The Master of Game: The Oldest English Book on HuntingEdward, of Norwich
History
The Master of Game: The Oldest English Book on Hunting
Edward, of Norwich
Hunting -- Early works to 1800
good lady and loved well her lord, forsook him and would him not, and
said (to) him that if he spake to her any more thereof that she would
tell it to the King of France, and to her Lord. And after that the
feast was passed, King Appollo of Lyonnys turned again, he and his
wife to their country. And when they were so turned again, he and his
wife, the King Claudoneus son of France was before him with a great
fellowship of men of arms for to ravish his wife from him. The King
Appollo of Lyonnys that was a wonderful good knight of his hounds
(hands?) notwithstanding that he was unarmed, defended himself and his
wife in the best wise that he could unto the time that he was wounded
to the death, then he withdrew himself and his wife into a tower. And
the King Claudoneus son, the which would not leave the lady, went in
and took the lady, and would have defiled her, and then she said to
him "Ye have slain my lord, and (now) ye would dishonour me, certes I
would sooner be dead," then she drew herself to (from) a window and
leapt into the river of Loire that ran under the tower and anon she
was drowned. And after that within a little while, the King Appollo of
Lyonnys died of his wounds that he had received, and on the same day
he was cast into the river. The greyhound that I have spoke of, the
which was always with the king his master, when his lord was cast in
the river leapt after him into the river, insomuch that with his teeth
he drew his lord out of the river, and made a great pit with his claws
in the best wise that he could, and with his muzzle. And so the
greyhound always kept his lord about half a year in the pit, and kept
his lord from all manner of beasts and fowls. And if any man ask
whereof he lived I say that he lived on carrion and of other feeding
such as he might come to. So it befell that the King Claudoneus of
France rode to see the estate of his realm, and (it) befell that the
king passed there where the greyhound was that kept his lord and
master, and the greyhound arose against him, and began to yelp at him.
The King Claudoneus of France the which was a good man and of good
perception, anon when he saw the greyhound, knew that it was the
greyhound that King Appollo of Lyonnys had brought to his court,
whereof he had great wonder, and he went himself there where the
greyhound was and saw the pit, and then he made some of his men alight
from their horses for to look what was therein, and therein they found
the King Appollo's body all whole. And anon as the King Claudoneus of
France saw him, he knew it was the King Appollo of Lyonnys, whereof he
was right sorry and sore aggrieved, and ordained a cry throughout all
his realm, that whoso would tell him the truth of the deed he would
give him whatsoever that he would ask. Then came a damsel that was in
the tower when the King Appollo of Lyonnys was dead, and thus she said
to the King Claudoneus of France, "Sir," quoth she, "if you will grant
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