Gyant and when he had made his praiers to god he put on his armour as quickly as though he had neuer béen in prison wherby he knew well that god was pleased with him and then he said Ah noble king Oberon I pray thée séeing God is pleased with me put away thy displeasure and pardon me for the breaking of thy commaundement I haue béen sore punished and I pray thee be not displeased if I spake any hasty worde being in prison for famine caused me to doe it In the breaking of thy commaundement I confesse I did ill therein yet it was but by negligence and forgetting Alas Sir remember but what courtesie ye shewed me when yée found me in the wood and gaue me your rich Horne and Cup by the which often times I haue been succoured therefore sir now I require thée to pardon me all my trespasses and helpe me at my néed for I sée well without it be by the grace of god your helpe there is nothing can saue my life thus he besought god of pardon and to giue him grace to destroy his enemy who was so horrible to behould And when he had made his prayer there came a Sarazin to Huon said Sir héere is your owne swoord that yée lost when yée were taken Friend quoth Huon yee do me great courtesie God giue me grace to reward thée Then he did on his helmet and girt on his sword and the Admirall sent him a good horse the best in all his Court for he was not so faire but he was in goodnes aboue all other When Huon saw him he was right ioyfull thanked the Admirall As for his rich fourniture I make no mention thereof the saddle harnesie and bridle were so rich that the value thereof could not be estéemed Then Huon made the signe of the crosse and mounted on his horse armed at all points and so rode out of the Pallaice into a faire meadow and there made a course to assay his horse then he rested him before the Admirall who leaned in a window in his Pallaice and when he beheld Huon he said to his Lords Trust me these Frenchmen are to be doubted feared for Huon is a goodly yong man and great wrong it had been if he had béen slaine The Admirall commaunded the field to be kept with a Thowsand Sarazins to thintent that no treason should be done or any iniurie offered to his faire séeming Champion Chap. XLIIII ¶ How Huon fought with Agrapart the Gyant and discomfited him and deliuered him to the Admirall who had great ioy thereof WHen Huon hadde made his course he came into the field whereas his enemie was ready and when Agrapart saw Huon hee said Thou that art of so great courage as to fight against me howe néere of kinne art thou to the Admirall séeing that for the loue of him thou wilt put thy selfe in aduenture of death Paynim quoth Huon know for troth that I am nothing of kinne to the Admirall but I was borne in the Realme of Fraunce and if thou desire to know what I am I say vnto thée that I am he that slew thy Brother For that quoth the Paynim I am the more sorowfull and yet againe ioyfull in that Mahound hath done mée the grace to haue power to reuenge his death but if thou wilt beléeue and worship my God Mahound and forsake thy beléefe and goe with me into my countrey I shall make thée so great a Lord that of all thy kinne there was neuer any such And I shall giue thée my sister in mariage who is a foote greater than I am and is as blacke as a cole Paynim quoth Huon I care neyther for thy land nor for thy sister but all the diuels in hell kéepe them both beware thou of me for I shall neuer ioy in my hart vntill the time that I haue slaine thee as I haue done thy brother I defie thée in the name of god and I thée quoth the Gyant in the name of Mahound Then they went a sunder to take their courses and they ran each at other and met so fiersly that their speares brake in péeces and the encounter was so rude that by force of the shocke both the horses fell to the earth but the Champions quickly recouered and came each vpon other Agrapart tooke vp his fawchin to haue striken Huon but he stept a litle on the one side whereby the Paynim missed his stroke Huon lifted vp his sword and strake the Gyant on the helmet so maruailous a stroke that he strake of a quarter therof and wounded him sore and the stroke descended downe and cut of his eare so that the black blood ran downe to the ground Then Huon said Paynim thou wert vnhappie when thou camest hether thou mightest haue béen content with the death of thy Brother and not to come hether to haue as much thy selfe for thou shalt neuer sée faire day more When the Gyant saw him selfe hurt he had great feare and said Cursed be he of Mahound that forged thy swoord I had rather I had béene bound to haue paid a great summe of money to haue saued my life than to be slaine héere therfore I yéeld my selfe to thée take héere my swoord I pray thée doe me no hurt Paynim quoth Huon haue no doubt séeing thou doest yéeld thée to me there is none so hardy that shall doe thée any displeasure Then Huon tooke the Paynim by the arme brought him into the Citie whereof the Admirall and all his Lords had great ioy but the inward content that Escleremond had passed all other When Gerames saw how the Gyant was ouercome he came to the Admiral and said Sir Admirall know for troth that I am christened and I am not your Nephew I came hether but only to search for my Lord Huon the better to know the troth I said I was sonne to Iuoryn of Mombrance your brother thereby to know the certentie what was become of Huon for I knew well he was sent to you from king Charlemaine on a Messuage Chap. XLV ¶ How Agrapart the Gyant cryed mercie to the Admirall and howe Huon desired the Admirall Gaudise to leaue his law and to be christened WHEN the Admirall heard Gerames he had great maruaile and said it is hard for any man to beware of the craft and subtiltie that is in a Frenchman Then the Admirall sawe where Huon was comming vp the steps and bringing with him the Gyant whereon the Admirall and all his Lords came met him and Gerames his company with him who were right ioyfull when they saw him come When Huon sawe the Admirall he tooke Agrapart by the hand and said to the Admirall Sir I deliuer him into your handes that this day did you so great iniurie euen he that drew you out of your chaire I deliuer to you to doe with him at your pleasure When Agrapart saw that he knéeled and said Sir Admirall he hath
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.
Christ shall guide and conduct vs in sauegard Thus these two Brethren road night and day so long vntill they perceiued before them the Abbot of Cluny with a thirtie Horse in his companie as he was going to the Kinges Court When Huon perceiued that companie hee called his Brother Gerardin and said Loe yonder I sée men of religion holding the way to Paris and you knowe well when wee departed from the Duchesse our mother shée charged vs that we should alwaies company with good people therefore it is good that we make hast to ouertake them Brother quoth Gerardin your pleasure he fulfilled so they rode so long that they ouertooke the Abbot who regarded on the right side and sawe the two Brethren comming to ouertake him Then hée steede still and saw Huon who came riding on before Huon saluted him humbly and the Abbot in like manner to him and demaunded whether he râ—ad so hastily from whence he came and what he was and who was his Father Sir quoth Huon since it is your pleasure to know Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux was our Father it is Seauen yeares since he departed this life And Sir behold héere my Brother who is younger then I and we are going to noble King Charlemaines Court to reléeue of him our Lands and Countrey for he hath sent for vs by two noble Knights and Sir we are in doubt of some trouble by the way when the good Abbot vnderstoode that they were Sonnes to Duke Seuin he was right ioyfull and in token of true amitie he embraced them one afteâ— another and said Deare fréends haue no doubt for by the grace of Iesus Christ I shall conducte you safely to Paris for Duke Seuin your Father was my Coozen Germaine therefore I am bound to ayd you and know for troth that I am sworne of the great councell with King Charlemaine and if there be any that will mooue or stirrâ— against you I shall ayd you to my power wherefore you may ride surely in my companie without any doubt Sir quoth Huon I thanke you thus they road talking with the Abbot their kinsman and that night they came to Montleherry Then the next daye they arose béetimes and heard Masse and afterward tooke their Horses and they were in all a fourescore Horses they road so long vntil they came to a little wood-side whereas Charlot and Earle Amerie lay closely ambushed there they espyed Huon Gerard riding before whereof they were ioyfull Then Amerie said to Charlot Sir now is the time come to bee reuenged of the dammage that Duke Seuin did to mée yonder I sée his twoo Sonnes comming if they bée not incontinent slayne by vs wée are not worthy to haue any Land or life And Sir by their death you shall be Lord of Bourdeaux and of all the Duchy of Aquitaine Chap. VII ¶ How by the councell of Earle Amerie they ran firste at Gerardin Brother to Huon and bare him to the earth and sore wounded him whereof Huon was right sorowfull WHen that Charlot vnderstood Earle Amerie he stretched him in his stirrops and tooke a speare with a sharpe head and yssued alone out of the woode when Amerie sawe that Charlot went out of the wood alone he drew a little out of the way and sayd to his men suffer Charlot alone there néed none goe to ayd him This said the false Traytour bicause he desired nothing else but that one of the Sonnes of Duke Seuin might slay Charlot and so himselfe detecting them of the murder by this meanes he might compasse his damnable intent Charlot came against these twoo Brethren the Abbot of Cluny saw Charlot comming all armed and saw in the wood a great number of armed men more then hee stood still and called Huon and Gerard and said Déere Nephewes I perceiue in yonder wood a Knight all armed and the wood full of horsemen I cannot tell what they meane Haue you done any wrong to any man if you haue done or hold any thing that is not your owne step foorth and offer him reason and promise to make amendes Sir quoth Huon I know no man liuing that I or my Brother haue done vnto him any displeasure nor we know not that any creature doth hate vs. Then Huon said to his brother Brother ride on before and méete with yonder Knight demaund what is his pleasure Gerard road foorth met with Charlot and demaunded what his pleasure was to haue or whether he was kéeper of that passage or not and demaunded any tribute or not if he did he was readie to pay it Charlot answeared him fiercely and said What art thou Gerard answeared and sayd Sir I am of the Citie of Bourdeaux and Son to Duke Seuin whome God pardon and héere after commeth Huon mine elder Brother and we are going to Paris to the Kings Court to reléeue our Lands and our Fées and to serue him and if there be any that wil any thing with vs let him come to Paris and we shall doe him reason Hold thy tongue quoth Charlot whether thou wilt or not I will haue reason for some wrongs done me by thy Father Duke Seuin for he tooke thrée of my Castles from me and I could neuer know the reason thereof But now since thou art héere I will be reuenged of the wrong that thy Father did to me for as long as thou and thy Brother be aliue I shall neuer haue ioy in my heart therefore stand on thy ground for before it bee night I shall make thy life depart from thy bodie Sir quoth Gerard haue pitie of me you may sée I am but naked without armour It shall bée greatly to your shame and reproach if I be thus slaine by you it neuer commeth of a gentle courage or a Knight to assaile any person without armour or weapon howbeit Sir I crie you mercie well you sée that I haue neither Sword Shéeld nor Speare to defend mée withall you may sée yonder comming my elder Brother who shall be readie to make you amends if any harme hath béen done vnto you Peace quoth Charlot there is as now nothing so deare vnto me as can mooue mée contrarie But that shamfully I shall put thée to death beware of mée Gerard who was but young was in great feare and called vpon our Lord God and turned his Horse to come againe to his Brother But Charlot who was in his desperate moode â—ouched his Speare ran after Gerard and strooke him on the side with such force that the Speare ran through part of his bodie and so bare him to the earth weening he had béen slaine howbeit the stroake was not mortall although insooth verie dangerous for he was so sore â—urt that he could not remooue for paine that he felt The good Abbot of Cluny beheld Gerard in such sort borne to the ground ouercome with great gréefe hée said vnto Huon Ah Coozen I sée yonder your Brother Gerard slaine the fight whereof slayeth my poore
agrée to beare witnesse of that I shall say to the King I will make you all so rich that yée shall neuer be poore after They answeared they would fulfill his pleasure then they went out of the wood and came there as Charlot lay dead then they tooke him vp and layd him before Earle Amerie on his horse necke and so road foorth but mischéefe and mishap followe them for as much as in them lay they laboured to haue Huon iudged to death Thus they road the hye way to Paris and the Abbot of Cluny who was ridden on before looked behind him and sawe the two Brethren comming after him then he taried and demaunded of Huon what aduenture hée had found Sir quoth he I haue slayne him that hath sore hurt my Brother where he thought to haue slaine me but thanked be God I haue left him dead in the place Faire Nephew quoth the Abbot I am sorrie thereof but séeing it is done if any hurt come thereby and that you be accused before the King I shall ayd you with all my power Sir quoth Huon of that I thanke you then Huon looked behind him and saw where Earle Amerie with all his power came faire easily after him therewith his heart trembled Then he said vnto the Abbot Sir what shall I doe yonder I sée them approach that desire my death they bée the same that lay in the wood watching for vs. Faire Nephew quoth the Abbot haue no doubt for they that come after vs come but a soft pace they make no semblance to ouertake you let vs ride on a good pace we shal be anone at Paris it is now but two miles thether Then they road on and rested not vntill they came to the Pallaice and béeing there alighted Huon went vp holding his Brother by the one hand and the Abbot by the other hand There they saw the King sitting among his Barons then Huon saluted Duke Naymes and all the other Barons and said Health and faire hap to all these noble Lords but shame and dishonour to my Lord the King for there was neuer heard of a fowler treason then the King hath practised against vs séeing that by his Messengers his Letters Patents he hath sent for vs to doe him seruice the which commaundement we haue in all dutie obayed as to our Soueraigne Lord but by false treason waight hath béen layd secretly for vs and a close ambush to haue murdered vs by the way first they assayled my brother héere present by them he was brought into such danger that they left him for dead and afterward they set vpon me to haue slayne mée but by the ayd of our Lord Iesus Christ and with my Sword I so defended me that he that thought to haue slayne vs I haue slayne him Chap. IX ¶ How the King was sore displeased with Huon bycause hee had appeached him of treason and how Huon shewed all the manner why he slewe the Knight that wounded his Brother WHEN the King had heard Huon he said Knight beware and thinke well what thou hast sayd héere before all my Barons for neuer in all my life did I either act or giue my consent to any treason But by the faith that I owe vnto my maker and by my beard if it be so that thou canst not prooue this that thou layest to my charge I shall cause both thée and thy Brother to dye an euill death When Huon heard the King how hée tooke his words he stept foorth and sayd Great King behold héere my Brother who by thy meanes is sore hurt and in ieopardie of his life And so did take off his Brothers Gowne and his Dublet to his shyrt and he did open the great wound so that the bloud ran out aboundantly euen that it enforced Gerardin to fall in a swound before the King and his Barons through the great anguishe that he felt whereof the Emperour tooke such compassion that he could not choose but much bemone him And therefore immediatly sent for his Surgeons causing thē to search his wounds demaunding if they could saue his life or no and when they had thorowly searched the wound they said Sir by the help of God within this moneth he shal be whole and sound The King was glad of that answeare and beholding Huon said Since thou layest this déed to my charge thou must thinke that thou hast touched the royall reputation of a King and that in such sort as verie hardly may the condition of Maiestie endure it But by my Countreys honour and by the Crowne that I iustly beare vpon my head if I may knowe who hath done this heynous offence I shall doe both thy Brother and thée such right and iustice as it shall remaine for a perpetuall memorie of due honour and that your selues shall report you haue no cause to complaine My Lord answeared Huon I humbly thanke you for through obaying your commaundement this mischéefe is fallen vnto vs. I cannot thinke nor know that any time of our life eyther I or my Brother did euer wrong or trespasse to any creature but thus by your Kingly pacience the case happened After we departed from Bourdeaux wée found no aduenture but when we came within a League of Montleherry wee met with our Vnckle the Abbot of Cluny and so fell in companie with him to conduct vs to the Court and so we road together vntill we came on this side Montleherry then we sawe a little wood and by the brightnesse of the Sonne we saw the healmes and speares and shéelds of them that were ambushed in the wood and that one came out of the wood all armed his speare in his hand and shéeld about his necke and hée came a soft pace towards vs then all we stood still and sent my brother to the knight to know whether they were Spies or men to kéepe the passage to the entent that if they demanded any Tribute they should haue right of vs if they would haue any of vs. When my brother came néere to the Knight he demaunded what we were and my brother said how we were the Children of the Duke of Bourdeaux and were comming by your commaundement to your Court to reléeue our Lands and Fées of your grace then the Knight sayd how we were the same persons that he sought for and sayd how that a Seauen yeares passed Duke Seuin our Father had taken from him thrée Castles the which was neuer so then my brother offered him that if he would come to Paris before you and your Barons he should haue right done to him if he had any wrong done to him Then the Knighte answeared that he would not doe soe and therewith suddainly couched his speare and stroake my brother as you sée he béeing vnarmed so that he fell to the earth wéening he had béen slain and then he road againe faire and easily toward the wood When I saw my brother borne to the earth I had such sorrow at
should be so hardy as to drinke or touch the Fountaine for if a traytour or any man that had falsefied his faith did touch it he could not escape without death But when the Serpent saw Huon he enclined himselfe without making of semblance to do him any ill Huon sat down by the Fountaine and began gréeuouslye to lament and said Ah good Lord without thy succour it is impossible for me to depart hence aliue Ah noble king Oberon forsake me not nowe in this néede for the trespas that I haue done ought to be forgiuen me séeing I did it negligently for lacke of remembrance certenly I will know if for so small a cause yee will leaue me wherefore whatsoeuer fall I shall prooue assay to know the troth then he tooke his Horne and blew it so fiercely that king Oberon heard it being in his Forrest when he heard it he said Ah good Lord I heare the false Knight blow his Horne who setteth so little by me for at the first gate that he passed by he made a false lye by the Lord that fourmed me if he blow till the vaines of his necke burâ—â— in sunder he shall not be succoured for me nor for any manner of mischiefe that may fall to him Then Huon being in the garden blew so lowde that the Admirall who was set at his dinner arose from the boord with all his Lords and all other ladies and Damsels knights and squiers boyes and scullions of the kitchen and all other came into the Pallaice to the Admirall and began to daunce and singe and made great ioy the more that Huon blew his Horne the more they daunced and sang And when Huon left blowing than the Admirall called his Barons and commaunded them to be armed and said Sirs goe into this garden for surely there is some Enchaunter therefore take héed that he escape not but bring him aliue to me for I will know of him the cause why he hath done this déed for if he escape he will doe vs more ill When Huon had blowen a longe space and sawe no body come to him he was sore abashed and thaÌ„ he began to lament and said Ah good Lord god now I sée well mine end approcheth when king Oberon fayleth me in whom I haue all my trust in life and death Ah déere Lady Mother and brother Gerardine I shall neuer sée you more Ah noble king Charlemaine great wrong haue yée done to me thus to banish me without desert for that that I did was in my defence god forgiue it you Ah king Oberon well mayeÌ„st thou be reputed for an vnkind creature thus to leaue me for one small fault certenly if thou be a noble man I hope thou wilt pardon me at least I put all to god and to him I submit me And whatsoeuer fall I will enter into the Pallaice doe my Messuage that king Charlemaine hath commaunded me to doe So he made him readie and departed from the Fountaine thinking he should finde the Admirall at dinner at that time Chap. XXXVII ¶ How Huon came into the Pallaice and did his messuage to the Admirall and how he slew many Paynims and was afterward taken and put in Pryson WHen Huon had been a certen space at the fountaine he departed all armed and mounted vp the degrees of the Pallaice the same time the Admirall had caused twoo of his principall goddes to be set in the middest of the Pallaice richly adorned and before theÌ„ twoo great torches burning so that no Sarazin passed by them but made to them great reuerence but Huon passed by them and would not once looke on them nor speake to no man that hée met whereof they had all great maruaile and sayd one to another so that Huon easily heard them I beléeue this man who thus entred into the Pallaice all armed is some messenger sent from some great Prince to the Admyrall and then Huon saw a Paynim King speaking to the Admyrall who was newly come to the Admirall bicause the same day the Admirall Gaudise should haue deliuered to him his Daughter the faire Escleremond in mariage and Huon sawe well howe hee was the greatest Prince that as then was there with the Admirall then Huon sayd to himselfe Ah good Lord if I acquite my selfe truly to King Charlemaine I must slay this Paynim king I thinke it be he that I looke for séeing he sitteth so néere to the Admirall god confound me but incontinent I will strike of his head and then let our Lord Iesus Christ do with me at his pleasure Then Huon came nere to the table and drew out hys sword and therewith gaue the said King suche a stroke that his head fell on the table so that the Admyrall was therwith all bloody Then Huon with a hye voyce said Ah good Lord what a good beginning is this the rest I remit to our Lord Iesus Christ whome I require to aid me to perfourme the rest of mine enterprise in this point I haue nere quit my selfe agaynst king Charlemaine Then the Admirall said to his Barons take this man that hath doone me this offence as to murder this king â—itting at my table if he escape looke me neuer in the face TheÌ„ the Paynims assailed Huon on all sides and cast at him darts and swords to haue slaine him But his good Armor saued him from the death and with his sword he slew many a bolde Paynim so that none durst approch néere him When he saw that he was sore oppressed he tooke his Ring from off his arme and cast it on the table before the Admirall and said Sir Admirall beware on paine of thy lyfe of doing to me any hurt or damage by this token that I shew thee Whan the Admirall saw the Ring hee knew it well then hee began to crye that no man should be so hardye as to touch him that hath slayne the Paynim King and euery man let Huon in rest wherof he was right ioyfull than he said to the Admirall Sir I will from hence forth that thou do as I commaund thee Friend quoth the Admirall thou mayest do in my Pallaice what thou wilt whatsoeuer thou commaund shal be done no man shall say the coÌ„trary Than Huon saw where his daughter the fayre Escleremond sat by her Father and Huon went to her and kissed her iij. times before her Father whereat the Damsell was much abashed but she saw him so fayre and felt his mouth so sweet that she thought without she might haue him to her Louer she should dye for sorow so that she changed colour and blushed as ruddie as a rose Whan Huon had kissed the ladie than he went to the Admirall and said Sir Admirall know for troth that I am christened and am a Messenger sent from noble king Charlemaine to thée bicause there is no Prince christian nor heatheÌ„ but that obeyeth his coÌ„maundement except thy selfe therefore by me hee sendeth thee worde that since the dolorous
Sir if it be your pleasure to come to the Abbey of Saint Maurise there shall ye find your brother Huon who is come lately from beyond the sea when Duke Gerard heard certainely how his brother Huon was come to the Abbey of Saint Maurise hee was so ouercome with ire and displeasure that his visage became like a flame of fire and sayd to the messenger Goe and returne and say to my brother Huon that I will incontinent come and visite him Sir quoth he I shall shew him of your comming and so departed and came again to the Abby and shewed Huon what his brother Gerard had sayd And when Duke Gerard saw that the messenger was departed he was sorrowfull and pensiue and called to him his father in law his wiues father who was named Gibouars the most falsest traitour that was from the East to the West and Gerard said to him Sir I pray you giue me counsell in that I haue to doe for all the diuels in hell haue brought my Brother Huon from the parts beyond the Sea and he is now present in the Abbey of Saint Maurise the Abbot there hath sent me word thereof and that I should come thether to speake with him for as to morrow he would depart to goe to Paris to the king so that when he is come thether he will doe so much that all his land shal be rendred to him and that I shal haue neuer a foot of land left me but that which yée haue giuen me with my wife your Daughter wherefore deare Father in law I pray you in this great matter to councell and aid me or else I am but lost Faire Sonne quoth Gibouars dismay you nothing for without my wit doe faile me I thinke to play him a tourne that it had béen better for him to haue tarried where he was than to haue come hether to claime my land Chap. LXV ¶ How Gybouars of Beam and Gerard practised Huons death and how the traitour Gerard came to see his brother Huon who with great ioy receiued him THus as ye haue heard these two traitours conspired and then Gybouars sayd to Gerard. Faire sonne go ye your way to your brother Huon and take with you but one Squier and when you come there make to him all the chéere you can and shew him as great loue as ye can doe and humble your selfe to him to the intent that he take in you no suspicion But when the morning commeth hast him to depart and when ye câ—me with him néere such a little wood find some rigorous words to him and make as though ye were displeased with him and I shall be readie in that same little wood ambashed and xl men of armes with me And when I see that words are betwéene you I shall issue out and slay al those that come with him so that none shal escape aliue and then take your brother Huon and cast him into prison in one of the Towres of your Pallaice in Bourdeaux and there miserably he shall end his dayes and then in haste ye shall ride to Paris But ere ye goe to Paris ye shall take from him the Admiralles beard and great téeth and then ye shall shew to the King how Huon your brother is returned without bringing either beard or téeth of the Admirall Gaudys and how for that cause you haue put him in prison The King will beleeue you for he hateth Huon greatly because of the death of his sonne Charlot whom hee slew for the hate that the King hath to him in his heart shall neuer depart from him and therefore sonne when you be with your brother demaund of him if he haue the Admirals beard and téeth or not and whether he doe beare them himselfe or who else for if he haue them not he shall neuer haue peace with the King but he will cause him to be slaine of an euill death either hanged or drawne for your brother laide hostage promising that he would neuer returne without he brought with him the Admirall Gaudys beard and great téeth and also he promised that he would neuer enter into his heritage till he had spoken with the King and that was enioyned him on paine of death Thus as ye haue heard these two Traitours deuised and concluded the death of Huon Gerard quoth Gibouars thinke well on your businesse and I shall goe and assemble together fortie of my most secret seruants and in other places where I can get them to furnish this enterprise Sir quoth Gerard I shall goe to the Abbey to see my brother when it is a little néere to night So when the houre came the false Traytor departed from Bourdeaux and with him but one Squier and so they rode till they came to the Abbey and there alighted and when he perceiued his brother Huon hee imbraced and kissed him with such a kisse as Iudas kissed Christ When Huon saw his brother Gerard come with such humilitie the water fell from his eyes with kindnesse and embraced him and kissed him and sayd Right déere brother I haue great ioy to see you I pray you shew me how ye haue done since my departure Sir quoth Gerard right well now I see you in good health Brother quoth Huon I haue great maruaile that ye bee thus come alone without company Sir quoth Gerard I did it for the more humilitie because I know not how ye shall speede with the king nor whether ye shall haue againe your land or no if God will that ye shall haue it I shal assemble al the Barons of the court to receiue you to make you cheere according this Sir I shall do till you returne for often times these great Princes are mutable lightly beleeue for this cause Sir I am secretly come to you Brother quoth Huon your aduise is good I am content that you thus doe and to morrow betimes I will depart towards Paris then these two Brethren tooke each other by the hand making great ioy Brother quoth Gerard I am right ioyous when I sée you thus returned in health and prosperitie haue you accomplished the Messuage that Kinge Charles charged you withall Brother quoth Huon know for troth that I haue the beard and great téeth of the Admirall Gaudise and beside that I haue brought with me his Daughter the faire Escleremond whom I haue taken to my wife and wedded her in the Citie of Rome and also I haue héere with me thirtie Somers charged with gould and siluer and rich Iewels garnished with pecious stones whereof the halfe part shall be yours and if I should shew thee the paines trauailes and pouerties that I haue endured since I sawe you last it would bee ouer-long to rehearse Sir quoth Gerard I beléeue you well but Sir I pray you shew me by what meanes or aid you did bring your Enterprize to an end Brother quoth Huon it was by a king of the Fayrie called Oberon who did mée such succour and ayd that
Emperor Ide and the Empresse Oliue gaue good instructions to their Son when they departed from Rome how they arriued at Courtoys and came to Florence who with great ioy receiued them as his Children Chap. 172. How Croissant was so bountifull and so liberall that he gaue away all the Treasure that his Father had left him so that at last he had no more to giue and so was constrained to goe seeke his aduenture hee and a Varlet alonely chap. 173. Howe they of Rome sent to King Guymart of Puille to the entent that he should come and gouerne that Countrey to be their Lord because Croissant was a child and had giuen and wasted all that he had and how Guymart came thether and was receiued as Lord. chap. 174. How Croissant ariued at Nise in Prouaunce and came to the Earle Remon who was besieged by the Sarazins and of the honour that the Earle Remon did to Croissant and howe hee gaue him his banner to beare and made him Knight And of the great enuie that the Earles Sonne had at Croissant Chap. 175. How Croissant did maruailes in the Battaile by whome the Sarazins were discomfited and slaine whereof the Earle Remon and the Duke of Callaber were right ioyfull Chap 176. Of the great honour that the Earle Remon did to Croissant and howe hee would haue giuen him his Daughter in marriage whereof the Earles Son was sore enuious and thought the same night to haue murdered the noble Croissant in his bed but he fayled for the noble Croissant slew him and afterward fled away as fast as he might Chap. 177. How Croissant departed from Nise with his Sword in his hand And howe the Earle Remon was sorrowfull for the death of his Sonne and chased after Croissant but he could not bee found Chap. 178. How Croissant arriued in the Subburbs of a little Towne called Florencolle lodged among Ruffians and Villaynes and how they fell at strife and how Croissant slew them and fledde and was in great danger And how hee came into the Cittie of Rome whereas there was no man that would giue him one morsell of bread and how he went into an old Pallaice and lay vppon a burden of strawe chap. 179. Howe the Emperour Guymart spake and rebuked the Burgesse that spake ill of the noble Croissant and howe the Emperour bare meâ—te and drinke to the place whereas Croissant slept And of the maruailous great Treasure that hee found in a Chamber in the sayde ould Pallaice and of that which was shewed and declared to him by twoo Knightes whome he found there Chap. 180. How the two Knightes that kept this Treasure spake with the Emperour Guymart and shewed him the manner how hee should know Croissant And of the maruaile that Croissant had when he awoake and saw the meat and drinke by him Chap. 181. The proofe that the Emperor Guymart made to knowe Croissant vnto whome he gaue his faire Daughter in marriage and deliuered him all his Signiorie and Inheritance whereof great ioye was made at Rome Chap. 182. How the Emperor Guymart promised Croissant that within three daies he should haue his Daughter in mariage And how the Emperour Guymart led Croissant to the olde Pallaice and shewed him the great Treasure that the two Knightes kept for him Chap. 183. Of the great Treasure that they had and how Croissant wedded the noble Damsell daughter to King Guymart and of the Feast that was there made Chap. 184. FINIS THE ANCIENT Honorable and famous Historie of Huon of Bourdeaux a Peere of Fraunce and Duke of Guyenne c. Chap. I. ¶ How the Emperour Charlemaine required his Barons that they would choose one among them to gouerne his Empire IN the time by computation called the yéere of grace which was Seauen Hundred Fifty and Six yeares after our Sauiors sufferings Charles the Great more vulgarly knowen by the name of Charlemaine a right royall religious and warlike Prince rained as KING in Fraunce and Emperour of Roome Whose course of time was applyed to many high and heroycall enterprises wherein the fauour of heauen was euermore so assistant to him as his owne heart good hopes crowned him with the honour of many succesfull Victories enabling all his endeauours with the ayd of diuers noble Princes and Barons whose Chiualrie and right knightly perfourmances entitled him to the conquest of Almaigne Sclauonia Spaine Saxonie and a great part of Affrike in all which attempts it is not to be doubted but both he and they had their handes full of busie imployments But let it suffice God was their guide Religion the cause Honour the obiect and perpetuall Fame the reward which both led him and his traine to these worthy attempts and still brought them backe with the due to their valorous Enterprises extending both his and their renowne to all parts of the world and registring their names in the Kalender of neuer dying memorie AFter that this righte noble Emperour Charlemaine had lost his deare Nephews Rowland and Oliuer and diuers other Barons and Knightes in the vnfortunate and dolorous Battaile that was at Rownseuall where was so great and lamentable a losse as all the twelue Peeres of Fraunce were there slaine except the good Duke Naimes of Bauier On a day the Noble Emperour held open Court at his chéefe Citie of Paris where were assembled many Dukes Earles and Barons being the Sonnes Nephewes and kindred to the Noble Princes before slayn and dead in the foresaid Battaile by the falshood and great treason doone and contriued by Duke Ganelon the Noble Emperour being euer after in gréefe and heauinesse by reason of the great annoyance and displeasure that hée had by his said losse and also bicause he was growen verie féeble through the great age that now was stollen vppon him Thus when the King Princes Barons were there assembled the Emperour called his Lorde before him and seating himselfe in his royall Chaire of Estate his Barons Lordes and Knightes likewise placed in their seuerall degrees hee called foorth Duke Naymes and thus began Honourable old Naymes and all you my Barons hether summoned by our royall commaundement I shall not néede to tell yée bycause it is to you all most apparant howe longe I haue gouerned this Kingdome of Fraunce and likewise swayed the imperiall Diadem of Roome In all which time I haue found your duty and seruice so agréeable as I cannot but thanke Heauen for so gracious good fortune And now bycause I know certainly that my life by course of nature cannot long endure for this reason principally I haue caused you all to bée assembled here together to declare to you my pleasure and will wherein I require and heartily desire you that yée will counsaile together and take aduice which of you best may and will vndertake the Gouernance of my Realme for I can no longer beare the trauaile and paine belonging to the ruling thereof but will from hencefoorth liue the residue of
and gaue such carrier to their horses that it séemed the thunder had fallen from heauen and with their sharp Speares they encountred in such wise that their Speares brake to their hands so that the shiuers flew vp high into the ayre and into the Kings Stage and both their Horses fell to the earth and the Knights sore astonied with their falling Then verie boldly they reléeued themselues with their Swords in their handes and so approached each to other and fought each with other so long while that Huons Horse strangled sir Ameries Horse who when he saw his horse slaine stoutly stept to Huon for to haue slaine him but Huon met him valiantly and lifting vp his Sword gaue the Earle such a stroake that he was astonied therewith and staggred backe more then two paces and a halfe hardly holding himselfe from falling to the earth so that all that sawâ— them had maruaile of Huons vertue force séeing the great strength that was in sir Amerie Then when Earle Amerie felt himselfe in such perill he began to despise the name of God and of the glorious Virgin Marie howbeit as well as hée might hée approached to Huon and with his Sword gaue Huon such a stroake on the helmet that all the flowers and precious stones there flew abroad in the féeld and the cirkle of the helmet all to broken and the stroake was so puissant that Huon was therewith sore astonied and perforce was faine to fall on one of his knées to the earth the other Legge but weakly supporting him There was present in the féeld Lords and Knights one of the Abbot of Clunyes seruants who when he saw the great stroake that Huon had receiued he departed out of the féeld and went into the church whereas he found his maister the Abbot at his prayers for the good spéed of Huon his Nephew to whome the seruant said Ah my Lord pray heartily to our Lord Iesus Christ to succour your Nephew for I saw him faine to knéele vpon one of his knées in great doubt of death Then the good Abbot without any answeare lifted vp his hands toward Heauen deuoutly and weeping prayed to God to ayd and defend the honour of his Nephew and to maintaine his right Thus Huon béeing in the féeld in great doubt of his life féeling the sturdie strength of Earle Amerie called with a good heart to our Lord Iesus Christ requiring him to aide his right the which he knew to be most true When Earle Amerie sawe that Huon had receiued of him such a heauy stroake he said Huon I beléeue thou wilt not endure long better it were that thou confesse the déede before I slay thée for ere it bée night I shall cause thée to waue in the wind Hold thy tonge thou false Traytour quoth Huon thine ilnesse shall not aid thée for I shall bring thée to that point that all thy fréends shall haue shame of thée Then Huon aduaunced him and made semblance to haue striken Amerie on the helmet and Amerie lifted vp his Shéeld to haue receiued the stroake but when Huon saw that he turned his stroake to a reuerse and stroake Amerie vnder the arme with his sharpe Sword so that he stroake off his arme the which fell downe in the féeld Shéeld and all When Earle Amerie sawe felt that maruailous stroake and that he had lost his left arme and saw it lye in the féeld hee was full of paine and sorrow and aduised himselfe of a great treason then he spake to Huon and saide Ah Noble Knight haue pitie of me for wrongfully and without cause I haue appeached thée of the death of Charlot the kings Son for I know in troth you knew him not but he is dead by my meanes for I brought him into the wood to haue murdered you and your Brother I am readie to acknowledg this before the King and all his Barons and to discharge you thereof therefore I pray you kill me not I yéeld me vnto you take heere my Sword Then Huon came vnto him and put downe his arme to haue taken the Sword but then the false Traytour Amerie with a reuerse stroake strooke Huon vpon the arme thinking to haue striken it off but he fayled howbeit he gaue him a great wound in the arme so that the bloud ran downe When Huon saw this horrible treason he said O thou vntrue and false Traytour thine â—â—esse can no longer saue thée for thou shalt nâ—uer doe treason more then Huon lifted vp his Sword gaue the Earle such a maruailous stroke betwéen the healme and the shoulder that he strooke off his head cleane from the bodie so that the healme and head fel one way and the body another way Alas what hap was it to Huon that he did not remember before he slew Amerie the Proclamation that the Emperor had made before for afterward Huon suffered so muche wrong and iniurie as might mooue the verie hardest heart to compassionate his case and as you shall more at large vnderstand in the following discourse Chap. XVI ¶ How after the Emperour Charlemaine had seene Earle Amerie was slaine he commaunded expresly that Huon should auoid the Realme and Empire and to be banished thence for euer WHen that Duke Naymes who kept the féeld saw how by Huon the Earle was slaine he was right ioyfull and came to Huon and demaunded how hée did Sir quoth he thanked be God I féele no dolour nor gréefe then they brought him to the Pallaice to the King who was departed out of the féeld When he saw the Earle slaine and was thereof right sorrowfull then he demanded of Huon and of Duke Naymes if they had heard Earle Amerie confesse the treason that hée had layde to Huon for the death of Charlot his Sonne My Lord quoth the Duke I thinke he did confesse it but I heard it not for Huon pressed so sore vpon him that he had no leasure to doe it Then Charlemaine sayd Ah Earle Amerie I know certainely thou didst neuer that treason nor neuer thought it wherefore thou art slaine wrongfully and without cause for there was neuer a truer Knight theÌ„ thou wert I am sure if thou hadst done it thou wouldest haue confessed it before me Then the King sayd vnto Huon I charg thée incontinent to auoid my Realme out of the which I banish thée foreuer nor shalt thou euer enioy one foote of Land in Bourdeaux nor in Aquitaine also I forbid thée that thou neuer be so hardy as to go to Bourdeaux for by my honour and crowne if I may know that thou goest thether I shall make thée to die an euill death nor there is no man liuing though he be neuer so néere a fréend vnto me but if he make any request for thée I shall neuer loue him nor he shall neuer after come in my sight Then Huon said Alas my Lord what iustice is this haue I done any more then knighthood bound me too haue not
you and your Barons séene him discomfited in playne Battaile that hath brought you into all this trouble vndoubtedly my Lord if you doe to me as you say God in heauen be my witnes that neuer more wrong was done to any noble man This is but bad remembrance of the good seruice that the noble Duke Seuin my Father hath done vnto you for by this you shew great example to all your noble Barons and Knights for them to be well aduised how from henceforth they order themselues and how to trust in you when that by your owne obstinate opinion founded vpon an euill ground and against all Statutes royall and imperiall thus to execute your owne vnreasonable will Certainly if it were any other Prince beside you that should doe me this great wrong ere I would consent so to be dealt withall many a Castle and many a good towne should be destroyed and brought to ruine many poore men more impouerished and disenherited and many a good Knight brought to death When Huon had thus spoken to the King Duke Naymes stept foorth and sayd to the King My Lord what meane you to doe you haue seene that Huon hath done no more then his dutie hauing brought his enemy to confusion and slayn him you may wel thinke that it was the worke of God that such a Child should bring to shame and discomfite such a puissant Knight as was Earle Amerie Therefore my Lord if you doo as you haue said neither I nor any other man shall euer trust you but euerie one farre néere that shall heare of this crueltie will report that in the end of your daies you are become sencelesse more like a Tyrant then a wise Prince Then Huon desired all the Barons that were there present that they would all require the King to haue more respect of him séeing they were all bound so to doe in that he was one of the Péeres of the Realme Then al the Princes and Barons holding Huon by the hand knéeled downe before the King and Huon said Séeing it is so my Lord that your displeasure is such againste me as you haue expressed Let your Barons and my selfe obtaine but this fauour at your handes that I may be confined to my owne natiue Countrey for euer there to lead a poore priuate life neuer to be admitted to your presence againe for this grace we shall all right humbly thanke you Chap. XVII ¶ How King Charlemaine sent Huon to doe a messuage in Babylon to the Admirall Gaudise WHEN the Emperor had heard Huon speake he said incontinent auoid out of my sight for when I remember my Sonne Charlot whome thou hast sâ—aine I haue no part of mée but it trembleth for the displeasure I haue to thée and I charge all my Barons héere present that they neuer speake to me more for thée When Duke Naymes heard the King say so he said vnto all the Barons My Lords you that he héere present haue well heard the great vnreasonablenesse that the King offers to one of our Péeres the which as yée know well it is against right and reason and a thing not to be suffered But bycause we know certainly the King is our Soueraigne Lord we must suffer his pleasure but from hencefoorth since he will vse himselfe so and do things against all reason and honour I will neuer abide an houre longer with him but will depart and neuer returne againe into the place whereas such extremitie vnreasonablenes is vsed I will goe into my Countrey of Bauier and let the King doe from hencefoorth as he list Then all the Barons departed with the Duke from the King without speaking any one word and so left the King alone in his Pallaice When the King sawe the Duke depart his other Lords he was right sorrowfull and in great displeasure and said to the young Knights that were left about him howe that he ought in nature to take heauylie the death of his Sonne who was slaine so disloyally and could not likewise but gréeue to sée how his Barons had abandoned him and left him alone therefore there is no remedie I sée well but I must be forced somewhat to follow their wils therewith he wept pitiously and incontinent went foorth and followed them saying Duke Naymes and all you my Barons I desire you to returne againe for of force I must graunt your requests although it be against that promise that I made before Then the Duke and all the rest returned to the Pallaice with the King who sat downe on a bench of gould and his Barons about him Then he sent for Huon who knéeled downe before the King requiring him humbly of mercie and pitie to whom the King said Huon séeing thou wouldest be at peace with me it is requisit that thou performe whatsoeuer I enioyne thée Else my Lord said Huon God forbid there is no man in the world owes you more obedience then I doe or shall more gladly vndertake whatsoeuer your highnesse shall please to commaund me dreadlesse of death or any danger be it to goe to Hell gates to fight with the fiendes there as sometime did Hercules if I may thereby be reconciled to your grace Huon quoth the King I thinke to send thée into a worse place for of fiftéene Messengers that I haue sent there was neuer any returned againe I shall shew thée whether thou shalt goe séeing thou wilt that I shall haue mercie of thée Thou must goe to the Citie of Babylon to the Admirall Gaudise and there doe as I shall appoint thée but beware on paine of thy life that thou fayle not to doe it When thou commest thether mount vp into his Pallaice and there tarrie vntill he be at his dinner and when thou seest him sit at the table then thou to be armed with thy sword naked in thy hand and the verie greatest Lord that thou séeest sit at his Table whether he be King or Admirall thou shalt strike off his head and after that enquire for faire Escleremond Daughter to the Admirall and kisse her there openly in his presence and before all other there present for I giue thée to vnderstand she is the fairest mayd that is now liuing this being done thou shalt say to the Admirall Gaudise that I commaund him to send me a thousand Haukes a thousand Beares and a thousand Waighters all chained and a thousand young Varlets and a thousand of the fairest maydens in his realme And also thou to bring me thy handfull of the heare of his beard and foure of his greatest téeth Alas my Lord quoth the Barons wée sée well you desire greatly his death when you charge him with such a Messuage That is true quoth the King for without I haue his beard and his great téeth brought me hether vnfaynedly Let him neuer returne into Fraunce nor come into my presence for if he doe he shal be hanged and drawen My Lord quoth Huon haue you shewed me
holy Sepulchre he kneeled downe vpon his bare knées and all wéeping made his prayers to our Lord God requiring him to ayd and comfort him in his voyage so that he might returne againe into Fraunce and to haue peace with King Charlemaine And when they all had made their prayers and offered Huon and Garyn went into a little Chapell vpon the mount of Caluerye whereas nowe lyeth the bodies of Godfrey of Bullen and Bauldwin his Brother there Huon called vnto him all those that came with him out of Fraunce and said Sirs you that for the loue of mée haue left your Fathers and Mothers Wiues and Children Lands and Signiories for this courtesie that you haue shewed mee I thanke you Now you may returne into Fraunce againe and humbly recommend mée to the Kinges good grace and vnto all the other Barons and when you come to Bourdeaux do my dutie to the Duchesse my Mother and to Gerard my Brother and vnto the Lords of my Countrey Then Guichard and all the other Knights answeared Huon and said Sir as yet we will not leaue you neither for death nor life vntill we haue brought you vnto the red Sea why then quoth Huon for the great seruice and curtesie that you offer mee I thanke you Then Garyn called two of his seruants and commaunded them to returne vnto his wife and to desire her to be of good chéere and that shortly he would returne the which thing they did and returned and did their messuage When Huon vnderstood that his Vncle Garyn was disposed to abide with him he sayd Faire Vncle you shall not néede to trauaile so much I would councell you to returne vnto your Wife and Children Sir quoth Garyn God will I shall not leaue you no day vntill you returne your selfe Vncle quoth Huon I thanke you of your courtesie then they went to their lodging and dyned and after dinner tooke their horses and so road by Hils and Dales so that if I should recount all the aduentures that they found in their way it should be too long a processe to shew it but as the true Historie witnesseth they suffered much paine and trauaile for they passed such Deserts whereas they found but small sustenance whereof Huon was right sorrowfull for the loue of them that were with him and began to wéepe and to remember his owne Countrey saying Alas noble King of Fraunce great wrong and great sinne you haue done me thus to driue me out of my Countrey and to send mée into a strange Land to the entent to shorten my dayes I pray God to pardon you therefore then Garyn and the other Knights comforted him and said Alas Sir dismay you not for vs God is puissant ynough to ayd vs hée neuer fayleth them that loueth him Thus they road forth in the Desert so long vntill at last they saw a little Cottage before the which sat an old ancient man with a long white beard and his heare hanging ouer his shoulders when Huon perceiued him he drew thether and saluted the olde man in the name of God and of the blessed Virgin Marie then the ancient man lifted vp his eyes and beheld Huon and had great maruaile for of a long season before he had séene no man that spake of God then he beheld Huon in the face and began sore to wéepe and stepping vnto Huon tooke him by the Leg kissed it more then twentie times Fréend quoth Huon I desire you shew me why you make this sorrow Sir quoth he about thirtie yeares passed I came hether and since that time I neuer sawe man beléeuing on the Christian faith and now the regarding of â—our visage causeth me to remember a noble Prince that I haue séene in Fraunce who was called Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux therefore I require you shew me if euer you saw him I pray you hide it not from me Fréend quoth Huon I pray you shew me where you were borne of what lineage and Countrey you be of Nay sir quoth he that will I not doe first you shal shew me what you be and where you were borne and why you come hether Fréend quoth Huon séeing it pleaseth you to know I shall shew you then Huon and all his companye alighted and tyed theyr Horses to Trées When Huon was alighted he sat downe by the old man and said Fréend since you will néedes know my businesse I shall shew you know for troth I was borne in the Citie of Bourdeaux and am Son to Duke Seuin and Huon shewed him all his whole case and Enterprize and of the death of Charlot and how he discomfited Earle Amerie and howe that Charlemaine hadde chaced him out of Fraunce and of the Messuage that he was charged to say vnto the Admirall Gaudise affirming all to be for certaintie When the oulde man hadde well heard Huon he began sore to wéepe Sir quoth Huon since it pleaseth you to know of my sorrowe Duke Seuin my Father is dead seauen yeares past my Mother I trust be aliue and a Brother of mine whome I haue left with her And nowe sir séeing you haue heard of mine affaires I require you giue me your counsaile and aduice and also if it please you to shew me what you be and of what Countrey and how you came into these parts Sir quoth the old man know for troth I was borne in Geronâ—ill am brother to the good Prouost Guyer when I departed thence I was a young Knight haunted the Iustes and Tourneys so that on a daie it fortuned at a Tourney that was made at Poytiers I slew a Knight of a noble bloud wherefore I was banished out of the Realme of Fraunce But my brother the Prouost made such a request to Duke Seuin your Father that by his meanes my peace was made with the King and my land saued vpon condition that I should goe to the holy Sepulchre to punish my bodie for the Knight that I flew and to forgiue my faults Thus I departed out of my countrey and when I had done my voyage I thought to haue returned but as I departed out of the Citie of Ierusalem to take the way to Acres passing by a wood betwéene Ierusalem and Naples there came vpon me ten Sarazins who tooke me and brought me to the Citie of Babilon whereas I was in prison two yeares complet whereas I suffered much pouertie and miserie but our Lord God who neuer fayleth them that serueth him and haue in him full affiance he sent me the grace that by the meanes of a right noble Ladie I was brought out of prison in a night and so I fled into this Forrest whereas I haue béene this thirtie yeares in all this space I neuer saw nor heard man beléeuing in Iesus Christ thus I haue shewed you all mine affaires When Huon had heard the Knights tale he had great ioy and embraced him and saide howe often times he had séene Guyre his Brother the Prouost wéepe for
Then they went to the Port and by that time that the Maryners had cast their anchor then Gerames demaunded of them whence they were and whither they would go Sir quoth they we would goe to Mesque to pay to Angolofer the great Gyant a Tribute that we are bound euery yeere to pay therefore Sir we desire you to shew vs where we might find him And when Gerames saw that they were all a land out of the ship he said Ah ye vnhappie Paynims ye shall neuer depart hence for he that ye demaund for is dead and all ye shall beare him companie Then Gerames saide to his company sirs let all these Paynims be slaine and then incontinent they set vpon theÌ„ so that all the Paynims were slaine not one escaped aliue for the christian men were armed and the Paynims without armour or any weapon for otherwise they durst not come on land for feare of the Gyant Then Gerames entred into the ship and tooke all that they found there and bare it into the Tower and then they went to dinner and made great ioy for that aduenture and after dinner Gerames said Sirs if wee were now in Fraunce and that king Charlemaine should demaund of vs what is become of Huon yée know wel there is none of vs can tel whether he be aliue or dead for if we should say that he is dead and he afterward retourne home then we should be reputed for false men euer after both we and our children for a man may be a Prisoner xiiij or xv yeeres and yet come home againe at the last safe and sound But sirs if yee will be ruled by me we shall doe like true men we haue as now in this port a good ship well fournished with euery thing and we haue heere gould and siluer plentie and we shall soone vittaile our ship and then let vs take the Sea and neuer rest sayling vntill wee heare some newes of our Lord Huon if we doe thus then wée doe as true men ought to doe and I desire you all euery man shew his aduice herein Then without taking of any longer respite they answered all with one voice that they were readie to accomplish all that he had deuised So they tooke gould and siluer and all their riches and bare it into the shippe and fournished it with wine bisket salt flesh artillerie and when their shippe was garnished they put in their horses and their armour and they all xiij Companions entred into the ship the Damsell with theÌ„ then they wayed vp their anchors hoysed vp their sayles and so left the Tower of the Gyant all voyd and no man therein And thus they sayled along the coast vntill they came into the high sea and so long they sayled till they came to Damieta there they entred into the Riuer of Nyle and so long they sayled therein that they arriued at Babylon and came to the Port and tooke out their horses Gerames that knew well the language and the manner of the entring into all the iiij gates said to his companie Sirs lets vs mount on our horses and let vs enter into the Citie to see if we may heare any newes of our Maister Huon Thus they roade foorth and entred into the Citie then Gerames said Sirs wée will goe to the Pallaice but when we come there â—ould you all your peace and suffer mee to speake wherein it is conuenient that yee all agree to my wordes and say not the contrary They answered and said they were content so to doe and thus they roade together through the towne Ah good Lord quoth Gerames I beséech thee of thy grace to grant vs that we may heare some good tidings of our maister Huon of Bourdeaux for whome we be heere in ieoperdie of death so they passed all the iiij bridges and gates by reason that Gerames shewed foorth suche reasons that the Porters were content Then they came before the great hall there they alighted mounted vp all xiij and the Damsell with them and when they were in the hall they saw the Admirall Gaudise sitting on a rich chaire garnished with gould pretious stones and Gerames that could well speake the Sarazine language came before the Admirall and said The same god that causeth the wine and corne to grow saue and keepe the Admirall Gaudise whome I see there â—itting among his Barons Friend quoth the Admirall thou art welcome I pray thee shew me what thou art and whither thou wouldest goe Sir quoth Gerames to tell you plainely I am come from the good citie of Mombrance and am Sonne to king Iuoryn When the Admyrall heard that he rose vp on his féete and said Thou art welcome the son of my brother faire Nephew I pray you shew me how doth my brother Iuoryn Sir quoth Gerames when I departed from him I left him in good health and he saluteth you by me and hath sent heere to you xij french men by me the which were taken vpon the sea as they were going on Pilgrimage to the holy Sepulchre of Christ in Ierusalem and he desireth you to put them in prison vntill the day of Saint Iohn the Baptist at which day you must make the feast of your Gods and then to bring them into the meadow heere without and there tye and binde theÌ„ to stakes and let your Archers shoot at them to thintent to know who shooteth best As for this Damsell that is héere with me she is to be put to your Daughter to teach her to speake perfectly the french language Faire Nephew quoth the Admirall as he hath appointed it shal be done and I giue you power to coÌ„maund euery thinge in this house at your pleasure and I pray you shew me what is your name Sir quoth he I am called Ieracle Well quoth the Admirall from hence foorth I retaine you to be as my chiefe Chamberlaine and I will that yee haue the key of the prison in your kéeping and therein to put these Captiues and doe with them at your pleasure extend vnto theÌ„ what kindnesse you please but let them haue meat drinke suffitient that they die not with famine as but lately died a French man that was sent to me by king Charles of Fraunce who was called Huon of Bourdeaux the which was a right faire yong man When Gerames heard that he had neuer before greater sorow at his heart for then hearing of the death of Huon his displeasure anger was so great that he had néere hand runne vpon the Admirall and he was so vexed in his mind that he tooke vp a staffe that lay by him and gaue each of the French men such stroakes on their heades that the blood ran downe but they suffered it and durst not stirre they were in such feare of the Admirall but they cursed Gerames for his stroakes who did it for the nonst And when the Admirall sawe how hee had well beaten the frenchmen
abused he said to Agrapart in this that thou hast said thou lyest falsely thus shamefully to rebuke me in mine owne Court before all my Lords therefore shewe mee the â—ause why thou doest me this iniurie Admirall quoth hee it is bicause there is come into thy Court he that hath slaine my Brother whom incontinent thou oughtest to haue slain likewise wherefore if it were not for mine owne honour with my fist I would strike thée on the face thou hast put him in prison without any more hurt dooing vnto him therefore thou traytour théefe by Mahound be thou cursed thou art not worthy to sit in a seate royall therefore arise vp it is not méeâ—e for thée to sit there And therewith hée drew the Admirall so rudely out of his chaire that his hat and Crowne fell downe to the earth whereat the Admirall was sore abashed Then Agrapart sat downe in his chaire said thou false Traytour my Brother is dead therefore from hencefoorth thou shalt be my Subiect for it appertaineth to me to haue the Lands that my Brother had and the Tribute that thou wert woont to pay vnto my Brother or else I shall strike off thy head howbeit I will not doe against right for if thou wilt prooue the coÌ„trarie or find two Champions to be so hardy that for thy loue they dare or will fight with me in plaine battaile I shall fight with them or more if thou wilt send theÌ„ to me And if it be so that I be ouercome discomfited by any of theÌ„ I am content that froÌ„ hence foorth thou shalt hould thy landes franke frée without any tribute paying But if it fall out so that I conquer theÌ„ both then thou to be my subiect and to pay me tribute for euer also to pay me for a due taxe euery yéere Foure Ducates of gould as thy head money Agrapart quoth the Admirall I am content thus to do and to appoint twoo of my men to fight with thée Chap. XLIII ¶ How the Admirall Gaudis tooke Huon out of prison and armed him to fight with the Gyant Agrapart WHen the Admirall had heard the great Gyant he said alowd where bee the twoo gentle knights that will for euer be my friends now is the time come that all the goodnes and great gifts that I haue giuen among you is now to be rewarded If there be any of you that will fight against this Gyant I shall giue him my Daughter Escleremond in mariage and after my death to haue my Heritage no man shall be so bold as to say nay thereto But for any faire wordes or promises that the Admirall could make there was no Paynim so hardye to vndertake it whereuppon the Admirall made great sorow and began to lament and when the Gyant Agrapart sawe him he said Thy lamenting cannot auaile thée for whether thou wilt or not it must beheeue thée to pay these iiij péeces of gold yerely for I am sure there is no Paynim that dare fight against me When the faire Ladie Escleremond saw her Father wéepe it sore gréeued her hart and she said O my Father if I knewe that it should not displease you I would shew you one thing which should bring you out of this doubt Daughter quoth he I sweare by Mahound I will not be displeased whatsoeuer thou sayest Sir quoth shée I did once delude you in telling you that the French-man that brought you the Messuage from king Charlemaine was dead in prison but sir credite me he is as yet aliue if it please you I shall fetch him to you and without doubt I dare warrant you that he will take on him this Battaile against the Gyant for he shewed you how he slew the other Gyant Angolofer therefore I haue hope by the ayd of Mahound in likewise he shall slay his brother this Gyant Agrapart Daughter quoth the Admirall it is my pleasure that ye shall fetch the Prisoner to me for if he can discomfite this Gyant I am content that he all his company shall depart franke frée at their pleasure Then the Lady Gerames went to the prison tooke out Huon all his company brought them before the Admirall Then the Admirall earnestly beheld Huon and had great maruaile that he was in so good case yet his colour was somewhat pale by reason of lying so long in prison then the Admirall said Friend it séemeth by thy lookes that thou hast had no ill imprisonment Sir quoth Huon I thanke your Daughter therefore but I pray you shew me for what cause yée haue as now sent for me Frend quoth the Admirall I shall shewe thée behould yonder Sarazin that is armed who hath challenged to fight with me hand to hand or against twoo of the best men that I haue and I can find none so hardy that dare fight against this Paynim but if it be so that thou wilt take vpon thee this enterprise for me I shall then deliuer thée and all thy company quite to goe into thy country at thy pleasure and safely to conduct thée to the Citie of Acre And also I will giue thée a Sommer with gould the which thou shalt present froÌ„ me to king Charlemaine and euery yere from hencefoorth to send him like present as for my head money and to make such assurance as his councell can deuise Also if hee haue any warre I shall send him twoo M. men of armes payed for a whole yere before hand and if it be so that he desire mine owne person I will then passe the sea with a C.M. Paynims to serue him for I had rather to be in seruitude there than to pay iiij d. to this Gyant And moreouer if thou wilt abide héere with me I shal giue thée my daughter Escleremond in mariage and the halfe of my Realme to maintaine thine estate Sir quoth Huon I am content this to doe so that I may haue mine owne Armour and my rich Horne of Iuory and my cuppe the which were taken from me when I was yéelded Prisoner Frend quoth the Admirall all shal be deliuered to thée thou shalt not loose the value of one peny Then the Admirall sent for the Horne Armour and Cup and deliuered them to Huon whereof he had great ioy but when Agrapart saw knew that the Admirall had found a Champion to fight with him hee saide to the Admirall Sir I will goe out and speake with my Knights and in the meane time let thy ChampioÌ„ be ready apparelled for I shall not tary long beside I shall neuer haue ioy at my hart till I haue torne his hart out of his bodie therewith he departed and went to his men and Huon put on his coate of mayle and then he tooke Gerames his horne of Iuory and said Friend I pray you kéepe my Horne till I returne againe Then he went prayed to our Lord to forgiue him his sinnes and to succour ayd him to discomfite that foule â—â—end the
much to doe that foolishly thinketh I say this by my selfe for to day when I came to you I thought my selfe the most puissant man that raigned on the earth thought that yée were not sufficient nor worthy to serue me but often times rash beléeuing deceaueth his maister for I thought that for x. men I would not once turne my chaire to haue regarded them but otherwise is fallen to me for I am discomfited alonely by one man and am taken and broughâ— into your hands therefore ye may do with me at your pleasure yet sir I require you haue pitie on me and pardon the outrage that I haue done vnto you Then the Admirall answered said how he would parâ—on him on the condition that he should neuer after trespas him nor any man in his country and beside that to become his man and to doe him homage before all them that were there present Sir quoth Agrapart I am readie to fulfiâ—l your pleasure and then he did homage to the Admirall in the presence of all theÌ„ that were there and in ioy they sat all downe to dinner The Admirall made great honour to Huon and caused him to sit by him then Agrapart and Gerames and al the other Frenchmen sat downe As for their seruice and many dishes of sondrie sorts of meates I leaue speaking of them Huon who had great desire to accomplish his enterprize drew out his Cup the which Gerames had before deliuered to him with his Horne of Iuory and then said to the Admirall Sir yée may sée héere this rich Cup in my hand the which yee see is all emptie Sir quoth the Admirall I sée well there is nothing therein Now Sir quoth Huon I shall shew you how our Law is holy and diuine then Huon made the signe of the crosse thrée times ouer the Cup the which incontinent was full of wine whereat the Admirall hadde great maruaile Sir quoth Huon I present you this Cuppe that yée may drinke thereof and then shall yée tast the goodnes of the wine The Admirall tooke it in his hand and incontinent the Cuppe was voyde and the wine vanished away whereat the Admirall had great maruaile and saide Huon yée haue enchaunted me Not so Sir quoth Huon I am no Enchaunter but it is because yée be full of sinne for the law that yée hould is of no worth the great vertue that god hath put in this cuppe is by reason of the signe of the crosse that I made whereby yée may perceyue that my saying is true Huon quoth the Admirall yée néed not to trouble your selfe to speake to me to forsake my beléefe and to take yours but I would know of you whether you will abide heere with me or else goe into Fraunce for that I haue promised you I shall fulfill it Ah Sir Admirall quoth Huon I know well you will kéepe couenaunt with me in that yee haue promised me but Sir aboue all other matters I pray you haue pitie on your owne soule the which shal be damned in hell without yée leaue your beleefe in that it is neyther good nor iust without yée doe thus I sweare by my faith that I shall call hether many men of armes that all the houses in your Pallaice and Citie shal be full When the Admirall heard Huon say so he beheld his owne men said Sirs heere yée may well heare the pride that is in this Frenchman who hath been more than halfe a yéere in my prison and now he threateneth to slay mee because I will not take on me his law and leaue mine owne I haue great maruaile where he should find such store of men as he hath said or what lets me to slay him at my pleasure Sir quoth Huon yet I demaund once more of you if ye will doe as I haue said Huon quoth the Admirall beware on paine of your eyen and as much as you loue your life that ye speake no more to me of this matter for by the faith that I owe to Mahound if all King Charlemaines Hoast were heere asseÌ„bled it should not lye in their power to saue your life Admirall quoth Huon I am in doubt that too late yée will repent you Chap. XLVI ¶ How Huon seeing that the Admirall would not forsake his beleefe blew his Horne whereby Oberon came to him and how the Admirall was slaine 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 WHen Huon saw that the Admirall would not leaue his Law to receiue christendom he set his Horne to his mouth blew it with such violence that the blood issued out at his mouth so that the Admirall and all other that were there put the tables from them and rose and all that were in the Pallaice began to sing and daunce The same time king Oberon was in his wood hearing the Horne blow said Ah good Lord I know surely that my friend Huon hath great neede of mee I pardon him of all his trespasses for he hath been sufficiently punished nowe I wish my selfe with him with an C.M. men well armed for there is not in all the world so noble a man as Huon it is great pitie that his hart is so light and mutable Then incontinent he with all his companie were in the Citie of Babylon whereas they began to slay all such as would not beleeue on Iesus Christ and then Oberon went to the Pallaice with all his Chiualrie and euery man with his sword naked in his hand When Huon saw Oberon hee embraced him and said I ought greatly to thanke God and you that yée be come so farre off to aide me in all my businesse Huon quoth Oberon as yee beleeue me and worke by my councell I shall not faile you then on all sides they slewe the Paynims men women and children except such as would bee christened Oberon came to the Admirall tooke him and deliuered him into the handes of Huon who had thereof great ioy and then Huon demaunded of the Admirall what he was minded to doe if he would leaue the lawe of Mahound and take christendome Huon quoth the Admirall I had rather be hewen all to péeces then to take your law and forsake mine owne Oberon then said to Huon why doe yée tarrie to put him to death whereupon Huon lifted vp his sword and therewith strake the Admirall that his head flew from his shoulders and Oberon said to Huon Now it lieth well in thy power to be quit with king Charlemaine then Huon tooke the Admirals head and opened his mouth and tooke out his foure great téeth then cut off his beard and tooke therof as much as pleased him then Oberon said Now thou hast in thy hands the Admirals téeth and beard looke as well as thou louest thy life that thou keepe them well O Sir quoth Huon I require you to put them in such a place where
Mahound I pray you haue pitie on me for I am no slaue but I am Daughter to the Admirall Gaudise of Babylon who is dead and slaine by a Frenchman the Mariners heere haue taken me and would carrie me to mine Vncle king Iuoryn of Mombrance and I know surely that if he had me he would burne me Faire Lady quoth the Admirall dismay you not for yee shall abide with mee whether they will or not then he commaunded the Mariners to bring the Ladie to him but they answered that they would not so doe then the Admirall commaunded to take her from them perforce and then they of the shippe began to make defence But anon they were all slaine and the Lady taken and brought to the Admirall who had great ioy therof howbeit he was sorie because one of them that were in the ship scaped away and fled to Mombrance notwithstanding the Admirall cared not greatly for it séeing he had the Ladie whome he brought into his Pallaice When the Admirall saw her so excéeding faire hee was taken in her loue so that incontinent he would haue married her after the Sarazins law whereof shee was right sorowfull and said Sir reason it is that I doe your pleasure séeing yée haue rid me out of the handes of these Pyrates of the sea But sir I require you for the loue that ye beare me that yee will forbeare your pleasure at this present time for Sir I haue made a faithfull vow and promise that for a yeere and a day from henceforth I will not lye with nor touch any man boldly for the which vow sir I am now sorie eueÌ„ for the loue that I beare to you but Sir I am right ioyfull that yee will doe me so much honor as to haue me to your wife our great god Mahound reward you Now sir for the loue of him I pray you be content vntill my vow be accomplished Faire Ladie quoth he know for troth that for the honour of my God Mahound but more for the loue of you I am content to tarrie this yeere yea and if it were Twentie yeeres to be sure of your loue then Sir quoth she Mahound reward you but she said to her selfe Ah deare Lord god Iesu Christ I humbly require thée to giue me that grace to kéepe my troth to my Louer Huon for ere I shall doe the contrarie I shall suffer as much paine and gréefe as euer womaÌ„ did and I will neuer breake my troth for feare of death Now leaue we to speak of her and say somewhat of the theefe that scaped out of the shippe Chap. XLIX ¶ How the Pyrate fled to Mombrance to Iuoryn and how he sent to defie the Admirall Galaffer of Anfalerne and of the answeare that he had there YE haue heard heere before how the faire Escleremond was receiued by the Admirall Galaffer and of the manner that shee found to keepe her selfe true to Huon and how one of the Mariners scaped away and fledde by land till at last he came to the Citie of Mombrance where he found Iuoryn to whome he shewed all the whole matter as ye haue heard and how his brother the Admirall Gaudise was slaine by a young french knight and how he and his companie found the said knight and his Néece the faire Escleremond whom they had thought to haue brought to him But quoth he the Admirall Galaffer hath taken them from vs by force and hath taken our shippe and slaine all your men that were within it so that none escaped but I alone When king Iuoryn vnderstood the Mariner he said Ah mightie Mahound how hast thou suffered that my brother Gaudise hath thus pitiously been slaine and also my Néece his Daughter to consent thereto certainely the gréefe that I féele at my heart constraineth mée rather to desire death than life And also moreouer to see him that is mine owne Subiect and houldeth his landes of me to keepe my Néece and thus to slay my men Alas I cannot well say what I should doe therein a little thing would cause me to slay my selfe Then in great displeasure he called his Lords and caused the Mariner to come before them there he made him to shew again all the matter bâ—fore them both how his brother the Admirall Gaudise was slaine and also how the Admirall Galaffer held his Néece by force and how he had slaine his men which when the Lords had heard they said thus to Iuoryn Sir our aduice is that yée should send one of your secret messengers to the Admirall Galaffer and commaund him incontinent to send you your Néece and to make amends for that he hath slaine your men and that he send you word by writing what cause hath mooued him thus to doe and if it be so that pride doth so surmount in him that hee will not obey your commaundements then by a iust quarrell ye may goe and make warre vpon him and take from him all his lands that he houldeth of you When Iuoryn vnderstood his Lords he said Sirs I perceaue well your opinion is good and then a Messenger was appointed and his charge giuen him and so he departed and rode so long till he came to Anfalerne where he found the Admirall Galaffer whome he saluted in the name of Mahound and then hee declared his Messuage at length but assoone as Galaffer had heard his messuage he said Friend goe and say to king Iuoryn that as for the deliuerance of his Néece I will not doe it and as for his men that are slaine it was through their owne folly and as touching that I should come to him I will not come to him let him do what he can but if he come to assaile me I shall defend as well as I can When the Messenger heard that he said Sir Admirall séeing yee will doe none otherwise in the name of our god Mahound and in the name of great king Iuoryn héere I defie you he sendeth you woord by me that he will leaue you neither Citie Towne nor Castle but he will put them all to flame and fire nor leaue you one foot of land but also if he may take you ye shall die a shamefull death When the Admirall saw how hee was defyed hee was more inflamed then a burning fire-brand and said to the messenger Go and say to thy Lord that I set nothing by his threatning and if I may know when hée commeth I shall do him that honour that I will not abide till hée enter into my country but I will méete with him before and say vnto him from me that if I can take him I shall soone ryd his soule out of his body So the messenger departed and came to Mombrance where wheÌ„ Iuoryn saw him he said Frend what saith Galaffer will hée send me my Néece Sir quoth the messenger hée will not doe it hée saith hée doubteth you nothing and if yee be so hardy as to come and assayle him then hée will meet
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
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
foure great téeth But when he had heard my demaund he held it for a great folly and so incontinent he cast me into prison whereas I had died by famine if the Admirals Daughter had not béene whome yée may sée yonder sitting by the piller and also by the aid of good King Oberon whome I ought greatly to loue he is a king of the Fairie right puissant and is in the Citie of Momur and he knowing of the perill that I was in had pitie on me and came and succoured me in such wise with so great a puissance that in Babilon he slew al such as would not beléeue in our Lord Iesus Christ Then he tooke me out of prison and then we entred into the Pallaice and there wee slew all such as wee found there Then I went to the Admirall Gaudys and strake off his head and then I cut off his beard and opened his mouth and drew out foure of his great téeth and when I had them then I desired king Oberon to aid me and to finde the meanes that I might safely bring the Beard and Téeth to your presence and to shew me where I might best kéepe them Then the good king Oberon by the grace of our Lord God and by the puissaunce that God had giuen vnto him he closed them within the side of Gerames so that they could not be perceiued and Sir know for troth ye neuer heard of such a man Now when I saw that I had fournished your messuage I retourned tooke with me the faire Ladie Escleremond Daughter to the foresaid Admirall Gaudys and the Twelue gentlemen that went with me out of Fraunce who alwaies haue béen with me And Sir if I should shew you the great paines and pauerties that I and they haue suffered it would be too long to rehearse but I may well say if the grace of God had not been I had neuer come hether againe if I had had x. liues I could neuer haue escaped the death Next after all these paines and trauailes that I and they that were with mee suffered by the grace of God we came and arriued at Rome whereas the Pope receiued me with great ioy there wedded me to Escleremond the Admiralles daughter whom you may sée yonder all desolate and full of displeasures and not without cause When the Barons that were there heard the pittious complaints of Huon euerie man of pitie beheld the Lady who pale and ill coloured sate sore wéeping so that such as regarded her were constrained to take part of her sorrow there was no man but they began sore to wéepe and Huon who was before the King was sorrowfull to sée his wife make so great dolour Then hee sayd vnto the King Sir if you will not beleeue my saying send to Rome to the Pope to know the truth if you proue my words contrarie I submit my selfe to receiue such death as you and your Barons can deuise if the Pope doe not beare witnesse of that I haue sayd God forbid that I should shew you any thing otherwise then truth I haue sayd nothing but hee shall shew tokens that my saying is true and I can say more if I would shew all but it is not néedefull that I should make a long sermon But Sir thus as I haue shewed you I did returne from the place that you sent me to and Sir know for truth I came not so vnprouided but that I brought with me great plentie of gould and siluer and my companie came all with mee and I purposed not to rest in any place till I had spoken with your grace for the great desire that I had to see you and so along I rode till I came to an Abbey heere hard by a foure leagues hence called Saint Mauris because the Abbey was of your foundation and not pertayning to the land of Bourdeaux for I would not haue entred into this towne because of the commandement that you gaue me Thus I came and lodged me in the Abbey and the Abbot receiued me with great ioy and hee sent word of my being there to my brother Gerard and the traytour came to mee like a false traytour and brought with him but one Squire whereby now I may perceiue that in him was nothing but falsenesse and treason Huon quoth Duke Naymes your reason is good for if he had beene true as he ought to haue been he ought to assemble the Barons and Lords of the Country and so to haue come with them and haue receiued you with reuerence and honour Sir quoth Huon it is true but the Traytour did otherwise for when hee was come to mee by great subtiltie hee demaunded how I had sped in my iourney and whether I had spoken with the Admirall Gaudys or not and declared to him your message and if I had brought with mee his beard and foure great teeth and I shewed him I had accomplished your whole commandement then the vnhappy Traitour demaunded where I kept them and I shewed him for I had no mistrust in him Then he so exorted mee that at the houre of midnight hee made me to arise hastily and mkde me and al my company ready and so leapt on our horses and rode forth our way and when 〈◊〉 came to a crosse way and saw that I tooke the way into France he beganne to speake rigorously to haue occasion of some strife betwéene vs and neere thereunto was a little wood whereas there lay in ambushment Gibouars and his companie fortie men of armes well armed and they came and ranne at mee and my companie that were vnarmed whereby they found in vs but small resistance and so finallie the twelue Gentlemen that were with mee were all slaine and all to hewen and then they tooke their dead bodyes and did cast them into the Ryuer of Gerone then they strake me to the earth and bound fast mine féete and handes and blindfolded mine eyes and in like sort they did to my wife and then they came to Gerames and the Traitour my Brother came to him and with a sharpe knife opened his side and there 〈◊〉 tooke the beard and foure great treeth of the Admirall Gauâ—â—s the which were set there by king Oberon the 〈◊〉 Traytour knew the place whereas they lay by reaâ—â—â— that I had shewed him therof before would to God that the same time that hee came to Gerames to doe that cruell 〈◊〉 that Gerames had beene armed I am sure then the 〈◊〉 durst not haue regarded him to haue done him 〈…〉 but Sir when he had taken out the beard and téeth then he bound Gerames handes and féete hurt as he was as Sir ye may know the truth by him Then Gerames stept forth and lift vp his cloake and shewed the king the wound in his side the which euerie man might sée that was there Sir quoth Huon to the king when he had done all this hee set vs on three leane horses and so brought vs into this
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
you liue you shall meddle no more with that matter but by the beard that I beare on my chinne I shal neuer dine nor eate meat after this dinner til I sée him hanged and drawne for all your bearing of him against me Then he commanded the tables to be set vp and when Gerard vnderstood the king he was ioyfull thereof in his hart but he made no semblance of ioy because of the Lords that were there present When Huon and Escleremond had heard how the King had sworne the death of Huon the dolorous weepings and teares that they made were so extreame that hard it were to declare it and Escleremond sayd to Huon Ah Sir now I see well that great pitie it shall be the departing of vs two but if I had a knife I would not abide your death but first I shoulde slay my selfe before this false and vntrue king Her complaints were so pitifull that most part of the Lords wept for pitie and the old Gerames sorely wept and sayd Ah good Lord God in what howre was I borne in great dolour and paine haue I continued my youth and now in mine age thus shamefully to die Thus all three made such sorrow that it would haue made a hard heart to lament All three thought no otherwise but to die because they had heard King Charlemaine make such promise but that which God will saue no man can let and god saue the good king Oberon for king Charlemaine shal be forsworne as ye shal heare hereafter Now let vs leaue speaking of this pitious companie and speake of the noble king Oberon of the Fayrie who as then was in his wood Chap. LXXIIII ¶ How king Oberon came to succour Huon and made Gerard to confesse all the treason that he had purchased against Huon his brother YE haue heard before how King Oberon was displeased with Huon bicause he had broken his commandement But when Huon had béen at Rome and confessed all his sinnes and was assoiled of the Pope then King Oberon was content and in his heart forgaue all the ill will that he had to Huon and as he sat at dyner he began to wéepe When his Seruants saw that they had great maruaile and sayd vnto him Sir we desire you to shew vs why you doe weepe and be so troubled there is some displeasure done vnto you therefore for the loue of our Lord Iesus Christ wee desire you hide it not from vs. Sirs quoth the Kinge I remember nowe the vnhappie Huon of Bourdeaux who is returned from the farre parts and he hath passed by Rome and there hath taken his Wife in mariage and is confessed of all his sinnes for the which sinnes he hath béen by me sore punished But it is time if euer I will doe him any good now to ayd him and to succour him against King Charlemaine for he hath sworne neuer to goe to bed vntill he haue hanged drawne the poore Huon but by the grace of our Lord God Charlemaine shall bée forsworne for at this time I shall succour and ayd him for he is as now in such a danger that without he be succoured incontinent death is néere him he was neuer in his life in such perill He is now in the Pallaice at Bourdeaux his Wife the fayre Escrelemond and the old Gerames with fetters on their feete being in great sorrow and king Charlemaine is set at dinner and hath made his oath to hang Huon but yet whether hee will or not he shall be periured for I will goe to my Fréend Huon and helpe him at his neede therefore I wish my Table and all that is thereon neere to King Charlemaines Table and somewhat aboue his about two foot hyer also I will bicause I haue heard say that often times of a little Castle commeth a greater therefore I will that on my table be set my Cup my Horne and my Armour the which Huon conquered of the Gyant Angolaffer and also I wish with me a C.M. men of armes such as I was woont to haue in battaile He had no sooner said the words but by the will of god and the puissance of the Fayrie his table and all that king Oberon had wished was set iust by king Charlemaines table more higher and greater then his was When king Charlemaine saw the table and the Cuppe Horne and coate of maile he had great maruaile and said to Duke Naymes Sir Duke I beléeue you haue enchaunted mée Sir quoth the Duke neuer in my life I meâ—leâ— with any such matter the Lords such as were there were greatly abashed howe that matter came to passe Gerames who sat néere to Huon when he saw the Table the Cup and horne of Iuorie the Armour thereon he knew them well and said to Huon Sir be not dismayed for on yonder Table that you may sée is your Cup horne of Iuorie and coat of maile whereby I perceiue that you shall bée succoured by King Oberon Huon beheld the Table had great ioy when he saw it then he lifted vp his hands to heauen and thanked our Lord God that hée would visit such a poore sinner as hee was saying Ah Kinge Oberon in many great needs haue you succoured me Therewith arriued King Oberon in the Citie whereof the Burgesses the Commons were greatly abashed when they saw such a number of men of war enter into their citie without any knowledge before When king Oberon was within the Towne all his company he said to his Lords Sirs looke that you set good watch at euery gate so that no man go out the which they did diligently for at euerie gate they set x. M. men Then King Oberon tooke the way to the Pallaice and at the gate he left x. M. men commanding them vpon payn of their liues that they should not suffer any man to passe out and also he commanded that if they heard him blow his Horne of Iuorie that incontinent they should come into the Pallaice to him slay all such as they should find there Then king Oberon went vp into the Pallaice and many of his Lords with him he was richly apprrelled in cloath of gold and the border thereof was sette with rich precious stones goodly it was to behold for a fayrer little person could not be found hee passed iust by King Charlemaine without speaking of any word and went so néere to him that he shouldred him so rudely that his bonnet fell from his head Ah good Lord quoth Charlemaine I haue great maruaile what this dwarfe may be that so rudly hath shouldred me and almost ouerthrowne my table he is fierce when hee thinkes scorne to speake to me howbeit I will see what hee will doe I cannot tell what hee thinketh to doe but me seemeth hee is right ioyfull and also he is the fayrest creature that euer I saw When Oberon had passed by the King he came to Huon and wished the fetters from all their féete and
led them before Charlemaine without any woord speaking and caused them to sit downe with him at his own table that he had wished thither then he tooke his cup and made thereon thrée crosses then incontinent the cup was ful of wine then King Oberon tooke it gaue it to Escleremond to drinke and then to Huon and so to Gerames and when they had all three dranke well he said to Huon Friend arise vp and take the cuppe and beare it to King Charlemaine and say vnto him that he drinke to you in the name of peace if hee refuse it hee did neuer such a follie in all his life King Charlemaine who sate néere to them at his owne table hearing king Oberons words wist not what to thinke and so sate still and durst not speake one word for the great maruailes that he saw there and no more durst none of his men for they were so abashed that there was none there but that gladly would haue béene a hundred leagues thence But whosoeuer was afrayde Gerard was not verie well pleased Then Huon rose from Oberons table and tooke the cuppe and went therewith to king Charlemaine and deliuered it to him The king tooke it durst not refuse it as soone as it was in his hands it was drie voyde not a drop of wine therin Fellow quoth the King you haue inchaunted me Sir quoth Oberon it is because you are full of sin for the cup is of such dignitie that none can drinke thereof without he be a noble man and cleane without deadly sinne and I know one that ye did not long agoe the which as yet you were neuer confessed of and if it were not to your shame I should shew it héere openly that euery man should heare it When the Emperour Charlemaine heard King Oberon hee was abashed and afraid that King Oberon would haue shamed him openly then Huon tooke againe the cuppe and then incontinent it was full of wine againe and then Huon bare it to Duke Naymes who sate next to Charlemaine Naymes tooke the cup and dranke thereof at his pleasure but all the other could not touch the cup they were so full of sinne Then Huon returned to king Oberon and sate downe by him then Oberon called to him Duke Naymes and commanded him to rise from Charlemaines table and to sit downe by him at his table the which Duke Naymes did for hee durst not say nay Then Oberon sayd to him Sir Duke Naymes right good thanks I giue you in that you haue béene so true and iust to Huon and thou King Charlemaine that art Emperour of the Romaines behold here Huon whom wrongfully and without cause you haue disenherite and would take from him all his lands hee is a Noble man and true and besides that I say vnto you for truth hee hath done your message vnto the Admirall Gaudys and I ayded to bring him to his death and then hée tooke out of his mouth foure of his greatest téeth and also did cutte off his white beard and I did â—lose them within the side of Gerames by the will of God this that I haue sayd you may bee surely beléeue for at all these déedes I was present Sée yonder false Traitour Gerard who by his malicious intent hath done this treason and to the ende that you may know the matter more surely you shall heare it confessed by his owne mouth Then Oberon sayd to Gerard I coniure thée by the diuine puissance and power that God hath giuen mee that héere before King Charlemaine and all his Lords thou shew and declare the troth of this treason which thou hast done against Huon thy Brother When Gerard vnderstoode Oberon hee was in such feare that hée trembled for dread for hée felt in himselfe that hee coulde haue no power to hide the troth of the treason then he sayd Sir I sée well to hide the troth cannot auaile mée therefore true it is I went to the Abbey of Saint Maurise to sée my Brother Huon and Gybouars accompanied with Fortie men at armes wee departed from this Citie and layde our ambushment in a little wood about twoo Leagues from this Citie to watch when my Brother Huon should passe by that way Gerard quoth King Oberon speake out hyer that you may the better be heard and that euerie man may heare the treason falsenesse that you haue done vnto your Brother Sir quoth Gerard I wote not what to say for I haue done so ill and falsely against my Brother that more ill I could not doe and I am ashamed to recount it But to say truely that before it was midnight I made my Brother to rise and to depart from the Abbey and when wee came néere the place where as my Father in law Gibouars was with his ambushment I began to striue with my brother so highly that Gibouars might heare mee who when he heard me speake he brake forth of his ambushment and ranne at my brothers companie and so slew them all except these three that be here then we tooke the dead bodies and did cast them into the Riuer of Gerone then wee tooke Huon and his wife and the old Gerames and bound their handes and féete and blindfolded their eyes and so brought them on thrée leane horses into the Citie and I tooke out of the side of old Gerames the beard and foure great téeth the which if it please you I shall fetch from the place where I left them Gerard quoth Oberon you shall not neede to take that labour for when it shall please me I can haue them without you Well Sir quoth Gerard thus when I had set them in prison I went backe againe to the Abbey and then I demaunded of the Abbot and Couent where the treasure was that my Brother had left there and that hée should deliuer it to me bearing him in hand that my Brother Huon had sent for it The good Abbot would not deliuer it to me wherefore Gybouars and I slew him then wée made this Monke héere the Abbot who is néere of kinne to Gybouars to the entent that he should ayd to beare vs witnesse and to iustifie our sayings Then we tooke all the treasure that was there and brought it hether then I charged Tenne Somers the which I had with me to King Charlemaines Court at Paris the which treasure I gaue part thereof to the King and to other by whom I thought to be aided to performe mine vnhappie Enterprize and I beléeued surely that by reason of the riches that I gaue that my Brother should haue receiued death and thereby I to haue béene Lord and Maister of all his Landes and Signiories and all this treason that I haue shewed Gybouars caused me to doe it or else I had neuer thought to haue done it Gerard quoth King Oberon if it please our Lord Iesus Christ you and he both shal be hanged by the necks there is no man liuing shall saue you
Sir Emperour Charlemaine you haue well heard the confession of Gerard of the great treason that Gybouars and he haue done vnto Huon but by the Lord that fourmed me to his semblance both they two and the Abbot and his Chaplaine shall bée hanged for their false witnesse By the faith that I owe to Saint Denis quoth King Charlemaine they cannot escape it Sir quoth Duke Naymes it is great sinne to trouble a noble man you shall doe well if all foure be hanged When all the Lordes heard Gerard confesse that great treason that hée had done vnto his Brother they blessed them and had great maruaile of the false treason that the one Brother did to the other Chap. LXXV ¶ How King Oberon caused to be hanged the foure Traytours Gerard Gybouars and the two Monkes for their false witnesse and of the peace made betweene Huon and Charlemaine And how King Oberon gaue vnto Huon his Realme of the Fayrie WHEN King Oberon had heard Gerard confesse the treason done to his Brother and heard howe Gerard had offered to goe and fetch the beard great téeth and how he had denied him to goe then he sayd I wish them here vpon this Table he had no sooner made his wish but they were set on the Table whereof all such as were there hadde great maruaile Sir quoth Huon to King Oberon humbly I require you that of your grace you will pardon my Brother Gerard all the ill that he hath done against me for he did it by Gybouars and as for me héere and before God I pardon him and Sir if you will doe thus I shal be content therewith And to th entent that we may vse our liues from henceforth in good peace and loue I will giue him the halfe part of my Lands Signiories and Sir in the honour of our Lord Iesus Christ haue pity of him When the Lords that were there present vnderstood Huon they all for pity began to wéepe sayd among themselues that Huon was a noble knight and that it had béen pity if the matter had framed otherwise Sir Huon quoth Oberon it is not necessarie to request this for all the gold that is in the world shall not respit their deaths I wish by the puissance that I haue in the Fayrie that here beneath in the meadow there be a paire of Gallows and all iiij thereon hanged Incontinent it was don all iiij hanged thus as ye haue hard the traitors were paid their deserts When king Charlemaine had séene the great maruailes that were done by king Oberon he sayd to his Lords Sirs I beléeue this man be some God himselfe for there is no mortall man can doe this that he hath done When Oberon vnderstood the Emperour he sayd Sir know for truth I am no God but I am a mortall man as you be and was engendred on a woman as you were and my father was Iulius Cesar who engendred me on the Ladie of the Secret Isle who had béene before louer to Florymont sonne to the Duke of Albany she bare me nine moneths in her wombe and I was begotten by Iulius Cesar when he went into Thessaly after Pompey the Great he was amorous of my mother because she prophesied that my Father Iulius Cesar should winne the battaile as he did and when I was borne there were with my mother many Ladies of the Fairye and by them I had many gifts and among other there was one that gaue mee the gift to be such a one as you sée I am whereof I am sory but I cannot be none otherwise for when I came to the age of thrée yéeres I grew no more and when this Ladie sawe that I was so little to content againe my mother shee gaue me againe that I should be the fairest creature of the world and other Ladyes of the Fairie gaue me diuers other gifts the which I ouerpasse at this time and therefore Sir know for truth that aboue all things God loueth faith and troth when it is in men as it is here in Huon and because I know for certaine that he is true and faithfull therefore I haue alwaies loued him After that king Oberon had ended his words and shewed the Emperour Charlemaine of all his estate he called Huon and sayd Sir arise vp and take the beard and the téeth and beare them to king Charlemaine and desire him to render you your landes as he promised Sir quoth Huon I ought so to doe then Huon came to King Charlemaine and sayd Sir by your grace and if it may please you receiue here the beard and téeth of the Admirall Gaudis Huon quoth the King I hold you quit and I render to you all your lands and signiories and pardon you of all mine ill will and put all rancour from mée and from hencefoorth I retaine you as one of my Péeres Sir quoth Huon of this I thanke God and your grace Then the Emperour Charlemaine clipped and kissed Huon in token of peace and loue When the Lords saw that they wept for ioy and thanked God that the peace was made and especially Duke Naymes was ioyfull then within a while diuers of the Lords departed from the Court Then king Oberon called Huon vnto him and sayd Sir I commaund you as dearely as you loue mée that this same day foure yeare to come that you come into my Citie of Momur for I will giue you my Realme and all my dignitie the which I may lawfully do for at my birth it was giuen me that I might so doe for it lyeth in mée to giue it whereas I thinke best and bicause I loue you so entirely I shall set the crowne vpon your head and you shal be King of my Realme And also I will that you giue vnto Gerames all your Landes and Signiories in these parts for he hath well deserued it for with you and for your loue hee hath suffered many great trauailes Sir quoth Huon séeing this is your pleasure I ought well to be pleased therewith and I shall accomplish all your commandements Huon quoth Oberon know for troth I shall not abide longe in this world for so is the pleasure of god it be houeth me to go into paradice where as my place is appointed in the fayrie I shall bide no longer but beware as dearly as you loue your life that yée faile not to be with me at the daie that I haue appointed beware that yée forget it not for if yee faile I shall cause you to die an ill death and therefore remember it well When Huon heard king Oberon he was right ioyfull and stooped downe to haue kissed his féet but then Gloriant and Mallaborn tooke him vp Then said Huon Sir for this great guift I thanke you Chap. LXXVI ¶ How King Oberon departed and tooke leaue o f king Charlemaine and of Huon and Escleremond and also how king Charlemaine departed from Bourdeaux WHen king Oberon had imparted to Huon as much as he
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
wherof he was sorrowfull howbeit like a couragious Knight with his sword still fought valiantly with his enemies and he saw where the Earle of Seyne came to him to haue striken him with his sword but Huon met him so hastily that hee had no leysure to strike him and Huon gaue him such a stroke that his helmet could not saue his life for Huons sword entred into his braine and so he fell downe dead among the horse féete Huon who was quicke and expert tooke the dead knights horse and leapt vppon him and when he saw that he was new horsed againe he was ioyfull and then hee was able to depart in despight of his enemies but the Emperour who had great sorrow at his heart for the death of his nephew Raoull made great haste after Huon with ten thousand men with him and so came from Mayens all on the spurre desiring to ouertake Huon and so rode on before his men for his horse was so good that hee would runne as fast as a byrde could flie in all the world there was no horse like him The Emperour on this horse followed Huon and as he rode hee saw all the way dead men lie that Huon had slaine he spurred his horse that anon he ouertooke Huon and sayd Thou Traytour turne thy shéeld towards me or else my Speare shall goe through thy bodie for the sorrowe that lyeth at my heart for loue of my Nephew whome thou hast slaine constrayneth me to make hast to be reuenged of thée nor I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart vntill I haue slaine thée much it greeueth mee that I am constrayned to slay thee with my Speare for I had rather hang thée When Huon heard the Emperour who was so néere him saw how he was mounted on so good a horse he called vpon our Lord God desired him of his grace to ayd him to conquere that horse and when he saw that the Emperour was farre before his men he turned his horse head towards the Emperour and couched his speare and the Emperour came against him like the tempest and they mette together so rudely that their speares were pearced so that the Emperours speare brake all to shiuers and Huons speare was so rude strong that he strake the Emperour with such puissance that hee was striken from his horse to the earth sore astonied so that he wist not where he was and Huon who had great desire to haue the Emperours horse alighted quickly from his owne horse and tooke the Emperours horse and mounted on him and was thereof right ioyous then he sayd to himselfe that hee doubted not them all he strake the good horse with his spurres and found him quicke and light vnder him There he left the Emperour lying on the earth who was not a little content that he was so soone succoured for if the Almaines had not quickly come Huon had slaine him but when the Almaynes came to their Lord and found him lying on the earth they beléeued verily he had beene dead they beganne to make great sorrow and the Emperour who was come againe to himselfe sayd Syrs thanked be God I féel◠no hurt but I may well ride but I haue great sorrow at my heart that Huon hath thus ledde away my good horse and is escaped away and also hath slaine my two nephewes but Sirs I counsell you that none follow him for it shall be but a lost time for the good horse that is vnder him and he that is on him is so valiant in armes that he is greatly to be doubted therefore I counsell let vs returne backe again for we may loose more then wee shall winne but by the grace of God ere it be thrée moneths past I shall assemble such a number of men that the vallies and mountaines shall bee full of men then I will goe to the Citie of Bourdeaux and will not depart thence till I haue woonne it and if I may get Huon I shall make him die of an euill death and shall take and wast all his lands Chap. LXXXIII ¶ How Huon after that he was mounted vpon the Emperours good horse he arriued at Coleyn where he found his men and howe hee departed thence And of the Emperour who laye enambushed in a wood abiding there to haue slaine Huon THus as yee haue heard Huon departed with the Emperors good horse and left the Emperour lying on the earth who commaunded his Barons to returne backe and not to follow Huon any further Therewith there came to the Emperour a Knight called Godun he was borne at Norembridge and he sayd Sir if you will beléeue me and doe after my councell you shall doe otherwise you shall returne to Mayence this night and ordaine foure Thousand of such men as you haue heere and send them within two Leagues of Coleyne on the hye way into Fraunce and there you shall find a little wood and there let them lye enambushed till Huon passe by them for I know well he will goe straight to Coleyne this night lodge in a French-mans house that dwelleth there and in the morning surely he will depart thence and so passe by the said ambushment so that it shall not be possible to saue himselfe alone but either he shall be slaine or taken When the Emperour heard Godun he said Sir you haue giuen me good counsaile and this is likely to be done but it were conuenient to send more then foure Thousand for the great desire that I haue to get him into my hands constraineth me to cause him to bee taken to the entent to be reuenged of him therefore I would goe my selfe and take with mée ten Thousand men and shall go and ly in the place that you haue appointed for I shall neuer haue perfect ioy at my heart as long as Huon is aliue for he hath caused much sorrow at my heart for the death of my two Nephewes whom so pitiously hee hath slaine let vs take our way about twoo Leagues beside Coleyne néerer wee will not approach to the entent that our comming bée not knowne Then hee chose out ten Thousand of the most valiantest men in his companie and the rest he sent backe to Mayence Thus the Emperour road foorth and road so long that day and night that an houre before it was day he came to the sayd wood and there layd his ambush And Huon rode so after he was departed from the Emperor that late in the Euening he came to Coleyne whereas hee was receiued of his men with great ioy then Gerames said Sir I require you shew vs of your aduentures then Huon shewed them euerie thing and the manner how he had slaine Duke Raoul and how hee departed from Mayence and how he was pursued and howe hee wanne the Emperours good horse whereat Gerames and all the other had great ioy and thanked God of his faire aduenture and hadde great maruaile howe hee escaped but they knewe nothinge what the
Citie to be armed and come and succour the Emperour hastily for when I came from him he had great neede of ayde there is Huon of Bourdeaux who hath slayne thrée of his nephewes and this other day he was lodged in this Citie the Emperour knoweth well that you knew nothing thereof for Huon had lodged his men in the suburbs and in other little houses because hee would not be perceiued Syr Prouost make haste in this businesse When the Prouost heard what daunger the Emperour was in he sounded the watch bell and made to be cryed in euery stréete that euery man that was able to beare armes should arme them and goe out into the field to succour the Emperour who was in great daunger of his life When the Bourgesses of the towne heard that crie euery man armed them as well as they could some were harnessed behind and some in a Iacke all smoked and with staues and other weapons what a foote and a horse backe there went out of the Citie twentie thousand men if you had séene the horsemen you would haue laught at them for it séemed they were set on horse backe in despite there was neuer séene so rude a companie it was no maruaile for they were not accustomed to ryde in harnesse The Prouost went before and exhorted them to doe their deuoirs so they tooke their way to come to the battaile whereas Huon and his companie did part of their willes and the Emperour séeing that he began to loose his men and place hee rode searching in the battaile for Duke Huon whereas he found by aduenture Huon who had then newly slaine by aduenture the Emperours Seneschall When that the Emperour sawe him slaine he was right sorrowfull and in a great rage he cryed to Huon and saydâ— Thou knight that neuer art satisfied to shedde the bloud of my men to abate my linage and force I pray thée turne thy shield vnto mee for if thou knewest the great hate that I beare thée thou wouldst neuer appeare before me Sir quoth Huon I maruell that you so sorely hate me haue tarryâ—d so long for reueÌ„ge therfore beware for if I can I wil send you after your Nephewes whome yée say that yée loue so well They tooke their course with great and rude speares and so came together like the tempest and met so rudely that the buckles of their Armour all to brast and the Emperours speare brake all to péeces but Huons speare was bigge and strong therewith he strake the Emperour with such puissance that his speare ranne through his shoulder so that the Emperour fell to the earth so rudely that with the fall he brake the bone of his thigh whereby he was in such dolour that he swounded And when Huon saw him lye on the ground hee came to him with his swoord in his hand and would haue slaine him if he had not béene succoured but there came so many Almaines that whether Huon would or not they tooke the Emperour and bare him out of the field and laid him in the wood and then demaunded of him how he did Sirs quoth he I am sore hurt for my thigh is broken whereby I endure more gréefe than I can abide but as for death I trust by the grace of god I shall escape it When they heard that they were all ioyfull and said Sir know for troth that your men are sore discomfited for they be so sore oppressed by Huon and his men that wée feare all your men will be slaine wée will goe againe to the battaile and leaue some with you to looke vnto your Maiestie Well quoth the Emperour but your force nor your defence cannot auaile you any thing against Huon nor against his men But I shall shew you what yée shall doe yée shall send quickly to Huon and desire him in my name to cease slaying of my men and that there may be a truce had betwéene him and me for the space of halfe a yéere for within that time I hope to finde some other treatie that hee and I might be friendes and if he refuse this then I see none other remedie but that wée shall be all slaine or taken and then he will cause me to die in some noysome prison Sir quoth his knights we shall doe your commaundement but we feare sore that we shall not be heard Sirs quoth the Emperour goe to him and doe the best yée can Then they returned to the battaile whereas they founde their companie readie to flie away for they were neere all slaine and taken the Knights from the Emperour came to Huon and desired him in the name of the Emperour that he would cease the battaile and sound the treatie and they would do likewise in the same manner and that there might be a firme truce betweene them for halfe a yeere and in that season they trusted that some good wayes would be found that the Emperour and hee might be good friendes together Sirs quoth Huon if the Emperour your Master had mee in that danger which he is in hee would not suffer me to scape aliue for all the gold in the world howbeit I am content that he haue truce for halfe a yeere the which I shall surely kéepe on my part and if I be assayled I shall defend mee and if so be that hee come to Bourdeaux to assayle mee by the helpe of God and my good friendes I shall doe the best that I can But if he will haue peace with mee and pardon mee his displeasure for the death of his nephewes I shall be readie to make peace and I shall make amends for al wrongs though I was not the beginner Then Huon caused the retrait to bee sounded and in likewise so did the Almaynes who had thereof great ioy it came to them at a good poynt for else all had béene slaine or foyled When he had the vpper hand now that he pursued still his chase for then he might haue had an end of that warre and neither shield nor speare more broken whereas after many a man was slaine and was the cause that the Citie of Bourdeaux was lost and the fayre Escleremond taken and set in prison in the Citie of Mayens and Huon suffered so much paine and trouble that no mortall man can shewe it Thus as you haue heard Huon granted the truce and so both parts withdrew whereof the Emperour and his companie were right ioyfull Then Huon called his companie and shewed Gerames and his Lords how he had graunted truce to the Emperour for halfe a yeere and therefore I charge you all not to breake the peace the Emperour was glad when hee heard it for he knew well hee had scaped a great daunger Then he charged all his men on paine of death that they should not breake the truce And Sirs quoth he I pray you make readie a litter that I may be carried to Coleyne for the paine that I féele in my legges causeth all my bodie
to tremble and when I come there I will tarrie till I bee whole Sir quoth his Lords your commandement shal be done then they layde the Emperour in a litter sore complayning the losse and death of his nephewes and Lordes that were slaine and his legge gréeued him sore Then Huon sayd to Gerames Sir thanked be God we haue vanquished the Emperour and slaine many of his men therefore it is good that we returne now to Bourdeaux I haue great desire to sée my wife Escleremond who thinking long for my comming I am sure shee is sorrowfull that I haue tarried so long Sir quoth Gerames if ye haue great desire to returne so haue al other of your seruants they would gladly see their wiues and children and some would sée their louers Chap. LXXXV ¶ How Huon graunted the truce to the Emperour and howe the Prouost of Coleyne came and assayled Huon not knowing of any peace taken WHen Huon vnderstood the old Gerames he had great ioy then he sounded the Trumpets with such brute that maruaile it was to heare and commanded euery man to set forward towards Bourdeaux Then he beheld on his right hand and saw them of Coleyne comming in a great number they were well néere twentie thousand Burgesses and other they came with banners displayde readie to fight When Huon saw them he had great maruaile from whence they should come so hastily Then he sayd to his men Sirs I perceiue cléerely we be betrayed for if I had pleased the Emperour nor his men could not haue escaped he hath falsely betrayed me since vnder the colour of truce they come to set newly vpon me Thus Huon sayd by the Emperour without cause for hée knew nothing thereof nor that any succour should haue come to him Sirs quoth Huon let vs rest here and tarrie till they come néerer to vs then let vs set on them with such haste that they shall not know what to doe Sir quoth his men haue no doubt wee shall not faile you for feare of any death we trust to slay so many that the earth shall bee couered with the dead bodies of your enemies Huon ordered his battaile and the Prouost of Coleyne comforted his men saying Sirs our Emperour is discomfited by Huon and his companie who be yonder abiding before vs they thinke to depart in sauegard but they haue no power to doe so for the most part of them are sore hurt and their horses sore trauailed wherefore they shall the sooner be discomfited Then the Prouost and his men ranne quickly vpon Huon and his men there beganne a fierce battaile wherein many a most valiaunt man lay on the earth dead and at the verie first brunt there were so many slaine that the whole fielde was couered with dead and maimed men some were ouerthrowne without any hurt at all and yet they could neuer rise because of the great prease of the horses that did runne ouer them Huon who was very full of ire because hee had thought that vnder the colour of truce he was assayled he ranne fiercely at a knight who had doone verie great hurt among his men it was he that went to Coleyne for that succour and Huon strake him cleane through the body with his Speare so that he fell downe dead to the earth Then Huon cryed his crie to call his men together hée layd on the right side and on the left so that hee did cutte of armes and legges and raced their helmets from their heades he séemed rather a man of the Fayrie then a mortall man But he had much to doe for his men who had fought all the day were sore trauayled and wearie howbeit they defended them selues right valiantly and slew so many of the Commons of Coleyn that the bloud ran on the ground in great streames and the Emperour who issued out of the wood in his Lyttour when he came into the field he heard the brute and crie of the Battaile wherewith he was so abashed Then he demaunded what noise it might be Sir quoth a Knight it is the good Prouost of Coleyn who hath brought with him the Commons of the Citie of Coleyn to aid and succour you Sir quoth the Emperour and he shall dearely buy it howbeit I thinke hee knoweth not of the Truce that we haue taken with Huon for if I knew that he was aduertised therof I should cause him to die an il death Goe to him and command him that incontinent he goe to Huon to make amendes for his trespasse and if he will not doe it I charge you incontinently to slay him When the Emperour had giuen his commaundement to one of his knights he rode as fast as he might to the Prouost who was right sorrowfull for that he had lost foure thousand of his Commons the knight was slain that came to him Then the Emperours knight sayd Sir Prouost ye haue doone right ill séeing ye haue broken the truce that was made betwéene him and Huon if the Emperour may gette you yée shall neuer sée fayre day more without incontinent ye goe to Huon and deale so with him that he be content so that no reproch be layd to the Emperor When the Prouost and his companie heard the Emperors commandement they were sore abashed reculed back And the Prouest who was in great feare for that hee had done and desiring to accomplish the Emperours commandement strake his horse with his spurres and rested not till he hrd found Duke Huon Then he lighted a foote and tooke his sword and sayd Ah right noble and vertuous Prince I desire thée in the honour of Iesus Christ haue pitie on me and pardon me the iniurie that I haue done against you the which I haue done without the knowledge or licence of the Emperour who will cause mee to die a shamefull death without yee pardon mee for all I knew not of the truce betwéene you and the Emperour for I thought he had beene dead Sir that which I haue done was to the intent to rescue my rightfull Lord and thereby I haue lost this day more then foure thousand Burgesses and commons of the Citie of Coleyn and the most part of my best friends and therfore Sir I pray you haue pittie on me else the Emperour will slay mee or sette me in perpetuall pryson Chap. LXXXVI ¶ How Huon arriued at Bourdeaux and of the counsell of the fayre Escleremond his wife the which he would not beleeue nor follow WHen Huon vnderstood the Prouost he had great pitie and though that he ought in reason to pardon him séeing that that hee had done was in a iust cause and that hee was not aduertised of the truce taken betweene the Emperour and him Then Huon approched to the Prouost and sayd Friends arise vp I pardon you this trespasse that you haue done for your Lord and it is but reasonable since ye knew nothing of the truce ye haue done as a true subiect ought to doe to his Lord and
and when the Emperor was within a League then there met with him the old Sauarie his Brother who was Father to Duke Raoul slaine by Huon when these two brethren met together there was great ioy made betwéene them But then Duke Sauary beganne to wéepe and sayd to his brother the Emperour Sir of your comming I am right ioyfull But when the pitious death of my deare beloued sonne your nephew Raoull commeth to my minde there is no member of me but for dolour and displeasure trembleth nor I can neuer haue perfect ioye at my heart as long as he that hath done mee this displeasure liueth This Duke Sauary was a noble man but betwéene him and his sonne Raoull was great difference for the Duke Raoull was the vntruest Traitor that euer liued the which wickednes procéeded by the Duchesse his mother who was daughter to Hurdowin of Fraunce the most vntruest and falsest Traytour that as then liued in the world When the Emperour heard his brother speake the teares fell from his eyes and he embraced him sayd My right deare brother your dolour much displeaseth mee for your dolour is mine and thereof I will haue a part and if ye haue much ioy my part shall likewise be therein But it is not possible for vs to haue him againe for whom we make this sorrow God ayde Huon now froÌ„ his enemies for they greatly desire his death yet oftentimes they that desire another mans death auaunceth their own Thus as you haue heard the Emperour and Duke Sauary entred into the Citie of Coleyne whereas they were receiued with great ioy and so rode to the Pallayce and there they supped I will make no long rehearsall of the good chéere that they made there Then after Supper they went to their rest and the next morning rose and heard seruice and tooke a sop in wine then departed out of Coleyne It was a goodly hoast to behold they and their carriage and their artillerie reached foure leagues of length Thus they all had sworne the death of Huon they passed by high Borgoyn and by Dolphinne and so passed the riuer of Roan and so into the countrey of Bourdeaux Now I will leaue speaking of them till another season Chap. LXXXIX ¶ How the Emperour Tirrey of Almaine besieged the Citie of Bourdeaux and how Huon made him readie to fight with his enemies THus you haue heard heere before the deuises that the Duchesse Escleremond had made to her husband Huon who as soone as she was churched Huon sent his commaundement through all his countrie euery man to be readie in armes and to come to Bourdeaux because he was aduertised of the comming of his enâ—mies The messengers made such diligence that within fifteene dayes after euerie man was come to Bourdeaux and there Duke Huon receiued them with great ioy Then he repayred the Citie and the towres and walles and it was well furnished with victuals and artillerie as in such a case it well appertained for at that time the Citie of Bourdeaux was not so strong as it is now when Duke Huon saw the Citie so well garnished with men and victuales he was right ioyfull and then he called to him the old Gerames and sayd my right deere friend ye see wel this warre that is apparent betweene the Emperour and mee and now we be wel aduertised of his comming who is ready to come with all his 〈◊〉 to besiege this our Citie and therefore my heartie deere friend who hath ayded me in so many businesses I pray you counsell and ayde me now for in all the conduct of my warre I will that ye haue the charge and that you will comfort my men well so that of vs there be no euill report maâ—e and that our enemies haue no cause to prayse the warre that they haue against vs nor that when they bee returned into their countries that they make not their auaunts among their wenthes and their louers Sir quoth Gerames I thanke you of the honour and great trust that you haue in mee howbeit ye haue many other more sage and hardie then I am to whom this great charge should better appertaine then to me But Syr as for me I shall so acquite me that I trust I shall not be reprehended Thus as you haue heard Huon made his deuises among all his Barons and made all his ordinances for the defence of the Citie and the manner of their issuing and appoynted men for their rescue in reculing And the Emperour was entred into the Countrey of Bourdeaux with a mightie armie burning and destroying the Countrey whereof the poore people were sore abashed because they neuer had war before and thus the Emperour neuer rested wasting and destroying the Countrey till they came before the Cittie of Bourdeaux and there hee pitcht vp his tents and pauillions and the Emperour lay on the way leading to Paris on the other part Duke Sauary father to Raoull was lodged by the Emperours marshalles so that all the Cittie was closed round about Huon who was within the Cittie beheld their countenaunces and manner of their lodging he commaunded that all his men should be readie to issue out vpon their enemies the which they did Then Huon armed himselfe verie richly and mounted vpon his good horse the which was the Emperours and sware that ere he returned again he would shew his enemies what they of Bourdeaux could doe When hee was mounted on his good horse hee came into the Citie and found the old Gerames readie apparelled with all his companie Then he appoynted fiue thousand men to keepe the Citie and twentie thousand men to goe with him Thus Duke Huon made his ordinances Yee may well imagine that the sorrow was great that Escleremond made for the Duke her husband she was right wise she feared to loose him because she knew him so aduenturous and that his enemies were of so great number but right pitiously weeping shee made her prayers to the Lord God deuoutly that hee would keepe and defend Huon her husband and all his men from danger and losse and to send him peace with his enemies Chap. LXXXX ¶ Of the great Battaile that was before Bourdeaux whereas Huon had great losse and the old Gerames taken THus as you haue heard Bourdeaux was besieged by the Emperour of the high Almaynes and by his brother the Duke Sauary with a great number of men Then Huon issued out and when hee was past the port hee made haste to the intent to surprise his enemies for at that time the Emperour was set at dinner Then Huon and his companie all at once dasht in among the tents and Pauillions and beate them down to the earth so that they that were within were much abashed for they thought verily that Huon durst neuer haue issued out of the Citie against him and the great number that hee was of Huon layd on round about him so that who soeuer met with him had no néede of
to thée as thou sayst he wil shew how well he loueth thée he may haue great â—olor wheÌ„ before his eyes he shall sée his coozen and his men hanged then afterward I wil assaile the citie take it perforce so that then Huon in any wise shall not escape out of my hands so to be hanged with other the faire Escleremond shal be burnt or condemned to prison and then I will burne all the Citie and destroy it cleane Sir quoth Gerames you may say your pleasure but in the doing is all the matter when the Emperour saw that Gerames doubted not the death he was sore abashed Then he commanded incontinent Gallows to bée raised vp so great to hang thereon the fortie prisoners to be set on a little rocke neere to the Citie of Bourdeaux to the entent that Huon and his men might sée them plaine therby to abash them the which was done so the matter rested vntill the next day in the morninge And when it was day Huon within the Citie rose and came to his Pallaice and regarded out at his windowes to sée and behold the hoast of his enemies and as he stood he espied the newe Gallowes standing on the rocke then hee called his Lordes and sayd Sirs neuer beleeue but yonder Gallowes that I see newe raysed is for none other entent but for to hang thereupppon my men that bee taken and my good Freende old Gerames whereof I am verie sorrowfull Therefore Sirs quickly make you readie and mount vppon your horses for ere they be hanged we will prooue our selues against them looke toward the Hoast and sée when they bée comming toward the Gallowes and when you sée them be readie on horse-backe and open the gate that we may issue out all at once and let vs neuer thinke to returne vntill we haue rescued our men for I purpose neuer to returne into this Citie vntill I haue deliuered them out of the hands of our enemies Then they armed them about seauen Thousand by tale of good men of armes well horsed readie at the gate to depart when time came Now wée will leaue speaking of Huon and speake of the Emperour Chap. LXXXXII ¶ How Huon yssued out of Bourdeaux and rescued the ould Gerames and his companie whom the Emperor would haue hanged THe Emperour who hadde great desire that Gerames and his company were hanged caused theÌ„ to be brought forth by couples one fast tyed to another and Gerames was the formost who then right tenderly began to weepe when he saw himselfe in that case Ah good Lord quoth he I require thee haue mercie on our soules kéepe and defend my good Lord Duke Huon who by the commandement of King Oberon should giue me his Duchy and he to haue king Oberons dignitie of the Fayrie after foure yeares passed I cannot say what fortune will fall but I may well say that I shall neuer come to greater honor yet I am comforted in that I am so old it is good reason that I be content to haue liued so long it is now time that I depart out of this world Then the Emperour called vnto him a Knight and said Sir Othon I will that incontinent you take three Thousand men and take these Prisoners and hang them vp all vppon the Gallowes that were made yester-night late and if it bee so that Huon yssue out looke that you quit your selfe valiantly and if you haue néed of any ayd take my horne and blow it for I haue ready appointed ten Thousand men to succour you if need bée When Othon heard the Emperour hee was right sorrie to haue that euill office for in his youth hée was brought vp in the house of Duke Seuin Father to Huon and somewhat he was of his kin but as then hee had slaine a man wherefore he fled from Bourdeaux and came and serued the Emperor at Mayence wherefore he was right sorrowfull to haue that Commission then hee sayd vnto the Emperour Sir mée thinkes you doe ill to cause them to die so hastily better it were to abide to sée what end your warre will come vnto and also if it fortune that any of your Lords to be taken hereafter for one of them you might recouer him againe and if you slay them then if any of your Barons happen to bee taken they shall die of like death and therefore Sir if you wil beléeue me you shall forbeare slaying them at this time and Sir if you will giue me licence I will doe so much to Duke Huon that for the offence that he hath done vnto you hee shall make you amends at your owne pleasure and hee shall goe vnto some holy Pilgrimage to pray for the Soules of your Nephews and other of your lords that he hath slain and he to haue with him two Hundred men in their shirtes and so to goe to the holy Sepulchre at his owne charge and coste and hee to hould of you all his Landes and to doe you homage Then the Lordes that were there present all with one voice sayd vnto the Emperour Sir the counsaile that sir Othon hath giuen vnto you is worthy to bee beleeued wée all agree thereto and desire you so to doe but when the Emperour heard them he was sorowfull and sore displeased Sir quoth Othon you may surely know if you hang any of them that be taken if Huon happen to take any of your men hee shall neuer escape vnhanged and drawne When the Emperour had heard Othon speake he was so troubled angry that it seemed by his face that for verie anger he was neere hand in a rage and said Behold sirs this Foole who would let mee to take vengeance on them that so sore haue troubled me he hath heard me ere this time sweare and make solemn promise that I would neuer returne into my Countrey vntill I had hanged and drawne Huon of Bourdeaux for by that Lord that made mée to his similitude I knowe no man this day though he were neuer so neere a kin to me except mine owne Brother but I shall make him to be slaine if he speak any more to me for respiting of their liues nor I shall neuer loue him for I make a vow to our Lord God that I will neuer returne into my Country vntill I haue taken this Citie perforâ—e Sir quoth Othon séeing it is your pleasure I shal speake no more thereof but I beleeue it will bee longe hereafter before you finde any that will be glad to doe your pleasure Othon quoth the Emperour dispatch the matter and reuenge me vpon the old Gerames and vpon all his companie Sir quoth Othon it is conuenient that I doe it séeing it is your pleasure then without any more words he departed and tooke Gerames and the other Prisoners and went with them towards the Gallowes Gerames went before with the haulter about his necke sore weeping and all his companie after him so that at the laste they came
that be dead and for other that by him and by his meanes haue beene slaine in this warre Sir if it please you this to doe ye shall doe a great almes deede for life cannot bee had againe to them that bee dead When the Emperour Tyrrey had wel heard Habourey the messenger he became as red as a brand of fire and regarded the messenger fiercely and sayd Auoyd my sight thou false varlet but that I doubt to be reprooued I should cause thée to be hewen in peeces but a messenger ought not to be touched for any words that hee can speake but say to thy Lord that by him and by his meanes I haue lost more then twentie thousand men beside my thrée Nephewes my yonger brother but by the Lord that died on the Crosse to redeeme vs all I will neuer haue peace with him till I haue him at my pleasure nor neuer returne thou againe hither to mee nor none other vpon any such message When Habourey the messenger heard the Emperour hee was in great feare and would gladly haue béen in Bourdeaux then he departed without any more speaking and rested not till hee came to Bourdeaux where hee went to the Pallaice wheras he found Duke Huon then he sayd Sir I haue béene with the Emperour and shewed him at full all your message but his answere will not serue to your demaunde for he sayd to mee that he will haue no peace with you till he haue you at his pleasure to doe with you what hee will and thus I departed from him and left him sitting at his table at dinner Chap. LXXXXV ¶ How Huon issued out of Bourdeaux and came to the tents and fought with the Emperour WHen Huon vnderstood the Messenger hee was full of anger and displeasure and saide Sirs I commaunde you all in hast to goe and arme you for ere euer the Almaines bee risen from their dinners and armed I shall make them so sorrowfull that they shall curse the houre that euer they were borne for I had rather die then to leaue them in this point for I will goe serue them of their first messe Then euery man armed him and Huon leapt vpon his good horse Amphage and then he tooke his leaue of the faire Escleremond his wife and so departed out of Bourdeaux with his company and road towardes the Emperours Tents The same time the Emperour was risen from his Table and he had ordained three hundred men on horsebacke to keepe the Tents whiles he was at dinner then Huon and his company came so quickly that hee was among them ere they perceiued any thing and he cried Bourdeaux and strake a Knight with his Speare cleane through the body so that he fell dead to the earth then he ran at another and serued him in likewise and so he slew foure before his Speare brake Then he drew his Sword beat down men and horses and brake the thickest presse so that euerie man gaue him way and Gerames Othon Barnard and Rychard and all his company did maruels in armes so much they did that within a short space the iij. hundred Almaines that were set to keepe the Tents were all slayne Then Huon and his company entred in among the Tents and Pauilions where they bet downe the Tents such as they met were slaine then the Almaines on all parts armed them and the Emperour sounded his Trumpets armed him he was so sorrowfull and angry with the trauell damage he was put too by Huon that hee enraged and was néere out of his wit for night and day he could take no rest When he was armed hee mounted on his horse and xx M. Almaines with him and they all sware the death of Huon whome God defend for if he long taried there he should be in danger of his life But he was wise and discréet in Feats of armes hée looked towards the Emperours Tent and sawe well twentie Thousand men readie to come vpon him then he said to his men Sirs it is time that wee retire to our Citie wee may well now goe without blame for we may no longer tarie heere without great danger Sir quoth Gerames wée bee readie to doe your commaundement then they tooke the way to returne to the Citie but the Emperour who greatly desired the death of Huon he his men pursued Huon as fast as their horses could goe when the Emperor was néere to Huon he said Ah thou false Traytour so many times thou hast troubled and angered mee that longer I will not suffer thée to liue turne toward me for with thee I will iust or else I shall slay thée flying I had rather to die then not to take of thée vengeance for the hurts that thou hast done to mée When Huon heard how the Emperor called him Traytor hee was sore displeased and turned his horse towardes the Emperour and sayd Ah false old Churle whereas thou sayest I am a Traytor I shall shew thee how thou lyest falsely then they ran eache at other with their Speares in their restes so that they met so rudely strake each other on their sheelds by such force that their sheeldes burst assunder the Emperour was a puissant Prince so that his Speare burst all to péeces but Huons Speare was strong and held wherewith he gaue the Emperour such a stroake that Sheeld nor Holberd coulde not warraunt him but that the Speare entred into the Emperors side so that if he had not swarued aside he had not escaped death that stroake was so sore that the Emperour sell to the earth in such wise that néere hand he had broken his neck with the fall and so lay in a swound Huon séeing the Emperour lying on the earth in great rage and displeasure he desired to haue slaine the Emperor then he drew out his Sword turned to strike off his head the which he had don if he had not ben rescued but the Almains frō all parts came thither so that they rescued the Emperour from death and sette him on a horse with much paine then he thanked our Lord God that he was so well escaped and made a vowe to God that he would neuer more fight with Huon hand to hand but hee would pursue him to the death if he could Chap. LXXXXVI ¶ How Huon made another issue out of Bourdeaux and tooke away all the beastes that were in the pastures without the towne pertaining to the Emperours hoast WHen Huon sawe that hee could doe no more at that time and that the Almaines encreased in great number to haue assayled him then he spurred his good horse Amphage who made such leapes that it séemed hee had flowne in the ayre he had his sword in his hand and stroke therewith so great strokes that none durst approach neere him Thus he rode after his men and led them towards the Citie as the shepheard doth his shéepe for as soone as his enemies approached néere him he shewed
them his shield and his speares poynt and as hee rode there came a yong knight named Gerard right hardie and valiant in armes hee was bastard sonne to the Emperour who greatly desired in his heart to winne honour and prayse hee sawe Huon mounted on his good horse and sawe likewise that no man durst approach neere vnto him hee came after him and cryed Ah thou false Traitour to flie away it shal not auaile thée for I bring thy death in the point of my speare with the which I shal slay thee flying without thou turne to mee for ere thou scape me I shall cause thée to be hanged in the sight of them within Bourdeaux When Huon vnderstood the Knight and saw the great hate and rage that he was in and hearing how he called him Traitour he thought and sayd to himselfe that he had rather die then he that had sayd these words should haue departed without feeling the sharpenesse of his speare the which hee couched in the rest and spurred his horse who ranne like the thunder and he gaue the knight such a horrible stroke that neither his shield nor his armour could saue his life for his speare pierced through both his sides and hee was cleane borne ouer his horse â—â—upper starke dead Go thy way quoth Huon thou shalt neuer haue power to doe any man displeasure any more and then he drew his sword wherewith hee dealt such discipline among the Almaines that all fledde before him Gerames Othon and Bernarde and Richard employed their forces and vertues right valiantly but the Almaines did so much that Huon lost part of his men and the rest he ledde with him oftentimes hee turned and returned against his enemies but whatsoeuer force or prowesse hee shewed if he had not in haste gone away he nor neuer a one of his men had escaped without death for more then thirtie thousand Almaines were néere him and all those desired his death but God gaue him that grace that hee and the small number that he had left entred with him into the Citie and the gates were cloâ—â—â— and the Emperour in great displeasure returned to his tent and by the way hee found his bastard sonne dead for whome he made such sorrow that his Lords nor his brother could not appease him and so hee caused him to be borne to the tents and was greatly complained of all the Barons for hee was like to haue beene a verie noble man And Huon went to his Pallaice where he found the faire Escleremond who demaunded how he did Right well Lady quoth Huon thanked bee God I am returned in sauegard but I haue lost many of my men and therwith he wept and the Ladie comforted him so much as shee might Then the Emperour being in his hoast knowing for truth that Huon 〈…〉 a small companie in the Citie and that he thought hee could doâ— him but small damage from thence forth 〈◊〉 and came and lay neerer the Citie and dressed vp his 〈◊〉 and mountaines to breake the wâ—lles and made euerie day bâ—ttering at the walles and they within defended â—hem valiantly for with their crosbowes many men both within and without were slaine This siege endured from the beginning of August to the Easter after whereof Huon was sore displeased and verie much complayned for the losse of his noble Barons and other good men that hee had lost Also hee saw his towres and gates so beaten and his enemies lying before the Citie and looked for no succor from any part and that he had with him not aboue thrée hundred knights and a hundred men to keepe the Citie withall then he called Esâ—leâ—emond his wife and sayd Madame I know well you indure trouble and displeasure inough and therefore I pray you if you can giue me any good counsell giue it me now for the rage and displeasure that I haue at my heart troubleth so mine vnderstanding that I cannot tell what to doâ— now on the other part I see my Citie besieged and my men slaine and I can get no agréement with the Emperour for he is sore displeased with mee that I can neuer haue his loue hee hath slaine my men whereof I am so sorrowfull that my heart neere fayleth me Sir quoth Escleremond yee doe great wrong to say these words before mee or in this sort to complaine your damages if you would haue beleeued mee then you had gone to my brother for succour who would haue come with you and brought you such a number of men that the Emperour durst not haue abidden you and also to haue made therby my brother a Christian man for hee hath beléeued in our Lord God this seuen yeeres past Madam quoth Huon all that you say might haue beene done but I hadde rather haue lost three such Cities as this then to haue left you and my Lords and good Burgesses whome I loue so faythfully if I had but a thousand Knights to defend my Citie with an ill will I should depart from you for I am assured that if I goe and seeke for succour both I shall haue paine inough and yee that shall abide heere are like to haue more for I know well that the Emperour so hateth vs as hee setteth all his intent to haue vs and if hee take you you shall be in great perill and if I tarâ—ie here with you and goe for no succour this Citie will bee taken or famished and both you and I be destroyed the Emperour who loueth vs but a little and not without a cause iâ— he may take mee I shall die a shamefull death It is no maruaile if hee be displeased with mee for I haue slaine his sonnes and nephewes and many of his best friendes if he may take me I shal haue no pitie shewed me and I know well without I haue some succour my ende is at hand Wherefore Madame I thinke it best that I goe to your brother for succour for I sée that I haue tarried ouerlong Sir quoth Escleremond ye speake of this verie late for now ye know well that all our bread and wine and flesh and fish begins to faile vs and all our other victuals wherefore it cannot be long after your departure but that this Citie wil be taken and destroyed and the men within slaine and I ledde into great misery yet for all that I would not couÌ„sel you to abide here but I pray you make hast to depart When Huon heard her he began to weep abashing his cheere to the earth and studying a little hee sayd Madame I thinke vpon one thing the which to you will be profitable whereby you shall haue victuall inough to liue an whole yéere Sir quoth she of that I thanke God if it may so come to passe Madam quoth Huon I shall tell you how this City may be reuitayled without any great losse of any men true it is that here without in the medow there are two hundred men set there by the Emperor to
keep the beasts pertaining to his host the which are without number what in beefes kine hogs and more theâ— ten thousand shéep which beasts ere I sléep I will bring into this Citie and then ye may slay them and poâ—der them in salt so that ye shall haue no famine for a whole yeere Sir quoth she I pray vnto God you may bring it well to passe thus they taried vntill supper time and after when it was night and that they thought that they of the hoast were a sleepe and saw that the weather was troubleous euen as they would desire it he armed him and all his men and set men at the gate to defende him at his recoiling Then hee mounted vppon his good horse and he opened the gate and yssued out as priuily as hée might and tooke the way to the meadow and came thether and Huon then cried and sayde Ah ye Villaines this pasturage is mine I come to challeng it in an euill houre yee put your beasts heere to pasture yee shall make me amends for all the beasts that I find héere in my pasture I will goe and pound them and if the Emperor will haue them hee must buy them and make amendes for their forfaite and yee that bee the Keepers shall dearely abide it When the kéepers heard Huon speake they had great feare and they thought to haue gone and taken their horses and so to haue defended themselues but Huon and his companie gaue them no leysure so to doe for Huon with his speare strake one starke dead and after he slew the second then the third and fourth and so slew very many as long as his Speare held then hée set his hand on his sword wherewith he claue asunder healmets and sheelds and beat down men on euerie side and Gerames Othon Richard did verie valiantly and so much did Huon and his men within a short space that the twoo Hundred men that kept the beasts were all slaine except one who escaped and ranne to the Emperours hoast where he shewed the Emperour how Huon and his men were issued out of the Citie and that all the kéepers of the beastes were slaine and the beasts taken and driuen into the Citie When the Emperour heard these tidings he was right sorrowfull and armed him and his men and leapt on their horses and ranne towards the Citie to stoppe Huon from entring into the Citie but before they came thether all the beastes were entred into the Citie Nowe when Huon saw the Emperour comming he said vnto his men Sirs I require you let vs turne vpon our enemies who commeth after vs for I would faine shew them how men that commeth from foraging can runne with their Speares Then they turned against the Almaines so that each of them â—â—re a man to the earth and they drewe their Swords and stewe men round about them and Huon vpon his good horse Amphage held his Swoord in his hand all to be sprinkled wâ—th the bloud of his enemies wherewith he cut off armes legs and hands he was more doubted then the Deuill for by his prowesse hee did so muâ—h that his enemies fledde before him and made him way so that in despite of all the Almaines after that he and his men had slaine foure Thousand of his enemies he entred into the City with al that pray of his beasts wherewith the Emperour and his men that followed were sore displeased for the losse that they had receiued for that Huon was so escaped from their hands and that he had taken away their beastes and slaine his men Thus as yee haue heard Huon entred into the Citie of Bourdeaux with all his pray Chap. LXXXXVII ¶ How Huon of Bourdeaux made him readie to go to seeke for some succour And of the sorrow that the Duchesse his wife made AFter that Huon was entred into the Citie he went to his Pallaice and there found the Duchesse Escleremond who vnlaced his helmet and clipped and kissed him and saide Sir I pray you howe haue you done Faire Ladie quoth he we haue slaine many an Almaine and haue brought away the pray for in all the Emperours hoste we haue not left neither Porke Kine nor Mutton we haue brought all into this Citie thanked bee God so now I shall leaue you in more suertie in mine absence for you haue nowe victuall inough for a whole yeare Nowe I will goe to your Brother and if I find that hee will bee christened I shall bring him with me if not I shall defie him and slay him without he will beleeue on Iesus Christ whatsoeuer fortune fall Sir quoth Escleremond sore wéeping haue no doubt of that for it is more then seauen yeres since he desired to be christened wherefore Sir I require you loue my Brother Madame quoth Huon I shall doe your pleasure then he called to him his priuie friends and saide Sirs yée knowe well what danger and perill we be in and because in all thinges néedefull there ought to be made prouision with diligence this Citie is now well prouided of victualles wherefore yée shall not néede to make any issuing out without yée sée great aduantage as for assault if yée defend it well it is impregnable for our enemies to win it but if yée be to yéeld it vp beware what yée doe for the great hate that the Emperour hath against vs peraduenture will constraine him to breake his promise if yée be taken by force or by this meanes yée shall all die miserably and my wife bee murdered in prison or else miserably to finish her dayes and my little Daughter Clariet whome I loue so dearely shee shal be lost and my Citie destroyed and brought to vtter ruine wherefore I commend vnto you my wife and my Daughter and all the rest vntill I returne againe the which shal be shortly if I may and I shall bring with mee such succour that yee shall all bee ioyfull thereof Sir quoth Gerames God giue grace to send you againe in sauegard you knowe well that you leaue vs in great pouertie and feare wherefore wee all desire you not to forget vs and therewith they all wept Then Huon sayd I pray yee make no such sorrow â—or my departing for yee know the businesse that causeth mee to depart for without I goe for some succour yee know well we are but dead and Gerames I giue you the keeping of my wife and Child ye are bound to serue me truely for in you I haue my perfect trust Sir quoth Gerames haue you no doubt but that as longe as I haue life in my bodie I shall not faile them in life nor death When Huon heard Gerames say so he began sore to wéepe and the faire Ladie Escleremond began to make such sorrow that great pitie it was to see her she wrang her hands and tore her haire and made such out-cries that euerie man had pitie of her yet they comforted her as much as they might But
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
to get any fresh victuall then it is reason that the Lord and Captaine to haue the one halfe to his part and the other part 〈◊〉 to bee deuided amongest his men Maister quoth 〈◊〉 you may doe your pleasure doe as you shall thinke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Patrone caused all their victuals to bee brought 〈…〉 was deuided the Patrone was a wise man 〈…〉 that hee began to weepe hee did eate but 〈…〉 because his victuall should endure the 〈…〉 all that but little auailed for before fifteene 〈…〉 all their victuals were spent except Huons 〈…〉 man part and kept for 〈…〉 other men had And as they were in this 〈…〉 a Galley wherein were Thirtie men 〈…〉 and Pirats of the Sea they came and arriued â—eere â—â— the Shippe whereas Huon was in not knowing what place they were in when they arriued it was in a darke night they had great maruaile of Huons Shippe wherein they sawe great light and then they sayd one to another it is happie for 〈◊〉 that wee haue found heere this faire Shippe it can â—ot â—ee but it is rich and full of goods they shall not escape vs 〈◊〉 shalâ— bee ours for therâ—in are â—ut fewe men to defend the Shippe Chap. CX ¶ Howe a Galley with Sarazins came and â—ffâ—yled Huon who 〈…〉 and also all Huons men and how Huon went to 〈…〉 of the Adamant and slewe the great Serpent and of 〈…〉 that hee found there WHen Huon saw the Galley ariue and going to his Shippe hee hadde great maruaile what men they were then he alighted a torch and toâ—ke it in his hand and came 〈…〉 on the Shippe and sayd Sirs of this 〈…〉 well arriued heere wee haue great ioy of your companie wheÌ„ the Sarasins heard Huon they perceiued by his language that he and his companie were Christian men then each of them beheld other smiling for ioy one of them turned his spéech and spake good Spanish and sayde to Huon Fellow it is no néede for vs to hide what wee bée all wee that thou séest héere bee Sarasins and ye be Christned wherefore we will haue al the riches that is in your ship and beside that all your heads shall be striken off and your bodyes cast into the sea Paynim quoth Huon ere thou hast our shippe at thy commandement first thou shalt buye it déerely Then Huon cryed to his men that they should arme themselues to defende them from the Paynims the which they did diligently And Huon who was readie armed and by that time the Sarasins were entred into the shippe Huon was readie before them with his sword in his hand wherewith he strake the first that he mette with all in such wise that his head flew from his shoulders Then he strake another and claue him to the throat and so the third and the fourth were shortly slaine he layd on so rounde about him that his enemies were afrayde to behold him Then the cheefe maister of the theeues came and rebuked his men because they had suffered Huon to doe them so much hurt and domage he approached to Huon to haue striken him but Huon who was light and expert in déedes of armes auoyded his stroke and strake the Sarasin with a reuerse that his head flew from his body a great way off Then Huon cryed Bourdeaux to reioyce his men and to giue them courage Also Arnolde who had seene the Serpent in the Castle did maruailes and beate downe his enemies whereof Huon had great ioy And there was a great mightie Sarasin who came behinde this knight Arnold as he fought with another Sarasin and he gaue Arnold with an axe such a great stroke that hee claue his head to the téeth whereof Huon was right sorrowfull and sayd hee had rather die then the death of Arnold should not be reuenged Then hee approached neere vnto the same Paynim and lifting vppe his Sworde with both his handes hee strooke the Sarasin on the shoulder that the sword entred into the breast And the Patron of Huons Shippe vnarmed came into the battaile with a great staffe in his handes wherewith hee laid vppon the Sarazins in such wise that such as hee strake needed after no Surgion Then a Sarazin aduised him and came and gaue the Patrone such a stroake with a Swoord vppon the head that his head was clouen to the braine wherewith Huon was right sorrowfull and sore displeased But it was not long before he reuenged his death for hee strake the Sarazin such a stroake that hee claue him to the breast and when the Patrones Seruaunts sawe that their Maister was slayne they all made great sorrowe and disarmed as they were they came and entred into the Battaile with great staues in their handes and fought with them fiercely But the Sarazins who were all armed had anone slayne them all whereof Huon was right sorrowfull and angry for hee hadde then with him lest aliue no moe but foure men of defence And the Sarazins who in the beginning were Thirtie were all slayne except seauen persons they greatly feared Huon for they sawe well that none coulde endure against his stroakeâ— and then they fledde out of Huons shippe and entred into their owne Galley But Huon and his thrée Knightes that were with him followed them so fast that they slew them all and caste them into the Sea Then Huon and the thrée Knightes that were with him tooke all the flesh bread and wine that was in the Galley and bare it into their shippe whereby they liued more then seauen Monethes And then when their victuals begann to fayle then they were right sorrowfull they had no victuall to liue by longe and yet they did â—aâ—e but little so they beganne to be pale and leane through famine pitiously Huon complayned and sayd Oh yee my déere and true Freends who for my loue haue left your Lands your Wiues and Children nâ—we I peâ—ceiue yée must néedes die for thâ—â—agâ— of famine â—las poore Cayliffe that I am I shall not longe liue after you great pitie it was to heare the complaints that Huon made who saw that he must folow the same daunce Then hee sayd Ah faire Ladie Escleremond I shall neuer see you more I pray vnto our Lord God that hee will comfort you in all your affaires as for mee poore soule it is impossible to liue foure dayes longer After that hee had made this pitifull complaint hee beheld the thrée Knights who rendred vp their soules and died through hunger The pitifull complaints that then he made was pitie to heare he had no hope to be aided by any mortall man wherefore he knew surely that hee could not liue aboue twoo dayes longer Then all weeping hee went from his Knightes that lay there dead and went to the board of his shippe and looked into the Sea to see if hee might espie any manner of Shippe comming thether For hee thought that if any shippe came thether of the Sarazins hee woulde haue some victuals or else to
arose vp as desirous to know whether any man or woman were within the Castle or not to speake vnto them he entred into the hall the which he maruailously regarded it was so fayre and ritch to beholde that there is no Clarke in the world can discribe the beautie and richesse thereof the rich Chambers that were on the side of the hall were all composed and made of whiâ—e marble poliâ—â—ed the posts were couered with fine golde at the ende of the hall there was a chimney whereof the two pillars that sustained the Mantle trée were of fine Iasper and the Mantle was of a rich Calsedony and the Lintell was made of fine Emeraâ—is â—rayled with a wing of fine gold and the Grapis of fine Saphers This chimney was so rich that none such could bée â—ound and all the Pillars in the hall were of red Calsedonie and the pauement was of fine Amber When Huon had well beheld this Hall hee looked towards the Chambers ouer the doore of euerie Chamber was written in letters of gold the which shewed where the keyes were of euerie chamber Huon who could well reade the letters and vnderstood it he found a purse wherein were the keyes of euerie chamber all of fine golde he tooke one of the keyes and opened one of the Chamber doores and entred into the Chamber Then he looked all about the Chamber and sawe it garnished and hanged with the most richest cloathes that euer were séene the benches and bedsteads were all of white Iuorie so richly entrayled and wrought and garnished with precious stones that no mans tongue could describe the beautie and richesse thereof all was made by enchauntment This Pallaice was exceeding great and large and well garnished with chambers When Huon had well beheld this chamber hee was greatly abashed that hee could neyther see man nor woman Then he looked ouer another Chamber doore where there was also written in letters of gold according as it was written ouer the first doore Then Huon tooke the key and opened another doore and entred into that Chamber also and there he found a great quantitie of gold and riches and rich Iewelles with other most precious stones that great beautie it was for to behold Ah good Lord quoth Huon I would neuer haue beléeued that in all the world there had beene so much riches as I sée héere present before mée then anone he sawe another chamber and tooke the key and entred therein and for all the riches that he sawe before there hee found much more there were Presses made of fine Iuorie very richly wrought and entrayled so that there was no beast nor birde but there it was most cunningly wrought in the which Presse were gownes and roabes of most fine gold and most rich mantles furred with Sabyles and all other things the which were appertayning vnto the apparell of man-kinde and the beds so richly couered that it was impossible to be described by anie mortall man this chamber was so fayre and rich that Huon could neuer bee satisfied with beholding and viewing thereof there were windowes verie richly glazed opening vppon a Garden side the which Garden was so fayre and so well garnished with flowers of most precious swéete smelling and of all manner of trees charged with fruits so good and so delicious to eate that the verie smell of them would haue satisfied a mans appetite Huon who saw this fayre garden desired greatly to enter into it to gather some of that fruit hee looked ouer the doore and found the purse with the key therin and then he opened the doore and went into the garden and gathered of the fruite at his pleasure and did eate thereof for hee had a great desire to eate hee thought the fruit maruailous good If I should shewe or discribe the beautie of this garden it would be ouerlong to resite there were so many sundrie fruits so fayre and so sweete of smelling that a sicke man of any infirmitie would soone haue recouered his health Also there were herbs and flowres so sweet and delightfull that all the garden seemed to be full of balme When Huon had beene there a good space and had well eaten of the fruite at his pleasure hee returned backe into the chamber that hee came from and then hee vnarmed him and putte off all his cloathes and tooke out of the Presse a fine shirt and doublet hosen and shooes gowne coate and cappe such as he would choose for there was no man to say him nay when hee was thus newly arriued there could not bee founde a more goodlier man according as the Chronicle sayth I beléeue hee was borne by the Fairie as then there could not bee found so goodly a man liuing When he was thus apparelled he went from chamber to chamber alwayes hearkening whether he could heare the voyces either of men or women but as long as hee continued there he could heare nothing whereof hee was right sorrowfull There hée continued eight dayes without eating of any thing sauing of the fruits of the Gardine whereby hee waxed féeble and â—aint the which was no maruaile for hee had béene there eight dayes without eating either bread or flesh he was so féeble that hee thought he could not long indure there without death Then he prayed vnto our Lord God for to comfort and strengthen him out of that great daunger most pittiously hee complayned for his wife and childe saying Ah my deere Wife God ayde and succour you in all your affayres for ye shall neuer haue any succour and ayde of me more for I tarrie but for the howre of my death the which is nowe neere at hand approaching vnto mee for I am so sore and grieuously bitten with famine that I haue much paine to sustaine my selfe Thus Huon was eight dayes in the Caâ—â—le of the Adamant euerie day eating of the fruits of the gardine and at night hee lay euer in the 〈◊〉 bed in the chamber Now let vs leaue speaking of him and let vs turne to the Duchesse Escleremond who was besieged within the Citie of Bourdeaux whereas she was in great displeasure and not without a cause for shee suffered much paine and trouble Chap. CXII ¶ How after that Huon was departed from Bourdeaux the Emperour made diuers assaults to the Cittie but hee could not win it for the defence of the good chiualrie that was within it and of the ambushment that was layd by the counsell of Duke Sauary whereby the Citie was taken and wonne YE haue heard before howe Duke Huon departed from his Citie of Bourdeaux wheras hee left the Duchesse his wife who was in great displeasure when she sawe the departing of her husband she greatly complayned and sayd Ah my right â—eere Lord your departure ought gâ—eatly to greeue mee I feare you shall not come in time to succour and to bring me out of the danger that I am in for it is impossible for vs long to endure against this Emperour Aâ—as I haue
more soâ—roâ— for my daughter theÌ„ for my selfe and I am sorrowfull for my Lords and 〈◊〉 who for the loue of you and mee are in peâ—â—ll of thâ—ir 〈…〉 had beene better for vs to haue tarryed still in 〈…〉 come hither to â—uffer all these toâ—menâ—s pâ—ines and 〈…〉 and at last painefull deaâ—h with saying of these 〈…〉 Duchesse fell in a trâ—â—â—ce among her Lords 〈…〉 releeâ—ed 〈◊〉 sayde discomfort you 〈◊〉 but take good 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 your men who haue great desire to defend 〈◊〉 Citie for the sauegard of their owne bodyes and liues thus to make sorrow ye can winne nothing thereby but loose more to more haue no doubt that Huon your husbande will leaue you at this poynt hee is gone to your brother for succour hee will not long tarrie and he will bring you such succour that the Emperour nor the Almaines shall haue no leysure to grant him the victorie Thus Gerames comforted the Duchesse who was glad for to heare Gerames and thus as they deuised together the Emperour who was aduertised of Huons departing and how he was gone for succour he assembled his Councell into his tent and there hee shewed and declared the great losses that he had suffered as well of the death of his nephewes as of other of his friends and kynne and the great domage that by Huon he had suffered and sayde Sirs all this ye know well his acquaintance hath cost vs déerely ye haue all heard how he is departed to séeke for succour but I cannot tell to what part hee is gone As for the Realme of Fraunce I know right well hee shall haue no succour there for as it hath béene shewed mée of â—ate that the right Noble and victorious Prince Charlemaine is dead who loued Huon but little because of his sonne Charlot whome Huon slew and Charlemaine hath left behinde him but one sonne named Lewes who is but of a yong age and I beléeue if hee were of full age that he would rather come for to succour me then Huon who slewe Charlot his brother therfore it can be no otherwise but that he is gone into some far countrey for succour therefore I thinke it best that in the meane time ere he returne that on all sides let vs continually assaile the Citie and let euerie one doe their part to bee reuenged for the death of their friendes which are héere slaine by them within the Citie When the Lordes heard the Emperour all with one voyce aunswered and sayd Syr the reason which you haue shewed vnto vs is to bee kept and done and wee shall goe arme vs and make vs all readye to the intent to come to your intention the which is verie good and reasonable Then they sounded al their hornes and busins and euerie man speedily armed himselfe and came with Ensigne displayde to assayle the Cittie and they that were within as well as they could they defended the Citie they which were without reared vppe ladders against the walles with mightie strength but they which were within did beate them down into the Dikes and then they did cast downe vppon them hote leade and boyling Dyle and quicke Lyme and great stones and fagots burning so that they which were down in the Dikes had no power for to reléeue themselues againe but there most miserably dyed vnder the ladders There was on both parts exceeding great shooting wyth Crosbowes and slinging of stones so thicke that they seemed like vnto snow flying in the ayre maruailous it was to beholde the olde Gerames howe hee exhorted his companie for to doe well and also the Duchesse Escleremond with her daughter in her armes crying vnto her men and sayde Yee my deere Lords and Knights fight lustily but to your paynes for to defende your bodyes and your liues your wiues and your children to the intent that the Almaynes make not their bragges and vaunts of theyr winning of this most noble Citie by theyr assaults the which is so goodly and rich for Sirs I knowe right well yee shall not abide this trouble for no long season for Duke Huon your rightfull Lorde will shortly ayde and succour vs all Then all the noble Barons Knights and Burgesses hearing the excéeding great comfort of the Noble and vertuous Lady the Duchesse Escleremond with a maruaylous great courage and valour they came to theyr defences and behaued themselues so valiantly that theyr enemies were forced to retyre backe with great losse and domage whereof the Emperour and his Lords were right sorrowfull and they within the Citie right ioyfull of the great victorye the which God had giuen them that day Then euery man went vnto his lodging and made great ioy and the Emperour and his men withdrew themselues in great displeasure for his losse When the Emperour was vnarmed and had well refreshed himselfe then hee sayde vnto his Lordes Sirs wee haue beene a long season before this Citie and haue sustained many losses therefore sirs I require you to counsell mee what is 〈…〉 do this Citie is strong and wel furnished with knights and men to defend it by vs it will neuer be wonne without vicâ—ualles â—aile them but I thinke they haue but small store of 〈◊〉 therefore I desire you to shew me your abuises whether 〈◊〉 shall depart from this Citie without more doing or 〈◊〉 here vpon such fortune as God will send vs. When the Emperour had sayd as much as hee pleased then the Duke Sauâ—â—y his brother rose vp and sayd Sir me thinkes if it may 〈◊〉 beleeued that this Citie cannot long endure and the cause 〈◊〉 I shall shew you ye knowe well that Huon their Lord is 〈◊〉 to seeke for succour on the other side they within the Citie haue but fewe men and but ill furnished of victualles within the Citie there is an old knight who is a valiant and a hardie knight and therefore it were profitable to studie howe he might bee taken or else slaine this should greatly aduaunce your enterprise of the which ye cannot fayle if you wil beléeue my counsell as I shall shewe you True it is that this day wee haue had great losse and receiued great domage whereof they within are ioyfull wherefore it were good to send certain mutâ—ons and beasts in the night time with a few keepers sende them into the medow neere vnto the Citie and I am sure that when the olde knight knowes thereof the which he shall know by the watch men on the towres and walles then incontinent he 〈◊〉 out 〈◊〉 such power as hee hath to take the beasts 〈◊〉 bring them into the Citie And to the intent that they â—â—all neuer returne againe into the Citie incontinent ere the 〈…〉 a good number of Béefs and Muttons Then 〈…〉 armed tenne thousand men and send them to a 〈…〉 whereas the gallowes is raysed and when they 〈◊〉 that they within the Citie bee issued out to fetch the 〈…〉 the tenne Thousand men drawe neere to the gate 〈…〉 to the
eâ—tent that they without shall not enter 〈…〉 to their great losse And if you will thus doe I put 〈…〉 that before it be midnight they shall bee all taken 〈◊〉 and the matter may so come to passe that you shall enter into the Citie at your pleasure Thus I haue shewed you as I thinke best if any man know any better way let him speake Then euerie man regarded the Emperour and sayde Sir the counsaile that Duke Sauary hath giuen you wee thinke that a better counsayle cannot bée giuen to any Prince When the Emperour vnderstod the counsaile of his brother Duke Sauary and that all his Lordes did allow the same hee was right ioyfull and sayde that it should bee so done Then he called his marshall and commanded that it should be done according as his Brother had deuised it before the which was done verie diligently and sent with him fiftie men with sixe hundred muttons and two hundred beasts néere vnto the Citie and then layd theyr ambushment of tenne thousande men by the little mountaine it was darke night and the Moone was not risen whereby they within could not perceiue them the which turned to theyr great losse and damage for all those that issued out of the Citie of Bourdeaux were slaine and taken prisoners as ye shal heare hereafter Chap. CIIII. ¶ Of the death of the olde Gerames and of the taking of the Citie of Bourdeaux and of the comming of the Duchesse with the Emperour and of the deliuering vp of the Castle to the Emperour YE haue heard before howe the Emperour assayled the Citie of Bourdeaux and of the great losse that he sustained wherof Gerames and they within the Citie were right ioyfull and made great feasts and thanked our Lord God Then after Supper Gerames called all the knights and other together and sayde Sirs ye haue séene this day the great assault that the Emperour and his men haue made to this Citie but thanked be God the losse is returned to them for there are dead and wounded a great number of them and many of them are sore wearyed with trauaile and thinke now for to rest themselues and now is their howre that they be sette at Supper and customably they sitte euer long at their Table farre longer then French men doe wherefore I thinke best that incontinent without delay we should arme our selues and issue out of the Citie and goe to their tents and rayse them and then lette vs doe there as good Knights ought to doe to the intent that good songs may bee made of vs and that the Almaines haue no cause to say but that wee bee as good men as they bee Sir quoth Othon and Barnard we be readie thus to doe Sirs quoth Gerames let vs make haste that we may returne againe ere the Moone riseth Then they armed themselues Alas what an il aduenture came to them at night for the most part of those that issued out were taken and slaine Ah good Lord what a losse fell to the Citie of Bourdeaux Ah noble Lady Escleremond yee may well weepe and complaine all your dayes for sorow paine and dolour approacheth néere whereby ye are like to beare such diseases and pouertie that no man liuing can recount it nor yee shall neuer bee out of that daunger and trouble till yee be deliuered by the good Duke Huon your husband When Gerames and his companie were readie they mounted on their horses and issued out at the gate as priuily as they could so that they were not perceiued by them that were set to watch for them nor they heard not when they were in the field they rode a false gallop to the tents the which they might well â—e cleerely by the lights that were in the tents when they came neere they dashed their spurres to their horses and cryed Bourdeaux and sâ—rake and cut asunder the cordes and stayes so that many tents fell to the earth and such as came out were slaine a great noyse and crie beganne to rise in the hoast and euerie man ranne to their armour and Gerames and his companie slew many of their enemies and made them for to flie before them it was dreadfull for to beholde the damage that they did there But finally the losse fell vpon them for the Emperour and all his men were readie when Gerames sawe howe all the hoast was mooued then he sayd to his companie Sirs it is time for vs to retyre backe for we may tarrie héere too long yonder commeth the Emperour with a mightie armie to close vs in it is needfull for vs to make haste that wee may goe away in safetie Then altogether in one companie they returned and went the way towards Bourdeaux But they had not gone farre ere that they were ouertaken by the Almaynes they layd on on all parts with their swords speares Then Gerames turned him to an Almaine and with his speare ran him cleane through and in drawing out his speare hee fell downe dead to the earth and then he strake another whome also he slew He did such déedes of armes that ere his speare brake hee slewe fiue of his enemies whereof the Almaynes were sore abashed He brake the prease in such wise that none durst approach néere vnto him right well did Othon and Bernard and such as were with him But when the Duke Sauary who with tenne thousand men lay in ambushment néere vnto the Citie had heard the greate noyse and crie hee supposed that they within the Citie were issued out When Gerames and his companie sawe howe they were inclosed both before and behinde they were sore abashed When Gerames sawe that their force and powers could not auayle them but that either they must bee taken or slaine then earnestly he called vpon our Lord Iesus Christ requiring him to saue and defend his good Lord Huon of Bourdeaux and the Duchesse Escleremond his wife And he cryed to his companie sayd Sirs I pray you hartily at this time shew forth your Prowesse and behaue your selues so valiantly that this Emperour Almaines haue no cause to make their auaunts that they haue found vs as men amazed but let vs shew them how our swords can cut Then all together they assayled their enemies in such wise that at the first brunt the Almaines were constrayned to retyre backe and Gerames did such déeds that none durst approach néere vnto him Then the Duke Sauary with ten thousand men came vpon them sodainely the which was no equall part and also the Emperour with his great battaile came also vpon old Gerames and his companie who had gotten themselues into the subburbs of the Citie and a mightie wall behind them at theyr backes whereas they did stand at a bay against the Almaines Gerames was in the middest of them and vnderneath his helmet appeared his long white beard and the Emperour who had great shame that so few men in number should kéepe a baye against his highnesse and doe vnto
to muze casting downe his lookes to the earth and by reason that his long Mantle had swept the powder away from the pauement there appeared letters of gould written vpon the pauement he red them and the tennour of them was Whosoeuer reads this Letter shall find that vnder this pauement there is a Celler with victuall both bread flesh and wine and of all sundry meats for man or woman to eate of But the Letters sayd that whosoeuer should enter into this Celler except he be without deadly sinne as soone as he toucheth any of the meat suddainly he shall die When Huon had read all the Letters hee hadde great maruaile and feare and thought within himselfe that when hée departed from Bourdeaux hee was confessed before his Priest died and since that time hee could not remember any thinge that hee had committed that should bee deadly sinne and then hee made his prayers to our Lord God deuoutly sore weeping and when hee had ended his prayers as hee kneeled vppon his knees before the chaire hee sawe hanging vppon the side of the chaire a little key of gould he tooke it vp in his hand and beganne to muze on the writing that sayd Whosoeuer enters into this Castle though they be valiaunt and wise or noble Knightes yet they shall not knowe well what to doe Then he said vnto himselfe rather then I should die for famine it were better to die shortly then longe to endure in this hunger and thirst Then Huon recommended himselfe to the ayd and helpe of almightie God and tooke the key and opened a little wicket and drew the dore vnto him Then he looked downe into the Celler the which was as cleare as though the Sunne in the middest of the day hadde entred in at the windowes and so hee went downe about Seauen-score greeces then hee regarded on the right hand and saw a great Ouen with twoo mouthes the which cast out a great clearenesse then he saw néere thereunto Ten faire young men they were all of the Fayrie foure of them made the Past for bread and two deliuered the loaues to other twoo and they did sette them downe vppon a rich cloath of silke then the other twoo men tooke the loaues and deliuered them vnto one man by twoo loaues at once and hee did sette them into the Ouen to bake and at the other mouth of the Ouen there was a man that drewe out the white loaues and Pastes and before him there was another young man that receiued them and put them into Basketts which were richly painted When Huon had well aduised them he had great maruaile and came and saluted them saying Sir I pray to our Lord God to saue you and all your companie and when they heard Huon speake they gaue vnto him no manner of answeare but beheld each other and when Huon saw that none of them wold make him any answere he was sore abashed and greatly troubled in his mind howbeit he sayd Sirs you that be héere I coniure you in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost and of the Angels and Archangels and of all the Court celestiall that yée answeare mee to that I doe demaund of you Then they all ceased from their labour and businesse and beheld Huon and rubbed off the paste meale from off their hands and fingers and the Maister of them beheld Huon and saide Fréend you do vs great wrong to coniure vs we will that you well know if you were either Sarazin or Paynim you should neuer depart from hence without death your troth and noblenesse hath preserued you you ought greatly to thanke God I knowe well that you haue great hunger for it is Tenne dayes since you did either â—ate or drinke any thinge except all onely of the fruit that you founde in the Garden the which as yet is not ripe nor readie to eate Therefore Huon faire Sir I know well that you haue great hunger and therefore if that you will drinke or eate enter into yonder rich Chamber the which you sée open where you shall finde the Table readie set and the cloth layd and the pots of siluer and the vessell of gould bordered with precious stones and pearle and the Basons of gould and Ewers with water to wash your hands and there sit you downe at the Table and there you shall find meats and drinks such as you will with for and as long as you will tarie here in this Castle you shall haue euerie day like seruice or better if you list for any meat that you will wish for you shall haue it at your pleasure and of wine in likewise twoo times of the day without you will fast But sir I require you of one thing that from henceforth you do not coniure me nor any of my companie and then you shall haue euerie thinge at your desire Sir quoth Huon from henceforth I shall not speake vnto you so that by the coniuration that I haue coniured you you will shewe mee what people you bee that abide heere in this Castle and what you call this Castle and who is Lord thereof and by whome all the riches that is heere within is kept I will goe eate some meat and then I pray you for to shewe it vnto mée Then they answeared Huon right fiercely and said Ah thou false and vntrue Knight for to demaund any such thing of vs at this time I shall shewe you but afterward by mee nor by none other of my company you shall neuer heare word spoken Sir quoth Huon the requeste I am sorrie of and I heartily desire you yet if heereafter I speake vnto you alone that you will answeare mee Nay surely quoth hee that will I neuer doe but I shall shew you that I haue promised seeing you are so desirous to know it Sir knowe for troth that Iulius Caesar Father to the good and noble King Oberon caused this Castle to be made by craft of the Fayrie the which Castle cannot bee gréeued nor taken perforce so it fortuned vppon a day that Iulius Caesar after hee had vanquished the great Pompey he came into Alexandria to â—â—olomeus King of Egipt and discomfited him and tooke from him all his Landes to giue it vnto his Sister the faire Cleâ—â—â—tra who was Quéene of that Land and after shee maried Marcus Antonius and after that Iulius Caesar had this done to refresh him he came hether with the Queene of the priuie Isle and brought her the same night into this Castle and there were thrée Kinges of the lineage of Tholomeus who when they knewe that Caesar was in this Castle they made an armie and with many Shippes and Galleys they came and layde seege before this Castle and lay at the seege a long space and could not hurt it the value of one pennie so long they lay héere that they were sore displeased therewith and so they thought to depart home into their owne countreys but by
hee sawe a far off where the Griffen came flying from the place as shee had doone the day before and came and sat downe vppon the same Maste beholdinge the dead men that lay vnder her which of them she might take to her pray Huon beheld her and sawe howe that she was a cruell Foule Her necke was maruailous great her eies as great as a Bason and more redder then the mouth of a fournace and her tallants so great and so long that fearefull it was to behold her and then at last she lighted downe into the Shippe and tooke one of the dead bodies in her tallants and so mounted into the ayre and flew the same way as she did the day before Huon beheld the Griffen well and saw how that she flew to the white Rocke This Rocke was called the Rocke of Alexander for when Alexander passed the deserts of India and went to speake with the Trées of the Sunne and of the Moone hee came vnto the same Rocke and at his returne he bathed him in a Fountaine neere to the Rocke and there hee taried a certaine space and sawe there many thinges Now let vs leaue speaking of this Rocke and returne vnto Huon who fixed his courage that hee determined to bee borne from thence by the Griffen and sayd within himselfe that he hadde rather aduenture death then to abide any longer there for hee had so great a desire to see his Wife and his Child that he put from him all feare of death When Huon sawe that the Griffen was gone with her pray he went to the Bishoppe and vnto his companie and shewed vnto them all that hee had seene and thought to doe and when they all had heard Huon they beganne pitifully to weepe and wrang their handes and did tare their haire making the greatest sorrow and greefe in the world and cryed out and said Ah Coozen quoth the Bishop by the grace of God you shall neuer take vppon you such a follie you ought not io seeke your owne death sooner then it is the pleasure of God that your houre bée come Sir for Gods sake forsake vs not but tarrie heere with vs. Freendes quoth Huon when I remember the danger that I left my wife and my child and my Citie and Lords and Burgesses and Communaltie in my heart is so sorowfull and so agreeued there at that it neere hande slayeth mee you shall abide heere in the sauegard of our Lord God and I will take the aduenture that God will send me and I pray you to speake no more vnto me in this matter for by the grace of God I will venture it When they sawe that they could not turne Huon from his Enterprize the sorrowe that they made no man can declare that night they passed in great sorrowe and dolour vntill the next morning that Huon arose Then hee came to the Bishop and was confessed and receiued at his hand then he dined wel with his companie and then after dinner hée went and armed himselfe in double armour and with maile vppon his Legges and helmet vpon his head and guirded his Sword about him and when hee was readie and that it was time to depart hee tooke his leaue of the Bishop and of all the other and commended them all into the sauegard of almightie God When the good Bishop sawe his departure hee made great sorrow and so did all the other but none of them durst speake any more vnto him the Bishop embraced him at his departing and sayde Coozen into the sauegard of almightie God and of his Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ I commend you and that he may of his grace preserue you from all your enemies Sir quoth Huon the great desire that I haue to ayd and succor her whome I left in great pouertie and doubt of her life constrayneth me thus to depart for if I goe not by this meanes I must euer abide heere and then I shall breake my promise vnto her but by the grace of God I will keepe my faithfull promise Thus I recommend you vnto God and then he departed from them and passed out of the gate and went downe the staires and so came into the shippe and then hee looked into the Sea and sawe where the Griffen was comming and when hee perceiued that he lay downe among the dead men with his sword naked in his hand and held it vpon his thigh because it should not fall into the Sea and assoone as hee was layd crewling amonge the dead men the Griffen came and alighted vppon the shippe Mast as she was accustomed to doe and she was so heauie and so great as is aforesaid that the Mast was neere hand broken asunder When Huon saw that he was in great feare and called vppon our Lord Iesus Christ for aid and succour and to saue him from the cruel Griffen and the Grâ—ffen looking for her pray saw where Huon lay armed whereby hée seemed more greater then any of the other dead men the Griffen desired to haue him vnto her nest to giue him vnto her young birds and then she came downe into the shippe and tooke Huon in her clawes and strained him so faste by both sides that her clawes entred into the flesh for all his armour so that the bloud yssued out and Huon was in that distresse that all his bodie trembled and pitiously he called vppon our Lord God for ayd and succour but he durst not stirre for any paine that he felt the Griffen did beare him so hie and so farre that in lesse then thrée houres she did beare him vnto the white Rocke and there layde him downe and for trauaile that the Griffen had she flew down the Rocke to a Fountaine to drink the which Fountaine was of such great vertue that the bountie thereof could not bée described and Huon who lay vppon the Rocke was sore wearie and faint for the bloud that hee had lost hee thought within himselfe that if euer hee woulde escape from that daunger it was time for him then to shewe his Prowesse then he arose vp and looked round about him and sawe how that there was neere him a faire Forrest and then hee prayed vnto our Lord God to ayd and succour him to depart from thence in sauegard and that hee might once againe returne into his owne Countrey to see his Wife and Child whome hee so well loued then anone he saw the Griffen who had seene Huon rise vp then she came with her mouth open to haue deuoured Huon but hee was replenished with his Prowesse and came against the Griffen who had her pawes readie open to haue griped Huon but hee who was light and quicke gaue the Griffen such a stroake with his Swoord that he strake off one of her feete by the ioynt and so the Griffen fell to the earth and gaue such a crie that the young Griffens being in their nest in the Forrest heard the crie and knewe well that it was
was waxed so feeble that he could scarce sustaine himselfe vppon his feete and vpon the eleauenth day at the Sunne rising hee sawe appeare the clearnesse of the day light and then he was out of the darknes and entred into the Sea of Persia the which was so pleasant and peaceable that great pleasure it was to behold it and then the Sunne arose and spread abroad his streames and spheares vppon the Sea whereof Huon was so ioyfull as though he had neuer felt paine nor feare then a farre off hee saw appeare before him a faire great Citie and in the hauen therof there were so many shippes and Galleys that their Mastes seemed to bée a great Forrest whereof Huon hadde such ioy at his heart that he knéeled downe lifting by his hands vnto Heauen and humbly thanking our Lord God that hee had saued him from this perilous Gulfe This Citie was called the great Citie of Thauris in Persia the Lord thereof was a puissant Admirall who had made to be proclaimed and published that all manner of Marchaunts by land or by Sea that would come to his Citie should haue frée going and frée comming without lette or disturbance either in their bodies or goods whether they were christian men or Sarazins so that if they lost the worth of a penny they should haue againe foure times the value thereof and the same time that Huon came and arriued at that Port was the day of their frée Feast wherefore there was so much people of diuers Landes that they could not well bee numbred When Huon was come into the Port hee cast his anchor neere vnto the bancke-side and was right ioyfull when hee sawe himselfe that he was vppon the firme land and then hee had great desire to knowe in what place hee was arriued in and whether hee was arriued at a good Port or no Now lette vs leaue speaking of the good Duke Huon vntill wee haue occasion to returne vnto him againe Chap. CXIII ¶ How Sir Barnard departed from the Abbey of Cluny and went to seeke for Huon his Cozen whom he found at the Port of the great Citie of Thauris YE haue heard heere before howe after the taking of Bourdeaux Barnard who was Cozen vnto Huon had borne Clariet Huons child into Burgoine and deliuered her to bee kept with the good Abbot of Cluny After that Barnard had taried there the space of eight dayes he was wearie with being there and vpon a day hee sayde vnto the Abbot Ah Sir I would at the taking of Bourdeaux I had béen slaine with my Cozen Gerames for when I remember my good Lord Huon my heart fayleth mee in such wise that it is great paine for mee to beare the sorrow that I endure and afterward when I remember the Duchesse Escleremond his Wife who endureth such miserie that it is pitie to thinke thereof doubleth the sorrowe and greefe that I haue at my heart Alas what shall Huon say if hee returne and find his Citie taken his men taken and destroyed and his Wife in Prison in great pouertie and miserie I feare mee that hee will die for sorrowe Alas I sée all that I haue is loste for the loue of Huon my Lord for the which I care little for if hee bee in safetie aliue and that hee may returne againe and I am in great displeasure that wée can heare no newes of him since hée departed from Bourdeaux I shall neuer rest as longe as I liue vntill I haue found him or heare some certaine newes of him Cozen quoth the Abbot if you will enter into this enquest you should doe mee great pleasure and for the great desire that I haue had that you should goe this Voyage I will giue you a Thousand Florents towardes your iourney Sir quoth Barnard I thanke you Then the Abbot deliuered him the money and Barnard made him readie to depart the next day and so hee did and tooke his leaue of the Abbot and departed and rested not vntill hee came to Venyce whereas hee found Galleys readie to goe to the holy Sepulchre whereof hee was right ioyfull and so sayled foorth vntill they came to the Port Iaffe whereas hee went a shoare with other Pilgrims and euer as he passed by the other Ports he euer demanded for Huon but he could neuer find any man that coulde shewe vnto him any manner of newes of him and then he departed from the Port Iaste and went vnto Ierusalem whereas he taried eight dayes Then when hee had done his Pilgrimage he tooke forth his iourney vnto Kayre in Babilon and when he came to Gasere which standeth at the entring of the Desarts hee met with many Marchants who were going to the frée Feast which was holden in the great Citie of Thauris Then hee thought to demaund of them whether so much people were going and all in one companie and he spake vnto a Marchant of Geanes and demaunded of him whether so much people went together in one companie for they were to the number of six-score Marchants christian men and hee Then the Marchant saide Sir as mee thinketh by you you are of the Countrey of Fraunce I shall shew you whether we goe Sir within this eight dayes the frée Feast shal be at the great Citie of Thauris whereas there shall come a great number of Marchants as well Christian men as Sarazins as wel by land as by Sea and there is nothing in this mortall world but there you shall find it and heare of all manner of newes from all the parts of the world Nowe I haue shewed you whether wee are going I pray you shewe mee whether you would goe and whome you doe seeke for Sir quoth Barnard knowe for troth that I am of the Realme of Fraunce and I doe séeke for a Knight who is Lord of Bourdeaux and is called Huon and it is longe since I departed out of my Countrey and I could neuer heare any thing of his life nor death Sir quoth the Geneuoys if euer you shall heare of him if you will beléeue mée you shall goe with vs into the Realme of Persia to the frée Feast at the great Citie of Thauris Sir quoth Barnard in a good houre I haue met with you I shall not leaue your companie vntill you come there to sée if God will send mee so good fortune as to find him that I seeke for Then the Marchants departed and road all together vntill they came vnto the great Citie of Thauris and when they were lodged they went about their marchandize whereas they lysted Thus Barnard was eight dayes in the Citie going heere and there euer enquiring newes for him whome he sought for and vppon a day he went down to the Port vnto the Sea-side whereas many Shippes and Galleys lay at anchor and as hée looked about he saw neere to the Sea-side a little proper Vessell maruailously faire and the neerer he came vnto it the fairer and richer it seemed for he saw great clearnesse
and shining within it by reason of the rich stones that were therein wherof he had great maruaile and especially because hee saw within the Shippe but one man cleane armed hee wist not what to thinke but he thought that he was christened then he approached neere to the Shippe and saluted Huon and sayde Sir God giue you good aduenture for me thinkes you bee a Christian man Fréend quoth Huon God saue thée me thinkes by thy speach that thou wert borne in the good Countrey of France by reason that thou speakest French for I haue great ioy when I heare that language spoken and fréend I require thée to shew me where thou wert borne and what thou séekest for heere Sir quoth Barnard séeing you will know of my businesse I shall shew you as he that is right sorrowfull and heauie and little shall you winne thereby when you doe know it but séeing that it is your pleasure I shall shewe you the troth Sir I was borne in the good Citie of Bourdeaux whereas I haue left my house and heritage to séeke for my good Lord somtime Lord of the same Citie and he was called Duke Huon who went from Bourdeaux to séeke for some succour whiles the City was besieged and so it is my Lord Huon returned not nor it cannot bee knowne where he is become and because the Citie at his departing was beséeged by the Emperour of Almaine and the Citie but ill fournished with victuall to maintaine it long and also it was so sore beaten with Engins that the Emperor wanne the Citie perforce and slew all those that my Lord Huon had lefte there except thrée Hundred the which were taken Prisoners by the Emperour and led into the Citie of Mayence with the noble Duchesse Escleremond wife vnto my good Lord Huon and shee is kept in a straighc Prison whereas she spendeth her dayes miserably whereof my heart is in such sorrowe and gréefe that when I remember them it neere hand slayeth my heart When Huon hadde well heard and vnderstood Barnard hee knew him well but hee had no power to speake any word vnto him his heart was so full of sorrow and gréefe for that his Cozen Barnard had shewed him and the chéefest of his sorrow was for the trouble of his wife the faire Lady Escleremond who was in great perill of death Thus Huon was a great space and could speake no word for sorrow and gréefe and wist not what to doe and also hee saw his Coozen Barnard who hadde taken great paines to search for him whereof hee had such pitie that the teares fell from his eyes When Barnard saw that the Knight gaue him no answeare and beheld vnder the ventaile of his helmet the teares of water fell downe from his eyes hee was thereof so dismayed and abashed that he wist not what to say Then hee sayde Sir mee thinkes you are a Christian man and because I see and perceiue in you that you are a man that hath beene in many places and Countreys therefore I desire you to shewe mee if you heard euer any manner of speaking of my good Lord Huon Duke of Bourdeaux whome I haue sought for in many Countreys both by land and by Sea and I could neuer heare any certaine tidings of him whereof I am right sorrie for if I can heare no word of him by you I will neuer hope more to haue any knowledge of him I thinke I shall haue some knowledg by you if he be aliue for if I knowe nothing by you I will neuer séeke him further but I will goe into a Desart vnto some solitarie place and there to doe penance and to pray vnto God for my good Lord Huon and to pardon me of all my sinnes and offences and I require you in the name of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to shewe mee what you bée and where you were borne and from whence you come that hath brought in your shippe so great riches for I knowe certainly that in all Fraunce cannot bee found the value of so great riches nor the puissant Charlemaine coulde neuer assemble together such riches as you haue in your Shippe When Huon had well heard Barnard hee sayde Freend I haue great maruaile of that I heare you say for in my Shippe I knowe neither gould nor siluer nor none other thing but my bodie and mine armour Sir quoth Barnard beware what you say for the riches that I see in your Shippe if you will sell it you may fill againe your shippe with monney if you will beleeue me the Treasure and riches that you haue brought in your Shippe the value thereof cannot bee estéemed When Huon heard that he had great maruaile and was right ioyfull then he looked downe into the bottome of the Shippe and saw the rich stones there lying among the grauell the which he neuer tooke heede of before for when he did cast it into his Ship hee thought all had beene but grauell to ballaice his Shippe withall that it might sayle the more surely Then Barnard sayd Sir I pray you hide it not from mee where haue you had this Treasure and in what Countrey all the stones that bee there I knowe the vertue of them all for since I came out of my Countrey I was a whole yeare with the best Lapidarie and knower of stones that was in all the world and he taught me his Science Sir surely the place whereas you had them in is of great dignitie Freend quoth Huon I shall shewe you the troth fortune brought me by the Gulfe of Persia whereas as I suffered much paine and trouble but thanked be God I escaped from that hard aduenture the force of the winde that came out of the Gulfe draue my Shippe out of the streame to the land and when I sawe that I was so néere to the land I went out of the shippe and tooke a scoope and therewith I did cast into the shippe some store of the grauell that lay by the sea side to ballays my shippe therewith not knowing that any precious stones had beene amonge the grauell and when I thought that I cast in sufficient I entred againe into my ship and so sayled foorth more surely then I did before there I had these stones that be in this shippe the which yée say be of so great value Sir quoth Barnard I pray you wherefore serueth yonder foote of a great Foule or beast that I see hange yonder in your Shippe I cannot tell whether it be of a Foule or of a Dragon for it is a fearfull thing to behold Fréend quoth Huon anone I shall shew you but first I pray you shewe mee what vertue and bountie are in these stones the which you haue so much praised and also to shew me vnto whome this noble Citie appertaineth Sir quoth Barnard this Citie is called Thauris whereof is Lord a rich Admirall who is Lord of all Persia and of Media who when hee shall bee aduertised of your
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
the Souldan cryed and sayd Sirs vppon him great shame it is vnto you all when by the bodie of one man you are so put barke and you sée well that he hath no succour goe and slay the Mare that hee rydeth vppon with speares and darts then he shall be soone ouercome and you know well that it is he whome I haue suffered at my great losse and dammage it is he that hath slaine my men and by him I haue lost the Battaile if he escape from you yée ought neuer to be séene in any Princes Court When the Paynims and Sarazins had well vnderstood their Souldan then they sore oppressed Huon who did great maruailes in armes but his puissance vertue should but little haue auailed him if he had not béen shortly aided succoured and also by reason of the rich stones and pearles that were vppon him then the Paynims and Sarazins who of fortie were left aliue but twentie eight they saw well that they could not ouercome Huon without they slew the Mare first that hee road vppon therefore they cast at her Darts and Iauelins in such wise that finally they slew her vnder him whereof Huon was right sorrowfull and sore displeased and was as then in great feare of his life then he called vppon our Lord Iesus Christ to haue pitie and compassion of his soule for he saw that his life was at an end and said Deare Lord Iesus Christ I pray thee by thy swéet mercie to haue pitie and compassion of my Wife Escleremond who is in great perrill and pouertie for the loue of mee without any desert of her part and also I recommend into thy sauegard my litle Daughter Clariet After that Huon had made his praier vnto our Lord God he tooke his shéeld and his sword in his hand afoote and he saw where there grew a bush he went thether and set his backe thereunto that the Sarazins and Paynims should not come behind him and so he stood at a bay like a wild Boare baited with Houndes there was not so hardy a Paynim or Sarazin that durst assayle him they cast at him speares and darts but they could neuer hurt his flesh he couered himselfe so well and so surely with his sheeld that nothing could pierce him The Souldan séeing that nothing could hurt him he said to his men Ah yée false and vntrue Cowards of Mahomet be yée cursed when yée cannot slay nor take one man alone and then the Souldan approached vnto Huon and gaue him a great stroake so that he brake his sheeld in two peeces whereof Huon then was in great feare of death Then the Souldan drew backe and looked behind him into the playnes of Rames wheras the great Battaile had beene and then hee sawe comming the Admirall of Persia with twentie Thousand men and they came to seeke for Huon and when the Souldan sawe that succour was comming vnto Huon the which he knew by reason of the great baner of Persia then the Souldan said vnto his men Sirs let vs leaue this enemie who by force of armes cannot be ouercome nor vanquished let vs saue our liues for yonder I sée comming the Admirall of Persia and if we tarie long héere we shal be all slaine and destroyed Néere vnto them was the sea-side about a League from Iaffe the way towardes Surrey there was ready a Galley the which the Souldan had sent thether from the Citie of Escalonne the Souldan road thether and his men left and did forsake Huon who was right wearie and could not long haue endured nor had not endured so longe but for the vertue of the riche stones and pearles that were about him The Souldan to saue his life hee and his men did so much that they came vnto the place whereas the Galley was and entred into it in as great hast as they could by any meanes for the sauegard of their liues and they did forsake their horses vppon the Sea-side Chap. CXXVIII ¶ How the Admirall of Persia and of Media found Huon wheras he had fought with Fortie men Sarazins and how the Souldan fled to Acres and how the Admirall of Persia and Media besieged him there and of the strange Vision that Huon had in the night AFter that the Souldan was thus fled and departed the Admirall of Persia and Media came to the place whereas Huon was sore wearie of trauaile and sawe lying about him a great number of men slaine whereof they had great maruaile the Admirall séeing Huon alone began sore to wéepe for pitie and for ioy that hee hadde and saide Oh right noble and valiant Knight most excellent of all other liuing in the world to whom in Prowesse and valour none can bee compared you are the mirrour of all Knightes the Temple of truth the comfort of widdowes and Orphelings to whom God hath giuen so great vertue and grace that none can report the bountie that is in you by whome the honour of the Persians and Medians this daye is saued and kept I desire you right hartely my deare Freend to shew mée if you haue any hurt whereby you should bee in any perill or daunger Sir quoth Huon it appertaineth not vnto me to haue such hie words or prayses to be giuen I ought to haue none other praise but as one of your other Knightes whereof you haue so many noble and valiant that they cannot be numbred but Sir know for troth this grace and glorie commeth of our Lord God who hath aided and succored you reporting how that you haue in him perfect affiance and then the Admirall alighted and came and embraced Huon and after him came Barnard sore wéeping for compassion and for ioy that he had found his Coozen Huon in sauegard and came and kissed him more then ten times and sayd My right deare Lord and Maister well you may thanke our Lord God for his goodnesse alwayes towardes you who hath saued you from so many perilous and dangerous aduentures whereof I thanke our Lord Iesus Christ that hath giuen you such grace and then he was of all the Barons greatly feasted and they had al great maruaile of the perils and aduentures that Huon had escaped wherefore they sayde that they ought greatly to laud praise God in that Huon was arriued in their Countrey by whome they were reduced and brought to beléeue in the faith of Iesus Christ Thus deuised the Lordes and Barons amonge themselues and behelde the dead men that lay about Huon and when they had beene there for a season and sawe that the Souldan was fledde then a Horse was brought vnto Huon and hee mounted vppon him and then they departed from thence and came vnto the place whereas the Battaile hadde béene whereas they found thrée-score and fourtéene Thousand men lye dead vppon the earth beside them that were slaine in the flying in that chace whereas there were slaine twelue Thousand men besides the Prisoners Great goods the Persians and Medians wanne there
were they themselues The same time the Emperours Nephewe was slaine who was a goodly Knight and the Emperour had before sent him to Bourdeaux to gouerne the Land and Countrey of Burdeloys and he had ben there the space of foure yéeres of whose death the Lord of Vergier was sorrie for he had rather that he had béen taken Prisoner then they tooke his bodie and buried him in the chiefe Church of Tournous whereas they lay all night with their Prisoners who were to the number of eight Hundred they of Bourdeaux that were taken as Prisoners were right ioyfull when they were thus escaped from the handes of the Almaines After this discomfiture they returned to the Abbey of Cluny whereas they were receiued with great ioy of the Abbot and of the Couent then the Lord of Vergier shewed the whole discourse of their discomfiture and then the booties were deuided amongest them that had wonne and all the men of warre departed except a Thowsand men whome the Abbot retayned for the sauegard of the towne of Cluny who made many skirmishes with the Emperours menne And after this discomfiture the newes thereof was presently brought to the Citie of Mayence to the Emperour Tirrey who was right sorrowfull for the death of his Nephew who was his sisters sonne by reason of the sorrow and great displeasure that he had for hee was thrée dayes after before he would come foorth of his chamber and on the fourth day he sent for all his Lords and Councell and to them he made his complaints how by the occasion of Duke Huon of Bourdeaux he had lost foure of his Nephews and his Bastard sonne and said I ought greatly to be gréeued when I cannot bée reuenged of Huon I thinke hee shall neuer returne againe but séeing it is so that I can take no vengeance of him I shall take it vppon his Wife Escleremond and vppon the thrée Hundred Prisoners that I brought out of Burdeaux but by the same Lord that made and fourmed mee to his semblance I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart nor eate nor drinke vntill I haue seene Escleremond burnt in a fire and the thrée Hundred prisoners hanged and strangled and I wil that each of you knowe that he that speaketh to me first to the contrarie I shall hate him euer after When the Lords had well heard the Emperour make that promise there was none so hardy that durst speake one woord then the Emperour commaunded in hast great plentie of thornes to be caried out of the Citie vnto a little Mountaine there beside and there by to be reared vp certaine Gallowes to hange thereon the thrée Hundred Prisoners All this was done as hee commaunded for more then tenne Load of thornes were caried out to burne the noble Ladie Escleremond and she was sent for out of the prison by foure hangmen and the Prisoners with her were brought into the Citie and all to bée beaten by the way When the noble Ladie saw how shee was dealt withall shee pitiously complained for her good Husband Huon and for her Daughter Clariet and saide Ah my right swéet Lord and Husband Huon at this time shall bee the departure of vs two and then shee called vppon our Lord Iesus Christ praying him by his grace and pity to bring her soule into Paradice thus crying and complayning the noble Ladie was ledde through the Towne and then Ladies and Burgesses and Maidens of the Citie ranne to their windowes and dores and beheld the dolourous and pitifull companie leading towardes their deaths then they sayd a high Ah right noble Ladie where is become the great beautie that you were woont to bee of for now your Visage is pale and discoloured that was woont to be so faire and nowe so loathed and disfigured where is become your faire haires that nowe bee so blacke and rugged for the great pouertie that you haue endured Alas noble Ladie great pitie and compassion we haue to sée you in this estate if we could amend it thus as this Ladie was led through the Towne she was bemoned of them that sawe her the three Hundred Gentlemen were also led forth and the Emperour Tirrey and his Lords road after them for his desire was to see the noble Ladie burnt and the other Prisoners hanged hee made hast because of the sorrow that hee had for the death of his Nephewe and of his men who were newly slaine by the meanes of the Abbot of Cluny When they were yssued out of the Citie of Mayence Duke Hildebert a néere kinsman of the Emperours was comming into the Citie the same time that the Ladie was ledde foorth and hée sawe how rudely they dealt with the Ladie and when he sawe her he knew well that it was the faire Ladie Escleremond but when hee sawe her at that point the water was in his eyes and he sayd vnto them that ledde her Sirs go not too fast vntill I haue spoken with the Emperour the which they did gladly When the noble Ladie Escleremond had well heard and vnderstood the Duke shee had some little hope shee turned her eyes towards him sayd Ah right noble Prince haue pittie and compassion of mee for I haue done nothinge whereby I should deserue to die When the Duke had well vnderstood her he had such pitie that he could speake no word his heart was so full of sorrowe and then he road as fast as he might to méet with the Emperour and passed by the thrée hundred prisoners and had great pity and compassion of them and so he came vnto the Emperour all wéeping and said Ah right noble Emperour I require you in the honour of the passion of our Lord Iesus Christ haue pitie and compassion of this dolourous companie that are likely to die this day remember that it is nowe in the holy time of Lent wherefore I require you to respite their liues vntill it be past Easter and Sir humbly I require you for all the seruice that I and mine haue done vnto you graunt me but this request for my reward the which is both reasonable and iust great wronge you doe to reuenge your anger vppon this noble Ladie you haue chaced her out of her Countrey Landes and Signiories the which you hold in your handes and take the Reuenewes and profits thereof if you bee not sufficed with this I doubt that our Lord Iesus Christ will be sore displeased with you When the Emperour had well heard the Duke his Cozen hee stoode still and spake hastely and sayd Faire Coozen I haue well heard you and therefore I answeare you in briefe wordes how that if all the men that bee in mine Empire and all the Priestes and Friers were here and did preach vnto me a whole yeare desiring me to respite this Ladies death and the other that be with her I would doe nothing for all them and therefore speake no more to me in that matter for by the beard that hangeth vnder my chinne
since I cannot haue Huon her husband at my will I shall neuer eat nor drinke vntill I haue séene her burnt and the other persons hanged For when I remember the death of my Nephewes and of my deare Sonne the which haue béen slaine by Huon there is no member in my bodie but that trembleth for sorrow and displeasure When the good Duke Hildebert vnderstood the Emperour hee had great sorrowe at his heart and departed without any word speaking and without any leaue taking but returned from thence and hee became full of yre and displeasure then the Emperour Tirrey cryed with a hye voyce and sayde howe that he would shortly dispatch the matter to sée the Lady burnt and ledde to the hill whereas the fire was readie When the Ladie perceiued the place whereas shee should die in shee cast out a great crie and made a pitifull complaint to our Lord Iesus Christ and sayd Ah right sweet Lord Iesus Christ thou knowest that for the loue of thée I am christened to beléeue in thy Lawes wherein I will liue and die and I sée well that my dayes are but short and thou knowest well that there is no cause wherein I haue deserued death therefore I require thee humbly to haue pitie and compassion of my Soule and that thou wilt vouchsafe to kéepe and preserue my Husband Huon and my Daughter Clariet Thus as yee haue heard the noble Duchesse Escleremond made her complaints her handes bound and kneeling vppon her knées before the stake abiding for the houre of her death Nowe let vs leaue to speake of this noble Ladie vntill we haue occasion to returne againe and speake of the noble King Oberon and of his companie Chap. CXXXIII ¶ How King Oberon sent twoo of his Knights of the Fayrie that is to saye Mallabron and Gloriand to deliuer the Duchesse Escleremond who should haue been burnt and the three Hundred Prisoners that should haue been hanged who were all deliuered by the sayd Knights NOwe sheweth the Historie that the same day that the Duchesse the faire Ladie Escleremond shoulde haue béene burnt Kinge Oberon of the Fayrie was in his Pallaice of Momur whereas he had holden a great Court and a sumptuous for his Mother the Ladie of the priuie Isle was there and also the noble Quéene Morgueâ—â— say and the Damsell Transeline her Néece with diuers other Ladies of the Fayrie and diuers Knighteâ— of the same making great ioye King Oberon was sitting 〈…〉 throne garnished and bordered with fine gould and precious stones and as hee sat hee fell in a great studie and therewith the droppes of water fell out of his eyes and he began to wéepe and complaine so sore as though he should haue been drowned with droppes of water and when these Quéenes Ladies and Damsels sawe him make such sorrow they had great maruell and there was Gloriand the good Knighte of the Frayrie and Mallabron who were right priuie and wel-beloued with King Oberon and when they saw the Kinge make such sorrow they were sore dismayed and abashed and Sir Gloriand saide Sir what man is liuinge in this world that hath displeased you or done any thing against you Gloriand quoth the Kinge the displeasure that I haue is for the faire Ladie Escleremond wife vnto Duke Huon of Bourdeaux my verie good Fréend she is as now led out of the Citie of Mayence and brought vnto a great fire wherein the Emperour Tirrey will burne her and other three Hundred poore Prisoners to bee hanged and I may not ayd nor succour them and I am right sorrie thereof for the loue of Huon who is as now passed the Sea and is in the way returning home-ward and hee hath had such aduentures that there is no humane bodie could suffer nor beare the paines and trauailes that hee hath endured nor the maruailous aduentures that hee hath borne and he hath had so many Battailes that it were great maruaile and woonderfull to heare them rehearsed And now whereas hee thought to haue had rest and to haue found his Wife the faire Ladie Escleremond aliue who shall now be burnt except shee bee shortly aided and succoured I am sure that hee will die for the sorrowe and griefe that hee will haue at his heart When Gloriand and Mallabron had well hearde and vnderstood Kinge Oberon they kneeled downe before the King and sayde Sir wee desire you to succour this noble Ladie for the loue of her good Husband your deare Fréend Huon Gloriand quoth the noble Kinge Oberon that will I not doe but I am well content that hastely you goe and deliuer the good Ladie and the other Prisoners that be with her and say in my behalfe to the Emperour Tirrey that hee be not so hardy as to doe any ill to the Ladie or to any of her companie but say that I will and commaund that he respite their liues vntill the holy Feast of Easter be passed and that the Ladie and the other Prisoners he cause to be returned againe into the Citie of Mayence and that the Ladie be set in a Chamber at her libertie and pleasure and let her be bathed and washed and newe arrayed and lette her haue foure noble Ladies to seâ—ue and accompanie her and that she haue meat and drinke as good and as plentifull as though she were his owne proper Daughter in like wise lette all the other Prisoners be serued and say that I will and commaund that hée doth thus vntill the time that Easter be passed and shew him that he bee not so hardy to breake or trespasse against my commaundement Then Gloriand and Mallabron tooke leaue of the Kinge and of all other that were there and then they wished themselues in the place whereas the Ladie and the other prisoners were where the Lady as then was vppon her knees before the fire sore wéeping and complayning and abiding the houre of her death the which had beene néere vnto her if she had not béen shortly succoured for they were about to haue bound her to the stake When Gloriand and Mallabron came braying in the ayre like thunder they were not séen of no person but alonely of the Ladie and when they were come and sawe the fire a kindling they tooke the tenne Villaines that would haue cast the Ladie into the fire they tooke them and cast them all Ten into the flaming fire whereas they were shortly burnt and beside them there were diuers other burnt whereof such as were there had so great feare that none durst abide there then the two Knights came to the Ladie and loozed her and sayd Madame be of good comfort wée are two Knights sent hether from king Oberon to succour and to bring you out of the perill and danger that you be in Sirs quoth the Ladie it is not the first time that the noble King Oberon hath succoured vs both mee and my husband God of his grace rewarde him Madame quoth Gloriand bee merrie and make ioy for
I thanke God I haue had good fortune and Sir I shall shew you one thing that I haue wonne whereof I am most ioyfull then he shewed him the Damsell who was sober and sad and shewed him how hée wanne her When Florence saw the Ladie his heart sprang for ioy and the more hee beheld her the more fairer she séemed and the Damsell beheld him right humbly and she thought that she neuer saw a fairer young man before nor better made nor fourmed of all his members Florence so behelde the Damsell by reason whereof the dart of loue strake him to the heart whereof the wounde coulde not be lightly healed I may well say that in all the world in that time could not be found againe two such persons for the great beauty wherewith they were garnished could not be described for God and nature had forgotten nothing in forming of them swéetly they regarded each other at that time if Florence had knowne that shee had béene the faire Clariet of Bourdeaux hee would haue married her incontinent she was greatly taken in the loue of Florence and so was hee with her then hee desired with all his heart to knowe what shee was for his heart gaue him that she should be come of some noble bloud and sayd vnto himselfe that hee desired much to knowe it and that in all the world there was nothing hee loued so well and thought that without her loue hee could not long endure thinking to desire her to take him for her Louer and that if shee refused him that short should be his life but thought to bee so bolde as to speake to her Thus Florence taken with the fire of loue tooke the faire Damsell by the lilly white hand and caused her to sitte downe by him then he drew her a little apart to the entent that none should heare him and then hee sayd Faire Damsell you bee welcome into these parts I pray you to shew me what you be and of what Lineage Sir quoth the Damsell little shall you winne when you know the certaine what I am but since it pleaseth you to know I shall shew you Sir know for troth I am Daughter to a poore honest man of the Countrey and in times past was one of the Chamberers with the Duchesse Escleremond of Bourdeaux and Sir by great treason I was stollen away whereby since I haue suffered much pouertie so that if God and this noble man Peter of Aragon had not rescued me I had beene lost for euer and therefore Sir since I am poore and desolate I require you in the honor of our Lord God that you will not require mee of any villanie against my bodie and honestie neither in word nor deede and sir I beleue suerly no more ye thinke to doe for I had rather be hewen all to péeces then any creature should haue pleasure of my bodie without I were maried Faire Damsell quoth hee I sweare by God that mee created that of mee nor of any other man liuing you shall not be desired against your honour for I know no man liuing that would require you of any dishonour or say any thing that should not be agréeable vnto you but I shall make him to die of an ill death and I will that you know that from hencefoorth I will bee your true Louer and none shall make departure of vs two and if it were so that my Father were dead I would neuer haue other Wife but you Sir quoth the Ladie I pray you to forbeare speaking of any such wordes for it were not méete for the Sonne of a King so to debase himselfe as to set his loue vppon so poore a Mayd as I am beware how you set your heart to loue for if the Kinge your Father perceiue any thinge that you should set your loue vppon mee he would soone put me to death therewith she cast downe her head and sayd to her selfe Ah good Lord if this young Prince knewe surely what I were it might well be that hee would haue mee in marriage as yet in all my life I neuer set my loue vppon any person but this young man whome I neuer sawe before it maketh me to thinke that which I neuer thought before that it maketh my bloud and all my members to tremble I am in worse case for his loue then he is for me therewith shee began sore to wéepe When Florence saw her he was right sorrowfull and sayde Faire Damsell I require you to take mee for your true and faithfull Seruant otherwise I cannot sée howe I shall liue long Sir quoth she I am well content to graunt you my loue so that your deed and thought be vppon goodnesse and honour for if I may perceiue in any manner that your thought bee otherwise you haue lost my loue for euer Faire Loue quoth Florence haue no doubt thereof that euer I shall haue any thought of villany against you Thus as yée haue heard was the first acquaintance betwéene these two Louers that is to say the faire ladie Clariet Daughter to Duke Huon of Bourdeaux and of Florence Sonne to the King of Aragon Chap. CLII. ¶ How the King forbad his Sonne Florence that he should not be so hardy as to fall acquainted with the faire Ladie Clariet and how Florence promised the Kinge his Father to deliuer into his handes the King of Nauarre Prisoner in case that he would bee content at his returne that he might haue the new found Damsell the which thinge the King promised but hee did it not for he made the Damsell to be taken and had drowned her if Peter of Aragon had not beene who rescued and saued her from the death WHen Florence had long deuised with the Damsell he tooke his leaue of her and of Peter of Aragon his Cozen and then he returned to the King his Father and the next day hee went againe to the Damsels lodging So often he resorted thether that great brute ranne in the Pallaice and also in the Towne how that Florence was amorous of the Damsell that Sir Peter of Aragon had brought thether and the matter at the last was shewed to Kinge Garyn his Father wherewith hee was so sorrowfull that hee was all in a rage and sayd within himselfe Ah good lord this new found Damsell will winne my Sonne if shee can and get him from me I know well that by reason of the great beautie that is in her my Sonne will be enamoured of her but by the God that I beléeue vppon if I sée that my Sonne either goe or come vnto her as it is sayd he doth that acquaintance shall be déerely bought for with mine owne hands I shall slay her Right sorrowfull and angry was King Garyn with his Sonne Florence and with the Damsell then hee sent for his Sonne and when hee was before him the King demaunded of him fiercely from whence hee came Sir quoth Florence I haue béene a sporting in my Cozen Peter of
Peter answeared and sayd Sir beware blame her no more bee content with that you haue done alreadie it may be that the Damsell is of as hy a Lineage as your Sonne wherefore such time may come that you may be déerely rewarded peraduenture the Damsell was stollen away by some ill Tyrant shee hath béen ill entertained with you when you would so cruelly haue slaine her Cozen quoth the Kinge the matter is ill come to passe for her sake you haue slaine many of my men the which I pardon you but as for the Damsell I will set her in prison in a Tower out of the which she shall not depart and I will shew my Sonne that shee is drowned in the Sea and I will kéepe her in prison till my Sonne hath forgotten her or else hath taken another wife then I will deliuer her and send her into some other Countrey whereas she shal be better entertained When the Earle Peter heard the King say so he agréed to his saying and thought that aduise to bee good and was content with that he had saued her life then the King opened the chamber dore and so came into the Pallaice then he sent for the damsell and then shee was set in prison in a Tower and the Kinge commaunded to a secret Seruant that hee shoulde sée that the Damsell should want nothtng for her liuing and charged him vppon paine of his life to kéepe the matter secret and hee charged all those that knewe thereof in any wise to shewe Florence his Sonne nothinge of her Then hee closed vp the dore with stone to the entent that shee shoulde not yssue out and left nothing open but a little windowe towards the Towne of Courtoys wherein her meate was put other windowes there were opening vppon the fields the which gaue great ligght into the house Thus the faire Ladie Clariet was closed vp into the Tower whereas shee hadde good leasure to wéepe and wayle Now let vs leaue speaking of the Ladie and speake of Florence who was in the Battaile Chap. CLIIII ¶ How Florence discomfited his enemies and tooke the King of Nauarre and led him into the Towne and deliuered him to the King his Father and howe Florence deliuered him againe quit because that his Father shewed vnto him that the faire Damsell was drowned YE haue well heard heere before how the Earle Peter of Aragon departed from Florence and returned into the Citie for he could not cause Florence to leaue the battaile whereas hee did maruailes for the loue of the faire Ladie Clariet whome he trusted to wed hee slew so many of his enemies that the fields were couered with the dead bodies When the king of Nauarre his Vncle sawe that hee was right sorrowfull to see his men so slaine then hee came against Florence his Nephewe and sayd Ah thou vnkind Nephewe cursed bee you I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart as long as I see thee aliue thou hast done me this day great dammage I had rather dye an ill death then not to be reuenged of thée wherefore I require thee to Iust with me I challeng thy Land the which shal be mine thou shalt neuer be Lord thereof Florence answeared and sayd I shall not refuse the Iustes then hee put vp his sword and tooke a great speare and so ran against the king his Vncle and the king came against him and they met together so rudely that the Kinges Speare brake all to péeces but Florence Speare was bigge wherewith he strake the kinge so rudely that hee fell to the earth with his feete vpward and he fell so sodenly that he lay in a traunce and before hee could bee recouered Florence tooke him by the ventale of his helmet and sayd Nauarre before I sleepe I shal deliuer you Prisoner into the handes of a faire Damsell whome I loue entirely for in all the world there is none like her in beautie if you refuse thus to doe with my Sworde I shall incontinent strike off your head from the shoulders the king sayd hee was content to fulfill his pleasure and to yéeld himselfe Prisoner Then Florence tooke his Sworde from him and made him to mount vppon his horse and to ride before him towardes the Towne and deliuered him to the keeping of Tenne knightes and Florence road after with his sword in his hand all bloudie the crie and noyse beganne to bee great among the Nauarnes they enforced them on all parts to haue rescued their king but they coulde not come in time for by that time Florence was within the gates of the Citie whereas hee was right ioyfully receiued When the Nauarnes sawe howe they lost their labour and how their king was entred into the Citie they were right sorrowfull and came before the Barriers and skirmished and wan but little and so returned with small profit and sorrowfull for the losse that they had receiued that day for the fieldes were couered with dead men Thus they returned to their Tents and Pauillions and the Aragons entred into the Citie of Courtoys with great ioy and when they were in the Citie then Florence tooke the king of Nauarre his Vncle by the hand and led him to the Pallaice and there alighted and went into the Hall whereas he found king Garyn his Father who hadde great ioy of his comming When he saw his Sonne Florence bring his enemie Prisoner he embraced his Sonne and sayd My right déere Sonne I am right ioyfull of your comming Father quoth Florence I haue done so much by the ayd of our Lord Iesus Christ that I haue taken your enemie Prisoner whom I render into your handes to do with him at your pleasure Nowe I will that you kéepe your promise with mée séeing I haue quit mine now it is time that you deliuer vnto me the Damsell whom I shall make Quéen and Ladie after your decease When the king vnderstood his Sonne he was all in a rage and said Faire Sonne leaue thy folly and take such a Wife according to thine estate and thinke no more of that new Fondling for know for troth I haue caused her to be cast into the Sea whereas shee is drowned Thou art a Foole to thinke that I will suffer after my decease that a poore Caitiffe new-found should bee Ladie and Quéene crowned of such a Realme beware in as much as thou thinkest to displease me that thou bee not so hardy as to speake or remember any more the new-found Damsell When Florence heard the Kinge his Father say howe the Damsell was drowned in the Sea his bloud mounted into his face and his heart was so oppressed and so heauie that he had no power to speake and such a maruailous colde sweat tooke him that there was no vaine nor member in his bodie but trembled for anger and sorrow that was in him so that he had no power to sustaine himselfe but fell downe to the earth in a great traunce in such sort that euerie man there
deliuered him to the King his Father then the king tooke him by the hand and led him foorth rudely and sayd howe hée would sette him in such a place out of the which hee should not come of a long space The Earle Peter of Aragon had great sorow but hee durst speake no word the king himselfe led him to the great Tower and there left him sore wéeping and making great sorrow for his Loue whom 〈◊〉 had lost he made such sorrow that pitie it was to heare when the night came and that hee remembred the Damsell his sorrowes beganne to renew And aswell as hee made sorrowe for his Loue the faire Damsell Clariet who was in the same Tower immured vp in prison thee heard the complaintes that Florence made and so long the hearkened that at last she thought that shee knew the voice and sayd Oh good Lord what may this bee who is this that I heare thus complaine mée thinkes I haue heard that voice before this time and mée thinkes it should be he that loued me so well I will not leaue searching vntill I may know the troth Then the Damsell came to the dore that was newly immured vp whereby the morter was not fully drie and shee scraped with her fingers and with a little knife that shee had so that at the last she scraped out a stone Then she assayed to pull out more and so much shee did with her fingers and the knife that shee made a great hole in the newe wall so that shee créeped out and went into the Garden the which ioyned to the Tower then shee felt by her a Roster vnder the which shee sate downe the Moone shone bright whereby the Garden was as light as though it had béen cléere day Then she tooke a faire Rose in her hand the which smelled swéetly and saide Ah good Lord I woulde that it were thy pleasure that my Louer were heere with me I thinke hee be not farre from hence I wish with him this swéet Rose so that hee knew that it came from mee I will not leaue searching vntill I haue found him and if I cannot find him in dolour and miserie I must end my dayes The same time that the Damsell complayned thus in the Garden Florence who was in the Tower and heard the faire Damsell in the Garden hee knâ—we her well by the voice and saide Oh good God what is it that I heare yonder in the Garden Déere Louer quoth the faire Ladie it is she whom you doe loue so well I am yssued out of the Tower wherein I haue béene in great miserie and I cannot tell what will fall thereof comfort mee or else I shall die héere in great sorrow When Florence heard the voice of his Loue he had such ioy at his heart that he forgat all his dolour when hee saw that shee was not dead then hee sayd vnto her Ah my right swéete Loue whether will you goe for if the King my Father know that you be escaped out of the Tower incontinent hee will slay you hee will haue no pitie of you and I cannot succour you Swéet Loue I pray you to gather me some flowers and cast them in at this window then I shall passe my dolours the better when I haue in my handes any thing that commeth out of yours Then the Damsell gathered Roses and flowers and did cast them in to her Louer whereof Florence had great ioy when hee had receiued them from her and kissed them oftentimes then hee came to the window thinking to haue taken his Loue by the hand but he could not the wall was so thicke whereof they were both sorrie The same time whiles they were thus deuising together the watchmen came about whome the King had sent thether to espie and knowe if Peter of Aragon did sende vnto those Prisoners any comfort or ayd and when they came thether they hearkened and heard the voices of those two persons heard well their words and wept for méere pitie of them then swéetly one watch-man called vnto them and sayde Holde your peace for if you be spyed you cannot escape the death I haue great pitie of you both I pray God to preserue you for I cannot comfort you Then they held their peace and so went asunder to the entent that they should not bee heard nor séene then there came thether two other watch-men sent thether by the King to sée if any bodie came to the Tower to aid or comfort the two Prisoners and when they were come néere to the Tower they sawe the newe made wall broken then they sayd each to other surely the Damsell is fled and hath broken out of prison then they cryed out and made a great crie and sayd the Damsell is fled out of the Tower When the Damsell being in the Garden heard the noyse that the Spies made shee was in great feare and doubt the which was no maruaile then incontinent as priuily as she could she went from the Tower and went to the end of the Garden whereas there was a hye Rocke and vnder the Rocke a great water and déepe shee did clime vppon the Rocke and sayd Ah Florence my déere Louer this day shall bee the departing of vs two it must behooue me to die for your sake shee sawe in the Garden a great number of Torches light and men séeking all about for her whereof she was afrayd and not without cause for shee knewe well that if she were taken she were lost for euer Right swéetly she called vppon our Lord God and on the holy Ghost for ayd and comfort and saide Alas if I be taken I cannot escape from the martirdome of death but since it is thus that we must néeds depart for euer I had rather bee drowned then be taken therewith shee made the signe of the crosse recommending her selfe to our Lord God therewith tumbled downe the Rocke to haue fallen downe into the water but as she fell she lighted in a great bush by the way whereby she was pricked in diuers places on her face and hands so that the bloud followed wherby shée felt such paine that she swounded Then the noyse ran through-out the Pallaice that the Damsell was escaped out of the Tower in such sort that the King was aduertised thereof who was sorrowfull and made promise that Earle Peter of Aragon should loose all his Lands and goods for he thought that by his meanes she was escaped the prison Cbap. CLVI ¶ Howe the first Watchman found out the Damsell and led her into a great wood there by and afterward the same Watchman deliuered Florence out of prison and shewed him the place where the Damsell was and how Florence and Clariet entred into the Sea and how the Kinge went after his Sonne and the VVatchman taken THus as the brute was in the Pallaice for the escaping of the Damsell the first Watch-man that first espyed the two Louers together went all about in
of Nauarre and helpe to maintaine his war against you When the King heard him so to threaten him he swoore by God that he should repent it and how there should no man saue the Watch-mans life Then the poore man embraced the Kings Legge and cried for mercie but the King sware and made promise howe he should bee hanged without mercie When the Earle Peter heard that he was verie sorrowfull the poore man wept and beheld the people that were there assembled and desired them to pray for his soule saying how he should die for sauing of his Lord there was many of the poore mans kinred they knéeled all downe before the King desiring him to pardon him the king answeared that hee would not When the Earle Peter heard that he sayd to the King Sir surely he shall not die without it be by iudgement as your Lords and Counsaile shall ordaine When the King heard that he was sore displeased and so entred into the Citie and set the Watch-man in prison then hée went to his Pallaice and Peter followed him and accompanied with many other Knightes such as loued him and in like wise so did the poore mans kindred When the Kinge was in his Pallaice he commaunded a Scaffold to be made whereon hee would haue the Watch-man to loose his head When his Kins-men heard that they cried for mercie but the king would doe nothing at their desire When the Earle Peter saw the ill will of the king he made a token to the Watch-mans freends who were in number about a Hundred and Fiftie that they should goe to such a Tower where there was great plentie of Armour and to breake it vp and to arme them and so they did and came againe to the Pallaice and when the king saw them comming armed hee cryed to his men that they should arme them and take them that were so bolde to come into his presence all armed and when euerie man was armed they came again to the Pallaice to haue taken the Watch-man and all his kindred but the Watch-man and his Fréendes who were readie in armour set vpon the kinges men and also Peter of Aragon and his companie aided them so that there was so great a Skirmish in the Pallaice that it was pitie to sée it they cut off armes legs and heads each of other Finally the king and his men were so sore constrained that of force they abandoned the Pallace and fled away and the king fled into his Chamber for sauegard Anon the newes ran in the Towne that the king was sore assaulted in the Pallaice and in ieopardie of his life Then all the Communaltie went and armed them and sounded the larum bell there was such a noyse and brute as though all the world had béen lost Then a Spie went out and shewed the king of Nauarre howe king Garyn was assembled in his Pallaice within the Citie because of a Watch-man that the King would put to death in that hee had deliuered out of prison Florence and the Damsell his Loue. Then the King of Nauarre right ioyfull of those newes commanded hastely his men to be readie in Armour for he sayd that it was then time or else neuer to assaile the Citie Great desire I haue quoth he to bee reuenged of this King who had wedded my Sister whom he hath slaine I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart vntill I bee reuenged then euerie man armed them and so assembled together with banners displayed and so came in good order toward the Citie to assayle it but when they within the Towne heard the crye and noise without and sawe their enemies comming towards them they went and shewed it at the Pallaice wherby the strife there ceased and then the king and all his Lordes with all his people yssued out in Battaile Then there began a sore Battaile and many a man slaine and maymed but there were so many Nauarnes that whether king Garyn would or not perforce they were faine to abandon the Victorie to their enemies and were faine to retire into the Towne but their enemies followed them so néere that the kinge of Nauarre and his men entred in with them Then the kinge of Nauarre commanded that none should be slain without they were found in defence for he sayd that he cared not so he might be reuenged of the king Then the Nauarnes spread abroad in the Citie taking prisoners then kinge Garyn fled to the Minster-church then hee stoode in the Church dore to make defence but it could not auaile him there was so many of his enemies that he fledde to the hye Aulter for sauegard but the kinge of Nauarre who was entred into the Church commanded his men to take king Garyn the which they did Sirs quoth king Garyn yée doe me great wrong to take me in this holy place whereas euerie man should be saued aboue all thinges the house of God ought to be refuge for euerie man Then the king of Nauarre who was holden for a good holy man hearing what king Garyn sayd he knewe well that he sayd the truth and repented himselfe and sayd Faire Nephewe for the offence that I haue committed against our Lord God I shall amend it to the double so that you will pardon the Watch-man that hath deliuered my Nephew Florence out of your prison I shall then shew you this courtesie for the offence that I haue made I and all my men shall yssue out of this Citie without taking of any prisoner or any manner of goods for the loue of my Nephewe Florence whome I loue entirely and for the goodnes of the people I shall goe to my Tents without and I will graunt you a Truce to endure for a Moneth and I promise you the Moneth once expired I shall approach againe so nere to this Citie that as long as life is in my bodie I shall not depart vntill I haue taken this Citie and you whome I take for mine enemie to haue you as my prisoner for I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart vntill I haue reuenged the death of my Sister your Wife Then King Garyn sayd King of Nauarre of the courtesie and bountie that you shewe vnto me I thanke you and as for the Watch-man I doe pardon him all mine ill will whereas you say that you will come so néere my Citie to winne it when that commeth by the grace of God and by the helpe of my true Subiects I shall doe the best I can to defend my selfe and my Citie Then the King of Nauarre yssued out of the Church and leapt vpon his horse and road to the gate and taried there vntill all his men were cleane auoided out of the Citie to the entent that neither Prisoners nor goods should be caried out of the Citie whereof his men were angrie and especially they that were poore the other cared not greatly because the two Kinges had béene so long fréendes together wherefore the warre displeased them and they were
Sarazins did sore beate and ill threaten whereof Florence had such displeasure that he was néere hand out of his wits Alas quoth he I ought to be sorrowfull to see her that I loue best so sore beaten and tormented before my face Oh cursed death why sufferest thou me to liue to see this day that my Loue shoulde bee thus dealte with and yet I cannot helpe nor succour her therewith hee wept and suddainly fell in a swound among the handes of the Sarazins When the Damsell sawe her Louer fallen in a traunce and saw him so pale of colour she came vnto him and she thought surely that he had been dead and also the Sarazins sayd the same Then she cryed out and said Oh good Lord why doâ—st thou consent the death of my Louer séeing that we must thus depart for euer it is nothing the paine and ill that I suffer but my sorrow is for the death of my Louer héere before me I ought to be sorrowfull when the most faire swéete and gentlest creature of all the world is thus dead and lost for euer and the most valiant Knight that euer was borne and therewith she fel downe in a traunce by her Louer and all that saw them thought surely that they had béen both dead without any recouerie and had great pitie and compassion of them then hee that was the Captaine of the towne and Castle who was named Sorbarre came into the Shippe and saw where Florence his Loue lay one by another as dead he had great pitie of them for he was a good Christian man but he durst not be to knowe thereof for feare of slaying hee loued God well and did afterward good seruice in christendome for by him the sayd two Louers were saued from the death as yée shall heare héereafter When these two Louers were come againe to themselues the Sarazins deliuered them both into the Captaines handes and when Florence sawe his swéete Loue by him hee embraced and kissed her swéetely the Captaine Sorbarre when hee sawe the youth of these two Louers hée had great pitie of them but hee made thereof no semblance hee tooke them both into the Castle with him and the other Prisoners such as hadde taken them brought them into diuers Towers whereas they were kept in great miserie for the Sarazins had no pittie of them because they were christened Chap. CLIX. ¶ How Sorbarre the Captain comforted Florence and Clariet and how there arriued foure Shippes with Christian men by fortune of the Sea and how Florence was knowne by them WHen the Captain of the Castle was within the Castle and Florence and his Loue with him he sayd to them Fréends I haue great pity of you shew me what yée be and what fortune hath brought you hether séeing you bée so young how is it that you would aduenture vppon the Sea wherein are so many perils if yée shew mée the troth yée shall looze nothing thereby for if I can I shall set yée in such a place whereas yée shall be in sauegard Sir quoth Florence I shall shew you all mine aduenture whatsoeuer fall thereof Sir knowe for troth that I am Sonne to King Garyn Kinge of Aragon and I am departed from him in displeasure Thus Florence shewed Sorbarre al his whole aduenture and how he was taken by his Father and how he escaped and his Loue also then he said Sir I haue shewed you the troth and I commit my bodie and my Loues here into your handes for in you lyeth our liues and deathes you may doe with vs at your pleasure and therewith he knéeled downe then Sorbarre tooke him vp and sayd Faire Sonne bee not abashed for I haue béene before this time in as great aduenture haue no doubt I shall so order the matter that you shal be out of all perill but keepe euerie thing secrette to your selues then Sorbarre called vnto him Foure of his seruants and said I command you to vse well this Prisoner and this Damsell and let them haue flesh bread and wine at their pleasure as I had when I was prisoner at Terrascon Faire Son quoth Sorbarre to Florence know for troth that I was once king of Belmarin and once I fought with Aymerie of Narbone and I was taken by the handes of Reynalt of Beanland then I was brought to the Citie of Bourdeaux whereas I sawe a noble Prince named Duke Huon who had wedded a noble Ladie called Escleremond Daughter to the Admirall Gaudise and they had a Daughter well beloued of them she was the fairest Ladie that euer I did sée shee was not aboue at that time Sixe yeares of age and as I heard say since there came to Bourdeaux diuers Kinges and great Princes for to haue hadde her in mariage then I came priuily to mine Vncle who gaue me this Castle to kéepe when hee saw that I had lost all mine owne Realme and because I was well entertained amonge the Christian men I will that these Prisoners bee well dealt withall Sir quoth his Seruants séeing that it is your pleasure wée shall accomplish the same Then they tooke Florence and the Damsell and did set them in a Tower each of them in a Chamber apart whereof they were right sorrowfull When the faire Damsell saw that she was put from her Louer she was right sorrie then shee began to complaine and said Ah my right déere Father Duke Huon and déere Mother Escleremond I may well hate the acquaintance that yée haue had with King Oberon for by him I haue lost you both yée haue forgotten mee in this worlde when yée leaue me in this prison Ah King Oberon thou hast done mée great ill and dammage when thou diddest giue my Father thy Realme whereas is the Citie of Momur and whereas now is the Duke my Father and the Duchesse my Mother I haue lost the flower of all my kindred and I am sure that I shall die in this Tower with sorrowe Ah false death thou diddest mée great ill in that thou tookest not me when I was yong little I yéeld my selfe to God whome I require to haue pitie of me would to God that I were in companie with my Louer Florence the Captaine hath done ill thus to seperate vs asunder for if I were with him I should the better passe the time if his Father knew of what lineage I am of and whose Daughter I am he would not haue refused to haue giuen me his Sonne in mariage but he shall not knowe for me whatsoeuer paine I suffer Florence who was aboue in the Chamber next vnto the Chamber whereas the faire Damsell Clariet was who hadde well heard the complaintes that shee had made before and vnderstood euerie word that shée had spoken whereof hee was the â—â—â—fullest man at his heart liuinge for if hée loued her well before then he loued her much better and then he looked out at a window whereas he sawe Sorbarre walking vp and downe in the Court
by reason of the great guifts riches that hée had left behind him among them Then after all these thinges done the kinge of Nauarre tooke leaue of king Garyn and departed and his Nephewe Florence road with him foure Leagues and then returned to Courtoys to Clariet his wife and there they tarried two Moneths in great ioy and solace Then after a certaine space king Garyn who was verie old and ancient tooke a sicknesse whereby he passed out of this world for whose death Florence his Sonne Clariet wept many a salt teare Then he was buried with great solemnitie and then by all the Lords and Peeres of the Realme Florence was chosen and crowned King and Clariet Quéene great solemnâ—ty and ioy was made at their crownation Thus with great ioy and gladnesse Florence and Clariet were together so that at the last Clariet was great with child whereof Florence and all the noble men and Commons of the Realme were ioyfull and thanked our Lord God and when the time came the Quéene was brought to bed of a faire Daughter whereof both Father and Mother were right ioyfull the which ioy within a while after turned to sore wéeping and great heauines as yée shall heare hereafter Chap. CLXIIII ¶ How Queene Clariet was brought to bedde of a Daughter at which deliuerance the Queene dyed and how when the yong Damsell came to the age of Fifteene yeares the King her Father would haue had her in marriage wherewith all his Lords were sore troubled WHen Kinge Florence was aduertised that his Quéene was deliuered of a Daughter hee thanked God the Childe was borne to the christning into the chéefe Church and was named Ide the ioy of the comming of this Child cost â—éerely to the Quéen her Mother for by reason of the paine that she endured shee departed out of this life and so dyed The Child was brought to kinge Florence and when he sawe her he was ioyfull and demanded how her mother did and they thought that the matter could not be hidden nor kept secrette they sayd Sir your Quéene is departed to God When the king heard that he fell downe in a swound so that euerie man feared he had béene dead and when he came to himselfe hee sayd Ah my right déere Loue in an ill houre were you borne for your sake I hadde forgotten all paine and thought to haue liued in rest with you me thinkes you be rauished and stollen away from me Ah false death thou art hardy to take from me that thing which I loued best the most fairest truest and swéetest creature liuing Then his Lordes came and comforted him the cries complaints and wéepings rose through-out the Citie all Ladies Damsels Burgesses and Maidens and all the Commons made great lamentations that night the Queene was watched and the next morning with great cries and wéepings the Quéene was brought into the chiefe Church her obsequie was done notably and so layd in a rich Sepulture the sorrowe that the kinge made was neuer none such séene The king was visited by the Lords of his Realme but they could not cause him to take any solace but a lonely nowe then to goe to see his deere Daughter the Ladie Ide and euer when he saw her his sorrow renewed and shee was well nourished brought vp and when she came to the age of Fiftéene yéeres she was beautifull wise and sage for she was brought vp with Foure noble Ladies and ordred as it appertained to a Kinges Child and her Father King Florence loued her so well that he could neuer be satisfied with looking vppon her often times he kissed her holding her in his armes hee would neuer marie againe for the lone of her so much grew and encreased this noble Ide that she came to the age of Fiftéene yeares complet the fresh beauty and bountie that was in her if I shoulde discribe it it would be ouer-long to rehearse but I dare well say that in beautie as then she passed all other women of the world for God and nature hadde employed all their studie to fourme her there was neuer any man that sawe her but loued her and so did her Father so that on a day the king had his Lordes about him and Sorbarre was amonge them whome the kinge loued déerely and the kinge séeing his Daughter I de growe and encrease in all vertues he sayd to his Lords Sirs it were good that there were some Wife found out for me whom I will marie if any such can be found in all conditions like to her that I had before When his Lordes heard him they were ioyfull in that the King would marrie againe Alas they knewe not the kinges inward intention but shortly after the king knewe it whereby much ill and mischiefe came afterward and many a man slaine and many a Church burnt as yée shall heare héereafter Then the king wrote and sent to all his Lords and knights of his Realme to come to his Court at a day assigned when they were all come to the Pallaice there they found the King who humbly receiued them and made them great feasting and had them to diner with him When the dinner was done the king and all his Lords went into a Garden whereas the king would kéepe his Counsaile and when they were all there and the king set in his seat he sayd Sirs you know well I haue no more Children but a Daughter who hath béene desired in marriage by diuers kinges and Princes but I would not consent to marrie her nor I thought not to marie my selfe for the loue of her Mother whome I so déerely loued but nowe I am minded to marie and to take a Wife so that shee bee semblable to her that is departed and therefore I haue sent for you to shew you my will and pleasure When his Lords heard him they were ioyfull and sayd Sir knowe for troth there is no woman liuing in Christendome but if you will haue her you shal if she be neuer so faire or so hye of Lineage and therefore Sir thinke in your selfe whether you will that we shall goe to get you a Wife Sirs quoth the kinge in this matter you shall not néed to take any paines for the Wife that I will haue is not farre from hence it lyeth in me to haue her if I list Sir quoth the Lordes will it please you to name her that shall be so happie Sirs quoth the kinge it is my Daughter I de whom I will take to my Wife for the great loue that I had to her mother When the Lords heard that they beheld each other blessing themselues at the horrible and detestable wordes of the king and looked on him maruailously Then Sorbarre who was of the kinges priuie counsaile began to speake and sayd Ah Sir God forbid that such a shame should come to you for it is worse then heathen to him that will polute his owne proper Daughter by himselfe ingendred
the goodlyest person of the world and the most worthy and hardy that euer was guirt with a sword or road on horse he maketh no semblance to doe that thinge which I haue so sore desired then she drew néere to Ide and touched her and Ide who knew well what her desire was turned toward her and wold hide himselfe no longer from her but all wéeping cryed her mercie and shewed her from the beginning to the ending the manner of all her aduenture and how that she was a woman and was fledde away because her Father would haue married her himselfe And when Oliue vnderstood Ide shee was right sorrowfull howbeit shee comforted Ide and sayd My right swéete Louer discomfort not your selfe for you shall not be accused by me neither to no man nor woman liuing we are wedded together and I will be good and true to you since you haue kept your selfe so truely with you I will vse my time passe my destiny since it is thus for I sée well that it is the pleasure of our Lord God Thus as Oliue and Ide were deuising together of their secrets a Page being in a Chamber that ioyned close to their Chamber heard well all their secret words and communication what each of them had sayd to the other then he in all hast went to the Emperour and shewed him all that he had heard betwéene the two Louers When the Emperour heard that he was right sorrowful and sayd Fellow beware what thou sayest looke that thy report bee true for if I finde it contrarie thou shalt die an ill death Sir if it bee not as I haue sayde and that I de be not a woman whom you take for a man strike off my head Then the Emperour made him to bee taken and kept to the intent to prooue the troth for he thought that matter strange to beleeue then hee called to him the Lordes of his priuie Counsaile and he shewed them the matter whereof they had much maruaile seeing the great vertue and hye Prowesse that was in Ide and they greatly complained of the matter and were sorrowfull then the Emperour who was right pensiue sware and made promise that if hee found the matter in that case hee would cause both his Daughter and Ide to bee burnt because of hyding of that strange case and sayd If I de hadde discouered the matter to me betimes my Daughter should neuer haue married her and the matter now kept close from me I shall neuer haue ioye at my heart vntill I knowe the troth Then hee commaunded a bath to bee made readie in his owne Chamber wherein he would haue Ide to bée bathed to the entent that he might know the troth before she escaped away for he sayd that he would not suffer no such falshood to bee vsed the bathing was made readie and I de was sent for who knewe nothing of that matter then the Emperour said to her I de doe off your cloathes for you shall bath you with mée When Ide heard the Emperour she was sore abashed and sayd Sir I pray you to forbeare it for this time because I haue not béene accustomed to be bathed then the Emperour sayd I wil not forbeare it because I will sée you naked for if I finde that true which hath béene shewed me both you and my Daughter shall be burnt When Ide heard that she saw that she was betrayed and lost then shee knéeled downe before the Emperour and cryed him mercie and required him to haue pitie of her and the Emperour in great hast sent for his Lordes who were in the Hall talking together and were sorrowfull for Ide whom they loued entirely so they came to the Emperour and found I de before him on her knées sore weeping in such sort that for pity of her they wept all then the Emperour shewed them all the déede wherefore ye must needs sée iustice to bee done vpon Ide who then by the Peeres and Lords of Roome was iudged to be burnt Then it was commaunded the fire to bee made readie to burne her the which was done and I de before the Emperor abyding her iudgement with her handes ioyned lifted vp towards Heauen making pitifull prayers to our Lord God and to the holy Ghost praying them to haue pitie of her soule and to receiue it into the holy Paradice for shee sawe well that the end of her life was come Chap. CLXX ¶ How our Lord God made great Miracles for Ide for God made her to chaunge from the nature of a woman and to become a perfect man whereof the Emperor and his Daughter Oliue had great ioy and so Ide and Oliue lay together and ingendred a faire Sonne named after Croissant And of the death of the Emperour THe same houre that I de was in her prayers there appeared sodenly in the Chamber a great cléere light and therewith a maruailous swéet odour that it séemed all the Chamber to bee full of essence spices Aromaticke then presently after they heard an Angel-like voice sent from our Lord God and sayd Thou Emperour of Rome our Lord God commaundeth thée by mée that thou be not so hardy as to touch Ide to doe her any hurt for our Lord God hath giuen her the grace for the goodnes that is in her he doth consent and will by his diuine puissance that she be changed in nature and to become a perfect man as all other be without any difference also God commandeth that the Page whom thou hast in prison that thou settest him at libertie for the which he shewed thée was of troth this morning I de was a woman but now shée is a man Also God commaundeth thée to make thy selfe readie for thou shalt liue here in the world but Eight daies longer therefore from hence foorth let Ide and Oliue thy Daughter haue the gouerning of thy Empire who before this yéere bee passed shall haue betwéene them a Sonne who shall be named Croissant who shall doe maruailes when hee commeth to age many aduentures and pouerties hee shall suffer in his youth but afterward he shall haue ioy and wealth ynough and with those words the Angell vanished away and left the Emperour and his Lordes and all the people of Rome in great ioy for the euident Miracle that our Lord God had sent by the prayer of Ide who with Oliue his Wife had great ioy and thanked our Lord God Then the Feast and triumph beganne againe at Rome that day passed and the night came and Ide and Oliue went to bedde together and tooke their sport in such wise that the same night was gotten and ingendred the faire Croissant whereby the ioy doubled in the City of Rome and the next day Ide came to the Pallaice with other Lordes And the Emperour was in his Chamber making of his Testament for he had not forgotten the wordes of the Angell so he liued Eight daies longer and on the Ninth day hee dyed and hee was borne into
Lineage Then he tooke Croissant by the hand and demaunded what his name was Sir quoth he my name is Croissant Croissant quoth the Earle you are welcome you are come wel at a point both for you and for mee for I haue great néede to haue men with me to ayd mee and mee thinkes by your personage that you should atchieue great Enterprizes for of your age I haue not séene in my daies a young man more likely to bee feared of his enemies and because I sée by your apparell that you are no Knight I shall make you a Knight to the intent that to morrow your Prowesse and hardines may be prooued for you may sée héere without this Towne two Kings enemies to our Christian faith and by the grace of God I intend to morrow to giue them battaile I looke this night for my Brother the Duke of Callaber who bringeth with him Thirtie Thousand men of warre and Twentie Thousand I haue alreadie within the Towne and considering your hye courage to come hether to serue mee I shall doe you more honour after I haue made you Knight I shall giue you my banner to beare and if you doe as me thinkes you should doe your paines shall not be lost Sir quoth Croissant God giue me the grace that to morrow to him and to you I may doe such seruice that it may bée wealth to all christendome and that God may performe in me that which wanteth for if you make me Knight all the dayes of my life after I shal be yours Then the Earle incontinent sent for a Son of his who as then was no Knight and diuers other whome he made Knightes with Croissant then he said to Croissant Fréend I pray to our Lord God to giue you such fortune to Morrowe that you may vanquish the Battaile Sir quoth he God giue me the grace to render to you thankes for the honour that now you doe to me for as for me by the grace of God to morrow I shall so doe that your enemies shall curse the houre that they came hether to assaile you Whiles the Croissant was thus made Knight with the Earles Sonne and others the same time came thether the Duke of Callaber and hee came to the Pallaice of the chéere that he had made him by his Brother the Earle Remon I will make no mention thereof but he came at the same season that these new Knightes were made and that a Quintaine was sette vp to prooue themselues Then the Duke of Callaber and the Earle Remon his Brother went thether verie desirous to sée who did best then the Duke demanded of the Earle what yong knight it was that road by his Nephew for hée thought that he neuer saw so goodly a yong person nor more puissant of his age then the Earle sayd how he was come thether to séeke for honour but what hee was nor of what Lineage he knew not Thus they talked together of this young knight Croissant and when they came to the place whereas the Quintaine was dressed vp the Earles Sonne ranne and brake his Speare all to péeces then others assayed themselues some brake their Speares and some fell to the earth by force of their stroake but there was none that could remooue the Quintaine When Croissant saw that all had assaied themselues to ouerthrow the Quintaine he had a great speare and ran so fiercely that hée strake the Quintaine and ouerthrew it to the ground whereof euerie man had great maruaile the Duke sayd to the Earle that he neuer saw so goodly a stroake and sayd how he is greatly to bee doubted that giue such stroakes hée was greatly praised of the Ladies Damsels that were there present and especially of the Earles Daughter who was a faire Damsell But whosoeuer was ioyfull the Earles Sonne was displeased hee tooke against him a mortall hate and an ill enuie so that if he durst he wold haue run vpon Croissant to haue destroyed him and concluded in his courage that if he might liue long he would make Croissants life to depart from his bodie and so hee had done if God had not aided Croissant When Croissant had runne his course he road to the Earle who sayd to him right swéetly Croissant God increase your honour and God giue you grace to perseuer in your goodnes and I pray you humbly to shew me the troth what you be and of what Lineage for I am sure that you are of some hye Lineage Sir quoth Croissant since you would know it I shall shew you the troth Sir knowe for troth I am Sonne to the noble Emperour of Roome and I am departed out of the countrey for certaine causes which I woulde not suffer and therefore I went to search mine aduentures such as God wold send me When the Earle heard him speake he was right ioyfull and thanked God and sayd Faire Sonne you are welcome I am ioyfull of your comming and for the goodnes that I sée in you apparant I haue a Daughter right faire whome I will giue you in marriage as much of my goods and of my Lands and Signiories that you shall neuer bee poore Sir quoth Croissant your faire offer that you make mee I will not refuse and I thanke you but before I take a Wife my will is to doe so much that mine honour may bee exalted and that renowne may run vpon me as it hath done of my Predecessors and that I may conquer Lands and Signiories Then the Earles son hearing his Father make Croissant such an offer as to giue him his Sister in marriage and a great part of his Land hee was therewith so sore troubled in his heart as he tooke against him a cordiall hate and made promise within himselfe that if hee might returne from the Battaile hee would cause Croissant to die an ill death thinking not to be disenherited by him After those words the Duke of Callaber and the Earle Remon tooke betwéene them the young Knight Croissant and led him by the hand to the Pallace whereas he was receiued with great ioy and after dinner they came into the Hall whereas all the Lords were Then Croissant who greatly delighted to be in such a place whereas hee might shewe his Prowesse spake on hye and sayde to the Earle Remon Sir you knowe well that the enemies of our Lord God yours haue besieged you in your Towne the which is a thing not to bee suffered so long without doing of them any annoyance and therefore Sir I counsel you that before they knew much of your estate or puissance or what people you haue it were best you went to assaile them therefore without any longer tarying ordaine your Battailes and your Captaines to guide your people to the intent that when you are yssued out of the Towne euerie man may know what you are purposed to doe and then send to your enemies a Messenger and giue your enemies knowledge of your comming and wee shall
follow so fast that they shall haue no leasure to arme them When the Duke of Callaber and the Earle Remon vnderstood the noble Croissant they much praised his counsaile and aduise Then they ordained their Battailes and their Captaines and then they yssued out of the Towne with all their companie Chap. CLXXVI ¶ How Croissant did maruailes in the Battaile by whome the Sarazins were discomfited and slaine whereof the Earle Remon and the Duke of Callaber were right ioyfull WHEN the Earle Remon was without the Towne hee ordained Thrée Battailes The first Croissant hadde the leading thereof and the Earle sayd to him Fréend I pray you this day to shewe from whence you come and how that you bee of the Lineage Emperiall and of the good Line of the Duke of Bourdeaux for I haue such trust in God and in the vertue of your armes that me thinkes mine enemies doe now flye away before me Sir quoth Croissant I shall doe so much by the grace of God that our enemies shall haue no leasure to graunt vs the Victorie The second Battaile the Earle Remons Sonne led and his Father sayd to him that hee should that day shew foorth his vertue and Prowesse The third Battaile the Earle Remon and the Duke of Callaber had the guiding thereof and they set in euery Battaile Fiftéen Thousand men then the Earle Remon went before euerie battaile stirring moouing them to doe well and then the Earle sent a Messenger to the Hoast of the Sarazins to shewe them of the comming of the Christian men they were before their Tents in Fiue Battailes they were in number about a Hundred Thousand Sarazins whereof there were two Kings and Foure Admirals This Messenger did his Messuage when he had done hée returned to the Earle Remon and shewed him all that hee had heard and séene Then Croissant sayd to the Earle Sir I pray you to shew mee what armes the two Sarazin Kinges doe beare to the intent that I may know them for the sooner the great men bee slaine the sooner the other will flye because that will abash them and the sooner to be discomfited for men without a Lord are as shéepe without a shepheard Then the Earle shewed him their armes and badges Sir quoth Croissant since I am hereof aduertised I shall neuer rest vntill I haue encountred them if God will saue mine armes and good sword Then the Paynims who saw well the Christian men comming cast vp a great crie and so maruailous that there was none so hardy but was thereof abashed for it séemed that all the world arriued there When Croissant sawe the Sarazins approach he aduaunced his Battaile and when they ioyned he couched his Speare and strake therewith the King of Belmarins Sonne so that the Speare-head passed through his bodie more then a foote and so with drawing out of his Speare the Sarazin fell downe dead among the horse féele whereof the Paynims had great dolour When Croissant hadde slaine the King of Belmarins Sonne there came before him the Nephewe of the King of Granado and Croissant bare him to the earth so rudely that in the falling he brake his necke then he ran at the Third the Fourth and slew them and as long as his Speare held he ceased not to slay and to beat downe the Sarazins and when his Speare was broken he tooke his Sword wherewith hee claue the Sarazins to the braines and cutte off armes and handes hee made among them such slaughter that there was not so hardie a Sarazin that durst abide his full stroake but they fled before him as the shéepe doe before the Wolfe Anon the tidings was brought to the King of Belmarin how his Son was slaine by a young Knight who did maruailes in the Battaile and when the King knew that his Sonne was slaine he wept for sorrow and made promise that he had rather die then the death of his Sonne should be vnreuenged and therewith he preassed into the Battaile and met at his comming the Duke of Callabers Seneschall and strake him with his Speare in such wise that he ran him cleane through and so he fell downe dead then the Battaile began fiercely and they of Prouaunce Callaber did valiantly Then the Earle Remon came into the battaile and met with the Admirall of Cordes and gaue him such a stroake with his sword on the helmet that he claue his head to the braines and so he fell downe dead Then hee sawe the King of Granado who slewe many a Christian man and the Earle Remon tooke a speare and ran at the Kinge and strake him so on the visor of his helmet that hee fell to the earth with his féet vpward among his owne men and had béen there slain if his men had not succoured him In another place was Croissant and hee saw before him the King of Belmarin who road about séeking for Croissant to be reuenged of him for the death of his Sonne and when the King saw Croissant beating down horse and men and that none could resist against him he had great desire to be reuenged and sayd to Croissant Oh thou false Traytour that hath slaine my son I ought greatly to laud and praise Mahomet if I may bee reuenged vpon thée then he couched his speare and strake Croissant in the middest of his shéeld so that his speare flew all to péeces but for all the stroake Croissant remooued no more then though he had striken a stone wall and Croissant sore displeased that the king had giuen him such a stroake let goe the bridle of his horse and lifted vp his sword with both his hands strake the king as he passed by on the corner of his helmet in such wise that he strake it cleane asunder if the stroake had not glaunced he had clouen his head to the guirdle but the sword turned and alighted vppon the horse necke so that he strake the necke cleane asunder in such sort that of force the king tumbled to the earth sore astonied of the stroke that he had receiued and if he had not béen quickly rescued Croissant had striken off his head Then the Sarazins remounted againe their King and ran at Croissant and cast darts at him and Iauelins to haue slain him but they durst not approch néere him so much they feared him howbeit they hurt him in diuers places hee held his sword in his handes wherewith hee strake no man with a full stroake but that hee claue his head to the braines Then hee sawe the great Admirall of Spaine and he gaue him such a stroake that his head was clouen to the chinne and so hee fell downe dead Great sorrowe made the Sarazins and especially the King of Granado and when Croissant saw him he knewe him well by his armes whereof hee was ioyfull and Croissant approached to him and gaue him such a stroke on the helmet that his head was clouen to the braines and so the Kinge fell
downe dead then Croissant ran at him that bare the Sarazins banner wheron was painted the Image of Mahomet hee strake him that bare it with a reuerse stroake betwéene the necke and the sholders that the head with the helmet flewe in the field and layd on so in the thicke preasse that anone he made way the Sarazins would faine haue raised vp againe their banner but they could not When the Sarazins saw their king dead and their banner lying on the ground their courage beganne to faile them then they brayed and opened their array and began to loose place Croissant who tooke héed of nothing but to slay the great Captaines at last sawe before him the kinge of Belmarin who had slaine many a Christian man that day Croissant gaue him such a stroake on the right shoulder that his arme shéeld fell to the earth and by reason of the great dolour that the king felt he fel in aswound among the horse féete whereas he died miserably The Duke of Callaber and the Earle Remon regarding the hye déedes of armes done and atchieued by Croissant hadde great maruell of his force and puissance they blessed the houre that hee was borne in thanking God of his comming thether they rested and beheld him how he made their enemies to fly away for none was so hardy to abide him Finally if I shoulde rehearse the hye déedes that Croissant did that day it would be ouer-long to declare for by him and by his great Prowesse the Paynims and Sarazins were vtterly discomfited for he was happie that could saue himselfe Thus they fled on all partes towards the Sea-side and there were moe slaine in the flying then were in the plaine Battaile for from thence to the Sea-side the wayes were couered with dead men such as might saue themselues in the Ships were happie but there were verie few that escaped After the chace was done they of Prouaunce and Callaber came to the bootie the which was excéeding great and the Earle Remon distributed so liberally therof that euery man was wel contented for there was such riches in the Tents of the Sarazins that it could not bee valued whereby all such as were at the Battaile were rich euer after both theâ— and their Freends Chap. CLXXVII ¶ Of the great honour that the Earle Remon did to Croissant and how he would haue giuen him his Daughter in mariage whereof the Earles Son was sore enuious and thought the same night to haue murdered the noble Croissant in his bed but he fayled for the noble Croissant slew him and afterward fled away as fast as he might AFter that the Battaile was finished and that the Sarazins were dead the Earle Remon with great reuerence came vnto Croissant and tooke him by the hand and ledde him into the Towne betwéen the Duke of Callaber himselfe and they did him as great honor as they could deuise and so entred into the Towne and with great ioy and solemnitie they were receiued and they came to the Pallaice vnarmed them and when they were refreshed the Duke of Callaber and the Earle Remon came to Croissant and the Earle sayd Oh right noble Knight repleat with all vertues and hie Prowesse to whome no man is comparable the strong arme shéeld and refuge of the Countrey of Prouaunce and Languedoc by thy hye Prowesse this day thou hast saued one of the quarters of Christendome whereby the faith of Christ is exalted the which if thou â—â—â—â—est not béene had béene abated staunched it is not in mee to say nor recount the goodnesse that you haue done vs this day nor it lyeth not in me to reward it but if it were thy pleasure to abase thy selfe so lowe as to take my Daughter in marriage the which I would gladly sée I will giue thée the one halfe of all that euer I haue for a fairer iewell nor a richer I cannot giue then my déere Daughter whome I loue entirely shée is the most faire swéete and the humblest Damsell that is now liuing When Croissant had well vnderstood the Earle Remon hee sayd Sir of your courtesie rich guiftes that you offer mee I will not refuse it but thanke you hartely thereof as for your daughter whom you offer to giue me I trust that I shall doe her that honour that vpon her head I shall set a Crowne of gold and make her Empresse of Rome whereas she shall be serued and honoured as Ladie ouer all the Countrey When the Earle heard the answeare of Croissant he was verie ioyfull but his Sonne who was there present was néere hand in a rage with the displeasure that he had and sayd inragedly to him By God Croissant since thus by you I shall bée disenherited and that my Father will giue you that which of right appertaineth to me before I grant thereto I shal make you to die of an ill death though I doe it by treason nor thou shalt neuer haue my sister in marriage thus thought the Earles Sonne to worke against Croissant who knew nothing thereof and thus without God helps him he was likely to haue béene slaine pitiously Then there began great ioy in the Pallaice the Earle Remon went to sée his Daughter and sayd to her My déere Daughter know for troth I haue giuen you in mariage to the most faire hardyest Knight that euer was guirt with a sword that is Croissant who you sée héere by whom we were all deliuered and brought out of seruice into fréedome for we had béen all lost if his hye prowesse had not béene by whom all the Paynims are discomfited When the Damsell heard her Father she was right ioyfull and thanked God and said Sir since it is your pleasure to giue me to this noble Knight I shall not refuse him but I am content to fulfill your pleasure whereof Croissant was ioyfull for shee was so faire that euerie man had maruaile thereof Then the Damsell saluted Croissant and sayd Sir of your comming and succours we ought to be ioyfull for by you wée are restored to ioy the which was lost Ladie quoth Croissant so goeth the works of our Lord God for men make Battailes and God giueth the Victorie Thus deuising they entred into the Chamber whereas the boards were readie spread but Izacars the Earles Son would not come there but went into a secret place of the Towne and thether hée sent for Ten of his affinitie in whome hee had perfect affiance then he shewed to them all his intention and determined that when Croissant was in bed and a sléepe then they to murder him in his bedde and his Squier also When these Ten Traytours vnderstood their Master they answeared and sayd howe they were all readie to doe his commaundement whatsoeuer came thereof Thus they taried the houre to accomplish their vngracious Enterprize as they were in their communication there was in a Chamber there beside a young Squier who had well heard their Enterprize
and what they were determined to doe then he sayd to himselfe that surely he would aduertise Croissant of their malicious Enterprize to the intent that he should not be surprized then he departed as priuily as he could and so came to Croissant and shewed him how the Earles Sonne with Ten men were determined to murder him the very same night in his bed sléeping and how that each of them had a sharpe knife and he sayd Sir be readie armed to defend your life for they all haue sworne your death When Croissant vnderstood the Squier he waxed as red as a burning coale and sayd I cannot beleeue that such a treason should be in the courage of a noble man as to murder him that neuer did him trespasse Sir quoth the Squier you may doe as you please but except you finde a remedie you are but lost When Croissant heard that hee trembled for the displeasure that he was in and he thought within himselfe that he would not shew the matter to any person liuing but he sware that if any came to doe him displeasure with his Sword hee woulde cléeue his head to the braines Thus the matter rested vntill it was night so he went into the Hal among the other Lords and there he found the Earle who made him great chéere and Supper was readie then they satte downe of their seruice I make no rehearsall After they had supped diuers sports were shewed in the hall and when the houre requisite came euerie man went to bed the Earle Remon had prepared for Croissant a faire Chamber with a rich bed for him and a Couch for his Squier Then Croissant tooke leaue of the Earle and of the Damsel with whom he was enamoured then he came to his Chamber well accompanied with Knights Squiers within a while they tooke leaue of him then he was alone sauing onely his Squier whome he made to lye in the Couch shewed him nothing of that he thought to doe Then Croissant armed him at all péeces his helmet on his head his sheeld about his necke and his sword about him and so layd him downe in his bed and hid him with cloathes that his armour should not be séen by them that would come thether so there he lay as priuily as he could and then about midnight the Earles Son entred into the chamber al vnarmed with his sword in his hand and his ten companions with him each of them with a sharpe weapon in their hands then they approached to Croissants bed and the Earles Sonne lifted vp his Sword and strâ—ke Croissant such a stroake on the helmet that the sword swarned in his hand whereby he perceiued that hée was armed and that hée had warning of their comming whereof he was right sorrowfull then he recouered again another stroake thinking to haue â—â—aine Croissant but he could not his helmet was so good then the other Tenne strake at Croissant but they could doe him no hurt his armour was so good Then Croissant rose vp quickly as a hardy Knight with his sword in his hand When the Earles Sonne saw that he was neuer so afraid in all his life and thought to haue fled away but Croissant was before him and gaue him such a stroake on the head with his sword that he claue it to the chin and so he fell downe dead and the other had slaine Croissants Squier whereof hee was sorrie then hée ran at them like a man desperate and did so much that within a short space he had slaine Fiue of them and the other fledde away into another Chamber and durst not speake one word Chap. CLXXVIII ¶ Howe Croissant depated from Nise with his sword in his hand And howe the Earle Râ—mon was sorrowfull for the death of his Sonne and chased after Croissant but he could not bee found WHen Croissant saw himselfe so enterprized and that hée had slaine the Earles Sonne he was in great feare for hee knewe wel that if he were taken he should be in danger of his life therefore hastely he departed out of the Pallaice and when hee came to the Stable where his horse stood he found a great yron chaine before the dore to the 〈◊〉 that the horse should not bee taken out in the night time when he saw that he was sore discomforted and sayd Oh good Lord now by thy grace ayd me I ought well to be sorrie when I must leaue my horse Alas now I cannot tell how to 〈◊〉 mine armour certainely except God succour mee I sée no way how I can escape aliue Alas I thought to haue béene married to the Earles Daughter but now I am farre from it 〈◊〉 I haue slaine her Brother I was not minded to haue returned into my Countrey so soone vntill I had conquered some â—â—â—our and Landes whereby I might haue béene receiued honourably of them that did sette nothing by me then hee began sore to wéepe so he went through the towne as he might for he coulde not trauaile long in his armour but hee beheld a voide house in a corner of a streete hee went thether and vnarmed him of all his armour except his sword so he was in a white Iacket and then he rested not vntill hee came to the gate and called the Porter desired him to open the gate saying that he had businesse to doe a little without the Towne the Porter answeared stubbornely and sayd there rrquireth no hast hée might well abide for he sayd that hee would not open the gate vntill it was faire day Fréend quoth Croissant I pray thée shew me this courtesie the Porter answered him fiercely and sayd Thou doest but loose thy labour for the gate shall not be opened vntill the Sunne rise When Croissant saw that the Porter would not open the gate by faire meanes hee sette his hand to his sword and sayd Thou false Traitour except thou doest open the gate incontinent with my sword I shall slay thee When the Porter saw that Croissant held a naked sword in his hand to strike him he had great feare and he came forth in hast with the keyes in his hande and sayd Sir I shall open the gate with a good will howbeit he was so afraide that all his bodie trembled for feare then he came to the gate and opened the wicket and then Croissant yssued out vnarmed and hadde on but a Cloake ouer his Iacket and a sword about him and a little purse at his guirdle and therein Twentie Shillings in monney and no more Thus as yée haue heard Croissant yssued out of the Towne of Nise in Prouaunce and tooke the way towards Roome but before he had gone two Leagues the Fiue Traytours that fled from him and were hidden in a Chamber when they thought that Croissant was departed for they thought he would not tarie because hee had slaine the Earles Sonne then they went out of the Chamber making great brute and noise so that euerie
man rose in the Pallaice and the Earle himselfe arose and came into the Hall with his Sword in his hand and there hée found the Fiue Traytours who shewed him that for certaine wordes betwéene Croissant and his Sonne there was a Fray betwéene them whereby your Sonne is slaine by the hands of Croissant the which hee did wilfully to the entent to haue all your Landes after your decease because you haue giuen him your Daughter in mariage and before wée could come he was sled but before he departed out of the Chamber he slewe Fiue men besides your Sonne for they were not armed but Croissant was armed he seemed rather a spirit then a mortall man and when we saw that wee could not approach to him because he was armed we slew his Squier When the Earle heard them it was no maruaile though he was sorrowful and then he went into the Chamber whereas his Sonne lay dead when he came there for the great distresse that hee had at his heart he fell downe vppon his Son in a swound and when he came to himselfe hee cried and sayde Ah Croissant your acquaintance is to me verie hard then he commanded his men to arme them and incontinent to goe after Croissant who so pitiously had slaine his Sonne and sayde if I may take him hee shall neuer escape my handes without death Then in the Pallace and in the Towne euerie man armed them the Earle himselfe armed him mounted on his Horse and yssued out of the gate with many people and then they road abroad in the CouÌ„trey searching and demaunding if any man met with Croissant but he could heare no certaine newes of him except of one man that sayd how he met him about fiue Leagues froÌ„ thence and that he went a great pace When the Earle heard that hee saw well that it was but a labour lost to fellow any further then he returned to the town right sorrowfull and sore displeased for the death of his Sonne and yet againe hee greatly complayned for Croissant in that aduenture and saide that a more valiant Knight coulde not bee found neither more courteous nor more wise I would to God that there were betwéene him and me good amitie so that hee had my Daughter in marriage and that after my decease hee might haue my Land then diuers of his men sayd Sir lette him goe hée séemeth to bée rather a Diuell then a man hée is fierce and cruell hee makes no more to slay a man then some 〈◊〉 to drinke good wine lette him goe hee was borne in an ill houre then the Earle entred into the Towne right sorrowfull and sore displeased for the death of his Sonne and alsâ— for Croissants aduenture and then he caused his Sonne to be buried as it appertained great sorrow was made by the Earle and by the Duke of Callaber other Knights that were there but they knew not the troth of the matter whosoeuer made sorow the Earles Daughter was sorrowfull both for her Brother and also for the noble Croissant whome shee had thought to marrie Nowe let vs leaue speaking of them and returne to Croissant Chap. CLXXIX ¶ How Croissant arriued in the Subburbs of a little Towne called Florencolle and lodged among Ruffians and Villaynes and how they fell at strife and how Croissant slewe them and fledde and was in great daunger And howe hee came into the Cittie of Rome whereas there was no man that would giue him one morfell of bread and how he went and lay in an old Pallaice vpon a burden of strawe WHen Croissant saw that he was departed from the Towne of Nise and that he was alone afooâ—e hee made his complaints to our Lord God requiring him humbly to haue pitie of him then hee went foorth and so trauailed Three daies and Thrée nights without meat or drinke but a little bread and water he had such hunger and thirst that he could scarce sustaine himselfe on his féet so at last a little before the Sunne was set hee came to a little Towne called Florencolle whereof the gates were shutte before he came thether then in the Subburbs hee saw a house like a Tauerne and hée sware though he should be slaine he would goe to that house to eate and drinke and to pay well for his shot it had béen better for him to haue passed by for there he was in great perill of his life as yée shall heare Thus hee approached to the house and heard how the Cookes were busie in the Kitchin then he sawe a great fire in a Chamber where there was the greatest Ruffians and players at dice in all the Towne and they had prepared flesh and fish for their Supper When Croissant saw the preparation that was made there for the Sixe Ruffians he entred into the house and saluted the Host and demaunded if he might be lodged there the Host sayd yea and how hee should be there well serued both of wine and of meat such as he wold demaund Then Croissant went in the Ruffians met him and sayd how hee was welcome and each of them pinched other and wincked with the one eye and sayd softly to the master of them this great Trauailer is come well at a point for before he depart he shall pay for our shot and expences and anon we will put the dice into his hands whereby he shal leaue his Gowne Cappe and monney if he haue any Croissant did not vnderstand them because they spake whisperingly then Croissant sayd Sirs if I eate with you paying my shot shall it turne you to any displeasure Fréend quoth the Maister of them it pleaseth me well that you eate with vs then they washed all together and sate downe at the Table néere to the fier they were well serued of euery thing When Croissant was set hee began to féede well his hunger was so great for in Thrée dayes before he had eaten nothing but bread and water therefore hee had the better appetite and also hee found there good wine and fresh and he dranke thereof at his pleasure When they had well eaten and drunke and were well chafed by reason of the good wine the Host rose vp sayd Sirs it is time to make reckoning that euerie man pay his part then the maister Ruffian sayde Sir make you the account for you can doe it better then we and shew vs what wee shall pay Euerie man alike Sirs quoth the Host as néere as I can reckon yée must pay in all Twelue shillings and looke euerie man pay his part Then the Master Ruffian began to sweare bloud and wounds that they should play at the dice to sée who should pay for all then hee sayd to Croissant Fréend you must come play with vs behold heere Thrée dice good and square wee must doe so for one must pay the whole expences before we depart Sirs quoth Croissant we shall not néede to play at dice to know who shall
enflamed vpon him for the more she beheld him the more she loued him and she thought it long vntill the matter was made perfect then shee sayd to the Kinge her Father Sir then it is your will and pleasure that I shall haue Croissant in marriage you may commaund mee as it please you it were a folly for mee to make refuse and Sir I require you to let vs be married shortly for if I haue not him I renounce all marriage for euer for there is none other that euer shall set the King on my finger but onely Croissant When the King vnderstoode his Daughter hee laughed hartely and sayd Déere Daughter thinke not the contrarie but that you shall haue him to your Husband then the King sent for a Bishoppe who assured them together whereof the Damsell was so ioyful that shee wist not what to doe and priuily shee thanked our Lorde God and if she loued him well Croissant loued her aswell and both of them desired for the day that they might come together in wedlocke When Thrée dayes were passed and that the prouision was made readie for the Wedding then King Guymart made them to sweare each to other and especially he made Croissant to promise that on the Third day hee should take his Daughter in marriage the which Croissant promised and sware so to doe then the King tooke Croissant by the hand and ledde him to the old Pallaice to prooue if the Treasure that was there might be had away by Croissant as the Two Knightes had shewed him and then they two alone came to the ould Pallaice when they were come thether the King sayd Faire Sonne I loue you well and also you ought to beare me your loue since you shall haue my Daughter in marriage and because I haue great affiance in you I shall shew you what I thinke to say and that which lyeth in my heart it is of troth that about foure dayes passed as I came from seruice I stoode and leaned out at a window of my Pallaice and I beheld this same place whereas we be now and where I saw you lye a sléepe repleat with famine and pouertie I tooke of you great pitie and I brought to you bread and drinke and did sette it by you and I couered you with a furred mantle and so I let you lye still for I would not awake you and as I returned from you I sawe a dore open of this Chamber the which you sée now closed out of the which I sawe a great light yssue then I went thether and entred into the Chamber and there I sawe so great Treasure that I neuer saw none such in all my life there was a rich Image of gould the which I thought to haue taken and borne with me as I had it in my handes two Knights well armed came foorth whereof I was afraide then they sayd vnto me that I should not be so hardy as to touch the Image nor no part of the Treasure that I saw there for they sayd that it did not appertaine to me and if I did the contrarie I should repent it and they sayd incontinent they would slay me then I demaunded to whome that Treasure did belong Then they sayd that it did belong vnto Croissant who lay héere without a sléepe and they commaunded me to take thrée Besans of gould to prooue thereby to whome the Treasure should appertaine and then they aduised me to make a Dole to poore men and that I shold cast down the Besans vppon the earth whereas the poore men should passe by and hee that found them and brought them to me this Treasure should appertaine to him wherefore I pray you let vs go thether to know the troth Sir quoth Croissant I pray you let vs goe thether When they came there they found the dore closed and then Croissant knocked thereat and sayd Yée Sirs that be within I pray you in the name of God to open this dore incontinent the dore opened and there they found the two Knightes with their swords in their hands Then Guymart and Croissant entred into the Chamber and the two Knightes came to Croissant made him great chéere and sayd Croissant your great Prowesse and Noblenes is greatly to be praised we haue béen a longe time héere sette to kéepe for you this Treasure that you sée héere for it is Fiue Hundred yeares since that we were set héere by King Oberon to kéepe this Treasure for you and hée shewed vs that it appertained to you and neuer since it was touched by any man but onely by King Guymart whome to the intent to ayd and succour you wee bad him take thrée Besans of gould and shewed him that this Treasure appertained neither to King nor Emperour but alonely to you which is so great that no man liuing can estéeme it you may take it beare it away or giue it whereas it shall please you and whatsoeuer you take from it all your life it shall not diminish nor decrease When Croissant vnderstood them hee was ioyfull and thanked the Knightes in that they hadde so longe kept his Treasures then they tooke leaue of Croissant and embraced him and sayd Sir we require you to bee courteous and liberall and pitifull to the poore and loue well all noble and wise men and giue to them largely and be good and true to your Father in law King Guymart for he is a noble and a wise Prince you ought to thanke him to loue him aboue all other men liuing When Croissant thanked them of their good aduertisement and then they tooke their leaue and so departed sodenly that neither Croissant nor Guymart wist not where they were become whereof they were abashed and made on them the signe of the crosse then they looked about the Chamber and saw the Treasure that was there where of Croissant was so abashed that he will not what to say for there was a great light in the Chamber as though there had béen Thirtie Torches lighted by reason of the bright stones that were there to speake of the Treasure that was in that Chamber I cannot shewe it for there 〈◊〉 so much that they were thereof abashed to behold it When Croissant sawe this Treasure it was no maruaile though he was ioyfull and thought to himselfe that he would not spaâ—e to giue to them that were worthy such as did serue him truely and so hee did for hee gaue so largely that all the 〈◊〉 praised him and when they had beene there a certaine space Croissant sayd to King Guymart Sir of this Treasure I will that you haue the one halfe you shall haue the keys of that and giue thereof at your pleasure Faire Sonne quoth the King I thanke you all that I haue is yours and all that you haue is mine wée will part nothing betwéene vs as longe as wee liue Then they departed from thence and Croissant tooke certaine of the iewels to giue to his Spouse and then they departed out of the Chamber and locked the dore tooke the key with them and so they returned to the Pallaice right ioyfull Then Croissant gaue to his Lady the rich iewels who right humbly thanked him therefore Chap. CLXXXIIII ¶ Of the great Treasure that they had and how Croissant wedded the noble Damsell daughter to King Guymart and of the Feast that was there made AFter that King Guymart and Croissant were returned to the Pallace the Ladie was readie apparelled and then the Two Louers were wedded together in the Chappell of the Pallaice The great ioy and mirth that was made in the Pallaice and in the Citie I make no mention thereof they dyned and of their seruice and rich apparell I make no rehearsall for it were too longe to declare it After dinner the young Knightes and Squiers Iusted in the Cittie of the ioy and sport that was there made no man can expresse it at length Then they went to supper and if they were well serued at dinner it was aswell at Supper And after supper and that the dauncing was done Croissant and his Ladie went to bed together in a rich Chamber where the same night they accomplished their desires so faire a couple was neuer seene as were Croissant and the Ladie Katherine his Wife when the night was passed they arose and came into the Pallaice whereas the feasting and ioy began againe the whiâ—h 〈◊〉 Fiftéen dayes Great was the triumph that was there made after that euerie man departed from the Court except all such as appertained to the Court. Of the good life that they led all such as loued them reioyced thereat and longe time they liued together so that at last through age King Guymart â—ay sicke in his bed and so the Fourth day he dyed great sorow the Ladie Katherine his Daughter made and so did Croâ—ssant who déerely loued him and his body was borne to the Church of Saint Pâ—ter and his obsequies done and so layd in his Sepulture with sore wéepings for in his time he was a good Prince and a true Iusticer hee was greatly complained for both with poore and with rich Then after his death by the consent of all the Lords of the Empire Croissant was crowned Emperour and the Ladie Katherine Empresse at whose Coronation was made great feasting and ioy a godly life they led as longe as they liued Croissant amended and encreased the Signiorie of Roome and conquered diuers Realmes as Ierusalem and al Surrey as more plainely you may knowe by the Cronicle that is made of him and of his déedes and now héere of him I make no more mention they that will know more let them search the Bookes of Cronicles making mention of his déedes Thus endeth the Ancient Honourable Famous and delightfull Historie of Huon of Bourdeaux one of the Péeres of Fraunce and Duke of Guyenne and of diuers Princes liuing in his time Translated out of French into English by Sir Iohn Bourchier Knight Lord Berners at the request of the Lord Hastings Earle of Huntington in the yeare of our Lord God one Thousand Fiue Hundred Thréescore Ten And now newly reuised and corrected this present yeare 1601. FINIS
her he did of his helmet and ranne and embraced her and when the Ladie saw that it was Huon the ioy that shee had was so great that it was maruaile to sée it there was such ioy at their méeting that it cannot be recounted Huon and the Ladie embraced kissed each other many times and she said Ah Huon ye be right hartily welcome for I thought that I should neuer haue séene you more Ladie quoth Huon I ought greatly to loue and cherish you and I am right ioyfull that it hath pleased God that I haue now found you in good health and prosperitie for a more truer man than ye be there is none liuing When all the companie had made their salutations one to another they went to dinner and were richly serued for there was great plentie in the citie and the Sarazins were without the Citie wheras they fought and slew each other there was such slaying on both parts that the fieldes were couered with dead men and fore wounded many a horse ran about the field and their Maisters lying dead these twoo Kings fought one against the other puissance against puissance and twoo Sarazins that were escaped out of the Citie of Anfalerne came to the Admirall Galaffer and said Ah Sir your Citie is lost by the Frenchmen who be entred into it there is neyther man nor woman therein but they are all slaine the old knight that came to you and his xiij companions be all seruants to the young man that slew your Nephew when the twoo Frenchmen fought one with another they tooke togither acquaintance and they be all subiects to the young man that was with king Iuoryn and it is he that slew the Admirall Gaudise and discomfited the gyant Agrapart we knew him well when he entred into the citie we would haue shewed you thereof but we durst not vntill yee were returned from the battaile Now they be in your Pallaice which pleaseth them for there is neither man nor child liuing but all are slaine except some xxx Ladies and Damsels who were with her that should be your wife and they be put out of the Citie yée may sée them sitting without the gate pitiously wéeping When the Admirall Galaffer heard that he was heauy sorowfull and said to his men that were about him Sirs I pray you hastily giue me some councell what I shall doe for it is néedfull Sir quoth they it is now of necessitie that yée goe to king Iuoryn and knéele downe at his foote and pray him to haue mercie vppon you other councell as now we cannot giue you Sirs quoth Galaffer I shall doe as yée haue said then the Admirall Galaffer with his sword in his hand went through the preasse and came to king Iuoryn alighted from his horse and knéeled downe before him and said Sir King I yéeld to you my swoord with the which if you please strike of my head for well I haue deserued it But Sir I pray you for the loue of Mahound haue mercie of me I offer to make you such amends as you your Lords shall iudge so that yée will aid me to take the Frenchmen that bee in my Citie and haue taken away my wife your Néece Escleremond Sir the young man that yée so loued who came but lately to your Court with a Minstrell is the same Frenchman that slew your brother the Admirall Gaudise these tydings I haue heard by twoo messengers that knew him in your Court and now there are with him xiij other Frenchmen whome I had retayned with me to maintaine my warre but they be al subiects to the yong man and now all xiii bee in my pallace and my wife with them Chap. LIX ¶ How Iuoryn caused Mouflet the old Minstrell to be brought to the gibet to haue beene hanged and how hee was rescued by Huon IVORIN heard Galaffer and saide Alas I was vnhappie that I knew not this yong man that had slaine my brother if I had it shold dearly haue béene bought Therefore Sir Galaffer cause your men to withdraw from the battaile and I shall withdraw mine and I shall know of my Barons what counsaile they will giue me Then both parties blew the retrait and King Iuoryn said to his Lords Sirs what counsaile will yee giue me as touching the Admirall Galaffer Sir quoth they giue him againe his lands since he asketh mercie if he hath done ill he offereth to make amends Then Iuoryn called Galaffer and sayd Sir Admirall I render againe to you all your lands and pardon you of all mine ill will and beside that I shall helpe you to destroy the Frenchmen that are in your citie of Anfalerne Then Galaffer kneeled downe and thanked King Iuoryn for the courtesie that he shewed him and offered to doe and so would haue kissed his feet but Iuoryn would not suffer him but lift him vp Thus these two kings agréed together and sware together to haue the death of Huon and his knights Then Huon and his companie abandoned vp the citie of Anfalerne because hee had so few men to kéepe it and so kept the Castle the which was strong inough standing on a rocke on the sea side it was indéede impregnable so it were well victualled at the corner of the Castle there was a strong towre and vnderneath it was the Port whereas ships came to their anchor When Iuoryn and Galaffer saw that the towne was giuen vp by the Frenchmen they entered into it with all their great puissance and lodged about in the towne but in taking of their lodgings Huon and Gerames and such as were with them shot out darts and quarrelled in such wise that there was not so hardie a paynim that durst peere before the Castle if he did he was slaine or hurt When Iuoryn Galaffer saw the dealing of the Frenchmen they raysed vp a gibbet before the Castle thereby to make the Frenchmen afraide and then they tooke Mouflet the Minstrell and bound his hands behind him so sore that the bloud came out at the nayles then they hanged his violl about his necke and then he was brought before Iuoryn who sayd to him A thou false traitour ill hast thou remembred the goodnesse that my brother Gaudise hath done to thee when he that slew him thou hast brought into my Court thereby to do me despight But I shall neither eate nor drinke till thou hast thy desert and that is to bee hanged Alas quoth Mouflet neuer in all my life haue I done or thought any treason nor knew not that that I brought to your Court him that slew your brother the Admiral Gaudys who was my Lord and Master therefore Sir great sinne it were for you to put me to death for that I am not guiltie of Thou lyest false traitour quoth Iuoryn and so commaunded a thirtie men to leade him to the gallowes and when they were come thither they caused the minstrell to mount vp on the ladder The Frenchmē in the
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