This capital S extends through three lines of text; so, unless there is a note to the contrary, all initials marking chapter divisions.SO it happenyd as fortune wold, that oon of the childre of the sowdeyn come, as the wynde drove hym and his navye by gret tourment, that he passed Spayne in Galice, and toke londe nygh to a gret citee that was called Couleigne, and went to londe in a balangere, he and xxi men with hym, and toke of the people ther aboute the londyng. And when he asked who was lorde of that londe, the[i] answeryd and seyd that itt was the realme of Spayne and that kyng Tiber was kyng of that londe. Then asked the sowdeyn's sonne what lawe he held, and thei answeryd and seyd, the lawe of Ihesu Criste.

Then made he to withdrawe his (navy), The scribe has apparently omitted navy, here added from W. The French has Lors fist retraire son nauire. as thogh he wold withdrawe hym fro the contree, and toke two and twenty schippys and sent theym to the porte of Couleign and charged theyme to make theyme as marchaundes of cloth of gold, of silke, & of spices; and that thei schuld in the evynnyng goo into the town and lugge theyme with fovrty men of armes, with habyrdions undre their govnes; and in the morow erly that the[i] schuld come vpon the walles at the water gate, & that thei schuld gete the gate, and thei schuld assey to skale the wall and to come vp into the tovne. And as they deuysid, MS. deuydid, a sheer blunder due to the ambiguous French verb. R, Et ainsi comme il deuisa il fu fait. W, and so as he had deuysed it, etc. itt was so doon.

So come the xxij vesells and made theym marchaundes of Ciprice and sold their marchaundys goode chepe. And aftre that, the fourty men that wer lugged in the toune as mar∣chaundes, nygh to the water gate—thei made their hostys to ete and drynk with theym, that noon ingyne schuld be thoght. And when thei had disported theym, thei went and had take their avice to be vp on the gate on the dawyng, to goo aboute and deuice their dooyng. And when itt come to the houre, thei went vpon the wall; and att the same houre, the sonne of the sawdeyn, that was called Brodas, come to the foote of the wall with a grete navye Some word representing the nombre of W and R, or the foueson of H & F would be more natural. I have let navye stand in the text in the sense of a ship, because I have no emendation probable on palaeographical grounds. of ladders. And sume went on theym on hygh & thei that wer above pullyd up theym that wer benethe, so that within a while ther was a thosand or moo vpon the walles, and wanne the water gate, and so enteryd into the toune withouten ony gaynstondyng. And thei made gret martirdome of the people, and forwith thei assailed the castell in the which the kyng Tyber was, and thei toke hym by strenght, not withstondyng the kyng defendid hym and wold not be taken, and so he was slayn.

And the quene went oute prively into the wodes. And the kynges sonne Ponthus, and xiij childre whiche was lordes sonnes, and a goode preste that toke theym, MS. theym and. See note. went out prively and hidde theym in a roche in a garthyn; and ther thei wer twoo days withoute mete or drynke. And the goode preste which was called Dampdenis had so grete drede, when the childeryn wold goon oute of the cave, he wenyd to haue died for theym; and seyd, "Goo ye not oute bot if ye wolle dye." So he kepyd theym twoo days therin. Bot on the third day Ponthus sayd to his maistre, "Itt is bettre to dye on the swerd then forto dye with hungre, for then we schal be cause of our own dethe; and if we goo oute, we may by the grace of Gode happely fynde sume remedye." And the goode preste sayd he hade leuer dye for hungre then goo into their handes, and tremelyd grettly for fere.

Bot fers Adverbial for fersly. R, Et au fort Pontus sailli. ... H, Mais en la fin. W, shows a similar mistranslation: and by strengthe Ponthus sterte out of the caue. Ponthus and his cosyn german Pollides and all the othre lepe oute of the roche, and anoon thei wer aspyed and all taken, and ledde to the toune to the kyng Brodas, that made hym selve kyng of the londe. And when the kyng sawe the thirten childre, thei semed to hym ryght fair. So he asked whoes childre thei wer. And Ponthus answerd and seyd thei wer childre whiche the kyng norisched for the loue of Gode and for theyr service when thei schuld be men. "And of what seruice?" said the kyng Brodas. "Ser," said the childre, "some to kepe his grehoundes and his chaces, and sume to kepe havkes of the toure, and sume to kepe grifyns, and othre to doo seruice in hall and in chaumbre." "What!" seyd the kyng Brodas, "Clothed he his seruauntes so worthely as ye bee?—for by your clothes that ye were, ye semen to be grete lordes sonnes." "Ser," seid Ponthus, "we be the childre bot of small gentylmen." "By hym that I serue," said the kyng, "I can not see what ye be, bot of beaute and of fair speche thou feylest non; bot ye muste lef your lawe that is noght worth and take the lawe that we leve on, and I schal doo you muche goode; and if ye wolle not, I schal make you for to dye: and so chese you whethre that ye wolle." "Truly," said Ponthus, "of the dethe ye may wele ordayn to your plesir, bot for to leve oure lawe and to take youres—we wolle not for to dye therfore." "No!" seid the kyng, "Then shall ye dye an evyll dethe."

And then come a knyght Cristen, that had taken their lawe for drede of dethe, the whiche all way had his hertt and thoght vnto Ihesu Criste, the whiche the kyng loved myche, and sayd vnto the kyng, "Deliuer theym to me, for if they wolle not beleue vpon our lawe, I schal ordayn in suche wyse that thei schal neuer doo harme vnto your lawe." "I pray you," sayd the kyng, "and I yeve theym vnto your gouernaunce." Then trowed Ponthus and his fellawes to be deid. The knyght led theym to his hous and manasshed theym sore before the Sara∣zyns; and when the Sarasyns wer withdrawn, he said to assey theym, "Ye muste beleve on Mahounde, or elles ye muste dye." And thei answeryd thei wold not, bot rather to dye. And when he sawe theym so stedfaste, he had gret ioy in his hert and he asked theym if thei had oght etyn of late tyme. And thei sayd, "Not thes thre days haue we nawther ete ne dronke." Then he made theym to ete and drynke. And as thei ete oon of theym sayd to his fellawes, "Wherfor ete we, when we schal dye anoon?" "Say ye not so," q[uo]d Ponthus, "in the grace of our Lorde ben mony remedyes. If itt like hym, we schal leve; if it like hym, we schal dye; for all lieth in hym. So lete vs have good hope in hym, and he wolle save vs." And so thei ete and prayd to Gode to have mercy on theym.

The knyght herd what Ponthus sayd and prased hym muche in his hertt, and seyd, "Itt wer to gret pitee to lete so fayr childre dye." And so he went fro theym and soght a schipp, and by nyght stuffyd itt with vitell for a monethe, and herely in the morowe he ledd the childre to schipp, and putt therin a schipman with theym that was a Cristin man, and putt theym in the bothome of the schipp; and when the childre wer in the bothome of the schipp, thei pulled vp the sale, and the schipp saled into the hygh see. Then the schippman come vp fro benethe and toke the gouernaill of the schipp and asked theym whedir thei wold goo. Then Ponthus said, "Syth Gode has sent you vnto vs, fair frende, lede vs to the coste of Fraunce." And he said he wold, and bad theym not be ferd ne dredand, for thei had vitell enogh for a monethe; and told theym how the knyght had putt theym W and R have hym and lui, a far better reading. But the repeated, therefore consistent, blunder may be the translator's. See l. 24 f. and p. 6, l. 1. in the bothome of the schipp and the vitell with theym by nyght. Then sayd Ponthus, "Fair Seris, knele we all down and thanke we Gode of the grete goodnes that he hath sent to vs, and pray we all to be to his plesaunce." So did the children nyght and day vpon their knees and helboys, praying to Gode full devoutly, and (had) alonely their truste and stedfaste beleve in almyghty Gode.

SO lete we lefe of the fovrten childre and retourne to the knyght that putt theym into the schipp. The knyght was called Patrices, and he went and told the kyng how he had venged hym vpon the xiiij childre that wold not beleve on Mahounde. "How have ye doon?" sayd the kyng. "Ser," said the knyght, "ye schal neuer see theym, for I haue putt theym in a fair schipp full of holles, withouten vitell, and lete drawe vp the sale to the topp, that broght theym into the hygh see. Have no drede, for ye schal neuer see theym."

"I wolle wele," said the kyng, "for I haue dremed this nyght that I sawe the xiiij children in a wodde, and that the fair childe that speke to me become a lion and devouryd me and hurte me in suche wyse that I dyed. So I haue be sore affrayd in my slepe." "Ser," sayd the knyght, "itt is bot a dreme and malyncoly. Of theym ye be quytt." "I wolle wele," said the kyng.

Then said the knyght, "By Mahounde Ser, me aght to coun∣cell you truly to my power, if itt like you, that no man be putt to dethe, bot if he stonde at defence; for ye have a fair conquest. For men sayn in scorn, that as mytch is a mylne worthe that gryndyth not as an oven that baketh not. Now lete euery man beleve on that lawe that he wolle; and that all the strenghtes & contres come to your obesaunce and to yeld you tribute; and lette theym leve and labre, and ye schal be as ryche as ye wold be." Then said the kyng, "By Mahounde ye counsell vs truly. Goo ye and so serche prisoners; and thei that wolle beleve vpon our lawe—thei schall be worschipped with vs, and we schall yeve theym of oures; and thei that wolle not, shal ber tribute to vs aftre their power; and we putt all the gouernaunce of our law in you." So was the knyght charged with the gouernaunce of the prisoners and of the contre.

And the knyght, whiche was a worthye man and that took noon hede bot forto save the Cristen people at his power, went aboute to take oute prisoners and to putt theym to a lyght ravnson. Among all othre prisoners he founde the kynges brothre of Spayne, that was Erle of Destrue, that was sore wounded with two woundes; and when that the knyght knew that he was the kynges brothre of Spayne, he toke hym by the honde and led hym aloone into a chaumbre and said to hym, "Ser, I wote ye be the kynges brothre. Ye haue gret desir to save the countree and the people that ben fallen to gret myschief into the tyme that Ihesu Criste putt remedye therin. I sey to you in goode feith secretly that I schal putt the best remedye thurgh your goode councell that I can putt therin." Then the Erle had gret ioye to her hym speke of Ihesu Criste, and said that he knew wele that he wold the welfair of the Cristen people and said full sore syghyng,

Aftre itt happed that the terme of iij yeres was comen vp, and that the kyng helde a grete feste in the Whis∣son tyde at Vennys; and he sent govnes of oon suyte to the xiij children; and sent to theym that thei schuld come to the feste; and eueryche baron schuld bryng his childe. And Herland broght Ponthus, and the Lorde de La Vale broght his cosyn german Pollides that was most fair, most goodely, and best in behavyng of theym all except Ponthus.

When Ponthus was comen euery man beheld hym. And when the kyng sawe hym, he had gret ioye and praid to Gode to save hym and to send hym myche worschipp, and said that he schuld serve hym of his copp at the feste.

The kyng made his fest with his barones and his knyghtes in oon parte The word is entered over the line. and his doghtre in an othir parte. Grete was the feste and the ioye and the grete sportes. Sydon, that herd the grete speche of the beautie that was in Ponthus and of his demeynyng, sche was day and nyght in grete thoght how sche myght fynd an way, with hir worschipp, to speke with hym—for drede myche of speche of menn. And when sche had thoght envgh, sche sent for Herlande the senyschall; and when he was comen, sche gave hym a right fair palfrey, and sche made hym ryght grete cher. Herland mervellyd of the grete cher, bethynkyng hym what sche mente, and doubted; and aftre werd sche said all, "Ay, fair Senysshall, fair and swete frende, we pray you that we myght see your norye Ponthus, that is wele taght and right wyse, as men sayne; I pray you bryng vs hym this nyght that we may see hym, for men sayne that he can daunce and syng." "Ma dame," said the senysshall, "I schal bryng hym to you, sith that itt like you that I doo soo." "Then goo," seid sche, "and I schall see if he [be] suche oon as men sayne, or not."

The senysshall toke his leve and wente on his wey. He was a full goode knyght, wyse and redie, and wente thynkyng that the goode cher that he hade was for the love of Ponthus. And so he was troubeled in his thoght and said to hym selfe, "Ay Sainte Marie, if I schuld bryng Ponthus, he is so fair, if this woman sawe hym, sche myght be so take with love that sche wold haue noon other bot hym; and sche myght schew to hym suche love as sche myght (be) perceyved; wherthurgh she myght haue blame, and the child loste, by envy. I wot not what to doo." So he then thoght that he wold bryng his cosyn german in stede of hym, for mony causes, and for he doubted myche the kyng, and for drede that any harme schuld fall therby. He come agayne and broght Pollides with hym.

Sidon went into hir warderop and sche made [come] a damesell named Ellious, the whiche sche loved myche and trusted vnto more than to any othir, and she said to hir that she hade grete desir to se the fair childe Ponthus, of whome all men spake. So sche had a litle wyndowe wheratt sche loked oute ofte tymes, if any thyng come that wey; and so she called Elious to se that all hir aray wer wele dressed vpon. So att the laste, as thei loked, thei sawe comyng the senysshall and Pollides that was ryght fair and goodely. And so she come down into the chaumbre and made grete cher and ioy, and toke Pollides by the honde and wold haue made hym to sytt doune by hir. And Pollides said, "Ma dame, I wolle not sitt doune by you, for itt is no reason." "Truly," she said, "itt is reason. Ye be a kynges son." "Ma dame," said he, "that be I not, bot I am his cosyn german." "Ay," said she, "I went that ye hade ben he." So she made hym as fair cher as she myght. Not withstandyng, she was wrothe and said to the senysshall, "Iape ye with me?" "How Madame?" said he. "Ye schuld haue broght the kynges sone of Spayne," said she, "and ye haue broght his cosyn german. Wherfore dide ye so? Hold ye me such a foell."

Then the knyght kneled doune and said, "Ma dame, I crie you mercy, and be ye not displeased, for in goode faithe I thoght bot wele; for I myght not at that tyme bryng hym, for he served the kyng of his copp." "Yitt," said she, "ye schuld vndirstonde wele not to bryng me oon othre in stede of hym. Ye doute of me. I am not now so yong bot that I wold kepe my worshipp." "Itt is no doute Ma dame," said the senysshall. "I thynk bot wele; bot I doute my lorde your fadre that loves you so myche—for if ye make hym a litle more chere than any othre, men wold haue envy of hym—and leste any evyll myght come therof, for the worlde is full evyll; for where that ye thinke bot goode and worshipp, yitt thei thynke othre wyse." "Ay," said she, "Ser, thinke ye no doute, for I hade lever be deid than any myght reproche me or my worshipp for any thyng—be right sure." "Ma dame, Gode wold that euery man wold as wele as I, for I wold your worshipp and welefair as wele as any man on live; and sith ye wolle, I schall bring hym." "I pray you," said sche, "and tary not long."

The senysshall went his way to fetche hym. Sydon went into hir warderopp to loke att the wyndowe, if she myght se hym come. So she said to Ellyous here best beloved damesell, "Yeve me my myrrour and se that I be wele." "Sothely Ma dame," she said, "ye be ryght wele." Then said she, "Loke ye if that he come." And so thei loked ofte, if thei myght se hym comyng. So att the laste Ellyous went rynnyng to hir ladie and said, "Ma dame, se ye wher he cometh, the fairest of the worlde."

And Sidone lepe vpp and come rynnyng, and sawe hym come, and the senysshall with hym. So she sawe hym fair, sanguyn, broune, and high—of fair stature, so that she hade of hym grete mervell. Then she said to Ellyous, "Damesell, me semys he is mervellous fair." "Ma dame," said Ellious, "he is no man—he is an aungell. I sawe neuer so fair an erthely creatur. Gode made hym with his aun hondes." "By my faith," said Sidon, "ye say verray trauth. I trowe she that be take with his love be fortunate." And so she went doune into hir chaumbre to hir ladies and gentylwomen. And anoon aftre, Ponthus and the senysshall come vpp into the chaumbre; and so Ponthus went forth toward Sidon with full lowe curtesie, saluyng hir and hir ladies. So Sidone toke hym by the honde and welcomed hym goodely and praid hym to sytt doune by hir. And he said, "Ma dame itt is not for me to doo so." So thei made grete curtesye. Then said she, "Wherfore make ye all this curtesie? Be not ye the kynges son of Spayne?" "Yis, Ma dame," said Ponthus, "bot yitt I be not like you, for ye be doghtre to a grete kyng and a myghty, and I be a kynges son disheret; and so I haue noght bot by the goodeness of my lorde your fadre, that so myche goode has doon to me." "Ay, Ponthus," said she, "leve these 1 MS. there. wordes, for Gode has not made you suche as nature schewys you, bot forto doo for you; "To aid you"—R, Dieu ne vous a pas fait .... pour vous deffaire. W, for to vnmake you. for ye be made and fouremed to haue as myche worschipp and goode, and more, then euer your fadre had—the which Gode sende you." "Ma dame, I am not in that way, bot in the mercy of Gode is all."

"Now sytt ye," said she, "I you pray and commaunde." So he satt a litle benethe hir. Then said she to the ladys, "I pray you of sume dissportes to the senysshall and to the knyght, and that we may her Ponthus syng and se hym daunce." And Sidone, that myche desired to talke with Pon∣thus, putt hym in demaundes of mony thinges. So she thoght hym passyng wyse of his age. Among all othre thinges she said, "Ponthus ye haue bene long tyme in Bretayn withoute seying of vs." "Ma dame, I be in gouernaunce and so me oght to obey." "Itt is reason," said she, "bot I demaunde you, haue ye envy to see vs and our ladies that be here?" "Ma dame, nay for sothe, for here is a full feir company to see." "I you demaunde," said she, "haue ye any wyll to any ladie or gentylwoman, to be hir knyght?" "For sothe Ma dame, nay; for the seruice of me is bot litle worthe." "Pon∣thus," said she, "save your grace, ye be of the place to be of worschipp to serve the grettest ladye and the fairest of all Bretayne." So thei hade enugh of diuers demaundes betwen theym, in so myche that she said, "I wolle that ye take the state of knighthod, and that ye be hold as for my knyght. And when I here that ye doo your selve worshipp, I wolle haue ioy of you." "Ma dame," said he, "Gode thonke you and Gode send me grace to doo that may pleasse you and all your ladys, for the dedes of a pouer man be litle worthe." "Yitt," said sche, "I wolle wele that ye wytt how that I holde you as for my knyght, and when that ye doo bettre then any of my knyghtes, I shall loue you for the beste, and ye schal wante no thing that I haue; and I wolde that ye made surement to serue me aboue all othre, in worschipp; and thinke ye not bot that I thinke worschip." "Ay, Ma dame, I thonke you of the grete worshipp that ye offre to me as myche as I may. Gode yeve me grace to serve itt vnto your worthynes." "I shall say you," said she, "that I wolle loue you as my knyght, and that ye be of suche maner that I may perceyve that ye thinke noon othre wyse bot forto kepe the state and the worshipp of me; and if ye thinke any velanye, I shall neuer loue you." "Ma dame, I hade leuer be dede than to thinke any thyng that shuld turne to your diswor∣shipp or to my lorde your fadir The flourish of the r is bolder than usual. It possibly represents an es. I have preferred to regard fadir as the old Gen. dishonur." "Then wolle ye promys me, so as ye be a kynges son?" "Yea Ma2 MS. my dame.dame, by my feyth," seid he. Then she yeave hym a ryng with a dia∣mounde and she said that he schuld bere that for the loue of hir. "Ma dame," said he, "Gode thonke you." So he toke itt and putt itt vpon his fingre.

And aftre that, she lede hym to daunce, and aftre sche praid hym to syng. And so he dide hir commaundement, as he that felyd hym self take with loue. So he song so goode and so swete a song that it was mervellous to her. Then he was loked vpon with ladies and gentylwomen and gretely praysed. And then eueryche of theym disired in their hert the felischipp of hym and said omong theym, she was full happy that hym list forto loue and cherys. And aftre that thei hade daunsed, ther come furth spices and wyn; and so Sidon yeave to the senys∣shall a copp of golde full of wyn, and the senysshall thonked hir myche. And when thei hade wele disported theym, the senysshall said, "Ma dame, we beseche you of leve, for itt is tyme that we goo to the kyng." So she yeave theym leve, and she prayd the senysshall that he shuld come ofte and se hir, and he said that he schuld. So she and Ponthus loked full amerously at their departyng, bot she keped hir as coverte as she myght.

And when thei wer goon, she asked of the ladies, "How say ye of Ponthus?" Ther was noon bot thei prased hym gretly; and ther was sume said that she was right happy that myght haue suche oon to hir loue. She myght wele say she had the fairest and the flour of the worlde. So the ladys praysed gretly Ponthus and that was grete ioy and comforth vnto Sidone to here, if she durste say bot litle, bot that sche said he was fair enugh, and prayd to Gode to kepe hym from all evyll tunges.

The feste dured thre days with grete ioy and welfair and all maner of dissportes. So itt happened ther come mervel∣lous tithynges, that said that the Saresyns wer londed in the Ile of Breste and were mo then twenty thovsand. So the courte was gretly trovbelyd, so that thei couth make noo cher.

Aboute the myddes of the day ther come furth a knyght and twoo squyers Saresyns in message fro the kyng Carodas that was sonne to the sawdeyn, oon of the iij sonnes that ye herde of before. The knyght was huge and grete, stronge and horrible to se. A drogman he made to say, and said on highe, that the son of the sawdeyn was comen into the contree to do a wey the Cristen lawe and to puplisch the lawe of Mahounde; and badd the kyng of Bretayn to forsake the Cristen lawe and take hym vnto the lawe of Mahounde; and to haue tribute of hym and of euery fir-hows in his realme; and if he wold not, he wold distroy all Bretayn and putt all to the swerde.

The kyng herde the manashyng and grete pride of theym. He wyste not what to sayn and said no worde.

Then loked vpp Ponthus and saw that noo man spake noo worde. He lepe furth and said, "I am a simple child, I wolle not soffre hym to dispyse our holy lawe afore me." And so he knelyd doune before the kyng and asked leve to answer the Saresyn. The kyng graunted hym, when he sawe noon other wold speke. Then said he to the knyght Saresyn, "I shall answer the, and say, that your lawe is bot temptacion and damp∣nacion, and live of the fire euer lastyng, and our lawe is helthe and saluacion and ioy that shal endure; and as to yeld tribute to you, we be free, and suche seruege shall we neuer doo to you, by the grace of Almyghty Gode."

Then said the Saresyn knyght, "Be ther any too men that wolle fyght ayeinst me, that Mahounde is not grettre then your lorde Ihesu Criste?" Then answeryd Ponthus, "If it pleasse Gode, we wolle not putt too ayeinst the. I am yonge and feble, I caste myn hodde to a wedde for to defende thes wordes befor the kyng." And the Saresyn stode vpp and said, "Undir∣stonde that I wolle fyght with the and oon other." "I aske bot my self," said Ponthus. The kyng and the Barounes wer wrothe that Ponthus had waged batell with the Saresyn and that he had caste doune his wedde; bot it wolde not be amended.

Then said the kyng, "Ay Ponthus, ye haue putt vs in grete disease of hert, that ye haue ben so hasty to cast doune your wedde—ye that be so yong—ayeinst yonde knyght, that be so stronge and myghty." "Ser," said Ponthus, "knowe not ye that at the request of Daniel, that was bot a child, thurgh whome The omission of thurgh whome would set the sentence straight, but there is no reason to suspect scribal corruption in this case. Inconsequent con∣structions are so common in this text that I shall never indicate them, except where a probability of scribal error justifies emendation. Gode savyd Susanne? Mervell ye not of the mer∣velles of Gode. Whome Gode wolle haue keped, shal be keped. I hold me sure and hardy ayeinst hym. Doute ye not of me." When the kyng herd hym thus speke, he weped, when he consideryd the goodnes and the hardenes of hym; and for the pitee that he hade of the childe, he besoght Gode full humblely with all his herte to helpe hym att the iorney.

"Ser," said Ponthus, "make ye me knyght and yeve me armore, and I shal goo and doo my devir." The kyng maked hym knyght, and girde hym with a sworde, and kyssed hym & he weped sore, that he myght not speke oon worde; and then he lete arme hym with the beste armour that he hade, and yeave hym the best stede that he hade; and when he was armed and on hors bakk, he was so fair to se, and satt so streght and so wele vpon his hors, that it was grete ioy to see hym. And his xiij fellawes weped for pite and for fere of hym; and Herland the senysshall was full sory; and so was all maner of people sory and wrothe, that he that was so yonge shuld fyght with oon that was so strong; for men said that he was the myghtehyst and the hardeyst among all the Saresyns.

Grete was the speche of Ponthus that he wolde fyght: in so myche that worde come to Sidone. It is not to be demaunded whethre that she made any sorow or hevynes for hir knyght. She sent hym a kerchef to ber on his sper; and when he sawe itt, he reioysed hym in his hertt and thonked hir; and she went prively into hir warderopp and said hir prayers for him devoutley.

And when he was on hors bak, the Saresyn said to hym: "Goo fetche an othre to helpe the, for thou be to yonge; and I haue grete pitee of the, for thou be so fair a child. Itt wer grete harme that I schuld sloo the, by Mahounde. Ther∣fore it is goode that thou gaynsay all that thou havis said and pray Mahounde to foryeve the thy evell wordes that thou hast said of hym." "Knyght," said Ponthus, "leve thes wordes. Thov shall see anoon the vertue of Ihesu Criste. Defende the, if thou wolle."

And Ponthus withdrewe hym a litle and putt his sper in the reste; and come with a goode will & smote hym betweyn his sheld and his helmett, that he brake his shuldre. And the Saresyn smote Ponthus so myghtely that he brake his sper. And when the kyng and the people sawe the iustyng, thei thonked Gode and said that Ponthus had wele iusted. Then Ponthus went forthre and drewe oute his swerd, and come to the Saresyn and gave hym suche a stroke aboue the vyser of his helme that men myght se his vysage all open. Then hade the Cristen ioye, and hope in Gode. The Saresyn drewe oute his swerd, whiche was a full grete blade of stele, and smoth Ponthus therwith so grete a stroke that he made his hede to shake and fire to smyte out of his eeyn: so he was sore astoned of that stroke, and sore was the feght betwen theym. Bot at all tymes Ponthus hade the bettre and lay in wate to smyte hym in the visage that was open; and so he mett with hym at a travers, that he smote of his nose and his chynne, so that it helde bot by the skynne: so he blede in suche wyse that his sheld and his nek wer full of bloode, that vnneth he myght sitt on hors bake. Then Ponthus toke hym by the helme and pulled itt fro the hede, and aftre gave hym suche a stroke that he fell doune to the grounde. And when he had doon so, he smote of his hede and putt itt on his swerde poynte and broght itt to the squyers Saresyns and said to theym, "Fair Saresyns, I present you with the hede of your maistre. Goo and ber it to the sawdeyn sonne your kyng. And (tell hym) R, Et lui dictes que.... it was at his requeste—this batell for the prevyng of our feyth and his, and that God shewed by a childe that he is verray Gode, and thus by hys poer R, puissance. he schall shewe that ye hold on a fals lawe; and say to hym in shorte wordes that itt shall be hastely knowen and shewed, whethir that my God or his be more myghty. So goth oon your wey, for ye shall goo save and sure—for a messynger shall haue noon harme, bot if he require dedes of armes."

The squiers toke the hede and the body and broght MS. broght a. The a is cancelled by the rubricator. itt to their kyng and all his lordes Saresyns, and told hym and theym all the maner of the request of the batell, and how the Cristen was of the age bot of xviij yeres at the moste. So the kyng and all his lordes Saresyns was full wroth and soro∣full of their knyght, and thei had mervell of that aventur, for he was holde (the best knyght) and the strongest on their party. So thei buried hym aftre their maner. So lefe we of hym and retourne we vnto Ponthus.

POnthus smote his hors with the spores and rode streght to the hygh chirche, yeldyng thonkynges vnto Gode full devoutly, and said, "Ay, swete Ihesu Criste, thi dedes be mervellous, for by thy grace I haue the victorie of myn enemys, and I knowe that thou thinkes on thi pover seruauntz; and goode Lorde haue mercy of me that am thy povere seruaunt, and on this contree that is in thyn honde." Then he made his offeryng and lepe vnto his hors and so went vnto the kyng.

It is no demaunde whethir the kyng & his barounes wer glade and made of hym grete ioy and grete chere. The kyng toke hym aboute the neke and kyssed hym, sayng thes wordes, "My fair swete frende, we truste in you that ye schall delyuer vs and our countre frome our aduersaries that wold ouergoo vs."

Aftre this itt is no question if Sidon and hir ladies made ioy; and thei said, that beautie, bounte, and manhode wer assemelyd in his person—"this was mervellously doon of hym. We pray to Gode to save hym from all evyll."

Aftre this the (kyng) sent for all his barounes and knyghtes to here howe the Saresyns wer comen to his countre, and the kyng asked of eueryche of theym his avice. So thei wer all abasshed and astoned for the grete multitude that thei wer, that thei couth gyve noon answer. So the kyng asked of Ponthus his avice. "Ser," said Ponthus, "to me itt longeth not to speke, that ben so young,—of litle reson, befor so mony knyghtes." The kyng commaunded hym to say his opinion. "Ser," said he, "for your worschipp and to fulfyll your com∣maundement I shal speke as a clerke of armes and as a childe among wysmen, bot all wey foryeve my folye. Ser, it semeth me that this people, how many so euer that thei be, [be] The obvious emendation of the passage is the insertion of a second be following the French. Il me semble, combien que ceste gent soient grant nombre, ne douient pas estre tant doubtez, car nous seruons et sommes a dieu tout puissant, qui puet sauuer, etc. The passage might stand without emendation if how many so euer might be regarded as a clause in opposition to people. This seems to me incongruous with the style of the text. not gretely to be dovbted, for we be, and shall be, MS. be of goode myght enoghe. The context shows clearly that goode, as is the case a few lines beyond, must be a corrupt reading for Gode and necessi∣tates the emendation of the clause. I have adopted the reading of W for we shall be and ben in gode almyghty; which follows the French, vid. supra. Both English versions appear to have had an original reading serons instead of the seruons of R. (in Gode Almyghty) that may save or distroy with fewe people mony of theym; for in this case sett oon agayn oon hunderyth in kepyng of his feith, for this tovcheth all Cristentie, that be seruauntz of Gode, MS. goode. and all Cristen people wolle come to helpe you at that tyme; for if thei wynn our contree, all othre con∣tres wolle not be sure ne siker. Wherfore I wolle counsell you, by the goode avice of your knyghtes that be here present, to send to princes and barounes that ben your neghtboures, that thei be here within xv days; and by the help of Gode and of our goode diligence men schal doo theym suche harme and angres that their gode schal neuer amende itt. Also sendes to garnysche your fortresses of men and vitell, & make strong your tovnes and castells—and in especiall, theym that be next the countree that thei be in—and withdrawe and distroye vitell frome theym."

This counsell was holden goode aboue all othir and was fulfylled. And messyngers was sent throgh oute the contre that was next: as in Normandie to the Vicecounte d'Aurences, to the Erle of Morteyne, to the Erle of Mayne, to the Lorde de La Vale, and of Sylle; and to the Duches of Aniou, for the Duke was deid; also he sent to the Lorde of Chasteaue Gouter, and to Guyllen de Roches, to Bortane de Doune, and to Landry de La Toure; into Petewe thei sent to the Erle of Peyters, bot he was goon to Rome, and thei sent vnto Geffrey de Lazenyen, to Lernell de La Mauelyon, and to Henri de La Marche: so thes knyghtes wer chosen for the best that was in thos dayes in thoos contrees aboute theym. And all thos that wer sent vnto, they sent to the contre aboute theym, that thei schuld in all the haste come in their best aray, that thei myght come to gedre to helpe the kyng of Bretane ayeinst the Saresyns that wold distroye the Cristen people.

It is noo question bot all maner of people wer comyng toward the iourney in their beste array; and so by the xv days' ende thei wer comen to gedre—a grete mayne of all maner of people, of the which the kyng made grete ioy. And so they toke their wey togedre toward Breste and to Seynct Malewe, wher was the oste of the Saresyns, that pylled and distroyed the Cristen aboute theym.

Bot the Cristen ordeynyd four thosand horsemen to ride aboute theym and to devise the oste. So the Saresyns doubted of batell, thei wer so ner aproched. Then the kyng and Pon∣thus ordenyd their batells; and by cause the kyng was holde, he hade to helpe to governe his batell the Vicounte de Leon and the Lorde de La Vale and othir barounes; and of Galyce, Edmund de Vitry and Rauland de Dole, Roger de La Roche. In the secund batell was Ponthus and Herland the senysshall. With hym wer Normandes, the Erle of Morteyn, the Vicounte of Averences. The third batell was taken to gouerne to the Erle of Mayne and barounes and knyghtes of Aniou, MS. Avyen read with R and W Aniou. Guyllen de Roches, Andrewe MS. landrewe. de La Toure. And of the fourte batell hade the gouernaunce Geffray de Lazynyen MS. De la Zynyen. and Leonell de la Maleon, in the which wer Normannes, Manseons, and Petievynnes. MS. petie vynnes. The Normannes wer by estimacion ix^c men of armes; Angevynnes and Petevynnys wer four thovsand wele fyghtyng men, as by estimacion.

A extends through two ll. in the MS.; so also the initial A of Chapter VII.Aftre itt happed that the batells approched so nygh that thei sawe the Saresyns, the whiche had mony pavyl∣louns of dyuers colours. Then said Ponthus, that gyded theym that wer in the firste batell, to his people, "Se here the Saresyns that wold disheryte vs of oure faithe. We ben in the seruice of Almyghty Gode, wherfore noman haue noo doute bot that oon of vs is worth mony of theym; and I pray you of too thynges: oon is, aboue all thyng to truste in Gode, for by hys power we shal come aboue oure enemys; the secunde is, that ye take no thyng to pyllage ne to noo covetyse, bot oonly to discomfytt oure enemys and to putt theym oute of oure contrey, in the worshipp of oure faithe and for pitee of the pouere people that dwellys oute of strenghtes in the feldys— that laboures and travells, in whome we lyve. Therfore be we strong and stable to defende the chirche and theym." And when he had said to theym thus, he said, "Nowe goo we forth my frendes, and euery man thinke to doo wele."

Then euery man toke hert to theym, and smote their horses toward the tentys and began to bete doune tentys and pavyllouns, and to sley sume as thei wer armyng theym and sume naked; and so thei made in that syde mony to dye. Grete was the noyse and the crye among theym. So cleryd the day. Then thei began to loke vpp, and the Bre∣tayns laid on and putt fire in theyr luges—and in so myche that the kyng Karados was on hors bak in a playne with a grete batell, and said to his people on hyghe, "Euery man drawe to his captayne and putt theym in ordinaunce, for itt is nede." Then ye myght see the Saresyns putt theym in batell, notwithstondyng thei wer vndertaken, for there were sleyne of theyme vij^Ml. and that was the fourte The e of fourte is written over an unfinished h. parte of their people; bot the kyng Karodas was a mervellous goode knyght and of grete corage, and when he was on his hors, he toke his baner in his honde to releve his people. And when thei herde his voice and his horne, itt conforted their hertes and recoueryd the hertes of the cowardyue.

And aboute the sonne rysyng was grete crie and grete noyse, for aboute that tyme thre batells of oure people were comyn to gedre in the syde of the Saresyns, ther myche was to doo, to feght—and our people to putt fyre in their lugyng. Then the Saresyns drewe theym to gedre aboute the kyng Karodas. Grete were their strokes on both sydes and grete was the crye of theym that wer slayn and hurtt.

In that othre side faght the kyng of Bretayn, the whiche was fallen of his hors in the grete prese. And Ponthus by aventure loked vp and saw that the kyng was fallen doune to the grounde. He was full sory and wrothe, for he was like to haue be deid, ne had Ponthus and the Lorde de La Vale ben besyd hym to helpe hym. And Ponthus, that toke litle hede of hym selfe, that sawe his lorde in distresse, he laid aboute hym with his sworde on euery syde, so that he slowe both hors and man; so that euery man mervelled of his myght and thei fled fro hym for ferde of his strokes: so that by the helpe of Herland the senysshall and his cosyn germayn Pollides—for thes thre keped theym euer to gedir, and they The French and the context suggest the reading he (Ponthus) here and below, but the departure from the construction is characteristic. dide so mony grete dedys of armys that they rescoued the kyng and lyght adoune forto helpe hym vp, for he had his harme broken, the whiche grevyd hym sore, for he was nyghe oon hunderyth yeres olde. A goode knyght he was and of grete corage. So he was on his hors bak in disspite of his enemys, and he was ledd oute of the batell.

Grete was the batell egrove egrove can only be the p. ptc. of growe, the e representing the original ge prefix. v with the value of u or w is not infrequent in this text, but I have no other instance of its intervocalic use. R, Moult fu la bataille cruelle dune part et dautre, which W translates literally. on that oon parte and on that othre. So Ponthus behelde the batell on his ryght honde, that hade myche to doo, and therin was the Vicounte Daniou, Gautier de Rays, Bernard de Valoynes, Geffrey Dancen, Breut de Quyntyn-Monford, and mony othre barounes of Breytayn that wer bett doune and in grete aventure of theyr lives, for ther wer x Saresyns ayeinst oon Bretayn. Then said Ponthus to his fellawes, "Loo her oure people that has myche to doo, and nede of helpe! Goo we to socour theym." Then they smote their horses with their spurrys so fersly that thei threw doune theym that was before theym. And Ponthus went all afore and dide sloo the hardiest that wold abide. Thei dide so myche, within a whyle they rescoved theyr men and putt the Saresyns to flyght and made theym to resorte into the grete batell the which was grete and hyddous.

Bot the kyng Karodas helde full shorte R....tenoit moult a destroit. the Erle of Mayns and the Lorde Creton and the othre Maunceouns. Guyllyam de La Roche sawe Ponthus and cried to hym and said, "Loo here of youre people on fote!" Then come Pon∣thus and brake the presse and rescoued the Erle and othre that hade nede. And when thei were remo[n]ted, R. remontez. The scribe has omitted the nasal mark. the batell was full cruell. The kyng Karodas and Breales and Corbadan, his vncle, dide mervellously dedys of armes and most harme to the Cristen. They had bett doune Guyllyam de Roches and hade slayn Ralond de Avyon and mony othre. Then said Ponthus to Herland and to Landry de La Toure, "Take hede of the kyng and of too knyghtes. If they endure any while, they wolle doo myche harme; and if we myght putt theym to dethe, we shuld haue the victorye of all othir." "Ser," said Landry de La Toure, "goo we to theym." Then said Ponthus, "I wolle goo vnto the kyng." And so he went to hym and smote hym so grete a stroke that he fellyd hym to the grounde—that he brake his nek; and Landry de La Toure bett doune Corbadan; and Herland smote doune Breales and kytt of hys harme. And when thes thre wer bett doune, the Saresyns wer gretly dismated and gretly dyscomforted, and stode as shepe withoute an herdman. Then thei begayn to flee, and oure men ran aftre with grete crye and toke of theym; and they wyst not wethir to flee bot toward theyr shyppes. And the Saresyns turned agayn and faght strongly, for mony faghte for the kynges dethe, and mony of theym knewe not of his dethe. And they hade bett doune the Lorde Vaucay, Geruast Daniou, the Lorde de Mounte John, and Lewpeyne Probably Le Payne. W, payne de R. de Rocheford, and distroyed and slew mony of oure men.

So at the last oure men toke herte, with comforte of Ponthus, so that thei bett theym doune. Ponthus dide mervellously, for he stroke doune hors and men and all that wold abide hym. So they bere hym companye—Geffray de Lazynyen, Landry de La Toure, Leonell, Guyllen de Roches, and Ber∣nard de La Roche, and Herland; and as they went they made way—and so that noon durst abyde theym. Ther Ponthus cried and said, "On theym! On theym! They flee as shepe." And ther they slewe so many of theym within a whyle that all the felde ran of bloode and lay full of deyd bodyes, that it was mervell to see.

And they that myght ascape fledd to their shippes, and Ponthus aftre and toke a bote and slew xxx^ty and toke foure scoore and asked theym wher the ship was that the kynges tresour was in. And they schewed itt to hym, whiche was a fair, grete shipp. So they led hym and Pollides into itt. And they caste ouer the borde all the men that they fonde in itt. And so they saw an other fayr shipp that his gold and syluer was in. Then said Ponthus to six of hys men, "Kepe ye thys, and I wolle goo see if there be any that wolle lyfte upp his hede ayeinst vs in that vessell." So he went into itt and toke itt.

Ther ye myght see Bretanes, Maunceouns, Petevynes, and Normanes—sume goo to shippes and sume to tentes, and so ther was not the powrest, bot that he wanne grete riches. Then aftre they serched the felde for the Cristen men, euery man for his frende. So ther was fonde deid on the felde the Vicounte d'Auerenses, John Peonny, Turnebeufe, the Lorde Wylron; and of Maunceouns, Roger de Biamount, the Lorde Douncelles, and the Lorde Sylle; of the Hyrpos, Gaciane de Mounte Vyel, Roland de Tenull, Hundres de Prouere, and Fresell de La Hay; off Petoy, Gauter de Chastameny, Andres de Mounte Agant, Hulland de La Fo[r]yste; R abridges the list of slain earlier. W, Hubault de la forest. O, Urbain de la forest. and of Bretanes, Pier de Doule, Ryoud de Rey, Iohn de Mangon, Herdy de Lyon, Hubberd de Deyner, Gaudyffry de Rouen, Aubry d[e] Rays, MS. aubryd Rays. O, Aubri de Rais. and mony goode knyghtes. Eueryche caryed home his frende and buryed theym that wer deid and healed theym that wer hurte.

Ponthus made the grete tresour come to Vennys to hys hous and departed therof full largely and yeave to hys knyghtes and to his men, so that he was gretly alowed of all men. The kyng drew hym to Quynpartorentyn and ther he dide assemble all the grete lordes, and made to theym all a grete feste and yeave to theym grete gyftes to eueryche aftre his estate, and said to theym, "Fair Lordes, ye be comen, Gode thonke you, to the seruice of Gode and of the chirche and of the pouere people, and by the helpe of the Grete Lorde and of your grete worthynes and hardynes, ye haue delyueryd this contree of Saresyns that wold haue distroyed our lawe and our landes. Thonke we God of his grace, that has yeaven vs suche victorye, for agayns oon of vs ther was six of theym."

So itt was gretly spoken of theym that faght the beste and gave the grettest strokes and did the moste dedes of armes. Bot withoute comparacion Ponthus hade the name and the laude afor theym all, and they said that he had all wonne and gete. Also they gave grete pris to Geffray de Lazynyen, to Landry de La Toure and to Barnard de La Roche, for they wer thre of the best aftre Ponthus. The kyng held his feste thre days; and aftre they toke theyr leve of the kyng; and Ponthus convehed theym furthe; So euery man went home into his awn contree; and the kyng repared to Vennys.

It is not to aske if Sydon made grete ioy; and she said to Ponthus, "My swete frende, blessed be Gode of the grete wor∣schipp that ye haue receyved in this batell; for as Gode me helpe, I haue so grete ioy of the worschipp that I her spoken of you that it puttes myn herte in full grete gladnes, and there [is] no thyng that dos me so myche goode, as the goode name that euery man yevys to you." "Ma dame," said Ponthus, "it is not as euery man reportes, bot I thonke you of the worschip that ye wold doo me; and Ma dame wytt ye wele, that if God sende me grace to doo any goode, itt comys of you; and I wold fayne doo so, that I myght fall in his goode grace, and to doo to you suche seruice that myght pleasse you." "Ponthus, your seruice I take wele a worthe, Paraphrasing R, vostre seruice prens ie bien en gre de tout mon. ♥. Tant comme ie vous trouuery loyay (sic) etc., which W translates literally. whyls that ye be trewe and withoute thinkyng of vylanye to me, for I wold that your love be clene and sure; and wytt ye wele, that if I perceyve any othre wyse that ye thynke, then to youre worschipp and myn and to my frendes, as myche as I love you, I wolle hate you." "Ma dame," said Ponthus, "ne trowe ye not ne thynke ye not that I wolle ymagyn ne thynke bot to your worschipp, for I haue fonde you so goode, clene, and trew, that I loue and prayse you a thowsand tymes the more—fore ther is no fayrer thyng in thys wordle then is a goode, clene lyve."

So they loued mytch to gedre and of trewe, clene love. Bot envye that may not dye comes aftre vpon theym, as ye shal here more playnly her aftre. So lete vs leve to speke of theym, and turne to the kyng.

The kyng come afore all his barounes and said to theym, "Fair Seris, I shal say you that I am full olde and I may not travell as I was wont to doo; and fro now forward me must take myn ease. Wherfor by your councell I wolle chese a constable that shal haue the besynes of the londe of Bretayn, and suche oon as the barounes and the comons of the londe wolle beste obey vnto. So like ye, who be the moste profitable?—for I wold fayne that he wer chosen by youre avice."

"Ser," said the barounes all with oon voice, "we wot not wher to haue a bettre, if itt lyke hym, then Ponthus, for he is moste worthie to gouerne ane empyre, as for bountie, beautie, of wytt & gouernaunce and gentylnes—as a kynges sone, and with the beste begynnyng of his knyghthode that thys day is lyvyng."

When the kyng herd this, he hade grete ioy, for itt was all that he soght and desired, bot he wold not withoute their desire and speche, for they had hym in theyr conceyte and grace, and so ther was noo gaynsayng.

So was Ponthus called furth and ther itt was said to hym before all, that the kyng and the barounes hade chosen hym constable of Bretayne,

Douce Fragment A begins here: I normalize partially the capitaliza∣tion but retain the punctuation of the MS.

Bretayn. as the most sufficient. So he thankyd y^e kyng and the barouns and sayd to theym that they had take a small [avice] and that he had not wytt ne gouernaunce ne valour to gouerne it and that he was to yong But to blame hym self yt avayleth not for he was then chargyd wold he nold he. So he was in his office well belouyd and dred for yf there were eny dissen∣cion by twene the barons and the knyghtis he wold set theym in peas and concord. He kepte the right of Bretayn without doyng wrong of eny man he was louyd of all men he iustyd and made festys and reuelles. He was plesaunte with gret and small and in esspeciall amonge ladyes and ientil∣women he was so curtes yf eny man dyd of his hode to hym he wolde do of his as sone. He herd the pore and he dyd theym ryght. He wold not that pore people were grevyd. And he lovyd God and holy churche he hard euer two masses and after he louyd to go to the woodys and to the revers and to all disportis Yf he come to a town he wold sent (sic) for ladyes and ientyll women and made theym to daunce and syng and all dyssporte come there he was and ioye also for he wold geue theym dyuers gyftis He was louyd of many a feyre lady and gentyll woman. that shewed to hym meny a feyr draught of loue but he never desired loue of lady no ientylwomen. none other wyse than to theyr worshippe. for eny chere that they made to hym. So they wold sey one to another. She was full happy that was belouyd of Ponthus. Another said wold God that he louyd me as moche as I wold do hym Moche he was belouyd of gret and small but envy that lackyd not [was] put in one of his xiij felowes that was a gret speker and a flaterer and couth meny fals wrenchis. * * * *

He was namyd Evenylet (sic) that saw the loue of Sydony and his mayster Ponthus He had gret envye and for to asay [hym] he askyd Ponthus an hors that Sydonye gaue hym. So he thought well that he myȝt not haue hym and to tempte hym. Mayster. he sayd geue me Lyard that Sydony gaue you. Trewly said Ponthus that wyll I not geue you. But go to my stable & take such another as wyll please you for there be more feyrer. For soth sayd Guynelot I wyll none hors haue but Lyard Ye may not haue hym sayd Ponthus What sayd Guynelet let ye to geue an hors to me I aught full litull to tryste to you. How so seyd Ponthus suffichith not to you to chewse of all my hors. And yf ye be not pleasyd with one takyth two of þ^e beste Guynelot passyd ouer and made him right wrothe and seyd in his hert I wot I shall fayll of hym & he shall be dere bought yf that I lyve longe. He thought full evyll as he that was full of envye and of flatery. And thought to hyndre hym to Sydonye. And that in haste. So he spake to a damysell that was privye of councell with Sydonye. And glosyd her with wordis and said that he louyd her moche and that he muste tell her a gret councell where fore she swerith by God and by all seyntis that she wold not discouer hym. I loue so moche—

POnthus lepe on hors bak and entred into the forest, ryd∣yng by ways certan that he knewe wele, in suche wyse that noo man wyst wher he become. And so he come at resonable houre to the same place wher he was before and entred in and shytte the doer vpon hym and lyght doune and did vnharme hym; and the damesell, the dwarfe, and othre with vyssers abode in the tentys vnto the nyght; and then went theyr way, when all men was withdrawn.

So leve we to speke of theym and retourne to Bernard de La Roche and to Sydone &c.

And itt happed the same tuysday ther come of all contrees to se the batell. Then the blak knyght with armes white yssued oute of the pavyllone—he and his olde damesell and his dwarfe, and on that other side come Landry de La Tour. So they laid theyr sperys vndre their sides, with theyr gonfaunons hyngyng, and with grete myght they stroke to gedre, withoute any faile; and passed ouer, and come agayne so myght[e]ly that they perched R, percerent. their sheldes, and brake their speres, and ranne to gedre with their swerdes, and gave grete strokes, wher they myght, ofte and thyke. So they wer long tyme on hors bak. And then Ponthus dressed hym wele in his styrropes and smote Landry de La Toure with all his strenght, that he was astoned; and when Ponthus hade yeven hym that stroke, then he sawe hym gogle, and toke hym by the helmete and drewe with all his myght, and all astouned drewe hym doune to the grounde. Not withstondyng, he rosse vp as sone as he myght.

And when Ponthus sawe hym at the grounde, then said he to hym selfe that he wold not assayle hym on hors bak, lesse it myght turne hym to shame and repreve; bot then he lyght doune on foote and putt his shelde afore hym and toke his swerd in his honde and assayled hym. And Landry made hym redy to defende hym in the best wyse that he myght, for he knewe wele that he hade not to doo with noo childe. Then Ponthus come and smote hym a grete stroke so that the stroke fell upon the scheld and stroke doune and quarter; R, Pontus fiert moult grant coup et le branc descend en lescu si que il en abat ung quartier. W translates literally. Our translator appears to understand a quartering blow, possibly from another reading, or perhaps we should read a for and. and Landry smote hym with grete strokes, wher he myght areche hym, and mervelled myche howe Ponthus myght endure agane hym so longe, for he was a mervellous goode knyght. Bot Ponthus gave hym ofte so grete strokes that with grete payne he myght vnneth drawe his brethe, ne Ponthus navther. And they rested theym a litle while on theyr swerdes.

Then spake Landry and said, "Gentle Knyght, I wote not what ye be, bot so myche may I say, that I wenyd not in the mornyng to haue founde so myche strenght and valur in you as I haue prevyd; bot or ye ouercome me, ye muste doo moo dedes of armes then ye haue doon." "Yea," said Ponthus, "avther shal ye yelde you to the fairest made of Bretane, or elles ye must ouercome me with dedes of armys."

And then he lyfte vp his sworde and smote Landry, as he that had grete shame that he endured hym so longe, and he stroke hym in suche wyse that the bloode ranne doune to his fete. And when Landry felyd that he was so smyten, he gave Ponthus so grete a stroke vpon the temple of the hede that the helmete was gretly enpared. Then turned Ponthus the sheld and toke the swerd in bothe his hondes and smote so grete a stroke that Landry was all astoned. Bot that was no mervell, for to long hade that batell endured betwen theym. And so he smote sore, stroke vpon stroke, that he was almost dysmated with the grete plente of strokes that he hade taken and gyven; and he hasted more and more when he sawe a litle gogyllyng, R, et quant il vit ung pou chanceler si le boute. W, sawe hym staker. and then he come and smote hym with all his myght in suche wyse that he bett hym to the grounde—and fell bothe two. Bot Ponthus fell aboue, and Landry myght not ryse ne helpe hym selfe.

And Ponthus said to hym, "Knyght, yelde you." And Landry spake noo worde and endured with grete payne, and as he that was lothe forto yelde hym. And he that was full of curtesey said, "Knyght, yelde you to the fair damesell, I pray you,—and that ther be no more debate betwen vs, for we haue assayd authre othre enughe." Then knewe Landry the curtesy of the knyght that he faght with and said to hym, "To hir wolle I yelde me, sithe itt lykes you." "Itt is suffi∣ciaunt to me," said Ponthus.

Then he rose full sore and full wery of the strokes and travell that he hade gyven and taken of the grete batell that so long hade endured. So come Ponthus to his hors with grete payne, and lepe vp, and rode faste into the forest, so that he was fro the syght of theym all anoon.

And Geffray de Lazynyen and mony othre knyghtes come to Landry de Lay Tour and asked hym howe he dyde; and he said, well—aftre the evyll that he hade founden his maistre. Then said Geffray to Landry, "I shall bere you companye, for ye and (I), R, nous yrons vous et moy ensemble. W, we shall go you & I togyder. we wolle goo to gedre to the fair Sydone." "I wolle wele," said Landry, "for itt is no reason that ye goo thedre withoute me." Thus they bourded oon to an other. And then he was vnarmed and had mony woundes, bot he had noon bot that he myght ryde.

And so they went and yelded theym to Sydon. And the kyng made theym gret cher and did theym grete worschipp, as for the best knyghtes that myght be founde in any contrey, of nobylley of knyghthode. And sone aftre they went to Sydone and putt theym in hir mercy. And she, that was full of curtesey and of wysdome, receyved theym with grete ioy and fested theym and worschipped theym and gave theym grete gyftes. So they thonked hir, and said that they were wele prisoned, for itt was noo grete payne for to endure itt. "Serys," said she, "I wot not what the knyght is that has sent you hidre—for ye and he doos me grete honour withoute cause; for ther be more fayrer and more avenaunt in this reaume than I be, who so wolle seke theyme." "Wele Ma dame," said they, "we owe to beleve the comon voice, for all has cosen you for the fayrest." And thus they bourded of mony thynges. Ther they wer twoo days with the kyng, and all the othre days wyth Sydon.

And aftre she gave theym leve to goo, and then they went furth to se the batell of the Erle Morteyn, that was a full goode knyght.

Son aftre issued oute the damesell and the dwarfe, and had his Turquis bowe in his honde and the arowes. And the heremyte with the vysour, that lede the damesell aboute by the gylten reyne, made signe whiche schelde sche schuld smyte, as for the next moneth folowyng. The damesell shote fyrste the sheld of Ser Tybould de Boloys that was named a wele goode knyght; and that othre was the shelde of Guyllen de Roches; the third was the shelde of Henry de Mounte Morency; and the fourthe shelde was the sheld of Rosylyon. MS. Rosy lyon. Thes was iiij knyghtes of grete name of knyghthod, whoes scheldes wer hongen vp for the next iourney. And when she hade shote hir four arowes, she withdrewe hir into the pavyllon.

And son aftre the blak knyght issued oute of the pavyllone armed att all peces, the shelde in the nek, the sper in his honde. In that othir side come the Erle of Morteyne full rychely arrayd, with a grete multitude of mynstrells. And as son as they sawe aythre othre, they ranne to gedre with theyr sperys, and gave authre othre grete strokes. Bot Pon∣thus reuersed the Erle, that he lakked bot a litle that he was doune. Then they putt their hondes to theyr swerdes and ranne to gedre full fersly. Bot Ponthus smote so grete a stroke that his sworde cutted that he smote; and the Erle defended hym at his power. So the batell dured longe. Bot Ponthus that was mervellous R, qui grant et fort estoit a merueilles. W, which was grete and strong toke. It is a temptation to throw in the grete and strong of W, after mervellous, but mervellous is often used independently in our text. toke hym by the helme, and drewe to hym so myghtely that he pulled hym doune to the grounde, and yeave hym a grete stroke with his sworde, and said to hym that he suld yelde hym—for he smote hym bot with the flatt of the sworde. And the Erle endured myche, bot at the last he must nedes yeld hym, whedre he wold or noo.

And thus he commaunded hym to yelde hym vnto the fairest ladye and madyn in Bretan; and so he departed and went into the forest as he was accostomed to doo.

And the Erle went and yelded hym vnto Sydone as the othre knyghtes had doone. And ther she dide hym grete worschip; and so did the kyng hir fadre.

The nexte tuysday they faght agane; and so they did the next folowyng, to the monethe come to an ende. Bot itt wer to long to tell the batells and the iourneys that he dide—and that other parties also; for ther were mony grete batells and mony sharpe stowres of armes whiche wer to longe to tell, who wold all devyse. Bot all wer ouercomen by his dedes of armes and wer sent to prisoune to the fair lady Sydone.

So was ther founde in the yeer .lij. knyghtes prisonners, of the best that they knewe or myght fynde in any londe, to wynn or conquer worschipp; for euery of the beste knyghtes that herd therof went to assay hym; and then he chase of the beste knyghtes to doo dedys of armes with hym, and eueryche hade desir to be of the nombre to assay theym with hym, in so myche that the high renowne ranne thorowe oute Fraunce and by mony othre reaumes and contreys. And Ponthus chase euer by reportyng the best, and faght neuer bot with oon of a contrey, whiche was holden for the beste;—forto make hym to be known, that if ther wer any man that wold requir hym to doo any thyng for his lady sake, that he wold be redy alwey to delyuer hym. And ther was of the .lij. knyghtes propre names—that is to say: the Duke of Ave∣renses, the Duke of Loreyne; the Duke of Barry; the Erle of Mount Bernard, MS. Mountbernard. the Erle of Mountford, and mony othre erles and dukes; and Ser William de Baniers, Ser Arnold de Hennolte, the Erle of Savye, and mony othre knyghtes; and of theyr names I passe ouer at this tyme and goo to my mater agayne.

When itt befell that Wyttsonday was comen at the yeres ende—that The same ellipsis is in W and R. R, tant quil aduint que la penthecoste vint . . . . que tous les prisonniers vindrent. all prisonners come to yelde theym, ther as itt was ordayned, Ponthus lete make a grete hall couered with grene boghes, by the Welle of Mervelles, other wyse called Bellacon, and sent for all maner of vitelles and dyuers wynes, and wrote to the kyng a lettre, sayng thus:—

"To the goode kyng of Bretane the Blak Knyght with armys white recommaundes hym with all his seruice and honour. And prays hym mekely, that itt may pleasse hym to be at this feste of Wytsontyde in the forest of Breselyne at the Welle of Mervelles, with the companye of the fairest ladys and dameselles of Bretane, to knowe to whome the pris shall be yeven and to enquir who has best iusted and who that has the beste and the myghtest foghten of thes .lij. knyghtes of euery tuysday in the yer."

And when the kyng had red the lettre, he had grete ioy therat; and said that grete worshipp did hym the blak knyght and that he wold be ther.

And then he sent for his doghtre and tolde hir thes tyth∣ynges and charged hir to enquir of the fairest ladies and gentylwommen of his reaume to come with hir at the feste of Wytsontyd;—"and fair doghtre," said the kyng, "ye aghte forto doo itt, for he has doon you myche worship; for by his swerd he has sent to your prisoune so mony goode knyghtes and lordes, wherof grete worschip is comen to you and to youres and to all our reaume; wherfore I am myche beholden to the blak knyght." Fair Sydone kneled doune and said, sith it liked hym, so sche wold doo his commaundement.

And then she lete write to the grete ladyes of Bretayne, that they schuld be redy on the Wytsontyd even, and that they shuld bryng with theym the fayrest ladys and gentyl∣women that they myght fynde in theyr contrey. The ladys at hir commaundement hade grete ioy and arrayd theym and come at the day. Ther was ryght grete assembley that come at the Wytsontyd to the Welle of Mervelles. So they broght with theym tentes and pavyllones, and dide hyng theym and pyght theym aboute, in suche wyse that it semed a grete oste.

Ponthus furth before the kyng come ryght sone—and had sent xiij govnes of a suyte to his xiij fellawes, and oon to Herland the senysshall, and had sent to fetche theym the day before. It is noo demaunde to aske if that his cosyn germane and his fellawes had grete ioy of the worschipp that God had yeven to hym. They went aganes the kyng. And when the kyng sawe and knewe that it was Ponthus that so mony fetys of armes hade done, it is noo questyon bot he made grete ioy. And at the feste and worshipp that he dyde hym, he myght not forber bot that he called hym, & kyssed hym, and said, "Wher haue ye ben so longe hyd frome vs. It was said that ye wer in Poleyne and Hungary in the werre; bot in travthe myn hertt said euer that itt was ye that so mony mervelles did." Ponthus waxed rede and said noo worde, for he was sory that the kyng prased hym so myche.

Therfore he went his way aganes Sydone—grete was the company with hir of ladys and of gentyllwommen The Digby MS. has an omission corresponding to about a page and a third (MS.) of text at this point, though the MS. shows no break of any sort between gentyllwommen and And furth (p. 60, l. 14). It is highly im∣probable that we have to do with deliberate condensation—far more likely that the scribe copied from a smaller MS. that had lost a leaf. F has two chapter divisions in this space which might have been marked by miniatures in a MS. of its class, thus suggesting a motive for the mutilation of the MS. before the scribe of Digby. I have filled the gap with the corresponding portion of W, printed diplomatically. The French MSS. R, H, and F con∣tain all this matter.—And salewed her mekely | & she yelded him agayne his salu¦tacyon | as she that had all Ioye y^t herte myght thyn∣ke | & than she sayd vnto hȳ smylynge O Ponthus ye haue hyd you lōge tyme frō vs in this forest I dou∣te me y^t ye be become an ermyte & wylde. A madame Pon. G. iiij. [*] sayd he saue your grace I am easy to tame. And than he departed frome her as he that was all taken in the loue of his lady that of lōge tyme he had not sene her And than he wente too se the ladyes the whiche were all dysguysed with grene bowes & garlondes | and he sayd vnto them. My ladyes I praye god that eche of you haue that y^t your hertes desyre | for in good fayth it is a good syght to se soo fayre a company. The lady es yelded hym his salutacyon | the whiche were full of Ioye for to se hym for they loued hym meruayllously well aboue all knyghtes. And the one sayd to another It is Ponthus the good and fayre knyghte thanked be god of the grete worshyp that he hathe sente hym and I praye god that he wyll kepe hym vs as the best knight of the worlde | and this was there speche ferre and nere. So they arryued at the fountayne bothe y^e kynge and the ladyes | with grete Ioye. And on that other syde came the knyghtes straungers. The kyn∣ge and the ladyes made them grete Ioye. And there was grete sowne and noyse of dyuers maners of mȳ∣stralsy so that all the wode ronge of it. And the kynge and ponthus dyd grete worshyp to the dukes and lor∣des | as to the duke of Ostrytche of Lorayne & of ba∣ar | & to the erle of dampmartyn of Sauoye of moūt∣belyart & to other dyuers grete lordes. So they wente and herde masse that the bysshop of Rennz sange | af∣ter that they came to the halle. And the kynge | the du∣kes and Sydoyne were sette at the hygh dese | and af¦ter euery man after as he was. Greate was the feest and grete was the hall | and on the syde were hanged the .lii. sheldes of the knyghtes conquered. Ryght stra unge and fayre thynges were made bytwene the cour∣ses [*] as armed chyldren that fought togyder | & dyuers other thynges | and syxe olde knyghtes | and syxe olde squyers | some bare the spere & the gouffanon blacke with the whyte teeres of grete margaretes & oryente perles | & a ryche cercle of golde meruayllously wrou∣ght of ryche perles and of good stones. The other ba∣re the ryche swerde with the pomel of golde | And the gyrdell of sylke wrought with golde & grete margare∣tes and perles | & with precyous stones that it was a fayre syght to se. And this rychesse had ponthus won in the shyp of the Soudans sone. So he sayd hymself that he myght no better beset them than afore so ma∣ny notable prynces and grete lordes | for he shewed all his dedes ryght honourably. The knyghtes and y^e la∣dyes wente aboute the halle syngynge as though they wyste not to whome they sholde presente them. And than they came before the lorde de Lesygnen and pre∣sented hym the spere and the ffouffanon (sic) and the ryche cercle of golde y^e whiche they set vpon his hede | for y^e beste Iuster. And after they came to Androwe de la toure and presented hym the ryche swerde and the ry∣che crowne set vpon his heed | whyther he wolde or no for he excused hymselfe moche & wende to haue refu∣sed it saynge that they dyde hym worshyp that he had not deserued and that there were dyuerse other that had better wonne it than he had and he wexed rede & was ashamed | but Ponthus hadde so ordeyned it for he sayd in good fayth that he had yeuen hym moost a do as fore one daye. Also Geffrey hadde ryght wel Ius ted. Than beganne mynstrelles for to playe of all ma ner of mynstrelsy and also the herauldes began to cry that men sholde not haue herde thondrynge | for al rō∣ge [*] bothe wood and forest of the noyse. There was gy uen many dyuerse meases and good wynes and also grete yeftes vnto heraudes and mynstrelles. Ponth? came behynde the kynge and sayd to hym in his ere. Syr & it please you we shall do crye the Iustes ayenst to morowe | and on tewesdaye at Vennes bycause y^t ye sholde knowe these prynces | and these dukes | for it shall be your worshyppe. A sayd y^e kȳge in good fayth it is a good and a trewe counseyll and I praye you that it be done. Than Ponthus called an heraude and made hym to crye that the whyte knyght with the re∣de rode (sic, rose) shall be this mondaye and tewesdaye in y^e cy∣te of Vennes with fyue felowes and hymselfe shall make the syxte for to withstande all maner of knygh∣tes with speres. And he that shall haue the pryce on y^e mondaye without forth (sic) shall haue the gyrdell and the gypsere of y^e fayrest of the feest. And he that dooth best on the tewesdaye shall haue the sparohawke mewed with the loynes of perles and margarytes | and a cha pelet that the fayrest of the feest shall gyve hym. And he of the ynner partye that shall Iuste best shall haue a rynge of the fayrest.

¶ How Ponthus made a Iustes to be cryed in the cy∣te of Vennes and how he smote downe the strongest that he recountred.

ON y morowe after they departed by tymes | & wente and herde masse at saynt peters of Ven∣nes | and than they wente and dyned | and after dyner the kynge & the ladyes wente to the schalfoldes.

MS. Digby resumes. And furth with come Ponthus and his v fellawes whiche was named, Barnard de La Roche, the Vicount of Lyon, the Vicount of Daunges, Pollides, MS. Polleyne. R, polides. W, Polydes. and Herland. And Ponthus was all in whyte bothe [he] and his hors, with a grete rede rose whiche signified his lady. The iustys wer grete and the dedes of armes, bot aboue all othre Ponthus iusted beste, for he threwe doune hors and man and did so mervellously that euery man doubted to countre hym. Also he putt his hertt and his wyll to gedre for his lady sake that was before hym.

Grete and litle prased hym myche. And then spake the ladys and said, "See ye hym ther that berys all doune before hym? He is not wyse that comes aganes hym. His sper spares noon, bot itt hurtes and makes theym to fall." Sydone, that herde the ladys prays hym, said noo worde, and she loked that noo man perceved the gladnes of hir ne the ioy that she hade in hir hertt.

Right wele iusted the Duke of Averences, and the Duke of Loreyne, and the Erle of Savye, the Erle of Mount Belliart, and mony othre. It wer to long to tell of the goode iusters that iusted the moneday and the tuysday. And they wer wele fested the tuysday at mete and at soper. The pris of monday was yeven to the Erle of Mounte Belliart. He hade the gyrdle and the gypser of Sydone—for she was chosen for the fairest. The price of the tuysday was yeven to the Duke of Averences. And he hade the sparhawke with the ryche loynes and the chaplete, of Sydone. Bot not withstondyng, Ponthus iusted the best; and wold take noon of the prices, in so myche that he ordaned theym. Bot the ladys sent to hym a ryng with a rubye, for the most worschipfull knyght that was of theym all; also they sent to Barnard de La Roche a riche gower. The word is doubtful, but has clearly something to do with M. E. gorgere. O. F. gorgiere. R, fermail. W, ouche.

Then heroudes and mynstrelles made grete ioy and grete noyse. And aftre soper they hade carralles, daunces, and songys to mydnyght. And aftre they dranke and ete spyces. And aftre the straungers toke theyr leve of the kyng and of Sydone and of [the] othre ladys, and departed.

The wedynsday erely aftre messe Ponthus convehed theym MS. hym. W, them. to Castellyon, R, a chasteau guyon. W, to y^e castell of gyron. wher he hade lete ordayne theyr dynner; and aftre dynner wold haue convehed theym—bot the lordes wold not soffre hym. So he offred hym myche to theym, and toke leve eueryche of othre. Gretely prased bothe the grete and the small the goode cher and fellyschipp of Ponthus—and that An elliptical construction like that in W, prasyed .. Ponthus .... and that trewly he was—but cf. R, Et disoient vrayement cest le meilleur .... cheualier. they trowed that he was the beste, the fairest, the most curtes, and the most gracius knyght of the worlde, to theyr intente, and that he hade noo fellawe. And also they prased gretly Sydone of hir beautie and of hir curtesy—and that Both W & R show the ellipsis: praysed .... Sydone .... and that he that sholde haue her sholde be well eurous, louaient S.... et que bien seroit eureux qui. he were ryght fortunate that myght haue hir.

The kyng was thoghtfull of the tythyng, as he that mer∣vellously lovyd his doghtre and he that had grete drede of his dyshonour; and when he was comen fro the wodd and lyghted doune fro his palfrey, so furth with come Ponthus, wenyng to haue taken his swerd and his gloves as he was accustomed. Then the kyng turned hym an othre way and nawthre made to hym countenaunce ne spake. And when Ponthus perceyved that he was wrothe to hym, he said, "Ser, be ye wrothe with me? Say to me, if it like you, for Goddes loue, what I haue forfeted." And the kyng, which was right wrothe of suche fals informacion, said, "Ponthus I haue made a simple nurture in you, when ye wate to dyshonour me." "Howe Ser?" said Ponthus, "By what way?" Then said the kyng, "For ye loue my doghtre to dyshonour me. And I haue noomoo children bot hir, whiche is all my ioy and the lenghthyng of my life." "Ser," said he, "Who said you this? And ther be any man that dare say itt, or mayn∣tene itt, I am redy to shew my body that he lyes falsly—save your worshipp." "Nay," said the kyng, "bot and ye wolle swer vpon a messe-booke that ye loue hir not as I haue said, peraventure I wolle leve you." "Ser, for to say that I loue hir not as the doghtre of my ryght goode lorde—aftre my dutye, I owe not to say; bot if ther be any man that wolle say that I loue hir to dyshonour you or hir, in wylle, dede, or in thoght, I shall answer as a true knyght shuld doo. And Ser ye knowe wele, othre thing ye shuld not disir of me, your worshipp saved, for ye wote wele that noo kynges sonne shuld make noon othe of fals vndirstondyng, whils that he may defende hym with his hondes. And suche is the custome of the contre whiche I am of." "I wote not howe itt is," said the kyng, that was ryght wrothe of the wordes that he held. The emendation herd is probable, but held makes good sense, regarding Ponthus as the subject of the clause—le roy, qui moult fel estoit des paroles, quil auoit ouyes. W, had herde keeping the construction of R. "Ser," said Ponthus, which was right sory, "I offre me to feght with thre or four; for I fele myn hert so sure and so true that I am certan that God wolle helpe, as he is true Iuge of this dede and of all othre." "Ay," said the kyng, "ye hold you so strong and so knyghtly, that ye wote wele that ther (dare) R, nul noseroit combatre. no man feght with you." "Ay Ser," said Ponthus, "offre me to doo that thyng that I may doo to saue my worschipp." The kyng passed ouer and said ther shuld no batell be doon for that dede.

And when Ponthus herd this, he was ryght sory and wrothe. By cause that he was a kynges sonne, he had shame to make the othe that turnyd hym to shame; and that othir side, he was sory be cause that the kyng wold doo hym noo ryght. And then he come to the kyng and toke his leve and said that he wold byde no lenger in his courte in mystruste ne in susspeccion.

So he departed and come to Sydone and told hir how the kyng had said to MS. after to, hir' cancelled by the rubricator. hym, and howe the kyng wold not doo hym ryght, and howe that he had offred hym to feght with thre or four, and how that he wold putt hym to his othe, to his grete shame and dishonur. And when Sydone herd this and vndirstode itt, it nedes not to aske if that she had any sorowe in hir hertt; for she was so sorofull that she was almuste loste. And when she myght speke, she said, "Ay Lorde Godde, who be [thes] W, these. R, ces. traitours and flatterers that so myche fals lyhyng has founde?—for in goode faithe, I wolle swere on the sacrament, that ther is noo vyllanye thoght in our loue. Bot sothely it is, R, Mais ainsi est. W, But thus it is. that envy may not dye."

"Ma dame," said Ponthus, "ye say sothe. Bot I wolle take leve of you with suche regrete and sorowe as euer knyght did, and toke, of his lady." "Ay," sayd she, "my swete loue, me semes it wer bettre for to swer, for ye may doo itt surely, and excuse vs." "Ay Ma dame," sayd he, "I dare not be seen in my contrey, if I dide soo; and God graunte I be not the first kynges sonne that makes the furste othe, for at all tymes itt suld be reproche to me and to myn heyers. Bot Ma dame, not withstondyng thoghe the body proloyne for a while, the hertt The scribe has run down a flourish from this word into the lower margin of the Fol. inclosing in it a heart. shall day and nyght dwell with you. And if it pleasse God, at the ende of vij yer I shall see you agane, and I live, bot if I come herfte; I read clearly herfte, which I fail to understand, in the MS. Some word meaning earlier is required. R, se plus tost ne reuien. W, yf soner I come not. | Is it possibly herste (illogical h and long s) for erste. and if itt like you to kepe you vnmaried vnto that tyme—if ye may—I wold pray you." "Ay," said she, "the terme is long and farre. And how many sorofull days and nyghtes shall be betwen you and me in the meane tyme!" And with thes wordes she fell in swone and was all discolored. Thus was the hertes of theym bothe so sore knytt MS. after knytt, W, cancelled by the rubricator. to gedre that with grete payne they myght vnnes any thyng say, bot [th]at The conj. at may be a genuine colloquial form, that has slipped into the text. W, saue onely that. they cleped aythre othre and the terys fell doune from their eeyn.

Then Ponthus putt his hoode afore his eyne, and departed and went frome hir vnto his chaumbre, and shitte the doore vpon hym. And then his hertt beganne to swell and said to hym selfe that he was the mervellest knyght livyng; that for hym that lady myght receyve blame or shame with oute cause; and on that side, R, Et dautre part. W, And also he leseth. he losys all wordly ioy, when he losys the contrey and the syght of hir, of the whiche he has bot litle recoueryng. And thus he complenys hym and wementys hym ryght sorofully. And when he hade ben a while in that sorowe, then he comforted hym selfe to make goode cher and refrenyd hym selfe ryght myche.

And if he hade sorowe in his hertt, Sidone had as myche; for she entred into hir warderop and called Ellious vnto hir, and when she sawe that ther was noon bot they twoo and that they wer alloone, then beganne hir sorowe, so grete and so mervellous, that it was pitee to see. "Ay," said she, "my swete love goos a way—the fair, the goode, the floure of knyghthode and of curtesy, and the beste that levys and the best manerd and enteched aboute R, En tous estas. W, among. all maner of estates and among all maner of people—and that is goode reson that he be so, for he loues God, dredes hym, and worshippes hym; and has the olde and the wyse in reuerence. He is humble to the moste and to the leste; he is myrroure of all noblenes and largenes; his swete hertt is gentle, humble, and debonere. What shall myn hertt doo aftre his departyng, bot langoure, and weymente day and nyght, withoute any ioy or reste?—for I knowe wele his swete hertt wolle haue no lesse."

Then she toke Ellious by the harme hastely and furth with fell to the grounde in swone. And Ellious weped, and arased R, et Eloix pleure et arouse sa dame. Arased then means "sprinkled," Fr. arroser. W shows a combination of a curious blunder and a correct translation: toke rose water and bespryncled her lady. hir lady with a litle water, and conforted hir in the best wyse that she myght; bot it avayled hir not, she was so sory. And then she said to Ellious, "I may not in noo wyse kepe my hertt ne counsell close frome you, so myche I loue and trustes you. Bot love, this sorowe comys on me when I thinke R, ie pense la grant desloyaulte translated slavishly. W, thynke on. the grete vntrauthe that has ben putt vpon vs, and that we neuer thoght vyllany, for mor truer loue was neuer betwen two per∣sounes; and aftre, I thinke the wordes R, ie pense les paroles. W, thynke on. that be said of grete wrong, and that for me he loses the contrey wher he was so wele beloued of grete and small, and all the evyll that he shal soffre and haue shall be for my sake; and thus I shall be cause of his myschief. All thes thinges drives sorowe to myn hertt." Gretly she wemented and aftre dryed hir eyn. And itt was long or she come to the chaumbre of astate among hir ladys and gentylwommen; and made no semelance, bot as it greved hir bot a litle. She was right wyse and wele couthe kepe hir contenaunce. The ladys and the gentylwommen weped and wemented of the departyng of Ponthus and said that cursed was he that suche falsed fonde and contreved. Bot Sydon reconforted theym full gentylly and womanly.

And thus I turne agane to Ponthus.

SO itt happened in the vij^te yer aftre that Surdyte come into Englond, that the thirde son of the sawdeyn, which was called Corbatan, had pylled mony iles and reaumes, and doon grete harme vnto the Cristen people, and made mony londes tributary to hym, and londed in Englond as his twoo brethre had—that oon in Spayne, and that othre in Pety Bretan. Anon ther was a grete noys that he was londed with ix C vesselles, grete [and small], R, que grans que petis. W, what grete what small. and defyed the kyng and bad hym voyde the londe, or to forsake theyr beleve and pay tribute.

All the contre for grete fere tremelyd, MS. tremelyd mony. when they harde of the grete noumbre that the hethyn wer of. The kyng had counsell forto send hastely aboute, and so he sent hastely for the kyng of Scottes his brothre, and for the kyng of Irlond his son, and for the kyng of Cornewale his nevew, and for the Erle of Wales, and for all othre erles and barounes of his reaume. And when they wer assemylyd, ther was a grete armye. Also he sent his twoo sonnes and Surdyte; and they come in ordynaunce bot iiij R, a trois lieues. O adds anglesses. W, well a foure myle. Englysch myles fro the Saresyns, and ordaned theyr batelles: wherof the kyng of Scottes and the kyng of Irlonde hade the furst; the secunde hade the kyng of Cornewale; the thirde, the Erle of Wales; the iiij^te the Lorde Iohn, the kyng eldyst son; the v^te the Lorde Ser Henry, the kynges yongre son; and Surdyte had the vj^te. Ther A tempting emendation is thes for ther', but ther' ... wer translates R, si furent. vj batelles wer, grete, and noumbred to moo than xxx^te thovsand horsmen, beside theym that wer on fote, as archers and alblasters. W, arbalasties. R, arbalestriers. And Corbatan the kyng, which knewe of theyr commyng made xij batelles and had moo then fourtee R, quinze. O, l. mille. W, xl. thovsand, besyde theym on fote, and they were ryght fers, as they that had not ben dyscomfeted in xii yere, sith they departed from the sawdeyn of Babilone.

And our people rode wele enbatelled and on a rowe; and when they sawe the Saresyns oste, W, the same, translating R, qui tint si grant pais. "Who occupied so much space?" that held so grete a coun∣tre, W, the same, translating R, qui tint si grant pais. "Who occupied so much space?" they gretly amervelled. They had all herde messe, The clause is neither in W or R. that the Bishop of Canterbury had songen, The clause is neither in W or R. and wer shreven and howselyd, and then they held theym myche more sure. Sur∣dyte come by the batelles, and said, "Feir Lordes, mervelles not of the grete noumbre, for we be vndreneth the banner of our Lorde Ihesu Criste, which fulfylled v^Ml people with v barley lovys and twoo fysches; for so he may (gyue) victorye to oon aganes C. Therof haue we goode hertt, and smyte we sharply aganes theym; for he that wolle, I. e., smyte sharply. I render, "Who sharply attacks—of necessity the defensive party yields," following R, Car qui bien assault et se deffent len lui vuide lentree et se fait ou voye. W, condenses, for he that well assaylleth or defendeth vpon theym that haue no fayth God helpeth hym.—nedes the defendaunt comonly voydes and makes way. So goo we in Goddes name vppon theym withoute any delay, for they haue no Gode to defende theym, ne helpe them; and lete vs be hardy withouten any fere, and they shall be anoon dyscom∣feted, with the grace of God."

Then they smote their horses with their spurrys and come to gedre oon aganes an othre. There was grete cry and noys of trumpes, and anon wer ryght mony ouerthrawen and dede. And the batell endured iiij houres R, dura la b. tant qui heure de tierce. W omits. and more. Ther myght men here and see swordes breke and clatre on the helmetes of stele.

Surdyte made way wher so euer he went, for as mony as he ouerraghte wer deid or distroyd. Fireague, oon of the Saresyns, had slayne Ser John, the kynges eldest son, of whiche was grete harme. The batell was ryght cruell.

Corbatan the kyng did ryght mervellously dedes of armes and sawe Ser Henry rychely arrayd, and how that he did mony fair dedes of armes. He toke in his honde a grete shorte sworde W, a spere grete & sparte (?). R, une espee grosse et court. and stroke hym at a travers, in suche wyse that he perched his goode harnes, and stroke hym into the body alfe a fote. Surdyte then dressed hym and made the Saresyns to flee befor hym with the grete strokes that he gave theym, and beheld his maistre fall to the grounde, and hurte in the body. It nedes not to aske whethre that he was ryght sory or not. And then he stroke on the ryght hond and on the lefte honde, so far furth that he, with the helpe of the kyng of Irlond, made a grete voyde place; and anoon he lyght doune and helped his maystre vpp, and asked hym howe he dyd. And he said, "Wele"—so that he wer revenged vppon hym that had gyven hym that. "And what is he?" said Surdyte. "It was Corbatan the kyng of the oste." "Ser, doute ye not," said Surdyte. "I wolle dye, bot if I son revenge you." Then was the kynges son sett vpon hors bak and putt furth of (the) prese.

And then Surdyte associate hym with C men or moo, and behelde the gonfanoune of the kyng Corbatan and went that way, and stroke on euery side thwarton and endway, and brake the prese and sawe the kyng, which did mervellously with his hondes and was rychely armyd and had a ryche croune of golde vpon his hede. Surdyte said vnto hym, "Ay, false Saresy, thou shall goo no ferther, which has hurtt my maistre." Then he come vnto hym and smote hym with all his myght, that he astouned hym and made hym to fall vpon the arson of his sadle; and then Surdyte smote hym agane vndre the lasys of his helmete so strongly that he smote of his helmete and his hede with all.

And then he toke the hede and bar itt to his maistre oute of the prese. And as sone as he sawe itt, he said, "Blessed be God, and I dye, I shal dye more ioyfully; and graunte marcy," R, grant merci. W, grammercy. said he, "to Surdyte." "Ser," sayd he, "thinke not to dye, for ye shall see within a while thes Saresyns dys∣comfeted, seyng that theyr kyng is deid."

And he said sothe; for as sone as they wyst that theyr kyng was deyd noon of theym stode at defence, bot were sory and abasched, and began to dyscomforth theym self. And Surdyte entred into the presse and began to doo fayr fetes of armes, and to reioyse his felleschipp, and to thrawe doune Saresyns; and faght so mervellously that all men knewe hym by the grete strokes that he gave. So they fled all afor hym, as doos the hayres afor the grehoundes, R, comme le lieure fait deuant les chiens. W, as shepe before the wolfe. and toke theym all to gedre as they that were oute of array, and fled by the contre as bestes.

And then ye myght see Englisch, Scottysch, and Iresch, men showte and crye strongly vpon theym, and sloo theym vpon euery side, so that the feld lay full of deyd bodys. The Saresyns wyst not whethir to flee, ne wher to hyde theym. Ther wer mony that fled to theyr shippes; bot Surdyte and the Englisch pursued theym son, that they myght flee noo ferther; and then they wer cast into the see. There was grete slaghtre.

And Surdyte come to a shipp and entred into itt, and spake Latyn, and asked where the shipp was that the kyng was in and his tresour. Then a Saresyn shewed hym the shipp and went oute with hym into itt, which was grete, fair, and large, and wele stuffed, that it was mervell to see. And ther wer sume in the shipp that wold a Undoubtedly a colloquialism for wold haue. defended theym; and Surdyte leid hond on his sworde and sloo all theym that was therin, save thre Saresyns that come in with hym—the whiche said they wold be cristened, by cause that Mahounde soffred so mony to dye. And they wer cristened; and Surdyte yeave theym myche goode. Then said oon of the Saresyns, "Ser, see ye on of yonde coffyrs and trunkes, that be full of gold and syluer—the which the kyng Corbatan had wonne of mony of the Cristen people in mony realmes, iles, and con∣trees—so myche that itt is mervell to see?" And the Cristen lordes toke vesselles and shippes, for ther wer the noumbre of ix C sales. They had mony grete wynnyngges, wherof they wer all ryche.

And Surdyte delyuerd his shipp to suche as he trusted best, and badd theym bryng itt to London; for he thoght ther to yeve to sawdeoures, to men of armes, and archers, for to goo into his contrey of Spayne, that the Saresyns keped in seruage. Notwithstondyng, he gave so grete gyftes that euery man mer∣velled for the grete largenes.

The nyght passed—it was on a tuysday—and on the wedyns∣day the[i] serched the feld to fynde the Crysten that were slayn. And ther they fonde the kynges twoo sonnes, the Erle of Wales, W adds, the baron of staunford. R, staffort. the Erle of Gloucestre, twoo barounes, R, trois autres barons. R, thre other barons. and aboute xl R, bien cinquante. W, XII. knyghtes, and ij^Ml comons. Sum wer led into theyr con∣trey and the remenaunt wer buryed in a white W omits. R, en une abbaye blanche. abbey.

The kyng, the quene, and all the contrey had grete ioy of the victorye that they had. And they said all that the good knyght Surdyte was the chief cause of all; for had not God and he ben, they had loste the feld. So he had the lavde and the prise.

Bot sorowe and wepyng was ther myche for the kynges twoo sonnes that wer deyd. The kyng, the quene, the ladys and lordes made grete chere and thonkyng to Surdyte, and seyd, by hym they had ouercomen their enemes. Surdyte weped when he sawe the kyng wepe for his maistre; bot the kyng toke hym to comforth and said, that in more mery ne in bettre seruice myght he not dye, then in the seruice of God and in defendyng of his contrey aganes the Saresyns.

Itt taryed not long bot that he assemelyd his councell. And ther was the kyng of Scottes, his brothre, the kyng of Cornewale, his nevewe, and all his lordes. And the kyng said, "Fair Seris, ye see the mervelles that be comen to this londe, and howe I haue lost my two sonnes. I be olde, and the quene is not yonge; so we must devyse who may haue this roialme aftre, and who sall gouerne itt in myn age." The kyng of Scottes stode vp, and said, "I haue wedded your sustre and ye haue wedded myn; so ye owe to holde me as your brothre. I wold councell you to yeve your dignite to Surdyte; for then ye shall be dovbted and dred, and your roialme worshipped and wele gouernyd." And then they answerd all with oon voice, that the consell was goode; and the kyng accorded therunto.

And the kyng of Scottes, desyryng to wytt the wyll of Surdyte, said vnto hym, "Surdyte, ye ought to thonke God, for ye be fair and welebeloued of all people; for the kyng and his lordes has chosen you to haue his doghtre, and to be kyng aftre hym—and in his live to gouerne his roialme." "Ser," said Surdyte, "God thonke the kyng and all theym that wolle me goode and suche worshipp. It is bot febly counselled, for it longes not to a kynges doghtre, and suche an heirytoure, to haue suche oon as I am, and of so lowe lyn∣nage; and Gode forbede, that as by me shuld be lowed the bloode riall." "What is itt that ye say?" said the kyng. "We be all comen of oon fadre and modre. And mor ouer, ther be so myche goode and worshipp in you that ye be worthie to haue a grettre." So they spake myche to gedre of this mater. Bot the kyng of Scottes myght neuer fynde in hym any wyll that he wold assent, for he made so fair excu∣sacions that it was meruell to her.

And when he sawe that he myght not bryng itt aboute, he retourned to the kyng and to the counsell, and said to theym the answer that he had, and how that he thonked the kyng and his counsell, and wysely and worshipfully excused hym. "Truly," said the kyng, "he is maried, or has be∣travthed sume lady, for may her that is hertt is sett on sume womman." "Truly," said they all, "we trowe he be maryed or travthe-plyght."

The kynges doghtre was ryght sory that she myght not haue [hym]. "Truly," said she, "I see wele that his hertt is sett in sume othre place, or elles he is wedded." She com∣plenyd myche in hir hertt and sorowed, for aboue all men lyvyng she loued hym the best.

Nowe leve we of Surdyte and of the courte, and retourne we to Sydone and to the kyng of Bretan.

When Ponthus had taken his leve of Sydone and taken his shipp to passe ouer the see, itt is noo question bot Sydone had grete sorowe day and nyght; bot she keped itt so secrete that noo man wyst therof bot Ellyous, the whiche com∣forthed hir gretly. Sydone said in hir lamentacion: "Allas! for my sake is goon the best and the fayrest of the world."

So itt happened that Guenelete had all his desire and was all maistre aboute the kyng. He was so flateryng and so fair spoken that he putt Herland oute of his office, and made (the) kyng his heuy lorde; R, le [Herlant] fist mal du roy. W, heuylorde. What is a heuylorde? Per∣haps 'a displeased, unresponsive, master." This would tally roughly with R. and he laboured so that he had the kyng and all the courte in gouernaunce.

Sydon was desyred of mony kynges and dukes. And among all othre, the kyng of Burgone hard say, and was reported to hym by the Erle of Mounte Belyard his cosyn, that Sydon was the fairest and the wysest that any man knewe. Then was the kyng of Burgon so amerous that he myght not endure, bot if he myght haue hir loue. He desyred to knowe by whome the kyng was gouernyd and in whome he traysted moste; and men told hym it was a knyght called Guenelete. And anoon he sent to hym grete gyftes, that he shuld labre to the kyng of Bretane for hym. And Guenelete was covetous and spake to the kyng and said, "Ser, lete marye your doghtre, while ye be in hele—and ye shall alie you with sume goode kyng, and then doo ye wysley. Loo her the kyng of Bur∣gone desires to haue hir! He is a worthie, and a ryche, kyng. Itt wer folye to refuse hym."

Guenelete said and did so myche, that the kyng spake to his doghtre, and sayd, "Fair doghtre, I be olde and feble and I haue noo child bot you, and ye be desyred of mony kynges and grete lordes. And I haue herd say 'He that reson refuses, reson wolle goo fro hym; and so he myschevys wyllfully;'—wherof God defende that in this case itt be so doon. Fair doghtre, the kyng of Burgone desires you, whiche is nevyewe to the kyng of Fraunce, and he is a myghtey, ryche kyng. Me semes he oghte not to be refused; and as for me, if it please you, I accorde therto." "My Lorde," said she, "as yitt is noo nede forto be maried." "Truly," said the kyng, "ye haue so ofte tymes chalanges, R, vous mauez tant calenge. W, ye haue so longe forborne. and I wot not wherfor; bot I shall (neuer) love MS. leve. R, ameray. W, I shall neuer loue you. The context shows clearly that the reading of W is the original. you, bot if ye agree you to hym."

She was gretly abasshed of hir fadre wordes, that wer so harde to here. Then said she, "My Lorde, ye wot wele that ther is noo thyng that ye commaunde me bot that I wolle doo itt. My swete Lorde, I wolle say to you in counsell that I haue a grevaunce and a dysease in me that I dare not tell you, bot itt wolle be Whyssonday or I be hole, and then I shall fullfyll your commaundement." "Wele," said the kyng, "itt suffices me and that terme I wolle yeve you."

And the same Wytsontyd was the ende of the vij yeres comen oute, that was promysed betwen Sydone and Ponthus.

The kyng held hym pleased, and told Guenelete the terme that she had taken. Guenelete said that itt was wele, and sent to the kyng of Burgone, and did so myche, that the day of the mariage was sett the tuysday aftre Whyssontyde.

Sydone was passyng sory and sent mony tymes to herkyn of Ponthus and myght here noo glad tithynges of hym, by cause that he had chaunged his name. She was in grete sorow day and nyght. And when the tyme approchied, she was gretly abasshed, and sent for Herland, and sayd, "My true frende, I mervell mych of my lorde my fadre, that he is so fonde of Guenelete—and in suche wyse that he has made hym doo mervellous dedes, as to putt you oute of your office; and also by his fals wyles he caused the best and the manliest knyght of Cristeantie to departe oute of the contrey,—that is Ponthus, whiche ye noryshed and taghte thre yeres, whiche ye loue so wele;—and mony vyolente MS. vyolence. R, villains fais. W, shamefull thynges. Vyolence myght be a corruption of R's reading, but probably the original was that of O, vaillans fais, which myght well have confused the translator, and have led to the rendering in our text. dedes he has caused my fadre to doo, as he that is so grete a flaterer, and as deceyveable as euer was man; and in like wyse he caused me to be gyven to the kyng of Burgone; agane my wyll—for itt is tolde me that he is evyll condiciouned, fatt, olde, scabbyd, and frentyke. Bot I may not refuse the commaundement of my fadre; and so I haue taken terme vnto the tuysday aftre Whissontyde. And I wote wele, and Ponthus knewe itt, he wold putt a remedy therin; and in trouthe ther be noo man in this worlde that I wolde haue dysclosed my counsell to bot to you."

"Ma dame," said Herland, "God defend that he cause you to haue any husbond ayeinst your wolle, or any that has so evyll taches and maners. I shall tell you Ma dame,—Oliver, my sonne, be oon of the kynghtes that Ponthus most louys; and he shall goo into Englond, Scottlond, and Irlonde, and all aboute, and if he live, he shall make hym to come to you." "Ay," said she, "In goode faithe, ye say wele." And anoon Herland spake to his son of this mater, whiche went with full goode wyll.

And Sydone and Herland charged Oliver with the message and gave hym money enughe for his dyspenses. And he passed the see and come to Hampton. And he enquered and fonde wele, that vij yere afor that tyme ther come a knyght into Englond—the fairest and the best named in worshipp, and he chaunged This lapse into the writer's point of view is only in D. R, Et se nommoit. W, but he named hym. But probably the scribe's eye caught chaunged from the passage below. his name and called hym Surdyte de Droyte Voye. Then Ser Oliver thoght that itt was Ponthus by the signes that he harde, and said to hym self that he chaunged his name for sume cause.

And he and his yomen went furthe, and as they come by a wodde, they mett with thevys; and by cause they knewe not his languege and sawe hym rychely arrayd, they ran vpon hym and toke frome hym all that he hade and hurted hym; and he escaped and went fro theym into the wodde to save his live. And ther he soffred hungre and pouertie, dysease—and almost naked. So he wayled and sorowed, for he founde noo comforth of his dysease; bot his tarryng and lettyng greved hym more then dide all his losse and disease. Bot as sone as he myght, he passed the forest and went sekyng his bred for the loue of Gode fro dore to dore, vnto the tyme that he come vnto the kynges courte, that same [day], at the aftre noon, that the kyng of Scottes spake vnto Surdyte for the mariage of Gener.

And then Surdyte was at the courte wher as he beheld the dysportes of yong gentylmen that dyssported theym in dyuers maners. Ser Oliver, the son of Herland, come into the courte almust naked and dysspoled, and as he loked aboute, he sawe Ponthus and knewe hym. Anoon then he come befor hym, knelyng doune, and said, "My Lord Ponthus, God yeve you good grace and long live and encrese you in the worshipp that ye be in." Ponthus, a litle abashed and alf asshamed, said to hym; "My frende to whome speke ye?" "Ser, said he, "I speke vnto you, for I knowe wele ye be the kynges son of Spayne, that has forgetyn the contree of Bretane. And if I be pouere and naked, I be the son of Herland—Oliver, which ye sum tyme loved wele; and I be comen to seke you."

And when Ponthus hard that he knewe hym wele, he did from hym his mantell and cast itt vpon hym and toke hym in his armes and kyssed hym, wepyng, and myght speke no worde to hym. And then he led hym into the chaumbre and lenyd bothe vpon a beddes syde. And when he myght speke, he said, "Ay, swete trusty frende and brothre, how doo they in that contrey, and who dysspoyled you thus?" And he said that he had mett with thevys. Grete wepyng was betwen theym twoo. And Ponthus did array hym newe with the beste arayment that he had; and when he was fully arrayd, he semed a full fair knyght to see. And then he told hym what p[er]elle he was in, among thevys, and howe he escaped and begged his brede fro dore to dore; and told also that Guenelete had all the covrte in revoll, and that þe Entered in a different hand above the line. kyng loued hym most of any man, and howe he had putt oute his fadre fro his office; and aftre told hym howe Sydone wold not assent to noo mariage, and of the grete dysease that she had soffred,—and att the farthrest, she myght not lenger abide vnmaried, bot to the tuysday aftre Whitsontyd, and that then she shuld be maryed to the kyng of Burgon, the which be full evyll condiciouned,—"bot Guenelete causes itt, for he has taken myche gold of hym. Sydone sendes to you prayng you to sett a remedye therin, for all the loue that be betweyn you twoo." And when Ponthus herd the grete loue and travthe of his lady, the teres fell doune from his eyne; and said, and God wold vouchesaue, that he wold (sett) a remedy therin. So they spake enughe to gedre of mony thynges.

And aftre, Ponthus sent for his grete shipp and lete bring furth therof parte of the riches the day before his weddyng. And then he sent a presente to Sydone of crounes, cronocles, Coronets. See the Oxford Dict. for cronicle and coronacle. W, sercles., chappeletes, gyrdles of perles and precius stones, gybsers of purpyll with perle, furres of sables, armyns, and of gray, and of othre i[e]welles that itt was mervell to see the riches that ther wer, for they wer prased to more value then x R, xx. W, thyrty. thovsand besantes of golde. The kyng said to his doghtre, "Ye be not maried to a prince disherite; bot God has sent you a goode, a fair, and a ryght noble lorde. So ye ought gretly to thonke hym of his grace." // And aftre, he gave to the kyng mony fair iewelles, precius stones, cuppys of gold; and to eueryche of theym that wer barounes and lordes of Bretan, a gyfte of golde, aftre theyr astate. And he was gretly prased for his grete larges.

The day of his weddyng the lordes of Englond, Scotland, and of Irlond wer noblely arrayd, and of Bretan also, which did hym worshipp. The feste was grete, and there was grete ioye of herodes and of mynstrelles withoute noumbre, and Ponthus gave theym grete gyftes. Ther was mony straunge metes and drynkes. Ponthus made a vowe which was mych spoken of, for he said thus, "Bycause the people of the courte shuld not say that the kyng had gyven his doghtre to a man withouten livelode, R, terre. W, londe. R adds,—Ie voue que iamais ne coucheray en son lit Iusques a ce que ie soye sires du royaume qui fu mon pere. W translates literally adding, & crowned or elles I shall dye therfore. To this omission, D sacrifices the significance of the vow. I make myn avowe to God, that I neuer kyssed hir requiryng vylleny, when I went oute of this con∣treye, ne I thoght neuer to doo othre wyse to hir, then I myght to myn awn modre." And he said that, because of the wordes that the kyng said to hym when he departed oute of Bretayne. When Sydone herd thes // wordes, she had grete ioye in hir hertt and loued hym myche bettre. So that was myche spoken of, for sume sayd that he was a trewe knyght, and sume said that he wold not abyde so long vnmaryed, bot that he hoped to haue sume solace of hir and she in like wyse of hym. Then said the kyng, "In goode faith, I be a verray coward to beleve so lyghtely a lesyng that I haue herd.

The feste was grete and the kyng wold not that they had noo iustys, for the aventure that the kyng of Burgonne was deid, lest any myschief myght happen, bot he made theym to daunce and to syng and mad mony newe dissportes // Att nyght Ponthus come into the chaumbre of Sydone and said to hir // "Ay my swete frende, my loue and my ioye, my hertt and all the sustenaunce of my live, I haue ben hasty to the vowe that I haue made, bot in goode (faithe), W, fayth. R, en bonne foy. I did itt for our worshipp, for the wordes that has ben said afor this tyme. ¶ "Bot in trouthe I soffre more disease then any man on live doos in like case, for the grete desire that I haue to be betwen your armes. Bot by the grace of God I shall be in shorte tyme, for itt be oon of the grettest desires that myn hertt (has)." W, hath. R, ait.

¶ "My swete lorde and loue, wytt ye wele that all your desir be myn, ne we ought to desir noo thyng bot that shuld turne to goode fame; so ye haue doone ryght wele—for evyll sayers." Thus spake they enughe to gedre and aftre they clipped and kyssed to gedre and conforted aythre othre. And thus the fest lasted xv days.

¶ And when all was doon, he mustred his people. And the Bretanes wer by estimacion iiij^Ml and v C men of armes; and of the Normanes xij C all redy—and wer payd for vj monethes. Itt was a fair sight to see theym all to gedre, with the men of Englond.

Ponthus toke leve of the kyng and of Sydon. And by grete flaterye Guenelete laboured so that he abode with the kyng and with Sydone as gouernour of theym; and Ponthus betoke hym a grete part of his tresour to kepe. So ther was wepyng enughe at the departyng of Ponthus and of Sydone and of hir gentyllwomen. Ponthus kyssed hir and betoke hir the moste parte of his tresoure to kepe.

And then he departed and went by londe and passed by Namptes and W, & came to sable danlon & to derbendelles. R, Et se rendit es salles de la tour dorbendelle. yelde hym to the havyn of the toure of Dor∣bendelle, W, & came to sable danlon & to derbendelles. R, Et se rendit es salles de la tour dorbendelle. wher as was a grete navye; for ther arrived Geffray de Lazynyen and Andrewe de La Toure, whiche had a grete fellishipp. And Ponthus receyved theym with grete ioye as for twoo of the best knyghtes, that he loued, and gave theym grete gyftes. And aftre arrived Guyllem de Roches and othre moo of dyuers contrees. Ponthus gave theym mony grete gyftes, so that they mervelled of his grete larges and said, "He is worthie to gouerne and to conquer all the worlde by his curtesie and fair gouernaunce." And of his largenes he made to deliuer shippes to the capteyns, aftre theyr people //and itt was not long to all wer shipped. And itt was a fair syght to see the sales to gedre, for itt semed a forest.

They had wynd att wyll and passed the Ile of Lyon. W, yle of doloron. Not in R. O, lisle dauleon. When they wer iiij W, a .vi. R, trois lieues. myles fro Colleyn, then Ponthus lete caste ancor and sayd to the captanes // "Itt behoues vs to entre into the contrey toward Colloigne I myle or twoo thens and lete withdrawe the navye, for I wold not they knewe our powar—for mony causes." So they ordaned that in the begynnyng of the day they departed. And so itt was doon. And they arrived aganes the farthre side of the toune and londed all by nyght and then withdrewe the vesselles agane far into the see, that they wer not perceyved. And they that wer londed putt theym in a valley beside a wode and hid theym in the most prevey wise that they couthe.

And then Ponthus leped on hors bak and come to the wod side to se wher he couth fynde any pouere man to enquer of the gouernaunce of the contrey. And att the last he come to a chapell ryght devoute. And a litle befor day the Erle of Destrue, which was vncle to Ponthus, and Patrices the knyght, whiche had saved Ponthus and the xiij children and had ben fauorable to the Cristen people and abode after the grace of God, when he wolde delyuer the contrey,—went on pylgremege to this chappell, by cause they wold not be aspyed of the Saresyns. Whils they wer ther in theyr prayers, so come Ponthus rydyng by the chappell, and lyght doune of his hors and entred into the chappell. And when he saw twoo men knelyng on their knees, he had grete ioy therof and trowed that they wer cristened. And when they had asspyed Ponthus, they wer a ferde and rose vp sodanly. And Ponthus asked, "Who be ye? Name your selfe hardely and tell me what lawe ye hold." Then they answerd and said, "With Godes mercy, we wolle not forsake our Creator, for we be cristened." Said his vncle, "And we pray you tell vs your name, for we like your fellishipp passyngly wele in our hertes." "In feith," said he, "my name be Ponthus, sonne vnto the kyng of Spayne, on whoes saule God haue mercy." And when his uncle herd that, he ranne and toke hym in his armys and said, "Ay Lorde God, I haue nowe my desire. Blessed be our Lorde Ihesu Crist, that I thurgh his grete grace may see you." And when Ponthus knewe that he was his vncle and sawe the goode chere that he made hym, then he had grete pitee and said, "By God Ser, ye reioyse me gretly in myn hert, and ye say me trouthe." And anoon it waxed lyght day, that he knewe hym wele; and then they caste wepyng eyen echon on othre.

The Erle said, "Ay swete frende, howe durste ye come thus, for if ye wer asspyed, ye be bot deid." "Fair uncle," said Ponthus, "I am not allone, bot I haue ryght neghe me xviij R, the same. W, .xxviii. thovsand armed men, as all the floure of Englond, of Scotland, of Irlond, and of Bretan, and of the contree aboute." And when he herd that, he kneled doune and thonked God, and said that the (countre) is all holle as itt was wonte to be before, bot that they be tributories to the kyng Brodas. And then he shewed hym the knyght Patrices, that had saued hym and his felowes in the shipp, and told hym that he had saued the contrey. Then Ponthus thonked hym hertely and led hym furth to see his people. And when he sawe theym, he had grete ioye.

"Ther be nomore to doo," said the knyght, "bot lete ordayne your battelles and putt theym ther as I shall tell you in oon partie." So they ordaned the batelles and putt thre R, iiij^m. W, foure th. thovsand men aside in a valey; and the remenaunt abode styll, excepte v hunderith which went with Patrices into a secrete place, into the tyme that the Saresyns wer issued oute of the toune;—and shuld Patrices and his people come to the toune as thogh they wer sent fro the kyng to kepe the toune.

And when the Erle of Destrue sawe his sonne Pollides, which was a fair knyght, he blessed hym and said, "This assemblye be made by our Lorde Ihesu Criste, which has gyven vs grace to fynde the ryght lorde of this contrey." And then he said, "Lordes, ordayne you in array, for I wolle goo to the kyng Brodas and tell hym that Cristen people be entred into the londe to pyll the contre. And then he wolle haste hym as faste as he canne, with fewe people and withouten ordenaunce, wherby he shall be more easly conquered. Ther for sendes a litle balanger to feche and make redy all the othre shippes, and when they be comen, putt fire in sume olde hous; and then he wolle trowe that your power be not so grete as it is, wherfor he wolle dysordeyn hym, withouten any ordenaunce makyng."

Then the Erle toke his leve and departed and come to the toune ryght erly. He come to the kyng as man affrayd; the kyng rose vp, and he saluyd hym by Mahounde; and then he said vnto the kyng, "Ser, the Cristen be comen to robbe and to pyll the contrey, and they be bot a leke from the toune." "Be they mony?" said the kyng. "Ser, I wote neuer," said he, "bot as far as I canne vndrestond, they be into a iij^xx Exactly the thre score of W. shippes." "Fye!" said he. "Be they noo moo? By Ma∣hounde, in evyll tyme be they comen, so I shall tell you; for I dremed this nyght that I become a grete, blak wolfe, and that sett vpon me a grete, whyte grehounde and a brachete, and the grehounde slewe me." "Ay Ser," said the Erle, "ye shuld not beleve in dremes." "Ye say sothe," said the kyng. "Goo and make to bloo trumpettes and doo crye that euery man arme hym. So we (shall) take the fals rebawdes and robbers on the see, whiche I shall make all to be slayne and to be drawn at MS. and. hors tales." "Ye say wele," said the Erle, whiche thoght that itt shuld not be so.

The Erle went furth and armed hym and made to crye that euery man shuld arme hym. So euery man armed hym and leped on hors bak. The kyng went oute armed ryght rycheley and went oute of the toune withouten makeng of any orde∣naunce,—bot who so myght goo, went. So there went furth moo then xij thovsand on hors bak beside fotemen, as archers and alblasterers.

Ponthus had ordaned his batelles and had sett in a valey iiij thovsand men of armes for to fall betwene theym and the toune. And Ser Patryke come with v hunderyth men into a secrete place to wynne the toune, and he abode tyll he sawe his tyme to departe.

The kyng smote his hors with the spurres on that partie wher as he sawe the smoke and loked to the see and sawe not past lx schippes, and said, "Nowe on theym! They be all shent. Theyr Ihesu Criste shall neuer helpe theym, bot they shall dye ane An imperfect d is changed to an e. evyll dethe." He abode not, to he was past the place where as the iiij thovsand wer. Then he beheld befor hym and sawe the grete batelles in ordenaunce. So he was amervelled of this dede and went to haue withdrawn hym and to haue sett his men in ordenaunce. And yitt he ordaned so that a grete partie was in ordenaunce, for he was a wyse knyght and a hardye in armes; and as he made an ordenaunce, he herd a grete crye betwen hym and the toune and sawe his men flee toward hym. Then he said, "There is noo fleyng. Rynne we vpon [theym] sharpely." So he smote his hors with the spurrys and assemelyd with the batelles. So he iusted with Geffray de Lazynyen, the whiche was not all redye, and they gave grete strokes. Bot the kyng toke Geffray at a trave[r]s and ouerthrewe hym. The kyng lad hond vppon his sworde and said, "Mahounde helpe!" And the furst that he smote he ouerthrewe hym, and did mervel∣lous dedes of armes.

The batell begane ryght hard and sharpe. Ponthus, that hade grete desire forto doo dedes of armes—in esspeciall on theym that held his roialme, he smote on the ryght syde and on the lefte syde and bett doune Saresyns and slewe all that euer he smote. The Saresyns held theym aboute their kyng, the which slewe and manhened mony of our men. Andrewe de La Tour sawe Geffray de Lazynyen on fote, that myght not lepe vp agane and was sore bressed and in grete perell; so he smote a Turke and ouerthrewe hym and toke his hors and, in despite of theym all, led hym to Geffray and said vnto hym, "Fair fellowe, lepe vp, for her be perilous abydyng on fote." Geffray lepe vp and thonked hym; and when they twoo were to gedre, they made grete slaghtre of Saresyns. And wele bestirred theym the Bretanes and the Herupoyse. Ther was grete cry.

The kyng did bloo a trumpett and gederyd his menye and gave stronge batell to our men. Ponthus loked vp and per∣ceyved the kyng, that had slayne his fadre, and howe that by hym mony men wer slayne, for he did grete dedes of armes with his bodye, and was ryght richely arrayd and bar a croune vpon his helme. Ponthus had ryght grete ioye that he had founde hym and went toward hym and gave hym a grete stroke, and the kyng smote hym agayne. So ther was stronge batell betwen theym, for the kyng was ryght strong and of grete hertt; bot Ponthus gave hym so mony strokes that he mad hym all astoned and to stowpe; and then he cutted the lases of his helmete, and then the kyng had bot litle strenght to endure. And Ponthus smote hym wele with all his strenght and smote ay to his neke vndre the helme, so that he fell doune deid. And when his men sawe itt, they wrong theyr hondes and wer all dyscomfeted.

And on that othre side the iiij thovsand men come behynd theym and keped theym in, soo that ther escaped noone, bot all went to the sworde. They wer all putt to dethe withouten any mercy.

Ser Patryke went oute of his enbushement and come furst with .l. armed men to gete the gate of the toune, and com∣maunded that the remenaunt shuld folowe aftre. So he come to the gate, and they knewe hym wele and asked hym, howe itt went with the kyng and his people. And he said, "Ryght evyll." evy is written upon an erasure. Then he entered and wanne the gate and keped itt to the remenaunt come to hym. Then he sett goode kepe at the gate and bad that noo man shuld entre, vnto Ponthus come. Then he went into the toune, sekyng houses MS. horses. R, hostelz. W, houses. for Saresyns, & thoo that he founde he putt theym to dethe. So Ser Patryke went crying into the toune, "A morte Saresyns!" and, "Live MS. love. R, viuent. W, lyue. cristened!" The Cristen men that wer in the toune, which wer in seruage and yelded truage, they made a crosse with theyr armes, and so they founde noo body that dide theym harme—no of noo thyng that longed to theym, for Ser Patryke had so ordaned. The toune was wonne, for all men of defence were goon to the batell b written over a p. wher as they wer slayne, moo then xxvij R, par extimacion xxvi^m. W, .xxv. thovsand.

When this discomfatur was doon, the Cristen people soghte the feldes, euery man to fynde his frende, his cosyn, and his maistre. So there were not mony sleyn of grete men of name. Of Bretane, ther was found deid of barounes and of knyghtes;—Geffray d'Auncenys and Bryan de Pounte, Roland de Cor∣quyan, Henry de Syen, Barnaby de Seynt MS. Syen. W, Bernarbe de saynt Gyle. R, bernard de saint gille. Gyles; Herupoys,—Huberd de Brice, Hamelyn de Mountelyes, and Eustace de Lay Poys; of Petons,—Andrewe de Lay Marche, John de Lay Garnache, and Huberd d'Argenten, and of knyghtes,—Amaulry de Lay Forest and Henry de Basoches; and of Mayn,—Hardenyr de Sylle and Oliver de Douncelles, and of knyghtes,—Graue de Crusses, William du Sages; of Nor∣mandes,— William Tesson, Guy Pamell and Piers de Villers and othre v knyghtes moo. And of Englond and Scotelond ther were fewe slayne, for they wer in the rereward; and they of the base marches bare the bronte, for they wer in the voward. Ponthus commaunded to take all the deid bodies of the Cristen and maked theym to be buryed in the chirche of Columpne and did ordeyn for theym all the seruice and worshipp that myght be doon, in so myche that euery man prased hym for his goode dedes. The Cristen people were serched and layd to gedre, the deid on that oon syde, the hurtt on that othre side.

When this was doon, Ponthus and his batelles did ryde vnto the toune. Ther was delyuered to euery lorde, aftre that he had of men, stretes and howses, and did fynde so myche riches and vytell that the pouerest had enughe. It was cryed that noo man shuld take noght fro the Cristen people of the toune, ne doo theym noo wrong—and noo more they dide.

Ponthus rode streght to the grete chirche and offred vpp his hors and his harnes and did (do) syng thre messes and thonked Gode, weppyng, of his grace that he had sent hym. Aftre that, the Erle his vncle and Ser Patryk come to hym and asked counsell what they shuld doo. And Ser Patryke said, "I counsell you befor all thynges, that vnto theym that has any castelles or tounes in kepyng, or fortresses, be lettres wreten and sent to theym, as it wer frome theyre kyng, that aftre the syght of the lettres, they come to this toune, bothe day and nyght, in all the haste that they myght. And sume shall be taken here and sume we take by enbushementes that we shall lay in certayn places. And so we shall haue the moste parte of theym, and so shall we euer haue the lesse to doo." This goode counsell was holden in suche maner that frome the tounes and castells all they come forward toward the toune of Columpne; and sume wer take in the toune and putt to dethe and the remenaunt distressed by enbushements, for they wer ouerthrawn in dyuers places. When the Cristen people herd of the dyscomfatur of the Saresyns, they rosse by tounes and by castelles and slewe of theym as mony as they couth fynde, and so long was the were led that all the londe was clensed of theym and deliueryd; for sume of theym dide yeld theym and were conuerted, and Ponthus gave theym goode enughe to lyve vpon; and the remenaunte that myght flee, fled, wherof sume were slayne by the Spaneyardes and by the reaume of Castell, and othre were perysshed in dyuers places myschevously.

¶ Wherfor the Sawdeyn of Babilone was ryght sorofull thus to haue loste his thre sonnes and his men. He was ryght angre with Mahounde and said before all men, as a man oute of his wytt, that the God Crucifyed had ouercomen hym and that he was of more vertue than Mahound, when he had not saved his sonnes and his men. And so there was grete com∣playnte for theym in Babilone and in Damasse.

So I turne agane to Ponthus and so here folowes aftre the polytyke rewle and demeane of Ponthus and of his gouer∣naunce.

POnthus made leches to be soght forto heall the people that was wonded and hurte in the batell, and hym self did visete theym ofte tymes and made to be broght to theym all thynges that theym (neded). He fested the lordes and all his fellisshipp and gave theym gyftes. And also he founde in a toure the grete tresoure of the kyng Brodas, the which was a grete thyng to tell. And when he had ouerryden the contrey and clensed itt of the mysbelevers, he founde myche people and the londe wele belabored, both of vynes and of corne. From all the contrees the people come rynnyng to see theyr ryghtwyse lorde, and as it had been to myracles. And they loued hym wele for his grete renoune and worthenes, his bountee and curtesie; for ther was noon so simple ne so pouere bot that he wold speke to theym and here theym mekely. He was right petuouse of the pouere people—he loued God and holy chirche.

And when he had doon this dede, he come to Columpne and made there a grete feste and was crouned by the hondes of oon holy bischop. And thedre come to hym the kyng of Aragone, his vncle, that was brothre to his modre, the which had grete ioye to see hym and of his victorye. And he tolde hym howe the kyng Brodas had wered vpon hym and howe ther was taken a trety betwen theym to a certan day—vnto the tyme that God wold sett a remedye,—"and thurgh his grace he has ryght wele purveyd of his pitee by you." Thus complened the kyng to his neviewe and yitt he told hym howe that he abode the comyng of the kyng of Fraunce and the kyng of Spayne, that shuld haue comen this somer,—"bot itt is no nede."

The feste was grete of the kynges coronacion and ther wer made mony straunge thynges. The grete lordes of the contre come and did theyr homage. And also the fair ladyes had grete ioye that they were comen oute of hell, and of seruage wher as they had levyd in sorowe and in hevynes; and nowe the[i] be broghte into ioye and into myrth and into Paradise, as theym semeth. They liked wele theyr kyng, in so myche that they hade grete ioye to luke vpon hym. And all maner of people thonkhed God deuoutely of theyr delyueraunce. Betwen the courses the ladyes did syng, Not in R. In W only,—There was songes and many mynstrelsyes. and ther were mony vowes to the pope, Not in R. In W only,—There was songes and many mynstrelsyes. the which were longe to tell. And the kyng did bryng and presente by xij fair ladies and xij olde knyghtes grete gyftes and iewelles—sume of fair coursyrs and sume of fair cuppys of gold and of sylver, of fair clothes of gold and of sylke, and of mony othre grete iewelles,—to the knyghtes and to the cheftanes, so that all men wer amervelled of his grete larges. He was a man ryght plesaunt and of grete curtesie and of goode condicions.

So ther fell a grete mervell of the custome that was that tyme vsed; for itt was so, that befor the kyng, shuld be serued xiij pouere men for the loue of God and his apostelles. So it befell that the Erle of Destrue, the kynges vncle, went visyttyng the tables, and as God wold he beheld the table of the pouere people and sawe a womman lukyng vpon the kyng. And as she beheld hym, the teres fell doune from hir eyn. The Erle luked wisely vpon hir and avised hir so wele, that by a token that she had in hir chyn he knewe wele that it was the quene, modre vnto Ponthus. And when he see hir in so pouere astate that hir gooune was all clovted and to-rent, he myght not kepe hym fro wepyng. So his hert swemyd W, symmed. R, Le cuer lui emfla de pitie. for pitee to see hir in so pouere degree, and when he myght speke, he thonked God and went behynde the kyng his neviewe and said vnto him, "Ser, her be a grete mervell." "Wherof?" said the kyng. "The best and the holyest ladye that I knowe, my ladie the quene, your modre, is her-in." "Wher be she?" said he. And he for grete payne myght not tell hym, for pitee; and when he myght speke, he told hym in councell and said, "Ser, see ye hir sitt yondre with the xiij pouerer at the furst ende of the table." And Ponthus beheld hir and he per∣ceyved hir chere; and anoon she putt hir hoode before hir eyen and weped; and the kyng had grete pitee in his hertt. Then said he vnto his vncle, "Make noo semeland, that noon espie itt; bot when we be vp fro the table, I shall into my warderopp, and bryng ye hyr prively to me." And so itt was doone.

When the tables wer taken vp and grace yolden to God, the kyng departed priuely and went into his warderopp, and the Erle his vncle broght thedre his modre priuely. And when Ponthus sawe hir, he kneled doune befor hir and toke of his croune and sett itt on hir hede, and sche toke hym vp all wepyng and kyssed hym and halsed hym, and sore they weped, she and hir sonne and the Erle. And when they myght speke, Ponthus said vnto hir, "Ay Madame, so myche pouertee and dysease as ye haue soffred and endured!" "Ay my swete knyght and sonne," said she, "I am comen oute of the paynes of hell, and God has given me grete Paradyse, when itt has plessyd hym to yeve me so long live that I may see you with myn eyn R omits everything from here to the end of the paragraph except the single sentence,—Car les aduersitez qui sont venues en ce royaume est une ven∣gence de dieu. H and O agree with D and W. and that I see vengeaunce for the dethe of my lorde your fadre, which the tyranes putt to dethe, and also that I see the contree voyded oute of the mysbeleve and the holy lawe of Ihesu Christe to be serued. And I wote wele that this sorowe and trouble has endured this xiij H, xiiij. yeres, as by a chastesyng of God (for) the grete delites and lustes that were vsed in this reaume. So me semes nowe that God has mercy of his people, that he has keped you and sent you to deliuere the contrey of the mysbeleve." Ryght wele spake the quene and wisely, as an olde W, holy. H, saincte. lady as she was.

"Nowe I pray you," said the kyng, "tell me howe ye escaped and howe ye were saved." "My fair sonne, I shall tell you. When the crye was in the mornyng in the toune, and your fadre slayne, I was in my bed; and he armed hym with nomore then with an hawberke and his helme and ran furth withoute any more abydyng, as the hardest knyght that was, as men said. When he was departed and when I herde the crye, I was sore aferd and toke oon of my wommens gounes and went my way with my lavender; and I fonde of aventure the posterne gate open, that sume people had opened, and so I went oute and went into the wod fast by the laundes, wher as dwelled an holy hermyte, the (whiche) MS. roche. R, qui. had a chappell and a well and a lugge at the wod syde; so I abode ther. And my chaumberlane, W, chamberer. R, chamberie. which was wele aged, come euery day to feche almus att the kynges hous, and therby we lived, the hermyte, she, and I. And so ye may see that God has saved me." "In goode faith," said the kyng hir son, "ye led an holye live." And so sche did for she wered the hayre and went gyrd with a corde, and fasted myche, and was a full holy lady.

The kyng had grete ioy and grete pitee of his modre. Then he sent for hys tailyour and did shape for hir gyrtelles, gounes, and mantelles—bot W, bothe. blewe and purpyll—and made theym to be furred with armyn and sables. Not in W and R. And when she was so arrayd, hir semed a full fair lady. Not in W and R. And when they come to soper, they broght in the quene rychely arrayd. And when the kyng of Arragonne, hir brother, sawe hir, he toke hir in his armes and kyssed hir, for he wened she had ben deid. The lordes and the ladys of Galice had grete ioye of the quene and did hir myche worshipp, for they held hir for a goode and an olde W, holy. And did ... ladye is lacking in R. ladye and were all amervelled fro whens she come, for they went all that she had been dede. Hir brothre the kyng of Aragon was sett at soper at the table ende, and aftre the quene, and then hir sonne Ponthus, for the day of his coronacion he must kepe his astate. The quene was of goodly porte and semed wele to be a grete ladye. She was ryght humble and had ryght grete ioye of the worshipp and goodnes that she sawe in hir son. Then she said to hir son, "Fair son, I haue grete desire to see our doghtre your wyf, for the grete goodenes that I haue herd of hir." "Ma dame," said he, "ye shall see hir hastely, if it be pleasyng to God." That day passed with grete ioye and dissportes of ladis and daunsyng and synghyng, and of othre maner of plays.

That nyght Ponthus dremed that a bere had dovoured his lady Sydone, and that she cryed and said, "Ay Ponthus my swete lorde, for the loue of God, soffre me not thus to dye." Thus a vision W, This auysyon. R, ceste aduision, is probably the original reading. fell to hym twys or thryse; and so he was sore affrayd therwith and had grete mervell in his hertt what itt betokened. Att morowe in the sprynhyng of the day he called vp his men and sent for his vncle and for Ser Patryk. So they come to hym and he told theym his avysions and said, "Myn hert telles me that my wyfe has sume sekenes, or is in grete trowble. She be so, that I wolle no lengre abyde here; bot I wolle go to see as faste as I canne for to see hir." When they sawe his wyll, they ne durst ganesay hym.

Then said the kyng, "Fair Lordes, I thonke God and you, this contrey be clensed of the mysbelevers and I thynke that by you twoo the contrey has ben saved and the people keped fro the dethe,—by your goode revoles. It was Godes wyll. So I bethinke me of Moyses and Aaron that God sett to save the people of Israel. So ye shall haue grete merite and the guerdone of God; and as for me, I be ryght myche beholden to you. Wherfor, fair vncle, I make you my lyeu-tenaunt, and Ser Patryk shall be senysshall and constable of this reaume; for it be goode reason that ye, that has doone so myche goode and saved the contre, haue the revoll and the gouernaunce therof. And ye, Ser Patryke my dere frend, ye saued me; so I shall yeve you londe and goode, so largely that ye shall not lese your true seruice." Ser Patryk kneled doune and thonked hym. thonked hym is repeated in the MS. Then he comaunded theym that the state of his modre wer keped, and that she shuld haue hir awn commandemente, as it wer to his awn propre persone; and also that they shuld sustene as wele the pouere as the ryche and that the ryche shuld not ouerlede W, ouerlay. the pouere. And then he comaunded theym to repare the chirches of glasen wyndowes and of all othre thynges,—wher as they were broken, to make theym vp agane,—"and I shall take you x R, xx. thovsand besauntes of golde therto. He ordaned ryght wele for his reaume all that neded.

And then he went and herd thre messes and sent his dynner to shipp, and toke his leve of his modre the quene and said vnto hir, heryng all men, "Madame I leve you the reaume and the tresour that I haue, all in your demeyn and gouern∣aunce. I haue commaunded and commaundes all men to obeye you as they wold doo to myn awn persone; and, for the better, I leve you myn vncle and Ser Patryk my goode knyght, the which I haue made constable and senysshall of my reaume, and myn vncle my lyeu-tenaunt." So he toke leve wepyng. And she prayd hym to come agane in shorte tyme, for she wold fayne se his wyfe. And he toke his leue of the lordes and ladys of the contrey and went to the schippes.

Euery man arrayd hym and dressed hym to the see. The kyng Ponthus come to the barounes and told what avision MS. a vision. was there befallen to hym; wherfor he myght neuer be at hertes ease, to he had sen the quene his wyfe. So he toke the see and saled so long to he see the costes of Bretan.

And here I leve of the kyng Ponthus and retournes agane to the kyng of Bretan and to his doghtre Sydone—howe itt befell theym of the tresone that Guenelete wroght when Pon∣thus was in Galyce.

Gvenelete was made keper of the kyng of Bretane and of his doghtre Sydone, for Ponthus had yeven hym all the gouernaunce as ye haue herd before, wherfor he had grete ioye. Neuerthe les he myght not kepe ne chastie hym selfe from tresone. So he bethoghte hym that he wold haue Sydone to his wyfe by sume maner of way, and that he wold be lorde and kyng of that contrey avthre by fair maner or by fowle, and that he wold put hym in aventure. So the devyll temped hym so myche that he did stuff the citees and the castelles, and sent for souldeours and yeve theym syluer in honde forto haue the loue of men of armys. W, So is syluer of an euyll vertue for. R makes it still more general:—Si est largent de male vertue. Car pour lauoir len si met a lauenture de mort. So thurgh his syluer of evyll vertue W, So is syluer of an euyll vertue for. R makes it still more general:—Si est largent de male vertue. Car pour lauoir len si met a lauenture de mort. the goode men putt theym self in perell of dethe. And when he had stuffed all the fortresses (he) MS. and. did make a fals seale of Ponthus armys and made twoo fals lettres, oon to the kyng and an othre to his doghtre Sydone, the which specified that Ponthus recomaunded hym to the kyng, and that all his men wer dyscomfeted and sleyn and hym selfe hurt to the dethe, withouten any remedye. So he prayd hym that for his welfare and for the welfare of his, that he wold yeve his doghtre to Guenelete, and that bettre he myght not besett hir. And forto make the mariege he yeave hym all his tresoure that he broght oute of Englond. Thes lettres wer ryght wele devysed. And in the lettre of Sydone was, how he prayd hir and required hir, for all the loue that euer was betwen theym, to take his cosyn Guenelete.

And when the kyng and his doghtre sawe thes lettres, it is not to aske of the grete sorowe and hevynes that they made. Sydone swoned often tymes and weped and whisshed aftre hym, the whiche myght not be oute of hir mynde. She drewe and rent hir MS. his. fare r apparently altered from a c. here and made so grete sorowe that itt was grete petee to see. So the ladys and the courte wer in grete hevynes for hym and said, "Allas! What damege! What pitee! The flour of knyghthode, the flour of all gentyllnes, the myrrour of all goode maners be dystroyd." The toune, the burgeses, and all the comon people weped and soroed for theyr frendes and theyr kynesmen, for they trowed that they had ben all deyd.

Ther myght noo man comforth Sydone. "Allas!" sayd she. "He was that man in whome all bountee and trewth dwelled, and by (whome) I After I, trowed cancelled by the rubricator. W, thought. thoght to haue had all my ioye, and the which was so free and so trewe and loued me so wele and was so likly to haue holden the people in reste and peace. How has God soffred suche aventure agane hym and agane me? Allas sorofull wreche! What shall I doo?" So ther was noon so hard a hert that it wold haue had pitee of hir; and this sorowe endured more then viij days withoute cessyng.

And Guenelete come and said to the kyng, howe Ponthus required hym to gyve hym his doghtre. So he flatered hym full fair and said that he shuld serue hym and hir and wor∣shipp theym and kepe the reaume, and that Ponthus had gyven hym golde and syluer more then the reaume was worth. So he offred Si lui offre et dit, the exact original of D's reading. W, offred it. to hym and said, "Ser, I pray you goo and speke with your doghtre, that she wold consente therto." The kyng was aged, so he wyst not what to say. And Guen∣elete did so myche by his subtile wytt that he made the kyng to consente. The kyng was aged and come to his doghtre and comforthed [hir] the fairest wyse that he myght, and said to hir that dyscomforthe did bot greve to hir withoute any helpe to hym, or to his reaume, and sith that Ponthus required it, that she shuld haue Guenelete, for the loue of hym and for the grete tresour that he had gyven hym; and also that he shuld obey vnto hym and kepe his reaume for to revle it,— "for if (I) gyve you to any kyng, he wolle lede you in-to his awn contrey, and so shall we then abyde withouten gouer∣naunce or gouernour." When Sydone herd hir fadre thus speke, she had grete mervell and said, that, God be pleassed, he shal not be hir husbonde and that (she) shuld rathre be barren. W, rather dye. R, dist ... quelle seroit auant beguyne. D appears to have mis-read, baraigne. And the kyng, that loued hir so myche (sayd), sith it liked hir not, she shuld not haue hym; bot bad hir be of goode comforth.

So he come to Guenelete and said vnto hym, that his doghtre wold haue noo husbond at this tyme. "Howe!" said Guenelete, "Refuses she me? It shall not be all at hir wyll." So he come to hir and made myche of hir and gave hir fair languege,—howe t[hat] MS. the. W, that he. he MS. the. W, that he. thynkes to serve hir and to obey hir, and she to be lady of all, and that noght shuld be doon in the reaume bot by hir commaundement; and howe he has the grete tresoure of hir said lorde, that was wonne vpon the Saresyns, the whiche was yeven hym by hys lettres. Myche he made of hir and flatered hir, bot all avayled hym not; for she sware to hym that she shuld not be wedded of all that yere, for noon that spake with tunge. "Howe!" said he, "If your fadre commaunde you, wolle ye disobey hym?" "My lorde my fadre may commaunde me, what so euer that it pleasse hym," said she, "bot forto dye, I shall abyde all this yer. Aftre, say I not bot I wolle obey hym." "Yea?" sayd Guenelete, "Make ye refuse of me? And ye wolle not obey to the lettres of your forsaid lorde—the whiche ye desired and loued so myche, and that ther was no thyng bot that ye wold doo itt for hym—and sith ye lyst not (to) obey to his prayer and his lettre, and also ye list not to obey to the com∣maundement of your fader,—by the faythe that I owe vnto hym, bot if ye take othre counsell, I doute ye wolle be angreed." So he threte hir, when by fairnes he se that he myght not haue hir. And then he says, sith that he has the lettre of hir forsayd lorde and the concentyng of hir fadre, that he wold haue hir, whethre she wold or noo. "Yea," said she, "be I in that partie?" "Yea," sayd he, "by my faithe, ye shall see what may befall." "Rathre," said she, "I shall haue euery lyme of me hewen frome othre." "Yea," said he "it shall be seen all in tyme." So he departed as a wodeman, for he wened not to fale of hir.

Sydone was all abasshed, and thoght in hir hert that it was not the furst treson and falsnes that he had doone. So she thoght wele that the lettres were fals, for othre tymes had he doon After doon, that cancelled by the rubricator. to vndrestond that Ponthus was deid. So she called thre W, two. R, deux. squyers and twoo W, .iii. R, deux chamberlans. yomen into hir chaumbre, that she had, and called Ellyous and othre twoo gentylwomen, and said vnto theym, that she dovted hir of Guenelete and shewed theym how he was hote of loue, wenyng to haue hir by fair maner or by fowle maner,—"for he be malicius and per∣aventure wold wyrke by strenght. So I haue purposed that we shall goo into yonde toure, and doo ber thedre vitell, and ther shall we abyde, vnto the tyme that we haue sume rescouse of our frendes, or of sume of the barounes, or elles haue herd the trouthe of my lorde Ponthus." They said that she had wele said. And so it was doon. They dide bere brede and wyne in botelles, in barelles, and in pottes, flesche and cheses, and all thyng that theym neded, as long as they had laser; and then they schitt the dore, and with barres of yrne, and bare vp rokkes and stones for to defende it, for Guenelete had thoght to haue taken hir agane hir wyll and to haue doon hir outerage, if she wold not haue concented.

So he come into hir chaumbre and when he fonde hir not, he serched the warderoppes, wher as he did fynd a gentyll∣woman, the whiche tolde hym that she was withdrawn into the toure, and how she had vitelled it and stuffed it; and when he herd that, he luked as a wodeman and come before the toure and prayd hir full fayre to open hym the dore, and swore by his feith that he wold not mysdoo hir. But Sydone, whiche knewe wele his vntrouthe, said he shuld not come in by that meane. He thret hir sore and swore that he shuld take hir by force & make hir his wench, if she wold not take with to be his wyfe, and bad hir chese whethre she wold doo. "Ay," said she, whiche was ryght angre to here the vngudely wordes, "Traitour thou shal not come therto, and God wolle, for thowe shall dye an evyll dethe for this fals entreprise." Then he waxed angree and sayd, sith that he had doone so myche, he wold fenyshe itt, what so euer befell.

So he toke the kyng and put hym in prisone, for fere that he shuld gedre men of armes aganes hym; and then he come to the burges and said vnto theym, howe Sydone was yeven hym of hir husbonde by goode lettres, and also the kyng hir fadre was accorded therto by cause that she wold haue ben weddyd to a man of noght, which wolde haue hated and dystroyed the contree; "bot," said he, "if that I haue hir, I shal kepe your fraunches and your libertees and I shall kepe you as the gold doos the stone. So I haue sett the kyng in a chaumbre, for he be all doyted and has noo wytt, and he wold lyghtly concente to the lewde counsell W, courage. R, fol couraige. of his doghtre; wherby the contree myght be loste, if it befall as they thynke. Bot I shall (kepe) theym wele therfro, with Goddes helpe and youres, and to saue the wele-fair of Bretane." So he gave largely to theym, and putted to theym mony doutes, that myght noye hym, MS. theym. W, that he supposed myght noye hym/translating R, qui lui pouuaient nuyre. I.e., "might hinder him" (Guen.). and he did itt in suche wyse, wenyng to theym that he had sayd trouthe, wherfore they durst not ryse ne meve. And also he had mony straunge souldeoures.

When he had spoken to the burges and to the people, he come to the toure and assaled itt. So ther was within bot v men a[nd] four wommen, that threwe doune grete stones and defended wele the toure. And also there was the most partie of theym that did bot feyne, for the[i] wold not that she were taken. The sawte lasted a grete while and Guenelete had fayled of his entente; so he was ryght sorofull and angree and thoght at the lest he wold famyshe theym. "In goode faith," said Sydone, "we haue vytell enughe for a monethe day, and in the meane tyme God may helpe vs and sende vs rescouse." When Guenelete vndrestode hir, he went to haue ronne wode for angre; for he was half dystrakked by cause he had fayled of his purpose, and wold and wysshed that he had not begonne; bot sith he had vndretaken itt, he thoght that he wold fynysshe it, or elles dye therfore. So he sett goode warde and watche aboute the toure, that ther shuld come no vytell to theym.

And then he bethoght hym of a grete malice, for he come to the kyng and prayd hym to goo to his doghtre, for he knewe wele that he myght turne hir of hir folye that she has taken on honde; and tolde hym that he wold not famyshe hir, bot fall into a tretee. The kyng, that was goode and true and thoght noon harme, went vp to his doghtre and told hir howe she was in a way to be deid and shewed hir mony ensaumples. And she answeryd hym to the contrarye, and howe she thoght wele the lettres was (false);—"and ye wote wele," said she, "that othre tymes he has sayd that he was deid. So I shal rathre dye, bot if I knowe the verray treuthe." "In goode faith," said the kyng, "it may wele be as ye say; for I knowe noo man of knowlege that has ben ther, and harde is the werre, wher as noon escapes." So they be sumwhat comforthed, for the grete vntreuthe that they knewe on hym.

Guenelete asked the kyng, that he sawe aboue at the wyn∣dowe, "Ser, what wolle she doo?" "So helpe me God," said the kyng, "I may not spede, for she be yitt all sorowfull and angree for hir lorde, wherfor I may haue no goode answer." "No!" said Guenelete, "by the faith that I owe to God, ye shall abyde with hir and ber her fellishipp, forto ete pesen and ploumes; for ye shall bot W, bothe. R, tous deux. twoo dye for hungre, bot if I may haue hir fellysshipp." So the kyng abode with his doghtre, wherfor she had the titter pitee for the hungre and the dysease of hir fadre. They had mete enughe iiij days or v. bot the vj^t day theyr vitelles fayled so that they had navthre bred nor flesch. So the[i] wer twoo days that they navthre ete ne dranke save a litle chese, and iche of theym a draghte of wyn. The kyng began forto feble, for Sydone had noo more mete bot vj apyls, of the whiche she gave euery day twoo to hir fadre. She weped and sorowed for the grete disease that hir fadre was in, and that did hir more sorowe than hir awn peyn did. She loked often tymes oute at a wyndowe toward the citee and the see, if she myght se any thyng. So she wyshed ofte tymes aftre Ponthus and then she weped and made myche sorowe, desyryng hir awn dethe, and said to the kyng, "Ay my lorde, it had ben bettre for you that I had ben deid long agoo, then ye to soffre suche payne and so myche hungre for me." The kyng weped and sayd, "I had leuer dye for hungre then to se yonde traitour gete you by this meane." Sydone called hym,—"Fals traitour and vntrewe, howe may thou soffre the kyng to dye, that is so trewe W, good. R, bon. a man? Allas!" said she, "Be thys the nurture that he has made of the, when thou has beseged hym and makes hym to dye for hungre and thurst, that oftentymes has gyven the goode mete and drynke? Be this the guerdon that thou yeldes hym?" She said hym myche shame, bot all avaled not; for he made his othe that he shuld make hym to dye for verray hungre, if she wold not concent to be his wyfe.

The kyng was almost deid for hungre and lay in his bed and myght not styrre. And when Sydon behelde hym she said that she wer leuer to dye, or to sorowe all hir live then to see hir fadre dye for hir. Then she said to hym wepyng, "My ryght swete lorde and fadre, I may noo lengre soffre your sorowe ne the hungre that ye abyde. Me is leuer to dye, or to be in sorowe all my live days, then to se you in this case." The kyng weped and wyst not what to say; forto see that he shuld haue hys doghtre by this way, it greved hym sore, and on that othre side, to see hym selfe and hir to dye to gedre, itt did hym grete harme, for she shuld be cause of hir awn dethe. So he sorowed sore and said that he had to long lived. So he couthe not councell hym self and said vnto hir, "Fair doghtre, I wote not how we may doo. I ne wote what counsell I may yeve you—so myche sorowe I haue, bot to see you dye, I may not see it; and I wold that the dethe toke me, so that Ponthus wer in this toune on live on the strong parte, for he wold venge hym wele on the trai∣tour that wold have you agane your wyll." And the squyers and the gentyllwomen, the whiche were at the dethe and wode for hungre,—it was noo mervell, for it was iiij days past or more sith they ete any maner of mete, and they said, "Ma dame, ye shal be cause of your awn dethe and of the kynges your fadre and of vs. It wer bettre to take the vnhappy ure MS. Vrethen. W, vnhappy man. R, cellui homme. then to doo worse."

When she sawe that she must nedes doo it, for to save hir fadre more then for hir awn deth, which she sett bot easy by, then she rose vp and went to the wyndowe and did call Guenelete; and then she come agane and sent hir fadre and badd hym speke to Guenelete, and if he myght fynde noo tretee that he shuld accorde with hym, so that he myght haue viij days or more respite to recouer vs of the hungre that (he) has sett vs in. The kyng rose vpp and said to Guenelete that by strenght he shuld neuer haue the loue of hir; and if he wold leve his entreprise, he shuld yeve hym tounes, or castelles, or what thyng he wold haue. And he answerd agane and said, that he wold not take all the reaume, bot that he wold haue hir, sith that hir (lorde) had yeven hir to hym. Then said the kyng, "Her be bot litle reason. I dovte that ye shall not reiose hir long." All avaled not that the kyng said, for he was more in his cursydnes then he was afore, and said, (not) for to dye, he wold leve his entreprise, what so euer befell. The kyng asked hym a monethe respete, and at the monethe ende he shuld yeve hym an answer. And Guene∣lete wold ryght not doo; bot the kyng did so myche that he had iiij days resspete, and aftre the iiij days he shuld wedde hir; and that (she) concented therto.

This W, And thus. was the matier sworne and agreed. And yit said Guenelete, that she shuld not departe oute of the tour vnto the day come of hys weddyng. He had grete ioye and did bere hir euery day of the best metes that he couth fynd. And then he helde the kyng wele avysed. W, auysed. The reading appears to be a misunderstanding of R's bien aise. Aftre the iiij^te day the feste and the array was grete, and Guenelete floo for ioye to haue so fair a ladye, that he loued so wele. The kyng went and broght hir doune, and she come all for-weped W, bewepte. and was so heuy that she had lever haue died then lived, and wyssed in hir hert aftre Ponthus and said, allas in evyll tyme was she borne,—"for a simple chaunge nowe haue I made." So she was led to the chirche, and the byschop did wed theym. The teres fell often tymes and thyk frome hir eyn.

The mete was ordaned and ther was dyuers mynstrelleses, of trumpes, taboretes, and fydelles. Ryght mery was Guene∣lete, bot I dovbte it was aganes his mysaventure, as it pleased God,—for euery man shal be rewarded aftre his seruice. That day was the fest ryght grete.

So leve we here of theym and turne agane to Ponthus, howe he come on fro Galice to the mariege of Guenelete and of Sydone.

POnthus was in the shipp and had taken the see and had taken his leve at his modre and at his vncle and of all the barounes of his contrey, and had all ordaned as ye haue herd afore. He did drawe vp the sales and had wynd at wyll and sailed so long that they arrived in the Ile of Ree fast by the Rochell. Ther they toke leve of hym, the Pety∣vynes, the Aungevynes, the Manseoues, the Toryngeaus. So Ponthus toke his leve of theym and thonked theym myche and gave theym grete gyftes; and then he toke the see agane, he and the othre navye of Englond and of Bretan; and the wynde fell all calme and Ponthus toke twoo litle ballengers and thre scoore fellowes with hym, and began to rowe.

Sydone had dremed that hir lorde come; wherfore she had sent oute oon of hir squyers to the see syde, to see if any thyng come,—which lepe vpon a coursoure. So he beheld twoo ballengers and sawe in theym a standard. So he sup∣posed that it was of the armys of Galice; wherfor he toke his hoode and made a signe of callyng. Ponthus beheld and said, "See yondre a rydar, that makes vs a signe of callyng. Itt semes vs that he has grete haste, or elles he mokkes vs. Haste you that we wer with hym." And when the squyer knewe Ponthus, he cryed to hym and said, "Ser, haste you, for Godes loue." "What?" said Ponthus, "Be ther any thyng amys?" Then the squyer told hym howe Guenelete had serued hym fro poynte to poynte. And then Ponthus blissed hym and was all amervelled, that euer he thoght to doo suche treasone.

"Nowe," said the squyer, "they wolle anoon be at the sopper, so it shal be harde to come in." "I shall telle you," sayd Ponthus, "howe we shall doo: we shall dysgyse vs at yonde vyllege and we shall goo in daunsyng with tyboures and with pypers, W, with pypes and tabours. and we shall ber presentes, sayng that we be fellowes that has grete ioye of the mariage; and by that meane we shall come in with the daunses." "In goode faith," said the squyer, "it be wele sayd." And so itt was doon.

And Ponthus dysgysed hym W, Kynge Ponthus and his felowes dysguysed theym. in the gounes of the goode men of the subarbes; and then they went daunsyng to the courte. So it was neghe the sonne gooyng doune, and men lete theym entre into the hall, wele dysgysed. Sume had stree hattes and sume of grene bowes and sume had hoodes stuffed with hay, sume were haltyng and sume were croke bakked,—euery man made aftre his awne gyse. Guenelete made ioye and sayd, "Ye may wele see howe the comon people has grete ioye of our weddyng; ther be fair dysportes that they make vs." Bot he knewe not of the bushement, wherby he was sone angred.

When Ponthus and his felleshipp had daunsed twys or thrys aboute the hall and had beholden the hyghe dese, and sawe Guenelete that made grete ioye and grete feste of the daunses and getted W, wayted. R, deuisoit. at the table, Ponthus come thedreward and kast away his disgysyng, so that euery man knewe hym; and then he said to Guenelete, "Ay thou fals tratour and vntrewe, howe durst thou thynke so grete a treson aganes me and the kyng and his doghtre, the whiche has norysshed the and doone the so myche goode? A simple guerdone has thou yelded theym agane therfore. Bot nowe thou sall haue thy payment." Guenelete behelde hym, the whiche was full ferd and wyst neuer what to answer, for he knewe wele that he was bot a deid man. And then Ponthus drewe a litle swerd, ryght scharpe, and smote hym, so that he clave the hede and the body to the navyll, and aftre he cutted of his hede, the which was in peces in signe of a tratoure, and made hym to be draun oute and commaunded that he shuld be borne to the gallowes.

When the kyng and his doghtre sawe Ponthus, the[i] lepte from the table and come rynnyng, theyr armys open, and halsed hym and kyssed hym. Sydone weped for ioye and kyssed his mouthe and his eyn and she myght not dysseuer from hym. Bot Ponthus had so grete pitee for the dysease that they had soffred, that the teres fell frome his eyn, so sore his hert was. And when theyr herttes wer sumwhat lyght∣ened, the kyng said, "Fair son, it has bot litle failed that ye shuld haue lost the syght of your wyfe and of me." Then he told hym of the grete treson, of the fals lettres, and of the hungre he made theym to soffre. Ponthus blessed hym and was all abasshed and sayd W, sayd that neuer erst was borne suche. R, car oncques mais ne nasqui si faulx homme. that neuer sith Crist [was] borne, W, sayd that neuer erst was borne suche. R, car oncques mais ne nasqui si faulx homme. was suche a tratour livyng, that thoght so fals a tresoune. "I bethynke me," said he, "of Ihesu Crist that had xij apostelles, of the which oon sold hym. And so we come hidre xiiij R, xiiij. W, .xiii. fellowes, as it plessyd to God, wherof oon was wors then Iudas; bot thonked be God, he be wele payd for his reward." "Ay," said the kyng, "and ye had bene lengre absente, ye had bene more mokked." "God wold it not," said Ponthus.

"Nowe leve we this talkyng," said the kyng, "for the matier be wele fynysshed to my plesur; so lete vs leve of our disporte After disporte, a superfluous and tell vs is cancelled by the rubricator. and tell ye vs of your dedes,—howe ye haue sped." "Ryght wele, I thonke God," said Ponthus. Then he told theym of the batell and of the dyscomfetoure of the Saresyns, and howe the contrey was clensed and wele laboured. And then ther wer sum that told all the manere and the revle, howe he was coroned. They had all grete ioye to her of the fair aventures that God sent hym. Then they did bryng hym doune to soper and aftre songen and daunced and had ioye in theyr herte. Sydone was merye and glade, and it nedes not to aske, howe that she in hir herte thonked God mekely to be escaped frome so grete a perell. That nyght they wer wele eased, for both their hertes wer W, had ben. in dystresse. They talked of mony thynges and they had enughe of ioy and of dissportes to gedre, for they loved wele to gedre. They loved God and holy chirche and they wer ryght charitable and piteous of the pouere people.

That nyght the sowdeoures of Guenelete fled a way,—whoso myght goo, went. All othre people thonked God of the commyng of Ponthus, and they went (on) pylgremege and with processyon, yeldyng graces to God, for euery man wenyd that he had ben deid. On the morowe aftre arryved the navye of Englond, of Bretan, and of Normandye. And when they herd the tresoune of Guenelete, they had grete mervell, howe that euer he durste thynke suche falshode.

The kyng of Bretan receyved theym with grete ioye; and the kyng Ponthus withheld with hym the Erle of Gloucestre, and wele a twenty knyghtes, and said that within xv days he wold goo into Englond to see the kyng and the quene and theyr MS. ther'. W, her. R, leur. doghtre Gener; and said to the Erle of Richemound, "Recommaunde MS. recommaumde. me to theym, I pray you; and if my lady Gener be not wedded, I shall bryng hir an husbond, if it pleasse the kyng and hir." So he tolde hym in his ere that it was his cosyn german Pollides, the which be right a goodely knyght and of goode condiciones and likly to come to In the MS. to follows worshipp. I follow the order of W. grete worshipp. "In goode faithe," said the Erle, "ye say trouthe; and the kyng wolle be full glade of hym, as I suppose, and haue hym in grete chertey, for the love that (he) has to you. So he convehed hym as far as he myght and aftre toke his leve of theym. And so they departed and come into theyr awn contrey with grete ioye.

The Erle of Richemound come into the courte and founde the quene and the kyng of Scotes, that was comen to see theyme. The kyng asked hym of the tithynges. And he told hym, fro the begynnyng to the endyng, of all the aven∣tures: and howe the contrey was deliuered of the Saresyns, and howe the contree and the people had ben saved by the Erle of Desture and Ser Patryk, in suche wyse that it was wele laboured and peopled of men by the truage that they yelded, wherby they lived in peace. And then he told hym of the treson of Guenelete, and aftre he told theym of the grete yeftes, of the grete gentylnes, and the goode chere that kyng Ponthus made theym, and howe gretly he was beloued of all men. And when he hade all tolde, he toke in councell the kyng, the quene, and theyr doghtre Gener, and the kyng of Scotes, and tolde theym howe Ponthus wold come thedre within xv days, and withheld with hym the Erle of Glou∣cestre, and howe he had spoken to hym of a mariege of his cosyn german and of Geneuer. The kyng asked what maner knyght he was; and he answerd that he was the goodliest knyght that he knewe, save Ponthus,—"and I tell you," said he, "that he resembled W, resembleth. R, ressemble. myche to Ponthus, of persone and of condiciouns, save he be sumwhat lesse." "Be my feith," sayd the kyng, "I accorde me therto, so that it please my doghtre." And she kneled doune and said, what it pleased hym to commaunde hir, she shuld doo it. The quene and the kyng of Scottes agreed theym to the mariege, and the kyng of Scottes said, "Ser, it nedes not to marye your doghtre to a kyng, or to a lorde, that wold not dwell in the reaume; for a kyng, or a grete lorde, peraventure, wold not dwell in this contree, and that wer not goode for the people ne for the contrey; and witt ye wele, that als longe as the kyng Ponthus levys ther shall noo man be so hardy, to assayl, or to greve, this lond." Then said the kyng that he said sothe. Geneuer, that so myche loved Ponthus, said in hir hert, that the knyght pleased hir more then any othre, and she enquered of hym full farre W, frome ferre. of the Erle and of the knyghtes, that had ben at the werre and had seen hym; and the more that she enquires, the bettre she fyndes and the more she loves hym. Now has she noo desire so grete as to see hym and she prayd to God that he myght come soon. So leve we to speke of theym and turne agane to the kyng Ponthus.

On the morowe aftre Ponthus toke his leve of the kyng and of Sydone and of the ladys of Bretan, and toke the see and led with hym xij of the barounes of Bretan and the iiij knyghtes before said. So they passed ouer; for the Erle of Gloucestre parted before theym a day iourney, for to tell the kyng of Englond that the kyng Ponthus come for to see hym.

The kyng vndrestode wele by the Erle of Rychemond that he come; so he was garnysshed and stuffed of all thynges that hym neded forto receyve hym worshipfully. With hym was the kyng of Scottes, his brothre, and the kyng of Ire∣londe and the kyng of Cornewayle, his neviewe, and the erles and the barounes of his reaume. So they had grete ioye of his comyng. The kyng prayd theym all to doo hym all the worschypp and chere that myght be doon,—"for," said he, "ye wote wele howe by hym this reaume was releved both of negheboures and Saresyns." They said all that they shuld doo theyr power. The kynge lepte on hors bak and thos othre knyghtes and rode agane kyng Ponthus wele a myle, with all maner of mynstrellcy. They receyved hym with grete ioye and worshipp. The cher that they made hym be not to tell of, for itt was ryght grete.

The kyng Ponthus was right rychely arrayd with perles and precius stones, and he had vpon his hede a cercle of stones and of perles. They wer twenty knyghtes with Pol∣lides, and the vj W and R have the correct reading, .xvi. that I spake of afore and iiij hundreth of Galyce. Thes twenty knyghte[s] wer cled in singulatones furred with W, with veer, following R. wyld ware all in oon suyte. They wer wele and richely arrayd of gyrdells of gold and of gyspers, fair and ryche, the which apered vndre their ryche mantylls. They wer myche luked vpon, and their ordenaunce was holden riche, both fair and goode. With grete ioye intred the kyng Ponthus into London and ther he founde the quene and hir doghtre and hir ladyes in the courte abydyng hym.

So when he sawe the quene, he lyght a farrom and went rynnyng toward hir, and she kyssed hym and halsed hym, and he was receyved with grete ioye and worship. The quene asked hym howe he had doon sith he departed from thens; and he said, "Ryght wele." Geneuer the kynges doghtre had alwey hir eye to see Pollides, the which she had grete desire for to see. So she knewe hym by the tokens and the liknes of his cosyn Ponthus, and she se hym so gracius and so plesaunt that she liked hym aboue all othre. And yit, to be in more certan, she asked the Erle of Gloucestre of hym; and he shewed by a signe whiche was he. Then she said in hir hert, that she had not faled to chese hym and that hir hertt told hir wele that it was he. They went to mete, and ther wer mony straunge seruices and notablely serued; for the barounes serued by the kynges commaundement. Aftre mete they ete and dranke and toke spices. And Geneuer had grete desire that they shuld speke of hir matier; so she said to hir vncle the kyng of Scottes, laghyng, "I wote not what shall be of the speche that the Erle of Richemound broght." And the kyng smyled and said, "Ye haue seen hym. What say ye by hym? Plesys itt you of hym?" She waxe rede. "I shall doo as my Lorde my fadre and ye wolle." So he sawe wele that she liked hym and come to the kyng and said vnto hym, it was goode to wytt of the matier of his nece.

Then said the kyng of Englond, "Ye say trouthe. With∣drawe you into yonde chaumbre." And the kyng withdrewe hym, and sent for the kyng of Irlond and for the kyng of Cornewale and for the lordes and barounes of his reaume. And when they wer comen, he tolde theym howe the Erle of Rychmond had spoken vnto hym fro the kyng Ponthus of the mariege of his doghtre and of Pollides; and he said vnto theym, "Fair Lordes, ye knowe wele that I be aged, so it behoues that our doghtre be maried to a man that wer likly to kepe you in reste and in peace. If ye take a grete lorde, a kyng, or a prince, peraventur he wolle make his dwellyng in his awn contrey, and so shuld ye be withouten gouernour; and if any wrong be doon to any of you, or to this reame, or to any of our pouere After pouere, me cancelled. comones, they shuld be fane to goo oute of the contrey to seke ryght of his request. Therfore, as me semes, it wer bettre to haue a yonge knyght of high kynrede, that wolle abide and dwell with you, and that wold thynk hymself to (be) beholden to haue worsshipp by hys wyfe; and in so myche he shuld be the more enclined to obey you and the reaume. So I wolle tell you all the matier that has ben spoken vnto me." Then he declared theym howe the kyng Ponthus had spoken to the Erle of Richemound of his doghtre and of Pollides, the whiche men holden for a goode knyght and wele condicioned. So ther was myche talkyng both of oon and of othre, that longe were to tell; bot the ende was that all was accorded, and said, that they myght noo bettre doo for the welfare of the reaume and forto be obeyd and oute of trouble, and that as long as his cosyn Ponthus levys, ther shuld noo man be soo hardy to meve any werre aganes theym.

And when the kyng sawe that they concented, he said to the kyng of Scottes and to the Erle of Richmound, the which were worshipfull knyghtes, "Goo ye," said he, "to the kyng Ponthus and doo hym to wytt of all thes maters and say hym that for his love we wolle haue his cosyn." Thes twoo departed and called the kyng Ponthus aside and tolde hym ryght graciusly howe the kyng and his lordes wer concented for the love After love, a superfluous and worship stands cancelled. and worshipp of hym vnto the mariege that he had spoken of to the Erle of Richemound. Ponthus thonked the kyng and the barounes full mekely and said that they did hym myche worship, for the which God graunte hym grace forto deserve it. And so long went and come the kyng of Scottes to he assembled theym in the kynges R, c. du roy. W, quenes. chaumbre and ther come the Archbysshop of Caunterbury, the whych fyanced theym.

It be not to aske if Geneuer had ryght grete ioye in hir hert, all thoghe she made ther bot simple chere outeward. Sche loued hym and praysed hym myche the more for his gudelenes and the gude name that men gave hym and also for the love of his cosyn Ponthus, the which she loued myche afor tyme. And also Pollides thonked God devoutly in his hert for the grete worship that he had sent hym in this world, and to haue so fair a lady and of so goodely behavyng. So the day of the weddyng was sett the viij^t day aftre. Grete was the feste and grete wer the iustes, the which begane the morowe aftre the day of the mariege; for the kyng Ponthus said that he wold not accorde that ther shuld be any dedes of armes doon the day of the mariege, and that he said was by cause the kyng of Burgon deid the day of his mariege. Forto say of all the goode iustes W, well Iusters. it wer to long to tell, bot ouer all Ponthus iusted wele, for he was withoute W omits. any pitee or W omits. pere. Right wele iusted Pollides and the kyng of Irlond, the Lorde de Lasigne, the Lorde de La Toure, the Lorde Maunford of Bretan—thes had all the voice of the wele iusters. It were long to tell all, so I lete it passe lyghtly; for it were a grete thyng to tell of the grete feste, of the ordenaunce, and of the seruices, and of the price that was yeven, and of all the dys∣sportes. The feste endured fro the monday vnto the fryday.

Aftre mete the kyng Ponthus toke his leve of the kyng and of the quene, bot with grete payne they gave hym leve. Geneuer convehed hym wele two myle, and they had myche goode talkyng to gedre, and she said vnto hym howe she loved hir lorde Pollides myche the more, by cause that she had loved hym covertly before, and that she prased hym the more, by cause that he had keped truly his furst love. Pon∣thus smyled and said that ther was noo wyle bot that wommen knewe and thoght. So they spake enughe of dyuers thynges; and then he made hir to turne agane, with grete payne, and said vnto hir, "My lady and my love, I be your knyght and shall be as long as I live; so ye commaunde me what it pleasse you, and I shall fulfyll it at my power." And then he said befor Pollides, "My fair lady and my love, I wolle that my cosyn here love you and obey you, and that he haue noo plesaunce MS. plesaunt. W, pleasaunce. to noon so myche as to you. And if ther be any favte, doo me to wytt and I shall correcte hym." "Ser" said she, "he shall doo as a goode man owe to doo." "God graunt it," said he. So he toke his leve and departed.

Then the kyng of Scottes, the kyng of Irlond, and the kyng of Cornewale wold haue convehed theym,—that is to say, Ponthus and his felisship, vnto the porte, bot Ponthus wold not soffre theym. Bot ther was hevynes and curtesie at theyr departyng. And aftre they toke theyr leve at hym and turned agane to the kynges hovs. And the kyng Ponthus come to the porte and called to hym his cosyn Pollydes aside and said vnto hym, "Thonked be God, ye owe grete guerdon vnto God, for ye be in the way to by ryght a grete kyng and myghty of armys and of havir and of notablenes, and grete lordes your subiectes; so ye owe to thonke God highly, and therfor it behoves you to have foure W's reading. MS. thre. Ponthus' homily is actually divided under four heads. thynges, if ye wolle reiose all in peace and to live peacyble:—

"The furst, it behoves that ye be a verray true man,—that is to wyte, love God ouer all thyng, with all your hert, and drede to disobey hym; if ye love hym, ye shall faire the bettre and he shall helpe you and sustene you in all your nedes. Love and worship holy chirche and all the commaundementes therof truly kepe. This be the furst seruice that men shuld yeld to Allmyghty God.

"The secunde be, that ye shuld bere worshipp and seruice to theym that ye be comen of, and to theym of whome ye haue and may haue worship and riches,—that is to say, love to serue your fadre and your wyfe, wherof myche worship shall befall you. Be to hym a verray ryght sonne; kepe you that ye angre theym not; soffre and endure what languege and wordes that shal be said vnto you, or of whate tales shall be reported vnto you,—sum to please you and some to flater you, or elles for malice coverte of suche men as wold not the peace betwen you and theym; for fair cosyn, he that wolle soffre of his bettre and of his grettre, he ouercomes hym. It is a grete grace of God and of the worlde, a man W omits a man and has towarde hymselfe immediately following worlde and modifying grace—probably the true reading. toward hym self W omits a man and has towarde hymselfe immediately following worlde and modifying grace—probably the true reading. to haue sofferaunce, for dyuers resones, the which shuld be long to tell.

"The third resone is forto be meke and amyable, large and free, aftre your power, to youre The e of youre shows a tag apparently for a second, unfinished e. barounes and to your knyghtes and squyers, of whome ye shall haue nede; and if ye may not shewe theym largesse and fredome of your goodes, at the lest, be to theym curtes and debonere, both to the grete and to the litle. The grete shall love, the litle shall prase you ouer all of your goode cher; and so W, so he shall auayll you a ryght heralde. R, Et vous vauldra ung droit herault. it shal gretly avale you,—so myche ye shall be prased ouer all. And also it is to vndrestonde that ye shuld be curtes and gentle vnto your wyf afor any othre, for dyuers resons; for by worshipp and by curtesie W, courteys. beryng vnto hir, ye shall hold the love of hir bonde vnto you; and forto be dyuers and roode vnto hir, she myght happenly chaunge, and the love of hir, so shuld ye wors reioys; and peraventure she then myght gyve it to an othre, wher as she myght take suche plesaunce, MS. plesaunt. wherof ye myght be right sorye,—and that ye shuld not withdrawe it when ye wold. And so ther be grete perell and grete maistre W, maystry. to kepe the love of mariege. And also be war that ye kepe selvyn true vnto hir, for it be said in Gospell that ye shuld chaunge hir for noon othre. And if ye doo thus as I say, God shall encrese you in all goode welthe and worship. If ye see hir angree, apese hir by fairnes, and when she comes agane to hir selfe, she shall loue you myche the more; for ther be noo curtesie doon to a good hert bot that it is yolden agane; and when an hert be fell and angre and men wrath it more, it imagyns thynges wherof mony harmes may fall.

"The fourte reson be, that ye shuld be petuous of the pouere, the which that shall require right of the ryche, or of the myghty, that wold greve theym; for therto be ye sett and ordaned—and all othre that has grete lordeshipes,—for ye come into the worlde as pouere as they dide, and as pouere shall ye be at the day of your dethe; and ye shall haue noo more of the erthe, save oonly your lenghte, as the pouere shall have, and ye shall be lefte in the erthe allone, as the pouere shall be. And ther (fore) shall ye haue noo lordeship, bot forto holde ryghtwysnes, withoute blemyssyng, or doute of any grete maistre, MS. maistrie. W, mayster. or repreve, nethir letyng for the love ne for the hate, for thus commaundes God. Euery friday in esspeciall her the clamour of the pouer people, of wommen and of wydoys. Putt not their right in resspete ne in dilacion, ne beleve not allway your officers of euery thyng that they shall tell you; enquer befor the truthe, for sum of theym wolle doo it to purchese damege to the pouere, for hate, and sume for covetyse, to haue their goodes, when they see that they may not doo so with theym as they wold. So, if they come with fals reporte, it is a perilous thyng for a grete lorde to be lyght of beleve."

He taght and After and, swe cancelled. shewed mony goode ensaumples. And Pol∣lides thonked hym and said vnto hym, "Ser, I knowe wele ye loue, and of your goodnes ye haue purchesed, me the wor∣ship and the welfare that I haue; therfor I pray you, by the way of charitee, that we may euery yere mete and comon W, se vs. to gedre; for that shall be my comforth, all my sustenaunce and ioye." "I graunte therto," said Ponthus. And aftre, when they had spoken and talked of mony thynges, they toke theyr leve echon of othre and halsed and kyssed to gedre; and navthre of theym had powar to speke oon worde, for mervel∣lously they loved to gedre.

When the kyng Ponthus had his hert sumwhat clered, R, le cuer luy esclaircist. that he myght speke, he toke his leve of the lordes of Eng∣lond and offred hym self myche vnto theym. And Pollides turned agane vnto the kynges hous, wher as men made hym right grete ioye.

Pollides helde wele the goode doctrine of his cosyn Ponthus, for he serued and obeyd the kyng and the quene, and made hym selfe to be loved both of the ryche and of the pouere by his larges and curtesie. Ryght wele he loued God and holy chirche and was pituous and charitable vnto the pouere people. The kyng and the quene loued hym as their awn childe, and aboute vij yeres aftre, the kyng died; and then was Pollides crowned kyng peaseablely, and ryght goode (loue) was betwen hym and his wyf and the olde quene, and so he reigned in peace and in goode ryste.

So leve we her of hym and turne agane to Ponthus.