agrée to beare witnesse of that I shall say to the King I will make you all so rich that yée shall neuer be poore after They answeared they would fulfill his pleasure then they went out of the wood and came there as Charlot lay dead then they tooke him vp and layd him before Earle Amerie on his horse necke and so road foorth but mischéefe and mishap followe them for as much as in them lay they laboured to haue Huon iudged to death Thus they road the hye way to Paris and the Abbot of Cluny who was ridden on before looked behind him and sawe the two Brethren comming after him then he taried and demaunded of Huon what aduenture hée had found Sir quoth he I haue slayne him that hath sore hurt my Brother where he thought to haue slaine me but thanked be God I haue left him dead in the place Faire Nephew quoth the Abbot I am sorrie thereof but séeing it is done if any hurt come thereby and that you be accused before the King I shall ayd you with all my power Sir quoth Huon of that I thanke you then Huon looked behind him and saw where Earle Amerie with all his power came faire easily after him therewith his heart trembled Then he said vnto the Abbot Sir what shall I doe yonder I sée them approach that desire my death they bée the same that lay in the wood watching for vs. Faire Nephew quoth the Abbot haue no doubt for they that come after vs come but a soft pace they make no semblance to ouertake you let vs ride on a good pace we shal be anone at Paris it is now but two miles thether Then they road on and rested not vntill they came to the Pallaice and béeing there alighted Huon went vp holding his Brother by the one hand and the Abbot by the other hand There they saw the King sitting among his Barons then Huon saluted Duke Naymes and all the other Barons and said Health and faire hap to all these noble Lords but shame and dishonour to my Lord the King for there was neuer heard of a fowler treason then the King hath practised against vs séeing that by his Messengers his Letters Patents he hath sent for vs to doe him seruice the which commaundement we haue in all dutie obayed as to our Soueraigne Lord but by false treason waight hath béen layd secretly for vs and a close ambush to haue murdered vs by the way first they assayled my brother héere present by them he was brought into such danger that they left him for dead and afterward they set vpon me to haue slayne mée but by the ayd of our Lord Iesus Christ and with my Sword I so defended me that he that thought to haue slayne vs I haue slayne him Chap. IX ¶ How the King was sore displeased with Huon bycause hee had appeached him of treason and how Huon shewed all the manner why he slewe the Knight that wounded his Brother WHEN the King had heard Huon he said Knight beware and thinke well what thou hast sayd héere before all my Barons for neuer in all my life did I either act or giue my consent to any treason But by the faith that I owe vnto my maker and by my beard if it be so that thou canst not prooue this that thou layest to my charge I shall cause both thée and thy Brother to dye an euill death When Huon heard the King how hée tooke his words he stept foorth and sayd Great King behold héere my Brother who by thy meanes is sore hurt and in ieopardie of his life And so did take off his Brothers Gowne and his Dublet to his shyrt and he did open the great wound so that the bloud ran out aboundantly euen that it enforced Gerardin to fall in a swound before the King and his Barons through the great anguishe that he felt whereof the Emperour tooke such compassion that he could not choose but much bemone him And therefore immediatly sent for his Surgeons causing thē to search his wounds demaunding if they could saue his life or no and when they had thorowly searched the wound they said Sir by the help of God within this moneth he shal be whole and sound The King was glad of that answeare and beholding Huon said Since thou layest this déed to my charge thou must thinke that thou hast touched the royall reputation of a King and that in such sort as verie hardly may the condition of Maiestie endure it But by my Countreys honour and by the Crowne that I iustly beare vpon my head if I may knowe who hath done this heynous offence I shall doe both thy Brother and thée such right and iustice as it shall remaine for a perpetuall memorie of due honour and that your selues shall report you haue no cause to complaine My Lord answeared Huon I humbly thanke you for through obaying your commaundement this mischéefe is fallen vnto vs. I cannot thinke nor know that any time of our life eyther I or my Brother did euer wrong or trespasse to any creature but thus by your Kingly pacience the case happened After we departed from Bourdeaux wée found no aduenture but when we came within a League of Montleherry wee met with our Vnckle the Abbot of Cluny and so fell in companie with him to conduct vs to the Court and so we road together vntill we came on this side Montleherry then we sawe a little wood and by the brightnesse of the Sonne we saw the healmes and speares and shéelds of them that were ambushed in the wood and that one came out of the wood all armed his speare in his hand and shéeld about his necke and hée came a soft pace towards vs then all we stood still and sent my brother to the knight to know whether they were Spies or men to kéepe the passage to the entent that if they demanded any Tribute they should haue right of vs if they would haue any of vs. When my brother came néere to the Knight he demaunded what we were and my brother said how we were the Children of the Duke of Bourdeaux and were comming by your commaundement to your Court to reléeue our Lands and Fées of your grace then the Knight sayd how we were the same persons that he sought for and sayd how that a Seauen yeares passed Duke Seuin our Father had taken from him thrée Castles the which was neuer so then my brother offered him that if he would come to Paris before you and your Barons he should haue right done to him if he had any wrong done to him Then the Knighte answeared that he would not doe soe and therewith suddainly couched his speare and stroake my brother as you sée he béeing vnarmed so that he fell to the earth wéening he had béen slain and then he road againe faire and easily toward the wood When I saw my brother borne to the earth I had such sorrow at
should be so hardy as to drinke or touch the Fountaine for if a traytour or any man that had falsefied his faith did touch it he could not escape without death But when the Serpent saw Huon he enclined himselfe without making of semblance to do him any ill Huon sat down by the Fountaine and began gréeuouslye to lament and said Ah good Lord without thy succour it is impossible for me to depart hence aliue Ah noble king Oberon forsake me not nowe in this néede for the trespas that I haue done ought to be forgiuen me séeing I did it negligently for lacke of remembrance certenly I will know if for so small a cause yee will leaue me wherefore whatsoeuer fall I shall prooue assay to know the troth then he tooke his Horne and blew it so fiercely that king Oberon heard it being in his Forrest when he heard it he said Ah good Lord I heare the false Knight blow his Horne who setteth so little by me for at the first gate that he passed by he made a false lye by the Lord that fourmed me if he blow till the vaines of his necke burâ—â— in sunder he shall not be succoured for me nor for any manner of mischiefe that may fall to him Then Huon being in the garden blew so lowde that the Admirall who was set at his dinner arose from the boord with all his Lords and all other ladies and Damsels knights and squiers boyes and scullions of the kitchen and all other came into the Pallaice to the Admirall and began to daunce and singe and made great ioy the more that Huon blew his Horne the more they daunced and sang And when Huon left blowing than the Admirall called his Barons and commaunded them to be armed and said Sirs goe into this garden for surely there is some Enchaunter therefore take héed that he escape not but bring him aliue to me for I will know of him the cause why he hath done this déed for if he escape he will doe vs more ill When Huon had blowen a longe space and sawe no body come to him he was sore abashed and thaÌ„ he began to lament and said Ah good Lord god now I sée well mine end approcheth when king Oberon fayleth me in whom I haue all my trust in life and death Ah déere Lady Mother and brother Gerardine I shall neuer sée you more Ah noble king Charlemaine great wrong haue yée done to me thus to banish me without desert for that that I did was in my defence god forgiue it you Ah king Oberon well mayeÌ„st thou be reputed for an vnkind creature thus to leaue me for one small fault certenly if thou be a noble man I hope thou wilt pardon me at least I put all to god and to him I submit me And whatsoeuer fall I will enter into the Pallaice doe my Messuage that king Charlemaine hath commaunded me to doe So he made him readie and departed from the Fountaine thinking he should finde the Admirall at dinner at that time Chap. XXXVII ¶ How Huon came into the Pallaice and did his messuage to the Admirall and how he slew many Paynims and was afterward taken and put in Pryson WHen Huon had been a certen space at the fountaine he departed all armed and mounted vp the degrees of the Pallaice the same time the Admirall had caused twoo of his principall goddes to be set in the middest of the Pallaice richly adorned and before theÌ„ twoo great torches burning so that no Sarazin passed by them but made to them great reuerence but Huon passed by them and would not once looke on them nor speake to no man that hée met whereof they had all great maruaile and sayd one to another so that Huon easily heard them I beléeue this man who thus entred into the Pallaice all armed is some messenger sent from some great Prince to the Admyrall and then Huon saw a Paynim King speaking to the Admyrall who was newly come to the Admirall bicause the same day the Admirall Gaudise should haue deliuered to him his Daughter the faire Escleremond in mariage and Huon sawe well howe hee was the greatest Prince that as then was there with the Admirall then Huon sayd to himselfe Ah good Lord if I acquite my selfe truly to King Charlemaine I must slay this Paynim king I thinke it be he that I looke for séeing he sitteth so néere to the Admirall god confound me but incontinent I will strike of his head and then let our Lord Iesus Christ do with me at his pleasure Then Huon came nere to the table and drew out hys sword and therewith gaue the said King suche a stroke that his head fell on the table so that the Admyrall was therwith all bloody Then Huon with a hye voyce said Ah good Lord what a good beginning is this the rest I remit to our Lord Iesus Christ whome I require to aid me to perfourme the rest of mine enterprise in this point I haue nere quit my selfe agaynst king Charlemaine Then the Admirall said to his Barons take this man that hath doone me this offence as to murder this king â—itting at my table if he escape looke me neuer in the face TheÌ„ the Paynims assailed Huon on all sides and cast at him darts and swords to haue slaine him But his good Armor saued him from the death and with his sword he slew many a bolde Paynim so that none durst approch néere him When he saw that he was sore oppressed he tooke his Ring from off his arme and cast it on the table before the Admirall and said Sir Admirall beware on paine of thy lyfe of doing to me any hurt or damage by this token that I shew thee Whan the Admirall saw the Ring hee knew it well then hee began to crye that no man should be so hardye as to touch him that hath slayne the Paynim King and euery man let Huon in rest wherof he was right ioyfull than he said to the Admirall Sir I will from hence forth that thou do as I commaund thee Friend quoth the Admirall thou mayest do in my Pallaice what thou wilt whatsoeuer thou commaund shal be done no man shall say the coÌ„trary Than Huon saw where his daughter the fayre Escleremond sat by her Father and Huon went to her and kissed her iij. times before her Father whereat the Damsell was much abashed but she saw him so fayre and felt his mouth so sweet that she thought without she might haue him to her Louer she should dye for sorow so that she changed colour and blushed as ruddie as a rose Whan Huon had kissed the ladie than he went to the Admirall and said Sir Admirall know for troth that I am christened and am a Messenger sent from noble king Charlemaine to thée bicause there is no Prince christian nor heatheÌ„ but that obeyeth his coÌ„maundement except thy selfe therefore by me hee sendeth thee worde that since the dolorous
Emperour had not scaped aliue neuerthelesse the stroke light so on his shoulder that the sword pierced the maile gaue him a déep wound further the sword desceÌ„ded to the bow of the saddle so that the horse was stroken nigh asunder in two péeces and so the Emperour and the horse fell downe to the ground together so that if he had not béene rescued by the Almaines he had béene slaine Huon was sorie when he saw the Emperor so scaped with his life then he turned and rode towards Bourdeaux after his men who tarried still for him and Huon did so much by his prowesse that for all the Emperour and his men he entred into the Citie of Bourdeaux But as then hee knew not that the olde Gerames was taken prisoner so thus as you haue heard Duke Huon entred into Bourdeaux with foure thousand men of whom the most part were sore hurt then he rode to the Pallaice and there alighted Then he looked about him and was sore abashed when he saw not Gerames by him then he demanded if any man knewe where hee was Sir quoth a Knight named Gallerance know for truth that hee is taken prisoner and is in the hands of your enemies for to haue ayded him I was wounded in thrée places and néere hand slaine I employed my force to haue succoured him but I could finde no remedie When Huon heard that hee praysed greatlie Gerames force and vertue and greatly complained and said Alas that I had not knowne of his taking ere I returned I would sooner haue dyed but that at the least I would haue taken some man sufficient to haue redéemed him againe out of danger A lamentable thing it was to heare Duke Huon what sorrow hee made for his friend Gerames but his complaints could not auaile him his Lords sayd Sir by the grace of God you shall haue him againe safe and aliue Sirs quoth Huon it shall be a great aduenture without they put him to death Then Huon mounted vp to the Pallaice whereas he met Escleremond his wife whom hee kissed and embraced manie times Sir quoth the Ladie I pray you shew mee of your newes Ladie quoth Huon they be but poore and dolorous for of twentie thousand men that I had with me out of this Citie I haue brought home aliue but foure thousand and yet the most part of them before wounded and beside the old Gerames is taken prisoner who hath suffered before this time so many paines and trauailes for my sake Alas Sir quoth the Ladie sore wéeping I had rather you had beléeued me and that you had gone and sought for succour of my brother who would not haue fayled you but would haue come with you with so much people and puissance that the Emperour should not haue durst to haue abiden you Madame quoth Huon speake no more thereof for the losse of as much as tenne Cities be in value I would not haue gone thither nor to none other part for any succour nor yet will not till that I sée mée more oppressed then I am as yet I might well be reputed for a coward and recreaunt thus to abandon my Citie I had rather be dismembred into péeces then for feare I should leaue you it would be greatlie to my reproch in the Courts of hie Princes and when I come there to be marked with the finger for that great default Sir quoth Escleremond your pleasure is mine since that you wil haue it so but I am right sorrowful for the old Gerames who is prisoner in the tents of your enemies who hath suffered for your sake many great pains and pouerties I cannot be but sory when I remember him Madame quoth Huon as yet Gerames is not dead I hope by the grace of our Lord God that we shall haue him againe aliue Sir quoth she I pray to God that it may be so Now let vs leaue speaking of Huon and speake of the Emperour who lay sore hurt on the earth Chap. LXXXXI ¶ How the Emperour raysed vp a paire of Gallowes to hang vp the old Gerames and all the Bourdeloyes that were taken prisoners YOu haue alredy heard here before recounted howe Huon entred into Bourdeaux after hee had beaten downe the Emperour Tirrey whome he left lying vpoÌ„ the earth and had beene flaine if his men had not quickly rescued him now his men were sorrowfull for they feared hee had been dead and vnlaced his helmet and was right ioyful when they found him aliue Then they demaunded and said Sir we desire you shew vs in what case you feele your selfe Sirs quoth he I am sore hurt whereby I feele great paine this enemie Huon hath brought me into this case I was foolishly counsailed when I came hether to seeke for him for if I had taried still at Mayence I beleeue to do me displeasure he would haue come thether sirs I pray you beare me into my Tent that my wound may bee searched then hee was borne into his Tent vnarmed and layd vpon his bed and he swounded thrice for paine of his hurt And when he came to himselfe and his woundes were searched by his Surgions hee demaunded where the Knightes of Bourdeaux were they that were taken in the Battaile and demaunded that they should be brought to his presence Gerames was brought before him who was great puissant with a beard as white as snow hee was a faire ould Knight to behould his visage plaine and smiling he seemed to be a man of high affaires when the Emperour saw him he said Thou old Catiffe shew me what thou art beware and shew me the troth Sir quoth Gerames know well that for feare of any death I shall not spare to say the troth â—â—â—ing you will needs know what I am I am named Gerames and am Huons Seruant whome I loue naturally and also I am his kinsman whereby I haue the more cause to loue him and I haue slaine diuers of your men Well quoth the Emperour I repute thee for a Foole to giue mee this knowledge for by the grace of God to morow early ere I eate or drinke thou shalt be drawne hanged xl of thy company that were taken with thée in the battaile Sir quoth Gerames of this that you shew me I giue you no thanke for it but I hope by the aid of Iesus christ that I shal do you more damage ere I die Ah Villain quoth the Emperor great maruaile I haue of thée that thus before me thou doest vse these threatnings yet thou séest how thou art my prisoner that it lyeth in me to put thée to what death it pleaseth me know for troth if it were not so late of the day as it is I wold not suffer thée to liue one houre But ere I sleepe I shall cause a Gallowes to be made whereas thou and thy company shall be hanged and I shall cause thée to be hanged so néere to the Citie that if Huon be so néere kin
were woont to bée yée may well sée by these two Brethren the strife that is betwéene them is foule and dishonest wée should doe well if we could find the meanes by any manner of wayes to appease them and therefore I counsaile let vs all together goe to the King and desire him to haue mercie pitie of both these twoo Brethren and that it might please him to appease them renâ—er to Huon all his Landes and if wee could bring it to this point it should bée a good déede as to accord them together Chap. LXXIII ¶ How the Peeres layd all the deede vppon Duke Naymes to giue the iudgement vpon him But for all that euer he could say or doe the King iudged Huon to die AFter that the Earle of Flanders had spoken the Earle of Chalons rose vp and said My Lord of Flanders your reason is good and you haue spoken like an Noble man but I know surely that the King will doe nothing at our desires But Sirs if ye thinke it good let vs all put the whole matter vpon Duke Naymes of Bauyer and all that hee will say let vs agrée thereto then all the Lords accorded together and sayd how the Earle of Chalons had sayd right well Then they came to Duke Naymes and desired him that he would take the charge of that matter vpon him and whatsoeuer he did they were all agreed thereto when the Duke heard them he stood still a certaine space and beganne to studie on the matter and tooke all the tenne Peeres to counsell with him And when the faire Escleremond saw Huon her husband in that danger among them with whom he should haue béene in ioy then she beganne sore to wéepe and sayd Ah Huon I sée here great pouertie when in the same proper towne whereas you ought to be Lord to be in this danger and beside that ye are not beleeued nor heard of any man that is here for any proofe or witnesse that yee can say or shew King Charlemaine will not beléeue that you haue béene in the Citie of Babylone and yet surely there you haue beene for I saw you there slay my Father the Admirall Gaudys and tooke his beard and drew out of his mouth foure of his greatest teeth great pitie it were if you should die for your truth and faythfulnesse but the thing that most feareth me is that I sée none that be héere likelie to be a Noble man except the King who is chiefe of all other and yet me thinkes hee is full of falshood for I sée none other but he that séekes your death But I promise to God that if hee suffer you to haue this wrong and thus to die I say then as for my part that Mahound is better worth then your King Charlemaine and it be so that you receiue death without a cause I will neuer more beléeue in your king but renounce his law and beléeue in Mahound There were many Lords and knights that heard the Ladies words whereof they had such pitie that the most part of them beganne to wéepe And when Huon heard his wife he turned toward her and sayd Ladie I desire you to leaue your sorrow and trust in God almightie who so oftentimes hath succoured vs you know not what he will doe let vs bee content with his good pleasure Thus with such words Huon appeased the fayre Escleremond And Duke Naymes who was in counsell with the other Peeres sayd to them Sirs I haue great sorrow at my heart bicause of these two Brethren so that I cannot tell what counsaile to find I desire you all in this waightie matter to counsaile me and shewe mee your opinions therein Sir quoth the Lords other counsaile you shall not haue of vs for we haue layde all the matter vppon you to doe therein what it shall please you Sirs quoth the Duke to dissemble the matter auayleth not but since that Huon must passe by iudgement how say you shall he be hanged or drawne Sir quoth Gaulter who was the first speaker mée thinkes he can escape none otherwise Ah Traytour quoth the Duke thou liest falsely for it shall not follow after thy councell whether thou wilt or not there is no man this day that shall be so hardie as to iudge him to die therefore Sirs yet shew me againe whether yée will agrée to my councell Sir quoth they wée haue laid the charge vpon you the which we will all abide by but whosoeuer was glad Gaulter was sorowfull angrie for he would haue consented to the death of Huon Then all the Barons right sad and pensiue went out of the counsell Chamber and they could find no manner of wayes how to saue Huon but they all prayed to God to aide and succour him And Huon seeing the Barons comming so sadly together thought that the matter was not at a good poynt whereby hee beganne sore to weepe when Escleremond and Gerames saw the sorrow that Huon made they had great pitie thereof Then Huon beheld Duke Naymes for he knew well all the matter lay in his hands he feared greatly the iudgement that should be made vpon him and said Thou very God and man as I beléeue verily that thou didst die on the holy crosse to redeeme vs all and that on the third day thou didst rise from death to life I require thee humbly in this great neede to succour me as truely as I am in the right for more wrong no man can haue Then the Duke Naymes of Bauier came to the king and sayd Sir will it please you to heare what we haue deuised Yea quoth the king I desire nothing else to know Well Sir quoth the Duke then I demaund of you in what place of your Region thinke you to iudge one of your Peeres of Fraunce Naymes quoth the King I know well you be a Nobleman and all that you say is to deliuer Huon of Bourdeaux but I will ye know all shall not profite him Then the Duke sayd Sir to say so ye doe great wrong Therefore sir regard well in what place you will haue one of your Peeres iudged if you know not where it should be done I will shew you In your Realme are but three places to doe it in The first is the Towne of Saint Omers the second is Orleance and the third is Paris and therefore Sir if you will proceede vpon Huon by iustice it is conuenient that it bee done in one of these three places for here in this town he cannot be iudged Naymes quoth the King I vnderstand well why you say this I well see and perceiue that you entend to none other end but to deliuer and quit Huon I had thought to haue entreated him by the order of iustice to the intent that none of you should haue reprooued mee therefore I ordained that he should haue beene iudged by you that bee the Péeres of France and I sée well you haue done nothing therein and therefore as long as
Lord Iesus Christ and by the force of my armes and good Swoorde if there bee any man within the Castle that will resiste againste vs I assure you I shall soone deliueâ— you from him Anone you shall see what I can doe I neuer 〈◊〉 in all my life so faire a Castle I cannot tell whether they within will defend vs the entrie into the Port or not if they will haue any Tribute of me I shall gladly pay it so they demaund nothing else and if I see that they will demaund any thinge else of mee I shall shewe them howe my Sword can answeare it for I had rather to die then in any Princes Court it should bee layd to my reproach and shame that for any man I should retire backe one â—oote for feare or doubt of any death for I will neuer bee taken aliue thereby to dye in prison Sir quoth the Patrone your force and great prowesse can nothinge auaile you for if wee were as stronge and as great as euer was Sampson it should nothing aduantage you I shall shewe you the cause why The Castle that you see yonder before you is the most fairest and strongest Castle in all the world it is set and compassed round about with a Rocke of Adamant stones the which naturally doth drawe vnto it all manner of yron as you may well see by our shippe that goeth so fast without any sayle the Adamant doth drawe it because of the anchors and nayles that bee in our Shippe the wood that seemeth to bee a Forrest are the Mastes of such Shippes as hath there arriued and are drawne thether by the Adamant When Huon vnderstood the Patrone hee was right sorowfull and no maruaile then pitiously hee complayned for his wife and for his Childe for hee sawe well that hee could not escape the death nor neuer depart from thence then hee wept pitiously and sayd Ah good Lord who in this world hath formed me I require thy grace that thus poore sinner that I am enclined to all misfortune that it may please thée to receiue my soule into Paradice as for my life I make none account thereof But I pray thee good Lorde to saue my Wife and Childe whome I haue lefte in daunger of death or else in shamefull imprisonment And with those woordes the Shippe entred into the Port with such a force and puissance that it ranne in amongest the other Shippes so that if the shippe had not been stronge and the other shippes rotten Huons shippe had béene broken all to peeces for it ranne vnder the water thrée or foure of the other olde shippes and was not broken thanked be almightie God Then hee looked into the Hauen and sawe so many shippes that hee had great maruaile thereof and hée was sore dismayed and abashed in that hee sawe neither man woman nor Child stirring abroad Also hee looked about him and behelde the Castle the which was so faire and rich that there was none such throughout all the world Then hee thought to send thether one of his companie for to know what people were within the Castle but hee sawe well that there was no way to enter but by a straight way of thrée Hundred and fourscore gréeces of height the way was so straight and narrow that no man but one at once coulde mount vp the degrées he had great maruell was sore troubled in mind when hee sawe no man comming from the Castle Then hee called one of his Knights and sayd Sir Arnold I will and command that you goe vp into this Castle to see what people bee within it either Sarazins or Paynims knowe who is Lord thereof and say how that I greatly desire to be acquainted with him if you can doe so much that I may bee acquainted with him then I and my men will mount vp together vntill some good aduenture fall for I hope in our Lord God that wee shall escape this daunger Sir quoth Arnold I shall doe as you haue commaunded mee Then he departed and went from one shippe to another vntill hee came to the land and then hee went to the 〈◊〉 and â—ound the degrees and mounted vp but before hée came to the Castle gate hee rested himselfe thrée times and when he came to the gate hee rested him he was so wearie and beheld the gate the which séemed vnto him maruailously faire and rich then hee beganne to crie and call to the entent that some man should come and to speake with him and when hee sawe that none did speake hee stoâ—de and hearkened if any person were comming to open the gate but none appeared and then hee knocked and called againe and sayd Porter that art within come and open the gate or else cursed be thou of God this Arnolde hadde a good occupation to knocke crie and call for within was neither man woman nor Childe that would open the gate when hee sawe that hee was neere angrie with displeasure and looked downe vnder the gate to knowe if hee might espie either man or woman to speake vnto then hee turned him round about and looked on the right hande of the Hall dore and there hee sawe an horrible Serpent the which kept the Castle and Pallaice it was a maruailous great Serpent higher then any horse his eyes like twoo Torches burning when Arnold sawe him hee was right sorrowfull and sore displeased and when the Serpent heard the knocking and great noyse at the gate braying and crying he came toward the gate and when Arnold sawe the Serpent with great furie approaching to the gate hee fledde away in so great hast that he néere hande with verie feare fell downe the staires hee rested not vntill hee came to the shippe whereas Huon was and saide Sir I haue beene aboue at the gate of the Castle and called and knocked thereat more then the space of an houre but there was neither man woman nor Childe that did appeare and when I sawe that I layde mee downe and looked vnder the gate to knowe if I might see either man or woman to speake vnto but I could neuer sée any creature but a great and a horrible Serpent higher then a great horse with eyes redder then fire with maruailous great tallons and and taile there was neuer man sawe a fowler figure of a beast Alas quoth Huon nowe I sée we be all but dead for wee haue nothing to eat nor drinke wherefore wee shall die for famine and rage But if I may enter into the Castle I shall giue that Serpent such a stroake that hee shall neuer hurt any man liuing Alas what haue I said my hardinesse nor my prowesse cannot helpe me for I see well that I and all you must die for it is impossible for vs to depart from hence Then the Patron sayd to Huon sore weeping Sir it behooueth vs to part our victuall if you will sustaine the right custome of the sea wheÌ„ men come to such a case that there is no remedie
behould him there hee made good chéere and feasting for the space of right dayes and vppon the ninth day in the Morning he departed from thence priuily and tooke Barnard with him without the knowledge of any person except the Abbot vnto whom he sayde Faire Vncle I and Barnard will depart and I require you to let no man liuing know of my departing as long as you can keepe it secret vntill you doe héere from mee some tidings Sir it shall bee done quoth the Abbot and I commend you to the sauegard of our Lord Iesus Christ and I beséech him humbly that you may haue peace with the Emperour Tirrey Then Huon and Barnard departed before any man were rising and they tooke their way towards the Citie of Mayence and rested not vntill they came to Coleyne and the next Morning they road vntill they came within a League of the Citie of Mayence and then they entred into a wood there they alighted Then Huon apparelled himselfe like a Pilgrim in habite hose and shooes and he tooke a hearbe and rubbed therewith his Visage in such sort that hee séemed that hee had beene in the Sunne Ten yeares so that he was vnknowne and Barnard that was with him coulde not knowe him by the face and then Barnard laughed then he tooke his staffe and scrippe and saide vnto Barnard Sir goe your way before into the Citie with our horses and take none acquaintance of mee though you sée me and take vp some small lodging so Barnard went on before and Huon faire and easily went after him and so entred into the Citie and hee had with him the Thirtie rich stones in his bosome When hee was entred into the Citie hee rested not vntill he came to the Pallaice and as hee went vp the stayres he met the Steward of the Emperours house vnto whome hée sayd Sir I pray you in the honour of our Lord Iesus Christ to giue mee some meate for I am so hungrie that I can scarce goe vppon my Legges nor I haue no monney to buy mee one morsell of bread When the Steward had well heard and vnderstood the Pilgrim hee beheld him well and sawe howe his staffe shaked in his hand the which he thought had béene with féeblenesse and pouertie and hadde of him great pitie and compassion and demaunded of him from whence hee came Sir quoth Huon I come straight from the holy Sepulchre and I haue endured much pouertie and miserie Fréend quoth the Steward I pray you to tarie for me héere a little season vntil I haue been in the Prison to carie meat vnto the Duchesse Escleremond and to the other Prisoners who crye out through famine and rage that they be in for if they bee longe in this case that they bee in now they cannot endure it for the Emperour hath taken such an inward hate against her and against them that are in prison with her that he hath made promise that assoone as Easter is passed the Ladie shall be burnt and the other Prisoners al hanged and this day is Shroue Thursday so that they haue to liue but fiue dayes and I am right sorrie for the noble Ladie that our Emperour will put her to death without a iust cause When Huon had well heard that hee hadde no member nor ioynt but that trembled and he cast downe his Visage and beganne pitifully to wéepe and suffered the Steward to passe and spake no woorde vnto him but returned into the Towne and went and lodged in the Towne right heauie and sorrowfull howbeit he was right ioyfull in that his Wife was aliue for he greatly feared that she had been dead He lodged in a notable Burgesses house who receiued him wel for the loue of God but whatsoeuer he had there he could neither eat nor drinke for the sorrowe and gréefe that he had at his heart then hee sayde vnto his Host Sir to Morrowe is good Friday the which day I thinke the Emperour will giue great Almes Fréend quoth his Host you may surely beléeue that the Emperour will giue as to morrow great Almes hee will giue of his goods so largely vnto all poore men that if they come vnto him that day they shall bee all satisfied you shall not finde a Prince that doth giue greater Almes and of one thing I aduertise you the Emperour hath one custome that the first poore Pilgrim that commeth vnto him to morrowe shal bee happie for there is nothing in the world be it neuer so deare but if hee demaund it of the Emperour it shall not bee denied him it must bee at the same houre and time that the Emperour goeth vnto his Chappell to say his Orisons When Huon had well vnderstood his Host he beganne to reioyce and thought within himselfe that if hee could in any wise hee would bee the first that should demaund Almes of the Emperour but that should be neither gold nor siluer it should bee his Wife and his men that hee hath in Prison and also if he may he will aske therewith his Landes and Signiories Then the Host went to his rest and Huon abode in his Chamber alone and slept not of all the night but thought how he might deliuer his Wife and the other Prisoners that were with her and all the night he was at his prayers humbly desiring our Lord God to counsaile and to ayd him to recouer his good Wife Escleremond Early in the Morning hee arose and made him readie and tooke his scrippe and staffe and went straight to the Pallaice and sat down vpon the greeces whereas the Emperour should passe at which time the Emperour was newe rysen and there were many other Pilgrimes that were there abiding for the Emperours comming and euerie man coueted to haue the first guift but Huon did so much by his subtiltie that hee was the first that entred into the Chappell and none other perceiued him and he did hide himselfe closely in a corner néere vnto the Emperours Oratorie and there hee sat still without any word speaking abiding there for the comming of the Emperour Chap. CXXXVIII ¶ How Duke Huon of Bourdeaux did so much with the Emperor Tirrey that he had peace with him and his Wife rendred vnto him and all his Landes and Signiories and how the Emperour brought him vnto the Abbey of Cluny whereas they found the good Abbot in armour not knowing any thing of the Peace that was made NOwe sheweth the Historie that anon after that Huon was entred into the Chappell the Emperour came in and kneeled downe before the Aulter and made his prayers and many poore men were there abiding the end of his prayers and no man saw Huon whereas hee was hidden closely in a corner hard by the Emperours Oratorie When the Emperour had made his prayers hee arose and turned him to haue gone into his Oratorie and Huon who had great desire to bee the first and to haue the first guift of the Emperour hee drewe out of his
durst make no semblance to the contrarie they feared so much to displease him Then they went and tooke the Damsell whereas shee was Sirs quoth shee what will you doe with mee wherefore doe you take mée let mee goe if you will haue any thing with mee shew mée They sayd Damsell speake no more for your end is come you shall neuer see faire day more and when she saw that she was so taken with Tenne men who went threatning to slay her then shee cast out a great crie and desired God to ayd and succour her Then they bound the Damsels handes with a cord in such manner that her white tender skinne burst and they bound her so sore that the bloud dropped out at her nayles Sirs quoth she I crie you mercie little shall you winne to slay mee you shall doe great sin seeing I haue not deserued it Madame quoth they your wordes cannot auaile you the Kinge will not that you shall make auaunt to haue his Sonne in mariage for you shal be drowned in the Sea whether you will or not your wéeping shall not ayd you Then foure Ribaulds tooke and bound her and drew her by the haire of her head and led her toward the Sea-side to haue drowned her but often times it is sayd that which God will haue saued cannot be perished The same season Florence was in the Battaile whereas hee fought with his enemies and Sir Peter of Aragon had taken many Prisoners and hee came vnto Florence and sayd Ah Sir I require you to let vs returne to the Citie and bee content with that you haue done this day for yonder you may sée comming al the whole Hoast of the Nauarnes against whom it is not possible for vs to endure for they are more then thréescore Thousand men and they all hate vs to the death you haue done ynough ought to be content if they take you none can saue your life Coozen quoth Florence I pray you before I depart let mee Iust once with mine Vncle the kinge of Nauarre whome I haue promised to yéeld as Prisoner vnto the king my Father and thereby I shall haue in mariage the faire Damsell my Loue and for the loue of that faire Damsell I shal make many a Nauernoys to loose their liues Sir quoth Peter since you desire your owne death I am right sorrie thereof but I will no longer tarie héere for it is not possible for vs to tarie héere without we will bee slaine wilfully and I haue héere many Prisoners I will go lead them into the Citie and then I shall returne again vnto you to the entent that if either I or you be taken Prisoner by them wee may bee redéemed againe Then Peter went to the Citie with all his Prisoners and when he was come into the Citie hee heard a great noise about the Market place whereof hee had great maruaile and went thether and then hee sawe there foure foule Villaines drawing the faire Damsell Clariet towardes the Sea-side to drowne her When he saw that hee was neuer so sorrowfull in all his life before and incontinent did let goe his Prisoners and drew out his sword and cryed vnto them that led the damsell Ah yée false Théeues let the Damsell go whom I brought from beyond the Sea yée did neuer such folly in all your liues and therewith hée strake the first with his Sword in such sort that his head slewe from his bodie and the second hee claue to the téeth and the third and fourth hee slewe When the faire Ladie saw the Earle Peter right pitifully she beganne to crie and said Sir I require you to haue pitie of me and help and ayde mee as you haue done before this time neither Lorde nor Maister I haue none but you Sir for Gods sake vnbind me and put me out of this paine that I am in Then Peter went to the Damsell and cut the cords asunder wherewith she was bound and for the sorrow that she was in shée fell downe in a swound then Peter tooke her vp and sayde Faire Damsell be of good chéere for I shall helpe to saue you the faire Ladie wept pitiously and sayd to her selfe Ah Huon of Bourdeaux my déere Father the great paines and pouerties that you were woont to suffer you haue left mee now Inheritour to the same alas I know not where you nor my Mother is I beléeue that I shall neuer sée you more Then Peter of Aragon tooke the Damsell by the hand and led her to his lodging in the Town then he went to the Pallaice whereas hee found Kinge Garyn vnto whome he sayd Ah thou old doating foole wherefore or for what cause wouldest thou haue slaine the Damsell and she is none of yours she is mine I wanne her vppon the Sea and saued her life you can make no claime to her Thus as Peter spake to the King there entred into the Pallaice two Knights and they sayd to the King Sir before you is the Earle Peter your Coozen who hath deliuered and rescued the new-found Damsell and hath slaine the Foure men that should haue drowned her in the Sea When King Garyn saw the Earle before him he sayd Why wert thou so hardy as to slay my men for dooing of my commaundement Then hee cried to his men and saide Sirs I charge you take this Villaine héere who hath done mee this offence for I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart vntill I sée him hanged a hye vppon a Rocke Then his men stept forth to haue taken the Earle Peter and when hee sawe that he approached néere vnto him hee drew his sword and claue the head of the first to the téeth and he slew the second third and fourth he beat downe more to the earth then the other that fled away so that there was none that durst approach néere vnto him for they were all vnarmed and hee well armed then hée came to the King and sayd Ah thou false old Dotard full of sin and out-rage how dare you thinke to bee such an out-rage you are not worthy to beare a crown your Sonne Florence ought to haue it for a Traytour ought to hould no Realme full déerely you shall abuy the ill will of the Damsell and the more to make him abashed hee made semblance to runne vppon the King with his sword who for feare of him ran into his Chamber and shut fast the dore after him and the Earle Peter standing without sore threatned the king then the King said Coozen Peter I crye you mercie if I haue done euill I am readie to make amendes at your pleasure I was sore displeased with my Sonne and therefore I thought to be reuenged vpon her that hath caused all this I shall make amendes but by the grace of God my Sonne shall neuer haue her in marriage to die therefore I will neuer consent that a new-found Damsell should bée Inheritour of such a Kingdome as the Realme of Aragon is Then Sir