the great Cittie of Thauris in Persia chap. 112. How Sir Barnard departed from the Abby of Cluny and went to seeke for Huon his Cozen whome hee found at the Port of the great Cittie of Thauris chap. 113. How Huon of Bourdeaux and Barnard his Cozen acknowledged themselues each to other and shewed the discourse of their aduentures chap. 114. Howe the Admirall of Persia did great honour to Huon of Bourdeaux and led him into his Pallaice whereas hee was receiued with great ioye and triumph chap. 115. How the Admirall by reason of the Apple that Huon gaue him to eat he became of the age of Thirtie yeares whereby he and all the people of Persia and Media were christened and of the great honor that the Admirall made vnto Huon chap. 116. Of the complaints that Huon made to the Admirall of Persia vpon the Emperour of Almaine and of the succours that the Admirall promised to Huon chap. 117. How the Admirall of Persia assembled much people and he and Huon with all their Armie tooke the Sea and came to the Port before the Cittie of Angory whereas they found a great number of Paynims and Sarazins readie to defend the Port. chap. 118. How the Admirall and Huon tooke the Port and fought with the Admirall of Angory and discomfited him and tooke the Cittie and how afterward Duke Huon went into the Deserts of Abillant to search aduentures chap. 119. How Huon went so long in this Desert that hee found Cain and spake with him a long season how he beguiled Cain deparâ—â—d chap. 1â—0 How Huon departed from Cain passed the Sea in a Vessâ—â— guided by the Diuell who beleeued it had beene Cain and Huon arriued at a Cittie called Colanders whereas hee found the Admirall of Persia and Barnard his Cozen who had layd siege to the Citie Chap. 121. How Huon of Bourdeaux had great ioy when he saw the Admirall of Persia before Colanders where he fought with the Sarazins chap. 122. How the Citie of Colanders was taken by the Admirall of Persia after he had wonne the Battaile and of the great ioy that was made vnto Huon when hee was knowne by the Admirall of Persia and Barnard his Cozen chap. 123. How the Admirall of Persia and Huon of Bourdeaux and all their hoast passed by Antioch and by Damas and came to the Citie of Ierusalem to the holy Sepulchre and was nobly receiued by the King of Ierusalem and how the Souldans Messenger came and defied the Admirall of Persia chap. 124 Of the answeare that the Admirall of Persia made vnto the Souldans Messenger and of the report that he made to his Maister chap. 125. Howe the Admirall of Persia sent for his men that lay at Napelous and caused them to withdraw towards Rames and howe they departed from Ierusalem and how he went to fight with his enemies chap. 126. Now speake we of the great Battaile that was in the plaines of Rames betweene the Souldan of Babylon and the Admirall of Persia the which was discomfited by the Prowesse of Huon of Bourdeaux Chap. 127. How the Admirall of Persia and Media found Huon whereas he had fought with fortie men Sarazins and how the Souldan fled to Acres and how the Admirall of Persia and Media besieged him there and of the strange Vision that Huon had in the night chap. 128. How Huon counsailed the Admirall of Persia to rayse vp his siege before Acres for diuers reasons and to returne into Persia chap. 129. How the Admirall of Persia a greede to the counsaile of Duke Huon and praisâ—ed his saying and of the faire offer that the Admirall of Persia 〈◊〉 vnto Duke Huon of Burdeaux chap. 130. How Duke Huon of Bourdeaux tooke his leaue of the Admirall and of all the other Lordes of Perâ—sa and went and tooke shipping at the Port of Thesâ—râ—e and how he arriued at Marsellis without finding of any strange aduenture Chap. 131. How the good Abbot of Cluny layd an ambushment of men betwene Mascon and Tournous against the Emperour of Almaines Nephewe who was there slaine and all his men whereof the Emperour was so sore vexed and troubled that he tooke the Duchesse Escleremond out of prison to haue burnt her and the three Hundred prisoners of Bourdeaux to haue hanged them all chap. 132. Haw King Oberon sent two of his Knights of the Fayrie that is to saye Mallabron and Gloriant to deliuer the faire Escleremond who should haue beene burnt and the three Hundred Prisoners that shoulde haue beene hanged who were all delyuered by the afore sayde Knights chap. 133. How the Emperour Tirrey made the noble Ladie Escleremond to bee well serued and apparelled and all the other Prisoners but about three weekes after hee made the Ladie and the prisoners to be put againe into prison whereas they were in great miserie chap. 134. How Huon departed from Marsellis and came to his Vncle the Abbot of Cluny in habit disguised and vnto him discouered himselfe wherof the abbot had great ioy and so had Clariet his Daughter Chap. 135. How Duke Huon shewed to his Vncle the Abbot of Cluny all the aduentures that he had since he departed from the Citie of Bourdeaux and how he gaue the Abbot the Apple of youth whereby the abbot became againe to his beautie that hee had when hee was but of Thirtie yeares of age chap. 136. How Huon of Bourdeaux departed from Cluny and went to the Citie of Mayence vppon Friday and how he came nere vnto the Emperours Oratorie chap. 137. How Huon did so much with the Emperour 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 abby of Cluny whereas they found the Abbot in armour not knowing any thing of the peace that was made chap. 138. How the Emperour made good chere vnto Duke Huon of Bourdeaux Chap. 139 How the Emperour arriued at Cluny and how the abbot set vpon him and of the peace that was made and how the Emperour conueyed Huon to Burdeaux and rendred vp all his Lands and of the parting of the Emperour how Huon made prouision to goe to king Oberon chap. 140. How Huon deuised with the Duchesse his Wife of his departing and how shee would goe with him And how hee left his Daughter Land and Signiories in the keeping of his Vncle the Abbot of Cluny and with Barnard his Cozin chap. 141. How Huon tooke leaue of his Daughter and of the good Abbot his Vncle of Barnard his cozin entred into the Riuer of Gerone the Duches with him and of the strange Fortunes that they had chap. 142. How Huon lost all his men and the Ship brake in peeces and how he and the Duchesse saued them selues vpon a board and came and arriued at the Castle of the Monkes chap. 143. How Duke Huon made semblance to haue slaine the Monke holding him fast with the
and yet euer the Cup was full When the people had well eaten and dronken the good wines and were well chased in their braines some began to sing and some to sleepe at the Table and some did beat their fysts vpon the boards that it was maruaile to sée the life that they led whereof Huon had great ioy The same time the Dukes Steward came into the Towne to buy his Maisters Supper but he could neither find bread nor flesh nor no other victuals whereof he was sore displeased and then he demaunded the cause why he found no victuals as he was accustomed to doe Sir quoth the Butchers and Bakers in the house of Gonder the Prouost is lodged a yong man who hath made to be cryed in all the City that al beggers and ribaulds should come to Supper at his lodging and he hath bought vp all the victuals that he could get in the Towne Then the Paynim in great despight went to the Pallaice vnto the Duke and said Sir I can get nothing in the Towne for your Supper there is a young man lodged in the Prouosts house that hath bought vp all the victuals to giue a Supper to all the beggers vacabounds and ribaulds that can be found in the Towne When the Duke vnderstood that he was sore displeased and swoore by Mahound that he would go see that Supper then he commaunded all his men to be readie in harnesse to goe with him and as he was going out of his Pallaice a Traytor who had stollen priuily out of the Prouosts house whereas he had been at supper with other said to the Duke sir know for troth there is in your Prouosts house a knight who hath giuen a Supper to all people that would come thether and so there is no begger no ribauld nor other that would sup but are come thether and Sir this Knight hath a Cup Letter worth then all this Citie for if all the people betweene East and West should dye for lacke of drinke they should haue all ynough for as often as you will emptie the Cup it will be full againe incontinent When the Duke heard that he had great maruaile and saide such a Cuppe were good for him and swoore by Mahound that he would haue that Cup let vs go thether for my will is to haue that Cup and all those Knights shall loose their horses and baggage I will leaue them nothing Then he went foorth with thirtie Knights and rested not vntill he came to the Prouosts house and founde the gates open When the Prouost perceiued him he came to Huon and saide Alas Sir you haue done ill héere is come the Duke in great displeasure if God haue not pitie of you I cannot sée how you can escape without death Sir quoth Huon dismay you not for I shall speake so faire that he shall be content then Huon with a merrie chéere came to the Duke and said Sir you be welcome Beware quoth the Duke come not néere me for no christian man may come into my Citie without my Licence wherefore I will thou knowest that you shall all loose your heads and all that you brought hether Sir quoth Huon when you haue slaine vs you shall win thereby but little and it were great wrong for you so to doe I shall tell thée quoth the Duke why I will so do it is bycause you be christian men therefore thou shalt be the first shewe me on thy faith why hast thou assembled all this companie héere to Supper Sir quoth Huon I haue done it bicause I am going to the red Sea and bicause these poore men will pray to God for me that I may safely returne Sir this is the cause that I haue made them to sup with me Well quoth the Duke great folly hast thou spoken for thou shalt neuer sée faire day you shall all loose your heads Sir quoth Huon leaue all this I pray you and your comapanie sit downe and eate and drinke at your pleasure and I shall serue you as well as I can and then Sir if I haue done any wrong I will make you amends in such wise that you shall be content for if you doe me any hurt it shall be to you but a small conquest Sir me thinks if you will do nobly you should somewhat forbeare vs for as I haue heard say you were once christened Then the Duke said vnto Huon thou hast sayd well I am content to sup for as yet I haue not supped Then the Duke commaunded euerie man to be disarmed and to sit downe at the Table the which they did and Huon and Gerames serued them and they were well serued at that supper then Huon tooke his Cup and came to the Duke and said Sir sée you not héere this Cup the which is voyd and emptie I sée well quoth the Duke there is nothing therein Then Huon made the signe of the crosse ouer the Cup and incontinent it was full of wine he tooke the Cuppe to the Duke who had great maruaile thereof and assoone as the Cuppe was in his handes it was voyd againe What quoth the Duke thou hast enchaunted mee Sir quoth Huon I am none Enchaunter but it is for the sin that you be in set it down for you are not worthy to hold it you were borne in an euill houre How art thou so hardy quoth the Duke to speake thus vnto me I repute thee for a proud foole thou knowest well it lyeth in my power to destroy thée there is no man dare say the contrarie yet I pray thée tell me thy name and where thou wert borne and whether thou goest and of what kinne thou art Sir quoth Huon for any thinge that may fal vnto me I wil not hide my name nor kindred therefore Sir know for troth I was borne at Bourdeaux vpon Gerone and am Sonne to Duke Seuin who is dead seauen yeares passed When the Duke heard how Huon was his Nephew he saide The Sonne of my Brother Nephew why hast thou taken in this Citie any other lodging but mine shewe mée whether thou wilt goe Sir quoth Huon I am going to Babilon to the Admirall Gaudise to doe to him a Messuage from King Charlemaine of Fraunce bycause I slewe his Sonne there so he shewed his Vncle all his aduenture and how the king had taken away his Land nor should he haue it againe vntill he had done his Messuage to the Admirall Faire Nephew quoth the Duke in like wise I was banished the Realme of Fraunce and since I haue denyed the faith of Iesus Christ and since I married héere in this Countrey a great Ladie by whome I haue great Lands to gouerne whereof I am Lord Nephew I will that you shall goe and lodge with me in my Castle and to morrow you shall haue of my Barons to conduct you vntill you come vnto Babilon Sir quoth Huon I thanke you since it is your pleasure I will goe with you to your Pallaice Then Gerames priuily
hee can vanquish me then hee shall deliuer to thée thy Néece Escleremond but if I ouercome thy man then thou to retourne to thy Citie and suffer thy Neece to remaine still with him and also thou to restore all the damages that thou hast done to him and his in this warre When Iuoryn heard the Paynim he looked about him to sée if any of his men would take on him this enterprise to fight with Sorbryn but there was no Paynim that durst speake one word for they feared Sorbryn for the fiercenes that was in him and they said amonge themselues that whosoeuer did fight against him was like miserably to finish his dayes The same time that Iuorin spake with Sorbrin Huon was among the other Paynims heard what Sorbryn had said and also he saw that no man durst goe against Sorbryn then as well as hée might he got himselfe out of the presse vpon his leane horse strake him with his spurres but for all that hée could doe the horse would neither trot nor gallop but go still his own pace The old Minstrell beheld Huon his Varlet who made him readie to fight against the Paynim and saw that he was so ill horsed he cryed on hye and sayd Sir King Iuoryn it shal be vnto you great dishonour when such a Horse that is nothing woorth you haue deliuered vnto my Varlet who gooth for your sake to fight with Sorbryn with whome none of your other men dare fight great sinne it is that he hath not a better Horse Then Huon sayd vnto Sorbryn Sarazin I pray thée speake with me Fréend quoth Sorbryn what wilt thou with mée Paynim quoth Huon I require thée to prooue thy vertue against mée Then quoth Sorbryn tell mée art thou a Paynim or a Sarazin Fréend quoth Huon I am neither Paynim nor Sarazin but I am christened beléeuing in the law of Iesus Christ and though thou séest mée but poorely apparelled despise me not for I am come of a noble extraction wherefore I require thée on thy lawe that thou beléeuest on let mée not goe without battaile Fréend quoth Sorbryn in this request thou doest great folly for thou desirest thy death I haue pitie of thée therefore I councell thée to returne backe Paynim quoth Huon I had rather dy then to returne ere I haue iusted with thée Then they went each from other to take their course but for all that euer Huon could doe his horse would not aduance foorth whereof Huon was sore displeased and sayd Ah verie God and man I desire thée to giue mée the grace that I may winne this Horse that this Paynim doth ryde vppon When Huon saw that his horse would neither go forward nor backwarde hée set his Shéeld against his enemie Sorbryn came running like the Tempest and with his Speare strooke in Huons Shéeld such a stroake that the buckles nor any thing else coulde resist the stroake but the Sheeld was peirced through-out but the good armour saued Huon from all hurts and hée remooued no more for the stroake then if it had béen a strong wall whereof Iuoryn all other had great maruaile and said one to another how they had neuer séene before so great a stroake nor a goodlyer receit thereof without falling to the earth euerie man praised greatly Huon that he held himselfe so firmly By Mahound quoth Iuoryn our man is fierce and of great hardynesse I woulde hée were mounted now vpon my horse And Huon who had receiued the great stroake in great yre cast downe his Speare and tooke his Sword with both his handes and gaue therewith the Paynim a great stroake as he passed by him a hye vppon his healme the stroake was so puissant that neither the healme nor coiffe of stéele could resist the stroake but that his head was clouen to the shoulders and so hee fell downe dead in the féeld Then Huon who was quicke and light tooke that good horse Blanchardine by the reyne and alighted from his own horse without féet in the stirrop leapt vppon the Paynims horse and left his owne in the féeld and when hée saw himselfe on Blanchardine he smoat him with his spurres to prooue him when the horse felt the spurres hée began to leape and gambould and gallop as it had béen the thunder and the Paynims had maruell that he had not fallen to the earth so wheÌ„ he had well prooued him and turned him in out he thought hee would not giue him for the value of a Realme then hee came vnto King Iuoryn with twentie ganâ—â—â—ulds By Mahound quoth Iuoryn this Varlet séemeth rather Sonne to a King or Prince then to be a Varlet to a Minstrell then he came vnto Huon and embraced him and made him great respecte and the Paynims that were within Anfalerne with the Admirall Galaffer yssued out of the Citie and when Galaffer saw his Nephew slain he road about him thrée times and made a pitious complaint and said Ah right deare Nephewe I may well complaine by reason of your youth when I sée you thus pitiously slaine certainly if I liue long your death shall dearely be bought so he caused the dead bodie to be carried into the Citie with great lamentations and then hee and his men entred into the Battaile where was great slaughter made on both parts but among all other Huon did maruailes he slew and beat downe tare of helmets and strake out braines with the pummell of his Sword hée slew and beat downe all that came within his stroake his prowesse was such that no Paynim durst abide him but fled as the Shéepe doth from the Woolues he did so much by vertue of his armes that within short space hee brought all his enemies to playne discomfiture so that the Admirall Galaffer with much paine fled and entred into the Citie right sorrowfull for the losse that he had receiued that day for the third part of his men were slaine in the Battaile and all by the valiantnesse of Huon the which was so great that King Iuoryn and his Barons stood still to beholde his valyant déedes And as Huon fought hee spyed out the Paynim that had giuen him his Sword then hée remembred the promise that he had made him and he lifted vp his Sword and strake another Paynim therewith so that hee claue his head to the breast and so hee fell downe dead and Huon tooke the Paynims horse and gaue the horse to him that had giuen him the good Sword and sayd Fréend take well in woorth the gift of this horse fâ—r a reward for the good Sword that you gaue me Sir quoth the Paynim I thanke you In bréefe Huon did so much that there was no Paynim that durst abide him but fled and entred into the Citie of Anfalerne then they closed their gates and lifted vp their bridges and King Iuoryns men departed with the bootie that they had wonne then with great triumph Huon was conuayed riding chéeke by chéeke
knight in all Pagany and also wanne his good horse But yet I am displeased with him for that whē he played with me at the Chesse he was not so hardy as once to embrace and kisse me if he had I would haue loued him in such wise that if he had required of me my loue I would not haue refused him though my father had sworne the contrarie an hundred times thus the Ladies and Damsels deuised together but Huon set little thereby Thus king Iuoryn and his men issued out of the Citie of Mombrance and came to the fields and then roade foorth toward Anfalerne at the last came before the gates of the citie and there ordered them in battaile array and Huon who had great desire to attaine to renowne came to the gate with his speare in his hand and cried alowd to them that were on the walles and said Where is Galaffer your Lord goe and shew him that he come and Iust against him that hath slaine his Nephew and that I will serue him in like sort if I may méete with him in Battaile or else he shall deliuer to me the faire Escleremond Galaffer was néere by and heard what Huon saide and knew well that it was he by reason of the horse Blanchardyn whereof he was right sorowfull said to Gerames Friend I shal shew you héere him that hath done me al this ill now I shall sée if yée will kéepe promise with me Sir quoth Gerames take no care for by the faith that I owe to God I shall render to you both the horse and the man to doe with them at your pleasure Then Gerames yssued out all armed well horsed and tooke a good speare in his hand hee was a goodly knight of his age puissant of bodie and in his time greatly redoubted and when he was on his horse hee stretched himselfe in his saddle in such wise that his stirrops stretched out a long handfull or more he was greatly praysed of the Paynims that saw him and then the Admirall Galaffer commaunded euery man to be armed and he himselfe was armed richly Then the gate was opened and Gerames was the first that issued out with his company when he was without the citie he strake his horse with his spurres so that he was a great space before all his companie with his speare in his hand his shield about his necke and his white beard hanging downe on his brest vnder his helmet Nowe when Huon on the other part saw Gerames comming hee spurred Blanchardyn and came against Gerames and so they met together without any word speaking and strake each other on their shéeldes so that all was broken but their armour was so good that they tooke no hurt but their speares brake to their handes and the shiuers flew vp into the ayre and the stroakes were so rude that both the knights horses fell to the earth but they arose againe and gaue each other great stroakes Gerames who was expert in déedes of armes tooke his sword with both his hands and gaue Huon such a stroake on the helmet that perforce he was faine to set one of his knées to the earth the stroake was so heauy and if it had not béen by the grace of God he had béene slaine and Huon was so astonished with the stroake that he had much adoo to recouer but said Ah good Lord succour me and graunt me that before I die I maye sée the faire Escleremond These words he spake openly for he thought that Gerames had not vnderstood him for he little thought that it had béen Gerames that fought with him thē he came to Gerames with his sword in his hand to haue béen reuenged for he neuer before receiued such a stroake as Gerames had giuen him But Gerames vnderstood Huon by his words and knew him and therwith cast downe his sword to the earth and had such sorow that he could not speake a word When Huon saw that he maruayled greatly why he cast his sword to the earth and then Huon would not touch him but said Paynim what is thy mind to doe wilt thou haue peace or else fight with me Ah sir quoth Gerames come foorth and strike of my head for well I haue deserued it séeing I haue stricken you so rudely but I knew you not whereof I am very sory When Huon heard him speake anon he knew well that it was Gerames wherof he had great ioy in his heart for finding of him The Paynims that regarded them hadde great maruaile what thing the twoo Champions ment or thought to do Sir quoth Gerames it behooueth vs shortly to determine our businesse for I sée on all parts Paynims assemble together to behould vs I shall shew you what is best for vs twoo to doe leape you vpon your horse and I shall leape on mine then I shall take you and lead you perforce as my prisoner to the Citie of Anfalerne and there shall yée sée your Loue Escleremond who will haue great ioy with your comming and shée will tell you other newes Friend quoth Huon I shall doe as yee deuise then they leapt on their horses and Gerames came to Huon and laid hand on him as though he tooke him Prisoner and so led him toward the citie of Anfalerne and his companie followed him and when king Iuoryn sawe how Gerames had led away Huon as Prisoner he began to crie said On forth yée Sarazins how suffer you this yong man to be led away as a Prisoner to the citie of Anfalerne I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart if ye suffer him thus to be ledde away Then the Sarazins dashed into the preasse to haue rescued Huon and on the other part the Admirall Galaffer came met Gerames and Huon and then Gerames said to him Sir goe and fight with your enemies behould heere the young man that slew your Nephew Sorbryn I shall lead him into the citie and set him in sure prison and then I shall shortly retourne againe to you to fight against king Iuoryn Friend quoth Galaffer I require you so to doe and assoone as yee haue set him in prison retourne againe Gerames departed from the Admirall and went to the citie with Huon and his xiij companions with him when they were entred into the Citie they lifted vp the bridges and closed the gates in the Citie there was no man of warre for all were in the field with the Admirall against king Iuoryn there were none but women children ould folkes and when that Gerames and Huon saw how they were strong ynough for them in the Citie they went into the stréetes and cried Saint Dennis and slew all that they met aswell old men as women and children so that within a short space they had cleane wonne the towne Many Paynims fled and leapt into the dikes and brake neckes armes and legges then they went into the Pallaice and there they found the faire Escleremond when Huon saw
his companie is departed out of Bourdeaux to séeke succour of the King of Auphamie brother vnto Escleremond Huons Wife and so it is a longe time since hee departed and wée neuer could heare word of him and thus hée left vs in Bourdeaux and our chéefe Captaine was the old Gerames your Coozen who was Brother to the good Prouost Guyer and so it was that vppon a night wée yssued out and roade to the Emperours Tents and slewe many of our enemies and when wée sawe our time wee returned towardes our Citie but by some spie wée were perceiued when wée yssued out whereby the Emperour knowing thereof sent Duke Sauary his Brother with tenne Thousand men to lye in ambushment néere to the Citie so that when wee hadde thought to haue entred into the Citie Duke Sauary was before vs with tenne Thousand men there wée fought a long space but finally the old Gerames and his companie were all slaine none escaped but my selfe and that was by reason of my horse so I entred into the Citie whereas there was made great sorrow and the next day the Emperour with great assault wanne the Citie and came to the Castle whereas the Duchesse was who saw well that shée could not long hold the Castle shée made her treatie to saue her bodie and her companie and so they are all Prisoners before she deliuered vppe the Castle shee deliuered me her daughter and so I issued out at a Posterne priuily and was not perceiued therefore Syr your Néece hath sent you her daughter to the intent that for the loue of her father and of her yee would kéepe and nourish her till her father Duke Huon were returned When the abbot vnderstood Bernard he beganne to weepe and tooke the childe in his armes and kissed her oftentimes and sayd My deere childe if it please our Lord God I shall bee to you both father and mother and shall nourish you vntill yee be great and then marrie you vnto some mightie Prince in whome it shall lie to conquers your heritage lands and signories for I haue here in my house such treasure that it is sufficient to conquer a whole Empire Then the Abbot sent for a noble Ladie of the countrey and a nurse and deliuered vnto them the child for to keepe and to nourish for a fayrer creature of her age was neuer seene Then the Abbot sayd to Barnard Sir yee shall abide heere still with mee vntill the childe bee of age or else till her father bee returned Now lette vs leaue to speake of this young child Clariet and of the Abbot and returne to speake of the dolorous companie that were in the Castle of the noble Citie of Bourdeaux Chap. CVI. ¶ How the Duchesse Escleremond yeelded vp the Castle to the Emperor and how she and her companie were prisoners in the Citie of Mayence YE haue well heard heere before that after the departing of Barnard from the Castle of Bourdeaux with Claret Huons daughter how the Emperour had made a treatie with the Duchesse Escleremond for the deliuerance of the Castle the which passed and on the next morning the Duchesse spake with the Emperour who with all his men was there readie before the place abiding to haue the deliuerance of the Castle And when hee saw the Duchesse at a window ouer the gate he sayd Madame I will that the promise that yee made mee yesterday ye performe or else I will do according as I thinke best Syr quoth the Duchesse I am readie to fulfill my promise so that ye promise me againe that my body and all Ladyes and Damselles and other shall be saued and not touched by no villaine nor no ill done vnto our bodyes Madame quoth the Emperour all this that you require heere I promise to performe but you and all such as be with you shall bee my prisoners Sir quoth the Duchesse my life and my bodie and all such as be here with mee I put them in the sauegard of God and of you Then she descended downe and came into the hall whereas she found her company making great sorow each to other for they knew not where euer they should méet againe or not Then the Duchesse commaunded to open the gate the which was doone immediatly Then the Emperour and all his Lords entred into the Castle but hee would not goe into the hall till he had all the Ladyes and other brought out to the intent that they should make no request to him and he ordained a thousand Knights of the most auncient men of his hoast and then be deliuered the Duchesse and sixe Ladyes with her and al the other prisoners as well they that were within the Castle as other that hadde beene taken before at diuers skirmishes sent them straight to the Citie of Mayence and sette them all in prison in Towres and other places but the duchesse was putte all alone in a strong towre within the which there was a déep dungeon and therein shée was set out of the which shee neuer yssued vntill shee was deliuered by Huon her Husband Then the Emperour being in the Castle of Bourdeaux sent ouer all the Countrey that all such as were aliue should come and do their homage vnto him and take their Landes of him the which they did according to his commaundement Then hée made his Prouosts and Officers to doe iustice both in the Citie and Countrey and after that the Emperour had béene there eight dayes he went out of the Citie and road and tooke possession of Blames and Gerone and set there his Officers and when hee hadde full possession of al the Countrey hee left Keepers in the Countrey and so returned to the Citie of Mayence whereas hee was receiued with great ioy and triumph Nowe lette vs leaue to speake of the Emperor Tirrey and speake of Duke Huon of Bourdeaux being in the Castle of the Adamant in great pouertie and famine Chap. CVII ¶ How there arriued at the Castle of the Adamant a Shippe full of Sanazins wherein was the Bishop of Mâ—llaine and how Huon caused them to bee christened and then hee brought them into the Castle whereas they found great store and plentie of victuals YEE haue heard here before howe Huon was in the Castle of the Adamant in great pouertie and famine whereas he had beene tenne dayes without meat and drinke except Apples and fruit that grew in the Garden whereby he became so féeble and weake that he had scarre power to sustaine himselfe vppon his feete hee found there riches inough gould and siluer apparell and Iewels and riche bedding so that he wanted nothing except victuall and as hee walked in the chamber whereas the treasure lay he beheld an Arch vaulted richly painted with gould and azure vnder the which stoode a riche chayre and therein a coushin of cloath of gould bordered with pearles and precious stones Huon who was wearie of walking sat downe in the chaire to reste him Then he beganne sore
Christ shall guide and conduct vs in sauegard Thus these two Brethren road night and day so long vntill they perceiued before them the Abbot of Cluny with a thirtie Horse in his companie as he was going to the Kinges Court When Huon perceiued that companie hee called his Brother Gerardin and said Loe yonder I sée men of religion holding the way to Paris and you knowe well when wee departed from the Duchesse our mother shée charged vs that we should alwaies company with good people therefore it is good that we make hast to ouertake them Brother quoth Gerardin your pleasure he fulfilled so they rode so long that they ouertooke the Abbot who regarded on the right side and sawe the two Brethren comming to ouertake him Then hée steede still and saw Huon who came riding on before Huon saluted him humbly and the Abbot in like manner to him and demaunded whether he râ—ad so hastily from whence he came and what he was and who was his Father Sir quoth Huon since it is your pleasure to know Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux was our Father it is Seauen yeares since he departed this life And Sir behold héere my Brother who is younger then I and we are going to noble King Charlemaines Court to reléeue of him our Lands and Countrey for he hath sent for vs by two noble Knights and Sir we are in doubt of some trouble by the way when the good Abbot vnderstoode that they were Sonnes to Duke Seuin he was right ioyfull and in token of true amitie he embraced them one afteâ— another and said Deare fréends haue no doubt for by the grace of Iesus Christ I shall conducte you safely to Paris for Duke Seuin your Father was my Coozen Germaine therefore I am bound to ayd you and know for troth that I am sworne of the great councell with King Charlemaine and if there be any that will mooue or stirrâ— against you I shall ayd you to my power wherefore you may ride surely in my companie without any doubt Sir quoth Huon I thanke you thus they road talking with the Abbot their kinsman and that night they came to Montleherry Then the next daye they arose béetimes and heard Masse and afterward tooke their Horses and they were in all a fourescore Horses they road so long vntil they came to a little wood-side whereas Charlot and Earle Amerie lay closely ambushed there they espyed Huon Gerard riding before whereof they were ioyfull Then Amerie said to Charlot Sir now is the time come to bee reuenged of the dammage that Duke Seuin did to mée yonder I sée his twoo Sonnes comming if they bée not incontinent slayne by vs wée are not worthy to haue any Land or life And Sir by their death you shall be Lord of Bourdeaux and of all the Duchy of Aquitaine Chap. VII ¶ How by the councell of Earle Amerie they ran firste at Gerardin Brother to Huon and bare him to the earth and sore wounded him whereof Huon was right sorowfull WHen that Charlot vnderstood Earle Amerie he stretched him in his stirrops and tooke a speare with a sharpe head and yssued alone out of the woode when Amerie sawe that Charlot went out of the wood alone he drew a little out of the way and sayd to his men suffer Charlot alone there néed none goe to ayd him This said the false Traytour bicause he desired nothing else but that one of the Sonnes of Duke Seuin might slay Charlot and so himselfe detecting them of the murder by this meanes he might compasse his damnable intent Charlot came against these twoo Brethren the Abbot of Cluny saw Charlot comming all armed and saw in the wood a great number of armed men more then hee stood still and called Huon and Gerard and said Déere Nephewes I perceiue in yonder wood a Knight all armed and the wood full of horsemen I cannot tell what they meane Haue you done any wrong to any man if you haue done or hold any thing that is not your owne step foorth and offer him reason and promise to make amendes Sir quoth Huon I know no man liuing that I or my Brother haue done vnto him any displeasure nor we know not that any creature doth hate vs. Then Huon said to his brother Brother ride on before and méete with yonder Knight demaund what is his pleasure Gerard road foorth met with Charlot and demaunded what his pleasure was to haue or whether he was kéeper of that passage or not and demaunded any tribute or not if he did he was readie to pay it Charlot answeared him fiercely and said What art thou Gerard answeared and sayd Sir I am of the Citie of Bourdeaux and Son to Duke Seuin whome God pardon and héere after commeth Huon mine elder Brother and we are going to Paris to the Kings Court to reléeue our Lands and our Fées and to serue him and if there be any that wil any thing with vs let him come to Paris and we shall doe him reason Hold thy tongue quoth Charlot whether thou wilt or not I will haue reason for some wrongs done me by thy Father Duke Seuin for he tooke thrée of my Castles from me and I could neuer know the reason thereof But now since thou art héere I will be reuenged of the wrong that thy Father did to me for as long as thou and thy Brother be aliue I shall neuer haue ioy in my heart therefore stand on thy ground for before it bee night I shall make thy life depart from thy bodie Sir quoth Gerard haue pitie of me you may sée I am but naked without armour It shall bée greatly to your shame and reproach if I be thus slaine by you it neuer commeth of a gentle courage or a Knight to assaile any person without armour or weapon howbeit Sir I crie you mercie well you sée that I haue neither Sword Shéeld nor Speare to defend mée withall you may sée yonder comming my elder Brother who shall be readie to make you amends if any harme hath béen done vnto you Peace quoth Charlot there is as now nothing so deare vnto me as can mooue mée contrarie But that shamfully I shall put thée to death beware of mée Gerard who was but young was in great feare and called vpon our Lord God and turned his Horse to come againe to his Brother But Charlot who was in his desperate moode â—ouched his Speare ran after Gerard and strooke him on the side with such force that the Speare ran through part of his bodie and so bare him to the earth weening he had béen slaine howbeit the stroake was not mortall although insooth verie dangerous for he was so sore â—urt that he could not remooue for paine that he felt The good Abbot of Cluny beheld Gerard in such sort borne to the ground ouercome with great gréefe hée said vnto Huon Ah Coozen I sée yonder your Brother Gerard slaine the fight whereof slayeth my poore
Galley such as shall bée necessarie for you Most holy Father quoth Huon of this I thanke you Well quoth the Pope this night you shall abide hâ—ere with me Sir quoth he I require you to let me depart for greatly I desire to sée mine Vncle Garyn When the Pope saw that he would néedes depart he deliuered him his Letter and sayd Faire Nephew salute from me my Brother Garyn your Vncle. Sir quoth he I shall do your commaundement then the Pope gaue to Huon great and rich presents and to all them that were with him and hée kissed his Nephew at his departing Huon tooke leaue of theÌ„ all wéeping and so departed and entred into the Riuer of Tiber in a rich Shippe the which the Pope had well garnished for him Thus hee had good winde so that anone they arriued at Brandis but whiles he was on the water hee wept sore and pityously complayned in that he was so departed out of his Countrey then his men comforted him and shewed many faire examples to comfort him Sir quoth Guichard leaue your sorrow for gréefe and sadnesse cannot auaile you you must put all to the mercie of our Lord God who neuer forgetteth them that loue him shew your selfe a man and no Child to the entent that we that be with you may be reioyced for the sorrow that we sée you in doth sore trouble vs. Deare fréend quoth Huon since it is so I shall follow your will and thus they arriued at the Port of Brandis Then they yssued out of their Shippe and tooke out their Horses and there they saw Garyn sitting before the Port in a lodge well and richly hanged in a goodly Chaire When Huon saw him sitting he saluted him thinking that he was Lord of that Countrey then Garyn beheld Huon and began to wéepe and said Sir it doth not appertaine vnto me that you should doe me so great honour as you doe for by that I sée in you I am constrained to wéepe bycause you resemble so much to a Prince of the Realme of Fraunce called Duke Seuin who was Lord of the Citie of Bourdeaux the great loue that euer I bare vnto him caused me to wéepe therefore I require you tell me where you were borne and who be your Parents and fréends for Duke Seuin wedded my Sister the Duchesse Aclis Sir quoth Huon séeing you will néedes know what I am I may well shew it vnto you for that Duke was my Father and the Duchesse Aclis is my Mother we are two brethren I am the eldest the younger is still at Bourdeaux to kéepe our Land When Garyn vnderstood that Huon was Sonne to Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux the ioy that he had could not be expressed then he embraced Huon all wéeping and said Right deare Nephew your comming is to me the greatest ioy in this world so he knéeled downe and would haue kissed Huons féete but Huon reléeued him incontinent The ioy that was betwéene them two was so great that all that saw it had maruaile thereof Then Garyn demaunded of Huon and said Faire Nephew what aduenture hath brought you into these parts Then Huon shewed him from point to point all his businesse and the cause why he was entred into that Enterprize When Garyn had heard all he began to wéepe and yet to comfort his Nephew he said Faire Huon whereas lyeth great perils there lyeth great honour God ayd you to eschew and to finish this great businesse all is possible to God and to man by meanes of his grace a man ought neuer to bâ— abashed for worldly matters Then Huon deliuered his Letters to his Vncle Garyn who gladly receiued them and read the contents thereof at large Then he said Faire Nephew there néede none other recommendations but the sight of your presence for it appeareth well by your countenance that you be the same person that our holy Father maketh mention of surely your comming séemeth to mée faire and good and you be arriued at a good Port for I promise you faithfully I loue well my Wife and my Children but the great loue that I haue vnto you for the loue of your Father Duke Seuin and the Duchesse your Mother who was mine owne deare Sister I abandon all that I haue to serue you and kéepe you companie both with my bodie and all that I haue Knowe for truth I haue thrée good Galleys three great Shippes well fournished of euerie thing for the warre the which I shall lead with you for as longe as life abideth in my bodie I shall not abandon you but I shall ayde you in all your Enterprizes Faire Vncle quoth Huon for the great courtesie that you offer mée I can but thanke you then Garyn tooke Huon by the hand and led him into his Castle whereas hée was richly receiued Garyns Wife and foure of her Sonnes came vnto Huon and he full courteously kissed the Ladie and her foure Children his Coozens great ioy was made there in the Hall and the Tables set for Supper Then Garyn called his Wife and said Madame this young Knight that you sée héere is my Nephew and Coozen to your Children who is come hether for refuge to haue counsaile and ayd of me in a Voyage and Enterprise that he hath to doe and by the grace of God I shall go with him to ayd and to conduct him wherefore I pray and commaund that you take in rule all my affaires and kéepe your Children Sir quoth she séeing it is your pleasure thus to doe and that you will goe with him your will let be fulfilled howbeit I had rather you abode then went this shée spake sore wéeping The next day in the morning Garyn who had great will to serue and please his Nephew ordained a great Shippe to be made readie well fournished with Bisket Wines and flesh and all other manner of victuals and with munition of warre as it appertained and put therein their horses and armour gould and siluer other riches necessarie for them then they tooke leaue of the Ladie and so lest her sore wéeping Thus Garyn and Huon entred into their Ship and all their companie there were Thirtéene Knightes and Twoo Varlets to serue them for they would haue no greater number Chap. XX. ¶ How Huon of Bourdeaux departed from Brandis and Garyn his Vncle with him and how he came to Ierusalem and from thence into the Deserts whereas hee founde Gerames and of their conference WHen Huon and Garyn were entred into their Ship they hoysed vp their Sailes and sayled night and daye so that at last they arriued safely at the Port of Iaffe where they tooke landing and drew out their horses and road foorth so the same day that they came to Rames and the next day to the Citie of Ierusalem that night they rested and the next day they did their Pilgrimage to the holy Sepulchre and there deuoutly heard Seruice and offered according to their deuotion When Huon came before the
a great déepe Riuer and they could finde no guide nor passage to passe ouer and so they wist not what to doe then suddainly they sawe passe by them a seruant of King Oberon bearing a rod of gold in his hand and so without speaking of any word he entred into the Riuer and tooke his rod stroke the water therewith thrée times then incontinent the water withdrew a both sides in such wise that there was a path that thrée men might ride a froont and that done he departed againe without speaking of any word Then Huon and his companie entred into the water and so passed thorowe without any danger and when they were past they looked behind them and sawe the Riuer close againe and ran after his old course By my faith quoth Huon I thinke we be enchaunted I beléeue surely King Oberon hath done this but séeing we be thus scaped out of perill I trust from henceforth we shall haue no more doubt Thus they roade foorth together singing and oftentimes spake of the great maruailes that they had seene King Oberon doe and as they road Huon beheld on his right hand and sawe a faire meadowe well garnished with hearbes and flowers and in the middest thereof a faire cleare Fountaine then Huon roade thether and alighted and let their Horses goe to pasture then they spread a cloath on the gréene grasse and set thereon such meate as Kinge Oberon had giuen them at their departing and there they did eat drinke such drinke as they found in the Cup. By my faith quoth Huon it was a faire aduenture for vs when we met Oberon and that I spake to him he hath shewed me great tokens of loue when he gaue me such a Cup if I may returne into Fraunce in sauegard I shall giue it to Charlemaine who will make great ioy therwith and if he cannot drinke thereof the Barons of Fraunce will haue great sport thereof Then againe he repented him of his owne words and said I am a foole to thinke or to say thus for as yet I cannot tell what end I shall come to the Cup that I haue is better worth then two Cities but as yet I cannot beléeue the vertue to be in the Horne as Oberon haâ—h shewed nor that he may héere it so farre off but whatsoeuer fortune fall I will assay it if it hath such vertue or not Alas Sir quoth Gerames beware what you doe you knowe well when wée departed what charge he gaue you certainly you and we both are lost if you trespas against his commaundement Surely quoth Huon whatsoeuer fortune fall I will assay it and so tooke the Horne and set it to his mouth and blewe it so loud that the wood rang then Gerames and all the other began to sing and to make great ioy Then Garyn said Faire Nephewe blowe still and so Huon blew still with such force that Oberon who was in his wood about fiftéene Leagues of heard him clearely and said Alas my fréends I heare my fréend blowe whome I loue best of all the world alas what man is so hardy to doe him any ill I wishe my selfe with him with a hundred thousand men at armes incontinent he was nere to Huon with a hundred thousand men at armes When Huon and his companie heard the Hoast comming and saw Oberon come ryding on before them they were affraid and it was no maruaile séeing the commaundement that Oberon had giuen them before Then Huon saide alas Sirs I haue done ill nowe I sée well we cannot escape but that we are likely all to die certainly quoth Gerames you haue well deserued it houlde your peace quoth Huon dismay you not let me speake to him therewith Oberon came to them and saide Huon what meaâ—eth this where are they that will doe thée any ill why hast thou broken my commaundement Alas Sir quoth Huon I shall shew you the truth wée were sitting right now in this meadowe and did eat of that you gaue vs I beléeue I tooke too much drinke out of the Cup that you gaue me the vertue of the which we well assayed then I thought to trye also the vertue of the rich Horne to the entent that if I shoulde haue any néede that I might be sure thereof now I know for troth that all is true that you haue shewed me wherefore Sir in the honour of God I require you to pardon my trespas else sir héere is my swoord strike off my head at your pleasure for â— know well without your ayd I shall neuer come to atchieue mine enterprise Huon quoth Oberon the bountie and great troth that is in thée coÌ„streyneth me to giue thee pardon but beware from hencefoorth be not so hardy as to breake my commaundement Sir quod Huon I thanke you well quoth Oberon I knowe surely that thou hast as yet much to suffer for thou must passe by a citie named Tormont wherein there is a Tyrant called Macayr and yet he is thine owne Vncle brother to thy father Duke Seuin when he was in Fraunce he had thought to haue murdered king Charlemaine but his treason was knowne and he had béen slaine if thy Father Duke Seuin had not béen so he was sent to the holy Sepulchre to do his penaunce for the ill that he had dâ—ne and so afterward there he renounced the faith of our Lord God and tooke vppon him the Paynims Law the which he hath kept euer since so strongly that if he heare any man speake of our lord god he will pursue him to death and looke what promise that hée maketh he keepeth none therefore I aduise thee trust not on him for surely he will put thee to death if he may thou canst not escape if thou goest by that City therefore I counsaile thee take not that way if thou be wise Sir quoth Huon of your courtesie loue and good councell I thanke you but whatsoeuer fortune fall to me I will go to mine Vncle and if he be such a one as you say I shall make him to die an ill death and if néede be I shall sound my Horne and I am sure at my néede you will ayd me Of that you may be sure quoth Oberon but of one thing I forbid thée be not so hardy to sound thy Horne without thou bée hurt for if thou doe the contrarie I shall so martir thée that thy bodie shall not endure it Sir quoth Huon bée assured your commaundement I will not breake then Huon tooke leaue of King Oberon who was sorrie when Huon departed Sir quoth Huon I haue maruaile why you wéepe I pray you shew mee the cause why you doe it Huon quoth Oberon the great loue that I haue to thée is that causeth me to doe it for as yet hereafter thou shalt suffer so much ill and trauaile that no humane tongue can tell it Sir quoth Huon ye shew me many things not greatly to my profite Sure quoth Oberon and yet thou shalt suffer
more than I haue spoken of and al by thine owne folly Chap. XXVI ¶ How Huon arriued at Tormont and found a man at a gate who brought him to lodge at the Prouosts howse in the towne AFter that OberoÌ„ had shewed Huon part of that should fall to him and was departed Huon and his company theÌ„ mounted on their horses and so rode foorth so long till they came to the cittie of Tormont Gerames who had béen there before when he saw the citie he said to Huon Alas sir we be ill ariued behould here we be in the way to suffer much trouble Sir quoth Huon be not dismaide for by the grace of god wée shall right well escape for who that God will aide no man can hurt Then they entred into the Citie as they came to the gate they met a man with a bowe in his hand who had beene a sporting without the Citie Huon road formost and saluted him in the name of God saying Fréend what call you this Citie The man stood still and had maruaile what men they were that spake of God he beheld them and said Sirs the God in whose name you haue saluted mée kéepe and defende you from incombrance howbeit I desire you in as much as you loue your liues speake softly that you bée not heard for if the Lord of this Citie knowe that you bée christian men he will slay you all sirs you may trust me for I am christened but I dare not be knowne thereof I haue such feare of the Duke Fréend quoth Huon I pray thée shew me who is Lord of this Citie what is his name Sir quoth he he is a false Tyrant when he was christened he was named Macayr but he hath renounced God he is so fierce and proud that as nowe hee hateth nothing so much as them that beléeue in Iesus Christ but Sir I pray you shewe me whether you will goe Fréend quoth Huon I would gladly goe to the red Sea and from thence to Babilon I would tarie this day in this Citie for I and my companie are sore wearie Sir quoth he and if you will beléeue me you shall not enter into this Citie to lodge for if the Duke knewe it none could saue your liues therefore if it be your pleasure I shall lead you another way beside the Towne Sir quoth Gerames for Gods sake beléeue him that counsaileth you so truly Know for troth quoth Huon I will not doe thus I sée well it is almost night the Sun goeth lowe therefore I will lodge this night héere in this Towne whatsoeuer befall for a good Towne should neuer be forsaken Sir quoth the strange man séeing it is so for the loue of God I shall bring you to a lodging whereas you shal be well and honestly lodged in a good mans house that beléeueth in God named Gonder he is Prouost of the City and well beloued with the Duke Fréend quoth Huon God reward thée so this man went on thorow the Towne vntill he came at the Prouosts house whome they founde sitting at his gate Huon that was a faire speaker saluted him in the name of God and the Prouost arose vp beheld Huon and his companie and he had great maruaile what they were séeing they saluted him in the name of God then he said Sirs you be welcome but a Gods name I desire you speake softly that you be not heard for if the Duke of this Citie knewe this you should vtterly bee loste but if it please you to tary this night héere in my house for the loue of God all that I haue in my house shall be yours to doe therewith at your pleasure I abandon all to you Sir I thanke God I haue that in my house that if you abide héere this twoo yeare you shall not néede to buy any thing without Sir quoth Huon of this faire proffer I thanke you and so he and his companie alighted and there were seruants ynough to take their Horses and to set them vp then the Host tooke Huon and Gerames and the other brought them to Chambers to dresse them then they came into the hall wheras they found the Tables set and couered and so sat downe were richly serued with diuers meats When they had done and were rysen Huon called Gerames and said Sir goe in hast into the Towne and get a cryer and cause to be cryed in euerie market place and stréete that whosoeuer will come and sup at the Prouosts house aswell noble as vnâ—â—â—le men women and children rich and poore and all manner of people of what estate or degrée soeuer they be shall come merrily and fréely and nothing pay neither for meat nor drinke whereof they should haue as they wished and also hée commaunded Gerames that all the meat that he could get in the Towne he should buy it and pay readie money for the same Sir quoth Gerames your pleasure shall be done Sir quoth the Host you know well all that is in my house I haue abandoned vnto you therefore sir you shall not néed to seeke for any thing further take of my goods at your pleasure Sir quoth Huon I thanke you I haue monney ynough to fournish all that néede and also Sir I haue a Cup of great vertue for if all the people that be within this Citie were héere present they should haue drinke ynough by reason of my Cup the which was made in Fayry Land When the Host heard Huon he began to smile beléeued that those words had béene spoken but in iest Then Huon not well aduised tooke the Horne of Iuorie from his necke and tooke it to his Host to kéepe saying mine Hoste I take you this to kéepe for it is a precious thing therefore kéepe it surely that I may haue it againe when I demaund it Sir quoth he I shall surely kéepe it and when it please you it shall bée readie and so tooke the Horne and layd it vp in a Coffer But after fell such an houre that Huon would haue had it rather then all the goods in the world as you shall heare more hereafter Chap. XXVII ¶ How Huon gaue a supper vnto all the poore men of the Citie and howe the Duke was Vncle to Huon and howe the Duke had Huon into his Castle THVS when Gerames had this commaundement of Huon he went into the Citie and made to be cryed in diuers places as he was commanded to do When this crye was made there was no Begger Vacabound nor Ribauld Iugler Minstrell old nor yong but by great flockes they came all to the Prouosts house in number more then foure hundred and Gerames bought vp bread meat flesh and other victuals all that he could finde in the Citie and payed for it thus the supper was dressed and euerie man set at the Tables Huon serued them with his Cup in his hand and made euerie man to drinke of that he put out of his Cup into other pots
do as thou doest counsaile me Then the Prouost came to the Pallaice and sayd to Huon Sir for Gods sake speake to mée What art thou quoth Huon I am your Host the Prouost and I require you in as much as you loue your liues kéepe well this Pallaice Sir quoth Huon for your good counsaile I thanke you and I desire you for the loue that you beare me and in that you would help to saue my life as to deliuer me againe the Horne of Iuorie that I tooke you to kéepe for without that I cannot escape death Sir quoth the Prouost it is not farre from me and so tooke it out of his bosome and deliuered it vnto Huon in at a windowe vpon the Garden side Chap. XXX ¶ How King Oberon came and succoured Huon and slewe all the Paynims except such as would be christened And how Huon slewe the Duke his Vncle. WHen Huon saw that he was possessed of his Horne of Iuorie hee was ioyfull the which was no maruaile for it was the only suertie of his life Then hée set it to his mouth and began to blowe it then Gerames said Ah Sir you should neuer bee so lighte to discouer your secrets for if this Prouost had béene vntrue he might haue discouered all you secrets to the Duke whereby you had béene lost and dead therefore neuer discouer your secrets more and also Sir I require you as yet blowe not your Horne for you bee not as yet hurt King Oberon commaunded you so at his departing Why quoth Huon will you then that I tarrye vntill I be slaine surely I will blowe it without any longer tarying and so he blewe it so sore that the bloud came out of his mouth so that all that were in the Pallaice began to singe and to daunce and the Duke and al such as were at the séege about the Pallaice could not rest but fell to singe and to daunce Kinge Oberon who as then was in his citie of Momur saide on high Ah I heare my fréend Huons Horne blowe whereby I knowe well he hath some businesse in hand wherefore I wishe my selfe there as the Horne was blowne with an Hundred Thousand men well armed He had made no sooner his wish but he was in the Citie of Tormont whereas he and his men slewe downe the Paynims that it was maruaile to sée the bloud run downe the Stréetes like a Riuer King Oberon made it to be cryed that as many as would receiue Baptisme their liues should be saued so that thereby there were many that were christened Then King Oberon came to the Pallaice when Huon sawe him hee went and thanked him of his succour at that time of néede Fréend quoth Oberon as longe as you beléeue and doe my commaundements I shall neuer fayle to succour you in all your affaires Thus all that were in the Towne and would not beléeue in God were slaine Then the Duke was taken brought to the Pallaice vnto Huon when he sawe his Vncle taken he was ioyfull and then the Duke sayd Faire Nephewe I require you haue pitie of me Ah vntrue Traytour quoth Huon thou shalt neuer depart hence aliue I shall neuer respite thy death then with his sword he strooke off his Vncles head then he made his bodie to be hanged ouer the wals of the Towne that his ilnesse might alwayes be had in memorie and to be an example to all other thus that Countrey was deliuered from that Traytour Chap. XXXI ¶ How King Oberon forbad Huon that he should not goe by the towre of the Giant to the which Huon would not accord but went thether whereby he was in great danger of death And of the Damsell that he found there who was his owne Cosen borne in Fraunce YEE haue all heard howe King Oberon came succoured Huon and when all was done then he said vnto Huon My deare Fréend I will take my leaue of thée for I shall neuer sée thée again vntill thou hast suffered as much paine and ill and pouerty and disease that it will be hard to declare it and all through thine owne folly When Huon heard that being affrayd he said Sir mee thinkes you saye great wronge for in all things to my power I will obserue your commaundement Fréend quoth Oberon séeing thou wilt doe so remember then thy promise and I charge thée vpon paine of thy life loosing for euer my loue that thou be not so hardy as to take the way to the Tower of Dunother the which is a maruaylous great Tower standing on the Sea-side Iulius Caesar caused it to be made and therein I was longe time nourished thou neuer sawest so faire a Tower nor better garnished with Chambers and glasse windowes and within hanged with rich Tapestrie At the Entrie of the gate there are two men of brasse each of them holding in their handes a â—layle of yron wherewith without cease day and night they beat by such a measure that when the one striketh with his â—layle the other is lifted vp readie to strike and they smite so suddainly that a swallow flying cannot passe by vnslayn And within this Tower there is a Gyant named Angolofer he tooke from mée the Tower and a stronge Armour of suche vertue that whosoeuer hath it on his bodie cannot be hurt nor wearie nor he cannot be drowned in no water nor burned with fire Therefore Huon my fréend I charge thee go not that way as much as thou fearest my displeasure for against that Gyant thou canst make no resistance Sir quoth Huon know for troth the day that I departed out of Fraunce I tooke vpon me that any aduenture that might be heard of though it were neuer so perilous that I would neuer eschew it for any feare of death and therefore Sir I haâ— rather die then to forsake to fight with that Gyant there is nâ— man shall let me Sir I promise you ere I returne againe to conquer your sayde stronge Armour it shall doe me good seruice héereafter it is a thinge not to bée forsaken and if I néede of your ayd I shall blowe my Horne you will come and succour me Huon quoth Oberon by the Lord that saued me if thou breakest the Horne in the blowing thou shalt haue no succour nor ayd of me Sir quoth Huon you may doe your pleasure and I shall doe mine Then Oberon departed without more speaking Huon aboad in the Citie the which he gaue to Geffrey and to the Prouost his Host all the Land that his Vncle held Then he made him readie and tooke gould and siluer plentie and tooke his leaue of Geffrey and of his Host and of all other so he and his companie departed and so road ouer Hils and Dals night and day a certaine space without finding of any aduenture worthy to be had in memorie At last he came néere to the Sea-side whereas the Tower of the Gyaunt was when Huon saw it he sayd vnto his companie
Sirs yonder I sée a Tower the which was forbidden me by Oberon but as God help me before it be night I will sée what is within it whatsoeuer come thereof Then Gerames beheld the Tower and began to sorow and said Ah Huon he is a foole that agréeth to the counsaile of a Child Sir for Gods sake beware that you breake not the commandement of King Oberon for if you doe great ill is like to come vnto you Sir quoth Huon if all the men nowe liuing shoulde forbid mee to goe thether I would not obay them for you knowe well I departed out of Fraunce for none other thing but to search the strangest aduentures and I demaund nothing else but to find aduentures therefore speake no more to the contrarie for ere I sléepe I will fight with the Gyant for though he be more harder then yron yet I shall slay him or he mée and you Gerames all the other abyde you héere in this meadowe vntill I returne againe Sir quoth Gerames in wéeping it sore displeaseth me that it will bee no better therefore I recommende you vnto the sauegard of God Thus Huon departed and left his companie heauily complayning Huon armed himselfe and so tooke his way and kissed all his men one after another and tooke with him his Horne and Cup so all alone on foot he went foorth rested not vntill he came to the gate of the castle of Dunother there he saw the twoo men of Brasse that without ceasing beate with their â—layles he beheld them well and thought it was in a manner impossible to enter without death Then he began to consider hereon with himselfe how King Oberon had shewed him the troth and thought without the aide of the grace of God it were impossible to enter whereuppon he beheld all about if there were any other place to enter at last he saw neere to a piller of marble a Bason of gould fast tyed with a chaine then he approached neere thereto and drew out his sword wherwith he strake thrée great stroaks on the Bason so that the sound thereof might well be heard into the Castle Within the Tower there was a Damsell called Sibilla when she heard the Bason sound she had great maruaile thereat then she went to a window and looked out and saw that Huon would enter whereuppon she went backe againe and said ah good Lord what knight is yonder without that would enter if the Gyant awake anone he will be slaine for if there were a Thowsand Knights together they should all soone be destroyed surely I haue great desire to know what he is and where he was borne for as me séemeth he should be of Fraunce to know the troth I wil goe to the window againe to sée if I may haue of him any knowledge Then shée went out of her chamber and went to a window néere to the gate and looked out and saw Huon all armed abiding at the gate then she beheld the blazure of his shield wherein was portrayed thrée crosses of gould whereby she knew well he was of Fraunce Alas quod shée I am but lost if the Gyant know that I haue béene héere then she returned againe in hast and went to the Chamber dore whereas the Gyant lay and slept and she perceiued hée was yet a sléepe for he rowted that it was maruaile to héere Then she returned againe quickly to the gate and opened a wicket out of the which there yssued such a wind that if caused the two men with their flayles to stand still in rest when shée had opened the wicket hastily shée returned into her Chamber and when Huon sawe the little wicket open he aduaunced himselfe entred for the two men with their flayles were in rest then hée went further thinking to finde them that had opened the wicket but hée was sore abashed when he could finde no creature there were so many Chambers that he wist not whether to goe to finde that he sought for Thus he searched all about and at last hée sawe about a Pillar fourtéene men lye dead whereof hée had great maruaile and said that he would returne backe againe then he went out of the Hall and came to the gate wéening to haue found it open but it was closed by it selfe and the men againe did beat with their flayles Alas quoth Huon nowe I sée well I cannot escape from hence then he returned into the Castle and hearkened about and as he went searching carefully he heard the voice of a Damsell pitiously wéeping He came there as she was and humbly saluted her and said Faire Damsell I cannot tell if you can vnderstand my language or not knowe of you I would wherefore you make this great sorrowe Sir quoth she I wéepe because I haue of you great pitie for if the Gyant heare within who is yet a sléepe hap to awake you are but dead lost Faire Ladie quoth Huon I pray you shew me what you be and where you were borne Sir quoth shée I am Daughter to Guinemer who in his time was Earle of Saint Omers am Néece to Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux When Huon heard that right humbly he kissed her and saide Madame knowe for troth that you are my néere Kinsewoman for I am Sonne to Duke Seuin I pray you shew me what aduenture hath brought you into this Castle Sir quoth she my Father had deuotion to sée the holy Sepulchre and he loued me so well that he would not leaue me behind him and as we were on the Sea néere to the Citie of Escalone in Surry there arose a great tempest vpon the Sea that the winde brought vs néere vnto this Castle and the Gyant being in his Tower saw vs in great danger of drowning that we were driuen into this Port he came downe out of his Pallaice and slewe my Father and all them that were with him except my selfe and so brought me into this Tower whereas I haue béen these Seauen yeares in great distresse and miserie And nowe Coozen I pray you what aduenture hath brought you hether into this strang Countrey Coozen quoth he séeing you will knowe of my aduentures I shal shew you the troth King Charlemaine hath sent mee in messuage to the Admirall Gaudise in Babilon I beare him a Messuage by mouth and by Letters and as my way lay I am come by this Tower and I demaunded of a Paynim who was within this Tower and he answeared me and sayd howe héere should bée a great and an horrible Gyant who hath done much euill to them that haue passed this way And I thought to passe this way to fight with him and destroy him and to deliuer the Countrey of him and I haue left my companie héere by in a Valley to tarie for me Deare Coozen quoth she I haue great maruaile that you would take on you such a folly for if ye were Fiue hundred men together well armed yée durst not all abide him if hée were
in it another especiall vertue for he that must weare that armour must be without spot of deadly sinne also his mother must be without carnall copulation with any man except with her owne husband I beléeue there cannot be found any man that may weare this Armour Also it is of such vertue that whosoeuer hath it on his bodye cannot be grieued neither with fire nor water By Mahoūd I haue prooued it and because I haue found such courtesie in thee that thou gauest me leaue to arme me I will giue thee leaue to assay if thou canst put on that Armour in regard I know that neither thou nor any knight else can be able to doe it Then the Gyant went to his coffer and tooke out the Armour and came to Huon and said See heere is the good armour I giue thee leaue to assay to put it on thy body Then Huon tooke the Armour and went back a little and put off his owne armour and tooke that belonging to the Gyant and incontinent did it on his bodie then hastily he put on his helmet and tooke his shéeld sword in his hand and deuoutly thanked our Lord God of this great grace Then the Gyant said by Mahound I had little thought thou hadst been such a man that Armour becommeth thee exceeding well nowe I haue quit the courtesie that thou shewedst mee therefore I pray thee put off the Armour and deliuer it me againe Not so sir by your leaue answeared Huon this Armour is meeter for me than such a Helhound as thou art therefore know for troth I will not render it againe for xiiij of the best Cities between this and Parys Friend quoth the Gyant seing thou wilt not render me againe the Armour I am content to let thee depart hence without any hurt or damage and also I will giue thée my Ring of gould the which the Admirall Gaudise gaue me for I know well it will stand thee in good stead if thou thinkest to fournish thy messuage for when thou comest to the gate of his Pallaice and sayst how thou art a messenger sent frō kyng Charles thou shalt find foure gates and at euery gate foure Porters so that at the first gate if it be knowen thou be a frenchman one of thy hands shal be cut of and at the second gate thy other hand and at the third gate one of thy féet and at the fourth the other foote and then shalt thou bee brought before the Admirall and there thy head striken off And therfore to escape these perils furnish thy messuage and to thintent that thou maiest surely retourne giue me againe my Armour and I shall giue the my ring of gold the which when thou but shewest it thou shalt be receiued with great honor at euery gate and then thou maist go retourne surelye into the Pallaice at thy pleasure and no man to let thee for if thou hadst slaine Fiue hundred men there shal be none so hardy as to touch thée nor to doe thee any yll if thou hast this Ring about thée for when I haue nede of men or mony I cannot lacke if I send this ring for a token therfore I pray thee let me haue againe my Armour Chap. XXXIII ¶ How Huon slew rhe great Gyant and how he called Gerames and his company to him and of the ioy that they made for the death of the Gyant WHen Huon vnderstoode the Paynim he said Ah thou fell and false deceiuer know for troth if all the Preachers betwéen the east west preached to me a whole yeare and that thou wouldest giue me all that thou hast and thy Ring therewith I would not render againe the good Armour that is now on my bodie first I slay thée then as for thy Ring that thou praisest so much I will likewise haue it whether thou wilt or not When the Gyant had well heard Huon and saw that in no wise he could get againe his Armour he was then sorowfull and because he saw how Huon reprooued him therewith he was so sore displeased that his eyes séemed like twoo burning candels then he yet demaunded of Huon if he would doe none otherwise No truly quoth Huon though thou be great and strong I haue no feare of thée seing I haue on this good Armour therefore in the name of god and of his diuine puissance I defie thée And I thée quoth the Gyant for all the Armour thou canst not endure against me Then the Gyant approched to Huon and lift vp his fawchin thinking to haue striken him but he fayled for the stroke glent and the fawchin light vpon a piller and entred into it more then twoo foot then Huon who was quicke and light behoulding the maruaylous stroke quickly stept foorth with his good sword in his hand and seing how the Gyant had his fawchin sticking fast in the piller he strake the Gyant on both the armes néere to his hands in such wise that he strake off both his hands so that they with the fawchin fell downe to the earth When the Gyant felt himselfe so sore hurt with paine therof he gaue a maruaylous crie so horrible as though all the Towre had fallen to the earth whereat the Damsell Sibylla being in her chamber was sore abashed she went out of her chamber and found a staffe by the way she tooke it vp in her hands and came to the Pallaice whereas she heard the cry and met the Gyant flying away to saue himselfe but the Damsell well aduised when she saw that he fled she cast the staffe betwéene his legges so that thereby he fell to the earth and Huon who came after him with his sword in his hand he hasted him gaue the Gyant many a great stroke and the Gyant cryed out so high that it was very terrible to heare him Then Huon lift vp his sword and gaue him such a stroake in the necke that his head flew to the earth then Huon wiped his sword and put it vp into the sheath and he came to the head thinking to haue taken it vp and to haue set it on the height of the Towre but the head was so great and heauy that he could not remooue it nor tourne the bodie then he smiled and said Ah good Lord I thanke thée of thy grace that thou hast giuen me the puissance to slay such a creature would to god that this body and head were nowe in the Pallaice of Parys before Charlemaine Kinge of Fraunce so that he knewe that I haue slaine him Then Huon went to a window and looked out and saw where his company were than said he to them on hie Sirs come vp hether ye may doe it surely for this Pallaice is woonne the Gyant slaine When Gerames Garyn the other heard that they were ioyfull and thanked our lord god then they came to the gate and Sybilla the Damsell went opened the wicket whereby the enchantment fayled then they entred
Then they went to the Port and by that time that the Maryners had cast their anchor then Gerames demaunded of them whence they were and whither they would go Sir quoth they we would goe to Mesque to pay to Angolofer the great Gyant a Tribute that we are bound euery yeere to pay therefore Sir we desire you to shew vs where we might find him And when Gerames saw that they were all a land out of the ship he said Ah ye vnhappie Paynims ye shall neuer depart hence for he that ye demaund for is dead and all ye shall beare him companie Then Gerames saide to his company sirs let all these Paynims be slaine and then incontinent they set vpon theÌ„ so that all the Paynims were slaine not one escaped aliue for the christian men were armed and the Paynims without armour or any weapon for otherwise they durst not come on land for feare of the Gyant Then Gerames entred into the ship and tooke all that they found there and bare it into the Tower and then they went to dinner and made great ioy for that aduenture and after dinner Gerames said Sirs if wee were now in Fraunce and that king Charlemaine should demaund of vs what is become of Huon yée know wel there is none of vs can tel whether he be aliue or dead for if we should say that he is dead and he afterward retourne home then we should be reputed for false men euer after both we and our children for a man may be a Prisoner xiiij or xv yeeres and yet come home againe at the last safe and sound But sirs if yee will be ruled by me we shall doe like true men we haue as now in this port a good ship well fournished with euery thing and we haue heere gould and siluer plentie and we shall soone vittaile our ship and then let vs take the Sea and neuer rest sayling vntill wee heare some newes of our Lord Huon if we doe thus then wée doe as true men ought to doe and I desire you all euery man shew his aduice herein Then without taking of any longer respite they answered all with one voice that they were readie to accomplish all that he had deuised So they tooke gould and siluer and all their riches and bare it into the shippe and fournished it with wine bisket salt flesh artillerie and when their shippe was garnished they put in their horses and their armour and they all xiij Companions entred into the ship the Damsell with theÌ„ then they wayed vp their anchors hoysed vp their sayles and so left the Tower of the Gyant all voyd and no man therein And thus they sayled along the coast vntill they came into the high sea and so long they sayled till they came to Damieta there they entred into the Riuer of Nyle and so long they sayled therein that they arriued at Babylon and came to the Port and tooke out their horses Gerames that knew well the language and the manner of the entring into all the iiij gates said to his companie Sirs lets vs mount on our horses and let vs enter into the Citie to see if we may heare any newes of our Maister Huon Thus they roade foorth and entred into the Citie then Gerames said Sirs wée will goe to the Pallaice but when we come there â—ould you all your peace and suffer mee to speake wherein it is conuenient that yee all agree to my wordes and say not the contrary They answered and said they were content so to doe and thus they roade together through the towne Ah good Lord quoth Gerames I beséech thee of thy grace to grant vs that we may heare some good tidings of our maister Huon of Bourdeaux for whome we be heere in ieoperdie of death so they passed all the iiij bridges and gates by reason that Gerames shewed foorth suche reasons that the Porters were content Then they came before the great hall there they alighted mounted vp all xiij and the Damsell with them and when they were in the hall they saw the Admirall Gaudise sitting on a rich chaire garnished with gould pretious stones and Gerames that could well speake the Sarazine language came before the Admirall and said The same god that causeth the wine and corne to grow saue and keepe the Admirall Gaudise whome I see there â—itting among his Barons Friend quoth the Admirall thou art welcome I pray thee shew me what thou art and whither thou wouldest goe Sir quoth Gerames to tell you plainely I am come from the good citie of Mombrance and am Sonne to king Iuoryn When the Admyrall heard that he rose vp on his féete and said Thou art welcome the son of my brother faire Nephew I pray you shew me how doth my brother Iuoryn Sir quoth Gerames when I departed from him I left him in good health and he saluteth you by me and hath sent heere to you xij french men by me the which were taken vpon the sea as they were going on Pilgrimage to the holy Sepulchre of Christ in Ierusalem and he desireth you to put them in prison vntill the day of Saint Iohn the Baptist at which day you must make the feast of your Gods and then to bring them into the meadow heere without and there tye and binde theÌ„ to stakes and let your Archers shoot at them to thintent to know who shooteth best As for this Damsell that is héere with me she is to be put to your Daughter to teach her to speake perfectly the french language Faire Nephew quoth the Admirall as he hath appointed it shal be done and I giue you power to coÌ„maund euery thinge in this house at your pleasure and I pray you shew me what is your name Sir quoth he I am called Ieracle Well quoth the Admirall from hence foorth I retaine you to be as my chiefe Chamberlaine and I will that yee haue the key of the prison in your kéeping and therein to put these Captiues and doe with them at your pleasure extend vnto theÌ„ what kindnesse you please but let them haue meat drinke suffitient that they die not with famine as but lately died a French man that was sent to me by king Charles of Fraunce who was called Huon of Bourdeaux the which was a right faire yong man When Gerames heard that he had neuer before greater sorow at his heart for then hearing of the death of Huon his displeasure anger was so great that he had néere hand runne vpon the Admirall and he was so vexed in his mind that he tooke vp a staffe that lay by him and gaue each of the French men such stroakes on their heades that the blood ran downe but they suffered it and durst not stirre they were in such feare of the Admirall but they cursed Gerames for his stroakes who did it for the nonst And when the Admirall sawe how hee had well beaten the frenchmen
that ye haue put in prison When Gerames had heard the Lady he was right ioyfull for then he knew well that shee went not about to descrie him but that she did it of good heart and good will that she bare to Huon howbeit hee thought that hee would not discouer himselfe to her vntill the time he knew the troth of Huon wherfore he answered the Damsell angerly and said O thou false and vntrue maide how art thou so hardy as to speake or thinke thus surely the Admirall thy Father shall know it assoone as he commeth out of his chamber and then shalt thou be burned and the Frenchmen hanged Alas Sir quoth shee yet I pray you let mee goe into the prison with you to thintent that I may sée Huon once yet before I die for the loue of whome I am content to die for if he die I will not liue one day after therefore let me once take my leaue of him Well quoth Gerames for this time I am content that ye goe with me then Gerames tooke a torch in his hand and opened the dore entred he was no sooner entred but Huon knew him and went and embraced him and said Ah my true louer blessed be the houre that I found you then they all clipped and embraced him when the Lady saw their maner of saluting she was ioyfull for then she saw well that her intent should be more surely compassed then she came to Huon demaunded if they were his seruants that made so great loue together Madame quoth Huon surely all these that be heere be my men boldly ye may trust them for there is none of them but that they shall do your commaundment Huon quoth the Damsell their comming pleaseth me right well then Huon said to his companie Gentlemen and my deare friends forbeare this extremitie of kindnesse to me and bestow it vpon this noble Ladie for by her wee shal be deliuered and it is shee that hath saued my life theÌ„ they all together humbly thanked her Sirs quoth she if yée will worke by my councell I shall shew you how I may aid you to deliuer you froÌ„ hence First let me vnfainedly perswade ye that I doe firmely beléeue in Iesus Christ and at this day there is no man that I more hate than the Admirall Gaudise my Father bicause he beléeueth not in our Lord Iesus Christ for hee hateth so the christian men that he cannot abide to heare any speaking of them for he beléeueth but vpon Mahound and his Idols therefore my hart cannot loue him if he did otherwise I would purchase to him none ill for all the good in the world but I shall shewe you what yee must doe When it is the houre of midnight I shall bring you all into my chamber whereas I will prouide Armour for you all and there yée shall all be armed then I shall bring you into the Admirall my Fathers chamber whome yee shall find sléeping and there yee may slay him and as for mee I will bee the first that shall strike him and when he is slaine then shall wée depart surely When Huon had vnderstood her he said Madame and god will your Father shall not be so slaine the day shall come that ye shall otherwise deliuer vs wée thanke you that yee so much desire our deliuerance but I thinke it good that you and Gerames depart hence for this time for it is néere hand day to thintent that our busines be not perceiued Then the Lady and Gerames departed and closed againe the prison dore and went vp into the Pallaice as if they had not béene there at all And thus euery day Gerames the Lady went to visite the Prisoners and bare them euery thing that was néedefull for them Gerames was alwaies with the Admirall and did what he would for there was not any Paynim that durst do contrarie to his commaundment Now leaue wée to speake of the Admirall of Gerames and of Huon and of all them that were in prison vntill such time as wée may returne to them againe Chap. XLII ¶ How the great Giant Agrapart eldest brother to Angolofer whome Huon slew assembled his people and came to Babylon to haue the tribute of the Admirall as his brother had and of the battaile hand to hand that he desired of the Admirall Gaudis the which was agreed vnto IT hath beene sufficiently declared heere before how Huon slew the Gyant Angolofer the which Gyant had Seauentéene Brethren all elder than himselfe who liued distant from him in diuers seuerall places It was no longe while after but that his elder Brother named Agrapart was aduertised of the death of his Brother which he tooke to his hart excéeding heauilie Now you must vnderstand that he was in all respects of as huge stature as his brother for he was xvij foote of length and in bignes he was made therafter he was a foot betwéen the browes his eyes more redder and burning than a brand of fire and the gristle of his nose as great as the nostrill of an oxe and he had twoo téeth issuing out of his mouth more than a foot long each of them but if I should describe his foule figure at the full it would annoy all the hearers thereof therefore yee may well beléeue when he was in his displeasure that he had a fearefull countenance to looke vpon for then his twoo eyes séemed like twoo burning torches When he was certenly aduertised of the death of his brother he sent ouer all his countrey that euery man should come to him in armour and so they did and when they were come he declared to them the death of his brother Angolofer said how it was his mind to goe to Babylon to the Admirall Gaudise there to take possession of the landes and signiories that were his brothers and also to haue the tribute that was due by the Admirall then all his Lâ—â—ds said Sir commaund at your pleasure and wee shall obay it Well sirs quoth he then I will that euerye man mount on their horses to goe towards Babylon and so they all obayed and got on their horses and departed rode so long that they came into a plaine néere to the citie of Babylon there were about Ten Thowsand men together and Agrapart said Sirs tarie yée all héere till I come againe for I will goe all alone and speake with the Admirall Gaudise Then he armed himselfe and tooke a great fawchin in his hand and departed all alone and so went and entred into the citie of Babylon and so past the Foure gates there was no Paynim that durst say him nay and he rested not vntill he came to the Pallaice the same time as the Admirall was sitting at dinner Gerames with him then the Gyant came to the table said The same god Mahound vnder whome we liue confound the Admirall Gaudise as an ill caytiffe and a false Traytour When the Admirall heard himselfe so highly
Mahound I pray you haue pitie on me for I am no slaue but I am Daughter to the Admirall Gaudise of Babylon who is dead and slaine by a Frenchman the Mariners heere haue taken me and would carrie me to mine Vncle king Iuoryn of Mombrance and I know surely that if he had me he would burne me Faire Lady quoth the Admirall dismay you not for yee shall abide with mee whether they will or not then he commaunded the Mariners to bring the Ladie to him but they answered that they would not so doe then the Admirall commaunded to take her from them perforce and then they of the shippe began to make defence But anon they were all slaine and the Lady taken and brought to the Admirall who had great ioy therof howbeit he was sorie because one of them that were in the ship scaped away and fled to Mombrance notwithstanding the Admirall cared not greatly for it séeing he had the Ladie whome he brought into his Pallaice When the Admirall saw her so excéeding faire hee was taken in her loue so that incontinent he would haue married her after the Sarazins law whereof shee was right sorowfull and said Sir reason it is that I doe your pleasure séeing yée haue rid me out of the handes of these Pyrates of the sea But sir I require you for the loue that ye beare me that yee will forbeare your pleasure at this present time for Sir I haue made a faithfull vow and promise that for a yeere and a day from henceforth I will not lye with nor touch any man boldly for the which vow sir I am now sorie eueÌ„ for the loue that I beare to you but Sir I am right ioyfull that yee will doe me so much honor as to haue me to your wife our great god Mahound reward you Now sir for the loue of him I pray you be content vntill my vow be accomplished Faire Ladie quoth he know for troth that for the honour of my God Mahound but more for the loue of you I am content to tarrie this yeere yea and if it were Twentie yeeres to be sure of your loue then Sir quoth she Mahound reward you but she said to her selfe Ah deare Lord god Iesu Christ I humbly require thée to giue me that grace to kéepe my troth to my Louer Huon for ere I shall doe the contrarie I shall suffer as much paine and gréefe as euer womaÌ„ did and I will neuer breake my troth for feare of death Now leaue we to speak of her and say somewhat of the theefe that scaped out of the shippe Chap. XLIX ¶ How the Pyrate fled to Mombrance to Iuoryn and how he sent to defie the Admirall Galaffer of Anfalerne and of the answeare that he had there YE haue heard heere before how the faire Escleremond was receiued by the Admirall Galaffer and of the manner that shee found to keepe her selfe true to Huon and how one of the Mariners scaped away and fledde by land till at last he came to the Citie of Mombrance where he found Iuoryn to whome he shewed all the whole matter as ye haue heard and how his brother the Admirall Gaudise was slaine by a young french knight and how he and his companie found the said knight and his Néece the faire Escleremond whom they had thought to haue brought to him But quoth he the Admirall Galaffer hath taken them from vs by force and hath taken our shippe and slaine all your men that were within it so that none escaped but I alone When king Iuoryn vnderstood the Mariner he said Ah mightie Mahound how hast thou suffered that my brother Gaudise hath thus pitiously been slaine and also my Néece his Daughter to consent thereto certainely the gréefe that I féele at my heart constraineth mée rather to desire death than life And also moreouer to see him that is mine owne Subiect and houldeth his landes of me to keepe my Néece and thus to slay my men Alas I cannot well say what I should doe therein a little thing would cause me to slay my selfe Then in great displeasure he called his Lords and caused the Mariner to come before them there he made him to shew again all the matter bâ—fore them both how his brother the Admirall Gaudise was slaine and also how the Admirall Galaffer held his Néece by force and how he had slaine his men which when the Lords had heard they said thus to Iuoryn Sir our aduice is that yée should send one of your secret messengers to the Admirall Galaffer and commaund him incontinent to send you your Néece and to make amends for that he hath slaine your men and that he send you word by writing what cause hath mooued him thus to doe and if it be so that pride doth so surmount in him that hee will not obey your commaundements then by a iust quarrell ye may goe and make warre vpon him and take from him all his lands that he houldeth of you When Iuoryn vnderstood his Lords he said Sirs I perceaue well your opinion is good and then a Messenger was appointed and his charge giuen him and so he departed and rode so long till he came to Anfalerne where he found the Admirall Galaffer whome he saluted in the name of Mahound and then hee declared his Messuage at length but assoone as Galaffer had heard his messuage he said Friend goe and say to king Iuoryn that as for the deliuerance of his Néece I will not doe it and as for his men that are slaine it was through their owne folly and as touching that I should come to him I will not come to him let him do what he can but if he come to assaile me I shall defend as well as I can When the Messenger heard that he said Sir Admirall séeing yee will doe none otherwise in the name of our god Mahound and in the name of great king Iuoryn héere I defie you he sendeth you woord by me that he will leaue you neither Citie Towne nor Castle but he will put them all to flame and fire nor leaue you one foot of land but also if he may take you ye shall die a shamefull death When the Admirall saw how hee was defyed hee was more inflamed then a burning fire-brand and said to the messenger Go and say to thy Lord that I set nothing by his threatning and if I may know when hée commeth I shall do him that honour that I will not abide till hée enter into my country but I will méete with him before and say vnto him from me that if I can take him I shall soone ryd his soule out of his body So the messenger departed and came to Mombrance where wheÌ„ Iuoryn saw him he said Frend what saith Galaffer will hée send me my Néece Sir quoth the messenger hée will not doe it hée saith hée doubteth you nothing and if yee be so hardy as to come and assayle him then hée will meet
by Kinge Iuoryn and so brought to Mombrance whereas they were receiued with great ioy and the Admirall Galaffer was entred into Anfalerne in great sorrow for Sorbryn his Nephew who was dead also for his men that he had lost in battaile and when he was vnarmed hee caused his Nephew to be buried with sore wéepings and lamentations Nowe let vs leaue speaking of them vntill wee haue occasion to returne vnto them againe Chap. LVI ¶ Howe Huon was hadde in great honour and sat at the Table with King Iuoryn of Mombrance WHen Iuoryn was entred into Mombrance hee went vnarmed him his Daughter came vnto him to make him reuerence and when hee sawe his Daughter hée kissed her and said Déere Daughter thou wert mated in a good houre by the Minstrels Varlet for in the day of battaile that we haue had against the Admirall Galaffer he was discomfited by the only prowesse of this Varlet by whom thou wert mated thanked be my God Mahound for by him I haue ouercome mine enemies and beside that he fought hand to hand against Sorbryn Nephew to the Admirall Galaffer and hee slew him but if I may liue one yeare the great seruice that he hath done vnto me shal be euen right well rewarded Father quoth the Ladie you are bound so to doe Then Kinge Iuoryn went vp into his Pallaice and his Daughter with him and Huon went to the lodging where as the Minstrell was lodged where hee vnarmed him and went with his Maister to the Pallaice but when King Iuoryn saw them the King aduanced foorth and tooke Huon by the hand and sayd Fréend you shall goe with mée and sit at my Table for I cannot doe you too much honour for the good seruice that you haue done vnto mée I abandon vnto you all my house to doe therein at your pleasure take all my gould and siluer and iewels and giue thereof at your pleasure I ordaine and will that all that you commaund shall be done all that is heere I abandon vnto you yea in the Ladies chambers take there your pleasure as you list and whē I goe out you shall goe with mée Sir quoth Huon of the great honour that you haue done to mée I thanke you then they sat downe at the Table and when they had dyned the King and Huon sat together vppon the rich Carpets Then Mouflet the Minstrell opened his Vyoll and played so melodiously that the Paynims that heard him had great maruaile thereof for the Vyoll made so swéet a sound that it séemed to be the Mermaides of the Sea and Kinge Iuoryn and all his Lords had so great ioy that it séemed vnto them that they were in the glorie of Paradise so that there was no Paynim but that gaue him Gownes and Mantles and other iewels The Minstrell saw Huon sit by the King hee saide Fréend yesterday I was your Maister and nowe I am become your Minstrell I thinke nowe you haue little care for me yet I pray you come vnto mée and gather together these cloathes and put them into my Male as you haue done ere this When the King and his Lordes heard that they began to laugh Now let vs leaue speaking of them and say somewhat of the old Gerames Chap. LVII ¶ How the old Gerames arriued at Anfalerne by fortune and the Admirall Galaffer retained him to mainetaine his warre And how the faire Escleremond spake with him YE haue heard heere before the Aduentures that haue fallen to Huon how the old Gerames and xiij with him departed and left Huon bicause he would not beléeue them whereby fell to him such aduentures as yee haue since heard and how Gerames and his companyons that were in the litle shippe sailed forth in the tempest without any knowledge what was become of Huon but they thought rather hée had been dead then aliue and so within a moneth after they were driuen by another tempest to the port of Anfalerne When Gerames saw how they were ariued there he said to his companie Sirs wee be not ariued at a good Port in this City dwelleth a Paynim king who beléeueth not in our god a more fierce Paynim cannot be found frō hence to the red Sea he is called the admirall Galaffer without god haue pitie of vs I cannot sée but we are like to die and we cannot returne backe The same time the Admirall Galaffer was risen from dinner and looked out at a windowe and behelde the sea-side and then he perceiued the little Shippe where Gerames and his companie were in when he saw it he went downe with some of his men desiring to knewe what they were that there arriued then he approached to the Shippe and said Sirs what men be you that are thus arriued at my Port Sir quoth Gerames wée be French-men Pilgrimes and are going to offer at the holy Sepulchre the fortune of the Sea hath brought vs hether and therefore Sir if there be any Tribute that we ought to pay we are readie to do your pleasure Sirs quoth the Admirall haue no doubt that by me or any of mine you shall haue any displeasure for if yée will abide with me you are well arriued Sir quoth Gerames I would it might please you to shewe vs the cause why Why quoth the Admirall that I shall shewe you True it is héere néere mée dwelleth Kinge Iuoryn of Mombrance who maketh vppon mée great warre hée slayeth my men and destroyeth my Countrey whereof I haue great sorrow in my heart Sir quoth Gerames if your quarrell be iust and rightfull we shall be all readie to aid you truely for Sir without your quarrell be good wee will not abide with you Sirs quoth the Admirall I shall shew you the troth so it was vppon a day I stood in a window and looked downe to the sea-side as I did now when you arriued at this Port and then I saw a Shippe comming which tooke anker there as you be nowe and in the Ship there was a Damsell and Ten Marriners who thought to haue ledde her vnto Kinge Iuoryn of Mombrance I cannot tell where they had taken her but shée was Daughter to the Admirall Gaudise that Mahound take his soule and I knewe for certaine that if King Iuoryn might haue the Damsell hee would haue burnt her because it hath béen shewed him that she was the cause of the death of her Father the Admirall Gaudise who was Brother to King Iuoryn and so hée is Vncle to the Damsell and when I was aduertised that the ten Marriners would haue deliuered her into the hands of her Vncle Iuoryn I tooke her from them and slew them all because they would not deliuer her to me with entreatie and thus I haue wedded the Damsell When Iuoryn heard this he made mée war and was héere before my Citie with all his puissance hath slayne my men and led away all my beasts and prouision and hath burnt and destroyed my Countrey and euerie day he
her he did of his helmet and ranne and embraced her and when the Ladie saw that it was Huon the ioy that shee had was so great that it was maruaile to sée it there was such ioy at their méeting that it cannot be recounted Huon and the Ladie embraced kissed each other many times and she said Ah Huon ye be right hartily welcome for I thought that I should neuer haue séene you more Ladie quoth Huon I ought greatly to loue and cherish you and I am right ioyfull that it hath pleased God that I haue now found you in good health and prosperitie for a more truer man than ye be there is none liuing When all the companie had made their salutations one to another they went to dinner and were richly serued for there was great plentie in the citie and the Sarazins were without the Citie wheras they fought and slew each other there was such slaying on both parts that the fieldes were couered with dead men and fore wounded many a horse ran about the field and their Maisters lying dead these twoo Kings fought one against the other puissance against puissance and twoo Sarazins that were escaped out of the Citie of Anfalerne came to the Admirall Galaffer and said Ah Sir your Citie is lost by the Frenchmen who be entred into it there is neyther man nor woman therein but they are all slaine the old knight that came to you and his xiij companions be all seruants to the young man that slew your Nephew when the twoo Frenchmen fought one with another they tooke togither acquaintance and they be all subiects to the young man that was with king Iuoryn and it is he that slew the Admirall Gaudise and discomfited the gyant Agrapart we knew him well when he entred into the citie we would haue shewed you thereof but we durst not vntill yee were returned from the battaile Now they be in your Pallaice which pleaseth them for there is neither man nor child liuing but all are slaine except some xxx Ladies and Damsels who were with her that should be your wife and they be put out of the Citie yée may sée them sitting without the gate pitiously wéeping When the Admirall Galaffer heard that he was heauy sorowfull and said to his men that were about him Sirs I pray you hastily giue me some councell what I shall doe for it is néedfull Sir quoth they it is now of necessitie that yée goe to king Iuoryn and knéele downe at his foote and pray him to haue mercie vppon you other councell as now we cannot giue you Sirs quoth Galaffer I shall doe as yée haue said then the Admirall Galaffer with his sword in his hand went through the preasse and came to king Iuoryn alighted from his horse and knéeled downe before him and said Sir King I yéeld to you my swoord with the which if you please strike of my head for well I haue deserued it But Sir I pray you for the loue of Mahound haue mercie of me I offer to make you such amends as you your Lords shall iudge so that yée will aid me to take the Frenchmen that bee in my Citie and haue taken away my wife your Néece Escleremond Sir the young man that yée so loued who came but lately to your Court with a Minstrell is the same Frenchman that slew your brother the Admirall Gaudise these tydings I haue heard by twoo messengers that knew him in your Court and now there are with him xiij other Frenchmen whome I had retayned with me to maintaine my warre but they be al subiects to the yong man and now all xiii bee in my pallace and my wife with them Chap. LIX ¶ How Iuoryn caused Mouflet the old Minstrell to be brought to the gibet to haue beene hanged and how hee was rescued by Huon IVORIN heard Galaffer and saide Alas I was vnhappie that I knew not this yong man that had slaine my brother if I had it shold dearly haue béene bought Therefore Sir Galaffer cause your men to withdraw from the battaile and I shall withdraw mine and I shall know of my Barons what counsaile they will giue me Then both parties blew the retrait and King Iuoryn said to his Lords Sirs what counsaile will yee giue me as touching the Admirall Galaffer Sir quoth they giue him againe his lands since he asketh mercie if he hath done ill he offereth to make amends Then Iuoryn called Galaffer and sayd Sir Admirall I render againe to you all your lands and pardon you of all mine ill will and beside that I shall helpe you to destroy the Frenchmen that are in your citie of Anfalerne Then Galaffer kneeled downe and thanked King Iuoryn for the courtesie that he shewed him and offered to doe and so would haue kissed his feet but Iuoryn would not suffer him but lift him vp Thus these two kings agréed together and sware together to haue the death of Huon and his knights Then Huon and his companie abandoned vp the citie of Anfalerne because hee had so few men to kéepe it and so kept the Castle the which was strong inough standing on a rocke on the sea side it was indéede impregnable so it were well victualled at the corner of the Castle there was a strong towre and vnderneath it was the Port whereas ships came to their anchor When Iuoryn and Galaffer saw that the towne was giuen vp by the Frenchmen they entered into it with all their great puissance and lodged about in the towne but in taking of their lodgings Huon and Gerames and such as were with them shot out darts and quarrelled in such wise that there was not so hardie a paynim that durst peere before the Castle if he did he was slaine or hurt When Iuoryn Galaffer saw the dealing of the Frenchmen they raysed vp a gibbet before the Castle thereby to make the Frenchmen afraide and then they tooke Mouflet the Minstrell and bound his hands behind him so sore that the bloud came out at the nayles then they hanged his violl about his necke and then he was brought before Iuoryn who sayd to him A thou false traitour ill hast thou remembred the goodnesse that my brother Gaudise hath done to thee when he that slew him thou hast brought into my Court thereby to do me despight But I shall neither eate nor drinke till thou hast thy desert and that is to bee hanged Alas quoth Mouflet neuer in all my life haue I done or thought any treason nor knew not that that I brought to your Court him that slew your brother the Admiral Gaudys who was my Lord and Master therefore Sir great sinne it were for you to put me to death for that I am not guiltie of Thou lyest false traitour quoth Iuoryn and so commaunded a thirtie men to leade him to the gallowes and when they were come thither they caused the minstrell to mount vp on the ladder The Frenchmē in the
therewith by feare of the Tempest the Shippe came into the Hauen and caste their anchors Then Huon approached to the Ship and demaunded for the Patron and for the maister of them that were in the ship then the Marriners regarded the place whereas they were and they knew plainly by the great Tower that they were in the Port of Anfalerne whereof they had great feare and sayd one to another Ah good Lord God helpe vs for we sée well wee are but dead séeing wee bée arriued héere in this Port for wée knowe well that the Lord of this place is the most cruellest Paynim betwéen this and the red Sea Thus they complayned them one to another and Huon who was néere them vnderstood them well and sayd Sirs haue yée no doubt of death for yée are arriued at a good Port I require you to shew me from whence you come and what yée bée and they answeared sayd Sir séeing you can speake French we shall shew you so that you will assure our liues Sirs quoth Huon haue no feare of death nor of any hurt that yée shall haue for wee that haue this place in kéeping are French-men therefore shew vs hardly your entents Sir quoth they since you would know what wée bee wée are all borne in the Countrey of Fraunce and one of vs is of Saint Omers and some of the Citie of Paris and of diuers other parts of the Realme of Fraunce Fréends quoth Huon I pray you shew me if there be any among you borne in the Citie of Bourdeaux Sir quoth one of them heere is one in this ship that was borne in Bourdeaux an ould ancient man I thinke he be of an hundred yeares of age his name is Guyer and wee are going on pilgrimage for the loue of our Lord Iesus Christ to visit the holy Sepulchre but fortune by force of Tempest of the Sea hath caused vs to arriue héere and this Tempest hath endured these thrée dayes and thrée nights passed whereby wee be so wearie and so sore trauailed that wée can doe no more Fréend quoth Huon I pray you shew him foorth that you speake of Then the Patron of the Ship commaunded that the old man of Bourdeaux should come forth then Guyer the Prouost came to Huon and sayd Sir behold me héere what pleaseth it you to say vnto mée When Huon saw him he knew incontinent that it was Guyer the Prouost and sayd Fréend I require you shew mee where you were borne and what hath mooued you to come hether séeing the great age that you be of and to shew me what is your name Sir quoth he I shall shew you the truth I had a Lord whome I loued entirely hee was Sonne to Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux and hee was called Huon and it fell so out that after the death of his Father about a Seauen yeares King Charlemaine sent for him to doe his homage to receiue his Land of him the young man by the commaundement of his Mother he and his brother Gerard with him tooke their way towards Paris and by the way King Charlemaines Sonne called Charlot was lying in a wood by the counsaile of certaine Traytours and there lay in a waight to haue slaine Huon and his Brother Gerard but the case fell otherwise for Huon slew Charlot not knowing who it was wherefore Kinge Charlemaine banished him out of the Realm of Fraunce and charged him ere he returned to goe to Babilon to do a Messuage to the Admi Gaudise But his Brother Gerard aboad still at Bourdeaux to kéepe the heritage and then the Duchesse his Mother was so full of sorrowe that her Sonne was so banished without cause that shee tooke thereof such a maladie that shee dyed thereof about fiue yeares past and so thereby Gerard is Lord and Gouernour of all the Lands and hee is married to the daughter of the most cruellest Tirant from thence into Spaine and this Gerard hath learned of him many ill customes and hath left all the good wayes that was vsed in the dayes of Duke Seuin and of the Duchesse his Mother and hee hath raysed vp in all his Landes new Tayles and Gables and Impositions and chaced and put from him all noble men hee destroyeth the Burgesses and Marchants Widdowes Orphelings there can no man shew you the ill that hée hath done and doth dayly and he hath disenherited me And on a day the Barons of the Countrey desired me that I would take the paines to goe and search aswell by land as by water if I might finde the young Lord Huon who is our rightfull Lord it is now about two yeares that I haue searched for him in diuers Countreys but I coulde neuer heare one word of him whereof I am right sorrowfull to séeke him I haue spent all my gould and siluer howbeit these good Marchants haue taken me into their Ship and for the loue of God they thought to haue brought me into Fraunce but by fortune we be héere arriued at this Port. Chap. LXI ¶ Howe Huon and Gerames and all their companie with the faire Escleremond departed from the Castle of Anfalerne and sayled thence on the Sea WHen Huon vnderstood the Prouost Guyer he said vnto Gerames Sir come foorth héere I haue found your Brother Then Gerames came to his Brother and embraced and kissed him all wéping and said My deare fréend and Brother you be right heartily welcome Ah Brother quoth Guyer nowe I care not whether I liue or die séeing I haue found you and if it were so that yet once ere I dyed I might sée my Lord Huon then I cared not howe soone I dyed Ah deare Brother quoth Gerames you shall not die so soone and yet you shall sée Huon whose presence you so sore desire it is Huon to whome you haue spoken all this season Then Huon sore wéeping came and embraced Guyer and said My deare Fréend your comming is a ioy to my heart for a more truer Knight cannot bee found Sir quoth Guyer doe you know mée Yea truely quoth Huon and do you know mée Yea Sir quoth Guyer you are greatly desired in Fraunce and Brother Gerames I desire you to shew me where you haue béen since I sawe you for it is about Fortie yeares since you departed out of Fraunce then Gerames shewed him all his life and shewed at length how he found Huon Longe they were talking together whereof they of the Ship were right ioyfull for then they sawe well they were arriued at a good Port and then Huon said to the Marriners Sirs I pray you make this night no great noyse nor make no fire nor shewe no light for héere before the castle is lodged two Admirals Paynims who haue swoorne that they will neuer goe hence vntill they haue vs at their pleasure therefore I counsaile that wee may escape out of this castle wée bée hére about thurteene persons and with vs a noble Ladie wherefore I require you let vs come into your
men send them to Bourdeaux and let them take Huon out of prison and bring him to you and heare what hee himselfe will say and if it be true that Gerard hath sayd then I desire you to haue no pittie on him but I beléeue surely yee shall finde the matter otherwise then Gerard his brother hath sayd Naymes quoth the king your saying is reasonable I accord thereto I will he be sent for Chap. LXXI ¶ How the Emperor Charlemain went himselfe to Bourdeaux to cause Huon to bee slaine for the great ill will that he bare to him YE haue heard before how the good Duke Naymes did so much that King Charlemain was content to send for Huon but the king was sore displeased with him that hée would not abide so long as to send for him but he made himself readie to go thether in person with all his traine and commanded that the pledges should be set in prison till his returne but the good Duke Naymes became pledge for them all to bée forth comming and so they went not to prison The King made him readie and tooke with him twelue of his Péeres and so tooke their way towards Bourdeaux God aide Huon for hee was now in perill of his life if God had not pitie on him Thus as I haue shewed you King Charlemaine nobly accompanied rode so long by his iourneyes that hee came within the sight of Bourdeaux and when he approched neere to the Citie Gerard came to the king and said Sir if it please you I would gladly ride before you into the Citie to ordain to receiue you accordingly Gerard quoth the King it is no néede that you goe before to prepare for my comming there be other that shall goe before you shall not goe till I goe my selfe When Duke Naymes heard the kings answere hee said to the king Sir you haue answered like a noble Prince blessed be he that counselled you so to say thus the king rode forth without giuing any knowledge of his comming and so entered into the Citie of Bourdeaux and rode to the Pallaice and there alighted Then dinner was made readie the King sate down and Duke Naymes by him and at other bordes other Lords and knights and there they were richly serued great brute was made in the Pallaice so that Huon being in prison had great maruel of the noyse that he heard and demaunded of the Gailer what noyse it was that hee heard aboue in the Pallaice the Gayler answered with great pride and despight and sayd It néedes not you to demaund for you are like to know it too soone but since you would know it I shall shew you the truth it is king Charlemaine and all his Barons who are come hether to iudge you to be hanged Goe thy way false traitour quoth Huon canst thou not shew to me none other tydings but that thus Huon answered the Gayler and there was as great brute in the Citie as in the Pallaice with lodging of the kings men The Commons and Burgesses of the Citie of Bourdeaux had full great maruaile why the king came thether at that time so sodainely and the king sitting at the table made good â—heere but Duke Naymes who sate by him began to wéepe and could neither eate nor drinke he rose vp then sodainely so â—udely that hee ouerthrew cuppes and dishes vpon the table Naymes quoth the King you haue done ill thus to doe Sir quoth Duke Naymes I haue good cause thus to doe and I haue wondrous great maruaile that I sée you so doted I am in such sorrow thereby that I am néere hand out of my wits how is it that you be come into the Citie of Bourdeaux for to eate and to drinke and to take your ease you néede not to haue gone out of France for that for you had meate and also good wines sufficient at home in your owne house Ah right Noble and worthie Emperour what meane you to do it is no small matter to iudge to death one of your twelue Peeres it is not possible to giue any true iudgement when you and we are full of wine and spices But Sir sayd the Duke by the Lord that mee fourmed that whosoeuer this day doth eate or drinke wine as long as the life is in my bodie I shall neuer loue him Naymes quoth the King I am content with your will Then the King commanded that the table should be auoyded commanded incontinent Huon to be taken out of prison and brought before him they that had commission to doe it went to the prison and there they tooke out Huon and his wife Escleremond and old Gerames and they were all three brought before the King and his Barons Huon sawe where King Charlemaine sate among all his Lordes and they all arose when they saw Huon and his companie so pale and ill coloured by reason of the noysome prison that his brother had put them in and Escleremond and old Gerames were greatly regarded and when the Pledges sawe Huon before the King they said Sir now yée may sée Huon for whom we be pledges wee trust now to be quit and discharged it lyeth now in you to doe with him at your pleasure Sirs quoth the King I hold you quit you may go from hence forth where you please for Huon cannot now scape our handes then Huon kneeled downe before the King right humblie and when Duke Naymes saw him the drops fell from his eyes and sayd to the king Sir I require you giue Huon audience and heare what hee will say I am content quoth the King let him say what hee will then Huon kneeling on his knées sayd Sir in the honour of our Lord Iesus Christ I first crie mercie to God and to you and to all your Barons I complaine me of that false traitour that I sée there who was my brother if there had béene any faith or troth in him but I beleeue in all the world cannot be found so cruell and false a Traytour for Cayne that slew Abell his brother was neuer so false nor so cruell When all the Lords heard Huon they al beganne to weepe saying each to others Ah good Lord where is the beautie become that was woont to be in Huon we haue séene him so faire that no one could passe him in beautie and now wee sée him pale and leane and ill coloured it appeareth well he hath not béene alwayes in the Ladies Chambers nor among damsels to sport and to play with him Thus they deuised of him and tooke no heede of Gerard who was by them Then Huon spake againe and sayd to the King Sir true it is the message that you gaue me in charge to doe vnto the Admirall Gaudys I haue doone to the verie vttermost as you haue commaunded vnto mee and I haue passed the Sea and came vnto Babilone to the Admirall Gaudys there I required of him in the presence of all his Lords to haue his beard
towne bound hands and féete and then set vs in a déepe prison and so hath kept vs hetherto with bread and water and so hath taken from vs all the riches that wee brought with vs and Sir if hee be so hardie to say the contrarie that it is not true that I haue sayd let him and Gybouars like traytours as they be arme themselues and I shall fight against them both and if I can conquere them both whereof I haue no doubt with the aide of our Lord God then let them haue as they haue deserued and if I cannot ouercome them nor make them to shew the truth I will that then incontinent you cause me to be drawne and hanged By my faith quoth Duke Naymes Sir Huon can say nor offer no more for hee offereth to proue the contrarie of that Gerard hath saide Sir quoth Gerard my brother sayth at his pleasure because hee knoweth well that I will not striue against him because he is mine elder brother let the king doe as it shall please him as for me I neuer consented to doe so cruell a deede as hee layeth to my charge Ah good Lord quoth Duke Naymes how the false Traitour can cloke and couer his ilnesse Huon quoth Charlemain I cannot tel what you haue done but I will you shew mee the beard and â—oure great teeth of the Admirall Gaudis Sir quoth Huon I crie you mercie I haue shewed you how they be taken from me by the false traytour my Brother Gerard. Huon quoth the Kinge yée know well at your departure out of Fraunce I charged you vppon paine of your life that iâ— by aduenture you returned againe into France that you should not bée so hardy as to enter into this Citie of Bourdeaux vntill you had spoken with mee first and to keepe mee promise you deliuered to mee Hostages the which I haue quit séeing I haue you in my handes it lyeth now in mée either to hange you or to draw you or to giue vnto you any other iudgment for at your departure you were agréed that I should so doe and by the faith that I owe vnto Saint Denis before it bee night I shall cause thée to bee hanged and drawne and that shall I not let so to doe for any man liuing for nowe I take you in your owne house Sir quoth Huon God forbid that a Kinge of Fraunce should doe so great a crueltie My Lord I crie you mercie for Gods sake doe not to mee so great an out-rage for you may knowe right well that perforce I was brought hether and therefore great King I require you let mee haue rightfull and true iudgement By my faith Huon quoth Duke Naymes it is but a small request that you make for your right is so cleare that if reason may be shewed to you there is no man can say the contrarie but that your Lands ought to bee rendred vnto you franke and frée and your Brother Gerard to bee hanged and strangled Then the Duke said to the King My Lord I require you haue pitie of Huon and doe nothing to him but right and you shall doe great sinne without you doe him right Naymes quoth the King you know well it is in mée to cause Huon to die but séeing that he is one of my Péeres I will order him by iudgement When the Lordes and other Knightes heard the King say so they were right ioyfull for then they beleeued that the King would haue pitie of Huon but whosoeuer was ioyfull yet Duke Naymes was not content and sayde to the King My Lord by that I sée and heare you beare Huon but small â—oâ—e seeing that you will put him to iudgement considering his deedes and sayings to be true and namely whereas hee â—ffereth to prooue it by the holy Father the Pope then Huon with-drew backe and leaned him to a piller there by Then the Kinge called vnto him all his Peeres and Lordes and 〈◊〉 Sirs I require you by the faith and truth and homage that you beare vnto mée that for me nor for mine amitie that you ayd not Huon against mée nor lay nor doe no falsehood but the most rightfull iudgement that you can make doe I charge you giue true iudgement without any fauour or partialitie When the Lords heard the King say so vnto them and that he coniured them so sore to doe right and iustice well they perceiued that the King had great hate vnto Huon and that the death of his Sonne Charlot was not forgotten out of his mind Then they all together drew apart into a Chamber right pensiue and mourning and they sat downe on benches and beheld each other without speaking of any word a long space When Duke Naymes saw that hée arose vppon his féet and sayd Sirs yée haue heard how the King hath charged vs to say the troth wée may perceiue well by him that hee beareth great hate vnto Huon who is one of our Companions and therefore Sirs I require you that euerie man by himselfe will say his aduise as hée thinketh Chap. LXXII ¶ How the Twelue Peeres drew to counsaile to giue sentence vppon Huon either with him or against him THen there rose vp a knight called Gaulter hée was yssued of the lineage of Ganelon who was one of the Péeres of Fraunce then hée sayd Sirs as for mée I say séeing the case as it is that Huon by right iudgement ought to bee hanged and drawne for as yée know well the King hath founde him in the Citie of Bourdeaux therefore I say that the King may without doing any sinne put him to death and Sirs if yee thinke that I haue sayde good reason agrée yée then to the same and let Gerard his Brother be Lord and Maister of all the Landes and Signiories that should appertaine vnto Huon I consent and will as much as toucheth my part that Gerard be one of the Péeres of Fraunce in the place of Huon his Brother and when Gaulter had ended his reason Henry of Saint Omers spake and sayd Sir Gaulter goe and sit downe your wordes can beare none effect for they bée of no valure But Sirs quoth hée shortly to speake and righteously to iudge I say that it is reason that Huon be restored to all his Landes for his déede is well prooued and by good witnesse as our holy Father the Pope for wee may beléeue surely that Gerard his Brother that thus hath betrayed him hath done it by false couetousnesse therefore I say and iudge that Gerard bee drawne at horse tayles and then hanged vntill hée be dead Then hée sayd no more but sat downe againe When Henry of Saint Omers had sayd his reason that Earle of Flaunders arose vp and said to Henry All that you haue sayd I will not consent thereto but I shall shewe you mine aduise what ought to bée done Sirs yée all knowe well the world the which as nowe is little woorth for nowe adayes cannot be found such true Fréends as
led them before Charlemaine without any woord speaking and caused them to sit downe with him at his own table that he had wished thither then he tooke his cup and made thereon thrée crosses then incontinent the cup was ful of wine then King Oberon tooke it gaue it to Escleremond to drinke and then to Huon and so to Gerames and when they had all three dranke well he said to Huon Friend arise vp and take the cuppe and beare it to King Charlemaine and say vnto him that he drinke to you in the name of peace if hee refuse it hee did neuer such a follie in all his life King Charlemaine who sate néere to them at his owne table hearing king Oberons words wist not what to thinke and so sate still and durst not speake one word for the great maruailes that he saw there and no more durst none of his men for they were so abashed that there was none there but that gladly would haue béene a hundred leagues thence But whosoeuer was afrayde Gerard was not verie well pleased Then Huon rose from Oberons table and tooke the cuppe and went therewith to king Charlemaine and deliuered it to him The king tooke it durst not refuse it as soone as it was in his hands it was drie voyde not a drop of wine therin Fellow quoth the King you haue inchaunted me Sir quoth Oberon it is because you are full of sin for the cup is of such dignitie that none can drinke thereof without he be a noble man and cleane without deadly sinne and I know one that ye did not long agoe the which as yet you were neuer confessed of and if it were not to your shame I should shew it héere openly that euery man should heare it When the Emperour Charlemaine heard King Oberon hee was abashed and afraid that King Oberon would haue shamed him openly then Huon tooke againe the cuppe and then incontinent it was full of wine againe and then Huon bare it to Duke Naymes who sate next to Charlemaine Naymes tooke the cup and dranke thereof at his pleasure but all the other could not touch the cup they were so full of sinne Then Huon returned to king Oberon and sate downe by him then Oberon called to him Duke Naymes and commanded him to rise from Charlemaines table and to sit downe by him at his table the which Duke Naymes did for hee durst not say nay Then Oberon sayd to him Sir Duke Naymes right good thanks I giue you in that you haue béene so true and iust to Huon and thou King Charlemaine that art Emperour of the Romaines behold here Huon whom wrongfully and without cause you haue disenherite and would take from him all his lands hee is a Noble man and true and besides that I say vnto you for truth hee hath done your message vnto the Admirall Gaudys and I ayded to bring him to his death and then hée tooke out of his mouth foure of his greatest téeth and also did cutte off his white beard and I did â—lose them within the side of Gerames by the will of God this that I haue sayd you may bee surely beléeue for at all these déedes I was present Sée yonder false Traitour Gerard who by his malicious intent hath done this treason and to the ende that you may know the matter more surely you shall heare it confessed by his owne mouth Then Oberon sayd to Gerard I coniure thée by the diuine puissance and power that God hath giuen mee that héere before King Charlemaine and all his Lords thou shew and declare the troth of this treason which thou hast done against Huon thy Brother When Gerard vnderstoode Oberon hee was in such feare that hée trembled for dread for hée felt in himselfe that hee coulde haue no power to hide the troth of the treason then he sayd Sir I sée well to hide the troth cannot auaile mée therefore true it is I went to the Abbey of Saint Maurise to sée my Brother Huon and Gybouars accompanied with Fortie men at armes wee departed from this Citie and layde our ambushment in a little wood about twoo Leagues from this Citie to watch when my Brother Huon should passe by that way Gerard quoth King Oberon speake out hyer that you may the better be heard and that euerie man may heare the treason falsenesse that you haue done vnto your Brother Sir quoth Gerard I wote not what to say for I haue done so ill and falsely against my Brother that more ill I could not doe and I am ashamed to recount it But to say truely that before it was midnight I made my Brother to rise and to depart from the Abbey and when wee came néere the place where as my Father in law Gibouars was with his ambushment I began to striue with my brother so highly that Gibouars might heare mee who when he heard me speake he brake forth of his ambushment and ranne at my brothers companie and so slew them all except these three that be here then we tooke the dead bodies and did cast them into the Riuer of Gerone then wee tooke Huon and his wife and the old Gerames and bound their handes and féete and blindfolded their eyes and so brought them on thrée leane horses into the Citie and I tooke out of the side of old Gerames the beard and foure great téeth the which if it please you I shall fetch from the place where I left them Gerard quoth Oberon you shall not neede to take that labour for when it shall please me I can haue them without you Well Sir quoth Gerard thus when I had set them in prison I went backe againe to the Abbey and then I demaunded of the Abbot and Couent where the treasure was that my Brother had left there and that hée should deliuer it to me bearing him in hand that my Brother Huon had sent for it The good Abbot would not deliuer it to me wherefore Gybouars and I slew him then wée made this Monke héere the Abbot who is néere of kinne to Gybouars to the entent that he should ayd to beare vs witnesse and to iustifie our sayings Then we tooke all the treasure that was there and brought it hether then I charged Tenne Somers the which I had with me to King Charlemaines Court at Paris the which treasure I gaue part thereof to the King and to other by whom I thought to be aided to performe mine vnhappie Enterprize and I beléeued surely that by reason of the riches that I gaue that my Brother should haue receiued death and thereby I to haue béene Lord and Maister of all his Landes and Signiories and all this treason that I haue shewed Gybouars caused me to doe it or else I had neuer thought to haue done it Gerard quoth King Oberon if it please our Lord Iesus Christ you and he both shal be hanged by the necks there is no man liuing shall saue you
Sir Emperour Charlemaine you haue well heard the confession of Gerard of the great treason that Gybouars and he haue done vnto Huon but by the Lord that fourmed me to his semblance both they two and the Abbot and his Chaplaine shall bée hanged for their false witnesse By the faith that I owe to Saint Denis quoth King Charlemaine they cannot escape it Sir quoth Duke Naymes it is great sinne to trouble a noble man you shall doe well if all foure be hanged When all the Lordes heard Gerard confesse that great treason that hée had done vnto his Brother they blessed them and had great maruaile of the false treason that the one Brother did to the other Chap. LXXV ¶ How King Oberon caused to be hanged the foure Traytours Gerard Gybouars and the two Monkes for their false witnesse and of the peace made betweene Huon and Charlemaine And how King Oberon gaue vnto Huon his Realme of the Fayrie WHEN King Oberon had heard Gerard confesse the treason done to his Brother and heard howe Gerard had offered to goe and fetch the beard great téeth and how he had denied him to goe then he sayd I wish them here vpon this Table he had no sooner made his wish but they were set on the Table whereof all such as were there hadde great maruaile Sir quoth Huon to King Oberon humbly I require you that of your grace you will pardon my Brother Gerard all the ill that he hath done against me for he did it by Gybouars and as for me héere and before God I pardon him and Sir if you will doe thus I shal be content therewith And to th entent that we may vse our liues from henceforth in good peace and loue I will giue him the halfe part of my Lands Signiories and Sir in the honour of our Lord Iesus Christ haue pity of him When the Lords that were there present vnderstood Huon they all for pity began to wéepe sayd among themselues that Huon was a noble knight and that it had béen pity if the matter had framed otherwise Sir Huon quoth Oberon it is not necessarie to request this for all the gold that is in the world shall not respit their deaths I wish by the puissance that I haue in the Fayrie that here beneath in the meadow there be a paire of Gallows and all iiij thereon hanged Incontinent it was don all iiij hanged thus as ye haue hard the traitors were paid their deserts When king Charlemaine had séene the great maruailes that were done by king Oberon he sayd to his Lords Sirs I beléeue this man be some God himselfe for there is no mortall man can doe this that he hath done When Oberon vnderstood the Emperour he sayd Sir know for truth I am no God but I am a mortall man as you be and was engendred on a woman as you were and my father was Iulius Cesar who engendred me on the Ladie of the Secret Isle who had béene before louer to Florymont sonne to the Duke of Albany she bare me nine moneths in her wombe and I was begotten by Iulius Cesar when he went into Thessaly after Pompey the Great he was amorous of my mother because she prophesied that my Father Iulius Cesar should winne the battaile as he did and when I was borne there were with my mother many Ladies of the Fairye and by them I had many gifts and among other there was one that gaue mee the gift to be such a one as you sée I am whereof I am sory but I cannot be none otherwise for when I came to the age of thrée yéeres I grew no more and when this Ladie sawe that I was so little to content againe my mother shee gaue me againe that I should be the fairest creature of the world and other Ladyes of the Fairie gaue me diuers other gifts the which I ouerpasse at this time and therefore Sir know for truth that aboue all things God loueth faith and troth when it is in men as it is here in Huon and because I know for certaine that he is true and faithfull therefore I haue alwaies loued him After that king Oberon had ended his words and shewed the Emperour Charlemaine of all his estate he called Huon and sayd Sir arise vp and take the beard and the téeth and beare them to king Charlemaine and desire him to render you your landes as he promised Sir quoth Huon I ought so to doe then Huon came to King Charlemaine and sayd Sir by your grace and if it may please you receiue here the beard and téeth of the Admirall Gaudis Huon quoth the King I hold you quit and I render to you all your lands and signiories and pardon you of all mine ill will and put all rancour from mée and from hencefoorth I retaine you as one of my Péeres Sir quoth Huon of this I thanke God and your grace Then the Emperour Charlemaine clipped and kissed Huon in token of peace and loue When the Lords saw that they wept for ioy and thanked God that the peace was made and especially Duke Naymes was ioyfull then within a while diuers of the Lords departed from the Court Then king Oberon called Huon vnto him and sayd Sir I commaund you as dearely as you loue mée that this same day foure yeare to come that you come into my Citie of Momur for I will giue you my Realme and all my dignitie the which I may lawfully do for at my birth it was giuen me that I might so doe for it lyeth in mée to giue it whereas I thinke best and bicause I loue you so entirely I shall set the crowne vpon your head and you shal be King of my Realme And also I will that you giue vnto Gerames all your Landes and Signiories in these parts for he hath well deserued it for with you and for your loue hee hath suffered many great trauailes Sir quoth Huon séeing this is your pleasure I ought well to be pleased therewith and I shall accomplish all your commandements Huon quoth Oberon know for troth I shall not abide longe in this world for so is the pleasure of god it be houeth me to go into paradice where as my place is appointed in the fayrie I shall bide no longer but beware as dearly as you loue your life that yée faile not to be with me at the daie that I haue appointed beware that yée forget it not for if yee faile I shall cause you to die an ill death and therefore remember it well When Huon heard king Oberon he was right ioyfull and stooped downe to haue kissed his féet but then Gloriant and Mallaborn tooke him vp Then said Huon Sir for this great guift I thanke you Chap. LXXVI ¶ How King Oberon departed and tooke leaue o f king Charlemaine and of Huon and Escleremond and also how king Charlemaine departed from Bourdeaux WHen king Oberon had imparted to Huon as much as he
to tremble and when I come there I will tarrie till I bee whole Sir quoth his Lords your commandement shal be done then they layde the Emperour in a litter sore complayning the losse and death of his nephewes and Lordes that were slaine and his legge gréeued him sore Then Huon sayd to Gerames Sir thanked be God we haue vanquished the Emperour and slaine many of his men therefore it is good that we returne now to Bourdeaux I haue great desire to sée my wife Escleremond who thinking long for my comming I am sure shee is sorrowfull that I haue tarried so long Sir quoth Gerames if ye haue great desire to returne so haue al other of your seruants they would gladly see their wiues and children and some would sée their louers Chap. LXXXV ¶ How Huon graunted the truce to the Emperour and howe the Prouost of Coleyne came and assayled Huon not knowing of any peace taken WHen Huon vnderstood the old Gerames he had great ioy then he sounded the Trumpets with such brute that maruaile it was to heare and commanded euery man to set forward towards Bourdeaux Then he beheld on his right hand and saw them of Coleyne comming in a great number they were well néere twentie thousand Burgesses and other they came with banners displayde readie to fight When Huon saw them he had great maruaile from whence they should come so hastily Then he sayd to his men Sirs I perceiue cléerely we be betrayed for if I had pleased the Emperour nor his men could not haue escaped he hath falsely betrayed me since vnder the colour of truce they come to set newly vpon me Thus Huon sayd by the Emperour without cause for hée knew nothing thereof nor that any succour should haue come to him Sirs quoth Huon let vs rest here and tarrie till they come néerer to vs then let vs set on them with such haste that they shall not know what to doe Sir quoth his men haue no doubt wee shall not faile you for feare of any death we trust to slay so many that the earth shall bee couered with the dead bodies of your enemies Huon ordered his battaile and the Prouost of Coleyne comforted his men saying Sirs our Emperour is discomfited by Huon and his companie who be yonder abiding before vs they thinke to depart in sauegard but they haue no power to doe so for the most part of them are sore hurt and their horses sore trauailed wherefore they shall the sooner be discomfited Then the Prouost and his men ranne quickly vpon Huon and his men there beganne a fierce battaile wherein many a most valiaunt man lay on the earth dead and at the verie first brunt there were so many slaine that the whole fielde was couered with dead and maimed men some were ouerthrowne without any hurt at all and yet they could neuer rise because of the great prease of the horses that did runne ouer them Huon who was very full of ire because hee had thought that vnder the colour of truce he was assayled he ranne fiercely at a knight who had doone verie great hurt among his men it was he that went to Coleyne for that succour and Huon strake him cleane through the body with his Speare so that he fell downe dead to the earth Then Huon cryed his crie to call his men together hée layd on the right side and on the left so that hee did cutte of armes and legges and raced their helmets from their heades he séemed rather a man of the Fayrie then a mortall man But he had much to doe for his men who had fought all the day were sore trauayled and wearie howbeit they defended them selues right valiantly and slew so many of the Commons of Coleyn that the bloud ran on the ground in great streames and the Emperour who issued out of the wood in his Lyttour when he came into the field he heard the brute and crie of the Battaile wherewith he was so abashed Then he demaunded what noise it might be Sir quoth a Knight it is the good Prouost of Coleyn who hath brought with him the Commons of the Citie of Coleyn to aid and succour you Sir quoth the Emperour and he shall dearely buy it howbeit I thinke hee knoweth not of the Truce that we haue taken with Huon for if I knew that he was aduertised therof I should cause him to die an il death Goe to him and command him that incontinent he goe to Huon to make amendes for his trespasse and if he will not doe it I charge you incontinently to slay him When the Emperour had giuen his commaundement to one of his knights he rode as fast as he might to the Prouost who was right sorrowfull for that he had lost foure thousand of his Commons the knight was slain that came to him Then the Emperours knight sayd Sir Prouost ye haue doone right ill séeing ye haue broken the truce that was made betwéene him and Huon if the Emperour may gette you yée shall neuer sée fayre day more without incontinent ye goe to Huon and deale so with him that he be content so that no reproch be layd to the Emperor When the Prouost and his companie heard the Emperors commandement they were sore abashed reculed back And the Prouest who was in great feare for that hee had done and desiring to accomplish the Emperours commandement strake his horse with his spurres and rested not till he hrd found Duke Huon Then he lighted a foote and tooke his sword and sayd Ah right noble and vertuous Prince I desire thée in the honour of Iesus Christ haue pitie on me and pardon me the iniurie that I haue done against you the which I haue done without the knowledge or licence of the Emperour who will cause mee to die a shamefull death without yee pardon mee for all I knew not of the truce betwéene you and the Emperour for I thought he had beene dead Sir that which I haue done was to the intent to rescue my rightfull Lord and thereby I haue lost this day more then foure thousand Burgesses and commons of the Citie of Coleyn and the most part of my best friends and therfore Sir I pray you haue pittie on me else the Emperour will slay mee or sette me in perpetuall pryson Chap. LXXXVI ¶ How Huon arriued at Bourdeaux and of the counsell of the fayre Escleremond his wife the which he would not beleeue nor follow WHen Huon vnderstood the Prouost he had great pitie and though that he ought in reason to pardon him séeing that that hee had done was in a iust cause and that hee was not aduertised of the truce taken betweene the Emperour and him Then Huon approched to the Prouost and sayd Friends arise vp I pardon you this trespasse that you haue done for your Lord and it is but reasonable since ye knew nothing of the truce ye haue done as a true subiect ought to doe to his Lord and
and when the Emperor was within a League then there met with him the old Sauarie his Brother who was Father to Duke Raoul slaine by Huon when these two brethren met together there was great ioy made betwéene them But then Duke Sauary beganne to wéepe and sayd to his brother the Emperour Sir of your comming I am right ioyfull But when the pitious death of my deare beloued sonne your nephew Raoull commeth to my minde there is no member of me but for dolour and displeasure trembleth nor I can neuer haue perfect ioye at my heart as long as he that hath done mee this displeasure liueth This Duke Sauary was a noble man but betwéene him and his sonne Raoull was great difference for the Duke Raoull was the vntruest Traitor that euer liued the which wickednes procéeded by the Duchesse his mother who was daughter to Hurdowin of Fraunce the most vntruest and falsest Traytour that as then liued in the world When the Emperour heard his brother speake the teares fell from his eyes and he embraced him sayd My right deare brother your dolour much displeaseth mee for your dolour is mine and thereof I will haue a part and if ye haue much ioy my part shall likewise be therein But it is not possible for vs to haue him againe for whom we make this sorrow God ayde Huon now froÌ„ his enemies for they greatly desire his death yet oftentimes they that desire another mans death auaunceth their own Thus as you haue heard the Emperour and Duke Sauary entred into the Citie of Coleyne whereas they were receiued with great ioy and so rode to the Pallayce and there they supped I will make no long rehearsall of the good chéere that they made there Then after Supper they went to their rest and the next morning rose and heard seruice and tooke a sop in wine then departed out of Coleyne It was a goodly hoast to behold they and their carriage and their artillerie reached foure leagues of length Thus they all had sworne the death of Huon they passed by high Borgoyn and by Dolphinne and so passed the riuer of Roan and so into the countrey of Bourdeaux Now I will leaue speaking of them till another season Chap. LXXXIX ¶ How the Emperour Tirrey of Almaine besieged the Citie of Bourdeaux and how Huon made him readie to fight with his enemies THus you haue heard heere before the deuises that the Duchesse Escleremond had made to her husband Huon who as soone as she was churched Huon sent his commaundement through all his countrie euery man to be readie in armes and to come to Bourdeaux because he was aduertised of the comming of his enâ—mies The messengers made such diligence that within fifteene dayes after euerie man was come to Bourdeaux and there Duke Huon receiued them with great ioy Then he repayred the Citie and the towres and walles and it was well furnished with victuals and artillerie as in such a case it well appertained for at that time the Citie of Bourdeaux was not so strong as it is now when Duke Huon saw the Citie so well garnished with men and victuales he was right ioyfull and then he called to him the old Gerames and sayd my right deere friend ye see wel this warre that is apparent betweene the Emperour and mee and now we be wel aduertised of his comming who is ready to come with all his 〈◊〉 to besiege this our Citie and therefore my heartie deere friend who hath ayded me in so many businesses I pray you counsell and ayde me now for in all the conduct of my warre I will that ye haue the charge and that you will comfort my men well so that of vs there be no euill report maâ—e and that our enemies haue no cause to prayse the warre that they haue against vs nor that when they bee returned into their countries that they make not their auaunts among their wenthes and their louers Sir quoth Gerames I thanke you of the honour and great trust that you haue in mee howbeit ye haue many other more sage and hardie then I am to whom this great charge should better appertaine then to me But Syr as for me I shall so acquite me that I trust I shall not be reprehended Thus as you haue heard Huon made his deuises among all his Barons and made all his ordinances for the defence of the Citie and the manner of their issuing and appoynted men for their rescue in reculing And the Emperour was entred into the Countrey of Bourdeaux with a mightie armie burning and destroying the Countrey whereof the poore people were sore abashed because they neuer had war before and thus the Emperour neuer rested wasting and destroying the Countrey till they came before the Cittie of Bourdeaux and there hee pitcht vp his tents and pauillions and the Emperour lay on the way leading to Paris on the other part Duke Sauary father to Raoull was lodged by the Emperours marshalles so that all the Cittie was closed round about Huon who was within the Cittie beheld their countenaunces and manner of their lodging he commaunded that all his men should be readie to issue out vpon their enemies the which they did Then Huon armed himselfe verie richly and mounted vpon his good horse the which was the Emperours and sware that ere he returned again he would shew his enemies what they of Bourdeaux could doe When hee was mounted on his good horse hee came into the Citie and found the old Gerames readie apparelled with all his companie Then he appoynted fiue thousand men to keepe the Citie and twentie thousand men to goe with him Thus Duke Huon made his ordinances Yee may well imagine that the sorrow was great that Escleremond made for the Duke her husband she was right wise she feared to loose him because she knew him so aduenturous and that his enemies were of so great number but right pitiously weeping shee made her prayers to the Lord God deuoutly that hee would keepe and defend Huon her husband and all his men from danger and losse and to send him peace with his enemies Chap. LXXXX ¶ Of the great Battaile that was before Bourdeaux whereas Huon had great losse and the old Gerames taken THus as you haue heard Bourdeaux was besieged by the Emperour of the high Almaynes and by his brother the Duke Sauary with a great number of men Then Huon issued out and when hee was past the port hee made haste to the intent to surprise his enemies for at that time the Emperour was set at dinner Then Huon and his companie all at once dasht in among the tents and Pauillions and beate them down to the earth so that they that were within were much abashed for they thought verily that Huon durst neuer haue issued out of the Citie against him and the great number that hee was of Huon layd on round about him so that who soeuer met with him had no néede of
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
many a noble deed of armes for next Huon aboue all other that day hee bore the price Finally Huon and Othon and his other men did so much that the Almaines were chaced to their Tentes and many slaine in the chace and sore hurt so that they neuer road vppon horse-backe after Sometime it fortuneth that it is folly to venture too much forward and too late to repent afterward I say this for Huon and his company who were gone so much forward that in great dauâ—ger they returned to the Citie for the Almaines who were thirtie Thousand men ready before their Tents when they saw Huon and his men chace their company they set foorth againste Huon and when Huon saw them hee sayd vnto his men Sirs it is good that wee recoile into our Citie for yonder I see comminge 〈◊〉 then thirtie Thousand Almaines as fast as they can so when Huons company saw them they doubted greatly and not without cause for they had beene before at two great skirmishes whereby they and their horses were wearie and sore trauailed the which was no maruaile so by the counsaile of Huon they returned a false gallop toward their Citie and the Almaines were at their backe and chaced them so quickly that more then fiue Hundred Almaines entred into the Citie with them of Bourdeaux But they that kept the gates that day were wise and discreet for as soone as they perceiued that Huon and his company were entred and with them about fiue Hundred of their enemies they woulde keepe their gates no longer open for feare that their enemies should haue entred with too great a number so that for hast they cut asunder the cord that held vp the Portâ—â—lloys the which fell downe by such force that it fell vpon the horse of an Almaine that was vnder it the which horse was cutte cleane assunder so that the man and the fore part of the horse fell within the gate and the hinder part of the horse fell without whereat the Almaines that followed after were sorrowfull and angrie that they had not come thether sooner Then they returned to their Tents complaining for the great losse and damage that they had sustained that day by the high prowesse of Huon and his men and also they that were entred into the Citie were sore abashed when they sawe themselues encloased within the Citie When Huon perceiued it he had great maruaile that they were so entred in among his men for he knew not thereof and yet he himselfe was the laste that entred then hee sayde Ah yee false Traytours yee shall all die an ill death and then he sayd to his men Syrs slay them all then incontinent they alighted and kneeled downe before Huon and required him to haue mercie and pitie of them and to saue their liues and put vs in prison quoth they we be all men of a noble lineage and it may bee so that by vs yee may haue peace with the Emperour Then Gerames sayd vnto Huon Sir I require you to haue pitie of them and put them not to death for so it may bee that by them you may haue peace with the Emperour Freend quoth Huon I am content to doe at your pleasure as you will haue me doe then he commaunded that they should all bée vnarmed and they all made promise vnto Huon not to depart without licence Gerames quoth Huon I will that these Prisoners bee brought vp into the Borough and there parted and set into diuers houses that be sure and let them haue all things necessarie for their liuing then Gerames deliuered them to the keeping of such as hee trusted and so each of them was kept in a courteous Prison Now let vs leaue to speak of Huon and of his Prisoners and returne to the Emperour Chap. LXXXXIII ¶ Howe the Emperour assayled the Citie of Bourdeaux twoo times whereas he lost many of his men AS you haue heard here before how Huon chased his enemies to their tents and how it was time for him to returne to his Citie and how hee was so pursued by the Almaynes that more then fiue hundred of them entred into the Citie and were closed within it and the residue returned to their tents sorrowful and angrie for the great losse that they had So when they were returned the Emperour demaunded what tydings and how they had spedde and if they had not taken Huon quicke or dead Sir quoth a knight it is follie for you to speake thus for Huon is no man so lightly to bee taken for the fiftie men that you sent to haue beene hanged be rescued by Huon and the three thousand men that you sent with them are all slaine and diuers other sore hurt and in perill of death and besides that fiue hundred men of the best of your friendes are entred into Bourdeaux for wee so hastily pursued Huon and his men that entring into the Citie fiue hundred of our men entred into the Citie entermedled with Huons men and there they be inclosed within therfore Sir we aduise and counsell you that you agrée with Huon for if you doe not you shall loose all your men for Huon is so fell and cruell that hee will hange vp your men as ye had thought to haue done his of whom one of them was his cosin you may doe as it pleaseth you When the Emperour heard his Barons what counsell they gaue him he was verie sorowfull and sayd Sirs ye do me great wrong to require me to make any peace with Huon since ye know wel what â—ath and promise I haue made that I will neuer be at peace with him to the intent that ye shall speake no more therof know for troth that if X.M. of my néerest friends were taken by Huon I would rather suffâ—â— them to die a shamefull death then to agree to any peace with Huon till I haue slaine him and his Citie be burnt and destroyed Sir quoth they séeing it is your pleasure yée may do as you thinke best Sirs quoth the Emperour I will that yée assemble all mine hoast and send to my Brother that hée bring all his men then with all our puissance we will assaile the Citie and that none be so hardie as to recule back vntill the Citie be taken this was proclaymed through the Hoast and euery man was readie to assaile the Citie and the cheefe Captaine was Duke Sauary who brought all his men in good order to the dikes well fournished with ladders and other necessarie things pertaining to assault The same time Huon and his men were vnarmed and going to dinner but when he heard the noise and crie without he tooke a sop in wine and armed him all his men and euery man went to the walles to their defence and Huon old Gerames Othon and Barnard a valiant knight mounted on the towre ouer the gate and the Almaines on euery part entred into the dikes and raysed vp many a scaling ladder to the walles
but they within cast them downe so that they had no power to rise vp againe for there was cast downe vpon them earth timber and stones Fierce was the assault that the Almaines made they within made noble defence for Huon and Gerames shot so with their crosbowes thar at euery shoote they slew some man or sore wounded him and long endured this assault so that finally the Almaines were constrained to recule backe a bow shoote whereof they within were very ioyfull Then the Emperour Tirrey being sorrowfull and full of rage came to his men and rebuked them shamefully commaunding them that incontinent they should returne again to assaile the Citie saying that they should not faile to winne it Then the Almaines to please their Lord retourned in great hast with their ladders pikes and came into the dikes whereas then there was no water raysed them vp to the walles but they were no sooner vp but they within beat them downe againe and put them in danger of their liues for they cast downe Timber stones and faggots with fire and hoat oyle and lead vppon them so that the assailants were faine perforce to recoile backe and they within shot arrowes so thicke that it seemed like snowe The Emperour was sore displeased and Duke Sauary when they saw none other remedie many were slaine and sore hurt and the Emperor and Sauary his Brother seeing that they could nothing profite sounded the retrait and so returned to their Tents sore displeased for their great losse that they had for they lost that day more then two Thousand men lyinge dead in the feeld and in the Dikes and more then thrée Thousand sore hurt Then Duke Sauary sayd to the Emperor Sir me thinks it is but folly to assaile this Citie it is strong and well furnished with men and good Knightes to defend it wherefore we may well perceiue that without great damage we cannot winne it without it be by famine for hee that is Lorde thereof is hardy and cruell and to be feared and doubted for he is expert in armes wherefore it is impossible to take the Citie perforce When the Emperour vnderstoode him hee was right sorrowfull and made againe newe promise not to depart thence vntill hee had Huon at his pleasure Huon who little set by the threatnings of the Emperour went into his Pallaice and said to his men Sirs we ought greatly to thanke God for the defence of our Citie many Almains â—ee slaine and hurt I doubt them nothing for our Citie is strong before it be lost it will cost many men their liues I desire you all take good héed that we be not beguiled Sir quoth they we shall take good héed thereof as well for you as for the sauegard of our liues Thus Huon and his men deuised together howbeit they were sore greeued for at the beginning they were about twentie Thousand men then they were not aboue six Thousand Now let vs leaue speaking of them and speake of the Emperour who was right sorrowfull for his losse Chap. LXXXXIIII ¶ How Huon sent Habourey his Messenger to the Emperour to require peace and of his answeare WHen the Emperor hadde heard Duke Sauary his Brother speake he made a solemne oath that whatsoeuer fortune should fall hee would not depart thence Winter nor Summer till hee had wonne the Citie and then he sent for his Réerband as farre as his Empire stretched commaunding euerie man to come to him all excuses layd apart and so they did Now of their comming by the way I make no mention but so long they trauailed that they came within a League of Bourdeaux and when the Emperour knew thereof he had great ioy and mounted on his horse with other Lords with him and road met them and spake to them and made them good cheere Thus his force encreased Huons diminished daily often times Huon issued out vpon his horse called Amphage made daily many great Skirmishes sometime hée wan and sometime hee lost he slew many Almaines so that they all feared him for there was none that durst abide him his horse was so cruell that none durst approach néere him without he were slaine Huons men quit them valiantly so that if they lost at one time they wan iij. times for it but their force could not long endure for their enemies were so many they so few they had made so many issues that they had lost many of their company for of xx M. they were left but v. C. men wherof Huon was sorowfull Now when he saw that he had but v. C. men he called to him Gerames Othon Barnard Richard saying Sirs I see that euery day we diminish wherfore we cannot long endure against the Emperors force therefore I thinke that it were good that wee sent to the Emperor to know if he wil heare speaking of any peace Sir quoth they wee thinke your aduise right good and it were good to knowe if hee will agrée thereto or not Then Huon called Habourey his Messenger and commaunded him that incontinent he should goe to the Emperour and say vnto him that if it bee his pleasure to heare speaking of any peace I shall quoth he condescend therto and to make him amends at his pleasure for the wronge and damage that I haue done vnto him and his men Also shew him how that I will become his man and doe him homage for all the Landes that I haue the which I was woont to hould of the King of Fraunce but séeing I haue no succour from him I am driuen perforce to purchase for my profit in some other place And besides that shewe him that the fiue Hundred Prisoners that I haue of his men I shall deliuer them quit without any raunsome paying and also when Lent commeth I and a Hundred knightes with me at my cost charges shall passe the Sea and goe to the holy Sepulchre to pray for the Soules of his Nephews that I haue slaine and for all other that haue been slaine by occasion of this warre Sir quoth the Messenger I am readie to fulfill your commaundement whatsoeuer fall thereof and so hee departed went to the Emperours Hoast entred into the riche Tent and then hee kneeled downe before the Emperour and sayd The almightie God who on the Crosse dyed to saue all humane kinde kéepe and defend from all ill the Emperour all his Barony Sir Duke Huon of Bourdeaux sendeth to you salutation and good amitie requiring you in the honour of god that he may haue peace with you by that hee will become your liege-man and doe you homage and hould his Landes of you and will deliuer quite the fiue Hundred men of yours that he hath in prison in the Citie and moreouer hee offereth himselfe and a Hundred Knights to passe the Sea this next Lent and to goe to the holy Sepulchre to pray to our Lord God for the soules of your Nephewes
that be dead and for other that by him and by his meanes haue beene slaine in this warre Sir if it please you this to doe ye shall doe a great almes deede for life cannot bee had againe to them that bee dead When the Emperour Tyrrey had wel heard Habourey the messenger he became as red as a brand of fire and regarded the messenger fiercely and sayd Auoyd my sight thou false varlet but that I doubt to be reprooued I should cause thée to be hewen in peeces but a messenger ought not to be touched for any words that hee can speake but say to thy Lord that by him and by his meanes I haue lost more then twentie thousand men beside my thrée Nephewes my yonger brother but by the Lord that died on the Crosse to redeeme vs all I will neuer haue peace with him till I haue him at my pleasure nor neuer returne thou againe hither to mee nor none other vpon any such message When Habourey the messenger heard the Emperour hee was in great feare and would gladly haue béen in Bourdeaux then he departed without any more speaking and rested not till hee came to Bourdeaux where hee went to the Pallaice wheras he found Duke Huon then he sayd Sir I haue béene with the Emperour and shewed him at full all your message but his answere will not serue to your demaunde for he sayd to mee that he will haue no peace with you till he haue you at his pleasure to doe with you what hee will and thus I departed from him and left him sitting at his table at dinner Chap. LXXXXV ¶ How Huon issued out of Bourdeaux and came to the tents and fought with the Emperour WHen Huon vnderstood the Messenger hee was full of anger and displeasure and saide Sirs I commaunde you all in hast to goe and arme you for ere euer the Almaines bee risen from their dinners and armed I shall make them so sorrowfull that they shall curse the houre that euer they were borne for I had rather die then to leaue them in this point for I will goe serue them of their first messe Then euery man armed him and Huon leapt vpon his good horse Amphage and then he tooke his leaue of the faire Escleremond his wife and so departed out of Bourdeaux with his company and road towardes the Emperours Tents The same time the Emperour was risen from his Table and he had ordained three hundred men on horsebacke to keepe the Tents whiles he was at dinner then Huon and his company came so quickly that hee was among them ere they perceiued any thing and he cried Bourdeaux and strake a Knight with his Speare cleane through the body so that he fell dead to the earth then he ran at another and serued him in likewise and so he slew foure before his Speare brake Then he drew his Sword beat down men and horses and brake the thickest presse so that euerie man gaue him way and Gerames Othon Barnard and Rychard and all his company did maruels in armes so much they did that within a short space the iij. hundred Almaines that were set to keepe the Tents were all slayne Then Huon and his company entred in among the Tents and Pauilions where they bet downe the Tents such as they met were slaine then the Almaines on all parts armed them and the Emperour sounded his Trumpets armed him he was so sorrowfull and angry with the trauell damage he was put too by Huon that hee enraged and was néere out of his wit for night and day he could take no rest When he was armed hee mounted on his horse and xx M. Almaines with him and they all sware the death of Huon whome God defend for if he long taried there he should be in danger of his life But he was wise and discréet in Feats of armes hée looked towards the Emperours Tent and sawe well twentie Thousand men readie to come vpon him then he said to his men Sirs it is time that wee retire to our Citie wee may well now goe without blame for we may no longer tarie heere without great danger Sir quoth Gerames wée bee readie to doe your commaundement then they tooke the way to returne to the Citie but the Emperour who greatly desired the death of Huon he his men pursued Huon as fast as their horses could goe when the Emperor was néere to Huon he said Ah thou false Traytour so many times thou hast troubled and angered mee that longer I will not suffer thée to liue turne toward me for with thee I will iust or else I shall slay thée flying I had rather to die then not to take of thée vengeance for the hurts that thou hast done to mée When Huon heard how the Emperor called him Traytor hee was sore displeased and turned his horse towardes the Emperour and sayd Ah false old Churle whereas thou sayest I am a Traytor I shall shew thee how thou lyest falsely then they ran eache at other with their Speares in their restes so that they met so rudely strake each other on their sheelds by such force that their sheeldes burst assunder the Emperour was a puissant Prince so that his Speare burst all to péeces but Huons Speare was strong and held wherewith he gaue the Emperour such a stroake that Sheeld nor Holberd coulde not warraunt him but that the Speare entred into the Emperors side so that if he had not swarued aside he had not escaped death that stroake was so sore that the Emperour sell to the earth in such wise that néere hand he had broken his neck with the fall and so lay in a swound Huon séeing the Emperour lying on the earth in great rage and displeasure he desired to haue slaine the Emperor then he drew out his Sword turned to strike off his head the which he had don if he had not ben rescued but the Almains frō all parts came thither so that they rescued the Emperour from death and sette him on a horse with much paine then he thanked our Lord God that he was so well escaped and made a vowe to God that he would neuer more fight with Huon hand to hand but hee would pursue him to the death if he could Chap. LXXXXVI ¶ How Huon made another issue out of Bourdeaux and tooke away all the beastes that were in the pastures without the towne pertaining to the Emperours hoast WHen Huon sawe that hee could doe no more at that time and that the Almaines encreased in great number to haue assayled him then he spurred his good horse Amphage who made such leapes that it séemed hee had flowne in the ayre he had his sword in his hand and stroke therewith so great strokes that none durst approach neere him Thus he rode after his men and led them towards the Citie as the shepheard doth his shéepe for as soone as his enemies approached néere him he shewed
them his shield and his speares poynt and as hee rode there came a yong knight named Gerard right hardie and valiant in armes hee was bastard sonne to the Emperour who greatly desired in his heart to winne honour and prayse hee sawe Huon mounted on his good horse and sawe likewise that no man durst approach neere vnto him hee came after him and cryed Ah thou false Traitour to flie away it shal not auaile thée for I bring thy death in the point of my speare with the which I shal slay thee flying without thou turne to mee for ere thou scape me I shall cause thée to be hanged in the sight of them within Bourdeaux When Huon vnderstood the Knight and saw the great hate and rage that he was in and hearing how he called him Traitour he thought and sayd to himselfe that he had rather die then he that had sayd these words should haue departed without feeling the sharpenesse of his speare the which hee couched in the rest and spurred his horse who ranne like the thunder and he gaue the knight such a horrible stroke that neither his shield nor his armour could saue his life for his speare pierced through both his sides and hee was cleane borne ouer his horse â—â—upper starke dead Go thy way quoth Huon thou shalt neuer haue power to doe any man displeasure any more and then he drew his sword wherewith hee dealt such discipline among the Almaines that all fledde before him Gerames Othon and Bernarde and Richard employed their forces and vertues right valiantly but the Almaines did so much that Huon lost part of his men and the rest he ledde with him oftentimes hee turned and returned against his enemies but whatsoeuer force or prowesse hee shewed if he had not in haste gone away he nor neuer a one of his men had escaped without death for more then thirtie thousand Almaines were néere him and all those desired his death but God gaue him that grace that hee and the small number that he had left entred with him into the Citie and the gates were cloâ—â—â— and the Emperour in great displeasure returned to his tent and by the way hee found his bastard sonne dead for whome he made such sorrow that his Lords nor his brother could not appease him and so hee caused him to be borne to the tents and was greatly complained of all the Barons for hee was like to haue beene a verie noble man And Huon went to his Pallaice where he found the faire Escleremond who demaunded how he did Right well Lady quoth Huon thanked bee God I am returned in sauegard but I haue lost many of my men and therwith he wept and the Ladie comforted him so much as shee might Then the Emperour being in his hoast knowing for truth that Huon 〈…〉 a small companie in the Citie and that he thought hee could doâ— him but small damage from thence forth 〈◊〉 and came and lay neerer the Citie and dressed vp his 〈◊〉 and mountaines to breake the wâ—lles and made euerie day bâ—ttering at the walles and they within defended â—hem valiantly for with their crosbowes many men both within and without were slaine This siege endured from the beginning of August to the Easter after whereof Huon was sore displeased and verie much complayned for the losse of his noble Barons and other good men that hee had lost Also hee saw his towres and gates so beaten and his enemies lying before the Citie and looked for no succor from any part and that he had with him not aboue thrée hundred knights and a hundred men to keepe the Citie withall then he called Esâ—leâ—emond his wife and sayd Madame I know well you indure trouble and displeasure inough and therefore I pray you if you can giue me any good counsell giue it me now for the rage and displeasure that I haue at my heart troubleth so mine vnderstanding that I cannot tell what to doâ— now on the other part I see my Citie besieged and my men slaine and I can get no agréement with the Emperour for he is sore displeased with mee that I can neuer haue his loue hee hath slaine my men whereof I am so sorrowfull that my heart neere fayleth me Sir quoth Escleremond yee doe great wrong to say these words before mee or in this sort to complaine your damages if you would haue beleeued mee then you had gone to my brother for succour who would haue come with you and brought you such a number of men that the Emperour durst not haue abidden you and also to haue made therby my brother a Christian man for hee hath beléeued in our Lord God this seuen yeeres past Madam quoth Huon all that you say might haue beene done but I hadde rather haue lost three such Cities as this then to haue left you and my Lords and good Burgesses whome I loue so faythfully if I had but a thousand Knights to defend my Citie with an ill will I should depart from you for I am assured that if I goe and seeke for succour both I shall haue paine inough and yee that shall abide heere are like to haue more for I know well that the Emperour so hateth vs as hee setteth all his intent to haue vs and if hee take you you shall be in great perill and if I tarâ—ie here with you and goe for no succour this Citie will bee taken or famished and both you and I be destroyed the Emperour who loueth vs but a little and not without a cause iâ— he may take mee I shall die a shamefull death It is no maruaile if hee be displeased with mee for I haue slaine his sonnes and nephewes and many of his best friendes if he may take me I shal haue no pitie shewed me and I know well without I haue some succour my ende is at hand Wherefore Madame I thinke it best that I goe to your brother for succour for I sée that I haue tarried ouerlong Sir quoth Escleremond ye speake of this verie late for now ye know well that all our bread and wine and flesh and fish begins to faile vs and all our other victuals wherefore it cannot be long after your departure but that this Citie wil be taken and destroyed and the men within slaine and I ledde into great misery yet for all that I would not couÌ„sel you to abide here but I pray you make hast to depart When Huon heard her he began to weep abashing his cheere to the earth and studying a little hee sayd Madame I thinke vpon one thing the which to you will be profitable whereby you shall haue victuall inough to liue an whole yéere Sir quoth she of that I thanke God if it may so come to passe Madam quoth Huon I shall tell you how this City may be reuitayled without any great losse of any men true it is that here without in the medow there are two hundred men set there by the Emperor to
keep the beasts pertaining to his host the which are without number what in beefes kine hogs and more theâ— ten thousand shéep which beasts ere I sléep I will bring into this Citie and then ye may slay them and poâ—der them in salt so that ye shall haue no famine for a whole yeere Sir quoth she I pray vnto God you may bring it well to passe thus they taried vntill supper time and after when it was night and that they thought that they of the hoast were a sleepe and saw that the weather was troubleous euen as they would desire it he armed him and all his men and set men at the gate to defende him at his recoiling Then hee mounted vppon his good horse and he opened the gate and yssued out as priuily as hée might and tooke the way to the meadow and came thether and Huon then cried and sayde Ah ye Villaines this pasturage is mine I come to challeng it in an euill houre yee put your beasts heere to pasture yee shall make me amends for all the beasts that I find héere in my pasture I will goe and pound them and if the Emperor will haue them hee must buy them and make amendes for their forfaite and yee that bee the Keepers shall dearely abide it When the kéepers heard Huon speake they had great feare and they thought to haue gone and taken their horses and so to haue defended themselues but Huon and his companie gaue them no leysure so to doe for Huon with his speare strake one starke dead and after he slew the second then the third and fourth and so slew very many as long as his Speare held then hée set his hand on his sword wherewith he claue asunder healmets and sheelds and beat down men on euerie side and Gerames Othon Richard did verie valiantly and so much did Huon and his men within a short space that the twoo Hundred men that kept the beasts were all slaine except one who escaped and ranne to the Emperours hoast where he shewed the Emperour how Huon and his men were issued out of the Citie and that all the kéepers of the beastes were slaine and the beasts taken and driuen into the Citie When the Emperour heard these tidings he was right sorrowfull and armed him and his men and leapt on their horses and ranne towards the Citie to stoppe Huon from entring into the Citie but before they came thether all the beastes were entred into the Citie Nowe when Huon saw the Emperour comming he said vnto his men Sirs I require you let vs turne vpon our enemies who commeth after vs for I would faine shew them how men that commeth from foraging can runne with their Speares Then they turned against the Almaines so that each of them â—â—re a man to the earth and they drewe their Swords and stewe men round about them and Huon vpon his good horse Amphage held his Swoord in his hand all to be sprinkled wâ—th the bloud of his enemies wherewith he cut off armes legs and hands he was more doubted then the Deuill for by his prowesse hee did so muâ—h that his enemies fledde before him and made him way so that in despite of all the Almaines after that he and his men had slaine foure Thousand of his enemies he entred into the City with al that pray of his beasts wherewith the Emperour and his men that followed were sore displeased for the losse that they had receiued for that Huon was so escaped from their hands and that he had taken away their beastes and slaine his men Thus as yee haue heard Huon entred into the Citie of Bourdeaux with all his pray Chap. LXXXXVII ¶ How Huon of Bourdeaux made him readie to go to seeke for some succour And of the sorrow that the Duchesse his wife made AFter that Huon was entred into the Citie he went to his Pallaice and there found the Duchesse Escleremond who vnlaced his helmet and clipped and kissed him and saide Sir I pray you howe haue you done Faire Ladie quoth he we haue slaine many an Almaine and haue brought away the pray for in all the Emperours hoste we haue not left neither Porke Kine nor Mutton we haue brought all into this Citie thanked bee God so now I shall leaue you in more suertie in mine absence for you haue nowe victuall inough for a whole yeare Nowe I will goe to your Brother and if I find that hee will bee christened I shall bring him with me if not I shall defie him and slay him without he will beleeue on Iesus Christ whatsoeuer fortune fall Sir quoth Escleremond sore wéeping haue no doubt of that for it is more then seauen yeres since he desired to be christened wherefore Sir I require you loue my Brother Madame quoth Huon I shall doe your pleasure then he called to him his priuie friends and saide Sirs yée knowe well what danger and perill we be in and because in all thinges néedefull there ought to be made prouision with diligence this Citie is now well prouided of victualles wherefore yée shall not néede to make any issuing out without yée sée great aduantage as for assault if yée defend it well it is impregnable for our enemies to win it but if yée be to yéeld it vp beware what yée doe for the great hate that the Emperour hath against vs peraduenture will constraine him to breake his promise if yée be taken by force or by this meanes yée shall all die miserably and my wife bee murdered in prison or else miserably to finish her dayes and my little Daughter Clariet whome I loue so dearely shee shal be lost and my Citie destroyed and brought to vtter ruine wherefore I commend vnto you my wife and my Daughter and all the rest vntill I returne againe the which shal be shortly if I may and I shall bring with mee such succour that yee shall all bee ioyfull thereof Sir quoth Gerames God giue grace to send you againe in sauegard you knowe well that you leaue vs in great pouertie and feare wherefore wee all desire you not to forget vs and therewith they all wept Then Huon sayd I pray yee make no such sorrow â—or my departing for yee know the businesse that causeth mee to depart for without I goe for some succour yee know well we are but dead and Gerames I giue you the keeping of my wife and Child ye are bound to serue me truely for in you I haue my perfect trust Sir quoth Gerames haue you no doubt but that as longe as I haue life in my bodie I shall not faile them in life nor death When Huon heard Gerames say so he began sore to wéepe and the faire Ladie Escleremond began to make such sorrow that great pitie it was to see her she wrang her hands and tore her haire and made such out-cries that euerie man had pitie of her yet they comforted her as much as they might But
shee had great cause to weepe and to be sorrowfull â—or before Huon returned to Bourdeaux shee and all they that were with her suffered so much pain and pouerty that to shew it would cause a hard heart to weepe for pitie And after that Huon had thus spoken to his companie hee entred into his Chappell and was confessed of the Bishops of the Citie and receiued the Sacrament Then the Bishop gaue to Huon a stoale that was hallowed and of great vertue and saide Sir I require you for the loue of our Lord Iesus Christ keepe well this stoale for such an houre may fall that it will stand you in good stead Huon right humbly tooke it and thanked the Bishop it did him good seruice afterward for on a day as hee passed he had thereof so great neede that he would not haue forborne it for fourtéene good Cities as yee shall heare more heereafter Chap. LXXXXVIII ¶ Howe Huon departed from the Citie of Bourdeaux and sayled vntill hee came into the hye Sea and hadde many great fortunes WHen Huon had taken the the halowed stoâ—le hee deliuered it to his Chaplain who was a wise man of a holy life and commaunded 〈◊〉 to keepe it well Then he toâ—ke fiue knights to haue with him and his Chaplayne and a clack to serue him Then Huon went to his wife and kissed her at his departing and she fell in a swound in his armes and Huon 〈…〉 releaued heâ— and sayd Faâ—re Lady I require 〈…〉 making of this sorrow Ah good sir quoth she 〈…〉 ought to bee sorrowfull since ye leaue mee besieged with them that desire your death Madam quoth Huon 〈…〉 you not for by the grace of God I shall make a short returne Then he clipped and kissed her recomâ—â—â—ding her to our Lord Iesus Christ Then Huon and such as were appoynted to goe with him departed out of the Pallaice and went to a backe posâ—erâ—e vpon the riuer of Gâ—round where there was a shippe ready and richly garnished with all things conuenient there Huon being armed and his men entred into the shippe and had no horse with them When Huon departed hee deliuered his good horse to the â—éeping of sir Bernarde his cosen and tooke his leaue of Gerâ—mes and of all his other companie so hoysed vp sayle and 〈◊〉 was day in the morning hee was more then two 〈◊〉 from Bourdeaux Then Huon regarded the Citie and â—â—re weeping did recommend it to our Lord Iesus Christ humbly requiring him to haue in his sauegard his 〈◊〉 wife and child and all other that were within it Thus 〈◊〉 Huon sailed along the riuer of Geround pitiously complayning for his wife the fayre Escleremond and for hiâ—â—ayre daughter Claryet whom he could not forget for he had so great doubt to loose them that when hee remembred them hee wept They sayled so long that they entred into the high Sea and hee had good cause to weepe and 〈◊〉 great sorrowe for hee 〈…〉 till the 〈◊〉 had taken it 〈…〉 Huon 〈◊〉 in his Shippe 〈…〉 his heart gaue him that before hee 〈…〉 Citie of Bourdeaux the Citie should bee taken and his 〈…〉 Escleremond 〈…〉 therefore he 〈…〉 that if it so 〈◊〉 and if euer he returned 〈…〉 end 〈◊〉 thereof he would 〈◊〉 the Emperour 〈◊〉 and that Castle nor Towne should noâ— saue him There was a notable knight with Huon who said 〈◊〉 him Sir leaue your musing and put your trust in God hee shall ayd you and succour you in all your 〈…〉 your Wiâ—e and keepe your Citie 〈…〉 for t your selfe no further 〈◊〉 thâ—nke of God and 〈◊〉 vnto him to giue you the grace to accomplish your Voyage the 〈◊〉 I hope you shall not faile of if you thus dâ—e When Huon heard him hee was much comforted and thanked the Knights and so sayled â—oorth vntill they were 〈…〉 the Sea and lost their right way for the â—hippe turned â—n the right hand and losse the way that they should haue saâ—led and 〈◊〉 vnto places not knowne to any of the 〈◊〉 whereof the Patron was sore abashed in himselfe without making any knowledge thereof and so long they sayled with winde and weather that they arriued at a Port whereas they found many boats there they casâ— their anchor and went a 〈…〉 themselues Then Huon called to him the 〈…〉 and demaunded of him if he could sayle 〈…〉 Sir quoth the Maister I was 〈…〉 no winde to goe thether it were a 〈…〉 me to sayle thether 〈…〉 by that straunge Sea But I 〈…〉 heere in this Port whereas you are nowe to 〈…〉 Patrone that can bring you 〈…〉 quoth Huon I pray you to doe so much as to get me 〈◊〉 Sir quoth 〈…〉 doe what I can then hâ—â— and Huon 〈…〉 Shippe and from boat to boat to get a Pilot 〈…〉 to an auncient man who sayde that he could well bring them thither and sayde how that hee had beene there before that time Friend quoth Huon if hee will bring me to the Realme of Aufamie I shall giue you gold and siluer plentie Sir quoth the old Patron I shall doe your pleasure but Sir one thing I say to you know for troth the voyage is very daungerous for to passe and a verie long voyage for it will be halfe a yeere â—re you can come thither and beside that wee must passe by a perilous Gulfe the which is reputed to be one of the mouthes of hell and if by aduenture or fortune of the winde that wee bee blowen neere vnto it wee shall neuer depart but be lost foreuer When Huon heard the Pilate hee beganne to weepe and complaine for his wife and his deere daughter whome he had left in the citie of Bourdeaux in great daunger to be taken For he saw well then that hee could not returne for the space of a whole yeere with any succour howbeit hee left not his voyage then hee commaunded his seruaunts to discharge all his baggage and victualles out of the one shippe into the other and when the newe shippe with the newe Patron was readye in all things Huon entred into it Then the new Patron demanded of the old marriner the cause why they came thither and from whence they came Sir quoth hee true it is wee came from the citie of Bourdeaux the which standeth vpon a notable riuer and when we were entred into the sea a sore winde rose vpon vs in such wise that wee were constrained to abandon our shippe to the winde and weather and fortune of the sea the which hath brought vs hither Friend quoth the newe Patron as soone as yee were out of the riuer of Gerone if yee had turned your sterne towards the sea roade yee had neuer come hither and within a moneth yee should haue come to the realme of Aufamie whereas now ye be verie farre off When Huon vnderstood the cause of their comming thither he was right sorrowfull and sore displeased if he could haue amended it But his displeasure could not
more soâ—roâ— for my daughter theÌ„ for my selfe and I am sorrowfull for my Lords and 〈◊〉 who for the loue of you and mee are in peâ—â—ll of thâ—ir 〈…〉 had beene better for vs to haue tarryed still in 〈…〉 come hither to â—uffer all these toâ—menâ—s pâ—ines and 〈…〉 and at last painefull deaâ—h with saying of these 〈…〉 Duchesse fell in a trâ—â—â—ce among her Lords 〈…〉 releeâ—ed 〈◊〉 sayde discomfort you 〈◊〉 but take good 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 your men who haue great desire to defend 〈◊〉 Citie for the sauegard of their owne bodyes and liues thus to make sorrow ye can winne nothing thereby but loose more to more haue no doubt that Huon your husbande will leaue you at this poynt hee is gone to your brother for succour hee will not long tarrie and he will bring you such succour that the Emperour nor the Almaines shall haue no leysure to grant him the victorie Thus Gerames comforted the Duchesse who was glad for to heare Gerames and thus as they deuised together the Emperour who was aduertised of Huons departing and how he was gone for succour he assembled his Councell into his tent and there hee shewed and declared the great losses that he had suffered as well of the death of his nephewes as of other of his friends and kynne and the great domage that by Huon he had suffered and sayde Sirs all this ye know well his acquaintance hath cost vs déerely ye haue all heard how he is departed to séeke for succour but I cannot tell to what part hee is gone As for the Realme of Fraunce I know right well hee shall haue no succour there for as it hath béene shewed mée of â—ate that the right Noble and victorious Prince Charlemaine is dead who loued Huon but little because of his sonne Charlot whome Huon slew and Charlemaine hath left behinde him but one sonne named Lewes who is but of a yong age and I beléeue if hee were of full age that he would rather come for to succour me then Huon who slewe Charlot his brother therfore it can be no otherwise but that he is gone into some far countrey for succour therefore I thinke it best that in the meane time ere he returne that on all sides let vs continually assaile the Citie and let euerie one doe their part to bee reuenged for the death of their friendes which are héere slaine by them within the Citie When the Lordes heard the Emperour all with one voyce aunswered and sayd Syr the reason which you haue shewed vnto vs is to bee kept and done and wee shall goe arme vs and make vs all readye to the intent to come to your intention the which is verie good and reasonable Then they sounded al their hornes and busins and euerie man speedily armed himselfe and came with Ensigne displayde to assayle the Cittie and they that were within as well as they could they defended the Citie they which were without reared vppe ladders against the walles with mightie strength but they which were within did beate them down into the Dikes and then they did cast downe vppon them hote leade and boyling Dyle and quicke Lyme and great stones and fagots burning so that they which were down in the Dikes had no power for to reléeue themselues againe but there most miserably dyed vnder the ladders There was on both parts exceeding great shooting wyth Crosbowes and slinging of stones so thicke that they seemed like vnto snow flying in the ayre maruailous it was to beholde the olde Gerames howe hee exhorted his companie for to doe well and also the Duchesse Escleremond with her daughter in her armes crying vnto her men and sayde Yee my deere Lords and Knights fight lustily but to your paynes for to defende your bodyes and your liues your wiues and your children to the intent that the Almaynes make not their bragges and vaunts of theyr winning of this most noble Citie by theyr assaults the which is so goodly and rich for Sirs I knowe right well yee shall not abide this trouble for no long season for Duke Huon your rightfull Lorde will shortly ayde and succour vs all Then all the noble Barons Knights and Burgesses hearing the excéeding great comfort of the Noble and vertuous Lady the Duchesse Escleremond with a maruaylous great courage and valour they came to theyr defences and behaued themselues so valiantly that theyr enemies were forced to retyre backe with great losse and domage whereof the Emperour and his Lords were right sorrowfull and they within the Citie right ioyfull of the great victorye the which God had giuen them that day Then euery man went vnto his lodging and made great ioy and the Emperour and his men withdrew themselues in great displeasure for his losse When the Emperour was vnarmed and had well refreshed himselfe then hee sayde vnto his Lordes Sirs wee haue beene a long season before this Citie and haue sustained many losses therefore sirs I require you to counsell mee what is 〈…〉 do this Citie is strong and wel furnished with knights and men to defend it by vs it will neuer be wonne without vicâ—ualles â—aile them but I thinke they haue but small store of 〈◊〉 therefore I desire you to shew me your abuises whether 〈◊〉 shall depart from this Citie without more doing or 〈◊〉 here vpon such fortune as God will send vs. When the Emperour had sayd as much as hee pleased then the Duke Sauâ—â—y his brother rose vp and sayd Sir me thinkes if it may 〈◊〉 beleeued that this Citie cannot long endure and the cause 〈◊〉 I shall shew you ye knowe well that Huon their Lord is 〈◊〉 to seeke for succour on the other side they within the Citie haue but fewe men and but ill furnished of victualles within the Citie there is an old knight who is a valiant and a hardie knight and therefore it were profitable to studie howe he might bee taken or else slaine this should greatly aduaunce your enterprise of the which ye cannot fayle if you wil beléeue my counsell as I shall shewe you True it is that this day wee haue had great losse and receiued great domage whereof they within are ioyfull wherefore it were good to send certain mutâ—ons and beasts in the night time with a few keepers sende them into the medow neere vnto the Citie and I am sure that when the olde knight knowes thereof the which he shall know by the watch men on the towres and walles then incontinent he 〈◊〉 out 〈◊〉 such power as hee hath to take the beasts 〈◊〉 bring them into the Citie And to the intent that they â—â—all neuer returne againe into the Citie incontinent ere the 〈…〉 a good number of Béefs and Muttons Then 〈…〉 armed tenne thousand men and send them to a 〈…〉 whereas the gallowes is raysed and when they 〈◊〉 that they within the Citie bee issued out to fetch the 〈…〉 the tenne Thousand men drawe neere to the gate 〈…〉 to the
eâ—tent that they without shall not enter 〈…〉 to their great losse And if you will thus doe I put 〈…〉 that before it be midnight they shall bee all taken 〈◊〉 and the matter may so come to passe that you shall enter into the Citie at your pleasure Thus I haue shewed you as I thinke best if any man know any better way let him speake Then euerie man regarded the Emperour and sayde Sir the counsaile that Duke Sauary hath giuen you wee thinke that a better counsayle cannot bée giuen to any Prince When the Emperour vnderstod the counsaile of his brother Duke Sauary and that all his Lordes did allow the same hee was right ioyfull and sayde that it should bee so done Then he called his marshall and commanded that it should be done according as his Brother had deuised it before the which was done verie diligently and sent with him fiftie men with sixe hundred muttons and two hundred beasts néere vnto the Citie and then layd theyr ambushment of tenne thousande men by the little mountaine it was darke night and the Moone was not risen whereby they within could not perceiue them the which turned to theyr great losse and damage for all those that issued out of the Citie of Bourdeaux were slaine and taken prisoners as ye shal heare hereafter Chap. CIIII. ¶ Of the death of the olde Gerames and of the taking of the Citie of Bourdeaux and of the comming of the Duchesse with the Emperour and of the deliuering vp of the Castle to the Emperour YE haue heard before howe the Emperour assayled the Citie of Bourdeaux and of the great losse that he sustained wherof Gerames and they within the Citie were right ioyfull and made great feasts and thanked our Lord God Then after Supper Gerames called all the knights and other together and sayde Sirs ye haue séene this day the great assault that the Emperour and his men haue made to this Citie but thanked be God the losse is returned to them for there are dead and wounded a great number of them and many of them are sore wearyed with trauaile and thinke now for to rest themselues and now is their howre that they be sette at Supper and customably they sitte euer long at their Table farre longer then French men doe wherefore I thinke best that incontinent without delay we should arme our selues and issue out of the Citie and goe to their tents and rayse them and then lette vs doe there as good Knights ought to doe to the intent that good songs may bee made of vs and that the Almaines haue no cause to say but that wee bee as good men as they bee Sir quoth Othon and Barnard we be readie thus to doe Sirs quoth Gerames let vs make haste that we may returne againe ere the Moone riseth Then they armed themselues Alas what an il aduenture came to them at night for the most part of those that issued out were taken and slaine Ah good Lord what a losse fell to the Citie of Bourdeaux Ah noble Lady Escleremond yee may well weepe and complaine all your dayes for sorow paine and dolour approacheth néere whereby ye are like to beare such diseases and pouertie that no man liuing can recount it nor yee shall neuer bee out of that daunger and trouble till yee be deliuered by the good Duke Huon your husband When Gerames and his companie were readie they mounted on their horses and issued out at the gate as priuily as they could so that they were not perceiued by them that were set to watch for them nor they heard not when they were in the field they rode a false gallop to the tents the which they might well â—e cleerely by the lights that were in the tents when they came neere they dashed their spurres to their horses and cryed Bourdeaux and sâ—rake and cut asunder the cordes and stayes so that many tents fell to the earth and such as came out were slaine a great noyse and crie beganne to rise in the hoast and euerie man ranne to their armour and Gerames and his companie slew many of their enemies and made them for to flie before them it was dreadfull for to beholde the damage that they did there But finally the losse fell vpon them for the Emperour and all his men were readie when Gerames sawe howe all the hoast was mooued then he sayd to his companie Sirs it is time for vs to retyre backe for we may tarrie héere too long yonder commeth the Emperour with a mightie armie to close vs in it is needfull for vs to make haste that wee may goe away in safetie Then altogether in one companie they returned and went the way towards Bourdeaux But they had not gone farre ere that they were ouertaken by the Almaynes they layd on on all parts with their swords speares Then Gerames turned him to an Almaine and with his speare ran him cleane through and in drawing out his speare hee fell downe dead to the earth and then he strake another whome also he slew He did such déedes of armes that ere his speare brake hee slewe fiue of his enemies whereof the Almaynes were sore abashed He brake the prease in such wise that none durst approach néere vnto him right well did Othon and Bernard and such as were with him But when the Duke Sauary who with tenne thousand men lay in ambushment néere vnto the Citie had heard the greate noyse and crie hee supposed that they within the Citie were issued out When Gerames and his companie sawe howe they were inclosed both before and behinde they were sore abashed When Gerames sawe that their force and powers could not auayle them but that either they must bee taken or slaine then earnestly he called vpon our Lord Iesus Christ requiring him to saue and defend his good Lord Huon of Bourdeaux and the Duchesse Escleremond his wife And he cryed to his companie sayd Sirs I pray you hartily at this time shew forth your Prowesse and behaue your selues so valiantly that this Emperour Almaines haue no cause to make their auaunts that they haue found vs as men amazed but let vs shew them how our swords can cut Then all together they assayled their enemies in such wise that at the first brunt the Almaines were constrayned to retyre backe and Gerames did such déeds that none durst approach néere vnto him Then the Duke Sauary with ten thousand men came vpon them sodainely the which was no equall part and also the Emperour with his great battaile came also vpon old Gerames and his companie who had gotten themselues into the subburbs of the Citie and a mightie wall behind them at theyr backes whereas they did stand at a bay against the Almaines Gerames was in the middest of them and vnderneath his helmet appeared his long white beard and the Emperour who had great shame that so few men in number should kéepe a baye against his highnesse and doe vnto
his men so great damage he perceiued where the old Gerames was who had oftentimes slaine many of his men and done him so mightie damages that hee thought hee could neuer be reuenged thereof sufficiently and thought that if hee should haue scaped then aliue that hee would doe him much more hurt and damage after and sayd to himselfe that hee had rather die incontinent then he should not as then bee reuenged on him and therewith incontinent he couched his Speare and ran at old Gerames on the one side ere he was aware so that the Emperour ranne him cleane through the bodie so that the gentle knight Gerames fell to the earth and died incontinent great damage fell that day to Huon of Bourdeaux for he lost the truest and best friend that he had Alas for that pitious iourney that fell that day to them of Bourdeaux They had good cause for to wéepe alas good Duchesse Escleremond what losse haue yee receiued to loose him who was your cheefe comfort and refuge ye might haue called him more then father Ah right noble Ladie there neuer came to you a greater mischiefe then ye haue by the death of Gerames who lieth dead euen now among the enemies When the Almaines sawe that Gerames was dead then they fought so that within a short space all them of Bourdeaux were slaine and not one scaped aliue except Barnard who was on the puissant horse Amphage for the gambaudes and worke that he made not an Almaine durst approach neere him for Bernard next vnto Huon was the most valiaunt knight of his body that was as then liuing for when the Almaines sawe him vpon that horse they chased him no further but they went to theyr tents and Bernard ceased not till hee came vnto the gate of the Citie the which was opened when hee was entred and the gate closed againe the Burgesses and comunaltie saw how Bernard came in all alone they demaunded of him and sayd Sir where is your captaine and the old Gerames Then sore wéeping he shewed them at length the pittious and dolorous aduenture the which when they heard they made such cries and wéeping that pittie it was for to heare and to sée them the bruite and noyse was so great and loud that the Ladie Escleremond heard it whereat she maruailed and stood in a great feare Therewith Syr Bernard entred in at the Castle gate and so mounted into the hall whereas hee found the Duchesse Escleremond who was sore abashed when she sawe Syr Bernard come alone who shewed her the great losse that he had sustained that day wherwith for inward sorrow she fell down in a swound and so lay a long space as though she had beene dead Then the Ladyes and Damsels sore wéeping reléeued her and then shee cast out a great crie wringing her handes and tearing her hayre and sayde Ah Huon my right déere Lord this day yée haue lost your most sorrowfull and dolorous wife and well beloued daughter Then the Ladies Damselles and other wiues who had lost their husbands fathers and brethren came into the Castle and made such cryes and sorrow that the noyse thereof was heard into the Emperours hoast without and it was shewed the Emperour that the noyse and brute that was made within the Citie and Castle was for the losse they hadde receiued that day And then they sayde that it should be good that the next morning euerie man should be readie to goe and assayle the Citie and sayd that if euer they would winne it the howre then was come When the Emperour had heard that reason he sayd that the aduise was very good and that he would that it should so be done hee gaue the charge thereof to his Constable and Marshalles so the next morninge his hoast was readie and the Emperour commanded to set forward and then they came before the Citie garnished with all things néedfull and necessarie for assault and they marched forward and approached the Citie and when they came there they gaue a great crie and entred into the Dykes and reared vp their ladders to the walles in diuers places so that they that were within were sore afrayd For within were but Burgesses and Marchants who could but little skil of warre howbeit they mounted vpon the walles and defended their Cittie But the Citie was so sore assayled on all parts that the defendants wist not where to make resistance the shotte of them without slew so thicke that none within durst appeare vppon the walles whereby they entred perforce into the Citie and slew as many as they mette withall in their entring And then they went vnto the gate and opened it so that the Emperour and all his Lords entred into the Citie Then euerie man went abroade in the stréetes to take prisoners and to spoyle mens houses When the Emperour saw hee was Lord of the Citie hee caused it to be proclaimed in euerie streete that no man on paine of death should wrong any woman or deflowre anie mayde nor to breake any Church nor to set any house on fire and also such as were in any Church for sauegard that they should goe at their pleasure without any trouble or danger either of body or goods for the Emperour who was a wise Prince thought in himselfe that great damage and pittie it would bee to destroy and putte to ruine such a famous Citie so strong and well furnished with Burgesses and Marchants When such as were fledde into strong places for refuge vnderstood the Emperours commaundement euerie man and woman returned to their owne houses so that there was but little damage done and that was done by them that entred first When the Lady Escleremond saw how the Citie was taken ye may bee sure she was right sorrowfull For first shee saw her Citie taken by the enemie and her selfe closed within the Castle ill furnished with victualles and much people with her whereby she saw cleerely without God did ayde her that her death approched neere Then pitiously she complayned to God and sayd Verie God on whome I beléeue firmely and for whose sake I haue left my first misbeleefe and forsooke my parents and friends to take to my husband a Christian man to the intēt to receiue thy law O God I require thee of thy grace to haue pittie vpon mee poore desolate creature and to keepe and defend my deere children from all ill incombrances for if it be thy pleasure to saue my childe I am content to abide what fortune it shall please thee to send mee and beside that I require thy grace to saue and keepe Huon my deere Lord and husband Then all wéeping she called vnto her sir Bernard and said Right deare Fréend I can take no counsaile nowe but of you you sée well howe our deathes approache and that it is impossible for vs to kéepe and defend this Castle against the Emperour who hath wonne the Citie and I doubt if he enter into this Castle
perforce wée shall bee the first that shall receiue death and because I sée well that I cannot escape from hence I require you my deare Fréend and by the troth that you beare vnto Huon my Lord and yours that incontinent you take my deare Daughter Clariet whome I hold héere in mine armes and finde some meanes that you may depart out of this Citie and beare her straight to the Abbey of Cluny the which is in Burgoyne and deliuer her into the kéeping of the Abbot there and recommend me vnto him hée is Vncle to my Husband Huon and great Vncle to my Childe Lady quoth Bernard I know well that if I be taken here I shal be vtterly slaine howbeit if I could sée or knowe that my abiding héere could aid or succour you both for mine honour and for the loue of my good Lord and Maister Huon I woulde neuer depart hence from you but my resistance and force is but of small value and because I woulde serue you as I am bounde to doe I am readie sournished to take vppon mee that aduenture as to beare your Child away and to set her in sauegard by the grace of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ When the Duchesse vnderstood Barnard she was well comforted and as for her selfe shee regarded neither her life nor death when shee knewe that her Child should be saued Then shée deliuered her Childe vnto Barnard to the entent that in the night time hée should yssue out Then the Emperour and his Lordes came before the Castle and when the Duchesse knewe that shee came to the gate and at a windowe shee desired to speake with the Emperour who was there readie present and said Madame say what you will to mée at your pleasure and when shée sawe the Emperour shee sayd Sir I knowe well that you are the head and cheefest of all the christened and noblest whereby you are bound to defend and to kéepe from ill all noble men and women I that am the Daughter of an high and mightie Emperour and that for the loue of my good Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ haue forsaken mine owne false béeléefe to beléeue vppon the Christian faith Sir I require you for his sake that made and created you to haue pitie and compassion of mée and of all those that be héere with mée to respite our liues and to put from you all rancour and malice and pardon them that nothing had to doe with the beginning of this warre When the Emperour hadde heard the reasonable request of this faire Ladie hee cast from him all the mortall hate that hée had vnto her and vnto them that were within the Castle with her Then hée mooued with pitie and compassion of the noble Ladie aunsweared and sayde Madame for the loue of our Lord Iesus Christe I repell from mée all my displeasure so that you render vnto mee this Castle and to put it vnder mine obeysance to vse it at my pleasure and to yéelde your bodie as my Prisoner and all those that be within and thus you shall haue all your liues saued Sir quoth the Duchesse laude and praise bee giuen to our Lord Iesus Christ for this grace that you shewe vnto mée and to my companie Then the Emperour went backe and made expresse commandement throuhout the Citie that no man should bée so hardy as to doe any hurt or iniurie to any manner of person within the Citie but to suffer euerie man to abide in their owne houses peaceably without killinge whereof the Burgesses and communaltie of the Citie were right ioyfull Thus as yée haue heard the Citie of Bourdeaux was taken by the Emperour who was chosen in Almaine and committed by the Emperour Charlemaine vntill his Sonne Lewis shoulde bée of full age and able to rule the Empire Chap. CV ¶ How the Duchesse Escleremond deliuered her Daughter Clariet to Barnard to beare vnto the Abbot of Cluny of whome the Abbot was right ioyfull YEE haue heard the pitiful taking of the Citie of Bourdeaux and of the treatie and appointment that the Duchesse Escleremond had made with the Emperour when shee had made her appointment shee went vnto her companie pitiously weeping and shewed them all the manner of her treatie whereof euerie person was glad that their liues should bée saued but they made great sorrowe for that the Duchesse should become a Prisoner and then she called Barnard and sayd Sir when it is night yssue out by the Posterne with my Daughter Clariet and beare her vnto the good Abbot of Cluny who is her great Vncle. Madame quoth hée bée of good cheere and by the grace of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ I shall not rest twoo nights in one place vntill I haue deliuered your daughter vnto the good Abbot of Cluny her great Vncle. Then Barnard tooke leaue of the Duchesse who kissed her Daughter at her departing sore wéeping and pitifully complayning There was a Posterne that opened into the féeldes and it was so small that Barnard was faine to leade his horse in his hand the night was dark but he knew well the waies afterwards he mounted on his horse with the Childe in his armes and so road foorth and passed the Landes of Bourdeaux and was neuer séene by any mortall man vntill the next day he road so all the night that his horse was wearie And when hee sawe that hee was past all daungers and escaped all perils then hee road at his ease for loue of the Child and he complained greatly for the good horse Amphage that Huon had left in his kéeping vntill his returne but hee durst not take that Horse with him for feare that hée should haue dealt the worse with the Ladie Escleremond the which had béene true for the Emperour loued the horse so well that he desired more to haue the horse againe then for to winne the Citie and therefore Barnard durst not take the Horse with him So long Barnard road that hée arriued at Monglew the which is called Lyon on the Riuer of Roane and from thence hée road to Mascon and from thence he rested not vntill he came to the Abbey of Cluny and then hée alighted and desired to speake with the Abbot and when the Abbot sawe Barnard with a Child in his armes hee had great maruaile thereof and when Barnard sawe the Abbot all wéeping hee saluted him and said Sir the right desolate Duches of Bourdeaux your Néece and wise vnto the Duke Huon of Bourdeaux your Nephew hath sent héere vnto you her Daughter Clariet Then the good Abbot embraced him and tooke the child and kissed it more then twentie times and demaunded why hée brought the Child vnto him Sir quoth Barnard the Citie of Bourdeaux hath beene besieged by the Emperour of Almaine and so straightly kept that it was néere hand famished many Knightes that were within are slaine so that Huon your Nephewe by the counsaile of the Duchesse his wife and consent of all
Spanish language answeared to the Maister and sayd Freends you that be here arriued shew mée I pray you the troth from whence you are come and what you be for be you sure that as longe as you liue you shall neuer depart from hence and without you haue victuals brought with you you are all arriued at an vnfortunate place Then the Maister trembling said Sir know for troth that I am of the countrey of Spaine and dwelling in the Citie of Luysarne and they that are come hether with me are all Marchants of Portugall and are come from the citie of Acre and there wée charged our shippe with Marchandize and we had a maruaylous good wind vntill wée were passed the straites of Morrocco and that wée were néere to our owne countrey and then suddenly a great tempest arose and tooke vs and draue vs off from the coast of our owne Countrey a great distance and this tempest hath continewed these twentie daies past so extreamely that wée were faine perforce to abandon our shippe to the raging of the Sea and winde euen as the shippe would goe at aduenture but at the last by good fortune wée chaunced to arriue by a great rocke and there wee cast anchor and presently after that we were arriued there we went vp into the Rocke and there we found the Bishop of Lishborne and one of his Chaplaines with him who came thether driuing vpon a mast of a shippe that had béene perished but all the rest of his company were drowned by misfortune at sea Then the Bishop and his Chaplaine humbly prayed me to haue pitie vpon them and to saue their liues and to take them into my shippe whereuppon I had compassion on theÌ„ and as one verie glad and willing to deliuer them from that danger I tooke them into my shippe and gaue them meate and drinke other thinges such as I had for they had béen almost dead by famine if I had not succoured them and yet I thinke that they will not liue vntill to morrow at night for truly I haue no more victualles neyther for my selfe nor for such as be within my shippe thus Sir I haue answered to your demaund and therefore I desire you in the honoure of God and of Mahound to shew me to whome this Castle doth appertaine and who is Lord thereof and what is the name thereof and of this Port whereas wée be arriued Friend quoth Huon know for troth that this Castle and Port is the place in the world most hated and doubted of Paynims and Sarazins and I shall shewe you the cause why this Castle is set on a Rocke of Adamant stones so that if any shippe chaunce to come hether by aduenture it can neuer depart from hence againe For the Adamant is of that nature that it draweth alwaies vnto him the yron and therefore any shippe that is nayled or haue in it any yron and by chaunce come neere this Port by force it shal be constrained héere to arriue When the Marchant heard Huon hee beganne sore to wéepe and lament and so did all the other and sayd Sir wee are sore dismayed and abashed of these words that you haue said Freend quoth Huon all that I haue sayd is of troth but sirs if you will beleeue mée and take vppon you christendome and beléeue vppon the faith of Iesus Christ and beléeue firmely in him you and all such as be in your shippe I shall bringe you into such a place whereas you shall haue meat and drinke at your pleasure and apparell as rich as you shall demaund and then I shall shewe you so much gould and riches that you shal bee satisfied with the beholding thereof Therefore if you will beleeue vppon God and of his Sonne Iesus Christ you shall haue all this that I haue said before or else you shall al die of rage and of famine miserably When the Patrone had well heard Huon hee sayde Sir knowe for troth it is about Seauen yeares past since I beléeued vpon the faith of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ and Sir I thanke you of the courtesie that you haue shewed vnto mee and from hencefoorth I submit my selfe to the sauegard of almightie God and of his Sonne Iesus Christ When Huon heard that he was right ioyfull and sayd Fréend goe to thy Shippe and remooue all thy companie to beleeue vppon Iesus Christ and shewe them what perâ—ll and daunger they be in now and what wealth they shall haue if they beleeue vppon almightie God and of his Sonne Iesus Christ and also shew them what pleasure they shall finde in this place and if they will not thou mayest well say that they are come to their laste and shortly and the twoo men that thou hast saued cause them to come hether vnto mée Sir quoth the Patron I shall send them vnto you and then he departed and entred into his Ship and there he shewed his companie all that he had heard of Huon and what he was commaunded to say vnto them When the Marchaunts who were all Paynims had heard their Patron declare in what case and perrill they were in they all answered how that they were all readie to doe his pleasure and to receiue christendome whereof the Patron was right ioyfull to heare them say so Then the Patron sent for the Bishop and his Nephew who was his Chaplaine and saide Sirs in the Castle there is a Lord who prayeth you that incontinent yée will come a land and goe to speake with him When the Bishoppe heard the Patrone he arose vp with much paine for faintnesse by reason of famine and said how that hee would gladly fulfill his commaundement Then he and his Chaplaine departed out of the Shippe and came to the staires and mounted vp to the Castle but they were faine to rest them by the way diuers times and when they came vnto the gate they maruailed greatly of the great beautie and rich worke that they sawe there and so they came vnto Huon who taried for them at the Hall dore When they came neere vnto him they humbly saluted him Sirs quoth Huon God saue you and I pray you shewe mee the troth what Countrey you be of Sir quoth the Bishop seeing it is your pleasure to knowe I shall shewe you the troth Sir I was borne in the Cite of Bourdeaux and am Bishoppe thereof and haue beene this Twentie yeares and a deuoâ—ion tooke me to goe a Pilgrimage to the holy Sepulchre but God would not suffer vs so to doe for when we were departed from Lishborne a great wind and torment arose vppon our Ship the which was faire and rich and wel furnished with Marchants and so by fortune our Shippe ranne against a Rocke so that our Shippe burst all to péeces and there all our company were drowned except my selfe and my Chaplaine who is my Nephew and wee twoo saued our selues vppon the Maste of our Shippe floating vppon the Sea so that by the grace of
God the Ship that is heere beneath arriued by fortune at the Port neere vnto the Rocke and I prayed him in the honour of God and of his Sonne Iesus Christe to saue our liues and the Patrone had pitie compassion of vs and tooke vs into his Ship and did so much for vs as though we had beene his Brethren Sir thus I haue shewed you our aduenture and Sir I require you to pardon mée in that I so stearnly behold you but I shall shew you quoth he the cause why I doe it mée thinks I see before me the good Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux who swéetly nourished mee in my youth you greatly resemble vnto him and hee set me to schoole at Paris and then hee sent mee to Rome vnto our holy Father the Pope of Rome to whom I was a kiâ— and hee did mée much good and hee gaue mee the Bishopricâ—e of Millaine Duke Seuin is dead God bee with him and hee had twoo Sonnes the eldest called Huon and the other Gerard Huon was sent for to Paris by Kinge Charlemaine and by the way there fell vnto him a maruailous aduenture for hee shewe the Kinges Sonne Charlot in his owne defence not knowing that it was the Kinges Sonne wherefore the King banished him out of the Realme of Fraunce and sent him to the Admirall Gaudise in Babilon to doe his Messuage and afterward hee returned into Fraunce and since hee hath hadde great warre with the Emperour of Almaine more I cannot say and I am right sorrie that I knowe not where he is become for my Father who was Brother to the good Abbot of Cluny longe agoe nourished Huon vp in his youth before his Father Duke Seuin died my Father did teach him wherefore I haue great sorrow and gréefe at my heart that I knowe not where hee is become since the peace was made and concluded betweene him and the King of Fraunce When Huon hadde well heard the Bishoppe and vnderstood him his bloud changed and embracing him sweetely he said Sir you are my Coozen I am Huon who passed the sea and went to the Admirall Gaudise and slewe him and ledde away with me his Daughter the faire Escleremond who was married vnto me by our holy Father the Pope and I haue left her in the Citie of Bourdeaux in great pouertie and miserie besieged by the Emperour of Almaine I beleeue surely that she is taken by this time When the Bishop heard Huon hee began sore to weepe and Huon embraced and kissed him and sayd Coozen you are happie to find me heere or else shortly you had béen dead Sir quoth he I ought greatly to thanke God thereof But Sir I require you to giue mée some meat for I am so sore punished with hunger and thirst that I am néere hande famished and can scarce sustaine my selfe vppon my féete Coozen quoth Huon by the grace of God I shall bring you to such a place whereas you shall haue meat and drinke at your pleasure and such as you will with for Then Huon tooke him by the hand and brought him into the Pallaice and through the Chambers the Bishoppe was greatly abashed to sée the riches that he saw there Then they went downe into the Seller the Bishop beheld the manner of euerie thing and had great maruaile that none of them that hee sawe there would not speake any word hee passed by them with Huon and saluted them and then he entred into the rich Chamber whereas the Table was readie and Seruants to giue them water and they all thrée sat downe and then Huon sayd vnto the Bishoppe Coozen I coniure you by the Sacrament that you haue receiued that you nor your Chaplaine be so hardy as to eat one morsell of meat if any of you bee in any deadly sin if you be incontinent confesse you to your Chaplain and hee vnto you for if you doe otherwise you shall no sooner eate one morsell but incontinent you shall die When the Bishop had well heard and vnderstood Huon hée hadde great maruaile and said Coozen by the grace of God I féele my selfe in good estate not to abide death for when I departed from Rome both I and my Nephewe were confessed of the Pope and assoyled of all our sinnes and since wée entred into the Sea wee haue committed no sinne Then Huon sayd Cozen seeing that you be both in this case you may eate and drinke at your pleasure and so they did for they had great néed thereof they all thrée were richly serued they had euerie thing as they wished for the Bishoppe and his Nephew did eat and drinke and they were greatly abashed of the great riches that they saw there and they were rauished at the swéet singing of the birds and the hearbes and flowers that were there spreade abroade smellinge so swéetely that they thought themselues in Paradice and they had great maruaile to see the Seruants to serue them so peaceable but they would neuer speak one word they woulde gladly haue demaunded the cause why but Huon hadde expresly charged them that they shoulde make none inquirie Thus they passed their dinner in great ioy and theÌ„ washed theyr hands arose vp from the Table and the Bishop and his Chaplaine sayde grace deuously Then Huon tooke the Bishoppe by the hand and sayde Cozen wee will goe vp into the Pallaice and then you shall goe downe into your Shippe and shew them without they will die incontinent let them be christened and dresse vp Tubbes with water of the Sea and hallowe you it and christen them therein and I shall come after you with my sword and cleane armed to the entent that if they refuse thus to doe I shall strike oft their heades Sir quoth the Bishop I shall doe your pleasure Then Huon armed himselfe and went after the Bishoppe and his Nephewe downe to the shippe and when they came there they found Elinas the Maister of them who had preached so much vnto the Sarazins that hée had conuerted them all except Tenne they bare him in hand that they were glad to bee christened but theyr thoughtes were otherwise for they Ten had concluded in their courages not to renounce the Lawe of Mahomet for to beleeue vppon Iesus Christ but they were content to be christened to the entent that they would not die there for famine When Huon and the Bishop was come vnto them the Bishop sayd Sirs I require you all to shew me your intention that if with a good heart not coloured you will become christened and beléeue on the Law of God the Father and of his Son our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ and leaue the false and detestable Lawe of Mahound the which is nothing woorth Sir quoth they all shortly deliuer vs for wee bee so hungrie and thirstie that we are almost famished the which ouer-presseth vs so much that we can no longer endure nor suffer it and when Huon had well heard them he humbly thanked our Lord
hee sawe a far off where the Griffen came flying from the place as shee had doone the day before and came and sat downe vppon the same Maste beholdinge the dead men that lay vnder her which of them she might take to her pray Huon beheld her and sawe howe that she was a cruell Foule Her necke was maruailous great her eies as great as a Bason and more redder then the mouth of a fournace and her tallants so great and so long that fearefull it was to behold her and then at last she lighted downe into the Shippe and tooke one of the dead bodies in her tallants and so mounted into the ayre and flew the same way as she did the day before Huon beheld the Griffen well and saw how that she flew to the white Rocke This Rocke was called the Rocke of Alexander for when Alexander passed the deserts of India and went to speake with the Trées of the Sunne and of the Moone hee came vnto the same Rocke and at his returne he bathed him in a Fountaine neere to the Rocke and there hee taried a certaine space and sawe there many thinges Now let vs leaue speaking of this Rocke and returne vnto Huon who fixed his courage that hee determined to bee borne from thence by the Griffen and sayd within himselfe that he hadde rather aduenture death then to abide any longer there for hee had so great a desire to see his Wife and his Child that he put from him all feare of death When Huon sawe that the Griffen was gone with her pray he went to the Bishoppe and vnto his companie and shewed vnto them all that hee had seene and thought to doe and when they all had heard Huon they beganne pitifully to weepe and wrang their handes and did tare their haire making the greatest sorrow and greefe in the world and cryed out and said Ah Coozen quoth the Bishop by the grace of God you shall neuer take vppon you such a follie you ought not io seeke your owne death sooner then it is the pleasure of God that your houre bée come Sir for Gods sake forsake vs not but tarrie heere with vs. Freendes quoth Huon when I remember the danger that I left my wife and my child and my Citie and Lords and Burgesses and Communaltie in my heart is so sorowfull and so agreeued there at that it neere hande slayeth mee you shall abide heere in the sauegard of our Lord God and I will take the aduenture that God will send me and I pray you to speake no more vnto me in this matter for by the grace of God I will venture it When they sawe that they could not turne Huon from his Enterprize the sorrowe that they made no man can declare that night they passed in great sorrowe and dolour vntill the next morning that Huon arose Then hee came to the Bishop and was confessed and receiued at his hand then he dined wel with his companie and then after dinner hée went and armed himselfe in double armour and with maile vppon his Legges and helmet vpon his head and guirded his Sword about him and when hee was readie and that it was time to depart hee tooke his leaue of the Bishop and of all the other and commended them all into the sauegard of almightie God When the good Bishop sawe his departure hee made great sorrow and so did all the other but none of them durst speake any more vnto him the Bishop embraced him at his departing and sayde Coozen into the sauegard of almightie God and of his Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ I commend you and that he may of his grace preserue you from all your enemies Sir quoth Huon the great desire that I haue to ayd and succor her whome I left in great pouertie and doubt of her life constrayneth me thus to depart for if I goe not by this meanes I must euer abide heere and then I shall breake my promise vnto her but by the grace of God I will keepe my faithfull promise Thus I recommend you vnto God and then he departed from them and passed out of the gate and went downe the staires and so came into the shippe and then hee looked into the Sea and sawe where the Griffen was comming and when hee perceiued that he lay downe among the dead men with his sword naked in his hand and held it vpon his thigh because it should not fall into the Sea and assoone as hee was layd crewling amonge the dead men the Griffen came and alighted vppon the shippe Mast as she was accustomed to doe and she was so heauie and so great as is aforesaid that the Mast was neere hand broken asunder When Huon saw that he was in great feare and called vppon our Lord Iesus Christ for aid and succour and to saue him from the cruel Griffen and the Grâ—ffen looking for her pray saw where Huon lay armed whereby hée seemed more greater then any of the other dead men the Griffen desired to haue him vnto her nest to giue him vnto her young birds and then she came downe into the shippe and tooke Huon in her clawes and strained him so faste by both sides that her clawes entred into the flesh for all his armour so that the bloud yssued out and Huon was in that distresse that all his bodie trembled and pitiously he called vppon our Lord God for ayd and succour but he durst not stirre for any paine that he felt the Griffen did beare him so hie and so farre that in lesse then thrée houres she did beare him vnto the white Rocke and there layde him downe and for trauaile that the Griffen had she flew down the Rocke to a Fountaine to drink the which Fountaine was of such great vertue that the bountie thereof could not bée described and Huon who lay vppon the Rocke was sore wearie and faint for the bloud that hee had lost hee thought within himselfe that if euer hee woulde escape from that daunger it was time for him then to shewe his Prowesse then he arose vp and looked round about him and sawe how that there was neere him a faire Forrest and then hee prayed vnto our Lord God to ayd and succour him to depart from thence in sauegard and that hee might once againe returne into his owne Countrey to see his Wife and Child whome hee so well loued then anone he saw the Griffen who had seene Huon rise vp then she came with her mouth open to haue deuoured Huon but hee was replenished with his Prowesse and came against the Griffen who had her pawes readie open to haue griped Huon but hee who was light and quicke gaue the Griffen such a stroake with his Swoord that he strake off one of her feete by the ioynt and so the Griffen fell to the earth and gaue such a crie that the young Griffens being in their nest in the Forrest heard the crie and knewe well that it was
was to behold them This Garden was so faire that it seemed rather a Paradice then a thing terrestriall For out of this Garden there yssued such a smell and odour that Huon thought that all the balme and spicerie in the world could not cast out so swéet a smell Ah good Lord quoth Huon what place is this that I am in for if the Griffen had not béen here I would haue thought that I had béen in Paradice good Lord God I pray thee to aid and succor mee in all mine affaires and enterprizes and at this time that I be not lost nor dead Chap. CXI ¶ Howe an Angell appeared vnto Huon and commaunded him to gather three Apples of the Tree by the Fountaine and no more and how the Angell shewed him tidings of his wife the faire Escleremond and of his Daughter Clariet and shewed him the way that hee should goe from thence THus as yee haue heard Huon deuised by himselfe at the Fountaine then hée went againe to the Trée and saide that hee would eat of that fruit and gather thereof as much as should suffice him for sixe dayes and in that space he trusted to come to some place whereas hee should haue meat sufficient Thus as hee was going towards the Trée suddainly there appeared vnto him a light shining that hee thought hee was rauished in Heauen among the Angels therewith hee heard a voice Angelicall that said Huon know for troth that our Lord God commandeth thée not to bee so hardy as to gather any more fruite of that Tree except thrée Apples the which God is well content that thou shalt gather and no more heereafter they shall serue thée well so that thou doest kéepe them cleane and worthily as they ought to be kept it shall not bee long ere thou shalt haue great neede of them the fruit of this Trée is called the fruit of youth it hath such vertue that if a man of Four-score or of a Hundred yeares of age doe eate thereof hee shall become againe as young as he was at the age of Thirtie yeares in yonder Garden thou maist goe and gather there of the fruit at thy pleasure and eate what thou list but eate no more of this that thou hast eaten of and therefore beware I charge thée gather no more thereof except the said thrée Apples Knowe for troth that if thou breakest my commaundement the fruit shall bee dearely sold vnto thee Sir quoth Huon laud and praise be giuen to our Lord God my Creatour when hee sheweth his grace vnto mée that am so poore a sinner and that hee will thus visit mée I shall neuer consent to breake his commaundement I had rather die then so to doe my bodie and my Soule I recommend vnto his good grace But thou the Messenger of God I require thee to shew me how doth my wife Escleremond and Clariet my Daughter whome I haue left in my Citie of Bourdeaux besieged by the Emperour Tirrey of Almaine I haue great feare that they be famished within the Citie and my Lords and company that I left there with her slaine and dead Fréend quoth the voice know for certaine that the Citie of Bourdeaux is taken and all thy men dead or taken and thy wife in prison in the great Tower of Mayence whereas the Emperour Tirrey keepeth her straightly and thy Daughter Clariet is at Cluny in the Abbey whereas shee is well serued and the Abbot who hath alwaies loued thée he hath her in his keeping and shée is as well cherished there euen as she were his owne Daughter Sir quoth Huon and why was shee brought thether Huon quoth the Voice knowe well that Barnard thy coozen Germaine brought her thether Fréend quoth Huon I pray you to shew me if Gerames Richard and Othon be aliue or not Freend quoth the Voice at the taking of the Citie they were slaine by the Emperour When Huon had well heard those pitifull tidings he began tenderly to weepe complayning for the faire Escleremond his wife and for the death of the old Gerames and said Fréend I require you to shew mee if euer I shall escape considering that I am heere closed in with the Sea the which goeth round about this Rocke I sée no way to goe out thereof gladly I would knowe if euer I shall returne into my Countrey to sée my Wife and Daughter who are in great feare and daunger Huon quoth the Voice comfort thy selfe thou shalt sée them againe thy Wife Escleremond and thy Daughter Clariet and thy good Citie of Bourdeaux but ere thou shalt come there thou shalt suffer much paine and bee in great feare and danger the Emperour Tirrey hath conquered all thy Countrey and Geronnell is vnder his obeysance with the Citie of Bourdeaux Then Huon sware and made promise that if our Lord Iesus Christ would giue him the grace that he might returne into his own Countrey that surely he would slay the Emperor Tirrey whatsoeuer end come thereof Messenger of God I require you to shew mée by what manner of wayes I may passe out of this Rocke Huon quoth the Voice goe to the said Trée and gather the thrée Apples as I haue saide vnto thée before and keepe them well and cleanly for thou shalt heereafter haue so much profit by them that at the end thou shalt come vnto thy desire and will and shalt bee out of thy great paine trouble and thought take this little path that thou séest here vppon thy right hand and so goe thou downe vnto the foote of the Rocke and there thou shalt find a faire cleare water and thereuppon a faire shippe enter into it but first goe into the Garden and gather fruit to serue thée as long as thou shalt be in the shippe then vnloose the shippe from the chaine that it is tyed by and let the shippe goe whether as it will vntill it commeth to the Port whereas thou shalt arriue but bee thou sure before thou commest there thou shalt be in as great feare as euer thou wert in all the dayes of thy life nor thou wert neuer in so great perill I commend thee into the sauegard of our Lord Iesus Christ I goe my way and leaue thee héere Then Huon knéeled downe and held vp his hands and said Ah thou verie Messenger of God I require thee to haue me recommended vnto my Creatour Huon quoth the Voice be of good comfort for as longe as thou art true and faithfull thou â—haâ—t haue ayde and succour of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ and shalt attaine to thy desires but ere thou commest thereto thou shalt suffer much paine and feare but after as I haue said thou shalt haue wealth inough exalt al thy Feends Huon was glad of that the Voice had said vnto him but he was in great displeasure in that his Wife the faire Escleremond was Prisoner in the great Tower of the City of Mayence and of the death of the old Gerames and of other
was waxed so feeble that he could scarce sustaine himselfe vppon his feete and vpon the eleauenth day at the Sunne rising hee sawe appeare the clearnesse of the day light and then he was out of the darknes and entred into the Sea of Persia the which was so pleasant and peaceable that great pleasure it was to behold it and then the Sunne arose and spread abroad his streames and spheares vppon the Sea whereof Huon was so ioyfull as though he had neuer felt paine nor feare then a farre off hee saw appeare before him a faire great Citie and in the hauen therof there were so many shippes and Galleys that their Mastes seemed to bée a great Forrest whereof Huon hadde such ioy at his heart that he knéeled downe lifting by his hands vnto Heauen and humbly thanking our Lord God that hee had saued him from this perilous Gulfe This Citie was called the great Citie of Thauris in Persia the Lord thereof was a puissant Admirall who had made to be proclaimed and published that all manner of Marchaunts by land or by Sea that would come to his Citie should haue frée going and frée comming without lette or disturbance either in their bodies or goods whether they were christian men or Sarazins so that if they lost the worth of a penny they should haue againe foure times the value thereof and the same time that Huon came and arriued at that Port was the day of their frée Feast wherefore there was so much people of diuers Landes that they could not well bee numbred When Huon was come into the Port hee cast his anchor neere vnto the bancke-side and was right ioyfull when hee sawe himselfe that he was vppon the firme land and then hee had great desire to knowe in what place hee was arriued in and whether hee was arriued at a good Port or no Now lette vs leaue speaking of the good Duke Huon vntill wee haue occasion to returne vnto him againe Chap. CXIII ¶ How Sir Barnard departed from the Abbey of Cluny and went to seeke for Huon his Cozen whom he found at the Port of the great Citie of Thauris YE haue heard heere before howe after the taking of Bourdeaux Barnard who was Cozen vnto Huon had borne Clariet Huons child into Burgoine and deliuered her to bee kept with the good Abbot of Cluny After that Barnard had taried there the space of eight dayes he was wearie with being there and vpon a day hee sayde vnto the Abbot Ah Sir I would at the taking of Bourdeaux I had béen slaine with my Cozen Gerames for when I remember my good Lord Huon my heart fayleth mee in such wise that it is great paine for mee to beare the sorrow that I endure and afterward when I remember the Duchesse Escleremond his Wife who endureth such miserie that it is pitie to thinke thereof doubleth the sorrowe and greefe that I haue at my heart Alas what shall Huon say if hee returne and find his Citie taken his men taken and destroyed and his Wife in Prison in great pouertie and miserie I feare mee that hee will die for sorrowe Alas I sée all that I haue is loste for the loue of Huon my Lord for the which I care little for if hee bee in safetie aliue and that hee may returne againe and I am in great displeasure that wée can heare no newes of him since hée departed from Bourdeaux I shall neuer rest as longe as I liue vntill I haue found him or heare some certaine newes of him Cozen quoth the Abbot if you will enter into this enquest you should doe mee great pleasure and for the great desire that I haue had that you should goe this Voyage I will giue you a Thousand Florents towardes your iourney Sir quoth Barnard I thanke you Then the Abbot deliuered him the money and Barnard made him readie to depart the next day and so hee did and tooke his leaue of the Abbot and departed and rested not vntill hee came to Venyce whereas hee found Galleys readie to goe to the holy Sepulchre whereof hee was right ioyfull and so sayled foorth vntill they came to the Port Iaffe whereas hee went a shoare with other Pilgrims and euer as he passed by the other Ports he euer demanded for Huon but he could neuer find any man that coulde shewe vnto him any manner of newes of him and then he departed from the Port Iaste and went vnto Ierusalem whereas he taried eight dayes Then when hee had done his Pilgrimage he tooke forth his iourney vnto Kayre in Babilon and when he came to Gasere which standeth at the entring of the Desarts hee met with many Marchants who were going to the frée Feast which was holden in the great Citie of Thauris Then hee thought to demaund of them whether so much people were going and all in one companie and he spake vnto a Marchant of Geanes and demaunded of him whether so much people went together in one companie for they were to the number of six-score Marchants christian men and hee Then the Marchant saide Sir as mee thinketh by you you are of the Countrey of Fraunce I shall shew you whether we goe Sir within this eight dayes the frée Feast shal be at the great Citie of Thauris whereas there shall come a great number of Marchants as well Christian men as Sarazins as wel by land as by Sea and there is nothing in this mortall world but there you shall find it and heare of all manner of newes from all the parts of the world Nowe I haue shewed you whether wee are going I pray you shewe mee whether you would goe and whome you doe seeke for Sir quoth Barnard knowe for troth that I am of the Realme of Fraunce and I doe séeke for a Knight who is Lord of Bourdeaux and is called Huon and it is longe since I departed out of my Countrey and I could neuer heare any thing of his life nor death Sir quoth the Geneuoys if euer you shall heare of him if you will beléeue mée you shall goe with vs into the Realme of Persia to the frée Feast at the great Citie of Thauris Sir quoth Barnard in a good houre I haue met with you I shall not leaue your companie vntill you come there to sée if God will send mee so good fortune as to find him that I seeke for Then the Marchants departed and road all together vntill they came vnto the great Citie of Thauris and when they were lodged they went about their marchandize whereas they lysted Thus Barnard was eight dayes in the Citie going heere and there euer enquiring newes for him whome he sought for and vppon a day he went down to the Port vnto the Sea-side whereas many Shippes and Galleys lay at anchor and as hée looked about he saw neere to the Sea-side a little proper Vessell maruailously faire and the neerer he came vnto it the fairer and richer it seemed for he saw great clearnesse
and shining within it by reason of the rich stones that were therein wherof he had great maruaile and especially because hee saw within the Shippe but one man cleane armed hee wist not what to thinke but he thought that he was christened then he approached neere to the Shippe and saluted Huon and sayde Sir God giue you good aduenture for me thinkes you bee a Christian man Fréend quoth Huon God saue thée me thinkes by thy speach that thou wert borne in the good Countrey of France by reason that thou speakest French for I haue great ioy when I heare that language spoken and fréend I require thée to shew me where thou wert borne and what thou séekest for heere Sir quoth Barnard séeing you will know of my businesse I shall shew you as he that is right sorrowfull and heauie and little shall you winne thereby when you doe know it but séeing that it is your pleasure I shall shewe you the troth Sir I was borne in the good Citie of Bourdeaux whereas I haue left my house and heritage to séeke for my good Lord somtime Lord of the same Citie and he was called Duke Huon who went from Bourdeaux to séeke for some succour whiles the City was besieged and so it is my Lord Huon returned not nor it cannot bee knowne where he is become and because the Citie at his departing was beséeged by the Emperour of Almaine and the Citie but ill fournished with victuall to maintaine it long and also it was so sore beaten with Engins that the Emperor wanne the Citie perforce and slew all those that my Lord Huon had lefte there except thrée Hundred the which were taken Prisoners by the Emperour and led into the Citie of Mayence with the noble Duchesse Escleremond wife vnto my good Lord Huon and shee is kept in a straighc Prison whereas she spendeth her dayes miserably whereof my heart is in such sorrowe and gréefe that when I remember them it neere hand slayeth my heart When Huon hadde well heard and vnderstood Barnard hee knew him well but hee had no power to speake any word vnto him his heart was so full of sorrow and gréefe for that his Cozen Barnard had shewed him and the chéefest of his sorrow was for the trouble of his wife the faire Lady Escleremond who was in great perill of death Thus Huon was a great space and could speake no word for sorrow and gréefe and wist not what to doe and also hee saw his Coozen Barnard who hadde taken great paines to search for him whereof hee had such pitie that the teares fell from his eyes When Barnard saw that the Knight gaue him no answeare and beheld vnder the ventaile of his helmet the teares of water fell downe from his eyes hee was thereof so dismayed and abashed that he wist not what to say Then hee sayde Sir mee thinkes you are a Christian man and because I see and perceiue in you that you are a man that hath beene in many places and Countreys therefore I desire you to shewe mee if you heard euer any manner of speaking of my good Lord Huon Duke of Bourdeaux whome I haue sought for in many Countreys both by land and by Sea and I could neuer heare any certaine tidings of him whereof I am right sorrie for if I can heare no word of him by you I will neuer hope more to haue any knowledge of him I thinke I shall haue some knowledg by you if he be aliue for if I knowe nothing by you I will neuer séeke him further but I will goe into a Desart vnto some solitarie place and there to doe penance and to pray vnto God for my good Lord Huon and to pardon me of all my sinnes and offences and I require you in the name of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to shewe mee what you bée and where you were borne and from whence you come that hath brought in your shippe so great riches for I knowe certainly that in all Fraunce cannot bee found the value of so great riches nor the puissant Charlemaine coulde neuer assemble together such riches as you haue in your Shippe When Huon had well heard Barnard hee sayde Freend I haue great maruaile of that I heare you say for in my Shippe I knowe neither gould nor siluer nor none other thing but my bodie and mine armour Sir quoth Barnard beware what you say for the riches that I see in your Shippe if you will sell it you may fill againe your shippe with monney if you will beleeue me the Treasure and riches that you haue brought in your Shippe the value thereof cannot bee estéemed When Huon heard that he had great maruaile and was right ioyfull then he looked downe into the bottome of the Shippe and saw the rich stones there lying among the grauell the which he neuer tooke heede of before for when he did cast it into his Ship hee thought all had beene but grauell to ballaice his Shippe withall that it might sayle the more surely Then Barnard sayd Sir I pray you hide it not from mee where haue you had this Treasure and in what Countrey all the stones that bee there I knowe the vertue of them all for since I came out of my Countrey I was a whole yeare with the best Lapidarie and knower of stones that was in all the world and he taught me his Science Sir surely the place whereas you had them in is of great dignitie Freend quoth Huon I shall shewe you the troth fortune brought me by the Gulfe of Persia whereas as I suffered much paine and trouble but thanked be God I escaped from that hard aduenture the force of the winde that came out of the Gulfe draue my Shippe out of the streame to the land and when I sawe that I was so néere to the land I went out of the shippe and tooke a scoope and therewith I did cast into the shippe some store of the grauell that lay by the sea side to ballays my shippe therewith not knowing that any precious stones had beene amonge the grauell and when I thought that I cast in sufficient I entred againe into my ship and so sayled foorth more surely then I did before there I had these stones that be in this shippe the which yée say be of so great value Sir quoth Barnard I pray you wherefore serueth yonder foote of a great Foule or beast that I see hange yonder in your Shippe I cannot tell whether it be of a Foule or of a Dragon for it is a fearfull thing to behold Fréend quoth Huon anone I shall shew you but first I pray you shewe mee what vertue and bountie are in these stones the which you haue so much praised and also to shew me vnto whome this noble Citie appertaineth Sir quoth Barnard this Citie is called Thauris whereof is Lord a rich Admirall who is Lord of all Persia and of Media who when hee shall bee aduertised of your
in the wound and incontinent he shall be whole When Huon heard that hee was right ioyfull and said that hee would keepe well that stone Sir quoth Barnard heere is another the which hath so great vertue that if a man or woman bée neuer so sicke shewe them but this stone and incontinent they shall be whole of any manner of maladie and also if a man were closed in prison in chaines and fetters handes and feet doe but touch them with this stone and the chaines shall breake and also if any man haue any cause to be pleaded in any Court before any Iudge be his matter rightfull or wrongfull hee shall winne his cause whether it bee for Landes or Goods and also if a man haue this stone in his hande and close it hee shall bee inuisible and may go whereas he list and shall not bee seene And you shall sée the proofe for as he had this stone in his hand he closed it and incontinent he was inuisible so that Huon could not see him whereof he was not content for he feared least that hee had lost his Cosen Barnard foreuer and sayd Ah good Lord thou hast giuen mee the grace to find my coosen Barnard who should haue kept me companie vntill I had returned into mine owne countrey and now I see well that I haue lost him When Barnard hearde Huon hee laughed and Huon who heard him groaped all about with his armes abroad vntill at last he embraced him and held him fast and when Barnard felt that hee opened his hande and then Huon sawe him againe whereof hee was right ioyfull and blessed him at the vertue of that stone and tooke it and layde it vp amonge the other in his bagge and sayd how that he would keepe that stone especially because it was of such a woonderfull great vertue Thus Barnard did choose out the stones one from another and there were so many good stones that the value of them coulde not be esteemed then hee turned vp the bottome of the grauell to seeke out the best and among other hee did choose out a Carbouncle the which cast out such a light as though twoo Torches had beene light Barnard tooke it and deliuered it vnto Huon and said Sir bee you sure that whosoeuer beares this stone vppon him may goe drie footed vppon the water as sure as though hee were in a Vessell and also if a man goe in the darke night he shall sée as well as though he had the light of sixe Torches and if a man bee in battaile hauing this stone about him hee cannot bee ouercome nor hurt nor his horse weari◠nor faint nor hurt nor wounded When Huon heard that hee smiled and tooke the stone and put into his bagge among the other Thus as they were deuising together there came vnto them diuers Marchants Sarazins who with great maruaile beheld this little shippe and they sawe it so faire and rich and so wel garnished with precious stones that they thought that all the marchandize that were in the Hauen was not halfe the value and woorth of that they sawe there then they approached vnto the shippe and saluted Huon and sayde Sirs is it your pleasure to sell vs any of your stones wee are heere diuers Marchants that will bee glad to buy of them if yee please Sirs quoth Huon as for mée as this day I will sell none vntill to morrow in the morning and then if it please yée you shall haue of them therewith the Marchants held their peace and spake no more but there came so many Sarazins and Paynims to behold the Shippe that great maruaile it was to behold them so that the newes thereof spread abroad in the City and the Admirall was aduertized thereof who incontinent accompanied with his Lords came to the Port side whereas this Ship lay at anchor When the Admirall was come thether he beheld the Ship the which hee thought faire and rich and how that there was neuer Kinge nor Emperour that euer behelde any such and it shined so cleare by reason of the stones that the Admirall and all such as were with him thought that it had been the Sunne shining in the middest of the day Then hée approached vnto the shippe and found there Huon and Barnard the Admirall saluted them and said Sirs it appeareth well that you be Christian men it is conuenient that you pay mee the Tribute that is accustomed to be payd in this Citie Sir quoth Huon it is good reason and right that we pay you as we ought to doe Sir heere is twoo stones the which I giue you and I desire you to take them in woorth the Admirall tooke the stones and beheld them well and said Fréend nowe you may goe and come into this Citie to make your marchandize at your pleasure to your most profite and gaine for the guift that you haue giuen me is to me more acceptable then if you had giuen mee the value of foure of the best Cities in all this Countrey right ioyfull was the Admirall for hee knewe well the vertue of the stones the one of them was of such bountie and dignitie that the bearer thereof could not bee poysoned nor no treason could be done nor purposed comming in the presence of him that beareth this stone but incontinent the dooer should fall downe dead and the other stone had that vertue and dignitie that the bearer thereof coulde neuer bee perished by fire nor water nor destroyed by yron for though hee were all a day burning in a hot Ouen or Fournace hee should not loose one haire of his head nor perish in the Sea Fréende quoth the Admirall the courtesie that you haue done vnto mee this day shall be well rewarded I will and commaund that throughout my Realme as well of Persia as of Media that you shall goe at your pleasure to sell your Marchandize and no man shall let nor trouble you but one thinge I would desire of you to shewe mee what aduenture hath brought you hether and of whence you bee and of what Countrey and in what place you haue founde these stones whereof you haue so great plentie howbeit I vnderstand your language whereby I knowe that you bee French-men longe agoe I was in Fraunce and dwelt there and serued in the Court of Kinge Charlemaine and was neuer knowne and I haue great maruaile where you haue found so many goodly stones it is neere hand a Hundred yeares since I was guirded with a Swoord but I neuer sawe so rich stones heere before Chap. CXV ¶ How the Admirall of Persia did great honor vnto Huon of Bourdeaux and ledde him into his Pallaice whereas he was receiued with great ioy and triumph WHen Huon of Bourdeaux had well heard and vnderstood the Admirall he regarded him much because hee was a faire olde man and séemed to be a noble man and sayd Sir because I knowe and sée apparantly in you great noblenesse troth and fréedome I shall
shew you at length all mine aduentures without hyding of any thinge from you Sir knowe for troth my name is Huon and I was borne in the Countrey of Fraunce in a Citie named Bourdeaux and I departed from thence about two yeres past since the which time I haue suffered much paine and pouertie When I departed from thence I had with mee Seauen Knightes and my Chaplaine and a Clarke to serue him and we tooke our Shippe at Bourdeaux and wee sayled downe the Riuer vntill wee came into the maine Sea then the wind rose against vs and so continued a long space so that our Patrone knew not where he was and so at the last we came to a Port whereas wee found many shippes of strang Countreys and there we got vs a new Patron and as shortly as we might wée sayled foorth on our iourney But when wée were come againe into the hye Sea a great Tempest arose so that wee were neere hand all perished this Tempest endured Tenne dayes so that wee were faine to abandon our shippe to the wind and vppon the eleauenth day we arriued at the perilous Gulfe whereas wee found Iudas who betrayed our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ wee were then in such feare that wee looked for nothinge but when wee shoulde perish and end our liues but God alwayes his Seruants and such as beleeue in his holy Lawes and keepe his Commaundements will euer kéepe and preserue them hee sent vs a wind the which draue vs from that perilous Gulfe and brought vs vnto the Castle of the Adamant and there hee shewed the Admirall at length the beautie of that Castle and howe there arriued a shippe with Sarazins who were Pirats of the Sea and howe they fought together and also he shewed him all the aduentures of the Castle that he had there as well of his men that dyed by famine as of them that hee left there and also hee discoursed howe hee â—ame by victuâ—ls and also hee shewed how hee departed from thence and was borne away by the Griffen and how he strake off one of her Legges when hee fought with her after the Griffen had set him vppon the Rocke the which Legge hee shewed vnto the Admirall whereof he had woonderfull great maruell and then also he shewed him how he fought with the fiue young Griffens and slew them and also of the old Griffen and also of the Fountaine wherein hee bathed himselfe and of the faire Garden and of the Trée of youth that stood by the Fountaine and of the vertue of the fruit thereof and howe hee did gather of the same and more woulde haue done but that hee was forbidden so to doe by an Angell sent from God but before I was commaunded to the contrarie I did both eat of the fruit and dranke of the water of the Fountaine whereby I was whole incontinent of all the great wounds that the Griffens had giuen mée when I slewe them And Sir quoth Huon knowe for troâ—h that of this Trée I gathered thrée apples by the commandement of the Angell and haue kept thâ—m surely then the Angâ—ll shâ—wed mée the way howe I shoulde goe from the Rocke and vnder the Rock side I found a great faire Riuer and there I found this shippe that we be now in and entred into it and then there came a wind quoth he and draue my shippe so fast that a bird could not haue ouertaken it Then hee discoursed vnto the Admirall howe hee passed by â—he Gulfe of Persia and what torments hee suffered there and howe hee was there ten dayes and how he was driuen to the shâ—are whereas he found â—hose precious stones and he thought that it had beene nothing 〈◊〉 grauâ—ll and that hee purposed nothing else but to ballâ—â—ice therewith his ship that the ship might sayle the more surely and he saide Sir God vppon whome I stedfastly beleeue so aided and succoured mee that I am escaped from thence in sauegard When the Admirall had well heard and vnderstood Huon hee had great maruaile for hee neuer heard before of so great and woonderfull aduentures and was sore dismayed and abashed and saide Fréend I haue great maruaile of that I haue heard you say for it is neere hand six-score yeares since I came first into this world and I neuer heard that euer any man escaped aliue out of the Gulfe of Persia therefore you may well say that the God vpon whome you doe stedfastly beleeue hath shewed that hee loueth you well when hee hath saued and preserued you out of that perilous Gulfe your God is puissant and loueth all men that stedfastly and vnfainedly beleeue in his holy Lawes and keepe his Commaundements and hee is false and vntrue that beleeueth not in his Lawes but hee loueth you well when hee hath deliuered you out of twoo such Gulfes and also from the Castle of the Adamant from whence none can depart nor neuer did nor I thinke neuer shall and also hath suffered you to slay the Griffens surely you ought to loue him that hath giuen you that grace and for the great maruailes that he hath done vnto you I will be christened and receiue your Lawe but I feare me if my Lords and men knewe thereof they would slay me shortly for against them all I cannot resist Sir quoth Huon to the entent that you should haue the firmer beléefe in our Lord Sauiour Iesus Christ I haue three Apples the which haue such vertue in them that if you will beleeue in our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ I shall giue you one of them the which you shall eate and incontinent after you haue eaten it you shall become young againe of the age of Thirtie yeares and you shall bâ—e as faire and as lustie as you were when you were of that age there is not so olde a man nor so crooked if hee eate of this and beleeue firmely and vnfainedly in our Lord Iesus Christ but hee shall become as yong and as lusty as he was at Thirtie yéeres of age Freend quoth the Admirall if it bee so that by eating of this Apple I shall become as young and as lusty as I was at Thirtie yéeres of age whatsoeuer come of mée I will bee christened and beleeue in the Lawe of Iesus Christ the feare of death shall not let me to doe it for too longe I haue beleeued in this false and detestable Lawe of Mahomet for if I hadde neither seene nor heard no more then you haue shewed vnto mée I ought to beleeue yet in your Law and I shall doe so much that I trust I shall cause all my Realme to beleeue in the same Sir quoth Huon and if you doe as you say you shall be saued and I shall giue you the Apple the which you shall eat in the presence of all your Lordes and men and when they shall sée you waxe young againe know for troth that maruaile thereof shall cause them to beleeue in our Lord Iesus Christ and to
christened for Sir I am heere readie to doe it Then incontinent there was brought foorth Fortie great Vessels full of cleare water the Bishop did hallowe them and christened the Admirall and named him Huon because Huon was his Godfather Then afterward all the Lords and people were christened and receiued the Lawe of our Sauiour and Redéemer Iesus Christ When they were all christened the Admirall with great triumph and ioy returned vnto his Pallaice leading Huon by the hand and great ioy and feasting was made that day in the Citie and especially of the Christian Marchants that were there among the which there were about fiftéene Priests and they all aided the Bishoppe to christen the people the number could not be declared of the men women and children that receiued that day christendome The Admirall being in his Pallaice making great ioy and Feasting with the noble Duke Huon of Bourdeaux sayd vnto him Freend well you ought to render thankes to our Lord Iesus Christ séeing by you these two Realmes that is to say Persia and Media are reduced and brought vnto the Christian faith and Lawe and I will that you knowe that you may well say that in these two Realmes you may commaund any thing at your pleasure without finding any person to doe or say to the contrarie of your will and pleasure and to the entent that you shall surely beleeue what great loue and affection I beare vnto you I will that mine all onely Daughter you shall haue to your wife so that you be not bound vnto none other Sir knowe for troth the great desire that I haue to haue you tarie still heere with me mooueth mee thus to doe I haue none other heire but my Daughter whereby after my death you shall bee Lorde and heire of the Realmes and Dominions that I hold and in the meane season I will that the moitie of the reuenewes of these Realmes and Dominions shall bee yours for your companie pleaseth mée so entirely that I would neuer haue you to depart from hence Chap. CXVII ¶ Of the complaints that Huon made vnto the Admirall of Persia vppon the Emperour of Almaine and of the succours that the Admirall promised vnto Huon WHen Huon had well vnderstood the Admirall hee saide Sir knowe for troth that it is foure yéeres passed since I was maried vnto a noble Ladie who passeth in beautie all other that be aliue in these dayes and when I remember her all my bodie and heart trembleth for sorrow when I thinke of the trouble displeasure and pouertie that shee is in and therefore Sir I thanke you of the great honour and courtesie that of your bountie you offer mée I pray vnto God that hee may reward you Huon quoth the Admirall seeing it is so that you haue a Wife I hold you wel excused but I pray you to shew vnto me for what cause your Wife is in such case or what Christian Prince is so hardie as to trouble you or to doe you any displeasure Sir quoth Huon when I came out of my Countrey I left my Citie of Bourdeaux besieged by the Emperour of Almaine who hath taken my Citie and slaine my men and some hee keepeth in seruage and my Wife put in prison and there kept in great pouertie and miserie the which when I remember sorrowe and gréefe so sore gripeth my heart that all my members and ioynts tremble with displeasure Huon quoth the Admirall I pray you to leaue your sorrow and displeasure and cast it from you and take ioy and comfort for by the holy law that I haue receiued I shall so ayde and succour you that the Emperour who hath done vnto you so many displeasures I shall make him such warre that whether he will or not for the dammage and losse that you haue had and receiued I shall constraine him to make full restitution for I shall lead with me in your company such number of people that all the Valleys and Mountaines shall be couered with them Sir quoth Huon of the courtesie and succour that you offer me I humbly thanke you but if it please our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ who hath ayded mee out of many perils I hope that he will so aide mee that I shall not neede to make any warre to destroy the Christian bloud but Sir first I shall goe to the holy Sepulchre and then I will returne into my Countrey and doe what I can to get my Wife out of daunger and the paine that shee is in Sir the wife that I haue wedded was Daughter to the Admirall Gaudise who held as then Babilon and all the Realme of Egipt Then Huon shewed him all the matter how he came by the faire Escleremond whereof the Admirall was sore abashed for the great maruailes that hee hadde heard Huon declare and so were all other that heard it and said one to another that without Huon had beene well beloued of our Lord Iesus Christ hée could neuer haue escaped the death with one of the least aduentures that he had shewed vnto the Admirall Sir quoth Huon the Emperour of Almaine hath taken my Citie and my Wife and destroyed my men and hath taken into his handes all my Lands and Signiories but by the grace of God I shal doe so much to get them againe and if I cannot attaine thereto then I shall returne againe vnto you to haue your succour and ayd Huon quoth the Admirall put all melancholy from you for if you giue mee knowledge that you cannot haue your wil of this Emperour I shall bring you people innumerable that all Christendome shall tremble for feare of you and shall render vnto you your wife and al your Lands and Signiories and your men that bee in prison or in seruage and I shall put the Emperour into your hands to doe with him your pleasure or else I shal not leaue in all his Land neither Citie nor towne standing vppon the earth Sir quoth Huon of this I thanke you heartily but Sir I must woorke another way first for when I escaped from the Gulfe of Persia I promised vnto God that before I went into mine owne Countrey to goe and visite the holy Sepulchre in Ierusalem and to make warre vppon the Sarazins before I made any warre vppon any Christian men but Sir if I may get of the Emperour by faire speach my Landes and my wife I shall serue him with all my heart for as long as I liue I shall make no warre against any christian man if I may haue right and reason shewed vnto mee Sir quoth the Admirall of this that you say I giue you good thankes but by the grace of God I shall goe with you the Voyage to the holy Sepulchre and take with mee fiftie Thousand men to make warre against the Paynims and Sarazins such as beleeue not in God and I shall put to my paine with all my power to exalt and encrease the lawe of our Lord Iesus Christ Sir quoth Huon
you haue sayde nobly if you thus doe great grace and glorie perpetuall you shall deserue whereby you shal be crowned aboue in the Emperiall Heauen Nowe leaue wee to speake of this matter Chap. CXVIII ¶ Howe the Admirall of Persia assembled much people and hee and Huon with all his armie tooke the Sea and came to the Port before the Citie of Angory whereas they found a great number of Paynims and Sarazins readie to defend the Port. AFter that the Admirall and Huon had deuised together of many thinges the Admirall sent out his letters and bréefes commaunding through-out Persia and Media men of warre to bee readie and gaue them a day to bee readie to goe with him certifying them that his Nauie of Shippes should be readie for the transporting of him and them the which was done and euerie man came at the day that was assigned In the meane season Huon and Barnard went oftentimes together and visited the Citie of Thauris whereas much honour was made vnto them whereof Huon and Barnard oftentimes thanked God of the good aduenture that he had sent them Thus as yée haue heard the Admirall of Persia assembled a great number of people and made him readie and entred into his shippe and all other into diuers Shippes and shipped their Armour and horses and Huon who desired to please the Admirall tooke his owne little Shippe and discharged it and tooke all the precious stones did put them into another ship the which the Admirall had deliuered to serue him and then he sayd vnto the Admirall Sir I know well that the little ship that I came in hether is not to serue in the warres and therefore Sir as it is I doe giue it vnto you whereof the Admirall had great ioy for in all the world there was none such of beautie nor of riches Then Huon gaue the Admirall all a Bushell of the stones and vnto the Lordes together and they thanked Huon of his courtesie and Larges of all the stones he kept to his owne vse but thrée Hundred and gaue away all the residue Then hee entred into the Shippe that was appointed for him and then euerie man entred into their Shipps the which were well fournished and victualed for the wars then the Admirall tooke his leaue of his Daughter who pitifully wept at her Fathers departing and then they weighed vp anchors and hoysed vp the sayles and they had such good winde that anon they were farre from the Port A goodly sight it was to beholde the Nauie for at their departing they made such great noyse with Trumpets Drummes and Hornes that all the Sea did ring thereof Great ioy and gladnesse had Huon and Barnard of the grace that God had sent them so longe they sayled with good winde and sayle that they entred into the great Sea of Caspis and then they saw a farre off a faire City standing by the Sea-side called the Citie of Angory wherein there dwelt an Admirall right puissant and rich and the same time he was in one of his Towers of his Pallaice and when he saw and perceiued such a puissant Nauie come sayling so fast towardes his Citie hee had great maruaile and was sore dismayed and abashed for he knewe well that the Shippes were of Persia by the penons and banners that hee sawe wauing vppon the shippes and vpon the other part he sawe in the toppes and fore-castles baners standing all of white and therein red crosses then he said vnto his Lordes that were about him Sirs I am greatly dismayed and abashed what meaneth yonder great fléete séeing this Citie was wonne by Reignard of Montauban there came neuer Christian man heere and I haue more maruaile to sée the bannâ—rs and armes of Persia the which these Christian men doe bearâ— vpon their shippes Then the Admirall went downe and published in the Citie that euerie man should arme them and goe to the Port to defend it that the christian men should not land there then the crie and allarum began in the Citie so great and horrible with the noyse of Trumpets and Drummes Hornes and Basons so that the noyse of them range vppon the Sea so that the Admirall of Persia and Huon and such as were vpon the sea might well heare them Then the Admirall said vnto Huon Sir I see and perceiue well that at our landing wee shall haue great battaile and resistance Sir quoth Huon I pray you what people be they that haue that City in guiding and who is Lord thereof Sir quoth the Admirall knowe for troth that this Citie is great and well peopled they beleeue not in God and about Twentie yeares passed this Citie was wonne by a Lord of Fraunce called Reignard of Montauban and hee made it to bee christened and then about eight yeares after it was wonne againe vpon Christian men by the Admirals Sonne the which Admirall was Lord thereof when it was wonne And now againe they bee all Paynims and Sarazins as you may sée vpon the sea-side they are readie to abide for vs and to defend their Port. Sir quoth Huon we ought greatly to thanke our Lord Iesus Christ of this faire aduenture when we sée before vs the enemies of our Christian faith and by the grace of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ this day we shall doe so much that the Citie and the Inhabitants therein shall be in our handes to vse them at our pleasure Sir quoth the Admirall I beséech almightie God to giue vs the grace that it may be so great grace our Lord God shall doe vnto vs if wee may winne this Citie Then the Admirall caused his men to bee armed and then they sawe halfe a League from the Citie a Port or Hauen the which was not kept nor defended because the Admirall of Angory would not yssue out farre from his Citie vntill hee sawe what countenance the christian men would make Then the Admirall of Persia and Huon aduanced themselues so forward that they cast out their anchors and launched out their boats well garnished with men Archers and Crosbowes so that they landed at this Port in sauegard without any danger Then the shippes drew to the land and vnshipped their Armour and Horses and so euerie man landed except such as were assigned to keepe the shippes and then euerie man mounted vpon their horses and ordained three Battailes the first was led by Huon and with him twentie Thousand men of hautie and hye courage the second was ledde by a great Lord of Persia who was Marshall of the Hoast the third guided the Admirall of Persia who road from ranke to ranke admonishing his men to doe their endeauours valiantly then a soft pace they drewe in battaile array towards the Citie Chap. CXIX ¶ Howe the Admirall and Huon tooke the Port and fought with the Admirall of Angory and dicomfited him and tooke the Citie and howe afterward Huon went into the Deserts of Abillant to search aduentures WHen the Admirall of
to returne into the Desert whereas I shall die with famine and neuer more sée wife nor child but séeing it is thus I shall aduenture my selfe with him and if I may escape from this aduenture I shall goe to the holy Sepulchre whereas our Lorde Iesus Christ was quicke and dead and then I shall make warre vpon the Sarazins Then Duke Huon tooke vppon him heart and courage and with the Mall vppon his necke hee marched foorth fiercely then hee called the enemy and said Oh thou that kéepest this Vessell and passage passe me incontinent ouer this Sea and set me a land vpon the other side When the Diuell sawe Huon with the Mall vppon his necke and speaking so fiercely hee said What art thou whether wilt thou goe or what doest thou seeke for héere or how art thou so bold to come hether thou shalt neuer goe further but I shall cast thee into the Sea or strangle thée and then beare thy Soule into Hell When Huon heard him he beganne to tremble but he was nothing abashed for if he hadde fainted or taried to haue made answeare hee had incontinent béene destroyed and slaine but like a hardy Knight full of great Prowesse and firme in the faith of Iesus Christ sayde Hold thy peace thou Foole for I am Cain for whome thou hast taried héere so long I came euen now out of the rowling Tunne vpon the Mountaine hast thée and passe mée ouer this arme of the Sea for I shall find neither man nor woman that beléeueth in Iesus Christ but I shall slay him to the entent that hell may be filled with their soules When the Féend heard Huon say so he had great ioy and said Cain why hast thou made me tarie héere so long as I haue don I am ioyfull of thy comming for I could neuer haue departed out of this place without thou haddest béen deliuered out of the Tunne therefore Cain come on thy way enter into this Ship presently and I shall bring thée whereas thou wilt be gladly I will passe thée ouer the Sea to the entent that thou shouldest slay Christian men and Sarazins to haue their Soules into hell Then Huon entred into the Ship recommending himselfe to our Lord Iesus Christ and sayde Quickly passe me ouer Before Huon thought that he had gone but two Leagues he was ouer on the other side whereof Huon had great maruaile that hee was so soone ouer and thanked our Lord God that hee was out of that daunger then hee tooke leaue of the enemie and sayde Farewell I will returne againe shortly within these thrée dayes thou shalt heare tidinges of mee and then the Féend answeared shortly and sayd Cain goe thy way quickly and hast thée to the entent that when thou returnest into hell thou shalt haue good chéere of our Maisters who greatly desire thy comming Then Huon departed quickly he thought euer that the Diuell had followed him and hee went so longe that hee approached to a Citie called Colanders glad was Huon when hee had lost the sight of the euill Spirit and in the Euening he entred into the Citie of Colanders with the Mall vppon his necke the Paynims and Sarazins that were within the Citie had great maruaile when he came alone afoote cleane armed into the Citie and among other there was one demaunded of him what hee was and why hee went so alone armed Then Huon answered him fiercely to abash him therewith and said I am Cain who by mine ilnesse slew Abell my Brother wherewith God was angrie with mée but before it bee longe time I shall take such vengeance that as many men or women or children as I find beléeuing in the Lawe of Iesus Christ I shall destroy them all in such wise that the Paynims and Sarazins shall haue no doubt for any euill that they shall doe vnto them for I shall destroy and slay them all neither sparing old nor young When the Paynims heard that they were right ioyfull and that night serued Huon well and made him a great feast because they trusted that hee should destroy all Christendome and saide among themselues that as then hee was welcome thether because the Citie the day before was besieged by the Admirall of Persia Thus Huon had great ioy and feasting made vnto him and after Supper he was brought into a faire and rich Chamber wherein hee lay and slept soundly vntill the next morning Chap. CXXII ¶ How Huon of Bourdeaux had great ioy when he sawe the Admirall of Persia before Colanders where he fought with the Sarazins AFTER that the Admirall of Persia had left Huon in the Desert of Abillaunt and how he had a great storme vppon the sea and at last their Shippes assembled together and arriued at the Port before the Citie of Colanders in the which Citie Huon was now in who was right ioyfull when he knew that the Admirall was come thether to lay siege to the Citie and the Admirall and his companie was sorrowfull because they had lost Huon and especially Barnard his coozen for he thought neuer to haue seene him againe but hee had shortly tidinges of him as yée shall heare after When the Admirall was arriued at the Port they armed themselues and ordained their men as well as they might to assayle the citie of Colanders They yssued out of their Shippes and came marching towards the City and made a great assault and then the Paynims and Sarazins armed them on all sides and went to their defences then the Captaine of the Towne came vnto Huon and said Come on foorth Cain it is time for you to shew what you can doe for héere without are christian men assayling the Citie I pray you spare them not for wee haue great trust in you Sirs quoth Huon séeing I am in this citie yée néede not to feare any person anon yée shall sée what I can doe Cain quoth the captaine I pray you goe on before and wee shall followe you Well quoth Huon with this Mall I shall astone them all the Paynims had great ioy of his words wéening surely it had been Cain Then Huon armed himselfe and hee had a good horse brought vnto him whereuppon hee mounted then he and the Paynims yssued out of the citie and found as then the Admirall of Persia and all his companie readie arriued in Battaile And when hee sawe that the Sarazins were yssued out hee sette vppon them fiercely and Huon who was ioyfull of the aduenture that was fallen to him hee stept out apart to behold the battaile and wold not meddle because hee had beene so well receiued and feasted in the citie by them of the Towne and hee well perceiued that the assaults were of the Realme of Persia and howe the Admirall and his coozen Barnard were there whereof he had such ioy that hee wept for gladnesse and thanked God of the good fortune that he had sent him and said Ah good Lord thou oughtest greatly to be praysed for thou neuer
faylest them at time of néede that serue thée nowe I may well say that with thy gracious ayd yet I shall once more see my Wife and my child thus Huon saide to himselfe beholding both Battailes fighting Chap. CXXIII ¶ How the City of Colanders was taken by the Admirall of Persia after he hadde wonne the Battaile and of the great ioy that was made vnto Huon when hee was knowne by the Admirall of Persia and his Cozen Barnard WHen the Admirall of Persia sawe and perceiued that they of the Towne were yssued out he marched foorth his Battailes and set vpon his enemies there was great slaughter made on both parts but at the last they of the Citie had the worst for the christian men were of a greater number then the Paynims and Sarazins that were yssued out wherefore they were constrained to graunt the Victorie to their enemies the Paynims retired fled towards their citie and the Admirall Barnard with their company chaced slew them that it was pity to sée it Finally the Admirall oppressed them so sore that hee entred into the Citie with them and Barnard and his companie and slew and beat down the Sarazins that great maruaile it was to see the bloud that ranne through the stréets When the Admirall saw that hee had the victorie then hée commaunded to cease slaying and that all such as would beleeue in our Lorde God their liues should bee saued and their goods and so all such as would not bee christened should bee slaine incontinent and none spared the which was done many of them receiued Christendome and as many as woulde not receiue it were all slaine Thus as this Citie was taken then Huon who was entred into the Citie with the Admirals men came to the Pallaice whereas hee sawe the Admirall and all the Barons and Barnard his Coozen Huon had still his Mall vppon his necke and when he came into the Hall he put off his helmet and saluted the Admirall and all the other that were there When the Admirall and his Lords saw Huon the great ioy that they had no tongue can tell Oh right déere and vertuous Knight quoth the Admirall your comming doth so reioyce me that I cannot tell whether I dreame or not you are much bound vnto God that hee hath giuen you the grace to saue you from perill Then the Admirall embraced Huon and you may well know that Barnard his Coozen had great ioy and so had all the other and then the Admirall sayd vnto Huon Sir I pray you to shew mee what aduentures you haue had since you departed from vs Then Huon shewed them all as yée haue heard héere before and how he escaped When the Admirall and the other vnderstood Huon they were neuer so amazed and abashed in all their liues of that hée was so escaped from the handes of the Diuell and sayd that hée was much bound vnto God they were all glad and right ioyfull for the comming of Huon and especially Barnard Then the Captaine of the Citie who had newly receiued Christendome came vnto Huon and sayd Sir I require you to desire the Admirall to bée my good Lord and Maister for I promised faithfully to abide heere in this Towne as his good and true Seruant keeping firmely the christian faith the which I haue newly receiued When Huon saw the Captaine who had receiued him into his house at his first comming into the Citie he went vnto the Admirall and said Sir I require you to giue the keeping of this Citie vnto this noble man and he to hold it as his owne and to doe homage vnto you for it Sir quoth the Admirall all that you will I am agréeable vnto I graunt it him for the loue of you Then Huon thanked the Admirall the Captaine seeing the great and rich guift that the Admirall had giuen vnto him for the loue of Huon he had great maruaile of the great Larges and courtesie that was done vnto him by the meanes of Huon and then hee kneeled downe before them and thanked them and did homage vnto the Admirall in the presence of all the Lordes and Barons and promised truely to keepe the Citie against all men that would doe any dammage thereunto nor neuer to yeeld it vp vnto any person but all onely vnto the Admirall or vnto him that shall haue his Commission thus as yee haue heard the Citie of Colanders was taken Chap. CXXIIII ¶ Howe the Admirall of Persia and Huon of Bourdeaux and all their Hoast passed by Antioch and by Damas and came to the Citie of Ierusalem to the holy Sepulchre and was nobly receiued by the King of Ierusalem and howe the Souldans Messenger came and defied the Admirall of Persia WHen the Admirall and Huon saw this Citie wonne and brought vnder their obeysance and hadde established there a newe Lorde and Captaine and set Prouostes and Baylifes and other Officers then they tooke aduise together determined since they were a â—and to send backe againe their Nauie of shippes into Persia and they to goe by land to the Citie of Ierusalem for they hadde from thence as they were but Tenne dayes iourney vnto Antioch and so to passe by that Citie and then vnto Damas and so to Ierusalem and there to doe their offering and if by aduenture they founde in their way either Kings or Admirals that would let or trouble them in their passing they sayd that they were of puissance sufficient to resist against them and then they sayd howe that from Ierusalem the Admirall might returne by land into Persia vnto the Riuer of Euphrates and there his Nauie to méet him and so to conuay him vnto his Citie of Thauris and Huon to returne vnto laffe and from thence by water to returne into Fraunce Thus they concluded to doe the which aduise was lauded and praised of all the Lordes and Barons of the Hoast After this conclusion thus taken the Admirall commaunded his shippes to be discharged of all thinges necessary to be caried by lande the which was done diligently according to his commaundement their horses were sette a lande and their Tents and Pauillions trussed vppon Mules and Cammels and Dromodaries the which cariage séemed a great Hoast there were so many together the noyse and brute that they made séemed to be a new world and when all the shippes were discharged the Patrons and Maisters of the Shippes tooke their leaue of the Admirall who commaunded them expresly to abide for him in the Riuer of Euphrates and so they did accordingly Nowe lette vs leaue speakinge of them and returne vnto our former matter When these Shippes were departed and euerie thinge trussed then the Admirall commaunded through-out all the Countrey that all Marchants and other able to doe it should send after his Hoast bread wine and flesh and bisket to vittaile his Hoast and the charge to sée this done was giuen to the newe Admirall of the Citie of Colanders the which he did diligently
and meete with the enemies of the Christian faith the which are come against vs therefore I desire euery one of you to shew me your opinions what in this case is best to be done Then Thibault King of Ierusalem arose vp and sayd Sir Admirall of Persia and Media mée thinkes you should not abide them heere but rather you ought to depart and to goe against your enemies for if you abide for them in this Citie you shall doe great dammage to this countrey for wée haue truce with the Souldan for fiue yeares the which with our honour wee cannot breake for if we would haue made warre against him we could not haue resisted against him and also wee are far off from Fraunce to seeke for succor and ayd there thus the King spake no more Then Duke Huon of Bourdeaux sayd Sir Admirall the King of Ierusalem hath shewed you the troth for if wee should abide heere it should bee alwaies to our reproach and shame if this holy Citie should bee lost the which was wonne by twoo noble Emperours of Rome and of Greece for the King that is heere his honour saued and the suertie of his countrey may not breake the Truce that hee hath taken with the Souldan of Babilon and therefore mine aduice is that as 〈◊〉 as we may commaund your men that be at Napelous 〈◊〉 to dislodge and to meete with you at Rames and then when you haue somewhat refreshed your Hoast then set forward towards your enemies as the Kinge of Ierusalem hath said for â— were great folly to giue them leasure to come too farre forward first let them knowe how the Swords and Speares of the Persians and Medians can strike who sometime did 〈◊〉 in armes wherefore it is reason that they followe nowe thâ—ir Predecessors When Huon had finished his reason the Admirall and all the other Lords that were there praised and held that counsaile good that was purposed by the King of Ierusalem and of Huon and then they departed and returned to their Chambers and Lodgings Then the Admirall commaunded hastily his Hoast to withdrawe towards Rames whereas hee would tarie for them the which thing was done diligently and the Hoast rested not vntil they came vnto Rames whereas they â—ound readie the Admirals Harbingers who had alreadie appointed their Lodgings Thus after that the Admirall had written to his Marshals of his Hoast then hee tooke his leaue of the King of Ierusalem and in like wise so did Huon and Barnard his coozen without knowledging of himselfe to the King of Ierusalem Then they departed from the holy citie and road so long that they came to the Towne of Rames whereas they found their Hoast lodged Then they rested them there vntill the next day and then the Admirall commanded them to dislodge and to make them readie to take the way towards Escalonne A goodly sight it was to see the Hoast dislodge Huon had thereof great ioy for hee desired rather to slay the Paynims then to bee in chambers with 〈◊〉 and Damsels When they were all in the feelds the Admirall ordained his Battailes the first guided Huon of Burdeaux and Barnard his coozen he had with him twentie Thousand Persians fierce and hardy the second Battaile ledde the Marshall of Persia with twentie Thousand of good mâ—n of warre the third Battaile led the Admirall of Persia and of Media and with him thirtie Thousand of the most valiantest men in his hoast and when euerie thing was ordained as it appertained hee went and visited them exhorting them to doe well their deuoyre and prayinge them to quit themselues valiantly then hee came vnto Huon and said Oh right deare and vertuous Knight garnished and repleat with al prowesse all my hope I put in the strength and vertue of your armes and bodie therefore I pray you this day to shewe out your great vertues wherewith you are garnished for especially for the loue of you and for your bountie I haue taken and receiued the holy baptisme whereof I laud and praise our Lord God of his grace that hee hath done vnto mee therefore I desire you this day to shew vnto the Sarazins that your Sword is to be feared Sir quoth Huon God giue mee grace to bee such a one as you say and to performe in me that which lacketh and Sir I trust by me it shall not be let but that this day our enemies shall haue no cause to praise nor to make their boast and therefore Sir let vs ride foorth surely for by the grace of God I haue hope that this day we shall make our enemies so much adoe that they shall haue scarce time and leasure to graunt vnto vs the Victorie Now as the Admirall and Huon were thus deuisinge together they sawe before them a farre off the ayre waxe thicke and that the Sunne lost his clearnesse whereof they had great maruaile because they sawe a little before the Sunne shine so faire and cleare there as they were anon they perceiued that the darknesse arose by reason of the dust rising of the Horses of their enemies who were hastily comming towardes them to haue taken them in their lodginge whereby they came all out of order trusting al in their great number of men for they were more then a hundred Thousand fearfull it was to sée them comming so fast they roade that the one hoast might sée the other When Huon had well perceiued them and saw their demeanour and disorder hee saide vnto the Admirall Sir well you ought to praise our Lord God for this day hee shall bring your enemies into your handes to slay them at your pleasure therefore Sir I counsaile you that incontinent we hasten and set vppon them to the entent that they shall haue no time nor leasure to assemble together to bring themselues in good order if wee doe thus there is no doubt but by the grace of God wee shall shortly discomfite them before they bee assembled Sir quoth the Admirall your opinion is good and reasonable let it be done as you haue deuised Then the Admirall commaunded the Marshals and Captaines of his hoast to march forward his Battailes against his enemies and then Trumpets and Drummes began to sound that it was maruaile to heare them and then they sette on towardes their enemies When the Souldan and they of his hoast sawe the Persians comming against them readie ranged in battaile hee called vnto him his Kinges and Admirals who were fiftéene in number and sayd vnto them Sirs it were good that our men rested still a season that wee may order and range our Battailes for yonder we may sée well our enemies comming Then stept foorth the Admirall of Dorbrey who was horrible and great to behold he was fiftéene foote of height and road vppon a goodly splayed Mare the most fairest and greatest that euer was séene shee had a great horne in her fore-head if shee were any thing chafed none durst approach néere vnto her but alonely
since I cannot haue Huon her husband at my will I shall neuer eat nor drinke vntill I haue séene her burnt and the other persons hanged For when I remember the death of my Nephewes and of my deare Sonne the which haue béen slaine by Huon there is no member in my bodie but that trembleth for sorrow and displeasure When the good Duke Hildebert vnderstood the Emperour hee had great sorrowe at his heart and departed without any word speaking and without any leaue taking but returned from thence and hee became full of yre and displeasure then the Emperour Tirrey cryed with a hye voyce and sayde howe that he would shortly dispatch the matter to sée the Lady burnt and ledde to the hill whereas the fire was readie When the Ladie perceiued the place whereas shee should die in shee cast out a great crie and made a pitifull complaint to our Lord Iesus Christ and sayd Ah right sweet Lord Iesus Christ thou knowest that for the loue of thée I am christened to beléeue in thy Lawes wherein I will liue and die and I sée well that my dayes are but short and thou knowest well that there is no cause wherein I haue deserued death therefore I require thee humbly to haue pitie and compassion of my Soule and that thou wilt vouchsafe to kéepe and preserue my Husband Huon and my Daughter Clariet Thus as yee haue heard the noble Duchesse Escleremond made her complaints her handes bound and kneeling vppon her knées before the stake abiding for the houre of her death Nowe let vs leaue to speake of this noble Ladie vntill we haue occasion to returne againe and speake of the noble King Oberon and of his companie Chap. CXXXIII ¶ How King Oberon sent twoo of his Knights of the Fayrie that is to saye Mallabron and Gloriand to deliuer the Duchesse Escleremond who should haue been burnt and the three Hundred Prisoners that should haue been hanged who were all deliuered by the sayd Knights NOwe sheweth the Historie that the same day that the Duchesse the faire Ladie Escleremond shoulde haue béene burnt Kinge Oberon of the Fayrie was in his Pallaice of Momur whereas he had holden a great Court and a sumptuous for his Mother the Ladie of the priuie Isle was there and also the noble Quéene Morgueâ—â— say and the Damsell Transeline her Néece with diuers other Ladies of the Fayrie and diuers Knighteâ— of the same making great ioye King Oberon was sitting 〈…〉 throne garnished and bordered with fine gould and precious stones and as hee sat hee fell in a great studie and therewith the droppes of water fell out of his eyes and he began to wéepe and complaine so sore as though he should haue been drowned with droppes of water and when these Quéenes Ladies and Damsels sawe him make such sorrow they had great maruell and there was Gloriand the good Knighte of the Frayrie and Mallabron who were right priuie and wel-beloued with King Oberon and when they saw the Kinge make such sorrow they were sore dismayed and abashed and Sir Gloriand saide Sir what man is liuinge in this world that hath displeased you or done any thing against you Gloriand quoth the Kinge the displeasure that I haue is for the faire Ladie Escleremond wife vnto Duke Huon of Bourdeaux my verie good Fréend she is as now led out of the Citie of Mayence and brought vnto a great fire wherein the Emperour Tirrey will burne her and other three Hundred poore Prisoners to bee hanged and I may not ayd nor succour them and I am right sorrie thereof for the loue of Huon who is as now passed the Sea and is in the way returning home-ward and hee hath had such aduentures that there is no humane bodie could suffer nor beare the paines and trauailes that hee hath endured nor the maruailous aduentures that hee hath borne and he hath had so many Battailes that it were great maruaile and woonderfull to heare them rehearsed And now whereas hee thought to haue had rest and to haue found his Wife the faire Ladie Escleremond aliue who shall now be burnt except shee bee shortly aided and succoured I am sure that hee will die for the sorrowe and griefe that hee will haue at his heart When Gloriand and Mallabron had well hearde and vnderstood Kinge Oberon they kneeled downe before the King and sayde Sir wee desire you to succour this noble Ladie for the loue of her good Husband your deare Fréend Huon Gloriand quoth the noble Kinge Oberon that will I not doe but I am well content that hastely you goe and deliuer the good Ladie and the other Prisoners that be with her and say in my behalfe to the Emperour Tirrey that hee be not so hardy as to doe any ill to the Ladie or to any of her companie but say that I will and commaund that he respite their liues vntill the holy Feast of Easter be passed and that the Ladie and the other Prisoners he cause to be returned againe into the Citie of Mayence and that the Ladie be set in a Chamber at her libertie and pleasure and let her be bathed and washed and newe arrayed and lette her haue foure noble Ladies to seâ—ue and accompanie her and that she haue meat and drinke as good and as plentifull as though she were his owne proper Daughter in like wise lette all the other Prisoners be serued and say that I will and commaund that hée doth thus vntill the time that Easter be passed and shew him that he bee not so hardy to breake or trespasse against my commaundement Then Gloriand and Mallabron tooke leaue of the Kinge and of all other that were there and then they wished themselues in the place whereas the Ladie and the other prisoners were where the Lady as then was vppon her knees before the fire sore wéeping and complayning and abiding the houre of her death the which had beene néere vnto her if she had not béen shortly succoured for they were about to haue bound her to the stake When Gloriand and Mallabron came braying in the ayre like thunder they were not séen of no person but alonely of the Ladie and when they were come and sawe the fire a kindling they tooke the tenne Villaines that would haue cast the Ladie into the fire they tooke them and cast them all Ten into the flaming fire whereas they were shortly burnt and beside them there were diuers other burnt whereof such as were there had so great feare that none durst abide there then the two Knights came to the Ladie and loozed her and sayd Madame be of good comfort wée are two Knights sent hether from king Oberon to succour and to bring you out of the perill and danger that you be in Sirs quoth the Ladie it is not the first time that the noble King Oberon hath succoured vs both mee and my husband God of his grace rewarde him Madame quoth Gloriand bee merrie and make ioy for
knowledge for a more noble man courteous and liberall you shall not find vpon this side of the Sea Fréend quoth Huon your courtesie may auaile you Then Huon went into the Hall whereas hee found the Abbot with his Brethren and then hee saluted the Abbot and all his Couent Fréend quoth the Abbot you are welcome I pray you to shewe mée from whence you come Sir quoth Huon I shall shew you the troth I come now from beyond the Sea from the holy City of Ierusalem whereas I haue kissed the holy Sepulchre and where our Lord Iesus Christ was quicke and dead I haue béen in those parts more then Seauen yéeres and the cause why I am come hether to sée you is this I found there a young Knight of mine age named Huon of Bourdeaux and he sayd that he is your Nephew and when he saw that I would depart from thence to come into his Countrey he humbly prayed mée to recommend him vnto you and therefore I am come vnto you to doe his messuage for he and I hath been together in diuers Battailes and great amitie haue béen betweene vs. When the good Abbot had well heard and vnderstood the Pilgrim many teares fell from his eyes and trickled downe his chéekes when he heard his Nephew Huon named and saide Fréende I pray you if it bee true as you say to shew mée the troth if you haue séen my Nephew Huon for it is he that I loue best in all this world and desire most to sée him and I pray you to shewe vnto mée what is his minde either to returne hether or else to abide there still I would to God that I were in debt to pay a thousand Markes of gould so that hee were as now héere in this Hall Sir quoth Huon your Nephew whome you desire so much to sée before a Moneth be past he will by the grace of God bee héere with you and Sir hee shewed mée at my departing from him that he hath a Daughter whom you haue nourished and brought vp and he charged me greatly that I should desire of you to sée her before I departed from you he knoweth not whether she bee aliue or dead I woulde gladly sée her if it were your pleasure Fréend quoth the Abbot right gladly you shall sée her I shall cause her to come hether and then you may sée her at your ease and I dare well say vnto you that in all the world you shall find no fairer nor a sweeter creature nor more wiser of her age nor better learned and yet she is but Ten yeares of age When Huon vnderstood the Abbot you may well know that hee hadde great ioy at his heart priuily and thanked our Lord Iesus Christ Then the Abbot called vnto him a right notable Knight named Sir Emerie and commaunded him to goe and fetch thether his Néece Clariet the Knight went into the chamber whereas the faire Ladie was with other foure noble Ladies who had brought her vp then Sir Emerie saluted the Ladie and the other that were with her When the young Ladie perceiued Sir Emerie she arose vp and rendred to him his salutation and right humbly saying Sir Knight I am ioyfull of your commig I pray you to shewe mee of your newes and tidinges Certainly faire Ladie quoth the Knight hether is come a Pilgrim who is come from beyond the Sea and hee hath shewed vnto the Abbot your Vncle tidinges of your Father Duke Huon therefore your Vncle desireth you to come and speake with him When the Ladie heard speaking of her Father with all her heart she desired to knowe some certaine tidinges and then shee and her Damsels departed out of the Chamber and came into the Hall to the Abbot her Vncle accompanied with twoo notable Knightes then shee entred into the Hall richly apparelled no man could describe her beautie for shee was so well fourmed that nature her selfe could not amend her her skinne was as white as the flower in the meadowe and coloured like the red Rose her haunches lowe and her pappes somewhat rysing her throat smooth and cleare her chinne vaunted her mouth as vermeill as a Rose her téeth small and well ranged and white her face white and well coloured mingled white and red her eyes smiling her chéere amourous to behoulde her nose straight her fore-head white her haire yellowe and her eares gentle and close I cannot deuise the tenth part of her excellent beautie none could regard her nor looke vppon her but that praised and loued her all her beautie and sweete demeanour and great humilitie that was in her if I shoulde héere describe it it would bee ouer-long to rehearse When Huon had well séene his Daughter Clariet who was so faire hee gladly behelde her without making of any knowledge Then the Abbot tooke his Néece by the hand and ledde her vnto Huon and said Pilgrim how say you by her shee hath not beene sore trauailed nor much come in the Sunne I haue kept her a long time and if she be garnished with beauty in like wise so she is with witte and bountie shee is Daughter vnto Duke Huon of Bourdeaux the man that I most loue in this world I woulde to God that I did sée him as I doe you nowe but if God send mee life and health this Ladie shall bee richly maried I will giue her goods that she shal be rich and puissant Sir quoth Huon I pray to our Lord Iesus Christ to giue her good fortune and that shee may bee so maried that her bloud thereby may be lifted vp and exalted then the faire Ladie Clariet sayd vnto Huon Sir Pilgrim I pray you to shewe me if you know any tidings of my Father Duke Huon of Bourdeaux Faire Ladie quoth Huon hee and I together haue beene a long time beyond the Sea and Companions together and we sought the Souldan of Babilon that nowe is it is not hee that was set there by Huon after that he had slaine the great Admirall Gaudise it is another who since that time conquered both the Citie and the Countrey of Egipt many aduentures Huon and I haue suffered but at the end wee discomfited the Souldan and his men are slaine and destroyed Pilgrim quoth the faire Ladie Clariet I require you to shew me if you know whether my deare Father will returne hether again or no the which is the thing in the world that I most desire Faire Ladie quoth he I answeare you that before twoo Moneths bee passed you shall sée him héere in good health I pray vnto our Lord God quoth the Ladie that it may be so that he may deliuer my Mother out of the prison whereas shee is in great pouertie and miserie When Huon had well heard and vnderstood his Daughter he would no longer hide himselfe but sayd My right deare Daughter before August be passed I shall deliuer her or die in the paine for I shall make such warre against the Emperour Tirrey
that yet before I die I shall strike off his head from his bodie whatsoeuer fall thereof When the Ladie heard Huon how he sayd that hee was her Father shee changed colour and blushed as ruddie as a Rose and thought to her selfe by the words that he spake that hee was her Father whereof she was right ioyfull and said Ah Sir I pray you if you bee Duke Huon of Bourdeaux my Father to shew me My right deare Daughter beléeue it surely for I will no longer hide it from you When the Ladie heard that he was her Father she clipped him and Twentie times kissed him Then the Abbot came and embraced him and sayd My right deare Nephewe the ioy that my heart hath of your comming is to mee so acceptable that I cannot tell whether I dreame or not that I sée you heere and then againe hee embraced him making the greatest ioy in the world Also there was Clariet his Daughter who embraced and kissed him then all that were in the house came thether to make great chéere and feasting Faire Nephewe quoth the Abbot I am sore abashed that you be returned with so small a companie Good Vncle quoth Huon it could bee none otherwise I haue had such fortunes vppon the Sea that the most part of my men are dead and perished some by maladie and some are returned into their owne Countreys and especially they that went with me are abiding at the Rocke of the Adamant and there all be dead by famine and they that were my Guides to haue brought mee vnto Euphame are in like wise dead there Then Duke Huon beganne to shewe vnto the Abbot all the aduentures that he had since he departed from the noble Citie of Bourdeaux there were some that heard it that tooke it for a mocke and a lye he shewed of so many great maruailes they thought that the most part of them were lyes and one saide to another Great aduantage haue these Vagabounds to lye because they finde no man to say them nay and if any man say nay their answeare is readie to say go and sée then the good Abbot sayd Faire Nephew if I were of the age to beare armour gladly I would goe with you to ayde you to destroy this Emperour who hath done you so much ill I shall send for such a number of men of warre and pay them with my Treasure the which I haue long time gathered together and shall ayde you to make such war that it shall alwayes be had in remembrance or else I would die in the paine and all they that should goe with me and to cause him to make you amends of all the ils and dammages that he hath done vnto you yet somewhat I haue done alreadie for it is not long since that one of the Emperours Nephewes were slaine by my men and all they that were with him slaine or taken for Nephewe I haue gathered together a great Treasure that I may therewith entertaine a hundred Thousand men for two yeares without selling or laying to pledge any foote of Land appertaining to my Church but as now I am so old that I cannot ride out for I am a hundred and fourteene yeares of age and therefore séeing that I cannot goe with you I shall abandon vnto you all my Treasure and take thereof as much as it shall please you Sir quoth Huon you make me so great an offer that once before I die I trust to render vnto you the double value by the grace of God Chap. CXXXVI ¶ How Duke Huon of Bourdeaux shewed to his Vncle the Abbot of Cluny all the aduentures that hee had since he departed from the noble Citie of Bourdeaux and how he gaue the Abbot the Apple of youth whereby the good Abbot became againe to his beautie that hee had when hee was but of Thirtie yeares of age WHen Duke Huon of Bourdeaux had well vnderstood the good Abbot his Vncle and sawe the faire offer and seruice that he had offered vnto him he saide Sir of your courtesie and Larges and all the good that you haue done vnto me and to my Daughter Clariet God reward you for it true it is after that I had fought with the Griffens I came vnto a faire Fountaine and there by was a Trée growing charged full of faire fruit the Trée was called the Trée of youth of the which I gathered three Apples whereof you shall haue one and shall eate it and assoone as you haue eaten thereof thereby you shall become as young and as strong and lusty as you were when you were of the age of Thirty yeares Then there was a Monke in the house called Dan Iohan Saliuet who beganne to laugh and hasted him to speake and sayde Ah Sir what is it that you say these two Thousand yeares there was neuer man at the Tree of youth therefore this tale is not to be beléeued and when Huon heard the Monke he waxed red for anger and lifted vp his staffe and would haue striken therewith the Monke and if he had not skipt backe and sayd Ah thou false Monke thou lyest falsely I haue been there and that thou shalt sée the proofe thereof whether I say true or not Then the Abbot came betweâ—ne them and stopped the stroake and sayd vnto Huon 〈…〉 â—ight deare Nephewe appease your selfe and then hee sayd to the Monke Ah thou rude Groome by the faith that I owe vnto my Lord Saint Bennet for thy words thou shalt bee sore punished then he caused the Monke to be set in prison and then the Abbot sayd vnto Huon Sir I pray you to be no longer displeased Then Huon tooke one of his Apples and gaue it to his good Vncle the Abbot and sayd Sir take this Apple the which I gathered of the Trée of youth I gathered therof thrée and one I gaue to the Admirall of Persia and another I kept for my selfe the which I giue you and I woulde haue gathered moe but I was forbidden by an Angell sent from our Lord Iesus Christ and Sir knowe for troth that the Admirall of Persia before I gaue him the Apple he was of the age of Six-score yeares and more but assoone as hee had eaten thereof he became as faire and as strong as when he was of Thirtie yeares of age and hee is as now one of the fairest Princes in the world By the which Miracle he and all his people of his Realme did forsake the false and detestable Law of Mahomet and tooke vpon them the beliefe of our Lord Iesus Christ and were christened and they that woulde not were hewen all to péeces and after that for the loue that he bare vnto mée hée passed the Sea with mee with great puissance and wee entred into the Souldans Lande whereas wee discomfited him in plaine Battaile When the good Abbot had well heard and vnderstood his Nephew he had great ioy and tooke the Apple and made thereon the signe of the Crosse and did
eat it vp euerie whit whereby incontinent in the sight of all them that were there present he became into his first youth as he was when hee was but of the age of Thirtie yeares his white beard fell away and a new beard came his iawes that were leane and pale the flesh grew againe new quicke flesh so that he became a faire young man and well fournished of bodie and members a fairer man could no man sée nor lighter nor lustier whereof hée had such ioy at his heart that he ran and embraced Huon and kissed him more then Tenne times When they that were there present saw that great maruaile they were greatly abashed said one to another that Huon was worthy to be beléeued for out of such a Princes mouth quoth they neuer yssued a lye there was much ioy made the Tables were set and they went to dinner there satte the Abbot and Huon and Clariet his Daughter Of their Seruice and meates I will make no rehearsall for they were richly serued After that they had dyned and grace sayd all the Monkes of the Couent came and knéeled downe before Huon and humbly required him of pardon for Damp Iohan Saliuer who was too hasty to speake and all was through negligence of youth and ill aduised When Duke Huon saw all the Monkes before him vppon their knées desiring him to pardon the Monke of his folly hee sayd vnto them Sirs I am content to fulfill your desires for I am not come hether to trouble any man When the good Abbot had well heard Huon his Nephew pardon his Monke hee thanked him and said Sir by Saint Bennet if you had not pardoned him he should not haue come out of prison this yeare Then the Monkes went to the Prison and they shewed vnto the Monke that was in prison what maruailes were done in his absence and howe their Abbot who was a Hundred and fourtéene yeares of age was now become of the age of Thirtie yeares Sirs quoth hée I am glad of my deliuerance but I cannot beléeue that it is so as you say nor I will not beléeue it vntill I sée it then hee went into the Hall whereas the Abbot and Huon were together and when hee sawe the good Abbot young againe then hee kneeled downe and cried Huon mercie and â—equired him of pardon the which Huon graunted Then there was great ioy and the Abbot sayd Nephewe send for men of warre on all sides and I shall pay their wages to the number of twentie Thousand men for I haue gould and siluer ynough and let vs send for all our Fréends and we shall bee a great number of men able to fight with the Emperour who hath wrongfully and without cause disenherited you and keepeth your Wife in prison whereof my heart is so sorrowfull that I can no longer endure it Sir quoth Huon if I can finde any other way to come to peace with the Emperour then my Speare and shéeld and no man slaine I would thinke then that I had well sped for if I might doe so much with the Emperour that he would render vnto me my Landes and Signiories and my Wife and men and that thereby I might become his Liege-man I would then thinke that I had made an honourable end for I haue done him great dammage Faire Nephewe quoth the Abbot I woulde faine knowe by what manner you coulde bring this matter about Vncle quoth Huon this night I will studie vppon the matter the which I trust in our Lord Iesus Christ to bringe to a good and prosperous end Chap. CXXXVII ¶ How Huon of Bourdeaux departed from Cluny and went to the noble Citie of Mayence vppon a Friday and how he came nere vnto the Emperours Oratorie After that Huon and the good Abbot had deuised together of diuers things Huon wrote a Letter vnto his men being at Tournous that they should come vnto him to the Abbey of Cluny hee sent a Gentleman of the Abbey to fetch them and when hée was come to Tournous and had deliuered his Letters vnto Barnard they made them readie and trussed their Somers and departed from thence and they road so longe that they came in at the gates of the Abbey of Cluny the same time Huon and the Abbot were leaning out at a window the Abbot saw fiftéene Somers charged and seauen Mules and Mulets whereof he had great maruaile of whence they were and said to Huon Faire Nephew can you tell vnto whome appertaine these Somers or what be they that bringeth them Sir quoth Huon know for troth that I haue conquered them and they are mine and yonder is Barnard that doth conduct them who hath had much paine and trouble before hee could find mee Faire Nephewe quoth the Abbot great ioye I haue at my heart that hee hath sought you so long to find you at the last nor I could not haue sent a more noble man you ought greatly to loue him and also he is our Kinsman and alwayes hee hath beene vnto you true and faithfull Sir in him I haue found all that you say and Sir the great Somer that you sée yonder with twoo great Coffers well banded they be full of precious stones and Iewels more woorth then foure good Cities I will leaue them héere with you to keepe for the marriage of my Daughter and with those words hee kissed her Deare Nephew quoth the good Abbot and besides that you will giue her I shall depart with her largely of my Treasure Therewith Barnard came thether and all the other of his companie and when the Abbot perceiued Barnard he came vnto him right ioyfully with his armes abroad and clipped and kissed him and made vnto him great feast and chéere and to all his companie Then Duke Huon and the good Abbot his Vncle and the faire Ladie Clariet his Daughter went into their Chamber and discharged the Somers and opened euerie Coffer When the Abbot had séen the riches that were in them hee was neuer so abashed and sayd Ah Duke Huon faire Nephewe I thinke you haue brought hether riches to buy therewith the whole Realme of Fraunce Then Duke Huon tooke a Coller of gould full of precious stones that the clearnesse of them illumined all the house and Huon did put the Coller about his Daughters necke and kissed her mouth and sayd My deare and louing Daughter I giue you this Coller I neuer gaue you any thing before it is so rich that the stones therein are woorth a Realme or a Duchy When the Ladie saw the rich Coller shée was right ioyfull and kneeled downe before her Father and humbly thanked him then Huon shewed all his Treasure vnto his good Vncle the Abbot and when all had beene séene and viewed the Abbot did put them into the Coffers Then Huon apparelled himselfe with rich apparell and he seemed then to be a Prince of high degrée he was so faire to behold that all such as sawe him had great pleasure to
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
bagge a rich stone the which was of such vertue that whosoeuer did beare it about him could not bee ouercome with his enemie nor coulde not be drowned nor burnt the stone had such great vertue that none could esteeme the value thereof and besides that it cast such clearnesse in the Chappell that the Emperour was abashed thereat nor hee knewe not from whence that light should come Then hee beheld Huon and Huon did holde the stone in his hande and shewed it vnto the Emperour and when the Emperour sawe the rich stone he greatly desired to haue it and aduaunced himselfe and tooke it out of the Pilgrimes hand who presented it vnto him When the Emperour had the stone in his hand he had great ioy at his heart for he was cunning in the descrying of stones and sware to himselfe that the Pilgrim should neuer haue it againe for any thing that he could doe but he thought within himselfe that if he would sell it hee would giue him as much gould and siluer as hée could reasonably demaund or else he thought to kéepe it still whatsoeuer fell thereof and then the Emperour sayde vnto Huon Pilgrim I pray thee to shewe vnto mee where thou hast gotten this rich and bountifull stone Sir quoth Huon I haue brought it from beyond the Sea Fréend quoth the Emperour wilt thou sell it and I shall giue thée for it whatsoeuer thou wilt haue and to bee in the more suertie to beare away my guift that I will giue thee for it I shall cause thée to bee conducted into thine owne Countrey wheresoeuer it bee Sir quoth Huon I will giue it vnto you with a good heart so that it bee true that mine Host hath shewed vnto mee this day for he hath shewed vnto me that your custome is that the first person Pilgrim that commeth vnto you vppon this day being good Friday should haue of you a guift such as hee would demaund after that you haue made your prayers to our Lord God Pilgrim quoth the Emperour he that shewed thée that sayd that which is true and therefore whatsoeuer thou demaundest either Borough Towne or Citie or what thing soeuer it be I promise faithfully to giue thée whosoeuer bee displeased therewith I graunt it to thée therefore demaund whatsoeuer thou wilt Sir quoth Huon of your grace and faire guift I most hartely thanke you therefore Sir with a good heart I giue you that stone the which I deliuered vnto you but euen now in the recompence of the courtesie and guift that you haue graunted vnto mée the which shall be neither gould nor siluer and Sir because I know certainely that the renowme is ouer all the world that you are a iust and a true noble man and that which you promise you will vphold and kéepe and neuer swarue from your promise and because that I know surely that the promise that you haue made vnto mee you will vphold of whatsoeuer guift I desire to haue Fréend quoth the Emperour I will that you well knowe that if you demaund foure of my best Cities I shall giue you them séeing I haue made that promise and if God bee pleased I shall not goe from my promise for I had rather that one of my handes were cut off then I should be found false in my wordes and therefore demaund and surely you shall haue your demand without any deniall Sir quoth Huon I hartely thanke you and would haue kissed his féete but the Emperor would not suffer him but tooke him vp Sir quoth Huon first and before all other thinges I desire of you pardon of all the ill déedes and trespasses that I or my men haue done against you and if you haue in your Prison either men or women appertaining vnto mee or of my lineage that you will deliuer them all vnto mee and also if you haue any thing of mine either Towne or Citie Borough or Castle I require you by the promise that you haue made vnto mee to render them vnto me quite Sir any other thinge I demaund not Pilgrim quoth the Emperour make no doubt to haue that which I haue promised vnto you therefore I graunt all your desire but I require you humbly to shew vnto mee what man you bée and of what Countrey and of what Lineage seeing you haue desired of me such a guift Sir quoth Huon I am hee that sometime was Duke of Bourdeaux whome you haue so much hated I come now from beyond the Sea whereas I haue endured much paine and pouertie I thanke our Lord Iesus Christ that I haue done so much that I am nowe agreed with you and I shall haue againe the Duchesse Escleremond my louing Wife and my men and my Landes and Signiories if you will bee as good as your word and vphold your promise When the Emperour had well heard and vnderstood Huon all his bloud beganne to change and hee was a great space before he spake any word hee was so sore abashed but at the last hee sayd Ah Huon are you hee by whome I haue suffered so many illes and dammages and haue slaine so many of my Nephewes and other of my men I would not haue thought that you would haue beene so hardy to haue shewed your selfe before mée nor to haue come into my presence you haue well ouercome me and enchaunted mee I had rather haue lost foure of my best Cities yea and all my Countrey burnt and destroyed and my selfe banished out of mine owne Countrey for thrée yeares rather then you should haue thus come to my presence but séeing that it is thus knowe for troth that which I haue promised vnto you I shall vphold and keepe and from hencefoorth in the honour of the passion of our Lord Iesus Christ and of this good day vppon the which hee was crucified and put to death I pardon you all mine ill will and good will I shall not bee periured your Wife your Landes and Signiories and your men I shall render them into your hands speake thereof who liste otherwise it shall not bee nor I will neuer doe the contrarie Then Huon knéeled downe before the Emperour and right humbly thanked him and desired him to forgiue him all his trespasses Huon quoth the Emperour God forgiue thée and as for me with a good heart I doe pardon you Then the Emperour tooke Huon by the hande and tooke him vp and kissed him verie kindlye in token of good peace and amitie Sir quoth Huon great grace haue I found in you séeing you kéepe and vphold your promise but Sir if it please our Lord God your guerdon shall be double Huon quoth the Emperour I require you to shew me of your newes and aduentures that you haue had since you departed from the Citie of Bourdeaux Sir quoth Huon with a good will after that your diuine Seruice is done and the passion of our Lord Iesus Christ read Huon quoth the Emperour I giue you good thankes for that you say Then
the Emperor tooke Huon by the hand and led him into his Oratorie with him whereas they heard the diuine Seruice whereof many Knightes and Lordes were sore abashed and had great maruaile what Pilgrim it was that the Emperour did so much honour vnto After that the diuine Seruice was done the Emperor returned into his Pallaice holding Huon by the hande and dinner was made radie and they washed their handes and sat downe to dinner and when dinner was done and the Tables taken vp then in the Emperours presence and of all the other Lordes there Huon shewed all his aduentures First hee shewed howe hee had passed the Gulfe and spoken with Iudas and afterward howe by fortune of the Sea he arriued at the Castle of the Adamant and how his Companie dyed there by famine and declared the beautie of the Castle and of the great riches therein and afterward how hee was caried from thence by a Griffen to a great Rocke and how he slew fiue young Griffens and the old Griffen that brought him thether whereof he hath left at Cluny the foote of the same then he shewed of the Fountaine and of the Trée of youth and howe hee gathered thereof thrée faire Apples and more hee would haue gathered but that our Lord God commaunded him by his Angell that he should not be so hardy as to gather any more And after that he shewed howe that he passed the Gulfe of Persia in â—reat perrill and daunger and sayd furthermore Sir when I was passed that Gulfe I gathered many precious stones that which I haue giuen you was one of them the which stone is of great vertue and then I came to the great Citie of Thauris in Persia whereas I found a noble Admirall an old auncient Knight and he shewed to me great courtesies and I gaue him one of mine Apples to eat and assoone as hee had eaten thereof he became to be as young as he was when he was but of Thirtie yeares of age and I thinke that from thence hether cannot be found a fairer Prince and hee was before of Six-score and Seauen yeares of age and Sir because I desire with all my heart to haue your good grace and that good peace and firme may bee had betwéene you and mee I will giue you the third Apple the which I kept for my selfe by the which if you doe eat it you shall become againe as young and as lusty and as stronge as you were when you were but of the age of Thirtie yeares The Emperour when hee heard that the Apple that Huon would giue him to eat should cause him to returne to his yong age againe hee was so ioyfull that hee neuer made such chéere before in all his life to any man as he did then vnto Huon and sayde howe that hee would bee his Fréend for euer and neuer faile him and sayd Fréend I abandon my bodie and goods at your pleasure and I giue you two good Cities to encrease your Signiorie and besides that I promise you if you haue any businesse to doe I shall succour you with fortie Thousand men and shall ayde you as the Father should doe the Sonne Therewith Huon would haue kneeled downe to haue thanked the Emperour but hee would not suffer him and then Huon tooke the Apple out of his bagge and deliuered it vnto the Emperour the Emperour who was sore desirous to knowe if hee should waxe young againe by reason of eating of the Apple he called vnto him his Lordes and Barons to the entent that they should sée that maruaile and when the Emperour had the Apple in his hand hee put it into his mouth and did eate it euerie whit and as hee was eating thereof his age chaunged into youth and by that time hee had eaten all the Apple his white beard fell off and the skinne chaunged like a man of Thirtie yeares of age and also his face and all his bodie that before was all wrinkled and rugged and pale became then as white and as ruddy and felt himselfe as light and as fresh and aâ— quicke to doe any thing and as strong as he was when he was of the age of Thirtie yeares whereof all that were there present had great maruaile and were right ioyfull of that aduenture that was fallen vnto the Emperour whome they loued then they sayd Sir such a guift was neuer giuen to any Emperour or King well you ought to praise our Lord God whatsoeuer losse you haue hadde or receiued that euer you were acquainted with Duke Huon Chap. CXXXIX ¶ Howe the Emperour made good cheere vnto Duke Huon of Bourdeaux WHen the Emperour saw himselfe waxe young againe he was so ioyfull that hee wist not what to doe then hee clipped and kissed Huon more then Ten times saying My right deare Fréend I pray you to forgiue mée all the illes and dammages that I haue done vnto you and for the paine and sorrow that I haue caused your noble Wife and men to suffer then the Emperour called vnto him two of his Lordes and sayd vnto them Sirs I will that all the poore people that be in my Chappell this day bee newly apparelled and to haue meat and drinke sufficient for the loue of the passion of our Lord Iesus Christ who this day hath done mee that grace that I am returned from age to youth Sir quoth they your commaundement shall bee done then they went and executed his pleasure Then Duke Huon approached vnto the Emperour and sayd Sir I humbly desire your grace to deliuer my Wife Escleremond and my men out of Prison Sir quoth the Emperour it is good reason that I doe it then he sent for the Iaylour who had the Ladie and the other Prisoners in his kéeping and commaunded him that the Ladie Escleremond and the other Prisoners should bee brought into the Hall the Iaylour went to the Prison and Huon with him and when they came thether Huon went to the dore and cryed out aloud and sayd Ah my right swéete Sister I beléeue that you haue béen but ill lodged héere I haue great feare that by reason of the paines that you haue endured you cannot long continue certainly if you die I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart When the Duchesse Escleremond hadde well heard the voice of him that spake at the dore shée stood still and studied what voice it might bee for shée thought within her selfe that she had heard that voice before that time and when she had muzed a little while she thought that it should be the voice of Huon her Husband whereof she had such ioy and mirth at her heart that of a great season shee could not speake but fell in a swound in the Prison and when shee reuiued and came againe to her selfe shee cryed out and sayde Ah my right deare Lord and Husband long haue you left me in paine and miserie all alone in this stinking and horrible Prison in the hands of them that loue you
whereof Huon hadde such sorrowe and greeâ—e at his heart that great pittie it was to sée him and saide Ah good Lord why was I euer borne into this world when I am so vnfortunate that I can haue no men to serue mée but at last they end their liues in my seruice miserably Ah my God why doest then suffer mée so longe to liue Then the Duchesse comforted him as much as shée could and said Ah Sir leaue your sorrowe and pray vnto our Lord God for his mercie and his grace and to haue pittie and compassion of vs that wée might arriue at some good Port. Thus the noble Duchesse Escleremond comforted Duke Huon her Husband howbeit shee was in as great feare and not without a cause and thus they floated vppon the Sea greatly bewailing the death of their men whome they sawe perish before their eyes Then Huon as farre off as he might sée he saw a Castle standing vppon a Rocke the which séemed darke and blacke and then hee lauded and praised our Lord God praying him humbly to bring them thether in sauegard Then the Sea was peaceable and the Tempest ceased and the winde fresh the which draue them in a short space vnto the Port vnder the Rocke and when they were neere to the land Huon and the Duchesse waded vnto the lande holding each other by the hand When they were vppon the drie land they kneeled downe and lifted vp their eyes vnto Heauen and made their deuoute prayers vnto our Lord Iesus Christ desiringe him to haue pitie and compassion of the Soules of their men that they sawe drowned and perished then they arose vp and saw a litle path way lying straight towardes the Castle and they entred into it and when they were néere vnto the Castle they sawe a great Riuer running round about it and sawe that the Castle was of maruailous great beautie thinkinge that they neuer sawe none such before the Towers were couered with glistering gould shining so bright as though the Sunne did shine thereon Also they sawe an auncient Church adioyning to the Castle with a goodly Steeple full of bels the which beganne to sound whereof Huon had great maruaile for he sawe neither man nor woman comming nor going and when hee had well regarded the Castle hee came vnto the gate and saw how that there were thrée bridges to passe before he could enter When Huon saw that hee sayd Ah good Lord in all my life I neuer sawe so faire a Castle hee that is Lord thereof séemeth to bee a great and a noble man for if there were within it but Fortie men to keepe it and garnished with victuals it would neuer be wonne for any man liuing So long Huon beheld this Castle that he had forgotten his sorrow the Castle pleased him so well and sayd vnto the Duchesse his Wife Madame I beléeue surely that this is the Castle of Momur appertaining vnto King Oberon wee may well thanke our Lord God that hee hath brought vs hether we shall sée him you knowe well that hée hath promised to giue mee his Realme and all his dignitie Sir quoth the Duchesse I haue heard say before this that Momur is a great and a noble Citie and full of people of all sorts wherefore you may well perceiue that this is not that Citie it may well bee that this Castle is his Madame quoth Huon the King hath that puissance that he may make Citie or Castle at his pleasure Sir quoth shee I beleeue it well Then Huon tooke his way to the gate and as hee went deuising with the Duchesse Escleremond his wife hee sawe before him foure Monkes in white apparell when they came vnto him they sayd Sir Duke of Bourdeaux of your comming we are right ioyfull for a more noble man came not heere of a long season God blesse you and the Duchesse your Wife Sirs quoth Huon God saue you I pray you to shew me what you be and who hath shewed you my name and who is Lord and Gouernor of this Castle Sir quoth one of the Monkes this Castle is ours and heere is no Gouernour but I and my Brethren wee make none answeare vnto any Lorde liuing therefore if it please you to enter wée shall make you as good feast and chéere as wée can if it please you to tarie Eight or fifteene dayes you shall bee welcome and when you depart wee shall giue you to carie with you meate and drinke sufficient to serue you and your Wife for Fifteene dayes and you shall haue neede thereof before you finde out Kinge Oberon Sirs quoth Duke Huon of your courtesie I most hartely thanke you Then Huon entred into the Castle with them and came into a great Hall well garnished and adorned with rich Pillers of white Marble vawted aboue and richly painted with goâ—ld and Azure and set full of rith precious stones the which cast a great light for by reason of the precious stones at midnight it was as bright as at noone dayes Huon and Escleremond thought that they neuer sawe so rich a thing Madame quoth Huon this place is delectable then they were brought into a rich Chamber whereas the Tables were set and garnished with euerie thinge that a man coulde wish for Then there came in many Seruants some brought in the Basons of gould adorned with precious stones and some brought in the Towell and water and they gaue the water vnto Huon and Escleremond to wash their handes then they satte downe at the Table and did eate and drinke at their pleasure for they had their meat and drinke at their wish When they hadde eaten at their pleasure and the cloathes taken vp then there were Spices brought and Huon did eate thereof but Escleremond would not so much as taft thereof then they were brought into a Garden to sport them and when they were there they thought that they had been in Paradice for the sweetnesse of flowers and fruites vppon euerie Trée and they heard diuers kind of birdes sing melodiously Sirs quoth Huon vnto the the Monkes well you ought to thanke our Lord Iesus Christ that he hath giuen you such a place to serue him in and Sirs I pray you when it is midnight awake me to the entent that I may ryse to go and heare your Seruice when you doe it Sir quoth one of them I shall awake you when the time is that you may come and héere vs. Sir quoth Huon therein shall you doe me great pleasure Then Duke Huon and the Duches Escleremond were brought into a rich Chamber well fournished with cloathes of gold and silke wherein was a rich and sumptuous bedde wherein Huon and the Duchesse his Wife lay together the Chamber was faire and rich for all the night it was as cleare as though the Chamber had been full of Torches by reason of the shining of the precious stones for there was no bench nor Post but that were set full of riche stones the
saw neither Castle nor Church Rocke nor Riuer but hee sawe that they were in a faire meadowe whereof Huon and Escleremond were sore abashed and blessed them hauing great maruaile of that they had séen then the Monke desired Huon to let him go Monke quoth Huon to drawe or to struggle cannot auaile thee for thou shalt not escape out of my handes vntill thou hast shewed me the Citie of Momur whereas King Oberon is Huon quoth the Monke I am content to doe it but first I pray thée to take from my necke the stole Monke quoth Huon thy reasoning cannot auaile thée for thou shalt not escape from me vntill thou hast set both me and my Wife néere vnto the Citie of Momur for thou shalt goe with vs foote by foote Well quoth the Monke since it is thus I am content to fulfill your pleasure but one thinge I say vnto you you neuer did a wiser deed then that you would not let me goe away for if the stole were not wherewith you doe hold me and the precious stones that you haue about you you shold neuer haue departed from hence I thought to haue beguiled you so that you might haue let mée gone my wayes whether I would goe Monke quoth Huon if I can you shall not depart from me vntill you haue set mee and my Wife within the Citie of Momur Sir quoth the Monke that will I not doe nor I cannot doe it though I would but I shall sette you both vppon the Mount of Hircama and from thence you may well sée vnto the Citie of Momur and all the countrey of the Fayrie and then I will returne vnto my companie who by this time are passed the great Sea of Tâ—rtaâ—y Monke quoth Huon I am content so that thou wilt sette vs in that place whereas wée may see the Citie of Momur Chap. CXLV ¶ How the Monke bare Huon and Escleremond ouer hils and Valleys in the ayre vntill hee came into the Countrey of Kinge Oberon THen the Monke tooke Huon vppon the one arme and Escleremond vpon the other but alwayes Huon held the stoale still about the Monkes necke to the entent that the Monke shoulde not beguile him and thus by the Fayrie and enchauntment the Monke bare Huon and Escleremond vnto a hye Rocke to rest them and from thence hee bare them as fast as the bird flyeth in the ayre at last they alighted in a faire meadowe then the Monke said Sir in an euill houre I met with you for you haue caused me to suffer great paine and nowe Sir I can goe no further for you are now in the Land of King Oberon whereas wée haue no puissance but first I will bring you vnto your lodging whereas you shall rest then before them they sawe a Castle newly made the which was so faire rich and strong that if I should describe it to the vttermost it would be ouer-long to rehearse Then the Monke tooke his leaue of Huon and of the Duchesse Escleremond his Wife and left them in the Castle that hee had made Huon suffered him to goe and thanked him of his curtesie the Monke suddainly vanished away they wist not whether and then Huon and his louing Wife entred into the Castle and came into a rich Chamber well fournished and there they found a Table sette with diuers meates and drinkes but there was no man to speake vnto then they sat downe at the Table and did eat and drinke at their pleasure and then they went from thence and when they were gone a little way they looked behind them and saw neither Towne nor Castle wherof they were sore abashed and recommended themselues vnto our Lord God then they went foorth into the meadow and could see neither Towne nor Castle House nor Village nor man to demaund the way of and they went so long that they came to the foote of a Mountaine whereon they mounted with great paine and trauaile and when they were vppon the toppe of the hill they rested them and then within a little season Huon sawe appeare before him a great Citie and vpon the one side thereof a faire and rich Pallaice the wals and Towers of the Citie and the Pallaice were al of white Marble pollished the which did shine so bright against the Sunne as though it had been all of Christall then Huon said vnto his Wife Madame yonder before vs we may sée the noble Citie of Momur whereas King Oberon is Sir quoth Escleremond our Lord God hath done vnto vs a great grace in that hee hath brought vs hether in the sauegard of our persons Then they went foorth vntill they came néere vnto the Citie of Momur and before the Citie they sawe a maruailous great Riuer and verie déepe and two bowe shoots in largenesse and it was maruailous pleasant to behould and when they came to the Riuer-side they founde there a man with a little Vessel awaiting vppon all them that woulde come vnto the Citie to passe them ouer Then Huon and Escleremond his Wife entred into the little Shippe and saluted the Guider thereof but hee woulde giue them none aunsweare but maruailously behelde them and when they were ouer the Marriner who was named Clarimodes and he was Sonne to a Damsell of the Fayrie then he demaunded of Huon what he and his Wife were and sayd mée thinkes you be none of the Fayrie wherefore I am not content that I haue passed you ouer Then Huon gaue him none aunsweare but went foorth and entred into the Citie and as they passed they were greatly regarded of them within the Citie and sayd one to another it is great maruaile to sée these two persons enter into this Citie for King Oberon who lyeth sicke in his bedde gaue great charge vnto Clarimodes that no straunger should passe the Riuer to enter into this Citie Huon heard them and was thereof right sorrowfull when he heard that the King lay sicke in his bedde so he passed foorth and came vnto the Pallaice euery man there beheld him and his Wife and had great maruaile to sée any mortall persons to enter into that Pallaice and they were thereof abashed and wist not what to thinke At the same time Mallâ—bron and Gloriand were walking together in the hall they saw Huon and Escleremond entring into the Hall and incontinent they knew them and came vnto them and embraced them and sayd Ah noble Duke Huon and Duchesse Escleremond you are welcome of your comminge wee are right ioyfull then Mallabron went from them and went into the Chamber whereas the King lay sicke and sayd Right déere Sir your good Fréend Huon and Escleremond his Wife are come into your Hall When the King heard that Huon and Escleremond were come for the great ioy that he had he quickly arose out of his bedde Therewith Gloriand Huon and Escleremond entred into the chamber where King Oberon was and when the King saw them he came vnto them and sayde My right déere Fréende Huon
and you my déere Loue Escleremond of your comming I am right ioyfull then hee embraced and kissed them both more then Tenne times and sayde Huon my right déere Freend for the great truth and noblenesse that I find in you I shall make you King of all the Fayrie and your Wife Escleremond shall be Lady and Quéene of the same and besides that I will giue vnto you all my dignitie When the Kinge had well saluted them then hee sat downe vppon a Couch and made Huon and Escleremond to sit downe before him and then hee commaunded Gloriand that incontinent he should fetch vnto him his bowe and when hee had it in his hand hee tooke an arrow and did shoot therewith then incontinent it séemed that all the world had arriued in the Town and Pallaice there came thether so many Knights and Ladies of the Fayrie that all the Towne and Pallaice was full and when they were all assembled together in the Pallaice Kinge Oberon commaunded to carrie him into the great Hall in his rich Couch then he commanded silence to be kept among them all and then he sayd Lordes and Ladie that bée héere assembled all yée knowe that euerie mortall thing cannot long endure I speake it for my owne selfe because I am Sonne to a mortall man and was engendred vppon the Ladie of the prime Isle who can neuer die because shee is one of the Fayrie engendred of a man of the Fayrie and Daughter to a woman of the Fayrie and whereas it is so that Iulius Caesar was a mortall man therefore it behooueth me to passe out of this world by the commandement of our Lord God who hath ordained that it should be so And because of my loue during the time that I haue béen conuersant héere with you therefore I will not leaue you without a Lorde but first in my life dayes I will puruay you of one who shall bee Duke Huon whome I loue well and déerely and also I will that his Wife the Duchesse Escleremond shall abide with him for in no wise I will seperate them asunder therefore I ordaine that Huon who is héere present be your King and Lord and Escleremond your Queâ—ne and Ladie and from hencefoorth I put my Realme and dignitie into his handes and I will that hee vse it as I haue done in my life time howbeit King Arthur hath sore pressed vppon mee to haue my Realme and dignitie but I will that none shall haue it but alonely Huon of Bourdeaux who is héere present and whome I will crowne King in all your presence Chap. CXLVI ¶ How the noble Kinge Oberon crowned Huon and Escleremond and gaue them all his Realme and dignitie that he hadde in the Land of the Fayrie and made the Peace betweene Huon and King Arthur WHen the people of the Fayrie both Knightes and Ladies had well heard and vnderstood King Oberon they were right sorrowfull in that hee should leaue them and sayd Sir since it is your pleasure and that it is your will oâ— reason wee must bee content to receiue Huon of Bourdeaux for our kinge and Madame Escleremond his Wife for our Quéene When the King vnderstood his Lordes and people then he caused to be brought thether two Crownes the one was set vppon Huons head and the other vppon Escleremonds head then Oberon sent for his Horne Napkin and Cup and the good Armour hee deliuered them vnto Huon to doe with them his pleasure great ioy and feasting was made in the Pallaice by the Knights Ladies of the Fayrie Then king Huon looked out at a window and sawe vpon the Mountaine that he passed ouer at his comming thether a great number of Tents and Pauillions and hée sayd vnto King Oberon Sir vppon yonder Mountaine I see a great number of men assembled and many Tentes and Pauillions picht vp Huon quoth king Oberon know for troth that it is kinge Arthur who meeneth to haue my Realme and dignitie but hee cometh too late for the promise that you made vnto me you haue kept therefore he fayleth and commeth too late for if you hadde not come I had giuen him my Realme and dignity I know well that hee will be heere soone to see me and hee will be sorrowfull and angrie of your comming hether but if I can I shall doe so much that you shall bee both in peace and rest for good reason it is that he doe obay you Therewith kinge Arthur and all his Chiualrie entred into the Citie of Momur and came alighted at the Pallaice and with him his Sister Quéene Morguele Fay and Transeline their Néece they came and saluted king Oberon who receiued them with great ioye and sayde Great kinge Arthur you are welcome and Morgue your Sister and Transeline your Néece and Sir â—â—ray you to shewe mée what faire Childe is that I sée there before your Sister Morgue Sir quoth Arthur hee is called Marlyn and is Sonne to Ogier the Dane who hath wedded my Sister Morgue and I haue left him in my Countrey to rule it vntill I returne Sir quoth king Oberon the child shall haue good fortune hee shall bee in his time feared and redoubted for Ogier his Father is a good and a valiant knight And noble kinge Arthur you are welcome and of your comming I am right ioyfull I haue sent for you to shewe you the pleasure of our Lord God that I shall depart out of this world and to the entent that you should be content in that I haue giuen you heretofore in the Fayrie so much dignitie and puissance wherewith I desire you to be contented for behold here Duke Huon of Bourdeaux and his Wife the Duchesse Escleremond vnto whome I haue giuen my Realme and my dignity to vse it as I haue done héeretofore and therefore I pray and commaund you that you will obay him as Kinge and Soueraigne of all the Fayrie and you to liue together with good loue and peace When King Arthur heard King Oberon he answeared fiercely and sayd Sir I haue well heard you and you know well that your Realme and dignity you gaue me after your decease and now I sée well that you haue giuen it to Duke Huon Sir lette him goe into his owne Countrey and vnto his Citie of Bourdeaux whereas hee hath left his Daughter Clariet and let him goe and marrie her for as heere he hath nothing to doe I hadde rather to bee cleane exiled for euer and chaced out of my Realme then I should obay him or doe vnto him any homage for he shall haue nothing to doe ouer mee without hee winne it with the point of the Sworde When Kinge Huon hadde well heard King Arthur of Brittaine he answeared fiercely and said King Arthur knowe for troth for all your wordes and threatninges I will not spare to say vnto you that whether you will or not it must behooue you to obay and to be vnder me since it is the pleasure of my Lord Kinge
â—et vs returne vnto our former matter and speake of faire Clariet Daughter vnto King Huon who was at the noble Citie of Bourdeaux Chap. CXLVIII ¶ How the Kinge of Hungary and the Kinge of England and Florence Sonne vnto the Kinge of Aragon desired to haue in mariage the faire Ladie Clariet and how shee was betrayed by Brohart and howe Sir Barnard was drowned and of the euils that the Traytour Brohart did vnto the faire Ladie Clariet and how he dyed at the last YE haue heard heere before how King Huon and Quéen Escleremond when they departed from the Citie of Bourdeaux they left their Daughter in the kéeping of the good Abbot of Cluny her Vncle who grew and dayly amended in such sort that when shee came to the age of Fifteene yeares for her excellent beautie her renowme was so great in euerie Country that there was neyther King nor Duke but desired to haue her in mariage so that the Abbot and Barnard her cozen hadde great businesse to giue each of them their answeare to be content One was the King of England another the king of Hungarie and the other was Florence Son vnto the king of Aragon but especially the kinge of Hungarie would haue hadde her the good Abbot answeared the king of Hungaries Ambassadours and so to all the other that vntill he had heard some newes from Duke Huon her Father hee coulde not agree to any marriage for her but if they woulde returne againe by the Feast of Saint Iohn next following then he would be content to hold a day of communication of marriage in the Towne of Blay whereto the kinge of Hungarie was content and so were all the other Ambassadours And when the day came the good Abbot tooke his way vnto Blay to bee there against the comming of the Kinges of England Hungarie and Florence Sonne to the king of Aragon the good Abbot left the Ladie Clariet in the keeping of Barnard her coozen who loued her entirely and when the Abbot was come vnto Blay hee made the Towne to bee hanged richly for the comming of the sayde kinges And the third day after the Abbot came thether first came to the Towne the king of England who anon after he was alighted and somewhat rested he leapt vppon his horse againe and went a hunting into the landes then afterward came the kinge of Hungarie in goodly array he alighted at the Pallaice whereas the Abbot receiued him with great ioy then afterward entred Florence with a noble companie The Abbot did salute them all one after another saying how that he and the whole Towne were at their commaundement and they thanked him There was a false Traytour borne in Bourdeaux who had heard all the conclusion that the Abbot hadde taken with these Princes and that was that they should sée the Ladie and hee that pleased her best should haue her in marriage this Traytour that heard that conclusion thought within himselfe that he would let that matter if he could and haue her himselfe this Traytours name was Brohart he departed from Blay sore desiring to attaine to his false Enterprize hée tooke a little Ship and sayled incontinent vnto Bourdeaux then in hast he went on shoare and fayned himselfe as though he had great businesse to doe so hée came to the Pallaice whereas he found the faire Ladie Clariet and Barnard leaning in a window deuising together Then Brohart saluted Barnard and the Ladie all smiling Brohart quoth Barnard the matter must bee good that I sée you come smiling I pray you to shew vnto mee how doth the good Abbot of Cluny my Coozen and how hath he receiued the Princes that be come to Blay Barnard quoth the Traytour know for troth that in all your life you neuer saw such noblenesse as is nowe in the Towne of Blay and therefore Sir hastily before the matter goeth any further the good Abbot of Cluny who is Vncle to my Ladie héere present sendeth you word by mée that incontinent assoone as night commeth that priuily my Ladie Clariet be made readie and apparelled and disguised like a man and you and I to bringe her vnto Blay to her Vncle the Abbot of Cluny and that to morrowe about noone you ordaine Damsels to come after and to bringe with them all her riche roabes and apparell to array her therein when time shall bee and that wee take with vs some of her apparel to put on when shee comes there vntil all her other apparell commeth and the cause why that her Vncle sendeth now for her so priuily is that she should see all them that desireth her in marriage for out of the Chamber whereas shee shal be in shee shall see them all one after another out at a secret windowe When Barnard heard the vnhappie Traytour wéening that all that he had sayd had béen true because he was a man of credence therefore he beléeued his wordes Alas why did he so for a more vild Traytour there was not from thence to Rome his Father and his Brethren were so all but Barnard beléeued him because hee went with the Abbot then Barnard sayd vnto Clariet Ladie you must make you readie to depart assone as night cometh and you must be apparelled as Brohart hath shewed to the entent that you bee not perceiued vntill you come to Blay to your Vncle the Abbot Barnard quoth the Ladie since it is the pleasure of mine Vncle and of you it is great reason that I doe it then she went into her chamber and apparelled her with her priuie Damsels and they laughed at her when they saw her in mans apparell and the cruell Traytour did so much that hee got a little Shippe and brought it readie to the Posterne of the Pallaice and he had gotten ready a great stone and tyed thereto a cord then he came vnto Barnard and sayd Sir it is full time to depart that we may bée at Blay before it bee midnight Then Barnard came to the Ladie whome hee founde readie to depart and saide all smiling Faire Ladie you resemble well to bee a gentle Squier Barnard put his sword about him and tooke the Ladie by the arme and sayd Come on Companion it is time wée goe Brohart went on before and Barnard and the Ladie went after arme in arme and so went on to the Posterne so primly that no man perceiued them then Brohart entred into the Shippe first and tooke Clariet by the hand and led her to the end of the Shippe and then Barnarâ— entred Brohart softly did let the stone slip into the water and held the cord still in his hand and sayd vnto Barnard Sir I doe this because the Shippe shall not goe too fast vntill we bee past the middle of the streame and sayde vnto Barnard Sir holde you this cord in your hand vntill we be past the hye streame and then wee shall drawe it vp againe Barnard who thought none ill did as the Traytour saide then they
tooke the healme in their handes and so departed a long the Riuer of Gerone Chap. CXLIX ¶ when the Traytour Brohart drowned Barnard and of theyr aduentures and how Brohart was slaine WHen Brohart saw that they were farre off from the Towne and that the night was darke he came vnto Barnard and sayd Sir quickly drawe vp the stone by the corde out of the water then Barnard stouped downe low to drawe it vp and Brohart tooke Barnard by one of his legges before hee was aware and with all his strength hee tumbled him ouer the ship-board into the water whereas hee was drowned the which was great pitie for a more truer Knight could not be found When the faire Ladie Clariet saw that Brohart had cast Barnard ouer the ship-board shee gaue a great crie and shee came vnto Brohart and drewe him by the haire When that the Traytour saw that the Ladie tare his haire hee tooke her by the armes so fiercely that hee cast her to the bottome of the Shippe and did beat her cruelly sayd that her cryes and wéepings could not ayd her for whether she would or not hee would haue his pleasure of her When the Ladie heard the false Traytour shee was in great feare and beganne sore to tremble making her prayers to our Lord God to defend her from dishonour and to bring her out of the handes of that false Traytour her enemie then the vnhappie Traytour came vnto her and sayd that it were better for her to fulfill his pleasure with good will and loue rather then by force or else he would cast her into the Riuer of Gerone Oh false Traytour quoth she as long as thou liuest thou shalt neuer haue ioy nor pleasure of my bodie then the false murderer did beat the Ladie that pitie it was to sée and so he left her in a manner lying dead When he saw that it would bee no better hee was wearie and so fell a sleepe the Ship went forth by force of the streame and by that time it was faire day so farre the shippe went that night that they were néere to the end of the Riuer of Gerone and the Ladie sore wéeping beheld the Traytour how he slept and saw lying by him a loafe of bread the famine that she was in constrained her to take and to eat it for she had such famine that she could forbeare it no longer then she made her prayers all wéeping to our Lord God requiring him to kéepe and defend her virginitie and to preserue her from that false Tirant who had betrayed her So farre went the Shippe that it entred into the Sea the winde was great and they had neither healme nor sayle to aide themselues withall then the winde tooke them and draue them to a little Port vnder a hye Rocke in a little Isle then Brohart awoake and was glad when hee sawe that they were arriued neere to the Land for hee knewe right well the countrey and then he sayd to the Ladie Thou â—eest well that thou hast no puissance to goe against my will the which thou must néeds fulfill for thou canst not haue any succour of any man or woman liuing nor all thy defence cannot auaile thee thou séest well wee bee in an Isle whereas the Sea goeth round about it wherefore I haue great doubt that wee shall neuer depart from hence therefore dismay you not for as now I will doe thée no hurt This théefe when he sawe that he was in this Isle he began to curse God and the houre that euer he saw Clariet for the false Traytour sawe well that he should die there by famine and rage for there was no shippe to enter into the Sea therefore he had then no mind to doe any harme to the Ladie the which was by the grace of God who woulde not that the Ladie shoulde bee dishonored and when shee saw that they were so neere the land sore wéeping shee yssued out of the boat and ranne vp the Rocke Nowe God defend her for the same time there was vppon the Mountaine sixe Théeues who lay to espy the Marchaunts and they had a little Galley lying in a little corner of the Rocke néere to them and had couered it with bowes and gréen leaues When Brohart saw the Damsell runne away he cryed as loud as he could and sayd By God Madame your flying shall not auaile you for whether thou wilt or not this night I will haue my pleasure of thée the sixe Théeues who were vppon the Mountaine eating of their meate when they heard Brohart crying after the Damsell they were sore abashed and were in great feare that they had béen espyed Then the Damsell who ranne vppon the Mountaine when shee sawe them shee sayd Ah Sirs I pray you haue pittie of me and ayd and succour mee against this false Traytour this night passed hee did steale me away out of the Citie of Bourdeaux and I am Daughter to noble Duke Huon When these Théeues heard the Damsell they arose vp all and thought that it hadde béene some fayned matter to haue beguiled them but when they sawe Brohart follow the Ladie then the Maister of the Theeues stept foorth and sayd Howe is it that thou art so hardy to come vppon vs thou art come hether to espie vs but we shall neuer be accused by thée thou art but ill come to this bridale When the Traytour Brohart saw the sixe Théeues he was sore abashed and saw well that hée should bee faine to defend himselfe then he drew out his sword and strake the Maister Théefe such a blow vppon the head that hee claue him to the téeth and when the other fiue Théeues saw their Maister slaine they were right sorrowfull and angrie then they assailed Brohart on all sides and hee defended himselfe so well that before he was striken to the earth he slew foure of them and in the meane time whiles they fought the Ladie Clariet came to the place whereas the Théeues had béen and there shee sound meat and drinke plentie and when she saw the meat she was right ioyfull and thanked God thereof and did eat and drinke at her pleasure and she saw that the Théeues had cast Brohart to the earth whereof she was ioyfull howbeit shee knew not what companie shee was come into nor in whose handes shee was arriued in When the Théeues hadde cast Brohart to the earth they made him shew where hee had taken the Damsell and he shewed them all the matter and how hee had taken her to the entent to haue dishonoured her and to haue hadde her to his Wife and to haue caried her into some strange place vnknowne When the Théeues heard what Brohart had said they sayde Oh thou vntrue and false Traytour there is no torment in the world so cruell but that thou hast deserued a worse paine and therefore by vs thy desert shall be rewarded then they tooke him and bound fast his féet and hanged him vp by
the féete vppon a Trée then they made a fire and vnder his head they made a great smoak and so made him to die in great dolour and paine thus ended the Traytour Brohart miserably his dayes Then the two Théeues came to the place whereas Clariet was and they demaunded of her estate and shee shewed them all the manner and how shee was taken by the Traytour Brohart and shee declared vnto them what she was then the Théeues caused her to put off her cloathes that she was in and to put on her other rich apparell and when they sawe her 〈◊〉 apparelled they thought that no Ladie nor Damsell in the world could passe her in beautie for shee was come againe to her beautie and she thought her selfe well assured because shee was deliuered from the false Traitour Brohart When one of these twoo Théeues saw the great beautie of this Damsell he sayde vnto his fellowe this night I will haue my pleasure of her the other sayd that he would not suffer that and sayd how he was the first that ouerthrew Brohart who had stollen her away then the other drewe out his dagger and strake his fellow into the bodie to the hart and when he felt himselfe striken to the death he tooke courage on him and drewe his Sword and strake the other vpon the head to the braines and so he fell downe dead and the other that was wounded to the death fell downe in like wise by his fellow dead and so thereby the faire Ladie Clariet was left there all alone When she saw her selfe so all alone in the Isle whereas no habitation was shée began then pitiously to wéepe and complaine saying Oh good Lord I pray thee by thy grace to haue pittie of me and I require thée humbly wheresoeuer I goe to saue and defend my virginitie and ayd mee that I may come to sauegard Now let vs leaue speaking of the faire Clariet and returne to speake of the Kings and Princes that were at Blay abiding the comming thether of the faire Ladie Clariet Chap. CL. ¶ Of the great sorrow that was made at Blay by the Abbot of Cluny and by the Princes of the noble Citie of Bourdeaux for the faire Ladie Clariet that was stollen away and of the sorow that was made when they saw Barnard brought in dead by Six men And of the punishment that was done to the Lineage of the Traytour Brohart WHen these Kinges and Princes were arriued at Blay and had spoken with the good Abbot of Cluny they concluded betwen them thrée that the Ladie Clariet should be sent for and he that she would fréely choose should bee her Husband for each of them thought themselues most faire thought that there could not bee found thrée goodlyer young Princes then they were but especially Florence Sonne to the Kinge of Aragon was the most fairest And the same time that they were determined to send to the Citie of Bourdeaux for the Ladie Clariet there came thether the Knightes Squiers Ladies and Damsels appointed by Brohart thinking to haue found there the faire Clariet and they brought her roabes and Iewels to apparell her withall as Brohart had deuised they came alighted at the Pallaice the Abbot of Cluny being at the gate and séeing the Ladies and Damsels comming thought that it had béen his Néece the faire Ladie Clariet he went incontinent vnto them and demanded where his Néece Clariet was Sir quoth the Knightes we thinke to find her héere with you for yesternight late the Lady departed from the Citie of Bourdeaux to come to you and Brohart came for her who with Sir Barnard went with her and they commaunded vs that we should not faile to be héere with you at this houre then they shewed all the manner howe Brohart came and what hee had sayd vnto them And when the good Abbot of Cluny heard them hee fell suddainly to the earth in a swound so that all that were there present thought that he had béen dead then at last he reuiued and cast out a great crye and sayd Ah my right déere Néece I ought to bee sorrowfull thus to loose you in this manner I would to our Lord God that I were vnder the earth for I woulde liue no longer in this world Ah thou false Traytour Brohart thy kindred did neuer good Oh Barnard where is become your noblenesse yet I cannot beléeue that you bee any thinge culpable Anon these newes were knowne in the Towne so that all the Kinges and Princes were aduertised of the matter and they came hastely 〈◊〉 the Pallaice whereas they found the Abbot in sore wéeâ—inges whome they had slaine if it had not béene for the good renowne that they knew to bee in him therefore they forbare him then euerie man mounted vppon their horses and roade towardes the Citie Bourdeaux whereas they founde the Burgesses and the common people in great cryes and wéepings bewaylinge for the noble Duke Huon and the Duchesse Escleremond his Wife and for Clariet their Daughter who was lost and betrayed by Brohart When the Abbot of Cluny and the other Princes were entred into Bourdeaux and saw such sorrow made there they all 〈◊〉 to wéeping and as they were in this sorrowe there came thether Siremen bringing with them Sir Barnard dead who they had found drowned in the Riuer of Gerone if the sorrowe was great before then it was more renewed when they sawe Barnard dead if I should rehearse the sorrowe that was made that day in the Citie of Bourdeaux aswell of the Princes as of the Abbot and common people it should be too long to rehearse Then the Kinges and Princes well aduertised of the Lineage and Parents yssued of the bloud of Brohart and how alwayes they haue been full of treason they were searched out in euery place of the Citie as well men as women and Children there were found out to the number of Thrée-score and ten persons and they were all taken and cast into the Riuer of Gerone to the entent that none should bee left aliue of that kindred and neuer more to be had in remembrance After this was done the Kinges and Princes departed out of the Citie and road into their owne Countreys right sorrowfull and sore displeased for the loosing of the Ladie Clariet and the Abbot abode still at Burdeaux and buried Barnard who were sore complayned for of the people Now let vs leaue speaking of them and returne to the faire Ladie Clariet who was all alone vppon the Mountaine Chap. CLI ¶ How the Ladie Clariet all alone came to the Sea-side whereas arriued the King of Granado in a Shippe who tooke away Clariet and of other matters NOwe sheweth the Historie that after the Théeues were slaine and Brohart dead the Ladie Clariet abode alone vpon the Mountaine with the dead men shee wept pitiously and sayd Ah good Lord in what houre was I borne in alas what ill hap and destiny haue I
Aragons house and haue passed the time there with the newe come Damsell the most fairest that euer was borne and the most gentlest and best taught right faire and swéet are her deuises Florence quoth the King I charge thée in as much as thou fearest my displeasure that thou commest no more at her beware that thou fallest not enamoured of her if thou doest thou wert neuer so ill acquainted with any Loue nor there neuer came so ill aduenture to the Damsell if shee draw thée to loue her for if I may know that thou goest thether any more I shall sette her in such a prison whereas I shall cause her to end her dayes miserably Father quoth Florence mée thinkes that you doe vs great wronge to forbid vs to play and sport together in all goodnes and honour and God defend that I shoulde entend any wayes to deceiue her Déere Father remember that you haue béen young therfore suffer that youth may passe their time in goodnesse and honour with vs as it hath done with you nowe you are about Four-score yeares or more you ought to thinke of nothing but to serue God and eat and drinke and sléep it ought not to trouble you though our youth passe the time in good workes you ought to bee content that we loue by amours as you haue done before this for to the Damsell I beare all honour and I will loue her howsoeuer it bee taken faire or foule there is no man liuing that shall let mee as longe as life is in my bodie shee is faire and gentle and it is said that I am faire and that it were a méet couple for vs two to be ioyned together in mariage and therefore Father I praye you to blame mee no more nor the Damsell for in all that I can doe I am her Louer and shee is mine When the King hadde well vnderstood his Sonne in great yre and displeasure he sayd Oh thou vngracious Son little thou prizest or honourest me in that thou wilt doe thus against my will know for certaine if I may liue but till to morrow in the morning I shall make a departure of your twoo loues When Florence heard his Father he sayd My déere Lord and Father if God will you shall not doe as you haue sayd for if you doe with mine owne handes I shall slay my selfe for I will not liue one day after When the Kinge heard that hee was right sorrowfull for feare of loozing of his Sonne and studied within himselfe what to doe then he said Faire Son take thine armour and goe and seeke aduentures as I haue done in my time then I shall marrie thée to some Wife such a one as thou canst finde in any Countrey although she be neuer so great or noble I shall cause thee to haue her iâ— thou wilt forsake and leaue this new found Damsell for by her no wealth nor honour can come vnto thée it should bee a great euill vnto thee that after my daies it should bee saide that a newe found Damsell should bee Ladie and Queene of my Realme Thou knowest well howe thine Vncle the King of Nauarre maketh me great warre for a debate that is lately fallen betwéene him and me I knowe well that now at this Moneth of Aprill hee wiâ—l come and inuade my Realme and therefore good Sonne seeke for some other Wife and let this folly passe then I shall make thée a Knight then helpe to aid and defend my Realme against the Kinge of Nauarre thine Vncle thou art bigge and strong inough to defend my Land Good Father quoth Florence speake no more vnto me for I will neuer haue no other Wife but this faire Damsell whome I loue entirely Sonne quoth the King thou abasest thy selfe ouer lowe nor there is no friend nor kindred that thou hast that will keepe any company with thée but they will cleane flye from thée therefore good Sonne put away from thée this folly beware in as much as thou thinkest to haue my Realme after my decease and vppon the paine to bee banished out of my Countrey take not her against my will Then the Kinge called vnto him his Cozen Peter of Aragon and charged him that if Florence his Sonne came any more to his lodging that he should incontinent tell him of it for I promise quoth hée by the faith that I owe vnto our Lord God if he come thether any more I shall cause the Damsell that is in your house to be slaine Florence was right sorrowfull when hee heard to the pleasure of the Kinge his Father Thus as the King rebuked his Sonne there came in a Knight and kneeled downe and sayd Sir I haue brought you ill tidings for the King of Nauarre is entred into your Realme and setteth all your Countrey in flame and fire and néere to your Citie they be to the number of more then Thirtie Thousand men besides the great Battaile that commeth after wherein there is about thrée-score Thousand men they exile your Countrey and they slay men women and Children they spare neither young nor old it is great néed that you make hast and to bring your men together to resist your enemies When King Garyn heard the Messenger he was right sorrowfull then hee called vnto him his Cozen Peter of Aragon who was his chiefe Constable and sayd Sir make readie our men to resist our enemies then he called vnto him Florence his Sonne and sayd Faire Sonne take thine armour and shew thy vertue against thine enemies who waste my Realme and take vpon thée the chiefe charge and lead mine Hoast for I haue no puissance nor strength to do it because of the great age that I am of I haue liued so long that I can no more ride therefore defend thou the Land that thou shalt hold after mee and then thou doest as a wise man should doe Father quoth Florence by the grace of God I will put no armour vppon my backe to defend your Land except you will giue mee in marriage the faire Damsell that is in my Cozen Peter of Aragons house if you will doe me that courtesie and promise mée to doe it I shall deliuer into your hands your enemy as Prisoner to doe with him your pleasure otherwise looke not that I shall doe any thing When the King saw that his Sonne would doe none otherwise then he commaunded all his other men euerie man to arme himselfe and to goe and resist his enemies the which they did incontinent and they yssued out into the fields more then tenne Thousand men and Sir Peter of Aragon hadde the leading of them and they were not out of the Towne aboue twoo Leagues but they encountred their enemies there were many speares broken and many a Knight beaten downe to the earth and slain and their bodies lying without soules among the horse féete right valiantly did Sir Peter of Aragon behaue himselfe that day but hee had not strength ynough sufficient for 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
the Garden to sée if he could find the Damsell he sought so long that he found the Damsell whereas shée lay in the bush in great perill to be drowned This Watchman was a wise man and as priuily as he could he yssued out of the Garden and went downe to the water side and there he found a little boat and entred into it so passed the vine Garden as priuily as he could so that none heard nor saw him and when he was against the bush whereas the Damsell was hée spake to her softly and sayd Faire Damsell be not abashed for if I may in any maner of wise I will ayd you come down and enter into this boat and I shall set you in the Forrest and tarie there vntil I bring to you Florence your Louer the which I shall doe by the grace of Iesus for if I can by any manner of meanes I shall bring him out of the danger that hee is in because I haue alwayes loued him and for the goodnesse that hée hath done to me I shall now reward it When the Damsell heard the Watch-man for ioy thereof shée forgat all her sorrow and incontinent aswell as she might she yssued out of the bush and went down the Riuer side then she entred into the boat and the Watch-man set her ouer and left her in the Forrest the which ioyned to the water side then he tooke his leaue of her and sayd Faire Damsell tarie here vntill I returne againe to you Fréende quoth the Damsell I pray to God that you may so spéed as to bring hether my Louer and to set him out of danger and so he departed and entred againe into the Garden hearkening towardes the Pallaice whereas there was great brute made for the escaping of the Damsell But there was no doubt made of Florence because the Tower that hee was in was stronge and thicke Also the Chamber that he was in was not toward the Pallaice but it lay open against the Garden then the sayd Watch-man came to the wall side whereas there was a straight loope hole into Florence Chamber and he had two Goates féete in his handes then hee called Florence and sayd Sir if you will bee with your Loue who tarieth for you in the Forrest whereas I haue lâ—â—t her in sauegard helpe your selfe that you were out of this Tower take heere this Goates foote and doe you so much there within to enlarge the loope that you may yssue out and héere without I shall make the hole wyder When Florence vnderstoode the Watch-man hee was neuer so ioyfull in all his life when he heard the man say that his Loue was in sauegard they laboured so sore that they made the loope so large that Florence yssued out and then the Watch-man brought Florence to the Stable whereas some of the Kinges horses stoode especially there was one whose like could not be found This Watch-man who had great affection and desire to doe seruice to this young Lord did so much that he brought vnto Florence his Armour his shéeld his helmet his sword and a good Speare and so Florence armed him and leapt vpon the good horse then the Watch-man shewed him the place in the Forrest whereas as hee had left the Damsell and then hee tooke his leaue of Florence who sayd Fréend the seruice that you haue done me shall be well rewarded in time to come then hee road foorth and left not vntill he came whereas his Loue was and when he saw her his ioy was renewed then he alighted and kissed his Loue and when he sawe that she was so bloudie he hadde great pitie of her and sayd Deere Loue it is néedfull that we depart before the day come Therefore make you readie and leape vp behind me and then Florence mounted and she leapt vp behind him and so departed assoone as they might When they were in the fields the Damsell looked backe towards the Citie and shee saw a great number of men yssuing out then shée sayd vnto Florence Sir I sée well that wee bee lost for I sée much people yssuing out of the Citie it is not possible for vs to be saued but that we shal be taken and especially I cannot escape I sée well that nowe our loue shall depart your Father is fell and cruell I knowe well that hee will slay mee Then the Watch-man came running after Florence for feare that he had of the king but he could not ouertake Florence who fled with his Loue behind him as fast as he might toward the Sea-side for Florence knew well the priuie wayes because he had often times vsed the wayes when he was woont to go a hauking or hunting So long he road that he came to a little Port where there was a Shippe readie to depart then Florence alighted and his Loue with him and tyed his horse to a Trée and then he tooke the Damsell by the hand and came to the Maister of the Shippe and agréed so with him that he and his Loue entred into the ship then they hoysed vp their sayles and so sayled from the land the Watch-man came to the Sea-side trusting to haue found Florence there and hee was right sorrowfull when he sawe them so farre on the Sea hee was in great feare of loosing of his life Then Kinge Garyn came thether with a great number and when he saw the Shippe so far in the Sea he sayd Ah good Lord now haue I lost my son for I know well he is gone inyonder Shippe and the Damsel with him but by the faith that I owe vnto our Lord Iesus Christ this Watch-man shall loose his head then the Watch-man was taken and fast bound so that the bloud came out at his fingers ends and sayd all wéeping Ah good Lord in an ill houre I was acquainted with Florence and his Loue Alas for the goodnesse that I haue done I shall haue a small reward this day I am like to loose my life for loue of my Lord. Chap. CLVII ¶ Of the great debate that was in the Pallaice for the VVatch-mans sake whome the King would haue had to be hanged and how the king of Nauarre tooke the Citie of Courtoys and how he departed from thence WHen the Earle Peter of Aragon saw the Watch-man taken by whom Florence and his Loue were saued hee was sorie to sée the man so sore beaten and threatened then he went in hast to the King and sayd Sir you shew well by your workes that you haue but small reason to suffer thus this poore man to be beaten and that you would put him to death for the goodnesse that he hath done to your Sonne he hath done therein but as he should doe and like a true Seruant you ought the better to loue him you shall doe ill to put him to death I will that you know that if you put him to death I will not serue you one day longer but I will rather goe to the King
of Nauarre and helpe to maintaine his war against you When the King heard him so to threaten him he swoore by God that he should repent it and how there should no man saue the Watch-mans life Then the poore man embraced the Kings Legge and cried for mercie but the King sware and made promise howe he should bee hanged without mercie When the Earle Peter heard that he was verie sorrowfull the poore man wept and beheld the people that were there assembled and desired them to pray for his soule saying how he should die for sauing of his Lord there was many of the poore mans kinred they knéeled all downe before the King desiring him to pardon him the king answeared that hee would not When the Earle Peter heard that he sayd to the King Sir surely he shall not die without it be by iudgement as your Lords and Counsaile shall ordaine When the King heard that he was sore displeased and so entred into the Citie and set the Watch-man in prison then hée went to his Pallaice and Peter followed him and accompanied with many other Knightes such as loued him and in like wise so did the poore mans kindred When the Kinge was in his Pallaice he commaunded a Scaffold to be made whereon hee would haue the Watch-man to loose his head When his Kins-men heard that they cried for mercie but the king would doe nothing at their desire When the Earle Peter saw the ill will of the king he made a token to the Watch-mans freends who were in number about a Hundred and Fiftie that they should goe to such a Tower where there was great plentie of Armour and to breake it vp and to arme them and so they did and came againe to the Pallaice and when the king saw them comming armed hee cryed to his men that they should arme them and take them that were so bolde to come into his presence all armed and when euerie man was armed they came again to the Pallaice to haue taken the Watch-man and all his kindred but the Watch-man and his Fréendes who were readie in armour set vpon the kinges men and also Peter of Aragon and his companie aided them so that there was so great a Skirmish in the Pallaice that it was pitie to sée it they cut off armes legs and heads each of other Finally the king and his men were so sore constrained that of force they abandoned the Pallace and fled away and the king fled into his Chamber for sauegard Anon the newes ran in the Towne that the king was sore assaulted in the Pallaice and in ieopardie of his life Then all the Communaltie went and armed them and sounded the larum bell there was such a noyse and brute as though all the world had béen lost Then a Spie went out and shewed the king of Nauarre howe king Garyn was assembled in his Pallaice within the Citie because of a Watch-man that the King would put to death in that hee had deliuered out of prison Florence and the Damsell his Loue. Then the King of Nauarre right ioyfull of those newes commanded hastely his men to be readie in Armour for he sayd that it was then time or else neuer to assaile the Citie Great desire I haue quoth he to bee reuenged of this King who had wedded my Sister whom he hath slaine I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart vntill I bee reuenged then euerie man armed them and so assembled together with banners displayed and so came in good order toward the Citie to assayle it but when they within the Towne heard the crye and noise without and sawe their enemies comming towards them they went and shewed it at the Pallaice wherby the strife there ceased and then the king and all his Lordes with all his people yssued out in Battaile Then there began a sore Battaile and many a man slaine and maymed but there were so many Nauarnes that whether king Garyn would or not perforce they were faine to abandon the Victorie to their enemies and were faine to retire into the Towne but their enemies followed them so néere that the kinge of Nauarre and his men entred in with them Then the kinge of Nauarre commanded that none should be slain without they were found in defence for he sayd that he cared not so he might be reuenged of the king Then the Nauarnes spread abroad in the Citie taking prisoners then kinge Garyn fled to the Minster-church then hee stoode in the Church dore to make defence but it could not auaile him there was so many of his enemies that he fledde to the hye Aulter for sauegard but the kinge of Nauarre who was entred into the Church commanded his men to take king Garyn the which they did Sirs quoth king Garyn yée doe me great wrong to take me in this holy place whereas euerie man should be saued aboue all thinges the house of God ought to be refuge for euerie man Then the king of Nauarre who was holden for a good holy man hearing what king Garyn sayd he knewe well that he sayd the truth and repented himselfe and sayd Faire Nephewe for the offence that I haue committed against our Lord God I shall amend it to the double so that you will pardon the Watch-man that hath deliuered my Nephew Florence out of your prison I shall then shew you this courtesie for the offence that I haue made I and all my men shall yssue out of this Citie without taking of any prisoner or any manner of goods for the loue of my Nephewe Florence whome I loue entirely and for the goodnes of the people I shall goe to my Tents without and I will graunt you a Truce to endure for a Moneth and I promise you the Moneth once expired I shall approach againe so nere to this Citie that as long as life is in my bodie I shall not depart vntill I haue taken this Citie and you whome I take for mine enemie to haue you as my prisoner for I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart vntill I haue reuenged the death of my Sister your Wife Then King Garyn sayd King of Nauarre of the courtesie and bountie that you shewe vnto me I thanke you and as for the Watch-man I doe pardon him all mine ill will whereas you say that you will come so néere my Citie to winne it when that commeth by the grace of God and by the helpe of my true Subiects I shall doe the best I can to defend my selfe and my Citie Then the King of Nauarre yssued out of the Church and leapt vpon his horse and road to the gate and taried there vntill all his men were cleane auoided out of the Citie to the entent that neither Prisoners nor goods should be caried out of the Citie whereof his men were angrie and especially they that were poore the other cared not greatly because the two Kinges had béene so long fréendes together wherefore the warre displeased them and they were
by vs hee is King of all the Fayrey and he will come to ayd thée and to defend thy land also he will that thou knowest that he is Father to the faire Damsell Clariet whome thou namest the new-found Damsell and because thou hast banished from thée thy Son Florence hee will come to thée to make the Peace betweene thée and thy Brother in lawe the King of Nauarre and hee will make the Mariage betwéene thy Sonne Florence and Clariet his Daughter When kinge Garyn heard the Knight of the Fayrey hee hadde such ioy at his heart that hee wist not what to doe or say and hee came to the Knight and embraced him all wéeping and said Sir know for troth my body my life and all that I haue I submitte into the handes of the good King Huon to do therewith at his pleasure With those words the twoo Knightes vanished away no man wist how nor whether so that euerie man had great maruaile King Garyn and his Lordes lifted vp their hands to Heauen making the signe of the crosse recommending themselues to Iesus Christ and the twoo Knightes rested not vntill they came to the Cittie of Momur to King Huon and shewed him what they had done and sayd to King Garyn shewed Huon of the day of Battaile that was taken betwéene the two Kinges and said Sir haue pitie of Florence and of Clariet your Daughter who are as now on the Sea in a great Tempest then Huon sayde Surely I they shall be shortly before the Citie of Courtoys with a number of people that the earth shal be couered with them to the entent that if either of those two Kinges doe contrary to my will I shall destroy him for euer for shortly I will that my Daughter Clariet shall bee Duchesse of Bourdeloys and shee is so faire that there is none like her and I will shew the great loue that I beare to her Then Huon called to him Escleremond and sayd Ladie you shall sée this day the thinge that you much desire to sée that is your Daughter Clariet to whom I giue her the guift that she shal be beloued of euerie man and I will that from henceforth she shall giue large guiftes and rewards to Ladies Damsels Knightes and Squiers for I will that from hencefoorth shée haue her pleasure without suffering of any more ill or perill for she hath suffered inough This day was faire and cléere within the Citie of Courtoys there was many people assembled and they were in great deuotion some made seruice to be song and some were confessed and ordred themselues towardes the Battaile Then King Garyn commanded euerie man to leape vppon their horses readie armed and the King himselfe mounted then they issued out of the Citie and commanded his Constables and Marshals to ordaine Thrée Battailes in the name of God King Garyn had assembled a great number of men he had more then Fiftie Thousand men there ye might haue séen Ladies Damsels and Burgesses that wept for feare of their Freends whome they sawe going towards the Battaile and they went all to the wals Colledges and Churches to pray to God for the good spéed of their King and of their Fréends Now let vs leaue speaking of these two Kinges who were readie in the fielâ—s ranged in order of Battaile the one against the other and lette vs speake of King Huon who called before him all his Lordes of the Fayrey there was the faire Escleremond and Gloriant and Mallabron and many other Knights of the Fayrey then King Huon said Sirs yée all knowe well that by the will of God King Oberon whiles he liued gaue me all his Realme and Signiorie and puissance that he had ouer al the Fayrie of the world thereby then I may haue all my commaundements fulfilled and since God hath giuen me this gift I will not suffer the man-slaughter and murder that is like to be betwéene the Two Kinges of Aragon and Nauarre therefore I wish my selfe with Two Hundred Thousand men well armed and richly by séeming and all mounted on good horses and also I wish to haue as many â—â—urnished with bowes and Crosbowes on foote Also I wish a Hundred Thousand to be apparelled in Gownes of cloath of gould and silke and also I wish for my Daughter Clariet whome I haue left a long time in paine and miserie whereof I repent me for mine intention is to marrie her to Florence Sonne to Kinge Garyn of Aragon the which Florence is so faire so hardy and so humble and curteous that in all the world there is none like him I wish him and all his companie and Sorbarre with him to be at the Hauen of Courtoys Also I wish my Tent in the meadow betwéen the hoasts of the two Kings and I will that my Tent be such that there be none like it in all the world and vppon the toppe thereof I will there be pitcht a Dragon of fine gold King Huon hadde no sooner made his wish but hee and all his company were there as he had deuised When the king of Nauarre saw so many people and so many Tents and Pauillions so néere him and that he saw the rich and puissant Pauillion of Kinge Huons with the flambing Dragon hee was greatly dismayed Then he called his Lords and Knightes and saide Sirs behold what people yonder are before vs lodging mee thinkes I neuer sawe so many together in all my life I wot not what it should be I am in doubt then he called vnto him two knights and sayd Sirs goe thether and knowe what people they be and what they meane and whether they bee Fréendes or enemies who is chéefe ouer them Sir quoth the two knights we will not goe thether for we know not whether they bée our enemies or not When the King of Nauarre vnderstoode that those knightes nor none other would goe thether hee was sorrowfull and as the king was thus deuising thether came the two knightes of the Fayrey Gloriant and Mallabron and Gloriant sayd Kinge of Nauarre King Huon of Bourdeaux hath sent vs to you and commaundeth you that you make peace betwéen you and king Garyn for he will giue his Daughter Clariet to your Nephewe Florence who is the fairest Ladie of the worlde When the king of Nauarre vnderstoode these twoo Messengers sent from king Huon he was right ioyfull and commanded al his Lords to goe with him to kinge Huon they obayed his commaundement and road with him vntill hee came to the rich Pauillion of king Huons whereas they alighted and were well receiued then the king of Nauarre saluted king Huon who sayd Sir you be welcome and then the king of Nauarre knéeled down before kinge Huon and sayd Sir I am readie to fulfill your pleasure Then Gloriant tooke the king of Nauar by the arme and raysed him vp and set him down by king Huon and Escleremond then king Huon sent for king Garyn who incontinent came
may bee to your pleasure Daughter Oliue quoth the Emperour for the loue of you I haue entertained this Squier to serue you Father quoth Oliue I thanke you for it séemeth that hee is come of a good Stocke and I had no Seruant a great season that better contented me then the Emperour sayd vnto Ide My Freend serue me well behold héere my Daughter whom I loue entirely and to whom I deliuer you to serue her I haue no moe Children but shee and therefore serue her truely as a man ought to doe that is come of such a Lineage as you are if you serue her well and truely you had neuer in all your life so good aduenture Sir quoth Ide I shall doe so much that by the grace of God you and shee shall bée well content and Sir there is nothing lightly but I can doe it to serue a noble man and in the warre I shall defend my selfe I trust aswell as another and also I can serue at a Table before a King or Quéene Fréend quoth the Emperour if you can doe thus as you say you are welcome hether and you shall fare the better and I am ioyfull of your comming to serue me you shall neuer haue néede to goe out of my seruice When Ide heard the Emperour shee humbly thanked him and thus was Ide entertained with the Emperor whereas she did so much by her good seruice that the Emperor his daughter and all they of the Court loued and praised her and the Damsell Oliue often times gladly regarded Ide and began in her heart sore to loue her and Ide who perceiued her prayed our Lord God that he would so deale that shée bee not accused neither of man nor woman Shée gaue almes often times to poore men and she visited gladly the holy Church she demeaned her selfe in such wise that of euerie man she was beloued praised often times shee prayed to God for King Florence her Father although she was chased and fled out of her Countrey by his occasion and cause yet shee alwaies prayed to God that she might be agréed with him Thus this Damsell I de was in this danger seruing the Emperour and his Daughter Oliue the space of two Moneths and on a day she was in the Pallaice with the Emperour and thether came in great hast a Messenger and came and saluted the Emperour and sayd Sir knowe for troth that the Kinge of Spaine with great puissance is entred into your Empire of Rome and wasteth all before him with fire and sword many a Romane he hath slaine and he hath sworne by his Law that before a moneth bee passed hee will bee within your Cittie of Rome with all his puissance and hee sayth that hee will haue his pleasure of your Daughter and to make you to die a shamful death because you haue refused to giue him your Daughter in mariage Sir it had béen better for you that he had maried your Daughter then so many men should haue béene slaine so many Townes burnt and destroyed and Castles beaten downe Sir goe quickely against him and defend your Coūtrey or else you shall sée him shortly pitch vp his Tents Pauillions before this City When the Emperour heard the messenger he studied a great season and looked vpon Ide and said Fréend counsaile mee for I thought full little that these men of warre would haue come vppon me and nowe they wast and destroy my Land Sir quoth Ide trouble not your selfe for it comfort your selfe and reioice your Lordes and Seruants and lette mee haue men to fight with them and I will looke vppon them before they come any néerer and by the grace of God I shall cause them to buy déerely the destruction that they haue made in your Countrey if God saue my life my sword hold When the Emperour heard the valiant courage of Ide he praised her much in his heart and sayd Fréend your reason pleaseth mee well and therefore I shall doe you that honour as to make you a Knight whereby your Prowesse and hardinesse shall increase Sir quoth Ide of the honour that you will doe to me I am right ioyfull and I thanke you thereof then the Emperor came vnto Ide and guirt about him a good sword and a rich it was so good that there was none like it in goodnes neither sharper nor harder and then the Emperour gaue her the necke-stroake of Knighthood and sayd Ide remember this order the which you haue receiued this day and I pray God that it may be to the increase of your honour and eue◠beware that your thoughts be not light nor wauering but rather sage discréet and temperate and bee hardy in Battaile and cast away from you all feare and when you haue wonne any goods or riches kéepe them not locked in your Coffers but distribute them to poore Knightes the which shall increase and exalt your honour and alwaies loue the holy Church if you do thus you cannot faile to come to great honour and euer shew your vertue against your enemies Sir quoth Ide by the grace of God I shall so doe and there is no Spaniard but that shall wish himselfe to be on the other side of the Sea then euerie man arrayed them in the Pallaice and in the Cittie then Trumpets Drummes and Hornes beganne to sound in the Citie so that all the Chiualrie and Communaltie of the Citie were ready armed then they came all before the Pallaice and presented themselues to the Emperor who did command them that day to follow and obey the commaundement of Ide whom he committed that day to doe and be as chéefe Captaine said Sirs looke that you doe as much for him as you would doe for me and yée know well that I am old and féeble and can beare armour no longer nor I am not able to ride as I might haue done before this time wherefore I desire you and also commaund you all on paine of your liues to doe euerie thing as he commaundeth in stead of mee aswell as though I did commaund you in mine owne person for hee that doth the contrarie he shall lose his head without any other redemption Then they all said they would so doe since it was his pleasure Then the noble Emperor caused Ide to be richly armed and then deliuered him his owne horse who was so good that his like could not be found in any Countrey then I de mounted vp quickly with helmet shéeld and a good Speare and I de tooke leaue of the Emperor and of the Ladie Oliue so road through the Citie of Roome with all his Hoast when they were without the Citie I de ordained Thrée Battailes the two first battailes were ledde by twoo great Lordes and the Third Ide did guide and thus with banners displayed they aduaunced foorth towards their enemies The Spaniards thought surely that all had been theirs because they saw of all the way that they had come no
Emperour was about to doe nor that hee was in the woode abydinge there for Huon That night Huon and his companie were at Coleyne making good chéere and the next morning they heard seruice then they mounted on their horses issued out of the towne they were to the number of thurteene Thousand hardy fighting men and when they were out in the feelds Huon like a good man of warre said Sirs I desire you let vs keepe together and ride like men of warre to the entent that we be not suddainly taken and so they did the day was faire and cleare they might well be perceiued a farre off as they were by the Emperour of Almaine who lay enambushed for Huon the Emperour espied them firste and sayde to his companie Sirs yonder a farre off I sée many people comming towarde vs they séeme vnto mée men well expert in armes neuer beléeue me but they be Frenchmen and he that is their Captaine is Huon of Bourdeaux he is not come hether like a small Personage but he is highly accompanied like a great and mightie Prince I sée well he is valiant by that he hath done hee is so noble hardy that none may be compared to him you haue well séene howe that hee all alone came into my Pallaice and there slewe my Nephew Duke Raoul wherewith my heart is in great displeasure hee is greatly to bee doubted for without God helpe vs wee shall haue ynough to doe with him would to God that hee and I were at accordment and agréed for he is so noble and so valiant that he feareth no man You haue well séen since he departed from Mayence he hath slaine more then fortie of my men and hath borne me to the earth and he hath taken from me my good horse whereby he may be wel assured that there is no man shall take him if he be vppon his backe howbeit we must set vpon him for my heart shall neuer be in ease as long as he liueth therefore Sirs I desire you euerie man this day shew the loue that you beare vnto me and the sauegard of your liues for to fly away auaileth not therefore Sirs set on together and doe so that wee may haue the first aduantage Chap. LXXXIIII ¶ Of the great Battaile within two Leagues of Coleyn between the Emperor of Almaine and Huon of Bourdeaux and of the Truce that was taken betweene them HVon who roade before his Barons deuising with old Gerames regarded on his right hand towards the litle wood and he saw in the wood great clearenesse by reason of the Sunne shining on the healmes and on the speares poynts whereby he perceiued plainely that there was much people hidden in the wood hee shewed them to Gerames and to his other companie and sayd Sirs bee in a surety that without battaile we cannot scape héere is the Emperour who lyeth in waite for vs. I desire you let vs doe so that hee shall haue no cause to make any auaunt of vs yonder you may sée them how they set themselues in order to abide vs therefore let vs quickly sette on them and so they did in such wise that with the very running of their horses the earth trembled and the sunne lost his light by reason of the powder that rose vp into the ayre from both parts Huon who ranne before on his puissant horse behelde Godun who was formost in his companie hee ranne at him with a strong speare so that he ranne him cleane through the body so that hee fell downe to the earth and with the same speare Huon met Crassyn Polinger who bare the Emperors banner Huon strake him so fiercely that he bare horse and man and banner all to the ground whereof the Almaines and Bauiers were sorrowfull Huon did so much ere his speare was broken that he first bare fiue to the earth so that they had no power after to reléeue themselues there were many speares broken and many a knight borne to the earth and there dyed among the horse féete for the father could not helpe the sonne nor the sonne could not helpe the father and many a horse ranne abrode in the field and their Maisters lying dead in the bloud and myre Huon who rode about in the battaile slaying and wounding his enemies behelde on his right side and saw the Earle Sauary slaying many of them of Bourdeaux Ah good Lord quoth Huon if yonder knight raigne long he shall doe me great damage Then hée rode to him and gaue him such a stroke with his sword so that he strake off his shoulder and arme so rudely that it fell vpon the earth so that for the great paine that the Earle Sauary endured he fell from his horse and there was slaine among the horse féete whereof the Emperour who was there by right sorrowfull when he saw another of his nephewes slaine and sayd Ah Huon of God bee thou cursed since thou hast slaine so many of my friends I shall neuer haue ioy in my heart till I haue thée in my hands to hang thée Sir quoth Huon ere you haue taken me you are like to loose more of your friendes and beware of your selfe that you come not into my handes by your nephew Raoull yee haue all this damage who by his falsenesse thought to haue betrayed me and to haue had my wife if I haue slaine your nephewes and your men I haue doone it in defending mine owne body I say to you if you bee not well aware of me I shall bring you to the poynt that it shall be hard for you to be carried away in a litter Huon quoth the Emperor the great hate that I haue to thée for the death of my nephewes makes me féele much dolour at my heart that I had rather die then that I should not bee reuenged of thée therefore beware thou of mée for I shall neither eate nor drinke till I haue thée either quicke or dead Then they two went backe to take their course together but ere they met the Almaynes came running thether for the feare that they had of loosing their Emperour and on the other part came thither the olde Gerames who fought so fiercely that whomsoeuer he strake with a full stroke had no neede of any Surgion and his companie fayled not for their parts and Huon with his good sword opened the thick prease so that the Almaynes greatly doubâ—ed him Huon with his noble chiualrie caused his enemies to recule backe halfe a bowes shoote Then there was a knight of Almain saw well that without some remedie were found the Emperour and his companie were like to be slaine he went out of the battell as priuily as he could and ranne on the spurres and rested not till hee came to Coleyn where incontinent he rode to the Prouosts house and found him in his house newly reine from masse then the Knight sayd to him Sir Prouost if euer you will sée the Emperour aliue cause the commons of this
Citie to be armed and come and succour the Emperour hastily for when I came from him he had great neede of ayde there is Huon of Bourdeaux who hath slayne thrée of his nephewes and this other day he was lodged in this Citie the Emperour knoweth well that you knew nothing thereof for Huon had lodged his men in the suburbs and in other little houses because hee would not be perceiued Syr Prouost make haste in this businesse When the Prouost heard what daunger the Emperour was in he sounded the watch bell and made to be cryed in euery stréete that euery man that was able to beare armes should arme them and goe out into the field to succour the Emperour who was in great daunger of his life When the Bourgesses of the towne heard that crie euery man armed them as well as they could some were harnessed behind and some in a Iacke all smoked and with staues and other weapons what a foote and a horse backe there went out of the Citie twentie thousand men if you had séene the horsemen you would haue laught at them for it séemed they were set on horse backe in despite there was neuer séene so rude a companie it was no maruaile for they were not accustomed to ryde in harnesse The Prouost went before and exhorted them to doe their deuoirs so they tooke their way to come to the battaile whereas Huon and his companie did part of their willes and the Emperour séeing that he began to loose his men and place hee rode searching in the battaile for Duke Huon whereas he found by aduenture Huon who had then newly slaine by aduenture the Emperours Seneschall When that the Emperour sawe him slaine he was right sorrowfull and in a great rage he cryed to Huon and saydâ— Thou knight that neuer art satisfied to shedde the bloud of my men to abate my linage and force I pray thée turne thy shield vnto mee for if thou knewest the great hate that I beare thée thou wouldst neuer appeare before me Sir quoth Huon I maruell that you so sorely hate me haue tarryâ—d so long for reueÌ„ge therfore beware for if I can I wil send you after your Nephewes whome yée say that yée loue so well They tooke their course with great and rude speares and so came together like the tempest and met so rudely that the buckles of their Armour all to brast and the Emperours speare brake all to péeces but Huons speare was bigge and strong therewith he strake the Emperour with such puissance that his speare ranne through his shoulder so that the Emperour fell to the earth so rudely that with the fall he brake the bone of his thigh whereby he was in such dolour that he swounded And when Huon saw him lye on the ground hee came to him with his swoord in his hand and would haue slaine him if he had not béene succoured but there came so many Almaines that whether Huon would or not they tooke the Emperour and bare him out of the field and laid him in the wood and then demaunded of him how he did Sirs quoth he I am sore hurt for my thigh is broken whereby I endure more gréefe than I can abide but as for death I trust by the grace of god I shall escape it When they heard that they were all ioyfull and said Sir know for troth that your men are sore discomfited for they be so sore oppressed by Huon and his men that wée feare all your men will be slaine wée will goe againe to the battaile and leaue some with you to looke vnto your Maiestie Well quoth the Emperour but your force nor your defence cannot auaile you any thing against Huon nor against his men But I shall shew you what yée shall doe yée shall send quickly to Huon and desire him in my name to cease slaying of my men and that there may be a truce had betwéene him and me for the space of halfe a yéere for within that time I hope to finde some other treatie that hee and I might be friendes and if he refuse this then I see none other remedie but that wée shall be all slaine or taken and then he will cause me to die in some noysome prison Sir quoth his knights we shall doe your commaundement but we feare sore that we shall not be heard Sirs quoth the Emperour goe to him and doe the best yée can Then they returned to the battaile whereas they founde their companie readie to flie away for they were neere all slaine and taken the Knights from the Emperour came to Huon and desired him in the name of the Emperour that he would cease the battaile and sound the treatie and they would do likewise in the same manner and that there might be a firme truce betweene them for halfe a yeere and in that season they trusted that some good wayes would be found that the Emperour and hee might be good friendes together Sirs quoth Huon if the Emperour your Master had mee in that danger which he is in hee would not suffer me to scape aliue for all the gold in the world howbeit I am content that he haue truce for halfe a yeere the which I shall surely kéepe on my part and if I be assayled I shall defend mee and if so be that hee come to Bourdeaux to assayle mee by the helpe of God and my good friendes I shall doe the best that I can But if he will haue peace with mee and pardon mee his displeasure for the death of his nephewes I shall be readie to make peace and I shall make amends for al wrongs though I was not the beginner Then Huon caused the retrait to bee sounded and in likewise so did the Almaynes who had thereof great ioy it came to them at a good poynt for else all had béene slaine or foyled When he had the vpper hand now that he pursued still his chase for then he might haue had an end of that warre and neither shield nor speare more broken whereas after many a man was slaine and was the cause that the Citie of Bourdeaux was lost and the fayre Escleremond taken and set in prison in the Citie of Mayens and Huon suffered so much paine and trouble that no mortall man can shewe it Thus as you haue heard Huon granted the truce and so both parts withdrew whereof the Emperour and his companie were right ioyfull Then Huon called his companie and shewed Gerames and his Lords how he had graunted truce to the Emperour for halfe a yeere and therefore I charge you all not to breake the peace the Emperour was glad when hee heard it for he knew well hee had scaped a great daunger Then he charged all his men on paine of death that they should not breake the truce And Sirs quoth he I pray you make readie a litter that I may be carried to Coleyne for the paine that I féele in my legges causeth all my bodie
enemies encreased wherefore hee was constrained to retire backe towardes the Citie howbeit before he entred he did great losse and dammage vnto his enemies When the Nauarnes sawe the Aragons retire into the Citie then they pitcht vp their Tents and Pauillions about the Towne and when king Garyn saw his men returned then he called his Sonne Florence and said Sonne take thine armour and ayd to defend the Land the which appertaineth to thée after my decease Sir quoth Florence that will I neuer doe without first you promise me to giue me the faire Damsel in marriage by that couenant that I shall deliuer into your hands as Prisoner mine Vncle the King of Nauarre When the King his Father heard him hee muzed a litttle and sayd My Sonne I graunt thee thy desire so that thou wilt deliuer me thine Vncle the kinge of Nauarre to doe with him at my pleasure therefore take thine armour and make thée readie thine armour is good and thy swoorde is with the best and if thou canst do as thou sayest thou shalt haue the faire Damsell howbeit he sayd to himselfe priuily that he had rather to loose one of his handes then a stranger should be Quéen after him for assoone as my Sonne quoth hee shall be yssued out of the Citie I shall cause the Damsell to be drowned in the Sea for I will not suffer her to liue although I should bee disenherited for it Then Florence hearing his Father promising to him to haue the Damsâ—ll he was right ioyfull but he knew not the inward ill will of his Father then hee sayd Sir then I require you to send for my Loue hether to the entent that she may guird my sword about mee whereby I shall be the more bold and hardy when I come into the Battaile The kinge did as his Sonne required but the Sonne knewe not the Fathers thought the Kinge sent twoo knightes for the Damsell and when shee came there shee was greatly regarded of them that were there for they had neuer séen a fairer nor one that séemed to be extract of a hye generation When Florence sawe her in the Pallaice his heart rose vp and he ranne vnto her and embraced and kissed her and the Ladie suffered him with a good will wherewith the king had at his heart such sorrow that he had neere hand runne vppon them but he forbare it because he saw his Son readie to goe against his enemies then he helped to arme his Sonne richly and in like wise so did the faire Damsell When king Garyn hadde made his Sonne readie the Damsell did guird his Sword about him then the king drew it out of the sheath and therewith made him knight and then his horse was brought vnto him and hee leapt lightly vppon him with his Speare in his hand and helmet vppon his head and shéelde about his necke Then Florence sayd vnto the kinge his Father Sir I leaue with you my Loue whome I loue best in all this world I leaue her in your kéeping for if our Lord God giue me the grace that I may returne I shall bring vnto you mine Vncle the king of Nauarre as a Prisoner The king graunted vnto his Sonne all that he would desire but he knewe not the inward intention that hee was purposed to doe Then the king commaunded Ten of his knights to sée the guiding of the Damsell and to honor her as much as they might vntill his Sonne were out of the Citie and then to drowne her in the Sea to the entent that neuer more tidinges should bee heard of her Chap. CLIII ¶ How Florence went to fight with his enemies and how Sir Peter of Aragon returned towards the Towne to bring thether Prisoners and howe hee rescued the faire Damsell Clariet from drowning and how afterward Kinge Garyn caused the Damsell to be closed vp in a prison WHen Florence was armed and mounted hee tooke vp his horse freshly before the Damsell and blessed him and tooke his leaue of the kinge and of his Loue and so departed and road to the gate and all that sawe him sayde howe they neuer sawe so goodly a knight nor more séeming to bee feared then hee yssued out of the gate and roade towardes the Tents of his enemies with ten Thousand good knights and hardy the Ladies and Damsels went to the wals of the Citie to behold the young knight When the Nauarnes saw him comming there came against him more then fiftéene Thousand men and they came downe in a Valley by couert to haue cutte him the way betwéene the Hoast and the Towne but the valiant knight Sir Peter of Aragon who was with Florence espyed them and so made hast to be afore them and when hee sawe his time to set vppon his enemies Florence who was sore desirous to fulfill his promise to the king his Father tooke his Speare and encountred with a knight with such vertue that he ranne him cleane through and with drawing out of his Speare the Nauarnes fel downe dead then Florence sayd God hath giuen mee a good beginning then hee drewe out his sword and strake another vppon the helmet in such sort that he claue his head to the teeth and the third and fourth hee made dolorously to die and hee neuer ceased vntill he had slaine Tenne of his enemies Thus vnder the meadowes of Courtoys was a horrible Battaile betwéen the Nauarnes and Aragons where there was vpon both partes such slaughter that it was great maruaile to behold it Anon Florence sword was well knowne for by the force of his armes he brake the great preasses for vppon whom soeuer his stroke lighted hee was either slaine or cast to the earth euerie man feared him so much that none durst abide nor approach néere vnto him The same time that Florence was in the Battaile dooing of maruailes the faire Damsell Clariet was vppon the wals of the Citie with other Ladies and Damsels regarding the hye Prowesse that Florence did in the field and the ioy that she had thereof was soone turned into sorrow and wéepings for king Garyn who could not forget the mortall hate that he had to the Damsell called vnto him Ten knightes of them that were secret with him and sayd Sirs this new found Damsell with whome my Sonne Florence is in hot amours shee displeaseth me so much that I cannot find in my heart to looke vppon her my Sonne thinketh to haue her in marriage at his returne but as long as he liueth hee shall neuer see her more whatsoeuer fall thereof therefore goe your way and take and cast her into the Sea amonge the greatest waues that you can finde When these knightes vnderstood the King who commaunded them to doe this murder they were right sorrowfull at their heartes but they durst not say nay nor doe against his will for if they had they knewe well that they should die and they knew that there was neither mercie nor pitie in him therefore they