ive him to peace.

When the king had read the tenor of the emperor's letter, he called his
council, praying them to give him counsel how he best might do, as
touching this matter. Then said they, "It is good that ye obey the
emperor's will and commandment in all things. For first, in that he
desired of you surety for the peace; to this we answer thus: Ye have but
one daughter, and the emperor one son, wherefore let a marriage be made
between them, and that may be a perpetual covenant of peace. Also he
asketh homage and tribute, which it is good to fulfil." Then the king
sent his messengers to the emperor, saying, that he would fulfil his
desire in all things, if it might please his highness that his son and
the king's daughter might be married together. All this well pleased the
emperor, yet he sent again, saying, "If his daughter were a pure maid
from her birth unto that day, he would consent to that marriage." Then
was the king right glad, for his daughter was a pure maid.

Therefore, when the letters of covenant and compact were sealed, the
king furnished a fair ship, wherein he might send his daughter, with
many noble knights, ladies, and great riches, unto the emperor, for to
have his son in marriage.

And when they were sailing in the sea, towards Rome, a storm arose so
extremely and so horribly that the ship brake against a rock, and they
were all drowned save only the young lady, which fixed her hope and
heart so greatly on God, that she was saved, and about three of the
clock the tempest ceased, and the lady drove forth over the waves in
that broken ship which was cast up again. But a huge whale followed
after, ready to devour both the ship and her. Wherefore this young lady,
when night came, smote fire with a stone, wherewith the ship was greatly
lightened, and then the whale durst not adventure toward the ship for
fear of that light. At the cock-crowing, this young lady was so weary of
the great tempest and trouble of sea, that she slept, and within a
little while after the fire ceased, and the whale came and devoured the
virgin. And when she awaked and found herself swallowed up in the
whale's belly, she smote fire, and with a knife wounded the whale in
many places, and when the whale felt himself wounded, according to his
nature he began to swim to land.

There was dwelling at that time in a country near by a noble earl named
Pirris, who for his recreation walking on the sea-shore, saw the whale
coming