were woont to bée yée may well sée by these two Brethren the strife that is betwéene them is foule and dishonest wée should doe well if we could find the meanes by any manner of wayes to appease them and therefore I counsaile let vs all together goe to the King and desire him to haue mercie pitie of both these twoo Brethren and that it might please him to appease them renâ—er to Huon all his Landes and if wee could bring it to this point it should bée a good déede as to accord them together Chap. LXXIII ¶ How the Peeres layd all the deede vppon Duke Naymes to giue the iudgement vpon him But for all that euer he could say or doe the King iudged Huon to die AFter that the Earle of Flanders had spoken the Earle of Chalons rose vp and said My Lord of Flanders your reason is good and you haue spoken like an Noble man but I know surely that the King will doe nothing at our desires But Sirs if ye thinke it good let vs all put the whole matter vpon Duke Naymes of Bauyer and all that hee will say let vs agrée thereto then all the Lords accorded together and sayd how the Earle of Chalons had sayd right well Then they came to Duke Naymes and desired him that he would take the charge of that matter vpon him and whatsoeuer he did they were all agreed thereto when the Duke heard them he stood still a certaine space and beganne to studie on the matter and tooke all the tenne Peeres to counsell with him And when the faire Escleremond saw Huon her husband in that danger among them with whom he should haue béene in ioy then she beganne sore to wéepe and sayd Ah Huon I sée here great pouertie when in the same proper towne whereas you ought to be Lord to be in this danger and beside that ye are not beleeued nor heard of any man that is here for any proofe or witnesse that yee can say or shew King Charlemaine will not beléeue that you haue béene in the Citie of Babylone and yet surely there you haue beene for I saw you there slay my Father the Admirall Gaudys and tooke his beard and drew out of his mouth foure of his greatest teeth great pitie it were if you should die for your truth and faythfulnesse but the thing that most feareth me is that I sée none that be héere likelie to be a Noble man except the King who is chiefe of all other and yet me thinkes hee is full of falshood for I sée none other but he that séekes your death But I promise to God that if hee suffer you to haue this wrong and thus to die I say then as for my part that Mahound is better worth then your King Charlemaine and it be so that you receiue death without a cause I will neuer more beléeue in your king but renounce his law and beléeue in Mahound There were many Lords and knights that heard the Ladies words whereof they had such pitie that the most part of them beganne to wéepe And when Huon heard his wife he turned toward her and sayd Ladie I desire you to leaue your sorrow and trust in God almightie who so oftentimes hath succoured vs you know not what he will doe let vs bee content with his good pleasure Thus with such words Huon appeased the fayre Escleremond And Duke Naymes who was in counsell with the other Peeres sayd to them Sirs I haue great sorrow at my heart bicause of these two Brethren so that I cannot tell what counsaile to find I desire you all in this waightie matter to counsaile me and shewe mee your opinions therein Sir quoth the Lords other counsaile you shall not haue of vs for we haue layde all the matter vppon you to doe therein what it shall please you Sirs quoth the Duke to dissemble the matter auayleth not but since that Huon must passe by iudgement how say you shall he be hanged or drawne Sir quoth Gaulter who was the first speaker mée thinkes he can escape none otherwise Ah Traytour quoth the Duke thou liest falsely for it shall not follow after thy councell whether thou wilt or not there is no man this day that shall be so hardie as to iudge him to die therefore Sirs yet shew me againe whether yée will agrée to my councell Sir quoth they wée haue laid the charge vpon you the which we will all abide by but whosoeuer was glad Gaulter was sorowfull angrie for he would haue consented to the death of Huon Then all the Barons right sad and pensiue went out of the counsell Chamber and they could find no manner of wayes how to saue Huon but they all prayed to God to aide and succour him And Huon seeing the Barons comming so sadly together thought that the matter was not at a good poynt whereby hee beganne sore to weepe when Escleremond and Gerames saw the sorrow that Huon made they had great pitie thereof Then Huon beheld Duke Naymes for he knew well all the matter lay in his hands he feared greatly the iudgement that should be made vpon him and said Thou very God and man as I beléeue verily that thou didst die on the holy crosse to redeeme vs all and that on the third day thou didst rise from death to life I require thee humbly in this great neede to succour me as truely as I am in the right for more wrong no man can haue Then the Duke Naymes of Bauier came to the king and sayd Sir will it please you to heare what we haue deuised Yea quoth the king I desire nothing else to know Well Sir quoth the Duke then I demaund of you in what place of your Region thinke you to iudge one of your Peeres of Fraunce Naymes quoth the King I know well you be a Nobleman and all that you say is to deliuer Huon of Bourdeaux but I will ye know all shall not profite him Then the Duke sayd Sir to say so ye doe great wrong Therefore sir regard well in what place you will haue one of your Peeres iudged if you know not where it should be done I will shew you In your Realme are but three places to doe it in The first is the Towne of Saint Omers the second is Orleance and the third is Paris and therefore Sir if you will proceede vpon Huon by iustice it is conuenient that it bee done in one of these three places for here in this town he cannot be iudged Naymes quoth the King I vnderstand well why you say this I well see and perceiue that you entend to none other end but to deliuer and quit Huon I had thought to haue entreated him by the order of iustice to the intent that none of you should haue reprooued mee therefore I ordained that he should haue beene iudged by you that bee the Péeres of France and I sée well you haue done nothing therein and therefore as long as
naked skinne I should haue some comfort for then I might goe and séeke some aduenture greatly I ought to hate the crooked Dwarfe Oberon who hath brought me into all this paine but by the faith that I owe vnto God séeing he hath left me thus from hencefoorth to doe him the more spite I shall make lyes ynough I shall not leaue for him whom I recommend now to a hundred Thousand Diuels When he had béen there a certen space all alone hee arose and looked all about him to sée if he might perceiue anye man passe by from whome hee might haue any succour for he was néere famished for lacke of sustenance howbeit he thought to depart thence to séeke some aduenture so he went on his way and hée went so far that he found an aduenture such as you shall heare for our Lord Iesus Christ neuer forgetteth his Seruants Chap. LI. ¶ How Huon found a Minstrell who gaue him cloathing and meat and tooke Huon with him as his Varlet and went to Mombrance WHen Huon hadde gone a great way hee beheld on his right hand and saw néere him a little wood by a faire meadow-side and therein was standing a great Dake full of leaues and there beside was a cleare Fountaine and there he saw an ancient man with white haires sitting vnder the Dake and before him he had a little cloth spread abroad on the grasse and thereon flesh and bread and wine in a Bottell When Huon saw the old man he came vnto him and the ancient man sayd Ah thou wild man I pray thée for the loue of Mahound doe me no hurt but take meat and drinke at thy pleasure When Huon sawe him he espied lying beside him a Harpe and a Vyoll whereon he could well play for in all Pagany there was no Minstrell like him Fréend quoth Huon thou hast named me right for a more vnhappy man then I am there is none lyuing Fréend quoth the Minstrell goe to yonder Male and open it and take what thou likest best to couer thy naked skinne then come to mée and eat at thy pleasure Sir quoth Huon good aduenture is come vnto mée thus to find you Mahound reward you Sir quoth the Minstrell I pray you come and eate with me and kéepe me companie for you shall not find a more sorowfull man then I am By my faith quoth Huon a companion of your owne sort haue you found for there was neuer man that suffered so much pouertie as I haue praise be vnto him that fourmed me but séeing I haue found meat to eat blessed be the houre that I haue found you for you séeme to bee a good man Then Huon went to the Male and tooke cloathes and then came vnto the Minstrell and sat down and did eat and drinke as much as pleased him The Minstrell beheld Huon and sawe that he was a faire young man and a courteous and then hee demaunded of him where hée was borne and by what aduenture hee was arriued there in that case that he was in When Huon heard how the Minstrell demaunded of his estate he began to study in himselfe whether he should shew the troth or else to lye then he called to our Lord God and sayd Ah good Lord if I shew to this man the troth of mine aduenture I am but dead and King Oberon for a small offence thou hast left me in this case now if I shewe the troth of my life to this man I am but dead I shall neuer trust thée more but I will now put all my trust in God for the loue that I haue to my Loue thou hast mee in hate but séeing it is so as often as I haue néede I shall ly nor I shall not leaue it for feare of thée but rather do it in despite of thée then Huon saide to the Minstrell Sir you haue demanded of mine estate and as yet I haue made you none answeare the troth is I find my selfe so well at mine ease that I forgat to answeare you but I shall nowe shewe you séeing you would know it Sir of certaine I was borne in the countrey of Affricke and fell in company with diuers Marchants by the Sea in a Shippe thinking to haue sayled to Damieta but a great misfortune fell vppon vs there arose such an horrible tempest that our Shippe perished and all that were within it none escaped but I and I thanke Mahound that I am escaped aliue therefore I desire you now to shew mée your aduenture as I haue shewed you mine Fréend quoth the Minstrell séeing you will knowe it knowe for troth I am named Mouflet I am a Minstrell as thou séest héere by mine Instruments and I say vnto thée that from hence to the red Sea there is none so cunning in all Instruments as I am and I can doe many other things and the dolour that thou séest mee make is bycause of late I haue loste my good Lorde and Maister the Admirall Gaudise who was slayne miserably by a Vacabond of Fraunce called Huon that Mahound shame him and bring him to an ill death for by him I am fallen into pouerty and miserie I pray thée tell me thy name Sir quoth Huon my name is Solater Well quoth the Minstrell Solater dismay thée not for the great pouerties that thou hast suffered thou séest what aduenture Mahound hath sent thée thou art nowe better arayed then thou wert if thou wilt follow my counsel thou shalt haue no néed thou art faire and young thou oughtest not to be dismayed but I that am old and ancient haue cause to be discomforted séeing in mine olde dayes I haue lost my Lord and Maister the Admirall Gaudise who did me so much good and profit I would it pleased Mahound that he that slewe him were in my power When Huon heard that he spake no word but cast down his head Solater quoth the Minstrell séeing my Lord is dead I will goe to Mombrance to King Iuoryn to shew him the death of his Brother the Admirall Gaudise and if thou wilt abide with me so that thou wilt beare my Fardell and harpe a foote ere it be halfe a yéere past I warrant thée thou shalt haue a Horse for whensoseuer thou shalt heare me play vpon my instruments all the hearers shall take therein such pleasure that they shall giue mee both Gownes and Mantles so that thou shalt haue much adoe to trusse them in my Male. Well Sir quoth Huon I am content to serue you and to doe all your Commaundements Then Huon tooke the Male on his necke and the Harpe in his hand and Mouflet his Maister bare the Vyoll and thus the maister and the seruant went on their way to goe to Mombrance Ah good Lord quoth Huon my heart ought to bée sorrowfull when I sée my selfe in this case that nowe I must become a Minstrels Varlet Gods curse haue Oberon the Dwarfe who hath done mee all this trouble Alas if I had nowe my good Armour my
behould him there hee made good chéere and feasting for the space of right dayes and vppon the ninth day in the Morning he departed from thence priuily and tooke Barnard with him without the knowledge of any person except the Abbot vnto whom he sayde Faire Vncle I and Barnard will depart and I require you to let no man liuing know of my departing as long as you can keepe it secret vntill you doe héere from mee some tidings Sir it shall bee done quoth the Abbot and I commend you to the sauegard of our Lord Iesus Christ and I beséech him humbly that you may haue peace with the Emperour Tirrey Then Huon and Barnard departed before any man were rising and they tooke their way towards the Citie of Mayence and rested not vntill they came to Coleyne and the next Morning they road vntill they came within a League of the Citie of Mayence and then they entred into a wood there they alighted Then Huon apparelled himselfe like a Pilgrim in habite hose and shooes and he tooke a hearbe and rubbed therewith his Visage in such sort that hee séemed that hee had beene in the Sunne Ten yeares so that he was vnknowne and Barnard that was with him coulde not knowe him by the face and then Barnard laughed then he tooke his staffe and scrippe and saide vnto Barnard Sir goe your way before into the Citie with our horses and take none acquaintance of mee though you sée me and take vp some small lodging so Barnard went on before and Huon faire and easily went after him and so entred into the Citie and hee had with him the Thirtie rich stones in his bosome When hee was entred into the Citie hee rested not vntill he came to the Pallaice and as hee went vp the stayres he met the Steward of the Emperours house vnto whome hée sayd Sir I pray you in the honour of our Lord Iesus Christ to giue mee some meate for I am so hungrie that I can scarce goe vppon my Legges nor I haue no monney to buy mee one morsell of bread When the Steward had well heard and vnderstood the Pilgrim hee beheld him well and sawe howe his staffe shaked in his hand the which he thought had béene with féeblenesse and pouertie and hadde of him great pitie and compassion and demaunded of him from whence hee came Sir quoth Huon I come straight from the holy Sepulchre and I haue endured much pouertie and miserie Fréend quoth the Steward I pray you to tarie for me héere a little season vntil I haue been in the Prison to carie meat vnto the Duchesse Escleremond and to the other Prisoners who crye out through famine and rage that they be in for if they bee longe in this case that they bee in now they cannot endure it for the Emperour hath taken such an inward hate against her and against them that are in prison with her that he hath made promise that assoone as Easter is passed the Ladie shall be burnt and the other Prisoners al hanged and this day is Shroue Thursday so that they haue to liue but fiue dayes and I am right sorrie for the noble Ladie that our Emperour will put her to death without a iust cause When Huon had well heard that hee hadde no member nor ioynt but that trembled and he cast downe his Visage and beganne pitifully to wéepe and suffered the Steward to passe and spake no woorde vnto him but returned into the Towne and went and lodged in the Towne right heauie and sorrowfull howbeit he was right ioyfull in that his Wife was aliue for he greatly feared that she had been dead He lodged in a notable Burgesses house who receiued him wel for the loue of God but whatsoeuer he had there he could neither eat nor drinke for the sorrowe and gréefe that he had at his heart then hee sayde vnto his Host Sir to Morrowe is good Friday the which day I thinke the Emperour will giue great Almes Fréend quoth his Host you may surely beléeue that the Emperour will giue as to morrow great Almes hee will giue of his goods so largely vnto all poore men that if they come vnto him that day they shall bee all satisfied you shall not finde a Prince that doth giue greater Almes and of one thing I aduertise you the Emperour hath one custome that the first poore Pilgrim that commeth vnto him to morrowe shal bee happie for there is nothing in the world be it neuer so deare but if hee demaund it of the Emperour it shall not bee denied him it must bee at the same houre and time that the Emperour goeth vnto his Chappell to say his Orisons When Huon had well vnderstood his Host he beganne to reioyce and thought within himselfe that if hee could in any wise hee would bee the first that should demaund Almes of the Emperour but that should be neither gold nor siluer it should bee his Wife and his men that hee hath in Prison and also if he may he will aske therewith his Landes and Signiories Then the Host went to his rest and Huon abode in his Chamber alone and slept not of all the night but thought how he might deliuer his Wife and the other Prisoners that were with her and all the night he was at his prayers humbly desiring our Lord God to counsaile and to ayd him to recouer his good Wife Escleremond Early in the Morning hee arose and made him readie and tooke his scrippe and staffe and went straight to the Pallaice and sat down vpon the greeces whereas the Emperour should passe at which time the Emperour was newe rysen and there were many other Pilgrimes that were there abiding for the Emperours comming and euerie man coueted to haue the first guift but Huon did so much by his subtiltie that hee was the first that entred into the Chappell and none other perceiued him and he did hide himselfe closely in a corner néere vnto the Emperours Oratorie and there hee sat still without any word speaking abiding there for the comming of the Emperour Chap. CXXXVIII ¶ How Duke Huon of Bourdeaux did so much with the Emperor Tirrey that he had peace with him and his Wife rendred vnto him and all his Landes and Signiories and how the Emperour brought him vnto the Abbey of Cluny whereas they found the good Abbot in armour not knowing any thing of the Peace that was made NOwe sheweth the Historie that anon after that Huon was entred into the Chappell the Emperour came in and kneeled downe before the Aulter and made his prayers and many poore men were there abiding the end of his prayers and no man saw Huon whereas hee was hidden closely in a corner hard by the Emperours Oratorie When the Emperour had made his prayers hee arose and turned him to haue gone into his Oratorie and Huon who had great desire to bee the first and to haue the first guift of the Emperour hee drewe out of his
Companions he set his Horne to his mouth and blew so melodious a blast that the fourtéene Companions being vnder the Trée had so persit a ioy at their hearts that they al rose vp and began to sing and daunce Ah good Lord quoth Huon what fortune is come vnto vs me thinke we be in Paradise right now I could not sustaine my selfe for lacke of meat and drinke and nowe I féele my selfe neither hungrie nor thirstie from whence may this come Sir quoth Gerames knowe for troth this is done by the Dwarfe of the Fayrye whome you shall soone see passe by you But Sir I require you on ieopardie of loosing of your life that you speake to him no word without you purpose to abide euer with him Sir quoth Huon haue no doubt of me séeing I know the ieopardie Therewith the Dwarfe began to crie aloude and saide Yée fourtéene men that passe by my wood God kéepe you all and I desire you speake with mée and I coniure you thereto by God almightie and by the christendome that you haue receiued and by all that God hath made answeare mée Chap. XXII ¶ How King Oberon was right sorrowfull and sore displeased in that Huon would not speake and of the great feare that he put Huon and his companie in WHEN that Huon and his companie heard the Dwarfe speake they mounted on their Horses and road away as fast as they might without speaking of any word and the Dwarfe séeing how that they road away and would not speake hée was sorrowfull and angrie Then hée set one of his fingers on his Horne out of the which yssued such a winde and tempest so horrible to heare that it bare downe Trées and therewith came such a raine and hayle that it séemed that heauen and the earth had fought together and that the world should haue ended the beasts in the woods brayed and cryed and the foules of the ayre fell down dead for the feare that they were in there was no creature but he would haue béen afrayd of that tempest Then suddainly appeared before them a great Riuer that ran swifter then the birds did flye and the water was so blacke and so perilous made such a noyse that it might be heard ten Leagues of Alas quoth Huon I see well now we be all lost wée shall héere be oppressed without God haue pitie of vs I repent me that euer I entred into this wood I had béen better to haue trauailed a whole yéere then to haue come hether Sir quoth Gerames dismay you not for all this is done by the Dwarfe of the Fayrye Well quoth Huon I thinke it best to alight from our horses for I thinke we shall neuer escape from hence but that we shal be all oppressed Then Garyn and the other Companions had great maruaile and were in great feare Ah Gerames quoth Huon you shewed mee well that it was great perill to passe this wood I repent mée nowe that I had not beléeued you Then they sawe on the other side of the Riuer a faire Castell enuyroned with fourtéene great Towers and on euerie Tower a clocher of fine gould by séeming the which they long regarded and by that time they had gone a little by the Riuer side they lost the sight of the Castle it was cleane vanished away whereof Huon and his companie were sore abashed Huon quoth Gerames of all this that you sée dismay you not for all this is done by the crooked Dwarfe of the Fayrye and all to beguile you but he cannot gréeue you so you speake no word howbeit ere we depart from him he will make vs all abashed for anone he will come after vs like a mad man bicause you will not speake vnto him but sir I require you as in Gods name be nothing afrayd but ride foorth surely and euer beware that you speake vnto him no word Sir quoth Huon haue no doubt thereof for I had rather he were destroyed then I should speake one word vnto him then they road to passe the Riuer and they founde there nothing to let them and so road about fiue Leagues Sir quoth Huon wée may well thanke God that wee bée thus escaped this Dwarfe who thought to haue deceiued vs I was neuer in such feare during my life god confound him thus they road deuising of the little Dwarfe who had done them so much trouble Chap. XXIII ¶ How Kinge Oberon Dwarfe of the Fayry pursued so much Huon that he constrained him to speake to him at last WHen Gerames vnderstood the companie howe they thought they were escaped from the Dwarfe he began to smile and said Sirs make no braging that you be out of this danger for I beléeue you shall soone sée him againe and assoone as Gerames had spoke the same words they sawe before them a bridge the which they must passe and they sawe the Dwarfe on the other part Huon sawe him first and said I sée that Diuell who hath done vs so much trouble Oberon heard him and saide Fréend thou doest me iniurie without cause for I was neuer Diuell nor ill creature I am as other be but I coniure thée by the diuine puissance to speake vnto me Then Gerames said Sirs for Gods sake let him alone nor speake no word to him for by his faire language he may deceiue vs all as he hath done many other it is pity that he hath liued so long Then they road forth a good pace and left the Dwarfe alone sore displeased in that they would not speake to him then he tooke his Horne and set it to his mouth and blew it When Huon and his companie hearde it they had no power to ride any further but they began all to sing Then Oberon the Dwarfe said yonder company are fooles proud that for any salutation that I can giue them they disdaine to answeare mée but by the God that made me before they esâ—ape me the refusall of my words shal be déere bought Then he tooke againe his Horne and strooke it thrée times on his bowe and cryed out aloud said Yée my men come and appeare before me Then there came to him about foure hundred men of armes and demaunded of Oberon what was his pleasure who had displeased him Sirs quoth Oberon I shall shew you howbeit I am gréeued to shewe it héere in this woode there passed fourtéene Knights who disdaine to speake vnto me but to the entent that they shall not mocke me they shall déerely buy the refusing of their answeare Wherefore I will you goe after them and slay them all let none escape Then one of his Knights said Sir for Gods sake haue pitie of them Certainly quoth Oberon mine honour saued I cannot spare them since they disdaine to speake vnto me Sir quoth Glorianda for Gods sake doe not as you say but sir worke by my counsaile and after doe as it pleaseth you Sir I counsaile you yet once againe goe after them then if
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
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
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
When the Admirall of Persia sawe his time to depart he made it to bee proclaimed through-out the Citie by a Trumpet that euery man should make him ready to depart the next morning to goe whether it pleased the Admirall this was done so that at an houre before the next day there was great brute and noise made in the remoouing then the Admirall and Huon made them readie and mounted vppon their horses and yssued out of 〈◊〉 Citie and eâ—tred into the féelds and then the whole Hoast tooke the way towards Antioch Of their iourneys I make no 〈◊〉 fall they road foorth so that they passed by low Armenia 〈◊〉 thâ— hye Ermine and so vpon a Monday they came before 〈◊〉 whereas they lodged that night a longe by the the 〈…〉 without that any person of the Citie made any 〈…〉 or to let them but they brought out of the 〈…〉 bread wine and flesh and other thinges 〈…〉 their companie whereof the Admirall and Huon 〈…〉 ioyfull and gaue them great thankes and for that 〈…〉 woulde not suffer that any of his Hoast 〈…〉 hurt or dammage vnto any person of the Citie 〈…〉 buy when they had dyned they tooke their way to 〈◊〉 the Citie of Damas and as they went thether-ward they â—ooke certaine Townes and Castles and brought them vnder their obeysance and such as were taken perforce and 〈◊〉 not beléeue in our Sauiour and Redeemer Iesus Christ incontinent they were all slaine and brought to vtter ruine and destroyed 〈◊〉 wasting and destroying the Countrey in their way at last they came before the Citie of Damas. When they came thether they lodged about the Citie in the Gardens and 〈◊〉 and constrained them within the Citie to bringe them 〈…〉 the which they did for doubt of the destroying of their 〈…〉 and fruits there they lay one night and the next day 〈…〉 the way to Ierusalem and hadde diuers Battailes by the way but they were of so great puissance that none could 〈…〉 them So longe roade this christian Hoast that they came and lodged before Nâ—pelous and there left their hoast then the next morning the Admirall and Huon and diuers of the great Lords and Barons of Persia accompanied with them 〈◊〉 from Napelous to the number of foure Thousand valiâ—â—â— Knights to guard them into the Citie of Ierusalem thether they came about noone whereas they were receiued with great ioy of Kinge Thibault and of the Patriarke and Arch-priest who as then were in the Citie of Ierusalem whome the Emperour Constantine had left there and ordered for the keeping of the Citie When the Admirall of Persia and Duke Huon and Barnard and other went and offered to the holy Sepulchre then they went to the Temple of Salomon and vnto the holy Temple of Simeon whereas they made their offerings and the next Pilgrimages vnto all the holy places in the Citie with great deuotion and reuerence When they had accomplished their holy Pilgrimages they returned to the Pallaice of the King of Ierusalem whereas they were greatly feasted and honourably receiued of their seruice I will make none account but one thing I dare well say that there was neuer Kinge nor Admirall better serued And as they sat at dinner there entred a Sarazin â—oule and blacke called Trampoiguyffle the which is as much to saye as Balaach Then he said a hye before the Table the same God that made the Firmament and that downe to vs sent his holy Prophet Mahomet to teach vs his holy Lawe he saue and keepe Saphadin Souldan of Babilon and of Egipt and may confound them that be his enemies To the Admirall of Persia and of Media the Souldan sendeth word by mée that wrongfully and without cause thou goest and destroyest his Countrey and his people not giuing him any knowledge why thou doest so therefore by me he sendeth thee word that am his secret Messenger that he will assigne vnto thee the day of battaile that is vpon Thursday next comming between Rames and lafte whereas there is a plaine Countrey and hée will that thou knowest for certaine that if he take thée thou shalt be hanged and slaine all quicke and neuer sée faire day more and al other that I sée heere sitting at this Table Chap. CXXV ¶ Of the answere that the Admirall of Persia and of Media made vnto the Souldans Messenger and of the report that he made vnto his Maister WHen the Admirall had well heard and vnderstood the Souldans Messenger he beganne to smile and said Tell thy Maister that I set nothing by his threatning nor by nothing that he can do nor I will not leaue for all his saying to destroy and to take his Townes and his Castles and to slay all them that will not beleeue in the Lawe of Iesus Christ and say vnto him from me that I am not in minde to retire backe but by the ayde of God my creatour I shall come and meete with him so that he shall not neede to tarrie for mee and I shall fight with him my puissance against his to shew him howe they can doe that beleeue in Iesus Christ Goe thy way and say vnto thy Maister that he shall not find me flying for any feare that I haue of any man beléeuing in the false and detestable fayth of Mahomet Then the Admirall commaunded to giue the Messenger meate and drinke and fortie Florents the Messenger refused it not but tooke it and thanked the Admirall and when hee had dyned he taried not night nor day vntill hee came to the Citie of Gasere whereas he found the Souldan and al his Armie the which was a great number for they were a Hundred Thousand men and all they threatened the death of the Admirall of Persia but it is a comon saying that many things lacketh of foolish thoughts and so did they When the Messenger was arriued at Gasere hee came before the Souldan and made his reporte what answeare the Admirall had made him and when the Souldan had well heard and vnderstood the Messenger hee hadde great maruaile of the great outrage that hee thought to be in the Admirall of Persia in that hee durst abide him and sware by his Lawe that if hée might haue the vpper-hand of the Admirall that he would slay him quicke Then he commanded his Hoast to dislodge and to take the way towardes Escalonne the which they did Chap. CXXVI ¶ Howe the Admirall of Persia sent for his men that lay at Napelous and caused them to withdrawe towards Rames and howe they departed from Ierusalem and howe he went to fight with his enemies AFter that Trampoiguyfle the Messenger was departed from Ierusalem and returned to his Master the Souldan then the Admirall of Persia and Huon of Bourdeaux who were in the Pallaice with the Kinge of Ierusalem thether they called all their counsaile and when they were all assembled the Admirall sayd Sirs I pray you to counsaile me in what manner I shall vse my selfe to goe
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