La Belle Hélène de Constantinople

The most extensive verse version, found in a manuscript of Arras, has almost 15,500 alexandrines divided into 399 laisses each with its own end rhyme.

[1] It survives in the manuscript Royal Library of Belgium MS 9967, illuminated with 26 miniatures by Loyset Liédet between 1460 and 1467.

[2] The main story of La Belle Hélène, although embellished by numerous subplots and action sequences, is of the same type as Chaucer's "Man of Law's Tale" and to the folk legend of the Handless Maiden.

Although the author describes it as "histoire moult vraie" ('history most true'), it is in fact historical fiction with elements of fantasy.

Antoine successfully defends Rome from the Saracens, but when he returns his daughter has fled to a monastery in Flanders.

[3] When the Saracen king of Flanders falls in love with her, Hélène flees by ship but is captured by pirates.

When the pirate captain tries to rape her, she prays to the Virgin Mary, who sends a storm that causes a shipwreck of which Hélène is the sole survivor.

When he goes off to defend Rome from the Turks, leaving his pregnant wife in the care of the earl of Gloucester, his mother tries through fraud to have Hélène and her newborn twin boys executed.

[3] Hélène and the boys land on the island of Constance (ever since called Scotland), where the children are taken by a wolf and a lion.

They come to the court of Clariande, who has recently married the earl of Gloucester, but they must flee when she falls in love with Lion.

When the two are found together, Coustant kills the king and is miraculous brought to the Christian camp by Saint George.

A prophecy says that the two ladies (Plaisance and Hélène) will only be rescued when Jerusalem, Flanders and the city of Castres in Lombardy have been conquered.

[3] Thieves spoil the murder of Plaisance and Coustant's son, who is left in a forest near Castres, which is being besieged by Clovis I of the Franks.

[3] Hélène is working as a washerwoman fending off the amorous advances of beggars when she decides to visit the pope.

[3] The remaining kings take Acre and plan to assault Mecca when Clement recalls them to deal with Hurtaut.

Antoine, Brice and the archbishop of Tours are then captured at Hantonne in Scotland by Amaury's still pagan brother.