Caxton's Blanchardyn and Eglantine, c. 1489 : from Lord Spencer's unique imperfect copy, completed by the original French and the second English version of 1595

The thirde chapitre

[[sign. A ij.]]

¶ The thirde chapitre conteyneth how blanchardyn departed wythout the knowlege of his fadre, the kynge of fryse, and bare awaye wyth hym his goode swerde, and toke his goode courser / And of the sorowe that the kynge and the quene made for his departynge /[Caxton ed. c. 1489]

Blanchardyn, after the departynge that he made from his mayster, cam in to his chambre al alone.

And there al his thoughtes he concluded in one, for to fynde the manere and facyon for to departe out of his faders hous, the kynge [his faders hous, the kynge = lostel du roy son pere] /

¶ And it is not to be doubted / but or euere he myght come to the chyeff of his enterpryse, for to make his departynge, that his mynde was full sore troubled wyth al, bycause of the dyuerse and many conclusyons that his fantasyouse wylle dyde present by fore hym / Neuerthelesse, all rewthis [regretz] layde a departe, aswell for his fader as for his modre, kynrede & fryndes, as other Infynyte thynges that are wont to tarye þe corages of some enterpryses / concluded by hym self his departynge, wythout shewyng tyl ony body, & dyde so moche by his subtyll engyne that he gate a ryght goode & riche swerde, [Alimodes fut desconfit prins et mene prisonnier en la cite et des nopces et couronnement de sadoine et de la belle beatrix] that longed vnto the kynge his fadre, whiche afterward was to hym wel syttynge [bien séant] / whan he sawe hym self thus garnyssed therwyth, he was ful glad / Thenne went he all fayre & softe doune fro the paleys, euyn about the oure of mydnight: the mone shone bright & faire. Blanchardyn toward þe stables tourned his waye / where he fonde, standing aparte, the best courser of þe kinge his

fader, whiche was þe fairest & the best that coude haue ben founde in ony countrey at that tyme. So that for the fyersnes of the sayd courser, he was kept in a litil stable by him self, nere ynoughe the grete stables / The Iouencel blanchardyn, Ioyful & gladde, cam & entred in to þe stable, & sette the sadell & the brydell to the riche and myghty courser, vpon whiche right quykly he mounted; & smyting wyth the sporys, went his waye anone, to thende that he shulde not be herde nor aspyed of noo man. So rode he all that nyght, that was to hym of auauntage, for cause of be mone that spredde her bemes abrode, wythout that ony body coude telle ony tydynges where he was becomen [Wanting in the French.] expand_less / Thus as ye here, the Iouencel blanchardyn all alone, wythout companye, departed from the kynge his fader / the whiche god wyl kepe & guide / so shal we leue him drawing on his waye, & shal retourne to helpe the sorowful kynge & quene for to complayne & wepe for thabsence of theyre dere sone Blanchardyn.

[[leaf A 4]]

Chap. 3.
The deuices of Blanchardine after he had left his conference with his Maſter, & of his departure from his Fathers Court, without the priuitie of any. [1595 edition]

Blanchardine, beeing come into his Chamber, penſiue and ſad that he had not atchiued any enterprize, neither as yet had lerned to beare armes, by reaſon of the tender care his Parents had ouer him, concluded with himſelf the meanes of

his departure, and couertly practiſed with himſelf ſome ſecret way for his eſcape, leaſt that the priuitie thereof beeing once diſcouered, hee ſhould be preuented of his purpoſe.

In theſe perplexities and ſolitarye deuices hee ſpent great parte of his time, ſur-channged with exceeding anguiſhe of minde, for his aduenterous flight; and fearing leaſt pouertie might breed daunger, he purueyed him ſelf of a moſt rich & truſty ſword, belonging to the King his ſather, which when he had faſtned to his ſide, hee tooke more courage then before; then, pricked forward with the ſpurre of honor and armes, he foorthwith left his Parents and people ſurprized with ſound ſleepe, and about the houre of one of the clock in the morning, came to ye ſtable, where ſtood many gallant & ſeruiceable horſes; but amongſt all other, [leaf A 4, back] hee choſe the courſer his father tooke

greateſt pleaſure in, whome incontinently hee ſadled and furniſhed with a moſte ſumptious caparizon; whome, when he had made ready (as he imagined), hee led ſoftly out of the ſtable, the Groomes, by reaſon of their heauie ſleepe, hearing no noyes at all.

Thus finding him ſelfe free, and vnſeene of any, hee incontinently mounted his horſſe; and, beeing mounted on his back, he poſted away with all celeritie. But leauing Blanchardine on his iourney, that way which fortune led him, I wil make mention what pittiful complaintes were made in the Court after his departure, for his abſence.