University of Virginia Library

[OMITTED] Bricht as ane angell schyning in his weid,
With force of speir, upon his mightie steid;
Rycht large of statour, strong and corpolent,
Lyke God of armis Mars armipotent,
Wode, burning, full of courage and desyre;
For to behald he was ane awfull syre.
Everie man meinit Sir Clariodus;
Bot maist of all, the mone was pitious
Of his four fellowis, his daith dreiding sore.
Ane of them buir his bricht helme him before,
Ane uther his speir buir unto the feild,
The thrid his ax, the fourt his nobill scheild,
Into the close in midis of the palice,
In quhilk devysit was the fighting place.
Beholding on the stairis by and by
The King, the Queine, with mony fair lady,
When he was armit, fair, close and juint,
Upon his steid ascendit at all poynt;
His lance he faikit manlie lyke ane knicht,
As lucent lamp so leimit he of licht;
Manheid at Mars he neidit naine to borrow;
He schynit as dois the bricht day-star at morrow,
With cirkill of gold about his helmit cleir,
All birnand full of bricht stonis deir,
Circumferit with roobies radious,
Betwixt ilk sirkill bricht and glorious,
With goldin schaikeris abone his plumes greine;
His ladyis abone all mycht be seine
Ane courtche of plesance, of gold all browderit bricht,
Quhilk waifit lyke ane streimer castine licht:
The michtie bardis of his nobill steid
Of bricht gold gleimit as ane gleid:
Of redolent stonis schynit his weid royall:
It was maist lyke ane thing selestiall
Him to behold, so angillyke of hew.
Toward the Lumbard knicht he did persew,
Full of assuirit manheid and desyre,
In thrist of knichtheid birnand lyke a fyre.
As furious lyounis eiger to the field,
Anone quhen ather uther can behald,
Thair is no mair, bot loud gois up the soundis
Of silver trumpits and of clariounis;
Togidder gois the knichtis in thair weidis,
In gois thair spurris in sydis of thair steidis;
Furth gois the speiris straicht as ony lyne,
Forward they preike with heartis leonyne;
As dreidfull dragonis thay togidder drave,
Quhyll baith thair scheildis in peices clave,
And baith thair speiris in peices brake,
The palice reirdit lyke ane thunder crake:
Abake from uther they stakirit with sic forse,
Quhill at the grund baith lay man and horse.
Clariodus was delyver and ȝing,
And up he start without abasing,
And pullit out his sword delyverly.
The Lumbard knicht still efter him could ly;
His fute sadly throw the stirrip ȝeid,
And throw the feild traillit him his steid;
Quhom followit Sir Clariodus so fast,
That he the steid reinȝeit at the last,
And him rescoursit wounder manfulie,
Saying, Sir Knicht, defend ȝow hardily.
With swordis scharp thay can at uther dryve,
Whill baith thair helmis bludy war belyve.
Thus war thair straikes baith sad and keine
Betwix thir knichtis wounderfull to seine;
As rugend lyounis ramping ferce and wode,
Withoutin mercie scheding utheris blude
So furiouslie, that ferlie was to see
Undantounit beine thair nobill heartis hee;
As foaming boares, in thair melancholie,
Thay bet on utheris birnies cruellie,
So long induiring without disconfitour,
That ferlie was to everie creatour
That them beheld and stud them about,
How thay micht stand under sic straikes stout.
Clariodus so knichtlie he him baire,
That everie wicht him praisit that was thair;
Sore movit was the Lumbard campioun,
That he, quhilk praisit was of sic renoun,
So long assailȝeit was with great fighting
With ane that was of age so wonder ȝoung.
He raisit up his forcie arme on height,
And at Clariodus with all his meikle might
Ane straike he ettillit right as he wald him slo;
And he anone weill neirer him can go
And on the syd him hit the richt arme under,
Quhill of his ribis thrie did breke in sunder;
Whairof the wound so lairg was and wyde,
His bouellis micht be seine out throw his syd.
The Lumbard knicht did with the straik doun fall,
And ly in soune alse paill as ony wall.
To confort him he schoup or he wald stint,
Clariodus, did of his hewmind hint,
And held his heid up softlie and it schoke.
And quhen that he out of his swoun awoke,
He said thir wordis wounder petiously,
Ha, flour of knichtheid! I thé mercie cry.
The uther said, If thow will mercie crave,
Make heir ane aith never to clame nor have
The Clare Fontane, as we our cunan maid.
Thow saifing lyfe Clariodus! he said,
My lord, he said, sall never challinge thairtill;
Rycht as thow pleisis thy mynd I sall fulfill.
Clariodus is past unto the King,
Declairing the cace in everie thing,
Him praying for the knichtis lyfe also.
The King in armis resavit him tho,
Saying, Deir freind, quhat ȝe desyre of me
I thinke of richt that it sould grantit be;
For saifit is the honour of this land,
Rycht be the noble deidis of ȝour hand.
This woundit knicht rycht softlie up thay take,
And in his chalmer gart his bed be make;
And gat him leiches his woundis for to sie,
The trustiest that was in that cuntrie.
Clariodus is to his chalmer gone,
Quhair his body unermit was anone,
Ane leich to him beine fetchit hastilie,
Quhilk did his woundis ryp attentivelie,
Him conforting, and bade him take gud hart,
For he belyve wald be helit of everie smart.
The King ane furrit mantill hes him send,
And bad alwayes thay sulde him till attend.
Albeit in heart noble he was and wicht,
Out of his chalmer go he no might
For ȝaiking of his woundis newe and greine;
Bot ane sight of Meliades the scheine
Micht more him confort, I dar take on hand,
Nor all the leiches into Lumbard land.
Quhen endit was the battell on this ways,
All the lordis bounit hame with haill advyse.

Oft visit hes the King Clariodus,
And eik the Lumbard knycht that sore woundit was.
Quhen awcht dayis past war and gone by,
Meliades hes called privily
On hir maistres, saying on this maneir,
Ȝe know how Clariodus full deir
First sould be haldin with my father the King,
Syne with his barrounis, abone all uther thing,
That for our saikis in hand tuike sic battell,
And of his woundis he is not ȝit haill;
Sen the first day that he his chalmer tuike,
I ȝeid him not to visie nor to looke.
Hir maistres said, It war ȝour grit honour
To visit him quhilk is of knichtheid flour;
And now the tyme is maist convenient,
The King is furth with all his houshald went,
And he rycht long thinkis him alone,
Of ȝour cuming he wald be glaid anone.
Meliades, richt fresch and weill beseine,
With hir hes taine twa ladyis fresch and scheine,
With hir awin maistres, digne and verteous,
[And] past to visie Sir Clariodus;
Whair scho him fand with few in companie,
On his bed-syd sitting bot quyetlie;
Ane goune of claith of gold his sarke abone,
Furrit with mertrix. His collour changit sone
At hir incuming, and he on fute up start,
Within his breist for joye dansit his heart;
Quhen that he saw his ladie most bening,
For joyfulnes a word micht not out bring.
With humbill, sober and womanlie effeire,
Adoun scho sat besyd him in ane chyre.
And quhen scho did behald this lustie knicht
So fair, so ȝoung, so valiand and so wicht,
Cupid, that lord, with his scharp grindine dairt
Full suddanlie hes strukine hir to the heart,
So that scho sat bot with changing hew;
The fyre of heit it kindlit is of new
Of luif within hir breist, birning so sore,
That scho desyris of this warld no more
Bot him onlie to have in companie,
That under Mars beine flour of chivalrie.
This war they wyndit baith in lyk maneir,
As micht be sein be thair face and cheir;
With luif so sore thair spreitis was bereft,
That not to speike ane word was left.
Meliades, rycht lustie and bening,
Said to the squyeris and to the madinis ȝing,
Thay ȝonder moir in chalmer sould disport,
Whill scho few wordis of counsall sould report
Of mediceine unto the woundit knicht.
On this maneir than spake this goodlie wicht,
O ȝe my tender freind Clariodus,
Weill auchtin I of ȝow to be joyous,
That to this regioun brocht hes sic honour;
And specialie, abone all creatour,
My father aucht to chereis ȝow, and love
Nixt God and santis into the hevin above;
For quhen his knichtis the battell all refuisit,
Ȝe that ar ȝoung and not in armis usit
On ȝow it tuik with manlie countinance,
And weill mentinet to the uterance.
Clariodus said, Madame, so Chryst me save,
It is not I that all the thanke sould have
Of this battell nor of the victorie,
The thanke ane uther servit mor nor I,
That caus was haill of the discomfitour.
Na, said this fair and lustie creatour,
Nane uther was bot ȝe, the treuth to tell,
Quhilk did the schame out of the court expell;
For had not beine ȝour honour and bewtie,
Ȝon knicht, but faill, had riddin on this contrie,
Quhilk had beine to this realme ane lake;
The laud is ȝouris, I dar that undertake.
Hir answereit on this wayis Clariodus,
Madam, I mervell not that ȝe say thus,
Ȝour noble nurtur and womanheid bening
Ȝow sufferis not to say no uther thing,
Thais wordis came of gritt nobilnes;
Nor was my deidis of praise or worthines:
Bot for to tell the trewth unfenȝitlie,
Ane uther was the caus aluterlie,
That vincuist was the Lumbard knicht in feild.
Meliades then reddilie him beheld,
Saying, That persoun I wald know I wise.
Madame, he said, gif ȝe will graunt me this,
That ȝe will me commend unto that wicht,
And fullie do ȝour bissines and micht,
That my service thay hald exceptabill,
And of thair hienes digne and honorabill
That thay will not my symplenes conteme,
Than sall I gladlie that persoun to ȝou name.
At schort, scho sayis, thair is no thing at all
Efter my micht bot for ȝow do I sall,
Saiving my honour and my womanheid.
Madame, he said, Pleis it ȝour guidlieheid,
Ȝe mane it secreit keip and not discure.
Thairto I grant, said scho, I ȝow assure.
Madame, he said, ȝe ar Kings dochter deir,
Reveill me not, as ȝe have height me heir;
And gif ȝe doe ȝour pouer, as ȝe say,
Anents that persoun, helpe me mair ȝe may
Nor ony that be levand now on lyve.
Now, Lady myne, I will me to ȝow scryve,
It was ȝour self, if I the truith declaire,
That only was the caus of my weilfair;
Ȝe war my strong protectour, and only
The caus dreidles of all my victorie:
Trest weill, Lady, that now I feinȝe nocht;
For, be the Lord that all the warld hes wrocht,
Only your bewtie and your womanheid
Put fra my heart all couardice and dreid:
I do mein ȝour mercie and ȝour grace,
For sen the tyme that I saw first ȝour face,
I have ȝow luifit ouer all eardlie thing;
Into my mynd full oft asking,
That it had stand upon sic ane cace,
Nane upon lyf was abill to ȝour grace,
Bot be hard fighting in sik degree
Sum deids of armis ordeinit war on hee
That everie man for dreid sould it forsaike,
Than wist I weill I suld it wndertake,
The feild, alswith to win worschipe or die;
For ather had beine worschipe unto me
To wine my lady quhom I luifit so,
Or to be donne or to be out of woe.
Then weill lang still held hir Meliades,
Syne unto him scho sayis on this wayis,
How may I trow ȝour sawis, saying thus?
Ȝe have beine lang into the court with ws,
And never befor sik thing to me ȝe movit,
Sum tyme I wald persavit, hade ȝe me luifit.
Madam, quhen I begane ȝow for to luif,
My mynd I durst not schaw [ȝow] for repruife;
For I to ȝow was no comparisoune,
Sa monie prinsis nobill of renoune
Ȝe had in proffer, quhom ȝe list to take,
And I, unworthie was, I wndertake,
Into so heigh ane mater to proceid.
And ȝe, Madame, the rose of lustieheid,
Now at the leist is bund to keip secreit;
Quhairfor I traist, My Hartis Lady sweit,
Gif ȝow no list rew on my painis sore,
Ȝe will keip secreit if ȝe will do no more;
And as I dar, for my wnworthines
I cry ȝow mercie, flour of gentilnes,
As I that sall unto my lyvis end
Lawlie ȝow serve and never ȝow offend.
Advysit was this lady quhat to say,
For scho was wyse and honorabill ay;
Ȝit nevertheles luif did hir so owercum,
That lang scho sat all speachles and dumbe;
And at the last scho said, Clariodus,
Gif it be so that luif I grant ȝow thus,
Ȝe salbe to me trew and diligent,
Rycht faithfull, secreit and obedient,
And ower all wemen that ȝe me love and serve
Bot feinȝeing ay till the day ȝe sterve,
And ever about to save my honour,
And not for lust persew me as ane lichour;
Fynd I ȝow set to hurt my honestie,
Dreidles at ȝow I will more greifit be,
And have ȝow in moir haitret and reproufe
Nor of befor I had ȝow into luife;
Gif we guid luif and trewth to uther meine,
It sall the longer lest ws two betweine,
Bot gif we schap to crabe our creatour,
It sall no longer prosper nor indure:
Thairfor sic thingis if ȝe list to fulfill,
Say on to me, and I sall say thairtill.
Madame, quod he, till all that ȝe have said
I me conforme, be God that me hes maid,
Ȝow never to dissobey, nor ȝit to grieve
For all the dayis that I have heir to leive;
Bot ever moir to folow ȝowr intent,
Richt as ȝe now give me commandiment.
Than tenderlie the fair Meliades
Kissit hir knicht into maist gudlie wayis,
And freindlie in hir armis him resavit
Alse far as scho micht gudlie unpersavit.
When all agreit, than bunden war thir two
With aithis great, ay to love uthar so
That it sould lest withouttin departing.
Betwixt thir loveris, in ane taikineing,
Two litill chanȝeis interchangit they,
In rememberance of thair trouth for ay.
Of uthars diverse maters spak they syne,
Whyll bricht Apollo westwart did declyne;
Than raise hir maistres fra hir companie,
And said that it was supper tyme neir by.
Meliades than tuik hir [leave with wo;]
Bot ȝit hir heart micht not depart him [fro,]
With easie sichis and inward behalding,
As for that tyme they maid [thair] depairting.
Gritlie rejosit was Clariodus,
That with his lady was comfortit thus;
He heallit of his woundis day be day,
Quhill all his painis worne war cleine away;
Than passit he to see the Lumbard knicht,
Him doing comfort oft at all his micht.
Clariodus in court I let dwell still,
And of ane uthar mater speik I will.

It is cumin to the King of Spainis eare,
The wonderfull beawtie and the fresch effeir
Of Mandonet, the lustie creatoure,
Quhilk dochter was unto the Earle Estour.
He thocht he wald have hir in mariage;
And, with advyse of his haill barrownage,
Ane fair ambassat schortlie hes he send,
To bring this mater schortlie unto end.
The message buire four knichts, mikle to pryse,
Sir Leonet de Beaulieu wicht and wyse,
Sir Leonet de Mortemer, Sir Ame de Beaufort,
Sir Arthur de la Roye, with lustie sorte,
To Estur cuntrie sought with diligence;
Schawing anone thair letters and credence
Unto the Countes wyse and sapient,
For than the Earle was not at hame present.
Scho thame resavit with great feist and cheir,
With companie of ladyis fresch and cleir;
And maid them byd, with mirrines and cherisching,
Wpon hir Lord the Earlis hame cuming;
Quhilk at his cuming fairlie can them treit,
And [did] bring furth his dochter Mandonet,
Quhilk [prysit was for wit and rare beautie.]
Now schort into this mater for to be,
Sir Leonet hir weddet with ane ring
In the name only of his prince and king,
And gave to hir ane full rich diamand.
This beand donne, Earle Estour, avenand,
Feistit them gudlie dayis two or three;
Syne them rewairdit eftir thair degree.
Returnit ar thir knichtis hame againe
Unto their mightie king and soverane,
Whom in the toune of Walburgh thay fande,
Bot three days jurnay from Earle Estours land;
Rehearsing all [to him] both more and les,
How them entreitit Earle Estours nobilnes,
And how within a monthis space but more
Sould be his wadding day; quhairfore
He hes gart warne throw all his regioun
Baith duikis, earlis and knichtis of renoune,
For to be thair againe the justing day
On horse armit redie for tornay.

Clariodus, ryding at his disport,
He met his fatheris message, with reporte
Of all thir foirsaid thingis to be donne,
Commanding him that he sould speid him soune
Hame to his cuntrie. And quhen Clariodus
Had hard thaise tithingis thay have ordanit thus,
[He] maid the messinger pas to his In
But wordis mo, and hald him clois thairin,
Quhill he anon sould schaw him his intent.
Clariodus is to his lady went,
Meliades, and tauld hir all the cace,
Saying, Madame, for all my dayis space
Sen that I am becum ȝour servitour and thrall,
Ather ȝour leave heir hartlie have I sall,
Or in this land at schort I sall abyde
For weill or wo, betyde quhat may betyde;
For ȝow, Madam, I never think to displeis.
Meliades in hart had litill eis
When scho had hard Clariodus intent;
Saying, My Knicht, richt weill I am content
That waddit beine ȝour sister with the King
Of Spainȝie land, quhilk is ane mightie rigne:
Bot loath I war, if otherways micht be,
That ȝe sould now depairt so far fra me;
To reasoun ȝit obey will I ever mo,
Suppose my will is ȝe not went me fro;
Bot sen it reynes to worschip knichtheid,
Consent I will, thairfor great God ȝow speid;
Ȝe sall first leave ask at my father the King,
Syne speike with me at ȝour depairting.

Clariodus unto the King is went,
And of this mater tauld him the intent;
Whairof the King was glaid, and said, Truely
I am content, it is ane fair allay;
The King of Spainȝe is ane michtie King,
And eik we sall tham have be that wedding;
Have we tham our freindis that be in that countrie,
And this always cums weill, as thinkis me.
His Thesawrer he gart be efter sent,
And chargit him to give incontinent
Two thousand floringis to Clariodus,
To support him passing hameward thus.
He did the King rycht speciallie beseike,
That his four fellows pas micht with him eike;
To quhilke he grantit upon heartlie wyse;
His leave he tuike schortlie to devyse.
Clariodus, rycht as the day up cleiris,
Adressis him and his four nobill feiris,
And hes gart graith thair harnes at all poynt,
That in thair armour thair was no disjoynt.
Clariodus unto his lady went,
The uterance to have of hir intent;
Speiring at hir quhat collour he sould taike,
Or in quhat hew he just sould for hir saike,
Or weir in tournay quhile his hame cuming.
Meliades micht not ane word out bring
Ane weill long space, for inward paine and wo,
That he sould pairt so suddenlie hir fro;
And quhen that scho owercam, than said scho thus,
My best belovit knicht Clariodus,
Uneis my wofull spreit may susteine
The hevie pains now that in my breist beine
For ȝour depairting; bot, as I said before,
My will I sall constraine with sighis sore,
Sene with honour may it not remeid,
And [ȝow] to weir I gif the cullour Reid,
ȝour name and honour wald [I] not impair;
Fair weill my knicht, and raught him thair
Ane heart of gold with stainis casting licht:
This sall ȝe have in rememberance of richt
That ȝe my heart have and no mo,
Quhilk in na maner may be pairtit ȝow fro.
This heart he tuike, and thankis to hir ȝold;
And gave to hir ane braclet wroucht with gold,
About hir arme praying hir it to weir.
Scho kissit him with womanlie effeir.
They tuike thair leave at utheris pitiouslie,
With tirie faces, imbracing tenderlie;
And to hir ladyes all gude nicht he said,
Bot naine he kist for aith that he had maid
To kisse no lady efter his lady bricht
Whill that he hade againe of hir ane sight.
That nicht he and his fellows tuke them rest,
And on the morrow them to the way hes drest.

Clariodus in passing to his countrie
With his foure fellows, lustie for to sie,
Thay hapinit in ane blisfull morrow scheine
To ryde out throw ane gudlie forrest greine,
Quhilke callit was the Wode of Eventouris,
In quhilk oftymes walkit knichts of King Arthouris
Eventouris seikand, as the wse was than.
Clariodus said, that we will everie man
Eventuris seike be syndrie wayis ryde.
Anone thay have depairtit and can devyde.
Clariodus, within a litill space,
Ane pitious voice he hard crying Aleace!
Lamentablie, as it ane woman ware.
His steid he reinȝeit and raid nar,
And as he followit on the cry,
He saw foure knichtis enarmit richly,
Having [with] them ane lady wo begone;
Ane litill dwerff fast efter them can gone.
Quhen scho had of Clariodus ane sight,
Scho said, Have mercie on me, jentill knicht,
Help, for thy manheid and for thy ladyis saike,
Me, that am falslie from my husband taike
Be the handis of thir knights fellounlie,
Quhilk hes him lest woundit cruellie
In poynt of death. Than said Clariodus,
Fair Lordis, be in heart piteous,
And be asschamit fair ladyes to offend;
Weill glaidlier thair caus ȝe aught defend.
Sir Knicht, thay said, Pas quhair ȝour erand lyis,
Ȝour appetite we will serve in no wayis.
Clariodus said, Heir I make God judge,
I sall be deid or scho sall have refuge.
And he anone, inermit all in reid,
[The quhilk his lady choisit for his weid,]
With speir in hand, he spurit fast his steid,
And to the formist knicht hes went gud speid,
And to the erd him drave so fast but ho,
Whill that his nek on force it birst in two;
And he was hurt a litill throw his geir
Be his fellow, bot haill that baid his speir,
Whairwith he ran upon the other thrie,
Betwixin quhom begane ane hard mellie:
Ane uther to the erd he drave adoun,
His lymb to fruschit, and he fell in swoun;
The lady and the dwerff fell him abone,
And wald have cuttit his throte rycht sonne.
Clariodus, thocht that he had mikle adoe,
Espyit hes, and thir wordis said them to,
To be so cruell and to slay ane knicht,
Madam, it settis to na lady bricht.
The uther twa knichts assemblit on him fast,
Hard was the feild and fell, quhile at the last
Clariodus thocht on his ladie bright,
And at the thrid knight straik with all his micht,
Whill that his helme quyte from his heid he straike,
Mercie he askit then for Chrystis saike,
And ȝeildit him his sword incontinent.
The fourt knicht than maid na impediment,
Bot said, Sir Knicht, we cum ȝour prissoneiris,
And heir I obleiss me and all my feiris
At ȝour command to stand and at ȝour will,
So that ȝe list heir mercie grant ws till.
Clariodus was woundit in the syde,
Ȝit never ȝeildis quhile they to mercy cryed,
For rewth hes restrainit his nobill heart
From crueltie, and sonne he did advert
Wnto thir knichtis, and said, For your trespas,
At ȝone lady ȝe sall ga mercie ass
And forgivenes; and syne ȝe sall me sweir,
On sik maneir never woman [to] deir;
Syn to Great Britane pass ȝe sall all sweith,
And to the King the maner all ȝe kyth;
Syn for the fairest lady in the land ȝe speir
Dwalland in the regioun far or neir,
And ȝeild ȝow to that lady benigne,
Schawing to hir but [ony] fenȝeing,
Say that the Reid Knicht hes ȝow to hir send,
Quhilk hartfullie to hir dois him commend.
Thay sweare all be the ordour of knichtheid,
That in all haist this sould be donne but dreid.
The lady thankit oft Clariodus,
Saying, Most nobill knicht and chyvalrus,
Wyld is the land, and ludging heir is none;
Bot if ȝe wald disdaine with me to gone,
My duelling place is at the forrestis end,
Ȝe gar thir knichtis also with ȝow wend
My husbands frindschip with them for to make,
And I ȝour woundis dar weill undertake,
For I in leichcraft have sum skeill and kuning.
Clariodus hes grantit to this thing,
And gart thir forsaid knichtis with him ryd;
He gart the dwerff with the slaine knicht abyd,
Whill they sent for him efterwart; and so
Togidder with the lady can thay go,
Whill they com to the mikill forrest end;
Then from hors thay did thair discend,
And with the lady they enterit in the place,
Quhair thay resavit war with grit solace.
The knichtis to ane chalmer than thay ȝeid,
And laid soft salves to thair woundis reid.
Scho brocht hir Lord unto Clariodus,
Gylȝeam de la Weille, worthie and famous;
Quhilk thankit him of his great nobilnes,
That did his wyfe againe to him redres,
Putting his bodie into sic eventure,
And syne had maid the haill discomfitour;
Whairfor he ȝeild him self and all his guide,
To him quhilk frindlie in his quarrell stude.
So, be the knichts war to the supper set,
Clariodus fellowis knokit at the ȝet,
For thair nane uthar harberie was about,
And of thair cuming blyth was all the rowt;
Bot sonne thay speirit of Clariodus,
Gif any wist of sik ane knicht antrus,
Quhilk from thame twinit in the morrow tyde,
Walking alleane out throw the woodis wyde,
In reid arrayit, baith in scheild and speir.
The Lord ansuerit, Fair knichts have ȝe no feir;
I dar weill say and eike thairat abyde,
War all the knichtis in this warld so wyde,
Boune unto battell under birneis bricht,
He micht amongs thame countit be ane knicht;
Heir he is ludgit in this ilk place.
As it befell, he tauld them all the cace.
Be everie knicht hade tauld his eventur,
What him betydit as he throw forrest fure,
Alreadie was the supper to tham dicht.
Gillȝiam de la Weill spake with voice on height,
My Lordis, ȝe ar all welcum to this place,
Amongis ws tak in patience Godis grace.
Fair Sir, sweitlie said Clariodus,
Methinks it best, according war it thus,
Togidder all to soupe, micht it ȝow please,
With ȝone hurt knichts, micht it them ease;
And this I pray ȝow doe for the luife of me,
In hope that we sall all the glaider be.
The Lord him thankit lawlie at his micht,
Saying, Thais wordis come of ane nobill knicht.
As he devysit, so was it donne all swyth;
To supper went thir lordis glaid and blyth,
And everie man was mirrie and joyous,
For gud accordance maid Clariodus
Amongis the knichts with all his diligence,
And everilke feide forgiven is and offence.
The Lady tuike upon hir great travell,
Whyll that scho maid him of his woundis haill;
Then courteslie he tuike his leave and wend,
To lord and lady oft doing him commend,
To tham and to the woundit knightis thre;
Syn toward Esture land the way tuike he.
When that the knichtis thrie war haill and sound,
And haillit syne of everie grevous wound,
Thay tuike thair leave at lord and lady eike,
Them thankit syne with myndis myld and meike;
And passit syne in Ingland to the King,
Declairing him the cace in everie thing,
How it befell as ȝe have hard beforne;
And how they all oblist war and sworne,
To ȝeild thair bodies to the fairest wight,
That was in Ingland into manis sight;
And be the way how all men did thame wise,
Wnto the guidlie fair Meliades.
The King said, Freindis have ȝe no knowleging
Of him that sent ȝow with sic tyding.
The knightis said, No more of him we knaw,
Bot the Reid Knight he namit was our aw.
The King did send to chalmer for the Queine,
As also for Meliades the scheine,
And gart the knichts rehearse thair taill all new.
Meliades a litill changit hew.
The knichtis said, Full weill it may be kend,
Ȝon is the Lady quhome to we ar send.
Anone upon thair kneis in humbill wyse,
Thay sat all thre befor Meliades,
And said, Madam, heir we ar all, only
Be the Reid Knicht sent, flour of chevalrie,
To ȝour bewtie our bodies for to ȝeild,
As we that vincuist beine with him in feild;
Ȝe doe with ws Lady as lykis ȝow best,
Ȝouris we ar, demaine us as ȝe list.
Sumthing abaisit was this guidlie wicht,
Siris, scho sayis, I thanke that gentill knicht,
And ȝe also are welcum for his saike,
Ȝour prisson sable soft I wndertaike;
Go and disport with my father the King,
And dwell alse long as beine to ȝour lyking;
Syne as ȝe came alse frelie sall ȝe wend,
For love of him that hes ȝow hither send.
The king resavit tham on fair maneir,
And said to them, My tender frindis deir,
Heir ar ȝe welcum with me to remain,
Quhen that ȝe list ȝe may return again;
We will not hald ȝow heir as prissoneiris,
Bot chereis ȝow as to ȝour stait effeiris.
He gart rewaird tham wonder royallie.
Meliades them treitit gentillie,
And gave them giftis; and thay anone
On lawlie wayis hes taine thair leave to gone,
And to thair cuntrie passit, quhair that thay
Full vertuouslie leivit thair for ay.

Clariodus hes sped him day and nicht,
Whill of his fatheris castell he gat a syght.
Of his cuming his frindis was full blyth;
Thay drest them to the mariage belyth,
For on the morne thair tryst was for to ryde,
The king of Spaine did on thair cuming byde.
On morrow as the day it waxit licht,
The court was on horse alreadie dicht;
Fair Mandonet was lustilie beseine,
In clothing as effeirit to ane queine,
With croune of gold abune hir hairis bricht
Of leming stainis casting pleasant licht;
The Earle wes cloathit in full rich array,
With him his Lady fresch as is the May:
Bot all exceidit them Clariodus,
In cloath of gold and stainis pretious.
With nobill court, this royall rout furth raid,
Whill thay com quhair this mightie King abaid.
The nobill King gart two Duikes resave
The ȝoung Lady, and hir to chappell have,
Quhair scho was maryit with great solemnitie,
And feastit with triumph and royaltie;
Syn all the day did sing, dance and disport,
The circumstance war long for to report.
The king of Spaine he had ane sister fair,
Quhilk Donas height of collouris rycht preclaire;
This lady oft behald Clariodus
With frindlie cheir, and luikis amorus,
Of manlie having and knichtlie governance
Heiring the courte greatlie him advance,
Quhilk it sa far into hir hart can sinke,
Whyll at the last of luif scho tuike a drinke;
So birning was hir heart with inwart fyre,
For thrist of love, heat birning desyre,
That scho wes vexit with the feveris quyte,
Quhairof as now me list not to indyte.
The day passit, the nicht sonne efter went,
On morne the King gart cry ane tornament;
Ane hundreth knichts of Spanȝie war ordand,
Aganis ane hundreth knichts of Estour land;
On Spainȝie syd was Leonet the knight,
And Oliphere de Beaulieu bauld and wight,
Sir Leyon Dormal, Sir Ame de Beaufort,
Thair namis all it neids not to reporte:
On Esturis half was Sir Clariodus,
Sir Palexis baith wicht and chivalrus,
Sir Amador de Brusland rycht duchtie,
Sir Gilȝam de la Forrest rycht worthie,
Sir Richard Maianis of Scottis natioun,
With mony uther knichts of great renoun.
Quhen they disjunit had was no delay,
In knichtlie weidis thay doe thame selfs aray,
And baith the sydis assemblit in the feild,
With speir in hand, and coverit ower with scheild;
Againis the face of Phebus casting licht,
In windois lay the lustie ladyis bricht,
Duchesis, countesis and madanis to have sight,
And eagit lordis that was mikle of might;
The King of Spaine, and the Earle Esture,
And thame selfs ilk ane on ane coursour.
With trumpit sound the tornament begane,
Out throw the feild the knichtis feircely ran;
The raschis of speiris did as the thunder rare,
Lyke as the darding rumbling in the aire,
The horse feit dinnit with noyis full loud,
Then all abune thame raise into ane cloud
For sand and dust that thair up raise on loft,
Of armit men the meiting was unsoft;
The speiris brake, the horse togidder drave,
The scheildis fruschit and helmes all to clave;
The foirsaids knichts togidder did redound,
Quhilk magrie thame thay sink unto the ground.
To manis eare full terribill was the raird
Of horse and harneis rusching to the eard,
The bairdit steidis plunging on the greine,
The awfull straiks of knichtis in thair teine,
The clariounis sound, the heraldis voice and cry,
The cairfull echo ȝalmering to the sky,
The foming steidis with sweit alse quhyt as snaw,
With bludie sydis alse soft as foull in schaw;
Gois throw the preise, quhile that braith them serve
Thair is no mair but do or schame deserve.
Clariodus with this ȝit held him still,
Whill Estures folkis abak mauger thair will
Constrainit war; and than he belyve
With all his force amongs [them] he could dryve;
All gois to grund befor his mightie speir,
With birning mynd furth braiding as ane beir,
As furious lyoun raiging ferce and fell,
So fairis he of knichtheid floure and well;
He drave doune hors and knichts upon the greine,
Was nane of Spainȝie his straik that micht sustine,
They went abake richt fast befor his face,
Whair ever he come they list him rune a speace;
Throw quhom his fellowis curage tuike anone,
And thay of Spainȝe schope abake to gone.
So come thair wnwarlie on Clariodus
Ane Count of Spainȝe, bauld and chevalrus,
Quhilk straike the bucles of his scheild in sunder
Richt frelie, and raif the hauberk wnder.
His foure fellowis him dressit in his scheild,
And syne the Earle he sought out throw the feild,
And strak him to the erd, baith horse and man;
Syne throw the feild efter his horse he ran,
And reinȝeit him, and to the Earle him brocht,
Saying to him, My Lord, I know ȝow nocht.
Then leuch the Earle and said, Forsuith, Sir Knicht,
Ȝe have me laid to sleip or it be nicht.
Gude Sir, he said, or I to luging went
Ȝe me wnarmit, contraire my intent.
Among thamselfis [thus] they can disporte;
The tornament war long for to report,
Or all thair nobill deidis for to declair,
Induiring quhile the sune wastwart did repaire
[And] in his nocturne mantill did cheroude,
The trumpits blew to the retreit full loud,
And with their voice the heraldis cryit Ho;
And everie knicht did to his luging go,
And thame wnarmit in chalmeris haistilie,
Araying thame againe full richlie
In uther clothings, as did thame effeir;
Syne to the palice went to thair suppeir.
Foure aigit knichts the King gart efter send,
And foure heraldis that best armis kend,
And bade that on thair trewth it sould be schawd,
Of tornament quha wan [maist] praise and laud.
Thay answeir maid, and said, with voice on height,
Thay have weill previt everie nobill knicht
As men of deidis wondour chevalrus;
Bot all the praise we gif Clariodus.
Rycht have ȝe jugit, sayis the nobill King,
He hes the fairest knichtis begining
That ever I saw, and maist chyvalrus curage,
Hie God preserve him quhill he be in age.
The heralds and the knights he gart pas
Unto his sister, the lustie fair Donas;
And bad that scho sum taikin fair sould send,
As he that hade the laude and the commend
And [the] heigh praise of the tornament.
And so thay did, and to the Lady went.
Scho him hes send, wroght full curiouslie,
Ane plesant wompill, with stonis set mightelie,
Circulit and set with subtile work of gold,
That it ane guidlie sight was to behold.
Thir Lordis, at commandement of the King,
Ar passit to Clariodus the ȝing,
Saying, The King hes understanding richt,
That ȝouris beine the praise of everie knycht,
That hes this day beine in the tornament;
Wherefore the Kingis sister reverent,
With uther ladyes, hes sent ȝow ane plesance,
Off thair bewtie to have rememberance.
Clariodus than changit hew alyte,
And said, I thank my ladyes fair and quhyte;
Bot worthier knychtis thair wer the praise to have,
And eik moir dingne this plesance to ressave.
Throw the requeist of lordis that wer thair,
Ressavit he hes the wompill ferlie fair;
And right anone about his arme it band,
Thanking the King, right lowlie inclynand:
He gart reward the heraldis richlie,
With hie voicis they all did Larges cry.
When suppit hade the fresche Clariodus,
The four auld knichtis, worthy and famous,
With him to chalmer he tuik in companie,
And gave to thame four clothingis of gold mightie.
And to the Kingis chalmer went ifeir,
Baith erle, lord, knycht and bacheleir,
Disporting thame with ladyes of plesance,
And with ȝoung virginis meik of countenance.
The Kingis sister sat with Clariodus,
With humbill cheir, to whome scho speikis thus;
Clariodus, It dois ȝow weill perteine,
To marie with some guidlie ladie scheine;
For whill ȝe are in this estait, perfay
Sir, ȝe be seikand aventuris ay.
I am (quoth he) of littill availl or might,
To have in mariage ony guidlie wight.
Clariodus, scho said, full suith they tell
That sayes ane man that praisis not him sell
The moir he beine to praise with uther men;
Sir, be experience this of ȝow I ken:
Thus speikand they of materis to and fro,
Quhill it wes tyme to beddis for to go.

Indurit long this feist with joy and play,
Whill at the last Earle Esture on a day,
With all his court of lordis and ladyis fair,
Thair leave hes taine, hameward to repaire:
Fair Mandonet remenit with the King.
[One ȝeir did scarce compleit its revolving]
Whill scho buir him ane sonne height Clariodus
Efter his eime the gud Clariodus.
Thay luifit ather uther tenderlie,
Whom of moir not speike will I.

Erle Esture at his Lady leave hes taine,
And toward Ingland passit is againe.
The way furth ryding with his companie,
He met ane Squyer musing hevilie.
The Earle demandit quhy he sorie was.
My Lord, he said, this is the verie caus;
In the land of Galice, my native contrie,
Thair enterit is, that hidious is to sie,
Ane lyoun strong and hidious to behauld;
Thair is no living creature sa bald,
That dar his will impunge or ȝit resist;
He hes all [haill] devorit as he list,
And wastit all the cuntrie up and doune;
Is nane so hardie dar make objectioun;
And I am seikand, that evill beine to get,
Ane knicht that dar his face againis him set
And him distroy and vincuis with his brand,
The quhilk, I traist, no man dare take on hand.
Than said the Earle swiftlie, I am woe
That sic ane nobill prince is vexit so.
The Squyer tuike his leave, and hyne is went.
Clariodus unto his taill tuik gud tent,
And at his Father soune he askit leave
The strong lyoun in batell him to greive.
His father is displeasit, and inschew
Dangeris thairin quhilk he micht nocht eschew.
The uthar with sic instance him besought,
That he him levit with ane dreidfull thocht.
Clariodus was glaid in his intent,
And with his fatheris blissing furth is went,
Taking his leave at all the companie.
He callit on Palexis secreitlie,
And said, Deir Cousing, in Ingland quhen ȝe wend,
In humbill wayis ȝe sall doe me commend
Unto my Lady, fair Meliades;
Unto hir syne present, in secreit wayis,
This courche of plesance, saying to hir plaine,
Scho wan it at the tornament in Spaine.
Depairtit they than from uthar anone;
The Earle of Esture is to Ingland gone,
Whair he was weill ressavit with the King
And all the court; bot quhen they hard telling
The perrellous passage of Clariodus,
Then they war wofull, sad and dolorus.
When Palexis saw tyme convenient,
Unto the fair Meliades he went,
Saying, Madame, Clariodus the knicht
Oft him commendis unto ȝour beawtie bricht,
And hes ȝow sent this courtch of hie plesance,
Of his service to be in rememberance;
And bad me [plane] thir wordis to ȝow saine,
Ȝe wan it at the tornament in Spaine.
He tauld the laif furth into lang sermoune,
How he was gaine to fight with the lyoun.
And quhen his lady understude and knew
The dreidfull passage that he did persew,
Scho fell on groufe upon hir bed adoun
With visage wan, and in a deidlie swoune.
And quhen that scho owercam, scho gave a cry,
Saying, O [wofull] Death I thé defy,
What may thy cruell dairt doe me moir paine
Nor have him with a cruell lyoun slaine,
Whom I luif better nor I do my lyfe!
Wha sall thé help, Clariodus, in stryfe,
Or thé defend againis that felloun beast?
Is this of luif the joy, is this the feast
That I sall have for trewth and meinit no mise?
Ah! sall I now forgoe my warld blise,
That so we sould depairt, aleace, my knicht!
The trewthfullest in love, and gentillest wight,
Thou was ane that in warld ever I knew;
The companie of man for ever adew,
Efter the sight of thé, Clariodus,
That was so gentill and so gratious.
Palexis was abaisit grittumlie,
And mikill rewth had of this fair lady;
He comfortit hir at all his power and micht,
Saying, Madam, doe not ȝour self undicht,
For, verelie I live in esperance
Of his returne with joy and esperance;
And gif men see ȝow taking sic pennance,
Thay will ilke deime that is not trew perchance.
Thus comfortit he this Lady in sum wayis,
By sweittest wordis that he could devyse.

Clariodus and his fellow all sweith
In land of Galice enterit is belyth,
And tuike thair ludging in ane fair village
Neir quhair this beist did the maist outrage;
And as Phebus declynit in the west,
Thay soupit them, and bounit syn to rest.

The heavinis torch uprysing reid as fire,
The birdis sang with courage and desyre,
Up raise the mirrie lark with stevin joyous,
Up raise anone the fresch Clariodus,
And him full gudlie dressit in his weid;
He hard ane mess, and glaidlie could him speid
Whill he com neir quhair this beast repairit;
Then to his feir his mynd [he] thus declairit,
My frind, seine battell is bot aventure,
And seine that none may be of fortoune sure,
Gif heir I sterve be feat or destinie,
To frindis me commend for cheritie.
Discendit is this Knicht, and left his steid
With his squyer, quha oft bad God him speid.
He maid ane crose upon him devotlie,
Towardis this beist then passit hardilie,
Whilk was the strongest lyoun and maist horibill
That ever to manis sight was visible;
His awfull cluikis was lang and square,
Rycht syd and felterit hang his lyart haire;
Scharp was his wapounis, and terribill to behald,
His terribilnes cannot weil be tauld;
Reid was his eine, birnand as ane fyre,
He raxit him, and, ramping in his ire,
Quhen Clariodus did neir him aproch
He rumbischit whill rared everie roch,
And lape upone him in ane rage, all woode,
For he that day had gottine no bluide.
Clariodus him kepit on his speir,
The quhilke to him micht do bot litill deire.
The Knicht, that of his lyfe was in great doubt,
Full michtilie strak at the lyoun stout;
Bot this strong lyoun straike at Clariodus
So feircelie, and so woundour furious,
That he uneis micht defend him still;
For with his cluikis, persing wounder fell,
He reft from him dispitiouslie his scheild,
And skatterit mailȝes wyd into the feild,
And sair him woundit with his tuskis keine
Whill that his bluid ran streimand in the greine.
The peple stuide on hillis and on height,
Beholding on the lyoun and the knight;
Sore war thair heartis quhan thay saw him bleid,
Oft praying God him to suckour in neid.
Hard was the batell, asper, woode and fell,
So long induring that wounder was to tell.
Thus faught they still whill it was neir the nicht;
Clariodus, him failȝeing was the licht,
And that his speir micht him no thing availl,
He drew his sword, and sharplie did assaill
This dreidfull beist. And quhen the lyoun saw
Him with his schort sword, he stuid the weill les aw,
And lape at him lyke as he wald him ryfe.
Clariodus than straike at him belyve
Under the lymbe and upward in the thie,
Whair with his sword ane awfull wound maid he.
Quhen that this beist saw furth streiming his bluid,
He felt him hurt, and ran as he war wod,
And to the forrest swiftlie could he found,
The sword with him still stikand in his wound.
Then wonder wofull was Clariodus,
Quhen with his sword [he] was depairtit thus;
And as he stuid and sadlie him bethocht,
Whither [that] he sould follow him or nocht,
So come ane Knicht richt lustie to behold,
And him in armis tenderlie did fold;
And Sir, he said, [ay] blisit be that day
That ȝe war borne, sa may I [ever] say;
Ȝe have delyverit me for ever more
Of wofull torment, and evill woundis sore.
Clariodus, quhen this ferlie can see,
He was abaisit, and said, Quhat may this be?
The Knicht sayis, I sall ȝow tell or I gone;
Bot first ȝour woundis I will stanch anone.
Alsweith wnarmit was Clariodus;
And he with diverse herbis vertewus
Stemit his woundis, and stintit the bleiding;
Syne said he thus, Sir knicht, but failȝeing,
My father was of Portingall ane knicht,
And eke my mother was ane lady bricht:
To Wairdis then was givin grite credence,
Thairfor my mother gart with diligence
The Waird Sisteris wait quhen I was borne,
To heir quhat waird thay sould lay me beforne;
Agreit thay war, and in melancholie
Thay wairdit me, gif ane knave chyld war I,
That efter I was sevin ȝeiris old
To be transformit in ane lyoun bold,
And so to be ay quhile the nobillest knicht
Into this warld under the sunis licht
Sould draw my blood in battell or in stour:
I have, alleace, done evill abone measoure,
Bot now my fault most wickit and proterve
All finishit is; quhairfor whill that I sterve,
I salbe ȝouris, evin so Chryst me save.
The fairest castell in Portugall I have,
And greatest lordschip eik in that cuntrie,
As it is myne, I geive it ȝow alse frie;
Sir Porrus, in Portingal thay me call.
I geive ȝow heir ane ring of gold royall;
I wald convoy ȝow throw the land glaidlie,
Bot I will not cum upon horse quhile I,
For my trespas, go pairt of pilgramage.
Ather from uther passit his voyage.

The Squyer that was with Clariodus
Said unto him, My lord, it standis thus;
I wald anone be knichtit of ȝour hand,
I am ane nobill, ȝe sall understand,
And Guy de la Riviere thay me call,
Lord of that ilk my father is at all.
Clariodus alsweith then maid him knicht;
Syn on thair horsis muntit baith on height,
And to the seitie went, quhair baith them met
Full monie ane man of micht thair at the ȝet,
Halsand him with triumph, laud and glorie,
Quhilk great joy he fand of his victorie,
Unto his Innis dois him convoy;
Quhair that his host resavit him with joy,
And had him unto ane chalmer him to rest,
[And] of his arming doing him devest,
As he that werie was with hard fighting,
With grivous woundis that war sore ȝaiking.
For his hurting his host was sore adreid,
He causit him to sup and go to bed.
On morrow the new maid knicht, Sir Gwy, gart wryte
Letters at lenth, in quhilk he gart indyte
The maner of the battell, all at right,
Betwixt the awfull lyoun and the knicht,
And to the King of Galice hes thame send.
And quhen this thing was to his Hienes kend,
Grit glaid he was, and all his court also;
He gart four knichtis furth them dres, and go
Clariodus to bring to his presence.
The knichtis passit with great diligence
Unto the seitie, quhair they met Sir Guy
The new maid knicht, and thay full worthilie
At him speirit quhair was Clariodus.
And he againe to them did answeir thus,
He is in his bed, he is ȝit werilie,
Dreidlie thairof ȝe awcht have none ferlie;
For had ȝe seine him in the stour as I,
Ȝe wald have littell wounderit thocht he ly:
Bot I sall see if he awakis ȝit,
And syn anone ȝow answeir bring of it.
He went belyve and tauld to him the cace,
How that four knichtis cumin for him was,
Unto the Galice King him for to bring.
Fra tyme that he had knowledge of this thing
Anon he him dressit in his weid.
Sir Guy full glaidlie for the knichtis ȝeid,
And tham allswyth brings into his presence.
Thay helsit him all four with reverence,
And schew to him, as ȝe have hard report,
How that the nobill King did him exort
To cum to him withoutin tarying.
He thaim resavit with great cherisching,
Saying, I sall obey the King his will,
And wounder glaidlie his bidding sall fulfill.
Syn at his host he tuike his leave to wend,
And sudanlie did on his horse assend,
And raid furth to the Kingis palace richt,
And from his horse anone can licht.
The knichtis him convoyit to the King.
The King wpraise and come to his meiting.
Clariodus upon his kneis sat doune,
And courteslie did helse his Hie Renoune.
The King in armis hes him taine aloft,
He thankit him baith heartfullie and oft
For slauchter of the lyoun wode and fell;
Saying to him, Welcum of knichtheid well,
That hes rescoursit my realme with hard fighting,
And maid hes of my pepill ransoming;
Therefor the third pairt of my realme heir I
To ȝow and ȝouris do give perpetually.
Clariodus inclynit to the King,
Thanking his Heenes into mikill thing;
Thus saying, Sir, ȝe do me honor more
Nor I deservit ever or could; quhairfore,
To doe ȝow plesance God gif me grace,
In this cuntrie or in sum uther place.
The King went to his denner into hall,
And on the forsaid foure knichtis gart call,
And to ane chalmer Clariodus gart leid,
For ȝit his woundis war both greine and reid;
He gart for leiches all the cuntrie search,
And brocht the best [that] men did of reherse,
Quhilk schortlie hes taine him into their cuire;
He haillit him of his woundis haill and sure.
And quhen the King was set to his denneir,
Sir Gwy all haill declairit the manneir
Betwix the lyoun and Clariodus
Of the strong batell wod and furious.
The King rycht greatlie wounderit at his taill,
Sa did the lords all at the tabill haill.
I leave the King thus sitting at his tabill.

Clariodus with knichtis honorable
Was servit in his chalmer with alkin thing
That unto his estait was pertining.
So come to him ane great chirurgiane,
Be the Kings ordinance his hurts for to sane.
This man in sapience was ane maister great;
It neidis not all things for to repeit,
Bot finallie his woundis beine all seine,
The herbe he fand that was laid on tham greine,
Quhairof he espyit soune the vertew,
Sayand, the herbis kynd he weill knew;
He laid it on the wounds againe, but fabill,
And said, it hes beine to ȝow profeitable;
I pray ȝow be of comfort gud and blyth,
With Godis grace ȝe sall recover sweith,
That ȝe may ryde, and on horse armis beir,
And for ȝour lady breke alse great a speir
As ȝe have donne in tornament befor;
Have nobill curage and be glaid thairfor:
Thair still into his bede he gart him ly,
And dynit thair with knichtis standing by:
When he his woundis had anoyntit all
With pretious salves and balmes maist royall,
Into his Innis into the toune he went.
Richt glaid [then] was the King in his intent,
[That] he remainit in his companie,
Clariodus, [the] flour of chevalrie.
Quhen he had dynit, fra the buird he raise,
And glaidlie to Clariodus he gais,
Comfortit him with wordis tenderlie;
And he againe him thankit courteslie.
The King gart send to chalmer for the Queine,
And for hir dochter, and uther ladyis scheine;
And thay ar cuming at his ordainance,
Whome for to se it was ane great plesance.
Clariodus hes maid great reverence
Unto the Queine, so great of excellence,
And wald have ryssine, bot the King wald nocht,
So deir he had his bed with bargain bocht:
Scho cherisit him, and did him great plesance,
His deidis doing greattumlie advance,
And doune scho sat upon his bed syde,
And with him speiking thair did long abyde.
Then said the King unto Clariodus,
If it micht make ȝow mirrie and joyous,
My dochter sall rycht glaidlie to ȝow sing:
Quhairon he said, I pray ȝow ower all thing
To sing ane song: the King did hir command;
And scho begane anon without demand,
And with ane voice that plesant was to heir;
Of quhois song Clariodus had gud cheir,
So weill scho song it easit him of his noy.
Clariodus said to the King, Ma foy,
Ȝit hard I never sic singing to this day,
Into na cuntrie, of sa ȝoung ane may;
For scho was ȝit bot sevin ȝeiris of age,
Thocht nature had put hir in sic curage.
Lang tyme remainit thay with Clariodus,
To hold him out of thochtis langorus.
On this ways daylie, schortlie to indyte,
Him visit King, Queine, and ladyis quhyte;
And still with him remainit leichis gud,
Whyll he was haill of woundis. To conclude,
Now leave will I Clariodus heir still,
And of ane uther mater speike I will.

The four trew fellows of Schir Clariodus
In heartis war all sad and dollorus
For langour [that] thay could get na tyding
Of him thay luifit atoure all eardlie thing.
Palexis and his brother Amadoure,
Baith day and nicht oppressit with langour,
Unto thair uther two brether hes thame drest,
Richard de Maiance, Gilȝeam de la Forrest,
Saying to them, We are accordit thus,
We go to pas and seike Clariodus,
And ȝe two here to remaine with the King,
Ay of the court to send us sum tydeing.
On this ways beine agreit finallie,
Thir two ar passit to the King in hy,
And askit leave to pas the said voyage.
Thay war grantit with ane blythe visage.
Thay tuike thair leave anone at King and Queine,
And at Meliades the lustie lady scheine,
Quha callit on Palexis secreitlie,
Saying, Commend me oft and hertfullie
Unto Clariodus, gif ȝe him find,
And say, sike langour deidlie dois me bind,
That gif I hear no tydingis haistilie,
Than daith sall me devoure but remedie;
And in taikin ȝe sall bide him take
This heart of gold, quhilk is of culloure blake;
Bide him it cullour alse quhyt with plesance,
As it is blake with sorrow and pennance.
Thay tuike thair leave and to thair horse they went,
And speid them fast with travell diligent
Whill thay had passit the boundis of Ingland,
And then strange cuntries and wyde thay fand,
And ever efter Clariodus thay speir,
Bot na wit gat thay of him far nor neir;
Then war thay wounder wobegone and sad,
Deiming sum mischance him happinnit had.
When thay had sought him in mony far cuntrie,
Thay happinit in ane wode with tries hie,
Quhilk for to pas was strange and perrilus,
Whair whyllume walkit feir knichtis antrus.
Thay two enterit in at the forrest syde,
Whair soune thay harde ane litill thame besyd
Ane petious cry lamentabill to heir;
Then can Palexis at his fellow speir,
Heir ȝe ȝone voice that beine rycht lamentable?
Quhat ever it be, to ws it war meritabill
To succour at our mycht ȝone creature.
Then spurrit they with diligence and cure;
Then at the last thre knichtis they can sie,
The quhilks, with hartis full of crueltie,
Ane naikit man hade bunde rycht fellounlie,
Wha ceissit never mercie for to cry.
Palexis said, Fair Sirs, be ȝour leave,
That man ȝe do murther and mischeve;
It is agains the ordour of knichtheid
To do sa cruell and sa foule a deid.
Thay said anone, The thing that we doe heir
Ȝe can it not remeid on na maneir.
Quoth Amadour, Ȝe sall him leave with us,
Or him defend with deidis chevalrus.
Thir knichtis thre withouttin wordis mo
Rycht cruellie set on the brether two.
Palexis hes the formist knicht borne doune,
For he was wicht and mekill of renoune,
And with the fall his kne baine brake in two.
Then the foure knichtis can togider go,
And two for two thay fought full fellounlie,
And straike at uthar wonder cruellie:
Bot lang the battell might not thus induire,
For Sir Palexis and worthie Amadure
War hardie knichts, and wounder strong in feild
As ony micht be helmed wnder scheild;
Thir knichtis two behuifit for to die
Incontinent, or for to ȝoldin be;
And quhen they vincust beine aluterlie,
Thay askit mercie wonder petiouslie.
Palexis said, Than or we grant ȝow grace,
Ȝe mon all thre make aith into this place,
That our command ȝe trewlie sall fulfill
[In] what so ever we ordane ȝow till.
Thay grantit this, and swore as thay than said;
And than anon thir [twa] brether them bade
In Ingland pas to Philipon the King,
And unto him ȝeild but tarying;
And say that Amadur and Palexis
Ȝow sent unto his excellent nobilnes,
Declairing him without dissimulance
Of this mater all haill the circumstance.
Thay grantit to this ordinance all thrie.
The bundine knicht then gart thay lousit be,
And gart them also ask him forgivenes,
For he was knicht of full great worthienes:
And bad ilk knicht thay sould thair namis schaw;
Ane of them said, If it lykis ȝow for to knaw,
Sir Gault de le Spyne I am but circumstance,
My fellow eike height Ame de Plesans,
Cardrois de la Resse they call ȝon woundit knicht;
In Provence cuntrie beine my dwelling rycht,
My fellow is of Flanders natioun,
The hurt knicht is of Pollis regioun;
Ilk ane of ws come honour to conqueir,
And pressoners all caucht as ȝe sall heir:
Within ane myle fra hyne, in ane castell,
Dwellis ane knicht wounderfullie cruell,
Quhilke is The felloun callit but petie;
Ane wyfe he had of wounderfull beawtie;
So com ane knicht by rydand upon cace,
And revest hes the Lady fair of face;
Synsyne all knichtis cumand throw his land
He dois them vinquise with his [michty] hand,
And garris them sweir to do siclyke as he
To uther knichts cuming in his cuntrie,
His lady traisting for to have againe;
We thre hapinnit with him to be taine,
Quhairfor this knicht we tuike in this maneir
To save our aithes, traist weill this is no weir;
Men callis him The felloune but petie,
For sen his Ledie revischt was, never he
Did grace nor petie to no creatoure;
And he is wicht and hardie over measour;
He laikis no thing langing to knichtheid,
Saif he is only crwell of his deid.

Ather from uther can depairt anone;
Syn thir thrie knichtis ar to Ingland gone.
When they war weill recoverit of thair sore,
To Philipone the King they went but more;
[And], as they height, they did them to him ȝeild,
Schawing how they owercumin war in feild
Be Palexis and Amadour in feir:
So furth to him declairing the maneir,
The King hes them receivit tenderlie,
Saying thir wordis to thame standing by,
More am I holding to Sir Clariodus
And to his cousings bauld and chevalrus
In conqueis of my honour and renoune
Nor all the knichtis of my regioun.
He thame feistit and treitit nobillie,
And thame rewairdit wounder michtilie.
Thay tuike thair leave, and passit to thair land,
Quhen so they hade compleitit thair command.

Palexis now and Amadur also
War scant two mylis the Kingis castell fro
Of Galice, quhair Clariodus beine ȝit,
For so the cuntrie maid thame for to wite.
Thay ludgit in ane toune that heich was wallit,
And Joyous to name it was callit.
Thair host them tauld how that Clariodus
Was interteinit in that cuntrie famous,
And how he vinquist had the lyoun strong,
With all the proces and circumstancis long;
Whairof thay war rycht glaid in thair intent.
Airlie in morrow thay in palice went,
Whair they met with Sir Guy the new maid knicht.
He did them glaidlie welcum at his micht.
From them he passit to Clariodus
That was in chalmer, saying to him thus,
Two knichtis at the ȝet ar lichtit doune,
Rich woundour fair and gudlie of faschoune;
To speike with ȝow ar thair desyris maist.
Clariodus than sped him furth in haist,
Rycht woundour glaid and joyous of his cheir,
For weill he trowit thay war his cussings deir.
When he tham saw, he did tham imbrace,
And tenderlie tham kissit in that place.
Thair cuming than went to the Kingis eare,
Whairof he had ane joy, commixt with feare
That thay from him sould fetch Clariodus,
Whilk in his eyes semit so gratious
That he him lovit evin as his awin lyfe.
For the two knichtis he sent belyve;
And quhen thay war brocht to his presence,
Thay salust him with kinglie reverence,
And he resavit tham in fair maneir,
Saying, Welcum ȝe ar my frindis deir;
Sumthing I am adread into my heart,
That ȝe from me Clariodus depairt;
And if it be the caus of ȝour cuming,
Ȝe sall my heart wnglaid in mikill thing;
Ȝit glaidlie for his saik I sould ȝow love,
That this regioun hes brocht from sik unrove;
His frinds sall ever welcum be to me
So long as I am King of this cuntrie.
The lordis them receavit all about,
Knichts, Ladyis and all the lustie rout.
Clariodus them tuike in secreit wayis,
And speirit all the maner and the gyse
Of all the court of Ingland how it stude,
And of Meliades baith fair and gude;
And thay at schort hes tauld him [all] the cace,
Bot I no thing rehearse will in this place
Of hir luif taikin, quhilk I let owergone.
The King unto his denner went anone;
And after denner to the feildis went
All throw ane meid of flouris redolent;
Enlange ane river maid thay thair walking,
Whair sum did play and uther sum did sing,
Sum rowit furth on galayis on the fluide,
Sum beholding on the feildis stude,
Sum with his fellow raillit and maid sport,
In joy and blisse was all the lustie sort.
The King hes gart Clariodus with him go,
Sir Palexis and Amadour also,
And with his knichtis causit them to gone
To pastyme, and to putting of the stone:
Bot thay all uthar knichtis did exceid,
To quhilke the King soberlie tuike heid;
He all considerit and held him still,
Whais great wisdome dantit ay his will.
Thir brether greatlie commendit of the King,
As he them thocht lyke in everie thing
Unto thair Eam, Clariodus the gud;
It schew full weill that thay war of a blude.
Quhen thay had lang disportit in the meid,
The King tuike Sir Clariodus and ȝeid
Unto the palice, saying to him thus,
Is it ȝour will, my freind Clariodus,
That ȝour two cusings go and se the Queine,
And my dochter, that ȝoung of ȝeiris beine?
Sir, said the Knicht, as lykis to ȝour Grace.
Then enterit they anon wnto the place,
And to the Queinis presence soune thay ȝeid,
And scho, of ladyes, full of womanheid,
Adresit hir and came in thair presence,
Whilke mirrour was of bewtie and clemence;
With hir was Cader hir ȝoung dochter scheine,
In ȝeuth uprysing wounder fair to seine.
Unto the nobill princes said the King,
Take thir two knichtis into commoning,
That new beine cuming, and schort them with plesance.
And scho obeyit with humbill reverence.
With uther knichts ȝoung ladyis did disport;
To tell the faschioun it war lang to report.
Still at thair pleasance they remainit so
Whill tyme was cum supper to go to.
When they had souppit and maid rycht merrie cheir
They them disportit on this same maneir.
When tyme was cum to beddis for to gone,
Then everie man went to his bed anone.
Four knichtis did Clariodus convoy
Unto his chalmer, quhair maid was mekill joy,
And coursis came of meitis dalicat,
Of michtie wyne, and spycis aureat.
Lang quhan they feistit had in this maneir,
To bed they went, baith knicht and baicheleir.
Devoydit was the chalmer suddenly,
Clariodus and his cousings him by;
To bed is went all secreit bot them thre;
Of diverse thingis speirit at them he,
And thay him answerit as he did inquire.
Then said Clariodus, My freindis deir,
I have beine thinkand on ȝour mariagis,
Ȝe sall that be with great lynagis;
Amadur, ȝe sall have in wadding
The lustie sister of the Spanisch King
Of Spainȝie land with ȝow to go to bed;
And Palexis, my cousing, ȝe sall wed
The King of Galice dochter to ȝour wyfe;
Be now content or never in ȝour lyfe,
It is not lang sen ȝe hir saw, trow I.
Weill, Sir, quoth they, ȝe sport ȝow merrily,
What now say ȝe of ȝour awin wadding.
Quod he, That sall I efterwart inbring
When ȝe beine waddit and to honour brocht;
Ȝow to displease this mater speik I nocht,
And if thairto ȝour self be nocht content,
Na mair thairof to speike I me assent.
Be this Amador fell sound on sleip,
The quhilk Palexis persavit and tuike keipe,
And this unto Clariodus he said,
Meliades, that fresch lustie ȝoung maid,
As ȝe me bad, I gave the [hie] plesance,
Declairing hir, with everie circumstance,
The maner haill and caus of ȝour byding;
Bot quhen scho wist that it was suthfast thing,
That to the lyoun ȝe sould geive battell,
Hir bricht cullour soune waxit wan and paill;
Scho sounit deidlie, that peitie was to see,
In warld micht no ladie more dolour drie:
It war ower lang to tell ȝow all the cace,
How scho with teiris hir beawtie did deface;
Receave this harte of gold inamellit blake,
Scho bad ȝow in rememberance it take,
And it to make alse quhyt with conforting
As it is blake with sorrow and weiping.
The heart recevit has Clariodus,
And kissit it weill oft, saying thus,
Maist fair of wichtis, fairest to praise,
Naught may my wits all inewgh suffais
Ȝour Ladyschipe to thanke with humbilnes
According to ȝour trewth and gentilnes;
When sall I doe to ȝow sa great plesance,
As ȝe for me have sufferit oft pennance?
Meliades, wald God now [that] ȝe wist
That ardant heat, langour and birning thrist
On me so sore for langing for ȝour presence,
Quhilke beine my warldis joy and sufficence.

He thus regrating, Palexis sleipit sound
Whill Phebus bricht had rune his course around,
And schew his face into the orient.
Clariodus he raise, and furth he went
Unto the King, saying on this maneir,
My cousingnis as ȝe se ar cum heir
For me, that heir hes maid lang sojorning;
Now grant me leave to pas unto the King,
Whilk speciallie thir knichts hes for me send.
Woe was the King quhen verilie he kend,
That he no longer with him wald abyde;
Then said he thus, Seing it man so betyd
That ȝe from us neidis mone depairt,
I ȝow beseike and pray with all my hart
That ȝe wald grant at my desyre ane thing.
Clariodus said anon to the King,
Ȝe sall me no tyme pray, bot ay command,
And I thairto obey sall but demand.
The King said thus, Clariodus,
Advyse quhat is best and most pretious
In my realem, and tak it I ȝow pray;
For unto ȝow it salbe readie ay.
Then, Sir, said he, seing it be ȝour pleasance,
That I sall aske efter ȝour ordinance,
Heir is Palexis, my freind and my cousing,
Whom as myself I luif but fainȝeing,
I aske ȝour doughter to him in mariage,
If that ȝe wald disdaine with our linage
For to allay of ȝour great gentilnes;
And I ane thing sall height ȝow heir dreidles,
That he salbe, within ane ȝeiris space,
Ane crounit king, throw help of Godis grace.
Blyth was the King of thir wordis, and said,
Clariodus, I hald me weill apayed.
This Knicht anone sat doune upon his kne,
And thankit him with great humilitie.
The King anone has gart be brocht the Queine,
And fair Cadar, his lustie dochter scheine.
Clariodus hes sent for Palexis.
When Amadur and he cummand was,
The King said to his dochter on this ways,
Heir ar thrie knichtis mikill for to praise,
With ane of them if ȝe sould waddit be,
Whom wald ȝe chose, say on, dochter, let see.
Thus unto hir he said in his bourding.
And scho to him hes so maid answeiring;
Of thir knichtis my chose if I sould have,
Clariodus I chuse above the leave,
[Of knichtis best, sic maik wold I like well.]
Then luich the King, and said, Its na mervell
Suppose ane elder woman had it said,
When ȝe, dochter, that beine so ȝoung ane maid,
Hes chosen him to be ȝour paramour.
Clariodus than changit his cullour.

Now in this mater to be schort,
Seing lang it war the proces to report,
The King with all his lordis beine advysit,
[It was a thing quhilk gretumly they prysit]
That Palexis the fresch and nobill knicht
Sould wad anon the Kingis dochter bricht;
And efter this ane bischop gar thay bring,
And handfast them but langer tarying.
Clariodus gave hir ane rich coller
With gold all set and michtie stonis deir,
Togidder with ane diamond bricht,
At his depairting, as ane gentill knicht;
The officeris and servants in the hall
He gave rewardis, and monie giftis royall.
The new maid Knicht forȝet he nocht,
Ane cloath of gold full curiouslie wrocht
He gave to him, and uther giftis mo.
At King and Queine they tuike thair leave to go,
And of the court at everie lord and knicht;
Syn towards Ingland tuike thair gaitis rycht
With great triumph, honour and commend.
So of this first Buike I make ane end.