Sir if it be your pleasure to come to the Abbey of Saint Maurise there shall ye find your brother Huon who is come lately from beyond the sea when Duke Gerard heard certainely how his brother Huon was come to the Abbey of Saint Maurise hee was so ouercome with ire and displeasure that his visage became like a flame of fire and sayd to the messenger Goe and returne and say to my brother Huon that I will incontinent come and visite him Sir quoth he I shall shew him of your comming and so departed and came again to the Abby and shewed Huon what his brother Gerard had sayd And when Duke Gerard saw that the messenger was departed he was sorrowfull and pensiue and called to him his father in law his wiues father who was named Gibouars the most falsest traitour that was from the East to the West and Gerard said to him Sir I pray you giue me counsell in that I haue to doe for all the diuels in hell haue brought my Brother Huon from the parts beyond the Sea and he is now present in the Abbey of Saint Maurise the Abbot there hath sent me word thereof and that I should come thether to speake with him for as to morrow he would depart to goe to Paris to the king so that when he is come thether he will doe so much that all his land shal be rendred to him and that I shal haue neuer a foot of land left me but that which yée haue giuen me with my wife your Daughter wherefore deare Father in law I pray you in this great matter to councell and aid me or else I am but lost Faire Sonne quoth Gibouars dismay you nothing for without my wit doe faile me I thinke to play him a tourne that it had béen better for him to haue tarried where he was than to haue come hether to claime my land Chap. LXV ¶ How Gybouars of Beam and Gerard practised Huons death and how the traitour Gerard came to see his brother Huon who with great ioy receiued him THus as ye haue heard these two traitours conspired and then Gybouars sayd to Gerard. Faire sonne go ye your way to your brother Huon and take with you but one Squier and when you come there make to him all the chéere you can and shew him as great loue as ye can doe and humble your selfe to him to the intent that he take in you no suspicion But when the morning commeth hast him to depart and when ye câ—me with him néere such a little wood find some rigorous words to him and make as though ye were displeased with him and I shall be readie in that same little wood ambashed and xl men of armes with me And when I see that words are betwéene you I shall issue out and slay al those that come with him so that none shal escape aliue and then take your brother Huon and cast him into prison in one of the Towres of your Pallaice in Bourdeaux and there miserably he shall end his dayes and then in haste ye shall ride to Paris But ere ye goe to Paris ye shall take from him the Admiralles beard and great téeth and then ye shall shew to the King how Huon your brother is returned without bringing either beard or téeth of the Admirall Gaudys and how for that cause you haue put him in prison The King will beleeue you for he hateth Huon greatly because of the death of his sonne Charlot whom hee slew for the hate that the King hath to him in his heart shall neuer depart from him and therefore sonne when you be with your brother demaund of him if he haue the Admirals beard and téeth or not and whether he doe beare them himselfe or who else for if he haue them not he shall neuer haue peace with the King but he will cause him to be slaine of an euill death either hanged or drawne for your brother laide hostage promising that he would neuer returne without he brought with him the Admirall Gaudys beard and great téeth and also he promised that he would neuer enter into his heritage till he had spoken with the King and that was enioyned him on paine of death Thus as ye haue heard these two Traitours deuised and concluded the death of Huon Gerard quoth Gibouars thinke well on your businesse and I shall goe and assemble together fortie of my most secret seruants and in other places where I can get them to furnish this enterprise Sir quoth Gerard I shall goe to the Abbey to see my brother when it is a little néere to night So when the houre came the false Traytor departed from Bourdeaux and with him but one Squier and so they rode till they came to the Abbey and there alighted and when he perceiued his brother Huon hee imbraced and kissed him with such a kisse as Iudas kissed Christ When Huon saw his brother Gerard come with such humilitie the water fell from his eyes with kindnesse and embraced him and kissed him and sayd Right déere brother I haue great ioy to see you I pray you shew me how ye haue done since my departure Sir quoth Gerard right well now I see you in good health Brother quoth Huon I haue great maruaile that ye bee thus come alone without company Sir quoth Gerard I did it for the more humilitie because I know not how ye shall speede with the king nor whether ye shall haue againe your land or no if God will that ye shall haue it I shal assemble al the Barons of the court to receiue you to make you cheere according this Sir I shall do till you returne for often times these great Princes are mutable lightly beleeue for this cause Sir I am secretly come to you Brother quoth Huon your aduise is good I am content that you thus doe and to morrow betimes I will depart towards Paris then these two Brethren tooke each other by the hand making great ioy Brother quoth Gerard I am right ioyous when I sée you thus returned in health and prosperitie haue you accomplished the Messuage that Kinge Charles charged you withall Brother quoth Huon know for troth that I haue the beard and great téeth of the Admirall Gaudise and beside that I haue brought with me his Daughter the faire Escleremond whom I haue taken to my wife and wedded her in the Citie of Rome and also I haue héere with me thirtie Somers charged with gould and siluer and rich Iewels garnished with pecious stones whereof the halfe part shall be yours and if I should shew thee the paines trauailes and pouerties that I haue endured since I sawe you last it would bee ouer-long to rehearse Sir quoth Gerard I beléeue you well but Sir I pray you shew me by what meanes or aid you did bring your Enterprize to an end Brother quoth Huon it was by a king of the Fayrie called Oberon who did mée such succour and ayd that
men send them to Bourdeaux and let them take Huon out of prison and bring him to you and heare what hee himselfe will say and if it be true that Gerard hath sayd then I desire you to haue no pittie on him but I beléeue surely yee shall finde the matter otherwise then Gerard his brother hath sayd Naymes quoth the king your saying is reasonable I accord thereto I will he be sent for Chap. LXXI ¶ How the Emperor Charlemain went himselfe to Bourdeaux to cause Huon to bee slaine for the great ill will that he bare to him YE haue heard before how the good Duke Naymes did so much that King Charlemain was content to send for Huon but the king was sore displeased with him that hée would not abide so long as to send for him but he made himself readie to go thether in person with all his traine and commanded that the pledges should be set in prison till his returne but the good Duke Naymes became pledge for them all to bée forth comming and so they went not to prison The King made him readie and tooke with him twelue of his Péeres and so tooke their way towards Bourdeaux God aide Huon for hee was now in perill of his life if God had not pitie on him Thus as I haue shewed you King Charlemaine nobly accompanied rode so long by his iourneyes that hee came within the sight of Bourdeaux and when he approched neere to the Citie Gerard came to the king and said Sir if it please you I would gladly ride before you into the Citie to ordain to receiue you accordingly Gerard quoth the King it is no néede that you goe before to prepare for my comming there be other that shall goe before you shall not goe till I goe my selfe When Duke Naymes heard the kings answere hee said to the king Sir you haue answered like a noble Prince blessed be he that counselled you so to say thus the king rode forth without giuing any knowledge of his comming and so entered into the Citie of Bourdeaux and rode to the Pallaice and there alighted Then dinner was made readie the King sate down and Duke Naymes by him and at other bordes other Lords and knights and there they were richly serued great brute was made in the Pallaice so that Huon being in prison had great maruel of the noyse that he heard and demaunded of the Gailer what noyse it was that hee heard aboue in the Pallaice the Gayler answered with great pride and despight and sayd It néedes not you to demaund for you are like to know it too soone but since you would know it I shall shew you the truth it is king Charlemaine and all his Barons who are come hether to iudge you to be hanged Goe thy way false traitour quoth Huon canst thou not shew to me none other tydings but that thus Huon answered the Gayler and there was as great brute in the Citie as in the Pallaice with lodging of the kings men The Commons and Burgesses of the Citie of Bourdeaux had full great maruaile why the king came thether at that time so sodainely and the king sitting at the table made good â—heere but Duke Naymes who sate by him began to wéepe and could neither eate nor drinke he rose vp then sodainely so â—udely that hee ouerthrew cuppes and dishes vpon the table Naymes quoth the King you haue done ill thus to doe Sir quoth Duke Naymes I haue good cause thus to doe and I haue wondrous great maruaile that I sée you so doted I am in such sorrow thereby that I am néere hand out of my wits how is it that you be come into the Citie of Bourdeaux for to eate and to drinke and to take your ease you néede not to haue gone out of France for that for you had meate and also good wines sufficient at home in your owne house Ah right Noble and worthie Emperour what meane you to do it is no small matter to iudge to death one of your twelue Peeres it is not possible to giue any true iudgement when you and we are full of wine and spices But Sir sayd the Duke by the Lord that mee fourmed that whosoeuer this day doth eate or drinke wine as long as the life is in my bodie I shall neuer loue him Naymes quoth the King I am content with your will Then the King commanded that the table should be auoyded commanded incontinent Huon to be taken out of prison and brought before him they that had commission to doe it went to the prison and there they tooke out Huon and his wife Escleremond and old Gerames and they were all three brought before the King and his Barons Huon sawe where King Charlemaine sate among all his Lordes and they all arose when they saw Huon and his companie so pale and ill coloured by reason of the noysome prison that his brother had put them in and Escleremond and old Gerames were greatly regarded and when the Pledges sawe Huon before the King they said Sir now yée may sée Huon for whom we be pledges wee trust now to be quit and discharged it lyeth now in you to doe with him at your pleasure Sirs quoth the King I hold you quit you may go from hence forth where you please for Huon cannot now scape our handes then Huon kneeled downe before the King right humblie and when Duke Naymes saw him the drops fell from his eyes and sayd to the king Sir I require you giue Huon audience and heare what hee will say I am content quoth the King let him say what hee will then Huon kneeling on his knées sayd Sir in the honour of our Lord Iesus Christ I first crie mercie to God and to you and to all your Barons I complaine me of that false traitour that I sée there who was my brother if there had béene any faith or troth in him but I beleeue in all the world cannot be found so cruell and false a Traytour for Cayne that slew Abell his brother was neuer so false nor so cruell When all the Lords heard Huon they al beganne to weepe saying each to others Ah good Lord where is the beautie become that was woont to be in Huon we haue séene him so faire that no one could passe him in beautie and now wee sée him pale and leane and ill coloured it appeareth well he hath not béene alwayes in the Ladies Chambers nor among damsels to sport and to play with him Thus they deuised of him and tooke no heede of Gerard who was by them Then Huon spake againe and sayd to the King Sir true it is the message that you gaue me in charge to doe vnto the Admirall Gaudys I haue doone to the verie vttermost as you haue commaunded vnto mee and I haue passed the Sea and came vnto Babilone to the Admirall Gaudys there I required of him in the presence of all his Lords to haue his beard
his men so great damage he perceiued where the old Gerames was who had oftentimes slaine many of his men and done him so mightie damages that hee thought hee could neuer be reuenged thereof sufficiently and thought that if hee should haue scaped then aliue that hee would doe him much more hurt and damage after and sayd to himselfe that hee had rather die incontinent then he should not as then bee reuenged on him and therewith incontinent he couched his Speare and ran at old Gerames on the one side ere he was aware so that the Emperour ranne him cleane through the bodie so that the gentle knight Gerames fell to the earth and died incontinent great damage fell that day to Huon of Bourdeaux for he lost the truest and best friend that he had Alas for that pitious iourney that fell that day to them of Bourdeaux They had good cause for to wéepe alas good Duchesse Escleremond what losse haue yee receiued to loose him who was your cheefe comfort and refuge ye might haue called him more then father Ah right noble Ladie there neuer came to you a greater mischiefe then ye haue by the death of Gerames who lieth dead euen now among the enemies When the Almaines sawe that Gerames was dead then they fought so that within a short space all them of Bourdeaux were slaine and not one scaped aliue except Barnard who was on the puissant horse Amphage for the gambaudes and worke that he made not an Almaine durst approach neere him for Bernard next vnto Huon was the most valiaunt knight of his body that was as then liuing for when the Almaines sawe him vpon that horse they chased him no further but they went to theyr tents and Bernard ceased not till hee came vnto the gate of the Citie the which was opened when hee was entred and the gate closed againe the Burgesses and comunaltie saw how Bernard came in all alone they demaunded of him and sayd Sir where is your captaine and the old Gerames Then sore wéeping he shewed them at length the pittious and dolorous aduenture the which when they heard they made such cries and wéeping that pittie it was for to heare and to sée them the bruite and noyse was so great and loud that the Ladie Escleremond heard it whereat she maruailed and stood in a great feare Therewith Syr Bernard entred in at the Castle gate and so mounted into the hall whereas hee found the Duchesse Escleremond who was sore abashed when she sawe Syr Bernard come alone who shewed her the great losse that he had sustained that day wherwith for inward sorrow she fell down in a swound and so lay a long space as though she had beene dead Then the Ladyes and Damsels sore wéeping reléeued her and then shee cast out a great crie wringing her handes and tearing her hayre and sayde Ah Huon my right déere Lord this day yée haue lost your most sorrowfull and dolorous wife and well beloued daughter Then the Ladies Damselles and other wiues who had lost their husbands fathers and brethren came into the Castle and made such cryes and sorrow that the noyse thereof was heard into the Emperours hoast without and it was shewed the Emperour that the noyse and brute that was made within the Citie and Castle was for the losse they hadde receiued that day And then they sayde that it should be good that the next morning euerie man should be readie to goe and assayle the Citie and sayd that if euer they would winne it the howre then was come When the Emperour had heard that reason he sayd that the aduise was very good and that he would that it should so be done hee gaue the charge thereof to his Constable and Marshalles so the next morninge his hoast was readie and the Emperour commanded to set forward and then they came before the Citie garnished with all things néedfull and necessarie for assault and they marched forward and approached the Citie and when they came there they gaue a great crie and entred into the Dykes and reared vp their ladders to the walles in diuers places so that they that were within were sore afrayd For within were but Burgesses and Marchants who could but little skil of warre howbeit they mounted vpon the walles and defended their Cittie But the Citie was so sore assayled on all parts that the defendants wist not where to make resistance the shotte of them without slew so thicke that none within durst appeare vppon the walles whereby they entred perforce into the Citie and slew as many as they mette withall in their entring And then they went vnto the gate and opened it so that the Emperour and all his Lords entred into the Citie Then euerie man went abroade in the stréetes to take prisoners and to spoyle mens houses When the Emperour saw hee was Lord of the Citie hee caused it to be proclaimed in euerie streete that no man on paine of death should wrong any woman or deflowre anie mayde nor to breake any Church nor to set any house on fire and also such as were in any Church for sauegard that they should goe at their pleasure without any trouble or danger either of body or goods for the Emperour who was a wise Prince thought in himselfe that great damage and pittie it would bee to destroy and putte to ruine such a famous Citie so strong and well furnished with Burgesses and Marchants When such as were fledde into strong places for refuge vnderstood the Emperours commaundement euerie man and woman returned to their owne houses so that there was but little damage done and that was done by them that entred first When the Lady Escleremond saw how the Citie was taken ye may bee sure she was right sorrowfull For first shee saw her Citie taken by the enemie and her selfe closed within the Castle ill furnished with victualles and much people with her whereby she saw cleerely without God did ayde her that her death approched neere Then pitiously she complayned to God and sayd Verie God on whome I beléeue firmely and for whose sake I haue left my first misbeleefe and forsooke my parents and friends to take to my husband a Christian man to the intēt to receiue thy law O God I require thee of thy grace to haue pittie vpon mee poore desolate creature and to keepe and defend my deere children from all ill incombrances for if it be thy pleasure to saue my childe I am content to abide what fortune it shall please thee to send mee and beside that I require thy grace to saue and keepe Huon my deere Lord and husband Then all wéeping she called vnto her sir Bernard and said Right deare Fréend I can take no counsaile nowe but of you you sée well howe our deathes approache and that it is impossible for vs to kéepe and defend this Castle against the Emperour who hath wonne the Citie and I doubt if he enter into this Castle
How the Traitour Gerard shewed to King Charlemaine how his Brother Huon was returned to Bourdeaux wthout doing of his Messuage to the Admirall Gaudise Chap. 69. How the King commaunded that Huon should be sent for from Bourdeaux to the intent that he should die Chap. 70. How the Emperour Charlemaine went himselfe to Bourdeaux to cause Huon to be slaine for the great ill will that he bare to him Chap. 71. Howe the Twelue Peeres drewe to counsaile to giue sentence vppon Huon either with him or against him Chap. 72. Howe the Peeres layde all the deede vppon Duke Naymes to giue the iudgemâ—nt vppon him But for all that euer he could say or doe the king â—â—dged Huon to die chap. 73. Howe King Oberon came to succour Huon and made Gerard to confesse all the treason that he had purchased against Huon Chap. 74. How King Oberon caused to bee hanged the Foure Traitours Gerard Gybouars and the two Monkes for their false witnes and of the Peace made betweene Huon and Charlemaine And how King Oberon gaue to Huon his Realme of the Fayrey chap. 75. How King Oberon departed and tooke leaue of King Charlemaine 〈◊〉 Huon and Escleremond and also how King Charlemaine departed from â—ourdeaux Chap. 76. How King Oberon deuised with his Knightes in the Cittie of Momur in the Fayrey of the deeds of Huon of Bourdeaux and of that which shold happen after to him Chap. 77. How Huon tooke homage of his men and chasticed his Rebels and of three Pilgrims by whome much ill fell after as yee shall heare chap. 78. How Duke Raoul of Austrich by the report of the Pilgrims was enamoured of the faire Escleremond and of the Yourney that was proclaimed to the entent to haue slaine Huon Chap. 79. How after that Duke Raoul had beene at Bourdeaux in the guise of a Pilgrime to see the faire Ladie Escleremond hee then returned againe to Vyennae Chap. 80. How Duke Huon tooke leaue of the Duchesse his Wife and howe hee arriued at Mayence and went to the Pallaice chap. 81. How Huon slewe Duke Raoul in the presence of the Emperour sitting at his Table and of the maruailes that he did And how in the chace that was made after him hee strake downe the Emperour and wan his good horse chap. 82 Howe Huon after that hee was mounted vppon the Emperours good horse he arriued at Colleyne where he found his men and how he departed thence And of the Emperour who lay enambushed in a wood abiding there to haue slaine Huon chap. 83. Of the great Battaile within two Leagues of Coleyn between the Emperour of Almaine and Huon of Bourdeaux and of the Truâ—e that was taken betweene them chap. 84. How Huon graunted the Truce to the Emperour and how the Prouost of Coleyne came and assayled Huon not knowing of any Peace taken betweene them Chap. 85. How Huon arriued at Bourdeaux and of the counsaile of the faire Escleremond his wife the which he would not beleeue nor follow chap. 86. How Huon had great ioye for the birth of the faire Clarâ—et his Daughter chap. 87. How the Emperour assembled a great Hoast and came before the Cittie of Bourdeaux chap. 88. How the Emperour of Almaine besieged the Citie of Bourdeaux and how Huon made him readie to fight with his enemies chap. 89. Of the great Battaile that was before Bourdeaux whereas Huon hadde great losse and the old Gerames taken Chap. 90. How the Emperour raysed vp a pare of Gallowes to hange vp the old Gerames and all the Bourdeloyes that were taken Prisoners Chap. 91. How Huon yssued out of Bourdeaux and rescued the old Gerames and his companie whome the Emperour would haue hanged Chap. 92. How the Emperour assayled the Citie of Bourdeaux two times whereas he lost many of his men Chap. 93. Howe Huon sent Habourey his Messenger to the Emperour to require peace and of his answeare chap. 94. How Huon yssued out of Bourdeaux and came to the Tents fought with the Emperour chap. 95. How Huon made another yssue out of Bourdeaux and tooke away all the beasts that were in the pastures without the Towne pertaining to the Emperours hoast Chap. 96. How Huon of Bourdeaux made him readie to go to seeke for some succour And of the sorrow that the Duchesse his wife made Chap. 97. How Huon departed from the Citie of Bourdeaux and sayled vntill he came into the hye Sea and had many great fortunes Chap. 98. How Huon arriued on the perillous Gulfe whereas he spake with Iudas And how â—e arriued at the Port of the Adamant chap. 99. How Huon deuised with his Patron in regarding of the Castle of the Adamant Chap. 100. How a Galley with Sarazins came and assayled Huon who were all slaine and also all Huons men and howe Huon went to the Castle of the Adamant and slew the great Serpent and of the maruailes that he found there Chap. 101. How Huon of Bourdeaux fought with the horrible Serpent and slewe him within the Castle of the Adamant Chap. 102. Howe after that Huon was departed from Bourdeaux the Emperour made diuers assaults to the Citie but he could not win it for the defence of the good chiualrie that was within it and of the ambushment that was layd by the counsaile of Duke Sauary whereby the Cittie was taken and wonne chap. 103. Of the death of the olde Gerames and of the taking of the Citie of Bourdeaux and of the comming of the Duchesse with the Emperour and of the deliuering vp of the Castle to the Emperour Chap. 104. How the Duchesse Escleremond deliuered her Daughter Clariet to 〈…〉 vnto the Abbot of Cluny of whome the Abbot was right â—â—â—full Chap. 105. Howe the noble Duchesse Escleremond yeelded vp the Castle â—o the Emperour and how she and her companie were Prisoners in the Citie of Maâ—ence chap. 106. How there arriued at the Castle of the Adamant a Shippe full of Saraâ—â—ns wherein was the Bishop of Millaine and how Huon caused them to be christened and then he brought them into the Castle whereas they 〈◊〉 great store and plentie of victuals chap. 107. Howe Huon sawe a Shippe arriue at the Port of the Castle of the Adamant chap. 108. How Huon 〈…〉 by a Griffen out of the Castle of the Adamant and how he slew the Griffen 〈…〉 other young Griffens And of the Fountaine of the faire Garden and of the fruite of the Tree neere to the Fountaine chap. 109. How Huon fought with the great Griffen and slew her chap. 110. How an Angell appeared vnto Huon and commaunded him to gather three Apples of the Tree by the Fountaine and no more And howe the Angell shewed him tidinges of his wife the faire Escleremond and of his Daughter Clariet and shewed him the way that hee should goe from thence chap. 111. How Huon of Bourdeaux sayled in a rich Shippe and of the perillous Gulfe that he passed by and how he arriued at the Port of
my heart that I could tarie no longer to be auenged then I demaunded of mine Vnckle if he would ayd me heâ— answeared and said no bycause he was a Priest so hee and all his Monkes departed and left me alone then I tooke the Ten Knightes that came with me out of my Countrey and so I road as fast as I could to the entent that he should not escape that had so wounded my brother and assoone as hee saw that I followed him he returned against me then I demaunded of him what he was he said he appertained vnto Duke Terrey of Arden then I demaunded why he had slayn my brother he answeared and said in likewise he wouldâ— serue me and therewith he couched his speare and stroake me on the side through my Gowne and Dublet and hurt not my flesh as it was the pleasure of God then I wrapped my Mantle about mine arme and drew out my Sword and with both my hands as he passed by me I gaue him such a stroake that I cloue his head néere to the téeth and so he fell downe to the earth dead I know not what he is but whatsoeuer he be I haue slayne him and if there be any that will demaund right in this cause let him come into your royall Court before all your Péeres and I shall doe him reason if it be found that I haue done any wrong When I had slayn him I layd my Brother vpon the dead Knightes horse and ouertooke the Abbot mine Vnckle Then as I road and looked behind me I saw them that were ambushed in the wood come ryding after one Knight came before the rest bringing vppon his horse the said dead Knighte I know well if they bée not come they will soone be héere When Kinge Charlemaine vnderstood Huon he had great maruaile what Knight it was that was slaine and sayd vnto Huon know for troth I shall doe you reason for I know none so great in my Realme whosoeuer it be but if I can prooue on him any point of treason I shall cause him to dye an euill death for the matter toucheth me right néere séeing vnder mine assurance and by my commaundement you are come hether Then the King commaunded that Gerard should be had to a goodly Chamber and well looked vnto the which was done Chap. X. ¶ How Charlot the Kings Son was brought before him dead and of the great sorrow that he made and how Earle Amerie appeached Huon for the death of Charlot and how the King would haue run vpon Huon and of the good counsaile that Duke Naymes of Bauier gaue to the King WHEN Huon of Bourdeaux and the Abbot of Cluny his Vnckle heard the good will of the King and the offer that he made they knéeled downe to haue kissed his foote and thanked him of his courtesie but the King tooke theÌ„ vp then the Abbot sayd My Lord all that my Nephew Huon hath sayd is true the King said I beléeue you well the Kinge did to them great honour and feasted them in his Pallaice royally but hée had great desire to know the troth of this case and said Huon and you the Abbot of Cluny know for certaintie I haue a Sonne whome I loue entirely if you haue slayne him in doing such a villainous deede as to breake my assurance I doe pardon you so that it be as you say My Lord quoth Huon for that I thanke your grace and surely the truth is as I haue shewed you Then the King sent for Charlot his Sonne so he was searched for in his lodging newes were returned how he was departed out of the Towne the night before so the Messenger departed and when thâ—y came into the stréete they saw where Earle Amerie came ryding with Charlot dead on his horse necke they heard in the Stréetes Lords Knights Ladies and Damsels making great cries and pitious complaints for Charlot the Kings Son whomâ— they sawe dead The Messengers were amazed at these exclamations but at last they perceiued it was for the death of Charlot then they returned to the Pallaice But by reason of the outcries and pityous moane the people made with often repetition of Charlots name all which the Emperour leaning at a windowe confusedly heard his heart waxed woondrous heauie saying Mée thinkes I heare such sorrow as hath not béen vsuall and my Sonne Charlots name is tossed too and fro in this outcry it maketh me feare that it is my Sonne whome Huon hath slain Then calling Duke Naymes vnto him requested him to goe foorth and resolue him in this matter Then Duke Naymes departed and incontinent hée encountred Charlot borne dead betwéene foure Knightes vpon a Shéeld when he sawe that he was right sorrowfull so that he could not speake one word then the vnhappie Earlâ— Amerie went vp into the Hall and came before the King and all his Barons and there he layde downe Charlot When Charles sawe his Sonne so slayne the dolour and sorrowâ— that he made was vnspeakable it was pitie to sée him and Duke Naymes was as sorrowfull as any other seéing the pityfull aduenture and also the moane that the Lords made then he came to the King and said Good my Lord comfort your selfe in this misaduenture for by ouer-gréeuing at this ill hap you can winne nothing nor recouer your Childe againe you know right wel that my Coozen Ogier the Dane slew my Sonne Bertrand who bare your Messuage of defiance to the king of Pauey yet I did suffer it without any great sorrow making bycause I knew well sorrow could not recouer him againe Naymes quoth the king I cannot forget this I haue great desire to know the cause of this déede Then Duke Naymes sayd to Duke Amerie Sir know you who hath slayne Charlot and for what cause Then Earle Amerie stept foorth and said with a loud voyce Great King Charlemaine why demand you any further when you haue him before you that hath slayne your Sonne and that is Huon of Bourdeaux who standeth héere in your presence When the King heard what Earle Amerie had sayd he looked fiercely vpon Huon and had strokeÌ„ him with his Scepter but for Duke Naymes who blamed the King and sayd Forbeare my Lord what meane you to doe this day to receiue the Children of Duke Seuin into your Court and hath promised to doe them right and reason and nâ—w would slay them so may all such as shall heare of the matter say that you haue sent for them to no other end but to murder them and that you sent your Sonne to lye in waight for them to haue slayne them By this may be discerned that you forget 〈…〉 Maiestie of a King and expresse actions vnséeming Charlemaine demaund of Earle Amerie the cause why he had foorth Charlot your Sonne and why that he assailed the two Brethren Huon being there in presence was greatly abashed at the Kings furie receiuing him first so kindly and now would kill him he was
Galley such as shall bée necessarie for you Most holy Father quoth Huon of this I thanke you Well quoth the Pope this night you shall abide hâ—ere with me Sir quoth he I require you to let me depart for greatly I desire to sée mine Vncle Garyn When the Pope saw that he would néedes depart he deliuered him his Letter and sayd Faire Nephew salute from me my Brother Garyn your Vncle. Sir quoth he I shall do your commaundement then the Pope gaue to Huon great and rich presents and to all them that were with him and hée kissed his Nephew at his departing Huon tooke leaue of theÌ„ all wéeping and so departed and entred into the Riuer of Tiber in a rich Shippe the which the Pope had well garnished for him Thus hee had good winde so that anone they arriued at Brandis but whiles he was on the water hee wept sore and pityously complayned in that he was so departed out of his Countrey then his men comforted him and shewed many faire examples to comfort him Sir quoth Guichard leaue your sorrow for gréefe and sadnesse cannot auaile you you must put all to the mercie of our Lord God who neuer forgetteth them that loue him shew your selfe a man and no Child to the entent that we that be with you may be reioyced for the sorrow that we sée you in doth sore trouble vs. Deare fréend quoth Huon since it is so I shall follow your will and thus they arriued at the Port of Brandis Then they yssued out of their Shippe and tooke out their Horses and there they saw Garyn sitting before the Port in a lodge well and richly hanged in a goodly Chaire When Huon saw him sitting he saluted him thinking that he was Lord of that Countrey then Garyn beheld Huon and began to wéepe and said Sir it doth not appertaine vnto me that you should doe me so great honour as you doe for by that I sée in you I am constrained to wéepe bycause you resemble so much to a Prince of the Realme of Fraunce called Duke Seuin who was Lord of the Citie of Bourdeaux the great loue that euer I bare vnto him caused me to wéepe therefore I require you tell me where you were borne and who be your Parents and fréends for Duke Seuin wedded my Sister the Duchesse Aclis Sir quoth Huon séeing you will néedes know what I am I may well shew it vnto you for that Duke was my Father and the Duchesse Aclis is my Mother we are two brethren I am the eldest the younger is still at Bourdeaux to kéepe our Land When Garyn vnderstood that Huon was Sonne to Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux the ioy that he had could not be expressed then he embraced Huon all wéeping and said Right deare Nephew your comming is to me the greatest ioy in this world so he knéeled downe and would haue kissed Huons féete but Huon reléeued him incontinent The ioy that was betwéene them two was so great that all that saw it had maruaile thereof Then Garyn demaunded of Huon and said Faire Nephew what aduenture hath brought you into these parts Then Huon shewed him from point to point all his businesse and the cause why he was entred into that Enterprize When Garyn had heard all he began to wéepe and yet to comfort his Nephew he said Faire Huon whereas lyeth great perils there lyeth great honour God ayd you to eschew and to finish this great businesse all is possible to God and to man by meanes of his grace a man ought neuer to bâ— abashed for worldly matters Then Huon deliuered his Letters to his Vncle Garyn who gladly receiued them and read the contents thereof at large Then he said Faire Nephew there néede none other recommendations but the sight of your presence for it appeareth well by your countenance that you be the same person that our holy Father maketh mention of surely your comming séemeth to mée faire and good and you be arriued at a good Port for I promise you faithfully I loue well my Wife and my Children but the great loue that I haue vnto you for the loue of your Father Duke Seuin and the Duchesse your Mother who was mine owne deare Sister I abandon all that I haue to serue you and kéepe you companie both with my bodie and all that I haue Knowe for truth I haue thrée good Galleys three great Shippes well fournished of euerie thing for the warre the which I shall lead with you for as longe as life abideth in my bodie I shall not abandon you but I shall ayde you in all your Enterprizes Faire Vncle quoth Huon for the great courtesie that you offer mée I can but thanke you then Garyn tooke Huon by the hand and led him into his Castle whereas hée was richly receiued Garyns Wife and foure of her Sonnes came vnto Huon and he full courteously kissed the Ladie and her foure Children his Coozens great ioy was made there in the Hall and the Tables set for Supper Then Garyn called his Wife and said Madame this young Knight that you sée héere is my Nephew and Coozen to your Children who is come hether for refuge to haue counsaile and ayd of me in a Voyage and Enterprise that he hath to doe and by the grace of God I shall go with him to ayd and to conduct him wherefore I pray and commaund that you take in rule all my affaires and kéepe your Children Sir quoth she séeing it is your pleasure thus to doe and that you will goe with him your will let be fulfilled howbeit I had rather you abode then went this shée spake sore wéeping The next day in the morning Garyn who had great will to serue and please his Nephew ordained a great Shippe to be made readie well fournished with Bisket Wines and flesh and all other manner of victuals and with munition of warre as it appertained and put therein their horses and armour gould and siluer other riches necessarie for them then they tooke leaue of the Ladie and so lest her sore wéeping Thus Garyn and Huon entred into their Ship and all their companie there were Thirtéene Knightes and Twoo Varlets to serue them for they would haue no greater number Chap. XX. ¶ How Huon of Bourdeaux departed from Brandis and Garyn his Vncle with him and how he came to Ierusalem and from thence into the Deserts whereas hee founde Gerames and of their conference WHen Huon and Garyn were entred into their Ship they hoysed vp their Sailes and sayled night and daye so that at last they arriued safely at the Port of Iaffe where they tooke landing and drew out their horses and road foorth so the same day that they came to Rames and the next day to the Citie of Ierusalem that night they rested and the next day they did their Pilgrimage to the holy Sepulchre and there deuoutly heard Seruice and offered according to their deuotion When Huon came before the
a great déepe Riuer and they could finde no guide nor passage to passe ouer and so they wist not what to doe then suddainly they sawe passe by them a seruant of King Oberon bearing a rod of gold in his hand and so without speaking of any word he entred into the Riuer and tooke his rod stroke the water therewith thrée times then incontinent the water withdrew a both sides in such wise that there was a path that thrée men might ride a froont and that done he departed againe without speaking of any word Then Huon and his companie entred into the water and so passed thorowe without any danger and when they were past they looked behind them and sawe the Riuer close againe and ran after his old course By my faith quoth Huon I thinke we be enchaunted I beléeue surely King Oberon hath done this but séeing we be thus scaped out of perill I trust from henceforth we shall haue no more doubt Thus they roade foorth together singing and oftentimes spake of the great maruailes that they had seene King Oberon doe and as they road Huon beheld on his right hand and sawe a faire meadowe well garnished with hearbes and flowers and in the middest thereof a faire cleare Fountaine then Huon roade thether and alighted and let their Horses goe to pasture then they spread a cloath on the gréene grasse and set thereon such meate as Kinge Oberon had giuen them at their departing and there they did eat drinke such drinke as they found in the Cup. By my faith quoth Huon it was a faire aduenture for vs when we met Oberon and that I spake to him he hath shewed me great tokens of loue when he gaue me such a Cup if I may returne into Fraunce in sauegard I shall giue it to Charlemaine who will make great ioy therwith and if he cannot drinke thereof the Barons of Fraunce will haue great sport thereof Then againe he repented him of his owne words and said I am a foole to thinke or to say thus for as yet I cannot tell what end I shall come to the Cup that I haue is better worth then two Cities but as yet I cannot beléeue the vertue to be in the Horne as Oberon haâ—h shewed nor that he may héere it so farre off but whatsoeuer fortune fall I will assay it if it hath such vertue or not Alas Sir quoth Gerames beware what you doe you knowe well when wée departed what charge he gaue you certainly you and we both are lost if you trespas against his commaundement Surely quoth Huon whatsoeuer fortune fall I will assay it and so tooke the Horne and set it to his mouth and blewe it so loud that the wood rang then Gerames and all the other began to sing and to make great ioy Then Garyn said Faire Nephewe blowe still and so Huon blew still with such force that Oberon who was in his wood about fiftéene Leagues of heard him clearely and said Alas my fréends I heare my fréend blowe whome I loue best of all the world alas what man is so hardy to doe him any ill I wishe my selfe with him with a hundred thousand men at armes incontinent he was nere to Huon with a hundred thousand men at armes When Huon and his companie heard the Hoast comming and saw Oberon come ryding on before them they were affraid and it was no maruaile séeing the commaundement that Oberon had giuen them before Then Huon saide alas Sirs I haue done ill nowe I sée well we cannot escape but that we are likely all to die certainly quoth Gerames you haue well deserued it houlde your peace quoth Huon dismay you not let me speake to him therewith Oberon came to them and saide Huon what meaâ—eth this where are they that will doe thée any ill why hast thou broken my commaundement Alas Sir quoth Huon I shall shew you the truth wée were sitting right now in this meadowe and did eat of that you gaue vs I beléeue I tooke too much drinke out of the Cup that you gaue me the vertue of the which we well assayed then I thought to trye also the vertue of the rich Horne to the entent that if I shoulde haue any néede that I might be sure thereof now I know for troth that all is true that you haue shewed me wherefore Sir in the honour of God I require you to pardon my trespas else sir héere is my swoord strike off my head at your pleasure for â— know well without your ayd I shall neuer come to atchieue mine enterprise Huon quoth Oberon the bountie and great troth that is in thée coÌ„streyneth me to giue thee pardon but beware from hencefoorth be not so hardy as to breake my commaundement Sir quod Huon I thanke you well quoth Oberon I knowe surely that thou hast as yet much to suffer for thou must passe by a citie named Tormont wherein there is a Tyrant called Macayr and yet he is thine owne Vncle brother to thy father Duke Seuin when he was in Fraunce he had thought to haue murdered king Charlemaine but his treason was knowne and he had béen slaine if thy Father Duke Seuin had not béen so he was sent to the holy Sepulchre to do his penaunce for the ill that he had dâ—ne and so afterward there he renounced the faith of our Lord God and tooke vppon him the Paynims Law the which he hath kept euer since so strongly that if he heare any man speake of our lord god he will pursue him to death and looke what promise that hée maketh he keepeth none therefore I aduise thee trust not on him for surely he will put thee to death if he may thou canst not escape if thou goest by that City therefore I counsaile thee take not that way if thou be wise Sir quoth Huon of your courtesie loue and good councell I thanke you but whatsoeuer fortune fall to me I will go to mine Vncle and if he be such a one as you say I shall make him to die an ill death and if néede be I shall sound my Horne and I am sure at my néede you will ayd me Of that you may be sure quoth Oberon but of one thing I forbid thée be not so hardy to sound thy Horne without thou bée hurt for if thou doe the contrarie I shall so martir thée that thy bodie shall not endure it Sir quoth Huon bée assured your commaundement I will not breake then Huon tooke leaue of King Oberon who was sorrie when Huon departed Sir quoth Huon I haue maruaile why you wéepe I pray you shew mee the cause why you doe it Huon quoth Oberon the great loue that I haue to thée is that causeth me to doe it for as yet hereafter thou shalt suffer so much ill and trauaile that no humane tongue can tell it Sir quoth Huon ye shew me many things not greatly to my profite Sure quoth Oberon and yet thou shalt suffer
and yet euer the Cup was full When the people had well eaten and dronken the good wines and were well chased in their braines some began to sing and some to sleepe at the Table and some did beat their fysts vpon the boards that it was maruaile to sée the life that they led whereof Huon had great ioy The same time the Dukes Steward came into the Towne to buy his Maisters Supper but he could neither find bread nor flesh nor no other victuals whereof he was sore displeased and then he demaunded the cause why he found no victuals as he was accustomed to doe Sir quoth the Butchers and Bakers in the house of Gonder the Prouost is lodged a yong man who hath made to be cryed in all the City that al beggers and ribaulds should come to Supper at his lodging and he hath bought vp all the victuals that he could get in the Towne Then the Paynim in great despight went to the Pallaice vnto the Duke and said Sir I can get nothing in the Towne for your Supper there is a young man lodged in the Prouosts house that hath bought vp all the victuals to giue a Supper to all the beggers vacabounds and ribaulds that can be found in the Towne When the Duke vnderstood that he was sore displeased and swoore by Mahound that he would go see that Supper then he commaunded all his men to be readie in harnesse to goe with him and as he was going out of his Pallaice a Traytor who had stollen priuily out of the Prouosts house whereas he had been at supper with other said to the Duke sir know for troth there is in your Prouosts house a knight who hath giuen a Supper to all people that would come thether and so there is no begger no ribauld nor other that would sup but are come thether and Sir this Knight hath a Cup Letter worth then all this Citie for if all the people betweene East and West should dye for lacke of drinke they should haue all ynough for as often as you will emptie the Cup it will be full againe incontinent When the Duke heard that he had great maruaile and saide such a Cuppe were good for him and swoore by Mahound that he would haue that Cup let vs go thether for my will is to haue that Cup and all those Knights shall loose their horses and baggage I will leaue them nothing Then he went foorth with thirtie Knights and rested not vntill he came to the Prouosts house and founde the gates open When the Prouost perceiued him he came to Huon and saide Alas Sir you haue done ill héere is come the Duke in great displeasure if God haue not pitie of you I cannot sée how you can escape without death Sir quoth Huon dismay you not for I shall speake so faire that he shall be content then Huon with a merrie chéere came to the Duke and said Sir you be welcome Beware quoth the Duke come not néere me for no christian man may come into my Citie without my Licence wherefore I will thou knowest that you shall all loose your heads and all that you brought hether Sir quoth Huon when you haue slaine vs you shall win thereby but little and it were great wrong for you so to doe I shall tell thée quoth the Duke why I will so do it is bycause you be christian men therefore thou shalt be the first shewe me on thy faith why hast thou assembled all this companie héere to Supper Sir quoth Huon I haue done it bicause I am going to the red Sea and bicause these poore men will pray to God for me that I may safely returne Sir this is the cause that I haue made them to sup with me Well quoth the Duke great folly hast thou spoken for thou shalt neuer sée faire day you shall all loose your heads Sir quoth Huon leaue all this I pray you and your comapanie sit downe and eate and drinke at your pleasure and I shall serue you as well as I can and then Sir if I haue done any wrong I will make you amends in such wise that you shall be content for if you doe me any hurt it shall be to you but a small conquest Sir me thinks if you will do nobly you should somewhat forbeare vs for as I haue heard say you were once christened Then the Duke said vnto Huon thou hast sayd well I am content to sup for as yet I haue not supped Then the Duke commaunded euerie man to be disarmed and to sit downe at the Table the which they did and Huon and Gerames serued them and they were well serued at that supper then Huon tooke his Cup and came to the Duke and said Sir sée you not héere this Cup the which is voyd and emptie I sée well quoth the Duke there is nothing therein Then Huon made the signe of the crosse ouer the Cup and incontinent it was full of wine he tooke the Cuppe to the Duke who had great maruaile thereof and assoone as the Cuppe was in his handes it was voyd againe What quoth the Duke thou hast enchaunted mee Sir quoth Huon I am none Enchaunter but it is for the sin that you be in set it down for you are not worthy to hold it you were borne in an euill houre How art thou so hardy quoth the Duke to speake thus vnto me I repute thee for a proud foole thou knowest well it lyeth in my power to destroy thée there is no man dare say the contrarie yet I pray thée tell me thy name and where thou wert borne and whether thou goest and of what kinne thou art Sir quoth Huon for any thinge that may fal vnto me I wil not hide my name nor kindred therefore Sir know for troth I was borne at Bourdeaux vpon Gerone and am Sonne to Duke Seuin who is dead seauen yeares passed When the Duke heard how Huon was his Nephew he saide The Sonne of my Brother Nephew why hast thou taken in this Citie any other lodging but mine shewe mée whether thou wilt goe Sir quoth Huon I am going to Babilon to the Admirall Gaudise to doe to him a Messuage from King Charlemaine of Fraunce bycause I slewe his Sonne there so he shewed his Vncle all his aduenture and how the king had taken away his Land nor should he haue it againe vntill he had done his Messuage to the Admirall Faire Nephew quoth the Duke in like wise I was banished the Realme of Fraunce and since I haue denyed the faith of Iesus Christ and since I married héere in this Countrey a great Ladie by whome I haue great Lands to gouerne whereof I am Lord Nephew I will that you shall goe and lodge with me in my Castle and to morrow you shall haue of my Barons to conduct you vntill you come vnto Babilon Sir quoth Huon I thanke you since it is your pleasure I will goe with you to your Pallaice Then Gerames priuily
they may bee well kept and so that I may haue them againe in time of need for I feele my selfe that my heart is so light as either I shal forget theÌ„ or else looâ—e them Of this that thou saiest quoth Oberon I thinke thou speakest wisely therefore I doe wish them in Gerames side in such manner that they shall doe him no hurt He had no sooner spoken the word but by the will of God and the power that he had by the Fayrie they were closed in Gerames side in such wise that no man could sée them then he said to Huon Friend I must goe to my Castle of Momur I desire you to doe well yée shall take with you Escleremond daughter to the Admirall But I charge you on paine of your life and in as much as yee feare to displease me that ye be not so hardy as to company with her bodily vntill yée â—e married together in the citie of Roome for if thou doest the contrarie thou shalt find such pouertie and miserie that though thou hadst double the mischéefe that thou hast hadde â—â—nce thou camest out of Fraunce yet can it be nothing in regard of that that shall fall to thée hereafter if thou breake my commaundement Sir quoth Huon by the pleasure of our Lord Iesus Christ I shall well beware of doing of any thing against your pleasure Then Oberon apparelled a rich shippe well garnished with chambers and hanged so richly that it was incredible to be heard or seene there was no cord but it was of gould and silke if I should shew you the beautie and riches of this shippe it would be ouer long to recite it When the shippe was fournished with vittailes then he put therein his horses and Oberon tooke leaue of Huon and kissed and embraced him greatly lamenting When Huon saw him wéepe he had great maruaile and said Deare Sir for what cause doe you weepe Huon quoth he the thing that mooueth me thus to do is bicause I haue great pitie of thée For if thou knewest the pouertie and miserie that thou shalt endure there is no member that thou hast but it would tremble for feare for I know for certen that thou hast so much to suffer that no humane tongue can rehearse it and then Oberon departed without more speaking When Huon sawe Oberon depart he was right pensiue but his swéetnes of youth put him out of his sorow Then hee made his ordinance in the citie and christened the faire Ladie Escleremond and afterward did marrie his Cousin Sibilla to an Admirall of the countrey who was newly christened and Huon gaue to theÌ„ the Citie of Babylon and all that longed thereto Then he made and ordayned a little ship to goe with his owne ship to thintent to send a land for vittailes when need should require Then he and his companie went into his great ship and so tooke his leaue of his cousin that was newly married who was right sorowfull for his departing Then they set vp their sayles and had a good faire wind and so sayled till they were out of the riuer of Nyle and so passed by Damieta and came into the high sea and had wind at will And on a day as they sat at dinner and made good chéere for by reason of his Cup they had wine at their pleasure Ah good Lord quoth Huon I am greatly bound to thanke king Oberon that I haue such a Cup and Horne Armour for whensoeuer I shall blowe my Horne I can haue men ynough to come to aide me and also I haue the Admirals â—eard and great téeth but specially the faire Ladie Escleremond whome I loue so perfectly and am so enamoured with her faire body that I can no longer endure it How be it the Dwarffe Oberon to mocke me hath forbidden me strictly that I should not touch her in any wise But I will that he well know that in this case I will not obey him for she is mine own therfore I will do with her at my pleasure When Gerames heard him he said Alas sir what will yée doe Yée know well Oberon neuer as yet made any lye but alwaies ye haue found him true for if hee had not been so both you and wée all had béene lost before this time And now againe you would breake his commaundement if yee touch this Ladie ere the time come that he hath set you great misfortune shall fâ—ll thereby Gerames quoth Huon for you nor for any other will I forbeare but ere I depart I will haue of her my pleasure and if any of you be affraid I am content he shall depart in this little ship and goe where he list and take vittaile into it for his prouision Sir quoth Gerames séeing yée will doe none otherwise I am right sorowfull and I will depart and so will all our other companie Then Gerames departed out of the great shippe and entred into the little shippe with the xiij in his companie and Huon tarried still with the Ladie and when he saw that all his company was departed he went and made readie a bed and said to the Ladie Madame surely I must now haue my pleasure of you when shee heard Huon shée fell downe sore weeping and humbly desired Huon that he would forbeare her companie vntill â—he time that they should be married together according to the promise that he had made to king Oberon Faire Ladie quoth Huon no excuses can auaile for it must be thus then he tooke the Ladie and made her goe to bed and there they tooke together their pleasures He had no sooner accomplished his will but there arose such a maruailous tempest that the waues of the sea séemed so great and high as mountaines and therewith it blew and thundred and lightned that it was very fearefull to behould the sea and the shippe was so sore tormented that it burst all to péeces so that there remained but one péece of timber whereuppon Huon and the Ladie were And it happened so well for them that they were néere to an Isle and thither the winde draue them and when they saw that they were there arriued and that they were on the land they both kneeled downe and thanked our Lord Iesus Christ that they were so well escaped the perill of drowning The other companie that were in the little shippe draue at aduenture in the sea and they cried to our Lord Iesus Christ to saue them from drowning for they had séene well how the shippe with Huon and the Ladie was broken in the sea wherefore they thought surely that Huon and the Ladie were perished Now let vs leaue speaking of them returning againe to Huon of Bourdeaux and the faire Escleremond Chap. XLVII ¶ How Huon and Escleremond arriued in an Isle all naked and how the Pyrates of the sea tooke Escleremond and left Huon alone and bound his hands feete and eyes WHEN Huon and Escleremond saw how they were driuen a land al naked pitiously weeping
Horne and my Cup I would reckon al the sorrow that I haue endured as nothing But when I had xiij Knights to serue me how is this chaunce now turned that I my selfe must serue a poore Minstrell When Mouflet heard Huon make such sorow within him selfe hée said Déere brother Solater take good comfort for before to morow at night thou shalt see the good cheere that shall bee made to mée wherof thou shalt haue part and of all the goodes that I can get Maister quoth Huon Mahound reward you for the goodnes that ye haue shewed mée and shall do thus the maister and the seruant went foorth together deuising at last Huon espied behind them coming certē men of armes houlding the waye to Mombrance Maister quoth Huon héere behind vs are coming men in armour I know not whether they will doe vs any hurt or not Solater quoth Mouflet bee not abashed wee will abide héere and know whether they will goe and within a while the man of war came to them who were in number Fiue C. persons the minstrell saluted them and said Sirs I pray you shewe mee whether ye will goe Frend quoth one of them bicause we sée that ye be a gentle minstrell I shall shew you we are going to king Iuoryn of Mombrance who will néeds goe and make warre vppon the Admirall Galaffer bicause that now of late the Damsell Escleremond daughter to the Admirall Gaudise passed by Anfalerne who should haue béen brought to her Vncle king Iuoryn of Mombrance but the Admirall Galaffer tooke her by force and slew all them that ledde her and hath maryed the faire Escleremond whereof King Iuoryn is as sorowfull as may be and for that cause we be sent for by king Iuoryn who is minded to assemble all his power to go destroy the Admirall Galaffer Now I haue shewed you the cause of our going to the Citie of Mombrance Chap. LII ¶ How Huon and his Maister Mouflet arriued at Mombrance and how Huon spake with king Iuoryn WHen Huon of Bourdeaux vnderstood the Paynims how they were going where the Ladie Escleremond was he was surprized with ioy said to his Maister Sir I require you lette vs goe to the warres with them Solater quoth Mouflet beware what thou sayest for where as warre is I would not come there for any thing Thus they went foorth vntill they came to Mombrance and went straight to the Pallaice whereas they found King Iuoryn and all his Barons when the Minstrell saw him hee saluted him in the name of Mahound and sayde Sir I am right dolorous for the newes that I bring you for Sir your Brother my Lord and Maister the Admirall Gaudise is pitiously slayn Mouflet quoth Iuoryn these newes hath béen brought vnto mée before this time whereof I am much agréeued and also I am sorrie for my Néece the faire Escleremond who is kept from mée by the Admirall Galaffer and for any Messuage that I can send to him he will not send her backe to mée But by the faith that I owe to my God Mahound I shall make him such warre that the memorie thereof shall bee had an Hundred yeares héereafter For I shall leaue him neuer a foote of Land but I shall bring all into fire and flame and cleane destroy him and in the despite of his téeth I will sée my Neece Escleremond and if I may get her I shall cause her to be striken al to péeces and burne her into ashes for my Brother is dead by a Villaine of Fraunce vppon whome shée was amourous When Huon heard him speake of his Lady his heart rose made promise in himselfe that ere the moneth was past he would goe and sée her and find the meanes how to speake with her Then King Iuoryn called Mouflet the Minstrell and sayd Fréend I pray thée doe some thinge to make mée merrie for by reason of the displeasure that I haue had my ioy is lost therefore it were better for me to take some mirth then to bee long in sorrow Sir quoth Mouflet I am readie to doe your pleasure then hée tooke his Vyoll and playd thereof in such wise that it was great melodie to heare it for al the Paynims that were there had great ioy and mirth and made great feasting when Huon heard it he said Good Lord I require thée that this great ioy may turne to mée as to heare some good newes of her who I desire so sore to sée When the Minstrell had finished his song the Paynims did of their cloathes and some gaue him their Gownes some their Mantles hee thought himselfe right well happie that could giue the Minstrell any thing Huon had ynough to doo to gather together the cloathes that were giuen him and hée put them into his Male whereof Huon was ioyfull bicause he should haue the one halfe King Iuoryn beheld Huon and sayd vnto them that were about him great dammage it is that so faire a younge man should serue a Minstrell Sir quoth Mouflet be not abashed though this young man doe serue me hee hath cause so to doe for when your Brother was dead I departed from thence to come hether by the way I found a great Dake vnder the which I sat downe to rest me and there by was a great Fountaine faire and cleare there I spread abroad a Towell on the grasse and set thereon bread and such meate and drinke as I had and the same time this young man arriued and came vnto mee all naked and prayed me for the loue of Mahound to giue him some of my bread and so I did and cloathed him as you sée and I did so much for him that he promised to serue mée and to beare my Fardell and my Harpe and moreouer when I came to any passage of water hee would cast me in his necke as light as though I had béen nothing he is so strong and beare me ouer Ah poore Catiffe quoth King Iuoryn hast thou liued so longe cannot perceiue why he doth it he abideth vntill thou hast gotten some riches and then he will cut thy threat and cast thée into the Riuer and then goe away with all thy riches cause him to come and speake with mée Sir quoth Mouflet hée shall come to you and so he called Huon and brought him to King Iuoryn My fréend quoth the King I pray thée shewe me where thou wert borne for I haue pitie of thée to sée thée in so low estate as to bee Varlet to a Minstrell it were better for thée to serue some Prince or helpe to kéepe a Towne or a Castle rather then thus to loose thy time I wote not what I should thinke therein but that it séemeth to mee that thou art of a faint courage what hath mooued thée thus to doe thou séeest thy Maister hath nothing but that hee getteth with his Vyoll canst thou find none other meanes to liue by more honestly Sir quoth Huon I can Crafts ynow the
by Kinge Iuoryn and so brought to Mombrance whereas they were receiued with great ioy and the Admirall Galaffer was entred into Anfalerne in great sorrow for Sorbryn his Nephew who was dead also for his men that he had lost in battaile and when he was vnarmed hee caused his Nephew to be buried with sore wéepings and lamentations Nowe let vs leaue speaking of them vntill wee haue occasion to returne vnto them againe Chap. LVI ¶ Howe Huon was hadde in great honour and sat at the Table with King Iuoryn of Mombrance WHen Iuoryn was entred into Mombrance hee went vnarmed him his Daughter came vnto him to make him reuerence and when hee sawe his Daughter hée kissed her and said Déere Daughter thou wert mated in a good houre by the Minstrels Varlet for in the day of battaile that we haue had against the Admirall Galaffer he was discomfited by the only prowesse of this Varlet by whom thou wert mated thanked be my God Mahound for by him I haue ouercome mine enemies and beside that he fought hand to hand against Sorbryn Nephew to the Admirall Galaffer and hee slew him but if I may liue one yeare the great seruice that he hath done vnto me shal be euen right well rewarded Father quoth the Ladie you are bound so to doe Then Kinge Iuoryn went vp into his Pallaice and his Daughter with him and Huon went to the lodging where as the Minstrell was lodged where hee vnarmed him and went with his Maister to the Pallaice but when King Iuoryn saw them the King aduanced foorth and tooke Huon by the hand and sayd Fréend you shall goe with mée and sit at my Table for I cannot doe you too much honour for the good seruice that you haue done vnto mée I abandon vnto you all my house to doe therein at your pleasure take all my gould and siluer and iewels and giue thereof at your pleasure I ordaine and will that all that you commaund shall be done all that is heere I abandon vnto you yea in the Ladies chambers take there your pleasure as you list and whē I goe out you shall goe with mée Sir quoth Huon of the great honour that you haue done to mée I thanke you then they sat downe at the Table and when they had dyned the King and Huon sat together vppon the rich Carpets Then Mouflet the Minstrell opened his Vyoll and played so melodiously that the Paynims that heard him had great maruaile thereof for the Vyoll made so swéet a sound that it séemed to be the Mermaides of the Sea and Kinge Iuoryn and all his Lords had so great ioy that it séemed vnto them that they were in the glorie of Paradise so that there was no Paynim but that gaue him Gownes and Mantles and other iewels The Minstrell saw Huon sit by the King hee saide Fréend yesterday I was your Maister and nowe I am become your Minstrell I thinke nowe you haue little care for me yet I pray you come vnto mée and gather together these cloathes and put them into my Male as you haue done ere this When the King and his Lordes heard that they began to laugh Now let vs leaue speaking of them and say somewhat of the old Gerames Chap. LVII ¶ How the old Gerames arriued at Anfalerne by fortune and the Admirall Galaffer retained him to mainetaine his warre And how the faire Escleremond spake with him YE haue heard heere before the Aduentures that haue fallen to Huon how the old Gerames and xiij with him departed and left Huon bicause he would not beléeue them whereby fell to him such aduentures as yee haue since heard and how Gerames and his companyons that were in the litle shippe sailed forth in the tempest without any knowledge what was become of Huon but they thought rather hée had been dead then aliue and so within a moneth after they were driuen by another tempest to the port of Anfalerne When Gerames saw how they were ariued there he said to his companie Sirs wee be not ariued at a good Port in this City dwelleth a Paynim king who beléeueth not in our god a more fierce Paynim cannot be found frō hence to the red Sea he is called the admirall Galaffer without god haue pitie of vs I cannot sée but we are like to die and we cannot returne backe The same time the Admirall Galaffer was risen from dinner and looked out at a windowe and behelde the sea-side and then he perceiued the little Shippe where Gerames and his companie were in when he saw it he went downe with some of his men desiring to knewe what they were that there arriued then he approached to the Shippe and said Sirs what men be you that are thus arriued at my Port Sir quoth Gerames wée be French-men Pilgrimes and are going to offer at the holy Sepulchre the fortune of the Sea hath brought vs hether and therefore Sir if there be any Tribute that we ought to pay we are readie to do your pleasure Sirs quoth the Admirall haue no doubt that by me or any of mine you shall haue any displeasure for if yée will abide with me you are well arriued Sir quoth Gerames I would it might please you to shewe vs the cause why Why quoth the Admirall that I shall shewe you True it is héere néere mée dwelleth Kinge Iuoryn of Mombrance who maketh vppon mée great warre hée slayeth my men and destroyeth my Countrey whereof I haue great sorrow in my heart Sir quoth Gerames if your quarrell be iust and rightfull we shall be all readie to aid you truely for Sir without your quarrell be good wee will not abide with you Sirs quoth the Admirall I shall shew you the troth so it was vppon a day I stood in a window and looked downe to the sea-side as I did now when you arriued at this Port and then I saw a Shippe comming which tooke anker there as you be nowe and in the Ship there was a Damsell and Ten Marriners who thought to haue ledde her vnto Kinge Iuoryn of Mombrance I cannot tell where they had taken her but shée was Daughter to the Admirall Gaudise that Mahound take his soule and I knewe for certaine that if King Iuoryn might haue the Damsell hee would haue burnt her because it hath béen shewed him that she was the cause of the death of her Father the Admirall Gaudise who was Brother to King Iuoryn and so hée is Vncle to the Damsell and when I was aduertised that the ten Marriners would haue deliuered her into the hands of her Vncle Iuoryn I tooke her from them and slew them all because they would not deliuer her to me with entreatie and thus I haue wedded the Damsell When Iuoryn heard this he made mée war and was héere before my Citie with all his puissance hath slayne my men and led away all my beasts and prouision and hath burnt and destroyed my Countrey and euerie day he
I came to my purpose and strooke off the Admirals head and so tooke his beard and great téeth Brother quoth Gerard and how do you kéepe them and where Brother quoth Huon behould héere Gerames who hath them in his side King Oberon did set them there by the Fayrie and by the will of God Sir quoth hée which is Gerames Brother quoth Huon héere you may sée him before you he with the great hoarie beard Sir quoth Gerard of what Land is hée of He is of the best Fréends that I haue quoth Huon and he is Brother to the good Prouost Guyer you neuer heard speake of a truer nor more noble man I found him in a wood whereas hee had dwelt about Fortie yeares in penance God ayded mee greatly when I found him for if hée had not béene I could not haue returned hether much paine and pouertie hee hath endured for my sake and nowe Brother I pray you shew me how ye haue done since I departed from you it hath béene shewed me that ye are very richly married I pray you where was your wife borne and of what lineage is she of Sir quoth Gerard she is daughter to Gybouars of Cecyle who is a great Lord and Signior Brother quoth Huon I am sorie that yee haue taken such aliance for I know him for the most vile traytour that can bee found and the most vntruest Sir quoth Gerard ye doe ill to say so for I take him for no such person Chap. LXVI ¶ How these two Brethren departed from the Abbey about midnight and how the Traitor Gerard began to fall at rude words with Huon when they approched neere the wood whereas Gibouars lay in ambush THus as these two brethren deuised of Gibouars the Abbot came to them and demanded of Huon if it were his pleasure to goe to supper Sir quoth Huon when it please you I and my brother shall be readie The fayre Escleremond who was wearie of trauaile was in her chamber apart and diuers other of her company with her whereas she supped and lay that night Huon was somewhat troubled because his brother had taken to his wife the daughter of a Traytour thus they washed and sate them downe to supper where they were richly serued and at another table sate the Prouost Guyer and Gerames his brother and diuers other Barons Gerard beheld the Prouost whom hee vtterly hated because hee went to seeke for Huon Hee sware to him selfe that if hee might once goe out of the Abbey that he should bee the first that shoulde loose his life and hee did eate and drinke but little for thinking to accomplish his ill Enterprize When they had supped they aroase from the board and their bedds were made readie Then Huon called the Abbot apart and sayd Sir I haue brought hether with me great riches I will leaue it héere with you to keepe vntill my returne and I pray you for any manner of thing that may fall deliuer it vnto no man liuing but all onely to my selfe and if God giue me the grace to returne your part shall bee therein Sir quoth the Abbot all that you take mée to keepe shall bée safely kept to your behoofe and I shall doe so that you shall bée content then hee went to bed and Gerard with him where Gerard sayd Brother if you thinke it good I shall call you vp betimes for it séemeth that to morrow the day will be hot Brother quoth Huon I am content Thus they lay together in one bed but the Traytour Gerard had no lyst to sleepe for the great desire that he had to be reuenged of his Brother who neuer did him any trespasse but alas why did not Huon know his entent if hée had the matter had not gone so to passe At last the houre came that the Cockes began to crowe then Gerard awooke Huon and said Brother it were good for vs to arise for anone it will be day it is good to ride in the coole but the ill Traytour his thought was otherwise When Huon heard his Brother he rose vp and euery man arose vp and made them redie Sir quoth Gerames how is it that yée be so hastie to depart from hence I pray you let me sléepe a little longer Sir quoth Gerard that is ill said for he that hath businesse to doe that toucheth him néere ought not to sléepe nor rest vntill his businesse be finished By my troth quoth Huon my Brother saith troth for I haue a great desire to speake with King Charlemaine then euery man trussed vp their things and tooke their horses and the faire Escleremond was readie and mounted on a stately mule and so they all tooke their leaues of the Abbot who was right sorowfull that they would depart so early Then the gates were opened and so departed Fourtéene in a companie and Escleremond made the Fiftéene and Gerard rode before to lead them the right way that he would haue them to ride and Escleremond being very sumptuously apparelled rode very soberly and she came to Huon and said Sir I cannot tell what ayleth me but my heart is so sore troubled that all my bodie trembleth Madame quoth Huon be not dismaid nor haue any feare for yée be in a good countrey where by the grace of god yée shall be serued like a Princesse and Ladie of the countrey and with those wordes speaking her Mule stumbled on the one foot before so that shée had néere hand a great fall then Huon approched to her tooke the bridle of the Mule in his hand said Faire Ladie haue yée any hurt No Sir quoth shée but I had almost fallen By my faith quoth Gerames we haue done very ill for that wée departed from the Abbey before day light Sirs quoth Gerard I neuer saw men so fearefull for so small a cause Sir quoth Gerames I know not why yée speake it but if I might councell yée we would not goe one foot farther but returne againe to the Abbey till day light By god quoth Gerard it were great folly to returne againe now for the stumbling of a Mule I neuer saw men so fearefull let vs ride foorth and make good chéere I sée the day beginneth to appeare So they road foorth vntill they came to a crosse whereas there was foure wayes this was about a League from the Abbey Then Huon rested and sayd Loe héere is the border of the Territorie of the Abbey of Saint Maurise and this one way is to Bourdeaux the which way I will not ride for so I haue promised to King Charlemaine to whome I neuer yet falsed my faith if I did it should bee the cause that I might loose my Signiorie and this other way goeth to Rome this other way before vs is the right way into Frāce the which way I will ride and none other So they road foorth and all their companie and within a while they were néere to the wood within a bow shoot whereas the Traytour
and Gerames wounded on the Side as he was Now wee will leaue to speake of this pitious company enduring great sorow in the horrible prison in the greate Tower of Bourdeaux Chap. LXVIII ¶ How the Traytours returned to the Abbey of St. Maurise and slewe the good Abbot and tooke away all the Treasure that Huon had left there THus as ye haue heard here before how Gerard and Gybouars had put in prison Huon and Escleremond and Gerames in great miserie and when it was day Gerard and Gybouars departed out of Bourdeaux and all their company and road againe vnto the Abbey and so came thether to dinner then Gerard sent for the Abbot to come and speake with him When the Abbot heard how Gerard was come againe to the Abbey he had great maruaile and so came to Gerard and sayd Sir you be welcome I pray you what aduenture hath brought you hether againe so shortly I had thought that you had been gone with your Brother Huon Sir quoth the Traitour after that my Brother Huon was departed hence hée remembred his riches that he left with you to kéepe and bycause he shall haue great neede thereof to giue gifts vnto the great Princes and Lordes that be about King Charlemaine to the entent that his businesse may take the better effect Therefore my Brother hath sent mée vnto you desiring you to send his goods vnto him by mée Sir quoth the Abbot when your Brother Huon departed hence true it was that hée left with mée his riches to kéepe and charged mée not to deliuer it to any person liuing but all onely to his owne person Therefore Sir by the faith that I owe vnto my Patron Saint Maurise I will not deliuer vnto you one penny When the Traytour Gerard vnderstoode that answeare he sayd Dane Abbot thou lyest for whether thou wilt or not I will haue it and no thankes to thée and yet thou shalt also repent thy woords Then Gerard sudainly tooke the Abbot by the haire of the head and Gybouars tooke him by the one arme and did so strike him with a staffe that hee all to bruzed him and then did cast him to the earth so rudely that his heart burst in his bodie and so dyed When the Monkes saw their Abbot slaine they had great feare so fled away and the two Traytours with their Swords in their hands went after them with sore threatnings when the Monks sawe howe they could not escape for the two Traytours and their men they fell downe on their knées humbly praying them to haue pitie of them and they would shew them all the gold treasure that was in the house to do therewith at their pleasure Then the Traytour Gybouars said how the Monks had spoken well when the Monkes saw how they had peace they shewed to the two Traitors the place where the treasure was and deliuered to them the keyes so they tooke away all the treasure that Huon had left there and besides that all the treasure of the church crosses sensers chalesses copes and candlestickes of siluer all they tooke and caryed away if I should recite all the riches that they had there it should be too long to be rehearsed In that house there was a Monke who was cousin to Gibouars whome the twoo Traytors made Abbot of that place so when they had atchieued their enterprise they departed with all that riches wherewith was charged xv strong Sommers they left not in the Abbey the value of a Florent for euerie thing that was good they tooke with them and so road vntill they came vnto Bourdeaux Nowe as they passed through the Towne they were greatly regarded of all the Burgesses of the Citie who had great maruaile from whence their Lord came with so great riches These Traytours passed foorth vntill they came to the Pallaice and there they discharged their Somers then Gerard tooke the Treasure that fiue of the Somers did carie and laid it in his Chambers and Coffers then hée ordained that Ten Somers should be trussed foorth to goe to Paris and sent them forward sayd how hée would follow soone after Then he and Gibouars dyned and after meat they mounted vppon their Horses and the new Abbot Coozen to Gibouars with them and two Squiers and about siâ—e other Seruants and so road in hast to ouer-take their Somers with their treasure and so within two Leagues they ouer-tooke them so then they all together road so long vntill on a Wednesday they came to Paris they lodged in the Stréete next vnto the Pallaice in a good Hostrie and were well serued and so rested vntill the next morning then they arose and apparelled them in fresh array and they led with them fiue of their Somers with riches and two of them they presented to the Quéene the other thrée to the King wherefore they were receiued with great ioy then after they gaue great guifts to euerie Lord in the Court and specially to the Officers wherefore they were greatly praised But whosoeuer tooke any guift Duke Naymes would take neuer a penie for he thought that all that riches was not well gotten and that they did it for some craft thereby to attaine to some false damnable enterprise this Duke was a noble wise and a true knight and of good councell and he very well perceiued their malice Then the King commaunded the thrée Coffers to be brought and set in his chamber and would not looke into them vntill he had spoken with Gerard whome he caused to sit downe by him and Gibouars in like manner and also the new Abbot for it is an old saying and a true that they that giue are alwaies welcome Gerard quoth king Charlemaine yée be welcome I pray you shew me the cause of your comming Sir quoth Gerard I shall shew you the great businesse that I haue to doe with your Maiestie and your Lords hath caused me to giue these large guifts that I haue giuen to you and others and Sir I am sorowfull at my heart for that which I must shew you and I had rather be beyond the Sea then to shew you that thing which I must néedes doe for to hide it that cannnot auaile me yet I neuer shewed any thing in all my life with so ill a will for I shall be blamed of many persons howbeit I loue better to defend mine honour then I loue all the world beside Gerard quoth the King yée say troth for better it is to shew the troth then to be silent in so great a matter which so much toucheth your honour Chap. LXIX ¶ How the Traitour Gerard shewed to King Charlemaine how Huon his brother was retourned to Bourdeaux without doing of his Messuage to the Admirall Gaudise SIr quoth Gerard true it is that you haue made me Knight and beside that I am your liege man wherfore I am bound to kéepe your honour to my power for I am certaine I shall shew
to tremble and when I come there I will tarrie till I bee whole Sir quoth his Lords your commandement shal be done then they layde the Emperour in a litter sore complayning the losse and death of his nephewes and Lordes that were slaine and his legge gréeued him sore Then Huon sayd to Gerames Sir thanked be God we haue vanquished the Emperour and slaine many of his men therefore it is good that we returne now to Bourdeaux I haue great desire to sée my wife Escleremond who thinking long for my comming I am sure shee is sorrowfull that I haue tarried so long Sir quoth Gerames if ye haue great desire to returne so haue al other of your seruants they would gladly see their wiues and children and some would sée their louers Chap. LXXXV ¶ How Huon graunted the truce to the Emperour and howe the Prouost of Coleyne came and assayled Huon not knowing of any peace taken WHen Huon vnderstood the old Gerames he had great ioy then he sounded the Trumpets with such brute that maruaile it was to heare and commanded euery man to set forward towards Bourdeaux Then he beheld on his right hand and saw them of Coleyne comming in a great number they were well néere twentie thousand Burgesses and other they came with banners displayde readie to fight When Huon saw them he had great maruaile from whence they should come so hastily Then he sayd to his men Sirs I perceiue cléerely we be betrayed for if I had pleased the Emperour nor his men could not haue escaped he hath falsely betrayed me since vnder the colour of truce they come to set newly vpon me Thus Huon sayd by the Emperour without cause for hée knew nothing thereof nor that any succour should haue come to him Sirs quoth Huon let vs rest here and tarrie till they come néerer to vs then let vs set on them with such haste that they shall not know what to doe Sir quoth his men haue no doubt wee shall not faile you for feare of any death we trust to slay so many that the earth shall bee couered with the dead bodies of your enemies Huon ordered his battaile and the Prouost of Coleyne comforted his men saying Sirs our Emperour is discomfited by Huon and his companie who be yonder abiding before vs they thinke to depart in sauegard but they haue no power to doe so for the most part of them are sore hurt and their horses sore trauailed wherefore they shall the sooner be discomfited Then the Prouost and his men ranne quickly vpon Huon and his men there beganne a fierce battaile wherein many a most valiaunt man lay on the earth dead and at the verie first brunt there were so many slaine that the whole fielde was couered with dead and maimed men some were ouerthrowne without any hurt at all and yet they could neuer rise because of the great prease of the horses that did runne ouer them Huon who was very full of ire because hee had thought that vnder the colour of truce he was assayled he ranne fiercely at a knight who had doone verie great hurt among his men it was he that went to Coleyne for that succour and Huon strake him cleane through the body with his Speare so that he fell downe dead to the earth Then Huon cryed his crie to call his men together hée layd on the right side and on the left so that hee did cutte of armes and legges and raced their helmets from their heades he séemed rather a man of the Fayrie then a mortall man But he had much to doe for his men who had fought all the day were sore trauayled and wearie howbeit they defended them selues right valiantly and slew so many of the Commons of Coleyn that the bloud ran on the ground in great streames and the Emperour who issued out of the wood in his Lyttour when he came into the field he heard the brute and crie of the Battaile wherewith he was so abashed Then he demaunded what noise it might be Sir quoth a Knight it is the good Prouost of Coleyn who hath brought with him the Commons of the Citie of Coleyn to aid and succour you Sir quoth the Emperour and he shall dearely buy it howbeit I thinke hee knoweth not of the Truce that we haue taken with Huon for if I knew that he was aduertised therof I should cause him to die an il death Goe to him and command him that incontinent he goe to Huon to make amendes for his trespasse and if he will not doe it I charge you incontinently to slay him When the Emperour had giuen his commaundement to one of his knights he rode as fast as he might to the Prouost who was right sorrowfull for that he had lost foure thousand of his Commons the knight was slain that came to him Then the Emperours knight sayd Sir Prouost ye haue doone right ill séeing ye haue broken the truce that was made betwéene him and Huon if the Emperour may gette you yée shall neuer sée fayre day more without incontinent ye goe to Huon and deale so with him that he be content so that no reproch be layd to the Emperor When the Prouost and his companie heard the Emperors commandement they were sore abashed reculed back And the Prouest who was in great feare for that hee had done and desiring to accomplish the Emperours commandement strake his horse with his spurres and rested not till he hrd found Duke Huon Then he lighted a foote and tooke his sword and sayd Ah right noble and vertuous Prince I desire thée in the honour of Iesus Christ haue pitie on me and pardon me the iniurie that I haue done against you the which I haue done without the knowledge or licence of the Emperour who will cause mee to die a shamefull death without yee pardon mee for all I knew not of the truce betwéene you and the Emperour for I thought he had beene dead Sir that which I haue done was to the intent to rescue my rightfull Lord and thereby I haue lost this day more then foure thousand Burgesses and commons of the Citie of Coleyn and the most part of my best friends and therfore Sir I pray you haue pittie on me else the Emperour will slay mee or sette me in perpetuall pryson Chap. LXXXVI ¶ How Huon arriued at Bourdeaux and of the counsell of the fayre Escleremond his wife the which he would not beleeue nor follow WHen Huon vnderstood the Prouost he had great pitie and though that he ought in reason to pardon him séeing that that hee had done was in a iust cause and that hee was not aduertised of the truce taken betweene the Emperour and him Then Huon approched to the Prouost and sayd Friends arise vp I pardon you this trespasse that you haue done for your Lord and it is but reasonable since ye knew nothing of the truce ye haue done as a true subiect ought to doe to his Lord and
and when the Emperor was within a League then there met with him the old Sauarie his Brother who was Father to Duke Raoul slaine by Huon when these two brethren met together there was great ioy made betwéene them But then Duke Sauary beganne to wéepe and sayd to his brother the Emperour Sir of your comming I am right ioyfull But when the pitious death of my deare beloued sonne your nephew Raoull commeth to my minde there is no member of me but for dolour and displeasure trembleth nor I can neuer haue perfect ioye at my heart as long as he that hath done mee this displeasure liueth This Duke Sauary was a noble man but betwéene him and his sonne Raoull was great difference for the Duke Raoull was the vntruest Traitor that euer liued the which wickednes procéeded by the Duchesse his mother who was daughter to Hurdowin of Fraunce the most vntruest and falsest Traytour that as then liued in the world When the Emperour heard his brother speake the teares fell from his eyes and he embraced him sayd My right deare brother your dolour much displeaseth mee for your dolour is mine and thereof I will haue a part and if ye haue much ioy my part shall likewise be therein But it is not possible for vs to haue him againe for whom we make this sorrow God ayde Huon now froÌ„ his enemies for they greatly desire his death yet oftentimes they that desire another mans death auaunceth their own Thus as you haue heard the Emperour and Duke Sauary entred into the Citie of Coleyne whereas they were receiued with great ioy and so rode to the Pallayce and there they supped I will make no long rehearsall of the good chéere that they made there Then after Supper they went to their rest and the next morning rose and heard seruice and tooke a sop in wine then departed out of Coleyne It was a goodly hoast to behold they and their carriage and their artillerie reached foure leagues of length Thus they all had sworne the death of Huon they passed by high Borgoyn and by Dolphinne and so passed the riuer of Roan and so into the countrey of Bourdeaux Now I will leaue speaking of them till another season Chap. LXXXIX ¶ How the Emperour Tirrey of Almaine besieged the Citie of Bourdeaux and how Huon made him readie to fight with his enemies THus you haue heard heere before the deuises that the Duchesse Escleremond had made to her husband Huon who as soone as she was churched Huon sent his commaundement through all his countrie euery man to be readie in armes and to come to Bourdeaux because he was aduertised of the comming of his enâ—mies The messengers made such diligence that within fifteene dayes after euerie man was come to Bourdeaux and there Duke Huon receiued them with great ioy Then he repayred the Citie and the towres and walles and it was well furnished with victuals and artillerie as in such a case it well appertained for at that time the Citie of Bourdeaux was not so strong as it is now when Duke Huon saw the Citie so well garnished with men and victuales he was right ioyfull and then he called to him the old Gerames and sayd my right deere friend ye see wel this warre that is apparent betweene the Emperour and mee and now we be wel aduertised of his comming who is ready to come with all his 〈◊〉 to besiege this our Citie and therefore my heartie deere friend who hath ayded me in so many businesses I pray you counsell and ayde me now for in all the conduct of my warre I will that ye haue the charge and that you will comfort my men well so that of vs there be no euill report maâ—e and that our enemies haue no cause to prayse the warre that they haue against vs nor that when they bee returned into their countries that they make not their auaunts among their wenthes and their louers Sir quoth Gerames I thanke you of the honour and great trust that you haue in mee howbeit ye haue many other more sage and hardie then I am to whom this great charge should better appertaine then to me But Syr as for me I shall so acquite me that I trust I shall not be reprehended Thus as you haue heard Huon made his deuises among all his Barons and made all his ordinances for the defence of the Citie and the manner of their issuing and appoynted men for their rescue in reculing And the Emperour was entred into the Countrey of Bourdeaux with a mightie armie burning and destroying the Countrey whereof the poore people were sore abashed because they neuer had war before and thus the Emperour neuer rested wasting and destroying the Countrey till they came before the Cittie of Bourdeaux and there hee pitcht vp his tents and pauillions and the Emperour lay on the way leading to Paris on the other part Duke Sauary father to Raoull was lodged by the Emperours marshalles so that all the Cittie was closed round about Huon who was within the Cittie beheld their countenaunces and manner of their lodging he commaunded that all his men should be readie to issue out vpon their enemies the which they did Then Huon armed himselfe verie richly and mounted vpon his good horse the which was the Emperours and sware that ere he returned again he would shew his enemies what they of Bourdeaux could doe When hee was mounted on his good horse hee came into the Citie and found the old Gerames readie apparelled with all his companie Then he appoynted fiue thousand men to keepe the Citie and twentie thousand men to goe with him Thus Duke Huon made his ordinances Yee may well imagine that the sorrow was great that Escleremond made for the Duke her husband she was right wise she feared to loose him because she knew him so aduenturous and that his enemies were of so great number but right pitiously weeping shee made her prayers to the Lord God deuoutly that hee would keepe and defend Huon her husband and all his men from danger and losse and to send him peace with his enemies Chap. LXXXX ¶ Of the great Battaile that was before Bourdeaux whereas Huon had great losse and the old Gerames taken THus as you haue heard Bourdeaux was besieged by the Emperour of the high Almaynes and by his brother the Duke Sauary with a great number of men Then Huon issued out and when hee was past the port hee made haste to the intent to surprise his enemies for at that time the Emperour was set at dinner Then Huon and his companie all at once dasht in among the tents and Pauillions and beate them down to the earth so that they that were within were much abashed for they thought verily that Huon durst neuer haue issued out of the Citie against him and the great number that hee was of Huon layd on round about him so that who soeuer met with him had no néede of
many a noble deed of armes for next Huon aboue all other that day hee bore the price Finally Huon and Othon and his other men did so much that the Almaines were chaced to their Tentes and many slaine in the chace and sore hurt so that they neuer road vppon horse-backe after Sometime it fortuneth that it is folly to venture too much forward and too late to repent afterward I say this for Huon and his company who were gone so much forward that in great dauâ—ger they returned to the Citie for the Almaines who were thirtie Thousand men ready before their Tents when they saw Huon and his men chace their company they set foorth againste Huon and when Huon saw them hee sayd vnto his men Sirs it is good that wee recoile into our Citie for yonder I see comminge 〈◊〉 then thirtie Thousand Almaines as fast as they can so when Huons company saw them they doubted greatly and not without cause for they had beene before at two great skirmishes whereby they and their horses were wearie and sore trauailed the which was no maruaile so by the counsaile of Huon they returned a false gallop toward their Citie and the Almaines were at their backe and chaced them so quickly that more then fiue Hundred Almaines entred into the Citie with them of Bourdeaux But they that kept the gates that day were wise and discreet for as soone as they perceiued that Huon and his company were entred and with them about fiue Hundred of their enemies they woulde keepe their gates no longer open for feare that their enemies should haue entred with too great a number so that for hast they cut asunder the cord that held vp the Portâ—â—lloys the which fell downe by such force that it fell vpon the horse of an Almaine that was vnder it the which horse was cutte cleane assunder so that the man and the fore part of the horse fell within the gate and the hinder part of the horse fell without whereat the Almaines that followed after were sorrowfull and angrie that they had not come thether sooner Then they returned to their Tents complaining for the great losse and damage that they had sustained that day by the high prowesse of Huon and his men and also they that were entred into the Citie were sore abashed when they sawe themselues encloased within the Citie When Huon perceiued it he had great maruaile that they were so entred in among his men for he knew not thereof and yet he himselfe was the laste that entred then hee sayde Ah yee false Traytours yee shall all die an ill death and then he sayd to his men Syrs slay them all then incontinent they alighted and kneeled downe before Huon and required him to haue mercie and pitie of them and to saue their liues and put vs in prison quoth they we be all men of a noble lineage and it may bee so that by vs yee may haue peace with the Emperour Then Gerames sayd vnto Huon Sir I require you to haue pitie of them and put them not to death for so it may bee that by them you may haue peace with the Emperour Freend quoth Huon I am content to doe at your pleasure as you will haue me doe then he commaunded that they should all bée vnarmed and they all made promise vnto Huon not to depart without licence Gerames quoth Huon I will that these Prisoners bee brought vp into the Borough and there parted and set into diuers houses that be sure and let them haue all things necessarie for their liuing then Gerames deliuered them to the keeping of such as hee trusted and so each of them was kept in a courteous Prison Now let vs leaue to speak of Huon and of his Prisoners and returne to the Emperour Chap. LXXXXIII ¶ Howe the Emperour assayled the Citie of Bourdeaux twoo times whereas he lost many of his men AS you haue heard here before how Huon chased his enemies to their tents and how it was time for him to returne to his Citie and how hee was so pursued by the Almaynes that more then fiue hundred of them entred into the Citie and were closed within it and the residue returned to their tents sorrowful and angrie for the great losse that they had So when they were returned the Emperour demaunded what tydings and how they had spedde and if they had not taken Huon quicke or dead Sir quoth a knight it is follie for you to speake thus for Huon is no man so lightly to bee taken for the fiftie men that you sent to haue beene hanged be rescued by Huon and the three thousand men that you sent with them are all slaine and diuers other sore hurt and in perill of death and besides that fiue hundred men of the best of your friendes are entred into Bourdeaux for wee so hastily pursued Huon and his men that entring into the Citie fiue hundred of our men entred into the Citie entermedled with Huons men and there they be inclosed within therfore Sir we aduise and counsell you that you agrée with Huon for if you doe not you shall loose all your men for Huon is so fell and cruell that hee will hange vp your men as ye had thought to haue done his of whom one of them was his cosin you may doe as it pleaseth you When the Emperour heard his Barons what counsell they gaue him he was verie sorowfull and sayd Sirs ye do me great wrong to require me to make any peace with Huon since ye know wel what â—ath and promise I haue made that I will neuer be at peace with him to the intent that ye shall speake no more therof know for troth that if X.M. of my néerest friends were taken by Huon I would rather suffâ—â— them to die a shamefull death then to agree to any peace with Huon till I haue slaine him and his Citie be burnt and destroyed Sir quoth they séeing it is your pleasure yée may do as you thinke best Sirs quoth the Emperour I will that yée assemble all mine hoast and send to my Brother that hée bring all his men then with all our puissance we will assaile the Citie and that none be so hardie as to recule back vntill the Citie be taken this was proclaymed through the Hoast and euery man was readie to assaile the Citie and the cheefe Captaine was Duke Sauary who brought all his men in good order to the dikes well fournished with ladders and other necessarie things pertaining to assault The same time Huon and his men were vnarmed and going to dinner but when he heard the noise and crie without he tooke a sop in wine and armed him all his men and euery man went to the walles to their defence and Huon old Gerames Othon and Barnard a valiant knight mounted on the towre ouer the gate and the Almaines on euery part entred into the dikes and raysed vp many a scaling ladder to the walles
shee had great cause to weepe and to be sorrowfull â—or before Huon returned to Bourdeaux shee and all they that were with her suffered so much pain and pouerty that to shew it would cause a hard heart to weepe for pitie And after that Huon had thus spoken to his companie hee entred into his Chappell and was confessed of the Bishops of the Citie and receiued the Sacrament Then the Bishop gaue to Huon a stoale that was hallowed and of great vertue and saide Sir I require you for the loue of our Lord Iesus Christ keepe well this stoale for such an houre may fall that it will stand you in good stead Huon right humbly tooke it and thanked the Bishop it did him good seruice afterward for on a day as hee passed he had thereof so great neede that he would not haue forborne it for fourtéene good Cities as yee shall heare more heereafter Chap. LXXXXVIII ¶ Howe Huon departed from the Citie of Bourdeaux and sayled vntill hee came into the hye Sea and hadde many great fortunes WHen Huon had taken the the halowed stoâ—le hee deliuered it to his Chaplain who was a wise man of a holy life and commaunded 〈◊〉 to keepe it well Then he toâ—ke fiue knights to haue with him and his Chaplayne and a clack to serue him Then Huon went to his wife and kissed her at his departing and she fell in a swound in his armes and Huon 〈…〉 releaued heâ— and sayd Faâ—re Lady I require 〈…〉 making of this sorrow Ah good sir quoth she 〈…〉 ought to bee sorrowfull since ye leaue mee besieged with them that desire your death Madam quoth Huon 〈…〉 you not for by the grace of God I shall make a short returne Then he clipped and kissed her recomâ—â—â—ding her to our Lord Iesus Christ Then Huon and such as were appoynted to goe with him departed out of the Pallaice and went to a backe posâ—erâ—e vpon the riuer of Gâ—round where there was a shippe ready and richly garnished with all things conuenient there Huon being armed and his men entred into the shippe and had no horse with them When Huon departed hee deliuered his good horse to the â—éeping of sir Bernarde his cosen and tooke his leaue of Gerâ—mes and of all his other companie so hoysed vp sayle and 〈◊〉 was day in the morning hee was more then two 〈◊〉 from Bourdeaux Then Huon regarded the Citie and â—â—re weeping did recommend it to our Lord Iesus Christ humbly requiring him to haue in his sauegard his 〈◊〉 wife and child and all other that were within it Thus 〈◊〉 Huon sailed along the riuer of Geround pitiously complayning for his wife the fayre Escleremond and for hiâ—â—ayre daughter Claryet whom he could not forget for he had so great doubt to loose them that when hee remembred them hee wept They sayled so long that they entred into the high Sea and hee had good cause to weepe and 〈◊〉 great sorrowe for hee 〈…〉 till the 〈◊〉 had taken it 〈…〉 Huon 〈◊〉 in his Shippe 〈…〉 his heart gaue him that before hee 〈…〉 Citie of Bourdeaux the Citie should bee taken and his 〈…〉 Escleremond 〈…〉 therefore he 〈…〉 that if it so 〈◊〉 and if euer he returned 〈…〉 end 〈◊〉 thereof he would 〈◊〉 the Emperour 〈◊〉 and that Castle nor Towne should noâ— saue him There was a notable knight with Huon who said 〈◊〉 him Sir leaue your musing and put your trust in God hee shall ayd you and succour you in all your 〈…〉 your Wiâ—e and keepe your Citie 〈…〉 for t your selfe no further 〈◊〉 thâ—nke of God and 〈◊〉 vnto him to giue you the grace to accomplish your Voyage the 〈◊〉 I hope you shall not faile of if you thus dâ—e When Huon heard him hee was much comforted and thanked the Knights and so sayled â—oorth vntill they were 〈…〉 the Sea and lost their right way for the â—hippe turned â—n the right hand and losse the way that they should haue saâ—led and 〈◊〉 vnto places not knowne to any of the 〈◊〉 whereof the Patron was sore abashed in himselfe without making any knowledge thereof and so long they sayled with winde and weather that they arriued at a Port whereas they found many boats there they casâ— their anchor and went a 〈…〉 themselues Then Huon called to him the 〈…〉 and demaunded of him if he could sayle 〈…〉 Sir quoth the Maister I was 〈…〉 no winde to goe thether it were a 〈…〉 me to sayle thether 〈…〉 by that straunge Sea But I 〈…〉 heere in this Port whereas you are nowe to 〈…〉 Patrone that can bring you 〈…〉 quoth Huon I pray you to doe so much as to get me 〈◊〉 Sir quoth 〈…〉 doe what I can then hâ—â— and Huon 〈…〉 Shippe and from boat to boat to get a Pilot 〈…〉 to an auncient man who sayde that he could well bring them thither and sayde how that hee had beene there before that time Friend quoth Huon if hee will bring me to the Realme of Aufamie I shall giue you gold and siluer plentie Sir quoth the old Patron I shall doe your pleasure but Sir one thing I say to you know for troth the voyage is very daungerous for to passe and a verie long voyage for it will be halfe a yeere â—re you can come thither and beside that wee must passe by a perilous Gulfe the which is reputed to be one of the mouthes of hell and if by aduenture or fortune of the winde that wee bee blowen neere vnto it wee shall neuer depart but be lost foreuer When Huon heard the Pilate hee beganne to weepe and complaine for his wife and his deere daughter whome he had left in the citie of Bourdeaux in great daunger to be taken For he saw well then that hee could not returne for the space of a whole yeere with any succour howbeit hee left not his voyage then hee commaunded his seruaunts to discharge all his baggage and victualles out of the one shippe into the other and when the newe shippe with the newe Patron was readye in all things Huon entred into it Then the new Patron demanded of the old marriner the cause why they came thither and from whence they came Sir quoth hee true it is wee came from the citie of Bourdeaux the which standeth vpon a notable riuer and when we were entred into the sea a sore winde rose vpon vs in such wise that wee were constrained to abandon our shippe to the winde and weather and fortune of the sea the which hath brought vs hither Friend quoth the newe Patron as soone as yee were out of the riuer of Gerone if yee had turned your sterne towards the sea roade yee had neuer come hither and within a moneth yee should haue come to the realme of Aufamie whereas now ye be verie farre off When Huon vnderstood the cause of their comming thither he was right sorrowfull and sore displeased if he could haue amended it But his displeasure could not
more soâ—roâ— for my daughter theÌ„ for my selfe and I am sorrowfull for my Lords and 〈◊〉 who for the loue of you and mee are in peâ—â—ll of thâ—ir 〈…〉 had beene better for vs to haue tarryed still in 〈…〉 come hither to â—uffer all these toâ—menâ—s pâ—ines and 〈…〉 and at last painefull deaâ—h with saying of these 〈…〉 Duchesse fell in a trâ—â—â—ce among her Lords 〈…〉 releeâ—ed 〈◊〉 sayde discomfort you 〈◊〉 but take good 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 your men who haue great desire to defend 〈◊〉 Citie for the sauegard of their owne bodyes and liues thus to make sorrow ye can winne nothing thereby but loose more to more haue no doubt that Huon your husbande will leaue you at this poynt hee is gone to your brother for succour hee will not long tarrie and he will bring you such succour that the Emperour nor the Almaines shall haue no leysure to grant him the victorie Thus Gerames comforted the Duchesse who was glad for to heare Gerames and thus as they deuised together the Emperour who was aduertised of Huons departing and how he was gone for succour he assembled his Councell into his tent and there hee shewed and declared the great losses that he had suffered as well of the death of his nephewes as of other of his friends and kynne and the great domage that by Huon he had suffered and sayde Sirs all this ye know well his acquaintance hath cost vs déerely ye haue all heard how he is departed to séeke for succour but I cannot tell to what part hee is gone As for the Realme of Fraunce I know right well hee shall haue no succour there for as it hath béene shewed mée of â—ate that the right Noble and victorious Prince Charlemaine is dead who loued Huon but little because of his sonne Charlot whome Huon slew and Charlemaine hath left behinde him but one sonne named Lewes who is but of a yong age and I beléeue if hee were of full age that he would rather come for to succour me then Huon who slewe Charlot his brother therfore it can be no otherwise but that he is gone into some far countrey for succour therefore I thinke it best that in the meane time ere he returne that on all sides let vs continually assaile the Citie and let euerie one doe their part to bee reuenged for the death of their friendes which are héere slaine by them within the Citie When the Lordes heard the Emperour all with one voyce aunswered and sayd Syr the reason which you haue shewed vnto vs is to bee kept and done and wee shall goe arme vs and make vs all readye to the intent to come to your intention the which is verie good and reasonable Then they sounded al their hornes and busins and euerie man speedily armed himselfe and came with Ensigne displayde to assayle the Cittie and they that were within as well as they could they defended the Citie they which were without reared vppe ladders against the walles with mightie strength but they which were within did beate them down into the Dikes and then they did cast downe vppon them hote leade and boyling Dyle and quicke Lyme and great stones and fagots burning so that they which were down in the Dikes had no power for to reléeue themselues againe but there most miserably dyed vnder the ladders There was on both parts exceeding great shooting wyth Crosbowes and slinging of stones so thicke that they seemed like vnto snow flying in the ayre maruailous it was to beholde the olde Gerames howe hee exhorted his companie for to doe well and also the Duchesse Escleremond with her daughter in her armes crying vnto her men and sayde Yee my deere Lords and Knights fight lustily but to your paynes for to defende your bodyes and your liues your wiues and your children to the intent that the Almaynes make not their bragges and vaunts of theyr winning of this most noble Citie by theyr assaults the which is so goodly and rich for Sirs I knowe right well yee shall not abide this trouble for no long season for Duke Huon your rightfull Lorde will shortly ayde and succour vs all Then all the noble Barons Knights and Burgesses hearing the excéeding great comfort of the Noble and vertuous Lady the Duchesse Escleremond with a maruaylous great courage and valour they came to theyr defences and behaued themselues so valiantly that theyr enemies were forced to retyre backe with great losse and domage whereof the Emperour and his Lords were right sorrowfull and they within the Citie right ioyfull of the great victorye the which God had giuen them that day Then euery man went vnto his lodging and made great ioy and the Emperour and his men withdrew themselues in great displeasure for his losse When the Emperour was vnarmed and had well refreshed himselfe then hee sayde vnto his Lordes Sirs wee haue beene a long season before this Citie and haue sustained many losses therefore sirs I require you to counsell mee what is 〈…〉 do this Citie is strong and wel furnished with knights and men to defend it by vs it will neuer be wonne without vicâ—ualles â—aile them but I thinke they haue but small store of 〈◊〉 therefore I desire you to shew me your abuises whether 〈◊〉 shall depart from this Citie without more doing or 〈◊〉 here vpon such fortune as God will send vs. When the Emperour had sayd as much as hee pleased then the Duke Sauâ—â—y his brother rose vp and sayd Sir me thinkes if it may 〈◊〉 beleeued that this Citie cannot long endure and the cause 〈◊〉 I shall shew you ye knowe well that Huon their Lord is 〈◊〉 to seeke for succour on the other side they within the Citie haue but fewe men and but ill furnished of victualles within the Citie there is an old knight who is a valiant and a hardie knight and therefore it were profitable to studie howe he might bee taken or else slaine this should greatly aduaunce your enterprise of the which ye cannot fayle if you wil beléeue my counsell as I shall shewe you True it is that this day wee haue had great losse and receiued great domage whereof they within are ioyfull wherefore it were good to send certain mutâ—ons and beasts in the night time with a few keepers sende them into the medow neere vnto the Citie and I am sure that when the olde knight knowes thereof the which he shall know by the watch men on the towres and walles then incontinent he 〈◊〉 out 〈◊〉 such power as hee hath to take the beasts 〈◊〉 bring them into the Citie And to the intent that they â—â—all neuer returne againe into the Citie incontinent ere the 〈…〉 a good number of Béefs and Muttons Then 〈…〉 armed tenne thousand men and send them to a 〈…〉 whereas the gallowes is raysed and when they 〈◊〉 that they within the Citie bee issued out to fetch the 〈…〉 the tenne Thousand men drawe neere to the gate 〈…〉 to the
God the Ship that is heere beneath arriued by fortune at the Port neere vnto the Rocke and I prayed him in the honour of God and of his Sonne Iesus Christe to saue our liues and the Patrone had pitie compassion of vs and tooke vs into his Ship and did so much for vs as though we had beene his Brethren Sir thus I haue shewed you our aduenture and Sir I require you to pardon mée in that I so stearnly behold you but I shall shew you quoth he the cause why I doe it mée thinks I see before me the good Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux who swéetly nourished mee in my youth you greatly resemble vnto him and hee set me to schoole at Paris and then hee sent mee to Rome vnto our holy Father the Pope of Rome to whom I was a kiâ— and hee did mée much good and hee gaue mee the Bishopricâ—e of Millaine Duke Seuin is dead God bee with him and hee had twoo Sonnes the eldest called Huon and the other Gerard Huon was sent for to Paris by Kinge Charlemaine and by the way there fell vnto him a maruailous aduenture for hee shewe the Kinges Sonne Charlot in his owne defence not knowing that it was the Kinges Sonne wherefore the King banished him out of the Realme of Fraunce and sent him to the Admirall Gaudise in Babilon to doe his Messuage and afterward hee returned into Fraunce and since hee hath hadde great warre with the Emperour of Almaine more I cannot say and I am right sorrie that I knowe not where he is become for my Father who was Brother to the good Abbot of Cluny longe agoe nourished Huon vp in his youth before his Father Duke Seuin died my Father did teach him wherefore I haue great sorrow and gréefe at my heart that I knowe not where hee is become since the peace was made and concluded betweene him and the King of Fraunce When Huon hadde well heard the Bishoppe and vnderstood him his bloud changed and embracing him sweetely he said Sir you are my Coozen I am Huon who passed the sea and went to the Admirall Gaudise and slewe him and ledde away with me his Daughter the faire Escleremond who was married vnto me by our holy Father the Pope and I haue left her in the Citie of Bourdeaux in great pouertie and miserie besieged by the Emperour of Almaine I beleeue surely that she is taken by this time When the Bishop heard Huon hee began sore to weepe and Huon embraced and kissed him and sayd Coozen you are happie to find me heere or else shortly you had béen dead Sir quoth he I ought greatly to thanke God thereof But Sir I require you to giue mée some meat for I am so sore punished with hunger and thirst that I am néere hande famished and can scarce sustaine my selfe vppon my féete Coozen quoth Huon by the grace of God I shall bring you to such a place whereas you shall haue meat and drinke at your pleasure and such as you will with for Then Huon tooke him by the hand and brought him into the Pallaice and through the Chambers the Bishoppe was greatly abashed to sée the riches that he saw there Then they went downe into the Seller the Bishop beheld the manner of euerie thing and had great maruaile that none of them that hee sawe there would not speake any word hee passed by them with Huon and saluted them and then he entred into the rich Chamber whereas the Table was readie and Seruants to giue them water and they all thrée sat downe and then Huon sayd vnto the Bishoppe Coozen I coniure you by the Sacrament that you haue receiued that you nor your Chaplaine be so hardy as to eat one morsell of meat if any of you bee in any deadly sin if you be incontinent confesse you to your Chaplain and hee vnto you for if you doe otherwise you shall no sooner eate one morsell but incontinent you shall die When the Bishop had well heard and vnderstood Huon hée hadde great maruaile and said Coozen by the grace of God I féele my selfe in good estate not to abide death for when I departed from Rome both I and my Nephewe were confessed of the Pope and assoyled of all our sinnes and since wée entred into the Sea wee haue committed no sinne Then Huon sayd Cozen seeing that you be both in this case you may eate and drinke at your pleasure and so they did for they had great néed thereof they all thrée were richly serued they had euerie thing as they wished for the Bishoppe and his Nephew did eat and drinke and they were greatly abashed of the great riches that they saw there and they were rauished at the swéet singing of the birds and the hearbes and flowers that were there spreade abroade smellinge so swéetely that they thought themselues in Paradice and they had great maruaile to see the Seruants to serue them so peaceable but they would neuer speak one word they woulde gladly haue demaunded the cause why but Huon hadde expresly charged them that they shoulde make none inquirie Thus they passed their dinner in great ioy and theÌ„ washed theyr hands arose vp from the Table and the Bishop and his Chaplaine sayde grace deuously Then Huon tooke the Bishoppe by the hand and sayde Cozen wee will goe vp into the Pallaice and then you shall goe downe into your Shippe and shew them without they will die incontinent let them be christened and dresse vp Tubbes with water of the Sea and hallowe you it and christen them therein and I shall come after you with my sword and cleane armed to the entent that if they refuse thus to doe I shall strike oft their heades Sir quoth the Bishop I shall doe your pleasure Then Huon armed himselfe and went after the Bishoppe and his Nephewe downe to the shippe and when they came there they found Elinas the Maister of them who had preached so much vnto the Sarazins that hée had conuerted them all except Tenne they bare him in hand that they were glad to bee christened but theyr thoughtes were otherwise for they Ten had concluded in their courages not to renounce the Lawe of Mahomet for to beleeue vppon Iesus Christ but they were content to be christened to the entent that they would not die there for famine When Huon and the Bishop was come vnto them the Bishop sayd Sirs I require you all to shew me your intention that if with a good heart not coloured you will become christened and beléeue on the Law of God the Father and of his Son our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ and leaue the false and detestable Lawe of Mahound the which is nothing woorth Sir quoth they all shortly deliuer vs for wee bee so hungrie and thirstie that we are almost famished the which ouer-presseth vs so much that we can no longer endure nor suffer it and when Huon had well heard them he humbly thanked our Lord
their shippe and deuised of their aduentures and praysed God of his grace for that he done vnto them Huon quoth the Admirall I haue great desire to sée the holy Citie where our Lord God was crucified and laid in the Sepulchre Sir quoth Huon by the grace of God wée shall right well and shortly come thether and I hope hée shall doe vnto vs farre greater grace yet as to ayde vs to conquer and to destroy all those in our way that beléeue not on our holy Lawe for that is the chéefest entent of our Voyage Thus they deuised together the space of eight dayes without finding of any aduenture and so vppon an Euening Huon all alone stood leaning ouer the shippe board beholding the Sea the which was plaine and peaceable and then hee remembred the Duchesse Escleremond his Wife therewith the teares ran tenderly downe his visage and said Ah right noble Ladie when I remember what peril and daunger that I left you in and in what pouertie and miserie you bee in nowe I haue no ioynt nor member but that tremblesh for the displeasure that I am in and for feare least that the false Emperour cause you to die ere my returne then he beganne to make great sorrow and gréefe but Barnard who was not farre from him said Ah Sir you knowe well that in all the fortunes and aduentures that haue come vnto you God hath ayded you and saued you from the perill of death therefore take good comfort to your selfe and laud and praise our Lord God for that he sendeth vnto you and doubt not if you haue perfect hope and trust in him he will ayd and comfort you and he neuer forgetteth them that with good heart serue him Thus with such wordes Barnard comforted Huon and then the Admirall came and leaned down by Huon and they deuised together about diuers and sundrie matters The same time there arose vp a wind and Tempest so great and so horrible that the sayles were broken in diuers places and some Mastes brake and flew ouer the boards of the shippe the sea beganne to bee rough and furious so that euerie man thought to haue beene perished the fortune of this Tempest was so horrible as euerie man deuoutly called vpon our Lord God to saue them from the perill and daunger that they were in Sir quoth Huon I pray you to shewe mee what Countrey is yonder that I see before mée we were happie and fortunate if wee might arriue there and cast our anchors vnder the Rocke that I see there Sir quoth the Admirall wée bée arriued at an euill Port for wee bée néere to the Deserts of Abilaunt vppon yonder Mountaine that you sée is conuersant an enemie who hath caused many a ship and Vessell to be drowned in this Sea whereby wee bée all in great daunger to bee lost for none can approach to this Rocke but that he is strangled and slaine by the enemie that is there then euerie man was in great feare and the Admirall said vnto the Marriners Sirs I pray you if it may bee let vs drawe out of this quarter Sir quoth Huon mee thinkes you are too sore dismayed aâ—ashâ—d for by that Lord that made me to his semblance I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart vntill I knowe why that enemie causeth them to perish so fast this way I shall neuer rest vntill I haue spoken with him and if hee doe any thinge contrarie to my pleasure I shall strike off his head Huon quoth the Admirall I haue great maruaile of that you doe saye for if there were fiue Hundred such as you bée within one houre you should bée all dead and stangled Sir quoth Huon doubt not you that for though I should die in the quarrell I will goe sée him and knowe the cause why hée letteth or troubleth this passage before it be three dayes to an end I shal goe and speake with him what fortune soeuer commeth thereof Sir quoth the Admirall in you it is to doe your owne will for since it pleaseth you I must bee content but if you would beleeue mée you should not take vpon you that Voyage and Enterprize Sir quoth Huon all smiling I haue my hope and trust in almightie God who hath heeretofore saued me from death and so I hope he will doe yet for it is a common prouerbe sayd hee whome God will ayde and succour no man can hurt Sir quoth the Admirall I pray vnto our Lord God to defend you from all euill and to giue you the grace to returne againe in sauegard Sir quoth Huon I thanke you heartily Then Barnard arose vp and saide Deare Coozen I require you to let me goe with you and then the Admirall sayd Sir I desire you to bee content that I and Barnard may keepe you companie and wee shall haue with vs for the more sauegard of our persons foure Hundred hardy Knights Sir quoth Huon by Gods grace I will goe alone none shall goe with mee but my selfe and Iesus Christ and his blessed Mother in whose sauegard I commit my selfe When Barnard heard that hee had great sorrowe at his heart and so had the Admirall when they sawe that they could not turne Huon from his dangerous Voyage and Enterprize Then Huon armed himselfe and tooke leaue of the Admirall and of the other Lords and of Barnard who made great sorrow for his Coozen Huon who all alone would goe into the Deserts to seeke aduentures When Huon hadde taken his leaue hee was set a shoare and made the signe of a crosse vpon his breasâ— then hee mounted vppon the Mountaine but ere hee was the halfe way a great wind arose vppon the Sea so that the Tempest was great and horrible whereby the cordes and cables of the shippes with the Admirall burst asunder and so perforce they were â—ain to take the Sea and sayle at aduenture as wind and weather would serue them whereuppon they were cast out of that great Sea whereof the Admirall and Barnard and all the other Lordes had great feare and greatly complained for Huon who alone without companie was mounted vppon the Mountaine and as hee was going hee looked downe into the Sea and sawe the maruailous Tempest that was in the Sea so that of two Hundred ships that hee had left there with the Admirall he could then sée no more but two together for al the rest were seperated one from another in great perill and danger Then hée began pitifully to wéepe and complayne for his Wife the faire Escleremond whome he thought then neuer to sée more because hee was in that Desert and sawe the shippes driuen from the land in great feare of loosing Then he kneeled downe and held vp his handes vnto Heauen requiring our Lord God of his pitie and grace to ayd and to giue him comfort that hee might escape from thence aliue and to saue the shippes and to bring them againe in sauegard to the place from whence they departed Then
gréeuously he complained for his wife and Daughter and sayde Ah right noble Ladie Escleremond when I remember the paines and dolors and pouerties that by my cause you suffer and haue suffered all my body sweateth by paine and dolour Alas I had thought in short space to haue aided and succoured you but nowe I sée well that our departing is come for euer more in yonder perilous Sea I sée my Coozen Barnard and diuers other Lords that by my cause are in the way of perdition without God doe ayd and succour them whome I humbly require to send them that grace that they may arriue at some good Port and that I may sée them once againe to the entent that I may fight against the Paynims and Sarazins in exalting the Law of Iesus Christ Thus Huon of Bourdeaux made his prayers to our Lord Iesus Christ Chap. CXX ¶ How Huon went so long in this Desert that he found Cain and spake with him a long season and how hee beguiled Cain and departed AFter that Huon hadde thus made his prayers vnto our Lord God he arose vp and blessed him with the signe of the crosse recommending himselfe vnto our Lord God and came to the toppe of the Mountaine but when hée was there all his bodie trembled with trauaile so that he was verie faint and féeble Then hée looked round about him and sawe in a faire meadowe a cleare Fountaine thether he went to refresh and to rest him then he layde him downe vppon the grasse to refresh him before hee would drinke he was so hot and when he was well cooled hée came to the Fountaine and dranke thereof a little and washed his hands and face and then he went further into the Forrest and could find neither Towne nor Castle Garden nor Trées with fruit whereof hée was right sorrowfull and sore displeased and so searched all day to find some man or woman but al was in vaine and when he sawe that the Sunne went to rest and could find no creature he was sore discomforted he chose out a Trée and there vnder layd him downe and slept and in the morning when he saw the Sunne rise and that his beames spread abroad vppon the earth he arose and blessed him and so went foorth into the Desert and found neither man nor woman beast nor birde wherewith being sorrowfull and angrie deuoutly hée called vppon our Lord God praying him to haue in his tuition and kéeping his bodie and soule and that he might yet once sée his Wife the faire Escleremond and Clariet his Daughter He went so long in this Desert that at last he came to a plain of thrée bowe shoot large and in the middest thereof he sawe a Tunne made of the heart of Oake bound all about with bands of yron and it turned and rowled in the playne and neuer passed out of the circuit of the plaine and beside the Tunne he saw where there lay vppon the ground a great mall of yron great maruaile had Huon when hée sawe this Tunne roule about thus without cease like a Tempest and as it passed by Huon hee heard a pitifull voice within the Tunne sore complaning and when hee had heard it two or thrée times hée approached néere to the Tunne and sayd Thou that art in this Tunne speake vnto mée and shewe mée what thou art or what thing thou hast néede of and why thou art put there Then when he that was in the Tunne heard Huon he rested still and spake no word and when Huon saw that it would not speake he sayd Whatsoeuer thou art I coniure thée by him that created all the world and by his Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ whom he sent downe to suffer death and passion vppon the Trée of the Crosse to redéeme his Fréends who by the sinne of Adam and Eue were in Limbo and by his glorious Resurrection and by his Angels and Archangels Cherubins and Seraphins and by all his holy Saints I coniure thée to shewe mee what thou art and why and for what cause thou art set heere in this Tunne When hee that was within the Tunne heard howe sore hee was coniured he answeared and said Thou that hast coniured mée thou doest great euill to cause me to shew thée the troth know surely that I haue to name Cain and Sonne I was vnto Adam and Eue and am hee that slewe my Brother Abell by false and cursed enuie that I had vnto him because his oblations and Dismes that he made vnto God were exalted and the fume thereof went vpward to Heauen and those that I made the fume went downe-ward and when I sawe that I slewe and murdered my Brother Abell wherefore and for the great sinne that I haue committed I am damned to bee and to suffer this martirdome within this Tunne wherein I am closed burning and with Serpents and Toads héere within deuouring mee and yet I cannot die and héere I shall bee vntill the day of Iudgement and then my paine shall be doubled Now haue I shewed thee thy demaund wherefore I repute thée for a foole when thou art so hardy as to enter into this Desert whereas neuer man entred and departed without death for know for troth that hether repaireth twoo enemies Féends of Hell who shall slay thée and beare thy soule into Hell without thou wilt doe as I shall shew thée Fréend quoth Huon I pray thee to shew me what it is that thou speakest of or what thing thou wilt that I should doe and I will doe it to the entent that I may depart from hence there is nothing in the world but I shall doe it for thée so thou wilt shewe mée the way howe I may depart from hence Fréend quoth Cain I shall shewe thée what thou shalt doe thou shalt take this mall of iron that thou séest there and strike therewith so long vppon this Tunne vntill thou hast broken it to the entent that I may yssue out and when I am deliuered I shall set thée in sauegard in Ierusalem or in France or in what countrey soeuer thou wilt wish If thou wilt doe this that I haue sayd and deliuer me from this torment I shall set thée wheresoeuer thou wilt be in any Land Christian or Heathen and if thou doest not this that I haue saide before it be night I shall cause thée to die with great tormentes for anon thou shalt sée come hether two Diuels of Hell foule and hideous to behold and they shall stangle thée and beare thy soule into Hell Ah good Lorde quoth Huon humbly I require and beseech thée to saue mée from this torment Cain quoth Huon thou speakest mée faire and sayest as thou list but I will not deliuer thée out of this Tunne vntill first thou shewest mée how I may depart from hence Then Cain sayd if thou wilt promise mée by thy faith and by thy part of Paradice to deliuer mée out of this Tunne I shall shewe thée the manner howe thou shalt
since I cannot haue Huon her husband at my will I shall neuer eat nor drinke vntill I haue séene her burnt and the other persons hanged For when I remember the death of my Nephewes and of my deare Sonne the which haue béen slaine by Huon there is no member in my bodie but that trembleth for sorrow and displeasure When the good Duke Hildebert vnderstood the Emperour hee had great sorrowe at his heart and departed without any word speaking and without any leaue taking but returned from thence and hee became full of yre and displeasure then the Emperour Tirrey cryed with a hye voyce and sayde howe that he would shortly dispatch the matter to sée the Lady burnt and ledde to the hill whereas the fire was readie When the Ladie perceiued the place whereas shee should die in shee cast out a great crie and made a pitifull complaint to our Lord Iesus Christ and sayd Ah right sweet Lord Iesus Christ thou knowest that for the loue of thée I am christened to beléeue in thy Lawes wherein I will liue and die and I sée well that my dayes are but short and thou knowest well that there is no cause wherein I haue deserued death therefore I require thee humbly to haue pitie and compassion of my Soule and that thou wilt vouchsafe to kéepe and preserue my Husband Huon and my Daughter Clariet Thus as yee haue heard the noble Duchesse Escleremond made her complaints her handes bound and kneeling vppon her knées before the stake abiding for the houre of her death Nowe let vs leaue to speake of this noble Ladie vntill we haue occasion to returne againe and speake of the noble King Oberon and of his companie Chap. CXXXIII ¶ How King Oberon sent twoo of his Knights of the Fayrie that is to saye Mallabron and Gloriand to deliuer the Duchesse Escleremond who should haue been burnt and the three Hundred Prisoners that should haue been hanged who were all deliuered by the sayd Knights NOwe sheweth the Historie that the same day that the Duchesse the faire Ladie Escleremond shoulde haue béene burnt Kinge Oberon of the Fayrie was in his Pallaice of Momur whereas he had holden a great Court and a sumptuous for his Mother the Ladie of the priuie Isle was there and also the noble Quéene Morgueâ—â— say and the Damsell Transeline her Néece with diuers other Ladies of the Fayrie and diuers Knighteâ— of the same making great ioye King Oberon was sitting 〈…〉 throne garnished and bordered with fine gould and precious stones and as hee sat hee fell in a great studie and therewith the droppes of water fell out of his eyes and he began to wéepe and complaine so sore as though he should haue been drowned with droppes of water and when these Quéenes Ladies and Damsels sawe him make such sorrow they had great maruell and there was Gloriand the good Knighte of the Frayrie and Mallabron who were right priuie and wel-beloued with King Oberon and when they saw the Kinge make such sorrow they were sore dismayed and abashed and Sir Gloriand saide Sir what man is liuinge in this world that hath displeased you or done any thing against you Gloriand quoth the Kinge the displeasure that I haue is for the faire Ladie Escleremond wife vnto Duke Huon of Bourdeaux my verie good Fréend she is as now led out of the Citie of Mayence and brought vnto a great fire wherein the Emperour Tirrey will burne her and other three Hundred poore Prisoners to bee hanged and I may not ayd nor succour them and I am right sorrie thereof for the loue of Huon who is as now passed the Sea and is in the way returning home-ward and hee hath had such aduentures that there is no humane bodie could suffer nor beare the paines and trauailes that hee hath endured nor the maruailous aduentures that hee hath borne and he hath had so many Battailes that it were great maruaile and woonderfull to heare them rehearsed And now whereas hee thought to haue had rest and to haue found his Wife the faire Ladie Escleremond aliue who shall now be burnt except shee bee shortly aided and succoured I am sure that hee will die for the sorrowe and griefe that hee will haue at his heart When Gloriand and Mallabron had well hearde and vnderstood Kinge Oberon they kneeled downe before the King and sayde Sir wee desire you to succour this noble Ladie for the loue of her good Husband your deare Fréend Huon Gloriand quoth the noble Kinge Oberon that will I not doe but I am well content that hastely you goe and deliuer the good Ladie and the other Prisoners that be with her and say in my behalfe to the Emperour Tirrey that hee be not so hardy as to doe any ill to the Ladie or to any of her companie but say that I will and commaund that he respite their liues vntill the holy Feast of Easter be passed and that the Ladie and the other Prisoners he cause to be returned againe into the Citie of Mayence and that the Ladie be set in a Chamber at her libertie and pleasure and let her be bathed and washed and newe arrayed and lette her haue foure noble Ladies to seâ—ue and accompanie her and that she haue meat and drinke as good and as plentifull as though she were his owne proper Daughter in like wise lette all the other Prisoners be serued and say that I will and commaund that hée doth thus vntill the time that Easter be passed and shew him that he bee not so hardy to breake or trespasse against my commaundement Then Gloriand and Mallabron tooke leaue of the Kinge and of all other that were there and then they wished themselues in the place whereas the Ladie and the other prisoners were where the Lady as then was vppon her knees before the fire sore wéeping and complayning and abiding the houre of her death the which had beene néere vnto her if she had not béen shortly succoured for they were about to haue bound her to the stake When Gloriand and Mallabron came braying in the ayre like thunder they were not séen of no person but alonely of the Ladie and when they were come and sawe the fire a kindling they tooke the tenne Villaines that would haue cast the Ladie into the fire they tooke them and cast them all Ten into the flaming fire whereas they were shortly burnt and beside them there were diuers other burnt whereof such as were there had so great feare that none durst abide there then the two Knights came to the Ladie and loozed her and sayd Madame be of good comfort wée are two Knights sent hether from king Oberon to succour and to bring you out of the perill and danger that you be in Sirs quoth the Ladie it is not the first time that the noble King Oberon hath succoured vs both mee and my husband God of his grace rewarde him Madame quoth Gloriand bee merrie and make ioy for
durst make no semblance to the contrarie they feared so much to displease him Then they went and tooke the Damsell whereas shee was Sirs quoth shee what will you doe with mee wherefore doe you take mée let mee goe if you will haue any thing with mee shew mée They sayd Damsell speake no more for your end is come you shall neuer see faire day more and when she saw that she was so taken with Tenne men who went threatning to slay her then shee cast out a great crie and desired God to ayd and succour her Then they bound the Damsels handes with a cord in such manner that her white tender skinne burst and they bound her so sore that the bloud dropped out at her nayles Sirs quoth she I crie you mercie little shall you winne to slay mee you shall doe great sin seeing I haue not deserued it Madame quoth they your wordes cannot auaile you the Kinge will not that you shall make auaunt to haue his Sonne in mariage for you shal be drowned in the Sea whether you will or not your wéeping shall not ayd you Then foure Ribaulds tooke and bound her and drew her by the haire of her head and led her toward the Sea-side to haue drowned her but often times it is sayd that which God will haue saued cannot be perished The same season Florence was in the Battaile whereas hee fought with his enemies and Sir Peter of Aragon had taken many Prisoners and hee came vnto Florence and sayd Ah Sir I require you to let vs returne to the Citie and bee content with that you haue done this day for yonder you may sée comming al the whole Hoast of the Nauarnes against whom it is not possible for vs to endure for they are more then thréescore Thousand men and they all hate vs to the death you haue done ynough ought to be content if they take you none can saue your life Coozen quoth Florence I pray you before I depart let mee Iust once with mine Vncle the kinge of Nauarre whome I haue promised to yéeld as Prisoner vnto the king my Father and thereby I shall haue in mariage the faire Damsell my Loue and for the loue of that faire Damsell I shal make many a Nauernoys to loose their liues Sir quoth Peter since you desire your owne death I am right sorrie thereof but I will no longer tarie héere for it is not possible for vs to tarie héere without we will bee slaine wilfully and I haue héere many Prisoners I will go lead them into the Citie and then I shall returne again vnto you to the entent that if either I or you be taken Prisoner by them wee may bee redéemed againe Then Peter went to the Citie with all his Prisoners and when he was come into the Citie hee heard a great noise about the Market place whereof hee had great maruaile and went thether and then hee sawe there foure foule Villaines drawing the faire Damsell Clariet towardes the Sea-side to drowne her When he saw that hee was neuer so sorrowfull in all his life before and incontinent did let goe his Prisoners and drew out his sword and cryed vnto them that led the damsell Ah yée false Théeues let the Damsell go whom I brought from beyond the Sea yée did neuer such folly in all your liues and therewith hée strake the first with his Sword in such sort that his head slewe from his bodie and the second hee claue to the téeth and the third and fourth hee slewe When the faire Ladie saw the Earle Peter right pitifully she beganne to crie and said Sir I require you to haue pitie of me and help and ayde mee as you haue done before this time neither Lorde nor Maister I haue none but you Sir for Gods sake vnbind me and put me out of this paine that I am in Then Peter went to the Damsell and cut the cords asunder wherewith she was bound and for the sorrow that she was in shée fell downe in a swound then Peter tooke her vp and sayde Faire Damsell be of good chéere for I shall helpe to saue you the faire Ladie wept pitiously and sayd to her selfe Ah Huon of Bourdeaux my déere Father the great paines and pouerties that you were woont to suffer you haue left mee now Inheritour to the same alas I know not where you nor my Mother is I beléeue that I shall neuer sée you more Then Peter of Aragon tooke the Damsell by the hand and led her to his lodging in the Town then he went to the Pallaice whereas hee found Kinge Garyn vnto whome he sayd Ah thou old doating foole wherefore or for what cause wouldest thou haue slaine the Damsell and she is none of yours she is mine I wanne her vppon the Sea and saued her life you can make no claime to her Thus as Peter spake to the King there entred into the Pallaice two Knights and they sayd to the King Sir before you is the Earle Peter your Coozen who hath deliuered and rescued the new-found Damsell and hath slaine the Foure men that should haue drowned her in the Sea When King Garyn saw the Earle before him he sayd Why wert thou so hardy as to slay my men for dooing of my commaundement Then hee cried to his men and saide Sirs I charge you take this Villaine héere who hath done mee this offence for I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart vntill I sée him hanged a hye vppon a Rocke Then his men stept forth to haue taken the Earle Peter and when hee sawe that he approached néere vnto him hee drew his sword and claue the head of the first to the téeth and he slew the second third and fourth he beat downe more to the earth then the other that fled away so that there was none that durst approach néere vnto him for they were all vnarmed and hee well armed then hée came to the King and sayd Ah thou false old Dotard full of sin and out-rage how dare you thinke to bee such an out-rage you are not worthy to beare a crown your Sonne Florence ought to haue it for a Traytour ought to hould no Realme full déerely you shall abuy the ill will of the Damsell and the more to make him abashed hee made semblance to runne vppon the King with his sword who for feare of him ran into his Chamber and shut fast the dore after him and the Earle Peter standing without sore threatned the king then the King said Coozen Peter I crye you mercie if I haue done euill I am readie to make amendes at your pleasure I was sore displeased with my Sonne and therefore I thought to be reuenged vpon her that hath caused all this I shall make amendes but by the grace of God my Sonne shall neuer haue her in marriage to die therefore I will neuer consent that a new-found Damsell should bée Inheritour of such a Kingdome as the Realme of Aragon is Then Sir
to him accompanied with a Thousand knights when he was come hee saluted king Huon and saide Sir you are welcome into my Countrey of Aragon the which I offer you to doe therewith at your pleasure and Sir all that you haue commaunded mee to doe by your twoo knightes I am readie to accomplish and there hee shewed to king Huon all weeping the occasion of the warre and of his Sonne Florence who for the loue of a new-found Damsell was put in prison whereof he repented him for he sayd that there was not a fairer Damsell in the world and for the loue of her Florence my Sonne is departed from mee and I thinke I shall neuer sée him more Kinge Garyn quoth Huon knowe for troth that shortly you shall sée them both come hether to me for I will marrie them together the Damsell is my Daughter and her name is Clariet and I will you know that she is noble and yssued of a royall Lineage there is none more noble in this Countrey and she hath bought her desteny right déerely When king Garyn knew that the noble Damsell was Daughter to king Huon and that he would make a marriage betwéene her and his Sonne Florence that they should come thether shortly he was neuer so ioyfull in all his life before then hee knéeled downe before kinge Huon and cryed him mercie and saide Ah Sir how may it be that in my olde dayes such a grace may come to me as to haue againe my déere Sonne and that the noble Damsell whome I haue done so much ill vnto shall bee his wife Then Kinge Huon rose vp and said Noble king haue no doubt but that you shall haue your Sonne for I cannot so soone wish for him but they shall be both here wheresoeuer they bee in the worid whereof all they that were present had great maruaile Sir quoth the Quéene Escleremond when shall the houre come that I may sée my Daughter Clariet and Sir you knowe well that I came hether with you for none other cause Madame quoth Huon you shall sée her shortly Chap. CLXII ¶ How Florence and Clariet arriued there with their company and came to king Huon and of the great ioy that was made at their comming and how there they were wedded together and the Peace confirmed betweene the two Kinges WHen King Huon sawe the Quéene his wife weepe his heart tendred and sayde Ah my déere Daughter Clariet great pitie I haue of you and of Florence the hardy I wish you both and all your companie here at the Port on the Sea-side as richly apparelled as euer was Quéene or Prince departing out of their house to bée maried and that with you there bee Ladies and Damsels richly apparelled of the fairest that be in my Realme of the Fayrey he had no sooner made his wish but that Shippes and Galleys arriued at the Port and anon Florence Clariet were in the Meadow richly accompanied with Trumpets Harps Viols and Lutes and all other Instruments the which sounded so melodiously that it seemed to all the hearers that they were rauished into Paradise and also there were Ladies and Damsels and knightes of the Fayrey singing right sweetely the hearers thought them to bee Angels of Paradice and they were apparelled richly and garnished with precious stones so that with the Sun shining vppon them they glittered in such wise that whosoeuer had seene them would haue thought that God and all the Court of Paradice had been there assembled Thus Florence came with 3 Thousand men making great ioy After him came riding the faire Clariet vpon a rich Palfray ambling so freshly garnished and richly apparelled that in all the world there was none such the armour hanging full of siluer bels making so swéet a noise that it was maruaile to heare them if I should discribe the beautie riches that was on her Palfrey it would be too long to rehearse This Ladie Clariet was accompanied with two notable Ladies of the Fayrey the one was Morgue and the other Glorianda who came singing after Clariet then after came the Lady Transelina with many Damsels of the Fayrey great ioy there was made and then king Huon sayd to Escleremond his Wife Madame it is time that you depart for yonder I see comming toward vs my Daughter Clariet and Florence When Escleremond heard that she was right ioyfull for the great desire that she had so see her Daughter the Queene went forth nobly accompanied Then king Huon and the other twoo kings with all their companies with banners displayed with great ioy and triumph went to meet Florence and Clariet ye may well thinke that king Garyn had great ioy of the comming of his Sonne and sawe such an assembly meet there together to receiue him that he deuoutly thanked our Lord God Thus these kinges and Princes went to meete these twoo young persons richly accompanied and great ioye had Clariet when she saw the Quéene her mother before her and she wept for inward ioy that she had when the Queen saw her daughter she embraced and kissed her often times and of a great season none of them could speake to other for ioy then King Huon came tooke his Daughter out of the Quéenes armes and kissed her more then twentie times Then king Garyn came vnto Florence and sayd Déere Sonne I haue much trespassed against you in that wrongfully I put you into my prison and I complaine greatly to you of your Vncle the kinge of Nauarre who hath wasted your Countrey Sir quoth Florence I require you to pardon mine Vncle it is reason that I should bee content that peace be made betwéen you and Sir I desire you to giue mee this Damsell in mariage Sonne quoth Garyn be in suertie that you shall haue her and none other for a more noble Lady cannot bee found in Tenne Realmes Sir quoth Florence I thanke you and thus these Twoo companies ioyned together and the Kinge of Nauarre came to his Nephewe Florence and embraced him sayd Faire Nephewe of your returne I am right ioyfull Sir quoth he I am well pleased with the peace that is made betwéene my Father and you Thus they road vntill they came to the Tents and there alighted then king Huon called the other two kinges and said Sirs how say you will yée abide by mine aduise and put into my handes the discord that hath béene betweene you they answeared that they were content to doe as hee woulde haue them Then kinge Huon sayde Sirs then my will is that peace and accord be betweene you and all yours and they liberally agréed thereto whereof kinge Huon was ioyfull Then king Huon desired Florence to shew his aduenture and how he was rescued by Sorbarre Then Florence shewed al his aduentures and the other kinges were right ioyfull to heare it and all other that heard it did greatly praise Sorbarre for his déede and much honoured him and made him
you shoulde not bee worthy to sitte in a royall Chaire and you ought to bee the mirrour and example to other men how they should liue will you then breake the Lawe that God hath giuen vs put from you that crueltie you shall find no man that will praise you in so doing or thinking When the king heard Sorbarre hee beheld him angerly and said Sorbarre know for troth but that I hold my selfe much bound vnto you I would strike off your head and there is no man that speaketh to the contrarie but I shall put him to death Then all the Lords together saide to the king Sir doe as you please Sorbarre hath sayd as a noble man ought to doe for if you doe otherwise you are not worthy to beare a Crowne and so held their peace they durst speake no more for feare of him and also because they thought surely that the Diuell was within him to motion any such matter When the king heard the will of his Lordes he sent for his Daughter hastely who came with a smiling countenance not knowing of the vnreasonable will of the king her Father and when she came before him she knéeled downe the king tooke her vp and set her betwéene his armes and kissed her more then Twentie times The Ladie knewe nothing of her Fathers intention none otherwise but that shee thought hee did it but as a Father ought to doe with his Child then the Lordes sayd softly one to another Oh vnhappie King his thoughts bée farre vnlike to his Daughters for if she were here alone he would dishonour her although she be his owne Daughter The King séeing his Daughter I de so excellent faire he sayd to himselfe that without hee hadde his Daughter in marriage he should die with rage and the King beheld her and made her to sit downe by him and sayd My déere Daughter you are as an Orpheling on the Mothers side wherefore I haue great pitie of you that you haue lost her and you resemble so much your Mother that I thinke when I sée you in the face that I sée her before mee and therefore I loue you the better and for this cause it is my will to take you to my Wife for I will haue none other in mariage Chap. CLXV ¶ Of the great sorrow that the Damsell I de made when she heard her Father how he would haue her in mariage and how by the means of a noble Lady and Sorbarre she departed at midnight and went at the aduenture that God would send her WHen the Damsell heard her Father her fresh red colour became pale and wanne and she cast downe her lookes to the earth sayd Ah my right déere Father take héede what you say for if you be heard of them that bee héere present you shall bee greatly blamed Then the Damsell would haue risen vp to haue gone from her Father but the King tooke her by the hand and sayd My Daughter make no daunger nor refuse to follow my will for you slay me for the loue that I beare you then all the Lords knéeled downe before the King and held vp their handes and desired the King for his owne wealth and honour that he would haue pitie of himselfe and of his Daughter and that he would neuer thinke to doe such a déede for if he did hée should neuer be set by after When the king heard his Lords and how they reasoned with him to haue turned his mind hee answeared as a man full of villany and yre and saide that in despight of them all and whether they would or not he would haue her to his Wife and that if there were any so hardy as to speake to him to the contrarie hee woulde cause them to die a shamefull death and he sore rebuked them When the Damsell heard her Father to speake vnto the Lordes and Knightes then she saw well the inordinate loue of her Father and she began to wéepe and sayd Oh good God I shall be shamed and lost for euer if he take me to his Wife for both of vs cannot escape without damnation then shee thought within her selfe that if she could in any wise escape she would flye away so far off that there should neuer any tidings be heard of her Then the Kinge sent her into her Chamber with her Maydens who were sorrowfull and discomforted when they heard of that matter for the King had commaunded them to kéepe her well and to ordaine a rich bed for her because the next day hée would marrie her When the Damsell I de was in her chamber she called to her an ancient Ladie who had béene her Mistresse and then she auoided all other out of her Chamber and made semblance to sléepe and when she saw that al other were gone she knéeled downe and held vp both her hands before the Ladie and all wéeping sayde Ah my right déere Ladie and Mistresse I come to you as a poore Orpheling without Father or Mother my Mother is dead as you know well but he that should bee my Father would bee my Husband the which is a thing that the earth ought not to beare nor sustaine them that woulde liue in such manner and therefore déere Mistresse counsaile and ayd this poore discomforted Orpheling and help me that I may bee out of the sight of him that ought to bee my Father for I had rather goe into some farre Countrey there to liue in pouertie then to end my dayes with him in doing of such a déede and at the end to bee damned and lost When the olde Ladie who was right noble and sage heard the pitifuâ—l complaint of the Damsell Ide whome shee had nourished and brought vp she answeared and sayd My right déere daughter for the great loue that I beare you I shall ayde and counsaile you and bring you out of this doubt as sometime did my Brother Peter of Aragon to the Ladie Clariet your Mother hée rescued her out of the hands of the Sarazins when she was in ieopardie of her life for all your Father I shall not let to aide you When the Damsell I de heard the good will of the Ladie how shee would ayd her all wéeping shee kissed her and sayd Ah my right deere Mother the goodnes that you doe to me God reward you for it for it lyeth not in me then the old Ladie yssued out of her Chamber and left the Ladie I de verie pensiue and went into Sorbarres Chamber who was as then in the Pallaice for he was one of the kinges priuie Counsaile and when he came to his Chamber and found the Ladie there he demanded what aduenture had brought her thether the Ladie drewe him apart and shewed him the request and prayer of the Damsell Ide whereof Sorbarre for the great pitie hée had of her began to weepe and auoided his Chamber the better to speake with the Ladie at his ease and they deuised together of diuers things and at last
may bee to your pleasure Daughter Oliue quoth the Emperour for the loue of you I haue entertained this Squier to serue you Father quoth Oliue I thanke you for it séemeth that hee is come of a good Stocke and I had no Seruant a great season that better contented me then the Emperour sayd vnto Ide My Freend serue me well behold héere my Daughter whom I loue entirely and to whom I deliuer you to serue her I haue no moe Children but shee and therefore serue her truely as a man ought to doe that is come of such a Lineage as you are if you serue her well and truely you had neuer in all your life so good aduenture Sir quoth Ide I shall doe so much that by the grace of God you and shee shall bée well content and Sir there is nothing lightly but I can doe it to serue a noble man and in the warre I shall defend my selfe I trust aswell as another and also I can serue at a Table before a King or Quéene Fréend quoth the Emperour if you can doe thus as you say you are welcome hether and you shall fare the better and I am ioyfull of your comming to serue me you shall neuer haue néede to goe out of my seruice When Ide heard the Emperour shee humbly thanked him and thus was Ide entertained with the Emperor whereas she did so much by her good seruice that the Emperor his daughter and all they of the Court loued and praised her and the Damsell Oliue often times gladly regarded Ide and began in her heart sore to loue her and Ide who perceiued her prayed our Lord God that he would so deale that shée bee not accused neither of man nor woman Shée gaue almes often times to poore men and she visited gladly the holy Church she demeaned her selfe in such wise that of euerie man she was beloued praised often times shee prayed to God for King Florence her Father although she was chased and fled out of her Countrey by his occasion and cause yet shee alwaies prayed to God that she might be agréed with him Thus this Damsell I de was in this danger seruing the Emperour and his Daughter Oliue the space of two Moneths and on a day she was in the Pallaice with the Emperour and thether came in great hast a Messenger and came and saluted the Emperour and sayd Sir knowe for troth that the Kinge of Spaine with great puissance is entred into your Empire of Rome and wasteth all before him with fire and sword many a Romane he hath slaine and he hath sworne by his Law that before a moneth bee passed hee will bee within your Cittie of Rome with all his puissance and hee sayth that hee will haue his pleasure of your Daughter and to make you to die a shamful death because you haue refused to giue him your Daughter in mariage Sir it had béen better for you that he had maried your Daughter then so many men should haue béene slaine so many Townes burnt and destroyed and Castles beaten downe Sir goe quickely against him and defend your Coūtrey or else you shall sée him shortly pitch vp his Tents Pauillions before this City When the Emperour heard the messenger he studied a great season and looked vpon Ide and said Fréend counsaile mee for I thought full little that these men of warre would haue come vppon me and nowe they wast and destroy my Land Sir quoth Ide trouble not your selfe for it comfort your selfe and reioice your Lordes and Seruants and lette mee haue men to fight with them and I will looke vppon them before they come any néerer and by the grace of God I shall cause them to buy déerely the destruction that they haue made in your Countrey if God saue my life my sword hold When the Emperour heard the valiant courage of Ide he praised her much in his heart and sayd Fréend your reason pleaseth mee well and therefore I shall doe you that honour as to make you a Knight whereby your Prowesse and hardinesse shall increase Sir quoth Ide of the honour that you will doe to me I am right ioyfull and I thanke you thereof then the Emperor came vnto Ide and guirt about him a good sword and a rich it was so good that there was none like it in goodnes neither sharper nor harder and then the Emperour gaue her the necke-stroake of Knighthood and sayd Ide remember this order the which you haue receiued this day and I pray God that it may be to the increase of your honour and eue◠beware that your thoughts be not light nor wauering but rather sage discréet and temperate and bee hardy in Battaile and cast away from you all feare and when you haue wonne any goods or riches kéepe them not locked in your Coffers but distribute them to poore Knightes the which shall increase and exalt your honour and alwaies loue the holy Church if you do thus you cannot faile to come to great honour and euer shew your vertue against your enemies Sir quoth Ide by the grace of God I shall so doe and there is no Spaniard but that shall wish himselfe to be on the other side of the Sea then euerie man arrayed them in the Pallaice and in the Cittie then Trumpets Drummes and Hornes beganne to sound in the Citie so that all the Chiualrie and Communaltie of the Citie were ready armed then they came all before the Pallaice and presented themselues to the Emperor who did command them that day to follow and obey the commaundement of Ide whom he committed that day to doe and be as chéefe Captaine said Sirs looke that you doe as much for him as you would doe for me and yée know well that I am old and féeble and can beare armour no longer nor I am not able to ride as I might haue done before this time wherefore I desire you and also commaund you all on paine of your liues to doe euerie thing as he commaundeth in stead of mee aswell as though I did commaund you in mine owne person for hee that doth the contrarie he shall lose his head without any other redemption Then they all said they would so doe since it was his pleasure Then the noble Emperor caused Ide to be richly armed and then deliuered him his owne horse who was so good that his like could not be found in any Countrey then I de mounted vp quickly with helmet shéeld and a good Speare and I de tooke leaue of the Emperor and of the Ladie Oliue so road through the Citie of Roome with all his Hoast when they were without the Citie I de ordained Thrée Battailes the two first battailes were ledde by twoo great Lordes and the Third Ide did guide and thus with banners displayed they aduaunced foorth towards their enemies The Spaniards thought surely that all had been theirs because they saw of all the way that they had come no
in great feare and as much as he might he drew backe from the King and was greatly agreeued for that he had slayne the Kings Sonne not knowing him And blame him not to be much troubled in mind when he sawe no man that appertained to him to ayd him or to maintaine his right but onely the good Abbot of Cluny his Vnckle who could giue him none other ayd but with his words yet he tooke on him courage and right humbly said to the King My Lord I require your grace touch me not but know for troth he that lyeth there dead before you I slewe him in my defence and not knowing that he was your Sonne Charlot for if I had known him I would in no wise haue touched him and you may well know my Lord if I had knowne that it had béene he I would not haue come to you for rescue I would rather haue fled away so farre that no man should haue heard any tydings of me therefore for Gods sake I require you as heartily as I can let mee haue right I submit my bodie to abide the iudgment of your noble Péeres if it can be prooued that I slew Charlot knowing him to be your Son then my Lord let me haue a shamfull death then all the Peeres Barons being there said with a hye voyce how he had spoken reasonably and that if Earle Amerie would any thing say to the contrarie it was time then to speake and to shewe it Chap. XI ¶ How the Traytour Earle Amerie charged Huon before the Emperour that he trayterously with treason pretended had slayne the Kinges Sonne and in that quarrell he appealed Huon to battaile WHEN the King had heard Huon speake he beheld Duke Naymes and desired him to giue his aduice My Lord quoth the Duke I can say none other thing vnto you but as I sayd before demaunde Earle Amerie why he led forth your Sonne all armed and kept the ambushment in the wood to set vpon the two Brethren or else what was it that hee sought for there Then Earle Amerie said My Lord I shall shew you the troth and if I doe otherwise let me dye a shamefull death True it is this night passed your Son sent for me desiring me to ryde with him on hawking and I desired him to abide vntill the morning but he said that he would néeds go afore night then I graunted to goe with him so that he would ryde armed for I doubted the men of Arden to the entent that if we met with any of them wee might be able to resist them and so we did thus we road out of this towne and came into a little wood and there we cast off our Hawkes and there we lost one of them and therewith the same way came the Children of Duke Seuin and there we saw Huon the eldest who is héere present who had taken vp our Hauke your Sonne came in courteous maner vnto him and desired him to render againe his Hauke but the Traytour would not in no wise then Gerard the yonger brother came to your Son and they stroue so together that your Sonne stroke him then Huon without any word speaking lifted vp his sword and so villaynously slew your Sonne then hée and his Brother ranne away so fast that we could not ouer-take them whereof we were sory Thus he knew well your Sonne and he slewe him and if he will say to the contrarie heere is my Gage which I present héere before you and if hée be so hardy as to take it vp I shall make him confesse ere it be night that it is true that I haue said and this I will prooue with my bodie against his Chap. XII ¶ How the Abbot of Cluny would prooue that the saying of Earle Amerie was false and vntrue and how the Earle did cast his Gage against Huon who tooke it vp AFter that Earle Amerie had ended his tale the Abbot of Cluny stept forth and said to the King My Lord you neuer heard so false a tale before as this Traytor Amerie hath sayd for I and foure more of my Monks being Priests here present are readie to sweare and take our solempne oathes that the saying of this Traytour is false and therefore there ought no Gage to be laid in that cause séeing there is true witnesse of the matter Abbot quoth the King the witnesse is to be beléeued Sir Amerie how say you thereto My Lord quoth he I would be loath to speake against the Abbot but the troth is as I haue sayd the Abbot may say as it please him but if Huon be so hardie to deny this that I haue said before you let him come into the field against me and before it be night I shall cause him to confesse it openly When the Abbot heard this he grew offended and looking stearnly vpon Huon sayd Faire Nephew offer your gage for the right is with thée and if thou be vanquished in this quarell if euer I returne into mine Abbey there is no Saint in my Church but I shall with a staffe beat and breake them alâ— to peeces for if God will suffer such a wrong I shall giue such strâ—akes vpon the shryne of Saint Peter that I shall leaue neither gould nor precious stone whole together Vnckle quoth Huon God will I shall not let to take vp his gage for I shall prooue that falsly and vntruly Sir Amerie lyeth as an euill and a false Traytour and shall make him to confesse that I neuer knew that he that I flew was the Kinges Sonne Then the King said that Huon must giue hostage My Lord quoth Huon you shall haue my Brother I cannot deliuer you any that is so néere or deare to me as he is for héere I haue neyther Coozen nor Kinsman that will lay in hostage for mée Faire Nephew quoth the Abbot say not so for I and my Monkes will be pledges for you and if any thing should fall vnto you otherwise then well which God forbid then shame haue King Charlemaine without hée hang vppon gallowes both me and all my Monkes Go too Abbot quoth the King you say ill for I would neuer doe that then sayd the King to Amerie bring in pledges for your part The Traytour answeared My Lord héere be two of my Nephewes shall be pledges for me I am content quoth the King vppon this condition that if thou be vanquished or discomfited I shall cause them to dye an euill death Then the pledges sayd that they would be no pledges vpon that condition let other be pledges who would but they said if the king would take them on the loosing of their Lands they were content and the King graunted them Chap. XIII ¶ How those two Champions came into the feeld whereas they should fight accompanied with their freends THus as ye haue heard both parties deliuered pledges then the King to be in the more suertie put them both in a Tower vntill the day
you such newes that all that bee in your Court will be sorrowfull much more my self Gerard quoth Charles come to the point vse no more such language nor such ceremonies by that I sée in you it is but euill that you will say Sir quoth hee but late as I was in my house at Bourdeaux and with me diuers Lords and Knights as we were deuising together I saw my Brother Huon enter into my house and thrée with him the one was a yong damosell and the other an old man called Gerames When Duke Naymes of Bauyer heard Gerard he had great maruaile when he sayd that Gerames was one of them and sayd Ah deere God I heare that which with great paine I can beleeue for if it be the same Gerames that I thinke it be he and I were companions together at a tourney holden at Chalons in Champanie where he slew by misaduenture the Earle Salamon Sir quoth Gerard I shall shew you as I haue begunne true it is when I saw my brother Huon I was greatly abashed howbeit I did him honour and made him good cheere and made him and all his companie to dine then after dinner I reasoned with my brother and demaunded of him if he had beene at the holy Sepulcher of our Lord God But when hee saw that I demaunded that of him he was sore abashed so that hee wist not what to answere and then I perceiued by his words that hee had not beene there And then Sir after I demaunded of him if hee had furnished your message to the Admirall Gaudys but hee could giue me no answere nor say any words that I could beléeue and when I saw that I could find no truth in any of his words I tooke him and set him in prison howbeit it was full sore against my will but I considered in my selfe that I must owe vnto your grace faith fidelitie and that I am your man and that for no man liuing though he were neuer so néere of my kinne yet I would not be found with any treason and therefore Sir my Brother his wife and his Companion I haue retained them in my prison wherefore Sir it is in you to doe herein what it shall please you best When all the Princes and Lords that were there vnderstood the words of Gerard and that he had taken his Brother Huon and had put him in prison there were none but that were sorry thereof and many for the loue that they bare to Huon began to wéepe and demaunded of Gerard who had done that déed saying surely it is done by some manner of treason Chap. LXX ¶ How the King commaunded that Huon should be sent for from Bourdeaux to the intent that he should die WHen the Emperour Charlemaine vnderstood Gerard he arose vp on his féet sore troubled and full of yre for by Gerardes wordes the ancient hate and displeasure that the King had to Huon for the death of Charlot his sonne was renewed in his heart and said openly that euery man might heare him Lordes that be héere present before you all I summon them that were Pledges for Huon in such wise that if the Traitour Huon be not rendred into my hands to doe with him my pleasure I shall cause thē to be hanged drawne and there is no man in my court that may be so hardy as to speake or desire the contrarie but I shall cause him to die a shamefull death And when he had thus said he sate him downe againe and called Duke Naymes to him and said Sir Duke ye haue heard what Gerard hath sayd of his brother Huon Sir quoth the Duke I haue well heard him but I beléeue the matter to be otherwise then hee hath sayd for there is no man will say the contrarie but that all that Gerard hath sayd is done by false treason and you shall finde it so if the matter be wisely enquired of Sir quoth Gerard you may say as it pleaseth you but I take God to witnesse and my father in Law Gibouars and this good notable religious Abbot and his Chaplaine that all that I haue sayd is true for I would not for any thing say that which is not iust and true Then Gibouars and the Abbot his Chaplaine answered and said how it was true that Gerard had sayd By my faith quoth the Duke Naymes all you foure are false lyars and theeues and the King is ill counselled if he beléeue you Naymes quoth the King I pray you how seemeth it vnto you this matter betwéen the two brethren Sir quoth the Duke it is a great matter he that is here before you is the accuser of his brother and hath set him in prison now he is come and accuseth him here before you because hee knoweth well he cannot come hither to defend himselfe I should do a great euil déed if I had a brother that were banished out of France and if hee came to mee for refuge and I then to take him and set him fast in prison in mine owne house and then after to goe and complaine vpon him to the intent to purchase his death I say there was neuer Noble man would thinke so to doe and they that haue done thus are all false Traytours all Noble men ought not to beléeue any such and specially he that will purchase such a deede against his owne brother I know well al that they haue imagined and done is by false treason therfore I say according to the right that all foure are false Traytours and I iudge for my part that they are worthie to receiue a villanous death for they are foure false witnesses When Gerard heard Duke Naymes he changed colour and waxed as white as snow repenting in himselfe the déede that he had done to his brother hee cursed to himselfe Gybouars in that hee beleeued his counsell yet hee answered Duke Naymes and sayd Ah Sir ye doe me great ill to owe me your ill will Gerard quoth the Duke it is for the ilnesse that is in you ye that would be one of the Peeres of France certainly of such a Councellor as you bée the King hath litle néede I had rather haue lost one of my hands then I should once haue consented thereto Duke Naymes quoth the King I will you cause to come before me all such as were pledges for Huon at his departing Then the Duke caused them to appeare before the Kings presence of whom there were diuers Dukes and Earles Then King Charlemaine sayd Sirs ye know well yee bee pledges for Huon of Bourdeaux and you know the paine that I laide on your heades if Huon did not accomplish my message that I gaue him in charge the which hee hath not fulfilled wherefore without you deliuer Huon into my handes yee shall not escape but that ye shall die all Sir quoth Duke Naymes for Gods sake I require you beleeue me at this time I counsell you to take a good number of your notable
Emperour was about to doe nor that hee was in the woode abydinge there for Huon That night Huon and his companie were at Coleyne making good chéere and the next morning they heard seruice then they mounted on their horses issued out of the towne they were to the number of thurteene Thousand hardy fighting men and when they were out in the feelds Huon like a good man of warre said Sirs I desire you let vs keepe together and ride like men of warre to the entent that we be not suddainly taken and so they did the day was faire and cleare they might well be perceiued a farre off as they were by the Emperour of Almaine who lay enambushed for Huon the Emperour espied them firste and sayde to his companie Sirs yonder a farre off I sée many people comming towarde vs they séeme vnto mée men well expert in armes neuer beléeue me but they be Frenchmen and he that is their Captaine is Huon of Bourdeaux he is not come hether like a small Personage but he is highly accompanied like a great and mightie Prince I sée well he is valiant by that he hath done hee is so noble hardy that none may be compared to him you haue well séene howe that hee all alone came into my Pallaice and there slewe my Nephew Duke Raoul wherewith my heart is in great displeasure hee is greatly to bee doubted for without God helpe vs wee shall haue ynough to doe with him would to God that hee and I were at accordment and agréed for he is so noble and so valiant that he feareth no man You haue well séen since he departed from Mayence he hath slaine more then fortie of my men and hath borne me to the earth and he hath taken from me my good horse whereby he may be wel assured that there is no man shall take him if he be vppon his backe howbeit we must set vpon him for my heart shall neuer be in ease as long as he liueth therefore Sirs I desire you euerie man this day shew the loue that you beare vnto me and the sauegard of your liues for to fly away auaileth not therefore Sirs set on together and doe so that wee may haue the first aduantage Chap. LXXXIIII ¶ Of the great Battaile within two Leagues of Coleyn between the Emperor of Almaine and Huon of Bourdeaux and of the Truce that was taken betweene them HVon who roade before his Barons deuising with old Gerames regarded on his right hand towards the litle wood and he saw in the wood great clearenesse by reason of the Sunne shining on the healmes and on the speares poynts whereby he perceiued plainely that there was much people hidden in the wood hee shewed them to Gerames and to his other companie and sayd Sirs bee in a surety that without battaile we cannot scape héere is the Emperour who lyeth in waite for vs. I desire you let vs doe so that hee shall haue no cause to make any auaunt of vs yonder you may sée them how they set themselues in order to abide vs therefore let vs quickly sette on them and so they did in such wise that with the very running of their horses the earth trembled and the sunne lost his light by reason of the powder that rose vp into the ayre from both parts Huon who ranne before on his puissant horse behelde Godun who was formost in his companie hee ranne at him with a strong speare so that he ranne him cleane through the body so that hee fell downe to the earth and with the same speare Huon met Crassyn Polinger who bare the Emperors banner Huon strake him so fiercely that he bare horse and man and banner all to the ground whereof the Almaines and Bauiers were sorrowfull Huon did so much ere his speare was broken that he first bare fiue to the earth so that they had no power after to reléeue themselues there were many speares broken and many a knight borne to the earth and there dyed among the horse féete for the father could not helpe the sonne nor the sonne could not helpe the father and many a horse ranne abrode in the field and their Maisters lying dead in the bloud and myre Huon who rode about in the battaile slaying and wounding his enemies behelde on his right side and saw the Earle Sauary slaying many of them of Bourdeaux Ah good Lord quoth Huon if yonder knight raigne long he shall doe me great damage Then hée rode to him and gaue him such a stroke with his sword so that he strake off his shoulder and arme so rudely that it fell vpon the earth so that for the great paine that the Earle Sauary endured he fell from his horse and there was slaine among the horse féete whereof the Emperour who was there by right sorrowfull when he saw another of his nephewes slaine and sayd Ah Huon of God bee thou cursed since thou hast slaine so many of my friends I shall neuer haue ioy in my heart till I haue thée in my hands to hang thée Sir quoth Huon ere you haue taken me you are like to loose more of your friendes and beware of your selfe that you come not into my handes by your nephew Raoull yee haue all this damage who by his falsenesse thought to haue betrayed me and to haue had my wife if I haue slaine your nephewes and your men I haue doone it in defending mine owne body I say to you if you bee not well aware of me I shall bring you to the poynt that it shall be hard for you to be carried away in a litter Huon quoth the Emperor the great hate that I haue to thée for the death of my nephewes makes me féele much dolour at my heart that I had rather die then that I should not bee reuenged of thée therefore beware thou of mée for I shall neither eate nor drinke till I haue thée either quicke or dead Then they two went backe to take their course together but ere they met the Almaynes came running thether for the feare that they had of loosing their Emperour and on the other part came thither the olde Gerames who fought so fiercely that whomsoeuer he strake with a full stroke had no neede of any Surgion and his companie fayled not for their parts and Huon with his good sword opened the thick prease so that the Almaynes greatly doubâ—ed him Huon with his noble chiualrie caused his enemies to recule backe halfe a bowes shoote Then there was a knight of Almain saw well that without some remedie were found the Emperour and his companie were like to be slaine he went out of the battell as priuily as he could and ranne on the spurres and rested not till hee came to Coleyn where incontinent he rode to the Prouosts house and found him in his house newly reine from masse then the Knight sayd to him Sir Prouost if euer you will sée the Emperour aliue cause the commons of this
Citie to be armed and come and succour the Emperour hastily for when I came from him he had great neede of ayde there is Huon of Bourdeaux who hath slayne thrée of his nephewes and this other day he was lodged in this Citie the Emperour knoweth well that you knew nothing thereof for Huon had lodged his men in the suburbs and in other little houses because hee would not be perceiued Syr Prouost make haste in this businesse When the Prouost heard what daunger the Emperour was in he sounded the watch bell and made to be cryed in euery stréete that euery man that was able to beare armes should arme them and goe out into the field to succour the Emperour who was in great daunger of his life When the Bourgesses of the towne heard that crie euery man armed them as well as they could some were harnessed behind and some in a Iacke all smoked and with staues and other weapons what a foote and a horse backe there went out of the Citie twentie thousand men if you had séene the horsemen you would haue laught at them for it séemed they were set on horse backe in despite there was neuer séene so rude a companie it was no maruaile for they were not accustomed to ryde in harnesse The Prouost went before and exhorted them to doe their deuoirs so they tooke their way to come to the battaile whereas Huon and his companie did part of their willes and the Emperour séeing that he began to loose his men and place hee rode searching in the battaile for Duke Huon whereas he found by aduenture Huon who had then newly slaine by aduenture the Emperours Seneschall When that the Emperour sawe him slaine he was right sorrowfull and in a great rage he cryed to Huon and saydâ— Thou knight that neuer art satisfied to shedde the bloud of my men to abate my linage and force I pray thée turne thy shield vnto mee for if thou knewest the great hate that I beare thée thou wouldst neuer appeare before me Sir quoth Huon I maruell that you so sorely hate me haue tarryâ—d so long for reueÌ„ge therfore beware for if I can I wil send you after your Nephewes whome yée say that yée loue so well They tooke their course with great and rude speares and so came together like the tempest and met so rudely that the buckles of their Armour all to brast and the Emperours speare brake all to péeces but Huons speare was bigge and strong therewith he strake the Emperour with such puissance that his speare ranne through his shoulder so that the Emperour fell to the earth so rudely that with the fall he brake the bone of his thigh whereby he was in such dolour that he swounded And when Huon saw him lye on the ground hee came to him with his swoord in his hand and would haue slaine him if he had not béene succoured but there came so many Almaines that whether Huon would or not they tooke the Emperour and bare him out of the field and laid him in the wood and then demaunded of him how he did Sirs quoth he I am sore hurt for my thigh is broken whereby I endure more gréefe than I can abide but as for death I trust by the grace of god I shall escape it When they heard that they were all ioyfull and said Sir know for troth that your men are sore discomfited for they be so sore oppressed by Huon and his men that wée feare all your men will be slaine wée will goe againe to the battaile and leaue some with you to looke vnto your Maiestie Well quoth the Emperour but your force nor your defence cannot auaile you any thing against Huon nor against his men But I shall shew you what yée shall doe yée shall send quickly to Huon and desire him in my name to cease slaying of my men and that there may be a truce had betwéene him and me for the space of halfe a yéere for within that time I hope to finde some other treatie that hee and I might be friendes and if he refuse this then I see none other remedie but that wée shall be all slaine or taken and then he will cause me to die in some noysome prison Sir quoth his knights we shall doe your commaundement but we feare sore that we shall not be heard Sirs quoth the Emperour goe to him and doe the best yée can Then they returned to the battaile whereas they founde their companie readie to flie away for they were neere all slaine and taken the Knights from the Emperour came to Huon and desired him in the name of the Emperour that he would cease the battaile and sound the treatie and they would do likewise in the same manner and that there might be a firme truce betweene them for halfe a yeere and in that season they trusted that some good wayes would be found that the Emperour and hee might be good friendes together Sirs quoth Huon if the Emperour your Master had mee in that danger which he is in hee would not suffer me to scape aliue for all the gold in the world howbeit I am content that he haue truce for halfe a yeere the which I shall surely kéepe on my part and if I be assayled I shall defend mee and if so be that hee come to Bourdeaux to assayle mee by the helpe of God and my good friendes I shall doe the best that I can But if he will haue peace with mee and pardon mee his displeasure for the death of his nephewes I shall be readie to make peace and I shall make amends for al wrongs though I was not the beginner Then Huon caused the retrait to bee sounded and in likewise so did the Almaynes who had thereof great ioy it came to them at a good poynt for else all had béene slaine or foyled When he had the vpper hand now that he pursued still his chase for then he might haue had an end of that warre and neither shield nor speare more broken whereas after many a man was slaine and was the cause that the Citie of Bourdeaux was lost and the fayre Escleremond taken and set in prison in the Citie of Mayens and Huon suffered so much paine and trouble that no mortall man can shewe it Thus as you haue heard Huon granted the truce and so both parts withdrew whereof the Emperour and his companie were right ioyfull Then Huon called his companie and shewed Gerames and his Lords how he had graunted truce to the Emperour for halfe a yeere and therefore I charge you all not to breake the peace the Emperour was glad when hee heard it for he knew well hee had scaped a great daunger Then he charged all his men on paine of death that they should not breake the truce And Sirs quoth he I pray you make readie a litter that I may be carried to Coleyne for the paine that I féele in my legges causeth all my bodie