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¶Here begynneth the history of the valyent Knyght, Syr Isenbras. | |
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LOrdynges listen, and you shal here and you shal] all that wyll H | |
Of eldyrs that before vs were | |
That lyued in lande [in]-dede in dede] and dede 1565, in dede H | |
Iesu_Christ heauen-kynge | |
5 | Graunt them all his dere blessinge dere] H omits |
And heauen to their mede | |
Ye shall well heare of a knight | |
That was in warre full wyght | |
And doughtye of his dede | |
10 | Hys name was syr Isenbras |
Man nobler then he was | |
Lyued none with breade | |
He was lyuely, large and longe lyuely] louynge H | |
With shoulders broade, and armes stronge | |
15 | That myghtie was to se |
He was a hardy man and hye | |
All men hym loued that hym se | |
For a gentyll knyght was he | |
Harpers loued him in hall | |
20 | With other minstrels all |
For he gaue them golde and fee | |
He was as curtoise as men might thinke men] man H | |
Lyberall of meate and drynke | |
In the worlde was none so fre | |
25 | He hade a ladye full of beautye |
And also full of charitie | |
As any ladye might be | |
Betwene them they had chyldren thre | |
Fayrer [f]odesletter illegiblefodes=children: see OED food, 6 myght no man se fodes=children: see OED food, 6 | |
30 | Under the cope of heauen |
For worldly welth, and pryde he fell | |
sig: [A2v] | |
On God he thought neuer-a_dell | |
Nor on ghostly thynge ghostly] no ghostly H | |
So longe he sinned in that pryde | |
35 | No longer woulde our Lorde abyde |
[..............................] The metre indicates that a line has dropped out in 1565 and H | |
So after it befell on a daye | |
That thys knyght wente hym to playe | |
Hys for[r]est for to se forrest] foreest 1565 | |
40 | As he loked vp on hye |
He sawe an aungell in the skye | |
Which toward hym dyd flye flye] fle H | |
Isenbras he sayde there | |
Thou hast forgotten what thou were | |
45 | For pryde and golde and fee and golde] of golde H |
Therfore our lorde sayth to thee so | |
All thy good thou muste forgo | |
As thou shalt here-after se | |
The worldes welth shall fro the fall | |
50 | Thou shalt lose thy ch[y]ldrenletter illegible all |
And all thy landes free | |
Thy lady goodlyest of all | |
For feare of fyre shall flye thy hall flye] fle H | |
Thys daye or thou her se or] that H | |
55 | The knyght fell doune vpon his kne The] This H; vpon] on H |
Underneth an Olyue-tre | |
And helde vp both his handes | |
And then agayne thus sayde he | |
Lorde God in trinitie | |
60 | Welcome be thy soundes soundes=messengers |
Whyle I am yonge, I maye well go | |
When I am olde, I maye not so | |
Though that I fayne woulde | |
sig: A3 | |
Therfore Iesu I praye thee | |
65 | In youth send me aduersitie |
And not when I am olde | |
The aungel toke fro thence his flight | |
And left alone that carefull knyght | |
From hym he wente his waye | |
70 | When the aungell was paste his sight |
His stronge stede that was so wight | |
Dead vnder hym laye | |
His haukes and houndes that he fed | |
They wasted and were all deade | |
75 | They brought to hym no pray |
Home on fote he muste gone | |
The teares fell from his chekes anone chekes] cheke H | |
Out of his eyen graye | |
Homewarde anone he can wende | |
80 | There met he with his meyny hende |
Before hym on a rowe | |
Syr they sayde we tell you playne | |
With adders all youre bestes ben slaine | |
With venyme are they blowe | |
85 | The [w]ormesletter brokenwormes] stormes H; hath] haue H your capons hath you berefte wormes] stormes H; hath] haue H |
The thunder hath you no beast lefte | |
For to put in your ploughe | |
They wepte sore with semblaunt yll | |
Syr Isenbras bade them be styll | |
90 | I blame you not of this wo |
For he that sende me all this wo | |
He maye sende me mirthes mo H: He may sende me myrthes mo With ioye and solace also | |
And shall do well ynoughe shall] may H | |
Let your sorowe all cease sorowe] sorowes H | |
sig: [A3v] | |
95 | Enforce yourselfe to go in peace |
And mery as birde on bowe birde] byrdes H | |
He went forth wo-bestad | |
There met he with a lytle lad | |
That came rennynge hym againe | |
100 | Well worse he hym tolde |
Brente byn all thy bowres bolde | |
Many of thy men be slayne | |
Thre is nothyng lefte on_lyue | |
But thy chyldren and thy wyfe | |
105 | They fled for fere of fyre |
Quod Isenbras so mote I thriue | |
For these tydynges also blyue | |
I geue thee all that I were | |
His purse caste he to hym belyue | |
110 | The lade hym thanked ofte[n] sythe |
For his gifte so great | |
The knyght vnto the towne went | |
He sawe his place was all to_brent | |
Lowe and playne with the strete | |
115 | A dol[e]full sight than gan he se dolefull] dolofull 1565 |
Hys wyfe and his chyldren thre | |
Out of the fyre were fled | |
There they sate vnder a thorne | |
Bare and naked as they wer borne | |
120 | Brought out of theyr bed |
A woful man than was he | |
Whan he them sawe all naked be | |
The lady sayde also bliue | |
For nothyng syr be ye a_drade | |
125 | He dyd of his surcote of pallade |
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[And on his wyfe he set it ....]Upper margin trimmed | |
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[..............................] The metre indicates that two lines have dropped out in 1565 | |
With full mylde mode | |
130 | His scarlet mantell than shore he |
Therin he closed hys chyldre[n] thre chyldren] chyldred 1565 | |
That naked before hym stode | |
Madame he sayde do my rede | |
Seke we where Christ was quicke and dead | |
135 | On the mount of Caluary |
Who-so that hym serue that dyed on rode | |
Eche daye of his lyues fode | |
Fast and sure shall he be | |
With a sharpe knyfe he share | |
140 | A crosse vpon his shoulder bare |
In story as we saye | |
All they that his frendes were | |
They wept and wrange their handes there | |
Theyr songe was well_a_waye | |
145 | The lorde and the ladye [h]ende hende] bende 1565 |
Toke theyr way for to wende | |
Upon the same daye | |
Whan that they departe shoulde | |
For them wept both yonge and olde | |
150 | Both wyfe, wydow man and maye |
They bare with them no maner of thynge | |
That was worth a farthynge | |
Cattell, golde ne fe | |
But mekely they asked theyr meate | |
155 | Where that they myght it gette |
For saynct charytie | |
Seuen landes they gan through passe | |
By goddes succour myght and grace | |
sig: [A4v] | |
[His] wyfe and his chyldren thre Diagonal flaws in the leaf have effected the legibility of text here and below | |
160 | They that ere had welth and wyn |
The harde hunger that they were [in] | |
Great sorowe it [was to se] | |
In a f[oreste] they were a whyle | |
Tow[n]e myght they get none tyle | |
165 | Wery and wo they were |
Thre dayes were come and gone | |
Meate nor drynke founde they none | |
The chyldren wept so fre | |
They eate nothynge that came of corne | |
170 | But beryes and [ha]wes of the thorne hawes] bowes 1565 |
Amonge the holtes bare | |
They came to a water by_dene | |
Ouer woulde they fayne haue bene | |
Then begane theyr care | |
175 | His eldest sonne he toke theare |
And ouer the water dyd hym beare | |
And set him vnder a bushe of brome | |
He sayde sonne wepe no mare | |
Tyll I for thy brethren fare | |
180 | Play thee with a blome |
The knyght toke a pace full good | |
And faste feryed ouer the flodd | |
His myddle sonne he name | |
And bare hym ouer the water wilde | |
185 | A Lyon toke hys eldest chylde |
Or he to the lande come | |
The knyght neuer the later | |
In-to the wylde water | |
Turned agayne that daye | |
sig: B1 | |
190 | A Leoparde came and toke the other |
The chylde that was the mydle brother | |
And with hym wente awaye | |
The lady cried loude and shyll | |
Loth she was her lyfe to spyll | |
195 | On lande there she laye |
The knyght bade this lady be styll | |
We shall do after gods wyll | |
For sorowe theyr hartes were sore | |
Then both the chyldren loste were | |
200 | [...............................] The metre indicates that a line has dropped out in 1565 |
Hys louely sonnes two | |
This lady was wonte to ryde in a chayre | |
On his backe he her ouer_bare | |
His yonge sonne also | |
205 | Thorough a foreste dayes thre |
They went towarde the quicke see | |
Wonders wery and wo | |
As they stode on the lande | |
They sawe come saylynge by the see-sande | |
210 | Thre hundred shyppes and mo |
And as they on the lande stode | |
They loked farther in the flode | |
Galeys they sawe come glyde | |
With topcastels lyfte on_lofte | |
215 | With streamers of sendale softe |
Lyke a prynce proude of pryde | |
An Heythen kynge was therein | |
That christendome was come to wyn | |
[............................] The metre indicates that a line has dropped out in 1565 | |
220 | The Soudan he woulde lande |
Up in an hauen at the woddes ende | |
The knyght he founde that tyde | |
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Hys Sarasyns all by hys syde | |
Many men sawe he rene and ryde | |
225 | [...........................] The metre indicates that a line has dropped out in 1565 |
He sayde vnto his ladye fre | |
What men are these thynke ye | |
I heare a myghty steuen | |
Through this forest haue we gone | |
230 | Meate nor drynke found we none |
Of all these dayes seuen | |
Go we and aske them some meate | |
If that we maye any gette we] ye H | |
For goddes loue of heauen | |
235 | Towarde the galley gan thei gone |
Therin sat the sowdan | |
In wedes worthely wrought | |
He asked of them lyues fode | |
For his loue that dyed on the rode | |
240 | And made this worlde of nought |
Whan the kynge herde hym crye | |
Southly he sayde he is a spye | |
That thus farre hath vs sought | |
I byd you bete hym awaye | |
245 | For they beleue not on our laye |
Of me get they ryght nought | |
A knyght kneled before the kynge | |
And sayd it is a pytifull thynge is] was H | |
That poore penaunce to se | |
250 | He semeth a man so gentyll and fre |
Though he be in necessitie | |
It is ruth and pytie | |
His eyen are gray as any glasse | |
Were he as well fedde as euer he was | |
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255 | Like a knight shoulde he be |
Hys wyfe as whyte as whales-bone | |
Though she with weping be ouergone | |
She is as white as blosome on tre white] bryght H | |
The sowdan sayde, and him beth[o]ughte bethoughte] bethaughte 1565 | |
260 | Let them before me be brought before me be] be before [me] H |
I will them se with sighte | |
Whan he them sawe his heart was dere | |
So worthy as they both were | |
That they ne were clathed a_righte | |
265 | Than dyd the sowdan to hym saye |
Man wilt thou beleue on my laye | |
And with me go to fyghte | |
Forsake thy Christendome for aye | |
And beleue on Mahoundes laye | |
270 | And then I wyll doubbe the a knyght |
Styll stode syr Isenbras | |
And sawe a sowdan that he was | |
Than sayde he playnly naye | |
I shall neuer bee Hethen bounde become | |
275 | Nor warre againste Christendome |
Therfore to dye thys daye | |
Greate wayes we haue to gone | |
Meate ne drynke haue we none | |
Ne penye for to paye | |
280 | Syr helpe vs to our lyues fode |
For hys loue that dyed on rode | |
And let vs walke a_waye | |
The sowdan sawe the ladye there | |
He thought an aungell that she were | |
285 | That had bene in heauen |
sig: [B2v] | |
[He sayde syr sell her vnto me]Upper margin trimmed | |
And I wyll geue the golde and fe | |
More than thou cane meane | |
I wyll geue thee an hundreth pounde | |
290 | Of fayre florence rede and rounde |
And red robes seuen | |
She shalbe quene of all my lande | |
And all my men to serue to her hande | |
No man withstande her steuen | |
295 | Syr Isenbras sayde naye |
My wyfe wyll I not sell awaye | |
Thy men shall fyrst me slo | |
I wedded her as I you saye | |
To holde her to my endinge daye | |
300 | Both in wele and in wo in wo] [wo] H |
[An] hundreth pound of fayre florence An] And 1565, An H | |
The Sowdan layde in his presence | |
And set hys wyfe hym fro set] fetched H | |
The golde agayne syr Isenbras caste | |
305 | Therfore his rib[b]es was nerehand brast ribbes] ribes 1565, rybb[es] H |
And made his body all blo | |
As sone after as he myght stande | |
He toke hys sonne by the hande | |
A sorye man was he | |
310 | Than was the maner there |
With ores and a[n]cres for to fare ancres] acres 1565, ancre[s] H | |
With that lady so free | |
The Sowdane with his owne hande | |
Crouned her quene of Surrye-lande Surrye=Syria | |
315 | And sent her ouer the see |
To her the crowne thus he bande. | |
sig: B3 | |
[My worde he sayde sothly shal stande]Upper margin trimmed | |
Though I come neuer to thee | |
When the shyp[p]e was redy there shyppe] shype 1565 | |
320 | Wyth theyr fraught awaye to fare |
The ladye fell on her knee | |
Syr Sowdan she sayde thare | |
For her loue that Iesu bare | |
A bowne graunt ye me | |
325 | Geue me leue with my lorde |
That I might speake one worde | |
Aboute a priuie thynge | |
The Sowdan called hym agayne | |
Therof was the lady fayne | |
330 | Her token was a rynge |
There was ioye to se them mete | |
With kissinge and with clypping swete | |
To shyppe whan she was go | |
She sayde alas wo is me | |
335 | That I ne droune in the see |
Shall we departe in two | |
In that lande that I am in | |
If that ye come it for to wyn | |
The Sowdan wyll I slo | |
340 | Syr ye shall be kynge with crowne |
Ouer castell, towre and towne | |
And recouer all your wo | |
Meate and drinke she dyd hym geue | |
Ther-wyth a seuen-nyght for to lyue | |
345 | Hys yonge sonne and he |
Then this ladye meke and mylde | |
Kyssed hym, and than her chylde | |
sig: [B3v] | |
Than sowned she tymes thre | |
They drewe vp sayle of bright hew | |
350 | The wynde them soone to surry blew |
[..............................] The metre indicates that a line has dropped out in 1565 | |
The knyght hym on the lande set | |
He syghed and wepte with teares great | |
Whyle he the sayle myght se | |
355 | He toke his sonne by the hande |
And forth he went vpon the lande | |
Amonge the holtes hye | |
He swarmed vp into a tree | |
Whyle eyther of them might other se | |
360 | Tho were there hertes sore H resumes |
Meate and drynke forth he drowe | |
And gaue his yonge sonne ynowe | |
That was an_hungred sore | |
In the mantell amonge the breade | |
365 | He layed his gold that was so reade |
And with hym he it bare | |
Than he came to an hyll full hye to] on H; hye] by H | |
There he thought all night to lye | |
Farther go he ne might | |
370 | On the morow whan it was daye |
An Egle [bare] the golde awaye bare] hath 1565, bare H | |
For the read clothes syghte | |
Isenbras than a_waked he | |
And folowed the fowle to the grekes-zee | |
375 | There gan the fowle ouer_flee fowle] folowe H |
Or he returned, an Unicorne | |
The yonge chylde awaye had borne | |
Amonge the holtes hye | |
The knyghte afore was often wo | |
sig: [B4] | |
380 | But neuer [worse] then he was tho worse] 1565 omits, wors H |
He set hym on a stone | |
Lorde he sayde wo is me | |
For my wyfe and my chyldren thre | |
Nowe am I lefte alone | |
385 | The kynge that bare of thorne the croune |
Wyshe me a waye vnto the towne | |
For all amysse haue I gone | |
He ne wist what he do might | |
But for sorowe he sore syght | |
390 | With mournynge made his mone |
Alone he walked by a lowe | |
[........................] The metre indicates that a line has dropped out in 1565; this is confirmed by the evidence of H, which has 8 lines wanting here | |
A fayre fyre sawe he glowe | |
He prayed them of breade for charitie | |
395 | They sayde labour for so do we |
We haue none other plowe | |
Tho aunswered the knyghte agayne | |
Syr so wyll I certayne | |
Faste he bare and faste he drowe and faste he] and H | |
400 | They taught hym to turne the stone |
And bade hym spede that he had done | |
Than had he shame ynowe | |
This man toke laboure hym vpon | |
Tyll the fyrst yere was gone | |
405 | For his lyuynge wrought he so |
By that tyme coulde he make a fyre | |
And [than] toke he mannes hyre than] 1565 omits, than H | |
For he wrought more than two | |
All the longe seuen yeare | |
410 | A smythes manne was he there |
And yet thre monethes to | |
sig: [B4v] | |
By that he had hym armure dyght | |
All that longed to a knyght longed] longeth H | |
To the water with hym to go water with hym to go] warre with to go H | |
415 | That seuen yeare I vnderstande |
The Sowdan was in chrysten lande | |
[.............................] | |
[.............................] The metre indicates that a line has dropped out in 1565 and H | |
Tyll they puruayed a battayll stronge puruayed] prouyded H | |
420 | The Sarasyns to abyde |
A daye of battayle there was set | |
Where both chrysten and heythen met | |
A lyttell there-besyde | |
In the same armure that Isenbras wroughte | |
425 | And on a croked caple that coles broughte |
Hym-selfe to battayle gan ryde | |
He rode vnder an hyll so hye | |
Chrysten and Heythen both he se | |
That the two kynges had brought | |
430 | The hoste was arayed in royall araye |
Taboures and trumpettes herde he play | |
And launces lifte on_lofte | |
Syr Isenbras with hert fre | |
Set hym doune vpon his kne | |
435 | In Iesu was his thought In Iesu was his thought] To Iesu he besought H |
To sende hym grace in that felde sende] lende H | |
That false Sowdan for to yelde | |
For the wo that he hym wrought | |
Syr Isenbras anone vp_stode | |
440 | Ryght eger was he of mode |
Sore dintes he gaue certayne | |
It sprange as sparcle out of flynte | |
There myght no man withstande his dynte | |
Tyll hys caple was slayne | |
sig: C1 | |
445 | [Whan that he thus [longe] had fought]Upper margin trimmedlonge] 1565 omits, longe H, W |
An earle out of the batayle hym broughte | |
Upon an hygh mou[n]tayne | |
This earle there chaunged his wede | |
And set hym on a [full] good stede full] 1565 omits, full H, W | |
450 | Than wente he fast agayne |
The stronge stede he gan stride | |
In-to the hoaste than gan [he] ryde he] 1565 omits, he H, W | |
There delte he dentes sore dentes] dyntes H | |
He felled all that before him stode | |
455 | And those that he knocked on the hoode And those that] Who so H, W |
He slewe for euermore | |
He rode vp to the hygh mountayne | |
The Sowdan he hade sone slayne | |
And many that with hym were | |
460 | All the daye lasted that fight the] that H |
Syr Isenbras that noble knyght | |
Wan the batayle there | |
The christen kynge was full fayne | |
Whan the Sowdan was slayne | |
465 | With Sarasins great plenty |
He sayde whence is that noble knyght whence] where H | |
That all this folke hath slayne in [f]yghte fyghte] syghte 1565, fyght H | |
Right fayne woulde I hym se | |
Knyghtes kene sone h[ym] sought hym] he 1565, hym H | |
470 | And at the laste he was forth brought |
Sore wounded was he | |
What arte thou sayde the kynge than | |
Syr quod he a smythes man | |
To defende thee in fyghte | |
475 | Thou shalte he sayde haue meat and drynke |
sig: [C1v] | |
[The beste that thou canst after thinke] Upper margin trimmed, text reconstructed from H | |
Tyll thou haue recouered myght | |
The kynge sware by this lyght | |
Whan thy woundes whole be | |
480 | I shall thee make a knyght thee make] make thee H |
In a nonry they dyd hym leaue | |
To heale his woundes that dyd hym greue | |
That he had in [f]yght fyght] syght 1565, fyght H | |
The Nonnes of hym were full fayne | |
485 | Because he had the Sowdan slayne |
With many a Heathen hounde | |
On his sorowe they can rewe | |
And euery day with salues newe salues] hys salues 1565, salues H | |
To heale therwith his woundes | |
490 | They intreated hym curteosly |
So he was healed lyghtly | |
Within a lytle stounde stounde] stoundes 1565, stounde H | |
He bethought hym full well | |
That no longer he woulde there dwel | |
495 | When he was whole and sounde |
He purueyed hym scrip and pyke | |
And made hym-selfe palmer-lyke | |
Ready for to wende | |
He toke his leaue withouten lesse | |
500 | Fayre thanking the prioresse |
With all the Nonnes hende | |
The ryght way than toke he | |
Tyll he came to the quicke zee | |
With scripe and burdon blyue | |
505 | A shyppe founde he ready thare |
Into Acres for to fare | |
sig: C2 | |
Thyder can they ryue | |
When they had Acres hente | |
Both wet and wery vp they went | |
510 | Into the cytye he yede he] they H |
Seuen year he was palmer thore | |
With hunger thirst, and syghing sore | |
In Romaynes as we reede | |
Ryght as he went, euen so he laye | |
515 | In the nyght as on the daye In] On H |
In poore palmers weede | |
Although the flesh lyked yll | |
Gods wyll he woulde fulfyll | |
For his synfull deede | |
520 | Through the cytye gan he gone |
Meate nor drynke gate he none | |
Nor house to lodge in | |
Besyde the borowe of Bethlem | |
He set hym by a well-streme | |
525 | Tyll the day was dymme |
As he sate and sore syght syght=sighed | |
There came an aungell about mydnight | |
And brought hym bread and wyne | |
Isenbras he sayde lysten vnto mee | |
530 | Our lorde hath pardon graunted to thee to] H omits |
Forgeuen are synnes thyne | |
Nowe reste the well syr Isenbras W starts here | |
Forgeuen is all thy trespas | |
Shortly for to sayne | |
535 | My Lorde [that] is heauen-kynge that] 1565 omits, that H, W |
Hath the geuen hys blessynge | |
And byddeth the turne agayne | |
sig: [C2v] | |
The knyght on his knees hym set | |
And Christ of heauen kynge he grete kynge] H, W omit | |
540 | Of the tydynges he was fayne |
The aungell lefte hym then alone | |
Then wyste he not whyther to gone | |
But walked on the playne | |
Thre kinges landes he went thorow | |
545 | Tyll he came to a ryche borow |
A fayre castle there stode | |
He herde tell there woned a quene | |
A fayre lady bright and shyne shyne] shene H, W | |
And great worde of her yode | |
550 | Euery daye she made a dole |
Of many florences, go[o]de and hole goode] golde 1565, good H, W | |
Who-so woulde it fetche | |
Lorde sayde Isenbras so free | |
Myght I one get well were me | |
555 | Eyther money or meat |
Whan he came to the castell-gate | |
Many poore folke he sawe therat | |
That were come the golde to take | |
The quene a florence to eche one toke | |
560 | Syr Isenbras it not forsoke |
But mery dyd he make But mery dyd he make] Of his mery make H | |
Poore men that myght yll go | |
She toke in fiftye and mo | |
Whiche that febles[t] were feblest] feblesse 1565, feblest H | |
565 | And in they toke syr Isenbras |
Wete and wery as he was | |
On hym they rued sore | |
The quene crouned at meat sate | |
sig: C3 | |
Knyghtes serued her thereat | |
570 | In ryche robes of pall |
A cloth on the floore was layde on] vpon H | |
This poore palmer the stewarde sayde | |
Shall syt aboue you all | |
Ryche meat there was brought | |
575 | St[y]ll he sate and eate right nought Styll] Stell 1565, Styll H |
But loked about the hall | |
So muche he sawe of game and gle | |
Where-in he was wont to be | |
The teares he let fall | |
580 | [...............................] |
[Styll he sate and ete ryght nought] The metre indicates that two lines have dropped out in 1565; the second is supplied from H | |
Then to a knyght the lady can saye | |
Fetche forth a chayre and a quisshion | |
And set the poore palmer therin | |
585 | That he me tell maye |
Of many auentures that he hath sene | |
In dyuers landes where he hath bene | |
By many a wylde waye | |
Anone the chaire was forth fet | |
590 | The poore palmer therein was set |
And tolde her of his laye | |
Many maruels he her tolde | |
Then she him asked whether he woulde | |
Full fayne woulde she wyt wyt: wete H | |
595 | Ryche meates to hym were brought |
Then the quene great wonder thought | |
Why he woulde not eate | |
She sayde to hym in great disporte | |
Syr Palmer be of good comforte | |
600 | Se nothynge that ye dreede |
sig: [C3v] | |
For his soule that was mi Lorde | |
I will the finde at bed and borde at] to H | |
Fayre to cloth and feede | |
At thyne ease thou shalt be | |
605 | With much mirth game and gle |
Both early and late | |
A clene chambre and a fayre a fayre] fre H | |
And a man to serue thee | |
Within the castle-gate | |
610 | Syr Isenbras also snell |
On knees before that lady fell that] the H | |
And sayde comely quene | |
Here vnto [you] I graunt wele you] 1565 omits, you H | |
Of my pardon the halfe deale | |
615 | In places where I haue bene |
Thus the palmer dwelled there | |
Tyll that he was hole in fere | |
And seruyd in the hall | |
He was so fayre and hye | |
620 | That other had at hym enuye |
And strong he was with-all | |
A turnement there was byd | |
They horsed hym on a fayre stede | |
And he conquered them all | |
625 | Certaynely as I you saye |
Many a sar[a]syne he slew that daye sarasyne] sarosyne 1565 | |
Under the castle-walle | |
When that he came to the felde | |
None was so bolde vnder shyelde | |
630 | That durst abyde his strength |
Some he gaue suche a stroke certayne | |
sig: [C4] | |
[That ....................... agayne]Upper margin trimmed | |
Other some he made sore blede | |
Some he caste ouer the lake | |
635 | Of some both necke and backe he brake |
They fled from hym for drede | |
The ladye seyng that fast lough | |
And sayde my palmer is strong ynough | |
And worthy for to ryde | |
640 | So it befell vpon a daye |
Syr Isenbras wente hym to playe | |
As it was his kynde | |
An Herons neste he sawe on hye | |
A redde clothe therein he se | |
645 | Meuing with the wynde |
Up to the tree he canne wynne | |
Hys owne mantell he founde therein | |
Hys golde there can he fynde | |
When he se the reade golde | |
650 | Wherfore hys ladye was solde |
Then was he woode of mynde | |
The golde into the chambre he bare | |
Under his heade he putte it there | |
Then wepynge he went a_waye | |
655 | Euer when he the golde can se |
[.............................] The metre indicates that a line has dropped out in 1565 | |
Hys songe was well_awaye | |
Were he neuer of chere so good | |
Whan he in hys chamber yode | |
660 | After he wepte all the daye |
So longe he ledde there hys lyfe | |
Amonge [the] sarasyns that were ryfe the] hys 1565 | |
Then to the quene they can saye | |
sig: [C4v] | |
So on a daye [it fell ryght]Upper margin trimmed | |
665 | Unto hys chaumber wente this knyght |
Sore wepinge as I wene | |
Foure knightes brake the chamber-dore | |
And founde the golde in the flore | |
And tolde it to the quene | |
670 | Bef[o]re the quene the golde was broughte Before] Befyre 1565 |
For whiche the Sowdan [had] her bought had] 1565 omits | |
Of syr Isenbras | |
Though it against hys wyll were | |
The sendale also sawe she there | |
675 | That her lordes was |
When she the sendale sawe with sight | |
Thrise sowned that lady bryght | |
For she before it had sene | |
Often she syghed and sayde alas | |
680 | This ought a knyght syr Isenbras |
That my lorde was wont to be | |
Unto the kny[ght]letters illegible there she tolde | |
How that she for golde was solde | |
Her lorde was beaten there | |
685 | Where ye maye the palmer se |
Byd hym come and speke with me | |
Therto me longeth sore | |
The palmer came into the hall | |
Unto counsell she dyd hym call | |
690 | And asked hym right there |
How that he the golde wan | |
And whether he were a gentelman | |
And in what countre he was borne | |
With carfull harte and rewfull cheare | |
sig: D1 | |
695 | He gaue the quene this aunswere |
On knees her before | |
The first tale that he her tolde | |
Madame therfore my wyfe was solde | |
I do you to vnderstande | |
700 | Thre c[h]yldren haue I lore chyldren] cyldren 1565 |
My mantell was a_waye bore | |
I in a neste it founde | |
Tho had the lady great solace | |
She fell in sownyng, so faynt she was | |
705 | When they together met |
There was myrth to se them mete | |
With clypping and kissing swete | |
In armes for to folde | |
Eyther of other was so fayne | |
710 | They wolde it no longer layne |
To the knyghtes they it tolde | |
A ryche brydale dyd they byd | |
Both riche and poore thyther yede | |
Woulde none them-selfe with_holde | |
715 | Syr Isenbras was rayed ryght |
And crouned kyng, that erre was knyght | |
With a gaye garlande of golde | |
Than was kynge syr Isenbras | |
Of more welth then euer he was | |
720 | Thre landes had he there |
His christendome he can kyth | |
And sent sondes frely syth | |
To them that Heathen were | |
The Heathen were at one assente | |
sig: [D1v] | |
725 | Who that to his counsayl went |
Them to hange or brenne | |
They sayde that what man to hym wente | |
Shoulde thynke his waye yll be_spente | |
None woulde come to hym than | |
730 | A daye of battayle there was set |
Where both Christen and Heathen met | |
Syr Isenbras to slo | |
After sarasins gan they sende | |
Theyr cursed lawes for to defende | |
735 | There came Heathen kynges two |
Syr Isenbras made hym yare | |
Agaynst the sarasyns for to fare | |
With hym there was no mo | |
When he was armed on his stede | |
740 | Hys folke hym fayled at his nede |
And fast fled hym fro | |
Syr Isenbras curtoyse and kene | |
Toke hys leaue of hys quene | |
And after syghed full sore | |
745 | He loked on her with eyen graye |
And sayd madame haue good-daye | |
For now and euermore | |
The ladye sayd vnto the knight | |
I woulde I were in armure bright | |
750 | With you that I myght fare |
If god woulde the grace sende | |
That we myght together wende | |
Then gone were all my care | |
Sone was the lady dyghte | |
755 | In armure as she were a knyghte |
sig: D2 | |
On horse with speare and shyelde | |
Agaynst thyrty thousand Sarasins and mo | |
Of christen came but they two | |
Alone into the fyelde | |
760 | He sawe them semble as I you saye |
With brandes bright and banners gaye | |
He houed and behelde | |
That cursed people false of faye | |
Towarde hym made great araye | |
765 | With weapon and with shyelde |
And he houed on a hyll | |
Bugles blaste and trumpettes shyll | |
And herauldes herd he shoute | |
They sayde traytour stande thou styll | |
770 | Coward knight we shall the kyll |
Thou mayest well drede for dout | |
Quod Isenbras I make a vowe | |
Unto my lorde swete Iesu | |
I shall not f[lee] this fyght flee] fele 1565 | |
775 | Whyle I maye in styrope stande |
With healme on head, and speare in hande | |
With bronde that is so bright | |
The ladye swore by mary mylde | |
Againste the sarasins that were so wylde | |
780 | She woulde do her myghte |
This daye to battayle wyll I feare | |
Helme on head, with shyelde and speare | |
So comforted she that knight | |
Syr Isenbras his course toke with delyte | |
785 | And about hym fiercely can smyte |
As a waryour wood and wyght | |
sig: [D2v] | |
Some theyr heades he dyd of smyte | |
The Sowdan was out of his wyt | |
When he saw that syght | |
790 | Through the hoste then let he crye |
What man might with mastrie | |
To grounde him fell doune | |
He shoulde him geue hys landes truly | |
Fro Iaffa to Alexandrie | |
795 | Both citie, towre and towne |
Of all the whole Sowdans hoste | |
Was there none that durst make boaste | |
Battayle hym to byd | |
They gaue the Sowdan counsell all | |
800 | Thy hole hoste at once let on hym fall |
And strike hym doune and hys stede | |
The Sowdan did therto assente | |
With battes, and with bowes bente | |
They faste at him can laye | |
805 | Syr Isenbras good liuerie lente |
The quene a swerde in her hand hent | |
And dealte her dole that daye | |
That daye that ladye and the knyght | |
Agaynst the Sodan helde stronge fyght | |
810 | Through grace that God them sente |
Of freshe Sarasins there came a route | |
That beset the knyght aboute | |
With shaftes and bowes bente | |
Ryght as they slayne shoulde haue be | |
815 | There came rydyng kynges thre |
On beastes that were wylde | |
One on a Leoparde, and one on a Unicorne | |
sig: D3 | |
And one a Lio[n], one ranne beforne | |
Theyr eldest sonne to beare | |
820 | The knyghtes fought as they were wode |
And slewe all that before them stode | |
Great wonder it is to se | |
The Heathen knyghtes slewe the[y] there they] the 1565 | |
The Sarasyns that counted were | |
825 | Thurtye thousand and thre |
Syr Isenbras them prayed thare | |
That they wolde with hym fare | |
All nyght with hym to be | |
Father they sayde with milde entente | |
830 | The grace of [God] vs hether sente God] Good 1565 |
Thyne owne sonnes we be | |
We ne wyst howe we hyther came | |
But for to saue you fro shame | |
As goddes wyll was | |
835 | Ye be our mother that vs bare |
And ye oure father sothly are | |
Men call you syr Isenbras | |
They sayde make we ioyfull cheare | |
To our chyldren that we se here | |
840 | Our welth beginneth to walke |
In a chamber fayre and bright | |
Their atyre was comely dighte | |
In many a worthy wede | |
They lacked no maner of thynge | |
845 | Golde, syluer, nor ryche clothinge |
They had all-thynge at nede | |
Thre lands after they dyd wyn | |
And christened all that was therein | |
sig: [D3v] | |
In Romayns as we rede | |
850 | Than was kynge syr Isenbras |
Of more welth then euer he was | |
And come out of his care | |
To euery sonne he gaue a lande | |
And crouned hym kynge with his hande | |
855 | Whyle they together were |
The eldest sonne was in surrye | |
Chosen chyefe of Chyualrye | |
As kynge and gouernoure | |
The seconde sonne shortly to saye | |
860 | In an Ile called Iaffaye |
Reygned with great honour | |
The yongest brother was crowned kynge | |
Of Calabre without leasynge | |
Thus reygned they all thre | |
865 | And when it pleased God of hys myght |
They all departed in heauens lyght | |
To the whiche bryng vs the trinitie | |
Amen, amen, for charitie. | |
Finis. |
|
Imprynted at London, by me Wyllyam_Copland. |