comming hether he will haue of you Tribute as hee hath of other Marchants and as for your stones twoo of them that I sée yonder if you giue them for your Tribute hee will bee well content and Sir I shall aid you in your marchandize to the best of my power the Admirall is a noble man in his Lawe and of great credence Fréend quoth Huon I thanke you for the courtesie that you shew mee but Sir I pray you shew me the stones that be of so much vertue I would haue the best laid apart from the other When Barnard heard howe Huon desired him to shewe the vertue of the stones then especially hee shewed Huon sixe stones and he drew them out from the rest and laide them vppon Huons shéeld and so chose out Thirtie other and shewed them all vnto Huon and sayd Sir these Thirtie stones that I haue layde vppon your sheeld are of so great value that there is neither King nor Emperour that can pay the value of them and especially of fiue of them and when Huon heard that he was right ioyfull Then hee would hide no longer himselfe from Barnard and also because of the great heat that hee was in he did put off his helmet the which hee kept on all that season because he would first know of Barnard some tidings ere hée would be knowne vnto him for hee knew his Coozen Barnard well ynough at his first comming vnto him Chap. CXIIII ¶ How Huon of Bourdeaux and Barnard his Cozen acknowledged themselues eache to other and shewed the discourse of their aduentures WHen Barnard sawe Huon put off his helmet hee became as ruddie as a Rose and was so rauished that he wist not what to say or thinke and sayde Sir I cannot say truly what you bee but you resemble so much like Huon whome I séeke for that I cannot tel whether you be he or not Coozen quoth Huon come hether vnto mee and embrace me I am hée whom you doe seeke for and so they embraced each other in such wise that of a long space they could not speake one to another at last Huon sayde My right deare Coozen I pray you shewe vnto mée all the newes that you know of Bourdeaux since my departing Sir quoth Barnard I shall shewe you that I would faine know my selfe but first Sir I pray you shew vnto mee the aduentures that you haue hadde since your departing from Bourdeaux Coozen quoth Huon if I should shew you all the Aduentures and Fortunes that I haue had since my departing from you it would be ouer-long to rehearse it but breefely I shall declare it vnto you When I was vppon the Sea a great Tempest rose vppon vs the which continued the space of Ten dayes without ceasing and then Huon shewed him how he was in the Gulfe and what perill he was in there and how he spake with Iudas and how he arriued at the Castle of the Adamant and how his companie there died by famine and how he entred into the Castle and slewe the Serpent and shewed him of the beautie and aduentures that were in the Castle and how he was borne vnto a Rocke by a Griffen and how he slew the fiue young Griffens and afterward the great Griffen whose foote was in the Ship the which hee shewed vnto Sir Barnard and discoursed of the Fountaine and Garden and Trée of youth and of the Shippe the which they were in and how he found it by the Riuer and how by the voice of the Angell he entred into the Shippe and afterwards hee shewed what great paine and perill hée suffered in passing the Gulfe of Persia and howe hee was perforce driuen a shoare and there he cast in the stones thinking it had been grauell and how he was as then come and arriued at the great Citie of Thauris in Persia When Barnard had well heard and vnderstood Huon he embraced him and sayd Ah right deare and vertuous Knight to whome in prowesse and hardinesse none can bee compared of your comming I ought to bee ioyfull and I thanke our Lord God of the grace that he hath sent you Sir quoth Huon I ought greatly to thanke our Lorde Iesus Christ in that I sée you in good health and nowe I pray you to shewe mee what hath fallen in the Countrey of Bourdeaux since I departed from thence Then Barnard all wéeping shewed him euerie thinge as it had fallen and shewed vnto Huon the manner howe the good Citie of Bourdeaux was taken and of the death of the old Gerames and his companie and of the taking of the noble Duchesse the faire Escleremond and how the Emperour held her in prison in the Citie of Mayence in great pouertie and misery and of his Daughter Clariet howe he had brought her vnto the Abbey of Cluny and set her in keeping there with the Abbot her Coozen When Huon had well vnderstoode Barnard hee made great sorrow in his heart and sayd if God would ayd and helpe him hee would cause the Emperour to die an euill death Sir quoth Barnard will you appease your selfe if you haue trust in our Lord God desire of him aid succour and let the whéele of fortune runne and if you doe thus and take in woorth any thing that is fallen vnto you you shall not faile but come vnto your desire thus with such words Barnard appeased Huon his Coozen and thus they deuised together of diuers things Coozen quoth Huon I pray you to shewe mee the vertue of these precious stones that you haue layd aside from the other Sir quoth Barnard the fiue that lyeth there by themselues haue great vertue this stone is of such great vertue that he that beareth it vppon him cannot bee poysoned also it is of such dignitie and woorth that whosoeuer doe beare it may go and come thorow fire without féeling of any heate though hee were in a hot burning Ouē also if a man fall into the water hauing this stone about him hee cannot sinke nor drowne Sir this is the vertue of this first stone Then Huon tooke it and kept it for himselfe and then Barnard tooke vp another and sayd Sir heere is another stone of such vertue that a man bearing it about him can haue neither hunger thirst nor colde nor shall not waxe elder by séeming neither in bodie nor visage but he shall euer seeme to bée of the age of Thirtie yeares nor fasting shall not impaire him Then Huon tooke that stone and put it into his bagge and said that hee would keepe that stone for himselfe Well quoth Barnard Sir heere is another of such bountie and vertue that he that beareth it cannot bee hurt in armes nor vanguished by his enemies and if any of his kinne were blind and touch but his eyes with this stone incontinent he shall sée againe and if the stone be shewed vnto a mans eyes he shall incontinent bée blind and if a man be wounded doe but turne this stone
Duke had Huon into his Castle chap. 27. How the Duke thought to haue murdered Huon his owne Nephewe whiles he sate at the Table chap. 28. How by the ayd of Greffrey and of the Prisoners Huon was succoured and slew all the Paynims and the Duke fled and after besieged the Castle chap. 29. How King Oberon came and succoured Huon and slewe all the Paynims except such as would bee christened And howe Huon slewe the Duke his Vncle. chap. 30. How king Oberon forbad Huon that hee should not goe by the Tower of the Gyant to the which Huon would not accord but went thether whereby hee was in great danger of death And of the Damsell that hee found there who was his owne cozen borne in Fraunce chap. 31. How the Damsell cozen to Huon shewed him the Chamber whereas the Gyant slept and how he went and awaked him and of the good armour that the Gyant deliuered to Huon chap. 32. How Huon slew the great Gyant and how he called Gerames and his companie to him and of the ioy that they made for the death of the Gyant chap. 33. How Huon departed from the Castle of the Gyant and tooke leaue of his companie and went alone afoote to the Sea-side whereas he found Mallabron of the Fairey on whom he mounted to passe the sea chap. 34. How Huon passed the Sea vppon Mallabron who bare him to Babilon and how Huon came to the first gate and so to the second chap. 35. How Huon passed the Fourth gate and how he came into the Garden whereas the Fountaine was and of that which he did there chap. 36. How Huon came into the Pallaice and did his messuage to the Admirall and how he slew many Paynims and was afterward taken and put in prison chap. 37. Of the great complaints that Huon made being in prison and howe the Admirals Daughter came to comfort him and how she departed not well content with Huon Chap. 38. Howe Huon made great complaints for the famine that hee endured and how the faire Esclaremond came again to comfort him conditionally that Huon would fulfill her desire Chap. 39. How Gerames and his company departed from the Tower the Damsell with him and came to Babilon and of the manner that Gerames vsed to know some newes of Huon Chap. 40. How Gerames and the faire Escleremond went to the Prison to comfort Huon and the other Prisoners Chap. 41. How the great Gyant 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 Battell hand to hand that he desired of the Admirall Gaudise the which was agreed to Chap. 42. How the Admirall Gaudise tooke Huon out of prison and armed him to fight with the Gyant Agrapart Chap. 43. How Huon fought with Agrapart the Giant and discomfited him and deliuered him to the Admirall who had great ioy thereof Chap. 44. How the Gyant Agrapart cryed mercie to the Admirall and howe Huon desired the Admirall Gaudise to leaue his law and to be christened Chap. 45. How Huon seeing that the Admirall wold not forsake his beleefe blew his Horne whereby Oberon came to him and how the Admirall was slain and all his men And how Huon and the faire Escleremond were in perill of drowning by reason that he brake the commaundement of King Oberon chap. 46. How Huon and Escleremond arriued in an Isle all naked and how the Pirats of the Sea tooke Escleremond and left Huon alone and bound his handes feete and eyes Chap. 47. How the faire Escleremond was led away by the Pirats of the Sea and how the Admirall Galaffer of Anfalerne deliuered her out of their hands chap. 48. How the Pirate fled to Mombrance to Iuoryn and how he sent to 〈◊〉 the Admirall Galaffer of Anfalerne and of the answeare that he had 〈◊〉 chap. 49. How King Oberon at the request of two Knightes of the Fayrey called 〈◊〉 and Mallabron the monster of the Sea went and succoured Huon and carried him out of the Isle of Noysant chap. 50. How Huon found a Minstrell who gaue him cloathing and meat and tooke Huon with him as his Varler and went to Mombrance chap. 51. How Huon and his Maister Mouflet arriued at Mombrance and how 〈◊〉 spake with King Iuoryn chap. 52. How King Iuoryn caused his Daughter to play at the Chesse with Huon vppon condition that if he were mated he should then loose his head and if she were mated Huon should haue her loue and how Huon won the game Chap. 53. How Huon was armed and mounted on a poore horse and went after the Armie to Anfalerne Chap. 54. Howe Huon fought with Sorbryn and slewe him and wanne the good horse Blanchardyn whereon he mounted and wanne the Battaile and was brought with great tryumph to Mombrance chap. 55. How Huon was had in great honour and sate at the Table with King Iuoryn of Mombrance chap. 56. How the old Gerames arriued at Anfalerne by fortune and the Admirall Gallaffer entertained him to maintaine his warre And how the faire Escleremond spake with him Chap. 57. How King Iuoryn came againe before Anfalerne and how Gerames and Huon fought together and at laste they knewe each other And how they entred into Anfalerne and shutte the Admirall Gallaffer without Chap. 58. How Iuoryn caused Mouflet the old Minstrell to bee brought to the gibet to haue been hanged and how he was rescued by Huon chap. 59. How the good Prouost Guyer Brother to Gerames arriued at the Port of Anfalerne Chap. 60. How Huon and Gerames and all their companie with the faire Ladie Escleremond departed from the Castle of Anfalerne and sayled thence on the Sea Chap. 61. How Huon and his companie arriued at the Port of Brandis and from thence went to Rome to the Pope who wedded together Huon and the faire Escleremond and of their departing from thence chap. 62. How Huon and his company arriued at the Abbey of Maurise where hee was receiued by the Abbot Couent with great reuerence chap. 63. How the good Abbot sent word to Duke Gerard of Bourdeaux howe his Brother Huon was in the Abbey of Maurise Chap. 64. How Gybouars of Beam and Gerard practised Huons death and how the Traytour Gerard came to see his Brother Huon who with great ioye receiued him chap. 65. How these twoo Brethren departed from the Abbey about midnight and how the Traytour Gerard beganne to fall at rude words with Huon when they approached neere the wood whereas Gybouars lay in ambush chap. 66. How these Traytors slew all Duke Huons companie except Gerames and Escleremond and Huon himselfe the which all three were fast bound handes and feete and blindfold and so brought to Bourdeaux and were put in prison Chap. 67. How the Traytours returned to the Abbey of Saint Maurise slew the good Abbot and tooke away all the Treasure that Huon had left there Chap. 68.
heart Alas Sir quoth Huon for Gods sake councell me in this heauie case what will the Duchesse our Mother say when she knoweth that my Brother is slaine who so louingly hath nourished vs both Ah my deare Brother Gerard nowe I sée well your dreame is too true Alas that I had beléeued it for if I had this had not happened Ah Sir quoth Huon to the Abbot I desire you to assist mée for if I should likewise be slaine yet I will goe and demaund of yonder Knight for what occasion he hath slaine my Brother nor I shall neuer returne vntill I haue slaine him or he mée Ah faire Nephew quoth the Abbot beware what you doe haue no trust to bée succoured by me for you know well in this case that I cannot ayd you I am a Priest and therefore may not bée where any man is slaine Sir quoth Huon of such companie as yours is we might well forbeare Then Huon beheld heauily the Ten Knights that came with him from Bourdeaux and said Sirs you that are come hether with mée haue béen nourished in my house how say you will you ayd mée to reuenge the death of my Brother and to succour me against these false murderers that hath laine in waite slaine my Brother Gerard Sir quoth they were we sure to dye in the quarell yet we should ayd and succour you therefore goe forth and haue no doubt and then they road forth with such small defence as they had Then Huon spurred foorth his Horse with such fiercenesse that he made the earth to tremble vnder him and his Knights followed him with hardy courage determining to doe valiantly When the good Abbot saw his Nephew depart and his companie hée had great pitie on him and prayed our Lord God to defend them from death And the Abbot with his companie followed softly after Huon to sée what end the matter shoulde came vnto Huon road so long vntill he came whereas his Brother lay sore wounded Then he cryed aloud my right deare Brother if there be any life in your bodie answere me and shew me how you féele your selfe Brother quoth Gerard I am sore wounded I cannot tell if I may scape aliue thinke on your selfe it is no losse of mée fly you away yonder you may sée how the wood is full of armed men and they 〈◊〉 for nothing but to slay you as they haue done me Chap. VIII ¶ How Huon of Bourdeaux was sorrowfull when he saw his Brother Gerard so sore wounded and how he slew Charlot and howe he came before the King at Paris and appeached him of treason WHen Huon heard his Brother he was verie sorrowfull said that he had rather dye then depart without reuenging of him and God wil I shall not depart till I haue slayn him that hath brought you into this perill then he spurred his Horse and followed after Charlot who was returning to the wood to his company but when Charlot perceiued how Huon followed him he turned his Horse and beheld him fiercely Then Huon cried with a hye voyce and said Villaine what art thou that hast slaine my Brother where wert thou borne Charlot answeared and sayd I was borne in Almaine and I am Sonne to Duke Thyâ—rey Huon beléeued he had sayd troth for Charlot had a disguised Shéeld because he would not bée knowne Ah quoth Huon God giue thée shame for the fact why hast thou slaine my Brother Then Charlot answered boldly and sayd thy Father Duke Seuin tooke from me thrée Castles and would neuer doe my right therefore I haue slayne thy Brother and in likwise so shall I thée Then Huon in great rage said false vntrue Knight and murderer before it be night I shall quittance this wrong vppon thine owne head Then Charlot said beware thée of me for I defie thée Huon who had no armour to defend him tooke his Cloake of scarlet and wrapped it about his arme and drew his Sword and spurred his horse came against Charlot with his Sword in his hand and Charlot on the other part came against him with his Speare in the rest and strooke Huon about the right arme so that the stroake passed through the doublenesse of his Cloake and through his Gowne and Shert and myst his flesh Thus Huon escaped that stroake and thanked God thereof then he lifted vp his sword with both his handes and let the bridell of his horse go and so with all his might vertue he stroke Charlot on the healme in such wise that the cirkle nor coft of stéele could not defend him but that the sword went into his brayn and so he fell to the earth and neuer arose after thus Charlot was slayne miserably Then the Traytour Amerie being in the wood perceiued well how Charlot was slayne whereof he thanked God and said Charlot is dead God bée thanked for by that stroake I shall bring Fraunce into such a trouble that I shall attaine to all my desires Then Huon séeing Gharlot dead returned to Gerard his Brother lying still on the earth brought him Charlots horse and demaunded if he might ryde or not Brother quoth Gerard I thinke yes if my wounde were bounde fast I would assay Then Huon alighted and tooke a péece of his sheart and therewith bound his brothers wound then Huons knights came vnto him and holpe to set Gerard vpon his horse but for the paine that he suffered he swounded twice then when he came againe to himselfe they set him vpon an amblinge Palfray and a Knight behind him to sustaine him vp right Then he sayd vnto Huon Brother I desire you let vs depart from hence without going any further forward rather let vs returne to Bourdeaux to the Duchesse our Mother for I doubt if we goe any further that some great ill shall come vnto vs I promise you if we be perceiued by them that bée in the wood and that they knowe that you haue slayne him that hurt me I feare me they will slay vs all Brother quoth Huon by the grace of God I shall not returne for feare of death vntill I haue séene the King to appeach him of treason when vnder his conduct and commandement we be thus betrayed and watched by the way to murder vs. Brother quoth Gerard as your pleasure is so bée it Then they road foorth the way to Paris faire and easily bycause of Gerard who was sore hurt Then the Knightes that were ambushed in the wood said to sir Amerie Sir what shall we doe sée Charlot is slaine and lyeth in the playne and if we shall goe after them that hath done this déede it shall bée ill done of vs if they escape away aliue Then sir Amerie answeared and said Let them goe God curse them let vs follow them a farre off vntill they come to Paris and let vs â—arie with vs the bodie of Charlot and bring it to the King and there you shall see what I shall say and if you will
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
day of battaile at Ronceuaux whereas he lost his twoo Nephews Rowland and Oliuer he neuer since assembled so much people as he will do this next sommer to come vpon thée both by water and by land without thou wilte beleue in the lawe of Iesus Christ therefore if thou wilt beléeue me be christened or else this mischiefe will fall vpon thée Speake no more of that quoth the Admirall for I had rather be hewen and slaine then to leaue my law and beléeue vpon thy god Sir Admirall quoth Huon moreouer king Charles commaundeth thée to send him a M. Sparhawkes a M. Goshawkes a M. Beares and a M. wayters chayned together a M. yong Varlets a M. faire Damsels and also a handfull of thy beard and Foure of thy great téeth Ha quoth the Admirall I sée thou art hardy and outragious to demaund of me this that thou hast said And also I haue great maruaile of thy Maister that he is so foolish as to commaund me by thee to send him my beard and great téeth before this time he hath sent me more than xv Messengers hath demaunded part of this that thou speakest of but all xv haue been hanged nowe thou art come by thy folly to make vp the xvj But by reason of the Ring that thou bearest we dare not touch thée I pray thée therefore by the faith and law that thou art of shewe mee what Diuell hath giuen thée that Ring Than Huon sore abashed as he that durst not make a lye for feare of king Oberon said Sir not for doubt of thée or of any Paynim héere I will not spare to shew thee the troth know then that with this good sword I haue slaine the Lord Angolofer the Gyant When the Admirall heard that he said to his Lords Sirs looke that this Villaine escape not for by all the Gods that I beléeue on I shall neuer haue ioy in my heart vntill I sée him takē Then Paynims and Sarazins on all parts assayled Huon when he saw that he commended himselfe to our Lord god and thought he should neuer sée faire day more and so with his sword in both his hands he defended himselfe nobly in slaying and cutting off handes and féete of the Sarazins of many he made the braynes to flye abroad on the pauement great terrour it was to behould for by reason of his good Armour there was no Paynim could do him any damage but they gaue him way and durst not approch néere him Huon being full of yre as he fought he saw on the one side of the Pallaice an Arch in the wall and so euer still fighting he drew thether and set his backe to the arch to thintent that none should come behind him There he fared like a wilde Boare in the wood and defended himlelfe in such wise that whome soeuer he touched with a full stroke had no néede after of any surgeon thus a long space Huon endured and had no great harme But the force of the Paynims was so great that it was not possible for him to sustaine long for he waxed so wearie that his stroakes féebled oftentimes he called vpon god and on the other part the Admirall cryed to his men and said Ah yee fainte harted slaues great shame is to you all that one man shall so long endure against you that ye can neither take him nor slay him Then the Paynims whē they heard the Admirall so dispraise them they came in a great rage all at once vppon Huon whereas he was alone vnder the arch and a Paynim who was Nephew to the Admirall came vpon Huon but when Huon saw him approch he lifted vp his sword and gaue the Paynim such a stroake on the helmet that he claue his head to the breast and therewith his sword fell out of his hands and another Sarazin tooke it vp then all the Sarazins at once ran vppon Huon tooke him and then tooke from him his Horne and his Cup and put off his armour whan he was vnarmed the Sarazins beheld him well and many said how they neuer saw so faire a man before affirming that if all Frenchmē were such as he there were no King able to resist them Chap. XXXVIII ¶ Of the great complaints that Huon made being in prison and how the Admirals Daughter came to comfort him and how she departed not well content with Huon WHen Huon was disarmed the Paynims tooke and brought him before the Admirall who was right ioyfull when he sawe Huon and called his Barons demaunded of them what death the Caytiffe should die that had done them such damage as to slay one of his most puissant Kings and also his Nephew beside many others Then they all answeared with one voice that hee should be slaine aliue incontinent Then stept foorth an old ancient Admirall of Six score yéeres of age who was of the Admirals priuie counsell and he said Sir Admirall yée may not doe thus for the loue of this good day the which is the feast of Saint Iohn according to our law there is none ought to die on that day but Sir respite his life for a whole yéere and then shal be the feast of your Gods on that day ye ought to deliuer xj Champions to doe with them you Sacrifice let this man be one and another may come by that time and which of the twoo Champions be ouercome yée shall make your sacrifice to your Gods of him Thus ye promised your Gods to doe the first day that yée tooke on you the Signiorie of Babylon and Sir if it were not for that this man hath slaine one of your Kings and your Nephew ye ought not to slay him but rather to thanke him for by him the man that you ought most to hate in the world is slaine that is Angolofer and now by his death yee are out of all seruitude bondage and by this man set at libertie When the Admirall Gaudise had well heard the Paynim he saide séeing it is so that ye giue me this counsell and that of right mine Auncestors haue euer accustomed the same I will not doe the contrarie but it shall be as ye haue said Then was Huon led with iiij Paynims to a darke prison and the Iaylor was commaunded to giue him meate and drinke suffitient When Huon saw how he was in prison he was right sorowfull and began to remember the noble Duches his Mother and Gerard his brother and said Ah Oberon how is it that art so vnkind outragious to me for so little an offence to suffer me to endure this great misery for I know well it is not vnknowen to thee that the offence that I haue done was but only by forgetfulnes Now let vs leaue speaking of Huon and say somewhat of faire Escleremond Daughter to the Admirall when shee saw that it was night and shee all alone in her bed shée remembred the French knight who had kissed her iij. times in the presence
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
were woont to bée yée may well sée by these two Brethren the strife that is betwéene them is foule and dishonest wée should doe well if we could find the meanes by any manner of wayes to appease them and therefore I counsaile let vs all together goe to the King and desire him to haue mercie pitie of both these twoo Brethren and that it might please him to appease them renâ—er to Huon all his Landes and if wee could bring it to this point it should bée a good déede as to accord them together Chap. LXXIII ¶ How the Peeres layd all the deede vppon Duke Naymes to giue the iudgement vpon him But for all that euer he could say or doe the King iudged Huon to die AFter that the Earle of Flanders had spoken the Earle of Chalons rose vp and said My Lord of Flanders your reason is good and you haue spoken like an Noble man but I know surely that the King will doe nothing at our desires But Sirs if ye thinke it good let vs all put the whole matter vpon Duke Naymes of Bauyer and all that hee will say let vs agrée thereto then all the Lords accorded together and sayd how the Earle of Chalons had sayd right well Then they came to Duke Naymes and desired him that he would take the charge of that matter vpon him and whatsoeuer he did they were all agreed thereto when the Duke heard them he stood still a certaine space and beganne to studie on the matter and tooke all the tenne Peeres to counsell with him And when the faire Escleremond saw Huon her husband in that danger among them with whom he should haue béene in ioy then she beganne sore to wéepe and sayd Ah Huon I sée here great pouertie when in the same proper towne whereas you ought to be Lord to be in this danger and beside that ye are not beleeued nor heard of any man that is here for any proofe or witnesse that yee can say or shew King Charlemaine will not beléeue that you haue béene in the Citie of Babylone and yet surely there you haue beene for I saw you there slay my Father the Admirall Gaudys and tooke his beard and drew out of his mouth foure of his greatest teeth great pitie it were if you should die for your truth and faythfulnesse but the thing that most feareth me is that I sée none that be héere likelie to be a Noble man except the King who is chiefe of all other and yet me thinkes hee is full of falshood for I sée none other but he that séekes your death But I promise to God that if hee suffer you to haue this wrong and thus to die I say then as for my part that Mahound is better worth then your King Charlemaine and it be so that you receiue death without a cause I will neuer more beléeue in your king but renounce his law and beléeue in Mahound There were many Lords and knights that heard the Ladies words whereof they had such pitie that the most part of them beganne to wéepe And when Huon heard his wife he turned toward her and sayd Ladie I desire you to leaue your sorrow and trust in God almightie who so oftentimes hath succoured vs you know not what he will doe let vs bee content with his good pleasure Thus with such words Huon appeased the fayre Escleremond And Duke Naymes who was in counsell with the other Peeres sayd to them Sirs I haue great sorrow at my heart bicause of these two Brethren so that I cannot tell what counsaile to find I desire you all in this waightie matter to counsaile me and shewe mee your opinions therein Sir quoth the Lords other counsaile you shall not haue of vs for we haue layde all the matter vppon you to doe therein what it shall please you Sirs quoth the Duke to dissemble the matter auayleth not but since that Huon must passe by iudgement how say you shall he be hanged or drawne Sir quoth Gaulter who was the first speaker mée thinkes he can escape none otherwise Ah Traytour quoth the Duke thou liest falsely for it shall not follow after thy councell whether thou wilt or not there is no man this day that shall be so hardie as to iudge him to die therefore Sirs yet shew me againe whether yée will agrée to my councell Sir quoth they wée haue laid the charge vpon you the which we will all abide by but whosoeuer was glad Gaulter was sorowfull angrie for he would haue consented to the death of Huon Then all the Barons right sad and pensiue went out of the counsell Chamber and they could find no manner of wayes how to saue Huon but they all prayed to God to aide and succour him And Huon seeing the Barons comming so sadly together thought that the matter was not at a good poynt whereby hee beganne sore to weepe when Escleremond and Gerames saw the sorrow that Huon made they had great pitie thereof Then Huon beheld Duke Naymes for he knew well all the matter lay in his hands he feared greatly the iudgement that should be made vpon him and said Thou very God and man as I beléeue verily that thou didst die on the holy crosse to redeeme vs all and that on the third day thou didst rise from death to life I require thee humbly in this great neede to succour me as truely as I am in the right for more wrong no man can haue Then the Duke Naymes of Bauier came to the king and sayd Sir will it please you to heare what we haue deuised Yea quoth the king I desire nothing else to know Well Sir quoth the Duke then I demaund of you in what place of your Region thinke you to iudge one of your Peeres of Fraunce Naymes quoth the King I know well you be a Nobleman and all that you say is to deliuer Huon of Bourdeaux but I will ye know all shall not profite him Then the Duke sayd Sir to say so ye doe great wrong Therefore sir regard well in what place you will haue one of your Peeres iudged if you know not where it should be done I will shew you In your Realme are but three places to doe it in The first is the Towne of Saint Omers the second is Orleance and the third is Paris and therefore Sir if you will proceede vpon Huon by iustice it is conuenient that it bee done in one of these three places for here in this town he cannot be iudged Naymes quoth the King I vnderstand well why you say this I well see and perceiue that you entend to none other end but to deliuer and quit Huon I had thought to haue entreated him by the order of iustice to the intent that none of you should haue reprooued mee therefore I ordained that he should haue beene iudged by you that bee the Péeres of France and I sée well you haue done nothing therein and therefore as long as
purchase your death for loue of your Wife and if by aduenture afterâ—ward you find him in the féeld or in town meadow or wood in Pallaice or in Hall and that you might accomplish your thought and your desire against the same Traitour who did purchace the said treason against you I demaund then of you if you would slay him or not Fréend quoth the Emperour you haue coniured me and I shall answeare you to the troth Not for the value of ten Cities I will not lye therefore know for troth if I hadde a Wife such a one as you speake of adorned with such faire vertues and whereof there bee many such Howbeit if I had such a one as you recite and that I knew surely that she loued me entirely then if I knâ—w any man liuing that wold purchase me such a treason although he were my neere Parent if I might find him in what place so euer it were and though I should be slain in the quarrel there should neither be Church nor Aulter that should saue his life but that with my two hands I should slay him and also my heart should serue me further that after I had slaine him I would draw out his heart out of his bodie and eat it for despite When Huon heard the Emperour he sayd Oh right noble and vertuous Emperour iust and true iudgement you haue giuen the which I repeale not but I shall shewe you what hath mooued me to demaund of you this iudgement if such a case should haue fallen vnto you And Sir to the entent that you shall know the troth what hath mooued me thus to doe you may sée héere before you he that would do in like case against me which is your Nephew Raoull who hath purchaced my death like a cruell and a false Traytor to the entent to haue Escrelemond my Wife and all mine heritages the iudgement that you haue giuen is iust and true you shall neuer bee blamed in any Court but you shall therein bee named a noble Prince and therefore Sir hauing found him so néere me that purchaceth for my death and shame I should neuer be worthy to appeare in any Princes court without I were reuenged of him and I had rather die then to forbeare him any longer Therewith he drew his Sword and when Raoul saw the clearenesse of the Sword he was affraid bicause he was vnarmed howbeit he thought that Huon would not haue béen so hardy as to doe him any hurt in the presence of his Vncle the Emperour but when hee saw that Huon did lift vp his Sword to strike him he was in great feare fled to the Emperor to saue his life but Huon perceiued him so quickly that he strake him with a reuerse stroke in such wise that he strake off his head from his shoulders and the bodie fell downe before the Emperour the head fell vpon the Table in the dish before the Emperour whereof he had great dolor God giue me good lucke quoth Huon this Traitour shall neuer be amourous of my wife for now I am sure inough of him The Emperour who sat the Table had great sorow at his heart when he saw his Nephew dead before him then he cried aloud and said Sirs yée my Barons looke that this Knight escape you not I will neuer eat nor drinke vntill I sée him hanged I should haue great sorrow at my heart if he should escape Huon vnderstood him well and feared him but litle but with his sword he layd on round about him and strake off armes handes and legs so that there was none so hardy that durst approch néere to him he slew so many that it was fearefull to behold him within a short space hee had slaine moe then eight and Twentie and the Emperour was in such feare that hee wiste not howe to saue himselfe for the great maruailes that he saw Huon do he doubted bicause he was vnarmed and Huon cried and saide Traytours I doubt you nothing Then on all parts Almaines and Bauiers assailed Huon but hee defended himselfe by such force and puissance that by the murder that he made the bloud ranne vpon the pauement like a Riuer Huon might haue tarried too long for the Emperour and his men went and armed them Huon who saw well that hée could not long endure without great perill of death striking with his sword round about him he withdrew backe downe the staires of the Pallaice and none durst approach neere him bicause they were vnarmed and for feare of him Huon by his hie prowesse for all his enimies came vnto his horse and mounted vpon him and so yssued out and there was a Knight called Galeram who was coozen Germaine to Duke Raoul and he was cleane armed and mounted on a good horse and hee followed Huon and said Abide Villaine thou haste slayne Duke Raoul my Coozen without thou returne vnto mée I shall strike thee behind When Huon heard him hée sware he had rather die then to refuse to turne vnto him then hee turned and they couched their Speares and they met so fiercely together that they gaue each other maruailous great stroakes Galerames Speare brake all to peeces and Huon who had employed all his force and vertue strake Galeram vppon the Sheeld with his Speare the which was bigge and strong so that Galeram fell out of his Saddle so rudely that in the fall hée brake his necke and so lay dead vppon the earth and Huon who thought hee had not béen dead returned againe to him but when he saw that he stirred not he departed thence but hée taried verie long for he saw well hee was closed in round about saw well without God had pitie of him hee was not like to scape without death or taken Prisoner They cast at him Darts and Swords and one with a sharpe Swoord came vnto him and gaue him a great stroake but his good Armour saued his life for all the stroakes that hée had receiued he neuer remooued out of his Saddle When Huon saw in what danger hee was he called vpon the Lord God humbly praying him to deliuer him out of that perill with his sword he did maruailes hee slew and claue heads to the braine that hee séemed rather a Spirit of hell then a man for he that had seene him would haue sayde that he had beene no mortaâ—l man Hee saw passe by him a Knight of Almayne called Sir Hans Sperguer as he passed by Huon gaue him such a stroke that hee claue him to the gyrdle whereof the Almaynes were so abashed that none durst approach néere to him they feared him sore Alas that his men at Coleyne had not knowne what case he was in they were so farre off Huon who fared like a wilde bore he layd on round about him so that his sword was all bloudy of the men that hee had slaine and maimed They cast darts at him so that at last his horse was slaine vnder him
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
Lord Iesus Christ and by the force of my armes and good Swoorde if there bee any man within the Castle that will resiste againste vs I assure you I shall soone deliueâ— you from him Anone you shall see what I can doe I neuer 〈◊〉 in all my life so faire a Castle I cannot tell whether they within will defend vs the entrie into the Port or not if they will haue any Tribute of me I shall gladly pay it so they demaund nothing else and if I see that they will demaund any thinge else of mee I shall shewe them howe my Sword can answeare it for I had rather to die then in any Princes Court it should bee layd to my reproach and shame that for any man I should retire backe one â—oote for feare or doubt of any death for I will neuer bee taken aliue thereby to dye in prison Sir quoth the Patrone your force and great prowesse can nothinge auaile you for if wee were as stronge and as great as euer was Sampson it should nothing aduantage you I shall shewe you the cause why The Castle that you see yonder before you is the most fairest and strongest Castle in all the world it is set and compassed round about with a Rocke of Adamant stones the which naturally doth drawe vnto it all manner of yron as you may well see by our shippe that goeth so fast without any sayle the Adamant doth drawe it because of the anchors and nayles that bee in our Shippe the wood that seemeth to bee a Forrest are the Mastes of such Shippes as hath there arriued and are drawne thether by the Adamant When Huon vnderstood the Patrone hee was right sorowfull and no maruaile then pitiously hee complayned for his wife and for his Childe for hee sawe well that hee could not escape the death nor neuer depart from thence then hee wept pitiously and sayd Ah good Lord who in this world hath formed me I require thy grace that thus poore sinner that I am enclined to all misfortune that it may please thée to receiue my soule into Paradice as for my life I make none account thereof But I pray thee good Lorde to saue my Wife and Childe whome I haue lefte in daunger of death or else in shamefull imprisonment And with those woordes the Shippe entred into the Port with such a force and puissance that it ranne in amongest the other Shippes so that if the shippe had not been stronge and the other shippes rotten Huons shippe had béene broken all to peeces for it ranne vnder the water thrée or foure of the other olde shippes and was not broken thanked be almightie God Then hee looked into the Hauen and sawe so many shippes that hee had great maruaile thereof and hée was sore dismayed and abashed in that hee sawe neither man woman nor Child stirring abroad Also hee looked about him and behelde the Castle the which was so faire and rich that there was none such throughout all the world Then hee thought to send thether one of his companie for to know what people were within the Castle but hee sawe well that there was no way to enter but by a straight way of thrée Hundred and fourscore gréeces of height the way was so straight and narrow that no man but one at once coulde mount vp the degrées he had great maruell was sore troubled in mind when hee sawe no man comming from the Castle Then hee called one of his Knights and sayd Sir Arnold I will and command that you goe vp into this Castle to see what people bee within it either Sarazins or Paynims knowe who is Lord thereof and say how that I greatly desire to be acquainted with him if you can doe so much that I may bee acquainted with him then I and my men will mount vp together vntill some good aduenture fall for I hope in our Lord God that wee shall escape this daunger Sir quoth Arnold I shall doe as you haue commaunded mee Then he departed and went from one shippe to another vntill hee came to the land and then hee went to the 〈◊〉 and â—ound the degrees and mounted vp but before hée came to the Castle gate hee rested himselfe thrée times and when he came to the gate hee rested him he was so wearie and beheld the gate the which séemed vnto him maruailously faire and rich then hee beganne to crie and call to the entent that some man should come and to speake with him and when hee sawe that none did speake hee stoâ—de and hearkened if any person were comming to open the gate but none appeared and then hee knocked and called againe and sayd Porter that art within come and open the gate or else cursed be thou of God this Arnolde hadde a good occupation to knocke crie and call for within was neither man woman nor Childe that would open the gate when hee sawe that hee was neere angrie with displeasure and looked downe vnder the gate to knowe if hee might espie either man or woman to speake vnto then hee turned him round about and looked on the right hande of the Hall dore and there hee sawe an horrible Serpent the which kept the Castle and Pallaice it was a maruailous great Serpent higher then any horse his eyes like twoo Torches burning when Arnold sawe him hee was right sorrowfull and sore displeased and when the Serpent heard the knocking and great noyse at the gate braying and crying he came toward the gate and when Arnold sawe the Serpent with great furie approaching to the gate hee fledde away in so great hast that he néere hande with verie feare fell downe the staires hee rested not vntill hee came to the shippe whereas Huon was and saide Sir I haue beene aboue at the gate of the Castle and called and knocked thereat more then the space of an houre but there was neither man woman nor Childe that did appeare and when I sawe that I layde mee downe and looked vnder the gate to knowe if I might see either man or woman to speake vnto but I could neuer sée any creature but a great and a horrible Serpent higher then a great horse with eyes redder then fire with maruailous great tallons and and taile there was neuer man sawe a fowler figure of a beast Alas quoth Huon nowe I sée we be all but dead for wee haue nothing to eat nor drinke wherefore wee shall die for famine and rage But if I may enter into the Castle I shall giue that Serpent such a stroake that hee shall neuer hurt any man liuing Alas what haue I said my hardinesse nor my prowesse cannot helpe me for I see well that I and all you must die for it is impossible for vs to depart from hence Then the Patron sayd to Huon sore weeping Sir it behooueth vs to part our victuall if you will sustaine the right custome of the sea wheÌ„ men come to such a case that there is no remedie
dye in the quarrell Thus Huon was there alone without any company sore weeping and almost dead through famine When Huon sawe that no manner of shippe was comming thether hee was right sorrowfull Then hee turned him and regarded the Castle the which seemed vnto him maruailously faire and great and sayd Ah good Lord how can it be that this faire and rich Castle should bee voyd without man or woman I haue great maruaile of that sir Arnold shewed mee for he shewed me that within the Castle there was neither man nor woman and howe that there should bee a great Serpent I cannot tell whether it be true or not or whether hee spake it for feare but by the grace of God though I shall die in the quarell I will knowe the troth for I were as good to die by the horrible Serpent as to die for hunger Then hee tooke his good Sword and put on his helmet and tooke his sheeld and did so much with going from shippe to shippe vntill hee came to the gate of the land And then with much paine hee mounted vp the degrees and so came to the Castle and then he sat downe and rested him and beheld the faire Castle he thought that he neuer saw none such before for the wals and Towers were of fine Alablaster cleare shining and the Towers richly couered with fine goulde of Arabia when the Sunne cast his rayes and spheares thereuppon it cast so great a light that it gaue light a farre off and when hee had longe beheld it at his pleasure hee sawe the gate the which was faire and rich that great beautie was to beholde it for the twoo leaues of the gate were couered with fine goulde intermedled with other rich ouerages And on his right side he saw by the gate a window and ouer the same there was written in Letters of gould saying Let any man beware how he entreth into this Castle without hee bee the worthyest Knight of all other or else it were folly to assay it For he shall find there such aduentures as if his bodie were harder then a stethye of steele yet hee should be but dead and lost without hee bee of that puissance to resiste againste the great Serpent and vanquishe him many men haue assayled that neuer coulde speed and he that will enter into the Castle behold a little purse that hangeth on the right hand of the gate where he shall find the key for to open the gate When Huon had read the writing hee began sore to muse in himselfe and said Good Lord since thou hast saued mee from so many perils in time past I humbly require thee at this time to ayde and succour mee and to giue me that grace that I may vanquish this horrible Serpent and bring him to the death for I had rather die in fighting like a valiant knight then to die for famine Then Huon arose vp and went to the purse and tooke out the key and opened the gate and entred and closed the gate againe after him Chap. CII ¶ How Huon of Bourdeaux fought with the horrible Serpent and slew him within the Castle of the Adamant WHen Huon was entred into the Castle hee sawe before the Hall dore the horrible Serpent who was risen vp his skin was of diuers colours and it was so hard that no yron nor steele could enter into it When Huon sawe the beast so great hee doubted himselfe and called vppon Iesus Christ requiring him to haue pity vppon him and to giue him the grace to slay that dreadfull beast when the beast sawe Huon hee had great maruaile for hee had beene there a long space that neuer man came there he stretched out his clawes and cast his tayle round about him and came hastily against Huon who when he sawe the beast approach neere to him hee made the signe of the Crosse vppon his forehead recommending himselfe to God with his Sword in his hand and his sheeld before him and hee fiercely marched towards the Serpent he was so hideous and fearful to behold that the beast seemed rather an enemie of Hell then any other beaste his bodie was maruailous great with an ougly head with twoo eyes bigger then twoo basons full of burning fire and when hee came neere vnto Huon hée lifted vp one of his pawes thinkinge to haue drawne downe Huon to the earth hee strake vpon Huons Sheeld with such force that hee pulled it from his shoulder leather nor buckle could not resiste it and then with his teeth and nayles hee tare the Sheeld all to peeces Huon who was legier and light leapt by the side of the Serpent and gaue him a great stroake with his Sword vppon the eare that he thought to haue clouen asunder his head But hee coulde doe it no more hurt then if hee had striken vppon a stethy so that his Sword rebounded againe whereof Huon was right sorrowfull and said Ah good Lord nowe I sée well that my dayes are at an end Ah faire Ladie Escleremond I pray our Lord God to saue you and my Daughter Clariet for this day you shall loose mée Then hee aduaunced him to the Serpent and gaue him a great stroake vppon the haunch behinde and if hée did but little with his first stroake hee did lesse hurt with that stroake for hee could in no wise cut through the Serpents skinne wherefore hee was in great feare and the Serpent when he felt himselfe striken cast his tayle rounde about Huon with such force that hee ouerthrew Huon to the earth yet hee quickly releeued againe Then he saw by the gate a great square Speare with a sharpe broad head and then hee put vp his Sword and tooke the Speare in both his handes and came with all his force and strength against the Serpent who came and encountred him with open mouth to haue swallowed Huon but Huon who was strong and light tooke the speare and layd it on his arme and saw the Serpent with his mouth open hee strake the Speare into the mouth of the Serpent so deepe that with the head of the Speare he cutte his heart asunder when the Serpent felt himselfe hurt to the death hee cast out a terrible crye so that all the place sounded and so that the noyse might be heard a league off Thus the horible Serpent was slaine When Huon saw that hee was dead hee kneeled downe and lift vp his hands to heauen thanking our Lord God for his grace Then he arose and went to the Serpent and behelde him for hee was hidious and fearefull to behold he was eighteene foote long When Huon had well beheld him he went and sate downe by the hall doore for to rest him for he was so wearie and faynt with the bloud that hee had lost and with sweat that he had much paine to draw his breath the which was no maruaile for hee had neither eate nor drunke of all that day When he had well rested him then he