the date that euer I had knowledge of the fyrste And then he smote her agayne so mightely that the good lady lost her speche and all the ladies and damoyselles wende that she hadde bene dead wherfore they made a crye so high that the barons and knightes of the courâ— harde it and ranne quickely in to the chambre Some toke vp the Empresse Bellysant and the other spake vnto the Emperoure after this maner of fourme Alas syr howe haue you your courage so cruell for to destroy and vndo so noble a lady as she is â–ª that is so wel beloued of euery body â–ª in whome was neuer sene vyllanye nor dishonoure For God syr be a lytel more moderate For with wrong without cause you vndertake this quarell against the good lady Speake no more said y e Emperoure I knowe I se and wote howâ— the thyng goeth And y t more is by god almyghty I am deliueâ—ed totally to put her vnto death And if ther be any of you that will saye the contrary I shall make you dye an euill death At those wordes spake a wyse baron â— said Redoubted syr auise you consider well what ye will do you know wel that the lady that you haue spoused is syster vnto the king of Fraunce named Pepyn the whiche is puyssaunt fyerse and of greate courage And you ought to beliue stedfastly that and ye doo outrage vnto his syster Bellyssant he is a man for to auenge hym by suche a facion that he may do great dammage in this countrey also well vpon men chyldren as on townes cyties And put your selfe in exile the which should be great dammage and pitie And on the other syde you se wel that y e lady is great with childe wherfore it is perill vnto you for to smyâ—e her or touche so rudely After these wordes y c lady kneled vpoÌ„ her knees before the Emperour and spake thus vnto him ryght piteously weping ¶ Alas my lorde haue pytt on me for I neuer thought vyllany against your persone if that ye will not haue pyte on me at the least haue coÌ„passion on the chylde that I bere in my wombe for I am great with chylde of your dede of y e which god gyue me grace to be deliuered Ioyously Alas syr I supplye you and requyre you that ye make me be put in to a toure there to be kept streightly vnto my childing And after that I am deliuered do with my body what soeuer you will Thus and in semblable maner the good lady complayned her wepyng and syghyng full profoundly with a sorowfull harte and they had theyr hartes ryght harde that could abstaine them from wepyng But the Emperoure that was deceiued by the false Archebysshop would haue no compassion on his wyfe but cruelly and fyersly answere vnto her False strompet dishordynate of as muche as thou art wyth chylde I ought lytle to reioyce me for I am so muche enformed of thy gouernemeÌ„t that I haue nothing and that dysloyally thou hast habandoned thy selfe vnto oâ— ther than me WhaÌ„ they sawe that the Emperour wolde not refrayne him nor appese his Iâ—e for nothinge by acomyn accorde they toke her and ledde her into a chambre And the most amyably that they might helde her with wordes in shewing vnto her her great faute and the sorowful lady was dysorned in her chambre that hadde her face disteyned wyth bloude The ladyes that were next her persone brought her fayre water to Wasâ—he her with all And at that houre entred into her chambre her squyer named Blandymayn And whan he sawe her in suche estate he wepte for pyte and sayde vnto her Ha madame I se wel that you are falsly betrayed I beseche god that cursed be the person that hathe purchased you thys euil For god my righâ— dere lady take a â—ytle comforte vnto you And yf you wyll byleue me I shall lede you into Fraunce agayne toward the king Pepyn your brother the whyche gaue me vn to you for to serue you in your necessities the whyche thynge I wold do after my puyssauÌ„ce Beleue my consayll and we shal retourne into Fraunce agayne For you may be sure that the Emperour shal make you dye shortly wyth great shame and dyshonoure Then answered the dolourous lady Ha Blandymayn my frende it shoulde be to me to shameful and dyshonest for to go in suche manet without other deliberacyon And it myght be beleued lightly that the Emperour had good cause and that I were culpable of the dede Wherfore I had â—euer die an euil death than for to recouer blame for a thynge that I am innocent of and accused with out cause After these thinges thus said the Emperour that was with the barons a lytell moderate and satisfied of his Ire he sente for his wyfe Bellyssant the whiche was brought before him quickely Whan he sawe her his harte trembled for sorowe for this that he dutst not put her to death because of her brother kiÌ„g Pepyn and his puissaunce With rude wordes he said to her False cursed woman by the is myne honoure vyturped Wherfore I sweare God that and it were not for thy brothers sake the valeaunt kyng Pepyn I should make the to be brent in a fyre but for his sake thy lyfe shall be prolonged at this present time Now I â—o the to wyt that from this houre I banisshe the expulse the from my countrey and Empire in coÌ„maunding the expresly that to morowe thou departe out of this cytie for if I se the any more thou shalt neuer haue respite till thou haue suffred death And yet I commaunde all them of my countrey that there be none so hardy of them to accoÌ„pany you or coÌ„uey saue allonely yoursquyer Blandymayne that you brought out of Fraunce with you Go where as you wil go at your aduenture for thou shalt neuer slepeby my side nor in my bedde Sone after that commaundement of the Emperour that was shorte and sâ—daine without soiourney or delacion the Empresse Bellyssant and her Squyer Blandymayn mounted on horsebacke and came in to the Lyâ—ie where as was shedde full many a tere bothe of lordes and ladies knightes and squyers with al y e commune people the which â—â—ted sorowed out of mesure for they made suche lamentacions that there was neuer sene nor hearde so piteous a thinge Euery body ran vnto the gate for to coÌ„maunde the good lady vnto God that by the false Archebisshop was so pyteously banyshed And at the yssue of the gate they made the pitefullest etie that euer was hearde Nowe goeth Blandymain that conduyeth the sorowefull lady Bellissant and hath taken the waye to go towarde the realme of Fraunce When the lady was out of the walles of the citie and that she sawe her selfe in the fieldes pyteously aâ—ourned like a woman shamed and dishonoured she wayled bitterly For she considered the lyguage the bloud ryall that she was yssued out of the right hygh
let hym lyue any lenger for doÌ„mage dishonour he wyl bere you shortly For god make that he be drowned or hanged for the garde of him is nought nor his company Whan the kynge Pepyn vnderstode this tidinges he was much sorowful And sayd that he wolde make Orson the sauage to be put in a toure where as he shoulde neuer come out but by licence So kinge Pepyn sente for Ualentine for to demauÌ„de hym the case And Ualentine recounted vnto him the enter pryse as it had ben done by Haufray Henrye sayinge Syr I was in the chambre of my ladye your doughter Eglantyne in the company of dyuers ladyes and gentyll women that desyred strongly for to se Orson and pryncypally I had brought hym vnto my lady EglaÌ„tyne So I can not tel you wherfore nor by what title my lordes your two sones Haufray and Henry dyd entre into the chambre in sayinge vnto me that I dydde my pleasure with your doughter and that they knewe it longe agone And in spekyng vnto me fyerse proude wordes Haufraye by an outragious volente smote me vpon my vysage with his hande and Henrye with his sweard wend for to haue slayne me Orson beynge that my body was in daunger wente towarde theym and smote them bothe down so that the bruyte and the noyse arose therfore as you may here ¶ And is it true sayd the kynge Pepyn so as you tell me If syr sayd va lentyne vpon the payne of my lyfe other thynge nor other cause knowe I not Nowe by god sayd the kynge Pepyn Orson hathe done his deuoyr and that whyche he ought to do And you Haufray Henry ful of enuye and cursed malyce ye be to blame I se and know clerelye that wythall your puyssaunce ye seke from daye to daye to noye Ualentyne ye be wel of an euill nature to purchase his euyl whan you se that I loue hym and that he serueth me truelye I defende you to wyll hym ony hurt wherefore let hym alone For I wyll not for goo hym for none other And I am wel certayne that he wolde neuer thynke nor serch my dyshonoure Euen so departed Haufray and Henry that were much soroweful and displeasaunt And Ualentine abode at that houre in the hal with all the other lordes and barons of the court And Orson wente thorowe the palays here and there At the laste he entred in to the kechyn and sawe the meet that the coke made redy for souper soo he approched nere hym and toke two capons all rawe and ete them as a dogge Whan the coke sawe that he toke a pestel and gaue Orson soo grete a stroke that he made hym for to bowe Than Orson stouped downe and toke the coke and threwe hym downe in the place and gaue hym so many strokes that he had almoost slayne hym The tydynges came vnto kynge Pepyn that orson doewe the coke and that none durste approche â–ª nere hym Wherat the kynge was angry and made Orson to be brought before hym and made hym sygnes that he wolde make hym be hanged But Orson wente anone and fetched the pestell and shewed the kynge howe the coke had smyten hym And whan the kynge vnder stode the case he pardoned orson entyerly coÌ„maunded that none sâ— olde touche hym ony more And valentyne shewed hym the guyse and manere how he sholde behaue hym in the palays for the tyme to come and toke totally y e charge of hym And he taught hym so well that he dyde neuer after euyll nor dyspleasure but yf y t they began fyrste And in this maner they abode longe with the noble kynge Pepin that was bothe theyr vnâ—â—es But they knewe it not ¶ How the duke Sauary sente towarde the kynge Pepyn for to haue socoure agaynst the grene knyght that by force wolde haue hadde his doughter Fezonne vnto wyfe and spouse Capitulo xvi VAlentyne and Orson were at that same tyme in the kynges courte whan that from the duke Sauary there came aknyght vnto the kynge Pepyn the whiche after all due reuerence spake vnto hym in this maner Free kynge and of almoost redoubted the good duke Sauary to whom I am seruaunt hathe sente me hether to you requiringe you for to socoure hym agaynst a fals and a cursed painym that hathe assyeged hym and he nameth hym self the grene knyght the whiche wyll haue his doughter by force of armes agaynst his wyll the whiche is as fayre as can be founde and she hath thre hardy brederne that is to wyte Garin Anselme And Garyn the yongest Mylordes sayd the kynge we wyll socoure the good duke Sauary with a good wyll at his nede with all your puyssauÌ„ce Syr sayd the messenger god yelde it you for ye shall do a grete almesse and I thanke you thanke you a hondred tymes on my maysters behalfe In saynge these wordes there entred another messenger in to the palays y e whiche after that he had salued the kynge as he ought for to do he sayd vnto him thus Ryght excellent kynge and aboue al other redoubted â–ª assemble your hoost men of warre in all the haste y t you maye and sende them vnto the cyte of Lyon For there is comen and yssued out of Almayne moo than a hondreth thousande fyghtyngemen that wyll dystroy your realme and put it in subgeceyon whan kynge Pepyn had vnderstonden these tydynges he was much a basshed made to come before hym the Archebysshop of Reyns and the duke Myllon dangler â–ª Geruais and Sampson And after he tolde them the wordes of the messenger and demaunded them counsayll yf that he sholde go towarde Acquytaine for to socoure the good duke Sauary â–ª or towarde Lyon to defende his couÌ„tre To y e whiche thynge answered Myllon dangler Syr vpoÌ„ this mater you must be counsaylled for your shyrte is more nerer your body than your gowne yoâ— oughte not for to defende the countree of another and lette your owne be dystroyed Wherfore without takynge onyâ—ore counsayl you shal go towarde Lyon for to kepe and defende your countree And whan you haue chaced your enemyes and casten them out of your countree than maye ye go sureli and socoure the good duke Sauary that demauÌ„deth helpe of you He byleueth his couÌ„sayll and accepted it â–ª and after sayd vnto y e messenger of the good duke Sauary that at that tyme he myght not socoure his mayster for it behoued hym to lede his hoost toward Lyon But tell your lorde that he kepe hym wel tyll that I haue done here that than I shal so coure hym w t so grete a nombre of folke that he shal be contente Syr sayd the messenger to euyll it happeneth hym that you maye not come nowe for he hathe gretenede But syth that it can not be none otherwyse I thanke you for your god wyll And with the leue of your hyghe maieste I wyll departe from you At these wordes the messenger of the duke Sauary
vnto a thyng that I shall coÌ„maunde the. Ha sayde the marchauÌ„t that sawe himselfe betrayed Archebysshop I se and knowe well I am in your mercy that with me ye may do your pleasure Wherfore I pray you that ye wyl tell me what thyng it is that ye wyl I doo And I shall accomplysshe it so that it please you for to â—aue my lyfe Marchaunt sayd the archebysshop thys shalte thou do ¶ I wyl that before the Emperour and the kinge Pepyn thou testify openly that wyth wroÌ„g and agaynst ryght thou haste accused me falslye and by enuy And of this dede discharge me and shalt take the charge by suche a couenaunt that yf thou wylte do it I swere and promise the to saue the fro deathe and make thy peas towarde the Emperoure and the kynge Pepyn And more ouer I swere vnto the by the faythe of gentylnesse and by the ordre of preesthode to giue the a nece of myne in maryage the whiche is ryche fayre pleasauÌ„t Than mayst thou say that there was neuer none in thy lignage so happy nor so riche And therfore auyse the yf thou wyl do it after this maner and chesâ— whether thou wylte lyue or dye for thou mayst noâ— escape by none other way with thy lyfe Incontynent as the marchauÌ„t herde the Archebysshop speke so he was much sorowful not wythout a cause he reclaymed bothe god and our lady mekely to kepe him from death and saue his right And than he answered in thys mauer Syr Archebysshop your reason is good I am redy to accoplysshe it and obey you in affâ—enge me that you wyl kepe your promyse In me sayd the Archebysshop ye shal finde no faute Now in goddes name said the marchaunte go doe to to the Emperour and I shal dysaccuse you of the great iniury â–ª that I haue preposed agaynst you it is well sayd now ryse vp and you shall come with me At these wordes the marchauÌ„t rose vp â–ª and whan he was vp he recorden the treason that the Archebysshop had done him fayninge that he wolde haue confessed him as I haue made mencion here before wherefore he toke courage to him and thought to serue him with the same mese for it is said comnenly the treason wil euer returne to his maister againe ThaÌ„ he toke the Archebysshop in his armes with soo greate courage that anone he had throwen him vnder him than sayd to him Archebysshop you haue taught me to play this pagent wherfore thinke now to confesse you to me for ye shall haue none other confessour but me Yet thought the fals Archebysshop on diuers cauillacions wyth swete wordes wolde haue deceiued the marchaunt agayne But the marchauÌ„t neuer trusted him more nor gaue him noo more tyme nor space to rise vp but anone with great diligence put out bothe his eyen and gaue him so many strokes that he had no strengthe to defende hym And whan the marchaunte saw that he was domynatour and had the ouer haÌ„de he rose vp and let hym lye And called the kepers of the felde and sayd to them Lordes here may you se yf that I haue done my deuoyre against the Archebisshop and yf he be vaynquysshed you se that I put hym in suche estate that whan it semeth me good I maye slee hym or kyll hym Wherfore I praye you that it wyll please you to make the Emperour and the kynge Pepyn to come hether with their lordes for to here the coÌ„fession of the Archebysshop to here that with vniust quarrell he hath takeÌ„ batayle agaynst me Than went they to fetche to the fielde the Emperoure Alexander the kyng Pepyn the whiche came accompanied with many notable barons to the place where as the Archebysshop was sorowful and confounded And the Emperour demaundeth him the truthe of the matter And the false Archebisshop knowledged before them al the dede and tolde them all the maner howe that with wronge he had spokeÌ„ against the lady Bellyssant and without any cause had made her be put in exile by treâ—son and falshode Alas chynke how many pyteous teeâ—es there was shedde on all sydes and specially of the Emperoure for his cries and lamentacions were soo pyteous that all they that were about hym wepte bytterly and made great sorowe And if the Emperour demeaned great dole demaunde not if that the kyng Pepyn at that tyme was tryste and sorowful Alas it was not without a cause that they demeaned suche sorowe when they sawe and knewe that by to light beleuing and false treason they had lost the excelleâ— lady Bellyssant kyng Pepyns syster and wife vnto the Emperour And there was betwene the Emperoure Alexander and the kyng Pepyn Joye in dystresse by two parties conâ—oyned Joye to the kyng Pepyn that of his sister knew the loyalte Doloure and displeasaunce to the Emperoure that of the deade founde hymselfe culpable Because that then he knew that with wronge he had chaced her from hym And after all the lamentacions and the confession and treason of the Archebysshop harde The Emperâ—pre assembled his counsayll for to Judge what death the Archebysshop should die of and it was established that he should be boyled in â—yle all quicke so it was done After the which iudgement euery body withdrewe them vnto their demayne and dwellynge place And when the kyng Pepyn hadde withdrawen him into his lodgyng the Emperour doleÌ„t and sorowfull syghyng profoundly came towarde hym and kneled downe before hym and sayde all wepyng Alas syr I haue coÌ„mitted against you a cryme to detestable dishonest Nowe se I clearely my miserable fauâ—te and knoweth that by my folyshnes and light creaunce I am and haue ben cause to put your syster in exyle and to perdiccion of the whiche thynge I requyre you of pardon and before you I presente me as culpable abydyng your grace And in knowledgyng of my false villanye and for satisfaction and a mendes I yelde and put into your handes the Empyre of Grece that iustly and of good ryght appertayneth to me For I requyre â—o haue no more the name of an Emperoure nor of a kyng as longe as I shall lyue vpon the earth but wyl as a seruaunt in all thinges obeye you for I haue wel deserued it ¶ When the kyng Pepyn vnderstoode the good will and the great humilite of the Emperoure he toke him vp and pardoned him before at his lordes And after that their peace was made by a common accorde they delybeâ—ed betwene them for to sende messengers into euery countrey to serche the noble lady Bellyssant After the which thinges the kyng Pepyn toke leue of the Emperoure for to retourne into Fraunce ¶ Howe the kyng Pepyn toke leue of the Emperoure and departed from CoÌ„stantinoble for to go into FrauÌ„ce And howe he went afterwarde to Rome agaynste the Sarasyns that had taken the cytie ¶ Capitulo x. HOwe kyng Pepyn departed from Constantynoble after the thinges aforesayd And so
fro the kynge Lucar that sendeth you to warde hym without longe abydyng greate him from meas my loue and secrete frende and saye vnto him that how be it that my father gaue me vnto kyng Lucar yet haue I not put his loue out of mynde but haue stedfast purpose and good wyll that once in my lyfe I shall drawe me towarde hym and of me he may do his wyll and good pleasure And tell hym also that I shall fynde the meanes to go with the kyng Lucar when he ledeth his hoost into ynde and then maye he haue me yf he haue any prowesse in him and leade me a way And to the ende that the king of ynde thynke not that your woordes is fayned you shall bere him this rynge Lady sayd Ualentyne of the good wyll that you haue for to succoure me and giue aledgemente I thanke you humbly and haue you noo doubte of the remnaunte for I shall do youre message so well by the grace of God to the kyng of ynde that in shorte space you shall haue tydynges At these wordes Ualentyne toke leue of the lady Rozemonde and went towarde kyng Lucar that for too conduyte hym gaue him ten maryners the whiche passed him ouer a great arme of the sea that is betwene Esclardye and ynde also they mounted vpon the sea and had wynde agreable so good that they departed from Esclardye at none and vpon the moro we they arryued at a porte that is but two myle from the cytie of ynde the great In that same place descended Ualentyne drewe his horse out of the shyppe after he mounted vpon him and said vnto the maryners Lordes abyde me here til that I come agayne and my message be accomplysshed for if it please God I shal not make long soiournyng or I retourne agayne By mahoune sayde a maryner to the other all alowe you shall neuer retourne but if the deuyll bryng you for of fyfty messengers that the kyng of Esclardy hath sent thether there is not one retourned agayne Ualentyne harde him ryght well but he made no semblaunt but he sayd vnto himselfe suche speaketh of the affayres that can not tel howe they go So he toke his waye and it was not longe but that he arryued within ynde for he was nere the gate And when he was pas sed a brydge he wende for to haue bene within the cytie but or euer that he entred it behoued him for to passe fiue gates whereof he was muche amarueylled And by himselfe he began for to consyder the fortification of that same place iudgyng by estymacion in his vnderstandyng that the same cytie was the moost strongest place that euer he hadde sene And when he was in the market place he sawe a great toure muche hye and faire vpon the which stode a crosse so Valentyne marueyled muche what it myght sygnifie for he knewe well y t the paynims vsed not suche sygne nor suffred none In that place the noble Ualentyne founde a Sarazyn too whome he demaunded the cause and the reason wherfore that crosse stode vpon that hye toure Frende sayde the sarazyn knowe that the same toure that you se yonder is named the toure of saynt Thomas is the tour that he was stoned and put to death in Nowe it is true that the christen men in the honour of the same that thei name to be a saint in this same place did fouÌ„d a church by the licence of the king in the whiche churche is a patriarke and a hondred christen men that in the maner of their lawe synge their seruyce euery day and celebre masse And in this wyse they are suffred to doo suche thynges for they paye great trybute euery yeare vnto the kynge of ynde ¶ When Valentyne vnderstode that in that toure there was mynister and habytacion of christen men he descended of his horse for to go in to it and saye his prayers So Ualentyne demaunded after the Patryarke the whiche came too hym incontynente and demaunded hym of whence he was and on whom he beleue Syr sayd Ualentyne I beleue in Iesu christ Alas syr said the patriarke how haue you taken y â— hardynes for to come hether for and the kyng of ynde had knowledge of you he would make you dye shamefully Father sayde Ualentine of that haue you no doubt for I bryng him suche tydinges and sygnes that he wyll not doo nor thynke me no harme but of one thynge I praye you that is that you declare vnto me how and in what maner you abyde in this place and be founded Certes sayd the patriarke we are fouÌ„ded in the honour of god of the holy saint Thomas the martyr of whom the body is in this churche And there may no christen men come hether but if thei be pilgrims but such folke may come surely â–ª because that the offrynges and oblacions that they gyue are the kynges And more ouer it behoueth eche of vs to paye a great trybute And then Ualentyne demaunded and required to se the holy body glorious and it was shewed him in great reuerence and solempnite ¶ Ualentyne kneled downe vpon his knees and made his prayers muche deuoutly vnto god vnto the holy maâ—tir saint Thomas after y e whiche thyng done he mounted on horse backe and wente towarde the palays in the whiche the kyng of ynde kept resydence for to accomplyshe his message in takynge leue of the good patryarke and demaunded hym if he had heard any tydinges of a christen woman that was come thether of late By my fayth sayde the patriarke I haue hearde no tydinges of none Then Ualentyne departed and enquyred no more for without makynge any noyse he would fynde some maner to heare tydynges of the fayre Clerymonde Nowe it was not longe after that the noble Ualentyne descended and came before the gate of the Palays and dyd his message in the maner that you shall here recounâ—ed ¶ Howe Ualentyne dyd his message to the kynge of Ynde from the kyng Lucar and of the aunswere that was geuen hym Capit. lxix AFter that the noble Ualentyne was aryued before that palays of the kyng of Ynde and that he was descended of his horse with a hardy harte and without any fere he wentâ— towarde the kynge the whiche was in a hall muche ryche hanged and apparaylled â–ª accompanyed with thre kynges strong and â—uyssaunt and also of diuers knightes and barons And euen so as valentyne entred in to the hallâ— the king of Ynde behelde him muche fyersly he thought well that he was of kyng Lucars and sayde to hym all on hyghe By mahowne the deuyll hath well made you for to come hether so sone arte thou not seruaunt of the kynge of Ynde hyde it not from me ¶ Syr sayd Ualentyne the truthe shall not be hydde for me And wyte from hym I brynge you tydynges wherof you shall be ryght angry at the hart And on the other syde I brynge you certayne sygnes
that he was knowen for he thought wel to haue had his pleasure of the lady But he enterprysed suche a thyng wherby his treason was knowen afterwarde and disclosed as it shalbe recounted to you afterwarde After the depatrynge of the Archebyshop the lady abode in the wodde beside the fountayne tryst and sorowful with Blandimayn that was wouÌ„ded The marchaunt that was abiden said Alas lady I se that by the Archebysshop ye are falslybetrayed and haue bâ— expulsed froÌ„ the Emperoure Now god giue me grate to liue so longe that I may accuse him of this misoeâ—e and to purchase hys death Lâ—ly to god I commaundâ— you the whyche giue you patience and comforte Soo the marchaunte toke hys leue and Blandymayne thaÌ„ked hym many times Than Blandimayne mounted the Lady vpon her horse and after mounted vpon hys owne and wente vnto a lodginge that was there beside where as thei abode by the space of eight daies for to hele Blandimayn Whaâ— he had rested him and that he might ride they put them vpon the waye towards Fraunce And the sorowfull ladye complayned her by the way and sayd Alas Blandimayn my frende what may my brother and all the lordes saye of my pyteous case whan they shal knowe that for a vylaynous dede I am so shamefully deieâ—â—e from the Emperoure and as a romen woman banisshed the Empyre of Constan tynoble Alas I am right certaine that my brother wyl beleue lightly that I am culpable of the dede and make me die shamefully for he is right fyerse of courage lady said Blandimayn be of good chere put your trust in god In spekyng thus Blandymayde that the ladye conduyted rode so muche that after that they had passed diuers countreis regions they ariued in Fraunce passed by Orleaunce for to go vnto Paris â–ª where as the kyng was accustomed to soiourney moste So they â–ª entred in to a great forest that is syxe myle from Orleaunce in the whiche happened pyteous thynges vnto the Empresse Bellyssant as I shall make mention hereafter ¶ How Bellyssant was deliuered of two fayre sones whiche were named Ualentyne and Orson and howe she loste them Capit. v. BEllyssant was ryding within the forest the which was with chylde as you haue heard reâ—â—â—ed before It happened that her bodye had determined and fulfilled her time that constrayned her for to desâ—ende of her horse and complayne her tenderly Blaudimain demauÌ„ded her what she aâ—led that she complayned her soo Alas Blandymayn sayde the lady lyght downe of thy horse helpe that I were layde vnder yonder great tree and thynke 〈◊〉 for to â—â—ke me some wife For the tyme is â—omâ— that I must nâ—des be deliuered without any lenger delaye Blandymayne descended quickely and laid her vpon a fayre grene place vnder a tree the which he did chose and marke for to knowe it the better And then he leâ—t on horsebacke rode also fast as he might for to seke some wyfe to helpe and sucoute the lady The noble lady Bellyssant abode there all alone with out any company saue God and the blessed vâ—gyn mary that did helpe her and succoured her in such maner that she was deliuered of twoo fayre sonnes in the forest But they were not so sone come vpon the carthe but that the good lady suffred muche payne and anguâ—she as you shall heare So as the lady was deliuered of the fruyte of her wombe and that she laye vnder the tree ther came vnto her a beer the which was maâ—â—eâ—lously great and horrible toke one of her children in his mouthe and wente his wayâ— into the thycke of the forest also faste as he myght Then was the gracious lady sorowfull not without a cause for the perdiction of her chylde and began for to crye with a feable vâ—yce muche pyteously And vpon bothe her fere handes she wente after the beer in the forest that was anone out of her syght Alas to lytle auayled her the pursuyte For she shal neuer se her chyld vnto the tyme that by myracle he be yelded vnto her agayne So loÌ„ge went the lady through the forest wepyng for her child and trauaylled her so fore to goo after that a stronge sicknes toke her in suche wise that she fel in a swounâ— vpon the colde earth as it had bene a dead woman I wyll leue here to speake of her and wyll tell you of the other childe that was left all alone ¶ It happenâ—d the same daye that the kynge Pepyn was departed out of Parys accoÌ„panyed wys diuers great lordes and barons for to go vnto Constantinoble to se his sister bellyssant And toke his way towarde Orleaunce â–ª and he rode so faste that he entred into the forest where as his syster â–ª Bellyssant was deliuered but he knew nothyng therof at that tyme. Now it is true as it was the pleasure of god that as the kynge Pepyn passed throughe the forest he espyed vnder the hye tree the other sonne of Bellyssant all alone that lay vpon the earth soo he rode that waye and sayd vnto hys barons Lordes by the god that created all thynges I haue founde here a muche fayre encountre se what a fayre chylde I haue founde here By Ihesus sayd the lordes syr kynge you say true Nowe sayd the kynge Pepyn I wyll that it be nourysshed at myne expenses also longe as god shall giue it lyfe And wil that to be kept ryght tenderly and nobly as if it were myne owne propre chylde For yâ— y t god sende hym lyfe untyll the tyme that he be a man I shal gyue hym great landes and tenementes for to liue vpon Then the kynge Pepyn called vnto hym one of hys squyers and gaue hym the charge of the child sainge to him Bere this child to Orleance make it baptyzed and seke him a good nouryce and make that he be nourysshed also well as is possible Good ryght had kyng Pepyn to loue the chylte for he was hys nenewâ— but he knowe it not The souyer toke the childe as kyng Pepyn hadde hym and bare it into OrleauÌ„ce And after made it to be baptised and gaue it his name For he made it to be named Ualentine for suche was the name of the sâ—â—er After he sought a nouryce and made the chylde to be well kept as he was commaunded The kynge â—oode in the forest alwaye holdynge his Iournaye â–ª for he had great desyre to be in the Cytie of constantinoble to se his syster Bellyssant that he loued so muche And euen so as he passed through the forest he recountred Blandymayn that led a wife with hym Blandymain knewe the kyng and anone lyghte of his horse and salwed him After the salute done the kyng sayde vnto him Blandymayn fayre syr tell vs tidinges of Constantinoble And amoÌ„g other thinges tell vs howe oure syster Bellyssant doth Dere syr said Blandymayn as to the regarde of tidinges with payne can I tel you any that is good For
geue me audience before al your baroÌ„s I shall tell you a thyng of great importaunce whiche toucheth your persone MarchauÌ„t sayd the Emperour speke on hardely for I giue the lâ—â—enâ—e Syr said the marchauÌ„t make that the gates of your palays be shyâ— to the ende that none departe from this place Them â–ª peroure beleued the marchaunte and sayd before them all on hye Lordes barons and knightes that desyreth and ought to loue the honoure and the prouffyte of the tryumphant empyre eâ—tende to my wordes The tyme is comeÌ„ that the treasoÌ„ of the cursed Archebysshop that you se here muste be knowen and declared openly before your reuerences ¶ Alas syr Emperour it is the cursed man by whom your wyfe hath ben chased from you wyth wronge and shamâ— â–ª And you haue euyl spended the good noutysshynge of hym for he oughte to kepe your honoure moost and he is the worste for it happeued one day that he requyred the fayre lady Bellyssant of loue the whych is wyse and prudent refused him And whâ—n this peâ—uers traytre preest vnderstode and apperceyued that of the lady he should neuer haue hys pleasure for fere that his sinne should not be knowen he made you beleue fals wordes howe that she was not loyal to you but habaÌ„doned her to other The which thinge saw your excellent reuerence and of the lordes here presente he lyeth as a fals infidele to you and if that for the more gretter approbacioÌ„â—e demauÌ„d me how I knowe it and that declared me the trouthe I tell you that I passed one daye on my waye sone after that your wyfe was benysshed out of thys countree and in ridinge throughe a wodde I sound thes preest irreguler and apostate in armes and in habyte dyssymulate agaynste god and the ordenaunce of his vocâ—â—yon And in that same wodde he had assaylled ryghte fyersly Blandymayn that kepte and conduyted in her dolefull fortune the ryght noble and fraâ—ke lady Bellyssant your wyfe And right so as I sawe their debate I began for to câ—ye My lordes leue your debate and then the lady whiche wepte full piteously began for to saye vnto me Marchaunt my frende come and sucour me against this traitoure and false Archebisshop that with force and against my courage Will beâ—yue me oâ— myne honoure Alas saide the lady it is he by whom I am put in exyle and chased from the Emperoure and his countrey So I smote my horse for to seperate theÌ„ but this same Archebysshop toke ryght sodaynlye the flyght through the wodde for he was to displeasaunt when he sawe that he was knowen Alas noble puis saunt Emperoure I haue thought many tymes in my courage to declare this matter vnto you But I duâ—st not speake to you nor informe you of the case if you finde the coÌ„trary make me die ¶ when the Emperour harde the marchaunt say so he began for to syghe and wepe full tenderly and after sayde vnto the Archebysshop Ha false seruaunt I ought to praise and honour the litle I haue enforced me all my lyfe to doo the good and exalte the in honoure and thou yeldest me dyshonoure and treason for my loyaltie and good will Now euen so â—â—d helpe me my harte tolde me euer that I should be deceyued and becraâ—ed by the. Alas the thyng that I moste doubted is happened me Thou hast made me of all Princes the moâ—ste â—â—famed and vnhappy And of all the greatest the mooste lytle and wretched Alas sayde â—he Emperoure 〈◊〉 â—ander I ought wel for to hate and disprayse my wretched lyfe whan that by treason I haue lost the thynge whiche I moste loued in an euill houre haue I beleued thy counsaill so lightly Ha sayd the Archebisshoppe be not angrye with me for nothyng that the marchaunt telleth you for neuer of this deade I knewe nothyng nor am not culpable but am innocent and so I will holde me Thou lyest fasly saide the marchaunt for of thy treason thou canst not excuse the. And if thou wilt saye the contrary I wil fyght with the in a fielde to susteyne my quarell And I offre here my body to suffre death if that I reÌ„dre the not before the darkenyght false traytour either dead or vanquysshed or thou shalt confesse thy case And to the eude that none thinke but that my courage accordeth with my harte and sayinges I deliuer the me gage and thynke to defende the well Whan the Emperour Alexander sawe that the wager was casten down he said to the Archebisshop Nowe is it tyme after iustice and ryght that you thynke for to right with the marchaunt or els to knowledge the trouthe Hay syre sayde the Archebisshop you ought to wyte that to fight or doo dedes of armes I ought to be excused for Iama prelate and a priest sacred wherefore it apperteyneth not in no wyse that I should fight for in that doyng I should false and repreue the dignite of holy churche By my fayht sayde the Emperoure in this quarell is none excutacion but behoueth you to fyght with the marchaunt that accuse you of treason it that ye wil not do it I holde you for culpable of y e dede Of these wordes was the Archebysshop muche affrayde for he sâ— we well that he must nedes fight and said to the Em perour Redoubted syr whan you will that I proue with my body that I am innocent of this cause I shal be ready howe well that it is agaynst myne estate in excusing him but litle auayled his speche and his excu sacions for the Emperoure commaunded that the Ar chebysshop should be kept in suche wyse that he might haue him at his pleasure euery tyme that he shold aske for hym And commaunded also that the marchaunt should be taken and honestly treated Then the Empe roure assembled his counsayll and the daye was determined the fielde taken the tyltes made for the marchaunt and the Archebisshop to fyght in In the which battayll God that is ryghtfull Judge shewed before euery body that treason and falshode retourned euer to their maisters as you shall here ¶ Howe the Emperoure Alexander by the counsayll of the moste wisest sent for the king Pepyn to be at the daye of batayll for to here the truthe Cap. viii AFter that the daye was determined the fielde coÌ„maunded to be prepared the lystes made there came tidinges to the Emperoure that kynge Pepyn was come to Rome to ayde and comforte the pope agaynst the false infideles enemies of our holy fayth And tho it was aduised by the counsaill of the moste discrete of his palais that they should go fetche kyng Pepyn to the ende that he myght be present at the forsaid day of batayll for the more honester excusation of the Emperoure And that he might se and knowe clerely that by euill treason he had separed his wife out of his company or that by good ryght and good quarell he had expulsed her To this counsayll
him as you shal here afterward And whan the king sawe that he myght not haue the wylde man he lefte him and wence on his vyage to Rome The bataylles were renged and the Oryflambe of Fraunce war gyuen to bere a valiaunt prynce that was named Myllon Dangler wyse and of right good conduyte There was Getuays and SampsoÌ„ his brother that were va lyaunt knighres and diuers other dukes erles and ba rons Nowe they haue ryden so muche that they are co men vnto Rome and haue demaunded batayll and the maner of the sarasins it was tolde them how an ad myrall had taken Rome put many men to death and destroyed And hadde vndone the churches and made temples for ydolles And there constrayned the Pope cardynalles archebisshoppes and bisshoppes to serue them after the guyse of their lawe cursed and dampna ble and when kyng Pepyn vnderstode these tydynges he was muche sorowfull for the distresse that the christen men werein He approched nere the citie of Rome and made to assemble his hoste and put his men of armes in arraye and ordeyned his battayles For his harte was entyerly set for to maynteyne the christen fayth â–ª the whiche I shall recyte vnto you here after folowyng ¶ Howe kyng Pepyn beseged Rome And howe Ualentyne Justed with the Admyrall and slewe hym by whose prudence the cytie was gotten agayne ¶ Capitulo xi AFter that the kynge Pepyn had assyeged y e cytee of Rome he called his baâ—ans knyghtes sayd to them in this wyse Lordes you knowe euydently that this mastyf Admyrall and enemye of our holy fayth hath put many valyaunt crysten men vnto dethe and vyllauyed the chyrche Romayne where as our lorde Jesu chryste was serued so deuoutly and honoured the whiche ought for to styre vs vnto compassyon and moderly pyte And therfore I am purposed by the helpe of Jhesu chryste my creatour in whom is my truste for to fyghte and expell the paynyms and sarazyns oute of the cyte of Rome and of all the countree aboute it wherfore aduise you whiche of you wyll bere a letter of dyffyenge vnto the for sayd Admyrall in my name For I wyll delyuer and gyue vnto hym a Journeye of batayll And wyll fyght with hym in exaltinge and susteynyng our fayth vnto the dethe Whan kynge Pepyn had spoken thus there was none that wolde presente them for to answer saue Ualentyne that stepte forth before the kynge and spake afore them all sayenge Syr yf it please you to gyue me lycence I shyl vndertake the message and shal speke afore all the panyms and theyr fyerse Admyrall in suche maner that with the helpe of god and of hys swete moder ye shall knowe that I haue done your message to your profyte myne honoure Of the good wyll and valyaunt courage of Ualentyne the kynge was ryght Joyous and all they of the courte meruaylled therat Than the kynge made a secretary to come whiche he made to wryte a letter of dyffyaunce and after gaue it to Ualentyne for to bere vnto the Admyrall panym ¶ And Ualentyne mounted on horsbacke and toke leue of the kynge and of them of the courte And than he put hym selfe on the waye in puttynge hym in the garde and kepinge of our lorde Jesu christe and came vnto Rome And it is not to be demaunded yf y t he was well loked on for he behaued hym so wel on horsbacke in armes that there was none that sawe hym but that they toke grete pleasure He wente towarde the palays where as y e Admyrall was in his halles tryumphauntly in grete pompes Ualentyne entâ—ed in came before the Admyrall and salued hym in this maner Jhesus that was borne of the vyrgyn Mary and that for vs all suffered dethe and passyoÌ„ saue from euyl encombrauÌ„ce the noble and puyssaunte kyng Pepyn And mahommet saue y e and socoure the redoubted Admyrall euen as I wolde whan Ualentyne had spoken thus the Admyral rose vp and as fyerse proude sayd vnto hym Messenger Ualentyne retorne the to the ende that I se thee no more And tell vnto kynge Pepyn that of Jesus holdeth the lawe that he byleue on mahommet and that he renounce his byleue for euermore or knowe for a certaynte that Iam purposed for to put hym vnto dethe and to dystroye all his londes Nowe go thy waye messenger and make before me no more abydynge For to here thy worde my herte can not suffre Grete foly hast thou enterprysed whaÌ„ that so fyersly thou arte entred in to my palays for to declare suche a thynge before my hyghe maieste Now know for a certayne that yf I knewe that thou dyde it by pryde or presumpcyon and that thou haste enterprysed this thynge by mockery y u sholde neuer retourne vnto kynge Pepyn whan Ualentyne herde the fyerse wordes of the Admyrall he was moche ferefull and not with out a cause For he was full nere the death if that oure Lord had not preserued him he was so inspyred of god that he gaue hym an answere solytarye as well for the lyfe of the body as for â–ª the lyfe of the soule And as wyse and wel endoctrined to giue an answer spake in this maner wyse Alas ryght myghtye and hyt Emperoure do not thyncke in your ymaginacyon that by pryde or presumpcyon I am comen before your magnyfycence For syr whan you shall knowe the maner and the dede how I am comen you wyl be a meruaylled ¶ Tel vs howe thou art comen and all the dede for euen so mahommet helpe me but I shall take pleasure and conso lacyon to here the recite thine enterprise and multeply thy courage in all goodnes Than spake Ualentine sayd Syr Admyrall it is true and certayne that by fals and dysloyall enuye I haue bene accused to the kynge Pepyn and they haue told him that for the great fere and dredâ— that I had to go to warre I would haue retorned into FrauÌ„ce For the which cause the kyng Pepyn hath me in greate indignacion And one morowe he made me to be taken for to smyte of my heed whan I sawe my selfe in thys daunger for to length my lyfe I dyd auaunt me before them all of a great folye For I swore before them of the court that I shoulde come towarde you for to defye you and all your baâ—ons on kynge Pepyns behalfe And more ouer I dyd vaunte me that at my departyng I shuld demaunde you three strokes with a spere vpon your bodi that is so valiauÌ„t and so well renowmed for to wyn pryse and honoure wherfore I requyre you that ye accorde me this thynge for otherwyse I dare not retourne before the kynge Pepyn lest he make me dye Sone sayde the Admyral by mahommet the ryght puyssaunt you shall not be refused but at this same houre I vttre to you y e Justes And to the ende that y e frensshmen that hathe assyeged this cyte may se your
hors and a byde for with me thou shalte haue batayll Than Orson the wylde man lefte the hors of Ualentine and lifte vp his eyen and loked vp in to the tree And whan he sawe Ualentine he made hym sygnes with his handes and heed the he would pull him in peces And then valentine made the sygne of the crosse in recoÌ„maunding him vnto god and after drewe out his sworde and lepte downe besyde Orson When Orson sawe the sworde that valentyn woulde haue smytâ—eâ— hym with he drewe hym backe and kept him from the stroke And then he came to valentyne and with cleane strengthe threwe hym to the earthe vnder hym wherof valentyne was sore abashed and discomforced for he wende well to haue dyed and fynyshed his dayes in that place For he felte Orson the sauage so stroÌ„g that he had neuer hope for to escape fro hym Ha very God sayde he haue pytie on me and suffre not that I fynyshe here my dayes thus pyteously by this wylde man Diuers times valeÌ„tyne wende for to haue turned Orson vnder hym but he ne might When valentyne sa we that by strengthe of bodye he myght not wynne hym he drewe out a sharpe poynted knyfe and smote Orson in to the ryght syde in suche wyse that the bloude yssued out by great haboundauÌ„ce Then Orson â—â—erâ—â— vp when heselte himselfe wounded And for the dolour that he felte as all in a â—age he gaue suche a crye that all the wodde so wâ—ed therof After he came againe vnto the noble valentine and so fiersly he assayled hym with his sharpe nayles that he caste hym yet downe agayne And there they fought so longe together that it were to muche for to recount al the maner As they fought thus without cesyng Orson tooke his shelde fro about his necke And when that he had taken it from hym he behelde it tyght strongly because of the beautie of the colours that he was not accustomed for to se and then he cast it strongly against the earth and incontinent retourned vnto valentyne and with his nayles and his teeth pressed hym so harde y t he broke both harneys and haubergon And smote him so tudely with his nailes that he made the bloud sproÌ„g out on all sydes And when Ualentyne felte hymselfe so sore wounded he was tyght sorowfull and pensife began for to reclayme our sord with both his harte and courage Alas said he veray god almighty in y e is mine only hope and truste mine onely refuge and comforte wherfore I praye the humbly that thou wilt haue pytte on me And euen so as by thy worthy grace thou kepte and saued Banyâ—lamong the lyons so kepe me from this wylde man And when Ualentine had made his prayer vnto god he went towarde Orson with his sworde for to haue smyten him but Orson lepte a back and went to alyttell tree the whiche tree he bowed and bracke it and made therof an horryble staffe and after came vnto Ualentyne and gaue hym suche a strooke y t he made hym for to fall vpon one knee Ualentyne as hardy rose vp quickely and so began betwene them a ryght fyerse batayll And the two brethren had ardauÌ„e desyres for to destroye eche other but they knewe not y t they were brethren nor the cause of their fortune Orson was so cruel so strong y t he would haue staine Ualentyne dyuers tymes if it had not bene for his sworde that he doubted aboue all thinges because of y e knyfe that he had smyten him with So muche and so longe they fought together by dyuers maners that they were both wery and strongly trauayled Then Ualentyne behelde Orson and began for to saye vnto hym Alas wylde man wherfore doest thou not yelde the vnto me thou lyuest here in this woddelyke a beaste and hathe no knowledge of God nor of his blyssed mother saynt Mary nor of his holy fayth for the whiche thy soule is in great daunger Come on thy way with me then shalt thou do wysely I shall make the be baptized and shall teache the the holy fayth And shall geue the flesh and fylthe bread and wyne ynough for to eate and clothes and all maner of thinges that appertayneth vnto a mannes body and shalt vse thy lyfe honestly as euery naturall body should doo When Orson vnderstode Ualentyne speke he apperceyued well by his sygnes y t he would him good And Ualentyne spake vnto hym of God and of ourlady and then after the course of nature that can not lye Orson fell downe vpon both his knees stretcheth forth his handes towarde his brother Ualentyne in makyng hym signe that he woulde forgeue hym and that he woulde obeye vnto hym in al maner of thynges for the tyme to come And he shewed vnto him by sygnes that neuer the dayes of his life he should fayle him neyther with body nor goodes It is not for to be demaunded if that Ualentyne was glad when he sawe that the wilde man was conquered by hym and put in subiection and made greate ioye and not without a cause For he had coÌ„quered more honour by his prowisse then any knight that was in his time for there was none that durste vndertake it were he neuer so bolde nor hardy He toke Orson by the hande shewed him by sygnes that he should go afore hym tyll they were out of the wodde and so he dyd and anone they were out of the wodde Then Ualentyne toke one of his gyrthes and for doubte that he shoulde doo hym no harme nor none other he bounde his handes taste vnto his body And when that he had bounde hym fast he mounted on horsebacke and ledde him with hym as a beast tyed without that euer this same Orson didde hym any harme or made hym an euyl semblaunt that was a thyng myraculous ¶ Howe Ualentyne after that he had conquered Orson departed from the forest for to returne to OrleauÌ„ce towarde the kyng Pepyn that was there Cap. xiiii UAlentine hath done so muche with goddes helpe that he hath ouercome and conquered the wylde Orson He mounted on horsbacke for to go to Orleaunce and he did so muche that he entred into a great vyllage but also sone as the men of the vyllage sawe the wylde man they ranne into their houses and for great fere shytte their dores so that none myght entre Ualentyne cryed vnto them byddyng them haue no dreade and that they shoulde open their gates for he woulde haue lodging but for any thyng that he could say they woulde not open their doores Then he esâ—ryed them sayng by god almighty if you geue me no lodgyng for to paise the night and take my rest knowe that I shal vnbynde the wylde man and let him goo and than I am certaine he will fynde me lodging to my pleasure Often required Ualentyne that he myght haue some lodgyng but euery body had so great feare of the wilde man that they durst not
wer in the felde After he sayd vnto Grigar go and arm you and thynke for to defend your quarel wel Ha syr sayd Grigar I haue serued you longe time withall my puissaunce haue enforced me for to obey you in al thinges as wel in batayl as wythoute but euyll rewarde you yelde me whan that you wyll make me fyght agaynst this wylde man that hathe neyther wytte nor reason Grygar sayd kyng Pepyn if you haue good right you ought not to be dysmayed of nothynge for I promyse you that you shal be wel armed and Orson shalbe put into the felde al naked and without armour You shall be on horsback and he shal be on fote without bering ony wepen wherby you shal haue no cause for recule a backe from defendyng of your ryghte I can not tell how it shal befal you but you shewe wel the seÌ„blaunt that there is somwhat to say in you do your deuoyre and defend your ryght for you shall haue none other thynge of me the cause is consumed and the conclusy on made and taken of my counsayll ¶ How Orson and Grigar fought togyder before kinge Pepyn and how Orson vaynquyshed him made him confesse the treason openly and after was hanged And how Valentine was delyuered Ca. xix AFter that Grygar had made dyuers excuss cyons and apposycyons that he sholde not fyght wyth Orson and that it was delybered by the counsail to fight â–ª the kinge commauÌ„â—ed to make the feld afore his palais And when he was ready Orson that was abidyng eâ—â—ered in for to abyde Grygar y t was armed by Haufray Henry the which armed him also well as they could And when he was armed he tooke his leue of them in saying Lordes I go dye for you Euill was the daye for me when I enterprysed suche a thyug Holde your peace sayd Henry and take no thought for I haue promysed you to make your peace to wathe my father the whiche I will holde so that and you be vanquished by Orson your body shall haue no harme And if that he would domage you in any maner there should rather dye an hundred thousande men then we should faile on out syde be euer secrete and knowledge neuer nothyng of the deede that is done nor of the enterpryse Grygar was armed and mounted on horsebacke and so he rode towarde the fielde that was ordeined before the palais And when the houre was come that they should fight the kyng came to the wyndowes for to beholde the batayle When al the court was assembled and the iudges ordayned for to iudge the bataill it was commaunded to both the parties that they shoulde do their deuoyre Than Grygar entred into the fielde with muche pryde mounted at auauntage wherfore it befell hym euill at the ende He sporred his horse and drewe towarde Orson saying Rybaude thou hast done me to great outrage whaÌ„ thou put out one of min eien through thy cruel nes but I shall shewe the that with wronge and without cause thou haste assayled me ¶ And when Orson sawe him come he vnderstode hym well and stratched forth his armes and she wed his nayles and his teeth grennyng full hugely Then Grygar couched his spere and ranne towarde Orson When Orson sawe the spere come he gaue a lepe backward And Grygar that had fayled of his stroke fixed his speere in the fielde Whan Orson sawe that he retourned to him and tooke the spere and when that Orson hadde the spere in his hande he gaue hym so great a stroke that he loste witte and vnderstaÌ„ding in such wyse that he wist not where he was When Grygar was smyten he sporred horse and fledde about the fielde and Orson ranne after makyng a grymly countenaunce and shewyng the kyng that he woulde yelde hym matte anone And when Grygar apperceyued the great daunger that he was in he sayde within himselfe A Haufray I muste dye for you I had well sayde it euyll is the thing begon and euill shal it finishe In this maner Grygar could not wouÌ„de Orson in no wyse And when Orson sawe this he â—ast the spere downe and after came against Grygar and so stâ—aitâ—he kept him that he caught his horse by the necke and he made him turne so ofteÌ„ about that he made him fall but when he felte his horse fal he would haue lept out of his sadle and at the lepe he lost his shelde for it fell down and Orson ranne to it and anone put it vpoÌ„ hym and went towarde the horse and mounted vpon hym and in makyng marueylous sygnes he roode after Grygar that fled about in the fielde To se the countenaunce of Orson euery body was abasshed And the kyng Pepyn amongest the other was muche pensyfe for this case and sayde before them all By God almiâ—hey lordes I marueyle me muche of this feate and I can tell what to thynke nor to what ende it wil come but whatsoeuer it be or what may happen it is myne opinion that there is treason ryght greate somwhere The kyng was pensyfe vpon this enterpryse And Orson that was mounted on horsebacke for to pursue Grygar descended of the horse and wente vnto him on fote and he gaue suche a stroke that he smote him down to the grounde and after he lepte vpon him and tooke his sworde and his dagger from him after he gaue him so mighty a stroke that he smote of his arme and hys shoulder And then he gaue hym another marueylous stroke in the body so that he cut his reynes of his back in two And Grygar escryed soo hye that euerye body herde it in demaundyng a priest for to be confessed of his synnes and to haue absolucion of them And when the gardes of the fielde vndrstode hym a muche notable knyght that had the charge went to ward him and demaunded hym what he woulde and then Grygar sayd vnto hym Syr make the kyng Pepyn descende for I will before all the worlde tell and confesse the falsnes and treason of my case ¶ Then this thyng was sygnifyed to the kyng Pepyn all clearely what he had sayde ¶ How Grygar after that he was ouercome and vanquyshed by Orson confessed before the king â–ª Pepyn the treason that Haufray and Henry had done against the noble Ualentyne ¶ Cap. xx WHen Grygar sawe the kynge he cryed hym mercye And recounted vnto him howe that by the commaundement of Haufray and Henry he had taken Ualentyne put hym in pryson tyll lye be iudged to deathe Whan kynge Pepyn knew the trouth of the mater he commaunded to hang Grygar Sith he mouÌ„ ted on horsbacke for to go vnto the pryson that valen tyne was in whan Orson vnberstode that the kinge wold go he ranne before hym makyng grete chere to hym shewynge hym the waye And the kynge sayd often Lordes it is a great thyng of thys wyld man that loueth Valentine thus know that his manners styreth me much for to do hym some
shall finde a remedy and auenge you tyght shortly And here I sweare vnto you that I shall serue Ualentyne and you truely also long as I lyue Frende sayd Bellyssant if thou mayest do so muche as delyuer my two chyldren out of pryson I shall neuer fayle the whyles that I lyue Lady sayde Pacolet be ioyous and take comforte vnto you â–ª for or that it be longe I shall worke soo craftely and soo subtylly with myne arte that of my persone you shall bee ryght well content and pleased ¶ How Pacolet by his arte deliuered Ualentyne and Orson out of kynge Ferragus pryson and conduyted them oute of his countrey with their mother and the fayre Clerymonde Cap. xxxv By the enchauntour Pacolet the fayre Clery monde and the Empresse Bellyssant were recomforted of their great sorow and made great dyligence whyles that the kyng Ferragus and his barons daunced and made great chere and when they had trauayled sore they went to bedde and slepte Pacolet slepte not but was ryght dylygent about his gere for to playe his crafte with And then he came to a great towre whereof the gates were of tyne stele great and thycke and surely locked But also soone as he had casten his sorte the gates opened and the lockes broke then he entred vntyll he came to the doore of the pryson that the thyldren were in and also soone as he touched the dore it opeded and brake as the other gate dydde When the two chyldren that were in the darke pytharde the dore open with ioyned handes deuoutly they kneled downe to the earth and cryed god mercye for they wende well that the Gyaunt Ferragus hadde sent for them to make them dye Ualentyne began for to wepe tenderly and Orson sayde to hym Take in you comforte and pacience for it behoueth vs to die and finishe our daies I se it clerely but syth that it is soo that I se none other remedy I thynke for too venge me or I dye on hym that setteth fyrst handes on me Than Orson toke vp a great barre that laye beside hym And when Pacolet aduysed theim he sayde vnto them thus Lordes for me haue no doubte for I am come hether for your delyueraunce Come lyghtly after me for or the daye be cleare I shall shew you the mother that bare you Ualentyne was muche ioyous when he harde Pacoler speake soo but Orson that behelde hym fyersly â–ª would not truste therein ¶ And when Pacolet sawe Orson beholde hym so fyersly he withdrewe hym abacke for great feare that he had but Ualentyne recoÌ„forâ—eâ— him muche â—wetâ—ly and assured hym of his brother Orson Then Pacolet ledde theym and conduyted them vnto the chambre whereas the sorowfull ladyes were wepyng The dores were locked but he could ouen them well After they entred in to the house where as Pacolet threwe so his charme that he made al them of the place to slepe so strongly that they knew nothing of their comyng And when they were entred in to the chambre where as the twoo sorowefull ladies was they went to warde their mother that myght not speake one worde but fel vnto the earth in a swowne and the fayre Clerymonde sayde vnto Ualentyne pyteouslye Alas knyght it is your in other that for the loue of you is fallen in a swowne Then valentyne embraced her and toke her vp and Orson colled her betwene his armes in saying to her Swete mother alas speake vnto me and then kissed her whiche myght speake neuer a worde and they were all â—hre so profoundly smyten to the â—arce w t pyte that they fel vnto y e earth in a swowne and lay there a great whyle For their pyte Clerymond wept full bytterly And when the lady Bellyssant and the chyldren were rysen their mother sayd vnto them al weping Alas my childreÌ„ for your sakes I haue suffred and enduted more greater payne anguy she then euer poore woman suffred And of all my lamentacions you were the cause but sythe that God of his diuine grace and puyssaunre hath saued you in suche maner y t once in my lyfe I may se you betwene myne armes of all my colours I am recomforted But tel me and declare me howe and by what manner sythe the tyme that I chylded you you haue bene noutysshed and gouerned in what countrey and with what meÌ„ you haue ben retayned for I haue ryght great desire to know y e truthe Then Ualentyne beholdyng his mother â—ygh pyteously tolde and recounted vnto her the truthe of their deades and gouernyng and howe they were founde in the â—orest in declaryng her the fortunes and perpllous aduentures that they had ben in al the tyme of theyr lyues vnto that present houre ¶ And whan Ualentine had finisshed his wordes the Empresse BellissaÌ„t that knewe clerely that they were her propre children was with a naturall loue so asperly taken that with greter haboundaunce of teres than before â—he wolde haue fallen in swowne Than Pacolet that was in the chaÌ„bre sayd vnto her in this maner Lady leue this wepynge and thynke for to departe from this place for it is tyme that we go out of Portyngale yf you wyll be delyuered out of the subgeccion of kinge Fetragus Alasse sayd Clerymonde my loue Ualentyne wel ought you to remembre the othe and promise that you haue made me Hold your couenaÌ„t and take me vnto wyfe as you haue promysed me Lady sayd Valentyne of my loyalte haue noo doubte for that whiche I haue promysed you with good hart I wyl â–ª truely kepe but for this presente tyme the naturall loue of my moder toucheth me more at the hart that I haue soughte so longe than all the other pleasures of the world Not for that my loue doubte you not for I truste neuer nor haue un volente to haue other than you to wyfe and spouse UpoÌ„ these wordes came Orson said vnto Pacolet that he shold go and open Ferragus chambre doore and that wyth his handes he wolde â—le hym Orson sayd Pacolet com with me for I shal open it at your own plesure Lordes sayd Clerymonde leue that enterpryse for â–ª I wylâ— neuer consent vnto his death And I let you wit if you sâ—e him you shal lese the loue of my broder the grene knight the which may healpe you in diuers thinges By my fayth sayde Ualentine you saye the â—eraâ—e trouthe and you haue spoken more wisâ—lyer than we haue don for of the dethe of your broder you ought not to be culpable Iâ— that houre they departed out of the cyte and Pacolet wente before that opened them the gates So they folowed hym tyll that they came too a porte of the see and there entred into a galee that Pacolecte hadde made redy for them They had wynde at wyland saylled so longe that they arryued at Clerymondes castell whereas they toke lande for to refreshe them ¶ How Valentine and Orson concluded for to depart out of the castel for fere
his oth And if it hapen that I be constrayned to suche a thynge by you you shall be the cause to put my soule in daunger whych shall be a reproche to you before God and the world And as the duke of Acquitaine spake so to his Doughter he sawe Ualentine and Orson comminge whych he receyued in grete honour and enbraced them And whan Orson had salued the duke he wend to ward the fayre Fezonne that for grete â—oy began for to smyle Alas sayde she you be hertely welcome for your longe abydinge hathe greued me sore And yf you had not commen my father wold haue maryed me vnto an other knight than you that for to haue me hath taken much great payne and much wel he resembleth you of nose and mouthe My loue sith that I was here I haue learned to speke and am the same y t praâ—ed you of loue to day in your chambre Than was the lady so Joious that I canne not recount it and Orson entred into a chambre and chamged that habite and put on right precious robes that he had made the litle Pacolet bringe with him and after entred into the hall And whan the Duke aduysed him he went and enbraced him swetelâ— and said to him Faire sonne pardon me of that I wold haue geuen my doughter to another than you for I wende well that you wolde neuer haue retorned Sit saide Orson with good hert I pardon you Than the Duke demaunded them how they had done sith theyr departinge And orson recounted before them all the fortune and auenture that they had ben in and how thei wer sonnes to the Emperoure of Constantinoble named Alexander and of kynge Pepins sister named Bellessant the whyche they had founden in Portyngale Whan the duke of Acquitaine vnderstode that the two valyaunte knightes were of so hye a bloude extraught he had so greate Joye at his heart y t tel it I can not Than he said knyghtes you be wo thy for to haue grete honoure and reuerence whan of al the cristiens you are the noblest extraught and dyscended But of one thing I am sorowfull and dyspleasaunte that is of your fader the Emperoure of Grece and of your vncle the kynge Pepin that are assyeged in Constatinoble by the painims and sarazyns and theyr warre hath endured so long that if god helpe them not shortly with socoure they muste yealde theim vnto theyr enmies whiche is a thinge muche pyteous whan Ualentine hearde that his fader and hys vncle were in daunger he made such dole that none might appease hym and complained more his vncle Kinge Pepin than his fader Than Pacolet said vnto hym Sir leaue this sorowe for yf you wyll byleue me I shal set you or to morow at nyght with in Constanty noble by God sayd Ualentine he is folyshe that byleueth the or the deuyl must bere thâ— â–ª Syr sayd Pacolet yf you wyll mounte vpon my hors and do that whiche I shall tell you we shall be in Grece or the day fayl Pacolet sayde Ualentine I accord me vnto thy sayinges for I desire nothynge soo muche as to see my father that I neuer sawe At that houre the knyght Ualentine was delivered for to departe on the â—noro we to go vnto Constantynoble and for the loue of his departynge the duke of Acquytayne made fyrst Orson to be wedded vnto his doughter Fezonne And made theyr weddynge so richely that there had ben neuer none such sene in that citye They made so grete noyse with trompettes and claryons that the painims heard it in theyr pauilions The duke of Acquitaine made Bellissant and Clarymono to be brought in his palais with grete honoure Than was there a spye that sawe al this and went and tolde 〈◊〉 to Ferragus how he had sene them wich the traitour Pacolet By mahoune sayd the gyaunt Ferragus I ought well to be dâ—lent of the traycour Pacolet that hath so falsly deceyued me and led away my syster Clerymonde that I loued so muche with the christians But I swere my god Mahoune that within short space I shal take vengeaunce on him and on al his other complices and helpers for I shall make them all dye an euill death ¶ How the gyaunt Ferragus for to haue sucoure sent for the kyng Tromparte and the enchauntour Adramayne ¶ Cap. xâ— FErragus the false Sarazyn was muche angrye and ful of Ire whan he sa we that of his syster Clerymonde and the two knyghtes he myght not take vengeaunce Then he called a heraude and toke hym a letter that he had made to be wrytten by the whiche letter he sente worde toâ— kynge Tromparte that in continent and without delaye also soone as he hadde sene the letter that he would come towarde hym well accompanied and with a greate puyssaunce of men of armes as well as he myght And yf so were that he would geue hym sucoure he should geue hym to wyfe his syster clerymonde And with this he â—â—aunded hym that he shoulde bryng the enchauntour Adramayne with hym that had learned so wel the â—â—tâ— of tollecre that for to playe with Nygromancy he 〈◊〉 passed mayster thus were the letters made and geueâ— to the messenger the whiche put hym vpon the waye for to do his message So will I leaue to speake of the gyaunt Ferragus and shal speake of valentyne that is within Acquitayne where as he taketh leue of lordes and of ladies and of the fayre Clerymonde the whiche for his departyng was muche sorowfull and demaunded hym Loue when will you wedde me holde me loyal couenaunt for in you is al my truste Lady said valentyne haue no doubte of me â–ª for I shal be true to you and I swere to you and promyse you that also sone as it shall please God almighty that I returne from Constantinoble without soâ—ouâ—nyng or delacion I shall wedde you Then he sayd to the duke of Acquitayne â— to his brother Orson Lordes I shall leue you my loue Clerymonde to kepe as to my pryncypall frendes that I trust my moost in In praying you that also soone as it maâ—â—e possible to you that you make to be ministâ—ed vnto her the sacrament of baptisme and chaunge not her name for none other for it is my will that she â—ere that name Ualentyne sayde the duke of Acquytayne take no thought for her for also derely shall the fayre Clerymonde be kept as my propre doughter Feâ—onne Then valentine toke leue of the duke of Acquytayne that for his departing had his harte sorowfull syth he embraced the fayre Clerymonde and in takynge leue of her he kissed her swetely but the noble lady was so sorowfull that she myght speke neuer a worde Ualentine lefte her and began to wepe And Orson tooke leue of hym the whiche sayde vnto him ryght swetely Brother I praye to Iesu christ that he kepe you saue you â–ª and among all other thinges I beseche you humbly that you wil recommaunde me
messenger and went vnto the palais where as he found the kyng of Ynde the quene Rozemonde syttyng besyde hym the which knewe Ualentyne right well so she sayde to the kyng Syr se you hym yonder it is the same that toke me from you the fyrste tyme that you would haue ledde me awaye Lady sayde the king of Ynde at this houre I shall auenge me for he shal neuer in his lyfe escape me That shall he sayde the lady for I knowe him of so muche that yet you maye haue good seruice of hym Then Ualentyne approched with a hardy haâ—te and salued the kyng and the quene right hyghely Syr sayde Ualentyne I am messenger vnto kynge Lucar that sendeth me too you And maundeth you by me that you sende hym his Lady Rozemonde agayne shortely that you tooke from hym that is here And if thou wyll do it he will pardon you the death of his father and shall make his armye to go out of your lande without any soiournyng but notwithstandyng that I am charged for to do you this message if you wil beleue me you shall neuer consent therto but shall kepe the lady that is so fayre and that loueth you soo well And knowe that neuer the dayes of my lyfe I shall bee in no place where as I shall suffer you to be blanted dishonoured for the loue of the lady And all the terme of my lyfe I shall serue you truely Knyght sayde the kyng of Ynde you speake as valiaunt your wordes pleaseth me muche But for a conclusion you shall saye vnto kyng Lucar that and he haue to do with wiues y t he seke other then my loue Rozemande for he shall neuer the dayes of his lyfe sleepe by her sydes nor haue pleasure of her body Knyght sayd the lady salue my father and tell hym that of this dede he is the cause for I had tolde himself that I would not be geuen vnto Lucar now my father hath done agaynst my wyll and I haue done agaynst his so tell vnto Lucar that he haue no more trust in me Lady sayd Valentyne I shall doo your message with good harte Thus he toke leue right ioyous to be escaped from the kyng of Ynde and retorned vnto kyng Lucar and tolde him his aunswere saying Syr purchace you another wyfe for Rozemonde is wedded vnto the kyng of Ynde that slepeth with her euery nyght and doech his pleasure When Lucar vudâ—â—â—tode those wordes he wrong his handes and pulled his heere saying Ha my loue for you it behoueth that Idye when I haue loste the moost fayrest the moost noble and the moost louing that is in the worlde Alas what hadde I done to you that hath purchased me soo great displeasure Fals kyng of Ynde I shal neuer loue the for thou hast slayne my father fasly and taken my wyfe by treason from me Then Brandiffer sayde vno him My fayre sonne I am ryght sory for your displeasure but at this tyme I can not amende it for it â—e houeth me to go in to my lande to chase away the Frenchemen as you haue heard the messenger saye or elles my lande shall be destroyed Syr sayde Lucar let vs assayle the cytie or you departe By mahoune sayd Brandyffer none assâ—ure can take it for it must be wonne by â—amyne wherfore abyde you here vnto my retourne ⧠Howe kyng Lucar dyd so muche that kyng Brandyffer abode with hym and seute Valentyne into Augorye agaynst kyng Pepyn Cap. lxxiiii WHen kyng Lucar vnderstode that kyng Brandyffer would leue hym he was tyght sorowfull and sayde to hym Syr it is true that you haue promysed me to auenge me on the kynge of Ynde that hathe done vs so great an iniurye ¶ That is true sayd BraÌ„dyffer but I am sory that I may not accomplyshe my promyse for the goyng to kepe my lande Nowe I shall tell you sayde kynge Lucar howe you maye do for to saue youre honour and mine I haue here a knyght named Valentyne aboue all other the moost valyaunt so you may geue hym youre men for I haue founde hym true in all thynges ¶ And moreouer you haue in this hoost your vncle Murgalant that of long tyme hathe folowed the warre and knoweth muche And me thinke that it sheld be good that these twayne made the â—iage and you abyde here To these wordes Brandiffer accorded and sent for them both saying to them Lordes you are chosen of vs twayne to goo into Angorye too reyse vp the syege that kyng Pepyn hath set So I pray you that you do so that my londe maye be defended and kepte And you fayre vncle thynke for to doo well and it shall be rendred you Fayre neuewe take no more thought for sythe that I leade with me the noble Ualentyne I make no doubte but that all shall be wel after these thynges deuysed and ordeyned there was geuen vnto Ualentyne and Murgalant a hondred thousande paynyms â–ª and also many abode in the hoost of kyng Lucar Ualentyne and Murgalant mounted vpoÌ„ the sea and rowed soo muche that they arryued at the hauen of Angory But a lytell whyle afore they arryued Ualentyne aduysed a toure couered with fyne laten so he damaunded the maryners what place it was Sir sayd they it is the stronge castell and wyte that it is a strong place and so subtylly composed at the entre that there can but one man passe at ones for and if twaine would passe at ones they should fall in to the sea that beteth against the walles And in that same castel king Brandiffer hath kept his doughter Galazye long time to the ende that she should not be stolen nor taken away of no body For in the worlde is not memorye of a fayrer than she but there is so muche that he wyll not geue her to no liuing creature When Ualentyne harde those wordes there toke hym a ryght great desyre for to go se the lady and sayde to hymselfe that he shoulde neuer be Joyous tyll that he had sene her Nowe are they aryued besyde Angorye and haue taken lande and sette forth their hoost in a short tyme. They sawe right well the tentes and pauilions of kynge Pepyn that were muche glystering and pleasaunt for to beholde Great dyligence made the christen men for to assayl the cytie But within was an admyrall named Bruhans the whiche yssued out euery day vpon king Pepin and did great prowesse with his men When Murgalant aduised the hoost of the christeÌ„ men that helde a great grouÌ„d he called Ualentyne and sayde to hym Knyght counsayll vs vpoÌ„ this feate for I se know that the christeÌ„ men are strong and a great nombre Murgalant sayde Ualentyne I shall tell you myne opynion I counsayll that you sende a messenger a none in to the cytie of Angorye to specyfye to our men that we are aryued that they fayle not to morowe in the mornyng to yssue oute vpon the christen men and assaile
had the strengthe of ten and for the loue of Jhesu christ were content for to suffre death And the sarazins that were ten agaynst one enclosed the tristen meÌ„ 〈◊〉 it nedeth not to demaunde the prowesse of Orson and of the grene knight for they dyd suche dedâ—s of armes that there was no paynym that abode on liue before theÌ„ Whan the Admitall paynym sawe theyr prowesses he approched nâ—re them and smote a valyaunte knyght in to the sea beside Orson of the whiche he was muche angrye for he loued hym soo he toke an axe and gaue the Admyrall suche a stroke that he ouerthrewe hym dead in his shyppe And whan the paynyms sawe that they were all discomforted and lost their strength and wichdre we them in fleyng all that nyght ¶ But they loste fyftene of their shyppes and foure thousands of their men that was slayne And after the Emperour of Grece spake vnto his men and sayd Lordes I counsayll that we take the armes of these cursed paynims armed vs with araye vs like sarazins for I doubte me sore that we shall bee meete on the sea by the Paynyms The counsaill pleased euery body because that they should not be knowen of the sarazins The Gownes the armes and the harneys of the dead folke they toke and caste the bodyes in to the sea In an euil houre dyd the Emperoure of grece aduyse hym therof for by the armes that he beareth he shall be put vnto death by his sonne UaleÌ„tine as you shal here afterwarde Now the christen men â—te vpoÌ„ the sâ—a that rowled â—y al their baners and set forth in the wynde theÌ„ of the sarazyns and to wed so wel that they aryued within a lytel whyle at the hauen of Angorye ⧠Howe the christen men yssued out of the cytie of Angorye and of the ordenaunce and of their marueylous batayles Capit. C. viii THe kynge Brandyffer and the kynge Lucar a moneth after had assyeged the cyte of Angorye wyth all theyr puyssaunce Valentyne and the other barons had taken counsayl for to yssue out vpon theyr enemyes so they sente the defyaunce vnto BraÌ„dyffer agaynst the mornyng and Brandyffer that was fyerse accorded it Than the Chrysten men that were wythin the cyte of Angory ordeyned theyr bataylles in ten partyes wherof the duke Myllon hadde the fyrste The seconde Sampson of orleaunce The thyrde had his soÌ„ne Geruays erle of Vandosme The fourth the erle of champaygne The. v. quin tyn of NormaÌ„dye The. vi the duke of Burgoyne The vii the erle of Dampmartyn The eyght the erle of Asserue The. ix the Marshall of Constantynoble And Valentyne the tenthe that gaue all the othes oftentymes courage to do well Than the christen men yssued out of Angorye for to assayle Brandiffer that had made fiftene strong batayles and there was in the leest a king Nowe it is not too be demaunded the great rychesses that shyned on the fyelde as well on one syde as other One myght haue heard than trumpettes and clarons and the great batayll begynne About the standarde of the paynyms was Brandiffer kyng Lucar the kynge of Ynde the kyng of salute the admyrall of cordes the admyrall of Orbye the kynge Damene the kynge Dubyas Josue of Paâ—erne the earle Draymant the duke Corâ—hyllant and Croste of Orâ—â—nye Whan it came to the approchynge of the bataylles a paynym of Surye that had neuer bene in warre the whiche for to assaye his body passeth forth came to ward the christen men with his spere couâ—â—â—d muche fyersly Ualentyne sawe him wel the whiche smote his horse with the spores ranne agaynst the paynim and with one stroke smote him downe dead At that same houre the batayle began muche fyersly But the valyauntnes of the paynyms is not to be compared to that of the christen men specially of Ualentyne of the duke Myllon and of the. xiâ— peres The kyng of Ynde entred in to the barayl greued the christen men sore Whan Ualentyne sawe that he roâ—e toward him gaue him so great a stroke that he smote him downe Than the christen men made the sarazyns to recule a backe a great waye for they were dyscomfyte But a sarazyn capitayne of the reâ—egard came and succoured them with thyrty thousande paynyms And there began the batayll more stronger than before The kyng Lucat found the kyng of ynâ—e that fought muche strongly gaue hym succour The christen men were so muche charged with the paynyms at that houre that it was force to theÌ„ to withdrawe theim towarde a poude that was nere a fielde and they shold haue had to muche to do if it had not bene two valiauÌ„t knyghtes that arriued that daye in Angorye accompanied with seuen hundred men of armes The. ii knyghtes that I tell you of came from the holy sepulcre the whiche had suffred great aduersyties as well in pryson as otherwise for to do their vyage The one of theÌ„ brought in to Fraunce the daughter of a ryche admyrall named Claradine and made her to be baptyzed The least of the two knyghtes was Reynarde of Prouaunce and the other Myllon of Dyion and they were fayre and hardy knyghtes So they hadde tydynges of the batayll that was there besyde and made their men to be armed and gaue them sygnes and standardes for to make the paynyms the more afâ—rde And so they came out of the cytie for to succoure the christen men and smote in to the bataill muche fyersly At the approchyng the paynims was muche abashed of this newe coming and not without a cause for Myllon of Dyion at his entre smote downe dead the kyng Lucar and the king Rubres wherof Brandiffer was muche abashed And after enâ—red Reynarde that slewe diuers of the moost valyauntest Ualentyne was muche amarueiled whaÌ„ he sawe those two knyghtes do suche dedes of armes so he rode towarde them and sayde to them Lordes wel be you come tell me if it please you what you are and What dryueth you hether Frende sayde Reynarde we are lordes of FrauÌ„ce that come from the holy sepulcre so we haue heard speke of this enterprise and in the honoure son by the God in whome I beleue euer my harte telleth me that this poore man doth some penaunce that he hath promysed to god In this wyse was Ualentyne a great whyle within his palays without beyng knowen of any body so longe that euerye body sayde that he was dead wherfore the kyng Hugon made the faire Clerymonde to be demaunded for wyfe And after enter prysed and dyd a great treason ¶ Howe the kyng Hugon made Clerymonde to be demaunded for wyfe and howe he betrayed Orson and the grene knyght ¶ Capit. C. xiii IN that same time there was a king in HoÌ„grye that was named Hugon That same king herde speke of Ualentine that had left the Empire of grece the laÌ„de of â—uerpe So he went in to Constantinoble and was receiued of Orson muche honourably