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Textual Notes to Blanchardyn and Eglantine

Chapter 1, Rubric

The first chapitre. The title of the chapter is set off by spacing and marked by an initial ¶; a blank line separates it from the text that follows.back to note source

Chapter 1, Paragraph 1

That. So R. The text begins with a capital letter T of floriated design, five lines tall. Caxton gave most of the chapter titles a similar, if scaled down, format.back to note source

Chapter 1, Paragraph 3

beyonde mesure . . . of his age. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 1, Paragraph 4

elder in age. So R. BN reads les plus sagis [more wise].back to note source
Notwythstandyng. In R, a ¶ sign marks this concluding sentence, emphasizing its proverbial statement.back to note source

Chapter 2, Rubric

and of theyre fayttes. So R. Not in BN. The title of the second chapter is set off by an initial ¶ and a partially blank line.back to note source

Chapter 2, Paragraph 1

It. So R. The initial capital letter is three lines tall and modestly embellished.back to note source

Chapter 2, Paragraph 2

and of Achilles. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 2, Paragraph 3

and blasure. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
longe taryeng. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 3, Rubric

The thirde chapitre. So R. The third chapter’s title is marked with a ¶ and set off by blank lines before and after.back to note source

Chapter 3, Paragraph 1

Blanchardyn. So R. The initial letter is two lines tall. All of the following chapters begin with a similar large plain capital letter. These are not noted below.back to note source
where he was becomen. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 4, Rubric

The fourth chapitre conteyneth . . . made for hym. So R. Not in BN. In R, the title of the fourth chapter is not separate from the text that precedes it, though it is marked by a ¶ sign.back to note source

Chapter 4, Paragraph 1

After. The initial A, located at the top of the folio, is two lines tall. back to note source

Chapter 5, Paragraph 2

alyght from his courser. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
and prayed hym. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
and that . . . lady unto hym. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 5, Paragraph 3

and his good swerde y-girded. So R. BN: sailly sur son destrier sans quelque avantage prendre [leapt on his war horse without taking any (unfair) advantage].back to note source

Chapter 7, Paragraph 1

or haste. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 7, Paragraph 4

our herte . . . drawyng to the perfection. So R. BN: notre cuer qui est imparti [our heart which is indivisible].back to note source

Chapter 7, Paragraph 5

or wythout ceasse. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 8, Paragraph 1

that are wonte to growe in wodes. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 8, Paragraph 2

fery. So R. BN reads gue [ford].back to note source

Chapter 8, Paragraph 3

and goodely manere. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 9, Rubric

Tormaday. So R. In the space between the title and the text that follows, a seventeenth-century hand has written in black ink . . . and the counsell he gave him touching the proude pucelle in amours or proud lady in love. Eglantine is introduced in this chapter, and the writer wanted to note this important fact in the title.back to note source

Chapter 9, Paragraph 1

After. So R. A faint bracket in the left margin marks this paragraph.back to note source
knight . . . R lacks a leaf here. The missing passage is supplied in the translation from BN that follows. Kellner includes the passage (pp. 35–36).back to note source

Chapter 9, Paragraph 3

me semeth not. So R. In the right margin, a faint bracket marks the line where the knight of the ferry replies to Blanchardyn.back to note source
How be it. So R. A faint bracket here continues into the right margin, and the letter H in How has been lightly circled. The sentence it begins relates Blanchardyn’s first stirrings of love for the proud lady.back to note source
good. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 9, Paragraph 4

and welthe. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
or cusse. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 10, Rubric

as foloweth. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 11, Paragraphs 2–3

Blanchardyn, seeyng the oure and the poynt . . . alone wythout eny companye. So R. These paragraphs are marked by faint brackets in the right margin to indicate the pivotal episode of the kiss.back to note source

Chapter 12, Rubric

as herafter foloweth. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 12, Paragraph 3

nor knowen. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
but that I sholde complayne me. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
and shal deye. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
saynge strongly ayenst hit. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
and uttre. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
that is now happed to you of one man. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 13, Rubric

havyng styl his thought fast upon here beaulté. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
as herafter foloweth. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 13, Paragraph 1

upon her whyte palfray amblyng. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
hanged. So R. Not in BN. Caxton’s Eglantine is more brutal than her French counterpart, who only wants to prendre [seize, apprehend] the offending knight.back to note source

Chapter 13, Paragraphs 2–3

wherof he was glad . . . provostis place of Tourmaday. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 13, Paragraph 3

Who that wol lodge . . . entre this inne. So BN. R: prose. Edited following modern conventions of verse format for ease of reading. Caxton prints the ballade as prose, offset with a paraph mark and a capital letter similar to those at the beginnings of chapters.back to note source

Chapter 14, Paragraph 4

in this maner. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
to your plesure and behouffe. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
wherof the provost thanked hym gretly. This is the last line on the folio. Beneath it an early owner has described his family’s coat of arms:

John Dewe of Chesterton ownethe me Anno domini 1500md, that I found wrytten in an old booke, that (Rich?)ardDewe my predecessor of the halle of Chesterton, in thereigne of Richard the second, gott in the feild in Irelandam (arms) aunciente red with three barres yellowe thereina yellowe castell in a blewe feild hee(?) was then and . . .

back to note source

The note is written in brown ink. The remainder has been trimmed off, perhaps when the pages were rebound. A John Dew received his B.A. from Cambridge in 1484–1485 and was a fellow of Gonville Hall there from 1488 to 1500. Chesterton is a neighborhood in modern Cambridge. See the Introduction to this romance, pp. 147–48, for discussion of the book’s owners.

Chapter 15, Paragraph 1

his evyll wylle. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
behavoure and. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 15, Paragraph 3

and goode wylle. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 16, Paragraph 1

In suche. So R. Remains of an annotation in brown ink appear in the gutter of the left margin.back to note source

Chapter 16, Paragraph 2

that so fyers was ayenst the god of love. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 17, Paragraph 1

soverayne desyre and. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 18, Rubric

wyth a myghty power of folke. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 19, Rubric

all of whyte sylke. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 20, Paragraph 3

affrayed. So R. Remains of an annotation appear in the gutter of the left margin.back to note source

Chapter 20, Paragraph 4

appiered. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
swerde. R: swerde speare. The word swerde has been crossed out and the annotator has written speare in brown ink in the right margin. The name John New is written below in a similar hand. See Explanatory Note.back to note source
of proesse. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 20, Paragraph 7

in her herte. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
Yf ye wolde. R reads Yf yf. An annotator corrected the second yf by writing an e over the f. A smudged cross has been written in brown ink on the right margin. It appears beside the important passage in which Eglantine determines to take Blanchardyn as her lover.back to note source
noo man infydele. So R. Caxton omitted a detail from his source: that Eglantine will wed no infidel having ydoles dyaboliques [diabolical idols].back to note source

Chapter 20, Paragraph 9

or wythdrawe his men. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 20, Paragraph 10

lenyng upon. So R. A black ink cross is written in the right margin.back to note source
specyall. So R. This word is underlined and the annotator’s hand has written frend in the margin, in brown ink.back to note source
nor how to mayntene herself. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
ne take no maner of reste. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 21, Rubric

as it foloweth. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 21, Paragraph 2

hoste. So R. The word is underlined, and the annotator has written guest by it in the margin, in brown ink. This is not a correction, but a definition. MED defines host as an invited guest or a paying guest (host (n.2), senses 2a, b).back to note source

Chapter 21, Paragraph 3

feyré. So R. The letter y is written in brown ink at the end of this word.back to note source

Chapter 22, Rubric

the yonge knyght, as it folowed here. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 22, Paragraph 1

fayre shewes of their eyen whiche wauntonly. So R. BN: semblant et regars quelles font [expressions and glances that they made].back to note source

Chapter 22, Paragraph 2

and in all manere norreture right parfyt. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 23, Rubric

twenty third. R: xxiiii. The last i is crossed out and the annotator has written chap~.23d in the margin, in brown ink.back to note source

Chapter 23, Paragraph 1

hyghe. So R. A partial signature in brown ink, perhaps Rich . . . Furm . . ., is visible at the edge of the right margin.back to note source

Chapter 23, Paragraphs 1–2

After the humble leve . . . “I thanke you,” sayde Blanchardyn. So R. Faint brackets set off these paragraphs an important passage in which Blanchardyn rejects the Provost’s suggestion that Eglantine is in love with him.back to note source

Chapter 23, Paragraph 2

and behourdyng. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 23, Paragraph 4

and taken. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
as longeth tyl a knyght to doo. So R. Not in BN. A partial signature, Mary L., is written in dark brown ink along the lower edge of the page; the bottoms of the letters have been trimmed off.back to note source
promette. So R. An annotator emended the spelling, writing in ss in brown ink.back to note source

Chapter 23, Paragraph 6

god of love. R: of god love. Emended to god of love for sense.back to note source

Chapter 24, Rubric

twenty fourth. R: xxiiiii. The last i is crossed out and the annotator has written chap~ 24th in the left margin, in brown ink.back to note source

Chapter 24, Paragraphs 2–3

After the gracyouse leve of the lady . . . proceded to hym of veraye noblenes. So R. Faint brackets in the side margin mark the beginning and end of this important passage, which narrate the lover’s exchange of gifts and Eglantine’s first public acknowledgment of her favor, followed by the appointment of Blanchardyn as seneschal.back to note source

Chapter 24, Paragraph 7

speciall. So R. This word is underlined, and the annotator has written frend in the margin in brown ink.back to note source

Chapter 24, Paragraph 9

and cursed man. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 24, Paragraph 10

harde. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 25, Paragraph 1

Thus after . . . lost his lyff. So R. The first two paragraphs of this chapter are set off by faint marginal brackets. The passage narrates Beatrice’s plea to Alymodes and his sparing of Blanchardyn’s life.back to note source

Chapter 25, Paragraph 2

for whom ye have caused your humble supplycacion. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
So. So R. This word is preceded by a space and a paraph mark, creating a visual break on the page. Here a reader has inserted a marginal bracket before the conclusion of Alymodes’s address to Beatrice.back to note source

Chapter 25, Paragraph 3

for he whom God wolde preserve can not peryshe. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 26, Paragraph 1

for to have wrake upon hym. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 26, Paragraph 3

wyshyng full often . . . above all other. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 27, Paragraph 2

The kynge . . . provysion were had. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 28, Rubric

How. So R. The annotator has written Chap~ 28th in the left margin by this unnumbered title.back to note source

Chapter 28, Paragraph 3

Vassall. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
and sette. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 29, Paragraph 1

hylles and dales here and there. So R. BN: les champs dont les maistres gisoyent mors entre les pies sur les champs [the fields where their masters lie dead between their feet on the ground]. Caxton omits the detail about the horses’ riders, though the formula appears in several other battle scenes.back to note source

Chapter 29, Paragraph 2

twenty four. So R. BN: dix [ten].back to note source

Chapter 29, Paragraph 4

bycause that they sholde be more sure of hym. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 29, Paragraph 5

under thy swerde. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
royalme. So R. BN: de mon people deffendeur. De veufes et orphenins secure garde et droiture [defender of my people. Of old people and orphans, safe keeping and justice].back to note source
to be understande. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
descended of. So R. BN: sans nulle doubte et as bien averi fie tes paroles [without any doubt and as your speech well attests].back to note source

Chapter 30, Paragraph 4

Daryus, that of his beynge ther was soone advertysed. So R. BN: Daire et toute sa navire y vint arriver et prendre port par ung bien matin. Il fist jette les ancres puis saillirent hors tous ensamble moult joyeux de ce que hors de la tourmente de la mer estoient eschappez. Mais pas bien ne scavoient en quel pays ils estoient arrivez. [Darius and all his navy arrived there and made port in a fair morning. He made the anchors to be dropped then they rushed out all together very joyous that they were escaped from tempest of the sea. But they did not know in what country they had arrived.]back to note source

Chapter 30, Paragraph 6

for the love . . . myserably has loste. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 31, Rubric

for love of . . . them there. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 31, Paragraph 2

The maronners bygan . . . wyth grete joye. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 32, Paragraph 4

had. So R. The sense seems to be had not som. K emends.back to note source

Chapter 32, Paragraph 5

for or ever . . . oute of syght. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
And the provost . . . costes of Nourthweghe. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
where he arryved . . . it is sayd. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
the goode yonge knyght. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
wyth Sadoyne. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 33, Rubric

wythin a gardyne. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
Sadoyne. So R. BN includes the phrase en promettant que de tout son povoir lui aideroit [promising that he will help him with all his power].back to note source

Chapter 33, Paragraph 1

without ceasse. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 33, Paragraph 2

from her . . . my penseful herte. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 36, Paragraph 1

that at my grete nede . . . I have therof. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 36, Paragraph 3

maystres and that the. So R. Faintly written in the right margin, a large arrow points to the end of this line. In the adjacent passage, Eglantine sees Blanchardyn’s navy overtaken by a storm and swept from Tourmaday.back to note source

Chapter 36, Paragraph 4

his feythful felawe. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 37, Paragraph 1

maumetys. So R. BN : decepuables et dampnables ydolles [deceiving and damnable idols].back to note source

Chapter 37, Paragraph 5

and all armed fro top to too. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 38, Rubric

And the fayr Beatryx was taken to mercy. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 39, Paragraph 3

and myght kepe his counteynaunce nor behave hymself. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
harde and. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
shortyng oure dayes . . . ye may see. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 39, Paragraph 5

or do to be rehersed. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
prysoner. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 39, Paragraph 6

no. In R, a bracket in brown ink marks the end of this line. In the passage that follows, the king of Frisia relates the death of Blanchardyn’s mother.back to note source

Chapter 40, Paragraph 2

and his folke within her cyté of Tourmaday. So R. BN: le quel par sa cruaulte est cause que le royaulme de Frize avoit este degaste par Daire son filz, dont le bon roy pere de Blanchandin avoit grant desir de sen vengier, tres convoitant de soy trouver en lieu ou il lui peust porter dommage car il estoit encorres de bon eaige pour porter et excercicer les armes [which by his cruelty is the cause that the realm of Frise had been laid waste by Darius his son, on which the good king father of Blanchardin had great desire to take revenge, longed to find himself in a place where he could cause him harm, for he was still of a good age to bear and use arms].back to note source

Chapter 41, Paragraph 4

chaunged. So R. BN: couchid. See Explanatory Note.back to note source

Chapter 41, Paragraph 6

yf God woll. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 42, Rubric

Here foloweth . . . in hitself and. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 42, Paragraph 1

so truly and benyngly. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
their enmyes shal knowe . . . of the towne. So R. Not in BN. Caxton considerably embellishes the ferocity of the Provost’s reply. BN reads only que de nul tort nen seront reprins [will not recover from the harm (done to them)].back to note source

Chapter 42, Paragraph 4

that wythin the towne was thus grete. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 43, Paragraph 2

for to have theym . . . entre in them. So R. BN: pour ce que la endroit ou il estoit logie ny avoit quelque perilage de la mer si la fist venir aupres de lui ancre pour ce que le temps estoit douls et la mer quoyt il le fist affin que . . . [because the place where he was quartered had no peril of the sea, he made them come there near to him to anchor because the weather was calm and the sea quiet, he made it so that . . .].back to note source

Chapter 43, Paragraphs 2–3

Thus passed Kynge Alymodes the nyght . . . nother frendes nor enmyes. So R. Marks between the lines of text set off this passage beginning the extended account of the final battle between Blanchardyn’s army and the forces of Alymodes; similar marks appear again at the end of the following paragraph.back to note source

Chapter 43, Paragraph 5

a duke. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 43, Paragraph 6

They dyd . . . excellent proues. So R. In BN, this passage relating the retreat of Alymodes’s forces and ensuing battle follows the account of the king of Frisia and Sadoyne’s combat with Corburant which appears in paragraph 8.back to note source
They began . . . toward their enmyes. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 43, Paragraph 10

his felawe. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
had taken . . . body of hym. So R. BN: eust occis [had killed].back to note source

Chapter 43, Paragraph 11

They two drewe themself out. So R. Brackets in the outside margins mark this paragraph which recounts the single combat, on horseback, of Blanchardyn and Alymodes.back to note source
their armures that were of fyn stele. So R. BN: lachier qui en leurs heaulmes estoit [laces which were on their helmets].back to note source
yf the messenger . . . of fyn golde. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 44, Paragraph 3

in grete habondaunce. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 44, Paragraph 4

I saye this. In R, this sentence and the three following it are preceded by ¶s. Caxton thus gives visual emphasis to the lesson. See the Explanatory Note for additional commentary.back to note source

Chapter 45, Paragraph 2

wyth hym. So R. An early hand has written Blanchardyn at the bottom left corner of the page, in brown ink.back to note source

Chapter 46, Paragraph 1

and so haunsed in worship. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
whiche myght wel . . . than he was. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
that shall sone overcome Blanchardyn. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 47, Rubric

as ye shal here. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 47, Paragraph 3

Eglantyne, otherwyse callyd the proude pucell in amours. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 47, Paragraph 4

tarye styll oure penne to wryte. So R. BN: vous lairons a parler de ceulx [we leave you to speak of those . . .].back to note source
wryte. So R. BN: parlerons [we will speak].back to note source

Chapter 48, Paragraph 1

wyth bothe her armes. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 48, Paragraph 6

that ye geve upon your false goddes. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
one onli God. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 48, Paragraph 8

goddes and. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 48, Paragraph 9

for the deth . . . be ther slayne. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 48, Paragraphs 6–9

The fayre Beatryx, heryng her fader speke . . . that Sadoyne sholde be beten. So R. Faint brackets in the side margin mark the beginning and end of this passage recounting the heated exchange between Alymodes and Beatrix as she pleads with him to spare Sadoyne and accept Christianity.back to note source

Chapter 48, Paragraph 10

bytterly. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
in this wyse. So R. Not in BNback to note source
that he most nowe suffre. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 49, Paragraph 2

whiche is full goode and deffensable. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 49, Paragraph 3

my lady. So R. BN reads sa dame [his lady].back to note source

Chapter 50, Paragraph 2

parfit. R: parft. I follow Kellner’s emendation.back to note source

Chapter 51, Paragraph 2

and thankes. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
tyll eche other. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
and colled. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 51, Paragraph 3

from the bataylle. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 51, Paragraph 5

and subdewed. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 51, Paragraph 6

and unyon. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
venymouse malyce of the false traytoure. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
a grete trayson. So R. BN: que par Subien avoit este procedee alencontre de sa dame [he knew not that Subyon had been advancing against his lady].back to note source
the proude pucelle in amours. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 52, Paragraph 1

for to goo rescue hys felawe Sadoyne. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
and telle. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 52, Paragraph 3

and shewed. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 52, Paragraph 7

of theym. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
and tolde. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 52, Paragraph 8

and ootes for his horses. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 53, Rubric

and what folowed after. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 53, Paragraph 1

fol. 95r. Brown stains on this folio suggest that the pages missing from the end of R were damaged and discarded in rebinding. Similar stains on fol. 4, the last original page of the Table of Chapters, may explain why the leaf was added there when the volume was restored.back to note source
of theym. So R. Not in BN.back to note source
to passe by them. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 53, Paragraph 2

Subyon. R: Sadoyne, emended; in the context, a mistake.back to note source

Chapter 53, Paragraph 3

He was well mounted. So R. A faint bracket in the right margin marks the passage recounting the flight of Subyon into the forest following the defeat of his troops.back to note source

Chapter 53, Paragraph 4

there wythin theyr caves. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 53, Paragraph 5

by syx myles. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 53, Paragraph 7

Subyon was. So R. BN: ne la neust este trouve se par adventure neust este Silvain leur maistre qui leans se cuidoit bouter [there (Subyon) would not have been found, if, by chance, Silvain their master had not thought to hide himself in that place].back to note source
that he had opened . . . there wythinne. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 53, Paragraph 8

and of the barons . . . castell of Castelforde. So R. Not in BN.back to note source

Chapter 54, Paragraph 1

Castelforde . . . R is incomplete for the last leaves are lacking. I have supplied the missing part of the narrative with a translation of BN. Kellner includes the passage from that manuscript (pp. 206–19).back to note source