To the kyng {the thoght} com~ was,

To send vnto Sathanas

For a geaunt, that hight Cate,

For to make hym~ knyght to his hond [1240]

And sease hym~ in aƚƚ his lond; 1240

The messingere toke the gate. f. 97a.

Gret othes he sware hym than~,

That he shold ffyght but w{i}t{h} one man~,

And purvey hym he bad

Iryn stavis two or thre, 1245

For to ffyght with Torent ffre,

Though he there of ne w{a}tt.

[Linenotes:

1236. _the thoght_ om. MS.

1247. _wott_ MS.]

(108)

[Sidenote:

on an island for half Portugal.]

Than take counseƚƚ kyng and knyght,

On lond that he shold not ffyght, [1250]

But ffar oute in the see, 1250

In an yle long and br{a}d;

A gret payn~ there was made,

That holdyn~ shold it be.

Yf Cate slow Torent, that ffre ys,

Halfe Portyngale shold be his, 1255

To spend with dedys ffre;

And yf s{ir} Torrent myght hym ou{er}-com~,

He shold haue halfe Aragon~,

Was better than suche thre. [1260]

[Linenotes:

1248. _couns._] _of_ add. MS.

1251. _brod_ MS.]

[Headnote: THE GIANT CATE, AND TORRENT, GO TO THE ISLAND.]

(109)

[Sidenote:

The Giant Cate comes to an Island.]

The Gyaunt shipped in a while 1260

And sett hym~ oute in an yle,

That was grow both grene and gay.

Sir Torrent com~ prekand on a stede,

Richely armed in his wede;

‘Lordyngys,’ gan he say, 1265

‘It is semely ffor a knyght,

Vppon a stede ffor to ffyght.’

They said sone: ‘Nay,

He is so hevy, he can not ryde. [1270]

Torrent said: ‘Eviƚƚ mut he be-tyde, 1270

Falshode, woo worth it aye!’

(110)

[Sidenote:

Torrent prays for Christ’s help,]

‘Sir, takyth houseƚƚ and shrefte!’ f. 97b.

To god he did his hondys lifte,

And thankid hym of his sond:

‘I{es}u Cryste, I the praye, 1275

Send me myght and strengith this day

A-yen~ the ffend to stond!’

To the shipp s{ir} Torent went,

With the grace, god had hym sent, [1280]

That was never ffayland; 1280

Aƚƚ the lordys of that contre,

Frome Rome vnto the Grekys se,

Stode and be-held on lond.

[Linenotes:

1278. This line begins with a big initial letter.

_Torent_] _yode_, struck out, add. MS.

1283. _On lond stode and be held_ MS.]

(111)

[Sidenote:

and lands in the Island too. The Giant knocks Torrent’s staff out of

his hand,]

Whan s{ir} Torrent in to the Ile was brought,

The shipmen~ lenger wold tary nought, 1285

But hied hem sone ageyn~;

The Giaunt said: ‘So must I the,

Sir, thou art welcom to me,

Thy deth is not to layn~!’ [1290]

The ffirste stroke to hym he yaue, 1290

Oute of his hand flew his staff:

That thefe was fuƚƚ fayn~.

Tho s{ir} Torent went nere Cate, . . . . .

He thought, he wold hym~ haue slayn~.

[Headnote: TORRENT KILLS THE GIANT CATE WITH COBBLE-STONES.]

(112)

[Sidenote:

and runs into the sea. Torrent shies cobble-stones at him, kills

him,]

The theff couth no better wonne, 1295

In to the see rennyth he sone,

As faste as he myght ffare.

Sir Torrent gaderid cobled stonys, [1300]

Good and handsom ffor the nonys,

That good and round w{a}re; 1300

Meny of them to hym~ he caste,

He threw stonys on hym so faste,

That he was sad and s{a}re.

To the ground he did hym feƚƚ, f. 98a.

Men~ myght here the fend yeƚƚ 1305

Halfe a myle and m{a}re.

[Linenotes:

1298. _gad._] _good_ add. MS.

1300. _were_ MS.

1303. _sore_ MS.

1306. _more_ MS.]

(113)

[Sidenote:

and he is towd ashore. Torrent is shipt to the mainland.]

Sir Torent said, as he was wonne,

He thankid I{es}u, Maryes son~, [1310]

That kyng, that sent hym myȝt~;

He said: ‘Lordys, for charite, 1310

A bote that ye send to me,

It is nere hand nyght!’

They Reysed a gale w{i}t{h} a sayƚƚ,

The Geaunt to lond for to trayƚƚ,

Aƚƚ men wonderid on that wight. 1315

Whan that they had so done,

They went to s{ir} Torent fuƚƚ sone

And shipped that comly knyght. [1320]

[Headnote: TORRENT WINS DESONELL, LANDS, AND A CITY.]

(114)

[Sidenote:

Torrent is awarded Desonell, territory, and the City of Cargon.

Desonell is divorst from the Prince of Aragon.]

The emp{er}oure of Rome was there,

{The kynges} of P{er}vens and of Calabere yare, 1320

And other two or thre.

They yaue s{ir} Torent, that he wan,

Both the Erth and the woman~,

And said, weƚƚ worthy was he.

Sir Torent had in Aragon~ 1325

The riche Cite of Cargon~

And aƚƚ that riche contre;

Archbeshoppes, as the law feƚƚ, [1330]

Dep{ar}tid the prynce and Dissoneƚƚ

With gret solempnite. 1330

[Linenotes:

1320. _The kynges_] om. MS.

1321. _other_] _kynges_ add. MS.

_or_] _the_ add. MS.]

(115)

[Sidenote:

The King of Portugal acknowledges Torrent,]

For s{ir} Torent the fend did faƚƚ,

Gret lordys honoured hym~ aƚƚ

And for a doughty knyght hym~ tase;

The kyng said: ‘I vnderstond,

Thou hast fought ffor my dought{er}

& my lond, f. 98b. 1335

And weƚƚ wonne her thou hase.’

He gaue to s{aint} Nycholas de Barr~

A grett Erldome and a {si}marr~ [1340]

That abbey of hym {tas}

For I{es}us love, moch of myght, 1340

That hym helpith day & nyght,

Whan~ he to the batteƚƚ {gas}.

[Linenotes:

1337. _saint_] _sir_ MS.

1338. _simarr{e}_] _marr_ MS.

1339. _tas_] _redith_ MS.

1342. _gas_] _yode_ MS.]

(116)

[Sidenote:

and the Queen is glad. The King of Portugal bids Torrent wait 6

months and a day for Desonell.]

Lordys than~ at the laste,

Echone on theyre way paste,

And euery man~ to his. 1345

The quene of Portingale was ffayn~,

That s{ir} Torent was com agayn~

And thankyd god of this. [1350]

Than said the kyng: ‘I vnderstond,

Thou hast fought for my dought{er} & my lond, 1350

And art my ward, i-wys,

And I wyƚƚ not ageyn~ the say;

But abyde halfe yere and a day,

And broke her weƚƚ with blis!’

[Headnote: TORRENT BEGETS TWINS ON DESONELL.]

(117)

[Sidenote:

Torrent passes a night with Desonell.]

Torent said: ‘So muste I the, 1355

Sith it wyƚƚ no better be,

I cord with that assent!’

After mete, as I you teƚƚ, [1360]

To speke with mayden~ Desoneƚƚ,

To her chamber he went. 1360

The damyseƚƚ so moche of pride

Set hym on~ her bed-syde,

And said: ‘Welcom~, verament!’

Such gestenyng he a-right,

That there he dwellid aƚƚ nyȝt~ 1365

With that lady gent. f. 99a.

(118)

[Sidenote:

The King of Norway begs him to come and fight a Giant there.]

Sir Torent dwellid thare

Twelffe wekys and mare, [1370]

Tiƚƚ letters com hym tiƚƚ

Fro the kyng of Norway; 1370

For I{es}us love he did hym p{r}aye,

Yf it were his wyƚƚ,

He shold com as a doughty knyght,

With a Geaunt for to ffyght,

That wyƚƚ his londys spyƚƚ; 1375

He wold hym yeve his doughter dere

And halfe Norway ffar and nere,

Both be hold and be hyƚƚ. [1380]

[Headnote: TORRENT SAILS TO FIGHT A NORWEGIAN GIANT.]

(119)

[Sidenote:

Torrent gives all his land to the King for Desonell;]

Sir Torent said: ‘So god me saue,

I-nough to lyve vppon I haue, 1380

I wyƚƚ desire no more;

But it be, for I{es}u is sake

A poynt of armes for to take,

That hath helpid me be-ffore.

I yeve the here oute of my hond 1385

To thy doughter aƚƚ my lond,

Yf that I end th{o}re.’

And whan~ he toke his way to passe, [1390]

Mo than ffyfty with hym was,

That fals to hym~ w{o}re. 1390

[Linenotes:

1387. _there_ MS.

1390. _were_ MS.]

(120)

[Sidenote:

leaves 2 gold rings with her,]

+S+yr Torent to the lady went,

Fuƚƚ curtesly and gent: . . . . .

‘Desoneƚƚ, haue good day!

I muste now on my jurnay,

A kyngis lond for to fend. 1395

Thes gold ryng{es} I shaƚƚ yeve the,

Kepe {them} weƚƚ, my lady ffre,

Yf god a child vs send!’ [1400]

She toke the ryngis with moche care, f. 99b.

Thries in sownyng feƚƚ she thare, 1400

Whan she saw, that he wold wend.

[Linenotes:

1393. _Denoselle_ MS.

1397. _them_] om. MS.]

(121)

[Sidenote:

and goes on board ship with his steed and armour. Torrent gets to

Norway.]

Shipp and takyƚƚ they dight,

Stede and armo{ur} ffor to ffyght

To the bote they bare.

Gentilmen~, that were hend, 1405

Toke her leve at theyre frend,

With hym ffor to fare.

Kyng Colomond, is not to layn~, [1410]

He wold, that he cam nev{ur}e agayn~;

There fore god yeff hym~ care! 1410

So within the ffyfty dayes

He Come in to the lond of Norways,

Hard Contre ffound he thare.

[Headnote: TORRENT REACHES NORWAY, AND HEARS OF A GIANT.]

(122)

[Sidenote:

The shipmen tell him of a Giant.]

Thus s{ir} Torrent, for soth, is fare,

A noble wynd droffe hym~ thare, 1415

Was blowyng oute of the weste.

Of the Coste of Norway they had a sight . . . [1419]

Of sayling they were aƚƚ preste.

So ffeyre a wynd had the knyght,

A lituƚƚ be-ffore the mydnyght 1420

He Rode be a foreste.

The shipmen said: ‘We be shent;

Here dwellith a geaunt, verament,

On his lond are we {kest}!’

[Linenote:

1424. _kest_] _sett_ MS.]

(123)

[Sidenote:

Torrent resolves to land.]

The maistershipm{o}n~ said: ‘Nowe 1425

I Rede, we take down~ sayle & Rowe,

While we haue this tyde. [1430]

Sir,’ he said, ‘be god aƚƚmyght,

The giant lieth euery nyght

On~ the mowntayn~ here be-syde; 1430

My lord the kyng wyƚƚ not ffyght, f. 100a.

Tiƚƚ he of you haue a sight,

On you ys aƚƚ his pryde!’

Sir Torrent said: ‘Here my hond!

Sith we be ryven on this lond, 1435

To nyght wyƚƚ I ryde.’

[Linenotes:

1425. _maistershipmen_ MS.

1429. _lieth_] _here_ add. MS.

1434. _Torerent_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT LANDS IN THE FOREST OF BRASILL.]

(124)

[Sidenote:

Torrent and his knights arm.]

Sir Torent armyd hym~ anon [1440]

And his knyght{es} euerychone

With sheld and spere in hond.

The shipmen~ said: ‘As mut I thryve, 1440

I Rede, that euery man~ other shryve,

Or that we go to the lond.’

Sir Torent said: ‘As god me spede,

We wiƚƚ firste se that ffede,

My lord was never f{ail}and! 1445

Gentilmen, ma{k}e chere good,

For I{es}u love, that died on Rood, [1450]

He wiƚƚ be oure waraunt!’

[Linenotes:

1445. _fleand_ MS.

1446. _make_] _made_ MS.]

(125)

[Sidenote:

They reach the Forest of Brasill. The coward knights flee to the

ship, and leave Torrent alone.]

In a forest can~ they passe,

Of Brasiƚƚ, saith the boke, it was, 1450

With bowes brod and wyde.

Lyons and berys there they ff{a}nd

And wyld best{es} aboute goand,

Reysing on euery side.

Thes men~ of armes, w{i}t{h} trayn~ 1455

To the shipp they flew agayn~

In to the see at that tyde; [1460]

Fast from land row they be-gan~,

A-bove they left that gentilman~,

With wyld beestis to haue kyde. 1460

[Linenotes:

1451. _bowes_] _browes_ MS.

1452. _ffound_ MS.

1460. _k_ corrected out of _r_.]

(126)

[Sidenote:

False tales of Torrent are told to the King of Norway.]

The shipmen~ of the same lond

Ryved vp, I vnderstond,

In another lond off hold. f. 100b.

To the chamber they toke the way,

There the kyng hym~ selfe lay, 1465

And fals talis hym~ told . . . . . .

For he wold not the geaunt abyde, [1470]

For aƚƚ this contrey feyre and wyde,

Thouȝ he yeff it hym wold.

[Linenote:

1465 put before 1464 MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT COMES ON 2 DRAGONS IN A VALLEY.]

(127)

[Sidenote:

The King of Norway wants Torrent to come.]

‘Sir kyng, ye haue youre selfe 1470

Erlis {doughty be} ten~ or twelfe,

Better know I none:

Send youre messingeris ffar and wyde,

For to ffeƚƚ the geaunt{es} pride,

That youre doughter hath tane.’ 1475

‘I had lever to haue that knyght;

With hym~ is grace of god aƚƚmyȝt~,

To be here at his bane.’ [1480]

Fuƚƚ lituƚƚ wist that riche kyng

Of s{ir} Torrent{es} ryding 1480

In the forest aƚƚ alone.

[Linenotes:

1471. _doughty be_] om. MS.

1476. _that_] _ky_, struck out, add. MS.]

(128)

[Sidenote:

Torrent rides up to 2 Dragons.]

Thorouȝ helpe of god that w{i}t{h} hym was,

Fro the wyld bestis gan~ he passe

To an hye hyƚƚ.

A lituƚƚ while be-fore the day 1485

He herd in a valey

A dynnyng and a yeƚƚ. [1490]

Theder than~ riduth he,

To loke, what thing it myȝt be,

What adventure tha{re} be-feƚƚ. 1490

It were two dragons stiff and strong,

Vppon~ theyre lay they sat and song,

Be-side a depe weƚƚ.

[Linenote:

1490. _thare_] _that_ MS.]

(129)

[Sidenote:

Torrent prays to Christ, spears the first Dragon;]

Sir Torent said thanne

To god, that made man~ f. 101a. 1495

And died uppon~ a tree:

‘Lord, as thou mayst aƚƚ weld, [1500]

Yeve me grace, to wyn~ the feld

Of thes ffendys on{fre}!’

Whan he had his p{r}ayers made, 1500

Pertely to hem~ he Rade

And one thorouȝ oute bare he.

Thus sped the knyght at his comyng

Thorough the helpe of hevyn~ kyng:

Lord, lovid muste thou be! 1505

[Linenotes:

1499. _onfre_] _ontrewe_ MS.

1502. _he bare_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT KILLS THE 2 DRAGONS, AND SEES A CASTLE.]

(130)

[Sidenote:

and then kills the second.]

The other dragon wold not flee, . . . . .

But sho{w}ith aƚƚ his myght; [1510]

He smote ffire, that lothely thing,

As it were the lightnyng,

Vppon~ that comly knyght. 1510

There fore s{ir} Torent wold not lett,

But on~ the dragon) fast~ he bett

And over-come that foule wight.

Tho anon the day sprong,

Fowles Rose, mery they song, 1515

The sonne a-Rose on hyȝ{t}.

[Linenotes:

1507. _shotith_ MS.

1516. _hyȝe_ MS.]

(131)

[Sidenote:

He sees a Castle.]

Torent of the day was fuƚƚ blithe, [1520]

And of the valey he did hym~ swith,

As fast as euer he may.

To a mowntayn~ he rode ryght, 1520

Of a casteƚƚ he had a sight

With towrys hyȝe and gay . . . . . .

He come in to an hyȝe strete,

Few folke gan~ he mete,

To wis hym~ the way. 1525

[Linenote:

1525. _wish_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT BEFORE THE NORSE GIANT’S CASTLE.]

(132)

[Sidenote:

Torrent rides to the Norse Giant’s castle gates.]

To the gatys tho he R{a}de;

Fuƚƚ craftely they were made f. 101b.

Of Irun~ and eke of tree. [1531]

One tre stonding there he ffond:

Nyne oxen~ of that lond 1530

Shold not drawe the tre.

The Giaunt wrought vp his w{a}ƚƚ

And laid stonys gret and smaƚƚ:

A lothely man~ was he.

‘Now,’ quod Torrent, ‘I {n}ot, whare, 1535

My squiers be ffro me to fare,

Euer waried th{ey} be! [1540]

[Linenotes:

1526. _rode_ MS.

1529. _ffound_ MS.

1532. _welle_ MS.

1535. _wot_ MS.

1537. _they_] _thou_ MS.]

(133)

[Sidenote:

He considers what he shall do, and resolves to fight.]

‘Lord god, what is beste,

So I{es}u me helpe, Est or Weste,

I Can not Rede to {say}. 1540

Yf I to the shipp fare,

No shipmen~ ffynd {I} thare;

It is long, sith they were away.

Other wayes yf I wend,

Wyld bestis wyƚƚ me shend: 1545

Falshede, woo worth it aye!

I ffyght here, I{es}u, for thy sake; [1560]

Lord, to me kepe thou take,

As thou best may!’

[Linenotes:

1540. _say_] _done_ MS.

1542. _And no_ MS.

_I_] om. MS.]

(134)

[Sidenote:

He baits his steed. The Norse Giant prepares to fight.]

Down~ light this gentiƚƚ knyght, 1550

To Rest hym~ a lituƚƚ wight,

And vnbrydelid his stede

And let hym~ bayte on~ the ground,

And aventid hym~ in~ that stound,

There of he had gret nede. 1555

The Gyaunt yode and gaderid stone

And sye, where the knyght gan~ gone, [1570]

Aƚƚ armed in dede; f. 102a.

And wot ye weƚƚ and not wene,

Whan eyther of hem had other sene, 1560

Smertely {they} rerid her dede.

[Linenotes:

1553. _bayte_] _hym_ add. MS.

1561. _they_] om. MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT GETS ASSURANCE FROM HEAVEN.]

(135)

[Sidenote:

Torrent prays to Christ, and is cheerd by a voice from Heaven.]

For that s{ir} Torent had hym sene,

He worth vppon his stede, I wene,

And I{es}u prayd{e} he tiƚƚ:

‘Mary son~, thou here my bone, 1565

As I am~ in venturus s{t}ad come,

My jurnay {to} fuƚƚ-ffyƚƚ!’ [1580]

A voys was fro hevyn~ sent

And said: ‘Be blith, s{ir} Torent,

And yeve the no thing yƚƚ, 1570

To ffyght with my lordys enemy:

Whether that thou lyve or dye,

Thy mede the quyte he wyƚƚ!’

[Linenotes:

1566. _sad_ MS.

1567. _to_] _than_ MS.

1573. _He wylle quyte the thy mede_ MS.]

(136)

[Sidenote:

The Giant advances against Torrent.]

Be that the giaunt had hym dight,

Cam~ ageyn~ that gentiƚƚ knyght, 1575

As bold as eny bore;

He bare on~ his nek a croke, [1590]

Woo were the man~, that he ou{er}toke,

It was twelfe ffote and more.

‘Sir,’ he said, ‘ffor charite, 1580

Loke, curtes man~ that thou be,

Yf thy wyƚƚ ware:

I haue so fought aƚƚ this nyght

With thy II dragons wekyd and wight,

They haue bett me fuƚƚ sore.’ 1585

[Headnote: THE NORSE GIANT, WERAUNT, WOUNDS TORRENT.]

(137)

[Sidenote:

The Giant says he’ll punish Torrent for killing his 2 Dragons and

his Brother Cate.]

The Geaunt said: ‘Be my fay,

Wors tyding{es} to me this day [1600]

I myght not goodly here.

Thorough the valey as thou cam~,

My two dragons hast thou slan~, 1590

My solempnite they were. f. 102b.

To the I haue fuƚƚ good gate;

For thou slow my brother Cate,

That thou shalte by fuƚƚ dere!’

Be-twene the giaunt and the knyght 1595

Men myght se buffett{es} right,

Who so had be there. [1610]

[Linenote:

1590. _slayne_ MS.]

(138)

[Sidenote:

The Giant’s crook cuts through Torrent’s shield to his flesh, and

sticks there.]

Sir Torent yaue to hym~ a brayd;

He levid that the aungeƚƚ said,

Of deth yaue he no{ught}. 1600

In to the brest he hym~ bare,

His spere hede lefte he thare,

So eviƚƚ was hitt {bythought}.

The Giaunt hym ayen~ smate

Thorough his sheld and his plate, 1605

In to the flesh it sought;

And sith he pullith at his croke, [1620]

So fast in to the flesh it toke,

That oute myȝt he gete it nought.

[Linenotes:

1600. _nought_] _no dynt_ MS.

1603. _byth._] _mynt_ MS.]

(139)

[Sidenote:

Torrent throws his shield and the Giant’s crook into the water. The

Giant goes in after them and is drowned.]

On hym~ he hath it broke, 1610

Glad pluckys there he toke,

Set sadly and s{a}re.

Sir Torent stalworth satt,

Oute of his handys he it gatt,

No lenger dwellid he th{a}re. 1615

In to the water he cast his sheld,

Croke and aƚƚ to-geders it held, [1630]

Fare after, how so euer it ffare.

The Geaunt folowid w{i}t{h} aƚƚ his mayn~,

And he come never quyk agayn~: 1620

God wold, that so it ware.

[Linenotes:

1612. _sore_ MS.

1615. _there_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT SLAYS THE NORSE GIANT, WERAUNT.]

(140)

[Sidenote:

Torrent rides to the Giant’s castle,]

Sir Torent bet hym~ there, f. 103a.

Tiƚƚ that this fend did were,

Or he thens wend.

On hym had he hurt but ane, 1625

Lesse myght be a mann{us} bane,

But god is fuƚƚ hend: [1640]

Thorough grace of hym, that aƚƚ shaƚƚ weld,

There the knyght had the feld,

Such grace god did hym~ send. 1630

Be than it nyed nere hand nyȝt~,

To a casteƚƚ he Rode right,

Aƚƚ nyght there to lend.

[Linenote:

1626. _But lesse_ MS.]

(141)

[Sidenote:

and finds a fair Lady there. Torrent asks for a night’s lodging.]

In the casteƚƚ found he nought,

That god on the Rode bought; 1635

High vppon~ a toure,

As he caste a side lokyng, [1650]

He saw a lady in her bed syttyng,

White as lylye ffloure;

Vp a-Rose that lady bryght, 1640

And said: ‘Welcom~, s{ir} knyght,

That fast art in stoure!’

‘Damyseƚƚ, welcom~ mut thou be!

Graunt thou me, for charite,

Of one nyghtis so{i}oure!’ 1645

[Linenote:

1645. _socoure_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT IN THE GIANT WERAUNT’S CASTLE.]

(142)

[Sidenote:

The Lady says the Giant Weraunt will kill him.]

‘By Mary,’ said that lady clere,

‘Me for-thinkith, that thou com~ here, [1660]

Thy deth now is dight;

For here dwellith a geaunt,

He is clepud Weraunt, 1650

He is {to} the deviƚƚ be-taught.

To day at morn~ he toke his croke,

Forth at the yat{es} the way he toke,

And said, he wold haue a draught; f. 103b.

And here be chambers two or thre, 1655

In one of hem I shaƚƚ hide the,

God the saue ffrome harmes right!’ [1670]

[Linenotes:

1650. _Weraunt_] _weraumt_ (?) MS.

1651. _to_] _of_ MS.]

(143)

[Sidenote:

Torrent tells her to come and see the Giant.]

‘Certayn~,’ tho said the knyght,

‘That theffe I saw to nyght,

Here be-side a sla{d}e. 1660

He was a ferly freke in ffyght,

With hym faught a yong knyght,

Ech on other laid good l{a}de;

Me thought weƚƚ, as he stode,

He was of the fend{us} blood, 1665

So Rude was he made.

Dame, yf thou leve not me, [1680]

Com~ nere, and thou shalt se,

Which of hem ab{a}de.’

[Linenotes:

1660. _slate_ or _flate_ MS.

1663. _lode_ MS.

1669. _abode_ MS.]

(144)

[Sidenote:

The Norwegian Princess sees the Giant’s corpse, and praises his

slayer.]

Blith was that lady bryght 1670

For to se that {selly} sight:

With the knyght went she.

Whan she cam, where the Geaunt lay,

‘Sir,’ she said, ‘p{ar}maffay

I wott weƚƚ, it is he. 1675

Other he was of god aƚƚ-myght

Or seynt George, oure lady knyȝt~, [1690]

That there his bane hath be.

Yf eny cryston~ man smyte hym down~,

He is worthy to haue renown~ 1680

Thorough oute aƚƚ crystiaunte.’

[Linenote:

1671. _selly_] om. MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT RESCUES THE PRINCESS OF NORWAY.]

(145)

[Sidenote:

She tells Torrent that her Father gave her, as his ransom, to the

Giant.]

‘I haue wonder,’ said the knyght,

‘How he gate the, lady bryght,

Fro my lord the kyng.’

‘Sir,’ she said, ‘verament, f. 104a. 1685

As my fader on huntyng went

Erly in a mornyng, [1700]

For{e} his men pursued a dere,

To his casteƚƚ, that stondith here,

That doth my hondys wryng, 1690

This Giaunt hym toke, wo he be!

For his love he gevith hym~ me,

He wold none other thinge.’

[Linenote:

1688. _For_ MS.]

(146)

Forth she brought bred and wyne,

Fayn~ he was for to dyne . . . . . . 1695

This knyght made noble chere,

Though that he woundid were [1710]

With the Geaunt strong.

(147)

[Sidenote:

Torrent takes her away. Torrent longs for Desonell. The Norwegian

Princess sees her Father.]

Sir Torrent dwellid no lenger thare,

Than~ he myȝt away fare 1700

With that lady bryght.

‘Now, I{es}u, that made heƚƚ,

Send me on lyve to Desoneƚƚ,

That I my trouth to plight!’

Tho sye they be a forest syde 1705

Men~ of armes ffaste ride

On coursers comly dight. [1720]

The lady said: ‘So mvst I thee,

It is my fader, is com for me,

With the Geaunt to ffyght.’ 1710

[Headnote: TORRENT IS WELCOMD BY THE KING OF NORWAY.]

(148)

[Sidenote:

Torrent is recognised]

An harood said anon~ right:

‘Yon I se an armed knyght,

And no squier, but hym~ one:

He is so {big} of bone & blood,

He is the Geaunt, be the Rode!’ 1715

Som~ seith, he riduth vppon~.

‘Nay,’ said the kyng, ‘verament, f. 104b. [1820]

It is the knyght, that I after sent,

I thanke god and seynt Iohñ,

For the Geaunt slayn~) hath he 1720

And wonne my dought{er}, weƚƚ is me!

Aƚƚ his men are {a}t{o}ne!’

[Linenotes:

1714. _big_] _long_ MS.

1722. _at._] _tane_ MS.]

(149)

[Sidenote:

and welcomd by the King of Norway. His wounds are drest.]

Wott ye weƚƚ, with Ioy and blis

Sir Torent there recevid ys,

As doughty man~ of dede. 1725

The kyng and other lordys gent

Said, ‘Welcom~, s{ir} Torent, [1830]

In to this vncouth {thede}!’

In to a state they hym~ brought,

Lechis sone his woundis sought; 1730

They said, so god hem spede,

Were there no lyve but ane,

His liffe they wyƚƚ not vndertane,

For no gold ne ffor mede.

[Linenote:

1728. _thede_] _lond_ MS.]

[Headnote: PRINCESS GENDRES. TORRENT STAYS A YEAR IN NORWAY.]

(150)

[Sidenote:

The Princess claims Torrent as her husband.]

The lady wist not or than~, 1735

That he was hurt, that gentilman~,

And sith she went hym tyƚƚ; [1840]

She sought his wound{us} and said thare:

‘Thou shalte lyve and welfare,

Yf the no-thing evyƚƚ! 1740

My lord the kyng hath me hight,

That thou shalt wed me, s{ir} knyght,

The fforward ye to fulle ffyƚƚ.’

‘Damyseƚƚ, loo here my hond:

And I take eny wyffe in this lond, 1745

It shaƚƚ be at thy wyƚƚ!’

(151)

[Sidenote:

Her name is Gendres. Torrent stays 12 months in Norway.]

Gendres was that ladyes name. [1850]

The Geaunt{es} hede he brought hame,

And the dragons {he brought}. f. 105a.

Mene myght here a myle aboute, 1750

How on the dede hedys they did shoute,

For the shame, that they hem~ wrought,

Both with dede and with tong

Fyfte on the hedys dong,

That to the ground they sought. 1755

Sir Torrent dwellid thare

Twelfe monythis and mare, [1860]

That ffurther myȝt he nought.

[Linenotes:

1749. _he br._] _also_ MS.

1752. _they_] _had_ add. MS.]

(152)

[Sidenote:

The King of Norway sends Torrent’s false Squires to sea, where all

drown, save one.]

The kyng of Norway said: ‘Nowe,

Fals thevis, woo worth you, 1760

Ferly soteƚƚ were ye:

Ye said, the knyght wold not com~:

Swith oute of my kyngdome,

Or hangid shaƚƚ ye be!’

His squiers, that fro hym~ fled, 1765

With sore strokys are they spred

Vppon the wanne see, [1870]

And there they drenchid euery man~,

Saue one knave, that to lond cam~,

And woo be-gone is he. 1770

[Headnote: DESONELL IS NEAR CHILD-BEARING.]

(153)

[Sidenote:

He takes the news to the King of Portugal, and tells Desonell that

Torrent is in Norway.]

The child, to lond that god sent,

In Portyngale he is lent,

In a riche town~,

That hat{h} hight be her day,

And euer shaƚƚ, as I you say, 1775

The town~ of Peron~.

By-fore the kyng he hym sett, [1880]

‘Fuƚƚ weƚƚ thy men~, lord, the grett,

And in the see {did} they drown.’

Desoneƚƚ said: ‘Where is Torent?’ 1780

‘In Norway, lady, verament.’ f. 105b.

On sownyng feƚƚ she down~.

[Linenotes:

1774. _hatt_ (!) MS.

1778. _the_] _they_ MS.

1779. _did_] _are_ MS.

_drowned_ MS.]

(154)

[Sidenote:

She swoons, and folk see she is big with child. The King of Portugal

declares he’ll send Desonell and her Bastard to sea.]

As she sownyd, this lady myld,

Men myȝt se tokenyng of her child,

Steryng on~ her right syde. 1785

Gret Ruth it was to teƚƚ,

How her maydens on~ her feƚƚ, [1890]

Her to Couer and to hide.

Tho the kyng said: ‘My dought{er}, do way!

By god, thy myrth is gone for aye, 1790

Spousage wyƚƚ thou none {bi}de!

There fore thou shalt in to the see

And that Bastard with-in the,

To lerne you ffor to ride.’

[Linenote:

1791. _bide_] _lede_ MS.]

[Headnote: DESONELL BEARS TWINS TO TORRENT.]

(155)

[Sidenote:

His Earls and the Queen pray for mercy for Desonell.]

Erlis and Barons, that were good, 1795

By-fore the kyng knelid and stode

For that lady free. [1900]

The quene, her moder, on knees feƚƚ,

‘For I{es}u is love, that harood heƚƚ,

Lord, haue mercy on~ me! 1800

That ylke dede, that she hath done,

It was with an Erlis sonne,

Riche man~ i-nough is he;

And yf ye wyƚƚ not let her lyve,

Right of lond ye her yeve, 1805

Tiƚƚ she delyu{er}d be!’

(156)

[Sidenote:

She is delivered of 2 male children like Torrent. Her Father says

she shall be sent out to sea.]

Thus the lady dwellith there, [1910]

Tyll that she delyu{er}d were

Of men~ children~ two;

In all poyntes they were gent, 1810

And like they were to s{ir} Torent;

For his love they sufferid woo. f. 106a.

The kyng said: ‘So mut I thee,

Thou shalte in-to the see

With oute wordys moo. 1815

Euery kyngis dought{er} ffer and nere,

At the shaƚƚ they lere, [1920]

Ayen~ the law to do.’

[Linenotes:

1807. _Thus the_] so F. VII; _This_ MS.

1808. _Tyll_] so F. VII; om. MS.

1810. _all_] so F. VII; om. MS.]

(157)

[Sidenote:

She is led from his land. The Queen bewails her daughter’s fate.

Desonell is sent to sea.]

Gret ruth it was to se,

Whan they led that lady ffree 1820

Oute of her faders lond.

The quene wexid tho nere wood

For her doughter, that gentiƚƚ ffode,

And knyghtis stode wepand;

A cloth of silke gan they ta 1825

And p{ar}tyd it be-twene hem twa,

Therin they were wonde.

Whan~ they had shypped that lady y{i}ng, [1930]

An hunderid feƚƚ in sownyng

At Peron~ on~ the sond. 1830

[Linenotes:

1827. so F. VII; om. MS.

1828. _had sh._] so F. VII; _clepud_ MS.

_yeng_ MS.]

[Headnote: DESONELL IS SENT OUT TO SEA. SHE REACHES LAND.]

(158)

[Sidenote:

She prays to Christ for her children.]

Whan that lady was downe fall,

On Iesu Cryste dyd she call;

Down~ knelid that lady cle{n}e:

‘Rightfull god, ye me sende

Some good londe, on to lende, 1835

That my chyldren may crystonyd bene!’

She said, ‘Knyghtis and ladyes gent,

Grete weƚƚ my lord, s{ir} Torrent,

Yeff ye hym~ euer sene!’

The wynd Rose ayen~ the nyght, 1840

Fro lond it blew that lady bryght [1941]

Vppon the see so grene.

[Linenotes:

1831 f.] so F. VII; om. MS.

1833. _clene_] _clere_ MS.

1834 f.] so F. VII;

_Iesu Cryste, that com vp here

On this strond, as I wenyd_ MS.

1836. _my ch._] so F. VII; _we_ MS.]

(159)

[Sidenote:

She and they reach land. Desonell stills her crying child,]

Wyndes and weders haue her drevyn~,

Þat in a f{o}rest she is revyn~,

There wyld beestis were; 1845

The see was eb, and went her ffroo,

And lefte her and her children~ two f. 106b.

Alone with-oute ffere.

Her one child woke and be-gan~ to wepe,

The lady a-woke oute of her slepe 1850

And said: ‘Be stiƚƚ, my dere, [1951]

I{es}u Cryst hath sent vs lond;

Yf there be any cryston man~ nere hond,

We shaƚƚ haue som socoure here.’

[Linenote:

1844. _forest_] so F. VII; _ftrest_ MS.

_she is_] so F. VII; _be they_ MS.]

[Headnote: A GRIFFIN CARRIES OFF ONE OF DESONELL’S BOYS.]

(160)

[Sidenote:

goes up a mountain,]

The carefuƚƚ lady was fuƚƚ blith, 1855

Vp to lond she went swith,

As fast as euer she myght.

Tho the day be-gan~ to spryng,

Foules a-Rose and mery gan syng

Delicious notys on~ hight. 1860

To a mowntayn went that lady ffree: [1961]

Sone was she warr~ of a Cite

With towrus ffeyre and bryght.

There fore, i-wys, she was fuƚƚ fayn~,

She sett her down~, as I herd sayn~, 1865

Her two children~ ffor to dight.

(161)

[Sidenote:

and finds an Arbour there. A Griffin carries off one of her boys.

She puts the other down,]

Vppon~ the low the lady ffound

An Erber wrought w{i}t{h} mann{us} hond,

With herbis, that were good.

A Grype was in~ the mowntayn~ wonne, 1870

A way he bare her yong son~ [1971]

Ou{er} a water fflood,

Over in to a wyldernes,

There seynt Antony ermet w{e}s,

There as his chapeƚƚ stode. 1875

The other child down~ gan~ she ly,

And on the ffoule did shoute & crye, f. 107a.

That she was nere hond wood.

[Linenotes:

1874. _was_ MS.

1876. _ly_] _lay_ MS.]

[Headnote: A LEOPARD CARRIES OFF DESONELL’S 2ND BOY.]

(162)

[Sidenote:

and sorrows.]

Vp she rose ageyn~ the rough~,

With sorofuƚƚ hert and care Inough~, 1880

Carefuƚƚ of blood and bone . . . . . . . [1981]

She sye, it myght no better be,

She knelid down~ vppon~ her kne,

And thankid god and seynt Iohn~.

(163)

[Sidenote:

A leopard takes her other boy away.]

There come a libard vppon~ his pray, 1885

And her other child bare away,

She thankid god there

And his moder Mary bryght.

This lady is lefte alone ryght:

The sorow she made there . . . . . 1890

(164)

[Sidenote:

The King of Jerusalem sees the leopard and child.]

That she myght no further ffare: [1991]

‘Of one poynt,’ {she sayd}, ‘is my care,

As I do now vnderstond,

So my children~ crystenyd were,

Though they be with beest{es} there, 1895

Theyre liffe is in godd{us} hond.’

The kyng of Ierusalem~ had bene

At his brothers weddyng, I wene,

That was lord of aƚƚ that lond.

As he com homward on his way, 1900

He saw where the liberd lay [2001]

With a child pleyand.

[Linenote:

1892. _she s._] om. MS.]

(165)

[Sidenote:

Each child has one of Torrent’s rings. The King’s men kill the

Leopard,]

Torrent had yeve {her} ring{es} two,

And euery child had one of tho,

Hym~ with aƚƚ to saue. 1905

The kyng said: ‘Be Mary myld,

Yonder is a liberd w{i}t{h} a child,

A mayden~ or a knave.’

Tho men~ of armes theder went, f. 107b.

Anon~ they had theyre hors spent, 1910

Her guttys oute she Rave. [2011]

For no stroke wold she stynt;

Tiƚƚ they her slew w{i}t{h} speris dynt,

The child myght they not haue.

[Linenote:

1903. _her_] _his lady_ MS.]

[Headnote: HE (LEOBERTUS) IS ADOPTED BY THE KING OF JERUSALEM.]

(166)

[Sidenote:

and take the Child to the King, who christens him ‘Leobertus,’]

Vp they toke the child y{i}ng 1915

And brought it be-ffore the kyng

And vndid the swathing band,

As his moder be-ffore had done,

A gold ryng they ffound sone,

Was closud in his hond. 1920

Tho said the kyng of Ierusalem~: [2021]

‘This child is come of gentiƚƚ teme,

Where euer this beest hym~ ffond.

The boke of Rome berith wytnes,

The kyng hym~ namyd Leobertus, 1925

That was hent in hethyn~ lond.

[Linenotes:

1915. _yong_ MS.

1923. _ffound_ MS.]

(167)

[Sidenote:

and takes him to Jerusalem.]

Two squiers to the town~ gan~ flyng,

And a noryse to the child did bryng,

Hym~ to kepe ffrome gr{e}me.

He led it in~ to his own~ lond 1930

And told the quene, how he it ffond [2031]

By a water streme.

Whan~ the lady saw the ryng,

She said, with-oute lettyng:

‘This child is com~ of gentiƚƚ teme: 1935

Thou hast none heyre, thy lond to take,

For I{es}u love thou {sh}oldist hym~ make

Prynce of Ierusalem~.’

[Linenotes:

1929. _grame_ MS.

1937. _woldist_ MS.]

[Headnote: ST. ANTONY GETS THE FIRST BOY FROM THE GRIFFIN.]

(168)

[Sidenote:

St. Anthony sees the Griffin and Desonell’s first boy, whom the bird

lays at his feet.]

Now, in boke as we rede,

As seynt Antony aboute yede, 1940

Byddyng his orysoun~, [2041]

Of the gripe he had a sight, f. 108a.

How she flew in a fflight,

To her birdus was she boun~.

Be-twene her clawes she bare a child: 1945

He prayed to god and Mary myld,

On lyve to send it down~.

That man was weƚƚ with god aƚƚ-myȝt~,

At his fote gan~ she light,

That foule of gret renown~. 1950

(169)

[Sidenote:

St. Antony takes the boy to his Father, the King of Greece.]

Vp he toke the child th{e}re, [2051]

To his auter he did it bere,

There his chapeƚƚ stode.

A knave child there he ffond,

There was closud in his hond 1955

A gold ryng riche and good.

He bare it to the Cite grett,

There the kyng his fader {s}ett

As a lord of jentiƚƚ blood,

For he wold saue it ffro dede; 1960

A grype flew a-bove his hede [2061]

And cryed, as he were wood.

[Linenotes:

1951. _thare_ MS.

1954. _ffound_ MS.

1958. _sett_] _lett_ MS.]

(170)

[Sidenote:

The King sees his son Antony,]

This holy man~ hied hym~ tyte

To a Cite w{i}t{h} touris white,

As fast as he may. 1965

The kyng at the yate stode

And other knyght{es} and lordys good

To se the squiers play.

The kyng said: ‘Be Mary myld,

Yonder comyth Antony, my child, 1970

With a gryffon~ gay. [2071]

Som~ of his byrdus take hath he,

And bryngith hem~ heder to me!’

Gret ferly had thaye.

[Headnote: HE (ANTONY FITZ-GRIFFIN) IS ADOPTED BY THE KING OF GREECE.]

(171)

[Sidenote:

who asks him to adopt Desonell’s boy as his heir.]

The kyng there of toke good hede, f. 108b. 1975

And a-geyn~ his sonne he yede

And said: ‘Welcom~ ye be!’

‘Fader,’ he said, ‘god you saue!

A knave child ffound I haue,

Loke, that it be dere to the! 1980

Frome a greffon~ he was refte, [2081]

Of what lond that he is lefte,

Of gentiƚƚ blood was he:

Thou hast none heyre, thy lond to take,

For I{es}u love thy sonne hym~ make, 1985

As in the stede of me!’

(172)

[Sidenote:

The King of Greece agrees, and has the Boy baptized. The Boy is

christend Antony Fitzgriffin.]

The kyng said: ‘Yf I may lyve,

Helpe and hold I shaƚƚ hym yeve

And receyve hym as my son~.

Sith thou hast this lond forsake, 1990

My riche londys I shaƚƚ hym~ take, [2091]

Whan he kepe them~ c{o}n~.’

To a ffont they hym yaue,

And crystonyd this yong knave;

Fro care he is wonne. 1995

The holy man yaue hym~ name,

That I{es}u shild hym~ ffrome shame:

Antony fice greffoun~.

[Linenote:

1992. _can_ MS.]

[Headnote: DESONELL BEWAILS HER LOST CHILDREN.]

(173)

[Sidenote:

Desonell laments,]

‘Fader, than~ haue thou this ryng,

I ffound it on~ this swete thing, 2000

Kepe it, yf thou may: [2101]

It is good in euery {f}ight,

Yf god yeve grace, that he be knyght,

Be nyght {and} be day.’

Let we now this children~ dweƚƚ, 2005

And speke we more of Desoneƚƚ:

Her song was welaway. f. 109a.

God, that died vppon~ the Rode,

Yff grace, that she mete w{i}t{h} good!

Thus dispar{p}lid are thay. 2010

[Linenotes:

2002. _fight_] _sight_ MS.?

2004. _Other be_ MS.

_and_] _or forme of_ (!) MS.

2010. _disparlid_ MS.]

(174)

[Sidenote:

wanders among wild beasts,]

This lady walkyd aƚƚ alone [2111]

Amonge wyld bestis meny one,

Ne wanted she no Woo;

Anon~ the day be-gan to spryng,

And the ffoules gan to syng, 2015

With blis on euery bowȝe . . . . . . .

(175)

[Sidenote:

and bewails her lost children. Desonell flees from some hunters]

‘Byrdus and bestis, aye woo ye be!

Alone ye haue lefte me,

My children~ ye {have} slo{ne}.’

As she walkid than~ a-lone, 2020

She sye lordis on~ huntyng gone, [2121]

Nere hem~ she yede fuƚƚ sone.

This carfuƚƚ lady cried faste,

Than she herd this hornes blaste

By the yatis gone, 2025

But {ran} in to a wildernes,

Amongist beests that wyld w{e}s,

For drede, she shold be slone.

[Linenotes:

2018. _haue_] _a_ corrected out of _e_ MS.

2019. _have sl._] _slough_ MS.

2026. _ran_] om. MS.

2027. _was_ MS.]

[Headnote: DESONELL FLEES TO THE LAND OF NAZARETH.]

(176)

[Sidenote:

into the land of Nazareth.]

Tiƚƚ it were vnder of the Day,

She went {fro} that wilsom~ way, 2030

In to a lond playn~. [2131]

The kyng of Naȝareth huntid there,

Among the hert{es}, that gentiƚƚ were;

There of she was fuƚƚ ffayn~ . . . . . . . . .

[Linenote:

2030. _fro_] _in_ MS.]

(177)

[Sidenote:

She sees the King,]

They had ferly, kyng and knyght, 2035

Whens she come, that lady bryght,

Dwelli{n}g here a-lone.

She said to a squier, that there stode:

‘Who is lord of most jentiƚƚ blood?’

And he answerid her anon~: f. 109b. 2040

‘This ys the lond of Naȝareth, [2141]

Se, where the kyng gethe,

Of speche he is ffuƚƚ bone;

Aƚƚ in gold couerid is he.’

‘Gramercy, s{ir},’ said she, 2045

And nere hym~ gan~ she gone.

(178)

[Sidenote:

whose Lords greet her. Desonell says that her boys are dead, and she

is left alone.]

Lordys anon ageyn~ her yode,

For she was com~ of gentiƚƚ blood,

In her lond had they bene:

‘God loke the, lady ffree, 2050

What makist thou in this contre?’ [2151]

‘Sir,’ she said, ‘I wene,

Seynt Katryn~ I shold haue sought,

Wekyd weders me heder hath brought

In to this fforest grene, 2055

And aƚƚ is dede, I vnderstond,

Saue my selfe, that com~ to lond

With wyld beestis and kene.’

[Headnote: DESONELL IS WELCOMD BY THE QUEEN OF NAZARETH.]

(179)

[Sidenote:

She is taken to Nazareth, and welcomd by the Queen,]

‘Welcom,’ he said,’ Desoneƚƚ,

By a tokyn~ I shaƚƚ the teƚƚ: 2060

Onys a stede I the sent. [2161]

Lady gent, ffeyre and ffree,

To the shold I haue wedid be,

My love was on~ the lent.’

Knyghtis and squiers, that there were, 2065

They horsid the lady there,

And to the Cite they went.

The quene was curtes of that lond

And toke the lady be the hond

And said: ‘Welcom, my lady gent! 2070

(180)

[Sidenote:

with whom she stays.]

‘Lady, thou art welcom~ here, [2171]

As it aƚƚ thyn~ own~ were, f. 110a.

Aƚƚ this ffeyre contree!’

‘Of one poynt was my care,

And my two children~ crystonyd ware, 2075

That in wood were reft ffro me.’

‘Welcom art thou, Desoneƚƚ,

In my chamber for to dweƚƚ,

Inough there in shaƚƚ ye see!’

Leve we now that lady gent, 2080

And speke we of s{ir} Torrent, [2181]

That was gentiƚƚ and ffre.

[Linenote:

2076. _in_] _the_ add. MS.]

[[‘Welcom art thou... _open quote invisible_]]

[Headnote: TORRENT HEARS OF THE EXILE OF DESONELL AND HER BOYS.]

(181)

[Sidenote:

Sir Torrent won’t stop in Norway, but goes back to Portugal.]

The kyng of Norway is fuƚƚ woo,

That s{ir} Torent wold wend hym ffro,

That doughty was and bold: 2085

‘Sir,’ he said, ‘abyde here

And wed my dought{er}, that is me dere!’

He said, in no wise he wold.

He shipped oute of the kyng{es} sale

And Ryved vp in~ Portingale 2090

At another hold. [2191]

Whan~ he herd teƚƚ of Desoneƚƚ,

Swith on sownyng there he feƚƚ

To the ground so cold.

(182)

[Sidenote:

The false King Calamond of Portugal tells him that Desonell and her

2 Boys were sent out to sea.]

The fals kyng of Portingale, 2095

Sparid the yatis of his sale

For Torent the ffree;

He said: ‘Be Mary clere,

Thou shalt no wyfe haue here,

Go sech her in~ the see! 2100

With her she toke whelpis two, [2201]

To lerne to row wold she go.’

‘By god, thou liest,’ quod he,

‘Kyng Colomand, here my hond!

And I be knyght levand, f. 110b. 2105

I-quytt shaƚƚ it be!’

(183)

[Sidenote:

Torrent gathers an army. Torrent’s knights]

Torent wold no lenger byde,

But sent letters on euery side

With fforce theder to hye.

Theder com oute of Aragon~ 2110

Noble knyght{es} of gret renown~ [2211]

With grett chevalrye.

Of P{er}vyns and Ca{l}aber also

Were doughty knyght{es} meny moo,

They come aƚƚ to that crye. 2115

Kyng Calomond had no knyght,

That with s{ir} Torent wold fyght,

Of aƚƚ that satt hym~ bye.

[Linenote:

2113. _Calaber_] _Cababer_ (!) MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT SENDS THE KING OF PORTUGAL TO DROWN.]

(184)

[Sidenote:

and he are let into the chief City of Portugal, and resolve to send

the false King to sea]

There wold none the yatis deffend,

But lett s{ir} Torent in wend 2120

With his men~ euerychone. [2221]

Swith a counseƚƚ yede they to,

{To} what deth they wold hym do,

For he his lady had slone.

‘Lordis,’ he said, ‘he is a kyng, 2125

Men may hym~ nether hede ne h{i}ng.’

Thus said they euerychone.

They ordenyd a shipp aƚƚ of tree

And sett hym~ oute in~ to the see,

Among the wawes to gone. 2130

[Linenotes:

2123. _To_] om. MS.

2126. _hing_] _heng_ MS.]

(185)

[Sidenote:

in a boat full of holes.]

Gret lordis of that lond [2231]

Assentid to that com{n}and,

That hold shold it be.

In the havyn~ of Portyngale,

There stode shippes of hede vale 2135

Of Irun and of tree. f. 111a.

A bote of tre they brought hym be-fforn~,

Fuƚƚ of holis it was born~,

Howseƚƚ and shryfte {wold} he.

Sir Torent said: ‘Be seynt Iohn~, 2140

Seth thou gaue my lady none, [2241]

No more men~ shaƚƚ do the!’

[Linenotes:

2132. _comland_ MS.

2138. _boryn_ MS.

2139. _wold_] _had_ MS.]

[[com{n}and _printed as shown: error for “com{m}and”?_]]

[Headnote: TORRENT IS MADE KING OF PORTUGAL.]

(186)

[Sidenote:

The false king Calamond is drownd, and Torrent is made King of

Portugal,]

The shipp-men~ brought s{ir} Colomond

And sent hym fforth within~ a stound

As ffar as it were. 2145

Wott ye weƚƚ and vnderstond,

He come never ayen to lond,

Such stormes ffound he there.

Gret lordys of renown~

Be-toke s{ir} Torent the crown~ 2150

To reioyse it there. [2251]

Loo, lordys of euery lond:

Falshode wyƚƚ haue a foule end,

And wyƚƚ haue euermore.

(187)

[Sidenote:

but he gives the land up to the Queen, and resolves to go to the

Holy-Land.]

Sir Torent dwellid thare 2155

Fourty days in moche care,

Season~ for to hold;

Sith he takith two knyght{es},

To kepe his lond and his right{es},

That doughty were and bold. 2160

‘Madam~,’ he said to the quene, [2261]

‘Here than shaƚƚ ye lady bene,

To worth as ye wold.’

He purveyd hym~ anon~,

To wend ouer the see fome, 2165

There god was bought and sold.

[Linenote:

2161. _He said madam_ MS.]

(188)

[Sidenote:

His arms are 3 silver ships on an azure field. For love of Desonell,

Torrent leaves Portugal.]

And ye now wiƚƚ liston~ a stound,

How he toke armes of kyng Calomond, f. 111b.

Listonyth, what he bare.

O{n} asure, as ye may see, 2170

With sylu{er} shippes thre, [2271]

Who so had be thare.

For Desoneƚƚ is love so bryght,

His londis he takyth to a knyght,

And sith he is {boun} to fare. 2175

‘Portyngale, haue good day

For Sevyn~ yere, p{ar}maffay,

P{ar} aventure som~ dele m{a}re!’

[Linenotes:

2170. This line begins with a big initial letter.

_Off_ MS.

2175. _boun_] _home_ MS.

2178. _more_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT TAKES THE CITY OF QUARELL.]

(189)

[Sidenote:

He besieges the City of Quarell for 2 years, and then takes it.]

Sir Torent passid the Grekys flood

In to a lond both riche and good, 2180

Fuƚƚ evyn~ he toke the way [2281]

To the {cite} of Quareƚƚ,

As the boke of Rome doth teƚƚ,

There a soudan~ lay.

There he smote and set adown~ 2185

And yaue asaute in to the town,

That w{i}ƚƚ the storye say.

So weƚƚ they vetelid were,

That he lay there two yere,

Sith in~ the town~ went they. 2190

[Linenotes:

2182. _cite_] _see_ MS.

2187. _well_ MS.

_says_ MS.

2190. _And sith in to_ MS.]

(190)

[Sidenote:

He has its inhabitants kild, and shares its booty among his men.]

And tho s{ir} Torent ffound on~ lyve, [2291]

He comaundid with spere and knyffe

Smertely dede to be;

He said: ‘We haue be here

Moche of this two yere 2195

And onward on~ the thr{e}.’

Aƚƚ the good, that s{ir} Torent wan~,

He p{ar}tid it among his m{a}n~,

Syluer, gold and ffee;

And sith he is boun to ride f. 112a. 2200

To a Cite there be-syde, [2301]

That was worth such thre.

[Linenotes:

2196. _thrid_ MS.

2198. _men_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT TAKES ANOTHER CITY, AND GOES TO ANTIOCH.]

(191)

[Sidenote:

Torrent then besieges another heathen City for 6 years. All its folk

die of hunger.]

There he stode and smote adown~

And leyd sege to the town~,

Six yere there he lay. 2205

By the VI yere were aƚƚ done,

With honger they were aƚƚ slone,

That in the Cite lay.

{The} Soudan sent to s{ir} Torent than~,

With honger that thes people be slan, 2210

Aƚƚ the folke of this Cite; [2311]

‘Yf ye thinke here to lye,

Ye shaƚƚ haue wyne and spycery,

I-nough is in this contre.’

[Linenotes:

2209. _The_] _A_ MS.

2209-14 put before 2203-8 MS.

2210. _slayn_ MS.

2211. _thes_ MS.]

(192)

[Sidenote:

Torrent kills the Sultan,]

Now god do his soule mede! 2215

On the soudan~ he had a dede

Vppon~ euery good ffryday.

I{es}u sent hym strengith I-nough~,

With dynt of sword he hym slough~,

There went none quyk away. 2220

Down knelid that knyght [2321]

And thankid god with aƚƚ his myȝt~:

So ought he weƚƚ to say.

The Cite, that s{ir} Torent was yn~,

Worldely goodis he left ther yn~, 2225

To kepe it nyght and day.

(193)

[Sidenote:

goes to Antioch, and fights every good Friday.]

Sith he buskyd hym~ to ride

In to a lond there be-syde, f. 112b.

Antioche it hight.

Sevyn~ yere at the Cite he lay 2230

And had bateƚƚ euery good ffryday, [2331]

Vppon~ the Sarȝins bryght;

And be the VII yere were gone,

The child, that the liberd had tane,

Found hym his fiƚƚ off ffyght . . . . . . 2235

[Linenote:

2230-32 put before 2227-29 MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT’S SON LEOBERTUS FIGHTS AGAINST HIM.]

(194)

[Sidenote:

The King of Jerusalem sends 50,000 knights,]

The kyng of Ierusalem~ herd teƚƚ

Of this lord good and feƚƚ,

How doughtyly he hym bare.

Vppon~ his knyght{es} can he caƚƚ,

‘Ordeyn~ swith among you aƚƚ, 2240

For no thing that ye spare!’ [2341]

They buskyd hem oute of the land,

The nombre off ffyfty thousa{n}d,

Ageyn Torent ffor to ffare . . . .

[Linenote:

2243. _thousaid_ MS.]

(195)

[Sidenote:

and his adopted son Leobertus (Torrent’s second boy)]

The kyng of Ierusalem said thus: 2245

‘My dere son, Liobertus,

That thou be bold and wight!

Thou shalt be here and defend the lond

From that fals trayto{r}s hond

And take the ordre of a knyght.’ 2250

He yaue hym armes, or he did passe: [2351]

Right as he ffound was,

O{n} gold he bare bryght

A liberd of asure bla

A child be-twene his armes twa: 2255

Woo was her, that {se} it {my}ght!

[Linenotes:

2246. _Liobertious_ MS.

2253. _On_] _Of_ MS.

2254. _blay_ (!) MS.

2255. _tway_ MS.

2256. _ffulle woo_ MS.

_se it m._] _it ought_ MS.]

(196)

[Sidenote:

against Torrent. Torrent’s son Leobertus captures him.]

Sir Torent wold no lenger abyde,

But thederward gan~ he ride;

And to the feld were brought

Two knyght{es}, that were there in stede; f. 113a. 2260

Many a man did they to blede, [2361]

Such woundis they wrought.

There durst no man com~ Torent nere,

But his son, as ye may here,

Though he knew hym nought. 2265

Aƚƚ to nought he bet his shild,

But he toke his fader in the feld,

Though he there of eviƚƚ thought.

[Headnote: TORRENT IS IMPRISOND IN JERUSALEM.]

(197)

[Sidenote:

Torrent is taken to Jerusalem]

Whan~ s{ir} Torent was takyn~ than~,

His men fled than~, euery man~, 2270

They durst no lenger abyde. [2371]

Gret ruth it was to be hold,

How his sword he did vp-hold

To his son~ that tyde.

To Ierusalem~ he did hym~ lede, 2275

His actone and his other wede,

Aƚƚ be the kyngis side;

‘Sir,’ he said, ‘haue no care,

Thou shalte lyve and welfare,

But lower ys thy pryde!’ 2280

(198)

[Sidenote:

and thrust into prison, where his son Leobertus hears him lament a

whole year.]

Fro that s{ir} Torent was h{o}m brought, [2381]

Doughty men~ vppon~ hym~ sought,

And in preson~ they hym~ thro{ng}e.

His son above his hede lay,

To kepe hym~ both nyȝt and day, 2285

He wist weƚƚ, that he was strong.

Thus in p{re}son as he was,

Sore he siȝed and said alas,

He couth none other songe.

Thus in bondys they held hym thare f. 113b. 2290

A twelfmonyth and som dele mare, [2391]

The knyght thought ffuƚƚ long.

[Linenotes:

2281. _hom_] _hem_ MS.

2283. _And and_ (!) MS.

_throuȝe_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT’S SON ASKS FOR HIS FATHER’S FREEDOM.]

(199)

[Sidenote:

Torrent appeals to God who once enabled him to kill Dragons and

Giants.]

In a mornyng as he lay,

To hym selfe gan~ he say:

‘Why lye I thus alone? 2295

God, hast thou forsakyn~ me?

Aƚƚ my truste was in the,

In lond where I haue gone!

Thou gave me myȝt ffor to slee

Dragons two other thre 2300

And giauntes meny one, [2401]

And now a man~ in wekid lond

Hath myn~ armo{ur} and stede in~ hond:

I wold, my liffe were done!’

[Linenote:

2299. _flee_ MS.!]

(200)

[Sidenote:

His son Leobertus hears him, and promises to get him freed.]

His son herd hym~ say soo 2305

And in his hert was fuƚƚ woo,

In chamber there he lay;

‘Sir,’ he said, ‘I haue thy wede,

There shaƚƚ no man reioyse thy stede,

Yf so be, that I may. 2310

By oure lady seynt Mary, [2411]

Here shalt thou no lenger lye,

Nether be nyȝt~ ne be day;

As I am~ Curtesse and hend,

To the kyng I shaƚƚ wend, 2315

And ffor thy love {hym} pray!’

[Linenotes:

2313. _Nether be day ne be nyȝt_ MS.

2316. _ffor thy love and pray this nyȝt_ MS.]

(201)

[Sidenote:

Leobertus asks the King of Jerusalem for Torrent. The King of

Jerusalem grants Torrent to his elder son,]

On~ the morow whan~ he Rose,

The prynce to the kyng gose

And knelid vppon~ his knee;

‘Sir,’ he said, ‘ffor godd{us} sonne, f. 114a. 2320

The knyght, that lieth in the dungeon~, [2421]

Ye wold graunt hym~ me!

I hard hym say be hym~ alone,

Many Geaunt{es} had he slone

And dragons II or thre.’ 2325

The kyng said: ‘Be my ffay,

Be warr~, he scape not away;

I vouch hym saue on the!’

[Headnote: TORRENT IS FREED, AND HONOURD IN JERUSALEM.]

(202)

[Sidenote:

who frees him from prison, tho’ still fettering him.]

The prynce in to the p{re}son went,

Torent by the hond he hent 2330

Oute of his bondys cold; [2431]

To the casteƚƚ he brought hym sone

And light ffettouris did hym~ vppon~,

For brekyng oute off hold.

The kyng said: ‘Be my ffaye, 2335

And he euer scape away,

Fuƚƚ dere he shaƚƚ be sold!’

‘Sir,’ he said, ‘p{ar}maffay,

We wyƚƚ hym~ kepe, and we may:

There of be ye bold!’ 2340

[Linenote:

2331. _And toke hym oute_ MS.]

(203)

[Sidenote:

Torrent dines with the King, and promises to teach his son Leobertus

spearcraft.]

For he was curtes knyght & free, [2441]

At the mete sett was he

By the kyng at the deyse.

‘Sir, thou haste i-bene

At Iustis and at tornement{es} kene, 2345

Both in warr~ and in peas:

Sith thy dwelling shaƚƚ be here,

{I pray}, that thou woldist my son~ lere,

Hys Tymber ffor to asay.’

‘Sir,’ he said, ‘I vnderstond, 2350

Affter the maner off my lond f. 114b. [2451]

I shaƚƚ, with outen {delay}.’

[Linenotes:

2348. _I pray_] om. MS.

2352. _delay_] _lese_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT JOUSTS WITH HIS ELDER SON, AND OTHERS.]

(204)

[Sidenote:

The jousts at Jerusalem. Torrent’s son Leobertus breaks 3 shafts on

his Father.]

The casteƚƚ court was large w{i}t{h} in~,

They made ryngis ffor to Ren~,

None but they alone. 2355

Euery of hem to oþ{ur}e R{a}de:

Feyrer Tur{na}ment{es} than they made,

Men sye never none.

The prynce in armes was fuƚƚ preste,

Thre shaftys on~ his fader he breste, 2360

In shevers they gan gone. [2461]

Sir Torent said: ‘So mvt I thee,

A man of armes shaƚƚ thou be,

Stalworth of blood and bone!’

[Linenotes:

2356. _Rode_ MS.

2357. _Turmentes_ MS.]

(205)

[Sidenote:

The jousts last 6 weeks. A Feast is held.]

Harroldys of armes cryed on~ hight, 2365

The prynce and that other knyght

No more juste shaƚƚ thay;

But lordys of other lond,

Euery one to other ffond,

And sith went theyre way. 2370

Sixe wekys he dwellid there, [2471]

Tiƚƚ that aƚƚ delyu{er}d were,

That in the Cite {lay}.

Tho they held a gestonye,

With aƚƚ man{er} of mynstralsye, 2375

Tyƚƚ the Sevynth day.

[Linenote:

2373. _lay_] _were_ MS.]

(206)

[Sidenote:

Torrent is declared victor. The King of Jerusalem promises to

support Torrent.]

Lordis with aƚƚ other thing

Toke leve at the kyng,

Home theyre ways to passe.

That tyme they yaue Torent the floure 2380

And the gre with moch honowre, f. 115a. [2481]

As he weƚƚ worthy was.

The kyng said: ‘I shaƚƚ the yeve

Liffe and lyvelode, whiƚƚ I lyve,

Thyn armo{ur}, as it was.’ 2385

Whan he sye ffeyre ladyes wend,

He thought on her, that was so hend,

And sighed and said: ‘Alas!’

[Headnote: DESONELL IS TOLD OF TORRENT’S VICTORY.]

(207)

[Sidenote:

The King of Nazareth]

The kyng of Naȝareth home went,

There that his lady lent, 2390

In his own~ lede. [2491]

‘Sir,’ she said, ‘ffor godd{us} pite,

What gentilman~ wan~ the gre?’

He said, ‘So god me spede,

One of the ffeyrest knyghtis, 2395

That slepith on~ som{er} nyght{es}

Or walkyd in wede;

He is so large of lym~ and lith,

Aƚƚ the world he hath justid with,

That come to that dede.’ 2400

(208)

[Sidenote:

tells Desonell that the Victor (Torrent) has an armd Giant as his

crest.]

‘Good lord,’ said Desoneƚƚ, [2501]

‘For godd{us} love ye me teƚƚ,

What armes that {h}e bare!’

‘Damyseƚƚ, also muste I the,

Syluer and asure beryth he, 2405

That wott I weƚƚ thare.

His Creste is a noble lond,

A Gyaunt with an~ hoke in~ hond,

This wott I weƚƚ, he bare.

He is so stiff at euery stoure, 2410

He is prynce and victoure, [2511]

He wynneth the gree aye where. f. 115b.

[Linenote:

2403. _he_] _ye_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT AND HIS 2 SONS GO TO A JOUSTING.]

(209)

[Sidenote:

The Victor is a Knight of Portugal. The King of Nazareth proclaims a

Jousting.]

Of Portyngale a knyght he ys,

He wanne the town~ of Raynes

And the Cite of Quarell{e}; 2415

At the last jurney that was sett,

The prynce, my broders son~ {he mett},

And in his hond he ffeƚƚ.

The prynce of Grece leth nere

There may no juster be his pere, 2420

For soth as I you teƚƚ: [2521]

A dede of armes I shaƚƚ do crye

And send after hym~ in hye.’

Blith was Desoneƚƚ.

[Linenotes:

2415. _Quarellis_ MS.

2416. _that_] _he_ add. MS.

2417. _he m._] _was gatt_ MS.]

(210)

[Sidenote:

The King of Jerusalem sends Torrent and his elder son Leobertus

to it. The King of Greece brings the younger son, Antony

Fitzgriffin.]

This dede was cried ffar and nere, 2425

The kyng of Ierusalem did it here,

In what lond that it shold be.

He said: ‘Sone, anon right

Dight the and thy cryston~ knyght,

For sothe, theder wiƚƚ we.’ 2430

Gret lordys, that herith this crye, [2531]

Theder come richely,

Everyman~ in his degre.

The kyng of Grece did {make hym boun},

With hym~ come Antony ffyȝ greffon~, 2435

With moche solempnite . . . . . . .

[Linenote:

2434. _make hym b._] _assigne_ MS.]

(211)

[Sidenote:

The Jousting is for a lady.]

‘The kyng of Naȝareth sent me,

That there shold a justynge be

Of meny a cryston~ knyght,

And aƚƚ is ffor a lady clere, 2440

That the justyng is cryed ffar and nere, f. 116a. [2541]

Of men~ of armes bryght.’

Gret joye it was to here teƚƚ,

How thes kyng{es} w{i}t{h} the knyghtis feƚƚ

Come and semled to that ffyght. 2445

[Linenote:

2445. _semlend_ MS.]

[Headnote: THE JOUSTS AT NAZARETH BEGIN.]

(212)

[Sidenote:

Many folk come to the jousts. They sup and sleep,]

There come meny another m{o}n~,

That thought there to haue to done,

And than~ to wend her way.

Whan~ they come to the casteƚƚ gent,

A Roaƚƚ ffyght, verament, 2450

There was, the sothe to say. [2551]

Trompes resyn~ on the waƚƚ,

Lordys assembled in the haƚƚ,

And sith to souper yede thay.

They were recevid w{i}t{h} rialte, 2455

Euery man~ in his degre,

And to her logyng went her way.

[Linenote:

2446. _man_ MS.]

(213)

[Sidenote:

rise, hear Mass, and dine, then mount,]

The lordys Rosyn aƚƚ be-dene

On the morow, as I wene,

And went masse ffor to here. 2460

And ffurthermore w{i}t{h}-oute lent [2561]

They wesh and to mete went,

For to the ffeld they wold there.

After mete anon~ right

They axid hors and armes bryght, 2465

To hors-bak went thay in ffere.

Knyghtis and lordys reuelid aƚƚ,

And ladyes lay ou{er} the casteƚƚ waƚƚ,

That semely to se were.

(214)

[Sidenote:

and begin to joust. Torrent’s 2 sons joust. The younger, Antony,

unhorses his brother Leobertus.]

Than~ eueryman toke spere in~ hond, 2470

And euerych to other ffond, [2571]

Smert boffett{es} there they yeld. f. 116b.

The prynce of Ierusalem~ and his brother,

Eueriche of hem~ Ran to other~

Smertely in the feld . . . . . . . . 2475

Though~ Antony ffygryffon~ yonger were,

His brother Leobert{us} he can down~ bere;

Sir Torent stode and be-held.

[Linenotes:

2471. _ffound_ MS.

2472. _there th. y._] _they yeldyd there_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT AND HIS SONS JOUST. HE IS VICTOR.]

(215)

‘Be my trouth,’ said Torent thanne,

‘As I am~ a cryston~ man 2480

I-quytt shaƚƚ it be.’ [2581]

Torent be-strode a stede strong

And hent a tymber gret and long,

And to hym~ rode he.

[Linenote:

2483 put before 2482 MS.]

(216)

[Sidenote:

Torrent rides down his younger son. He and his sons are the best

jousters.]

Torrent to hym rode so sore, 2485

That he to the ground hym~ bare,

And let hym~ lye in~ the {bent}.

There was no man~ hyȝe ne lowe,

That myght make Torent to bowe

Ne his bak to bend. 2490

They justyd and turneyd there, [2591]

And eueryman~ ffound his pere,

There was caught no dethis d{e}nt.

Of aƚƚ the Justis, that there ware,

Torent the floure a way bare 2495

And his sonnys, {verament}.

[Linenotes:

2485 f.:

_Torrent so sore to hym rode,

That he bare hym to the ground_ MS.

2487. _bent_] _ffeld_ MS.

2493. _dynt_ MS.

2496. _ver._] _in that tyde_ MS.]

(217)

[Sidenote:

Desonell greets Torrent, and swoons.]

And on~ the morow, whan~ it was day,

Amonge aƚƚ the lordys gay,

That worthy were, {par de},

Desoneƚƚ wold no lenger lend, 2500

But to s{ir} Torent gan~ she wend [2601]

And knelid on her kne.

She said: ‘Welcom~, my lord s{ir} Torent!’

‘And so be ye, my lady gent!’ f. 117a.

In sownyng than feƚƚ she. 2505

Vp they cou{er}yd that lady hend,

And to mete did they wend

With joye and solempnite.

[Linenotes:

2499. _par de_] _in wede_ MS.

2502. _And on her kne she knelid_ MS.]

[Headnote: DESONELL GREETS TORRENT. HER BEAUTY.]

(218)

[Sidenote:

All go to Dinner.]

Dame Desoneƚƚ be-sought the kyng.

That she myght, with oute lesyng, 2510

Sytt with Torent alone. [2611]

‘Yes, lady, be hevyn~ kyng,

There shaƚƚ be no lettyng;

Worthy is he, be seynt Iohn~!’

Tho they washid and went to mete, 2515

And rially they were sett

And s{er}uid worthely, {echone}.

Euery lord in~ the haƚƚ,

As his state wold be-ffaƚƚ,

Were couplid with ladyes {schone}. 2520

[Linenotes:

2514. _ffor welle worthy_ MS.

2517. _echone_] _verament_ MS.

2520. _schone_] _gent_ MS.]

(219)

[Sidenote:

Desonell is the fairest lady. The Kings of Jerusalem and Greece go

to the]

But of aƚƚ ladyes, that were there sene, [2621]

So ffeire myght there none bene

As was dame Desoneƚƚ. . . . . . . .

Thes two kyngis, that doughty ys,

To the Cite come, i-wys, 2525

With moche meyne {emell}.

[Linenote:

2526. _emell_] om. MS.]

(220)

[Sidenote:

King of Nazareth’s Castle. Desonell sits by Torrent.]

To the casteƚƚ they toke the way,

There the kyng of Naȝareth lay,

With hym~ to speke on high~.

At none the quene ete in~ the haƚƚ, 2530

Amongist the ladyes ou{er} aƚƚ, [2631]

That couth moche curtesye.

Desoneƚƚ wold not lett,

By s{ir} Torent she her sett,

There of they had {envye} . . . . . . 2535

[Linenote:

2535. _envye_] _wonder_ MS.]

[Headnote: DESONELL FINDS HER TWO SONS BY TORRENT.]

(221)

[Sidenote:

She tells the Lords how her Father sent her and her 2 Boys to sea;]

Whan~ eyther of hem other be-held,

Off care no thyng they ffeld, f. 117b.

Bothe her hert{es} were blithe.

Gret lordys told she sone,

What poyntes he had for her done, 2540

They be-gan to be blithe; [2641]

And how her {fader} in the see did her do,

With her she had men~ childre two;

They waried hym~ feƚƚ sithe.

‘Sir kyng, in this wildernes, 2545

My two children~ fro me revid w{e}s,

I may no lenger hem~ hide.

[Linenotes:

2542. _fader_] om. MS.

2546. _was_ MS.]

(222)

[Sidenote:

and how one was carried off by a Griffin, and the other by a

Leopard. Leobertus and Antony are these boys.]

‘The knyght yaue me ryng{es} two,

Euerich of hem~ had one of thoo,

Better saw I never none. 2550

A Gryffon~ bare the one away, [2651]

A liberd the other, p{ar}maffay,

Down~ by a Roche of stone.’

Than~ said the kyng of Ierusalem~:

‘I ffound one by a water streme, 2555

He levith w{i}t{h} blood & bone.’

The kyng of Grece said: ‘My brother,

Antony my son~ brought me anoþ{ur}e.’

She saith: ‘Soth, be seynt Iohn~?’

[Linenote:

2556. _levith_] _yet_ add. MS.]

[[‘The knyght yaue me... _open quote invisible_]]

[Headnote: TORRENT INVITES 3 KINGS TO PORTUGAL.]

(223)

[Sidenote:

Torrent’s 2 Sons kneel and ask his blessing. He rejoices in them and

their Mother,]

The kyng said: ‘Sith it is so, 2560

Kys ye youre fader bo, [2661]

And axe hym~ his blessyng!’

Down~ they knelid on~ her knee:

‘Thy blessing, ffader, for charite!’

‘Welcom~, children~ y{i}ng!’ 2565

Thus in armes he hem~ hent,

A blither man~ than~ s{ir} Torent

Was there none levyng; f. 118a.

It was no wonder, thouȝe it so were;

He had his wiffe and his children~ there, 2570

His joye be-gan~ to spryng. [2671]

[Linenotes:

2561. _bothe_ MS.

2565. _yong_ MS.]

(224)

[Sidenote:

and thanks the Kings for taking care of them. He asks the Kings to

Portugal.]

Of aƚƚ the justis, that were thare,

A way the gre his sonnys bare,

That doughty were in dede.

Torent knelid vppon~ his knee 2575

And said: ‘God yeld you, lordys ffree,

Thes children~ that ye haue ffed:

Euer we wiƚƚ be at youre wiƚƚ,

What jurney ye wiƚƚ put vs tyƚƚ,

So I{es}u be oure spede, 2580

With that the kyng thre [2681]

In to my lond wiƚƚ wend w{i}t{h} me,

For to wreke oure stede.’

(225)

[Sidenote:

All agree to go. Their ships arrive at Portugal.]

They graunted that there was,

Gret lordys more and lesse, 2585

Bothe knyght and squiere;

And with Desoneƚƚ went

Al the ladyes, that were gent,

That of valew were.

Shippis had they stiff and strong, 2590

Maistis gret and sayles long, [2691]

Hend, as ye may here,

And markyd in to Portingale,

Whan~ they had pullid vp her sayƚƚ,

With a wynd so clere. 2595

[Headnote: TORRENT, DESONELL, AND THEIR SONS, GO TO PORTUGAL.]

(226)

[Sidenote:

The Queen]

The riche quene of that lond

In her casteƚƚ toure gan stond

And be-held in~-to the see.

‘Sone,’ she said to a knyght,

‘Yonder of shippis I haue a sight, f. 118b. 2600

For sothe, a grett meyne.’ [2701]

The quene said: ‘Verament,

I se the armes of s{ir} Torent,

I wott weƚƚ, it is he.’

He answerid and said tho: 2605

‘Madam, I wiƚƚ, that it be so,

God gefe grace, that it so be!’

[Linenote:

2605-7 put before 2602-4 MS.]

(227)

[Sidenote:

welcomes Torrent and his friends, and swoons when she sees her

daughter Desonell.]

A blither lady myȝt none be,

She went ageyn hym~ to the see

With armed knyght{es} kene. 2610

Torent she toke by the hond: [2711]

‘Lordys of vncouth lond,

Welcom muste ye bene!’

Whan she sye Desoneƚƚ,

Swith in~ sownyng she feƚƚ 2615

To the ground so {gr}ene.

Torent gan~ her vp ta:

‘Here bene her children~ twa,

On lyve thou shalt hem see{ne}!’

[Linenotes:

2616. _grene_] _kene_ MS.

2619. _see_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT WEDS DESONELL. HIS SONS MADE HEIRS OF KINGS.]

(228)

[Sidenote:

Torrent holds a great feast, and weds Desonell.]

In the Casteƚƚ of Portyngale 2620

A-Rose trumpes {of} hede vale, [2721]

To mete they went on~ hye.

He sent letters ffar and nere;

The lordys, that of valew were,

They come to that gestonye. 2625

The Emp{er}oure of Rome,

To that gestonye he come,

A noble knyght on~ hyȝe.

Whan~ aƚƚ thes lordys com w{e}re,

Torrent weddid that lady clere, 2630

A justyng did he crye. [2731]

[Linenotes:

2621. _of_] om. MS.

2629. _ware_ MS.]

(229)

So it ffeƚƚ vppon a day, f. 119a.

The kyng of Ierusalem~ gan say:

‘Sir, thy sonne I ffound

Lying in a libert{es} mouth, 2635

And no good he ne couth,

Dede he was nere hond:

Wold thou, that he dwellid w{i}t{h} me,

Tiƚƚ that I dede be,

And sith reioyse my lond?’ . . . . . . 2640

(230)

[Sidenote:

He gives his son Leobertus as heir to the King of Jerusalem; and his

son Antony as heir to the King of Greece. Torrent is elected

Emperor.]

Be fore lordys of gret renown~, [2741]

Torent gaue hym~ his son~ . . . . . . . .

The kyng of Grece said: ‘S{ir} knyght,

I yeff thy son aƚƚ my right

To the Grekys flood: 2645

Wouch thou saue, he dweƚƚ w{i}t{h} me?’

‘Yea, Lord, so mut I thee,

God yeld you aƚƚ this good!’

For s{ir} Torent was stiff in stoure,

They chose hym ffor Emp{er}oure, 2650

Beste of bone and blood. [2751]

[Linenote:

2645. _flood_] _I plight_ add. MS.]

[[_stanza printed with indentation as shown_]]

[Headnote: TORRENT IS MADE EMPEROR. HE DIES.]

(231)

[Sidenote:

Torrent gives his 2 Sons a Sword each. He lies in a fair Abbey.]

Gret lordys, that there were,

Fourty days dwellith there,

And sith they yode her way;

He yaue his sonnys, as ye may here, 2655

Two swerdys, that were hym~ dere,

Ech of hem~ one had they.

Sith he did make vp-tyed

Chirchus and abbeys wyde,

For hym~ and his to praye. 2660

In Rome this Romans berith the crown~ [2761]

Of aƚƚ kerpyng of Renown~:

He leyth in a feire abbey.

[Linenotes:

2654. _And sith her way they yode_ MS.

2663. _leyth_] _in Rome_ add. MS.]

(232)

[Sidenote:

May Christ grant us Heaven!]

Now I{es}u Cryst, that aƚƚ hath wrought,

As he on the Rode vs bought, f. 119b. 2665

He geve hvs his blessing,

And as he died for you and me,

He graunt vs in blis to be,

{Lesse and mare, both old and ying!} Amen.

[Linenote:

2669. _Oute of this world whan~ we shalle wend_ MS.]

Explicit Torent of Portyngale.