dede and they shal geue vs couÌ„sayl vpon this mater To this counsail theâ— accorded al were delybered for to goo vnto Parys where as king Pepin soiurned at that present time Grigar after thys counsayl toke his way towarde Parys And Orson was within the wode pyteously ve wept that al that nyght had rested him at y e fote of a tre And as the day was light he put him on the waye thoughte within him selfe that he wold neuer reast tyll that he had done the kynge to wyte of that treason and how Valentine was taken and led awaye He toke the hys waye and ranne faster to Parys than a hors but grigar the traytour was soner there And as he was entred into the palays he went toward haufray henry recounted vnto hym how Ualentyne was taken and enprysoned wherof he was ryghte glad but it dyspleased hym much whan it was told hym that OrsoÌ„ was escaped Not withstondyng he recomforted hym in that that Orson coud not retorn vnto Paris again and more ouer of this that he coud not speke and y t he coude not recoâ—t the maner of the enterprise but their entencion was wel torned backward for Orson abod not longe whan he arryued at paris And at the same daye that he arryued the two traytours hadde taken counsayl betwene them that Grygar sholde retorne vppon the morowe vnto the castell for to put Valentyne to death without ony remyssyon In a good hour aryned Orson at that time the which also sone as he was in the palays he entred into the great hall wheras the good kynge Pepyn was the which at that same tyme was set at the table for to dyue accompanied with dyuers noble knyghtes and barons whan kyng Pepyn saw Orson he wende verely that Valentyne had ben recorned Orson went thorow the haile pyteously trying and beting his breast for the whiche thinge the kynge and al the other beheld him sore And whan Or son sawe the knightes set at table hee behelde theiâ— muche horriblye in makyng hydeous signes Than he aduised and knew Grigar amongst the other that heâ—â— his heed inclyned downe to warde the tabell for feare that he shuld be espyed ⧠whan Orson sawe him he ran thederwarde and gaue him soo greate a stroke that he smote one of his â—res away And after he smote him agayne vpon the vysage so mightely that he broke his teth and put out one of his eyen wherfore Grygar began for to crye so hye that all they in the hal apâ—â—â—ceyueo the noyse and debate And Orson retorned againe and gaue hym so sore a strooke that he felled hym and caste downe the table and al that was vponâ—â— wherat all the company meâ—ualled and were much stronglye troubled And Grigar had ben slayne therby orson the sauage yf â–ª a valyaunt prince had not taken him from hym and sayde al on hye Alas syr kynge se and consyder the pyteous case in which orson the sauage hathe put this good knight for god syr make that his life be taken from him for it is to peryllous a thing to kepe such a man Lordes sayd the king we must taste auisemente on this mater Make him come heather and we shal know what is his entencyon wherfor he did it and y e cause of his debate Orson was brought before the kynge Than the kinge demaunded him wherfore he had done so great outrage before his maiestie And Orson made him signe that he had slayne murdred Valentyne in the forest And after he went shewyng meruaylous sygnes that he wolde fyght wyth Grigar for that thynge by the lawe of champion make hym confesse his cursed enterpryse and dampnable treason After he toke his hode and kest it by great fyernes vnto Grigar in maner of wage dyffyaunce â–ª And whan kinge Pepyn sawe that he called his lordes and the other barons of the courte and sayd to them al on hie Lordes nowe haue you sene how this wilde man hath casten his gage of batayle before vs al vnto Grigar how he wyl fight with him Wherfore tell me all your oppinions vpoÌ„ this mater and what is for to be done in this case for muche I meruayle me in my hearte of this that Orson the sauage amongest al the knightes elles of my courte hathe â–ª smyten Grygar so furiouslye Lordes saye on your oppynyons for I doubte me to muche of some fal shede what part someuer it cometh on And as for my part wythout your counsayl or delyberacyon I shall be of the oppynyon that the bataile were iudged betwene them both Whan the kynge had spoken in thys maner the barons were of one accord and oppynyon that Grygar and Orson should fyghte for thys quarel Than the batayle was ordeyned And kynge Pepyn made Grygar to be brought before hym and sayd to him that behoueth him to fight with Orson Whan Grygar knew and vnderstode that it behoned him to fight with Orson he was ryght sorowfull and not wythout a cause for the time is come that the treason that hathe ben hydde so longe shalbe knowne manifestly before eueri body Grigar beheld Haufray withan vnstedfast semblaunce a frayde hearte â–ª than Henry called him and sayd â–ª Grygar haue no fere of nothynge for I promyse you and let you wytte that wee shall make your peas toward the king oure father in such wyse that your persone shal haue no domage nor vyllany in no maner of the worlde by this condycyon that you shal sweare neuer to confesse this dede what someuer come vnto you Alas sayde Grygar to euyll goth my cause for I se wel that I must suffre dethe for your sakes And whaÌ„ he had sayd this he weÌ„t toward the king saying Syr I requyre you of a gift that is y t of your grace I fyght not with the wilde man For syr you know wel ynough that it is not man against maÌ„ that a knyght may wynne honoure of and also he is no natural man but is vnreasonable and without onâ— spyce of mercye Grygar sayd the kynge there is none excusacyon for the battayl is iudged by the counsail of all the court treason condampneth you and right wil that it be so Of this answer was Grigar right pensiâ— dysconforted Than Haufray sayd vnto hym â–ª haue no doubte for yf you haue good ryght god shal healpe you and be your shelde and defence in this quarel And as for my part I shal make you to be armed wel and sufficiently as it apperteyneth vnto such a case And whan Orson vnderstode that he shuld fyght he made grete Joye Many grete signes made Orson vnto the kyng that Ualentine was deed and destroyed Of the whiche signes king Pepin meruayled sore Euer was Orson redy for to smyte Grygar the fals traytour but the king Pepin made him to be taken and to bee kepte in his presence in making him signes that he shoulde smyte hym no more vntyl the time that he
the cytie of Jherusalem cap. lxxxviii ¶ Howe the kinge of Surie sent a messenger vnto the Patriarke of Jherusalem byddynge him brynge him king Pepin and the twelue peres of FrauÌ„ce the whiche he dyd cap. lxxxix ⧠How the kyng of ynde the great ledde kynge Pepyn away for the parte of his prysoners but he knewe not that he was kyng of Fraunce ca. lxxxx ¶ How kynge Pepyn beynge wyth the kynge of Ynde had knowledge of the fayre Clerymonde ca. lxxxxi ¶ How Brandyffer brought vnto the stronge castell the twelue peres of FrauÌ„ce put them in prisoÌ„ ca. lxxxxii ☞ Howe Brandiffer after that he hadde assembled hys hoost mounted on the see and wente and beseged the cite of Angory ca. lxxxxiii ⧠How Brandiffer knew that Lucar Was in Angorye And sente vnto Valentyne for to make the appoyntement to bye hym agayne ca. lxxxxiiii ⧠Howe Valentyne demaunded the kynge of Fraunce for chaunge of kynge Lucar by the consente of the lordes and barons ca. lxxxxv ¶ How Myllondangler that was named the kynge of Fraunce for to saue kyng Pepyn was delyuered out of the prisoÌ„ of brandiffer in chauÌ„ge of kyngelucar lxxxxvi ☞ How valentyne and the duke Myllon yssued oute of Angory vpon the sarazyns and howe the sarazyns loste the batayll and were dyscomfyted ca. lxxxxvii ⧠How kyng Pepyn was delyuered in chaunge of the kyng of Yndes Marshall lxxxviii ⧠How kynge Pepyn toke his leue of the fayre Clerymonde and howe he tolde Valentyne tydynges where she was ca. lxxxxix ⧠How kynge Pepyn departed from Angorye and retorned into Fraunce for to so coure hys wyfe ca. C. ⧠How Valentyne wente into Ynde the great counterfet the physycyon for to sethe fayre Clerymonde and how he spake wyth her ca. Ci. ¶ Howe Ualentyne rode away with Clerymonde and how the kynge of Brytayne was yelded vnto kyng Pepyn by treason ca. Cii ⧠How Valentyne toke the stronge castell and deliuered his father the Emperoure of Grece and all the prysoners that were wyth hym â–ª ca. Ciii ¶ How the Seneshal went vnto Ualentynes shyppes how he was put vnto death with al his men ca. Ciiii ⧠How the emperour Orson and the Grene knyght â— abode in garnyson in the stronge castell And how Haufray and Henry made theyr fader to dye ca. Cv. ¶ How after the deathe of kynge Pepyn the duke Myllon Dangler woulde haue made the lytle Charles to be crowned kynge of Fraunce ca. Cvi ✚ Howe the emperoure of Grece Orson and the grene knyght departed from the strong castel for to go socour Valentyne in Angorye ca. Cvii ⧠How the crysten men yssued out of the cyte of Angorye and of the ordenaunce and of theyr meruaylous batayles ca. Cviii ⧠How Ualentyne slewe his fader pyteosly in the battayle wythout knowing hym ca. Cix ☞ How millon dangler retorned into FrauÌ„ce And how Valentyne and Orson retorned in to grece ca. Cx. ☞ How Valentyne toke leue of the fayr clerymond for to go vnto Rome for to be shryuen of his synne ca. Cxi ¶ How Valentine in great dolour of his body perfourmed his penaunce for the sleyng of his fader ca. Lxii ⧠Howe the kynge Hugon made Clerymonde to be demaunded for wyfe and how he betrayed Orson and the grene knyght ca. Cxiii ✚ How Galeran dyd his message vnto Bellyssant and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â— of the meruayllous compâ—ayâ—â—tes that Clerymonde made Ca. Cxiiii ⧠How Bellyssant and Clerymonde knew the treason and false enterpryse of kynge Hugon and how the prouoste smote of the head of Galeran Ca. Cxv. ⧠How Orson and the Grene knyght were delyuered out of the pryson of the kynge of Surye by the appoyn tement of the warre that they made after to kynge Hugon of Hongrye Ca. Cxvi ⧠How at the ende of seuen yere Ualentynge dyed with in his palays of Constaniynoble and howe he wrote a lettre that he was knowen by Ca. Cxvii ¶ Of the meruayllous by syon of Orson and how he be came an hermyte in a great wodde Ca. Cxviii ⧠Here endeth the table newly correcte truely set in order so that ye may fynde euery chapyter lyghtly as the nombre sheweth ¶ Howe the kyng Pepyn wedded Berthe a lady of great renowne Capitulo Primo UErytably we fynde in the auncient cronicles that the noble and valiaunt kyng pepyn wedded and toke vnto wyfe Berthe of great renowne dyscrete and prudent whiche had and suffred in her tyme greate trybulations and aduersities by enuy For she was chaced and expulsed from the company and habytacion of the foresayde kynge her husbande by a false and a coursed olde woman replete with malyce The whiche old woman for the fyrst nyght founde maner and facion to put a doughter others in the place of the good Quene Berthe And she ledde and conduyted this treason for to vpholde her doughter with the kynge in the place of Berthe his spouse for they resenâ—bled muche The whiche kynge hadde twoo children by that mayden that is to wiâ—te Haufray and Henry the whiche in the tyme of their reigne greeued and wasted muche the countrey of Fraunce and were of fyerse courage and full of maltalent These twayne were cause to put the Quene Berthe in exile where as she suffred innumerable paynes and dolours And the foresayd lady was full long in exyle leading her lyfe in teares and lamentacions But afterwarde God of his inestimable grace deliuered the good lady from aduersitie for at the requeste and instaunce of dyuerse great lordes the lady was accorded vnto her husbande king Pepyn the whiche in great pyte and honour receyued her And with in a lyttell whyle after she was conceyued with a sone whiche was the ryght puyssaunt Charlemayne and afterwarde he was chased out of the realme by the for said Haufray and Henry as â—o is shewed more playnely in this present booke but nowe I will specifie vnto you y e playne matter of this present booke and specially of the dedes and gouernyng of the valeaunt Ualentine and of his brother Orson It is true that the noble kynge Pepyn had a syster named Bellyssant fayre plesaunte and â—ight gracious And in euery thyng well thought and endoctryned And the kynge Pepyn her brother loued her wyth perfyte loue And in so muche that it happened for the reowne that she had and bycause that bothe great and small loued her for her beaute and humylitie the kynge Alexander Emperour of Constantynoble was enbraced wyth her loue right ardantly So it was not longe after that he came into Fraunce for the same cause in right great estate accompanyed wyth diuers erles and barons the whyche were all in greate pompes and rychesses So shortly after his arryuayle he asseÌ„bled all hys great lordes and coÌ„maunded them to aray them in theyr best araye and that they should go vnto the kynge Pepyn for to knowe yf he wolde gyue him his excellent sister Bellyssane in maryage And so they wente
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
Fraunce He was praysed so of euery body y t by the consente of the people he was sacred by the pope Empeorure crowned Moche well he gouerned augmented the chyrche in his tyme. He dyde egall Justyce vnto euery body soo that all folkes sayd good of hym ¶ In this tyme was pope Clement the fourth of that name that consacred kynge Pepyn Emperoure ¶ How Haufray and Henry had enuye at Ualentyne bycause that the kynge loued hym so well Ca. xii AFter that the kynge Pepyn by the grace of god and by the strengthe of armes had chaced the infideles and enemyes of our fayth out of the partyes Romayns he came vnto Orleaunce and there he founde the quene Berthe hys wyfe that receyued hym wich all the Joye and tryumphe that myght be made with her lytell sone Charlemayne and her excellent doughter Eglantyne The whiche was ryght gladde and Joyous bicause that Ualentyne was comen agayne safe and sounde So she sotourned not longe but that shee sente for hym and he came with a good wyll Than whan the lady sa we hym she salued hym amyably saynge Ualentyne my loue ye be hertely welcome well ought you to be de rely kepte and honoured for it is sayd that aboue all other ye haue wonne vyctorye and triumphe vpon the paynyms that helde Rome in theyr subiectyon A madame sayd Ualentyne to god be the laudes and praiâ—â—â—ges euery body sayeth what they lyste And as for me I haue done nothynge that is worthy praise And more ouer the kynge your fader hathe done me soo moche good and honoure that in my lyfe I can not deserue to what seruyce someuer I do hym And in sayenge these wordes Haufray and henry esprysed with enuye dyde entre in to the chambre of Eglantyne And whan Haufray and Henry were entred they sayd vnto hym UaleÌ„tyne what come you here to do in the chambre of our syster that apperteyneth not to you to moche ye shewe yourselfe folysshe and hardy for to entre in to her chambre ryall for you are but a begyler and none can know what you are nor from whens ye becomen Wherfore beware that ye be not founden no more with her leste that euyll come to you Ualentyne sayd vnto Haufray of your syster haue no doubte for syth that I was borne I neuer thought towarde her thynge saue all good and honoure Yf that I be poore and that they knowe not what I am yet wolde I not do nor thynke thynge that sholde be agaynst the maiestery all And to the ende that you haue no doubte that your syster EglaÌ„tyne shall haue by me ony blame at this same houre I promyse you that I shall neuer enter in to her chambre agayne At these wordes departed Ualentine out of the chambre and Eglantyne abode wepyng al alone moche tenderly Ualentyne mouÌ„ted into the palays for to serue the kinge which was set al redy Ther was haufray and Henry and the duke Millon dangler that serued the kyng at table wyth Ualentyne And whan he was rysen he called Ualentyne and sayd heryng them all Lordes here is Ualentyne that hathe well and truely serued me and socoured in my necessitees to the ende that eche of you may knowe it and for the good seruices that he hathe done me in abydynge tyl better come I gyue hym the Erldom of Clermont in â—uâ—rgne Syr sayd UaleÌ„tine god yelde it you for ye do me more honoure and goodnes than I haue deserued To heare suche wordes were Haufraye and Henrye to sorowfull wherefore eche sayde to other Thys same foundelynge which god course is in the grace of the kyng so that yf we fynde not remedy he shall be unes cause of our gret dommage For the kynge hath no chyldren but vs and the lytell Charlemayne of whome we may do our wil after the death of our father but it is of certayntye that Ualentyne wyll supporte him and holde hym agaynste vs. Wherfore we must fynde the manner to put hym in the indignacion of the king and to purchase his deathe for otherwyse we can not auenge vs. And than maye we at oure owne pleasure gouernethe realme wythout contradyecyon Than spake Haufray and said Broder Henry I haue found the maner whereby the false boye shall be deceyued and betrayed I shall tel you howe we shall make the kyng oure fader to vnderstande that he hathe vyoled our syster and that we haue founde hym in naked bedde with her And whan y e kynge shall knowe this I am certayne that he wyl make hym dye shamefully It is wel sayd answered Henry let it be done as you haue sayd and so shall we be auâ—uged In this wyse abode they thynkynge and ymagynynge alway treason agaynst Ualentine for they coueyted his deth ryght sore And valentin serueth the kyng so debonayrly that the kynge aboue all other desyred him in his coÌ„pany For euery daye he maynteyâ—ed him from well to better in prayenge god that he wolde gyue hym know ledge of the place that he was extraught of And Orson his broder is in the forest whiche is so moche fered and redoubted that none durst approche nere the wodde for hym The complayntes came vnto y e kyng euery day from one all partes So it happened daye that a poore man came vnto the kynge all wounded and blody and sayd to hym Syr I complayne me to you of the wylde man For euen so as I and my wyfe passed throughe y e forest berynge breed wyne and other vytaylles y e wilde man came and toke al frome vs and ete it and more oner he toke my wyfe and dyde twyes his wyl with her Now tell me sayd the kynge whether arte thou soryer for thy vytaylles or for thy wyfe By my fayth syr sayd the good man of my wyfe I am moche more dyspleasaunt Thou hast ryght sayd the kyng Now go to my treasourer and sette prise on thy losse for it shal be reâ—ored thâ— After the kynge called his barons to take aduyse on Orson So they aduysed amonge them that the kynge sholde make erye al aboute that who myght take y e wylde man quycke or deed he sholde haue a. M. marke of fyne golde So the counsayl was holden and the crye publysshed And theder came many knyghtes of all estates for to take Orson and the pryse conquere Than the kynge Pepyn beynge in his palays wyth diuers great lordes and noble barons that of thys mater spake and made great admeracions among them selfe Amonge the whych lordes and barons Haufraye that was mortall enemye of Ualentine began for to saye thus Syrhere is Ualetyne that you haue nourysshed and put in great honoure whiche hathe required oure syster Eglantine of loue dysordinate and of great dishonoure And because that I am well informed of this case for to se what he can do and for to she we his valyauntnes let him go seke the wild man that is so dread and you shall gyue hym Eglantyne so
forthe and spake vnto kyng Pepyn Also sone as king Pepin vnderstode theyr message he graunted them theyr request ryght Joyously whaÌ„ this was knowen euidently they made Joy on euery syde for the good alyaunce of the Emperoure Alexander and of kynge Pepyn and was receyued wyth all the tryumphe that might be The spousaylles was made in greate bobaunce and honoure It is not to be asked yf there was largesse on euerye syde of all maner of thynges The feest endured longe and than the Emperoure and hys men toke leue of kynge Pepyn hys brother in lawe for to goe vnto Constantynoble wyth hys Empresse Bellyssant The kynge made for to araye his men for to accompanye the Emperoure and hys noble syster Bellyssant And so they mounted all on horsebacke wyth a great sorte of Ladyes for to conuaye Bellyssant They the whyche abode behynde wepte tenderly for the departynge of the gracyous lady Bellyssant The kynge conuayed them diuers Jorneys tyll that they arryued at a porte of the sea where as the Emperour would mounte vpoÌ„ the sea And ther he toke leue of kyng Pepyn in rendryng hym mo thankes that I can recounte for the noble there that he had made hym But amonge all other thynges he thanked hym for his syster Bellassant the whiche he had gyuen hym to wyfe with so fre a wyll At these wordes kyng Pepyn embraced hym saying thus Fayre syr and ryght cordiall lorde and brother to the regarde of my puyssauÌ„ce I haue not receyued you in triumphe magnificence as I ought to haue done But so muche I knowe the graciousnes of you that of my lytle power ye holde yoâ— contente And to me appertayneth not the thankes and praysynges but to you when that you haue wylled for to decore me so muche and with your persone honoure that ye haue taken my syster to wyfe And knowe that from hence for warde I haue stedfast purpose that we shall be good frendes together And as for me I am he that with my puysaunce would put both body goodes in auenture for to serue you and socoure you in all places after my power And after kyng Pepyn wente towarde his syster Bellyssant and sayde vnto her Fayre syster thynke vpon the place that ye be extraught of and guyde you in suche maner that I and your frendes and all the bloude ryall may haue Ioye profyte and honoure of you You go into a straunge countrey fro your nacioÌ„ wherfore gouerne you by wyse Ladies and kepe you from beleuyng of euyll counsayll you are the creature in the worlde that I haue moost loued Wherfore if I hearde any tydynges fro you but good it woulde be the cause to abredge my lyfe The kynge gaue his syster Bellyssant full many notable ensygnementes And after he embraced her and kyssed her full swetely with wepynge eyen because of her departyng And the gracious lady whiche had a pyteous harte aunswered hym liteâ— or nought for with her plesaunt eyen she wepte and with her swete harte syghed so sore that it was vnpossible for her for to speake Then toke leue ladyes and daâ—moselles knyghtes and sqyers as well of Fraunce as of Constantynoble There was wept full many a tere and full many profounde syghes was casten out for the Lady Bellyssant â–ª The kyng Pepyn retourned in to Frauncae And the Emperoure mounted on the sea and had wynde at wyll And had the tyme so muche at his pleasure that within shorte tyme he and his men arryued at Constantynoble where as they were receyued with great tryumphe and honoure the whiche shoulde he to longe to recounte But it befell not longe after that the greate Ioye and tryumphe that was made to Bellyssant was chaunged in to teeres and lamentacions for the gracious â—â—oy Bellyssant that by treason and false accusacion was casten in exyle as ye shall heare more playnly ¶ Howe the Emperoure was betrayed by the Archebysshop of Constantynoble wherfore euyll came to hym as you shall heare Cap. ii IN the cytie of Conâ—â—antinoble was an Archebysshop the which the Emperour loued aboue all other And gaue him mo gyftes rychesses than any other and moost trusted him The Emperour made the said archebisshop gouernour of his house his principall coÌ„fessour and aboue all other the moost secrete wherefore he had a sorowfull heart afterwarde For the false byshop not thynking vpon the great honoure and worshyp that the Emperoure hadde done to hym was inbraced wyth love dysordynate for the cleâ—e beaute of the excellent lady Bellyssant the whyche was so amyable and vertuous He was so â—eruently taken in her loue that it happened one daye that he spyed her all alone in her chambre prepayred and so he wente to her and sat downe by her and began for to beholde her all smylynge wherof the Lady toke no kepe for the disloyall Archebysshop was so preuy famylier in the house that none in the world wolde haue thought that euer he had â—en so full of trechery and namely towarde the Emperour that loued hym so derelye Now there is not a worse enemy than he the which is famylyer in a house whan he casteâ—â— hym for to doo euyl as well shewed this false and cursed Archebysshop the whyche beyng â—yâ—â—ynge besyde the vertuous Lady opened his venymous mouthe so foule and abhomynable and spake vnto her in thys maner My ryght dere and souerayne lady I am your lytle seruaunt and chapelayne wherfore I beseche you that it wyll please you for to gyue audience vnto my wordes of a thynge the whyche I shall tell you for the whyche thynge I haue suffered great aduersyties and doloures by longe conty nuaunce Knowe my redoubted Lady that the beaute of your persone and the pleasaunt fygure formed and composed aboute natures operacyon hathe rauysshed my spiâ—â—â—es and enbraced me heart in suche wyse that nyghte and daye I thynke on none other thynge but on your highnes And that worse is leseth reste meate and brynke maners and countenaunce whan that I thynke vpon your fayre eyen and replendysshynge vysage so I requyre of God that be wyll geue you volente and courage for to receyue me for your symple louer And that I myght serue you and fulfill your delites and pleasures For if it be so that you refuse me for your louer there is nothynge more nerer me then to â—â—uo the dethe Alas lady you the whiche is renowmed in euery thyng swete and amyable curtaysy â—enynge and debonayre be not cause to dyminyshe my lyfe but gyue me holly your loue by suche a couenaunt that I shall be loyall in loue yea more than euer was any man And that more is be not afrayde nor haue no drede of God for to committe this synne and offence For I am the vycayre of God in earth wherfore I maye gyue you absolucioÌ„ and penaunce faâ—â—â—e and light At these deceiuable woordes diabolique full of treason and deâ—epcions the lady prudent wyse and eloquent aunswered deâ—â—rely and
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
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
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
syster felte the paynes of chylding in the forest of Orleaunce And when the euyll had taken her she sente me vnto a vyllage there besyde for to fetche her a woman for to helpe and sucoure her Then I made the moste dyligence that was possible for me but or euer I was retourned the noble lady had delyuered two fayre sonnes of the whiche a wylde beere muche furiously bare away one of the children into the wodde in suche maner that the Empresse Bellyssant after her power wende for to haue saued and sucouredit but she wiste not where it became she had folowed so long that I founde her lying vpon the grasse in a swowne piteously aourned the whiche semed better dead then on lyue I tooke her vp betwene myne armes and comforted her as wel as I myght And when she was come to herselfe and that she myght speake in syghyng muche pyteously she recounted vnto me the maner howe she had lost her childe by the wylde beaste and howe she had lefte the other vnder a tree And when I vnderstode those wordes I ledde her vnto the tree whereas I had left her and there doubled her sorowe for she founde not the other chylde that she had lefte there And thus were the two children of your syster loste in the foreste And other tydynges knowe I not And if you doubte you of this thynge for to haue the more greater knowledge knowe syr that I am Blandymayn that was geuen all alone for to conduyte your syster Bellissant when she was sent in exile by the Emperoure Alexander Alas Blandymayn sayde the kinge youre woordes geueth me distresse and displeasaunce when that I maye not knowe the place where as my Syster is nor of her twoo chyldren haue certayne knowledge but sythe that I can knowe none other thynge tell me if that it be long ago sythe that she was delyuered within the forest of the twoo chyldren Syr sayd Blandymayn it was vpon the propre daye that you mette me in the forest of Orleaunce and that I tolde you the pyteous tydynges of the exyle and vytuperable blame of my lady Bellyssant your syster As the kyng Pepyn vnderstode these wordes of Blandymayn he was ryght pensyfe in his courage And euen so as he was in that thought he be thought hym of Ualentyne that he founde in the forest that same daie and on Orson that had bene conquered by him in that same wodde For this thing he was in great melancoly And when he had al considered he knew by the sayinges of Blandimain that they were sonnes of his syster Bellissant He sent for the quene Berth his wife dyuerse other lordes and ladyes of his courte for to tell and declare it theim Alas lordes sayd he I haue holden and nouryshed longe tyme in my house as poore chyldren and vnpuâ—uayed they that be sonnes to an Emperour and an Empresse and my propre neuewes that is vnlentine that I founde in the forest of Orleaunce that was by my syster Bellyssant in the tyme of her misfor tune chylded within the wodde And I let you to wyte that Orson the sauage that hath ben conquered by valentyne as I may vnderstand is his propre brother naturall and they both are sonnes vnto the Emperoure of Grece ¶ Of these tidinges was the quene Berthe muche ioyous and all the lordes barons and knightes of the court There was present the two enemies mor tal of Ualentine that is to wyte Haufray and Henty that with semblaunt made tyght ioyous chere but at their hartes and courages they were tryste and sorowful For aboue al thiâ—ges they desyred the death of the noble Ualentyne for and to the ende that with Charlemayn their lytell brother they might do their wil disordinate to whome they were muche contrary as you shall heare afterwarde recounted Now was Blandy main right sore abashed when he harde the kyng speke thus of the dedes of the twoo chyldren and demaunded hym Syr know you in what lande these two children may be founde that you make mencion of Frende sayd the kyng I haue nouryshed one in my house right longe in suche maner that he is become great haroye and stronge and hath conquered the other that lyued in the forest of Orleaunce as a beaste and dydâ—e greate dammage in the countrey aboute And after that he had conquered hym and that they hadde bene longe in my courte they departed from me and toke leue of me for to go in to Acquytayne to fyght with a hardy and a valyaunt champyon that the grene knight maketh hiÌ„ to be called And syth theyr departynge I myght neuer haue tydynges of them Syr sayd Blandymayn after that the whyche you tell me I let you wyte that I mette the two chyldren besyde the cyte of Acquytayne wherfore I am ryght dyspleasaunt that I myght not know them for of all my dolours I sholde haue had than alegement Of this mater they deuysed longe tyme. And after these thynges the king commaunded that Blandymayn shuld be fested and serued honourablye in all thyngs that was necessary for hym Than was BlaÌ„dymayn taken by the officers of the palays and was ledde amonge the barons and knyghtes of hys courte the whiche receiued him in grete honoure and reuereÌ„ce in festynge hym Nowe it happened that on that same daye the grene knyghte that I haue made mencyon of before arryued at the courte of kinge Pepin that was at Parys And soone as he was dyscended he went into the halle ryall in the whyche kynge Pepyn was with his batous knyghts muche notable He salued the king right reuerentlye And whan the kinge sawe hym armed wyth greâ—e armour he meruaylled muche and demaunded hym before all his barons knights Tell vs whome you are and also what is the cause of your commynge hether and wherefore you â—ere suche greue armoure Noble and honourable kyng sayde the grene knyght knowe that I am extraught out of sarazyns londe and borne and of a fader sarazyn I am engendred and of a moder painime I haue bene childed So it is true that for to haue to wife the doughter of y e duke of Acquitaine named Fezonne I haue by a whole yere holden the londe of the duke in my subgeccyon And haue doone so muche that at the laste I dyd gyue hym syx monethes of trewes by such a couenant that yt he gaue me not a knyght that by force of armes myghte conquere me duryng that same tyme that I shold haue his Doughter Fezonne vnto wyfe And in case that I were conquered and vainquisshed I shold make myne host to departe out of his countree wythoute â—armynge or hurtynge it Now I haue ben ryght longe before the cyte of Acquitaine in abidinge euery day batayll so there came to me many valyaunt knightes of dyuers countrees and regeons the whiche I haue put al to death and hanged on a treÌ„ â–ª saue alonely two worthy knyghtes wherof the one is named Ualentine and the other
Orson that same Ualentine fought wit me the space of a hole day and we dyd so many feates of armes bytwene vs twayne that the nyght constray ned vs to leue and depart as wery and trauaylled And whan it came on thee moro we that thee battayle sholde haue begonne agayne bytwene vs twayne his felowe Orson armed with his propreharneis entred in to the felde for to fight with me wening to me that it had ben Ualentine And whan that same OrsoÌ„ was entred into the fielde muche fierslye he made me sygne of dyffyaunce Than I lepte out agaynst hym but littell auailed my strengthe for I abode not longe or that I was vainquished by hym And he woulde haue taken my lyfe from me yf Ualentyne had not come rennynge vnto vs whyche made meswere to receiue bap â—ym and byleue in Ihesu Christ and to submit my life entirely vnto your commaundement and ordenaunce And therfore in acquitinge my faythe and promyse by the knyghte Ualentine I am comen to yealde me vnto you as to hym that may do with me your plesure and to whom after God apperteyneth to approch my dethe or to prolong my lyfe Not for that my redoubted lord I yelde me before your maiestye ryal in demaundynge and trustynge to haue grace for the honoure of that same god that I haue taken the byleue of for know that I am crystened and byleue in Ihesu Christe and frome hens forthe wyl obserue it wyth true mind And whan I was baptysed at the holy font stoone in the honoure of your hygh and puy ssaunte name I was called Pepyn and Pepyn I am called â–ª whan the kynge vnderstode the wordes of the grene knyght he answered him swetely before all the barons and knyghtes sayenge Welcome be you vnto vs. for of youre comynge we be tyghte Ioyous more than of onye other thynge Make good chere for the loue of hym that sente you to vs for I assure you of your lyfe And yet I tell you before all that within short tyme I shal gyue you in my realme grete londes possessyons if that it plese you to abyde in my seruice But tell vs where the two knyghtes is that hathe conquered you Syr said the grene knyghte I lefte them in the cyte of Acquytayne with the duke Sauary the whiche holdeth them more deater then all the other of hys court By the tidinges of Blandimayn and by the grene knighte kinge Pepin hadde tidinges of his sister and of his two neue wes â–ª the which she chileded in the foreste of Orleaunce Wherefore he promised God that he shuld go into grece for to tell themperoure this tidinges and for to make his sister to bee sought in such maner that she myght be found in some place for aboue all creatures hee desyred ryghte ardantly to se his sister Bellissant that was sogracious â–ª when he bethought hym on the great iniury that had bene doue vnto her he wepte ful bitterly with both his â—yen and was ryght sorowfull at his harte ¶ How the good kyng Pepyn departed out of FrauÌ„ce for to go to waâ—de the Emperoure of Grece to beare him tidinges of his sister Bellâ—ssaÌ„t And how afore his retorning he made warre to the Soudan that had besyeged Constantinoble Cap. xxvi IN that same tyme that kyng Pepyn had rydynges of his syster Bellyssant he made redy his hoost without delay and departed froÌ„ Parys for to go to Constantinoble towarde the Emperoure of Grece for to beare hym tydynges of his syster Bellyssant as you haue heard The kynge made suche diligence that within short time he arriued at Rome There he was receyued of the Pope with great honoure for of the christeÌ„ fayth he was the chief defendoure He dyned that daye with the pope in his palays apostolyke the which tolde him tydinges of the Soudan that had besyeged the cytie of Constantynoble And thus as they spake and deuysed of that matter there arryued a knyght of Grece the whiche after that he had salued the pope and the kynge and all the assistaâ—ntes in muche great reuerence he sayd to him Holy father that arte god in earth know that the sarazins with great puissaunce and strengthe of armes haue assieged and put in subiection the lande and countrey of Constaâ—tinoble So the Emperoure of Grece sendeth you worde by me that for to kepe the christen fayth soo as you ought to do ye sende hym sucoure thether or els you shalbe cause to let the countrey be lost the christeÌ„ fayth to diminishe for without your helpe and sucour at this nede there is no remedy when the pope vnderstoode these tydynges he was muche displeasaunt but the kyng Pepyn that was there present comforted him greately sayenge to hym Holy father take in you coutage and comforte for if you wyl geue me your folkes Romayne â—utyll a nombre sufficient I shal conduite them and leade them towarde Constantinoble wyth myne hoost and I shall do so muche by the helpe of god for the sustenâ—â—cyon of the Christen faythe that the Soudane and hys armye I shall put too vytuperable confusyon for of none other thing I haue not so gret desyre as to susâ—ein the christen faithe againste the paynims whan the pope heard the kyng Pepyn speke so and knewe his courage he thanked him with all his hert and sayd to him Fre king right thristen of god be thou blyssed for of al other kynges thou arte the most puyssaunt in wordde and dede and syth that you wyll vndertake such a thinge I shall make so greate nombre of Romayns come hether for to accompany you y t you maye surely arryue in grece against the infydeles and enemyes of the fayth The pope in that same time of al the londe Romayne assembled so great a nombre of folke that it was meruayll made to ctye the croysee that is to knowe that all that wolde go in that batayll in the honoure of the passyon of Jhesu christ and were a crosse takynge of the pope his blessinge shuld haue pardon of al their sinnes In the cyte of Rome w t in a lyttell tyme assembled greate multitude of people for to go ouer the see with the king Pepin And the pope at their departing gaue them his blessinge and absolucion of al their sinnes Thus the king Pepin toke leue of the pope and of the cardinalles in recommaundinge him vnto the Praiers of holy chyrche And wyth thirty thousande Romaines beside his owne hooste he mounted vpon the sea And so muche the time was agreable vnto him that with in fewe daies he came and ariued at Constantinoble And there he sawe that the soudan Moradyn hadde besyeged it on al sydes And this soudan had brought with him xx knigs the whithe for to distroy christen dome with two hundred thou sande paynyms had passed the sea And so muche was this soudan fered and redoubted for his puyssaune y t the Emperoure of Grece with dyuers other christians accompanied hadde
withdrawen hym into Constantinoble and so well he kepte the cytie that it myghte not be taken of the paynym Alwayes in his courage he bewaylled his wyfe Bellyssant and he bethought of the shame that he hadde delyuered her to without cause thought well within his sorowful harte that she was decessed out of this worlde for it was twenty yere past syth he harde any tydinges of her but anone he shall heresome by kyng Pepyn that toweth so much vpon y e sea that within two myle of Constantynoble he is arriued and descended And made his tentes and pauilions to be pyght vp in the fielde and made his foolke to be put in right faire ordinaunce Then was the cutrouts and tyders of the soudan Moradyn muche agast that in great diligence retourned towarde his pauilion and said to hym as men afrayed and full of fere Sir soudan be ryght certayne that to daye there is arriued vpoÌ„ this grounde mo then two hundred thousand Romaynes all armed for to put vs vnto confusion wherfore auyse you vpon this matter for the thyngis doubtfull and peryllous Holde your peace sayd the Soudan of them haue no drede for it is not possyble that out of the Empyre of Rome there be descended so many folke we be puyssaunt ynough for to abyde then in batayll renged For I haue hope that within short time I shall put in my subiection both Rome and Fraunce ¶ He coÌ„maunded the capitaines to put his hoost in point for to receyue them when the morowe was come the king made ready his hoost for to assayle the paynims fiersly Than kinge Pepyn sent a lettre secretely into the cyty to the Emperoure whythe specified to him his comming for to socourhym And that he shold make al his men be armed through the cite in al diligence and that they sholde yssue out vpon the painims and sarazyns for at that day they shuld be socoured by the Romaines and Frenshmen The Emperoure was much Joious of the comming of king Pepin and after the tenour of the letter made his hooste too be assembled and armed and after yssued oute of the cyte of Constantynoble for to go agaynst the paynyms and sarazyns that aboode batayll And also sone as they were in the felde they apperceyued the standardes and banners of the hooste of kynge Pepin that came thederwarde wyth so greate nombre of trumpettes and clarons making noisethat it was meruayll Well sawe the Painimes that there came against theÌ„ gret puyssauÌ„ce of men The Sowdan called two Sarasins of the most hardiest and commauÌ„ded them that they shuld goo secretelye and nombre the host of the christiens that came against them And that whan they shuld haue done so that they sholde retorne to hym again and tel him The two sarasins that was named Claryan and Uaudu mouÌ„ted on horsbacke and â—ode towarde the hooste of the noble kyng Pepin But they had not riden longe whan that the grene knighte espied them vpon a litell mountaine And incontinente as he had apperceiued them hee knewe well that they were sarazins Then he smote his hors with the sportes and al alone â—ode towarde them with his spere on his thighe like a hardy knight And whan the two sarazins saw him approch to them bicause that he was all alone they had shame for to flefor him and said by Mahoune it shalbe great shame to vs if this christian escape from vs twayne ¶ Howe the grene knyght Justed against two Sarazins and howe he slewe the one and the other fledde howe kyng Pepyn with his hoost was enclosed within Constantinoble Cap. xxvii WHen the two sarazing had said so their an against the grene knyght and he hit one of them so that he neuer arose the other fled sore wounded Well sawe kyng Pepyn that valiaunt dede Then he made to assayll the Soudan Moradyns hoost And there Myllon dangler slewe the kyng of Acquyle at one strooke and thre more or euer he rested And he dyd so great dedes of of armes that the soudan Moradin apperceiued him so he cried 〈◊〉 highe to his folke that they shoulde assaile Myllon Dangler that made so greate slaughter of sarazins At the commaundement of the Soudan Millon dangler was assayled on all sydes by the paynyms sarazyns And he was put in suche subiection that they cut of one of his horses thyes by the which he was constrayned to fall vnto the earth at that tyme had bene taken or slayne if the grene knight hadde not bene that maugte the sarazins put himselfe iÌ„ the prese and slewe smote down so many that he approched vnto Myllon dangler and gaue him a horse and mounted him vpon him At that houre did the grene knyght and Myllon dangler so great dedes of armes agaynste the paynyms that it should be to great a thyng to recounte it for all that founde themselfe before them neuer went out of that place Great was the battayll and endured long Kyng Pepyn and his men that daye made great slaughter of the paynims But not withstanding their hardynes they should haue lost the fyelde if the Emperoure of grece had not bene that with all his hoost valyauntly accompanied assayled the paynims on the other syde ryght hardely and put great nombre to death well knewe the kyng that the Emperoure didde greate deades of armes Then he toke force and courage assembled his men agayne â–ª and entred into the battayll more ardauntly then before thus the paynims were assayied on both sydes And as soone as the kyng sawe the Emperoure he sayde vnto hym ¶ Free prince now shewe your selfe valiaunt for to daye by me you shall haue tydynges of youre wyfe Bellyssant At these wordes the Emperoure was ioyous and double hys courage And cryed Constantynoble to his men in promysyng them great gyftes if they bate them valiaunt At these wordes he entted into the batayl with so marueilous a courage that he was to hardy that abode him And kyng Pepyn and the grene knight entred in on the other syde in smytyng vpon the paynyms so impetuously that wheresoeuer they passed they made a large waye thorough the prowesse of the grene knyght Wel wende the Soudan Moradyn to haue knowen hym that behelde his armes for he was of a hygh lynage because that he was brother vnto Ferragus But because that he knewe that the grene knyght was a paynim he would neuer haue thought that he had bene come on that syde Nowe was the paynyms and Saraszyns at that houre put in such necessite that they wende neuer to haue escaped death and toke the flyght And then the kyng of Sâ—â—auayne that had the soudans regarde accompanied with fifty thousand fighting men yssued out on the christen men in makyng soo greate a shoute that it semed that all should founde And when the Emperour and the kyng Pepyn knew oâ— their comyng they saweand considered that their men were trauayled and the men of the kyng of Sclâ—uonye
that of my dere moder y e I haue desyred so muche I hoped to haue had tydynges shortly and certayne knowledge and in thynkynge to haue ben assured to perfour me myn enterpryse but in y e places dysloyall I am vnhappely comen and fallen into the handes of myn enemyes that of my lyfe are enuyous and desyreth my dethe Alas my fayre broder Orson well is our thoughte and our entencyon in a shorte time chaunged and reuer â–ª sed for we shall neuer se frendes nor kynnesmen In this wyse complayned Ualentine Orson in lykewyse and the sarazyns demeaned grete Ioye and so moche they rowed vpon the see that they arryued in Portyngale at the castell of Ferragus And also soone as y e empresse Bellyssant herde saye that Ferragus had broughte with hym two christen men prisoners she lepte oute of her chambre for to go se them Whan she sawe valen tyne and Orson the whiche she knewe not she demaunded them Chyldren of what countree be you in what londe were you borne Lady sayd valentyne we be of y e countre of Fraunce and borne besyde Parys Also sone as Ferragus sawe the Empresse BellyssaÌ„t that spake vnto the chyldren he sayd vnto her fyersly lady leue me this language for I shall make them dye in my prison with grete sorowe but yf they byleue in mahoune He called the gayler and coÌ„maunded hym to put y e two prysoners in the moost depest pryson and y e moost derkeste that they sholde haue none other meet nor drynke but brede and water There was y e cursed sarazins that with grete staues and with theyr â—ystes smote vppon the two chyldren without hauynge ony pyte more than of dogges and in a dongeon full of fylthe and â—râ—ure caste them and lete them downe Whan they were in pryson they sette them on theyr knees cryâ—ge god mercy and in praynge him that he wolde forgyue theÌ„ theyr synnes for they neuer wende to haue comen oute of that place And after that Ferragus hadde thus enprysoned Ualeâ—tyne and Orson he mounted vp into his palais and made to be brought before hym the fayre Clerymonde that wepte so pyteously that with y e teres that yssued out of her eyen all her face was be wepte My syster said Ferragus leue your wepinge chauÌ„ge your courage for by mahowne my god you haue to longe byleued y e hed of brasse whan that you wyll wed and take in maryage a straunger and oute of our byleue To whome haue you your herte varyable and wyll of a woman whan you wyll loue him y t hathe shewed himselfe mortal enemye of your broder the grene knyghte well appertayneth you to haue a man more worthy and of more hygher lygnage And yf you wyl bileue me and do after my wyll I shall gyue you to husbaÌ„de the puyssaunt kinge Tromparte â–ª by the whiche you maye be at all seasons of hyghelyfe and rychely honoured And therfore forgete the two chrysten FreÌ„shmen and haue no more truste on them for I shal make them dye and be hanged by the necke Broder said Clerymonde it behoueth me to obeye vnto your commaundement for one muste forâ—ere and passe lyghtly of the thige that they maye not haue the force constrayneth ryght hath no vertue for necessyte maketh oftentymes a man â—ell good chene After these wordes fynysshed Ferragus dyde departe and the quene his wyfe entred into the hall the whiche in grete honoure and reuerence hath receyued the fayre Clerimonde in sayinge to her My Syster you be ryght welcome hether for I hadde ryght greate desyre for to se you Lady sayd Clerimonde I thancke you a hondred tymes but knowe that I am ryghte sorowful and dyspleasaunt of two christen knights the whiche my broder Ferragus vnder the vmbre of surenes and loyalte hathe made to passe the sea and after hathe put them into an obscare prysone vyle and abhomynable and in grete dispite hathe sworne their dethe yf they forsake not theyr lawe and byleue Alasse my dere syster it is true that I shoulde haue had one of the knightes in mariages the which among al the liuing menne is the mooste fayrest the mooste valyaunt and the moost hardy and that by force of armes hathe conquered my loue wherfore lady I beseche you counsayl me for I haue grete nede and also that you shewe me the christen woman the whych you haue kepte so longe in this castell Fayre syster said the quene here may you se her Than spake Bellyssant and sayd Ladye what is your wil speke on hardely for I haue grete desire for to here you speke Alas lady I bring you tidings that wyll make you gladde and after sorowful and dysplesaunt Know for a certainte that of your estate and of your lyfe I knowe the veray treuth for pebe sister vnto king Pepin and wyfe vnto the Emperour of grece the which with wronge and againste righte hathe banysshed you out of his Empyre and soone after you were deliuered of two fayre sonnes in a forest wherof the one was taken away from you by a wild bere and the other was lost you can not tell how Now is your chyldren yet on lyue and I knowe the place whereas you may fynde theym At these wordes the quene Bellyssant fel vnto the earth in a swowne for ioye and pyte that she hadde and Clerymonde toke her vp muche swetely betwene her armes And when she was rysen vp the demaunded the mayden howe she myght know suche thinges Then Cleremonde recounted vnto her the â—â—aâ—e and the maner how Ferragus her brother by false and cursed treason had put them in pryson And when the Empresse Bellissant vnderstode that her two chyldren was in pryson demauÌ„de not if she made great sorowe for she began to wepe so pyteously that Ferragus wyfe entred into the hall and demaunded wherefore she made so great sorowe and the fayre lady Clerymonde toldâ— her from poynte to poynte the cause and â—eason â–ª nâ—we sayde the wyfe of Ferragus appease you and make not of this thynge no semblaunt for if the kyng Ferragus knewe it paâ—auenture the king should rather eâ—payre then amende ⧠How Pacolet coÌ„forted the two ladies Cap. xxxiiiâ— Ryght so as the thre ladies spake of this ma ter Pacolet entred in to the chambre that was come on his horse of wodde And wheÌ„ Clerymonde sawe hym she sayde vnto him pyteously wepyng Alas Pacolet what haue I doone vnto the that thou seperate me from all my ioye and betraye me for thou myght haue aduertised me of the euill wyll of my brother Ferragus well tolde me my harte that I should haue sorow by the when thou went so soone into Portyngale without my lycence for to beare hym tydynges Lady sayd Pacolet be not so angry againste me for by the God of whome I beleue I knewe not the treason of your brother Ferragus but sythe that he hath wylled for to worke treason I promyse you by my lawe that I
me or not in the estate that I haue sente hym worde Syr sayd valentyne in that haue you no truste for he setteth not astrawe by you nor yours He is fyers and proude and knowe yf you haue wyl for to goo thether yet hath he more gretter desyre for to receiue you and to the ende that you make no doubte that there is falsnes in my message I present vnto you thys letter the whiche he sendeth you by the whyche you may know hys courage and hys wyll The kyng Lucar rceyued it and made it to be redde before all the assystenctes on hyghe And than they founde that the thyng was true as valentyne had sayd And whan kyng Brandiffer vnderstode the answere of the kyng of ynde and that he knewe and apperceyued hys fyers courage he swore by ma hown and Appolyn that he would neuer returne in to hys countree tyll that quycke or dead he had conquered the kyng of ynde ¶ How kyng Lucar wyth fyftene kynges went and assyeged the kynge of ynde Ca. lxxi UPon the morowe he moÌ„unted vpon the see wyth two hundred thousand sarazyns As the quene Rozemonde vnderstode that they wente in to ynde she prayed her husbande so muche that she went wyth hym So they had good wynde and arryued there anone Than they dyscended and pyght theyr tentes in a pleasaunt felde afore ynde They of the cyte shytte the gates faste and the kyng mounted vpon a hyghe toure for to se hys enmyes So he aduised vpon the ryuer syde thre riche pauylyons hanged aboute wyth stremes tryumphauntly and for to haue knowledge whan they were he called a heraute of armes to hym and asked hym whose tentes they were Syr sayd he the fyrst is Brandyffers the seconde is Lucar your enemyes and the thyrde is Rozemondes wyth her ladyes Whan the kyng vnderstode that Rozemonde was there hys heart lepte in hys bely for Joye and toke hardynes vnto hym sayenge to hym selfe It is no tyme for to slepe who wyll haue a fayre lady must put hym in auenture body and goodes And he is not worthy for to haue a fayre lady that wyll not take payne for to conquere her For thys thynge he made to arme hys men and wyth a goeate puysaunce yssued out of the cyte vpoÌ„ his enemyes y e which wyth payne had space for to put them in ordynauÌ„ce and arme them For they thought not that the kyng of ynde wold haue assaylled them so soone but loue made hym to doo it the whych maketh many thynges to be enterprysed so daynly Than was the assaute muche great and the batayll ryght aspro on bothe sydes And whan the kyng of ynde sawe that Brandyffer was medled in the batayll for to set his men in ordenaunce and to conduyte them he left his company and in muche great diligence rode towarde the pauylion of the ladies And Rozemonde sawe him well come and by his armoures knewe him so she yssued out of the tente all alone without any company and went rennyng towarde hym ⧠Howe the kyng of ynde caryed away the fayre Rozemonde behynde him and how Ualentyne rescowed her and brought her agayne ⧠Capitulo lxxii SO as the kyng of ynde appecreyued her ardauÌ„t desyre he smote his horse with the sporres rode towarde the lady and without any soâ—ournyng seâ— her on his horse as she that was lyght and hadde good will to accomplishe the thyng And after that she was mounted she sayd vnto the kyng of Ynde My perfyte and secrete loue you are ryght well founden for you are he that I haue desyred so muche and that I haue abyden of long tyme. And howe well that syth the tyme that you demaunded me my father hathe maryed me notwithstandyng it hath bene against my will and against my courage for I neuer hated man so muche as I do the kyng Lucar that is my husbande but nowe may he well saye that he hath had all the pleasure of me that euer he shall haue And sythe that God hath geuen me the grace for to haue founde you I requyre to haue none other and nowe is myne amerous will accomplyshed entierly Lady sayde the kyng of this doubte you not for I shall neuer fayle you and here I swere to you that or it be thre dayes passed I shall make you quene of Ynde the grete and maistresse of all my tenementes In saying these wordes the kyng of Ynde rode for the leadyng awaye the pleasaunt lady Rozemonde Then the gardes and maydens of the pauylion in great haste ranne vnto the kyng Lucar and sayde too hym Syr there is euyll tydinges for too daye you haue loste too great a losse for the kyng of Ynde your enemy leadeth a waye the pleasaunt lady Rozemonde vpon his horse and presently hath stolen and taken her awaye Wherfore make your men folowe hym for to saue the ladies honoure Nowe holde your peace sayd the kyng Lucar and tell me no more therof for who that hath an euyll wyfe leseth her he ought to be lytell sorowful Thus aunswered the kyng Lucar that had a full sory harte not without a cause And after wente towarde kynge Brandyffer and sayd to hym in this maner Syr sayde he I ought to haue lytel Joye of your doughter whan she hath accorded her to folowe myne enemye for to leue me geue me a reprochable blame Fayre sone sayd Brandiffer be not euyll contente agaynst me for to day I shall auenge you on the traytour that had lede away my doughter Then the kyng Brandyffer smote hys horse with the sporres for too rydeafter hym with a great companye of men and among the other Ualentyne was there that would shewe his great promisse at that nede and sayde vnto Pacolet it is time for to play with thyne arte and shewe thy scyence Then Pacolet made such a charme that it was aduyse vnto the kyng of Ynde that there was before his horse a fyeld full of chycke wodde and busshes great ryuers So he had so great feare for to be taken that he made the lady for to descende for to flee the lightlier And when the quene was on the earth she wende for to haue found the meanes to haue saued her with the kynge but Ualentyne was nere that escryed vnto her Lady abyde for it behoueth you to come with me for of longe tyme you haue promysed me for to gâ—ue me your loue Ha Ualentyne I oughte lytell for to loue you holde you dere whan I requyred you of loue you refused me So it hath be welforce to seke and purchase another then you but syche that fortune hath bene so contrarious to me that I hane fayled of mine enterprise I yelde me vnto your mercy as your poore subiecte and seruaunte for â—uer if it be so that by your meanes I maye make my peace toward the kyng Lucar Lady sayde Ualentyne I shall doo my besy payne so well that you shall knowe that I haue serued
for he was solde and betrayed by the false Haufray ⧠Howe kyng Brandiffer and king Lucar toke king Pepyn and the twelue peres of Fraunce within the cytie of Jerusalem Capit. lxxxviii NOwe is the kyng Pepyn and the twelue peres of Fraunce came in to Jerusalem for to vysyte the holy sepulcre And for to do the more deuoutly y e holy vyages that are in y e lande of promission in the which our lorde Jhesus christe suffred death and passion they are aryued at a good patriarkes the whiche hadde the kepyng of the holy sepulcre And he gaue them guydes for to conduyte them vnto al the holy places in whiche were the indulgences and pardons They made a preest to synge masse afore them euery daye and in great deuocyon vysyted the holy places Nowe happened pyteous thynges for to recouÌ„te whyles that they were wyth in Jherusalem for Brandyffer the kynge af ynde and the kynge Lucar the whyche had ben aduertysed by the traytoure Haufray arryued in the cytie of Jherusalem puyssauntly accompanyed and wente vnto the towre of Dauyd towarde the kynge of Surye that helde the countree and there presented them And whan he sawe theÌ„ he was muche amerâ—â—â—yled of theyr commyng And after the salutacyon made demaunded theym Lordes what thynge dryueth you hether for I thinke that you are not comen hether wythout a great cause ThaÌ„ branyffer spake and sayd vnto hym Syr knowe that by a christen man we are aduertysed and enformed that with in this cyte is arryued the twelue peres of FrauÌ„ce wyth the kynge pepyn Now they are the pryncypall enmyes of our lawe and they that of all the worlde maye greue vs moost And haue alredy taken the cyte of Angory and spylled a great quantyte of my lande my men put vnto death and my countre dystroyed And therfore we are comen hetherfor to take theym For whan we shall haue them we may do our wyll wythall Fraunce And of all chrystendome be lordes and maysters By mahowne sayd the kynge of Surye that helde the temple of salamon you speke ryght wysely of thys thynge I am muche contente Nowe be it done after your appetyte for we ought to be curyous for to take dystroye suche menne and for the loue of our goodes we ought to waâ—e vpon that dede Soo I shall tell you what we shall do for to accomplysshe this thinge I shall sende worde vnto the patriarke that and he haue any Frenche pylgryms that be bryng theim too me anone for I wyll sende some letters in to Fraunce ¶ Howe the kyng of Surye sent a messenger vnto the Patryatke of Jerusalen byddyng hym brynge hym kyng Pepyn the twelue peres of Fraunce the whiche he dydde ¶ Capit. lxxxix SO the messenger of the kyng of Surye went towarde the patryarke and sayde vnto him The kyng of Sury sendeth you worde that and you haue any Frenche pyigrâ—ms that you brynge them vnto hym Then he wente vnto theyr lodgynge where as he founde them redy to go vnto theyr souper for they had accomplysshe theyr pylgrymage and sayd vnto them Frendes you muste come presently vnto the kyng of Sury Alas sayd kyng Pepyn here is pyteous tydynges for I am certayne that he wyll put me vnto death yf he knowe me But I shall tell you what we shall doo We wyll make Henry our mayster I shall bere hys hatte and hys staffe By god syr sayd Henry that knewe well treason that shal I not do for here is Orson duke Myllon that are more worthyer to be it than I. Syr sayd the duke Myllon I shall do all that it shal please you Than they departed from theyr lodges to go towarde the Paynym that had sente for them The duke Myllon was honoured as kyng and Pepyn bare hys staffe and hys hat poorely clothed The good patriarke ledde them that thought none euyll and also soone as he hadde delyuered them he departed thens Come hether sayd the kynge of Surye I am well enfourmed of your case you are Frenshemen that come for to espye me and in your company is the kyng of Fraunce Syr sayd one of the twelue peres the kyng of Fraunce is not in this company â–ª peas sayd the kyng of Sury for by mahoune yf the kyng of frauÌ„ce shelve not hym selfe anone I shall make you all dye wythout remyssyon ¶ Kynge sayd anone the traytour Henry of me haue no doubte for it is not I. ThaÌ„ the duke Myllon apperceyued well that there was treason So he sayd all on hye Syr I am the kyng of Fraunce but there is one thynge that I wyll saye vnto you yf it please you to heare me We are coman vnto the holy sepulcre your lawe is suche that all chrysten men maye come and go surely vpon your londe wythout any hurte to the sayde pylgrymage in paying the trybute that is establysshed and dewe vnto you Now we haue al paid and accompiysshed after the ordenaunce of his countrey Whetfore me thynke you doo vs to great wronge if you disturbe vs for that cause By mahowne you may say what you will but there is neyther tyme nor season to you that maketh vs warre for to come hether to espye ourlande Than he called Brandiffer Lucar and said to them Lordes take these false christiaÌ„s spies and do with them your wyll for I put theim entyerly in to your handes to make theym dye of what death it shall please you At these wordes the pylgryms were taken and witholden by the painims So it is not to be demaunded if they fared foule with them for they had no more pytie of the noble lordes thaÌ„ of dogges They were streyghtly holdenand bound and after Brandyffer spake and sayd Lordes I will that these false men be ledde vnto the stronge castell and there be put in my depest pryson Syth we shall go in to Angorye and by force of armes wynne all the countrey After we shall go in to Fraunce and take the countrey put it lyghtly in our obeysaunce for there we shal neyther fynde king lorde nor baron that will saye vs the centrary And therfore you maye go eche of you in to your countrey til a certayne daye that we shal mete at Faleyze and there departe the prysoners after reason Lordes sayde the kyng of Ynde as to the regarde of the prysoners I demaunde none other thynge for my parte but that you wyll geue me the least so I shall make hym my dwerf And make hym ryde with me because that he is lytell and me thynke he is a man sure ynough And I shall doo hym good if he will renounce the lawe of Jhesus To this demaunde accorded all the other gaue kyng Pepyn to the kyng of Ynde that ledde hym in to Ynde with him and loued hym muche afterwarde notwithstandyng that he suffred many trybulacions ¶ How the kyng of Ynde the great ledde kyng Pepyn awaye for the parte of his prysoners but he knewe not
that he was kyng of Fraunce Cap. lxxxx SO the kyng of Ynde ledde with him the good kyng Pepyn but he knewe it not The valiauÌ„t xii beheld â–ª peres kyng Pepyn pyteously but noue durste hyd hym farewel for doubte of knowyng Thus goeth the kyng of Ynde and kyng Pepyn rydeth after hym that is not without sorowe Alas sayde he all alowe veray God helpe me and succour me for if you helpe me not of youre grace of all poore I am the moost sorowfull and vnhappy Alas Myllon dangler Iowe well to loue you whan for me you put your body in suche daunger Henry henry thou hast well shewed that thou loued me not whan at my nede thou failed me Wel owe euel come vnto the childe that at greate nede leueth his propre father My loue Berthe I shall neuer see you more alas Charles my lytell sonne God helpe the for I knowe for a truthe that the false traytours shall make the suffre payne ynough and thou arte yonge and lytell and maye not resyste agaynst them Thus complayned kyng Pepyn and wepte pyteously Nowe the kyng of Ynde hathe doone so muche that he is arryued within Ynde And when the lady Rozemonde knewe it she ranne against hym and in makyng great Ioye kyssed hym and after mounted vp in to the palays The lady behelde kynge Pepyn the whiche notwithstandyng that he was lytell he was well fourmed and made of his membres and or regarde ryght plesaunt so the lady demauÌ„ded the kyng of Ynde My loue tell me who hath geuen you this litel man â–ª for he semeth muche honest and gracious and it may be to se his semblaunce that he is extraught out of a hyghe place Lady sayde the kyng he hath bene geuen me for he was come with the kyng of Fraunce the twelue peres in to Jerusalem wherfore he hathe bene taken and if he wyll renounce his God Jhesus I shall do hym muche good Pepyn aunswered nothing whiche had wel another entencion So the houre was come that the kyng shoulde goo to souper â–ª Pepyn entred in to the kechyng and the kynge demaunded hym if he coulde any thynge of â—okeâ—ye and that he shoulde make hym the sauce for a pecocke that rosted And Pepyn dyd it so well that after warde the kynge woulde haue no meate nor sauce but of his dressing Wherof al the other of the kechyn ryall hadde great dispyte at him and vpon Pepyn hadde suche enuye that it happened one tyme that the kyng commaunded him for to make ready a pecocke so he went towarde the coke by the com maundement of the kynge And as he entred in to the kechyn bothe litell and great began for to mockâ— hym and some smote hym behynde and he as vertuous toke all in pacience After he wente towarde the fyre for to haue put the pecocke on the spytte And y e mayster coke that had great enuye on hym aporoched uere hym and caste a great brennyng cole in his lappe and brent him shrewedly And than Pepyn swore that he woulde auenge hym and came vnto the sarazyn and gaue hym so great a stroke betwene the foreheade and theâ—re that be smote him downe and after gaue him another stroke so great that he made his braynes to flee out When the varâ—ettes and scolyons sawe their mayster so outraged they assayled all Pepyn with slaues and knyues And he that was hardy and valyaunt reculed not abacke but swore Jhesu christe that he loued better to dye then to suffer iniurye of suche â—ascalles Soo he wente towarde a boye that woulde haue smyten hym with a pestel and gaue hym soo great a strooke that he felled hym downe dead to the earth The noise and the crye was so great that the kyng harde it Soo he badde anone that Pepyn should be taken and brought before hym And whan he was before hym he sayd vnto hym euyll boye How haste thou bene so hardy to 〈◊〉 my mayster coke within my palays Nowe tell me anone how the thing goeth or by my God mahoune thou shal dye Syr said kyng Pepyn I shall tell you the truthe It is true that I was in the kechin for to make redy a pecocke for your super as you commaunded me and than your coke cast a hote cole vpon me and brent me shrewedly withoute any cause And therfore I slewe hym When the kynge knewe the truthe by the other he pardoned hym ¶ Howe the kyng Pepyn beyng with the kyng of Ynde had knowledge of the fayre Clerymonde Cap. xci HEre wyl I make you mencion of the fayre Clerimonde the whyche as you haue herde before was kept in the kyng of Yndes palays Now the kynge of Ynde had a custome y t he wolde sende her of the best meat that was on hys table So it happened that at a souper he called Popyn and gaue hym the meat that was before hym and sayd vnto hym Go in to the chambre where as is a wyndowne there you shall fynde a folysshe woman pyteously arayed bere her thys from me Pepyn toke the meat and bare it vnto the lady But whan he sawe her so poorely arayed he had great pyte sayd vnto her Loue Jhesus that suffered for vs death passyon helpe you Alas haue truste in hym and serue hym wyth good heart and yf you do so knowe for a certaynte that you shall haue aledgement of your doloure and therfore beleue stedfastly in hym receyue the holye sacrament of baptym Whan the lady vnderstode that he spake of god she approched nere hym and sayd Frende haue noo doubte of me But tell me yf thou be a christen man or yf you saye these wordes by gyle Lady sayd pepyn for a trouthe I am a chrysten man and am comen out of the realme of Fraunce ThaÌ„ the lady sayd al smylynge you ought well to knowe the good kyng Pepyn and his neuewe Ualentyne It is true sayd Pepyn and I knowe well hys brother Orson his father the Emperoure of Grece also whan the lady herde that she began for to wepe and said vnto him Alas frende may I haue truste in you Ye sayd Pepyn as muche as in your propre father of all that it shal please you for to say â–ª for neuer shall you be accused by me ¶ Frende sayd the lady knowe for a certaynte that I counterfee the foole and the seke woman but I am also wyse and hole as I was euer for I am a chrysten woman and had the fayre Ualentyne vnto loue and vnto hym I was gyuen for wyfe but by the false traytour kyng Trompart I was taken from hym Than the lady tolde hym all the maner of her estate and how she had ben stolen and wherfore she made her selfe syke Whan kyng pypyn herd the pyteous aduenture of the lady he began for to wepe muche tenderly After in consyderyng the fortunes and great aduentures that cometh vpon the creature in castynge out great teares he sayd softly to hymselfe Ha
And when she was reuyued she sayde with feble voyce muche pyteously Alas my loue Ualentyne how you haue suffred for me many dolours and tribulacious and I for you â–ª beholde in what pouerte I haue byden without geuing my loue vnto any man Lady sayde Ualentyne one loueth gladly the thyng that is dere bought At these wordes UaleÌ„tine vnderstode that the trompettes and clarons blewe for to set the kyng at souper So he said vnto the faire lady Clerymonde my loue I goo in to the palays but after souper I shall retourne vnto you agayne for I haue made the kyng to vnderstande that I am a physician and a good surgian so the kynge hath sente for me for to come and hele you of your greuous maladye The lady sayd my ryght dere loue go in goddes name the whiche geue you grace to perfourme your enterpry se. Thus departed Ualentyne and wente into the palays And also sone as the kyng sawe hym be demaundeo hym Mayster maye you hele the lady yes said Ualentyne be ioyous for by the wyll of Mahoune you shal here her speake to morowe also wysely as euer she dyd The kynge was so â—oyous that he gaue hym a mauntel of beten golde set with precious stones after made hym be serued at the table lyke his persoue And after souper Ualentyne sayd vnto the kyng Syr it behoueth me to haue a good fyre all the nyght in the chambre of the pacyente and also defende that none shewe them be fore her for she was neuer soo seke as she shall be too nyght Mayster sayde the kyng all shall be done â–ª do but aske and you shall be serued Nowe goeth Ualentyne to warde the fayre ClerymoÌ„de with a great serge in his hande and put it in the chambre and made to make a great fyre in commaundyng euery body to auoyde saue his squyer Than Ualentyne shytte the doores and the wyndowes and sayde vnto Clerymonde My swete lady nowe maye you embrace meat your owne pleasute and than Ualentine espyed the horse of wodde and asked her if it was Pacolettes horse and she sayde yes Then Ualentyne was ryght ioyous therof Alas said she let vs go hence if it may be By God sayde Dalentyne I had well thought it ⧠How Ualentine rode a way with Clerymonde and how the kyng of Brytayne was yeldd vnto kyng Pepyn by treason Lâ—pit C. ii UAlentyne open 〈…〉 e at midnyght and mounted 〈…〉 great wyndowe where as the mone shone After he mounted vpon the horse and set the lady before him and his squier behynde hym and tourned the pynne and the horse wâ—t ouer the sea roches townes and castelles tyll that he was before Angory And there was not one that ourste saye a worde and euen there fayled the charme Ualentyne made the gates to be opened for it was day Great ioye was made through Angory for the comyng of Cicrymonde Ualentyne made her to be rychely clothed and on the moro we wet dâ—d her w t great solemphite whan the kyng of ynde knewe that he had loste the lady he despyâ—â—d his goddes saying Ha false enchauntour thou hast well deceyued me but I shal make the be hanged by the necke He inaâ—e Ualentyne to be pursued ynought but none could tell hym tydynges So wyll I tell you of kyng Pepyn that returned into Fraunce for to socoure hys wyfe and his londe agaynst the kynge of Brytâ—yne FOor bycause that the kyng of Brytayne herde saye that the kyngo Pepyn and the twelft peres had bene taken uâ— Iherualem he thought vetayly that they hadde ben all dead and sayde that he wolde be kynge of Fraunce and wedde Berthe So he made alyannce wyth the erle of Mount fort with the duke of Berry Wyth the duke of Denemours and wyth the erle of Armyngnae So he made to cry throughe all Brytayne that al that myght bere wepen should god wythhyln into Fraunce Whan the quene Berthe knewe of that tydynges she was muche sorowfull but she myght not remedy it soo she tooke her sonne That les and fledde vnto Lyon â–ª In that same tyme there was an Erle of Aniou true and of good fayth that for to socoure the quene Berthe made hys â—yâ—e and hys castelles to be well garnysshed wythe men and vyttaylles as gaynst the Brytons Whan the quene knewe hys good wyll she sent hym foure thousande horsmen to kepe the passage The kyng of Brytaync had the erle gyue hym passage into Fraunce and he answered that he wolde not So it was not longe that seuen Erles and thre dukes came before the cyte of Angyers and assyeged it And the Erle yssued not oute but kepte the câ—â—ie myghtely Now the kynge Pepyn made so greate dylygeuce that durynge that syege he arryued at Paâ—â—s and was receyued worshypfully of all the burgey ses and for his comyng made ryght great Ioye All the relyques were borne thorough the cytie in procession Whan the quene knewe that he was at Parys she wente vnto hym and sayde to hym all weyyng My dere lorde I besethe you to auenge me on the kyng of Brytayne Lady sayd the kyng take you no thoughte for by the plersute of God you shall be auenged Than he made to assemble his men and his hoost in great haste and sente for pyckardes henies brabansons and normans Great was the assemble of kyng Pepin against the king of Brytayne Nowe had the enemies tydinges of his coÌ„myng where of they were muche abasshed and doubted hym muche and not without a cause So all the alyes of kyng Arthur toke a counsaill together that they should take the for sayde Arthure and delyuer hym vnto kynge Pepyn for to make their peace the better and couer theâ—â— defautes and so they dyd For vpon a nyght they tooke him in his hoost in bedde and ledde him vnto kyng Pepyn the whiche made his head to be smyten of within Chatelet of Parys Wel thought the alyes y t the warre had bene ceased but king Pepyn toke from thâ—â—andes and possessions as it appeareth more plainly in the â—â—oâ—ycles vpon those thynges composed ⧠Now Ualentyne toke the strong castell and deliuered his father the Emperoure of trece and all the prysoners that were with hym Cap. C. iii. MUche was Ualentyne in greate thoughtâ— nyghte and daye how he might deliuer his father ¶ For he knew well that the castel myght not be taken by force of armes nor by enchauntement but it might wel be taken by treason So he aduysed a thyng that was much subtilly composed He put in twelue shyppes two thousande men armed and laded theim with all â—yche marchaundyse as perles precious stones and sylkes and mounted vpon the sea and as marchauntes ariued be fore the stronge castell and take lande Ualentyne clothed him in marchauntes wede and set a ryche crowne vpon his head and sayde vnto his men arme you all and take your glayues and hydâ— you pryuely within y e shyppes so that you be not
purchased his death at the laste and that of the quene Berthes fyrst of all And because that they myght not well poyson her they acquainted them with a damosel that was nyght and day with the quene and they gaue her such a gyfte that the false woman consented to the death of the quene that had done her so muche good so that with in fyftene dayes she dyed wherof the kyng Pepyn was so sorowefull that he abode in his bedde And the traytours dyd soo muche by poysons that he dyed for the whiche both lytell and great wepte and not withoute a cause The traytours shewed semblaunt to be sorowfull but they were ryght â—oyus and sayde Nowe maye we well do our pleasure with Fraunce for there is neyther dukes eâ—les nor barons that maye resyste agaynst vs. ¶ Howe after the death of kyng Pepyn the duke Myllon Dangler would haue made the lytell Charles to be crowned kyng of Fraunce ¶ Capitulo C. vi AFter the death of the good kyng Pepyn the duke Mylion dangler that was valyaunt and wyse assembled the counsayll and wold haue made younge Charles to be crowned kyng But Haufray and Henry by gyftes and â—romesses corrumped the lordes and it was sayd that Charles was to young And because that the duke Myllon susteyned the coÌ„trary Haufray Henry made him to be taken put in pryson in Chatelet at Parys sythe helde Charles as a boye of y e kechyn It happened one daye that Haufray coÌ„maunded him to tourne a spiâ— but Charles that was displesaunt lyft vp the spyt and felled hym to the earth Henry stepte forthe for to haue smiten Charles but Charles that espied him gaue him on the eare so that the bloud yssued out wherfore Haufray â—ad his men take him Than came a knyghte named Dauyd of Elloys and toke Charles by the hande for othertymes he had endoctryned hym so he set hym on a horse and ledde him out of Parys whan the traytours knewe that Charles went his waye they made hym to be pursued but they that folowed woulde not fynde him and so retorned Than MylloÌ„ dangler sent the truth of it to his wyfe Charles syster when she had sene the letter she wepte for the loue of Charles â–ª so she swore Jhesus that they should abye it dere Than she made a letter to be wryten and sente it vnto Ualentine and to the twelue peres of Fraunce that were in Angorye When Ualentyne hadde redde it he began for to wepe and the lordes demaunded him wherfore he dyd wepe Alas my frendes there is a good cause why for kyng Pepyn is dead and the good quene Berthe also So Haufray and Henry haue chased the lytell Charles out of the countrey and put the duke Millon in pryson because that he susteyne him So the lady sendeth vs worde that we succoute her and I wote neuer how for you know wel that we abyde from day to day our mortall enemy Brandiffer By oure faithes sayde the barons we must fynde some maner for to succout hym well sayde the noble Ualentine or to morowe at night I shall yelde you the duke Myllon ¶ Of these wordes they began for to laughe Ualentyne departed wyth out makynge any more delayâ— wyth hys hors played so well that he was at Parys before mydnyght and was in Chatelet and by subtyll arte opened the gates And gaue leue to all the prysoners after he demaunded them where the dake Myllon was they shewed hym the chambre the whyche was opened anone The good duke that slepte wakened and sayd what are you that entre so rudely Nowe vp sayd Ualentyne and thynke for to take youre clothes for I am Ualentyne that am comen from Angory for to delyuer you The good duke mâ—s muche Ioyous and made hym redy anone So Ualentyne made hym mounte vpon the hors wyth hym and sayd to hym kepe you frome spekynge for we shall flee in the ayre Syth that we shal go so fast I pray you passe by the castell of Angler and there we shall se and comforte my wyfe a lyttell that for me and for her brother Charles is muche sorowfull They knocked at the gates and the watche answered that knewe theyr lord and tolde it vnto the ladye that ranne vnto the gate in a syngle gowne and kyssed and colled hym after she demaunded hym tydynges Ladye sayd he you knowe all but knowe that I go in to Angorye where as we abyde the batayll of the false paynyms â–ª and at my retorne I shall brynge wyth me the twelue peâ—es of Fraunce with a great puyssaunce for to confounde Haufray and Henry and socoure Charles Whan the lady vnderstode that they wolde make no leyger soiournynge â–ª she made meat to be brought and there they toke theyr repaste for they had greate luste to eate and drynke After they toke leue of the lady and were in Angorye vpon the morowe before all the barons wherof the lordes were muche abasshed and prayed Ualentine muche to learne them that arte but he refused theym Nowe it happened in those dayes that Brandyffer that was vpon the see arryued a myle from Angory And there he made his syege to be set accompanyed wyth fyftene kynges all hys subiectes They of the cyte that herde the tydinges went shytte the gates and drewe vp the brydges and after mounted vp on the walles for to beholde the paynyms that dressed vp great nombre of tentes and pauylyons The sarazyns were in theyr syege the space of a moneth wythout gyuynge assaute and wythout that any crysten meÌ„ yssaed out on them ¶ How the Emperoure of grece Orson and the grene knyght departed from the stronge castell for to goo socoure Ualentyne in Angorye Ca. Cvii THe Emperoure of Greâ—e that was in the stronge castel herd say that brandyffer with a great puyssaunce had besyeged Angory so he was moued in deuocion for to go help the Aysten men They toke counsayll togyther and accorded that a valyaunt knyght should kepe the stronge castell wyth two men After they departed for to go into Angory The Emperour of Grece Orson the grene knyght accompanyed wyth a thousand fightynge men entred into the see pulled vp the saylles but they had not gone but a lytle way whan they sawe a great flote of shyppes comynge towarde theym It was an Admyrall paynym that went for to socour the kyng Brandyffer wyth ten thousand men Well knew the chrysten men that they were of theyr enemyes son they put them in armes and renged them in baâ—â—yl on theyr shyppes syde The saraznus sawe well that they were crysten men wherfore they approched and smote vpon them fyersly And the cristen meÌ„ that reclaymed god and our lady defended them valyauntly Thaune was there a cruell batayll the Emperour of grece Or son and the grene knyght shewed theyr prowesses and cryed hyghly Jhesus sucoure vs. At these wordes the crysten men toke suche courages that the leâ—st at that houre
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
On a mornynge Hugon called the fayre Clerymonde sayde to her in fayre language Lady knowe that I am kyng of Hongrye holde vnder me diuers â–ª greace lordes but of one thyng I am euill that is that I haue no wyfe and anâ— to mary for the whiche thyng I am come to ward you For I haue vnderstande that the knyghte Ualentyne wil neuer retourne wherfore I require you y t you haue me for your husbande so shal you be crowned quene of Hongrye and be greately honoured for aboue all other you are she that my harte desyreth so aâ—dauntlye Syr sayn the lady of the good and the honour that you present me I thanke you humbly but for to aunswere you well seke you another wyfe for my loue Ualentine lyueth yet soo I am delybreed for too abyde hym seuen yere And whan that it should be so that I would take a husbande it behoued not to speke vnto me but to the Emperoure Orson and to my brother the grene knight for without their counsayll I will neuer conâ—ente therto for any thyng that maye be sayde vnto me ¶ Lady sayd Hugon you speake right honestly your answere pleaseth me Than he came towarde Orson demaunded hym if he hadde any tydynges oâ— Ualentyne Free kyng sayde the Emperoure Orson that of hym had no doubte â–ª I knowe none other thyng saue that â—y a â—â—eter that he lefte me with his wyfe the which telleth that he is gone in exyle for to wepe his synnes ◠〈◊〉 vpoÌ„ hym he bereth halfe of the ring that he wedded his wife wyth and the other he hathe lefte her â–ª and charged her to beleue nothinge of hym but if she sawe the other halfe of the ryng Syr sayd Hugon that noted well the sewordes â–ª god be his spede for he is a knight to be moche praysed Nowe I wyll tell you one thynge that I haue in my courage I am delyuered for to go vnto The rusalem sor to vysyte the holy sepulcre so I wold gladly that you wolde bere me company Syr sayde Orson I am contente and we wyll go into Angorye and take the grene knyght with vs that is kyng therof It pleaseth me well sayd kyng Hugon lette vs go where you wyll Than Orson toke leue of the fayre Galazye â–ª and of his moder and mounted vpon thesee and came into Angory where as they were receyued much honourably â–ª and in greate ioye They made greate chere and after all thre wente into Jherusalem and toke vp theyr lodging for to reste them And vpon the morowe they wente toward the good patriarke that songe masse be fore them and made them be guyded throughe the cyte for to vyâ—â—â—e the holy sepulcre and other holy places in grete deuocion They gate the pardons and dyde theyr pylgrimage deuoutly saue the kinge Hugon that bare the treason in hys hearte by the whiche he made the noble prynces be taken and enprysoned that trusted in hym For right so as they visited the holy places y t traitour kyng Hugon stole oute of theyr company and yede vnto the kynge of Surye that was the kynge of Jâ—dâ—s broder that was slayne before Angorye Hugon salued hym by mahowne sayd vnto him Kynge vnderstondome and I shall tell you a thynge for your prouffyte Knowe syr that there is newly aryued here two knightes that you ought to hate aboue al other for they haue slayne kynge Brandyffer kynge Lucar and the puyssaunt kynge of Ynde your brother Whan Rabastre vnderstode that hys brother was dead he wepte much and after sayd vnto Hugon Syr can you yelde me the two knyghtes Yes sayd the traytour Hugon so y t you wyll giue me theyr seales af golde Syr sayd the kyng of Surye I should be to ingrate yf I refused you soo lytell a thynge you shall haue the seales and other thynges ynoughe yf you may delyuer me the two knyghtes Yes sayd Hugon and herken now Sende your messengers in to the house of the patryarke for he can tel you where they are Than the kynge of Sury dyd so and sent viii hundred men armed to the good patryarke the whyche shewed them the lodgys at the kynges coÌ„maundement The paynyms went thyther anone and founde Orson and the grene knyght at dynner â–ª the whyche they tooke and bounde straytely and in betynge theym ledde them towarde the kynge Alas sayd Orson we are betrayed for ryght so as kynge Pepyn and the twelue peres of Fraunce were ones solde vnto the sarazyns in thys cyte so are we nowe Whan the kynge of Sury sawe them he sayd vnto them False enemyes of oure lawe I am ryght Joyous that I holde you now tel me your names for I wyll knowe theym and for a cause Syr sayde Orson I am called Orson and thys is the Grene knyght By mahowne sayd the kynge I haue hearde muche speke of you and you haue a felowe named valentyne the whiche if I helde he shoulde neuer escape my handes on lyue Than he made them to be dyspoyled and tooke theyr Seales frome theym the whyche he gaue afterwarde to kynge Hugon So Orson the grene knyght were put in a depe dongeon with bread and water longe They thought that the kyng Hugon had bâ— slayne of the sarazyns Alas they knew nothing how the mater did go for the traytoure Hugon was in the cytye y t called vnto him a disloyall traytoure named Galeran whiche had serued him longe for suche mayster suche seruaunt â–ª Galeran sayd Hugon I haue found y e maner wherby I shall come vnto the ende of myn entencion And because that you are my neuewe and haue serued me longâ— be secrete and I shall rewarde you soo well that you shal be content Vncle sayd Galeran haue no doubte of me for I know where you pretende that is to haue the fayre clerimonde vnto wyfe ¶ It is true sayde kynge Hugon it nedeth not to hyde it frome you We must make a letter subtylly in the name of Orson for I haue his propre seale wyth the whiche it shall be sâ—aleâ— And it behoueth that the letter be made thus ¶ Orson by the grace of god Emperour of grece vnto you my ryght redoubted and souerayne ladye and Moder vnto you my loue Galazye and vnto my syster y e fayr â–ª Clerymonde all humble salutation recommendacyon due Know that there is happened vs piteous tydynges and displeasaunt in this couâ—trye the whyche I wryte vnto you in this present letter so I require Jhesus that he gyue you pacyence â–ª My ladyes knowe for certayne that I haue founde my brothe â–ª Valentine in Jherusalem in his deathe bedde so God gaue me suche grace that I spake with hym or he dyed And at his 〈◊〉 he charged me to sende you tydynges to solue y e fayre Clerymonde from hym To whome he maundeth that for all the loue that euer she loued hym wyth that also soone as she may she take some prynce to husband