magestat sua volia fer publicar una fraternitat, la qual nouament hauia instituida de .xxvi. cauallers sens que negu no fos reproche. E tots de bon grat foren contents de aturar.
These conflicting statements as to the time of Tirant's
leaving London indicate that when the author wrote
chapter xxxix, he had no intention of introducing the
account concerning the Order of the Garter. But later
moved probably by a desire to show in what great honor
Tirant was held, and to describe the pomp, magnificence,
and glory of knighthood, he decided to introduce this
feature. Still it is quite possible that the peculiar and
interesting stories in connection with the Order may have
caused its introduction. The circumstances which led
to the institution of the fraternity according to Martorell
are as follows:
At a dance at the English court a lady named Madresilva
lost a garter while she was dancing. A certain
knight picked it up. The King witnessed the incident,
and asked the knight to bring it to him and fasten it
on his left leg just below the knee. His Majesty wore
the garter in that way for four months and no one
ventured to speak to him concerning it. But one day
one of the maids, who was a favorite of the King, told
him that the Queen, the maids of honor, the people of the
kingdom and those from abroad, all were displeased that
he should show so much honor to Madresilva. And the
King answered:
[1]. . . donchs la Reyna sta de aço mal contenta,
e los strangers e los del meu regne ne stan
admirats dix tales paraules en frances: Puni
- [Footnote: days: for His Royal Majesty wished to proclaim the institution of
a fraternity which he had recently founded, with a membership of twenty-six knights, each of whom was without reproach. And all were highly pleased to stay.]*
- ↑ "So then the queen is displeased with that, and the foreigners and those of my kingdom are surprised at it." Then he spoke the following words in French: "Punished be he who thinks evil of
