of the ships and barges that were brought from Greece; of the battles that were fought, and those who fell in battle; of the truces and (fol. 3 b.) treasons that took place; in short, of every event from first to last. Bothe of barges & buernes pat broght were fro grese : And all the batels on bent þe buernes betwene. 92 What Duke þat was dede throughe dyntes of hond, Who ffallen was in ffylde, & how it fore aftur : Bothe of truse & trayne pe truthe shall pu here, And all the ferlies pat fell vnto the ferre ende. 96 ffro this prologe I passe & part me per with, ffrayne will I fer and fraist of pere werkes, Meue to my mater and make here an ende. Explicit Prologue. Here begynnes the first Boke. How Kyng In Tessaile hit tyde as thus in tyme olde, 100 A prouynce appropret aperte to Rome, An yle enabit nobli and wele With a maner of men, mermydons called: There was a kyng in pat coste pat pe kithe ought, (More of thies Myrmydons mell I not now, 112 At þe prayer of a prinse þat peopull hade lost.) Endured his dayes drowpyaite in age, As Ovid openly in Eydos tellus, 124 How Medea the maiden made hym all new, Book I. Jason, son of Aeson, seeks his father's throne. Pelias devises the plan of sending Jason in search of the golden fleece. (fol. 4 b.) Where and how the golden fleece vas kept. (MS. has "ax.") By crafte put she kouth of hir coint artys. Hade a son of hym-selfe semly to wale, As meke as a Mayden, & mery of his wordis. 136 That the londe so hym louede, lorde as he were, falle, 140 Lest he put hym from priuelage & his place take, Of Tessaile, as truthe wold, to be trew kyng. Thus Pelleus with payne was pricket in hert, ffull egurly with enuy, & euer hym bethoght, 144 With a course of vnkyndnes he caste in his thoghte, The freike vpon faire wise ferke out of lyue, 152 In a cuntre was cald Colchos by name, Was (an) aunter in a nyle þat I nem shall, Beyonde the terage of Troy as þe trety sayse, There was a wonderfull wethur weghes to be-holde, 156 With a flese þat was fyne, flamond of gold ; And pe Kyng of pat coste callid was by name Chethes, for sothe, as souerayne & lord: He was mighty on molde & mekull goode hade, 160 His pride well ouerput, past into elde. This whethur and þe wole were wonderly keppit 164 Thus coyntly it kept was all with clene art, These balfull bestes were, as pe boke tellus, Book I. Eetes, king of The wether guarded by two oxen and a fiery dragon. 172 And wo this wethur shuld wyn bude wirke as Whoever would I say, Ayre euyn to be Oxen, entre hom in yoke, win the fleece must seize the oxen, enter them in the yoke and plough up the With striffe or with stroke till þai stonde wold; Pa 176 Sythen drawe to pe dragon, & pe derfe qwelle, Armyt at all peses, able to were Thai to falle vpon fight as fomen belyue, He must then quell the dragon; tear out his teeth and sow them like seed. The teeth will turn into armed knights, who will fight till they destroy each With depe woundes and derfe till all be dede other. euyn. 184 All thes perels to passe with-outen payne other, (fol. 5 a.) Why the fleece Pook I. Pelias plans get Jason away from Iolcus. At a great feast arranged for the purpose, he entices him to go to Colchis for the golden fleece. (fol. 5 b.) 192 And for to get of this gold & the grete sommys, 196 ffor couetous pere come knightes full ofte, Iff he might sleghly be sleght & sletyng of wordes, euer, And most likly be loste & his los keppit. And þe way for to wylne with wilfull desyre. 204 He cast hym full cointly be cause of this thyng, In a Cité be-syde to somyn a fest, With princes and prelates & prise of the lond, Thre dayes to endure with daintes ynogh. 208 The iijd day throly he thoght in his hert 212 ffor to mele of this mater, þat he in mynde hade : "Cosyn, it is knowen þat I am Kyng here, But more it Joyes me, Jason, of þi just werkes, hat so mighty & meke & manly art holdyn: 216 Now pi fame shall go fer & pu furse holdyn, And all prouyns & pertes pi pes shall desyre. To tessayle a tresure tristy for euer, Thy selfe to be sene and in suche fame, 220 By pi name pus anoisyt & for noble holden, Whyle you rixlis in this Reame no riot we drede, But all fferd be perfore and frendship dyssire. Hit wold sothely me set as souerayne in Joye, 224 Iff our goddes wold graunt þat þu grace hade, |