in it another especiall vertue for he that must weare that armour must be without spot of deadly sinne also his mother must be without carnall copulation with any man except with her owne husband I beléeue there cannot be found any man that may weare this Armour Also it is of such vertue that whosoeuer hath it on his bodye cannot be grieued neither with fire nor water By Mahoūd I haue prooued it and because I haue found such courtesie in thee that thou gauest me leaue to arme me I will giue thee leaue to assay if thou canst put on that Armour in regard I know that neither thou nor any knight else can be able to doe it Then the Gyant went to his coffer and tooke out the Armour and came to Huon and said See heere is the good armour I giue thee leaue to assay to put it on thy body Then Huon tooke the Armour and went back a little and put off his owne armour and tooke that belonging to the Gyant and incontinent did it on his bodie then hastily he put on his helmet and tooke his shéeld sword in his hand and deuoutly thanked our Lord God of this great grace Then the Gyant said by Mahound I had little thought thou hadst been such a man that Armour becommeth thee exceeding well nowe I haue quit the courtesie that thou shewedst mee therefore I pray thee put off the Armour and deliuer it me againe Not so sir by your leaue answeared Huon this Armour is meeter for me than such a Helhound as thou art therefore know for troth I will not render it againe for xiiij of the best Cities between this and Parys Friend quoth the Gyant seing thou wilt not render me againe the Armour I am content to let thee depart hence without any hurt or damage and also I will giue thée my Ring of gould the which the Admirall Gaudise gaue me for I know well it will stand thee in good stead if thou thinkest to fournish thy messuage for when thou comest to the gate of his Pallaice and sayst how thou art a messenger sent frō kyng Charles thou shalt find foure gates and at euery gate foure Porters so that at the first gate if it be knowen thou be a frenchman one of thy hands shal be cut of and at the second gate thy other hand and at the third gate one of thy féet and at the fourth the other foote and then shalt thou bee brought before the Admirall and there thy head striken off And therfore to escape these perils furnish thy messuage and to thintent that thou maiest surely retourne giue me againe my Armour and I shall giue the my ring of gold the which when thou but shewest it thou shalt be receiued with great honor at euery gate and then thou maist go retourne surelye into the Pallaice at thy pleasure and no man to let thee for if thou hadst slaine Fiue hundred men there shal be none so hardy as to touch thée nor to doe thee any yll if thou hast this Ring about thée for when I haue nede of men or mony I cannot lacke if I send this ring for a token therfore I pray thee let me haue againe my Armour Chap. XXXIII ¶ How Huon slew rhe great Gyant and how he called Gerames and his company to him and of the ioy that they made for the death of the Gyant WHen Huon vnderstoode the Paynim he said Ah thou fell and false deceiuer know for troth if all the Preachers betwéen the east west preached to me a whole yeare and that thou wouldest giue me all that thou hast and thy Ring therewith I would not render againe the good Armour that is now on my bodie first I slay thée then as for thy Ring that thou praisest so much I will likewise haue it whether thou wilt or not When the Gyant had well heard Huon and saw that in no wise he could get againe his Armour he was then sorowfull and because he saw how Huon reprooued him therewith he was so sore displeased that his eyes séemed like twoo burning candels then he yet demaunded of Huon if he would doe none otherwise No truly quoth Huon though thou be great and strong I haue no feare of thée seing I haue on this good Armour therefore in the name of god and of his diuine puissance I defie thée And I thée quoth the Gyant for all the Armour thou canst not endure against me Then the Gyant approched to Huon and lift vp his fawchin thinking to haue striken him but he fayled for the stroke glent and the fawchin light vpon a piller and entred into it more then twoo foot then Huon who was quicke and light behoulding the maruaylous stroke quickly stept foorth with his good sword in his hand and seing how the Gyant had his fawchin sticking fast in the piller he strake the Gyant on both the armes néere to his hands in such wise that he strake off both his hands so that they with the fawchin fell downe to the earth When the Gyant felt himselfe so sore hurt with paine therof he gaue a maruaylous crie so horrible as though all the Towre had fallen to the earth whereat the Damsell Sibylla being in her chamber was sore abashed she went out of her chamber and found a staffe by the way she tooke it vp in her hands and came to the Pallaice whereas she heard the cry and met the Gyant flying away to saue himselfe but the Damsell well aduised when she saw that he fled she cast the staffe betwéene his legges so that thereby he fell to the earth and Huon who came after him with his sword in his hand he hasted him gaue the Gyant many a great stroke and the Gyant cryed out so high that it was very terrible to heare him Then Huon lift vp his sword and gaue him such a stroake in the necke that his head flew to the earth then Huon wiped his sword and put it vp into the sheath and he came to the head thinking to haue taken it vp and to haue set it on the height of the Towre but the head was so great and heauy that he could not remooue it nor tourne the bodie then he smiled and said Ah good Lord I thanke thée of thy grace that thou hast giuen me the puissance to slay such a creature would to god that this body and head were nowe in the Pallaice of Parys before Charlemaine Kinge of Fraunce so that he knewe that I haue slaine him Then Huon went to a window and looked out and saw where his company were than said he to them on hie Sirs come vp hether ye may doe it surely for this Pallaice is woonne the Gyant slaine When Gerames Garyn the other heard that they were ioyfull and thanked our lord god then they came to the gate and Sybilla the Damsell went opened the wicket whereby the enchantment fayled then they entred
Gybouars lay in ambushment Now when Gerard saw his houre and time to speake vnto his Brother Huon he said Brother I sée you are in mind to goe into Fraunce vnto Kinge Charlemaine to haue your Lands and Signories the which I am sure you shall haue it is a long space that I haue kept it maintained the Countrey in peace and rest and good iustice and haue wonne but little nor haue hadde but small profit not the value of one pennie and I am maried to a noble Ladie Daughter to a great Lord and it troubleth my heart sore when you repute him for a Traytour if hée knewe it by likely-hood it might turne you to great folly for wee beléeued that you should neuer haue returned therefore nowe I may say that I am not woorth a pennie Therefore I would knowe of you howe you would ayd mée and what part I shall haue at your returne out of Fraunce Brother quoth Huon I haue great maruaile of this that you say you knowe well that in the Abbey of Saint Maurise I haue left Twentie Somers charged with fine gould and I haue saide vnto you that your part shall bée therein as much as mine nor I shall haue no penny but that one halfe is yours Brother quoth Gerard all this suffizeth not to me for I would haue part of the Signorie to maintaine mine estate When Huon vnderstood his Brother his bloud roase into his face for hée sawe well his Brother searched all that he could to fall at debate with him and Gerames who was sage and wise perceiued anone that the matter was like to goe euill and sayd vnto Huon Sir graunt to Gerard your Brother his demaund you are both young inough to conquer Landes Gerames quoth Huon I am content that he shall haue Bourdeaux or Gerone let him take which hee list Brother quoth Huon shewe which of these two you will haue and I will haue the other Chap. LXVII ¶ How these Traytours slewe all Huons Company except Gerames and Escleremond and Huon himselfe the which all three were fast bound handes and feete and blindfold and so brought vnto Bourdeaux and were put in prison WHen the false Traytour Gerard saw and vnderstood his Brother how hée did graunt him his desire saw how that in no wise hée wold striue with him hee was therewith so displeased that he was néere hand in a rage then he came to the Prouost Guyer and sayd Guyer Guyer false Traytour by thée and by thy purchase I am like to loose all my Signorie but by the faith that I owe vnto him that created mée before I die I shall strike off thy head nor I shall not let to doe it for any person and therewith when he sawe his time he cried his word and token and Gybouars who was in the wood with Fortie men armed brake out with their speares in their rests and when Huon perceiued them it was no maruaile though hee was abashed then humbly he besought our lord God to saue his body from misfortune and gladly hée would haue returned to the Abbey but hée was so sore ouer-layd that hee could not then hée drewe out his Sword and gaue therewith the first that came such a stroake that he claue his head to the téeth and so fell dead to the ground and Huon strake so vppon the right hand and vppon the left that whosoeuer he strake a full stroake néeded after no Surgion if hée had béene armed hée would not lightly haue béene taken without great losse but his defence could not auaile him for he and all his companie were vnarmed and all the other Fortie were cleane armed they all fought cruelly in such wise that within a while Twelue of Huons men were slaine in the place none escaped aliue except Huon who was beaten downe to the earth his hands bound then Gerard the Traytour came to Gerames who was beaten downe by force and then hee cut open his right Side and tooke out thereof the Admirall Gaudise beard and foure great teeth the which were set there by Kinge Oberon of the Fayrie Huon séeing the old Gerames lying on the earth hee sayd with a hie voice vnto Gerard Brother I pray you shew me that courtesy as not to slay that old Gentleman but saue his life Brother quoth Gerard that hée hath let him keepe other hurt hee shall none haue at this time then they bound his eyes and then they came to Escleremond who lay on the earth in a swound they bound her hands and eyes and so set her whether shée would or not vppon a horse and Huon as he was blindfold hée heard the cries wéepings that she made then he sayd Brother Gerard I pray you for the loue of our Lord Iesus Christ suffer none ill to be done to that good Ladie who is my Wife nor no dishonour Brother quoth the Traytour Gerard thinke on your selfe speake no more I shall doe as it pleaseth me Then they set Huon Gerams on two horses the false Traytour tooke the Twelue dead bodies and did cast them into the great Riuer of Gerone then they tooke that way to the Citie of Bourdeaux and led the thrée Prisoners fast bound vpon thrée horses Pitie it was to heare the noble Ladie Escleremond complaine and she said vnto Huon Ah Sir you haue sayde to me that when wée were once in your Countrey of Bourdeaux that you woulde cause mee to bée crowned with gould but now I sée well that in great paine miserie we must vse the residue of our liues you haue found héere an ill Brother since hée hath purchased for you so much ill surely there is better faith troth among the Sarazins then is in the people of the Realme of France Madame quoth Huon your trouble more displeaseth mée then mine owne God send to my Brother Gerard such reward as he hath deserued for the treasō that he hath done vs. Thus they complayned and wist not whether they were caried they entred into the Citie of Bourdeaux an houre before day Alas that the good Burgesses of the City had but knowen how their Lord Huon was so falsely betrayed if they had knowne it he had béene rescued and Gerard Gybouars hewen all to péeces but the false Gerard brought them by priuy darke Lanes to the Pallaice for that they should not be perceiued Thus they came to the Castle where they alighted and vnarmed them then they tooke Huon and Escleremond Gerames and put them all into a deepe Prison all thrée together ordained that they should haue euery day barley bread and water and commaunded the Iaylor to giue them none other thing also commaunded that neither man nor woman should speake with them the Iaylor promised so to doe for he was seruant to Gybouars such as the Maister was so was the Seruant Thus Huon betraied pitiously by his Brother Gerard set in prison and with him his wife Escleremond
riches of that Chamber coulde not â—e described and therein was painted with gold and azure all the Battailes of Troy And in this riche Chamber and bed they slept vntill the houre of midnight was come and then all the Monkes arose and the bels began to ring to Seruice then there came a Monke vnto Huon and awaked him and sayde Sir it is nowe time that you arise for it is past midnight make you readie to come and heare our Seruice Then Huon arose and called vp the Duchesse Escleremond his Wife then shee arose and thus they made them readie and went vnto the Church the which was paued with a white Marble powdered with flower deluces of gould intermedled with red Roses and the Vault was checkered with Amber and Christall and at euerie point a rich stone whereby there was such clearnesse that there néeded no Candle light When Duke Huon and the Duchesse Escleremond had well séene and beheld the great beautie and riches of the Church they were sore abashed and made the signe of the Crosse vpon their fore-heads for the maruailes that they sawe there then they entred into the Quier and knéeled downe before the hye Aulter and made their prayers vnto our Lord God desiring him to be their sauegard and to conduct them surely vnto King Oberon Then the Abbot beganne Seruice and read the first Lesson and when he was in the halfe thereof he held his peace and departed cleane out of the Church then the Priour began another Lesson and in like wise left it in the middest and departed out of the Church thus euerie Monke did one after another and there were twoo and Thirtie Monkes and in the middest of euerie Lesson and Psalme they departed out of the Church one after another When Duke Huon saw and heard that he was sore dismayed and abashed and sware that before the last Monke departed hee would knowe the cause why they did so and then hee went vnto the last Monke who woulde haue gone out of the Church and Huon tooke the hallowed stole that hee had in his bosome and did cast it about the Monkes necke held it fast with both his handes When the Monke saw how hee was holden hee was sorrowfull and angrie and did what he could to haue escaped but he could not and when he saw that he could not escape he embraced Huon and prayed him humbly to lette him goe after his Brethren Certainely quoth Huon out of my hands you shall not escape vntill you haue shewed mée why you sing your Seruice after the manner that you doe and euer to leaue the one halfe vnsonge and why the Abbot and the other Monkes doe depart one after another without any word speaking vnto mée and except you shew me the troth with my sword I shall strike thy head to the braines Then simply the Monke fained to wéepe and prayed Huon to suffer him to depart and sayd Sir I am he that yesternight brought you to your Chamber and made your bed Then Huon who had his Sword in the one hand and the stole in the other hand saide Except thou shewest vnto mee my demaund shortly I shall strike off thy head When the Monke heard that hee was in great feare and stood still as though hee would giue none answeare And when Huon saw that hee lifted vp his Swoorde to haue striken him but then incontinent the Monke ioyned his handes and cryed for mercie and promised him to shew him the troth of his demaund Chap. CXLIIII ¶ How Duke Huon made seÌ„blance to haue slaine the Monke holding him fast with the stole to the entent that he should shew vnto him the troth THen Huon put vp his sword and the Monke beganne to speake and saide Sir know for troth that all we that bee héere are of the euill Angels that were chaced out of Paradise with Lucifer who by his pride would compare with God hee made vs beléeue that we should be as good as God himselfe and wee beléeued him but as for vs that be héere in this house God was with vs displeased and thereby wee were condemned to bee conuersant abroad in the world among men and women when we list and some be in the likenes of Beares and some like wary woolues and thus wee shall bee vntill the day of iudgment and some other there be that be Tempters of men and women desiring to bring them to damnation and some there bee in the ayre and followeth the Thunderinges and Tempests and some bée vppon the Sea and drowne many a man and perish the shippes whereof but lately you were in ieopardy for if it had not béene for the great vertue and bountie that is in the precious stones that you and your Wife beare about you both you and your Wife had been perished for euer And other there bee that are in the bottome of hell whereas they torment the poore Soules and there is Lucifer and they that be most euill with him and though they were once faire now they bee foule and misfigured and they shall neuer depart from thence but wee that bee héere yet wée hope to come vnto Saluation but thus we shall bee as longe as it pleaseth God Then Huon demaunded the cause why they beganne the Lessons in their Seruice and to leaue it in the middest and euerie Monke to depart so one after another Sir quoth the Monke our Lord Iesus Christ as yet hath not giuen vs that dignitie nor power to make an end of our diuine seruice but we haue that grace in this world that we haue all our desires and to bee conuersant among the people as well as they of the Fayrie there is nothing but by wishing wee can haue it incontinent and when wee will it is in our power to make Towne or Castle set vppon hye Rockes closed in with Riuers bearing shippes and we haue Minstrils Hals and Chambers garnished and ordained as you haue séen héere within Also wee haue wine and victuals and fishe and flesh at our pleasure this Castle and Church that you sée was yesternight made by the Fayrie but one houre before that you came hether heere was neither Tower nor wall nor water nor Rocke and nothing but a faire great meadowe the which you shall soone perceiue and Sir we be those that haue the conduct of all the Fayrie in the world Now Sir I haue shewed vnto you what we bée and all our secrets the which was neuer shewed before vnto any mortall man whereby I shall suffer of our Abbot such punishment that there was neuer so ill aduenture that fell vnto mée before therefore Sir now I haue shewed vnto you euerie thing suffer mee to depart vnto my companie Monke quoth Huon I will not let thée go vntill thou hast shewed vnto me by what manner of way I may goe vntill I haue found Kinge Oberon thus Huon and the Monke talked together vntill it was faire day light Then Huon looked round about him and
enemies encreased wherefore hee was constrained to retire backe towardes the Citie howbeit before he entred he did great losse and dammage vnto his enemies When the Nauarnes sawe the Aragons retire into the Citie then they pitcht vp their Tents and Pauillions about the Towne and when king Garyn saw his men returned then he called his Sonne Florence and said Sonne take thine armour and ayd to defend the Land the which appertaineth to thée after my decease Sir quoth Florence that will I neuer doe without first you promise me to giue me the faire Damsel in marriage by that couenant that I shall deliuer into your hands as Prisoner mine Vncle the King of Nauarre When the King his Father heard him hee muzed a litttle and sayd My Sonne I graunt thee thy desire so that thou wilt deliuer me thine Vncle the kinge of Nauarre to doe with him at my pleasure therefore take thine armour and make thée readie thine armour is good and thy swoorde is with the best and if thou canst do as thou sayest thou shalt haue the faire Damsell howbeit he sayd to himselfe priuily that he had rather to loose one of his handes then a stranger should be Quéen after him for assoone as my Sonne quoth hee shall be yssued out of the Citie I shall cause the Damsell to be drowned in the Sea for I will not suffer her to liue although I should bee disenherited for it Then Florence hearing his Father promising to him to haue the Damsâ—ll he was right ioyfull but he knew not the inward ill will of his Father then hee sayd Sir then I require you to send for my Loue hether to the entent that she may guird my sword about mee whereby I shall be the more bold and hardy when I come into the Battaile The kinge did as his Sonne required but the Sonne knewe not the Fathers thought the Kinge sent twoo knightes for the Damsell and when shee came there shee was greatly regarded of them that were there for they had neuer séen a fairer nor one that séemed to be extract of a hye generation When Florence sawe her in the Pallaice his heart rose vp and he ranne vnto her and embraced and kissed her and the Ladie suffered him with a good will wherewith the king had at his heart such sorrow that he had neere hand runne vppon them but he forbare it because he saw his Son readie to goe against his enemies then he helped to arme his Sonne richly and in like wise so did the faire Damsell When king Garyn hadde made his Sonne readie the Damsell did guird his Sword about him then the king drew it out of the sheath and therewith made him knight and then his horse was brought vnto him and hee leapt lightly vppon him with his Speare in his hand and helmet vppon his head and shéelde about his necke Then Florence sayd vnto the kinge his Father Sir I leaue with you my Loue whome I loue best in all this world I leaue her in your kéeping for if our Lord God giue me the grace that I may returne I shall bring vnto you mine Vncle the king of Nauarre as a Prisoner The king graunted vnto his Sonne all that he would desire but he knewe not the inward intention that hee was purposed to doe Then the king commaunded Ten of his knights to sée the guiding of the Damsell and to honor her as much as they might vntill his Sonne were out of the Citie and then to drowne her in the Sea to the entent that neuer more tidinges should bee heard of her Chap. CLIII ¶ How Florence went to fight with his enemies and how Sir Peter of Aragon returned towards the Towne to bring thether Prisoners and howe hee rescued the faire Damsell Clariet from drowning and how afterward Kinge Garyn caused the Damsell to be closed vp in a prison WHen Florence was armed and mounted hee tooke vp his horse freshly before the Damsell and blessed him and tooke his leaue of the kinge and of his Loue and so departed and road to the gate and all that sawe him sayde howe they neuer sawe so goodly a knight nor more séeming to bee feared then hee yssued out of the gate and roade towardes the Tents of his enemies with ten Thousand good knights and hardy the Ladies and Damsels went to the wals of the Citie to behold the young knight When the Nauarnes saw him comming there came against him more then fiftéene Thousand men and they came downe in a Valley by couert to haue cutte him the way betwéene the Hoast and the Towne but the valiant knight Sir Peter of Aragon who was with Florence espyed them and so made hast to be afore them and when hee sawe his time to set vppon his enemies Florence who was sore desirous to fulfill his promise to the king his Father tooke his Speare and encountred with a knight with such vertue that he ranne him cleane through and with drawing out of his Speare the Nauarnes fel downe dead then Florence sayd God hath giuen mee a good beginning then hee drewe out his sword and strake another vppon the helmet in such sort that he claue his head to the teeth and the third and fourth hee made dolorously to die and hee neuer ceased vntill he had slaine Tenne of his enemies Thus vnder the meadowes of Courtoys was a horrible Battaile betwéen the Nauarnes and Aragons where there was vpon both partes such slaughter that it was great maruaile to behold it Anon Florence sword was well knowne for by the force of his armes he brake the great preasses for vppon whom soeuer his stroke lighted hee was either slaine or cast to the earth euerie man feared him so much that none durst abide nor approach néere vnto him The same time that Florence was in the Battaile dooing of maruailes the faire Damsell Clariet was vppon the wals of the Citie with other Ladies and Damsels regarding the hye Prowesse that Florence did in the field and the ioy that she had thereof was soone turned into sorrow and wéepings for king Garyn who could not forget the mortall hate that he had to the Damsell called vnto him Ten knightes of them that were secret with him and sayd Sirs this new found Damsell with whome my Sonne Florence is in hot amours shee displeaseth me so much that I cannot find in my heart to looke vppon her my Sonne thinketh to haue her in marriage at his returne but as long as he liueth hee shall neuer see her more whatsoeuer fall thereof therefore goe your way and take and cast her into the Sea amonge the greatest waues that you can finde When these knightes vnderstood the King who commaunded them to doe this murder they were right sorrowfull at their heartes but they durst not say nay nor doe against his will for if they had they knewe well that they should die and they knew that there was neither mercie nor pitie in him therefore they
which I shall name vnto you if you will heare me Say on quoth Iuoryn for I haue great desire to know what thou canst do but of one thing I aduise thée make no vaunt of any thing without thou canst doe it indéede for in euerie thinge I will prooue thée Sir quoth Huon I can mew a Sparrow-Hauke and I can chase the Hart and the wilde Boare and blow the prize and serue the hounds of their rights and I can serue at the table before a great Prince and I can play at Chesse and Tables aswell as any other can doe and I neuer found man could winne of me if I list Chap. LIII ¶ How king Iuoryn caused his Daughter to play at the Chesse with Huon vpon condition that if he were mated he should loose his head and if shee were mated Huon should haue her loue and how Huon wonne the game WHEN king IVORIN heard Huon he said hould thée to this for I shall prooue whether it be true that thou saiest or not Yet Sir quoth Huon I pray you let mee shew farther what I can doe and then assay mee at your pleasure By Mahound quoth the king I am content that thou shalt shew all that thou canst doe Sir quoth Huon I can right well arme me and set the helmet on my head and beare a shield speare and runne and gallop a horse and when it commeth to the point where strokes should be giuen yée may well send foorth a worse than I. Also Sir I can right well enter into Ladies chambers to embrace and kisse them and to doe them any seruice Friend quoth Iuoryn by that which I heare by thée thou canst doe more things than should turne to good but to prooue thée I shall cause thee to be assayed at the play of the Chesse I haue a faire Daughter with whome I will that thou shalt play vpon condition that if she winne then thou shalt loose thy head but if thou canst mate her then I promise thée that thou shalt haue her to thy wife to repose with her at thy pleasure and a C. markes of money therewith Sir quoth Huon if it were your pleasure I would be glad to forbeare that enterprise By Mahound quoth the king it shal be none otherwise come thereof what will In the meane season that this Bargaine was making a Paynim went into the Ladies chamber and shewed her how there was with the king her father a young man who had made promise how he should play at the Chesse with her vpon condition that if he lost the game hee should then loose his head and if he chaunced to win then he to haue you to his wedded wife and a C. Markes of money But Madame quoth he I assure you he that shall play against you is the fairest man that euer I saw pitie it is that he should be a varlet to a Minstrell as he is By Mahound quoth the Ladie I hould my Father a foole when he thinketh that I should suffer a man to die for winning of a game at Chesse Then Iuoryn sent for his Daughter by twoo Kings who brought her to the King her Father then Iuoryn said Daughter thou must play at Chesse with this young Varlet that thou seest héere so that if thou winne then he shall loose his head and if he winne then I will that hee shall be thy husband to doe with thee at his pleasure Father quoth the Ladie séeing this is your pleasure it is reason that I doe it whether I will or not Then shee beheld Huon whome shee saw to be right faire and said to her selfe By Mahound for the great beautie that I see in this young man I would this game were at an end so that I were his wedded wife When then Ladie was come their places were made redie then shee and Huon sat downe and king Iuoryn and all his Barons sat downe about them to sée them play then Huon said to the King Sir I require you that you nor none other doe speake in our game neither for the one partie nor for the other Friend quoth the King haue no doubt thereof and for more suretie the King caused to be proclaymed thorow out all his Pallaice that none should be so hardie as to speake one word vpon paine of death Then the Chesse were made readie and Huon saide Ladie what game will yée play at Friend quoth she at the game accustomed that is to be mated in the corner then they both began to studie for the first draught there were Paynims that beheld Huon but he cared not for any of them but studied on his game the which they had begun so that Huon had lost most parte of his Pawnes wherewith he changed colour and blushed as redde as a rose The Damsell perceiued him and said Friend whereon doe yée thinke yee are almost mated anon my Father will strike of your head Madame quoth he as yet the game is not done great shame shall your Father haue when yée shall lye all night in mine armes and I being but a seruant to a poore Minstrell When the Barons heard Huon say so they began all to laugh and the Ladie who was so surprised with the loue of Huon in regard of the great beautie that she saw in him that she forgat all her play to thinke of him whereby she lost the game whereof Huon was right ioyfull and called the King and said Sir now may yée sée how I can play but if I would studie but a little more I could mate your Daughter whereas I list When the King saw that he said to his Daughter Arise cursed be the houre that I begate thee for great dishonour hast thou now done to me that heretofore hast mated so many great men and now I see heere before my face that a Minstrels varlet hath mated thée Sir quoth Huon trouble not your selfe for that cause as for the wager that I should winne therby I am content to release it quite let your Daughter goe into her chamber and sport her with her Damsels at her pleasure and I shall goe and serue my Maister the Minstrell Friend quoth the King if thou wilt shew me this courtesie I shall giue thée an hundred Markes in money Sir quoth Huon I am content with your pleasure and the Ladie went her way sorowfull and said to her selfe Ah false sainted heart Mahound confound thee for if I had knowen that thou wouldest thus haue refused my companie I would haue mated thée and then thou hadst lost thy head Thus the matter passed till the next day then king Iuorin made proclamation through out all the citie that euerie man should be armed and mounted on their horses and that it was his minde to set forward towards his enemies Then euerie man armed them and mounted on their horses many helmets glittered against the sunne and many trompets drums began to sound such brute was made within the citie that it was maruaile to
heare it Chap. LIIII ¶ How Huon was armed and mounted on a poore horse and went after the armie to Anfalerne WHen Huon saw how he had not wherwith to arme him his heart mourned right sore for gladly hee woulde haue gone foorth with other if he might haue had any horse to haue ridden on wherefore hee came to king Iuoryn and said Sir I require you to let mee haue a horse and armour that I may goe with you to the Battaile and then shall yee sée how I can aid you Friend quoth Iuoryn I am content that ye goe with me Then the King commaunded one of his Chamberlaines to deliuer him a horse and armour and the Chamberlaine said Sir beware what yee doe for oftentimes such flying vagabounds are of a light courage if he haue a horse and armour he may assoone goe to your enemies part as to kéepe with you and neuer trust me but he is some counterfeit varlet When the King heard him say so he saide it may well bee yet let him haue a good armour and helmet and shéeld and let his horse be but of a small valew to the intent that he shall not goe farre of though he would The same time there was a Paynim that heard the king grant how Huon should haue armour he went to his house and tooke out of his coffer an old rusty sword and brought it to Huon and said Frend I sée wéell yée haue no sword to aid your selfe withall and therefore I giue you this sword the which I haue long kept in my coffer the Paynim did giue it to Huon in a mockery for he thought the sword to be but of a small value Huon tooke the sword and drew it out of the sheath saw letters written thereon in french saying how this sword was forged by Galams who in his dayes forged thrée swords that same sword was one of the three and the second was called Durandell and the third Courtayn When Huon had read the letters he was right ioyfull and said to the Paynim Friend for this good swoord that yee haue geuen mee I thanke you and I promis you if I may liue long I shall reward you with the double valew therof After that Huon had this sword there was brought vnto him a good Armour helmet shéeld and speare with a rusty head Huon cared little for it by reason of the great desire that hee had to come to the place whereas hee might shew his strength vertue thē there was brought to him a leane horse pilled with a long necke and a great head When Huon saw that horse he tooke him by the brydle leapt vpon him without any foote in the stirrop in the sight of a M. Paynims that were there present some said it was not well done to giue him a horse the which could not serue nor aid him in time of need When Huon was mounted on his leane féeble horse hée was sorowfull for well hee perceaued how they mocked him and said softly to him selfe Ah yee false Paynims if I may lyue a yeere I shall quitte your mockes Then Huon rode foorth with others but for all that hee could doe with his spurres the horse would goe but his own soft pace wherat diuers Paynims mocked him Thus king Iuoryn departed from Mombrance with his great armie and tarried in the fields for his men when they were all assembled together then hee departed and tooke the way to Anfalerne the which was distant of but foure leagues and when they came there they ran before the citie and draue away all the beastes béeues and muttons and sent them to Mombrance Then when the Admirall Galaffer saw king Iuoryn before his citie and had driuen away all the pray aboute the towne he was so sorowfull that hee was neere hand out of his wit and then hée saw the faire Escleremond before him said Madame the great loue that I haue set on you is this day derely bought for by your occasion I sée my country destroyed and my men slayne and led in seruitude Sir quoth shée I am sory thereof it lyeth in you to amend it seeing this ill is come to you by me then it is in you to render me to king Iuoryn and thereby ye and your country shal be in rest and peace Faire Ladie quoth Galaffer by the grace of Mahound for any feare that I haue of Iuoryn your Vncle I will not render you into his handes vntill I haue had of you my pleasure Sir quoth shée you may do with mee as it shall please you after that the twoo yeares bee past for the accomplishing of my vow Madame quoth Galaffer before I will render you to your Vncle Iuoryn I shall haue neuer a foot of land for first it shall be cleane distroyed Chap. LV. ¶ How Huon fought with Sorbryn and slew him and wanne the good Horse Blanchardyn whereon he mounted and wan the Battaile and was brought with great tryumph to Mombrance WHen Sorbryn Nephew to the Admiral Galaffer heard his Vncle make such sorow hée said to him Faire Vncle be not dismayed though Iuoryn hath taken and slaine some of your men and driuen away your beastes for eche one of yours if I lyue I shall render againe to you foure I shall tell you how I will goe and arme me and issue out and shew to Iuoryn that if hee will set one or twoo of the hardiest men of all his hoast to fight with me and that if it be so that I be ouercome then you to render his faire Néece Escleremond to him to do with her at his pleasure and that if I discomfite his men then let him depart so that for all the damage that he hath done to you in this warre hee will render againe to you the double thereof for better it were that this warre should end by two men rather then so much people should be destroyed Faire Nephew quoth Galaffer I neuer heard a better word I am well content if ye will haue it thus Then Sorbryn went and armed him selfe he was a goodly knight for in all the Paynims lands there was not his Péere nor none that approched neere to his valiantnes When hée was armed then Blanchardyn his good horse was brought to him the goodnes of this horse excéeded all other and of beautie there was none like him he was as white as snowe the freshnes of his apparell it was so riche and goodly that I cannot make due mention thereof for no man could estéeme the valew of the riches of the brydle saddle and harnesse Then Sorbryn leapt vppon his horse without any stirroppe and tooke a great speare and so rode out of the Cittie and when hée saw king Iuoryn a farre of hée cryed aloud said Ah thou Iuoryn of Mombrance the Admirall Galaffer hath sent mee to thée and willeth that thou doe arme one of thy valiantest men of thy Court and let him come against me and if
and you my déere Loue Escleremond of your comming I am right ioyfull then hee embraced and kissed them both more then Tenne times and sayde Huon my right déere Freend for the great truth and noblenesse that I find in you I shall make you King of all the Fayrie and your Wife Escleremond shall be Lady and Quéene of the same and besides that I will giue vnto you all my dignitie When the Kinge had well saluted them then hee sat downe vppon a Couch and made Huon and Escleremond to sit downe before him and then hee commaunded Gloriand that incontinent he should fetch vnto him his bowe and when hee had it in his hand hee tooke an arrow and did shoot therewith then incontinent it séemed that all the world had arriued in the Town and Pallaice there came thether so many Knights and Ladies of the Fayrie that all the Towne and Pallaice was full and when they were all assembled together in the Pallaice Kinge Oberon commaunded to carrie him into the great Hall in his rich Couch then he commanded silence to be kept among them all and then he sayd Lordes and Ladie that bée héere assembled all yée knowe that euerie mortall thing cannot long endure I speake it for my owne selfe because I am Sonne to a mortall man and was engendred vppon the Ladie of the prime Isle who can neuer die because shee is one of the Fayrie engendred of a man of the Fayrie and Daughter to a woman of the Fayrie and whereas it is so that Iulius Caesar was a mortall man therefore it behooueth me to passe out of this world by the commandement of our Lord God who hath ordained that it should be so And because of my loue during the time that I haue béen conuersant héere with you therefore I will not leaue you without a Lorde but first in my life dayes I will puruay you of one who shall bee Duke Huon whome I loue well and déerely and also I will that his Wife the Duchesse Escleremond shall abide with him for in no wise I will seperate them asunder therefore I ordaine that Huon who is héere present be your King and Lord and Escleremond your Queâ—ne and Ladie and from hencefoorth I put my Realme and dignitie into his handes and I will that hee vse it as I haue done in my life time howbeit King Arthur hath sore pressed vppon mee to haue my Realme and dignitie but I will that none shall haue it but alonely Huon of Bourdeaux who is héere present and whome I will crowne King in all your presence Chap. CXLVI ¶ How the noble Kinge Oberon crowned Huon and Escleremond and gaue them all his Realme and dignitie that he hadde in the Land of the Fayrie and made the Peace betweene Huon and King Arthur WHen the people of the Fayrie both Knightes and Ladies had well heard and vnderstood King Oberon they were right sorrowfull in that hee should leaue them and sayd Sir since it is your pleasure and that it is your will oâ— reason wee must bee content to receiue Huon of Bourdeaux for our kinge and Madame Escleremond his Wife for our Quéene When the King vnderstood his Lordes and people then he caused to be brought thether two Crownes the one was set vppon Huons head and the other vppon Escleremonds head then Oberon sent for his Horne Napkin and Cup and the good Armour hee deliuered them vnto Huon to doe with them his pleasure great ioy and feasting was made in the Pallaice by the Knights Ladies of the Fayrie Then king Huon looked out at a window and sawe vpon the Mountaine that he passed ouer at his comming thether a great number of Tents and Pauillions and hée sayd vnto King Oberon Sir vppon yonder Mountaine I see a great number of men assembled and many Tentes and Pauillions picht vp Huon quoth king Oberon know for troth that it is kinge Arthur who meeneth to haue my Realme and dignitie but hee cometh too late for the promise that you made vnto me you haue kept therefore he fayleth and commeth too late for if you hadde not come I had giuen him my Realme and dignity I know well that hee will be heere soone to see me and hee will be sorrowfull and angrie of your comming hether but if I can I shall doe so much that you shall bee both in peace and rest for good reason it is that he doe obay you Therewith kinge Arthur and all his Chiualrie entred into the Citie of Momur and came alighted at the Pallaice and with him his Sister Quéene Morguele Fay and Transeline their Néece they came and saluted king Oberon who receiued them with great ioye and sayde Great kinge Arthur you are welcome and Morgue your Sister and Transeline your Néece and Sir â—â—ray you to shewe mée what faire Childe is that I sée there before your Sister Morgue Sir quoth Arthur hee is called Marlyn and is Sonne to Ogier the Dane who hath wedded my Sister Morgue and I haue left him in my Countrey to rule it vntill I returne Sir quoth king Oberon the child shall haue good fortune hee shall bee in his time feared and redoubted for Ogier his Father is a good and a valiant knight And noble kinge Arthur you are welcome and of your comming I am right ioyfull I haue sent for you to shewe you the pleasure of our Lord God that I shall depart out of this world and to the entent that you should be content in that I haue giuen you heretofore in the Fayrie so much dignitie and puissance wherewith I desire you to be contented for behold here Duke Huon of Bourdeaux and his Wife the Duchesse Escleremond vnto whome I haue giuen my Realme and my dignity to vse it as I haue done héeretofore and therefore I pray and commaund you that you will obay him as Kinge and Soueraigne of all the Fayrie and you to liue together with good loue and peace When King Arthur heard King Oberon he answeared fiercely and sayd Sir I haue well heard you and you know well that your Realme and dignity you gaue me after your decease and now I sée well that you haue giuen it to Duke Huon Sir lette him goe into his owne Countrey and vnto his Citie of Bourdeaux whereas hee hath left his Daughter Clariet and let him goe and marrie her for as heere he hath nothing to doe I hadde rather to bee cleane exiled for euer and chaced out of my Realme then I should obay him or doe vnto him any homage for he shall haue nothing to doe ouer mee without hee winne it with the point of the Sworde When Kinge Huon hadde well heard King Arthur of Brittaine he answeared fiercely and said King Arthur knowe for troth for all your wordes and threatninges I will not spare to say vnto you that whether you will or not it must behooue you to obay and to be vnder me since it is the pleasure of my Lord Kinge
durst make no semblance to the contrarie they feared so much to displease him Then they went and tooke the Damsell whereas shee was Sirs quoth shee what will you doe with mee wherefore doe you take mée let mee goe if you will haue any thing with mee shew mée They sayd Damsell speake no more for your end is come you shall neuer see faire day more and when she saw that she was so taken with Tenne men who went threatning to slay her then shee cast out a great crie and desired God to ayd and succour her Then they bound the Damsels handes with a cord in such manner that her white tender skinne burst and they bound her so sore that the bloud dropped out at her nayles Sirs quoth she I crie you mercie little shall you winne to slay mee you shall doe great sin seeing I haue not deserued it Madame quoth they your wordes cannot auaile you the Kinge will not that you shall make auaunt to haue his Sonne in mariage for you shal be drowned in the Sea whether you will or not your wéeping shall not ayd you Then foure Ribaulds tooke and bound her and drew her by the haire of her head and led her toward the Sea-side to haue drowned her but often times it is sayd that which God will haue saued cannot be perished The same season Florence was in the Battaile whereas hee fought with his enemies and Sir Peter of Aragon had taken many Prisoners and hee came vnto Florence and sayd Ah Sir I require you to let vs returne to the Citie and bee content with that you haue done this day for yonder you may sée comming al the whole Hoast of the Nauarnes against whom it is not possible for vs to endure for they are more then thréescore Thousand men and they all hate vs to the death you haue done ynough ought to be content if they take you none can saue your life Coozen quoth Florence I pray you before I depart let mee Iust once with mine Vncle the kinge of Nauarre whome I haue promised to yéeld as Prisoner vnto the king my Father and thereby I shall haue in mariage the faire Damsell my Loue and for the loue of that faire Damsell I shal make many a Nauernoys to loose their liues Sir quoth Peter since you desire your owne death I am right sorrie thereof but I will no longer tarie héere for it is not possible for vs to tarie héere without we will bee slaine wilfully and I haue héere many Prisoners I will go lead them into the Citie and then I shall returne again vnto you to the entent that if either I or you be taken Prisoner by them wee may bee redéemed againe Then Peter went to the Citie with all his Prisoners and when he was come into the Citie hee heard a great noise about the Market place whereof hee had great maruaile and went thether and then hee sawe there foure foule Villaines drawing the faire Damsell Clariet towardes the Sea-side to drowne her When he saw that hee was neuer so sorrowfull in all his life before and incontinent did let goe his Prisoners and drew out his sword and cryed vnto them that led the damsell Ah yée false Théeues let the Damsell go whom I brought from beyond the Sea yée did neuer such folly in all your liues and therewith hée strake the first with his Sword in such sort that his head slewe from his bodie and the second hee claue to the téeth and the third and fourth hee slewe When the faire Ladie saw the Earle Peter right pitifully she beganne to crie and said Sir I require you to haue pitie of me and help and ayde mee as you haue done before this time neither Lorde nor Maister I haue none but you Sir for Gods sake vnbind me and put me out of this paine that I am in Then Peter went to the Damsell and cut the cords asunder wherewith she was bound and for the sorrow that she was in shée fell downe in a swound then Peter tooke her vp and sayde Faire Damsell be of good chéere for I shall helpe to saue you the faire Ladie wept pitiously and sayd to her selfe Ah Huon of Bourdeaux my déere Father the great paines and pouerties that you were woont to suffer you haue left mee now Inheritour to the same alas I know not where you nor my Mother is I beléeue that I shall neuer sée you more Then Peter of Aragon tooke the Damsell by the hand and led her to his lodging in the Town then he went to the Pallaice whereas hee found Kinge Garyn vnto whome he sayd Ah thou old doating foole wherefore or for what cause wouldest thou haue slaine the Damsell and she is none of yours she is mine I wanne her vppon the Sea and saued her life you can make no claime to her Thus as Peter spake to the King there entred into the Pallaice two Knights and they sayd to the King Sir before you is the Earle Peter your Coozen who hath deliuered and rescued the new-found Damsell and hath slaine the Foure men that should haue drowned her in the Sea When King Garyn saw the Earle before him he sayd Why wert thou so hardy as to slay my men for dooing of my commaundement Then hee cried to his men and saide Sirs I charge you take this Villaine héere who hath done mee this offence for I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart vntill I sée him hanged a hye vppon a Rocke Then his men stept forth to haue taken the Earle Peter and when hee sawe that he approached néere vnto him hee drew his sword and claue the head of the first to the téeth and he slew the second third and fourth he beat downe more to the earth then the other that fled away so that there was none that durst approach néere vnto him for they were all vnarmed and hee well armed then hée came to the King and sayd Ah thou false old Dotard full of sin and out-rage how dare you thinke to bee such an out-rage you are not worthy to beare a crown your Sonne Florence ought to haue it for a Traytour ought to hould no Realme full déerely you shall abuy the ill will of the Damsell and the more to make him abashed hee made semblance to runne vppon the King with his sword who for feare of him ran into his Chamber and shut fast the dore after him and the Earle Peter standing without sore threatned the king then the King said Coozen Peter I crye you mercie if I haue done euill I am readie to make amendes at your pleasure I was sore displeased with my Sonne and therefore I thought to be reuenged vpon her that hath caused all this I shall make amendes but by the grace of God my Sonne shall neuer haue her in marriage to die therefore I will neuer consent that a new-found Damsell should bée Inheritour of such a Kingdome as the Realme of Aragon is Then Sir
himselfe nothing to liue by And after I heard say that he had in himselfe such shame that he departed priuily with a Squier went to séeke his aduentures but no man knoweth where he is nor whether he will euer come againe or not and the Communaltie of the Cittie made little thereof for after hee was departed they sent for King Guymart of Puille whome they haue made Emperour of this Empire When Croissant vnderstood his Host he complained right pitiously to himselfe and sayde Alas poore Caitiffe that I am what shall I do that thus haue lost al mine Inheritance without recouerie and besides that I haue nothing to spend nor I haue no trade to liue by it must behooue me to die through hunger and cold I haue no more but fiue and Twentie shillings for the which I sould my purse Thus as well as he could he continued till Lent then the season began to be somewhat hotter and euerie day in the morning he would heare seruice and euerie man that saw him beheld him greatly for the great beautie that he was of there were diuers that knew him but they would make no semblance thereof to the intent that they wold giue him nothing and when they sawe him they would shun the way because he should not know them there were many of them that hee had done much good vnto and giuen them in such wise that they were become rich and he poore and there was none of them that would offer him one morsell of bread whereof he was sorrowfull for then he sawe well his monney was gone so that he had neuer a penny left then he thought to sell his Gowne rather then to die for hunger and so he did he sould it for eight Twentie shillings and then he taried in his Lodging as long as his money endured hée continued there vntill Easter by that time all his monney was gone Then he thought that he would goe into the stréetes to sée if he might espie any Burgesses to whome he had done in times past some good vnto and to demaund of them some courtesie so he yssued out of his Lodging and walked into the stréetes saw a rich Burgesse who was leaning out at a window in his house Croissant knew him well for it was hee that made him rich and before he was but poore then he thought to acknowledge himselfe to that Burgesse Then Croissant went and saluted him right humbly and sayd Sir haue remembrance of a poore Caitiffe to whome fortune is contrarie and who in time past did you much good when you serued him if you bee a good man as I beléeue you are of the goodnes haue you remembrance and it may be so if you doe so you shall fare the better When the Burgesse heard Croissant he beheld him fiercely he knew him presently and without making of any manner of answeare he called his Page and commaunded him to bring him a pan full of water to the windowe and he did as his master had commanded him then the Burgesse tooke the pan full of water and he beheld Croissant who stood vnder the window and did cast the water vppon his head so that his faire haire coat and shirt were all wet Croissant without any word speaking made himselfe cleane and afterward said to the Burges that if he liued long the offence that he had done him he should déerely buy it but the Burgesse who was proud and disdainfull set but little by his words Croissant who was right sorrowfull tooke his way towards the Pallaice before the which there was an old Pallaice whereas no man had dwelled in of a long space and he entred in at the gate the which was great and stood open and there he saw a great Piller whereas there lay two burdens of strawe then he layd him downe and slept right sorrowfull angrie with the Burgesse that had so wet him with water the which Burges after he had cast this water vppon Croissant hee went to the Pallaice to the Emperour Guymart to flatter and to please him he found the Emperor leaning in a window and saluted him and sayd Sir I bring you certaine tidings of Croissant Sonne to the Emperour Ide who of right ought to be Inheritour of this Empire whereof you are as now Emperour he is come into the Towne in his doublet without hose or shooes he is arrayed like a Vagabond or a Ruffian comming from the Tauerne he is so great and so well made in all his members that hee séemeth more like a Champion readie to fight then euer I saw man in all my life if you will follow my counsaile strike off his head or cast him into a pit that of him there may neuer be had any more memorie For if he liue long he may doe you dammage and put you out of this Empire which you hould the which should appertaine to him When the Emperour Guymart vnderstoode the Burges he beheld him fiercely and sayd Speake no more to me of this matter for thou doest like a Traytor thou knowest well that by him and his déeds thou and other bee made rich thou art like him that betrayed our Lord Iesus Christ therefore I command thée from hencefoorth come not in my sight for I wil haue no acquaintance nor conuersation with a Traitor if it be so that Croissant be poore it is pitie and lamentable and great sin to doe him any ill for I haue done him great ill when I kéepe his Landes and Signiories wrongfully and without a cause wherefore I thinke my selfe greatly culpable against the almighty God for the sinne that I haue done him in that I hold the honour and Signiorie that of reason ought to appertaine to him this day is Easter day vpon the which day euerie good Christian man ought to humble himselfe to God crying him mercie and pardon for all their sinnes it is reason that I make peace with God and doe so that hee may bee content with me Chap. CLXXX ¶ How the Emperor Guymart spake rebuked the Burgesse that spake ill of Croissant and howe the Emperour bare meate and drinke to the place whereas Croissant slept And of the maruailous Treasure that hee found in a Chamber in the sayde ould Pallaice and of that which was shewed him by two Knights whome he found there WHen the Burgesse vnderstood the Emperour hee was in great feare and so departed right sore abashed thought he had béene too hasty to report such newes so right sorowful departed and lâ—ft the Emperour alone in a windowe right pensiue sayd to himselfe Oh verie God the pouertie that Croissant is in is by my cause for all that I haue ought to bee his and I kéepe it from him perforce if I kéepe it still I may wel say that my soule shall neuer come into Paradice but shall bee damned for euer Thus the Emperour Guymart complained to himselfe and so went downe
Sir if it be your pleasure to come to the Abbey of Saint Maurise there shall ye find your brother Huon who is come lately from beyond the sea when Duke Gerard heard certainely how his brother Huon was come to the Abbey of Saint Maurise hee was so ouercome with ire and displeasure that his visage became like a flame of fire and sayd to the messenger Goe and returne and say to my brother Huon that I will incontinent come and visite him Sir quoth he I shall shew him of your comming and so departed and came again to the Abby and shewed Huon what his brother Gerard had sayd And when Duke Gerard saw that the messenger was departed he was sorrowfull and pensiue and called to him his father in law his wiues father who was named Gibouars the most falsest traitour that was from the East to the West and Gerard said to him Sir I pray you giue me counsell in that I haue to doe for all the diuels in hell haue brought my Brother Huon from the parts beyond the Sea and he is now present in the Abbey of Saint Maurise the Abbot there hath sent me word thereof and that I should come thether to speake with him for as to morrow he would depart to goe to Paris to the king so that when he is come thether he will doe so much that all his land shal be rendred to him and that I shal haue neuer a foot of land left me but that which yée haue giuen me with my wife your Daughter wherefore deare Father in law I pray you in this great matter to councell and aid me or else I am but lost Faire Sonne quoth Gibouars dismay you nothing for without my wit doe faile me I thinke to play him a tourne that it had béen better for him to haue tarried where he was than to haue come hether to claime my land Chap. LXV ¶ How Gybouars of Beam and Gerard practised Huons death and how the traitour Gerard came to see his brother Huon who with great ioy receiued him THus as ye haue heard these two traitours conspired and then Gybouars sayd to Gerard. Faire sonne go ye your way to your brother Huon and take with you but one Squier and when you come there make to him all the chéere you can and shew him as great loue as ye can doe and humble your selfe to him to the intent that he take in you no suspicion But when the morning commeth hast him to depart and when ye câ—me with him néere such a little wood find some rigorous words to him and make as though ye were displeased with him and I shall be readie in that same little wood ambashed and xl men of armes with me And when I see that words are betwéene you I shall issue out and slay al those that come with him so that none shal escape aliue and then take your brother Huon and cast him into prison in one of the Towres of your Pallaice in Bourdeaux and there miserably he shall end his dayes and then in haste ye shall ride to Paris But ere ye goe to Paris ye shall take from him the Admiralles beard and great téeth and then ye shall shew to the King how Huon your brother is returned without bringing either beard or téeth of the Admirall Gaudys and how for that cause you haue put him in prison The King will beleeue you for he hateth Huon greatly because of the death of his sonne Charlot whom hee slew for the hate that the King hath to him in his heart shall neuer depart from him and therefore sonne when you be with your brother demaund of him if he haue the Admirals beard and téeth or not and whether he doe beare them himselfe or who else for if he haue them not he shall neuer haue peace with the King but he will cause him to be slaine of an euill death either hanged or drawne for your brother laide hostage promising that he would neuer returne without he brought with him the Admirall Gaudys beard and great téeth and also he promised that he would neuer enter into his heritage till he had spoken with the King and that was enioyned him on paine of death Thus as ye haue heard these two Traitours deuised and concluded the death of Huon Gerard quoth Gibouars thinke well on your businesse and I shall goe and assemble together fortie of my most secret seruants and in other places where I can get them to furnish this enterprise Sir quoth Gerard I shall goe to the Abbey to see my brother when it is a little néere to night So when the houre came the false Traytor departed from Bourdeaux and with him but one Squier and so they rode till they came to the Abbey and there alighted and when he perceiued his brother Huon hee imbraced and kissed him with such a kisse as Iudas kissed Christ When Huon saw his brother Gerard come with such humilitie the water fell from his eyes with kindnesse and embraced him and kissed him and sayd Right déere brother I haue great ioy to see you I pray you shew me how ye haue done since my departure Sir quoth Gerard right well now I see you in good health Brother quoth Huon I haue great maruaile that ye bee thus come alone without company Sir quoth Gerard I did it for the more humilitie because I know not how ye shall speede with the king nor whether ye shall haue againe your land or no if God will that ye shall haue it I shal assemble al the Barons of the court to receiue you to make you cheere according this Sir I shall do till you returne for often times these great Princes are mutable lightly beleeue for this cause Sir I am secretly come to you Brother quoth Huon your aduise is good I am content that you thus doe and to morrow betimes I will depart towards Paris then these two Brethren tooke each other by the hand making great ioy Brother quoth Gerard I am right ioyous when I sée you thus returned in health and prosperitie haue you accomplished the Messuage that Kinge Charles charged you withall Brother quoth Huon know for troth that I haue the beard and great téeth of the Admirall Gaudise and beside that I haue brought with me his Daughter the faire Escleremond whom I haue taken to my wife and wedded her in the Citie of Rome and also I haue héere with me thirtie Somers charged with gould and siluer and rich Iewels garnished with pecious stones whereof the halfe part shall be yours and if I should shew thee the paines trauailes and pouerties that I haue endured since I sawe you last it would bee ouer-long to rehearse Sir quoth Gerard I beléeue you well but Sir I pray you shew me by what meanes or aid you did bring your Enterprize to an end Brother quoth Huon it was by a king of the Fayrie called Oberon who did mée such succour and ayd that
I came to my purpose and strooke off the Admirals head and so tooke his beard and great téeth Brother quoth Gerard and how do you kéepe them and where Brother quoth Huon behould héere Gerames who hath them in his side King Oberon did set them there by the Fayrie and by the will of God Sir quoth hée which is Gerames Brother quoth Huon héere you may sée him before you he with the great hoarie beard Sir quoth Gerard of what Land is hée of He is of the best Fréends that I haue quoth Huon and he is Brother to the good Prouost Guyer you neuer heard speake of a truer nor more noble man I found him in a wood whereas hee had dwelt about Fortie yeares in penance God ayded mee greatly when I found him for if hée had not béene I could not haue returned hether much paine and pouertie hee hath endured for my sake and nowe Brother I pray you shew me how ye haue done since I departed from you it hath béene shewed me that ye are very richly married I pray you where was your wife borne and of what lineage is she of Sir quoth Gerard she is daughter to Gybouars of Cecyle who is a great Lord and Signior Brother quoth Huon I am sorie that yee haue taken such aliance for I know him for the most vile traytour that can bee found and the most vntruest Sir quoth Gerard ye doe ill to say so for I take him for no such person Chap. LXVI ¶ How these two Brethren departed from the Abbey about midnight and how the Traitor Gerard began to fall at rude words with Huon when they approched neere the wood whereas Gibouars lay in ambush THus as these two brethren deuised of Gibouars the Abbot came to them and demanded of Huon if it were his pleasure to goe to supper Sir quoth Huon when it please you I and my brother shall be readie The fayre Escleremond who was wearie of trauaile was in her chamber apart and diuers other of her company with her whereas she supped and lay that night Huon was somewhat troubled because his brother had taken to his wife the daughter of a Traytour thus they washed and sate them downe to supper where they were richly serued and at another table sate the Prouost Guyer and Gerames his brother and diuers other Barons Gerard beheld the Prouost whom hee vtterly hated because hee went to seeke for Huon Hee sware to him selfe that if hee might once goe out of the Abbey that he should bee the first that shoulde loose his life and hee did eate and drinke but little for thinking to accomplish his ill Enterprize When they had supped they aroase from the board and their bedds were made readie Then Huon called the Abbot apart and sayd Sir I haue brought hether with me great riches I will leaue it héere with you to keepe vntill my returne and I pray you for any manner of thing that may fall deliuer it vnto no man liuing but all onely to my selfe and if God giue me the grace to returne your part shall bee therein Sir quoth the Abbot all that you take mée to keepe shall bée safely kept to your behoofe and I shall doe so that you shall bée content then hee went to bed and Gerard with him where Gerard sayd Brother if you thinke it good I shall call you vp betimes for it séemeth that to morrow the day will be hot Brother quoth Huon I am content Thus they lay together in one bed but the Traytour Gerard had no lyst to sleepe for the great desire that he had to be reuenged of his Brother who neuer did him any trespasse but alas why did not Huon know his entent if hée had the matter had not gone so to passe At last the houre came that the Cockes began to crowe then Gerard awooke Huon and said Brother it were good for vs to arise for anone it will be day it is good to ride in the coole but the ill Traytour his thought was otherwise When Huon heard his Brother he rose vp and euery man arose vp and made them redie Sir quoth Gerames how is it that yée be so hastie to depart from hence I pray you let me sléepe a little longer Sir quoth Gerard that is ill said for he that hath businesse to doe that toucheth him néere ought not to sléepe nor rest vntill his businesse be finished By my troth quoth Huon my Brother saith troth for I haue a great desire to speake with King Charlemaine then euery man trussed vp their things and tooke their horses and the faire Escleremond was readie and mounted on a stately mule and so they all tooke their leaues of the Abbot who was right sorowfull that they would depart so early Then the gates were opened and so departed Fourtéene in a companie and Escleremond made the Fiftéene and Gerard rode before to lead them the right way that he would haue them to ride and Escleremond being very sumptuously apparelled rode very soberly and she came to Huon and said Sir I cannot tell what ayleth me but my heart is so sore troubled that all my bodie trembleth Madame quoth Huon be not dismaid nor haue any feare for yée be in a good countrey where by the grace of god yée shall be serued like a Princesse and Ladie of the countrey and with those wordes speaking her Mule stumbled on the one foot before so that shée had néere hand a great fall then Huon approched to her tooke the bridle of the Mule in his hand said Faire Ladie haue yée any hurt No Sir quoth shée but I had almost fallen By my faith quoth Gerames we haue done very ill for that wée departed from the Abbey before day light Sirs quoth Gerard I neuer saw men so fearefull for so small a cause Sir quoth Gerames I know not why yée speake it but if I might councell yée we would not goe one foot farther but returne againe to the Abbey till day light By god quoth Gerard it were great folly to returne againe now for the stumbling of a Mule I neuer saw men so fearefull let vs ride foorth and make good chéere I sée the day beginneth to appeare So they road foorth vntill they came to a crosse whereas there was foure wayes this was about a League from the Abbey Then Huon rested and sayd Loe héere is the border of the Territorie of the Abbey of Saint Maurise and this one way is to Bourdeaux the which way I will not ride for so I haue promised to King Charlemaine to whome I neuer yet falsed my faith if I did it should bee the cause that I might loose my Signiorie and this other way goeth to Rome this other way before vs is the right way into Frāce the which way I will ride and none other So they road foorth and all their companie and within a while they were néere to the wood within a bow shoot whereas the Traytour