Melusine. Part I

Cap. XXVII. How the kinge of Anssay called to hym al the barons of Lucembourgh to Counseylle.

[folio 121]

Thenne called the king̘ of Anssay aƚƚ the barons of the land to Counseyƚƚ, and said to them: 'Fayre lordes, Whan the yron is hoot it moste be wrought & forged; how be it thenne that I haue be yl wyller bothe to you & to your lady / the tyme is now come that I wold her honour and prouffit & youres also / lyst & here, For god hath sent good̛ auenture to you, yf ye can take it in gree.' Thenne said the barons: 'Now, sire, syth that ye haue entamed þe matere / vouchesauf to declare vnto vs the sentence therof.' 'Ye moste,' said the kynge, 'fynde the manere & meane that Anthony take your lady to his wyf, and he to be your lord, For thenne ye shal mowe saye surely, þat no nede ye haue of none other / & none so hardy were to take an henne from you ayenst your wyƚƚ.' And they ansuered thus: 'Sire, yf Anthonye

wold do soo we were therof fuƚƚ glad̛ & joyous.' 'Now thenne, fayre lordes, lete me deele therwith / and I hope to god I shal brynge the matere to a good ende. Abyde and tary here a lytel, & I shal goo speke with hym.' Thenne came the kynge tofore Anthony, & said: 'Noble man & curtoys damoyseau, the barons of this land desire & pray you, that ye, your brother, & your Counseyƚƚ come and entre in to this chambre. For they desyre mocℏ to speke with you for your prouffyt & honour.' 'By my feyth,' said anthony, 'ryght gladly.' And thenne he called to hym hys brother & them of theire Counseyƚƚ / & syn entred in to the chambre / and the barons of the land̛ that were there enclyned themself, & made grete reuerence to the two brethern. Thenne spake the kynge of Anssay, & said: 'Fayre lordes, these two noble damoyseaulx are cōme hither at your requeste & prayer / declare now to them your wylle.' And they ansuerde to hym: 'Noble kinge, humbly we beseche you, that ye anounce & shewe to them our entencion, that ye knowe [folio 121b] wel ynoughe.' 'By my feyth,' said the kyng̘, 'I wyl.' And thenne suche wordes as folowen he bygan to say /

'Anthony, noble man, curtoys & valyaunt knight, þe barons of this Countree haue had regarde to the grete honour that ye haue borne & shewed to theire lady, to her lande, & to them / also they haue considered how nought ye wyl take of theyre lady ner of them / and for asmoche that they desyre your wele & honour, they humbly beseche your good grace that it playse the same to graunte to them a yefte, the whicℏ shaƚƚ not lasse your good nor hauoyr / but shal rather augmente your honour.' 'By my feyth, noble kynge, yf it be of that thing̘ that I may recouere / touching myn honour, I graunt it right gladly.' 'Certainly,' said the king̘, 'theire requeste if thenne fulfilled, For they desyre none other but your honour.' 'Now, sey thenne,

said Anthony, 'what they desyre of me.' 'Damoyseau,' said the kinge / 'they wyl gyue you the Duchesse of Lucembourgh, þeire liege lady, to your wyf / reffuse not that noble yefte' /

Whan anthony vnderstode hym he stood̛ penseful long tyme / and syn said in this manere: 'By my feith, fayre lordes, I supposed neuer to cōme vnto this countre for that quarreƚƚ; but sethen I haue accorded to you I shal not gaynsay it / lete now the pucelle be sent for, For yf she be playsed therwith I consent me þerto.' Thenne was the damoyselle fete thither by foure of the noblest barons of the land, the whiche recounted to her al the faytte, wherof she was ryght glad & joyous / how wel she made of it no semblaunt. And whan she entred in to the Chambre she made her obeyssaunce tofore antony, & salued alle the barons there / and as she beheld Anthony she bygan to wexe in her vysage more rede than a rose / and thenne the barons reherced & shewed vnto her aƚƚ this affayre. And whan the pucelle had herd̛ them speke [folio 122] she ansuerd̛ to them in this manere: 'Fayre lordes, I rendred & yeld thankes & mercys vnto almyghty god, to his blessed moder, and to you also, of the grete honour that now happeth to me, For I pouere orphenyme am not worthy to be addressed in to so highe a place as to haue to my lord the flour of knighthode and the noblesse of alle the world / and of that other part, I wote & knowe wel that ye whiche are my liege men, that bettre knowe myn own affayres than I doo my self / wold not counseylle me that thinge, but it were to my grete prouffyt & honour. Wherfor I ne oughte nor wyl not gaynsey it / but I am al redy to do therof your playsire.' /