University of Virginia Library

[The 1st parte.]

Doughty in king Arthures dayes
when Brittaine was holden in noblenesse,
and in his time a long while
he soiourned in merry Carlile.
with him he had many an heire
as he had else many a whide where;
Of his round table they were Knights all,
& thé had much Mirth in bower & hall;
in euery Land of the world wide
thé came to the court on every side,
both yonge knights & Squires eke,
all thé came to the courte to seeke.
& with him there longed a bold bachelor,
& soe he did many a yeere,
a yonge Knight of much might,
Sir Lambewell forsooth he hight,
and euer he spent worthilye,
& he gaue gifts that were larglie;
[soe largely] his good he spent,
much more than euer he had rent,
& soe outragiouslie he it sett
that he became far in debt.
and when he saw that all was gone,
then hee begunn to make great moane,
“alacke!” he said, “noe goods I haue;
I know not how to doe, soe god me saue,
& I can neither begg nor borrowe!
thus I am brought far in sorrow,
& I am far in a strange land,
& haue noe goods, as I vnderstand.
of all these Knights that are soe feirce
of the round table, which are my peeres,
eche one to haue me they were glad,
& now for me thé wilbe sad;
both Sir Huon & Sir Gaion,
Some time of me that you were faine;
ffarwell Sir Kay, that crabbed Knight!
farwell Sir Perciuall the wight!
of my companie that thou was faine,
the good Knight Sir Agrauaine!
farwell Sir Garrett & Sir Griffine,
of my company that thou was faine!
ffarwell the Knight Sir Iron side!
of my company thou had much pride,
ffor my expence & noble wray,
& the rich gifts that I gaue aye!
Certes you shall me neue[r] see;
ffarwell, I take my leaue of you
as a single batchlour without blame,
where before I bare a good name.”
then he leaped vppon a fresh courser
without page or any squier,
& tooke his way towards the west,
betweene the water & a faire fforrest.
the sun was at the [even-tide],
the Knight light downe, & thought to abide,
& layd him downe, the knight free,
vnder the shadow of a tree;
and what for Weeping much & warle,
a-sleepe I-wis this Knight fell,
& what for sobbing & greet.
when he wakned, vp he him sett,
and then he looked afore him tho:
out of a fforrest came Maydens tow,
towards Sir Lambewell they did grow;
ffairer befor he neuer sawe.
Mantles they had of Red veluett
fringed with gold full well sett,
& kirtles of purple sandall,
they were small laced, & fitted well;
they were tyred aboue over all,
& either of them had a ffresh color,
they had faces as white as snowdowne,
they had loue-some color & eyen Browne;
& one of them had a gold Bason,
& the other a towell of silke fine.
towards Lamewell drew these maids twaine:
the Knight was curteous, and rose them againe;
thé said, “god speede thee, thou Knight free,
there as thou lyest full of pouirty!”
“damsell,” saies Lamwell, “welcome to mee!”
“Sir,” quoth the one, “well may thou bee!
My Lady thats bright as blossome or flower,
thee greets, Sir Lamwell, as her paramoure,
& prays you for to speake with her
& if it be your will, faire Sir.”
Lamwell answered them both there,
“& I am faine with you to fare,
for which way soeuer your gate lies,
I deeme certaine be paradice,
for fairer maids then you tow bee
I neuer saw moue with mine eye.”
thé thanked Lambwell, that Knight Curteous,
for giuing them soo great a praise:
“but shee as much fairer then wee are seene,
& ouer vs might be a queene,
her bewtie passeth vs as far
as betweene the flower & the steale.”
they washed their hands & face alsoe,
& forth with those maids the Knight did goe.
within that forrest thé did see
a rich pauillion pight full hee,
& euery pomell of the pauillion
was well worth a 100 pound:
vpon the topp a gripe stood,
of shining gold, fine & good;
in his mouth he bare a carbunckle bright,
like the moone it shines euery night;
King Alexander the conquerour,
nor Salamon in his most honour,
nor Charlemount the rich King,
they neuer welded such a thing.
for sooth there was in that pauillion
the Kings daugter of Million;
in that pauillion was a bed of price
that was couered ore with goodlie vice,
& therein sate a lady bright,
from the Middle shee was naked vpright,
and all her cloathing by her lay;
ffull seemlie shee sate, I say,
all in a mantle of white Ermines
was fringed about with gold fine.
her mantle downe for heat shee did
full right vnto her girdle steed;
shee was as white as lilly in may,
or snow that falls on winters day;
the blossome, nor the bryar, nor noe Kind of f[lower,]
it hath noe hue vnto her color;
[and the red] Rose when it is new,
to her rednesse hath noe hue,
for it shone Like the gold wyer;
yett noe man can tell of her attyre.
when of her had had a sight,
downe of his knees then fell the Knight,
& saluted her with mild steuen
as though that shee had come from heauen,
& spake to her when he had space,
“I put me, lady, into your grace.”
“Sir Lambewell,” shee said, “my harts sweete,
for thy loue my hart I leete,
& theres noe King nor emperour—
but & if I loued him paramour
as much, Sir Lambewell, as I doe thee,—
he wold be right glad of me.”
he sett him downe the lady beside,
“Lady,” he saies, “what-ere betide,
both early & late, loud & still,
command [me] ready at your will!
but as helpe me god, my lady deere,
I am a knight without hawere;
I haue noe goods noe more, nor men,
to maintaine this estate I find your in.”
then said that Lady, “I doe you soe kind,
I know thy estate first & end.
& thou wilt trustilie to mee take,
& for my loue all other forsake,
then I will maintaine thine honour
with gold, with siluer, & with rich treasure,
& with euery man thou shalt spend larglie,
& I will giue thee great plentie.”
then of that profer he was full blithe,
& thanked this lady often sithe;
he obaid him vnto her there,
he list this lady that was soe faire,
& by that Lady downe him sett,
& bad her maides downe meat fet,
& to there hands watter cleer,
for then shee wold vnto supper:
there was meate & drinke, great plentie,
of euery thing that was daintye.
when they had eaten & druken both,
then to her bed this lady wold goe.
Sir Lambwell, like a hailow Knight,
by her bedside stood vp full right,
said, “you displease, that wold I nought,
but Iesus leeue, you knew my thought.”
then spake that Lady free,
saies, “vndight thee, Lambewell, & come to me.”
then was Lambwell soone vndight,
& in bed with this Lady bright,
& did all that night lye there,
& did whatsoeuer their wills were;—
for play thé slept but litle that Knight
till it began to be daylight.—
& when the daylight was comen, tho
shee said, “Rise, Lambewell, & now goe!
gold & siluer take inoughe with thee,
& with euery man thoust spend larglie;
& more thou spendest, meryer thoust sitt,
& I will send thee innoughe of it;
but one thing, Knight, I thee forefendant,
that of mee thou neuer auant;
for & thou doe, I tell thee before,
for euer thou hast my loue forlore.
& when thou wilst, thou gentle Knight,
speake with me by day or night,
into some secrett place look you goe,
& thinke vppon me soe & soe,
& shortly I will with you bee,
not a man saue you that shall me see.”
a maid brought him his horsse anon;
hee took his leaue, & leapeth vppon;
“ffarewell my hony, farwell my s[weete!]”
“farewell, Sir Lambwell, till oft we meete!”
of treasure then he had great plentie,
& thus he ryds thorrowout the cittye.
while he came there he shold have beene,
a merryer man they neere had seene;
now Lambwell he makes rich feasts,
Lambewell feeds minstrelsie their Iests,
Lambwell rewards religious,
Lambewell helpes euery poore howse;
were it Knight, squier, or swaine,
with his goods he helpeth them;
of his largnesse euery man wotts,
but noe man witts how he itt gotts.
alwayes when he lyed priuy & still,
his lady was ready at his will;
but well happy were the man
that in these dayes had such a one!

The 2d: parte.

Soe vppon a day Sir Gawaine
the gentle knight, & Sir Haion,
Sir Lambewell with them alsoe,
& other knights 20 & moe,
went for to play them on a greene
vnderneth the tower where lay the queene.
these knights on there game plaid thoe,
but sithe to dancinge they wold goe;
Sir Lambell he was before sett,
for his large spending they loued him best;
the queene in a bower beheld them all,
& saies “yonder is Large Lambwell!
of all the knights that be there,
there is none soe faire a bachlour,
& he hath neither lemman nor wiffe;
I wold he loued me as his life!
betide me well, betide me ill,
I shall,” shee said, “goe witt his will.”
shee took with her a companie
of damsells that were right pretty,
& downe shee goes anon-wright
for to goe dance with a knight;
& shee went to the first end
between Gawaine & Lambwell the hend,
& all the maids soe forth right,
one & one, betweene 2 knights.
& when this dancing did aslake,
the queene Sir Lambwell to councell did take:
“Lambwell,” shee saies, “thou gentle Knight,
I haue loued thee, & doe with all my might,
and as much desire I thee
as Arthur that Knight soe free;
good hap is now to thee tane,
that thou wilt loue me & noe other woman.”
he saies, “Madam, noe, certez
I wilbe noe traitor neuer in all my daies,
for I owe my king fealtie & homage,
& I will neuer doe him that damage.”
she said, “fie vpon thee, faint Coward!
dastard harllott as thou art!
that thou liuest, it is great pitye,
thou louest noe woman, nor noe woman loues thee!
he said, “Madadam, say yee your will,
but I can loue both lowde & still,
& I am loued with my lemman,
that fairer hath noe gentleman,
nor none soe faire, yett say I,
neither mayd nor yett Lady.
the simplest maiden with her, I weene,
ouer you, Madame, may be queene.”
then she was ashamed & full wroth;
shee clippeth her mayds, & forth goeth;
to Chamber shee wold all heavye,
for teene & anger shee wold die.
then King Arthur came from hunting,
glad & merry for all thing;
to the queenes Chamber gone is hee;
& then she fell downe vpon her knee,
& fast, lord, that shee did crye,
“helpe me, Lord, or euer I dye!
without [OMITTED] might
I shall die this yenders night.
I spake to Sir Lambwell in my game,
& he desired my body of shame;
as a false villane traitor
he wold haue done my body dishonor,
and when I wold not to him aply,
he shamefully rebuked me,
& of [his] Lemman praisment he made,
‘that the lowest maiden that shee had
might be a queene over mee;’
& all, Lord, was in despight of thee.”
the King therwith he waxed wroth,
& for anger he sware an oathe
that Lambwell shold abide the law,
peradventure both to hang & draw,
& he commanded 4 knights
to feitch the traitor to his sight.
theese 4 knights seeken him anon,
& to his chamber he is gone;
“alacke,” he sayd, “now my life is lorne
hereof shee warned me be-forne,
of all things that I did vse,
of her I shold neuer make my rowze.”
he clipped, hee called, he her besought,
but all availed him of nought;
he sorrowed & he did cry,
& on his knees besought her mercy,
“O my Lady, my gentle creature,
how shall my wreched liffe endure?
my worldlie blisse I haue forlorne,
& falslie to my lady forsworne!”
for sorrow & care he made that stond,
he fell in soonde to the ground;
soe long he lay that they Knights came,
& in his chamber tooke him then,
& like a theefe they led him then,—
thus was his sorrow, weale & woe,—
thé brought [the] Knight before the Kinge,
& this he said at his comminge:
“thou false & vntrue traitor!
thou besought my wife of dishonor!
that shee was lothlier, thou her vpbraid,
then was thy Lemmans lodlyest maid.”
Sir Lambewell answerd with Mild moode,
& tooke himselfe sworne by the roode,
“that it was noe otherwise but soe,
& that my selfe will make good thoe;
& therto ouer your court Looke.”
12 knights were d[r]iuen to a booke
the sooth to say in that case
altogether as it was.
these 12 knights, as I weene,
thé know the rule of the queene,
although the King were bold & stout,
that shee was wicked out & out,
but shee had such a comfort
to have Lemmans vnder her Lord;
therfore thé accquitt the trewman;
but sithe thé spake forth then,
for why that he is lemman bring
wherby he made his aduanting,
and alsoe that he proue in place
that her maids fairer was,
& alsoe more bright & sheene,
& of more beutye then the queene,
& alsoe countenance & hue,
they wold quitt him as good & trew;
& if he might not stand ther till,
he shold abide the Kinges will.
this verditt was giuen before the King,
The day was sett [OMITTED]

[_]

[pared off by the binder]

sureties he found to come againe,
both Sir Gawaine & Sir Hayon;
“alacke,” he said, “now my life is lorne!
herof shee warned [me] beforne,
of all things that I did vse,
of her that I shold neuer make rowze.”
he cleped, hee called, he her besought,
but all avayled him of nought;
he bent his body & his head eke,
he curst his mouth that of her did speake,
and thus he was with sorrow Num,
he wold his ending day were come
that he might from his life goe.
eche man for him was full woe,
for a large[r] spender then hee
neuer came in that countrye,
& thereto he was feirce & bold,
none better in the Kings houshold.
the day was come of his appearing,
thé brought the Knight afore the King:
his barons that his surties was,
they brought him forth, alas!
the King let it be rehersed there,
both the plaintiffe & the answere;
the King bad him bring his lemman in sight:
he answered that he ne might,
“but this I say to you alone,
a fairer than shee was neuer none,
both of bewtye & of shape;
I am to simple to tuch her lappe
or yett to come vnto her bower,
eccept it were for her pleasure,
not displeasing her sickerlie,
yet wold I you saw her ere I dye.”
“bring her forth,” the King sayes,
“that thou dost now soe fast praise,
to prooue the sooth that thou sayst of.”
“forsooth, my Lord, that can I nought.”
then sayd the King anon thoe,
“fforsooth thy disworshipp is the more;
what may wee all know therby
but that thou lyest loud & hye?”
he bade the barons giue Iudgment.
the Barons answered verament,
“to it, Lord, wee will gone,
wee will to it soone & anon.”
& then bespake the Erle of cornwayle
who was one of the councell,
& say[d], “wee know thee King our Lord,
hees owne mouth beares record,
the wich by his owne assent
hath-the g[i]uen the Knight Iudgment;
therefore, & we shold by the law,
Lambewell shold both hang & draw;
but villany it were to eche of vs one
to let vs fordoe soe a noble man,
or yett soe doughtie a bachlour
amongst vs all had neuer peere,
& therfore say by our reede
wee will the King such way leade
that he shalbe commanded to goe,
& void the court for evermore.”
& while they stood thus speaking,
they saw 2 Ladyes come ryding
vpon 2 ambling palfrayes,
much fairer then the summers dayes,
& they were clothed in rich atire,
that euery man had great desire.
Them espied Gawaine the gentle Knight,
“Lamwell,” he said, “dread for noe wight;
yonder comes thy life, yond maist thou see;
the loue of thee, I wott, is shee.”
Lambewell beholds them with much thought,
& said, “alacke, I know them nought!
My lady is much fairer certainlie.”
when they came Sir Lambwell by,
not tarrying with him thé yode,
but to the King both thé rode,
& said, “thou Lord of worshipp, Arthur,
lett dresse thy halls & thy bowers
both by ground, roofe, & wall,
with clothes of gold rich ouer all;
it must be done att device;
heere comes our Lady of much price;
shee comes to you, as I weene;
before yee, my lord, shee shalbe seene.”
thé commanded for her sake
the fairest chamber to them to take.
the Ladyes are gone to bower on hye;
the King bade his barronrye
haue done, & giue their iudgment.
the Barons were att verament,
“wee haue beholden this maiden bright,
& yee haue letted vs by this light,
but to it, Lord, we will gone,
wee will haue done soone & anon.”
a new speech they began thoe,
some said “well,” & some said “not soe,”
some to death wold him deeme
for to please the King & queene;
& other some wold make him cleere.
whilest they stood pleading in feare,
the whilest thé stood thus speaking,
other tow Ladies came ryding
vppon tow goodly mules of Spaine,
they had sadles, & bridles were champaind;
they were clothed in rich attire,
that euery man had great desire
ffor to behold their gentryes;
they came in oft soe rich a wise.
them espyed Huon the hind;
“Lambewell,” he said, “my brother & freind,
yond comes thy life, yond may thou see;
the tone of these, I wott, is shee,
ffor fairer then shee there may be none;
if it be not shee, choose thee none.”
Lambwell beholds them both I-wis,
& said, “of them 2 none it is;
My Lady is much fairer certainly,
but of her servants they may be.”
these Ladies that thus came ryding
rode to the Castle to the King,
& when thé came it Lamwell by,
baysance thé made certainly;
not tarrying with him thé made,
but to the King both thé rode,
and thé said, “you Lord of worshipp, Arthur,
let dresse thy halls & bowers
by ground, by roofe, & by wall;
with clothes of gold hang it all,
& cleath thy carpetts vnder her ffeete,
[[OMITTED]]
it must be done at device,
for heere comes our lady of much price.”
Much sorrow had dame Geneuer
when shee saw the ladies color;
then shee trowed of some guile
that Lamwell shold be holpen within a while
by his ladye that was coming.
fast shee cryed vpon the King,
& said, “lord, if thou loue thine honour,
avenge me on this traitor!”
To hang Lambwell shee wold not spare,
“your barons make you not to care;
without you him sloe without more,
I shall die my-self before.”
he bad his barons giue iudgment,
“or I will my-selfe, by mary gent.”
“we will him doome, Sir, soone anon!”
to tell they tale they once began:

The 3d: parte.

“My lord, thus for-sooth agreed are wee.”
“peace,” said Sir Haion, “noe more say yee,
ffor yonder I see her come rydinge
on whome Sir Lambwell made his auanting,
a damsell by her selfe alone,
on earth was fairer neuer none,—
vpon a fresh ambling palfray,—
much fairer then the summers day;
her eyes beene blossomed cleere & faire,
Iolly & Iocund as the faulconer
or the Iay that sitts on a bough;
of all things she is faire enoughe;
lord! shees a louely creature,
& rides thus att her pleasure.”
a sparhawk shee had on her hand,
a softly pace her palfray sand,
3 white greyhounds running her by,
as well beseemed for such a lady;
she had a crowne vppon her head
of precious stones & gold soe red.
wife & child, yonge & old,
all came this lady to beholde,
& all still vppon her gazinge
as people that behold the sacring;
& all they stood still in their study,
& yet they thought them neuer weary,
for there was neuer man nor woman that might
be weary of this ladies sight.
as soone as Sir Lambwell did her see,
on all the people cryed hee
“yond comes my life & my likinge!
shee comes that me out of baile shall bring!
yond comes my lemman, I make you sure;
treulie shee is the fairest creature
that euer man see before; indeed,
looke where shee rydes vppon her steed!”
This Lady when shee came thus ryding,
rode to the castle to the King;
the Knight there his owne worshipp did,
he rose vp, & he gaue her the steed,
& louely he can her greete,
& shee againe with words sweete.
the queene & other Ladyes stout
behold her comlye round about,
and there thé sate as dummbe
as the moone is light from the sunn.
then shee said to the King,
“hither am I come for such a thing:
my trew lemman Sir Lambewell
is Challenged, as I heere tell,
how that he shold with villanie
beseech the queene of adoutry.
that is false to bleeue, Sir King;
he bade not her, for shee bade him;
if he had desired her, with-out let
not a foot hither I wold haue sett;
you may beleeue me, euery word;
that this is right, I will make good;
& for the other praisment that he made,
that mine owne Lowtest mayd
was mor of beawtye then thy queene,
let the proofe, Sir, soone be seene.”
the King said, “verament,
Barrons, heere shall be noe iudgment,
but I my selfe the same will deeme
both of the queene & of the Mayden;
if I doe not right, then you may say
but Sir Lambwell [OMITTED]
[OMITTED] quoth the knight
“I will loue him with all my might
both in place & in stead
much better then euer I did.”
& when shee heard him soe say,
she leaped on her palfray
& obayd her to the King soe hind,
& tooke leaue away to wend.
then of all that while to Sir Lambwell
shee wold not speake nor looke neuer soe deale;
but wott you well, sorry was hee,
befor her he fell on his knee,
& said, “Madam! trespassed I haue,
& I am come of your mercy to craue!
I k[n]ouledge me of that wicked deed
that was forbidden me when you yode;
I am well worthy therfor to hange,
or leade my life in paines strange;
what pennance, Lady, you will to me say
or you depart from me away,
Lady, I desire noe more of thee
but once aside to looke on me!
My lord the King, of soe high a prow,
for all the service I haue done you,
one good word for me to speake!
& all my fellowes, I you beseeke,
with the King pray you alsoe
of her good word; I aske no moe.”
ffor that they saw he mad such mone,
they King & thé prayd, euery one;
but for all that euer he cold doe,
not a word shee wold speake him too,
but obayd her to the King soe hind,
& tooke her leaue away to wend.
then Lambewell saw that shee wold fare,
his owne hart he tooke to him there;
when shee turned her horse to haue gone,
he leaped vpon soone anon,
vpon her palfray; what-soeuer betide,
behind her he wold not abide;
& he said, “Madam, with reason & skill
now goe which way soe-ere you will,
for when you light downe, I shall stand,
& when you ryd, all at your hande,
& whether it be for waile or woe
I will neuer depart you froe.”