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
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
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
of her Father and shee was in great sorow bicause he was put in prison said to her selfe Without he were a Knight of great enterprize he would neuer haue béen so hardy to haue done as he hath done this day in diuers manners Wherefore she said he was well worthy to be beloued and succoured Then incontinent shee arose and made her readie and priuily she tooke a torch of waxe in her hand and lighted it and issued out of her chamber as priuilye as she could It was about midnight and euery man was a sléepe in the Pallaice she went strait to the prison came at so good a time that she found the Iaylor fast a sléepe then she stole away the keyes and went and opened the prison dore But when Huon saw the torch light and the dore of the prison open he was in great feare least they would take him out to put him to death or to doe him some other displeasure whereupon he began to make pitifull complaints The Ladie who could well speake french vnderstood all Huons complaints and remembred his name bicause the day before she had heard himselfe shew her Father his name then shée said Huon dismay not I am Escleremond Daughter to the Admirall whome this day passed thou didst kisse iij. times in the presence of my Father if it be so that thou wilt fulfill my will I shall put to my endeauour to deliuer thée out of prison for I am so affectionate towards thée that euer since thou didst kisse me I haue none other thought nor immagination but only on thée how to bring thée out of the danger that thou art in Madame quoth Huon god reward you for your great courtesie that ye would do vnto me but faire Lady Escleremond you are a Sarazin and I am christened True it is that I did kisse you but that was by the commaundement of king Charlemaine who sent me hether so to doe but else I had rather to haue been heere in perpetuall prison than to haue touched any part of your bodie or mouth so long as ye be a Sarazyn Huon quoth the Ladie seing thou art of that mind thou shalt end thy daies heere in prison miserably and neuer trust me but if I can I shall cause thee deerely to aby the refusall that thou hast made me Then the Lady Escleremond parted from the prison and came to the Iaylor and awaked him and said Friend I charge thee on paine of thy life that to this french Prisoner within thy keeping for these iij. daies and iij. nightes thou giue him neither meate nor drinke Madame quoth the Iaylor your commaundement shal be fulfilled Then the Lady in this displeasure went againe to her bed right pensiue and full of fantasies and Huon was iij. daies and iij. nights without meate or drinke and on the iiij day he said all sorowing Ah good Lord I see well I must heere die for hunger I huÌ„bly require thee to ayd and succour me and graunt me thy grace that I neither consent nor doe any thing that shall be against thy pleasure or against thy holy law for any tribulation that can come to me Thus noble Huon complayned all sorowing there was no creature that had heard him but he would haue been partaker of his great sorowes Chap. XXXIX ¶ How Huon made great complaints for the famine that he endured and how the faire Escleremond came againe to coÌ„fort him conditionally that Huon would fulfill her desire Thus as haue ye haue heard before Huon complayned pitiously for he had been iij. daies and iij. nights without sustenance and the Lady Escleremond who caused it came euery morning and euening to the prison to heare what Huon would say and euer shee would demaund of Huon if he were any otherwise aduised to answere her or not and euer she found him at one point But at the last when she saw that he still continued in that minde then she demaunded of him that if she deliuered him out of prison whether he would then promise her to lead her with him into Fraunce and take her to his wife when hee came there if thou wilt promise me this quoth shee thou shalt haue meate and drinke sufficient at thy pleasure Madame quoth Huon I promise you faithfully that vppon your forsaking Paganisme and conuersion to our christian faith I shall doe your pleasure whatsoeuer happen to me thereby Then know for troth quoth the Lady that for the loue of thée I will become christened and beleeue in the law of the Lord Iesus Christe so soone as we come into any place whereas it may be done Huon thanked her and then she caused him to haue meate and drinke whereof he was ioyfull and she called the Iaylor and said Goe thy way in hast to the Admirall my Father and tell him that the french knight is dead iij. daies past through féeblenes hunger Ladie quoth the Iaylor I am ready to doe your commaundement and so he went to the Admirall and said Sir the french Knight that was in my keeping is dead by famine iij. daies past Alas quoth the Admirall I am sory therfore but seing it will none otherwise be I must passe it ouer as I may but I had rather that he were aliue And thus as ye haue heard Huon was deliuered from death for it is a commoÌ„ but a very true saying that one day of deliuerance is worth a hundred yeeres of endurance Then the Iaylor returned to the prison vnto the Ladie and shewed her what he had said to the Admirall Well friâ—nd quoth the Ladie if thou wilt be secret I shall make thée rich for euer helping to aide me in such things as I would haue thee Madame quoth he to die in the quarrell I shall doe you seruice such as you commaund me the feare of death shall not let me to doe it Now let vs leaue speaking of Huon who was oftentimes visited with the Iaylor and had all things as he desired and was well lodged at his pleasure And let vs now speake of Gerames and of them that were with him in the Castle of the Gyant Chap. XL. ¶ How Gerames and his company departed from the Tower and the Damsell with them and came to Babilon and of the manner that Gerames vsed to know some newes of Huon WE haue heard heere before how Huon departed from the Tower of the Gyant and left there Gerames and all his company with the Damsell his Coozen they taried there iij. moneths and neuer heard any thing of Huon wherof they were sorowfull They went foorth one morning and came to the Sea-side to sée if they might heare any newes of their Lord Huon and as they looked vpon the Sea they espied a shippe charged with xxx Paynims and great riches and Gerames saw how the ship was coming to that Port wherfore he said to his company Sirs let vs go and see if we can learne any tidingâ— of Huon by them
naked skinne I should haue some comfort for then I might goe and séeke some aduenture greatly I ought to hate the crooked Dwarfe Oberon who hath brought me into all this paine but by the faith that I owe vnto God séeing he hath left me thus from hencefoorth to doe him the more spite I shall make lyes ynough I shall not leaue for him whom I recommend now to a hundred Thousand Diuels When he had béen there a certen space all alone hee arose and looked all about him to sée if he might perceiue anye man passe by from whome hee might haue any succour for he was néere famished for lacke of sustenance howbeit he thought to depart thence to séeke some aduenture so he went on his way and hée went so far that he found an aduenture such as you shall heare for our Lord Iesus Christ neuer forgetteth his Seruants Chap. LI. ¶ How Huon found a Minstrell who gaue him cloathing and meat and tooke Huon with him as his Varlet and went to Mombrance WHen Huon hadde gone a great way hee beheld on his right hand and saw néere him a little wood by a faire meadow-side and therein was standing a great Dake full of leaues and there beside was a cleare Fountaine and there he saw an ancient man with white haires sitting vnder the Dake and before him he had a little cloth spread abroad on the grasse and thereon flesh and bread and wine in a Bottell When Huon saw the old man he came vnto him and the ancient man sayd Ah thou wild man I pray thée for the loue of Mahound doe me no hurt but take meat and drinke at thy pleasure When Huon sawe him he espied lying beside him a Harpe and a Vyoll whereon he could well play for in all Pagany there was no Minstrell like him Fréend quoth Huon thou hast named me right for a more vnhappy man then I am there is none lyuing Fréend quoth the Minstrell goe to yonder Male and open it and take what thou likest best to couer thy naked skinne then come to mée and eat at thy pleasure Sir quoth Huon good aduenture is come vnto mée thus to find you Mahound reward you Sir quoth the Minstrell I pray you come and eate with me and kéepe me companie for you shall not find a more sorowfull man then I am By my faith quoth Huon a companion of your owne sort haue you found for there was neuer man that suffered so much pouertie as I haue praise be vnto him that fourmed me but séeing I haue found meat to eat blessed be the houre that I haue found you for you séeme to bee a good man Then Huon went to the Male and tooke cloathes and then came vnto the Minstrell and sat down and did eat and drinke as much as pleased him The Minstrell beheld Huon and sawe that he was a faire young man and a courteous and then hee demaunded of him where hée was borne and by what aduenture hee was arriued there in that case that he was in When Huon heard how the Minstrell demaunded of his estate he began to study in himselfe whether he should shew the troth or else to lye then he called to our Lord God and sayd Ah good Lord if I shew to this man the troth of mine aduenture I am but dead and King Oberon for a small offence thou hast left me in this case now if I shewe the troth of my life to this man I am but dead I shall neuer trust thée more but I will now put all my trust in God for the loue that I haue to my Loue thou hast mee in hate but séeing it is so as often as I haue néede I shall ly nor I shall not leaue it for feare of thée but rather do it in despite of thée then Huon saide to the Minstrell Sir you haue demanded of mine estate and as yet I haue made you none answeare the troth is I find my selfe so well at mine ease that I forgat to answeare you but I shall nowe shewe you séeing you would know it Sir of certaine I was borne in the countrey of Affricke and fell in company with diuers Marchants by the Sea in a Shippe thinking to haue sayled to Damieta but a great misfortune fell vppon vs there arose such an horrible tempest that our Shippe perished and all that were within it none escaped but I and I thanke Mahound that I am escaped aliue therefore I desire you now to shew mée your aduenture as I haue shewed you mine Fréend quoth the Minstrell séeing you will knowe it knowe for troth I am named Mouflet I am a Minstrell as thou séest héere by mine Instruments and I say vnto thée that from hence to the red Sea there is none so cunning in all Instruments as I am and I can doe many other things and the dolour that thou séest mee make is bycause of late I haue loste my good Lorde and Maister the Admirall Gaudise who was slayne miserably by a Vacabond of Fraunce called Huon that Mahound shame him and bring him to an ill death for by him I am fallen into pouerty and miserie I pray thée tell me thy name Sir quoth Huon my name is Solater Well quoth the Minstrell Solater dismay thée not for the great pouerties that thou hast suffered thou séest what aduenture Mahound hath sent thée thou art nowe better arayed then thou wert if thou wilt follow my counsel thou shalt haue no néed thou art faire and young thou oughtest not to be dismayed but I that am old and ancient haue cause to be discomforted séeing in mine olde dayes I haue lost my Lord and Maister the Admirall Gaudise who did me so much good and profit I would it pleased Mahound that he that slewe him were in my power When Huon heard that he spake no word but cast down his head Solater quoth the Minstrell séeing my Lord is dead I will goe to Mombrance to King Iuoryn to shew him the death of his Brother the Admirall Gaudise and if thou wilt abide with me so that thou wilt beare my Fardell and harpe a foote ere it be halfe a yéere past I warrant thée thou shalt haue a Horse for whensoseuer thou shalt heare me play vpon my instruments all the hearers shall take therein such pleasure that they shall giue mee both Gownes and Mantles so that thou shalt haue much adoe to trusse them in my Male. Well Sir quoth Huon I am content to serue you and to doe all your Commaundements Then Huon tooke the Male on his necke and the Harpe in his hand and Mouflet his Maister bare the Vyoll and thus the maister and the seruant went on their way to goe to Mombrance Ah good Lord quoth Huon my heart ought to bée sorrowfull when I sée my selfe in this case that nowe I must become a Minstrels Varlet Gods curse haue Oberon the Dwarfe who hath done mee all this trouble Alas if I had nowe my good Armour my
Castle had great maruaile who it should bee that they would hang vp there and when the minstrell was aboue on the ladder hee turned him towards the Castle and cryed with an high voyce Ah Huon how will ye suffer me here to die yet remember the goodnes that I haue done to you and the courtesie that I did when yee came all naked I gaue you then cloathing and meate and drinke and I abandoned to you all that I had ill it hath béen employed without ye reward mée better When Huon heard the Minstrell hée knew wel that it was Mouflet who had béen his maister then hée said to his company Sirs I require you arme you quickely for the Paynims héere without haue reared vp a gybet whereon they will hang a Minstrell who hath done me great pleasure I would be right sorie if he should haue any ill Then Gerames and al his companions made them ready and issued out of the Castle with Huon by a secret posterne so that they that were about the gibet were not aware of of them till Huon and his companie was among them Huon ranne at him that should haue hanged the minstrell and strake him with his speare cleane through and so hee fell downe dead and then Huon tooke downe the Minstrell and made him to flie away to the posterne and his violl about his necke he that had séene him flie away could not haue kept himselfe from laughing for he ranne so fast that he séemed to bee no old man but rather of the age of thirtie yéere and Huon and Gerames and his companie slew and beate downe all the thirtie Paynimes so that none escaped the death When King Iuoryn and Galaffer perceiued that there was much adoe about the gibet they sayd Sirs the Frenchmen are come out of the Castle goe and looke that ye doe so much that none of thē enter againe Then Paynims on euerie part issued out of their lodgings and ranne thither hée that best might without kéeping of any good order Huon and Gerames when they saw them comming they made semblance to returne to the citie a soft pace and the Paynims came after them crying and howling like dogges and when they approched néere Huon sodainely turned and with his speare he met so the first that he ranne him cleane through the body with his speare so that he fell downe dead and Gerames and his companie strake so among the paynims that the place ranne like a riuer of bloud of the dead Paynims Huon strake with his sword with both his hands hée strake none with a full stroke but that he claue the head to the téeth but finally the force of the paynims was so great that at length they could not abide it Then Huon who was expert in déedes of armes perceiued that it was time to depart he called his men together and went toward the posterne the which with much payne they got in thereat and so they entred in al xiii companions but yet they were so hasted and pursued that Garyn of Saint Omer abode without and defended himselfe valiantly but at last he was slaine by the Paynims then Huon was right sorrowfull when hee saw that Garyn was not entered into the Castle and pitiously complayned for him and sayd A déere cousin who for the loue of mee haue left your wife and children and land and signories I am sory of your death Sir quoth Gerames leaue your sorrow and thinke to make good chéere and to kéepe well our fortres our Lord God hath alwayes ayded you and shall doe through his grace go we vp and make good chéere for with this sorrow wee can winne nothing Then when they came into the Pallace they met with Escleremond and when Huon saw her hee sayd My faire Loue this day haue I lost one of my good friends whereof I am sorrowfull Sir quoth she I am sorie thereof but that thing that cannot be recouered must be left wee be all made to die God will haue mercy on his soule with such like worde Escleremond and Gerames appeased Huon and when they were in the hall they vnarmed them and went to dinner and afterwardes they looked out at the windowes to sée the countenance of the Paynims then Gerames sayd to the Minstrell Mouflet my friend I pray thée take thy violl and giue vs a song to make vs merrie then the Minstrell tooke his Instrument and gaue them a most sweete song the which was so melodious for to heare that they all beleeued that they had beene in Paradice and they all made excéeding great ioy with such a cheerefull noyse that the Paynims that were without did heare it and sayd among themselues Ah these French-men are people to be feared and doubted and they were right sorrowfull for the men that they had loste by the prowesse of these Fourtéene persons Chap. LX. ¶ How the good Prouost Guyer Brother to Gerames arriued at the Port of Anfalerne WHen that King Iuoryn sawe and knewe the great losse that hée had receiued hee was right sorrowfull and then the Admirall Galaffer said Sir for the honour of Mahound bee not so sore troubled for a thing the which you shall well atchieue and bring to an end you knowe well these French-men are as a bird being in a Cage for they cannot escape neither by land nor by water and they are without hope of any rescue to day they were Fourtéene and now they be but Thirteene you are lodged in a good Towne and haue the féelds and the Sea at your pleasure it is not possible for them to escape they haue neither Shippe nor Galley to flye in Therefore Sir appease your selfe suffer them to waste their victuals By these woordes somewhat King Iuoryn was appeased and the French-men in the Castle deuised together and Huon sayd vnto Gerames Fréend you sée well wée be héere inclosed and wee can neither depart by Land nor by Sea nor wee looke for no succour of any man liuing and héere before vs are lodged Paynims who haue sworne our deaths Sir quoth Gerames true it is but I hope in our Lord God that he will send vs some good aduenture and if it please you let vs two go downe and sport vs by the water side néere to the Port vntill night come I am content quoth Huon wee may goe thether and not bee séene by the Paynims for thether might come Shippe or Galley without daunger of the Towne thether they went and when it was néere hand night Huon looked into the Sea and saw a Ship comming thether-ward Then Huon sayd vnto Gerames Fréend behold yonder commeth a Ship with full sayle they will arriue at this Port they be Christian men I sée well by the tokens that the Ship doth beare for vppon the Mast I sée a red crosse Sir quoth Gerames by all that I can sée the shippe is of Fraunce and therefore as I haue said to you before God will send vs some good aduenture
to the place of execution where the Ladders were set vp and then the hang-man came vnto Gerames and said Come on thou old Dotard thou hast liued long inough thou shalt no more see him whome thou louest so well and I hope shortly he shal beare thée company wauing in the wind When Gerames heard him he beheld him fiercely and sayd Ah thou vnhappie Villaine if one of my handes were loose thou shouldest neuer sée faire day more how art thou so hardy to say or to thinke so villainous a worde of the best and most valiantst Knight now liuing Then Othon came to them and hearing the hangman how hee reuiled Gerames he sayd Ah thou base slaue thinkst thou not that this knight hath not inough to suffer though thou dost not reuile him if thou thy selfe were in that case that they be in and they in the citie of Bourdeaux thou wouldest soone repent thy saucie words and therewith hee lift vp a staffe that he had in his hand and strake the hangman therewith that he fell down to the earth then hee sayd Ah thou false theefe doe thine office and speake no words whereupon the hangman durst speake no more but then he tooke Gerames by the halter that was about his necke and so mounted vpon the ladder and Gerames after him who made pittious complaints for Huon his good Lord. The same time that Gerames mounted vpon the first step of the ladder they within the Citie vpon the walles perceiued it and saw euidently that without the prisoners were spéedily rescued their liues were lost then they said to Huon Sir if you tarrie any longer your men shall be all hanged for yonder wée sée one of them is mounted on the ladder who hath a beard as white as the snow When Huon heard that he was sore displeased and sayd Ah good Lord I know surely that it is my true friend Gerames whom they would first put to death therefore Sirs I require you quickly let vs issue out at the gate for if Gerames bee not presently succoured the Traitours will putte him to death but if that I may come time inough his perill shall bee dearely solde to them Hereupon Huon with seuen thousand fighting men issued out at the gate so fiercely that the earth seemed to groane vnder them their horses made such a thundering and so within a short spare by a secret way they came to the place whereas the gallowes stood Huon was the first that arriued there and he marked well the hangman that should haue hanged Gerames and gaue him such a stroke with his speare that he ranne him through so that hee fell from the ladder dead so was Gerames reuenged of the iniury that hee had done to him before then Huon saide Gerames come downe of the Ladder and arme you in some armour of them that shall bée heere slaine Gerames thanked our Lord God and came downe the ladder and then thether came Huons companie who vntyed all the other Prisoners then began a sore Battaile the Almaines would not fly the which Huon séeing cried to them and said Yée false Traytours your deaths are iudged deare shal be sould to you the offence that yée haue done vnto mee when yée would slay thus my men with so villainous a death better it had béen for you to haue been at Mayence hidden in the laps of your Mothers and Louers When they vnderstood Huon anon they knew him wherof they were sore abashed then Huon met with a Knight of Almayne and ran him cleane through and so hée serued thrée other then he drew his sword wherewith he did great maruailes for ere he ceased he slew fourteene and also his men did maruailes in armes so that within a short space the Almaines were discomfited so that none escaped away aliue except Sir Othon who valiantly defended himselfe But when he saw that his force would not helpe him hée yéelded himselfe to Huon and gaue him his sword and cryed him mercie and sayd Sir I beséech you slay me not but haue pitie on me and I promise you faithfully that against my wil I came hither but I was forced so to doe by the Emperour and first I desired respite Insomuch that the Emperor was sore displeased with me I intreated for a peace to haue been made betwéene you and him but my words could not preuaile Sir I am your kinsman was brought vp in Duke Seuin your fathers house and there I serued a maister who did beate mee and when I felt my selfe strong and of age I was displeased that he did beate me so without a cause I slew him fled away and came to Mayens and euer since I haue serued the Emperour who is come hither to besiege you Friend quoth Huon feare not your death but I pray you from hence forth ayde and serue mee as ye ought to doe to your louing friend Sir quoth Othon God shame mee if I doe the contrarie but I shall serue you truely as long as life is in my body Then Huon came to the foote of the ladder whereas hee found Gerames as then not vntied Huon embraced and kissed him often times and sayd Right déere friend I am right glad at my heart when I see you whole of body and then hee went to the other and losed them and vnbound their eyes and sayd Sirs arme your selues with the harnesse of them that bee dead for a man that is armed hath the aduantage of others that bee not armed It was néedfull for them to be armed God defend them from euill for anon after they had so maruailous a reencounter that they had neuer the like before for the other tenne thousand men came to reuenge them that were dead they hoped to haue come time inough but they fayled for they came too late Huon had taken of al them their truage When Huon saw that he had done that which he came for he returned him towardes the Citie but he was so pursued that he was neere surprised and stopped from entring into the Citie When Huon saw his enemies comming he cryed aloude to his men saying Sirs let vs turne vpon them that come toward vs to the intent that they shall not make their auaunts that they haue caused vs to flie away before them then hee and all his men turned against their enemies with a most valiaunt courage and at that méeting many speares were broken on both parts and many a knight borne to the earth that had neuer the power after to reléeue themselues there was such a slaughter on both parts that it was pittie to sée them And great maruaile it was to see Huon how he beate downe his enemies claue helmets and rased them from the heads of his enemies hee dealt in such wise that no Almaine durst abide his strokes he was so doubted and feared hee made the thicke prease to breake a sunder and flie away before him and by him was Sir Othon who that day did
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
that haue before this time made vnto mee fealtie and homage I deliuer you quite into the handes of your right naturall Lord as you haue beene before time and I quit clearely your homages and fealties done vnto mée then they all thanked the Emperour of his good iustice and reason that hee had alwayes done vnto them in the season whiles they were vnder him the Emperour was right ioyfull that they so praised him before Duke Huon and then they came vnto Duke Huon and to the Duches Escleremond his Wife and to Clariet their Daughter and did vnto them their reuerence accordingly Thus they came vnto the Citie of Bourdeaux whereas they were ioyfully receceiued and a cloath of estate was borne before the Emperour vnder the which he road still holding Huon by the hand vntill they came vnto the Pallaice the stréets were strewed with gréene hearbs and rushes and hanged richly the windowes garnished with Ladies and Damsels Burgesses and Maydens melodiously singing whereof the Emperour was right ioyfull the Children running in the Stréetes and crying noel noel for the great ioy and mirth that they had of the comming of their Lord and Ladie When they were come vnto the Pallaice they alighted and went to their Chambers readie appointed for them if I should rehearse the ioyes and sports and solemnities that was made at the noble Citie of Bourdeaux it would bee too tedious and ouer-long to declare it for the feast and chéere was such that no man as then liuing had séen any such the which endured for the space of Eight dayes during the which time the Emperour declared vnto them of that Countrey the Peace that was made betwéen him and Duke Huon and how hee would deliuer all his Landes and Signiories into his handes and clearely acquit euerie man of their fealtie homage to him made whereof euerie man was ioyfull and vppon the Ninth daye that the Emperour should depart he called Duke Huon vnto him and sayd My right déere Fréend he that I loue best in this world if any warre or businesse happen to fall vnto you let mée haue knowledge thereof and I shall send you fortie Thousand men at armes and my selfe in person to come to ayde and succour you Sir quoth Huon of the courtesie that you offer mee I hartely thanke you and alwayes I shall repute my selfe as your true Seruant and faithfull Fréend Then the Emperor went to the Duchesse Escleremond and tooke his leaue of her and of the faire Ladie Clariet her Daughter and embraced and kissed them at his departing and so hee did all the other Ladies and Damsels and gaue euerie one of them some guift hee gaue rich guiftes vnto the Duchesse and to her Daughter and then he tooke his leaue and mounted vppon his Horse and so yssued out of the Citie of Bourdeaux and Duke Huon and the good abbot of Cluny conuayed him about twoo Leagues then they tooke their leaue of the Emperour and of his Lords and Knightes and returned vnto the noble Citie of Bourdeaux Then after that Huon had soiourned there about Eight dayes he road vnto Geronnill and to Blames and vnto all other townes and Castles where he was receiued with great ioy and mirth and set Officers in them then hee returned againe vnto the Citie of Bourdeaux to the Duchesse Escleremond his Wife and after that he had taried there about a Moneth Duke Huon deuised with his Wife in the presence of the good Abbot his Vncle and of Barnard his Coozen and sayd My right déere wife hee that remembreth not the goodnesse done vnto him may bee reputed as vngratefull I say it because you know well that King Oberon hath done vnto vs great good and hath deliuered vs out of many great perils of death and as you sawe but lately by the twoo Knightes that rescued you from the death and from the daunger that you were in and you knowe well that the last time that Kinge Oberon departed from Bourdeaux hee gaue mee all his Realme of the Fayrie and the puissance that he hath there and he made mée to promise him that after that Foure yeares were passed that I should come vnto him and that he would then put me in possession of his Realme and hée saide that if I failed my day hée would vtterly destroy me you know well what hath fallen vnto me before this by breaking of his Commaundement and therefore déere Lady and Wife it is necessarie that I goe vnto him and I shall leaue with you Barnard who shall haue the kéeping of my Landes and of you and as for my Daughter I will leaue her with the Abbot héere mine Vncle who I desire héere before you that hee will kéepe and gouerne my Daughter Clariet and with him I will leaue all my riches and precious stones that I brought with mée to the entent to marrie her so that it be to a man of great valour but I will not that shee bee maried vnto any person for riches but a person that is worthy and valiant I would should haue her for she hath and shall haue riches ynough for her selfe and for a man of great authoritie Faire Nephew quoth the Abbot your going shall be displeasing vnto me if I might amend it if God will no man liuinge shall haue your Daughter my Néece in marriage except hee bée a man of a high Parentage and garnished with vertues and good manners and as for your riches pearles and Iewels shee shall not néede to haue any thereof for I haue Treasure and riches ynough to marrie her nobly Chap. CXLI ¶ How Duke Huon deuised with the Duchesse his Wife of his departing and how shee sayd that she would goe with him And how hee left his Daughter and Land and Signiories in the keeping of his Vncle the good Abbot of Cluny and of Barnard his Coozen WHen the Duchesse Escleremond had well heard her Husband the Duke make his deuises to goe vnto Kinge Oberon you may well beléeue that she had great dolour and gréefe at her heart and then all wéeping shée kneeled downe before her Husband and said My right deare Lord and if God will you shall not goe on foote but that I will goe with you if you take any ill or annoyance I will haue my part and if you haue any good aduenture I will haue my part with you for your long absence hath béen right hard for mée to endure Faire Ladie quoth Huon I pray you to forbeare your going and abide héere with your Daughter for the Voyage shall bée sore for you to doe here I shall leaue Barnard my Coozen and mine Vncle the good Abbot and they shal be vnto you as Fathers Sir quoth she I shall haue many sorowes to abide héere without you I had rather to endure whatsoeuer God shall send vs together then to abide héere without your companye Thus yée haue heard héere before that for any excuse or reason that Huon could shew vnto the Duchesse