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 liiij and last chapter

¶ The liiij and last chapter conteyneth how blanchardyn wedded his loue, the proude pucell in amours, And of the grete Ioye that was made there / and of þe kynge of fryse deth. [and of þe kynge of fryse deth. = et de la mort de subien.]

After that the batayll was fynysshed, and that the folke of Subyon were all ded and taken, the proude pucelle in amours cam doun from the toure / where she & the countes of Castelforde were mounted for to see the batayll / and cam to the castel gate for to welcome blanchardyn and sadoyn. whan they were com there / they fonde the erle of Castelforde, [Lord Spencer's copy of Caxton ends here. The text following is supplied from the 1595 edition of the romance.] [which

(euen then) was come to the Castell with many prisoners and rich booties of the rebels, she demaunded where Blanchardine and Sadony were. 'Madam,' answered the old Earle, 'it is not long since they were both heere in our companie, and we supposed that they had bene alreadie entered the Castell before our comming.' When the faire Queene perceiued that no tidings could be heard of them, fearing some mischaunce, she fell into a sounde, wherin she continued the space of an houre and more; but being recouered, she began most pitteously to weepe and exclaime against fortune: the old Earle and the Countesse recomforted her as well as they could, but nothing could sort to her content. then they laid her on a sumptious bed, hoping by sleepe to make her forget sorowe; but neither sleepe nor quiet could harber in her head, fearing least Blanchardine were

slaine. now Blanchardine and Sadony, hauing slaine the murtherers and fettred Subbion, they mounted vpon their horses, and tied Sub- [sign. I 2] bion with cordes fast to the back of an other horse which they found there; and by the light of the Moone, tooke their way to Castelford, which was distance thence foure miles; Sadony leading the way, Subbion in the middest, and Blanchardine the hindmost. They posted so fast, that within short time they came before the gate of the Castell, where they allighted from their horses; then knocking at the gates, they were presently knowne, and with all speed let in, leading Subbion betweene them. the newes being brought to y^e Queene, her melancholy was turned to mirth, her sorrow to sollace, and her weeping to laughter. Blanchardine commaunded that Subbion should be imprisoned in the most obscure dungion within the Castell, and that himselfe would become his Iaylor. After which he assended vp into the Queenes chamber, whom he found new risen, raised by this happy news, at whose entrance her spirits began to be

recomforted. and after many kisses and sweet imbracements they sate downe, and spent the night in discoursing of their aduentures past.

But when the day began to peepe, they tooke their horses and rode to Tormaday, against whome (in all kind manner) came the aged king of Frize, who for a while had rested himself there, accompanied with all the noble Knights and Burgises of Tormaday: the walles were hanged with tapestry, the streets were strewed with rushes and sweet smelling roses, to gratulate their comming; the matrons compiling garlands of sundry flowers, the Ladyes dauncing, the damsels singing, the musicke sounding a sweet concordance to their entrie. Thus in tryumph they assended the princely pallace, most sumpteously adorned with rich cloth of golde, embost with pearle and stone, where, by the whole aduice and generall consent of all, they were affiaunced.

The neighboring Princes, which long had bent their deuotions to the sweet Saint which kept her shrine in Tormaday (I meane the faire and chast Lady Eglantine, surnamed the proude Lady in loue), hauing receiued notice by their espialls, which kept continuall residence within the Citty of Tormaday, to certifie the newes which happened there, to their Princes and Counsels, hearing (I say) that this Queene, whose obstinacie a- [sign. I 2, back] [Kellner inserted a note marker here without a note; presumably, he intended to insert the missing milestone which we have provided.] gainst Cupid was incomparable, and peeuish conceit in loue most absurd, had nowe entred the chapter house of his mother Venus, being limed in the bush of Blanchardines beauty, whose large commendations and magnanimious corage was caryed by the swift winges of flying fame throughout many Realmes and prouinces, the like before was sildome or neuer heard. These kings (I say) whose fancies before that time had receiued the perfect impression of loue in the Angellike beautie of that Princely Queene, whose amber lockes trust vp in golden trammels, was a sufficient addamant to draw all Iron hearts vnto her, now seeing all hope of her recouerie past, and their desires frustrate, with franke and friendly consent, not only come to visit and veiw Blanchardine, but also brought such honorable presentes and Kingly Iuels to welcome him to Tormaday, and to congratulate the happie mariage betweene him and the faire Princesse Eglantine, as their Countries and kingdomes did afford. Some presented him with stately coursers and Iennets of seruice, some with ships of huge and mightie burthen, some with Pearles and Iuels of inestimable valure. And to be short, euery one, though at first his foe and vtter enemie, yet in time veiwing his maiesticall and princely corage, became his true and faithful freends, esteeming him worthy of greater honor than either their personages, presents, or the obtaining of the beautifull Queene of Tormaday could afford.

And on the next morning, the beautifull Queene was royally led to and from the Church (where she was espoused to Blanchardine) by two Kings, Sadony and the king of Frize: and the same day crowned King and Queene of Tormaday, to the exceeding comfort of all their subiectes and friendes. After their returne from the Church to the Court, they were feasted with all possible cheere that could bee deuised: and after dinner the Trumpets sounded to the Iustes and tiltings vntill supper. And after supper, maskes, playes, and Princely deuises, spent the time till they went to bed.

On the morrow the feast began a-fresh, and continued for the space of twentie daies. After all which

arroyalties were finysh- [sign. I 3] ed by the commandement of Blanchardine, was Subyon and all his accomplices brought to execution. now the neues being caried with the swift wings of fame into Frizeland, the Lords of Frize repaired to Tormaday, to accompany home their aged King, and to congratulate this happy marriage of Blanchardine and his new Queene.

After the aged King of Frize, Father to Blanchardine, had seene the espousalls of this beautifull Queene and his noble Sonne; being decrepit & stiffe with age, hauing liued to fourscore and vpward, vnto whome, although his late enlargement from captiuitie, and this new-come ioy of his deere sonne Blanchardine, being now married to the beautifull Queene of Tormaday, bred delight; Yet through debillitie of nature, which was sore infeebled by his hard imprisonment, he was surprised with an vncoth malladie and extreame contagion of dangerous sicknes; in the which he had not long remained, but in the view of all, life began to vade, and death opproche. And more to hasten on deathes speedy pace to this sencles olde man, the nobles of Frizeland, hauing receiued sure and certaine inteligence from Tormaday of the life and freedome of their King at that time there, and the princely mariage which now was fully concluded betweene his successiue heire, their naturall leige Blanchardine, with the renouned Lady and Queene of Tormaday, they came thither; at whose approche, this fainting olde man, hoping to receiue glad tidings from his aged wife the Queene of Frize, began with cheerefull countenance to lift himselfe vp in his bed, as though no kinde of

deadly malladie or aged griefe had attainted his withered limbes. But when he had a while listened to the sweet harmonie of their sugred speach, which presaged no kind of disaster, but all pleasure and sollace that might be, at the length he demaunded of the welfare of the aged Queene his wife; vnto whome, reply being made, that long time since, vpon the vnfortunate report and tragicall tidings of his captiuitie by Darius, sonne to the Pagan king Alimodes, shee fell sicke and died; hee, listening to this impittious tale, fell as one distraught into a sound. But comming to himselfe, powred forth these speeches, [sign. I 3, back] the true testimonies of his faithfull loue: 'and is she gon, the comfort of my youth, the staffe of my age, the day of my night, the sonshine of my blisse, the sollace of my soule, and the life of my death? Ah! to to well I suspected (though alas I knew not the certentie) that my captiuitie would bring her callamity, and my imprisonment her death. But since all humane flesh is mortall, and nothing vnder the Sunne permanent, what auailes my sorowful grones and passions? to weake, alas, to recall her againe, or any way to remedie my misfortune!' with these or the like exclaimes, this silly aged King, panting betweene life and death, lay still a while, till finding his heart ouer charged with an other passion, he prosecuted his first complaint: 'O sacred Ioue, searcher of all secret thoughts, whose eternall dietie raigneth within the highest heauens, who from my cradle hast destined me to perpetuall miserie, now shew thy self a righteous iudge, and reuenge my wronges

vppon the accursed broode of infidels, who so irreligiously prophane thy blessed name, & suffer them not to escape thy reuenging powre, but at thy pleasure consume and confound the workers of this my woe! and now dissolue my daies and weary life, & leade me through th' unknowne passages to my deere and sweetest wife, that though our daies on earth did finde small comfort, yet our soules in heauen may finde consolation.' And with this orizon he yeilded himself to God, and died. When the brute of this heauie tidinges came to the eares of Blanchardine and his faire Queene, although they swume before in the hauen of happines, and floted on the floodes of al felicitie (as they thought), yet in that very instant and moment of time, a cloudie mist began to obscure their brightest sonshine, and a frost of cares to ouer runne their summers blisse.

Now began Blanchardine to accuse and condemne himselfe of vnnaturall ingratitude and disobedience to his parentes, to whome both nature and dutie bound him to bee submissiue and kind; now he began to maligne the time, the place, and the cause of his departure and priuie escape from his fathers Court. But all in vaine, for as teares, praiers, nor vowes can recall the dead: so had I wist, and time abused and mispent, is in vaine to [sign. I 4] be desired. 'And yet (quoth he) how vnnaturall was I to forsake them whome nature charged me to loue and obey! now I may iustlie accuse my self of the murther of these my louing parents: alas! I cannot excuse my selfe, neither can I plead ignoraunce that I knew not that my departure would be the finishing of my parentes ioyes, and cause of their death, which now (to my open shame) I finde most true. And should I, nay, could I, suffer my selfe to be led and carried away with such vaine fantasies, as leaue them

comfortles to whome I was the greatest comfort. Die, Blanchardine, die! and the rather die, that art the cause of thy parents death: alas! to kill a man is hainous murder; but to murder my parentes, a sinne against Sanctitie: all creatures haue care to foster those that gaue them life; and I, careles in killing my father. The Storke, when he seeth his sire olde & redy to die with famine, taketh him vpon his shoulders, and feedeth him by his trauaile: But I, insteede of feeding, haue famisht, and in place of trauelling, haue traiterously ouerthrowne my parents.'

The Lordes of Tormaday, seeing this soddaine and vnexpected chaunce of the death of the aged King, & the heauie plight of Blanchardine and his beautifull Quéene, humbly on their knees began to expostulate him in this manner: 'Noble prince! as the salue commeth to late, where the sore is irrecuperable; as phisicke is naught worth where the pacient is passing; and as fire giuen to the ordinance, tis to late to recall the shot; So, mightie King, booteles are these teares which are shed for the dead. the honor of your father hath eterniz'd his name for euer, though his body be here interred; and if fame be the marke whereat all noble mindes do shoote, then may you boast that he cannot die whose fame is so ferre spred throughout the world. Leaue therefore (braue King) to bewaile him whome you haue cause to ioy for, and comfort our pensiue Queene and your faire spouse, whose torments cannot cease, seeing you so sad.' As one newly risen from a traunce, or out of a heauy slumber, so Blanchardine, hauing listened to this short and sweete discourse of his nobles, began to recall his sences home, which before were wandring after the Ghost of his father, through

the Elizian feeldes, and [sign. I 4, back] perceiuing sorrow to be both needlesse and bootlesse, so well as the time and this hard occasion would permit, he began to be more cheereful; and so pacing toward the Queene with a simpering smile, neither presaging mirth nor mourning, he began to recomfort her: 'How now, faire loue? what, are your melancholies such as nothing can make you merrie? sweete hart, be pacified, and shake of these vntimelye passions, and learne by me to disgest the hard and harsh pilles of vnhappie fortune. The cause is mine; and if sorrow be expected in any, it is I that must be sorrowful; but I haue found it both hurtfull to my body and [not] auailable [? unavailable] to the dead, and therefore haue shaken it of as a thing of no regarde. Let vs not therefore (sweete wife) be the cause of a mournfull courte, but the authors of merry company, since it hath pleased God to sorte our haps to our harts contentments in our happy wedding.' The Queene, whose sadnes grew by reason of her husbands heauinesse, seeing him to haue so quickly dismissed his heauy passions, became presentlye iocond & merry; & so betweene them commaunded great preparation to be forthwith made, to performe the obsequies of the deceased King of Freeze, his Father; which shortly, with all solemnitie fitting his estate, was accomplished, to the great admiration of all beholders, for the sumptuous magnificencie and surpassing pompe wherwith he was interred; all costly odors and sweet senting spices were bountifully bestowed

vpon him; great almes and charity were dealt and distributed; and innumerable sollemne processions & praiers were made for him, in honor of his person dead, and loue of his Sonne liuing.

Now Sadonie, who was not only a beholder, but a principall actor in all this heauy tragedie, after these obsequies were solemnized, and that the estate of his sworne freend Blanchardine and his faire Queene rested in perfect quiet, voyde and free both of forraine and domesticall enimies, bethinking himselfe of his beautifull Beautrix, his trusty Regent of Cassidony (hee, I say) whome loue had stonge to the quicke by his late marriage, comming to Blanchardine, began thus: 'Since, Noble freend, and true copartner of all mishaps, that fortune hath spit her deadly spight, [sign. K 1] and that now there remaineth no more seruice for me to doe in defence of your royall person, your Realme and Queene; and that my princely Queene languisheth at home, by reason of my long absence, whose princely person is the true Idea of my thought; let me craue fauor to depart, vntill occasion or your freendly letters call me hether againe, where and when I will not faile, so long as life shall rest within me, to do you all possible fauor and kindnes.' Blanchardine (imagining by himselfe) that the Sting of loue was a sufficient pricke to call Sadony home, and that he should greatly iniury him & his faire Beautrix, in withholding them a sunder; not onely gaue his consent for his departure, but with all honor accompanied him to his ships, with his Princely Eglantine, where, not without millions of teares and many kind imbracements, they parted companie.

Thus with pleasant gale and quiet tide, Neptune

guiding the healme, sayled Sadony and his warlike companie towardes the Realme of Cassidony, where his princely Queene, the beautifull Beautrix, held her Royall court, but heauy and mournfull for the absence of her Lorde and husband Sadony; for wrathfull Nemisis, enuying of her good hap, and willing to heape greater woes vpon the Queene, then before shee suspected, altered her hoped blisse into a deadly bane. For when the calme silence of the night procured quiet to all liuing creatures, and that Hesperus, the harbenger of Cinthia, had giuen charge to call the inferior stars with twinkling light to illumine the earth; Eolus on the sodaine began to roare, and with outragious stormes and cruell blastes to bannish againe the starrs from the firmament, & in their places to spred his dusky clouds, so that instead of light there was obscuritie, with huge and horible crakes of thuunder: By force whereof, the wandering Prince Sadony and his amazed company were, from a sodaine hope of happy arriuall, driuen into a dismall feare of drowning: then began the pittifull clamor of the people, seeing euery waue ready to swallow up the ship wherein they were caried, the foggy mist to thicken with cloudy vapors, that vnneth could the saylors see to doe their labours. Sadony (whose corage no fortune was able to daunt) ha- [sign. K 1, back] uing his assured hope in the God whome Blanchardine made him to know, seeing his company to faint and in dispaire, began to exhort and comfort them in this sort:

'Trustie companion[s] and copartners of mishap, since it hath pleased the maiestie of the eternall God to terrifie with his thunderclaps our feeble hearts, and that all hope of safetie is vtterly denied; let vs with one consent humble our selues before his mercy seat; and no doubt, as in many other our calamities, so in this our desperate distress, he will with the eyes of pitty looke downe vpon our penitencie, and by his

omnipotency appease the rage of these troubled seas, which threateneth imminent death and destruction. Frollike, deere friends! and the God of Blanchardine defend us!' The company seeing Sadonie so coragious and full of haughtie valor, inciting them to call vpon the God of Blanchardine, euery one casting away his dastard feare, eleuating their hearts and hands to heauen, made their orizons thus: 'Imortall Iehoua, guider of this glorious roume! although our dim-sighted eies haue been long couered with the obscure vaile of ignorance, & haue abandoned our hearts from thy sacred law, yet since it hath pleased thee to make thy name and glorie knowne among vs, suffer vs not to miscarie, vntill wee haue yeelded thee all conding and heauenly honor, so that from our lips thy praise may flow, and in our hearts thy diety take roote!' No sooner was this short & zealous praier finished, but horned Luna began to shew her head, the cloudes to vanish, the windes to cease, and the sea to calme, which yeelded such fuell to their faith, that for euer they acknowledged the omnipotence of Blanchardines God, and left the same to their posterities. Then the skilfull Pilots, whose wandring course was past their compasse, looking to the skyes, were directed a true passage by a christall starre, so that within short time they reacht the shore of Cassidony, where the beautifull Beautrix, with her Lordly Peeres and Princely Ladies, awaited their landing. When Sadony was

now escaped the danger of the sea, and safely come a shore, after humble thankes to God, he seazing vpon the rosiall lips of his royall Queene, in whose countenance snow and blood made such a mixture, that in [sign. K 2] the opinion of all, if nature should deuise to frame her paragon she might fayle in perfection. But after many kinde curtesies and amiable imbracements betweene Sadony and his Beautrix, and the Lordes and Ladies, where euery one stroue with kindnes to welcome home her loue, they repaired to the court, where, for that night, the King and his Queene spent the time in content, and al the rest congratulated their happy meetings. On the morrow, when glorious Phœbus began to cut the cloudes, and drewe the darknes from the earth, every one prepared himselfe to be ready to attend the princes pleasure.

After Sadony had royally presented himselfe to the veiw of all, giuing a princely boniure to the Lordes and nobles, he commaunded that the soldiers, whose trauels had beene great, should repaire to his presence, to receiue a recompence for their paines; which bountie did so combine the trustie minds of all vnto him, that base was he accompted, that would refuse to hazard his life where and when it pleased Sadony to commaund. Then were the lawes, which in his absence the Quéene and Counsell had deuised, presented to him to ratifie, which he with all princely magnificencie did forthwith establish, to the great admiration and singuler content of all his subiectes and people. Now tatling swiftwinged fame, the speedy messenger of happie newes, ceased not vntil these tidinges were brought to the eares of the King of Spruse at the cittie Marienbourgh (then in his profound and deep meditations for his sonne Sadony), and his departed companion. But when he heard of the hard aduentures which his sonne had escaped by sea, his deliuerie from death on land,

and his most happy marriage with the beautifull Beautrix, banishing feare (whose cankering rust had almost consumed his pleasure) hee, with all his nobles and people, offered burnt sacrifices to their Mahon for this happie tidings. Yet not content nor satisfied in minde, he rigged certaine ships, wherein he and diuers of his Lordes embarqued themselues, longing to visite his son at Cassidonie; and led by this sweete desire, after they had sayled the space of one weeke, they came ashore within those territories. But when newes was brought to Sadony that certaine [sign. K 2, back] Pagans were arriued, and craued to bee admitted his princely presence: Ignorant altogether what or whence they shoulde be: seating himselfe in his Royall throne, accompanied with his faire Queene and chiefe peeres, hee commaunded them to bee brought to his presence, vpon whose approche, Sadony knowing his father by the maiestie of his countenaunce, desended from his seate, humbling himselfe on his knées at his fathers feete. The faire Beautrix vnwitting who he might be, to whome Sadony should shewe such reuerence, stood in a maze. But after she knew him to be father to Sadony, with a most gracious and amiable cheere came to entertaine him; to whome the King of Spruse rendred millions of thankes, both for the life and marriage of his sonne, without whose rescue hee had bin traiterously murdred, and hanged by Alimodes. But the faire Quéene answered, that both her life, liuing, and people rested in the safetie of Sadony, 'without whome (quoth shee) neythir may I, nor my kingdome, continue.' Now when the King of Spruse had listened to her zealous and sugred tale, fixing a stedfast countenaunce on her face, he seemed as one rauished in contemplation, admiring the beauty and bounty of the Queene. But Sadony, thinking his father (after his ariual from sea) to be desirous to repose himself, led him with all maiestie

into a most princely lodging; where after his repast, he went to bed. the other Lords of his troope, and all their followers, were so honorably entertained there, that the commendation of Sadonies bountie was bruted euery where. Now on the next morning, when (according to custome) Sadony and his faire Queene repaired to the Church to heare deuine seruice, the King of Spruse not suspecting that his Sonne Sadony had altered his religion from his Mahomet; after the Priestes had begun to sing a sollemne procession in the honor of Christ, he, as a man distraught in sence, and ouercome with madding frenzy, ran vp and downe cursing and exclaiming against his sonne, so that neither perswasions, teares, vowes, nor praiers, might once appease his franticke rage; till retiring himself all sollitary into his chamber, tormented with passions & agonies, at length he fell a sleep; to whome, a little after, entred diuers of the Lordes [sign. K 3] which accompanied Sadonie from Marienbrough with Blanchardine, and perswaded the King that the idolatrous Mahomet was a false deceauer, and of no diety, which by sundry and wonderfull miracles, they had founde Christ to be the true Messias and sonne of God; and, therefore, with all humilitie, ioyntly on their knees, they entreated his maiestie to leaue his superstitious worshipping of blockish Mahomet, and with all deuotion to acknowledge Christ to be the true God. And euen at that very instant the stony heart of this Pagan King was mollified, who forsaking his idolatrie, became a christian. This happie newes so delighted his sonne, that vnder heauen nothing could make him more content. Then laboured Sadony and his faire Queene, with all royaltie, to welcome their father and his followers, where their entertainment was exceeding measure, both for magnificencie and cost. So past the time a moneth or more of their abode in iollity,

vntill the King, desirous to returne to Marienbourgh, requested leaue of Sadony for his departure: who seeing the tickle state of his fathers kingdome, in his absence, wanting a gouernour there, was the more willing; and so, all possible prouision being made, with princely bounty bestowed by Sadony and his Beautrix vpon the Lords of Spruse, they accompanied the King to his ships. And after humble dutie done by Sadony to his father, and kinde curtesie to the rest, he recommended them to the mercy of Blanchardines God.

Thus, Gentlemen, to satisfie your expectations, & performe my promise, I find you the second part of Blanchardines aduentures, whose succes (if I finde as fortunate as his first) looke shortly, so soone as time and leasure will serue, for the finishing of all his Tragidies.

FINIS.

Comment Blanchandin espousa s'amie lorguilleuse damours, et de la grande Ioye qui y fut faite, et de la mort de subion.MS. Bibl. Nat. 24,371

Apres ce que la bataille fut finie, et que les gens subion furent tous mors et prins, lorguilleuse damours descendy de la tour ou elle et la comtesse de chasteaufort estoyent montees, et vindrent a la porte du chasteau, pour estre audeuant de blanchandin et sadoine.

¶ Quant la furent venues, elles trouverent le conte de chasteaufort et les autres barons, qui grand foyson de prisonniers amenoyent avec eulx, por Iceulx bouter en la place.

Alors lorguilleuse damours, veant que son ami blanchandin nestoit point venu, elle appella le conte, et luy demanda ou estoyent blanchandin et sadoine

¶ 'Madame,' ce dit le conte, 'nagaires que sy estoyent avec nous, si ne scay quelle part Ilz soyent tournez. Car bien cuidoit que ceans fussent entrez vers vous.'

¶ Quant la noble damoiselle oy le conte et le preuost qui la estoit, qui nouuelles ne sauoyent des Barons De si hault quelle estoit chez parterre en jettant vng moult hault et piteulx cry. Donc eulx qui la furent prins eurent moult grant douleur. Car tous cuiderent que mort fust ce ce que que en elle ne sentoyent ne poulx nalaine

¶ Pitoiable chose estoit de voir la gente contesse et les autres gens que la estoyent / Mais tost apres lorguilleuse damours reuint a elle en Iettant vng parfont sauspir; puis trespiteusement se prinst a complaindre en regretter son leal amy blanchandin Ia nauoit si dur cuor dhomme ne de femme que delle neust pitie

¶ Le bon conte et la bonne contesse la reconforterent au mieulx quilz pourent, Mais ce riens ne valoit, car de plus en plus commencoit a renforchier son dueil / Ilz lamenerent en vne chambre; quant la fust venue, on la mist sur vne couche por lui reposer

¶ La comtesse et les dames furent autours delles doulantes et explourees de ce que nullement ne la peurent rapaisier, Car point ne cessoit de faire les plus piteulx et angoisseuses plaintes De jamais pour son leal ami que cuidoit avoir perdu

¶ Mais gaires narresta

que ses plaints lui seront retournes en Ioye, comme sy apres pourrez oyr

¶ Blanchandin et sadoine, qui en la maison des larons estoyent, ou Ilz trouverent subion dedens vne chambre ou Il estoit muchie mais ce Riens ne lui prouffita Car quant les deux vassaulx le veyrent la Ioye quilz en eurent fut moult grande / Ilz le prindrent et le saisirent et lui lierent piez et mains / puis le monterent sur vng fort cheual que leans trouverent

¶ Apres saillirent hors de la place / sy en tirerent leurs destriers, sur lesquelz Ilz monterent, et se mirent a chemin vers chasteaufort, qui a deux lieues de la estoit

¶ Sadoine aloit deuant, et subion apres, Et blanchandin le approuchoit derriere ensuiant. La luna luisoit belle et clerre / tant cheuau cherent que en peu despace furent deuant la port de chasteaufort, qui Ia estoit fermee. Ils commencherent a huchier, en eulx faisant recongnoistre

¶ Quant leur venue fut sceue, de toutes pars y venoyent courrant pour luy faire ouuerture; & si tost que dedens furent entrez, Ils descendirent au peront deuant la salle. Subion fut mis en vne chartre moult obscure, sans ce que oncques depuis leure que Il auoit este prins, Car bien sauoit que a mort estoit Iugie / Apres ce que les deux Barons furent leans entrez, leur venue fut noncee a lorguilleuse damours, qui moult en eut grant Ioye, comme assez pouez scauoir.

Tantost lui furent muez tous ses pleurs et regretz en parfecte Ioye et leesse. Elle se leua en grant haste; mais ja si tost ne sceut estre leuee que blanchandin et sadoine ne fussent venus vers elle, dont la Ioye fut Redoublee / Car deuant tous, elle baisa et embracha son amy / Moult se deuiserent ensamble de plusieurs choses, La Ioye, la recueillote, et la grant amour que fist blanchandin au bon conte de chasteaufort, au preuost, et au chevalier du gue, auec les Remerciemens deulx, seroient trop longues, si reciter les vouloie. Mais pour cause de briefte, men passe. Ils passerent la nuit

¶ Puis, quant ce vint le matin, Ils sappresterent et monterent a cheual, en tenant leur chemin vers tourmaday, ou desia leur venue fut sceue. Le bon Roy de frize, pere de blanchandin, et tous ceulx de la ville, vindrent au deuant, ensemble tous les colleges de la cite, a crois et confanons pour receuoir leur dame et blanchandin qui leur seigneur deuoit estre.

¶ Moult grand Ioye et grant feste se firent quant ce vint a lassambler

¶ La ville fut toute tenndue et encourtinee et Ionchie derbe verde, par les rues, dames et damoiselles bourgois et pucelles estoient aux fenestres, chantans et demenans Ioye

¶ La estoyent plusieurs et diuers Instrumens qui Iettoyent melodieux sons. Ils cheuaucherent Iusques au palais, ou tous descendirent

¶ Moult grant Ioye y fut demenee

¶ Apres que tous furent rasserisiez par le conseil des princes et pareillemens de tous ceulx du Royaulme, blanchandin fianca la

belle lorguilleuse damours / Puis quant ce vint a lendemain matin, lorguilleuse damours fut menee au moustier a destree de deux Roys

¶ Cest assauoir, du Roy de frize et du Roy sadoine / Et par leuesque de la cite furent espousez les deux amans, et furent couronnez comme Roy et Royne du Royaulme de tourmaday. Moult grande et noble fut loffrande

¶ Apres ce que messe fut faicte, Ilz retournerent au palays ou les tables furent dreschees

¶ Leaue fut coruee si sasseirent au mengier: de leur metz ne entremetz ne vous fay long compte, car moult richement furent seruis de tou ce que corps dhomme onpouoit aaisier

¶ Des habillemens et atours dont lespoux et espousee furent parez ou vestuz, ne vous vueil tenir compte

¶ Mais bien vous ose dire que oncques puis ceneans parauant ne auoit ou veu ne sceu plus riches atours ne habillemens que sur les deux amans estoyent; car tous deux estoyent tant beaulx que dieu et nature ny eust sceu que amendir

¶ Puis apres ce quilz orent disne, Ioustes tournois commencerent, danses et esbatemens / Puis apres, quant temps et heure fut de soupper, Ilz sassirent au mengier / Se au disner avoyent este bien servis, aussi le furent au soupper

¶ Quant le soupper fut fait et acheue, et que tous temps fut de eulx retraire, Les deux amans furent menez en vne chambre, ou Ils se coucherent ensamble, et engendrerent celle nuyt vng filz qui en son temps ot nom Rambault le frison

¶ Le quel fist et acheua pluseurs et haultes prouesses, et morut en la trespitouse bataille de Ramcheuaulx, auec Roland et oliuire, qui plus de luy vouldra sauoir, regarde en son histore, qui de luy fait mention, et retournerous a notre matiere

¶ Quant ce vint a lendemain, tous se leuerent par le palais, et recommenca la feste qui dura vng Iours entiers

¶ Apres que la solempnite et feste des nopces

furent passees par le commandement du Roy blanchandin, Subion, et tous ses complices furent mis a mort

¶ Assez tost apres les barons du Royaulme de frize, arriuerent a tourmaday pour veoir le Roy leur seigneur, et le Roy blanchandin son filz, dont la Ioye fut renforcee.

Mais quant le bon Roy sceut et fut bien aduerti que de ce monde transitoire esto(it) la Royne sa femme Hors, moult grant dueil en fut a demener. Et aussi fist le Roy blanchandin, qui moult en fut doulant et criste. Mais si grant dueil nest que en la fin ne conuiengne passer. Ia soit et que le bon Roy de frize pour quelque reconfort que on lui sceust faire, Il ne delaissa son dueil; et tant que du grant courroux

quil en eut, Il coucha malade, dont Il morut

¶ Le Roy blanchandin

son filz fut en tresamert desplaisance, et aussi fut la Royne sa femme, qui moult lamoit. Il fut porte en terre, et son seruice et obseques

faictes, comme a vng tel Roy appartint. Apres tous les meschiefz et Infortunes de blanchandin et de sa dame comme Roy et Royne, rempliz et aournes de toutes bonnes vertus, vesquirent le demourant leur vie en paix et transquilite en seruice de dieu, amez et cremus de leurs voisins; Et eurent telle grace de nostre seigneur que ains que du monde se partissent veirent leur filz grant a porter armes, et le feirent couronner roy de frize

¶ Et vesquirent tres longtemps, en eulx

gouuernant en ce monde, tellement que apres leur mort furent moult regretez de leurs subgetes et voisins, et dautres qui ne les congnoissoient, pour le grant renom de leur vie

¶ Tellement se gouuernerent en ce monde transitoire, que Ilz trouuerent paix au Royaulme de

cieulx. Et sadoine son tresleal compaignon retourna en cassidoine, ou lui et la Royne beatrix vesquirent en transquilite de ame et de corps

¶ Ceste histoire ne touche plus auant ou gouuernement du Roy blanchandin, na de la Royne sa femme

¶ Si finirons nostre hystoire en priant au pere et au filz et au saint esprit, que en la fin de noz Iours, nous vueille sa grace ottroyer. Amen.

[[underlined in red ink] ]

Explicit expliciat Quy plus vult scribere scribat.