knight shal come So it semeth me ryghte and iuste equitie that throughe at your lande one ought to go in surete in the hye way And whan the duke Sauary herd Ualentine speke so he sayd vnto him Knight wel haste thou answered yf my cosin be deed it is by his Pride and fyerse courage of his death I am sorowfull but there is no remedye wherefore I pardone the that deede and I wyll be pardoned But for the surplus of your enterpryse of the grene knight you shal come into my palays and shall se the lady for whom you are comeÌ„ into these quarters And with her you shal find xiiii knights of straunge countrees newlye comen that for the loue of her will right againste the grene knight Go theder salue my doughter as the custom is For so it is ordeined that al knightes that cometh hether for the loue of her before that they do ony batayl with the grene knight they present them to her And in signe of loue they take a ringe of goulde of her Sir saide Ualentine I am readye to do as the ordinaunce biddeth And of the other syde I am your litle seruaunt as he that wold obey vnto all your good commaundementes after my puyssaunce Than the duke Sauarye mounted into the castell and Ualentine and orson accompanyed him much honourably They entred into the halle whereas the knights wer that accompanyed the fayre Fezonne And whan valentine sawe her he went toward her in grete reuerence and salued her sayinge before them al. Ladye of whome the bruyte and renowne of beaute corporell is spredde so ferre aboute God saue you and defende you from all Vyllanye and euyl reproche and preserue you from the grene knight that is not worthi for to touch your excellent body My right dere honourable lady please it you for to wyte that Pepyn the ryght puissasâ—e kyng of Fraunce hath sent vs towarde you and here I make you a present of the moste valyaunte and hardy man that is vpon the earthe Lady beholde hym for he doubteth no man yet he hath no feare of no glayue be it neuer so sharpe If he coulde speake well in all the worlde might not be founde his make Wherfore you may be sure and beleue stedfastly that the grene knyght may not resist against him for he shal yelde him matte and ouercome also soone as he shall fyght with hym Syr sayde the puâ—el vnto the puyssaunt kyng of FrauÌ„ce I yelde a hundred thousande thankes and to you that hath taken so muche payne for me But tell me I praye you wherfore you clothe not this valyaunt man no better that you haue brought to me For he is marueylusly well made of his membres and well formed streight and hardy of countenaunce I beleue that he were bayned in a hoote house his flesshe woulde be whyte and softe Lady sayd Ualentyne he neuer ware no gowne tyll the other daye that I made hym this â—aceran that is vpon him for to se his countenaunce for it is the first gowne that euer he ware And knowe that also naked as he was borne he came vnto parys when he was borne and his flesshe is so harde that he feareth nother wynde nor colde Alwayes in speakynge these wordes the excellent Fezonne behelde stronly Orson so as it was goddes pleasure she was euâ—â—noured on Orson and stryken at the harte more ardauntly then euer she was before of any other howe well that he was not pycked nor gorgyously clothed as dyuers other were for all that it is sayde commonly that there is no foule loues whan the hartes geueth them therto Then when Ualentyne had spoken so to the mayden he sayde yet agayne vnto her Lady as touchyng me I shall tell you my case knowe that for the loue of you I am come into this countrey for to conquere you valyauntly by force of armes And yet I haue made an othe that I shal neuer retourne into Fraunce vnto the time that I haue foughte and proued my body agaynst the grene knyght ¶ For knowe that for the loue of you I wyll suffer death or yelde you the grene knyghte ouercome in to your handes Alas syr sayde the fayre Fezonne for me haue not the courage to put your lyfe in suche auâ—ture For who that loueth another better then hymselfe in a thynge that his lyfe hanged on such loue is me thynke is not â—â—isâ—e but by sordynate Alas to many noble and valiaunt knyghtes haue bene stayne for me wherfore it is a great dammage that I haue lyued thus longe Lady sayd valentyne of this you shall pardon me for thus I haue promysed it Knyght said Fezonne well maye it take you Than drewe she out two rynges of golde and gaue valentyne one Orson the other after they sat them downe at the table with the other fortene knyghtes where as ryght nobly the duke Sauary made them to be serued But amongest al theÌ„ that were at the table Fezonne had her regarde moste vpon Orson And Orson beheld her by a desyre of loue embraced and inspyred with an ardaunt and gracious apppetyte Nowe it happened that as y e knightes were syttyng at the table the grene knyght came smytyng at the gate for to se the fayre Fezonne that he loued soo muche For the duke Sauaray and he had made suche a contracte together that he might come once a daye and se her at his pleasure And then when he was entred he cryed all on hygh saying Valyaunt duke of Acquitain haue you a champyon y t wil fyghte wyth my body for the fayre lady Fezonne Ye sayd the Duke yet haue I syxtene within my halle that for to she we theyr prow esse agaynst euery body and you bene comen from dyuers realmes into this countre Now said the grene knyght make that I maye se them and that I entre in to the hal for to se the faire lady FezoÌ„ne Enter in said the duke for you haue lycence The greene knyghte entred into the halle and behealde all the knyghtes that were there And whan he had beholden them he sayd to them thus Lordes ete and drynke and make good the re for to moro we shall be youre laste daye And knowe that I shall make you all to bee hanged on the hygheste of all my tree Than Valentyne that herd him was euyl contente and answered hym Knyghte of that same vaunt you might haue hold your tongue For to dayis comen a knyght that shal fyght with you more asprely than euer dyd onye heare before you haue delyuered many vnto deathe but he is commen that shall vaynequisshe you in a felde by force of armes ¶ Now OrsoÌ„ vnderstode that they spake of him and knewe that the grene knight was he by whom the Justes were begon nen that it was he by whome so mani noble knights had suffred dethe So he beheld hym fyetsly and after lept from the table and in whettinge
On a mornynge Hugon called the fayre Clerymonde sayde to her in fayre language Lady knowe that I am kyng of Hongrye holde vnder me diuers â–ª greace lordes but of one thyng I am euill that is that I haue no wyfe and anâ— to mary for the whiche thyng I am come to ward you For I haue vnderstande that the knyghte Ualentyne wil neuer retourne wherfore I require you y t you haue me for your husbande so shal you be crowned quene of Hongrye and be greately honoured for aboue all other you are she that my harte desyreth so aâ—dauntlye Syr sayn the lady of the good and the honour that you present me I thanke you humbly but for to aunswere you well seke you another wyfe for my loue Ualentine lyueth yet soo I am delybreed for too abyde hym seuen yere And whan that it should be so that I would take a husbande it behoued not to speke vnto me but to the Emperoure Orson and to my brother the grene knight for without their counsayll I will neuer conâ—ente therto for any thyng that maye be sayde vnto me ¶ Lady sayd Hugon you speake right honestly your answere pleaseth me Than he came towarde Orson demaunded hym if he hadde any tydynges oâ— Ualentyne Free kyng sayde the Emperoure Orson that of hym had no doubte â–ª I knowe none other thyng saue that â—y a â—â—eter that he lefte me with his wyfe the which telleth that he is gone in exyle for to wepe his synnes ◠〈◊〉 vpoÌ„ hym he bereth halfe of the ring that he wedded his wife wyth and the other he hathe lefte her â–ª and charged her to beleue nothinge of hym but if she sawe the other halfe of the ryng Syr sayd Hugon that noted well the sewordes â–ª god be his spede for he is a knight to be moche praysed Nowe I wyll tell you one thynge that I haue in my courage I am delyuered for to go vnto The rusalem sor to vysyte the holy sepulcre so I wold gladly that you wolde bere me company Syr sayde Orson I am contente and we wyll go into Angorye and take the grene knyght with vs that is kyng therof It pleaseth me well sayd kyng Hugon lette vs go where you wyll Than Orson toke leue of the fayre Galazye â–ª and of his moder and mounted vpon thesee and came into Angory where as they were receyued much honourably â–ª and in greate ioye They made greate chere and after all thre wente into Jherusalem and toke vp theyr lodging for to reste them And vpon the morowe they wente toward the good patriarke that songe masse be fore them and made them be guyded throughe the cyte for to vyâ—â—â—e the holy sepulcre and other holy places in grete deuocion They gate the pardons and dyde theyr pylgrimage deuoutly saue the kinge Hugon that bare the treason in hys hearte by the whiche he made the noble prynces be taken and enprysoned that trusted in hym For right so as they visited the holy places y t traitour kyng Hugon stole oute of theyr company and yede vnto the kynge of Surye that was the kynge of Jâ—dâ—s broder that was slayne before Angorye Hugon salued hym by mahowne sayd vnto him Kynge vnderstondome and I shall tell you a thynge for your prouffyte Knowe syr that there is newly aryued here two knightes that you ought to hate aboue al other for they haue slayne kynge Brandyffer kynge Lucar and the puyssaunt kynge of Ynde your brother Whan Rabastre vnderstode that hys brother was dead he wepte much and after sayd vnto Hugon Syr can you yelde me the two knyghtes Yes sayd the traytour Hugon so y t you wyll giue me theyr seales af golde Syr sayd the kyng of Surye I should be to ingrate yf I refused you soo lytell a thynge you shall haue the seales and other thynges ynoughe yf you may delyuer me the two knyghtes Yes sayd Hugon and herken now Sende your messengers in to the house of the patryarke for he can tel you where they are Than the kynge of Sury dyd so and sent viii hundred men armed to the good patryarke the whyche shewed them the lodgys at the kynges coÌ„maundement The paynyms went thyther anone and founde Orson and the grene knyght at dynner â–ª the whyche they tooke and bounde straytely and in betynge theym ledde them towarde the kynge Alas sayd Orson we are betrayed for ryght so as kynge Pepyn and the twelue peres of Fraunce were ones solde vnto the sarazyns in thys cyte so are we nowe Whan the kynge of Sury sawe them he sayd vnto them False enemyes of oure lawe I am ryght Joyous that I holde you now tel me your names for I wyll knowe theym and for a cause Syr sayde Orson I am called Orson and thys is the Grene knyght By mahowne sayd the kynge I haue hearde muche speke of you and you haue a felowe named valentyne the whiche if I helde he shoulde neuer escape my handes on lyue Than he made them to be dyspoyled and tooke theyr Seales frome theym the whyche he gaue afterwarde to kynge Hugon So Orson the grene knyght were put in a depe dongeon with bread and water longe They thought that the kyng Hugon had bâ— slayne of the sarazyns Alas they knew nothing how the mater did go for the traytoure Hugon was in the cytye y t called vnto him a disloyall traytoure named Galeran whiche had serued him longe for suche mayster suche seruaunt â–ª Galeran sayd Hugon I haue found y e maner wherby I shall come vnto the ende of myn entencion And because that you are my neuewe and haue serued me longâ— be secrete and I shall rewarde you soo well that you shal be content Vncle sayd Galeran haue no doubte of me for I know where you pretende that is to haue the fayre clerimonde vnto wyfe ¶ It is true sayde kynge Hugon it nedeth not to hyde it frome you We must make a letter subtylly in the name of Orson for I haue his propre seale wyth the whiche it shall be sâ—aleâ— And it behoueth that the letter be made thus ¶ Orson by the grace of god Emperour of grece vnto you my ryght redoubted and souerayne ladye and Moder vnto you my loue Galazye and vnto my syster y e fayr â–ª Clerymonde all humble salutation recommendacyon due Know that there is happened vs piteous tydynges and displeasaunt in this couâ—trye the whyche I wryte vnto you in this present letter so I require Jhesus that he gyue you pacyence â–ª My ladyes knowe for certayne that I haue founde my brothe â–ª Valentine in Jherusalem in his deathe bedde so God gaue me suche grace that I spake with hym or he dyed And at his 〈◊〉 he charged me to sende you tydynges to solue y e fayre Clerymonde from hym To whome he maundeth that for all the loue that euer she loued hym wyth that also soone as she may she take some prynce to husband
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 felte the paynes of chylding in the forest of Orleaunce And when the euyll had taken her she sente me vnto a vyllage there besyde for to fetche her a woman for to helpe and sucoure her Then I made the moste dyligence that was possible for me but or euer I was retourned the noble lady had delyuered two fayre sonnes of the whiche a wylde beere muche furiously bare away one of the children into the wodde in suche maner that the Empresse Bellyssant after her power wende for to haue saued and sucouredit but she wiste not where it became she had folowed so long that I founde her lying vpon the grasse in a swowne piteously aourned the whiche semed better dead then on lyue I tooke her vp betwene myne armes and comforted her as wel as I myght And when she was come to herselfe and that she myght speake in syghyng muche pyteously she recounted vnto me the maner howe she had lost her childe by the wylde beaste and howe she had lefte the other vnder a tree And when I vnderstode those wordes I ledde her vnto the tree whereas I had left her and there doubled her sorowe for she founde not the other chylde that she had lefte there And thus were the two children of your syster loste in the foreste And other tydynges knowe I not And if you doubte you of this thynge for to haue the more greater knowledge knowe syr that I am Blandymayn that was geuen all alone for to conduyte your syster Bellissant when she was sent in exile by the Emperoure Alexander Alas Blandymayn sayde the kinge youre woordes geueth me distresse and displeasaunce when that I maye not knowe the place where as my Syster is nor of her twoo chyldren haue certayne knowledge but sythe that I can knowe none other thynge tell me if that it be long ago sythe that she was delyuered within the forest of the twoo chyldren Syr sayd Blandymayn it was vpon the propre daye that you mette me in the forest of Orleaunce and that I tolde you the pyteous tydynges of the exyle and vytuperable blame of my lady Bellyssant your syster As the kyng Pepyn vnderstode these wordes of Blandymayn he was ryght pensyfe in his courage And euen so as he was in that thought he be thought hym of Ualentyne that he founde in the forest that same daie and on Orson that had bene conquered by him in that same wodde For this thing he was in great melancoly And when he had al considered he knew by the sayinges of Blandimain that they were sonnes of his syster Bellissant He sent for the quene Berth his wife dyuerse other lordes and ladyes of his courte for to tell and declare it theim Alas lordes sayd he I haue holden and nouryshed longe tyme in my house as poore chyldren and vnpuâ—uayed they that be sonnes to an Emperour and an Empresse and my propre neuewes that is vnlentine that I founde in the forest of Orleaunce that was by my syster Bellyssant in the tyme of her misfor tune chylded within the wodde And I let you to wyte that Orson the sauage that hath ben conquered by valentyne as I may vnderstand is his propre brother naturall and they both are sonnes vnto the Emperoure of Grece ¶ Of these tidinges was the quene Berthe muche ioyous and all the lordes barons and knightes of the court There was present the two enemies mor tal of Ualentine that is to wyte Haufray and Henty that with semblaunt made tyght ioyous chere but at their hartes and courages they were tryste and sorowful For aboue al thiâ—ges they desyred the death of the noble Ualentyne for and to the ende that with Charlemayn their lytell brother they might do their wil disordinate to whome they were muche contrary as you shall heare afterwarde recounted Now was Blandy main right sore abashed when he harde the kyng speke thus of the dedes of the twoo chyldren and demaunded hym Syr know you in what lande these two children may be founde that you make mencion of Frende sayd the kyng I haue nouryshed one in my house right longe in suche maner that he is become great haroye and stronge and hath conquered the other that lyued in the forest of Orleaunce as a beaste and dydâ—e greate dammage in the countrey aboute And after that he had conquered hym and that they hadde bene longe in my courte they departed from me and toke leue of me for to go in to Acquytayne to fyght with a hardy and a valyaunt champyon that the grene knight maketh hiÌ„ to be called And syth theyr departynge I myght neuer haue tydynges of them Syr sayd Blandymayn after that the whyche you tell me I let you wyte that I mette the two chyldren besyde the cyte of Acquytayne wherfore I am ryght dyspleasaunt that I myght not know them for of all my dolours I sholde haue had than alegement Of this mater they deuysed longe tyme. And after these thynges the king commaunded that Blandymayn shuld be fested and serued honourablye in all thyngs that was necessary for hym Than was BlaÌ„dymayn taken by the officers of the palays and was ledde amonge the barons and knyghtes of hys courte the whiche receiued him in grete honoure and reuereÌ„ce in festynge hym Nowe it happened that on that same daye the grene knyghte that I haue made mencyon of before arryued at the courte of kinge Pepin that was at Parys And soone as he was dyscended he went into the halle ryall in the whyche kynge Pepyn was with his batous knyghts muche notable He salued the king right reuerentlye And whan the kinge sawe hym armed wyth greâ—e armour he meruaylled muche and demaunded hym before all his barons knights Tell vs whome you are and also what is the cause of your commynge hether and wherefore you â—ere suche greue armoure Noble and honourable kyng sayde the grene knyght knowe that I am extraught out of sarazyns londe and borne and of a fader sarazyn I am engendred and of a moder painime I haue bene childed So it is true that for to haue to wife the doughter of y e duke of Acquitaine named Fezonne I haue by a whole yere holden the londe of the duke in my subgeccyon And haue doone so muche that at the laste I dyd gyue hym syx monethes of trewes by such a couenant that yt he gaue me not a knyght that by force of armes myghte conquere me duryng that same tyme that I shold haue his Doughter Fezonne vnto wyfe And in case that I were conquered and vainquisshed I shold make myne host to departe out of his countree wythoute â—armynge or hurtynge it Now I haue ben ryght longe before the cyte of Acquitaine in abidinge euery day batayll so there came to me many valyaunt knightes of dyuers countrees and regeons the whiche I haue put al to death and hanged on a treÌ„ â–ª saue alonely two worthy knyghtes wherof the one is named Ualentine and the other
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
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