenne the kyng called Henry, For he loued hym wel and said to hym: ‘ Henry, receyue the name of the haronye of Leon, which your Cousyn gyue you, and make homage 16 to me therof’ / and so he dide * and thanked moche the king & Raymondyn.! And this doon Raymondin called to hym Alayn his Cousyn: ‘I gyue you the land that the king hath gyuen me that late was 20 longyng to Josselin Dupont, and make your homage to the king’: / and he thanked hym moche humbly ° and knelyng made hys homage to the kinge that moche joyfully receyued hym to it. But the Barons of the 24 land byganne thanne to make rumour among them and said: ‘ By my feyth, this knight is not come into this lande for couetyse ne auarice. But only he hath putte his lyf in grete auenture & parel for to conquere his 28 heritage. Whan so soone he demysed hymself therof. it muste wel be that grete ryches he hath some where’ / Thanne came thauncyent knight to Raymondin. and whan Raymondin sawe hym he said to hym that he 32 shuld delyuere hym self of that his lady had com- manded hym / and he ansuerd, ‘my lord, therfore I am come toward you. and thanne he presented fro hys lady to the kyng a grete Coupe of gold sette 36 with many precyows stone. and after gaf to alt the 87 and made wel- come by the barons, Raymondin asks the king to allow him to give his barony to his cousin Henry, which request is granted. The barony is given, and Henry does homage for it. 1 fol. 51. Raymondin gives the con- fiscated lands of Josselin to Alain, who does homage to the king for them, The barons of Britain wonder at the riches of Raymondin, who gives away the land just won. The ancient knight brings gifts from Melu- sine for the king and the barons, 88 ae who rejoice much, and keep up the feast ; but all the time much sorrow prevails among Josselin’s friends. 1 fol. 51 5. In Raymondin’s absence Melu- sine builds Lu- signan, and walls it; also builds a high watch tower, with walls twenty feet thick. The feast con- tinued at Nantes, hym / as herafter ye shal here reherce. THE TOWER OF LUSIGNAN, [on. XIX. -Barons in the forsaid name many ryche jewelles. Wherof aH were meruaylled of whens might come such a riches / and aH they said that Raymondin muste be moche riche & mighty in some other Coun- 4 tree, And Alayn and his two sones demened suche joye that Wherfore the feest was greter than afore. none shuld mow think it. but yet duryng theire joye was on other syde made grete sorow of the parents 8 & frendes of Josselin that had not forgeten pe deth of 1And here resteth thystorye to speke of this feste & folowyng —— the matere saith how Melusyne gouerned her self while 12 that Raymondyn was in his vyage. hystory telleth vs that whiles Raymondyn was in bretayne, Melusyne made to be byld up the toune of Lusynen, and walled it with strong walles & 16 toures one nygh another,? and deep diches dide doo make about it. A toure she dide to be made betwixt the Fortresse & the tounne walled with a wal of xx foot thikk. men that shuld be styl both day & nyght, at leste one This toure was ouer hye / and ordeyned 20 vpon the vpermost batelments of it w7t a trompe in his hand, that shuld blow at euery tyme he perceyued é& sawe men othre on foot or on horsbak togidre aboue 24 the nombre of xx" commyng toward the said toune or Castel / and that same toure she called the tromped toure. Now retourneth thistory to spek of the kyng & of Raymondin, and of the feest & chere that euery 28 one made to Raymondin, h hs this partye reherceth thystorye that moch was the feest grete at Nantes * and the king honoured moche Raymondin, and there jousted gentilmen one 32 ayenst other byfore the ladyes & gentyl wemen wher Raymondin bare hym ful valiauntly & goodly that euery man spak wele of hym, sayeng that he was 2 + Fr, pour deffendre a courert tous les archiers. ———— CH. XIX. | PREPARATIONS FOR REVENGE. worthy to be lord of a grete land. And moche were they abasshed of the grete riches that they sawe euery day about Raymondin / but who someuer made feest 4 for Raymondyn, the Chastelayn of AruaH, that was neuew to Josselin Dupont, made aH the contrary. For he sodaynly sent to alle the parentes frendes and affyns of Josselin, letyng 1them to knowe how it was 8 of theire frend Josselyn, and that they shuld be at a certayn day that he assigned to them at a certayn retrette that was within the forest of Guerrende that was of his owne, And whan they vnderstode the 12 deth of Josselin pey were sorowful & woo, and assem- bled them togider about ii C men of armes, and pryuely yede & came to the said retrette, where the said And thanne 16 the Chastelayn in the moost secrete wyse that he coude, Chastelayn had manded them to come. departed fro the kinges court without leue of the king ne of the Barons / but there he lefte thre squyers of his for to loke & aspye whiche waye Raymondin shuld 20 take, and that they shuld anounce it to hym to the retrette beforsaid. So long rode the Castelleyn that he cam to the retrette where he found them of his lynage, and he reherced to pem aH the manere of 24 thaduenture / and how Josselin & his sone were hanged / and asked of them what they thoughte & proposed to doo / yf they shuld auenge them on Raymondin that was causer of it / and to them grete 28 blame & shame for evermore was bycause of hym imputed / or elles to lete hym goo free. Thenne ansuered for al the lynage an vnwyse & hasty knight that was sone to the Cousyn of Josselin. ‘ cousyn 32 castellayne, we wol that ye wete & knowe that thus shal nat this oultrageows werk be lefte. For we alle of one accorde & wylle wil putte hym to deth that to vs hath doo suche vitupere & dyshonowr.’ ‘ By 36 my feith, said thanne the Castellayne, ‘ Thold & repute while Josselin’s nephew advised his kindred of their loss, 1 fol. 52. and summoned them to a retreat in the forest of Guerrende. They assemble two hundred strong, and are informed of the mishap by Josselin’s nephew, and are asked if they intend to avenge them- selves. They declare they will put Raymondin to death ; 90 fol. 52 6. upon which the nephew promises to assist them, by spying which way Raymondin leaves the country. The feast con- tinued fifteen days longer ; then Raymondin took leave, and accompanied with Alain rode to Leon, where the ancient knight had already }rre- pared for them. 1 fol. 53, RAYMONDIN VISITS LEON, [CH. XIX. the wele & honour wel employed that Josselin dide ! to you in tyme passed. And anoone I shall putte you in the way and place where we shal wel acomplisshe our wylle on hym that suche shame hath doon to vs. For 4 by what someuer side he yssueth out of Bretayne he may not scape fro vs. For therto we haue good wayters, & espyes that soone shaH anounce his way to vs whan tyme shalbe.’ And they ansuerd alle with 8 an voys /—‘ Blessed be you. and wete it that whatsom- euer fal therof / this enterpryse shalbe brought to an end, and we shal slee that false knight that hath im- posed to vs alle vylonnye & shame.’ And here spekep 12 no more thistorye of them, and retourneth to spek of the king & of Raymondyn. and how he departed fro the king moch honorably. hystory saith that the feest dured wel xv dayes & 16 more. the king of Bretons & hys baronye made grete honour to Raymondyn in so moche that I can nat reherce it. Raymondin thanne toke leue of the king & of his Barons and humbly mercyed the king 20 of his good justice that he had doon to hym in his noble Court, and departed fro them moche honour- ably. And wete it that bothe the king & many his barons were sory for his departing. And thus Ray- 24 mondyn acompanyed of his vnele Alayn his two sones & all theyre meyne rode toward Leon. But it is trouth that pauzcyent knight was departed & goon byfore / and had doo sette vp bothe tentes & pauillons 28 and aH other thinges necessary he ordeyned & made redy. And thanne Raymondin / hys vnele with his two tsones and the moost nere of his kynne to hym lodged them togidre in the Castel. and the other 32 herberowed them in the toune. Whan the peple of the Countre knew the commyng of theyre owne lordes sone they were joyfuH & glad, and made to hym many fayr presentes after the vse & custome of the Countre / 36 CH. XIX. | DANGER. as of wyn, of bothe flesh & fysshe, hey & ootys, and of many other thinges, and they were fayn & glad sith it playsed not Raymondin to abyde & hold the land, that 4 they were befatt in the sayd lynee of theire lord, and that they were quytte & exempted fro the subgection & boundage of the lynee of Jossellin. Raymondin thanne panked them curtoysly of theire presentes & 8 yeftes. commanded & prayed them that they wold be true & feythful subgets to Henry hys Cousin to whom he had gyue the land. and they ansuered that pey Of them resteth thistorye, and speketh 12 of the spyes that wayted there / of which one went to shuld doo soo. the retrette where the Castellayne of AruaH - and the lynee of Josselin weie alt redy / and the two other spyes abode for to knowe what way Raymondyn shuld hold : / 16 TN if departed fro Leon, and toke leue of al hys parents & frendes there, & went to Quyngant where the feste was grete, and there after the feeste was ended Ray- 20 mondyn wold haue take leue of hys vnele Alayn & of all his lynage / but they dide putte the moost remedy they coude for to hold hym there a seuene nyght more. Wherfore Raymondyn obtempering to them / ye / 24 ayenst his entent & courage !fullfylled theire willes. And in the meane while came to Henry hys Uousyn, a man that told hym that as he passed fourth by the said retrette where the Castellayne of AruaH was with wel this partye telleth to vs thistory that Raymondin 28 two houndred men in armes, that they abode for some folke to whom they owed no good wylle. but he told And whan Henry understode this he toke a squyer of his 32 and bad hym goo thither & knowe what it was. and he that was moche dilygent dyde so that he knew the moost parte of theyre purpos and entent &. what Soone after he retourned to Henry hym not whom they aspyed & watched for. nombre bey were. 36 and reherced to hym all that he had found, and that 91 The folk of the place bring presents to Ray- mondin, and are glad to be freed of allegi- ance to Josselin; and promise to be faithful to Henry, the cousin of Ray- mondin, their new lord. Spies leave, and tell the kindred of Josselin of Raymondin’s doings. Leaving Leon, Raymondin goes to Quingant, where he is feasted. 1 fol. 53 0, A man advises Henry of Leon of the assembling of Josselin’s kindred in the forest. Henry des-' patches a spy, who returus with the information 93 that five or six hundred men are assembled, Henry enjoins silence on the Spy, and tells his brother what he hus learnt, THE COUNTERPLOT. [ou. XIX. they were wel fyue or six houndred fighting men. And this tydinges herd / Henry deffendid to the messanger moche expresly that to no body he shuld And soone he called his brother Alayn 4 and some other of the moost noble of hys lynage and ‘By my feyth, said they, ‘we ne cannot thinke what they entende to doo, spek of it. reherced to them alle this werk. but that they wold auenge them on Raymondin our 8 Cousyn or ellis to meve werre ayenst vs for the said quarelle. but alwayes it is good to be purueyed of ~ remedye * lete vs therfore send for alle our frendes and 1 fol. 54, The brothers gather four hun- dred men of arms, and accompany Raymondin when he leaves Quingant, until they ap- proach the forest where Josselin’s kindred are hid, Josselin’s nephew, the Chastellain of Arvall, learns from his spies the approach of Raymondin ; kepe vs secretly togidre tyl we see what they haue 12 purposed to doo / to thende yf they come on vs that they fynde vs not discouered & vnpurueyed * also yf Raymondin departeth that he be not surprysed of them / and yf they entende to doo hym euyl / it is 16 but for to take the lyf }frohym.’ ‘By my feyth,’ said the other, ‘that is trouth. Now lete vs hye & delyuere vs that our mandement be doo of light & secretly.’ And so did they / in so moche that within the second 20° day after / they were gadred togidre about foure houndred in nombre men of armes what of theyre lynee and what of theire affynyte & alyed / & made them It 24 happed thanne that Raymondyn wold no lenger abyde / to be lodged in a wod so that few men knew of it. and toke leue of Alayn hys vnele pat abode styl at Quyngant moche woofutt & sory of hys departyng / and hys two sones companyed hym & conueyed with 28 grete foyson of theyre lynee, And neuer wold lete lym goo byfore, but made theyre men to be on eche side of hym, and so long they rode that they approched the Forest where the Castellayne and his felawship 32> .were in his retrette which Castellayn knew by his spyes the commyng of Raymondyn & his men and told it to hys parents sayeng in this mane: ‘ Now shal be seen & knowen who euev loued Josselin and Olyuer 36 CH. XIX.] THE WARNING. hys sone. For here we may putte to deth alle the lynage of hym self bat to vs hath doon suche a shame.’ And they ansuered to hym that none shuld scape, but 4 alle shuld be putte to deth. But as the prouerbe saith, ‘Such weneth to auenge his shame that encreassith it’ /4 and so it was of the Castellayne & hys parents. In this meane while came pawncyent knight to Raymondin 8 and said to hym in this manere: ‘Sire, ye? myster wel For the lynage of Josselin that ye haue dystroyed loueth you for to be armed gooyng thrugh the Forest. not, and they might bere bothe to your personne and 12 to your felawship & meyne grete dommage yf they found you vnpurueyed / and my herte gyueth me that soone we shal fynd hem’ / and Henry & Alayn his brother and aH theire lynage were armed all redy, and 16 had sent aH theire meyne byfore to make embushe within half a mylle fro the retrette. Thenne whan Raymondyn / had commanded hys men to take theire armures on hem & sawe them of his lynage that were 20 alle armed, he ne wyst what say but pe two brethern his cousyns told hym how they had sent in embusshe byfore wel iiii. C. of their men for to kepe hym fro hys enemyes / and they reherced to hym aH the trouthe. 24 ‘ By my feyth,’ said Raymondin, ‘ curtoyse oweth not to be forgeten / and for it shal not as to my parte fro hens fourthon. For yf in tyme to come ye haue nede of me / Iam he that shal at al tymes be redy after my 28 power to fulfylle your wille.’ And so longe they rode that they entred the Forest /. hystorye saith that the Castellayne was in his retrette and abode for the spye that last he 32 had sent to wete whan Raymondyn shuld entre the Forest. the whiche exploited so that he came nigh Raymondin / and thanne he lightly retourned toward L Fr, Tel cuide venger sa honte qui Vacroit. 2 Fr, Et bien mestier. 93 and on him tell- ing his men, they promise to put Raymondin and his kindred to death. 3 fol. 54 b. The ancient knight warns Raymondin of his danger, who, seeing his cousin’s men all armed, thanks them, and promises to help them should they ever want him, 9+ The Chastellain, hearing from his spy of Raymon- din’s appear- ance, cries on his men to follow him. 1 fol. 55, They mount, and are allowed to pass by the men of Henry of Leon, who are hidden in the forest, until they meet Raymondin. They run upon Ray mondiu’s len; and when Ray- mondin comes in sight, the Chastellain and his three cousins attack him, THE AMBUSH. [CH. XIX. the retrette and to the Castellayn he said: ‘Sire, ye may see hym come yonder.’ And whan the Castellayn vnderstod hym he bygan to erye with a hye voys / ‘on horsbak, & who that euer loued Josselin & his sone lete hym !folowe me.’ Thanne styed euery man on horsbak / & they were so encressyd in nombre that they were wel viii C & moo fighting men, and rode fourth in ordynaunce ayenst Raymondin, and passed by the embusshe that Henry and his parents had sent. whiche lete them passe fourth without they discouered themself. and soone after pey rode after them. So longe rode the Castelayn & his folke that they per- ceyued nygh them pe foreward of Raymondin. but abasshed he was whan he sawe them armed gooyng by ordynaunce / though they were but a few seruaunts and aC, men of armes / they escryed them to the deth / And whan they vnderstode it they yede apart & made to blowe theire trompettes and ranne vpon Raymondyns folke whiche were sore dommaged or he coude come to helpe them, the whiche rode as fast as the hors might walope, and hauyng the spere on the rest launched among his enemyes / and the first that he encowntred he onerthrew hym doun to therthe & aftir drew out high [his] swerde and smote trauersing here & there and in a lytel tyme he moche dommaged hys enmyes. But whan the Castellayn saw hym he was fu woo & sory / and he shewed hym to thre hys Cousyns sayeng / ‘loke yonder is the knyght that hath shamed aH our lynage / yf we had owr wylle of hym aH the other shuld be soone ouercome & vayn- quysshed.’ thanne pey spoored theire horses, and alt foure ranne ayenst hym / and with theire speeris recountred hym, soo that they ouer threw bothe man 2 Fr. et leur eserioient: A mort & mort, mal acointastes celluy qui nous a fait la honte et le dommaige de Josselin notre cousin, 16 20 28 + 33: CH. XIX. | THE FIGHT AND VICTORY. & hors !to the erthe and passed al foure fourth. But whan Raymondyn saw hym over thrawen he spooryd hys hors, and the hors that was swyft and strong 4 releuyd hym on hys knees and soo fourth on his feet so pertly pat Raymondyn neue? lost sterop fro the foot ne swerd fro the hand. And thanne he tourned toward the Chastellayn & so mightily smote hym on 8 the helmet with hys swerd that he so stakerid that he lost bothe steropes / and as Raymondyn passed by hym he hurtelyd hym soo with the sholder that he feH doune to the erthe / and the pres came there so Thenne begane the bataill grete & feH and sore dommaged 12 grete that he was sore tradde with hors feet. were bothe partes. And thanne came there also thauncyent knight and Henry & Alayn hys brother, There Raymondin made grete fayttes of armes and gore 16 and foughte strongly ayenst theyre enemyes. dommaged hys enemys. but the Chastelayn was had out of the pres and hys men toke hym another hors. 20 Thanne toke the party aduerse, herte & courage & stoutly fought they ayenst Raymondyn & his folke. and there were many one slayn of both sydes. And wete it that Raymondyn & his folke susteyned heuy 24 weyght. moche wel they fought & valyauntly. but the em- busshe of Henry came by the bake syde on them and assaylled them on aH sydes so that pey wyst not 28 what they shuld doo / how they shuld defende them self nor where they shuld flee / Thenne was the Chastellayn taken & brought before Raymondin / and he commanded thauncient knight to kepe hym. And 32 in conclusion aH the other were soone after outhre take or deed. And this doon they came to the retrette where Raymondyn said to hys parents: ‘Now lordes I owe wel2 to loue and thanke you of the grete 36 socoure that ye haue doon to me this day. For For hys aduerse party was moch strong & 95 1 fol. 55 5. Raymondin smites the Chastellain, and fells him, Assistance comes in the persons of Henry, Alain, and the ancient knight, and the ambush of Henry ; and routs the Chastellain’s companions, who are all taken prisoners or slain. ® fol. 56. 96 Raymondin thanks his kindred for their help; who propose to take the Chastellain, and all others of Josselin’s kindred to the king of Brut Britain for judg- ment. The prisoners who are not Jos- selin’s kindred are hung, and the Chas- tellain and the rest are taken bound before the king. Alain tells the king the treason wrought, and says that Raymondin has sent the Chastel- Jain and his kindred to receive punish- ment, 1 fol. 56 5. The king asks the Chastellain why he has done such a shameful deed, THE TRAITORS BEFORE THE KING. [cH. XIX. certaynly I wote that yf it had not be the help of god and of you this traytour had putte me to deth by treson, now haue regarde what best is for to doo.’ ‘Sire, said Henry, ‘as your wyl sha graunte we alle assent therto.’ ‘I.shaH saye you,’ said Raymondin, ‘what we shal doo. lete vs take and assemble aH the lynee of Josselin to-gidre / and bothe the Chastellayn and alle the other his parents we shaH sende to the kinge. Whiche hauyng regarde to theire grete falshed Alle other thanne said / ‘ forsouthe, sire, ye say wel.’ Thenne , ’ and treson shal punysshe aftir his good wylle.’ 4 8 were chosen out aH the prysonners that were not of 12 the lynage of Josselin. and att yate of the said retrette some were hanged / some at wyndowes & some at And the Chastellayn and alle his parents there were bounde bothe hand & feet as batelments of it. traytours and prysonners. the whiche Alayn acom- panyed wth thre houndred spere men lede them toard the kinge. and first Alayn presented to pe kinge the Chastelayne of AruaH as he that had conspired & machined that treson / and al other after. and to hym reherced Alayn aH how it was happed. and how Ray- mondyn recommanded hym to his good grace / and that he wold not be dysplaysed yf he had take venge- aunce on hys mortal enmyes that wend to haue murdred hym with treson, and that he sent to hym the Chastellayn chief causer and other his complices for to knowe by them the trouth of the faytte and for to punysshe them at his plaisure and wylle / ‘And how, Chastellayn,’ said the kinge ‘haue ye be so 'hardy to doo suche treson and so shameful dede for the raisonnable justice that late we dide in owr reawme / seeing & also considering the grete treson that Josselin your vnele knowleched & confessed to haue doo?’ ‘ By god,’ said the king, ‘ye were therof surquydous,? & it is wel right 2 Kr, moult oultre cuide, 16 20 24 32 CH. XIX. ] THE KING OF BRETAIN’S JUSTICE. yf euyl is comme to you therof.’ ‘Ha, noble kinge,’ said thanne the chasteleyn, ‘for your pite lete falle your mysericorde on me caytyue personne. For the 4 crete sorowe & woo that I had of the dyshonour that Raymondin had doon to owr lynage hath caused me to doo soo.’ § B’ my feith,’ said the king, ‘it is euyl companye of 8 a traytowr / and good it is to shette the stable before the hors be lost, wel 1 wyl that ye knowe that neuer ye shall haue suche purpos as to wyl slee no gentylman with treson, For neuér I shaH ete tyl that ye 12 be hanged with your vnele, for ye shaH hold hym felawship, and also alt them that are of yowr cohortaczon.’ The kinge made to be take aHe them of hys cohorte or company, and were alt hanged / and the Chastelayn he 16 sent to Nantes, and there he was hanged nyghe to his vnele Josselin & Olyuyer hys Cousyn. And thus kepte wel the king of Bretons Justice in his time regnyng in Breytayne. 20 H™ sayth thistory that whan Alayn was retourned to Raymondin unto the retrette, and that he hadd to hym and to the other reherced this pat thie kyng had doon / they said that the kyng had doo right 24 wel as a valyaunt & lawful justiser shuld doo. Thenne called Raymondyn to hym Henry Alayn & other of his lynee and said to them in this manerve: ‘ Fayre cousyns & good frendes, I enjoyne & charge you that ye doo 28 edefye or bigge a pryorye with viii monkes, and that ye reueste them with rentes and reuenues such that honestly & goodly they may lyue on for evermore / they to pray there for the sowle of !my fader / for the 32 kingis nevew sowle and for the sowles of them that are slayn & ded in this quareH.’ And they alle said * they shuld soo doo. And Raymondyn prayed them to recommande hym to the kingis good grace to hys 36 barons and to Alayn their fader. And thanne he toke MELUSINEX | 97 The Chastellain begs for mercy, but the king says he will not eat till they be hung; which judgment is executed. Raymondin praises the king’s justice, and asks his cousin to build a priory for eight monks, 1 fol. 57. to pray for the souls of those killed in the quarrel, 98 THE VISIT OF HENRY AND ALAIN TO THE KING. [CH. XIX. Raymondin parts from his cousins, who return to their father. Henry and Alain tell their father the news, and how they have to build a priory. The father is glad to hear of the clearance of Josselin'’s friends, and advises his sons to ask land from the king to build the priory. 1 fol. 57 b, They set out to the king, and find him by a tree in the forest of Sassi- mon, waiting for a hart; but hide them- selves till it is captured, leue of them / and they were sorowfult of theire departement / and also of this that he wold nat lete them goo no ferther with hym. They retourned to Quyngant. And Raymondin yede on his way and 4 cam to guerrende * and wel he was there festyed and worshipfully cheryed of them of the toune. And here resteth thistorye of Raymondyn * and shal recounte how Henry & Alayn toke leue of theyre lynee and cam 8 ayen to theyre fader. historye saith in this paas that Henry san Alayn Al toke leue of theyre lynage & came to theire fader and recounted to hym aH thaduenture of the 12 Chastellayn, how they were departed fro pbeyr cousyn, and how he hadd commanded & charged them to fowndea pryory. ‘By my feith, said peire fader. ‘Alayn, now is the land wel clene delyuered of the lynage of 16 Josselin ; god on theyre sowles haue mercy, how be it they loued vs neuer. Now fayre sones I shal saye you what ye shal doo. First ye shal goo to the kinge & requyre hym that it plese hym to gyue you a place 20 for to edefye the Pryorye / and telle hym the maner how ye be commanded of your Cousyn to fownde it. and I byleue he shal gyue you a good ansuer,” And they said that thus shuld they doo. And thanne they 24 departed fro theire fader, and so long they rode that they camme to Vannes and founde the kinge departed & was goon to 1Sassymon for to dysporte hym at Chasse. And they mounted on horsbak and came to 28 the gate and passed & entred the Forest and rode so long tyl they came to the Castel. and founde the kyng goon to the park to the chasse / and the two brethren yed after & founde the king nyghe a grete tree by a 32 staung where he abode aftir the herte that houndes chassed. Thenne the two bretheren drew them self aparte bycause they wold not lette the kyng to see the dysporte / who perceyued them wel? & coude them good thanke 36 2 Fr. lewr en sceut moult bon gré. CH. xix. | THE BUILDING OF THE PRIORY. therfore. and not long after pe herte came that ranne in to the staung / and there he was take by chaas of dogges / and was hadd out of the watre / and the 4 curee made & gyue to the houndes as custome is to Thenne Henry and Alayn his brother drew them self byfore the king and salewed hym moche honour- doo. ably / and made wel theire message as theyre Cousin 8 had charged them. And the king welcommed hem & moche enquyred of them thestate of Raymondin and they told hym alle that they had seen of hit / and after they recounted to hym how he enjoyned & charged 12 them to edyfye & make vp a Priorye of eyghte monkes. them to reueste & empossesse with land/s, reuenues & rents, they to syng & pray therfore for the sowle of the kingis nevew / for Henry his faders sowle, and for the 16 sowles of alle them that had receyued deth in this quarelle. Also how at hys instaunce they shuld pray hym for a place where they shuld edefye the said pryorye. 20 is wel lawfull & raysonable. and even now !I shall ‘By my feith,’ said the king. ‘the requeste lede you to the place where I wyl that it be fownded and made vp.’ Thanne they came out of the wareyne and came aH by the walle to thende of the clos. and 24 thenne said the king: ‘ Fair lordes, make here to be edyfyed a Pryory & take asmoche of grounde as ye lyketh / and I gyue liberte & habaundonne you the forest for to cutte there the wode. and whan the 28 monkes shal be stablysshed there, I enlyberte & habaundonne it to them for theire vse and to alle thider commyng & dwelling. And I graunte to them the fysshing in the see that is nygh to this place a 32 quarter of a legge, and to take in the Forest birdes. & wild beestes for theire lyuyng & sustenaunce of theire houshold « and also I gyue to them all the landes erable that are her about half a legge’ / and of alle this he 36 made & gaf to them good & suffisawnt patents. and of 99 They come out and salute the king, are welcomed, and tell him of Raymondin and his will about the priory ; and ask for Jand to build it on. 1 fol. 58. The king leads them to a spot, where he gives them as much land as they require ; and grants to the monks the right of fishing, hunt- ing, shooting, and wood cutting in the forest ; and gives some arable land, all on good patents. H 2 100 The priory is built for eight white monks, who have an azure * on their outside robe. RAYMONDIN RETURNS TO LUSIGNAN. [cH. XIX. all these graunts & gestes the two brethern thanked the king moche humbly whiche made massons, carpen- ters, & other, to come, and in short tyme they made the chirche & the priorye. and there they stablysshed whyte monkes. vnto the nombre of VIII. religious personnes, the which bere on theire vtterist habyte a crosse of Azure / and enpossessed them wel for theire And now resteth thystorye to spek of the king of Bretons sustenaunce & cotidiane lyuyng / as now yet is. and of the two bretheren. and retourneth to recounte 1 fol. 58 b. Raymondin reconciles two barons of Guer- rend ; and leaves for Poitou, where he found many parts unin- habited, having dis- mantled castles and other ruins, caused by past wars. He arrives at the abbey of Mailleses, and dwells there three days, gives jewels to the abbey church, how Raymondin gouerned hym self syn after. ow telleth thystorye that so long abode Raymon- din in the land of Guerrende ! that he peased and acorded togidre two barons of the lande that long byfore hated eche other to deth. In so moche that he made them to be good frendes togidre, and theire Countrees in peas and rest. And after he toke his leue of the barons & of the peuple, which sorowed moche for his departing. and so long he rode that he came into the land of Poytou, wher he found many grete forests vnhabyted / and in some places he sawe many wyld bestes, as hertes, hynd, & roo, wyld bores, and other beestes ynough. and in other places many fayre playnes & champaynes. many fayre medowes & ryuers. ‘ By my feyth, said thanne Raymondin, ‘it is grete pyte & dommage that suche a commodyouse Countre is nat enhabyted with peuple.’ and many a fayre manoyr and places were on the ryueres there that soone might be redressed as hym semed whiche had be ouerthrawen in tyme of warre. And thus rydyng fourth he came to an auncyent Abbey called Maylleses, and therein were comprised thabbot and an houndred monkkis, beside the Convers. and there herberowed Raymondyn for the grete playsaunce that he toke of it. and per he dwelled thre dayes and thre nightes. and gaf to the chirch 4 8 16 20 24 28 there many fayre jewelles. After he departed and 36 — CH. XIX. | HE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE HIS HOME. ‘came rydyng tyl he aprouched & came nygh Lusy- nen, and first he perceyued & sawe the tromped ‘toure and the new toune, and thenne he supposed not 4 to be there as he was. For he knew not the place for cause of the said toure & toune new made of late, and moche he meruaylled whan he herd ! the sowne of the trompes within the toure /. 8 ‘bs this part saith to vs thystorye that whan Ray- mondin came aboue Lusynen, & he perceyued the toune walled round aboute with strong walles and fortifyed with deep dyches & grete. ‘how,’ said he to 12 thauncyent knight, ‘What may this be; mesemed right now that I was forwayed of my way to come to lusygnen / and yet me semeth soo?’ thenne began thauncyent knight to lawhe. And Raymondin said 16 to hym: ‘ How, sir knight, jape you with me / I telle you for certayn yf it were not the toure and the toune that I see I shuld haue wend to be this nyght in ‘By my feyth,’ said thauncient knight, 20 ‘soone ye shal fynde yourself there yf god wy] with grete joye.’ Now I shal sey you some of Raymondyn’s seruaunts were sent before by thauncyent knight to ? Lusygnen. anounce Melusyne the commyng of Raymondin. and 24 how be it she byleued them wel / she made no sem- blaunt perof / but soone she caused the peuple to be rely for to goo & mete with Raymondyn. and she her self, acompanyed with many ladyes & damoyselles, 28 yede to mete & welcome hym wel horsed & arayed honorably and rycnely. Thenne Raymondin loked fourth byfore hym and sawe the peple commyng fro the valey vpward ayenst hym two & two togidre in 32 fayre ordynaunce, wherof he moche meruaylled. and whan they aproched they bygan to erye with a high voys, ‘ha, ha, dere lord, welcome may you be.” And thenne Raymondin knew som of them that were comme 36 2ayenst hym / and demanded of them, ‘ Fayre lordes, 101 and continues his journey to Lusignan, but does not recog- nize it, because of the new tower and town built by Melusine. 1 fol. 59. He expresses his doubts to the ancient knight, who tells him he’ll soon be home. Melusine, advised of Ray- mondin’s arrival, makes herself and people ready to meet him. Raymondin secs them, and hears them ery ‘ Welcome’ ; 2 fol. 59 b. 102 recognizing them, he asks how far Lusig- nan is. They, seeing his mistake, tell him of it, and how it is caused by the new buildings, which abashes him, Melusine greets him, tells him she knows all, and praises his doings. They enter Lu- signan together, and hold a great feast ; afterwards Ray- mondin visits the Earl of Poitiers, recounts the news, 1 fol. 60, and returns home, Melusine bears her second son Edon, who had a very great ear ; a THE BIRTH ‘OF ODON. [CH. XIx. fro whens come you?’ ‘My lord,’ sayd they, ‘we com fro lusynen.’ ‘thenne,’ said Raymondin, ‘is Lusynen ferre hens?’ They thanne, seeyng that he mysknewe the place for cause of the new toune & toure / said: ‘My lord, ye be at it, but ye mysknowe the place bycause that my lady syn your departyng hath doo made and byld this toun & that high toure. and yonder ye may see her commyng ayenst you.’ Thenne was Raymondin moche abasshed / and said not all that he thoughte. but when he remembred how she dyde doo make the Castel of Lusynen in so short tyme he gaf hym self no meruayH yf she had doon soo, Thenne is come to hym Melusyne that honorably wel- commed hyin, sayeng in this manere: ‘ My lord, I am right fayn & glad of that ye haue so wel wrought & doon so honourably in your vyage. For al thinges haue be reherced to me alredy.” And Raymondin ansuerd to her: ‘Madame, it is by the grace of god And talking togidre of this matere they entred Lusynen and alighted. Ther was the feste grete that lasted eighte dayes, And was there the Erle of Forest that said to Raymondin, ‘ye be welcome.’ And after the feest they departed fro Lusynen and came to Poytiers toward the Erle that receyued pem benygnely, and demanded of Raymondin where he had be so long. and he recorded to hym alle his auenture. And shortly to say, the Erle Bertran was therof joyful & glad. !And that doon, the brethern toke leue of hym /and the one yede toward forests, and Raymondin toward his wyf & lady, which thenne was grete w7th child, and bare her terme / the which expired, she made a fayre child that was her second sone / he was soone baptised and imposed to name Edon,? and hadd an eere ‘greter without comparyson than that other was / but all hys other membres were replenysshed 2 Fr. Odon. and of you,’ CH. XIX. | THE BIRTH OF GUYON. with beaute, the which Edon had syn to hys wyf the Erle of Marchis doughtir, And of hym resteth thistorye / and speketh ferthermore of Melusyne & of 4 Raymondyn her lord. historye sayth & certifyeth that whan the lady had ended the terme of her childbed, and that she was releuyd / the feste was made grete / and many 8 noble men, ladyes, and damoyselles were there, the whiche, after the feest fu honourably toke their leue & departed. And that same tyme the lady Melusyne bylded bothe the Castel & toune of Melle. Also she 12 dide doo make Vouant & Mernant.! and after she made the bourgh & toure of saynt Maxence, and bygan the Abbey there. and moche good she dide to poure folk. 16 he second yere after folowyng she hadd a sone that was named guyon, & [he] was a moche fayre And wete it that Melusyne had ener so good nouryces, and child / but he had an ey higher than that other. 20 lad so grete care for her children that they mendid & grewe so wel that euery one that saw them mer- 2 And that tyme Melusyne bigged & fownd many a fayre place thrughe the lande of Poytou unto 24 the duchie of Guyenne. She bilded the Castel and pe burgh of Partenay so strong and so fayre wethout comparyson. after that she dide doo make pe Toures of Rochelle & the Castel also, & bygan a part of the 28 toune, and thre leghes thens was a grete toure & bigge, whiche Julius Cesar dide doo make, and men called it the Egles toure, bycause that Julius Cesar bare an Egle in hys banere as emperour. That toure made the lady 32 to be walled & fortyfyed round aboute with grete toures machecolyd, and made it to be called the Castel Eglon. And afterward she edefyed Pons in Poytou and fortyfyed Xaintes? that was called at that tyme 3 Saintes. uaylled. 1 Fr, Waviront et Mermant, 103 he was after- ward married to the daughter of the Earl of March. Melusine gives a feast, builds the castles and towns of Melle and Max- ence, and begins the abbey there, Melusine has her third son Guyon, who has one eye higher than the other ; her children are so well tended, that they grow so that folk marvel at them. 2 fol. 60 b. She builds much in Poitou: the castle and town of Parthenay, and of Rochelle. She fortifies the Eagle’s Tower, said to have been built by Julius Cvesar. She builds Pons, fortifies Saintes, 104 builds Talle- monnte, and many other towns and fortresses, Melusine has her fourth son Anthony, who has alion’s claw growing from his cheek. Her fifth son Raynald has only one eye, but so 1 fol. 61. bright and clear that he can see ships twenty leagues off (sixty- three miles). Her sixth son Getfrey had a tooth that pro- truded an inch and more, so he was called Geffrey with the Great Tooth; ‘he was very strong, and did many wonders in his time, Her seventh son Froimond had a THE BIRTHS OF ANTHONY, RAYNALD, GEFFREY, ETC. [CH. XIX. Lynges / and after she made Tallemounte and Talle- And gate & acquyred so moche Raymondin thrugh the polycye mondois and many other tounes & fortres. & good gouernawnce of Melusyne, what in Bretayne, 4 what in Gascoynne & in Guyenne as in Poytou, that no prynce was about hym / but he doubted to dysplaise hym. oone after Melusyne was delyuered of her foureth 8 man child, whiche hight Anthony, none fayrer was seen before that tyme. but in his birth he brought a token along his chyk, that was the foot of a lyon, wherof they that sawe hym wondred, & moche were 12 abasshed, ere saith thistorye, that the vij™ yere after Melu- H. syne bare the fyfte child, of whiche at thende of ix monethes she was delyuered, & was named ray- 16 nald., borne only with one eye / but it was so bright & none fayrer child might men see, but he was so clere that he sawe the ship thre kennynges ferre on the sea, that is, one & twenty leghes ferre / and lyke- 20 wyse on erthe, whatsoeuer it was. That same Anthony was full gracyous & curteys, as ye shal here in thystory herafter. erthermore saith thistory, that the eight yere 24 Melusyne childed the vi. child, that was a sone, and had to name Geffray, Whiche at his birth brought in hys mouthe a grete & long toth, that apyered without an ench long & more / and therfore men 28 added to his propre name Geffray with the grete toth, & strong, merueyllously hardy & cruel, In so moche and he was moch grete & hye, and wel formed that enery man fered & dradde hym whan he was in 32 age / he made in his tyme many wonders & merueylles, as heraftir ye shal here in thystorye. hystorye sayth that the ix™ yere after Melusyne had a sone, that was the vij™, & hight Froy- 36 CH. XIX. | THE BIRTH OF HORRIBLE. mond, that. was fayre ynoughe, but he had on hys nose! a top of heeris, and in his tyme he was moche deuoute. and afterward, by thassent of bothe hys 4 fader & moder, he was made monke in the abbey of Maylleses, of whom ye shall here herafter thystorye. [ this part sayth to vs thistorye that Melusyne was two yere without birth of child, but true it is that Sin the xj™ yere she had her? x sone, and was grete merueyllously / and he brought at hys birth thre eyen, one of the which was in the mydel of his forhed. he was so euyl & so %cruel that at the foureth yere of 12 his age he slew two of hys nourryces, He veray hystory saith that so long norysshed Melusyne her children, that Vryan, whiche was theldest & first born, was xviij yere old. he was grete 16 and fayre, & wonderly strong, and made grete appertyse in armes, so that euey man & woman had pyte of hys dyfformytee ; for his vysage was short & large, hys one eye was red & the other blew, and hys eerys were as 20 grete as the handlynges of a Fan. and Edon his brother was of xvij yere of age. and Guyon had of yeres xvj, and loued Eche other wel Vryan & Guyon / and.so pert & swyft they were, that alle thoo that sawe 24 them gaf hemself grete wonder & meruayH. they were beloued of all the nobles of the land, & made many faytes & appertyses of armes in Joustes, tournoyeng, & in Lystes. It happed that same tyme that two knyghtes of Poytou came fro Jherusalem agayn / and recounted there as they passed, how the sawdan of Damask had besieged the king of Cypre in hys Cite of Famagoce, & 32 that he held hym therin in grete dystres. and put same kyng ne had to bys heyre but only a doughter, and these tydinges were 28 whiche was moche fayre. 1 Fr. une petite tache vellue. 2 Fr, huitiesme, and so in Harleian MS, 418. 105 tuft of hair on his nose, and became a monk in the abbey of Mail- leses, Her tenth son Horrible had three eyes, one in the middle of his forehead, 3 fol. 610. and was very cruel, Melusine’s eldest-born Urian is now eighteen, and is fair and strong, though his face is strange, and his ears large. Edon is seven- teen, Guyon is six- teen ; Urian and Guyon love one another much, Two Poitevin knights retarn froin Jerusalem, and tell of the Sultan of Damnas- cus besieging the King of Cyprus ; and in what dis- tress the king is, and how his heir is a daughter, 106 Urian hearing the tale, speaks to Guyon, 1 fol. 62. and proposes to him to do some deeds of aris, The knights from Jerusalem are sent for, and are ques- tioned about where they have been, Urian expresses his surprise that they did not stay and help the Christian king. They explain that it was im- possible to enter the town, as it was be- sieged by eighty thousand pagans, THE TALE OF THE KNIGHTS FROM JERUSALEM. [CH. XIX. ferfourth brought in the land, that Vryan knew of it. and he thenne said to his brother Guyon: ‘By my feith, fayre brother, it were grete almese to socoure that We ben al redy eyght the land of owr fader may not remayne kyng ayenst the Paynemys. bretherne. without heyre, though we were bothe deed. Wherfore we owe the more to enterprise }vyages, and see where we may doo some faytes of armes, to be therwith en- haunced in worship & honour.’ ‘By my feyth,’ said Guyon, ‘ye said trouth. but what cause you to say soo, seeyng that euer I am redy to doo as ye wyl doo?’ ‘Southly,’ said Vryan, ‘ye say full wel. Lete we send for the two knightes that be come fro the holy vyage, to be ensured of them more playnly of the trouth.’ they sent to the two knightes that they wold come & And whan they were come, the two brethern weleommed spek with them, the which gladly dyde so. & receyued them goodly. and aftir they bygan tenquyre of them the manere of theire vyage / of the and ‘ We vnderstand,’ vse & maneres of the land where they had be. they said to them the playn trouth. said Vryan, ‘that ye haue passed thrugh an yle wher a king cristen regneth, which is oppressid ouermoch of the paynemys / & wonder is vs that ye abode nat in the werre with that Cristen kyng, for to help & comforte hym, ye that are so renowmed, Worthy and valyaunt knightes, consyderyng as it semeth to vs that alle good cristens are hold & bound to helpe eche other specyally ayenst the paynemys.’ To this ansuered the two knightes: ‘By my feith, gentil squyer & lord, wel we wyl that ye knowe that yf by eny manere we myght haue entred the toune without deth, & saf, gladly we had doo so as ye say. but wel ye wote that two knyghtes may not susteyne & bere the weight ayenst wel Lxxx. or houndred thousand paynemys, 4 & 16 28 that thenne had besieged the toune wherin the said 36 cl. XX.] URIAN AND GUYON RESOLVE TO FIGHT THE SARACENS. 107 king was. For ye oweth to wete that lwel fole is he that fighteth ayenst the wynd, wenyng to make hym be styH.’ ‘By my feyth,’ said Vryan, ‘ your excusacion 4 is good & iuste. but tell me yf men myghty to reyse & lede with them a xxij" or xxv thousand men of armes, myght doo eny faytte there to help & socoure the sayd kyng?’ Thenne ansuerd one of the knightes : 8 ‘By my feyth, sire, ye / seen & considered that the Cite is strong, and the kyng within valiaunt, hardy & worthy fighter of his personne / and he is acompanyed with many good men of armes, & the toun wel 12 vytaylled / and yet ther be many Fortresses where they of Rodes come to refresshe themself, of the whiche the kyng & they in the Cite haue grete recomforte / and wete it that moche easely & wel they might goo 16 thider / and wold to god suche a felawship as ye spek of wer redy, and that my felawe & I shuld take thaduenture with them.’ ‘By my feyth,’ said thenne Vryan, ‘my brother & I shaH receyue you, & lede you 20 thither, god before, and that shortly.” And whan they vnderstode hym say soo, they were moche glad, sayeng that yf they soo dyde, hit moued them of valyaunt courage & grete noblesse of herte. Here resteth thistorye 24 of these two knightes, and yet ferther speketh of Vryan & Guyon, Cap. XX. How Vryan & Guyon toke leue of bothe theyre fader & moder, and of the 28 help that they had of fem. 2Wn this partye sayth thistorye that Vryan and his brother Guyon cam to Melusyne theire moder, and to her said Vryan in this manere: ‘Madame, yf 32 ye vouchesaaf, it were wel tyme that we shuld go fourth to our vyage, for to knowe the Countrees ferre & straunge, Wherby we may acquyre honour & good 1 fol, 620. Urian asks if a force of twenty- five thousand men would be any use to suc- cour the town? the knights think 80, Urian promises to lead them there, for which the knights thank him. 2 fol, 63. Urian and Guyon ask Melusine to let them go abroad to seek their fortunes, 108 because there are eight sons, and if the lands are divided, the estates would not be great. 1 fol. 630, Melusine promises to ask their father’s permission, who assents gladly. Melusine tells them that their futher has granted their request, and so has she; and promises to provide an outfit tor them. THEIR PARENTS CONSENT. [cH. xx. renommee in strawnge marches, to thend that we lerne & vnderstand the dyuerse langages of the world. Also yf Fortune and good auenture wyl be propyce & conuenable to vs, we haue wel the wyH & courage to subdue & conquere Countrees & landes; For we con- sidere & see that alredy we he eyghte bretheren / and are lyke, yf god wyl, to be yet as many moo in tyme commyng. .and to say that your landes & possessions were parted in so many partes for our sustenaunce & gouernement / he that shuld enheryte the chyef lyflod shuld not be able to kepe no grete houshold, ne to be of grete estate, to the 1Regard of the high blood & grete noblesse that we come of / also consideryng as now your grete estate. Wherfore as to my brother & I my self, we quytte owr parte / except alonely your good grace, thrugh thayde that ye now shaH doo to vs for our vyage, yf god wyl gyue vs grace to acomplysshe.’ ‘By my feyth, children,’ said thenne Melusyne, ‘ your requeste is caused of grete worthynes and courageous herte, and therfore it oweth not to be refused ne gayn- sayd. and vpon this matere I shaH entreate your faders, For without hys counseyH I owe not to accorde your requeste.’ Thanne fourthwith came Melusyne to Raymondin / and shewed hym the requeste & wyH of theire two sones; the whiche ansuerd & sayd, ‘ By my feyth, madame, yf it lyke you good they doo soo, I assent gladly therto.’ ‘Sire,’ said Melusyne, ‘ye say wel; and wete it that they shal do noping in theire vyago but that it shaH tourne to theire grete lawde & honowr, yf god wyl” Then came ayen Melusyne to her two sones, and thus she said to them: ‘ Fayre children, thinke from hensfourthon to doo wel; For your fader hath graunted youre requeste, & so doo I. and care you not for no ping, For within short tyme I shall ordeyne & purveye for your faytte with goddis grace & help / in such wise that ye sha konne me 12 16 20: 28 36 CH. XX. ] THE ARMAMENT, but telle me whether & _ to what part of the world ye wyl & purpose to goo, to thende I purvey of suche thinges that shalbe necessary 4 to you therfore.’ Thanne ansuerd Vryan: ‘ Madame, good gree & thanke therfore. wel it is true & certayn that we haue herd certayn tydynges that the kyng of Cypre is besiged !by the Sawdan within hys Cyte of Famagoce / and thither, yf 8 it playse god, we entende & purpose to go for to ayde & socoure hym ayenst the fals & mysbyleuers pay- nemys. Thanne gan say Melusyne, ‘herto muste be purueyed / As wel for the see as for the land; and 12 with goddis grace, my dere children, I shalt ordeyne therof in suche manere that ye shal be remembred of me: and this shal I doo shortly.’ _ thenne kneled doun byfore theyre moder / and thanked 16 her moche humbly of her purveyaunce & good wylle. And the lady toke hem vp, and sore wepyng she kyssed them bothe, For grete sorowe she had in her herte / though she made withoutfourth chere of theire 20 departyng. For she loued them with moderly loue, as she that had nourysshed them. hystorye sayth that Melusyne was full curyous and besy to make al thinges redy pat were 24 necessary to her sones for theire vyage. She made Galeyes, Carrykes, and other grete shippes to be vytaylled & redy to sayH / and pe nauye was so grete in nombre that it was suffysaunt for foure score thou- 28 sand men of armes to sayH in. And in the meane while the two bretheren sent for the two forsaid knightes, & said to them that they shuld be redy to meve fourth shortly, as they had promysed to them. 32 And they ansuered: ‘Lordes, we be aH redy. and many gentylmen that we knowe ben shapen & redy to go with you in your felawship, and we alle be desyrous __ to serue you and to doo your playsir.’ ‘ By my feyth,’ 36 said Vryan, ‘right grete gramercy to you. We shaH The two bretheren 109 1 fol. 64. They tell their mother they intend succour- ing the King of Cyprus, so she promises to provide what is necessary for sea and land. They thank her ; and she, weeping, kisses them both, for she loves them with motherly love. Melusine pre- pares galleys, carracks, and other ships, and victuals them, enough for eighty thousand men of arms, The Jerusalem knights are sent for, and tell the brothers they are ready to go with them. DE. 1 fol. 64 0. The armament ready, Melusine appoints four barons to look after her two sons. The men and stores are put on board the fleet ; the banners are waved, trumpets sounded, and every one enjoys the scene. The brethren bid their friends farewell, and are accom- panied to their ships by their parents. Melusine draws them apart, and gives them each a magic ring, which, whilst they wear it and remain true, they will never Jose in a good quarrel, nor be hurt by magical arts or poison, 3 fol. 65. The brothers thank their mother, who advises them always to hear divine service before doing any work ; THE GIFT OF MAGIC RINGS. [cH. XX. lJede them wel, yf god wyl and you also.’ Now thenne, shortly to saye, Melusyne dyde so moche that al was redy, and had foure Barons to whome she be- toke the kepyng & gouernaunce of her two sones. and had grete foyson of gentylmen knightes & squyers, vnto the nombre of? two thousand V° men of armes, & fyue houndred archers / and as many men with crosse- bowes. And thenne the vytaylles, artylery, harneys & horses were charged in to the vesselles, an syn mounted the men into the same. There were seen baners & standarts / and the sowne of trompes & tambours and of many other instruments was herd, that euery one enjoyed that sawe it / And the two brethern toke leue of peire bretheren and frendes, & of the peple of the land, that moche tenderly wept for theire departyng. And Raymondin & Melusyne conveyed theire children vnto the see; and whan they come there Melusyne drew hem apart, and said to them: ‘ Dere children, vnderstand this that I wil teH you & commande.’ / f hildren,’ sayd Melusyne, ‘here be two rynges that I gyue you / of whiche the stones ben of one lyke vertue. and wete it that as long that ye shaH vse of feythfulnes, w/thout to think eny euyl, ne doo trychery or hynderaznce to other / hauyng alwayes the said rynges & stones vpon you, ye shall not be dyscomfyted ne ouercome in no faytte of armes, yf ye haue good quareH. ne also sort or enchauntment of art Magique, ne poysons of whatsomeue manere shul not lette ne greve you / but that assoone as ye shaH see 3them they shaH lese theyre strengthe.’ and she delyueved to eyther of hem one / and they thanked her moch, kneelyng to therthe. And yet said Melusyne to them in this manere: ‘My dere & beloued children, I wol & charge you that wher so eue ye be, ye here the deuyne seruyse or euer ye doo eny oper werk. 2 Fr. quatre mille hommes d’armes ; no particulars given, 4 8 12 16 36 CH. Xx. ] MELUSINE’S ADVICE, also that in aH your affayres & dedes ye clayme & calle thayde & help of owr Creatowr, and serue hym diligently, and loue & dredde hym as your god & 4 your maker. and that allwayes ye honoure & worship with aH your power holy chirch, beyng her champyons, the same to susteyne & withstand ayenst alle her euyl wyllers. Help ye & counseylle the pouere wydowes, 8 nourysshe or doo to be norysshed the pouere orphenyns, both faderles and moderles / and worship al ladyes / gyue ayde and comforte vnto alle good maydens that men wol haue dysheryted vnlawfully. loue the gentyl- 12men, and hold them good companye. / be meke, humble, swete, curtoys & humayne, both vnto grete & lesse. and yf ye see a man of armes pouere, & fat in decaye by hap & fortune of juste werre, re- 16 fresshe hym of some of your goodes. be large vnto the good folke / and whan ye gyue eny thing, lett hym ‘not tary long for it; but wel loke & considere how moche & why / and yf the personne is worthy to 20 have it, and yf ye gyue for playsaunce, loke & kepe wel that prodigalite or folysshe largenes surpryse For they that haue wel deserued to be of you rewarded 24 shuld not be wel apayed ne content therof / and the and you not / so that after men mocke not with you. straungers shuld mocke you behinde your backe. kepe ye promyse, or behighte no thing but that ye may fournysshe & hold it. and yf ye promyse eny 28 thing, tary not the delyueraunce of it, For long taryeng quenchith mochi the vertu of the yefte. kepe wel ye rauysshe no woman / ne be coueytows of other mens wyues, of whom ye wil be loued and hold for your 32 frendes. believe not the Counseytt of none / but first ye knowe his manere, deeling & condycyons. also beleue not the counseyH of Flatterers, and enuyous, & auarycyous / ne suche putte not in none office aboute 36 you, For they cause rather to their maister dyshonowr 111 to call on God for help, and to serve and fear Him ; to honour and sustain holy Church ; to help widows, orphans, and ladies ; to frequent the company of gentlemen ; to be courteous to all; to help the un- fortunate ; to be thrifty ; 1 fol. 65 6. to keep pro- mises ; to abstain from ilJ-using women ; to beware of flatterers and envious persons 5 to pay loans ; to govern well; to keep all their privileges intact; never to inflict unreasonable taxes ; 1 fol. 66. to beware of the advice of exiles ; to be just ; MELUSINE’S ADVICE. [om, xx. & shame, than ony worship or prouffyt. kepe wel ye borow nothing but that ye may yeld it ayen / and yf for nede ye be constrayned for to borow / as soone as ye may / make restitucion of it / And pus ye shal mowe 4 be without danger,. & lede honourable lyf. And yf god graunte that Fortune be to you good & propyce in subduyng your enmyes & theire landes, gouerne wel your folke and peuple after the nature & condycion 8 that they be of. and yf they be rebeH, kepe wel that ye surmounte & ouevcome hem without to lese eny suche ryght that longith to your lordship & seignourye / and that ye euer make good watche vnto tyme ye haue 12 vaynquysshed at your wylle. For yf ye ouertredde your self / nedes ye muste rule your self after theire wylle. but alwayes kepe wel, whether they be euyl & hard, or debonnaire, that ye ne haunce & sette new 16 customes that be vnraysonzable / and of them take only your dute and ryght, without to retayH pem Twthout and ayenst raison. For yf the peple is pouere / the lord shal be vnhappy / and yf werr came 20 he shuld not mowe be holpe of them att hys nede / wherfore he might faH into grete dawnger & seruytude. For wete it wel / that a flyes of a yere is more prouffytable / than the flyes pat is shorne twyes or 24 thryes in a yere. now, my children, yet I deffende & forbede you that ye byleue not the Counseill of none exilled and flemed fro his land, in this that may touche the hynderyng or dommage of them that haue exilled 28 hym / yf there nys good, right & lawfuH cause / and ye to haue good reason to help hym, For that shuld mowe lette you to come to the degree of worship & honour. And aboue aH thinges I forbede you pryde / 32 and commande you to doo & kepe justice, yeldyng right aswel to the leste as to the moost / and desyre not to be auenged at vttermost of aH the wronges don to you by some other / but take suffisaunt & raysonn- 36 OH. XX:] able amendes of hym that offreth it. Dyspreyse not your enmyes though they be litel, but make euer good watche. and kepe wel as long ye be conqueryng, that 4 atwix your felawes ye mayntene nat yourself as lord & sire / but be commyn & pryue bothe to more & lesse / and ye owe to hold them company after the qualite & vocacyon that they be of, now to one & now 8 to other. drawe vnto the loue of them that are humayn, meke & For al this causeth the hertes of creatures to curteys in theire dignite & scignouryes. Haue an herte as a fyers Lyon ayenst your !enemyes / and shew 12 to them your puyssaunce and valyauntyse. and yf god endoweth you with some goodes, departe som of it to your felawes after he hath deserued. And as to the werre, byleue the counseyH of the valyaunt & worthy 16 men that haue haunted & vsed it. Also I defende you that no grete treatee ye make with your enmyes, For in long treatee lyeth somtyme grete falshed. For alwayes wyse men goo abacke for to lepe the ferther ; 20 and whan the sage seeth pat he is not able to resyste ayenst the strengthe of his enemyes, he seketh & purchaceth alwayes a treatee, for to dyssymyle vnto tyme he seeth hymself mighty ynough for them / and 24 thanne anoone of lyght they fynd waye & manere wherby the treatees ben of none effect ne value. Wherfore loke ye, forbere not your enemyes there, as ye may putte them vnder your subgection w7th honour. 98 And thenne yf ye shew them fauowr & curtoysye, that shal tourne to your grete honour / and leue ye to doo for them by treatee or appoyntement. For though no falshed or decepcion be founde in none of bothe sydes / 32 yet shuld mow some men say or thinke that ye somwhat doubted them / how be it, I say not that men owe to reffuse good traytee, who that may haue it’/ Thus, as ye here, chastysed & endoctryned Melu- 36 syne her two sones, Vryan & Guyon, whiche thanked MELUSINE. MELUSINE PROVIDES GOLD, SILVER, AND STORES. 113 to be watchful of enemies, no matter how small ; to be on familiar terms with their men; to have a lion- heart towards their eneinies ; 1 fol. 66 b. to share their spoils with their men ; to make no long treaties, for they are liable to be am- biguous. 114 The brothers thank their mother for her advice. 1 fol. 67. Melusine tells them she has well stored their ships; and giving them to God’s care, bids them re- member her advice, and act on it, The brothers bid farewell to their parents, weigh their anchors, 2 fol. 67 5. and after prayer they put to sea. Their parents leave for Eglon Castle. Urian and Guion sail THE ANCHOR IS WEIGHED. |Ci, XXI. her moche humbly. and thenne she sayd: ‘ Children, I haue sent gold & syluer ynoughe in to your ship for to hold & maynten your estate, and to pay therwith 1And haue no doubte or 4 care for bred, byscuyte, Freshe watre, vynaigre, Flessh your men for foure yere. salted, fyssh ynough, & good wynes suffysaunt to long tyme, For therof ben your shippes wel fylled & pur- ueyed. goo thanne fourth on your waye, vnder the 8 sauegarde of god / who kepe you / lede & retourne you agayn with joye. and I pray you that ye thinke & ‘remembre what I haue sayd to you, to fulfyH it after your power,’ / 12 Cap. XXI. of theire moder Melusyne and entred theire ship. / How Uryan & Guyon tooke leue henne they toke leue of theyre fader and moder 16 and entred theire vesseH. This doon, the ancres were had in, & the saylles haled vp, the patrons made theire recommendacions to god as cus- tomed it is, to ?that by hys benygne grace he wyl 20 graunte to them good ryuage, and accomplysshing of The wyndes were for them propyce & good / and in short theyre vyage without lettyng or empeschement. tyme they were ferre cast on the see so that they were 24 out of sight / * Thanne departed Raymondyn & Melusyne, and theyre meyne with them, and came to the Castel Eglon. And here resteth thystorye of them, and re- 28 tourneth to spek of Vryan and Guyon hys brother, and of theyre felawship that saylled on the see, holding theire way toward Cypre. / hystory sayth that whan Uryan and Guyon were 32 departed fro Rochelle they saylled long on the CH. XXI. ] A SEA FIGHT WITH THE SARACENS. see, and passed by many yles, & refresshed them in many places; and so long they rowed pat they sawe many vesselles that chased two galeyes / and thenne 4 the Patron shewed them to pe two brethern / and they ansuered, and demanded of them what was best to doo. ‘By my feyth, sayd the Patron, ‘it were good we send a galeye to wete what folke they be / and in the meane 8 while we shal make our men to take theyre armes & harneys on them at al auauntures.’ ‘By my feith,’ said Vryan, ‘that I vouchesaf’ / and they dide soo. And thanne the galeye departed abrode, and saylled 12 toward the straungers / and escryed pem, & demanded of them what they were, and they ansuerd, ‘ We be two galeyes of Rodes that haue be found of the paynemys that foloweth & chaceth vs, and we see wel 16 ye be Cristen, and so are aH ‘they that come after you.’ ‘By my feyth,’ sayd they of the galeye, ‘ we ben as ye suppose and saye.’ ‘By my heed,’ said one of the patrons of Rodes galeyes / ‘goo & haste your 20 felawship, For ye haue found fayre auenture. yonder be of the sawdans folke that goo to the siege of Fama- gosse / and who might dystroye them, he shuld doo grete socoure to the king of Cypre / and to the sawdan 24 of Damaske grete dommage.’ Whan thenne they of the galeye herd this / they sodaynly retourned & announced it to the two bretheren / and to theire folke whiche anon yede vp to the Castels of theire shippes, 28 and clymed vp to the toppes of them, hauyng speere & darts, stones, & wild fyre alredy / also bowes & arowes in theire handes / gonnes & pouldre to shote with. There bygan tompes to blowe vp, & rowed mightily 32 toward the paynemys. And whan the Infideles & paynemys perceyued so grete nombre of shippes rowyng toward them they ne wyst not what to thinke, For they had neuer supposed that so grete puyssaunce & 36 strengthe of cristen men had be so nygh them /* but till they see two galleys being chased, They send to see who are in them. The messengers find the galleys to be from Rhodes, 1 fol. 68. and that the vessels that chase them are the Sultan’s of Da- mascus, who is on his way to Famagosse, to fight the King of Cyprus. On hearing this news, Urian and Guion prepare their ships to fight, and row towards the paynim Sultan. The infidels, surprised at the numbers of the Christians, MU 116 retreat, but pre- pare for attack, The Christian galleys open fire, upon which the paynims try to send a fire-ship amongst them, 1 fol. 68. but they evade it. The Christians are victorious, take their euemies’ ships, and put the men to death. They row to Rhodes, where they refresh themselves, and give the captured ships to the Rhodians. The Master of Rhodes invites them to his city, asks why they come, and of what nation they are. They answer, and ask the Master of Rhodes . to help them to assist the King of Cyprus. DEFEAT OF THE SARACENS. [CH. XXI. alwayes they putte hem self in aray gooyng abacke, but oure galeyes aduyronned them round about on al sydes, and bygan of al partes to shutte theire gonnes. And whan the paynemys sawe this / and that they 4 myght not flee, they toke a vessel whiche they had take fro them of rodes, and had cast the folke that was in it into the see / and fylled it wzth wode, oyle, & talowe, and with sulphre & brymstone. and whan they 8 sawe our folk approuched nygh them they sette it afyre. and whan the fyre was wel kyndled ! they lefte ‘it behynd them to mete first with owr folke / but as god wold they were warned therof & kept / themself 12 wel therfro / and assaylled theire enmyes at the other syde right vygourously. There was grete shotyng of crosbowes & gonnes / and soone after owr folk entred byforce and strengthe of armes the shippes of the 16 paynemys / and fynally they were take & dyscomfyted, and putte to deth. and owr folke gate there grete good whiche the two brethern departed, and gaf to theire felawes and to them that wer within the two galeyes of 20 Rodes / and syn rowed & saylled both so long that And there they refresshed them, & gaf to the brethern of the religyon the fustes & galeyes that they had taken vpon the 24 paynemys, and they soiurned there foure dayes. And the maister of Rodes prayd them that they wold come into the Cite / and they dide soo / and were there they arryued in the yle of Rodes. honourably receyued / and the said maister demanded 28 And the two brethern told hym that they were come forto socoure the king of Cypre / And he asked them full humbly of what land they were, and what they were / and the 32 two brethern told to hym aH the trouth. Thenne made the maister to them greter chere than tofore / and said to them that he shuld send for som of his bretheren / & that he shuld goo with hem to helpe & socoure the 36 them of the cause of their commyng. lOO CH. XXI.] THE SARACENS CAMP, king of Chipre. And the two bretheren thanked hym moche humbly therefore. / ow sayth thystorye that so long abode, & so- + - iourned the two brethern at Rodes tyl the maister had assembled his folke, and vytaylled & laden with good 1men of armes, & archers six galeys, & saylled with Uryan & Guyon so long that they arryued 8 nygh to the yle of Coles, & apperceyued grete lyght. Thenne the grete maister of Rodes that was in Uryan’s galeye, said to the two bretheren : ‘ Sires, in good feyth it were good & wel doon to send a CarueH vnto yonder 12 yle, to knowe & aspye what folke is there.’ ‘I vouch- saf it,’ said Vryan. The Rampyn then, or CarueH, saylled thither, & arryued in to the said yle, & some of pem descended & founde many grete fyres & lodgis, 16 and by thexperience that they sawe, they extimed them pat had lodged there to the nombre of xxx thousand men / and that they myght wel haue dwelled per foure or fyue dayes. For they found without the lodgys grete And then they came ayen in to theire Vessel, and retourned toward our folke / & recounted to them the trouth of all that they had found. ‘ By my feith, said thenne 24 the maister of Rodes, ‘I wene they be paynemys that are gooyng toward the sawdan at the siege, and that they whiche ye haue dyscomfyted were of theire felaw- ship, & abode for them in that same yle’ / and for 28 certayn they were soo / and of them they sayled & rowed fourth tyl they sawe an abbey on the see coste, where men sought & worshiped saynt Andrew / and men saith that there is the potence or cros wheron the 32 good thef Dysmas was crucefyed whan our lord was nayled to the Cros for our redempeion. ‘Sire,’ said the maister, ‘it were good that we should entre that lytil hauen Vnto tyme that we had sent to Lymasson /36 for to knowe tydinges, & for to wete yf they wyl 20 foyson of oxen hornes & of other bestes. 117 The Master of Rhodes arms six galleys, 1 fol. 69. and sails with the brethren to Coles, where they see lights. Men are sent in a carvell to spy, and discover a camp of thirty thousand strong. They return with their news. The Master of Rhodes believes it to be a camp of paynims, friends of those just defeated in the sea-fight. The company continues their voyage till they come to an abbey on the coast, 118 7 fol. 69 5. They put into the harbour, and send a message to the Abbot, who is glad to hear of their arrival, The Captain of the place rows to our folk, sees Urian, Guion, and the Master of Rhodes, and is abashed at Urian’s appear- ce. Being assured that Urian has come to help the King of Cyprus, lie promises to open the country to him, and give his vessels anchorage. ‘that was arryued at theire porte. THE ARRIVAL AT CYPRUS. | CH. XX1. receyue vs for to putte owr nauye in 1surete within theyre clos.’ ‘ Maister,’ said Uryan, ‘let it be doon in the name of god after your playsire.’ Thenne they arryued, and entred the port or hauen / and sent4 — wordes to thabbot ther, that they shuld not doubte, For j And the maister of Rodes And whan thabbot & monkes knew the tydinges and the commyng of the two 8 they were theire frendes. with other went thider. brethern, they were joyous & glad, & sent some of theire bretheren to Lymas to announce & telle pe socours Thenne whan a knyght, Captayn of the place, herde these tydinges he 12 was fayn & glad, and made fourthwzth a galyotte to be shipped redy, and came toward our folke, and demanded after the lord of that armee /. and he to whome he asked it lede hym where Uryan / Guyon his brother / the master of Rodes, & many other barons were in a ryche pauyllon, that they had don to be dressed on the streyte of the porte / and shewed to hym Vryan that satte on a couche with hym his brother, and the maister of Rodes. And whan he saw hym he was abasshed of the valeur & of the grete fyerste of hym, & neuerpeles he yede & salued hym honour- ably, and Vryan receyued him goodly & benyngly. 24 . ‘Sire,’ said the Knight, ‘ye be welcome in to this land.’ to you.’ ‘Fayre sirs,’ said Vryan, ‘moche grete thankes ‘Sire,’ said the knight, ‘it is don me to vnderstand that ye departed fro your Countrie to 28 thentent to come ayde & help the king of Cypre.’ ‘By my feyth,’ said Uryan, ‘it is trouth.’ ‘Then, sire,’ said the knight, ‘it is reson that al be open byfore you, where ye wyl by aH the royalme of Cypre, thrugh alt 32 tounnes, Cites, & Castels there as ye shal be please to goo, but as to the same, which is to my ryght redoubted lord the king of cypre, hit shal be soone appareylled & open to you, whan it shal lyke you, & also the porte 36 CH. XXI.] URIAN’S ARMY LANDED, to putte your vessels ‘in sauete.’ ‘By my feyth,’ said Uryan, ‘ye say right wel, & gramercy to you. Sire knight, it is tyme to meve, For my brother and I haue 4 grete langyng to approche nygh the paynemys / not for theire prouffyt, but for theire dommage, if it plaise god that we so doo.’ ‘Sire,’ said the knight, ‘it is good ye doo to be had out some of your horses as many 8 as it lyke you / and take som of yowr men with you, and we shal goo by land.’ ‘By my feith,’ sayd Uryan, ‘ye say right wel’ / and thus it was doon / and Uryan made some of hys men to be armed, vnto the nombre 12 of foure hundred gentylmen of the moost hye barons, knightes & squyers. and he himself, & his brother armed them and mounted on horsbak / and the banere dysployed, rode fourth in moch fayre ordynaunce / and 16 the maister of Rodes & the other shipped them on the see & rowed toward the porte. And Vryan and his felawship rode wth the said knight that guyded hym so long that they came & entred in to the toune, and 20 were right well lodged. And then came the nauye, & arryued to the porte, and the horses were aH had out of the shippes, and the folke descendid to land, and lodged them in pe feld without the toune within 24 tentes & pauyllons / and they that had none, made theire lodgis the best wyse they coude. and was moche grete playsaunce to see thoost whan they were alle lodged. The moost hye barons lodgyd them within 28 the toune / and the nauye was draw, & had in to the clos in sauete / and they commytted good folke to deffende & kepe it, yf Sarasyns or paynemys came there for to doo som euyl. Now shal I leue to speke 32 of Uryan, & shal say of the Captayn of the toune that moche wel aduysed thoost and the maynten of the folke, & moche preysed it in his herte / and said we] they were folke of faytte 2and of grete enterpryse, whan 36 so few peuple enterprysed for to haue the vyctory ouer 119 1 fol. 70. Four hundred of Urian’s barons go ashore, armed and horsed, and ride to the town ; the ships mean- while row to the harbour, and the horses and men land. Guards are set to defend the navy against the Saracens, 2 fol. 70 b. 120 The Captain of the town is sur- prised at the bravery of Urian, who thinks of conquering the mighty host of the Saracens with so few men ; but Urian’s bold looks assuré him, and he thanks God that Urian has been sent to help the king, The Captain of the place indites a letter to the King of Cyprus, telling of Urian's arrival and of his forces, 2 fol. 71. A MESSAGE TO THE KING OF CYPRUS. [ox. XXI. the sawdan, that had wth hym more than houndred thousand paynemys. And for to say trouth, Vryan had not yet comprised the men of the maister of Rodes, eyghte thousand fyghtyng men / and therfore the 4 knight meruaylled, and held it to grete audacite & hardynes of herte, and to grete valyaunce. And whan he considered the grandeur & the facion of Vryan, & the fyerste of hys vysage, and also of guyon hys 8 brother / he said to his folke / ‘thoo same are worthy for to subdue & conquere aH the world.’ and he said to hymself, pat god had sent hem thither of his benyng grace for to socoure the kyng, and for to enhaunce the 12 cristen feyth, and that he shuld lete it to be knowen to the kynge by certayn message. bilge sayth that the knight made a le/tre, the tenour of whiche conteyned al the matere of 16 Uryan, & of his brother, of theire men, & of theire commyng, and how the two bretheren had to name, and of what countre they were / and syn he called one hys nevew, & said to hym in this manere, ‘ye muste 20 bere this lettre to Famagosse, and gyue it to the kyng? / and whatsoeuer it happeth that god forbede, but al good to you, nedes ye muste doo it.’ ‘ By my feyth, sire, said he / ‘ye shaH putte bothe the lettres & 24 myself in grete jeopardye & auenture, For if by some myschief, as it happeth ofte, wherof god preserue me I were taken of owr enmyes, of my lyf is nothing / and ye wote it wel / but for the loue of you, myn vncle & 28 of the kyng, to doo hym comfort, & to gyue hym herte & hoop to be putte & delyuered fro hys enemyes, & fro the mortal parel wherin he is now, I shall putte myself in aduenture / and I pray !to god deuoutly, that it 32 please hym of his benigne grace to lede me gooyng & commyng in sauete.’ / ‘Thus owe men to serue theire lord,’ said the Captayne, ‘and yf god wy] ye shalbe wel rewarded therof.’ and anoone he toke the lettre, & 36 ee Lee eee =e ll. eS a CH. XXI.| THE REASON OF THE WAR. delyuered it to his nevew / pat mounted on horsbacke, & rode fourthon his way. But as for now I shaH reste of hym / and I shal retowrne there I lefte to spek of 4 Vryan / and shal say howe he gouerned hymself whiles the messager yede toward the king. how wel he knew nat of it. / hystory saith that Vryan called to hym the maister 8 of Rodes and the Captayn of the place, and de- manded of them thus: ‘ Fayre lordes, is the sawdan somewhat yong, ne of grete enterpryse’ / and they an- suerd, ‘that ye for certuyn’ / ‘and how,’ said Vryan, 12 ‘was he neuer byfore this place to make warre than now ?’ / they ansuerd that, ‘nay’ / ‘and what thenne,’ said Vryan, ‘hath caused hym to passe the see now? sith he is man of enterpryse, I merveyH that so long 16 he held hym styl, seeyng ye be his nigh neygbours, and also that he hath so grete puissaznce, as it is told me.’ ‘By my feyth, sire,’ said the Captayne, ‘it is veray & trouth that owr kyng hath a moch fayr dough- 20 ter of the age of :xv. yere, the which the saudan wolk haue had by force / and our kyng wold not acorde her to hym without he wold be baptysed. And wete it that euer here tofore we had trewes togidre of so long 24 tyme that no mynde is of pe contrarye. and whan the sawdan hath seen that owr king wold not graunt to hym his doughter, he sent ageyn to hym the trewes with a deffyaunce or chalengyng, and was redy on the 28 see with a .C. & fyfty thousand paynemys, and came & made soone his harneys to be had out on erthe, & wente and layd siege tofore Famagoce, where he found 'the kyng all vnpurveyed of his baronye, that knew not of 32 his commyng / but syn there be entred moche folke within the Cite ayenst his euyl gree, & there is now fayre scarmysshing where grete losse hath be on both partes / and syn the paynemyes have refresshed them- 36 self twyes of new folke, in so moch that they ben yet { en 121 and despatches his nephew on horseback to the King at Fama- gosse, Urian asks about the Sultan of Damascus, and ascertains that he fights to get the king’s beautiful daughter, now fifteen, refused him because he would not be baptised. The Sultan challenged the king, and laid siege to Fama- gosse, which was unprepared ; 1 fol. 710. but now rein- forcements have entered the town, and there is fair skirmish- ing. - 122 The Saracens are a hundred thou- sand strong ; but they lost some vessels, as was learnt from one of our ships, who saw them pass, chasing two Rhodian galleys, but saw no more of thein, The Master of Rhodes tells the Captain of Urian’s vietory, which explains their non-appear- ance. ‘Urian, learning \ that love has | made the Sultan fight, |says that he is \the more to be feared, because | love is so power- | ful that it makes | even cowards brave, | \ 1 fol. 72. and states that next day, after divine service, he will set out in quest of him, At the third sound of the trumpets they march, URIAN’S HOST MARCHES. [OH. XXI. wel a .C™ / but at this last vyage they haue lost a parte of theire shippes & of theire folke, which they abode fore in the yle of Coles, For one of our galleyes of the blakke hylle that pursyewed them told it to vs, 4 & how they chaced: two galleyes of the hospytal of Rodes / and wete it that pey ne wote not where they bycame syn, For they taryed after wel by the space of six dayes in the said yle / but whan they sawe that 8 they came not, they departed thens & came byfore famagoce at siege.’ ‘By my feyth, sire,’ sayd the “maister of Rodes, ‘ this might wel be veray trouth. but see here my lord Vryan and hys brother, that shuld 12 wel ansuere therof, For they haue be aH dyscomfyted & slayn by theire strengthe & valiauntis, and they haue cyuen to vs theire fustes & their nauye.’? ‘In good feyth, sayd the knight, ‘that playseth me wel, and 16 blessid be god therof.’ ‘My lord,’ said the Captayn, ‘now haue I recounted to you why the werre is meued, and wherefore the saudan of Damaske hath passed the see.” ‘In the name of god,’ said Vryan, ‘loue hath 20 wel so moche & more of puyssaunce than of suche enterpryse to doo. And wete that syn the sawdan is enterprysed of force of loue, the more he is to be doubted / For veray soth it is / that loue hath so moche 24 of myght that it maketh coward to be hardy and to doo right grete enterpryse / & that byfore he durst not passe. And therfore thenne it is aH certayn to this, that the sawdan is hardy & enterprenaunt !the more 2 he doth hym to be doubted / but alwayes be doo the wylle of god. Fcr we shal departe hens to the playsire of god to morow by tymes after the deuyne servyce for to goo & vysyte them.’ And then he made to be 32 cryed & proclamed with the trompette that euery man shuld make redy hys harneys. and they departed after the thirde sowne of the trompette in goodly & fayre ordynaunce, euerone vnder his banere / and bade them 36 (os) CH. XXxI. | A SORTIE FROM FAMAGOSSE. here I shalt leue to spek of them / and shaH retourne there as I to siew the vanward / and so they dide. lefte to speke of the Captayns nevew that moche 4 strongly rode toward Famagoce / and so moche ex- ployted his way that he came about midnyght to the Cornere of the wode, vpon a lytil mountayn, & loked doun into the valeye, and then he bygan to perceyue 8 & see the oost of the paynemys, where as was grete lyght of fyres that were made by the lodgys; and he sawe the Cite so aduyronned al about wit paynemys, that he ne wyst which way to draw for to entre the 12 toun. and there he was long tyme in grete poughte. It happed that about the spryng of the day foure score basynets, straungers of dyuerse nacyons, yssued out at a posterne of the Cyte, & commevyd al thoost by 16 manere of batayH / and that same ooure the watche departed, & the moost part of them was retourned to theyre lodgis / and they entred in the oost with some of them that had watched without they were ware of 20 hem, & supposed they had be of theire companye, and came nygh to the tente of the sawdan / and thenne they bygan to launche & smyte with speeres & with swerdes on al the paynemys that they mete & re- 24 countred / and cutted cordes of pauyllons to grete desray, & made moche horryble occysyon & slaghtir of paynemys after the quantite ‘that they were of, Thenne was al the host afrayd, and bygan to crye alarme 28 & to harneys / then bygan thoost to take on them theire armures. And whan the cristen men sawe the force & strengthe of theire enemyes that bygan to ryse, they retourned with a lytel paas toward the Cite, fleeyng & 32 castyng to therthe al that they recountred on theire waye. And whan the messawnger sawe so grete affraye & noyse he cam at al auenture & broched hys hors with the spoorys, and passed without fourth the lodges 36 thrugh out aH the oost of be paynemys / and he had 123 The Captain’s nephew, that carried the letter to the king, arrived at the city of Fama- gosse, sees it surrounded wth paynims, and does not know how to enter it. At the spring of day, eighty basinets leave the city, and when the paynims’ watch- men are in their tents, the basinets fall upon the paynims, cut their tent ropes, and slay many of them, 1 fol. 72 b. But on the host of the Saracens arming, they run back towards the city. The messenger seeing the ad- venture, spurs his horse, rides to the basinets, 124 and tells of the arrival of the Lusignans with eight thousand warriors, which gladdens them, and makes the Sultan sad and angry. The fight con- tinues, but the paynims are driven back, and the Sultan sounds a retreat. The messenger delivers his letter to the king, 1 fol. 73. who thanks God on reading it that he has not been forgotten. The king orders the church bells to be rung, pro- cessions to be made, thousand men. A CYPRIAN VICTORY. [ OH. XXI. not goo long whan he found hymself atwix the Cite & them that so had commoeuyd thoost, as said is. And then he knew them soone ynoughi that they were of the garnyson of the Cyte, and escryed them, saying: ‘ha, 4 ha, fayre lordes, thinke to doo wel, For I bryng you good tydynges; For the floure of the noble cheualrye of Crystyante cometh to socoure & helpe you / that is to wete the two damoyseaulx of Lusynen, that haue 8 dyscomfyted alredy a grete part of the Sodanis folke vpon the see / and they bryng with them wel eyght And thenne whan they understode hym they made hym grete chere and were ryght joyfuH, 12 and entred the toune ayen without eny losse. wherof the sawdan was moch wofuH & angry. And then he came & bygan the scarmoushe before the barers & many paynemys were there slayn & dede / and they 16 of Cypre made theire enemyes to recule abacke with strengthe / and the saudan made the trompette to sowne & caH the retrette whan he sawe that he myght doo none other thing. And pen came the said mes- 20 saunger byfore the kynge, & made the reuerence on hys vnelis byhalue, and presented the /ettre. And the kyng receyued hym moche benyngly, & tok away the wax and opend the lettre & sawe the tenowr tof hit. / 24 and syn heued vp his handes joyntly toward heuen, & said: ‘ha, a veray gloryows god, Jhesu Criste, I pank regracye & mercye the ryght deuoutly & humbly of this, that thou hast not forgoten me that am thy pouere 28 creature and thy pouere sevuaunt, that haue long tyme lyued here within this Cite in grete doubte & feere, and in grete myserye of my poure lyuyng and my folke also.’ And thenne he made to be announced in al the chirches, 32 that they shuld ryng theire belles, & that processyons shuld be made wth crosses & baners, and with torches brennyng, lawdyng & preysyng the creator of creatures, prayeng hym moche humbly that he of his mercyfu & 36 CH. XXI. | ERMINE. benynge grace wyl kepe & preserue them fro the handes & daunger of mysbyleuers paynmys. And thanne by- gan the ryngyng to be grete, & was the joye ryght 4 grete whan the tydynges of the socours commyng to them was knowen of aH. And whan the paynemys vnderstode the gladnes & joye that they of the cyte made, they were moche abasshed why they made & 8 demened so grete feeste. ‘By my feyth,’ sayd the saudan, ‘they have herd some tydinges that we wote not / or ellis they doo so for to gyue vs vnderstandyng that they haue folke ynoughe & vytaylles also for to 12 deffende & withstande ayenst vs.’ And here resteth thystorye of the soudan & bygynneth to speke of Ermyne the kingis doughtir of Cypre, which herd there as she was in her chambre the tydynges of the 16 socours that the children of Lusynen brought with them. and the mayde had grete langyng & desyre to knowe the veray trouth of alt. | he hystorye saith to vs thus / that whan the 20 damoyselle knew of the socours & help that soone she sent for hym that had brought the tydinges ! therof, and he came to her in hir chambre & made to her the reuevence. ‘Frend,’ said Ermyne, ‘ye be wel- 24 come to me; but now tel me of yowr tydinges.’ ‘ Frende,’ said and he recounted to her al that was of it. the mayde, ‘have ye seen that folke that commeth to ‘By my feyth, ye,’ said the mes- socoure my fader?’ '28 sanger, ‘they are the moost appert in armes, and the fayrest men that euer entred in to this land, and the best arayed & purueyed of aH thinges.’ ‘ Now tell us,’ said the damoyselle, ‘of what land they are, & who is 32 the chief Captayn & lord of them.’ ‘By my feyth, my damoyselle, they be of Poytou, and lede them two yong & fayre damoyseaulx brethren, that be named of Lusynen, of whiche theldest is called Vryan, & that (36 youngest Guyon, which have not yet berde ful growen.’ 125 and God thanked and prayed to for help. The paynims are abashed at the rejoicings of the Christians, The King of Cyprus’s daughter, Er- mine, 1 fol. 73 0. on hearing of the help, sends for the messenger, and questions him, The messenger tells of the men who have come to succour the king ; of the captains of them, Urian and Guion, 126 and of their looks, 1 fol. 74. Ermine sends an ouch to Urian, and a ring to Guion, by the messenger, and bids him salute them on her behalf. The king gives the messenger an answer to the letter he brought, and to divert the attention of the enemy, orders another sortie. Upon which the messenger goes out at another gate, ERMINE’S GIFTS. [cCH. XxI. ‘Frende,’ said the damoyselle, ‘be they so fayre damoy- seaux as ye say?’ ‘ By my feyth,’ said the messager / ‘the eldest is moche grete & hye, strong & of fayre behauyng & maynten, but hys vysage is short & large 4 in trauerse / and hath one eye redde, & that other ey is perske & blew, and the eerys grete to merueyH. and wete it wel that of membres & of body he is the fayrest knight that euer I sawe / and the yongest is not of so 8 hye stature / but he is moche fayre & wel shapen of membres, & hath a face to deuyse, except that one of his eyen is hyer sette than the other is. and seye alle that see them, that they be worthy & noble to conquere 12 & subdue vnder them aH the world.’ Ermyne, ‘ shal ye goo agayn soone toward them.’ And ‘Frende,’ sayd he ansuerd, ‘my damoyselle, assoone as I may haue tyme & place conuenable & propyce for to yssue & go out of 16 the Cite, and that I see I may goodly escape fro the paynemys.’ ‘ Frend,’ said the damoyselle, ‘ye shal on my behalue salue the yong brethern, and ye shaH de- lyuere to the eldest this ouch, land telle hym bere it 20 for the loue of me / and this ryng of gold with this dyamond ye shal take to pe lesse, and ye shaH salew And he ansuered, ‘my He thanne 24 departed fro her & came to the king that had doon hym moche on my byhalf.’ damoyselle, I shall doo it righte gladly.’ writ his ansuere in a lettre, and made grete foyson of men of armes to arme them redyly, and them made he to yssue couertly out of the cyte and entred in to the 28 oost / and or the oost were armed they adommaged them sore. And pen yssued paynemys out of theire tentes without eny aray, that rechaced them vnto the barrers, where they had grete scarmusshyng & fyers, 32 and many men slayn & wounded of bothe partes. AH thoost arryued where the scarmusshing was / and ther whyles was the said messanger putte out of the Cite att another gate, a bow shotte fro al the oost, so that 36 CH. wari] URIAN’S COMMISSION FROM THE KING OF CYPRUS. he was nat perceyued, And thenne he rode hastly toward hys vnele. For moche he langed that he myght there be arryued for to shew hym aH the tydyinges, 4 And dured not long the scarmoushe, For the sawdan made it to be cessed, For he sawe wel that he shuld more lese there than wyne. Now I shal leue to speke of this forsaid matere / and shaH retourne to speke of 8 Vryan & of his brother. i this parte telleth thistory that Uryan dide hys trompettes to be blowen at the spring of the day, & roos & commanded every man to appareyH hym, 12 and put saddelles on theire horses / and soone after the two brethern herd theire masse, & semblably dyde the other prynces & barons / and after the masse Vryan made to erye, that who wold drynk ones shuld dryunk, 16 and that ootis shuld be gyuen to the horses, and that at the other tyme that the trompette shuld be blowen, eueryman shuld be redy that was of the 1 Vanwarde. And they beying in such estate, the Capteyns nevew 20 arryued there, and delyuered the lettre to hys vnele, that the kyng had taken to hym / and the Captayn toke & kyssed it fourthwzth, opend it, and sawe by the tenowr of it how the kyng commanded hym to putte 24 bothe the fortresse and the toune at the wyH & com- mandement of the two bretheren. Also that he shuld commande to aH good tounnes, Castels, Fortresses, portes, hauens, & passages that they shuld gyue them 28 entre & soiourne, and that they shuld obey to them. And whan the Captayn sawe & vnderstode aH pe sub- stance & matere of it, he shewed the letére to Vryan, & to guyon hys brother, the whiche redde it; & whan they 32 knew the tenour of it they called to them the captayn, the maister of Rodes, & the two knightes, that had anounced to them thauenture of the siege, and redde to them the lettre on hye. ‘Thenne,’ said Uryan to the 36 Captayn, ‘we thanke moche the king of the worship 127 and rides to his uncle, The Sultan soon orders his men to retreat, At the spring of the day, Urian commands his host to prepare to march, 1 fol. 74 6. At that time the messenger returns froin the king. The Captain reads the answer, which comman«s all the land to be given in charge of the brethren, Urian and Guion, to whom the letter is shown. 128 Urian thanks the Captain for the king’s inten- tions, and asks what force the Cyprians have in al] their fortresses ; because he wishes to fight the Sultan, and end the war., The Captain says that would be hard to «lo, because the paynims have one hundred thousand men, 1 fol, 75. Urian replies they have a good cause, that victory lies not on the side of numbers, and that Alex- ander fought the world with twenty thousand len. Which speech cheered the Captain, who promised a company of eight thousand men ; which Urian says is enough, A COUNCIL OF WAR. [CH. XXI. that he doth to vs / but as to vs, our entencyon is not to entre in to thoos tounes ne castelles, yf we may goodly passe without fourth, For we thinke to kepe the feldes, yf god wyl, & make good werre ayenst the 4 sodan, but telle vs what nombre of men may yssue out of aH your garnysons the Fortresses alwayes kept / and wete it pat foree is to vs to knowe it / and yf they be men of whom we dare trust and be assured / For god 8 before we tende & purpose to gyue bataylle to the Sawdan, & to putte to termynaczown, & ende this warre. For therfore are we come hither.’ ‘By my faith,’ said the Captayn, ‘that shal be hard to doo, For pe 12 paynemys are in nombre wel C™” and more.’ ‘Care you not, therefore,’ said Vryan, ‘For we haue good right in oure caas / they are come vpon vs without cause / and though we had goon on them !vnto theire 16 owne lande, we ought to doo soo, For they are enemyes of god / and doubteles though they be of grete nombre to the regarde of our felawship / yet one grayne of peper alone smertith more on mans tonge than doth 20 a sacke fuH of whette / ne victorye also lyeth not in grette multitude of peuple / but in good rule & ordyn- aunce. And wel it is trouth that Alexander, that sub- dued so many & dyuerse landes, wold not haue with 24 hym aboue the nombre of xx thousand fyghtyng men — for one journey ayenst alt the world. And thanne whan the Captayne herd hym speke so valyauntly, he held it to grete wele & valeur, and thoughte he was 28 wel able & worthy to conquere & subdue many landes, and said to hym in this manere: ‘Sire, I shal enforce your oost with foure thousand fighting men, and of two thousand brygandyners & crosbowes, & other.’ ‘By 32 my feyth, said Vryan, ‘that is ynoughe / now doo that we may haue hem to half a journey nygh oure enemyes,’ and he ansuerd there shuld be no fawte of it. And then came there the Captayns nevew, and 3 CH. XXI.] A RECONNAISSANCE. kneled byfore Vryan & Guyon, and said to them in : this manere: ‘Noble damoyseaulx / the moost fayre mayde / & the moost noble that I knowe salueth you 4 bothe, and sendeth you of her jewels’ / and thenne he toke the ouche of gold that was sette with many a ryche & precyous stone / and said thus to Vryan : ‘Sire, hold & receyue this ouche of Ermynes byhalf, doughter to 8 my liege lord the kyng', that requyreth & besechep you to were it on vou for her sake.’ Vryan toke it joy- ously, and made it to be attachcd & sette it on his cotte of armes, and said to hym: ‘My frende, right ‘12 grete thankes & thousand mercys to the damoyselle tha so moche honour sheweth to me / Wete !it that I shaH kepe it moche dere for her sake / and gramercy to you messanger & brynger of it.’ And after he pre- 116 sented and toke to Guyon the ring on the forsaid damoysellis byhalf / and that she prayed hym to bere it for the loue & sake of her / And guyon ansuerd that so shuld he doo, and putte it on his fynger / and 20 thanked moche the damoyselle / and pe messager also / and the brethern gaf moche ryche yeftis to the same and messager. And soone after the trompette blew, eueryman putte hym self fourth on hys way. and 124 there myght men be seen in fayre & good ordynaznce. And the Captayn sent to aH the Fortresses & tounes, and made to yssue out & assemble togidre aH the men of armes / and wel were of them aboue the nombre 8 that the Captayn had sayd to the two bretheren fyue hondred more. Vryan thenne lodged hym and _ hys felawship on a lytil ryuere / and on the morne erly they departed, and went fourth tyl they came a lytil 82 byfore mydday, in a fayre medowe, nygh to a grete ryuere / and there were foyson of trees / also there was a quarter of a leghe thens a grete bridge, where they muste passe / and fro that bridge vnto Famagoce were 86 but seuen leghes / and there made Vryan hys folke to MELUSINE. 129 The messenger presents Urian with the ouch from Ermine, who takes if joyfully, and attaches it to his coat of arms, 1 fol. 75 b. and says he will keep it for her sake. Guion is pre- sented with the ring, and puts it on his finger. The brethren give rich gifts to the messenger. The trumpets are sounded, and the men get under arms. The captain assembles from the fortresses the company he promised, and Urian marches his army within seven leagues of Famagosse, nigh a great bridge, 130 where they abide for the night. Some knights go to the bridge, and see fifteen armed men, and on the other side of it four hundred. 1 fol. 76. The fifteen, on being asked, say that they are Christians, and the other company pay- nims, who have fought them, and killed one hundred of their company. Urian’s knights help the small company of Christians ; A SKIRMISH WITH THE SARACENS, [cH. XXI. be lodged, and said he wold abyé pere the said Captayn and his men that he shuld bring with hym. There they laye that nyght, and abode tyl the morne noone. | but alwayes some knightes were goon for theire dys-4 porte vnto the said bridge, and aspyed there about xv men of armes that were descended therat / and had theire speeris in theire fystes, and the salades after the guyse that they armed them in that Countre / and of 8 — anoper syde they sawe come about foure houndred men lof armes, that peyned them self moche for to passe ouer for to greve them of the other side / thanne came one of our Knightes that escryed them, & de- 12 manded of them what they were / and one of them ansuerd, ‘we are Cristen / and they that ye see at the other side of the watre are paynemys, that come for fourrage about the Countre / they haue mete & faught 16 . with vs, and they haue slayn wel an C good men that were of our felawship.’ ‘ Now, fayre lordes,’ said oure knyght, ‘yf ye can hold you, ye shal soone haue socours | & ayde.’ And thenne the knight broched hys hors, 20 — and waloped toward hys felawes, and recounted to them shortly aH thauenture. And whan they vnder- stode this they hastly came to the oost, and mete with xx" crosbowes men, to whom they bade they 24 shuld hye pem toward the bridge for to help the xv men of armes that were there ayenst thenmyes. And whan they vnderstode this they walked fast, & cam nigh to the bridge, and sawe thre cristen that were 28° ouerthrawen on the bridge by strokkes of speerys. ; ‘Fourth,’ said then one of them, ‘we tary to longe/ perceyue you not how this Dogges oppressen vylaynly these valyaunt & worthy crystens?’ / and anone they 32 — bended peir crosbowes, & shot aH at ones / and ouer- threwe doun on the bridge fro theire horses with that. first shotte xxii“ paynemys. Whan the mysbyleuers paynemys sawe this they were sore abasshed, and 36. OCH. XXx1.| A BATTLE BY THE BRIDGE. withdrew themself somwhat backward fro the bridge. Thenne yede the cristen men, and releuyd vp their felawes that were ouerthrawen on the bridge / and 4 thenne they made grete joye & toke good herte / and the !Crosbowe men shote so ofte & so strong, that there ne was so bold a paynem that durst putte his foot on the bridghe / but made to come’ there theire 8 archers, & thenne bygan the scarmusshing strong & but betre had be to the paynemys that they had witidrawe them self apart, For the knightes came to the oost and reherced to grete and moche mortal. 12 Uryan the tydinges therof, the whiche moch appertly armed hymself, and made hastly a thousand men of armes to take theire harneys on them, & rode forth toward the bridge / and ordeyned another thousand 16 men of armes, & C crosbowe men to folowe hym, yf he nede had of them / aud commanded that all the oost shuld be in ordynaunce of batayH, & betoke it to the kepyng & gouernawnce of guyon his brother, and of 20 the maister of Rodes. arde to passe fourth rydyng in batayH moche ordyn- Uryan thanne made the stand- atly / and was Vryan before, hauying a staf on hys fyste, & held them wel togidre, and so vnyed, that 24 one marched nothing afore that other. But or they were come to the bridge there were come eight thou- sand paynemys, that moche strongly oppressed owr but 28 anoone came there Vryan, whiche alyghted / toke hys folke, and had putte them almost fro the bridge. speere, & so dyde hys folke moche appertly / and made hys banere to be dysployed abrode / and were the crosbowe men on bothe sydes of hym vpon the 32 bridge / and then they marched fourth, and bygan to oppresse and rebuke sore the paynemys, and made And there Vryan eryed ‘Lusynen’ with a hye voys & lowde, and yede them to withdrawe bakkwarde. 36 & marched ayenst hys enemys, hys banere euer byfore 131 and rescue some of their friends on the bridge from the pay- nims, 1 fol. 76 b. who retire to bring up their archers. Urian hears of the skirmish, and rides with a thousand men to the bridge, leaving his host in charge of Guion, Hight thousand paynims come against him, who at first press his company, but are at last repulsed. Urian erying ‘Lusignan !’ rushes with his men against the enemy, K 2 1 fol. 77. drives them over the bridge, presses them hard, and gets his horses over the bridge. His rear coming up frightens the paynims, who flee toward their friends. Urian’s com- pany chase the pagans, kill many, and cause them to leave their spoil. The paynims rally with their friends upon a mountain, 2 fol. 77 b. THE VICTORY OF THE CHRISTIANS, [cH. XXI. , hym. tand hys men after that assaylled the fals dogges moche asprely, Whiche of the other syde bygan to launche & to smyte. Uryan smote a paynem on pe brest with hys speere so demesurably, that hys spere 4 apered at back syde of hym. they medled them fyersly togidre. but at last the paynemys lost the bridge, and many of them feH doun in to the ryuere. And thenne passed the crystens the bridge lyghtly / 8 and there bygan the baytayH moche cruel, For many were there sore hurte & slayn on both partyes. but ‘euer the paynemys were putte abak, & lost moche of ground. Vryan made to passe the horses, for wel he 12 perceyued that his enemyes wold mounte on theire horses to putte them self to flyght. Thenne came the arregarde that asprely passed ouer the bridge / and whan the paynemys perceyued them they were sore 16 affrayed / and who that myght flee, fledd toward theire folke that lede theyre proye, oxen, kyn & shep, swynes & othre troussage. Uryan than lepte on horsback, and made hys folke to doo soo, & commanded the arrer- 20 garde that passed them ouer the bridge, that they shuld folowe hym in fayre ordynawnce of bataylle / and so they dyde / and Uryan & hys folke chaced the paynemys that fledd sore chaffed & aferd, For al they 24 that were by Uryan, & they of hys felawship atteyned, were putte to deth / and endured the chasse with grete occysyon & slaghter pe space of fyue ooures & more, And thenne the paynemys ouertoke theyre folke, & 28 made them to leue behynd them alle theyre proy, & came vpon a grete mountayne toward Famagoce / and per the paynemys reassembled, & putte them self but there came Vryan & his folke, 32 theire speris on theire fystes alowe / at that recount- in ?ordynawnce. ryng were many one slayn & wounded sore, of one syde & of other / the paynemys susteyned the stoure strongly, For they were a grete nombre of folke. but 36 CH. Ext | THE SULTAN’S SURPRISE AT THE DEFEAT, Uryan assaylled them vygourously / and so moche he dide there of armes that aH were abasshed, and had grete wonder of it. Then came thither the arregarde 4 that was of a thousand men of armes, & C crosbowe men which entred, & marched sodaynly vpon theyre enemyes, & faught so strongly that the paynemys were putte abacke, & lost ground. and so fyersly was 8 shewed there the cheualry & hardynes of Cristen folke, that soone they had the vyctory, and putte theyre enmys to flight, of whiche lay dede on the place foure thousand & more, without them that were slayn at for- 12 sayd bridge / and the chasse endured vnto nygh the oost & siege of the paynemys. Thenne Vryan made hys folke to withdrawe them, and ledd with them the And 16 thus within a short while they eslongyd ferre one fro proye that the paynemys had lefte behynd. other / and our folke retourned to the bridge / and the paynemys went fourth to theire oost cryeng alarme. Wherfore every man went to harneys, & yssued out of 20 theire tentes / and thenne one of them recounted to the sawdan all thaduenture pat happed to them. And whan the sawdan herd of it, he wondred moch who might haue brought pat folke, that so grete harme & 24 dommage had born vnto hym. ‘Thanne was there grete affray ir thoost, & grete noyse of trompettes. Wherof they of the Cite merueylled what thing it might be, & armed them self / and eueryone was in his garde / and 28 there came to the gate one of the knightes that were at forsayd brydge, whiche had putte hym in auenture to passe thrugh aH thoost, and knewe the convyne? of one parte & of other, also the grete fayttes of armes that 32 Vryan had don / he escryed hye with a lowde voys / ‘open the gate! For I bring you good tydynges.” And thenne they demanded of hym what he was / and he ansuerd, ‘I am one of the knightes of the fortres of the 2 Fr. commune, 133 but Urian and his guard again put them to flight, and slay another four thousand of them ; after which Urian retires with the booty. The paynims alarm the Sultan, who is surprised, and wonders who can have so de- feated his men ; he sounds his trumpets, which alarm the people in Fama- gosse, and they arm themselves. 1 fol. 78. A knight of Urian’s arrives at the town, and tells them that he brings good tidings ; 134 being led before the King of Cyprus, he recounts the victory. The king is glad, and sends the knight to his daughter, 2 fol. 786. who asks about the battle, and Urian. The knight says Urian is the bravest and strongest knight he has ever seen,. THE KING OF CYPRUS HEARS OF THE VICTORY. _ [CH. XxI. blak mowntayne.’ And thanne they opend the gate, and he entred, and they ledd hym toward the king’, that soone knew hym. For other tyme he had seen The knight then enclyned hym before the 4 king, and made to hym the reuerence / and the kinge hym. receyued hym moche benyngly / and demanded to hym som tydynges; and he reherced to hym worde by word all the faytte / and how Vryan dyde, & had rescued 8 the proye / also of thauenture of the bridge, and alle other thinges, & how hys entencion & wylle was for to gyue batayH to the sawdan, and to reyse the siege / & that shortly / ° man ought me god wyH, for to rescue my land of the ‘By my feyth,’ sayd the kyng, ‘that 12 fel & cruel dogges paynemys / and for the holy feyth crysten to susteyne & enhaunse / and, certaynly, 1I shalt to morne doo fele to the sawdan pat my socour 16 & help is nygh redy to my behauf & playsire, & that ‘My frende,’ said the kyng to the knyght, ‘ goo & say these good tydynges to ‘Sire,’ said the knight, ‘right gladly.’ 20 Then came he in to the chambre where the mayde I doubte hym not of nothing.’ my doughter.’ was, and *moche humbly salued her, and rehersed to her alt the auenture. ‘How, sire knight,’ said she, ‘were ye at that bataylle?’ ‘By my feyth, damoyselle,’ 24 ‘ And how,’ sayd she, ‘ that knyght that hath so straunge a face, is he such a fyghter ansuerde the knight, ‘ ye.’ as men saye?’ ‘By my feyth, my damoyselle, ye more than a houndred tymes / For he ne dreddeth no And wete it what that men saye to you of hym / he is one of the moost preu & hardy knightes that euer I sawe in my lyf” ‘By my feyth, sayd the damoyselle, ‘yf he 32 had now hyerid you for to preyse & speke wel of hym, ‘By my feyth, my man, al be he neuer so grete & so pusyssaunt. he hath wel employed hys coste.’ damoyselle, I spake neuer with hym, but yet he is betre. 1 Fr, Je ferai demain sentir. CH. xZk/. ERMINE IN LOVE. worthy than I telle you.’ Then she ansuered to the knight, 1‘ goodnes & bounte is betre than fayrenes & beaulte.’ And here leueth thystorye to speke of the 4 mayde / and retourneth to Vryan, pat abode at the bridge, and founde hys oost lodged at this syde of the bridge / And also the Captayne pat had brought the men of armes, that he leuyed fro the garnysons & for- 8 tresses vnto the nombre of V“" men of armes, with two thousand V. C. crosbowe men / and also there were many footmen / And pey were alle lodged in the medowe at the other syde of the ryuere. Where 12 Vryan found his pauyllon dressed vp / and the other that had be at the pursyewte & chaas of the paynemys, they lodged pem that nyght the best wyse they coude, & made good watche. And here resteth thystory ther- 16 of, and bygynneth to speke of the kyng of Cypre, that was moche joyous & glad of the socours that was come to hym / and regracyed deuoutely owr lord of it / and in that party passed the nyght. But who 20 someuer was glad that was Ermyne, For she coude not by no manere in the world haue out of her thoughte Vryan, 2and desired moche to see hym for the well that it was said of hym / in so moche that she said in 24 herself, that yf he now had the vysage more straunge & more contrefaytte than he had / yet he is wel shappen for his proesse & bounte to haue the doughtir of the moost high kynge in the world to hys paramour. And 28 so thoughte the damoyselle al the nyght on Vryan, For loue by hys grete power had broughte her therto. Here resteth thystorye to speke of her, & bygynneth to speke of the kyng her fader. 32 he hystorye recounteth here, that on the morne T at the spryng of the day, the kynge had hys folke alt redy, & yssued out of the Cyte with a thousand men of armes, and wel a thousand of Crosbowemen ; 1 Fr, Amy, bonté vault mieula que beaulté. Urian rests that night in his tent. The King of Cyprus was glad at the victory, and his daughter Ermine thought ever of Urian, 2 fol. 79. his strange visage, and his bravery, because love by its great power had hold of her. In the morning the king with a host 136 went out of the city and fought the enemy, giving no quarter. The paynims come in great force, and the King of Cyprus shows great bravery. 2 fol. 79 b. The Sultan, bearing a poisoned dart, comes with a great company, and seeing the king, strikes him on the left side with it, which causes the king great anguish. He pulls out the dart, and throws it at the Sultan, but missing him it kills a paynim warrior, A SORTIE FROM FAMAGOSSE, [cH. XXII. and some brygandyners were embusshed at bothe thendes of the barrers, for to helpe & socoure hym yf he were to moche oppressyd by the paynemys. And pen the king entred in to thoost, & bare grete dommage 4 to hys enemys. For he had commanded vpon peyne of deth that none shuld take eny prysoner, but that they shuld putte aH to deth / and this dide he for cause they shuld not tende to the dyspoylle & proye, 8 and that at laste he myght gader them ayen togidre for to withdrawe them without ony losse. And then the _oost began to be mevyd / and who best coude of the paynemys came to the medlee. And whan the king 12 perceyued that they cam wth puyssaunce, he remysed hys folke togidre, and made to withdraw them al the lytil pas, and came behynde, the swerd in his fyst. And whan he sawe a knight approuche, he retowrned but yf he atteyned 16 & made hym to recule abacke. hym, he chastysed hym so that he no more had langyng to siew! hym. And there the kynge dide so wel & so valyauntly, that euery one sayd he was 20 moche preu & worthy of his hand / and there ne ? was so hardy payneme that oo stroke durst abyde. Then came the Sawdan with a grete route of paynemes, armed on a grete hors, that held a dart envenymed. 24 And thanne whan he aspyed the king, that so euyl demened his folke, he cast at hym the darte yre, & hytte hym at the synester syde, in suche wyse that he perced hym thrugh & thrughe, For hys harneys coude neuer waraunt hym / And soone after the kyng felt erete anguysshe, and drew the dart out of hys syde, and supposed to haue cast it agayn to the Sawdan / but the Sawdan tourned hys hors so appertly that the dart 32 flough besyde hym, & smote a payneme thrugh the body in suche wyse that he feH doune dede. And whan the sawdan, that ouermoche had auaunced hym 1 Fr, swyvir, 28 a CH. Xxt. | THE KING OF CYPRUS WOUNDED self, wende to haue retourned, the kynge smote hym with his swerd vpon the heed of hym, that he ouer- threw hym to therthe. Thenne cam the paynemes 4 there so strong that they made the kynge & hys folke to withdraw backe / and thenne was the sawdan And thenne was pe prees grete, and the paynemes were 8 strong / in so moche that they made the kyng & his redressed & remounted agayn vpon a grete hors. folke to withdrawe vnto theire barrers. Thanne bygan the Cypryens, that kept the passage there, to shote & to launche on the paynemes so strong that they dyed 12 the place with the blood of theire enemyes. but so strong were the paynemys, that they gaynstode the erysten / and also the king had lost moche of hys blood, & wexed feble, and hys folke bygane to be 16 abasshed. And how be it that the king suffred moche dolour & peyne, neuertheles he resioysshed moche hys peuple & encouraged them, and so moche they dide that the fals paynemes might gete nothing on them / 20 but that they lost twyes lasmoche more / and was And thus the kyng of Cypre, by hys valyaunce & noble herte, the scarmusshing moche fyers & peryllous. recomforted his folke. and though he felt grete peyne 24 & woo, he fuH wel remysed hys folke into the toune. And it was grete meruayH how so grete a lord, wounded to the deth, myght sytte on horsbake / but the stroke was noping mortal but for the venyme, For the dart 28 was envenymed / and wel it appered within a lytil tyme after, For he deyde of that same stroke, but for certayn he had the herte so full of valiauntnes, as the faytte shewed it, that he ne dayned not make signe 32 of eny bewayllyng before his folke, vnto tyme that one of the barons perceyued att his senyster syde dyed with bloode / the whiche Baron sayd to the king: ‘Sire, ye abyde to long here / come & make your folke to 36 withdrawe them in to the toune or it be more late, 137 Tho Sultan, ad- vancing too near the king, is over- thrown by him, but is rescued by his people, who at last drive the Cyprians back ; but these shoot so well that many paynims are killed, The king now begins to be faint from loss of blood. His people are abasshed, but, encouraged by him, they fight well, and slay many more of their enemies, 1 fol. 80, At last he con- ducts his folk to the town, still on horseback. Though suffer- ing from the poisoned wound, he makes no sign of pain, but a baron seeing the blood on his side advises him to withdraw. 138 This baron with some archers continues the fight, which makes the Sultan angry, who calls on his people ‘to do well,’ upon which they fight vigorously. The king, though in great pain, comes to the rescue, 2 fol. 80 b, and the paynims are driven back ; afterwards the king and his people return to the town, where they learn of the king’s wound; at which they mourn, The king en- courages them, and tells them he may soon be healed, THE SARACENS DEFEATED. [cH. xxI. For the nyght approucheth / to thende that your enmyes putte not them self thrughe the medlee emong! ? vs. The kyng, whiche felt grete sorowe, ansuerd to hym thus: ‘Doo therof after your wylle.’ This knyght thenne made a houndred men of armes, that were reffresshed, to come before the barryere, & made to bygynne ayen the scarmusshing with an C crosbowe men; and so were the paynemes sette abacke, wherof the sawdan was fult of grete anger, and escryed to hys folke: ‘fourth lordes & barons, peyne your self _ to doo wel, For the toune shalbe oures this day: hit may not escape vs.’ And thenne enforced ayen the And there ye had see wel assaylled & ryght wel deffended, of that one part & of that other. But whan the kinge of Cypre sawe that the paynemes medlee. strengthed them soo, he toke courage grete, & ranne vpon them vygourously / and there he suffred so moche peyne pat aH the synewes! of hys body were open, wherof, as some *sayen, his lyf was shorted / and by that same enuahisshirg were putte aback the paynemes, & many of them wer slayn & sore wounded. The nyght thenne approuched, and was nygh / and grete harme & losse was there of both partes. but alwayes the paynemes witidrew them vuto theire oost, For the king encouraged hys folk soo that they ne doubted no stroke nomore than yf pey had be of yron or of stele. And whan the paynems were departed, the kinge & hys folke retourned in to the toune. And whan they knew the euyl auenture of theire king, they beganne to And the kynge, that sawe this, sayd to them: ‘My good folke, make no sorowe & to make grete dueil. suche waymenting' ne sorowe, but thinke wel to def- fende you ayenst the Sawdan / and god our sauyowr shalbe at your ayde & helpe, For yf it playse hym I shaH soone be heelid.’ Thenne was the peuple peased 1 Fr. vaines. 4 8 1 1 ~ ~ 3 7 6 CH. XXI. | URIAN’S SPEECH BEFORE THE FIGHT. ayen. but neuerpeles, the kyng that said suche Wordes for to resioysshe hys peuple, felt in hym self that he coude not escape fro deth. And thenne he commanded 4 to his folke they shuld make good watche, and gaf hem leue, & came to the palleys, and there alyghted & yede in to hys chambre / And thenne came hys doughter, that somwhat had vnderstand of hys mys- 8 auenture. but whan she perceyued that hys harneys was alt rede with bloode, and sawe his wounde, she feH doun in a swoune, & lay as she had be deed. Thenne commanded the kynge that she shuld be borne After the Cyrurgiens came to see the kingis wounde, and was 12 in to her chambre / and so it was doon. leyed on his backe along his beed / and they told hym that he was saaf fro pareH of deth, and that he shuld 16 not be abasshed. wote wel how it is with me / the wylle of god be doo / ‘By my feyth,’ said the kynge, ‘I hit may not be kepte so secretly but that it shalbe 1knowen thrughe the Cyte.’ And thenne byganne pe 20 sorowe moche grete among the Cytezeyns & peple of the Cyte, and more without comparacion than it was byfore. But here resteth thystorye of the kynge & of the siege / and shal speke of Vryan and of his brother, 24 and how they exployted afterward. / [ this parte, saith thystorye, that cn the morow erly, that was thursday, was Vryan after hys masse herde byfore hys tente / and there he made come, 28 one aftir other, aH the Captayns & chieftayns with theire penons & standarts, and theire folke vnder them al armed of alt pieces, for to behold & vysyte theire harneys, yf eny thing’ wanted / as wel the straungers / 32 as hys owne folke / and beheld wel the mayntene & contenaunce of them. And after this was doo he made them to be nombred / and they were founde by extymacion about ix. or ten thousaund fyghting men. 36 Thenne said to them Vryan: ‘Lyste, aH fayre lordes, 139 but at the same time he knew he was near death. The king orders good watch to be kept ; is visited by his daughter, who faints at the sight of his wound and the blood on his armour, The surgeons tell the king he is safe ; but the king says he knows well how it is with him, 1 fol, 81. The people of the city mourn for their king. In the morning Urian hears mass, reviews and numbers his men, finding between nine or ten thousand in all. He addresses them, 140 ‘Tt is their duty to maintain the faith of Christ, who died for them, even at peril of life, though our enemies are ten to one against us. Alone, Christ fought for our redemption. 2 fol. 81 0, Tf you die, salvation and Paradise awaits you. Soon I will march ; but if there be any whose heart is not steadfast, Jet him with- draw, for one coward has often spoiled a great under- taking.’ THE OHRISTIAN WARRIOR'S DUTY. [on. XSI. we are here assembled for to susteyne the feyth of Jeshu eryste, of the whiche he vs alle hath regenered and saued / as eche of vs knoweth wel ynoughe how he to thende he 4 Wherfore lordis, seen & considered in owr hertes that he hath suffred cruel deth for the loue of vs, shuld bye vs ayen fro the peynes of helle. doon to vs suche a grace, we ought not to reffuse the deth, or such auenture as he shal gyue vs, for to8 deffende & susteyne the holy sacrements that he hath admynystred vs for the saluacion of our sowles / though that we now haue adoo with strong partye. For our enmys ben tene ayenst one to the regarde of 12 vs / but what therof we haue good ryght, For they are come to assayll vs without cause vnto owr right herytage / and also we ought not to resuyngne ne dylaye therfore. Tor Jhesu Criste toke alone the warre 16 for our redempeion, And by hys deth alle good folke that kepen his comman*dements shal be saued. ye oughte thenre to vnderstand aH certaynly, that alle thoo that shu dye in this quarelle, mayntenyng & 20 enhaunsyng the feyth, shal be saued, & shal haue the glorye of Paradys / And perfore, fayre lordes, I tell you in general that I haue entencyon, god byfore, to meve presently for to approche owr enemys, and to fyght 24 with them as soone as I may. Wherfore, I praye you _ frendly, that yf there be ony man in this place that feleth not his herte ferme & stedfaste for to withstande & abyde thauenture, such as it shal playse to god to 28 send vs / that he withdrawe hym self apart fro other, For by one only Cowarde & feynted herte is sometyme lefte & loste al a hoole werke. and wete it that, al thoo that wyl not comme with theire good wyH, as wel of 32 my folke as of other,? I shaH gyue them money 3 ‘Wha will be a traitor-knave ? Wha can fill a coward’s grave? Wha sae base as be a slave? Let him turn and flee!’ (Scots wha hae.) CH. XXI.] | THE MARCH OF URIAN’S HOST TO FAMAGOSSE. 141 ynoughe & syluer for theyre sustenawnce & fyndyng for to passe ouer the see ayen.’ After these wordes he made hys banere to be dressed a bowe shote fro the 4 valey, vpon the mounteyne, and ordeyned hys brother Guyon for to hold & bere it / and after he said, al on hye, in heryng of hys folke / «AH they that entenden, & haue deuocion for to auenge the deth of Jeshu 8 criste, to thenhaunsyng of the holy feyth cristen, Also to ayde & helpe the kynge of Cypre, lete hym with- drawe hym self ynder my banere / and they that ben of contrary wyH, lete them passe ouer at the oper syde 12 of the bridge.’ Thanne whan the noble hertes herde hym saye thoo wordes. they held it to grete wysedome of hym, & of grete prowesse & worthynes, & went alle in a companye togider vnder his banere, wepyng for 16 Joye & for pyte of the wordes that Vryan had said / ne none delayed ne taryed for nothing, but yede aH vnder hys banere, as said is / Thenne was moche gladde Vryan, and joyows, and anone he made his 20 trompettes to be blowen vp, and all was troussed! & putte them self on theire way. And thanve the 2maister of Rodes, and the Captayne of Lymasson putte them self assembled togidre, and rode in fayre 24 batayH, And said wel that ayenst Vryan and his folke no man shal endure / And thus they rode tyl they came nygh to the mountayne / and as half way to the place where the batayH had be the day byfore. ‘ By 28 my feytin, lordes,’ sayd Vryan, ‘there nygh that yond ryuere were good that we went to be there lodged tyl we were refresshed. And in the meane while we shal see and aduyse how we shat for the moost surest way 32 hyndre & adommage our enmyes’ / And they ansuerd that so was good to doo. They went thenne aH togider, to thende they were not founde abrode, & lodged fem self there. Now leueth here of them thystorye / and 36 bygynneth to speke of the Sawdan. / 1 Fr, troussé. Urian gives Guion his banner, and calls on all who want to avenge Christ's death, and to help the King of Cyprus, to come under it, ahd march across the bridge. The noble hearts heard him, and were glad, and marched under his banner, The trumpets are sounded, and the march begins ; 2 fol. 82. they come to a mountain, and halt for refreshment, and to hold council, 142 On the Sultan’s spies telling him the state of the city, and of the soc- cour coming, and of the illness of the king, he orders an assault, The townspeople defend them- selves-by shoot- ing stones, pitch, hot oil, and overturning the enemy’s scaling ladders. The Sultan urges on the assault, 3 fol. 82 b. and promises the first nan that enters the city his weight in s.lver, They attack vigorously, and are pelted with logs of wood, burning oil, molten lead, quick lime, sulphur, and brimstone on fire, and are obliged to retire, THE ASSAULT OF FAMAGOSSE, [cu. XXI. hystorye sayth that the Saudan had hys espyes within the Cite, whiche aspyed secretly pe Con- Wherby he knew that socours & help came to the kyng / and also how vyne of them of the toune. the kyng was sore. wounded, wherof the peuple was gretly troubled. Thanne had the sawdan cause to do assayH the toune / and he made to blowe trompettes whan pe sonne was vp, and ordeyned his bataylles, and his Crosbowes & paueys,! and came vnto the dyches & barryers. There bygan the scarmusshing outrageously fyers / they shotte with Crosbowes demesurably of one part & of other. There were many paynemes slayn, For they within the toune shotte many gonnes,? & cast vpon them fro the batelments of theire walles grete stones, pyche & grece brennyng hoot, and reuersed them fro the ladders vnto the botome of the dyches. Thenne came the Sawdan fourth, eryeng with a high voys, ‘ Now, lordes, deffende yourself worthily, & lete vs take toune or ony socours come to our enemyes, For on my god Machomete, he that first shaH entre Sthe toune, I shalt gyue hym hys pesaunnt or weyght of syluer in suche estate as he entre in to it.’ Who thenne had see them assaylle & cleme vp to the walles, and putte them self in parellows passage, he shuld haue be meruaylled. But they that were vpon the walles within, fourth cast on them ‘grete logges of wode, brennyng oyle, lede molten / tonnes & barels fuH of vnquynched lyme, and vesselles ful of flaxe grecyd with oyle and mixtyouned with brymstone and sulfer, al ardaunt & brennyng / so that magre them they were fayn to relenquysshe the place, and to remounte at another syde of the waH: and there 1 Fr. pavilliers. 2 Fr. gros canons et d’esprin galles. 4 Fr. pierres, pieuw agus, huwilles chaudes, plong fondu, poinsons plains de chaule vive, tonneauw plains destouppes engressées et ensouffrées tous ardens, 8 16 28 32 OH. XXII. | URIAN IN SIGHT OF THE BATTLE. And thanne the Sawdan made thassawte to be strengthed with new folke / but they within forth deffended them 4 ful valyauntly as preu & hardy. Also they were more abode many paynemys al brent and sore hurt. vygourous of herte, for that they knew theire socours Here I shall leue of pis matere / and shal say how Vryan dide, whiche had commyyng, that was nygh. 8 sent hys espyes to knowe how it was of the siege / And they reported to hym how the saudan gaaf grete & contynuel sawtes to the Cite / and that w7thout shortly it were socoured, they were within in grete daunger / ‘W han vryan and Guyon vnderstode these tydynges, they were 12 and how the kynge was syke & sore wownded. within them self wel angry and fylled with sorowe / but no grete semblaunt they made of it, to thende 16 theire folke shuld not be of lesse courage therfore. / Cap. XXII. byfore Famagoce." How the Sawdan was slayn » ile this parte sayth thystorye, that whan Vryan herde 20 the tydynges forsaid, he made to sowne his trom- pettes, and made thoost to be armed, and departed it in foure bataylles; wherof of the first batayH he hym- self was conductour, hys brother lede the seconde, the 24 maister of Rodes was Chieftayn of the iii*®; And the foureth was conduyted & lede by the Captayn of Lymas. And he made to abyde in the valey aH the sommage, and mad it to be kept with a houndred men 28 of armes and fyfty cros bowemen. And after they by- gane to mounte the hille, And fro thens they sawe how the paynemes assaylled moche strongly the Cite. And thenxne Vryan said to his folke / ‘Lordes, that 32 folke is of grete nombre / but no doubte they be oures / 1 Famagusta (named by Augustus after the battle of Actium, Fama Augusta), ou the west coast of Cyprus, south of the ancient Salamis, the only harbour in the island. 143 many burnt and hurt. The Sultan renews the assault, but the townsfolk, knowing of the soccours, fight vigorously. Urian’s spies tell of the assault on Famagosse, and the sore need of the King of Cyprus, at which he sorrows, but dis- sembles his grief. 2 fol. 83. Urian sounds to arms, and marches his host in four battalions, leaving the baggage with a guard in the valley. At the hill they see the battle, and the great number of the pagans. 144 Urian encourages them to expect victory. 1 fol. 83 6. They march forward ; the paynims at first take them for friends, but recognizing them, are sore afraid, CAPTURE OF THE SULTAN’S CAMP. [ Cater aa and god before they shalbe dyscomfyted by vs / and that right soone. goo we thenne ayenst theire oost / and so fourth without dylayeng to them that sawten the Cite. 1tand I wene with goddis grace that they 4 shal not endure long ayenst vs.’ And they ansuerd, ‘that good it was for to doo soo.’ Thenne he wold descende the mountayne and haue passed at back syde of the oost; but whan they supposed to haue passed 8 fourth, the paynemes perceyued that they were not of theire folke / they cryed alarme and were sore aferd. ’ Thanne sayd Vryan to the Captayn, that with aH his Urian’s batta- lion enters the fight ; two other bat- talions march forward between the enemy's watch and the city. At last all four battalions murch together against the enemy. The Sultan learns that his camp is captured, and sees the forces marching against him ; becomes angry, sounds for his warriors to retire, But Urian’s battalion falls: on them before they have time to do so, 2 fol. 84. bataiHt he shuld entre thoost to fight ayenst them that 12 were there. There bygan a mortal medlee, And Vryan and the other two bataylles yede ferther, & putte them self atwix the watche & them tbat assaylled the Cite / and so long they sawted, that alle they that kepte theire 16 lodgis and of peire watche were slayn and dystroyed, and incontynent aH the foure bataylles in fayre ordyn- aunce marched fourth toward the other that strongly assaylled. But one came to the sawdan, and said to 20 hym how the tentes & pauyllons were take, and alle they that kepte them slayn / ‘and they that haue doon pat faytte, ye may see them commyng hitherward, the moost strong and fe folke that euer I sawe ne herde 24 speke of.’ The saudan thanne loked abacke, and sawe baners & standarts and hys enmyes comniyng in fayre ordynaunce / and so nygh togider that they semed not in nombre to be as moche by the half as they were. 28 Thenne was the Saudan abasshed and wood angry / and made to sowne hys trompette to withdrawe & assemble his folke togider. But or they were half assembled, Vryan came first wth hys batayH / and with a grete 32 courage ran vypon them moche asprely, And per began thoccysyon & slaghter moche grete / but for certayn the gretest losse tourned on the paynemes, For ?they had no leser for to putte them self in aray of baytaylle, and 36 CH. Xxil. } URIAN KILLS THE SULTAN. were sore wery of thassawte / & none of them were vnder his banere whan Vryan and his folke ranne vpon them, whiche were aspre & harde and fuH wel wyst 4 the crafte of armes, wherfore many of the paynemes putte them self to flight. But the sawdan, that was ful of grete courage & of grete vasselage, realyed his folke about hym, & delyuered & gaf ryght a grete sawte to 8 our folke moche proudly. There were many men slayn & sore wounded / and made hym self to be redoubted and dradde, For he held a two handes ax / and smote | with at lyfte syde and at the ryght syde that none 112 myght susteyne hys strokes that were about hym. But whan Vryan perceyued hym pat so sore demened his folke, he was fuH woo, and said in hymself, ‘ By my feyth, it is grete pyte & dommage that yonder Turcke | 16 byleueth nat on god, For he is moche preu & valyaunt of his hand; but for the dommage that I see he doeth on my folke, I ne haue cause to forbere hym ony more / | and also we be not in place where grete & many wordes ' 20 may be holden.’ and with a fyers contenawnce rane vpon the Saudan / Thenne he braundysshed hys swerd And whan he sawe hym commyng he refused hym not, but toke his ax and wende to haue smyten vryan wit/al |. 24 vpon the crosse of the heed / but Vryan eschiewed the stroke ; the ax was pesaunt and heuy, and with that And thanne Vryan smote hym vpon the helmet a grete vayne stroke it scaped fro the Saudans handes. I 98 stroke with all his might / and was the sawdan so sore charged with that stroke that he was so astonyed and amased that he neyther sawe nor herde, and lost the brydel and the steropes, and the hors bare hym where 32 he wold. And Vryan !pursiewed hym nygh, and yet agayn atteyned hym with his trenchaunt swerde betwix the heed & the sholders, For his helmet was aH vnlaced and his hawtepyece feH of with the forsaid stroke, 36 wherfore with his second stroke vryan made hys swerde MELUSINE. kills many of them, and puts others to flight. The courageous Sultan rallies his people, and assaults the Christian folk severely. Urian seeing the bravery of the Sultan, regrets he be- lieves not in God; but because of the damage he is doing, rides against ins stuns him, 1 fol. 84 0. 146 and with a second blow wounds him so that he falls froin his horse. At length the Sultan dies from loss of blood. Urian, Guion and their followers fight so well that in a short time they take or slay all their enemies. After the battle they lodge in the pagans’ camp, where the brethren fairly divide the booty. 2 fol. 85. The Captain of Lymas and thirty knights leave the brethren and go to the city, where they are received gladly, VICTORIOUS, THE CHRISTIANS [CH. XxII. to entre in the sawdants flesshe, in so moch that he detrenched & cutte the two maister vaynes of his nek, and feH doune fro hys hors to the erthe. And there was so grete prees of horses of one parte and of other, 4 that the stoure of batayH was there so aspre and so mortal that hys folke might not help hym / and lost so moche of hys blood that he most there deye in grete dystres & sorowe / And soone after that the paynemes 8 _ knew that the saudan was deed they were affrayed and moche abasshed, and neuer aftir they fought with no good herte. Thanne Vryan and his brother Guyon esprouued themself there, & faught so strongly, gyuyng 12 grete & pesaunt strokes, that wonder it was to see. And wete it wel pat bothe Cypryens & Poytevyns dide —— - ee so valyauntly that in short space of tyme they dystroyed And 16 thenne Vryan & his folke lodged them self in the pay- theyre enmyes, whiche were aH slayn or take. nems lodgys / and was the sommage of the cristen sent fore / and the gardes and kepers of it, fayne & glad of the vyctory, came & brought it in to thoost and lodged 20 there / And the two brethern made the Butyn or con- queste to departe & deele so egaly after euery man had deseruyd & was worthy, pat none there was but he was full of Joye & content of it / And here resteth 24 thystorye of Vryan / and shal speke of the capytayne of Lymas,! that soone came to Famagoce. Ae this parte telleth vs thistorye that after pe dys- comfyture of the batayH the Captayne *departed 28 fro the two brethern, with hym xxx knightes of grete affayre, and came to the Cite, where the yates were opend to hym gladly, and entred and found the folke by the stretes, of whiche some made grete feeste, for 32 pat they sawe them delyuered of theire enemyes, and blessid the heure that euer the children of Lusignen were borne, and the heure also whan they entred the 1 Fr. Lymasson :—Limassol, on 8, coast of Cyprus. Ou. XXII. | THE CAPTAIN OF LYMAS VISITS THE KING. land. And some folke made grete sorowe, grete wep- ynges, sore lawmentyng', and grete bewaylling’, for theire kynge pat was wounded to the deth. Wherfore 4 he wyst not what to thinke, For he knew not yet the kyng was hurt. And so moche he exployted that he came to the palleys, and there he alighted, where he found the peuple wel mate! / and he demanded of them 8 what they ayled, and yf they wanted of eny thing. ‘By my feyth,’ said one of them, ‘ye / and that ynough; For we lese the moost true & valyaunt man that eue7 was borne in this royalme.’ ‘ How thanne,’ said the 12 Captayn, ‘is the kynge syke?’ ‘Ha/ a! sire,’ ansuered to bym a knight, ‘knowe you no more of it? We dide yssue yesterday, and enuahysshed owr enmyes / and at retourne of it the sawdan smote our king with a 16 venymouws darte, by so that no remedye nys founde therto / For we supposed eue that these two damoy- seaulx had come to owr ayde & help at that day, And wete it that the kingis doughtir demeneth suche 20 heuynes & sorowe, that grete pyte it is to see, For almost two dayes are passed that she ete no manere of mete / woo & euylhap shalbe to vs yf we lese both our king & our damoyselle & lady, For yf that happed the 24 land were'in grete orphanite of bothe lord & of lady.’ ‘Fayre lordes,’ said the Captayne, ‘aH is not yet lost that lyeth in pareH. Haue lost? in our lord Jhesu Criste, and he shall helpe you. I pray you lede me toward 28 the king.’ ‘By my feyth’ / said the knight, ‘that shaH soone be doo, For he lyth in the next chambre, where euery man may goo as he had no harme / He hath alredy made hys testament, & hath ordeyned & 32 bequethed of hys owne good to his seruaunts, so that euery one is content / and he is confessed & hath re- ceyued owr lord, and he is admynystred of aH his rightes & sacrements.’ ‘By my feyth,’ said the Cap- 1 Fr, mat, 2 Fr, fiance. 147 but find the folk weeping. The Captain of Lymas proceeds to the palace, where he learns that the King has been mortally wounded by a poisoned dart, and that the King’s daughter is sore depressed and will not eat. The Captain asks an audience with the King, 3 fol. 85 b. who lies in the next chamber, It is granted, 148 On entering, the Captain makes his rever- enee, and is welcomed by the King, who asks him to bring Urian and Guion, as he desires to reward them,for the help they have given him, The Captain a a a to ring them, and the King has the great street of the city decorated. 1 fol. 86. The Captain re- lates his news to the brethren, and tells how the King wishes to reward them, Urian protests THE KING SENDS FOR THE BRETHREN. [ou. XXII. tayne, ‘he is thanne in good vaas / and he hath doon as a wyse man oughte to doo’ / And thenne he entred in to the Chambre & enclyned hym self byfore the kyng that leye on his beed, and made to hym the reuerence. 4 ‘Captayne,’ said the -kinge, ‘ye be right welcome / and I thanke you of the good diligence that ye haue doo to haue accompanyed these two noble men by whome my land is out of the subgection of the pay- 8: nemes, For I had no more puyssaunce to gouerne my folke ne my land / I pray you that ye goo & telle them on my behalf that pey vouchesaaf to come & see me or I be deed, For grete wylle I haue to make 12 satisfaction to them to my power of the loue & eur- toysye that they haue shewed to me; And also I haue grete desyre to see & speke with them, for certayn caas whiche I wyl declare vnto them.’ ‘ My lord,’ said the 16 Captayne, ‘gladly I shall doo yous commandement.’ ‘Now gooth thenne,’ said the kynge, ‘ & lete hem be to morne with me by the houre of pryme.’ The kinge thanne commanded that the grete strete where they 20 shuld passe shuld be hanged richely vnto the paleys, and dyde doo make grete appareyl ayenst theire commyng. And here resteth thistory to speke of the king / and retourneth to saye of the Captayne. 24. historye saith that so fast rode the Captayne that soone he came to the oost, and alighted at the ltente of the two brethern, that moche humbly receyued hym. And thenne he recounted to them how the king 28 was sore hurt / and that affectuelly he prayed them that they vouchesaaf to come toward hym, so that he might thanke them of the noble socours that they had doon to hym, and to make satisfaction to them of 32 theyre peyne & dyspens to his power, and also for to speke with them of other matere. ‘By my feyth,’ said Uryan, ‘we are not come hither for to take sawdees? 2 Fr, souldoier pour argent. CH. XX. ] HERMINE, THE KING'S DAUGHTER. ne for no syluer / but only to susteyne & enhaunse the catholique feyth. And we wol wel pat euery man knowe that we haue hauoyr & syluer ynough for to pay 4 our folke / but alway we right gladly shaH goo toward hym. And wete it that I purpose to goo toward the king in suche a state as I departed fro the batayH ; For yf he vouchesaaf I wyl receyue of hym the ordre of 8 knighthode for the valyaunce & honour that euery man sayth of hym. And ye, Captayn, ye may goo and telle hym that to morne at that houre he hath poynted bothe my brother and I and the maister of Rodes, god 12 before, we shal be toward hym, and a houndred of our moost high barons with vs.’ Thenne toke leue the Captayne and came to the Cite, where he was receyued moch honourably / and soone he came to the paleys, 16 where he fonde the kynge in also good poynte as he lefte hym. And there was his doughter Ermyne, that was fuH of sorowe for the euyl of her fader / but that notwithstanding she recomforted her self moche of 20 this that men said to her, that the two damoyseaulx shuld come there. And wete it that she moche desyred tosee Uryan. And thenne the Captayne salued the kyng. ‘Ye be right welcomme,’ said the kinge / ‘ what tydinges 24 bryng you of youre !message / shal I not see that two gentil damoyseaulz?’ ‘Sire, ye,’ said the Captayne / ‘they and houndred more with them / and playse you to knowe that they wil haue no recompense of you / 28 For as they saye they be not sawdyours for siluer / but pey name them self sawdyours of our lord Jeshu criste. And so moche, sire, hath told me Uryan / that to morne, god before, or it be fullysshe pryme, he shal 32 come toward you in suche a poynt & state as he came fro the baytaylle; For he wyl receyue thordre of cheualrye and to he dowbed knight of your hand.’ ‘By my feyth,’ said the kyng, ‘I lawde owr lord Jeshu- 36 Criste, whan before my dayes be termyned, it playseth 149 that his only de- sire is to support the Catholic faith, and that he has treasure enough ; he will however go to the King to be knighted, The Captain te- turns to the King, who is still alive and pleased tu see him, as is his daugh- ter, when she learns that the brethren are coming to the city 1 fol. 86 b. The Captain delivers his message, for which the King thanks his Saviour, 150 Hermine rejoices at the news, she kisses her father, and retires to her room, where she weeps for his wound, and also for the joy of being about to see the brethren, 1 fol. 87. The King com- mands the in- habitants of the city to decorate their houses, and arranges for music in the streets, Before prime (6 a.m.) the brethren on two coursers arrive with many of their men, Urian armed as he was at the battle, and Guion ina richly furred damask cloth gown, THE BRETHREN i. ENTER FAMAGOSSA IN TRIUMPH. [cH. XXII. hym that I make & dowbe knight one so valyaunt & hye prynce / and wete it I shal therfore deye betre at ease.’ And whan Ermyne herd of these tydinges she had so grete joye therfore in her herte, that she coulde 4 not holde her coutenawnce ne maneve / but therof she made no grete semblaunt, but shewed to haue grete sorowe woo in her herte. She toke thanne leue of her fader / and sore weping kyssed hym moche swetly / 8 and she went into her chambre / and there she bygan to bewaylle her self sore / one houre for the doulowr & woo that she had for her fader / and another heure for the grete joye & desyre that she had of the sight of 12 Vryan, whos taryeng enjoyed her moche / & moclie long she was in thoughte so argued and vexed therwith alt, that aH that night she coude not slepe / 1? this parte saith thistory, that on the morne erly 16 the king commanded that aH noble and ynnoble shuld make theire houses to be appareylled 1& hanged w/thout forth euery one after lis power, for to make feste & honowr at the commyng of the two brethern and of 20 theyre folke / and that at euery corner of a strete shuld be trompettes and other dyuerse Instruments of musyque making grete melodye / And for certayn the peup!e en- deuoyred them self wel / ye / more than the kynge had 24 commanded to be dou. What shuld I make long pro- logue / the two brethern within pryme came mounted moche nobly vpon two grete coursers / and Vryan was al armed, euen so as whan he came fro the batayH, the swerd naked in his fyst. And Guyon, hys brother, had on a gown of fyn clothe of damaske, rychely fourred / and byfore them rode thretty of the moost hye barons in noble aray / and nygh to them was the 32 maister of Rodes and the Captayn of Lymas. And after the two bretheren came & folowed nygh thre score & ten knightes and theire squyers & pages in her companye / and in fayre aray they entred in to the 36 28 CH. XXII. | THE BRETHREN VISIT THE KING, Cyte. There had ye seen the feste begynne moch grete / and the trompettes & menestrels dooyng' theire crafte / And thrugh the stretes had ye sene folke of 4 grete honour that were moche wel and richely clothed, whiche cryed with a hye voys / ‘ha / a welcomme be ye, prynce vyctoryouws, of whom we hold and are aH sus- cited of the cruel seruytude & boundage of thenemyes 8 of our lord Jeshu Cryst.’ There had ye see ladyes & damoyselles at wyndowes in grete nombre / and thaun- cyent gentylman & burgeys were merueylled of the grete fyerste of the noble Vryan, that was al armed, the vysage dyscouered / a grene garland on his hed, an the swerd in his fyst. And the captain bare by- And whan they perceyued his fyers visage !they said be- 16 twene them self togidre /‘ that man is able and shappen for to subdue & putte vndre hym al the world.’ ‘ By my feyth,’ said the other, ‘he sheweth it wel, For he is entred into this toune lyke as he had conquerd it.’ 20 ‘In name of god,’ said other / ‘the rescue of the daun- ger of whiche he hath kept vs fro is worth & ynough for a conqueste.’ fore hym hys helmet on a tronchon of a spere. ‘Certaynly,’ said other, ‘thaugh his brother hath not so fyers a face, yet he semeth to be 24 man of wele & of faytte.’ And so talkyng of one thing & of other they conueyed pem vnto the paleys, where they alighted. And here resteth thystorye to speke ony more of the peuple / and bygynneth to speke how 28 the two brethern came byfore the king / Cap. XXIII. byfore the kinge, he beying in his bed syke. How Vryan & Guyon came 27 BNhystorye sayth now that the two brepern moche ) oo honourably came & made the reuevens to the kinge / and the kinge receyued them joyously / and thanked them moche gracyously of theire ayde & socours / 151 The welcome is great, what with inusic, shouting, decor- ations, and the press of people, The townsfolk are surprised at Urian’s fierce- ness, 1 fol. 87 b. and say he is able to subdue all the world. At length the brethren arrive at the palace, where they alight. 2 fol. 88. They make rever- ence to the King, who thanks them for the aid they have given him, and says they have saved his people from being either slain or perverted, and so he owes them a great reward, Urian replies that he wants none, as he desires only honour, and that the Catholic fuith may be strengthened, and says he would consider himself well repaid if he and his brother were dubbed knights. The King con- sents and orders mass to be said; 1 fol. 88 b, this done, Urian kneels before the King, asking as his reward the hon- our of knight- hood for himself and brother, THE KING OF CYPRUS. THANKS THE BRETHREN, [CH. XXIII. and said to them / that after god / they were they by whom he & al his reawme was suscited fro the moost cruel passage, & more fel pan eny deth, For yf they had not be, the paynemys had dystroyed them aH / 4 or had constrayned to be conuerted to theire fals lawe, whiche had be to vs wers & heuyer than ony deth cor- poraH, For they that to it had consented with herte, they had had for euermore dampnacéon eternel /‘ And g therefore, said the kyng, ‘it is rayson that I rewarde you to my power, For I haue none other wylle than to endeuoyre me perto / how be it certayn that I may not acomplysshe to the regarde of the grete honour 12 that ye haue me shewed / but lowly & humbly I be- seche you to take in worthe my lytil puyssaunce.’ ‘By my feyth, said Vryan, ‘of this ye ought not to doubte / For we be not come hither neytier to haue of you gold nor syluer / ne of your tounes, castels, ne landes / but only to seke honour and for to dystroye thenemyes of god, and to exalte the feyth catholical / and I wil, sire, that ye knowe that we hold owr peyne 20 wel employed, yf ye vouchesaaf to doo vs so moche of honour that ye wyl dowbe my brother & me knightes of your hand.’ ‘ By my feyth,’ said the king, ‘noble damoyseaulx, in asmoche as I am not worthy to acom- 24 plysshe your requeste, I consent to it / but first shal the masse be said.’ ‘Sire,’ said Vryan, ‘tha me semyth wel doon.’ 16 And thanne the chapellayne !was soone And thenze Vryan, hys brother, and aH other 2 deuoutly herde the messe & the seruyse deuyne, And after the deuyne seruyse Vryan came tofore the king. And thenne he drew the swerde out of the shede & kneled doun byfore the kyng, where he laye, and sayd 32 to hym in this manere: ‘Sire, I requyre you, for alle the salary of my seruyce that I haue doo or may doo in tyme to come, that ye vouchesaf to dowbe me knight with this swerde / and so shut ye haue wel 36 redy, CH. XXIII. | URIAN DUBBED KNIGHT, rewarded me of aH that ye say that my brother & I haue doo for you and for your realme ; For of the hand of a more valyaunt knyght and noble lord, I ne may ‘ By my feyth,’ said the kinge / ‘damoyseau, ye shew me 4 receyue the ordre of knighthede / than of yours.’ more honowr than ye owe me / and ye say moche more of me than euer I deserued. but sene I considered 8 that grete honowr is to me to dowbe you knight, I am agreable therto / but after that I haue acomplysshed your requeste, ye shaH couuenawnt with me yf it piayse you to graunte me a yefte, the whiche shal not 12 tourne you neyther to preiudice ne dommage, but only to your ryght grete prouffyt & honowr.’ ‘ By my feyth,’ said Uryan, ‘I am redy therto to acomplysshe your wille ? & playsire.’ Thenne had the kynge grete joye, and 16 dressyng hym to sytte vp, and toke the swerde by the pomel that Uryan toke hym, and therwzth dowbed hym knyght, sayeng, in this manere / ‘In the name of god, I adoube you & admytte you into thordre of a knyght, And penne gaf hym the swerd ayen, and thus makyng his wounde 20 prayeng god to putte from you aH euyH.’ opend, and out of it ranne blood thrugh 'the wraper, wherof Vryan was sory & woo, and so were a other 24 that sawe hym; but thenne the kyng layed hym self ayen along in his bed sodaynly, and said he felt none euyH. And after he commanded two knightes that they shuld fetche hys doughter / and they dide soo / And whan the kyng sawe her, he said thus / ‘ My doughter 28 and brought her at mandement of her fader. thank & remercye these noble men of thayde and so- coure that they haue doon to me & to you bothe, and 32 also to aH owr realme, For yf had not be the grace of cod & theire strengthe & puyssaunce we had be aH dystroyed, or at leste exilled out of owr land / or ellis vs to haue be conuertid to theire fals lawe that had be 36 wers and more importable to vs than to suffre deth 153 Before knighting him the King gets Urian to promise to give him a gift, the giving of which will not impover- ish Urian ; then in the name of God, the King dubs Urian knight. The exertion opens the King’s wound, 1 fol. 89. but he is eased by laying down ; then he sends for Hermine, and bids her thank the brethren ; 154 THE which she does much humbly, and is overcome by her feelings of sorrow for her futher and love tor Urian. Urian seeing her emotion, raises her, and bows to her.” The people say that were Urian to marry their lady, they would have no fear for the pagans, 1 fol. 89 b. The King tells of his approaching end, and seeing his daughter’s grief tries to console her, by promising to provide for her, KING PROMISES TO PROVIDE FOR HERMINE, [OH, XXIII. temporaH’ / And thenne she kneled byfore the two bretheren & salued them, & thanked moche humbly And wete it that she was in suche mane7e commouyd? as she had be rauysshed, and wyst not how to hold contenaunce, what for the woo & sorowe that she had at her herte of thanguysshe that her fader felt / as of the thoughtes that she toke for Uryan, in so moche that she was as a personne that is awaked newly fro her dreme. But thenne vryan, that wel perceyued that she had her spiryte troubled, toke her vp ryght swetely, and enclyned hymself byfore her, makyng' moche reuerence eche of them to other / and where as they of the countre said / ‘yf this noble man had take oure damoyselle to his lady wel it shuld come to passe, For thenne we shuld drede neyther payneme nor man that wold doo vs hurt. And thenne called the kyng his doughtir, and to her said thus: ‘My doughtir, sette you here !by me, For I deme that ye shall not long hold me company.’ And she thanne wepyng satte herself by hym. And thanne aH they that were there bygan to sorowe & wepe for the pyte they bad of the kyng', And also of the sorow that they sawe the virgyne, his doughter, made so pitously. hystory telleth vs that the kyng was sorowfuH whan he sawe hys doughter take such heuynes, and thenne he said amyably: ‘My doughtir, lete be your heuynes and your grete doulowr that ye take, I pray you, For that thing that may not be amended it is folye to make therof grete sorowe / notw7thstandyng it is raison naturel that eueryche creature be sorow- fut for hys frend & neyghbour whan that he lesith hym. but, and it playse god, I shal puruey for you so that ye shal hold you content, or I departe fro this mortal world, and so shaH aH the baronye of my realme’ / And penne bygan the mayde to wepe more Fr, esmeue, 12 16 20 URIAN CH. XXIII. } AND HERMINE TO BE WEDDED, haboundauntly than she dide to fore, And also all the barons demened suche woo & sorowe that it was pyte- ous for to see / but vryan and guyon were sorowfullest 4 of att. and the kyng perceyuyng! theire doulowr, he said to them: ‘Fayre doughter, and you, vryan and cuyon, this sorowe is not necessary to you, For ther- with I preuaylle not nor you neyther in no manere / 8 but it augmenteth my doulowr, wherfore I you com- mande that ye cesse of this heuynes yf ye loue me, and to haue me yet with you here alyue a lytil space of tyme.’ And thenne they bygan to cesse theyre 12 doulowr in theire best manere, for the wordes that the kyng' to them said. And ouer that spake the kynge hym self dressyng to vryan, and thus said: ‘ Sire knyght, thankyng be to you, ye couenaunted with me (16 a yefte whiche I purpose now to take / and pat shal neyther touche your cheuaunce nor honour.’ ¢ By my feyth, sayd Vryan, ‘demande what it playse you, For yf it be of that thing wherof I haue power I shal fulfyH 20 it voluntarily.’ ‘Gramercy sire,’ sayd the kynge, ‘ wete it that by this that I shal demande of you, shal retourne to you a noble thing Now, sire knight, I pray you that it may playse you to take my doughter in mary- 24 age, and aH my royalme with her / And fro this tyme ' fourth I gyue you fuH possessyon therof to doo ther- with your prouffyt’ / And wel veray & trouth it is that he had doo brought there the crowne / and with these ‘98 wordes he took it, & said / ‘ hold, Vryan, ne reffuse not my requeste that I desyre of you.’ Thenne were the barons of the land so joyous that teeris fel fro theire eyen for pyte & joye that they had therof. And : 32 whan Vryan vnderstode these wordes, he called a lytel remembraunce / and wete it wel he was sorowfuH & dolaunt therof. For he was wyllyng to seke the straunge But - 36 alwayes for as moche as he was accorded with the kynge countrees of the world and poursiewe for honour. 155 Hermine’s sor- row causes her to weep more, and all the Barons sympa- thize with her. But the King tells them all that their sorrow will not avail, and that it in- creases his pain, and so they become calin, The King re- minds Urian of the promised gift, 1 fol. 90. who says he is ready to fulfil his promise. The King then asks Urian to take his daughter in marriage, and his kingdom in fee. Urian wishing to see more of the world, hesitates, 156 The Baron asks him if he refuses the gift? He replies, no; and takes the crown and puts it in Hermine’s lap, which gladdens the King and Barons, 1 fol. 90 b. Hermine says she will see the end of her father’s sickness before proceeding farther ; but the King upbraids her as desiring his death, upon which she kneels at the King’s feet, and promises to obey him, The King bids her leave her sorrow and decorate the hall of the palace, and prepare a feast, THE FEAST OF THE KING. [cH. XXIII. of the yefte, he wold not gaynsaye it / And whan the barons sawe hym so pensefuH they cryed al with a hye voyce ryght pyteously / ‘ha /a then, noble man, wilt thou reffuse the kinges requeste?’ ‘ By my feyth, lordes & barons,’ said Uryan, ‘no more shal I doo.’ Thenne enclyned Uryan byfore the kyng wher he laye, and toke the croune and putte it in Ermynes lap, sayeng / ‘Damoyselle, it is your, and sith it hath fortuned thus with me, I shaH you helpe to kepe it my lyf naturel, yf it playse god ayenst al them that wold vsurpe it or putte it in subgection.’ Thenne was the kinge joyful And after he dide make come the archebysshop of the Cite that asuryd and glad, & so were al the barons. them togidre. But Ermyne !said she wold see first the termynaczon of her faders syknes or she shuld procide ony ferther. Thanne said Vryan, ‘ damoyselle, sith that it playseth you to doo so I am agreable therto.’ Thenne was the kyng woofuH & dolaunt, and said: ‘Fayre doughter Ermyne, ye shew wel pat lytel ye loue me, whan that thinge which I desire moost to see afore myn ende ye ne wyl acomplysshe. Now wel I see that ye desyre my deth.” Whan pe mayde vnderstode hym she was ryght dolaunt & sorowfuH / and wepyng kneeled byfore the king, hir fader, and said in this manere: ‘ My right redoubted lord & fader / there nys thing in the world that I shuld reffuse you vnto myn ‘Ye say now,’ said the king, ‘as a true doughtir ought to owne deth / commande you me yowr playsire.’ say, that is wylling for to kepe her fader from wrathe & fyre. I now thanne commande you that ye leue your sorowe, and lete this halle to be dressid and with ryche clothes hanged, and make the masse to be said / and aftir the deuyne seruise do make the tables to be couered, and after dyner make here byfore me the feste as that I were now on my feet; For wete it wel / that shal helpe & comforte me wel.’ 16 24 285 And thenne they aH 36 CH. XXIV. ] THE MARRIAGE OF URIAN AND HERMINE. endeuoyred them self to fulfyH this that he com- manded. Thenne was the masse said, and sate them self at dyner / & Ermyne was sette at a table that was 4 layed byfore her faders bedd / and Vryan with her, And Guyon serued Ermyne of mete. Thanne had the king grete joye, but he made betre semblaunt than his herte was of power, For certayn what chere that he 8 made he felt grete peyne & grete dolowr, For the venym that was within the wounde caused grete putrefyeng & rotyng of his flesshe / but for to rejoye the baronnye he made no semblaunt of no sorow ne tdoulewr / and 12 after dyner bygan the feest, and lasted til nyght came. The king thanne called to hym vryan, and said, ‘ Fayre sone, I wyl ye wedde my doughter to morne, and I wyl delyuere vnto you the Crowne and Ceptre of this Wher- fore I wil that alle the barons of pis land make theire 16 realme, For wete it I may not long be alyue. homage to you byfore my deth.’ ‘Sire,’ said vryan, ‘sith that playseth you / your wylle & myne be one’ / 20 And there was Ermyne present pat refussed not to fulfylle her faders wyH. Cap. XXIV. How Vryan espoused Ermyne, doughter vnto the kinge of Cypre. 124 N the morne next, about the hooure of tierce, was the spouse appareylled & rychely arayed, and the chappeH nobly hanged with riche cloth of gold, And the Archebysshop of Famagoce espoused them there. 98 And after came Vryan before the kyng ?that toke the Crowne, and ther withaH crouned vryan, that moche of thankes rendred to the kynge therfore. Thenne called the king to hym aH the barons of pe lande / and 32 commanded them to make theire hommage to kyng Vryan, his sone / and they voluntarily dide soo. And the masse than bygan, and after it was doo they satte 157 After mass the company dine, which pleases the King, though he is in great pain from his wound, 1 fol. 91. The feast over, the King tells Urian that he wishes him to marry Hermine the rext day, and te havc tie Boecism ke homaet te iin, In the morning the marriage takes place, 2 fol. 91 5. Urianis crowned, and the Barons of the land render homage to him. s 158 A great feast is given, after which the espoused retire. Urian and the Barons from Poitou visit the King, who welcomes them, The King tells his daughter that he will die more easily, 1 fol. 92. having married her to a valiant prince, Mass is said, DEATH OF THE KING OF CYPRUS. fou. XXIV. at dyner / and syn bygan the feste right grete, and en- dured tyl euen / and after souper begane ayen the feste / and whan tyme was the spouse was lede to bed / and anone aftir Vryan layed hym self by her / 4 and the bysshop came & lhalowed the bed / And so thenne aH departed / some went to bed / and some re- tourned ayen for to daunce. And Vryan laye with his wyf, and her acqueyntaunce toke curtoysly & wel /8 And on the morne they came ayen tofore the kynge / the masse anoone was bygone. And thither was the queene conueyed & lede of guyon her brother, and by one of the moost highe barons of the lande. 13) di this parte sheweth vs thistorye, that on pe next morne after about the hooure of pryme, kyng vryan acompanyed wit the baronnye of poytou and of the royalme of Cipre, came byfore the king and enclyned 16 hym self & salued hym right humbly. ‘ Fayre sone, ye be welcome,’ said the kyng. ‘Iam ful joyous of your commyng / make my doughter to come, so shul we here the deuyne seruyse.’ Thenne came his doughtir 20 Ermyne, wel nobly acompanyed of many ladyes & damoyselles / and she come byfore her fader & salued hym full humbly. Thenne said he to her: ‘My wel beloued doughter, ye be welcome. I am right wel joy- 24 ous whan god hath don to me suche a grace, that I have | purueyed you of so hye a prynce & worthy knyght to your lord / and wete it that therfore I shal dey more easely sith that you and al my land is out of the 28 daunger of the paynemes, and no doubte ye haue to your protection and wraunt a prynce worthy & valyaunt, that right wel shal kepe and defende you ayenst alt your euyl willers, and in especial anenst thinfideles & 32 enemys of Ieshuerist.’. And w7th that worde the Chape- layn bygan the masse. And whan the masse was celebred & said, the kyng callid to hym Vryan & — Ermyne, & to them said in this manere: ‘My fayre 36. CH. XXIV.] URIAN’S PROGRESS THROUGH MIS KINGDOM. children, ryght affettuously I pray you that ye thinke to loue, kepe, and honoure wel eche other / and to hold & bere good feyth one to other, For nomore I may 4 hold you companye. Now thanne I recommande you to the blysfuHl kyng of heuen, prayeng hym deuoutely that he gyue you peas & loue togidre, and honourable lyf & long.’ And with these or semblable wordes he 8 shette hys eyen and departed fro this mortal lyf so swetly that they supposed that he had be aslepe / But whan they were certayn of his deth the doulewr & sorowe bygan to be grete. Thenne was Ermyne had 12 in to her Chambre, For she demened such sorowe that grete pite it was to see. The kynge thennre was buryed and his obsequyes doon ryally, and in the moost hon- ourable guyse that coude be deuysed after the vse and 16 custome.of the land. And wete it that aH the peple was sorowfuH & dolaunt; but they took comfort of this, that they had founde & recoueved a lord ful of so erete prowesse as Vryan was / and lytel & lytil cessed 20 the lawmenting & heuynes. And soone after yede Vryan thrugh al his realme to see and visite the places & fortres / and betoke one part of his folke to Guyon, his brother / and another part to the maister of Nodes, 24 and made them to be shipped on the see, for to wete & knowe, for to here & knowe yf they shuld here ony tydynges that paynemes were on the see for to Jande in his lande. ‘For wete it wel, said the king’ vryan, 28 ‘that we purpose ne think not to abyde tvnto tyme they fetche vs, For we shaH & god before goo & vysyte them within short tyme, after that we haue ouerseen the rule & gouernaunce of owr land.’ And forasmoch 32 departed Guyon & the maister of Rodes, & rowed on the see with thre thousand fyghting men. And here leueth thistorye of them / and bygynneth to shewe how Vryan & Ermyne went and vysited theire land. the dying King gives his blessing to his children, and then departs this mortal life in peace, Great sorrow is felt by all, especially by Hermine, The King is buried, and the people seeing the bravery of their new lord, cease their lamenting. Urian visits the towns of his reali, and sends some of his men to learn tidings of the pagans. 1 fol. 92 b. 160 Urian and his wife are well received in their land, and his subjects marvel at his strength, He reappoints honest officers, and commands Justice to be well kept. Afterwards the King and Queen return to Famagoce. 1 fol. 98. Guion and the Master of Rhodes searching on the sea for the pagans, URIAN’S PROGRESS THROUGH HIS KINGDOM. [oH. XXIV. hystory saith that king Vryan, with Ermyne hys wyf, yede & vysited theire land al about, and full gladly & honourably they were receyued in euery burghe, toune, & Cite where they passed / and grete 4 yeftes were presented to them / And wete it that Vryan purueyed ryght wel to aH hys fortres, of aH suche thinges that were necessary for the werre yf some And for trouth euery 8 one was meruaylled of his heyght, of his fyersnes, & of his puyssaunce & strengthe of body. And wel said thing befeH in tyme to come. ‘the men of the Countree, that ferdfuH & daungerows thing was to cause his wrath & anger. And thus went 12 Vrian fro place to place thrughe his royalme. And suche officers that. made rayson & kept justice, he lefte them in their offices stil / but to al oper that operwyse dide than right requyreth, he purueyed of remede by 16. good & meure deliberacton of his counseiH. And com- manded euery one to make raison & Justice in al tymes, as wel to the leste as to the moost, wzthout to bere eny fauour to ony of eyther partye / and yf they contrary 20 did to this hys wyH, he shuld punyssh them so cruelly that al other shuld take ensample therby. And thene. he, his lady, & his folke retourned to Famagoce / and the quene was grete with child / And now resteth 24 thystorye of them, and speketh of Guyon and of the maister of Rodes, that rowed on the see by the Costes of Surye, of Damask, of Baruth, of Tupple, & of Danette, for to knowe yf paynemes were on the see 28 or not. , ow saith thistorye, that so long sailled & rowed N the Crystens on the see, that they sawe aprouch as of a leghe nygh to them a certayn quantite of shippes, 32. but by liklyhode they might not be grete nombre. Thenne they sent a Galleye toward owr folke that al redy were in ordynaunce to wete what they were / but the galey came so nygh that the cristens, our folke, 36 CH. XxIv.] GUION LANDS IN ARMENIA. toke it / and by them knew and vnderstode almaner of tydynges. Oure folke thanne halid vp saylles hastly, and saylled anone toward theire enmys. And whan the 4 paynemes perceyued them they were moch abasshed, and gretly aferd, and wend wel to haue withdraw them self in to the hauen of Baruth / but our galeyes ad- There 8 was grete occysion / and shortly to say the paynemes uaunced them, and ran vpon them by al sydes. were dyscomfyted, and their nauye take / and aH were cast ouerbord or slayne. And the nauye was ful of grete goodes. And after owr barons putte them self in 12 the sce ayen for to haue retourned in to Cypre. but by fortune & strengthe of wyndes they were cast to Cruly! in Armanye. And whan the king of Armanye, that was brother vnto the kinge of Cipre, knewe theire 16 commyng, he sent anone for to wete what folke they, were / And the master of Rodes said to them that came to wete what they wer: ‘Telle the kyng that it is the brother of Vryan of Lusynen, kyng of Cypre, 20 that hath trauersed the see for to wete & knowe yf paynemes were on it in armes, for to haue come vpon the Cypryens for cause of the saudan that hath be dycomfyted & slayn, and al his folke at the grete batayH 24 of Famagoce.’ ‘How,’ said they of Armanye, ‘is there ony other kyng in Cypre than our kingis brother?’ ‘ By my feyth,’ said the maister of Rodes, ‘ye / For the king 2was wounded with a dart enwenymed by the 28 sawdans hand in so mortal a wyse that he is deed therof, and he beying yet alyue, he gaf his doughtir in maryage to Vrian of Lusynen, that slew the saudan & dyscomfyted alt his folk.” Whan they thanne vnder- 32 stode hym, they yede & denounced it to theire kyng, which was sorowful of the deth of his brother. but not withstandyng, he came toward the see syde with a grete company, and entred in to the vessel where 1 Zruli in Fr. ed. Afterwards spelt Crudi. MELUSINE, 1¢1 take a galley and learn the pagans’ whereahouts, They set out for the fight, and gain a victory, and set sail for Cyprus ; but are driven by wind to Cruly in Armenia. The King of tlie land sends to know who they are, and is sent word that it is the brother of the King of Cyprus. The King of Armenia asks if there is a new King in Cyprus, 2 fol. 93 b. and the Master of Rhodes relates how Urian be- came King there. 162 The King of Armenia visits the fleet of Guion, and invites him to his palace, which courtesy is accepted, The King of Armenia is a widower, whose heir is Flory, 1 fol. 94, This lady was joyful at the visit of the strangers, and dressed her self and maids richly to receive them, Can. THE KING OF ARMENIA’S HEIR FLORY. [ou. XXIV. And whan guyon wyst of his commyng he went ayenst hym, and Thenne said the king to the grete Pryour of Rodes, ‘ Maister, sethen 4 Guyon and the maister of Rodes were in. eche to oper made grete reuerence. this yong damoyseau is brother vnto my nyghtis lord, I were vneurteys whan he is arryued in my land, yf I receyued hym not honourably as to hym apparteyneth. And of this I pray you, that ye vouchesaf to pray hym 8 on my behalf, that it playse hym to come in to our paleys, and we shal doo to hym the best chere that we ’ By my feyth,’ said the grete Pryour / ‘that shal I doo gladly.’ Thanne he spak therof to guyon, 12 whiche ansuerd to hym right gladly, ‘I wold doo a greter thinge yf it lay in my power for the kyngis sake. And thenre they went togider / and guyon lede with hym a fayre 16 For good feyth & rayson requyreth it, companye of knightes / but alwayes they had theire cotes of stele on pem, and were in right good aray, as folke vsed to the faytte of armes. And here speke I no more of pem, And shal speke of Florye the 20 doughter of the kynge of Armanye. / historye sayth that the kynge of Armanye had a doughter, and none other children / but here. 1And the quene, his wyf, was deed / and wete it pat 24 this kyng and the kyng of Cypre had to theire spouses the two susters that were doughters to the kyng of Malegres / and eche of them gate a doughtir on their wyues / of the whiche Ermyne that Vryan spoused 28 was one / and that other was the pucelle florye of whome I haue bygonne to traytte. She was that tyme ‘at Cruly ryght glad & joyous of the commyng of She appareylled and arayed her self 32 Soone the straungers. moche richely, and so dide aH her damoyselles. after came the kynge her fader / guyon / the maister of Rodes, & theire felawship, and entred in to the toune, and came to the palleys in to the grete halle. 36 ——— a = CH. XXIV. ] GUION FALLS IN LOVE WITH FLORY. And thenve Florye, that moch desyred theire com- myng, came there, and humbled herself moche ayenst her fader / and the kyng said to her, ‘Cherysshe and 4 doth feste to this noble men, & receyue them honour- ably / and in especiall the brother of my nyghtis lord & husband,’ was full glad & joyous. And whan the mayde vnderstode that, she She thenne came to guyon / 8 toke hym by the hand swetly, & sayd: ‘Sire damoy- seau, ye be right welcome in to my faders royalme.’ ‘Damoyselle, sayd Guyon, ‘gramercy to you.’ There / bygan thenne the feest right grete & fayre / and wel 12 they were festyed, & seruyd with dyuerse meetes & wynes / and betwix guyon & Florye were many honeste & gracyous talkyng. and wete it for certayn yf guyon had had Jeyser, he had dyscouered his thoughte to 16 her. but while they were in that grete solace & joye, a galeye arryued to the port that came fro Rodes / and they that were within were receyued honourably of them of the toune / and joyful & right glad they were Wher- fore one of them said to the peuple there, ‘ Sires, 20 whan they knew that theire maister was there. vouchesauf to lede one of vs there !the lordes befor, to aduertyse them of paynemes that ben vpon the see 24 in grete nombre.’ Thanne was a knight brought there the maister of Rodes was / and said to hym, that paynemes with grete nauye were passed byfore the yle of Rodes / and had taken the wind & waye toward 28 Cypre / and how men said that the Calyphe of Bandas with aH hys puyssaunce & power was there. Whan the maister of Rodes vnderstode these tydynges, he went & told Guyon of it. 32 hym self as constrayned, humbly said to the pucelle, Wherfore, guyon seeyng ‘Damoyselle, right hertily I beseche you that ye vouchesaf, sethen I moste departe your presens, to cat me ofte in your temembraunce / For as to my part, 36 your vassal & seruawnt shal I euer be vnder the 163 She takes Guion by the hand, and welcomes him to the land, A fair feast is served, and Guion and Flory have much gracious speech together, News comes from Rhodes 1 fol. 94 5. that the pagans are at sea, witha great navy sailing towards Cyprus. Guion, on learn- ing this, bids Flory_farewell, and asks her not to forget him. M 2 164 The sudden part- ing makes her sad, Guion sets sail, watched by Flory from a high tower. The Caliph of Bandas and the King of Brandy- mount resolve to avenge the slaughter of the Sultan. 1 fol. 95. Thinking there was no King in Cyprus, they sail there, but are seen, and Urian is warned, and prepares to receive them. GUION SAILS AGAINST THE SARACENS, [cH. XXIV. standart of your gouernance.’ Florye thanne knowyng for certayn his soudayn departyng, her herte was fylled with dueyl & sorowe / how wel she kept contenawnce in the best manere that she coude / and louyngly be- 4 held guyon, whiche toke his leue of her fader, that conueyed hym to the see side, and grete peple with hym. There thenne entred guyon in to his ship, and commanded the sailles shuld be had vp to the wynde, 8 that was good & propyce to them. And wete that Florye was mounted vp vnto the vppermost wyndowe ‘of an hye tour, and neuer departed thens tyl she lost the sight of guyons vessel, prayeng god to preserue 12 hym from al daunger. / hystorye recounteth & saith here that the Caliphe of Bandas, and the kinge of Brandymount in tharse, that was uncle to the saudan of Damaske, herde 16 tydynges how the sawdan was slayn, and al his folke putte to grete dyscomfyture in the yle of Cypre. Wher- fore they beyng full sory therof assembled anone theire power / and purposyng to auenge his deth entred theire 20 shippes, and toke theire way toward Cypre / and ! they supposyng the Cypryens had be without king, hyed them fast thitherward in suche maneve that they shuld not be perceyued where as they shuld arryue. but pey 24 of Rodes perceyued them, and made knowleche perof vnto kyng Vryan, that alredy had assembled his peple, and putte them in aray for to receyue the batayH. and morouer had made good ordonnaunce and gardes for the 28 portes, that assoone as they shuld perceyue them com- myng to the hauen, that they shuld make a token of fyre, wherby the Countrey might perceyue the commyng of theire enmyes, and euery man to be redy in armes 32 thitherward / and so was the kingis proclamaczon vpon deth. And wete it that the king kept the feldes in the myddes of the portes of his royalme for to be the sooner at the porte where the sarrasyns shuld 36 CH. XXIV. ] THE STORM AT SEA. arryue to take theire landing / And the king made so grete moustre & semblaunt that he gaf his peple so grete courage, that with hym & his enterpryse they 4 durst wel fight with the Caliphe, and with his puys- saunce. It happned so, by the grace of god, that the see was enragid thrugh the stormes and _ horryble tempeste, that the sarrasyns were al -dysmayed & 8 abasshed / and the tempeste casted them in suche wyse here & there, that within short tyme they ne wyst where eyghte of theire galeyes were become. And on the morowe about the hooure of pryme, thayer was al 12 clere, and the wynd cessed, and the sonne shone fayre & clere / thenne the grete shippes of the paynemes held them togidre, & toke theire way vnto the port of Lymasson. And of them I leue to speke / and shal 16 shew you of the viii vessels that were sparpylled by the tempeste, and what way they held / and in thoo vessels was alt thartyllery of the paynemes, as gonnes, bowes, arowes / ladders / paueys, & such habylements 20 of werre 1as they had / and so it fortuned that guyon and the maister of Rodes with theire puyssaunce re- but whan oure peple knewe that they were sarasyns / and the countred them, and perceyued eche other. 24 sarasyns knew that they were crysten peuple / they bygane eche of them to lye and bord other with shotte of gonnes & crosbowes / and whan they were chayned togidre they threw darts as thikk as hayle 28 stones / and the batayH was so grete, hard, & stronge / but guyon, the maister of Rodes, & theire puyssaunce assaylled so manfully the paynemes that they knew not to what part they shuld tourne them to defende, 32 For our peuple that were in the galeyes faught so mightly that the paynemes were as dycomfyted. There might men here them crye on theire goddes / nat that And 36 thanne whan theire admyraH, that was maister of the withstanding they were dyscomfyte & slayne. A storm causes great damage to the Saracen fleet ; but on the mor- row they sail to the port of Lymasson, Hight galleys full of stores, belong- ing to the Sara- cens, sparpilled by the tempest, 1 fol. 95 b. were met by the Master of Rhodes, who attacked them, and fought so well as to defeat the pagan sailors, 166 The admiral seeing he is defeated, leaves the fleet in a boat accom- panied with eight persons. The Christians enter the ene- mny’s vessels, and throw over- board or take prisoners the Saracens, The spoils are divided, Guion sending his share to Flory, 1 fol. 96. and to her father the King of Armenia, The King wel- comes Guion’s knight, who con- veys the present, and Flory is very joyful, for she loves Guion much, The King of Arménia learns from his Saracen prisoners that their comrades have gone to Cyprus, GUION DEFEATS THE SARACENS. [oH. XXIV. artylery, sawe the dycomfiture tourned vpon them /. he made to be haused a lytel galyote out of the grete galeye with viii hores / and so entred he and eyghte personnes with hym of the secretest / and toke thauen- 4 ture of the wynd / & rowed so mightly that our peuple meruaylled perof / but they made neuer semblaunce to pursiew them / but entred into the paynemes vessels, & bygan to cast alle ouerbord., but they toke to the 8 nombre of ij C sarasyns prysonners / wherof guyon gaf oo hondred to the maister of Rodes to make them cristen, and also two galeyes / and guyon toke the other hondred sarasyns and two of the moost richest 12 vessels that they had wonne, and toke it to a knyght of Rodes / and thus said to hym, ‘ Conduyte me this two galeys, and pis houndred sarrasyns to Cruly, and recommand me to the kinge & his doughtir / and on 16 my byhalue tpresente to the pucelle Florye this two vessels as they are garnysshed / and to the kyng the houndred sarasyns.’ Wherof the knyght toke the charge & departed, & hasted hym tyl he came to the 20 Cite of Cruly / and dide his message as he was youen in commandement / and recounted to them the grete dyscomfyture and the valyaunt conduyte of guyon. ‘By my feyth,’ said the kynge, ‘ye be welcome, and 24 thanking! be to that noble damoyseau’ / And the pucelle was so joyous of these nouvelles that she had neuer in her naturel lyf so grete joye. For knowe ye wel she loued so entierly guyon pat att her joye was of hym, 28 The king thanne & his doughter yaf to the knight a riche jewel, wherof he thanked pem, and toke leue of them, & retourned hastly to Rodes. And anone, after hys departyng, the kyng of Armenye questyoned with 32 the paynemes where. the armee of the Calyphe was / and they said in Cipre to reuenge the deth of the sawdan of Damaske that the Cipryens had slayn in batayH. ‘Par ma foy, sayd the kyng, ‘as for you, ye 36 16 toward Cypre. CH, XXIV. | CALIPH OF BANDAS ASSAULTS LYMASSON. haue faylled of your enterpryse’ / And thenne he com- manded that they shuld be feteryd with yrons, and to be putte in to parfounde pryson / and the two vessels 4 to be descharged, and aH the goodes that were in to be borne into the Castel. It is now tyme that I speke of guyon and of the maister of Rodes, that had ques- tyoned the sarasyns wher the Calyphe -purposed to 8 land / and they said in Cypre. Guyon thenne by thauys and CounseyH of his barons for cause they had many vessels & lytel nombre of peuple / commanded that al thartylery that they had wonne shuld be putte 12 into theire shippes / and also al other thinges that were of nede to them / and the remanaunt & the vessels also / lhe gaf to the maister of Rodes that sent them to Rodes. And whan this was don they saylled, & hasted pem And here leueth thystory to spek of them / and retourneth to speke of the galyote where thadmyraH was in, where it became or toke porte. /. hystory sayth that the kyng brandymount & the Calyphe of Bandas were sorowfuH for peir losse & grete dommage / and so longe rowed thadmyral on 20 the see that he perceyued the port of Lymasson, & sawe grete nauye byfore the toune. And whan he came 24 somewhat nygh he herd shotte of gonnes & sowne of trompettes, and soone after he knew that it was pe Calyphe of Bandas and his armee, & the puyssaunce of kyng brandymount of tharse,? that. assaylled them of 28 the toune for to take it. But there was the Captayne of the place & his peple® wel paueysed, that valyauntly deffended the porte in so moche that the sarasyns gat there nought / but lost many of their men, and 32 wysshed ofte aftir theire galeyes with theire gonnes & artyllery that were sprad on the see by the tempeste / they wyst not where. Thenne came to them thadmyral that thus said on hye: ‘By my feyth, Calyphe, woo 2 Fr, Tarche, 3 Fr, w. pjatout bons pavars. 167 as does Guion. Guion ships the spoils of the victory, 1 fol. 96 b. and sets sail for Cyprus, The boat contain- ing the admiral and eight men is rowed to Lymas- son, where the sound of battle is heard. The Captain of Lymasson de- fends his port well, and the Saracens wish for their artillery from the eight vessels, which they think are still at sea. 168 The admiral announces to the Caliph the defeat and loss of his vessels. He is grieved, and says that Fortune sleeps for them, but favours the Christians. 1 fol. 97. The admiral ad- vises the Caliph not to show his grief for the reverse, else his army will lose courage ; and that he should withdraw to the port of St. Andrew, where it will be easier to land, The Caliph gives up the attack, and sets sail for St. Andrew, followed by a rampin from Lymasson, sent to learn the movements of the Saracens. THE CALIPH RETREATS, may be to you, For your nauye that I conduyted is lost & take, For the Cristen recountred vs vpon the see, and haue dyscomfyted vs / and none is scaped but only we {CH. XXIV. that are here / and at oo word al is lost / for to hold 4 you long compte therof that shuld preuayll you nought.’ Thenre whan the Calyphe vnderstode hym he was sorow- ful & dolawnt. ‘By my feyth,’ said he / ‘ lordis, here ben heuy tydinges. For wel I see that Fortune slepeth as to owr help / and so hath he doo leng / but fauour- able & moche propice it is as now to erysten peple, For wel it appereth presently by vs / and so dide but of late by our Cousyn the saudan, the which & al hys peuple also haue be slayn or dyscomfyte in the same yle of Cypre.’ Thenne said the admyral to hym: ‘ Sire, yf ye anounce or shew semblaunce of abasshement by- fore your folke that shal cause them to be half dyscom- fyte / and ouermore knowe ye to this that I perceyue of them of this porte & toune, that they be not shappen to lete you arryue & entre theire land without sore fyghting and grete sawtes gyuyng. For they shew not to be aferd of your puyssaunce. therfore I wold aduyse & counseyH you, that we shaH withdraw vs into the hye see, & lete coule them self / and about the spryng of the day we shalbe at a lytel porte that not ferre is hens called the port of saynt Andrew / and there with out ony deffense or gaynsayeng we may take land.’ And this they dide. And whan the Captayn of Lymas- son sawe hys enmyes departe, he made a rampyn or smal galeye to folow them of. ferre, pat it coude not be perceyued of them / and aspyed how at euen they ancred aboute » myle nygh to saynt Andrews porte. 12 16 24 28 > Thanne retourned the rampyn hastly toward Lymas- 32 son / and to the captayne recounted al that he had seen / Thenne made the captayn fyre to be putte high vpon the garde for maneve of token / and whan they of the nerest garde or watching place sawe the token of 36 CH. XXxI¥. | THE ATTACK ON ST. ANDREW, fyre / soone after fyre was made fro. garde to garde, that knowleche was therof thrugh aH the royalme. Thenne every man, what on foot & on horsbake, drew 4 them self to the place where kyng Vryan was, that al redy had sent hys espyes to knowe wher the paynemes shuld land, and manded to euery captayne they shuld kepe & defend wel theire fortresses / ‘ For,’ said he, 8 ‘yf it playse god none of them shal not repasse the see. And here resteth the thystorye to speke of kynge Vryan / and bygynneth to speke of the Caliphe. / if this partye sheweth thistorye / that the sarasyns 12 that were entred in to the see / as soone as pey apperceyued the day spryng, they deceueryd, & toke vp theire ancres, and came al in oo flotte to the porte, & there landed. And wete it wel, that they of thabbey 16 of saynt andrew perceyued them wel, the whiche im- mediatly made knowleche to Lymasson / and the Cap- tayne of pe place gaf vnto the. kyng' knowlech ther- of / the which had grete joye therof / and fourthwith $20 bygan to apparayH hym to go to batayH. And the Calyphe, hys enemy, made to be putte a land his artylery out of the shippes / and dide make hys lodgis therby, as it were half a leghe fro the port, vpon a 224 grete ryuere at a cornere of a lytel wode, to refresshe hym & his peple also; and lefte foure thousand men within the shippes, for theire sauegarde / and in the meane saison guyon / the maister of Rodes, & theire 28 peuple arryued to Lymasson / where men said to them | how the sarasyns had landed / and how theire nauye was a leghe fro saynt Andrewes porte, ‘ By my feyth,’ sayd Guyon, ‘ we shal thanne goo & vysyte them / For 32 who that might take them fro the sarasyns, none of | them shuld neuer retourne foot, in sury nor in tharsy’ / and in these wordes sayeng, they putte them in to the see, & went lightly sayllyng', that they came so nygh }: 36 the panemes that they sawe the porte of saynt Andrew, 169 The alarm is given throughout Cyprus, and spies are sent to learn where the Sara- cens will land, 1 fol. 97 5. The Saracens at daybreak weigh their anchors and land their men and artillery at St. Andrew, Word is at once sent to Urian of their landing ; and Guion learns that their navy is unprotected, so sets out to capture the Saracen fleet, 170 THE CALIPH’S FLEET CAPTURED. [CH. XXIV, and the grete nombre of shippes that were there. Thenne they putte themself in aray and in good ordyn- aunce / and this done, they rane vpon theire enemys as thondre & tempeste, smyttyng' vpon the shippes of 4 the sarasyns byforce of shotte so horrybly, that yl 1 fol. 98. bestade were the sarasyns, that wel happy was he !that myght recouere the land. And by that meane were and succeeds, the shippes take / and al the sarasyns that were take 8 were putte to deth. Thanne guyon sent to the abbey foyson of them that he had wonne of the sarasyns / taking many and brought to Lymasson with them as many galeyes he & shippes as there were laden with the goodes of the 12 _ sarasyns, except suche as they brent. And pe other Rogen oo that escaped, came to thoost of theire lord, eryeng with bee Wek a hye voys alarme / and recounted & said how the Cristen had by force & strengthe discomfited them, 16 Thenre was the oost gretly mevyd, & came to the port who best coude, and fonde many of theire peuple ded, and som were hyd in the busshes. And whan the naar Calyphe perceyued & sawe this grete dommage, he was 20 iim doleful, moche dolaunt. ‘By machomete,’ said he to kyng He says thatit Brandymount, ‘these Cristen that are come hither fro knights say they Fraunce, ben ouermoche hardy & appert men in armes, harm. and yf they soiowrne long* here it shal be to our grete 24 dommage’ / ‘By machomet,’ said the kyng Brandy- King Brandy- mount, ‘I shal neuer deporte fro this land vnto tyme I mount swears he will remain to be al dyscomfyted, or pat I haue put them to flyght, & be either victor ry or conquered, — hrought to an euyl enc.’ ‘No more shal I doo,’ ansuerd 28 The Saracens Caliphe. ‘Thenne pey recouered there six of theire save six galleys NEY from thefire galeyes, & eschiewed pem fro the fyre, and lefte in it good wardes for to kepe them ; and after they retourned to theire peple. And here cesseth thystorye of them / 32 and retourneth to speke of Vryan / ow sheweth thistorye how the kyng Vryan was lodged in a fayre medow vpon a ryuere, in that self place where the fourragers of the sawdan were 36 CH. XXIV. | . PREPARING FOR BATTLE. dyscomfyted at the brydge, as before is said. And had sent his espyes to haue knowlege where his enemyes had take theyre lodgys / And thenne came ! the: 4 maister of Rodes, whiche alighted byfore the kinges pauyllon, whom he made reuevence moche honourably. And the king, that was moche joyous of his commyng, receyued hym benyngly, and demanded of hym how 8 guyon his brother dyde. ‘ By my feyth, sire,’ said the maister of Rodes, ‘ wel / as the moost assurest man that euer I knew. Sire, he recommandeth hym to you as affectually as he may.’ ‘Nowe telle me,’ said the king, 12 ‘how ye haue doo syn that ye departed from ys?’ And the maister recounted hym fro braunche to braunche aH thauentures that had happed to them. ‘By my feyth,’ said the kyng, ‘ye haue worthyly vyaged; I 16 thanke & lawde my Creatour therof / and as for myn vnele, pe kynge of Armanye, I am moche glad that ye lefte hym in good prosperyte. but we most haue aduys of owr CounseyH, to see how we may dystroye 20 the Sarasyns / and as touching me & my peple, I am redy to departe for to approuche to them, For to long they haue soiowrned in owr land w7thout to haue assayed vs. goo thanne toward my brother, and telle hym that 24 I departe for to goo ayenst the paynemes.’ The maister thanne toke leue of king Vryan, and hastly retourned to Lymasson / and immedyatly the king & his peuple marched fourth, tyl they came & lodged them a leghe 28 nygh to the Calyphes oost, vaknowyng the paynemes of it. And the maister of Rodes came to guyon, and told hym how the kyng was departed for to recountre & fyght with the sarasyns ; wherfore guyon commanded 32 his trompettes to blow, and departed fro Lymasson in fayre aray; & came vnto a ryuere, and lodged hym therby, vpon the which ryuere were the paynemes lodged, & no distaunce or space was hetwene them (36 & their enemyes, but a *high mountayne. And now 17} Urian sends spies to find his ene- mies’ camp, 1 fol. 98 b, The Master of Rhodes visits the King, and tells him of Guion’s bravery, and brings Guion’s regards ; and also tells of their adventures. Urian says he may have the advice of his council how best to overcome the Saracens, and sends back the Master to Guion. King Urian marches his peo- ple within a league of the Saracen host. The master of Rhodes gives Guion the King’s message, and then Guion also marches his men near the Saracens, 2 fol. 99. 172 Urian and a knight prepare to recon- noitre, Urian tells the barons that they are to obey the orders of the knight, who is with him, until his own return, The knight leads the King to a high hill, where he sees some vessels, his’ brother’s and the Saracen host. 2 fol. 99 b.° He does not recognize his brother’s army, KING URIAN RECONNOITRES THE ENEMY. [oH. XXIV. resteth thistorye of hym, and retourneth to speke of Vryan his brother. A fee sayth that kyng Vryan desired moch to knowe where the sarasyns were lodged / also to 4 haue true knowlege of theire conuyne; wherfore he called to hym a knyght, that knew wel al the Countrey, and said to hym: ‘ putte on your harneys, and take the surest hors that ye haue, and come alone here byfore 8 my pauyllon: and telle nobody of it /.& ye shal come with me there as I shal lede you’ / and anone the knight dide his commandement / and wel horsed & armed retowrned to hym byfore hys tente, wher he 12 fonde king vryan redy on horsbak, the which said to some of his barons, ‘Sires, meue not your self fro this place tyl ye haue tydinges of me / but yf I cam not hither ayen / loke ye doo that I shal lete you wete by 16 this knyght.’ And they ansuerd that so shuld they doo / ‘but take good hede,’ sayd they agayn, ‘ where ye goo’ / ‘be not in doubte therfore,’ said vryan to them / And thenne they departed ; and Vryan said to 20 the knight, ‘ conduyte me now the surest waye that ye can, tyl that I may see the porte where the sarasyns landed.’ And the knyght lede hym vnto the hylle | ryght high, & said: ‘Sire, yonder is the porte that ye 24 desire to see.” ‘And how,’ said the kyng’, ‘it hath be said to me that theire nauye was al brent, and yet I see yonder some grete vessels? Fro whens myght they — be come now?’ / and thenze behild the king / at the 28 synester syde in to the founs! of the valey, and sawe his brothers oost, that was lodged vpon the ryuere / and at the ryght syde of the hille he sawe pe Caliphes oost, that were in grete nombre. ‘ By my feyth,’ said 32 the kyng, ‘yonder is grete multitude of peple pay- neme / them I knowe wel ynough; but pey “of this other syde I knowe not what they be. abyde me | ' Fr. font: i: CH, XX1v.] THE BRETHREN MEET. here, and I shalt goo wete what folke they be, yf I may.’ The kyng thanne rode tyl he came nygh his bropers oost, and founde a knight on his way, which he 4 knew wel; and anoon called hym by hys name, and demawnded of hym yf his brother guyon was there fe Whan the knight vnderstode hys wordes, he beheld & knew hym, and soone kneeled byfore hym, say- 8 eng in this manere: ‘ My liege & souerayn lord, your brother guyon is yonder with al hys peuple, and the maister of Rodes also.’ Thenne commanded hym the kyng that he shuld goo to Guyon bys brother, and 112 telle hym that he shuld come & speke with hym And the knight went & tolde these tydinges to guyon; vpon the said mountayne. wherfor he, and the maister of Rodes with hym, mounted on horsbak / toke 16 the way to the mountayneward, wher as Vryan retourned to his knyght, whome he said: ‘ Frend, wel it is with vs, For that is my brother guyon which is lodged yonder.’ 20 Rodes where the two bretheren made moche, eche of oper. The kinge after shewed to them thoost of theire enemyes / and whan they sawe it / they said / ‘we Thenne came per guyon & the maister of wyst not them so nygh to vs.’ ‘Now,’ said vryan, 4 “they may not escape vs, yf it be not by the meanes of yonder galeyes,’ wherof guyon was abasshed / ‘For,’ said he / ‘these deuels haue brought moo vessels, For within these foure dayes last passed we toke & brent 128 al theyre nauye.’ ‘Thenze,’ said the maister of Rodes, ‘I suppose wel what that is / happely some of them were not fonde, which haue eschewed that few shippes fro the fyre, ‘By my feyth,’ said the kyng, ‘thus it 132 may wel be / but perto 1We most puruey of gardes, For therby shuld mowe escape the chief lordes of theire oost, that happly might adommage vs in time to come.’ ‘How, sire,’ said the maister of Rodes, ‘it 136 semeth that ye haue dycomfyted them al redy, and 173 and so rides to it. On the way he meets a knight he knows well. The knight kneels to him, and tells him to whom the host belongs. King Urian sends for Guion, who, accom- panied with the Master of Rho- des, comes to tlie King. Urian says that now the Saracens cannot escape, except by the vessels. Guion is abashed at the Saracens having vessels, as he believed he had burnt or captured them all, but the Master says, these are some saved from the fire. 1 fol. 100. The King orders guards to be ready to prevent any one embark- ing, 174 and sends his knight with orders to his men to march to the foot of the moun- tain, Guion marches his men near the pagans, The Master of Rhodesis ordered to prevent the Saracens with- drawing to their ships. The King leads his forces in battle array towards the Saracens, 1 fol, 100 6. and before they can arm sets a thousand men on to them. At last the Sara- cens array them- selves, and the fight becomes fierce, The Saracens are driven back, THE CALIPH OF BANDAS FIGHTS URIAN,. [ou. XXIV. that it ne resteth more but to kepe the Calyphe and brandymount, that they scape not at pat porte.’ ‘Cer- taynly,’ ansuerd the kynge, ‘yf they be nomore than I see, we nede not so grete peple as god hap leued vs.’ 4 The kinge thenne commanded his knight, pat he shuld goo to hys oost and make them to be putte in aray, and that he shuld conduyte them vnto pe foot of the said mountayne. The knight departed, & dide as it 8 was youen to hym in commandement / and al thoost obeyed hym, and came in fayre aray & good ordy- naunce vnto the hille, Also guyon went and made hys peple to be armed, and brought pem at the other 12 syde of the ryuere, so nygh the paynemes oost that he might wel perceyue theire manyere & contenaunce. And the kyng commanded the maister of Rodes, that he with aH hys peuple shuld entre in to pe see / and 16 that they shuld trauerse, rowyng nygh the porte, to thende yf the sarasyns shuld putte & withdraw them self into theire shippes, that they might not escape / ‘And I goo,’ sayd vryan, ‘putte my peple in aray, forto 20 gyue batayH to these paynemes.’ he kynge thenne came to his oost, and made his archers & crosbowe men to marche & goo fourth ; and after folowed the wynges. & the arryergarde came 24 after in fayre ordonnaunce / and assoone as fe sarasyns perceyued them, they bygan alarme, and euery payneme armed hym self / but or they were aH armed, Vryan sent vpon them a thousand !good men of armes wel 28 horsed, that moche adommaged them, for they fonde them vnpurueyed & out of aray. But notw7thstanding, they assembled them in batayH & aray. Thanne bygan the stoure fyers & cruel. For there had ye seen arowes 32 flee as thykk as motes in the sonne / and after Vryan and his auantgarde assembled to his enemys; and so manfully they faught, that they made the sarasyns to withdraw bakward. For vryan made there so grete 36 CH. XXIV. | KING BRANDIMOUNT SLAIN, fayttes of armes, and gaf so pesaunt & horryble strokes both to the lyft & right syde, that al them that he recountred he smote & threw doun fro theire horses to 4 the erthe, in so moch that his enemyes fled byfore hym as the partrych doth byfore the sperehauke. And whanne the Calyphe of Bandas perceyued hym, he shewed hym to kyng Brandymount, sayeng, ‘ yf we be 8 abasshed and yl bestad of this man only, al the other shal preyse & doubte vs nought’ / and sayeng these wordes, he broched his hors wth hys sporys that blood rane out of bothe sydes / And know it wel, that this 12 Caliphe was one of the moost fyers & strengest man that was that tyme alyue / he casted hys targe behynd his bakk / toke hys swerd, & rane vpon vryan, the whiche he recountred / and by grete yre gaf hym so 16 meruayllable a stroke vpon that one syde of hys helmet, that hys swerd redounded vpon hys hors nek by suche myght that nygh he cutte his throtte of. Thanne came kynge Brandymount vpon vryan, the 20 which, seeynge his hors almost deed, stoo® vpon hys feet, & lete goo hys swerd fro his hand, and embrased his enemy; and by the strengthe of his two armes, pulled hym from his hors doun to therthe. There was ‘24 1the prees grete, both of Sarasyns that wold rescue theyre lord / and of cypryens also, that wold haue holpen vryan theire kynge, to bryng' hys enterpryse at affect. The batayH was there mortal fyers & doubtous ‘28 for bothe partyes. but vryan drew a short knyff out of the shethe that hanged at his lyft syde, and threstid it vnder the gorgeret thrugh brandymontis nek, and thus he slewgh hym. Thanne sto@ vryan vpon his feet 32 ayen, and cryed with a high voys ‘ Lusynen, Lusynen’ / and the Poyteuyns that herd that, putte them self in prees by suche vertu, gyuyng so grete strokes that the sarrasyns that were about yryan lost. & voyded the ‘36 place. Thenne was kyng vryan remounted vpon kyng 175 Urian doing great feats of arms, The Caliph, a strong man with sword and shield, runs upon Urian, and gives him a heavy blow, nearly killing his horse ; King Brandy- mount rushes on him also, Urian dismounts, and pulls the Saracen King from his horse. 1 fol. 101. The fighting becomes fierce at this point ; but Urian stabs ~ his foe in the neck, and so slays him ; and his com- panions put to flight the Sara- cens, 176 then Urian pur- sues the Caliph. Guion on his side falls upon the Saracens, and seeing his forces hemmed in, the Caliph with eleven men flies in a boat to his vessels, weighs their anchors, and puts to sea. , The Saracens see- ing Brandimount dead, and the Caliph fled, 2 fol. 101 5. lose heart, and try to escape 5 but they are all slain, and all their riches captured. The Caliph swears he may yet live to avenge himself on the Cyprians ; THE ESCAPE OF THE CALIPH. [cH. XXIV. brandymontis hors, and pursiewed the Caliphe of Bandas / and thus bygan ayen the batayH to be reforced, in so moche that grete occysyon was don on : eyther partye. And in that meane season came guyon 4 with his peuple, and courageously rane vpon beire enemyes. And whan the Caliphe saw hym be sur- prysed on eche syde by his mortal enemyes / he with xi departed in the secretest manere that he coude out 8 of the batayH, and fled toward the see / where the admyraH of Damask was, whiche made them to entre into a lytel galyote, in whiche he escaped, as byfore is said / and soone aftir he made the nauye, that he saued 12 fro brennyng, to take vp theire ancres, & entred in the see. And here seaceth thystorye of hym, and retourneth to speke of the batayH. / ie this partye sheweth thystorye, & sayth pat whan 16 the sarasyns knew the deth of theyre kynge bran- dymount! / and how the Caliphe on whos prowes & strengthe was al theire hope & comfort ?was thus de- parted and fled, they were aH abasshed, and bygan 20 strongly to breke their aray and to voyde the place, puttyng themself to flight. What shuld I make you long compte / the paynemes were putt aH to deth, what in batayH, what fleyng as drowned in the see. 24 And after the chaas, retourned kyng vryan and hys barons to the paynemys lodgis, where they found in their tentes & pauyllons grete riches. And here this- torye cesseth of kyng vryan / and I shal shew vnto you 28 ~ how the caliphe of Bandas dyde, the which swore by his machomet & his goddes, that yf he myght euer come to sauete in damask ayen, yet shuld he doo grete hyn- deraunce & enuye to the Cypryens. But as he was 32 rowyng in the see / and supposed to haue escaped al 1 Fr. Brandimont de Tarse. 3 xviis. viiid. is noted in margin of MS. If it is price of copying up to this point, it would be about the rate of ld. a page. CH, XXIV. | A SEA-FIGHT AND ANOTHER ESCAPE. parels / the maister of Rodes that kept the see and wayted after hym, as aboue is sayd, perceyued the sarasyns flote pat wold haue retourned to Damask / by- 4 gan to lye by them and sayd to his peuple in this manere : ‘ Fayre lordes and knightes of Ieshu Criste, owr desyre and wysshyng is brought to effect, for know- lege we haue ynough that the valyaunt & redoubted 8 kyng vryan hath obtayned the vyctory vpon his ene- myes & oures / yf we be now men of faytte & valyaunt, Who thanne had seen the Cristen putte them self in aray, and theire none of them shal neue see Damaske.’ 12 meruayllable shottyng with gonnes & arowes vpon the sarasyns, he shuld haue be meruaylled / and syn oure folke cheyned with them & casted darts & stones with suche strengthe & might, that wonder it was to see. 16 The sarasyns defendid hem self !manfully / but at last they were dyscomfyte. And the admyraH that sawe the grete myschief pat feH on them hallid vp saylles / rowed in hys galyote with eyght hores and so he 20 escaped. And the maister of Rodes and hys peple toke the galeyes of theire enemyes and aH slew or casted ouer bord / and brought them ayen to saynt andrews porte. Thanne the maister of Rodes acom- 24 panyed w7th C knightes, bretheren of his religyon, went toward king vryan & guyon his brother, and recounted to them aH theire good fortune. but sory was the king that the Caliphe and the admyral were so escaped. 28 kyng' Vryan thenne departed & dalt emong' his peuple al the proye of his enemyes that he had wonne / sauf he reteyned for hym the artylery & some pauyllons & tentes, and gaf them leue to retourne in to theire 32 Countrees. These thinges thus don, kyng vryan in grete tryumphe & honour as vyctoriows prynce, re- tourned to his cyte of Famagoce, acompayned of Guyon his brother, of the maister of Rodes, and of al the 36 barons, wher the quene Ermyne receyued them right MELUSINE. I but his fleet is observed by the Master of Rhodes, who is on the watch. He is attacked, 1 fol. 102. and defeated, but escapes with the admiral in an eight-oared boat. The master of Rhodes captures the navy, slays or drowns all the Saracens, and takes the vessels back to St. An- drew’s Port. He recounts his victory to Urian, who is sorry at the caliph’s escape. Urian and his companions return to Fama- goce. 178 Urian’s wife Hermine, being with child, he prepares to give a feast, but a fair son is born three days before the feast is ready. 1 fol. 102d. ' He is named Henry, Twenty-one Ar- menian knights come to Urian, with news of the death of the King of Armenia, THE DEATH OF THE KING OF ARMENIA. [cH. XXIV. honourably, thankyng god of the noble vyctorye that they obteyned vpon his enemyes. / . ow sayth thistorye, that Ermyne was grete with N child & nygh her terme / and that vryan made 4 a feest to be cryed & proclaimed ; For he wold in tyme of peas & rest haue festyed his barons of poytou and al other prynces estraungers & other his subgects. Eyght dayes toforne .the feste, begane grete multitude 8 of peuple to come to the Cite, wherof the kyng was joyful, and made cryees vpon peyne of deth that none And trouth it was that thre dayes tofore the feste the quene Ermyne 12 was Idelyuered of a fayre sone. shuld make derrer the vytaylles. Thenne bygan the feste to wex grete / and the child baptised and named And And 16 there were some of the barons of poytou that toke theire leue of the king’ & of his brother, and of the quene, for to departe, whom the kynge yaf grete yeftes of riches. Henry, bycause of hys auncestre hight Henry. so encreased the feest in ryches & in yeftes. And they were in nombre six knightes and 20° peire companye, which putte them in to the see. Now wyl I cesse of them that are departed to the see / & shal shewe of the feste that was ryght noble and sump- tuous, but soone it was turned to sorowe, bycause of 24 the tydinges of the kingis deth of Armenye that came to the Court. / hystorye sheweth aH thus, whan the feest was at best, there came xxi"? knightes of the moost 28 noblest barons of the royalme of armanye, al clothed in black / and it shewed wel by theire contenaunce that they were sorowful in herte. And whan they cam tofore the kyng' they dide theire obeyssaunce ryght nobly / 32 and the kynge receyued them with grete honour / and they said to him: ‘Sire, the kynge of armenye, your vnele, is passed out of this world, on whos sowle god | 2 Fr, xvi, CH. XXIV. | GUION OFFERED THE CROWN OF ARMENIA. haue mercy / and hath lefte to vs a ryght fayre pucelle begoten of his body by lawfuH maryage / and she is alone hys heyre. Now knowe ye thenne, noble kynge, 4 that in hys playn lyf he dide doo make this leétre, and commanded vs to directe it to your noble grace / pray- eng the same that the tenour of pe letire ye vouchesaf tacomplysshe.’ ‘By my feith, fayre lordes,’ said Vryan / 8 ‘yf it be of the thing that I may goodly doo, I shal fulfyH his wyH !right gladly.’ Thenne toke Vryan the lettre & redd it, of the whiche the tenowr was this : ‘Ryght dere lord and right wel beloued nevew, I re- 12 commande me to you as ferfourth as I may / prayeng' you right hertyly to haue me to my ryght dere & be- And where by these my leétres I make to you the first re- loued nyghte your wyf to be recommanded. 16 queste that euer I demanded of you / also consideryng' that it shal be the last / For certaynly at the makyng of thees my present le¢tres, I felt myself in such poynt that in me was none hope of conualescence nor of lyf. 20 I hertyly beseche you that ye haue it not in reffus nor in dysdayne. It is so thanne that none heyre I ne haue of my body, sauf only a doughter, the which your brother guyon sawe but of late / whan he was 24 with me. Wherfore I pray you that ye vouchsauf to entrette your said broper in manere that it playse hym, to take the cepter of my dignite ryaH and my doughter to hys lady, and thus to crowne hym self king of 28 armanye. And though she be not worthy to haue hym to her lord, yet is she come of royal blood. con- sideryng thanne her consanguinite haue pite on her / and yf that mouyth not you to compassyon / yet re- 32 membre that ye be champyon of Crist, exalting his feyth. My royalme is now cristen, and hath be long soo / Woo were to me / yf for wantyng of a preu & valyaunt man it shuld retourne in to the paynemes 36 handes. Wherfore, noble kyng’, haue regarde to this 179 and that his heir is a fair maiden, They bring Urian a letter from the de- ceased king, 1 fol. 1038. paying respects to Urian and his wife, and intimating his near end, The king tells of his daughter, whom Gaion had seen, and begs Urian to entreat his brother to marry the heiress of Armenia, and to be king of the country ; as the land re- quires a valiant man to protect it from the Saracens. N 2 180 fol. 103 b. The letter causes Urian sorrow, and he promises to aid the Ar- menians. Guion is sent for, and is told of the king’s death, He is offered the hand of the daughter of the king of Armenia. He accepts it, and thanks his brother. The Armenian knights are joy- ful, and kneel before Guion and kiss his hands, The navy is prepared at Ly- masson, and Guion and many of his friends sail to Armenia, THE MARRIAGE OF GUION. [CH. XXIV. that forsaid is, &c. Whan vryan vnderstode the tenour of pe lettre he was moche dolaunt of the kingis deth / & mouyd by compassion & pyte, ansuerd to the 1 Arma- nyens, sayeng in this manere: ‘ Lordes & barons, I shall 4 not fayH you at your nede, For yf my brother wyl not accorde therto, yet shalt I endeuoyre my self to gyue you helpe, ayde, comfort, & counseyl, as ferre as my power shal reche.’ .Thanne called he to hym guyon, 8 hys broper, that thanne knew the kingis deth, wherof he was sorrowful / and vryan to hym sayd the wordes that here folowen: ‘Guyon, receyue this yefte, For I make you heyre of armenye and possessowr of the moost 12 fayrest pucelle that is in aH the land / that is my ‘ Cousyn florye, doughter to the kyng' of Armanye, which by the wyH of god is passed out of this world / and I pray you that ye dayne to take this yefte, For it oughte not to be refussed.’ ‘By my feyth, fayr brother and my lord,’ said guyon, ‘I thanke you moche therof, and hym also that is causer of hit, on whos sowle god haue ? mercy.’ Thenne were the knyghtes of armanye joyful ‘ & glad. And as soone as guyon had consentid therto, they kneeled byfore hym & kyssed hys handes, after the custome of theire land / And thanne bygan ayen the feest greter than it was afore. And in that meane saison the king! dide doo make hys nauye redy, that was in to the porte of Lymasson, and in the vessels he made to be putte grete rychesses / and guyon hys brother, accompanyed with the maister of Rodes, & with many barons of poytou and of Cypre, toke hys leue, & entred in to the see & saylled so long! that they arryued in Armenye,? where they were receyued honourably.® 2 Fr, Ht tant allérent, tant de jour comme de nuyt, qwils apperceurent et visrent la ballet du Crub, qui est la mais- tresse ville du royaulme @ Armanie. 3 There is an omission here; the French version opens & new chapter, entitled Comment Guion espousa la pucelle lorie et fut roy d’Armanie, as follows :—Adone Lung des 16 CH. XXIV. THE BARONS RETURN TO LUSIGNAN. There was guyon wedded with Florye / and after the feste aH the barons of the land came to Cruly & made theyre homage to guyon, whiche crownned himself 4 king & regned honourably. And after these thinges doon the maister of Rodes & the barons of Poytou toke theire leue of guyon, whiche yaf to them grete yeftes of ryches, & they entred in to theire shippes and rowed 8 tyl they !cam at Rodes, where as the said maister festyed worshipfully the estraungers, and so dide al the And at thende of viii dayes the barons of Poytou entred agayn in to knightes bretheren of hys relygyon. 12 the see, and in short tyme they arryued in Cipre, And recounted to Vryan al the trouth of the fayt, and how his brother guyon was honourably receyued in arma- nye / and how he had wedded Florye, and was crowned 16 kyng of the lant & loued of al the peple there, Within few dayes after many of the knightes of poytou toke wherof moche thankes rendred guyon to god. theire leue, and to them yaf vryan grete yeftes of 20 ryches / and sent word by them in wrytyng to his fader & moder of al thestate & prosperous fortune of And thus departed the barons & entred in to theire shippes, whiche they fonde wel hym & of hys brother. 24 purueyed of al that was necessary to them, and toke theire way toward Rochelle in poytou. : ow sayth thystorye, that the barons of poytou N sailled so long! that they perceyued & sawe 28 Rochelle, where they arryued with grete joye / and barons d Armanie parla moult hault addressant sa parole a Guion, et dist: Sire, nous vous avons esté querir pour estre nostre seigneur et nostre roy; si est bon que nous vous deliv- rons tout ce que nous vous devons bailler. Kt voicz cy ma damoiselle qui est toute preste de acomplir tout ce que nous vous avons promis et au roy Urian votre fréere. Par foi, dist Guion, ce ne demourera mie a faire pour moy ; and continues then as above. 2 This begins a new chapter in the French version, en- titled, Comment les messagiers apporterent les lettres a Rai- mondin et a Melusine de ses deux enfans qui estoient roix. 181 where he weds Florry. The barons do their homage to him, and he is crowned, and reigns honorably. His friends set sail to Rhodes, 1 fol. 104. where the Master entertains them, and from thence to Cyprus, where they relate to Urian all the adventure, Some knights of Poitou, after receiving gifts from Urian, and a letter for his parents, set sail for Rochelle. They arrive, 182 and three days ‘after ride to Lusignan, where Raymon- din and Melusine receive them with great joy. They deliver the letters from Urian and Guion, which please their parents. This year Melu- sine builds the Church of our Lady and many other abbeys, 1 fol. 104 6. and Odo marries the daughter of the Earl of - March, Anthony and Regnald, hearing of the brothers’ success, desire to follow their example ; 80 they ask per- mission to go out into the world to earn the order of knighthood, ee i i ne ’ — = f ie ’ THE MARRIAGE OF ODO. [CH. XXIV. there they refresshed them self the space of thre dayes, and after mounted on theire horses & rode toward Lusynen, where they founde Raymondyn and Melusyne and theire other children with pem, whiche receyued 4 them with grete joy. And penve they delyuered to them the lettres of kynges Vryan & guyon theire sones, And whan they herde & vnderstod the tenowr of them they thanked god of the good auenture that he of 8 his grace had youen to theire two sones / and yaf grete jewelles & ryche yeftes to the barons that brought tydyngzs of pem. And that same yere melusyne fownded the chirch of our lady in Lusynen & manie other 12 abbeyes in pe !lande, and endowed them with grete pos- sessyons. And thenne was the trayttee of maryage made betwix Odon her sone and the Erle of marchis doughtir, And was the feest grete & noble holden in 16 a medowe nygh to the Castel of Lusynen. / hystorye sheweth here, that Anthony & Regnald were right glad! whan they vnderstode the ty- dinges of the fortune & noble fayttes of armes of theire 20 two bretheren / and that in so short space of tyme they had sore adommaged the enemyes of god, and said one to other, ‘ My ryght dere brother, it is now tyme that we goo seke auenture thrugh the world, For here to 24 dwelt ony lenger we may not acquyre nor gete honour, as oure brethern Vryan & guyon haue don.’ Wher- fore they come to theyre fader & moder, and to them said humbly in this manere, ‘My lord and you my 28 lady, yf ye vouchsaf it were tyme that we went thrugh the world at our auenture, for to gete & acquere thordre of knyghthode as owr bretheren vryan & guyon haue don / how wel we be nat worthy to receuye 32 it so nobly nor in so noble a place as they haue doo / but yf it playseth god owr entencion is to endeuoyre vs perto.’ Thenne ansuerd to them Melusyne theire moder, ‘ Fayre sones, yf that playseth wel your fader, 36 Koel CH, XXIV. | CHRISTINE OF LUXEMBOURG. ‘By my feyth, lady,’ said Raymondyn, ‘doo your wyH therof, For what I me consent to your requeste.’ someuer ye wyl I me consent therto.’ ‘ Sire,’ said 4 Melusyne, ‘it semeth to me good that from hens fourth they begynne to take on them som vyage for to knowe the world & the straunge marches / also to be renommed & knowen / and to knowe & discerne good from euyl.’ 8 Thenne the two bretheren kneeled byfore theire fader & moder, & thanked them moch humbly of the honow, that they promysed them to tdoo, And here ceaseth thystory to spek of them / and speketh of another 12 matere. n this partye sayth thistorye, that in the marches ] of Allemayne, betwene Lorayne & Ardane, was a noble Countrey, the which was somtyme called the 16 Erledome of Lucembourgh, and now it is named a duchye. In that same Countree was some tyme a lord erle of the land, whiche after his decesse lefte a fayre doughter his heyre / she was clepyd Crystyne, and her Alle the barons of the land made theire homage to her as to the rightful heyre of the lande. whos wyf was ceed in her child bed at the birthe of a 24 doughter, whiche the fader made to be baptised & named Melidee. 20 fader was named Asselyn. On that tyme was in Anssay a kynge Whan this kynge thanne herde how the Erle of Lucembourgh was passed out of this world, and that none heyre he had but a doughter, whiche 28 was the fayrest damoyseH of aH the land / he sent in ambaxade to her the moost noble & secretest men of hys CounseyH, to speke & treate the maryage of hym with her. 32 sent therto / wherfore he wexed sorowfuH in herte / and sware god that outhre by force or by her wyH he But the pucelle Crystyne wold neuer con- shuld haue her, whatsoeuer it might faH therof. Thenne made he his mandement, & chalenged the mayde & alle 36 her lande. Whan thanve the barons & noble men of 183 ~ their pants) consent, 1 fol. 105. At the time when the ruler of Luxembourg was a maiden named Christine, the wife of the King of Anssay died, He wished to Inarry again, and made proposals to Christine, but was rejected. In revenge he swore he would have her by force, and chal- lenged her and her land, ee ee r ia ie aim _ Me ee 184 . CHRISTINE AND THE KING OF ANSSAY. [om. XXIV. the lande & all the commynalte wyst it / they said & sware that syth theyre lady wold not haue hym to her lord / they shuld shewe to hym that he dide wrong to the pucelle and to them also. And immediatly they 4 1fol.105b. garnysshed theire Cites, tounes, & Fortresses. 1And The people put the moost part of the barons drew themself to the defence, toune & Castel of Lucembourgh with Cristyne, theire owne propre lady. What shuld I make you long compte / 8 but Peas they were nat that tyme strong ne puyssaurt ynough for enough to with- to fyght ayenst the kyng of Anssay. For he came vpon stand the King t of Anssay, them with a grete puyssaunce of peple & moche adom- who came and erry great maged the lande / and came al brennyng' vnto byfore 12 the toune & Fortresse of Lucembourgh, where he layed siege. And of faytte theire was grete scarmysshing’ and grete losse of one parte and of oper. It happed thanne Apbaron,who that one of the noblest barons of the land, the whiche 16 had been with ’ Urian whenhe had be with Vryan at the conqueste of the royazme of conquered Cyprus, Cipre, and euer was wth hym at aH the baytayHes that he had ayenst the paynemes / the whiche was come ayen with the barons of Poytou vnto Lusynen / and 20 had receyued of Melusyne riche jewels & grete yeftes of ryches / and sawe there Regnald and Anthony, that were moche strong and grete, & of fyers & hardy contenaunce / and wel it semed to hym that they 24 shuld ensiew the condicions & maneres of theire bretheren, and theire high prowes & enterpryse / drew takes the barons the noble men of the land apart, and said to them in of Luxembourg apart, this manere: ‘ Fayre lordes, ye may conceyue and wel 28 perceyue that we may not hold longe ayenst the puys- saunce of the same kinge. Wherfore yf it seme you good, myn oppynyon were to see a remedy be had to it rather to fore than to late, For good it is to shette the 32 stable or euer the horses be lost.’ And they ansuerdt, ‘that is trouth / but we may not perceyue no remedy therto without the grace of god be.’ ‘ For southe,’ said the forsaid baron, ‘ Without godis grace none may but 36 CH. XXIV. | THE BARONS OF LUXEMBOURG IN COUNSEL. lytel or nought doo, but with that it is good to take ayde who that may ‘haue it.’ ‘Certaynly,’ said the barons, ‘ ye say right wel; yf ye thanne know some 4 gentylman worthy to haue owr lady, and valyaunt & preu to deffende vs ayenst our enemyes, lete vs knowe hym. For ye be therto hold & bounden bycause of your alygeaunce.’ This gentylman thanne reherced to 8 them fro hed to hed how vryan & hys brother departed fro Lusynen, and aH thauenture of theire vyage / also thestate of theire fader and moder / and ouermore, he shewed to them the fayre maynten & countenawnce of 12 Anthony & Regnauld / and that he knew for certayn / that who so went to seke & requyre the socours and helpe of the two bretheren, they shuld come with grete puyssaunce, whan they shuld haue knowledge of 16 the faytte. ‘ By my feyth,’ said the noblemen, ‘ye say fu wel.’ Thenne they fourthwith went tofore Crys- tyne theire lady, and worde to worde they recounted to her aH this affayre. And she said to them, ‘ Fayre 20 lordes, I recommande you my land and yours / doo what semeth you best to thonowr of me and of you, for the commyn wele of aH my land. For wete it for certayn, that for to dey or to be dysheryted, I shal not 24 haue the kyng of Anssay to my lord / how be it he is better than to me apparteyneth, but for asmoche that he wyl haue by force me & my land.’ And they ansuerd to her / ‘doubte you not therof, my lady, For 28 yf it playse god, he shal not haue so moche of puys- gance as long as we shaH mowe stere our owne bodyes.’ ‘Lordes,’ said she, ‘gramercy.’ And thenne they departed thens. Thenne said one of the barons to the forsaid 32 gentylman in this mauere: ‘ye that haue putte vs in this quarelle / say now what best is for to doo.’ ‘ By my feyth, said he, ‘ yf it lyke you good, ye shalt delyuere me two of you to goo with me to Lusynen, to wete yf 36 we can fynde there “ony thing’ to vs prouffytable.’ 185 1 fol, 106, and tells them of the bravery of Urian and Guion, and of their two brothers, An- thony and Reg- nald, who would come to their assistance with great forces if they were asked, The barons have an audience with Christine, She puts herself in their hands and once more refuses the King of Anssay. They pledge themselves to defend her. 2 fol. 106 d, 186 Two wise and noble men are sent as messen- gers to Lusignan with Urian’s knight, During the great feast, at which Anthony and Regnald dis- tinguish them- selves in jousting, the ambassadors from Luxem- bourg arrive, and are wel- comed, Urian’s knight is asked by Anthony if he will accompany him and his brother on a voyage 1 fol. 107. in search of honour, ‘| ANTHONY AND REGNALD. [cH. XXIV. Thenne they anoone chose among’ them, that is to wete, two of the wysest & noblest men for to goo with hym. And they departed about the first slepe, mounted vpon good & lyght horses, and yssued out of a posterne, and 4 passed by that one side of thoost, so that they were neuer perceyued / and hasted them self on theire way toward Lusynen. And here cesseth thystorye of them, and speketh of Meluysyne & her children, that is to wete, 8 of Anthony and of Regnald. / hystory sayth that the feste was right grete in the medowe byforsaid / and men jousted there valyauntly. but aboue alle the yonge squyers that 12 were there, Anthony and Regnald dyde best after the sayeng & commendacion of the ladyes and gentyl wymen that were there. And there were grete jewels gyuen. but alwayes Melusyne thoughte to purueye to 16 thestate of her children, and made to them fayre robes & ryche raymentes, and ordeyned and purueyed of men to goo with them, and in especial wyse, and noble men to endoctrine them, & shew to tham the way of good 20 gouernaunce. Duryng yet the feste, came there the ambaxatours of Lucembourgh / pe whiche made theire obeyssaunce to Raymondyn & to Melusyne ryght honour- ably, and also to alle the companye / And joyously 24 they were receyued / & soone was there knowen the knight that had be with vryan at the Conqueste of Cypre. and he was honourably festyed, and of hym demanded Anthony, for the wele that he herde saye of 28 hym, yf it playsed hym to goo with hym & with hys brother Regnauld in som vyage where he purposed to goo, & to thayde of god, he shuld be wel rewarded. The knyght thanne demanded of Anthony: ‘ My lord, 32 & whither is your entencion for to goo?’ And he ansuer@: 1* At owr auenture there as god shal conduyt vs, for to gete honour and cheualrye.’ ‘ By my feyth,’ said the knyght, ‘I shal telle you the fayrest and the 36 CH. XXIV. | THE AMBASSADORS RELATE THEIR TALE, moost honourable auenture that euer gentylman had that aduentured hym self, and the moost honourable enterpryse.’ And whan the two damoyseaulx vnderstod 4 hym, they made moche of hym, & said in this manere : ‘Noble man, vouchesauf to vttre to vs that noble enterpryse that ye speketh of.’ ‘ By my feyth, lordes,’ said the knight, ‘in as moche that I were ryght joyous 8 you to see enhaunsed in honowr, also for to susteyne ryght & reason, I shal ryght gladly shew. to you aH the matere therof. ; | eae dere lordes, it is trouth that aH thoo that 12 loue ryghtwysnes and that be wylling to gete honour / they oughte to helpe and susteyne the wydowes an orphenyns. And forasmoche, fayre lordes, it is soo that in the marche of Lorayne & of Ardane is a moche 16 ryche & noble Countree that clepen the duchyeof Lucem- bourgh, the whiche duchye a noble man gouerned long! as hys owne propre herytage / the whiche valyaunt man passed to god but of late, and hath lefte a doughtir hys 20 heyre of the land / to the whiche right noble and fayre pucelle alle the nobles and barons of the land haue as And where it is soo that the. kynge of Anssay, knowyng the beaute- now don theyre homage & obeyssaunce. 24 fulnes of the mayde, and her grete & noble enheryt- aunce, hath demanded her by maryage / but that pucelle reffused hym bycause he had be wedded tofore, & of late he was wydower. Wherfore this kynge of Anssay 28 hath deffyed her and al her land, and supposeth to haue her by force & ayenst her wylle / and he is entred in to the land / and hath brent & slayn al byfore hym vnto the toune & Castel of Lucembourgh, where as - 32 he hath now besieged the said lady, and hath sworne that he shaH neuer departe thens vnto tyme he hath his wylle of her, other by force or by loue. Wherfore, lordes, me semeth that in aH the world nys more honour- 36 able a vyage ne more raysonnable than that same is, 187 The knight tells of the fuir ad- venture, and is asked by the brothers for full information, He relates that the Duke of Luxembourg left his daughter his heir, and owing to her beauty and riches she is sought as wife by the King of Anssay, but be- cause he is a widower she has refused him. In revenge war has been de- elared, and the king is trying to get her by force, 1 fol, 107 5. and now he is besieging her at Luxembourg. .188 On hearing the story Anthony agrees to succour the maiden, and the ambas- sadors promise to conduct An- thony and help him all in their power. Anthony and Regnald relate the tidings to their parents, and ask for help. Raymondin thinks it a good opportunity, 1 fol. 108. and Melusine promises to pro- vide well for her sons. She announces that any man prepared to serve under the brothers, should come to Lusignan. HELP FOR CHRISTINE. [CH. XXIV. For alle thoo that loue honowr & gentylnesse ought to draw them self that part.’ ‘In good feyth,’ said thenne anthony, ‘ye say trouth / and wete it I shat shew this matere to my lady my moder, to see what ayde and 4 helpe my lord owr fader and she wyl gyue vs / and how so euer it happeth, by thayde of god we shaH goo and socoure the pucelle that the kynge of Anssay wyl haue by force, wherof me semeth that he is euyl coun- 8 seylled.” ‘On my feyth, my lord,’ sayd thenve the knight, ‘yf ye vouchesauf to vndertake that vyage / I & my felawes, two knightes that be here come with me, shal conduyte & helpe you of al ovr power.’ And 12 pe two bretheren thanked them moche, & saide / ‘no doubte we shal goo thither, yf it be the playsire of god’ / And thenne they retourned toward theire moder / and the knight toward his felawes / and reherced to 16 them how he had exployted / and that no nede was to speke ne requere Raymondyn ne Melusyne therof. ‘Now, veryly,’ said the two barons, ‘it is ryght wysly don of you / blessid be god therof.’ / 20 | H™ saith thistory, that Anthony & Regnald came to theire fader & moder, and de- nounced to them these tydinges, and requyred them of help & ayde tacomplysshe this enterpryse. Thenne 24 spake Raymondyn to Melusyne, & said, ‘Certainly, lady, herto they may haue a fayre begynnyng' in armes. Wherfore I pray you that ye purueye for !them in suche wyse that we may haue therof honowr & prouffyt.’ 28 ‘For southe,’ said Melusyne, ‘Sire, for tacomplysshe your wylle, I shaH endeuoyre me so diligently therto, that bothe you & they also shal be content.’ And thenne she made that ony man that wold take wages 32 vnder Anthony & Regnald of Lusynen, that they shuld come at a certayn day to Lusynen, and there they shuld be payed of peir wages for one yere / and also she made it to be cryed al about the marches of poytou. / 36 CH. XXIV. | ANTHONY AND REGNALD RAISE AN ARMY. | Ase this partye reherceth thystorye, that within the day that Melusyne made to be cryed and anounced the said wages,! were assemble@ many gentylmen in a 4 meddowe bysyde Lusynen; and grete foyson men of armes, to the nombre of foure thousand helmets and fyue houndred, some archers & oper crosbowe men / and there were no pages, but al strong men / and were 8 al lodged in fayre tentes & pauyllons, and so purueyed of all maner harneys & of al other thinges necessary to pem, that euery man was content. And while Ray- mondyn & melusyne payed them theire wages, & 12 purueyed for al thinges that were nedefuH to theyre vyage / Anthony & Regnald araysonned & demanded of the said knight and of his barons, hys felawes, of the estate of the pucelle of the land / And they said to 16 them the very trouth / and were joyfuH in theire hertes of the grete apparayH that they sawe so soone redy, For wel they had take in thanke half of the same to socoure with aH theire lady. Wherfor pey thanked 20 god & our lady his blessid moder, And sent fourth with a messager toward the barons of Lucembourgh, for to anounce to them the noble socowrs ?that god sent to them. Wherof they were joyful & glad. And aftir 24 the barons went & told to theire lady the tydynges, of the whyche she was moch recomforted, and bygan moche deuoutely to lawde god her creatowr. And whan the peuple knew therof, they had grete joye, and /28 thanked god, and made grete fyres, and cryed with a mery voys, sayeng thus: ‘Joye & victory to owr pucelle.’ And whan theire enemyes withoutforth herd them, they wondred moch, & went & denounced it to +32 theire kynge, wherof he was abasshed & pensefuH. And thenne came tofore certayn personnes, that said to hym: ‘Sire, doo make good watche, For they of the toune awayte dayly for socours.’ ‘By god,’ said the 1 waged in MS, 189 On the day appointed for the meeting, 4000 helmets and 500 archers assemble, They are well armed ; and are paid their wages. The barons describe the state of the land to the brothers, and send word of the aid coming to Luxembourg, 2 fol. 108 b. whereat the barons, the lady Christine, and her people are glad. The king of Ans- say is inforined of the rejoicing, 190 but believes he will starve them out, not knowing of succour on the way. Melusine calls Anthony and Regnald, and gives them part- ing advice. She tells them to love God and keep the commandments of holy Church, to be courteous to all, 1 fol. 109. to be cautious in believing scandal, to be fair to the: comrades, stern with their enemies, MELUSINES GOOD COUNSEL TO HER SONS. [oH. XXIV. kinge, ‘I ne wot nor may knowe by no manere fro whens socours shuld come to them; I doubte not / but that I shal haue them at my wyH, other by strength And thus the 4 kyng of Anssay assured hym self, But aftirward he fond hym self deceyued. Now I shal leue of hym, and shal retourne to speke of Melusyne and of her two sones. . 8 Noe thenne called to her Anthony and Reg- nald, her two sones / and to them she said in this manere: ‘Children, ye now wyl departe fro my lord your fader & fro me / and happely we shal neuer 12 see you agayn. Wherfore I wyl teche & introdruyte you for your wele & honour. or by honger and for lack of meete.’ And I pray you that ye vnderstand & reteyne wel that I shaH say, For that First, ye 16 shal loue / doubte, & preyse god owr creatowr; ye shal shal be to you nedefu in tyme to come. fermely, iustly, & deuoutly hold the commandementes of owr moder holy chirche / and stedfast shal you be in our feyth catholical. / be ye humble & curteys to good 20 folke / fyers & sharp to the wicked & euyl folke / and be ye lalwayes of fayre ansueryng, bothe to moost and leste / and hold talkyng to euery one whan tyme requyreth, wzthout eny dysdayn / promyse ne be- 24 heyghte nothing’ but that ye may shortly acomplysshe it after your power; withdrawe not rapporteurs of wordes toward you / byleue not enuyous / nor beleue not to soone ne lyghtly / For that causeth somtyme 28 the frend to wexe mortal foo; putte not in office auarycyous nor fel folke / acoynte? you not with another mans wyf / departe or deele to your felawes of suche thinges that god shal gyue you; be swete & 32 debonnaire to your subgects / and to your enemyes | fyers & cruel vnto tyme they be subdued & vnder your puyssaunce / kepe your self fro auauntyng & fro 2 Fr. acointez. CH. XXIV. | THE BROTHERS DEPART FOR LUXEMBOURG. menace / but doo your faytte with few wordes this that may be doo. Despyse neuer none enemy, thaugh he be lytel / but loke wel about and make good watche / 4 be not emonges your felawes as maister, but commyn with them / and worship euerychon after his degre / and gyue to them after your power, & after that they be worthy. ‘gyue to the good men of armes hors & 8 harneys & syluer as rayson requyreth. Now, my children, I ne wot nat what I shuld more saye to you / but that ye kepe euer trouthe in al your dedes & affayres. Hold! I gyue eche of you a ryng of gold, 12 wherof the stones ben of one vertue. For wete it that as long as ye haue good cause, ye shal neue be dys- comfyted in batayH.’ And thenne she kyssed them in moderly wyse, whiche thanked her; and toke leue of 16 theire fader, that ryght dolawnt was of theire departyng’. They made thenne theire troompettes to be sowned & blowen, and putte them self al byfore, & conduyted the anauntgarde / and after folowed the sommage & the 20 grete batayH in fayre *aray / and the arryergarde also marched forth in fayre ordynaunce. It was a good sight to see the state of the vantgarde, whiche the two _ bretheren delyuered to be conduyted to a noble baron 24 & valyaunt knight of poytou / and them self toke & conduyted the gret baytayH / and by them rode the ambaxadours of Lucembourg. And of the reregarde were captayns the two knightes of poytou that ledd 28 vryan & guyon in to Cypre, and that first told to them that the sawdan had besieged the Cite of Famagoce. And to these two knightes Raymondyn & Melusyne had recommanded the estate of theire two sones, Reg- 1 Fr, Donnez aux bons hommes d’armes, chevalx, cottes @acier, bassines, des premiers, et argent selon raison, et vous se vous voiez ung bon homme de la main qui vienne devers vous mal vestu ou mal monté, si Vappellez moult humblement et luy donnes robes, chevawx et harnois, selon la valeur de sa personne et selon le povoir que vous arex alors, 191 not to be given to vain speaking Not to despise their foes, but ever to keep good watch, To treat their men-at-arms well, and above all to keep to the truth. She gives them each a ring, which will pre- vent them ever being defeated in battle in a good cause, The brothers take leave of their parents, sound the trum- pets, 2 fol. 1090, ‘192 and march that night to Mirabel, where they set good watch, Anthony orders everyone to ride under his banner in battle array. This wearies the men, and in ten days the knight eom- manding the vanguard 1 fol. 110. declares to the brothers that the people think there is no need to be so arrayed till they are in the enemies’ country. But Anthony replies that it is best they should learn themselves, rather than that their enemies should teach them. DISCONTENT OF THEIR MEN, Lou. XXIV. nald & Anthony. And trouth it is, that on the first nyght they lodged them nygh to a strong toune vpon a lytel ryuere / and was that same toune named Myrabel, pe whiche Melusyne founded / and that same nyght bygan the two brethern to make good watche, as they had be alredy in land of enemyes, wherof many gaf themself grete merueyH ; but they durst not reffuse it, For Anthony.was so. cruel that euery man drad hym. On the morowe next after the masse was doo / the two bretheren made cryees vpon peyne of hors & haryneys, & to be banysshed out of the felawship, pat eueryman shuld ryde armed vnder his banere, in good aray of batayH. none durst not refuse it / but thus was it doo, Wherof they al merueylled. And in this manere they rode by the space of ten dayes, & so long that they cam in champayne / and many one were wery & ennuyed of theire harneys / as moche for pis that it was no nede / as bycause they were not acustomed of it / and som spake therof, wherfor the knight that con- duyted the vangarde cam to the two brethern, & thus said to them: ‘My lordes, the moost part of your peuple is euyl apayed & content bycause that ye !con- strayne them to bere theire harneys; For them semeth no nede to doo soo tyl that they come nygh to the marches of your enemyes.’ ‘And how, sire,’ said Anthony, ‘thinke you not that the thinge which is acustomed of long tyme be bettre knowen of them that exercice it, & lesse greuable than that thing! which is newly lerne@?’ ‘By my feyth, sire, said the knyght, ‘ye say wel.’ ‘morouer,’ said Anthony, ‘It is bettre for pem to lerne the peyne for to susteyne theire harneys in tyme, that surely they may so doo at theire ease, & to refresshe them surely for to essaye them self, and knowe the manere how they myght easy susteyn & suffre it whan nede shalbe. For yf they muste be thaught of theire enemyes / theire peyne 36 4 8 12 16 24 28 32 CH. XXIV.] A FALSE ALARM IN THE CAMP. shuld be greter & doubtows / and ye wote ynough, that who lerneth not his crafte in his yougthe, with grete peyne & hard it shal be for hym to be a good werke- 4 man in his old age.’ ‘Certaynly, my lord,’ said the knyght, ‘ye saye the playne trouth of it, and your reason is full good.’ And thenne he departed fro hym, and anounced to many one this rayson, in so 8 moche that knowlech of it they had thorugh al thoost, wherof euery man held hym self wel apayed & content / and al sayd that the two bretheren might not fayH to haue grete wele, yf god wold send to them long lyf, 12 and that they shuld come to grete perfection of honowr. hystorye sayth in this partye, that the same nyght the oost was lodged vpon a ryuere that men called aisne / and about the first slepe, the two bretheren 16 made to be cryed alarme thrugh the oost right ferfully. Thenne was there grete trouble, and in euery syde they armed them, puttyng' themself in fayre aray of batayH. euery man vnder his banere byfore theire tentes. And 20 wete it wel, that it! was grete beaute to see the good contenaunce & the noble *ordynaunce & fayre aray of the men of armes, and of the two bretheren, that went fro batait to batayH / and there as fawte was of 24 ordynaunce, they redressid theire peple to it. And the thre barons, ambaxadours of Lucembourgh, beheld wel theire maner & contenaunce, & said that one to that other: ‘On my feyth, these two children ben wel 28 chappen to subdue & conquere yet a grete part of the world / now wel may say the king’ of Anssay, that dere he shal abye his folye & proude enterpryse, and the dommage that he hath borne to our lady, & to | 32 her land & subgets.’ In suche party they were long tyme, tyl the espyes that secretly were departed fro the oost to dyscouere & ouersee the Countre about, yf enemyes were nygh / came agayn, & sayd that pey 1 is in MS, MELUSINE. 193 The answer satisfies the host, and the men say that the brothers will come to great honour, When the host was lodged on the Aisne that night an alarm was raised by the brothers, 2 fol. 110d. The forces arrayed them- selves for battle, and spies were sent over the country to find the enemy. 194 They returned with the news that no enemy was in sight. At last it was known to bea false alarm, The captains of the van and rear guards com- plained of the trouble, but Anthony told them he did it to test the troops, % fol. 111, The next day they marched to Dam Castle, which is twelve leagues from the besieged town, The ambas- sadors advise the brethren to halt and refresh their men, ANTHONY’S METHOD OF DISCIPLINE, [CH. XXIV. aspyed no personne; whero[f] al gaf them self grete wonder of that alarme & affray, but at last it was wel knowen that the two bretheren caused it. Thenne came the two knightes, captayns of the arryergarde, 4 & also the Captayne of the vantgarde, to the two bretheren, & said to them in this manere: ‘ My lordes, grete symplenes it is to you thus to traueylle your peuple for nought.’ ‘How,’ said Anthony to them /8 ‘whan ye doo make a new rayment, be it harneys or clothing, make ye not it to be essayed, for to knowe yf ony fawte is fonde in it, and to haue it mended & sette as it shuld be?’ / And they al ansuerd, ‘ For certayn, 12 sire, ye / and that is ryght.’ Thenne sayd Anthony, ‘yf I wold haue assayed my felawes to fore that it had be tyme, for to knowe how I shuld fynd them redy at my nede / sene & consydered that we approuche our 16 enemyes / to thend, yf ony fawte we had fond, to haue purueyed of conuenable remedy therto, at owr lesse dommage / than yf in dede it had be.’ Whane they [heard?] that word / they ansuerd!, ‘my lord, ye 20 say but rayson’ / and they wondred moche of *theire gouernement, and of theire subtylte & wyt / sayeng — betwene them self / that they shuld yet come to grete perfection, Soone after the day was come, the masse 24 was said and the trompettes sowned ; at which sowne the vantgarde marched fourth, and the sommage and Cartes folowed / and after the grete oost deslodged, & went so long by theire journeyes that they came & 28 lodged them vpon a ryuere named Meuse, vnder a For- tresse named Damcastel / And fro thens vnto the siege ‘tofore lucembourgh, were not past two days journey for them. Thenne came the barons ambaxadours of 32 Lucembourgh to the two bretheren, & said; ‘My lord, we haue no more but xij leghis ynto the siege, it were good that ye shuld refresshe yowr peple here ypon this 1 Word scraped out of MS, ‘CH. XXIV. | ‘APPROACH TOWARDS THE ENEMY, fayre ryuer ; For here is good soiowrne & good abydyng? / and also is good to take aduys & Counseyl how ye wyl doo.’ / t hanne ansuerd@ Anthony ryght boldly: ‘By my feyth, fayre lordes, thaduys is ouerlong take, For assoone that my brother & I haue sent toward the kynge of Anssay, yf he wyl not doo after our wyH, he 8 may hold hym sure to haue batayH / and the vyctory shal send god to whom it playse hym / but what / me semeth we haue good quarel, And therfor we haue hope on owr lord that he shal helpe vs / and also we 12 shal, or euer we fyght, demande of hym ryght & rayson / but it muste be aduysed who shal goo on the message.’ ‘By my feyth,’ sayd the Captayne of the vantgarde, ‘I shal be your messanger, yf it please you, 16 and the gentylman that knoweth the Countre shal lede me thither.’ ‘In the name of god,’ said anthony / ‘that playseth me ryght wel / but that shal not be tyl myn oost be but thre leghes ferre fro them / to thende, 20 yf pe batayH muste be that we may be nere them for to fyght, and haue thayde of the toune with vs. 1For yf he wyl the batayH we wold be alredy by And thus they lefte to speke of this matere, 24 And on the morne erly, after that the masse was doo, hym.’ thoost marched, & passed the ryueve vnder Damcastel in fayre ordynaunce / and so long they rode that they arryued on an euen betwene vertone and Lucem- $28 bourgh, and there lodged them self. And on the morow erly Anthony sent the Captayne of the vant- garde, and the said gentylman toward the kynge of Anssay, to whom they said the wordes that herafter 132 folowe. Thenne they hasted them so moche that they came to the siege, and were brought as messagers tofore the kyng', whome they salued, & made reuer- ence as they oughte / and aftir the knyght captayn 136 said to hym in this manere; ‘Sire, hither we be sent 195 But Anthony declines to do so, and says he will send to the King of Anssay, and if he accepts not their terms they will fight, The captain of the vanguard volunteers to be the messenger. Anthony says he will send when they are as near as three leagues to the enemy, 1 fol, 1110. In the morning after mass the army marches beyond Virton, and rests there. Next morning Anthony sends the captain of the vanguard and the gentle- man to the King of Anssay. The captain, after making reverence to the king, Oo 2 196 says he has been sent to show the outrage that has been committed on the noble lady of Luxem- bourg. If the king will make amends for the wrongs he has done and depart, he can do so; if not he must fight. The King of Anssay mocks the knight, 1 fol. 112. who now de- mands a speedy answer, The king replies that he cares not a straw for the knight's masters; whereupon the knight defies the king on behalf of his lords, THE EMBASSY TO THE KING OF ANSSAY,. [cH. XXIV. from our redoubted lordes, Anthony & Regnald, of Lusynen bretheren, for to shew vnto you the fawte & grete oultrage that ye doo to the noble damoyselie lady of Lucembourgh / the which owr lordes redoubted 4 mande, & lete you knowe by vs that yf ye wy] restab- lysshe the dommage, & to make raysounable & lawful amendes of the Iniury & vylonnye that ye haue don to her / to her subgets & to her propre enherytaunce, 8 and after to departe out of her land ye shal doo wel, and they make them strong: to make your peas with her / and yf ye wyl not so deele with her / theire entencyon is for to take reparacion vpon you of the 12 dommages beforsayd by strengthe of theire armes & by batayH. and gyue to vs an ansuere what your wyH is to doo / and after morouer I shal telle you as I am commanded to doo,’ ‘How, sire knyght,’ said the 16 kyng', ‘are ye come hither for to preche vs / by my feith lytel or nought ye may gete here. For as to your letéres ne to your preching', I shal not be letted of myn entencion / but as long ye may preche as ye wyl, For I 20. vouchesaf. 1For I take my dysport in your talkyng & prechement, And also I trow that ye ne doo or saye suche thinges but for dysport.’ ‘By my heed, sire,’ said the Captayne, that was angry / ‘yf ye doo not 24 promptly & anoone this that our lordes mande by vs vnto you / the dysport that ye speke of / shal hastly tourne you to grete myschief & sorowe.’ ‘ Sire knight,’ said the kyng’, ‘of menaces ye may gyue vs ynoughe. 28 For other thing’ ye shal not haue ne withbere fro me, For your maisters, nor your menaces I preyse not worth a strawe.’ ‘Thenne, king of Anssay, I deffye you on my ryght redoubted lordes byhalf’ ‘Wel 32 thanne,’ said the kyng', ‘I shal kepe me fro mystakyng & fro losse & dommage, yf I may’ / ‘ By? my sowle,’ answerd the Captayne, ‘grete nede ye shal haue to do 2 Ms. read My. CH. XXIV. | THE LUXEMBOURGERS CHEERED, S00.’ And without ony moo wordes they departed / And whan they were out of thoost or siege / the gentylman toke leue of the Captayne, and secretly entred in to 4 the toune for to recounte the tydinges of the two brethern / and whan he came to the gate he was anone knowen, and the yate was opened to hym, & gladly he was welcommed of eueryone / and they 8 demanded tydynges of hym / whiche ansuerd to them. ‘Sires, make good chere, For soone ye shal haue the moost noblest socours that eue was seen / and wete it wel that the king of Anssay abydeth so long’, that he 12 shal be certaynly othre slayn or take, & his peuple al dyscomfyted, take, or putte to deth.’ Thenne byganne the joye to he so grete thrugh the toune that they with- outforth herd the bruyt therof, and woundred moche 16 what it might be / and announced it to the kyng\. ‘By my feyth,’ said the kynge, ‘they recomforte them- self for the commyng? of thoo two children by whome that knyght hath deffyed vs, For 4as I trow, they 20 haue herd some tydynges therof, and perfor they make suche joye.’ ‘In the name of god,’ said an auncyent knight, ‘al this may be / but good were to take heede therto / For there nys none litel enmy, but we ought 24 to haue doubte therof. For or euer they come hyther from For I know them wel ynough by semblaunt. poytou we shold haue brought about a parte of our wyH.’ Now I shal leue to spek of the kynge / and shal 28 retourne to speke of hym that brought tydynges of the two bretheren in to the toune, Whan the knyght thanne was entred as byfore is said, he went fourth vnto the Castel where the pucelle Cristyne was / and $2 after hys obeyssaunce don ynto her, he reherced to her al the playn trouth of the mayntene & countenaunce of the two bretheren / and he said to her / ‘ how Anthony bare a claw of a Lyon in his face’ / and shewed to her 836 hys grete fyerste & his grete strengthe / Also how 197 The captain and the gentleman Jeave the king. The gentleman secretly enters the town to give tidings of the brethren, He tells the people that the King of Anssay will be either slain or taken, and his people overcome ; whereat they make a joyful noise, The King of Anssay says they rejoice because of the succour of 1 fol. 1120. the children who have defied him, An ancient knight advises the king to take heed of the report. The Luxem- bourg knight goes to the castle where the maid Christine dwells, and describes Anthony and Regnald to her, 198 The captain arrives at the two brethren and their host, and recounts the king’s proud answer, and how the knight left him to go to Luxembourg. 1 fol, 113, * The brethren send word through the host that those who have no will to fight can go home, but the host cries, ‘ Let us go forth upon your enemies.’ The host marches forward to a little river, where they rest, sup, and appoint a good watch, At day-spring they are ready ; 200 men of arms and 100 cross- bowmen are left to take charge of the camp, BEFORE THE DAY OF BATTLE. ([CH. XXlVvs Regnald had but one eye / and the beaulte of theyre bodyes & of theire membres / wherof she merueylled moche, & said that it was grete dommage, Whan eny contreyfayture was in the membres of suche noble men. 4 And now cesse thystory to speke of them / and re- tourneth to teH of the captayne that retourneth to thoost toward Anthony and Regnald. / hystorye sayth that so long rode the Captayne 8 that he came in to thoost of the two bretheren, & recorded to them how he had fulfylled hys message, & recounted word by word the proude ansuere of the king’, and how he had deffyed hym in theire byhalf / 12 and also how the knyght was departed fro hym, & was gon to Lucembourgh to tet there lof theire commyng / And whan the two bretheren herd hym they were ful joyous / and soone made ecryees thrughe theyre oost, 16 that al they that had no wyH for to fyght & abyde | the batayH shuld draw themself aparte, & gaf to them leue to retourne agayn in theire Countrey / but they escryed them self with an hye voys. ‘ Ha / a, france 20 © demoyseaux make your trompettes to be sowned, & lete vs go forth vpon your enemyes / For we ben not come in your companye / but for to take thauenture ‘ wzth you suche as god shal send vs / Ha, lordes, goo we 24 & renne vpon owr enemyes, For with goddes grace, & with the good wyH that we be of, they shal soone be dyscomfyted.’ Whan thenne the two bretheren herd the ansuerd of theire peple they were joyful, and made 28 — theire oost to departe, & came & lodged vpon a lytel ryuere / and the vantgarde & the grete batailt lodged togidre, bycause they might goo no ferper / and they soupped togidre, and after. went to reste them, & made 32 good watche / and at day spryng they were al redy / and lefte to kepe their lodgis two houndred men of © armes with an @ crosbowes / and thenne the oost in fayre aray marched forth, There myght men see 36 OH. XXIV. | SKIRMISHERS DESPATCHED, baners & standarts in the wynd, and vnder them the flowr of cheualrye in good aray & fayre ordynaunce Vi there had ye sene salades & helmets shynyng clere / 4 and harneys knokyng togidre that grete beaute it was to see. They kept & marched nygh togidre, so that one passed not that other. And Anthony and Regnauld rode at the first frount, mounted vpon two grete horses 8 armed of alt pieces. And lin that estate and aray they went tyl they came vpon a lytel mountayne / and sawe fro thens in the valey the toune & Castel of Lucembourgh, and the gret siege that aduyrouned it 12 about. And wete it pat they of the siege had not yet perceyued thoost of the two bretheren / but they were all asured pat they shuld haue the batayH. Thenne sent anthony foure houndred helmets for to scarmysshe 16 the siege / and the oost folowed with lytel paas in fayr aray of batayH / And on the wynges of thoost were knightes and Crosbowes in fayre ordy- Now te we of the foure houndred fyghting! 20 men that went for to scarmyssh with them of the siege. / hystory saith that the foure houndred fyghtyng men entred vpon theire enemyes, and slew & 94 hew doune aH that they recountred / And whan they were come nygh to the kingis tente, they of the night naunce. watche that were not yet vnarmed went ayenst them, for the cry that they made that was ‘Lusynen’ / many sperys 28 were putte there at to pieces, and many one cast doune to the ground / and the gretest dommage tourned vpon them of the siege / but sodaynly the kyng armed hym self, and putte hym vnder his banere byfore his tente / 32 and whiles they held foot alle thoost was armed, & drew them toward the kyngis banere. And he de- manded of them, ‘Fayre lordes, what affray is this?’ ‘By my feyth,’ said a knight, ‘they are men of armes 36 that entred in your oost ryght fyersly, and they cal 199 They march forth in good order ; Anthony and Regnald in front on two great horses. 1 fol. 113 b, They come toa little mountain, from which they see the town and castle of Luxem- bourg and the siege around it. The besiegers do not see the relieving host. Anthony sends 400 skir- mishers in advance, These knights slay all they encounter, and come nigh the king’s tent, which was de- fended by his night watch, The king arms himself, and asks his men what affray is this? Aknight answers that men of arms have 200 damaged them sore, but the night watch has driven them back. 1 fol. 114. Anthony with his men comes up in battle array, and the king comes forth to meet him, The battle begins, and much blood is spilt. Anthony fights so well that the most hardy dare not abide him. Regnald also does great feats of arms. 2 fol. 1140. THE FIGHT. [cH. XXIV.. Lusynen, and they haue adommaged you sore / and yf it had not be the nyght watche the losse had be greter, For they haue faught with them valyauntly / and haue made them to goo back by force.’ ‘ By my feyth,’ said 4 the kynge / ‘these damoyseaulx, in whos behalf I am deffyed, haue not taryed long to come & bere dom- mage to me / but wel I think for to auenge me therof.’ Thenne is come Anthony and his batayH, which made 8 his trompettes to be sowned clerly. And whan the kyng perceyued them he came withforth the lodgis in fayre aray & batayH renged. And thenne the bataylles recountred eche other / and archers & cros- 12 bowemen approuched & bygan to shoote, and there were ‘Slayne & hurt many one of the king’ of Anssays party, and neuertheles the grete batayH assembled togidre / and there was grete occysion & fyers medlee. And 16 thenne anthony broched his hors with the sporys, the spere alowed, & smote a knyght by sucli vertue that the targe nor his cote of stele might not warauntyse hym, but that he threw hym doune to therthe al deed. 20 And thenne he drew out his swerd, and smote on the lyfte syde & on the ryght syde, gyuyng grete & pesaunt strokes, in so moche that in a short while he was so — knowen thrugh al the batayH ‘that the moost hardy 24 of them alle durst not abyde hym. Thenne came Regnald mounted vpon a grete Courser callyng ‘ Lusyg- nen,’ which made so grete appertyse of armes that alle his enemyes redoubted hym, Thenne was the baytayH 28 fyers, cruel, and mortal on bothe partyes / but alwayes the gretest losse & dommage tourned vpon the kyng of Anssay & his peple, which was moche dolaunt & sorow- full, & envertued hym self strong, and made with his 32 handes grete vasselage / but al that preuaylled hym nought, For the poytevins 2were ryght strong, hard, & fel lyke lyons / and theire were the two lordes so puyssaunt that none so bold was there that durst abyde 36 CH. XXv. | THE FIGHT. them. Thenne sawe wel the kynge by the puyssaunce & strength of the two brethern, that he myght no lenger suffre theire force. 4Cap. XXV. How Anthony & Regnald dys- comfyted the kynge of Anssay tofore lucem- bourgh / and how he was take. he kyng' thenne, which was a valyaunt man & 8 strong’, cryed with a hye voys ‘ Anssay, Anssay, lordes & barons be not abasshed, For the batayH is oures’ / and at his callyng' his peuple toke courage, & assembled them self ayen togidre about theire kynge, 12 and made a fyers enuahye! vpon the poyteuyns / there was many man slayn / hewen & sore hurte with grete doleur. That mornyng' was fayre & clere, & the soonne shoone bright vpon the helmets / and caused 16 the gold & syluer ther on to *resplendysshe, that fayre And they of the toune that herde this grete affray, toke theire armes; & eche of them made good watche, For they were ryght ferdfuH & doubtous 20 of treson. And the knyght which anounced to them the socours of the two breperii was with the pucelle Crystyne in a hye toure, & loked out at a wyndowe / and he knew wel that it was Anthony & Regnald, that 24 were come for to fight ayenst the king’ and his ‘peple, & anon called with an hye voys, ‘My lady, come hither & see the floure of knyghthod, of prowesse & hardynes / come & see honour in his siege royal, & it was to see. 28 in his mageste / come & see the god of armes in ‘Frend, said the pucelle / ‘what is that ye say to me?’ ‘I calle you,’ sayd the knight, ‘to come hither & see the flour of noblesse & of aH 32 curtoysye, that fro? ferre land is come hither for to fyght with your enemyes for to kepe your honour, 3 for in MS, ? propre figure. 1 Fr. envaye = attack, 201 The King of Anssay sees he cannot with- stand them. He encourages his people, they rally and again fiercely attack the Poitevins, 2 fol. 115. The noise of the battle is heard by the towns- folk, and by the knight mes- senger who is with the maid Christine. He asks her to look at her . champions, 202 - the children of Lusignan. When the maid sees the slaughter she is full of grief for being the cause of such deeds, 1 fol. 115d. Anthony, seeing the havoe made on his host, resolves to fight the King of Anssay, He rushes upon the king, smites him, and casts him from his horse. He makes him prisoner. Four knights are appointed to guard him, GRIEF OF CHRISTINE AT THE SLAUGHTER. [cH. XXV.) your lande, & your peple / this are the two children of Lusynen, that be come for to deffend you ayenst the king! of Anssay & alt his puyssaunce, and to putte theire honowr & lyf in auenture for to kepe your 4 honour sauf.’ Thenne came the mayde at the wyn- dowe, & beheld the mortal batayH & horryble medlee / sayeng in this manere: ‘O Veray god, what shal doo this poueve orphenym. / bettre it had be that I had 8 drowned myself, or that I had be putte to deth in some other wyse, or elles that I had be deed whan I yssued out of my moders wombe / than so many creatures shuld be slayne & perysshe for myn owne 12 synne.’ Moche dolaunt & heuy was the yong! damoy- selle of the grete myschief that she sawe, For in certayn thoccysyon was grete on both partyes, For the king recomforted his peuple by his wo[r]py conten- 16 aunce & valyaunt maynten ; For w7th his propre swerd he moch adommaged his enemys poyteuyns. But Anthony, seeyng the grete dommage that the kynge bare vpon his peple / he was dysplaysed with, & sayd 20 in hym self: ‘ By my feyth, thy lyf or myn shal not be long’, For rather I wold dey than to suffre & see my peuple so murdryd before me.’ Thenne he sporyd hys hors / and fyersly as a lyon rane vpon the king. and 24 with his swerd of stele smote hym vpon the hyest part of his helmet by suche strength & vertue that he made hym to be enclyned vpon pe hors neck, so sore astonyed that he ne wyst wheper it was nyght or day, nor he 28 had no force ne power to helpe ne redresse hymself vpward / and Anthony that this sawe, putte his swerd in the shethe ayen; & toke the king by the middes of the body / drew hym fro the hors, & so rudely cast 32 hym to therthe that vnnethe hys herte brake wzthin his bely / and after toke hym to foure knightes, and charged them on theire lyues that they shuld kepe hym, so that pey myght ansuere hym of it. And they 36 CH, XXv. | THE KING OF ANSSAY CAPTURED. said that so shuld they doo / and they thanne bonde hym & lede hym out of the batayH, and called xxv" archers with them. And after these thinges thus doon 4 Anthony retourned in the prees, callyng' ‘Lusynen’ with a hye voys, & said: ‘ Now lordes & barons, gyue grete strokes, & spare none, For the journey is ours thankyng' be to god; For I haue take the kynge of 8 Anssay my prysonner, that so grete vylonny hap don to the gentyl pucelle Cristyne.’ Thenne was the medlee rude & paryllows / and there dide the bretheren so moche of armes, that al tho that saw them said that 12 they sawe neuerv two so valyaunt knyghtes. What shuld preuayH you long compte. 4Whan the Anssays peuple knew that theire kynge was take, they neuer _ syn made no deffense / but wer alle outhre slayne or 16 take, And there gate the poytevyzs grete conqueste & noble proye, and lodged them self in the pauyllons & tentes of the king of Anssay & of hys peple. And was the kinge brought in Anthonys tente, which a 20 lytel byfore was hys owne propre tente; wherfore the king’ myght not hold his owne tonge, but said: ‘ By my feyth, damoyseaulx, wel sayth he trouth that sayth / “that god doth / he doth anoone” / For this day, in 24 the mornyng, men had doo here within but lytel for your commandement.’ ‘Sire,’ sayd Anthony, ‘your folyshnes & synne is cause therof; For tofore ye wold rauysshe by force the pucelle Crystyne lady of this 28 toune / but therof ye shaH be payed after your deserte, For I shal yeld your self vnder her subgec- tion.’ Thenne whanne the kyng! vnderstode hym, he was shamfast & woofuH / and as dysolate & dyscomfyte, 32 ful heuyly ansuerd in this manere: ‘Sith now it is thus vnfortunatly happed with me, rather I wyl dey than to lyue.’ ‘Nay,’ sayd Anthony, ‘ye shal delyuere your self / no doubte of / vnto pe mercy & subgection 36 of the pucelle.’ 203 They lead him out of the battle. Anthony now urges his men to give great strokes, and to spare none, and tells them he has made the king prisoner. 1 fol. 116. © The king’s people give up hope after he is taken, He is brought to Anthony, and confesses that ‘that god doth, he doth anone.’ Anthony tells the king that he is to blame for desiring to seize Christine, and announces that he is to be delivered into her hands. 204 1 fol. 116 0d. Anthony de- spatches the King of Anssay under guard to Christine, 2 fol. 117. who gives great thanks, and hopes God will reward them, She says her council will consider how to recompense her deliverers, and binds the king to promise that he will stay THE KING SENT TO CHRISTINE, [ox. XXVI. Cap. XX VI. How the kyng of Anssay was lede byfore the pucelle Crystyne. 1 henne called Anthony to hym the two barons, ambaxadours that were come to Lusynen, with 4 the said gentylman fro Lucembourgh and xx* other knyghtes of poytou, and to them said in this manere: ‘ Now lede me this kinge tofore pe damoyselle Crystyne, and recommande vs moche vnto her /and that we send 8 her / her enemy prysonzer, for to do with hym her And thenne they departed, & lede the king as they were youen in commandement / and came to the toune, where they were wel festyed & honourably 12 receyued. And thenne the Citezeyns conduyted them toward the pucelle, theire lady Crystyne, with grete joye. damoyseaulx of Lusynen recommande them hertyly 16 wyH.’ ‘Noble lady,’ said the messagers, ‘the two yong vnto you, ?and send you this kyng' your enemy prysonner, to doo with hym after your dyscrecyon & wylle.” ‘Fayre lords,’ ansuerd the damoyselle / ‘ herto behoueth gret guerdon / but I am not puyssaunt 20 ynough for to reward them as they haue deseruyd. I pray to god deuoutely that of hys grace he wyl rewarde them to whom I am mocli bonden / and I pray you, fayre lordes, that on my behalf ye wyl pray my two 24 yong lordes that they vouchesauf to come and lodge them self here within, & as many of theyre barons with them as it shal lyke them good. & in pe meane while men shal burye the deed bodyes, & the deed 28 horses shal be brent / and also they of my Counseyl shal take theire best aduys to see how I shal reward them of theire grete peyne & traueyl, that they haue suffred for me vnworthy perof, and to recompense 32 them of theire grete expenses & dommages in the best And ye, kynge of Anssay, ye swere vnto vs by your ryalte that ye shal wyse that we can or shal mowe. i ee ee lf OH. XXVI. | THE PROMISE OF THE KING. not departe from hens without the wyH & gree of the two noble damoyseaulx, that here haue sent you toward me. For yet so moch I knowe / thankyng to god / 4 that I shuld mysdoo to cast you in pryson / not for your sake / but for loue of them that hither haue sent you.’ Whan thenne the kynge vnderstode the wordes of the pucelle, he ansuerd al ashamed, ‘ Noble damoy- 8 selle, I swere you on my feyth that neuer hens I shal departe without your leue & theirs also; For so moch of wele / of honowr & of valyauntnes I haue sene in them, that moche I desyre to be acoynted with them / 12 how be it that grete dommage they haue borne vnto me & my men.’ And thenne the noble mayde made hym to be putte into a fayre chambre & riche, & with hym ladyes & damoyselles, 1also knyghtis & squyers, 16 for to make hym to forgete his losse, & forto reioye & And thus don, the messagers retourned toward the tentes, & reported the haue hym out of melencolye. mandement & prayer of the pucelle Cristyne vnto the 20 two bretheren, whiche were counseilled to goo thither ; and ordeyned the mareshal of the oost for to gouerne theire peple vnto tyme that they came agayn / and also he commanded hym to make the deed bodyes to 24 be buryed, & to make the place clene where as the batayH had be. with theire baronnye / and ayenst them came, in theire Thenne they departed, acompanyed best wyse, an houndred gentylmen / and also the 28 barons of the land mete with them, & made theire obeyssaunce fuH honourably vnto the two brethern, prayeng them yet agayn, on theire ladys behalf, that they vouchesauf to come & lodge them in the toune / 32 And they ansuerd that gladly they wold doo soo. Anthony was mounted vpon a grete Courser / and he had on hym a jacke of Cramesyn velvet, aH brouded & sette with perlis, and held a grete vyreton in his hand. 36 And in lyke & semblable maneve went hys brother 205 in the town until the brethren are satisfied, This done he is given a fair chamber. Knights and 1 fol. 117 b. ladies are sent to keep him company. The guard of the king returns to the brethren, who leave their army in charge of the marshal, and accompanied with their barons go towards the town. 906 ° THE ENTRY OF THE BRETHREN INTO LUXEMBOURG. [ox. XXVI. The barons of Luxembourg, who come to meet them, are astonished at the appearance of the brethren, and marvel at Anthony’s claw, and at Regnald’s one eye. 2 fol. 118. They enter the town amid the sound of trumpets, The houses are richly decorated, and the windows full of women, As the brethren ride through the town, the people say that it would not be wise to oppose them, Regnauld, And whan the barons of Lucembourgh sawe the two brethern, they wondred mocii of theire fyersnes, gretnes & myght, and wel said that there was no man that might withstand ne abyde theire 4 puyssaunce / and moche they mevueylled of the Lyons claw that appiered in Anthonys cheke, & said that yf ne had be that he were the fayrest man in the world / and moche they playned Regnald of that he had but 8 one eye, For in al his other membres he passed of beaulte al oper men. 1 n this partye sayth thistorye, that in noble estate & fayre aray entred the two brethern in to the toune 12 of Lucembourgh ; & before them sowned trompetées in grete nombre, with heraults & menestrels; And Cyte- seyns had hanged theire houses wéthoutforth toward the stretes, with theire best & rychest hangyng clothes / 16 and the stretes where the said lordes passed were couered on high wzth lynen clothes, that no rayne or other fowH wedryng myght lette peire entree within the toune / and many noble & worshipful ladyes, bourgeys 20 wyues / damoyselles and fayre maydens, were in theire best rayments, eche one after the state & degree that she was of / lokyng out at wyndowes for to behold & see the noble brethern & theire felawship. 24 hystorye thanne sayth that the two bretheren de- parted out of theire tentes with noble companye, as barons, knightes, squyers, & other gentylmen / and as vyctoryows prynces rode fuH honourably vnto 28 Lucembourgh, and thrugh the toune, where as they were behold with joyows herte of euery one, sayeng that one to other: See yonder be two the fyers men, bretheren that are to be redoubted / he is not wyse 32 that taketh noyse or debat with them / and they had grete wonder of Anthonyes cheke / and also for certayn it was a straunge thing! to behold & see / but the grete beaulte that was in his body caused that inconueny- 36 ‘CH. XXVI. | CHRISTINE MEETS THEM AT THE CASTLE, ence to be forgoten / And thus they rode toward the Castel. The ladyes & damoyselles beheld them out of the wyndowes / and said that they neuer sawe two And thenne they came to the Castel, wher they alighted, and entred fourthwith into the haH, where as the noble Crystyne mete them at the gate, wel acompanyed of ladyes & 4 damoyseaulx of more noble affayre. 8 damoyselles in grete nombre, and of knightes & squyers / and with a joyous contenawnce & gracyous maynten honoutrably receyued them & gretly festyed them. The halle was hanged nobly with ryche clothes after “12 the vse of the land, and fro the halle they went in to another chambre, moch noble & ryche, & pere the pucelle Cristyne bygan to say to them in this manyere : ‘My right dere lordes, I thanke you mock, as I may 16 of the noble socours & help that ye haue don to me / I am not so moch worth as ye ought to be rewarded of / not that withstanding I shaH endeuoyre me therto / al shuld I laye of my land in pledge this tene yere day. 20 And also, my lordes, of your noble grace ye haue sent to me the king’ of anssay, myn enemy, of the which plaise it you to knowe that I am not she to whom oughte pe punysshement of hym// but to you appar- ' 24 teyneth to doo therwith your playsire & volente, that haue had the parel & peyne for to ouercome & take hym your prysonner / wherfore after that right re- quyreth he is yours, & may doo with hym whatsoeuer 28 it plaise you / and I remyse hym in your pocession, For as touching my persone I gyue hym ouer vnto you, & loke not to medle ony more with him tofore you.’ ‘Noble damoyselle,’ said thanne anthony, ‘sethen it is - 32 your playsire, we shal ordeyne wel perof, in suche wyse that it shal be to your grete honour & prouffyte / and to hym grete shame & confusyon / no doubt of / And wete it that my broper and I are not come hither for ' 36 loue of your siluer, but for to susteyne rayson & right / 207 The ladies say they have never seen such noble youths, At the castle Christine meets them in the hall, and receives them honour- 1 fol. 118d, ably, and richly feasts them, She thanks the brethren for their help, and promises to reward them, She gives back the King of Anssay into their hands to deal with as they wish, Anthony replies that they came not for silver, but to sustain justice, 208 and because they think all noble men should aid widows and orphans. 1 fol. 119. He declines all reward, save the lady’s favour and good grace, Christine is abashed, and wishes to pay the soldiers of the brethren, but her offer is refuse The steward an- nounces dinner ; they wash, and send for the King of Anssay, who sits down to dinner with hem, 3 fol. 119d, THE BRETHREN REFUSE ALL REWARD. |cH. XXVI. also considered that alle noble men oughte to helpe & ayde the wydowes, orphenynis, and the pucelles also. And forasmoch also that we were truly informed, that the kinge of Anssay made grete werre Janenst you & 4 your land wrongfully, wherfor no doubte of / of aH your goodes we wyl not take the value of one peny / but alonly to be receyued in your noble fauowr & good grace, alt vylounye excepted.’ Whan the pucelle 8 Cristyne vnderstode these wordes, she was abasshed of the grete honour that the two bretheren dide vnto her / not that witistandyng she ansuerd in this manere: ‘For southe, my gracyows lordes, at lest it were no 12 raison, but that I payed wel your peple that be come ‘hither to take your wages as sawdoyers.’ ‘ Damoyselle,’ said penne Anthony, ‘ vouchsaf to suffre that we haue said, For my lord owr fader, & my lady ovr moder, 16 haue payed them alredy for a hole yere day, or euer they departed out of our land / & yet it is not fullyssh a moneth complet syn that we departed thens; And ouermore wete it that syluer & gold we haue ynoughe. 20 Wherfore, noble demoyselle, ye lese your wordes to speke therof, For certayn it shal none other be’ / and she therne thanked them in her best manere ryght humbly. 24 henne came the styward, & enclyned hym tofore the pucelle, & said: ‘My lady, ye may wesshe whan it playse you, For al thing is redy to dyner’ / ‘whan, my lordes,’ she said, ‘be redy perto, I am 28 playsed.” Whom Anthony ansuerd: ‘noble damoy- selle, we be al redy whan ye vouchesaf to go therat.’ and thenne they toke eche other by pe handes & wesshe. And Anthony desired the king of Anssay to be sent 32 for / and made hym sette first of aH at the table / and after the pucelle and syn Regnauld / and anthony satte last. And nygh to them satte foure of the noblest barons of the land. And along the halle were !other 36 CH. XXVI. | THE KING OF ANSSAY PRAYS FOR MERCY. tables dressed, wherat sette aH other gentylmen, barons & squyers, eche one after hys degree. Of the seruyse I nede not to hold you long compte, For they were so 4 nobly & haboundauntly serued, that nothing accordyng to such a ryaH feste they wanted of. And whan they had dyned they wesshe handes, and graces were said, and all the tables voyded. 8 Anssay in this manyere: ‘ Lordes damoyseaulx, vouche- It is trouth that the wyH of god & myn vnfortune hath brought me to that caas, thanne said the king’ of sauf to here my wordes. that by your valiauztnes & prowes I am & haue be 12 bothe myself & al my peple dyscomfyte, & ouer that ye haue take me your prysonner / but I ensure you, con- sideryng your high prowesse, your bounte, & your noble affayres, I am glad & joyous to fynde me now 16 with you, For I shal be the bettre therfore al my lyf naturel ; and syth, fayre lordes, pat my presence & long! abydyng? here with you may nought preuaylle to you / humbly I besech you, as I best can, that it playse you 20 to putte me to raisounable raunson & payement port- able to me, so that I be not al dystroyed nor dys- heryted / thaugh it lyeth now in your power / bui haue pyte on me, & punysshe me not aftir the regarde 24 of my follysshe enterpryse / how be it pat rygour of justice requyreth it.’ ‘By my hed,’ said Anthony, ‘who that shuld punysshe you after the regarde of the grete iniurye, vylonnye, & dommage that ye haue don, 28 and yet had purposed to do to this noble damoyselle without eny lawful cause / ye were not puyssant to make amendes suffysaunt therof / but for as moche that ye knowleche your synne the lasse penytence shal ye 32 haue / and I wyl wel that ye knowe that my brother & I be not come from our countre hither for hoop of getyng of siluer vpon you nor vpon other / but for desire & hope of getyng of honour & good fame or 36 renommee, without to haue ony wyH or appetyt to MELUSINE,. 209 Dinner over, hands washed, and grace said, the King of Anssay declares himself discomfited, and beseeches that a reasonable ransom may be named, and prays that he be not dealt with according to the extreme rigour of justice. Anthony answers that he would be unable to make amends if he were duly pun- ished for the wrong he had committed ; but as he and his brother seek honour and not silver, 210 THE KING OF ANSSAY’S RANSOME., [OH. XXVI. haue mortal rychesses. Wherfore, as touchyng our 1 fol.120. part, we ‘now remyse & putte you free quytte & at they givehim your lyberte / sauf that we taxe you to pay to this noble liberty on con- dition thathe — pucelle aH such dommages that she hath had at your 4 pay Christine for all the costhis cause / and perof ye shal gyue , at ee ee / p y gyue good pledges or euer ye her to, departe hens, And yet morouer ye shal swere vnto her and that he vpon the holy Euaungiles, that neuer ye shal bere, ner undertakes never bed: hehaame 3 shal suffre to be borne ony manere of dommage ne 8 dyshonowr to the forsaid pucelle that is here present / but at your power ye shal gyue her ayde, help, & comfort at al tymes anenst aH them that iniurye or dommage wold doo to her. And wel I wyl that ye 12 _knowe that yf ye wyl not swere & accorde to that I haue said with your good wylle, I shal send you in to such a place, wherout the dayes of your lyf ye shal not escape. And whan the kynge vnderstode these wordes 16 phe Soe ae he ansuered in this manyere. ‘Sire, I am wyllyng & redy to swere that conuenaunt, yf the noble mayde be content of that ye haue ordeyned & said.’ ‘By my feyth,’ said she, ‘I consent me therto, syn it is my 20 tae amit lordes plaisure’ / and yet morouer said Anthony suche or semblable wordes as folowen / : Ne sire, I haue not al said that ye muste doo, For that the king ye muste doo founde a Pryoure of twelue 24 must build and Ta monkes & the pryour, in suche place there as my lady or twelve monks, shal ordeyne / and ye shal endowe & empossesse them with rentes & reuenue conuenable for theire lyuyng & for their successours for euermore / the said monkes & 28 who shall pray. pryour to pray there for the sowles of them that haue for the souls of those who have | be slayne of your part & of myn in this batayH.’ ‘ By nore. my feyth,’ said thenne the king’, ‘I promyse you pat so shal I doo, and good pledges & hostages I shall gyue 32 The bree dhe you, & to my lady to be asured therof.’ Thenne sware — these the kynge by hys feyth vpon the holy Euaungiles that he shuld hold & accomplysshe al that beforesaid is / & gaf & delyuered good hostages / & lettres patentes were 36 } CH. XXVII. | THE KING MAKES A SUGGESTION. therof made vnder hys seal, & the seales of aH the 1barons of his lande. And that don, Anthony said to the kynge / ‘I now gyue you, and delyuere free alt 4 the prysonners that we & our folke haue take, and your tentes & pauyllons also / but the hauoir that is departed amonges my felawes I may not it rendre or yeld to you / And thenne he made to be delyueved to hym 8 foure thousaund prysouners or therabout, al men of estate & faytte / And thenne the kynge-enclyned hym- self, & thanked hym mocii therof. What shuld I make long! compte / the feste bygane sumptuous & 12 grete thrughe the toune of Lucembourgh, & specially in the Castel / and eueryone spake of the grete noblesse and curtoysye that Anthony & regnald his brother had shewed to the king! of Anssay / 16 Cap. XXVII. How the kinge of Anssay called to hym al the barons of Lucem- bourgh to Counseylle. : henne called the king! of Anssay aH the barons of the land to CounseyH, and said to them: ‘ Fayre lordes, Whan the yron is hoot it moste be wrought & forged; how be it thenne that I haue be yl wyller _ bothe to you & to your lady / the tyme is now come 24 that I wold her honowr and prouffit & youres also / lyst & here, For god hath sent good auenture to you, Thenne said the barons: 20 yf ye can take it in gree.’ ‘Now, sire, syth that ye haue entamed pe matere / 28 vouchesauf to declare vnto vs the sentence therof.’ ‘Ye moste,’ said the kynge, ‘fynde the manerve & meane that Anthony take your lady to his wyf, and he to be your lord, For thenne ye shal mowe saye 32 surely, pat no nede ye haue of none other / & none so hardy were to take an henne from you ayenst your wyH.’ And they ansuered thus: ‘Sire, yf Anthonye 211 and he and his lords delivered 1 fol, 1200. letters patent agreeing to the same under all their seals, Anthony then delivers four thousand prisoners to the king. There is a great feast in Luxem- bourg, and all men praise the courtesy of Anthony. 1 fol, 121. The King of Anssay calls the barons of Lux- embourg to council, and advises them to find means to make Anthony marry Christine. 212, They say they will be glad to do so. The King of Anssay goes to Anthony and asks him to send for his brother and his council. This is done, Anthony and his people come to the barons of Luxembourg, who do them reverence, 1 fol, 1210. The King of Anssay, in the name of the barons of Lux- embourg says, seeing that Anthony and his brother will accept no gift of Christine, will Anthony grant them a gift of a kind which will not lessen his possessions ? Anthony answers he will, if it is something he can do honourably. CHRISTINE TO BE GIVEN IN MARRIAGE, [cH. XXVII. wold do soo we were therof full glad & joyous.’ ‘Now thenne, fayre lordes, lete me deele therwith / and I hope to. god I shal brynge the matere to a good ende. Abyde and tary here a lytel, & I shal goo speke with 4 hym.’ Thenne came the kynge tofore Anthony, & said: ‘ Noble man & curtoys damoyseau, the barons of this land desire & pray you, that ye, your brother, & your CounseyH comé and entre in to this chambre. 8 For they desyre moch to speke with you for your prouffyt & honowr.’ ‘By my feyth,’ said anthony, ‘ryght gladly.’ And thenne he called to hym hys brother & them of theire CounseyH / & syn entred in 12 .to the chambre / and the barons of the land that were there enclyned themself, & made grete reuerence to the two brethern, Thenne spake the kynge of Anssay, & said: ‘Fayre lordes, these two noble damoyseaulx are 16 come hither at your requeste & prayer / declare now to them your wylle.”’ And they ansuerde to hym: ‘Noble kinge, humbly we beseche you, that ye anounce & shewe to them owr entenczon, that ye knowe ! wel 20 ynoughe.’ ‘By my feyth, said the kyng, ‘I wyl.’ And thenne suche wordes as folowen he bygan to say / : nthony, noble man, curtoys & valyaunt knight, “AN pe barons of this Countree haue had regarde to 24 the grete honowr that ye haue borne & shewed to theire lady, to her lande, & to them / also they haue con- sidered how nought ye wyl take of theyre lady ner of them / and for asmoche that they desyre your wele & 28 honour, they humbly beseche your good grace that it playse the same to graunte to them a yefte, the which shaH not lasse your good nor hauoyr / but shal rather augmente your honour.’ ‘ By my feyth, noble kynge, yf 32 it be of that thing! that I may recouere / touching myn honour, I graunt it right gladly.’ ‘Certainly,’ said the king’, ‘theire requeste is thenne fulfilled, For they desyre none other but your honour.’ ‘ Now, sey thenne, 36 CH. XXVII. | HOW CHRISTINE CONSENTED. said Anthony, ‘what they desyre of me.’ ‘Damoy- seau,’ said the kinge / ‘they wyl gyue you the Duchesse of Lucembourgh, peire liege lady, to your wyf / reffuse 4 not that noble yefte’ / Whan anthony vnderstode hym he stood penseful © ' long tyme / and syn said in this manere: ‘By my feith, fayre lordes, I supposed neuer to coOme vnto this 8 countre for that quarrett; but sethen I haue accorded to you I shal not gaynsay it / lete now the pucelle be sent for, For yf she be playsed therw7th I consent me perto.’ Thenne was the damoyselle fete thither by 12 foure of the noblest barons of the land, the whiche recounted to her al the faytte, wherof she was ryght glad & joyous / how wel she made of it no semblaunt. And whan she entred in to the Chambre she made her 16 obeyssaunce tofore antony, & salued alle the barons there / and as she beheld Anthony she bygan to wexe in her vysage more rede than a rose / and thenne the barons reherced & shewed vnto her aH this affayre. 20 And whan the pucelle had herd them speke 'she ansuerd to them in this manere: ‘ Fayre lordes, I ren- dred & yeld thankes & mercys vnto almyghty god, to his blessed moder, and to you also, of the grete honour 24 that now happeth to me, For I pouere orphenyme am not worthy to be addressed in to so highe a place as to haue to my lord the flour of knighthode and the no- blesse of alle the world / and of that other part, I 28 wote & knowe wel that ye whiche are my liege men, that bettre knowe myn own affayres than I doo my self / wold not counseylle me that thinge, but it were to my grete prouffyt & honowr. Wherfor I ne oughte 32 nor wy] not gaynsey it / but I am al redy to do therof your playsire.’ / 213 The king offers the Duchess of Luxembourg to Anthony to wife. 1 AGT Sony u . on ‘ tiie position, he asks that the maid should be sent for, and says if she agree, he will consent. Christine is told what has been cone, and is right glad. She enters the chamber. When she sees Anthony; her face becomes redder than a rose. 1 fol. 122. She declares that though un- worthy she is ready to do their pleasure, 1 fol. 122d. Anthony and Christine are assured together, and on the next morning they are married, That night Anthony begets a valiant heir, who is called Bertrand, The King of Anssay gives leave to his people to return home, while he remains to fulfil his treaty. Anthony, Reg- nald, and the king go through the land and visit the towns and fortresses. After his return Anthony adds the figure of a lion to his arms. 3 fol. 123, A messenger arrives from the King of Bohemia, THE MARRIAGE OF CHRISTINE AND ANTHONY. [cH. XXVIII, Cap. XXVIII. How Anthony espoused Crystyne, Duchesse of Lucembourgh. / Be ie age noble lady,’ said the Barons, ‘ye say right wel & manerly.’. What shuld I bring 4 forth prolixe or long talkyng'? For shortly to say, they were assured togidre with gret joye / and on the next morne after they were espoused & maryed togidre, & was the feste holden right grete & noble, and the peple 8 of the land was ryght joyows whan they vnderstode & knew therof / and pat same nyght lay Anthony with the noble mayde Crystyne, and gate on her a moche valyaunt heyre, & was called Bertrand. The feste 12 thenne endured longe sumptuous & grete, & grete ryalte was seen there / and anthony gaf noble & ryche jewels / and receuyed the homages of the lordes & barons of the land. And the king! of Anssay yaf leue to his peuple 16 to retourne into theire Countrees / and abode with anthony with a pryuy? meyne for to fulfyH & accom- plisshe that he had promysed at traytee makyng' of the peas. And soone after the duc Anthony with his 20 brother Regnald and the king’ of Anssay and the baronnye, went thrugh the land to vysyte the tounes & fortresses & putte al thing’ in good ordonnaunce / in so moche that euery man said, that he was one of the 24 moost wysest prynce that euer they sawe / and whan he had vysyted alt pe land he retourned to Lucem- bourgh, where the duchesse Cristyne receyued hym right joyously / And thanne by thaduys of his Coun- 28 seiH he adiousted to his armes the shadow or fygure of a Lyon, for cause of the duchery, wherof the lady Cristyne had oftyme prayed hym to fore. And thus they soiourned at Lucembourgh with grete dysport & 32 joye / tyl that a messager came fro the king' of Behayne there, whiche was brother to the king! °of 2 Fr. privet maisgnée, CH. XXIX. | FREDERICK OF BOHEMIA AND HIS DAUGHTER, Anssay, and was besieged within his toune of praghe by the paynemes & sarrasyns. Cap. XXIX. How the kyng, of behayne sent a messager toward the king) of Anssay his brother. / hystorye sayth that a messager came to Lucem- bourgh fro the kyng' Federyk of behayne, that 4 8 was moche valyaunt & a true man, whiche ryght strong! susteyned the feyth catholicaH ayenst the Sarasyns / It is so that the paynemes entred in to his land / and seeyng hym self not puyssaunt ynough for to gyue 12 them iourney of batayH, drew hym self & his peple with hym in to hys toune of Praghe / and had this kyng' Federyke but one only doughtir to his heyre, whiche was named Eglantyne / & certayn it is that he 16 was brother to the king’ of !Anssay. Wherfore he sent a messager to Lucembourgh there as the kyng of Anssay his brother was at that tyme. And shortly to speke, the messager came & directed his lettres to the king 20 of Anssay, whiche opened & redd it / by the tenoure of whiche he vnderstode & knew the myschief where his brother was in / and sayd al on high in heryng! of eueryone there in this manere: ‘Ha / a, Fortune, how 24 art thou so peruerse & so cruel, certaynly? wel is he deceyued pat trusteth in the nor in thy yeftes by no manere. it hath not suffysed the to haue ouerthrawen me fro the vppermost stepp of thy whele vnto the 28 lowest / but vtterly wylt dystroye me for euer, whan my brother, whiche [is] one of the moost trewest & valiaunt kyng! in the world, thou wylt so dysempare & putte out fro his royawme, yf god of his grace purueye not of 32 remedy therto’ / and thenne he retourned hym self toward anthony, & sayd: ‘Ha / right noble & valyaunt 2 Fr. version reads: Certes l’omme est bien deceu que en toy ne en tes dons se fie en riens. 215 who is besieged by the Sarasins at Prague. The valiant King Frederick of Bohemia, unable to give battle to the Paynims, with- drew to Prague. His heir is his only daughter, Eglantine. 1 fol. 123 0. He sent a letter to his brother, the King of Anssay, telling him how matters stood, The king after reading it com- plains against fortune, and tells Anthony that it is worse than ever with him, 216 because now that Anthony has overthrown his chivalry, he is unable to help his noble brother Fre- derick against the infidels. 2 fol. 124. Anthony is sorrowful to hear these complaints. He is given the letter to read, whereby he un- derstunds that Zelodius, King of Cracow, is be- sieging Frederick of Bohemia at Prague. Anthony asks the king whether he could be soon ready to accompany him to succour Frederick. THE SIEGE OF PRAGUE. [ou. XXIX. prynce, it is now with me wers than euer was / For your noble cheualrye & puyssaunce haue not only mated me & made lasse myn honowr, but also ye haue dyscomfyted with me the moost true & valiaunt kyngi 4 that euer was of my lynee, & that more valyauntly hath deffended the cristen feyth ayenst thenemyes of god. or Federyke, my brother, noble kyng of Be- hayne, beyng sore oppressed & besieged within his 8 toun of praghe by thinfideles & enemyes of god, writeth? ynto me ful tenderly for help & socoure / alas, now your grete fayttes in armes haue kept me therfro, so that I may not help hym / how be it that al 12 this commeth thrugh myn owne fawte & folysshe en- terpryse, For god hath punysshed me lasse ynough than I haue deseruyd.’ And thezne he bygan to make suche sorowe that grete pite it was to see./ 2 hystorye sheweth in ‘this partie that the due Anthony was ryght dolaunt & sorowful whan he vnderstode the pyteous bewayllyng' of the king of 16 Anssay, and said to hym in this manere: ‘ Sire, telle 20 ‘By god,’ sayd the kynge, ‘wel I have cause / loke & see what the tenoure of this lefre specyfyeth.’ me why ye demene & make such duey]l.’ Thenne toke anthony the lettre and redde it al ouer, Wherby he 24 vnderstode & knew the grete myserye & myschief wherin Zelodyus, kyng' of Craco, held Federyk’, kyng' of Behayne, besieged within the Cite of praghe. And thenne the neble duc Anthony consideryng: the grete 28 myschief wherinne the Cristen peple was hold by the puyssaunce of the paynemes, his herte was al replenyssed with pite, and said in hym self that yf he might the Sarasyns shuld bye ful derly the peyne whiche they 32 made the Cristen peple to bere / and he thenne said to the kynge: ‘Sire, yf I wold helpe you for to socoure your brother, wold ye not be soone redy to goo thither- 1 ynriteth in MS, CH. XXIX. | ANTHONY AGREES TO HELP FREDERICK. ward?’ And whan the kyng vnderstod thoos wordes he kneled doune tofore the duc, & said: ‘Sire, yf ye wyl graunte me so moche of your grace / I swere & 4 promyse you feythfully that I shall make Regnald your brother kyng of Behayne after the decesse of my For wete it that he hath none heyre sauf only a ryght fayre brother, whiche is elder than I almost xx" yere. 8 doughter, which is cleped Eglantyne / and she is about xv yere of age, & that pucelle shall I gyue, yf ye vouche- sauf, to Regnauld your brother.’ ‘By my feyth,’ said thenne Anthony, ‘and I accorde therunto. / goo thanne 12 hastly to Anssay and make your mandement, and be with vs ayen within this thre wykes, and lodge your peuple in yonder medowe, Where your tentes tas yet ben, and in the meane season I shal sende for my men, 16 whiche are with a knyght of myn at the Leffe, where men had doon wrong’ to hym.’ And the king‘ ansuerde, ‘Noble & curteys lord, he rewarde you therof, that suffred deth for vs and bytter passyon.’ And thezne 20 he toke his leue of the duc and of the duches, of Regnauld, & of aH the baronnye there, & syn mounted on horsback / and with his owne meyne rode tyl he came in to his land of anssay, sorowful for his losse 24 & joyful for the socours that the Duc Anthony pro- mysed to hym, for to helpe his brother ayenst the panemes & enemyes of god. / he veray hystorye testyfyeth that so long! rode the 98 kinge of Anssay that he came in his land, where he was welcommed of his baronnye / and soone went to vysyte & see his doughter Metydee, that was not yet two year old / and syn retourned with his barons / to 32 whome he shewed al his affayre, and how he moste go socoure his brother; Also how Anthony & Regnald his brother shuld helpe hym therto wit al theire pus- saunce. ‘By feyth, said thenne the barons, ‘syth it is 36 soo that thoo two brethern medle with this enterpryse, 217 The king is glad, and says that if Anthony will go, he will make Regnaid king of Bohemia on his brother’s death. Anthony then asks the king to go to Anssay and to return with his people in three weeks. 1 fol. 124 db, The king thanks him, and takes his leave. He rides to Anssay, sorrow- ful for his losses, but glad that Anthony will help his brother against the Paynims. The king arrives in his land, and visits his daughter Metydee. He returns to his barons, and explains all his affairs. The barons think that as the breth- ren of Lusignan 218 are going to help their king’s brother, they are sure of success. The king assem- bles a host of seven thousand men. He leaves his land in charge of a noble baron, and in three weeks is back in Luxembourg. 1 fol, 125, The duke has nine thousand five hundred ‘ men ; one thousand of whom he leaves behind to guard the land, which is left in charge of the lord of Argemont, Christine is sad at Anthony’s departure, and begs him to return soon. 2 fol. 125 6. Anthony bids her take care of herself on account of her unborn babe, and directs if it be a boy he is to be named Bertrand. ANTHONY TAKES LEAVE OF HIS LADY. [cH. XxX, hit may not fare but wel. For ayenst theire puyssaunce & worthynes may none withstand nor abyde / hast you thenne to make your cryees & mandement, For we al shaH go with you.’ Thenne made the kyng! his oost 4 to be boden & sent for, & prayd al his frendes & alyez / & within a lytel space of tyme he assembled about seuene thousand fyghtyng men / and departed fro his royalme, whiche he lefte in good gouernaunce vnder a 8 noble baron of the land. And syn dide so moche by his journeys, that at thende of thre wykes he came & lodged hym & his oost byfore Lucembourgh, in the medow where his tentes were lefte. And thenne were 12 also come the dukes peuple, that were in nombre fyue thousand helmets and a thousand V.C. archers & crosbowe men, beside them of the duchery, that were in nombre thre thousand, of pe whiche anthony toke 16 with hym two thousand and the other he lefte behyné for the sauegarde of the land / of pe whiche he ordeyned chief captayne and protectour a noble baron of poytou / and that was the lord of Argemount. / 20 Cap. XXX. How the due Anthony toke hys leue of the Duchesse Crystyne, and went toward praghe with hys oost. ow sayth here thystorye, that whan the Duc 24 Anthony toke his leue of the Duchesse hys wyf, she was right dolaunt & sory in herte, how wel she durst make no semblaunt / but she prayed hym to retourne assoone as he goodly myght / and he said 28 to her that so shuld he doo / And, moroue7’, he said to 2her in this manere / ‘ Duchesse, take good heede of your fruyte that groweth in your blood, and cheryssh your self / and yf goddis grace gyue that it be a sone, 32 make hym to be baptysed & named Bertrand, For thus . is my playsire. Thenne they embraced & kyssed eche CH. XXX.] THE HOST STARTS ON ITS MARCH TO PRAGUE. 219 other, takyng leue one of other / and syn departed the duc & came to hys peuple, and made his trompettes to be sowned. Thenne mounted spere men on hors- 4 back, and bygane euery man to marche forth in fayre aray. The vantgarde conduyted & lede the kynge of anssay and Regnald with hym, which was mounted vpon a hye Courser, armed of al pyeces except his 8 helmet, and held a grete staf in hys fyst, and putte his men in ordre ful wel, & semed wel to be a prynce courageous & of hye enterpryse / and after folowed the _ Cartes, Charyots & bagage, & the grete batayH / and 12 after siewed the ryergarde, which Anthony conduyted in fayre ordynawnce of batayH, For it was tolde hym pat in that countre were many theevys / but the duc Anthony manded, & sent word fro fortresse to fortresse 16 that yf they were so bold to take on hym or on hys peuple ony thing’, that he shuld punysshe them in suche wyse that other shuld take ensample therof. And so he passed thrugh aH the Leffe /and no man | 20 was so hardy that he durst take ony thing on hys oost. It is trouth that on an euen he lodged hym tofore the Cite Acon! with aH hys oost / and the Citezeyns there made & presented to hym grete yeftes of ryches, wherof 124 he thanked them moche, and proffred to them his ser- uyse, yf they myster of it. And on the morne after the masse he deslodged, & so long! marched fourth on his way with his oost, that he came & lodged vpon {28 the ryuere of Ryne, which is grete & meruayllovws. And *they of Coloyne made grete daunger to lete passe the oost thrughe the Cite at brydge / wherof anthonye was angry & dolaunt, and fyersly sent worde 132 to them how he had entenc7on to reyse the siege, that the king! of Craco had layed, & sette with lx thousand Sarasyns tofore the Cite of praghe, wherinne was in grete oppression and dystres the king of behayne, 1 Fr, Ays:—Aiwx la Chapelle, Ger. Aachen, The army marches away to the trumpet sound, The vanguard is led by Regnald and the King of Anssay ; then comes the baggage in the middle, as Anthony was told the country was full of thieves, and then the rearguard led by Anthony in good order. At last they arrive at the Rhine. 2 fol. 126, The men of Cologne object to the host pass- ing through the city. Anthony angrily tells them the reason of the expedition, 220 and asks if they are on the Paynims’ side or not. When the men of Cologne un- derstand how matters are, they send four burgesses, who tell Anthony they will let him pass through on condition that the citizens are protected from all damage by Anthony's men. Anthony replies that he wishes them no harm, and inquires if any of his ancestors had at any time done them any misdeed. 1 fol. 126 0. The burgesses return to the city, and tell their story to the Council, who can re- member no quarrel with the Dukes of Luxembourg. A DIFFICULTY AT COLOGNE. [oH, xxx. and that they shuld send hym word yf they held with the paynemes or nat / and vpon that he shuld take hys aduys what he shuld doo / and also that magre them he shuld fynd@ good passage, but not so short as 4 by theire Cite. stode this mandement, & were wel infourmed of the And whan they of Coloyne under- grete prowes & fyersnes of the two bretheren, they were dredfulH & doubtows. toward Anthony foure of pe notablest & moost worship- And soone after they sent 8 full burgeys of the cyte, whiche came & made to hym ryght honourable and humble reuevence / and wondred moche of hys fyersnes and proude contenaunce / not 12 that withstanding, they said to hym in this manere: ‘right high & myghty prynce, the Citezeyns and com- mynalte of Coloyne haue sent vs toward your good grace. And know ye pat gladly they shal suffre you 16 & al your oost to passe peasibly thrugh the Cite, soo that ye shal kepe & preserue them fro al dommage that your peple might bere vnto them.’ ‘ By my feyth,’ sayd Anthony, ‘yf I had be wyllyng to doo the 20 contrary of theire wyH, they shuld haue had of me : knowlege therof / and also I haue no cause to doo soo, For I knowe not that they haue mysdoon to me of ony thing, nor to the myn nother / How wel they cause 24 me to thinke other wyse / goo and telle to them, yf they remembre not of old! some mysdede don to them by myn auncestry, or of the Dukes, my predecessours, wherof as yet they be ‘not pacyfyed & accorded / 28 that they wyl suffre me & myn oost passe surely / or ellys to send me wordes therof.’ Whan they vnder- stode hys wordes & knew his wyH, they retourned to the Cyte, & announced to the Commynaltee the mande- 32 ment of the Duc Anthony. And they anone as- sembled theire counseyH, & the auncyent men / and found that neuer they had no hate ne dyscorde with the dukes of Lucembourgh, nother to theyre frendes 36 CH. XXx. | CROSSING THE RHINE AT COLOGNE, nor alyez / and that sethen he was so noble a man & so valyaunt, they shuld lete hym passe, and al his oost also. And they remanded to hym theire wylle with 4 grete yeftes of ryches that they made to be presented to hys grace / and purveyed for hys oost moch of vytayH, as bred, wyne, and flesshe / & ootys for theire horses / And whan the Duc vnderstode theire ansuere 8 & sawe theire grete yeftes, he thanked them moche / and was joyous of that they of Coloyne wold be hys Wherfor he said to them, that yf they had nede of hym & of hys powere, he was redy at theyre frendes. 12 commaundement / and they thanked hym ryght humbly. And the duc Anthony made to gyue to them that had brought to hym the said presents of vytayH, many ryche yeftes, that asmoch were worth, or 16 more than the presents & yeftes gyuen to hym by the toune, For he wold not that thabytants of the Cyte shuld suppose or thinke that he wold haue ought of them for nought. 20 ila this partye sheweth thystorye, how that same nyght soiourned the oost byfore Coloyne, & was wel refresshed of them of the Cite & of theire vytayH. For as the dukes commandement was / they were 24 departed in suche wyse tha[t] euery man there had part therof. And on the morne erly, !the Duc entred into the Cite with hym, two houndred men of armes / and made his cryees, vpon peyne of deth, that none 28 were so hardy to take ony thing! of them of the toun ; but he payed wel for after raison. And soone after passed the vantgarde in fayre aray ouer the bridge, and so forth thrugh the Cyte. /32 and lodged them at the oper syde of the ryuere of Ryn / and it was about euen tyme, or euer al the Cartes, Charyots, & bagage were past. And that nyght the Duc & grete part of his baronnye lodged wzthin the ‘36 Cyte, where as grete honour was doon to them. The And so passed al thoost, 221 They agree to let Anthony and his host pass, and send him many gifts for himself and victuals for his host, When the duke understands their answer, he thanks them, and gives them as rich gifts and presents as had been sent to him. The host remains opposite Cologne for the night. 1 fol. 127. In the morning the river is crossed, and the host marches through the city. The duke and his barons stay all the night in the city, 222 COLOGNE GIVES FIVE HUNDRED MEN. [CH. xxx. and give a great duc Anthony bode at souper with hym alt the ladyes gifts to the ladies of the Cyte, & festyed them ryght honorably, & gaf grete yeftes ar he departed in so moche that they of the Cyte wysshed hym to be theire lord. 4 Healers in the Ae the morne the Duc toke his leue of them of the nae ute toun / and thanked them moche of the grete honour that they had shewed to hym & to his barons. And they ansuerd* aH with one voyce: ‘Noble Duc / 8 the Cite / we & alt our goodes ben at your commande- ment more than to ony other lord that marcheth about who offerhim V8 / and spare vs not of nothing’ that we may doo for i you, For we be now, & shal euer be, redy to do you 12 playsure, ayde, & comfort at your mandement and first callyng’’ / And he departed fro them, and went in to As the duke his tente. And on the morne as he came from the ” masse, & commanded the trompettes to be sowned for 16 four knights and to departe & meve / there came fro the Cite foure ome fromthe knightes wel mounted on horsbak, & armed of ait pyeces sauf the helmet, whiche alyghted byfore the duckes tente with foure houndred men of armes, and 20 C crosbowe men in theire felawship. These knightes made their obeyssaunce / and syn sayd in this manere: ‘Right noble & puyssaunt duc, the Cite & commynalte of Coloyne recommande them to your good grace / 24 and where as pey haue sene so moche of noblesse & 1 fol.1270, curtoysye in you / Idesyryng right affectuelly to be The knights sa that thecom- frendes & alyez vnto you, they send you foure hondred monalty of . 4 Cologne wish men of armes & an C crosbowes, al payed of theire 28 to be his allies P : andaskhimto wages for tene monethis day, for to goo with you accept the help aa where so euer it playse you to goo.’ ‘ By my feyth,’ of arms. sayd Anthony, ‘thankyng be to them, whome I am moche beholden to / this curtoysye is not to be reffused / 32 & wete it I shal not forgete it / but remembre in tyme & place.’ ‘Sire,’ said one of the foure knightes, ‘ there One of the knights offers to nys none of vs foure, but he knowe wel al the way fro guide the army to Cracow. hens to Craco / and yf it mystier, we shal guyde & lede 36 OH. XXX. | DUKE ODE. you wel & surely thrughe alt the passages & ouer al To that ansuerd the Duce & said / ‘this that ye say hurteth not our affayre, the ryueres betwix this & that.’ 4and I gaynsay not your sayeng’, whan tyme shalbe.’ Thenrne he putte them in ordynaunce, and receyued them vnder his banere. And penne desloged the vant- garde, the grete batayH, & the ryeregarde, and marched 8 on theire waye in fayre aray so long’, that they entred in the land of Bavyere, nygh to a grete Cite named Nuenmarghe, where as the Duc of Ode was with a grete companye of peuple, For he doubted the kyng 12 Zelodus of Craco, that had besieged the kynge Fed- eryke of Behayne, and held hym in grete necessite, For he had with hym foure score paynemes / and the Due Ode was doubtous lest he shuld come vpon hym, 16 yf he subdued and dyscomfyted the kyng Federyke. And therfore, he had assembled hys Counseyl to knowe & see what best was to doo. / hemne cam to the Cite an auncyent knyght that was of the Duc Ode, to whom he said after his obeyssaunce made: ‘My lord, by my sowle I come 20 from the marches of Almayne / but there is }commyng a grete oost hitherward of the moost goodlyest men of 24 armes and best arayed that euer I sawe in my dayes / but I wot not where they purpose to goo / but so _moche I know, that they draw them self hitherward’ ‘By my feyth,’ said the Duc, ‘I gyue me grete wonder /28 what folke they may be, yf the king of Anssay had not be of late dyscomfyted tofore Lucembourgh, I shuld suppose that it were he that wold socoure his brother Federyke ayenst the Sarasyns / and on my sowle yf it 82 were he I shuld goo with hym for to helpe his brother.’ ‘My lord,’ said the knyght, ‘it were wysely doo to haue knowleche certayn what folke they be, ne yf they pur- pose other wyse than wele.’ ‘Sire knyght,’ said thanne 136 the Duc, ‘ye muste your self goo to knowe & reporte 223 The duke accepts the company, and puts them under his banner. The army marches to Bavaria, nigh to Nuenmarghe, where the Duke Ode is taking council what to do about the siege. 1 fol. 128, An ancient knight tells Duke Ode of the approach of a great host. The duke says if it were the King of Anssay he would go with him to help Frederick. The duke sends the knight to ascertain what host it is, He comes upon the host in a valley where they are taking exercise. 1 fol. 128 6. The knight thinks them worthy men of war, He enters the host, and asks for the governor. He is brought before Anthony. The knight says he is sent by Duke Ode to inquire why the host had come into his land. Anthony an- swers that he is the Duke of Luxembourg, and with him is his brother and the King of Anssay, and that they are going to raise the siege of Prague. 3 i A MESSAGE TO DUKE ODE. [cH. XXX. the certaynte of it, syn ye haue sene them’ / And he ansuerde, ‘By my feyth, my lord, I am redy therto.’ And soone he departed, and so long’ he rode that he There he 4 sawe grete companyes of gentyl men here & there, some castyng! the barre of yron / other held theire spere & shild and esprouued them self that one on pat other / some assayed theire harneys with shoot, with 8 strokes of swerdes, and in many other appertyse of perceyued thoost in a valey by a ryuere, armes they exercyted them self. ‘ By my feyth, said thenne the knight / ‘ there is fayre mayntene and noble contenawnce of men of armes / suche folke is to be 12 doubted and dredde.’ syde vpon a lytel mountaynne & sawe the grete batayH, Thexne he loked on the ryght and sawe the watche and the scourers al about the oost. ‘ By my feyth,’ said the knight that moche thing 16 had sene in his dayes / ‘this ben !worthy men of werre and able to subdue ony lande.’ And thenne he entred in to thoost / and demanded after hym that had the gouernaunce & guydyng of it / And soone he was 20 brought tofore Anthony. And whan he saw the Due he was moche abasshed of his facton / but alwayes he salued hym ryght curtoysly / and syn said to hym, ‘My lord, the Duc Ode hath sent me toward you to 24 wete of you what ye seeke in hys land / and yf ye thinke or purpose other wyse than wele / also what ye be that conduyteth so fayre company of peuple that I see here assembled. For he woteth wel that ye come not hither 28 with suche a felawship without it be for som grete af- fayre’ / ‘Frend,’ sayd anthony / ‘tet your lord that we ne demande ought of hym, nor suppose not to dommage his Also ye may telle hym that it is the 32 kinge of Anssay / Anthony of Lusynen, Duc of Lucem- bourgh, and Regnald his brother, with theire puys- saunce that supposen to goo reyse the siege of praghe, that the Sarasyns haue besieged.’ ‘ Sire,’ said thaun- 36 land in no wyse. <- CH. XXX, | DUKE ODE BECOMES AN AUXILIARY. cyent knyght, ‘god graunte you good vyage.’ And so he departed and retourned toward the Duc Ode of Bauyere, to whom he reherced as aboue is said, and 4 shewed hym the fyersnes and facton of Anthony, and the contenaunce of his oost / sayeng' that they were folke to be redoubted & dred. thenne the duc Ode, ‘It commeth of noble courage to ‘By my feyth,’ said 8 that two bretheren to haue come fro so ferre lande for to seke auenture of cheualerye & honowr, and also for to come & gyue ayde & socour to kynge Federyke anenst the enemyes of god / and I promyse god that 12 shal not be wzthout me, For it shuld be tourned to me to grete shame yf that I went not thither / seeyng that he is my Cousyn, & that my land is so nygh his royalme / and that the straungers come fro so ferre And thenne had the Duc Ode !made his mandement but of 16 for to ayde & helpe hym ayenst the paynemes.’ late, and had assembled al redy foure thousand fighting men. What shold I make long compte / thoost desloged 20 and passed byfore Murmych. And thanne the Due Ode yssued out of the toun w7th a fayre companye of peuple, and came and presented hym self and al his peple tofore the kinge of Anssay, Anthony / and his 24 broper, whiche Joyously receyued them / and thus marched thoost forth in fayre aray and good ordynawnce by the space of six dayes. And now seaceth thistorye to speke of them, and speketh of the king’ Federyke 28 and of the siege. / ere sheweth thistorye how the puyssaunce of Zelodyus, kyng of Craco, was ryght grete / and the king Federyk durst not goodly haue yssued / but 32 alwayes he scarmousshed ofte with his enemys / and almost dayly was at the barrers / the medlee was grete & stronge / and there were within the toune about a houndred helmets of Hongery, that were valyaunt 36 knightes & good men of werre / the whiche yssued / MELUSINE, The knight re- turns, delivers his message, and describes the host. The King thinks the brethren courageous, and resolves to go with them against the paynims. 1 fol. 129, He assembles four thousand men, and presents himself with his company to the King of Anssay and the brethren, Frederick is unable to cope with Zelodius, though he often tries skirmishes, bo bo lor) Early one morn- ing the pagans assault the town. Frederick drives them back to their camp ; but the king of Cracow comes with fifteen thousand Sara- cens, and forces Frederick to * retreat. Frederick sees Zelodius, 1 fol. 129 db, euts his way up to him, and smites him on his helmet. Zelodius is suc- coured by his men ; and Jaunches a dart at Frederick, AN ASSAULT ON PRAGUE, [oH. XXX. ofte & dide grete dommage to the sarasyns. It happed on a mornyng erly that the paynemes gaf a grete sawte to the toun / and the king Federyke with his peuple yssued out vnto the barrers / and there the scarmyssh- 4 ing bygan grete & mortal / and so manfully faught the kyng’, that wzth the help of his men he gretly dommaged his enemyes / and made them to cesse of the sawte / & made them to goo back vnto theire lodgys. 8 And that tyme was the kyng' of Craco mounted vpon a grete hors, his banere to the wynd acompanyed with xv M' sarasyns, and came in fayre ordynawnce to the batayH. There was many stroke gyuen & receyued / 12 and by force of armes the kynge & his peple was con- strayned to withdrawe hym back ynto the barrers. There was grete occysyon made, For horryble strokes were gyuen of bothe sydes, and the king Federyke re- 16 comforted wel his peple, For he dide grete faytte of armes of his owne handes. And whan he perceyued tkyng Zelodyus that sore dommaged his peple, he sporyd his horse and toke his swerd in his fyst / and 20 rane smyttyng on the lyft syde and on the ryght syde vpon his enemyes tyl he made place, and came & smote Zelodius vpon his helmet, by suche strengthe & vertue that he made hym to enclyne vpon his hors neck 24 al astonyed / and lytel faylled that he was not ouer- thrawen to the erthe, For he lost bothe the steropes / but soone he was socoured of his men whiche redreced hym vp ryght / and the king Federyk adrece@ hys 28 swerd vpon a payneme, & suche a stroke he gaf hym that he slew hym therwith. The king of Craco was thenne redreced as said is / and he perceyuyng the kyng Federyk / that hewed legges & armes, & casted to 32 therthe al that he .recountred of the sarasyns / had grete anger in his herte and came nygh at hym / and with an archegaye or dart launched at hym, by suche strengthe that the dart entred so depe into hys body 36 CH. XXXI. | FREDERICK OF PRAGUE SLAIN, that the hed of it was sene at the back syde of hym. That doon the kynge Federyk that felt the dystresse of deth myght no more hold hym self up ryght, but felt 4 & reversed deed fro his hors to the ground. Thenne was his peple fu heuy and dolaunt, and withdrew them self anoone, and reentred into the toune & shetted the gates after them. And thenne byganne the sorowe 8 to be grete in the town al about. / Cap. XXXI. How the kinge of Craco dide do take the body of kynge Federyke that he had slayn and commanded it to be brent. 121 he king of Craco thenne glad & joyous for cause of kyng' Federykes deth, commanded the corps to be brought byfore the gate, & there to be brent for to haue abasshed the more fem of the Cite, seyng theyre king 16 in a fyre. Whan the Cyteseyns & commynalte of praghe knew the deth of theire kynge / and the grete tyrannye of Z[el]odyus, they made grete sorowe / but in espescial the pucelle Eglantyne, his doughtir, was sorow- 20 ful in herte, and so pyteously bewaylled and lamented, that grete pyte it was to here & see / sayeng such or semblable wordes : ‘Ha / god! who might comforte me whan I see my faders deth byfore me, & the total dys- 24 comfyture of hys peple, & also the destructéon of my self, For I see no way wherby myght come ony socoure vnto me, For I haue herd say that myn vnele, the kynge of Anssay, on whome I trusted more than to 98 alt 2other men in the world, hath be dyscomfyted tofore Lucembourgh. Ha, veray god! creatowr of Crea- tures, I ne wote other reffuge for me for to escape the tyraunt Z[eljodyus handes than the mercyfuH bosom 32 of your grace to hyd me therin. O ryght noble, ryght puyssaunt, & ryght excellent pryncesse! virgyne & moder of god! Marye, my lady & maistresse / haue 227 which pierces his body through and through. He falls to the ground, His people with- draw to the town and close their gates. 1 fol. 130. Zelodius com- mands Fre- derick’s body to be burnt. The citizens of Prague are sor- rowful for the death of their king, His daughter, the maid Eglan- tine, piteously mourns her father’s death, 2 fol. 130 2, and calls on the Virgin Mary. Q2 A PROPOSAL TO CAPITULATE,. [oH. XXXI. compassion on me! poure orphenyn & faderles.’ Cer- taynly the pucelle Eglantyne bewayled, syghed, & complayned so piteously that no personne beheld her / but they were of pyte constrayned to wepe how hard 4 that theire hertes had be, For in her anguysshe & sorowe she made none ende, but euer she wept & rendred teeris habundauntly. Thenne the commynaltee of the toune, sore agast and timerous, were in propos 8 & wylle for to yeld the toun & themself ouer to the kyng Z[eljodyus, pat made them to be requyred & ad- mounested! therof / shewing to them how they myght not long endure nor wetistand ayenst his grete-puys- 12 saunce / & that theire Cate & goodes shuld be saued to them / but yf he toke theire Cyte byforce, he shuld make pem bothe theire wyues & children to be brent al to asshis, as theire kynge was. Wherfore the cyte 16 henge in balaunce to be delyuerved & gyuen ouer to the Sarasyns, But emonge other were there two good men, true & auncyent knightes, that said in this manere: ‘ False peuple, what wyl you now doo, yet is 20 not the messager come agayn that rode toward the king’ of Anssay for socour, take courage & comfort your self, For wzthin short space of tyme ye shal here good tydynges / thinke that ye be Cristen / & that 24 Criste shaH helpe vs or it be long.’ And whan they herd’ hym so speke they were aH recomforted, & ansuerd to the paynemes ambaxatours that they shuld neuer yeld@ them ouer vnto the last mans lyf of aH 28 them. And whan the kynge Zelodyus knewe theire wyll, he was wood angry & sorowful, & sware his goddes that he shuld putte al on fyre. / Nhe kynge® Zelodyus was mouyd to yre & grete 32 anger for thansuere of the commynalte of Pragh, wherfor he scarmysshed them sore, & gaf grete sawtes to theire Cite, but the noble and valyaunt men that 1 Fr, faisoit remonstrer, 3 kynge of: MS. CH. XXXII. | RELIEF AT HAND FOR THE CITY OF PRAGUE, were witiin deffended it strongly. I wyl now retourne to speke of the Due anthony and of hys brother Reg- nauld, of the kynge of Anssay / and also of Ode, Due 4 of Bauyere, whiche conduyted theyre oost, & marched fourth hastly, For they had tydinges of the myserye that they of the Cite were in / but nothing they knew of the deth of king! Federyke. 8 euen, they lodged themself nygh to a grete ryuere, a leghe & a half fro the Cite of Praghe / and that same euen was a knight of that same Countree that was in And on a thursday at theire felawship commanded that on the morne he 12 shuld anounce theire commyng to them of the Cite / and he on the morne erly mounted on hys hors, and toke his way toward the Cite / and after a grete sawte was seaced for fawte of daylight, he cam vnto a lytel 16 posterne / and they of the garde there knew hym anone, and lete hym entre the toun / and as soone as he was entred he rode softly along’ by the gardes, eryeng alowde in this manyere: ‘ Lordes, deffende you wel, For here 20 commeth the floure of knighthode to your socowrs & helpe with the kinge of Anssay, & anoone ye shal see them bygynne the bataylle / and be a good chere, For on my hed not one Sarasyn shaH escape, but he be 24 deed or take.’ bygane to make such a Cry, & so lowde, that it was And twhan they vnderstode hym, they wonder to here sayeng: ‘ Lawde & thanking! be to god almighty perof.’ And thenne they employed them self, 28 & defended so valiauntly, that no sarasyn durst no lenger abyde nygh the wal a bowe shotte / & many paynemes were thenne slayne, in so moche that the dyches watre was as tourned & dyed with theyre blood. 32 And whan Zelodyus sawe the grete & courageous deffense of them of the toune he was abasshed, & meruaylled moche of theire joyful contenaznce. / henne whan Zelodyus perceyued that his folke 36 withdrewe them self thus backward, he was The relieving host marches hastily, and arrives on a Thursday even- ing a league and a half from Prague, A knight is sent to the city with the news of their approach, He enters, and bids the lords fight well be- cause of the succour that is near, 1 fol, 131 6, The people thank God for the good news, and slay many Saracens, 230 Zelodius is sorrowful that this assault has failed. Anthony and his host ap- proach, They see the Saracens’ caifp. Anthony calls a halt, and orders archers to his wings. 1 fol. 182. The paynims perceive their coming, and tell Zelodius. He is wroth, and commands his men to as- semble in battle airay. Anthony’s host advances against the paynims, The air is full of arrows, Christians and payniins fight manfully, THE BATTLE BEGINS. [CH. XXXI. sorowfuH & dolaunt, & had grete merueylle, why & wherfore they of the toun were of so corageous deffense more then in other sawtes tofore gyuen / but soone after hys doleur & sorowe encreced moch more, For 4 anthony approuched in fayre aray. He, & Regnald hys brother, conduyted the first batayH ; and the kyng of Anssay, & his Cousin the duc of Bauyere, ledd the aryer garde. There had ye seen fayre companye of 8 gentilmen in good aray / the baners & standarts dys- ployed / helmets & salades wel garnysshed with fyn gold & syluer, which resplendysshed full clere / And so they cam & sawe the Cite that the paynemes assaylled, 12 & gaaf grete sawte / & sawe theire tentes & pauyllons, where were grete nombre of sarasyns. Thenne made Anthony his folk to tary and be styl a while, tyl the aryergarde were nygh to them / and ordeyne® archers 16 & crosbowes to be vnder the wynges of hys batayH. and thewne they were apperceyued, land seen of the paynemes, which went & made knowlege therof to theire kyng', sayeng’ in this manyere: ‘ Sire, leue the 20 sawte, that in an euyl heure was bygonne / wete it that such a multitude of Cristen peple be commyng? hither- Whan Zelodyus vnderstode these tydynges he was wood 24 ward that aH the feldes be coueret with’ wroth, & gretly abasshed, and lefte the sawte, and made the trompettes to sowne the retrayte, & that euery man shuld assemble togidre vnder hys banere. he thenne ordeyned his bataylles as he coude best. 28 And Anthony commanded hys trompettes to be sowned for to bygynne the batayH / and they approched the paynemes, keping’ good ordynawnce. Therne bygan the shotte to be grete & thikk as snowe in the ayer / 32 and syn the men of armes medled togidre, and entred one vpon other, & valyauntly brake speres, & ouerthrew eche other as it happed. The Cristen faught corage- ously / and the paynemes withstode & susteyned theire 36 CH. XXXI. | THE BATTLE WAXES FIERCE, grete strokes manfully. There was many sarasyn re- uersed to therth & slayn, Wel assayed the poyteuyns them self, & dyde grete faytte of armes vpon theire 4enemyes. But the king! Zelodyus putte his sheld _ tofore his brest, & held his spere alowe, and broched his hors with the sporys, & rane vpon the Crysten ; and aftir hym folowed xv Mt paynemes. Zelodius 8 dide there grete merueyHe of armes, and ouerthrew many a Cristen to therthe, & gretly dommaged them. For his folke that folowed at back syde of hym faught meruayllously. Thenne cryed the kyng Zelodius his 12 baner: ‘ Lordes, barons, auaunce, the journey is oure, For they may not vs escape’ / And they of poytou receyued them moch hardyfly, and wete it wel that there was grete losse of peple of bothe partyes. 16 Thenne came duc Anthony with the swerd lin his fyst / and whan he perceyued his peple recule a lytel, nygh he deyed for sorowe / and cryed: ‘ Lusynen!’ with a high voys, and putte hym emong! the sarasyns 20 more hastyfully than thundre falleth fro heuen, and faught & smote on eche syde vpon his enemyes, and ouerthrew alt them that he recountre@. and his peuple folowed at back syde of hym that were al wondred of 24 his grete fayttes & valyauntnes, For there ne was so hardy a sarasyn pat durst hym abyde / but fledd & reculed vnto theire tentes. And this seyng' the king Zelodius, he cryed: ‘auaunt, lordes & barons, and 28 deffend you / how is that for one man alone that ye flee / it is to you grete shame.’ And aftir these wordes he retourned, & assembled his peple ayen togidre, and gaaf grete batayl mortal vnto anthony & the poytevyns. 32 Thenne came thadmyral with ten thousand fighting men / and thenne enforced the batayH ryght horryble, For there were many of the sarasyns slayn and sore hurt. 231 Zelodius with a great host rushes on the Christians, and greatly hurts them, and cries ‘the day is ours.’ 1 fol. 132 b. Anthony sees his people re- treating ; he cries ‘Lusignan,’ and falls on the Saracens like thunder from heaven. The Saracens flee. Zelodius up- braids them, they rally and fight again, The admiral arrives with ten thousand men. i) iS) bo 1 fol. 133. The rearguard, under the King of Anssay, comes up and fights vigorously. epee! and Regnauld give marvellous strokes, and wherever they are they cause the Sara- cens to run, 2 fol. 133 d. Zelodius en- courages his folk, and does great damage. Regnauld spurs his horse against him, Zelodius hurts him in the thigh, but Regnauld hits him back, REGNAULD FIGHTS ZELODIUS. [cH. XXXII. Cap. XXXII. How the king) of Craco was slayn in bataylle. 1 henne came the ryerward that the kinge of Ans- say and the Due Ode conduyted pat entred 4 vygourously into the batayH, where was grete occysyon, For the batayH was mortal on bothe partes. And vpon that arryued Anthony & Regnauld, that entred by one assent vpon the sarasyns, making suche occysyon that 8 there ne was sarasyn ne Cristen, but he meruaylled of pe meruayllous strokes that they gaf. And in con- clusyon there was none so hardy a sarasyn that durst withstan@ them, For wher someuer they sawe them 12 they fledd, and so strongly faught the cristen / that the sarasyns tourned theire back, puttyng' them self to flight / but the kyng Zelodyus valy?auntly encouraged & reteyned them togidre. And wete it wel that he dide 16 grete dommage to the Crysten. But whan Regnauld perceyued the king! Zelodius, that rendred so grete a stoure & batayH mortaH to hys folke / he sware that he shuld dye or he shuld delyuere the place fro the 20 sarasyns / Thenne tourned he the targe behynde and sporyd his hors by grete yre and came vpon the king of Craco, And whan Zelodyus the kynge sawe hym come he haunced hys swerd and smote hym vpon his 24 helmet / but his swerd glenced doune by the lyfte syde vnto his thye, & hurted hym in such manere that the blood rane vnto his foote / And thenne Regnauld | pat was ful dolaunt, with bothe handes lyfte vp his 28 swerde and smote the kynge Zelodyus vpon the helmet with so grete yre that he was therwith astonyed, in so moche that the swerd feH out of his han@ and bowed vpon his hors neck, and therwith brake the taches of 32 his helmet. And thenne Regnauld retourned & smote hym ayen, and charged hym with so many hydouse strokes that he moste nedes parforce faH to therth. CH. XXXII. | A CHRISTIAN VICTORY. And fourthwith was the prees grete aboute hym bothe of horses & men / but hys peple came & socoured hym fro the horses feet / but in conclusyon they coude And whan the sarasyns sawe that they went to flight / And the cristen peple pursiewed pem manfully and slough them bothe in fel@ & in wodes. And wete it wel 8 that there escaped but few, and thus was the batayH fynysshed. And this don the Cristen lodged them in the tentes of the sarasyns. And the two brethern / the king! of Anssay and the Duc Ode departed with 12a C. Iknyghtes with them toward the Cite, where as 4 not obteyne nor hym ayde / but he was slayne. they were nobly receyued, For the Citezeyns had so grete Joye of the vyctorye that they had wonne vpon the sarasyns. And thenne came they & descended at 16 the palays ryalt. Thenne came the pucelle Eglantyne and recountred her vnele the king’ of Anssay and aH his barons. Cap. XXXIII. How the kynge Zelodius & 20 the other saracyns were brent and bruyled’. he pucelle Eglantyne was thenne joyful & glad for the dyscomfyture of the paynemes and also of the commyng! of her uncle. But not withstanding she '24 had sorowe at herte for the kynge, her faders deth, that she might not forget it. she cam byfore her vncle she enclyned & honourably made to hym her obeyssaunce, sayeng': ‘ My right dere 28 vnele, ye be right welcomme / playsed god that ye were arryued two ®dayes rather, For thenne ye had found my fader on lyue, whiche Zelodius hath slayne & made to be brent & bruled to the moost vytupere & 32 shame of the Catholycal feyth.’ And whan the kyng' of Anssay vnderstod it he was wroth & dolaunt, and sware that thus and in suche wyse shuld he do of the And neuertheles, whan 233 and though Zelodius’ people come to defend their king, Regnauld slays him. The Saracens then flee ; many are slain, and but few escape, The Christians take the camp of the Saracens. 1 fol. 134, The brethren enter the town, The maid Eglan- tine is glad for the victory. She welcomes her uncle, the King of Anssay, 2 fol. 134 b. and tells him how Zelodius has burnt her father’s body. He swears 234 to treat the Saracens the same way. Their bodies are laid in a heap, and are burnt ; but the bodies of the Christians receive Christian burial. The King of Anssay is woful for his brother’s death. He has the cathedral pre- pared for his brother’s obse- quies ; 1 fol, 135, and goes toward the Saracens camp, where the breth- ren were dividing the spoil. The King of Anssay tells how his brother was slain and his body burnt, and how he burned the Saracens, THE DISPOSAL OF THE SLAIN. [cH. XXXII. kynge Zelodius and of alt the sarasyns, that he coude fynde ded or alyue. And anoon were cryees made thrugh the toun, that of euery hous one man shuld goo in to the feld for to assemble the deed bodyes of the 4 sarasyns togidre vpon a mountayne, and that men shuld bryng' thither wo@ ynough for to brule & brene And thus it was don. of Zelodyus sette vpon a stake so that it was seen aboue 8 al other / And so was the fyre grete about them / and so they were al brent & bruled / and att the deed bodyes of the cristen men that were found were buryed And pese thinges 12 the corps. And was the corps there as cristen peuple ought to be. -doon, the kyng' of Anssay made al thing to be redy for to make thobsequye of the king’ his brother, and that moche honourably as it is shewed herafter. / [ this partye, sayth thystorye, that wooful & sory 16 was the kyng of Anssay for the deth of his brother / but syth it plesed@ god to be so he lefte & Thap- pareyl was thenne made for the obsequye whiche was don in the Chirche Cathedral of the Cite. And syn the kyng of Anssay and the duc of bauyere !mounted on horsback and many barons of behayne with them, passed his deuel the best wyse that he coude. 20 and al clothed in black went toward the sarasyns tentes, 24 where the two bretheren were whiche had do cdme per alt the Sommage, Cartes, Charyotes, & bagage, And syn departed among! theire peuple aH that they had wonne vpon the paynemes /. Thenne arryued there 28 the kynge of Anssay, the duc Ode, and all the baronnye and nobly salued the two brethern, And the duc Anthony, & Regnauld hys brother receyued them joy- fully. Thenne reccounted the kynge of Anssay to pe 32 two bretheren how the kynge ffederyk was slayn in the baytayH, and how Zelodyus had made hys body to be brent in despyt of aH cristianyte / and therfore he had doo like wise of Zelodyus body & of alt the sarasyns 36 CH. XXXIV. | THE OBSEQUIES OF KING FREDERICK. that were founde alyue or deed And Anthonye penne ansuerd, ‘On my feyth ye haue don right wel / and veryly kyng' Zelodius mysdede ouermoche grete cruelte, 4 For syn a man is deed / grete shame is to hys enemy to touche hym ony more.’ ‘By my feyth, sire,’ said the duc of Bauyere, ‘ye say trouth, but the kinge of Anssay is come hither to you for to beseche you & 8 your brother to cdme to the obsequye of the kyng' Federyke his brother.’ the bretherne, ‘we shal thither goo gladly.’ Thenne they And thenne ansuerd mounted on hors back & rode toward the Cite, where _ 12 as the ladyes and damoyselles, knightes & squyres / eytyzeyns & commynalte beheld them fayne and mer- uaylled moche of the Lyons clawe that shewed in An'thonyes cheke / and preysed moche his fayre & wel » 16 shappen body, and also of Regnauld hys brother / and said emong themself, ‘ these two bretheren ben able for to subdue al the world.’ chirch where thobsequye shuld be made and there : 20 alyghted. And thus they came to the Cap. XXXIV. How the two brethern were at buryeng and obsequye of kynge Fe- deryk of behayne. | 24 glantine that was in the Circh came and re- 1 countred the two bretheren, whom she made hum- bly her obeyssaunce, thankyng them mekely of theire noble socours that they had doo to her, For they had | 28 saued her honowr, her lyf, and her land. And thenne anthony ansuerd humbly to her, sayeng', ‘ Damoyselle, 2We haue nought doo but that we ought to doo, For euery good cristen is hold & bound aftir the playsire | 32 of god toppresse & dystroye thenemyes of God,’ The pucelle was there nobly acompanyed of the ladyes & damoyselles of the land, thobsequye was honourably & 235 Anthony thinks Zelodius was cruel, The duke Ode asks the brethren to the obsequies. They agree to come ; and are well received in the city. 1 fol. 135 0, Eglantine meets the brethren at the church, and thanks them for saving her. 2 fol. 136. 236 THE BARONS OF PRAGUE IN COUNCIL. [cu. XXXIV. After the service, nobly doon as it apparteyned to suche a noble kyng' as which is nobly done, he was. And after the seruyse fynysshed the two bretheren mounted on theire horses, and theire meyne the brethren also, and conueyed the pucelle Eglantyne vnto the 4 Eglantine E to the palace, paleys where they descended, & syn mounted in to the ha where the tables were redy couered / and thenne where they have they wesshe theire handes & satte at dyner / and syn were nobly seruyd & festyed / and after dyner the tables 8 were voyded & take vp & wesshe handes / and syn pey conueyed Eglantyne vynto her chambre, pat was euer The King of sorowful for her faders deth. And penne the kinge of A the barons of Anssay called to hym al the baronnye of the land, & 12 € lan ? . . . said to them in this manyere : and tellsthem ‘ ordes, barons, ye muste CounseyH emong' you, & they must take council how to govern the kingdom, valyaunt man for to gouerne the royaume, For the land 16 take your best aduys how ye myght haue a which is in the guydyng & gouernaunce of a woman only is not surely kept. Now, loke thenne what best is for the prouffyt & honowr of my cousyne Eglantine, & for pe common wele of this land.’ Thenne ansuerd 20 one for them alle & sayd: ‘Sire, we knowe none that They say that oughte to medle hymself therwzth tofore you, For yf in his presence they must not your Cousyn were passed out of this mortal lyf, that — god forbede, al the royalme of DVehayne shuld appar- 24 1 fol. 136. teyne to you. Wher!for we al bes[e|che you that therto ye puruey after your playsire.’ Thenne ansuerd the king, & thus said: ‘Sire, as touching my personne, I may not long abyde with you to be rewler & protectowr 28 of this land, For thanked be god I haue land ynoughe He eas them to entreteyne myn estate wth / but in conclusyon lete lady. my cousyn take some valiaunt man to her lord, that shal deffende the lan@ ayenst the enemyes of god.’ 32 Thenne ansuered the barons fourthe with, ‘Sire, yf it heat ee plaise you pat your Cousyn be maryed, seke for her aworthy man. some noble & worthy man to be her lord & oure, For tofore you none of vs oughte to medle withaH.’ Thenne 36} CH. XXXIV, ] THE KING OF ANSSAY COUNSELS EGLANTINE. ansuert the kyng in this manere, ‘We thenne shal purueye therto to her honowr & prouffyt & to yours also / and that anoone, For I go to speke with her for 4 this cause.’ The kynge thenne departed and came in to the Chambre where his Cousin was, that moche hum- bly receyued hym. And the kyng! said to her in this manere, ‘ Fayre cousyne, thankyng' to god your affayres 8 be now in good party, For your land is delyuered fro the paynemes by the puyssaunce of god & of the two brethern of Lusynen. Now it muste be aduysed & sene how best your reawme may be guyded in good 12 gouernaunce to your prouffyt & honowr, and of your peuple also.’ Thenne ansuerd the mayden, ‘ My right dere vncle, I ne haue noon of CounseyH & comfort but you / so I requyre you that of good remedye ye pur- And conuenable & lawful it is that I obey you more than ony other personne in the world, 16 ueye therto. & so wyl I doo.’ Thenne had the kynge pite on ther & said, ‘Fayre Cousyn, we haue alredy purueyed $20 therto / ye muste be maryed to suche a man that can kepe and deffende you & your land ayenst alle enemyes, the which is fayre, noble, & valyaunt damoyseau, & not ferre hens.’ ‘ Certaynly,’ ansuerd the pucelle. 24 ‘Dere vncle, wel I knowe for certayn that ye wold neuer CounseyH me pat thing’ but it were to my grete honowr & proffit, and for the commyn wele of all my land / but ryght dere vncle, I to be maryed so soone 128 after my faders decesse / shuld not shewe semblaunt of dueyH for his deth. blamed to doo soo / and suche shuld shew to me fayre Wherfor me semeth I were semblaunt byfore me,? that wold moke me at a pryvy 132 place /.’ o that ansuerd the king’, & said: ‘ My right fayre Cousyn, of two euylles men ought to choose the lasse, whan nedes muste one be had. But, fayre 2 Fr, qui en tendroit mains de compte derriére, 237 He promises to find one, and leaves to speak to his cousin on the subject. She receives him humbly, He tells her that the way must be found how best to govern the land, The maid asks his advice, 1 fol. 137. He says she must get married, She answers that she knows he gives good counsel, but she thinks she should not marry so s00on after her father’s death, The King replies that one must choose the lesser evil. 238 He would like to wait to be at her wedding, but he lives afar off. Then the brethren must be rewarded, but half of her kingdom would not be sufficient for this, 1 fol. 137 dD. and she is not worthy to have Regnauld as her lord, Then the maid was ashamed, and told her uncle to do with her and her kingdom as he thought best, The King bids her cease weep- ing. He goes to the brethren, UNCLE AND NIECE DISCUSS AFFAIRS. [cH. XXXIV. Cousyn, it is wel trouth, that who myght goodly tary the day of your weddyng' it were your honowr / but what, fayre Cousyn, my dwelling place is ferre hens / and here I may not make long‘ soiourne, without my 4 grete dommage, as wel of other mens goodes as of myn. Also the two bretheren most be recompensed & rewarded of theire noble socours, outhre of my goodes or of yours / and some saith that bettre is to haue 8 more of prouffyt & lasse honowr. And to say that ye coude recompense them as they oughte to be, by raison of the grete curtoysye by them shewed vnto you; the half of your royame shuld not suffise. And ouer 12 more, fayre Cousyne, wete it that ye be not to suffy- saunt +for to haue suche & so noble a man to your lord as is Regnauld of Lusynen, For in certayn he is wel worthy to marye the gretest lady in the world. What 16 for his noble lynee, as for his bounte, beaute, & noble prowesse.’ Whan the noble pucelle Eglantyne vnder- stode the kyng' her vncle, she was shamful & hontous / and on that other part, she consyderyng' the daunger 20 where bothe she & her peple had be & myght be wyst : neuer what to say, and bygane to wepe / but at last she ansuerd in this manere: ‘right dere vncle, at my trust, my hoop & comfort is in god & in you, wherfor 24 doo with me & with my reawme what it playse you’ / ‘Fayre Cousyn,’ said the kyng’, ‘ye say right wel / and I swere you by my feyth, that nothing I shal say in © this party ne doo, but that it shal be for the best. 28 Now thenne, noble Cousyne, seace your wepyng, & delyuere you of this affayre, For the more long' that these baronye with theire peple that be in nombre xv. M'. be soiowrnyng' in your land the greter dommage 32 shal ye haue.’ And she that wel knewe he said trouth, ansuerd to hym in this manere: ‘Dere vnele, doo ther- of al your playsyre.’ Thenne came the kynge in to the grete halle where the two brethern were, & the 36 he CH. XXXIV. | REGNAULD ACCEPTS EGLANTINE. baronye with them, and said to Anthony in this manyere: ‘noble Duc, vouchesaf to understand my wordes, the barons of this land that -be here present, 4 besech your good grace / & as touching my self, I hertyly praye you that it plese you, that Regnauld your brother be king! of this royalme, and that he take Eglantyne my Cousyn to his lady / prayeng' hym that 8 he this wyl not reffuse, For the barons of the lang desire hym moche to be theire lord.’ ‘Sire,’ ansuerd anthony, ‘this requeste is worthy to be graunted, & also shal it be. Doo hither come the noble da!moy- 112 selle.? And fourthwith the kynge & the Duc Ode yede & fette the pucelle, and despoylled her of her dueyl & black clothing’ / and syn was arayed ful rychely of her noblest. raymentes, and acompanyed 116 with her ladyes & damoyselles, she was conueyed by the forsaid lordes vnto the presence of the noble bretheren, whiche merueylled moche of her grete beaute /and she humbly enclyned byfore them, mak- 120 yng her obeyssaunce. Thenne bygan the king’ of Anssay to speke, & thus said / ; oble Due of Lucembourgh, hold ye to vs your N couuenauntes ; this is wherof we wyl hold oure 24 promesse.’ ‘ For scoth,’ said Anthony, ‘it is wel reason. cofie hither Regnauld brother, receyue this pucelle to your lady, For she maketh you kynge of behayne.’ Thenne said Regnauld, in heryng' of alle that were 28 there present / ‘thankyng! be to god, to the kynge, & to alt the baronye of this lande, of the grete honour that they doo to me. For yf thys noble pucelle had not one foot of land, yet wold I not reffuse her loue 32 to haue her to my lady, after the lawes of god requyren. For with thayde of almighty god, I hoop to conquere ynoughe to hold & entreteyne therwith her noble estate’ / ‘Fayre brother,’ said penne anthony / ‘ye say raison / this royawme ye haue wonne alredy / god yeue and asks An- thony to make his brother marry Eglantine and rule her kingdom, Anthony agrees. 1 fol. 138. The maid, richly arrayed, is brought before the lords and the two brethren, The King asks Anthony to keep his promise. Anthony calls on Regnauld to take the maid to wife. Regnan!1 °2- cepts her ‘ser merits, n . ior her lands and says he hopes to conquer still more. 240 Anthony hopes that he will. The bishop comes and af- fiances Regnauld and Eglantine ; after that the feast is great, and the towns- folk make much joy- [} MS. the the] 2 fol. 138 6. Rich robes are made for the ladies. The maid is led to the tents, ’ good watch is set, and a good sup- per is served before bedtime. At day spring many ladies accompany the spouse to mass. 3 fol. 139. where the bishop solemnly es- pouses Regnauld and Eglantine. They return to the pavilion to dine, 5 ] THE NUPTIALS OF REGNAULD AND EGLANTINE. [ou. xxxv. | you grace to subdue & conquere other reames & landes vpon her enemyes.’ And in conclusyon, the bysshop was sent for, & assured them togidre. And syn bygane the! feest sumptuous & grete, For soone it was knowen 4 thrugh al the toun, wherof the peple made grete joye / and were the stretes hanged with ryche clothes, & grete & noble apparayH was there made, as to suche a feste apperteyned / and was ordeyned that the weddyng 8 shuld be hold in the feld within the chief pauillon, Many riche rayments & robes were made what *for the spouse / as for the ladyes & damoyselles. That nyght passed, and on the morne on which day they shuld 12 be espoused / the pucelle nobly was conueyed & ledd vunto the tentes, whiche were al of cloth of gold / And that night was good watche made as pe enemyes had be nygh to them / and there the feste encressed, & 16 were honourably seruyd at souper. And whan tyme was, euery one went to bed vnto the morow erly, when Aurora shone clere. / Cap. XXXV. How Regnauld espoused 20 Eglantyne, daughter to the kynge of Behayne. / ) H”™ sheweth thistorye, & sayth that whan the day spryng appiered, & the day was ful fayre & clere, 24 the spouse nobly & rychely arayed in her robes of cloth of gold, & fourred with Ermynes, & purfylled aH with precyows stones, accompanyed with grete nombre of ladyes & damoyselles, was right honourably conueyed 28 vnto the place where as the masse shuld be say@; and solemply the bysshop espoused them here / and aftir the masse, she retourned to the pauyllon with al the noble baronye with her, where they fond al apparaylled 32 & redy to dyner. They were ful wel & nobly seruyd of al thinges that to suche a feste be requysite & con- CH. XXXVI. | THE MARRIAGE FEAST, uenable. And after they had dyned, graces were said, & wesshe theire handes, and syn were’ the tables voyded, thanne bygane they to daunce & to make grete 4 joye. / Cap. XXXVI. How the knightes & esquyers jousted after dyner. historye sayth that after the daunce was seaced the 8 ladyes & damoyselles mounted vpon the scafoldes. Thenne cam the knightes rychely armed, & bygan to jouste / trompettes sowned, & knightes reuersed eche other / but none might wtistand the noble bretheren, 12 but he was ouerthrow, bothe hors & man / so that no man dide there nought !to the regarde of theire prowes. Wherfore, they seyng that the ioustes affeblysshid for cause of them, they departed fro the lystes & toke of 16 theire armeures / and syn dured the jousting' tyl tyme of souper came. And thenne the joustes seaced, and the knightes & squyers departed, & went & dysarmed them. Thenne mynestrels with dyuerse Instruments 120 of musique sowned & played melodyously the first cours of the souper / & sym they were nobly serued of al maner wynes / and after souper they daunced. But whan tyme was, the spouse was ledd to bed with grete 124 honowr & Joye. And anone after came Regnauld there, whiche went to bed with the pucelle. Thenne voyded euevy one the chambre / some to theire rest / some retourned to the daunce / some sang’, & other 28 made grete reueyH. Regnauld, thenne that laye nigh Eglantyne, swetly embraced & kyssed her / and she to hym moche humbled her self, sayeng in this manere : ‘ My lord redoubted, ne had be the grace of god / your 32 curtoysye & prowes, this poure orphelym had be / no doubt of / exilled, desolat, & lost. Wherfor, my ryght redoubted lord, I yeld thankyng! to god, & to you also MELUSINE, after which they danced and made great joy. The knights be- gin to joust ; the two brethren cannot be over- thrown. 1 fol. 189 b. Supper time arrives, Minstrels play while it is served, After some dane- ing the spouse is led to bed, and is followed by Regnald, Eglantine de- clares that his prowess has saved her from exile, R 242 and thanks him for making her his wife. Regnald declares she has done inore for him than he for her. 1 fol, 140. He begets, Olyphart, who became famous for deeds of arms, In the morning before dinner letters are brought to An- thony from Christine which tell of the birth of a fair son, = AN HEIR BORN TO ANTHONY. [cH. XXXVI, that haue dayned to take to your wyf her that was vnworthy therto.” ‘By my fayth,’ said Regnauld, ‘dere herte, & my best beloued, ye haue do moche more for me than euer I dide ne possible is to me to 4 doo for you / sene & consydered the noble yefte youen by you to me / that is your noble lady / and yet besyde that of your noble royame ye haue endowed me / and with me nought ye haue take / sauf only my symple 8 body.’ Thenne ansuered Eglantyne, & said / ‘Ha / noble lord, your valyaunt body is derer to me & bettre worth than ten other suche royames as myn is / & Of 1theire wordes 1 wyl 12 seace / but that nyght was begoten of them a noble more it is to be preysed.’ sone that was named Olyphart / he made in tyme after- ward grete faytte of armes, and subdued & gate al the low marche of holland & Zeland, Vtreyght, & the toyame of Danemarche / and al the partyes of North- weghe also. On the morne the day was fayre & clere. Thenne was the noble lady Eglantyne ledd to here the masse / and al the baronye, ladyes & damoyselles, acom- 20 panyed her thitherward. And after the mass was doo, they retourned to the ryche pauyllon / and as they were redy to sette bem at dyner / came there two knightis fro Lucembourgh, that brought leétres to Due Anthony 24 from the Duches Crystyne his wyf / the whiche after theire obeyssaunce honourably made, said to hym in this wise: ‘My lord, ye oughte to take grete joye / For my lady the Duches is brought to bed of the most bo . fayrest sone that euer was seen in no land’ ‘ Now, fayre lordes, said anthony, ‘ blessid be god therof / and ye be right welcome to me’ / & syn toke the lettres. historye sayth that anthony, Due of Lucem-3 bourgh, was joyful & glad of these tydynges, and so was his brother Regnaul@, Thenne opened he the lettres, wherof the tenowr was acording? to that the knightes had said. Thenne made anthony moche of 3 CH. XXXVI. ] REGNALD’S AUXILIARIES DEPART. them, gyuyng to them grete yeftes of ryches. Thenne he satte hym at dyner nygh to Eglantyne / and dured the feest eyght days, sumptuouse & open houshold, 4 And whan the feste was fynysshed, they reentred in to the Cite with gret honour & joye. And on the morne next the kyng! of Anssay / Anthony & the Duc Ode, & al theire baronye toke theire leue of 1Regnauldt & of 8 Eglantyne, whiche were dolaunt of theire departing. And anthony made cotienaunt with Regnauld hys brother, that yf the paynemes made ony moo werre with hym, he shul@ come & aH his baronnye with hym 112 toayde & helpehym. And the kyng' Regnauld thanked hym moch. And eche of them thanked & kyssed eche other at departyng' / Soo long’ marched thoost pat they came to Mouchyne? in Bauyere / & lodged them in a There the Due Ode festyed them right honourably the space of thre dayes / 16 fayre medowe nygh the toun. and on the foureth day they departed & toke theire leue of the Duc Ode / and rode so long tyl [they]? And there the foure knightes that conduyted the Coloyners auaunced 120 came a day journey nygh to Coloyne. them self byfore Duc Anthony, & to him said in this } manere: ‘My lord, it is best that we hast vs byfore P24 you toward the toun, to apparayH & make al thing redy for your passage.’ ‘ By my feyth,’ said the Duc Anthonye, ‘that playseth me wel.’ Thenne departed | the foure knightes & theire men with them, & rode #28 tyl they came to the Cite of Coloyne, where they were | receyued with Joye / and the Cytezeyns & gouernours of the cyte demanded of them how they had exployted in theire vyage / And they recounted to them aH the 12 trouth of the fayte and the valyauntnes & noble prowes of the two brethern / & how regnauld was made kyng [of] Behayne. And whan they of Coloyne *understode them they were ryght glad & joyous, sayeng they 2 Fr, Muchin. 3 MS. has day, 243 Anthony gives the messengers great gifts, The feast lasts eight days. Anthony, the King of Anssay, 1 fol. 140 b. and Duke Ode take leave of Regnald, Anthony pro- mises to help him against the paynims, They march to Mouchine, where the Duke feasts them, and on the fourth day they march again. They arrive near Cologne. The four knights go in advance to Cologne and are joyfully re- ceived, They tell the news of the ex- pedition, 4 fol, 141. The Cologners are glad R 2 O44 to have the friendship of such noble lords, Anthony and the king arrive at Cologne. They are nobly feasted, and promise the townspeople their succour if it should be wanted, Anthony arrives near Luxem- bourg. Christine is joy- ful at her lord’s return. 2 fol. 141 B, His people re- ceive him with shouts of wel- come, He feasts the King of Anssay and frees him from all his obli- gations except the founding of the priory. = S ANTHONY ARRIVES HOME. [CH, XXXVI. were wel happy & ewrows! to haue acquyred the loue & good wyH of two lordes of so grete valeur. And thenne they made grete apparayH for to receyue the Duc Anthony, and the king’ of Anssay with theire 4 baronye. Soo long! rode thoost that they came to Co- loyne, where the Cytezeyns cam & mete hem honour- ably / and to the prynces they made grete reuerence, prayeng them that they wold be lodged that nyght 8 within the toun, where they were nobly festyed & honourably seruyd at souper. And on the morn Anthony & his oost passed ouev the Ryn, and toke his leue of them of Coloyne, whiche he thanked moche, 12 sayeng: ‘yf they were in ony wyse oppressed by theire enemyes he wold be euer redy for tayde & socoure them after hys power.’ Wherof they thanked hym moche. Thenne the Duc Anthony & the king of Anssay dyde 16 so moche by theire journeys, that on an euen they came & lodged them in the medow nygh by Lucem- bourgh. / VYNbe duchesse Cristyne was replenysshed with joye, 20 whan she knew the commyng of her lord anthony / and immedyatly she, nobly acompanyed, yssned out of the toun / and aH the noble cyteseyns folowed her to mete with theire lord, the whiche they recountred a 24 half a myle fro the toun. What shal I say / greter joye was neuer sene than that was made for the retourne of Duc Anthony. The Duchesse made humbly her _ obeyssaunce vnto hym / and 2 hertyly weleommed hym. 28 The peuple cryed on hye for Joye, sayeng thus: ‘welcomme our lord ryght redoubted.’? The joye was grete thrugh the toun where the Due festyed the kynge of Anssay by the space of six dayes contynuelly, & for- 32 gaf & rendred to hym aH his obligaczons, and held hym quytte / except the Foundacion of the pryore, where as sowles shuld be prayed for / for the loue of Regnault 1 Fr, eureuz. OH. XXXVI. | BETROTHAL OF BERTRAND. his brother. And the kinge of Anssay thanked hym moche, & toke his leue of hym / departed, & came in Anssay, where as he was receyued with joye / And the 4 Due anthony abode with the Duchesse Cristyne, on whom he gate a sone that same yere which was clepid Locher, whiche afterward delyuered the Countrey of Ardane fro thevys, murdrers, & robbeurs; and in the 8 wodes there he founded an abbeye, and endowed it with grete pocessyons / And he also dyde doo make the bridge of Masyeres vpon the ryuere of Meuze, and many other fortresses in the basse marche of holland / 12 and dyde many fayre fayttes of armes with the king! Olyphart of behayne, that was his Cousyn, & sone to kyng' Regnauld. It happed not long after the kynge of Anssay was retourned in to his royame, that warre 16 meuyd betwix hym & the Duc of austeryche & the [Erle] of Fyerbourgh. Anthony for socour, that gladly obtempered to his wherfor he besought the Duc requeste, in so moche that he toke by force of armes - 20 the Erle of Fyerbourgh / and syn pas!sed in Austeryche, where he dyscomfyted the Duc in batayH, and made hym to be pacyfyed with the kynge of Anssay, to the grete prouffyt & honowr of the kinge. And bertrand 24 theldest sone of the Duc Anthony, was assured with Melydee the sayd king: of Anssays doughter / the whiche Bertrand afterward was kynge of anssay, and hys brother Locher was Due of Lucembourgh, after £28 the decesse of the Duc Anthony hys fader. But of this matere I wyl no more speke at this tyme / but shal retourne to speke of Melusyne & of Raymondyn, and of theire other children. / 132 N° sayth thystorye, that Raymondyn by hys no- blenes & grete vasselage conquer grete coun- trees / and to hym many barons dyde homage vnto the land of Brytayne. And Melusyne had two yere after 136 that two sones, the first was named Froymond, that 245 Anssay thanks him, and after- wards returns to his country. Anthony begets Locher, who frees Ar- dennes from thieves, and builds for- tresses, and does feats of arms along with his cousin Oli- phart of Bo- hemia, The King of Ans- say asks the help of Anthony against his ene- lies. 1 fol. 142. Anthony assists him. Bertrand is as- sured to Melydee, the daughter of the King of Anssay. Raymondin con- quers great coun- tries, and many barons do hoin- age to the land of Brittany. Melusine bears two sons, Froy- mond, who became a monk, and Theoderick. Geffray with the Great Tooth was the most enter- prising of all his brethren, 1 fol. 142 0. He hears tidings that the people of Garande will not pay his father their tribute. He goes to Gar- ande against his father’s will. Raymondin’s partizans there offer to help Geffray. He thanks them, but declines their aid. They tell him his enemies are very powerful, GEFFRAY WITH THE GREAT TOOTH. [cH. XXXVI. entierly louyd holy Chirci, and that was wel shewed in his ende, For he was professid monke in to thabbeye of Maillezes, wherof there befeHt a grete & an horryble myschief, as ye shal here herafter by thystorye / and 4 the other child that they had the yere folowyng' was named Theodoryk, the whiche was ryght batayllows. Here I shal leue to speke of the two children / and I shal shewe you of Geffray with the grete toth, that 8 was yrous & hardy / & most enterpryse dide of at hys bretheren. And wete it wel that the said geffray doubted neuer man / And thystorye Isheweth, & the true Cronykle that he faught ayenst a knight, that was 12 gendred with a spyryte in a medowe nygh by Lusynen, as ye shal here herafter. It is trouth that thenne Geffray was grete & ouergrowen / and herde tydynges that there was in Garande peple that wold not obey to 16 hys fader / thenne sware Geffray by the good lord that he shuld make them to come as reason requyreth, and to do that he toke leue of hys fader, that was right wroth of hys departyng / and had with hym to the 20 nombre of fyue houndred men of armes, and a houndred balesters, and so went in to Garande / and anoone en- quyred after them that were dysobedyent / and they that held the party of Raymondyn shewed hym the 24 Fortresse where they were, & armed them to goo with hym to helpe to dystroye hysenemyes. ‘ By my feyth, fayre lordes,’ sayd Geffray with the grete toeth / ‘ye are ryght true & loyal peuple / & I thanke you of 28 thonour that ye proffre me / but as for this tyme pre- sent I shall not nede you, For I haue men of armes ynough for taccomplyssh myn enterpryse.’ ‘ For soothe, sire, ye haue more to doo than ye suppose, For your 32 enemyes ben ryght strong & of meruayllous courage, & they be frendes & cousyns, and of the grete & moost noble blood of al the Countree.’ ‘ Fayre sires,’ said Geffray, ‘ doubte you not, For thrughe thayde of god 36 CH. XXXVI. | GEFFRAY GOES TO EXACT TRIBUTE, omnipotent I shal the matere lwel redresse. And wete it wel there shal be none so myghty / but I shal make them to obeye my commandement or to deye of an euyl 4deth. And also, fayre lordes & true frendes, yf I nede you I sha send for you’ / And they ansuerd, ‘we are now al redy, and also shal we be at al tymes that it playse you vs to calle.’ ‘ Fayre lordes,’ said Geffray with 8 the grete toth / ‘that ought to be thanked for.’ Thenne toke Geffray hys leue of them / and went forth on his : way toward a Fortresse that was called Syon / & within the same was one of the enemyes of geffray that hight ' 12 Claude of Syon, & were thre bretheren. Moche were : the thre brethern yrows & proude / and wold haue sub- dued and putte vnder theire subjectéon aH theire neygh- bours. Thenne sent geflray with the grete toeth wordes c 16 of deffyaunce / outhre to come & make theire obeys- And they ansuerd to the messager, ‘that for Raymondyn ner for saunce to hym for Raymondin his faders. no man on his byhalf they shuld nought doo / and that | 20 he shuld no more retourne to them for this matere, for than he were a fole.’ ‘By my feyth,’ said the mes- sager, ‘I shal kepe me wel therfro / but that I bryng with me a maister in medecyne, that shal make suche » 24a lectuary or drynk wherof ye shal be poysonned, & : syn hanged by the neck.’ And of these wordes were the iij bretheren wood wroth. And wete it wel that yf the messager had not hasted his hors away he had | 28 be take & deed without ony remedye, For *they were ful yrows & crueH, and doubted not god nor no man lyuyng’. Therne retourned the messager toward geffray and recounted hym the grete pryde & auauntyng of the | 32 bretheren. ‘By my heed,’ said Geffray with the grete toeth, ‘a lytel rayne leyeth doun grete wynd / & doubte you not but I shal pay them wel theire wages.’ hystorye sayth, that whan geffray vnderstode the grete pryde & the fel ansuere of the thre brethern, | 36 247 1 fol. 143. Geffray says he will compel his enemies to obey. He goes against Claud of Sion, one of three proud brethren, He sends his de- fiance, and orders them to make obedience to him on Raymondin’s behalf. They refuse, and 2 fol. 143 b. the messenger ~ tells Geffray of their pride and boasting. Geffray says that ‘a little rain layeth down a great wind,” 248 Geffray ap- proaches near the tortress. He arms, mounts ; and takes w squire with him ; and orders his men to rest till he sends them word, A knight, who well knew his boldness, follows with x men, Geffray arrives at the Fortress of Sion. He sees its strength on one side, and spies all round it. 1 fol. 144. He finds that it is weakest by the bridge, and returns to- ward his men, Philebert and his fellowship keep out of Geffray’s sight, He sees xiv armed men in Geffray’s way, and is afraid, GEFFRAY EXAMINES THE FORTRESS OF SION. Sis a [CH, XXXVI, without ony moo wordes he came & lodged hym & his peuple half a leghe fro the said Fortresse. Thenne toke he his armures & armed hym of al pieces; toke with hym a squyer that wel knew the Countrey / 4 mounted on horsback / commanded his men that they shuld not meue them thens vnto tyme they had word of hym, & departed with hys esquyer / but there was a knyght that wel knew hys noble & fyers courage, & 8 that he doubted nothing! of the world / which toke x. men of armes with hym and went after Geffray, folow- yng! hym fro ferre, For he moche loued geffray. Geffray rode so long’ that he sawe the Fortresse of Syon vpon 12 a hye roche. ‘ By my feyth,’ said thenne geffray, ‘yf the Fortresse be so strong at that other syde as it is at this syde, hit shal gyue me moche peyne or euer it be take, I must see & know yf it be also strong: at that 16 other parte.’ Thenne he & his esquyer aduyronned the Fortresse about, al along: by a lytel wod, that they might not be aspyed ne sene. They came & de- scended tin a valey / and euer the forsaid knyght that 20 was named Philibert? folowed hym a ferre / and so long rode geffray tyl he had oue7 sene the said fortres al round about / and hym semed wel that it might be take by the brydge syde, For it was the feblest syde of 24 it / Thenne entred gefiray & hys esquyer in a lytel path, & retourned vpon the mountayne toward hys lodgis, where his peple were hym abydyng. Philebert, that sawe Geffray retourne, thought he would lete hym 28 passe tofore hym, Wherfor he and his felawship reculed within the wode, to thende thay shuld not be perceyued of hym / but soone after they sawe a companye of men of warre comynge that same way that geffray came 32 toward the Fortresse, and were to the nombre of xiili personne wel armed. Wherfore the said knight phili- bert was abasshed & agast, lest they shuld mete with 2 Fr, Ver. Philibert de Mommoret. a Ca. XXXVI. | GEFFRAY FIGHTS SINGLEHANDED GUION AND HIS MEN, 249 geffray, For wel he wyst that geffray wol@ fyght with them / as he dide / and that shal ye here herafter./ [ this partye, sayth thistorye, that vpon the topp of ; 4 the mountayne gefiray recountred the said com- panye, And who that shul@ enquere of me what folke they were ; I shuld say it was one of Claude of Syon bretheren that came toward his brother at his mande- 8 ment. And wete it wel, that the way. was there so narow that vnuethe one hors myght passe by other. And whan Geffray with the grete !toeth recountred them, he sayd to hym that rode first of alle that he 12 shuld tary and make his company to stand asyde tyl he were passed the mountayne. ‘By my feyth,’ said he pat was proude & orgueyllows, ‘Sire daw fole,? wel we muste first knowe what ye be, that say that we 16 retourne vs for you.’ ‘By god,’ said Geffray with the grete toth / ‘that shal you knowe anone, For I shal make you retourne ayenst your wyH. I am Geffray of Lusynen / tourne back / or elles I shal make you to 20 retourne by force.’ Whan Guyon the brother of Claude of Syon vnderstode hym & knew that it was geffray with the grete toeth / he cryed to his folk, ‘auaunt, lordes barons, For yf he escape grete shame shal be to 24 vs / in an euyl heure is he come in to oure land for to demande seruytude of vs.’ Thenne whan geffray vn- derstode these wordes he drew out his sword & smote the nethermost of alle vpon his hed, so grete a stroke 28 that he ouerthrew hym ait astonyed doune to the erthe, and syn passed forth by hys hors, & ouer hym that laye along! the way, in suche wyse that he al to brusid the body of hym / And thenne geffray atteyned 32 another in the brest foynyng with hys swerd, so that he fe doune deed to therthe / and syn cryed aftir the oper, ‘False traytours, ye may not escape, ye shal retourne to your euyl helthe.’ Thenne he passed fourth 2 Fr, damp musart, because he knows Geffray will fight them, Geffray encoun- ters one of Claud’s bro- thers and his men on a narrow road, 1 fol. 144 b, Geffray asks them to stand aside till he has passed, They ask who he is, He answers, ‘* Gettray of Lu- signan,’’ and bids them turn, else he will make then. Guion cries to his men not to let Geffray es- cape. But Geffray draws his sword and smites one of his company so hard that he is overthrown, He foins at another in the breast, and kills him, 250 1 fol. 145. He cuts open the head of a third. Guion is wroth because he can- not get at Gef- fray. He commands his men to re- treat. They flee to a field. ‘ Geffray pursues them. Guion’s men set on Geffray on all sides, Heand his squire fight bravely. 2 fol. 145 0b, The knight that Geffray dis- mounted hastes as he best can to Sion. He finds Claud at the gate, and tells him of the adventure, and that the fighting is still going on, GEFFRAY’S FEATS OF ARMS. [cH. XXXVI. to the iii®*, which was grete & strong’, 1& smote Geffray vpon the helmet wzth al his strengthe / but the helmet was hard and pe swerd glenced asyde & dommaged hym nought / but Geffray toke his swerd with two 4 handes and smote hym vpon the coyffe of stele vnto the brayne, & reuersed hym deed to the erth. And whan guyon perceyued this myschief he was wode wroth & ful of yre, For he might not come to geffray, 8 wherfore he commanded euery man to retourne, that they might haue them self at large to deffende eche other. Thenne euery man tourned back & fledd, & yssued out of that narrow way in to a playn feld, And 12 geffray with the grete toth pursiewed them, the swerd in his hand. Now shal I speke of the knight phili- bert, whiche was approched nygh the said way, and herde the noyse / so he called to hym his felawes. 16 And thenne guyon and his men were in fe playn & assaylled geffray on al sydes of hym / but as preu & valyaunt he deffended vygourously his flesshe / and also hys esquyer bare hym valyauntly / and was ryght strong the batayH. Now most I speke of hym which geffray first ouerthrew to therthe in the path forsaid, For whan he perceyued that guyon was retourned by the force of geffray / and sawe his two felawes lyeng 24 deed by hym, he was moche dolaunt, and beheld 2all about hym & fond his hors, wher on he with grete peyne mounted, for he was al to brusyd in hys body, & hasted hym as he coude best toward Syon. And whan 28 he came to the fortresse he fond Claude at yate and some of his men with hym / the whiche perceyued that he that was commyng toward hym was al bloody and knew hym wel / & of hym demanded who so had 32 arayed hym / And he recounted thadventure how they had recountred geffray, and how he adommaged them and had made guyon hys brother to retourne fro the narow lane by force, & that yet lasted theyre bataylle. 36 CH. XXXVI. | GUION TAKEN PRISONER. Thenne whan Claude vnderstode hym he was sorowfult & angry, and yede and armed hym, and made his men to be armed. 4 Me dolaunt was Claude whan he vnderstod of the vylonnye & dommage that geffroy had don to Guyon his brother / and how yet they were fyghtyng togidre / & armed of al pieces. his men with hym rode 8 thitherward / and were in nombre thre score bassynets. But for nought he toke hys waye, For philibert with his ten knyghtes were come to the batayH, & faught in suche wyse that al guyons meyne were slayne & he 12 take / and soone sware Geffray that he shuld make hym to be hanged by the neck. Thenne came the said esquyer, whiche was retourned in to the forsayd land, to fette a fayre swerd, that he tofore sawe fat fro one 16 of Guyons men / & said to Geffray in this manyere, ‘My lord, I haue herd grete bruyt of men armed And whan Geffray vnderstode hym he fourthwit made Guyon to be bound at a tree commyng' hitherward.’ 20 within the wod Inygh by them, & syn retourned with hys men toward the said path or lane for to abyde there his auenture. And philibert rode vnto the top of the hyH, and perceyued Claude & hys felawship 24 that entred the lane / thanne he retourned to his felawes & sayd to Geffray, ‘Sire, the best that ye can doo is to kepe wel this pathe, here come your ene- myes.’ And Geffray with the gret toeth ansuerd / 28 ‘doubte you not / but it shal be wel kept & deffended.’ Thenne he called to hym the squyer that was come with hym, & said: ‘renne hastily toward thoost, & make my folke to cdme hither.” And he anone de- 32 parted toward thoost, and whan he was there arryued he said to pem, ‘ Fayre lordes, now lightly on horsback, For geffray fyghteth ayenst his enemyes.’ And they armed them & soone mounted on theire horses, and 36 hasted them to folowe the squyer that guyded them 251 Claud orders his men to arm, He rides to aid his brother, but is too late ; as the men are slain and his brother is Gef- fray’s prisoner. A knight tells Geffray that more men of arms are ap- proac hing. 1 fol. 146. Guion is bound to a tree. Geffray and his company return to the path to wait the arrival of Claud, Geffray sends a messenger to his host. His lords haste 252 to succour him. Geffray blocks the path, 1 fol. 146 b. while the Knight Philibert and three men ascend the mountain, and throw stones on Claud and his men, Geffray’s com- pany arrives, and is ordered to pre- vent Claud re- turning to his fortress. Clerevald, third brother of Claud, takes Geffray’s company to be friends. ae CLAUD HARD PRESSED. [oH. XXXVI. the nerest way there he supposed to fynd Geffray, fighting! wzth his enmyes, hystorye sayth that geffray, philibert, & theire knightes were at thentree of the pathe / and 4 thenne came Claude & his men with grete puyssaunce along! thrugh the lane, & wel they supposed to haue mounted the montayne. But Geffray was at thentre of the path that vygourously & valyauntly deffended 8 the passage / and wete it wel there was none so hardy but he made hym to recule. For there were two of his knightes that descended fro theire horses, & stode at eyther syde of geffray, & proudly rebuckyd Claudes 12 men with theire speres, & many of them were there slayne. Philibert twas thenne descended from his hors, and thre othre of his companye, and recouered the montayne aboue the pathe, where as they gadred 16 stones and threw them vpon them that were in the lane, thrugh suche yre & grete strength, that there was none so strong’ bassynets nor armure but it was perced! ; and therwith they were astonyed or elles ouerthrawen / 20 and wete it wel pat there were more than xx", slayn. Thenne came there the squyer with the batayH that he brought. And whan geftray knew it, he com- manded thre houndred men of armes, that they shuld 24 draw at the other ende of the lane to kepe the passage, that Claude nor hys peple should not retowrne to theire fortresse. And anone from thens the squyer with his companye departed, & came hastly to fore the medowe, 28 & passed byfore the Fortresse. And whan Clerevauld, the iii*® brother of Claude, sawe them, he demed that it was some socours that came to them / For he trowed not that in the lan® shuld haue be so many enemyes. 32 The whiche esquyer with his companye came with amy- able contenaunce, shewyng no semblaunt but as frendes. And thenne Clerevauld, that byleued wel that they were theyre frendes lete faH the bridge, & opened the 36 CH. XXXVI. | THE CAPTURE OF SION CASTLE, yate where he stode with xx". men of armes. And whan the squyer & his companye perceyued pat the bridge was doun & the gate open, they drew them 4 hastly in the way to passe the Fortres. And passyng’ by the Fortresse, Clervauld demanded what they were / and they ansuerd: 1‘ We be frendes.’ and in approuch- ing of the said bridge to the nombre xx" knightes, they 8 enquyred after Claude of Syon: ‘For fayn we wold And Clereuauld them approuched, sayeng': ‘he shal retourne anoone, For he is departed to speke with hym.’ fyght with Geffray with the grete toeth our enemye, 12 that he & Guyon owr brother haue enclosed in yonder mountayne that is there byfore you / and wete it wel that Geffray may not escape them, though he were tempred with fyne stele, but that he shal be slayne 16 or take.’ ‘By my feyth,’ sayd the squyer, ‘this be good tydynges.’ An thenne he approuched with his xxti knightes nerer & nerer, askyng hym where shal we goo to helpe hym. ‘By my feyth, sayd Clere- 20 uauld, ‘ gramercys it shal not nede at this tyme.’ hystorye sheweth that the squyer approched to Clereuauld so nygh by his fayre wordes, that he & hys company came vpon the bridge / & thenne he 24 cryed to hys peple / ‘auaunt, lordes, the fortresse is oure,’ And whan Clereuauld herd these wordes, he supposed to haue reculed & to haue lyft vp the bridge / but the squyer & his peuple came so rudly that it 28 was not in theire powere to haunce the bridge / but bare it doune by force, and anone alighted & entred mm at the gate / and with two speres vndersette the porte- collys / & immedyatly descended more than an houn- 32 dred of the squyers men on foot, & came & entred into the Fortres. peple that were there with hym, & brought vnto a Thenne was clereuauld take, and al hys chambre fast bounden, where they were surely kept 36 with fourty men of armes /?And after this don, they 253 He allows them to come near the fortress. Clerevald asks who they are ; 1 fol. 147. ‘¢We be friends,” they answer, The squire and his coinpany by fair words get on the bridge. He then cries, ‘‘ The fortress is ours.’” Clerevald tries to pull up the bridge, but is too late, He and his men are taken prison- ers, 2 fol. 147 0, io) or rs The squire re- turns to tell Gef- tray of their deed. Geffray is glad, and knights the squire, and gives him a hundred men to prevent the esvape of Claud. Claud js obliged to retreat, Geffray chases him. The new knight hears-the noise of the retreat, and t fol. 148, suffers Claud to return to the fortress, 3 THE RETREAT OF CLAUD. [CH. XXXVI. assembled them, & toke CounseyH how they might best. send word: vnto geffray of this faytte, & how they shuld kepe them within the Fortresse to thentent to take Claude yf it happed hym to retourne / And thenne 4 said the squyer that he hym self shuld goo to gyue . Geffray knowlege of this auenture. And thenne anone he departed and came to Geffray, to whom he shewed alt the trouth of the faytte / and whan geflray knew 8 thauenture he was joyful, & made hym knight, & gaaf hym the gouernaunce of a houndred men of armes / & commanded that he shuld go anoone in to the countrey, to kepe wel that Claude shuld take none oper way, but 12 the way to the Fortresse ; For yf he escaped he might do grete harme tofore he were take, & that bettre it were to close hym in that lane, & there by force to take hym. ‘Sire,’ said the new knight, ‘doubte you not he 16 shal not escape you, but yf he cane flee, yf that I may come by tymes to the lane.’ Thenne he departed & descended the mountayne with hys men of armes. And geflray taryed at the pathe, that mightily faught with 20 his swerde vpon his enemyes. And wel fourty knyghtes were alighted on foot vpon pe hylle, & threw stones vpon Claude & his peple in suche wyse, that by force he & hys peuple was constrayned to retourne / And 24 Geffray & his peple entred in to the lane & chaced pem / but vnnethe he might passe to pursiew men for deed men that were slayn with castyng! of stones. Now shal I shew you of the new knight that was com- 28 myng* at the other lanes ende with his company / but whan he herd the bruyt of the horses / he thought wel — that Claude retourned / and he toke the couert of the mountayne & suffred Claude to take the way toward 32 the Fortresse. Hl pgdeen telleth that Claude hasted hym fast to come out of the lane for to saue hym self & his peple in the Fortresse of Syon, but that the fole 36 CH. XXXVI. | CAPTURE OF CLAUD. thinketh oftymes commeth to foly. It is veray trouth that he spede hym so fast that he was out of the lane & came to his large / and so he ne taryed neyther for 4one nor for other / but came walapyng’ toward the Fortresse. And whan he was nygh, he cryed with a high voyce / ‘open the gates’ / & so they dide / and thenne he passed the bridge and entred, & was alyghted 8 afore that he perceyued that he had lost the Fortresse / and fourthwzth he was seasyd & bounde by hys enemyes. Thenzne was he gretly abasshed ; For he sawe not about ‘What dyuel is this? ‘By my feyth,’ said a knight / ‘ryght foorth shal ye knowe, For ye shal lodge with them’ / And so immedyatly he was brought to the chambre where Clereuauld, his brother & his peuple hym no man that he knew. 12 where are my men become?’ 16 were in pryson. Therne whan he perceyued them bound & kept as they were, he was ryght dolaunt. And whan Clereuauld sawe hym, he said: ‘ Ha / a, Claude, fayre brother, we are fatt by your pryde into grete captiuite / 20 and doubte it not we shal neuer escape from hens with- And Claude ansuerd hym: ‘ We muste abyde aH that therof shal fal.’ Thenne came Geffray tryght foorth to the 24 Fortresse, & had slayn or take alt the residu of Claudes peple / saaf hys brother Guyon which was brought out losse of owr lyues, For to cruel is Geffray.’ with hym, & putte prysonner in the said pryson where as Geffray entred / and emong al oper said to Claude: 28 ‘How,’ said he, ‘thou fals traytour, durst thou be so hardy to hurte or dommage my faders Countre & his peuple, thou that owest to be his subget / and by the feyth that I owe to my fader I shal punysshe the, in 32 exemple of aH other, For I shal doo the hang’ byfore Valbruyant, the Castel in syght of thy Cousyn Gueryn, that is a traytouwr as thou art, vnto my lord my fader.’ And whan Claude herd that gretyng', wete it wel / he 36 was not therwith playsed. But whan the peple of the Claud and his people reach the fortress, and cry, ‘Open the gates.” He is seized and bound. He asks about his men. He is told that he will see them, as he is to be lodged with thein. Clerevald sees his brother, and upbraids him. 1 fol. 148 6. Geffray arrives and brings his prisoner Guion. Geffray tells Claud that he in- tends to hang him before Val- bruiant, the castle of his cousin Guerin, who is also a traitor, 256 The people of the Jand are glad that Claud and his people are taken or slain ; because they robbed them and despoiled all passers by the fortress. Geffray sets up a pair of gallows and hangs all the people of Claud, but spares his two brothers: Geffray leaves the castle in charge of a wise knight, 1 fol. 149, and departs to Valbruiant. He erects gal- lows in front of the castle, hangs Cland and his brothers, and orders them of the castle to yield on pain of hang- ing. Guerin departs from his castle to Mountfrain to have counsel. THE TRAITORS’ DOOM. [CH. XXXVI. Countrey knew that Syon the Fortresse, & Claude and his brethern were take & theire peple slayne / thenne came playntes of robberyes & other euyl caas vpon Claude & vpon his peuple, & within that same Fortresse 4 were founde more than a C prysonners of the good peple of the Countrey, as marchants & straungers that were robbed passyng by the way / For tofore that tyme none passed by the said Fortresse vnspoyled. And 8 whan geffray herd of this tydynges, he made to be sette vpon the syde of the hille a payre of galowes / & therat dide do be hanged al the peple of Claude / and his two brethern he spared for that tyme / and gaaf the 12 Castel in keping vnto a knight of the Countrey that was ryght valyaunt & wyse / & commanded hym 1 ypon his lyf to kepe it wel / and to gouerne lawfully his subgets, & to kepe good justice / And he promysed 16 hym so to doo, For he gouerned the countre wel & rightfully, And after his commandement he departed on the morowe toward Valbruyant / and toke the thre bretheren with hym, the whiche had grete fere of 20 deth / and that was not without cause / as ye shal here herafter. hystory sayth that geffray & his peuple rode tyl they cam tofore Valbruyant / wher as tentes were 24 dressed & sett vp, and euery man lodged in ordre, Thenne made geffray ryght foorth to sette vp galowes tofore the Castel gate, and there dide do hang incon- tynent Claude & his two bretheren / and sent worde 28 to them of the Castel / yf that they yelded not to hym the Fortres, that he wold hang them yf he had it by force, And whan Gueryn of Valbruyant herd these tydynges, he sayd to his wyf: ‘It is so for trouth, 32 madame, that ageynst this strong dyueH I ne may with- stand ne kepe this Fortvesse, wherfor I wyl departe & goo vnto mounrtfrayn to Guerard my nevew, & to other my frendes for to haue CounseyH how we may haue 36 CH. XXXVI.] GUERIN SEEKS COUNSEL, traytye of pais with Geffray.’ And thenne the wyf that was right sage & subtyl said to hym / ‘go foorth / by the grace of god, & kepe you wel that ye be nat 4 take by the waye, and departe not from Mountfrayn tyl ye haue tydynges fro me, For by thayde of god I hoop that I shal purchasse a good traytye with geffray for you; For had ye don after my CounseyH, & byleued 8 me, ye shuld not thaue medled with the werkes of Claude & of his bretheren / not with standing yet haue ye not falsed your feyth toward yowr liege lord Ray- mondyn of Lusynen.’ Thenne Gueryn her said: ‘ My 12 dere sustir & spouse, doo that ye thinke best, For my fyaunce is in you/ and I wyl byleue aH that ye may counseylle.’ And thenne departed he by a pryvy posterne vpon a swyft hors, and passed by the couerts 16 of the wodes, so that he was not aspyed. And whan he was a lytel passed he sporyd his hors, and the hors bare hym swyftly, and wete it that he had so grete fere lest he shuld be aspyed, that he was almost out of his 90 wyt / & thanked god moche whan he fond thentre of the Forest pat dured wel two leghes / and toke the way toward Mountfrayn, as moche as he coude ryde. hystory testyfyeth, that so long rode Gueryz that 24 he came to mountfrayn, where he found guerard hys neuew, & recounted to hym al these werkes; and how Geffray with the grete toth had take Claude theire Cousyn & his two brethern, & brought tofore 98 Valbruyaunt, where he dide al thre to be hanged / and how he was departed thens, doubtyng to be take with- in the Fortresse. ‘By my feyth,’ said Guerard, ‘ Fayre vncle, ye haue do wysely, For after that men speke of 32 Geffray, he is a valyaunt knight of hye & puyssaunt enterpryse / and he is moche cruel & moche to be doubted. Woo is to me that euer we went to Claude! For wel we knew that he & hys bretheren were of euyl 36 gouernement, & that none passed foreby theire For- MELUSINE, 8 257 His wife tells him not to leave there till she sends him tid- ings ; she declares she will make a treaty with Gef- fray. 1 fol. 149 0. Guerin tells her to do her best, and leaves on a swift horse by a privy door. He rides fast, as he fears to be seen. He tells Gerrard the news, how Geffray has hanged Claud and his two brethren, and how he had fled to escape capture. Gerrard says he has acted wisely, and is sorry they had had to do with Claud, because Claud and his brethren were of evil con- duct. 258 1 fol. 150. Guerin and Ger- rard send to their friends to come to Mountfrain to devise means of excusing them- selves to Geffray. The lady of Val- bruiant mounts her two children on horseback and accompanies them to the gate of the castle, where she tells the new knight that she will go to Geffray her- self, 8 fol. 150 0. as her lord has done nothing to displease Getlray or his father. THE SAGE LADY OF VALBRUIANT. [cH. XXXVI. tresse vnrobbed. Now pray 1We god, that he pre- serueth bothe owr lyues & honour in this affayre. . Fayre vucle, vpon this caas we muste seke remedy / It is good that we lete haue knowledge to our parents & frendes 4 perof, pat haue be of this folyssh alyaunce.” And gueryn ansuerd: ‘that is trouth.’ Therne they sent wordes to theyre frendes that they shuld al come to mountfrayn, so that they might haue Counseilt togidre 8 vpon this faytte, & to seke the meane to escuse them toward geffray. Now resteth thystory of them / and speketh of the lady of Valbruyant that was moche subtyl & sage / and she euer blamed her lord of that he 12 had consented to Claude & to hys brethern. This lady had a doughter, whiche was of the age of ix yere / & fayre & gracyous ; and also a sone that was ten yere of age, whiche was fayre & wel endoctryned. And thenne 16 this lady as she had of nothing! be abasshed? / mounted upon a palfray rychely arayed, & dide do be mounted her two children vpon two horses, and ordeyned two auncyent gentylmen to conduyte theire horses / and 20 acompanyed with six damoyselles, dide open the gate where she fond the new knight that brought the mandement of geffray, which she receyued benyngly, and he that coude moche of honowr made to her the 2 reuerence / and the lady seyd to hym temperatly : ‘ Sire knight, my lord is not within / and therfore I wyl go — myself toward my lord your maister to knowe *what is his playsyr, For it semeth me that he is come hither 2 to make werre / but I byleue not that it is for my lord nor for none within this fortresse. For god deffende that my lord or ony of this place had do that. thing that shuld dysplayse geffray or my lord his fader / and 3 by aduenture yf some of his synester frendes haue in- formed geffray otherwyse than raison, I wold humbly beseche & pray hym that he vouche sauf to here my 2 Fr, Adone la dame ne fut ne folle ne esbahie. OH. XXXVI] | A WOMAN’S DIPLOMACY. said lord & husband in his escuses & deffenses’ / and thexne whan the knight herd her speke so sageously / her ansuerde: ‘Madame, this requeste is raisonable, 4 wherfore I shal conduyte you toward my lord / and I hope that ye shal fyn@ hym frendly, & that ye shal haue a good traytye with hym / how be it, he is in- fourmed of gueryn your lord ryght malycyously / but I 8 byleue that at yowr requeste he shal graunte a part of your petyczon’ / And thenne they departed & came toward the lodgys of Geffray. hystorye sayth that whan geffray saw the com- 12 myng of the lady he yssued out of his tente & came ayenst her / and she that was wel nourrytured held her two children tofore geffray, to whom she made humble reuerence / and thenne geffray enclyned hym 116 to her, & toke her vp right humbly, & said: ‘ Madame, ye be right welcome’ / and ‘my lord,’ said she, ‘I see pat I desyre’ / and thenne her two children dyde Itheyre obeyssaunce in the moost humble wyse / and 120 he gaf to them ayen his salut. Thenne toke the lady the word / and feynyng as though she had knowen nothing of hys euyl wyH / said vnto hym in this wyse : ‘My lord / my lord! myn husband as for this tyme he 124 is not present in this Countre. Wherfore I am come toward you to pray you that it may playse you to take your lodgys in your Fortresse, and take with you as many of your peple as shal you playse; For, my lord, 28 thanked be god, there is ynough to plese you with / and wete it wel that I & my meyne shal receyue you gladly, as we owe to doo the sone of our souerayn lor& natural.’ Whan geffray vnderstode her requeste 82 he was gretly abasshed how she durst desyre hym / consyderyng how he was infowrmed ageynst Gueryn her husband. Neuerthele he sayd, ‘By my feyth, fayre lady, I thanke you of your grete curtoysye that ye offre 86 me / but this requeste I ought not to agree, For men 259 The new knight undertakes to conduct her to Geffray. Geffray issues from his tent, inclines to her, and bids her welconie. 1 fol, 151. She feigns to know nothing of her lord’s ill- doings. She tells Geffray that her lord is away from home, and invites Gef- fray to lodge in the fortress. Her request abashes Geffray, 260 who says that he has been told that her lord does not deserve such recognition, but that in her lord’s absence she and those in the fortress are safe. 1 fol, 151 0. The lady answers that neither her- self nor her hus- band have done wrong ; and hopes that Geffray will hear her husband’s excuses, Geffray promises to listen to them, and gives hima sate conduct for a week. The lady goes to Mountfrain and tells her lord of her interview. 2 fol. 152. An ancient knight says that they will] have a GUERIN TO BE HEARD IN DEFENCE. [cH. XXXVI, haue youen to me knowlege that your husband hath not deseruyd it ayenst my lord, my fader, & me / how be it, my fayre lady, I wyl wel that ye knowe that I am not come for to-make warre ayenst ladyes & damoy- 4 selles / and be ye of this sure, that neyther to you nor to none of your fortres I wyl nought say nor hurt, yf your husband be not there’ / And she thenne said: ‘gramercy, my ‘lord. But I requyre you, that it playse 8 you to shew me the cause of your indignacyon that ye haue vnto my lord myn husband, For I am in certain nother he nor I haue neuer do no thing’ to owr know- leche that shuld be your dysplaysure / and I byleue 12 that yf it might plese you to here my lord & husband & his escuse, that ye shal fynd them that thus haue informed you, be not matere of trouth / and my lord, therupon I make me strong’ that in conclusyon ye shal 16 fynde as I say.’ n this partye sheweth thistory, that whan geffray herd the lady thus speke he thought a lytel, & syn ansuerd & said: ‘ By my feyth, lady, yf he goodly can 20 excuse hym that he haue not falsed hys feyth, I shalbe glad therof / & I shal receyue hym gladly in his excus- acyons wit his felawes & aH theire complyces / and from this day seuen nyght I gyue hym saaf gooyng & 2 Thenne toke the lady her leue & retowrned to Valbruyant, commyng, and fourty personnes with hym.’ where she lefte her children / and acompanyed with tei knightes and squyers, & with thre damoyselles 2! departed, & rode so long tyl she came to Mountfrayn, where she was receyued joyously of her lord & his frendes, to whom she recounted how gueryn her lord had safconduyte of geffray for hym, & fourty personnes 3 with hym / & yf he may excuse hym geffray shal here hym gladly, and shal admynystre hym al rayson. ‘ By my feyth,’ said an auncyent knight, ‘ thenne shaH we haue a good traytye with hym / For there nys none 3 CH. XXxvi.] GUERIN AND GERRARD BEFORE GEFFRAY. that may say that euer we mysdyde in eny thing ayenst : Yf Claude, that was our Cousyn, had vs requyred of ayde, yf he neded, & we 4 had promysed hym to helpe hym / not for that we ne haue yet mysdon / nother geffray nor none other may our souerayne lord naturel. not say that euer we had the helmet on heed, nor pat * we yssued euer out of our places for to comforte or 8 ayde hym ayenst geffray by no wyse / goo we thenne surely toward geffray, & lete me doo there withaH, For I doubte not but that we shal haue good traytye with hym.’ The frendes & cousyns of gueryn confermed 12 this propos, & made theire appareyl for to goo toward And thenne the lady departed, & retourned to Valbruyant, where she geffray on the iii*® day folowyng. sent for breed, wyne, capons, chikkons, conyns, & suche 16 vytayH, with hey & ootys, and presented it to geffray / but he neuer receyued of it / but suffred that who wold toke of it for his money / and the said lady lete geffray haue knowleche how her lord & his frendes :20 shuld come toward hys grace. / nH sayth thystory, that Gueryn of Valbruyant & guerard hys neuew, taryed for theire frendes at mountfrayn / and whan they were come they mounted :24 on theire horses & rode tyl they came to valbruyant / and on the morne !they sent word to Geffray of theire commyng, and that they were al redy to come toward hys good grace to theire excuse. And geffray ansuerd: £28 pat he was apparaylled to receyue them. And penne they departed fro the Castel & came tofore the tente of geffray, to whom they made theire obeyssawnce ryght honourably. And there thauncyent knight of whiche 21 spak tofore toke the word, & sai@: “ Mighty & puys- saunt lord, we are come hither toward your highnesse for this, that we vnderstan® how ye are infourmed ayenst vs, that we were consentyng! to the ylnesse & 6 dysobedyence of Claude ayenst owr souerayne lord 261 good treaty with Geffray, fot they did not help Claud against Geffray. The lady returns to Valbruiant and sends vic- tuals to Geffray, and tells him how her lord is about to come before him, Guerin and Ger- rard arrive at Valbruiant, 1 fol. 152 b. and send word to Geftray, who announces his readiness to receive them. They present themselves and make their obedi- ence, The ancient knight tells that he has heard that Gef- fray thinks they consented to Claud’s miscon- duct. 262 He relates how Claud had asked their help, put did not give the name of the enemy, 1 fol. 153. and how they promised to as- sist him, They helped Claud against some of his ene- mies, but after his dis- obedience to Raymondin they had not aided him, Therefore he thinks Geffray should not be in- dignant against hin, because they cannot think what they have done displeasing to Geffray’s father, AN ANCIENT KNIGHT’S SPEECH. [CH. XXXVI. naturel, your fader. My lord, it is wel trouth that the said Claude owr Cousyn, tofore hys folysshe enterpryse, he assembled vs togidre, & thus said to vs: ‘ Fayre lordes, ye be aH of my lynage & kynrede / & I of 4 yours / wherfore rayson requyreth that we loue eche other.’ trouth / but wherfor say ye soo?’ Thenne say@ we / ‘by my feyth, ye say And thenne he ansuerd couertly : ‘Fayre lordes, I doubte me to haue 8 shortly a strong! werre & to haue a doo with a strong partye ; Wherfor I wyl wete yf ye wold helpe me’ / & we thenne asked of hym / ayenst whom / he ansuerd: ‘we shuld knowe it al in tyme, & that 12 he was not parfytte frend, who that relenquysshed hys cousyn at hys nede.’ Thenne said we to hym, ‘we wyl wel that ye knowe that there nys none so grete in this countrey, Ine so myghty, yf he wyl 16 hurt or dommage you, but that we shal helpe you to kepe & susteyne you in your ryght.’ and vpon that he departed / and syn had he many rancours ayenst some where we ayded hym / but my lord wete it wel 20 that fro the tyme of hys dysobedyence to my lord your fader, we ne doubte nor fere neyper god nor man that we euer putte piece of harneys on vs / nor that none of vs aH yssued out of his fortres, nother for hym nor for 24 - his faytte / and the contrary shal be nother knowen nor fond, For herof we wyl not haue grace / but we requyre only right & justice / and yf there be other cause that our euyl wyllers might haue contryued vpon 28 vs thrugh enuye or hate / I say by right that ye ne owe to be therfore indigned ayenst vs, pat are very subgets & obedyent to my lord, your fader Raymond- yn of Lusynen, For yf some were wylling' to vexe or 32 moleste vs by ony wyse ye oughte to helpe & kepe vs / and herof I can no more say, For we can not thinke that none of vs dide ever that thing! that myght dys- playse my lord your fader. Wherfor we al present 36° CH. XXXVI. | THE PARDON OF GUERIN, beseche & pray you that ye be not infourmed but of rayson.” / ‘ \ J han geffray had herd thexcuse of the ol knyght 4 that spake for aH, he called his CounseyH to hym / and syn said to them: ‘ Fayre lordes, what seme yow of this fayte? !'me semcth that these folke excuse them self full wel.’ ‘By my feyth,’ sayd they aH in 8 commyn, ‘that is trouth / nor ye can not aske of them, but that ye make them to swere vpon the holy Euaungylles, that yf the siege had be layed tofore syon / they had socoured Claude or not ayenst you / 12 and yf they swere ye / they are your enemyes / and to the contrary, yf they swere that noo / ye owe not to To this they a accorded / & therewith concluded theire counseyH. And thenne bere to them euyl wyH.’ 16 were gueryn & hys frendes called tofore geffray / and after he had recorded to them the sayd conclusyon / they said that gladly they shuld swere as they dyde. Wherfore they had peas with geffray, and syn went 20 with hym al about the Countre vysytyng: the Fortresses And after Geffray toke lene of the Barons there / and lefte gouern- & places by the space of two monethes, ours to kepe & rewle the Countrey / and syn departed 24 & retourned to Lusynen, where he was gretly festyed of hys fader & moder, that were glad of his retourne. Thewne was there come a knyght of poytou fro Cypre, whiche had reported tydynges how the Calyphe 28 of Bandas, and the grete Carmen were arryued in Armenye / and moche they had adommaged the kynge Guyon. Also how kynge vryan had tydynges how they entended to make werre ayenst hym in Cypre. 32 Wherfore he made hys assemble of men of armes & of shippes, for to recountre & fyght with them in the see, 2¥or his entencéon was not to suffre them to entre in his land. Whan thenne Geffray vnderstode these tydynges 36 he sware by the good lord, that shuld not be without 263 and beg to be informed of their fault, 1 fol. 153 6. Geffray tells his council that he thinks they have made a good de- fence, The council ad- vises that Guerin and his friends should be made to swear that they would not have helped Claud had his castle been be- sieged, - Guerin is ready to swear ; so he has peace with Gefiray. Geffray returns to Lusignan, and is greatly feasted. News comes from Cyprus that the Caliph of Bandas is attacking Guion, King of Armenia, Urian is assem- bling ships to tight his bro- ther’s enemies, 2 fol. 154, 264 GEFFRAY RESOLVES TO FIGHT THE SARACENS. [CH. XXXVI. Geffray resolves to aid his breth- ren. Geffray asks the knight from Cy- prus to accom- pany him, hym, and that to long he had kept his fyre / and said to Raymondin hys fader, & to Melusyne his moder / that they wold make hym cheuysaunce of help for to: goo ayde hys bretheren ayenst thenemyes of god / And 4 they accorded therto / so that he promysed them to retourne within a yere day toward them. ce, joyous was geffray whan his fader had graunted hym his wyH. and thenne he prayed 8 the knight that was come fro Cipre, that he wold _ retourne with hym, & that he shuld reward hym wel He assembles xiiii. C. men of arms and iii. C. archers, and marches them to Rochelle, where Raymond- in had provided and victualled many vessels. 2 fol. 154 b. Geffray sets sail. The Saracen lords resolve therof. ‘By my feyth,’ sayd the knight / ‘ men telleth me as touching your prowes may none compare / and I 12 shal go with you for to see yf ye can doo more than Vryan & Guyon your bretheren ; For thoo two I knowe ryght wel.’ ‘By my feyth, sire knight,’ said geffray, ‘it is a lytel thing of my faytte concernyng' the puys- 16 saunce of my lordes, my brethern / but I thanke you of this lyberalt offre to goo with me / & I shall meryte you, therfore, yf it playse god.’ Thenne he made hys mandement & dyde so moch, that he assembled xiii. C. 20 men of armes, & wel iij. C. arbalestres, and made them to drawe toward Rochelle / And raymondyn & melu- syne were there, whiche had don arryued many vesselles, & wel purueyed of! vytaylles necessary. 24 — And *thenne Geffray toke leue of his fader & of hys moder, & entred into the see with his companye, & saylled so pat they lost syght of land, For they made good way. Here resteth thystorye of them to speke / 28 and begynneth to speke of the Calyphe of Bandas & of the Sawdan of Barbarye, that was nevew to the sawdan that was slayn in the batayH vpon the heed of Saynt Andrew aboue the black montayne. 32 hystorye sheweth vs that the Caliphe of Bandas & the Saudan of Barbarye / the kyng! Anthenor of Anthioche / and the admyral of querdes’ had made 1 Orig. of of, 3 Fr, Cordes, OH. XXXVI.] THE SARACEN PLAN OF CAMPAIGN, togidre theire affyaunce, that neuer they shuld retourne tyl they had dystroyed the kynge Vryan of Cipre, and guyon the kyng of Armanye his brother / and had wel 4 assembled to the nombre of xvi.™ sarasyns, & had theire shippes alt prest to thentent to arryue first in Armanye / & first of aH theire werkes to dystroye the yle of Rodes, & after the royalme of Armanye / & 8 so passe in to Cypre to dystroye & putte to deth / & had sworne that they shuld make kyng' Vryan to dey on the crosse / & hys wyf & his children they shuld brenne. But as the wyse man saith / ‘the fole pro- 12 poseth & god dysposeth’ / and at that season were many espyes emong’ them as wel of armenye as of rodes / and there was one of the maister of Rodes spyes that was so !Lyke a Sarasyn that no man mysdymed 16 hym for other than a Sarasyn, & had the langage as a man of the same Countrey; the whiche knewe the secretes of the sarasyns / and syn departed fro them & came to baruth, where he fond a barke pat wold sayH 20 to Turckye to fette marchandyse, and entred in it. And whan they had good wynd they toke vp theire ancres & saylled so long that they sawe the yle of Rodes, where they came to refressh them there / and soone 24 after the sayd espye went out of the shipp and toke hys way toward the Cite of rodes, where he fonde the maister of rodes, that weleommed hym & demanded what tydynges. And the spye recounted to hym al 28 that the Sarasyns entended for to doo / the which tydynges the maister of rodes dyde doo knowe by _ wrytyng to the two bretheren kynges of Armenye & of } Cipre / and that they shuld entre in to the see with ‘32 peire power / and that he shuld mete with them at the porte of Japhe / and thenmne whan guyon kyng' of armanye vnderstode this he entred in to the see, & had with hym to the nombre of six thousand! men of armes, 36 & wel iii.” balesters, & came sayllyng to Rodes, where 265 to destroy Urian of Cyprus and Guion of Ar- menia, They intend to first destroy the Isle of Rhodes, afterwards the kingdom of Armenia, and then to capture Urian of Cyprus, and make him die on the cross. 1 fol. 155. A spy of the Master of Rhodes among the Saracens returns to his master and tells all that they in- tend to do. Word is sent to the Kings of Ar- minenia and Cy- prus,and they are asked to set out to sea and to meet the Master of Rhodes at Jaffa, 266 THE CHRISTIAN KNIGHTS SAIL AGAINST THE SARACENS. [CH. XXXVI. Guion sails to Rhodes, where the prior receives him joy- fully. 1 fol. 155 0. as he fonde the grete maister at the porte / And whan the grete pryour of Rodes sawe him he had grete joye, & forthwzth he entred with hym & al his puyssaunce into the see to the nombre of! iii.C bretheren men of armes, 4 & vi.C balesters or crosbowmen. Whan they were assembled togidre fayre was the Flote, ?For by very estymacton they were fonde to the nombre of ten thousand men of armes / & about xviil.C what balesters 8 as Archers. And wete it wel, it was a fayre syght, For the baners & standarts wayued wth the wynd / and They set sail to Jaffa, | Urian gathers his barons at Ly- masson, takes leave of Ermine, and soon sails out of sight. Geffray arrives three days after at Lymasson, but the master of the port will not let him enter, the gold & azure vpon the helmets & armures resplend- ysshed brigh & clere, that it was grete meruayH / and 12 syn they rowed toward the porte of Japhe, wher the Sarasyns had made theire nauye to dryue. And here resteth thystorye of them to speke, & sheweth of vryan as ye may here herafter. / 16 hystory sayth, that the kyng' Vryan made & sent his mandement thrugh al his land of Cypre, for to gadre his baronye togidre with theire puyssaunce, & whan they were assembled at the porte of Lymasson he 20 toke leue of the quene Ermyne, his wyf, & entred into the see. And wete it they were in nombre, what men of armes as balesters & archers xiiii.™, And penne they departed fro the porte, & saylled by suche force of 24 wynde that quene Ermyne, which was vpon a hye toure, lost soone the syght of them. And wete it wel that geffray with the grete toth, within thre days after arryued vnder Lymasson / but the maister of the porte 28 suffred them not to entre within the porte. how be it he was abasshed to see the armes of Lusynen in theire baners vpon the toppes of theire shippes, & wyst not what to deme or say ; wherfore he went anoone to the 32 Castel & anounced these tydynges to the quene / And she pat was fu sage, said to hym / ‘go ye to know 2 Fr. siv mille hermins et bien trois mille arbalestriers. Hermins = Armenians. OH. XXXVI. | GEFFRAY ARRIVES AT LYMASSON. what folke! they be, For without treson, they are some of my lordes lynee / speke thenne with them, hauyng your men prest & redy vpon the porte to thende, yf 4 they wold arryue by force, that ye may withstand them’ / And he anone fulfylled the quenes commande- ment & came to the barryers of the clos & demanded of them what they sought. Thenne ansuerd the knight 8 whiche tofore that tyme had be in Cypre / ‘lete us arryue, For it is geffray, kyng! vryans brother, that commeth to socoure & ayde hym ayenst the Sarasyns.’ And thenne whan the maister of the porte vnderstode ‘ Sire, the kyng' is departed from hens thre dayes agoo, & 12 pe knight he knew hym anone, & thus sayd: hath take hys way and hys puyssaunce with hym toward the porte of Japhe, For he wyl not suffre, yf he 16 may, that paynemes entre in his royame / but pray, my lord, hys brother, that it playse hym to come & see the quene that ryght ioyows shal be of hys comyng.’ And he al this said to geffray, whiche anoone entred 20 into a lytel galyote, & with hym the said knight and other of hys felawship, & rowed to the chayne? that anoone was open / & so they entred in to the hauen, where as they fonde many noble men that honourably 24 receyued geffray & his felawship, whiche meruaylled them gretly of hys grete courage & of hys fyersnes, & brought hym toward the queene that abode for hym, holdyng her sone Henry in her armes. And as Geffray 28 approched to her she enclyned herself tofore him / and geffray to her made his obeyssaunce & toke her vp & kyssed her / & ®syn said to her, ‘ Madame, my sustir, god yeue you joye of al that your herte desyreth’ / And 82 she welcommed hym frendly & honourably. And thenne geffray toke vp his neuew Henry, that kneled tofore hym. What shuld I now make long compte. Geffray was thenne glad / & the port was open & hys 2 Fr, chainne. 267 1 fol. 156. The Queen says they may be of her husbaud’s lineage, The master of the port is told it is Getfray, the king’s brother, who is in the ships. He tells the knight that the king sailed for Jatia three days before. Geffray visits the queen, 3 fol. 156 b. and is welcomed. 268 His navy enters the port and is refreshed. Geffray asks for a pilot. The queen orders | the portmaster to prepare a gal- ley with the sagest mariner that can be found. He has a rampin ready, which guides Geffray, who soon sails out of sight. 1 fol. 157. ' Urian comes to Jaffa, and sees the Saracen fleet there. The Saracens intend to sail against Rhodes, GEFFRAY SAILS TOWARDS HIS BROTHER, [ox. XXXVI. nauye entred, & whan they were wel refresshed geffray said to the quene: ‘ Madame, I wyl departe, lete me haue a maronner that wel knoweth the costes of this see, so that I may fynd my brother.’ 4 o this ansuerd the quene, ‘ My right dere brother / By my feyth, I wold it had cost me a thousand poundes that ye were now with my lord, yowr brother, For wel I knowe he shal haue grete joye of your 8 commyng'.’ and thenne she called to her the maister of the porte, & sayd / ‘go make a galyot to be shipped redy with ten oores, & seke for the sagest maronner & best patron that can be fond, for to conduyte my 12 lord my brother toward my lord.’. ‘Madame,’ ansuerd the maister of the port, ‘I haue wel a rampyn alredy shipped to rowe, wel armed & vytaylled, & resteth no more than to meve & departe.’ Thenne.was gefiray 16 right glade & toke hys leue of the quene & of his nevew, & entred in to his shipp / and the said rampyn or galley gyded hym / & so departed with hys flote, & rowed & made good way, so that in short space they 20 of the porte lost the syght of them. And the quene Ermyne prayed deuoutely to god that they myght re- But Vryan his broper rowed so long’ tyl they perceyued the 24 tourne with joye. Of hym I shal leue to speke. porte lof Japhe, & the bygge & grete vesselles that were there assembled / and thenne was there comme the Caliphe / the Saudan of Barbarye, the kyng’ of Anthioche, & thadmyral of querdes, with theire puys- 28 saunce, And was by them concluded the king’ anthenor & thadmyraH shuld make vantward, & shuld hold the way toward rodes / and yf that they neded socour they shuld wryt to the Caliphe & to the Sawdan, 32 whiche alwayes be redy to helpe & ayde them / and the kyng! antenor of Anthyoche & thadmyral of Cordes departed fro the porte of Japhe with fourty thousand panemes, & toke theire way toward Rodes by suche 36 CH, XXxvI. A FIGHT AT SEA. wyse that Vryan knew nothing of theire departyng’ / and had rowed but two dayes journey whan they per- ceyued kyng guyon & the nauye of rodes, and also the 4 Cristens perceyued them / Thenne was there grete alarme of bothe partes, and soone they borded togidre. There was grete occysyon & horryble medlee / and at the first recountryng were six galleyes of the sarasyns 8 sounken & perysshed in the see / And the noble crystens endeuoyred them self wel & faught valyauntly, But the force & the quantyte of the Sarasyns was grete / and the Crysten peuple susteyned grete charge, & had 12 be dyscomfyted yf god of hys grace had not conduyted geffray that part as it shaH be recounted herafter. hystory saith, that geffray & his peple saylled in the see by force of wynd pat they had at theire 16 wytt so long, that they lapprouched the place where the batayH was. duyted them approuched so nygh that they sawe them And first of all the rampyn that con- fyght /.and anone retourned & said to geffray, ‘Sire, 20 commande al men to be redy, For we haue perceyued the batayH / & as we suppose they are sarasyns & crysten fyghting togidre.’ Thenne rowed the galyote & came so nygh the baytayH that they herde crye on hye, 24 ‘ Cordes & Anthioche’ / and at the other part ‘ Lusynen & saynt Jofin of Rodes’ / and immedyatly retourned the rampyn toward geffray, & said to him, ‘ Sire, at that one party they ben sarasyns / and at the other part theire 28 callyng is Lusynen & Saynt Johan of rodes / but cer- taynly it is not the kyng vryan / but I byleue, my lord, that it is the kyng guyon hys brother & the maister of Rodes that thus fyght with the Sarasyns.’ 32 ‘Ryght foorth,’ sayd geffray, ‘goo we to them asprely’ / thenne they haunced saylles vp & saylled foorth by such wyse that it semed as it had be the vyreton of a Crosbow, & stemed the shippes of the sarasyns in suche 36 manere that they were sparpylled, so that there rested 269 They meetGuion, and fight. There is much slaughter, six Saracen gal- leys are sunk ; but because of the multitude of Saracens the Christians would have been de- feated, 1 fol. 157 b. had not Geffray come to their aid. Geffray is told that it is a fight between Chris- tians and Sara- cens. He sails swift as an arrow and breaks up the Saracen fleet. 270 He cries, ‘ Lu- signan,’ which makes the Ar- menians think Urian has come to help. The Christians take heart. 1 fol. 158. The Saracens rally and attack their enemies. Geffray damages the Saracens ; GEFFRAY TO THE RESCUE. [CH. XXXVI. not foure of al the flote, and cryed ‘ Lysynen’ with a Wherfor the Ermayns & they of Rodes byleued pat it had be the kyng Vryan that were cOme fro cypre.. And thenne toke they good herte to them 4 And the kyng of Anthioche !& thad- myraH of Cordes gadred ayen theire peple, and rane vpon the crysten with grete force. But geffray & hys peuple, that were fresshe & new, ouerrane them in 8 suche manere that they dommaged gretly the sarasyns / high voys. courageously. _ and thenne the vessel where geffray was / borded the boards the vessel of Anthenor, and causes many to enter the Ad- miral of Cordes’ ship. King Anthenor and the admiral see that they have been dis- 3 fol. 158 b. cormfited, so set sail to Jafla, vessel of the kynge anthenor & were chayned togidre. And geffray entred into the vessel of the kyng' & bygan to make grete occysyon of the sarasyns, & his peuple entred & faught so valyauntly with suche a strength that there was no sarasyn so hardy that durst shew hym or make deffense / and many of them for theyre relyf supposed to haue entred into thadmyral shipp & they were drowned / the whiche admyral, guyon & his peuple assaylled strongly, & drowned foure of the sarasyns shippes.2 The batayH was fyers & horryble & thoccysyon hydouse / and briefly to say, the sara- syns were putte in suche manere so low that they had noping' them to deffende. / oche was the batayH hard & strong’, but aboue al 24 M other faught geffray manfully, & so dide the poyteuyns that were come with hym there, & so dyde guyon the maister of Rodes & theire peple / but they were abasshed for this that they cryed ‘Lusynen’ / 28 And thenne the kyng' anthenor & thadmyral perceyued wel pat the dyscomfiture fyH on them, For they pene “had lost 12 bo Oo but thenne it was no saison tenquere. more than the two partes of theire peple, wherfore they 32 made the resydu of theire peuple to witidraw them 2 In Fr. et toutesfois le roi Anthenor se saulva au vaisseau de Vadmiral de Cordes et fut tantost son vaisseau pillié de ce qui y estoit de bon, et puys fut effrondé en mer. ' OH. XXXVI.] THE FLIGHT OF THE SARACENS. toward the port of Japhe to haue socour / and the said kyng' & admyral put them self in a shipp of auauntage & made grete sayH fro the batayH, and whan the sara- But the Ermayns & they of Rodes ouertoke the moost part & putte them to deth & threw pem ouerbord. But whan geffray perceyued the departyng' of the kyng' 4 syns perceyued they went after, he that might. 8 anthenor & the admyral, he dyde make sayH & went after wth al hys nauye, & made so fast way that anoone he lefte the Ermayns & the maister of Rodes at sterne. And whan the rampyn ship of auauntage perceyued 12 geffray, the patron cryed to hys peuple with a hye voys / ‘after / after / fayre sires, For yf geffray leseth his way & faylleth to mete with hys brother, I shal neuer dare retourne to my lady.’ And thenne the kynge 16 Guyon, that knew the rampyn, asked of the patron what was that lord cristen that so had socoured them. ‘By my feyth,’ said the patron, ‘it is geffray with the grete toth, your brotper.’ And whan the kyng guyon 20 vnderstod it he cryed with a hye voys, ‘make more sayH, pat we were with our brother, For yf he were But pe rampyn went tofore so fast that in short tyme he ouer- perysshed I shuld neue haue hertly joye.’ 24 toke geffray, that was neer the !sarasyns that ap- Here I shall lene to speke of them, & shal shew of Vryan that tofore was prouched the porte of Japhe. come to the port and had fyred the sarasyns shippes 28 there / but the paynemes rescued them in theire best manere / not that withstanding there were more than ten vesselles brent. it this partye sheweth thystorye that Geffray with B2 the grete toeth pursiewed so long the king anthenor & thadmyral of Cordes, that they approuched nygh to the port of Japhe, where they entred in / and geffray after them; For by no manere he wold leue them / 36 though men shewed to hym the grete multitude of Geffray chases them, and is followed by the rampin to Jaffa, 1 fol. 159. Urian had been there, and had set fire to some of the Saracen fleet. Geffray enters the port of Jaffa after the king , and the admiral, 272 He fights them ; they take to land. They tell the caliph and the sultan their ad- ventures. 1 fol. 159 6, The sultan repeats an old prophecy that says that people - who believe in Mahomet cannot ~ withstand the * Lusignans on the sea. AN ANCIENT PROPHECY, [CH. XXXVI, paynemes that thenne were entred in to the vesselles to socoure the kyng’ anthenor. But he anoone bygan the batayH that was hard & mortaH, in so moch that the kyng and thadmyraH were constrayned to take land, 4 and went to the toune of Japhe, where they fond the calyphe of Bandas and the Sawdan of Barbarye that were gretly abasshed that so soone they were retourned, and demanded of the cause wherfore / and they re- 8 counted to them al thaduenture, And how the kyng of armenye & the maister of Rodes were dyscomfyted, had not a knyght araged or wodd that came & so- coured them with a few peuple that cryed ‘ Lusynen’ / 12 & there may none witkstand hym, whiche is now yonder at the porte where he fyghteth ayenst our peuple / and al that he recountreth is brought to hys ende. And whan the sawdan vnderstod it he had no wyH to 16 1lawghe / but said, ‘ By machomet, it is tolde me of old that I, & many other of our sette and lawe, shall susteyne grete parels vpon the see, by the heyres of Lusynen / but yf we might haue them on land, and 20 that our peuple were out of pe shippes they shuld be soone aH dyscomfyted.’ ‘By aH our goddes,’ said the _ Caliphe, ‘ye say trouth, / and also yf they were here Geffray mean- while drives the Saracens from their ships. They fly to Jaffa, Geffray orders the horses to be landed, dystroye® we shuld subdue lyghtly Rodes, cypre, & 24 armanye / Lete vs thenne make owr peuple to come to land, and suffre the Cristen to take peasybly theire landing’.’ But in certayn for nought they spake soo, For they yssued out without ony commandement, by 28 the vertue & strength of Geffray that therto constrayned them / and Geffray with his peuple pursiewed them at land, & chaced them vnto the Cite of Japhe / and all thoo that were ouertake were put to deth / and they 32 that entred in the toun cryed‘ treson, treson!’ Thenne were the gates shette, and euery man went to hys garde / and geffray retourned to his shippes / and com- manded that the horses shuld be had out aland. For 36 a tle CH. XXXVI. | . A THREE DAYS TRUCE, he said that neuer he shuld departe but he shuld dey or he shuld make men to say, that Geffray with the grete toth hath be here. 4 hystorye telleth vs that whyle Geffray was about to haue out of the shippes hys horses, the rampyn perceyued the baners & penons of the kyng! yryan, that moch strongly scarmysshed the nauye of 8 the sarasyns that knew nothing’ that geffray had take land, For they had take the deep of the porte. And 1 the kynge and thadmyraH were arryued at the narowest __ syde to be the sooner on land, Thenne departed the 12 rampyn shipp of auauntage, and rowed toward vryan. And thenne they recountred@ guyon, whiche asked of the patron tydynges of geffray. ‘ Yonder he hath take land,’ said the patron, ‘& hath chaced the paynemes 16 vnto pe Cite / and yonder is the kyng vryan your broper, that scarmyssheth theire nauye, to whom I goo for to anounce hym your auenture, and the commyng of geffray, his brother’ / And thenne the rampyn 20 rowed fast, and came to vryan to whom, after his obeyssaunce don, he recounted al the faytte. Wherof Vryan thanked god deuoutely / & cryed to hys peple, 24 may not escape vs, but that they be other slayn or | take.’ Thenne the crysten borded theire enemyes, the which were gretly abasshed of this, that they had knowleche that-the kyng! anthenor & thadmyraH were £28 retourned to Japhe. wherfor they toke land who that might, & fledd toward the toun. And thenne whan the Calyphe and the saudan sawe theire peple aland, they dyde send ambaxades toward tine prynces Cristen 1:32 for to haue trews the space of thre dayes, & that they | shuld suffre theire landing’, & on the foureth day they shuld gyue them journey of batayH. Kinge Vryan accorded therto, and sent word therof to his brethern h36 guyon and geffray / and thus they landed peasybly, and | MELUSINE. , 273 Urian is seen by the men of the rampin, 1 fol. 160, They row to him, and tell of Geffray’s doings, ‘6 . auaunt, lordes, thinke to doo wel, For our enemyes | Urian drives the Saracens to land, They fly to the town. The caliph asks a truce for three days. Urian agrees to it. 274 The brethren land their hosts, 1 fol. 160 0. greet each other, and refresh them- selves. The truce is lengthened. The Saracens march inland to prevent the Christians escap- ing after the battle. The hosts are 140,000 Saracens against 22,000 Christians, ‘The Christians think the Sara- cens have fled. An interpreter comes to the brethren. $3 fol, 161. He wonders at their fierceness; especially at Gef- fray’s tooth, = A SARACEN INTERPRETER, [cH. XXXVI. assembled theire peple togidre. Thenne twas the Joye grete emong? the thre bretheren, and theire oost was nombred xxii.™ what men of armes / balesters & archers. | 4 hystorye sayth that the thre bretheren and theire if peuple made moche eche of other, & refresshed But panne the Sawdan of Damaske that had knowleche of the crystens landing 8 sent word to the Calyphe & to the sawdan of Barbarye, that they shuld not fyght with the erysten tyl he were come with them, & that they shuld take othre thre days of trews / & so they dide ; wherto the noble prynces crysten accorded. And duryng that terme the Caliphe &* the sawdan of Barbarye dyde withdraw theyre peuple toward Damaske to thentent them during’ the trews. 12 that they might have the Cristen more within the land, so that none might flee to theyre nauye; but he were ouertake & slayne. For they wend to haue aH theire wyH vpon the Crysten. For they were after the sau- dan of Damaske was assembled with them to the 20 nombre of VII score thousand fyghtyng men / and pe crysten were but xxii.“ good men // the which, whan they knew of the departyng' of the sarasyns fro Japhe, they were fuH dolaunt ; For they supposed they had 24- fledd / but for nought they wend soo / for at ende of six dayes they came & approuched nygh them, & on the morne gaf them batayH. Thenne came a trucheman mounted vpon a dromadary, whiche alighted tofore the 28 tentes of the thre bretheren, and humbly salued them / and they rendred hym ® gretyng' / and he beheld them long or he spake. For he wondred moche of theire noble maynten & fyers contenaunce / and in especial 32 he meruaylled moche of Geffray that was the hyest of personne, & saw the toeth that passed oue the lyppe along hys cheke; wherof he was so abasshed that * almost he coude not speke / but at last he said te 36 * MS. & and. CH. XXXVI. | GEFFRAY’S ANSWER TO THE SARACENS. kynge Vryan in this wyse. ‘ Noble kyng of Cypre / my right redoubted lordes the Sawdants of Barbarye & of Damaske / the Calyphe of Bandas / the kynges of 4 Anthioche & of Danette & thadmyraH of Cordes send word by me to you that they be prest? redy to lyuere you batayH, & they tary after you in a medowe vnder Damaske where ye, wth al your puyssaunce may 8 come / saf and peasybly there to make and take there your lodgys tofore them wheresomeuer it playse you / and by auenture whan ye haue sene theire puys- saunce ye shalt fynd some good & amyable traytye 12 with my said lordes. And whan geffray herd there wordes, he sayd to hym / ‘goo thou power to withstand theire strength.’ to thy kynges & sawdants, & to thy Caliphe / and say 16 them that yf there were none only but I & my peuple, yet wold I fyght / & say them pat of theire trews we haue nought to doo / and whan thou shalt come to them say that geffray with the grete toth deffyeth them / 20 and anoone after that thou art departed from hens I shal sawte the Cite of Japhe, & shal fyre it / and al the sarasyns that I shal fynd, I shal putte them to deth / and say to them, as thou passe by ?that they puruey 24 them wel, For I ryght foorth shaH departe to asayH them.’ ansuere, he was al abasshed / and without eny more And whan the trucheman or messager herd this proces he lept vpon his dromadary, For he had so grete 28 feer of the fyersnes of geffray that alwayes he loked behynd hym, for fere that he had folowed hym / & sayd in hym self: ‘ By mahon, yf al the other were suche as that w7th the grete toth, owr lordes, nor theire And thenne he came to Japhe, & said to them that geffray 32 puyssaunce were not able to withstand them.’ with the grete toth wold come anoon tassayH theire Cyte, and that he had sworne that he shuld putte in 1 Fr, pretz. For certaynly it is not to your . 275 He delivers his message, that the Saracen lords are ready for battle. He suggests a treaty. Geffray bids him return to the Caliph with his defiance, and the news that Geffray is about to assail Jaffa and to slay all the Saracens he finds there. 2 fol. 161 b. The interpreter leaps upon his dromedary and full of fear rides away, thinking that his lords cannot withstand many Geffrays. He tells the peo- ple of Jaffa that Geffray is about to assail them. 276 Many fly to Damascus. Geffray ap- proaches Jaffa. The interpreter returns 1 fol. 162. to the Saracen knights, and relates the result of his ein- bassy. THE INTERPRETER RETURNS HOME, [ou. XXXVI. subgection of hys swerd al them that he fond. Thenne were they aH abasshed / and wete it wel that the more parte of the peple there fled for fere toward Damaske, and toke with them theire goodes. And anoon geffray 4 dide blow vp hys trompettes, & armed hys peple, & went incontynent to sawte the toun, and wold neuer cesse therof, For ony thing that his brepern said / and sware by god that he shuld shewe them suche tokens that men 8 shuld knowe that he had benin surye. But here seaceth thistorye of hym, & speketh of the forsaid messanger pat rode so long that he came tofore the lodgys of the sarasyns at Damaske. 12 ihe this party, sayth thystory, that the messager rode so fast vpon his dromadary that he cam / ynto thoost tofore Damaske / & fond in the tente of the Calyphe the two sawdans,!the king’ anthenor / thad- 16 myral of Cordes, the kyng' golofryn of Danette, & And the messager them said / ‘I haue don your commande- many other that asked tydynges of the Cristens, ment & message / but whan I shewed vnto them, 20 yf that they had seen your puyssaunce it wold haue be a meane of traytye with you / and thenne one of them that had oo grete toth, wold not suffre the kyng of Cypre to haue the wordes, but he hymself said pus, 24 “Goo thou to thy kynges and sawdants, & say them we haue not to doo with theire trews, / & that yf there wer but he & his peple only, yet wold he fyght with you” / and morouer said to me / that assoone as I shuld come to you that I shuld take you ayen pe patents of your trews, & that ye shuld beware of hym / and that in despyte of you aH he wold assawte Japhe, & putte the fyre thrugh al the toun & destroye them for euer / and 32 that thus I shuld say to them whan I passed by the Cite / and so haue I doo / and wete it wel that the more? part of the Cytezeyns be come after me, & immedy- 2 MS. has more twice, CH. XXXVI. | GEFFRAY PLUNDERS JAFFA. atly after my departyng' I herd hys trompettes blowe thassawte of Japhe / & ye coude neuer thinke thorryble & fyers contenaunces of the prynces crysten with theire 4 puyssaunce / And wete it wel after the semblaunce that they shew, ye be not of power tabyde them, & in especial he with the grete toth hath none other fere but that ye shal flee or they come to you.’ And whan 8 the saudan of Damaske vnderstod it, he bygan to lawgh, & said, ‘ By machomid, in asmoche as I haue perceyued now your hardynes, ye shal be the first in batayH ayenst hym with the grete toth.’ Wherto ansuerd ! the mes- 12 sager / ‘ vnhappy be that heure or day that I approche hym / but yf there be a grete ryuere or the toures or walles of Damaske or some other Fortres betwix hym & me / and yf I doo other, lete my lord mahomid 16 drowne me,’ / & therwith bygane euery personne to But there were suche that lawhed, that aftir- ward, yf they might haue had leyser, they wold haue lawhe. wept. Now shal I shew how geffray assawted Japhe, 20 and toke it by force, and putte to deth aH the sarasyns there, and toke their hauoir and goodes out of the Cyte / & bare it vnto the vesselles, and after sette fyre on the Cite / and this don, retourned the crysten to theire 24 lodgys, where geffray requyred his bretheren that they shuld take hym, the maister of Rodes, & hys peuple, to make the vantgarde / & they were agreed / and that same nyght they rested them tyl on the morowe. 28 he next day, as the hystory wytnesseth, after the masse herd, desloged the vanward, and after the grete batayll, & the sommage & syn the ryergarde / and it was a noble syght to see thoost & the fayre 32 ordynaunce to departe. ‘Thenne came a spye to getfray, & hym said; ‘Sire, about half a leghe hens ben a thousand sarasyns, whiche drawe them toward baruth to kepe the hauen of the toune.’ to whom 36 geffray asked / ‘canst conduyte me thither?’ / ‘ye, by ) ~I NI He tells the Sa- racens that he thinks they are unable to with- stand the Chris- tians. The Sultan of Damascus jeers and says he will make the inter- preter the first to fight Geffray. 1 fol. 162 b, The interpreter declares he will not fight Geffray. Geffray assaults Jaffa, slays the inhabitants, and takes their goods to his vessels. The battle is arranged. The host marches in good order, A spy tells Gef- fray of the march of a thousand Saracens to Bey- routh. 278 1 fol. 163. Geffray follows and overthrows them. They fly to Bey- routh, chased by the Christians. The Saracens cross the bridge, . followed by five hundred of Gef- fray’s men. The Saracens are driven out of the other gate, and fly to Tripoli and Damascus, Geffray slays all the Saracens he finds, and says that he will keep the place, THE CAPTURE OF BEYROUTH. [cH. XXXVI. my feyth, sire,’ sayd the spye. Thenne said geffray to the maister of rodes, that he shuld conduyte the van- warde, puttyng fyre vpon the way where he went, to thentent he shuld not fayH to fynd hym by the trasse 4 of the fumyer / and the maister of 1 Rodes said / ‘it shal be don.’ And thanne departed geffray with the spye, and went before, where he perceyued the sarasyns commyng fro a mountayn ; & he shewed to geffray the 8 sarasyns, which was joyful therof, & hasted hys peuple. and whan he had ouertake them / he sware: ‘ by god / ye gloutons! ye may not me escape’ / & so rane vpon them, & ouerthrew the first that he recountred to the 12 erth, & syn drew hys swerd, & dyde meruayllous fayttes of armes, & his peuple in lyke wyse. What nede is to speke more of the sarasyns, they were dys- comfyte, & fled toward Baruth, & the Crysten in the 16 chaas, And whan the sarasyns of baruth sawe the fleers, they anoone knew them, & lete fa the bridge, & opened the gates & barryers / thenne the fleers entred within the toune / but alwayes geffray folowed so 20 hastly, that he entred with them within the town with wel fyue C men of armes, And whan Geffray was entred he commanded to kepe [the] gate? tyl the resydu of hys peuple were come / And thenne bygan 24 the batayH to be fyers & strong! / but neuertheles the Sarasyns might not endure, but fled at another yate out of the toun. And he that pemne had a good hors was wel bestad, For they sporyd fast, som toward the Cite 28 of tryple, & some toward Damaske. And geflray & his peple slew al the sarasyns that they fond in the toun, and threw them in the see / and he that sawe the toun strong & the Castel nygh the see, fayre porte 32 garnysshed with toures for the sauegarde of the nauye / sayd / ‘that place shuld be kepe for hym self’ / and there geffray lefte two houndred men of armes & a 2 Fr. d garder, MS. has repegate = hepe [the] gate. CH. XXXVI. | SARACEN THREATS, © balesters of his peple / and he hymself !soiourned there aH that same nyght. And on the morne he toke leue of his men that he lefte there, & rode after thoost 4 by the trace of the fumyer & smoke / but the maister of Rodes was aferd lest he shuld haue grete empesche- ment /. Here seaceth the hystorye of hym / and sheweth of the fleers out of Japhe toward Damaske, whiche 8 came to thoost at the tente of the Sawdan, where as the lordes sarasyns were / and pyteously recounted to them the dystructzon of Japhe / how the Cristen had putte to deth bothe yong & old, & sette fyre on eche part 12 of the toun. Whan the saudants & kynges sarasyns vuderstod it, they were fu dolaunt. ‘By al our goddes,’ said the saudan of Damaske, ‘Moche hard ben the crysten, & they doubte nought as it semeth / 16 but fut wel they knowe that they are not of power to withstand our grete puyssaunce ; wherefore they make semblaunt, that nought they fere vs, & make suche sawtes while that we are ferre fro them / but yf we 20 marched foorth / no doubte they wold recule & with- drawe them in to theire shippes.”. ‘By mahon,’ said the sawdan of Barbarye / ‘ yf they were here alle rosted or soden, & yf it were custome to ete suche flesshe, they 24 were not to the regarde of ovr pepie suffysaunt for a brekfast / by my lawe, yf there were but I & my peuple only, yet shuld none repasse of them homward.’ But whan the trucheman or messager herd hym so speke 28 ke coude neuer hold hys tonge, but that he sayd / ‘myghty sawdan, yf now ye sawe the kyng Vryan / the kyng guyon hys brother, & he with the grete toth, theire horryble & fyers contenaunce, shuld cause 2you 32 to be in peas & cesse your grete menaces. And wete it wel, or the werke be ful doo ye shal not haue them fo[r] so good chep as ye say / but oft he that menaceth is somtyme in grete fer & drede hym self, & aftirward 36 ouerthrawen’ / And thenne whan the saudan vnder- 279 1 fol. 163 b. He leaves three hundred men to guard it, and by the guid- ance of the smoke rides to the Christian host. The fugitives from Jatta re- count their mis- hap to the sultan, The Sultan of Damascus says the Christians would fall back if he marched against them. The Sultan of Barbary says there are not enough Chris- tians to make the Saracen host a breakfast ; but the inter- preter says if the sultan saw the brethren he 2 fol. 164. would cease his threats and make peace The fugitives from Beyrouth relate how they have been chased by Geffray, and that he is approaching. The Sultan of Damascus be- lieves Geffray to have a devil in his body. 1 fol. 164 6. He refers to a saying about the heirs of Lusignan destroying him. Geffray over- takes the Master of Rhodes, SARACEN FOREBODINGS, [cH. XXXVI stode the messagers wordes, he said to hym: ‘By Mahomid, fayre sire, I see wel by the grete hardynes that is in you, ye wold fayne be ordeyned at the first recountre of pe batayH ayenst Geffray with the grete 4 toeth.’ & he ansuerd: ‘By my lawe, sire, yf he be not recountred of none other but of me / he may wel come surely; For I shal tourne myn heelys toward hym / ye / one leghe or two ferre fro his personne.’ 8 Thenne the lawhing was there grete / but soone after they herd other tydynges, wherof they had no wyH to lawhe, For the fleers fro baruth forsayd came to thoost, and to them recounted the dommage & pyte of 12 the toune of Baruth, and how geffray with the grete toth had chaced pem by force, & al the resydu of them he had slayn / & ‘by mahon,’ said they, ‘ wete it wel he is not of purpos to flee, For he hath lefte garnyson 16 at Baruth, & wel vytaylled it, & commeth hyperward in al haste to hym possible / & men see nothing’ thrugh al the Countre where he passeth but fyre & flame, & the wayes be aH couered with sarasyns that he & hys 20 peple haue slayn.’ Therne whan the saudan of Damaske vnderstode it he was moch dolaunt & angry. ‘ By mahomid,,’ said he, ‘I byleue fermely that he with the grete toth hath a dyuel in his body.’ Thenne said 24 the saudan of Barbarye, ‘I am in doubte of that is told me.’ ‘ What is that?’ !said the saudan of Damaske / ‘ it is said that the heyrs of Lusynen shal dystroye me, and that our lawe shal by theire strengthe be hurt & dom- 28 maged,’ Thenne was there none so hardy a Sarasyn but that he shoke for fere. And now cesseth thystorye of them, & retourneth to geffray. hystorye sheweth in this partye, that so long rode 32 -E geffray with hys felawship, that he ouertoke the vanwarde that the maister of Rodes conduyted, whiche was glade of his retourne, & asked how he had ex- ployted. And geffray recounted to hym how he & his 36 Ld CH. XXXVI. | THE CHRISTIANS MARCH ON DAMASCUS. peple, wth thayde of god, he had wonne the toune, castel, & hauen of baruth, and that by force they had chased a grete part of them that were within, and the 4resydu they had putte to deth / & how he had lefte certayn nombre of his peuple to kepe it. ‘By god,’ sayd the maister of Rodes, ‘ye haue wel don, & nobly & valyauntly exployted’ / and soone these tydynges 8 were knowen thrugh thoost /& Vryan & Guyon were joyful therof. ‘By my feyth,’ said Vryan to Guyon: ‘Oure brother Geffray is of grete enterpryse & ryght valyaunt in armes, and yf god of his grace yeue hym 12 long lyf, he shal do yet many grete actes worthy to be had in mynde.’ ‘By my feyth,’ said guyon, ‘ye say trouth.’ Long tyme went the two bretheren thus spek- yng of the prowes of geffray / And so long marched peir 16 oost, that on an euen they lodged them by a ryuere fyue myle fro Damaske / & there came theire espyes, that declared to them aH the manyere & contenaunce of the sarasyns. And thenne they toke Counseyl to 20 wete what best was to doo, & they }concluded that on the morne theire oost shuld lodge a leghe nygh to the Sarasyns as they dide. And thus on the morne they departed, & was communded that none shuld 24 sette fyre on his lodgys, nor in none other place; to thende that the Sarasyns shuld not soone perceyue theire commyng. And briefly to say, so long they went tyl they came to the place where they lodged 28 them togidre, & made pat nyght good watche toward _ theire enemyes. & after they souped & lay al nyght in theire harneys. And anoone aftir middenyght geffray, accompanyed with a thousand fyghting men, toke a 32 guyde that wel knew the Countre, & went toward thoost of the Sarasyns al the couert. & nygh therby was a forest that dured a myle, and there he embusshed & sent word to thoost that they shuld be redy as to | 36 receyue theire enemys, - 281 and relates how he captured Bey- routh. The news spreads, and Urian and Guion are joyful. The brothers speak of the prowess of Gef- tray. The host arrives close to Damas- cus. 1 fol. 165, Next day they march still nearer, At midnight Gef- fray ambushes a thousand men near the Saracen host. 282 He takes two hundred more men, and tells those of the aim- bush not to fight until he and his company fall back; and that then they should rush upon their pursuers, Geffray marches to the Saracen host. 1 fol. 165 0. It is asleep. When he sees the great multitude he says that they would have to be dreaded if they were Christian, but as they are, they are only dogs, Geffray sees a rich tent ; he enters and smites those inside. They awake; GEFFRAY SURPRISES THE SARACEN HOST, [cu. XXXVI, J Nhbystorye testyfyeth that geffray at the day spryng, mounted on horsbake, with ij. C fyghtyng men, & commanded them of thembusshe pat for nothing that they sawe they shuld not meue them tyl that they sawe 4 hym & hys company recule, and thezne vpon them of the chaas they shuld renne. Thenne departed geffray, & went vpon a lytel montayne, and sawe the sarasyns oost aH styl, & herd nothing’, as nobody had be § there. Thenne was he dolaunt, that sooner he had not knowen theire contenaunce, For yf hys bretheren had be there with theire peple, they shuld haue had good chep of sarasyns / but not withstanding, he sware that 1 syth he was so nygh, that he shuld make them to knowe his commyng Thenne said geffray to hys felawes: ‘ryde we fast, & see that ye be not aslepe as they are / & make no bruyt tyl I shal command you.’ 1 And they said !that nomore shuld they doo. Thenne they rode al the couert nygh togidre, & and entred into thoost, & wel perceyued that they were aslepe on euery syde / geffray behel & sawe the grete multi- 2 tude of peuple / and syn he said in this wyse: ‘ By my feyth, yf pey were crysten, they were to be ferd & dredd / but yet they be not so good as dogges.’ and with his felawship went vnto the myddes of thoost, or they 2 made eny stryf. And there geffray perceyued a ryche tente, and supposyng that it had be other the Caliphes tente or one of the saudants / said vnto hys peuple / ‘auaunt, lordes & good men, it is now tyme to chere & 2 awake these houndes, for to long they haue slept.’ Thenne Geffray, & ten knightes with hym, entred in to the sayd tente, & vpon them that were in smote with theire swerdes, makyng heedes, armes, & legges to leue 8 the bodyes. There was the noyse, & the cry grete & hydous to here / & wete it that it was pe tente of the kyng Gallafryn of Danette; which anoone rose vp fro hys bed, & wel he supposed to haue fled out at the 31 CH, XXXVI. | GEFFRAY SLAUGHTERS THE SARACENS, backsyde of hys tente, but geffray perceyued, & gaf hym suche a stroke with his swerd that was pesaunt, & euttyng sharp as a raser, that he cleft hys heed vnto 4 the brayne / & the sarasyn kyng fell doun deed / and none escaped of them that were in the tente; but they were aH slayne. And thenne cryeng ‘Lusynen’ they retourned thrugh thoost, puttyng to deth al the sarasyns 8 that they recountred. Thenne was thoost wel awaked & made grete alarme / And anoone came these tyd- ynges to the tente of the sawdan of Damaske, that said: ‘What noyse is that I here yonder !wzthout?’ 2 Thenne a sarasyn that came fro that part, which had a broken heed, in such manere pat hys one eere lay vpon hys sholder / sayd to hym: ‘Sire, that are x dyuelles, and theire meyne that haue entred into your 6 oost, which slee & ouerthraw al them that they re- countre in theire way / and they haue slayn the kyng of Danette your cousyn, and theire ery is “ Lusynen!”’ Whan the saudan vnderstod it he made hys trompettes 6 to blow vp, that euery man shuld be armed. And thenne the saudan & x. M! sarasyns with hym went after. And geffray went with hys peple thrugh thoost makyng grete occyson of sarasyns, For they were 4ynarmed, & might not endure nor withstand, And wete it that or euer they departed fro thoost, they slough & hurt more than iii M’ sarasyns / and whan they were out of the lodgys, they went al softe & 8 fayre / And the sawdan of Damaske hasted hym after. oche dolaunt & angry was the saudan of Damaske, M whan he perceyued the grete occyson that the crysten had don vpon hys peuple / & sware by hys 2 goddes Appolyn and mahon, that forthwith he shuld be auenged on them, & that not a crysten shuld be take to mercy, but shuld al be slayn. thenne he folowed geffray with x thousand Sarasyns. And 6 thenne geffray that perceyued, & sent word therof to 283 Geffray cuts Gallafrin’s head open, The Christians erying ‘ Lusig- nan,’ return through the host and slay many Saracens, 1 fol. 166. The Sultan of Damascus hears the tidings, and with x. Ml Saracens hastes after Geffray. 284 1 fol. 166 0. He is driven back by the vanguard of the Christians. Then his host is fal.en upon by the ambush, four thousand Saracens are slain, Some of them escape to their host and tell the Sara- cen leaders of the mishap. The Sultan of Damascus fights manfully. 2 fol. 167. THE SARACEN DEFEAT. [CH. XXXVI. hys bretheren by his peple feynyng to flee / and he entred wzthin the busshe where his peple was, for to putte them in aray / And the saudan folowed alway, & passed byfore thembussh. Wete it wel that the maister of Rodes that conduyted the vanward was thenne in fayre tbatayH. And whan he sawe the saudan that folowed the crysten / he ranne ayenst the sarasyns, the spere in the rest, and there they medled togidre & faught strongly / and within a lytel space of For at the first recountre with the speerys, eche cristen ouerthrew a tyme the Sarasyns were dyscomfyte. sarasyn to the erth. -And whan the sawdan sawe l that he might no lenger withstand he reculed, & assembled his peple in hys best wyse, abydyng the sarasyns that came after. But geffray & hys com- panye yssued out of thembusshe and ranne vpon them I And within a whyle there were slayn of the sarasyns by the put went without ordonaunce after the saudan. way more than foure thousand. And therne many of them fledd toward theire oost, and fond the caliphe of 2 bandas, the saudan of barbarye, the king Anthenor, & thadmyral of Cordes, whiche asked them fro whens pey came / And they ansuert: ‘we come fro the batayH where the sawdan of Damaske hath be dys- 2 comfyted.’ And whan they vnderstod it they were dyscomforted & sorowful, & wyst not what they shuld say or do, Now I wyl retourne to speke of the batayH. he batayH was horrible & cruel, & the sawdan of 2 Damaske faught manfully pat day, after that he had assembled hys peple. Thenne came geffray, that ranne vpon them at backsyde / and the maister of rodes at the other syde, In so moche that there was 3 made grete occysyon of sarasyns, What shuld I make long compte / the feled them assaylled on bothe sydes, wherby 2they were dyscomfyted, & might no lenger defende.. And whan the saudan perceyued the dys- 3 CH. XXXVI. | THE FLIGHT OF THE SULTAN OF DAMASOUS. comfyture, he went out of the batayt & tourned the targe behynd, and sporyd hys hors, & fled fast toward thoost of the sarasyns / and geffray was at that syde, 4 that wel perceyued hym, & demed wel by hys ryche armures that it was he, or some grete lord of the sarasyns. Thenne he broched hys hors with the sporys after the saudan, and cryed to hym, ‘ retourne, or thou "8 shalt dey! For I shuld haue grete vergoyne yf I smote the behynd / but alwayes, yf thou not retourne, nedes I most do soo.’ And whan the sawdan vnderstod hym, he sporyd hys hors, & hasted hym more than he 12 dide tofore / and geffray, that ryght dolaunt was that he might not ouertake hym, cryed to hym ayen, sayeng': ‘Fy on the! recreaunt coward; that art so wel horsed, & so nobly & surely armed, and yet darest 16 not abyde a man alone / retourne, or I shal slee the fleeyng’ / how be it, that shal be ayenst my wyH.’ And thenne the saudan, vergoynous of geffrays wordes, that. for fere of a man alone he fledd / retourned at '0 the corner of pe wode, nygh by thoost of the sarasyns, in that same place where as geffray had that day embusshed hys peuple / and putte hys shild tofore hys brest, and the spere in the rest, & thus he cryed to 14 geffray: ‘What art thou, pat so hastly folowest me / by mahon! that shal be to thy grete dommage.’ / ‘and for thy prouffyt I am not come thus ferre,’ said geffray / ‘but syth that myn name thou axest, thou 8 shalt 1it knowe. I am Geffray with the grete toeth, broper to the kinges Vryan & guyon / and what art thou?’ ‘By mahon, said the saudan, ‘ that shalt thon knowe / I am the saudan of Damaske. And knowe (2 thou, that I were not so joyous who that had gyuen me a C thousand besans of gold, as I am to haue fond the so at myn ease, For thou mayst me not escape / I deffy the, by machomet my god.’ ‘By my feyth,’ said 16 Geffray, ‘nother thou nor thy god I preyse not a 285 When discom- fi e he flies to the Saracen host, Geffray recog- nizes him, and cries to him, ‘Return, or thou shalt die!’ He hastes away the faster ; but Geffray again calls on hii. At last the sultan turns round and asks his name. 1 fol. 167 0. Geffray replies that heis brother to Urian and Guion, and de- mands his ad- versary’s name, The sultan tells him, and defies Geffray. 286 Geffray cries that he will not escape, Geffray and the sultan go apart, then run upon each other. Geffray bears the sultan to the earth. He cleaves his helmet, and is about to take it from his head, 1 fol. 168. when he sees sixty Saracens, who ery, ‘ Your end is come.’ Geffray smites the first dead, and slays many others. The sultan comes to his senses, GEFFRAY AND THE SULTAN IN SINGLE COMBAT. " [CH. XXXVI. rotyn dogge; For soone thou shalt fynd me nerer the, to thyn euyl helthe / and yf it playsep to god, my creatour, thou shalt not escape.’ / H™ sayth thystorye, that Geffray & the saudan, 4 that bothe were of grete courage & strength, reculed eche fro other, and syn ranve vpon eche other / and the Saudan valyauntly smote geffray, & tronchoned his spere vpon his shild / but it is wel to byleue that 8° the noble & valyaunt geffray, at this first cours, faylled not; For he smote the Saudan by suche radewr, that he lefte hym out of hys arsouns, & bare hym vnto therthe. and so passed foorth, and immedyatly toke in hys hand 1 hys good swerd / and pretendyng that men shuld speke of his fayttes & valyaunces, he smote the saudan by suche vertu that he perced hys helmet, and effoundred hys heed almost to the brayne, so that the sawdan was 1] sore astonyed and euyl bestad', in suche wyse that he nother sawe nor herd / but as geffray wold haue alyghted@ to haue take the saudans helmet, to haue brought it to hys bretheren, & to see yf he 1 was deed, 2 he perceyued wel thre score sarasyns, that cryed after hym, & said: ‘By my lawe, false crysten, your ende is come.’ And whan geffray vnderstode it, he sporyd hys hors, & brandysshed the swerd ; and the fyrst that 2 he recountred, he smote doun to therthe al deed. And who that had be there, he had seen hym execute noble faytes & armes, as of one man deffendyng hys lyf; For geffray cutte and smote of heedes & armes, and dyed 2 the place with grete effusyon of sarasyns blood / and they casted at hym sperys & dartes, and made grete _ peyne for to haue had ouerthrawen hym to therth. : And thezne the saudan was come at hymself ayen, 3 and stode vp al astonyed, as he had come fro slepe / he loke at ryght syde of hym, and mounted on hys hors, & sawe the batayt, where he perceyued wel geffray, that made grete occysyon of sarasyns / and was 3 OH. XXXVI. } GEFFRAY AT BAY. gefiray wounded & hurt in many places of his body. Thenne cryed the saudan, admonnestyng! his peple, sayeng / ‘auaunt! worthy sarasyns / by mahomid, yf 4 he vs escape, I shal neuer haue joye; For who might bryng hym to an euyl ende, the resydu were not to be doubted.’ & he deffended hym hardyly & so valyauntly, that no Thenne was geffray assaylled om aH partes / 8 sarasyn durste hym abyde / but casted at hym fro ferre sperys, darts, stones & arowes / vyretons & quarelles, wit theire crosbowes / but it semed not that he !made ony force therof / but as a hongre wolf renneth vpon t2 sheep / so dide he renne vpon the enemyes of god. ‘By my goddes, Appolyn & mahon,’ sayd thewne the saudan / ‘this is not a man / but it is a grete dyueH, come out of heH / or the Cristen god, which is come 16 hither to distroye owr lawe’ / And, For certayn, geffray was in this auenture wel by the space of two heures. n this parel was geffray vnto tyme that the new knight, which had be with hym in garende, which 20 had sene hym departe after the saudan / cam at him with wel aC men of armes, For he loued hym entierly. And thenne, whan he approched the wode, he perceyued the batayH, and sawe the sawdan, that dyde his best 24 for to hurt & dommage Geffray, that faught alone ayenst mahondys peuple; wherfore he said / ‘cursed be he of god, that shal not helpe hym now’ / and the knightes peple ansuerd, ‘to theire euyl helthe they And forthwith they broched theire horses with theire sporys, & came to the 28 haue recountred geffray.’ batayH. but assoone as the saudan perceyued the socours, he sporyd hys hors, & hastly fled toward ‘32 thoost / & left his peple in that plyght, of the which neuer one escaped, but were al slayne. ‘Thenne whan geffray perceyued the new knight, that so wel had socoured hym, he thanked hym moche, & sayd: ‘My 136 frend, suche rooses ben good, & of swete odour / & the 287 and incites his people against Gettray, who defends him- self valiantly, 1 fol. 168 b. and as a hungry wolf runs upon sheep, so runs Gettray upon the enemies of God. The sultan cries that Geffray is either a great devil or the Christian God, Geffray’s new knight sees his lord’s danger, and rushes at the head of his people to the rescue, The sultan takes flight. Geffray thanks the knight, 288 1 fol. 169. who advises him to return to the Christian host ; because it is often better to flee than to abide a foolish enter- prise. Geffray follows the knight’s counsel, On the way back they find the field covered with the slain Saracens, who have lost xxv, Ml men, 2 fol. 169 b. Geffray’s wounds are tended, but they do not oblige him to leave off his armour, THE EVENING AFTER THE BATTLE. [cH. XXXVI. lorde that hat about hym suche cheualrye, may take his rest surely.’ ‘Sire,’ said the knight, ‘I haue not doo that thing' wherof I owe to be !rewarded, For euery trew seruaunt oweth to take heede to thonour & 4 And themne, syth it is soo / no reward ought not to be had therfore / but prouffyt of hys maister and lord. departe we hens, For it is tyme that ye take your rest: ye haue do this day that wel may suffyse. & also we 8 be lytel nombre of peuple, & nygh our enemyes, that haue grete puyssaunce / and your woundes and soores must be vysyted and ouevsene / and also, it me semeth best, that we retourne toward oure oost by our owne 1 wyH / than yf by force we were constrayned to retourne ; For no doubte / who that retourneth fleeyng, & is chassed by hys enemyes / that may be to hym but blame / how be it, that oftyme it is said / that bettre 1 it is to flee, ban to abyde a folyssh enterpryse.’ Thezne said geffray : ‘ Fayre sire, at this tyme we shal byleue your counseyH.’ And they thezne departed, and went bo toward theire oost, & fond in theire way the feldes sowen with sarasyns deed. And wete it wel, that the same day, byfore none, the sarasyns lost wel xxv“ thousand men, that by fayt of armes were al slayne / and there escaped, fleeyng, XL. M. And wete it 2 also, that the Caliphe and the two saudans, the king! Anthenor and thadmyral of Cordes fond of seuen score thousan® panemes that the euen tofore were in theire oost, but foure score thousand, wherof they were gretly 2 abasshed. Now I shal speke of Geffray, that was retourned to thoost, where he was wel festyed of hys bretheren, and of theire baronye / and his woundes were vysyted by the Cyrurgyens, that *said that he 3: shuld not leue. the harneys therfor: and they all thanked god. And now I shal shew of the sawdan. / hystorye sayth, that whan the saudan was departed fro the batayH, he walaped tyl he came to the 36 CH. XXXVI. | THEY FIGHT NEXT DAY. sarasyns oost, where as he fond his peple al abasshed, For they wend he had be slayn. And whan they sawe hym, they made grete joye, & made to hym theire ‘By mahomid,’ sayd pe saudan / ‘lytel or nought haue I 4 obeyssaunce, and asked how he had exployted. doo, For my peple is al deed.’ And incontynent he And 8 the two oostes rested them that night, without ony was desarmed, & recounted them al thauenture. approching or cours don of neyther partye. / Bhs sheweth thystorye, that on the morow by tymes, the Crysten armed them, & rengit & 112 ordeyned them in batayH, and lefte good watche for to kepe theire lodgys / and them that were wounded & hurt, that myght bere no harneys / and marched foorth in fayre ordynawnce toward thenemyes. In the van- 16 wardes were geffray, & the maister of rodes, & theire peple; & good arblasters were vpon the wynges, wel rengid. And in the grete batayH was the king Vryan / and the king Guyon conduyted the ryergard / and so 120 long they marched, that they sawe thoost of the sarasyns / And anoone was made thenve, on bothe sydes, a meruayllows cry / with whiche they marched And bygan the batayH by 24 the archers and arblasters so aspre that thayer was that one ayenst that other. obscurid with the quarelles & arowes, that flewh so thyk. frount of his peuple, and whan the shotte seaced, he 28 toke his sheld & hys spere in escryeng ‘ Lusynen’ by thre tymes, and smote his hors with his sporys, & thrested in to myddes of his enemys so swyftly that the maister of Rodes coude not folowe hym. Ther was 832 thenne horryble bruyt wth theire cryes / that one eryed ‘Damaske’ / that other / ‘barbarye’ / some eryed ‘bandas,’ & some ‘anthioche,’ and other were that cryed ‘cordes’ / and geffray & his peple cryed 86 ‘Lusynen & Rodes.’ There made the thre bretheren MELUSINE, U 1The valyaunt geffray was in the Formest 289 The sultan gal- lops to the Sara- cen host. They thought him to be dead, so receive him with joy. He relates his adventure, In the morning the Christians arm and march against the enemy. The archers be- gin the battle, 1 fol. 170, Geffray shouts, ‘Lusignan,’ and rushes upon the Saracens. 290 The brethren do such deeds of arms that all are abashed, The Sultans of Damaseus and Barbary rush on the brethren ; but the Chris- tians pluck up heart and slay many of the enemy. 3 fol. 170 & Geffray gives the admiral a stroke so great that he dies. Urian sees the Sultan of Bar- bary, and strikes off his eft arm, The sultan re- treats to Damas- eus, bub the Saracens con- tinue the fight. Pe eer — THE FORTUNE OF WAR. [CH. XXXVI. so meruayllows faytes of armes / that not only the sarasyns were abasshed / but also the crystens merueylled therof. The sandans of Damaske, & of barbarye, per- ceyued the thre ‘bretheren, that so ouerthrew & slew 4 theire peple; wherfore they, with xx. M? sarasyns, There reforced the batayH / and with that }cours the eristen couched theire sperys & rane vpon them. the lengthe of a spere ferre. And whan the thre § bretheren saw the sarasyns, that thus ouerane theire peple / bygan to crye ‘ Lusynen,’ & said, admounestyng theire peple / ‘auaunt, lordes barons! these dogges And thenne the 12 Cristen toke herte corageous, & vygourously made an may not long! withstand owr armes.’ horryble cours vypon theire enemys ; wherby the stour was strong, & the batayH mortal,? For they ouerthrew & slough many sarasyns. Thenne was per Geffray, 16 that effoundred heedes ynto the brayne, & smote doun to therthe al that he recountred with his swerd; Whiche perceyued thadmyral of *Cordes, that smote on the Cristen. & cam and smote thadmyral by suche vertu, that he brake bothe helmet & heed ynto the brayne. There was the prees grete, For ther came the two saudants 20 Thenne thrested geffray thrugh the prees, and theire puyssaunee, that supposed wel to hane 24 redressed thadmyraH vpon his hors / but it was for nought, For he was deed. Thesne came there Vryan, and sawe the sandan of barbarye, pat moche hated hym, for cause that he had slayn the saudan his vnele 2 in Cypre. Thenne came Vryan, & smote hym by suche strengthe, that he made hys lyft arme to flee fro the body. And whan the saudan sawe hym thus arayed, he went out of the batayH, & made ten knightes 3 to conduyte hym to damaske / and neuertheles faught euer the sarasyns, For the sandan of damaske, & the caliphe of bandas, & the king anthenor held them in 1 Fr. se reculérent le long d’wne lance, 2 Fy. greignewr, | CH. XXXVI. ] THE SARACENS SUE FOR PRACE, There was grete dolewr, & grete pestylence. And wete it wel, that the Cristens were sore dommaged / but as the veray cronykle sayth, the sarasyns receyued vertu. 4 there ouergrete dommage & losse, For of them were slayn XL. M' & more / and dured the. batayH vnto euen tyme, that they wzthdrew them eyther other part to theire lodgyses. And on the morne the Caliphe, & 8 the king‘ anthenor, & the residu of theire peuple, with- drew them in to the Cite of Damaske. And whan the thre bretheren vnderstod it, they went & lodged, with theire puyssaunce, tofore Damaske. And wete it wel, 12 they were gretly febled, & the more part of them hurt. And there they rested them by the space of VIII 1dayes, wzthout sawtyng ne scarmysshing. hystorye sheweth vnto vs that the kyng Vryaz 16 T and hys bretheren and the maister of Rodes were ryght dolauxt & wroth for the grete losse of theire peple. For wel they sawe that yf the sarasyns assembled new men, it myght come therof some euyl to them. For /20 wel they had lost viii of theire men. But at that other part were the saudans al abasshed. For they knew not the dommage that the Crysten had receyued. And they had CounseyH that they shuld requyre kyng 24 Vryan journey of traytye vpon fourme of peas / and so they dide / And the kyng hadd counsey# that he shuld be greable to it. And the iourney was assygned by thaccorde of bothe partes on the iii*® day atwix the 28 lodgys & the toun / and were the trews graunted & were delyucred good pledges & hostages of both partyes. And thenne came they of the toun to selle theire marchaundyse in to the Crystens oost. Thenne came 32 to the iourney of traytye that was assigned the saudants and theire CounseyH. And of the other part came Vryan & hys bretheren, the maister of Rodes & theire baronye with them, and spake, & communyked togidre 136 of one thinge & of other, / and dede so moch of eyther 291 Both sides are hurt, but the Saracens the more, The battle stops at eventide, Next morning the Saracens, greatly enfeeb- led, retire to Damascus. They rest viii. days. 1 fol. 171. Urian and his brethren see that if the Saracens as- semble new men they may lose, for they had lost viii, Ml men. But the sultans are abashed, and ask for a treaty. It is granted, U 2 292 The Saracens are to pay the Chris- tians all the costs of their voyage, and a yearly tribute to Urian and his heirs of xxx. M1 besaunts of gold ; 1 fol. 171 0. also they promise not to wage war against Urian, Guion, or the Master of Rhodes. The brethren re- turn to Jaffa, ac- companied by the Saracen kings. The sultan makes much of Geffray, but he will re- ceive no gifts. Urian and Guion take leave of Geffray and go to Jerusalem, Geffray sails to Rochelle, where he is honourably received, On the morn he rides to his father at Merment, | TERMS OF THE TREATY, [cH. XXXVI. partye that they were accorded, and pacyfyed by con- dycion that the Sarasyns shuld restore to the lordes Cristen alt theire expenses & costes made in their vyage, & to paye yerly vnto kyng Vryan & hys heyres for 4 euermore xxx™' besauns of gold / and trews were made betwene them for (@ & one yere, and therof were letres patentes sealled. And this conuenawnt and’ trayte the sawdan of Barbarye that great dolewr felt in 8 hys sholder for hys arme that } was of / and the kyng’ of Anthioche / ratyfyed, / promyttyng that neuer they shuld bere armes ayenst king Vryan, / ayenst Guyon of Armanye nor ayenst the maister of Rodes, nor theire 12 : peple / and that yf other kynges or prynces sarasyns wold attempte ony werre anenst them, they shuld lete them haue knowleche therof assoone as they might know it / and yf thrugh that cause they had werre 16 ayenst ony king’ or prynce, Vryan promysed them to socoure and gyue them comfort with aH hys power, / & in lyke wyse kyng' Guyon & the maister of Rodes promysed to them / And soone after the thre brepern 20 and theire peple retourned to the port of Japhe. And the saudan of Damaske, the Calyphe of bandas, & the And the © sawdan made moche of Geffray, and proffred hym grete 24 kynge Anthenor conueyed hym thither. yeftes, but he wold nought receyue / but that he moche thanked hym of his curtoysye. hystorye sayth that Vryan & Guyon entred in to the see, & vowed themself to Jheruwsalem, Wher- 28 fore they toke leue of geffray theire broper, and hym moche thanked of hys noble ayde & socours / and syn they departed fro the porte of Japhe, and rowed toward Jherusalem, And Getiray toke hys way by the see 32 toward Rochelle, & saylled so long that he came there where as he was honourably receyued & gretly festyed. / And on the morn he departed, and rode with hys com- panye tyl he came to Merment, where he fond bothe 36 CH. XXXVI. | GEFFRAY HOME AGAIN, his fader & and his moder, that knew tofore how he & his brethern had wrought beyond the grete see & festyed hym gretly / raymondyn hys fader kept a grete 4 feste & grete Court for joy that he had of his commyng. But soone aftir tcame there tydynges that in the Countre of the Garende was a grete geaunt that by hys grete pryde & orgueyH, & by his grete strength held aH 8 the Countre in subgect/on. For no man durst gaynsay his commandement. Of these tydynges was Raymondin ryght dolaunt ; how be it he made of it no semblaunt, feryng? that geffray shuld knowe & here of it. For he 12 knew hym of so grete courage that he wol@ goo fyght with the geaunt yf he vnderstodt where he was. But ~~" might not be kept so secret but that geffray vn- derstode pe talkyng of hym / and that come to hys knowlege / he sayd in this wyse / ‘how dyuel my bretheren and I haue subdued & made trybutary the saudan of damask & hys complyces, and that hound alone shal be suffred to hold my faders ryght enhery- :20 taunce in subgection / by my sowle, in his euyl] helthe he thought to vsurpe it, For it shal cost hym hys lyf yf I may.’ Thenne came Geffray to hys fader, & thus said to hym. ‘ My lord, I merueyH of you that are a 24 knight of so noble enterpryse how ye haue suffred so long? of that hound Guedon the geaunt, that hath putte your countre of garande in subgection / by god, my lord, shame is therof to you.” Whan raymondin vnder- £28 stod hym, he said / ‘ Geffray, fayre sone, wete it is not long syn we knowe therof / & that we haue suffred vnto your joyful commyng. For we wold not trouble the fest / but doubte you not, guedon shal haue hys $32 payment after his deserte. He slew my granfader in the Counte of pouthieu, as it was told me in bretayn, whan I went thither for to fyght wth Olyuer, sone to Josselyn, that betrayed my fader.’ / aN Raymondin gives a great feast for joy of his return. 1 fol. 172. Tidings come from Garende of a great giant who keeps the coun- try insubjection. Raymondin hides his grief in fear that Geffray will see it. Geffray swears that he will at- tack the giant. He tells his father that he marvels that he has suf- fered Guedon to keep his country in subjection so long. Raymondin says the giant shall have his pay- ment, 294 fol. 172 b. Geffray says he is ready to go against him with ten knights. Raymondin sor- rowfully con- sents. Geffray sets out to find Guedon, and men marvel why he wants him. Geffray answers that he brings Guedon his pay- ment for his outrages, 1 fol. 173. They tell Geffray that a hundred like him could not withstand the giant. Geffray is con- ducted near the giant’s dwelling. THE GIANT GUEDON. [CH. XXXVI. hanne ansuerd Geffray : ‘I ne wot nor wyl not en- a quyre of thinges past, syth that my predecessours haue therof had thonowr & are come to theire aboue / but at this tyme present that Iniurye shal be soone 4 mended yf it plese god & I may / and as touching your personne ye ought not to meue your self for suche a theef & palyard; For I, with ten knightes of myn houshold only for to hold me companye / not for ayde 8 that I wyl haue of them ayenst hym, I shal goo fyght with hym’ / And whan Raymondyn hys fader vnder- stod hys wordes he was dolaunt & sorowful, and thus said to hym / ‘sethen it may none other wyse be / goo 12 thou by the grace of god.’ And thenne geffray toke his leue of his fader & of hys moder, and putte hym self on the way toward garande accompanyed with x knightes, and there where he passed by he enquyred 16 after guedon where he might fynd hym / And wel it is trouth that it was tol@ hym where the geaunt was / But men were meruaylled, & asked of geffray why he speryd after hym. ‘By my feyth,’ ansuerde geflray, 20 ‘I bryng hym the trybut & payment that he by his foly & oultrage thaketh vpon my faders lordship / but it is neyther gold ne syluer / but it is only the poynte of my spereheed, For none other payment he shal re- 24_ And whan the good peple herd hym thus speke, they said ceyue of me but strokes of my swerd withal.’ to hym in this wyse: ‘By my feyth, geffray, ye vnder- take grete foly, For an hondred suche as ye be shuld 28 not be able to withstand hys cruelte.’ ‘doubte you not,’ said geffray / ‘but lete me haue the feer alone’ / and they held theire peas, For they durst not make hym wroth. For moche they fered hys fyersnes & yre, of 32 whiche he was replenysshed / but pey conduyted hym vnto a leghe nygh to the sayd geauntds retrette or pryue dwellyng: / and pene they sayd to geffray : ‘ Sire, ye may lightly fyn@ hym at yonder place within the 36 CH. XXXVI. ] A WICKED CURIOSITY. forest’ / and geffray ansuerd, ‘I wold fayne see hym, For to fyn@ hym I am come hither’ / And here cesseth thystorye to speke of geffray / and sheweth of 4 Raymondyn & of Melusyne. / he veray and trew hystorye witnesseth that Ray- mondin & Melusyne were at merment making grete joye for the prosperous estate & good Fortune of 8 theire children; but this joye was soone tourned to grete sorowe, For as ye haue herd how thystorye saith tofore that Raymondin promysed to Melusyne that neuer on the satirday he shuld not enquere of her nor 12 desyre to see her that day. It is trouth that on a Satirday a lytel byfore dyner tyme, Raymondyn vnder- stode that hys brother the Erle of Forests was come to Merment for to see hym & hys Noble Court. 16 wherof Raymondin was ryght Joyous, but sith grete myschief came to hym therfore as herafter shal be shewed. Thenne made Raymondin grete apparayH & ryght noble for to receyue his brother / And shortly to 20 shewe, he came & recountred hys brother t wet noble company & welcommed hym honourably, & dide moche that one of that other, & went to chircheward togidre / And after the deuyne seruice was don they came 24 agayn to the palleys where al thinges were redy to dyner / they wesshe theire handes and syn sett them at dyner and pey were worshipfully serued / ha / las! thenne bygan a part of the dolewr & heuynes. For hys 28 brother coude not kepe hym, but he asked after Melu- syne, sayeng in this manere: ‘ My brother, where is my sustir Melusyne? lete her come, for moche I desyre to see her.’ And Raymondyn, whiche thought none 32 euyl, ansuerd, ‘she is not here at this tyme / but to morne ye shal see her & shal make you good chere.’ But for that ansuere the Erle of Forests held not hys peas / but thus said ayen to his brother: ‘Ye are my 36 brother / I owe not to hyde to you your dyshonowr. 295 Raymondin and Melusine are at Merment mak- ing joy over the good fortune of their children, but great sorrow comes. The history has told how Ray- mondin promised that he would never inquire after Melusine on Saturdays. The Earl of Forest comes one Saturday. 1 fol. 173 b. After attending church they return to the palace, and sit down to dinner, The ear] asks after Melusine, and says he de- sires much to see her. Raymondin an- swers that he can see her next day. The earl says to Raymondin, “You are my brother, I cannot hide your dis- honour, 296 One set of folk says your wife goes to another man every Satur- day, and others that she is a spirit of the fairies, and goes on Satur- days to do pen- ance, I know not which to be- lieve.’ 1 fol. 174. Raymondin rises from the table full of jealousy ; he girds on his sword and goes to the place where Melusine retires on Satur- days. He finds astrong door, and pierces a hole in it with his sword. fol. 174 b. THE BROKEN Vow. [CH, XXXVII. Now, fayre brother, wete it that the commyn talking of the peple is, that Melusyne your wyf euery satirday in the yere is with another man in auoultyre / & so blynd ye are by her sayeng! that ye dare not enquere nor 4 knoweth wher she becommeth or gooth / and also other sayen, & make them strong! that she is a spyryte of the fayry, that.on euery satirday maketh hir penaunce. I wot not to whiche of bothe I shal byleue / and for 8 none other cause I am come hither but to aduertyse you therof.?, Whan Raymondin thenne vnderstod these wordes that his brother hym said he roos ! fro the table and entred in to his chambre, and anoone aH esprysed 12 with yre & Jalousy, witha toke hys swerd & girded it about hym, & syn went toward the place where as Melusyne went euery satirday in the yer / and whan he cam there he fond a doore of yron thikk & strong / 16 and wete it wel he had neuer be tofore that tyme so ferre thitherward / and whan he perceyued the doore of yron he toke hys swerd, that was hart & tempered with fyn stele, and with the poynte of it dyde so moche 20 that he perced the doore, and made a hol in it, and loked in at that hoH, and sawe thenne Melusyne that was within a grete bathe of marbel stone, where were steppis to mounte in it, and was wel xv foot of length; 24 © and therin she bathed herself, makyng there her peny- tence as ye shal here herafter. / Cap. XXXVII. Here aftir foloweth how Raymondin by the admounesting of hys 28 brother beheld Melusyne hys wyf wt/in the bathe, wherfor he toke hys brother the Erle of Forest in grete indignaczon. hystorye sayth in this partye that Raymondin 32 stode so long at the yron doore that he perced it with the poynte of his swerd, wherby he might wel see CH. XXXVII. | MELUSINE A SERPENT-WOMAN, aH that was within the Chambre / and sawe melusyne within the bathe vnto her naueH, in fourme of a woman kymbyng her heere, and fro the nauel dounward in 4 lyknes of a grete serpent, the tayH as grete & thykk as a bareH, and so long it was that she made it to touche oftymes, while that raymondyn beheld her, the rouf of the chambre that was ryght hye. And whan Ray- 8 mondyn perceyued it, wete it wel that he was ryght dolaunt and sorowful & not without cause, and coude neuer hold hys tonge, but he said, ‘ My swete loue, now haue I betrayed you, & haue falsed my couenawnt by 12 the ryght fals admounestyng of my brother, and haue forsworne myself toward you.’ Raymondin thenne was smyten to the herte with suche sorow & dystresse that vnnethe he coude speke / and pensefuH with a heuy 16 contenaunce retourned hastly toward hys chambre, and toke some wax wherwith he went & stopped the hol that he had made at the doore of yron, and syn came agayn to the haH where he found hys brother. And 20 thenne whan therle of Forest perceyued hym and sawe hys heuy contenaunce / wel supposed ‘he that he had fond Melusyne in some shamful fayt, and said to him in this wyse: ‘ My brother, I wyst it wel / haue ye not 24 fond as I said?’ Thenne cryed Raymondin to hys brother of Forest in this manyere:?‘Voyde this place, fals traytowr, For thrugh your fals reporte I haue falsed my feyth ayenst the moost feythfullest & truest lady 28 that euer was borne. ye are cause of the losse of al my worldly joye & of my totaH destruction / by god, yf I byleued my courage, I shuld make you to dey now of an euyl deth / but rayson naturel kepeth & deffendeth 32 me therfro, bycause that ye are my brother / goo your way & yoyde my syght, that al the grete maisters of 2 Br.: Fuiez @icy, faulaw triste, car vous mavez fait, par votre tresmauvais rapport, ma foy parjurer contre la plus loyalle et la meilleure des dames qui oneques naquit, apres celle qui porta notre scigneur LThesucrist, 297 Raymondin sees Melusine in the bath, ialf woman, half serpent, He becomes sorrowful, and laments that he has betrayed her, 1 fol. 175, He returns has- tily to his cham- ber, to procure wax to stop the hole in the door, This done he re- turns to the hall, and orders his brother out of the place, and tells him that were he not his brother he should die, ¥y 298 THE LAMENTATIONS OF RAYMONDIN. [cH. XXXVIL heH may conduyte you thither’ / And whan the Erle of Forest apperceyued Raymondyn his brother The earlandhis that was in so grete yre, he went out of the halle & ak people ride home as fustas they his peple, & mounted on horsbak and rode as fast as 4 a they might toward Forests ryght pensefuH & heuy, He repents of his repentyng hym of hys folyssh enterpryse ; for he knew prise. wel that Raymondin his brother wold neuer loue hym 1fol. 1756. nor see hym. Here I leue to speke lof hym, & shal 8 shewe you of Raymondin that entred in to his chambre wooful & angre. / Raymondincries, ‘ He Melusyne,’ sayd Raymondin, ‘of whom alt ‘Alas, Melusine, Y have lost you the world spake wele, now haue I lost you for 12 for ever.’ euer. Now haue I fonde the ende of my Joye / and the begynnyng is to me now present of myn euer'ast- yng heuynes / Farwel beaute, bounte, swetenes, amy- ablete / Farwel wyt, curtoysye, & humilite / Farwel al 16 my joye, al my comfort & myn hoop / Farwel myn herte, my prowes, my valyaunce, For that lytel of honour whiche god had lent me, it came thrugh your noblesse, my swete & entierly belouyd lady. Ha / a, 20 He upbraids falsed & blynd Fortune, aigre, sharp, & byttir / wel hast thou ouerthrawen me fro the hyest place of thy whele vnto the lowest part of thy mansyon or dwellyng? place, there as Jupyter festyeth with sorow & heuynes, the 24° caytyf & vnhappy creatures / be pow now cursed of that madehim god. by the I slough ayenst my wyH my lord, myn slay his uncle, = vnele, the whiche deth thou sellest me to dere. helas ! thou had putte and sette me in high auctoryte thrugh 28 the wyt and valeur of the wysest, the fayrest, & moost noble lady of al other / and now by the / fals blynde ond DON Fe traytour and enuyows, I must lese the sight of her of his lady, whom myn eyen toke theire fedyng. thou now hatest / 32 thou now louest, thou now makest / thou now vndost / in the, nys no more surety ne rest than is in a fane that tourneth at al windes. Halas / helas! my ryght swete & tendre loue / by my venymous treson I haue 36 CH. XXXVIL. | MELUSINE RETURNS TO RAYMONDIN. maculate your excellent fygure /helas! myn herte & al my wele ye had heeled me clene of my first soore / yl I haue now rewarded you therfore. Certaynly yf I 4 now lese you / none other choys is to me / but to take myn vtermost exit there as neuer after no man lyuyng shaH see me.’ H” sayeth thistorye, that in suche dolewr & be- 8 wayHinges abode raymondin al that nyght tyl it was day light. And as sone as aurora might be per- ceyued, Melusyne came & entred in to the chambre / and whan Raymondyn herd her come he made sem- She toke of her clothes, and than al naked layed herself by hym. And thenne bygan Ray- 12 blaunt of slepe. mondyn to sighe as he that felt grete doleur at herte / and Melusyne embraced hym, & asked what hym eyled, 16 sayeng in this wyse: ‘ My lord, what eyleth you, be ye syke?’ And whan Raymondin sawe that she of none other ping’ spake, he supposed that she nothing had knowen of this faytte / but for nought he byleued soo, 20 For she wyst wel that he had not entamed nor shewed the matere to no man / Wherfor she suffred at that tyme & made no semblaunt therof / wherfore he was right Joyous, and ansuert to her: ‘ Madame, I haue be 24 somewhat euyl at ease & haue had an axez? in maner of a contynue.’ ‘ My lord,’ said Melusyne, ‘abasshe you not, For yf it plese god ye shal soone be hole.’ And thenne he that was right joyous said to her, ‘By my 28 feyth, swete loue, I fele me wel at ease for your commyng’ / and she said, ‘I am perof glad’ / and whan tyme requyred they roos and went to here masse / and soone after was the dyner redy / and thus abode 32 Melusyne with Raymondyn al that day / and on the morne she toke leue of hym & went to Nyort, where she bylded a fortresse. *®And here seaceth thistorye of her / and retourneth to speke of gefiray. 2 Fr, ung peu de fievre en maniére de continue, 299 He cries that he will 1 fol. 176. go into exile if he loses her, and bewails all the night long. In the morning Melusine re- turns. Raymondin feigns sleep. Melusine lies by him. He sighs. Melusine in- quires what is wrong. Raymondin thinks she does not know of his deed. She does, but makes no show of her know- ledge. He replies he has a fever. Melusine says he will soon be well. He says he is better since her © return, Melusine goes to Niort and builds a fortress, $ fol. 176 b. 300 Geffray is re- ceived with joy in Garende. He asks after Guedon, and is taken to his tower of Mermount, His guides leave, Geffray dis- mounts and arms himself, He tells his knights to wait for him in the valley, and bids them come to him when they hear his horn, Geffray mounts to the tower, ® fol. 177, He calls to the sleeping giant, : = asl GEFFRAY FINDS GUEDON’S QUARTERS. [cH. XXXVII. He he sayth thystory, that Geffray came in garande, where as he was receyued with gret joye / and he asked where the geant guedon held hym'self / and, as before is said, they conduyted hym, and shewed to 4 hym the strong tour of Mermount, where the geaunt was, & said: ‘Sire, wete it / that yf ye byleue vs, it shal suftyse you to haue sene the toure, & shal retourne with vs; For as touching our personnes, we shal goo 8 no neer pat horryble geaunt, algaf you to eyther of vs your pesaunt or weyght of fyn gold.’ ‘By my feyth, sires,’ said geffray, ‘I thanke you moche, that thus ferre ye haue brought me.’ ; 12 Gi thenne, as thystory saith, descendid from his hors, & armed hym, and syn girded hys swerd! about hym, & remounted on horsback; and after toke hys sheld, & heng it tofore hys brest; & 16 toke a clubbe of stele, & faste it at tharsons of his sadeH ; and syn toke a trompe of yuory, and heng it at hys neck behynd@; and syn asked hys spere / and thenne said to his tene knightes, in this manere : 20 ‘Fayre lordes, abyde me in this valey / and yf god graunte me the vyctory of the geaunt, I shal thenne blowe this horne / and whan ye shal here it, ye shal lyghtly come to me.’ And they were dolaunt that he 24 wold not suffre them to go with hym, and bade hym farweH, prayeng god for hys good spede. Thenne departed the valyaunt & hardy geffray, and mounted the montayne ; and anoone cam to the first gate of the 28 toure, & found it open / thexne entred he in to the bassecourt, & went toward the dongeon, that strong was to meruayH. And whan he was nygh, he beheld it, & moche 2playsed hym the faction and byldyng of 32 hit; but he sawe the brydge, that was drawen vp. For the geante slepte. Thenne he cryed with a hye voys, sayeng in this.manere: ‘hourys sone & fals geaumt, 1 hys swerd twice in MS, CH. XXXVII. | GUEDON LAUGHS AT GEFFRAY. come speke with me! For I bryng to the / the syluer that the peuple of my lord, my fader, owen to the.’ And, for certayn, geffray cryed so long that the geaunt 4 awacked, & came at a wyndowe, and beheld geffray, armed of al pyeces, mounted vpon a courser, that held hys spere couched / and thus bygan to crye, with a lowde voyce, ‘knyght! what wold thou haue?’ ‘By 8 my sowle,’ said geffray, ‘I seke for the, & for none other / and I come hither to chalange the, and bring with me the trybut that thou hast ouersette vpon the peuple of my lord, Raymondyn of Lusynen, my fader.’ 12 Therne whan the geant vnderstode geffray, he was nygh aragid & mad, that of one knight alone was so bold to make hym warre, & had sette hym so nygh hys place. but, notwithstanding, when he had wel aduysed 16 hym, he consydered in hym self that he was a man of grete valyaunce. Thenwne the geaunt armed hymself, and laced the taches of hys helmet; & toke a grete barre of yron, and a grete sythe of stele, & came to 20 the brydge, and lete it fat; & came in the bassecourt, & demanded of geffray: ‘ What art thou, knight, that art so bold to come hither?’ this manere: ‘I am geffray with the grete toeth, sone And geffray ansuerd, in 24 to Raymondyn of Lusynen, that commeth hither to chalenge the patiz or trybut, that thou takest thrugh thy grete pryde, of my lord my faders peple.’ Thenne whan Guedon vnderstod it, he bygan to lawhe, and to 28 hym thus said: ‘By my feyth, poure fole, for thy grete hardynes & the grete enterprise 1of thyn herte, I haue pyte of the. Now wyl I shew to the curtoysye / that is, that thou retowrne lyghtly to make thy warre in 32 other place; For wete thou wel, yf now wth the were V.C suche foles as thyself art, yet coudest thou not endure and withstand my puyssaunce. but for pyte that I haue to putte to deth so hardy a knight, as I 86 suppose thou art, I gyue the lycence & congie to 301 who comes to his window and asks what he wants. Geffray answers he bears him his tribute for his misdoings. The giant is enraged ; he arms and descends to ' the basecourt, and again asks who Geffray is. He answers that he is the son of Raymondin, and has come to chal- Jenge the tribute he has heretofore exacted. Guedon laughs at him, 1 fol. 177 b. and tells him to go back, because V. C like Geffray could not over- conte him. 302 He says he will remit the tribute for a year. Geffray is sorrow- ful that the giant appraises hii at so little, He taunts Gue- don that he is, afraid ; but the giant still laughs at him. Geffray there- upon spurs his horse and rides against Guedon. Geffray knocks him down. 1 fol. 178. The giant rises, and smites Gef- fray’s horse. Geffray dis- mounts and ap- proaches the giant with sword drawn. The giant comes against him, and raises his scythe to smite Geffray, * GEFFRAY SMITES GUEDON. [cH. XXXVIII. retourne to Raymondyn thy fader / goo thou lyghtly hens / and for loue of the I shal forgyue to thy faders peple the payement of a holt yere of the trybut that they owe me.’ Thenne whan geffray with the grete 4 toth herd that the geauzt made so lytel of hym, & that as nought he preysed hym, he was of it ryght dolaunt, and said to hym in this wyse: ‘ Meschaunt creature, thou alredy ferest me moch / I wyl wel thou wete that 8 of thy curtoysy I sett nought by, For thus spekest thou for the grete feer that thou hast of my toeth. but wete pou, for certayn, that I shal neuer departe fro this place vuto that tyme I haue separed the lyf fro thy body / 12 and therfor, haue pyte of thyself, & not of me, For I hold the for deed where as thou art / & ryght foorth I deffye ye.’ And whan the geaunt herd hym, he made semblaunt of lawghing', sayeng al this: ‘ Geffray, fool, 16 thou commest in to batayH, & thou mayst not endure one stroke of me only, without I felle the to pe erthe.’ And thenne geffray, without ony more sayeng', smote hys hors with hys sporys, and charged hys spere, & 20 dressed hym toward the geaunt, asmoche as the hors might ranne; and strak hym thrugh the brest by suche strength that he bare hym to the ground, the bely vpward. but the geaunt stert vp lyghtly, in grete 24 yre, & as geffray passed by, he smote hys hors behynd with hys sythe of fyn stele / and whan geffray wyst it, he descended lyghtly from hys hors, & came toward the geaunt, the swerd drawen. and thenmne came the 28 geaunt toward hym, holding’ his sythe in his hand: where as was grete batayH. Cap. XXXVIII. How geffray slough Gue- don, the geauzt, in garande. 32 1 thus, as ye haue herde, geffray was on foot tofore the geaunt, that held his sype in his fyst. & supposed to haue smyte geffray / but he bare ~ CH. XXXVIII. | GUEDON WORSTED. it vp / & with that, he smote with hys swerd vpon the hafte! of the geantis sythe, that it feH in two pyeces. And thenne the geaunt toke hys flayel of yron, & gaf 4 geffray a grete buffet vpon his bassynet, wherwith he was almost astonyed. Thenne came ?Geffray toward hys hors, that laye on the erthe, & toke hys clubbe of yron, that hyng at tharsons of hys sadeH, & lightly 8 tourned toward the geaunt, that haunced hys flayel, supposyng’ to dyscharge it vpon geffray / but geffray, that was pert in armes, smote with hys clubbe suche a stroke vpon the flayel, that he made it to flee out of the 12 geantis handes. And thenne the geaunt, full of yre, put hys hand in hys bosom, where were thre hamers of yron ; of the whiche he toke one, & casted it. by suche radewr, that yf geftray had not receyued that strok ypon 16 his clubbe, he might haue be myschienyd therwith / by the force wherof hys cluble flough out of hys handes: and the geaunt toke it vp / but geffray drew lightly his swerd, & came to the geaunt, that supposed to haue 20 smyte geffray with the cluble of stele on the heed / but geffray, that was light & strong, fled the stroke, & the geaunt faylled ; & the stroke fet to therth, by the force wherof the heed of the clubbe entred in to the grounde 24 a large foot deep. And thenne geffray smote the geaunt vpon the ryght arme wit hys swerd, in suche vyolence, & hys swerde was so sharp & trenchaunt, that he made it to flygh fro hys body to the erthe. 28 geant gretly abasshed, whan he sawe thus his arme lost / notwithstanding, he haunced his swerd with hys other hand, and trowed to haue smyte geffray at herte / but geffray kept hym wel therfro, & smote the geaunt 32 vpon the legge, vnder the knee, by suche strength that he smote it in two. Thenne the geaunt feH, & gaf suche an horryble erye, that al the valey sowned perof, so that they that bode for geffray, herd it / but they Written ‘haste’ in MS, Thenne was pe 1 Fr. manche, a haft or handle, 303 who cuts it in halves. The giant takes his flail and smites Geffray. ? fol. 178 b. Geffray takes his iron club and knocks the flail out of the giant’s hands. The giant throws a hammer at Geffray and drives his elub out of his hands. The giant thinks to hit Geffray, but he flees the stroke. Then Geffray smites off the giant’srightarm. The giant tries to strike at Geffray with the other hand, but he cuts the giant’s leg in two. The giant falls, and utters a horrible ery. | 304 GUEDON’S HEAD OUT OFF. [CH. XXXIX. 1fol.179. knew not the certayn what it was / but lalwayes they had grete meruayH of that horryble sowne. Thenne geffray cutte the taches of the geant helmet, and after Geffray cuts off cutte of his heed / and syn toke hys horne, & blew it; 4 the giant’s head. He blowshis = Wherby his peple, that were in the valey, might here horn, and the people laud God j¢ / and so dide other that were of the countre / and when they know the giant is dead. hy bat they knew the geaunt was deed; wherof they gaaf lawdyng' to our lord god deuoutely. and imme- 8 diatly they mounted the mountayne, & came to the place, where they fonde geffray, that said to them of the Geffray tells Countre / ‘this fals traytowr geaunt shal neuer more them that the ‘ ¢ giant willnever patyse you, For he as now this tyme present, hath 12 trouble them again, neyther lust nor talent to aske ony tribut of you.’ And whan they perceyued the body & the heed of the geaunt, lyeng in two partes, they were al abasshed of hys gretnes, For he was XV foot of lengthe / sayeng to 16 geffray, that he had enterprysed a grete faytte, to haue putte hym self in so grete parel tassayH suche a dyueH / ‘By my feyth,’ said geffray, ‘the parel is past. For, fayre lordes, I wyl that ye knowe / thing! 20 neuer bygonne / hath neuer ende / In euery thing most be bygynnyng', tofore the ende commeth.’ sfo.iz9s. *Cap. XX XIX. How Froymond, brother to Geffray, was professed monke at Mayl- 24 lezes, by consentement of hys fader & moder. \y oche were thenne the knightes abasshed, as thistorye reherceth, of this that geffray had 28 The tidings of slayn the geaunt, that was so grete & mighty. And Geffray’s deed are ae inthe the tydinges therof were spred! in the Countre, & in the country. Geffray sends the marches about. And also geffray sent, by two of hys his father. knightes, to hys fader, the heed of the geaunt. And 32 in the meane season he went & dysported hym in the Countre, where as he was gretly fested, & receyued - CH. XXXIX. | FROIMOND BECOMES A MONK, with grete joye, & presented with gret ryches. Here I shal leue to speke of hym / & shal shew you of Froy- mond, hys brother, who that prayed so moche hys fader 4 and his moder, that they were greable that he shuld be professed monke at Maylleses / & so he was shorne, by the consentement of hys fader, & of lhis moder; Wherof thabbot & aH conuent was ryght joyous. 8 And wete it wel, there were witiin the place to the nombre of an hondred monkes. And yf they had thenne grete joye of -Froymonds professyon / it was afterward reuersed in to grete doleur / as ye shal here 12 herafter / but wete it wel, that it was not thrughe the faytte of Froymond, For he was right deuoute, & ledd a relygious lyf / but by the rayson of hym came to It is trouth that the 16 two forsaid knightes that geffray sent vnto hys fader with the heed of the geant, rode tyl they came to merment, wher they fon® Raymondin, & presented hym with the heed of the geaunt, wherof he was joyful. 20 And the heed was moche loked on / & euery man meruaylled how geffray durst assayH hym. And thenne Raymondin sent a lettre to geffray, how Froymond, his brother, was professed monke at thabbey of maylleses. 24 helas! that message was the cause of the trystefull dolewr of the departyng of his wyf, wherof neuer after he nor she had hertly joye, as ye shal here her- after. Trouth it was that Raymondyn gaaf thenne 28 grete yeftes to the two knightes, and delyuered them the lettre; and sayd that they shuld grete wel geffray, & that they shuld bere the hed of the geaunt to Melusyne, that was at Nyort: For it was not ferre out 32 of theire way. Thenne so departed the two knightes, & held on theire way tyl they came to nyort, where they fonde their lady; the whiche they salued, & presented her with the heed of the geaunt. Wherof - 36 she was ryght joyous, 2and sent it to Rochelle, and was MELUSINE, the place a merueyllous auenture. 305 Froimond prays his father and ; mother to allow him to become a monk at Mailleses. 1 fol. 180. They consent ; he is shorn. The abbot is glad, but Froimond’s profession causes them much pain afterward, The knights bring Raymondin the giant’s head. He sends back word to Geffray how Froimond was professed monk, He gives the knights gifts, and bids them take the head to Melusine, 2 fol. 180 0d. x 306 She has it set upon a spear at a gate of Rochelle. There was a giant in Northumber- land named Gry- mault, xvii. foot high. He lived at Brombelyo, and destroyed the country for nine leagues round, They hear in Northumberland of Geffray’s deed, and resolve to ask him to de- liver them from Grymault, Hight noble per- sons are sent to Geffray ; 2 fol, 181. and when he understands their message he promises to lielp them, GRYMAULT, THE NORTHUMBRIAN GIANT. [cx. XXXIX. sette vpon a spere at the gate toward guyenne. And Melusyne gaf the two knightes ryche yeftes; and after that toke theire leue, and went toward the toure of mountyouet,! where geffray was for hys dysport & solas. 4 And here cesseth thystory, & sheweth other matere. / hystory sayth that the tydyng was anoone spre& thrughe the Countre, how geffray with the grete toeth slough the geaunt guedon in batayH, and aH they 8 that herd therof were gretly abasshed. And for that tyme regned in northomberland a geaunt that hyght Grymault, & was the moost cruel that euer man sawe, For he was xvii foot of heyght / and that same grete 12 dyueH held hym nygh a mountayne called Brombelyo / and wete it wel for trouth he had dystroyed aH the Countre about in so moche that there ne durst no per- sonne inhabyte nygh hym by eyght or nene leghes / & 16 It befet that in Northomberland came tydynges how geffray so alt the Countre was desert & wyldernes. with the grete toeth had slayn the geaunt guedon. Wherfore they of the same Countrey made a grete 20 counseyH, that they shuld sende to geffray, & profre hym so he wold delyueve them of the cruel murdrer grymauld, euery yere duryng hys lyf he shuld haue x. M' besans of gold; & yf he hath yssue male of hys 24 body they to possesse the said amnuel rente of x. M’ besans / and yf he hath a doughter to hys heyre, we to be quytte after his decesse of owr sayd trybute. Wher- upon they choose eyght of pe moost noble personnes 28 of theire Countre, & sent hem in ambaxade toward geffray / the whiche departed? & came to Mountyouet, where they fonde geffray, to 2whom they proposed the cause of theire conmyng. And thenne whan geffray 32 vnderstode it / he ansuerd nobly : ‘ Fayre lordes, I wyl not reffuse your demande, how be it I shuld haue goon thither to fyght with pat geaunt, For I herd tydynges 1 Fr. Monjouet. CH. XL. A FATAL LETTER. of hym tofore your commyng’, for the pyte that I haue of the destruction of the peple, & also for to seke honowr. Wete it that now foorthwith I wyl departe 4 with you wzthout ony lenger delay / and by the help of god I suppose texille the geaunt.’? And pey thenne gaaf hym grete thankinges. Cap. XL. How the two messangers of Ray- 8 mondin cam in garande toward ceffray. henne came the two knyghtes that he had sent toward lys fader, and salued hym honourably, and recounted hym the noble chere that they had 12 hadd of hys fader & of his moder, whiche ! greted hym wel: ‘By my feyth,’ said Geffray, ‘that playseth me wel.’ and after they delyuered to hym the lettre from hys fader, which geffray toke & opend it / the tenour 16 of whiche made mencon how Froymond his brother was shorne monke at Mayllezes. And whan geffray vnderstod it he was wroth, & shewed thenne so fel & cruel semblaunt that there ne was so hardy that durst 20 abyde the syght of hym; but they al voyded the place except the two knightes and the ambaxatours of northomberland. / n this party sheweth thistory, that whan geffray 24 knew the tydynges of Froymonds professyon he was so dolaunt that almost he went fro his wyt. And wete it wel that thenne he semed bettre to be araged & madd than man with rayson. And he said in this 28 wyse: ‘how deneH! had not my fader & my moder ynough for to entreteyn & kepe thestate of Froymond my brother, & hym to haue maryed som noble lady of the land / and not to haue made hym a monke / by 32 god omnipotent these flatterers monkes shal repente them perof, For they haue enchaunted? my lord my fader, & haue drawen Froymond with them for to fare 307 The knights salute Geffray, and tell him of the noble cheer they had at his father’s. 1 fol. 181 b. They deliver the letter which tells how Froimond had professed himself monk, Geffray waxes wroth at the news. He seems to be lnad, and declares that the monks shall repent of their guile and their greed, x 2 308 GEFFRAY GOES TO THE CONVENT OF MAILLESES. [cH. xis Geffray tells the embassy that they will have to wait. With his ten knights he goes to Mailleses, 1 fol. 182, and finds the monks in chap- ter. He upbraids them for having shorn his brother monk, “The abbot denies having so coun- selled him, Froimond comes forward and says he be- came monk of his free will. Geffray says he will pay him with the rest, pe bettre by hym / but by the feyth that I owe to god I shal pay them so, therfore, that they shal neuer haue neyther lust ne talent to withdraw no noble man to be shorne monke with them.’ And thenne he said to the 4 bassade of Northomberland: ‘Sires, ye muste soiourne a while & abyde my retourn hither / For I must goo to an affayre of myn that toucheth me moche.’ And ‘hey that knewe hys wrathe & anger ansuerd': ‘My 8 _lord, so shaH we doo with a good wyH.’ Thenne made geffray his ten knightes to mounte on horsback / and also he armed hym and lept on hys hors / & syn de- parted !fro Mountyoued, esprysed with grete yre ayenst 12 the abbot & Conuent of Maylleses / and at that tyme the said abbot & hys monkes were in Chapitre. And geffray thanne come to the place, entred, the swerd gir? about hym, in to the Chapitre. And whan he 16 perceyued thabbot & hys monkes, he said al on hye to them: ‘ Ye false monkes / how haue ye had the hardy- nes to haue enchaurted my brother, in so moche that thrughe your false & subtyl langage haue shorne hym 20 monke / by the toeth of god yl ye thought it, For ye shal drynk therfore of an euyl drynk.’ ‘helas! my lord,’ said thabbot, ‘for the loue of god haue mercy on vs / and suffre you to be enfourmed of the trouth & 24 rayson, For on my Creatour, I nor none of vs aH coun- seylled hym neuer therto.’ Thenne came Froymont foorth, that trowed wel to haue peased the yre of geffray hys brother / and pus said: ‘My? dere, dere 28 brother / by the body & sowle which I haue gyuen to - god, here is no personne, nor within this place that euer spake ony word to me touching my professyon, For I | haue it doon of myn owne free wylle & thrugh deuo- 32 cion.’ * By my sowle,’ said geffray,‘so shalt thou be therfore payed with the other, For it shal not be wytted? me to haue a brother of myn a monke’ / and 2 By in MS. (Fr. Mon.) 3 Fr. reprouché, \ \ \ OH. XLI. | GEFFRAY BURNS THE MONKS ALIVE. with these wordes he went out of the Chapter, & shetted the doores fast after hym, & closed thabbot & the monkes therynne / and incontynent he made al 4 the meyne of the place to bryng there wode & strawe ynoughe al about the Chapter, and fyred it / & sware he shuld brenne them aH therynne, & that none shuld escape. Thenne came the ten knightes foorth tofore 8 geffray, whiche blamed hym of pat horryble faytte / sayeng: ‘that Froymond, his broper, was in good purpos, & that happly thrughe hys !prayers & good dedes the sowles of his frendes & other myght be 12 asswaged & holpen.’ ‘By the toeth of god, sayd thenne geffray, ‘nother he nor none monke in this place shal neuer syng masse nor say prayer, but they shal aH be bruled & brent.’ Thenne departed the x 16 knightes from hys presence / sayeng that they wold not be coulpable of that merueyllous werke. Cap. XLI. How Geffray with the grete toeth fyred thabbey of Mayllezes, & brent 20 pbothe thabbot & al the monkes there. n this partye, sayth thystorye, that Geffray anoon ] after that the ten knightes were departed fro hym, he toke fyre at a lampe within the chirche, & sette the 24 fyre in the strawe alt about the Chapter, where as were in thabbot, & al the monkes of the place, & hys brother Froymon@ with them. It was a pyteous syght, For as soone as the monkes sawe the fyre they bygan to 28 crye piteously, & to make bytter & doulorous bewayl- lynges, but al that preuaylled them nought. What shuld I make long compte? Wel it is trouth, that all the monkes were brent / and wel the half of the said 32 Abbey or euer geffray departed thens, That don he came to hys hors & lepte vp / but whan he cam in to the feldes he retourned hys hors, & beheld toward 309 He goes out of the chapter, closes all the monks inside, and has wood and straw brought, and swears he will b them. His knights re- monstrate with him, 1 fol. 182 0, without avail, and leave him because they will not be culpable of such a deed. Geffray takes fire from a church lamp and lights the straw. 2 fol. 183. The monks ery bitterly when they see the fire. They are all burnt, and half of the abbey. 310 Geffray feels re- morse, and be- gins to sigh bitterly. He upbraids himself, and is full of de- spair, and like to slay himself. His knights ap- proach, and one says that it is too late to repent. Geffray rides swiftly to Mount- jouet, and gets ready to go with the ambassadors, A messenger from Mailleses recounts to Ray- mondin the pite- ous tidings 2 fol. 183 b. of the burning of the abbey and the monks. Raymondin says he cannot believe the story, GEFFRAY REPENTS TOO LATE. _—[CH. XLI. thabbaye / & perceyuyng that grete myschief & the dommage that he had don there, & his vnkynd & ab- homynable deelyng, remors of conscience smote the herte of hym, and bygan to syghe and bewayH byttirly / 4 sayeng vnto him self in this wyse: ‘helas! fals, wycked, & vntrue prodytour! & enemy of god / woldest thou that men dide to the that / whiche thou hast doo to the true seruawntes of god? / nay certayn.’ And thus 8 blamed & wytted hym self, so that no man myght thinke the dyscomfort & grete dyspaire that he thenne toke / & wel I byleue that he had slayn hym self with hys owne swerde yf it themne had not fortuned that 12 hys ten knightes cam to hym there / one of the whiche bygan to hym saye / ‘ha / a, my lord, ouer late is this repented.” And whan geffray vnderstode hym / he thenne had greter despyte than tofore / but he dayned 16 not ansuere to the knyght, but rode so fast toward the toure of Mountyouet, that with grete peyne myght his men folow hym / & so long rode he tyl he came thither / And thenne made his apparayH for to goo 20 with the ambaxatours there as they shold conduyte hym / & toke with hym but his x knightes. And here seaceth thystorye of hym, & speketh of Ray- mondin his fader / 24 ere sayth thistory, that a messager came toward . Raymondin at merment that came fro mail- leses, 2and after hys obeyssaunce recounted to Raymon- dyn ryght pyteous tydynges, sayeng to hym in this manere: ‘My lord, wel it is trouth, that geffray wth the great toth your son hath take so grete malencolye & suche dueyl of the professyon of your son Froymond that he is com to maylleses, & there he hath fyred the 32 Abbay / & within the chapter brent & bruled aH the monkes, pryour, & Abbot.’ ‘What sayst thou?’ sayd than Raymondyn / ‘that may not be / I can not beleue 1 Fr. proditeur. CH. XLI. | RAYMONDIN COMPLAINS OF HIS LADY, it.’ ‘By my feyth, my lord, said the messager, ‘it is trouth that I telle you; &, morouer, your son Froy- mond is brent & deed with them / and yf ye byleue 4 me not make me to be putte in to pryson, & yf ye fynde otherwyse than I saye, lete me be hanged ther- fore.’ Thenne Raymondyn sorowfulH & heuy mounted foorthwith on horsbak, & toke hys way toward mayl- 8 leses as fast as hys hors myght bere hym / and hys men, who pat myght folowed hym / and he neuer seaced tyl he cam thither / where he fonde, as the mes- sager said, & sawe the grete dolewr & myschief that 12 geffray had don. at herte, that almost he was out of hys wyt. Wherof he toke suche yre & anger “ha'/ 8,’ sayd he, ‘Geffray, thou haddest the fayrest begynnyng of hye prowes & cheualrye to haue come to the degree 16 of high honowr more than ony prynce son lyuyng at this day / and now thrugh thy grete cruelte thou shalt be reputed & holden vnworthy of al noble fayttes, & abhomyned for cause of thys vnkyndnes & horryble By the feyth that I owe to god, I byleue it is but fantosme or spyryt werke of this 20 dede of al creatures. woman / and as I trowe she neuer bare no child that shal at thende haue perfectéon, For yet hath she 24 brought none but that it hath some strange token / see I riot the thorryblenes of her son called Horryble, that passed not vii yere of age whan he slew two squyers of myn / and or euer he was thre yere old he made dye 28 two gentyl women his nourryces, thrugh hys byttyng of theire pappes? / sawe I not also theyre moder of that satirday, whan my brother of Forestz to me brought euyl tydynges of her / in fourme of a serpent fro the 32 nauel dounward? / by god, ye / and wel I wote certayn / it is som spyryt, som fantosme or Illusyon that thus hath abused me / For the first tyme that I sawe her / she knew & coude reherce at my fortune & auenture.’ 311 But the messen- ger says it is the truth, and that Froimond was burnt with them, Raymondin rides to Mailleses, and when he sees the mischief he complains of Geffray, and how he will be hated for his cruelty. He cries that he believes it is spirit work, He complains that Melusine never bore a perfect child, and of the horribleness of her son Horrible. 1 fol. 184. He speaks of seeing Melusine half woman, half serpent, on a Saturday, and says he believes her to be a spirit. Raymondin goes to Merment. He retires to his chamber and makes pite- ous lamentation. The barons are sad, and send word to Melusine at Niort, but this aug- ments the grief of Raymondin. and Melusine. 1 fol. 184 0. When Melusine reads the letter she is sorrowful, more for the wrath of Ray- mondin than anything else. She comes to Lusignan, where she looks so sad, and sighs so much, that it is pitiful to see her. es “a é MELUSINE’S FOREBODINGS OF GRIEF. [cu. XLI. iis this partye, sayth thystorye, that Raymondyn, ! pensefu and wroth ouer meruayllously, departed fro Mayllezes, & rode agayn toward Merment. And whan he was come thither, he alyghted, & went in to 4 hys chambre, where as he layed hym vpon a bed / and there he made suche lamentacion, & so pyteous bewayl- lynges, that there nys in the world herte so harde / but that it had wepte to here hym. Thenne were al the 8 barons ryght dolaunt / and whan they sawe that they myght not gyue none allegeance to hys dolowr, they toke Counseyt#t that they shuld lete it wete to theire lady Melusyne, whiche was at Nyort that tyme / and 12 thither they sent a messanger, to recounte to her al the Halas! fuH euyl dide they, For they augmented thereby bothe Raymondyn & Melusyne matere of the fayt. in theyre doulewr & myserye. Now bygynneth theire 16 hard & bytter departyng', eche fro other, whiche dured to Raymondyn his lyf natural / & to Melusyne shal laste her penitence vnto domysday. The messager thenne rode tyl he came to Nyort, & made his 20 obeyssaunce, & syn delyuered the lettres to his lady: 1the whiche she toke, & opened it. And whan she vnderstode the tenour of the lettres, she was ryght heuy & dolaunt, & more for the yre & wrath of Raymondin 24 than for ony other thing’; For she sawe wel that the meschief that geffray had doon might none otherwyse be as for that tyme present. She thexne made come aH her peuple & aray, and sent for many ladyes & 28 damoyselles, for to hold her companye / and so de- parted fro Nyort, & came to Lusynen / and there she soiourned by the space of thre dayes / and euer she was of symple & heuy contenawnce / and went al about 32 in the place, vp & doun, here & there / gyuyng ofte syghes so grete that it was meruaylle & pyteous to here / And the hystory & cronykle, whiche I byleue be trew, sheweth to vs that wel she knew the dolewr & 36 CH. XLI. | MELUSINE REASONS WITH HER LORD. sorow that was nygh her to come / and as to me, I byleue it fermely / but her peple thoughte nothing of that / but they trowed that it had be for cause of the 4 grete myschief that was befeH thrugh the fayttes of geffray, to thabbay of maylleses / and also for the Melu- syne thenne, on the III* day, departed fro Lusynen, & wrathe & anger that Raymondyn toke therof. 8 came to merment wel acompanyed of ladyes & damoy- And thenne the barons of the land, that were there assembled for to haue selles, as tofore I haue sayd. recomforted Raymondin, that they loued entierly / came 12 ayenst her, & honourably receyued her / & sayd how they by no wyse coude make Raymondyn to leue hys ‘Wel,’ sayd she / ‘doubte you no; For, by the grace of god, he shalbe soone recomforted..’ 16 elusyne, the good lady, that thenne was wel M acompanyed of many ladyes & noble damoy- selles, & of the barons of the land, entred in to pe Chambre where as Raymondin was in / the which 120 chambre had regarde toward the gardyns, that !were commodyous & delectables, and also to the feldes dolowr. toward Lusynen. Thenne whan she sawe Raymondin, humbly & ryght honourably salued hym / but thenne (24 he was so dolaunt & replenysshed with yre, that he to her ansuerd never a word / and thenne she toke the word, & sayd: ‘My lord, grete symplenes & foly it is to you that men repute & hold so sage & so wyse a {28 prynce / you thus to maynten & make suche sorowe of that thinge that may none other wyse be, & whiche may not be amended nor remedyed / ye argue ayenst the playsire & wyH of the Creatowr, whiche alt thinges 132 created, & shal vndoo at al tymes whan it playse hym, by suche manere wyse aftir his playsire. Wete it that there nys so grete a synnar in the world / but that is more piteable & mysericordyous whan the synnar | 36 repenteth hym, with herte contryte, of his mysdede & 313 She knows of the sorrow that is coming, but her people think she is sad on account of Getfray’s mis- chief. She comes to Merment, where they re- ceive her honour- ably, and tell her of Raymondin’s grief. Melusine enters his chamber 1 fol. 185. and salutes him. But he answers not a word. Melusine chides him for his grief, and says what is done cannot be undone, 314 and that God had allowed Geffray so to do because of the sins of the monks. She says they have enough to rebuild the’ abbey, and to endow it richer than it was before, and she hopes that Gef- fray will amend his life. 1 fol. 185 b. Though Ray- mondin knows she speaks wise- ly, he is so full of anger that in a cruel voice he cries, * Go hence, false serpent! Thou and thy children are but phantoms. How can the dead have life again? Froimond, your only perfect child, by devilish art has suffered death. RAYMONDIN CRUELLY UPBRAIDS MELUSINE. [on. XLII, synne / yf geffray, your sone & myn, hath doon that oultrageous folye thrugh his meruayllous courage, Wete it certaynly that suffred god for cause of the monkes mysdedes & synnes, whiche were of euyl, inordinate, & 4 vurelygious lyuyng / and wold our lord god haue them to be punysshed in that manere wyse / how be it, that it is vnknowen to creature humayne, For the jugements of god be ryght-secret & meruayllows. And, morouer, 8 my lord, thankyng to god, we haue ynough wherof to do make ayen thabbey of Maylleses as fayre & bettre than euer it was tofore, & to empossesse & endowe it bettre & rychelyer, and therin to ordeyne greter nombre 12 of monkes than euer were there ordeyned. Also, yf it playse god, geffray shal mende hys lyf, bothe toward our lord god & the world. your sorowe, I pray you.’ Whan themne Raymondyn 16 Wherfore, my lord, leue vniderstode Melusyne, he knew wel that she sayd trouth of that she had sayd to hym / and that it was best, after rayson, so to doo / but he was replenysshed & perced with yre, that al rayson natural was fled & 20 goon from hym. And thenne, with a right cruel voyce, he said in this manyere : Cap. XLII. How Melusyne felle in a swoune, for this that Raymondyn, her 24 lord, wyted her. . oo thou hens, fals serpente / by god! nother G thou nor thy birthe shalbe at thende but fantosme / nor none child that thou hast brought shal 28 come at last to perfection / how shal they that are brent & bruled haue theire lyues agayn / goode fruyte yssued neuer of the, saaf only Froymonde, that was youen to god & shorne monke; the whiche, thrugh 32 arte demonyacle, hath myserably suffred deth: For aH — CH. XLII. | MELUSINE ANSWERS HIM. they that'are foursenyd! with yre obeye 2the comande- ments of the prynces of helle. And perfor, thorryble & cruel geffray commanded of his masters, alle the »4deuelles of helle, hath doon that abhomynable & hydouse forfaytte, as to brenne hys owne propre brother & the monkes, that had not deserued deth.’ Thenne whan melusyne vnderstode these wordes, she toke suche ' 8 doulewr at herte, that foorthwith she feH in a swoune doun to therthe, & was half an ooure long that nother aspyraczon nor breth was felt nor perceyued in her, but as she had be deed. And thenne was Raymondyn 12 sorowfuller & more wroth than euer he was tofore, For thenne he was cooled of his yre, & bygan to make grete dueyH, & moche repented hym of that he had sayd / but it was for nought, For pat was to late / And 16 thenne the baronnye of the land, & the ladyes & damoy- selles were ryght sory & dolaunt, and toke vp the lady, & layed her on a bed / and so moche they dide, that she came ayen to her self. And whan she myght 120 speke, she loked on Raymondyn pyteously, and said / Cap. XLIII. Melusyne came to her self ayen, and spake to Raymondyn. It is shewed herafter, how 24 § a / a Raymondyn / the day that first tyme I sawe the was for me ryght doulourows and vnhappy / in an euyl heure sawe I euer thy coynted body, thy facion, & thy fayre fygure / euyl I dyde to “28 desire & coueyte thy beaute, whan thou so falsly hast betrayed me / how wel thou art forsworn toward me, whan thou puttest thy self in peyne to see me / but for this, that thou haddest not yet dyscouered nor shewed "32 to no man nor woman, myn herte forgafe *the / and no mencion I neuer shuld haue had ‘made therof to the / 1 Fr, enforcenez, 315 2 fol, 186, Geffray burnt his brothers by com- mand of his masters, the devils of hell,’ Melusine is over- come by his cruel words, and swoons. He repents, but it avails nought, When Melusine comes to herself she looks pite- ously at Ray- mondin and says, ‘It was an evil hour when I first saw your figure. When you falsely betrayed me I forgave you be- cause you kept my secret. 8 fol. 186 b. 316 Our love is now turned to hate. If you had kept your oath, I was to be exempt from torment. I should have been buried at Lusignan, and my anniver- sary would have been devoutly kept. But now my: fate is altered, I must suffer grievous peni- tence till dooms- day.’ Melusine shows such grief that _: all pity her. The heart of Ray- mondin is nearly broken by her grief. He kneels to Melusine and beseeches her pardon, Melusine calls on God to forgive him, RAYMONDIN BEGS FORGIVENESS. |CH. XLII. and god shuld haue pardoned the. Halas, my frende / now is our loue tourned in hate, doleux & hardnes / oure solace, playsire & joye ben reuersed in byttir and our good happ is 4 conuerted in ryght hard & vnfortunate pestilence / Halas, my frend! yf thou haddest not false@ thy feythe & thyn othe, I was putte & exempted from alt teerys & contynuel wepynges, peyne & tourment, & shuld haue had al my ryghtes, & 8 hadd lyued the cours natural as another woman; & shuld haue be buryed, aftir my lyf naturel expired, within the chirche of owr lady of Lusynen, where myn obsequye & afterward my annyuersary shuld haue be 12 honourably & deuoutely don / but now I am, thrughe thyn owne dede, ouerthrowen & ayen reuersed in the greuouse and obscure penytence, where long tyme I haue be in, by myn auenture: & thus I muste suffre & bere 16 it, vnto the day of domme / & al through thy falsed / but I beseche god to pardonne the.’ Melusyne began thenne to make suche dolewr, that none was there that And whan Ray- 20 mondyn sawe her douleur & heuynes, almost hys herte sawe her but he wept for pyte. brake for sorowe, in so moche that he nother herd, nor sawe, nor coude hold contenawnce. / hystorye sayth that Raymondyn was right dolaunt ; 24 and, for trouth, the true cronykle testyfyeth that neuer no man suffred so grete dolowr, without of his lyf expired. but whan he was a lytel come to hys mynde, & sawe Melusyne tofore hym, he kneeled doun 28 on hys knees, & joyntly! handes, thus bygan he to, saye: ‘My dere lady & my frend, my wele, my hoop, & myn honour, I beseche & pray you that it playse you to pardonne me, & that ye wyl abyde with me.’ ‘My 32 swete frend,’ saya Melusyne, that saw the grete habund- aunce of teerys fallyng fro hys eyen / ‘he that is the very forgyuer, creator & omnipotent, forgyue you your 1 Fr. joingnist. OH. XLIV.] MELUSINE FORETELLS THE FATE OF RAYMONDIN’S HEIRS. 317 forfaytte ; For as touching myself, I forgyue & pardonne you with al my very herte / but as to myn abydyng with you ony more / it is Impossible / for the veray 4 jugge & almighty god wold neuer suffre me to doo soo.’ Cap. XLIV. How Raymondyn & Melusyne felle bothe in a swoune. 8 nd with thoo wordes Melusyne toke vp Raymon- iA dyn, her lord / and thenne, as they wold haue embraced & kyssed eche other, they fell both at ones in a swoune, so that almost theire hertes brake for grete 12 doulewr: Certayn there was a pyteouws syght. wept & bewaylled barons / ladyes & damoyselles, sayeng in pis manere: ‘Ha, fals Fortune! We shal lese this There day pe best lady that euer gouerned ony land / the 16 moost sage / most humble / moost charytable & curteys And they al lamented & bewaylled so pyteowsly, & rendred teerys in habund- of aH other lyuyng in erthe.’ ance, in so moche that it was a pyteows syght. ‘Thenne 20 retourned Melusyne to her self out of swounyng, and herd the heuynes & dolowr that the baronnye made for her departyng / and cam to Raymondyn, that yet laye on the grounde, & toke hym vp / and thenne to hyn, 24 in heryng of thassistaunce, she said in this manere / Cap. XLV. How Melusyne made her testa- ment. / ‘ y lord & swete frend Raymondyn, Impossible is my lenger taryeng with you; Wherfore lyst, & herke, & putte in mynde that I shal saye. Wete it, Raymondyn, that certayn after your lyf naturel 28 expired, no man shal not empocesse nor hold your land 32 so free in peas as ye now hold it, & your heyres & successours shal haue moche to doo / and wete it shal as she dev. , bu declares that iui 1 ot let 1 fol, 187. Melusine raises Raymondin. They kiss, and immediately swoon on ac- count of their grief. The barons and ladies weep at the thought of losing their lady, Melusine re- covers, and comes to Raymondin and says— ‘My sweet friend, it is im- possible to stay with you, there- fore listen and keep in mind what I say. After your life no man shall hold your land in peace, . 318 Your heirs through their folly shall lose their inheritance. 1 fol. 187 b. Keep Geffray with you, he will prove a valiant man. I will take care of Raymond and Theoderie, though after I go you will never see me again in woman’s form. I bequeath Par- tenay to Theo- deric ; Raymond shall be Earl of Forest; Gettray will pro- vide for himself. I charge you to put Horrible to death,’ Raymondin asks Melusine to stay with him, but she says that it cannot be done, She then kisses him tenderly and bids him adieu. MELUSINE’S TESTAMENT, [oH. xLy, be ouerthrawen & subdued, thrugh theire foly, from theire honowr & from theire ryght enherytaunce / but doubte you not, For I shal help you duryng the cours of your lyf naturel / and putte not geffray, oure sone, 4 fro your Court / he is your sone,1& he shal preue a noble & valyaunt man. Also we haue two yong chil- dren male, Raymond & theoderyk / of them I shal take good heede / how be it, aftir my departyng / that ryght 8 soone shal be / ye shal neuer see me in no womans fourme. And I wyl & bequethe to theodoryk, yongest — of aH our children, the lordshipes with al thappurten- aunces of Partenay / Vernon / Rochelle, & the port 12 there / And Raymond shal be Erle of Forestz / and as touching geffray, he shal wel purueye for hym self,’ Thenne drew she Raymondyn & hys Counsey# apart, & sayd to them in this wyse: ‘As touching owr sone, 16 that men calle Horryble, that hath thre eyen / wete it for certayn, yf he be lefte alyue / neuer man dide, nor neuer shal doo, so grete dommage as he shaH. Wher- fore I pray & also charge you that, anoone aftér my 20 departyng, he be put to deth ; For yf ye doo not soo / his lyf shall fult dere be bought, & neuer ye dide so grete folye.’ ‘My swete loue,’ sayd Raymondyn, ‘ there shal be no fawte of it / but, for goddis loue, haue pyte 24 And she said to hym: ‘My swete frend, yf it were possyble / soo wold And wete it wel, that my departyng fro you is more gryeuous & doubtous a 28 on yourself, & wyl abyde with me.’ I fayne doo / but it may not be. thousand tymes to me than to you / but it is the wy# & playsire of hym that can do & vndoo al thinges,’ and, with these wordes, she embraced & kyssed hym fu tenderly / sayeng: ‘Farwel, myn owne lord & 32 husbond; Adieu, myn herte, & al my joye; Farwel, my loue, & al myn wele / and yet as long as thou lyuest, I shal feed myn eyen with the syght of the / but pyte I haue on the of this, that thou mayst neuer see me but 36 F CH. XLVI. | MELUSINE LAMENTS HER BITTER FATE. in horryble figure’ / and therwith she lept vpon the windowe that was toward the feldes & gardyns ayenst Lusynen. / 4Cap. XLVI. How Melusyne in fourme of a Serpent flough out at a wyndowe. 17 n this partye, saith thistorye, that whan Melusyne I was vpon the wyndowe as before is said, she 8 toke leue sore wepyng', and her commanded to alt the barons, ladyes, & damoyselles that were present / and after said to Raymondyn: ‘here be two rynges of gold that be bothe of one vertue, and wete it for trouth that 12 as long as ye haue them, or one of them / you / nor your heyres that shal haue them after you, shal neuer be dyscomfyted in plee nor in batayH, yf they haue good cause / nor they that haue them shal not dey by 16 no dede of armes,’ and Immediatly he toke the rynges. And after bygan the lady to make pyteows regrets and greuouse syghynges, beholdyng Raymondyn right pyte- ously / And they that were there wept alway ?so ten- 20 derly that eueryche of them had grete pyte, they syghyng full pyteously. Thenne Melusyne in her la- mentable place, where she was vpon the wyndowe hauyng respection toward Lusynen, said in this wyse, 24 ‘Ha, thou swete Countre / in the haue I had so grete solas & recreacion, in the was al my felicite / yf god had not consented that I had be so betrayed I had be ful happy / alas! I was wonnt to be called lady / & 28 men were redy to fulfylle my commandements / & now not able to be alowed a symple seruaunt / but assygned to horryble peynes & tourments vnto the day of fynal judgement. And al they that myght come 32 to my presence had grete Joye to behold me / and fro this tyme foorth they shal dysdayne me & be ferefult of myn abhomynable figure / and the lustes & playsirs that I was wonnt to haue shal be reuertid in tribulacions 319 She leaps to the window, 1 fol. 188. and again takes leave, weeping sorely. She gives Ray- mondin two magic rings, 2 fol. 188 6. Those present weep, so full of pity are they. She looks from the window to- wards Lusignan, and speaks of her sad future, and how all will disdain her be- cause of her abominable figure. "320 She tells that her father was Elinas, King of Albany, and her mother Queen Pressine ; and that she is one of three sisters. She gives a sore sigh, and be- comes like a great serpent ; 1 fol. 189. and to this day her serpent’s footprint is on the base-stone of the window. The grief of Ray- mondin and his people increases, They see Melu- sine fly three times about the place, uttering horrible cries ; then she makes her way to Lusig- nan, Moaning so MELUSINE TRANSFORMED INTO A SERPENT, [cH. XLVI. & grieuous penitences,’ And thenne she bygan to say with a hye voyce: ‘ Adieu, my lustis & playsirs / Far wel, my lord / barons / ladyes, & damoyselles, and I beseche you in the moost humble wyse that ye vouche- 4 sauf to pray to the good lord deuoutely for me / that it playse hym to mynusshe my dolorows peyne / not- withstanding I wyl lete you knowe what I am & who was my fader, to thentent that ye reproche not my 8 children, that they be not borne but of a mortal woman, and not of a serpent, nor as a creature of the fayry / and that they are the children of the doughter of kynge Elynas of Albanye and of pe queene Pressyne, and that 12 we be thre sustirs pat by predestinacion are predes- tynate to suffre & bere grieuows penaunces, and of this And therwith she said : ‘ farwel, my lord Raymondyn, and forgete not 16 to doo with your sone called Horryble this that I haue matere I may no more shew, nor wyl.’ you said / but thinke of your two sones Raymond & Theodoryk.’ & therwith flawgh in to thayer out of the wyndowe, 20 Thenne she bygan to gyue a sore syghe, trans'figured lyke a serpent grete & long in xv foote of length. And wete it wel that on the basse stone of the wyndowe apereth at this day themprynte of her foote serpentows. Thenne encreaced the lamentable 24 sorowes of Raymondyn, and of the barons, ladyes, & damoyselles / and moost in especial Raymondyns heuy- nes aboue al other / And foorthwith they loked out of the wyndowe to behold what way she toke / And 28 the noble Melusyne so transffygured, as it is aforsaid, flyeng thre tymes about the place, passed foreby the wyndow, gyuyng at euerche tyme an horrible cry & pyteows, that caused them that beheld her to wepe for 32 pyte. For they perceyued wel that loth she was to departe fro the place, & that it was by constraynte. And thenne she toke her way toward Lusynen, makyng in thayer by her furyousnes suche horryble crye & |36 CH. XLVII. | MELUSINE DISAPPEARS. noyse that it semed al thayer to be replete with thundre & tempeste. / hus, as I haue shewed, went Melusyne, lyke a ser- 4 pent, flyeng in thayer toward Lusynen / & not so hygh / but that the men of the Countre might see her / and she was herd a myle in thayer, For she made suche And so she 8 flawgh to Lusynen thre times about the Fortres, ery- noyse that al the peple was abasshed. eng so pyteously & lamentably, lyke the voyce of a Wherof they of the Fortresse & of the toun were gretly abasshed, & wyst not what they shuld Mermayde. p12 thinke, For they sawe the fygure of a serpent, and the And whan she had floughe about the Fortresse thre tymes she voyce of a woman pat cam fro the serpent. lyghted so sodaynly & horrybly vpon the toure called 6 poterne, bryngyng with her such thundre & tempeste, that it semed that bothe the Fortres & the toun shuld _ haue sonk and faH / & therwith they lost the syght of her, and wyst not where she was become. But anoone 20 after that cam messagers fro Raymondyn, !that he sent thither to haue tydynges of her / to whom was shewed how she fyl vpon the fortresse / & of theire fere that they had had of her / and the messagers retourned And thezne bygan Raymondyn to entre into hys sorowe, p24 toward Raymondyn, & shewed hym al the caas, And the tydynges were knowen in the Countre, the } pouere peuple made grete lamentacion & sorowe, & P28 wysshed her ayen with pyteows syghes, For she had } doo them grete good, And thenze bygan thobsequyes of her to be obseruyd in al abbeyes & chirches that she had founded / and Raymondin, her lord, dede to be 32 doon for her almesses & prayers thrugh al his land, Cap. XLVII. How Raymondyn dide do brenne his sone called Horryble, MELUSINE, 321 loud that it sounded like thunder, She flies through the air to Lusig- nan, making a great noise, and then flies three times round the fortress, lamenting pite- ously like the voice of a mer- maid, She alights on Postern Tower in such wise that it seemed the for- tress would fall, She disappears. + fol. 189 db. Messengers are sent by Ray- mondin to get tidings of her, Raymondin and all the people lament, Her obsequies are observed in all the churches she had built. - 322 The barons re- mind Raymondin of Melusine’s command about Horrible. He bids them fulfil her order. Horrible is led to a cave and suffocated. He is buried at Neufmoustier, Raymondin goes to Lusig- nau, and brings his children Ray- mondin and Theoderic. 1 fol, 190. Melusine visits them every day. They grow faster than other children. Raymondin when he hears of her coming, hopes to have her back, but in vain. Raymondin is so woful that he never laughs, MELUSINE’S MOTHERLY DEVOTION. [CH. XLVIII. henne came tofore the presence of Raymondyn the barons of the land, and said: ‘ My lord, it behouyth that we doo of your sone horryble this that his moder hath charged you & vs to doo.’ And Ray- 4 mondyn to them ansuerd, ‘doo you in this that ye are And then they went and toke by fayre wordes this Horryble / & led hym in to a caue. or yf he had had warnyng of theire purpos 8 they shuld not haue had take hym without grete peyne. commanded to doo.’ And thenne they closed hym in smoke of wet hey. And whan he was deed they buryed hym honnourably in the Abbey called the Neufmoustier. 12 Cap. XLVIII. How Melusyne came euery nyght to vysyte her two children. A iss departed Raymondyn from thens & came to Lusynen, & brought with hym his two children, 16 Raymond & theodoryke / and said that he shuld neuer entre ayen in to the place wher the had lost his wyf. And wete it wel that Melusyne came euery day to vysyte her children, & held them tofore the fyre and 2¢ eased them as she coude / and wel sawe the nourryces that, who durst no word speke. And more encreced the two children in nature in a weke than dide other children in .a moneth; wherof the peuple had grete 24 meruayH. but whan Raymondyn knew it by the nour- — ryces that melusyne came there eue7y nyght to vysyte her children / relessed his sorowe / trustyng to haue her ayen / but that thoughte was for nought, For neuer 28 after sawe he her in fourme of a woman / how be it dyuers haue sith sen her in femenyn figure. And wete it that how wel Raymondyn hooped to haue her ayen / neuertheles he had alway suche hertly sorowe that 32 there is none that can tell it / And there was neuer man syth that sawe hym lawgh nor make joye / and CH. XLVIII.] GEFFRAY GOES TO BROMBELYO IN NORTHUMBERLAND. 323 hated gretly geffray with the grete toth / and yf he myght haue had hym in his yre, he wold haue dystroyed hym. But here seaceth the hystorye of him And speketh 4 of geffray. / : hystorye sayth, that geffray rode so long’ that he came in Northomberland with the ambaxatours and hys ten knyghtes with hym / And whan the barons 8 of the Countre vnderstod his commyng! they cam ayenst hym honourably, & receyued hym solemply, sayeng: ‘ha, sire, of your joyful comyng we owe wel to lawde & preyse our lord god, For without it be by you & 12 thrugh your prowes we may not be delyuered of the horryble geauzt and meruayllous murdrer, Grymauld, by whom aH this countre is dystroyed.’ Thenne an- suerde geffray to them: ‘And how may ye knowe that 16 by me ye may be quytte & delyuered of hym?’ to whom they ansuered, ‘ My lord, the sage astronomyens haue said to vs that the geaunt grymauld !may not dey but by your dede of armes / and also we knowe for 20 certayn that he knoweth it wel. Wherfore yf ye go to hym, and that yf ye telle hym your name ye shall not kepe hym, but he shall you escape.’ Thenne sayd geffray to the barons, ‘Sire, lede me toward the place 24 where I may find hym, For grete desyre I haue to see hym.’ And Immedyatly they toke hym two knyghtes of the land that conduyted hym toward the place / but that one of them said to that other pat they shuld not 28 approche al to nygh grymauld / and that they myght not beleue that geffray shuld haue the vyctory of hym. And thenne geffray toke leue of the barons and de- parted, the two knyghtes with hym, and so long they 132 rode tyl they saw the montayne of Brombelyo. Thenne sayd the two knyghtes to geffray, ‘ My lord, yonder ye may see the mountayne where he holdeth hym / & this way shal lede you thither without ony fayH, For cer- 36 taynly he is euer at yonder trees vpon that mountayne He hates Geffray. Geffray comes to Northumber- land, The barons tell him they are joy- ful at his arrival, because they wil] be delivered of Grymauld, Geffray asks how they know. 1 fol. 190 b. They answer that wise astrono- mers have said that he alone can slay Grymauld, and the giant knows this too, so Geffray must not tell him his name. Geffray is taken to the mountain of Brombelyo, where the knights show yew 324 where Grymauld is to be found. Here they leave him for fear of hurt. Geffray tells them that it is well he has not trusted to their aid, fol. 191. Geffray leaves the knights and ascends the mountain, He sees the giant, who is astonished at Geffray’s bold- ness in coming against him alone, The giant takes a club. 1 fol. 191}. He demands Geffray’s name, and threatens him with death. Geffray defies the giant, GEFFRAY FIGHTS THE GIANT GRIMOLD. [cH. XLIX. for to espye them that passe by the way. Now may ye goo thither, yf it playse you, For as touching our personnes we wyl goo no ferper that way.’ And geffray ansuerd to them in this manere, ‘ Yf I had come vpon 4 thaffyaunce of your ayde I had faylled therof at this tyme.’ ‘By my feyth, sayd one of them, ‘ye say trouth.’ Thenne came they to the foot of the hyH / and there geffray descended & armed hym, and syn 8 remounted on his hors, and layed the sheld tofore hys brest, and toke his spere, and thenne he said to the two knyghtes that they shuld abyde hym vnder the : mountayne, and that they shuld soone see what therof 12 shuld befaH, And they sayd that so shuld they doo. Cap. XLIX. How geffray with the grete toeth rane ayenst the geaunt & ouer- threw hym with hys spere./ 16 il this partye sayth thistorye that Geffray toke leue of the two knyghtes, & mounted the mountayne, so that he approched nygh the trees where as he apperceyued the geaunt pat satte vndernethe them. but 20 assoone as he sawe geffray he meruaylled gretly how one knyght alone had the hardynes to haue dare come toward hym, and thenne he thought in hym self that he cam to treate with hym for som patyse or for 24 som peas. but he sware hys lawe that lytel or nought he shuld entrete hym. Thenne rose vp the geaunt and toke an horryble grete Clubbe in hys handes, which ony man had ynough to doo to lyft it vp fro the 28 ground. And so he came ayenst Geffray, and cryed with a hye voys, ‘ What art thou that darest come so boldly toward me in armes / by my lawe wel shal thou be payed therfor. For who that sendeth the hyther 32 wold haue the deed.’ And geffray cryed to hym, ‘I deffye the / deffend thou thy self yf thou canst.’ And CH. XLIX.] GRIMOLD RECOGNISES GEFFRAY AS HIS SLAYER. 325 with these wordes geffray couched hys spere & sporyd hys hors and ranne & smote the geauzt in the brest so myghtily that he ouerthrew hym, the legges vpward to 4 the ground / and anoon geffray descendid fro his hors, feeryng that the geaunt shuld slee hym vndre hym, and fasted it by pe brydel at a tree / & pusshed his sheld behynd, and toke his good trenchauxt swerd ; 8 For wel he sawe that it were grete foly to hym to And thevne cam the geaunt toward geffray, but almost he coude not abyde the stroke of the geauntis Clubbe. perceyue hym for cause he was so lytel of personne to 12 the regarde of hym. And whan he was nygh hym he said to hym, ‘Say me thou lytel body, who art thou that so valyauntly hast ouerthrawen me? / by mahomid And 16 thenne geffray ansuerde to hym, ‘I am Geffray with I sha neuer haue honowr but I auenge me.’ the grete toeth, sone to Raymondyn of Lusynen.’ And whan the geaunt vnderstod hym, he was ryght dolaunt, For wel he wyst that he myght not be slayne but with 20 geffrayes handes. not that withstanding he ansuerd to hym, ‘I knowe the wel ynough. thou slough that other day my Cousin Guedon in Garande, al the deuelles of helle haue brought the now hither.’ And 24 geffray hym ansuerd, ‘no doubte / but I shal slee the yf I may.’ And whan the geant vnderstod it, he haunced his Clubbe & wold haue dyscharged it vpon geffrayes heed, but he faylled, And thenne Geffray 28 smote hym with his swerd vpon the sholder. 1!For he myght not reche to his heed, & cutte the haulte piece of his harneys, and made his swerd to entre in his flesshe wel a palme deep, and thenne the blood fett 32 doon along his body vnto the heelys of hym. And whan he felt that stroke he eryed & said to geffray / ‘cursed be that arme that by suche strengthe can smyte, & hanged be the smyth that forged that swerd. 36 For neuer blood was drawen out of my body of no and rushes forward and overthrows him. Geffray dis- mounts, fastens his horse to a tree, and takes his sword and shield, The giant ap- proaches Geffray, but can hardly see him, He asks Geffray who he is, Geffray answers that he is the son of Raymon- din of Lusignan. The giant is sad at this news, be- cause he knows that Geffray alone can slay him. The giant says he knows him as the slayer of Guedon. Geffray tells the giant that he will kill him too, The giant raises his club, but misses Geffray. 1 fol, 192, Geffray wounds the giant, who curses Geftray’s arm, 326 and strikes back. Geffray avoids the blow, The force of the giant’s stroke drove his club a foot into the ground, Before it is raised Geffray strikes it from his hands, The giant fears to bend to lift his club, so he strikes Geffray with his fist. Geffray smites the giant on the thigh. He flies to a hole in the mountain. Geffray follows 1 fol. 192 b. and looks in, but it is so dark that he cannot see the giant, Geffray rides to his men, who marvel at his safe return, The two knights ask if he has seen the giant. THE WOUNDED GIANT HIDES IN A CAVE. [cu. L. manere wepen al were it neuer so good.’ And thenne with his clubbe he wend to haue smyte geffray / but geffray fled the stroke. For wete it for trouth that yf he had atteyned hym he had slayn hym / but god, on 4 whom hys trust was, wold not suffre it. And ye owe to wete for certayn that with that same stroke the Clubbe entred into the ground wel a foot deep / but or euer the geaunt myght have haunced his Clubbe, 8 geffray smote on it with his swerd by suche strengthe that he made it fligh out of the geauntes handes. and therewith he cutte a grete piece of it. Cap. L. How the geaunt fled & Geffray 12 folowed hym. henne was the geaunt ryght dolaunt & abasshed whan he sawe his Clubbe pus cutte lyeng on the grounde, For he durst not bowe hym self to take it vp. 16 Thenne he lept on geffray & strake hym with his fyst vpon the helmet with so grete myght & yre that almost geffray was astonyed therwzth aH. bunt geffray, cora- geous & hardy, smote the geant vpon the pye, so that 20 he cutte a grete part of it. And thenne whan the geaunt sawe hym thus hurt he withdrew hym a lytel backward, and syn bygan to flee / but geffray, holdyng his swerd, folowed hym / and the geaunt entred into 24 a hoH within the mountayne, Wherof geffray was abasshed /. Thenne came geffray !to the ho and loked in, but it was so obscure & derk & so deep that he sawe nor wyst where the geaunt was become. And he 28 retourned and toke & mounted ayen vpon his hors, and descended into pe valey, & came to hys meyne that abode for hym there, whiche had grete meruayH whan they sawe hym retourne hole & sauf / and in especial 32 the two knightes wondred moche & were abasshed of it / and they asked hym yf he had sene the geaunt / and he said to them, ‘I haue faught with hym / and OH. LI, LI. | GEFFRAY ENTERS THE CAVE TO SEEK THE he is fled & entred in to an hol, where as I may not see And they demanded of geffray yf he had told hym hys name / and he ansuerd, ‘ye’ / and thenne hym.’ 54 they said that it was for nought to seke hym, For wel he wyst that he shuld dey by the handes of geffray. ‘Doubte you not,’ said geffray, ‘For wel I knowe where he is entred in / and to morne, with goddes 8 help, I shal fynd@ hym wel.’ And whan they vnder- stode Geffray to speke they had grete joye, and said that geffray was the moost valyaunt knight of the world, 12Cap. LI. How Geffray went & entred into the hot for to fyght with the geaunt./ nd thezne on the morowe by tymes Geffray armed hym & mounted vpon his hors & rode tyl he 16 came to the said hoH vpon the mountayne. ‘By my feyth, said geffray thenne / ‘this geaunt is twyes as grete as I, & sith he is entred here in, wel I shal goo thrugh it / and so shal I do whatsomeuer it befelt 20 therof.’ And thenne he toke hys swerd in his hand, & fayre & softly lete hym self fat into the hoH / and as he was in to the botome of it, he perceyued some light, & sawe a lytel path. And thenne he made the 24 signe of the cros & foorth ! went that way./ Cap. LII. How Geffray fonde the sepulture of the king of Albany, his granfader Helynas, within the mouztayn. 28 effray thenne went not ferre whan he fond a G ryche Chambre, where as were grete ryches and grete Candstykes of fyn gold, and vpon them grete _ tapers white wax, brennyng so clere that it was 32 meruayH. And in the myddes of the Chambre he fonde a noble & ryche tombe of fyn gold, al sette with GIANT. 327 Geffray tells how he fought him, and how he entered a hole in the mountain. They say that there is no use of looking for the giant, because Geffray has told his name. Geffray says that with God’s help he will find him next day. Geffray rides in the morning to the hole where Grimold disap- peared. He jumps in sword in hand, and sees a light and a path, He makes the sign of the cross and follows it. 1 fol, 193. Geffray comes to a chainber that contains a noble tomb, 328 and an alabaster statue of a queen, with this inscrip- tion, ‘Here lieth my husband, King Elynas of Albany,’ and other writing regarding his burial, and his daughters Melu- sine, Melior and Palastine ; and how the giant was put on guard until the arrival of an heir of one of the daughters, 2 fol. 193 db. Geffray looks a long while at the inscriptions, but knows not that he is of the lineage of Elynas, Gefiray leaves the chamber, and makes his way to a field, where he sees a great tower, He finds the gate, and enters the hall, where there are over a hun- dred prisoners. THE SECRETS OF THE CAVE, [oH. Lin perlys & precyous stones, & vpon it was figured the fourme of a knyght, that had on hys heed a ryche croune of gold wzth many precyous stones / and nygh by that tombe, a grete ymage of Albaster, kerued & 4 made aftir the fourme of a quene, crouned with a ryche crowne of gold / the whiche ymage held a table of gold / where-as were wryton the wordes that folowen. ‘Here lyeth my lord myn husband the noble kyng 8 Elynas of Albanye’ / and also shewed al the manyere how he was buryed there, and for what cause. And also spake of theire thre doughtirs, that is to wete, Melusyne, Melyor, and Palastyne / and how they were 12 punysshed bycause that they had closed theire fader / as in thystory tofore is reherced. Also it shewed by wrytyng how the geaunt had be there ordeyned for the kepyng & sauegarde of the place, vnto tyme he were 16 putte therfro by the prowesse of one of the heyres of the said thre doughtirs / and how there myght none neuer entre within yf he were not of that lynage / and in these tables of gold! was wel dyuysed along as it is 20 wreton in the Chapytre of king Elynas / and thus geffray beholding & seeyng, [pondered] by grete space! vpon 2the tables as vpon the beaute of the place / but he knewe not yet that the tables shewed that he was of the 24 lynee of kyng Elynas & Presyne his wyf. And whan he had wel behold a long tyme he departed, & went by a waye obscure tyl he fond a feld, thenne loked he tofore hym, & sawe a grete toure, square, wel batel- 28 mented, & went toward and went about the toure tyl he fonde the gate the whiche was open, & the bridge let faH doun, & entred in, & came to the haH, where he fonde a grete yron trayH,? wherin were closed a 32 hondred men & more of the Countre that the geaunt 1 Fr. Et ad ce veoir et regarder advisa Geuffroy par grant temps. 3 Fr, traillis, CH. LIT. } GEFFRAY SLAYS GRIMOLD. held for hys prysonners./ And whan they sawe geffray they meruaylled moche, & hym sayd, ‘Sire, for the loue of god flee you, or ye shal be deed; For the 4 geaunt shaH come ryght foorth that shal dystroye you al, were ye an C suche as ye are’/ And geffray ansuerd them al thus: ‘Fayre lordes, I am not here come but only the geaunt to fynd / & I shuld haue 8 don to grete foly to be come fro so ferre hither to retourne so hastly.’ And after these wordes cam the geaunt fro slepe. But whan he sawe geffray he knew hym, and sawe wel that his deth was nygh, and had 12 grete feer / and thenne he fledd unto a chambre, the whiche he sawe open, & speryd the doore to hym. And whan geffray that perceyued, he was ryght sorowful that he had not mete with hym at the entryng of the 16 Chambre./ hystorye sayth that geffray was right dolaunt whan he sawe the geaunt was entred into the chambre, and that he had speryd@ the doore to hym. Thenne 20 cam geffray toward the doore, rennyng with a grete radeur, & smote with his foot so mightyly that he made the doore to flye vnto the myddes of the chambre, 1And thenne the Geaunt swyftly went out at the doore 24 bycause he might none other way passe, and held in his hand a gret mayllet wherof he gaaf to geffray suche a stroke vpon the bassynet that he made hym al amased. And whan geffray felt the stroke, that was 28 harde & heuy, he foyned with his swerd at his brest, with suche yre that it entred in the geaunt thrughe to the cros of the swerd, And thenne the geant made vp 2an horryble cry, sayeng, ‘I am deed, I am deed.’ And 32 whan they that were in the traylles of yron herd it / they cryed with an hye voys, ‘Ha, noble man, blessid be the ooure that thou were borne of a woman, We pray the for the loue of god, that thou haue ys hens, 2 MS. has ‘&,’ 329 They are asto- nished to see Geffray, and ad- vise him to fly from the giant. Geffray replies that he has come to find him ; and just as he finished speak- ing the giant appeared. When he saw Geffray he knew his death was at hand. He fled to a chamber, and barred the door, Geffray bursts it open, 1 fol. 194, The giant rushes on Geffray, and strikes him with a mallet ; then Geffray thrusts his sword into the giant right up to the hilt. The giant cries out, ‘I am dead, I am dead!’ The prisoners on hearing the ery bless the hour of Getfray’s birth, and beg their deliverance, 330 Geffray finds the keys, and re- leases them. He tells how he came, and presents the prisoners with the contents of the tower. fol. 194 d. The prisoners put the giant’s body ona chariot, and burn it. Geffray returns to the valley with the prison- ers bearing their shares of the goods of the tower and the giant’s head. Geffray is feast- ed; he refuses gifts, and leaves the country, The prisoners take the giant's head about the GEFFRAY FREES THE PRISONERS OF GRIMOLD. [cH. LIL, Liv. For thou hast at this day delyuered this land out of the gretest myserye that euer peuple was in.’/ Cap. LUI. How geffray delyuered the prysonners that the geaunt kept in4 pryson. nd thenne geffray cerched the keyes so longe tyl A he fonde them, & lete the prysonners out; and this doon, they aH kneeled tofore hym / & asked hym 8 by what way he was come. And he said to them the trouth. ‘By my feyth,’ said they, ‘it is not in remembraunce that this foure hondre@ yere was no man so hardy to passe by the Caue, but onely the geaunt 12 and his antecessours, that fro heyre to heyre haue dystroyed aH this Countre / but wel we shal bryng you another way.’ And thenne geffray gaf to them al the hauoir of the toure./ 16 Cap. LIV. How the prysonners led the geaunt deed vpon a Charyott. he prysonners thann toke the Geaunt deed, & putte hys body in a Charyot, and sette hym ryght vp, 20 & bound hym so that he shuld not faH, & putte fyre And this don, they led geffray to the place where he had left his hors, vpon the whiche he mounted, & descended toward the valey with al the 24 goodes that they had. Wherof euery man had his part /and toke the heed hool of the geaunt with them / and came foorth tyl they sawe geffrayis knightes and the more part of the nobles & peple of the Countre, 28 the which fested & dide to geffray grete honowr / and to hym wold they haue youen grete yeftes, but he wold none take / but toke his leue, & departed fro them. And the prysonners bare the heed of the geaunt thrugh 32 al good tounes for euery man to see, of the whiche all about hym. cn. LY. | GEFFRAY IS TOLD OF HIS MOTHER’S DEPARTURE, sight euery man had grete merueyH that one man alone durst be so hardy to assaylle such a deueH. And here seaceth thistory of that more to speke / and retourneth 4 to speke of geffray. | n this partye sayth thistorye that geffray rode so long that he came to mountyoued+ in garande, where they of the countrey receyned hym nobly. And 8 for thenne was come his brother Raymond to enfourme hym of the yre that theire fader had, & of his wordes that he had said of hym, And hym recounted fro the bygynnyng vnto the fyn. And how theire moder was 12 departed and al the manere / And how the first bygynnyng of her departyng' was thrugh theire vncle of Forestz. And how she had said at her departyng that she was doughter of kyng Elynas of Albanye. 16 And whan geffray herd this word he bethought hym of *the table that he fond vpon the tombe of kynge Elynas. And by this he knew that he and his brethern were come of the same lynage; wherof he thought 20 hym self the bettre, but this not with standing he was ryght sorowfuH of the departyng of hys moder, & of the heuynes of hys fader / and knew thenne wel that this misaduenture was come & grew by therle of 24 Forestz his vnele. Wherfor he sware by the holy And thenne he made to go to horsback hys brother and his x. knightes, trynyte that he shuld quyte hym. and rode toward the Countee of Forestz / and had 28 tydynges that the Erle his vucle was in a Fortresse that was edyfyed vpon a roche ryght hye / and was the self Fortres named at that tyme Jalensy, and now it is called the Castel Marcelly. 82 Cap. LV. How Geffray was the deth of the Erle of Forestz hys vncle. 1 Fr, Monjouet. 331 country, and the people marvel that one man should have been brave enough to have fought such a devil. Geffray is well received at Mountjouet, His brother Ray- moud tells of their father’s rage, and how their mother had departed owing to the behaviour of the Earl of Forest ; and that she was a daugh- ter of King Elynas. 2 fol. 195, Geffray recollects the inscription on the tomb of Blynas, and understands that he is of the king’s lineage. He is sorry for his mother, and swears re- venge on the Ear! of Forest. Geffray takes his brother and ten knights, and . rides to his uncle’s castle, 332 He enters his uncle’s hall, and finds him among his barons, and calls out ‘To death traitor, for through thee we have lost our mother.’ Geffray ap- proaches the Earl, with sword drawn, The Ear] runs out of a door followed by Gef- fray, who chases him to the top of the tower, 1 fol. 195d. The Earl gets out of a window to pass to an- « other tower, but loses his hold and falls dead at the foot. Geffray looks out of the window and upbraids him for the loss of his mother, Geffray descends to the hall, where none dare to speak against him. He orders his uncle to be buried, and ex- plains to the barons his uncle’s misdeed, Geffray makes his uncle’s ba- rons do homage to his brother Raymondin, GEFFRAY AVENGES HIS MOTHER, [CH. LvI, o long rode geffray that he came to the Castel S and anoone he alighted & went into the haH where he fond the Erle emong' his barons / and thenne he cryed with an hye voyce / ‘ to deth traytour / For thrughe the we haue lost our moder’ / and foorth with drew his swerd' & yede toward the Erle / And the Erle whiche knew wel hys fyersnes and anoone fled toward a doore open / and that part geffray folowed hym / and so long chassed hym fro chambre to chambre to the hyest part of the toure where he sawe he myght no ferder flee / he toke a wyndowe / and 4 8 supposed to haue passed vnto a tour Inygh but for 12 to saue hym from the yre of geffray / but footyng faylled hym, & feH doun deed to the grounde. thenne geffray loked out of the wyndowe, & sawe hym al to rent & brusid lyeng' deed on the erthe / but therof he toke no pyte / but sayd ‘False traytour by thyn euyl report I haue lost my lady my moder / now haue I quyted@ the therfore.’ And thenne he came doun ayen to pe halle / but none so hardy was there that durst say one word ayenst hym. And he thenne commanded that his vncle shold be buryed / and so he was and his obsequye don, And after pat geffray recounted & shewed to the barons of the land why he wold haue slayne his vncle / and bycause of the Erles mysdede and false reporte they were somewhat peased, And thenne Geffray dide make them to doo hommage to Raymond his brother, that was aftirward Erle of Forestz, And now seaceth thistory of hym to speke / and retourneth to shewe of Raymondyn his fader / Cap. LVI. toward hhys fader and prayed hym of mercy, And 16 20 How Geffray went to Lusynen 32 CH. LVI. | RAYMONDIN STARTS ON A PILGRIMAGE TO ROME, hystorye sayth that soone aftir this delyt was shewed to Raymondyn, wherof he was ryght dolaunt & sorowful / but he forgate it lyghtly, bycause 4 that his brother had announced hym the tydynges whereby he lost his wyf / and said to hym self / ‘ this pat is doo may be none otherwyse / I most pease geffray or he doo ony more dommage.’ And ! therefore 8 he sent word to hym by hys brother Theodoryke that he shuld come toward hym at Lusynen. And geffray came to his fader at his mandement / and as ferre as he sawe hym he putte hym self on his knees / and 12 prayed hym of pardon & mercy, sayeng in this wyse, ‘My ryght redoubted lord, my dere fader, I beseche you of forgyfnes & pardon / and I sware you that I shal doo make ayen thabbay of Maylleses fayrer than 16 euer it was afore / and there I shal found ten monkes ouer the nombre of them that were there byfore.’ ‘By god,’ said Raymondyn, ‘al that may be doo with the helpe of god / but to the deed ye may not restore 20 theire lyf. a pelgrymage that I haue promysed god to do. But geffray it is trouth that I muste go to And therfor I shal leue you the gouernaunce of my land / and yf by auenture god dide hys wylle of me, al the 24 land is yours / but I wyl & charge you this that your moder hath ordeyned by her last wylle to be doo be fulfylled. She hath bequethed to Theodoryke Partenay, Merment, Vouant & al theire appurtenawnces 28 ynto RocheH, with the Castel Eglon w7th al that therof dependeth / and fro this tyme fourthon I enpocesse hym therof for hym and for his heyres.’ Thenne said Geffray to him, ‘Dere fader, wel it is 32 raison that it be so don.’ This doon Raymondyn made his apparayH, & with hym mounted on_horsback many lordes & knightes, and toke with hym grete fynaunce & hauoir and so departed and foorth rode 36 on his way, And Geffray & ?Theodoryke conueyed 333 Geffray’s father is told the story. He determines to appease Geffray, 1 fol. 196. He sends Theo- dorie to ask Gef- fray to come to Lusignan. Geftray obeys, and on seeing his father falls on his knees and asks pardon, and promises to re- build the abbey of Mailleses better than it was before, Raymondin an- swers that with God’s help he may fulfil his promise, but that will not bring the dead to life. He tells Geffray that he is going on a pilgrimage, and that he leaves his land in his care, and makes him his heir. Raymondin de- clares that Theo- doric has been left Parthenay and other lands and castles by his mother, Raymondin then starts on his pil- grimage, accom- panied by many knights, and well provided with money and goods, 2 fol. 196 b, 334 Geffray and Theodoric go part of the way with their father, and Geflray tells how he found the tomb of his grandfather Ely- nas at Brom- belyo, and what was written on the golden tablet about Elynas’ three daughters, one of whom was Geffray’s mother. Raymondin is glad to hear that his wife was the daughter of Ely- nas and Pressine. He tells his sons to return, and eontinues on his way to Rome. He gives Theo- doric a ring, Melusine’s part- ing gift. fol. 197. Raymondin reaches Rome, and does rever- ence to Pope Benedict. He confesses his sins, The Pope gives him due penance, Raymondin dines with the Pope, and next day visits the holy places. When his affairs are attended to he takes leave of the Pope, RAYMONDIN CONFESSES TO THE POPE. [ou. LVII. hym tyl he bade them to retourne. And as they rode geffray recounted hym how he fonde the tombe of Helynas his granfader wethin the mountayne of Brombelyo, vpon foure Coulonnes of fyn gold and of 4 the ryches of pe place / and of the fygure of the quene Pressyne that stod vp ryght, and held a table of gold, and of this that was there writon / and how theire thre doughters were predestyned / ‘of the whiche,’ 8 said geffray, ‘owr moder was one of them’ / and shewed hym al the begynnyng of the matere vnto thend of hit. And wete it wel that Raymondyn herkned hym gladly, & was wel pleased of that he said that hys wyf 12 Melusyne was doughter of king Elynas & of Pressyne hys wyf. And thenne he gaf lycens to his children to retourne. And so fey departed & retourned toward Lusynen / and Raymondyn: held on his way toward 16 Romme. And to theodoryke he gaf the ryng' whiche Melusyne gaf hym at her departyng fro hym. Cap. LVI. How Raymondyn came toward the pope of Romme and confessed hys 20 synnes to hym. ere sayth thystorye that Raymondyn rode so long that he came to Romme and his companye with hym, where he fonde the Pope named Benedictus / 24 & drew hym toward hym to whome humbly he made reuerence, & syn kneeled tofore hym & confessed his mysdedes & synnes in his best wyse / and as touching this that he was forsworne ayenst god and Melusyne 28 hys wyf, the pope gaf hym therfor such penaunee as it playsed hym. and that same day Raymondyn dyned with the pope Benedicte / and on the morne he yede & vysyted the holy places there. And whan he had 32 doon there al that he muste doo, he toke leue to the Pope & said to hym in this wyse, ‘Ryght reuerend holy fader, I may not goodly considere in me how euer OH. LVII. | THE POPE GIVES RAYMONDIN HIS BLESSING, Wherfore I purpose to yeld myself And thenne the Pope hym demanded thus, ‘Raymondyn, where is your deuocyon I may haue joye. into some hermytage.’ 4 & wylle to goo?’ ‘By my feyth, holy fader,’ said Raymondyn, ‘I haue herd say that there is to Mount- ferrat! in Aragon a deuoute & holy place / & there wold I fayn be.’ 8 said.’ intencion is thither to goo and to yeld my self there ‘My fayre sone,’ said the pope, ‘soo it is And to hym said Raymondyn, ‘ holy fader, my hermyte, for to pray god that it playse hym to gyue allegeaunce to my lady my wyf.’ ‘Now fayre sone,’ 12 said the Pope, ‘with the holy gost may ye goo / & al that ye shal doo with good wyH I remysse it to your penaunce.’ And thenne Raymondyn kneeled & kyssed the popes feet. And the pope gaf hym hys benedic- 16 tion. / And thenne departed Raymondyn & came to hys lodgys / & dide doo ?trusse & make aH redy for to departe / and as touchyng his meyne nor of hys way I wyl not make long’ mencyon / but he rode so long 20 that he came to Thoulouse / and there he gaf lycence & leue to aH hys meyne to departe & retourne / except only a Chappellayn & a Clere that he toke with him / and wel & truly he prayed %euery one so that they 24 were content / but sory they were aH of theire maister that so departed fro them / and he sent lefres to geffray & to the barons of hys land that they shuld doo theire hommage to his sone geffray, & receyue hym for theire 28 lord. And his meyne toke the lefres / and soo they departed fro theire lord with grete sorow & heuynesse, For he neuer told them what way he shuld take / but wete it he had with hym goodes ynough / and dyde so 32 moche that he came to Nerbonne where he rested hym a lytel space of tyme. VyNbystorye sheweth in this partye that whan Raymondyn was come to Nerbonne he dide 1 Montserrat,.the correct reading, ? Fr. trosser les sommiers. 335 and tells him that he wishes to be a hermit, The Pope asks where he would like to go. Raymondin an- swers Mount- serrat in Aragon, The Pope be- stows his bless- ing, after Ray- mondin had kissed his feet. Raymondin gets on his way, and when he arrives at Toulouse he pays off his men, 3 fol. 198, and sends them home with letters to Geffray, which order the barons of his land to do homage to Geffray. His men return sadly, without knowledge of where their mas- ter is going. Raymondin goes to Narbonne, where he makes a halt ; - 836 RAYMONDIN INSPECTS THE HERMITAGE OF MOUNTSERRAT. [cH. LVII. and has hermits’ habits made for himself, his chaplain and his clerk, He continues his journey till he arrives at Mountserrat, He attends di- vine service, He is asked if he will stay the night, and an- swers ‘yes.’ 3 fol, 198 b, Raymondin visits the hermit- ages, and finds the third cell empty, the hermit having died lately, doo make many hermyte habytes, and also for his Chappellayn & Clerk suche as they owe to haue / and syn departed & went tyl he came to ! Parpynen where he soiourned one day / and on the morne “he passed 4 the destraytte & mounted the mountaynes of Aragon / and so foorth he came to Barselone the Cite where he toke hys lodgys and soiourned there thre dayes, and on the foureth toke. hys waye toward Mountferrat where 8 he came & yede & vysyted wel the Chirche & the place there, whiche semed hym ryght deuoute / and there he herd the deuyne seruyse deuoutly / but yet had he on hys worldly gownes / And thenne came to hym they 12 that were ordeyned for to lodge & herberowe the pelgrymes, and demanded of hym yf it playsed hym to abyde there for pat nyght / and he ansuerd ‘ye.’ Thenne were his “horses stabled / and they gaf hym a 16 fayre Chambre for hym & for his men, And in the meane while Raymondyn yede & vysyted the hermy- tages / but he went no ferther than to the v™ celle, for that place was of so grete heyght that he myght not 20 goodly goo thither / and fonde the III* celle exempt. For the hermyte there was deed but late tofore that. And there was stablysshed of old a Custome that yf within a terme prefix none came there to be hermyte, 24 he of the nerest Celle gooyng vpward muste entre into that other Celle so exempted / and so al the hermytes benethe hym to chaunge theire places vpward. And so by that maner wyse was the nedermost Celle of al 28 exempt & without hermyt. And the cause of this permutaczon was that alwayes the nedermost hermyte most serue hys brother hermyte next aboue hym of meet & drynk after theire pytaunce & manere of etyng, 32 and so foorth dide that one to that other vpward / and 1 Fr, Perpignen, 2 Fr, passa le vellon et le pertuys, et vint @ disner a Funéres, et au giste d Gnomie, Omitted above. » CH. LVIL. | RAYMONDIN IS MADE A HERMIT. thus one serued other. And so ferre enquyred & knew Raymondyn of theire maner of lyuyng that he toke grete deuocéon to it more than tofore / that is to : 4 wete to be hermyte there. And thenne he toke leue of the v hermyte & so dide as he descended of the other. And after the of thabbey / and it was told hym that he was in the he demanded pryour 8 vyllage nygh by thabbay that was hys, whiche vyllage was called Culbaston / and themne he desyred them And so Raylmondyn left there his Chappellayn & his that they wold conduyte hym there as he was. 112 Clere, and with a seruawnt of the place went there as pe _ pryour was, whiche receyued Raymondyn with joyful chere. And there shewed Raymondyn al hys wyH and deuocyon and how the place playsed hym, And thezne 116 the pryowr that sawe Raymondyn of fayre coutenaunce _& man of grete worship graunted hym the exempted place, wherof Raymondyn had grete joye at herte. / herne was Raymondyn ryght joyous whan the 220 pryowr had graunted hym the place of the nethermost hermytage and moche panked god therof. and so he bode there with the pryowr al that nyght / and on the morow they mouzted and came ayen to 24 thabbay where as Raymondyn toke his habytes and was there made hermyte. And thenne was the deuyne seruyce doon, where Raymondyn offred ryche jewels as gold and precyous stones. And after the seruyce 128 they went to dyner / and raymondyn dyde doo send to hys bretheren hermytes besyde theire pytaunce other meetes for recreacion, letyng’ them knowe hys_pro- Wherof al they lawded god, 132 deuoutely prayeng hym that he wold hold & encres And so dwelled Raymondyn in thabbay, and on the morne he entred fessyon & commyng. Raymondyn in good deuocyon. in to his Celle wher he bygan to le#a holy & strayt 36 lyf. And anoone after was the tydynges spredd MELUSINE, 337 Raymondin, after his en- quiries, takes a greater liking to the place than ever, He takes leave of the hermit in the fifth cell and descends, Raymondin asks to be taken to the prior of the abbey. 1 fol. 199. The prior enter- tains Raymon- din, and at his re- quest grants the empty cell. The next day Raymondin is made a hermit, and after divine service inakes a rich offering. Raymondin tells his brother her- nits of his pro- fession, and sup- plies thein with extra meats, The hermits praise God, and pray for Raymondin. He enters his cell, and begins to lead a holy life. 338 The news that a great prince has professed himself a hermit be- comes known, 1 fol. 199 0. and many come to see Raymon- din and ask him his name, but he will not tell it. Raymondin’s men return to Lusignan, and deliver the ~ letters. The barons de- clare that they are ready to do Geffray homage in place of his father, He accepts it. When the people know that Ray- mondin has ex- iled himself, and that Geffray is lord, they begin to be afraid, 2 fol. 200. GEFFRAY BECOMES LORD OF LUSIGNAN, [cH. LVII. thrugh aH Aragon & Langgedok how that a grete prynce was made hermyte at Mounferrat / but they knew not of what Countre he was. And ‘also he wold neuer vttre it / And many noble men went to 4 see hym / and in especial the king! of aragon was there hym self, which asked hym of his estate & Countre / but of hym he coude neuer wete it. And here resteth thystorye of them / and retourneth to shewe of 8 Raymondyns men that departed fro Thoulouse. / hystory recounteth that so long rode the men of Raymondyn after they were departed fro Thoulouse that they came in Poytou & so foorth to 12 Lusynen, Where they fonde geffray and many of the barons of the land / and after theire obeyssaunce doon they delyuered theire letres to geffray & to the barons as they were commanded by Raymondyn theire lord. 16 Whan the baronye vndersto@ the tenour of theire letres they said to geffray in this manere / ‘My lord syth it playseth not your fader vs more to gouerne / and that he wyl that we doo owr hommage to you, we 20 are al redy thereto.’ ‘ By god,’ said geffray, ‘ gramercy, Fayre lordes, and I am redy to receyue you to your lygeauns.’ And penne they dyde to hym hommage. And anoone after was knowen thrugh al the Countre 24 how Raymondyn had exilled hymself for the grete sorow that he had for his wyf Melusyne that he had lost. Who themne had sene the dolewr & lamentable heuynes that men dide thrugh aH the Countre 28 wysshyng theire lord & theire lady, he shuld haue had hertely pyte, For many one fered geffray for cause of his yre & fyersnes. But for nought they doubted, For he gouerned hym rightously & wel, Here I sha{l] 32 leue of bem 2to speke / and shal shewe of geffray that was ryght dolaunt & sorowful of that he had lost both hys fader & his moder thrugh his owne mysdede & synne. For they that were retourned fro hym coude 36 CH. LVII. | ' QEFFRAY’S REPENTANCE, not say where he was come. Thenne remorse of conscience toke geffray at herte & remembred how he fyred thabbaye of Maylleses, & brent hys brother 4 Froymond and al the monkes per without hauyng ony | lawful cause so to doo / and that thrughe hys synne he angred bothe hys fader & moder, and by that cause he had lost his moder. Wherfore he toke suche sorowe 8 that it was meruayH / and also he remembred the deth of the Erle of Forest hys vnele, which thrugh his faytte fell doun fro the hyest toure of the Castel Marcelly to the erthe. 12 my[s|dedes and synnes, and sore wepyng bygan to say / And thus remembred geffray aH hys that but yf god had pyte on hym he was lyke to be lost & dampned for euer, And thenne he hymself alone entred into a chambre / and there he bygan to 16 make grete sorowe & lamentable wepynges prayeng god with herte contrite that he wold haue mercy on hym / and as god wold he toke there deuocéon to goo to Romme for to confesse his synnes to our holy fader the And thenne he sent for his broder theodoryke that he shuld come to speke with hym, For he loued hym aboue al oper. And assoone as Theodoryke vnderstod! the mandement of hys brother geffray, he 24 foorthwzth mounted on horsback & rode tyl he came to Lusynen where geffray was, that receyued hym with joye, & said to hym that he wold leue al hys land in his gouernaunce, For he ! wold go to Romme to 28 confesse his synnes tofore the pope / & that he wold neuer come ayen tyl he had found hys fader. Thenne Theoderyk prayed hym that he wold suffre hym to goo with hym. And geffray shewed to hym that it were 32 not good for them bothe so to doo / And thenne geffray with noble companye departed and toke with hym grete goodes, and toke with hym one of hys faders seruaunts that was retourned fro Thoulouse for 36 to conduyte hym al that way that hys fader yede / 20 pope. 339 Geffray is full of remorse when he thinks of the loss of his father and mother, and how it was caused by his misdeeds, Geffray enters a chamber alone, and prays with a contrite heart for mercy. He resolves to go to Rome to confess to the Pope. Getfray sends for Theodoric 1 fol. 200 b. to tell him that he is going to Rome to confess to the Pope, and that-he leaves his Jands in Theo- doric’s charge. Theodoric wants to go with him, but Geffray says it would not do. Geffray takes plenty of goods, and sets out on his journey with one of his father’s servants, Z 2 340 GEFFRAY CONFESSES TO THE POPE, [CH. LVIII. and he shuld euer take hys lodgys there as hys fader was lodged by the way, And the seruaunt hym ansuerd that gladly he shuld so doo. Cap. LVIII. How Geffray went to Romme 4 & confessed hys synnes tofore the Pope. hystorye sayth that whan geffray was departed fro Lusynen he rode so long by hys journeyes that he came to romme, and drew hym toward our 8 Geftray es holy fader the Pope, to whome he made humble reuerence and syn deuoutely confessed hym of hys He is charged to synnes. And the Pope charged hym to make thabbay rebuild the abbey : of Mailleses. of Maylleses to be edyfyed agayn & therto ordeyne six 12 score monkes, & many other penitences the pope charged hym doo, the whiche as now present I shal not shewe. And thenne geffray said to owr holy fader the Geffray leas | Pope how he wold goo to seke hys fader, and the pope 16 that his father é 1 fol. 201. told hym that he !shuld fynd? hym at Mountferrat in is at Mount- serrat. He kissesthe kyssedt his feet / and the pope gaf hym hys _ bene- Pope’s feet, Sy None and receives the dictéon, And so geffray departed fro Romme & toke 20 enediction, Geffray goesto hys way toward toulouse where he cam & hys meyne Toulouse, and Aragon, And thenne he toke leue of the pope & with hym and was lodged where as his fader dede lodge tofore. And there the seruaunt asked of theire hoste yf he coude not telle which way hys lord 24 finds that his Raymondyn toke / And thoste said to hym that hys father went from ene sala lord had hold the way toward Nerbonne & that no ferther he knew of hys way. And the seruaunt told it to geffray. ‘By my feyth,’ said geffray, ‘that is 28 not the next way for to goo to Mountferrat / but syth my fader went that way so shal we doo.’ And thus He follows the on the morne geffray & hys meyne departed & hasted same route, though it is not them toward Nerbonne, where they cam & were lodged 32 the direct way to Mountserrat, there as Raymondyn had tofore lodged. For so moche enquered the servaunt that he knewe pat hys lord dide —_ Rar CH. LV11. | GEFFRAY IS RECOGNISED AT MOUNTFERRAT. lodge there, & how he dide do make there many habytes for an hermyte. And on the morne geflray toke hys way toward Parpynen, where he cam, & fro 4 pens he rode wth hys meyne to Barselone, & penne to thabbey of mountferrat where he alyghted & sent hys horses to Culbaston / and syn he yede & entred in to the Chirch. And anoon the seruaunt beforsaid! sawe 8 the Chappellayn of Raymondyn his lord within a ChapeH And immedyatly he tol of it to geffray. Wherof the had grete joye and yede toward the Chappellayne, the whiche whan he sawe getfray he 12 kneeled tofore hym and said, ‘My lord ye be ryght welcome’ / and syn he recounted to geffray the good lyf that hys fader led / and how euery day he confessed hym & receyued his creatowr / and that he ete nothing 16 that receyueth deth. And thenne geffray asked hym where he was. And the Chappellayn to hym said, ‘he is in yonder hermytage / but my lord as for this day ye may not speke wth hym, but to morne ye shat 20 see hym. ‘By my fayth,’ said geffray, ‘fayn I wold see hym today / but sith it is soo I must take it in ‘My lord,’ said thenne the Chappellayn, ‘yf it playse you ye may here the hye patience ty[1] tomorowe.’ 24 masse, and therwhiles I shal ordeyne and shew your meyne where your Chambre shal be dressed, and also I shal doo make your dyner redy at your retourne fro the masse,’ 28 henne departed the Chappellayn fro geffray, that went to here masse acompanyed with x knyghtes and wel xx squyers. And thenne came the monkes of the place to Raymondins Chappellayn and demanded ‘What is that grete deueH with that grete toth? he semeth wel to be a cruel man / 32 of hym in this wyse. wherof knowe you hym / is he of your Countre?’ ‘By my feyth,’ said the Chappellayn, ‘ye / It is 36 geffray with the grete toeth of Lusynen, one of the best 34] At last Geffray reaches Mount- serrat. His servant re- ports that he has seen his father’s chaplain. 1 fol. 201 0. The chaplain wel- comes Geffray, and tells him of the good life his father leads ; how he confesses and communi- cates daily, and that he eats no- thing that has had life. The chaplain says Geffray can- not see his father till next day. Geffray hears mass ; and when he is out of sight the monks ask the chaplain, ‘Who is that great devil with that great tooth?’ He tells them, ? fol. 202. and they ask if itis not the same one who killed the Northumber- land giant, and burnt the Abbey of Mailleses and all the monks therein. The chaplain an- swers that he is. The monks are much afraid, The chaplain tells them to be at ease, because the hermitage contains the per- son Geffray loves most of all in the world. The monks clean and decorate the church, and send word to the prior of the arrival of Geffray. The prior finds Geffray in the church, and does him reverence. Geffray thanks him, and pro- mises that the place will be none the worse for his visit. 2 fol. 202 b, THE MONKS’ FEARS ARE DISPELLED. [cu. LVITII. & moost valyaunt knightes of the world & wete it he lholdeth grete possessions & grete landes.’ And the monkes ansuerd, ‘Wel we haue herd speke of hym / is it not he that sloughe the geaunt in garand and that 4 other geaunt also of Northomberland / he is also he that brent thabbay of Maylleses with aH the monkes perinne bycause that hys brother was there shorne monke without hys leue.’ ‘By my feyth,’ said the 8 Chappellayn, ‘certainly it is that same.’ And penne the monkes al abasshed and aferd sayd / he is come hither for to doo vs some myschief and dommage. Thenne said one of them, ‘ wete it wel that I shal hyd 12 myself in suche place that he shal not fynd me.’ ‘Noo,’ said the Chappellayn, ‘Forsoothe I waraunt you he shal doo you no hurt nor dommage, but al ye shal soone be glad of hys commyng, For suche one is 16 within this place that he loueth aboue al creatures of the world.’ And whan they vnderstod the Chappellayi they were somwhat assured and went & hanged the chirche, and made al the place fayre & clene to theire 20 power as god hymself had descended there / and sent word to the Pryour that was at Culbaston that he shuld come there, and that geffray with the grete toth was come in pelgrymage in to theire abbaye, and noble 24 companye with hym. ‘Thenne came there fourthwith the pryour that fond geffray in the Chirche, and honourably made hym reuerence and sayd that he hymself / the monkes & al the place was at his 28 commandement, ‘Sire,’ said geffray, ‘gramercy and wete it wel I loue this place / and yf god gyf me helthe it shal 2not be the wers for my commyng.’ ‘My lord,’ said the pryour, ‘god yeld you.’ Thenne 32 cam the Chapellayn to geffray and hym said, ‘My lord, your dyner is redy.’ And therwith geffray toke the pryour by the hand and togidre went into the haH, where they wesshed theire handes & syn sette them at 36 — OH. LVIIL. | THE MEETING OF FATHER AND SON. dyner; geffray and the pryowr deuysed long space togidre of one thing & of oper. And thus passed foorth that day. / 4 J” this partye sayth thystorye that on pe morne geffray roos vp and fonde the priowr and his faders Chapellayn waytyng after hym whiche led hym to here masse / and after the masse they let hym toward 8 the hermytages. And thenne the pryour toke his leue of geffray & retourned to Chirchward supposyng none other but that geffray went for to see thestate of the hermytes and for none other cause. For he had neuer 12 trowed tliat his fader had be per. And thenne mounted geffray toward the first hermitage that was wel Ixxx And wete it that the Clerc was at Raymondyns Celle doore waytyng for stepes highe vpon the mountayne. 16 the Chappelayn that shuld say masse tofore Raymondin. And as the Clerk loked dounward, he perceyuet geffray that came upward & wel knew hym, and forthwith entred in the celle & said to Raymondin, ‘My And whan Raymondin vnderstod it he was ryght joyows and said, 20 lord, here commeth yowr sone geffray.’ ‘blessed be god / he is welcomme.’ Thenne entred first the Chappellain in to the Celle & salued 24 Raymondyn / but he bade the Chappellayn to say geffray that he myght not speke with hym tyl pat hys And foorthwith the cha!pellayn dyde as Raymondyn hym commanded. And geffray masse were doon. 28 ansuerd, ‘his playsire be doo.’ This doon Raymondyn : was confessed and herd his masse & receyued the holy sacrament. And in the meane sayson geffray beheld vpward the great mountaynes whiche were high & 32 ryght vp and sawe thermytages that were aboue hym / and sawe the Capelt of Saynt Mychel whiche was the v'" hermytage, and after loked dounward / and in hym self had grete meruayH how man durst there take 36 habytacyon / and to hym appered the Chirche and 343 Geffray and the prior dine and converse a long time. Geffray hears inass in the morning, and goes with the prior and the chaplain to the hermitages, where the prior takes his leave. Geffray mounts to the first her- mitage, and is recognised by Raymondin’s clerk. He tells his master of Gef- fray’s presence, Raymondin says ‘He is welcome.’ 1 fol. 203. Geffray has to wait till his father hears mass before he can see him, He looks about while waiting, and wonders how anyone can live in such a place, “344 Geffray enters his father’s cell, and salutes him, Raymondin takes him in his arms and kisses him. Geffray tells his father how he had been at Rome, and how he confessed, and was told by the Pope that his father was at Mountserrat, Geffray asks his father to return to his country, but he answers that he cannot, as he intends to stay at Mount- serrat, aud pray for Geffray’s mother, for him- self, and for Gefiray. 1 fol. 203 b. Geffray takes his leave. His father sends a greeting to his children and his barons. Geffray gives presents to the Church ; and at dinner tells the prior that Raymondin is his father, and asks him to take care of him, and the Church will lose nothing by it. GEFFRAY TELLS HIS FATHER OF HIS REPENTANCE. [cH. LVIII. housyng of thabbey but as lytel Chapelles. Thenne Chapellayn & called geffray and he entred within the Celle of his fader / and anoone kneeled on his knees & dyde to hys fader reuevent salutacion [4 And Raymondyn toke hym vp in his armes and‘kyssed hym / and themne made hym to sette vpon a stoole with hym tofore the awter. cam the And there bygan geffray to shewe to hys fader how he was at Romme, and how 8 he was confessed of the pope / and the pope hym said that he shuld fynd@ hym at Mountferrat. And in this communycacion had they many materes togidre / geffray alwayes prayeng hys fader that he wold 12 retourne to his countre. ‘Fayre sone,’ said Raymondyn, ‘that may I not doo. For here I wyl spend my lyf, always prayeng god for thy moder & me, & for the, that god wyl amende the, my sone geffray.’ And soo 16 geffray was there al that day with his fader. And the next day in the morowe herd Raymondyn his masse, & receyued our lord, as hys custome was to doo / and after, said to geffray, ‘Fayre sone, it behoueth the to 20 parte from hens, & to retourne in to thy Countre; and grete wel al 1my children & my barons.’ And thenne geffray toke leue of hys fader al wepyng; and And after 24 came doun fro the mountayn vnto thabbaye, where loth he was to departe from his fader. he was honourably receyued / and the monkes had grete meruayH wherfore he was so long aboue. hystorye sheweth that geffray gaf grete ryches & 28 fayre jewelles to the Chirche, & after toke leue of the pryour & his monkes, but the pryowr hym conueyek vnto Culbaston, wher geffray dyned with the pryour / and tol@ hym in secret wyse that Raymondyn was 32 hys fader, whom geffray besoughte to take hede to hys fader, and that the Chirche shuld not lese nothing therby, For euery yere ones duryng hys lyf he wold come & vysyte hys fader. Thenne ansuerd the pryowr, 36 = CH. LVIII. | A MEETING OF THE FOUR BROTHERS. *doubte you not, my lord, there shal be no deffawte but And thenne toke geffray leue & went to Barselone to hys bed. I shal vysyte & remembre your fader.’ 4 And on the morne he departed toward Lusynen wher as Theodoryk hys brother & the barons receyued hym with ryght grete joye, and were glad of his commyng. And whan they were at leyser, geffray shewed to hys 8 brother theodoryk the very effect of euery thing! Foorthwith Theodoryk that moche loued his fader bygan to wepe ful tenderly. touchyug theyre fader. And geffray seeyng his broper make suche sorowe to 12 hym said thus, ‘My ryght dere brother, yet must ye abyde here, For wete it wel that I wyl goo sce our two bretheren in almayne, that is to vnderstand Regnauld king of behayne and the Duc Anthony of 16 Lucembourgh / but I wyl not departe without aray of men of armes, For per be in thoo marches ryght euyl peple the which !gladly wold robbe them that passe by the way.’ ‘By my sowle, my brother, I hold wel 20 withal that ye doo as ye say / but I beseche you ryght entierly brother that we leue owr countre in the gouernawnce of our barons & take with vs v.C. men of armes, and that it may playse you I to go with you; 24 For I haue herd say that there is grete werre betwix them of Anssay & them of Austeryche.’ ‘By my feyth,’ said geffray, ‘Ye say wel, For perauenture our brother Anthony is in hand with them.’ And whan 28 they had made theire ordonnaunce, Odon the Erle of Marche came and spake with geffray, and brought in hys company thre score men of armes, For at that tyme he had warre ayenst the Earle of Vandosme / 32 and also Raymond their brother Earle of Forestz cam there the same day. And there the foure bretheren made there moche one of other / and were joyful for the tydynges that they herd of theire fader / and said / 36 ones they hoped to see hym togidre. 345 Geffray returns to Lusignan, where he is joy= fully received. He tells Theo- doriec about their father. Theodoric weeps at the story. Geffray proposes to visit Regnald and Anthony. 1 fol. 204. Theodoric wishes to go with him, because he has heard there is war between Anssay and Austria, They are joined by Odo, Earl of March. The brothers make much of each other, and are glad of the news of their father, -346 Geffray arranges for the rebuilding of the abbey of Mailleses, He and Theodo- ric appoint good governors for their countries, 1 fol. 2040. Odo and Ray- mond propose to go with them to Allmain. The Earl of Ven- dome makes his peace with Odo, The four breth- ren ride with their company to Castle Duras, near which they lodge. The King of Ans- say was at war with the Dukes of Freibourg and Austria, He was besieged by them at Pour- rencru, THE KING OF ANSSAY AT WAR, [cu. LIX. Cap. LIX. How Geffray reedyffyed the monastery of Maylleses. Ge afore his departyng charged & ordeyned peuple for the reedyfyeng of the Abbaye of 4 Maylleses, as hym was youen in Charge by the pope by way of penaunce / and to them assygned where they shuld take bothe gold & syluer therwith to paye the werkmen. And so lefte he a good gouernowr in 8 hys countre / And in lyke wyse dyde his broper And whan Odon & Raymond sawe that they wold departe to go 1to see theodoryk in his Countre. theire bretheren in Allemayne, they sayd in lyke wyse 12 wold they doo. And commanded anoone theire peple to mete with them at Boneuatt. And at that tyme were the bretheren acompanyed with two thousand And whan 16 the Erle of Vandosme herd tydynges therof he supposed men of armes & a thousand Crosbowes. certaynly that they came to exille hym, and that Odon had complayned hym to hys bretheren of hym, and so moche he doubted geffray that he came to BoneuaH 20 and yelded hym to the grace of Odon erle of Marche. And he pardomned hym of al the mysdedes that he had doo to hym. And the erle of Vandosme made hym homage of the land that was in debat atwix 24 them. / ere sheweth thystorye that the foure bretheren departed fro Boneual & were in theire companye many grete lordes, and rode in fayre aray tyl they cam 28 vpon an euen and lodged them nygh a ryuere called Meuze, by a Fortresse named the Castel Duras. But as now I shal cease of them to speke / and shal begynne to speke of the kyng of anssay, that had grete 32 warre ayenst the Erle of Frebourgh & with the Duc of Austeryche, the which had besieged hym within a Castel of hys that was called Pourrencru. Wherfor CH. LIX. | GEFFRAY AND HIS BRETHREN MARCH TO LUXEMBOURG. he sent word to Regnault kyng of Behayne that was maryed with his Cousyn / and lyke wyse to the Duc Anthony of Lucembourgh prayeng them of ayde & 4 socour ayenst his enemyes, at the whiche instaunce & prayer / the two bretheren Regnald & Anthony made theire apparayH. 1And Regnaulde departed out of his Royalme of Behayne and came to Lucembourgh with 8 ILIL. C men of armes for to haue hys brother Anthony with hym toward the siege of Porrencru, wher the kyng of anssay was besieged within. And pat meane sayson came two knightes to Lucembourgh from geffray 12 and his thre bretheren pat were with hym, the which two knightes brought word bothe to regnauld & anthony of theire bretheren commyng, and that they And 16 whan kyng regnauld and the Due Anthony knew that were nygh the toun and cam for to see them. theire bretheren were commyng toward them, they were full glad & immedyatly commanded that al the stretes shuld be rychely hanged, and syn mounted on 20 horsbak, and with noble companye they went to mete them ; and rode ty] they mete with the vanwarde of theire armee & asked where theire bretheren were / and it was shewed to them where they were commyng 24 vnder the standart. stod that anthony & regnauld his bretheren came to Geffray thenne, that wel vnder- mete hem, he made euevy man to stand apart / and soone after the six bretheren mete togidre and embraced 28 & made moche one of other / and after rode foorth toward the toun / and aftir theire age they rode two & two togidre. Odon and Anthony were the formest, and after them rode Regnauld & Geffray / and them 32 folowed theodoryk & Raymonnet / and al theire oost came after in fayre ordynaunce / and in this manere they entred in to the toune, where as the Cytezeyns were in theire best rayments al in a rowe 36 on bothe ?sydes of the stretes, that were rychely 347 He had sent for help to Anthony and Regnald, 1 fol, 205. Regnald with four hundred men goes to Anthony, to accompany him to the siege of Pourrencru. Geffray sends word that he and his three brothers are on their way to Luxembourg. Regnald and Anthony meet their brethren outside the town. fol. 205 b - 348 The citizens marvel at their appearance. The brethren are received at the castle by the Queen of, Bohemia and the Duchess of Luxembourg. Geffray tells of his adventures, How he had found the tomb of King Elinas and Queen Pressine, from whom they had all sprung, and how their father had become a hermit at Mountserrat. Anthony and Regnald tell their brethren that they are to help the King of Anssay. 1 fol. 206. Geffray answers that he and his brethren are ready to do so as well; GEFFRAY RELATES HIS ADVENTURES. [ou. LIX. hanged / and the ladyes & damoyselles loked out of the wyndowes / and so grete & noble apparayH was there made for theire commyng that it was a fayre syght. routh it is that whan the bretheren entred within 4 Lucembourgh, Anthony & Geffray rode thenne the formest of al theire bretheren. And wete it that the notable Citeseyns, ladyes, & damoiselles meruaylled moche of the fyersnes and grete height of theire lordis 8 bretheren, sayeng’ that they six togidre wer able & wel shapen to destroye a grete oost / And thus they rode thrugh the toun into the Castel and there they alighted. There were the six bretheren recountred of 12 two noble ladyes, that is to vnderstand the quene of Behayn and the Duches of Lucembourgh, that honourably receyued theire lordes and brethern, And aftir they went into the haH that was al hanged with 16 ryche cloth of gold / and per were the tables rychely couered & redy to dyner. And thenne after many playsaunt deuyses and joyfuH wordes, they wesshed theire handes and sette them at dyner and were nobly 20 serued, And after dyner geffray shewed & recounted aH hys auentures & fayttes / and how he fonde pe tombe of Elynas / & of the quene Pressyne of whiche lynee they were yssued, wherof they were al joyful & 24 glad to meruayH / and how theire fader was departed and where he was. For of aH other thinges they And themne Anthony & regnauld told to theire bretheren how the kyng of Anssay was 28 besieged & that they wold help hym. knew ynough. Thenne Tansuerd Geffray, ‘My lordes, my bretheren, wete it wel we are not come hither to take owr rest / but we al are redy to goo with you whersomeuer ye wyl / & 32 therfor lete vs not make long soiourne / but go we? vpon our enemyes to helpe & socoure owr frendes.’ And foorthwith Geffray and hys bretheren that were 2 ‘we’ repeated in MS, CH. LIX. | THE BRETHREN MARCH ON FREIBOURG. come there with hym toke theire leue of bothe the queene & duchesse theire sustirs & retourned to theire oost / and thezne Regnauld & Anthony wold haue 4 conueyed them / but geffray said, ‘Fayre lordes & bretheren, ye shal come no ferther / but make al your apparayH & take leue of your wyues, and to morne, god before, we wyl departe toward the said Castel wherin 8 the king of Anssay owr frend is besieged.’ And soo Anthony and regnauld retowrned sayeng eche one to other, ‘ Certaynly this man may not long endure / but he be other take or slayn. For he fereth of nothing 12 in the world / & also to counseylle hym, it were but for nought, For he suffreth nothing, but as his wyt & For yf he had with hym but X. Mt men, & that he sawe his enemyes tofore hym to 16 the nombre of IIC. Mt yet wold he fyght & medle with them, wherfore we must take heede to hym that mynde gyueth hym. he vaunce not hym self so moche with the enemyes, but that we be nygh hym to socoure hym wth our 20 peuple / but for this haste that he maketh we owe not to wete hym euyl gree For cause that assoone as oon may, he muste aduyse the wayes to hurt & And thenne they lefte of 24 geffray theire brother more to speke / but bothe they said that he was ryght hardy & valyaunt. And on the morne they !toke leue of theire wyues and left in the land a good gouernouwr. dommage his enemys.’ And also geffray on that 28 other part ordeyned & purueyed of al thinges that were necessary to hys oost. / j is the next day Geffray made blowe vp hys trompettes, that euer[y] man shuld be armed, and after herd 32 his masse and syn marched forth wth hys oost / And immedyatly Anthony & regnald came out of the toun with theire peuple in fayre aray. And so they departed and rode togidre tyl they came into the land of 36 Anssay / and on an even lodged them thre leghes nygh 349 he then returns to his host. Geffray refuses Anthony and Regnald’s company, and asks them to prepare to start to succour the King of Anssay in the morning. They speak of Geffray’s bravery. 1 fol. 206 0. In the morning they take leave of their wives and appoint a governor. Geffray orders every man to arm, and after mass is said his host marches. Anthony and Regnald join him with their people. ‘390 A LETTER OF DEFIANCE IS SENT TO THE GERMANS. [cH. LIX, They arrive three leagnes from Freibourg. A letter of de- fiance is written to the Duke of Austria and the Earl of Freibourg, 1 fol. 207. and sent by a herald to the Duke of Aus- tria at Pour- rencru. It is read in hearing of all the nobles there. They say that the devil has sent the breth- ren against them, and that only the fame of the Lusignans is now spoken of. The herald re- turns to the brethren’s camp. Geffray takes five hundred men, and am- bushes them in a wood near Freibourg, the toune of Frebourgh. Thenne called geffray al his bretheren and shewed to them that it behoued not them for theire honowr to renne vpon no man but that they had defyed hym tofore / And they ansuerd that 4 he said trouth. Wherfor they lete make a letre of deffyaunce of whiche the tenour foloweth. ‘ Regnauld by the grace of god kyng of Behayne, Anthony Duc of Lucembourgh, Odon Erle of Marche, Geffray lord of 8 Lusynen, Raymond Erle of Forestz, and Theodoryk lord of Partenay. To the duc of Austeryche and to the Erle of Frebourgh, and to al theire alyaunces gretyng. And where we haue vynderstand that with- 12 out ony lawfult quareHt or raysonnable cause ye haue gretly hurt & dommaged bothe the land & peuple of our ryght welbeloued vnele the king of Anssay, the whiche as now ye haue besieged within his Castel of 16 Pourrencru, And for as moch that we be therfor meued, & entende & purpose to entre in your land to dystroye you & al your peuple / consyderyng the noble ordre of knight'hode that it shal not be by vs 20 mynnsshed. We perfor by owr messager send you oure le¢res of deffyaunce, &c.’ Thenne was delyuered the le¢re to a herault, which rode tyl he came to the siege of Pourrencru wher he presented the said lettre 24 to the Duc of Austrych . the whiche lefres were red& in heryng of al pe lordes there. Thenne said they of Allemayne the Deuell hath brought hem hyther, none other renomme is now thrugh al the world but of them 28 of Lusynen. ‘Therne retourned the herault toward the six bretheren, and to them shewed the manere how they of theire enemyes oost were meruaylled. ‘ By my feyth they haue herd speke of vs from ferre / but now 32 they shal see vs nere to them.’ / It is trouth that thenne geffray departed with fyue hondred men of armes from his oost & went and embusshed his peuple in a lytel wot nygh the toun of Frebourgh. This 36 CH, LIX.] GEFFRAY CAPTURES FREIBOURG. doon he & ten knyghtes with hym, & a squyer of Lucembourgh that ryght wel coude speke Almayn tonge & knew al the Countre, went vpon a lytel 4 mountayne to behold & see how he myght entre in the toun / but or he departed he said to them of his embusshe in this manere: ‘ Sires, I entende & purpose with the help of god to haue the toun of Frebourgh or 8 to morne pryme at our playsire. Wherfore this nyght I sha departe with this X knyghtes and this esquyer, & at the spryng of the day I shal bygynne myn enterpryse / and but loke wel whan ye perceyue vs 12 within the gate that fourthwzth ye marche toward vs.’ And thenne about thre of the clokk after mydnyght Geffray / his ten knyghtes and his guyde toke teche of them a sack fuH of hey and bare it before them 16 vpon tharsons of theire sadels. In this maneve they went & came tofore the gate of Frebourgh, where as the said esquyer called the watche pat they myght entre, sayeng that they were frendes and that they had Thenne asked hym the porter what they had in thoo sackes, the squyer ansuerd 20 be a that nyght in fourrage. there ben in gownes & suche thinges and suche ware / that we haue take vpon owr enemyes and we bryng 24 them hyther to selle them.’ supposyng they had be of Allemayne & theire frendes opend the gate & lete fat the bridge. geffray first of alle, and foorthwith drew his swerd and The porter thenne Thenne entred 28 slew the porter / and in conclusyon they slough al them of the watche. them of the toun ‘treson / treson’ / And immedyatly Thenne was there the cry of marched thembusshe & came & entred in the toun. 32 There was grete occisyon of them of the toun / but many of them escaped and fledd. And whan this was doon geffray lefte there foure hondred men of armes & retourned with the residue toward hys oost that he 36 mete by the way toward the siege. Of this noble 351 He then takes ten knights and a squire, who speaks German, and knows the country, and goes to a hill to see how he could enter the town. He tells his ambush that he hopes to have Freibourg in the morning, and that when they see that he and his knights have entered the yate they are to march up to him. 1 fol. 207 b. Geffray and his knights take each a sack of hay, and ride to Freibourg. The squire asks the watch to let them in, as they are friends. The porter opens the gate, and lowers the bridge. Geffray enters first, and slays the porter. At length all the watch is slain. The cry of trea- son is raised, The ambush comes up, and many of the townspeople are killed. Goeflray leaves four hundred inen-of-arms in charge of the town, and with those left marches back to his brethren, 352 who marvel at his valiant and subtle feat of aris, 1 fol. 208. The Earl of Freibourg is sor- rowful when he learns the news. After mass the brethren begin to march, They are seen by the besiegers, The alarm is given, and they arm, The hosts fight ; the ground is soon red with blood, fol. 208 b, THE FIGHT AT THE SIEGE OF POURRENCRU. [cH. LIX. enterpryse & valyaunt fayt the brethern of geffray and al theire peple were meruaylled / sayeng that geffray was the moost valyaunt knyght & subtyl in the faytte of armes that lyued at that day. And joyous & glad 4 they marched courageously 1toward theire enemyes. Anoon after came tydynges to the siege how Frebourgh was lost, wherof the Duc of Austeryche and in especial the Erle of Frebourgh were sorowful & wroth, ‘By 8 my feyth,’ said thenne the Duc of Austerych, ‘they be subtyl men of warre & moch to be doubted. Yf we loke not wel about vs they myght wet gyue vs a grete chak.’ Wherfor they called theire CounseyH. 1 n this partye sayth thystorye that on the next day by the morowe the six bretheren herd masse, and after ordeyned peire bataylles / geffray & his thre bretheren that were come with hym conduyted the first 16 batayH, Anthony had the second, And regnauld the III*. And so marched forth in fayr ordynawnee, and so wel renged that it was a fayre sight to behold, And whan the sonne bygan to shewe bryght & clere 20 they came vpon a lytel mountayn into the valey. Thenne were they percyued, and they of the siege bygan to cry alarme. Thezne armed hym euery man, And in theire best wyse came & renged them before 24 the bataylles of the brethern. Thenne bygan the bataylles of bothe sydes to approche eche other / and with grete cryes of one part & of other medled & ranne ~ with theire sperys vpon eche other. The grounde was 28 there soone dyed rede with grete effusyon of blood. For Geffray with hys swerd smote at the lyfte syde & at the ryght syde vpon his enemyes & ouerthrew or sloughe aH them that he recountred. And *the six 32 baners of the bretheren rengid them togidre in fayre aray. ‘There were the armes of Lusynen wel shewed and knowen in pycture, and also by pesaunt and horryble strokes, For the six bretheren perced the 36 prees & smote, cuttyng heedes, armes, & Jeghes of theire enemyes here & there, and made suche occysyon that it was meruaylle / Geffray recountred by aduenture the Due of Austrych, on whom he descharged hys swerd by such myght that he made hym to staker al astonyed, And therxne theodoryk that was nygh by, strak hym fourthweth and ouerthrew hym, and so 8 incontynent he was take. And the noble and valyaunt Anthony dyde ryght valyauntly, For he toke the Erle Freburgh and made hym to delyuere his swerd to hym, What shuld 21 make long compte. they of Allemayne were dys- and after betoke hym to foure knightes. comfyted and bygan to flee. Thenne came the kyng! of Anssay out of the Fortres glad & joyous of the dyscomfyture of hys enemyes, and came to the brethern 16 tentes where he thanked them moche of theire noble socowr and gretly festyed them. And were brought there tofore hym the Duc of Austeryche & the Erle of Frebourgh with syx noble barons / and to hym said @the bretheren, ‘Sire, here ben your enemyes as And the kyng thanked them gretly & humbly. And this doon geffray _ prysonners, doo of them your playsyvr.’ and hys bretheren that were cdme !with hym toke 24 leue of the kyng of Anssay, of theire brethern Anthony 3 & Regnauld, and retourned in theire Countre. But + thystory sayth that aftirward aH the bretheren fonde eche other togidre at Mountferrat, where they held a 28 noble feste for loue of Raymondyn theire fader, whiche i was ryght glad and joyous to see there his children, ? but soone he toke leue of them and retourned in to hys _hermytage. And thenne the six bretheren gaaf grette 132 tyches & jewels to the chirche there, and after departed P and toke leue eche one of other & retourned to theire - Countrees, some by the see & other by land, H” testyfyeth thistorye that as long as Raymondyn : 36 lyued, Geffray & theodoryk came there euery f MELUSINE. cu. LIX. | THE DUKE OF AUSTRIA AND EARL OF FREISOURG ARE TAKEN. 353 The brethren slay many of their enemies. Geffray en- counters the Duke of Aus- tria, and strikes him with his sword. Theodoric, who was at hand, gives him another stroke, and overthrows him. The Duke is taken. Anthony cap- tures the Harl of Freibourg. The Germans begin to flee. The King of Anssay comes out of his for- tress, and thanks the brethren, and feasts them. The Duke of Austria and the Earl of Freibourg are brought before him, and the brethren tell him to do what he pleases with them. 1 fol. 209. The bretliren return home. They afterwards meet at Mount- serrat on a visit to their father, who is joyful at seeing them, They give rich gifts to the church, Geffray and Theodoric go to Raymondin every year; AA 354 but one day when they were about to journey to Mountserrat, a great serpent is seen on the battlements of Lusignan castle. It has a woman’s voice. The people are abashed, and know it to be Melusine ; the brothers weep. When the ser- pent sees them she inclines her head, and utters a dolorous cry, Geffray and Theodoric go,to Mountserrat and find their father dead. 1 fol. 209 b. They mourn, and dress themselves and their men in black, and arrange their father’s obse- quies, The King of Aragon, and many lords, attend and hear mass. After the burial Geffray thanks them. A tomb is placed over Raymondin. MELUSINE BEWAILS THE DEATH OF RAYMONDIN, [cH. LIX. yere ones to see hym / but it befelt on a day, as they were bothe at Lusynen redy for to go to Mountferrat, a meruayllows auenture, For there was seen vpon the batelments of the Castel a grete & horryble serpent the 4 which cryed with a femenyne voys, wherof aH the peuple was abasshed / but wel they wyst that it was Melusyne / whan the two bretheren beheld it, teerys in habundaunce bygan to fat fro their eyen ; For they 8 And whan the serpent sawe them wepe, she enclyned the heed toward knew wel that it was their moder. them, casting suche an horryble cry & so doulorous that it semed them that herd it that the Fortres shuld 12 haue faH. And anoone aftir the two brepern geffray & theodoryk departed toward Mountferrat where they came and fond their fader deed, whereof they lamented & made grete sorow land anoone clothed 16 themself and al theire meyne in blak, and ordeyned for thobsequye of their fader. There came the kyng of aragon with many grete lordes that offred at the masse. And whan the scruyse was doon & the corps 20 buryed honourably / geffray went & thanked the kyng' and his barons of thonour that pey had doon to hys fader and to his brother & hym. / FJNXbus as thystorye sheweth was thobsequye of 24 Raymondyn deuoutly & nobly doon, and a ryche sepulture was made & sette vpon his graue, & trouth it is that Bernardon the neuew of Geffray was there that ryght wel coude behaue hym among the ladyes, 28 in so moche that the quene of Aragon, that was there, desyred her lord to demande of Geffray what that yong gentylman was / and that / the kyng dide gladly. And thenne geffray ansuerd, ‘Sire, he is my neuew, sone to the Erle of Marche my brother.’ ‘Certaynly, Geffray,’ said the kyng, ‘Wel I byleue that, For he is wel nourrytured and semeth wel to be of noble 32 CH, LIX. | THE OBSEQUIES OF RAYMONDIN. extraction / and wete it wel that his contenaunce playseth vs ryght wel and so dooth lyke wyse to the quene / and veryly yf it playsed you to suffre hym 4 abyde with vs in owr Court we wold doo for hym that he & you bothe shuld be playsed therwizth.’ ‘ Sire,’ said geffray, ‘his fader hath another sone and two doughtirs, & syth it is your playsir to haue hym he is 8 come hither with vs in a good heure & that playseth me wel.’ And thexne the kyng thanked. hym moche, and so dyde the quene. And wete it that Bernardox 1Wedded aftirward, at thinstaurxce & prayer of the kyng of Aragon, the doughtir of the lord Cabyeres that And theane the kyngi and the quene, lordes & ladyes, toke theire leue had none to hys heyre but her. of the two bretherne, the whiche after grete yeftes of 16 ryches by them youen to the chirch toke leue of the pryowr and hys monkes, and after departed and retourned to Lusynen, where as they called to them aH the baronnye and there was thobsequye of Raymondyn’ 20 honourably doon. And aftir Geffray shewed to his brother Odon, Erle of Marche, how & wherfore hys sone Bernardon was lefte wzth the kyng of Aragon, wherof he was glad. And thenne the bretheren and 24 the barons toke leue of Geffray and retourned to theire And Geffray abode at Lusynen and dyde aftirward moche good; For he reedyfyed the noble countrees. Abay of Maylleses and dyde grete almesse to the poure 28 peuple. hystorye sayth that aH the heyres of Raymondyn and Melusyne regned nobly, that is to wete Vryan in Cipre, Guyon in Armenye, Regnault in 32 Behayne, Anthony in Lucembourgh, Odon in Marche, Geffray Theodoryk in Partenay. And of theyre lynee are yssued them of Castel Regnault, They of Penbrough Rtaymonet in Forestz, in Lusynen, and 355 The Queen of Aragon takes Geffray’s nephew to her court. 1 fol, 210. He afterwards marries the only child of the Lord of Cabyeres. Geffray and Theodorie give great gifts to the church, and return to Lusignan, where the obsequies of Raymondin are honourably done. Geffray tells Odo that Bernar- don had been left with the King of Aragon. Geffray rebuilds the Abbey of Mailleses, The nine heirs of Raymondin and Melusine reign nobly, and from them are issued the lords of Castle Regnault, of Pembroke, A A-2 (356 of Cabyeres, and of Cardillac. Geffray governs his land well, and administers good justice. For ten years he asks no ac- counts from his receivers, who 3 fol. 210 . are told when they wish him to examine the accounts, that when justice is done, and his towns and castles are well provided for, and he has plenty , of money, he is content. But his stewards ask, for their own safety, that he should give them quittance, Geffray looks at his accounts, and sees an item of ten sous that was paid yearly for the pommel of the highest tower of Lusig- nan Castle. He is told that it is an annual rent. Geffray declares he holds the castle direct from God, his Creator, His stewards tell Geffray that they do not know to whom they pay the ten sous, GEFFRAY AUDITS HIS ACCOUNTS, [cu. LIX. in England / they of Cabyeres in Aragon,! and they of 2Cardillak in Quercyn. / ere after saith thistory that geffray ten yere aftir H. the decez of Raymondin his fader gouerned 4 ryght wel & kept good justice in his land / but duryng that long space of tym he asked of his receyuours none acomptes, but whan the *receyuours wold haue shewed theire acomptes le to them ansuerd in this manere: 8 ‘What acomptes wold ye shew to me? For as touching myself I wyl none other acompte, but that justice be wel and truly kept thrugh al my land, and my tounes & Castels wel entreteyned, and gol# & syluer to hold 12 & kepe myn estate / trow ye that I wyl make a paleys of gold / the stone that my lady my moder me gaf, suffyseth me ryght wel.’ And thenne hys stywardes & gouernours ansuerd, ‘certaynly, my lord, it behoueth 16 wel to a prynce to here and see what he spendeth, at lest ones in a yere / al were it but for the saluacyon of hys receyuours in tyme to come and for to gyue them quytaunce.’ 20 H™ sayth thistory that geffray consentit to here thacomptes of his receyuours. And it came to an article where he vnderstod that 4X. % were payed euery yere only for the pommel of the hyest toure of 24 hys Fortresse of Lusynen / he anone rested there and asked why it was not made so strong that it myght laste many wynter. ‘ My lord,’ ansuerd the receyuours / ‘it is rente annueH.’ ‘ What say ye?’ said geffray / ‘I 28 hold not the fortresse but only of god my Creatowr / wel happy I were yf he held me quyte therfor of aH my synnes / but telle me to whom ye paye.’ ‘Certaynly,’ said they / ‘we wot not’ / ‘How thenne,’ said Geffray / 32 ‘ye desyre of me quytaunce therof / so wyl I haue 1 Fr. version gives in addition ‘ceula du Chassenage du Dauphiné; ceulx de la Roche? 2 Fy, Candillat, 4 Fr. dix soublz. CH. LIX. | A MYSTERIOUS RENT. quytauxce of hym that receyueth it of you / as rayson is / but by god ye shal not begyH me soo, for yf I may knowe who that taketh that annuel rente of me, he 4 shal shew me good le¢res therof made / or he or ye shaH yeld me ayen the said aznuel rente fro the tyme that ye first alowed it in your acomptes !vnto now.’ Thenne said the receyuours to Geffray in this manere : 8 ‘My lord, trouth it is / that six yere agoo after the doulorows departyng of my lady your moder from your fader / euervy yere vpon the last day of August was sene a grete hand that toke the pommel of the said 12 toure & pullyd it fro the toure by so grete strength that the rouf of the tour brak therwzthal, and so it ,ti costed euery yere to make ayen xx" or xxx*ti. thanne came a man to my lord your fader which he nor no man 16 knew what he was, and counseylled hym that euery yere vpon the last day of August he shuld doo take a purse of hertzs leeder and to be put in it xxx pieces of syluer, eche piece worth *foure penys, that made in 20 summa ten sheling', And that this purse shuld be putte vpon the pommel of the said toure / and by that shuld the pommel abyde styl and not hurt nor dommaged / And whan geffray vnderstod this meruayH he bygan to and euer syth tyl now it hath thus be doon.’ thinke, and long he was or he ansuer@ or said ony word, / hystorye witnesseth that long thought Geffray 28 vpon this faytte, and after he said in this manere : ‘Sires, how wel that I byleue that it is as ye say, Neuertheles I charge you vpon peyne of deth that ye no more paye the said aznuel, but at the last day of 32 August bryng to me the purse and the money, For I wyl make the payement myself.’ Thenne sent geffray for hys brother theodoryk in Partenay, and also for hys brother Raymond in Forestz, that they shuld be 2 Fr, livres. 3 Fr, guatre deniers, 357 Geffray says that he who takes the money must show letters patent proving his right, or he will have to return it. 1 fol. 211. The receivers tell how six years after the depar- ture of Melusine, and the last day of August every year, a great hand pulled down the pommel of the tower, which cost twenty to thirty livres to repair. Then an un- known man came and advised Ray- mondin to put thirty pieces of silver on the pommel the last of August each year, and the tower would be un- injured. Geffray marvels much at the story: at length he for- bids his steward to pay the rent again on pain of death ; but says on the day the money is to be given to him, and he will pay it himself. Geffray sends for Rayimondin and Theodoric, 558 1 fol. 211. and tells them the story, and that he is not going to pay again until he knows why the fortress is so bound, On the last of August Geflray hears mass, and arms and takes the loney. He bids his brethren fare- well, and goes to the top of the donjon, He waited from noon till three o'clock, but saw nothing. Then he heard a great noise that shook the don- jon, and he saw an armed knight who said, ‘ Gef- fray, wilt thou deny my tri- bute ?’ Geffray asks tor his letters, and says, ‘If thou hast them I will pay thee,’ The knight answers he has none, but that he has always been paid regularly, Geffray tells the knight that even if it were a good debt he would find it difficult to get, GEFFRAY GOES TO PAY HIS TRIBUTE. [CH. LIX, And whan they were come he shewed 1to them al the with hym at Lusynen the xxvi* day of August. matere of the said arznuel rente, and said that he neuer shuld suffre it to be payed; but that he first knew to whom and why the fortres of Lusynen was bound thus for to doo. And whan the last day of August came, Geffray herd hys masse and receyued ryght deuoutely the holy sacrement and immedyately armed hym, and bad the preste putte the stolle about his nek / and And penne he bad his bretheren farwel, sayeng in this aftir toke the purse with the money therin. manere : ‘I wyl departe and serche for hym that thus yerly taketh trybute of my fortresse / but I assure you yf he be no more of strength than I am I shaH hastly byreue hym of hys trybute.’ And so he yede yp to the vpermost stage of the donjon / and his bretheren and the barons taryed benethe in grete doubte and fere that geffray shuld be perysshed / but geffray was therof not agast / but loked long yf he coude see eny thing. H thus as thystory sheweth geffray rested there fro none to thre of the clok, that he ne herd nor sawe nothing’ but anoone after he herd a grete noyse wherwith aH the donjon shook / and as he loked tofore hym he perceyued a grete knyght armed of al poynts, that said to hym with a hye voys, ‘Thou geffray, wilt thou denye my trybute that of ryght I ought to haue vpon the pommel of this toure of the which I was seasyd & enpocessid by thy fader?’ ‘Thenne,’ said Geffray, ‘where are the le¢res? yf thou hast them, shew it how my fader was bound, and yf I see thou hast good ryght / here is the money redy to paye the.’ and therne the knyght ansuerd in this manere: ‘I had neuer letres therof / but wel & truly ‘By my feyth,’ said geffray, ‘al were it good debte and thy haue L be payed and neuer denyed tyl now.’ pay + 8 12 16 20: 28 32 ryght to haue it / yet shuldest thou haue grete peyne 36 CH. LIX. | GEFFRAY FIGHTS THE STRANGE KNIGHT. to recouere it of me. And on the other part thou holdest me for thy subget & !woldest hold me in but 4 what art thou that thus by the space of ?XVI. yere seruitude and thou hast therof nothing to shew. hast thevely take this trybute? / I now deffye the by the myght of my sauyowr and the I chalenge for myn herytage.’ ‘By my feyth, said the knyght, ‘ doubte 8 not therof but that I ama creature of god, and myn name shalt thou knowe tyme ynough.’ And without eny more questyon eche of them recountred other with And what with that and with 12 the stampyng of theire feet, the noyse was so grete myghty & gret strokes. that al pey that were benethe were abasshed, and supposed that the donjon shuld haue faH. Wherfor And 16 his bretheren shuld haue assysted hym, but geffray had they wyst wel that geffray had somwhat to doo. them deffended so to do. And wete it wel whan the knyght of the tour fond Geffray so fyers & so strong, he putte his swerd vp in the shede and thrugh his 20 paueys behin# hym. And whan Geffray sawe hym that doo / he dyde lyke wyse with his sheld / but he with bothe his handes smote the knyght vpon the helmet with his swerd so myghtyly that he stakerd 24 perwith. And thenne the knight toke geffray in his armes / and with that geffray lete fa his swer@ and wrestled with hym / and wete it wel ther was lytel | And whan the 28 knyght perceyued the purse about geffrays neck he supposed to haue had it from hym / but geffray kept hym therfro / sayeng' / ‘or thou haue purse or money it shal cost the the best blood in thy body / but for 32 trouth I meruayH how thou mayst so long withstand me.’ fauour shewed on neyther part. ‘By my feyth,’ said the knight, ‘I haue more meruaylle how thou mayst withstand my strengthe / but to morowe shalt thou haue a new day with me, 2 Fr, quatorze ou de av, ans, 359 1 fol, 212. but as he has nothing to show that it is due, he demands his name, and defies him, The knight replies that he is a creature of God, and that Geffray will learn his name soon enough, They fight, and make so great a noise that those below think the don- jon will fall, His brethren would have come to his help, but Geffray had for- bidden them to do so. The knight sheathes his sword, and puts his shield behind him. Geffray strikes him on the helmet so that he staggers, He wrestles with Geffray, and tries to take the purse from him. 360 1 fol. 212d. The knight ap- points another struggle in a meadow by the river next morn- ing on condition that Geffray comes alone. Geffray agrees, and the knight disappears, Geffray comes down and brings the shield he had won in his right hand, and the purse in his left, His brethren are abashed, and ask whom he had found. He answers, the most valiant knight he had ever seen, and tells of his covenant, and of the sudden departure of the knight, They laugh at the story, but when they look at Geffray’s helmet they see there has been a great fight, In the morning Geffray goes to the meadow. He calls to the knight. ‘Be ye he that will take tribute upon my for- tress?’ 2 fol. 218. The knight says he is, GEFFRAY MEETS THE KNIGHT NEXT DAY, [ou. LIX. For now the sonne is to his rest, !and thou shalt fynd me yonder vpon that medowe beyond the ryuere al But thou shalt assure me pat no personne shal passe the ryuere 4 but thou.’ no more ther shal not, and with that he departed that redy armed to chalenge the and my ryght. ‘By my feyth,’ said geffray, ‘I the assure geffray wyst not where he became. ‘By my feyth,’ sayd thenne geffray, ‘here is apert messager, I haue 8 grete meruaylle what this may be, and so came he doun and brought w7th hym the knightes sheld that he had wonne. hystorye witnesseth whan Geffray was come doun, 12 T hys sheld about his neck and the knyghtis paueys in his ryght hand that he had wonne / and in his other hand the purse with the money, hys bretheren and the baronnye pere were abasshed therwith, and 16 And thenne he said he had fond the moost valyaunt knyght that ever he asked hym whom he had fond, dyde dedes of armes withal. And to them shewed al the maner of batayH & of theire couenawnt / and how 20 he wold haue had the purse, and how he departed so sodaynly, and they bygan to lawhe, sayeng pat neuer tofore they herd of suche a thing. But whan they sawe geffrays helmet & al hys harneys so perysshed 24 with strokes, they had no courage to lawhe, For they knew wel there was sore batayH. And on the next day erly geffray roos, and he & hys brethern herd masse & drank ones. And thenne armed hym at al 28 pieces & mounted on horsbak / And his bretheren and pe barons yed to conueye hym to the ryuerve, where he toke leue of them and passed ouer on the other syde of the ryuere. / 32 hystorye telleth that anoone Geffray fond pe knyght and to hym said with a hye voys, ‘Sire *knyght, be ye he that wyl take the trybute vpon my. Fortresse?’ And he ansuerd, ‘ye by my feith.’ And 36 CH. LIX. | GEFFRAY PROMISES TO BUILD AN HOSPITAL. ryght forth said geffray, ‘I chalenge the, wherfor deffende the.’ he sette the spere in the rest and geffray lyke wyse / And whan the knight vnderstod this, 4 and so eche of them recountred other / by force wherof they brak thaire speris to the hard fyst in many pieces. And whan they had thus manfully broken theire speris they drew out theire swerdes and smote eche other 8 with grete & myghty strokes that the fyre sprang out of theire harneys, wherof the peple vpon the ryuere syde had grete meruayH & were al abasshed how that euer they might endure the grete strokes, For they left not And they faught fro the morow vuto thre of the Clok at aftirnone and neue’ 12 one piece of harneys hool. seaced. And so grcte was the batayH that none 1{wist] which of them had the bettre. 16 the knight bygan to say to geffray / ‘here me now, I And thenne haue the wel assayd / and as touching the trybute I the quyte. And wete it wel that / that I haue doo, it hath be for the prouffyt of thy fader & of his sowle, 20 For it is trouth that the pope enjoyned hym by way of penaunce for the forsweryng that he had don to thy moder to founde a monastery, the whiche penawnce was not by hym obserued. but it is so yf thou 24 wylt edyfye an hospital, and founde therin a preste to syng dayly for thy faders sowle / thy fortres fro this day fourthon shalbe quyte of ony trybute / how be it there shal be sene about the towr more meruaylles 28 than in eny other place of pe world.’ And geffray ansuerd, ‘yf I knew for certayn that thou were of god I wolt gladly ?fullfuH thy wyH in this byhalf.’ / And he said he was. And thenne geffray said / ‘ be 32 thou sure this shal be doon yf it playse god. but I And the knyght ansuerd, ‘Geffray, enquere no ferther, For as for this pray the say me what thou art.’ tyme thou mayst knowe no more / but only that I am 1 which in MS. 361 Geffray chal- lenges him, They break their spears, and draw their swords, and give each other inighty strokes, They fight till three o’clock, and no one ean tell who has the better of the fight. The knight tells Geffray that he forgives him the tribute. What he had done was for the good of Geffray’s father’s soul, who was to have founded a monastery as penance, but had not done so. If Geffray will build an hospital and endow a priest, he will quit him of his tribute alto- gether, Geffray answers, that if he knew the knight were of God he would do his will. 2 fol. 213 db. He declares he is, and Geffray promises that his will shall be done, 362 The knight dis- appears without telling his name. Geffray crosses the river to his brethren. They ask where his enemy has gone, Geffray says that they came to an agreement, but he cannot tell where the knight has gone. Geffray hung the shield he wore in his hall. After Geffray had built the hospital the shield vanished. Here ends the history of the heirs of Lu- signan, Long after the death of Guion of Armenia there was a wilful young king, who heard tell of a castle in Great Armenia, where dwelt the fairest lady in the world, She had a sparrowhawk, and to any noble knight who could 3 fol. 214, watch it three days and nights without sleep, she gave what- ever they asked, save herself. The young king resolved to go, and said he would take nothing but the lady’s person, THE STORY OF MELIOR’S CASTLE. [CH. LIX. ta Creature of god.’ And therwith he vanysshed that geffray wyst not where he became / wherof meruaylled moche they that were by pe ryuere. And thenne came geflray ouer the ryuer tu his bretheren, whiche asked hym how he had doo and where hys party aduerse was become. And geffray to them sayd that they were acorded togidre, but where he was become he conde not teH, And thezne they retourned to Lusynen where geffray dide doo hang‘ the paueys, that he had wonne vpon the knyght of the toure, in the myddes of his haH. Where as it heng tyl getfray had edyfyed the said hospytal, For thezn it vanysshed away that no man wyst where it became. And here fynyssheth the hystory of the heyres of Lusynen. but bycause that the kynges of Armanye ben yssued of that lynee, I wyl shewe herafter an auenture that befeH to a kyng of Armanye. P|NXhystorye sayth that long after the deces of kyng guyon of Armanye, Ther was a kinge of that land yong and fayre, lecherous and folowyng his wyH. The kyng vnderstcd by the report of som knightes vyageours, that there was in the grete Armanye a Castel whereas was in the most fayre lady that men wyst at that tyme in al the world / the whiche lady had a *sperhauk / and to al knightes of noble extraction that thither went & coude watche the said sperhauk duryng the space of thre %dayes and thre nyghtes without slepe / the lady shuld appiere tofore them and gyue them suche worldly yeftes as they wold wysshe This kyng thexne that was lusty and in his best age, and and were desyryng to haue, except only her self. t 8 12 16 that vnderstod the renommee of thexcellent beaulte of 32 the said lady / said he wold go thither / and that of But wete it that in the said-Castel might none entre but ones in the lady he shuld nothing take but herself. 1 Vr. de par Dieu, 2 Fr. exprevier, CH. LIX. | THE KING OF ARMENIA ENTERS THE CASTLE. a yere / and that was the day tofore the vygille of saynt Johan / and the next day after saynt Johans Whan the said 4.kyng was redy he departed & rode with noble company day euevy man must departe thens. so long that he cam to the forsaid Castel at the day assygned, tofore the which he dide dresse vp a ryche pauyllon and there he souped, and aftir went to rest, 8 And on the morne he roos and herd masse / and after that the masse was do, he drank ones, and syn armed hym and toke leue of them that were come with hym, which were sorowfuH for his departing, For they And this doon the kyng yed toward the sperhauk in the Castel. / ere saith thistory that whan the king was at 16 H thentree of the Castel, an old man al clothed in 12 trowed that neuer he shuld haue come ayen. whyte cam ayenst hym, & asked hym who that had ' brought hym thither / and he ansuerd in this manere: ‘Tam come hither to seke thauenture and to haue the 20 Custome of this Castel.’ And the good old man said to hym / ‘ye be ryght welcome, folow ye me, and I shal shew you the auenture that ye seke for.’ Thenne yede the king aftir the old man / and gretly was he 24 meruaylled of the grete & inestimable riches !that he And thene entred the old man into a noble halt rychely hanged, And aftir hym sawe, witlin the place. entred the kyng that perceyued in the myddes of the 28 haH a long horne of a vnycorne that was fayre & whyte / and therupon was spred a grete cloth of gold wheron stod the sperhauk and a gloue of whyt sylk vnder his feet. Thene said the old man to the kynge 32 in this wyse: ‘Sire, here ye may see thaduenture of this Castel / and wth it sethen ye are so ferfoorth come ye must watche this sperhauk thre days and thre nyghtes without slep, And yf Fortine suffre you so 36 to doo, wete it wel pat the noble lady of this ryalt 363 People could only enter the castle on the vigil of St. John’s, and the day after St. John’s day all had to leave. The King with his company arrived on the’ right day, and set up a pavilion before the castle, where he supped and rested the night, In the morning he heard mass, drank, amused himself, and went to the castle. An old man clothed‘in white asked at the entry why he had come. The King said, *To have the custom of the castle.’ The old man wel- comes him, and asks him to follow him into the castle, The King marvels at the riches he sees. 1 fol. 214 b, They come toa noble hall, and there the King sees the sparrow- hawk perched on a unicorn’s horn, The old man * tells the King that if he watches the sparrow- hawk three days and three nights without sleep 364 the lady of the castle will ap- pear on the tourth day, and grant what he desires most to have, except herself; if he asks to have her evil will befall him. 1 fol. 215. The old man left the King alone, in the hall. There was a table covered with all manner of dainties, but the King eat sparingly, so that he might be able to keep awake, 2 fol. 215 6. He spent his time looking at the pictures, and among others, sees figured the history of King Elinas and Queen Pressine, and their three daughters, and how they were punished for shutting their father in Mount. Brombelyo, The King watches until the third day, THE KING WATCHES THE SPARROWHAWK, [cH. LX. Castel shaH appiere tofore you on the foureth day, to whom ye shal aske that thing of the world whiche ye desyre moost to haue / except her body / and no doubte of but ye shal haue it / but wete it certaynly 4 yf ye desire and aske to haue herself, euyl auenture shal faH to you therof,.’ Cap. LX. How the king of Armanye watched the sperhauk. 8 1 he forsaid old man aftir that he had declared and shewed to the kyng the maneve of watching of the sperhauk, he departed fro the halle / and the kyng abode alone and had grete meruayH, what of the 12 grete ryches pat he sawe there, as of a ryche table that was in the haH couered nobly with al maner deyntes of meetes. And that part he drew hym self & ete a lytel and drank of that lyked best & kept good dyete and 16 made none exces, For wel he knewe that to moch meet & drynk causeth the body to be pesaunt & slepy. And to dryue fourth the tyme walked vp & doun the haH, taking! grete playsyr of the grete noblesse that 20 he sawe, *For there were ryche pictures where as were fygured many a noble hystory, and the wrytyng vndernethe that shewed the vnderstandyng cf it. And emong other hystoryes was there fygured the 24 noble hystory of kyng Elynas & queen Pressyne his wyf, and of their thre doughtirs, and how they closed their fader in the mountayne of Brombelyo in Northomberland / and how Pressyne theire moder 28 punysshed them therfor / and al the circonstaunces of peir faytes were there shewed in letres of gold fro pe bygynnyng vnto the ende. rete playsir toke the king to rede & see the said 32 G hystoryes. And thus he watched lokyng here and there ynto the thirde day. And thene he per- CH. LX. | THE LADY OF THE CASTLE APPEARS TO THE KING. ceyued a right noble chambre, and sawe the doore al wy open / and that part he went and entred in the chambre, and beheld per many knyghtes armed fygured _ 4and rychely paynted on the walles, and vnder their feet were their names writon in lefres of gold and of what lynee & countre they were / and aboue their heedes was writon in this manere: ‘Vpon suche a 8 tyme watched this knight in this Castel the noble sperhauk, but he slept / and therfore he most hold company with the lady of this place as long as he may lyue, and nothing worldly shal he wante of that his 12 herte can desire saf only the departyng fro the place.’ And there nygh were paynted thre sheldes in a rowe, and on them were fygured the armes of thre knyghtes and their names / their lynee & their Contre that they 16 were of were writon vnderneth / and aboue the sheldes was shewed by wrytyng this that foloweth :; ‘In suche a yere watched our sperhauk this noble knight ! wel and duely and departed with joye and had his yeft of And so long beheld the king that he almost slept / but he anoon came out of the Chambre 20 vs with hym.’ and sawe the sonne almost doun and passed fourth that nyght without slepe. 24 hewne was he glad whan he perceyued pe day. And foorthwzth at the rysyng of the sonne cam the lady of the Castel in so noble and so ryche aray that the kyng had grete meruayH therof / and what of 28 her ryches as of her excellent beaute, he was gretly abasshed. And thenne the lady dide her obeyssaunce, sayeng in this manere: ‘ Noble kyng of Armanye, ye be ryght welcome. For certaynly ye haue wel & 32 valyauntly endeuoired you. now aske of me what yefte that so euer playse you worldly and raysounable, Thenne ansuerd the king that right sore was esprysed of the 36 loue of her, ‘By my fey.h, gracyous & noble lady, I and ye shal haue it without ony taryeng.’ 365 when he sees an open door. He enters the chamber, and sees the wall figured with many knights, and reads their names and the writing ; ‘This knight watched the sparrowhawk, but slept, and so must remain in the castle all his life,’ He also sees three shields painted with tlre arms of three knights, and a writing: ‘This knight watched our 1 fol, 216. sparrowhawk, and departed joyfully with his gift.’ The King nearly fell asleep look- ing at the figures, but left the chamber, and kept awake all the night. At sunrise the lady of the castle comes to the King, and welcomes him, and asks him to name what gift he would have. The King answers, 366 ‘Neither silver nor gold, nor town nor castle, but you, my beloved lady, to be my wife.’ The lady is wroth at his request, and replies that he cannot have her. The King presses his suit, but she tells him to ask a reason- able gift. 1 fol. 216d, The King de- elares he will have nothing but herself. The Queen tells him that unless he changes his purpose evil hap will fall on him and his posterity; but the King de- clares that his heart is ravished with her beauty, and that he will have nothing but her, The lady becomes right wroth, and tells him that he will lose his gift, THE KING ASKS HER TO BE HIS WIFE. [cH. LXI. aske neyther gold nor syluer, Cyte, toun, nor Castel, For thanked be god I haue of al worldly ryches ynough / but yf it playse you, my ryht dere & right entierly beloued lady, I wyl haue you to my wyf.’ And whan the lady vnderstod this she was wroth, and by grete yre she said to hym in this wyse : ‘ Ha, thou grete foole, For nought hast thou asked my body, For thou mayst not by no wyse haue it.’ Thenne said the king to the lady, ‘Wel I haue, to myn aduys, endeuoired me. Wherfor, noble lady, be you fauourable to me and haue regard to the custome of this castel.’ ‘By my feyth,’ ansuerd the lady, ‘as touching thaduenture & custome of this Castel, I wyl that it be obserued & kept / but aske of me yeft raysounable / and no doubte lof but thou shalt haue it.’ ‘By my feyth, noble lady, I desyre none other thing erthly nor none other I shal not aske ‘ Ha, fole, fole,’ said therne the lady, ‘euyl myscheawnce nor take of you, but only your gracyous body.’ shal faH on the, yf thou soone chaungest not thy purpos, and so it shal to al thin heyres & successours aftir pe / though they be not culpable therof.’ And the kyng her ansuerd, ‘It is for nought, For my herte is rauysshed of your beaute, and only fedde with your syght. And therfore your body wyl I haue and none other thing erthly.’ / How the kyng wold haue Cap. LXI. rauysshed by force the lady, but she vanysshed away. \ Than thenne the lady sawe that the kyng chaunged not his purpos, she was ryght wroth, and to hym said in this manyere : ‘ Thou folyssh kyng, now shalt thou lese the syght of me, & shalt fayH of thy yefte, & hast putte thyself in auenture to abyde wethin for euer in grete payne & tourment, bycause that _— 4. 8 12 16 32 CH. LXII. | MELIOR TELLS HER LINEAGE AND VANISHES, thou art yssued of the lynee of kyng guyon that was sone to Melusyne my sustir, and I am his ante / and thou art so nygh of my blood and kynred that though 41 wold be consentyng to thy wyH holy Chirch wold neuer suffre it.’ And aftir she reherced & shewed to hym al that is tofore said in the !Chapter of Elynas and Pressyne, and also fro hed to heed alt the heyres 8 of Lusynen and their fayttes. And after she said to hym / ‘grete myschief shal happe to the & vpon thyn heyres successowrs ?after the, and that shal endure ynto the ix lynee, For they shal faH in decaye, & exilled fro 12 their contrees & fro their honowr, wherfor departe lightly hens, For here mayst thou no lenger abyde.’ The kyng thexne vnderstod wel the lady. but neyper for her wordes, nor for fere that ought shuld hym 16 mysfaH, he neuer chaunged his folysh wyH & vnhappy purpos, but wold haue take the lady by manere of vyolens and by force. but soone Melyor vanysshed away that he wyst neuer where she was become. 20 Cap. LXII. How the king was bete & ouerthrawen and knew not of whom. Ge immediatly after the departyng of Melyor there fe vpon the kyng gret & pesaunt strokes, 24 as thykk as rayn falleth fro the skye. Wherof he was al to brusid in every part of his body, and was drawen by the feet fro the halle vnto the barrers without the Castel. 28 that so cruelly seruyd hym. And wete it that he neuer saw none of them And as soone as he myght he stode vpon his feet, cursyng a thousand tymes hym that first brought hym tydynges of this auenture, and the heure also that euer he cam thither, 32 And thenne he went toward his meyne that saw his harneys al to broken and perysshed, and demanded of 1 Cap. I. page 6, et seq. 367 because she is the annt of King Guiona his an- cestor, and thi? they are too near © kin to marry, and even if she consented, iuly Church would forbid their union. Then she tells the history of Elinas and Pres- sine, and of the heirs of Lu- signan, and foretells of the decay of his 2 fol. 217. line, and of their exile from their lands. She advises him to leave the castle, The King per- sists and tries to take her by force, but Melior vanishes he knows not where, The King is thrashed so hard that he is bruised in every part of his body, and is pulled by the feet out of the castle, He cannot see who it is that serves him so. . He rises and curses the man that brought him the news of the adventure, and returns to his men, 368 who ask if he has been fighting ? He tells them he is hurt, but that » he has had no fight because he could not see who struck him, 2 fol, 217 . The King returns home, but he had no joy after this adventure, though he reigned a long time. His heirs were unlucky. This volume was ended on Thurs- day, Aug. 7th, 1394, I have told the story of Lu- signan Castle, and of its builders, and of their issue, from the true chronicles, It has lately been conquered by the Duke of Berry, THE KING IS BEATEN OUT OF THE CASTLE, [oH. LXII. hym in this manere: ‘ My lord, vs semeth that ye be sore hurt, haue ye had batayH there as ye haue be?’ And he ansuerd, ‘I am somwhat hurt / but no batayH I haue not had / but so ferre I knowe that shrewedly 4 I haue be festyed't how wel I perceyued no body / but I assure you I felt wel the strokes, and wete it wel I re- uengedt me not / and thus haue I had no batayH / For he that gyueth the first strokes dooth not the batayH. 8 but he that reuengeth hym bryngeth it to effect.’ / noone aftir the king & his peuple departed and A entred in the see and sailled toward his countre, euer thinking vpon this that Melyor had said to hym, and doubted moche to haue lost his good fortune as he 12 ‘had. For wete it wel that neuer aftir this faytte he had no hertly joye and regned long tyme, but fro day to day feH in decaye by dyuerse maners. And wete it wel that his heyres after his decesse were not fortunat, but vnhappe in al their actes. Here shal I leue to speke of the king of Armanye. knowen that they came of the noble lynee of the king Elynas of Albanye & of Lusynen. vnto this thursday vii day of August vpon the whiche was For ynough it is ended this present volume. The yere of our lord a thousand [ccc] 2]xxx & foureteen./ ow have I shewed to you after the very Cronykles N and true history how the noble Fortresse of Lusynen in Poytou was edyfyed & made / and of the noble yssue & lynee of the foundatours therof, on whos 24 28 sowles god haue mercy / the whiche fortresse of Lusynen is a now’come but of late, by manere of Conqueste, into the handes of the ryght noble & myghty 1 Fr. batu. 3 Note to C. Brunet’s Fr. Ed., page 420. Le texte porte: mil viij vingz et xiiij, Crest évidemment une erreur puisque Jean @ Arras dit, dés les premiéres pages, gwil a commence cette histoire en 1387. In the Harl. MS. of Melusine the date is given as ‘le Vile jour daoust Can de grace Mil wiC UUXX et XIII, CH. LXIL. | MELUSINE IS AGAIN SEEN IN SERPENT FORM. prynce my right redoubted lord Johan sone to the kyng of Fraunce, Duc of Berry, Auuergne, &c., by whos com- mandement I haue endeuoired me after my rude and symple entendement to collige & gadre emong' many gestes & true Cronykles the trouth of thystory 1 byfore And wete it for trouth that oftentymes I haue herd my said lord say that a knyght called specyfyed. SersueH that held the said Fortres as lieuftenaunt & Captayne there for the kyng of England / at that tyme that my said lord had besieged / said to hym after the reducyon of the Fortres / that thre dayes tofore, tofore that he gaf it vp / he lyeng in hys bed wth a woman hys concubine named Alexaundryne / perceyued a grete & horryble serpent in the myddes of the Chambre, wherof he was gretly abasshed & sore agast / and wold 16 haue take the swerd to haue descharged it vpon the serpent / but Alexaundryne said themne to hym in this manyere: ‘Ha, valyaunt Sersuel, how ofte haue I sene your mortal enemyes tofore your presence that 20 neuer ye were aferd, and now fora serpent of femenyne Wete it for trouth that this serpent is the lady of this place & she that edyfyed it / nature ye shake for fere. she shal by no manere wyse hurt nor dommage you / 24 but so ferre I vynderstand by her apparysshing that nedes ye shal hastly delyuere & gyue vp this Fortres to the Duc of Berry’ / And morouer said the said SersueH to my said lord that hys Concubyne fered 28 nothing’ the serpent / but that he was neuer in his dayes so aferd. And that he sawe thenne the said serpent tourned in to a fourme of a woman clothed in a gowne of Cours cloth & gyrded with a grete corde 32 yndernethe the pappes of her / and soone after tourned herself in the figure of a serpent and so vanysshed away. lso there was a man named godart dwellyng at 36 that tyme within the said Fortresse, whiche MELUSINE, 369 son of the King of France, at whose com- mand I have gathered this history. 1 fol. 218. I have often heard my lord tell a story of a knight named Sersuell, who was lieutenant of the castle for the King of Eng- land. Three days be- fore he gave it up he was in bed with his coneu- bine, and saw a great serpent in his chamber, which frightened him. He took his sword to slay it; but his lady said that the serpent was the lady of the place, and her appearance proved that he would soon have to give up the castle. The serpent then turned into a woman, clothed in a coarse gown, with a great ec rd round her. Then she became a serpent again and vanished, 370 Godart swore to my lord on the gospels that he had often seen 1 fol, 218 b. the serpent on the walls of the fortress, and that he had passed her with- out harm. Ivon of Wales swore that three days before the surrender of the castle by Ser- suell, he saw a great serpent on. the donjon of the castle, and that many others saw her. I have done my utmost to know the truth of the matter, and if I have written what appears to some incredible, I beg for pardon. Some authors hold this to be a true chronicle of fairies, To those who object, I say the judgments and OTHER TESTIMONY ON MELUSINE, [ou. LXII, affermed for a trouth / and sware to my forsaid lord vpon the holy euaungilles that. many tyme he had sene vpon the walles of the fortres !the said serpent, and that he had passed oftymes nygh her without receyuyng of ony harme. Then another also called Yuon of Walles sware his feyth vnto my said lord that thre dayes tofore the reducyon of the said Fortresse made by the said SersueH into the handes of my said lord, pat he sawe an horryble grete serpent vpon the batel- ments of the donjon of the said Castel of Lusynen. And many other also had the vision and syght of her./? ae where it is soo that at thinstaunce requeste and prayer of my said lord haue be examyned many prynces® and dyuerse oper for the makyng & compilacion of this present hystorye vpon the said matere. And also I haue putte my self to myn vtermost power to rede & loke ouer the Cronykles & many bokes of auncyent hystoryes, to thende that I might knowe the trouth of the forsaid matere. Ther- fore yf I haue wryton or shewed ony thing that to som semeth neyther possible to be nor credible, I beseche them to pardonne me. Jor as I fele & vnderstand by the Auctowrs of gramaire & phylosophye they repute and hold this present hystorye for a true Cronykle & thinges of the fayry. And who that saith the contrary / I say the secret jugements of god and his punyssh- 2 Fr. adds: Ht encore plus avant y a ung chevalier poite- vin, nommé messire Percheral de Coulongne, qui fut chambel- lain du bon voy de Chippre, avee le roy, la serpente sestoit apparue & icelluy voy, comme celluy roy luy avoit dit en ceste maniére parlant a luy: Percheval, je me doubte trop! Pour quoy, monseigneur ? dist le chevalier. Par ma foy, dist le roy, pour ce que jay veu la serpente de Lusignen qui C'est ap- 1 ~/ parue &moy; si me doubte qui ne me adviengne auleune perte dedens brief temps, ou a Perrin mon filz; car ainsi apparut- elle quant aulcuns des hoirs de Lusignen doibvent morir, Et jwra messire Percheval que dedens le tiers jour aprez, la dure adventure que chascun scet bien advint. 3 Harl, MS, reads prouues = proofs, 1 6 a CH. LXII. | JEAN OF ARRAS BIDS HIS READERS FAREWELL, ments are inuysible & impossible to be vnderstand or knowe by the humanyte of man./ For the vnderstand- ing of humayne Creature is to rude to vnderstande the 4 spyce espirytuel, & may not wel comprehend what it is / but as ferre as the wylle lof god wyl suffre hym. For there is found in many hystoryes Fayries that haue be maryed & had many children / but how this For these poynts and suche other god hath reteyned pem 8 may be the humayn creature may not conceyue. in his secrets. And the more that the personne is of rude entendement the ferther is he fro knowlege of it. 12 And he that is replet of scyence naturel, the rather shatt haue affectzon to byleue it. Notwithstandyng no creature humayn may not obteyne the secrets of god./ how be it saint paule saith in hys epystles to the 16 Rommayns, ‘that al thinges ben knowen by humayn Creature’ / but the glose reserueth & excepteth the secrets of god. For the kynde of mau is to vnderstand the ferther that he trauaylleth in reawmes and Countrees/ 20 the greter knowleche hath he of euery thinge / than he that resteth in his owne Countre and neuer remevyth. And semblable wyse this historye is more credible for as moche as it is not auctorised by one man only / but 24 also by many noble Clerkes. Now of this proces I wyl make no ferther menczon / but humbly I beseche you and alle them pat shal here or rede this hystorye / that yf there be ony thing that be nuyouse or desplay- 28 saunt to you / wyl pardonne me & hold me escusid. For yf a man dooth as wel as he can / he ought to be accepted. For in som cas the good wylle of a man is accepted for the dede./ And here I, Johan of Aras, 32 ende the hystorye of Lusynen / 2beseching god of his hygh mercy to gyue to pem that be passed fro this mortaH world hys eternal glorye / and to them that be lyuyng, prosperous and blessidfuH endyng./ 36 [Here fynyssheth the noble hystorye of Melusyne.] 371 punishments of God are not to be understood by man, 1 fol. 219. There are many histories of Fairies that have married, and had children. No man can under- stand how this ean be. God has kept these things secret. Ignorant people cannot believe such things. Those who are learned can more readily do so, but no man can fathom the secrets of God. The more men travel the more they learn. This story is made more credible by the number of clerks who vouch for it. I ask forgiveness of my readers for anything tire- some or displeas- ing I may have written. If a man does «s well as he can he ought to be accepted. I, John of Arras, end the history of Lusignan, 2 fol. 219d. asking God to give those who have left this world His eternal] glory, and to the living a blessed ending, BB 2 373 NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. PaGE 1, line 19. In the Catalogue of the Duke of Berry’s Library, published in Le Labourer’s Histoire de Charles VJI., there is a volume relating to the subject of this romance, ‘Vn liure de |’Histoire de Lezig- nem, escrit en Latin, de lettre de fourme, bien historié & au commence- ment du second fueillet apres la premiere Histoire, a escrit, sola sed tantum, couuert de drap de damas rouge, formant & deux fermoirs de laiton, & tixus de soye.’ Jean d’Arras declares in several places that the romance is founded on old Chronicles ; see end of Cap. I. p. 2,1.11. Text should read: ‘the Wednesday before St. Clement’s Day.’ The ‘before’ has been accidentally omitted by the translator or the transcriber. The French version reads: ‘le mercredi devant la Saint Clement en yver.’ p. 2,1.18. This heading seems out of place. p. 3, 1.9. Is the reference to Romans, Cap. I, verse 20?:—‘ For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made: his eternal power also and divinity: so that they are inexcusable.’ p. 3, 1, 33. He appears to refer to local traditions, of which he makes some use; see, for example, the description of Melusine’s appearances in his own time, on pages 369 and 370, p. 4, 1.17. Probably Gervaise of Tilbury (fl. 13th century), a nephew of King Henry II. of England; he was appointed Marshal of Arles by the Emperor Otto IV. He was a voluminous writer. Warton says, in the History of English Poetry, § XXIV, that his Otia Imperialia was translated into French by Jean de Guerre between 1412 and 1427. His treatise is full of the most extraordinary marvels. In the British Museum MS., leaf 85, he tells of men being born without heads, having their eyes and mouths in their breasts. He is very full on Jamia and dragons, and all kinds of monstrosities. He says that there have been cases in Italy © of men being turned into beasts by eating cheese given them in taverns by enchantresses. Gervaise dedicated his Description of the World to Otto IV. . 4,1, 32, French text reads: ‘les ungz qu’ilz ne verroient jamais Vung l’aultre; que le samedi ilz ne les enquerroient que elles seroient devenues en aulcunes manieres; les autres que se elles avoient enfans, que leurs maris ne les verroient jamais en leurs gessines,’ p. 5, 1.21. He may be referring to the tales of Marco Polo, a copy of whose travels Jean d’Arras had access to in the Duke of Berry’s collection. p. 5, 1, 24. The following appears to be the passage in Glervaise of Tilbwry referred to: ‘Scio equidem jampridem relatum veridica narra- tione, quod in Aquensi provincia paucis ab Aquis milliaribus est castrum 374 NOTES TO Pp. 6. Russetum, quod vallem Trezensem sub se missam respicit. Hnujus eastri Dominus, Raimundus nomine, eum uno aliquo die solus in equo vectaretur juxta decursum interluentis Laris fluvii, ex improviso occurrit domina nulli decore secunda, in palafredo phalerato, vestibus et apparatu pretiosis, cumque salutata a milite ipsum ex nomine resalutasset, ille ab ignota se nominatum audiens, miratur et nihilominus illam, ut moris est, coepit verbis lascivis interpellare, ut ei consentiat. Cui illa opponit, hoc praeter conjugalem copulam nulli licere verum si in ejus nuptias consentiat, ipsius possit optatis frui complexibus. Quid ultra? acquiescet conditionibus miles in nuptiis: at illa replicat, illum summa temporalium felicitate ex ejus commansione fruiturum, dum ipsam. nudam non viderit; veruim ut ipsam nudam conspexerit, omni felicitate spoliandum asserit et vix ei vitam miserain servandam esse praeponit. Pendet dubiuvsne timeret optaretne mori? tandem in nuptias consentit et conditionem adiittit. Inflam- matus et aestuans omnem conditionem facilem arbitratur, qua cupitum thorum possit obtinere. Consentiunt in matrimonium et contralimunt, et crescente militis felicitate, in breve favore et hominum gratia, temporalium copia et corporis strenuitate in tantum excrevit, quod pares excessit et paucis proceribus et illustribus secundus invenitur. Hominibus amabilis, apud omnes’ gratiosus, liberalitatem disereta largitate atque urbanitate condiebat, filiis et fillabus summae pulchritudinis procreatis. Cum post longa tempora uno die domina, ut assolent, in thalamo balnearet, Rai- mundus miles, a venatu rediens et aucupatu, perdicibus alitisque carnibus ferinis dominam exeniat, et dum parantur eibaria, necio quo motu vel spiritu militi venit in mentem, quod nudam videat dominam balneantem, constituens in animo siquidem, quod ex inhibita nuditatis conspectione potuit ex fatis esse periculum, temporis diuturnitate tamque dinturnae commansionis longinquitate evanuisse. Affectum maritus exposuit uxori, quae diuturnam felicitatem ex conditione servata objicit et infelicitatem minatur secuturam, si contemnatur. Tandem paeceps in praecipitium miles, non temperatur interminatione poenae neque precibus flectitur, ut a stulto proposito desistens suae consulat utilitate : “tangunt animum motusque metusque et timet eventus indignaturque timere.” Quid moror? erepto linteo, quo balneum operitur, miles ut uxorem nudam videat, accedit, statimque domina in serpentem conversa, misso sub aqua balnei capite, disparuit, nunquam visa imposterum nec audita, nisi quando- que de nocte, cum ad infantulos suos visitandos veniebat, nutricibus audientibus, sed ab ejus aspectu semper arctatis, Sane miles pro maxima parte felicitate ae gratia minoratus, filiam illius dominae cuidam nostro affini ex nobilibus Provinciae oriundo postea dedit in uxorem, quae inter coaetaneas et confines suas plurimum extitit gratiosa et cujus jam suc- cessio ad nos usque pervenit.’ Prima Decisio XV Otia Imperialia. The theories of Paracelsus people rivers, &c., with Melusine. They have no spiritual principle, but can obtain one by entering into a union with man: ‘Melusine & meliore filizse regis quondam propter peccata desperabunde, fuerunt a Sathana rapte, & in spectra transmutate, spiritus malignos, lemures horribiles, & in immania monstra, Vivere putantur absque anima rationali & in brutali solum cerpore phantastico, nutriri elementis, atque una cum istis in extremo die judicii transiture, nisi cum aliquo homine forte fortuna matrimonium contrahant, tum demum, ut ipse, naturali morte interire posse, ut matrimonio naturaliter vivere virtute hujus unionis, Ejusdem status atque generis plura spectra haberi creditur = NOTES TO pp. 5—17. 375 in desertis, in sylvis, ruinis, monumentis, arcibus vacuis, & in extremis littoribus maris. Vulgo maledicti vacantur homines, sed proprio nomine spectra vocantur, atque diabolorum sancti, cum quibus versantur caco- dxmones, suas illusiones & portenta perficiunt.—W. Johnson’s Lexicon Chymicum [to the writings of Paracelsus], London 1652. p. 5, 1.24. The name of Regnald does not occur in the list of the kings of Bohemia. p. 5, 1. 25. The Lusignans do not appear to have had any connection with Luxembourg. p. 5, 1. 28. The name Theodoric does not occur on the roll of the lords of Partenay-l’archevéque. The house was founded, according to French genealogists, by William, the son of Gilles Lusignan (fl. 1100— 1130). Valence, daughter of Geoffray with the Great Tooth, married Hugh III. of Partenay-l’archevéque. p. 7, 1. 15. couered, Fr. cowvertement. p. 11, 1.3. Fr. ‘je ne pense en nul cas deshoneste.’ p. 12,1. 26. There is a romance entitled ‘ L’Histoire du noble & vail- lant Roy, Florimont fils du noble Mataquas duc d’Albanie.’ Florimont is the son of Mataquas, sire of Duras and Duke of Albany. His mother was Edozie or Flory, daughter of Fragus, King of Persia. It is bound up with a Rouen edition of Melusine. Warton notices a romance of ‘ Flori- mont et Passeroze,’ History of English Poetry, § XII, note. p. 12, 1. 32. In Coudrette’s version of Melusine, Aualon is called fairy land. p. 13,1. 7. In some editions of the French version Ybernie is substi- tuted for Albany, others have Albany as here. p. 14,1. 8. Fr. ver. adds ‘ filles’ after ‘lawfull.’ p. 15,1. 11. They should be allowed to leave Aualon. p. 15, 1. 32. One of Melior’s adventures is described at page 362. p. 16, 1.4. The eve of St. John’s Day comes on June 23. Many curious customs used to be observed on the vigil of St. John. In London the Watch was paraded through the city. In Paris a number of cats and a fox were burnt in the Place de Greve. In Ireland the people used to light fires on the hill tops, and according to Rev. Donald McQueen, they danced round them, and then made their children and cattle walk through the fires. McQueen thinks the custom a relic of sun-worship.—Brand’s Antiquities. p. 16,1. 13. There is a mountain named Guygo in Lesser Armenia, No account of Palatine is given in this romance. In Coudrette’s versifi- cation of the romance there is briefly narrated her story, 1. 5704, et seq. Palatine’s place of abode is there given as Arragon. p. 17, 1. 3. Geoffray with the Great Tooth discovers the tomb, see page 327. p. 17,1. 24. The Castle of Lusignan was founded in the tenth century by Hugues IL, known as the Bien Aimé It had many masters, and was a formidable stronghold. It was razed in 1569, after its capture from ‘the Hugendts. Little trace of it now remains. p. 17, 1.27. ‘fell at debate’; translates eut riot. p. 17, 1. 32. Fountains are usually made the scenes of the fairy love- making. Elinas meets Pressine at ‘a moche fayre fontayne’; Henry of 376 NOTES TO pp. 18—465. Leon, father of Raymondin, meets the ‘fayr lady to whom he told all his’ Fortune,’ ‘nighe by a fontain,’ &c. p. 18, 1. 7. Jean d’Arras was fond of etymology; this appears a reasonable guess. p. 19, 1. 14. The 1478 edition makes the third chapter begin here. The edition published at Rouen by Pierre Mulot begins Cap. III at the same place as our text. p. 21,1. 7. Sh. 5. 8.) ain Beseur tetoot: p. 31,1. 35. Melusine protests throughout that ‘she is of god.’ See pages 316 and 320, p. 32, 1. 32. Compare the promise exacted by Pressine, Melusine’s mother, page 11, p. 33, 1.12. ‘hys doughtir,’ 7. e. Earl Emery’s daughter. p. 83, 1.25. Melusine has a store of magic rings: 1. Makes the holder proof against death from wounds. 2. Gives victory in war, in law, &c., to the holder. 3. Gives victory, and protects against enchantments and poison, pe 110,120; 4, Gives victory so long as the wearer fights in a good cause, Pilea, Lids Spe oi ote, Magic rings appear to have come from the East. They figure in many Arabian tales. In classical literature we have several Magic ring stories, which probably have been taken from Semitic sources. Plato’s story of the ring of Gyges, that madé the bearer invisible, is well known. Solomon had a ring that gave him command over the genii, It was made of copper and iron, and had the sacred name of the deity engraved on it. ‘Solomon sealed his orders to the refractory genii with the iron part, those to the good genii were sealed with the copper portion. Once when Solomon was bathing, and had taken the ring from his finger, it was stolen by a wicked genie. Solomon was so concerned about the loss that he was unable to attend to affairs of state. It was afterwards recovered from the stomach of a fish that was caught for the king’s table. Petrarch relates that Charlemagne became infatuated with a woman of low degree to such an extent that he neglected the affairs of state, and even the care of his person. She fell ill and died, but her death did not break the charm: Charlemagne would not allow her corpse to be buried. One day Archbishop Turpin examined the body, and found a ring in her mouth, which he took possession of; Charlemagne then came under the influence of the Archbishop. The prelate, tired of the king’s special attentions, and afraid that the ring might fall into the hands of some unworthy person, so he threw it into a lake near the town, From that time Charlemagne refused to quit Aix-la-Chapelle He built a palace and a monastery there, and in his will directed his successors to be crowned at Aix.—Epistole familiares, Lib. I, Cap. 3. p. 35, 1. 33. Jean d’Arras was evidently of the opinion of Rabelais, that ‘Mieulx est de ris que de Jarmes escrire, Pour ce que rire est le propre de ’homme.’ p. 42, 1.4. Note that the Earl is unable to give land without the consent of his barons. p. 42, 1.19. Brunet reads ‘ Montiers’; the Rouen edition has ‘]’abbaye demonstiers.’ p. 45, 1.13. There is an ‘onde limpide’ near the Forest of Coulom- rs NOTES TO pp. 48—64, 377 byers, known as the ‘ Fontaine-des-Fees.’—Annales de la Societe Royal Academique de Nantes, 1831, p. 405. . 48, ]. 26. The power of love is a favourite theme of John of Arras. See 122, 135, 164, &e. The book was written for the amusement of the Duchess of Bar. This may account for the elaborate treatment of love affairs, dress, &c., in the book. p. 54, 1.14. Coudrette makes the wine-list an extensive affair, See The Romans of Partenay, E. E. T. 8. ed., p. 39: ‘With wine of Angoy, and als of Rochel tho, Which would eschawfe the braines appetite, Wine of Tourain, And of Bewme also, Which iawne [yellow] colour applied noght vnto ; Clarre Romain, with doucet Ypocras Thorught al the hal rynnynge hye and bas. Wine of Tourisnz, and also of Digon, Wine of Aucerre, of seint Jougon also ; Wyne of Seint Johan of Angely good won, Of it ful many ther spake and tolde tho; Wine of Estables, of Uiart also ; After thaim cam the wyne, Wine of Seint Pursain, and of Ris hys brood, Ouer all thes wines ther had the prise, The nouel osey of Dingenon.’ p. 55, 1.3. The magic ring that Melusine gave Raymondin has made him invincible. See p. 33. p. 59, 1.9. The custom of the newly-wedded couple making presents to the wedding guests, instead of receiving them, resembles what takes place in India in our time, where the parents of the bride make gifts to those who attend the marriage ceremony. p. 63, 1.3, Fr. reads: ‘Et avec tout ce il y a forte braies entaillées de mesmes la roche.’ p. 64, 1. 13. There are a number of suggested etymologies of the name Melusine, none of them satisfactory. Jean Bouchet says it is a combination of Melle and Lusignan, She was lady of Melle, and her husband was Jord of Lusignan. Bouchet says that this was the accepted etymology in his time (16th century), Baron Dupin adopts this etymology. It appears, however, that women did not add to their name the name of their husband’s seignory, nor was it usual for women to bear the name of their own manors. Bouchet thought the tail signified that Melusine was an adultress. N. Chorier imagined that it symbolized her prudence! Salverte says that the name is a combination of Mere and Lusignan, He makes its signification to be ‘Mother of the Lusignans.’ The name is spelt Merlusine by Brantéme, and the popular pronunciation is Merlusine, Grimm derives it from Meri menni, a syren, or scylla, Littré derives it from Melus, a Celtic word meaning agreeable. Bullet says it is made up of Me = half, llysowen (pronounced lusen) = serpent: the name thus signifies half serpent. A writer in the Nowvelle Biographie Générale, thinks that Melusigne is an Anagram of Leusignem, I have not observed any case in which the family name is spelt in this manner, and I am not aware that the fashion of Anagram-making was much practised in the 14th century 378 NOTES TO pp. 65—97. M. de Freminville, in Antig. de la Bretagne, Cotes-du-Nord, p, 25, derives Melusine from morlusein = vapour or sea fog. In Quaritch’s catalogue, 1887 (vol. I, p. 90) it is stated that the name comes from a Breton word signifying ‘the woman with a tail,’ mer’ hlostek, which the writer believes was at one time pronounced something like Merlusec. Mascurat surmises that Melusine was a lady who used a seal engraved with a syren, and from that was at last imagined to be a mermaid herself. . 65, 1. 3. The following list of Melusine’s children shows the blemishes that each of them bore: 1. Urian: A broad face, ears ike the handles of a vannus, and one eye red and the other blue. Odon: One ear greater, without comparison, than the other. Guion: One eye higher than the other. . Anthony: Had on the cheek a Jion’s foot (grif de lyon). . Regnald: Had only one eye. Geoffray: Had a great tooth, which protruded more than an inch out of his mouth. Froimond: Had a mole (tache velue) or tuft of hair on his nose, Horrible: Had three eyes—one in his forehead. . Raymond: Blemish not recorded. . Theodoryk: Blemish not recorded. p. 65, 1.3, ‘handlyng of a fan’ translates ‘manilles d’ung van.’ p. 65,111. Fr. reads: ‘Guerende et Penicense.’ p. 66,117. Fr.: ‘mal enformé,’ p. 65, 1.12. Hugues LV. of Lusignan had a dispute with Joscelin, lord of Parthenay, about some lands that the latter had usurped. The dispute descended to the heirs of Joscelin. Hugues appealed to his suzerain William, Count of Poitiers. The count sided with the lord of Parthenay, and Hugues’ stronghold, the Castle of Lusignan, was burnt down. B. Le- dain in La Gatine. The Lusignans possessed the domain of Porhoét, in Brittany, from the 15th century. Phillipe le Bel took it from Guy, Count of Marche and Angouléme, in the 14th century. Perhaps these historical events may have suggested the story in the romance, p. 79, 1. 24, ‘the cranes flighing’ translates ‘les grues en vollant.’ The cranes are said to be the earliest birds to migrate. *E come i gru van cantando lor lai, Facendo in aere di se lunga riga.’ Dante, Inferno, Canto V. p. 84, 1.15. The Rouen Fr, ed.: ‘Raimondin le frappa de la lance au coste.’ p- 91, 1.30, There is an omission here in the translation. The French text reads: ‘Il avoit entendu par aulcuns des varlés d’icelluy chastelain que ilz actendoient gens 4 qui ilz ne vouloient point de bien.’—Brunet’s ed., p. 104. p. 92,1,15. Fr. reads: ‘que ilz ne nous trouvent 4 descouvert.’ _ p. 94,1. 24. ‘high’ seems to be a mistake for ‘his.’ ‘traist espee’ is the French reading. p. 97, 1. 28. There is a legend current that the convent of the Trini- f= Gore DOWD MM fad, fond NOTES TO pp. 104—176. 379 ta‘res of Sarzeau was founded by Melusine. John III., Duke of Brittany, founded it in 1341, forty-six years before John of Arras wrote this account of its origin. Jehan de la Haye, in Memoires et recherches (1581), says that Melusine and Raymondin were buried in this convent. p. 104, 1. 10. Such excresences apparently do appear, as can be seen from the following statement, made by a man of recognized accuracy of observation :— ‘On the 29th [of Feb. 1839], being requested by some friends of the town, I visited a wonderful man there. It appears that nature, deviating from the usual course, gave this man a small trunk, like an elephant, on the right side of his face, beginning from the forehead to his chin. With lis left eye only could he see, the other being covered with this super- fluous part of the body. He was a young man of about twenty, sound in mind, as he gave rational answers to the several questions I put to him in the Sindhi language.’—Autobiography of Lutfullah, p. 311, edited by E. B. Eastwick, 1858. p. 112, 1.35. This advice to kings reads as if it had been specially written for the Duke of Berry’s edification. p. 116, 1. 23. The Knights Hospitallers of St. John captured Rhodes after a siege of three years, in 1309, and made the island their head- quarters, p. 117, 1.32. In the Apocryphal Book, known as the Gospel of Nico- demnus, the names of the two thieves are given as Dimas and Gestas. In the ‘Narration of Joseph of Arimathza’ it is related that Demas was born in Galilee. He was an innkeeper, and was kind to the poor. He followed the example of Tobias in secretly burying those who died in poverty. He robbed Jews, even in Jerusalem. He plundered the daughter of Caiaphas, It was for this crime that he suffered death. p. 120, 1. 2. Fr, reads: ‘Urian n’avoit mie encores, & compter les gens du maistre de Rodes, plus de quatre mille combatans.’ p. 128, 1.25, Alexander is said to have had 30,000 foot soldiers and 4,500 horsemen when he crossed the Hellespont. (Plutarch.) p. 136, 1. 26. ‘he cast at hym the dart [with great] yre.’ The Fr. ‘par grant’ is omitted by mistake. p. 141, 1.21. Fr. text reads: ‘Adonques le maistre de Rhodes et les capitaines de Lymasson se mirent tous ensamble.’ p. 142, 1.9. The ‘paueys,’ according to Viollet-le-Duc, were large oval or square shields, chiefly carried by the crossbowmen. They did not come into use until the fourteenth century, p. 155, 1. 20. For the true version of the story of how Cyprus pissed into the hands of Guy of Lusignan (not Urian, as the Romance says), see the Introduction. The Itinerary of Richard Cour de Lion, by Vinsauf, is the authority relied on. p. 159, 1. 24. The ‘for to wete & know, for to here & know,’ is a double translation of the French phrase, ‘ pour aller sgavoir.’ p. 159, 1.22. ‘fortres’ is plural here and on p. 160, 1. 6. eee sl ro. “they sss. ancres’ translates ‘ilz desancrérent.’ p. 169, 1.32. ‘them,’ 4. e. their ships, p. 171,1.1. See page 129, et seq. p. 176, foot of page, In John Stow’s Survey of London (W. J. Thom’s ed., 1842, p. 119), the cost of writing out the works of D, Nicholas de 380 NOTES TO pp. 178 —180. Lira in two volumes is given at 100 marks = £66 13s. 4d. W. Stevenson, in his Life of William Caxton (p. 12), says that this sum most likely included the cost of the illuminations. The volumes may have been sumptuously bound, in which case comparatively little would be left for the copyist’s work. It is quite probable that the 17/8, written on the margin of the Melu- sine MS., may be a memorandum having no relation to the copyist’s pay. p. 178, 1. 10. Modern economists would not approve of this summary way of treating forestallers. Adam Smith believed that the dread of witches and of forestallers were on a par. p. 179, 1.28. The Fr. ver. has the following sentences after ‘arma- nye’:—‘ Et se il vous samble qu'elle n’en soit digne, si luy aidez a assener a quelque noble homme qui bien sache le pays gouverner et deffendre des ennemis de Jhesucrist. Or y vueillez pourvoir de reméde convenable car a tout dire, se il vous plait, en la fin je vous fais mon heritier du royaulme d’Armanie; mais pour l’amour de Dieu prenez en garde et ayez pitié de mon povre enfant, qui est orpheline desolée de tout conseil et de tout confort, se vous lui faillez.’ The nine succeeding lines of the English version, 28 to 36, are not represented in the French version published by Brunet. p. 180, 1. 8. . After Guyon’s address the Armenian lords reply in the French version: ‘nostre seigneur le vous vueille meriter, qui vous doinct , : & »4q bonne vie et longue. p. 180, ]. 31. The following paragraph is omitted in the English version: ‘En ceste partie nous dist Phistoire que ceux de Caliz furent moult joyeulx quant ilz virent approucher la navire, car ja sgavoient les nou- velles que leur seigneur venoit, pour ce que les barons qui estoient allez en Chippre pour porter les lettres dont je vous ay fait mention par avant, leur avoient mandé toute la verité, affin de ordonner et pourveoir de le recepvoir honnourablement; et y estoient tous les haultz barons du pays et les dames et damoiselles venues pour le festoier et honnourer. A celle heure la pucelle Florie estoit & la maistresse tour, qui regretoit moult la mort de son pere, et si avoit moult grant paour que le roy Urian ne le voulsist pas accorder @ son frére, et estoit une cause qui moult luy an- goissoit sa douleur, Mais adoncques une damoiselle luy vint dire en ceste manitre: Madamoiselle, on dist que ceulx qui estoient allez en Chippre arriveront bien brief au port. De ces nouvelles fut Florie moult joyeuse, et vint a Ja fenestre, et regarda en la mer, et vit navires, gallées, et aultres grans vaisseaulx qui arrivoient au port, et oyt trompettes sonner, et pluiseurs aultres instruments de divers sons, Adonc fut la pucelle moult lie, et vindrent les barons du pays au port, et recepvoient moult honnourablement Guion et sa compaignie, et le menérent & mont vers la pucelle, laquelle luy vint & Pencontre de luy. Et Guion la salua moult honnourablement en ceste maniére: Ma damoiselle, comment a-il esté a vostre personne depuis que me partis dicy? Et elle luy respondist moult amoureusement et dist: Sire, il ne peut estre gaires bien, car monseigneur mon pere est nouvellement trespassé de ce mortel monde, dont je prie a nostre Seigneur Jhesucrist, par sa saincte grace et misericorde, qui luy face vray pardon & l’ame, et & tous aultres; mais, sire, comme povre orpheline je vous remercie et gracie tant humblement comme je puys des vaisseaulx que vous m’envoiastes, et aussi de la grant richesse et avoir qui estoit dedans,’ NOTES TO pp. 183—246. 381 p- 183, 1. 25. Afterwards (p. 217) called Metydee. p. 190, 1.11. This passage should be compared with that beginning on page 110, where Melusine gives parting advice to her two elder children, Urian and Guion. p. 190, 1. 34. Passages like this (see also p. 112) show that John of Arras pleaded for a more humane treatment of conquered provinces. He shows that even from selfish considerations a ruler should treat his people well (p. 112). It is true he does not directly condemn the marauding expeditions, which were the curse of the Middle Ages ; but it should be noted that the sons of his heroine were always called to assist the op- pressed. They never started out as mere plunderers. John of Arras was a forerunner of Rabelais in his condemnation of the barbarities of feudal warfare. He resembled Rabelais in character. It required considerable boldness for an officer of the Duke of Berry—one of the most rapacious plunderers of France—to make a stand against injustice. p. 192, 1.20. Did the author of Melusine intend Anthony and Reg- nald’s system of warfare to be an example to be followed by the Duke of Berry ? p. 202, 1.33. Fr. reads: ‘le jeta si roidement encontre la terre que peu faillist que il ne lui crevast son cceur ou son ventre.’ p. 211,1.2. It is interesting to note that all the kings in the Romance are constitutional kings. They are obliged to consult their barons before they enter into treaties or alienate land. (See pages 42, 211, 263.) p. 214, 1.18. ‘pryuy meyne,’—a private or select company or following. p. 222,1.29. Fr. reads: ‘paiez pour huyt moys.’ p. 228, 1.13. ‘Catell & goodes’ translates ‘ biens.’ p. 229, 1. 14, there is an omission after ‘city.’ The Fr. text reads: ‘mais le roy Zelodus avoit fait armer ses gens et faisoit fort assaillir la cité, car grand desir avoit de la prendre, et ceulx de dedens se deffendoient lachement, et bien le appercevoient les Sarrazins ; et pour ce ilz assailloi- ent tant plus vigoureusement. Et fut la besoigne mal allée quant l’ancien chevalier vint qui bien apperceut la besoinge et la faible deffense de ceulx de dedens’ (Brunet’s ed., p. 254). The Fr. text then continues: ‘A donc- ques acheoa I’assault,’ &c., as in the English version. p. 233, 1. 31. ‘the moost vytupere’ translates ‘pour plus vituperer.’ p- 246,1.6, Fr. ‘Thierry.’ p. 246, 1.12. Fr. ‘ung chevalier faye au maulvais esperit.’ p. 246, 1.13. The belief in Incubi and Succubi (demons who consort with men and women and engender children) was current in the time cf John of Arras, and for long after. The fathers of the Church taught the doctrine, as can be seen from Augustine: ‘It is so general a report, & 80 many auerre it either from their owne tryall or froin others, that are of indubitable honesty & credit, that the Syluans and Fawnes, commonly called Incubi, haue often iniured women, desiring & acting carnally with them: and that certaine diuells whom the Frenchmen [Gauls] call Dusies, do continually practise this vncleannesse, & tempt others to it; which is affirmed by such persons & with such confidence that it were impud- : ne Naat it’—City of God, Bk. XV, Cap. XXIII, ed. 1620, translated y J. H. Lodovico Vives, in commenting upon this passage, says: ‘There are a people at this day that glory that their descent is from the devils, who 382 NOTES TO p. 246. visited women in the guise of men, and men in the guise of women. This in my conceit is viler than to draw a man’s pedigree from pirates, thieves, or famous bullies, as many do, The Egyptians say that the devils can only accompany carnally with women and not with men,’ The following quotation from Michel Psellus, a Byzantine savant of the eleventh century, explains the medizval ideas on this subject. The text is from a translation by Pierre Moreau Touranio, published in 1576: ‘Or me suis-ie trouué quelque-fois auec vn moine, en la Cherronese de Mesopotamie, lequel apres auoir esté spectateur & cdinrateur des phatos- mes diaboliques, autant ou plus expert en cela, que nul autre, depuis il les a mesprisez & abiurez, comme vains & friuoles, & en ayant fait amende honorable, s'est retiré au gyron de l’Eglise, & a fait professid de nostre foy seule vraye, & Catholique: laquelle il a soigneusemét appris de moy. Ce moine donc me dit alors & declara plusieurs choses absurdes & diabo- liques. Et de fait, m’estant quelque-fois enquis de luy, s’il y a quelques diables patibles: ouy vrayement, dit-il, comme on dit aussi, qu’aucuns diceux iettent semence, & engendrent d’icelle des verms. Si est-ce chose incroyable, luy dis-ie lors, que les diables ayent aucuns excremés, ny membres spermatiques, ny vitaulx. Vray est, respondit-il, qu’ils n’ont tels, membres, si est-ce toutefois quwils iettent hors ie ne scay quel excre- ment & superfluité, croyez hardiment ce que ie vous en dis. Dea, luy dis-ie lors, il y auroit danger qu’ils fussent alimentez & nourriz de mesme nous. Ils sont nourriz, respondit frere Marc,.les vns d’inspiration, comme Vesprit qui est aux arteres & nerfs, les autres d’humidité: mais non par la bouche, comme nous, ains comme esponges & huistres attirent & soy Vhumidité adiacente exterieurement. Puis iettent hors ceste latente & secrete semence. A quoy ils ne sont tous subiects, ains seulement les diables qui sont enclins & quelque matiere, scauoir est, ou celuy qui hait Ja lumiere, le tenebreux, l’aquatique, & tous soubsterrains.’—Psellus, De Venergie ov operation des diables (leaf 19 b, et seq.), ed. 1576. In Ambroise Paré’s collection (died 1590), livre xix, ch. 30, we read: ‘Or quant a moy ie croy que ceste pretendue cohabitation est imaginaire procedante d’une impression illusoire de Satan.... car & l’execution de cet acte, la chair et le sang sont requis, ce que les esprits n’ont pas,’ Fuller accounts of the ancient opinions on Incubi and Succubi will be found in Iohn Wierus, De Prestigiis demonum, 1569 and 1579, and in Jean Bodin’s Refutation of Wierus, 1593. Modern thought ascribes the belief in Incubi & Succubi to Dreams, see EK. B. Tylor: ‘From dreams are avowedly formed the notions of incubi and succubi, those nocturnal demons who consort with women and men in theirsleep. From the apparent distinctness of their evidence these beings are of course well known in savage demonology, and in connec- tion with them there already arises among uncultured races the idea that children may be engendered between spirits and human mothers, (See Martin, Mariner's Tonga Islands.) For an ancient example of the general belief in this class of demons, no better could be chosen than that of the early Assyrians, whose name for a succubus, “ lilit,” evidently gave rise to the Rabbinical tale of Adam’s demon wife Lilith. (See Lenormant, La magie chez les Chaldéens.) The literature of mediwval sorcery abounds in mentions of this belief, of which the absurd pseudo-philosophical side comes Well into view in the. chapter of Delrio (Lib. II, queesto 15): “ An sint unquam demones incubi et succuba, et an ex tali congressu proles nasci queat ?” But its serious side is shown by the accusation of consort- ing with such demons being one of the main charges in the infamous bull NOTES TO pp. 2583—3815. 383 of Innocent VIIL., which brought judicial torture and death npon so many thousands of wretched so-called witches. (See Roskoff, Geschichte des Teufels.) It further throws light on demonology, that the frightful spectres seen in such affections as delirium tremens have of course been interpreted as real demons,’ p. 253, 1.19, ‘hym,’ ¢.e. Claude of Syon. p. 264, 1.16. ‘concernyng’ here means ‘compared with.’ Fr. phrase is ‘envers la puissance.’ p. 273, 1. 31. Jaffa changed hands several times in the 4th Crusade, 1196. p. 279, 1. 34. ‘ye shal not haue them for so good chep,’ #.e. ‘You will not overcome them as easily as you think.’ Fr, reads; ‘ Vous n’aurez pas si bon marché,’ p. 281, 1.33. Fr. ‘tout le couert.’ p. 282,1. 18, Fr. ‘tout couertement,’ p. 287, 1. 11: ‘Si cum li cerfs s’en vait devant les chiens, Devant Rollant si s’en fuient Paien.’ La Chanson de Roland, 1). 1874-5. p. 290, 1.7. ‘cours’ translates ‘se reculérent.’ ‘There reforced the batayll [et souffrirent cristiens moult grant affaire], and with that cours [retires] the cristen,’ &c. p. 291, 1.3. ‘sarasyns’ in Fr. text is ‘Turcs.’ p. 295, 1. 9, page 32. p. 296, 1.6. ‘esperit fae.’ p. 297, 1.5. ‘quaque & harenc’ = a herring barrel. p. 303, 1.3. ‘ung flayal de plomp & trois chainnes,’ The flail was rarely used in France, The MSS. of the 12th and 14th centuries show it very seldom (Viollet-le-Duc). p. 309, 1.19. The date of the ravaging of the Abbey of Mailleres by Geoffray with the Great Tooth was 1232. p-. 312,1, 8. Coudrette makes the Castle of Vouvant the scene of the catastrophe. The Romans of Partenay, E. E. T. 8. ed., line 3453. p. 314, 1. 26. ‘Si quelqu’un aussi se fondoit sur la non vérisimilitude de tant d’aventures, enchantements, de la flate d’un roi Oberon, tant de somptueux palais soudainement se perdant et évanouissant, et du cheval de Pacolet, qui est encore plus en ga, d’une Mélusine, de Merlin; je lui répondrai que le christianisme étant pour lors bien peu avancé aux contrées de par deca, le diable avoit beau jeu & faire ses besognes, essay- ant, en tant qu’est en lui, nous empécher et divertir du vrai service de Dieu, par ses moqueries et illusions ; et, gagnant toujours pays, allant de pied en pied, a si bien fait cet esprit calomniateur, que d’eteindre, en ce quila pu, le nom de notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ, et icelui obscurcir et cacher aux hommes.’—Contes d’Eutrapel, by Noel du Fail, 1548, p. 315, 1.2. The theory that anger is the work of demons is hinted at by the Byzantine Psellus. This writer declares that there are six varieties of demons: Leliurium, or fiery, haunting the upper atmosphere, Aérial the lower atmosphere, Earthy, Aqueous, Subterranean, and Luci- fugus, the lowest class of all. The aérial and earthy enter into the soul of man, and urge him to all kinds of lawless thoughts and deeds. If a Lucifugus obtain an entrance into. man it makes him ungovernable, The 384 NOTES TO pp. 318—336. Lucifugus is devoid of intellect, is ruled by whim, and is regardless of reproof. ‘The possessed person can only be saved by divine assistance, There is an old saying: ‘ via furor brevis est,’ p. 318, 1.12. ‘Vernon’; Fr. ‘Warnont.’ p. 318, 1. 23. French text adds: ‘car certainement il destruiroit tout ce que j’ay ediffie, ne jamais guerres ne fauldroient au pays de Poetou ne Guienne.’ p. 319, I. 27: ‘nessun maggior dolore, Che ricordarsi del tempo felice Nella miseria.’-—Dante, Inferno, Canto V. p. 321,1. 19. There is a legend that Melusine flew to the caves of Sassenuge in Dauphiny, natural hollows in the mountain which lie at the back of Grenoble, and made her abode there. N, Chorier, in his Histoire Générale de Dauphiné, describes these caverns: ‘Les grotte de Sassenage ne font pas moins digne d’estre contemplée. L’vne est d’vne grandeur incroyable, & elle gette de ’horreur dans les ames les plus ferme, En Vautre ces cuves si célébres, & dans la troisitme est vne table de pierre, que l’on appelle communement la table de Melusine, Crest l’opinion d’vn grand personnage que les nymphes y estoient reverées autrefois d’vn culte particulier.’ ‘Estienne Barlet fait passer pour vne verité ce qu’il raconte d’vne autre, I] dit qu’apres que l’on yest entré par vn long & difficile chemin, on y voit distinctement des choses estranges. . Vn roy y paroist assis dans vn throne, la couronne a la teste & des thresors infinis a ses pieds, II ‘ adjotite que l’on croit que les fées, ou ces nymphes que les Grecs nomment les Oreades, y ont habité, & qu’ayant eu longtemps de la peine a le croire, il en a esté & fin persuadé. Cette caverne n’est pas fort éloignée de Mont- cluz, mais ce que l’on en dit est beaucoup de la vérité.—Lib. I, Cap X. p. 336, 1.8. Montserrat (mons serratus) rises abruptly from the plain of Catalonia. The ridge of peaks makes it look from a distance like an enor- mous saw. ‘There are a number of natural caverns in the rock. A monas- tery was founded at Montserrat in the tenth century. The legend tells that one evening the shepherds of Olea heard celestial music as they tended their sheep. While they listened they saw a bright light among the rocks. The Bishop of Manresa hearing of their vision, resolved to ascend the mountain. He found there an image of the Virgin, made of black wood. It was recognized as the statue that had been sculptured by St. Luke, and brought to Spain by St. Peter. He erected a chapel near where he found the image. A few years afterwards the Count of Barce- Jona built a convent on the spot, and appointed his daughter Abbess. Later the building passed into the hands of the Benedictines, The Virgin’s image worked miracles, and an immense number of pilgrims were drawn to the shrine. The ascent to the chapel was very difficult, and it was regarded as a very meritorious task, ‘The kings of Aragon, Castile, and Navarre enriched the foundation. New buildings were added from time to time. At the wars at the end of last century the Spaniards turned the monastery into a fortress. The French captured it, and when they blew up the fortifications much damage was done to ancient portions of the buildings. The hermitages are now in ruins, and the ascent to them is very difficult. They were all built on the same plan. Each had an ante- chamber, a cell with a recess, a study, a kitchen, and a plot of garden with a chapel. The hermits took a vow to die on the mountain. They followed an austere rule, and lived on vegetables and a little salt fish. NOTES TO pp. 337—368. 385 Their only amusement was carving little wooden crosses for the pilgrims who visited their cells. It was at Montserrat, in the Church of the Virgin, that Ignatius Loyola yowed constant obedience to God and the Church, on the Vigil of the Annunciation, 1522.— Visite aw Montserrat, by G. de Lavigne. p. 337, 1.9. Fr. ‘Culbaton.’ The village of Collbaté is the starting- point now-a- days for Montserrat. p. 340, 1. 8. Geoffray visited Pope Grovaty IX. in 1233. Before he left Firinee he made restitution to some of those he had wronged, as the letter dated 1232, still extant, proves: ‘To all who shall see these letters. Geoffroi de Leziniem, Vicomte of Chattellerault, lord of Voluent and Mayreuent, salut éternel. ‘You know that I am about to journey to the court of Rome, to put an end to my differences with the church of Maillezais. I wished to satisfy to the best of my ability, before my departure, all who have claims against me, especially such as are in holy orders, ‘Geoftroi, Abbot of Absie, having heard of my will, has demanded restitution for damages done, and losses and injuries that I and my father have caused to the Abbey of Absie. ‘I have learnt, from the testimony of men worthy of belief, that these claims are just; and for the salvation of my soul, and of my father’s soul, I have satisfied the said abbot, 1232..—From Thibaudeau’s Histoire de Poitou. p- 368, 1. 18. Coudrette’s versification of the Romance carries the fortunes of the Armenian kings to Leo VL., the last of the line, who died at Paris in 1393. This king was driven from his throne by the successful arms of the Egyptians. He was taken prisoner, and obtained his release through the good offices of John of Castile. Leo VI. visited Spain, where he was received as a champion of the Christian faith, and the King of Castile allowed him a pension of 150,000 maravedis. He afterwards travelled to France, where he was kindly received by Charles VI. A pension of 6,000 francs was granted to him there. Leo came over to England, where his reception was as warm as in Spain and Portugal. He obtained an English pension in addition to those from Spain and France. Leo VI. was a far-sighted man. He wanted to bring about a permanent peace between France and England, and he told the rulers of both countries that the only way that the Mahomedan arms could be checked in the East was by the aid of a united West. Unfortunately, his wise policy was rejected, and the rivalries of the kings of Christendom lost some of the fairest lands of Europe to the followers of Mahomet. Leo VI. told the King of France that Amurath aimed at being crowned at Rome, and that he had sent an expedition out with that purpose, which was annibilated by a stratagem of the King of Hungary. ‘Thay lost ther lande and all ther honour, Inclinyng and comyng vnto mischaunce, On of thes kynges cam to Fraunce pat houre, So fro hermeny chaced into Fraunce. Full long the kyng ther gaf hym sustinance. At Parys died as happned the cas, At the Celestines entered he was.’—]. 5685. After the death (29th Nov. 1393) of Leo VI. the title of King of Armenia was assumed by James I. of Cyprus. Neither James I. nor any of his successors ever reconquered the country. MELUSINE. co 386 NOTES TO p. 370. p. 370, 1. 5. Yuon, Yvain, Owen, or Evan of Wales claimed to be the rightful heir of the kingdom of Wales, and the French king treated him as such, Yuon was a favourite of John the Good, King of France, and took a part along with the French in the battle of Poitiers. When peace was made between England and France, Yuon went to Lombardy, where he remained until the war was renewed. In the reign of Charles V. he held a number of commands. He led an expedition of Welsh knights against Guernsey. His hope was that he would be able to reconquer Wales. Charles V, assisted him with money and supplies, but he was unable to land in Wales. He took part in the expedition of Bertand du Guesclin in Spain. On his return to. France he won some victories over the English. Froissart says that he was greatly hated in England on account of his claims to the Welsh crown, and for his treatment of his English prisoners, some of whom he would not allow to be ransomed. Yuon fell a victim to treason. He took into his service a James Lambe, a , knight who represented himself to be a Welsh exile. He appointed this man his chamberlain.” When Yuon was before Mortagne (1378), directing the siege against the English garrison, he was assassinated by James Lambe, who fled to the English camp, where he received protection, Yuon was buried at the church of St. Leger with great pomp. 387 LIST OF PROVERBS IN THE ROMANCE OF MELUSINE. The loue of ladyes causeth peyne & traueyll to the amerous louers, and deth to-horses, 56. Old synne reneweth shame, 79. Such weneth to auenge his shame that encreassith it, 93. It is euyl companye of a traytour, 97. Good it is to shette the stable before the hors be lost, 97 and 184. Wel fole is he that fighteth ayenst the wynd wenyng to make hym be styll, 107. Long taryeng quenchith moch the vertu of the yefte, 111, Yf the peple is pouere, the lord shall be vnhappy, 112. A flyes of a yere is more prouffytable than a flyes that is shorne twyes or thryes a yere, 112. In long treatee lyeth sometyme grete falshed, 113. Wyse men goo abacke for to lepe the ferther, 113. One grayne of peper alone smertith more on mans tonge, than doth a sacke fut of whete, 128. Victorye also lyeth not in grette multitude of peuple, but in good rule & ordynaunce, 128. Goodnes & bounte is betre than fayrenes & beaulte, 138. All is not yet lost that lyeth in parell, 147. Who lerneth not his crafte in his yougthe, with grete peyne & hard it shal be for him to be a good werkeman in his old age, 193, That God doth, he done anone, 203. Whan the yron is hoot it moste be wrought & forged, 211. Of two euylles men ought to choose the lasse, whan nedes muste one be had, 237. Bettre is to haue more of prouffyt & lasse honour, 238, A lytel rayne leyeth doun grete wynd, 247. That the fole thinketh oftymes cometh to foly, 255. The fole proposeth & god dysposeth, 265. He that menaceth is sometyme in grete fer & drede hymself, & aftir- ward ouerthrawen, 279. Bettre it is to flee, than to abyde a folyssh enterpryse, 288. Thing neuer bygonne hath neuer ende, 304. In every thing most be bygynnyng tofore the ende cometh, 304. He that gyueth the first strokes dooth not the batayt, but he that reuengeth hym bryngeth it to effect, 368. cc 2 ‘ » r - ‘ * ; ‘ . | ‘ : 74 arm ‘ ‘ ‘ é ’ ’ i . ® , * ; . , re ef ‘ a- ef 4 * * ¥ : bd c os ” \ t ’ ; . ? be + , ’ fe ou . ‘ * ‘ a * x eit ; » s) © . . a F A lant «tee x NN i Hee ’ i$ * re Vi een oe Ne a ie ha? ie ; 389 GLOSSARY. Words in Italics are the corresponding words of the French version, Ch. Brunet’s - Edition 1854. Abhomyned, page 311, abominated. aborde, 71, waited. absteyn, 16, abstain, abused, 7, beguiled. abysmes, 5, abysses. accorded, 213, agreed. acompte, 356, account. acoyntaunce, 71, acquaintance. acoynte, 190, become familiar; acoynted, 205. adiouste, 16, adjust. admounested, 228, warned; ad- mounestyng, 287. adommage, 32, harm; adommaged, 182. adrecyd, 226, directed. aduyronned, 123, surrounded, aduys, 71 (avis), opinion. affeblysshid, 241, became depressed, lost spirit. affectuelly, 148 (hwmblement), earn- estly, | affettuously, 159, affectionately. affyaunce, 324 (fiance), assurance, trust. affyns, 89 (proesmes), near relatives. affrayenge, 10, fearing. afrayed, 28, frightened. agree, 259, accept. aigre, 298, harsh. albaster, 328, alabaster. alez, 218, allies; alyed, 92. algaf, 300, although (lit. al if), allegeaunce, 335, relief. alinese, 106; almesses, 321, charity. alowed, 200, lowered. altogidre, 41, altogether, ambaxade, 183, embassy, Cot. = Cotgrave’s French Dictionary. amerous, 56, amorous. amongis, 27, amongst. amyable, 275, friendly. an, 90, one. ancres, 114, anchors, anenst, 21, against. ansuerde, 10, answered, ante, 367, aunt. antecessours, 330 (antecessewrs), pre- decessors. aourned, 51, 53 (aowrne), attired. aparteyned, 20, belonged. apas, 27, apace. apayed, 111, 192, pleased. appareylled, 118, made ready. apparysshing, 369, appearing. apperceyued, 230, 324, observed, appert, 125, expert. appertly, 131, promptly (Cot.). appertyse, 83, deeds, appiere, 15; appyeren, 4, appear. arblaster, 289, men who worked the arblastes, machines for throw- ing missiles. | archegaye, 226 (archegaie), dart. ardaunt, 142, burning. argued, 150 (argue), perplexed. arregarde, 132, rearguard. arsouns, 286, saddle-bows. aspre, 145, fierce. asprely, 132, fiercely. aspye, 117, spy. aspyracion, 315, respiration. assayed, 171, attested. assoted, 12, infatuated. assurest, 171, boldest. astonyed, 202, astonished, astromy, 20, astronomy, 390 astronomyens, 323, astronomers. asuryd, 156 (fiance), betrothed. auantgarde, 174, vanguard. auauntynge, 11, boasting. auctoures, 3, authors. auncyent, 4, ancient. auoultyre, 296, adultery. awondred, 50, wondered. awter, 344, alter. axe, 41, ask. axez, 299, attack of fever. ayen, 180, again. : Bake, 9, back. ‘ bare, 351, bore. barers, 124; barreres, 63 (braies), defences. bassade, 308, embassy. bassecourt, 300, inner court of a castle. ; basyn, 8, mug. basynets, 123, helmetted men. batayll, 289, battalion. batayllous, 246 (bataillerewx), given to fighting. beaulte, 7, beauty. beed, 148, bed. begonne, 12, begun, behauf, 17, use. behel, 282, belield. behighte, 111, 190, promise, pro- mised: beryng, 8, bearing. besily, 3, busily. betoke, 110, committed, bewte, 7, beauty. bigge, 86, build. bigynne, 17, begin. bilded, 17; bylded, 6, builded. bode, 18, bid. bourgeys, 206; burghers. braunche, 23, branch. braundysshed, 145, brandished. brede, 41, breadth. brenne, 17; brenne, 4; brennyng, 184, to burn. brigh, 266, bright. broche, 21, pierce. broched, 130, spurred, broded, 53; browded, 81, embroi- dered. bruled, 234, burnt. bruyt, 251, noise. burgeys, 151, GLOSSARY, brygandyners, 128, men wearing brigandines, canvas coats cover- ed with iron plates or iron rings. buffet, 303, blow. busshe, 284, ambush. butyn, 146, booty. bycomme, 4, gone to, bye, 39, buy. bygoten, 6, begotten. bynethe, 22, beneath. | Caas, 128, cause. candelstykes, 17, candlesticks. carrykes, 109, cargo ships. caruell, 117, a light ship. cas, 11, case. castel, 15, castle. castellayne, 92, castellan. catholicatt, 215, catholic. causer, 89, originator. cepter, 179, scepter. cerched, 330, searched. certyfyen, 3, to certify. cesse, 155, cease. chaffed, 22, excited, vexed. champaynes, 100, open fields. chanoyne, 40, canon. chappen, 193, shapen. charyte, 12, charity. chasse, 20, chace. chaunfreyn, 84 (gauffrain d’acier), the headpiece of a barbed horse (Halliwell). chayere, 82, chair, cheryed, 98, treated. cheuaunce, 155 (chevance), achieve- ment, cheuysaunce, 264, promise. cheyned, 177, chained. childed, 104, gave birth to. chirch, chirehe, 36, church. cleme, 142, climb. clemme, 25, climb. clepen, 187, called; clepid, 245, named, cleue, 26, cleave. clos, 118 (clos), enclosure, 267. cluble, 303, club, cohortacion, 97, company. cohorte, 97, company. coler, 53, collar. collige, 369, collect. commevyd, 123; commouyd, 154, excited. GLOSSARY. communyked, 291, talked, commynalte, 184 (communes), com- mons. comparacion, 17, comparison. compleyned, 12, complained, complices, 96, accomplices. condampned, 68, condemned, condycion, 14, condition. congie, 301, leave. conne, 12, to be able. connyng, 2, cunning, knowledge. conspiracion, 75, conspiracy. constreyned, 7, constrained. contrefaytte, 135, deformed. contynue, 299 (continue), prolonged attack. conuenable, 40, convenient. convers, 100, menials. convyne, 133, 142, 172 (commune) ? assembly, militia, soldiery. conyns, 261, rabbits, corset, 84, a cloth coat worn over the cuirass. coste, 134, dishursement. costes, 268, coasts, shores, cotidiane, 100, daily, cotte, 129, coat. coude, 7, could, was able; 20, knew. couenaunce, 5, covenant. couert, 254, 257, 281, 282, covert, concealed way. couertly, 262, obscurely, secretly. couetyse, 87, covetous. coule, 168, cool. couloure, 4, colour, courcer, 9, courser. cours, 15, course; cours, 290, rush. courteyns, 57, curtains. coyffe, 250 (coeffe), head-dress. coynted, 315, comely. cradelles, 4, cradles. cramesyn, 205, crimson, cronykle, 6, chronicle. cryded, 82, cried, shouted. curee, 99, entrails, quarry. curtoysye, curtoisye, 9, courtesy, cyrurgyens, 288, surgeons, ‘Dalt, 177, divided, damoyseau, 163; damoyseaulx (pl.), 125, youth, dampned, 339, damned. daw fole (damp musart). “text means Sir Fool or French Sir 391 Thoughtless, “damp” being equivalent to the O.E. Dan, as: “Dan” Chaucer. daw fole may mean, “melancholy” fool; see Bradley’s Stratmann’s M. E, Dic- tionary, under “ dau,” debennaire, 190, gentle. deceneryd, 169, ? unfurled their sails. decez, 356, decease. dede, 321, caused ; dede, 323, decd ; dede, 12, did. deele, 190, divide. deeling, 111, bearing. def, 29, deaf. deffawte, 345, default. delyt, 333, misdemeanour. demanded, 20, related. demened, 80, 125, 136, depressed ; demeneth, 147, conducted, demesurably, 132, greatly, immeas- urably. demysed, 87 (sen est deffwit), got rid of. denounced, 188, declared. departed, 116, divided, departement, 98, departure. despyt, 234, contempt. desray, 123, disorder, destraytte, 336 (Le vellon et le pertiwys), ? district, or territory. destrier, 81; destrer, 82, horse. detrenched, 146, hacked. deuel, 234 (doeul); dueyt, 237, mourning. deuoyre, 82, duty, deuysed, 67, told. deuyses, 348, talks, dey, 15, die. diches, 88, ditches, distourned, 55, turned aside. do, 321; doo, 239; doon, 13, 26, cause to. dogge, 21, dog, dolaunt, 312, doleful, doleur, 305, dolor, dombe, 29, dumb, dome, 13, doom. dommage, 145 (dommaige), harm. don, 118 (donne), given, dongeon, 300, main tower of a castle, donjon. doubtid, 1, feared. doubtous, 193, fearful. 392 doughtir, 11, daughter, doun, 13, down. dowbed, 18, dubbed. dresse, "30; dressed, 21, direct, turned. dressyng, 155 (adressant), address- ing. due, 6, duke. duchery, 214, duchy. dueil, 138 ; duey], 216, mourning. dysemupare, 215, dethrone. dyspens, 148, outlay, dysployed, 119, 230, unfurled, dis- played. dysporte, 77, 98, sport ; dysported, 304, enjoyed. dyspoylle, 136, pillage. dyspreyse, 113, contemn. dyspytous, 29" (despiteux), angry, spiteful. dyssymyle, 113, dissimulate. dystourne, 26 (destourneray), turn away ; distourned, 83. ‘ Eche, 17, each. effoundred, 286, eut into. egaly, 146, equally. emonge, 118, among, empeche, 39, prevent. empechement, 279, hindrance. empossesse, 99 ; enpocesse, 333, put in possession, emprysed, 81, undertaken. ench, 83, inch, encheson, 65, motive. encres, 337; encresse, 32, increase. encysed, 62, cut. endeuoyre, 152; endeavour; en- deuoyred, 157. endoctryne, 55, instruct, enfourmed, 308, informed, enharnashed, 9, accoutred. enjurous, 66, injurious. enlyberte, 99, liberate. ensiew, 184, follow. ensured, 68 (assewroit), assured. entamed, 211, 299, broached, entaylled, 50, carved, entende, 1, to give heed. entendement, 369, understanding. entent, 91, intent, purpose. ententyfly, 70, attentively, enterprenaunt, 122, enterprising. enterprysed, 12, undertaken. GLOSSARY. entremete, 63 (se meslera), inter- meddle. entreteyne, 239, keep up. enuahisshing, 138 (envaye); enua- hysshed, 147; enuahye, 201, as- sault. envertued, 200 strengthened. eny, 16, any. erable, 99, arable. erle, 6, earl. eschiewed, 145, rescued, escryed, 77, 115, p.p. of escrien, to call to. escuse, 258, excuse; 10, excnsed. eslongyd, 133 (se eslongérent), separ- ated, espirytuel, 371, spiritual, esprised, 11, 34 (surpris), overtaken, esprouued, 224 (esprowvoient), tried. esprysed, 77 (espris), smitten. espyes, 193, spies. esquyer, 248, squire, essaye, 192, try. estimed, 117, estimated. estraungers, 178, strangers, estymacion, 266, estimate. euerche, 320; eueryche, 154, every. eueryehon, 38, every one. ewrous, 244 (eur eux), lucky, happy. excusacion, 107, excuse. exercyted, 224, exercised. exployted, 123 (exploita), worked ; 81, fought ; 289, acted. eyled, 299, ailed. (se envertuoit), avoided; 170, Facion, 225, build, make, fader, 7, father. fuicte, 13; faitt, 71; fayt, 312, deed. falshed, 13; falsed, 315, falsehood ; fals, 12. fan, 65 (Latin vannas), a corn win- nowing fan or sieve. fantosme, 311, phantom, fasted, 44, fastened. fauntesye, 4, 31, fantasy. fawte, 57 (verb), fail; 196, wrong; 58 (noun), failure. feith, 24, faith. fel, 134, 200, fierce, cruel. felawship, 8, fellowship, fer, 60, far; ferre, 327. faytte, 119; GLOSSARY, ferder, 332, further. ferfourth, 106, widely. fest, 19, feast ; festyed, 98, feasted ; feste, 8, rejoicing. festyed, 368 (batw), thrashed. fette, 251; fete, 213, fetch. feynted, 66, faint. feynyngly, 28, pretending. flayel, 303 (flayel), a baton carrying a lump of iron attached by a chain. flawgh, 321, flew; floughe, 321. flemed, 112, fled. florysshed, 13 (florie), flowered. flote, 268, fleet. flyes, 112, fleece, fole, 24, fool. fore, 184, early. foreby, 251, past. forfaytte, 315 (fowrfart), crime, forgate, 7, forgot. forwayed, 101, wandered, lost, foundatours, 368, founders, foundement, 62 (fondament), found- ation. founs, 172 (font), bed. fourme, 17, form. foursenyd, 315 (enforcenez), furious, enraged, fourueyeth, 76, wanders, fowel, 206, foul. fownd, 103, founded. foynyng, 67, thrusting. foyson, 21 (foison), abundance, fro, 3, from. fuldoo, 1, accomplish. fullyssh, 149, 208, fully. fumyer, 278, smoke, fust, 85, fist. fuste, 116, a rowing and sailing slip. fyaunce, 257, trust. fyers, 17, fierce. fyerste, 118, boldness. fyl, 321, fell. fyn, 331, end. fynaunce, 17 (finance), ready money. fyreyron, 23, tlint and steel, Gadre. 266, gather, gaf, 19, gave. galyote, 167, little galley ; galyotte, 118. gan, 22, began. garnysons, 135, garrisons, 393 garnysshed, 184, 230, furnished, adorned. gate, 203, got, obtained. gaynstode, 137, withstood. geaunt, 17, giant. . gendred, 246, begotten. gent, 8, gentle. gerdell, 53, girdle. gerland, 59, garland, wreath. gestes, 369, histories. glanched, 77, glanced. gobelyns, 4, goblins, gonnes, 115, guns. good chep, 279, 282 (ben marche), easy mastery. gorgeret, 175, a piece of armour to protect the throat. gramaire, 370, grammar. gramercy, 9, great thanks. grauntfader, 19, grandfather. gree, 109, 121, favour, will, pleasure. gree, take in, 2, agree to. greef, 13, grief. gret, grett, 7, great. greve, 130, injure. guerdon, 204, reward. gyfte, 15, gift. Haake, 20, hawk, haboundonne, 99, give up. habundauntly, 228, abundantly. halid, 161, hauled. halowed, 158, blessed. handlyng, 65 (manilles), handles. hap, 15; happ, 5, 12 (noun), luck, chance. happe, 4; happed, 5; haped, 118 (verb), to happen. hardyly, 10; hardytly, 231, boldly. harneys, 115, armour. hauen, 118 (clos), haven. haunce, 112; enhance, 325, raised. haunted, 113, practised. hauoyr, 67, goods. haused, 166 (getter), lowered over- board. hawtepyece, 145; haulte piece, 325, helmet. heest, 21, hehge, 21, hang. helinets, 199, 251 (bassines), fighting men. henne, 211, hen. hens fourthon, 17, henceforth. 394 herberowed, 70, harboured. herde, 7, heard. ; here, 2, hear. herke, 317, harken. herte, 9, hart; hert, 39. heued vp, 24, raised. heure, 146, hour. heuyer, 35, heavier. heyer, 66, heir. hit, 7, it. hold, 190, keep. hot, 302, whole. holped, 46, helped. honestly, 73, worthily. hontous, 238, ashamed, hool, 361, whole. hoop, 36, hope. hores, 177, oars, hors, 10, horse. hourys son, 300, whore’s son. hurted, 25, p.p. of hurten, to rush against. hurtelyd, 95 (hurta), pushed. hydouse, 315, hideous. hye, 76 (halt), aloud ; 94, high. hyerid, 134, hired, hyndre, 24, hynder., Iinpetred, 14, procured (Cot.), importable, 153, unbearable. incontynent, 276, immediately. indigned, 262, made indignant. infortunate, 16, unfortunate, iugge, 15, judge. iuggement, 3; jugement, 15, judg- ment. Tung, 16, June. Jacke, 205 (Jaques), coat. jape, 79, jest. journey, iourney, 291, a fixed date, jugge, 317, judge. justiser, 97, justiciary. Kennyng, 104 (Veues), far sight, extent of vision, Cotgrave trans- lates “kenne”: veoir de loin. Motteux (Rabelais, Bk. 1V, cap. | keruyng, GLOSSARY, 43, kerued, 50. knowleche, 2, knowledge; know- leched, 96. konne, 108, show. kychons, 50, kitchens. kymbyng, 297, combing, kynge, 6, king. kynne, 90, kin. kkynrede, 24, kindred. kyst, 78 (jetta), cast. carving, cutting ; Langing, 136, longing. large, 111, liberal, largenes, 111, liberality. launche, 123, hurl; launchid, 94, rushed. ; lawghe, 272; lawhe,-101, laugh. lawmentyng, 147, lamenting. lectuary, 247 (electuatre), electuary. leder, 39; leeder, 357, leather. lefte, 286, lifted. legge, 99; leghe, 129; leghis (pl.), 194, league. - leghe, 294 (lieue), place. leghes, 353, legs. lepe, 10, leap. les, 22, lest. leser, 144 (loisir), leisure. lette, 10, delay ; late (imp.) let, 20; letted, 196. leued, 23, left; leve, 33, leave. leuyed, 135, levied. leyd, 34, laid. leyser, 277, leisure. locucion, 20, cireumlocution, lodgis, 119, lodgings. lost, 147, faith. lustis, 320, pleasures. lyf, 7, life. lyflod, 108; lyuelod, 31 (terrien), landholding. lygeauns, 338, allegiance. lyghtly, 300, 8 Uh lykwyse, 15, likewise. lynee, 6, line. lyuere, 275, give. 22) translates “ne sommes pas |! Machecolyd, 63, 103, parapetted, loing de port” by “ within a ken- ning.” kepe, 112, guard. kerle, 28, churl, kerued, 17, carved, holes are left in the parapets to pour out molten lead, &e. machined, 96; machyned, 68, ma- chinated. maculate, 299, blemished. GLOSSARY. mageste, 1, majesty. magre, 142, maugre. maister, 1, master. manded, 73 (manda), sent for. mandement, 153, 183, mandate, commandment. manoyr, 100, mansion, marches, 183, districts. maronner, 268, mariner. maryage, 16, marriage. mate, 147, dull (mat), dejected ; mated, 216. mayllet, 329, mallet. maynten, 126, bearing. medled, 132, mingled. medowe, 5, meadow. meney, 9, retinue. mercy, 71, thank; mercyed, 90. meruaylle, 11, marvel. meryte, 15, merit. meschaunt, 302, wicked. mesprysed, 79, calumniated. messagery, 69, corps of messengers, embassy. messe, 54, dish. metes, 38, meats. meued, 122; mevyd, 8; meuyd, 21 (mue), stirred up. meure, 160, mature. meyne, 23, men; company. moche, 6, much. moder, 14, mother. mone shyn, 22, moonshine, moneth, 208, month, morow, 361, morning. inost, 29, must. moustre, 165, muster. mowe, 23, be able. musarde, 29 (musart from muser, to loiter), dawdler. myddes, 54, midst. mynnsshed, 350, nusshe, 820. mys scheaunce, 366, ill luck, mis- chance, mysdon, 261, done amiss, mysdymed, 265, mistook. mysericordous, 313, forgiving. myserye, 13, misery. inysknewe, 102, mistook, myster, 219, need; mystier, 222, meney, 9, 280, lessened; my- Nat, 2, not. 395 naturell, 15, natural. nauye, 109, navy. nauyll, 15, navel. nayle, 81, hoof. ne, 1, nor. nedermost, 336, nethermost. ner, 212, nor. nevew, 17, nephew. none, 358, noon, nones, 63, nonce. nothre, 39, neither. nourrytured, 354, nurtured. nouryces, 103, nurses. nuyouse, 371, tiresome. nyghte, 179, niece; nyghtis. (pl.), 162. nys, 8, is not. Obscurte, 22, obscurity. obsequye, 235, funeral ceremony. obtempering, 9, submitting. occysyon, 132, slaughter. on, 131, 233, in. ones, 360, once. 00, 79; oon, 4, one. oost, 193, host. ootys, 91, oats. ordonne, 14, order; ordonned, 79. orgueyH, 293, haughtiness. orgueyllous, 249, haughty. orphanite, 147, state of orphanage. orphelym, 241; orphenyme, 213; orphenyns (pl.), 187, orphan. ouch, 126; owche, 59, jewel. ouergrowen, 65, full grown. ouerredde, 1, read over. ouertredde, 112; overstep. ought, 134, owes, oultrage, 196, outrage. oultrageous, 89, outrageous, outhre, 95, either. Paas, 21, pace. pais, 257, peace. palfrener, 52 (varlet), page. palfroy, 9, palfrey. palleys, 147, palace. palyard, 294 (ribault), rascal. pannes, 4, pans. panser, 84, a steel plate covering that part of the body. between the breast and the waist. Véiollet-le- Duc, the front part of the cuirass, pappes, 311, breasts, 396 parement, 37, ornament, parfounde, 167, deepest. parfytt, 3, perfect. — partrych, 175, partridge. pas, 136, pass, passage, patron, 115, master. . patyse, 304, 324, tribute ; patiz, 301 ; patise (verb), 304, tax, exact tri- bute. paueys, 142, 359, shield. parels, 31, perils. | paueysed, 167, shielded. | paynemys, 106, pagans. peas, 12, peace; peased, 100, paci- fied. pensefull, 28 (pensif), thoughtful. | perfightly, 22; perfyttly, 5, per- | fectly. peris, 39; peers. perpetred, 76, perpetrated. perske, 126 (pers.), blue, sky colour- ed (Cot.). pert, 105, expert. pesaunnt, 142, weight, pesaunt, 145, heavy. peupled, 118, peopled. peyne, 12, 322, pain, painstaking, plaisir, 10, pleasure. playntes, 12, plaints, playsaunce, 14, pleasure. playsaunt, 7, pleasant. plee, 53 (plait), story. plee, 319 (plet), play. pletyng, 33, pr. part. of plete, to lead, portable, 209, bearable. portecollys, 253, portcullis, potence, 117, cross, gibbet. pouere, 6, poor, pouldre, 115, powder, poursiewe, 155, seek. poynted, 149, appointed. prately, 9 (dowlcement), prettily. prechement, 196, preaching. prees, 137 (presse), throng. prest, 265, 275, ready, now. preste, 358, priest. preu, 21 (prews), valiant. preyse, 23, praise. preysed, 302, apprised. prodytour, 310 (proditeur), traitor. proesse, 15, prowess. promyssion, 16, promise. promytte, 15, promise. GLOSSARY. promyttyng, 292, promising. propice, 168; propyce, 108, pro- pitious. propos, 261, proposal. propre, 196, own. propriete, 133, property. proufytte, 3, profit. proy, 132, prey. prymat, 40, primate. pryme, 148, six a.m. -pryuy, 214, select, intimate. publyed, 64, published, pucelle, 179, maid. punysshe, 13, punish, purchasse, 257, procure. purfeld, 53; purfylled, 240, trimmed. puruey, 19, purvey. purveyaunce, 109, provender. purueyed, 109, purveyed, provided, pytaunce, 336, allowance, | pyte, 14, pity. Quarell, 287, a kind of arrow. Radeur,329 (radewr), swiftness ; 386, violence. raisonably, 18, reasonably ; raisson, 260, justice. rampyn, 117 (rampin), a light ship. rannyng, 8, running. raser, 283, razor. rauysshed, 7, ravished, realyed, 145, rallied. reaume, 238; reame, 240, realm. rebuckyd, 252, struck, attacked, rechaced, 126, chased back, reche, 325, reach. recomforte, 107, comfort again, recorded, 263, related. recountred, 168, encountered. recule, 124, 231, fall back, retreat. rede, 2, read. redeuaunce, 4 (redevance), rent, ser- vice, redressid, 193, rearranged. reforced, 176 (se renforcha), 290 (reforcha), increased, reinforced. regarde, 209, desert. regenered, 140, regenerated. regne, 6, reign. regracy, 23; regracye, 124, thank. rejoye, 157, gladden. relacion, 42, reference. | relessed, 322, relaxed, diminished. GLOSSARY, releuyd, 95 (se remit), 103, 131, rose. relygyon, 181, order. remenant, 44, remnant. remevyth, 371, removeth. remyse, 207, 210, restore ; remysed, 137. renommee, 108; renoumee, 74 (re- nommeée), renown, resoyngne, 140 (ressongner), to fear (Cot.). respection, 319, outlook. restablysshe, 196, establish again. retche, 14 (challoir), reck, regard. - reuertid, 319, turned. reueste, 97, endow. reuested, 40, clothed. reueyH, 241, revelry. rewled, 68, ruled. rightwyse, 69, righteous, roche, 248, rock. roos, 22, rose. roste, 4, roast. rote, 60, root. rotyn, 286, rotten. rought, 67, recked. route, 136, squadron (Cot.). royalme, 118; royame, 245, realm. rudesse, 28, rudeness. ryall, 363, royal. ryalte, 214, royalty. ryuage, 2, 114 (ripve), shore, landing, Saaf, 3, except. sac, 39, sack. salades, 130, helmets. saluacyon, 356, safety. salue, 126, salute; salued, 8; sa- lewed, 10. Satirday, 15, Saturday, saudant, 291, sultan. sauegarde, 17, safeguard. sauf, 177, except. sawdees, 148, soldiers’ pay. sawdoyers, 208; sawdyours, soldiers. sawdan, 105, sultan. sawte, 229; sawtyng, 291, assault, assaulting. saynct, 3, saint. scafoldes, 241 (eschafauds), grand- stands. scaped, 34, escaped. - scarmusshing, 131, skirmishing. ' schall, 2, shall, 149, 397 scourers, 224 (cowreus), runners. seaced, 311, ceased. seale, 39, seal. seased, 75, seasyd, 358 (saisir, con- nected with seisin), seized from. sechyng, 10, seeking. see, 7, sea. semblable, 210, similar, semblaunt, 33, 150, show, semynge, 7, seeming. sene, 153 (cf. syn) since. senester, 84; senyster, 137, left. separed, 302, separated, sepulture, 354, tomb. serche, 1, search. seruytude, 249, feudal dues. sethen, 163, since. sette, 17, set, placed; 272 (noun), sect. seuene nyght, 91, week. shadd, 22, shed. shede, 359, sheath. shelynges, 43, shillings. shett, 14, shut. shul, 16, shall. siege, 133, seat, camp. siew, 123, follow; siewed, 219; siewyng, 73. ‘ sith, 10, since. sitte, 23, set. slee, 24, slay. slough, 306, slew. sodan, 128, sultan. soden, 279, boiled. solas, 306, amusement. solemply, 323, solemnly. sommage, 143, baggage. sommed, 65, summoned. songe, 7, sang. sonne, 174, sun. sorow, 13, sorrow. sonne, 360, sun. sort, 110, spell, sorcery. souped, 363, supped. sourdred, 46 (est. sowrs), 50 (sour- dit), sprung forth, sowle, 41, soul. sowne, 101, sound. sparpylled, "165 (esgarez), scattered. spek, 6, 19, speak. spethaak, 16; sperohak, sparrow hawk. speryd, 294, asked. spoused, 11, espoused, 398 \ . spyce, 371 (espéce), element. stablysshed, 17, stablished. stalage, 54, stands. stert vp, 302 (sazllist), jumped up. straunged of, 48, estranged from. stake, 234, a pile of wood. stakered, 82; staker, 353, staggered. staung, 98, pool. stere, 185, stir, move. sterop, 27; sterope, 83, stirrup. stode, 7, stood. stoure, 132, 146, tumult, battle. straunge, 183, foreign. straunger, 10, stranger. strengest, 33, strongest. streyte, 118, street. styed, 94, mounted. styl, 7, still. subget, 24, subject. subgection,.17, subjection. suposen, 3, suppose. supposest, 30, intendest. surprysed, 10, overcome by. surquydous, 96, arrogant. suscited, 151 (resuciter), raised from. sustir, 118, sister. swette, 7, sweet. syke, 147, sick. sylenceth, 48, becomes silent. symplenes, 194, ignorance. syn, 17, 71, 116, since, then. synester, 258, evil. synewes, 138 (vaines), veins. synnar, 313, sinner. synne, 339, sin. syth, 26, since. sythe, 301, scyth. Tache, 22 (tache), spot; tache, 232, buckle, clasp. tambours, 110, drums, a kind of tambourine. targe, 175, shield. termyned, 149, terminated. terryen, 60, landholder. thaketh, 294 (pris), taketh. the, 284, they. thenne, 7, then. thevely, 359, thieflike. thikk, 18, thick, thoo, 16, those. . thrested, 77, thrusted. thrugh, 359, threw. thurst, 7, thirst. GLOSSARY. thye, 232, thigh. tierce, 157, In summer eight of the clock, in winter ten (Cot.). toard, 96, towards. to fore, 20; to forne, 178, before. togidre, 11, together. toke, 4, took. top, 105, tuft. tourment, 15, torment, tourned, 9, turned. -tranchis, 43 (trenchée) ; trenchis, 50, carvings, hewings. trasse, 278, trace. trauerse, 126, across, traytt, 320 (tradllis); traylles (pl.), 329, cage. trayttee, 182, treaty. trenchaunt, 145, sharp. trew, 1, true. trews, 276, truce. - tronchoned, 286, truncheoned. troussage, 132 (trouwssages), goods, bundles. | troussed, 141, prepared to leave. trouth, 17, truth.- trucheman, 274, interpreter. trusse, 335, pack. trychery, 110, treachery. trystefull, 305, sad. tyres, 53, attire. Valew, valewe, 41, value. valiauntis, 122, valiantness. vasselage, 145 (vaisselage), fealty ; 200 (vaisselages), feats of arms (Cot.). vergoyne, 285 (vergoingne), shame, vergoynouse, 21, ashamed. vertu, 291; vertue, 200, strength. very, 1, 25, veracious. vitupere, 89 (blasme), reproach. vmbrel, 83 (maisselle), the shade for the eyes placed immediately over the sight of a helmet, and some- times attached to the vizor (Halli- well), vnfortune, 209, misfortune. vnnethe, 202, 249, scarcely, nearly. vupurveyed, 121 (despourveu), un- provided. vnyed, 131, united. volente, 207, will. voyded, 209 (ostées), removed. vpso-dounne, 25, upside down. GLOSSARY. vyageours, 362, travellers, vylayne, 28, bondman. vylonnye, 251, disgrace. vynaigre, 114, vinegar. vyreton, 269, arrow or bolt. vysyted, 288, examined, vytupere, 233 (vituperer), shame. Wakked, 7, was awake. waloped, 130; waloping, 21, gal- loped. warauntyse, 200 ; waraunt, 136, pro- tect. warde, 62, wall of defence. wardes, 170, guards. wareyne, 99, preserve, enclosure. wast, 18, waste. waymentyng, 13, lamenting. wedryng, 206, weather. wele, 11, weal. wend, 72; weneth, 2; wenyng, 29, weened, thought. wende, 137, turned. wepen, 25, weapon, wered, 21, fought, warred, worried. were, 129, wear. werre, 65, war. wers, 216, werse. wery, 145, weary. 399 | wete, 115; wot, 12; wote, 120, know. whom, 52, home. wodd, 272, mad. wode, 285, wood, woo, 85, woful. wood wroth, 247, madly angry. worship, 111, respect. worshipfully, 10, honorably. wounderly, 5, wonderfully. wraunt, 158, guarantee. writon, 17, written, wrorthy, 68, worthy. wysshyng, 177, wish, wytted, 310, blamed. Yaf, 181, gave. yede, 7, 21, went. yeft, 16, gift. yl wyller, 211, ill-wisher. ymage, 17, image. ynough, 13, enough, yonde, 70, yonder. yonge, 4, young. ypocras, 54, a spiced and sweetened wine. yrous, 246 (fier), angry, fierce. ytaken, 9, taken. : 401 INDEX OF PROPER NAMES. PART IL—PERSONS. Adam, page 3. Alayn of Quyngant, 68, Raymondin’s uncle. Alexaundryne, 369, concubine of Sersuell. Anthenor, King of Antioch, 264; helps to form a league to fight Urian of Cyprus; is defeated, makes a treaty with Urian, and agrees to pay tribute, 292. Anthony, 6, fourth son of Raymondin and Melusine; birth, 104; leaves home to succour Christine of Lux- embourg, 190; conquers the King of Anssay, 308; marries Chris- tine, 214; goes to the siege of Pourrencru, 347; captures the Duke of Freiburg, 353. Appolyn, 283. Aragon, King of, visits Raymondin | at Montserrat, 338; is present at Raymondin’s burial, 355, Argemount, Lord of, 218, a baron of Poitou, appointed by the Duke Anthony as captain of Luxem- bourg in his absence at the siege of Prague. Aristote, 3; Aristotles, 20, quoted. Asselyn, 183, Earl of Luxembourg, father of Christine. Austeryche, Duke of, fights against the King of Anssay, is defeated, 245. Bandas, Caliph of, goes against Cyprus with the King of Brandi- mount, 164; attacks Lymasson, 167; he retreats on hearing of MELUSINE, the damage to the fleet by the storm, 168; his fleet captured, 170; fights Urian, 175; makes his escape, 176; defeated at sea by the Master of Rhodes, 177; escapes in a small boat, 177; forms a league against the kings of Cyprus and Armenia, 264; defeated by the Christian forces, and is compelled to make a treaty, 292. Bar, Duchesse of, Marie, 1, danghter of John le Bon, King of France; born Sept. 12, 1344; married 1364 to Robert, Duke of Bar; died 1404. Barbary, Sultan of, nephew of King Brandimount, one of the league against Urian, King of Cyprus, 264; believes the league will be successful against the Lusignans on land, 272; loses his arm in a fight with Urian, 290; makes a treaty, 292. Benedictus, Pope, 334; Benedicte; visited by Raymondin. Bernadon, 354, son of Odon, Earl of Marche, marries the heiress of the lord of Cabyeres. Berry, Duke of, John, 1, son of John le Bon, King of France; born Nov. 30, 1340; died June 15, 1416; commands John of Arras to compile the history of Melu- sine, 2; captures Lusignan Castle, 369. Bertrand, 18, 102, son of Emery, Earl of Poitiers; succeeds to the DED 402 earldom, 40: grants Raymondin a piece of land, 41; goes to Ray- mondin’s wedding, 49, Bertrand, 214, son of Anthony and Cristine of Luxembourg. Blanche, 18, daughter of Emery, Earl of Poitiers, goes to Ray- mondin’s marriage, 52. Brandimount in Tharse, King of, uncle of the Sultan of Damascus, — 164; goes against Cyprus to avenge his nephew’s death, 164; his fleet damaged by a storm, 165; swears to obtain victory or death, 170; fights Urian, 175; slain, 175, Claude of Syon, 247, refuses to pay Raymondin his tribute, 246; is attacked by Geffray with the great Tooth, 247; captured, 254 ; is hung before Valbruyant Castle by Geffray’s orders, 256. Clerevauld, 252, third brother of Guyon of Syon Castle; rebels against Raymondin, 246; is cap- tured by Geffray’s squire, 253, and is hung before Valbruyant Castle, 256. Cordes, Admiral of, 268; Querdes, 246; joins the Caliph of Bandas to fight the King of Cyprus, 264 ; defeated at sea by Geffray, 270; slain by Geffray, 290. Crystyne, 183, daughter and heiress - of the Duke of Luxembourg; the King of Anssay sues for her hand, 183; she refuses because he is a widower, 183; her land attacked, 185; Anthony rescues her, 203; marries Anthony, 214, Damascus, Sultan of, wants to marry the daughter of the King of Cy- prus, 121; is refused because he will not be baptised, 121; goes to fight the king, 115; besieges Famagosse, 121; hears of the arrival of the Lusignans, 124; defeated by Urian, 133; throws a poisoned dart at the King of Cyprus, 136; slain by Urian, 145. Damascus, Sultan of, jeers at the Christians’ power, 277; gets frightened at Geffray, 280; at- INDEX OF PROPER NAMES, tacks Geffray, 283; has to fly, 285; makes a treaty, 292. Dauid, King of Israel, 2, quoted. Dupont, Josselyn, makes the heir of the King of Bretayne jealous of Henry of Leon, 66; is denounced by Raymondin, 72; summoned to appear before the King of Bret- ayne, 73; his treachery exposed, 75; confesses, 85; ordered to make restitution, 88; hung, 86. Dysmas, 117, the good thief who was crucified with Jesus, Earle of Vandosme at war with the Erle of Marche, 345; he has to make peace, and do homage for some of his land, 346, Eglantyne, daughter and heiress of Frederick, King of Bohemia, 215 ; left an orphan, 227; marries Reg- nauld, fourth son of Raymondin and Melusine, 240; becomes the mother of Olyphart, 242. Elynas, King of Albany, a widower ; when hunting he meets Pressine, a beautiful lady, 7; becomes en- amoured of her, 9; proposes to marry her, 10; is accepted on condition that he promises to ab- stain from seeing her while in childbed, 11 ; has three daughters by her, Melusine, Melior, and Pala- tine, 11; breaks his promise, 11; his wife and daughters disappear. 12; his daughters shut him up in Brombelyoys, a Northumbrian mountain, 14; his death, burial, and tomb, 17. Emery, Earl of Poitiers, 18, slain by accident at a boar hunt by his nephew Raymondin, 25, Florye, daughter and heiress of the King of Little Armenia, falls in love with Guyon, second son of Raymondin and Melusine, 162; left an orphan, 178; her father’s dying wish is that she should marry Guyon, 179; Guyon marries her, 181. Florymond, son of Nathas, King of Albany, 7; he has much trouble, 12, INDEX OF PROPER NAMES. Forests, Erle of, jokes his brother Raymondin about his marriage to Melusine, 56 ; makes him jealous of Melusine, 295; is slain by Geffray, 332. Frederyk, King of Behayne, brother of the King of Anssay, 215; be- sieged by the Saracens at Prague, 215; slain by the King of Craco, 226. Froymond, 245; Froymonde, 6; Froymont, 308, seventh son of Raymondin and Melusine, 104; the only perfectly formed child Melusine bears, 314; shorn, a monk at Mailleses, 305; burnt in the Abbey of Mailleses by Geffray with the great Tooth, 309. Gallafryn, King of Danette (Dami- etta) has his head cut open by Geffray, 283. Geffray with the great Tooth, sixth son of Raymondin and Melusine ; birth, 104; goes against Claud of Syon and his brethren, 247; hangs them before Valbruyant Castle, 256; pardons Guerin and Gerrard, 263; resolves to fight the Sara- cens, 264; arrives at Lymasson, 267; defeats the Saracens at sea, 270; plunders Jaffa, 277; captures Beyrout, 278 ; kills Gal- lafryn of Damietta before Da- mascus, 283; fights the Sultan of Damascus, 287; kills the Ad- miral of Cordes, 290; the Sara- cens agree to pay tribute, 292; fights the giant Guedon, 302; slays him, 304; enraged at his brother Froymond becoming a monk, 307; burns the Abbey of Mailleses, his brother Froymond and all the monks, 304; repents, 310; goes to Brombelyo, 323; fights the giant Grimold, 324; follows him into a cave, 327; sees there the tomb of Elynas his grand- father, 326; slays Grimold, 329 ; learns his mother’s fate, 331; slays the Earl of Forest, 332; be- comes lord of Lusignan, 338 ; repents his many misdeeds, 329 ; goes to Rome and confesses to the | 403 Pope, 340; visits his father, 343 ; visits Regnald and Anthony, 345 ; rebuilds the Abbey of Mailleses, 346; captures Freiburg, 351 ; fights the Duke of Austria, 353 ; attends his father’s burial, 353 ; fights with a mysterious knight, 359; promises to build an hospital, 361. Geruayse, 4 (? Gervaise of Tilbury) quoted. Godart, 369, declares he has often seen a serpent on the walls of Lusignan Castle. Great Carmen, 263. Great Prior of Rhodes invites Urian and Guion to Rhodes, 116; goes to search for the Saracens, 117 ; cuts off the Saracen retreat, 174; defeats the Calaph of Bandas at sea, 177; sails to the Saracen fleet at Jaffa, 266. Grymault, 306; Grymauld, 323, a Northumbrian giant; Geffray with the great Tooth fights him, 324 ; and on the second day slays him, 329. Guedon, 293, a giant in Garende; fights Geffray, 301; is slain, 304. Guerard of Mountfrayn, nephew of Gueryn of Valbruyant Castle, 256; makes peace with Geffray, 263. Gueryn of Valbruyant Castle, 255; submits to Geftray, 261, and is forgiven, 263. Guion, third son of Raymondin and Melusine, 103; goes with his brother Urian to help the King of Cyprus against the Saracens, 109 ; receives a ring from Ermin, 126; visits the King of Cyprus, 150; goes once more against the Sara- cens, 160; driven on the coast of Armenia, 161; falls in love with Flory, the heiress of the King of Armenia, 163; defeats the Sara- cens, 166; is offered the crown of Armenia, 179; marries Flory, 180; has to defend himself against a Saracen league, 265. Guyon, brother of Claud of Syon Castle, fights Geffray with the great Tooth, 249; is overcome DD 2 404 INDEX OF PROPER NAMES. and bound to a tree, 251; hung before Valbruyant Castle, 256. Henry of Leon, father of Raymendin, seneschal of the King of Bretayn, 65; slain by Josselin Dupont, 67. Henry, son of Alayn of Quyngan, and cousin of Raymondin, 70; obtains from Raymondin the Barony of Henry of Leon, 87. Henry, 178, 257, son of Urian and |. Hermin of Cyprus. Horrible, eighth son of Raymondin and Melusine, birth, 105; has three eyes, and is of a brutal dis- position, 105 ; suffocated, 322. Locher, 245, son of Anthony and Christine of Luxembourg. Lymas, Captain of, visits the wounded King of Cyprus, 146; takes a message from him to Urian, 148. Machomid, 277; Mahon, 275, Ma- homet. Melidee, 183; Metydee, 217, daughter of the King of Ans- say; betrothed . to Bertrand, Anthony’s son, 245. Melior, second daughter of Elinas and Pressine, 11; helps Melusine to shut her father up in thie Mountain of Brombelyoys, 14; as punishment is sent by her mother to keep a Sperohak in a castle in Armenia until the day of judgment, 15; she gives gifts to knights who can watch the Sperohak three days and nights without sleep, 362; has an ad- venture with a King of Armenia, 365; tells her history, 366. Melusyne, 6; Melusigne, 11; Melu- sine of Albany, 52; eldestdaughter of Elinas, King of Albany, and Pres- sine, 11; taken to Aualon, 12; told of her father’s broken promise, 13; shuts up her father in Brombe- lyoys Mountain, 14; condemned to turn into a serpent every Satur- day till she finds a man who will marry her and who promises to | keep away from her on those days, 15; meets Raymondin at the Fountain of Soif, 27; wakens him, 29; tells his history, 31; asks him to marry her, 31; ob- tains a promise that he will not try to see her on Saturdays, 32; gives Raymondin advice, 33; her wedding, 53; thanks Raymondin for his friends’ presence and urges him to keep his promise, 57; she presents rich jewels to her guests, 59; builds Lusignan Castle, 62 ; gives birth to Urian, 65; ad- vises Raymondin to go to Bretayn to obtain justice from Josselin Dupont, 65; prepares a welcome for her lord, 101; gives birth to Odon and Guyon, 103; builds Partenay and many towns and castles in Poitou and Guyenne, 103; gives birth to Anthony, Geffray, Froymond, 104, 245, and Horrible, 105; gives per- mission to Urian and Guion to seek their fortunes abroad, 107; organizes their forces, 109; gives them parting advice, 110; raises an army for Anthony and Reg- nald, 188; gives them advice, 190; gives birth to Theodoric, 245; Raymondin is made jealous of her by his brother, 295; breaks his promise and visits her on a Saturday, 296; sees her bathing in the form of a serpent woman, 297; she forgives him and con- soles him, 299; she hears of the burning of the Abbey of Mailleses by her son Geffray, 312; her sor- row, 312; she goes to Raymondin and chides him for his over great grief, 313; he upbraids her, and calls her a false serpent, 314 ; she faints, and on reviving laments her fate, 316; she makes her testament, 318; bids Raymon- din farewell, 319; is transformed into a serpent and disappears, 321; her obsequies, 321; visits her infant children, 322 ; her voice is heard lamenting Raymondin’s death, 354; is seen by Sersuell, Godart, 369, and Yuon of Wales, 370. INDEX OF PROPER NAMES. 405 - Nathas, 11, Mathas, 17, son of Elynas, King of Albany, by his first wife ; he persuades Elynas to break his promise to Pressine, 11; succeeds his father, 12; marries Yorys, 12, Ode, Duke of Bavaria, 223; goes with Regnald and Anthony to the siege of Prague, 225. Odon, Edon, second son of Ray- mondin and Melusine, birth, 102; marries the daughter of the Earl of Marche, 182; visits Regnald and Anthony, 345; the Earl of Vandosme does homage to him, 346. Olyphart, 242, son of Regnald and Eglantine of Bohemia. Olyuyer, son of Josselin Dupont, 72; tights Raymondin, 79 ; yields, 84; condemned to be hanged, 86. Palatyne, youngest daughter of Elynas and Pressine, sent to the Mountain of Guygo to watch the treasure of Elinas until she was released by a knight of her own lineage, 6. Philibert de Mommoret assists Gef- fray in his fight against the rebel Guion, 248, 252. Pressine, meets Elynas, King of Albany, 7; he is struck with her beauty and declares his love, 10; she consents to marry him on con- dition that he promises not to look at her when she is in childbed, 11 ; her marriage, 11; hated by her ' step-son Nathas, 11; has triplets, Melusine, Melior, and Palatine, 11; King Elynas breaks his promise, 11; she leaves him, taking her daughters with her to Aualon, 12; she shows them the land of their birth from Mount Elyneos, 13; she tells them of their father’s broken promise, 13; she punishes her daughters for ill-treating their father, 15; she buries Elynas, and builds him a noble tomb, 17. Raymondin, son of Henry of Leon, 67, and nephew of the Earl of Poyters, 19; goes on a boar-hunt with his uncle, 21, whom he acci- dentally kills, 25; he laments his fortune and resolves to fly, 27; at the Fountain of Soif he meets three fairies, 27, and becomes enamoured of the eldest, Melu- sine, 29; he is surprised that she knows his history, 30; she asks him to marry her, and promises to make him a great lord, 31, on condition that he will never ask to see her on a Saturday, 32; she counsels him to return to Poitiers, and advises him what to do there, 34; he fol- lows her advice, and all goes well, 36; she sends him back to Poitiers to demand of the new Earl a gift of as much land as he can en- circle with a hart’s hide, 39; he obtains his land grant, 41; he in- vites his friends to his wedding, 48; they are surprised at the riches of his wife, 59; Lusignan Castle built, 62; named, 64; Melusine bears him a son nained Urian, 65; he goes to Brut Britain to avenge an injury to his father, Henry of Leon, 69; he fights Oliver, son of Josselin Dupont, 83 ; conquers, 84; obtains a decision in his favour from the King of Brut Britain, 88; on his return home he is attacked by the friends of Josselin Dupont, 94; he repels the attack, and sends his enemies to the King of Brut Britain, who hangs them, 97; he finds a grand castle on his return home, 100; is met by Melusine, 101; she bears him more sons, Odon, Guion, 104, Anthony, Regnald, Geffray, 104, Froimond, Horrible, 104, Theo- doric, 246; a rebellion.in Gar- aude, 246 ; he is made jealous by his brother the Earl of Forest, and breaks his promise to Melu- sine by looking at her in her bath on a Saturday, 296; he sees her to be half woman and half ser- pent, 297, and Jaments that he has betrayed her, 297; he drives his brother away for tempting 406 him, 297, and keeps secret what he has seen, 298; he is forgiven by Melusine, as he has been dis- creet, 299; he hears that Geffray has burnt the Abbey of Mailleses and all the monks, 310; he visits the Abbey, where he is overcome with anger and denounces Melu- sine as a spirit, 311; he upbraids her and calls her ‘a false ser- pent,” 314; he repents and is for- given, 315; Melusine changes into a serpent and disappears from him, 321; he has his son Horrible burnt, 321; he is full of sorrow at the loss of his wife, 321; he gives his lands to Geffray, 333, and goes on a pilgrimage to Rome, 334, where he confesses to the Pope and visits the ‘Holy Places, 334; he then journeys to Montserrat in Aragon, 336, where he becomes a hermit, 337; his death, 354, and burial, 355, Raymond, Earl of Forest, ninth son of Raymondin and Melusine, 6; suckled by Melusine after her dis- appearance from Raymondin, 322; is made Earl of Forest by Geffray, 332. Regnald, fifth son of Raymondin and Melusine, 6; birth, 104; goes with Anthony to the siege of Luxembourg, 111; goes to the siege of Prague, 219; slays King Zelodyus ; marries Eglantine of Bohemia, 240; Oliphart, his son, 242; goes to the siege of Pour- rencru, 347, St. Iohan Baptiste, 16. St. Paul, 3, 371, quoted. Saint William, Erle of Poitiers, grandson of Erle Emery of Poi- tiers, 20; becomes a monk of the Order of the White Mauntelles, 20. Sersuell, Lieutenant, in charge of Lusignan Castle on behalf of the King of England, 369. Sir Robert du Chastel Roussel in Asy, marries a fairy, to whom he gives a promise that he will never look at her when she is naked, 5; he breaks his promise, 5; his wife INDEX OF PROPER NAMES. plunges her head into water, and changes into a serpent and dis- appears, 5. Theodoryk, youngest son of Ray- mondin and Melusine, 6; birth, 246; nursed by his mother after she had left Raymondin, 322; becomes lord of Partenay, 333; left in charge of Geffray’s lands, 339; marches against Freiburg, 347, 353; visits his father at Montserrat, 353. Urian, eldest son of Raymondin and Melusine, 6; birth, 65; wishes to assist the King of Cyprus against the Sultan of Damascus, 109 ; Melusine provides an army trans- port and victuals, 109; sails from Rochelle, 115; fights the Sultan of Damascus at sea, 115; lands his army at Cyprus, 119; receives a jewel from Ermine, the heiress of the King of Cyprus, 126; defeats the Saracens, 132, 138; kills the Sultan of Damascus at Famagosse, 146; knighted by the King of Cyprus, 153; is offered the heiress of Cyprus to wife, 155; accepts her, 156; his marriage, 157; becomes king, 158; kills King Brandemount, 175 ; defeats the Saracen invaders, 176; his son Henry born, 178; defends himself against a new Saracen League. Yeris, 12, wife of Nathas, King of Albany, and mother of Flory- mond, Yuon of Wales, 370, sees Melusine in the form of a serpent. Zelodyus, Zodyus, King of Craco, 227; besieges Frederick of Bo- hemia at Prague, 216; kills Fred- erick, 226, and ill-treats and burns his body, 227; Regnauld slays him, 233; the King of Anssay burns his body, 234, INDEX OF PROPER NAMES, 407 PART II.—PLACES, Acon, page 219, Aix-la-Chapelle. Aisne, River, 193 Albany, 6, 12. Allemayne, 183; Almayn, 351. Anssay, 183, may be read Aussay ; Alsace. Aragon, 336. Ardane, 245, Ardennes, Armanye, Grete, 362, Armenia. Armanye, 161; Armenye, 6, Little Armenia. ; Aruall, 89. Asy, 5, ? Aisy in dept. of Aisne. Aualon, 12. Austeryche, 345, Auuergne, l, Bandas, 163, may be read Baudas, Baghdad. Bar, Duchy of, 1. Barselone, 336. Baruth, 160, ? Beyrout. Behayne, 6, 214, Bohemia. Berry, 1. Boneuall, 346, ? Bonneval, dept. Eure et Loire. Bretons, 17, 97, Brittany. Brombelyoys, 14; Brombelyo, Mount, 32. Brut Brytayne, 17, Brittany. Cabyeres, 355. Cardillak, 356, Coles, 122. Coloyne, 219. Conlombyers, Forest of, 19, 37, 59, in dept. of Vienne. Craco, 216. Cruly, 161, Little Armenia. Culbaston, 337, Colbato, Cypre, 105, Cyprus. Damaske, 164. Danette, 276, Damietta. Denmark, 242, Duras, Castel, 346, on the Meuse. Eglon, Castle, 103. Elyneos, Mount, 13. England, 356, Famagoce, 105, 146; Famagousta, Cyprus. Fontayne of Soyf, 2, or Fontayne of Fayerye, 27. Forest, 6; Forestz, 18, earldom. Fraunce, 1. Frebourgh, 350, Freiburg. Garande, 246; garende, 287; guer- rende, 89, country of the River Garonde, Gascoynne, 104, Guyenne, 104. Guygo;Mount, 16, a mountain in Armenia, Holland, The low march of, 242. Hongery, 225. Hospytal of Rodes, 122. Jalensy, 331. Japhe, 265, Jaffa. Jherusalem, 292.. Langgedok, 338, Languedoc. Leffe, 217. Leon, Castel, 67. Lorayne, 183. Lucembourgh, 6, 183. Lusygnen, 6; Lusignen, 17. Lymas, 146 ; Limasson, 117, Limas- sol, Cyprus. Lynges, 103. Mailleses, Abbey of, 6; Maillezes, 246. Malegres, 162. Marcelly, Castel, 331. Masyeres, Bridge of, 245, ? Méziéres. Maxence, 103, Abbey of ? Maxent, Melle, 103. Merment, 292; Mernant, 103. Mermount, 300, Tower of the giant Guedon. Meuse, River, 194; Meuze, 245, 346. Montferrat, 335, Montserrat in Ara- gon. Montiers, Abbey of, 42. Mouchyne, 243 (Muchin), ? Munich, Mountfrayn, 257, 408 Mountyoued, 331; Mountyouet, 306. Murmych, 225. Myrabel, 192. Nantes, 73. Nerbonne, 335. Neufmoustier, Abbey of, 322. Northomberland, 14, 306. Northweghe, 242, Norway. Nuenmarghe, 223 (? Nurenburg), Nyort, 299. Parpynen, 336, Perpignan. Partenay, 6, 103. Penbrough, 355, Pembroke. Penycence, 65. Poiters, 118 ; Poyters, 19; Poytiers. Pons, 103. Poterne Tower, 321. Pourrencru, 346, (?) Porentruy, near Freiburg. Poytow, 4; Poitow, 17; Poytwo, 41; Pouthieu, 293 (Ponthiéne). Praghe, 215, Prague. Quercyn, 356. Quyngant, 68, ? Guingamp. Regnault, Castel, 355, Rochelle, 103. Roussel, Chastel, in Asy, 5. Ryne, River, 219, Rhine. be ee eee R. CLAY & SONS, LIMITED, LONDON & BUNGAY. INDEX OF PROPER NAMES. Saint Hylary of Poyters, church, 40, Salesbury, 1, Saynt Andrew, Port of, 168. Saynt Mychel, Capell of, 343. St. John of Rhodes, 269. Sassymon, 98. Soyf, Fontayne of, 37. Sperhaak Castle, 16; Sperohak, 15. Storyon, 73. Surye, 160, ? Syria. ‘Syon Castle, 247, Tallemondois, 104. Tallemounte, 104. Tharse, 164, in Asia Minor. Thoulouse, 335. Tryple, 278, ? Tripoli in Syria. Tupple, 160 (Zupple), ? Tripoli, ria, Turcke, 145; Turckye, 265. Valbruyant Castle, 255. Vannes, 98. Vernon, 318. Vertone, 195. Vouant, 103. Vtreyght, 242, Utrecht. Xaintes, 103. Yerys, 12. Zeland, 242, Zealand. ik a Bing Fe — dag . 3 “ pees nee rte ON ser. oe! oe. a Pay “~ MSS. and Books that Editors are wanted for. Among the MSS. and old beeks which need copying or re-editing, are :— ORIGINAL SERIES, "English Inventories and,other MSS. in Canterbury Cathedral (5th Report, Hist. MSS. Com.), Maumetrie, from Lord Tollemache’s MS. ~The Romance of Troy. Harl. 525. Biblical MS., Corpus Cambr. 434 (ab, 1375). Purvey’s Eeclesie Regimen, Cot. ‘Titus D1. Hampole’s unprinted Works. pe Clowde of Unknowyng, from Harl. MSS. 2373, 959, Bibl. Reg. 17 C 26, &e. - Univ. Coll. Oxf. 14. A Lanterne of Li3t, from Harl. MS.. 2324. Soule-hele, from the Vernon MS. Lydgate’s unprinted Works. Boethius, a.p. 1410, &c.; Pilgrim, 1426, &¢. &e. Vegetius on the Art of War. (Magd. Oxf. 30, &.) Early Treatises on Music: Descant, the Gamme, &c. Skelton’s englishing of Diodorus Siculus. The Nightingale and other Poems, from MS. Cot. Calig. A 2, Addit. MS. 10,036, &e. Boethius, in prose, MS. Auct. F. 3. 5, Bodley. Peaitential Psalms, by Rd. Maydenstoon, Brampton, &c. (Rawlinson, A. 389, Douce 232, &¢ ). Documents from-the earl7 Registers of the Bishops of all Dioceses in Great Britain. Ordinances and Documents of the City of Worcester. Chronicles of the Brute. T. Breus’s Passion of Christ, 1422. Harl. 2338. dn. Croph ll or Crephill’s Tracts, Har]. 1735, Burgh’s Cato. ' EXTRA Erle of Tolous. Ypotis. Sir Eglamoure. Emare. Lyrical Poems, from the Harl. MS. 2253. Le Morte Arthur, from the unique Har). 2252 Sir Tristrem, from the unique Auchinleck MS. Miscellaneous Miracle Plays. Sir Gowther. — Dame Siriz, &c. Orfeo (Digby, 86). Dialogues between the Soul and Body. Barlaam and Josaphat, Amis and Amiloun, Ipomedon. Sir Generides, from Lord Tollemache’s MS. The Troy-Book fragments once cald Barbour’s in the. Cambr. Univ. Library and Douce MSS. Gower’s Confessio Amantis. Poems of Charles, Duke of Orleans, Carols and Songs. Songs and Ballads, Ashmole MB. 48. Memoriale Credencium, &c., Hurl. 2398, Book for Recluses, Harl. 2372. Lollard Theological Treatises, Harl. 2343, 2830, &e. H. Selby’s Northern Ethical Tract, Harl. 2388, art, 20. Hilton’s Ladder of Perfection, Cott. Faust-B 6, &e. Supplementary Early English Lives of Saints. The Early and Later Festialls, ab. 1400 and 1440 4.p. Cotton, Claud, A 2; Univ. Coll. Oxf. 102, &e. Select Prose Treatises from the Vernon MS. Jn, Hyde’s MS. of Romances and Ballads, Balliol 354. Metrical Homilies, Edinburgh MS, Lyrical Poems from the Fairfax MS. 16, &c.. Prose Life of St. Audry, A.D. 1595, Corp. Oxf. 120. English Miscellanies from MSS., Corp. Oxford. Miscellanies from Oxford Co! leas MSS. _Disce Mori, Jesus Coll. Oxf. 39; Bodl, Laud 99. Alain Chartier’s Quadrilogue, &c., Uniy. Coll. Oxf. 85. Mirrour of the blessed lijf of Ihesu Crizt, Univ. Coll. Oxf. 123, &c. Pilgr:mage of the Soul, A.D. 1400, prose, ene Coll. Oxf. 181, &e. Poem cn Virtues and Vices, &c., Harl. 2260. Maundevyle’s Legend of Gwydo, Queen’s, Oxf. 383. Book of Warrants of Edw. VI., &c., New Coll, Oxf. 328. Adam Loutfut’s Heraldic Tracts, Harl. 6149-50. Rules for Gunpowder and Ordnance, Harl. 6375. John , Watton’s englisht Speculum Christiani, Corpus Oxf, 155, Laud G.12,Thoresby 530, Lar]. 2250, art. 20, SERIES. The Siege of Rouen, from Harl. MSS. 2256, 758. Eger- ton 1995, Bodl. 3562, H. Museo 124, &c. Jn. Hart’s Methode to read English, 1570. Octavian. i Ywain and Gawain. Libeaus Desconus. Avnturs‘vf Arther. Avowyng of King Arther. Sir Perceval of Gallas. Sir Isumbras. Partonope of Blois, Univ. Coll. Oxf. 188, &. Pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Queen’s, Oxf. 357. Other Pilgrimages to Jerusalem, Harl. 2333, &e. Hore, Penitential Psalms, &c., Queen’s, Oxf. 207. St. Brandon’s Confession, Queen’s, Oxf, 210. Scotch Heraldry Tracts, copy of Caxton’s Book oi Chivalry, &c., Queen’s Coll. Oxford 161. . Stevyn Scrope’s Doctryne and Wysedome- of the Auncyent Philosophers, a.p. 1450, Harl. 2266. ‘ The Founder and Director. of the. E. E..T. Soc. is Dr, IF’. J. Furnivall, 3, St. George’s Sq., Primrose Hill, London, N.W.. Its Hon. Sec. is W. A, Dalziel, Esq., 67, Victoria Road, Finsbury Park, London, N, The Subscription to the Society is 21s. a year for the Original Series, and 21s, for the Extra Series of ro-editions, < \ arly English Gert Soviety, —— , ‘iption, which constitutes membership, is £1 1s, a yearf{and £1 1s. additio: for ihe Pree areas due in advance’ on the 1st of JANUARY, and shiould be paid eit] to the Society’s Account at the Head Office of the Union Bank of London, Princes Stre London, E.C., or by Cheque, Postal Order, or Money-Order to the Hon. Secretary, W. DatziEL, Esq., 67, Victoria Rd’, Finsbury Park, London, N,, and erost ‘Union Bank London.’ (United-States Subscribers must’ pay for postage 1s. 4d. a year extra for 1 Original Series, and_1s. a.year for the Extra Series.) The Society’s Texts are also s ‘separately at the: price put after them in the Lists, _ : . 2 pen... ws QBIGINAl BEMtEMe 3 eke ote arb rie sii aie Pa ; i i Sy aes 4 PR Re ga ie ‘yes, Poe, es te BS Sis 2 Est Phe Publications for 1893 (one ywinen) wre :— —— se rae t: EXTRA SERIES, : The Publications for 1893 wre:— LUXIII. Thomas a Kempis’s De Imitatione Christi, englisht:ab, 1440, and 1502, LXIV. Caxton’s Godeffroy of Boloyne, or Siege & Conqueste of Jerusalem, 1 The Publiertions for 1894 (one guinea).are: = LXY. Sir Bevis 0“ Hamton, Part ILI, ed. Prof. E, Kélbing, PhiD. 15s, = LXVI, Lydgate’s and Burgh’s Secrees of Philisoffres, ab, 1445-50, edy R. Steele, By. The Publications for 1895 (one guimea) ard :— a ee ae UXVIL. The Three Kings’ Sons, from the aniqne MS, ab. 1500 A.D, Part I, thePexty UXVIIT. Melusine, the prose Romance, from the unique MS., ab.1 A, Ky The Publications for 1896 (to be ready in 1894) widt ! LXIX. Melusine, the prose Romance, from the cnigae MS a UXX. Promptorium Parvulorum, c, 1440, from the inchester- ty le bs. Ae a The Publications for 1897 and The Towneley Play, ve-cslited froin tue unique Lydgate’s Assembly of the God ed. Prof. Osear Li The Chester Plays, Part II,, re-edited by George Migiar Hocoleve's Regement o* Pridoea, 1411-12, ed. Dr. B,J. -Purni Lichfield Gilds, ed. Dr, F. J. Purm