IN the begynnyng of all werkes / men oughten first of alle to calle the name of the creatour of aƚƚ Creatures, whiche is very & trew maister of alle thinges made & to be made, that oughten somwhat to entende to perfection of wele. Therfore att the begynnynge of this present historye / though that I ne be not worthy for to requyre hym / beseche ryght deuoutly his right highe & worthy mageste / that this present history he wyl helpe me to bring̘ vnto a good ende / & to fuldoo it att hys glorye & praysyng̘. And to the plaisire of my right high, mighti, and doubtid lord Iohan, sone to the kyng of Fraunce, Duc of Berry & of Auuergne. The whiche hystory I haue bygonne after the veray & true Cronykles, whiche I haue had of hym and of the Erle of Salesbury in England, & many other bokes that I haue sought & ouerredde for to accomplysshe hit. And bycause that his noble sustir Marye, doughtir to the kyng̘ Iohanne of Fraunce, duchesse of Bar, had requy-red my said lord for to haue the said historye / the whiche in fauour of her hath doon as moche to his power as he might, to serche the very trouth & true historye / and hath commanded me for to do drawe alle alonge thystory whiche heraftir foloweth /. And I as of herte dyligent / of my pouere witt & connyng, [do] as nygh as I can the pure trouth of hys gracyous commandement. Wherfore I humbly & deuoutly beseche & pray to my Creatour, that my said lord wil take it in gree / and also all them that schall rede or here it / that they wil pardonne me yf I haue said eny thinges that ben not to theire good gree. Whiche this present hystorye I byganne the Wensday, saynt Clementis day in Wynter, the yere of our lord Ml. ccc. lxxx. vij. beseching alle them that shaƚƚ rede, or here it redde, that they wil pardonne me my fawte, yf their be eny. ffor certaynly I haue composed it the moost justly that I coude or haue mowe, aftir the Cronykles whiche I suppose certaynly to be trew.

DAuid the prophete saith, that the Iuggements and the punysshinges of god ben as abysmes without bottom & without ryuage. And he is not wyse that suche thinges supposeth to comprehende in his wit / & weneth that the meruaylles that ben thrugh the vniuersal world, may nat be true, as it is said of the thinges that men calle ffayrees / and as it is of many other thinges wherof we may not haue the knowleche of alle them. Now thenne the Creature ought nat therfore for to traueille, by outrageous presumyng to knowe & to comprehende in his wit & vnderstanding the Iugements of god / but men oughten / thinkynge / to be meruaylled of hym / and meruaylling / to considere / how they may worthily & deuoutly prayse and glorify hym that Iugith so, and ordeynith suche thinges after hys plaisure & wille without eny gaynseying̘./

The creature of god that is raisonable, oughte moche besily to vnderstande aftir the sayeng of Aristote, that the þynges which he hath made & creatid here bynethe, by the presence þat they haue in themself, certyfyen to be suche as they are / As saynct paule seyth in thepistle that he made to the Rommains / sayeng in this manere / that the thinges that he hath doon, shalbe knowen & seen by the Creatures of the world / that is to wete, by the men than can rede & adiousten feyth to þactoures whiche haue ben byfore vs / as to wete & knowe the landes, the prouinces & the straunge Countrees. and to haue ouerseen & vysyted the dyuerse Royaumes / haue founde so many of dyuerse meruaylles aftir common exstimacion, that thumayn vnderstanding is constrayned of god / that soo as he is without ryuage & without bottom / soo are the thinges meruayllous & wounderfull in many dyuerse landes. aftir their dyuerse nature / that saaf theire Iuggement. I suppose that neuer no man / but only Adam. hadd parfytt knowlege of the thinges Inuysible or that may not be seen. Wherfore I me bethink fro day to day to proufytte in science, & to here & see many thinges / which men suposen not to be true. the whicℏ, yf they be trew / I putte them fourth into his termes byfore you / to thende that the grette meruaylles that ben conteyned in this present hystory may be byleued. Wherfore I think to treate to the playsure of god / and after the commandement of my said right mighty and noble lord./

LAte vs now leve the Auctoures with peas / and retourne we to that we haue herde say and telle of our auncyent and old̛ tyme / and that this day we haue herd̛ sey what in the land̛ of Poitow was seen in dede / for to couloure our hystory to be trew / as we hold̛ hit soo / and for to shew & publysshe it thrugh the true Cronykles / as we suppose to doo /.

We haue thenne herd̛ say and telle of our auncyents, that in many partes of the sayd̛ lande of Poytow haue ben shewed vnto many oon right famylerly many manyeres of thinges / the whiche somme called Gobelyns / the other ffayrees, and the other 'bonnes dames' or good ladyes / and they goo by nyght tyme and entre within the houses without opnyng or brekyng of ony doore / and take & bere somtyme with them the children out of theire cradelles. and somtyme they tourne them out of theyre wit / and somtyme they brenne & roste them before þe fyre / and whan they departe fro them, they leue hem as hoole as they were byfore / and somme gyue grette happe & ffortune in this world. And yet haue I herd̛ say of oon Geruayse, a man worshipfuƚƚ & of credence, that somme other fauntasyes appyeren by nyght tyme vnto many oon in dyuerse places, in lyknes of wymen with old̛ face, of low and lytil stature or body / whiche dide scoure pannes & potts, and dide suche thinges as a mayde or seruaunt oughte to doo / lyberaly & without dooyng of ony harme. And also he saith for certayn, that in his tyme he hadd̛ a frend̛ that was auncyent & old̛, whiche recounted for trouth / that in hys dayes he hadd̛ seen many tymes suche thinges. and saith yet the said̛ Geruayse, that the sayd fayrees toke somtyme the fourme & the fygure of fayre & yonge wymen / of whiche many men haue hadd̛ som doughtirs, and haue take to theire wyues by meanes of som couenauntes or promysses that they made them to swere vnto them / the som / that they shuld̛ neuer see eche other / on the satirday / and that by no maner wyse they shuld̛ nat enquyre where they were bycomme / the other / that yf they had eny children / that theire husbandes shuld neuer see them in theyr child̛ bedd̛ / And as long̘ as they kept theyre covenauntes they had good fortune and were euer in prosperyte / but assoone as they faylled of theyr promysses or couenauntes they fell doun frofor theyr good happ & fortune / and aftir these thinges so happed to haue broken theyr couenauntes / the other were conuerted & tourned into serpentes. And yet more sayth the said Geruayse, that he byleueth this to be permytted & doon for som mysdedes that were doon ayenst the playsure of god / wherfore he punysshed them so secretly & so wounderly wherof none hath parfytte knowlege / but alonely he / and they may be therefore called the secrets of god, abysmes without ryuage and without bottom / For none knoweth nothing perfyttly to the regarde of hym / how be it that sometyme of his prouysion ben many thinges knowen / not only of oon / but of many other. It is seen often whan a man hath yssued out of hys countree / and hath seen many awounder & meruayllous thynges whiche he neuer wold haue byleued hit by here sayeng̘, without he had hadd the sight of hit / but as for me that haue nat walked ferre, I haue seen somme thinges that many oon shuld nat byleue without they sawe it. With this seyth the said Geruayse, & setteth fourth an ensaumple of a knyght, named Sir Robert du Chastel Roussel of the prouince of Asy / the whiche knight by auenture on an euen founde oon of the fayree in a medowe / and wold haue had her to his wyf / and in dede she assentid to hit / by suche couenaunce that neuer he shuld see her naked / and were longe togider / and the knight grew & wexed prosperous fro day to day. It happed long tyme after that / that he wold haue seen the said Nymphe naked / as he dede / in so moche that the said nymphe putte her heed in to a watre and was tourned in to a serpent, whiche was neuer seen after that / And the knyght fro day to day wexed pouere and declyned from his prosperyte. As for prouerbes & exemples I wil none bryng̘ more vnto you / and that / that I haue doon / it was bycause þat I suppose to treate how the noble ffortresse or Castell of Lusygnen was bylded & made of a woman of the fayree, and the manyere how / after the juste & true cronykle / without to applye ne adiouste to it nonething / but that it be approuued Iuste & trew, and of the propre or owne matere / And ye shall here me spek & say of the noble lynee whiche yssued of the said woman / that shall regne for euer vnto thend of the world / aftir that it appiereth that it hath euer regned vnto this tyme present. But bycause that I byganne first to treate of the fayree / I shall telle you how & of whens cam the said woman whiche bilded the noble ffortress of Lusygnen, beforsayd./

Herafter folowen the names of the estates of the children whiche yssued of Melusyne, and were bygoten of Raymondyn in wedlok. And first yssued kyng Uryan, whiche regned in Cypre. Aftir hym cam King Guyon, which regned myghtily in Armenye. Item, King̘ Regnald, whiche regned right mightily in Behaygne. Item, Anthony that was duc of Lucembourgh. Item, Raymond that was Erle of fforest. Item, Geffray with the grette toth, that was lord of Lusygnen. Item, there yssued also theodoryk, which was lord of Partenay. Item, ffroymonde, that was monke into thabbey of Mailleses, the whiche Geffray with the grette toth brent the said Abbey, & thabbot also with an hundred religyous or monkes./

It is true that there was somtyme in Albany a kynge that was moche worthy & valyaunt / And as sayth thystory / he had of hys wyf many children/ & that Mathas whiche was fader to fflorymond was hys first sone / and this kinge had to name Elynas, and was right worthy & mighty knight of his land./ And it happed that after the decess of his first wyf / as he chaced in a fforest nighe to the see, in the which forest was a moche fayre fontaynne / that sodaynly he had so grett athurst / that as constreynedhonstreyned he tourned & yede toward the said fontaynne. And whan he approuched to the said fontayne / he herde a voyce that song̘ so melodyously & so swetly / that he suposed none other / but it had the voyce of an Angel / but soone aftir he knewe that hit was the voyce of a woman. Thenne descendid he & alyghted fro hys hors to thende he shulde not make gret affray / and walked fayre & softly toward the fontayn in the most couered wyse that he coude. And whan he camme nygh to the fontayne / he sawe there the fayrest lady that euer he the dayes of hys lyf had seen to his aduys or semynge. Thenne he stode styl al abasshed of the grett beaulte that he perceyued in the same ladye, whicℏ euer songe so melodyously and so swetly. And thus he stood styl / asmoche for the bewte of the lady / as for to here her swette & playsaunt voyce / and hyd hym in the best wyse that he coude vnder the leevis of the trees / to thende that the said lady shuld not perceyue hym / & forgate all the chasse and grett thurst that he had afore. And byganne to think on the songe & on the beaulte of the lady. In so moche that he was as rauysshed & knew nat yf it was daylight or nyght, ne yf he slept or wakked̛./

Thus as ye shall now here was kynge helynas so abused / aswel of the right swete songe / as of the bewte of the said lady that he ne wyst whether he slept or waked, For euer styl she songe so melodyously that it was a swete & melodyous thing to here / Thenne the kynge Elynas was so rauysshed & abused that he remembred of nothinge worldly / but alonely that he herd̛ & sawe the said lady, and abode there long tyme. Thanne camme rannyng toward him two of hys houndis whiche made to hym grett feste, and he lept & mevyd hym as a man wakynge from slep / and thenne he remembred of the chasse, and had of new so grett athurst / that without hauyng aduys ne mesure he yede fourth vpon the ryuage of the fountaynne, and toke the basyn which heng̘ therby & drank of the watre. And thenne he beheld the said lady whiche had lefte her songe & salued her right humbly / beryng vnto her the gretest honour & reuerence that he might. Thanne she that coude & wyst moche of wele & of honour, rendred to hym his salutacion right gracyously, 'Lady,' said Elynas, the kinge / 'of your curtoysye be nat you dyspleased yf I requyre of you to knowe of your estate / of your beyng & what ye are / For the cause that moueth me therto is suche / as now I shall reherse to you. Right dere lady vouche ye saaf to wete & knowe that I can & know so moche of the beyng of this countree, that there nys within this foure or fyue myle neyther Castel ne ffortres, but þat I knowe / except that same fro whens I departed this day by the mornyng̘, whiche is two myle hens or theraboute. Nor there nys neyther lord ne lady within this Countrey but that I knowe them wel, and therfore gretly I meruaylle & wounderly am abasshed, fro whens may be suche a fayr and so gent a lady as ye be / so exempt & vnpurveyed of felawship. and for godis loue pardonne me / For grette outrage is to me to demande of you therof / but the grette desire & good wylle that my herte bereth toward your gracyous personne, hath caused hardynes within me for to doo it.'/

'Sire Knight,' said the lady / 'there is none outrage / but it commeth to you of grette curtoysye & honour. And knowe you, sire knight, that I shall nat be longe alone whan it shal playse me / but from me I haue sent my seruaunts, while þat I dysported me.' Thenne cam fourth to that word̛ oon of her seruaunts, wel arayed, whiche rode on a fayre Courcer, and att his right hand ledd̛ a palfroy so richely enharnashed that the kyng Elynas was moche abasshed of the grette richesse & noble aray that was about the said palfray. Thanne said the seruaunt to his lady: 'Madame, it is tyme whan it shall playse you to comme.' And she fourthwith said to the kinge: 'Sire knight, god be with you, and gramercy of your curtoisye.' thenne she went toward the palfray / and the kinge hyed hym, & helped to sette her on horsbak moche prately. And she thanked hym moche of hit, and departid /. And the kyng yede to his hors, and lept on his bake. thanne camme hys meney, whiche sought hym, and sayd that they had taken the herte. And the king̘ said to them / 'that playseth me.' Thenne he byganne to thinke on the beaulte of the said lady, and so moche he was surprysed of her loue, that he ne wyst what contenaunce or manyere he shuld hold / and said to his meyne / 'goo you alle before / and I shall folow you soone.' They yede at hys commandement theire way / and wel they perceyued & knew that he hadd̛ found som thinge / And the king hastly tourned his hors, & toke the way that the said lady had ytaken / & folowed her.

Thystory recounteth to vs, that so long folowed the kinge Elynas the lady, that he found her in a fforest, where as were many trees high & strayt / and [it] was in the season that the tyme is swete & gracyous, & the place within the forest was moche delectable. And whan the lady herde the noyse of the hors of the kynge Elynas, that rode fast, she said to her seruaunt: 'Stand we styl, and late vs abyde this knight, For I byleue that he cometh vnto vs for to telle to vs a part of his wille, wherof he was nat as tofore aduysed, For we sawe hym lepe on his hors all thoughtfuƚƚ.' 'Madame,' said the seruaunt / 'at your plaisure.' Thanne camme the kinge nigh vnto the lady / and as he had neuer seen her before, he salewed her, moche affrayenge, For he was so surprysed of her loue that he coude nat holde contenaunce. Thanne the lady, that knew ynoughe as it was, and that she shuld comme to her entrepryse / said to hym: 'Kynge Elynas, what goost thou sechyng̘ aftir so hastly / haue I oughte borne away of thyn owne?' / And whan the king̘ herde hym named, he was moche abasshed, For he knew nat what she was that spak with hym / and neuertheles he ansuerde to her: 'My dere lady, nought of myn owne ye withbere / but only that ye passe & goo thrugh my land / and it is grett shame to me / sith that ye be astraunger, that I ne doo you to be conueyed worshipfully thrugh my land / whiche I wold moche gladly doo yf I were in place, & had tyme & space for to doo it.' Thenne ansuerde the lady: 'Kynge Elynas, I hold you for escused, & pray you yf ye wyl of vs none other thinge / that ye leue ne lette nat your retourne for that cause.' And Elynas ansuerde / 'wel other thing̘ I seke, lady' / 'And what is it?' said she / 'telle it to me hardyly.' 'My right dere lady, sith that it is your wille & plaisir for to knowe it / I shall telle it to you. I desire moche more than eny other thing̘ in the world forto haue your good loue & your good grace.' 'By my feith,' said she, 'kyng Elynas, to that haue ye not faylled / yf that ye think theron but wele & honour, For neuer man shal haue my loue in hys auauntynge.' 'Ha, my dere lady, I ne think on my lyf on none cas dyshoneste.' Thenne perceyued the lady þat he was esprised of her loue, & said to hym / 'yf ye wil take me as your wyf by mariage, and be sworne vnto me that ye shal nat see me duryng my childbed, nor to peyne your self in no manere of way for to loke on me att that tyme / And yf this ye wil doo & swere / I am she that shal obey to you as a wyf ought to obey her husband.' Thanne þe kinge anoone, and with good wille, sware & promysed to hold that byfore is said. Without longe rehercyng they were spoused, & ledd̛ longe a good lyf togidre. But al the land of the kinge Elynas was moche abasshed who was this lady / how be it that she gouerned her wel right wysly & valiauntly. But Nathas, that was sone to the kynge Elynas, hated her ouermoche. and [it] happed that she was at her childbed of thre doughtirs / the whiche she had bornne ryght gracyously alle her tyme, & was deliuered of them thre at ende of ix. monethis / the first borne was named Melusigne, the second Melyor, and the iijde. Palatyne. The kynge Elynas was nat thanne present at that place, but kynge Nathas his sone was there, and beheld hys thre sustirs, that were so fayre that it was meruaylle. and thanne he went toward the kinge his fader / and thus he said to hym: 'Sire / Madame, the quene Pressyne your wyf, hath made & is delyuered of thre doughtirs, the most fayre that euer were seen / comme & see them.' Thenne kinge Helynas, that remembred nat of the promysse that he had made to Pressyne his wyf / sayd / 'ffayre sone / so wyl I doo.' And yede apertly & entred anoon within the chambre wheras Pressyne bathed her thre doughtirs. and whan he saw them / he said in this manere: 'god blesse the moder & the doughters,' & toke of them grette Ioye. And whan pressyne herde hym, she answerde to hym, 'Fals kinge, thou hast faylled thy couenaunt, wherof grett euyl shal comme vnto the / and hast lost me for euermore. And wel I wot that thy sone Nathas is cause therof, & departe I must fro the lightly. but yet I shalbe auenged me on thy sone by my sustir & felow, my lady of the yle lost.' And these thinges said / [she] toke her thre doughtirs & had them withher / and neuer aftir she was seen in the land /

Thystorye saith to vs, that whan the kinge had lost pressyne his wyf, and his thre doughters, he was so wofuƚƚ & so abasshed that he wyst not what he shuld doo or say. but he was by the space of seuen yere that he dede none other thinge, but compleyned & sighed, & made grette playntes & piteous lamentacions for loue of Pressyne his wyf, whiche he louyd of lawfull loue. and the peuple in hys land said that he was assoted. and in dede they gaue & betoke the gouernement ouer them & of alle the lande to Nathas his sone. Which gouerned valiauntly, and held hys fader in grette charyte. And thenne the barons of Albanye gaf to hym vnto hys wyf agentyl woman, whiche was lady of Ycrys. And of these two yssued fflorymond, whiche afterward toke moche of peyne & traueyll. Neuertheles, oure hystory is not enterprysed ne begonne for hym / and therfore we shall hold oure peas of hym, and we shall retourne to oure hystorye.

Thistorye saith, that whan Pressyne departed & yede with her thre doughtirs, she went in to Aualon, that was named the yle lost, bycause that aƚƚ had a man ben there many tymes / yet shuld not he conne retourne thither hymself alone / but byhapp & grett auenture. And there she nourysshed her thre doughtirs vnto the tyme that they were xv. yere of age / and ledd̛ them euery mornyng on a high mountaynne whiche was named, as thystory saith & recounteth, Elyneos, whiche is asmoche for to say in englissh as fflorysshed hyƚƚ. For from thens she sawe ynough the land of Albany. and often said to her thre doughtirs, waymentyng & sore wepyng: 'See, my fayre doughters, yonder is the land wher ye were born / and ye shuld haue had your wele & honour, ne had be the dommage of your fader, that bothe you & me hath putte in grett myserye without ende vnto the day of dome, whan god shal punysshe the euyl folk / and the good he shall enhaunse in theire vertues.'

Melusyne, tholdest doughtir, demanded of her moder Pressyne: 'What falshed hath doon oure fader, wherby we must endure so longe this greef & sorow?' Thanne the lady, theyre moder, byganne to telle & shew vnto them all the manere of the faytte, so as ye haue herd̛ tofore. And thenne whan Melusyne had herde her moder, and that she vnderstode all the faitte or dede, She tourned the talke of her moder, & demanded of her the commodytees of the land / the name of the Cites, tounes, & Castels of Albanye / and rehercyng these thinges they al descendid doun fro the hyƚƚ, & retourned to the yle of Aualon. And thanne Melusyne had & drew apart her two sustirs, that is to wete Melyor & Palatyne, & said to them in this manyere: 'My dere sustirs, now loke & byhold we the myserye wherin oure fader hath putt both oure moder & vs all, that shuld haue be so wel att ease & in so grette worship in oure lyues. what think you good of your best aduys for to doo / For as for my parte I think to auenge me therof / and as lytel myrthe & solas that he hath Impetred to oure moder by hys falshed / as lytel joye I think to purchasse vnto hym /.' Thenne her two sustirs ansuerde to her in this manere: 'Ye be our oldest sustir, we shall folowe & obey you in all that ye wil doo & shall ordonne theirof.' And Melusyne said to them / 'ye shew good loue, & to be good & lawfull to oure moder, For by my feyth ye haue said right wel. and I haue aduysed yf it semeth you good that we shall close or shett hym on the high mountayne of Northomberland, named Brombelyoys / and in myserye he shalbe there allas his lyf.' 'My sustir,' said either of bothe sustirs / 'lette now hye vs for to doo this / For we haue grette desyre to see that oure moder be auenged of the vnlawfulnes that our fader dede shew vnto her.' Thanne the thre doughtirs dide so mocℏ, that by theyre false condycion they toke theyr fader, & closed or shett hym on the said mountayne. And after that they had so doon, they retourned to theire moder, and to her they said in this manere: 'Moder, ye ne oughte to retche ne care more of the vnlawfulness & falshed of our fader / For therof he hath receyued hys payment, Forffro neuer he shal yssue ne departe fro the mounteyne of Brombelyoys, wheron he is closed & shett by vs / and þere he shall waste hys lyf & his tyme with grett dolour and woo.' / 'Ha / ha / alas!' said theire moder Pressyne to them / 'how durst you so doo / euyl herted doughters, & without pyte / ye haue not doon wel, whan he that begat you on my body ye haue so shamfully punysshed by your proude courage. For it was he of whom I toke all the playsaunce that I had in this mortaƚƚ world, whiche ye haue taken fro me. therfore, knowe ye wel that I shall punyssh you of the meryte aftir youre deserte. thou, Melusyne, that art tholdest, & that oughtest to haue be the moost knowyng / all this is comme & doon thrughe thy counseyƚƚ, For wel I wot that this pryson hath be gyuen to thy fader by the / and therfore thou shalt be she that shalbe first punysshed therof. For notwithstandyng the vnlawfulness of thy fader / bothe thou & thy sustirs he shuld haue drawen to hym, and ye shuld shortly haue ben out of the handes of the Nymphes & of the fairees, without to retourne eny more. And fro hens fourthon I gyue to the / the gyfte that thou shalt be euery satirday tourned vnto a serpent fro the nauyll dounward / but yf thou fynd ony man þat wil take the to hys wyf / and that he wil promytte to the that neuer on the Satirday he shall see the, ne þat shall declare ne reherce thy faytt or dede to ne personne / thou shalt lyue thy cours naturell, and shall dey as a naturel & humayn woman / and out of thy body shall yssue a fayre lynee, whiche shalbe gret & of highe proesse. but yf by hap or som auenture / thou shuldest be seen & deceyued of thyn husband / knowe thou for certayn that thou shuldest retourne to the tourment & peyne wher as thou were in afore / and euer thou shalt abyde therinne vnto the tyme that the right highe Iugge shal hold his jugement. And thou shalt appiere by thre dayes byfore the fortresse or Castel whiche thou shalt make, and thou shalt name it aftir thy name / at euery tyme whan it shall haue a new lord, and lykwyse also whan a man of thy lynee shal dey. And thou, Melyor, to the I gyue a Castel in the grette Armenye, whiche is fayre & riche, wher thou shalt kepe a Sperohak vnto the tyme that the grett maister shall hold his Iugement. And al noble and worthy knightes descended & comme of noble lynee, that wil goo watche there the day byfore the euen, and theuen also of saint Iohan baptiste, whiche is on the xx. day of Iung, without eny slep, shal haue a yeft of the of suche thinges that men may haue corporelly / that is to wete, of erthly þinges without to demande thy body ne thy loue by maryage nor other wyse. And al thoo that shal demande the without cesse, and that wyl not forbere & absteynne them þerof / shalbe infortunate vnto the ix. lynee, and shul be putt from theire prosperytees /. And thou shalt be closed, palatyne, & shette on the mountayn of Guygo, with al the tresoure of thy fader, vnto the tyme that a knight shal comme of our lynee whiche shal haue al that tresoure to help therwith for to gete & conquyre the land of promyssion / & shal delyure the from thens /.' Thenne were the thre sustirs full heuy of herte & sorowfull, & departed fro theire moder. And Melusyne went & toke her way al alone thrughe the forest & thikk busshes. Melyor also departed, & yede toward the Sperhaak Castel in the grette Armenye. And Palatyne also went to the mounteyne of Guygo, wher many a man hath seen her /. And I myself herd it say of the kinge of Arragon and of many other of hys royaume. And be nat you displesed yf I haue recounted vnto you this auenture, For it is for to adiouste more of feyth, & for to veryfy thistory, And fro hens fourthon I wil entre into the matere of the very & true hystory. but first I shall telle to you how the king Elynas fynysshed his dayes in this world / and how Pressyne his wyf buryed hym within the said mountayn in a moche noble tombe, as ye shal here heraftir. /

LOnge tyme was the Kyng Elynas on the said mountayne in so mocℏ, that deth which bringeth euery personne to an ende toke hym. Thanne camme ther Pressyne his wyf and buryed hym there / and on hym made to be sette oon so noble & so riche a tombe, þat neuer byfore ne syn that tyme was seen none suche ne so riche. For on the tombe were riches without comparacion as of precyous stones and other Jewellis / and about it were grett & highe Candelstykes of fyn gold, and lampes & torches whiche brennen both day & nyght continuelly. And on the said tombe stood vp right a Statue or ymage of Alabaster, kerued & made aftir the lengthe, lyknes, & fourme of Kinge Elynas / and the said ymage held in her handes a table of gold, whereon was writon the forsaid auenture. And there the lady Pressyne stablysshed a stronge geaunt to the sauegarde of the tresoure byfore said / the whiche Geaunt was wounder fyers & horryble, and al the Countre therabout he held vnder his subgection. And also aftir hym many other geaunts kept it vnto the tyme & commyng of Geffray with the grett toth / of the whiche ye shall more here herafter. Now haue ye herde of the King̘ Elynas and of Pressyne his wyf. And from hens fourthon I wil bigynne & shew the trouth of thystory of the meruaylles of the noble Castel of Lusignen in Poitow. And why & by what manere hit was bilded & made./

Thystory recounteth to vs that there was somtyme in the Brut Brytayne a noble man whiche fell at debate with the nevew of the king̘ of Bretons. and in dede he durst therfore nomore dwelle within the land / but toke with hym al his fynaunce & goodes, and went out of the land by the high mountaynes. And as telleth thistorye he founde on a day highe by a fontayne a fayr lady to whom he told al his Fortune & aduenture / so that fynally they enamoured eche other, and the lady shewed to hym grett loue, & dide vnto hym mocℏ comfort. and he began within her land, that was wast & deserte for to byld̛ & make fayre tounes & strong Castels. and was the land within short tyme peupled raisonably / And they dede calle the land forestz, bycause that they founde it full of grett wodes & thikk bushes, And yet at this day it is called Forestz. It haped that this knight & this lady fel at debate togidre. I ne wot not goodly how ne wherfore / but that right sodaynly departed the lady fro the knight, wherefore he was woful & heuy. and notwithstandinge he grew & encreaced euer in worship and in prosperite. The noble men thanne of this land / seeyng that they were without a lady purveyed hym of oon to hys wyf, a moche gentil & fayre woman, sustir to the Erle of Poiters, whicℏ regned at that tyme, & he begate on her many children males. emonge the whiche was oon / that is to wete the iijde borne, whiche was named Raymondyn, and was fayre, goodly & gracyous, moche subtyl & wyty in all thinges. And that same tyme the said Raymondin might be xiiij yere of age. /

The Erle of Poyters held a grett feste of a sone that he had, and wold haue made hym to be dowbed a knight. And no more children he had, but only a fayre mayde that was called Blanche / and the sone had to name Bertrand. Thanne the Erle Emery manded & desyred a mocℏ fayre company for loue of the knighthode of his sone / and amonges other he bode & prayed the Erle of Forests to comme to the feste, & that he shuld bring̘ with him thre of his sones, the oldest, For he wold see them. Thanne the Erle of Forestz went at his mandement in the moost honourable wyse that he coude, and with hym he led thre of his sones. The feste was grette, and there were made and dowbed many a knight for loue of Bertrand, sone to the Erle of Poyters, that was þat day proferred to thonourable & worshipfuƚƚ ordere of knighthod̛. And also was ther made and dowbed to a knight, theldest sone of the Erle of Forestz, for he jousted moche wel & fayre. And was the fest contynued and holden the space of viij dayes. And the Erle of Poyters made & gaf many & moche fayre & grett yeftes. And at the departyng of the feste the Erle of Poyters demanded of the Erle of Forestz, & prayed hym to leue with hym Raymondin his nevew, and that he shuld neuer care for hym For he wold puruey for him wel. And the erle of Forestz graunted it / and thus dwelled the said Raymondyn with the Erle of Poyters his vncle, that loued hym wel. And after toke the feste an ende moche honourably & frendly. And as now cesseth thistory to spek of the Erle of Forests, whiche retourned with his two sones & al his fellowship vnto his Countre. And begynneth oure hystory to procede fourth / and to spek of the Erle Emery, and of Raymondyn. /

Thystorye certyffyeth to vs and also the veray Cronykles that this Erle Emery was grauntfader to saynt William that was Erle, and left al worldly pocessyons for to serue oure Creatour, and toke on hym the ordre & Religion of the whit mauntelles, an ordre or Religion so called. And therof I wil not make grett locucion or talking̘ But I will procede fourth on our matere, and to spek of the Erle Emery. Thistory thanne telleth to vs that this Erle was moche worthy & valyaunt a knight / and that loued euer noblesse, And was the most wyse in the science of Astronomye that was in hys dayes, ne byfore syn that Aristotles regned. That tyme that the Erle Emery regned / thistory sheweth to vs that [he] coude many a science, & specially he was parfytte in the science of Astromy, as I haue said tofore. And knowe ye that he loued so moche his nevew Raymondin that he might no more. and so dide the child his vncle, and peyned hym moche to playse & to serue hym at gree, and to doo hym playsir in all maners. It is wel trouth that this Erle had many houndes and many haakes of al maneres. and [it] befell as thystory recounteth that oon of the Foresters camme vnto the Erlis Court, & demanded or told that in the Forest of Coulombiers was the moost meruayllous wildbore that had be seen of longe tyme byfore, and that at hym shuld be the best & fayrest dysport that eny gentylman shuld euer haue. 'By my feyth,' said the Erle, 'these tydynges plaise me wel. late the hunters & houndes be redy to morow by tymes. & we shall goo to the chasse.' 'My lord,' said the Forester, 'at your playsire.' And al thus he departed fro the Erle / and made redy al that aparteyned to the chasse for to hunte at thoure that he had apoynted./

IN this part recounteth thystory, that whan Raymondyn cam ayenst the said bore for to kepe hym that he shuld not hurte his lord / the bore anoone hurted to hym, & ranne fast toward the Erle, whiche seeying the wyld bore comme / lefte his swerd̛, and toke a short spere, and strayght held it dounward before hym. And the Erle, that knew & wyst moche of the chasse, broched the bore thrughe the brest / but the Erle feƚƚ doun on his knees. And thanne Raymondyn, holdyng hys swerde in his hand, camme toward the bore, and wold haue smytte hym betwene the foure legges, For he leye vpsodounne the bely vpward. and suche a stroke gaaf Raymondyn to the bore, that the blade of hys swerde brake / so that the poynte of it sprang̘ ayenst the Erlis stomak, & wounded hym sore / in so moche that he deyed therof. And Raymondyn, which was sore chaffed / seeyng hys wepen broken, and not yet percey-uyng̘ his mortal werk / toke the spere, & so strongly broched it thrughe the bore, that he slew hym. But whan he dide loke toward his vncle, and that he sawe hym all bloody / he went, and wold haue had hym to stand vpon his feet, but it was for nought. he thenne pulled out of hys brest the piece of the swerd̛, and knew that it was hys dede /. Moche meruayllously thanne byganne Raymondin to sighe & to complayne, & wept and lamented piteously, sayeng in this manere: 'Ha / ha / false fortune, how moche art thou peruerse & euyl, that hath doon to be slayn by me hym that loued me so moche, and that had doon to me so moche good? Ha / god fader almighty / wher shal now be the land where this harde & false synner shal mowe abyde / For in certayn all they that shall here spek of this grett mysdede shal juge me / & with good right, to dey of a shamfull deth, For a more false ne more euyl treson dide neuer no synner. / Ha / erthe cleue & open the / & deuoure thou me fourthwith, and lete me faƚƚ with the moost obscure & derk angel within helle, þat somtyme was the fayrest of all other in heuen, For wel I haue deserued it.' In this dolour & woo was Raymondyn a longe space of tyme, & was moche þoughtfull & wroth / and bethought hym self, & said in this manere / 'My lord & vncle, that lyeth deed yonder, sayd to me / that yf suche an auenture shuld comme to me, that I shuld be worshiped more than ony man of my lynage. but I now see wel al the contrary / For truly I shalbe þe moost vnhappy & dyshonoured man that euer was borne of woman / and by my feyth I haue wel deserued it / it is wel raison & right. But notwithstanding syth that now it may none oþerwyse be / I shal dystourne me out of this land, and shal goo som wher for to purchasse myn aduenture, suche as god wil send̛ to me in to somme good place, where as I may take & do penitence for my synne.' And thanne Raymondyn camme to hys lord / and sore wepyng, kyssed hym with so heuy & wooful herte / that thenne he had nat mow say one only word̛ for all the gold in the world /. And soone aftir that he had kyssed hym, he layed his foot on the sterop and lepe vpon his hors / and departed, holding his way thrugh the myddel of the Forest, moche dyscomforted, & rode apas vnknowing the way, ne whether he went / but only by hap & att auenture, And made suche a sorowe that there nys no personne in the world that coude thinke ne sey the vth part of hys dolour /.

Whan Raymondyn departed fro his lord, and that he had lefte hym deed beside the fyre, and the wild bore also / he rode so longe thrugℏ the Forest, euer wepyng and complaynyng so sore that it was gret pite for to see & here hym / that about mydnyght he aprouched nygh to a fontayne of fayerye, named þe fontayne of soyf / And many one of the Countre þer about called hit the fontayne of fayerye, bycause that many a meruaylle feƚƚ & happed there many tymes in tyme passed. And was this fontaynne in a wounderfull & meruayllous place / and ouer it was a rocℏ of meruayllous height / and al alonge the said Fontaynne was a fayre medowe, nygh to the high Forest. And wel trouth it is that the moone dide shynne at that tyme ryght clere & bright, And the hors ledd Raymondyn whiche way that he wold, For no heede nor aduys he had of nothing̘, for cause of the gret dysplaysaunce that he had within hym self. And notwithstanding that he slept, hys hors ledd hym in this state so longe that he was comme wel nygh to the fontayne. And at that same tyme were there [thre] ladyes, that played & dysported them / amongis the whiche oon was auctorised of the other as maistresse & lady ouer them, Of the whiche lady I wil now spek aftir that thistory telleth.

RAymondyn lepte vpon his hors, and the lady dressed and putte hym in to the high way of Poytiers, and [he] departed fro the lady. And at departyng Raymondyn was ful sory, For he loued alredy so moche her felawship, that wel wold euer haue be with her. Thenne thinkynge, he byganne fast to ryde toward the Cite of Poyters. And the said lady retourned toward the said Fontaynne, where the two other ladyes were, & abode her there / of whicℏ ladyes thystory leueth here to speke/.

NOw saith thystorye, that Raymondyn rode so fast that soone he was comme into Poytiers, where he founde many one that were retourned fro the chasse, whicℏ demanded of hym, 'where is my lord?' 'how,' said thanne Raymondyn / 'is he not comme?' / and they ansuerd̛ 'nay.' And he said to them, 'I sawe hym neuer syn that the grete chasse bygan, and that the bore scaped fro the houndes.' And while that they spak of this matere among̘ them alle / the hunters & other folk arryued there fro the chasse, som now and thenne, the whiche all said as Raymondyn had sayd. And som said that neuer they had seen suche & so meruayllous a chasse, ne so horryble a bore. And many one said that the bore was comme fro somme other land, For none so grete / nor that ranne so fast sawe they neuer. Thanne was euery man meruaylled / how the Erle taryed so longe. and they went to the yate for to see if he camme, & abode hym þer a longe space. and euer camme folk that said as the other had sayd / and that they lay all that nyght in the sayd Forest, For they had lost theyre way. Thanne was all the peuple of Poyters woofuƚƚ & heuy for loue of theyr lord, that taryed so longe / and specyally the Countesse, the said Erlis wyf. but more woofull & heuyer they were within a lytel while after/.

THystorye telleth vnto vs, that so long̘ they abode at the gate with Raymondyn, that they sawe commynge toward the Cite a grete multitude of peuple. and as they dide approucℏ & camme nygℏ, they herd̛ and vnderstod̛ the piteous voyces of them, wherof they were all meruaylled / and bygan many one to doubte lest that they shuld haue hadd som trouble or somme empeschement. And so longe they abod̛, that they whiche bare the corps of theire lord camme vnto them, sore lamentyng̘ & piteously waylyng̘, sayeng̘ to them in this manere: 'wepe ye, and wepe ayen, & clothe you aƚƚ in blak, For the bore hath slayn our good lord, the Erle Emerye.' And after the corps camme two hunters, that bare grette bore. and thus they entred into the Cite, makyng̘ grete sorowe. And alle the peuple of the Cite, seeyng theyre lord deed, byganne pyteously to crye / sayeng in this manere: 'Ha/ ha, cursed be he of god that first anounced this chasse.' The sorrow & dolour was there so grete that no man sawe neuer no greter. And making suche sorowe camme vnto the Palleys / and there was the Corps leyed. And bycause one oughte not to kepe ne mayntenne longe sorowe, I passe it ouer lyghtly. The Countesse & her children made ouergrete sorow / and so dide the Barons and aƚƚ the Comynaltee of the land. And knowe ye also / that so dide Raymondyn, as it foloweth./

Raymondyn made grete sorowe and greter than eny other, and sore repented hym of hys mysdede, And so moche / that yf it had not be the hoop & comfort of his lady, he had not mowe withold hym self, but þat he had sayd vnto them al hys auenture, for cause of the grete contricion that he had of the deth of hys vncle and lord. But I will not spek long of this matere. Soone thobsequye was doon moche nobly & richely within the Chirche of our lady of Poytiers, after the custome that was at that tyme, And ye muste knowe that the good folk of the land that had lost þeir lord were full of heuynes and of sorow / and they fourthwith toke the said bore, and byfore the said Chirch of our lady they brent it / And as it is wel trouth that there nys so grete a sorowe, but that within foure dayes it is somwhat peased / the barons of the land thanne yede and swetly comforted the Countesse and her two children aftir theire power / and so moche they dide that her grete sorowe was somwhat peased. But þe sorowe of Raymondyn grew & wexed more and more, as wel bycause of his grete mysdede / as for the grete loue of whiche he loued hys vncle. It was thanne ordeyned & concluded by the Counseyƚƚ that alle the Barons of the land shuld be sente fore, & boden to comme at a certayn day for to doo theire homage to theyre gracyous lord, the sone of the said late Erle. And assone as Raymondyn knew of it, he toke hys hors and alone yssued out of Poytiers and entred within the Forest, for to goo & hold hys couenaunt vnto his lady./

THystorye telleth to vs, that Raymondyn rode so longe that he camme vnto Poytiers, wheras he founde many a high baron, whicℏ were comme there for to make homage to the yong̘ Erle Bertrand / and they dyde grete honour and reuerence to Raymondyn, and preysed hym right moche. And the next morow they yede all togidre vnto Saynt Hylary of Poyters, where the deuyne seruyse was doon right worshipfully, And atte that seruyse was the yonge Erle reuested lyke a Chanoyne, as theyre prymat or Abbot / and dyde hys deuoyre as it apparteyned / and that of custome was for to be doo. Thenne cam the barons tofore hym / and there one after another, and eche one after hys degre rendred to hym hys homage. And thenne, after alle these thinges were doon / Raymondin putte hymself fourth before the barons / and with meke & humble contenaunce or manere, said to them: 'Emong̘ you, my lordes, nobles, Barons of the Countre or Erledom of Poytwo, vouchesaf ye to here & knowe the requeste whiche I wyl putte & make vnto my lord the Erle. and yf it seme you to be lawfull & raisonnable / I beseche that it playse you for to pray hym to graunt it to me.' And the Barons ansuerd with right a good wiƚƚ, 'we shall doo it.' Thanne they altogidre went before the Erle, to whom Raymondyn spake first moche humbly, sayeng in this manere: 'Right dere sire, humbly I beseche and requere you, that in remuneracion, or reward, of alle the seruyses that ever I dide vnto my lord, your fader / on whos sowle god haue mercy, ye vouchesaf of your benigne & noble grace for to gyve to me a yefte, the whiche shall cost you but lityl. For knowe you, Sire, that I ne demande of you neyther tounne, Castel, nor fortresse, ne nothinge of grette valew.' Thanne ansuerde the Erle, 'yf it playseth to my barons / ful wel it playseth to me.' And the Barons said to hym in this manere: 'Sire, syn it is thyng̘ of so lytyl valewe, as he speketh of, ye oughte not to refuse it to hym / For he is wel worthy therof, and wel he hath deserued it.' And the Erle said to them, 'Syn it pleseth to you for to counseylle me soo / I graunt it' / 'demande now,' said the Erles to Raymondyn, 'what ye wyl.' 'Sire,' said he, 'gramercy. Other yefte I ne axe of you, but þat ye wyl gyue to me, about the fontaynne of soif that is nygh to the roches & wodes / as moche of grounde as the hyde or leder of a hert shall mow comprehende or goo aboute, bothe of lengthe & brede.' 'Forsouthe,' said þenne the Erle / 'this I ought not to refuse to you. I gyue it to you,' said the Erle, 'freely, without redeuaunce nor homage to be doon to me, nor to my successours for euermore.' Thenne Raymondyn kneled & thanked hym ryght humbly / and requyred of hym lettres of hys gyfte, the whicℏ were graunted & made in the best and moost surest wyse that could be deuysed / and were Seelled of the grette Seal of the Erle, by thassent and relacion of alle the Barons of the land / whiche also dide putte theire Seelles therto. Thanne they departed fro the chirche of Saynt Hylary of Poytiers, and yede fourth vnto the halle, where the feste was grete and joyous, and swete melody was there herd̛ of almaner Instruments Musyque. and of many & dyuerse meets they were serued at the table. And after dyner the Erle gaaf grette yeftes / And wel trouth it is, that it was sayd þerof many one, that among̘ alle the other Raymondyn was the moost curtoys / moost gracyous, and of fayrest contenaunce. And thus passed the day tyl the nyght camme that euerychon went to take hys reste. And on the mornne next they roos and yede for to here masse vnto the Abbey of Montiers / and there Raymondyn prayed god deuoutly that he wold help hym att his nede, and to brynge hys enterpryse to a good ende, and to the saluacion of his sowle & prouffyt of hys body. And he abode within the chirche, makyng̘ hys prayers vnto thoure of Pryme./

NOw telleth thystorye to vs, that whan Raymondyn had herd hys masse, and that he had ended his prayere / he went out of the chirche / and at thyssue of thabbey byond the Castel he found a man whiche bare within a sac vpon hys bak the hyde of an hert, which man camme toward Raymondyn, and said to hym in this manere. 'Sire, wyl bye this hertis skynne that I haue within my sack, for to make good huntyng cordes for your hunters.' 'By my feyth,' said Raymondyn / 'ye / yf thou wilt selle it; and at one word what shall I paye for hit?' 'By my feyth, sire,' said the man, 'ye shall paye to me for it ten shelynges, or ellis ye shall not haue it.' 'Frend,' said thanne Raymondyn to the said man / 'bryng it home with me and I shall pay the there.' And he answerd̛, 'With a good wille.' Thanne he followed Raymondyn vnto his hous, and there he delyuered hys hyde / and Raymondyn payed hym for it. And anone after, Raymondyn sent for a Sadelmaker, to whom he said: 'My frend, yf it plese you, ye muste cutte this hyde in fourme of a thonge, in the narowest & smallest wyse that is possible to be doo.' The Sadler dide cutte it, and after they leyd it agayn within the sac thus cutte. What shuld I nowe prolonge the matere. It is trouth that they whiche were commytted for to delyuere to Ramondyn his yefte, rode, and Raymondyn with them, toward the fontayne of soyf, so long̘ that they cam vnto the roche that standeth ouer the said fontayne, where as grett tranchis or keruyng̘ was made within the harde roche / and they fond̛ al about it grete trees throwen doun to the ground̛, wherof they were gretly meruaylled, For it was out of mans mynde that euer trees were cutte there aboute. Raymondyn, that thanne wel knewe that his lady had wrought there, held hys peas. And whan they were within the medowe they toke the thonge out of the sac /.

NO[w] telleth to vs thystorye, that whan the Erle & hys folk were descended doun fro the montayne / an auncyent knyght, nobly & richely clothed and arayed, whiche rode on a fayre palfray, and had in hys felawship xxiiijti. men of worship richely & nobly aourned & wel horsed / camme gladly & with mery contenaunce toward the Erle. First he mete with the Erle of Forest & with Raymondyn & theyre felawship, for they rode before. And whan he perceyued Raymondyn, whiche wel he knew among̘ other / he yede tofore hym & made to hym honour & reuerence, and his brother Erle of Forest he salued moche honourably, & theyre felawship also. And shortly to spek, this auncyent knight receyued them worshipfully, sayeng̘ to Raymondin in this manere: 'My lord, I pray you that I may be ledde before the Erle of Poitiers yf it playse you, for I desyre to spek with hym.' And so Raymondyn made hym to be ledde vnto the said Erle. And whan thauncyent knight camme before the Erle, he salewed hym swetly, sayeng̘, 'my lord, ye be welcomme.' And the Erle ansuerd̛ / 'and ye are wel mete with me. nowe telle ye to me why ye dide axe aftir me.' Thanne said the knight thus to the Erle: 'Sire, My lady Melusyne of Albany recommendeth her to you as moche as she may / and thanketh you of the gret & high honour that ye doo vnto Raymondyn your Cousin & also vnto her whan ye vouchesauf of your grace to comme hither for to bere vnto them felawship att their wedding̘.' 'By my feyth,' said the Erle, 'In this cas / as ye may telle to your lady / is no thankes to be had, for I am holden for to do vnto my Cousyn all worship & honour possible to me to be doo.' 'Sire,' said thauncient knight, 'ye say full curtoisly / but my lady is sage for to knowe what she ought for to doo / and toward you she hath sent botℏ me and my felawship also.' 'Sire knight,' said the Erle, 'this playseth me wel. but knowe ye that I wende nat to haue found lodged so nygh to me so noble a lady as your is, ne that had so many of noble folk with her as she hath.' 'Ha, sire!' sayd the knight, 'whan my lady wil she may haue of knightes & squyers more than she hath now with her / for she ne dare doo / but to commande.' And thus talking one to other, they camme vnto the pauyllon. And the Erle was lodged there within the moost riche lodgys that euer he had seen before. After every man was lodged honourably after his estate / & they said that within theire owne places at hom they were not so wel lodged. Theire horses were lodged within the grett tentes / so at large & at theire ease / that no palfrener was there but that he was full wel playsed. And alle they meruailled fro whens so mocℏ of goode and suche plente of richesses might comme there so haboundauntly. /

AFter them camme the Contesse moder vnto the said Erle, and blanche, her doughtir, and with them many ladyes & damoiselles. And thanne Melusyne, sage & wyse, sent toward̛ her þauncyent knight, that had hold̛ companye to the Erle, and also with hym she sent many ladyes and damoyselles of high and noble Estate that moch honourably salued and honoured the Countesse and her doughter / and ledde them to be lodged in a fayr pauillon made of riche cloth of gold, richely set with perlys & with precyous stones. And, shortly to spek, they were alle so wel & so rychely lodged that moche they meruaylled of the grete riches that they see within the pauyllon. And there was the Countesse receyued with mocℏ grete and melodyous sowne of almaner instruments and alle they in her companye were honourably lodged. And whan the Countesse had rested a lytil while, and that she was arayed with her ryche rayments / also her doughtir Blanche. Knyghtes & Squyers / ladyes and damoyselles of her companye went into the chambre of the spouse, the whiche Chambre was fayrer and passed of ryches alle the other chambres, but whan they sawe Melusyne, & perceyued her ryche tyres / her riche gowne, alle set with precious stones & perlys / the coler that she had about her nek, hir gerdeƚƚ & her other rayments, that she had on her, they all meruaylled gretly / and specially the Countesse, that said / consideryng that grete estate / Neuer had I wende ne supposed that no queene ne Emperesse had be in alle the world, that might haue founde suche jewellis so riche & so grete in value. What shuld I make long plee / the Erle of poiters and one of the moost hygh barons, that is to wete, the Erle of Forest, addressed and ledde the spouse vnto the said Chapelle of our lady, which was so rychely aourned, & arayed so nobly that wonder it was to see / as of parements & ornaments of cloth of gold, purfeld and sett with perlys and precyous stones, so wel wrought and so connyngly browded, that meruaylle it was to loke on. fayre ymages straungely kerued / as of Crucifixe & figure of our lady, all of pure and fyn gold / and bokes were there, so wel writon and riche that in alle the world rycher bokes might nat haue be. And there was a bysshop that wedded them & songe masse before them.

AFtir that the deuyne seruyse was doon they rested them, and soone after the dyner was redy within a moche riche and grete pauyllon in the myddes of the medowe. Eche one satte there aftir hys degree. and serued they were of dyuerse & good meetes, and of many and dyuerse wynes, and haboundaunce of ypocras was there. There serued the squyers richely clothed one lyke another, whiche were grete in nombre. They were serued alle in plat of pure gold & syluer, wherof alle the companye was meruaylled. And assoone as one messe was taken fro the table, the othe[r] messe was redy. And so of dyuers meetes they were serued many a cours moche honourably. /

ANd after that they had dyned, and the tables were take vp & graces said, and that they were serued with ypocras & spyces, the Knyghtes and Squyers went & armed them and lept on horsback. And thenne the spouse & many other ladyes were sett vpon the scaffold or stalage. Thanne byganne the Joustyng / the Erle of Poytiers jousted moche wel and so dide the Erle of Forest and alle theire knightes and squyers. but the Knyghtes of the spouse dide meruaiƚƚ, For they ouerthrew bothe knightes and horses vnto the grounde. Thanne camme there Raymondyn that satte on a fayre & strong courser, alle in whyte, & at hys first cours he ouerthrew the Erle of Forestz, his brother / and so valyauntly he demened hym self that there ne was knight on both partyes but that he redoubted hym. And thann the Erle of Poitiers seeyng his appertyse of armes meruaylled what he was / and dressed hys sheld, & holding the speere alowe ranne ayenst hym / but Raymondyn that knew hym wel distourned hys hors and adressed his cours toward a knight of Poitou and suche a strok he gaaf hym, that both man & hors ouerthrew to the ertℏ. And shortly to spek Raymondin dide that day so wel that euery man said that the knight with the white armes had jousted right strongly. The night camme and the justyng ended. Wherfore eche of them went agayn in to theire pauyllons where they toke alitil reste / but soone after was the souper redy. And thanne they yede in to the grete tente / and after they had wasshen they set them at table & wel and richely they were serued / and after souper were the tables take vp / and they wesshed theyre handes. & graces were said. This doon the ladyes wente asyde pryuely and toke other gownes on them & camme agayn for to daunse. The feste was fayre / and the worship was there grete / so that the Erle and alle they that were comme with hym meruaylled gretly of the grette ryches & honour that they sawe there. And whan it was tyme they ledd the spouse to bed / mocℏ honourably within a wonder meruayllous & riche pauyllon. And there the Erles of Potiers and Forests betoke her vnto the ladyes handes. And thanne the Countesse of Poitiers and other grete ladyes had the spouse to bed, and dide endoctryne her in suche thinges that she oughte for to doo / how be it that she was ynough purueyed therof. but notwithstandyng she thanked them mocℏ humbly therfore. And whan she was abed the ladyes abode there vnto tyme that Raymondin camme, whiche was yet talkyng̘ of oon thing̘ and of other with the Erle of Poitiers & with his brother, whiche thanked Raymondyn of þat he first dide jouste with hym. 'By my feyth,' said the Erle of Poytiers, 'fayre Cousyn of Forests, ye haue longe syn herd say / how somtyme the loue of ladyes causeth peyne & traueyll to the amerous louers, and deth to horses.' 'My lord,' ansuerde the Erle of Forestz, 'my brother shewed it wel this day to me.' And Raymondyn, that was somwhat ashamed / said in this manere: 'Fayre lordes, stryk of the flatte / and gyue not to me so moche praysing. For I am not he whicℏ I mene that dide soo / For I am not he that bare the whyte armes / but fayne I wold that god had sent to me the grace to doo so wel.' And at thoo wordes camme there a knight, whiche by the ladyes was sent thither / and said to them: 'Faire lordes, Jape not ouermoche, For knowe you wel that as now on other thing he most think.' 'By my feyth,' said the Erle of Poytiers, 'ye say trew as I byleue.' And yet agayn said the knight: 'my lordes, comme & brynge with you Raymondyn, For the ladyes axen after hym / for his partye is al redy.' And þerof byganne they to lawghe / and said that he muste haue witnes therof / and that they byleued it wel.

AT thoo wordes they went and ledde Raymondyn in the pauyllon and soone he was brought to bed. And thanne camme there þe Bysshop that had spoused them and dide halowe theire bed. and after that euerychon toke his leue / and the courteyns were drawen aboute the bed. And of this matere recounteth no ferther thystorye, but speketh of the other, of which som went to bed, and som went agayn to the daunse and ellis wher them lyste for goo. And after thystory I shaƚƚ speke of Raymondyn and of the lady, how the[y] gouerned them bothe togidre. and what wordes they had among̘ them two as the[y] laye togidre.

THYstorye telleth to vs in this partye that whan they euerychon departed and goon out of the Pauyllon and the stakes of hit joyned & shette, Melusyne spak and said to Raymondyn in this manere: 'My right dere lord and frend, I thanke you of the grete honour that hath be doo to me at this day of your parents & frendes / and of that also / that ye kepe so secretly that whicℏ ye promysed̛ me at oure first couuenaunte, and ye moste know for certayn that yf ye kepe it euer thus wel, ye shalbe the moost mighty & moost honoured that euer was of your lynage. And ye doo the contrary, bothe you & your heyres shall faƚƚ litil & litil in decaye & fro your estate. Ne of the land that ye shall holde & possesse, that tyme ye hold not your promysse / yf it be so that ye doo it, whiche god forbede, hit shal neuer be aftir possessed ne holden alle hoƚƚ by you ne by your heyrs.' And thanne to her ansuerd̛ Raymondyn: 'My right dere lady, doubte you not of hit, For yf it playseth to god / that shall neuer befaƚƚ by me.' And the lady ansuerd to hym in this maner: 'My right dere frend / sith it is soo that so ferfourth I haue putte my self I most abyde the wylle of god, trustyng euer of your promesse. Kepe you thanne wel, my fayre frend & felawe that ye fawte not your Couuenaunt. For ye shuld be he, after me, that moost shuld lese by it.' 'Ha / Ha, lady dere,' said Raymondin, 'therof ye oughte not be in doubte / For that day, faylle to me god, whan I fawte of Couuenant.' 'Now my dere frend,' said the lady, 'lete vs leue our talkyng therof. For certaynly as for my part there shal be no fawte. but that ye shal be the moost fortunat & happy that ever was of your lynee, and more puyssaunt thanne any of them shalbe / without it be for fawte of your self.' And thus lefte they theyre talkyng̘. And as thystorye reherceth, was that nyght engendred or begoten of them both the valyaunt Uryan. whiche aftirward̛ was kynge of Chipre, as ye shall here herafter.

Thenne they toke leue of theyre fader and moder and entred theire vesseƚƚ. This doon, the ancres were had in, & the saylles haled vp, the patrons made theire recommendacions to god as customed it is, to that by hys benygne grace he wyl graunte to them good ryuage, and accomplysshing of theyre vyage without lettyng or empeschement. The wyndes were for them propyce & good / and in short tyme they were ferre cast on the see so that they were out of sight / ·

Thanne departed Raymondyn & Melusyne, and theyre meyne with them, and came to the Castel Eglon. And here resteth thystorye of them, and retourneth to spek of Vryan and Guyon hys brother, and of theyre felawship that saylled on the see, holding theire way toward Cypre. /

Thystory sayth that whan Uryan and Guyon were departed fro Rochelle they saylled long on the see, and passed by many yles, & refresshed them in many places; and so long they rowed þat they sawe many vesselles that chased two galeyes / and thenne the Patron shewed them to þe two brethern / and they ansuered, and demanded of them what was best to doo. 'By my feyth,' sayd the Patron, 'it were good we send a galeye to wete what folke they be / and in the meane while we shal make our men to take theyre armes & harneys on them at al auauntures.' 'By my feith,' said Vryan, 'that I vouchesaf' / and they dide soo. And thanne the galeye departed abrode, and saylled toward the straungers / and escryed þem, & demanded of them what they were, and they ansuerd, 'We be two galeyes of Rodes that haue be found of the paynemys that foloweth & chaceth vs, and we see wel ye be Cristen, and so are aƚƚ they that come after you.' 'By my feyth,' sayd they of the galeye, 'we ben as ye suppose and saye.' 'By my heed,' said one of the patrons of Rodes galeyes / 'goo & haste your felawship, For ye haue found fayre auenture. yonder be of the sawdans folke that goo to the siege of Famagosse / and who might dystroye them, he shuld doo grete socoure to the king of Cypre / and to the sawdan of Damaske grete dommage.' Whan thenne they of the galeye herd this / they sodaynly retourned & announced it to the two bretheren / and to theire folke whiche anon yede vp to the Castels of theire shippes, and clymed vp to the toppes of them, hauyng speere & darts, stones, & wild fyre alredy / also bowes & arowes in theire handes / gonnes & pouldre to shote with. There bygan tompes to blowe vp, & rowed mightily toward the paynemys. And whan the Infideles & paynemys perceyued so grete nombre of shippes rowyng toward them they ne wyst not what to thinke, For they had neuer supposed that so grete puyssaunce & strenghte of cristen men had be so nygh them / · but alwayes they putte hem self in aray gooyng abacke, but oure galeyes aduyronned them round about on al sydes, and bygan of al partes to shutte theire gonnes. And whan the paynemys sawe this / and that they myght not flee, they toke a vessel whiche they had take fro them of rodes, and had cast the folke that was in it into the see / and fylled it with wode, oyle, & talowe, and with sulphre & brymstone. and whan they sawe our folk approuched nygℏ them they sette it afyre. and whan the fyre was wel kyndled they lefte it behynd them to mete first with our folke / but as god wold they were warned thereof & kept / themself wel therfro / and assaylled theire enmyes at the other syde right vygourously. There was grete shotyng of crosbowes & gonnes / and soone after our folk entred byforce and strengthe of armes the shippes of the paynemys / and fynally they were take & dyscomfyted, and putte to deth. and our folke gate there grete good whiche the two brethern departed, and gaf to theire felawes and to them that wer within the two galeyes of Rodes / and syn rowed & saylled both so long that they arryued in the yle of Rodes. And there they refresshed them, & gaf to the brethern of the religyon the fustes & galeyes that they had taken vpon the paynemys, and they soiurned there foure dayes. And the maister of Rodes prayd them that they wold come into the Cite / and they dide soo / and were there honourably receyued / and the said maister demanded them of the cause of their commyng. And the two brethern told hym that they were come forto socoure the king of Cypre / And he asked them fuƚƚ humbly of what land̛ they were, and what they were / and the two brethern told to hym aƚƚ the troutℏ. Thenne made the maister to them greter chere than tofore / and said to them that he shuld send for som of his bretheren / & that he shuld goo with hem to helpe & socoure the king of Chipre. And the two bretheren thanked hym moche humbly therefore. /

Now sayth thystorye that so long abode, & soiourned the two brethern at Rodes tyl the maister had assembled his folke, and vytaylled & laden with good men of armes, & archers six galeys, & saylled with Uryan & Guyon so long that they arryued nygh to the yle of Coles, & apperceyued grete lyght. Thenne the grete maister of Rodes that was in Uryan's galeye, said to the two bretheren: 'Sires, in good feyth it were good & wel doon to send a Carueƚƚ vnto yonder yle, to knowe & aspye what folke is there.' 'I vouchsaf it,' said Vryan. The Rampyn then, or Carueƚƚ, saylled thither, & arryued in to the said yle, & some of þem descended & founde many grete fyres & lodgis, and by thexperience that they sawe, they extimed them þat had lodged there to the nombre of xxx thousand̛ men / and that they myght wel haue dwelled þer foure or fyue dayes. For they found without the lodgys grete foyson of oxen hornes & of other bestes. And then they came ayen in to theire Vesseƚƚ, and retourned toward our folke / & recounted to them the trouth of all that they had found. 'By my feith,' said thenne the maister of Rodes, 'I wene they be paynemys that are gooyng toward the sawdan at the siege, and that they whiche ye haue dyscomfyted were of theire felawship, & abode for them in that same yle' / and for certayn they were soo / and of them they sayled & rowed fourth tyl they sawe an abbey on the see coste, where men sought & worshiped saynt Andrew / and men saith that there is the potence or cros wheron the good thef Dysmas was crucefyed whan our lord was nayled to the Cros for our redempcion. 'Sire,' said the maister, 'it were good that we should entre that lytil hauen Vnto tyme that we had sent to Lymasson for to knowe tydinges, & for to wete yf they wyl receyue vs for to putte our nauye in surete within theyre clos.' 'Maister,' said Uryan, 'let it be doon in the name of god after your playsire.' Thenne they arryued, and entred the port or hauen / and sent wordes to thabbot ther, that they shuld not doubte, For they were theire frendes. And the maister of Rodes with other went thider. And whan thabbot & monkes knew the tydinges and the commyng of the two brethern, they were joyous & glad, & sent some of theire bretheren to Lymas to announce & telle þe socours that was arryued at theire porte. Thenne whan a knyght, Captayn of the place, herde these tydinges he was fayn & glad, and made fourthwith a galyotte to be shipped redy, and came toward our folke, and demanded after the lord of that armee /. and he to whome he asked it lede hym where Uryan / Guyon his brother / the master of Rodes, & many other barons were in a ryche pauyllon, that they had don to be dressed on the streyte of the porte / and shewed to hym Vryan that satte on a couche with hym his brother, and the maister of Rodes. And whan he saw hym he was abasshed of the valeur & of the grete fyerste of hym, & neuerþeles he yede & salued hym honourably, and Vryan receyued him goodly & benyngly. 'Sire,' said the Knight, 'ye be welcome in to this land.' 'Fayre sirs,' said Vryan, 'moche grete thankes to you.' 'Sire,' said the knight, 'it is don me to vnderstand that ye departed fro your Countrie to thentent to come ayde & help the king of Cypre.' 'By my feyth,' said Uryan, 'it is troutℏ.' 'Then, sire,' said the knight, 'it is reson that al be open byfore you, where ye wyl by aƚƚ the royalme of Cypre, thrugh aƚƚ tounnes, Cites, & Castels there as ye shal be please to goo, but as to the same, whicℏ is to my ryght redoubted lord the king of cypre, hit shal be soone appareylled & open to you, whan it shaƚƚ lyke you, & also the porte to putte your vessels in sauete.' 'By my feyth,' said Uryan, 'ye say right wel, & gramercy to you. Sire knight, it is tyme to meve, For my brother and I haue grete langyng to approche nygh the paynemys / not for theire prouffyt, but for theire dommage, if it plaise god that we so doo.' 'Sire,' said the knight, 'it is good ye doo to be had out some of your horses as many as it lyke you / and take som of your men with you, and we shaƚƚ goo by land.' 'By my feith,' sayd Uryan, 'ye say right wel' / and thus it was doon / and Uryan made some of hys men to be armed, vnto the nombre of foure hundred gentylmen of the moost hye barons, knightes & squyers. and he himself, & his brother armed them and mounted on horsbak / and the banere dysployed, rode fourth in mocℏ fayre ordynaunce / and the maister of Rodes & the other shipped them on the see & rowed toward the porte. And Vryan and his felawship rode with the said knight that guyded hym so long that they came & entred in to the toune, and were right well lodged. And then came the nauye, & arryued to the porte, and the horses were aƚƚ had out of the shippes, and the folke descendid to land, and lodged them in þe feld without the toune within tentes & pauyllons / and they that had none, made theire lodgis the best wyse they coude. and was moche grete playsaunce to see thoost whan they were alle lodged. The moost hye barons lodgyd them within the toune / and the nauye was draw, & had in to the clos in sauete / and they commytted good folke to deffende & kepe it, yf Sarasyns or paynemys came there for to doo som euyl. Now shal I leue to speke of Uryan, & shal say of the Captayn of the toune that moche wel aduysed thoost and the maynten of the folke, & moche preysed it in his herte / and said wel they were folke of faytte and of grete enterpryse, whan so few peuple enterprysed for to haue the vyctory ouer the sawdan, that had with hym more than houndred thousand paynemys. And for to say trouth, Vryan had not yet comprised the men of the maister of Rodes, eyghte thousand fyghtyng men / and therfore the knight meruaylled, and held it to grete audacite & hardynes of herte, and to grete valyaunce. And whan he considered the grandeur & the facion of Vryan, & the fyerste of hys vysage, and also of guyon hys brother / he said to his folke / 'thoo same are worthy for to subdue & conquere aƚƚ the world.' and he said to hymself, þat god had sent hem thither of his benyng grace for to socoure the kyng, and for to enhaunce the cristen feyth, and that he shuld lete it to be knowen to the kynge by certayn message.

Thystorye sayth that the knight made a lettre, the tenour of whiche conteyned al the matere of Uryan, & of his brother, of theire men, & of theire commyng, and how the two bretheren had to name, and of what countre they were / and syn he called one hys nevew, & said to hym in this manere, 'ye muste bere this lettre to Famagosse, and gyue it to the kyng̘ / and whatsoeuer it happeth that god forbede, but al good to you, nedes ye muste doo it.' 'By my feyth, sire,' said he / 'ye shaƚƚ putte bothe the lettres & myself in grete jeopardye & auenture, For if by some myschief, as it happeth ofte, whereof god preserue me I were taken of our enmyes, of my lyf is nothing / and ye wote it wel / but for the loue of you, myn vncle & of the kyng, to doo hym comfort, & to gyue hym herte & hoop to be putte & delyuered fro hys enemyes, & fro the mortal parel wherin he is now, I shall putte myself in aduenture / and I pray to god deuoutly, that it please hym of his benigne grace to lede me gooyng & commyng in sauete,' / 'Thus owe men to serue theire lord,' said the Captayne, 'and yf god wyl ye shalbe wel rewarded therof.' and anoone he toke the lettre, & delyuered it to his nevew / þat mounted on horsbacke, & rode fourthon his way. But as for now I shaƚƚ reste of hym / and I shal retourne there I lefte to spek of Vryan / and shal say howe he gouerned hymself whiles the messager yede toward the king̘. how wel he knew nat of it. /

Thystory saith that Vryan called to hym the maister of Rodes and the Captayn of the place, and demanded of them thus: 'Fayre lordes, is the sawdan somewhat yong, ne of grete enterpryse' / and they ansuerd̛, 'that ye for certayn' / 'and how,' said Vryan, 'was he neuer byfore this place to make warre than now?' / they ansuerd̛ that, 'nay' / 'and what thenne,' said Vryan, 'hath caused hym to passe the see now? sith he is man of enterpryse, I merveyƚƚ that so long he held hym styl, seeyng ye be his nigℏ neygbours, and also that he hath so grete puissaunce, as it is told me.' 'By my feyth, sire,' said the Captayne, 'it is veray & trouth that our kyng hath a mocℏ fayr doughter of the age of .xv. yere, the whicℏ the saudan wold̛ haue had by force / and our kyng wold not acorde her to hym without he wold be baptysed. And wete it that euer here tofore we had trewes togidre of so long tyme that no mynde is of þe contrarye. and whan the sawdan hath seen that our king wold not graunt to hym his doughter, he sent ageyn to hym the trewes with a deffyaunce or chalengyng, and was redy on the see with a .C. & fyfty thousand paynemys, and came & made soone his harneys to be had out on erthe, & wente and layd siege tofore Famagoce, where he found the kyng all vnpurveyed of his baronye, that knew not of his commyng / but syn there be entred moche folke within the Cite ayenst his euyl gree, & there is now fayre scarmysshing where grete losse hath be on both partes / and syn the paynemyes have refresshed themself twyes of new folke, in so mocℏ that they ben yet wel a .Cml. / but at this last vyage they haue lost a parte of theire shippes & of theire folke, whicℏ they abode fore in the yle of Coles, For one of our galleyes of the blakke hylle that pursyewed them told it to vs, & how they chaced two galleyes of the hospytal of Rodes / and wete it that þey ne wote not where they bycame syn, For they taryed after wel by the space of six dayes in the said yle / but whan they sawe that they came not, they departed thens & came byfore famagoce at siege.' 'By my feyth, sire,' sayd the maister of Rodes, 'this might wel be veray trouth. but see here my lord Vryan and hys brother, that shuld wel ansuere therof, For they haue be aƚƚ dyscomfyted & slayn by theire strengthe & valiauntis, and they haue gyuen to vs theire fustes & their nauye.' 'In good feyth,' sayd the knight, 'that playseth me wel, and blessid be god therof.' 'My lord,' said the Captayn, 'now haue I recounted to you why the werre is meued, and wherefore the saudan of Damaske hath passed the see.' 'In the name of god,' said Vryan, 'loue hath wel so moche & more of puyssaunce than of suche enterpryse to doo. And wete that syn the sawdan is enterprysed of force of loue, the more he is to be doubted / For veray soth it is / that loue hath so moche of myght that it maketh coward to be hardy and to doo right grete enterpryse / & that byfore he durst not passe. And therfore thenne it is aƚƚ certayn to this, that the sawdan is hardy & enterprenaunt the more he doth hym to be doubted / but alwayes be doo the wylle of god. For we shaƚƚ departe hens to the playsire of god to morow by tymes after the deuyne servyce for to goo & vysyte them.' And then he made to be cryed & proclamed with the trompette that euery man shuld make redy hys harneys. and they departed after the thirde sowne of the trompette in goodly & fayre ordynaunce, euerone vnder his banere / and bade them to siew the vanward / and so they dide. here I shaƚƚ leue to spek of them / and shaƚƚ retourne there as I lefte to speke of the Captayns nevew that moche strongly rode toward Famagoce / and so moche exployted his way that he came about midnyght to the Cornere of the wode, vpon a lytil mountayn, & loked doun into the valeye, and then he bygan to perceyue & see the oost of the paynemys, where as was grete lyght of fyres that were made by the lodgys; and he sawe the Cite so aduyronned al about with paynemys, that he ne wyst whicℏ way to draw for to entre the toun. and there he was long tyme in grete þoughte. It happed that about the spryng of the day foure score basynets, straungers of dyuerse nacyons, yssued out at a posterne of the Cyte, & commevyd al thoost by manere of batayƚƚ / and that same ooure the watche departed, & the moost part of them was retourned to theyre lodgis / and they entred in the oost with some of them that had watched without they were ware of hem, & supposed they had be of theire companye, and came nygh to the tente of the sawdan / and thenne they bygan to launche & smyte with speeres & with swerdes on al the paynemys that they mete & recountred / and cutted cordes of pauyllons to grete desray, & made moche horryble occysyon & slaghtir of paynemys after the quantite that they were of. Thenne was al the host afrayd, and bygan to crye alarme & to harneys / then bygan thoost to take on them theire armures. And whan the cristen men sawe force & strengthe of theire enemyes that bygan to ryse, they retourned with a lytel paas toward the Cite, fleeyng & castyng to therthe al that they recountred on theire waye. And whan the messaunger sawe so grete affraye & noyse he cam at al auenture & broched hys hors with the spoorys, and passed without fourth the lodges thrugh out aƚƚ the oost of þe paynemys / and he had not goo long whan he found hymself atwix the Cite & them that so had commoeuyd thoost, as said is. And then he knew them soone ynougℏ that they were of the garnyson of the Cyte, and escryed them, saying: 'ha, ha, fayre lordes, thinke to doo wel, For I bryng you good tydynges; For the floure of the noble cheualrye of Crystyante cometh to socoure & helpe you / that is to wete the two damoyseaulx of Lusynen, that haue dyscomfyted alredy a grete part of the Sodanis folke vpon the see / and they bryng with them wel eyght thousand men. And thenne whan they understode hym they made hym grete chere and were ryght joyfuƚƚ, and entred the toune ayen without eny losse. wherof the sawdan was mocℏ wofuƚƚ & angry. And then he came & bygan the scarmoushe before the barers & many paynemys were there slayn & dede / and they of Cypre made theire enemyes to recule abacke with strengthe / and the saudan made the trompette to sowne & caƚƚ the retrette whan he sawe that he myght doo none other thing. And þen came the said messaunger byfore the kynge, & made the reuerence on hys vnclis byhalue, and presented the lettre. And the kyng receyued hym moche benyngly, & tok away the wax and opend the lettre & sawe the tenour of hit. / and syn heued vp his handes joyntly toward heuen, & said: 'ha, a veray gloryous god, Jhesu Criste, I þank regracye & mercye the ryght deuoutly & humbly of this, that thou hast not forgoten me that am thy pouere creature and thy pouere seruaunt, that haue long tyme lyued here within this Cite in grete doubte & feere, and in grete myserye of my poure lyuyng and my folke also.' And thenne he made to be announced in al the chirches, that they shuld ryng theire belles, & that processyons shuld be made with crosses & baners, and with torches brennyng, lawdyng & preysyng the creator of creatures, prayeng hym moche humbly that he of his mercyfuƚƚ & benynge grace wyl kepe & preserue them fro the handes & daunger of mysbyleuers paynmys. And thanne bygan the ryngyng to be grete, & was the joye ryght grete whan the tydynges of the socours commyng to them was knowen of aƚƚ. And whan the paynemys vnderstode the gladnes & joye that they of the cyte made, they were moche abasshed why they made & demened so grete feeste. 'By my feyth,' sayd the saudan, 'they have herd some tydinges that we wote not / or ellis they doo so for to gyue vs vnderstandyng that they haue folke ynoughe & vytaylles also for to deffende & withstande ayenst vs.' And here resteth thystorye of the soudan & bygynneth to speke of Ermyne the kingis doughtir of Cypre, whicℏ herd there as she was in her chambre the tydynges of the socours that the children of Lusynen brought with them. and the mayde had grete langyng & desyre to knowe the veray trouth of aƚƚ.

The hystorye saith to vs thus / that whan the damoyselle knew of the socours & help that soone she sent for hym that had brought the tydinges therof, and he came to her in hir chambre & made to her the reuerence. 'Frend,' said Ermyne, 'ye be welcome to me; but now teƚƚ me of your tydinges.' and he recounted to her al that was of it. 'Frende,' said the mayde, 'have ye seen that folke that commeth to socoure my fader?' 'By my feyth, ye,' said the messanger, 'they are the moost appert in armes, and the fayrest men that euer entred in to this land, and the best arayed & purueyed of aƚƚ thinges.' 'Now teƚƚ us,' said the damoyselle, 'of what land they are, & who is the chief Captayn & lord of them.' 'By my feyth, my damoyselle, they be of Poytou, and lede them two yong & fayre damoyseaulx brethren, that be named of Lusynen, of whiche theldest is called Vryan, & that youngest Guyon, which have not yet berde fuƚƚ growen.' 'Frende,' said the damoyselle, 'be they so fayre damoyseaux as ye say?' 'By my feyth,' said the messager / 'the eldest is moche grete & hye, strong & of fayre behauyng & maynten, but hys vysage is short & large in trauerse / and hath one eye redde, & that other ey is perske & blew, and the eerys grete to merueyƚƚ. and wete it wel that of membres & of body he is the fayrest knight that euer I sawe / and the yongest is not of so hye stature / but he is moche fayre & wel shapen of membres, & hath a face to deuyse, except that one of his eyen is hyer sette than the other is. and saye alle that see them, that they be worthy & noble to conquere & subdue vnder them aƚƚ the world.' 'Frende,' sayd Ermyne, 'shaƚƚ ye goo agayn soone toward them.' And he ansuerd, 'my damoyselle, assoone as I may haue tyme & place conuenable & propyce for to yssue & go out of the Cite, and that I see I may goodly escape fro the paynemys.' 'Frend,' said the damoyselle, 'ye shal on my behalue salue the yong brethern, and ye shaƚƚ delyuere to the eldest this oucℏ and telle hym bere it for the loue of me / and this ryng of gold with this dyamond ye shal take to þe lesse, and ye shaƚƚ salew hym moche on my byhalf.' And ansuered, 'my damoyselle, I shall doo it righte gladly.' He thanne departed fro her & came to the king that had doon writ his ansuere in a lettre, and made grete foyson of men of armes to arme them redyly, and them made he to yssue couertly out of the cyte and entred in to the oost / and or the oost were armed they adommaged them sore. And þen yssued paynemys out of theire tentes without eny aray, that rechaced them vnto the barrers, where they had grete scarmusshyng & fyers, and many men slayn & wounded of bothe partes. Aƚƚ thoost arryued where the scarmusshing was / and ther whyles was the said messanger putte out of the Cite att another gate, a bow shotte fro al the oost, so that he was nat perceyued. And thenne he rode hastly toward hys vncle. For moche he langed that he myght there be arryued for to shew hym aƚƚ the tydyinges. And dured not long the scarmoushe, For the sawdan made it to be cessed, For he sawe wel that he shuld more lese there than wyne. Now I shal leue to speke of this forsaid matere / and shaƚƚ retourne to speke of Vryan & of his brother.

In this parte telleth thistory that Uryan dide hys trompettes to be blowen at the spring of the day, & roos & commanded euery man to appareyƚƚ hym, and put saddelles on theire horses / and soone after the two brethern herd theire masse, & semblably dyde the other prynces & barons / and after the masse Vryan made to crye, that who wold drynk ones shuld drynk, and that ootis shuld be gyuen to the horses, and that at the other tyme that the trompette shuld be blowen, eueryman shuld be redy that was of the Vanwarde. And they beying in sucℏ estate, the Capteyns nevew arryued there, and delyuered the lettre to hys vncle, that the kyng had taken to hym / and the Captayn toke & kyssed it fourthwith, opend̛ it, and sawe by the tenour of it how the kyng commanded hym to putte bothe the fortresse and the toune at the wyƚƚ & commandement of the two bretheren. Also that he shuld commande to aƚƚ good tounnes, Castels, Fortresses, portes, hauens, & passages that they shuld gyue them entre & soiourne, and that they shuld obey to them. And whan the Captayn sawe & vnderstode aƚƚ þe substance & matere of it, he shewed the lettre to Vryan, & to guyon hys brother, the whiche redde it; & whan they knew the tenour of it they called to them the captayn, the maister of Rodes, & the two knightes, that had anounced to them thauenture of the siege, and redde to them the lettre on hye. 'Thenne,' said Uryan to the Captayn, 'we thanke moche the king of the worship that he doth to vs / but as to vs, our entencyon is not to entre in to thoos tounes ne castelles, yf we may goodly passe without fourth, For we thinke to kepe the feldes, yf god wyl, & make good werre ayenst the sodan, but telle vs what nombre of men may yssue out of aƚƚ your garnysons the Fortresses alwayes kept / and wete it þat force is to vs to knowe it / and yf they be men of whom we dare trust and be assured / For god before we tende & purpose to gyue bataylle to the Sawdan, & to putte to termynacioun, & ende this warre. For therfore are we come hither.' 'By my faith,' said the Captayn, 'that shal be hard to doo, For þe paynemys are in nombre wel CML and more.' 'Care you not, therefore,' said Vryan, 'For we haue good right in oure caas / they are come vpon vs without cause / and though we had goon on them vnto theire owne lande, we ought to doo soo, For they are enemyes of god / and doubteles though they be of grete nombre to the regarde of our felawship / yet one grayne of peper alone smertith more on mans tonge than doth a sacke fuƚƚ of whette / ne victorye also lyeth not in grette multitude of peuple / but in good rule & ordynaunce. And wel it is trouth that Alexander, that subdued so many & dyuerse landes, wold not haue with hym aboue the nombre of xxti thousand fyghtyng men for one journey ayenst aƚƚ the world. And thanne whan the Captayne herd hym speke so valyauntly, he held it to grete wele & valeur, and thoughte he was wel able & worthy to conquere & subdue many landes, and said to hym in this manere: 'Sire, I shaƚƚ enforce your oost with foure thousand fighting men, and of two thousand brygandyners & crosbowes, & other.' 'By my feyth,' said Vryan, 'that is ynoughe / now doo that we may haue hem to half a journey nygh oure enemyes,' and he ansuerd there shuld be no fawte of it. And then came there the Captayns nevew, and kneled byfore Vryan & Guyon, and said to them in this manere: 'Noble damoyseaulx / the moost fayre mayde / & the moost noble that I knowe salueth you bothe, and sendeth you of her jewels' / and thenne he toke the ouche of gold that was sette with many a ryche & precyous stone / and said thus to Vryan: 'Sire, hold & receyue this ouche of Ermynes byhalf, doughter to my liege lord the kyng̘, that requyreth & besecheþ you to were it on you for her sake.' Vryan toke it joyously, and made it to be attached & sette it on his cotte of armes, and said to hym: 'My frende, right grete thankes & thousand mercys to the damoyselle tha so moche honour sheweth to me / Wete it that I shaƚƚ kepe it moche dere for her sake / and gramercy to you messanger & brynger of it.' And after he presented and toke to Guyon the ring on the forsaid damoysellis byhalf / and that she prayed hym to bere it for the loue & sake of her / And guyon ansuerd that so shuld he doo, and putte it on his fynger / and thanked moche the damoyselle / and þe messager also / and the brethern gaf moche ryche yeftis to the same messager. And soone after the trompette blew, and eueryman putte hym self fourth on hys way. and there myght men be seen in fayre & good ordynaunce. And the Captayn sent to aƚƚ the Fortresses & tounes, and made to yssue out & assemble togidre aƚƚ the men of armes / and wel were of them aboue the nombre that the Captayn had sayd to the two bretheren fyue hondred more. Vryan thenne lodged hym and hys felawship on a lytil ryuere / and on the morne erly they departed, and went fourth tyl they came a lytil byfore mydday, in a fayre medowe, nygh to a grete ryuere / and there were foyson of trees / also there was a quarter of a leghe thens a grete bridge, where they muste passe / and fro that bridge vnto Famagoce were but seuen leghes / and there made Vryan hys folke to be lodged, and said he wold abyd̛ þere the said Captayn and his men that he shuld bring with hym. There they laye that nyght, and abode tyl the morne noone. but alwayes some knightes were goon for theire dysporte vnto the said bridge, and aspyed there about xv men of armes that were descended therat / and had theire speeris in theire fystes, and the salades after the guyse that they armed them in that Countre / and of anoþer syde they sawe come about foure houndred men of armes, that peyned them self moche for to passe ouer for to greve them of the other side / thanne came one of our Knightes that escryed them, & demanded of them what they were / and one of them ansuerd, 'we are Cristen / and they that ye see at the other side of the watre are paynemys, that come for fourrage about the Countre / they haue mete & faught with vs, and they haue slayn wel an C good men that were of our felawship.' 'Now, fayre lordes,' said oure knyght, 'yf ye can hold you, ye shal soone haue socours & ayde.' And thenne the knight broched hys hors, and waloped toward hys felawes, and recounted to them shortly aƚƚ thauenture. And whan they vnderstode this they hastly came to the oost, and mete with xxti crosbowes men, to whom they bade they shuld hye þem toward the bridge for to help the xv men of armes that were there ayenst thenmyes. And whan they vnderstode this they walked fast, & cam nigℏ to the bridge, and sawe thre cristen that were ouerthrawen on the bridge by strokkes of speerys. 'Fourth,' said then one of them, 'we tary to longe / perceyue you not how this Dogges oppressen vylaynly these valyaunt & worthy crystens?' / and anone they bended þeir crosbowes, & shot aƚƚ at ones / and ouerthrewe doun on the bridge fro theire horses with that first shotte xxiiti paynemys. Whan the mysbyleuers paynemys sawe this they were sore abasshed, and withdrew themself somwhat backward fro the bridge. Thenne yede the cristen men, and releuyd vp their felawes that were ouerthrawen on the bridge / and thenne they made grete joye & toke good herte / and the Crosbowe men shote so ofte & so strong, that there ne was so bold a paynem that durst putte his foot on the bridghe / but made to come there theire archers, & thenne bygan the scarmusshing strong & grete and moche mortal. but betre had be to the paynemys that they had withdrawe them self apart, For the knightes came to the oost and reherced to Uryan the tydinges therof, the whiche mocℏ appertly armed hymself, and made hastly a thousand men of armes to take theire harneys on them, & rode forth toward the bridge / and ordeyned another thousand men of armes, & C crosbowe men to folowe hym, yf he nede had of them / aud commanded that all the oost shuld be in ordynaunce of batayƚƚ, & betoke it to the kepyng & gouernaunce of guyon his brother, and of the maister of Rodes. Uryan thanne made the standarde to passe fourth rydyng in batayƚƚ moche ordynatly / and was Vryan before, hauying a staf on hys fyste, & held them wel togidre, and so vnyed, that one marched nothing afore that other. But or they were come to the bridge there were come eight thousand paynemys, that moche strongly oppressed our folke, and had putte them almost fro the bridge. but anoone came there Vryan, whiche alyghted / toke hys speere, & so dyde hys folke moche appertly / and made hys banere to be dysployed abrode / and were the crosbowe men on bothe sydes of hym vpon the bridge / and then they marched fourth, and bygan to oppresse and rebuke sore the paynemys, and made them to withdrawe bakkwarde. And there Vryan cryed 'Lusynen' with a hye voys & lowde, and yede & marched ayenst hys enemys, hys banere euer byfore hym. and hys men after that assaylled the fals dogges moche asprely, Whiche of the other syde bygan to launche & to smyte. Uryan smote a paynem on þe brest with hys speere so demesurably, that hys spere apered at back syde of hym. they medled them fyersly togidre. but at last the paynemys lost the bridge, and many of them feƚƚ doun in to the ryuere. And thenne passed the crystens the bridge lyghtly / and there bygan the baytayƚƚ moche cruel, For many were there sore hurte & slayn on both partyes. but euer the paynemys were putte abak, & lost moche of ground. Vryan made to passe the horses, for wel he perceyued that his enemyes wold mounte on theire horses to putte them self to flyght. Thenne came the arregarde that asprely passed ouer the bridge / and whan the paynemys perceyued them they were sore affrayed / and who that myght flee, fledd toward theire folke that lede theyre proye, oxen, kyn & shep, swynes & othre troussage. Uryan than lepte on horsback, and made hys folke to doo soo, & commanded the arrergarde that passed them ouer the bridge, that they shuld folowe hym in fayre ordynaunce of bataylle / and so they dyde / and Uryan & hys folke chaced the paynemys that fledd sore chaffed & aferd, For al they that were by Uryan, & they of hys felawship atteyned, were putte to deth / and endured the chasse with grete occysyon & slaghter þe space of fyue ooures & more. And thenne the paynemys ouertoke theyre folke, & made them to leue behynd them alle theyre proy, & came vpon a grete mountayne toward Famagoce / and þer the paynemys reassembled, & putte them self in ordynaunce. but there came Vryan & his folke, theire speris on theire fystes alowe / at that recountryng were many one slayn & wounded sore, of one syde & of other / the paynemys susteyned the stoure strongly, For they were a grete nombre of folke. but Uryan assaylled them vygourously / and so moche he dide there of armes that aƚƚ were abasshed, and had grete wonder of it. Then came thither the arregarde that was of a thousand men of armes, & C crosbowe men whicℏ entred, & marched sodaynly vpon theyre enemyes, & faught so strongly that the paynemys were putte abacke, & lost ground. and so fyersly was shewed there the cheualry & hardynes of Cristen folke, that soone they had the vyctory, and putte theyre enmys to flight, of whiche lay dede on the place foure thousand & more, without them that were slayn at forsayd bridge / and the chasse endured vnto nygh the oost & siege of the paynemys. Thenne Vryan made hys folke to withdrawe them, and ledd with them the proye that the paynemys had lefte behynd. And thus within a short while they eslongyd ferre one fro other / and our folke retourned to the bridge / and the paynemys went fourth to theire oost cryeng alarme. Wherfore euery man went to harneys, & yssued out of theire tentes / and thenne one of them recounted to the sawdan all thaduenture þat happed to them. And whan the sawdan herd of it, he wondred mocℏ who might haue brought þat folke, that so grete harme & dommage had born vnto hym. Thanne was there grete affray in thoost, & grete noyse of trompettes. Wherof they of the Cite merueylled what thing it might be, & armed them self / and eueryone was in his garde / and there came to the gate one of the knightes that were at forsayd brydge, whiche had putte hym in auenture to passe thrugh aƚƚ thoost, and knewe the convyne of one parte & of other, also the grete fayttes of armes that Vryan had don / he escryed hye with a lowde voys / 'open the gate! For I bring you good tydynges.' And thenne they demanded of hym what he was / and he ansuerd, 'I am one of the knightes of the fortres of the blak mountayne.' And thanne they opend the gate, and he entred, and they ledd hym toward the king̘, that soone knew hym. For other tyme he had seen hym. The knight then enclyned hym before the king, and made to hym the reuerence / and the kinge receyued hym moche benyngly / and demanded to hym som tydynges; and he reherced to hym worde by word̛ all the faytte / and how Vryan dyde, & had rescued the proye / also of thauenture of the bridge, and alle other thinges, & how hys entencion & wylle was for to gyue batayƚƚ to the sawdan, and to reyse the siege / & that shortly / · 'By my feyth,' sayd the kyng, 'that man ought me god wyƚƚ, for to rescue my land of the fel & cruel dogges paynemys / and for the holy feyth crysten to susteyne & enhaunse / and, certaynly, I shaƚƚ to morne doo fele to the sawdan þat my socour & help is nygh redy to my behauf & playsire, & that I doubte hym not of nothing.' 'My frende,' said the kyng to the knyght, 'goo & say these good tydynges to my doughter.' 'Sire,' said the knight, 'right gladly.' Then came he in to the chambre where the mayde was, and moche humbly salued her, and rehersed to her aƚƚ the auenture. 'How, sire knight,' said she, 'were ye at that bataylle?' 'By my feyth, damoyselle,' ansuerde the knight, 'ye.' 'And how,' sayd she, 'that knyght that hath so straunge a face, is he such a fyghter as men saye?' 'By my feyth, my damoyselle, ye more than a houndred tymes / For he ne dreddeth no man, al be he neuer so grete & so pusyssaunt. And wete it what that men saye to you of hym / he is one of the moost preu & hardy knightes that euer I sawe in my lyf.' 'By my feyth,' sayd the damoyselle, 'yf he had now hyerid you for to preyse & speke wel of hym, he hath wel employed hys coste.' 'By my feyth, my damoyselle, I spake neuer with hym. but yet he is betre worthy than I telle you.' Then she ansuered to the knight, 'goodnes & bounte is betre than fayrenes & beaulte.' And here leueth thystorye to speke of the mayde / and retourneth to Vryan, þat abode at the bridge, and founde hys oost lodged at this syde of the bridge / And also the Captayne þat had brought the men of armes, that he leuyed fro the garnysons & fortresses vnto the nombre of VML men of armes, with two thousand V. C. crosbowe men / and also there were many footmen / And þey were alle lodged in the medowe at the other syde of the ryuere. Where Vryan found his pauyllon dressed vp / and the other that had be at the pursyewte & chaas of the paynemys, they lodged þem that nyght the best wyse they coude, & made good watche. And here resteth thystory therof, and bygynneth to speke of the kyng of Cypre, that was moche joyous & glad of the socours that was come to hym / and regracyed deuoutely our lord of it / and in that party passed the nyght. But who someuer was glad that was Ermyne, For she coude not by no manere in the world haue out of her thoughte Vryan, and desired moche to see hym for the well that it was said of hym / in so moche that she said in herself, that yf he now had the vysage more straunge & more contrefaytte than he had / yet he is wel shappen for his proesse & bounte to haue the doughtir of the moost high kynge in the world to hys paramour. And so thoughte the damoyselle al the nyght on Vryan, For loue by hys grete power had broughte her therto. Here resteth thystorye to speke of her, & bygynneth to speke of the kyng her fader.

The hystorye recounteth here, that on the morne at the spryng of the day, the kynge had hys folke aƚƚ redy, & yssued out of the Cyte with a thousand men of armes, and wel a thousand of Crosbowemen; and some brygandyners were embusshed at bothe thendes of the barrers, for to helpe & socoure hym yf he were to moche oppressyd by the paynemys. And þen the king entred in to thoost, & bare grete dommage to hys enemys. For he had commanded vpon peyne of deth that none shuld take eny prysoner, but that they shuld putte aƚƚ to deth / and this dide he for cause they shuld not tende to the dyspoylle & proye, and that at laste he myght gader them ayen togidre for to withdrawe them without ony losse. And then the oost began to be mevyd / and who best coude of the paynemys came to the medlee. And whan the king perceyued that they cam with puyssaunce, he remysed hys folke togidre, and made to withdraw them al the lytil pas, and came behynde, the swerd in his fyst. And whan he sawe a knight approuche, he retourned & made hym to recule abacke. but yf he atteyned hym, he chastysed hym so that he no more had langyng to siew hym. And there the kynge dide so wel & so valyauntly, that euery one sayd he was moche preu & worthy of his hand / and there ne was so hardy payneme that oo stroke durst abyde. Then came the Sawdan with a grete route of paynemes, armed on a grete hors, that held a dart envenymed. And thanne whan he aspyed the king, that so euyl demened his folke, he cast at hym the darte yre, & hytte hym at the synester syde, in suche wyse that he perced hym thrugh & thrughe, For hys harneys coude neuer waraunt hym / And soone after the kyng felt grete anguysshe, and drew the dart out of hys syde, and supposed to haue cast it agayn to the Sawdan / but the Sawdan tourned hys hors so appertly that the dart flougℏ besyde hym, & smote a payneme thrugℏ the body in suche wyse that he feƚƚ doune dede. And whan the sawdan, that ouermoche had auaunced hym self, wende to haue retourned, the kynge smote hym with his swerd vpon the heed of hym, that he ouerthrew hym to therthe. Thenne cam the paynemes there so strong that they made the kynge & hys folke to withdraw backe / and thenne was the sawdan redressed & remounted agayn vpon a grete hors. And thenne was þe prees grete, and the paynemes were strong / in so moche that they made the kyng & his folke to withdrawe vnto theire barrers. Thanne bygan the Cypryens, that kept the passage there, to shote & to launche on the paynemes so strong that they dyed the place with the blood of theire enemyes. but so strong were the paynemys, that they gaynstode the crysten / and also the king had lost moche of hys blood, & wexed feble, and hys folke bygane to be abasshed. And how be it that the king suffred moche dolour & peyne, neuertheles he resioysshed moche hys peuple & encouraged them, and so moche they dide that the fals paynemes might gete nothing on them / but that they lost twyes asmoche more / and was the scarmusshing moche fyers & peryllous. And thus the kyng of Cypre, by hys valyaunce & noble herte, recomforted his folke. and thougℏ he felt grete peyne & woo, he fuƚƚ wel remysed hys folke into the toune. And it was grete meruayƚƚ how so grete a lord, wounded to the deth, myght sytte on horsbake / but the stroke was noþing mortaƚƚ but for the venyme, For the dart was envenymed / and wel it appered within a lytil tyme after, For he deyde of that same stroke. but for certayn he had the herte so full of valiauntnes, as the faytte shewed it, that he ne dayned not make signe of eny bewayllyng before his folke, vnto tyme that one of the barons perceyued aƚƚ his senyster syde dyed with bloode / the whiche Baron sayd to the king: 'Sire, ye abyde to long here / come & make your folke to withdrawe them in to the toune or it be more late, For the nyght approucheth / to thende that your enmyes putte not them self thrughe the medlee emong̘ vs.' The kyng, whiche felt grete sorowe, ansuerd to hym thus: 'Doo therof after your wylle.' This knyght thenne made a houndred men of armes, that were reffresshed, to come before the barryere, & made to bygynne ayen the scarmusshing with an C crosbowe men; and so were the paynemes sette abacke, wherof the sawdan was fuƚƚ of grete anger, and escryed to hys folke: 'fourth lordes & barons, peyne your self to doo wel, For the toune shalbe oures this day: hit may not escape vs.' And thenne enforced ayen the medlee. And there ye had see wel assaylled & ryght wel deffended, of that one part & of that other. But whan the kinge of Cypre sawe that the paynemes strengthed them soo, he toke courage grete, & ranne vpon them vygourously / and there he suffred so moche peyne þat aƚƚ the synewes of hys body were open, wherof, as some sayen, his lyf was shorted / and by that same enuahisshing were putte aback the paynemes, & many of them wer slayn & sore wounded. The nyght thenne approuched, and was nygh / and grete harme & losse was there of botℏ partes. but alwayes the paynemes withdrew them vnto theire oost, For the king encouraged hys folk soo that they ne doubted no stroke nomore than yf þey had be of yron or of stele. And whan the paynems were departed, the kinge & hys folke retourned in to the toune. And whan they knew the euyl auenture of theire king, they beganne to sorowe & to make grete dueil. And the kynge, that sawe this, sayd to them: 'My good folke, make no suche waymenting̘ ne sorowe, but thinke wel to deffende you ayenst the Sawdan / and god our sauyour shalbe at your ayde & helpe, For yf it playse hym I shaƚƚ soone be heelid.' Thenne was the peuple peased ayen. but neuerþeles, the kyng that said suche wordes for to resioysshe hys peuple, felt in hym self that he coude not escape fro deth. And thenne he commanded to his folke they shuld make good watche, and gaf hem leue, & came to the palleys, and there alyghted & yede in to hys chambre / And thenne came hys doughter, that somwhat had vnderstand of hys mysauenture. but whan she perceyued that hys harneys was aƚƚ rede with bloode, and sawe his wounde, she feƚƚ doun in a swoune, & lay as she had be deed. Thenne commanded the kynge that she shuld be borne in to her chambre / and so it was doon. After the Cyrurgiens came to see the kingis wounde, and was leyed on his backe along his beed / and they told hym that he was saaf fro pareƚƚ of deth, and that he shuld not be abasshed. 'By my feyth,' said the kynge, 'I wote wel how it is with me / the wylle of god be doo / hit may not be kepte so secretly but that it shalbe knowen thrughe the Cyte.' And thenne byganne þe sorowe moche grete among the Cytezeyns & peple of the Cyte, and more without comparacion than it was byfore. But here resteth thystorye of the kynge & of the siege / and shal speke of Vryan and of his brother, and how they exployted afterward. /

In this parte, saith thystorye, that on the morow erly, that was thursday, was Vryan after hys masse herde byfore hys tente / and there he made come, one aftir other, aƚƚ the Captayns & chieftayns with theire penons & standarts, and theire folke vnder them al armed of aƚƚ pieces, for to behold & vysyte theire harneys, yf eny thing̘ wanted / as wel the straungers / as hys owne folke / and beheld wel the mayntene & contenaunce of them. And after this was doo he made them to be nombred / and they were founde by extymacion about ix. or ten thousaund fyghting men. Thenne said to them Vryan: 'Lyste, aƚƚ fayre lordes, we are here assembled for to susteyne the feyth of Jeshu cryste, of the whiche he vs alle hath regenered and saued / as eche of vs knoweth wel ynoughe how he suffred cruel deth for the loue of vs, to thende he shuld bye vs ayen fro the peynes of helle. Wherfore lordis, seen & considered in our hertes that he hath doon to vs suche a grace, we ought not to reffuse the deth, or such auenture as he shal gyue vs, for to deffende & susteyne the holy sacrements that he hath admynystred vs for the saluacion of our sowles / thougℏ that we now haue adoo with strong partye. For our enmys ben tene ayenst one to the regarde of vs / but what therof we haue good ryght, For they are come to assayll vs without cause vnto our right herytage / and also we ought not to resoyngne ne dylaye therfore. For Jhesu Criste toke alone the warre for our redempcion, And by hys deth alle good folke that kepen his comman-dements shal be saued. ye oughte thenne to vnderstand aƚƚ certaynly, that alle thoo that shuƚƚ dye in this quarelle, mayntenyng & enhaunsyng the feyth, shal be saued, & shal haue the glorye of Paradys / And þerfore, fayre lordes, I tell you in generaƚƚ that I haue entencyon, god byfore, to meve presently for to approche our enemys, and to fyght with them as soone as I may. Wherfore, I praye you frendly, that yf there be ony man in this place that feleth not his herte ferme & stedfaste for to withstande & abyde thauenture, sucℏ as it shal playse to god to send vs / that he withdrawe hym self apart fro other, For by one only Cowarde & feynted herte is sometyme lefte & loste al a hoole werke. and wete it that, al thoo that wyl not comme with theire good wyƚƚ, as wel of my folke as of other, I shaƚƚ gyue them money ynoughe & syluer for theyre sustenaunce & fyndyng for to passe ouer the see ayen.' After these wordes he made hys banere to be dressed a bowe shote fro the valey, vpon the mounteyne, and ordeyned hys brother Guyon for to hold & bere it / and after he said, al on hye, in heryng of hys folke / 'Aƚƚ they that entenden, & haue deuocion for to auenge the deth of Jeshu criste, to thenhaunsyng of the holy feyth cristen, Also to ayde & helpe the kynge of Cypre, lete hym withdrawe hym self vnder my banere / and they that ben of contrary wyƚƚ, lete them passe ouer at the oþer syde of the bridge.' Thanne whan the noble hertes herde hym saye thoo wordes. they held it to grete wysedome of hym, & of grete prowesse & worthynes, & went alle in a companye togider vnder his banere, wepyng for Joye & for pyte of the wordes that Vryan had said / ne none delayed ne taryed for nothing, but yede aƚƚ vnder hys banere, as said is / Thenne was moche gladde Vryan, and joyous, and anone he made his trompettes to be blowen vp, and all was troussed & putte them self on theire way. And thanne the maister of Rodes, and the Captayne of Lymasson putte them self assembled togidre, and rode in fayre batayƚƚ, And said wel that ayenst Vryan and his folke no man shal endure / And thus they rode tyl they came nygh to the mountayne / and as half way to the place where the batayƚƚ had be the day byfore. 'By my feyth, lordes,' sayd Vryan, 'there nygh that yond ryuere were good that we went to be there lodged tyl we were refresshed. And in the meane while we shal see and aduyse how we shaƚƚ for the moost surest way hyndre & adommage our enmyes' / And they ansuerd that so was good to doo. They went thenne aƚƚ togider, to thende they were not founde abrode, & lodged þem self there. Now leueth here of them thystorye / and bygynneth to speke of the Sawdan. /

ON the morne next, about the hooure of tierce, was the spouse appareylled & rychely arayed, and the chappeƚƚ nobly hanged with riche cloth of gold, And the Archebysshop of Famagoce espoused them there. And after came Vryan before the kyng that toke the Crowne, and ther withaƚƚ crouned vryan, that moche of thankes rendred to the kynge therfore. Thenne called the king to hym aƚƚ the barons of þe lande / and commanded them to make theire hommage to kyng Vryan, his sone / and they voluntarily dide soo. And the masse than bygan, and after it was doo they satte at dyner / and syn bygan the feste right grete, and endured tyl euen / and after souper begane ayen the feste / and whan tyme was the spouse was lede to bed / and anone aftir Vryan layed hym self by her / and the bysshop came & halowed the bed / And so thenne aƚƚ departed / some went to bed / and some retourned ayen for to daunce. And Vryan laye with his wyf, and her acqueyntaunce toke curtoysly & wel / And on the morne they came ayen tofore the kynge / the masse anoone was bygone. And thither was the queene conueyed & lede of guyon her brother, and by one of the moost highe barons of the lande.

In this parte sheweth vs thistorye, that on þe next morne after about the hooure of pryme, kyng vryan acompanyed with the baronnye of poytou and of the royalme of Cipre, came byfore the king and enclyned hym self & salued hym right humbly. 'Fayre sone, ye be welcome,' said the kyng. 'I am fuƚƚ joyous of your commyng / make my doughter to come, so shul we here the deuyne seruyse.' Thenne came his doughtir Ermyne, wel nobly acompanyed of many ladyes & damoyselles / and she come byfore her fader & salued hym full humbly. Thenne said he to her: 'My wel beloued doughter, ye be welcome. I am right wel joyous whan god hath don to me suche a grace, that I have purueyed you of so hye a prynce & worthy knyght to your lord / and wete it that therfore I shal dey more easely sith that you and al my land is out of the daunger of the paynemes, and no doubte ye haue to your protection and wraunt a prynce worthy & valyaunt, that right wel shal kepe and defende you ayenst aƚƚ your euyl willers, and in especial anenst thinfideles & enemys of Ieshucrist.' And with that worde the Chapelayn bygan the masse. And whan the masse was celebred & said, the kyng callid to hym Vryan & Ermyne, & to them said in this manere: 'My fayre children, ryght affettuously I pray you that ye thinke to loue, kepe, and honoure wel eche other / and to hold & bere good feyth one to other, For nomore I may hold you companye. Now thanne I recommande you to the blysfuƚƚ kyng of heuen, prayeng hym deuoutely that he gyue you peas & loue togidre, and honourable lyf & long.' And with these or semblable wordes he shette hys eyen and departed fro this mortal lyf so swetly that they supposed that he had be aslepe / But whan they were certayn of his deth the douleur & sorowe bygan to be grete. Thenne was Ermyne had in to her Chambre, For she demened sucℏ sorowe that grete pite it was to see. The kynge thenne was buryed and his obsequyes doon ryally, and in the moost honourable guyse that coude be deuysed after the vse and custome of the land. And wete it that aƚƚ the peple was sorowfuƚƚ & dolaunt; but they took comfort of this, that they had founde & recouered a lord ful of so grete prowesse as Vryan was / and lytel & lytil cessed the lawmenting & heuynes. And soone after yede Vryan thrugh al his realme to see and visite the places & fortres / and betoke one part of his folke to Guyon, his brother / and another part to the maister of Rodes, and made them to be shipped on the see, for to wete & knowe, for to here & knowe yf they shuld here ony tydynges that paynemes were on the see for to lande in his lande. 'For wete it wel,' said the king̘ vryan, 'that we purpose ne think not to abyde vnto tyme they fetche vs, For we shaƚƚ god before goo & vysyte them within short tyme, after that we haue ouerseen the rule & gouernaunce of our land.' And forasmocℏ departed Guyon & the maister of Rodes, & rowed on the see with thre thousand fyghting men. And here leueth thistorye of them / and bygynneth to shewe how Vryan & Ermyne went and vysited theire land.

The kyng̘ thenne, whicℏ was a valyaunt man & strong̘, cryed with a hye voys 'Anssay, Anssay, lordes & barons be not abasshed, For the batayƚƚ is oures' / and at his callyng̘ his peuple toke courage, & assembled them self ayen togidre about theire kynge, and made a fyers enuahye vpon the poyteuyns / there was many man slayn / hewen & sore hurte with grete doleur. That mornyng̘ was fayre & clere, & the soonne shoone bright vpon the helmets / and caused the gold & syluer ther on to resplendysshe, that fayre it was to see. And they of the toune that herde this grete affray, toke theire armes; & eche of them made good watche, For they were ryght ferdfuƚƚ & doubtous of treson. And the knyght whicℏ anounced to them the socours of the two breþern̄ was with the pucelle Crystyne in a hye toure, & loked out at a wyndowe / and he knew wel that it was Anthony & Regnald, that were come for to fight ayenst the king̘ and his peple, & anon called with an hye voys, 'My lady, cōme hither & see the floure of knyghthod̛, of prowesse & hardynes / cōme & see honour in his siege royaƚƚ, & in his mageste / cōme & see the god of armes in propre figure.' 'Frend,' said the pucelle / 'what is that ye say to me?' 'I calle you,' sayd the knight, 'to come hither & see the flour of noblesse & of aƚƚ curtoysye, that frofor ferre land is come hither for to fyght with your enemyes for to kepe your honour, your lande, & your peple / this are the two children of Lusynen, that be cōme for to deffend you ayenst the king̘ of Anssay & aƚƚ his puyssaunce, and to putte theire honour & lyf in auenture for to kepe your honour sauf.' Thenne came the mayde at the wyndowe, & beheld the mortal batayƚƚ & horryble medlee / sayeng in this manere: 'O Veray god, what shaƚƚ doo this pouere orphenym / bettre it had be that I had drowned myself, or that I had be putte to deth in some other wyse, or elles that I had be deed whan I yssued out of my moders wombe / than so many creatures shuld be slayne & perysshe for myn owne synne.' Moche dolaunt & heuy was the yong̘ damoyselle of the grete myschief that she sawe, For in certayn thoccysyon was grete on botℏ partyes, For the king recomforted his peuple by his wo[r]þy contenaunce & valyaunt maynten; For with his propre swerd̛ he mocℏ adommaged his enemys poyteuyns. But Anthony, seeyng the grete dommage that the kynge bare vpon his peple / he was dysplaysed with, & sayd in hym self: 'By my feyth, thy lyf or myn shal not be long̘, For rather I wold dey than to suffre & see my peuple so murdryd before me.' Thenne he sporyd hys hors / and fyersly as a lyon rane vpon the king̘. and with his swerd̛ of stele smote hym vpon the hyest part of his helmet by suche strengtℏ & vertue that he made hym to be enclyned vpon þe hors neck, so sore astonyed that he ne wyst wheþer it was nyght or day, nor he had no force ne power to helpe ne redresse hymself vpward / and Anthony that this sawe, putte his swerd̛ in the shethe ayen; & toke the king by the middes of the body / drew hym fro the hors, & so rudely cast hym to therthe that vnnethe hys herte brake within his bely / and after toke hym to foure knightes, and charged them on theire lyues that they shuld kepe hym, so that þey myght ansuere hym of it. And they said that so shuld they doo / and they thanne bonde hym & lede hym out of the batayƚƚ, and called xxvti archers with them. And after these thinges thus doon Anthony retourned in the prees, callyng̘ 'Lusynen' with a hye voys, & said: 'Now lordes & barons, gyue grete strokes, & spare none, For the journey is ours thankyng̘ be to god; For I haue take the kynge of Anssay my prysonner, that so grete vylonny haþ don to the gentyl pucelle Cristyne.' Thenne was the medlee rude & paryllous / and there dide the bretheren so moche of armes, that al tho that saw them said that they sawe neuer two so valyaunt knyghtes. What shuld preuayƚƚ you long compte. Whan the Anssays peuple knew that theire kynge was take, they neuer syn made no deffense / but wer alle outhre slayne or take. And there gate the poytevyns grete conqueste & noble proye, and lodged them self in the pauyllons & tentes of the king of Anssay & of hys peple. And was the kinge brought in Anthonys tente, whicℏ a lytel byfore was hys owne propre tente; wherfore the king̘ myght not hold his owne tonge, but said: 'By my feyth, damoyseaulx, wel sayth he trouth that sayth / "that god doth / he doth anoone" / For this day, in the mornyng, men had doo here within but lytel for your commandement.' 'Sire,' sayd Anthony, 'your folyshnes & synne is cause therof; For tofore ye wold rauysshe by force the pucelle Crystyne lady of this toune / but therof ye shaƚƚ be payed after your deserte, For I shal yeld your self vnder her subgection.' Thenne whanne the kyng̘ vnderstode hym, he was shamfast & woofuƚƚ / and as dysolate & dyscomfyte, fuƚƚ heuyly ansuerd̛ in this manere: 'Sith now it is thus vnfortunatly happed with me, rather I wyl dey than to lyue.' 'Nay,' sayd Anthony, 'ye shal delyuere your self / no doubte of / vnto þe mercy & subgection of the pucelle.'

Thystorye sayth that a messager came to Lucembourgh fro the kyng̘ Federyk of behayne, that was moche valyaunt & a true man, whiche ryght strong̘ susteyned the feyth catholicaƚƚ ayenst the Sarasyns / It is so that the paynemes entred in to his land / and seeyng hym self not puyssaunt ynougℏ for to gyue them iourney of batayƚƚ, drew hym self & his peple with hym in to hys toune of Praghe / and had this kyng̘ Federyke but one only doughtir to his heyre, whiche was named Eglantyne / & certayn it is that he was brother to the king̘ of Anssay. Wherfore he sent a messager to Lucembourgh there as the kyng of Anssay his brother was at that tyme. And shortly to speke, the messager came & directed his lettres to the king̘ of Anssay, whiche opened & redd̛ it / by the tenoure of whiche he vnderstode & knew the myschief where his brother was in / and sayd al on high in heryng̘ of eueryone there in this manere: 'Ha / a, Fortune, how art thou so peruerse & so crueƚƚ, certaynly wel is he deceyued þat trusteth in the nor in thy yeftes by no manere. it hath not suffysed the to haue ouerthrawen me fro the vppermost stepp of thy whele vnto the lowest / but vtterly wylt dystroye me for euer, whan my brother, whiche [is] one of the moost trewest & valiaunt kyng̘ in the world̛, thou wylt so dysempare & putte out fro his royaume, yf god of his grace purueye not of remedy therto' / and thenne he retourned hym self toward anthony, & sayd: 'Ha / right noble & valyaunt prynce, it is now with me wers than euer was / For your noble cheualrye & puyssaunce haue not only mated me & made lasse myn honour, but also ye haue dyscomfyted with me the moost true & valiaunt kyng̘ that euer was of my lynee, & that more valyauntly hatℏ deffended the cristen feyth ayenst thenemyes of god. For Federyke, my brother, noble kyng̘ of Behayne, beyng sore oppressed & besieged within his toun of praghe by thinfideles & enemyes of god, writethvnriteth vnto me ful tenderly for help & socoure / alas, now your grete fayttes in armes haue kept me therfro, so that I may not help hym / how be it that al this commeth thrugh myn owne fawte & folysshe enterpryse, For god hath punysshed me lasse ynough than I haue deseruyd̛.' And thenne he bygan to make suche sorowe that grete pite it was to see./

Now sayth here thystorye, that whan the Duc Anthony toke his leue of the Duchesse hys wyf, she was right dolaunt & sory in herte, how wel she durst make no semblaunt / but she prayed hym to retourne assoone as he goodly myght / and he said to her that so shuld he doo / And, morouer, he said to her in this manere / 'Duchesse, take good heede of your fruyte that groweth in your blood̛, and cheryssℏ your self / and yf goddis grace gyue that it be a sone, make hym to be baptysed & named Bertrand, For thus is my playsire. Thenne they embraced & kyssed eche other, takyng leue one of other / and syn departed the duc & came to hys peuple, and made his trompettes to be sowned. Thenne mounted spere men on horsback, and bygane euery man to marche forth in fayre aray. The vantgarde conduyted & lede the kynge of anssay and Regnald with hym, whicℏ was mounted vpon a hye Courser, armed of al pyeces except his helmet, and held a grete staf in hys fyst, and putte his men in ordre ful wel, & semed wel to be a prynce courageous & of hye enterpryse / and after folowed the Cartes, Charyots & bagage, & the grete batayƚƚ / and after siewed the ryergarde, whicℏ Anthony conduyted in fayre ordynaunce of batayƚƚ, For it was tolde hym þat in that countre were many theevys / but the duc Anthony manded, & sent word fro fortresse to fortresse that yf they were so bold to take on hym or on hys peuple only thing̘, that he shuld punysshe them in suche wyse that other shuld take ensample therof. And so he passed thrugℏ aƚƚ the Leffe / and no man was so hardy that he durst take ony thing on hys oost. It is trouth that on an euen he lodged hym tofore the Cite Acon with aƚƚ hys oost / and the Citezeyns there made & presented to hym grete yeftes of ryches, wherof he thanked them moche, and proffred to them his seruyse, yf they myster of it. And on the morne after the masse he deslodged, & so long̘ marched fourth on his way with his oost, that he came & lodged vpon the ryuere of Ryne, whicℏ is grete & meruayllous. Andthey of Coloyne made grete daunger to lete passe the oost thrughe the Cite at brydge / wherof anthonye was angry & dolaunt, and fyersly sent worde to them how he had entencion to reyse the siege, that the king̘ of Craco had layed, & sette with lx thousand Sarasyns tofore the Cite of praghe, wherinne was in grete oppression and dystres the king of behayne, and that they shuld send hym word yf they held with the paynemes or nat / and vpon that he shuld take hys aduys what he shuld doo / and also that magre them he shuld fynd̛ good passage, but not so short as by theire Cite. And whan they of Coloyne understode this mandement, & were wel infourmed of the grete prowes & fyersnes of the two bretheren, they were dredfuƚƚ & doubtous. And soone after they sent toward Anthony foure of þe notablest & moost worshipfuƚƚ burgeys of the cyte, whiche came & made to hym ryght honourable and humble reuerence / and wondred moche of hys fyersnes and proude contenaunce / not that withstanding̘, they said to hym in this manere: 'right higℏ & myghty prynce, the Citezeyns and commynalte of Coloyne haue sent vs toward your good grace. And know ye þat gladly they shal suffre you & al your oost to passe peasibly thrugℏ the Cite, soo that ye shal kepe & preserue them fro al dommage that your peple might bere vnto them.' 'By my feyth,' sayd Anthony, 'yf I had be wyllyng to doo the contrary of theire wyƚƚ, they shuld haue had of me knowlege therof / and also I haue no cause to doo soo, For I knowe not that they haue mysdoon to me of ony thing̘, nor to the myn nother / How wel they cause me to thinke other wyse / goo and telle to them, yf they remembre not of old̛ some mysdede don to them by myn auncestry, or of the Dukes, my predecessours, wherof as yet they be not pacyfyed & accorded / that they wyl suffre me & myn oost passe surely / or ellys to send me wordes therof.' Whan they vnderstode hys wordes & knew his wyƚƚ, they retourned to the Cyte, & announced to the Commynaltee the mandement of the Duc Anthony. And they anone assembled theire counseyƚƚ, & the auncyent men / and found̛ that neuer they had no hate ne dyscorde with the dukes of Lucembourgh, nother to theyre frendes nor alyez / and that sethen he was so noble a man & so valyaunt, they shuld lete hym passe, and al his oost also. And they remanded to hym theire wylle with grete yeftes of ryches that they made to be presented to hys grace / and purveyed for hys oost mocℏ of vytayƚƚ, as bred̛, wyne, and flesshe / & ootys for theire horses / And whan the Duc vnderstode theire ansuere & sawe theire grete yeftes, he thanked them moche / and was joyous of that they of Coloyne wold be hys frendes. Wherfor he said to them, that yf they had nede of hym & of hys powere, he was redy at theyre commaundement / and they thanked hym ryght humbly. And the duc Anthony made to gyue to them that had brought to hym the said presents of vytayƚƚ, many ryche yeftes, that asmocℏ were worth, or more than the presents & yeftes gyuen to hym by the toune, For he wold not that thabytants of the Cyte shuld̛ suppose or thinke that he wold̛ haue ought of them for nought.

In this partye sheweth thystorye, how that same nyght soiourned the oost byfore Coloyne, & was wel refresshed of them of the Cite & of theire vytayƚƚ. For as the dukes commandement was / they were departed in suche wyse tha[t] euery man there had part therof. And on the morne erly, the Duc entred into the Cite with hym, two houndred men of armes / and made his cryees, vpon peyne of deth, that none were so hardy to take ony thing̘ of them of the toun; but he payed wel for after raison. And soone after passed the vantgarde in fayre aray ouer the bridge, and so fortℏ thrugℏ the Cyte. And so passed al thoost, and lodged them at the oþer syde of the ryuere of Ryn / and it was about euen tyme, or euer al the Cartes, Charyots, & bagage were past. And that nyght the Duc & grete part of his baronnye lodged within the Cyte, where as grete honour was doon to them. The duc Anthony bode at souper with hym aƚƚ the ladyes of the Cyte, & festyed them ryght honorably, & gaf grete yeftes ar he departed in so moche that they of the Cyte wysshed hym to be theire lord.

In the morne the Duc toke his leue of them of the toun / and thanked them moche of the grete honour that they had shewed to hym & to his barons. And they ansuerd aƚƚ with one voyce: 'Noble Duc / the Cite / we & aƚƚ our goodes ben at your commandement more than to ony other lord that marcheth about vs / and spare vs not of nothing̘ that we may doo for you, For we be now, & shal euer be, redy to do you playsure, ayde, & comfort at your mandement and first callyng̘' / And he departed fro them, and went in to his tente. And on the morne as he came from the masse, & commanded the trompettes to be sowned for to departe & meve / there came fro the Cite foure knightes wel mounted on horsbak, & armed of aƚƚ pyeces sauf the helmet, whiche alyghted byfore the duckes tente with foure houndred men of armes, and C crosbowe men in theire felawship. These knightes made their obeyssaunce / and syn sayd in this manere: 'Right noble & puyssaunt duc, the Cite & commynalte of Coloyne recommande them to your good grace / and where as þey haue sene so moche of noblesse & curtoysye in you / desyryng right affectuelly to be frendes & alyez vnto you, they send̛ you foure hondred men of armes & an C crosbowes, al payed of theire wages for tene monethis day, for to goo with you where so euer it playse you to goo.' 'By my feyth,' sayd Anthony, 'thankyng be to them, whome I am moche beholden to / this curtoysye is not to be reffused / & wete it I shal not forgete it / but remembre in tyme & place.' 'Sire,' said one of the foure knightes, 'there nys none of vs foure, but he knowe wel al the way fro hens to Craco / and yf it mystier, we shal guyde & lede you wel & surely thrughe aƚƚ the passages & ouer al the ryueres betwix this & that.' To that ansuerd the Duc & said / 'this that ye'say hurteth not our affayre, and I gaynsay not your sayeng̘, whan tyme shalbe.' Thenne he putte them in ordynaunce, and receyued them vnder his banere. And þenne desloged the vantgarde, the grete batayƚƚ, & the ryeregarde, and marched on theire waye in fayre aray so long̘, that they entred in the land̛ of Bavyere, nygh to a grete Cite named Nuenmarghe, where as the Duc of Ode was with a grete companye of peuple, For he doubted the kyng Zelodus of Craco, that had besieged the kynge Federyke of Behayne, and held hym in grete necessite, For he had with hym foure score paynemes / and the Duc Ode was doubtous lest he shuld come vpon hym, yf he subdued and dyscomfyted the kyng Federyke. And therfore, he had assembled hys Counseyl to knowe & see what best was to doo. /

Thenne cam to the Cite an auncyent knyght that was of the Duc Ode, to whom he said after his obeyssaunce made: 'My lord, by my sowle I come from the marches of Almayne / but there is commyng a grete oost hitherward of the moost goodlyest men of armes and best arayed that euer I sawe in my dayes / but I wot not where they purpose to goo / but so moche I know, that they draw them self hitherward̛.' 'By my feyth,' said the Duc, 'I gyue me grete wonder what folke they may be, yf the king of Anssay had not be of late dyscomfyted tofore Lucembourgh, I shuld suppose that it were he that wold̛ socoure his brother Federyke ayenst the Sarasyns / and on my sowle yf it were he I shuld goo with hym for to helpe his brother.' 'My lord,' said the knyght, 'it were wysely doo to haue knowleche certayn what folke they be, ne yf they purpose other wyse than wele.' 'Sire knyght,' said thanne the Duc, 'ye muste your self goo to knowe & reporte the certaynte of it, syn ye haue sene them' / And he ansuerde, 'By my feyth, my lord, I am redy therto.' And soone he departed, and so long̘ he rode that he perceyued thoost in a valey by a ryuere. There he sawe grete companyes of gentyl men here & there, some castyng̘ the barre of yron / other held theire spere & shild and esprouued them self that one on þat other / some assayed theire harneys with shoot, with strokes of swerdes, and in many other appertyse of armes they exercyted them self. 'By my feyth,' said thenne the knight / 'there is fayre mayntene and noble contenaunce of men of armes / suche folke is to be doubted and dredde.' Thenne he loked on the ryght syde vpon a lytel mountaynne & sawe the grete batayƚƚ, and sawe the watche and the scourers al about the oost. 'By my feyth,' said the knight that moche thing had sene in his dayes / 'this ben worthy men of werre and able to subdue ony lande.' And thenne he entred in to thoost / and demanded after hym that had the gouernaunce & guydyng of it / And soone he was brought tofore Anthony. And whan he saw the Duc he was moche abasshed of his facion / but alwayes he salued hym ryght curtoysly / and syn said to hym, 'My lord, the Duc Ode hath sent me toward you to wete of you what ye seeke in hys land̛ / and yf ye thinke or purpose other wyse than wele / also what ye be that conduyteth so fayre company of peuple that I see here assembled. For he woteth wel that ye come not hither with suche a felawship without it be for som grete affayre' / 'Frend,' sayd anthony / 'teƚƚ your lord that we ne demande ought of hym, nor suppose not to dommage his land in no wyse. Also ye may telle hym that it is the kinge of Anssay / Anthony of Lusynen, Duc of Lucembourgh, and Regnald his brother, with theire puyssaunce that supposen to goo reyse the siege of praghe, that the Sarasyns haue besieged.' 'Sire,' said thauncyent knyght, 'god graunte you good vyage.' And so he departed and retourned toward the Duc Ode of Bauyere, to whom he reherced as aboue is said, and shewed hym the fyersnes and facion of Anthony, and the contenaunce of his oost / sayeng̘ that they were folke to be redoubted & dred̛. 'By my feyth,' said thenne the duc Ode, 'It commeth of noble courage to that two bretheren to haue come fro so ferre lande for to seke auenture of cheualerye & honour, and also for to come & gyue ayde & socour to kynge Federyke anenst the enemyes of god / and I promyse god that shal not be without me, For it shuld be tourned to me to grete shame yf that I went not thither / seeyng that he is my Cousyn, & that my land is so nygh his royalme / and that the straungers come fro so ferre for to ayde & helpe hym ayenst the paynemes.' And thenne had the Duc Ode made his mandement but of late, and had assembled al redy foure thousand fighting men. What shold I make long compte / thoost desloged and passed̛ byfore Murmycℏ. And thanne the Duc Ode yssued out of the toun with a fayre companye of peuple, and came and presented hym self and al his peple tofore the kinge of Anssay, Anthony / and his broþer, whiche Joyously receyued them / and thus marched thoost forth in fayre aray and good ordynaunce by the space of six dayes. And now seaceth thistorye to speke of them, and speketh of the king̘ Federyke and of the siege. /

Here sheweth thistorye how the puyssaunce of Zelodyus, kyng of Craco, was ryght grete / and the king Federyk durst not goodly haue yssued / but alwayes he scarmousshed ofte with his enemys / and almost dayly was at the barrers / the medlee was grete & stronge / and there were within the toune about a houndred helmets of Hongery, that were valyaunt knightes & good men of werre / the whiche yssued / ofte & dide grete dommage to the sarasyns. It happed on a mornyng erly that the paynemes gaf a grete sawte to the toun / and the king Federyke with his peuple yssued out vnto the barrers / and there the scarmysshing bygan grete & mortaƚƚ / and so manfully faught the kyng̘, that with the help of his men he gretly dommaged his enemyes / and made them to cesse of the sawte / & made them to goo back vnto theire lodgys. And that tyme was the kyng̘ of Craco mounted vpon a grete hors, his banere to the wynd̛ acompanyed with xv Ml sarasyns, and came in fayre ordynaunce to the batayƚƚ. There was many stroke gyuen & receyued / and by force of armes the kynge & his peple was constrayned to withdrawe hym back vnto the barrers. There was grete occysyon made, For horryble strokes were gyuen of bothe sydes, and the king Federyke recomforted wel his peple, For he dide grete faytte of armes of his owne handes. And whan he perceyued̛ kyng Zelodyus that sore dommaged his peple, he sporyd his horse and toke his swerd̛ in his fyst / and̛ rane smyttyng on the lyft syde and on the ryght syde vpon his enemyes tyl he made place, and came & smote Zelodius vpon his helmet, by suche strengthe & vertue that he made hym to enclyne vpon his hors neck al astonyed / and lytel faylled that he was not ouerthrawen to the erthe, For he lost bothe the steropes / but soone he was socoured of his men whiche redreced̛ hym vp ryght / and the king Federyk adreced̛ hys swerd̛ vpon a payneme, & suche a stroke he gaf hym that he slew hym therwith. The king̘ of Craco was thenne redreced as said is / and he perceyuyng the kyng Federyk / that hewed legges & armes, & casted̛ to therthe al that he recountred̛ of the sarasyns / had grete anger in his herte and came nygh at hym / and with an archegaye or dart launched at hym, by suche strengthe that the dart entred so depe into hys body that the hed̛ of it was sene at the back syde of hym. That doon the kynge Federyk that felt the dystresse of deth myght no more hold hym self up ryght, but feƚƚ & reuersed deed̛ fro his hors to the ground. Thenne was his peple fuƚƚ heuy and dolaunt, and withdrew them self anoone, and reentred into the toune & shetted the gates after them. And thenne byganne the sorowe to be grete in the town al about. /

The pucelle Eglantyne was thenne joyfuƚƚ & glad̛ for the dyscomfyture of the paynemes and also of the commyng̘ of her uncle. But not withstanding she had sorowe at herte for the kynge, her faders deth, that she might not forget it. And neuertheles, whan she cam byfore her vncle she enclyned & honourably made to hym her obeyssaunce, sayeng̘: 'My right dere vncle, ye be right welcomme / playsed god that ye were arryued two dayes rather, For thenne ye had found my fader on lyue, whiche Zelodius hath slayne & made to be brent & bruled to the moost vytupere & shame of the Catholycal feyth.' And whan the kyng̘ of Anssay vnderstod̛ it he was wroth & dolaunt, and sware that thus and in suche wyse shuld he do of the kynge Zelodius and of aƚƚ the sarasyns, that he coude fynde ded̛ or alyue. And anoon were cryees made thrugh the toun, that of euery hous one man shuld goo in to feld̛ for to assemble the deed bodyes of the sarasyns togidre vpon a mountayne, and that men shuld bryng̘ thither wod̛ ynough for to brule & brēne the corps. And thus it was don. And was the corps of Zelodyus sette vpon a stake so that it was seen aboue al other / And so was the fyre grete about them / and so they were al brent & bruled / and aƚƚ the deed bodyes of the cristen men that were found̛ were buryed there as cristen peuple ought to be. And þese thinges doon, the kyng̘ of Anssay made al thing̘ to be redy for to make thobsequye of the king̘ his brother, and that moche honourably as it is shewed herafter. /

In this partye, sayth thystorye, that wooful & sory was the kyng̘ of Anssay for the deth of his brother / but syth it plesed̛ god to be so he lefte & passed his deuel the best wyse that he coude. Thappareyl was thenne made for the obsequye whiche was don in the Chirche Cathedral of the Cite. And syn the kyng of Anssay and the duc of bauyere mounted on horsback and many barons of behayne with them, and al clothed̛ in black went toward̛ the sarasyns tentes, where the two bretheren were whiche had do cōme þer aƚƚ the Sommage, Cartes, Charyotes, & bagage, And syn departed among̘ theire peuple aƚƚ that they had̛ wonne vpon the paynemes / . Thenne arryued there the kynge of Anssay, the duc Ode, and all the baronnye and nobly salued the two brethern, And the duc Anthony, & Regnauld hys brother receyued them joyfully. Thenne reccounted the kynge of Anssay to þe two bretheren how the kynge ffederyk was slayn in the baytayƚƚ, and how Zelodyus had̛ made hys body to be brent in despyt of aƚƚ cristianyte / and therfore he had doo like wise of Zelodyus body & of aƚƚ the sarasyns that were founde alyue or deed̛. And Anthonye þenne ansuerd̛, 'On my feyth ye haue don right wel / and veryly kyng̘ Zelodius mysdede ouermoche grete cruelte, For syn a man is deed / grete shame is to hys enemy to touche hym ony more.' 'By my feyth, sire,' said the duc of Bauyere, 'ye say trouth, but the kinge of Anssay is come hither to you for to beseche you & your brother to cōme to the obsequye of the kyng̘ Federyke his brother.' And thenne ansuerd̛ the bretherne, 'we shal thither goo gladly.' Thenne they mounted on hors back & rode toward the Cite, where as the ladyes and damoyselles, knightes & squyres / cytyzeyns & commynalte beheld them fayne and meruaylled moche of the Lyons clawe that shewed in An-thonyes cheke / and preysed moche his fayre & wel shappen body, and also of Regnauld hys brother / and said emong themself, 'these two bretheren ben able for to subdue al the world̛.' And thus they came to the chircℏ where thobsequye shuld be made and there alyghted.

Eglantine that was in the Circℏ came and recountred the two bretheren, whom she made humbly her obeyssaunce, thankyng them mekely of theire noble socours that they had doo to her, For they had saued her honour, her lyf, and her land̛. And thenne anthony ansuerd̛ humbly to her, sayeng̘, 'Damoyselle, We haue nought doo but that we ought to doo, For euery good cristen is hold̛ & bound̛ aftir the playsire of god toppresse & dystroye thenemyes of God.' The pucelle was there nobly acompanyed of the ladyes & damoyselles of the land̛, thobsequye was honourably & nobly doon as it apparteyned to suche a noble kyng̘ as he was. And after the seruyse fynysshed the two bretheren mounted on theire horses, and theire meyne also, and conueyed the pucelle Eglantyne vnto the paleys where they descended, & syn mounted in to the haƚƚ where the tables were redy couered / and thenne they wesshe theire handes & satte at dyner / and syn were nobly seruyd̛ & festyed / and after dyner the tables were voyded & take vp & wesshe handes / and syn þey conueyed Eglantyne vnto her chambre, þat was euer sorowful for her faders deth. And þenne the kinge of Anssay called to hym al the baronnye of the land̛, & said to them in this manyere:

'Lordes, barons, ye muste Counseyƚƚ emong̘ you, & take your best aduys how ye myght haue a valyaunt man for to gouerne the royaume, For the land̛ whicℏ is in the guydyng & gouernaunce of a woman only is not surely kept. Now, loke thenne what best is for the prouffyt & honour of my cousyne Eglantine, & for þe common wele of this land̛.' Thenne ansuerd̛ one for them alle & sayd: 'Sire, we knowe none that oughte to medle hymself therwith tofore you, For yf your Cousyn were passed out of this mortal lyf, that god forbede, al the royalme of Behayne shuld apparteyne to you. Wherfor we al bes[e]che you that therto ye puruey after your playsire.' Thenne ansuerd̛ the king, & thus said: 'Sire, as touching my personne, I may not long abyde with you to be rewler & protectour of this land̛, For thanked be god I haue land ynoughe to entreteyne myn estate with / but in conclusyon lete my cousyn take some valiaunt man to her lord̛, that shal deffende the land̛ ayenst the enemyes of god̛.' Thenne ansuered the barons fourthe with, 'Sire, yf it plaise you þat your Cousyn be maryed, seke for her some noble & worthy man to be her lord̛ & oure, For tofore you none of vs oughte to medle withaƚƚ.' Thenne ansuerd̛ the kyng in this manere,' We thenne shal purueye therto to her honour & prouffyt & to yours also / and that anoone, For I go to speke with her for this cause.' The kynge thenne departed and came in to the Chambre where his Cousin was, that moche humbly receyued hym. And the kyng̘ said to her in this manere, 'Fayre cousyne, thankyng̘ to god your affayres be now in good party, For your land is delyuered̛ fro the paynemes by the puyssaunce of god & of the two brethern of Lusynen. Now it muste be aduysed & sene how best your reaume may be guyded in good gouernaunce to your prouffyt & honour, and of your peuple also.' Thenne ansuerd̛ the mayden, 'My right dere vncle, I ne haue noon of Counseyƚƚ & comfort but you / so I requyre you that of good remedye ye purueye therto. And conuenable & lawful it is that I obey you more than ony other personne in the world̛, & so wyl I doo.' Thenne had the kynge pite on her & said, 'Fayre Cousyn, we haue alredy purueyed therto / ye muste be maryed to suche a man that can kepe and deffende you & your land̛ ayenst alle enemyes, the whicℏ is fayre, noble, & valyaunt damoyseau, & not ferre hens.' 'Certaynly,' ansuerd̛ the pucelle. 'Dere vncle, wel I knowe for certayn that ye wold̛ neuer Counseyƚƚ me þat thing̘ but it were to my grete honour & proffit, and for the commyn wele of all my land / but ryght dere vncle, I to be maryed so soone after my faders decesse / shuld not shewe semblaunt of dueyƚƚ for his deth. Wherfor me semeth I were blamed to doo soo / and suche shuld shew to me fayre semblaunt byfore me, that wold moke me at a pryvy place / . '

To that ansuerd̛ the king̘, & said: 'My right fayre Cousyn, of two euylles men ought to choose the lasse, whan nedes muste one be had. But, fayre Cousyn, it is wel trouth, that who myght goodly tary the day of your weddyng̘ it were your honour / but what, fayre Cousyn, my dwelling place is ferre hens / and here I may not make long̘ soiourne, without my grete dommage, as wel of other mens goodes as of myn. Also the two bretheren most be recompensed̛ & rewarded of theire noble socours, outhre of my goodes or of yours / and some saith that bettre is to haue more of prouffyt & lasse honour. And to say that ye coude recompense them as they oughte to be, by raison of the grete curtoysye by them shewed vnto you; the half of your royame shuld not suffise. And ouer more, fayre Cousyne, wete it that ye be not to suffysaunt for to haue suche & so noble a man to your lord as is Regnauld̛ of Lusynen, For in certayn he is wel worthy to marye the gretest lady in the world̛. What for his noble lynee, as for his bounte, beaute, & noble prowesse.' Whan the noble pucelle Eglantyne vnderstode the kyng̘ her vncle, she was shamfuƚƚ & hontous / and on that other part, she consyderyng̘ the daunger where bothe she & her peple had be & myght be wyst neuer what to say, and bygane to wepe / but at last she ansuerd̛ in this manere: 'right dere vncle, aƚƚ my trust, my hoop & comfort is in god & in you, wherfor doo with me & with my reaume what it playse you' / 'Fayre Cousyn,' said the kyng̘, 'ye say right wel / and I swere you by my feyth, that nothing I shal say in this party ne doo, but that it shal be for the best. Now thenne, noble Cousyne, seace your wepyng̘, & delyuere you of this affayre, For the more long̘ that these baronye with theire peple that be in nombre xv. Ml. be soiournyng̘ in your land̛ the greter dommage shal ye haue.' And she that wel knewe he said trouth, ansuerd̛ to hym in this manere: 'Dere vncle, doo therof al your playsyre.' Thenne came the kynge in to the grete halle where the two brethern were, & the baronye with them, and said to Anthony in this manyere: 'noble Duc, vouchesaf to understand̛ my wordes, the barons of this land̛ that be here present, besecℏ your good grace / & as touching my self, I hertyly praye you that it plese you, that Regnauld your brother be king̘ of this royalme, and that he take Eglantyne my Cousyn to his lady / prayeng̘ hym that he this wyl not reffuse, For the barons of the land̛ desire hym moche to be theire lord.' 'Sire,' ansuerd̛ anthony, 'this requeste is worthy to be graunted, & also shal it be. Doo hither come the noble da-moyselle.' And fourthwith the kynge & the Duc Ode yede & fette the pucelle, and despoylled her of her dueyl & black clothing̘ / and syn was arayed̛ ful rychely of her noblest raymentes, and acompanyed with her ladyes & damoyselles, she was conueyed by the forsaid lordes vnto the presence of the noble bretheren, whiche merueylled moche of her grete beaute / and she humbly enclyned byfore them, makyng her obeyssaunce. Thenne bygan the king̘ of Anssay to speke, & thus said /

Noble Duc of Lucembourgh, hold̛ ye to vs your couuenauntes; this is wherof we wyl hold oure promesse.' 'For sooth,' said Anthony, 'it is wel reason. com̄e hither Regnauld brother, receyue this pucelle to your lady, For she maketh you kynge of behayne.' Thenne said Regnauld, in heryng̘ of alle that were there present / 'thankyng̘ be to god, to the kynge, & to aƚƚ the baronye of this lande, of the grete honour that they doo to me. For yf thys noble pucelle had not one foot of land̛, yet wold I not reffuse her loue to haue her to my lady, after the lawes of god requyren. For with thayde of almighty god, I hoop to conquere ynoughe to hold̛ & entreteyne therwith her noble estate' / 'Fayre brother,' said þenne anthony / 'ye say raison / this royaume ye haue wonne alredy / god yeue you grace to subdue & conquere other reames & landes vpon her enemyes.' And in conclusyon, the bysshop was sent for, & assured them togidre. And syn bygane thethe the feest sumptuous & grete, For soone it was knowen thrugh al the toun, wherof the peple made grete joye / and were the stretes hanged with ryche clothes, & grete & noble apparayƚƚ was there made, as to suche a feste apperteyned / and was ordeyned that the weddyng̘ shuld be hold̛ in the feld̛ within the chief pauillon. Many riche rayments & robes were made what for the spouse / as for the ladyes & damoyselles. That nyght passed, and on the morne on which day they shuld be espoused / the pucelle nobly was conueyed̛ & ledd vnto the tentes, whiche were al of cloth of gold̛ / And that night was good watche made as þe enemyes had be nygh to them / and there the feste encressed, & were honourably seruyd at souper. And whan tyme was, euery one went to bed vnto the morow erly, when Aurora shone clere. /

Here sheweth thistorye, & sayth that whan the day spryng̘ appiered, & the day was ful fayre & clere, the spouse nobly & rychely arayed in her robes of clotℏ of gold, & fourred̛ with Ermynes, & purfylled̛ aƚƚ with precyous stones, accompanyed with grete nombre of ladyes & damoy-selles, was right honourably conueyed vnto the place where as the masse shuld̛ be sayd̛; and solemply the bysshop espoused them here / and aftir the masse, she retourned to the pauyllon with al the noble baronye with her, where they fond̛ al apparaylled & redy to dyner. They were ful wel & nobly seruyd of al thinges that to suche a feste be requysite & conuenable. And after they had dyned, graces were said, & wesshe theire handes, and syn were the tables voyded̛, thanne bygane they to daunce & to make grete joye. /

Thistorye sayth that after the daunce was seaced the ladyes & damoyselles mounted vpon the scafoldes. Thenne cam the knightes rychely armed, & bygan to jouste / trompettes sowned, & knightes reuersed eche other / but none might withstand̛ the noble bretheren, but he was ouerthrow, bothe hors & man / so that no man dide there nought to the regarde of theire prowes. Wherfore, they seyng that the ioustes affeblysshid for cause of them, they departed fro the lystes & toke of theire armeures / and syn dured̛ the jousting̘ tyl tyme of souper came. And thenne the joustes seaced̛, and the knightes & squyers departed, & went & dysarmed them. Thenne mynestrels with dyuerse Instruments of musique sowned & played melodyously the first cours of the souper / & syn they were nobly serued of al maner wynes / and after souper they daunced. But whan tyme was, the spouse was ledd to bed̛ with grete honour & Joye. And anone after came Regnauld there, whiche went to bed with the pucelle. Thenne voyded euery one the chambre / some to theire rest / some retourned to the daunce / some sang̘, & other made grete reueyƚƚ. Regnauld̛, thenne that laye nigh Eglantyne, swetly embraced & kyssed̛ her / and she to hym moche humbled̛ her self, sayeng in this manere: 'My lord redoubted, ne had be the grace of god / your curtoysye & prowes, this poure orphelym had be / no doubt of / exilled, desolat, & lost. Wherfor, my ryght redoubted lord̛, I yeld thankyng̘ to god, & to you also that haue dayned to take to your wyf her that was vnworthy therto.' 'By my fayth,' said Regnauld, 'dere herte, & my best beloued, ye haue do moche more for me than euer I dide ne possible is to me to doo for you / sene & consydered the noble yefte youen by you to me / that is your noble lady / and yet besyde that of your noble royame ye haue endowed me / and with me nought ye haue take / sauf only my symple body.' Thenne ansuered Eglantyne, & said / 'Ha / noble lord, your valyaunt body is derer to me & bettre worth than ten other suche royames as myn is / & more it is to be preysed.' Of theire wordes I wyl seace / but that nyght was begoten of them a noble sone that was named Olyphart / he made in tyme afterward grete faytte of armes, and subdued & gate al the low marche of holland̛ & Zeland̛, Vtreyght, & the Royame of Danemarche / and al the partyes of Northweghe also. On the morne the day was fayre & clere. Thenne was the noble lady Eglantyne ledd to here the masse / and al the baronye, ladyes & damoyselles, acompanyed her thitherward. And after the mass was doo, they retourned to the ryche pauyllon / and as they were redy to sette þem at dyner / came there two knightis fro Lucembourgh, that brought lettres to Duc Anthony from the Duches Crystyne his wyf / the whiche after theire obeyssaunce honourably made, said to hym in this wise: 'My lord, ye oughte to take grete joye / For my lady the Duches is brought to bed of the most fayrest sone that euer was seen in no land̛.' 'Now, fayre lordes,' said anthony, 'blessid be god therof / and ye be right welcome to me' / & syn toke the lettres.

Thistorye sayth that anthony, Duc of Lucembourgh, was joyful & glad of these tydynges, and so was his brother Regnauld̛. Thenne opened he the lettres, wherof the tenour was acording̘ to that the knightes had said. Thenne made anthony moche of them, gyuyng to them grete yeftes of ryches. Thenne he satte hym at dyner nygh to Eglantyne / and dured the feest eyght days, sumptuouse & open houshold̛. And whan the feste was fynysshed, they reentred in to the Cite with gret honour & joye. And on the morne next the kyng̘ of Anssay / Anthony & the Duc Ode, & al theire baronye toke theire leue of Regnauld̛ & of Eglantyne, whiche were dolaunt of theire departing̘. And anthony made coūenaunt with Regnauld̛ hys brother, that yf the paynemes made ony moo werre with hym, he shuld̛ come & aƚƚ his baronnye with hym to ayde & helpe hym. And the kyng̘ Regnauld thanked hym mocℏ. And eche of them thanked & kyssed eche other at departyng̘ / Soo long̘ marched thoost þat they came to Mouchyne in Bauyere / & lodged them in a fayre medowe nygh the toun. There the Duc Ode festyed them right honourably the space of thre dayes / and on the foureth day they departed & toke theire leue of the Duc Ode / and rode so long̘ tyl theyday came a day journey nygh to Coloyne. And there the foure knightes that conduyted the Coloyners auaunced them self byfore Duc Anthony, & to him said in this manere: 'My lord, it is best that we hast vs byfore you toward the toun, to apparayƚƚ & make al thing̘ redy for your passage.' 'By my feyth,' said the Duc Anthonye, 'that playseth me wel.' Thenne departed the foure knightes & theire men with them, & rode tyl they came to the Cite of Coloyne, where they were receyued with Joye / and the Cytezeyns & gouernours of the cyte demanded of them how they had exployted in theire vyage / And they recounted to them aƚƚ the trouth of the fayte and the valyauntnes & noble prowes of the two brethern / & how regnauld was made kyng [of] Behayne. And whan they of Coloyne understode them they were ryght glad & joyous, sayeng they were wel happy & ewrous to haue acquyred the loue & good wyƚƚ of two lordes of so grete valeur. And thenne they made grete apparayƚƚ for to receyue the Duc Anthony, and the king̘ of Anssay with theire baronye. Soo long̘ rode thoost that they came to Coloyne, where the Cytezeyns cam & mete hem honourably / and to the prynces they made grete reuerence, prayeng them that they wold be lodged that nyght within the toun, where they were nobly festyed & honourably seruyd at souper. And on the morn Anthony & his oost passed ouer the Ryn, and toke his leue of them of Coloyne, whiche he thanked moche, sayeng: 'yf they were in ony wyse oppressed by theire enemyes he wold̛ be euer redy for tayde & socoure them after hys power.' Wherof they thanked hym moche. Thenne the Duc Anthony & the king of Anssay dyde so moche by theire journeys, that on an euen they came & lodged them in the medow nygℏ by Lucembourgh. /

The duchesse Cristyne was replenysshed with joye, whan she knew the commyng of her lord anthony / and immedyatly she, nobly acompanyed, yssued out of the toun / and aƚƚ the noble cyteseyns folowed her to mete with theire lord, the whiche they recountred a half a myle fro the toun. What shal I say / greter joye was neuer sene than that was made for the retourne of Duc Anthony. The Duchesse made humbly her obeyssaunce vnto hym / and hertyly welcommed hym. The peuple cryed on hye for Joye, sayeng thus: 'welcomme our lord ryght redoubted.' The joye was grete thrugh the toun where the Duc festyed the kynge of Anssay by the space of six dayes contynuelly, & forgaf & rendred to hym aƚƚ his obligacions, and held̛ hym quytte / except the Foundacion of the pryore, where as sowles shuld be prayed for / for the loue of Regnault his brother. And the kinge of Anssay thanked hym moche, & toke his leue of hym / departed, & came in Anssay, where as he was receyued with joye / And the Duc anthony abode with the Duchesse Cristyne, on whom he gate a sone that same yere which was clepid Locher, whiche afterward delyuered the Countrey of Ardane fro thevys, murdrers, & robbeurs; and in the wodes there he founded an abbeye, and endowed it with grete pocessyons / And he also dyde doo make the bridge of Masyeres vpon the ryuere of Meuze, and many other fortresses in the basse marche of holland̛ / and dyde many fayre fayttes of armes with the king̘ Olyphart of behayne, that was his Cousyn, & sone to kyng̘ Regnauld. It happed not long after the kynge of Anssay was retourned in to his royame, that warre meuyd betwix hym & the Duc of austeryche & the [Erle] of Fyerbourgh. wherfor he besought the Duc Anthony for socour, that gladly obtempered to his requeste, in so moche that he toke by force of armes the Erle of Fyerbourgh / and syn pas-sed in Austeryche, where he dyscomfyted the Duc in batayƚƚ, and made hym to be pacyfyed with the kynge of Anssay, to the grete prouffyt & honour of the kinge. And bertrand theldest sone of the Duc Anthony, was assured with Melydee the sayd king̘ of Anssays doughter / the whiche Bertrand afterward was kynge of anssay, and hys brother Locher was Duc of Lucembourgh, after the decesse of the Duc Anthony hys fader. But of this matere I wyl no more speke at this tyme / but shal retourne to speke of Melusyne & of Raymondyn, and of theire other children. /

Now sayth thystorye, that Raymondyn by hys noblenes & grete vasselage conquerd̛ grete countrees / and to hym many barons dyde homage vnto the land of Brytayne. And Melusyne had two yere after that two sones, the first was named Froymond, that entierly louyd holy Chircℏ, and that was wel shewed in his ende, For he was professid̛ monke in to thabbeye of Maillezes, wherof there befeƚƚ a grete & an horryble myschief, as ye shal here herafter by thystorye / and the other child that they had the yere folowyng̘ was named Theodoryk, the whiche was ryght batayllous. Here I shal leue to speke of the two children / and I shal shewe you of Geffray with the grete totℏ, that was yrous & hardy / & most enterpryse dide of aƚƚ hys bretheren. And wete it wel that the said geffray doubted neuer man / And thystorye sheweth, & the true Cronykle that he faught ayenst a knight, that was gendred with a spyryte in a medowe nygh by Lusynen, as ye shal here herafter. It is trouth that thenne Geffray was grete & ouergrowen / and herde tydynges that there was in Garande peple that wold not obey to hys fader / thenne sware Geffray by the good lord that he shuld̛ make them to come as reason requyreth, and to do that he toke leue of hys fader, that was right wroth of hys departyng / and had with hym to the nombre of fyue houndred men of armes, and a houndred balesters, and so went in to Garande / and anoone enquyred after them that were dysobedyent / and they that held the party of Raymondyn shewed hym the Fortresse where they were, & armed them to goo with hym to helpe to dystroye hys enemyes. 'By my feyth, fayre lordes,' sayd Geffray with the grete toeth / 'ye are ryght true & loyal peuple / & I thanke you of thonour that ye proffre me / but as for this tyme present I shall not nede you, For I haue men of armes ynough for taccomplyssℏ myn enterpryse.' 'For soothe, sire, ye haue more to doo than ye suppose, For your enemyes ben ryght strong & of meruayllous courage, & they be frendes & cousyns, and of the grete & moost noble blood̛ of al the Countree.' 'Fayre sires,' said Geffray, 'doubte you not, For thrughe thayde of god omnipotent I shal the matere wel redresse. And wete it wel there shal be none so myghty / but I shal make them to obeye my commandement or to deye of an euyl deth. And also, fayre lordes & true frendes, yf I nede you I shaƚƚ send̛ for you' / And they ansuerd̛, 'we are now al redy, and also shal we be at al tymes that it playse you vs to calle.' 'Fayre lordes,' said Geffray with the grete toth / 'that ought to be thanked for.' Thenne toke Geffray hys leue of them / and went forth on his way toward a Fortresse that was called Syon / & within the same was one of the enemyes of geffray that hight Claude of Syon, & were thre bretheren. Moche were the thre brethern yrous & proude / and wold̛ haue subdued and putte vnder theire subjection aƚƚ theire neyghbours. Thenne sent geffray with the grete toeth wordes of deffyaunce / outhre to come & make theire obeyssaunce to hym for Raymondin his faders. And they ansuerd̛ to the messager, 'that for Raymondyn ner for no man on his byhalf they shuld nought doo / and that he shuld no more retourne to them for this matere, for than he were a fole.' 'By my feyth,' said the messager, 'I shal kepe me wel therfro / but that I bryng̘ with me a maister in medecyne, that shal make suche a lectuary or drynk wherof ye shal be poysonned̛, & syn hanged by the neck.' And of these wordes were the iij bretheren wood wroth. And wete it wel that yf the messager had not hasted his hors away he had be take & deed without ony remedye, For they were fuƚƚ yrous & crueƚƚ, and doubted not god nor no man lyuyng̘. Thenne retourned the messager toward̛ geffray and recounted hym the grete pryde & auauntyng of the bretheren. 'By my heed,' said Geffray with the grete toeth, 'a lytel rayne leyeth doun grete wynd̛ / & doubte you not but I shal pay them wel theire wages.'

Thystorye sayth, that whan geffray vnderstode the grete pryde & the fel ansuere of the thre brethern, without ony moo wordes he came & lodged hym & his peuple half a leghe fro the said Fortresse. Thenne toke he his armures & armed hym of al pieces; toke with hym a squyer that wel knew the Countrey / mounted on horsback / commanded his men that they shuld not meue them thens vnto tyme they had word̛ of hym, & departed with hys esquyer / but there was a knyght that wel knew hys noble & fyers courage, & that he doubted nothing̘ of the world / whicℏ toke x. men of armes with hym and went after Geffray, folowyng̘ hym fro ferre, For he moche loued geffray. Geffray rode so long̘ that he sawe the Fortresse of Syon vpon a hye roche. 'By my feyth,' said thenne geffray, 'yf the Fortresse be so strong at that other syde as it is at this syde, hit shal gyue me moche peyne or euer it be take, I must see & know yf it be also strong̘ at that other parte.' Thenne he & his esquyer aduyronned the Fortresse about, al along̘ by a lytel wod̛, that they might not be aspyed ne sene. They came & descended in a valey / and euer the forsaid knyght that was named Philibert folowed hym a ferre / and so long rode geffray tyl he had ouer sene the said fortres al round̛ about / and hym semed wel that it might be take by the brydge syde, For it was the feblest syde of it / Thenne entred geffray & hys esquyer in a lytel path, & retourned vpon the mountayne toward̛ hys lodgis, where his peple were hym abydyng̘. Philebert, that sawe Geffray retourne, thought he would̛ lete hym passe tofore hym, Wherfor he and his felawship reculed within the wode, to thende thay shuld not be perceyued of hym / but soone after they sawe a companye of men of warre comynge that same way that geffray came toward̛ the Fortresse, and were to the nombre of xiiii personne wel armed. Wherfore the said knight philibert was abasshed & agast, lest they shuld mete with geffray, For wel he wyst that geffray wold̛ fyght with them / as he dide / and that shal ye here herafter./

In this partye, sayth thistorye, that vpon the topp of the mountayne geffray recountred the said companye, And who that shuld̛ enquere of me what folke they were; I shuld say it was one of Claude of Syon bretheren that came toward his brother at his mandement. And wete it wel, that the way was there so narow that vnnethe one hors myght passe by other. And whan Geffray with the grete toeth recountred them, he sayd to hym that rode first of alle that he shuld tary and make his company to stand asyde tyl he were passed the mountayne. 'By my feyth,' said he þat was proude & orgueyllous, 'Sire daw fole, wel we muste first knowe what ye be, that say that we retourne vs for you.' 'By god,' said Geffray with the grete toth / 'that shal you knowe anone, For I shal make you retourne ayenst your wyƚƚ. I am Geffray of Lusynen / tourne back / or elles I shal make you to retourne by force.' Whan Guyon the brother of Claude of Syon vnderstode hym & knew that it was geffray with the grete toeth / he cryed to his folk, 'auaunt, lordes barons, For yf he escape grete shame shal be to vs / in an euyl heure is he come in to oure land for to demande seruytude of vs.' Thenne whan geffray vnderstode these wordes he drew out his sword̛ & smote the nethermost of alle vpon his hed̛, so grete a stroke that he ouerthrew hym aƚƚ astonyed doune to the erthe, and syn passed forth by hys hors, & ouer hym that laye along̘ the way, in suche wyse that he al to brusid the body of hym / And thenne geffray atteyned another in the brest foynyng with hys swerd̛, so that he feƚƚ doune deed to therthe / and syn cryed aftir the oþer, 'False traytours, ye may not escape, ye shal retourne to your euyl helthe.' Thenne he passed fourth to the iiide, whicℏ was grete & strong̘, & smote Geffray vpon the helmet with al his strengthe / but the helmet was hard̛ and þe swerd̛ glenced asyde & dommaged hym nought / but Geffray toke his swerd̛ with two handes and smote hym vpon the coyffe of stele vnto the brayne, & reuersed hym deed to the ertℏ. And whan guyon perceyued this myschief he was wode wroth & fuƚƚ of yre, For he might not come to geffray, wherfore he commanded euery man to retourne, that they might haue them self at large to deffende eche other. Thenne euery man tourned back & fledd, & yssued out of that narrow way in to a playn feld̛, And geffray with the grete toth pursiewed them, the swerd̛ in his hand̛. Now shaƚƚ I speke of the knight philibert, whiche was approched nygh the said̛ way, and herde the noyse / so he called̛ to hym his felawes. And thenne guyon and his men were in þe playn & assaylled geffray on al sydes of hym / but as preu & valyaunt he deffended vygourously his flesshe / and also hys esquyer bare hym valyauntly / and was ryght strong the batayƚƚ. Now most I speke of hym whicℏ geffray first ouerthrew to therthe in the patℏ forsaid̛, For whan he perceyued that guyon was retourned by the force of geffray / and sawe his two felawes lyeng deed by hym, he was moche dolaunt, and beheld̛ all about hym & fond̛ his hors, wher on he with grete peyne mounted, for he was al to brusyd in hys body, & hasted hym as he coude best toward Syon. And whan he came to the fortresse he fond̛ Claude at yate and some of his men with hym / the whiche perceyued that he that was commyng toward hym was al bloody and knew hym wel / & of hym demanded who so had arayed hym / And he recounted thadventure how they had recountred̛ geffray, and how he adommaged them and had made guyon hys brother to retourne fro the narow lane by force, & that yet lasted theyre bataylle. Thenne whan Claude vnderstode hym he was sorowfuƚƚ & angry, and yede and armed hym, and made his men to be armed̛.

Moche dolaunt was Claude whan he vnderstod̛ of the vylonnye & dommage that geffroy had don to Guyon his brother / and how yet they were fyghtyng togidre / & armed of al pieces. his men with hym rode thitherward / and were in nombre thre score bassynets. But for nought he toke hys waye, For philibert with his ten knyghtes were come to the batayƚƚ, & faught in suche wyse that al guyons meyne were slayne & he take / and soone sware Geffray that he shuld make hym to be hanged by the neck. Thenne came the said esquyer, whiche was retourned in to the forsayd̛ land, to fette a fayre swerd̛, that he tofore sawe faƚƚ fro one of Guyons men / & said to Geffray in this manyere, 'My lord, I haue herd̛ grete bruyt of men armed commyng̘ hitherward̛.' And whan Geffray vnderstode hym he fourthwith made Guyon to be bound̛ at a tree within the wod̛ nygh by them, & syn retourned with hys men toward the said path or lane for to abyde there his auenture. And philibert rode vnto the top of the hyƚƚ, and perceyued̛ Claude & hys felawship that entred the lane / thanne he retourned to his felawes & sayd to Geffray, 'Sire, the best that ye can doo is to kepe wel this pathe, here cōme your enemyes.' And Geffray with the gret toeth ansuerd̛ / 'doubte you not / but it shal be wel kept & deffended.' Thenne he called to hym the squyer that was come with hym, & said̛: 'renne hastily toward̛ thoost, & make my folke to cōme hither." And he anone departed toward thoost, and whan he was there arryued he said to þem, 'Fayre lordes, now lightly on horsback, For geffray fyghteth ayenst his enemyes.' And they armed them & soone mounted on theire horses, and hasted them to folowe the squyer that guyded them the nerest way there he supposed to fynd̛ Geffray, fighting̘ with his enmyes.

Thystorye sayth that geffray, philibert, & theire knightes were at thentree of the pathe / and thenne came Claude & his men with grete puyssaunce along̘ thrugh the lane, & wel they supposed to haue mounted the montayne. But Geffray was at thentre of the patℏ that vygourously & valyauntly deffended the passage / and wete it wel there was none so hardy but he made hym to recule. For there were two of his knightes that descended fro theire horses, & stode at eyther syde of geffray, & proudly rebuckyd Claudes men with theire speres, & many of them were there slayne. Philibert was thenne descended from his hors, and thre othre of his companye, and recouered the montayne aboue the pathe, where as they gadred stones and threw them vpon them that were in the lane, thrugh suche yre & grete strengtℏ, that there was none so strong̘ bassynets nor armure but it was perced̛; and therwith they were astonyed̛ or elles ouerthrawen / and wete it wel þat there were more than xxti. slayn. Thenne cāme there the squyer with the batayƚƚ that he brought. And whan geffray knew it, he commanded thre houndred men of armes, that they shuld̛ draw at the other ende of the lane to kepe the passage, that Claude nor hys peple should not retourne to theire fortresse. And anone from thens the squyer with his companye departed, & came hastly to fore the medowe, & passed byfore the Fortresse. And whan Clerevauld̛, the iiide brother of Claude, sawe them, he demed that it was some socours that came to them / For he trowed not that in the land̛ shuld haue be so many enemyes. The whiche esquyer with his companye came with amyable contenaunce, shewyng no semblaunt but as frendes. And thenne Clerevauld, that byleued wel that they were theyre frendes lete faƚƚ the bridge, & opened the yate where he stode with xxti. men of armes. And whan the squyer & his companye perceyued þat the bridge was doun & the gate open, they drew them hastly in the way to passe the Fortres. And passyng̘ by the Fortresse, Clervauld demanded what they were / and they ansuerd̛: 'We be frendes.' and in approuching of the said̛ bridge to the nombre xxti knightes, they enquyred after Claude of Syon: 'For fayn we wold̛ speke with hym.' And Clereuauld them approuched, sayeng̘: 'he shal retourne anoone, For he is departed to fyght with Geffray with the grete toeth our enemye, that he & Guyon our brother haue enclosed in yonder mountayne that is there byfore you / and wete it wel that Geffray may not escape them, though he were tempred with fyne stele, but that he shal be slayne or take.' 'By my feyth,' sayd the squyer, 'this be good tydynges.' An thenne he approuched with his xxti knightes nerer & nerer, askyng hym where shal we goo to helpe hym. 'By my feyth,' sayd Clereuauld, 'gramercys it shal not nede at this tyme.'

Thystorye sheweth that the squyer approched to Clereuauld so nygh by his fayre wordes, that he & hys company came vpon the bridge / & thenne he cryed to hys peple / 'auaunt, lordes, the fortresse is oure.' And whan Clereuauld herd̛ these wordes, he supposed̛ to haue reculed & to haue lyft vp the bridge / but the squyer & his peuple came so rudly that it was not in theire powere to haunce the bridge / but bare it doune by force, and anone alighted & entred in at the gate / and with two speres vndersette the portecollys / & immedyatly descended more than an houndred of the squyers men on foot, & came & entred into the Fortres. Thenne was clereuauld̛ take, and al hys peple that were there with hym, & brought vnto a chambre fast bounden, where they were surely kept with fourty men of armes / And after this don, they assembled them, & toke Counseyƚƚ how they might best send word̛ vnto geffray of this faytte, & how they shuld kepe them within the Fortresse to thentent to take Claude yf it happed hym to retourne / And thenne said the squyer that he hym self shuld goo to gyue Geffray knowlege of this auenture. And thenne anone he departed and came to Geffray, to whom he shewed aƚƚ the trouth of the faytte / and whan geffray knew thauenture he was joyful, & made hym knight, & gaaf hym the gouernaunce of a houndred men of armes / & commanded that he shuld go anoone in to the countrey, to kepe wel that Claude shuld take none oþer way, but the way to the Fortresse; For yf he escaped he might do grete harme tofore he were take, & that bettre it were to close hym in that lane, & there by force to take hym. 'Sire,' said the new knight, 'doubte you not he shal not escape you, but yf he cane flee, yf that I may come by tymes to the lane.' Thenne he departed & descended the mountayne with hys men of armes. And geffray taryed at the pathe, that mightily faught with his swerde vpon his enemyes. And wel fourty knyghtes were alighted on foot vpon þe hylle, & threw stones vpon Claude & his peple in suche wyse, that by force he & hys peuple was constrayned to retourne / And Geffray & his peple entred in to the lane & chaced þem / but vnnethe he might passe to pursiew men for deed men that were slayn with castyng̘ of stones. Now shal I shew you of the new knight that was commyng̘ at the other lanes ende with his company / but whan he herd̛ the bruyt of the horses / he thought wel that Claude retourned / and he toke the couert of the mountayne & suffred Claude to take the way toward the Fortresse.

Thystorye telleth that Claude hasted hym fast to come out of the lane for to saue hym self & his peple in the Fortresse of Syon, but that the fole thinketh oftymes commeth to foly. It is veray trouth that he spede hym so fast that he was out of the lane & came to his large / and so he ne taryed neyther for one nor for other / but came walapyng̘ toward the Fortresse. And whan he was nygh, he cryed with a high voyce / 'open the gates' / & so they dide / and thenne he passed the bridge and entred, & was alyghted afore that he perceyued that he had lost the Fortresse / and fourthwith he was seasyd & bounde by hys enemyes. Thenne was he gretly abasshed; For he sawe not about hym no man that he knew. 'What dyuel is this? where are my men become?' 'By my feyth,' said a knight / 'ryght foorth shal ye knowe, For ye shal lodge with them' / And so immedyatly he was brought to the chambre where Clereuauld, his brother & his peuple were in pryson. Thenne whan he perceyued them bound̛ & kept as they were, he was ryght dolaunt. And whan Clereuauld sawe hym, he said: 'Ha / a, Claude, fayre brother, we are faƚƚ by your pryde into grete captiuite / and doubte it not we shal neuer escape from hens without losse of our lyues, For to cruel is Geffray.' And Claude ansuerd hym: 'We muste abyde aƚƚ that therof shal faƚƚ.' Thenne came Geffray ryght foortℏ to the Fortresse, & had slayn or take aƚƚ the residu of Claudes peple / saaf hys brother Guyon whicℏ was brought with hym, & putte prysonner in the said pryson where as Geffray entred / and emong al oþer said to Claude: 'How,' said he, 'thou fals traytour, durst thou be so hardy to hurte or dommage my faders Countre & his peuple, thou that owest to be his subget / and by the feyth that I owe to my fader I shal punysshe the, in exemple of aƚƚ other, For I shal doo the hang̘ byfore Valbruyant, the Castel in syght of thy Cousyn Gueryn, that is a traytour as thou art, vnto my lord my fader.' And whan Claude herd̛ that gretyng̘, wete it wel / he was not therwith playsed. But whan the peple of the Countrey knew that Syon the Fortresse, & Claude and his brethern were take & theire peple slayne / thenne came playntes of robberyes & other euyl caas vpon Claude & vpon his peuple, & within that same Fortresse were founde more than a C prysonners of the good peple of the Countrey, as marchants & straungers that were robbed passyng by the way / For tofore that tyme none passed by the said̛ Fortresse vnspoyled̛. And whan geffray herd̛ of this tydynges, he made to be sette vpon the syde of the hille a payre of galowes / & therat dide do be hanged al the peple of Claude / and his two brethern he spared for that tyme / and gaaf the Castel in keping vnto a knight of the Countrey that was ryght valyaunt & wyse / & commanded hym vpon his lyf to kepe it wel / and to gouerne lawfully his subgets, & to kepe good justice / And he promysed hym so to doo, For he gouerned the countre wel & rightfully. And after his commandement he departed on the morowe toward Valbruyant / and toke the thre bretheren with hym, the whiche had grete fere of deth / and that was not without cause / as ye shal here herafter.

Thystory sayth that geffray & his peuple rode tyl they cam tofore Valbruyant / wher as tentes were dressed & sett vp, and euery man lodged in ordre. Thenne made geffray ryght foorth to sette vp galowes tofore the Castel gate, and there dide do hang incontynent Claude & his two bretheren / and sent worde to them of the Castel / yf that they yelded not to hym the Fortres, that he wold hang them yf he had it by force. And whan Gueryn of Valbruyant herd̛ these tydynges, he sayd to his wyf: 'It is so for trouth, madame, that ageynst this strong dyueƚƚ I ne may withstand̛ ne kepe this Fortresse, wherfor I wyl departe & goo vnto mountfrayn to Guerard̛ my nevew, & to other my frendes for to haue Counseyƚƚ how we may haue traytye of pais with Geffray.' And thenne the wyf that was right sage & subtyl said to hym / 'go foorth / by the grace of god, & kepe you wel that ye be nat take by the waye, and departe not from Mountfrayn tyl ye haue tydynges fro me, For by thayde of god I hoop that I shal purchasse a good traytye with geffray for you; For had ye don after my Counseyƚƚ, & byleued me, ye shuld not haue medled with the werkes of Claude & of his bretheren / not with standing yet haue ye not falsed your feyth toward your liege lord Raymondyn of Lusynen.' Thenne Gueryn her said: 'My dere sustir & spouse, doo that ye thinke best, For my fyaunce is in you / and I wyl byleue aƚƚ that ye may counseylle.' And thenne departed he by a pryvy posterne vpon a swyft hors, and passed by the couerts of the wodes, so that he was not aspyed. And whan he was a lytel passed he sporyd his hors, and the hors bare hym swyftly, and wete it that he had so grete fere lest he shuld be aspyed, that he was almost out of his wyt / & thanked god moche whan he fond̛ thentre of the Forest þat dured wel two leghes / and toke the way toward Mountfrayn, as moche as he coude ryde.

Thystory testyfyeth, that so long rode Gueryn that he came to mountfrayn, where he found̛ guerard hys neuew, & recounted to hym al these werkes; and how Geffray with the grete toth had take Claude theire Cousyn & his two brethern, & brought tofore Valbruyaunt, where he dide al thre to be hanged / and how he was departed thens, doubtyng to be take within the Fortresse. 'By my feyth,' said Guerard, 'Fayre vncle, ye haue do wysely, For after that men speke of Geffray, he is a valyaunt knight of hye & puyssaunt enterpryse / and he is moche cruel & moche to be doubted. Woo is to me that euer we went to Claude! For wel we knew that he & hys bretheren were of euyl gouernement, & that none passed foreby theire Fortresse vnrobbed. Now pray We god, that he preserueth bothe our lyues & honour in this affayre. Fayre vncle, vpon this caas we muste seke remedy / It is good that we lete haue knowledge to our parents & frendes þerof, þat haue be of this folyssℏ alyaunce.' And gueryn ansuerd: 'that is trouth.' Thenne they sent wordes to theyre frendes that they shuld al cōme to mountfrayn, so that they might haue Counseiƚƚ togidre vpon this faytte, & to seke the meane to escuse them toward geffray. Now resteth thystory of them / and speketh of the lady of Valbruyant that was moche subtyl & sage / and she euer blamed her lord of that he had consented to Claude & to hys brethern. This lady had a doughter, whiche was of the age of ix yere / & fayre & gracyous; and also a sone that was ten yere of age, whiche was fayre & wel endoctryned. And thenne this lady as she had of nothing̘ be abasshed / mounted upon a palfray rychely arayed, & dide do be mounted her two children vpon two horses, and ordeyned two auncyent gentylmen to conduyte theire horses / and acompanyed with six damoyselles, dide open the gate where she fond̛ the new knight that brought the mandement of geffray, whicℏ she receyued benyngly, and he that coude moche of honour made to her the reuerence / and the lady seyd to hym temperatly: 'Sire knight, my lord is not within / and therfore I wyl go myself toward my lord your maister to knowe what is his playsyr, For it semeth me that he is come hither to make werre / but I byleue not that it is for my lord nor for none within this fortresse. For god deffende that my lord or ony of this place had do that thing that shuld dysplayse geffray or my lord his fader / and by aduenture yf some of his synester frendes haue informed geffray otherwyse than raison, I wold humbly beseche & pray hym that he vouche sauf to here my said lord & husband̛ in his escuses & deffenses' / and thenne whan the knight herd her speke so sageously / her ansuerde: 'Madame, this requeste is raisonable, wherfore I shal conduyte you toward̛ my lord / and I hope that ye shal fynd̛ hym frendly, & that ye shal haue a good̛ traytye with hym / how be it, he is infourmed of gueryn your lord ryght malycyously / but I byleue that at your requeste he shal graunte a part of your petycion' / And thenne they departed & cāme toward the lodgys of Geffray.

Thystorye sayth that whan geffray saw the commyng of the lady he yssued out of his tente & came ayenst her / and she that was wel nourrytured held her two children tofore geffray, to whom she made humble reuerence / and thenne geffray enclyned hym to her, & toke her vp right humbly, & said: 'Madame, ye be right welcome' / and 'my lord,' said she, 'I see þat I desyre' / and thenne her two children dyde theyre obeyssaunce in the moost humble wyse / and he gaf to them ayen his salut. Thenne toke the lady the word̛ / and feynyng as though she had knowen nothing of hys euyl wyƚƚ / said vnto hym in this wyse: 'My lord / my lord! myn husband as for this tyme he is not present in this Countre. Wherfore I am come toward you to pray you that it may playse you to take your lodgys in your Fortresse, and take with you as many of your peple as shal you playse; For, my lord, thanked be god, there is ynough to plese you with / and wete it wel that I & my meyne shal receyue you gladly, as we owe to doo the sone of our souerayn lord̛ naturaƚƚ.' Whan geffray vnderstode her requeste he was gretly abasshed how she durst desyre hym / consyderyng how he was infourmed ageynst Gueryn her husband̛. Neuerthele he sayd, 'By my feyth, fayre lady, I thanke you of your grete curtoysye that ye offre me / but this requeste I ought not to agree, For men haue youen to me knowlege that your husband hath not deseruyd it ayenst my lord, my fader, & me / how be it, my fayre lady, I wyl wel that ye knowe that I am not come for to make warre ayenst ladyes & damoyselles / and be ye of this sure, that neyther to you nor to none of your fortres I wyl nought say nor hurt, yf your husband̛ be not there' / And she thenne said: 'gramercy, my lord. But I requyre you, that it playse you to shew me the cause of your indignacyon that ye haue vnto my lord myn husband̛, For I am in certain nother he nor I haue neuer do no thing̘ to our knowleche that shuld be your dysplaysure / and I byleue that yf it might plese you to here my lord & husband̛ & his escuse, that ye shal fynd̛ them that thus haue informed you, be not matere of trouth / and my lord̛, therupon I make me strong̘ that in conclusyon ye shal fynde as I say.'

In this partye sheweth thistory, that whan geffray herd̛ the lady thus speke he thought a lytel, & syn ansuerd̛ & said: 'By my feyth, lady, yf he goodly can excuse hym that he haue not falsed hys feyth, I shalbe glad therof / & I shal receyue hym gladly in his excusacyons with his felawes & aƚƚ theire complyces / and from this day seuen nyght I gyue hym saaf gooyng & commyng, and fourty personnes with hym.' Thenne toke the lady her leue & retourned to Valbruyant, where she lefte her children / and acompanyed with ten̄ knightes and squyers, & with thre damoyselles departed, & rode so long tyl she came to Mountfrayn, where she was receyued joyously of her lord & his frendes, to whom she recounted how gueryn her lord had safconduyte of geffray for hym, & fourty personnes witℏ hym / & yf he may excuse hym geffray shal here hym gladly, and shal admynystre hym al rayson. 'By my feyth,' said an auncyent knight, 'thenne shaƚƚ we haue a good traytye with hym / For there nys none that may say that euer we mysdyde in eny thing̘ ayenst our souerayne lord naturel. Yf Claude, that was our Cousyn, had vs requyred of ayde, yf he neded, & we had promysed hym to helpe hym / not for that we ne haue yet mysdon / nother geffray nor none other may not say that euer we had the helmet on heed, nor þat we yssued euer out of our places for to comforte or ayde hym ayenst geffray by no wyse / goo we thenne surely toward geffray, & lete me doo there withaƚƚ, For I doubte not but that we shal haue good traytye with hym.' The frendes & cousyns of gueryn confermed this propos, & made theire appareyl for to goo toward geffray on the iiide day folowyng. And thenne the lady departed, & retourned to Valbruyant, where she sent for breed, wyne, capons, chikkons, conyns, & suche vytayƚƚ, with hey & ootys, and presented it to geffray / but he neuer receyued of it / but suffred that who wold toke of it for his money / and the said lady lete geffray haue knowleche how her lord & his frendes shuld come toward hys grace. /

Here sayth thystory, that Gueryn of Valbruyant & guerard hys neuew, taryed for theire frendes at mountfrayn / and whan they were come they mounted on theire horses & rode tyl they came to valbruyant / and on the morne they sent word̛ to Geffray of theire commyng, and that they were al redy to come toward hys good̛ grace to theire excuse. And geffray ansuerd̛: þat he was apparaylled to receyue them. And þenne they departed fro the Castel & came tofore the tente of geffray, to whom they made theire obeyssaunce ryght honourably. And there thauncyent knight of whiche I spak tofore toke the word, & said̛: "Mighty & puyssaunt lord, we are come hither toward your highnesse for this, that we vnderstand̛ how ye are infourmed ayenst vs, that we were consentyng̘ to the ylnesse & dysobedyence of Claude ayenst our souerayne lord naturel, your fader. My lord, it is wel trouth that the said Claude our Cousyn, tofore hys folysshe enterpryse, he assembled vs togidre, & thus said to vs: 'Fayre lordes, ye be aƚƚ of my lynage & kynrede / & I of yours / wherfore rayson requyreth that we loue eche other.' Thenne sayd̛ we / 'by my feyth, ye say trouth / but wherfor say ye soo?' And thenne he ansuerd̛ couertly: 'Fayre lordes, I doubte me to haue shortly a strong̘ werre & to haue a doo with a strong partye; Wherefor I wyl wete yf ye wold helpe me' / & we thenne asked of hym / ayenst whom̄ / he ansuerd̛: 'we shuld knowe it al in tyme, & that he was not parfytte frend̛, who that relenquysshed hys cousyn at hys nede.' Thenne said we to hym, 'we wyl wel that ye knowe that there nys none so grete in this countrey, ne so myghty, yf he wyl hurt or dommage you, but that we shal helpe you to kepe & susteyne you in your ryght.' and vpon that he departed / and syn had he many rancours ayenst some where we ayded hym / but my lord wete it wel that fro the tyme of hys dysobedyence to my lord your fader, we ne doubte nor fere neyþer god nor man that we euer putte piece of harneys on vs / nor that none of vs aƚƚ yssued out of his fortres, nother for hym nor for his faytte / and the contrary shal be nother knowen nor fond̛, For herof we wyl not haue grace / but we requyre only right & justice / and yf there be other cause that our euyl wyllers might haue contryued vpon vs thrugh enuye or hate / I say by right that ye ne owe to be therfore indigned ayenst vs, þat are very subgets & obedyent to my lord, your fader Raymondyn of Lusynen, For yf some were wylling̘ to vexe or moleste vs by ony wyse ye oughte to helpe & kepe vs / and herof I can no more say, For we can not thinke that none of vs dide euer that thing̘ that myght dysplayse my lord your fader. Wherfor we al present beseche & pray you that ye be not infourmed but of rayson." /

Whan geffray had herd̛ thexcuse of the old̛ knyght that spake for aƚƚ, he called his Counseyƚƚ to hym / and syn said to them: 'Fayre lordes, what seme yow of this fayte? me semeth that these folke excuse them self fuƚƚ wel.' 'By my feyth,' sayd they aƚƚ in commyn, 'that is trouth / nor ye can not aske of them, but that ye make them to swere vpon the holy Euaungylles, that yf the siege had be layed tofore syon / they had socoured Claude or not ayenst you / and yf they swere ye / they are your enemyes / and to the contrary, yf they swere that noo / ye owe not to bere to them euyl wyƚƚ.' To this they aƚƚ accorded / & therewith concluded theire counseyƚƚ. And thenne were gueryn & hys frendes called tofore geffray / and after he had recorded to them the sayd conclusyon / they said that gladly they shuld swere as they dyde. Wherfore they had peas with geffray, and syn went with hym al about the Countre vysytyng̘ the Fortresses & places by the space of two monethes. And after Geffray toke leue of the Barons there / and lefte gouernours to kepe & rewle the Countrey / and syn departed & retourned to Lusynen, where he was gretly festyed of hys fader & moder, that were glad of his retourne. Thenne was there come a knyght of poytou fro Cypre, whiche had reported tydynges how the Calyphe Of Bandas, and the grete Carmen were arryued in Armenye / and moche they had adommaged the kynge Guyon. Also how kynge vryan had tydynges how they entended to make werre ayenst hym in Cypre. Wherfore he made hys assemble of men of armes & of shippes, for to recountre & fyght with them in the see. For his entencion was not to suffre them to entre in his land̛. Whan thenne Geffray vnderstode these tydynges he sware by the good lord, that shuld not be without hym, and that to long he had̛ kept his fyre / and said to Raymondin hys fader, & to Melusyne his moder / that they wold make hym cheuysaunce of help for to goo ayde hys bretheren ayenst thenemyes of god / And they accorded therto / so that he promysed̛ them to retourne within a yere day toward them.

Ryght joyous was geffray whan his fader had graunted hym his wyƚƚ. and thenne he prayed the knight that was come fro Cipre, that he wold retourne with hym, & that he shuld reward̛ hym wel therof. 'By my feyth', sayd the knight / 'men telleth me as touching your prowes may none compare / and I shal go with you for to see yf ye can doo more than Vryan & Guyon your bretheren; For thoo two I knowe ryght wel.' 'By my feyth, sire knight,' said geffray, 'it is a lytel thing of my faytte concernyng̘ the puyssaunce of my lordes, my brethern / but I thanke you of this lyberaƚƚ offre to goo with me / & I shall meryte you, therfore, yf it playse god.' Thenne he made hys mandement & dyde so mocℏ, that he assembled xiiii. C. men of armes, & wel iij. C. arbalestres, and made them to drawe toward̛ Rochelle / And raymondyn & melusyne were there, whiche had don arryued many vesselles, & wel purueyed ofof of vytaylles necessary. And thenne Geffray toke leue of his fader & of hys moder, & entred into the see with his companye, & saylled so þat they lost syght of land̛, For they made good̛ way. Here resteth thystorye of them to speke / and begynneth to speke of the Calyphe of Bandas & of the Sawdan of Barbarye, that was nevew to the sawdan that was slayn in the batayƚƚ vpon the heed of Saynt Andrew aboue the black montayne.

Thystorye sheweth vs that the Caliphe of Bandas & the Saudan of Barbarye / the kyng̘ Anthenor of Anthioche / and the admyral of querdes had made togidre theire affyaunce, that neuer they shuld retourne tyl they had dystroyed the kynge Vryan of Cipre, and guyon the kyng̘ of Armanye his brother / and had wel assembled to the nombre of xvi.Ml sarasyns, & had theire shippes aƚƚ prest to thentent to arryue first in Armanye / & first of aƚƚ theire werkes to dystroye the yle of Rodes, & after the royalme of Armanye / & so passe in to Cypre to dystroye & putte to deth / & had sworne that they shuld make kyng̘ Vryan to dey on the crosse / & hys wyf & his children they shuld brenne. But as the wyse man saith / 'the fole proposeth & god dysposeth' / and at that season were many espyes emong̘ them as wel of armenye as of rodes / and there was one of the maister of Rodes spyes that was so Lyke a Sarasyn that no man mysdymed hym for other than a Sarasyn, & had the langage as a man of the same Countrey; the whiche knewe the secretes of the sarasyns / and syn departed fro them & came to baruth, where he fond̛ a barke þat wold sayƚƚ to Turckye to fette marchandyse, and entred in it. And whan they had good wynd they toke vp theire ancres & saylled so long that they sawe the yle of Rodes, where they came to refressh them there / and soone after the sayd espye went out of the shipp and toke hys way toward the Cite of rodes, where he fonde the maister of rodes, that welcommed hym & demanded what tydynges. And the spye recounted to hym al that the Sarasyns entended for to doo / the whicℏ tydynges the maister of rodes dyde doo knowe by wrytyng to the two bretheren kynges of Armenye & of Cipre / and that they shuld entre in to the see with þeire power / and that he shuld mete with them at the porte of Japhe / and thenne whan guyon kyng̘ of armanye vnderstode this he entred in to the see, & had with hym to the nombre of six thousand̛ men of armes, & wel iii.Ml balesters, & cam̄e sayllyng to Rodes, where as he fonde the grete maister at the porte / And whan the grete pryour of Rodes sawe him he had grete joye, & forthwith he entred with hym & al his puyssaunce into the see to the nombre of iii.C bretheren men of armes, & vi.C balesters or crosbowmen. Whan they were assembled togidre fayre was the Flote, For by very estymacion they were fonde to the nombre of ten thousand men of armes / & about xviii.C what balesters as Archers. And wete it wel, it was a fayre syght, For the baners & standarts wayued with the wynd̛ / and the gold & azure vpon the helmets & armures resplendysshed̛ brigh & clere, that it was grete meruayƚƚ / and syn they rowed toward the porte of Japhe, wher the Sarasyns had made theire nauye to dryue. And here resteth thystorye of them to speke, & sheweth of vryan as ye may here herafter. /

Thystory sayth, that the kyng̘ Vryan made & sent his mandement thrugh al his land̛ of Cypre, for to gadre his baronye togidre with theire puyssaunce, & whan they were assembled̛ at the porte of Lymasson he toke leue of the quene Ermyne, his wyf, & entred into the see. And wete it they were in nombre, what men of armes as balesters & archers xiiii.Ml, And þenne they departed fro the porte, & saylled by suche force of wynde that quene Ermyne, which was vpon a hye toure, lost soone the syght of them. And wete it wel that geffray with the grete toth, within thre days after arryued vnder Lymasson / but the maister of the porte suffred them not to entre within the porte. how be it he was abasshed to see the armes of Lusynen in theire baners vpon the toppes of theire shippes, & wyst not what to deme or say; wherfore he went anoone to the Castel & anounced these tydynges to the quene / And she þat was fuƚƚ sage, said to hym / 'go ye to know what folke they be, For without treson, they are some of my lordes lynee / speke thenne with them, hauyng your men prest & redy vpon the porte to thende, yf they wold̛ arryue by force, that ye may withstand̛ them' / and he anone fulfylled the quenes commandement & came to the barryers of the clos & demanded of them what they sought. Thenne ansuerd̛ the knight whiche tofore that tyme had be in Cypre / 'lete us arryue, For it is geffray, kyng̘ vryans brother, that commeth to socoure & ayde hym ayenst the Sarasyns.' And thenne whan the maister of the porte vnderstode þe knight he knew hym anone, & thus sayd: 'Sire, the kyng̘ is departed from hens thre dayes agoo, & hath take hys way and hys puyssaunce with hym toward the porte of Japhe, For he wyl not suffre, yf he may, that paynemes entre in his royame / but pray, my lord, hys brother, that it playse hym to com̄e & see the quene that ryght ioyous shal be of hys comyng̘.' And he al this said to geffray, whiche anoone entred into a lytel galyote, & with hym the said knight and other of hys felawship, & rowed to the chayne that anoone was open / & so they entred in to the hauen, where as they fonde many noble men that honourably receyued geffray & his felawship, whiche meruaylled them gretly of hys grete courage & of hys fyersnes, & brought hym toward the queene that abode for hym, holdyng her sone Henry in her armes. And as Geffray approched to her she enclyned herself tofore him / and geffray to her made his obeyssaunce & toke her vp & kyssed her / & syn said to her, 'Madame, my sustir, god yeue you joye of al that your herte desyreth' / And she welcommed hym frendly & honourably. And thenne geffray toke vp his neuew Henry, that kneled tofore hym. What shuld I now make long compte. Geffray was thenne glad / & the port was open & hys nauye entred, & whan they were wel refresshed geffray said to the quene: 'Madame, I wyl departe, lete me haue a maronner that wel knoweth the costes of this see, so that I may fynd̛ my brother.'

To this ansuerd̛ the quene, 'My right dere brother / By my feyth, I wold it had cost me a thousand poundes that ye were now with my lord, your brother, For wel I knowe he shal haue grete joye of your commyng̘.' and thenne she called to her maister of the porte, & sayd / 'go make a galyot to be shipped redy with ten oores, & seke for the sagest maronner & best patron that can be fond̛, for to conduyte my lord my brother toward my lord.' 'Madame,' ansuerd̛ the maister of the port, 'I haue wel a rampyn alredy shipped to rowe, wel armed & vytaylled̛, & resteth no more than to meve & departe.' Thenne was geffray right glade & toke hys leue of the quene & of his nevew, & entred in to his shipp / and the said rampyn or galley gyded hym / & so departed with hys flote, & rowed & made good way, so that in short space they of the porte lost the syght of them. And the quene Ermyne prayed deuoutely to god that they myght retourne with joye. Of hym I shal leue to speke. But Vryan his broþer rowed so long̘ tyl they perceyued the porte of Japhe, & the bygge & grete vesselles that were there assembled / and thenne was there comme the Caliphe / the Saudan of Barbarye, the kyng̘ of Anthioche, & thadmyral of querdes, with theire puyssaunce. And was by them concluded the king̘ anthenor & thadmyraƚƚ shuld make vantward, & shuld hold the way toward rodes / and yf that they neded socour they shuld wryt to the Caliphe & to the Sawdan, whiche alwayes be redy to helpe & ayde them / and the kyng̘ antenor of Anthyoche & thadmyral of Cordes departed fro the porte of Japhe with fourty thousand panemes, & toke theire way toward Rodes by suche wyse that Vryan knew nothing of theire departyng̘ / and had rowed but two dayes journey whan they perceyued kyng guyon & the nauye of rodes, and also the Cristens perceyued them / Thenne was there grete alarme of bothe partes, and soone they borded togidre. There was grete occysyon & horryble medlee / and at the first recountryng were six galleyes of the sarasyns sounken & perysshed in the see / And the noble crystens endeuoyred them self wel & faught valyauntly, But the force & the quantyte of the Sarasyns was grete / and the Crysten peuple susteyned̛ grete charge, & had be dyscomfyted yf god̛ of hys grace had not conduyted geffray that part as it shaƚƚ be recounted herafter.

Thystory saith, that geffray & his peple saylled in the see by force of wynd þat they had at theire wyƚƚ so long, that they approuched the place where the batayƚƚ was. And first of all the rampyn that conduyted them approuched so nygh that they sawe them fyght / and anone retourned & said to geffray, 'Sire, commande al men to be redy, For we haue perceyued the batayƚƚ / & as we suppose they are sarasyns & crysten fyghting togidre.' Thenne rowed the galyote & came so nygh the baytayƚƚ that they herde crye on hye, 'Cordes & Anthioche' / and at the other part 'Lusynen & saynt Joℏn of Rodes' / and immedyatly retourned the rampyn toward geffray, & said to him, 'Sire, at that one party they ben sarasyns / and at the other part theire callyng is Lusynen & Saynt Johan of rodes / but certaynly it is not the kyng̘ vryan / but I byleue, my lord, that it is the kyng guyon hys brother & the maister of Rodes that thus fyght with the Sarasyns.' 'Ryght foorth,' sayd geffray, 'goo we to them asprely' / thenne they haunced̛ saylles vp & saylled foorth by such wyse that it semed as it had be the vyreton of a Crosbow, & stemed the shippes of the sarasyns in suche manere that they were sparpylled̛, so that there rested not foure of al the flote, and cryed 'Lysynen' with a high voys. Wherfor the Ermayns & they of Rodes byleued þat it had be the kyng Vryan that were cōme fro cypre. And thenne toke they good̛ herte to them courageously. And the kyng of Anthioche & thad myraƚƚ of Cordes gadred ayen theire peple, and rane vpon the crysten with grete force. But geffray & hys peuple, that were fresshe & new, ouerrane them in suche manere that they dommaged gretly the sarasyns/ and thenne the vessel where geffray was / borded the vessel of the kynge anthenor & were chayned̛ togidre. And geffray entred into the vessel of the kyng̘ & bygan to make grete occysyon of the sarasyns, & his peuple entred & faught so valyauntly with suche a strengtℏ that there was no sarasyn so hardy that durst shew hym or make deffense / and many of them for theyre relyf supposed̛ to haue entred into thadmyral shipp & they were drowned / the whiche admyral, guyon & his peuple assaylled strongly, & drowned foure of the sarasyns shippes. The batayƚƚ was fyers & horryble & thoccysyon hydouse / and briefly to say, the sarasyns were putte in suche manere so low that they had noþing̘ them to deffende. /

Moche was the batayƚƚ hard & strong̘, but aboue al other faught geffray manfully, & so dide the poyteuyns that were come with hym there, & so dyde guyon the maister of Rodes & theire peple / but they were abasshed̛ for this that they cryed 'Lusynen' / but thenne it was no saison tenquere. And thenne the kyng̘ anthenor & thadmyral perceyued wel þat the dyscomfiture fyƚƚ of them, For they þenne had lost more than the two partes of theire peple, wherfore they made the resydu of theire peuple to withdraw them toward the port of Japhe to haue socour / and the said kyng̘ & admyral put them self in a shipp of auauntage & made grete sayƚƚ fro the batayƚƚ, and whan the sarasyns perceyued they went after, he that might. But the Ermayns & they of Rodes ouertoke the moost part & putte them to deth & threw þem ouerbord. But whan geffray perceyued the departyng̘ of the kyng̘ anthenor & the admyral, he dyde make sayƚƚ & went after with al hys nauye, & made so fast way that anoone he lefte the Ermayns & the maister of Rodes at sterne. And whan the rampyn ship of auauntage perceyued geffray, the patron cryed to hys peuple with a hye voys / 'after / after / fayre sires, For yf geffray leseth his way & faylleth to mete with hys brother, I shal neuer dare retourne to my lady.' And thenne the kynge Guyon, that knew the rampyn, asked of the patron what was that lord cristen that so had socoured them. 'By my feyth,' said the patron, 'it is geffray with the grete toth, your brotþer.' And whan the kyng guyon vnderstod̛ it he cryed with a hye voys, 'make more sayƚƚ, þat we were with our brother, For yf he were perysshed I shuld neuer haue hertly joye.' But þe rampyn went tofore so fast that in short tyme he ouertoke geffray, that was neer the sarasyns that approuched the porte of Japhe. Here I shall leue to speke of them, & shal shew of Vryan that tofore was come to the port and had fyred sarasyns shippes there / but the paynemes rescued them in theire best manere / not that withstanding there were more than ten vesselles brent.

In this partye sheweth thystorye that Geffray with the grete toeth pursiewed so long̘ the king anthenor & thadmyral of Cordes, that they approuched nygh to the port of Japhe, where they entred in / and geffray after them; For by no manere he wold̛ leue them / though men shewed to hym the grete multitude of paynemes that thenne were entred in to the vesselles to socoure the kyng̘ anthenor. But he anoone bygan the batayƚƚ that was hard̛ & mortaƚƚ, in so mocℏ that the kyng and thadmyraƚƚ were constrayned̛ to take land̛, and went to the toune of Japhe, where they fond̛ the calyphe of Bandas and the Sawdan of Barbarye that were gretly abasshed̛ that so soone they were retourned, and demanded̛ of the cause wherfore / and they recounted to them al thaduenture, And how the kyng of armenye & the maister of Rodes were dyscomfyted̛, had not a knyght araged or wodd̛ that came & socoured them with a few peuple that cryed̛ 'Lusynen' / & there may none withstand̛ hym, whiche is now yonder at the porte where he fyghteth ayenst our peuple / and al that he recountreth is brought to hys ende. And whan the sawdan vnderstod̛ it he had no wyƚƚ to lawghe / but said, 'By machomet, it is tolde me of old̛ that I, & many other of our sette and lawe, shall susteyne grete parels vpon the see, by the heyres of Lusynen / but yf we might haue them on land̛, and that our peuple were out of þe shippes they shuld be soone aƚƚ dyscomfyted.' 'By aƚƚ our goddes,' said the Caliphe, 'ye say trouth, / and also yf they were here dystroyed̛ we shuld subdue lyghtly Rodes, cypre, & armanye / Lete vs thenne make our peuple to come to land̛, and suffre the Cristen to take peasybly theire landing̘.' But in certayn for nought they spake soo, For they yssued out without ony commandement, by the vertue & strengtℏ of Geffray that therto constrayned̛ them / and Geffray with his peuple pursiewed them at land̛, & chaced them vnto the Cite of Japhe / and all thoo that were ouertake were put to deth / and they that entred in the toun cryed̛ 'treson, treson!' Thenne were the gates shette, and euery man went to hys garde / and geffray retourned to his shippes / and commanded that the horses shuld be had̛ out aland̛. For he said that neuer he shuld departe but he shuld dey or he shuld make men to say, that Geffray with the grete toth hath be here.

Thystorye telleth vs that whyle Geffray was about to haue out of the shippes hys horses, the rampyn perceyued the baners & penons of the kyng̘ vryan, that mocℏ strongly scarmysshed the nauye of the sarasyns that knew nothing̘ that geffray had take land̛, For they had take the deep of the porte. And the kynge and thadmyraƚƚ were arryued at the narowest syde to be the sooner on land̛. Thenne departed the rampyn shipp of auauntage, and rowed toward vryan. And thenne they recountred̛ guyon, whiche asked of the patron tydynges of geffray. 'Yonder he hath take land,' said the patron, '& hath chaced̛ the paynemes vnto þe Cite / and yonder is the kyng vryan your broþer, that scarmyssheth theire nauye, to whom I goo for to anounce hym your auenture, and the commyng of geffray, his brother' / And thenne the rampyn rowed fast, and came to vryan to whom, after his obeyssaunce don, he recounted al the faytte. Wherof Vryan thanked god deuoutely / & cryed to hys peple, 'auaunt, lordes, thinke to doo wel, For our enemyes may not escape vs, but that they be other slayn or take.' Thenne the crysten borded theire enemyes, the whicℏ were gretly abasshed of this, that they had knowleche that the kyng̘ anthenor & thadmyraƚƚ were retourned to Japhe. wherfor they toke land who that might, & fledd toward the toun. And thenne whan the Calyphe and the saudan sawe theire peple aland̛, they dyde send ambaxades toward the prynces Cristen for to haue trews the space of thre dayes, & that they shuld suffre theire landing̘, & on the foureth day they shuld gyue them journey of batayƚƚ. Kinge Vryan accorded therto, and sent word̛ therof to his brethern guyon and geffray / and thus they landed peasybly, and assembled theire peple togidre. Thenne was the Joye grete emong̘ the thre bretheren, and theire oost was nombred xxii.Ml what men of armes / balesters & archers.

Thystorye sayth that the thre bretheren and theire peuple made moche eche of other, & refresshed them during̘ the trews. But þanne the Sawdan of Damaske that had knowleche of the crystens landing sent word̛ to the Calyphe & to the sawdan of Barbarye, that they shuld not fyght with the crysten tyl he were come with them, & that they shuld̛ take othre thre days of trews / & so they dide; wherto the noble prynces crysten accorded. And duryng that terme the Caliphe & and the sawdan of Barbarye dyde withdraw theyre peuple toward Damaske to thentent that they might have the Cristen more within the land̛, so that none might flee to theyre nauye; but he were ouertake & slayne. For they wend̛ to haue aƚƚ theire wyƚƚ vpon the Crysten. For they were after the saudan of Damaske was assembled with them to the nombre of VII score thousand̛ fyghtyng men / and þe crysten were but xxxi.Ml good men / the whicℏ, whan they knew of the departyng̘ of the sarasyns fro Japhe, they were fuƚƚ dolaunt; For they supposed they had fledd / but for nought they wend soo / for at ende of six dayes they came & approuched nygh them, & on the morne gaf them batayƚƚ. Thenne came a trucheman mounted vpon a dromadary, whiche alighted tofore the tentes of the thre bretheren, and humbly salued them / and they rendred hym gretyng̘ / and he beheld them long or he spake. For he wondred moche of theire noble maynten & fyers contenaunce / and in especial he meruaylled moche of Geffray that was the hyest of personne, & saw the toeth that passed ouer the lyppe along hys cheke; wherof he was so abasshed that almost he coude not speke / but at last he said to kynge Vryan in this wyse. 'Noble kyng of Cypre / my right redoubted lordes the Sawdants of Barbarye & of Damaske / the Calyphe of Bandas / the kynges of Anthioche & Danette & thadmyraƚƚ of Cordes send word̛ by me to you that they be prest redy to lyuere you batayƚƚ, & they tary after you in a medowe vnder Damaske where ye, with al your puyssaunce may come / saf and peasybly there to make and take there your lodgys tofore them wheresomeuer it playse you / and by auenture whan ye haue sene theire puyssaunce ye shaƚƚ fynd some good & amyable traytye with my said̛ lordes. For certaynly it is not to your power to withstand̛ theire strengtℏ.' And whan geffray herd̛ there wordes, he sayd to hym / 'goo thou to thy kynges & sawdants, & to thy Caliphe / and say them that yf there were none only but I & my peuple, yet wold I fyght / & say them þat of theire trews we haue nought to doo / and whan thou shalt come to them say that geffray with the grete toth deffyeth them / and anoone after that thou art departed from hens I shal sawte the Cite of Japhe, & shal fyre it / and al the sarasyns that I shal fynd̛, I shal putte them to deth / and say to them, as thou passe by that they puruey them wel, For I ryght foorth shaƚƚ departe to asayƚƚ them.' And whan the trucheman or messager herd̛ this ansuere, he was al abasshed / and without eny more proces he lept vpon his dromadary, For he had so grete feer of the fyersnes of geffray that alwayes he loked behynd̛ hym, for fere that he had folowed hym / & sayd in hym self: 'By mahon, yf al the other were suche as that with the grete toth, our lordes, nor theire puyssaunce were not able to withstand them.' And thenne he came to Japhe, & said to them that geffray with the grete toth wold come anoon tassayƚƚ theire Cyte, and that he had sworne that he shuld putte in subgection of hys swerd̛ al them that he fond̛. Thenne were they aƚƚ abasshed / and wete it wel that the more parte of the peple there fled for fere toward Damaske, and toke with them theire goodes. And anoon geffray dide blow vp hys trompettes, & armed hys peple, & went incontynent to sawte the toun, and wold̛ neuer cesse therof, For ony thing that his breþern said / and sware by god that he shuld shewe them suche tokens that men shuld knowe that he had ben in surye. But here seaceth thistorye of hym, & speketh of the forsaid messanger þat rode so long that he came tofore the lodgys of the sarasyns at Damaske.

In this party, sayth thystory, that the messager rode so fast vpon his dromadary that he cam / vnto thoost tofore Damaske / & fond̛ in the tente of the Calyphe the two sawdans, the king̘ anthenor / thadmyral of Cordes, the kyng̘ golofryn of Danette, & many other that asked tydynges of the Cristens. And the messager them said / 'I haue don your commandement & message / but whan I shewed vnto them, yf that they had seen your puyssaunce it wold haue be a meane of traytye with you / and thenne one of them that had oo grete toth, wold not suffre the kyng of Cypre to haue the wordes, but he hymself said þus, "Goo thou to thy kynges and sawdants, & say them we haue not doo with theire trews, / & that yf there wer but he & his peple only, yet wold he fyght with you" / and morouer said to me / that assoone as I shuld come to you that I shuld take you ayen þe patents of your trews, & that ye shuld beware of hym / and that in despyte of you aƚƚ he wold̛ assawte Japhe, & putte the fyre thrugh al the toun & destroye them for euer / and that thus I shuld say to them whan I passed by the Cite / and so haue I doo / and wete it wel that the moremore more part of the Cytezeyns be come after me, & immedyatly after my departyng̘ I herd̛ hys trompettes blowe thassawte of Japhe / & ye coude neuer thinke thorryble & fyers contenaunces of the prynces crysten with theire puyssaunce / And wete it wel after the semblaunce that they shew, ye be not of power tabyde them, & in especial he with the grete toth hath none other fere but that ye shal flee or they come to you.' And whan the saudan of Damaske vnderstod̛ it, he bygan to lawgℏ, & said̛, 'By machomid̛, in asmoche as I haue perceyued now your hardynes, ye shal be the first in batayƚƚ ayenst hym with the grete toth.' Wherto ansuerd the messager / 'vnhappy be that heure or day that I approche hym / but yf there be a grete ryuere or the toures or walles of Damaske or some other Fortes betwix hym & me / and yf I doo other, lete my lord mahomid̛ drowne me,' / & therwith bygane euery personne to lawhe. But there were suche that lawhed̛, that aftirward, yf they might haue had̛ leyser, they wold̛ haue wept. Now shaƚƚ I shew how geffray assawted Japhe, and toke it by force, and putte to deth aƚƚ the sarasyns there, and toke their hauoir and goodes out of the Cyte / & bare it vnto the vesselles, and after sette fyre on the Cite / and this don, retourned the crysten to theire lodgys, where geffray requyred his bretheren that they shuld take hym, the maister of Rodes, & hys peuple, to make the vantgarde / & they were agreed̛ / and that same nyght they rested them tyl on the morowe.

The next day, as the hystory wytnesseth, after the masse herd̛, desloged the vanward̛, and after the grete batayll, & the sommage & syn the ryergarde / and it was a noble syght to see thoost & the fayre ordynaunce to departe. Thenne came a spye to geffray, & hym said̛: 'Sire, about half a leghe hens ben a thousand sarasyns, whiche drawe them toward baruth to kepe the hauen of the toune.' to whom geffray asked / 'canst conduyte me thither?' / 'ye, by my feyth, sire,' sayd the spye. Thenne said geffray to the maister of rodes, that he shuld conduyte the vanwarde, puttyng fyre vpon the way where he went, to thentent he shuld not fayƚƚ to fynd̛ hym by the trasse of the fumyer / and the maister of Rodes said / 'it shal be don.' And thanne departed geffray with the spye, and went before, where he perceyued the sarasyns commyng fro a mountayn; & he shewed to geffray the sarasyns, whicℏ was joyful therof, & hasted hys peuple. and whan he had ouertake them / he sware: 'by god / ye gloutons! ye may not me escape' / & so rane vpon them, & ouerthrew the first that he recountred to the erth, & syn drew hys swerd̛, & dyde meruayllous fayttes of armes, & his peuple in lyke wyse. What nede is to speke more of the sarasyns, they were dyscomfyte, & fled toward Baruth, & the Crysten in the chaas. And whan the sarasyns of baruth sawe the fleers, they anoone knew them, & lete faƚƚ the bridge, & opened the gates & barryers / thenne the fleers entred within the toune / but alwayes geffray folowed̛ so hastly, that he entred with them within the town with wel fyue C men of armes. And whan Geffray was entred he commanded to kepe [the] gaterepegate tyl the resydu of hys peuple were come / And thenne bygan the batayƚƚ to be fyers & strong̘ / but neuertheles the Sarasyns might not endure, but fled at another yate out of the toun. And he that þenne had a good hors was wel bestad̛, For they sporyd fast, som toward the Cite of tryple, & some toward Damaske. And geffray & his peple slew al the sarasyns that they fond̛ in the toun, and threw them in the see / and he that sawe the toun strong & the Castel nygh the see, fayre porte garnysshed with toures for the sauegarde of the nauye / sayd / 'that place shuld be kepe for hym self' / and there geffray lefte two houndred men of armes & a C balesters of his peple / and he hymself soiourned there aƚƚ that same nyght. And on the morne he toke leue of his men that he lefte there, & rode after thoost by the trace of the fumyer & smoke / but the maister of Rodes was aferd̛ lest he shuld̛ haue grete empeschement /. Here seaceth the hystorye of hym / and sheweth of the fleers out of Japhe toward Damaske, whiche came to thoost at the tente of the Sawdan, where as the lordes sarasyns were / and pyteously recounted to them the dystruction of Japhe / how the Cristen had̛ putte to deth bothe yong & old̛, & sette fyre on eche part of the toun. Whan the saudants & kynges sarasyns vnderstod̛ it, they were fuƚƚ dolaunt. 'By al our goddes,' said the saudan of Damaske, 'Moche hard̛ ben the crysten, & they doubte nought as it semeth / but fuƚƚ wel they knowe that they are not of power to withstand̛ our grete puyssaunce; wherefore they make semblaunt, that nought they fere vs, & make suche sawtes while that we are ferre fro them / but yf we marched foorth / no doubte they wold recule & withdrawe them in to theire shippes.' 'By mahon,' said the sawdan of Barbarye / 'yf they were here alle rosted or soden, & yf it were custome to ete suche flesshe, they were not to the regarde of our peple suffysaunt for a brekfast / by my lawe, yf there were but I & my peuple only, yet shuld̛ none repasse of them homward̛.' But whan the trucheman or messager herd̛ hym so speke he coude neuer hold̛ hys tonge, but that he sayd / 'myghty sawdan, yf now ye sawe the kyng Vryan / the kyng guyon hys brother, & he with the grete toth, theire horryble & fyers contenaunce, shuld cause you to be in peas & cesse your grete menaces. And wete it wel, or the werke be ful doo ye shal not haue them fo[r] so good chep as ye say / but oft he that menaceth is somtyme in grete fer & drede hym self, & aftirward ouerthrawen' / And thenne whan the saudan vnderstode the messagers wordes, he said to hym: 'By Mahomid̛, fayre sire, I see wel by the grete hardynes that is in you, ye wold̛ fayne be ordeyned at the first recountre of þe batayƚƚ ayenst Geffray with the grete toeth.' & he ansuerd̛: 'By my lawe, sire, yf he be not recountred of none other but of me / he may wel cōme surely; For I shal tourne myn heelys toward̛ hym / ye / one leghe or two ferre fro his personne.' Thenne the lawhing was there grete / but soone after they herd̛ other tydynges, wherof they had no wyƚƚ to lawhe, For the fleers fro baruth forsayd came to thoost, and to them recounted̛ the dommage & pyte of the toune of Baruth, and how geffray with the grete toth had chaced þem by force, & al the resydu of them he had slayn / & 'by mahon,' said they, 'wete it wel he is not of purpos to flee, For he hath lefte garnyson at Baruth, & wel vytaylled it, & commeth hyþerward̛ in al haste to hym possible / & men see nothing̘ thrugh al the Countre where he passeth but fyre & flam̄e, & the wayes be aƚƚ couered with sarasyns that he & hys peple haue slayn.' Thenne whan the saudan of Damaske vnderstode it he was mocℏ dolaunt & angry. 'By mahomid̛,' said he, 'I byleue fermely that he with the grete toth hath a dyuel in his body.' Thenne said the saudan of Barbarye,'I am in doubte of that is told̛ me.' 'What is that?' said̛ the saudan of Damaske / 'it is said that the heyrs of Lusynen shal dystroye me, and that our lawe shal by theire strengthe be hurt & dommaged.' Thenne was there none so hardy a Sarasyn but that he shoke for fere. And now cesseth thystorye of them, & retourneth to geffray.

Thystorye sheweth in this partye, that so long rode geffray with hys felawship, that he ouertoke the vanwarde that the maister of Rodes conduyted, whiche was glade of his retourne, & asked how he had exployted. And geffray recounted to hym how he & his peple, with thayde of god, he had wonne the toune, castel, & hauen of baruth, and that by force they had̛ chased a grete part of them that were within, and the resydu they had putte to deth / & how he had lefte certayn nombre of his peuple to kepe it. 'By god,' sayd the maister of Rodes, 'ye haue wel don, & nobly & valyauntly exployted' / and soone these tydynges were knowen thrugh thoost / & Vryan & Guyon were joyfuƚƚ therof. 'By my feyth,' said Vryan to Guyon: 'Oure brother Geffray is of grete enterpryse & ryght valyaunt in armes, and yf god of his grace yeue hym long lyf, he shal do yet many grete actes worthy to be had in mynde.' 'By my feyth,' said guyon, 'ye say trouth.' Long tyme went the two bretheren thus spekyng of the prowes of geffray / And so long marched þeir oost, that on an euen they lodged them by a ryuere fyue myle fro Damaske / & there came theire espyes, that declared to them aƚƚ the manyere & contenaunce of the sarasyns. And thenne they toke Counseyl to wete what best was to doo, & they concluded that on the morne theire oost shuld lodge a leghe nygh to the Sarasyns as they dide. And thus on the morne they departed, & was commanded̛ that none shuld̛ sette fyre on his lodgys, nor in none other place; to thende that the Sarasyns shuld not soone perceyue theire commyng. And briefly to say, so long they went tyl they came to the place where they lodged them togidre, & made þat nyght good watche toward theire enemyes. & after they souped & lay al nyght in theire harneys. And anoone aftir middenyght geffray, accompanyed with a thousand fyghting men, toke a guyde that wel knew the Countre, & went toward thoost of the Sarasyns al the couert. & nygh therby was a forest that dured a myle, and there he embusshed & sent word̛ to thoost that they shuld be redy as to receyue theire enemys.

Al thus, as ye haue herde, geffray was on foot tofore the geaunt, that held his syþe in his fyst, & supposed to haue smyte geffray / but he bare it vp / & with that, he smote with hys swerd̛ vpon the haftehaste of the geantis sythe, that it feƚƚ in two pyeces. And thenne the geaunt toke hys flayel of yron, & gaf geffray a grete buffet vpon his bassynet, wherwith he was almost astonyed. Thenne came Geffray toward hys hors, that laye on the erthe, & toke hys clubbe of yron, that hyng at tharsons of hys sadeƚƚ, & lightly tourned toward the geaunt, that haunced hys flayel, supposyng̘ to dyscharge it vpon geffray / but geffray, that was pert in armes, smote with hys clubbe suche a stroke vpon the flayel, that he made it to flee out of the geantis handes. And thenne the geaunt, fuƚƚ of yre, put hys hand in hys bosom, where were thre hamers of yron; of the whiche he toke one, & casted it by suche radeur, that yf geffray had not receyued that strok vpon his clubbe, he might haue be myschieuyd therwith / by the force wherof hys cluble flough out of hys handes: and the geaunt toke it vp / but geffray drew lightly his swerd̛, & came to the geaunt, that supposed to haue smyte geffray with the cluble of stele on the heed / but geffray, that was light & strong, fled the stroke, & the geaunt faylled; & the stroke feƚƚ to thertℏ, by the force wherof the heed of the clubbe entred in to the grounde a large foot deep. And thenne geffray smote the geaunt vpon the ryght arme with hys swerd̛, in suche vyolence, & hys swerde was so sharp & trenchaunt, that he made it to flygh fro hys body to the erthe. Thenne was þe geant gretly abasshed, whan he sawe thus his arme lost / notwithstanding, he haunced his swerd̛ with hys other hand̛, and trowed to haue smyte geffray at herte / but geffray kept hym wel therfro, & smote the geaunt vpon the legge, vnder the knee, by suche strengtℏ that he smote it in two. Thenne the geaunt feƚƚ, & gaf suche an horryble crye, that al the valey sowned þerof, so that they that bode for geffray, herd̛ it / but they knew not the certayn what it was / but alwayes they had grete meruayƚƚ of that horryble sowne. Thenne geffray cutte the taches of the geant helmet, and after cutte of his heed / and syn toke hys horne, & blew it; Wherby his peple, that were in the valey, might here it / and so dide other that were of the countre / and by þat they knew the geaunt was deed; wherof they gaaf lawdyng̘ to our lord god deuoutely. and immediatly they mounted the mountayne, & came to the place, where they fonde geffray, that said to them of the Countre / 'this fals traytour geaunt shal neuer more patyse you, For he as now this tyme present, hath neyther lust nor talent to aske ony tribut of you.' And whan they perceyued the body & the heed̛ of the geaunt, lyeng in two partes, they were al abasshed of hys gretnes, For he was XV foot of lengthe / sayeng to geffray, that he had enterprysed a grete faytte, to haue putte hym self in so grete parel tassayƚƚ suche a dyueƚƚ / 'By my feyth,' said geffray, 'the parel is past. For, fayre lordes, I wyl that ye knowe / thing̘ neuer bygonne / hath neuer ende / In euery thing̘ most be bygynnyng̘, tofore the ende commeth.'

Thenne came the two knyghtes that he had sent toward hys fader, and salued hym honourably, and recounted hym the noble chere that they had hadd of hys fader & of his moder, whiche greted hym wel: 'By my feyth,' said Geffray, 'that playseth me wel.' and after they delyuered to hym the lettre from hys fader, whicℏ geffray toke & opend̛ it / the tenour of whiche made mencon how Froymond his brother was shorne monke at Mayllezes. And whan geffray vnderstod̛ it he was wroth, & shewed thenne so fel & cruel semblaunt that there ne was so hardy that durst abyde the syght of hym; but they aƚƚ voyded the place except the two knightes and the ambaxatours of northomberland̛. /

In this party sheweth thistory, that whan geffray knew the tydynges of Froymonds professyon he was so dolaunt that almost he went fro his wyt. And wete it wel that thenne he semed bettre to be araged & madd̛ than man with rayson. And he said in this wyse: 'how deueƚƚ! had not my fader & my moder ynougℏ for to entreteyn & kepe thestate of Froymond my brother, & hym to haue maryed som noble lady of the land̛ / and not to haue made hym a monke / by god omnipotent these flatterers monkes shal repente them þerof, For they haue enchaunted̛ my lord my fader, & haue drawen Froymond with them for to fare þe bettre by hym / but by the feyth that I owe to god I shal pay them so, therfore, that they shal neuer haue neyther lust ne talent to withdraw no noble man to be shorne monke with them.' And thenne he said to the bassade of Northomberland: 'Sires, ye muste soiourne a while & abyde my retourn hither / For I must goo to an affayre of myn that toucheth me moche.' And they that knewe hys wrathe & anger ansuerd̛: 'My lord, so shaƚƚ we doo with a good wyƚƚ.' Thenne made geffray his ten knightes to mounte on horsback / and also he armed hym and lept on hys hors / & syn departed fro Mountyoued, esprysed with grete yre ayenst the abbot & Conuent of Maylleses / and at that tyme the said abbot & hys monkes were in Chapitre. And geffray thanne come to the place, entred, the swerd̛ gird̛ about hym, in to the Chapitre. And whan he perceyued thabbot & hys monkes, he said al on hye to them: 'Ye false monkes / how haue ye had the hardynes to haue enchaunted my brother, in so moche that thrughe your false & subtyl langage haue shorne hym monke / by the toeth of god yl ye thought it, For ye shal drynk therfore of an euyl drynk.' 'helas! my lord,' said thabbot, 'for the loue of god haue mercy on vs / and suffre you to be enfourmed of the trouth & rayson, For on my Creatour, I nor none of vs aƚƚ counseylled hym neuer therto.' Thenne came Froymont foorth, that trowed wel to haue peased the yre of geffray hys brother / and þus said: 'MyBy dere, dere brother / by the body & sowle which I haue gyuen to god, here is no personne, nor within this place that euer spake ony word to me touching my professyon, For I haue it doon of myn owne free wylle & thrugh deuocion.' 'By my sowle,' said geffray, 'so shalt thou be therfore payed with the other, For it shal not be wytted me to haue a brother of myn a monke' / and with these wordes he went out of the Chapter, & shetted the doores fast after hym, & closed thabbot & the monkes therynne / and incontynent he made al the meyne of the place to bryng there wode & strawe ynoughe al about the Chapter, and fyred it / & sware he shuld brenne them aƚƚ therynne, & that none shuld escape. Thenne came the ten knightes foorth tofore geffray, whiche blamed hym of þat horryble faytte / sayeng: 'that Froymond, his broþer, was in good purpos, & that happly thrughe hys prayers & good dedes the sowles of his frendes & other myght be asswaged & holpen.' 'By the toeth of god,' sayd thenne geffray, 'nother he nor none monke in this place shal neuer syng masse nor say prayer, but they shal aƚƚ be bruled & brent.' Thenne departed the x knightes from hys presence / sayeng that they wold not be coulpable of that merueyllous werke.

In this partye, sayth thystorye, that Geffray anoon after that the ten knightes were departed fro hym, he toke fyre at a lampe within the chirche, & sette the fyre in the strawe aƚƚ about the Chapter, where as were in thabbot, & al the monkes of the place, & hys brother Froymond̛ with them. It was a pyteous syght, For as soone as the monkes sawe the fyre they bygan to crye piteously, & to make bytter & doulorous bewayllynges, but al that preuaylled them nought. What shuld I make long compte? Wel it is trouth, that all the monkes were brent / and wel the half of the said̛ Abbey or euer geffray departed thens. That don he came to hys hors & lepte vp / but whan he cam in to the feldes he retourned hys hors, & beheld toward thabbaye / & perceyuyng that grete myschief & the dommage that he had don there, & his vnkynd̛ & abhomynable deelyng, remors of conscience smote the herte of hym, and bygan to syghe and bewayƚƚ byttirly / sayeng vnto him self in this wyse: 'helas! fals, wycked, & vntrue prodytour & enemy of god / woldest thou that men dide to the that / whiche thou hast doo to the true seruauntes of god? / nay certayn.' And thus blamed & wytted hym self, so that no man myght thinke the dyscomfort & grete dyspaire that he thenne toke / & wel I byleue that he had slayn hym self with hys owne swerde yf it thenne had not fortuned that hys ten knightes cam to hym there / one of the whiche bygan to hym saye / 'ha / a, my lord, ouer late is this repented.' And whan geffray vnderstode hym / he thenne had greter despyte than tofore / but he dayned not ansuere to the knyght, but rode so fast toward the toure of Mountyouet, that with grete peyne myght his men folow hym / & so long rode he tyl he came thither / And thenne made his apparayƚƚ for to goo with the ambaxatours there as they shold̛ conduyte hym / & toke with hym but his x knightes. And here seaceth thystorye of hym, & speketh of Raymondin his fader /

Here sayth thistory, that a messager came toward Raymondin at merment that came fro mailleses, and after hys obeyssaunce recounted to Raymondyn ryght pyteous tydynges, sayeng to hym in this manere: 'My lord, wel it is trouth, that geffray with the great toth your son hath take so grete malencolye & suche dueyl of the professyon of your son Froymond that he is com to maylleses, & there he hath fyred the Abbay / & within the chapter brent & bruled aƚƚ the monkes, pryour, & Abbot.' 'What sayst thou?' sayd than Raymondyn / 'that may not be / I can not beleue it.' 'By my feyth, my lord,' said the messager, 'it is trouth that I telle you; &, morouer, your son Froymond is brent & deed with them / and yf ye byleue me not make me to be putte in to pryson, & yf ye fynde otherwyse than I saye, lete me be hanged therfore.' Thenne Raymondyn sorowfuƚƚ & heuy mounted̛ foorthwith on horsbak, & toke hys way toward maylleses as fast as hys hors myght bere hym / and hys men, who þat myght folowed hym / and he neuer seaced tyl he cam thither / where he fonde, as the messager said, & sawe the grete doleur & myschief that geffray had don. Wherof he toke suche yre & anger at herte, that almost he was out of hys wyt. 'ha / a,' sayd he, 'Geffray, thou haddest the fayrest begynnyng of hye prowes & cheualrye to haue come to the degree of high honour more than ony prynce son lyuyng at this day / and now thrugh thy grete cruelte thou shalt be reputed & holden vnworthy of al noble fayttes, & abhomyned for cause of thys vnkyndnes & horryble dede of al creatures. By the feyth that I owe to god, I byleue it is but fantosme or spyryt werke of this woman / and as I trowe she neuer bare no child that shal at thende haue perfection, For yet hath she brought none but that it hath some strange token / see I not the horryblenes of her son called Horryble, that passed not vii yere of age whan he slew two squyers of myn / and or euer he was thre yere old he made dye two gentyl women his nourryces, thrugh hys byttyng of theire pappes? / sawe I not also theyre moder of that satirday, whan my brother of Forestz to me brought euyl tydynges of her / in fourme of a serpent fro the nauel dounward̛? / by god, ye / and wel I wote certayn / it is som spyryt, som fantosme or Illusyon that thus hath abused me / For the first tyme that I sawe her / she knew & coude reherce aƚƚ my fortune & auenture.'

'Goo thou hens, fals serpente / by god! nother thou nor thy birthe shalbe at thende but fantosme / nor none child that thou hast brought shal come at last to perfection / how shal they that are brent & bruled haue theire lyues agayn / goode fruyte yssued neuer of the, saaf only Froymonde, that was youen to god & shorne monke; the whiche, thrugh arte demonyacle, hath myserably suffred̛ deth: For aƚƚ they that are foursenyd with yre obeye the comandements of the prynces of helle. And þerfor, thorryble & cruel geffray commanded of his masters, alle the deuelles of helle, hath doon that abhomynable & hydouse forfaytte, as to brenne hys owne propre brother & the monkes, that had not deserued deth.' Thenne whan melusyne vnderstode these wordes, she toke suche douleur at herte, that foorthwith she feƚƚ in a swoune doun to therthe, & was half an ooure long that nother aspyracion nor breth was felt nor perceyued in her, but as she had be deed. And thenne was Raymondyn sorowfuller & more wroth than euer he was tofore, For thenne he was cooled of his yre, & bygan to make grete dueyƚƚ, & moche repented hym of that he had sayd / but it was for nought, For þat was to late / And thenne the baronnye of the land̛, & the ladyes & damoyselles were ryght sory & dolaunt, and toke vp the lady, & layed her on a bed / and so moche they dide, that she came ayen to her self. And whan she myght speke, she loked on Raymondyn pyteously, and said /

'Ha / a Raymondyn / the day that first tyme I sawe the was for me ryght doulourous and vnhappy / in an euyl heure sawe I euer thy coynted body, thy facion, & thy fayre fygure / euyl I dyde to desire & coueyte thy beaute, whan thou so falsly hast betrayed̛ me / how wel thou art forsworn toward̛ me, whan thou puttest thy self in peyne to see me / but for this, that thou haddest not yet dyscouered nor shewed to no man nor woman, myn herte forgafe the / and no mencion I neuer shuld haue had made therof to the / and god shuld haue pardoned the. Halas, my frende / now is our loue tourned in hate, doleur & hardnes / oure solace, playsire & joye ben reuersed in byttir teerys & contynuel wepynges, and our good happ is conuerted in ryght hard & vnfortunate pestilence / Halas, my frend̛! yf thou haddest not falsed̛ thy feythe & thyn othe, I was putte & exempted from aƚƚ peyne & tourment, & shuld haue had al my ryghtes, & hadd lyued the cours natural as another woman; & shuld haue be buryed, aftir my lyf naturel expired, within the chirche of our lady of Lusynen, where myn obsequye & afterward my annyuersary shuld haue be honourably & deuoutely don / but now I am, thrughe thyn owne dede, ouerthrowen & ayen reuersed in the greuouse and obscure penytence, where long tyme I haue be in, by myn auenture: & thus I muste suffre & bere it, vnto the day of domme / & al through thy falsed / but I beseche god to pardonne the.' Melusyne began thenne to make suche doleur, that none was there that sawe her but he wept for pyte. And whan Raymondyn sawe her douleur & heuynes, almost hys herte brake for sorowe, in so moche that he nother herd̛, nor sawe, nor coude hold contenaunce. /

Thystorye sayth that Raymondyn was right dolaunt; and, for trouth, the true cronykle testyfyeth that neuer no man suffred so grete dolour, without of his lyf expired. but whan he was a lytel come to hys mynde, & sawe Melusyne tofore hym, he kneeled doun on hys knees, & joyntly handes, thus bygan he to saye: 'My dere lady & my frend̛, my wele, my hoop, & myn honour, I beseche & pray you that it playse you to pardonne me, & that ye wyl abyde with me.' 'My swete frend̛,' sayd Melusyne, that saw the grete habundaunce of teerys fallyng fro hys eyen / 'he that is the very forgyuer, creatour & omnipotent, forgyue you your forfaytte; For as touching myself, I forgyue & pardonne you with al my very herte / but as to myn abydyng with you ony more / it is Impossible / for the veray jugge & almighty god wold neuer suffre me to doo soo.'

And with thoo wordes Melusyne toke vp Raymondyn, her lord / and thenne, as they wold haue embraced & kyssed eche other, they fell botℏ at ones in a swoune, so that almost theire hertes brake for grete douleur: Certayn there was a pyteous syght. There wept & bewaylled barons / ladyes & damoyselles, sayeng in þis manere: 'Ha, fals Fortune! We shal lese this day þe best lady that euer gouerned ony land / the moost sage / most humble / moost charytable & curteys of aƚƚ other lyuyng in erthe.' And they al lamented & bewaylled so pyteously, & rendred teerys in habundance, in so moche that it was a pyteous syght. Thenne retourned Melusyne to her self out of swounyng, and herd̛ the heuynes & dolour that the baronnye made for her departyng / and cam to Raymondyn, that yet laye on the grounde, & toke hym vp / and thenne to hym, in heryng of thassistaunce, she said in this manere /

'My lord & swete frend Raymondyn, Impossible is my lenger taryeng with you; Wherfore lyst, & herke, & putte in mynde that I shal saye. Wete it, Raymondyn, that certayn after your lyf naturel expired, no man shal not empocesse nor hold your land̛ so free in peas as ye now hold it, & your heyres & successours shal haue moche to doo / and wete it shal be ouerthrawen & subdued, thrugh theire foly, from theire honour & from theire ryght enherytaunce / but doubte you not, For I shal help you duryng the cours of your lyf naturel / and putte not geffray, oure sone, fro your Court / he is your sone, & he shal preue a noble & valyaunt man. Also we haue two yong children male, Raymond & theoderyk / of them I shal take good heede / how be it, aftir my departyng / that ryght soone shal be / ye shal neuer see me in no womans fourme. And I wyl & bequethe to theodoryk, yongest of aƚƚ our children, the lordshipes with al thappurtenaunces of Partenay / Vernon / Rochelle, & the port there / And Raymond shal be Erle of Forestz / and as touching geffray, he shal wel purueye for hym self.' Thenne drew she Raymondyn & hys Counseyƚƚ apart, & sayd to them in this wyse: 'As touching our sone, that men calle Horryble, that hath thre eyen / wete it for certayn, yf he be lefte alyue / neuer man dide, nor neuer shal doo, so grete dommage as he shaƚƚ. Wherfore I pray & also charge you that, anoone aftir my departyng, he be put to deth; For yf ye doo not soo / his lyf shall fuƚƚ dere be bought, & neuer ye dide so grete folye.' 'My swete loue,' sayd Raymondyn, 'there shal be no fawte of it / but, for goddis loue, haue pyte on yourself, & wyl abyde with me.' And she said to hym: 'My swete frend̛, yf it were possyble / soo wold I fayne doo / but it may not be. And wete it wel, that my departyng fro you is more gryeuous & doubtous a thousand tymes to me than to you / but it is the wyƚƚ & playsire of hym that can do & vndoo al thinges.' and, with these wordes, she embraced & kyssed hym fuƚƚ tenderly / sayeng: 'Farwel, myn owne lord & husbond̛; Adieu, myn herte, & al my joye; Farwel, my loue, & al myn wele / and yet as long as thou lyuest, I shal feed̛ myn eyen with the syght of the / but pyte I haue on the of this, that thou mayst neuer see me but in horryble figure' / and therwith she lept vpon the windowe that was toward the feldes & gardyns ayenst Lusynen. /

Thenne departed Raymondyn from thens & came to Lusynen, & brought with hym his two children, Raymond & theodoryke / and said that he shuld neuer entre ayen in to the place wher he had lost his wyf. And wete it wel that Melusyne came euery day to vysyte her children, & held them tofore the fyre and eased them as she coude / and wel sawe the nourryces that, who durst no word̛ speke. And more encreced the two children in nature in a weke than dide other children in a moneth; wherof the peuple had grete meruayƚƚ. but whan Raymondyn knew it by the nourryces that melusyne came there euery nyght to vysyte her children / relessed his sorowe / trustyng to haue her ayen / but that thoughte was for nought, For neuer after sawe he her in fourme of a woman / how be it dyuers haue sith sen her in femenyn figure. And wete it that how wel Raymondyn hooped to haue her ayen / neuertheles he had alway suche hertly sorowe that there is none that can tell it / And there was neuer man syth that sawe hym lawgh nor make joye / and hated gretly geffray with the grete toth / and yf he myght haue had hym in his yre, he wold haue dystroyed hym. But here seaceth the hystorye of him And speketh of geffray. /

Thystorye sayth, that geffray rode so long̘ that he came in Northomberland with the ambaxatours and hys ten knyghtes with hym / And whan the barons of the Countre vnderstod̛ his commyng̘ they cam ayenst hym honourably, & receyued hym solemply, sayeng: 'ha, sire, of your joyful comyng we owe wel to lawde & preyse our lord god, For without it be by you & thrugh your prowes we may not be delyuered of the horryble geaunt and meruayllous murdrer, Grymauld, by whom aƚƚ this countre is dystroyed.' Thenne ansuerde geffray to them: 'And how may ye knowe that by me ye may be quytte & delyuered of hym?' to whom they ansuered, 'My lord, the sage astronomyens haue said to vs that the geaunt grymauldmay not dey but by your dede of armes / and also we knowe for certayn that he knoweth it wel. Wherfore yf ye go to hym, and that yf ye telle hym your name ye shall not kepe hym, but he shall you escape.' Thenne sayd geffray to the barons, 'Sire, lede me toward the place where I may find̛ hym, For grete desyre I haue to see hym.' And Immedyatly they toke hym two knyghtes of the land that conduyted hym toward the place / but that one of them said to that other þat they shuld not approche al to nygh grymauld / and that they myght not beleue that geffray shuld haue the vyctory of hym. And thenne geffray toke leue of the barons and departed, the two knyghtes with hym, and so long they rode tyl they saw the montayne of Brombelyo. Thenne sayd the two knyghtes to geffray, 'My lord, yonder ye may see the mountayne where he holdeth hym / & this way shal lede you thither without ony fayƚƚ, For certaynly he is euer at yonder trees vpon that mountayne for to espye them that passe by the way. Now may ye goo thither, yf it playse you, For as touching our personnes we wyl goo no ferþer that way.' And geffray ansuerd̛ to them in this manere, 'Yf I had come vpon thaffyaunce of your ayde I had faylled therof at this tyme.' 'By my feyth,' sayd one of them, 'ye say trouth.' Thenne came they to the foot of the hyƚƚ / and there geffray descended & armed hym, and syn remounted on his hors, and layed the sheld tofore hys brest, and toke his spere, and thenne he said to the two knyghtes that they shuld abyde hym vnder the mountayne, and that they shuld soone see what therof shuld befaƚƚ. And they sayd that so shuld they doo.

Thenne was the geaunt ryght dolaunt & abasshed whan he sawe his Clubbe þus cutte lyeng on the grounde, For he durst not bowe hym self to take it vp. Thenne he lept on geffray & strake hym with his fyst vpon the helmet with so grete myght & yre that almost geffray was astonyed therwith aƚƚ. but geffray, corageous & hardy, smote the geant vpon the þye, so that he cutte a grete part of it. And thenne whan the geaunt sawe hym thus hurt he withdrew hym a lytel backward, and syn bygan to flee / but geffray, holdyng his swerd̛, folowed hym / and the geaunt entred into a hoƚƚ within the mountayne, Wherof geffray was abasshed /. Thenne came geffray to the hoƚƚ and loked in, but it was so obscure & derk & so deep that he sawe nor wyst where the geaunt was become. And he retourned and toke & mounted ayen vpon his hors, and descended into þe valey, & came to hys meyne that abode for hym there, whiche had grete meruayƚƚ whan they sawe hym retourne hole & sauf / and in especial the two knightes wondred moche & were abasshed of it / and they asked hym yf he had sene the geaunt / and he said to them, 'I haue faught with hym / and he is fled & entred in to an hoƚƚ, where as I may not see hym.' And they demanded of geffray yf he had told hym hys name / and he ansuerd, 'ye' / and thenne they said̛ that it was for nought to seke hym, For wel he wyst that he shuld dey by the handes of geffray. 'Doubte you not,' said geffray, 'For wel I knowe where he is entred in / and to morne, with goddes help, I shal fynd̛ hym wel.' And whan they vnderstode Geffray to speke they had grete joye, and said that geffray was the moost valyaunt knight of the world.

And thenne on the morowe by tymes Geffray armed hym & mounted vpon his hors & rode tyl he came to the said hoƚƚ vpon the mountayne. 'By my feyth,' said geffray thenne / 'this geaunt is twyes as grete as I, & sith he is entred here in, wel I shal goo thrugℏ it / and so shal I do whatsomeuer it befeƚƚ therof.' And thenne he toke hys swerd̛ in his hand, & fayre & softly lete hym self faƚƚ into the hoƚƚ / and as he was in to the botome of it, he perceyued some light, & sawe a lytel patℏ. And thenne he made the signe of the cros & foorth went that way./

Geffray thenne went not ferre whan he fond̛ a ryche Chambre, where as were grete ryches and grete Candstykes of fyn gold, and vpon them grete tapers white wax, brennyng so clere that it was meruayƚƚ. And in the myddes of the Chambre he fonde a noble & ryche tombe of fyn gold, al sette with perlys & precyous stones, & vpon it was figured the fourme of a knyght, that had on hys heed a ryche croune of gold̛ with many precyous stones / and nygh by that tombe, a grete ymage of Albaster, kerued & made aftir the fourme of a quene, crouned with a ryche crowne of gold / the whiche ymage held a table of gold̛ / where-as were wryton the wordes that folowen. 'Here lyeth my lord myn husband the noble kyng Elynas of Albanye' / and also shewed al the manyere how he was buryed there, and for what cause. And also spake of theire thre doughtirs, that is to wete, Melusyne, Melyor, and Palastyne / and how they were punysshed bycause that they had closed theire fader / as in thystory tofore is reherced. Also it shewed by wrytyng how the geaunt had be there ordeyned for the kepyng & sauegarde of the place, vnto tyme he were putte therfro by the prowesse of one of the heyres of the said thre doughtirs / and how there myght none neuer entre within yf he were not of that lynage / and in these tables of gold̛ was wel dyuysed along as it is wreton in the Chapytre of king Elynas / and thus geffray beholding & seeyng, [pondered] by grete space vpon the tables as vpon the beaute of the place / but he knewe not yet that the tables shewed that he was of the lynee of kyng Elynas & Presyne his wyf. And whan he had wel behold̛ a long tyme he departed, & went by a waye obscure tyl he fond̛ a feld̛, thenne loked he tofore hym, & sawe a grete toure, square, wel batelmented, & went toward and went about the toure tyl he fonde the gate the whiche was open, & the bridge let faƚƚ doun, & entred in, & came to the haƚƚ, where he fonde a grete yron trayƚƚ, wherin were closed a hondred men & more of the Countre that the geaunt held for hys prysonners./ And whan they sawe geffray they meruaylled moche, & hym sayd, 'Sire, for the loue of god flee you, or ye shal be deed; For the geaunt shaƚƚ come ryght foorth that shal dystroye you al, were ye an C suche as ye are' / And geffray ansuerd̛ them al thus: 'Fayre lordes, I am not here come but only the geaunt to fynd̛ / & I shuld haue don to grete foly to be come fro so ferre hither to retourne so hastly.' And after these wordes cam the geaunt fro slepe. But whan he sawe geffray he knew hym, and sawe wel that his deth was nygh, and had grete feer / and thenne he fledd unto a chambre, the whiche he sawe open, & speryd the doore to hym. And whan geffray that perceyued, he was ryght sorowful that he had not mete with hym at the entryng of the Chambre./

Thystorye sayth that geffray was right dolaunt whan he sawe the geaunt was entred into the chambre, and that he had speryd̛ the doore to hym. Thenne cam geffray toward the doore, rennyng with a grete radeur, & smote with his foot so mightyly that he made the doore to flye vnto the myddes of the chambre. And thenne the Geaunt swyftly went out at the doore bycause he might none other way passe, and held in his hand̛ a gret mayllet wherof he gaaf to geffray suche a stroke vpon the bassynet that he made hym al amased. And whan geffray felt the stroke, that was harde & heuy, he foyned with his swerd̛ at his brest, with suche yre that it entred in the geaunt thrughe to the cros of the swerd̛. And thenne the geant made vp an& horryble cry, sayeng, 'I am deed, I am deed.' And whan they that were in the traylles of yron herd̛ it / they cryed with an hye voys, 'Ha, noble man, blessid be the ooure that thou were borne of a woman. We pray the for the loue of god, that thou haue vs hens, For thou hast at this day delyuered this land̛ out of the gretest myserye that euer peuple was in.'/

And thenne geffray cerched the keyes so longe tyl he fonde them, & lete the prysonners out; and this doon, they aƚƚ kneeled tofore hym / & asked hym by what way he was come. And he said to them the trouth. 'By my feyth,' said they, 'it is not in remembraunce that this foure hondred̛ yere was no man so hardy to passe by the Caue, but onely the geaunt and his antecessours, that fro heyre to heyre haue dystroyed aƚƚ this Countre / but wel we shal bryng you another way.' And thenne geffray gaf to them al the hauoir of the toure./

Thystorye sayth that whan geffray was departed fro Lusynen he rode so long by hys journeyes that he came to romme, and drew hym toward our holy fader the Pope, to whome he made humble reuerence and syn deuoutely confessed hym of hys synnes. And the Pope charged hym to make thabbay of Maylleses to be edyfyed agayn & therto ordeyne six score monkes, & many other penitences the pope charged hym doo, the whiche as now present I shal not shewe. And thenne geffray said to our holy fader the Pope how he wold̛ goo to seke hys fader, and the pope told hym that he shuld̛ fynd̛ hym at Mountferrat in Aragon. And thenne he toke leue of the pope & kyssed̛ his feet / and the pope gaf hym hys benediction. And so geffray departed fro Romme & toke hys way toward toulouse where he cam & hys meyne with hym and was lodged where as his fader dede lodge tofore. And there the seruaunt asked̛ of theire hoste yf he coude not telle whicℏ way hys lord Raymondyn toke / And thoste said to hym that hys lord had hold the way toward Nerbonne & that no ferther he knew of hys way. And the seruaunt told it to geffray. 'By my feyth,' said geffray, 'that is not the next way for to goo to Mountferrat / but syth my fader went that way so shal we doo.' And thus on the morne geffray & hys meyne departed & hasted them toward Nerbonne, where they cam & were lodged there as Raymondyn had tofore lodged. For so moche enquered the servaunt that he knewe þat hys lord dide lodge there, & how he dide do make there many habytes for an hermyte. And on the morne geffray toke hys way toward Parpynen, where he cam, & fro þens he rode with hys meyne to Barselone, & þenne to thabbey of mountferrat where he alyghted & sent hys horses to Culbaston / and syn he yede & entred in to the Chircℏ. And anoon the seruaunt beforsaid̛ sawe the Chappellayn of Raymondyn his lord within a Chapeƚƚ And immedyatly he told̛ of it to geffray. Wherof he had grete joye and yede toward the Chappellayne, the whiche whan he sawe geffray he kneeled tofore hym and said, 'My lord ye be ryght welcome' / and syn he recounted to geffray the good lyf that hys fader led / and how euery day he confessed̛ hym & receyued his creatour / and that he ete nothing that receyueth deth. And thenne geffray asked hym where he was. And the Chappellayn to hym said̛, 'he is in yonder hermytage / but my lord as for this day ye may not speke with hym, but to morne ye shaƚƚ see hym.' 'By my fayth,' said geffray, 'fayn I wold see hym today / but sith it is soo I must take it in patience ty[l] tomorowe.' 'My lord, said thenne the Chappellayn, 'yf it playse you ye may here the hye masse, and therwhiles I shal ordeyne and shew your meyne where your Chambre shal be dressed, and also I shal doo make your dyner redy at your retourne fro the masse.'

Thenne departed the Chappellayn fro geffray, that went to here masse acompanyed with x knyghtes and wel xx squyers. And thenne came the monkes of the place to Raymondins Chappellayn and demanded of hym in this wyse. 'What is that grete deueƚƚ with that grete toth? he semeth wel to be a cruel man / wherof knowe you hym / is he of your Countre?' 'By my feyth,' said the Chappellayn, 'ye / It is geffray with the grete toeth of Lusynen, one of the best & moost valyaunt knightes of the world & wete it he holdeth grete possessions & grete landes.' And the monkes ansuerd̛, 'Wel we haue herd̛ speke of hym / is it not he that sloughe the geaunt in garand̛ and that other geaunt also of Northomberland̛ / he is also he that brent thabbay of Maylleses with aƚƚ the monkes þerinne bycause that hys brother was there shorne monke without hys leue.' 'By my feyth,' said the Chappellayn, 'certainly it is that same.' And þenne the monkes al abasshed and aferd̛ sayd / he is come hither for to doo vs some myschief and dommage. Thenne said one of them, 'wete it wel that I shal hyd myself in suche place that he shal not fynd me. 'Noo,' said the Chappellayn, 'Forsoothe I waraunt you he shal doo you no hurt nor dommage, but al ye shal soone be glad̛ of hys commyng, For suche one is within this place that he loueth aboue al creatures of the world̛.' And whan they vnderstod̛ the Chappellayn̄ they were somwhat assured and went & hanged the chirche, and made al the place fayre & clene to theire power as god hymself had descended there / and sent word to the Pryour that was at Culbaston that he shuld come there, and that geffray with the grete toth was come in pelgrymage in to theire abbaye, and noble companye with hym. Thenne came there fourthwith the pryour that fond̛ geffray in the Chirche, and honourably made hym reuerence and sayd that he hymself / the monkes & al the place was at his commandement. 'Sire,' said geffray, 'gramercy and wete it wel I loue this place / and yf god gyf me helthe it shal not be the wers for my commyng.' 'My lord,' said the pryour, 'god yeld you.' Thenne cam the Chapellayn to geffray and hym said, 'My lord, your dyner is redy.' And therwith geffray toke the pryour by the hand and togidre went into the haƚƚ, where they wesshed theire handes & syn sette them at dyner; geffray and the pryour deuysed long space togidre of one thing & of oþer. And thus passed foorth that day. /

In this partye sayth thystorye that on þe morne geffray roos vp and fonde the priour and his faders Chapellayn waytyng after hym whiche led̛ hym to here masse / and after the masse they led̛ hym toward the hermytages. And thenne the pryour toke his leue of geffray & retourned to Chircℏward̛ supposyng none other but that geffray went for to see thestate of the hermytes and for none other cause. For he had neuer trowed that his fader had be þer. And thenne mounted geffray toward the first hermitage that was wel lxxx stepes highe vpon the mountayne. And wete it that the Clerc was at Raymondyns Celle doore waytyng for the Chappelayn that shuld say masse tofore Raymondin. And as the Clerk loked dounward, he perceyued̛ geffray that came upward̛ & wel knew hym, and forthwith entred in the celle & said to Raymondin, 'My lord, here commeth your sone geffray.' And whan Raymondin vnderstod̛ it he was ryght joyous and said, 'blessed be god / he is welcomme.' Thenne entred first the Chappellain in to the Celle & salued Raymondyn / but he bade the Chappellayn to say geffray that he myght not speke with hym tyl þat hys masse were doon. And foorthwith the cha-pellayn dyde as Raymondyn hym commanded. And geffray ansuerd̛, 'his playsire be doo.' This doon Raymondyn was confessed and herd his masse & receyued the holy sacrament. And in the meane sayson geffray beheld̛ vpward the great mountaynes whiche were high & ryght vp and sawe thermytages that were aboue hym / and sawe the Capeƚƚ of Saynt Mychel whiche was the vth hermytage, and after loked dounward / and in hym self had grete meruayƚƚ how man durst there take habytacyon / and to hym appered the Chirche and housyng of thabbey but as lytel Chapelles. Thenne cam the Chapellayn & called geffray and he entred within the Celle of his fader / and anoone kneeled on his knees & dyde to hys fader reuerent salutacion / And Raymondyn toke hym vp in his armes and kyssed hym / and thenne made hym to sette vpon a stoole with hym tofore the awter. And there bygan geffray to shewe to hys fader how he was at Romme, and how he was confessed̛ of the pope / and the pope hym said that he shuld̛ fynd̛ hym at Mountferrat. And in this communycacion had they many materes togidre / geffray alwayes prayeng hys fader that he wold retourne to his countre. 'Fayre sone,' said Raymondyn, 'that may I not doo. For here I wyl spend̛ my lyf, always prayeng god for thy moder & me, & for the, that god wyl amende the, my sone geffray.' And soo geffray was there al that day with his fader. And the next day in the morowe herd̛ Raymondyn his masse, & receyued our lord, as hys custome was to doo / and after, said to geffray, 'Fayre sone, it behoueth the to parte from hens, & to retourne in to thy Countre; and grete wel al my children & my barons.' And thenne geffray toke leue of hys fader al wepyng; and loth he was to departe from his fader. And after came doun fro the mountayn vnto thabbaye, where he was honourably receyued / and the monkes had grete meruayƚƚ wherfore he was so long aboue.

Thystorye sheweth that geffray gaf grete ryches & fayre jewelles to the Chirche, & after toke leue of the pryour & his monkes, but the pryour hym conueyed̛ vnto Culbaston, wher geffray dyned with the pryour / and told̛ hym in secret wyse that Raymondyn was hys fader, whom geffray besoughte to take hede to hys fader, and that the Chirche shuld not lese nothing therby, For euery yere ones duryng hys lyf he wold come & vysyte hys fader. Thenne ansuerd̛ the pryour, 'doubte you not, my lord, there shal be no deffawte but I shal vysyte & remembre your fader.' And thenne toke geffray leue & went to Barselone to hys bed. And on the morne he departed toward Lusynen wher as Theodoryk hys brother & the barons receyued hym with ryght grete joye, and were glad of his commyng. And whan they were at leyser, geffray shewed to hys brother theodoryk the very effect of euery thing̘ touchyng theyre fader. Foorthwith Theodoryk that moche loued his fader bygan to wepe ful tenderly. And geffray seeyng his broþer make suche sorowe to hym said thus, 'My ryght dere brother, yet must ye abyde here, For wete it wel that I wyl goo see our two bretheren in almayne, that is to vnderstand̛ Regnauld king of behayne and the Duc Anthony of Lucembourgh / but I wyl not departe without aray of men of armes, For þer be in thoo marches ryght euyl peple the whicℏ gladly wold robbe them that passe by the way.' 'By my sowle, my brother, I hold wel withal that ye doo as ye say / but I beseche you ryght entierly brother that we leue our countre in the gouernaunce of our barons & take with vs v.C. men of armes, and that it may playse you I to go with you; For I haue herd̛ say that there is grete werre betwix them of Anssay & them of Austeryche.' 'By my feyth,' said geffray, 'Ye say wel, For perauenture our brother Anthony is in hand̛ with them.' And whan they had made theire ordonnaunce, Odon the Erle of Marche came and spake with geffray, and brought in hys company thre score men of armes, For at that tyme he had warre ayenst the Earle of Vandosme / and also Raymond their brother Earle of Forestz cam there the same day. And there the foure bretheren made there moche one of other / and were joyfuƚƚ for the tydynges that they herd̛ of theire fader / and said / ones they hoped to see hym togidre.

Whan thenne the lady sawe that the kyng chaunged not his purpos, she was ryght wroth, and to hym said̛ in this manyere: 'Thou folyssh kyng, now shalt thou lese the syght of me, & shalt fayƚƚ of thy yefte, & hast putte thyself in auenture to abyde within for euer in grete payne & tourment, bycause that thou art yssued of the lynee of kyng guyon that was sone to Melusyne my sustir, and I am his ante / and thou art so nygh of my blood and kynred that though I wold̛ be consentyng to thy wyƚƚ holy Chircℏ wold neuer suffre it.' And aftir she reherced & shewed to hym al that is tofore said in the Cap. I. page 6, et. seq.Chapter of Elynas and Pressyne, and also fro hed to heed̛ aƚƚ the heyres of Lusynen and their fayttes. And after she said to hym / 'grete myschief shal happe to the & vpon thyn heyres successours after the, and that shal endure vnto the ix lynee, For they shal faƚƚ in decaye, & exilled fro their contrees & fro their honour, wherfor departe lightly hens, For here mayst thou no lenger abyde.' The kyng thenne vnderstod̛ wel the lady. but neyþer for her wordes, nor for fere that ought shuld hym mysfaƚƚ, he neuer chaunged his folysh wyƚƚ & vnhappy purpos, but wold haue take the lady by manere of vyolens and by force. but soone Melyor vanysshed̛ away that he wyst neuer where she was become.

And immediatly after the departyng of Melyor there feƚƚ vpon the kyng gret & pesaunt strokes, as thykk as rayn falleth fro the skye. Wherof he was al to brusid̛ in euery part of his body, and was drawen by the feet fro the halle vnto the barrers without the Castel. And wete it that he neuer saw none of them that so cruelly seruyd hym. And as soone as he myght he stode vpon his feet, cursyng a thousand̛ tymes hym that first brought hym tydynges of this auenture, and the heure also that euer he cam thither. And thenne he went toward his meyne that saw his harneys al to broken and perysshed, and demanded of hym in this manere: 'My lord, vs semeth that ye be sore hurt, haue ye had batayƚƚ there as ye haue be?' And he ansuerd̛, 'I am somwhat hurt / but no batayƚƚ I haue not had / but so ferre I knowe that shrewedly I haue be festyed̛ how wel I perceyued no body / but I assure you I felt wel the strokes, and wete it wel I reuenged̛ me not / and thus haue I had no batayƚƚ / For he that gyueth the first strokes dooth not the batayƚƚ. but he that reuengeth hym bryngeth it to effect.' /

Anoone aftir the king & his peuple departed and entred in the see and sailled toward his countre, euer thinking vpon this that Melyor had said to hym, and doubted moche to haue lost his good fortune as he had. For wete it wel that neuer aftir this faytte he had no hertly joye and regned long tyme, but fro day to day feƚƚ in decaye by dyuerse maners. And wete it wel that his heyres after his decesse were not fortunat, but vnhappe in al their actes. Here shal I leue to speke of the king of Armanye. For ynough it is knowen that they came of the noble lynee of the king Elynas of Albanye & of Lusynen. vnto this thursday vii day of August vpon the whiche was ended this present volume. The yere of our lord a thousand [ccc]Note to C. Brunet's Fr. Ed., page 420. Le texte porte: mil iiij vingz et xiiij. C'est évidemment une erreur puisque Jean d'Arras dit, dès les premières pages, qu'il a commencé cette histoire en 1387. In the Harl. MS. of Melusine the date is given as 'le VIIe jour d'aoust l'an de grace Mil iiiC iiiX et XIII.' lxxx & foureteen. /

Now have I shewed to you after the very Cronykles and true history how the noble Fortresse of Lusynen in Poytou was edyfyed & made / and of the noble yssue & lynee of the foundatours therof, on whos sowles god haue mercy / the whiche fortresse of Lusynen is a now come but of late, by manere of Conqueste, into the handes of the ryght noble & myghty prynce my right redoubted lord Johan sone to the kyng of Fraunce, Duc of Berry, Auuergne, &c., by whos commandement I haue endeuoired me after my rude and symple entendement to collige & gadre emong̘ many gestes & true Cronykles the trouth of thystory byfore specyfyed. And wete it for trouth that oftentymes I haue herd̛ my said lord say that a knyght called Sersueƚƚ that held the said Fortres as lieuftenaunt & Captayne there for the kyng of England̛ / at that tyme that my said lord had besieged / said to hym after the reducyon of the Fortres / that thre dayes tofore, tofore that he gaf it vp / he lyeng in hys bed̛ with a woman hys concubine named Alexaundryne / perceyued a grete & horryble serpent in the myddes of the Chambre, wherof he was gretly abasshed & sore agast / and wold̛ haue take the swerd̛ to haue descharged it vpon the serpent / but Alexaundryne said thenne to hym in this manyere: 'Ha, valyaunt Sersuel, how ofte haue I sene your mortal enemyes tofore your presence that neuer ye were aferd̛, and now for a serpent of femenyne nature ye shake for fere. Wete it for trouth that this serpent is the lady of this place & she that edyfyed it / she shal by no manere wyse hurt nor dommage you / but so ferre I vnderstand̛ by her apparysshing that nedes ye shal hastly delyuere & gyue vp this Fortres to the Duc of Berry' / And morouer said the said Sersueƚƚ to my said lord that hys Concubyne fered nothing̘ the serpent / but that he was neuer in his dayes so aferd̛. And that he sawe thenne the said̛ serpent tourned in to a fourme of a woman clothed in a gowne of Cours clotℏ & gyrded with a grete corde vndernethe the pappes of her / and soone after tourned herself in the figure of a serpent and so vanysshed away.

Also there was a man named godart dwellyng at that tyme within the said Fortresse, whiche affermed for a trouth / and sware to my forsaid lord vpon the holy euaungilles that many tyme he had sene vpon the walles of the fortres the said serpent, and that he had passed oftymes nygh her without receyuyng of ony harme. Then another also called Yuon of Walles sware his feyth vnto my said lord that thre dayes tofore the reducyon of the said Fortresse made by the said Sersueƚƚ into the handes of my said lord, þat he sawe an horryble grete serpent vpon the batelments of the donjon of the said Castel of Lusynen. And many other also had the vision and syght of her. /

And where it is soo that at thinstaunce requeste and prayer of my said lord haue be examyned many prynces and dyuerse oþer for the makyng & compilacion of this present hystorye vpon the said matere. And also I haue putte my self to myn vtermost power to rede & loke ouer the Cronykles & many bokes of auncyent hystoryes, to thende that I might knowe the trouth of the forsaid matere. Therfore yf I haue wryton or shewed̛ ony thing that to som semeth neyther possible to be nor credible, I beseche them to pardonne me. For as I fele & vnderstand̛ by the Auctours of gramaire & phylosophye they repute and hold this present hystorye for a true Cronykle & thinges of the fayry. And who that saith the contrary / I say the secret jugements of god and his punysshments are inuysible & impossible to be vnderstand or knowe by the humanyte of man./ For the vnderstanding of humayne Creature is to rude to vnderstande the spyce espirytuel, & may not wel comprehend̛ what it is / but as ferre as the wylle of god wyl suffre hym. For there is found in many hystoryes Fayries that haue be maryed̛ & had many children / but how this may be the humayn creature may not conceyue. For these poynts and suche other god hath reteyned þem in his secrets. And the more that the personne is of rude entendement the ferther is he fro knowlege of it. And he that is replet of scyence naturel, the rather shaƚƚ haue affection to byleue it. Notwithstandyng no creature humayn may not obteyne the secrets of god./ how be it saint paule saith in hys epystles to the Rommayns, 'that al thinges ben knowen by humayn Creature' / but the glose reserueth & excepteth the secrets of god. For the kynde of man is to vnderstand the ferther that he trauaylleth in reaumes and Countrees / the greter knowleche hatℏ he of euery thinge / than he that resteth in his owne Countre and neuer remevyth. And semblable wyse this historye is more credible for as moche as it is not auctorised by one man only / but also by many noble Clerkes. Now of this proces I wyl make no ferther mencion / but humbly I beseche you and alle them þat shaƚƚ here or rede this hystorye / that yf there be ony thing that be nuyouse or desplaysaunt to you / wyl pardonne me & hold me escusid. For yf a man dooth as wel as he can / he ought to be accepted. For in som cas the good wylle of a man is accepted for the dede./ And here I, Johan of Aras, ende the hystorye of Lusynen / beseching god of his hygh mercy to gyue to þem that be passed fro this mortaƚƚ world hys eternaƚƚ glorye / and to them that be lyuyng, prosperous and blessidfuƚƚ endyng./