Sir Tristram De Lyones: The First Book

Summary

Here begynnyth the Fyrste Boke of Syr Trystrams de Lyones, and who was his fadir and hys modyr, and how he was borne and fostyrd, and how he was made knyght of Kynge Marke of Cornuayle.

THERE WAS a kynge that hyght Melyodas, and he was lorde of the contrey of Lyones. And this Melyodas was a lykly knyght as ony was that tyme lyvyng. And by fortune he wedded Kynge Markis sister of Cornuayle, and she was called Elyzabeth, that was called bothe good and fayre. And at that tyme Kynge Arthure regned, and he was hole kynge of Ingelonde, Walys, Scotlonde, and of many othir realmys. Howbehit there were many kynges that were lordys of many contreyes, but all they helde theire londys of Kynge Arthure; for in Walys were too kynges, and in the Northe were many kynges, and in Cornuayle and in the Weste were too kynges; also in Irelonde were too or thre kynges, and all were undir the obeysaunce of Kynge Arthure; so was the Kynge of Fraunce and the Kyng of Bretayne, and all the lordshyppis unto Roome.

So whan this Kynge Melyodas had bene with his wyff, wythin a whyle she wexed grete with chylde. And she was a full meke lady, and well she loved hir lorde and he hir agayne, so there was grete joy betwyxte hem.

So there was a lady in that contrey that had loved Kynge Melyodas longe, and by no meane she never cowde gete his love. Therefore she let ordayne uppon a day as Kynge Melyodas rode an-huntynge, for he was a grete chacer of dere, and there be enchauntemente she made hym chace an harte by hymself alone tyll that he com to an olde castell, and there anone he was takyn presoner by the lady that loved hym.

Whan Elyzabeth, Kynge Melyodas hys wyff, myssed hir lorde she was nyghe oute of hir wytte, and also, as grete with chylde as she was, she toke a jantylwoman with hir and ran into the foreste suddeynly to seke hir lorde. And whan she was farre in the foreste she myght no farther, but ryght there she gan to travayle faste of hir chylde, and she had many grymly throwys, but hir jantyllwoman halpe hir all that she myght.