your syster Bellyssant hath to muche euil by the treason and false language of the cursed Acchebisshop for she is vanisshed from the Emperoure and chased out of the countrey And the Archebysshop made him beleue so many false wordes that if the lordes of his court had not bene the whiche fered your futoure he wold haue made her he btence in a fyre afore all the worlde Blandymayn said the kynge Pepyn the whiche was tryst and sorowfull Of as muche holde I the Emperoure more folysher because he made not my syster dye for by the God almighty if I had her hate at this present time I should neuer reste â—il that I hadde made her dye an euil death Nowe forwarde lordes saide kynge Pepyn for oure vyage is done Retorne we vnto Paris for I will go â—oteâ—der I knowe to muche tydinges of my sister w t out demaundinge or enquiryng any more At these wordes he torned the bridle of his horse for to retorne making great sorowe in his courage and beganne to saye vnto himselfe Ha veray God almighty sayd he howe often is man deceiued by woman Nowe am I come to the clene contrary of mine entencion for I purpensed to haue had once of my syster Bellyssant in my lyfe Ioye and pleasure And to haue had the Emperoure Alexander for my frende to succoure me in all my necessities And by her I am greatly diffamed and put vnto a great dishonour In that distresse and melancoly rode the king Pepyna great whyle so longe he â—ode so that he ariued at OrleauÌ„ce Then Blandimain that sawe wel and knewe well the courage of the king Pepyn durste declare no more vnto him of the lady Bâ—llyssant So he â—â—iourned towarde the tre where as he had left her but he founde her not wherfore he was angry and â—yght sorowefull He discended fastâ—ned his horse and began to serche her thorough the wodde And he didde so muche that he founde her lyeng vpon the earth the whiche had wepte so muche for her chylde that she might not speake but with great payne Blandimayn embraced her and set her on her fete and then â—â—â—de vnto her Alas who may haue brought you hether Hâ— Blandymayn said she euer encreaâ—â—â—h my doloure and dystresse Ie is true that whan you were departed there came a beer to me a bare awaye one of my chyldren And I put myselfe on y e waye after thinkyng to haue taken it from hym â–ª but I coude not retorne vnto the tree whereas I left mine other childe Lady sayd he I come from the fote of the tree but I haue founde no chyld yet haue I well loked on euery syde Whan the lady hearde Blandymayne she was more sorowfull than before and yet agayne she tell in a swone blandymayn toke her vp and wepte full hercely for the ladies sake He ledde her towarde the tree where as she had left the chylde but whan she founde it not she discharged so greate sighes and so pyteous that it semeâ— that the hert in her â—ely wolde depart in sunder Alas said she thereis not in the world a more discomforted lady chaâ— I am for from syde to side I am deuoyde of Ioye of pleasure of myrche and am replete wyth doloure and misery â–ª and of intollerable dystresse greued wyth all trybulacyons and amonge all desolates the moost â—esolate Alas Emperour you are the cause toauauncemy death wrongfully and without cause by â—uyl couÌ„sell haue depryued me from your company for on my soule neuer the dayes of my life dydde I faute wyth my body I haue nowe loste by you â–ª your â–ª propre chyldren legityme yssued out of bloud ryall by whâ—nâ— I trusted ones to be venged Come death vnto me for to finisshe my dolour for the death shall be more agreable vnto me than to liue in this martyre Whan Blandymaine sawe the lady so inwardly discomforted the best wyse that he might he comforted her wyth the woman and lead her into a litle village where as she was bayned kepte and cherisshed â—yll that she was well healed and in good poynt and that of her greate sorowes she was a litle appeased for there is no â—ole but that it is forgotten by processe ThaÌ„ blandimain beg aÌ„ for to tell and recyte vnto the lady howe he had encountred the kyng Pepyn her brother the whiche had demaunded him tidinges and how he was angry against her And sayde by God madame I haue greate feare that ye shall not be welcome to the kynge your brother For also soone as he knewe that the Emperoure had expulsed you from him he shewed the semblaunt that he was muche angry against you as he the whiche wil beleue lightly that the faute is in you Ha God sayde the lady Now is come vnto me the thing that I moste doubted at this houre maye I well saye that I from al sydes haue aduersities For I am expulsed froÌ„ my lord and husbande the Emperoure without ryght or reason Neuer shall I retourne vnto Paris but will go into a straunge countrey so farre that neuer man nor woman shall haue knowledge of my faute nor know where I am If my brother the king Pepyn helde me he would make me dye Now it is better for to sechewe his ire and â—uroure then for to abyde the death And Blandymayne sayde vnto her Lady wepe no more for ye be sure that I shall neuer leue you vnto the deathe am delivered to liue and dye with you and to kepe you company whether soeuer you will go Blandymayn sayd the lady let vs go at our aduenture and I thanke you hartely for your good wil for my truste is hole on you Thus is the lady Bellyssant Blandymayn on their waye muche pensyfe and sorowfull all charged with anguysshes Here will I leue for to seakpe of them â— will tell you of the Beer that bare awaye the chylde through the Wodde ¶ Of the beeâ— that bare awaye one of the children 〈◊〉 the â—mpresse Bellyssaâ—t Cap. vi THe Beet that had taken one of the chyldren of Bellyssant deâ—oured it noâ— but bare it in to his caueâ—ne that was profounde and obscure In the whiche was foure younge Beets stronge and â—uâ—ssaunt The Beer caste the chylde amonge hys wâ—â—lâ—es to be eaten but God that neuer forgeteth his â—rendâ—s shewed an euydent myracle For the younge Beeres dyâ—dâ— it no haâ—me but with theyr roughe â—awes strooked it soâ—telâ—e When the Beeâ— sawe that her lyâ—le whelâ—es would not deuoure it she was right amerous of the chylde so muche that she kepte â—t â—nd gaue it â—ouâ—e a hole yeaâ—â— The chylde was â—lâ— toughâ— because of the neueâ—â—taction of the beeâ— â–ª as a â—â—de beâ—st So he began to go in the â—odde aâ—â—â—â—â—ame great 〈◊〉 in a whâ—â—e aâ—d bâ—gan for to smyte the 〈…〉 castes of the forest in suche wyse that they all douted hym and â—ledde before him For he fereo nothyng in the worlde In suche estaâ—e was the
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
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
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
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
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