5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 175 180 185 190 195 200 205 210 215 220 225 230 235 240 245 250 255 260 265 270 275 280 285 290 295 300 305 310 315 320 325 330 335 340 345 350 355 360 365 370 375 380 385 390 395 400 405 410 415 420 425 430 435 440 445 450 455 460 465 470 475 480 485 490 495 500 505 510 515 520 525 530 535 540 545 550 555 560 565 570 575 580 585 590 595 600 605 610 615 620 625 630 635 640 645 650 655 660 665 670 675 680 685 690 695 700 705 710 715 720 725 730 735 740 745 750 755 760 765 770 775 780 785 790 795 800 805 810 815 820 825 830 835 840 845 850 855 860 865 870 875 880 885 890 895 900 905 910 915 920 925 930 935 940 945 950 955 960 965 970 975 980 985 990 995 1000 1005 1010 1015 1020 1025 1030 1035 1040 1045 1050 1055 1060 1065 1070 1075 1080 1085 1090 1095 1100 1105 1110 1115 1120 1125 1130	It was a squyer of lowe degré That loved the kings doughter of Hungré. The squir was curteous and hend, Ech man him loved and was his frend. He served the kyng her father dere, Fully the tyme of seven yere (For he was marshall of his hall, And set the lords both great and smal). An hardy man he was and wight, Both in batayle and in fyght. But ever he was styll mornyng, And no man wyste for what thyng; And all was for that lady, The kynges doughter of Hungry. There wyste no wyghte in Christenté Howe well he loved that lady fre. He loved her more then seven yere, Yet was he of her love never the nere. He was not ryche of golde and fe, A gentyll man forsoth was he. To no man durst he make his mone, But syghed sore hymselfe alone. And evermore, whan he was wo, Into his chambre would he goo, And through the chambre he toke the waye Into the gardyn that was full gaye. And in the garden, as I wene, Was an arber fayre and grene; And in the arber was a tre, A fayrer in the world might none be: The tre it was of cypresse, The fyrst tre that Jesu chose. The sother-wood and sykamoure, The reed rose and the lyly-floure, The boxe, the beche, and the larel tre, The date, also the damyse, The fylbyrdes hangyng to the ground, The fygge-tre, and the maple round, And other trees there was mané one, The pyany, the popler, and the plane, With brode braunches all aboute, Within the arbar, and eke withoute. On every braunche sate byrdes thre, Syngynge with great melody, The lavorocke and the nightyngale, The ruddocke, the woodwale, The pee and the popinjaye, The thrustele sange both nyght and daye, The marlyn, and the wrenne also, The swalowe whippynge to and fro, The jaye jangled them amonge, The larke began that mery songe, The sparowe spredde her on her spraye, The mavys songe with notes full gaye, The nuthake with her notes newe, The sterlynge set her notes full trewe, The goldefynche made full mery chere Whan she was bente upon a brere, And many other foules mo, The osyll and the thrusshe also. And they sange wyth notes clere In confortynge that squyere. And evermore, whan he was wo, Into that arber wolde he go, And under a bente he layde hym lowe, Ryght even under her chambre wyndowe, And lened hys backe to a thorne And sayd, "Alas, that I was borne! That I were ryche of golde and fe That I might wedde that lady fre, Of golde good, or some treasure, That I myght wedde that lady floure! Or elles come of so gentyll kynne The ladyes love that I myght wynne. Wolde God that I were a kynges sonne, That ladyes love that I myght wonne! Or els so bolde in eche fyght As was Syr Lybius that gentell knyght, Or els so bolde in chyvalry As Syr Gawayne, or Syr Guy; Or els so doughty of my hande As was the gyaunte Syr Colbrande, And it were put in jeoperdé What man shoulde wynne that lady fre, Than should no man have her but I, The kinges doughter of Hungry." But ever he sayde: "Wayle a waye! For poverté passeth all my paye!" And as he made thys rufull chere, He sowned downe in that arbere. That lady herde his mournyng all, Ryght under the chambre wall, In her oryall there she was, Closed well with royall glas. Fulfylled it was with ymagery; Every wyndowe by and by On eche syde had there a gynne, Sperde with many a dyvers pynne. Anone that lady, fayre and fre, Undyd a pynne of yveré, And wyd the windowes she open set, The sunne shone in at her closet. In that arber fayre and gaye She sawe where that squyre lay. The lady sayd to hym anone: "Syr, why makest thou that mone? And whi thou mournest night and day Now tell me, squyre, I thee pray. And, as I am a true lady, Thy counsayl shall I never dyscry. And, yf it be no reprefe to thee, Thy bote of bale yet shall I be." And often was he in wele and wo, But never so well as he was tho. The squyer set hym on hys kne, And sayde: "Lady, it is for thee: I have thee loved this seven yere, And bought thy love, lady, full dere.1 Ye are so ryche in youre aray That one word to you I dare not say, And come ye be of so hye kynne, No worde of love durst I begynne. My wyll to you yf I had sayde, And ye therwith not well apayde, Ye might have bewraied me to the kinge, And brought me sone to my endynge. Therfore, my lady fayre and fre, I durst not shewe my harte to thee. But I am here at your wyll, Whether ye wyll me save or spyll; For all the care I have in be, A worde of you might comfort me. And, yf ye wyll not do so, Out of this land I must nedes go; I wyll forsake both lande and lede, And become an hermyte in uncouth stede, In many a lande to begge my bread, To seke where Christ was quicke and dead. A staffe I wyll make me of my spere, Lynen cloth I shall none were; Ever in travayle I shall wende, Tyll I come to the worldes ende; And, lady, but thou be my bote, There shall no sho come on my fote. Therfore, lady, I thee praye, For Hym that dyed on Good Frydaye, Let me not in daunger dwell, For His love that harowed Hell." Than sayd that lady milde of mode, Ryght in her closet there she stode: "By Hym that dyed on a tre, Thou shalt never be deceyved for me; Though I for thee should be slayne, Squyer, I shall thee love agayne. Go forth, and serve my father the kynge, And let be all thy styll mournynge; Let no man wete that ye were here, Thus all alone in my arbere. If ever ye wyll come to your wyll, Here and se, and holde you styll. Beware of the stewarde, I you praye, He wyll deceyve you and he maye. For, if he wote of your woyng, He wyl bewraye you unto the kynge. Anone for me ye shall be take, And put in pryson for my sake. Than must ye nedes abyde the lawe, Peraventure both hanged and drawe. That syght on you I would not se, For all the golde in Christenté. For and ye my love should wynne With chyvalry ye must begynne, And other dedes of armes to done, Through whiche ye may wynne your shone, And ryde through many a peryllous place, As a venterous man to seke your grace, Over hylles and dales, and hye mountaines, In wethers wete, both hayle and raynes; And yf ye may no harbroughe se, Than must ye lodge under a tre, Among the beastes wyld and tame; And ever you wyll gette your name, And in your armure must ye lye, Eevery nyght than by and by, And your meny everychone, Till seven yere be comen and gone, And passe by many a peryllous see, Squyer, for the love of me, Where any war begynneth to wake, And many a batayll undertake, Throughout the land of Lumbardy, In every cytie by and by. And be avised, when thou shalt fight, Loke that ye stand aye in the right. And, yf ye wyll take good hede, Yet all the better shall ye spede, And whan the warre is brought to ende, To the Rodes then must ye wende. And, syr, I holde you not to prayes, But ye there fyght thre Good Frydayes; And if ye passe the batayles thre, Than are ye worthy a knyght to be, And to bere armes than are ye able Of gold and goules sete with sable; Then shall ye were a shelde of blewe, In token ye shall be trewe, With vines of golde set all aboute Within your shelde and eke without, Fulfylled with ymagery, And poudred with true loves by and by. 2 In the myddes of your sheld ther shal be set A ladyes head, with many a frete; Above the head wrytten shall be A reason for the love of me: Both O and R shall be therin, With A and M it shall begynne. The baudryke, that shall hange therby, Shall be of white sykerly; A crosse of reed therin shall be, In token of the Trynyté. Your basenette shall be burnysshed bryght, Your ventall shal be well dyght, With starres of gold it shall be set, And covered with good velvet. A corenall clene corven newe, And oystryche fethers of dyvers hewe. Your plates unto your body enbraste Shall syt full semely in your waste, Your cote armoure of golde full fyne, And poudred well with good armyne. Thus in your warres shall you ryde, With syxe good yemen by your syde. And whan your warres are brought to ende, More ferther behoveth to you to wende, And over many perellous streme, Or ye come to Jerusalem, Through feytes, and feldes, and forestes thicke, To seke where Christe were dead and quycke. There must you drawe your swerde of were, To the sepulchre ye must it bere And laye it on the stone, Amonge the lordes everychone, And offre there florences fyve, Whyles that ye are man on lyve; And offre there florences thre, In tokenyng of the Trynyté. And whan that ye, syr, thus have done, Than are ye worthy to were your shone. Than may ye say, syr, by good ryght, That you ar proved a venturous knyght. I shall you geve to your rydinge A thousande pounde to your spendinge; I shall you geve hors and armure, A thousande pounde of my treasure, Where through that ye may honoure wynn And be the greatest of your kynne. I pray to God and Our Lady Sende you the whele of vyctory, That my father so fayne may be That he wyll wede me unto thee, And make thee king of this countré, To have and holde in honesté, Wyth welth and wynne to were the crowne, And to be lorde of toure and towne, That we might our dayes endure In parfyte love that is so pure. And if we may not so come to, Otherwyse then must we do. And therfore, squyer, wende thy way, And hye thee fast on thy journay, And take thy leve of kinge and quene, And so to all the courte bydene. Ye shall not want at your goyng Golde, nor sylver, nor other thyng. This seven yere I shall you abyde, Betyde of you what so betyde; Tyll seven yere be comen and gone I shall be mayde all alone." The squyer kneled on his kne, And thanked that lady fayre and fre; And thryes he kyssed that lady tho, And toke his leve, and forth he gan go. The kinges steward stode full nye, In a chambre fast them bye, And hearde theyr wordes wonder wele, And all the woyng every dele. He made a vowe to heaven kynge For to bewraye that swete thynge, And that squyer taken shoulde be, And hanged hye on a tre. And that false stewarde full of yre, Them to betraye was his desyre. He bethought hym nedely, Every daye by and by, How he myght venged be On that lady fayre and fre, For he her loved pryvely, And therfore dyd her great envye. Alas! It tourned to wrotherheyle That ever he wyste of theyr counsayle. But leve we of the stewarde here, And speke we more of that squyer, Howe he to his chambre went Whan he past from that lady gente. There he araied him in scarlet reed, And set his chaplet upon his head, A belte about his sydes two, With brode barres to and fro; A horne about his necke he caste, And forth he went at the last To do hys office in the hall Among the lordes both great and small. He toke a white yeard in his hande, Before the kynge than gane he stande, And sone he sat hym on his knee, And served the kynge ryght royally, With deynty meates that were dere, With partryche, pecoke, and plovere, With byrdes in bread ybake, The tele, the ducke, and the drake, The cocke, the curlewe, and the crane, With fesauntes fayre, theyr were no wane; Both storkes and snytes ther were also, And venyson freshe of bucke and do, And other deyntes many one, For to set afore the kynge anone. And when the squyer had done so He served the hall to and fro. Eche man hym loved in honesté, Hye and lowe in theyr degré. So dyd the kyng full sodenly, And he wyst not wherfore nor why. The kynge behelde the squyer wele, And all his rayment every dele. He thought he was the semylyest man That ever in the worlde he sawe or than. Thus sate the kyng and eate ryght nought, But on his squyer was all his thought. Anone the stewarde toke good hede, And to the kyng full soone he yede. And soone he tolde unto the kynge All theyr wordes and theyr woynge, And how she hyght hym lande and fe, Golde and sylver great plentyé, And how he should his leve take, And become a knight for her sake. "And thus they talked bothe in fere, And I drewe me nere and nere. Had I not come in, verayly, The squyer had layne her by. But whan he was ware of me Full fast away can he fle. That is sothe: here is my hand To fight with him while I may stand." The kyng sayd to the steward tho: "I may not beleve it should be so. Hath he be so bonayre and benyngne, And served me syth he was younge, And redy with me in every nede, Bothe true of word, and eke of dede. I may not beleve, be nyght nor daye, My doughter dere he wyll betraye, Nor to come her chambre nye That fode to longe with no foly. Though she would to hym consente, That lovely lady fayre and gente, I truste hym so well, withouten drede, That he would never do that dede. But yf he myght that lady wynne In wedlocke to welde, withouten synne, And yf she assent him tyll, The squyer is worthy to have none yll, For I have sene that many a page Have become men by mariage. Than it is semely that squyer To have my doughter by this manere, And eche man in his degré Become a lorde of ryaltyé, By fortune and by other grace, By herytage and by purchace. Therfore, stewarde, beware hereby, Defame hym not for no envy. It were great reuth he should be spylte, Or put to death withouten gylte, And more ruthe of my doughter dere For chaungyng of that ladyes chere (I woulde not for my crowne so newe That lady chaunge hyde or hewe), Or for to put thyselfe in drede,3 But thou myght take hym with the dede. For yf it may be founde in thee That thou them fame for envyté, Thou shalt be taken as a felon, And put full depe in my pryson, And fetered fast unto a stone, Tyl twelfe yere were come and gone, And drawen wyth hors throughe the cyté, And soone hanged upon a tre. And thou may not thy selfe excuse, This dede thou shalt no wise refuse. And therfore, steward, take good hed, How thou wilt answere to this ded." The stewarde answered with great envy: "That I have sayd, that I wyll stand therby; To suffre death and endlesse wo, Syr kynge, I wyl never go therfro. For, yf that ye wyll graunt me here Strength of men and great power, I shall hym take this same nyght In the chambre with your doughter bright. For I shall never be gladde of chere, Tyll I be venged of that squyer." Than sayd the kynge full curteysly Unto the stewarde, that stode hym by: "Thou shalte have strength ynough with thee, Men of armes thirty and thre, To watche that lady muche of pryce, And her to kepe fro her enemyes. For there is no knyght in Chrystenté, That wolde betray that lady fre, But he should dye under his shelde And I myght se hym in the feldde. 4 And therfore, stewarde, I thee pray, Take hede what I shall to thee say. And if the squiere come to-night, For to speke with that lady bryght, Let hym say whatsoever he wyll, And here and se and holde you styll, And herken well what he wyll say, Or thou with him make any fray. So he come not her chambre within, No bate on hym loke thou begyn; Though that he kysse that lady fre, And take his leave ryght curteysly, Let hym go, both hole and sounde, Without wemme or any wounde. But yf he wyl her chamber breke, No worde to hym that thou do speke. But yf he come with company For to betraye that fayre lady, Loke he be taken soone anone, And all his meyné everychone, And brought with strength to my pryson As traytour, thefe, and false felon. And yf he make any defence, Loke that he never go thence; But loke thou hew hym also small As flesshe whan it to the potte shall. And yf he yelde hym to thee, Brynge him both saufe and sounde to me. I shall borowe for seven yere He shall not wedde my doughter dere. And therfore, stewarde, I thee praye, Thou watche that lady nyght and daye." The stewarde sayde the kynge untyll: "All your byddyng I shall fulfyll." The stewarde toke his leave to go, The squyer came fro chambre tho, Downe he went into the hall. The officers sone can he call, Both ussher, panter, and butler, And other that in office were. There he them warned sone anone To take up the bordes everychone. Than they dyd his commaundement, And sythe unto the kyng he went. Full lowe he set hym on his kne, And voyded his borde full gentely. And whan the squyre had done so Anone he sayde the kynge unto: "As ye are lorde of chyvalry, Geve me leve to passe the sea, To prove my strenthe with my ryght hande On Godes enemyes in uncouth land, And to be knowe in chyvalry, In Gascoyne, Spayne, and Lumbardy, In eche batayle for to fyght, To be proved a venterous knyght." The kyng sayd to the squyer tho: "Thou shalt have good leve to go. I shall thee gyve both golde and fe, And strength of men to wende with thee. If thou be true in worde and dede, I shall thee helpe in all thy nede." The squyer thanked the kyng anone, And toke his leve and forth can gone, With joye, and blysse, and muche pryde, With all his meyny by his syde. He had not ryden but a whyle, Not the mountenaunce of a myle, Or he was ware of a vyllage. Anone he sayde unto a page: "Our souper soone loke it be dyght, Here wyll we lodge all to-nyght." They toke theyr ynnes in good intente, And to theyr supper soone they wente. Whan he was set, and served at meate, Than he sayd he had forgete To take leve of that lady fre, The kynges doughter of Hungré. Anone the squyer made him yare, And by hymselfe forth can he fare. Without strength of his meyné Unto the castell than went he. Whan he came to the posterne gate Anone he entred in thereat, And his drawen swerd in his hande, There was no more with him wolde stande. But it stode with hym full harde, As ye shall here nowe, of the stewarde. He wende in the worlde none had be That had knowen of his pryvité. Alas, it was not as he wende, For all his counsayle the stewarde kende. He had bewrayed him to the kyng Of all his love and his woyng. And yet he laye her chambre by, Armed with a great company, And beset it one eche syde, For treason walketh wonder wyde. The squyer thought on no mystruste, He wende no man in the worlde had wyste. But yf he had knowen, by Saynt John, He had not come theder by his owne; Or yf that lady had knowen his wyll, That he should have come her chamber tyll, She would have taken hym golde and fe, Strength of men and royalté. But there ne wyst no man nor grome Where that squyer was become, But forth he went hymselfe alone Amonge his servauntes everychone. Whan that he came her chambre to, Anone he sayde: "Your dore undo! Undo," he sayde, "nowe, fayre lady! I am beset with many a spy. Lady as whyte as whales bone, There are thyrty agaynst me one. Undo thy dore, my worthy wyfe, I am besette with many a knyfe. Undo your dore, my lady swete, I am beset with enemyes great; And, lady, but ye wyll aryse, I shall be dead with myne enemyes. Undo thy dore, my frely floure, For ye are myne, and I am your." That lady with those wordes awoke, A mantell of golde to her she toke; She sayde: "Go away, thou wicked wyght, Thou shalt not come here this nyght; For I wyll not my dore undo For no man that cometh therto. There is but one in Christenté That ever made that forwarde with me; There is but one that ever bare lyfe, That ever I hight to be his wyfe; He shall me wedde, by Mary bryght, Whan he is proved a venterous knyght; For we have loved this seven yere, There was never love to me so dere. There lyeth on me both kyng and knyght, Dukes, erles, of muche might. Wende forth, squyer, on your waye, For here ye gette none other praye. For I ne wote what ye should be, That thus besecheth love of me." "I am your owne squyr," he sayde, "For me, lady, be not dismayde. Come I am full pryvely To take my leave of you, lady." "Welcome," she sayd, "my love so dere, Myne owne dere heart and my squyer; I shall you geve kysses thre, A thousande pounde unto your fe, And kepe I shall my maydenhede ryght, Tyll ye be proved a venturous knyght. For yf ye should me wede anone My father wolde make slee you soone. I am the kynges doughter of Hungré, And ye alone that have loved me. And though you love me never so sore, For me ye shall never be lore. Go forth, and aske me at my kynne, And loke what graunt you may wynne. Yf that ye gette graunte, in faye Myselfe therto shall not say nay. And yf ye may not do so, Otherwyse ye shall come to.5 Ye are bothe hardy, stronge, and wight, Go forth and be a venterous knight. I pray to God and our Lady, To send you the whele of victory, That my father so leve ye be, That he wyll profer me to thee. I wote well it is lyghtly sayd, 'Go forth, and be nothyng afrayde.' A man of worshyp may not do so: He must have what neds him unto;6 He must have gold, he must have fe, Strength of men and royalté. Golde and sylver spare ye nought Tyll to manhode ye be brought; To what batayll soever ye go, Ye shall have an hundreth pounde or two. And yet to me, syr, ye may saye That I woulde fayne have you awaye, That profered you golde and fe Out of myne eye syght for to be. Neverthelesse it is not so, It is for the worshyp of us two. Though you be come of symple kynne, Thus my love, syr, may ye wynne, Yf ye have grace of victory, As ever had Syr Lybyus (or Syr Guy) - Whan the dwarfe and mayde Ely Came to Arthoure kyng so fre As a kyng of great renowne - That wan the lady of Synadowne. Lybius was graunted the batayle tho; Therfore the dwarfe was full wo, And sayd: 'Arthur, thou arte to blame. To bydde this chylde go sucke his dame Better hym semeth, so mote I thryve,7 Than for to do these batayles fyve At the chapell of Salebraunce.' These wordes began great distaunce; They sawe they had the victory, They kneled downe and cryed mercy. And afterward, syr, verament, They called hym knyght absolent: Emperours, dukes, knyghtes, and quene, At his commaundement for to bene. Suche fortune with grace now to you fall To wynne the worthyest within the wall, And thynke on your love alone, And for to love that ye chaunge none." Ryght as they talked thus in fere, Theyr enemyes approched nere and nere, Foure and thyrty armed bryght; The steward had arayed hym to fyght. The steward was ordeyned to spy, And for to take them utterly. He wende to death he should have gone, He felled seven men agaynst hym one. Whan he had them to grounde brought, The stewarde at hym full sadly fought. So harde they smote together tho The stewardes throte he cut in two, And sone he fell downe to the grounde, As a traitour untrewe with many a wound. The squyer sone in armes they hente, And of they dyd his good garmente, And on the stewarde they it dyd, And sone his body therin they hydde. And with their swordes his face they share That she should not know what he ware. They cast hym at her chambre dore, The stewarde that was styffe and store. Whan they had made that great affraye Full pryvely they stale awaye. In arme they take that squyer tho, And to the kynges chambre can they go, Without wemme or any wounde, Before the kynge bothe hole and sounde. As soone as the kynge him spyed with eye, He sayd, "Welcome, sonne, sykerly! Thou hast cast thee my sonne to be: This seven yere I shall let thee." Leve we here of this squyer wight, And speake we of that lady bryght, How she rose, that lady dere, To take her leve of that squyer. Also naked as she was borne, She stod her chambre dore beforne. "Alas," she sayd, "and weale away! For all to long now have I lay." She sayd, "Alas, and all for wo! Withouten men why came ye so? Yf that ye wolde have come to me, Other werninges there might have be. Now all to dere my love is bought, But it shall never be lost for nought." And in her armes she toke hym there, Into the chamber she dyd hym bere. His bowels soone she dyd out drawe, And buryed them in Goddes lawe. She sered that body with specery, With vyrgin waxe and commendry; And closed hym in a maser tre, And set on hym lockes thre. She put him in a marble stone, With quaynt gynnes many one, And set hym at hir beddes head, And every day she kyst that dead. Soone at morne, whan she uprose, Unto that dead body she gose. Therfore wold she knele downe on her kne, And make her prayer to the Trynité, And kysse that body twyse or thryse, And fall in a swowne or she myght ryse. Whan she had so done, To chyrche than wolde she gone. Than would she here Masses fyve, And offre to them whyle she myght lyve: "There shall none knowe but heven kynge For whome that I make myne offrynge." The kyng her father anone he sayde: "My doughter, wy are you dysmayde, So feare a lady as ye are one, And so semely of fleshe and bone? Ye were whyte as whales bone, Nowe are ye pale as any stone; Your ruddy read as any chery, With browes bent and eyes full mery. Ye were wont to harpe and syng, And be the meriest in chambre comyng; Ye ware both golde and good velvet, Clothe of damaske with saphyres set; Ye ware the pery on your head, With stones full oryent, whyte and read; Ye ware coronalles of golde, With diamoundes set many a foulde. And nowe ye were clothes of blacke, Tell me, doughter, for whose sake? If he be so poore of fame That ye may not be wedded for shame, Brynge him to me anone ryght, I shall hym make squyer and knight; And yf he be so great a lorde That your love may not accorde, Let me, doughter, that lordynge se; He shall have golde ynoughe with thee." "Gramercy, father, so mote I thryve, For I mourne for no man alyve. Ther is no man, by heven kyng, That shal knowe more of my mournynge." Her father knewe it every deale, But he kept it in counsele: "To-morowe ye shall on hunting fare, And ryde, my doughter, in a chare, It shal be covered with velvet reede, And clothes of fyne golde al about your hed, With damaske, white and asure blewe, Wel dyapred with lyllyes newe; Your pomelles shal be ended with gold, Your chaynes enameled many a folde, Your mantel of ryche degré, Purpyl palle and armyne fre; Jennettes of Spayne that ben so wyght, Trapped to the ground with velvet bright. Ye shall have harpe, sautry, and songe, And other myrthes you amonge; Ye shall have rumney and malmesyne, Both ypocrasse and Vernage wyne, Mountrose and wyne of Greke, Both algrade and respice eke, Antioche and bastarde, Pyment also and Garnarde, Wyne of Greke and muscadell, Both clare, pyment, and Rochell. The reed your stomake to defye, And pottes of osey set you by. You shall have venison ybake, The best wylde foule that may be take. A lese of grehound with you to streke, And hert and hynde and other lyke. Ye shal be set at such a tryst That herte and hynde shall come to your fyst, Your dysease to dryve you fro, To here the bugles there yblow, With theyr begles in that place, And sevenscore raches at his rechase. Homward thus shall ye ryde, On haukyng by the ryvers syde, With goshauke and with gentyll fawcon, With egle horne and merlyon. Whan you come home, your men amonge, Ye shall have revell, daunces, and songe, Lytle chyldren, great and smale, Shall syng as doth the nyghtyngale. Than shall ye go to your evensong, With tenours and trebles among; Threscore of copes of damaske bryght, Full of perles they shal be pyght; Your aulter clothes of taffata, And your sicles all of taffetra. Your sensours shal be of golde, Endent with asure many a folde. Your quere nor organ songe shall wante With countre-note and dyscant, The other halfe on orgayns playeng, With yonge chyldren full fayre syngyng. Than shall ye go to your suppere, And sytte in tentes in grene arbere, With clothes of Aras pyght to the grounde, With saphyres set and dyamonde, A cloth of golde abought your heade, With popinjayes pyght, with pery read, And offycers all at your wyll, All maner delightes to bryng you tyll. The nightingale sitting on a thorne Shall synge you notes both even and morne. An hundreth knightes truly tolde Shall play with bowles in alayes colde, Your disease to drive awaie; To se the fisshes in poles plaie, And then walke in arbere up and downe To se the floures of great renowne. To a draw-brydge than shall ye, The one halfe of stone, the other of tre; A barge shall mete you full ryght With twenti-thre ores full bryght, With trompettes and with claryowne, The fresshe water to rowe up and downe. Than shall ye go to the salte fome, Your maner to se or ye come home, With eighty shyppes of large towre, With dromedaryes of great honour, And carackes with sayles two, The sweftest that on water may goo, With galyes good upon the haven, With eighty ores at the fore staven. Your maryners shall synge arowe 'Hey how and rumbylawe.' Than shall ye, doughter, aske the wyne, With spices that be good and fyne, Gentyll pottes with genger grene, With dates and deynties you betwene; Forty torches brenynge bryght, At your brydges to brynge you lyght. Into your chambre they shall you brynge With muche myrthe and more lykyng; Your costerdes covered with whyte and blewe, And dyapred with lyles newe, Your curtaines of camaca all in folde, Your felyoles all of golde, Your tester pery at your heed, Curtaines with popinjayes white and reed, Your hyllynges with furres of armyne, Powdred with golde of hew full fyne. Your blankettes shall be of fustyane, Your shetes shall be of clothe of Rayne. Your head shete shall be of pery pyght, With dyamondes set and rubyes bryght. Whan you are layde in bedde so softe, A cage of golde shall hange alofte, With longe peper fayre burnning, And cloves that be swete smellyng, Frankensence and olibanum, That whan ye slepe the taste may come. And yf ye no rest may take, All night minstrelles for you shall wake." "Gramercy, father, so mote I the, For all these thinges lyketh not me." Unto her chambre she is gone, And fell in sownyng sone anone, With much sorow and sighing sore; Yet seven yeare she kept hym thore. But leve we of that lady here, And speake we more of that squyer, That in pryson so was take For the kinges doughters sake. The kyng hymselfe upon a daye Full pryvely he toke the waye. Unto the pryson sone he came; The squyer sone out he name, And anone he made hym swere His counsayl he should never discure. The squyer there helde up his hande, His byddyng never he should withstande. The kyng him graunted ther to go Upon his jorney to and fro, And brefely to passe the sea, That no man weste but he and he; And whan he had his jurnay done, That he wolde come full soone, "And in my chambre for to be, The whyles that I do ordayne for thee; Than shalt thou wedde my doughter dere, And have my landes both farre and nere." The squyer was full mery tho, And thanked the kynge, and forth gan go, The kyng hym gave both lande and fe. Anone the squyer passed the se. In Tuskayne and in Lumbardy, There he dyd great chyvalry. In Portyngale nor yet in Spayne, There myght no man stand hym agayne; And where that ever that knyght gan fare, The worshyp with hym away he bare. And thus he travayled seven yere In many a land bothe farre and nere, Tyll on a day he thought hym tho Unto the sepulture for to go. And there he made his offerynge soone, Right as the kinges doughter bad him don. Than he thought hym on a day That the kynge to hym dyd saye. He toke his leve in Lumbardy, And home he came to Hungry. Unto the kynge soone he rade, As he before his covenaunce made. And to the kyng he tolde full soone Of batayles bolde that he had done, And so he did the chyvalry That he had sene in Lumbardy. To the kynge it was good tydande; Anone he toke him by the hande, And he made him full royall chere, And sayd, "Welcome, my sonne so dere! Let none wete of my meyné That out of prison thou shuldest be, But in my chamber holde thee styll, And I shall wete my doughters wyll." The kynge wente forth hymselfe alone, For to here his doughters mone, Right under the chambre window, There he might her counseyle knowe. Had she wyst, that lady fre, That her father there had be, He shulde not, withouten fayle, Have knowen so muche of her counsayle. Nor nothing she knew that he was there, Whan she began to carke and care. Unto that body she sayd tho: "Alas that we should parte in two!" Twyse or thryse she kyssed that body, And fell in sownynge by and by. "Alas!" than sayd that lady dere, "I have thee kept this seven yere, And now ye be in powder small, I may no lenger holde you with all. My love, to the earth I shall thee brynge, And preestes for you to reade and synge. Yf any man aske me what I have here I wyll say it is my treasure. Yf any man aske why I do so, 'For no theves shall come therto.' And, squyer, for the love of thee, Fy on this worldes vanyté! Farewell golde pure and fyne; Farewell velvet and satyne; Farewell castelles and maners also; Farewell huntynge and hawkynge to; Farewell revell, myrthe, and play; Farewell pleasure and garmentes gay; Farewell perle and precyous stone; Farewell my juielles everychone; Farewell mantell and scarlet reed; Farewell crowne unto my heed; Farewell hawkes, and farewell hounde; Farewell markes and many a pounde; Farewell huntynge at the hare; Farewell harte and hynde for evermare. Nowe wyll I take the mantell and the rynge, And become an ancresse in my lyvynge. And yet I am a mayden for thee. And for all the men in Chrystenté To Chryst I shall my prayers make, Squyer, onely for thy sake. And I shall never no Masse heare But ye shall have parte in feare: And every daye whyles I lyve Ye shall have your Masses fyve, And I shall offre pence thre, In tokenynge of the Trynyté." And whan this lady had this sayde, In sownyng she fel at a brayde. The whyle she made this great mornynge Under the wall stode har father the kynge. "Doughter," he sayde, "you must not do so, For all those vowes thou must forgo." "Alas, father, and wele awaye! Nowe have ye harde what I dyde saye." "Doughter, let be all thy mournynge, Thou shalt be wedede to a kynge." "Iwys, father, that shall not be For all the golde in Christenté; Nor all the golde that ever God made May not my harte glade." "My doughter," he sayde, "dere derlynge, I knowe the cause of your mournyng. Ye wene this body your love should be, It is not so, so mote I the. It was my stewarde, Syr Maradose, That ye so longe have kept in close." "Alas! Father, why dyd ye so?" "For he wrought you all thys wo. He made revelation unto me That he knewe all your pryvyté, And howe the squyer, on a day, Unto your chambre toke the way, And ther he should have lyen you bi, Had he not come with company; And howe ye hyght hym golde and fe, Strengthe of men and royalté; And than he watched your chambre bryght With men of armes hardy and wyght, For to take that squyer That ye have loved this seven yere. But as the stewarde strong and stout Beseged your chambre rounde about, To you your love came full ryght, All alone about mydnight. And whan he came your dore unto, And 'Lady,' he sayde, 'undo.' And soone ye bade hym wende awaye, For there he gate none other praye. And as ye talked thus in fere, Your enemyes drewe them nere and nere, They smote to him full soone anone, There were thyrty agaynst hym one. But with a baslarde large and longe The squyer presed in to the thronge, And so he bare hym in that stounde, His enemyes gave hym many a wounde. With egre mode and herte full throwe The stewardes throte he cut in two. And than his meyné all in that place With their swordes they hurte his face, And than they toke him everichone And layd him on a marble stone Before your dore, that ye myght se, Ryght as your love that he had be. And sone the squier there they hent, And they dyd of his good garment, And did it on the stewarde there That ye wist not what he were. Thus ye have kept your enemy here, Pallyng more than seven yere. And as the squyer there was take And done in pryson for your sake. And therfore, let be your mourning, Ye shal be wedded to a kyng, Or els unto an emperoure, With golde and sylver and great treasure." "Do awaye, father, that may not be, For all the golde in Chrystenté. Alas, father," anone she sayde, "Why hath this traytour me betraid? Alas," she sayd, "I have great wrong That I have kept him here so long. Alas, father, why dyd ye so? Ye might have warned me of my fo; And ye had tolde me who it had be, My love had never be dead for me." Anone she tourned her fro the kyng, And downe she fell in dead sownyng. The kyng anone gan go, And hente her in his armes two. "Lady," he sayd, "be of good chere, Your love lyveth and is here. And he hath bene in Lombardy, And done he hath great chyvalry. And come agayne he is to me, In lyfe and health ye shall him se. He shall you wede, my doughter bryght, I have hym made squier and knyght; He shal be a lorde of great renowne, And after me to were the crowne." "Father," she sayd, "if it so be, Let me soone that squyer se." The squyer forth than dyd he brynge, Full fayre on lyve and in lykynge. As sone as she saw him with her eye, She fell in sownyng by and by. The squyer her hente in armes two, And kyssed her an hundreth tymes and mo. There was myrth and melody With harpe, getron, and sautry, With rote, ribible, and clokarde, With pypes, organs, and bumbarde, With other mynstrelles them amonge, With sytolphe and with sautry songe, With fydle, recorde, and dowcemere, With trompette and with claryon clere, With dulcet pipes of many cordes: In chambre revelyng all the lordes, Unto morne that it was daye. The kyng to his doughter began to saye: "Have here thy love and thy lyking, To lyve and ende in Gods blessinge. And he that wyll departe you two, God geve him sorow and wo! A trewer lover than ye are one Was never yet of fleshe ne bone; And but he be as true to thee God let him never thryve ne thee." The kyng in herte he was full blithe, He kissed his doughter many a sithe, With melody and muche chere. Anone he called his messengere, And commaunded him soone to go Through his cities to and fro For to warne his chevalry That they should come to Hungry That worthy wedding for to se And come unto that mangeré. That messenger full sone he wente, And did the kinges commaundemente. Anone he commaunded bothe olde and yonge For to be at that weddyng, Both dukes and erles of muche myght, And ladyes that were fayre and bryght. As soone as ever they herde the crye, The lordes were full soone redy. With myrth and game and muche playe They wedded them on a solempne daye. A royall feest there was holde, With dukes and erles and barons bolde, And knyghtes and squyers of that countré, And sith with all the comunalté. And certaynly, as the story sayes, The revell lasted forty dayes, Tyll on a day the kyng himselfe To hym he toke his lordes twelfe, And so he dyd the squyer That wedded his doughter dere, And even in the myddes of the hall He made him kyng among them al. And all the lordes everychone They made him homage sone anon; And sithen they revelled all that day, And toke theyr leve, and went theyr way, Eche lorde unto his owne countré, Where that hym semed best to be. That yong man and the quene his wyfe, With joy and blysse they led theyr lyfe. For also farre as I have gone, Suche two lovers sawe I none. Therfore blessed may theyr soules be, Amen, amen, for charyté! FINIS	(see note) (see note) gracious; polite; (see note) years master of ceremonies placed [at table] bold; courageous secretly mourning knew what for (see note); (t-note) person; Christendom; (t-note) noble closer (i.e., to fulfilment) as regards; property truly; (see note) dared; complaint sorely all by himself always; sad very pleasant; (see note) suppose orchard; (see note) there could not (see note) (t-note) wormwood; (t-note) red; (see note) beech; laurel damson (kind of plum) filbert (hazel) many a one peony also lark; (see note) robin; oriole; (see note); (t-note) magpie; parrot thrush; (t-note) merlin darting chattered spread her [wings]; twig song-thrush; very merry nuthatch; tunes formed; accurately perched; briar birds more ousel pure (fine) (see note) orchard grassy slope; down thornbush If only; property; (t-note) So that; noble [Rich] of fine gold paragon of ladies [had] come; noble family; (see note) That I might win the lady's love (see note) [deeds of] chivalry (see note) [be] so valiant giant; (see note) If; to the test; (t-note) (t-note) Because of; all my pleasure disappears sorrowful expression fell down in a swoon oriel where; (see note) precious; (see note) Completely covered; pictures one after another device Fastened; different Immediately ivory wide room at once secret; reveal shame remedy from misery had been; happiness happy; then these garments descended; high family dared desire [were] not well pleased; (t-note) betrayed destruction ruin I have been in necessarily people foreign land; (see note) visit [the place]; alive clothes hardship; go; (see note) unless; help shoe in [your] disdain remain (see note) where; (t-note) betrayed because of in return stop; secret know (t-note) want to obtain what you desire Hear; still destroy you if; can knew betray At once because of; arrested submit to Perhaps [be]; drawn I do not wish to For if you; wish to spurs; (see note) dangerous venturous lodging increase; reputation one after another followers every one [you must] pass; sea arise [you must] undertake advised always do what's right pay proper attention succeed Rhodes; (see note) hold up; praise Unless survive coat of arms; qualified; (see note) red; black escutcheon; blue As a sign; faithful; (t-note) (t-note) Filled; pictures; (see note) fret (ornament for the hair) motto (see note) baldric certainly red; (see note) (metal) headpiece; polished neckguard; adorned circlet [of gold] bright carved; (see note) color; (see note); (t-note) armor; strapped; (see note); (t-note) (t-note) (see note) sprinkled; ermine retainers (yeomen) You need to go even farther across Before (see note) war In the presence of gold coins (florins); (see note) Because; alive As a symbol of spurs (see note) knightly expedition; (see note) for costs [To] send; weal/wheel; (see note) So that; pleased give me in marriage honor wealth; joy; (see note) spend perfect achieve that; (see note) Differently; act hasten; quickly one after another journey wait for (i.e., whatever may happen to you) three times; then went; (see note) near close to them quite well part to betray (see note) wrath; (see note) He beat his brains avenged secretly felt; resentment misfortune; (t-note) secret let us leave left; noble dressed headband (worn as a badge of office); (see note) stripes at last staff stood (t-note) (t-note) precious baked teal was; lack snipes doe before; at once genuinely; (see note) according to their rank; (see note) (see note) (t-note) seemliest before absolutely nothing immediately he went promised; property together moved; closer truly would have lain with her aware did he flee (t-note) (see note) courteous; considerate since; (see note); (t-note) for me also I am not able to child; crave; wantonness; (see note) Even if without any doubt Unless possess (t-note) meet; adversity fitting; (see note); (t-note) in this way in accordance with; rank in the service of the crown (see note) (i.e., draw your conclusion from this) pity [if]; ruined for As it would change; complexion grow pale; (see note) (see note) Unless; in the act; (see note) discovered defame out of envy; (t-note) arrested; criminal horses thereupon; (see note); (t-note) If death; escape deed resentment (t-note) Even if I had to depart from it if force catch beautiful avenged on protect Christendom noble lady (t-note) Before; fight; (t-note) If; (t-note) strife; see to it [that you do not]; (see note) whole injury Unless; break into See to it; seized followers under security puts up cut; as meat; into; must go surrenders pledge that (t-note) to wishes; (t-note) servant in charge of the pantry; (see note) told tables (t-note) after that lowly cleared his place cross; (see note) (i.e., in battle); (see note) foreign known among knights went amount Before; aware supper; prepared we all lodging with good intentions dinner forgotten prepared himself; (t-note) rode rear through it no one; (see note) But he was yet to have a hard time of it [because] of thought; been; (t-note) secret secret; knew; (t-note) Regarding Even then; close to surrounded; every betrayal spreads like wildfire; (see note) distrust known [it] (t-note) would not; there by himself Force; splendor servant What had happened to that squire Except that From among (see note) surrounded by; (see note) (see note) alone (see note) unless; get up by lovely put on creature; (see note) arrangement was alive promised are courting me Go; (see note) reward secretly marry [too] soon have you killed (see note) ever so deeply lost for my hand from my family favor on my word brave; courageous success [to] my father so dear will you be; (t-note) offer you my hand; (t-note) not not Before; have grown whatsoever gladly [I] who reputation humble descent In the following way the good fortune once; (see note) (see note) then upset discord; (see note) (t-note) truly accomplished Under May such fortune castle waver not a bit together nearer glittering armed men lined them up had prepared himself unreservedly thought; (see note) struck down; alone bitterly (see note) by force of arms; seized off put hid mutilated who he was fearless; strong; (see note) completed; assault secretly; sneaked Under guard injury whole certainly got it into your head obstruct you [in this] courageous lain warnings; been too dearly in accordance with Christian practice impregnated; aromatic spices pure wax; dry cumin; (t-note) [coffin of] maple (t-note) ingenious devices In front of it go hear (see note) fair beautiful (see note) complexion red arched wore diadem very resplendent circlets manifold reputation Thank you, father, as I may prosper detail secret go; (see note) litter red (t-note) adorned; (see note) knobs [of the litter] high quality fine cloth; ermine Small horses; swift Caparisoned; (see note) psaltery entertainment white Spanish and sweet wine spiced cordial; Italian white wine; (t-note) from Greece; (see note) Cretan wine; raspis (red wine) wine from Antioch; sweet Spanish wine Wine with honey; wine from Granada muscatel claret; wine from La Rochelle red; to help digest Alsatian wine roasted birds leash (i.e., three); run; (t-note) and the like place; (see note) distress; from hunting horns; blown beagles; (t-note) 140 hounds; recall; (see note) hawking falcon (a kind of hawk); merlin Sixty cloaks adorned altar cloths; glossy silk fabric cyclas (see note) censers Ornamented; (see note) choir; lack contrapuntal singing; descant; (see note) garden tapestries; hung; (see note) about parrots decorated; jewelry red; (see note) disposal to thornbush tunes; evening; morning all told at skittles; paths cooled; (see note) distress ponds you will [go] wood right there clarion foam (i.e., sea); (see note) manor; before tower; (see note) dromonds (large ships); (see note) carracks (galleons) galleys oars; stem in a canon ginger; (see note) (see note) burning pleasure bed hangings adorned; lilies brocaded silk cloth; folds; (t-note) bedpost finials jewelled canopy; head (of bed); (t-note) coverings; furs of ermine Ornamented; appearance fustian; (see note) Rennes pillow cover; jewelry adorned pleasantly; (see note) aromatic gum come [to you] as I may prosper But; are not to my liking swoon sorely there secretly took secret; reveal wish; act counter to here and there soon knew [it]; the two of them immediately At the time; set down property deeds of prowess withstand him; (t-note) went honor; took traveled intended; then sepulcher (of Christ) asked him to do considered What (see note) rode covenant told about news gave him a royal welcome know; retinue remain quietly know; (see note) complaint secret known would be undoubtedly Not at all; (see note) grieve; lament be separated time and again fine dust indeed In order that manors too jewels money (see note) anchoress I am still; (see note) share [it] with me while pennies suddenly her revoke married Certainly gladden darling (t-note) think closed up Because; contrived secret (t-note) would; lain promised; property suitable regalia brave; courageous catch indeed (see note) at once; asked; to go at that point; would get; favor; (see note) together; (t-note) closer straightaway dagger; (t-note) crowd hour; (t-note) (see note) eager; persistent (the steward's) followers cut up all together Just as if; been seized took off In order that; knew; who Languishing (decaying); (see note) also put give up Stop it; cannot I have been greatly wronged enemy If went took returned Alive marry (t-note) in good condition; (t-note) more cittern; psaltery fiddle, rebec; bells bombard (bass shawm) citole flageolet; dulcimer sweet-sounding; harmonies with all the lords revelling when pleasure separate (t-note) nor; (t-note) Unless prosper happy time Amidst the music here and there advise his knights festivities carried out; order (see note) power announcement entertainment; amusement got married held afterwards; common people called; (see note) right; middle paid (t-note) as far; traveled
	Thus endeth undo your doore, otherwise called the squyer of lowe degré. Imprented at London, by me Wyllyam Copland.