it it be done so Than he coÌ„maunded a prest that he sholde baptyzed hym And these were his god â—a ders the nable kynge Pepyn y e duke Myllon dangler and the puyssaunt knyght Ualentyne and vpon the other syde was y e duchesse of Burbon and dyuers other ladyes of grere renowne And other name they gaue hi not saue that whiche he had taken in the forest Whan Orson was baptyzed kynge Pepyn sat hym downe to dyner and Ualentyne serued him of the cuppe for that was his offyce And whan euery man was set he commaâ—ded for to let Orson in to the halle for to se his maners and countenaunce Orson entred in to the halle came before kynge Pepin that behelde him ryght voluntaryly Orson aduysed y e meet that was in the platter and toke as moche as he myght catche and bare it awaye and ete it quickely And whan he hadde eten it he loked on the other syde and espyed a seruauÌ„t that bare a pecocke in a platter for to serue the kynge Than Orson ranne towarde him a grete pace and toke it fro hym and than he satte hym downe vpon the erthe in y e myddes of the halle and began for to ete it as a famisshed wolfe Ualentin apperceyued it and shewed him bysygnes that he gouerned hym not wyll wherof Orson was ashamed for aboue all thynges he fered and redoudted naturally Ualentyn kynge Pepin badde that they sholde lette him alone for he toke pleasure at hym Whan he had eten well he toke a pot of wyne of he dronkeit after kest the potte agaynste the erthe and began for to shake his heed wherat the kynge and all the barons that were there laughed moche strongly And whan the nyght was comen there was gyuen a ryght fayre chambre vnto Ualentin in y e whiche was ordeyned a bedde for Orson but for nothynge was the bedde apparaylled for also sonne as he entred in to the chambre he layde hym downe vpon the erthe and anone he felle a slepe for he was not accustomed for to slepe otherwyse ¶ Howe Haufray and Henry toke counsayll for to â—lee Ualentyne in the chambre of Eglantyne Ca. xv RYght gladde and Ioyous was the excellente lady Eglantyne that Ualentyne had conquered the wylde man So she sente hym worde that he sholde brynge the wylde man vnto her Than Ualentyne called Orson toke hym by the hande and ledde hym in to the chambre of Eglantyne in the whiche was dyuers ladyes that gladly behelde Orson And Orson in laughynge lepte vpon the bedde sate there makynge dyuers sygnes that was ryghe pleasaunt vnto y e ladyes But that the whiche he dyd they vnderstode not of the whiche they were much displeasaunt So they called Ualentyn and demauÌ„ded hym what it was that the wylde man shewed them by sygnes And Ualentyne sayd to them My ladyes knowwe for a trouthe that y e wylde man sheweth you by his sygnes that he wolde gladly kysse and colle the damoy selles that be here wherat they began for to laughe to beholde eche other And thus as they deuysed togyder and that they played in the chambre of Eglantyne for the comynge of the wylde man Haufray came towarde Henry and sayd to him Fayre broder to euyl go the our feate for you se that this wretched fouÌ„delynge Ualentyne mounteth and encreaseth euery daye more and more in honoure amonge the prynces and ladyes and among the other thynges the kynge is more louinge vnto hi than vnto eyther of vs two y e whiche maye adnychyl gretely our honoure Haufray sayd Henry ye saye trouthe and speketh wysely And as for me I fe re not but that we shal haue ones and euil reproche by hym yf he endure longe Broder sayd Haufray herken What I shall tell you Ualentyne is now in y e chambre of our syster Eglantyne the whiche thinge we haue de fended hym so longe ago wherfore we haue good occasyon for to take hym and moue stryfe debate agaynst hym And therfore yf you wyll byleue me we shal go in to the chambre by vs shall be put to dethe And than we shal make the kynge byleue that we dyd fynde him with our syster doynge his wyll with her Thus spake the two traytours false and dysloy all And euen so as y e Iewes by theyr enuye crucyfyed ymagyned y t dethe of our lorde with wronge and without cause Euen so dyde Haufray Henry to Ualentyne that was so swete and so amyable obeyenge vnto euery body and out of his mouthe neuer yssued a vylaynous worde And after that they had accorded theyr vnhappye enterpryse they wente in to the chambre of the fayre and pleasauÌ„t Eglantyne And also soone as Haufray was entred he said vnto Ualentin Euyll and dysloyall man nowe knowe we that yf thy folye and outragyous volente y u wylte not cefrayne nor absteine the but in perseuerynge in thy malyce and folysshe oppynyon purcha synge from daye to daye the dyshonoure of our fader y t kynge Pepyn by the meane and accorde of our fals and dysloyall syster Eglantyne of y e whiche you do your pleasure and wyll euen so as of a woman vnhappy and habandoned wherfore it is well ryght and reason that euyll come to you And syth y t the kynge setteth nought therby it is force that we take vengeaunce on you â–ª and in saynge these wordes the traytour Haufray lyfte vp his hande and smote Ualentyne vpon the vy sage in suche maner that he made the clere bloode yssue oute of his mouthe haboundauntlye And than Henry the other traytour approched nere hym and with a glayue that was bothe sharpe longe he wende to haue smite Ualentyne much outragyously And whan Orson sawe that they wolde outrage valentyne he lepte forthe gaue Haufray so grete a stroke with his rough hande that he felled hym vnto the earthe And after he ran towarde Henrye and streyned hym so bytwene his armes that yf the ladyes had not ben that appeased hym he had dystroyed hym at that tyme. Than arose the cry in the chambre so great that the moost parte of the barons came into the chambre And whan they apperceyned that Orson dealt so euyl with the kings sons they wolde haue smyten hym with glayues and swerdes put them all in defence agaynste hym for to haue put hym to death ¶ Than Ualentine for to socour OrsoÌ„ drewe his swerd And swore by god almyghty if ony of them touched Orson with swerd or knyfe he should be his preest what someuer myght happen therfore And than he made sygne vnto Orson that he shulde be styll without doynge any outrage And Haufray henry went towarde theyr father kinge Pepin sorowfull and heuy and haufray said vnto him Ha syr in an euil houre was euer Ualentin borne the which you hold so dere For he hath broughte the wylde man hether that hathe almooste dystroyed vs. Syr you shal do tyght euyll yf you
the paynims was in their tentes the batayll was to great that foure thousande christen men were slayne whiche was a pyteous thyng to them of the cytie Ryght sorowful and displeasaunt was the Emperour of Grece for many noble barons and knyghtes that he had losse â—n the batayll but aboue al the other he was sorowful in his harte and bitterly displeasaunt for his valyauÌ„t sonne valentine and the grene knight that had done so great dedes of armes and in lyke wyse was the kyng Pepyn of Fraunce Those twaine made great dole and lamentacioÌ„ casting out great cryes and syghes for the chylde Ualentyne that they had lost so soone But the lytel Pacolet recomforted theim muche saying Lordes leue your wepyng and discomforte for of Ualentyne you shall be ioyous and of hym haue good tydynges sooner then you wenefore Frende sayde he God here the and geue the suche puyssaunce for an thou maye do so muche as to bryng hym vnto me and delyuer hym from the handes of thâ— soudaâ— that hathe sworen his death thou maist say surely that aboue the other â— shal mounte the in honoure and rychesse Syr said Pacolet put your trust in me for shortly you shall knowe with what loue I loue you and your sonne valentine Then Pacolet toke his horse of wodde and without any mo wordes departed for to go in to the sondans hoost And the soudan is in his pauylâ—on that for to iudge Ualentyne and the grene knyght had assembled all the greate lordes of his hoost But his enterpryse was all turned contrary as it shall be shewed you more playnly here afterwarde ¶ Howe the enchauntoure Pacolet delyuered Valentyne and the grene knyght out of the pryson of the soudan Moradyâ— Ca. xliiii WHan the Soudan Moradin was wythdrawn in to his pauiloÌ„ he made to be brought before him the child ValeÌ„tine the grene knight in the presâ—ce of all the most greatest barons and knights of his court and sayd in thys maner Lordes at this hour you may well se and knowe the twayne of the worlde that doth moost â—â—spleasure and outrage vnto the kynge Ferragus And amonge the other thynges this knyght hath lefte out law and made hym to be christened to here vs the more domage wherfore me thyncketh it were well none to sende them vnto kynge Ferragus for I wotâ—e wel that he wil take vengeaunce on them and that he shal make them dye a shameful death as thei haue wel deserued Syr sayd the sarazyns and paynims that of theyr deathes had great enuy It is no nede to soâ—ouru so muche but make forkes to be reyse◠〈◊〉 in the felde for to hange the two false caitifes on tomorow in the umornyug that hathe borne vs so great dommage and harme Lordes sayde the soudan â—oradyn your counsayll is fayre and good and soo wyll I vse it for by the god mahowne I sweare you and promyse you that tomorowe in the mornynge I shall make theym to be hanged so hye that all they of the cyte of Constantinoble may se them and take ensample at theyr death After these wordes sayde as the Soudan entred into hys â—ent for to go to souper the litel Pacolet found himself before hym the which salued him by mahoune highly Pacolet sayd the paynym thou arte welcom Now tel me lyghtly howe doth the feate of the kynge Ferragus that aboue all the other is my parfyte frende Sir said Pacolet he fareth right well and aboue al recoÌ„maundeth him vnto you and by me â—e sendeth you tydynges good that are muche secrete the whiche I shal tel you yf it please you to here me Frâ—ede sayd the souden ryghte voluntaryly with good herte I wyll here youre message Than he drewe him apaâ—â—e for to tel hym his secrete And Pacolet sayd to him all softly Syr wyâ—e that I come from Portyngale and am sente hether by my redoubted lady the wyfe of Ferragus the whiche wyth all her heart recoÌ„maundeth her vnto you moche more hardely than I can recounte and that it be true I do you to wyte that aboue all the men of the worlde she loueth you best for she is so esprised and takeÌ„ with your loue that she maye neyther slepe nor reaste in noo place Nowe it is true that she the which in all trusteth her in me hath sente me towarde you and sendeth you worde by me expressely vpon the loue that maye be bytwene two true louers that without soiourning or deferrynge you come and se her For the kyng Ferragus is at this presente tyme gone towarde Acquytayne so maye you at your owne pleasure and wyll of the pleasaunt lady that aboue al the other shineth in beaute do your pleasure wyl And therfore syr come your waye with me for vpon my hors I shal coâ—duyâ— you so well and in suche manner that tomorowe in the mornynge I shall set you in Portyngale before the noble and fair lady by the pleasure of my God mahoun Ha Pacolet sayd the soudan Moradyn thou gynest me at my heart more greater Ioye and comfort than ony other person dydde euer before this For aboue all the wemen of the worlde I am and haue bene longe tyme of the wyfe of kynge ferragus enamoured but so much there is that neuer no day I myghte fynde my selfe before her in no maner that I myght accomplysshe my wyll or cell my secrete but at thys tyme I shall accomplysh the desire of my heart that so muche and so louge I haue abyden For I promyse the that tomorowe in the mornynge I shall goo wyth the and accomply me my well and my desyre It that houre that I recount vnto you the soudan Moradyn satte hym down at the table and made the enchauntoure Pacolet too bee serued also honestlye as he myght for he was so ryght â–ª Ioyous of the â—â—oinges that the enchauntour Pacolet had broughte hym that the heart lept in hys bely for Ioy and made grete cheare And Pacolet that sa we wel that the Sowdan was in greate ioy sayde all softelye to hym selfe I am feasted and kept wel at ease but or that it be to morow at nyght such gyueth me of hys bread to eate that shall curse the tyme that euer I was boorne Now Ualentine and the grene knyght was in the tente and pauilyon of the soudan Moradin that were wel and straytly bounden well knewe they Pacolet whereof they were ryghte Ioyous in their courages in sayinge and thynking in their hertes that for their deliueraunce he was comen theder but they made no semblaunt And Pacolet in she wynge grete chere and fayre semblaunt vnto the soudan Moradin in beholdynge the prisoners said all on heyght Syr how be you so curteis for to kepe y e grene knight in your prisons withoute makinge him dye for aboue all liuinge men he hath borne dommage vnto his brother Ferragus And for to greue him y t mohe hathe renounced Mahounde and founde the wayes and manere to take frome him his
knight out of y e prison of y e soudaÌ„ Moradin xliiii ¶ Howe Pacolet deyued the soudan Moredyn made hym mounte vpon his horse of wodde and broughte hym in to the cytie of Constantinoble wenyng to him that he had brought hym in to Portingale cap. xliiii ¶ How the soudan Moradyn was taken and bounde and after was hanged cap. xiv ¶ How the kyng Trompart came before Acquytayne for to succour the gyaunt Ferragus and brought with hym Adramayne the enchauntour by whome Pacolet was deceyued and betrayed fasly cap. xlvi ¶ How Adramayne and Pacolet playde before the barons and how Adramaine stole away Pacolettes vorse of wodde and the fayre Clerymonde cap. xlvii ¶ Howe the kynge of ynde made kynge Trompartes head to be smyten of because he had slayne his brother and howe he would haue had the fayre Clerymonde vnto his wyfe cap. xlviii ¶ Howe Pacolet in a maydens clothyng auenged hym on the false Adramayne cap. xlix ¶ Howe kyng Ferragus hoost was al discoâ—fited and put all to death how Ferragus was slayne afterward within Acquitayne cap. l. ¶ How Orson and the Duke of Acquitaine went in to Constantinoble with a great hoost â–ª for to succoure the Emperoure And howe Orson ledde the Empresse Bellyssant with hym cap. li. ¶ Howe the christen men for to haue vytaylesyssued out of Constantinoble And how Ualentyne the grene knyght were taken prysoners by the false Sarazyns paynyms cap. lii ¶ Howe by the succoure of the duke of Acquytayne all the paynyms and sarasyns were slayne before the cytie of Constantynoble cap liii ⧠How the Emperour receyued his sonne Orson with great ioye and his wyfe Bellyssant cap. liiii ¶ Howe the kyng Pepyn toke leue of the Emperoure of Grece for to retourne into Fraunce cap. lv ⧠How Haufray and Henry ymagyned great treasoâ— against Orson by the ayde and consenting of twayne of their neuewes cap. lvi ¶ Howe Garnyere entred into kynge Pepyns chambre for to accomply she his â—ursed enterpryse and howe he left the knyfe wythin the kynges bedstrawe cap. lvii ¶ How Garnyere accused Orson falsly of treason vnto kyng Pepyn and howe the knyfe was founde in the kynges bedde cap. lviii ¶ Howe Orson when they would haue iudged him put opposition and demaunded batail against his accusers the whiche was vttred hym by the twelue peres of Fraunce cap. lix ⧠How Orson slewe Florent in the fielde vanquy fshed Garnyere and how Hawfray cut of his head as he would haue confessed the treason cap. lx ⧠How Valentyne in sekyng the fayre Clerymonde aryued in Antyoche and howe he foughte with a marueyâ— lous dragon cap. lxi ⧠Howe the serpent toke of Ualentynes helme how Pacolet armed hym and brought hym another helme of the complaintes that the quene Rozemonde made for Ualentyne cap. lxii ⧠Howe Valentyne slewe the dragoÌ„ through the grace of God almyghty And howe the kyng of Antyoche receyued hym with great honoure cap. lxiii ¶ Howe Valentyne after that he had discomfyted the dragon made the kyng of Antyoche to be baptyzed and all they of his lande and of the quene Rozemonde that was enamoured on hym cap. lxiiii ¶ Howe the kyng of Antyoche was put vnto death for the renounsing of mahowne by Brandyffer his wyues father And howe the Emperoure of Grece the grene knyght were taken prysoners by Brandiffer before the cytie of Cretophe cap. lxv ¶ Howe the fayre Clerymonde after that the yeare was complete did counterfet the seke womant othe ende that the kyng of Ynde should not wedde her And of the king Lucar that would auenge the death of Tromparte his father agaynst the kyng of Ynde cap. lxvi ¶ Howe the kyng Lucar in the fayre and great cytye of Esclardye wedded and toke vnto wyfe the fayre and gracyous Rozemonde cap. lxvii ¶ Howe the noble knyght Valâ—tyne departed from Esclardy for to go in to the mighty puissauÌ„t cytie of indâ— the gree for to bere y e defiauÌ„ce of kyng Lucar cap. lxviii ¶ Howe Ualentyne didde his message to the kynge of Ynde from the kyng Lucar and oâ— the aunswere that was geuen hym cap. lxix ¶ How Ualentyne retourned in to the cytie of Esclarbye And of the aunswere that he hadde of the kynge of Ynde to bere to kyng Lucar cap. lxx ¶ How kyng Lucar with fyftene kynges wente and assyeged the kyng of Ynde cap. lxxi ¶ How the kyng of Ynde catyed awaye the fayre Rozemonde behynde hym and howe Valentyne rescowed her and brought her agayne cap. ixxii ¶ How Rozemonde founde the maner and the facyon to make her selfe be led vnto the kyng of Ynde the more the whiche she loued perfytely and how he ledde her in to his cytie of Ynde cap. lxxiii ¶ How kyng Lucar dyd so muche that kyng Brandiffer abode with him aud sent Ualentyne in to Angoryâ— agaynst kyng Pepyn cap lxxiiii ¶ How Pacolet by his charme and crafte made all the sarazyns to be put vnto death And howe kyng Murgalant was slayne cap. lxxv ¶ How the sarazyns were discomfyted and how kyng Pepyn toke the cytie of Angorye cap. ixxvi ¶ How Valentyne retorned into Ynde after the bataâ—â—â— bare with him y e body of king MurgaiaÌ„t cap. lxxvii ¶ Howe Valentyne herde tyâ—inges of his father how Pacolet deliuered the king of Ynde by his charme and deliuered him Brandiffer at his own will ca. lxxviii ¶ How kyng Lucar made all the hondred satazins to be drâ—wen at horses tayles And how Valentyne Pacolet departed out of his hoost sectetly for to goo vnto Angorye â–ª cap. lxxix ¶ Of the bysion of kyng Pepyn And howe he wente into the holy lande with the twelue peres cap. lxxx ¶ How kyng Papyn put hym vpon the wait in the habyte of a pylgrym with the twelue peres of Fraunce and howe the king Papin spake vnto Haufray Henry before all the lordes of his courte cap. lxxxi ¶ How Haufray and Henry betrayed the kyng Pepyn their father and the twelue peres of Fraunce ca. lxxxii ¶ How the Calyphe of Bendas aryued in the hoost of kyng Brandiffer and howe he gate trewes for a moneth duryng the whiche trewes he made the peace betwene the kyng of Ynde and kynge Lucar and Brandyffer cap. lxxxiii ¶ How Haufray for to accomplysshe his treason aryued before Lucar and Brandiffer and how he himself was deceiued by treason cap. lxxxiiii ¶ How kyng Brandiffer wrote a letter vnto his doughter Galazye and gaue it haufray for to bere vnto the strong castell cap. lxxxv ¶ How the fayre Galazye after that she knewe the falsnes and treason of Haufray she made him to be put in a darke pryson muche streghtly cap. lxxxvi ¶ Howe Ualentine and Pacolet ariued before the stroÌ„g castel and how Pacolet reysed vp the deuil for to know if he might take it cap. lxxxvii ¶ Howe kyng brandiffer and kyng Lucar toke kynge Pepyn and the twelue peres of Fraunce within
the cytie of Jherusalem cap. lxxxviii ¶ Howe the kinge of Surie sent a messenger vnto the Patriarke of Jherusalem byddynge him brynge him king Pepin and the twelue peres of FrauÌ„ce the whiche he dyd cap. lxxxix ⧠How the kyng of ynde the great ledde kynge Pepyn away for the parte of his prysoners but he knewe not that he was kyng of Fraunce ca. lxxxx ¶ How kynge Pepyn beynge wyth the kynge of Ynde had knowledge of the fayre Clerymonde ca. lxxxxi ¶ How Brandyffer brought vnto the stronge castell the twelue peres of FrauÌ„ce put them in prisoÌ„ ca. lxxxxii ☞ Howe Brandiffer after that he hadde assembled hys hoost mounted on the see and wente and beseged the cite of Angory ca. lxxxxiii ⧠How Brandiffer knew that Lucar Was in Angorye And sente vnto Valentyne for to make the appoyntement to bye hym agayne ca. lxxxxiiii ⧠Howe Valentyne demaunded the kynge of Fraunce for chaunge of kynge Lucar by the consente of the lordes and barons ca. lxxxxv ¶ How Myllondangler that was named the kynge of Fraunce for to saue kyng Pepyn was delyuered out of the prisoÌ„ of brandiffer in chauÌ„ge of kyngelucar lxxxxvi ☞ How valentyne and the duke Myllon yssued oute of Angory vpon the sarazyns and howe the sarazyns loste the batayll and were dyscomfyted ca. lxxxxvii ⧠How kyng Pepyn was delyuered in chaunge of the kyng of Yndes Marshall lxxxviii ⧠How kynge Pepyn toke his leue of the fayre Clerymonde and howe he tolde Valentyne tydynges where she was ca. lxxxxix ⧠How kynge Pepyn departed from Angorye and retorned into Fraunce for to so coure hys wyfe ca. C. ⧠How Valentyne wente into Ynde the great counterfet the physycyon for to sethe fayre Clerymonde and how he spake wyth her ca. Ci. ¶ Howe Ualentyne rode away with Clerymonde and how the kynge of Brytayne was yelded vnto kyng Pepyn by treason ca. Cii ⧠How Valentyne toke the stronge castell and deliuered his father the Emperoure of Grece and all the prysoners that were wyth hym â–ª ca. Ciii ¶ How the Seneshal went vnto Ualentynes shyppes how he was put vnto death with al his men ca. Ciiii ⧠How the emperour Orson and the Grene knyght â— abode in garnyson in the stronge castell And how Haufray and Henry made theyr fader to dye ca. Cv. ¶ How after the deathe of kynge Pepyn the duke Myllon Dangler woulde haue made the lytle Charles to be crowned kynge of Fraunce ca. Cvi ✚ Howe the emperoure of Grece Orson and the grene knyght departed from the strong castel for to go socour Valentyne in Angorye ca. Cvii ⧠How the crysten men yssued out of the cyte of Angorye and of the ordenaunce and of theyr meruaylous batayles ca. Cviii ⧠How Ualentyne slewe his fader pyteosly in the battayle wythout knowing hym ca. Cix ☞ How millon dangler retorned into FrauÌ„ce And how Valentyne and Orson retorned in to grece ca. Cx. ☞ How Valentyne toke leue of the fayr clerymond for to go vnto Rome for to be shryuen of his synne ca. Cxi ¶ How Valentine in great dolour of his body perfourmed his penaunce for the sleyng of his fader ca. Lxii ⧠Howe the kynge Hugon made Clerymonde to be demaunded for wyfe and how he betrayed Orson and the grene knyght ca. Cxiii ✚ How Galeran dyd his message vnto Bellyssant and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â— of the meruayllous compâ—ayâ—â—tes that Clerymonde made Ca. Cxiiii ⧠How Bellyssant and Clerymonde knew the treason and false enterpryse of kynge Hugon and how the prouoste smote of the head of Galeran Ca. Cxv. ⧠How Orson and the Grene knyght were delyuered out of the pryson of the kynge of Surye by the appoyn tement of the warre that they made after to kynge Hugon of Hongrye Ca. Cxvi ⧠How at the ende of seuen yere Ualentynge dyed with in his palays of Constaniynoble and howe he wrote a lettre that he was knowen by Ca. Cxvii ¶ Of the meruayllous by syon of Orson and how he be came an hermyte in a great wodde Ca. Cxviii ⧠Here endeth the table newly correcte truely set in order so that ye may fynde euery chapyter lyghtly as the nombre sheweth ¶ Howe the kyng Pepyn wedded Berthe a lady of great renowne Capitulo Primo UErytably we fynde in the auncient cronicles that the noble and valiaunt kyng pepyn wedded and toke vnto wyfe Berthe of great renowne dyscrete and prudent whiche had and suffred in her tyme greate trybulations and aduersities by enuy For she was chaced and expulsed from the company and habytacion of the foresayde kynge her husbande by a false and a coursed olde woman replete with malyce The whiche old woman for the fyrst nyght founde maner and facion to put a doughter others in the place of the good Quene Berthe And she ledde and conduyted this treason for to vpholde her doughter with the kynge in the place of Berthe his spouse for they resenâ—bled muche The whiche kynge hadde twoo children by that mayden that is to wiâ—te Haufray and Henry the whiche in the tyme of their reigne greeued and wasted muche the countrey of Fraunce and were of fyerse courage and full of maltalent These twayne were cause to put the Quene Berthe in exile where as she suffred innumerable paynes and dolours And the foresayd lady was full long in exyle leading her lyfe in teares and lamentacions But afterwarde God of his inestimable grace deliuered the good lady from aduersitie for at the requeste and instaunce of dyuerse great lordes the lady was accorded vnto her husbande king Pepyn the whiche in great pyte and honour receyued her And with in a lyttell whyle after she was conceyued with a sone whiche was the ryght puyssaunt Charlemayne and afterwarde he was chased out of the realme by the for said Haufray and Henry as â—o is shewed more playnely in this present booke but nowe I will specifie vnto you y e playne matter of this present booke and specially of the dedes and gouernyng of the valeaunt Ualentine and of his brother Orson It is true that the noble kynge Pepyn had a syster named Bellyssant fayre plesaunte and â—ight gracious And in euery thyng well thought and endoctryned And the kynge Pepyn her brother loued her wyth perfyte loue And in so muche that it happened for the reowne that she had and bycause that bothe great and small loued her for her beaute and humylitie the kynge Alexander Emperour of Constantynoble was enbraced wyth her loue right ardantly So it was not longe after that he came into Fraunce for the same cause in right great estate accompanyed wyth diuers erles and barons the whyche were all in greate pompes and rychesses So shortly after his arryuayle he asseÌ„bled all hys great lordes and coÌ„maunded them to aray them in theyr best araye and that they should go vnto the kynge Pepyn for to knowe yf he wolde gyue him his excellent sister Bellyssane in maryage And so they wente
Fraunce He was praysed so of euery body y t by the consente of the people he was sacred by the pope Empeorure crowned Moche well he gouerned augmented the chyrche in his tyme. He dyde egall Justyce vnto euery body soo that all folkes sayd good of hym ¶ In this tyme was pope Clement the fourth of that name that consacred kynge Pepyn Emperoure ¶ How Haufray and Henry had enuye at Ualentyne bycause that the kynge loued hym so well Ca. xii AFter that the kynge Pepyn by the grace of god and by the strengthe of armes had chaced the infideles and enemyes of our fayth out of the partyes Romayns he came vnto Orleaunce and there he founde the quene Berthe hys wyfe that receyued hym wich all the Joye and tryumphe that myght be made with her lytell sone Charlemayne and her excellent doughter Eglantyne The whiche was ryght gladde and Joyous bicause that Ualentyne was comen agayne safe and sounde So she sotourned not longe but that shee sente for hym and he came with a good wyll Than whan the lady sa we hym she salued hym amyably saynge Ualentyne my loue ye be hertely welcome well ought you to be de rely kepte and honoured for it is sayd that aboue all other ye haue wonne vyctorye and triumphe vpon the paynyms that helde Rome in theyr subiectyon A madame sayd Ualentyne to god be the laudes and praiâ—â—â—ges euery body sayeth what they lyste And as for me I haue done nothynge that is worthy praise And more ouer the kynge your fader hathe done me soo moche good and honoure that in my lyfe I can not deserue to what seruyce someuer I do hym And in sayenge these wordes Haufray and henry esprysed with enuye dyde entre in to the chambre of Eglantyne And whan Haufray and Henry were entred they sayd vnto hym UaleÌ„tyne what come you here to do in the chambre of our syster that apperteyneth not to you to moche ye shewe yourselfe folysshe and hardy for to entre in to her chambre ryall for you are but a begyler and none can know what you are nor from whens ye becomen Wherfore beware that ye be not founden no more with her leste that euyll come to you Ualentyne sayd vnto Haufray of your syster haue no doubte for syth that I was borne I neuer thought towarde her thynge saue all good and honoure Yf that I be poore and that they knowe not what I am yet wolde I not do nor thynke thynge that sholde be agaynst the maiestery all And to the ende that you haue no doubte that your syster EglaÌ„tyne shall haue by me ony blame at this same houre I promyse you that I shall neuer enter in to her chambre agayne At these wordes departed Ualentine out of the chambre and Eglantyne abode wepyng al alone moche tenderly Ualentyne mouÌ„ted into the palays for to serue the kinge which was set al redy Ther was haufray and Henry and the duke Millon dangler that serued the kyng at table wyth Ualentyne And whan he was rysen he called Ualentyne and sayd heryng them all Lordes here is Ualentyne that hathe well and truely serued me and socoured in my necessitees to the ende that eche of you may knowe it and for the good seruices that he hathe done me in abydynge tyl better come I gyue hym the Erldom of Clermont in â—uâ—rgne Syr sayd UaleÌ„tine god yelde it you for ye do me more honoure and goodnes than I haue deserued To heare suche wordes were Haufraye and Henrye to sorowfull wherefore eche sayde to other Thys same foundelynge which god course is in the grace of the kyng so that yf we fynde not remedy he shall be unes cause of our gret dommage For the kynge hath no chyldren but vs and the lytell Charlemayne of whome we may do our wil after the death of our father but it is of certayntye that Ualentyne wyll supporte him and holde hym agaynste vs. Wherfore we must fynde the manner to put hym in the indignacion of the king and to purchase his deathe for otherwyse we can not auenge vs. And than maye we at oure owne pleasure gouernethe realme wythout contradyecyon Than spake Haufray and said Broder Henry I haue found the maner whereby the false boye shall be deceyued and betrayed I shall tel you howe we shall make the kyng oure fader to vnderstande that he hathe vyoled our syster and that we haue founde hym in naked bedde with her And whan y e kynge shall knowe this I am certayne that he wyl make hym dye shamefully It is wel sayd answered Henry let it be done as you haue sayd and so shall we be auâ—uged In this wyse abode they thynkynge and ymagynynge alway treason agaynst Ualentine for they coueyted his deth ryght sore And valentin serueth the kyng so debonayrly that the kynge aboue all other desyred him in his coÌ„pany For euery daye he maynteyâ—ed him from well to better in prayenge god that he wolde gyue hym know ledge of the place that he was extraught of And Orson his broder is in the forest whiche is so moche fered and redoubted that none durst approche nere the wodde for hym The complayntes came vnto y e kyng euery day from one all partes So it happened daye that a poore man came vnto the kynge all wounded and blody and sayd to hym Syr I complayne me to you of the wylde man For euen so as I and my wyfe passed throughe y e forest berynge breed wyne and other vytaylles y e wilde man came and toke al frome vs and ete it and more oner he toke my wyfe and dyde twyes his wyl with her Now tell me sayd the kynge whether arte thou soryer for thy vytaylles or for thy wyfe By my fayth syr sayd the good man of my wyfe I am moche more dyspleasaunt Thou hast ryght sayd the kyng Now go to my treasourer and sette prise on thy losse for it shal be reâ—ored thâ— After the kynge called his barons to take aduyse on Orson So they aduysed amonge them that the kynge sholde make erye al aboute that who myght take y e wylde man quycke or deed he sholde haue a. M. marke of fyne golde So the counsayl was holden and the crye publysshed And theder came many knyghtes of all estates for to take Orson and the pryse conquere Than the kynge Pepyn beynge in his palays wyth diuers great lordes and noble barons that of thys mater spake and made great admeracions among them selfe Amonge the whych lordes and barons Haufraye that was mortall enemye of Ualentine began for to saye thus Syrhere is Ualetyne that you haue nourysshed and put in great honoure whiche hathe required oure syster Eglantine of loue dysordinate and of great dishonoure And because that I am well informed of this case for to se what he can do and for to she we his valyauntnes let him go seke the wild man that is so dread and you shall gyue hym Eglantyne so
wer in the felde After he sayd vnto Grigar go and arm you and thynke for to defend your quarel wel Ha syr sayd Grigar I haue serued you longe time withall my puissaunce haue enforced me for to obey you in al thinges as wel in batayl as wythoute but euyll rewarde you yelde me whan that you wyll make me fyght agaynst this wylde man that hathe neyther wytte nor reason Grygar sayd kyng Pepyn if you haue good right you ought not to be dysmayed of nothynge for I promyse you that you shal be wel armed and Orson shalbe put into the felde al naked and without armour You shall be on horsback and he shal be on fote without bering ony wepen wherby you shal haue no cause for recule a backe from defendyng of your ryghte I can not tell how it shal befal you but you shewe wel the seÌ„blaunt that there is somwhat to say in you do your deuoyre and defend your ryght for you shall haue none other thynge of me the cause is consumed and the conclusy on made and taken of my counsayll ¶ How Orson and Grigar fought togyder before kinge Pepyn and how Orson vaynquyshed him made him confesse the treason openly and after was hanged And how Valentine was delyuered Ca. xix AFter that Grygar had made dyuers excuss cyons and apposycyons that he sholde not fyght wyth Orson and that it was delybered by the counsail to fight â–ª the kinge commauÌ„â—ed to make the feld afore his palais And when he was ready Orson that was abidyng eâ—â—ered in for to abyde Grygar y t was armed by Haufray Henry the which armed him also well as they could And when he was armed he tooke his leue of them in saying Lordes I go dye for you Euill was the daye for me when I enterprysed suche a thyug Holde your peace sayd Henry and take no thought for I haue promysed you to make your peace to wathe my father the whiche I will holde so that and you be vanquished by Orson your body shall haue no harme And if that he would domage you in any maner there should rather dye an hundred thousande men then we should faile on out syde be euer secrete and knowledge neuer nothyng of the deede that is done nor of the enterpryse Grygar was armed and mounted on horsebacke and so he rode towarde the fielde that was ordeined before the palais And when the houre was come that they should fight the kyng came to the wyndowes for to beholde the batayle When al the court was assembled and the iudges ordayned for to iudge the bataill it was commaunded to both the parties that they shoulde do their deuoyre Than Grygar entred into the fielde with muche pryde mounted at auauntage wherfore it befell hym euill at the ende He sporred his horse and drewe towarde Orson saying Rybaude thou hast done me to great outrage whaÌ„ thou put out one of min eien through thy cruel nes but I shall shewe the that with wronge and without cause thou haste assayled me ¶ And when Orson sawe him come he vnderstode hym well and stratched forth his armes and she wed his nayles and his teeth grennyng full hugely Then Grygar couched his spere and ranne towarde Orson When Orson sawe the spere come he gaue a lepe backward And Grygar that had fayled of his stroke fixed his speere in the fielde Whan Orson sawe that he retourned to him and tooke the spere and when that Orson hadde the spere in his hande he gaue hym so great a stroke that he loste witte and vnderstaÌ„ding in such wyse that he wist not where he was When Grygar was smyten he sporred horse and fledde about the fielde and Orson ranne after makyng a grymly countenaunce and shewyng the kyng that he woulde yelde hym matte anone And when Grygar apperceyued the great daunger that he was in he sayde within himselfe A Haufray I muste dye for you I had well sayde it euyll is the thing begon and euill shal it finishe In this maner Grygar could not wouÌ„de Orson in no wyse And when Orson sawe this he â—ast the spere downe and after came against Grygar and so stâ—aitâ—he kept him that he caught his horse by the necke and he made him turne so ofteÌ„ about that he made him fall but when he felte his horse fal he would haue lept out of his sadle and at the lepe he lost his shelde for it fell down and Orson ranne to it and anone put it vpoÌ„ hym and went towarde the horse and mounted vpon hym and in makyng marueylous sygnes he roode after Grygar that fled about in the fielde To se the countenaunce of Orson euery body was abasshed And the kyng Pepyn amongest the other was muche pensyfe for this case and sayde before them all By God almiâ—hey lordes I marueyle me muche of this feate and I can tell what to thynke nor to what ende it wil come but whatsoeuer it be or what may happen it is myne opinion that there is treason ryght greate somwhere The kyng was pensyfe vpon this enterpryse And Orson that was mounted on horsebacke for to pursue Grygar descended of the horse and wente vnto him on fote and he gaue suche a stroke that he smote him down to the grounde and after he lepte vpon him and tooke his sworde and his dagger from him after he gaue him so mighty a stroke that he smote of his arme and hys shoulder And then he gaue hym another marueylous stroke in the body so that he cut his reynes of his back in two And Grygar escryed soo hye that euerye body herde it in demaundyng a priest for to be confessed of his synnes and to haue absolucion of them And when the gardes of the fielde vndrstode hym a muche notable knyght that had the charge went to ward him and demaunded hym what he woulde and then Grygar sayd vnto hym Syr make the kyng Pepyn descende for I will before all the worlde tell and confesse the falsnes and treason of my case ¶ Then this thyng was sygnifyed to the kyng Pepyn all clearely what he had sayde ¶ How Grygar after that he was ouercome and vanquyshed by Orson confessed before the king â–ª Pepyn the treason that Haufray and Henry had done against the noble Ualentyne ¶ Cap. xx WHen Grygar sawe the kynge he cryed hym mercye And recounted vnto him howe that by the commaundement of Haufray and Henry he had taken Ualentyne put hym in pryson tyll lye be iudged to deathe Whan kynge Pepyn knew the trouth of the mater he commaunded to hang Grygar Sith he mouÌ„ ted on horsbacke for to go vnto the pryson that valen tyne was in whan Orson vnberstode that the kinge wold go he ranne before hym makyng grete chere to hym shewynge hym the waye And the kynge sayd often Lordes it is a great thyng of thys wyld man that loueth Valentine thus know that his manners styreth me much for to do hym some
you vndertake a great foly for you shal neuer haue victory on him Mounte vpon this litle hyland be hold where as hangeth vpon a tree moo then forty that he hath put to death There is no more then fiftene dayes of respyte that the duke of Acquitayne shalbe constrained for to geue vnto him his doughter the fayrest of the worlde the whiche shall be great dommage Frend sayd Ualentine God shal helpe her Thus as valeÌ„tine spake vnto this man an auncient man came to warde him in the habyte of a pylgrym euill clothed the which had a great whyte bearde and was of the aege of four score yeare This man was Blandymayn the squyer of Bellyssant that ledde herinto the castell where as the gyaunt Ferragus was as it is made mencion of before Ualentine salued the pylgrym and demaunded hym from whence he came And he aunswered hym Syr I come from Constantinoble but I myght not entre in to the cytie for a paynim Soudan that hathe assyeged it I might not do there my message wherefore I retourne me Pylgrym sayd Ualentyne telme yf the grene knyght haue none ende No sayde the pilgrym I waâ—raunt you and I counsayl you that ye coueyte not to fyght with hym For and you were a hondred he would make you all dye To God I commaunde you for I muste departe Thâ— sayd Ualentyne tel vs whether you go Syr sayde Blandimayn I goo streyght to Parys for I muste doo a message to kynge Pepyn of Fraunce from a sister of his named Bellyssant that of long time was banyshed out of Constantynoble with wronge and without hauyng deserued it Nowe is the good lady in the house of a gyaunt that kept her ful swetely the whiche wyll go into Fraunce for to wyte if kyng Pepyn be consentyng For so well he knoweth the lady of good maners and condicions that he wyll fyght in a fyelde of batayle against the Emperoure of Grece that he hath falsly euilly expulsed her Frendâ— sayde Ualentyne to him I praye the in the name of God almyghty that thou retourne againe with vs into Acquytayne And when I shall haue foughten with the grene knyght if God my creature geue me victory against hym I shall retourne in to Fraunce with you And for the loue of kyng Pepyn I vndertake this battayle for I am more beholden vnto hym then vnto any man liuing It is he that hath bene my father and hath nourysshed me so well that I ought well to haue the courage and will for to doo his commaundement and pleasure Syr sayde Blandimain I will neuer consent vnto this For I will goo and do my message for the noble lady Bellyssant for she hath geueÌ„ me the charge and I will serue her truely God be with you both the whiche kepe you from all euill So Blandymayne departed and toke his waye towarde Parys And Ualentyne behelde him right strongly Alas it was not with out a cause He had good right if his harte drew to him for it was he that of longe time had saued and kept his mother but he knewe it not They tooke their waye And went so longe that they aryued besyde the cytie of Acquitayne Ualentyne behelde the cytie sore that was ryght pleasaunt to se. After valentyne espyed a fountayne and went theâ—her and alyght of his horse after he layde hym downe vnder a tre that was besyde it for to refreshe hym for he had greate heate he reposed hym a lytell and slepte and Orson kept him And whan he had reposed hym and was awakened he rose vp vpon his fete for to mount on horsback but there came and arryued ther a knight that was fyerse and proud and that for his grete pryde was called the proud knyght For he was so fyerse that neuer the dayes of his lyfe he had salued no man And yet he was of such a condicion that he that salued hym not shuld haue bataill against hym wher throughe he had made dyuers dye He came toward the fountayne and set fote on ground and Ualentyne behelde hym and sayd neuer a worde and than he aduysed Orson that beheld hym fiersly The proud knight had dyspyte in his hearte and approched neare Orson and gaue hym suche a stroke that he made the bloode yssue out of his mouth And whan Orson felt hym self smiten he toke the knight betwene his armes so rudely that he thre we hym downe vnder him sith he toke a knife that hanged at the knightes gyrdle and smote hym in to the body so that the bloode yssued oute by grete habundaunce And the knyghte that felde hym selfe wounded cryed right hye Than Valentyne approched and toke the knight out of Orsons handes said to him Fayre syr you haue wroÌ„g for to smite this pore man that can not speke a word Than sayd the proud knyghts vnto Valentyne Proude ryvaude wherefore dost thou not salue me The he drewe out a glaiue for to haue smiten hym and Valentyne drewe his swerde and gaue hym so grete a stroke that he smot him doun deed to the erthe And syth sayd to hym I shall â—â—arâ—e you to salue the folkes Whan the proude knyght was â—eed his men began for to flee to warde the eyte of Acquytayn and entred in ryghte sorowfull and tolde the tydynges that theyr maister was deede Of the which tydynges was moche angrye and dyspleasaunt the duke Sauary for he was his cosin Ualentyne herde the sorowe that the proude knightes men made that had ben put to de the besyde the fountayne So he mounted on horsbacke entred into the cyte And whan he was within he lodged him in the house of a much ryche burgeys but whan they wer lodged it was not long after but that the tidinges came vnto 〈◊〉 duke Sauari that they that had slayne hys cosyn were lodged in the cyte He commaunded that they shuld be brought vnto him whan he had commaunded it the messengers departed incontynent for to go fetche Valentyne and Orson the whiche came toward hym anone Than spake y e duke Sauary in this manner Frendes tell me what ye beâ— and yf you be knyghtes or no of what countre you be â— what prynce you serue Syr sayd ValeÌ„tine a knight I am â–ª and am seruaunte vnto the good kynge Pepyn that holdeth Fraunce Knyght sayd the duke you haue slayne my cosyn and put hym vnto death It is trewe sayde the noble knyghte Valentyne I saye not the contrary and yf that he hadde bene of my propre lignage I woulde haue done as muche for he was proude and fyerse of courage he dayned not speke to grete nor litel by his pryde he hathe smyten my felowe soo that he felled hym and whan I sawe that I drewe my swearde and slewe hym I am a straunger that are comen in to this cyte for to fyght with the grene knyght for tose the pleasant Lady Fezonne that is so muche renowne you haue made the waies that euery
syster Clerymonde for to geue her vnto a christen knyght Wherfore me semeth you are to symple whan him and all the other of his sorte and company you make not dye without hauinge on â—hem ony mercy or pyte Frende said the soudan Moradin it is well my wyll and intencyon for I am entyerly delybered to make them be hanged by the neckes tomorowe in the morning Pacolet was so wise and soo well taught that vntyl the hour to slâ—pâ—he kept the soudan with sportes and playes And whan the houre was comen that they shold go to reaste the soudan commaunded that the prysoners shuld be kepâ—â—o welâ—nd so straytly that vpon the pain of their liues they myght yelde hym acountes And so he wythdrew him into hys chambre and left Ualentyne the grene knight in keping of a great sorte of sarazyns and paynyms that aboue all thinges were couetous of theyr deathes ¶ Howe pacolet deceyued the soudan Moradin made hym mounte vpon his hors of wodde and broughte hym in to the cyte of Constantynoble wenynge to hym that he had brought hym into portyngale Ca. xliiii NOwe the houre was comen that euery body was withdrawn saue pacolet that made all the watche sleape Than he came vnto valentyne and the grene knight and vn bound them and led them out of the hooste so that none knew of it Than whan it came towardes the dawnynge of the day he entred into the tente of the soudan and escryed vnto hym on hye sayinge Ha sit to euyll gothe oure feate and euyl shewe you that you loue the wyfe of Ferragus whan you make no more dyligence to accomplyshe hee wyll Whan the soudan herde Pacolet crye so he wakened sodaynly and sayde vnto Pacolet Frende by Mahoune almyghtye thou haste done well to haue wakened me for thou hast taken me oute of a greate payne for I dremed a meruaylous dreme And in dreminge me thoughte that a Crowe dydde beare me farre awaye in the ayre and in flyenge in the ayre there came vnto me a greate byrd that with his bil stroke me so sore that the bloude ranne out in great haboundaunce so I wote neuer what thys wyll saye and am in drede that the kynge Ferragus knoweth this de de Syr sayde Pacolet you haue a slouthfull courage whan for a dreme you wyl leue the Ioyous enterprise of her that desyreth you so muche by mahoune said he thou sayst trouthe Than he called her chamberlain to make hym redy and after sayd to him Frende be secreâ—e if myne vncle Bruyant demaunde for me tel hym that I am gone to sporte me a lytel with pacolet Syr sayd he it shal be done Than pacolet made the soudan to mounce vp behynde hym and torned the pynne and the horse rose vp in the ayre so impetuously that also sone they were in the cyte of Constantinoble in the Emperours palais And whan the soudaÌ„ moradin saw that pacolet was abiden he saide vnto him frende muste we lodge here Ye said pacolet haue no fere nor doubt of nothinge for we are wiâ—l in portyngale in the ryche palays of the puyssaunt and myghty kynge Ferragus By mahoune in whome I beleue sayd the soudan Moradyn I am muche ameruayled howe the deuyll hathe borne the so soone Now hye you sayd Pacolet and entre in to this halle and I wyll go in to the chambre of the pleasaunt lady the wyfe of Ferragus and as this same houre I shall make the chambre to be opened too you and to lye wyth her Frende sayde the Soudan of great ioye thou makest me to laughe No we go in the name of Mahoune the whiche conduyte the. ¶ Howe the soudan Moradyn was taken and bounde and after was hanged Cap. xlv PAcolet the enchauntour lefte â–ª the soudan Moradyn within the halle the whiche was well loocked on euerye syde so that he myght not yssue oute Then he wente towarde the chambre of the Emperoure and gaue so great a stroke against the dore that the chamberlayne harde is and cryed on hyghe in demaunding what are you that at this houre in the chambre imperyal cometh smiting and makyng suche noyse Frende sayd Pacolet doubte you not of nothing for I am Pacolet that is come froÌ„ the hoost of the soudan Moradyn where as I haue deliuered UaleÌ„tyne the grene knight froÌ„ the handes of the sarazins y t had iuged condaÌ„â—ned theÌ„ to death And more ouer say vnto the emperour y e I haue brought w t me in to this palays the soudan Moradyn the whiche beleueth stedfastly to be in Portingale Nowe he must be takeÌ„ without any so iourning flayne al quicke for he hath well deserued it when the chamberlayn vnderstode the tidinges he went toward the Emperoure the kyng Pepyn the which for to se the soudaÌ„ with a great nombre of knyghtes armed them And the Soudan was in the hal that cryed hydeously sayinge Ha false traytoure Pacolet mahoune curse the. For I haue well hard the vnderstand the speke thou haste betrayed me by thy false deceit cursedly shamefully but by y e fayth that I holde yet shall I make the repent it Than he drewe oute hys swearde and as a madde than that were out of hys wytte began for to renne about the halle in smytynge the walles and the stoones soo rudely that he made the fyre to sprynge out of the marbyl stones â–ª And so as he fought alone in the halle the Emperoure and kyng Pepyn with torches and tresettes came toward hym well accompanyed And when he apperceiued theÌ„ he pat hymselfe in defence muche outragyously and slewe a squyer before kyng Pepyn that woulde haue taken hym and the kyng that was right displeasaunt auaunced hym and gaue hym so great a stroke that he felled hym vnto the earth Then he was taken a bound muche streyghtly by that it was daylight Ualentyne and the greue knyght entred in to the palays whiche was come from the hoost of the soudan and when thei founde hym thers they were muche ioyous Then the Emperoure and kyng Pepyn made great ioye for the delyuecaunce of UaleÌ„tine and also of the grene knight for he was muche praysed and loued The Emperour thanked muche Pacolet for the delynetaunce of hys sonne valentyne and the kyng Pepyn said vnto him Pacolet fayre syr thou must shewe one gambaude with thy horse Syr sayde Pacolet mounte vp be hynde 〈◊〉 and I shall brynge you without testynge into helle trende sayde the kyng Pepyn God kepe me tâ—â—me it Then sayd Pacolet â–ª lordes make diligence to put this false Soudan to death for if euer he escape you thinke that euyll shall happen therby At that houre was assembled within the palays dyners great lordes for to se the soudan by the counsaill deliberacion of whome he was iudged condempned to be haÌ„ged on the great â—oure of the palays to the ende that hemyght be seene of the paynims and so it was don And when
loked aboute the chambre and sa we anone that his hors was loste soo he wronge his handes and drewe his heere in cryenge hyghely A fals Adramayne by the I am deceyued For falsly thou hast stolen my hors and my lady Clerymonde hathe borne away vpon hym Well ought I to hate my lyfe whan by the I am thus betrayed and vnpuruayed of the thin ge that I moost loued Now death come vnto me for to take me out of thys worlde for I haue no more hope to haue comforte nor consolacyon So pensyfe and sorowfull was Pacolet for the fayre Clerymonde that yf it had not ben Orson that came towarde hym he wolde haue slayne hymselfe wyth a knyfe On euery syde of the palays was herde pyteous cryes and wofull complayntes Bellyssaunt the Empresse wepte and cryed sore And the fayre Fezonne made suche dole that she rent her ryche clothes for the loue of Clerymonde that was stolen awaye so falsly And all they of the cyte made innumerable complayntes be waylynges And amonge all the other it was a pyteous thynge to here the complaynt and lamentacyon of the good Duke of Acquytayne And whan pacolet sawe the great sorowe that eâ—ry body made he sayd vnto them Lordes I swere vnto god that hath fourme all the world that I shal neuer haue Ioye of my lyfe nor comforte vnto the tyme that I haue taken vengeaunce of the traytoure Adramayne by the whyche we are betrayed and deceyued At these wordes he departed heuy and sorowfull and put of hys gowne and toke the habyte of a woman in clothynge him ryght gentylly as a younge mayden And in that estate departed out of of the cyte of Acquytayne and went in to the hoost of the kynge Ferragus And also soone as he was in the hoost of the paynyms there came out towarde hym that prayed hym muche of loue bycause hym thought he was soo fayre a mayden For Pacolet had wasshed hys face wyth a water ryght subtyl made by hys charme in suche maner that all they that beheld hym sayd amongest theym that they had neuer sene a more fayrer woman nor a more gracyous Of dyuers paynyms and sarazyns he was beholden and requyred but euer he excused hym and sayd My lordes pardone me for at thys tyme I am promysed and haue made couenaunt wyth the enchauntour Adramayne the which hathe reteyned me Mayden sayd the other go on your waye And so Pacolet toke the way to go vnto the enchauntour Adramayne that was in the tente And whan Adramayne sawe hym he was so enchaunted that Pacolet semed hym the moost fayrest woman that euer god created And he was so muche enamoured on hym that for to slepe wyth hym that nyght he reteyned hym and Pacolet accorded therto ryght gladly and sayd to hym My lorde knowe that I haue bene requyred of manye but aboue all the other me thynke you are worthyest to be seruyd Doughter sayd Adramayne doubte you of nothynge but make good chere for I haue a good wyl for to serue you and do you good tyght largely Than Adramayn coÌ„maunded one of his seruauntes that he shoulde kepe the mayde and that she shoulde be serued at souper with all maner of meates wyne at her plea saunce Nowe is the enchauntout Pacolet in the tente of Adramayn well and honestly serued And Adramayn is in the hoost of kyng Ferragus seruyng Frende said Pacolet to the varlet of Adramayne where is the kyng Trompart that is so puyssaunt and well renowmed By mahoune sayd he my lady I thynke he is retourned in to his countrey and leadeth with hym the fayre lady Clerymonde vpon a horse of wodde that my mayster hathe geuen him When Pacolet harde those tidinges demaunde not if he was sorowful but he made no semblaunt Than entred Adramayne in to the tente and presented wyne and spyces vnto Pacolet after sayde to hym My doughter it is tyme to go to reste se here y e bedde that you and I shall slepe in and do our pleasures Lorde sayde Pacolet your wyll be done And then Adramayne the enchauntour vnclothed hym entred in to the bedde thynking that the mayden would come and lye with hym But also soone as he was in the bedde Pacolet enchaunted him in suche wyse and made hym slepe so strongly that for any thynge that myghte be done vnto the morowe in the mornynge he myghte not a wake And when he hadde made hym slepe so he made all there aboute to slepe Than he put of his womans clothyng and put vpon hym the rychest clothes of Adramayne after he toke a sworde that hanged in y e â—hambre and smote of Adramaynes head and bare it with hym When he had done so he wente vnto Fertagus pâ—uâ—â—ion the whiche was wel kept with sarazins and so well he coulde playe with his arte that he made all fall vnto the earth slepe Then he entred into the tence whereas Ferragus slepte the whiche he enchauÌ„ â–ª teth so muche that he made hym lepe out of his bedde clothe him Then Pacolet toke his gyrdle and tied it aboute his necke in suche wyse that as a beaste he ledde hym and made renne after hym vnto the gates of the cytie of Acquytayne when Pacolet was at the gares of Acquytayne he founde the duke Sauary accompanied with dyuers lordes and barons that hadde muche desyre to knowe of that enterpryse And also soone as they sawe Pacolet they sayd vnto hym Frende where is Clerymonde that you bryng not her agayne Lordes sayd Pacolet haue a litel pacience for at the first stroke with an axe the tree is not smyten downe Knowe that of Adramaine I am auenged forse here his head and yet I haue done soo muche by myne arte that I haue brought Ferragus with me the whiche all in slepynge I haue made renne after me through the fyeldes By my fayth sayd Orson well haue you wrought Lordes sayd Pacolet yet haue I done more maystrye for in al the hoost of kynge Ferragus there is neyther paynym nor sarazyn but that they slepe vnder the trees muche strongly And therfore if you will haue victory vpon them at this houre you maye confounde theym eueryâ—honâ— My lordes sayd Orson Pacolet telleth vs good tydynges and me thinketh it were good to yssue out of the cytie and tenne vpon the paynyms that are on slepe Thus was the counsayll ordeyned and the thynge delybered Then they made Ferragus to be put in a darke pryson vnto their retournyng ¶ Howe kyng Ferragus hoost was all dyscomfited put all to death and how Ferragus was slayne afterward within Acquytayne Capit. l. THen fiftene or sixtene thousand men yssued out of the cytie of Acquitaine and they entred so pryuely into the hoost of the sarazyns that or the sunne was vp they had vanquyshed them put theÌ„ al to death At that houre was so great slaughter of paynyms that all the earth was couered with their bodies After the batayll they
haue two nenewes that are the sonnes of our eldest syster that is for to wyte Florente and Garniere the whiche are muche hardye and fyerse And me thinketh that by them twayne a treason should be sone conspyred and made soner then by vs for they knewe well for a truthe that the kyng loued them not and that he would geue soner credeÌ„ce vnto other then them On the other part the one is botyller of the kyng and the other is vssher of the chambre that he slepeth in And by the meanes of theym twayne we may entre in to the chambre of king Pepyn oure father and slee hym in his bedde and euery body wyll saye that it hath bene Orson for aboue al the other he is the chiefe garde of his body and trusteth moost in hym And by this meane the sayd Orson shall be condampned to death and the realme shall be holly in our handes for our brother Charles is not yet puyssaunt ynough for to gouerne vs. Haufray sayd Henry you haue ryght well deuysed â–ª but for to accomplysshe this thyng it is expedient to make great dylygence in this wyse ymagyned the two false traytours the deth of the noble and puyssaunte kyng Pepyn the whyche was their naturall father And in soo euyl an hour he had engendred them that for the sauynge of theyr soules they cared ful lyttell They sente for ther two cursed traytours that is for to wyte Florent and Garnyere the whiche were right valyaunt hardy And whan they were comeÌ„ before them Haufray toke the wordes and sayd in this maner Lordes vnderstonde our enteÌ„â—yon for we are delivered my brother and I for to do a thynge that we may haue all prouffyte by shal reyse you and mouÌ„te you in honoure more than euer you were the whiche thinge I desyre because that you are my propre neuewes and of my propre bloode and owe more to desyre your good thaÌ„ any other daÌ„ for to come to an ende I wyl tel you myne enteÌ„cyoÌ„ You know that the kyng Pepyn how well that he is our father neuer loued vs in his life with good hert Euer with his puyssaunce he hath reysed vp the straungers and exalted them in honoure and in all offices and dignyties more than vs wherfore all these thynges consydered my brother Henry and I that are youres vncle legyty mes wyll and consent and are delybered for to make kyng Pepyn dye And after his death we fohâ—e shal gouerne holde his londe at our owne wyll But it be houed that the thinge be accomplysshed by one of you twayne And me thinketh that you Garnyete are the most proprest for to vndertake this thyng for you haue a couenable offyce for to do it more than ony other seynge that you are mayster vssher and pryncipall garde of the kyng is chambre And maye knowe bothe nyghte and daye who entreth in to the sayd chambre for the whiche thynge you maye hyde you in some secrete place and when the kyng shall be in his bedde on slepe you shall slee hym without makyng any noyse And on the moro we in the morning when the tidinges shal be that the kyng is dead the charge and the blame shall be gyuen vnto Orson because that euery nyght he slepeth and resteth moost nerest his body and so he shall be iudged and condempned vnto death And after these thynges we shall take the lyfe sone from the lytel Charles And by this meane the realme shall abyde vnto vs for to departe it after our pleasures Uncle sayde Garnyere of this feate doubte you nothynge for kynge Pepyn your father shall lese his lyfe Now was the treason ordeyned agaynst kyng Pepyn that thought none yll by the two cursed children that had no pite to make their father dye In an euill houre is the chylde borne that would purchase suche a death agaynst his father And in an euill houre was euer engendred Haufray Henry when by them treason was done many countreys marred By theym was their neuewe Garnyete full of so euill will that sone after that the treason was made he espyed a nyght as the kyng souped and tooke a sharpe poynted knyfe subtylly entred in to the chambre tyall and behynde the hangyng he hydde hym soo secretely that he myght not be apperceyued of no body And when the houre was come that the kyng shoulde go vnto reste by the gardes and chaberlaynes he was brought vnto bedde as the custome was The king entred into the bedde the whiche recommaunded him vnto God muche deuoutly and all yssued out of the chambre saue Orson that deuysed with the kynge to slepyng time And when Orson sawe that the king would slepe without makyng any more noyse he left hym and the nerest hym that he myght he layde hym downe vpon a couche bedde ¶ Howe Garnyere entred in to kyng Pepyns chambre for to accomplysshe his cursed enterpryse and how he left the knyfe within the kynges bedstrawe ⧠Capitulo lvii WHen it came to watdemydnyght the traytoure Garniereyssued out of this place and in bering the knyfe in his hande he went vnto the bedde of king Pepyn for to acheue his enterpryse but when he was besyde hym and that helyfte by his arme for too haue put hym to death hym thoughte that the kyng woulde haue wakened wherfore so great feare toke hym that he let hymselfe slyde downe by the bedde syde where as he was a great whyle and durste not remeue hym After he woulde haue sinytten secondly but so great fere toke hym as he woulde haue smyten hym that all hys body fayled and began for too tremble in suche wyse that he myght not acheue his enterpryse and put the knyfe within the bedde After he tetourned in to hys place all tremblyng for to hyde hym in abydynge the day so strongly afrayd that he would haue bene a thou sand myle beyond the sea And Orson was in his bedde that of that dede doubted nothing and dreamed a mar ueilous dreame For it semeth him in sleping that they would haue taken awaye the honoure of his wyfe Feronue And that besyde her was two theues that conspyred treason agaynst him After hym thought that be syde a ponde he sawe two great herons that foughte with a hawke and with all their puyssaunce enforced them for to slee hym But the hawke defended hym so valiauntly that he trauayled the two herons in suche wyse that they had bene both dead if it hadde not bene a great multytude of lytell byrdes that descended vpon y e hawke and would haue slayne hym anone if there had not come an Egle that succoured hym In this dreame Orsou awakened that of this dreame was much amat ueyled and began for too saye Ha veray God kepe me from treason and comforce my brother Ualentyne in suche maner that of y e noble lady Clerymonde he may haue certayne tydinges At that houre the daye appeted and Orson yssued softly out of the chambre
myght not flee no more behelde hym muche cruelly â–ª in castynge out at his mouche the horrible stynkyng venym and great smoke ⧠How Ualentine slew the dragon through the grace of God almyghty And howe the kyng of Antioche re ceyued hym with great honoure Cap. lxiii Syr sayd Pacolet lenne me your shelde and I shal go towarde the beast and auenture me Frende said Ualentine recorne in to the citie hele your woundes ¶ For if it please God the beast shall not be ouercome by none other but by me so I requyre God by hys grace that he will geue me the puyssaunce shortlye for to conquere her And that I may doo so muche that the kyng of Antioche and all the people incredule leue the lawe dampnable of mahowne take the lawe catholyke of Ihesu christe After that he hâ—d sayd these wordes he descended of the tree in makyng the sygne of the crosse and went to warde the serpente that ran against hym in castyng fyre and flambe muche dyspyâ—eouslye Ualentyne put the shelde before hym that the serpâ—nce doubted with the axe of stele smote her in suche wyse that he cut of her lefte thygh and felled it to the earthe The serpent cryed more hydeously than before and valentyne that was hardy to pursue his stroke came too her and thryste his axe so farforth within her throte y t at that houre he smote her downe dead in castyng oute suche a smoke that all they that behelde it were muche amaâ—ueyled And at the houre y t the serpente was dead fell downe within Antioche a great squated toure and the turretâ—es a bowe shot about it fell downe also The paynyms were abasshed of that greate auenture and sayde the one to the other that it was the soule of the de uyl that was passed that waie ¶ when the kyng was besyde hym he colled hym mâ—che swetely in saying vnto hym Free knyght of all the other moost valyaunt and hardy well hath your God shewed that he wyll loue you whan by your great prowesse you haue deliue red vs from the enemy that dommaged oure lande soo muche At these wordes they entred in to the cytie and mounted in to the palays ryall where as all the nyght and all the daye folowyng they made great feaste and there bothe paynyms and sarazyns for the victory of the serpente The kynge made Ualentyne to bee kepte ryght derely and heale his woundes lytell and greate â–ª and the quene Rozemonde bare hym greate honoure reuerence and had ryght great affection for to speake vnto hym for she was so enamoured on hym from the fyrst houre that she sawe hym that he hadde her harte entyerly And for the breunyng of her loue would purchace the death of the kyng of Antyoche her husbande as you shall heare afterwarde ¶ Howe Ualentyne after that he had dyscomfyted he dragon made the kyng of Antyoche to be baptyzed und all they of his lande and of the quene Roezmonde that was enamoured on hym ¶ Capitulo lxiiii WHen y â— good knight Ualentine had rested him a litel within the cytie of Antioche healed his waundes he went toward the kyng said to hym Sir you knâ—we that you haue promysed me to beleue in Jesu christe and your people also if it happened soo that I myght deliuer you from the serpente Nowe God hath geuen me the grace that I haue slayne hym and therefore syr kepe me your promyse for the myracle is great and euydent that my God had shewed before euery body for you knowe that by corporall strength I conquered her not but hath bene by the vertue of Jesu christe Free knyght sayd the kinge knowe that I wyll holde that whiche I haue promysed you and my wyl is to renounce mahoune and to beleue in Jhesu Christ. Than he made to crie throughe all his â—ond that lytle great shoulde beleue in Jesu chryst and leue the lawe of mahommet vpon paine of death Than was paynyms sarazyns baptised and coÌ„uerâ—er through the noble Ualâ—ntyne And also so one as the quene myghte she sente for UaleÌ„tyne into her secrete chambre the whiche went towarde her in contynent Lady sayd Ualentyne that was well taught you haue sente for me and I am comen towarde you as he that is redy and apparaylled for to accomplysshe your goodwyll Hâ— said the lady y e honoure the wysdome the strengthe the valyauÌ„tnes â—he beaute the hardines that is in you maketh your great noblenes to be praysed and honoured aboue al the lyuynge creatures and for the vertues that are in you tho lady that sholde be byloued of you myght well saye that of all the knyghtes she had the moste valyaunte the moost noble and â—he moost fayrest Now pleased it god that I myght do my wyll and that I were not subiâ—ete to no bodye for I take it vppon my soule that my hearte should neuer loue other than you yf it pleased you to do me so muche gâ—ace as to accepte my loue ¶ Lady sayd Uâ—lentyne of as muche I thanko you for you haue wedded a kynge muche valyaunte and hardy the whyche aboue al other you ought to loue and holde dere Knyght sayd the lady I haue loued hym longe tyme but sythe the daye that I sawe you my heaâ—â— departed not fâ—ome you â–ª whan Ualentyne apperceyued that the lady hadâ—e suche a courage the moost sweâ—est that he myght he excused hym towarde the â—uâ—ne of hys loue ¶ Ladye sayd Ualentyne yf the kynge knewe it he wolde neuer rest a daye tyll that he had put me vnto death now he is olde and aunâ—yenâ— and you are a â—ayre younge lady moâ—he Iâ—cunâ—e soo you muste abyde a lytell vnto the â—â—â—turne of my vyage that I haue enterprysed to go vnto the holy cyte of Jherusalem for to vysyte the â—â—pulâ—â—â— of ourâ— lorde Jhesu christ that was put vpon the tâ—e of the tâ—â—fse for vs. And at my retornyâ—ge yf it happen that the kyngâ— be deed than shall I accomplysshe all your wyll The Quâ—ne Rozemonde ansewred neuer a worde but was smytten aâ— the heart so proudely wyth the loue of valentyne that she was couetous of y e dethe of the king â–ª and of hys lyfe enemye as it happeneth oftentymes thaâ—â—y folysshe loue one man murdreth another and dyuers wyues purchaseth the deth of theyr husbandes for to acheue theyr wyll And therfore there is a greate daunger to loue a thynge so folysshly by the whyche so many euylles maye procede as the Quene Rozemonde dyd whyche for to haue valentyne at her pleasure the nyght whan the kynge should go to bedde and that the wyne was brought by aâ— the ladye toke the cuppe and put suche venym within it that who someuer dyd drinke of it shuld not escape death after in signe of loue she presented it vnto the kynge that was muche â—euoute â–ª and in makyng a â—xosse vpon the wyne he apâ—ercâ—yued the poyson By my fayth sayd the
kynge lady you haue faylled but I promyse to god that hath fourmed all the worlde that suche drynke as you haue brewed I shall make you drynke at thys houre or you shall tel me the reason wherfore you haue enterprysed suche a thynge Alas syr sayd the lady that kneled downe vpon her knâ—es I requyre you of pardon knowe that valentyne for to haue my loue hath made me to enterprise thys thing By god lady sayd the kynge I byleue you well but by my cepter ryall syth that you haue done thys thyng by euyll counsell I pardon you That nyghte the kynge slepte wyth Rozemonde the which in kyssyng and collynge hym all the nyght sayd vnto hym Syr I requyre you that you wyl put valentyne vnto death that thus wolde haue betrayed me Doubte you not sayd y e kinge for I haue wel thought it Whan the quene herde that she was muche sorowfull and dyd so muche that nyght that she spake to a secrete mayden and sent her vnto valentyne for to tel hym her wyll and the courage that y e kynge had agaynst him for her dede And whan valentine herde the tydynges that he was accused â—f y â— thyng that he was innocent of he blyssed hym dyuers tymes sayenge Swete lady what is it of the courage of women nowe muste I for the loue of the Quene departe from hence lyke a traytour yf I wyll not dy sooner her honour before euery body yet loue I better to departe out of this couÌ„tre leue all than her dy shonoure should be knowen by me ¶ At that houre he made hys men to make them redy and before the daye made to open the gates So incoÌ„tynent he yssued out of the cyte and rode so muche that he arryued at a porte of the see and founde there a marchauntes shyp that wolde passe ouer the see He entred in to it and put hym amonge the other in prayenge god deuoutly that he wolde sende hym some tydynges of the fayre Clerymonde eyther by water or by londe ¶ vpon the morowe be tymes whan the kynge of Antyoche was rysen vp he entred into hys palays and myde hys barons to be assembled and knyghtes and sayd vnto them in thys maner Lordes I am muche dyspleasaunt in my heart whan by the man that I moost trusted in of al the world and that I helde the derest I fynde me betrayed deceyued that is the fals Ualentyne the whych by hys molyce and dysordynate wyll hathe requyred the quene my wyfe of dyshonoure And hathe put her in courage for to poyson me vyllaynously and make me dye Wherfore I pray you to counsayll me in this matter and what Justyce I shal do on hym and also what death I shall make hym dye Syâ— sayd amuche wise baron y t was there for to condempne hym in his absence it is noo reason nor true Justyce Nor there is no maner of man be he neuer soo euyll nor â—yâ—ydus but that he oughte to be herde in hys reasons who that wolde do good true Justyce to euery boby Then the kyng of Antyoche commaunded that valentyne shold be brought before him Then his hoost came in to the palays the whiche tolde hym that valentyne was departed before the breakyng of the daye from his house wherof the kyng was ryght sorowfull and made his men to be armed for too putsue hym but of asmuche they lost their payne for he was mounted vpoÌ„ the sea as you haue hearde ⧠Howe the kynge of Antyoche was put vnto death for the renouncynge of mahowne by Brandyffer his wyues father And howe the Emperoure of Grece the Grece knyght were taken prysoners by Brandyffer before the cycie of Cretophe ⧠Capitulo lxv SOne after that the kyng of Anticche was coÌ„ uerted too the holy faythe the father of his wyfe Rozemonde a paynym that was called Brandyffer and amonge the other princes of turkye the moost experte in watre and was also tyght hardye So he had great dispite of the kyng that had left their lawe And sent him worde that he should sende hym his doughter Rozemonde Ot the whiche thynge the kyng of Antioche gaynesayed hym vtterly And for that same refuse Brandyster that was lorde of falyzee with a hondred thousande paynyms came and assyeged the kynge of Antioche within his cytie And he dyd so muche by his armes that within foure monethes the cytie was delyuered vnto hym by a false traytout and there was the king taken of his enemies the whiche made hym to be put vnto death in the myddes of the cytie because that he would not renounce the faythe of Thesu christ after he sent his doughter Rozemonde into his countrey and of the realme of Antyoche made hymselfe too be crowned kynge After these thynges done he put hymselfe vpon the sea for to retorne into his realme but by orage and tempest he descended in the laÌ„de of Grece beside a tytie named Cretophe the which was a great a large citie Now it happened that for certayne thinges the Emperour of Grece was newely atryued there and fortune was so peruers that he whiche knewe nothyng of the commyng of the paynyms yssued out of the cytie accompanied of the grene knyght and dyuers other lordes strong and valyaunt for to take their disporde but in an cuill houre yssued they without garde and watche for by the men of bran dyffer that no body knewe of the emperoure the grene knyght were taken and all they of their company were taken and discomfyted And at that same houre the pay nyms ronne vnto the gates of Cretophe where as they loste theyr payne for the cytie was strong and gatny shed with suche men that it behoued them to returne sodaynly agayne Angrye and sorowfull were they of Cretophe for the losse of the Emperoure and the grene knyght for the whiche they made a letter and sente it by a heraude to the Empresse Bellyssant in maundyng her tydynges of the taking of the Emperour and demaundyng succour agaynst their enemies to the end that the paynyms should not lede the Emperoure in to their countrey ¶ Sorowfull was the lady for the takyng of her husbande and wept without ceasyng She sent for her captaynes and made to assemble men of armes throughe all the Empyre of Grece in great dylygence And on the other syde she sent heraudes to warde the realme of Fraunce for to haue succoure of her brother kyng Pepyn and of her sonne Orson comfort in her aduetsite Within a shorte time yssued out of the cytie of Constantinoble a great hoost of them of the countrey of Grece for to go vnto Cretophe to succoure y e emperoure agaynst Brandiffer But that same Brandiffer that was subtyll and malicious had put tyders in the countrey aboute by the whiche he knewe the enterpryse of the Grekes And for seare of their puyssaunce to lese his prysoners with all his hoost entred in to y e sea and they rowed
and sayled so muche that they arryued within a lytel whyle in Lize and in that place they toke grounde and went vnto a strong castell that was called so in the whiche he made to be kept prceyouslye his two doughters Rozemonde and Galyze that passed al other creatures in beaute And for the great beau te of her she had ben demaunded of her father Brandiefer that same yeare by fourtene kynges strong and puissaunt And because that Brandyffer woulde not mary her yet he made her to be kepte sumptuously in that castell because that it was the strongest of all his lande That same castell was hyghe and had manye greate thycke squate coutes and wel fortefyed in the middes of the castell was a dongeon of latyn which had a double gate of yron strong and thycke The castell was enuyroned with deye dytches full of rennyng water and in the myddes of the castell and of the dyche there was a brydge composed so subtylly that there myght passe but one man at ones For it twayne would haue passed they should fall bothe in to the rennyng water and there be drowned And at the ende of that same brydge there was two horryble lyons and strong that kept the entre of the castell In the dongeon was the mayden ga lazye kepte And vnder the sayde dongeon was a caue ryght profounde and depe in the whiche the Emperour and the grene knyght was put with ten other christen men the whiche remayned there in captyuyte by the espace of many yeares in great anguyshe So I shall leue you to speake of this matter and shall tel you hereafter ensewyng of the fayre lady Clerymonde the which the kynge of ynde the great helde in his house as I haue made you mencion of before ¶ Howe the fayre Clerimonde after that the yere was complete did counterfet the seeke woman too the ende that the kyng of Ynde should not wedde her And of the kyng Lucar that woulde auenge the death of Tromparte his father agaynst the kyng of ynde ⧠Capitulo lxvi â–ª NOwe you haue well harde recyted â— tolde howe the kyng of Inde after that he had put kyng Trompatâ—e vnto death that on the horse of Pacolet had ledde awaye the fayre Clerymonde the same kyng of Inde would take vnto wyfe the forsayd Clerymonde the whiche â—s subtyll and wise and wel â—aught made him beleue that she had made an othe and auowe vnto the goddes that she should neuer haue habitacion with maÌ„ tyl a yere were â—inished And that same terme the king gaue her duryng the whiche tyme the kynge made her to be sumptuously kepte in great honoure Nowe the lady had purpensed this thyng by dyssymulacion for to prolonge the tyme tauâ—tyng that she shoulâ—e haue succoure in that time of her dolorous fortune and my saueÌ„ture But of her hope she was ryght ferre and deceiued for duryng that tyme she had no comforte of no body And so the terme was fayled and the yeare fynyshed I shall tell you wheron she aduysed her for too kepe her fayth and her promyse vnto the noble knyght Ualentyne â–ª ¶ When the fayre lady Clerymonde sawe and ap perceyued that the terme was passed that she coulde lynde no more excusacion to the kyng of Ynde she was â—yght sorowfull and displeasaunt in herâ—e Euet â—â—e de syred Ualentyne in bewaylyng hym with pyteous syghes and bytter teates And when she had thought consydered her pyteous fortune for to maynteyne her honoure the more honestlyet and flee and â—lshe we shame and blame one morning she abode in her bedde and rose not and sayde that she was syke in complaynyng her head muche pyteously The tidinges came vnto the kyng of ynde anone that the fayre Clerymonde was syke wherof he was ryght displeasaunt and incâ—ntynent came in to the chambre for to vysyte her But soo as he woulde haue set his hande vpon her head for to haue comforted her she toke his arme and lifte vp her head a hie makyng sygnes that she woulde hyte him of the whiche he was muche ameruayled after the lady turned her eyen in her head in frouncynge her face demeanynge a foule lyfe in suche wyse that the kynge of ynde was to muche abasâ—â—â— for to beholde her and yssued out of the chambre for great fere and made the ladyes to goo and vysyte the fayre lady Clerymonde sayenge vnto them For god kepe wel my loue Clerymonde for by mahoune I doubte me sore that she wyll be mad and out of her wytte In thys wyse dyd the lady abyde longe tyme and she made it so well that wythin fyftene dayes she semed morelâ—kely a veest thaÌ„ a resonable woman She was of so cruell and folysshe maners that all the seruauntes lytie and greate ladyes and dameyselles habandoned her and abode wythout companye Wyth her teth and nayles she bote and scratched all theÌ„ that wolde approche nere her And by her greate crudelyte she was locked all alone in her chambre and by a wyndâ—we they gaue her meat and drynke as to a beest On the daye the made the semblaunt that her maladye â—ncreased and al to rente her clothes she put her smoch vpon her gowne somtyme and another tyme that aboue bynethe â—â—e rubbed her handes in a chymneye and after stryked her face wythall in suche manere that her pleasaunt face well coloured was becomen blacke and smoked In that estate the kynge came and sawe her the whiche was right sorowful at hys heart for her demeanour Halas lady sayd he it gothe to euyl wyth me whan I se you in thys case for now was comen the tyme that I should haue had all solaâ—e and al pleasure of you Lady take vnto you some comforte and be not soo vnpacyent in your aduersyte ¶ whan the fayre Clery monde vnderstode hys laâ—guage she made to semblauÌ„te for to here hym but more than before counterfet the madde woman in lepynge agaynst the chymney and with her handes made her face blacke one tyme she laughed gracyously another tyme made pyteous syghes Thus wyth laughynge wepynge syghynge her couÌ„tenaunce was medled for to kepe her enâ—eâ—pryse moost secretly and her honoure By mahoune sayd the kynge of ynde of al the thynges that euer I sawe this passeth Now I shall tell you what you shal do I wyl that the lady be â—edde into the mahoâ—merye before our goddes and that we make all prayers for her that they wyll helpe her and socoure her of her malady Euen so as the kynge had sayd the thyng was done and the lady ledde vnto the temple but the more nerer that they set her to they â—age of mahoune and of hys auter soo muche the more she made semblaunt that her maladye encreased And whan the kynge sawe that there was no remedye for to aswage her maladye he made her to be ledde in to her chambre agayne as she was before where as she contynued her enterpryse vpon a stedfast hope
the tydinges They enâ—red into the â—yce and wente vnâ—o kinge Lucat muche discomforted and sayd vnto him Redoubted sâ—â— right euill gothe oure feâ—te for our good mayster the Marshall that you haue loued so muche hath ben presently slayne in a wodde by theues The kyng was ryght sorowfull therfore and wyth a great quantyâ—e of men yssued out of the cyte And whan they were wythout they sawe valentyne comynge and sayd to the kynge Syr se hym here that hath slayne and murdred your Marshall Than vâ—lentyne was taken and all they of hys company by the sarazyns and were straytely bounden in betynge and strykynge them by the comaundement of the kynge Nowe Roâ—emonde was in the same castel the whâ—ch knewe valentyne incontinent for the which thyng she was ryght sore taken at the heart and for the great loue that we loued hym she wente anone towarde the kynge and sayd to hym Alas syr kepe you well from makynge this valyaunt knyght dye that for your prysoner hath bene brought heâ—her for I swere promise you that of all the valiaunt courages he is the moost hardy he is the souerayne ought to bere away the excellence Syr it is the same knyght Ualentyne of the countrey of Fraunce that by his valyauÌ„tnes before the cytie of Antyoche slewe the horryble dragon keepe hym derely and retayne hym in your wages for in the worlde there is not so vyctorious a man yf you keepe hym and haue some great batall against your enemyes by hym you may haue vyctory Lady sayde the kynge dyuers tymes I haue heard speake of his great prowesse â–ª and I haue desyred muche to se him in my court Syth he called Ualentyne and sayd to him Knyght haue no feare for to dye for knowe that aboue all other I wyll loue you and holde you dere and all your men receyue vnto my wages but there is so muche that you muste do a message for me that is that you shall goo in to Yndy the great and saye vnto the kyng that I defye him that I am redy and apparayled with my puyssaunce for to go and auenge the death of my father the kyng Trompart the whiche he hath made to dye cruelly And tell hym that I somone hym to come towarde me within my palays before all the baronnye with y e corde about his necke redy and apparayled for to receiue suche death as by the assystentes of my courte ryall shall be Judged and condampned And if he wyll not come you shall tell hym that within short tyme I shall go and se hym and vysyte with so great a companye y t there shall not be left hym castell to wne nor cytie but y t I shall destroye theym And I shall neyther leue man woman nor chylde on lyue ¶ Syr sayd Ualentyne I shall do the message well and sufficiently soo that you shall be contente I knowe well sayde Valentyne that you wyll sende me in a daungerous place but I haue â—â—â—â—te in Jhesu chryste and in the blessed vyrgynmary the whyche haue kepte me from dyuers greate perylles to spede ryght well ¶ How the noble knyght Ualentyne departed from Esclardye for to go in to the myghty and puyssaunte cytie of Ynde the great for to bere the defyaunce of the kyng Lucar Ca. lxviii AS the quene Rozemónde sawe that Ualentyne was redy for to go in to ynde the more for to defye the kynge she entred into her chambre and by adamoysell she sente for Ualentyne secretly the whyche came gladly towarde her and salued her in great reuerence Knyght sayd the lady you are welcome for aboue all other I had great dâ—syre vnto you â–ª Lady sayd Ualentyne yf you had greate acyffecon for to se me so hadde I to se you Sith that I sawe you the thynge is well chaunged for I haue vnderstaÌ„den that your husband the kyng of Antyoche is dead syth my departynge and of late you are maryed vnto another Nowe ye myght well knowe that for the loue of you wythin Antyoche I was charged wyth dyshonoure in peryll and daunger to lose my lyfe It is true sayd the lady of that I knowledge my selfe gyltye for the great loue that I hadde vnto you made me to do that thynge but knowe that to day I shall recompâ—nce you of the faute that I dyd to you than For howe well that my father and my mother haue gyuen me vnto the kynge Lucar the whyche is pleasaunte and ryche aboue all other yet shal my heart neuer loue hym and not with out a cause for not wythstandynge hys rychesse great parentage knowe that of all the other he is the moost false traytoure And yet I tell you that sythe you haue ben in thys palays he is entred into so greate a I 〈…〉 usy that he may not endure it nor wyth good heart beholde you And to the ende that he maye be the more honestlye rydded of you he sendeth you into ynde trustynge that you shall neuer retorne for he hadde neuer tydynges of none yet that he hath sent thether for the kynge of ynâ—â— hath put them all to death But of hys entâ—ncyon by me he shall be deceyued and begyled for from that same daunger and great peryll I shall kepe you and saue you and I shall tell you by what manerof wyse Free knyghte knowe that it is not longe ago sythe that thys same kynge of ynde made me to be demaunded for wyfe â–ª And that it is true I loued hym muche more dereâ— then the kyng Lucar that is a traytour and of vgly facyon and dyspleasaunt for to beholde and in speking vngra cious lytell curtesy But with the will of my father that was vnto myne contrary I was refused vnto the kyng ynde and gyuen vnto the kyng Lucar Nowe it is true that the same kyng of ynde for acquayntaunce of loue sende me a ringe ryght ryche that which I haue derely kept with all my harte for the loue of hym and knowe that I neuer tolde it to no man lyuyng saue too you But for as muche as I haue sene the falsnes ma ladiccion of Lucar the whiche sendeth you in to ynde for to be delyuered of you I shall geue you comforte w t all my puyssaunce that shall kepe you from perill and shall acheue your message and retourne hether agayne as a hardy and a valyaunt knyght And howe wel that I wote and knowe for certayn that of my loue you haue no nede and that you are promised vnto another la dy more hyghe more fayrer and more excellenter then I am yet wyll I not forget the loue that my harte was taken with for you when I sawe you within the cytie of Antyoche as you conquered and vanquished the hor ryble dragon And for the thynges aboue sayd for to encrease your honoure I shall tell you what you shall do when you shall be afore the kyng of ynde arryued after the reuerence made and the salute geuen
from the fayre Rozemonde wherof you shall be ryght Joyous and contente with me ¶ Messenger sayde the kyng I lette the for to wyte that in despyte of kyng Lucar that is so fyerse and proude I was delybered for to haue put you vnto deathe but for the loue of the lady that you haue spoken to me of you shall haue no hurte nor vyllanye no more then my propre bodye if it be soo that you can shewe me some token or sygne from her Syr sayde Valentyne that shall I do well and shall tel you my message in suche manere that I shall not lye one worde for to dye for it It is true certayne that I belonge vnto kyng Lucar the whiche hath sente me to warde you and by me sendeth you worde that for recribuâ—ion and vengeaunce of the death of his father king Tromparte you go and yelde you in his palays of Esclardye all naked with a rope abouâ—e youre necke as an vntrue these and traytour and open murderer And in this estate he wyll that you come before his tyal maâ—estie and all baronage of his courte and as a man cul pable yelde you to suffre suche deathe as shal be geuen and Judged by his counsaill And if that you be not coÌ„tente with suche thynge and wyll refuse me as a messenger therto cominised and sent by him I defie you let you were that within shorte tyme he will come and waste your lande Suche is his eâ—tenâ—ion and hath vowed and sworne vnto god Jupin â—ahoune that in all your lande shall notabyde cytie towne nor castell boroughe nor vyllage but that they shall be all set on fyre and destroyed men womeÌ„ and children shall be put vnto death so that you shall knowe ryght well that in an euyll houre you put the kyng Tromparte to death the whiche was his propre father naturall Messenger saide the kyng of Ynde I haue ryght well vnderstande and herde you and knowe that I set litell store by the menares of the king Lucar nor by his proude diffiauÌ„ce for it is sayd comonly that suche menaceth that haue great drede And for to geue an aunswere vpon this mater I shall make a letter to bee made that you shall bere to hym and in the leâ—ter shall be conteyned how I hauebene desyed by him To the regardâ— of you messenger your message is accomplysshed And also I shall maunde him what good wil I haue for to receiue him and al his puissaunce also often as he will destroye my lande But as for the surplus of thyne enterprise that is of the fayre Rozemonde declare me all 〈◊〉 whiche she maundeth me For amonge the other thynges I haue an ardaunt desyre to here tydinges from her Syr sayd the knyght Ualentyne vpon the feate of the lady I salue you from her as her perfiâ—e and secrete loue And she sendeth you worde that she is maried of late vnto the kyng Lucar but knowe that it is agaynst her will and agaynst her courage For she neuer loued the kyng Lucar nor neuer wyll And the free lady that hath so beauteous a body is so smyten to the harte with your loue that she wyl neuer haue other than you yf it be so that you wyl receyue her for lady For to come vnto the ende of thys enterpryse she hath tolde me that she wyl come hether in the company of Kynge Lucar her husbande whan he departeth from Esclardye for to come hether in armes agaynst you And by thys meanes you maye soone fynde the maner for to haue the fayre lady Rozemonde and led her awaye at your owne wyll and pleasure By mahowue sayd the kynge of Ynde these tydynges pleaseth me ryght well and am muche Joyous yf the thyng be suche as you haue made relacyon of Syr sayd Ualentine if the thynge be true or fals I cannot saye but for â—etayne sygnes and tokens verytable here is the rynge that was gyuen vnto her by you the whyche she sendeth you And not withstandyng that women be of ryght light courage and abyde lyttell in one purpose yet me thynketh well that she aboue all other desyreth your loue that her enterpryse is not fayned Frende sayd the kynge of Ynde that knewe the rynge of thy comynge I am ryght Joyous Now go eat and drynke take thy repaste and the meane whyle I shall make a letter to be wryten that you shal bere vnto king Lucar for the answeâ—â— of your dyfyaunce Ualentyne by the commaundemente of the kynge of Ynde was at that houre hyghly feested of diuers knyghtes that kept hym companye He demaunded dyuers secretely for the fayre lady Clerymonde in â—nquyrynge yf theyr were any tydynges of any christen woman that were in y â— countree And it was answered hym naye soo he helde hym contente Now the kyng of Ynde came anone and gaue hym the lettre And Ualentyne receyued it in takynge leue of hym He knewe not y t hys loue was there the whiche lady lyued ryght poorely in the cytie for the loue of hym in praying God deuoutly that it woulde please hym to delyuer her out of that place and to send her tydinges shortly of her loue Ualentyne Nowe approcheth the tyme that she shall fynde hym but the noble knight Ualentyne shall fyrst suffre endure much pyteous aduentures the whiche shal be recounted vnto you here afterwarde ⧠How Ualentyne retourned into the cytie of Esclar dye And of the aunswere that he hadde of the kynge of Ynde to bere to kyng Lutar Cap. lxx GReate Joye and great solace made the free knyghte Ualentyne for too departe out of ynde and to be out of the haÌ„des of the felloÌ„ kyng of ynde that had slayne so many messengers He mounted on horsbacke anon arryued at the hauen where as the mariners abode him the whyche were muche abasshed of hys comynge and thought betwene them selfe that he had not done hys message Lordes sayd Ualentyne returne we into Esclardy for I haue accomplysshed myn enterpryse wherof I ought well to thanke god By my fâ—â—th sayd one of the maryners we are muche ameruaylled for neuer the dayes of our lyues we sawe none returne agayne Frende sayde Ualentyne who that god wyl helpe none can hurte them At these wordes Ualentyne mounted vpon the see and they rowed so muche that anone they aryued at Esclardye Ualentyne made no soiournyng but also soone as he was dyscended of hys hors he mouÌ„ted vp into the palays and founde there the kynge Lucar accompanyed of kyng Brandyffer and of fourtene stronge and puyssaunt kynges that were all comen in to Esclardy for to so coure the kynge Lucar agaynst the kynge of ynde Of the returnynge of Ualentyne they were muche al 〈…〉 hed amonge the other the traytour kynge Lucar for wende that he should neuer haue returned agayne He made Ualentyne to come before all the barons and sayd to hym Frende tell me tydynges and saye vnto me yf the kynge of ynde wyll come vnto
them fyersly And we shall assayll them vpon this syde towarde the sea so me thinketh y t they can not escape vs by no maner of wise By my god sayd Murgalante you haue well aduysed Nowe we muste fynde a messunger for to accomplysshe thys thynge Syr sayd Pacolet y t was subtyl seke none other messanger than me for I can speke all languages frende sayd Murgalant thou spekest as valyant Now go thy way mahowne conduyte the. Pacolet departed that was muche Ioyous for to do that message a sayd to hym self Murgalant you sende me to do your message but by the god almyghty I shall doo it in suche maner that or to morowe at nyghte you shal knowe wyth what charme Pacolet can playe Thus he went wyth out any hors towarde the cyâ—e of Angory whaÌ„ the cristen men sawe hym come so they thought well that he was a spye soo they came agaynst hym hastely and demaunded hym sayenge Galant whether go you thus it semeth by your maners that you are a spye Lordes sayd Pacrlet you say trouthe but I am not a spye for to bere you doÌ„mage Now lede me anone in to the hoost of kynge Pepyn and make me to speke wyth my lorde Orson and I shall tell hem a thynge wherof he shall be muche abasshed Than the crysten meÌ„ toke thelytie Pacolet and leddehy into warde Orson the whyche was ryght Ioyous for to se hym and made hym great chere frende sayd Orson howe doth my brother Ualentyne Than Pacolet tolde hym all the aduentures that was happened them syth they had sene the one the other and tolde hym of the serpent y t Ualentyne had slayne before Antyoche And of the greate payne and trouayll that he had or euer he myght ouer come the serpente and also how he might here no tydynge of the same Clerymonde And syth tolde hym and declared vnto hym howe that they were aryued there for to fyght agaynst them Syr sayd Pacolet it is true that we are aryued here besyde a hondred thousande paynims of whome Valentyne and Murgalant are conductours And are come hetherfor to chace you out of this countrey by the commaundement of kyng Lucar kyng Brandiffer but and you will beleue me there shall not one of them retourne agayne Frende sayde Orson for God haue regarde therto for and you will do it neuer the dayes of your lyfe gate you so muche honoure and shall acquyre merite to warde God Syr sayde Pacolet here me speake a lytell if it please you ⧠How Pacolet by his charme and crafte made al the sarazyns to be put vnto death And howe kyng Murgalant was slayne Cap. lxxv SYr sayd Pacolet to Orson I am and shall be all my lyfe subtecte to your brother Ualentyne and you But and euer I dyd you seruyce that pleased you I shall do one now Nowe herken how It behoueth first that you kepe you vpon your garde and that this nyght you make youre men to be armed and put in point And to the ende that none thynke that Ualentyne hath wrought the creason I shall make hym to abyde in his tente and shal make a great nombre of Satazyns to goo vnto the watche and when this shal be thus done I shall caste my charme in suche maner that they shall all sleepe soo hadde that you maye passe them and enter in to the hoost surely in puttyng theym vnto death without any mercye By God sayde Orson you speake ryght well and subtylly and shewe well that you haue a good wil and deuocion for to susteyne and defende oure lawe At these wordes Orson ledde hym towarde kyng Pepyn for to recounte hym the enterpryse Ioyous and well content was kyng Pepyn to heare suche a thynge and made Pacolet to be ryght hyghly fested Pacolet eate and dronke and after toke leue and wente in to the cytie of Angorye to acheue his message too the ende that none toke hede of his dede and tolde to kyng Murgalant certayne sygnes He entred in to the cytye and wente in to the palays where as he founde the admyrall bruhans and salued hym hyghly in great reuerence After he did his message as he had in charge and commaundement by Murgalant Syr sayd Pacolet know that of Brandyffers parte we are arryued a hondred thousand paynyms So kynge Murgalant sendeth you worde that hath charge of all the paynyms that to morowe be tymes you make your men for to be armed and that you assayle the christen men on the syde of the cytie of Angorye and Murgalant shall assayll theim on the other syde so that they shall not escape Joyous was the admyrall Bruhans to here suche tydynges but he knew not how it should happen him Then Pacolet toke leue of hym in great reuerence and retourned vnto Murgalant the whiche he salued from the Admall Bruhans in the maner as appertained Frende said Murgalant you are worthy for to be praised when you can do your message so well After Pacolet went to warde Ualentyne and sayd to hym secretly Your brother Orson and your vncle the kyng Pepyn salueth you to whome I haue lette wyte the enterpryse of your comyng to the ende that thei be not taken vnwate for it shold be great pytie and dammage Frende sayd Ualentyne thou hast wrought tyght well Nowe Pacolet tolde hym not the dede of his enterpryse for he knew well that neuer the dayes of his lyfe he would do nor consence to creason The nyght approched and behoued the watche to be set and the gardes of the hoost to be chosen establysshed wel would Ualentyne haue had the charge of the watche but Pacolet that knew well how the thing would go founde the meanes for to let hym and made hym for to abyde in the tenâ—en And when the nyght was come and the watche set Pacolet entred amoÌ„g the paynyms and caste his charme in such maner that he made them all fall vnto the earth on slepe soo strongly that the lyuynge creatures myghte not awake them Nowe the good kyng Pepyn slepte not nor his army for when it came toward midnight hee entred into the hoost with thre score thousand fighting men and the noble Orson and amonge the tentes and pauylions sette the fyre on euery syde and all the paynyms put vnto death without sparyng lytle or great They entted so ferre within the hoost or the paynyms a wakened that they came to the tente of Murgalant that slepte in his bedde and he was so surprysed that as he lepte out of his bedde he was smyten thorough the body with a darte and so fel downe dead to the earthe ⧠Howe the Satazyns were discomfyted and howe kyng Pepyn toke the cytie of Angorye ⧠Capitulo lxxvi AT the houre of this assaute Pacolet came vnto Ualentyne and toke hym by the hand saying My lorde thinke for to saue you for it goeth to euyll with vs knowe that the christen men are passed the watche and are entred into our hoost and
hys men to be armed lyghtly and wyth forty thousande men yssued out of the cyte of Ynde Whan Brandyffer knewe that they came agaynst hym he made his men to arme them So it was not longe but that the bataylles assembled that was muche fyerse on eche sayde Ualentine was amongest the prese that on euery sayd smote and caste downe folkes so that none durste abyde afore hym His hardynes was so redoubted that 〈◊〉 knyght wolde approche nere hym he entred into the batayll holdynge hys good swerde so ferre that he came to the king of Ynde and gaue him so great a stroke that he smote hym of hys hors downe to the earthe so rudely that he had no streyngth nor force for to ryse vp Whan Pacolet sawe that he was downe he went anone with dyuers other and toke the kynge of Ynde yelded hym vnto Ualentyne the whyche ledde hym vnto the pauylyon of kynge Brandyffer And whan he knew the tydynges that Ualentyne had taken the kynge of Ynde he cryed vpon hys men sayenge Now to it lordes there is but to do well for to day we shall haue vyctorye vpon our enemyes Soo I swere my god mahowne that neuer the dayes of my lyfe I shal fayle the knyght Ualentyne neyther wyth body nor wyth goodes For these tydinges kynge Lucar and all his men toke great courage and put them in the batayll more fyerslye that before in suche maner that there abode mo than thyrtye thousande vpon the felde Whan the Marshall of Ynde knewe the losse that they had he made anone to blowe the retrette to wythdrawe them and assemble hys men whan Brandyffer and kyng Lucar sawe y t they wyth drewe them they pursued them so nere that at the entre of the cyte there dyed ten thousande Pacolet was moche Joyous for to se so many paynyms dye For he cared not on what syde the losse turned so that he Ualentyne myght escape out of theyr handes The batayll endured so longe that the nyght approched and Brandyffer and kynge Lucar returned into theyr tentes and pauylyons and badde that they should bryng them the kynge of Ynde the whyche was presented vnto theim anone Whan kyng Lucar sawe hym he sayd vnto hym all on hye Ha false toaytoure nowe is the tyme comen that thou shall rendre me acountes thou mayst be well sure that thou shall neuer escape me for I shall make the dye shamefully The kynge of Ynde vnderstode him well but he aunswered him neuer a worde but yet shal the tyme come that he shall be delyuered by Pacolet after his delyueraunce shall yelde vnto him the kynge Brandyffer to be in his subiection as you shall heare afterwarde ⧠Howe Ualentyne harde tydinges of his father and howe Pacolet delyuered the kyng of Ynde by his charme and delyuered hym Brandyffer at his owne wyll ⧠Capitulo lxxviii RYght so as king Lucar spake vnto the king of Ynde there ariued a messenger the which after the saluce made sayd vnto kyng Brandyffer Ryght dere syr I bryng you heuy tydynges â–ª knowe that kyng Pepyn hath taken your cytie of Angorye and hathe put all the men and women and chyldren vnto death that were in it with out hauing any pytie By mahoune sayde the kyng Brandiffer here is euill tydinges for it was the fayrest cytie of all my lande But sythe that it is happened soo that I haue in my subiection the kyng of Ynde I haue doope that I shall haue vengeaunce shortly on myne enemies after he sayde to kyng Lucar Fayre sonne it behoueth sâ—th that we haue the kyng of Ynde in our handeÌ„s that hath done vs so muche daÌ„mageÌ„ that to morow in the mornyng he be condampned vnto a vyllaâ—â—â—us death And after we shall go into Angorye against the Frenchemen that wasteth my lande shall take vâ—â—gâ—â—uÌ„ce For knowe that within the strong castell I haue in my pryson the Emperoure of Grece and the grene knyght that hath lefte outlawe â–ª the whiche shall neuer escape me but shall be hanged within fyftene dayes Ualentyne that was there presence vnderstode well the tydynges and was ryght Joyous to heare speake of his father so he made sygne vnto Pacolet y t the time should be shortly that he must playe with his crafâ—e After he sayd softely to himselfe I pray to God of paradise that he wyll kepe you from daunger for I shal neuer haue ioye tyll that I haue founde the meanes for to delyuer you out of pryson The kyng of Ynde behelde Ualentyne and sayde to himselfe softly Cursed be the houre that euer thou escaped fro my handes y t I made the not dye for than should I not haue bene in suche daunger as I am nowe in After these thinges done king Lucar made to come a hundred sarazyus all armed and sayd to them Felowes I geue you this false traytour king of Ynde so thinke for to kepe him well vpon the paine to lese your lyues And to moro we in the mornyng I shall make hym behanged and strangled when you geue me him agayne The paynyms toke anone the king of Ynde and put him in a pauylyon there they bound hym fast by the myddle vnto a poste and after they bendeth his eyen He myght well heare the playes solace â–ª and disportes but he had but sorowe and discomforte in his harte as he that neuer thought to escape the death ¶ Then Valentyne called Pacolet and sayd vnto hym Frende I thinke not that the kyng Brandyffer holdeth my father in his pryson for if I had knoweÌ„ it I would not haue put my body in so great aduentures for to serue hym as I haue done I haue bene true to himim all his workes but syth that it is so I will neuer serue him more but would fynde gladly the manâ—t how I might dammage him For I am litell beholden for to do him pleasuâ—e that hath kepte my father in soo great distresse in his darke pryson so longe Syr sayde Pacolet you haue good reason to bere him dammage if you wil I shal fynde well the meanes to delyuer the kyng of Ynde â–ª yet he shal lede Brandyffer with him And me thynketh that whan he shall haue him in Ynde he wil make him dye shamefully And by this meanes you shall be auenged on him So may your vncle king Pepyn holde Angorye surely By my fayth sayde Ualentyne suche a thynge would I well And I pray the hartely that thou do some thynge at this houre wherby I may helpe kyng Pepyn and delyuer my father the Emperoure of Grece When it came after souper the hundred sarazing that had the king of Ynde in keping made a great fyre before the pauilioÌ„ And Pacolet that slepte not at that houre entred into the pauilion as one that would watche with them So it was not long after that he caste a charme in suche maner by the arte of Nygromancye that he made them fall to the earth and slepe
for he was solde and betrayed by the false Haufray ⧠Howe kyng Brandiffer and king Lucar toke king Pepyn and the twelue peres of Fraunce within the cytie of Jerusalem Capit. lxxxviii NOwe is the kyng Pepyn and the twelue peres of Fraunce came in to Jerusalem for to vysyte the holy sepulcre And for to do the more deuoutly y e holy vyages that are in y e lande of promission in the which our lorde Jhesus christe suffred death and passion they are aryued at a good patriarkes the whiche hadde the kepyng of the holy sepulcre And he gaue them guydes for to conduyte them vnto al the holy places in whiche were the indulgences and pardons They made a preest to synge masse afore them euery daye and in great deuocyon vysyted the holy places Nowe happened pyteous thynges for to recouÌ„te whyles that they were wyth in Jherusalem for Brandyffer the kynge af ynde and the kynge Lucar the whyche had ben aduertysed by the traytoure Haufray arryued in the cytie of Jherusalem puyssauntly accompanyed and wente vnto the towre of Dauyd towarde the kynge of Surye that helde the countree and there presented them And whan he sawe theÌ„ he was muche amerâ—â—â—yled of theyr commyng And after the salutacyon made demaunded theym Lordes what thynge dryueth you hether for I thinke that you are not comen hether wythout a great cause ThaÌ„ branyffer spake and sayd vnto hym Syr knowe that by a christen man we are aduertysed and enformed that with in this cyte is arryued the twelue peres of FrauÌ„ce wyth the kynge pepyn Now they are the pryncypall enmyes of our lawe and they that of all the worlde maye greue vs moost And haue alredy taken the cyte of Angory and spylled a great quantyte of my lande my men put vnto death and my countre dystroyed And therfore we are comen hetherfor to take theym For whan we shall haue them we may do our wyll wythall Fraunce And of all chrystendome be lordes and maysters By mahowne sayd the kynge of Surye that helde the temple of salamon you speke ryght wysely of thys thynge I am muche contente Nowe be it done after your appetyte for we ought to be curyous for to take dystroye suche menne and for the loue of our goodes we ought to waâ—e vpon that dede Soo I shall tell you what we shall do for to accomplysshe this thinge I shall sende worde vnto the patriarke that and he haue any Frenche pylgryms that be bryng theim too me anone for I wyll sende some letters in to Fraunce ¶ Howe the kyng of Surye sent a messenger vnto the Patryatke of Jerusalen byddyng hym brynge hym kyng Pepyn the twelue peres of Fraunce the whiche he dydde ¶ Capit. lxxxix SO the messenger of the kyng of Surye went towarde the patryarke and sayde vnto him The kyng of Sury sendeth you worde that and you haue any Frenche pyigrâ—ms that you brynge them vnto hym Then he wente vnto theyr lodgynge where as he founde them redy to go vnto theyr souper for they had accomplysshe theyr pylgrymage and sayd vnto them Frendes you muste come presently vnto the kyng of Sury Alas sayd kyng Pepyn here is pyteous tydynges for I am certayne that he wyll put me vnto death yf he knowe me But I shall tell you what we shall doo We wyll make Henry our mayster I shall bere hys hatte and hys staffe By god syr sayd Henry that knewe well treason that shal I not do for here is Orson duke Myllon that are more worthyer to be it than I. Syr sayd the duke Myllon I shall do all that it shal please you Than they departed from theyr lodges to go towarde the Paynym that had sente for them The duke Myllon was honoured as kyng and Pepyn bare hys staffe and hys hat poorely clothed The good patriarke ledde them that thought none euyll and also soone as he hadde delyuered them he departed thens Come hether sayd the kynge of Surye I am well enfourmed of your case you are Frenshemen that come for to espye me and in your company is the kyng of Fraunce Syr sayd one of the twelue peres the kyng of Fraunce is not in this company â–ª peas sayd the kyng of Sury for by mahoune yf the kyng of frauÌ„ce shelve not hym selfe anone I shall make you all dye wythout remyssyon ¶ Kynge sayd anone the traytour Henry of me haue no doubte for it is not I. ThaÌ„ the duke Myllon apperceyued well that there was treason So he sayd all on hye Syr I am the kyng of Fraunce but there is one thynge that I wyll saye vnto you yf it please you to heare me We are coman vnto the holy sepulcre your lawe is suche that all chrysten men maye come and go surely vpon your londe wythout any hurte to the sayde pylgrymage in paying the trybute that is establysshed and dewe vnto you Now we haue al paid and accompiysshed after the ordenaunce of his countrey Whetfore me thynke you doo vs to great wronge if you disturbe vs for that cause By mahowne you may say what you will but there is neyther tyme nor season to you that maketh vs warre for to come hether to espye ourlande Than he called Brandiffer Lucar and said to them Lordes take these false christiaÌ„s spies and do with them your wyll for I put theim entyerly in to your handes to make theym dye of what death it shall please you At these wordes the pylgryms were taken and witholden by the painims So it is not to be demaunded if they fared foule with them for they had no more pytie of the noble lordes thaÌ„ of dogges They were streyghtly holdenand bound and after Brandyffer spake and sayd Lordes I will that these false men be ledde vnto the stronge castell and there be put in my depest pryson Syth we shall go in to Angorye and by force of armes wynne all the countrey After we shall go in to Fraunce and take the countrey put it lyghtly in our obeysaunce for there we shal neyther fynde king lorde nor baron that will saye vs the centrary And therfore you maye go eche of you in to your countrey til a certayne daye that we shal mete at Faleyze and there departe the prysoners after reason Lordes sayde the kyng of Ynde as to the regarde of the prysoners I demaunde none other thynge for my parte but that you wyll geue me the least so I shall make hym my dwerf And make hym ryde with me because that he is lytell and me thynke he is a man sure ynough And I shall doo hym good if he will renounce the lawe of Jhesus To this demaunde accorded all the other gaue kyng Pepyn to the kyng of Ynde that ledde hym in to Ynde with him and loued hym muche afterwarde notwithstandyng that he suffred many trybulacions ¶ How the kyng of Ynde the great ledde kyng Pepyn awaye for the parte of his prysoners but he knewe not
no doubte for you shall be delyuered in the chaunge of a paynem kyng that they of your lawe holdeth Whan Henry vnderstode those wordes he repented hym that he had gainsayde the king his father and that he made hym not the kyng of Fraunce when he was requyred But the vntrue chylde that knewe the treason thought not that his father should haue escaped but he knewe well his vnhappy wil when he sawe the duke Myllon deliuered by suche meanes the whiche in wepyng toke leue of the other barons Alas sayde the emperoure of Grece salue me aboue all my chylde Valentyne and me also sayd Orson and recommaunde me vnto hym tell hym howe we are here in mysetable dystresse and in great pouerte if by hym we haue not succour shortly it behoueth vs to fynyshe our dayes Lordes sayde Myllon take comfort vnto you for if it please Jhesus I shall neuer retourne in to Fraunce til that you be delyuered Than he departed from the pryson and all the other abode wepyng full tenderly when he was oute as wyse well taught he went towarde the fayre Galazye and toke leue of her in muche great reuerence the lady was curteyse and amiable recommaunded hym vnto her god mahoune So departed the duke Myllon and the messengers that were come for hym ledde him to the hauen After they mounted vpon the sea and in shorte tyme arryued in the hoost of Brandyffer Than when Brandiffer sawe him he sayd vnto him Freking well may you be come you knowe well ynough wherfore I haue sente for you Go with my men that haue brought you hetherin to the cytie of Angory and saye vnto Ualentyne that in chaunge of you he geue me Lucar as we haue appoynted Syr sayd the ouke Millon so will I doo and holde you suche loyalte that for me he wyll not geue you Lucar I shall come and yelde me vnto you to do with me as you dyd before By mahoune said Brandyffer you speake rially and I demaunde no more of you Nowe go vnto mahoune the whiche conduyte you Thus departed Myllon dangler they that ledde hym Soo they arryued at Angorye entred in without any refuse and went in to the palays where as they founde Valentyne Then he and the duke Myllon embraced swetely eche other And the duke Myllon toke hym asyde and recounted to hym howe they were taken wichin Jerusalem and howe the kynge of ynde had ledde kyng Pepyn away without knowyng hym and also how he had chaunged his name at the request of kyng Pepyn and tolde hym howe the other were in pryson in the strong castell Whan Valentyne vnderstoode hym he sayde vnto hym swetely Will haue you wrought for I knowe that you did it for good good is happened you for too daye you are delyuered from your enemyes by the true saruyce y t you dyd vnto king Pepyn You shewed you a good frende whan you dyd chaunge your name for to saue kyng Pepyn And also so one myght you haue hadde dammage as proffyte for of nature the false paynims desired the death of kynge Pepyn because that he susteyneth the faythe of Jhesu christe against them and destroyeth that of maboune when Ualentyne had spoken so he made to bryng forth the kyng Lucar and sayde to hym Lucar for this tyme you are delyuered but kepe you from me the tyme to come and thynke vpon my frende Pacolet that you haue slayne For by God if euer I recountre you in batail or elles where we shal se whiche of vs twayne shall be the more valiaunter At these wordes departed the kyng Lucar that was ryght ioyous for to escape And whan he was without the gates sarazins came against hym with a great puyssaunce makyng great ioye for his delyueraunce Thus was the kyng Lucar delyuered and the duke Myllon yelded vnto Ualentyne Aâ— none as the duke Myllon was within with UaleÌ„tyne they made no great so iournyng but ordeyned their bataylles and with fyftye thousand men yssued oute in displaying their baners and standardes And whan Brandiffer vnderstode those tidinges he made to blow his trompettes and clarons and ordeyned his batailes too the nombre of foure and twenty And when they were ordeyned he yede for the accompanied with foure and twenty kynges all holding of him and the christen men approched nere for too smyte vpon them but they were so thicke that they might not entre ¶ Howe Ualentyne and the duke Myllon yssued oute of Angorye vpon the satazyns and howe the sarazins loste the batayll and were dyscomfyted ¶ Capitulo xcvii THan Ualentyne toke his spere in his hande and cryed hyghly christians take courage than began a harde batayll besyde the standarde of BraÌ„differ that nere him had kyng Lucar puyssauntly accoÌ„panyed Christians assaylled and sarazyns defended them About their standarde was fyfty thousande men that helde before them great targes wherfore the christen men myght not greue them Than an admyrall lorde of cassydoyne sawe a Frencheman that put dyuers paynyms vnto death he went thederwarde with an axe he gaue him suche a stroke that he smote his head in two but before hys retorne a squyer of Normandye aryued vpon the Admyrall afore Myllon dangler smote him down dead And for that valiauntnes Myllon made him knyght And sayd now thynke for to do well for there shall not be so poore a man yt he beare hym valyaunt but that he shall be made knyght to day He made so many that day that euerybody toke payne for to be made one And in thys maner the batayll endured so longe that the sunne began for to derken But for asmuche as the christeÌ„ men sawe that the paynyms wolde wythdrawe them Ualentyne wolde not wythdrawe hym Well wende the sarazyns to haue returned in to theyr pauylyons but y e christen men were before them wherof Brandyffer kynge Lucar were muche ameruayled Al the nyght dured the batayll ryght mortall there was greate fyres on euery syde And the daye was cleare the stoure began more stronger than before There was so many slayne that the bloodran lyke chanelles It nedeth not to demaunde of the prowesse that Ualentyne dyd for in the thyckest of the prese he put hym maugre the sarazyns and the duke Myllon after ¶ Ualentyne on euery syde smote downe horses and men so many that there was no paynym that durst abyde before hym And he entred in soo ferr that he came nere the standarde of Brandyffer and there he sawe the admyrall of Ynde the whyche came agaynst hym so rudely that he slewe his hors vnder hym But Valentyne that was lyght rose vpon his feete anone and toke hys swerde and slewe sarazyns on euery syde in cryenge hyghly saynt George and reclaymynge God But he had neuer escaped yf it hadde not ben the Duke Myllon that departed paynyms as the woâ—ffe dothe the shepe and smote all downe that he founde before hym and soo socoured hym and gaue hym
sene and if sarazyns come towarde you put them all vnto death and let none escape Whâ—n he had sayde this he put him on his waye and went to the gate of the castell the crowne vpon his head When the porter sawe him he sayde to him who bryngeth you hether Frende sayde Ualentyne I am a marchaunt that goeth in to spayne so I haue diuers ryche marchaundyses in my shyppe and I haue hearde says that no marchaunt maye passe here by withoute paying trybute vpon payne of their lyues so I wil not pas without paying it Syr sayd the porter abyâ—e me I go vnto my lady for to gyue you aunswere Soo he went towarde Galazye and tolde it vnto her ¶ How the Seneshall went vnto Ualentyne shyppes how he was put to death w t all his men Cap. C. iiii WHan she vnderstode that there was so many Jewelles she called the Seneshall and sayd vnto hym Go towarde the porte and receiue the trybute of the marchauÌ„tes that passe lede wyth you so many of my men so that they may take nothynge fro you ¶ The Seneshall thought well to haue wonne ledde them towarde the porte vnto theyr euyll aduenture for anone as they sawe the rychesse that was wythin the shyppes they were ardaunt to beholde them and Ualentyne sayd Lordes entre in and take of the Jewelles vnto the nombre of the trybute The paynyms entred in that wende to haue bâ—n ryche and the crysten men that were hydde yssued out and stewe them all anone Nowe vp sayd Ualentyne it behoueth vs to do more for to haue the castell Than he made hys men to put on fyfty gownes of the sarazyns vpon theyr harneâ—s and laded them wyth stones and ryche â—â—lkes so they wente towarde the castell And the porter y t wende that they had ben hys felowes bounde vp the lyons and auayled the brydge and thynkynge for to haue had some ryche Jewell yssued out of the barres and Ualentyne tooke hym and ledde hym towarde the shyppes Than he shewed hym the dead men and sayd to hym Fayre syr you shall be suche as these be but yf you swere me by your God to make me entre thys day into the stronge castell keâ—e me bodye Syr sayd the porter I shall do your wyll and here I swere vnto you by the great God that I shall delyuer vnto you the castell at your owne pleasure Porter sayd Ualentyne I shall rewarde the well but kepe the that thou betray me not No sayd the porter come wyth me make your men that are in habyte of sarazyns entre in one after a nother for the daunger of the brydge for they resemble them of the castell So it was done the fyfty christen men entred in and Ualentyne And whan they were in the porter shewed them a fals posterne Ualentyne made it to be opened anone than he blewe hys horne So they that were in the shyppes came thether quickly and Ualentyne wente into Galazyes chambre the whyche of hys comynge was â—ore abasshed Lady sayd Ualentyne of me haue no doubte for I haue passed the see for your gentyll body Than the lady behelde hys countenauÌ„ce of him was touched at the heart and made hym great chere Now are the crysten men within the castell the whyche made great noyse and crye soo that the lady went vnto the wyndowes and sawe well that she was betrayed And returned her towarde Ualentine and said vnto hym all wepynge Free curteyse knyght saue me my maydâ—nhedâ— for I se well that I am betrayed Lady sayd Ualentyne haue no fere for by me nor by other you shall haue no vyllanye but as for the surples of the castell it shall be myne All the paynyms were put vnto deathe Than Ualentyne went towarde the prysoners and brake the pryson dore sayenge on hye You that are wythin speke and you be on lyue Orson vnderstode wel his brother Ualentyne and cryed vnto hym My brother well be you comen what dryueth you hether in to thys place Lordes sayd Ualentyne make good chere and be Joyous and gladde for at thys presente tyme I shall delyuer you all out of the prysons of Brandyffer Whan the Emperoure of Grece hys father hearde that for pure Joye he sowned and Orson toke hym vp bytwene bothe hys armes Thanne came all oute of the pryson the whyche were porely clothed and ryght euylly coloured So it is not to be demaunded the ioye that they made They passed the nyght and dronke good wyne that recomforted them muche The christen men were seuen dayes within the strong castell leading a good lyfe and at that same time Orson acquainted him with the faire Galazye for he knewe not whether Fezon was dead or not not withstandyng it happened that he wedded her after the death of Fezonne and hadde a sonne of her that was called Orsayre that helde the Empyre of Constantynoble ¶ How the Emperoure Orson and the grene knight abode in garnyson in the strong castel And how Haufray and Henry made their father to dye Capitulo C. v. AFter that the strong castell was taken and that the prysoners were a lytell refresshed they toke counsayll together that it shoulde be good to leue soâ—â—e to kepe the castell for that place myght grene the paynims Soo there was some that sayde vnder coloure that it should be good that Haufray and Henry abode in that place Lordes sayde Haufray speke no more for we are delybered for to retorne in to Fraunce to serue our father By my faith said OrsoÌ„ we ought not to wepe for your departing for you were neuer yet good who that leseth euill company he ought to thanke god and I know by experience that you are men that by nature demauÌ„deth not but treason Haufray Henry had grea dispite of those wordes but force constrayned them to haue pacience for they were not men to saye the contrary ¶ It was apointed at the last that the Emperour that was alredy auncient and had nede of reste with his sone Orson and the grene knyght should abyde in garnyson in the strong castel Ualentine with all the other should retourne in to Angorye ¶ Here wyll I tell you of the two traitours Haufray and Henry that retourned into Fraunce the whiche haue conspired the death of their father with that of lytell Charles and the quene Berthes Now they haue ryden so muche that they are arryued at Parys mounted vp in to the palays where as they saluted the king al the baroÌ„s The king made them chere and after demaunded them tydinges of the Emperoure of Grece of Ualentyne and of Orson and of the twelue peres and the other lordes Syr sayde the traytours praye for them for they haue bene slayne in a great batayll before Angory whan the kynge vnderstode these tydinges he wepte tenderly in bewayling the lordes that he wende had bene dead But the traytours dyd it for to angre the kyng the whiche
softely Ha false and disloyall irreguler Archebysshop tempted ful of diabolique volente howe darest thou proâ—feâ— with thy mouth that ought to be sacred such vylainous wordes dishonest and abhominable against the maiestie imperiall of hym that hath enourysshed the so tenderly and eleuate in honoure more then to the appertayneth fro whence maye come to the and moue this maladiecion to be cause of my dampnacion the whiche shoulde instruct me in the faith in maÌ„ners and condicions euen so as the Emperoure thinketh and affieth hym in all Neuer please it God that the bloud of Fraunce froÌ„ the whiche I am extraught nor the maiestie of the puissauÌ„t Emperoure be shamed nor dishonaured by me in any â—ane O falfe cursed man beholde what thou woulde do that will dispoyle and vnclothe me of myne honour and put my body in vytupetable shame for euer my soule in the waye of dampnacion eternall Leue thy folyshe opinion for to suche an ende as to haue my loue thou mayest not aâ—tayne nor come to And if that thou speake any more come therof knowe for a certayntâ—â— that I shall shewe the Emperoure thereof And then maiest thou saye that of thy lyfe is nothyng go thy way hence and speake no more Of this aunswere was the Archebysshop to angry but he dutst not procede no further forth on that matter sythe that he myght not haue the loue of the lady And so all confused he retourned for he could not spye nor se by no maner that the Lady shewed to him any maner of sygne of loue that he might comfort him in He repented him greatly of his foolye when that he sawe that he was refused of the lady but he founde no remedy for to saue his honour saue by trea son â–ª for he thought well within himselfe that the Emperour knewe not by the Empresse the euyll will of his courage To sone began the foly and late he repented It happeneth oftentymes that the thinge the whiche a foole thynketh remayneth vndone ¶ Howe the Archebysshop gaynsayed of Bellyssant for to saue his honoure ymagined great treason Cap. iii. IN mynde and thought to profounde and enuâ—ous was the Archebisuâ—oppe doubâ—yng that the Emperoure would not make hym dye for the false treason that he had committed agaynst the maiestie of his soue â–ª raigne Wherfore he thought for to saue his honoure in the best wyse that he myght And he dyd so muche that for to couer his maâ—adiction and for to shew apparence of loyaltie and prudence in dissimulyng that with all his power he desired â—he weâ—th and honour of the Emperour the daye of the AscencioÌ„ of our Lorde he came towarde the Emperoure â–ª and drewe him apatte and sayde vnto him in this maner of wyse Right hie Emperoure it is true that I knowe the greate graces and benefites that ye haue done and geuen vnto me And knowe well that by you I am mounted and eleuate in honoure morethen vnto me apperâ—ayneth And yet of your grace ye haue made me indigne mayster and gouernour of all your house in puttynge youre truste and confidence more 〈◊〉 me then in any other of your courte wherfore I ought not to be in no place there as I shoulde heare your maiestie vsurped and dyffamed and your renowne adnychylled for euen soo god helpe me if that I hadde not rather submitte my selfe vnto death than for to see or heare before my presence languages or wordes that were not lycyte vnto your magnificence Wherfore geuen intelligence vnto my woordes and I shall declare vnto you a thynge the whiche toucheth greately your persone profyte and honoure Syrit is true and certayne that Bellyssant your wyfe syster vnto the kyng of FrauÌ„ce the which ye haue willed to prayse so muche and honoure that you haue taken her to spouse kepeth you not loyalte as she ought to do for 〈◊〉 louâ—th another than pâ—â— for very certaynte y t she is dissoyall vnto you But it is soo that I will not declare the name nor the persone of hym that doeth his volâ—ute with your wyfe for you knowe well that I am a priest sacred and may not desyre the death of nobody But neuer the lesse knewe for a certaynte that the truthe of this matter came to me in confession wherfore I ought not nor will recyte in no maner the name of hym that doeth you suche dishonoure purchase But and you wyll beleue me there is not a more vyler nor dishonester woman in all your courte then is your wyfe that you holde soo dere Wher by your body is in daunger and peryll â–ª for she purchaseth nyght and daye the maner to put you to death to the ende that she myght doohet wyll the better And therfore I am bounde to wyll your profite and keepe your honoure I adueâ—t se you and let you knowe that you take heâ—e and correcte her also well as you maye And the moste secretly y t you may with your honoure Orelles I holde your honoure loste and your persone dishonoured For it is to great shame among the princes that you thinke that you haue taken to wife the sister of the kynge of Fraunce for the floure of beaute of prudence and noblenesse and you haue an harlot the whiche is enuenymed with your lyfe desyreth youre death in procutynge it from daye to daye whereof I am ryght displeasaunt The whiche thynge loke that you remedy also well as you may for to saue your honoure When the Emperour vnderstode the wordes of the false traytour Archebisshoppe aske not if he were ryght sorowfull in his harte and angrye for he hadde loued her as his lyfe The Emperoure beliued lightly y e wordes of a false Archebysshop for he had his truste in hym more then in any man of the worlde The sone geuen credence made a greate inconuentence to sourbe There is no daunger so great to a prince as to geue credence lyghtly The Emperour aunswered nothing for he was so espyred with angre and wounded at the harte so profoundly that he lost maner and contenaun ce And went thorough the palais imperiall castynge out angulâ—â—yous syghes Then he houed styll a while but he myght not refrayne his Ire wherfore he entred in to the chambre of Bellyssant without speakyng any worde or makyng any semblaunt the whiche toke no kepe And without speaking any worde to lady or 〈◊〉 mosell cruelly and with a fyerse courage came and toke the fayre lady by the head pulled her by the heer so rudely that he threwe her against the earth and made her excellent face runne â—l on bloude Then beganne the lady to wepe and â—tye right pyteously and sayde Alas my ryght dere lorde what thing moueth you for to smyte me so outragiously â–ª For I dydde neuer thynge the dayes of my lyfe to you but all honoure loyal setâ—yâ—e with my body Ha hore sayd the Emperour I am to wel enfourmed of thy life that cursed be the houre
your syster Bellyssant hath to muche euil by the treason and false language of the cursed Acchebisshop for she is vanisshed from the Emperoure and chased out of the countrey And the Archebysshop made him beleue so many false wordes that if the lordes of his court had not bene the whiche fered your futoure he wold haue made her he btence in a fyre afore all the worlde Blandymayn said the kynge Pepyn the whiche was tryst and sorowfull Of as muche holde I the Emperoure more folysher because he made not my syster dye for by the God almighty if I had her hate at this present time I should neuer reste â—il that I hadde made her dye an euil death Nowe forwarde lordes saide kynge Pepyn for oure vyage is done Retorne we vnto Paris for I will go â—oteâ—der I knowe to muche tydinges of my sister w t out demaundinge or enquiryng any more At these wordes he torned the bridle of his horse for to retorne making great sorowe in his courage and beganne to saye vnto himselfe Ha veray God almighty sayd he howe often is man deceiued by woman Nowe am I come to the clene contrary of mine entencion for I purpensed to haue had once of my syster Bellyssant in my lyfe Ioye and pleasure And to haue had the Emperoure Alexander for my frende to succoure me in all my necessities And by her I am greatly diffamed and put vnto a great dishonour In that distresse and melancoly rode the king Pepyna great whyle so longe he â—ode so that he ariued at OrleauÌ„ce Then Blandimain that sawe wel and knewe well the courage of the king Pepyn durste declare no more vnto him of the lady Bâ—llyssant So he â—â—iourned towarde the tre where as he had left her but he founde her not wherfore he was angry and â—yght sorowefull He discended fastâ—ned his horse and began to serche her thorough the wodde And he didde so muche that he founde her lyeng vpon the earth the whiche had wepte so muche for her chylde that she might not speake but with great payne Blandimayn embraced her and set her on her fete and then â—â—â—de vnto her Alas who may haue brought you hether Hâ— Blandymayn said she euer encreaâ—â—â—h my doloure and dystresse Ie is true that whan you were departed there came a beer to me a bare awaye one of my chyldren And I put myselfe on y e waye after thinkyng to haue taken it from hym â–ª but I coude not retorne vnto the tree whereas I left mine other childe Lady sayd he I come from the fote of the tree but I haue founde no chyld yet haue I well loked on euery syde Whan the lady hearde Blandymayne she was more sorowfull than before and yet agayne she tell in a swone blandymayn toke her vp and wepte full hercely for the ladies sake He ledde her towarde the tree where as she had left the chylde but whan she founde it not she discharged so greate sighes and so pyteous that it semeâ— that the hert in her â—ely wolde depart in sunder Alas said she thereis not in the world a more discomforted lady chaâ— I am for from syde to side I am deuoyde of Ioye of pleasure of myrche and am replete wyth doloure and misery â–ª and of intollerable dystresse greued wyth all trybulacyons and amonge all desolates the moost â—esolate Alas Emperour you are the cause toauauncemy death wrongfully and without cause by â—uyl couÌ„sell haue depryued me from your company for on my soule neuer the dayes of my life dydde I faute wyth my body I haue nowe loste by you â–ª your â–ª propre chyldren legityme yssued out of bloud ryall by whâ—nâ— I trusted ones to be venged Come death vnto me for to finisshe my dolour for the death shall be more agreable vnto me than to liue in this martyre Whan Blandymaine sawe the lady so inwardly discomforted the best wyse that he might he comforted her wyth the woman and lead her into a litle village where as she was bayned kepte and cherisshed â—yll that she was well healed and in good poynt and that of her greate sorowes she was a litle appeased for there is no â—ole but that it is forgotten by processe ThaÌ„ blandimain beg aÌ„ for to tell and recyte vnto the lady howe he had encountred the kyng Pepyn her brother the whiche had demaunded him tidinges and how he was angry against her And sayde by God madame I haue greate feare that ye shall not be welcome to the kynge your brother For also soone as he knewe that the Emperoure had expulsed you from him he shewed the semblaunt that he was muche angry against you as he the whiche wil beleue lightly that the faute is in you Ha God sayde the lady Now is come vnto me the thing that I moste doubted at this houre maye I well saye that I from al sydes haue aduersities For I am expulsed froÌ„ my lord and husbande the Emperoure without ryght or reason Neuer shall I retourne vnto Paris but will go into a straunge countrey so farre that neuer man nor woman shall haue knowledge of my faute nor know where I am If my brother the king Pepyn helde me he would make me dye Now it is better for to sechewe his ire and â—uroure then for to abyde the death And Blandymayne sayde vnto her Lady wepe no more for ye be sure that I shall neuer leue you vnto the deathe am delivered to liue and dye with you and to kepe you company whether soeuer you will go Blandymayn sayd the lady let vs go at our aduenture and I thanke you hartely for your good wil for my truste is hole on you Thus is the lady Bellyssant Blandymayn on their waye muche pensyfe and sorowfull all charged with anguysshes Here will I leue for to seakpe of them â— will tell you of the Beer that bare awaye the chylde through the Wodde ¶ Of the beeâ— that bare awaye one of the children 〈◊〉 the â—mpresse Bellyssaâ—t Cap. vi THe Beet that had taken one of the chyldren of Bellyssant deâ—oured it noâ— but bare it in to his caueâ—ne that was profounde and obscure In the whiche was foure younge Beets stronge and â—uâ—ssaunt The Beer caste the chylde amonge hys wâ—â—lâ—es to be eaten but God that neuer forgeteth his â—rendâ—s shewed an euydent myracle For the younge Beeres dyâ—dâ— it no haâ—me but with theyr roughe â—awes strooked it soâ—telâ—e When the Beeâ— sawe that her lyâ—le whelâ—es would not deuoure it she was right amerous of the chylde so muche that she kepte â—t â—nd gaue it â—ouâ—e a hole yeaâ—â— The chylde was â—lâ— toughâ— because of the neueâ—â—taction of the beeâ— â–ª as a â—â—de beâ—st So he began to go in the â—odde aâ—â—â—â—â—ame great 〈◊〉 in a whâ—â—e aâ—d bâ—gan for to smyte the 〈…〉 castes of the forest in suche wyse that they all douted hym and â—ledde before him For he fereo nothyng in the worlde In suche estaâ—e was the
vnto a thyng that I shall coÌ„maunde the. Ha sayde the marchauÌ„t that sawe himselfe betrayed Archebysshop I se and knowe well I am in your mercy that with me ye may do your pleasure Wherfore I pray you that ye wyl tell me what thyng it is that ye wyl I doo And I shall accomplysshe it so that it please you for to â—aue my lyfe Marchaunt sayd the archebysshop thys shalte thou do ¶ I wyl that before the Emperour and the kinge Pepyn thou testify openly that wyth wroÌ„g and agaynst ryght thou haste accused me falslye and by enuy And of this dede discharge me and shalt take the charge by suche a couenaunt that yf thou wylte do it I swere and promise the to saue the fro deathe and make thy peas towarde the Emperoure and the kynge Pepyn And more ouer I swere vnto the by the faythe of gentylnesse and by the ordre of preesthode to giue the a nece of myne in maryage the whiche is ryche fayre pleasauÌ„t Than mayst thou say that there was neuer none in thy lignage so happy nor so riche And therfore auyse the yf thou wyl do it after this maner and chesâ— whether thou wylte lyue or dye for thou mayst noâ— escape by none other way with thy lyfe Incontynent as the marchauÌ„t herde the Archebysshop speke so he was much sorowful not wythout a cause he reclaymed bothe god and our lady mekely to kepe him from death and saue his right And than he answered in thys mauer Syr Archebysshop your reason is good I am redy to accoplysshe it and obey you in affâ—enge me that you wyl kepe your promyse In me sayd the Archebysshop ye shal finde no faute Now in goddes name said the marchaunte go doe to to the Emperour and I shal dysaccuse you of the great iniury â–ª that I haue preposed agaynst you it is well sayd now ryse vp and you shall come with me At these wordes the marchauÌ„t rose vp â–ª and whan he was vp he recorden the treason that the Archebysshop had done him fayninge that he wolde haue confessed him as I haue made mencion here before wherefore he toke courage to him and thought to serue him with the same mese for it is said comnenly the treason wil euer returne to his maister againe ThaÌ„ he toke the Archebysshop in his armes with soo greate courage that anone he had throwen him vnder him than sayd to him Archebysshop you haue taught me to play this pagent wherfore thinke now to confesse you to me for ye shall haue none other confessour but me Yet thought the fals Archebysshop on diuers cauillacions wyth swete wordes wolde haue deceiued the marchaunt agayne But the marchauÌ„t neuer trusted him more nor gaue him noo more tyme nor space to rise vp but anone with great diligence put out bothe his eyen and gaue him so many strokes that he had no strengthe to defende hym And whan the marchaunte saw that he was domynatour and had the ouer haÌ„de he rose vp and let hym lye And called the kepers of the felde and sayd to them Lordes here may you se yf that I haue done my deuoyre against the Archebisshop and yf he be vaynquysshed you se that I put hym in suche estate that whan it semeth me good I maye slee hym or kyll hym Wherfore I praye you that it wyll please you to make the Emperour and the kynge Pepyn to come hether with their lordes for to here the coÌ„fession of the Archebysshop to here that with vniust quarrell he hath takeÌ„ batayle agaynst me Than went they to fetche to the fielde the Emperoure Alexander the kyng Pepyn the whiche came accompanied with many notable barons to the place where as the Archebysshop was sorowful and confounded And the Emperour demaundeth him the truthe of the matter And the false Archebisshop knowledged before them al the dede and tolde them all the maner howe that with wronge he had spokeÌ„ against the lady Bellyssant and without any cause had made her be put in exile by treâ—son and falshode Alas chynke how many pyteous teeâ—es there was shedde on all sydes and specially of the Emperoure for his cries and lamentacions were soo pyteous that all they that were about hym wepte bytterly and made great sorowe And if the Emperour demeaned great dole demaunde not if that the kyng Pepyn at that tyme was tryste and sorowful Alas it was not without a cause that they demeaned suche sorowe when they sawe and knewe that by to light beleuing and false treason they had lost the excelleâ— lady Bellyssant kyng Pepyns syster and wife vnto the Emperour And there was betwene the Emperoure Alexander and the kyng Pepyn Joye in dystresse by two parties conâ—oyned Joye to the kyng Pepyn that of his sister knew the loyalte Doloure and displeasaunce to the Emperoure that of the deade founde hymselfe culpable Because that then he knew that with wronge he had chaced her from hym And after all the lamentacions and the confession and treason of the Archebysshop harde The Emperâ—pre assembled his counsayll for to Judge what death the Archebysshop should die of and it was established that he should be boyled in â—yle all quicke so it was done After the which iudgement euery body withdrewe them vnto their demayne and dwellynge place And when the kyng Pepyn hadde withdrawen him into his lodgyng the Emperour doleÌ„t and sorowfull syghyng profoundly came towarde hym and kneled downe before hym and sayde all wepyng Alas syr I haue coÌ„mitted against you a cryme to detestable dishonest Nowe se I clearely my miserable fauâ—te and knoweth that by my folyshnes and light creaunce I am and haue ben cause to put your syster in exyle and to perdiccion of the whiche thynge I requyre you of pardon and before you I presente me as culpable abydyng your grace And in knowledgyng of my false villanye and for satisfaction and a mendes I yelde and put into your handes the Empyre of Grece that iustly and of good ryght appertayneth to me For I requyre â—o haue no more the name of an Emperoure nor of a kyng as longe as I shall lyue vpon the earth but wyl as a seruaunt in all thinges obeye you for I haue wel deserued it ¶ When the kyng Pepyn vnderstoode the good will and the great humilite of the Emperoure he toke him vp and pardoned him before at his lordes And after that their peace was made by a common accorde they delybeâ—ed betwene them for to sende messengers into euery countrey to serche the noble lady Bellyssant After the which thinges the kyng Pepyn toke leue of the Emperoure for to retourne into Fraunce ¶ Howe the kyng Pepyn toke leue of the Emperoure and departed from CoÌ„stantinoble for to go into FrauÌ„ce And howe he went afterwarde to Rome agaynste the Sarasyns that had taken the cytie ¶ Capitulo x. HOwe kyng Pepyn departed from Constantynoble after the thinges aforesayd And so
muche he wenâ— by water and lande that he arryued in Fraunce and went vnto OrleauÌ„ce for to refreshe hym For gladly he was there because of the great foreâ—â—es that were about it wherfore he commaunded that for his welcome home â–ª they should holde table rounde and so it was done And when it came to the houre of the full dyner the squyer that had nourysshed Ualentyne tooke hym by the hande and presented hym before the kynge in saying to hym Syr â—o here the poore orphelyn that your maiestie founde in the forest of Orleaunce the whiche you gaue me for to nouryshe and kepe nowe haue â— nouryshed him vnto this present tyme notat mine expeÌ„ces but at yours Wherfore I beseche your excellent maieste that ye will haue remembraunce of him for he wyll become greate within a while and therfore it is time to thinke theton And when he had hearde the squiec speake he called the chylde Ualentyne and tooke him by the hande and he sawe him so wyse and well thought in maners and coÌ„ dicions that at the same houre he gaue hym all the cuppes pottes and goblettes and the other vessels y t at that time was made ready for to serue y e court And then the kyng sayd before them all in the court I wyll that Ualentyne be derely kept And for the great beau tie and honoure of his persone the kyng would that y e yong chylde Ualentine whiche was at that tyme but twelue yeare olde should be nourished with his dough ter Eglantine whiche was so fayre so wyse so well endoctrined that all the worlde spake good honoure of her The two children were nourished together and loued wel eche other with loue iust and loyal in suche wise that the one could not be mery without the other And principally Eglantyne y e kinges doughter seing and consydering the prudence of Ualentyne she was so esprysed with his loue in all honoure that without hym she might neyther haue solace nor recreacion Ualentyne became great and of faire stature in althinges well endoctrined He loued muche horse harneâ—s and founde hymselfe gladly at Justyng And there as he wente he bare awaye the pryte and the honour Than the kyng seyng his valyauntnesse and good wyll he gaue him horses and hatneis landes tentes a great possessyons And it was not longe after but that there was greate brute of hym in the courte wheraâ— many had great enuy diuers tymes and oftentymes sayd to hym in reproche that he was but a fundelynge and a poorechyld without knowyng any of his frendes that might ayde hym For the whyche wordes Ualentyne wepte full ofâ—e And whan the fayre Eglantyne sawe hym angred the wolde wepe full tenderly and with all her might comfort hym Ualentyne bate hym so meke and so gentyll in kinge Pepyns coutte that he was beloued of lordes ladyes knyghtes and squyers and euery body sayd good honour by hym And hys brother Orson is within the forest toughe couered with heer as a bere ledynge a wylde bestes life as it is madt mencion of before and as in this chapytre it shalbe declated vnto you For know that soone after that the kinge was at Orleaunce there came a messenger vnto him that was sent froÌ„ the pope The whyche demaunded helpe and socoure agaynst the paynyms enemyes of our holy fayth that had takeÌ„ the cyte of Rome WhaÌ„ kinge Pepyn vnderstode that the Satasâ—â—s was with in Rome he made all diligence to prepayre hys hoost Of the whych the chylde Ualentyne was made chefe and pryncypall gouernour Whan Eglantyne knewe that Ualentyne dyd goo she was muche sorowful as she that loued him best of any creature The fayre Eglantyne sent for him secretly to come and speke with her And whaÌ„ he was comeÌ„ she sayd vnto him sighing full tenderly Alas Ualentyne my loue now se I wel that I shal haue no more ioye and consolacion whan that ye wyll depart for to go vnto batayle Alas ye are wyne onely loue my comforte the refuge of my pleasaunce Now wold to God that I had neyther kynne nor frende in the worlde that wold lette me to do myâ— wyll For ryght so God help me I wolde neuer haue other in maryage but you â–ª and than shulde ye be kynge of Fraunce and I Quene A madame sayd valentyne Leue your imaginacion and haue not your herte soo ardaunt on me You knowe that I am a poore foundlyng that your rather hath nouryshed for goddes sake and am in no manner a man for to haue you nor the poorest damoysell that is with you thynke els where and do so that ye maye shew of what bloude ye becomen of And to god I commaund you the which haue you alwayes in his kepyng â–ª At these wordes departed Ualentyne and lefte the fayre Eglantyne dolence and sorowful for his departynge The king and his hooste were redy for to mount on horsback departed from Orleaunce to go to Rome Than the kyng Pepyn cal led his lordes and barons of his court said to them Lordes you knowe that al the worlde maketh mencyou of a wilde man the which is in this forest wherfore I haue great will and affecâ—ion to see him taken or I go any farther To these wordes consented the lords and barons of his courte The chace was ordeyned they entred in to the wodde They toke dyuers wylde â—eestes but for to finde Orson euery body was a ferâ— saue Ualentine that was his brother but he wiste nothinge the which desired to fight with him So long they wente throughe the wodde that the Kinge Pepin arriued before the pitte obscure tenebrous wher as Orson healde him And whan he sawe the Kynge he issued out sodaynly and ranne agaynste hym so he toke him in his nayles the whyche were right greate and cast him to the erth ryght boystously And the kinge that wende to haue dyed cryed tight high for socour so there came to him a valyaunt knight whan he saw the wylde man that woulde haue straungled the kyng he drewe his swerâ—e for to haue ronue vpon hym But whan Orson sawe the naked swerd finmbing he left the kynge and ranne to the knyghte and tooke hym in hys armes and held hym so hard that he threw doune both hors and man Than the hors gate vp that was sore afrayde and ranne thorow the forest And Orson held the knight the which with his â—â—arp nailes stran gled hym and pyteouslye pulled him in pyeces whan the kynge came to his men that wet therby he recoun ced to them the greate daunger that he had ben in â–ª and the piteous deth of the knighte of the whych tidinges they wet much aâ—alhed Than they put them togideâ— and went towarde the caue of Orson for to take hym and sâ—e him They found the knyght but they saw not Orson for it pleased not god that he shulde be conque red saue of his broder Ualentiue the which conquered
him as you shal here afterward And whan the king sawe that he myght not haue the wylde man he lefte him and wence on his vyage to Rome The bataylles were renged and the Oryflambe of Fraunce war gyuen to bere a valiaunt prynce that was named Myllon Dangler wyse and of right good conduyte There was Getuays and SampsoÌ„ his brother that were va lyaunt knighres and diuers other dukes erles and ba rons Nowe they haue ryden so muche that they are co men vnto Rome and haue demaunded batayll and the maner of the sarasins it was tolde them how an ad myrall had taken Rome put many men to death and destroyed And hadde vndone the churches and made temples for ydolles And there constrayned the Pope cardynalles archebisshoppes and bisshoppes to serue them after the guyse of their lawe cursed and dampna ble and when kyng Pepyn vnderstode these tydynges he was muche sorowfull for the distresse that the christen men werein He approched nere the citie of Rome and made to assemble his hoste and put his men of armes in arraye and ordeyned his battayles For his harte was entyerly set for to maynteyne the christen fayth â–ª the whiche I shall recyte vnto you here after folowyng ¶ Howe kyng Pepyn beseged Rome And howe Ualentyne Justed with the Admyrall and slewe hym by whose prudence the cytie was gotten agayne ¶ Capitulo xi AFter that the kynge Pepyn had assyeged y e cytee of Rome he called his baâ—ans knyghtes sayd to them in this wyse Lordes you knowe euydently that this mastyf Admyrall and enemye of our holy fayth hath put many valyaunt crysten men vnto dethe and vyllauyed the chyrche Romayne where as our lorde Jesu chryste was serued so deuoutly and honoured the whiche ought for to styre vs vnto compassyon and moderly pyte And therfore I am purposed by the helpe of Jhesu chryste my creatour in whom is my truste for to fyghte and expell the paynyms and sarazyns oute of the cyte of Rome and of all the countree aboute it wherfore aduise you whiche of you wyll bere a letter of dyffyenge vnto the for sayd Admyrall in my name For I wyll delyuer and gyue vnto hym a Journeye of batayll And wyll fyght with hym in exaltinge and susteynyng our fayth vnto the dethe Whan kynge Pepyn had spoken thus there was none that wolde presente them for to answer saue Ualentyne that stepte forth before the kynge and spake afore them all sayenge Syr yf it please you to gyue me lycence I shyl vndertake the message and shal speke afore all the panyms and theyr fyerse Admyrall in suche maner that with the helpe of god and of hys swete moder ye shall knowe that I haue done your message to your profyte myne honoure Of the good wyll and valyaunt courage of Ualentyne the kynge was ryght Joyous and all they of the courte meruaylled therat Than the kynge made a secretary to come whiche he made to wryte a letter of dyffyaunce and after gaue it to Ualentyne for to bere vnto the Admyrall panym ¶ And Ualentyne mounted on horsbacke and toke leue of the kynge and of them of the courte And than he put hym selfe on the waye in puttynge hym in the garde and kepinge of our lorde Jesu christe and came vnto Rome And it is not to be demaunded yf y t he was well loked on for he behaued hym so wel on horsbacke in armes that there was none that sawe hym but that they toke grete pleasure He wente towarde the palays where as y e Admyrall was in his halles tryumphauntly in grete pompes Ualentyne entâ—ed in came before the Admyrall and salued hym in this maner Jhesus that was borne of the vyrgyn Mary and that for vs all suffered dethe and passyoÌ„ saue from euyl encombrauÌ„ce the noble and puyssaunte kyng Pepyn And mahommet saue y e and socoure the redoubted Admyrall euen as I wolde whan Ualentyne had spoken thus the Admyral rose vp and as fyerse proude sayd vnto hym Messenger Ualentyne retorne the to the ende that I se thee no more And tell vnto kynge Pepyn that of Jesus holdeth the lawe that he byleue on mahommet and that he renounce his byleue for euermore or knowe for a certaynte that Iam purposed for to put hym vnto dethe and to dystroye all his londes Nowe go thy waye messenger and make before me no more abydynge For to here thy worde my herte can not suffre Grete foly hast thou enterprysed whaÌ„ that so fyersly thou arte entred in to my palays for to declare suche a thynge before my hyghe maieste Now know for a certayne that yf I knewe that thou dyde it by pryde or presumpcyon and that thou haste enterprysed this thynge by mockery y u sholde neuer retourne vnto kynge Pepyn whan Ualentyne herde the fyerse wordes of the Admyrall he was moche ferefull and not with out a cause For he was full nere the death if that oure Lord had not preserued him he was so inspyred of god that he gaue hym an answere solytarye as well for the lyfe of the body as for â–ª the lyfe of the soule And as wyse and wel endoctrined to giue an answer spake in this maner wyse Alas ryght myghtye and hyt Emperoure do not thyncke in your ymaginacyon that by pryde or presumpcyon I am comen before your magnyfycence For syr whan you shall knowe the maner and the dede how I am comen you wyl be a meruaylled ¶ Tel vs howe thou art comen and all the dede for euen so mahommet helpe me but I shall take pleasure and conso lacyon to here the recite thine enterprise and multeply thy courage in all goodnes Than spake Ualentine sayd Syr Admyrall it is true and certayne that by fals and dysloyall enuye I haue bene accused to the kynge Pepyn and they haue told him that for the great fere and dredâ— that I had to go to warre I would haue retorned into FrauÌ„ce For the which cause the kyng Pepyn hath me in greate indignacion And one morowe he made me to be taken for to smyte of my heed whan I sawe my selfe in thys daunger for to length my lyfe I dyd auaunt me before them all of a great folye For I swore before them of the court that I shoulde come towarde you for to defye you and all your baâ—ons on kynge Pepyns behalfe And more ouer I dyd vaunte me that at my departyng I shuld demaunde you three strokes with a spere vpon your bodi that is so valiauÌ„t and so well renowmed for to wyn pryse and honoure wherfore I requyre you that ye accorde me this thynge for otherwyse I dare not retourne before the kynge Pepyn lest he make me dye Sone sayde the Admyral by mahommet the ryght puyssaunt you shall not be refused but at this same houre I vttre to you y e Justes And to the ende that y e frensshmen that hathe assyeged this cyte may se your
had remayned in them yet they ymagyned and aduised that they should make Ualentyne to be taken by the waye and orson that he ledde with him and make them dye and fynysshe their dayes shamefully to the ende that he myght be auenged of the thing that they desyred mostâ— in the worlde Howe Hawftay and Henry made to watche Ualentyne and Orson vpon the waye for to make them dye ¶ Cap. xviii AS UaleÌ„tyne Orson were departed from the courte of kyng Pepyn for too go in to Acquytayne enuy deceiuable and cursed treason entred more then before in to y e hartes and courages of the two false and cursed traytouts the kynges sonnes Haufray Henry in suche wise that for to come vnto their false enterpryse they spake vnto a cosyn germayn of theirs so muche abused him that it was aduised amongest them thâ—â— xxx men puyssaunt and strong shoulde watche theym and take good kepe vnto the chylde Ualentine and also Orson so that where someuer they founde them â–ª that they should be destroyed and put vnto death After this counsaill he made to assemble thirty men of the moste redoubted that he might finde And after he sent them armed and made them go in to a forest that was both great and large by the whiche Ualentyne and Orson shoulde passe God it was not longe after that valentyne and Orson that ranne on foote before hym more faster then a horse entred into the forest ThaÌ„ they were apperceyued of Grygar and his â—elowes that were in an enbulshement when Grygar sawe valentyne he yssued out against him with his orâ—wen sworde in his hande for to haue slayne valentyn and suche a strooke he gaue vnto the noble knyght valentyne that he cut his fleshe through his harneis and made the bloud to yssue out and after said vnto him Ualentine here must you dye for to longe haue you lyued When valentyne saw that he was wounded and assayled on euery syde with enemies he recommaunded him vnto God and vnto the glorious vyrgyn Mary and after saide vntoo them My lordes you haue sâ—oren my death and I see well nowe that with wronge and withoute cause here must I fynishe my dayes but and it please god to daiâ— I shall sell you my death so dere that you shall not retourne all together in hele agayne And then he drewe out his sworde and gaue the first so great a stroke vpoÌ„ the head that he cloue him to the teeth and so he dyed After he went towarde the other by so great fiersnes y t or euer he stynte he slewe foure or fiue And Orson sterte forche as halfe aftayde with his rough handes and â—ore and rent all them that he founde in his waye soo that with his sharpe nayles he pullee them in peces bote and strangâ—ed them with his teeth He threw them to the ground one vpon another and after passed ouer them in smiting them with his fete muche vylayâ—osly Ualentyne was on the other syde that helde his bloudy sworde in his handâ— defendyng hym so valiauÌ„tly that none durst approche nere the two noble brethren And when Grygar sawe that none durste approche nere them he was muche sorowfull and cryed vnto valentyne saying Ualentine yelde you to me for here it behoueth you to dye Then the chylde valentyne recommended hym vnto God besechyng him that he would kepe him from euill and sucoure him at his nede And after he went to warde Grygar and began batayll with him againe muche fyerlly Of Grygar and his men it is a pyteous thing to recounte for they had longe speeres wherwith they kepte Orson of and anone they had enclosed valentyne rounde aboute the whiche defended hym so valiauntly that the hardyest of them all durste not come within his reaâ—he for them that he hitte the throue neuer after But for all that in valentyne and Orson were great prowesses and valiauÌ„tnes corporal not for that by the great nombre of the other the which were thyrey strong and puyssaunt valentyne myght not â—esiste for they preased vpon hym soo sore that he myght not welde his sworde and then they toke hym and bounde hym strayghtly and rode away with hym also fast as they might when Orson sawe y t the which had newely slayne one of them he ranne after theÌ„ houlyng right hydeosly but nothyng auailed his pursuite for they rode awaye so faste that Orson hadde loste the syght of them anone and wyste not whether to goo Then Grygar commaunded them for to pursue Orson and that they should take hym quycke or dead but for nothyng go they after for he ranne so impeâ—ueusly thorowe the forest that the moste hardiest of theim durste not come in his syght so Orson escaped fro the traytours And they led valentyne to a castell that was in the forest whiche a these kept y t was cosyn to Grygar And the false tray tours bare al their butyâ—s together But y e king Pepin knew nothing therof for he wende verely that there had bene no better men in al Fraunce when Ualentyne was entred into the castell they toke him rudely led him into a tower obscure and darke and after put hym in a profunde dongeon When Ualentyne was closed in the sayd dongeon he began for to wepe right pyteously in praying and reclaymynge god and the virgyn Mary that they woulde geue hym grace for to escape from that place Alas sayd Ualentyne nowe am I come to the thynge that I moste doubted That is for to were into the handes of mine enemies and of them that desired my death from daye to daye longe agone Wherfore I beseche God deuoutly y t he will sucoure me in this great daunger Alas good king Pepyn neuer y e daies of my lyfe shal I se you nor of my death you shall knowe nothyng For in this pyt obscure and foule behoueth me to fynisshe my dayes Farewel Orson for thou hast suffreth death for my loue And if thou loued me with perfitâ— loue so did I the as muche and more than if thou had bene my propre brother Alas my swete mother that I haue so muche desyred for to se I shall neuer haue knowledge of you wherfore my poore hart sygheth myne eyen melteth in teeres aboue all the moste sorowfulness when it behoueth me to dye without knowing what I am but sith that it pleaseth God that I muste dye thus I thanke hym and committe my soule in his garde In this maner complayneth Ualentyne in the obscure pyt and his enemies is in the castell that amongest them holdeth pleâ—e what they shoulde do with him Than some of them sayde Lordes the moste expedient that is is to make Valentyne dye without ony other deliberacion Lordes sayd Grygar to that thyng I am not consenting but am of the oppynyon that we shal kepe Valentine in prison the whiche can not escape vs and that we go toward Haufray and Henry for â—o tell and recount vnto them this
good The kynge loued hym moche and wel he oughte to do so for he was his propre neuew but he knew it not Nor yet he shal not knowe it tyll that by Clerymonde syster vnto the gyaunre Ferragus it be shewed For that same Clerimonde had a castell wherin was a heed of brasse composed by Nygromancye that tolde her all the thynges that shuld happen her in the time to come and also the whyche was passed And yet this same heed was composed of suche arte that it shuld neuer finishe tyl that the moost hardyest knyght of the world entred into the castell for than it shold lease the speche and all the vertue Now there shal come one that shal make it finish And that shall be Ualentyne that the fayre ladye Cleremonde that take for the whiche he shal endure and suffre great peryls daungers as you shal here more playnly afterward So I wyl leaue to speake of thys mater and wyll retorne vnto kynge Pepyn that goth toward the forest for to saue Ualentyne and preserue him from death He hath done so muche that he is entred in to the forest and gothe folowynge Orson that ledde hym vnto the castell But whan they wer comeÌ„ vnto the castel the porters that knewe the kyng shytte the gates incontynent for so they were coÌ„maunded of them within the castell vpon payne of their liue Theâ—â— when the kyng sawe that he might not enter in to the castell but by force He commaunded his men that the place should be assayled So it was not long after that the dytches were fylled with wodde And after they ap proched nere the walles and entred in to the castell by force of armes When they were within the castell they toke all the traytours and bounde them streighly And after they went into the depe prysons where as UaleÌ„tyne was and toke him out and brought him vnto the kyng Pepyn When Ualentyne sawe the kyng he â—ettâ— him on his knees and thanked him for his payne that he had taken for to delyuer hym out of his aduersytie Then the barons toke hym makyng hym great ioye gladnes And tolde him the case how it went and how Orson hadde fought with Grygar for hym to the vtâ—taunce And when Ualentyne herde these tidynges he embrared Orson muche swetely he hym So ye nede not demaunde if the Joye was greate betwene them twayne After that this was done the kyng commauÌ„ded that the traytours should be lead into the wodde and there to be hanged and strangled on one tree with out any remission Then kyng Pepyn spake vnto valentyne and sayde Ualentyne my frende sythe that god hath geuen you the grace to be thus Joyously escaped from the handes of your enemies I counsayl you that you retourne agayne with me Syr sayde valentyne for goddes sake pardon me for I shall neuer retourne vnto the tyme that I knowe what I am and of what place extraught Wherfore I take hehe leue of you as he that woulde serue you to my power At these woordes they departed Here leue I to speake of the kynge and â—â—ll speake of Ualentine and Orson that is going into Acquitaine for to fyght with the grene knyghte that feareth no man for as I have tolde you before he shall neuer be vanquysshed but of a kynges sonne that neuer had souked womans breastes Thus goeth Ualentine and Orson together toward the countrey of Acquitayne All the worlde ran for to se Orson that was all naked and rough as a beer Euery body did laughe at him but he set not therby Then UaleÌ„tine made for to make him a â—aceraÌ„ of fyne stele which was of such a fasion that it had a hode that was fastened to it And when Orson had it on him he thought him much wilde and would haue put it of gladly but he feared Ualentyne muche for all that he coÌ„maunded him he did without contradiction When Orson was clothed in the â—â—ceran of stele he behelde himselfe strongly and kepte a proude countenaunce Now it happened that as they passed vpon their waye Ualentine espied a right faire squyer that passed therby the whiche wepte full tenderly When Ualentyne sawe that he sayd vnto him frend what ayled you for to wepe haue you founde any euil men or haue you feare of the wylde beastes tell me for I shall helpe you after my power Alas sayd the squier of all this I haue no doubte but knowe that the thyng that causeth me for to wepe is my maister that I haue lost the whiche was the moste courteous the moste amiable and the moste valiauÌ„t that was vpoÌ„ the earth Ualentyne sayde howe haue you lost him ¶ Syr said the squyer he went into Acquitayne for to fyght with the grene knight for to haue one of the fayrest ladyes in the worlde that is the pleasaunt lady Fezonne that hath her harte so gracious and noble but there shall neuer none haue her if the grene knyght be not ouercome in cleane batayle Nowe there is dyuers valyaunte knyghtes dead And when he hath conquered them he maketh them to be hanged on a tree that is in the place on the whiche tree is hanged dyuers knyghtes to the nombre of two thyrty He taketh no mercy of none he is so truell a â—elon Holy vyrgyn Mary sayd Ualentyne I thynke he is some deuell when he doeth suche thynges but and it please Ihesus I shall go in to Acquytayne and shall proue my body against hym for I haue hearde so muche speakyng of the fayre lady Fezoune that if I dye not shortly I shall know the truth Ha syr sayde the squyer for God goo not thether for yf you fyght with him you shall lese your payne and you are so fayre a knyght that I neuer sawe none such Lese not your lyfe for to fyght with that deuill for I haue sene hym put so many noble men vnto death that I haue great doubte of you if you fyght with hym Squyer sayde Ualentyne in to Acquytayne will I goo and of the grene knight I shall knowe the truthe if he haue euill cause agaynst hym wyll I fyght but if I may I wyll speake fyrst with the fayre lady Fezonne and doo after her counsayle And when Orson vnderstode him he made sygnes vnto Ualentyne that he longed for to fyght with the grene knyght and that he wold loue the fayre Fezonne When valentyne vnderstoode hym for great ioye he laughed Thus go the two brethren walkyng through the countrey for to go vnto Acquytayne So they haue ryden so muche that they are aryued besyde the tyrie Ualentine sawe it from farre for it stode onhye Then he called an olde man that passed by and demaunded him what 〈◊〉 it was that he sawe before hym Syr sayde the goodman it is Acquitayne Nowe tell me saybe valentyne where doth the grene knyght holde hym Syr sayde he besyde the cytie I thynke you go for to fyght with him Yea truly saide Ualentine A sir
this false paynym that hathe sworne my dethe Alas myn entencyon and purpose was stedfastlye concluded that my bodye should neuer haue reast vnto the tyme that I might haue acknowledge of y e fader that engendred me and of what moder I was borne and delyuered on the earthe but I knowe that the thinge the which a man purposeth cometh notal waies to effect but remayneth vndone For me I may well saye it for whan I enterprysed the batayll agaynste the Greane knyght fortune was to peruers vnto me sythe that he is suche that he maye neuer bee vainequished saue of a knyght that is a kinges sonne and that in such maner he shuld haue bene nourished so in his youthe that neuer of woman he shuld fele the milke Now am I not he that may be so worthy for to be a kings sone that in such maner I haue ben nouryshed in my youthe so I se no confort in my feare that may preserue me from deathe saue alonelye to inuoke and requyre the ayde of my creatoure Iesus and his swete mother Marye so that they preserue me from his daunger and suffre me not to fynysshe my dayes here thus pyteously In thys contemplaâ—ion abode Ualentine al the nyght wythout ony reast saue for to wepe his fortune and his ferefull aduenture And whan he had euerye where thoughte by dyuyne operacyon he bethought hym on Orson the sauage that he had conquered in the wodde and soo hee thought that by him he might be socoured for he thoughte well that he had neuer souked no womans breste And that by auenture it myghte haue fallen that some Quene had chylded hym in the forest And these thynges consyderynge the nyght toke an ende and the day began to cleare Than Ualentine arose charged wyth thought and melancoli and came toward Orson and by euident signs shewed him that he shuld put on his harneys and take his hors for to go fyght with the grene knyghte Of these tydynges was Orson ryght Joyous and lepte and daunced aboute the halle for gladnes Soo he made sygne that the grene knyght sholde neuer escape his handes And in makynge these signes he aduysed a grete clubbe of wodde the whiche he toke vpon his necke in shakynge his heed and made sygnes with his heed and his armes that he wolde bere none other harneys against the false paynym or hors nor spere at all for to fyght with the gyaunt Frende sayd Ualentyn you shal not do so But with myne armoure I wyll that you be armed in berynge y e blason that was gyuen me by the kynge Pepyn and you shall ryde on the stede that I brought out of Fraunce with me To the wyll of valentyne Orson agreed and accorded for aboue all thynges he wolde obeye vnto valentyne and his commaundementes as his subgecte and seruaunte Than valentyne commaunded that they sholde brige hym his harneys and that Orson sholde be armed in y e same maner that he was whan he wente for to fyghte with the grene knyght The thynge was done and accomplysshed for the duke Sauary that was there present helped for to arme Orson with his propre handes with the armoure of valentyne with dyuers barons that were there And whan Orson was armed he was moche loked on of the lordes and barons that was there presente for he semed ryght well to be a man of grete prowesse and hardynesse â–ª replete with all beaute hye and well formed in all his membres by ryghte mesure compassed He behelde the harneys that shâ—one aboute hym and syth he made synes with his handes that he wolde strangle the grene knyght or that myddaye were paste before all the courte without hauyng ony mereye or pyte on hym At the gâ—astes and maners that Orson dydde make all they of the company beganne for to laughe muche heartelye And whan Orson hadde taken leaue of the duke Sauarye he enbraced Ualentyne and toke leue of hym in makynge hym sygne that he shuld haue no doubte of nothynge And that afore his retornynge he wolde brynge the grene knyght wyth hym either quycke or deede And Ualentine in weapynge and lamentynge commaunded hym to God in prayinge deuoutly that he myght haue victory against the painim And euen so departed Orson but or he mouÌ„ted on hors backe he aduysed hym on the fayre Fezonne of the whiche he had not taken leue so he mounted into the palais and entred into the halle whereas was the fayre ladye Fezonne and dyuers other Ladyes well accompanyed He ranne toward her and wolde haue kyssed her where at the Lady and dyuers other began for to laugh ryghte strongly For he made her sygne that for to haue her loue he wente for to fyght wyth the grene knyghte And Fezonne that was replete wythal graciousnes in â—â—â—â—ling made hym sygne that he sholde beare hym valyauntlye and than whan he retorned from the batayll she woulde gyue hym her loue Thus departed Orson and mounted on horsbacke the which was ryght nobly conuayed by the duke of Acquytayne and dyuerse other barones and knyghtes vnto the gate Whan he was oute of the cyte euerybody retorned in praying God that he wolde gyue hym vyctorye The noyse was throughe the cytye that the wild man went to fâ—ght with the grene knight wherat they wondred muche Nowe rydeth Orson in Ualentynes armour bycause he sholde not be knowne He taryed not longe tyl that he came vnto the pauilion of the grene knyght And without saying onye wordde he touched it with the heade of his spere in signyfyâ—ige that he defyed him of the which thing the grene knight had great dispyte in hys courage And swore by hys greate God that he woulde abate hys pryde or it were nyght He was armed anone and after mouÌ„ted on horsâ— backe and toke his speare in his hande and entred into the felde for to renne agaynste Orson And semblablye Orson withdrew hym from hym and than they began to couche theyr speres and in suche wyse encountred to gyder that both men and horses fel vnto the earth And whan they were both downe they arose vp agayne lyghtly and drew out theyr swerdes for to assayl the one the other right vigorously The grene knight that was moche prydefull and full of Ire smote Orson fyrst with so great myght that he cut the cercle of golde vpon hys helme and smote downe a greate quarter of his â—â—ylde and wounded Orson ryght sore â–ª and with that strooke his swerd was heauy and fell oute of hys hande Whan Orson sawe his bloode renne down alonge hys harme he was more fyerser than a Leoparde and more courageous than a lyon He rolled his eyen and shaked his head and with his bright swearde he gaue the Gyaunte so grete a stroke vpon his head that he touched his naked flesh and bare away a grete quantyte of the flesh heer withall and the stroke slyded downe and hyt hym on the arme so that the bloud ranne down haboundauÌ„t ly
freshe wherfore it was delivered amonges them not to abyde them And after the counsayll taken they made too sowne trompettes and clarons for to withdrawe theÌ„ in to Constantinoble When the Soudan sawe that the christen men were entred he made too assyege the cytie ryght nece And there was soo great nombre of paynyms about the cytie vpon euery syde that the emperoure and the kyng â–ª Pepyn myght not yssue out of it ¶ Thus they abode long tyme in the subiection of their enemies that kepte them streyghte in desiring of their death â–ª and purchasyng the dostruccion of the christen faith So I shall leue you to speake of this matter and will tell you of valentine and Orson that for the loue of Cleremonde bene entred in to the sea as ye haue heard before ¶ Howe Ualentyne and Orson arryued at the strong castell where as the fayre Clerymonde was and how by the head of brasse they had knowledge of their generacion and howe Ualentyne iusted with the Seneshal of the castell for the entre and slewe hym Cap. xxviii AFter that valentine and Orson hadde long tyme abyden vpon the hye Sea they aduysed an yle in the whiche was a castell right stronge and puyssaunte and full of greate beautie that same Castell was all couered with laten right clere and shynynge and for the greate beaute of it Ualentine thought wel within him selfe y t it was that there as the greane knyghte had sente hym to for to fynde his syster Clerymonde He wente anone thederwarde and dyscended at one of the portes of the Ile And whan he was dyscended he enquyred and demaunded who ought that castell that was so faire and so ryche And it was answered hym that the castel was in the kepynge of tho fayre Clerymonde syster vnto the gyaunte Ferragus and that by a ryche sarazyn it was edâ—fyed the which Sarazyn amonge all the other excellent thynges that are in that castell made to make and compose a chambre ryghte fayre and ryche of the whyche chambre the rychesses shall be declared to you afterwarde And more ouer it was sayde vnto Ualentyne that within that same chambre there was a moche rych Pyller and excellente vppon the whiche was a heade of brasse that of olde antiquite had bene composed muche subtyllye by Nygromancye of a Face the whyche head was of suche nature that it gaue answer of al thynges that was asked it And whan Ualentine vnderstoode the declarâ—cyon of the Castell he was ryghte Ioyous in his heart for he thought wel that it was the place y t the grene knyghte had tolde hym that he shoulde fynde hys syster in that was so gretely commended aboue all other of lytel and grete for her great beaute He demauÌ„ded no ferder for the for that presente time but put hym vppon the waye wyth Orson for to goo into that same castel and so muche they haue gone that they are comen before the gate for to entre in but they did fynde x. knyghtes stronge and hardye there that dyd keepe the gate nyght and daye And whan they sawe Ualentyne and Orson that wolde haue entred in they sayd to theym Lordes with drawe you abacke for within this castell entreth no body be he neuer of so hyghe a lygnage without the leue and lycence of a mayden to whome y â— garde appertayneth the whiche aboue all them of y e world is garnysshed with beaute Frende sayd Ualentyne go towarde the mayden and demauÌ„de her yf it be her pleasure to gyue me entre in to her castel Than the porter mounted vpon hye entred in to the chambre where as the fayre Clerymonde was After he set his knee on the grounde and sayd to her Lady before the gate of your castell in two men that wolde entre and they seme men of ryght fyers courage and full of grete pryde and it semeth by theyr maners that they are men of euyll courare dede and contrary to oure lawe Nowe tell your wyl and answere to the gardes of the gate y t hathe sente me towarde you yf it please you that they shall entre or not Frende sayd the mayden dyscende adowne and I wyll goo vnto a wyndome for to wytte what men they be and make the gates for to be kepte well for I wyll speke to them â–ª The porter wente downe and sayd to his felowes that the gate sholde be well kepte tyl that the lady were at the wyndowe so â—o gyue them theyr answere Than Clerymonde that was well taught lened vpoÌ„ a quysshynge of golde aâ—â— wyndowe and sayd vnto Ualentyne What are you that by so grete hardynes wyll entre in to my casâ—ol withoute demaundynge lycence Lady sayd Ualentyne that spake hardyly I am a knyght that passeth my waye So I wolde gladly speke vnto the heed of brasse yf it pleased you â–ª that gyueth answer vnto euery body Knyght sayd the lady so maye ye not speke therto â–ª but yf y t you brynge mee certayne sygnes from one of my bretheren that is from the kynge â–ª Ferragus â–ª or from the grene knight that of Tartarye hathe the lordshyp and â—oâ—ynaci on And yf that you brynge me from onye of them bothe tokenne or certificacion I shal lette you entre into the castel at your owne pleasure and wyll And know that by none other manner ye maye entre into this castel saue alonely by one point that I shal tel you that is that you take leue of the Seneshall of thys place the which I shal gyue you by suche a condicion that before or you entre you shall Just with him fiue or syxe strokes wyth a spere Wherefore auyse you whether you loue better to goo fetche me certayne sygnes of one of my brederen or doo as I haue tolde you Ladye sayde Ualentyne make doo come your Seneshal for I haue leauer fyght agaynste hym and wynne and deserue to entre into your castell than I goo by prayers requestes and flaterynges Thus spake Ualentine vnto the fayre Clerimond that had hys courage so valyaunt and hardy not withstondyng that he brought from the Grene Knyght certain signes by the ring of golde that he loued better for too Iuste for to proue his bodye than for to shewe the rynge the which he should present vnto the fayre Clerimonde And whan the Lady sawe the wyll and hardye courage wherwith he was repleate from that same houre shee was espyred and taken wyth hys loue ryght ardauntly at the hart Thanne in contynente she mounted in too the chambre where as the head of brasse was and sayd vnto it what is that knight that hath so greâ—e courage for to enter in to thys castell Lady sayd the head Of the knyght nor of hys estate shall you kâ—ow nothynge vntyll the tyme that you haue brought hym before me for that answer was the fayre Clerymond for the loue of Ualentyne in grete thoughte ¶ How as Ualentyne was before the castell speakynge to the gardes
the horse furiously But it is sayde coÌ„monly that it is euyll thinking to be mayster of the crafte that they can nothyng of Euen so dyd it to kynge Cromparte that wende well too haue played with Pacolettes horse but he torned the pynne so euill that he faylled of his waye more than two hondred myle ¶ And as he thought to haue aryued in his lande he arryued in Ynde the great a great place wher as market was kept that daye And seynge all the people he descended on the grouÌ„de with the fayre lady Clerymonde Of the whiche thyng they were muche ameruayled that sawe it And at that houre the lady Clerymonde knewe the horse For she myght not knowe him the nyght before for the great doloure that she was in Alas Pacolet sayde the noble lady nowe am falsly betrayed and you the fyrst of all robbed Alas now maye I well say fare well my loue Ualentyne aboue al the other moost curteys and amiable By my god mahoune sayd the kyng Crompart that wende well to haue ben in his countrey if euer you speke to me of that christen boye ryght shortly you shall se knowe with what loue I loue hym for with my cutting sworde I shall make your head to fle of your shoulders Now is Crompart well deceyued that thinketh to be in his countrey and that for the fayre Clerymonde hathe wylled too playe Nygromancy for he is arryued in the place where as it behoueth hym to fynyshe his dayes For after that he had bene sene of dyuers in the place some saide among them that it was the great god mahoune that in fleshe and bloude for to vysite his people was descended froÌ„ heauen The tydynges of this vysion came vnto the kyng of Ynde the whiche coÌ„maunded that they should be brought before hym Nowe in an euill houre ariued the kyng Crompart for also sone as the kyng of Ynde sawe hym he knewe hym ⧠Howe the kyng of Ynde made kyng Crompartes head to be smytten of because he had slayne his brother and howe he would haue hadde the fayre Clerymonde vnto his wyfe Capit. xlviii I Rompart sayd the kynge of Ynde ye be welcome for nowe is come the tyme that of the death of my brother I shal take vengeaunce to whiche by your fyerse courage you haue made warre by the space of seuen yeare and after at the last in tormente and marâ—it you haue made hym dye shamefully So wyll I shewe vnto my brother that in his lyfe I loued hym truely and that after his death I haue auenged him on his enemies Than the kyng of Ynde without any other delyberacion at that same houre made his head to be smyten of And after the Justice was done he made the fayre lady Clerymonde to be taken with the horse of wodde and for the beaute of the lady he made her to beledde in to his palays muche honourably and well serued and kept After he entred into his halle and made her to be brought before hym by them that were the moost nerest his persone when she was come before hym he behelde her gladly for her maners and countenaunce that of beaute corporal passed all the other and sayd vnto her much swetely Lady I can not tell what you are â–ª nor from whence you become but the prudence and beaute that is in you maketh me to be so taken with your loue that neuer the dayes of my lyfe I was so embraced with no womaÌ„s loue wherfore I am delivered for to take you vnto wyfe and spouse and make you quene and maystresse of all the lande of Ynde the greate Syr sayde the fayre Clerimonde that could answer ful wel You speke graciouslye and promyseth and presenteth me more goodes rycheâ—â—â—s than I am worthy for to haue but as to the regarde for to take you vnto husbande spouse for this presente houre yf it please you you shall pardon me for within this lytell whyle I haue made an othe and auowe before the ymage of God mahâ—une for certaine necessities that I haue founde my selfe in that from this daye come a tweluemoneth I shall take noo man vnto husbande nor spouse And therfore syr yf it please you let me holde and accomplysshe myne auowe vnto the yeare be fynyshed and when the terme shal be passed and accomplisshed that take me vnto wyfe and spouse and do with me your pleasure ¶ By mahoune sayd the kyng you says but well and sythe that you haue so aâ—cerprysed and vowed to oure God mahoune I am of accorde and contente to abide vnto the time that the ende of your auowe become So abode the noble lady in the palays of the kynge of Ynde the greate the whiche thought well to haue had his desyre of her or y e yerâ— had bene passed And coÌ„masiâ—ed that the fare Clerymonde shoulde be well kept and serued aboue all the other And make too delyner vnto her a fayre chambre that was muche richely aourned in the whiche the pleasaunt lady made to bere the horse of wodde and in the moost secretest place put hym vnder her wardeâ—ope whan the noble lady Clerymonde sawe the horse in bewaylyng Pacolet with her eyen she wept tenderly in praying God deuoutly that he would delyuer her out of that daunger Alas sayd the noble lady veray god al myghty in whome is myne onely beleue resplendysshe your grace vpon this poore woman or elles I am and shall remaynâ—a poore strayed woman separed from all my frendes and among the other the moost sorowful And in the handes of mine enemies it behoueth me to vse the remenaunt of my lyfe Alas true redemproure do by thy puissauÌ„ce so much afore y e ende of my daies y t I maye see with both myne eyen the pleasaunt Ualentyne to whome I am geuen For I loue better to bee dead and suffer greuous tormentes than to habandone my body to other than hym The lady is in Ynde the great the whiche is nyght and daye in syghes and in teares praying God deuoutly that he wold put her out of the daunger and yelde her safe sounde to the noble knyght Ualentyne to whiche she had geuen her fayth and her courage before any other man lyuyng Nowe wyll I leue to speake of her of the kyng of Ynde to folowe my mater I shall speke to you of Pacolet of y e sorowe y t was made for Clerymonde within Acquitain ⧠Howe Pacolet in a madens clothyng auenged him on the false Adramayne Cap. xlix AFter that the nyght was passed in the whyche Adramayne had betrayed pacolet and ledde away the fayre Clerymonde through the cyte of Acquytayne was made great lamentacyons for the losse of the lady for the gardes of the palays that myssed her made so great lamentacyons and soo great noyse in the mornynge that throughe out all the cyte was the tydynges And whan Pacolet knewe that he was departed he doubted hym of some treason Then he
for was kenynge of the kynge Whan Garnyere sawe that Orson was gone out of the chambre also sone as he might he yssued out and wente vnto hys lodgynge rennynge ful taste And there he founde the two brethren Haufray and Henry wyth them Florent the whyche had great desyre and lust to knowe some tydynges of theyr cursed and dysloyall treason Beware Garnyete that you tell vs the trouthe howe our enterpryse gothe Lordes sayd Garnyere by the god almyghty that hath created al the worlde for all the rychesse of Fraunce I wolde not doo so muche agayne as I haue done And as to the regarde of kynge Pepyn knowe that he is yet on lyue for euen so as I thought for to haue slayne hym I was soo afrayed that my hearte faylled me and wolde not haue had the courage for to haue dommaged hys body for all the golde in the worlde But of another treason I aduy sed me for I haue left the knyfe y t I bare in the kinges bedde So I haue thought that we shall accuse Orson of treason and shall tell the kynge that they are iiii of one appoyntment that are delibered for to sle the king of whome Orson is the pryncypall and shall saye also that they wyl make the lytle Charles to dyefor to haue bytwene them foure the realme of Fraunce wyth the apperrenauntes And for to preue oure feate the better and be byleued of thys thynge we shall tell how Orson hathe made redy hys geare and lefte the knyfe wyth in the bedde And yf ony body demaunde vs howe we doo knowe it we shal say that they were in the chambre spe kynge of thys matter how one of vs was besyde the dâ—â—e and vnderstode there secrets Garnyere sayd Hausray you are muche subtyll and speketh wysely And yf it happened that Orson would saye the contrary you your brother shall take batayll agaynst hym I know well for a certainte that he hath not the power for too vanquyshed you And if that it happened by a benture that the worst turned vpon you my brother Henry I shall be wel garntshed of men for to succour you Lordes sayd Garnyere and Florent your delyberacion is right good and we haue wel the courage for to acheue the enterprise Thus was the treason the seconde time conspired against the noble knyght Orson the whiche of all this dede was pure and innocent The day was clere and the houre was come after that the kyng had herde masse that he entred in to the halle tyal and was sette at dyner There was Haufray and Henry that ser ued at the cable the whiche she wed good semblaunt vn to Orson but with their hartes thei purchaced himmortall treason with all their puyssaunce And whan Garniere sawe that it was tyme for to speake he entred in to the halle and came before the kyng the whiche he salued with great reuerence sayd to him Redoubted sit it is true that of your benigne grace you haue made me knyght and geuen me office in your courte more honester than vnto me appertayueth And because that you haue done me so muche honour to vpholde me in your seruyce I ought not to be in place by treason where as your dammage is purchased or mortal treason conspired Wherfore I am come to warde youre noble grace as a true setuaunt ought for to doo for to declare vnto you a treason that of late hath bene conspyred agaynst your ryall maieste And to the ende that you maye kepe your persone out of the daunger Iaduertyse you and that you may punyshe the male factours as reason is Garuyere sayde the kyng tel on your courage for with a good wyll I shall here you ¶ Howe Garnyere accused Orson fasâ—y of treason vn to kyng Pepyn and how the knyfe was founde in the kynges bedde Cap. â—viii SYr sayd Garuyere make Orson to be holden least that he reâ—ne awaye for vpon hym shal tourne the losse and dommage He is the trai toure by whome the thynge is begonne and ought to be brought vnto an ende And iâ— that you wyll knowe the maner wyte that they are foure of the moost greatest of your courte â–ª that are delybâ—red for to make you dye of the whiche Orson is the pryncypall that ought to make you dye in your bedde and smyte you to the harte with a knyfe whan you shall be on slepe and to the ende that you beleue me the better to daye as they made their accorde together I was in a certayne place where as they knewe me not and haue vnderstanden how Orson sayd vnto the other that the knyfe that you shall be slayne withall is hydde within your bedde and if it please you for to goâ— or for to sende any bodye you shall finde the thyng veritable Syr sayde Florent that was on the other syde my brother sayeth trouth wherof I am ryght sorowfull that they to whome you haue done so muche good will purchase your death ¶ The kyng was muche amaâ—ueyled of those wordes and in dyuers maners and couÌ„tenaunces he behelde Orson in â—ayeng False and dysloyall man haue you had suche a thoughte for to desyre my death â–ª I that all the tyme of my lyue haue holden you more derer than the chyldren that I haue engendred Ha syr sayde Orson beleue not so lyghtly againste me for I thought neuer treason in my dayes but am accused of this dede by their false enuye Nowe speake no more said the king for the knife be founde in the bedde I holde you culpable of the dede and demaunde none other profe Then he called baroÌ„s and sayde to them Lordes by Ihesus christe I was neuer soo muche amatueâ—led as I am of this treason Syr sayd Myâ—â—on dangler I can not tell howe it goeth but with payne may I beleue that Orson woulde enterpryse suche a thynge agaynste your royall mayestie seynge that he is your neuewe Yea sayde the kynge but and we fynde a knyfe within the bedde it is an euident sygne that the thyng ought to be beleued Nowe for god sayd Mylion dangâ—er let vs go and se this experience â–ª Then the kyng went in to the chambre with dyuers of his barons and knightes And as they were before the bedde they founde â–ª the knyfe as the traytoure Garnyere had tolde thâ— Alas sayd the kyng in whome may one haue truste when my propre neuewe that I haue holdeÌ„ so dere is couetous of my death and of my lyfe enuyous But syth that the dedes is suche I swere and promyse vnto God that there shall neuer be a daye of respyte tyll that he be hanged and strangled Than a valyaunt knyght the whiche was called Symon ran towarde Orson for he loued hym much sayd to hym Alas fayre syr flye anone from hence and thynke for to escape for the kyng hathe founde the knyfe within the â—edde â–ª as Garnyere had tolde hym wherfore the kyng hath sworne that
he shall make you be hanged strangled also soone as he shall become Care you not sayde Orson for I haue good truste in God that he wil kepâ— my good ryght Then the kynge entred in to the halle where as Orson was kepte strayghtly with fyftene strong knyghtes syth he made to calâ— lordes and aduocates for to iudge Orson But God that forgetteth not his good frendes saued him from the false traytours and gaue hym the victory agaynst them ¶ Howe Orson when they would haue iudged hym put opposycion and demaunded batayll agaynste his accusers the whiche was vttred him by the twelue peres of Fraunces Capit. lix WHen Orson was before the kyng and before the Iudges of his palays â–ª he sayde before theym al thus Ryght redoubted syr and you my lordes and batons that be here assembled you knowe that no man can kepe him from treason nor fliethe fortune whan iâ— cometh And syth that it is so that I am accused of cryme against the maiestieryall â–ª y t is of the kinges death and that you be here assembled for to iudge me and my wordes may not be harde nor beleued agaynste myne enemyes I demauÌ„de ryght before euery body the law of your londe that is suche that whan a knyght is accused of murdre and treason he wyll defende hym in batayll he ought to be receiued Now I am a knyght that holdeth my selfe without reproche and innocent of the dede so I wyll by the ordenaunce aboue sayd be receyued in my defences yf by the assystens of your courte it be ordeyned and iudged me And for to make my selfe crele lo here my gloue that I present before you all to abyde batayll And yf I he ouercomen in batayll do Justyce with my body euen as muche a case requyreth Orson sayd Garnyere of suche a thynge you may wel holde your peace for neuer pleaseth it god that for a thing proued I take batayll agaynst you Ha traytoure sayd Orson it is nothing proued yf it â—e not some man that doubteth not his dampnynge and loueth his honoure that for suche a case maye not Judge to death whan I wyl haue the felde in deniyng the case wythout confessinge it he ought not to be condaÌ„pued Upon these wordes the twelue peres of Fraunce made to haue Orson out of the place wyth histwo aduersaryes for to dispute the reasons of bothe partyes Soo it was Judged by them that the demaunded of Orson was reasonable that he ought to be herde and receyued in hys reasons And than they made Garnyere and his brother to come before the kynges presence And the duke Myllon dangler demaunded Garnyere whyche were the foure persones that were consentynge to the kinges death Lordes sayd Garnyere of that enquyre no more For I wyl not tâ—l it you for all the golde of FrauÌ„ce Garnyere sayd the Judge that was ordeyned therfore I condampne you and your brother to receyue Orsons gloue fyght agaynst hym for sythe that you wyll not declare them that are culpable of the thyng it is lightly to be beleued that in your feate is malyce Joyous was Orson of that appoyntement and keste his gloue vnto the twoo traytours saying Lordes se here my gloue that I deliuer vnto the two traytours Garnyere and Florente in suche a coucnaunt that iâ— I may not conquere them I offre my body to be hanged shamefully Now auaunte sayd the kyng the thyng is accorded and the Jugement is geuen But for to bryng vnto an ende the enterpryse it behoueth you too geue hostage and surete for to bee forth comyng at the daye assigned Then Haufray and Henry abode and offred their bodyes for Florente and Garnyere And the duke Myllon and the duke Sampson Galeram and Geruays offred their bodyes and abode for OrsoÌ„ And ê“mised to yelde hym agayne at the monethes ende that was assygned Soo when the ende of the monethe was come and the day that they shold fyght the duke Myllon dangler Sampson Galeram and Geruays brought forth Orson for he was well beloued of them And when he was armed and mounted on horsebacke he rode thoroughe the cytie muche noblye accompanyed towarde the place ordeyned So he hadde not longe bene there when Haufray and Henry entred in to the fielde with their twoo neuewes rychely armed Muche redoubted Garnyere and Florent theyr aduersarie Orson But Haufray and Henry euer comforted them and promised them succour And euen so as they were entred into the fielde for to do their deuoure the bysshop of Parys went towarde theim and made them al thre for to swere vpon a boke as the custome is And after the bysshop wente out of the fielde After came the heraudes the kepers of the fielde that made all to yssue out that were within saue the. iii. chaÌ„pions Now Haufray had appointed thre hondred meÌ„ that he had put within a great place the nerest the field that he myght and sayde and commaunded vnto them that also sone as they should here him blowe his horn that they should come to warde hym wel thought the traytours to haue bene succoured and defeÌ„ded in theyr necessitte but lytell auayled all their enterpryse for also sone as the gardes commaunded the champeons to do their deuoure Orson couched his speare and smote his horse with the sporres came against his enemies by muche great courage and he gaue garniere so great a stroke that he persed his shelde his harneis through out And Florent was on the other syde that gaue Orson a muche matueylous stroke but he set as muche by it as it he had smytten agaynst a toure False cursed traytout and disloyal thou hast accused me with wroÌ„g but to daye I shall shewe the where loyalte doth reste ¶ At these woordes with his bryght swoorde he gaue Garniere so great a stroke that he smote him out of his sadle vnto the earth and subtylly there withall he pulled his helme of his head and after would haue cut of his head if it had not ben his brother Florent y t smote Orson muche rudely Then Orson retourned smote Garnyere in suche wise that he cut of his lefte eare and syth sayd vnto him fayre maister that purchaceth trea son you ought not to lose by the bergayne There began a strong batayll betwene the thre champions Garnyere conquered his helme agayne and put it on his head and came to warde Orson for to dammage him with al his might But he had bene discomfited anone if it had not bene Florent that oftentymes socoured hym ⧠How Orson slewe Florent in the fielde banquyshed Gatnyere and howe Haufray cut of his head as he would haue confessed the treason Cap. lx ORson had muche payne and trauayll for to confounde the two traitours for they were strongly armed and also toke courage for Haufray and Henry that hadde promysed them succoure and helpe and Orson dydde so about Garniere that he wounded him right sore So
whan he felt himself wouÌ„ded he descended to the earth habandoned his horse After he came agaynst Orson and smote his horse in suche maner that he cut of one of his legges and felled hym vnto the earthe But Orson was dyligent and strong for when he felt the horse fall he auoyded the styropes and lept vpon the earthe And syth came vnto Garnyere and toke hym betwene his armes so mightely that he toke his shelde from him and threwe him to the earth but as he would haue gyueÌ„ hym a â—oyne in the belly Florente sported his horse for to surour his brother and gaue Orson so great a stroke vpon the helme that he made hym for too rele Orson ran vnto hym that had dispyte and smote hym with so great a courage that he ouerthrewe the horse dead too the earth and toke of Florentes helme from his head of the whiche he was sore abasihed and founde none other remedy saue for to flee and renne about the fielde in coueryng his head with his shelde And Orson ran after hym with a fyerse courage that for to se hym flee had great pleasure Ha Florent sayd Garnyere wherfore flee you so much retourne you agayne and thinke for to defende you for if you haue good courage to day he shall be vanquyshed At these wordes the two traytours assayled the valiaunt Orson muche asperly and with their trenchyng swordes gaue hym so many strokes that through his harneys the strokes entred and made the bloud to yssue out by greate haboundaunce Then Orson that felte hymselfe wounded reclaymed God and the virgyn Mary muche deuoutely and gaue Florent so great a stroke that he smote of his arme w t the sword During this batail Fezone was in a church in prayinge god deuoutly that it wolde please hym for to kepe her good loue Orson defende hym in gyuyng him victorye agaynst hys enemyes The people was moche abasshed of y e great dedes of armes that Orson dyde Dolente and sorowful was Florent whaÌ„ he had loste his arme and not for that he left not for to assayl Orson wyth all his puyssaunce ¶ And whan Orson sawe him come he made semblaunte for to smyte Garnyere and after drewe his stroke agayne sodaynly and smote FloreÌ„t in suche maner that he smote him downe deed to the erthe after he sayd vnto Garnyere Traytoure thou muste go after or elles knowledge before euery body y e treasoÌ„ that you haue braced ¶ Orson said Garnyere it shal go other wyse for if you haue slayne my brother to day I shal take vengeauÌ„ce ¶ Haufray sayd Henry our feate goeth euyll for Orson hath alredy slayne and vndone our neuewe Florent you shall se anone y t he wyll vaynquysshe Garnyere make him confesse the treason by the whiche we shall be for euer dyshonoured and in daunger of deathe yf we fynde not maner for to fle escape Brother sayd Haufray that was full of treason I shal tel you what we shal do Also so one as we shall se that Garnyere is ouercomen or that he confesse the treason we shall entre into the felde and in signe for to maynteine Orson we shal cut of our neuewes head And so the treason may neuer be knowen By God sayd Henry none can say nor deuyse better Thus thought the two cursed dysloyall traytours newe treasons for to hyde the olde And the two champions are within the felde y t assaylleth eche other moche asprely Garnyere sayd Orson you se wel that you maye not defende you agaynste me And therfore thynke for to yelde you confesse your cursed treason and I promyse you for to saue your lyfe and make your peas towarde kynge Pepyn and shall sende you vnto the Emperoure of Grece my father that for the loue of me shall reteyne you of hys courte and gyue you great wages Boye sayd Garnyere thy promyse serueth me of nothynge for syth that I haue lost one of myne eres I shall neuer be praysed nor honoured in no place So Had I rather dye valyauntly agaynste the or conquere thy body delyuered the vnto shamefull death than for to defylemyne honoure By my fayth sayd Orson right gladly I accordeth you And syth that you haue enuy for to dye you shall haue founde in me a good mayster Thynke for to defende you for here is your laste daye At these wordes he went towarde Garnyere and wyth strengthe of armes throwe hym vnder hym and pulled hys helme from hys head And Haufray whyche sawe that there was no more remedye cryed right hye Orson slee him not for we knowe right well y t wyth great wronge he hath accused you so we wyll do the Justyce as to the traytour apperteyneth we wyl neuer let hym lyue nor holde hym of our parentage He entred into the felde and sayd vnto Garnyere Fayre mayster confesse your dede and the maner of the treason and we shall do so muche to the kynge that of your fautes ye shal haue pardon Lordes sayde the traytour Garnyere I haue done the treason and put the knyfe in the kinges bed In sayenge these wordes Haufray that was subtyll and cautelous drewe hys swerde to the end that he shuld speke no ferther forthe of that thynge he slewe hym in the same place and after sayd ⧠Lordes nowe let thys traytour be taken and hanged on the galowes for he hath well deserued it Then he sayde vnto Orson Losyn I am tyght Joyous of the vyctory that you haue had for God hath wel shewed that you are true and loyal And for al that Garnyer was my neue we yet shal I neuer clayme hym for my bloud syth he hath wylled to medle with treason Anoue came thether the fayre lady Fezonne that colled and kyssed Orson ryght swetely And than kyng Pepyn demaunde hym Fayre neue we haue you any daungerous wound vpon your body Uncle sayd Orson no thanked be God I haue vanquyshed the two traytours Haufray as a good man hath made Garnyere confesse the treason and takeÌ„ his lyfe from him Ha fayre neuewe beleue it not to lightly for what semblauÌ„t that euer he make you he is partysypyng of the treason but for this present tyme I wyll holde my peace The king and the barons retourned in to the cytie of Parys and made great ioye for the victory that Orson had wonne and the honoure And Haufray and Henry that same day said muche good of him with their mouthes and with their hartes desyred his death But anone after came the tyme that their cursed treason was knowen and that they were punished for their euylles as they had wel deserued So I shal leue to speake of this mater and will tell you of the knyght Ualentyne that rode through the countrey right sorowful for his loue the fayre Llery monde the which was in Jnde the more where the kyng made her to be kept for to wedde her and toke her vnto wyfe by
the waye of mariage as I haue made mencion vnto you here before ⧠How Ualentyne in sekyng the fayre Clerymonde a tyued in Antioche and how he fought with a marueylous dragon ⧠Cap. lxi UAlentine that was mounted vpoÌ„ the sea for to seke the fayre Clerymonde his loue dyd so much by the grace of god that he arriued in the cytie of Antioche So when he was within Pacolet that spake their language toke lodges in a great and a riche house But the hoost of the house was right caâ—tellous for when thei were in their chambre he went and herkened them so he vnderstode by their language that they were christen men wherfore he went to the kyng of Antyoche and sayde Dere syr know that there is in my house foute christen men that are entred into your londe without payinge any trybute wherfore I am come to you for to aduertyse you therof Frende sayde the kyng thou haste done well Nowe goo sayde the kyng and fetche them vnto me Then departed dyuers offycers with the hoost for to go and fetche Ualentine the whiche thei brought w t his seruauntes before the kyng of Antioche And when Ualentine sawe the king he salued him highly saying ¶ Syr kynge mahoune in whome you beleue kepe you with suche power as he hath And that same God that dyed for vs on the crosse succout and helpe me in mine aduersyte Christian sayde the kyng thou shewest thy selfe well hardy when before my presence thou makest memorye of thy Jhesus that I neuer loued nor neuer shall So I let the Wyâ—e that of two thynges it behoueth the to chose one or els suffre death Kyng sayd Ualentyne saye on your wyll for I would do dyuers thinges or I suffre deathe notwithstandyng that I haue heard say that the christen men should be safe in youre realme for paying of theyr trybute By my fayth sayde the kyng the coÌ„trary is true For you are entred without my lycence wherfore yf you wyll escape death it be houeth you to renounce your God Jhesus and yf that you wyll not do it you must fyght with an horryble serpente that by the espace of seuen yeare hath bene before the cytie and deuouted so manye men that the nombre is in eâ—ymable and vnknowen aduyse you of the two thynges whych you wyll do for you can not saue your lyfe by none other waye and valentyne sayd to hym Whan I must do it by force the playe is euyll for me at departynge Not for that tell me yf it please you yf you haue sene the beest and of what fourme and stature she is of and what is her maners and facyons Chrystyen sayd the kyng of Antyoche I tell the that I haue sene the beest and wyte that she is muche hedyous and more gretter of body than a horse and she hathe also wynges ryght great and fethered lyke a Gryffon and hath the head of a serpent wyth a maruaylous loke the skyn couered wyth scales muche harde thycke as fysshe that swymme in the see And she hath also the fete of a lyon muche great and sharper than any kynfe of stele ¶ By my god sayd valentyne by this that you tel me the best is muche ferefull and horryble but not wythstandyng all her force and strengthe yf you wyll bylene in Jhesu chryst that for vs suffred death vpon the crosse and promyse me for to receyue baptym in suche case that I conquere the beest and put her vnto death I shall goo and assaye me agaynst her put my body in daunger wyth out ledynge any erthely creature wyth me by the grace of Jhesu christ Chrysten sayd the kyng I swere the by my lawe that yf thou mayst dystroye her I and all my men shall renounce mahoune and doo all thy pleasure but so muche dare I saye that thou shalt haue no puyssaunce therto for there wente neuer none thether yet y t escaped deuourynge ¶ Syr sayd valentyne lette me dele wyth her For I truste me so muche in the swete Jesus that he shall be my swerde and defence agaynst the false beest vpon suche a touenaunt that you shall holde me promesse Yes sayde the kyng thynke for to worke well for and thou mayste delyuer vs from the beast I swere to the by my God mahoune that we shall take thy lawe and lene our Well sayd Ualentyne I shall do my besy payne Then he demaunded the worke men of the cytie and made them make a shelde ryght subtylly composed And in that same shelde he made to fasten a great sorte of longe pryckes of fyne stele more sharped then nedles strong and surely put in and they were of a fote length And when the shelde was thus made valentyne put on his harneis and his helme also bokeled to his head after he toke his sworde and in the honoure of Jhesu christe kyssed the hylces many tymes And he toke his leue of his men and mounted on horsebacke for to go fyght with the beast yssued of the cytie Lytell and great mounted vpon the walles toures garettes for to beholde valentyne And when he was out of the cytie the portets shytte the gates after hym for they wende well for a truthe that he shoulde neuer haue retourned Nowe the beast is of suche a condycion that it behoueth them to deliuer to her euery daye for her pray a beast or a manne and if they fayled for to geue it her there dutst no body yssue out of the cytie And also sone as they had delyuered hym his praye oute of the cytie she retourned into her place and there kept her without doyng any harme to any body And therfore it was of custome through all the countrey there aboute that theues and murderers and all euyll folkes that by sentence and iudgemente were condempned to deth they were yelded and brought into the cytie of Antyoche for to be geuâ—h and delyuered vnto the cursed and vengeable beast to be deuoured as the custome of the said city was And with this there was certayne men that rode and wente vnto the portes and hauens of the sea for to gete and seke good christeÌ„ men and brought them vnto the forsayd rytie of Antyoche for to make them be deuouted of the serpente And when the serpent apperceyued Ualentyne commyng towarde hym he closed his wynges muche fyerlly in castyng out of his mouth by great haboundaunce smoke and fyre Ha God saide Valentyne helpe me and preserue me from entring in to that foule passage and gyue me strengthe and puyssaunce for too exalte and encrease youre lawe Then he descended of his hors and left his sharpe axe at his sadle bowe and went towarde the serpent that was muche proude also soone as he approched nere hym for to smyte him the serpent lyfte vp his pawe that was great and large and marueylously sharpe for to smyte Ualentyne but he cast his shelde before it in suche maner that the beast smote vpon the
to fynde valentyne of the whyche I wyll speke to you That same knyght valentyne wyth an ardaunt desyre rode in the countre wyth Pacolet for to seke the fayre lady clerymonde the whyche wolde not habandone hym no day nowe they rode soo muche that they arryued in Esclaâ— â–ª dye whyche was the londe of kynge Tromparte y t had caryed awaye the fayre Clerymonde vpon the hors of wodde that was Pacolettes as sayd is They demaunded in that same cyte tydynges of kynge Trompart they recounted vnto them the maner how he was slayne before ynde the great And how hys sone Lucar woldâ— aueuge hys death vpon the kynge of ynde the greter and howe that for to accomplysiâ—e it he had assembled fyftene kynges â–ª wyth many knightes soudyâ—urs that wolde serue hym for money and go in the warre Than spake Pacolet that could well the language of the couÌ„tree and demaunded hys hoost moore playnly tydynges of the estate of that same kynge Lucar And hys hoost recounted vnto hym howe he had handfast and promysed and take vnto wyfe the doughter of BraÌ„dyffer that had bene wedded before to the kynge of Antyoche the whych had ben dyscomfyted by the sayd BraÌ„dyffer because that he dyd renounce the lawe of mahoune For to here suche tydynges Ualentyne was muche abasâ—hed And vpon the fortunes of the worlde he began strongly to thynke by hym selfe consyderynge the great inconuenyentes and debates that had befallen and contynually do from day to daye Whan he had studyed a lyttell vpon that thynge he sayd vnto his hoost Hoost tell me what is becomen of a lady ryght fayre y t kynge Tromparde brought wyth hym By mahoune sayd the hoost we haue hadde no tydynges therofhere Nowe tell me sayd Ualentyne where is kynge Lucar at this present tyme for I haue great courage for to go and take wages vnder hym bycause that my moneye is faylled and on the other syde I haue greate desyre for to folowe the warre Lorde sayd the hoost the kynge Lucar is in Esclardye there you shall fynde hym accompanyed wyth a hondred thousadd sarazyns For he abydeth Brandiffer that should brynge hys doughter into that same place for to wedde her to hym Whan Ualentyne vnderstode all these thynges that he tolde hym he hadde ryghte great truste for to here some tydynges of the fayre Clerymonde Than he departed from the cyte and roode to warde Esclardye faynynge for to haue great desyre to serue king Lucar but more greatly touched him the maner at the harte howe he myght haue the fayre Clerymonde vnto wyfe ⧠Howe the kyng Lucar in the fayre and great cytie of Esclardie wedded and toke vnto wife the fayre and gracious Rozemonde Capit. lxvii RYght so as the king Lucar highly and puyssauntly accompanied in great and sumptuous estate in the citie of Esclardy Blandiffer arriued that brought his doughter with hym And when kyng Lucar knewe the tydynges he yssued out of the cytie with a tryumphaunt companye agaynst hym For to se Rozemonde kyng Lucar was muche ioyous but of as muche as he â–ª was ioyous the Ladye was dyspleasaunt for of all the other she wolde his moost euyll and loued hym not but euer bewayled Ualentyne The lady was ledde in to the halle ryall conueyed with dyuers greate kynges And before the ymage of mahoune she was wedded vnto the kyng Lucar Nowe it nedeth not to demaunde of the feaste nor of the estates that was there nor of the riche giftes that was geuen ¶ Ualentyne toâ—de in the fieldes ardaunâ— for to come vnto his entencion It happened soo as he arryued at the entre of a wodde that was ryght grene and plesaunt he harde and vnderstoode the voyce of a pleasaunt lady ryght fayre and gracious the whiche â— sarazyn helde by force vnder a tree â–ª would haue done his pleasure And when Ualentyne vnderstoode it he sayd vnto Pacolet Frende ride we â—aste and make dilygence for I haue hear a woman in this wodde that cryed ryght hyghe and demeaneth great sorowe â–ª so we shall do great almesse for to succour her Syr sayd Pacolet leue the lady and medle not so muche of her feate â–ª for you woâ—e not what it is parauenâ—ure she doth it for a gyle and it may turne you soner vnto euil than good Pacolet sayde Ualeytyne â–ª you speake folyshely for the man is not noble that helpeth not the ladyes in their necessities and putteth his body in auenture for to saue their honoure â–ª Than he sporred his horse and entred in to the wodde so he apperceyued the lady that the sarazyn helde vnder him Syr sayd Ualentyne leue your enterpryse for if you wyll haue the lady at your wyll it behoueth you to proue your body agaynst mine you may wel knowe that she setteth not by your loue so it behoueth you to leue her or els to haue warre agaynst me By mahoune sayde the paynym I vtter you the warre at your own wil. But I tell y e hyghly and let the wyt that in an euyll houre art thou arriued here for to come and let me of my pleasure without hauyng anye occasyon At these wordes he left the lady and mounted vpoÌ„ his horse that was besyde hym tyed vnto a tree with his shelde couered hym and tooke his spere after they fetched their course but the noble and valiaunt knight valentyne came with so great a courage agaynste the paynym and sarazyn that he passed hym clene throughout halue a yerde so that he fel downe dead to the earth And when he had done soo he wente vnto the mayden and sayde vnto her Damoysell nowe are you auenged of your enemye at this presente houre soo I praye you that you wyll tell me howe and in what maner this coursed man hath brought you into this wodde Alas syr sayd she I shall tel you all the truthe Knowe that yesternight late he came into my fathers house for to lodge him and for to haue my body the better at his will and leade me at his pleasure this nighte he went into the chambre of my father and there slewe him and murdred hym falsly After he hath brought me hether by force for to deflore me of myne honoure vytuperablye from the whiche thyng by your valiauntnes prowes I am deliuered kept to daye and saued mine honour â—o maye you at this time doo and accomplysshe youre good pleasure for as a hardy champion in the daunger of your body you haue conquered me wonne the Damâ—ysell sayd the valyaunâ—e knyght Valentyne by me your gentyl body shal haue no dommage nor vylany Returne into your house and thinke to dwel and kepe well your honour Than Ualentine lefte the mayden and toke his way towarde Esclardye and the men of the sarazin came towerde their mayster but also soone as they founde him deed vpon the grasse without ony soâ—ouminge they smote theyr horses with the sportes for to go vnto Esclardye to tell
you truely Then he ledde her towarde kyng Lucar and sayd to hym Syr see here the fayre lady Rozemonde your wyfe that the false traytoure kynge of Ynde led away agaynst her wyl the whyche is ryghte dyspleasaunt at her heart therfore Ha syr sayd the lady he telleth you trouthe for euen so as the batayll was begon I sawe hym come to warde me soo I wende that it had ben one of your barons that dad comen for to socoure me So I wente agaynst hym thyn kynge for to saue my selfe and wythout enquyrynge of any thyng I mouÌ„ted vpon hys hors but alas syr I knew anone his euyll wyll and apperceyued well that I was vetrayed Than I pulled hym by the here and scratched hys face in suche wyse that the blode yssued out and that it was force to hym to let me go downe and so by the helpe of thys good knyght I haue saued me and escaped frome hym Lady sayd kynge Lucar you haue wrought wel and at this present tyme it behoueth to speake no more therof for we haue the assaute by our enemyes that giueth vs to muche to doo So he left the lady wythoute any more arguynge and returned into the vatayll And at that houre they of Ynde returned in to the cyte the whiche had loste diuers valyaunt champions but aboue all the losses the kynge of Ynde complayned the losse of the fayre Rozemonde ¶ Alas lady sayd he I haue well fayled at mine enterpryse but euâ— so helpe me mahoune I knowe clerely that I was enchaunted for me thoughte that I fouÌ„de ryuers and wodde before me but also soone as I hadde sette you downe I founde but fayre and playne way Ualentyne had great honoure of euery body bycause that he had delyuered the fayre RozemoÌ„d and recouered her of the kynge of Ynde And she made hym fayre semblaunte bycause that he had socoured her but what so meuer sygne of loue that she shewed hym aboue all other she hated hym and would him euill for she had well would that the thing had bene otherwyse but not for all that she helde her not contente with the firste faute but watched and laboured soo muche that she brought her entencion vnto an ende and her wyll vnto execution ¶ Howe Rozemonde founde the maner and the facioÌ„ to make her selfe be ledde vnto the kynge of Ynde the morâ— the whiche she loued perfytely and howe he ledde her in to his cytes of Ynde Capit. lxxiii NOwe it is sayd comenly and it is true that yf a woman do not chastise her selfe of her owne propre wyll wyth payne may any other chastise her For some wolde rather dye thaÌ„ fayle of theyr enterpryse as well shewed Rozemonde the wyfe of kyng Lucar for it was not foure dayes after that she yssued out of her tente in the leest companye that she myght mounted vpon a hakeney and sayd that she wolde go sporte her a lytell in the feldes for to take the good ayre In thys manere the quene Rozemonde wente towarde the cyte of Ynde Nowe she had done the kinge of Ynde to wyte secretly that he should be redy and apparaylled that same daye for to come and â—ake her and lede her away and he faylled not for ryght soo as he sawe her and apperceyued her he yssued out at a posterne mounted at a vauntage and ran towarde the lady and tooke the hakeney by the reyne in sayenge vnto her My lady nowe maye I at thys houre lede you surely at your owne wyll In this maner he ledde her into the cyte of Ynde with great ioy Nowe was the crye amonge the hoost of kynge Lucar that the kynge of Ynde ledde away Rozemonde Dyuers mounted on horsbacke for to socoure the lady but they were anone entred into the cyte of Ynde By mahowne sayd kynge Lucar who that may bryng me the lady agayne I shall make hym my greate Sene shall and aboue all them of my court mayster gouernoure Syr sayd Pacolet vnto Ualentine yf it be your pleasure to haue the lady I shall fynde an enchauÌ„tement anone wherby you shall take the lady Frende sayd Ualentyne let her go ones I rendred her vnto her husbande Lucar trustynge that she wolde chastyse her selfe of her great faute and syth that she wyll not it is but greate foly to go aboute it On that same daye that the kynge of Ynde led away Rozemonde he wedded her and laye wyth her and engendren a sonne on her that was called Rabastre the whyth posseded Jherusalem in his dayes To sorowfull was kynge Lucar whan he had lost his wyfe soo And Brandyffer recomforted hym sayenge Fayre soÌ„ne sayd he take courage vnto you for I swere you mahowne and all my goddes that I shall auenge you or I departe hence Soo swore Brandyffer but it wente otherwyse for on that propre day there came a messenger vnto hym whyche sayd Syre I brynge you tydynges whyche are ryght displeasaunt to you Syr knowe that kyng Pepyn wyth the emperours sonne of grece is arryued in your lande and hath dystroyed castelles and townes and hathe besyeged your fayre cyte of Angorye in the whyche your wyfe is newly delyuered of a fayre sonne And I am comen hether for to demaunde you socoure or elles it behoueth to yelde youre fayre cyte of Angorye vnto the vnhappy chrysten men whan brandyffer herde these tydynges he was muche sorowfull in hys heart Than he wente towarde kyng Lucar and sayd vnto hym Fayre sonne here is a messenger that hathe broughte me euyll tydynges out of my londe for the Frenchemen is entred in it wyth a greate puyssaunce and wasteth and dystroyeth my countree wherfore it is force vnto me that I goo and defende my countree so I shall tell you what I shall doo You shall sende some knyght vnto the kynge of Ynde and bydde hym that he sende you agayne my doughter Rozemonde youre wyfe vppon suche a condycyon that shall pardon hym the death of your father and make your hoost to departe out of his countrey withoute doynge it any dammage or hurt By mahowne sayde the kyng Lucar I had thought the same and I can not se a better remedy nor a wyser counsaill At these wordes he called Valentyne and sayde vnto him Knyght it behoueth you to go towarde the kyng of Ynde on my behalfe and saye vnto hym in this maner that he sende me agayne the fayre Rozemonde that he hathe taken frome me vpon suche a couenaunt that I shall pardon him the death of my father without euer to haue any question therfore and I shal make also my men al mine hoost to auoide out of his lande without doyng him any dammage Syr sayd Ualentyne for you I would auenture my body more then for any other so I shall do your message the best wyse that I may and within a shorte space you shall haue tydinges agayne Than he mounted on horsbacke and went towarde Ynde and entred into the cytie like a
messenger and went vnto the palais where as he found the kyng of Ynde the quene Rozemonde syttyng besyde hym the which knewe Ualentyne right well so she sayde to the kyng Syr se you hym yonder it is the same that toke me from you the fyrste tyme that you would haue ledde me awaye Lady sayde the king of Ynde at this houre I shall auenge me for he shal neuer in his lyfe escape me That shall he sayde the lady for I knowe him of so muche that yet you maye haue good seruice of hym Then Ualentyne approched with a hardy haâ—te and salued the kyng and the quene right hyghely Syr sayde Ualentyne I am messenger vnto kynge Lucar that sendeth me too you And maundeth you by me that you sende hym his Lady Rozemonde agayne shortely that you tooke from hym that is here And if thou wyll do it he will pardon you the death of his father and shall make his armye to go out of your lande without any soiournyng but notwithstandyng that I am charged for to do you this message if you wil beleue me you shall neuer consent therto but shall kepe the lady that is so fayre and that loueth you soo well And knowe that neuer the dayes of my lyfe I shall bee in no place where as I shall suffer you to be blanted dishonoured for the loue of the lady And all the terme of my lyfe I shall serue you truely Knyght sayde the kyng of Ynde you speake as valiaunt your wordes pleaseth me muche But for a conclusion you shall saye vnto kyng Lucar that and he haue to do with wiues y t he seke other then my loue Rozemande for he shall neuer the dayes of his lyfe sleepe by her sydes nor haue pleasure of her body Knyght sayd the lady salue my father and tell hym that of this dede he is the cause for I had tolde himself that I would not be geuen vnto Lucar now my father hath done agaynst my wyll and I haue done agaynst his so tell vnto Lucar that he haue no more trust in me Lady sayd Valentyne I shall doo your message with good harte Thus he toke leue right ioyous to be escaped from the kyng of Ynde and retorned vnto kyng Lucar and tolde him his aunswere saying Syr purchace you another wyfe for Rozemonde is wedded vnto the kyng of Ynde that slepeth with her euery nyght and doech his pleasure When Lucar vudâ—â—â—tode those wordes he wrong his handes and pulled his heere saying Ha my loue for you it behoueth that Idye when I haue loste the moost fayrest the moost noble and the moost louing that is in the worlde Alas what hadde I done to you that hath purchased me soo great displeasure Fals kyng of Ynde I shal neuer loue the for thou hast slayne my father fasly and taken my wyfe by treason from me Then Brandiffer sayde vno him My fayre sonne I am ryght sory for your displeasure but at this tyme I can not amende it for it â—e houeth me to go in to my lande to chase away the Frenchemen as you haue heard the messenger saye or elles my lande shall be destroyed Syr sayde Lucar let vs assayle the cytie or you departe By mahoune sayd Brandyffer none assâ—ure can take it for it must be wonne by â—amyne wherfore abyde you here vnto my retourne ⧠Howe kyng Lucar dyd so muche that kyng Brandyffer abode with hym and seute Valentyne into Augorye agaynst kyng Pepyn Cap. lxxiiii WHen kyng Lucar vnderstode that kyng Brandyffer would leue hym he was tyght sorowfull and sayde to hym Syr it is true that you haue promysed me to auenge me on the kynge of Ynde that hathe done vs so great an iniurye ¶ That is true sayd BraÌ„dyffer but I am sory that I may not accomplyshe my promyse for the goyng to kepe my lande Nowe I shall tell you sayde kynge Lucar howe you maye do for to saue youre honour and mine I haue here a knyght named Valentyne aboue all other the moost valyaunt so you may geue hym youre men for I haue founde hym true in all thynges ¶ And moreouer you haue in this hoost your vncle Murgalant that of long tyme hathe folowed the warre and knoweth muche And me thinke that it sheld be good that these twayne made the â—iage and you abyde here To these wordes Brandiffer accorded and sent for them both saying to them Lordes you are chosen of vs twayne to goo into Angorye too reyse vp the syege that kyng Pepyn hath set So I pray you that you do so that my londe maye be defended and kepte And you fayre vncle thynke for to doo well and it shall be rendred you Fayre neuewe take no more thought for sythe that I leade with me the noble Ualentyne I make no doubte but that all shall be wel after these thynges deuysed and ordeyned there was geuen vnto Ualentyne and Murgalant a hondred thousande paynyms â–ª and also many abode in the hoost of kyng Lucar Ualentyne and Murgalant mounted vpoÌ„ the sea and rowed soo muche that they arryued at the hauen of Angory But a lytell whyle afore they arryued Ualentyne aduysed a toure couered with fyne laten so he damaunded the maryners what place it was Sir sayd they it is the stronge castell and wyte that it is a strong place and so subtylly composed at the entre that there can but one man passe at ones for and if twaine would passe at ones they should fall in to the sea that beteth against the walles And in that same castel king Brandiffer hath kept his doughter Galazye long time to the ende that she should not be stolen nor taken away of no body For in the worlde is not memorye of a fayrer than she but there is so muche that he wyll not geue her to no liuing creature When Ualentyne harde those wordes there toke hym a ryght great desyre for to go se the lady and sayde to hymselfe that he shoulde neuer be Joyous tyll that he had sene her Nowe are they aryued besyde Angorye and haue taken lande and sette forth their hoost in a short tyme. They sawe right well the tentes and pauilions of kynge Pepyn that were muche glystering and pleasaunt for to beholde Great dyligence made the christen men for to assayl the cytie But within was an admyrall named Bruhans the whiche yssued out euery day vpon king Pepin and did great prowesse with his men When Murgalant aduised the hoost of the christeÌ„ men that helde a great grouÌ„d he called Ualentyne and sayde to hym Knyght counsayll vs vpoÌ„ this feate for I se know that the christeÌ„ men are strong and a great nombre Murgalant sayde Ualentyne I shall tell you myne opynion I counsayll that you sende a messenger a none in to the cytie of Angorye to specyfye to our men that we are aryued that they fayle not to morowe in the mornyng to yssue oute vpon the christen men and assaile
haue also enuyroned out folkes on all sydes and putteth all vnto fyre and bloude wherfore thynke we for to escape ¶ Alas Pacolet said Ualentyne I know wel that thou hast wrought here and hathe enchaunted the paynyms soo I wote neuer what to do for to saue myne honour For at my departyng from Brandyffer I promysed him and swore vnto hym that I shoule retourne to him againe if I might escape with my lyfe nowe am I sure that he wyl make me dye if he haue tydinges of this thynge Syr sayde Pacolet of that haue you no doubte for you shall neuer haue euill nor displeasure in no place where as I shall be but shall delyuer you and if kyng Brandyffer hadde Judged you vnto death and had the corde aboute your necke standing vpon the â—â—dâ—re ready for to be hanged yet knowe I the maner for too delyuer you and saue your lyfe ¶ By my sayth sayd Valentyne suche a varlet ought for to be derely loued Thus were the paynyms by the arte of Pacolet dyscomfyted and put vnto death ¶ Upon the morowe the admyral Bruhans yssued out of Angorye with a great multytude of paynyms for to renne vpon king Pepyn and his hoost the whiche knâ—we nothyng of the mysauenture Within a shorte space the two parties were assembled Tho be gan the batayl ryght fyersly muche great was the nbyse and pyteous for to beare There was speres and dartes broken many champions smyten vnto the earth wyth swerdes and glayues of stele many hameys broken and bembres cut horses renne thorowe the felde many maners and standardes dyscourted and smytten to the grounde And whan the Admyrall bruhans sawe that the chrysten men fared so wyth hys men as all out of hys wytte he put hymselfe in the prese ¶ He couched his spere and ranne agaynst a knyght of Brâ—e in suche maner that he persed hym throughe out and smote him downe dead to the earth After he drewe out hys swerde and smote another knyght that was called Gyrarde of parys soo myghrelye that he slewe hym in that place Than he came to avalyaunt knyght named Roberte of Norinandye that greued hys men muche soo he gaue hym so great a stroke wyth hys swerd that he cut of his lefte legge The Admyrall fought so valyauntly that or euer he rested he made ten chrysten knyghtes to dye of his handes Now the kynge Pepyn apperceyued hym well and sawe that he made great slaughter of the crysten men Than the valyaunt kynge toke a great spere in his hande smote the hors wyth hys sporres and came agaâ—nst the Admyrall wyth so greate a myght that the spere went throughe hys lyuer and his longes and he smote hym downe dead so softly that he spake neuer a worde nor remeued neuer a membre And whan the paynyms sawe that the Admyrall was dead it is not to be demaunded yf they were sorowfull and had no hardynes for to holde the felde for they wythdrewe theym in to Angorye and mounted vpon the walles for to defende the cyte Than the christen men were diligent and folowed them nere but they of the cyte defended theym so valyauntly as wel wyth stones as wyth sâ—otte that they ledde the christen men to euyl Than the captaines made the dytches to be filled w t fagottes logges by that means wan the gates the barres And at y â— â—oure the assaute was ryght great â—ied many men as well on the one syde as oâ— the other But notwithstanding the defence of y e painims it profyted them but litell for at y â— same assaute the tytie was taken al the sarazins put vnto death without any mercy Then the christen men entred in y â— founde there much great richesse and it was on a fryday Kyng Pepyn made his tentes for to be brought in to the cytie Here will I leue to speake of kyng Pepyn and shall tell you of Ualentyne ⧠How Ualentyne retourned in to ynde after y â— batail and bare whim the body of king MurgalaÌ„t Ca. lxxvii AFter that the cyte of Angory was taken by the chrysten men the paynyms dead as wel wythout as within Ualentyne that founde the body of kinge Murgalant dead vpon the felde called Pacolet sayd to him Frende I wyl y t we bere this body with vs so may kyng Brandyffer sooner beleue that we were in batayll togyther Syr sayd pacolet you saye well it shall be honour to you Than Ualentyne made the body to be taken and put in a cofre muche honourably and couered it wyth blacke After they went vnto the porte where as theyr shyppes lay and mounted vpon thesee But of a hundred thousand paynyms that were comen out there returned not ten thousande and all throughe the subtyle of Pacolet Now they are vpon thesee spreding theyr saylles and rowynge so muche that they arryued streyght at the hauen where as Brandyffer and Lucar had set theyr hoost They toke londe and dyscended the body and charged it vpon two horses and in makynge pyteous chere bare it vnto the pauylyon of kyng Brandyffer the whyche played at the chesse wyth kynge Lucar accompanyed of fyftene kynges that behelde the play and also soone as he sawe Ualentine he sayd vnto hym Knyght well be you comen now tel me of the batayll how it gothe yf you haue slayne all the chrysten men and taken the kynge Pepyn and hys neuewe Orson Alas syr sayd Ualentyne it gothe well otherwyse for we haue loste the felde and all your men is slayne for the kyng Faryn that had the charge of the watche lette hys men slepe so the christen men passed forthe and put the fyre in the pauylyons in sleynge bothe lytle and great wythout any remyssyon And whan I sawe that the thynge wente so euyll I wakened also many men as I myght for to saue theÌ„ And in thys batayll is dead your vncle kynge Murgalant of whome I haue made the body to be brought to the end that it may be buryed as it appertayneth And yf you wyll not beleue me you maye demaunde the other that be here howe the thynge wente ¶ Syr sayd the other he telleth you trouthe Than arose the kyng Brandyffer and as all in a rage hurled the chesse vnto the erthe and was so sorowful y t wyth payne he myght speke a worde Ha Ualentyne I knowe well that thou haste made my men to dye By god sayd valentyne it is euyll spoken for I was neuer in my lyfe suche as you saye And yf ony wyll maynteyne it I wyl fyght wyth him for it in a felde By mahoune sayd kynge Lucar of him it nedeth not to doubte for and he hadde wylled for to haue done treason he wolde not haue returned to you agayne ThaÌ„ brandyffer was styll and made the body of hys vncle to be honourablye buryed And anone they of the cyte knewe the tydynges wherof they were muche Joyous Than the kynge of Ynde made
your wyfe I shall wynne Henry another Syr sayd Haufray gramercy Then he sayd alowe you will disheâ—yte vs there But and I should renounce God and his holy mother I shall do in suche maner that the thyng shall happen contrary to your will ⧠Howe Haufray and Henry betrayed the kyng Pepyn their father and the twelue peres of Fraunce THen he called Henry and sayde to hym Fayre brother you haue well harde vnderstande the wordes of kynge Pepyâ— He wyll geue vs and assygne vs ourlyues vpon straunge realmes after his appeâ—yte as they that are not worthy to be his chyldren Nowe I knowe well that he hath 〈◊〉 encyon that Charles shall bee onely kynge of Fraunce and that we shall haue nothynge And therfore yf you wyll beleue me Pepyn shall neuer returne in to Fraunce tyll that we haue made hym dye by the handes of the paynyms Than shall we be kyngeâ— of Fraunce and Emperoures of Rome wythout contradyccyon for there is nothyng in thys worlde that I desyre so muche Brother sayd henry you speke wysely but it must be well aduysed howe suche a thyng may be accomplysshed and perfourmed Henry sayd Haufray I shall tell you how I muste go towarde the kyng Brandyffer and accorde thys thyng wyth hym by thus that he shall gyue me hys doughter Galazye and I shall tell hym the tydynges how kyng Pepyn and the twelue peres of Fraunce go vnto the holy sepulcre and how they maye be lyghtly taken for they go wythouten armoure and wyth a small company And I am well certayne y t the paynyms shall be ryght Joyous of these tydynges And yf that they be not thus taken they shall neuer be taken By god Haufray sayd Henry you saye trouthe-Nowe you muste go to warde Ynde the may our there you shal fynde kynge Lucar and the kynge Brandyffer the whyche holdeth the cyte assyeged so you may saye tell them your courage and I shall go wyth the kyng on vyage to the ende that our feate be the more secretely couered and that they apperceyue nor deme no treason It is well sayd quod Haufray so let me accomplysshe it For I shall neuer haue good rest tyll that I haue accomplysshed thys thynge And thus was the treason made and conspyred by the two fals brethren Haufray and Henry agaynst theyr propre father kynge Pepyn Alas they shewed well that they were euylly begoten and engendred and comen of an vntrue generacyon whan they wolde make hym dye that was theyr father and that withall his puyssaunce toke payne for to conquere them realmes No we the kyng Pepyn and the twelue peres of FrauÌ„ce are entred in to the sea that doubted of no treason for to accomplishe their pylgrymage Henry is entred in with theim for to hyde their treason the better And his brother Haufray wente towarde Ynde for to synde kyng Brandyffer that hadde set the syege afore the cytie of Ynde with kyng Lucat for his doughter Rozemonde ⧠How the Calyphe of Bendas arryued in the hoost of kyng Brandyffer and howe he gate trewes for a moneth duryng the whiche trewes he made the peace betwene the king of Ynde and kyng Lucar and Brandyffer Cap. lxxxiii TRue it is that the Calyphe of Bendas ariued in y e hoost of kyng Brandyffer Lucar and made theÌ„ to make trewes for a moneth and he that broke it shold lese the halfe of his landes Durynge the which tyme the Calyphe assembled kyng Brandiffer Lucar and the kyng of Ynde And when they were assembled the Calyphe spake in this maner and sayde Lordes you knowe that the christen men haue wonne the realme of Angory â–ª and that you can not go thether duryng this warre wherfore if you wyll beleue my counsayll I shal tell you what you shal do It is true that the kyng of Ynde slewe your father Tromparte for sleyng of his vncle nowe take it that it is death for death and the kyng of Ynde shall delyuer Brandyffer And as to the regarde of your wyfe Rozemonde she shall beset betwene you and hym that she wyll go too shall haue her without contradyction Unto this appoyntment accordeth bothe the kynges and Rozemonde was brought before kyng Lucar and before the kyng of Ynde and the thynge was declared vnto her by the Calyphe of Bendas Then without takynge any aduyse she wente vnto the kynge of Ynde wherfore kynge Lucar was ryght sorowfull So I wyll leue you to speake of this mater and shall tel you of Haufray that went to warde Ynde ¶ How Haufray for to accomplysshe his treason artyued before Lucar and Brandyffer and howe he hym selfe was deceyued by treason ⧠Capitulo lxxxiiii ON that same propre daye y t the peace was made by the Calyphe of Bendas as you haue hearde before Haufray perseuerynge in his malice arryued in the hoost of kynge Lucar and of Brandiffer and came anone to warde their pauylyons and demaunded the gardes whiche was kyng Lucar and whiche was Brandyffer And they â—â—ewed them hym a none â–ª and than he salued them hyghly and after Brandyffer spake saying what deniaunde you and what dryueth you hether Syr sayde Haufray the thyng that bryngeth me hether is not to be sayde before so many men Then they drew them a syde bothe Brandyffer Lucar and Hauâ—ray with them the Caliphe of Bendas than Hauâ—ray said vnto them Lordes herken if it please you for I am come for your great profyte and honoure Wyte that I am sone vnto the myghty kyng Pepyn of Fraunce soo I haue hearde saye that you haue a doughter that surmounteth all other in beaute corporall wherfore I let you wyte that and you wyll geue me her vnto wyfe I shall shewe you the maner howe that you may haue in your subieccion the kyng Pepyn and the twelue peres of Fraunce that haue done you so much dammage For knowe that they are departed in habyte of pylgryms poorely arayed and accompanyed for to go into Jerusalem to vysyte the holy sepulcre and there you shal finde them without great company By mahoune sayd BraÌ„ differ you speake notably and for your good enterprise I am contente for to gene you my doughter Galazie the whiche I woulde neuer promyse vnto no body but there is one thyng that I shall tell you that is that you renounce iesus Yes sayd Haufray Jesus I renounce for I neuer loued hym to muche When the kyng knew the falsnes and the treason of Hauftay that would sell his father and renounce his lawe he wenâ—e a lytell a syde in counsayll and called Lucar and the Calyphe of Bendas and sayde to them Lordes nowe maye you knowe clerely the greate treason of this dysâ—oyll man that demaundeth my doughter Well ought I to truste me litel in him when he wil betraye his propre father that begate hym with the twelue peres of Fraunce so I loue better to make my doughter dye than to geue her vnto suche a traytoure
false Lucar thou hast slayne hym that was my hope by Jhesus thou shalt abyedere By mahowne sayd Lucar I care not for noo more syth that I am auenged on hym that hath betray me falsly Than Ualentyne wente towarde Pacolet and tooke hys tables that were in his bosome in whych was wryten all the secretes of hys arte And Pacolet had tolde hym longe before that he should take the tables whan that he was dead yf that he lyued after hym and that all hys scyence was wrytten therin that he played with and so dyd Ualentyne and putte them vp the whyche dyd him good seruyse afterwarde At that hour wolde Ualentyne that Lucar hadde bene Judged vnto death But it was auysed by the lordes that was wyth hym that he should be put in a toure and kepte surely to the ende that and any noble man of theyr party were taken prysoner by the paynyms that he myght be yelded agayne for the chaunge of kynge Lucar Thus counsayll pleased euery bodye and soo it was accorded entyerly And when Lucar was in pryson Ualentyne made the body of Pacolet to be buried ryght honourably that of lytell and great was muche be wayled ⧠Howe Brandiffer knewe that Lucar was in Angory And sent vnto Ualentyne for to make the appoyntement to bye hym agayne Capit. xciiii ON the mornyng by tymes there was great noyse and crye in the hoost of the paynyms for the kyng Lucar that they had lost and aboue al the other Brandiffer made great sorowe and euen soo as he asked for hym there aryued a spye that tolde hym how he was in Angorye and that he had slayne Pacolet Brandiffer was ioyous for the death of Pacolet and sorowfull at his harte for the takyng of Lucar So he called a messenger and badde hym go vnto Ualentyne and aske hym if he woulde geue him kyng Lucar for kyng Pepyn â–ª or the Emperoure of Grece or his sone Orson â–ª or some of the other twelue petes of Fraunce whiche he loueth beste Syr sayde the messenger I shall do your message well So he went towarde Angorye and entred in saying that he would speake with Ualentine And he was brought unto hym anone When he was before hym he salued hym highly and after tolde him his message as Brandiffer had bydden hym all alonge When Ualentyne harde that he was muche amarueyled sayd vnto the messenger of Brandiffer ¶ God almyghty how maye that be that kyng Brandiffer holdeth in pryson so many valyaunt men and howe maye he haue taken them prysoners ⧠Howe Ualentyne demaunded the kyng of Fraunce for chaunge of kynge Lucar by the consence of the lordes and barous Capit. xcv Syr sayde the messenger it is true that the kynge Pepyn not longe ago accompanied of the twelue peres of Fraunce of Orson and of Henry wente vnto Jerusalem so the tydynges by a trà ytour came vnto the kynge Brandyffer of whyche he was muche Ioyous And he ledde suche a puyssaunce thether that they were taken wythin Iherusalem and hathe sente them into the stronge castell that is the strongest place of all the worlde Sy gyue me an answere shortly yf you wyl chauÌ„ge kyng Lucar for one of your good trendes Messenger sayd Ualentine you shal haue an answere anon And than he entred into a halle and assembled all the lordes sayd vnto them Frendes it is true that for the rendrynge of Lucar I may delyuer of the prysoners of Brandiffer my father or my brother Orson or myn vncle the kynge pepyn that are my thre pryncypall frendes so counsell me whyche I ought to demaunde Syr answered the barons here auayleth nothynge the dreamynge frr you knowe that none maye be more beholden than vnto father and mother and by ryght reason and naturall loue you ought to demannde pout father Lordes sayd Ualentyne you speke wysely but sauynge your reuerences I am delybered for to doo otherwyse For to speake of this thynge Iustely and after the true equyte you knowe al that my mother Bellyssant by my father wyth great wronge was banysshed shamefully out of hys countree And in suchenecessyte peryl childed me in the forest of Orleaunce and there I should haue ben deuoured by wylde beastes yf myne vncle kynge pepyn hadde â—â—t ben by whome I was founden and haue ben nourysshed and brought vp wythout knowyn ge me in suche maner that he hathe made me knyghte And all the goodes that I haue are comen by hym not neuer of my father I had one only comforte nor socoure in my trybulacyon And therfore I wyl that mine vncle kyng Pepyn be delyuered for the chaunge of kyng Lucar the whiche hath brought me vp as his own chylde without any knowlodge of any of my frondes and my father abyde there And ryght wortly by the grace of almyghty God we shall do so muche that my father shall be delyuered and all the other When the varons harde the wysâ—ome and the greate vnderstandyng of Ualentyne they marueyled muche all of his great proudence and sayde with a comon accorde that he had spoken noblye so they consented to his wyll because that it was reasonable Than Ualentyne sayd vnto the messenger Frende thou shalt retourne towarde the kyng Brandiffer thy mayster and tell hym the aunswere that I shall geue the that is that I shall yelde hym the kyng Lucar vpon suche a condicion that he shall delyuer me kynge Pepyn of Fraunce for I wyll haue none other for the chaunge of kyng Lucar Than departed the messenger and tolde his aunswere vnto kyng Brandiffer as Ualentyne hadde bydden hym By mahoune sayde kynge Brandiffer euermore the moost puyssaunt is the fyrste honoured but sithe that he demaundeth that same that same shall he haue ¶ Howe Myllon danglet that was named the kyng of Fraunce for to saue kyng Pepyn was delyuered oute of the pryson of Brandyffer in chaunge of kyng Lucar Cap. xcvi Ryght so as the kyng Brandyffer knew that Ualentyne would haue the kyng of FrauÌ„ce for kyng Lucar he sent messengers anone vnto the strong castell towarde his doughter Galazye byddynge that she shoulde geue them the kynge of Fraunce all alone The messengers mounted vpon the sea and rowed so muche that within a short space they arryued at the strong castell and recounted vnto the fayre Galyzye their message When the mayden knewe it she was ready anone to fulfyll the wyll of her father So she called the gayler and sent hym too the pryson to demaunde the kynge of Fraunce And when he came to the dore of the pryson he cryed on hye Nowe come hether the kyng of Fraunce for â— it behoueth me to delpuer hym And whan the duke Myllon vnderstode the gayler he answered swetely Alas frend I am here wherfore cal you me If I must dye the first I praye to God that he wyll haue mercye on me for I wyll offre my body vnto death with a good harte for to susteyne the holy fayth Syr sayd the gayler haue
from hys wyfe Berthe the which after his salute said vnto him Syr vnderstande the rydynges that I brynge vnto you fro my ryght dere lady Berthe quene of Fraunce Knowe that all they of those quarters beleue stedfastly that you and al the twelue peres be dead bycause that they had tydinges that you were taken wythin Jerasalem of the paynyms So it is true that Arthur kynge of Brytayne trustyng in your death â–ª and that the tydynges was true is entred into your lande wyth a greate puyssaunce of men of armes and wyll be kynge of Fraunce by force and wedde the quene Berthe agaynst her wyll Nowe I am comen hether for to tell you the tydynges wherfore thynke vpon this feate for the case toucheth you to muche And at thys houre the warre is so great in frauÌ„ce that wallyam of Mountglyue hath made Geryn to be slayne And also the kyng of Brytayne hathe vndertaken to â—ut my lorde Charles your sonne in exyle So rowfull was kyng Pepyn to here suche wordes made to assemble hys barons for to holde counsayl So they accorded that he should go and defende his propre countree the whyche he dyd and toke hys lâ—ue of Ualentyne that sayd vnto hym Frayre vncle it behoueth me to abyde here for to put all my strengthe to delyuer my father and my brother and the twelue peres of FrauÌ„ce Ualentyne sayd Kyng Pepyn you speke wysely and yf it please God that I haue vyctorye of myne enemyes I shall sende you helpe and socoure agaynst the fals paynyms in suche wyse that you may delyuer your father lyghtly The kynge Pepyn mounted vpon the Sea with syxe thousande fyghtyng men ⧠Howe Ualentyne went in to Ynde the great and counterfet the physycion for to se the fayre Clerymonde and howe he spake with her Capit. C. i. UAlentyne that by the king Pepyn had herde tydynges of the fayre Clerymonde put her not oute of mynde but departed from Angorye accompanied onely of a squyer and dyd clothe hym in the habyte of a physicion He mounted vpon the sea with marchauÌ„tes that wente in to Ynde And they rowed soo muche that they artyued in Ynde But or Ualentine entred in to the cytie he made to make a physicians gowne â–ª and after made a futred hoode and as a great dortour entred in to the citie and lodged him in a ryche yâ—ne Also soone as the hoost sawe hym he demaunded him of what crafte he was of Hoost sayd Ualentyne I am a medecyn can hele all maner of sycknesses The hoost beleued hym his squyer serued well as the clerke of a doctour ¶ In this wyse was Ualentyne thre daies and then he said Myne hoost do me a pleasure if it please you that is y t you fynde me a man to go about the cytie and crye my â—cyence that and there bee any seke men that I vaunte me for to hele theim For I haue nede to wynne for too paye you the expences that I haue made here in but not for that you haue doubte of me I shall geue you a gage By mahoune sayd the hoost a gage will I take gladly for it is euyll trusting in straungers Than valentyne gaue hym a fyne mantell furted and sayde too hym â–ª Holde hoost and of me haue no doubte and make the varlet come to me that I spabe to you fore ¶ The hoost brought hym one that had neyther shone gowne nor bonet and was almoost naked Ualentyne for the loue of God clothed him all newe and sayd to him My frende go thorough the cytye and crye hyghly there is come a mederyne that can hele all maladyes and also they that haue loste their wytte be it man or woman I shall make theÌ„ haue their vnderstanding againe Than departed the varlet that was right ioyous to be clothed and cryed all the daye thorough the cytie as Ualentyne had bydden hym Now the tidinges came vnto y e king of Ynde of that mayster And because that he vaunted to hele mad foles for the loue of Clerymonde the kynge of Ynde sent for hym not wythstandyng that there was alredy crepylles blynde lame and croked before hys lodgynge but he left them all for to go to the kynge of Ynde for he knewe well the ende where as hys heart drewe to He salued the kynge of Ynde by the great god Jupyter And the kynge sayd to hym mayster you be welcome into my courte you shall dyne than I shall tell you wherfore I sent for you The kynge set hym at the and table made Ualentyne to be serued rychely and than after dynner he sayd vnto hym Mayster I haue a lady in thys palays that is garnysshed wyth beaute aboue all other So it is true that whan I had her fyrst wolde haue taken her vnto wyfe but she made me to vnderstande that she had made auowe vnto mahowne that she should take no man vnto husband tyl a yere be passed nowe I haue her the terme that she asked but at the ende of the yeare there toke her a pyteous maladye so that no body durst fynde them before her She whiste leth and cryeth pyteously one tyme she lagheth and another tyme she wepeth so that in her dede there is none ordynaunce for the whyche my heart is sorowfull for and she were whole I wolde take her vnto wyfe for my wyfe Rozemonde is dead And therfore and you can helpe her I shall gyue you more than you wyll demaunde Ualentyne sayd I shall doo it well but the malady is euyll for to heale syth that she hath had it so longe I muste be in her chambre all nyght for to se her condycyons Mayster sayd the kynge one shall brynge you thether but kepe you from her that she byte you not Than one that scrued her ledde valentyne to her and whan he was at the wyndow he sayd vnto hym Beholde there and playe with your crafte the deuill shall make you well hele her Go thy way saide Ualentyne and let me alone Then the sarazyn wente his waye and Ualentine behelde her piteously Alas veray God sayd he how you haue bought me dere and I you By god my swete loue I shall neuer retourne in to Fraunce tyll I haue you with me or I shall lese my lyfe The lady behelde him muche ferefully and didde caste at him all that she founde in the chambre of the whiche Ualentyne was muche amarueyleâ— Alas my God sayd he is it fayned or a thing true of the euyl that I se you suffre Dere loue alas withoute doynge any more be a lytell still and here my speche ¶ I am your loue UaleÌ„tine for whom you haue suffred so muche payne Do you not thynke no more of the head of brasse that gaue you to me and of my brother Orson that had the stryng cut and howe you were stolen from me by the enchauÌ„â—out Adramain in the cytie of Acquitaine whan the lady hearde those wordes for pure loye she swowned
purchased his death at the laste and that of the quene Berthes fyrst of all And because that they myght not well poyson her they acquainted them with a damosel that was nyght and day with the quene and they gaue her such a gyfte that the false woman consented to the death of the quene that had done her so muche good so that with in fyftene dayes she dyed wherof the kyng Pepyn was so sorowefull that he abode in his bedde And the traytours dyd soo muche by poysons that he dyed for the whiche both lytell and great wepte and not withoute a cause The traytours shewed semblaunt to be sorowfull but they were ryght â—oyus and sayde Nowe maye we well do our pleasure with Fraunce for there is neyther dukes eâ—les nor barons that maye resyste agaynst vs. ¶ Howe after the death of kyng Pepyn the duke Myllon Dangler would haue made the lytell Charles to be crowned kyng of Fraunce ¶ Capitulo C. vi AFter the death of the good kyng Pepyn the duke Mylion dangler that was valyaunt and wyse assembled the counsayll and wold haue made younge Charles to be crowned kyng But Haufray and Henry by gyftes and â—romesses corrumped the lordes and it was sayd that Charles was to young And because that the duke Myllon susteyned the coÌ„trary Haufray Henry made him to be taken put in pryson in Chatelet at Parys sythe helde Charles as a boye of y e kechyn It happened one daye that Haufray coÌ„maunded him to tourne a spiâ— but Charles that was displesaunt lyft vp the spyt and felled hym to the earth Henry stepte forthe for to haue smiten Charles but Charles that espied him gaue him on the eare so that the bloud yssued out wherfore Haufray â—ad his men take him Than came a knyghte named Dauyd of Elloys and toke Charles by the hande for othertymes he had endoctryned hym so he set hym on a horse and ledde him out of Parys whan the traytours knewe that Charles went his waye they made hym to be pursued but they that folowed woulde not fynde him and so retorned Than MylloÌ„ dangler sent the truth of it to his wyfe Charles syster when she had sene the letter she wepte for the loue of Charles â–ª so she swore Jhesus that they should abye it dere Than she made a letter to be wryten and sente it vnto Ualentine and to the twelue peres of Fraunce that were in Angorye When Ualentyne hadde redde it he began for to wepe and the lordes demaunded him wherfore he dyd wepe Alas my frendes there is a good cause why for kyng Pepyn is dead and the good quene Berthe also So Haufray and Henry haue chased the lytell Charles out of the countrey and put the duke Millon in pryson because that he susteyne him So the lady sendeth vs worde that we succoute her and I wote neuer how for you know wel that we abyde from day to day our mortall enemy Brandiffer By oure faithes sayde the barons we must fynde some maner for to succout hym well sayde the noble Ualentine or to morowe at night I shall yelde you the duke Myllon ¶ Of these wordes they began for to laughe Ualentyne departed wyth out makynge any more delayâ— wyth hys hors played so well that he was at Parys before mydnyght and was in Chatelet and by subtyll arte opened the gates And gaue leue to all the prysoners after he demaunded them where the dake Myllon was they shewed hym the chambre the whyche was opened anone The good duke that slepte wakened and sayd what are you that entre so rudely Nowe vp sayd Ualentyne and thynke for to take youre clothes for I am Ualentyne that am comen from Angory for to delyuer you The good duke mâ—s muche Ioyous and made hym redy anone So Ualentyne made hym mounte vpon the hors wyth hym and sayd to hym kepe you frome spekynge for we shall flee in the ayre Syth that we shal go so fast I pray you passe by the castell of Angler and there we shall se and comforte my wyfe a lyttell that for me and for her brother Charles is muche sorowfull They knocked at the gates and the watche answered that knewe theyr lord and tolde it vnto the ladye that ranne vnto the gate in a syngle gowne and kyssed and colled hym after she demaunded hym tydynges Ladye sayd he you knowe all but knowe that I go in to Angorye where as we abyde the batayll of the false paynyms â–ª and at my retorne I shall brynge wyth me the twelue peâ—es of Fraunce with a great puyssaunce for to confounde Haufray and Henry and socoure Charles Whan the lady vnderstode that they wolde make no leyger soiournynge â–ª she made meat to be brought and there they toke theyr repaste for they had greate luste to eate and drynke After they toke leue of the lady and were in Angorye vpon the morowe before all the barons wherof the lordes were muche abasshed and prayed Ualentine muche to learne them that arte but he refused theym Nowe it happened in those dayes that Brandyffer that was vpon the see arryued a myle from Angory And there he made his syege to be set accompanyed wyth fyftene kynges all hys subiectes They of the cyte that herde the tydinges went shytte the gates and drewe vp the brydges and after mounted vp on the walles for to beholde the paynyms that dressed vp great nombre of tentes and pauylyons The sarazyns were in theyr syege the space of a moneth wythout gyuynge assaute and wythout that any crysten meÌ„ yssaed out on them ¶ How the Emperoure of grece Orson and the grene knyght departed from the stronge castell for to goo socoure Ualentyne in Angorye Ca. Cvii THe Emperoure of Greâ—e that was in the stronge castel herd say that brandyffer with a great puyssaunce had besyeged Angory so he was moued in deuocion for to go help the Aysten men They toke counsayll togyther and accorded that a valyaunt knyght should kepe the stronge castell wyth two men After they departed for to go into Angory The Emperour of Grece Orson the grene knyght accompanyed wyth a thousand fightynge men entred into the see pulled vp the saylles but they had not gone but a lytle way whan they sawe a great flote of shyppes comynge towarde theym It was an Admyrall paynym that went for to socour the kyng Brandyffer wyth ten thousand men Well knew the chrysten men that they were of theyr enemyes son they put them in armes and renged them in baâ—â—yl on theyr shyppes syde The saraznus sawe well that they were crysten men wherfore they approched and smote vpon them fyersly And the cristen meÌ„ that reclaymed god and our lady defended them valyauntly Thaune was there a cruell batayll the Emperour of grece Or son and the grene knyght shewed theyr prowesses and cryed hyghly Jhesus sucoure vs. At these wordes the crysten men toke suche courages that the leâ—st at that houre
had the strengthe of ten and for the loue of Jhesu christ were content for to suffre death And the sarazins that were ten agaynst one enclosed the tristen meÌ„ 〈◊〉 it nedeth not to demaunde the prowesse of Orson and of the grene knight for they dyd suche dedâ—s of armes that there was no paynym that abode on liue before theÌ„ Whan the Admitall paynym sawe theyr prowesses he approched nâ—re them and smote a valyaunte knyght in to the sea beside Orson of the whiche he was muche angrye for he loued hym soo he toke an axe and gaue the Admyrall suche a stroke that he ouerthrewe hym dead in his shyppe And whan the paynyms sawe that they were all discomforted and lost their strength and wichdre we them in fleyng all that nyght ¶ But they loste fyftene of their shyppes and foure thousands of their men that was slayne And after the Emperour of Grece spake vnto his men and sayd Lordes I counsayll that we take the armes of these cursed paynims armed vs with araye vs like sarazins for I doubte me sore that we shall bee meete on the sea by the Paynyms The counsaill pleased euery body because that they should not be knowen of the sarazins The Gownes the armes and the harneys of the dead folke they toke and caste the bodyes in to the sea In an euil houre dyd the Emperoure of grece aduyse hym therof for by the armes that he beareth he shall be put vnto death by his sonne UaleÌ„tine as you shal here afterwarde Now the christen men â—te vpoÌ„ the sâ—a that rowled â—y al their baners and set forth in the wynde theÌ„ of the sarazyns and to wed so wel that they aryued within a lytel whyle at the hauen of Angorye ⧠Howe the christen men yssued out of the cytie of Angorye and of the ordenaunce and of their marueylous batayles Capit. C. viii THe kynge Brandyffer and the kynge Lucar a moneth after had assyeged the cyte of Angorye wyth all theyr puyssaunce Valentyne and the other barons had taken counsayl for to yssue out vpon theyr enemyes so they sente the defyaunce vnto BraÌ„dyffer agaynst the mornyng and Brandyffer that was fyerse accorded it Than the Chrysten men that were wythin the cyte of Angory ordeyned theyr bataylles in ten partyes wherof the duke Myllon hadde the fyrste The seconde Sampson of orleaunce The thyrde had his soÌ„ne Geruays erle of Vandosme The fourth the erle of champaygne The. v. quin tyn of NormaÌ„dye The. vi the duke of Burgoyne The vii the erle of Dampmartyn The eyght the erle of Asserue The. ix the Marshall of Constantynoble And Valentyne the tenthe that gaue all the othes oftentymes courage to do well Than the christen men yssued out of Angorye for to assayle Brandiffer that had made fiftene strong batayles and there was in the leest a king Nowe it is not too be demaunded the great rychesses that shyned on the fyelde as well on one syde as other One myght haue heard than trumpettes and clarons and the great batayll begynne About the standarde of the paynyms was Brandiffer kyng Lucar the kynge of Ynde the kyng of salute the admyrall of cordes the admyrall of Orbye the kynge Damene the kynge Dubyas Josue of Paâ—erne the earle Draymant the duke Corâ—hyllant and Croste of Orâ—â—nye Whan it came to the approchynge of the bataylles a paynym of Surye that had neuer bene in warre the whiche for to assaye his body passeth forth came to ward the christen men with his spere couâ—â—â—d muche fyersly Ualentyne sawe him wel the whiche smote his horse with the spores ranne agaynst the paynim and with one stroke smote him downe dead At that same houre the batayle began muche fyersly But the valyauntnes of the paynyms is not to be compared to that of the christen men specially of Ualentyne of the duke Myllon and of the. xiâ— peres The kyng of Ynde entred in to the barayl greued the christen men sore Whan Ualentyne sawe that he roâ—e toward him gaue him so great a stroke that he smote him downe Than the christen men made the sarazyns to recule a backe a great waye for they were dyscomfyte But a sarazyn capitayne of the reâ—egard came and succoured them with thyrty thousande paynyms And there began the batayll more stronger than before The kyng Lucat found the kyng of ynâ—e that fought muche strongly gaue hym succour The christen men were so muche charged with the paynyms at that houre that it was force to theÌ„ to withdrawe theim towarde a poude that was nere a fielde and they shold haue had to muche to do if it had not bene two valiauÌ„t knyghtes that arriued that daye in Angorye accompanied with seuen hundred men of armes The. ii knyghtes that I tell you of came from the holy sepulcre the whiche had suffred great aduersyties as well in pryson as otherwise for to do their vyage The one of theÌ„ brought in to Fraunce the daughter of a ryche admyrall named Claradine and made her to be baptyzed The least of the two knyghtes was Reynarde of Prouaunce and the other Myllon of Dyion and they were fayre and hardy knyghtes So they hadde tydynges of the batayll that was there besyde and made their men to be armed and gaue them sygnes and standardes for to make the paynyms the more afâ—rde And so they came out of the cytie for to succoure the christen men and smote in to the bataill muche fyersly At the approchyng the paynims was muche abashed of this newe coming and not without a cause for Myllon of Dyion at his entre smote downe dead the kyng Lucar and the king Rubres wherof Brandiffer was muche abashed And after enâ—red Reynarde that slewe diuers of the moost valyauntest Ualentyne was muche amarueiled whaÌ„ he sawe those two knyghtes do suche dedes of armes so he rode towarde them and sayde to them Lordes wel be you come tell me if it please you what you are and What dryueth you hether Frende sayde Reynarde we are lordes of FrauÌ„ce that come from the holy sepulcre so we haue heard speke of this enterprise and in the honoure son by the God in whome I beleue euer my harte telleth me that this poore man doth some penaunce that he hath promysed to god In this wyse was Ualentyne a great whyle within his palays without beyng knowen of any body so longe that euerye body sayde that he was dead wherfore the kyng Hugon made the faire Clerymonde to be demaunded for wyfe And after enter prysed and dyd a great treason ¶ Howe the kyng Hugon made Clerymonde to be demaunded for wyfe and howe he betrayed Orson and the grene knyght ¶ Capit. C. xiii IN that same time there was a king in HoÌ„grye that was named Hugon That same king herde speke of Ualentine that had left the Empire of grece the laÌ„de of â—uerpe So he went in to Constantinoble and was receiued of Orson muche honourably
wordes vnto the fayre Clerymonde He salued all the company and after sayd all on hyghe to the Empresse Bellyssant Lady I beseche you humbly that you wil shewe me the wyfe of Ualentine Pilgrym sayd Hugon that chaunged coloure go in to the kechyn and there thou shalt haue thyne almesse Syr sayd Ualentyne I will do a message vnto her Pylgrim sayd the lady I am she that you demaunde My lady in a good houre said he I haue sene your loue that salueth you by me letteth you wyâ—e that he wyll be here with in this thre daies Pilgrim said the lady aduise the wel what thou sayest for I haue had certayn tydinges that he is dead Lady sayd Ualentyne you ought not to beleue it for I deliuer me vnto death if he bee not yet on lyue and that thou shalt se him within thre dayes â–ª WhaÌ„ Hugon herde the wordes that Ualentyne tolde vnto y e ladyes he yssued secretly out of the palays and mounted vpoÌ„ the horse without retourning The ladies were to muche amarueiled and woulde haue feasted the pylgrym But he would do nothing and said to them My ladyes pardon me for I haue my felowes in the towne whiche I wil go se. Than Clerimonde gaue him much money the which he distrybuted afterwarde to the poore folkes Than she was out they demaunded where the kyng Hugon was By fayth sayd a damosell I sawe hym renne presently vnto his horse And vpon these wordes Galeran entred that demaunded after his vncle By God sayde Bellyssant in a good houre are you come for you shall neuer escape till that you haue tolde the treason that your vncle hath made And whan Galeran herde these wordes be began for to tremble Was lady sayde he for God haue mercy on me and I shal tel you all saye on I pardon the. It is true that mine vncle Kynge Hugon hath dâ—one this treason and solde vnto the paynims within Jherusalem the Emperour Orson and the grene knight After he recounted to her â–ª all alonge as you haue herde before There was made a meruaylous sorow so whan Galeran had told all he departed thinking to haue escaped but the prouost made him to be haÌ„ged and strangled And Valentine lefte the pilgrimes gowne and toke his clothes agayne and into the palays Poore man sayd Clerimonde where haue you bene I beleue that you are displeasaunt because that I wyll mary me Ualentine enclyned his heade and left her and began for to pray god Clerimond had made a quilte to be broughte vnto him but he lay vpon the earth so he did his penaunce among the dogges ¶ Howe Orson and the grene knighte were deliuered out of the pryson of the king of Surye by the appoyntement of the warre that they made after to kynge Hugon of Hongry â–ª Ca. Cxvi THe kynge of Surye that helde Orson and the grene knyght in pryson made them one day be brought before him and sayd to them Lordes you see y t I may hauge or drawe you wherfore I sweare by my god mahowne that you shall neuer escape me but yâ— that you tendre to me the Lyte of Angory and the stronge castell wyth thyrtye other stronge places that you holo Syr sayd Orson we wyl not do it but yf you yelde vs the kynge Hugon that you holde and the kynge of Surye sayd vnto them Speke not to me of hym for he is gone and bereth wyth him your seales wyte that by hym you haue ben solde to me and betrayed Whan the Emperour Orson vnderstode hym he was muche ameruaylled and swore that he wolde neuer reste tyâ— that he had taken vengeaunce on the kynge Hugon the grene knyght sayd y t he should not fayle him Now Orson and â–ª the grene knyght accorded the kynge of Suâ—â—e his demaunde for to saue theyr lyues and retorned into Constantynoble where as they ceased great sorow After the fayre Clerymonde tolde him how she had her detydinges of Ualentyne wherof Orson was Joyous for he desyred muche hys comynge That night Orson laye with Galazye and engendred a soÌ„ne that was called Morant the whiche helde the realme of Angorye It was not longe after that Orson reised his hoost for to go into Angorye And whan the kynge Hugon knewe it he sente a messenger vnto hym sayenge that and he wolde accorde he wolde leue hym the Cyte of Angory â–ª gyue hym foure horses laden wyth golde And yf that any accused him of treason â–ª he wolde fyght wyth hym excepte Orson Than after the message was done the grene knight waged a batayll against him And the kinge Hugon came out of Angory armed for to fight wyth the grene knight as it was accorded but the grene knighte was there fyrst ThaÌ„ they smote theyr horses with the spores recouÌ„â—ted eche other broke theyr speres After they set theyr handes vnto theyr swerdes and god wote what strokes they gaue eche other so muche that god helped the ryght for the grene knyght gaue suche a stroke vnto the kyng Hugon vpon the helme that he cut a part of his head to his sholdres so he fell in a soooâ—ne Than the grene knyght was honoured after hugon spake and demaunded a confessoure and tolde hym all the falsnes and treason and dyed in that place â–ª Orson made the body to be taken and notably buryed in an ab baye there besyde And suche honoure was done to him bycause that he was kynge crowned And in so muche Orson shewed the noblenes that was in hym Euery body was enfourmed of the treason of kynge Hugon and by the couÌ„sayll of the wyse men they rendred the cyte of Angory to the Emperoure Orson and all the countree the whyche toke possessyon and also the homages Tho after he returned into Constantynoble and the Grene knyght Ualentyne was muche Joyous of that he saw them in good prosperyte Clerymonde meruaylled much bycause that Ualentine came not and sayd Ha false pil grym thou haste betrayed me whan thou toldeme that my loue Ualentyne should come on the thyrde daye and yet I haue no tydynges of hym Alas she thought not that he was so nere her for he was vnder the stayres of hys palays where as by the wyll of god he shall finisshe hys dayes shortly and than they shall knowe hym ¶ How at the ende of seuen yere Ualentyne dyed wyth in hys palays of Constantynoble and howe he wrote a lettre that he was knowen by Ca. Cxvii AT the ende of seuen yeare a greuous maladye toke Ualentyne so that he felte hymselfe much feble whereof he thanked god deuoutlye Alas sayde the holye man my god my creatoure that hathe made me to thy semblaunce haue mercye on me that am a wretched synner and please it the for to pardon me the deathe of my father and all the sonnes that euer I dyd syth the tyme that I was borne Ueray redeÌ„ptour of all the worlde consyder not my folyshe youthe the which I haue
passed folyshly in pleasures mondaynes and condampne me not but by thy holy mercy receyue my poore souls into thy blessed handes and defende me from the deuyll And in sayeng these wordes an aungell of heauen came and appeared vnto hym sayenge ⧠Ualentyne know for a certaynte that thou shalte departe oute of this worlde within this foure dayes for it is the wyll of our lorde Jesu chryst which sendeth me vnto the. Alas my lord god sayd Ualentyne â–ª I owe well for to thanke the whan by thy holy auÌ„gell thou doest me to wyte y e last ende of my dayes Than the holy man Ualentyne made signe that they should bryng him paper ynke and whan he had it Ualentyne wrote how he him selfe in the habyte of a pylgrym discouered the treasoÌ„ all the estate of hys lyfe After he putte in his name and folded the halfe of the rynge in it and helde it in hys hande And after these thinges Ualentyne made a prâ—este to come to whome he confessed his synnes deuoutelye and receyued the holye sacramentes and at the houre he dyed And forth wyth al the belles of the cyte beganne for to rynge for him where of the people was much abashed and amerueyled And the Emperour Orson and all the lordes and barons descended and dyd fynde the preest besyde the holy body Frende sayd the Emperoure Orson wherfore is it that they rynge so fast in y â— Cyty Syr sayd â–ª the preest I thynke that it is a myracle that God wyll shew for this holy man For euen so as he yelded vp the ghoost the belles began for to rynge on euery syde Whan Orson saw that the poore man was deade in that place â–ª he was muche pensife and ameruayled By my fayth sayd he I thinke that this same is a holy body and that God dothe myracles for hym Than he aduysed the letter that he held in hys hand and thought for to haue taken it â–ª but he myght not haue it in no maner of wyse So there came the fayre clerymonde and she assayed as the other dyd and hadde it For also soone as she touched it the hand opened â–ª and she toke the letter at her owne pleasure Soo it was opened anone and than Clerymonde saw and knew the halfe of the ryng wherefore she sayde Lordes we shall haue tydynges a none of my loue Ualentyne So there was a secretary that redde all the dedes of the holy man It is not to be demaunded the grete dolours and complayntes of Orson of Bellyssante and of Clerimonde for he hadde his herte to harde that wepte not than The fayre ClerimoÌ„de as halfe dead keste her selfe vpon the body in makynge suche complayntes that they wende she wolde haue dyed Alas sayde the ladye where maye I become whan I haue loste my lyfe and my comforte and myne onely hope Alas my loue Ualentyne what haue you thoughte whan you are come to dye so nere me in pouertye and in so great myserye wythout geuyng me ony knowledge of you Alas I haue sene you often in pouertye â–ª colde and trauayle wythout geuyng you any comforte â–ª Nowe am I aboue all the moost vnfortuned whan I might not know nor aduyse him that I ought to serue so longe in bytter trybulacyon â–ª as true and loyall spouse After she kyssed hys face and his handes by a meruyllous dystresse And after the great doole the holy body was borne to be buryed in the great church of Constantynoble â–ª wyth so greate a company that none myght passe through the stretes And it was not longe after but that the body was canonysed and put in shrine Soo God shewed wel that he was wel worthy for to be called saynt for the daye that he dyed all speke men were healed of theyr maladyes that vysyted his tombe So it was not longe after the death of Ualentyne that Clerymonde dyd make her anonne and syth the story sayth that she was abbesse of an abbaye that was fouÌ„ded in the worshyp and honour of sayâ—â—te Ualentyne Thus departed out of thys worlde the holy body glorious And Orson abode Emperour seuen yere the whych he gouerned well and wysely and no more And in that same tyme he had a chylde of Galazye named Morant that same Morante in hys tyme posseded the realme of Angory ¶ Of the merueylous vysion of Orson how hebeâ—a me an heremyte in a great wodde ca. Cxvâ—i MIthin seuen yere Galazyedyed for whom the Emperour Orson made great sorow And after the deeth of her he ete but brede and rotes and small froytes that he founde in the wodde where as he dyd remayne So it happened hym one nyght in vysyon that hym semed that he sawe all the gates of heuen open and sawe the Joyes of the saued the syeges of the sayntes crowned in glorye and the aungelles that songe melodyously before the sauyour of the world After he sawe betwene two hyghe roches in the botom of an obscure valeye the gulfre of helle where as was the dampned Some in a brennynge fyre the other in boylynge caudrous the other hanged by theyr tongues the other assaylled and enuyronned wyth serpentes and generally he sawe all the paynes of helle whiche is horrible and ferefull for to recounte After the whyche vysyon he wakened all afrayed and ameruaylled of the thynges that he had sene And in wepyng pyteously came vnto the grene knyght and sayd to hym Frende I knowe that the worlde is of lytell valoure and of shorte durynge and that all is but vayne glorye of the pompes of this worlde displeasaunt vnto god and to the salute of the soule lytle profytable For the whyche thynge I praye you that you wyll take kepe vpon my chyldren and enfourme them so in dedes and condycyons that they maye gouerne the Empyre of grece to the pleasure of god and the worlde for I leue you the charge as vnto hym that aboue all the men of the world I trust mooste And knowe that the remnaunte of my lyfe I wyll lede solytaryly and habandone the worlde And at this same houre I renouÌ„ce all worldly honoure and take my leue yf you Whan the grene knyght heard these wrodes he beganne for to wepe tenderly and Orson recomforted hym and sayd Alas wepe no more for me but praye vnto god that he giue me strengthe and puyssaunce for to accomplysshe my wyll After Orson departed in defendynge the grene knyghte to tell it anye body So he wente into a greate wodde where as he lyued holyly after his deathe god shewed for him many myracles and was a saynt canonyzed And the grene knyght gouerned the chyldren so that they finisshed their dayes gloriouslye and wente vnto the blysse that neuer shall haue ende to the which he bryng vs all that suffered deathe for vs on the crosse Amen ¶ Thus endeth the hystorye of the two valyaunte brethren Ualentine and Orson soÌ„nes vnto the Emperour of Grece ¶ Imprynted At London in Fletestrete at the sygne of the Rose Garland by me Wyllyam Copland for John Walley