were they themselues The same time the Emperours Nephewe was slaine who was a goodly Knight and the Emperour had before sent him to Bourdeaux to gouerne the Land and Countrey of Burdeloys and he had ben there the space of foure yéeres of whose death the Lord of Vergier was sorrie for he had rather that he had béen taken Prisoner then they tooke his bodie and buried him in the chiefe Church of Tournous whereas they lay all night with their Prisoners who were to the number of eight Hundred they of Bourdeaux that were taken as Prisoners were right ioyfull when they were thus escaped from the handes of the Almaines After this discomfiture they returned to the Abbey of Cluny whereas they were receiued with great ioy of the Abbot and of the Couent then the Lord of Vergier shewed the whole discourse of their discomfiture and then the booties were deuided amongest them that had wonne and all the men of warre departed except a Thowsand men whome the Abbot retayned for the sauegard of the towne of Cluny who made many skirmishes with the Emperours menne And after this discomfiture the newes thereof was presently brought to the Citie of Mayence to the Emperour Tirrey who was right sorrowfull for the death of his Nephew who was his sisters sonne by reason of the sorrow and great displeasure that he had for hee was thrée dayes after before he would come foorth of his chamber and on the fourth day he sent for all his Lords and Councell and to them he made his complaints how by the occasion of Duke Huon of Bourdeaux he had lost foure of his Nephews and his Bastard sonne and said I ought greatly to be gréeued when I cannot bée reuenged of Huon I thinke hee shall neuer returne againe but séeing it is so that I can take no vengeance of him I shall take it vppon his Wife Escleremond and vppon the thrée Hundred Prisoners that I brought out of Burdeaux but by the same Lord that made and fourmed mee to his semblance I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart nor eate nor drinke vntill I haue seene Escleremond burnt in a fire and the thrée Hundred prisoners hanged and strangled and I wil that each of you knowe that he that speaketh to me first to the contrarie I shall hate him euer after When the Lords had well heard the Emperour make that promise there was none so hardy that durst speake one woord then the Emperour commaunded in hast great plentie of thornes to be caried out of the Citie vnto a little Mountaine there beside and there by to be reared vp certaine Gallowes to hange thereon the thrée Hundred Prisoners All this was done as hee commaunded for more then tenne Load of thornes were caried out to burne the noble Ladie Escleremond and she was sent for out of the prison by foure hangmen and the Prisoners with her were brought into the Citie and all to bée beaten by the way When the noble Ladie saw how shee was dealt withall shee pitiously complained for her good Husband Huon and for her Daughter Clariet and saide Ah my right swéet Lord and Husband Huon at this time shall bee the departure of vs two and then shee called vppon our Lord Iesus Christ praying him by his grace and pity to bring her soule into Paradice thus crying and complayning the noble Ladie was ledde through the Towne and then Ladies and Burgesses and Maidens of the Citie ranne to their windowes and dores and beheld the dolourous and pitifull companie leading towardes their deaths then they sayd a high Ah right noble Ladie where is become the great beautie that you were woont to bee of for now your Visage is pale and discoloured that was woont to be so faire and nowe so loathed and disfigured where is become your faire haires that nowe bee so blacke and rugged for the great pouertie that you haue endured Alas noble Ladie great pitie and compassion we haue to sée you in this estate if we could amend it thus as this Ladie was led through the Towne she was bemoned of them that sawe her the three Hundred Gentlemen were also led forth and the Emperour Tirrey and his Lords road after them for his desire was to see the noble Ladie burnt and the other Prisoners hanged hee made hast because of the sorrow that hee had for the death of his Nephewe and of his men who were newly slaine by the meanes of the Abbot of Cluny When they were yssued out of the Citie of Mayence Duke Hildebert a néere kinsman of the Emperours was comming into the Citie the same time that the Ladie was ledde foorth and hée sawe how rudely they dealt with the Ladie and when he sawe her he knew well that it was the faire Ladie Escleremond but when hee sawe her at that point the water was in his eyes and he sayd vnto them that ledde her Sirs go not too fast vntill I haue spoken with the Emperour the which they did gladly When the noble Ladie Escleremond had well heard and vnderstood the Duke shee had some little hope shee turned her eyes towards him sayd Ah right noble Prince haue pittie and compassion of mee for I haue done nothinge whereby I should deserue to die When the Duke had well vnderstood her he had such pitie that he could speake no word his heart was so full of sorrowe and then he road as fast as he might to méet with the Emperour and passed by the thrée hundred prisoners and had great pity and compassion of them and so he came vnto the Emperour all wéeping and said Ah right noble Emperour I require you in the honour of the passion of our Lord Iesus Christ haue pitie and compassion of this dolourous companie that are likely to die this day remember that it is nowe in the holy time of Lent wherefore I require you to respite their liues vntill it be past Easter and Sir humbly I require you for all the seruice that I and mine haue done vnto you graunt me but this request for my reward the which is both reasonable and iust great wronge you doe to reuenge your anger vppon this noble Ladie you haue chaced her out of her Countrey Landes and Signiories the which you hold in your handes and take the Reuenewes and profits thereof if you bee not sufficed with this I doubt that our Lord Iesus Christ will be sore displeased with you When the Emperour had well heard the Duke his Cozen hee stoode still and spake hastely and sayd Faire Coozen I haue well heard you and therefore I answeare you in briefe wordes how that if all the men that bee in mine Empire and all the Priestes and Friers were here and did preach vnto me a whole yeare desiring me to respite this Ladies death and the other that be with her I would doe nothing for all them and therefore speake no more to me in that matter for by the beard that hangeth vnder my chinne
followed the Damsell who brought them into the Pallaice to Huon and when they saw him they all wept for ioy and embraced and kissed him and demanded if he had any hurt Sirs quoth Huon I thanke god I féele no hurt and then he brought them where as the Gyant lay dead when they saw him they had maruaile how he could be slaine by Huon they were affraid to sée him lye dead Then Gerames demanded of Huon what was the Damsell that was there and Huon shewed how she was his coozen and shewed thē all the maner how she came thether whereof they had great ioy and embraced her then they all vnarmed themselues and went to supper and eate and dranke at their pleasure but their ioy endured not long as yée shall heare héereafter Chap. XXXIIII ¶ How Huon departed from the castle of the Gyant and tooke leaue of his company and went alone a foot to the sea-side whereas he found Mallaborn of the Fayrie on whome he mounted to passe the Sea YE haue heard here before how Huon conquered the Giant the which was great ioy to all his companie then the next day Huon called them all together and said Sirs yée knowe well the enterprize that I haue taken on me to doe touching the Admyrall Gaudise therefore it is conuenient that as shortly as I can to doe my messuage that I am charged by king Charles to doe to the Admirall Gaudise wherefore I desire you all to kéepe good and true companie with this noble Damsell also I require you to tarrie héere xv daies and then if I retourne not goe you all into Fraunce and take this noble Damsell with you and salute from me king Charlemaine and all the Péeres of Fraunce and shew them the hard aduentures that I haue had and how I am gone to perfourme his messuage When his companie vnderstood that he would depart they were sorowfull and saide Sir yée desire vs to tarrie héere xv daies know for troth wée shall tarrie héere for you an whole yéere Sirs quoth he I thanke you then he made him readie to depart and armed him and tooke his Cuppe and Horne and also the Gyants Ring the which he did put about his arme and then he kist his Coosen and all the others and they all made great lamentation for his departing Then they went vp into the Pallaice looked out at the windowes after Huon as long as they might sée him Huon went foorth till he came to the sea-side the which was not farre from the Castle and there was a little Hauen whereas alwaies was wont to lye some manner of ship or vessell to passe ouer the Sea And when Huon came thether though nowe at this instant there was none at all finding no meanes for passage he said Ah good Lord what shall I doe that I can finde heere no boate or vessell to passe in alas in an ill houre I slew Charlot wherby I am thus still in danger howbeit I did it in mine owne defence great wrong therefore king Charles hath done to banish me out of mine owne Countrey These and the like complaints made Huon there being alone and began sore to lament but sodainly on his right hand he saw a great beast come swimming towards him like a Beare Huon beheld him and made on himselfe a signe of the Crosse and drew out his swoord to defend himselfe as thinking the Beast would haue assailed him but he did not but went a little off from Huon shooke himselfe in such wise that his skinne fell off and then he was as faire a man and as well fourmed as could be séene Then Huon had great feare and maruaile when he saw that this Beast was become a man yet he approached neere to him and demaunded what he was and whether he were an humane creature or els an ill spirite that was come thether to tempt him and said right nowe thow didst swimme in the sea trauersed the great waues in guise of a maruailous beast I charge thee in the name of God thou do me no hurt but shew me what thou art for I beleeue thou art of king Oberons company Huon quoth he dismay thou not I know thée right well thou art Sonne to Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux Royall king Oberon hath sent me to thee once it happened me to breake his commaundment wherfore he hath condemned me to be this xxx yéeres like a beast in the Sea Frend quoth Huon by the Lord that fourmed me I will trust thée till I be past the red sea Huon quoth Mallaborn know for troth I am sent hether for no other cause but to beare thee whether thou wilt therefore make thee readie and recommend thy selfe to the sauegard of our Lord Iesus Christ and than let me alone Than Mallaborn entred againe into the Beasts skinne and said to Huon Sir mount vpon my backe Chap. XXXV ¶ How Huon passed the Sea vpon Mallaborn who bare him to Babilon and how Huon came to the first gate and so to the second WHen Huon sawe the Beaste enter againe into his skinne and that hee taried for him he made the signe of the crosse and prayed god to saue and conduct him so leapt vpon him the Beast entred into the Sea and swamme as fast as though a bird had slowen so that within a short space he trauersed the great Ryuer of Nyle the which cometh from Paradise and which is a dangerous Riuer for the multitude of Serpents and Crocodilles that be therein howbeit there were none that did him any trouble Then when they came to land Huon was ioyfull and Mallaborn said Right déerely shall I aby the time that thou wert borne or that euer I knew thée for the intent to doe thée pleasure I shall endure yet x. yeares like a Beast in the Sea and xxx yeares I haue béen so already so that my time is in all xl yéeres I haue great pitie of thée for there is no man borne of a woman that knoweth the ill and pouertie that shall fall héereafter to thée and I shall suffer much for the loue that I haue to thée howbeit I shall take it in patience Yonder thou maiest sée the citie whether thou wouldest goe moreouer thou knowest what hath been commaunded thée what thou hast to doe and yet whatsoeuer fall breake not the commaundement of king Oberon and alwaies be true say the troth for assoone as thou makest any lye thou shalt loose the loue of king Oberon thus God be with thée for I may no longer tarrie So he went againe into the Sea and Huon tarried there alone recommending himselfe to our lord god and so tooke the way to the Citie and there entred in without let of any man So soone as he was entred he met a M. Paynims going a hawking another M. coming homeward and a M. horses led to be new shod a M. coming frō shooing than he saw a M. men playing at the Chesse
Gyant and when he had made his praiers to god he put on his armour as quickly as though he had neuer béen in prison wherby he knew well that god was pleased with him and then he said Ah noble king Oberon I pray thée séeing God is pleased with me put away thy displeasure and pardon me for the breaking of thy commaundement I haue béen sore punished and I pray thee be not displeased if I spake any hasty worde being in prison for famine caused me to doe it In the breaking of thy commaundement I confesse I did ill therein yet it was but by negligence and forgetting Alas Sir remember but what courtesie ye shewed me when yée found me in the wood and gaue me your rich Horne and Cup by the which often times I haue been succoured therefore sir now I require thée to pardon me all my trespasses and helpe me at my néed for I sée well without it be by the grace of god your helpe there is nothing can saue my life thus he besought god of pardon and to giue him grace to destroy his enemy who was so horrible to behould And when he had made his prayer there came a Sarazin to Huon said Sir héere is your owne swoord that yée lost when yée were taken Friend quoth Huon yee do me great courtesie God giue me grace to reward thée Then he did on his helmet and girt on his sword and the Admirall sent him a good horse the best in all his Court for he was not so faire but he was in goodnes aboue all other When Huon saw him he was right ioyfull thanked the Admirall As for his rich fourniture I make no mention thereof the saddle harnesie and bridle were so rich that the value thereof could not be estéemed Then Huon made the signe of the crosse and mounted on his horse armed at all points and so rode out of the Pallaice into a faire meadow and there made a course to assay his horse then he rested him before the Admirall who leaned in a window in his Pallaice and when he beheld Huon he said to his Lords Trust me these Frenchmen are to be doubted feared for Huon is a goodly yong man and great wrong it had been if he had béen slaine The Admirall commaunded the field to be kept with a Thowsand Sarazins to thintent that no treason should be done or any iniurie offered to his faire séeming Champion Chap. XLIIII ¶ How Huon fought with Agrapart the Gyant and discomfited him and deliuered him to the Admirall who had great ioy thereof WHen Huon hadde made his course he came into the field whereas his enemie was ready and when Agrapart saw Huon hee said Thou that art of so great courage as to fight against me howe néere of kinne art thou to the Admirall séeing that for the loue of him thou wilt put thy selfe in aduenture of death Paynim quoth Huon know for troth that I am nothing of kinne to the Admirall but I was borne in the Realme of Fraunce and if thou desire to know what I am I say vnto thée that I am he that slew thy Brother For that quoth the Paynim I am the more sorowfull and yet againe ioyfull in that Mahound hath done mée the grace to haue power to reuenge his death but if thou wilt beléeue and worship my God Mahound and forsake thy beléefe and goe with me into my countrey I shall make thée so great a Lord that of all thy kinne there was neuer any such And I shall giue thée my sister in mariage who is a foote greater than I am and is as blacke as a cole Paynim quoth Huon I care neyther for thy land nor for thy sister but all the diuels in hell kéepe them both beware thou of me for I shall neuer ioy in my hart vntill the time that I haue slaine thee as I haue done thy brother I defie thée in the name of god and I thée quoth the Gyant in the name of Mahound Then they went a sunder to take their courses and they ran each at other and met so fiersly that their speares brake in péeces and the encounter was so rude that by force of the shocke both the horses fell to the earth but the Champions quickly recouered and came each vpon other Agrapart tooke vp his fawchin to haue striken Huon but he stept a litle on the one side whereby the Paynim missed his stroke Huon lifted vp his sword and strake the Gyant on the helmet so maruailous a stroke that he strake of a quarter therof and wounded him sore and the stroke descended downe and cut of his eare so that the black blood ran downe to the ground Then Huon said Paynim thou wert vnhappie when thou camest hether thou mightest haue béen content with the death of thy Brother and not to come hether to haue as much thy selfe for thou shalt neuer sée faire day more When the Gyant saw him selfe hurt he had great feare and said Cursed be he of Mahound that forged thy swoord I had rather I had béene bound to haue paid a great summe of money to haue saued my life than to be slaine héere therfore I yéeld my selfe to thée take héere my swoord I pray thée doe me no hurt Paynim quoth Huon haue no doubt séeing thou doest yéeld thée to me there is none so hardy that shall doe thée any displeasure Then Huon tooke the Paynim by the arme brought him into the Citie whereof the Admirall and all his Lords had great ioy but the inward content that Escleremond had passed all other When Gerames saw how the Gyant was ouercome he came to the Admiral and said Sir Admirall know for troth that I am christened and I am not your Nephew I came hether but only to search for my Lord Huon the better to know the troth I said I was sonne to Iuoryn of Mombrance your brother thereby to know the certentie what was become of Huon for I knew well he was sent to you from king Charlemaine on a Messuage Chap. XLV ¶ How Agrapart the Gyant cryed mercie to the Admirall and howe Huon desired the Admirall Gaudise to leaue his law and to be christened WHEN the Admirall heard Gerames he had great maruaile and said it is hard for any man to beware of the craft and subtiltie that is in a Frenchman Then the Admirall sawe where Huon was comming vp the steps and bringing with him the Gyant whereon the Admirall and all his Lords came met him and Gerames his company with him who were right ioyfull when they saw him come When Huon sawe the Admirall he tooke Agrapart by the hand and said to the Admirall Sir I deliuer him into your handes that this day did you so great iniurie euen he that drew you out of your chaire I deliuer to you to doe with him at your pleasure When Agrapart saw that he knéeled and said Sir Admirall he hath
Mahound I pray you haue pitie on me for I am no slaue but I am Daughter to the Admirall Gaudise of Babylon who is dead and slaine by a Frenchman the Mariners heere haue taken me and would carrie me to mine Vncle king Iuoryn of Mombrance and I know surely that if he had me he would burne me Faire Lady quoth the Admirall dismay you not for yee shall abide with mee whether they will or not then he commaunded the Mariners to bring the Ladie to him but they answered that they would not so doe then the Admirall commaunded to take her from them perforce and then they of the shippe began to make defence But anon they were all slaine and the Lady taken and brought to the Admirall who had great ioy therof howbeit he was sorie because one of them that were in the ship scaped away and fled to Mombrance notwithstanding the Admirall cared not greatly for it séeing he had the Ladie whome he brought into his Pallaice When the Admirall saw her so excéeding faire hee was taken in her loue so that incontinent he would haue married her after the Sarazins law whereof shee was right sorowfull and said Sir reason it is that I doe your pleasure séeing yée haue rid me out of the handes of these Pyrates of the sea But sir I require you for the loue that ye beare me that yee will forbeare your pleasure at this present time for Sir I haue made a faithfull vow and promise that for a yeere and a day from henceforth I will not lye with nor touch any man boldly for the which vow sir I am now sorie eueÌ„ for the loue that I beare to you but Sir I am right ioyfull that yee will doe me so much honor as to haue me to your wife our great god Mahound reward you Now sir for the loue of him I pray you be content vntill my vow be accomplished Faire Ladie quoth he know for troth that for the honour of my God Mahound but more for the loue of you I am content to tarrie this yeere yea and if it were Twentie yeeres to be sure of your loue then Sir quoth she Mahound reward you but she said to her selfe Ah deare Lord god Iesu Christ I humbly require thée to giue me that grace to kéepe my troth to my Louer Huon for ere I shall doe the contrarie I shall suffer as much paine and gréefe as euer womaÌ„ did and I will neuer breake my troth for feare of death Now leaue we to speak of her and say somewhat of the theefe that scaped out of the shippe Chap. XLIX ¶ How the Pyrate fled to Mombrance to Iuoryn and how he sent to defie the Admirall Galaffer of Anfalerne and of the answeare that he had there YE haue heard heere before how the faire Escleremond was receiued by the Admirall Galaffer and of the manner that shee found to keepe her selfe true to Huon and how one of the Mariners scaped away and fledde by land till at last he came to the Citie of Mombrance where he found Iuoryn to whome he shewed all the whole matter as ye haue heard and how his brother the Admirall Gaudise was slaine by a young french knight and how he and his companie found the said knight and his Néece the faire Escleremond whom they had thought to haue brought to him But quoth he the Admirall Galaffer hath taken them from vs by force and hath taken our shippe and slaine all your men that were within it so that none escaped but I alone When king Iuoryn vnderstood the Mariner he said Ah mightie Mahound how hast thou suffered that my brother Gaudise hath thus pitiously been slaine and also my Néece his Daughter to consent thereto certainely the gréefe that I féele at my heart constraineth mée rather to desire death than life And also moreouer to see him that is mine owne Subiect and houldeth his landes of me to keepe my Néece and thus to slay my men Alas I cannot well say what I should doe therein a little thing would cause me to slay my selfe Then in great displeasure he called his Lords and caused the Mariner to come before them there he made him to shew again all the matter bâ—fore them both how his brother the Admirall Gaudise was slaine and also how the Admirall Galaffer held his Néece by force and how he had slaine his men which when the Lords had heard they said thus to Iuoryn Sir our aduice is that yée should send one of your secret messengers to the Admirall Galaffer and commaund him incontinent to send you your Néece and to make amends for that he hath slaine your men and that he send you word by writing what cause hath mooued him thus to doe and if it be so that pride doth so surmount in him that hee will not obey your commaundements then by a iust quarrell ye may goe and make warre vpon him and take from him all his lands that he houldeth of you When Iuoryn vnderstood his Lords he said Sirs I perceaue well your opinion is good and then a Messenger was appointed and his charge giuen him and so he departed and rode so long till he came to Anfalerne where he found the Admirall Galaffer whome he saluted in the name of Mahound and then hee declared his Messuage at length but assoone as Galaffer had heard his messuage he said Friend goe and say to king Iuoryn that as for the deliuerance of his Néece I will not doe it and as for his men that are slaine it was through their owne folly and as touching that I should come to him I will not come to him let him do what he can but if he come to assaile me I shall defend as well as I can When the Messenger heard that he said Sir Admirall séeing yee will doe none otherwise in the name of our god Mahound and in the name of great king Iuoryn héere I defie you he sendeth you woord by me that he will leaue you neither Citie Towne nor Castle but he will put them all to flame and fire nor leaue you one foot of land but also if he may take you ye shall die a shamefull death When the Admirall saw how hee was defyed hee was more inflamed then a burning fire-brand and said to the messenger Go and say to thy Lord that I set nothing by his threatning and if I may know when hée commeth I shall do him that honour that I will not abide till hée enter into my country but I will méete with him before and say vnto him from me that if I can take him I shall soone ryd his soule out of his body So the messenger departed and came to Mombrance where wheÌ„ Iuoryn saw him he said Frend what saith Galaffer will hée send me my Néece Sir quoth the messenger hée will not doe it hée saith hée doubteth you nothing and if yee be so hardy as to come and assayle him then hée will meet
knight in all Pagany and also wanne his good horse But yet I am displeased with him for that whē he played with me at the Chesse he was not so hardy as once to embrace and kisse me if he had I would haue loued him in such wise that if he had required of me my loue I would not haue refused him though my father had sworne the contrarie an hundred times thus the Ladies and Damsels deuised together but Huon set little thereby Thus king Iuoryn and his men issued out of the Citie of Mombrance and came to the fields and then roade foorth toward Anfalerne at the last came before the gates of the citie and there ordered them in battaile array and Huon who had great desire to attaine to renowne came to the gate with his speare in his hand and cried alowd to them that were on the walles and said Where is Galaffer your Lord goe and shew him that he come and Iust against him that hath slaine his Nephew and that I will serue him in like sort if I may méete with him in Battaile or else he shall deliuer to me the faire Escleremond Galaffer was néere by and heard what Huon saide and knew well that it was he by reason of the horse Blanchardyn whereof he was right sorowfull said to Gerames Friend I shal shew you héere him that hath done me al this ill now I shall sée if yée will kéepe promise with me Sir quoth Gerames take no care for by the faith that I owe to God I shall render to you both the horse and the man to doe with them at your pleasure Then Gerames yssued out all armed well horsed and tooke a good speare in his hand hee was a goodly knight of his age puissant of bodie and in his time greatly redoubted and when he was on his horse hee stretched himselfe in his saddle in such wise that his stirrops stretched out a long handfull or more he was greatly praysed of the Paynims that saw him and then the Admirall Galaffer commaunded euery man to be armed and he himselfe was armed richly Then the gate was opened and Gerames was the first that issued out with his company when he was without the citie he strake his horse with his spurres so that he was a great space before all his companie with his speare in his hand his shield about his necke and his white beard hanging downe on his brest vnder his helmet Nowe when Huon on the other part saw Gerames comming hee spurred Blanchardyn and came against Gerames and so they met together without any word speaking and strake each other on their shéeldes so that all was broken but their armour was so good that they tooke no hurt but their speares brake to their handes and the shiuers flew vp into the ayre and the stroakes were so rude that both the knights horses fell to the earth but they arose againe and gaue each other great stroakes Gerames who was expert in déedes of armes tooke his sword with both his hands and gaue Huon such a stroake on the helmet that perforce he was faine to set one of his knées to the earth the stroake was so heauy and if it had not béen by the grace of God he had béene slaine and Huon was so astonished with the stroake that he had much adoo to recouer but said Ah good Lord succour me and graunt me that before I die I maye sée the faire Escleremond These words he spake openly for he thought that Gerames had not vnderstood him for he little thought that it had béen Gerames that fought with him thē he came to Gerames with his sword in his hand to haue béen reuenged for he neuer before receiued such a stroake as Gerames had giuen him But Gerames vnderstood Huon by his words and knew him and therwith cast downe his sword to the earth and had such sorow that he could not speake a word When Huon saw that he maruayled greatly why he cast his sword to the earth and then Huon would not touch him but said Paynim what is thy mind to doe wilt thou haue peace or else fight with me Ah sir quoth Gerames come foorth and strike of my head for well I haue deserued it séeing I haue stricken you so rudely but I knew you not whereof I am very sory When Huon heard him speake anon he knew well that it was Gerames wherof he had great ioy in his heart for finding of him The Paynims that regarded them hadde great maruaile what thing the twoo Champions ment or thought to do Sir quoth Gerames it behooueth vs shortly to determine our businesse for I sée on all parts Paynims assemble together to behould vs I shall shew you what is best for vs twoo to doe leape you vpon your horse and I shall leape on mine then I shall take you and lead you perforce as my prisoner to the Citie of Anfalerne and there shall yée sée your Loue Escleremond who will haue great ioy with your comming and shée will tell you other newes Friend quoth Huon I shall doe as yee deuise then they leapt on their horses and Gerames came to Huon and laid hand on him as though he tooke him Prisoner and so led him toward the citie of Anfalerne and his companie followed him and when king Iuoryn sawe how Gerames had led away Huon as Prisoner he began to crie said On forth yée Sarazins how suffer you this yong man to be led away as a Prisoner to the citie of Anfalerne I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart if ye suffer him thus to be ledde away Then the Sarazins dashed into the preasse to haue rescued Huon and on the other part the Admirall Galaffer came met Gerames and Huon and then Gerames said to him Sir goe and fight with your enemies behould heere the young man that slew your Nephew Sorbryn I shall lead him into the citie and set him in sure prison and then I shall shortly retourne againe to you to fight against king Iuoryn Friend quoth Galaffer I require you so to doe and assoone as yee haue set him in prison retourne againe Gerames departed from the Admirall and went to the citie with Huon and his xiij companions with him when they were entred into the Citie they lifted vp the bridges and closed the gates in the Citie there was no man of warre for all were in the field with the Admirall against king Iuoryn there were none but women children ould folkes and when that Gerames and Huon saw how they were strong ynough for them in the Citie they went into the stréetes and cried Saint Dennis and slew all that they met aswell old men as women and children so that within a short space they had cleane wonne the towne Many Paynims fled and leapt into the dikes and brake neckes armes and legges then they went into the Pallaice and there they found the faire Escleremond when Huon saw
Castle had great maruaile who it should bee that they would hang vp there and when the minstrell was aboue on the ladder hee turned him towards the Castle and cryed with an high voyce Ah Huon how will ye suffer me here to die yet remember the goodnes that I haue done to you and the courtesie that I did when yee came all naked I gaue you then cloathing and meate and drinke and I abandoned to you all that I had ill it hath béen employed without ye reward mée better When Huon heard the Minstrell hée knew wel that it was Mouflet who had béen his maister then hée said to his company Sirs I require you arme you quickely for the Paynims héere without haue reared vp a gybet whereon they will hang a Minstrell who hath done me great pleasure I would be right sorie if he should haue any ill Then Gerames and al his companions made them ready and issued out of the Castle with Huon by a secret posterne so that they that were about the gibet were not aware of of them till Huon and his companie was among them Huon ranne at him that should haue hanged the minstrell and strake him with his speare cleane through and so hee fell downe dead and then Huon tooke downe the Minstrell and made him to flie away to the posterne and his violl about his necke he that had séene him flie away could not haue kept himselfe from laughing for he ranne so fast that he séemed to bee no old man but rather of the age of thirtie yéere and Huon and Gerames and his companie slew and beate downe all the thirtie Paynimes so that none escaped the death When King Iuoryn and Galaffer perceiued that there was much adoe about the gibet they sayd Sirs the Frenchmen are come out of the Castle goe and looke that ye doe so much that none of thē enter againe Then Paynims on euerie part issued out of their lodgings and ranne thither hée that best might without kéeping of any good order Huon and Gerames when they saw them comming they made semblance to returne to the citie a soft pace and the Paynims came after them crying and howling like dogges and when they approched néere Huon sodainely turned and with his speare he met so the first that he ranne him cleane through the body with his speare so that he fell downe dead and Gerames and his companie strake so among the paynims that the place ranne like a riuer of bloud of the dead Paynims Huon strake with his sword with both his hands hée strake none with a full stroke but that he claue the head to the téeth but finally the force of the paynims was so great that at length they could not abide it Then Huon who was expert in déedes of armes perceiued that it was time to depart he called his men together and went toward the posterne the which with much payne they got in thereat and so they entred in al xiii companions but yet they were so hasted and pursued that Garyn of Saint Omer abode without and defended himselfe valiantly but at last he was slaine by the Paynims then Huon was right sorrowfull when hee saw that Garyn was not entered into the Castle and pitiously complayned for him and sayd A déere cousin who for the loue of mee haue left your wife and children and land and signories I am sory of your death Sir quoth Gerames leaue your sorrow and thinke to make good chéere and to kéepe well our fortres our Lord God hath alwayes ayded you and shall doe through his grace go we vp and make good chéere for with this sorrow wee can winne nothing Then when they came into the Pallace they met with Escleremond and when Huon saw her hee sayd My faire Loue this day haue I lost one of my good friends whereof I am sorrowfull Sir quoth she I am sorie thereof but that thing that cannot be recouered must be left wee be all made to die God will haue mercy on his soule with such like worde Escleremond and Gerames appeased Huon and when they were in the hall they vnarmed them and went to dinner and afterwardes they looked out at the windowes to sée the countenance of the Paynims then Gerames sayd to the Minstrell Mouflet my friend I pray thée take thy violl and giue vs a song to make vs merrie then the Minstrell tooke his Instrument and gaue them a most sweete song the which was so melodious for to heare that they all beleeued that they had beene in Paradice and they all made excéeding great ioy with such a cheerefull noyse that the Paynims that were without did heare it and sayd among themselues Ah these French-men are people to be feared and doubted and they were right sorrowfull for the men that they had loste by the prowesse of these Fourtéene persons Chap. LX. ¶ How the good Prouost Guyer Brother to Gerames arriued at the Port of Anfalerne WHen that King Iuoryn sawe and knewe the great losse that hée had receiued hee was right sorrowfull and then the Admirall Galaffer said Sir for the honour of Mahound bee not so sore troubled for a thing the which you shall well atchieue and bring to an end you knowe well these French-men are as a bird being in a Cage for they cannot escape neither by land nor by water and they are without hope of any rescue to day they were Fourtéene and now they be but Thirteene you are lodged in a good Towne and haue the féelds and the Sea at your pleasure it is not possible for them to escape they haue neither Shippe nor Galley to flye in Therefore Sir appease your selfe suffer them to waste their victuals By these woordes somewhat King Iuoryn was appeased and the French-men in the Castle deuised together and Huon sayd vnto Gerames Fréend you sée well wée be héere inclosed and wee can neither depart by Land nor by Sea nor wee looke for no succour of any man liuing and héere before vs are lodged Paynims who haue sworne our deaths Sir quoth Gerames true it is but I hope in our Lord God that he will send vs some good aduenture and if it please you let vs two go downe and sport vs by the water side néere to the Port vntill night come I am content quoth Huon wee may goe thether and not bee séene by the Paynims for thether might come Shippe or Galley without daunger of the Towne thether they went and when it was néere hand night Huon looked into the Sea and saw a Ship comming thether-ward Then Huon sayd vnto Gerames Fréend behold yonder commeth a Ship with full sayle they will arriue at this Port they be Christian men I sée well by the tokens that the Ship doth beare for vppon the Mast I sée a red crosse Sir quoth Gerames by all that I can sée the shippe is of Fraunce and therefore as I haue said to you before God will send vs some good aduenture
and Gerames wounded on the Side as he was Now wee will leaue to speake of this pitious company enduring great sorow in the horrible prison in the greate Tower of Bourdeaux Chap. LXVIII ¶ How the Traytours returned to the Abbey of St. Maurise and slewe the good Abbot and tooke away all the Treasure that Huon had left there THus as ye haue heard here before how Gerard and Gybouars had put in prison Huon and Escleremond and Gerames in great miserie and when it was day Gerard and Gybouars departed out of Bourdeaux and all their company and road againe vnto the Abbey and so came thether to dinner then Gerard sent for the Abbot to come and speake with him When the Abbot heard how Gerard was come againe to the Abbey he had great maruaile and so came to Gerard and sayd Sir you be welcome I pray you what aduenture hath brought you hether againe so shortly I had thought that you had been gone with your Brother Huon Sir quoth the Traitour after that my Brother Huon was departed hence hée remembred his riches that he left with you to kéepe and bycause he shall haue great neede thereof to giue gifts vnto the great Princes and Lordes that be about King Charlemaine to the entent that his businesse may take the better effect Therefore my Brother hath sent mée vnto you desiring you to send his goods vnto him by mée Sir quoth the Abbot when your Brother Huon departed hence true it was that hée left with mée his riches to kéepe and charged mée not to deliuer it to any person liuing but all onely to his owne person Therefore Sir by the faith that I owe vnto my Patron Saint Maurise I will not deliuer vnto you one penny When the Traytour Gerard vnderstoode that answeare he sayd Dane Abbot thou lyest for whether thou wilt or not I will haue it and no thankes to thée and yet thou shalt also repent thy woords Then Gerard sudainly tooke the Abbot by the haire of the head and Gybouars tooke him by the one arme and did so strike him with a staffe that hee all to bruzed him and then did cast him to the earth so rudely that his heart burst in his bodie and so dyed When the Monkes saw their Abbot slaine they had great feare so fled away and the two Traytours with their Swords in their hands went after them with sore threatnings when the Monks sawe howe they could not escape for the two Traytours and their men they fell downe on their knées humbly praying them to haue pitie of them and they would shew them all the gold treasure that was in the house to do therewith at their pleasure Then the Traytour Gybouars said how the Monks had spoken well when the Monkes saw how they had peace they shewed to the two Traitors the place where the treasure was and deliuered to them the keyes so they tooke away all the treasure that Huon had left there and besides that all the treasure of the church crosses sensers chalesses copes and candlestickes of siluer all they tooke and caryed away if I should recite all the riches that they had there it should be too long to be rehearsed In that house there was a Monke who was cousin to Gibouars whome the twoo Traytors made Abbot of that place so when they had atchieued their enterprise they departed with all that riches wherewith was charged xv strong Sommers they left not in the Abbey the value of a Florent for euerie thing that was good they tooke with them and so road vntill they came vnto Bourdeaux Nowe as they passed through the Towne they were greatly regarded of all the Burgesses of the Citie who had great maruaile from whence their Lord came with so great riches These Traytours passed foorth vntill they came to the Pallaice and there they discharged their Somers then Gerard tooke the Treasure that fiue of the Somers did carie and laid it in his Chambers and Coffers then hée ordained that Ten Somers should be trussed foorth to goe to Paris and sent them forward sayd how hée would follow soone after Then he and Gibouars dyned and after meat they mounted vppon their Horses and the new Abbot Coozen to Gibouars with them and two Squiers and about siâ—e other Seruants and so road in hast to ouer-take their Somers with their treasure and so within two Leagues they ouer-tooke them so then they all together road so long vntill on a Wednesday they came to Paris they lodged in the Stréete next vnto the Pallaice in a good Hostrie and were well serued and so rested vntill the next morning then they arose and apparelled them in fresh array and they led with them fiue of their Somers with riches and two of them they presented to the Quéene the other thrée to the King wherefore they were receiued with great ioy then after they gaue great guifts to euerie Lord in the Court and specially to the Officers wherefore they were greatly praised But whosoeuer tooke any guift Duke Naymes would take neuer a penie for he thought that all that riches was not well gotten and that they did it for some craft thereby to attaine to some false damnable enterprise this Duke was a noble wise and a true knight and of good councell and he very well perceiued their malice Then the King commaunded the thrée Coffers to be brought and set in his chamber and would not looke into them vntill he had spoken with Gerard whome he caused to sit downe by him and Gibouars in like manner and also the new Abbot for it is an old saying and a true that they that giue are alwaies welcome Gerard quoth king Charlemaine yée be welcome I pray you shew me the cause of your comming Sir quoth Gerard I shall shew you the great businesse that I haue to doe with your Maiestie and your Lords hath caused me to giue these large guifts that I haue giuen to you and others and Sir I am sorowfull at my heart for that which I must shew you and I had rather be beyond the Sea then to shew you that thing which I must néedes doe for to hide it that cannnot auaile me yet I neuer shewed any thing in all my life with so ill a will for I shall be blamed of many persons howbeit I loue better to defend mine honour then I loue all the world beside Gerard quoth the King yée say troth for better it is to shew the troth then to be silent in so great a matter which so much toucheth your honour Chap. LXIX ¶ How the Traitour Gerard shewed to King Charlemaine how Huon his brother was retourned to Bourdeaux without doing of his Messuage to the Admirall Gaudise SIr quoth Gerard true it is that you haue made me Knight and beside that I am your liege man wherfore I am bound to kéepe your honour to my power for I am certaine I shall shew
sworne your death therefore if you enter into the Tourney you can neuer escape the death and I haue heard Duke Raoul sweare that when he hath slaine you hée will keepe all your Landes When Duke Huon had heard the Varlet hee sware by God and made a solemne promise that Duke Raoul should dearely buy his false treason Then the Duchesse Escleremond knéeled downe before Huon and sayd Deare Lord I desire you to forbeare your going thether at this time for I haue heard often repeated that this Duke Raoull is puissant and hath great Lands besides is Nephew to the Emperour of Almaine and also I haue heard say that a faller Traytour there is none lyuing in this world Madame quoth Huon I haue well heard you but by the Lord that fourmed me to his Image though I should loose halfe my landes yet will I goe to sée the Traytor what thinketh he to abash me with his threatenings If I may méete him at the Tournay or in any other place where soeuer it be though he had with him ten Thowsand men of armes and that I had alonely but my swoord in my hand I shall slay him whatsoeuer should fall thereof and let our Lord God do with me as it shall please him I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart till I haue slaine him When the Duchesse heard Huon how he would doe none otherwise and that shée could not let him of his enterprize she was sorrowfull and said Sir séeing it is your pleasure reason it is that I must be content but yet Sir I desire you to take with you x. M. men well armed to thintent that ye be not found vnprouided so that if ye be assayled yet yée may be of sufficient puissance to resist your enemies and that it will please you to suffer me to goe with you and I will he armed with my shéeld and swoord by my side and if I may méete Duke Raoull I shall giue him such a buffet that I shall strike him from his horse for I am so displeased with him that there is no ioynt in me but in trembleth for anger and I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart till I be reuenged of him When Huon heard the Duchesse his wife he was well comforted and began to laugh and said Faire Ladie I giue you great thankes for your wordes but yee are too farre gone with child to ride armed it is a vij moneths past since yée were first with child then Huon made to be proclaimed in all his lands that euery man should be readie to goe with him to the Tourney at Mayence The Dukes entent was anon knowen throughout all the countrie so that it being spread abroad the brute therof came to the hearing of the Duke Raoull and when he heard that Huon would come to the Tournay hee was not a little ioyfull thereof then hee sware he would go and sée Escleremond in the guise of a Pylgrime and then hee putte on a beggers garment and tooke a staffe and a wallet hée shewed his intent to them of his priuie Councell they would haue stopped his going but they could not Thus he apparelled himselfe like a beggar and with an hearbe rubbed on his face and handes that such as had not séene him otherwise apparelled could not haue knowne him hée was so foule and blacke then he desired his men to kéepe secret his enterprise Then hee departed from Vyenna and neuer rested till hee came to the Citie of Bourdeaux and so went vnto the Pallayce where hée founde Huon amongst his Barons making great chéere and feast for vnto him were come diuers Lords and Knights deuising of the Tourney that should be holden at Mayence Thus Raoull came before Huon and desired him for the honor of our Lord God to giue him some meat and almes Friend quoth Huon thou shalt haue inough but I pray thée tell me from whence thou commest and whether thou wilt go and of what countrie thou art Sir quoth Raoull I was borne in the countrey of Berry but it is xx yeres past since I was there when I departed thence I was but yong for if I saw my father or mother now before me I should not know them Sir I came froÌ„ beyond the Sea wheras I haue been prisoner among the Sarazins the space of 14. yéeres in a strong Castle where I haue suffered much disease of hunger and cold and at the last I escaped by reason of a yong man to whome I promised that if hée could bring mee to Acre in sauegard that I would then giue him twentie Duckets of gold the yong man was couetous to haue the money and founde the meanes that hee brought mee to Acre whereas I founde a kinsman of mine who payed the yonge man the money the which I had promised vnto him and also hee gaue me fifteene Ducates the which I haue spent with comming hether Fréend quoth Huon I pray vnto God to ayd thée for if thou wert not so ill apparelled thou shouldest séeme a man of a high lineage for it séemeth to me if thou wert well armed weaponed and were in some businesse thou wert like ynough to be feared Chap. LXXX ¶ Howe after that Duke Raoul had beene at Bourdeaux in the guise of a Pilgrime to see the faire Ladie Escleremond he returned againe to Vyenna AFter that Huon hadde long deuised with Raoul hée washed sat downe to diner and the Duchesse his wife by him then Huon commaunded that at the end of the Table right before his Table Raoul the Pilgrime should bee set and there hee was well serued but Raoul had litle care either of meat or drinke for his thought was of another matter whereupon he sore studied for before him he saw the noble Duchesse Escleremond of whom he was so amourous that he could not withdraw his eies from her for the more he beheld her the more hee was embraced with her loue he thought he neuer sawe before so faire a Ladie in all his life so that for the great beautie that was in her hée changed often times his colour but it could not bee perceiued bicause he was so blacke and foule with rubbing of certaine hearbes and he sayd within himselfe that whosoeuer had such a Ladie to his Wife might well make auant to be the happiest man of the world euen hee that might but haue his pastime with so faire a Ladie swâ—â—re by the Lorde that fourmed him though he should bée damned in hell for euer he would slay Huon and haue his Wife in mariage and all Huons Lands to be his for euer Alas that it had not pleased our Lord God that at this houre Huon might haue knowne the treason of Raoull hee shoulde then haue bought it full dearely When the Traytour had eaten and made good théere Huon gaue him a Gowne shirt hose and shooes and monney for his dispence Raoul tooke it he durst not refuse it but thanked Huon and so tooke his
wherof he was sorrowfull howbeit like a couragious Knight with his sword still fought valiantly with his enemies and he saw where the Earle of Seyne came to him to haue striken him with his sword but Huon met him so hastily that hee had no leysure to strike him and Huon gaue him such a stroke that his helmet could not saue his life for Huons sword entred into his braine and so he fell downe dead among the horse féete Huon who was quicke and expert tooke the dead knights horse and leapt vppon him and when he saw that he was new horsed againe he was ioyfull and then hee was able to depart in despight of his enemies but the Emperour who had great sorrow at his heart for the death of his nephew Raoull made great haste after Huon with ten thousand men with him and so came from Mayens all on the spurre desiring to ouertake Huon and so rode on before his men for his horse was so good that hee would runne as fast as a byrde could flie in all the world there was no horse like him The Emperour on this horse followed Huon and as he rode hee saw all the way dead men lie that Huon had slaine he spurred his horse that anon he ouertooke Huon and sayd Thou Traytour turne thy shéeld towards me or else my Speare shall goe through thy bodie for the sorrowe that lyeth at my heart for loue of my Nephew whome thou hast slaine constrayneth me to make hast to be reuenged of thée nor I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart vntill I haue slaine thée much it greeueth mee that I am constrayned to slay thee with my Speare for I had rather hang thée When Huon heard the Emperour who was so néere him saw how he was mounted on so good a horse he called vpon our Lord God desired him of his grace to ayd him to conquere that horse and when he saw that the Emperour was farre before his men he turned his horse head towards the Emperour and couched his speare and the Emperour came against him like the tempest and they mette together so rudely that their speares were pearced so that the Emperours speare brake all to shiuers and Huons speare was so rude strong that he strake the Emperour with such puissance that hee was striken from his horse to the earth sore astonied so that he wist not where he was and Huon who had great desire to haue the Emperours horse alighted quickly from his owne horse and tooke the Emperours horse and mounted on him and was thereof right ioyous then he sayd to himselfe that hee doubted not them all he strake the good horse with his spurres and found him quicke and light vnder him There he left the Emperour lying on the earth who was not a little content that he was so soone succoured for if the Almaines had not quickly come Huon had slaine him but when the Almaynes came to their Lord and found him lying on the earth they beléeued verily he had beene dead they beganne to make great sorrow and the Emperour who was come againe to himselfe sayd Syrs thanked be God I féel◠no hurt but I may well ride but I haue great sorrow at my heart that Huon hath thus ledde away my good horse and is escaped away and also hath slaine my two nephewes but Sirs I counsell you that none follow him for it shall be but a lost time for the good horse that is vnder him and he that is on him is so valiant in armes that he is greatly to be doubted therefore I counsell let vs returne backe again for we may loose more then wee shall winne but by the grace of God ere it be thrée moneths past I shall assemble such a number of men that the vallies and mountaines shall bee full of men then I will goe to the Citie of Bourdeaux and will not depart thence till I haue woonne it and if I may get Huon I shall make him die of an euill death and shall take and wast all his lands Chap. LXXXIII ¶ How Huon after that he was mounted vpon the Emperours good horse he arriued at Coleyn where he found his men and howe hee departed thence And of the Emperour who laye enambushed in a wood abiding there to haue slaine Huon THus as yee haue heard Huon departed with the Emperors good horse and left the Emperour lying on the earth who commaunded his Barons to returne backe and not to follow Huon any further Therewith there came to the Emperour a Knight called Godun he was borne at Norembridge and he sayd Sir if you will beléeue me and doe after my councell you shall doe otherwise you shall returne to Mayence this night and ordaine foure Thousand of such men as you haue heere and send them within two Leagues of Coleyne on the hye way into Fraunce and there you shall find a little wood and there let them lye enambushed till Huon passe by them for I know well he will goe straight to Coleyne this night lodge in a French-mans house that dwelleth there and in the morning surely he will depart thence and so passe by the said ambushment so that it shall not be possible to saue himselfe alone but either he shall be slaine or taken When the Emperour heard Godun he said Sir you haue giuen me good counsaile and this is likely to be done but it were conuenient to send more then foure Thousand for the great desire that I haue to get him into my hands constraineth me to cause him to bee taken to the entent to be reuenged of him therefore I would goe my selfe and take with mée ten Thousand men and shall go and ly in the place that you haue appointed for I shall neuer haue perfect ioy at my heart as long as Huon is aliue for he hath caused much sorrow at my heart for the death of my two Nephewes whom so pitiously hee hath slaine let vs take our way about twoo Leagues beside Coleyne néerer wee will not approach to the entent that our comming bée not knowne Then hee chose out ten Thousand of the most valiantest men in his companie and the rest he sent backe to Mayence Thus the Emperour road foorth and road so long that day and night that an houre before it was day he came to the sayd wood and there layd his ambush And Huon rode so after he was departed from the Emperor that late in the Euening he came to Coleyne whereas hee was receiued of his men with great ioy then Gerames said Sir I require you shew vs of your aduentures then Huon shewed them euerie thing and the manner how he had slaine Duke Raoul and how hee departed from Mayence and how he was pursued and howe hee wanne the Emperours good horse whereat Gerames and all the other had great ioy and thanked God of his faire aduenture and hadde great maruaile howe hee escaped but they knewe nothinge what the
Emperour had not scaped aliue neuerthelesse the stroke light so on his shoulder that the sword pierced the maile gaue him a déep wound further the sword desceÌ„ded to the bow of the saddle so that the horse was stroken nigh asunder in two péeces and so the Emperour and the horse fell downe to the ground together so that if he had not béene rescued by the Almaines he had béene slaine Huon was sorie when he saw the Emperor so scaped with his life then he turned and rode towards Bourdeaux after his men who tarried still for him and Huon did so much by his prowesse that for all the Emperour and his men he entred into the Citie of Bourdeaux But as then hee knew not that the olde Gerames was taken prisoner so thus as you haue heard Duke Huon entred into Bourdeaux with foure thousand men of whom the most part were sore hurt then he rode to the Pallaice and there alighted Then he looked about him and was sore abashed when he saw not Gerames by him then he demanded if any man knewe where hee was Sir quoth a Knight named Gallerance know for truth that hee is taken prisoner and is in the hands of your enemies for to haue ayded him I was wounded in thrée places and néere hand slaine I employed my force to haue succoured him but I could finde no remedie When Huon heard that hee praysed greatlie Gerames force and vertue and greatly complained and said Alas that I had not knowne of his taking ere I returned I would sooner haue dyed but that at the least I would haue taken some man sufficient to haue redéemed him againe out of danger A lamentable thing it was to heare Duke Huon what sorrow hee made for his friend Gerames but his complaints could not auaile him his Lords sayd Sir by the grace of God you shall haue him againe safe and aliue Sirs quoth Huon it shall be a great aduenture without they put him to death Then Huon mounted vp to the Pallaice whereas he met Escleremond his wife whom hee kissed and embraced manie times Sir quoth the Ladie I pray you shew mee of your newes Ladie quoth Huon they be but poore and dolorous for of twentie thousand men that I had with me out of this Citie I haue brought home aliue but foure thousand and yet the most part of them before wounded and beside the old Gerames is taken prisoner who hath suffered before this time so many paines and trauailes for my sake Alas Sir quoth the Ladie sore wéeping I had rather you had beléeued me and that you had gone and sought for succour of my brother who would not haue fayled you but would haue come with you with so much people and puissance that the Emperour should not haue durst to haue abiden you Madame quoth Huon speake no more thereof for the losse of as much as tenne Cities be in value I would not haue gone thither nor to none other part for any succour nor yet will not till that I sée mée more oppressed then I am as yet I might well be reputed for a coward and recreaunt thus to abandon my Citie I had rather be dismembred into péeces then for feare I should leaue you it would be greatlie to my reproch in the Courts of hie Princes and when I come there to be marked with the finger for that great default Sir quoth Escleremond your pleasure is mine since that you wil haue it so but I am right sorrowful for the old Gerames who is prisoner in the tents of your enemies who hath suffered for your sake many great pains and pouerties I cannot be but sory when I remember him Madame quoth Huon as yet Gerames is not dead I hope by the grace of our Lord God that we shall haue him againe aliue Sir quoth she I pray to God that it may be so Now let vs leaue speaking of Huon and speake of the Emperour who lay sore hurt on the earth Chap. LXXXXI ¶ How the Emperour raysed vp a paire of Gallowes to hang vp the old Gerames and all the Bourdeloyes that were taken prisoners YOu haue alredy heard here before recounted howe Huon entred into Bourdeaux after hee had beaten downe the Emperour Tirrey whome he left lying vpoÌ„ the earth and had beene flaine if his men had not quickly rescued him now his men were sorrowfull for they feared hee had been dead and vnlaced his helmet and was right ioyful when they found him aliue Then they demaunded and said Sir we desire you shew vs in what case you feele your selfe Sirs quoth he I am sore hurt whereby I feele great paine this enemie Huon hath brought me into this case I was foolishly counsailed when I came hether to seeke for him for if I had taried still at Mayence I beleeue to do me displeasure he would haue come thether sirs I pray you beare me into my Tent that my wound may bee searched then hee was borne into his Tent vnarmed and layd vpon his bed and he swounded thrice for paine of his hurt And when he came to himselfe and his woundes were searched by his Surgions hee demaunded where the Knightes of Bourdeaux were they that were taken in the Battaile and demaunded that they should be brought to his presence Gerames was brought before him who was great puissant with a beard as white as snow hee was a faire ould Knight to behould his visage plaine and smiling he seemed to be a man of high affaires when the Emperour saw him he said Thou old Catiffe shew me what thou art beware and shew me the troth Sir quoth Gerames know well that for feare of any death I shall not spare to say the troth â—â—â—ing you will needs know what I am I am named Gerames and am Huons Seruant whome I loue naturally and also I am his kinsman whereby I haue the more cause to loue him and I haue slaine diuers of your men Well quoth the Emperour I repute thee for a Foole to giue mee this knowledge for by the grace of God to morow early ere I eate or drinke thou shalt be drawne hanged xl of thy company that were taken with thée in the battaile Sir quoth Gerames of this that you shew me I giue you no thanke for it but I hope by the aid of Iesus christ that I shal do you more damage ere I die Ah Villain quoth the Emperor great maruaile I haue of thée that thus before me thou doest vse these threatnings yet thou séest how thou art my prisoner that it lyeth in me to put thée to what death it pleaseth me know for troth if it were not so late of the day as it is I wold not suffer thée to liue one houre But ere I sleepe I shall cause a Gallowes to be made whereas thou and thy company shall be hanged and I shall cause thée to be hanged so néere to the Citie that if Huon be so néere kin
but they within cast them downe so that they had no power to rise vp againe for there was cast downe vpon them earth timber and stones Fierce was the assault that the Almaines made they within made noble defence for Huon and Gerames shot so with their crosbowes thar at euery shoote they slew some man or sore wounded him and long endured this assault so that finally the Almaines were constrained to recule backe a bow shoote whereof they within were very ioyfull Then the Emperour Tirrey being sorrowfull and full of rage came to his men and rebuked them shamefully commaunding them that incontinent they should returne again to assaile the Citie saying that they should not faile to winne it Then the Almaines to please their Lord retourned in great hast with their ladders pikes and came into the dikes whereas then there was no water raysed them vp to the walles but they were no sooner vp but they within beat them downe againe and put them in danger of their liues for they cast downe Timber stones and faggots with fire and hoat oyle and lead vppon them so that the assailants were faine perforce to recoile backe and they within shot arrowes so thicke that it seemed like snowe The Emperour was sore displeased and Duke Sauary when they saw none other remedie many were slaine and sore hurt and the Emperor and Sauary his Brother seeing that they could nothing profite sounded the retrait and so returned to their Tents sore displeased for their great losse that they had for they lost that day more then two Thousand men lyinge dead in the feeld and in the Dikes and more then thrée Thousand sore hurt Then Duke Sauary sayd to the Emperor Sir me thinks it is but folly to assaile this Citie it is strong and well furnished with men and good Knightes to defend it wherefore we may well perceiue that without great damage we cannot winne it without it be by famine for hee that is Lorde thereof is hardy and cruell and to be feared and doubted for he is expert in armes wherefore it is impossible to take the Citie perforce When the Emperour vnderstoode him hee was right sorrowfull and made againe newe promise not to depart thence vntill hee had Huon at his pleasure Huon who little set by the threatnings of the Emperour went into his Pallaice and said to his men Sirs we ought greatly to thanke God for the defence of our Citie many Almains â—ee slaine and hurt I doubt them nothing for our Citie is strong before it be lost it will cost many men their liues I desire you all take good héed that we be not beguiled Sir quoth they we shall take good héed thereof as well for you as for the sauegard of our liues Thus Huon and his men deuised together howbeit they were sore greeued for at the beginning they were about twentie Thousand men then they were not aboue six Thousand Now let vs leaue speaking of them and speake of the Emperour who was right sorrowfull for his losse Chap. LXXXXIIII ¶ How Huon sent Habourey his Messenger to the Emperour to require peace and of his answeare WHen the Emperor hadde heard Duke Sauary his Brother speake he made a solemne oath that whatsoeuer fortune should fall hee would not depart thence Winter nor Summer till hee had wonne the Citie and then he sent for his Réerband as farre as his Empire stretched commaunding euerie man to come to him all excuses layd apart and so they did Now of their comming by the way I make no mention but so long they trauailed that they came within a League of Bourdeaux and when the Emperour knew thereof he had great ioy and mounted on his horse with other Lords with him and road met them and spake to them and made them good cheere Thus his force encreased Huons diminished daily often times Huon issued out vpon his horse called Amphage made daily many great Skirmishes sometime hée wan and sometime hee lost he slew many Almaines so that they all feared him for there was none that durst abide him his horse was so cruell that none durst approach néere him without he were slaine Huons men quit them valiantly so that if they lost at one time they wan iij. times for it but their force could not long endure for their enemies were so many they so few they had made so many issues that they had lost many of their company for of xx M. they were left but v. C. men wherof Huon was sorowfull Now when he saw that he had but v. C. men he called to him Gerames Othon Barnard Richard saying Sirs I see that euery day we diminish wherfore we cannot long endure against the Emperors force therefore I thinke that it were good that wee sent to the Emperor to know if he wil heare speaking of any peace Sir quoth they wee thinke your aduise right good and it were good to knowe if hee will agrée thereto or not Then Huon called Habourey his Messenger and commaunded him that incontinent he should goe to the Emperour and say vnto him that if it bee his pleasure to heare speaking of any peace I shall quoth he condescend therto and to make him amends at his pleasure for the wronge and damage that I haue done vnto him and his men Also shew him how that I will become his man and doe him homage for all the Landes that I haue the which I was woont to hould of the King of Fraunce but séeing I haue no succour from him I am driuen perforce to purchase for my profit in some other place And besides that shewe him that the fiue Hundred Prisoners that I haue of his men I shall deliuer them quit without any raunsome paying and also when Lent commeth I and a Hundred knightes with me at my cost charges shall passe the Sea and goe to the holy Sepulchre to pray for the Soules of his Nephews that I haue slaine and for all other that haue been slaine by occasion of this warre Sir quoth the Messenger I am readie to fulfill your commaundement whatsoeuer fall thereof and so hee departed went to the Emperours Hoast entred into the riche Tent and then hee kneeled downe before the Emperour and sayd The almightie God who on the Crosse dyed to saue all humane kinde kéepe and defend from all ill the Emperour all his Barony Sir Duke Huon of Bourdeaux sendeth to you salutation and good amitie requiring you in the honour of god that he may haue peace with you by that hee will become your liege-man and doe you homage and hould his Landes of you and will deliuer quite the fiue Hundred men of yours that he hath in prison in the Citie and moreouer hee offereth himselfe and a Hundred Knights to passe the Sea this next Lent and to goe to the holy Sepulchre to pray to our Lord God for the soules of your Nephewes
that you haue taken me prisoner and therewith the Abbot dashed in amongest the Emperours Companie and the first that he met he ran him cleane through with his speare and so he serued the second third fourth and when his speare was broken hee drew out his swoord wherewith he beat downe the Almaines that it was maruaile to behould him and then came in his men and they did such deeds of armes that perforce the Almaines were faine to retire backe and many were slaine and destroyed and cast downe to the earth When the Emperour saw that hee was in great rage and sayd vnto Huon Sir you are greatly to blame to suffer your Vncles men to slay mine Sir quoth Huon I am right sorrie for that they haue done I am readie to make you amendes in whatsoeuer it shall please you therewith Duke Huon road vnto the good Abbot his Vncle and in great displeasure sayd Vncle you haue done great euill and when the Abbot saw and perceiued Huon he was right ioyfull and hee embraced him and said Faire Nephew I thought that the Emperour had taken you Prisoner and would haue put you to death I knew not that you had Peace with him then he made his men to retire backe from the Almaines and then hee and Huon together came vnto the Emperour and the Abbot saluted him and said Sir I pray you to pardon me in that I haue thus come against you for certainly I had thought that you would haue hanged and slaine my Nephew Duke Huon of Bourdeaux nor I knew not that there was any Peace betwéene you therefore Sir I require you to pardon mée and I offer my selfe to make you amends by the aduice of your counsaile Sir quoth the Emperour I pardon you for the loue that I beare vnto Duke Huon of Bourdeaux whome I take for my faithfull and speciall fréend Thus as yée haue heard the Peace was made betwéene the Emperour and the Abbot of Cluny Then they road together vntill they came vnto Cluny where the Emperour was receiued with great ioy When the good Abbot hadde receiued the Emperour and lodged him in the Abbey then he came vnto the Duchesse Escleremond and embraced and kissed her and sayde My right déere Néece your comming vnto mee hether is greatly acceptable well I am pleased to sée you whole and in good health and I am sore displeased for the great euils and pouerties that you haue endured if I might amend it but since it is the will and pleasure of our Lord Iesus Christ both you and wée all ought to be content blessed bée his name Good Vncle quoth the Duchesse greatly wee ought to thanke and to cherish you for you haue béen Father and refuge of my Daughter Clariet whome I desire greatly to sée then the good Abbot led the Duches Escleremond into the chamber wheras her Daughter Clariet was who came and knéeled downe before her Mother and when the Duchesse her Mother sawe her it was no maruaile though shee was ioyfull at her heart for when shee sawe her so faire and so well educated you may well thinke that her ioy excéeded all other she embraced and kissed her more then Twentie times and sayd My déere Daughter since I sawe you last I haue endured great pouertie and miserie but thankes bée giuen to our Lord Iesus Christ and to his swéete Mother your Father and I are come together in sauegard and haue Peace with the Emperour then they went into the Chamber whereas their dinner was prepared readie for them and there dyned together with great consolation and all that dinner time the Duchesse could not cast her eyes from the regarding of her Daughter Clariet for the great beautie that she saw and perceiued in her and when they had dyned the Lords and Knightes and Squiers came to sée the Ladies as they were accustomed to doe and as they were deuising together Huon entred into the Chamber and the good Abbot his Vncle with him and they sayd vnto the Duchesse Faire Ladie you must come vnto the Emperour and bring your Daughter with you for he desireth greatly to sée her then the Ladie who was readie to doe her Husbands commaundement went into the Hall and her Daughter with her whereas they found the Emperour who receiued them with great ioy and tooke the yong Lady Clariet in his armes and kissed her swéetly and sayd My right déere Daughter your comming hether is to me right acceptable god performe in you that which wanteth as for beautie you want not Huon quoth the Emperour great thanks you ought to render vnto our Lord Iesus Christ that hee is so fréendly vnto you as to send you such a Child as this Ladie that is héere before mee for I thinke that of beautie this day there is no Ladie nor Damsell that is liuing in this world that is able to compare with your Daughter Sir quoth Huon I pray vnto our Lord God to performe in her that which shee wanteth great pleasure had the Emperor to behold the Damsell and so had all other Lords Ladies and Damsels that were there present Thus as yée haue heard the Emperour was receiued at Cluny and was greatly feasted by the Abbot there for assoone as the Emperour was come thether the good Abbot sent ouer all the Countrey for Ladies and Damsels to feast the Emperour and there they were thrée dayes with great Iusts and sports and when they departed there was neither Ladie nor Damsell but that the Emperour gaue her some guift the fourth day after that the Emperour had heard Seruice and his baggage and cariage readie then he and Duke Huon and the Duchesse Escleremond and Clariet her Daughter departed from Cluny and with them the good Abbot who brought them vnto the Citie of Bourdeaux for he loued so well Huon and the Duchesse and Clariet whome he had brought vp that he would not abandon them so soone Huon sent Barnard before vnto the Citie of Bourdeaux signifying vnto them of the Citie of the Emperours comming and his and of the Peace made between the Emperour and him Barnard departed and was well receiued at Bourdeaux then he assembled together all the Burgesses of the Citie and shewed vnto them of the Emperors comming thether and with him Duke Huon and the Duchesse Escleremond and Clariet their Daughter and of the Peace that was made between the Emperour and Duke Huon this newes was sent incontinent to Blaye and to Geronnill and ouer all the Countrey of Burdeloys and then all the noble men aswell as Burgesses came hastely vnto the Citie of Bourdeaux for to receiue their rightfull Lord Duke Huon and when they were there assembled they mounted vppon their horses and road foorth to meete the Emperour and Duke Huon their naturall Lord they were together about sixe Thousand horses when they approached néere vnto the Emperour they saluted him vnto whome the Emperour sayd openly All yée Sirs noble men and Burgesses
Peter answeared and sayd Sir beware blame her no more bee content with that you haue done alreadie it may be that the Damsell is of as hy a Lineage as your Sonne wherefore such time may come that you may be déerely rewarded peraduenture the Damsell was stollen away by some ill Tyrant shee hath béen ill entertained with you when you would so cruelly haue slaine her Cozen quoth the Kinge the matter is ill come to passe for her sake you haue slaine many of my men the which I pardon you but as for the Damsell I will set her in prison in a Tower out of the which she shall not depart and I will shew my Sonne that shee is drowned in the Sea and I will kéepe her in prison till my Sonne hath forgotten her or else hath taken another wife then I will deliuer her and send her into some other Countrey whereas she shal be better entertained When the Earle Peter heard the King say so he agréed to his saying and thought that aduise to bee good and was content with that he had saued her life then the King opened the chamber dore and so came into the Pallaice then he sent for the damsell and then shee was set in prison in a Tower and the Kinge commaunded to a secret Seruant that hee shoulde sée that the Damsell should want nothtng for her liuing and charged him vppon paine of his life to kéepe the matter secret and hee charged all those that knewe thereof in any wise to shewe Florence his Sonne nothinge of her Then hee closed vp the dore with stone to the entent that shee shoulde not yssue out and left nothing open but a little windowe towards the Towne of Courtoys wherein her meate was put other windowes there were opening vppon the fields the which gaue great ligght into the house Thus the faire Ladie Clariet was closed vp into the Tower whereas shee hadde good leasure to wéepe and wayle Now let vs leaue speaking of the Ladie and speake of Florence who was in the Battaile Chap. CLIIII ¶ How Florence discomfited his enemies and tooke the King of Nauarre and led him into the Towne and deliuered him to the King his Father and howe Florence deliuered him againe quit because that his Father shewed vnto him that the faire Damsell was drowned YE haue well heard heere before how the Earle Peter of Aragon departed from Florence and returned into the Citie for he could not cause Florence to leaue the battaile whereas hee did maruailes for the loue of the faire Ladie Clariet whome he trusted to wed hee slew so many of his enemies that the fields were couered with the dead bodies When the king of Nauarre his Vncle sawe that hee was right sorrowfull to see his men so slaine then hee came against Florence his Nephewe and sayd Ah thou vnkind Nephewe cursed bee you I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart as long as I see thee aliue thou hast done me this day great dammage I had rather dye an ill death then not to be reuenged of thée wherefore I require thee to Iust with me I challeng thy Land the which shal be mine thou shalt neuer be Lord thereof Florence answeared and sayd I shall not refuse the Iustes then hee put vp his sword and tooke a great speare and so ran against the king his Vncle and the king came against him and they met together so rudely that the Kinges Speare brake all to péeces but Florence Speare was bigge wherewith he strake the kinge so rudely that hee fell to the earth with his feete vpward and he fell so sodenly that he lay in a traunce and before hee could bee recouered Florence tooke him by the ventale of his helmet and sayd Nauarre before I sleepe I shal deliuer you Prisoner into the handes of a faire Damsell whome I loue entirely for in all the world there is none like her in beautie if you refuse thus to doe with my Sworde I shall incontinent strike off your head from the shoulders the king sayd hee was content to fulfill his pleasure and to yéeld himselfe Prisoner Then Florence tooke his Sworde from him and made him to mount vppon his horse and to ride before him towardes the Towne and deliuered him to the keeping of Tenne knightes and Florence road after with his sword in his hand all bloudie the crie and noyse beganne to bee great among the Nauarnes they enforced them on all parts to haue rescued their king but they coulde not come in time for by that time Florence was within the gates of the Citie whereas hee was right ioyfully receiued When the Nauarnes sawe howe they lost their labour and how their king was entred into the Citie they were right sorrowfull and came before the Barriers and skirmished and wan but little and so returned with small profit and sorrowfull for the losse that they had receiued that day for the fieldes were couered with dead men Thus they returned to their Tents and Pauillions and the Aragons entred into the Citie of Courtoys with great ioy and when they were in the Citie then Florence tooke the king of Nauarre his Vncle by the hand and led him to the Pallaice and there alighted and went into the Hall whereas he found king Garyn his Father who hadde great ioy of his comming When he saw his Sonne Florence bring his enemie Prisoner he embraced his Sonne and sayd My right déere Sonne I am right ioyfull of your comming Father quoth Florence I haue done so much by the ayd of our Lord Iesus Christ that I haue taken your enemie Prisoner whom I render into your handes to do with him at your pleasure Nowe I will that you kéepe your promise with mée séeing I haue quit mine now it is time that you deliuer vnto me the Damsell whom I shall make Quéen and Ladie after your decease When the king vnderstood his Sonne he was all in a rage and said Faire Sonne leaue thy folly and take such a Wife according to thine estate and thinke no more of that new Fondling for know for troth I haue caused her to be cast into the Sea whereas shee is drowned Thou art a Foole to thinke that I will suffer after my decease that a poore Caitiffe new-found should bee Ladie and Quéene crowned of such a Realme beware in as much as thou thinkest to displease me that thou bee not so hardy as to speake or remember any more the new-found Damsell When Florence heard the Kinge his Father say howe the Damsell was drowned in the Sea his bloud mounted into his face and his heart was so oppressed and so heauie that he had no power to speake and such a maruailous colde sweat tooke him that there was no vaine nor member in his bodie but trembled for anger and sorrow that was in him so that he had no power to sustaine himselfe but fell downe to the earth in a great traunce in such sort that euerie man there
to him accompanied with a Thousand knights when he was come hee saluted king Huon and saide Sir you are welcome into my Countrey of Aragon the which I offer you to doe therewith at your pleasure and Sir all that you haue commaunded mee to doe by your twoo knightes I am readie to accomplish and there hee shewed to king Huon all weeping the occasion of the warre and of his Sonne Florence who for the loue of a new-found Damsell was put in prison whereof he repented him for he sayd that there was not a fairer Damsell in the world and for the loue of her Florence my Sonne is departed from mee and I thinke I shall neuer sée him more Kinge Garyn quoth Huon knowe for troth that shortly you shall sée them both come hether to me for I will marrie them together the Damsell is my Daughter and her name is Clariet and I will you know that she is noble and yssued of a royall Lineage there is none more noble in this Countrey and she hath bought her desteny right déerely When king Garyn knew that the noble Damsell was Daughter to king Huon and that he would make a marriage betwéene her and his Sonne Florence that they should come thether shortly he was neuer so ioyfull in all his life before then hee knéeled downe before kinge Huon and cryed him mercie and saide Ah Sir how may it be that in my olde dayes such a grace may come to me as to haue againe my déere Sonne and that the noble Damsell whome I haue done so much ill vnto shall bee his wife Then Kinge Huon rose vp and said Noble king haue no doubt but that you shall haue your Sonne for I cannot so soone wish for him but they shall be both here wheresoeuer they bee in the worid whereof all they that were present had great maruaile Sir quoth the Quéene Escleremond when shall the houre come that I may sée my Daughter Clariet and Sir you knowe well that I came hether with you for none other cause Madame quoth Huon you shall sée her shortly Chap. CLXII ¶ How Florence and Clariet arriued there with their company and came to king Huon and of the great ioy that was made at their comming and how there they were wedded together and the Peace confirmed betweene the two Kinges WHen King Huon sawe the Quéene his wife weepe his heart tendred and sayde Ah my déere Daughter Clariet great pitie I haue of you and of Florence the hardy I wish you both and all your companie here at the Port on the Sea-side as richly apparelled as euer was Quéene or Prince departing out of their house to bée maried and that with you there bee Ladies and Damsels richly apparelled of the fairest that be in my Realme of the Fayrey he had no sooner made his wish but that Shippes and Galleys arriued at the Port and anon Florence Clariet were in the Meadow richly accompanied with Trumpets Harps Viols and Lutes and all other Instruments the which sounded so melodiously that it seemed to all the hearers that they were rauished into Paradise and also there were Ladies and Damsels and knightes of the Fayrey singing right sweetely the hearers thought them to bee Angels of Paradice and they were apparelled richly and garnished with precious stones so that with the Sun shining vppon them they glittered in such wise that whosoeuer had seene them would haue thought that God and all the Court of Paradice had been there assembled Thus Florence came with 3 Thousand men making great ioy After him came riding the faire Clariet vpon a rich Palfray ambling so freshly garnished and richly apparelled that in all the world there was none such the armour hanging full of siluer bels making so swéet a noise that it was maruaile to heare them if I should discribe the beautie riches that was on her Palfrey it would be too long to rehearse This Ladie Clariet was accompanied with two notable Ladies of the Fayrey the one was Morgue and the other Glorianda who came singing after Clariet then after came the Lady Transelina with many Damsels of the Fayrey great ioy there was made and then king Huon sayd to Escleremond his Wife Madame it is time that you depart for yonder I see comming toward vs my Daughter Clariet and Florence When Escleremond heard that she was right ioyfull for the great desire that she had so see her Daughter the Queene went forth nobly accompanied Then king Huon and the other twoo kings with all their companies with banners displayed with great ioy and triumph went to meet Florence and Clariet ye may well thinke that king Garyn had great ioy of the comming of his Sonne and sawe such an assembly meet there together to receiue him that he deuoutly thanked our Lord God Thus these kinges and Princes went to meete these twoo young persons richly accompanied and great ioye had Clariet when she saw the Quéene her mother before her and she wept for inward ioy that she had when the Queen saw her daughter she embraced and kissed her often times and of a great season none of them could speake to other for ioy then King Huon came tooke his Daughter out of the Quéenes armes and kissed her more then twentie times Then king Garyn came vnto Florence and sayd Déere Sonne I haue much trespassed against you in that wrongfully I put you into my prison and I complaine greatly to you of your Vncle the kinge of Nauarre who hath wasted your Countrey Sir quoth Florence I require you to pardon mine Vncle it is reason that I should bee content that peace be made betwéen you and Sir I desire you to giue mee this Damsell in mariage Sonne quoth Garyn be in suertie that you shall haue her and none other for a more noble Lady cannot bee found in Tenne Realmes Sir quoth Florence I thanke you and thus these Twoo companies ioyned together and the Kinge of Nauarre came to his Nephewe Florence and embraced him sayd Faire Nephewe of your returne I am right ioyfull Sir quoth he I am well pleased with the peace that is made betwéene my Father and you Thus they road vntill they came to the Tents and there alighted then king Huon called the other two kinges and said Sirs how say you will yée abide by mine aduise and put into my handes the discord that hath béene betweene you they answeared that they were content to doe as hee woulde haue them Then kinge Huon sayde Sirs then my will is that peace and accord be betweene you and all yours and they liberally agréed thereto whereof kinge Huon was ioyfull Then king Huon desired Florence to shew his aduenture and how he was rescued by Sorbarre Then Florence shewed al his aduentures and the other kinges were right ioyfull to heare it and all other that heard it did greatly praise Sorbarre for his déede and much honoured him and made him
Roome Croissant their Sonne grewe amended in all thinges he delighted to take his pleasure in all sports and he made to be proclaimed Iusts and Tourneys and gaue large guiftes to Ladies to Knightes none went from him without some guift he tooke great pleasure to giue guifts so that hee was praised of euerie man howbeit diuers ancient and wise men sayd if Croissant our yong Prince deale thus with the Treasure that his Father left him it will be much wasted and such as nowe follow him will forsake him when they sée that he hath no more to giue as they did indéed as yee shall heare for he gaue to them that were poore whereby they were made rich who after would not giue him one morsell of bread he was so liberall and so great a spender that all the Treasure that his Father had left him he gaue it away so that many complained greatly of his bountie and Larges for he gaue away so much that he was forced to diminish his estate and was forsaken of all them that were woont to serue him because he had no more to giue them so that when they met him they would turne to another way and when he knewe that he had so great shame that he determined to depart priuily out of the Countrey and to goe séeke his aduentures for he sawe well that he had giuen away and lent so much that he could not then find one man that would lend him one penny Then with that which was left he bought two good horses and mounted on the one and vppon the other a Varlet and a Male behinde him and therein a Gowne and his shirts hose and shooes and he had in his purse no more but one Hundred ◠for his expences and in a Morning he departed from Roome to the intent he should not be perceiued and road so long by his iourneys that hee was farre off from the Citie of Roome more then Foure dayes iourney Now let vs leaue speaking of him till time shall be to returne to him againe Chap. CLXXIIII ¶ How they of Roome sent to the King Guymart of Puylle to the entent that he should come and gouerne that Countrey and to be their Lord because that Croissant was a Child and had giuen and wasted all that he had and how Guymart came thether and was receiued as Lord. AFter that the Barons and Senatours of Roome were aduertised that their young Lord Croissant was departed from the Citie and that he had wasted and spent al the Treasure that he had then they assembled at the Capitoll and there was one sayd Cursed is that land whereof the Lorde is a Child as yée may well perceiue by our young Lord Croissant who hath spent all and giuen away the great treasure that his Father had left him verie badly should he gouerne his Land and Countrey when he cannot kéepe that which is closed fast in his Coffers and therefore mine aduice is that wee send to King Guymart of Puille who is alreadie of the mind to come and besiege vs because he knoweth well that we be without a Lord and therefore mine aduice is that wée send vnto him a noble Ambassage desiring him to come to this Citie of Roome and say that this Citie shall doe to him obeysance it is better to send betimes then too late to the intent that neither he nor none of his doe any dammage to the Landes of Roome All they that were there agréed to his saying and so they sent to him who receiued the Ambassadours right honourably and so he came to Roome whereas he was receiued for their Lord peaceably But before he entred into Roome they went and mette him and with great ioy brought him into the City with Trumpets and Drummes blowing before him vntill he came to the Church of Saint Peter and there hée offered and kissed the Reliques whereof he made his oath such as Emperours are accustomed to make he to defend and kéepe Roome the Empire Then hée went to the Pallaice whereas hée was receiued of the noble men and of the people then hee gouerned Roome in good peace and iustice Nowe lette vs leaue speaking of him and returne to Croissant Chap. CLXXV ¶ Howe Croissant arriued at Nise in Prouaunce and came to the Earle Remon who was besieged by the Sarazins and of the honour that the Earle Remon did to Croissant and howe hee gaue him his banner to beare and made him Knight and of the great enuie that the Earles Sonne had at Croissant AFter that Croissant was departed from Roome and his Varlet with him and had well séen that in all Rome they set nothing by him because hee had no more guifts to giue them Then hee road through Romania and Lombardie and passed Piemont and then came into Daulpheney and when hee came into the Towne of Grenoble it was shewed him that in Prouaunce there was a noble Prince named Earle Remon of Saint Giles who was besieged by land by water in the Towne of Nise by the King of Granado the King of Belmarin who day and night made great assaults to the Citie and they had sworne and made promise that they would neuer depart from thence vntill they had wonne that Towne and slaine the Earle Remon When Croissant heard those good newes the hardy prowesse wherewith hee was garnished and repleat set him into so hye a will that hee thought the Sarazins flew to the ayre and that he would raise their siege before it be night and for the burning desire that he had hee thought to goe thether to prooue his vertue against the Paynims so when he had rested his horse he and his Squier mounted and rested not vntill he came to Nise in an Euening late hee there arriued without perceiuing of them of the siege for as then they were all in their Tents because a little before there hadde béene at the gate a great Skirmish wherefore the Sarazins were wearie of their trauaile and also on that part that Croissant arriued there were no Sarazins lodged Then hee came to the gate and prayed the Porter to let him enter and when the Porter saw there were no more but two persons and that hee was a Christian hee suffered him to enter without any refuse And when Croissant sawe that hee was in without any danger he was ioyfull then he came to one of the best lodgings in the Towne and there he alighted and supped with his host because it was too late to goe that night to the Court there he tarried all that night vntill the next morning then hee went to the Pallace whereas he found the Earle Remon deuising with his Lordes and Knights of the déedes of warre then Croissant saluted the Earle and all his Lordes When the Earle saw the young man he greatly beheld him and thought that in all his life he had neuer séen so goodly a person and thought that hee was come of some noble