Here begynneth a litell treatise of the knight of curtesy and the lady of Faguell

IN Faguell a fayre countre A great lorde somtyme dyd dwell Which had a lady so fayre and fre That all men good of her dyd tel ¶ Fayre and pleasaunt she was in sight Gentyl and amyable in eche degre Chaste to her lorde bothe day and nyght As is the turtyll vpon the tre ¶ All men her loued bothe yonge and olde For her vertue and gentylnesse Also in that lande was a knight bolde Ryght wyse and ful of doughtinesse ¶ All men spake of his hardynesse Ryche and poore of eche degre So that they called him doutlesse The noble knyght of curtesy ¶ This knight so curtesy was and bolde That the lorde herde ther of anone He sayd that speke with him he wolde For hym the messengere is gone ¶ Wyth a letter vnto this knight And sayd syr I pray god you se My lorde of Faguell you sendeth ryght An hundred folde gretynge by me ¶ He praieth you in all hastynge To come in his court for to dwell And ye shal lake no maner of thynge As townes towres and many a castell ¶ The curteyse knight was sone content And in all dilygence that might be Wyth the messyngere anone he went This lorde to serue with humylite ¶ Fast they rode bothe day and nyght Tyll he vnto the lorde was come And whan the lorde of hym had a sight Right frendly he did him welcome ¶ He gaue hym towenes castelles & towres Whereof all other had enuye They thought to reue him his honoures By some treason or trechery ✿ This lady of whome I spake before Seyng this knight so good and kynde Afore all men that euer were bore She set on hym her herte and minde ¶ His paramour she thought to be Hym for to loue wyth herte and minde Nat in vyce but in chastyte As chyldren that together are kynde ✿ This knight also curteyse and wyse With herte and mynde bothe ferme and fast Louyd this lady wythouten vyse Whyche tyll they dyed dyd euer laste ¶ Both night and day these louers true Suffred great paine wo and greuaunce How eche to other theyr minde might shewe Tyll at the last by a sodaine chaunce ✿ This knight was in a garden grene And thus began him to complayne Alas he sayd With murnynge eyen Now is my herte in wo and payne From mournynge can I not refrayne This ladyes loue dothe me so wounde I feare she hath of me disdayne with that he fell downe to the grounde ¶ The lady in a wyndowe laye With herte colde as any stone She wyst nat what to do nor saye Whan she herde the knightes mone ¶ Sore sighed that lady of renowne In her face was no colour founde Than into the gardein came she downe And sawe this knight lye on the grounde ¶ whan she sawe hym lye so for her sake Her here 〈…〉 was almoost gone To her 〈…〉 coude she none take But in swo●● fell downe hym vpon ✿ So sadly that the knyght awoke And whan that he sawe her so nere To hym comforte anone he toke And began the lady for to chere ¶ He sayd lady and loue alas In to this cure who hath you brought She sayd my loue and my solas Your beaute standeth so in my thought ✿ That yf I had no worldly make Neuer none should haue my herte but ye The kynght sayd lady for your sake I shal you loue in chastyte ✿ Our loue he sayde shal be none other But chaste and true as is betwene A goodly syster and a brother For luste our bodyes to kepe clene ✚ And where so euer mi body be Bothe day and night at euery tyde My simpele herte in chastite Shall euer more lady with you abide ✿ This lady white as any floure Replete with feminine shamefastnesse Begayn to chaunge her face coloure And to him sayd my loue doubtelesse ¶ Vnder suche forme I shal you loue With faythful herte in chastite Next vnto god that is aboue Bothe in welthe and aduersyte ✿ Eche of them kyssed other truely But euer alas ther was a fo Behynde the wall them to espye Which after torned them to muche wo ¶ Out of the gardyn whan they were gone Eche from other dyd departe Awaye was all theyr wofull mone The one had lyghted the others herte ✿ Than this spye of whome I tolde Whyche stode behinde the garden wall Wente vnto his lorde ful bolde And sayd syr shewe you I shall ¶ By your gardyn as I was walkynge I herde the knight of curtesye which with your lady was talkinge Of loue vnlawfull pryuely ¶ Therfore yf ye suffre him for to procede Wyth your lady to haue his loue He shal bee lede fro you in dede Or elles they bothe shal you distroye ✿ Whan than the lorde had vnderstande The wordes that the spye him tolde He sware he wolde rydde him fro that Where he neuer so stronge and bolde ¶ He sware an othe by god almyght That he should neuer be glade certayne While that knighe was in his sight Tyl that he by some meane were slaine ✚ Than let he do crye a feest For euery man that thider wolde come For euery man bothe moost and leest Thyder came lordes bothe olde and yonge ✿ The lorde was at the table set And his lady by him that tide The knight of curtesy anone was set And set downe on the other syde ¶ Theyr hartes should haue be wo begone If they had knowen the lordes thought But whan that they were styll echone The lorde these words anone forth brought ✿ My thinke it is syttinge for a knight For auentures to enquyre And nat thus bothe day and night At home to soiourne by the fyre ¶ Therfore syr knight of curtesye This thinge wyl I you counseyll To ryde and go throught the countre To seke aduentures for your auayle ¶ As vnto rodes for to fight The christen fayth for to mayntayne To shewe by armes your force and myght In Lumbardy , Portyngale & in Spayne ✿ Than spake the knyght to the lord anone For your sake wyl I auenture my lyfe Whether euer I come agaynst or none And for me ladyes sake your wyfe ¶ If I dyd nat I were to blame Than sighed the lady with that worde In dolour depe her hirte was tane And sore wounded as wyth a sworde ✿ Than after dyuer the knight did go His horse and harneyse to make redy The woful lady came him vnto And to him sayd right pyteously ¶ Alas yf ye go I must complayne Alone as a wofull creature If that ye be in batayle slayne On lyue may I not endure ✿ Alas vnhappy creature Where shal I go where shal I byde Of dethe sothely nowe am I sure And all worldly ioye I shal set a syde ¶ A payre of sheres than dyd she take And cut of her here bothe yelowe and bright Were this than sayd she for my sake Vpon your helme moche cutuyse knighe I shall dere lady for your sake This knyght sayd with styl morninge No comforte to him coude he take Nor absteine him fro perfounde syghinge ¶ For grete pyte I can not wryte The sorowe that was betwene them two Also I haue to small respyte For to declare theyr payne and wo ✿ The wofull departinge and complaynt That was betwene these louers twayne Was neuer man that coude detaynt So wofull did they complayne ¶ The teres ran from theyr eyen twayne For doloure whan they did departe The lady in her castell did remayne Wyth langour replenysshed was her herte ✿ Now leue we here this lady bryght Wythin her castel makinge her moue And tourne we to the curteys knyght Whyche on his Iourney forth is gone ¶ Vnto hymselfe this knight sayd he Agaynst the chrysten I wyl not fyght But to the rodes wyl I go Them to susteyne with all my myght ✿ Than did he her heere vnfolde And one his helme it set on hye Wyth rede thredes of ryche golde Whiche he had of his lady ¶ Full richely his shelde was wrought Wyth asure stones and beten golde But on his lady was his tohught The yelo we heare whan he dyd beholde ¶ Than forth he rode by dale and downe After auentures to enquyre . By many a castel cyte and towne All to batayl was his desyre ● In euery Iustyng where he came None so good as he was founde In euery place the pryce he wan And smote his aduersaryes to the grounde ¶ So whan he came to Lumberdye Ther was a dragon ther aboute Whyche did great hurt and vylanye Bothe man and beste of hym had doubte ¶ As this knight rode there alone Saue onely his page by his syde For his lady he began to mone Sore syghynge as he did ride ✚ Alas he sayd my lady swete God wote in what case ye be God wote whan we two shal mete I feare that I shal neuer you se ✚ Than as he loked hym a boute Towarde a hyll that was so hye Of this dragon he harde a shoute Yonder is a feast he sayd truly ¶ The knight him blessyd & forthe dyd go And sayd I shal do my trauayle Betyde me well betyde me wo The ●●ers fynde I shal assayle ¶ Than wyth the dragon dyd he meate Whan she him sawe she gaped wyde He toke good hede as ye may wete And quyckely sterted a lytle a syde ¶ He drewe his swerde like a knyght This dragon fyersly to assayle He gaue her strokes ful of myght Stronge and mortall was the batayle ¶ The dragon gaue this knight a wounde Wyth his tayle vpon the heed that he fell downe vnto the grounde In a sowne as he had ben deed ¶ So at the last he rose agayne And made his moue to god almyght And to our lady he dyd compleyne theyr helpe desyrynge in that fyght than sterte he wyth a fayrse courage Vnto the dragon without fayle He loked so for his aduauntage that he smote of her tayle ¶ Than hegan the dragon for to yell And tourned her vpon her syde the knight was ware of her right well And in her †bodt† made his sworde to slyde ¶ So that she coud nat remoue seartely the knight that seinge approched nere And smote her heed of lyghtly than was he escaped that daungere ✿ Than thanked he god of his grace Whiche by his goodnes and mercye Hym had preserued in that place Through vertue of hys deyte ¶ Than went he to a nonrye there besyde And there a surgen and by his arte Heled his woundes that were so wyde And than fro thens he dyd departe ✿ To warde the rodes for to fyght In bataill as he had vndertake The fayth to susteyne with all his might For his promysse he wil not breke ¶ Than of sarazyns there was a route All redy armen and in araye That syeged the rodes round aboute Fyersly agaynst the good fredaye ✿ The knight was welcomed of echone That within the cyte were They prouided forth batayle anone So for this time I leue them there ¶ And tourne to his lady bryght Which is at home wyth wofull mone Sore morned both day and night Sayenge alas my loue is gone ✿ Alas she sayd my gentyl knight For your sake is my herte ful sore Myght I ones of you haue a syght Afore my dethe I desyre no more ¶ Alas what treson or enuye Hath made my loue fro me to go I thynke my lorde for Ire truley By treason him to deth hathe do . ¶ Alas my lorde ye were to blame Thus my loue for to betraye It is to you a right great shame Sythe that our loue was cast al waye ¶ Our loue was clene in chastyte Wichout synne styl to endure We neuer entended vylanye Alas moost curteyse creature ✿ Where do ye dwell where do ye byde Wold god I knewe where you to fynde Wher euer ye go where euer ye ride Loue ye shal neuer out of my mynde ¶ A deth where art thou so longe fro me Come and departe me fro this paine For dead and buried til I be Fro morning can I nat refraine ✿ Fare wel dere loue , where euer ye be Bi you pleasure is fro me gone Vnto the time I may you se Without comforte still must I mone ¶ Thus this lady of coloure clere Aloue mourninge did complaine Nothinge coulde her comforte ne chere So was she oppressed with wo and paine ✿ So leue we her here in this traine For her loue mourning alwaye and to the knight tourne we againe which at Rodes abideth the day ¶ Of bataile , so whan the daie was come The knightes armed them eche one And out of the citie wente all and some Strongly to fight with goddes fone ¶ Faire and semely was the sight To se them redy vnto the warre there was many a man of might That to that bataile was come full farre ✿ The knight of curtesy came into the felde well armed right fast did ride Both knightes and barans him behelde How comely he was on eche side ¶ Aboue the helme vpon his hede was set with many a precious stone The comely heare as golde so rede Better armed than he was none ✿ Than the trumpettes began to sounde The speres ranne and brake the taye the noise of gonnes did rebounde In this metinge there was no plaie ¶ Great was the bataile on eueri side the knight of curtesy was nat behinde He smote all downe that wolde abide His mache coulde he no where finde ✿ There was a Sarazin stronge & wight that at this knight had great enuye He ran to him with all his might and said traitour I thee defie ¶ They ranne together with speres longe anone the Sarazin lay on the grounde The knight drew out his sworde so stronge and smote his head of in that stounde ¶ Than came twelue Sarazins in a tought and the knight did sore assaile So they beset him rounde aboute There began a stronge bataile ¶ The knight kest foure vnto the grounde with foure strokes by and by the other gaue him many a wounde For they did euer multeplie ¶ They laide on him on euery side with cruell strokes and mortall They gaue him woundes so depe and wide that to the grounde downe did he fall ¶ The Sarazins went and let him lye with mortall woundes piteous to se He called his page hastely and said my time is come to die ¶ In mi herte is so depe a wounde that I must dye without naye But or thou me burye in the grounde Of one thinge I thee praie ¶ Out of mi body to cut my herte and wrappe it in this yelowe here And whan thou doest from hence departe Vnto my lady thou do it bere ¶ This promisse thou me without delay to bere my lady this present And burie mi body in the crosse waie the page was sory and dolent ¶ The knight yelded vp the goost anone the page him buried as he had him bad And towarde Faguell is he gone The herte , and here , with him he had ¶ Somtime he went somtime he ran with wofull mone and sory Iest Till vnto Faguell he came Nere to a castell in a forest ✿ The lorde of Faguell without let was in the forest with his meyne with this page anone he met Page he said what tidinges with thee ¶ With thi maister how is the case Shew me lightli or thou go Or thou shalt neuer out of this place The page was a fearde whan he said so ✿ The page for feare that he had the herte vnto the lorde he toke tho In his courage he was full sad He toke the herte to him also ¶ He tolde him trothe of eueri thinge How that the knight in bataile was slaine and howe he sent his lady that thinge For a speciall token of loue certaine ⚜ The lorde therof toke good hede And behelde the herte that high presente their loue he said was hote in dede they were bothe in great torment ¶ Than home is he to the kechin gone Coke he said herken vnto me Dresse me this herte and that anone In the deintiest wise that may be ¶ Make it swere and delycate to eate For it is for my lady bryght If that she wyst what were the meate Sothely her hert wolde not be lyght ✿ Therof sayd the lorde full trewe That meat was doleful and mortall So though the lady whan she it knewe Than went the lorde into the hall ¶ Anone the lorde to meate was set And this lady nat farre him fro The hert anone he made be set Wherof proceded muche wo ¶ Madame eate hereof he sayd For it is deynteous and plesaunte The lady eate and was not dismayde For of good spyce there dyd none wante ✿ Whan the lady had eaten wele Anone to her the lorde sayd there His herte haue ye eaten euery dele To whome you gaue your yelowe here ¶ Your knight is dead as you may se I tell you lady certaynly His owne herte eaten haue ye Madame at the last we all must dye ✿ whan the lady herde him so say She sayd my herte for wo shall brast Alas that euer I sawe this day Now may my lyfe no lenger last ¶ Vp she rose wyth hert full wo And streight vp into her chambre wente She confessed her deuoutly tho And shortely receyued the sacrament ¶ In her bed mournyng she her layde God wote ryght wofull was her mone Alas myne owne dere loue she sayd Syth ye be dead my ioye is gone ✿ Haue I eaten thy herte in my body That meate to me shal be full dere For sorowe alas now must I dye A noble knight withouten fere ¶ That herte shal certayne with me dye I haue reciued theron the sacrament All erthly fode here I denye For wo and paine my life is spente ✿ My lorde and husbande full of cruelte Why haue you done this cursed dede Ye haue him slaine so haue ye me The hee god graunte to you your mede ¶ Than sayd the lorde my lady fayre Forgiue me if I haue misdone I repent I was 〈◊〉 ware That ye wolde your herte oppresse so sone ¶ The lady sayd I you forgiue A dew my lorde for euermore My time is come I may not liue The lorde sayd I am wo therfore ✿ Great was the sorowe of more and lesse Bothe lordes and ladyes that were there Som for great wo swouned doubtelesse All other dethe full wofull were Her complaynt pyteous was to here A dieu my lorde nowe muste we disceuer I dye to you husbande a true wedded fere As any in Faguell was found euer ¶ I am clene of the knight of curtesy And wrongfully are we brought to confusion I am clene for hym and he for me And for all other saue you alone ✿ My lorde ye were to blame truely His herte to make me for to eate But sythe it is buryed in mi body On it shall I neuer eate other meate ¶ Theron haue I recyued eternall fode Erthly meate wyll I neuer none Now Iesu that was don on the rode Haue mercy on me my lyfe is gone ✿ Wyth that the lady in all theyr syght Yelded vp her spyrit makinge her mone The hyghe god moost of myght On vs haue mercy and vs echone ¶ And brynge vs to that gloryous trone To se the ioye of Paradyse Whyche god graunte to vs echone and to the reders & herers of this treatyse . ¶ Thus eneth this lytle treatyse of the knyght of curtesy & of the fayre lady of Faguell .