¶ Syr Eglamonre of Artoys.
IEsu Christe heauen King
graunt vs all his deer blessing
And build vs in his Bower
And giue them ioy that wil here
Of Elders that before vs were
That liued in great honour
I will tel you of a Knight
that was bothe bolde hardy and wight
And stife in euery stoure
Where any deedes of armes were
the price he wan with sheeld
And euer he was the flower
In Artoys the Knight was borne
And his Father him beforne
Listen I will you say
Sir that he was a man full bolde
With the Erle was he holde
In howsholde night and day
Sir Prinsamoure the Erle hight
Sir Eglamoure then hight the Knight
that curteise was alway
And for he was a man verament
With the Erle was he lent
To no man would he say nay
the Erie had no Childe but one
A maiden as white as whales bone
that his right heir should be
Christabel was that Ladyes name
A fayrer mayden than she was one
Was not in christentie
Crystabel so wel her bore.
the Erle looued nothing more
then his daughter free
So did that gentle knight
It was the more pitie
The knight was bothe hardy and snel
And knew the Lady looued him well
Listen a while and dwell
Lords came from many a land
Her to haue I vnderstand
With force foide and fel
Sir Priamour than did cry
Strong iusting and tournamentry
For the looue of Cristabel
What man that did her craue
Such strokes Eglamoure him gaue
That downe right he fell
To his chameberlain gan he say
Where they did togither rest
Fair frend naught to laine
My counsail to thee would I saine
On thee is all my trest
Maister he said per ma fay
What so euer ye to me say
I shall it neuer our cast
The Erles daughter so God me saue
The looue of her but that I haue
My life it may not last
My life els haue I lost
Maister then said the yung man free
You haue tolde me your priuitie
I will giue you answere
To this tale vnderstand
ye are a knight of litle land
And much would haue more
If I should to that Lady gon
And shew it to my hart and looue
She lightly would let me fare
The man that heweth ouer hyr
Some chip falleth on his eye
Thus dooth it euer fare
Remember Master of one thing
That her would haue bothe erle and King
And many a bolde barone also
The Lady wil none of tho
But in her maidenhed holde
For wist her Father by heauen King
That ye were set on such a thing
Right deer it should be bought
Trew ye she would King forsake
And such a simple Knight take
But if ye haue loued her of olde
The Knight answered ful milde
Sir euer sith you were a Childe
Thou hast been looued of me
In any iusting or in any stoure
Saw thou me haue any dishonour
Nay master at all rights
Ye are one of the best Knights
That is in christente
In deeds of armes by God on liue
Thy body is woorth other fiue
Gramercy sir sayd he
Eglamoure sighed an sayed no more
But to his chamber gan he fare
That richly was wrought
To God his hands he held vp soone
Lord he said graunt me a boune
As thou on roode me bought
The Erles daughter fair and free
That she may my wife be
For she is moste in my thought
That I may wed her to my wife
And in ioy to lede our life
From care then were I brought
On the morow that maiden small
Eate with her father in the hall
That was so fair and bright
All the Knights were at meat saue he
The Lady said for Gods pitie
Where is Sir Eglamour my Knight
His Squire answered with heup cheere
He is sick and dead full neer
he prayeth you of a sight
He is now casten in such care
But if he amend of his fare
He liueth not to night
The Erle to his daughter spake
Damosel he said for Gods sake
Lysten vnto me
After me doo as I the hend
to his chamber see thou wend
For he was curteys and free
ful truely with his intent
In iusting and in turnament
He sayd vs neuer nay
where any deeds of armes were
he wan the price with tournay cleere
Our worship for cuer and aye
Then after meat that Lady gent
Did her Fathers commaundement
She bulked her to wend
With her she tooke her maidens two
And to his chamber did she go
That was curteous and hend
Foorth she went withouten more
For nothing would she spare
But went there as he lay
maister said the squier be of good cheere
Heere commeth the Eries oaughter deer
Some woords to the to say
And then said that Lady bright
How fateth sir Eglamoure my knight
That is man right fair
Forsooth Lady as ye may se
with Wo I am bound for the looue of thee
In longing and in care
Sir she said by Gods pitie
If ye be agreeued for me
It would greeue me full sore
Damosell might I turn to life
I would haue you to my wife
If it your wil were
Sir she said so mought I thee
ye are a noble knight and free
And come of gentle blood
A manfull man ye are in feeld
To win the gree with speare and sheeto
Nobly by the rood
Sir at my father I rede you witte
To see what he will say to it
Or if his will be good
And if that he be at assent
As I am true Lady and gent
My will it shall be good.
VHe Knight desired no other blesse
When he had gotten his grauntes
But made royall cheere
He commaunded a Squier to go
Of golde to fetch an C. yound or two
and giue the maidens clere
Sir Eglamoure said to haue I blys
To your mariage I giue you this
For ye neuer come heer ore
The Lady then thanked and kissed the knight
She took her leaue anon right
Far wel my true looue deer
Than homewarde she took her way
Welcome said the Erle in fay
Tel me how ye haue doon
Say my daughter as white as flower
How fareth my Knight sir Eglamoure
And she answered him soone
Forsooth to me he hartely sware
He was amendid of his care
Good comfort hath he tane
He tolde me and my maidens hend
That he vnto the riuer would wend
With hounds and haukes right
The Erle said so mot I thee
with him wil I ride that sight to see
On the morow whan it was day
Sir Eglamoure took the way
To the riuer ful right
The erle made him redy there
And bothe they rod to the riuer
To se some fair flight
ALl the day they made good cheer
a wrath began as ye may heer
Long or it were night
As they rod homwarde in the way
Sir Eglamour to the Earle can say
my Lord wil ye now heare
All redy Eglamour in fay
what soeuer ye to me say
to me it is full dere
For why the doughtest art thou
That in this sand dwelleth now
For to here sheeld and spere
My Lord he sayd of charitie
Christabel your daughter free
whan shall she haue a fere
The Earle said so God me saue
I know no man that she would haue
My daughter fair and clere
Now good Lord I you pray
For I haue you serued many a day
To giue me her withouten nay
The Earle said by gods pain
If thou her win as I shall saine
By deeds of armes three
Then shalt thou haue my daughter deere
And all Artoys far and neere
gramercy sir said he
Sir Eglamoure said so mot I thee
At my tourney fain would I bee
Right soone he made him yare
The Erle said here by west
Dwelleth a giante in a forrest
Fowler neuer saw I ere
Therin be trees fair and long
Three h [...]s run them among
The fairest that on foot gon
Sir might ye bring one a way
That durst I boldely say
That ye had beene there
Forsooth sayd Eglamoure then
If that he be a Christen man
I shall him neuer forfake
The Earle sayd in good cheere
With him shalt thou fight in fere
His name is Sir Marok
The Knight thought on Christabel
He swore by him that harowed Hel
Him would he neuer forsake
Sir kepe wel my Lady and my land
Therto the Earle held vp his hand
And trothes they did strike
Then afterward as I you say
Sir Eglamoure took the way
To that Lady so free
Damosell he sayd to her anon
For your looue I haue vndertane
Deeds of Armes three
Good Dir she sayd be mery and glad
For a wursse iourney ye neuer had
In no Christen Countre
If God graunt vs that is a grace
That we may from that iourney a pace
God graunt it may be so
Sir if you he on hunting found
I shall you giue a good Greyhound
That is dun as a Do
For as I am a true Gentlewoman
There was neuer Deere that he at ran
That might scape him fro
Also a Swoord I giue thee
That was found in the See
Of such knowe I no mo
If ye haue hap to keep it weel
There is no Helme of Iron and Steel
But it would carue in two
Eglamoure kissed that Lady gent
He took his leaue and foorth he went
His way now hath he tane
The hye streat heeld he West
Till he came to the Forest
Fayrer sawe he neuer none
With Trees of Cipresse lying out
The Wood was walled all about
With strong walles of stone
Foorth he rode as I vnderstond
Till the time that a Gate he fond
And therin is he gone
His horne he blew in that tide
Hartes start vp on euery side
And a noble Deer full prest
The Houndes at the Deer gan bay
That heard the Giant where he lay
It let him of his rest
Me thinketh by Hounds that I heare
That there is one hunting my Deer
It were better that he ceasse
By him that ware the Crown of thorn
In a wursse time blew he neuer horne
Ne deerer bought a messe
Marock the Grant took the way
Through the Forest there it lay
To the gate he set his back
Sir Eglamoure hath doone to dead
Slaine an Hart and smitten of his head
The price he blew full shrill
And when he came there the Giant was
Good Sir he sayd let me passe
If that it be your will
Nay Traitour thou art tane
My principall Hart thou hast slaine
Thou shalt it like ful ill
THe Biant at the chase
I great Club he vp takes
That villanous was and great
Such a stroke he him gaue
That into the earth went his staffe
A foot on euery side
Trait our he sayd what doost thou heer
In my Forest to sley my Deer
Heer shalt thou now avide
Eglamoure his swoord out drew
And in his sight made such a shew
And made him blinde that tide
How be it he lost his sight
He fought with Sir Eglamoure that Knight
Two dayes and more
Till the third day at prime
Sir Eglamoure wayted well his time
And to the hart him bare
Through Gods might and his knife
There the Giant lost his life
Fast he began to rore
For certaine sooth as Iyou say
When he was moten there he lay
He was fifteene foot and more
Through the might of God and of his knife,
Thus hath the Biant lost his life
He may thank God of his b [...]one
The Giants head with him he bare
The right way he found thare
Til he came to the Castell of stone
All the whole Court came him againe
Such a head they gan sayne
Saw they neuer none
Before the Earle he it bare
My Lord he sayd I haue beene thare
Witnesse of you all
The Earle sayd sith it is doone
An other iourney there shall come soone
Busk thee and make thee ayre
To Satin that Countre
For therin may no man be
For dout of a Bore
His tusks are a yard long
What flesh that they come among
It couereth neuer more
Bothe man and Beast it sleyeth
All that euer he ouer taketh
And giueth them wounds sore
Sir Eglamoure would not gainsay
His leaue he tooke, and went his way
To his iourney went he
Toward Satin I vnderstand
A fourt night he went on Land
And all so long on See
It fel agayne the euening tide,
In to the Forest he did ride
Where as the Bore should be
And tidings of the Bore soone he found
By him men lay dead on many a lond
That pittie it was to see
Sir Eglamoure that Knight a woke
And priuely stood vnder an Oke
Til morowe the Sun shone bright
Into the Forest fast did he hye
Of the Bore he heard a cry
And neerer he gan gone right
Fayre Helmes he found in fere
That men of Armes had left there
That the Bore had staine
Eglamoure to the Cliffe went he
He saw the Bore come from the See
His morne draught had he tane
The Bore sawe where the Knight stood
His tusks he whetted as he were wood
To him he drew that ride
Sir Eglamoure wened well to doo
With a Speare he rode him to
As fast as he might ride
All if he rode neuer so fast
The good Speare a sunder brast
It would not in the hide
That Bore did him woe enough
His good horse vnder him he slough
On foot then must he bide
Eglamoure saw no boot that tide
But to an Oke he set his side
Among the trees great
His good swoord he drewe out than
And smote vppon the wilde Swine
Two dayes and somdele more
Til the third day at noone
Eglamoure thought his life was doone
For fighting with that Bore
Then Eglamoure with eger mood
Smote of the Bores head
His tusks he smote of there
The King of Satin on Hunting did fare
With fifteene armed men and more
The Bore loud heard he yell
He commaunded a Squier to fare
Some man is in perill there
I trowe so long we dwell
No longer wouid the squier tary
But thither rode falt vp saint Mary
He was therto full in all
Vp to the [...] he thore
Sir Eglamoure fought fai [...] with the Bore
With strokes fierce and fell
The squier stood and beheld them two
He went aga [...] and tolde so
Forsooth the Bore is slaine
Lord saynt Mary how may this be
A Knight is yonder certainly
That was the Bores bane
Of Golde he beareth a seemly sight
A stede of [...] and armed Knight
to batayle as he should gone
And on the Crest vpon the head is
A Lady made in her likenes
His spurres are Sablee the one
the King said so mote I thee
those rich armes will I see
And thither he took the way
By that time. Sir Eglamoure
Had ouercome the sharp stower
And [...]thwart the Bore lay
the King sayd God rest with thee
My Lord sayd Eglamoare welcome be ye
Of peace now I thee pray
I haue so foughten with the Bore
That certainly I may no more
this is the third day
They all sayd anon right
Great sinne it were with thee to fight
Or to doo thee any teene
manfully thou hast slaine this bore
that hath doon hurt sore
And many a mannes death hath been
thou hast manfully vnder sheeld
Slayne the bore heer in the feeld
that all we haue seen
This haue I wist the footh to say
that he hath slaine xl. on a day
Of my armed Knights keene
meat and drink they him brought
the rich wine they spared nought
And white clothes they spred
the King sayd so mote I thee
I will dine for the looue for thee
thou hast be hard bested
Forsooth then Sir Eglamoure sayes
I haue fought these foure dayes
And not a foot him fled
then sayd the King I pray thee
All night to dwel with me
And rest thee in a bed
And after meat the sooth to say
the King Sir Eglamoure did pray
Of what Countrey he was
my name he said is Eglamoure
I dwell also with Sir Prinsamoure
that Earle is of Artoys
then Lords to the King drew
this same is he that Marock slew
The Giants Brother Manas
Sir sayd the King I pray thee
These three dayes to dwell with me
From me thou shalt not passe
There dweileth a Giant heere beside
My Daughter that is of mickle pride
He would haue me [...]ro
I dare to no place goe out
But men of Armes be me about
For dread of my foe
The Bore hait thou slaine heere
That hath heere dwelled this fifteen yeere
Christen men for to slo
Now is he goue with sorowe enough
To his Brocher that thou slough
To breke the bore they went ful tide
There was no knife that would him kite
So hard of hide was he
Sir Eglamoure thou him slough
I trowe thy swoord be good enough
Haue doone I pray thee
Eglamoure to the bore gan gone
And claue him by the ridge bone
That ioy it was to see
Lordings he sayd great and small
Giue me the head and take you all
For why that is my fee
The King said so God me saue and see
Thou halt bought it full deere
All the Countrey was fayne
For the wilde bore was slaine
They made full royall cheere
The Queen said God saue vs from shame
For when the Giant commeth home
New tidings shall be heere
Against euen the King did dight
A bathe for that gentle Knight
That was of Heches good
Sir Eglamoure therin lay
Til it was light of the day
That men to mattens yode
By the time he had heard Masse
The Giaut to his place come was
And cryed as he were wood
Sir King he sayd send vnto me
Ardnada thy Daughter free
Or I shall spil thy blood
Sir Egiamoure anon right
In good Armour he him dight
And vppon the walles he yode
He commaunded a Squier to beare
The Bores head vppon a speare
That the Giant might it see
And when he looked on the head
Alas he sayd and art thou dead
My trust was all in thee
Now by the law that I liue on
My little speckled Hoglin
Deer bought shall thy death be
The Giant on the walles dong
At euery stroke fire out sprong
For nothing would he spare
Toward the Castel gan he cry
False Traitour thou shalt dye
For sleying of my Bore
Your strong walles I shall down ding
And with my hands I shall thee hing
Ere that I larder passe
But through the grace of God almight
The Giant had his fill of fight.
And therto somedele more
Sir Eglamoure was not agast
On mightfull God was all his trust
And on his swoord so good
To Eglamoure sayd the King than
Best is to arme vs euery man
This theef I holde him wood
Sir Eglamoure sware by the rood
I shall him assay if he be wood
Mickel is Gods might
He rode a course to say his steed
He took his Helme and foorth he yeed
All men prayed for that Knight
Sir Eglamoure into the feeld taketh
The Giant see that and to him he goeth
Welcome he sayd my feer
Thou art he that slew my Bore
That shalt thou repent ful sore
And buy it wonder deer
Sir Eglamoure weened wel to doo
With a speare he rode him to
As a man of Armes cleer
Agayne him the Giant was redy
But Horse and man he hare all down
That dead he was wel neer
Sir Eglamoure could no better read
But what time his horse was dead
To his foot he hath him tane
And then Eglamoure to him gan go
The right arme he smote him fro
Euen by the shoulder bone
All if that he had lost his hand
All the day he stood fightand
Til the Sun to rest gan go
The sooth to say withouten lye
He sobbed and was so dry
That life him lasteth none
All that on the walles wore
When they heard the Giant rore
For ioy the belles they ring
Edmund was the Kings name
Swore to Sir Eglamoure by saint Iame
Heer shalt thou be King
To morowe crowned thou shalt be
And thou shalt wed my Daughter free
With a rich King
Eglamoure answered with woords milde
God giue you ioy of your Childe
For heer may not I abide long
Sir Eglamoure for thy doughty deed
Thou shalt not be called leud
In no place where thou goe
Then sayd Ardnada that sweet thing
Haue heer of me a good golde King
With a precious stone
Where so you be on water or land
And this King vppon your hand
Nothing may you s [...]one
Gramercy sayd Eglamoure my Lady free
This fifteen yeeres wil I abide thee
So that ye will me wed
This w [...]l I sweare so God me saue
King ne, Prince wil I none haue
If they be comely cled
Damosel he said par ma fay
By that time I shall you say
How that I haue sped
He took the Giants head and the Bore
And toward Attoys did he face
God help me at need
By that seuen weekes were come to end
Euen in Artoys he did lend
Where as Prinsamoure was
The Earle therof was greatly faine
That Eglamoure was come againe
So was bothe more and lesse
When Cristabel as white as Sun
Heard tell that Eglamoure was come
To him she went full yare
The Knight kissed that Lady gent
And then into the Hall he went
The Earle for to teen
The Earle answered and was ful of we
What Deuill may nothing thee slo
Forsooth right as I ween
Thou art about as I vnderstand
For to winne Artops and all my Land
And also my Daughter clene
Sir Eglamoure said so mot I thee
Not but if I woorthy be
So God giue me good rede
The Earle sayd such chaunce may fall
That one may come and quite all
Be thou neuer so prest
But good Lord I you pray
Oft welue weekes to giue me day
My wery body to rest
Twelue weekes were graunted thou.
By prayer of many a Gentleman
And comforted him with the best
Sir Eglamoure after supper
Went to Cristabels Chamber
With torches brenning bright
The Lady was of so great pride
She set him on her Bedside
And sayd welcome Sir Knight
Then Eglamoure did her tel
Of aduentures that him befel
But there he dwelled all night
Damosel he sayd so God me speed
I hope to God you for to wed
And then their troths plight
By that twelue weekes were come and gon
For Cristabel fayre as sonne
All wan wexed her hew
She sayd vnto her Maydens free
In that ye knowe my priuite
Look that ye be true
The Earle angerly gan fare
To Eglamoure he sayd make thee yare
For thy iourney is new
When Cristabel therof heard tel
She mourned bothe night and day
That all men might her rew
The Earle sayd there is me tolde long
Beside Roome there is a Dragon strong
Forsooth as I you say
The Dragon is of such renown
There dare no man come neer the town
By fiue mile and more
Arme thee wel and thither wond
Look that thou sley him with thine hond
Or els say me nay
Sir Eglamoure to the Chamber went
And took his leaue of that Lady gent
White as Flouce on feeld
Damosel he sayd, I haue to doon
I goe and come agayne right soon
Through the might of Mary m [...]de
A golde Ring I will giue thee
Keep it wel for the to one of me
If Christe send me a Childe
And then in Romaunce as we say
To great Roome he took the way
To seek that Dragon wilde
If he were neuer so hardy a Knight
When of the Dragon he had a sight
His hart began to colde
Anon the Dragon waxed wroth
He smote Eglamoure and his steed bothe
That bothe to ground they fel
Eglamoure rose and to him set
And on that foule worme he bet
With strokes many and bolde
The Dragon shot fire with his mouth
And alway euen the more
He seemed & Diuel of Hel
Sir Eglamoure neer him gan go
Halfe his tayle he [...]ote him fro
Then he began to yel
And with the stump that yet was leaued
He smote Eglamoure on the head
That [...] was [...] and fel
Sir Eglamoure neer him gan go
The Dragons head he smote of tho
Forsooth as I you say
His wings he smote of also
He smote the ridge bone in two
And wan the feeld that day
The Emperour of Roome lay in his tower
And fast beheld Sir Eglamoure
And to his Knights gan say
Doo cry in Roome the Dragon is slaine
A Knight him slew with might and maine
Manfully by my fay
Through Roome they made a cry
Euery Officer in his Bayly
The Dragon is slaine this day
And then the Emperour took the way
To the place where Eglamoure lay
Beside that foule thing
With all that might ride or gone
Sir Eglamoure they haue vp tane
And to the Town they can him bring
For ioy that the Dragon was slaine
They came with procession him againe
And Belles they did ring
The Emperour of Roome brought him home
Constantine that was his name
A Lord of great longing
All that euer saw his head
They sayd that Eglamoure was but dead
That Knight Sir Eglamoure
The Emperour had a Daughter bright.
She vnderook to heale the Knight
Her name was Viardus
With good salues she healed his head
And saued him fro the dead
That Lady of great valours.
And there within a little stound
She made Eglamoure whole and sound
God giue her honoure
Anon woord came to Artoys
H [...] that the Dragon slayne was
A Knight that [...]ed hath doon
So long at the [...]echecraft he did dwel
That a fayre Sonne had Cristabel
As wh [...] as [...]hales bone
Then the Earle made his vow
Daughter into the Sea shalt thou
In a ship by the one
Thy yung sonne shall be thy fere
Christendome getteth it none here
Her Maydens wept echt one
Her Mother in sown did tall
Right so did her freends all
That would her any good
Good Lord she sayd now I you pray
Let some Pre est a Gospel say
For dou [...] of [...] in the Rood
Farewel she sayd my Maydens free
Greet wel my Lord when you him see
They wept as they were wood
Leaue we now of Sir Eglamoure
And speak we more of that Lady floure
That unknowen wayes yeed
The ship dro [...]o [...]th night and day
Vp to a [...]k the sooth to say
Where wilde Beasts did ten
She was full fayne I vnderstand
She [...] she had been in some Land
And vp then gan she wend
No maner of men found she there
But Foules and Beasts that there were
That fast fled from the hand
There came a Griffon that wrought her care
Her yung Childe away he bare
Into a Countrey vnknowen
The Lady wept and sayd alas
That euer she borne was
My Childe is taken me fro
The King of Israel on Hunting went
He saw where the Foule sent
And toward him gan he goe
A Griffon the book sayth that he hight
That in Israel did he light
that wrought that Lady woe
The Foule smote him with his bil
The Childe cryed and lyked ill
The Griston then left him there
A Gentlewoman to that gan passe
In a mantel of Scarlet lapped it was
And with a rich pane
The Childe was large of lim and lith
A girdel of Golde it was bound with
With wursse cloth it was not clad
The King swore by the rood
The Childe is come of gentle blood
Where so euer that he was tane
And for he fro the Griffon fel
They named the Childe Degrabel
that lost was in wilsome way
The King would hunt no more that tide
But with the Childe gan home ward ride
That fro the Griffon was hent
Madam he sayd to his Queene
Ful oft I haue on hunting be [...]ne
This [...]y God hath me lent
Of that Childe she was blith
After notishes she sent beliue
The Childe was loouely and gent
Leaue we now of this Childe
And speak of his mother milde
To what Land God her sent
All that night on the Rock she lay
A winde Ose vppon the day
And from the Land her driueth
In that ship was neither Mast ne Ore
But euery streme after other
That fast vppon her goeth
And as the great Book of Roome sayes
She was without meat fiur dayes
Among the great Clistes
By that fiue dayes were gone
God sent her succoure soon
In Egipt vp she ariued
The King of Egipt lay in his Tower
And saw the Lady as white as Floure
That came right neere the Land
He commanded a Squier free
To look what in that ship might be
That is vppon the sand
The Squier went chither ful tite
On the ship boord he did smite
A Lady then vp gan stand
She might not speak to him a woord
But lay and looked ouer the doord
And made signes with her hand
The squier wist not what she ment
Againe to the King he went
And kneeled on his knee
Lord in the ship nothing is
Saue one in a womans likenes
That fast looked on me
But and she be of flesh and bone
A fayrer saw I neuer none
saue my Lady so free
she maketh signes with her hand
she seemeth of some farre Land
Vnknowen she is to me
Sir Marmaduke hight the King
He went to see that sweet thing
He went a good pace
To the Lady he sayd in same
Speak woman in Gods name
Against him she rose
The Lady that was so meek and milde
she had sore bewept her Childe
That almoste lost she was
Home to the Court they her led
With good meats there was she fed
With good wil she it taketh
Now good Damosell sayd the King
Where were ye borne my sweet thing
Ye are so bright of blee
Lord in Arroys borne I was
Sir Prinsamoure my Father is
That Lord is of that Countrie
I and my maidens went to play
By an arme of the Sea
The winde was lith a Boat there stood
I and my Squier in yode
But vnchristened was he
On Land I left my Maydens all
My yung Squier on sleep gan fall
My mantel on him I three
A Griffon there caine that wrought me care
My yung Squier a way he bare
South east with him he drew
Damesel he sayd be of good cheer
Thou art my Brothers Danghter deer
For ioy of them she lough
And there she did stil dwel
Til time that better be fel
With soy and mirth enough
NOw is Eglamoure whole and sound
And wel healed of his wound
Homewarde then would he fare
Of the Emperour took he leaue twis
Of the Daughter and of the Empresse
And of all the meiny that were there
Tristabel was moste in his thought
The Dragons head home he brought
On his speare he it bare
By that seuen weekes were come to end
In the Land of Areoys he gan lend
Where as the Earle gan fare
In the Court was tolde I vnderstand
How that Eglamoure was come to Land
With the Dragons head
His Squier rode agayne him soon
Sir thus hath our Lord doon
Fayre Cristabel is dead
A sayre Sonne she had beene
Bothe they are now forlorne
Through his false read
In a ship he put them t [...]
And with the winde [...] them go
Then sowned he where he stood
Alas then sayd the Knight so free
Lord where may my Maydens be
That in her Chamber was
His Squier answered him ful soon
As soon as she in Sea was doon
Eche one their way gan passe
Eglamoure went into the Hall
Before the Squiers and Knights all
And thou Earle of Arroys
Take he sayd the Dragons head
All is mine that heer is leaued
What doost thou in my place
Great dole it was to he are
When he called Cristabel his fere
What art thou drowned in the Sea
God that dyed on the rood bitterly
On thy soule haue mercy
And on that yung Childe so free
The Earle was so feard of Eglamoure
that he was faine to take the tower
that euermore woe him be
Eglamoure sayd so God me saue
All that the order of Knighthood will haue
Rise vp and goe with me
They were ful faine to doo his wil
Vp they rose and came him til
He gaue them order soone
The while that he in Hall abode
two and thirty Knights he made
Fro morne til it was noon
Those that liuing had none
He gaue them liuing to liue vppon
For Cristabe to pray soon
Then anon I vnderstand
He took the way to the Holy Land
Where God on the Rood was doon
Sir Eglamoure as you heer
He dwelled there fifteen yeer
The Heathen men among
Ful manfully there he him bare
Where any deeds of Armes were
Agayn them that liued wrong
In Battel or in Tournament
There might no man withstand his dent
But down right he them throng
By that fifteen yeeres were gone
His Sonne that the Griffon had tane
Was waxen vothe stiffe and strong
Now is Degrabel waxen wight
The King of Israel dubbed him a Knight
And Prince with his hand
Listen Lordings great and small
Of what maner of armes he bare
And ye will vnderstand
He bare in Azure a Griffon of Golde
Richly portraited on the molde
On his clawes hauging
A man Childe in a mantel
And with a Gerdle of Golde bound
Without any leasing
The King of Israel is waxen olde
to Degrabel his Sonne he tolde
I would thou had a Wife
While that I liue my Sonne deer
When I am dead thou hast no feer
Riches is so rife
A Messenger stood by the king
In Egipt is a sweet thing
I knowe none such on liue
The Knight forsooth this othe hath sworne
There shall none her haue that is borne
But he win her with strife
The King sayd by the rood
We wil not let if she be good
Haue doone and busk vs swithe
Anon right they made them yare
And their Armour to ship they bare
To passe the water beliue
By that seuen dayes were come to end
Into the Land of Egipt they gan lend
The vncouthed coasts to see
Messengers went before to tel
Heer commeth the King of Israel
With a faire mainy
And the Prince with many a Knight
For to haue your Daughter bright
If it your wil be
The King said I trowe I shall
Finde lodging for you all
Right welcome ye are to me
Then Trumpets in the ship rose
And euery man on Land goes
The Knights were clothed in Pall
This yung Knight of fifteen yeer
He tideth as ye may heare
A foot abooue them all
The King of Israel on Land
The King of Egipt by the hand him taketh
And led him into the Hall
Sir sayd the King for Charitie
Wil ye let me your Danghter see
White as bone of Whale
The Lady fro the Chamber was brought
With mans hands she seemed wrought
And carued out of tree
Her owne Sonne stood and beheld
Wel woorth him that might weld
Thus to him self thought he
The King of Israel asked than
If that she might passe the streme
His Sonnes wife for to be
Sir sayd the King if that ye may
Meet me a stroke to morowe day
Thine asking graunt I thee
Lords in Hall were set
And Waits blew to the meat
They made all royall cheer
The two Knights the Dese began
Sir Degravet and his mother than
They two were lib full neer
Then Knights went to sit iwis
And euery man to his office
To serue the Knights deer
And after meat washed they
And Clarks the grace can say
In Hall as you may heer
Then on morowe when day sprong
Gentlemen on their Armout throng
Degrabel he was dight
The King of Egipt gan him say
In a fayre feeld that day
With many a noble Knight
What time the great Lords him [...]e
They asked what Lord that might be
With the Griffon so bright
The rulers of that game gan tel
This is the Prince of Israel
Beware for he is wight
The King of Egipt took a shaft
The Prince saw that and sadly sat
If he were neuer so keene
Againe the King he made him bown
Vpon the ground so green
The King sayd so God me saue
Thou art woorthy her to haue
So sayd they all by deen
Euery Lord gan other assay
And Squiers on the other day
That doutie were of deed
Sir Degrabel his troth he plight
And Cristabel that Lady bright
To Church they her led
Through the might of God he sped
His owne Mother there he wed
In Romaunce as we read
she sawe his Armes him beforue
she thought on him that was forlorne
she wept like to be dead
What cheer he sayd my Lady cleer
Why weep you and make euil cheer
Me think ye are in thought
Sir in your Armes now I see
A Foule that on a time
A Childe that I deer bought
That in a Scarlet mantel was wound
And with a gerdle of Golde bound
That richly was wrought
The King of Israel sayd ful right
In my Forest the Foule gan light
A Griffon to Land him bronght
He sayd to a Squierful heend
And bad him for the mantel wend
That he was in layd
Before him it was brought ful yare
The mantel and the gerdle thare
That richly were graued
Alas then sayd that Lady free
This same the Griffon took from me
In sowning down she braid
How long agon the King gan say
Fifteen yeer Sir par ma fay
They assented to that she sayd
Forsooth my Sonne I am afrayd
That to sib mariage we haue made
In the beginning of this Moon
Damosel look so God me saue
Which of my Knights thou wilt haue
Then Degrabel answered soon
Sir I holde your Earles good
And soo I doo my Mother by the rood
That I wedded before the noon
There shall none haue her certainly
But if he win her with maistry
As I my self haue doon
Then euery Lord to other gan say
For her wil I make delay
With a Speare and Sheeld in hand
Who so may win that Lady cleer
For to be his wedded feer
Sir Eglamoure was homeward bown
He heard tel of that great renown
And thither would he wend
Great Lords that heard of that cry
Thither they rode ful hastely
As fast as they might fare
The King of Satin was there also
And other great Lords mo
That royall armes bare
Then rings were made in the feeld
That Lords might therin weld
They busked and made them yare
Sir Eglamoure though he came last
He was not woorthy out to be cast
That Knight was clothed in care
For that Cristabel was put in the Sea
New Armes beareth he
I will them disery
He beareth in Azure a ship of Golde
Ful richly portreyed on the molde
Ful wel and woorthyly
The Sea was made dothe grim and bolde
A yung Childe of a night olde
And a woman lying therby
Of Siluer was the Mast, of Golde the fane
Sayle, Rope, Cabels echone
Paynted were woorthily
Heralds of Armes soon on hye
Euery Lords Armes gan disery
In that feeld so broad
Then Cristabel as white as Floure
she sat vpon an hye Tower
For her that cry was made
The yung Knight of fifteen yeer olde
That was bothe douty and bolde
In to the feeld he rode
Who so that Sir Degrabel did smite
With his dint they fel tite
Neuer one his stroke abode
Sir Eglamoure hooued and beheld
How the folke in the feeld down feld
The Knights all be deen
When Degrabel him see he rode him til
And sayd Sir why are ye so stil
Among all these Knights keen
Eglamoure sayd to him iwis
I am come out of Heathenes
It were sinne me to meet
Degrabel sayd so mot I thee
More woorship it had been to thee
Vnarmed to haue been
The Father on the Sonne lough
Haue ye not had Iusting enough
Where euer that ye be
That day fall haue I seene
With as big men haue I been
And yet wel gone my way
And yet forsooth said he than
I will doo as well as I can
With you once to play
Hard togither the Knights dong
With great speares sharp and long
Them beheld eche one
Sir Eglamoure as it was hap
He gaue his Sonne such a rap
That to the ground went he
Alas then sayd that Lady free
My Sonne is dead by Gods pittie
The keen knight hath him slaine
Then men sayd wholy on molde
The Knight that beares the ship of Golde
Hath wun her on the plaine
Heralds of Armes cryed than
Is there now any maner of man
Wil make his body good
That wil Iust any more
Say now while we be heer
Degrabel sayd by God almight
Me think that I durst with him fight
If he were neuer so wood
Lords togither made a vow
Forsooth they sayd best woorthy art thou
To haue thy freely food
For to vnarme him Lords gan go
Clothes of Golde on him they doo
To meat then gan they wend
Sir Eglamoure then wan the gree
Beside that Lady set was he
She fayned him as her freend
For what cause that he bore
A ship of Golde with Mast and Ore
He sayd with woords wend
Damosel in to the Sea was doon
My Lady and my yung Sonne
And there they made an end
Knowledge to him took she tho
Now good Sir tel me so
That they were brought to ground
While I was in far Countrey
Her Father put her into the Sea
With the waues to found
With honest mirth and game
Of him she asked his name
And he answered that stound
Men call me where I was borne
Eglamoure of Artoys
That with a worme was wound
In sowning fel that Lady free
Welcome Sir Eglamoure to me
Thy looue I haue bought ful deer
Then she sat and tolde ful soon
How she into the sea was doon
Then wept bothe lesse and more
Minstrels had their gifts free
Wherby they might the better be
To spend they would not space
Ful true it is by God in Heauen
That men meet at vnset steuen
And so it befel there
The King of Israel gan tel
How that he found sir Degrabel
Lordings listen than
Sir Eglamoure kneeled on his knee
My Lord he sayd God yeeld it thee
Ye haue made him a man
The King of Israel said I wil thee giue
Half my Kingdome while I liue
My deer sonne as white as Swan
Thou shalt haue my Daughter Ardnada
The King of Satin sayd also
I remember since thou her wan
Eglamoure prayed the Kings three
At his wedding for to be
If that they would vouchsaue
All graunted him that there wore
Little, lesse and more
Lord Iesus Christe them haue
Kings, Earles I vnderstand
And woorthy Dukes of many a Land
With ioy and mirth enough
The Trumpets in the ship blowes
That euery man to ship goes
The winde them ouerblew
Through Gods might all his mainy
In good liking passed the sea
In Artoys they did ariue
The Earle then in a Tower stood
He saw men passe the salt flood
And fast to his horse gan driue
When he heard of Eglamoure
He fel out of his Tower
And brake his neck beliue
The Messengers went agayne to tel
Of that case how it befel
With God may no man striue
Thus in Artoys the Lords were lent
After the Emperour soon they sent
To come to that mariage
In all the Land they did cry
Who so would come to that feast woorthy
Right welcome should they be
Sir Eglamoure to the Church is gone
Degrabel and Ardnada they haue tane
And his Lady bright of blee
The King of Israel sayd I giue
Half my Land while I liue
Brook wel all after my day
With mickle mirth the feast was made
Forty dayes it abode
Among all Lords hend
And then forsooth as I you say
Euery man took his way
Where him liked to dwel
Minstrels had good great plenty
That euer the better may they be
And bolder for to spend
In Romaunce this Cronicle is
Deere Iesus bring vs to thy blisse
That lasteth without end.
AMEN.
¶ Imprinted at London by William Copland