OF SIX MEDIEVAL WOMEN 



envious tongues, he was banished from Court, 

 and thereupon determined to quit his country 

 for a while and seek service in the West of 

 England. With many promises to his wife to 

 be faithful to her, he set out for Totnes, where 

 he found many kings ruling in the land, all at 

 war with one another. One of them, a very old 

 man, was ruler in the province of Exeter, and at 

 war with a neighbouring king on account of 

 his refusal to give to the latter his daughter, 

 Guilliadun, in marriage. So Eliduc determined 

 to offer his services to the old king, by whom 

 they were accepted, and by his tact and prowess 

 he soon proved himself worthy of the trust re- 

 posed in him. Through a skilful ambush, 

 planned and conducted by him, he defeated the 

 enemy. Guilliadun, hearing of his deeds, sought 

 an interview with him, and at once fell in love 

 with him, and after certain maidenly reserve and 

 hesitation, made her love known to him. This 

 Eliduc secretly returned, but, troubled at the 

 remembrance of his wife and of his pledge to 

 her, his courage failed him to confess that he 

 was already wedded. In order to escape from 

 his dilemma, he sought and obtained the per- 

 mission of the old king to avail himself of the 

 entreaty of his liege-lord to return to his own 

 country to fight against the enemies who were 

 desolating the kingdom. This permission was 

 granted under his promise to come back if his 

 services were again required. After pledging 

 himself to Guilliadun to do this on such a day 



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