the goodlyest person of the world and the most worthy and hardy that euer was guirt with a sword or road on horse he maketh no semblance to doe that thinge which I haue so sore desired then she drew néere to Ide and touched her and Ide who knew well what her desire was turned toward her and wold hide himselfe no longer from her but all wéeping cryed her mercie and shewed her from the beginning to the ending the manner of all her aduenture and how that she was a woman and was fledde away because her Father would haue married her himselfe And when Oliue vnderstood Ide shee was right sorrowfull howbeit shee comforted Ide and sayd My right swéete Louer discomfort not your selfe for you shall not be accused by me neither to no man nor woman liuing we are wedded together and I will be good and true to you since you haue kept your selfe so truely with you I will vse my time passe my destiny since it is thus for I sée well that it is the pleasure of our Lord God Thus as Oliue and Ide were deuising together of their secrets a Page being in a Chamber that ioyned close to their Chamber heard well all their secret words and communication what each of them had sayd to the other then he in all hast went to the Emperour and shewed him all that he had heard betwéene the two Louers When the Emperour heard that he was right sorrowful and sayd Fellow beware what thou sayest looke that thy report bee true for if I finde it contrarie thou shalt die an ill death Sir if it bee not as I haue sayde and that I de be not a woman whom you take for a man strike off my head Then the Emperour made him to bee taken and kept to the intent to prooue the troth for he thought that matter strange to beleeue then hee called to him the Lordes of his priuie Counsaile and he shewed them the matter whereof they had much maruaile seeing the great vertue and hye Prowesse that was in Ide and they greatly complained of the matter and were sorrowfull then the Emperour who was right pensiue sware and made promise that if hee found the matter in that case hee would cause both his Daughter and Ide to bee burnt because of hyding of that strange case and sayd If I de hadde discouered the matter to me betimes my Daughter should neuer haue married her and the matter now kept close from me I shall neuer haue ioye at my heart vntill I knowe the troth Then hee commaunded a bath to bee made readie in his owne Chamber wherein he would haue Ide to bée bathed to the entent that he might know the troth before she escaped away for he sayd that he would not suffer no such falshood to bee vsed the bathing was made readie and I de was sent for who knewe nothing of that matter then the Emperour said to her I de doe off your cloathes for you shall bath you with mée When Ide heard the Emperour she was sore abashed and sayd Sir I pray you to forbeare it for this time because I haue not béene accustomed to be bathed then the Emperour sayd I wil not forbeare it because I will sée you naked for if I finde that true which hath béene shewed me both you and my Daughter shall be burnt When Ide heard that she saw that she was betrayed and lost then shee knéeled downe before the Emperour and cryed him mercie and required him to haue pitie of her and the Emperour in great hast sent for his Lordes who were in the Hall talking together and were sorrowfull for Ide whom they loued entirely so they came to the Emperour and found I de before him on her knées sore weeping in such sort that for pity of her they wept all then the Emperour shewed them all the déede wherefore ye must needs sée iustice to bee done vpon Ide who then by the Peeres and Lords of Roome was iudged to be burnt Then it was commaunded the fire to bee made readie to burne her the which was done and I de before the Emperor abyding her iudgement with her handes ioyned lifted vp towards Heauen making pitifull prayers to our Lord God and to the holy Ghost praying them to haue pitie of her soule and to receiue it into the holy Paradice for shee sawe well that the end of her life was come Chap. CLXX ¶ How our Lord God made great Miracles for Ide for God made her to chaunge from the nature of a woman and to become a perfect man whereof the Emperor and his Daughter Oliue had great ioy and so Ide and Oliue lay together and ingendred a faire Sonne named after Croissant And of the death of the Emperour THe same houre that I de was in her prayers there appeared sodenly in the Chamber a great cléere light and therewith a maruailous swéet odour that it séemed all the Chamber to bee full of essence spices Aromaticke then presently after they heard an Angel-like voice sent from our Lord God and sayd Thou Emperour of Rome our Lord God commaundeth thée by mée that thou be not so hardy as to touch Ide to doe her any hurt for our Lord God hath giuen her the grace for the goodnes that is in her he doth consent and will by his diuine puissance that she be changed in nature and to become a perfect man as all other be without any difference also God commandeth that the Page whom thou hast in prison that thou settest him at libertie for the which he shewed thée was of troth this morning I de was a woman but now shée is a man Also God commaundeth thée to make thy selfe readie for thou shalt liue here in the world but Eight daies longer therefore from hence foorth let Ide and Oliue thy Daughter haue the gouerning of thy Empire who before this yéere bee passed shall haue betwéene them a Sonne who shall be named Croissant who shall doe maruailes when hee commeth to age many aduentures and pouerties hee shall suffer in his youth but afterward he shall haue ioy and wealth ynough and with those words the Angell vanished away and left the Emperour and his Lordes and all the people of Rome in great ioy for the euident Miracle that our Lord God had sent by the prayer of Ide who with Oliue his Wife had great ioy and thanked our Lord God Then the Feast and triumph beganne againe at Rome that day passed and the night came and Ide and Oliue went to bedde together and tooke their sport in such wise that the same night was gotten and ingendred the faire Croissant whereby the ioy doubled in the City of Rome and the next day Ide came to the Pallaice with other Lordes And the Emperour was in his Chamber making of his Testament for he had not forgotten the wordes of the Angell so he liued Eight daies longer and on the Ninth day hee dyed and hee was borne into
done In this respect he commaundeth you both for your own good conseruation of their Landes that you send them vnto him or if you doe not know then for certaine that he will take frō you those Lands you hould giue them to the Prince Charlot his Sonne This is the summe of our Messuage wée attend your answeare Chap. IIII. ¶ The answeare that the Duchesse of Bourdeaux made to the Emperours Messengers WHen the good Lady had well vnderstood the Messengers she answered them gently in this maner My Lordes and honourable Freendes the reason why I haue not sent my Sons to the Court before this time to serue my Lord the King as dutie required was in regarde of their tender yeares and some respect of loue to Duke Seuin their Father and bycause I knew certainlye that my rightfull Lord the Emperour Charlemaine loued alwayes Duke Seuin I neuer feared that he would take displeasure with his Children these thinges haue béene the principall cause why I haue not sent them all this while to serue the King Therefore let my entreats preuaile so much with you as to be a meanes to the Emperour and al the other Barons to hold me and my Children excused in this case for the fault is onelie mine not in them Then Huon stept foorth before his mother and sayd Madame if it had béene your pleasure you might haue sent vs before this time that is true quoth Gerardine for wee are ould ynough to haue our knighthood The Ladie heheld her two Sonnes and wéeping said to the Messengers Sirs you may returne to the King howbeit you shall rest you this night in my house and to morowe depart at your pleasure and you shall recommend me and my Sonnes to the Kings good grace and to the other Barons and Knightes and among other salute Duke Naymes who is néere kinsman to my Sonnes and desire him for the loue of Duke Seuin to stand a continuall fréend vnto them Madame quoth the Messengers haue you no doubt of that for Duke Naymes is a noble Man and a true Knight nor will he at any time be in place where any ill opinion shal passe against them Then the Duchesse commaunded her Sonnes that they should make the Kings Messengers good chéere and to bring them into their Chamber to rest them the which they did and were serued and feasted as appertained to their woorth Then the next morning they returned to the Pallace whereas they found the Duchesse and her two Sonnes and they humbly saluted the Ladie When the Duchesse sawe them she called Huon and Gerardin and said My Sonnes here in the presence of these two Knightes I say that at Easter you shall go to our Soueraigne Lord the Emperour Charlemaine and when you bée in the Court serue your Soueraigne Lord well and truely as subiects ought to doe bée diligent at all times to serue him faithfully kéepe companie with Noble men such as you sée to be of good vertuous condicions be not in place where ill woords be spoken or ill counsalie giuen fly from the companie of them that loue not honour and troth open not your eares to héere Lyers or false Reporters or Flatteres haunt often the Church and giue largly for Gods sake be liberall and courteous and giue to poore Knights fly the companie of Ianglers and all goodnesse shall follow thereby I will there be giuen to each of these Knights a Courser and a rich Gowne as it appertaineth to the Messengers of so noble an Emperour as Charlemaine is and also each of them to haue a hundred Florents Madame quoth Huon your pleasure shal be accomplished then the two Sonnes caused to be brought before the Pallace two goodly Horses and presented them to the two Knights and gaue each of them a rich Gowne and a hundred Florents Whereof the Messengers were ioyfull and thanked the Duchesse and her two Sonnes said that their courtesie should be remembred in time to come howbeit they knew well it was done for the honour of the King then they tooke leaue of the Duchesse and of her two Sonnes and so departed and road without let vntill they came to Paris whereas they found the Emperour in his Pallace sitting among his Barons the King perceiued them and incontinent called them to his presence ere they had leasure to speake the Kinge had them welcome home and demanded of them if they had béen at Bourdeaux and spoken with the Duchesse the two Sonnes of Duke Seuin whether they would come and serue him in his Court or not Dread Lord quoth they we haue béen at Bourdeaux and done your message to the Duchesse who right humbly receiued vs and gaue vs gentle entertainment when shée had heard vs speake and knewe that wée were your Messengers shée made vs the best chéere that shée could deuise and sayd that the cause why shée had not sent her Sonnes to your Court before this time was by reason of their young age and shée humbly requireth your grace to hold both her and her two Sonnes excused and that at this next Easter shée will send them to your Court. As for her Sonnes trust mée my Lord they are two such louely Gentlemen as wée tooke great delight in beholding them especially Huon the eldest he is so fayre and so well fourmed that nature cannot amend him Also my Lord for the loue of you shée hath giuen each of vs a goodly Horse and a rich Gowne and a hundred Florents of gould My Lord the goodnesse the valour and the courtesie that is in the Duchesse and in her Sonnes cannot be recounted and on their behalfe are we to entreat your Maiestie to retaine them alwayes in your fauour and good grace and to pardon the fault of their long absence Chap. V. ¶ How the Emperour was content with the report of the two Knights and how the Traytour Earle Amerie went and complayned to Charlot the Kings Sonne WHen the Emperour had heard the Messengers speake hée was right ioyfull and said I haue alwayes heard say that a good Trée bringeth foorth good fruit I speake it in the behalfe of Duke Seuin who in his time was a valiant true Knight and by that I sée that the twoo Children resemble their good Father I perceiue they haue receiued my Messengers right honourably and with great reuerence haue giuen thē no meane gifts which shal be vnto them auailable in time to come for they shall no sooner be come into my Court but in despight of any that shall speake against them I will doe for them in such wise that it shall bée an example to all other to doe well for I will make them for loue I bare to their Father of my priuie Counsaile and turning then to olde Duke Naymes sayd My Lord alwayes your kindred haue béen good and true and therfore I will that Amerie bee banished from my Court for hée nor euer any of his lineage
day of battaile at Ronceuaux whereas he lost his twoo Nephews Rowland and Oliuer he neuer since assembled so much people as he will do this next sommer to come vpon thée both by water and by land without thou wilte beleue in the lawe of Iesus Christ therefore if thou wilt beléeue me be christened or else this mischiefe will fall vpon thée Speake no more of that quoth the Admirall for I had rather be hewen and slaine then to leaue my law and beléeue vpon thy god Sir Admirall quoth Huon moreouer king Charles commaundeth thée to send him a M. Sparhawkes a M. Goshawkes a M. Beares and a M. wayters chayned together a M. yong Varlets a M. faire Damsels and also a handfull of thy beard and Foure of thy great téeth Ha quoth the Admirall I sée thou art hardy and outragious to demaund of me this that thou hast said And also I haue great maruaile of thy Maister that he is so foolish as to commaund me by thee to send him my beard and great téeth before this time he hath sent me more than xv Messengers hath demaunded part of this that thou speakest of but all xv haue been hanged nowe thou art come by thy folly to make vp the xvj But by reason of the Ring that thou bearest we dare not touch thée I pray thée therefore by the faith and law that thou art of shewe mee what Diuell hath giuen thée that Ring Than Huon sore abashed as he that durst not make a lye for feare of king Oberon said Sir not for doubt of thée or of any Paynim héere I will not spare to shew thee the troth know then that with this good sword I haue slaine the Lord Angolofer the Gyant When the Admirall heard that he said to his Lords Sirs looke that this Villaine escape not for by all the Gods that I beléeue on I shall neuer haue ioy in my heart vntill I sée him takē Then Paynims and Sarazins on all parts assayled Huon when he saw that he commended himselfe to our Lord god and thought he should neuer sée faire day more and so with his sword in both his hands he defended himselfe nobly in slaying and cutting off handes and féete of the Sarazins of many he made the braynes to flye abroad on the pauement great terrour it was to behould for by reason of his good Armour there was no Paynim could do him any damage but they gaue him way and durst not approch néere him Huon being full of yre as he fought he saw on the one side of the Pallaice an Arch in the wall and so euer still fighting he drew thether and set his backe to the arch to thintent that none should come behind him There he fared like a wilde Boare in the wood and defended himlelfe in such wise that whome soeuer he touched with a full stroke had no néede after of any surgeon thus a long space Huon endured and had no great harme But the force of the Paynims was so great that it was not possible for him to sustaine long for he waxed so wearie that his stroakes féebled oftentimes he called vpon god and on the other part the Admirall cryed to his men and said Ah yee fainte harted slaues great shame is to you all that one man shall so long endure against you that ye can neither take him nor slay him Then the Paynims whē they heard the Admirall so dispraise them they came in a great rage all at once vppon Huon whereas he was alone vnder the arch and a Paynim who was Nephew to the Admirall came vpon Huon but when Huon saw him approch he lifted vp his sword and gaue the Paynim such a stroake on the helmet that he claue his head to the breast and therewith his sword fell out of his hands and another Sarazin tooke it vp then all the Sarazins at once ran vppon Huon tooke him and then tooke from him his Horne and his Cup and put off his armour whan he was vnarmed the Sarazins beheld him well and many said how they neuer saw so faire a man before affirming that if all Frenchmē were such as he there were no King able to resist them Chap. XXXVIII ¶ Of the great complaints that Huon made being in prison and how the Admirals Daughter came to comfort him and how she departed not well content with Huon WHen Huon was disarmed the Paynims tooke and brought him before the Admirall who was right ioyfull when he sawe Huon and called his Barons demaunded of them what death the Caytiffe should die that had done them such damage as to slay one of his most puissant Kings and also his Nephew beside many others Then they all answeared with one voice that hee should be slaine aliue incontinent Then stept foorth an old ancient Admirall of Six score yéeres of age who was of the Admirals priuie counsell and he said Sir Admirall yée may not doe thus for the loue of this good day the which is the feast of Saint Iohn according to our law there is none ought to die on that day but Sir respite his life for a whole yéere and then shal be the feast of your Gods on that day ye ought to deliuer xj Champions to doe with them you Sacrifice let this man be one and another may come by that time and which of the twoo Champions be ouercome yée shall make your sacrifice to your Gods of him Thus ye promised your Gods to doe the first day that yée tooke on you the Signiorie of Babylon and Sir if it were not for that this man hath slaine one of your Kings and your Nephew ye ought not to slay him but rather to thanke him for by him the man that you ought most to hate in the world is slaine that is Angolofer and now by his death yee are out of all seruitude bondage and by this man set at libertie When the Admirall Gaudise had well heard the Paynim he saide séeing it is so that ye giue me this counsell and that of right mine Auncestors haue euer accustomed the same I will not doe the contrarie but it shall be as ye haue said Then was Huon led with iiij Paynims to a darke prison and the Iaylor was commaunded to giue him meate and drinke suffitient When Huon saw how he was in prison he was right sorowfull and began to remember the noble Duches his Mother and Gerard his brother and said Ah Oberon how is it that art so vnkind outragious to me for so little an offence to suffer me to endure this great misery for I know well it is not vnknowen to thee that the offence that I haue done was but only by forgetfulnes Now let vs leaue speaking of Huon and say somewhat of faire Escleremond Daughter to the Admirall when shee saw that it was night and shee all alone in her bed shée remembred the French knight who had kissed her iij. times in the presence
of her Father and shee was in great sorow bicause he was put in prison said to her selfe Without he were a Knight of great enterprize he would neuer haue béen so hardy to haue done as he hath done this day in diuers manners Wherefore she said he was well worthy to be beloued and succoured Then incontinent shee arose and made her readie and priuily she tooke a torch of waxe in her hand and lighted it and issued out of her chamber as priuilye as she could It was about midnight and euery man was a sléepe in the Pallaice she went strait to the prison came at so good a time that she found the Iaylor fast a sléepe then she stole away the keyes and went and opened the prison dore But when Huon saw the torch light and the dore of the prison open he was in great feare least they would take him out to put him to death or to doe him some other displeasure whereupon he began to make pitifull complaints The Ladie who could well speake french vnderstood all Huons complaints and remembred his name bicause the day before she had heard himselfe shew her Father his name then shée said Huon dismay not I am Escleremond Daughter to the Admirall whome this day passed thou didst kisse iij. times in the presence of my Father if it be so that thou wilt fulfill my will I shall put to my endeauour to deliuer thée out of prison for I am so affectionate towards thée that euer since thou didst kisse me I haue none other thought nor immagination but only on thée how to bring thée out of the danger that thou art in Madame quoth Huon god reward you for your great courtesie that ye would do vnto me but faire Lady Escleremond you are a Sarazin and I am christened True it is that I did kisse you but that was by the commaundement of king Charlemaine who sent me hether so to doe but else I had rather to haue been heere in perpetuall prison than to haue touched any part of your bodie or mouth so long as ye be a Sarazyn Huon quoth the Ladie seing thou art of that mind thou shalt end thy daies heere in prison miserably and neuer trust me but if I can I shall cause thee deerely to aby the refusall that thou hast made me Then the Lady Escleremond parted from the prison and came to the Iaylor and awaked him and said Friend I charge thee on paine of thy life that to this french Prisoner within thy keeping for these iij. daies and iij. nightes thou giue him neither meate nor drinke Madame quoth the Iaylor your commaundement shal be fulfilled Then the Lady in this displeasure went againe to her bed right pensiue and full of fantasies and Huon was iij. daies and iij. nights without meate or drinke and on the iiij day he said all sorowing Ah good Lord I see well I must heere die for hunger I huÌ„bly require thee to ayd and succour me and graunt me thy grace that I neither consent nor doe any thing that shall be against thy pleasure or against thy holy law for any tribulation that can come to me Thus noble Huon complayned all sorowing there was no creature that had heard him but he would haue been partaker of his great sorowes Chap. XXXIX ¶ How Huon made great complaints for the famine that he endured and how the faire Escleremond came againe to coÌ„fort him conditionally that Huon would fulfill her desire Thus as haue ye haue heard before Huon complayned pitiously for he had been iij. daies and iij. nights without sustenance and the Lady Escleremond who caused it came euery morning and euening to the prison to heare what Huon would say and euer shee would demaund of Huon if he were any otherwise aduised to answere her or not and euer she found him at one point But at the last when she saw that he still continued in that minde then she demaunded of him that if she deliuered him out of prison whether he would then promise her to lead her with him into Fraunce and take her to his wife when hee came there if thou wilt promise me this quoth shee thou shalt haue meate and drinke sufficient at thy pleasure Madame quoth Huon I promise you faithfully that vppon your forsaking Paganisme and conuersion to our christian faith I shall doe your pleasure whatsoeuer happen to me thereby Then know for troth quoth the Lady that for the loue of thée I will become christened and beleeue in the law of the Lord Iesus Christe so soone as we come into any place whereas it may be done Huon thanked her and then she caused him to haue meate and drinke whereof he was ioyfull and she called the Iaylor and said Goe thy way in hast to the Admirall my Father and tell him that the french knight is dead iij. daies past through féeblenes hunger Ladie quoth the Iaylor I am ready to doe your commaundement and so he went to the Admirall and said Sir the french Knight that was in my keeping is dead by famine iij. daies past Alas quoth the Admirall I am sory therfore but seing it will none otherwise be I must passe it ouer as I may but I had rather that he were aliue And thus as ye haue heard Huon was deliuered from death for it is a commoÌ„ but a very true saying that one day of deliuerance is worth a hundred yeeres of endurance Then the Iaylor returned to the prison vnto the Ladie and shewed her what he had said to the Admirall Well friâ—nd quoth the Ladie if thou wilt be secret I shall make thée rich for euer helping to aide me in such things as I would haue thee Madame quoth he to die in the quarrell I shall doe you seruice such as you commaund me the feare of death shall not let me to doe it Now let vs leaue speaking of Huon who was oftentimes visited with the Iaylor and had all things as he desired and was well lodged at his pleasure And let vs now speake of Gerames and of them that were with him in the Castle of the Gyant Chap. XL. ¶ How Gerames and his company departed from the Tower and the Damsell with them and came to Babilon and of the manner that Gerames vsed to know some newes of Huon WE haue heard heere before how Huon departed from the Tower of the Gyant and left there Gerames and all his company with the Damsell his Coozen they taried there iij. moneths and neuer heard any thing of Huon wherof they were sorowfull They went foorth one morning and came to the Sea-side to sée if they might heare any newes of their Lord Huon and as they looked vpon the Sea they espied a shippe charged with xxx Paynims and great riches and Gerames saw how the ship was coming to that Port wherfore he said to his company Sirs let vs go and see if we can learne any tidingâ— of Huon by them
they may bee well kept and so that I may haue them againe in time of need for I feele my selfe that my heart is so light as either I shal forget theÌ„ or else looâ—e them Of this that thou saiest quoth Oberon I thinke thou speakest wisely therefore I doe wish them in Gerames side in such manner that they shall doe him no hurt He had no sooner spoken the word but by the will of God and the power that he had by the Fayrie they were closed in Gerames side in such wise that no man could sée them then he said to Huon Friend I must goe to my Castle of Momur I desire you to doe well yée shall take with you Escleremond daughter to the Admirall But I charge you on paine of your life and in as much as yee feare to displease me that ye be not so hardy as to company with her bodily vntill yée â—e married together in the citie of Roome for if thou doest the contrarie thou shalt find such pouertie and miserie that though thou hadst double the mischéefe that thou hast hadde â—â—nce thou camest out of Fraunce yet can it be nothing in regard of that that shall fall to thée hereafter if thou breake my commaundement Sir quoth Huon by the pleasure of our Lord Iesus Christ I shall well beware of doing of any thing against your pleasure Then Oberon apparelled a rich shippe well garnished with chambers and hanged so richly that it was incredible to be heard or seene there was no cord but it was of gould and silke if I should shew you the beautie and riches of this shippe it would be ouer long to recite it When the shippe was fournished with vittailes then he put therein his horses and Oberon tooke leaue of Huon and kissed and embraced him greatly lamenting When Huon saw him wéepe he had great maruaile and said Deare Sir for what cause doe you weepe Huon quoth he the thing that mooueth me thus to do is bicause I haue great pitie of thée For if thou knewest the pouertie and miserie that thou shalt endure there is no member that thou hast but it would tremble for feare for I know for certen that thou hast so much to suffer that no humane tongue can rehearse it and then Oberon departed without more speaking When Huon sawe Oberon depart he was right pensiue but his swéetnes of youth put him out of his sorow Then hee made his ordinance in the citie and christened the faire Ladie Escleremond and afterward did marrie his Cousin Sibilla to an Admirall of the countrey who was newly christened and Huon gaue to theÌ„ the Citie of Babylon and all that longed thereto Then he made and ordayned a little ship to goe with his owne ship to thintent to send a land for vittailes when need should require Then he and his companie went into his great ship and so tooke his leaue of his cousin that was newly married who was right sorowfull for his departing Then they set vp their sayles and had a good faire wind and so sayled till they were out of the riuer of Nyle and so passed by Damieta and came into the high sea and had wind at will And on a day as they sat at dinner and made good chéere for by reason of his Cup they had wine at their pleasure Ah good Lord quoth Huon I am greatly bound to thanke king Oberon that I haue such a Cup and Horne Armour for whensoeuer I shall blowe my Horne I can haue men ynough to come to aide me and also I haue the Admirals â—eard and great téeth but specially the faire Ladie Escleremond whome I loue so perfectly and am so enamoured with her faire body that I can no longer endure it How be it the Dwarffe Oberon to mocke me hath forbidden me strictly that I should not touch her in any wise But I will that he well know that in this case I will not obey him for she is mine own therfore I will do with her at my pleasure When Gerames heard him he said Alas sir what will yée doe Yée know well Oberon neuer as yet made any lye but alwaies ye haue found him true for if hee had not been so both you and wée all had béene lost before this time And now againe you would breake his commaundement if yee touch this Ladie ere the time come that he hath set you great misfortune shall fâ—ll thereby Gerames quoth Huon for you nor for any other will I forbeare but ere I depart I will haue of her my pleasure and if any of you be affraid I am content he shall depart in this little ship and goe where he list and take vittaile into it for his prouision Sir quoth Gerames séeing yée will doe none otherwise I am right sorowfull and I will depart and so will all our other companie Then Gerames departed out of the great shippe and entred into the little shippe with the xiij in his companie and Huon tarried still with the Ladie and when he saw that all his company was departed he went and made readie a bed and said to the Ladie Madame surely I must now haue my pleasure of you when shee heard Huon shée fell downe sore weeping and humbly desired Huon that he would forbeare her companie vntill â—he time that they should be married together according to the promise that he had made to king Oberon Faire Ladie quoth Huon no excuses can auaile for it must be thus then he tooke the Ladie and made her goe to bed and there they tooke together their pleasures He had no sooner accomplished his will but there arose such a maruailous tempest that the waues of the sea séemed so great and high as mountaines and therewith it blew and thundred and lightned that it was very fearefull to behould the sea and the shippe was so sore tormented that it burst all to péeces so that there remained but one péece of timber whereuppon Huon and the Ladie were And it happened so well for them that they were néere to an Isle and thither the winde draue them and when they saw that they were there arriued and that they were on the land they both kneeled downe and thanked our Lord Iesus Christ that they were so well escaped the perill of drowning The other companie that were in the little shippe draue at aduenture in the sea and they cried to our Lord Iesus Christ to saue them from drowning for they had séene well how the shippe with Huon and the Ladie was broken in the sea wherefore they thought surely that Huon and the Ladie were perished Now let vs leaue speaking of them returning againe to Huon of Bourdeaux and the faire Escleremond Chap. XLVII ¶ How Huon and Escleremond arriued in an Isle all naked and how the Pyrates of the sea tooke Escleremond and left Huon alone and bound his hands feete and eyes WHEN Huon and Escleremond saw how they were driuen a land al naked pitiously weeping
by Kinge Iuoryn and so brought to Mombrance whereas they were receiued with great ioy and the Admirall Galaffer was entred into Anfalerne in great sorrow for Sorbryn his Nephew who was dead also for his men that he had lost in battaile and when he was vnarmed hee caused his Nephew to be buried with sore wéepings and lamentations Nowe let vs leaue speaking of them vntill wee haue occasion to returne vnto them againe Chap. LVI ¶ Howe Huon was hadde in great honour and sat at the Table with King Iuoryn of Mombrance WHen Iuoryn was entred into Mombrance hee went vnarmed him his Daughter came vnto him to make him reuerence and when hee sawe his Daughter hée kissed her and said Déere Daughter thou wert mated in a good houre by the Minstrels Varlet for in the day of battaile that we haue had against the Admirall Galaffer he was discomfited by the only prowesse of this Varlet by whom thou wert mated thanked be my God Mahound for by him I haue ouercome mine enemies and beside that he fought hand to hand against Sorbryn Nephew to the Admirall Galaffer and hee slew him but if I may liue one yeare the great seruice that he hath done vnto me shal be euen right well rewarded Father quoth the Ladie you are bound so to doe Then Kinge Iuoryn went vp into his Pallaice and his Daughter with him and Huon went to the lodging where as the Minstrell was lodged where hee vnarmed him and went with his Maister to the Pallaice but when King Iuoryn saw them the King aduanced foorth and tooke Huon by the hand and sayd Fréend you shall goe with mée and sit at my Table for I cannot doe you too much honour for the good seruice that you haue done vnto mée I abandon vnto you all my house to doe therein at your pleasure take all my gould and siluer and iewels and giue thereof at your pleasure I ordaine and will that all that you commaund shall be done all that is heere I abandon vnto you yea in the Ladies chambers take there your pleasure as you list and whē I goe out you shall goe with mée Sir quoth Huon of the great honour that you haue done to mée I thanke you then they sat downe at the Table and when they had dyned the King and Huon sat together vppon the rich Carpets Then Mouflet the Minstrell opened his Vyoll and played so melodiously that the Paynims that heard him had great maruaile thereof for the Vyoll made so swéet a sound that it séemed to be the Mermaides of the Sea and Kinge Iuoryn and all his Lords had so great ioy that it séemed vnto them that they were in the glorie of Paradise so that there was no Paynim but that gaue him Gownes and Mantles and other iewels The Minstrell saw Huon sit by the King hee saide Fréend yesterday I was your Maister and nowe I am become your Minstrell I thinke nowe you haue little care for me yet I pray you come vnto mée and gather together these cloathes and put them into my Male as you haue done ere this When the King and his Lordes heard that they began to laugh Now let vs leaue speaking of them and say somewhat of the old Gerames Chap. LVII ¶ How the old Gerames arriued at Anfalerne by fortune and the Admirall Galaffer retained him to mainetaine his warre And how the faire Escleremond spake with him YE haue heard heere before the Aduentures that haue fallen to Huon how the old Gerames and xiij with him departed and left Huon bicause he would not beléeue them whereby fell to him such aduentures as yee haue since heard and how Gerames and his companyons that were in the litle shippe sailed forth in the tempest without any knowledge what was become of Huon but they thought rather hée had been dead then aliue and so within a moneth after they were driuen by another tempest to the port of Anfalerne When Gerames saw how they were ariued there he said to his companie Sirs wee be not ariued at a good Port in this City dwelleth a Paynim king who beléeueth not in our god a more fierce Paynim cannot be found frō hence to the red Sea he is called the admirall Galaffer without god haue pitie of vs I cannot sée but we are like to die and we cannot returne backe The same time the Admirall Galaffer was risen from dinner and looked out at a windowe and behelde the sea-side and then he perceiued the little Shippe where Gerames and his companie were in when he saw it he went downe with some of his men desiring to knewe what they were that there arriued then he approached to the Shippe and said Sirs what men be you that are thus arriued at my Port Sir quoth Gerames wée be French-men Pilgrimes and are going to offer at the holy Sepulchre the fortune of the Sea hath brought vs hether and therefore Sir if there be any Tribute that we ought to pay we are readie to do your pleasure Sirs quoth the Admirall haue no doubt that by me or any of mine you shall haue any displeasure for if yée will abide with me you are well arriued Sir quoth Gerames I would it might please you to shewe vs the cause why Why quoth the Admirall that I shall shewe you True it is héere néere mée dwelleth Kinge Iuoryn of Mombrance who maketh vppon mée great warre hée slayeth my men and destroyeth my Countrey whereof I haue great sorrow in my heart Sir quoth Gerames if your quarrell be iust and rightfull we shall be all readie to aid you truely for Sir without your quarrell be good wee will not abide with you Sirs quoth the Admirall I shall shew you the troth so it was vppon a day I stood in a window and looked downe to the sea-side as I did now when you arriued at this Port and then I saw a Shippe comming which tooke anker there as you be nowe and in the Ship there was a Damsell and Ten Marriners who thought to haue ledde her vnto Kinge Iuoryn of Mombrance I cannot tell where they had taken her but shée was Daughter to the Admirall Gaudise that Mahound take his soule and I knewe for certaine that if King Iuoryn might haue the Damsell hee would haue burnt her because it hath béen shewed him that she was the cause of the death of her Father the Admirall Gaudise who was Brother to King Iuoryn and so hée is Vncle to the Damsell and when I was aduertised that the ten Marriners would haue deliuered her into the hands of her Vncle Iuoryn I tooke her from them and slew them all because they would not deliuer her to me with entreatie and thus I haue wedded the Damsell When Iuoryn heard this he made mée war and was héere before my Citie with all his puissance hath slayne my men and led away all my beasts and prouision and hath burnt and destroyed my Countrey and euerie day he
how is it with you and shew me of your aduentures Sir quoth Huon I haue endured many euils and troubles ynow and all these that are come with me but thanked be our Lord god it is so now that I haue brought with me the beard and great téeth of the Admirall Gaudise and haue also brought his Daughter who is heere present and Sir I require you to giue her Christēdome and then I will wed her to my wife Huon quoth the Pope all this pleaseth me right well to doe and the rather séeing it is your pleasure I desire you to tarrie héere with me this night Sir quoth Huon your pleasure shal be mine Thus Huon and his companie tarried with the Pope all that night whereas they made great ioy and on the nexts morning a Font was made readie wherein the faire Escleremond was christened without changing of her name and also there was christened Mouslet the Minstrell and he was called Garyn and when the Sacrament of Baptisme was finished the Pope himselfe said seruice first he confessed Huon and assoyled him of all his faultes then hee wedded him to Escleremond and when diuine seruice was ended then they went all with the Pope to his Pallaice and there was made the solempnities of the Mariage but to shew the maner of their seruice with the meates and drinkes and that apparell of the Brides it would be ouer-tedious to rehearse it But one thing I dare well saie that there had not béene séene of a long time before such a glorious and rich seast for the Pope did as much for them as though they had béen his owne Brother and Sister the melodie of the Minstrels that played was so swéet and delectable that euery man was satisfied with the hearing thereof and specially it was maruaile to heare Garyn the new christened Minstrell to play hee played so swéetlye on his vyoll that it was geat ioy to heare it Thus there was great ioy in the Popes Pallaice and euen as they were well serued at dinner so it was better at supper and at night euery man withdrew himselfe and the new Brydes lay together in great pleasure all that night in the morning they arose and heard seruice and then dined and then they trussed vp al their Baggage and charged their Somers Mules and Mullets and sadled their horses and then Huon and Escleremond went and tooke their leaue of the Pope and thanked him for the honour and great courtesie that he had shewed them Sir quoth the Pope if it would please you to tarrie longer heere with me my goodes and my house should be at your commaundment Sir quoth Huon I cannot render sufficient thankes to your Holines for the good that yée haue done to vs But Sir longer I cannot tarrie for the great desire that I haue to accomplish the rest of my businesse therefore Sir I recommend you to our Lord God The Pope kissed Huon and tooke Escleremond by the hand thus they tooke their leaue and at their departing the Pope sent to them a Somer charged with gold and cloathes of silke and thus they departed from Rome Chap. LXIII ¶ How Huon and his companie arriued at the Abby of Mauryse whereas hee was receiued by the Abbot and Couent with great reuerence AFter that Huon had taken leaue of the Pope he and his companie departed and the faire Escleremond was mounted on a faire mule and so long they rode till they might sée the town of Burdeux When Huon saw it he lift vp his hands to the heauens thanking God of his grace that he had brought him thether in sauegard and then he sayd to Escleremond Faire Ladie yonder you may sée the Citie and Countrey whereof ye shall be Lady and Duches though it hath béene ere this time a Realme Sir quoth Guyer the Prouost it is good ye regard wisely your businesse the which toucheth you right néere and Sir if you will doe after my counsell send first to an Abby that is here by called the Abby of Maurise the Abbot is a notable Clarke let him know of your comming and that ye wil dine with him Sir quoth Huon your counsell is to be beleeued and then Huon sent to the Abbot certifying him of his comming When the Abbot knew of Huons comming he was right ioyfull for he loued intierly Huon wherefore he sore desired the sight of him then hée called all his Couent and charged them in the vertue of obedience to make them selues readye to receiue Huon the rightfull Inheritour to the country of Bourdeaux though the kings of Fraunce be our founders But as to our good neighbour wée will doe this reuerence for honour is due to them that deserue it Then the Couent as they were commaunded ordered themselues and so went out of the Abby to méete Huon who when hée saw them hée alighted on foote and also Escleremond and Gerames and all the other thus the Abbot and his Couent in rich cluthes séeming mette with Huon when Huon was néere to the Abbot he was right ioyfull and the Abbot who anon knew Huon came to him right humbly and said Sir Duke of Bourdeux thanked be god that ye are come home for your presence hath long béene desired then they embraced each other with wéeping teares for ioy then the Abbot welcomed the Prouost Guyer and all the other But he knew not Gerames for for if he had he would haue made him great feasting Chap. LXIIII. ¶ How the good Abbot sent word to Duke Gerard of Bourdeaux how his brother Huon was in the Abbey of Maurise THVS the Abbot with his Couent brought Huon to the Abbey of Maurise and Huon and Escleremond on foot followed them when he came into the church Huon offered greate gyftes and after theyr offerings and prayers made they went into the hall and went to dinner how well they were lerned it neede not to be rehearsed they had euerie thing that néeded the Abbot sate by Huon and said Sir I pray you shew me how ye haue done how ye haue ended your messuage that ye were charged to do by King Charlemaine Sir quoth Huon thanked be our Lord God I haue accomplished and done all that I was commaunded to do for I haue brought with me the Beard and the foure great Téeth of the Admirall Gaudise and also I haue brought with me his Daughter the faire Escleremond whome I haue wedded in the citie of Roome and to morrow by the grace of God I will depart to goe to King Charlemaine my soueraigne Lord. Sir quoth the Abbot of that I am right ioyful but if it were your pleasure I would send to certefie your comming to Gerard your Brother that he might see you before yée depart hence Sir quoth Huon I am content that yée send for him Then the Abbot commaunded a Squier of his to goe for Duke Gerard and so he went and rested not till he came to Burdeux before Duke Gerard said
he will cause them to die an ill death Sir I require you beleeue my counsaile at this time for you knowe well that out of Fraunce you shall get no succor for if some would yet they dare not for doubt of King Charlemaine the hate that he hath to you is not yet quenched for the death of his sonne Charlot he will neuer forget and Sir if yée goe not to my brother for succour yée may happen to repent it and peraduenture it may be too late and doe as he doth that shutteth the stable dore when the horse is stollen Thus the faire Ladie Escleremond exhorted Duke Huon her husband whome shée loued entierly Chap. LXXXVII ¶ How Huon had great ioy for the birth of Claryet his Daughter WHen Huon had well heard his Wife hée said My right deare Ladie and Companion right well I know the great loue that you beare to mee the which hath constrayned you to say thus whereof I thanke you But by the Lord that vpon the Crosse died for to redeeme humane Lineage I will goe to no place nor send for any succours vntill I sée them before my Citie and that I haue cause to labour for succours nor vntill I feele the stroaks of Almaines and Bauiers that they can giue when they be out of their owne Countrey nor as longe as my sheeld is hole and found first I thinke they shall feele the sharpnesse of my Speares head and good Sword and yet by Gods grace I shall not abandon you nor leaue my City and good Burgesses for it might greatly bée layd to my reproach if I should thus goe away Alas Sir quoth Escleremond yée may well know that this that I haue said is for the feare that I haue of you for I haue béene well aduertised that the Emperour sore hateth you and not without cause for his Nephewes and Lords that yée haue slaine and therefore Sir if ye will beléeue me yée shall haue men to defend you brought hether by the king my brother so that when the Emperour is come into your land it shall lie in you either to make peace or warre at your will reason it were that you made him some amends for the hurts that yée haue done vnto him And on the other part if he will haue no peace thē it shall lie in you to make him such warre so that he shall not depart without your agréement and to his great losse Sir the feare that I haue to loose you constrayneth me thus to say I haue heard it often times said that the entrie into warre is large but the issuing out therof is very straight nor there is no warre but it causeth pouertie But séeing it is your pleasure not to beléeue me it is reason that I must be content that your pleasure shal be fulfilled then they entred into other deuises and great ioy feasts were made in the Pallaice at Bourdeaux between Huon and the Lordes of the Countrey At last the faire Ladie Escleremond who was great with child fell vpon trauayling and shée prayed to god for helpe and suffered great paine whereof Huon had great pitie whē he heard thereof for the loue betwéene them was excéeding great at last the Lady was brought to bed of a faire Daughter whereof Huon thanked God then entred into the Ladies chamber a great number of the Ladies of the Fairie and came to Escleremonds bed-side and said Ladie yée ought 〈◊〉 to thanke God for yée haue brought foorth the fairest best creature that as now is in the world and to whome our Lord god hath graunted most graces at her birth for a more faire me dest wise and courteous hath not béen borne this C. yéeres past for shée shall haue such destinie fortune in this world that of the Realme of Aragon shée shall bee crowned Quéene and shée shall so gouerne her selfe that shée shal be accounted of as if she were a Saint in Paradice At Tortouse there is the Church where she is honoured the which is founded in her name and is named Saint Clare Escleremond was ioyfull of the wordes of these Ladies of the Fairie and great ioy feasting was made euery where for the birth of this Child who was greatly regarded of the Ladies of the Fayrie and they said each to other that this Child was the fairest creature in all the world they tooke this Child each after other and blessed it thrée times then they layd it downe and departed suddainly so that no man wist not where they were become whereof all the Ladies and other had great maruaile This tidings was brought vnto Huon he was right ioyfull and sayd A worthy King Oberon I beleeue surely that as yet you haue not forgotten me now I doubt nothing the Emperour nor all his puissance séeing you haue remembraunce of mee Then Huon came into the Hall and thether his Daughter was brought vnto him to sée hée tooke her in his armes and shewed her to his Lords who were very ioyfull to sée her Then shee was borne to the Church and with great solemnitie christened and named Clariet bicause she was so faire and cleare to behold Then shee was brought to the Duchesse who had of her great ioy When the Duchesse had kept her Chamber a Moneth then she was churched whereof all the Court was ioyfull and such feasting was made that if I should shewe you the riches and noblenesse that was there shewed it should be ouer-long to rehearse Therefore I wil leaue speaking thereof at this time vntill another season Chap. LXXXVIII ¶ How the Emperour assembled a great hoast and came vnto Bourdeaux YE haue at large heard here before the manner and cause why this war was mooued betweene the Emperour of Almaine and Huon Duke of Bourdeaux the which after the Truce was expired that the Emperour was hole of his thigh that Huon had broken he published the war againe and sent ouer all his Empire that euerie Duke Earle Baron Knight and Squier should come to him and Souldiers from all parts and that within a Moneth they were to be at the Citie of Mayence to the entent to make warre vppon Huon of Bourdeaux This commaundement was published and such diligence was made that by the day appointed euerie man was come to the City of Mayence and lodged in the Citie and in Pauilions about the Citie there were assembled more then fortie Thousand and all men well appointed for the warre When this Emperour who was named Tirrey saw them he was verie ioyfull and sore threatned Huon and made promise to all his Barons that hee would neuer returne into his owne Countrey vntill hee had first slaine Huon who hadde doone him so great damage Then hee commaunded his Constables and Marshals to be readie to depart the next day to take the way towardes Coleyne with all his Artilerie and carriage the which was done The next day the Emperour entred into the feeld so road towards Coleyne
dye in the quarrell Thus Huon was there alone without any company sore weeping and almost dead through famine When Huon sawe that no manner of shippe was comming thether hee was right sorrowfull Then hee turned him and regarded the Castle the which seemed vnto him maruailously faire and great and sayd Ah good Lord how can it be that this faire and rich Castle should bee voyd without man or woman I haue great maruaile of that sir Arnold shewed mee for he shewed me that within the Castle there was neither man nor woman and howe that there should bee a great Serpent I cannot tell whether it be true or not or whether hee spake it for feare but by the grace of God though I shall die in the quarell I will knowe the troth for I were as good to die by the horrible Serpent as to die for hunger Then hee tooke his good Sword and put on his helmet and tooke his sheeld and did so much with going from shippe to shippe vntill hee came to the gate of the land And then with much paine hee mounted vp the degrees and so came to the Castle and then he sat downe and rested him and beheld the faire Castle he thought that he neuer saw none such before for the wals and Towers were of fine Alablaster cleare shining and the Towers richly couered with fine goulde of Arabia when the Sunne cast his rayes and spheares thereuppon it cast so great a light that it gaue light a farre off and when hee had longe beheld it at his pleasure hee sawe the gate the which was faire and rich that great beautie was to beholde it for the twoo leaues of the gate were couered with fine goulde intermedled with other rich ouerages And on his right side he saw by the gate a window and ouer the same there was written in Letters of gould saying Let any man beware how he entreth into this Castle without hee bee the worthyest Knight of all other or else it were folly to assay it For he shall find there such aduentures as if his bodie were harder then a stethye of steele yet hee should be but dead and lost without hee bee of that puissance to resiste againste the great Serpent and vanquishe him many men haue assayled that neuer coulde speed and he that will enter into the Castle behold a little purse that hangeth on the right hand of the gate where he shall find the key for to open the gate When Huon had read the writing hee began sore to muse in himselfe and said Good Lord since thou hast saued mee from so many perils in time past I humbly require thee at this time to ayde and succour mee and to giue me that grace that I may vanquish this horrible Serpent and bring him to the death for I had rather die in fighting like a valiant knight then to die for famine Then Huon arose vp and went to the purse and tooke out the key and opened the gate and entred and closed the gate againe after him Chap. CII ¶ How Huon of Bourdeaux fought with the horrible Serpent and slew him within the Castle of the Adamant WHen Huon was entred into the Castle hee sawe before the Hall dore the horrible Serpent who was risen vp his skin was of diuers colours and it was so hard that no yron nor steele could enter into it When Huon sawe the beast so great hee doubted himselfe and called vppon Iesus Christ requiring him to haue pity vppon him and to giue him the grace to slay that dreadfull beast when the beast sawe Huon hee had great maruaile for hee had beene there a long space that neuer man came there he stretched out his clawes and cast his tayle round about him and came hastily against Huon who when he sawe the beast approach neere to him hee made the signe of the Crosse vppon his forehead recommending himselfe to God with his Sword in his hand and his sheeld before him and hee fiercely marched towards the Serpent he was so hideous and fearful to behold that the beast seemed rather an enemie of Hell then any other beaste his bodie was maruailous great with an ougly head with twoo eyes bigger then twoo basons full of burning fire and when hee came neere vnto Huon hée lifted vp one of his pawes thinkinge to haue drawne downe Huon to the earth hee strake vpon Huons Sheeld with such force that hee pulled it from his shoulder leather nor buckle could not resiste it and then with his teeth and nayles hee tare the Sheeld all to peeces Huon who was legier and light leapt by the side of the Serpent and gaue him a great stroake with his Sword vppon the eare that he thought to haue clouen asunder his head But hee coulde doe it no more hurt then if hee had striken vppon a stethy so that his Sword rebounded againe whereof Huon was right sorrowfull and said Ah good Lord nowe I sée well that my dayes are at an end Ah faire Ladie Escleremond I pray our Lord God to saue you and my Daughter Clariet for this day you shall loose mée Then hee aduaunced him to the Serpent and gaue him a great stroake vppon the haunch behinde and if hée did but little with his first stroake hee did lesse hurt with that stroake for hee could in no wise cut through the Serpents skinne wherefore hee was in great feare and the Serpent when he felt himselfe striken cast his tayle rounde about Huon with such force that hee ouerthrew Huon to the earth yet hee quickly releeued againe Then he saw by the gate a great square Speare with a sharpe broad head and then hee put vp his Sword and tooke the Speare in both his handes and came with all his force and strength against the Serpent who came and encountred him with open mouth to haue swallowed Huon but Huon who was strong and light tooke the speare and layd it on his arme and saw the Serpent with his mouth open hee strake the Speare into the mouth of the Serpent so deepe that with the head of the Speare he cutte his heart asunder when the Serpent felt himselfe hurt to the death hee cast out a terrible crye so that all the place sounded and so that the noyse might be heard a league off Thus the horible Serpent was slaine When Huon saw that hee was dead hee kneeled downe and lift vp his hands to heauen thanking our Lord God for his grace Then he arose and went to the Serpent and behelde him for hee was hidious and fearefull to behold he was eighteene foote long When Huon had well beheld him he went and sate downe by the hall doore for to rest him for he was so wearie and faynt with the bloud that hee had lost and with sweat that he had much paine to draw his breath the which was no maruaile for hee had neither eate nor drunke of all that day When he had well rested him then he
perforce wée shall bee the first that shall receiue death and because I sée well that I cannot escape from hence I require you my deare Fréend and by the troth that you beare vnto Huon my Lord and yours that incontinent you take my deare Daughter Clariet whome I hold héere in mine armes and finde some meanes that you may depart out of this Citie and beare her straight to the Abbey of Cluny the which is in Burgoyne and deliuer her into the kéeping of the Abbot there and recommend me vnto him hée is Vncle to my Husband Huon and great Vncle to my Childe Lady quoth Bernard I know well that if I be taken here I shal be vtterly slaine howbeit if I could sée or knowe that my abiding héere could aid or succour you both for mine honour and for the loue of my good Lord and Maister Huon I woulde neuer depart hence from you but my resistance and force is but of small value and because I woulde serue you as I am bounde to doe I am readie sournished to take vppon mee that aduenture as to beare your Child away and to set her in sauegard by the grace of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ When the Duchesse vnderstood Barnard she was well comforted and as for her selfe shee regarded neither her life nor death when shee knewe that her Child should be saued Then shée deliuered her Childe vnto Barnard to the entent that in the night time hée should yssue out Then the Emperour and his Lordes came before the Castle and when the Duchesse knewe that shee came to the gate and at a windowe shee desired to speake with the Emperour who was there readie present and said Madame say what you will to mée at your pleasure and when shée sawe the Emperour shee sayd Sir I knowe well that you are the head and cheefest of all the christened and noblest whereby you are bound to defend and to kéepe from ill all noble men and women I that am the Daughter of an high and mightie Emperour and that for the loue of my good Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ haue forsaken mine owne false béeléefe to beléeue vppon the Christian faith Sir I require you for his sake that made and created you to haue pitie and compassion of mée and of all those that be héere with mée to respite our liues and to put from you all rancour and malice and pardon them that nothing had to doe with the beginning of this warre When the Emperour hadde heard the reasonable request of this faire Ladie hee cast from him all the mortall hate that hée had vnto her and vnto them that were within the Castle with her Then hée mooued with pitie and compassion of the noble Ladie aunsweared and sayde Madame for the loue of our Lord Iesus Christe I repell from mée all my displeasure so that you render vnto mee this Castle and to put it vnder mine obeysance to vse it at my pleasure and to yéelde your bodie as my Prisoner and all those that be within and thus you shall haue all your liues saued Sir quoth the Duchesse laude and praise bee giuen to our Lord Iesus Christ for this grace that you shewe vnto mée and to my companie Then the Emperour went backe and made expresse commandement throuhout the Citie that no man should bée so hardy as to doe any hurt or iniurie to any manner of person within the Citie but to suffer euerie man to abide in their owne houses peaceably without killinge whereof the Burgesses and communaltie of the Citie were right ioyfull Thus as yée haue heard the Citie of Bourdeaux was taken by the Emperour who was chosen in Almaine and committed by the Emperour Charlemaine vntill his Sonne Lewis shoulde bée of full age and able to rule the Empire Chap. CV ¶ How the Duchesse Escleremond deliuered her Daughter Clariet to Barnard to beare vnto the Abbot of Cluny of whome the Abbot was right ioyfull YEE haue heard the pitiful taking of the Citie of Bourdeaux and of the treatie and appointment that the Duchesse Escleremond had made with the Emperour when shee had made her appointment shee went vnto her companie pitiously weeping and shewed them all the manner of her treatie whereof euerie person was glad that their liues should bée saued but they made great sorrowe for that the Duchesse should become a Prisoner and then she called Barnard and sayd Sir when it is night yssue out by the Posterne with my Daughter Clariet and beare her vnto the good Abbot of Cluny who is her great Vncle. Madame quoth hée bée of good cheere and by the grace of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ I shall not rest twoo nights in one place vntill I haue deliuered your daughter vnto the good Abbot of Cluny her great Vncle. Then Barnard tooke leaue of the Duchesse who kissed her Daughter at her departing sore wéeping and pitifully complayning There was a Posterne that opened into the féeldes and it was so small that Barnard was faine to leade his horse in his hand the night was dark but he knew well the waies afterwards he mounted on his horse with the Childe in his armes and so road foorth and passed the Landes of Bourdeaux and was neuer séene by any mortall man vntill the next day he road so all the night that his horse was wearie And when hee sawe that hee was past all daungers and escaped all perils then hee road at his ease for loue of the Child and he complained greatly for the good horse Amphage that Huon had left in his kéeping vntill his returne but hee durst not take that Horse with him for feare that hée should haue dealt the worse with the Ladie Escleremond the which had béene true for the Emperour loued the horse so well that he desired more to haue the horse againe then for to winne the Citie and therefore Barnard durst not take the Horse with him So long Barnard road that hée arriued at Monglew the which is called Lyon on the Riuer of Roane and from thence hée road to Mascon and from thence he rested not vntill he came to the Abbey of Cluny and then hée alighted and desired to speake with the Abbot and when the Abbot sawe Barnard with a Child in his armes hee had great maruaile thereof and when Barnard sawe the Abbot all wéeping hee saluted him and said Sir the right desolate Duches of Bourdeaux your Néece and wise vnto the Duke Huon of Bourdeaux your Nephew hath sent héere vnto you her Daughter Clariet Then the good Abbot embraced him and tooke the child and kissed it more then twentie times and demaunded why hée brought the Child vnto him Sir quoth Barnard the Citie of Bourdeaux hath beene besieged by the Emperour of Almaine and so straightly kept that it was néere hand famished many Knightes that were within are slaine so that Huon your Nephewe by the counsaile of the Duchesse his wife and consent of all
and shining within it by reason of the rich stones that were therein wherof he had great maruaile and especially because hee saw within the Shippe but one man cleane armed hee wist not what to thinke but he thought that he was christened then he approached neere to the Shippe and saluted Huon and sayde Sir God giue you good aduenture for me thinkes you bee a Christian man Fréend quoth Huon God saue thée me thinkes by thy speach that thou wert borne in the good Countrey of France by reason that thou speakest French for I haue great ioy when I heare that language spoken and fréend I require thée to shew me where thou wert borne and what thou séekest for heere Sir quoth Barnard séeing you will know of my businesse I shall shew you as he that is right sorrowfull and heauie and little shall you winne thereby when you doe know it but séeing that it is your pleasure I shall shewe you the troth Sir I was borne in the good Citie of Bourdeaux whereas I haue left my house and heritage to séeke for my good Lord somtime Lord of the same Citie and he was called Duke Huon who went from Bourdeaux to séeke for some succour whiles the City was besieged and so it is my Lord Huon returned not nor it cannot bee knowne where he is become and because the Citie at his departing was beséeged by the Emperour of Almaine and the Citie but ill fournished with victuall to maintaine it long and also it was so sore beaten with Engins that the Emperor wanne the Citie perforce and slew all those that my Lord Huon had lefte there except thrée Hundred the which were taken Prisoners by the Emperour and led into the Citie of Mayence with the noble Duchesse Escleremond wife vnto my good Lord Huon and shee is kept in a straighc Prison whereas she spendeth her dayes miserably whereof my heart is in such sorrowe and gréefe that when I remember them it neere hand slayeth my heart When Huon hadde well heard and vnderstood Barnard hee knew him well but hee had no power to speake any word vnto him his heart was so full of sorrow and gréefe for that his Cozen Barnard had shewed him and the chéefest of his sorrow was for the trouble of his wife the faire Lady Escleremond who was in great perill of death Thus Huon was a great space and could speake no word for sorrow and gréefe and wist not what to doe and also hee saw his Coozen Barnard who hadde taken great paines to search for him whereof hee had such pitie that the teares fell from his eyes When Barnard saw that the Knight gaue him no answeare and beheld vnder the ventaile of his helmet the teares of water fell downe from his eyes hee was thereof so dismayed and abashed that he wist not what to say Then hee sayde Sir mee thinkes you are a Christian man and because I see and perceiue in you that you are a man that hath beene in many places and Countreys therefore I desire you to shewe mee if you heard euer any manner of speaking of my good Lord Huon Duke of Bourdeaux whome I haue sought for in many Countreys both by land and by Sea and I could neuer heare any certaine tidings of him whereof I am right sorrie for if I can heare no word of him by you I will neuer hope more to haue any knowledge of him I thinke I shall haue some knowledg by you if he be aliue for if I knowe nothing by you I will neuer séeke him further but I will goe into a Desart vnto some solitarie place and there to doe penance and to pray vnto God for my good Lord Huon and to pardon me of all my sinnes and offences and I require you in the name of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to shewe mee what you bée and where you were borne and from whence you come that hath brought in your shippe so great riches for I knowe certainly that in all Fraunce cannot bee found the value of so great riches nor the puissant Charlemaine coulde neuer assemble together such riches as you haue in your Shippe When Huon had well heard Barnard hee sayde Freend I haue great maruaile of that I heare you say for in my Shippe I knowe neither gould nor siluer nor none other thing but my bodie and mine armour Sir quoth Barnard beware what you say for the riches that I see in your Shippe if you will sell it you may fill againe your shippe with monney if you will beleeue me the Treasure and riches that you haue brought in your Shippe the value thereof cannot bee estéemed When Huon heard that he had great maruaile and was right ioyfull then he looked downe into the bottome of the Shippe and saw the rich stones there lying among the grauell the which he neuer tooke heede of before for when he did cast it into his Ship hee thought all had beene but grauell to ballaice his Shippe withall that it might sayle the more surely Then Barnard sayd Sir I pray you hide it not from mee where haue you had this Treasure and in what Countrey all the stones that bee there I knowe the vertue of them all for since I came out of my Countrey I was a whole yeare with the best Lapidarie and knower of stones that was in all the world and he taught me his Science Sir surely the place whereas you had them in is of great dignitie Freend quoth Huon I shall shewe you the troth fortune brought me by the Gulfe of Persia whereas as I suffered much paine and trouble but thanked be God I escaped from that hard aduenture the force of the winde that came out of the Gulfe draue my Shippe out of the streame to the land and when I sawe that I was so néere to the land I went out of the shippe and tooke a scoope and therewith I did cast into the shippe some store of the grauell that lay by the sea side to ballays my shippe therewith not knowing that any precious stones had beene amonge the grauell and when I thought that I cast in sufficient I entred againe into my ship and so sayled foorth more surely then I did before there I had these stones that be in this shippe the which yée say be of so great value Sir quoth Barnard I pray you wherefore serueth yonder foote of a great Foule or beast that I see hange yonder in your Shippe I cannot tell whether it be of a Foule or of a Dragon for it is a fearfull thing to behold Fréend quoth Huon anone I shall shew you but first I pray you shewe mee what vertue and bountie are in these stones the which you haue so much praised and also to shew me vnto whome this noble Citie appertaineth Sir quoth Barnard this Citie is called Thauris whereof is Lord a rich Admirall who is Lord of all Persia and of Media who when hee shall bee aduertised of your
shew you at length all mine aduentures without hyding of any thinge from you Sir knowe for troth my name is Huon and I was borne in the Countrey of Fraunce in a Citie named Bourdeaux and I departed from thence about two yeres past since the which time I haue suffered much paine and pouertie When I departed from thence I had with mee Seauen Knightes and my Chaplaine and a Clarke to serue him and we tooke our Shippe at Bourdeaux and wee sayled downe the Riuer vntill wee came into the maine Sea then the wind rose against vs and so continued a long space so that our Patrone knew not where he was and so at the last we came to a Port whereas wee found many shippes of strang Countreys and there we got vs a new Patron and as shortly as we might wée sayled foorth on our iourney But when wée were come againe into the hye Sea a great Tempest arose so that wee were neere hand all perished this Tempest endured Tenne dayes so that wee were faine to abandon our shippe to the wind and vppon the eleauenth day we arriued at the perilous Gulfe whereas wee found Iudas who betrayed our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ wee were then in such feare that wee looked for nothinge but when wee shoulde perish and end our liues but God alwayes his Seruants and such as beleeue in his holy Lawes and keepe his Commaundements will euer kéepe and preserue them hee sent vs a wind the which draue vs from that perilous Gulfe and brought vs vnto the Castle of the Adamant and there hee shewed the Admirall at length the beautie of that Castle and howe there arriued a shippe with Sarazins who were Pirats of the Sea and howe they fought together and also he shewed him all the aduentures of the Castle that he had there as well of his men that dyed by famine as of them that hee left there and also hee discoursed howe hee â—ame by victuâ—ls and also hee shewed how hee departed from thence and was borne away by the Griffen and how he strake off one of her Legges when hee fought with her after the Griffen had set him vppon the Rocke the which Legge hee shewed vnto the Admirall whereof he had woonderfull great maruell and then also he shewed him how he fought with the fiue young Griffens and slew them and also of the old Griffen and also of the Fountaine wherein hee bathed himselfe and of the faire Garden and of the Trée of youth that stood by the Fountaine and of the vertue of the fruit thereof and howe hee did gather of the same and more woulde haue done but that hee was forbidden so to doe by an Angell sent from God but before I was commaunded to the contrarie I did both eat of the fruit and dranke of the water of the Fountaine whereby I was whole incontinent of all the great wounds that the Griffens had giuen mée when I slewe them And Sir quoth Huon knowe for troâ—h that of this Trée I gathered thrée apples by the commandement of the Angell and haue kept thâ—m surely then the Angâ—ll shâ—wed mée the way howe I shoulde goe from the Rocke and vnder the Rock side I found a great faire Riuer and there I found this shippe that we be now in and entred into it and then there came a wind quoth he and draue my shippe so fast that a bird could not haue ouertaken it Then hee discoursed vnto the Admirall howe hee passed by â—he Gulfe of Persia and what torments hee suffered there and howe hee was there ten dayes and how he was driuen to the shâ—are whereas he found â—hose precious stones and he thought that it had beene nothing 〈◊〉 grauâ—ll and that hee purposed nothing else but to ballâ—â—ice therewith his ship that the ship might sayle the more surely and he saide Sir God vppon whome I stedfastly beleeue so aided and succoured mee that I am escaped from thence in sauegard When the Admirall had well heard and vnderstood Huon hee had great maruaile for hee neuer heard before of so great and woonderfull aduentures and was sore dismayed and abashed and saide Fréend I haue great maruaile of that I haue heard you say for it is neere hand six-score yeares since I came first into this world and I neuer heard that euer any man escaped aliue out of the Gulfe of Persia therefore you may well say that the God vpon whome you doe stedfastly beleeue hath shewed that hee loueth you well when hee hath saued and preserued you out of that perilous Gulfe your God is puissant and loueth all men that stedfastly and vnfainedly beleeue in his holy Lawes and keepe his Commaundements and hee is false and vntrue that beleeueth not in his Lawes but hee loueth you well when hee hath deliuered you out of twoo such Gulfes and also from the Castle of the Adamant from whence none can depart nor neuer did nor I thinke neuer shall and also hath suffered you to slay the Griffens surely you ought to loue him that hath giuen you that grace and for the great maruailes that he hath done vnto you I will be christened and receiue your Lawe but I feare me if my Lords and men knewe thereof they would slay me shortly for against them all I cannot resist Sir quoth Huon to the entent that you should haue the firmer beléefe in our Lord Sauiour Iesus Christ I haue three Apples the which haue such vertue in them that if you will beleeue in our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ I shall giue you one of them the which you shall eate and incontinent after you haue eaten it you shall become young againe of the age of Thirtie yeares and you shall bâ—e as faire and as lustie as you were when you were of that age there is not so olde a man nor so crooked if hee eate of this and beleeue firmely and vnfainedly in our Lord Iesus Christ but hee shall become as yong and as lusty as he was at Thirtie yéeres of age Freend quoth the Admirall if it bee so that by eating of this Apple I shall become as young and as lusty as I was at Thirtie yéeres of age whatsoeuer come of mée I will bee christened and beleeue in the Lawe of Iesus Christ the feare of death shall not let me to doe it for too longe I haue beleeued in this false and detestable Lawe of Mahomet for if I hadde neither seene nor heard no more then you haue shewed vnto mée I ought to beleeue yet in your Law and I shall doe so much that I trust I shall cause all my Realme to beleeue in the same Sir quoth Huon and if you doe as you say you shall be saued and I shall giue you the Apple the which you shall eat in the presence of all your Lordes and men and when they shall sée you waxe young againe know for troth that maruaile thereof shall cause them to beleeue in our Lord Iesus Christ and to
renounce their false and detestable Law of Mahomet Fréend quoth the Admirall I beleeue well that which you say and I shall vse my selfe after your aduise Then the Admirall tooke Huon by the hand and went together out of the shippe and Huon left Barnard there to keepe it many people were come thether to sée the Shippe and also for the great maruailes that they had heard fallen vnto Huon and they beheld Huon and hadde great maruaile of the honour that the Admirall made vnto him for hee led him still by the hand â—ntill hee came to his Pallaice as they passed through the Citie they were greatly regarded of men of sundrie Nations for Huon was so faire in his visage and so valiaunt a Knight in â—â—ature that none could bee found as then that might bee compared vnto him When Huon was come to the Pallaice whereas hee was honourably receiued with great ioy the Admirall made him great feast and chéere and the Tables were set vp and they sat downe to dinner of their seruice and meats I will make no long rehearsall but when dinner was done the Admirall commaunded Carpenters to make a great scaffold of Timber before the Pallaice the which was couered with rich cloathes of gould and silke and thether was brought a riche Standard of gould with other thinges and then hee commaunded throughout the Citie that all his Lordes and Barons of his Realme that were come thether vnto his frée Feast that they should all come vnto him at an houre appointed the which they did there came so many strangers and other that there were moâ— assembled together then a Hundred and Fiftie Thousand men When they were all there assembled together then the Admirall holding Huon by the hand mounted vpon the rich stage and diuers other great Lordes with him and when they were there the Admirall stoode vp and sayd with a hye voice vnto the Lordes and to the people Sirs yée that bee come hether by my commaundement knowe for troth the great loue that I haue had vnto yée and haue mooueth me to say and to shew you the way how that I and al you may come to eternall Saluation for if wee die in this case that we bee in wee shall bee all damned and loste by the false and detestable way that you and I doe hold therefore I counsaile and pray you for the loue that you haue longe borne vnto mee that you will leaue with mee the Law of Mahomet and beleeue in the Law of our Sauiour and Redéemer Iesus Christ who is worthy and holy as yée may sée by the euident miracles that he hath shewed for this poore Knight that yée sée héere by mée Then the Admirall shewed vnto the people all the maruailous aduentures that had fallen vnto Huon that is to say how he had béene at the Castle of the Adamant and how the Griffen did beare him from thence whome hee slewe and fiue of the young Griffens and also of the Fountaine and Garden and of the fruit of the Trée of youth and how he had passed the two Gulfes whereas he had taken the rich stones that he had brought thether the which thinges could not haue been without the ayd and helpe of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ and also hee shall shew before you euident Miracles that Iesus Christ will doe for me if I will take his Lawe for hee sayth vnto mee that if I will beleeue in his God hee will make mée to eate of such a holy fruite by the which I shall become againe but of the age of Thirtie yeares and as lusty as I was at that time and therefore Sirs if Iesus Christ will doe this for me I will be christened Then all the people answeared and sayd Sir if this that you haue sayd come to proofe wee shall be all content to bee christened and to beleeue vppon the Lawe of Iesus Christ and to leaue the law that wee haue longe kept but wee are hard of beleefe that this shall bee for if it be so there was neuer heard of such a wâ—onderfull Miracle Chap. CXVI ¶ Howe the Emperour by reason of the Apple that Huon gaue him to eat he became of the age of Thirtie yeares whereby hee and all the people of Persia and Media were christened and of the great honour that the Admirall made vnto Huon WHen Huon hadde well heard and vnderstood the Lords and the people how they were content to leaue their Lawe and to beleeue vppon Iesus Christ he was right ioyfull and thanked God with all his heart then Huon sayde vnto the Admirall Sir eate of the Apple that I haue giuen vnto you and then the people that be here assembled shall sée what grace our Lord God shall send you the Admirall tooke the Apple and began to eate thereof and as he did eate hee beganne to change colour his haire and his beard the which were white beganne to change and waxe yellow before the Apple was cleane eaten he was cleane changed and his beautie and strength as he was when he was but of Thirtie yeares of age Then generally all the people that were there with one voice cried and required to bee cristened whereof the Admirall and Huon were right ioyfull because they sawe that the good will and desire of the people was to receiue Christendome When the Admirall felt himselfe againe younge and lusty the ioy that he had at his heart could not be declared the people also were right ioyfull the Admirall who was a goodly Prince tooke Huon by the hande and sayde My right déere Fréend blessed be the houre that you came hether for me and my people you haue brought vs into the way of Saluation and deliuered vs out of darkenesse therefore I will from hencefoorth that in all my Realme you shall haue your part as well as my selfe and I will and commaund that you be so obayed then he embraced and kissed Huon more then Tenne times saying Fréend blessed bee the good houre that euer you were borne and happie was that woman that bare you in her bodie the Paynims and Sarazins that were there séeing the great beautie that the Admirall was of and also the woonderfull great Miracle that they had seene sayd one to another how they neuer hadde heard of such a Miracle and how that from thencefoorth they that would beleeue vppon Mahound were accursed and vnhappie for they sayd that his beleefe his lawe his doctrine was of no valour then they cryed with a hye voice Oh right noble and puissant Admirall desire that noble man that is there with you that hee will cause vs to receiue Christendome And as then in the Citie there was a Bishop of Greece who was come thether in ambassage to the Admirall from the Emperour of Constantinople who hearing the will and desire of the people was right ioyfull and hee came vnto the Admirall and to Huon and sayd Sir it shall bee no daunger for you to bee
whereof Huon hadde such sorrowe and greeâ—e at his heart that great pittie it was to sée him and saide Ah good Lord why was I euer borne into this world when I am so vnfortunate that I can haue no men to serue mée but at last they end their liues in my seruice miserably Ah my God why doest then suffer mée so longe to liue Then the Duchesse comforted him as much as shée could and said Ah Sir leaue your sorrowe and pray vnto our Lord God for his mercie and his grace and to haue pittie and compassion of vs that wée might arriue at some good Port. Thus the noble Duchesse Escleremond comforted Duke Huon her Husband howbeit shee was in as great feare and not without a cause and thus they floated vppon the Sea greatly bewailing the death of their men whome they sawe perish before their eyes Then Huon as farre off as he might sée he saw a Castle standing vppon a Rocke the which séemed darke and blacke and then hee lauded and praised our Lord God praying him humbly to bring them thether in sauegard Then the Sea was peaceable and the Tempest ceased and the winde fresh the which draue them in a short space vnto the Port vnder the Rocke and when they were neere to the land Huon and the Duchesse waded vnto the lande holding each other by the hand When they were vppon the drie land they kneeled downe and lifted vp their eyes vnto Heauen and made their deuoute prayers vnto our Lord Iesus Christ desiringe him to haue pitie and compassion of the Soules of their men that they sawe drowned and perished then they arose vp and saw a litle path way lying straight towardes the Castle and they entred into it and when they were néere vnto the Castle they sawe a great Riuer running round about it and sawe that the Castle was of maruailous great beautie thinkinge that they neuer sawe none such before the Towers were couered with glistering gould shining so bright as though the Sunne did shine thereon Also they sawe an auncient Church adioyning to the Castle with a goodly Steeple full of bels the which beganne to sound whereof Huon had great maruaile for he sawe neither man nor woman comming nor going and when hee had well regarded the Castle hee came vnto the gate and saw how that there were thrée bridges to passe before he could enter When Huon saw that hee sayd Ah good Lord in all my life I neuer sawe so faire a Castle hee that is Lord thereof séemeth to bee a great and a noble man for if there were within it but Fortie men to keepe it and garnished with victuals it would neuer be wonne for any man liuing So long Huon beheld this Castle that he had forgotten his sorrow the Castle pleased him so well and sayd vnto the Duchesse his Wife Madame I beléeue surely that this is the Castle of Momur appertaining vnto King Oberon wee may well thanke our Lord God that hee hath brought vs hether we shall sée him you knowe well that hée hath promised to giue mee his Realme and all his dignitie Sir quoth the Duchesse I haue heard say before this that Momur is a great and a noble Citie and full of people of all sorts wherefore you may well perceiue that this is not that Citie it may well bee that this Castle is his Madame quoth Huon the King hath that puissance that he may make Citie or Castle at his pleasure Sir quoth shee I beleeue it well Then Huon tooke his way to the gate and as hee went deuising with the Duchesse Escleremond his wife hee sawe before him foure Monkes in white apparell when they came vnto him they sayd Sir Duke of Bourdeaux of your comming we are right ioyfull for a more noble man came not heere of a long season God blesse you and the Duchesse your Wife Sirs quoth Huon God saue you I pray you to shew me what you be and who hath shewed you my name and who is Lord and Gouernor of this Castle Sir quoth one of the Monkes this Castle is ours and heere is no Gouernour but I and my Brethren wee make none answeare vnto any Lorde liuing therefore if it please you to enter wée shall make you as good feast and chéere as wée can if it please you to tarie Eight or fifteene dayes you shall bee welcome and when you depart wee shall giue you to carie with you meate and drinke sufficient to serue you and your Wife for Fifteene dayes and you shall haue neede thereof before you finde out Kinge Oberon Sirs quoth Duke Huon of your courtesie I most hartely thanke you Then Huon entred into the Castle with them and came into a great Hall well garnished and adorned with rich Pillers of white Marble vawted aboue and richly painted with goâ—ld and Azure and set full of rith precious stones the which cast a great light for by reason of the precious stones at midnight it was as bright as at noone dayes Huon and Escleremond thought that they neuer sawe so rich a thing Madame quoth Huon this place is delectable then they were brought into a rich Chamber whereas the Tables were set and garnished with euerie thinge that a man coulde wish for Then there came in many Seruants some brought in the Basons of gould adorned with precious stones and some brought in the Towell and water and they gaue the water vnto Huon and Escleremond to wash their handes then they satte downe at the Table and did eate and drinke at their pleasure for they had their meat and drinke at their wish When they hadde eaten at their pleasure and the cloathes taken vp then there were Spices brought and Huon did eate thereof but Escleremond would not so much as taft thereof then they were brought into a Garden to sport them and when they were there they thought that they had been in Paradice for the sweetnesse of flowers and fruites vppon euerie Trée and they heard diuers kind of birdes sing melodiously Sirs quoth Huon vnto the the Monkes well you ought to thanke our Lord Iesus Christ that he hath giuen you such a place to serue him in and Sirs I pray you when it is midnight awake me to the entent that I may ryse to go and heare your Seruice when you doe it Sir quoth one of them I shall awake you when the time is that you may come and héere vs. Sir quoth Huon therein shall you doe me great pleasure Then Duke Huon and the Duches Escleremond were brought into a rich Chamber well fournished with cloathes of gold and silke wherein was a rich and sumptuous bedde wherein Huon and the Duchesse his Wife lay together the Chamber was faire and rich for all the night it was as cleare as though the Chamber had been full of Torches by reason of the shining of the precious stones for there was no bench nor Post but that were set full of riche stones the
by reason of the great guifts riches that hée had left behind him among them Then after all these thinges done the kinge of Nauarre tooke leaue of king Garyn and departed and his Nephewe Florence road with him foure Leagues and then returned to Courtoys to Clariet his wife and there they tarried two Moneths in great ioy and solace Then after a certaine space king Garyn who was verie old and ancient tooke a sicknesse whereby he passed out of this world for whose death Florence his Sonne Clariet wept many a salt teare Then he was buried with great solemnitie and then by all the Lords and Peeres of the Realme Florence was chosen and crowned King and Clariet Quéene great solemnâ—ty and ioy was made at their crownation Thus with great ioy and gladnesse Florence and Clariet were together so that at the last Clariet was great with child whereof Florence and all the noble men and Commons of the Realme were ioyfull and thanked our Lord God and when the time came the Quéene was brought to bed of a faire Daughter whereof both Father and Mother were right ioyfull the which ioy within a while after turned to sore wéeping and great heauines as yée shall heare hereafter Chap. CLXIIII ¶ How Queene Clariet was brought to bedde of a Daughter at which deliuerance the Queene dyed and how when the yong Damsell came to the age of Fifteene yeares the King her Father would haue had her in marriage wherewith all his Lords were sore troubled WHen Kinge Florence was aduertised that his Quéene was deliuered of a Daughter hee thanked God the Childe was borne to the christning into the chéefe Church and was named Ide the ioy of the comming of this Child cost â—éerely to the Quéen her Mother for by reason of the paine that she endured shee departed out of this life and so dyed The Child was brought to kinge Florence and when he sawe her he was ioyfull and demanded how her mother did and they thought that the matter could not be hidden nor kept secrette they sayd Sir your Quéene is departed to God When the king heard that he fell downe in a swound so that euerie man feared he had béene dead and when he came to himselfe hee sayd Ah my right déere Loue in an ill houre were you borne for your sake I hadde forgotten all paine and thought to haue liued in rest with you me thinkes you be rauished and stollen away from me Ah false death thou art hardy to take from me that thing which I loued best the most fairest truest and swéetest creature liuing Then his Lordes came and comforted him the cries complaints and wéepings rose through-out the Citie all Ladies Damsels Burgesses and Maidens and all the Commons made great lamentations that night the Queene was watched and the next morning with great cries and wéepings the Quéene was brought into the chiefe Church her obsequie was done notably and so layd in a rich Sepulture the sorrowe that the kinge made was neuer none such séene The king was visited by the Lords of his Realme but they could not cause him to take any solace but a lonely nowe then to goe to see his deere Daughter the Ladie Ide and euer when he saw her his sorrow renewed and shee was well nourished brought vp and when she came to the age of Fiftéene yéeres she was beautifull wise and sage for she was brought vp with Foure noble Ladies and ordred as it appertained to a Kinges Child and her Father King Florence loued her so well that he could neuer be satisfied with looking vppon her often times he kissed her holding her in his armes hee would neuer marie againe for the lone of her so much grew and encreased this noble Ide that she came to the age of Fiftéene yeares complet the fresh beauty and bountie that was in her if I shoulde discribe it it would be ouer-long to rehearse but I dare well say that in beautie as then she passed all other women of the world for God and nature hadde employed all their studie to fourme her there was neuer any man that sawe her but loued her and so did her Father so that on a day the king had his Lordes about him and Sorbarre was amonge them whome the kinge loued déerely and the kinge séeing his Daughter I de growe and encrease in all vertues he sayd to his Lords Sirs it were good that there were some Wife found out for me whom I will marie if any such can be found in all conditions like to her that I had before When his Lordes heard him they were ioyfull in that the King would marrie againe Alas they knewe not the kinges inward intention but shortly after the king knewe it whereby much ill and mischiefe came afterward and many a man slaine and many a Church burnt as yée shall heare héereafter Then the king wrote and sent to all his Lords and knights of his Realme to come to his Court at a day assigned when they were all come to the Pallaice there they found the King who humbly receiued them and made them great feasting and had them to diner with him When the dinner was done the king and all his Lords went into a Garden whereas the king would kéepe his Counsaile and when they were all there and the king set in his seat he sayd Sirs you know well I haue no more Children but a Daughter who hath béene desired in marriage by diuers kinges and Princes but I would not consent to marrie her nor I thought not to marie my selfe for the loue of her Mother whome I so déerely loued but nowe I am minded to marie and to take a Wife so that shee bee semblable to her that is departed and therefore I haue sent for you to shew you my will and pleasure When his Lords heard him they were ioyfull and sayd Sir knowe for troth there is no woman liuing in Christendome but if you will haue her you shal if she be neuer so faire or so hye of Lineage and therefore Sir thinke in your selfe whether you will that we shall goe to get you a Wife Sirs quoth the kinge in this matter you shall not néed to take any paines for the Wife that I will haue is not farre from hence it lyeth in me to haue her if I list Sir quoth the Lordes will it please you to name her that shall be so happie Sirs quoth the kinge it is my Daughter I de whom I will take to my Wife for the great loue that I had to her mother When the Lords heard that they beheld each other blessing themselues at the horrible and detestable wordes of the king and looked on him maruailously Then Sorbarre who was of the kinges priuie counsaile began to speake and sayd Ah Sir God forbid that such a shame should come to you for it is worse then heathen to him that will polute his owne proper Daughter by himselfe ingendred
escaped but my selfe and therefore Sirs I pray you let mee haue againe my horse and my sword and shew mee the way to Rome it would be a great almes deede to shew me that courtesie Nay quoth the maister Théefe that we will not doe but thou shalt tarrie with vs and learne to be a Thiefe and a Murderer and if thou wilt not thus doe with my Sword I shall strike off thy head Sirs quoth Ide you would haue me to do a thing that I was neuer accustomed to doe nor none of my Lineage nor I haue no intention to doe any such workes therefore I pray you lette me haue my horse and my sword then you doe me great courtesie and when I am mounted vpon my horse if one of you will defie me and if I defend not my selfe from him then strike off my head I haue bought my meate and drinke verie déere if I should looze my horse then the maister Théefe sayd Because I sée that thou art so hardy I will wrastle with thee vpon this couenant that if thou cast me thou shalt be one of our companie and if thou be cast to the earth then I will haue thy horse and thy Sword and spoyle thee of all thy cloathes Then I de sayd I am content thus to do so that you withdraw your men from me and set my horse by me and my sword tyed to my saddle bowe for it is a common prouerbe that a man is taken for a Foole that putteth his trust in a Theefe When the Theues heard that they could not forbare laughing and they had great desire to see this wrastling betwixt them then they withdrew backe and set his horse there by him then the noble Damsell I de quickly tooke the Théefe who thought to haue borne her to the earth but shee drew him so sore to her that he could scarce haue any breath and therewith shee cast him so rudely to the earth against a stone that he was therewith in a swound and with the fall his teeth burst in his mouth When Ide saw the Théefe in that danger she went quickely to her horse and mounted vp then she drew out her sword and sayd Ah ye vilde Théeues your treason shall not auaile you for ye haue all thought violence and treason against mee goe helpe your maister who lyeth yonder I thinke he shall euer remember this wrastâ—ing between vs and I haue now no doubt of you all though you were a Hundred more for if I can I shall make you all bee hanged and strangled then the quickest and the lightest Théefe amonge them stept foorth tooke him by the bridle of his horse and when shee sawe that shee lifted vp her Sword and strake the Théefe vpon the hand so that the hand flew from his bodie and hanged still vppon her bridle then hee ranne away thinking to die with the paine of his hande and then she dasht in among the Théeues for they had no weapons about them to defend themselues withall but they were there to their folly nor they had no feare of that which fell nor they beléeued not that such a young Squier should haue hadde such hardnes and force then shee fought fiercely among them and cut off armes and shoulders and claue some to the braines she did so much that she slew fiue of the Théeues before she depâ—rted and when she saw time to depart she spurred her horse for by that time the residue of the Théeues had gotten weapons and they followed her to haue slaine her or her horse then shée departed with the spurres her horse was good therefore anon she was farre from them then the Théeues sawe they lost but their labours to follow any further therefore they let her goe When Ide saw that she was escaped their handes she humbly thanked our Lord God desiring him to ayd and conduct her into some sauegard and she road so long that she yssued out of the great Forrest Of her iourneys and lodging I will make no mention but she sped so in her iourney that shee arriued at the noble Citie of Roome and she tooke vp her lodging néere to the Pallaice whereas the Emperor was deuising with his Lordes of the Feats of warre then I de went thether knéeled downe and saluted the Emperour and all his Lords When the Emperour and the Romanes that were there sawe the goodly yong man who so humbly saluted them they regarded him much for the beautie that they sawe in him then the Emperour sayd vnto him Faire Sonne shewe mee what you bee and from whence you come that thus commeth hether to mee Sir quoth Ide I am a Squier that came nowe straight from Almaine whereas I haue serued a certaine time and little there I haue wonne whereof I am sorrie and but lately I was in place where diuers Spaniards and other were in companie they had great desire to make warre and they went to the king of Spaine your enemie but before they had gone farre they that were in my company met with them and there we fought together and slew the most part of them and there I was a little hurt and now Sir I am come to you to serue your grace if my small seruice may please you and in the best wise that I can I shall serue you truely Chap. CLXVII ¶ Howe the Damsell I de was entertained with the Emperour of Roome and how the Lady Oliue his Daughter was enamoured of Ide weening shee had beene a man and howe the Kinge of Spaine came before the Citie of Roome and howe the noble Damsell I de tooke the King of Spaine in battaile and discomfited him WHen the Emperor heard Ide speake he beheld her well and sawe how shée was bigge and great and thought that in all his life he neuer saw so faire a young man and as the Emperour was talking with Ide there came to them Oliue the Emperours Daughter Then all the Lordes rose vp at her comming and she sate downe by her Father and greatly beheld the young Squier and much she praised him in her courage because of the maruailous great beauty that was in her wéening that shee had béene a man This Oliue was so faire so swéete and so méeke that for her bountie and humilitie she was beloued of euerie man then the Emperour demaunded of Ide what her name was and from whence she came Sir quoth she my name is Ide and I was borne at Terrascon and I am kinne to Duke Naymes of Bauier and to Aymerie of Narbon and to Gillerme the Scot but by the kinsmen of Ganelon I was chased and banished out of my Countrey since I haue endured much paine and pouertie Then the Emperour sayd Fréend thou art of a good kindred I entertaine thée into my Court for the bountie that I thinke to be in thée and also for thy good Lineage Sir quoth Ide God giue me grace that I may doe you such seruice that it
the great Church of Saint Peter where his obsequy was done solemnly and layd in his Tombe the which was ordained for him as it appertained his Sonne in lawe and his Daughter mourned according to the custome then vsed and then after Eight daies were passed all the noble Lords of the Countrey came to the Court and crowned Ide Emperour and Oliue his Wife Empresse great ioy and feasting was made at their Coronation And when Oliue the Empresse approached her time she was deliuered of a faire Sonne and when hée was christened he was named Croissant that is to say growing because the Moone the same time was increasing Of the chéere that Ide and his Lordes made at the birth of his Child néede not to bee rehearsed for you may well thinke it was as great as euer was any before Then the time came that the Empresse was churched whereof great ioye was made this Child was well nourished and two notable Ladies had the kéeping of him vntill he was Seauen yéeres of age then a noble Knight and an ancient was sette about him and a wise and a great Clarke to teach him cunning for commonly it is sayd that a King without learning or cunning is compared to an Asse crowned Often times the Father and the Mother would visit their Child he was kept to Schoole vntill he was Fiftéene yéeres of age he was so good a Clarke that there was none in the Citie of Rome but that hee could well dispute with him and assoile his questions of his beautie greatnesse force humilitie good vertues wherewith he was indued if I should describe them it would be ouer-long to rehearse whereof Ide and his Mother Oliue had such ioy that they wist not what to doe but alonely to thanke God of his grace for their Child grew so in bignes strength that euerie man was thereof abashed in such wise that at that time there could not be found in the Citie of Rome of his age none so great nor so hye of stature whereof his Father and his Mother and all the noble Lordes and Knightes were right ioyfull Chap. CLXXI. ¶ How King Florence sent two Knights to Rome to the Emperour his Sonne desiring him to come and see him and leaue the Empire of Rome to his Sonne Croissant and to set noble men about him to guide him And also to bringe with him the Empresse the faire Oliue THe Emperour and the Empresse séeing their Sonne to grow and amend euerie day in all good workes they thanked God praying him to giue him the grace from better to better to perseuer so it fell that vppon a Whitsunday the Emperour and the Empresse held estate Royall at their Pallaice for the solemnitie of that day there was many Kinges Dukes Earles Barons Duchesses and Ladies and whiles they were in the middest of their dinners there arriued Two notable ancient Knightes and when they were entred into the Pallaice they came before the Emperor and kneeled downe and sayd God that created vs saue and kéepe the noble King Florence of Aragon and of Nauarre and Duke of Bourdeaux and the same God saue the right noble and excellent Emperour of Rome his déere Sonne and his faire Daughter the Empresse Oliue When the Emperor I de heard speaking of his Father hee was fearefull in his heart because of the shamefull thing not faileable the which hee would haue done against him right intentiuely he beheld the two Knights and demaunded how the King his Father did euer since he departed from him Then one of the Knightes answeared and sayd Right déere Sir if the dolour displeasure and the great rage wherein your Father was for your departing if I should shew it too long it would be to rehearse but shortly I shal shew you the substance of the matter The same Morning after your departing tidings was brought to the King your Father how that the King of Nauarre your Vncle was come to sée him then your Father went and met him and brought him into the City of Courtoys with great ioy and mirth and they alighted at the Pallaice and there tidings was brought to the King your Father how you were fled away whereby such sorrow dolour displeasure tooke him at the heart that there was none that durst looke him in the face for he looked like a spirit because of the foolish loue that he had on you and he ran about in the Pallaice like a desperate man so that for feare of him there was neither Ladie nor Damsell that durst abide him for the great furie displeasure that he was in so that by reason of his great yre he fell into a gréeuous maladie wherein hee thought that he should haue died and so was confessed and made ready to receiue the holy Ghost Then the King of Nauarre and Sorbar and diuers other Princes came to visit him and desired him to put the folly out of his mind and to crie to God for mercie many notable Docttors were there and they shewed him many good reasons and examples and sayd without he would leaue and forsake his folly he should be condemned bodie and soule When the King your Father sawe himselfe in that doubt knowing that hee had done ill to cause you to flye away that no tidings could be heard of you such a contrition and repentaunce tooke him that great aboundance of drops fell from his eyes in such sort that all his face was wet and he had such dolour and gréefe in himselfe that euerie man that saw him wept for pittie and the King of Nauarre had so great pittie of him that he was so sorrowfull that a gréeuous sicknesse tooke him so that the Fourth day he died whereof the Kinge your Father was right sorrowfull At last his sickenesse determined hee was recouered and in good health a certaine space but by reason of the dolour that he had for you could not be ceased but he fell againe sore sicke and so he continueth and hath no power to ayd and reléeue himselfe but he eateth and drinketh inough And after nowe of late it hath béene shewed him all your life and how by the grace of God it is fallen to you whereby such ioy is come to his heart that there was neuer so much ioy in no mans heart and yet he sayth that hee shall neuer haue perfect ioy at his heart vntill hee may sée you and therefore hee hath sent vs hether to you and he desireth and commandeth asmuch as the Father can commaund his Child that both you and the Empresse your wife should leaue this your countrey in the guiding of your Sonne and to leaue notable persons about him to kéepe and conduct him for it shall be to you more profitable and better to vse your life in peace in the Realmes of Aragon and Nauarre with the Duchy of Bourdeaux the which to you appertaineth by iust inheritance and he hath giuen vs in charge not to depart
THE ANCIENT Honorable Famous and delightfull Historie of Huon of Bourdeaux one of the Peeres of Fraunce and Duke of Guyenne Enterlaced with the loue of many Ladies as also the fortunes and aduentures of Knights errant their amorous Seruants Being now the Third time imprinted and the rude English corrected and amended LONDON †Printed by Thomas Purfoot and are to be sould by Edward White at his shop at the little North dore of Poules at the signe of the Gunne 1601. ⧠The Printer to the Historie ensuing THe foundation of all true fame and repute which in this world is most to be reckoned of and esteemed according to the opinion of all Writers both ancient moderne consisteth in bold honourable and heroycall resolution which enflames the soule with a continuall thirsting desire of pursuing braue and generous purposes perfourming of high and aduenturous acâ—â—ons which when their bodies are mantled vp in the obâ—cure moulde of the earth leaueth their names cannonized in Fames aeternall Calendar and renownes them as rare presidents to all following Posterities And from so perfect ground of good and laudable example the young infant spirits of latter grow'th raking vp the embers of their worthy proceedings the sparke of glorious imitation catcheth hold of their warme and forward desires and so enkindling further till it breake foorth into a flame burnes vp and consumes all conceits of cowardise and as an enlightned Beacon on a Promontorie toppe calles inuites them to the like honourable atchieuements Hence ensued that desertfull and well worthy to bee remembred purpose of Sir Iohn Bourchier Knight Lord Berners when not onely in this woorke of Huon of Bourdeaux but many other famous Translations of like consequence by him perfourmed he gaue witnesse to the world of so labourious an endeauour and as it were squared out an excellent platfourme for generous imitation But let me not herewithall forget that the right noble Earle of Huntingdon Lord Hastings was a continuall spurre to him in the pursuite of such paines and likewise a cheerefull encourager of me in the imprinting assisting euer both with his purse and honourable countenance the trauaile that sorted to so good example Which being now finished and made compleat with better abilitie of will then other perfourmance we leaue to the gentle acceptance of such as knowe how rightly to iudge and kindly to entertaine to others our paines are not imparted FINIS The Table HOw the Emperor Charlemaine required his Barons that they wold choose one among them to gouerne his Empire Chap. 1. The conclusion and answeare that the Barons made And what counsaile the dishonourable Lord Earle Amerie gaue to the Kinge against the two Sonnes of Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux whereby great mischeefe afterward ensued And of the good aduice that Duke Naymes gaue to the Emperour Chap. 2. How Charlemaine sent two Knightes to the Duchesse of Bourdeaux to commaund her to send her two Sonnes to his Court. Chap. 3. The answeare that the Duchesse of Bourdeaux made to the Emperours Messengers Chap. 4. Howe the Emperour was content with the report of the two Knightes and how the Traitour Earle Amerie went and complained to Charlot the Kinges Sonne Chap. 5. How the two Sonnes of Duke Seuin tooke leaue of the Duchesse their Mother and how in their way they ouer-tooke the Abbot of Cluny their Vncle going towards Paris to the Emperour Charlemaine Chap. 6. How by the counsaile of Earle Amerie they ran first at Gerardin Brother to Huon and bare him to the earth and sore wounded him whereof Huon was right sorrowfull Chap. 7. How Huon of Bourdeaux was sorrowfull when he saw his Brother Gerard so sore wounded and how he slew Charlot and how he came before the King at Paris and appeached him of Treason Chap. 8. How the King was sore displeased with Huon because he had appeached him of treason and how Huon shewed all the manner why he slew the Knight that wounded his Brother Chap. 9. How Charlot the Kings Son was brought before him dead and of the great sorrow that he made and how Earle Amerie appeached Huon for the death of Charlot and how the King would haue run vppon Huon and of the good counsaile that Duke Naymes gaue to the King Chap. 10. How the Traytour Earle Amerie charged Huon before the Emperour that he trayterously with treason pretended had slaine the Kings Sonne and in that quarrell he appealed Huon to Battaile Chap. 11. How the Abbot of Cluny would prooue that the saying of Earle Amerie was false and vntrue and howe the Earle did cast his Gage against Huon who tooke it vp Chap. 12. Howe those two Champions came into the field whereas they should â—ight accompanied with their friends Chap. 13. How the two Champions made their Oathes vppon the Reliques that their sayings were true and what the king sayd chap. 14. Howe Huon of Bourdeaux and Earle Amerie fought together before kinge Charlemaine and how the Traitour Amerie was slaine by the noble Prowesse and chiualrie of Huon chap. 15. How after the Emperor Charlemaine had seen Earle Amerie was slain he commaunded expresly that Huon should auoide the Realme and Empire and to be banished from thence for euer chap. 16. How king Charlemaine sent Huon to doe a Messuage in Babilon to the Admirall Gaudise chap. 17. How the noble Duke Huon of Bourdeaux tooke leaue of the King and of all the Lordes and Barons and road with the good Abbot to Cluney chap. 18. How Huon came to Rome and was confessed of the Pope who was his Vncle and of his departing and how he came to Brandis where he found his Vncle Garyn of St. Omers who for the loue of Huon passed the Sea with him Chap. 19. How Huon of Bourdeaux departed from Brandis and Garyn his Vncle with him and how he came to Ierusalem and from thence into the Deserâ—â— whereas he found Gerames and of their conference chap. 20. How Gerames went with Huon and his companie and so came into the wood whereas they found king Oberon who coniured them to speake â—nto him chap. 21. How King Oberon was sore displeased in that Huon wold not speake and of the great feare that he put Huon and his companie in chap. 22. Howe King Oberon Dwarfe of the Fayrey pursued so much Huon that he constrained him to speake to him at last chap. 23. Of the great maruailes that Oberon shewed vnto Huon and of the 〈◊〉 that fell chap. 24. Of the great gifts that Oberon gaue to Huon as his Horne of Iuorie and his Cup the which were of great vertues and how Huon after thought to prooue the vertue of them whereby he was in perill of death chap. 25. How Huon arriâ—ed at Tormont and fouÌ„d a man at a gate who brought him to lodge at the Prouosts house in the Towne chap. 26. Howe Huon gaue a Suppper to all the poore men of the Citie and how the Duke was Vncle to Huon and howe the
stole to the entent that hee shoulde shew vnto him the troth chap. 144. How the Monke bare Huon and Escleremond ouer hils and Valleys in the ayre vntill he came into the countrey of King Oberon chap. 145. How Kinge Oberon crowned Huon and Escleremond and gaue them all his Realme and dignitie that he had in the Land of the Fayrie and made the Peace betweene Huon and King Arthur chap. 146. Of the Ordinances that the noble King Oberon made before he dyed chap. 147. How the Kinge of Hungary and the Kinge of England and Florence Sonne vnto the King of Aragon desired to haue in mariage the faire Ladie Clariet and how shee was betrayed by Brohart and howe Barnard was drowned and of the euils that the Traytour Brohart did vnto the Ladie Clariet and how he dyed at the last chap. 148. When the Traytour Brohart drowned Barnard and of theyr aduentures and how Brohart was slaine chap. 149. Of the great sorrow that was made at Blay by the abbot of Cluny and by the Princes of the noble City of Bourdeaux for the faire Ladie Clariet that was stollen away and of the sorrow that was made when they saw Barnard brought in dead by Six men And of the punishment that was done to the Lineage of the Traytour Brohart chap. 150. How the Ladie Clariet al alone came to the Sea-side whereas arriued the Kinge of Granado in a Ship who tooke away Clariet and of other matters chap. 151. How the King forbad his Son Florence that he should not be so harâ—â— as to fall acquainted with the faire Ladie Clariet and how Florence promised the King his Father to deliuer into his hands the King of Naâ—arre prisoner in case that he would bee content at his returne that he might haue the new found Damsell the which the King granted but he did it not for he had drowned her if Peter of Aragon had not bene who rescued and saued her from the death chap. 152. How Florence went to fight with his enemies and how Sir Peter of Aragon returned towards the Towne to bring thether Prisoners and how he rescued the faire Damsell Clariet from drowning and how afterward King Garin caused the Damsell to be closed vp in a Prison chap. 153. How Florence discomfited his enemies and tooke the King of Nauar and led him into the Towne and deliuered him to the King his Father and how Florence deliuered him again quit because that his Father shewed vnto him that the faire Damsell was drowned Chap. 154. How king Garyn put his Sonne Florence into a Tower in prison And how the Damsell escaped out of the Tower and spake with Florence her Louer at an arch vppon the Garden-side and how they were espyed and how she thought to haue drowned herselfe Chap. 155. How the first Watchman found out the Damsell and ledde her into a great wood there by and afterward the same Watchman deliuered Florence out of prison and shewed him the place where the Damsell was and how Florence and Clariet entred into the Sea and how the king went after his Sonne and the Watchman taken Chap. 156. Of the great debate that was in the Pallaice for the Watchmans sake whom the king would haue had to be hanged and how the king of Nauarre tooke the Citie of Courtoys how he departed thence chap. 157. Howe the Ship wherein Florence was and his Loue was taken by the Sarazins and all their companie taken and slaine and led to the Castle of Anfalerne Chap. 158. How Sorbarre the captaine comforted Florence and Clariet and how there arriued Foure Ships with Christian men by fortune of the Sea and how Florence was knowne by them Chap. 159. How Sorbarre and Florence and their companie went into the Towne and robbed and spoyled it and so tooke the Sea with great ioye and triumph and the faire Ladie Clariet with them and tooke their course to sayle towards the Realme of Aragon chap. 160. Howe king Huon King of the Fayrey sent twoo of his knightes to the two Kings And how he appeared between them with a great number and of the Peace that he made between them chap. 16â— How Florence and Clariet arriued there with their companie came to king Huon and of the great ioy that was made at their comming and howe there they were wedded together and the Peace confirmed betweene the two Kinges chap. 162. How king Huon and Queene Escleremond departed and how he gaue great rich guifts vnto the two Kinges and to all other Lordes Ladies Damsels And of the sorrowe that was betweene the Mother and the Daughter at their departing chap. 163. How Queene Clariet was brought to bed of a Daughter at which deliuerance the Queene dyed and how when the young Damsell came to the age of Fifteene yeares the King her Father would haue had her in mariage wherewith all his Lordes were sore troubled chap. 164. Of the great sorrowe that the Damsell I de made when shee heard her Father how he would haue her in marriage And how by the meanes of a noble Ladie and Sorbarre shee departed at midnight and went at the aduenture that God would send her Chap. 165. How Kinge Florence was sorrowfull when hee was aduertized of his Daughters departing who was apparelled like a man and howe shee came into Almaine and how she found certaine Theeues in a Forrest and how she came to Rome to the Emperour like a Squier chap. 166. Howe the Damsell I de was entertained with the Emperour of Roome and howe the Lady Oliue his Daughter was enamoured of Ide weening she had beene a man and how the King of Spaine came before the Cittie of Roome And how the Damsell I de tooke the King of Spaine in Battell and discomfited him Chap 167. How the Emperour of Rome highly receiued the noble Damsell Ide and of the honour that was made vnto her and how the Emperor made her Constable of his Empire And how the King of Spaine was deliuered out of prison and made homage to the Emperour Chap. 168. How the Emperor gaue his Daughter in marriage to the Damsell Ide knowing none other but that she had beene a man and how she was appeached by a Varlet that heard their deuises whiles they were in bed together whereby the Emperor would haue burnt the Damsell chap 169. How God made great miracles for Ide for he made her to change from the nature of a woman to become a perfect man wherof the Emperor and Oliue had great ioy and so Ide and Oliue lay together ingendred a Son named after Croissant and of the death of the Emperor chap. 170. How Kinge Florence sent twoo Knightes to Rome to the Emperour his Sonne desiring him to come see him and to leaue the Empire of Rome to his Sonne Croissant and to set noble men about him to guide him and also to bring with him the Empresse the faire Oliue Chap. 171. How the
mine age in peace and seruice of my Lord God Wherefore as much as I may I desire you all to aduise me which of you all shal be thereunto thought most able Yée all know that I haue two Sonnes that is to say Lewes who is too young and Charlot whome I loue well and he is of age sufficient to rule but his manners and conditions are not méete to haue the gouernance of such two Noble States as the Realme of Fraunce the holy Empire of Roome for yée know well in dayes past by reason of his pride my Realme was likely to haue béen destroyed and I to haue had warre against you all when by his rashnesse he slewe Baldwin son to the good Duke Ogier the Dane whereon so many mishaps ensued that it will neuer be raced out of remembrance Therefore so long as I liue I will not consent that he shall haue the gouernment though he be rightful inheritor that after me he ought to haue the Signiorie but instantly I entreat your noble opinions what in this case I were best to doe Chap. II. ¶ The conclusion and answeare that the Barons made And what counsaile the dishonorable Lord Earle Amerie gaue to the King against the twoo Sonnes of Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux whereby great mischiefe afterward ensued And of the good aduice that Duke Naymes gaue to the Emperour WHen Duke Naymes and all the Barons being assembled together in a priuate parte of the Pallaice there they were somewhat long together but at last they all concluded that to Charlot the Kinges eldest Sonne appertayned the gouerning of the said Realmes Then they returned to the King and shewed him the conclusion wherevpon they were agréed of which the Emperour was right ioyfull Then he called before him his Son and shewed him many faire reasons before all his Barons but therewith stepped foorth a fellon Traytour who had too much secrecie with the Emperour and likewise had the gouernance of Charlot the Kinges Sonne who did nothing but by his direction this Knight was called Earle Amerie and was Son to one of the Nephews of the Traytour Ganelon In this manner then hee spake to the King Right royall Emperour whence proceeds it that you are so forward in deliuerance of your Kingdome to the weake gouerning of Charlot your Sonne forbeare this hastinesse and first for a proofe of his ablenesse in such a case giue him a Land that ought to be yours and as yet is not and where you haue as yet neither fealtie nor seruice This Land is in the possession of two proud Boyes who these Seauen yeares passed would not serue you nor since their Father Duke Seuin dyed would doe you any obeysance the eldest is named Huon and the other Gerard they kéepe Bourdeaux and all the Land of Aquitaine thinke great scorne to hold their Lands of you But my Lord if you will giue me men and authoritie I will bringe them as Prisoners into your Pallace where you may doe your will with them and then the Land that they hold you may giue to Charlot your Sonne Amerie quoth the Emperour I giue you great thankes that you haue aduertised me of this matter I will that you take of your best fréends and beside them you shall haue of mée thrée Thousand Knightes well chosen and prooued men of warre and I will that you bring to mée the two Sonnes of Duke Seuin that is to say Huon and Gerard who in their pride set nothing by mée When Duke Naymes beeing there present heard the words of Amerie and sawe how the Emperour consented to his desire he stept foorth boldly and beholding Amerie stearnly thus spake My Soueraigne Lord the ill is great but the sinne farre greater when men of no truth or certaintie are so highly listned vnto As for Duke Seuin is it not well knowne my Lord what true and honorable seruice all his dayes he did you and can you then bee so easilye woone to disenherite his Children Consider good my Lord that the reason why as yet they haue not tendered their dutie in your presence is nothing else but their want of years for such allegiance and their Mother likewise déerely respecting them is loath to leaue their companie so young And would your Highnes but be aduised by me you should not so rashly depriue them of their Landes but rather as best becommeth a vertuous Prince and in some regard of their Fathers good Seruice first send twoo of your Knightes to the Duchesse let them in your name commaund her Sonnes personall appearance at your Court in case of seruice and dutifull homage which if she or they shall refuse to doe then may you iustly procéede otherwise against them But I dare my Lord engage mine honour that send them shée will that onely a Mothers loue and care of her Children hath béen the reason of their absence all this while Chap. III. ¶ How the Emperour Charlemaine sent two Knightes to the Duchesse of Bourdeaux to commaund her to send her two Sonnes to his Court. WHEN the Emperour Charles hadde heard Duke Naymes speake he said My Lord I know for certainty that Duke Seuin hath alwaies serued vs truely and the reasons that you haue shewed are iust Therefore I graunt that it shall bée as you haue aduised My Lord quoth the Duke I most humbly thanke your grace Then incontinent the king sent for two knights and gaue them in charge to go to Bourdeaux to doe his Messuage to the Duchesse and to the Sonnes of Duke 〈◊〉 the which they did so departed from Paris without resting past one night in a place vntill they arriued at Bourdeaux then incontinent they went to the Pallace whereas they found the Duchesse who was as then but newly rysen from dinner and when she was aduertised of their comming shée came in hast to méete them accompanied with Huon her Sonne who was by her and Gerard came after with a Sparrow-hawke on his fist When the Messengers saw the Duchesse her two goodly Sonnes they knéeled downe and saluted both her and her two Sonnes from King Charlemaine saying Ladie to you we be sent from our Emperour Charles who by vs sendeth vnto you his salutations of honour and amitie When the Noble Ladie vnderstood that they were Messengers sent from the great Emperour Charles she arose and embraced them and sayd that they were right welcome vnto her Madame quoth they our Emperour hath sent vs vnto you and commaundeth you to send your twoo Sonnes to serue him in his Court for there are verie few in his Realme but they are come to his seruice except your Sonnes And Ladie since you know right well that the Landes you enioy appertaining to your Sonnes is holden of the Emperour Charles by reason of his royall prerogatiue in Fraunce great maruaile is in many that you haue not sent them ere this time to doe him seruice as other Dukes and Princes in like case haue
gaue as yet any good counsaile My Lord quoth the Duke I knew wel the long absence of Duke Seuins Sonnes was for none other cause but by reason of their youth When Earle Amerie heard the King speake and sawe beside howe hée was offended against him hée was sorrowfull and so departed secretly from the Court and sware that he would prouide for the two Sonnes of Duke Seuin such a traine as should cost both their liues and hazard the heauinesse and trouble of all Fraunce beside So hee went to his lodging sorrowfull and in great displeasure and then he imagined and studied on the matter and how to bring about his Enterprize then he departed from his lodging and went vnto Charlot the Kinges Son with whome he was right priuie hée found him sitting on a rich bed communing with a young Knight then Amerie shewing a verie sad countenance the teares in his eyes and trecherie in his heart knéeling downe before Charlot who had of him great pitie to sée him in that case the Prince tooke him vp and demaunded wherefore he made that sorrow and whether any man had displeased him My Lord quoth Amerie my gréefe is not without great cause for the two Sonnes of Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux shall come to the Court and as I haue heard say the King hath promised that at their comming they shall bée made of his priuie councell so that none other about the King but they shall haue any honour or reckoning made of them And assure your selfe my Lord that if the State be thus aduaunced they that now are greatest about his Maiestie shall then scarce haue a looke or any countenance at all So that within short while the best partes in your Fathers Kingdome will they be Lords of and you your selfe if you suffer this will hold no grace or fauour with the Emperour Therefore my Lord I require you to helpe me now in this businesse for in time past Duke Seuin their Father by great wrong and treason tooke from me a strong Castle of mine owne and I neuer dyd him displeasure therefore you ought to ayd me in this serious matter for I am of your linage deriued of the Noble Quéene your Mother When Charlot had well vnderstood Earle Amerie hée demaunded in what manner he might ayd him Sir quoth he I will shew you I shall assemble the best of my linage and you shall let me haue of yours thréescore Knights well armed and I shall lye in the way to méete with the two Boyes and I shall lay the ambushment in a little wood a league from Montleherry on the way to Orleance by the which way they must néeds come there we shall set on them and slay them so that none shall dare to speake thereof and if it be knowne after who dare speake against you or weare any healme in féeld against you Sir quoth Charlot qualifie and appease your sorow for I shall neuer haue ioy in my heart vntill I be reuenged of those two Boyes goe and make readie your men and I shall prepare mine and I will goe my selfe with you the sooner to make an end of this businesse When Amerie heard Charlot so liberally to offer himselfe to goe in his ayd he thanked him and embraced his Leg and Sicophant-like would haue kissed his Shooe but Charlot would not suffer him but tooke him vp and said Sir hast you and now be diligent that this businesse may come to a good end Amerie departed from Charlot right ioyfull and at the day appointed he ceased not day nor night to assemble his men and his néerest fréends and in the Euening before he came to Charlot who was as then also readie with his men and as secretly as they might they departed about the houre of midnight out of Paris all armed and they stayed not vntill they came to the place appointed to tarie the comming of the two Sonnes of Duke Seuin Now I will leaue to speake of them and returne to the twoo Sonnes of Duke Seuin Huon and Gerardin Chap. VI. ¶ How the two Sonnes of Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux tooke leaue of the Duchesse their Mother and howe in their way they ouer-tooke the good Abbot of Cluny their Vncle going towards Paris to the Emperour Charlemaine YOu haue heard here before how the Kings Messengers departed frō Bourdeaux then the two Sons made them readie to goe to the Court richly apparelled and well fournished of euerie thing néedfull aswell of gold and siluer and other apparell of silke as to their state appertained then there assembled the Barons of the Countrey to whom they recommended their Lands and Signiories and did choose out ten Knights and foure Councellors to ride with them to aid and to gouerne their businesse Then they sent for the prouost of Gerone called Sir Guyre to whom they recommended all the affaires of Iustice Then when Huon and his Brother had chosen them that should goe in their companie they tooke their leaue of the Duchesse their Mother and of the Barons of the Countrey who sore did wéepe bycause of their departure for the which they had good occasion so to do and more if they had knowne the haplesse aduenture that afterward befell them on the way Or had the good Duchesse but dreamed thereof shee would neuer haue suffered them to departe from her for after there fell such mischéefe that it is a lamentable thing to recount it Thus the twoo Brethren departed and kissed their Mother sore wéeping Then they tooke their Horses and their companie and in passing by the Stréets of the Towne the people made great sorrow for their departing and sore wéeping prayed to God to be their guide and conduct The wéepings and lamentations were so extreame that the twoo Brethren could not haue so firme courage but that they gaue many a sore sigh at the departing out of the Towne and when they had ridden a certaine space and that their sorrow was somewhat appeased then Huon called his Brother Gerard sayd Brother we go to the Court to serue the King wherefore wee haue cause to be ioyfull therefore let vs twoo sing a song to refresh vs. Brother quoth Gerard my heart is not very ioyfull to sing or make any sport at all for this night I dreamed a maruailous dreame mée thought thrée Leopardes assayled mée and drewe my heart out of my bodie but me thought you esaped safe and sound and returned backe Wherefore deare Brother if so it be your pleasure to withstand my dreame which makes me dread our iourney to be dangerous might I preuaile with you we would ride backe againe to Bourdeaux to our Mother who will bée ioyfull of our returne Brother quoth Huon and God will we shall not returne for feare of a dreame it should be foreuer to our reproach and shame I will not returne to Bourdeaux vntill I haue séene the King Therefore swéet Brother dismay you not but rather make good chéere our Lord Iesus
my heart that I could tarie no longer to be auenged then I demaunded of mine Vnckle if he would ayd me heâ— answeared and said no bycause he was a Priest so hee and all his Monkes departed and left me alone then I tooke the Ten Knightes that came with me out of my Countrey and so I road as fast as I could to the entent that he should not escape that had so wounded my brother and assoone as hee saw that I followed him he returned against me then I demaunded of him what he was he said he appertained vnto Duke Terrey of Arden then I demaunded why he had slayn my brother he answeared and said in likewise he wouldâ— serue me and therewith he couched his speare and stroake me on the side through my Gowne and Dublet and hurt not my flesh as it was the pleasure of God then I wrapped my Mantle about mine arme and drew out my Sword and with both my hands as he passed by me I gaue him such a stroake that I cloue his head néere to the téeth and so he fell downe to the earth dead I know not what he is but whatsoeuer he be I haue slayne him and if there be any that will demaund right in this cause let him come into your royall Court before all your Péeres and I shall doe him reason if it be found that I haue done any wrong When I had slayn him I layd my Brother vpon the dead Knightes horse and ouertooke the Abbot mine Vnckle Then as I road and looked behind me I saw them that were ambushed in the wood come ryding after one Knight came before the rest bringing vppon his horse the said dead Knighte I know well if they bée not come they will soone be héere When Kinge Charlemaine vnderstood Huon he had great maruaile what Knight it was that was slaine and sayd vnto Huon know for troth I shall doe you reason for I know none so great in my Realme whosoeuer it be but if I can prooue on him any point of treason I shall cause him to dye an euill death for the matter toucheth me right néere séeing vnder mine assurance and by my commaundement you are come hether Then the King commaunded that Gerard should be had to a goodly Chamber and well looked vnto the which was done Chap. X. ¶ How Charlot the Kings Son was brought before him dead and of the great sorrow that he made and how Earle Amerie appeached Huon for the death of Charlot and how the King would haue run vpon Huon and of the good counsaile that Duke Naymes of Bauier gaue to the King WHEN Huon of Bourdeaux and the Abbot of Cluny his Vnckle heard the good will of the King and the offer that he made they knéeled downe to haue kissed his foote and thanked him of his courtesie but the King tooke theÌ„ vp then the Abbot sayd My Lord all that my Nephew Huon hath sayd is true the King said I beléeue you well the Kinge did to them great honour and feasted them in his Pallaice royally but hée had great desire to know the troth of this case and said Huon and you the Abbot of Cluny know for certaintie I haue a Sonne whome I loue entirely if you haue slayne him in doing such a villainous deede as to breake my assurance I doe pardon you so that it be as you say My Lord quoth Huon for that I thanke your grace and surely the truth is as I haue shewed you Then the King sent for Charlot his Sonne so he was searched for in his lodging newes were returned how he was departed out of the Towne the night before so the Messenger departed and when thâ—y came into the stréete they saw where Earle Amerie came ryding with Charlot dead on his horse necke they heard in the Stréetes Lords Knights Ladies and Damsels making great cries and pitious complaints for Charlot the Kings Son whomâ— they sawe dead The Messengers were amazed at these exclamations but at last they perceiued it was for the death of Charlot then they returned to the Pallaice But by reason of the outcries and pityous moane the people made with often repetition of Charlots name all which the Emperour leaning at a windowe confusedly heard his heart waxed woondrous heauie saying Mée thinkes I heare such sorrow as hath not béen vsuall and my Sonne Charlots name is tossed too and fro in this outcry it maketh me feare that it is my Sonne whome Huon hath slain Then calling Duke Naymes vnto him requested him to goe foorth and resolue him in this matter Then Duke Naymes departed and incontinent hée encountred Charlot borne dead betwéene foure Knightes vpon a Shéeld when he sawe that he was right sorrowfull so that he could not speake one word then the vnhappie Earlâ— Amerie went vp into the Hall and came before the King and all his Barons and there he layde downe Charlot When Charles sawe his Sonne so slayne the dolour and sorrowâ— that he made was vnspeakable it was pitie to sée him and Duke Naymes was as sorrowfull as any other seéing the pityfull aduenture and also the moane that the Lords made then he came to the King and said Good my Lord comfort your selfe in this misaduenture for by ouer-gréeuing at this ill hap you can winne nothing nor recouer your Childe againe you know right wel that my Coozen Ogier the Dane slew my Sonne Bertrand who bare your Messuage of defiance to the king of Pauey yet I did suffer it without any great sorrow making bycause I knew well sorrow could not recouer him againe Naymes quoth the king I cannot forget this I haue great desire to know the cause of this déede Then Duke Naymes sayd to Duke Amerie Sir know you who hath slayne Charlot and for what cause Then Earle Amerie stept foorth and said with a loud voyce Great King Charlemaine why demand you any further when you haue him before you that hath slayne your Sonne and that is Huon of Bourdeaux who standeth héere in your presence When the King heard what Earle Amerie had sayd he looked fiercely vpon Huon and had strokeÌ„ him with his Scepter but for Duke Naymes who blamed the King and sayd Forbeare my Lord what meane you to doe this day to receiue the Children of Duke Seuin into your Court and hath promised to doe them right and reason and nâ—w would slay them so may all such as shall heare of the matter say that you haue sent for them to no other end but to murder them and that you sent your Sonne to lye in waight for them to haue slayne them By this may be discerned that you forget 〈…〉 Maiestie of a King and expresse actions vnséeming Charlemaine demaund of Earle Amerie the cause why he had foorth Charlot your Sonne and why that he assailed the two Brethren Huon being there in presence was greatly abashed at the Kings furie receiuing him first so kindly and now would kill him he was
of the Battaile then the feeld was ordained for the King hadde sworne that his Sonne should not be buried vntill he that were vanquished were hanged if he were not slaine in the feeld Then he commanded Duke Naymes to be ready with an hundred Knights to kéepe the féeld and to sée that no treason should be done for he said he had rather loose the best Citie of his Realme My Lord quoth Duke Naymes by the grace of God the matter shal be so ordered for the suertie of both parties that none shall haue wrong the which thing was done so diligently that euerie thing was ready so both parties were brought into the Church of our Ladie in Paris accompanied with their fréends as such a case requireth with Amerie was his next fréends all issued of the genealogie of Ganelon and when they both had heard Masse each tooke a draught of wine and then they were richly armed mounted vpon good Horses and so tooke the way to the féeld the Stages were filled and the King and his Barons there present abiding for the two Champions who came one after another through the Stréets First came Earle Amerie and he road vntil he came into the féeld and then he alighted and saluted the King and all his Barons Then Huon came anone after accompanied with a goodly sort there were leaning in the windowes Ladies and Damsels a great number all who prayed our Lord Iesus Christ to ayd and defend Huon from the Traytour Amerie The people complained and thought it vnpossible that Huon should resist against Earle Amerie bycause Huon was so faire and young but of the age of foure and twentie yeares But as he was faire so was he well made of bodie no Knight more gallant and séemely nor none more repleat with vertue therefore hée was much bemoned both of men and women that sawe him passe by And because Earle Amerie was a big boned man a valiant and an expert Knight in armes none stronger in all the Kinges Court he was inward with the King wel-beloued euerie one greatly pityed that he was such a traytour for a worse could not be found in any Realme hée had great trust in his owne strength and little regarded Huon of Bourdeaux thinking hee should not long endure against him But there is a common prouerbe which hath beguiled many a man it is sayd that a small rayne abateth a great wind for if our Lord Iesus Christ will saue Huon the force and puissance of Earle Amerie shal doe Huon but little hurt for the right excellent partes and great courage that was in Huon defended him as you shall heare hereafter Chap. XIIII ¶ How the two Champions made their oathes vppon the reliques that their saying was true and what the King said THus Huon road vntill hee came into the féelde where he saluted the King all the Barons right humbly then he approached to the relikes and there made his solempne oathe in the presence of Duke Naymes of Bauier who was kéeper of the féeld affirming that when he slew Charlot he knew him not to be the Kings Sonne and that as he was true Knight and loyall liegeman to the Emperour whatsoeuer Earle Amerie had sayd was false and vntrue and that he lyed like a false Traytor and so kissed the Reliques When Huon had thus taken his oath Earle Amerie stept foorth all afraid and swoore that Huons oath was false and that surely he knew it was Charlot when he slewe him bycause he claymed his Hauke the which Huon had taken vp and that he would cause him to confesse ere it were night When he had sworne he thought to haue returned to his Horse but stumbled so that he had néere hand fallen to the earth All that sawe it tooke it for an ill sinne and iudged in their minds that the matter was likely to goe euill against Earle Amerie When both these Champions had taken their oathes and that Duke Naymes had caused the féeld to be auoided hauing set the Kéepers of the féeld in due order as appertained thereto then the twoo Champions leapt vpon their Horses their Speares in their hands their shéelds about their necks theÌ„ a cry was made that none should be so hardie to mooue or to make any token vnto any of the partes vpon paine of death After this crie made the noble Emperor Charlemaine being full of yre and displeasure caused againe to be proclaimed that if it fortuned that the vanquisher should slay his enimie in the féelde before he confesse the treason for the death of his Sonne that then the vanquisher should loose all his Lands and himselfe to bée banished out of the Realme of Fraunce and out of the Empire of Roome foreuer After proclamation was ended Duke Naymes and the other Barons Péeres came to the King and saide Alas my Lord what will you doe this that you haue proclaymed is against all the Statutes of the noble Realme of Fraunce and Empire of Roome for often times it happeneth that one of the Champions is slaine and haue no power to speake shall therefore the conquerour bée so much iniuried for the great renowne which so long time hath béen spread abroad of you let it not now be wronged blemished let it not be sayd that you who haue liued in so great dignity all the daies of your life that now in your latter dayes you should become weaker then a Childe of the which words the King tooke small regard Chap. XV. ¶ How Huon of Bourdeaux and the Earle Amerie fought together before Kinge Charlemaine and how the Traytour Amerie was slain by the noble prowesse and chiualrie of Huon WHen King Charlemaine had heard Duke Naymes hee swoore by Saint Denis of Fraunce and by his crowne and beard that it should be as he had said nor otherwise he would not doe it Then the noble Barons were sorrie and sore displeased and they departed from the King and said that by all likelyhood from thence forward Right should haue no place in his Court. Many noble Princes and Barons murmoured sore at the Proclamation that was made the two Champions drew apart and each of them fiercely regarded other Then Earle Amerie spake aloud and said thou Huon of Bourdeaux false trayterous Knight this day I shall cause thée to confesse thy falsenesse howbeit I haue great pitie of thée in regard of thy youth if therefore thou wilt confesse this murder that thou hast done I shall desire King Charlemaine to haue compassion vpon thée When Huon heard the Traytour so speake for anger he blushed red and sayd Ah thou false and most disloyall Knight thy venomous words so full of bitternesse doe nothing at all abash me for that good right that I am in shall ayd me by the helpe of our Lord Iesus Christ and I shall so punish thy trespasse that this day I shall make thée to confesse thy falsenesse haue thereof no doubt Therewith â—ouched their Speares
and gaue such carrier to their horses that it séemed the thunder had fallen from heauen and with their sharp Speares they encountred in such wise that their Speares brake to their hands so that the shiuers flew vp high into the ayre and into the Kings Stage and both their Horses fell to the earth and the Knights sore astonied with their falling Then verie boldly they reléeued themselues with their Swords in their handes and so approached each to other and fought each with other so long while that Huons Horse strangled sir Ameries Horse who when he saw his horse slaine stoutly stept to Huon for to haue slaine him but Huon met him valiantly and lifting vp his Sword gaue the Earle such a stroake that he was astonied therewith and staggred backe more then two paces and a halfe hardly holding himselfe from falling to the earth so that all that sawâ— them had maruaile of Huons vertue force séeing the great strength that was in sir Amerie Then when Earle Amerie felt himselfe in such perill he began to despise the name of God and of the glorious Virgin Marie howbeit as well as hée might hée approached to Huon and with his Sword gaue Huon such a stroake on the helmet that all the flowers and precious stones there flew abroad in the féeld and the cirkle of the helmet all to broken and the stroake was so puissant that Huon was therewith sore astonied and perforce was faine to fall on one of his knées to the earth the other Legge but weakly supporting him There was present in the féeld Lords and Knights one of the Abbot of Clunyes seruants who when he saw the great stroake that Huon had receiued he departed out of the féeld and went into the church whereas he found his maister the Abbot at his prayers for the good spéed of Huon his Nephew to whome the seruant said Ah my Lord pray heartily to our Lord Iesus Christ to succour your Nephew for I saw him faine to knéele vpon one of his knées in great doubt of death Then the good Abbot without any answeare lifted vp his hands toward Heauen deuoutly and weeping prayed to God to ayd and defend the honour of his Nephew and to maintaine his right Thus Huon béeing in the féeld in great doubt of his life féeling the sturdie strength of Earle Amerie called with a good heart to our Lord Iesus Christ requiring him to aide his right the which he knew to be most true When Earle Amerie sawe that Huon had receiued of him such a heauy stroake he said Huon I beléeue thou wilt not endure long better it were that thou confesse the déede before I slay thée for ere it bée night I shall cause thée to waue in the wind Hold thy tonge thou false Traytour quoth Huon thine ilnesse shall not aid thée for I shall bring thée to that point that all thy fréends shall haue shame of thée Then Huon aduaunced him and made semblance to haue striken Amerie on the helmet and Amerie lifted vp his Shéeld to haue receiued the stroake but when Huon saw that he turned his stroake to a reuerse and stroake Amerie vnder the arme with his sharpe Sword so that he stroake off his arme the which fell downe in the féeld Shéeld and all When Earle Amerie sawe felt that maruailous stroake and that he had lost his left arme and saw it lye in the féeld hee was full of paine and sorrow and aduised himselfe of a great treason then he spake to Huon and saide Ah Noble Knight haue pitie of me for wrongfully and without cause I haue appeached thée of the death of Charlot the kings Son for I know in troth you knew him not but he is dead by my meanes for I brought him into the wood to haue murdered you and your Brother I am readie to acknowledg this before the King and all his Barons and to discharge you thereof therefore I pray you kill me not I yéeld me vnto you take heere my Sword Then Huon came vnto him and put downe his arme to haue taken the Sword but then the false Traytour Amerie with a reuerse stroake strooke Huon vpon the arme thinking to haue striken it off but he fayled howbeit he gaue him a great wound in the arme so that the bloud ran downe When Huon saw this horrible treason he said O thou vntrue and false Traytour thine â—â—esse can no longer saue thée for thou shalt nâ—uer doe treason more then Huon lifted vp his Sword gaue the Earle such a maruailous stroke betwéen the healme and the shoulder that he strooke off his head cleane from the bodie so that the healme and head fel one way and the body another way Alas what hap was it to Huon that he did not remember before he slew Amerie the Proclamation that the Emperor had made before for afterward Huon suffered so muche wrong and iniurie as might mooue the verie hardest heart to compassionate his case and as you shall more at large vnderstand in the following discourse Chap. XVI ¶ How after the Emperour Charlemaine had seene Earle Amerie was slaine he commaunded expresly that Huon should auoid the Realme and Empire and to be banished thence for euer WHen that Duke Naymes who kept the féeld saw how by Huon the Earle was slaine he was right ioyfull and came to Huon and demaunded how hée did Sir quoth he thanked be God I féele no dolour nor gréefe then they brought him to the Pallaice to the King who was departed out of the féeld When he saw the Earle slaine and was thereof right sorrowfull then he demanded of Huon and of Duke Naymes if they had heard Earle Amerie confesse the treason that hée had layde to Huon for the death of Charlot his Sonne My Lord quoth the Duke I thinke he did confesse it but I heard it not for Huon pressed so sore vpon him that he had no leasure to doe it Then Charlemaine sayd Ah Earle Amerie I know certainely thou didst neuer that treason nor neuer thought it wherefore thou art slaine wrongfully and without cause for there was neuer a truer Knight theÌ„ thou wert I am sure if thou hadst done it thou wouldest haue confessed it before me Then the King sayd vnto Huon I charg thée incontinent to auoid my Realme out of the which I banish thée foreuer nor shalt thou euer enioy one foote of Land in Bourdeaux nor in Aquitaine also I forbid thée that thou neuer be so hardy as to go to Bourdeaux for by my honour and crowne if I may know that thou goest thether I shall make thée to die an euill death nor there is no man liuing though he be neuer so néere a fréend vnto me but if he make any request for thée I shall neuer loue him nor he shall neuer after come in my sight Then Huon said Alas my Lord what iustice is this haue I done any more then knighthood bound me too haue not
you and your Barons séene him discomfited in playne Battaile that hath brought you into all this trouble vndoubtedly my Lord if you doe to me as you say God in heauen be my witnes that neuer more wrong was done to any noble man This is but bad remembrance of the good seruice that the noble Duke Seuin my Father hath done vnto you for by this you shew great example to all your noble Barons and Knights for them to be well aduised how from henceforth they order themselues and how to trust in you when that by your owne obstinate opinion founded vpon an euill ground and against all Statutes royall and imperiall thus to execute your owne vnreasonable will Certainly if it were any other Prince beside you that should doe me this great wrong ere I would consent so to be dealt withall many a Castle and many a good towne should be destroyed and brought to ruine many poore men more impouerished and disenherited and many a good Knight brought to death When Huon had thus spoken to the King Duke Naymes stept foorth and sayd to the King My Lord what meane you to doe you haue seene that Huon hath done no more then his dutie hauing brought his enemy to confusion and slayn him you may wel thinke that it was the worke of God that such a Child should bring to shame and discomfite such a puissant Knight as was Earle Amerie Therefore my Lord if you doo as you haue said neither I nor any other man shall euer trust you but euerie one farre néere that shall heare of this crueltie will report that in the end of your daies you are become sencelesse more like a Tyrant then a wise Prince Then Huon desired all the Barons that were there present that they would all require the King to haue more respect of him séeing they were all bound so to doe in that he was one of the Péeres of the Realme Then al the Princes and Barons holding Huon by the hand knéeled downe before the King and Huon said Séeing it is so my Lord that your displeasure is such againste me as you haue expressed Let your Barons and my selfe obtaine but this fauour at your handes that I may be confined to my owne natiue Countrey for euer there to lead a poore priuate life neuer to be admitted to your presence againe for this grace we shall all right humbly thanke you Chap. XVII ¶ How King Charlemaine sent Huon to doe a messuage in Babylon to the Admirall Gaudise WHEN the Emperor had heard Huon speake he said incontinent auoid out of my sight for when I remember my Sonne Charlot whome thou hast sâ—aine I haue no part of mée but it trembleth for the displeasure I haue to thée and I charge all my Barons héere present that they neuer speake to me more for thée When Duke Naymes heard the King say so he said vnto all the Barons My Lords you that he héere present haue well heard the great vnreasonablenesse that the King offers to one of our Péeres the which as yée know well it is against right and reason and a thing not to be suffered But bycause we know certainly the King is our Soueraigne Lord we must suffer his pleasure but from hencefoorth since he will vse himselfe so and do things against all reason and honour I will neuer abide an houre longer with him but will depart and neuer returne againe into the place whereas such extremitie vnreasonablenes is vsed I will goe into my Countrey of Bauier and let the King doe from hencefoorth as he list Then all the Barons departed with the Duke from the King without speaking any one word and so left the King alone in his Pallaice When the King sawe the Duke depart his other Lords he was right sorrowfull and in great displeasure and said to the young Knights that were left about him howe that he ought in nature to take heauylie the death of his Sonne who was slaine so disloyally and could not likewise but gréeue to sée how his Barons had abandoned him and left him alone therefore there is no remedie I sée well but I must be forced somewhat to follow their wils therewith he wept pitiously and incontinent went foorth and followed them saying Duke Naymes and all you my Barons I desire you to returne againe for of force I must graunt your requests although it be against that promise that I made before Then the Duke and all the rest returned to the Pallaice with the King who sat downe on a bench of gould and his Barons about him Then he sent for Huon who knéeled downe before the King requiring him humbly of mercie and pitie to whom the King said Huon séeing thou wouldest be at peace with me it is requisit that thou performe whatsoeuer I enioyne thée Else my Lord said Huon God forbid there is no man in the world owes you more obedience then I doe or shall more gladly vndertake whatsoeuer your highnesse shall please to commaund me dreadlesse of death or any danger be it to goe to Hell gates to fight with the fiendes there as sometime did Hercules if I may thereby be reconciled to your grace Huon quoth the King I thinke to send thée into a worse place for of fiftéene Messengers that I haue sent there was neuer any returned againe I shall shew thée whether thou shalt goe séeing thou wilt that I shall haue mercie of thée Thou must goe to the Citie of Babylon to the Admirall Gaudise and there doe as I shall appoint thée but beware on paine of thy life that thou fayle not to doe it When thou commest thether mount vp into his Pallaice and there tarrie vntill he be at his dinner and when thou seest him sit at the table then thou to be armed with thy sword naked in thy hand and the verie greatest Lord that thou séeest sit at his Table whether he be King or Admirall thou shalt strike off his head and after that enquire for faire Escleremond Daughter to the Admirall and kisse her there openly in his presence and before all other there present for I giue thée to vnderstand she is the fairest mayd that is now liuing this being done thou shalt say to the Admirall Gaudise that I commaund him to send me a thousand Haukes a thousand Beares and a thousand Waighters all chained and a thousand young Varlets and a thousand of the fairest maydens in his realme And also thou to bring me thy handfull of the heare of his beard and foure of his greatest téeth Alas my Lord quoth the Barons wée sée well you desire greatly his death when you charge him with such a Messuage That is true quoth the King for without I haue his beard and his great téeth brought me hether vnfaynedly Let him neuer returne into Fraunce nor come into my presence for if he doe he shal be hanged and drawen My Lord quoth Huon haue you shewed me
Galley such as shall bée necessarie for you Most holy Father quoth Huon of this I thanke you Well quoth the Pope this night you shall abide hâ—ere with me Sir quoth he I require you to let me depart for greatly I desire to sée mine Vncle Garyn When the Pope saw that he would néedes depart he deliuered him his Letter and sayd Faire Nephew salute from me my Brother Garyn your Vncle. Sir quoth he I shall do your commaundement then the Pope gaue to Huon great and rich presents and to all them that were with him and hée kissed his Nephew at his departing Huon tooke leaue of theÌ„ all wéeping and so departed and entred into the Riuer of Tiber in a rich Shippe the which the Pope had well garnished for him Thus hee had good winde so that anone they arriued at Brandis but whiles he was on the water hee wept sore and pityously complayned in that he was so departed out of his Countrey then his men comforted him and shewed many faire examples to comfort him Sir quoth Guichard leaue your sorrow for gréefe and sadnesse cannot auaile you you must put all to the mercie of our Lord God who neuer forgetteth them that loue him shew your selfe a man and no Child to the entent that we that be with you may be reioyced for the sorrow that we sée you in doth sore trouble vs. Deare fréend quoth Huon since it is so I shall follow your will and thus they arriued at the Port of Brandis Then they yssued out of their Shippe and tooke out their Horses and there they saw Garyn sitting before the Port in a lodge well and richly hanged in a goodly Chaire When Huon saw him sitting he saluted him thinking that he was Lord of that Countrey then Garyn beheld Huon and began to wéepe and said Sir it doth not appertaine vnto me that you should doe me so great honour as you doe for by that I sée in you I am constrained to wéepe bycause you resemble so much to a Prince of the Realme of Fraunce called Duke Seuin who was Lord of the Citie of Bourdeaux the great loue that euer I bare vnto him caused me to wéepe therefore I require you tell me where you were borne and who be your Parents and fréends for Duke Seuin wedded my Sister the Duchesse Aclis Sir quoth Huon séeing you will néedes know what I am I may well shew it vnto you for that Duke was my Father and the Duchesse Aclis is my Mother we are two brethren I am the eldest the younger is still at Bourdeaux to kéepe our Land When Garyn vnderstood that Huon was Sonne to Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux the ioy that he had could not be expressed then he embraced Huon all wéeping and said Right deare Nephew your comming is to me the greatest ioy in this world so he knéeled downe and would haue kissed Huons féete but Huon reléeued him incontinent The ioy that was betwéene them two was so great that all that saw it had maruaile thereof Then Garyn demaunded of Huon and said Faire Nephew what aduenture hath brought you into these parts Then Huon shewed him from point to point all his businesse and the cause why he was entred into that Enterprize When Garyn had heard all he began to wéepe and yet to comfort his Nephew he said Faire Huon whereas lyeth great perils there lyeth great honour God ayd you to eschew and to finish this great businesse all is possible to God and to man by meanes of his grace a man ought neuer to bâ— abashed for worldly matters Then Huon deliuered his Letters to his Vncle Garyn who gladly receiued them and read the contents thereof at large Then he said Faire Nephew there néede none other recommendations but the sight of your presence for it appeareth well by your countenance that you be the same person that our holy Father maketh mention of surely your comming séemeth to mée faire and good and you be arriued at a good Port for I promise you faithfully I loue well my Wife and my Children but the great loue that I haue vnto you for the loue of your Father Duke Seuin and the Duchesse your Mother who was mine owne deare Sister I abandon all that I haue to serue you and kéepe you companie both with my bodie and all that I haue Knowe for truth I haue thrée good Galleys three great Shippes well fournished of euerie thing for the warre the which I shall lead with you for as longe as life abideth in my bodie I shall not abandon you but I shall ayde you in all your Enterprizes Faire Vncle quoth Huon for the great courtesie that you offer mée I can but thanke you then Garyn tooke Huon by the hand and led him into his Castle whereas hée was richly receiued Garyns Wife and foure of her Sonnes came vnto Huon and he full courteously kissed the Ladie and her foure Children his Coozens great ioy was made there in the Hall and the Tables set for Supper Then Garyn called his Wife and said Madame this young Knight that you sée héere is my Nephew and Coozen to your Children who is come hether for refuge to haue counsaile and ayd of me in a Voyage and Enterprise that he hath to doe and by the grace of God I shall go with him to ayd and to conduct him wherefore I pray and commaund that you take in rule all my affaires and kéepe your Children Sir quoth she séeing it is your pleasure thus to doe and that you will goe with him your will let be fulfilled howbeit I had rather you abode then went this shée spake sore wéeping The next day in the morning Garyn who had great will to serue and please his Nephew ordained a great Shippe to be made readie well fournished with Bisket Wines and flesh and all other manner of victuals and with munition of warre as it appertained and put therein their horses and armour gould and siluer other riches necessarie for them then they tooke leaue of the Ladie and so lest her sore wéeping Thus Garyn and Huon entred into their Ship and all their companie there were Thirtéene Knightes and Twoo Varlets to serue them for they would haue no greater number Chap. XX. ¶ How Huon of Bourdeaux departed from Brandis and Garyn his Vncle with him and how he came to Ierusalem and from thence into the Deserts whereas hee founde Gerames and of their conference WHen Huon and Garyn were entred into their Ship they hoysed vp their Sailes and sayled night and daye so that at last they arriued safely at the Port of Iaffe where they tooke landing and drew out their horses and road foorth so the same day that they came to Rames and the next day to the Citie of Ierusalem that night they rested and the next day they did their Pilgrimage to the holy Sepulchre and there deuoutly heard Seruice and offered according to their deuotion When Huon came before the
holy Sepulchre he kneeled downe vpon his bare knées and all wéeping made his prayers to our Lord God requiring him to ayd and comfort him in his voyage so that he might returne againe into Fraunce and to haue peace with King Charlemaine And when they all had made their prayers and offered Huon and Garyn went into a little Chapell vpon the mount of Caluerye whereas nowe lyeth the bodies of Godfrey of Bullen and Bauldwin his Brother there Huon called vnto him all those that came with him out of Fraunce and said Sirs you that for the loue of mée haue left your Fathers and Mothers Wiues and Children Lands and Signiories for this courtesie that you haue shewed mee I thanke you Now you may returne into Fraunce againe and humbly recommend mée to the Kinges good grace and vnto all the other Barons and when you come to Bourdeaux do my dutie to the Duchesse my Mother and to Gerard my Brother and vnto the Lords of my Countrey Then Guichard and all the other Knights answeared Huon and said Sir as yet we will not leaue you neither for death nor life vntill we haue brought you vnto the red Sea why then quoth Huon for the great seruice and curtesie that you offer mee I thanke you Then Garyn called two of his seruants and commaunded them to returne vnto his wife and to desire her to be of good chéere and that shortly he would returne the which thing they did and returned and did their messuage When Huon vnderstood that his Vncle Garyn was disposed to abide with him he sayd Faire Vncle you shall not néede to trauaile so much I would councell you to returne vnto your Wife and Children Sir quoth Garyn God will I shall not leaue you no day vntill you returne your selfe Vncle quoth Huon I thanke you of your courtesie then they went to their lodging and dyned and after dinner tooke their horses and so road by Hils and Dales so that if I should recount all the aduentures that they found in their way it should be too long a processe to shew it but as the true Historie witnesseth they suffered much paine and trauaile for they passed such Deserts whereas they found but small sustenance whereof Huon was right sorrowfull for the loue of them that were with him and began to wéepe and to remember his owne Countrey saying Alas noble King of Fraunce great wrong and great sinne you haue done me thus to driue me out of my Countrey and to send mée into a strange Land to the entent to shorten my dayes I pray God to pardon you therefore then Garyn and the other Knights comforted him and said Alas Sir dismay you not for vs God is puissant ynough to ayd vs hée neuer fayleth them that loueth him Thus they road forth in the Desert so long vntill at last they saw a little Cottage before the which sat an old ancient man with a long white beard and his heare hanging ouer his shoulders when Huon perceiued him he drew thether and saluted the olde man in the name of God and of the blessed Virgin Marie then the ancient man lifted vp his eyes and beheld Huon and had great maruaile for of a long season before he had séene no man that spake of God then he beheld Huon in the face and began sore to wéepe and stepping vnto Huon tooke him by the Leg kissed it more then twentie times Fréend quoth Huon I desire you shew me why you make this sorrow Sir quoth he about thirtie yeares passed I came hether and since that time I neuer sawe man beléeuing on the Christian faith and now the regarding of â—our visage causeth me to remember a noble Prince that I haue séene in Fraunce who was called Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux therefore I require you shew me if euer you saw him I pray you hide it not from me Fréend quoth Huon I pray you shew me where you were borne of what lineage and Countrey you be of Nay sir quoth he that will I not doe first you shal shew me what you be and where you were borne and why you come hether Fréend quoth Huon séeing it pleaseth you to know I shall shew you then Huon and all his companye alighted and tyed theyr Horses to Trées When Huon was alighted he sat downe by the old man and said Fréend since you will néedes know my businesse I shall shew you know for troth I was borne in the Citie of Bourdeaux and am Son to Duke Seuin and Huon shewed him all his whole case and Enterprize and of the death of Charlot and how he discomfited Earle Amerie and howe that Charlemaine hadde chaced him out of Fraunce and of the Messuage that he was charged to say vnto the Admirall Gaudise affirming all to be for certaintie When the oulde man hadde well heard Huon he began sore to wéepe Sir quoth Huon since it pleaseth you to know of my sorrowe Duke Seuin my Father is dead seauen yeares past my Mother I trust be aliue and a Brother of mine whome I haue left with her And nowe sir séeing you haue heard of mine affaires I require you giue me your counsaile and aduice and also if it please you to shew me what you be and of what Countrey and how you came into these parts Sir quoth the old man know for troth I was borne in Geronâ—ill am brother to the good Prouost Guyer when I departed thence I was a young Knight haunted the Iustes and Tourneys so that on a daie it fortuned at a Tourney that was made at Poytiers I slew a Knight of a noble bloud wherefore I was banished out of the Realme of Fraunce But my brother the Prouost made such a request to Duke Seuin your Father that by his meanes my peace was made with the King and my land saued vpon condition that I should goe to the holy Sepulchre to punish my bodie for the Knight that I flew and to forgiue my faults Thus I departed out of my countrey and when I had done my voyage I thought to haue returned but as I departed out of the Citie of Ierusalem to take the way to Acres passing by a wood betwéene Ierusalem and Naples there came vpon me ten Sarazins who tooke me and brought me to the Citie of Babilon whereas I was in prison two yeares complet whereas I suffered much pouertie and miserie but our Lord God who neuer fayleth them that serueth him and haue in him full affiance he sent me the grace that by the meanes of a right noble Ladie I was brought out of prison in a night and so I fled into this Forrest whereas I haue béene this thirtie yeares in all this space I neuer saw nor heard man beléeuing in Iesus Christ thus I haue shewed you all mine affaires When Huon had heard the Knights tale he had great ioy and embraced him and saide howe often times he had séene Guyre his Brother the Prouost wéepe for
sayd vnto him Sir if you goe thether you may perhaps repent your selfe so it may well be quoth Gonder the Prouost Then Huon commanded to trusse vp all their geare and to make readie their horses and tooke with him his Cup but he left still his Horne with the Prouost Thus Huon went with his Vncle vnto his Castle and lay there all night the next morning Huon came vnto his Vncle to take his leaue Faire Nephew quoth the Duke I require you to tarie vntill my Barons come that shall conduct you in your iourney Sir quoth Huon séeing it pleaseth you I am content to abide and so they sat them downe to dinner Chap. XXVIII ¶ How the Duke thought to haue murdered Huon his owne Nephew whiles he sat at the Table WHen this Traytour Duke sawe his Nephewe sit at the Table hee called to him a Knight borne in Fraunce called Geffrey who came out of Fraunce with the Duke and had in like manner denyed the law of Christ and he was secret with the Duke then the Duke priuily sayde vnto him Fréend go and arme an Hundred or Six score Paynims and cause them to come hether let them slay my Nephew and all that are come with him for if one escape you shall loose my fauour Sir quoth Geffrey your will shal be done then Geffrey went into a Chamber whereas there was two Hundred Armours hanging when he came thether he said within himselfe Alas good Lord this villaine Traytour would slay the Sonne of his Brother who when I was in Fraunce did me once a great courtesie for I had béene dead slaine if Duke Seuin his Father had not succoured me it is reason for that he did then to mée to render againe some reward vnto his Sonne God confound mee if he hath any ill for me but I shall rather cause the false Duke to buy dearely the treason that he would doe vnto his Nephewe The same season there was in the Castle about Seauen-score Prisoners all French-men who were taken vpon the Sea and the Duke kept them in prison to the intent to put them to death he was so cruell against all christian men but God who neuer forgetteth his seruants sucoured them This Geffrey went to the Prison and said to the prisoners Sirs if you will saue your liues come out and follow me Then the prisoners incontinent yssued out of the Prison and followed Geffrey he brought them into the Chamber whereas all the harnesse hanged and caused them all to be armed and said Sirs if you haue courage and will to issue hence it is time now you shew your vertue Sir quoth they to dye in the quarrell we shall doe your commaundement to come out of bondage into fréedome When Geffrey hearde them he was right ioyfull and sayd Sirs know surely that there is héere in this Pallaice at dinner the Son of Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux and he is Nephewe to the Duke Lord of this house who was once christened and hath denyed the faith of our Lord God and he hath commaunded me to cause Seauen-score Paynims to be armed to come and to slay his Nephewe and all his company Thus when they were all armed and Swords by their sides they followed Geffrey to the Pallaice and when they entred Huon sayd to the Duke his Vncle. Sir these men in harnesse that enter into this hall be they such as ye haue commaunded to come hether to conduct me in my iourney No Huon quoth the Duke it is otherwise then thou thinkest thinke surely to die there is no remedie thou shalt neuer sée faire day more Then he said Sirs step forth looke that no christian man escape you but let them all be slaine Chap. XXIX ¶ How by the ayd of Geffrey and of the Prisoners Huon was succoured and slew all the Paynims and the Duke fled and after besieged the Castle WHen Huon sawe the malice of his Vncle and his false treason he was sore abashed and arose vp suddainly and put his helmet on his head and tooke his Sword in his hand Then Geffrey came in and cryed Saint Denis you noble French-men take héede that no Paynim escape aliue but slay them all with sorrow The French-men drew out their Swords and fought with the Paynims on all parts so that within a short time they were all slaine And when the Duke sawe howe they were no Paynims that slewe his men hée was in great feare of his life and so fled away into a secret Chamber When Huon perceiued that they were French-men that had thus succoured him he pursued the Duke with his Sword in his hand all bloudy with the bloud of the Paynims that he had slaine and when the trayterous Duke saw that his Nephewe so followed him hee fledde from Chamber to Chamber vntill hee came to a windowe opening vppon the Garden side and so leapt out thereat and ran away whereof Huon and Geffrey and the other French-men were right sorrowfull Then they closed the gates and lifted vp the bridges to the entent that they should not be taken within then they came into the Hall whereas one tooke acquaintance of another whereof they had great ioy But if God had not succoured them their ioy had béen turned to sorrow for the Duke who was escaped when he came into the towne he made a crye that as many as were able to beare armour should come vnto him so that he and all that he could make came with him before the Pallaice being more then Tenne Thousand persons and they all sware the death of the christian men within the Pallaice When the Duke saw that hée had such a number he was ioyfull and then he commanded his Engins to be raised vp and Ladders on euerie part and there with Pikes and Mattockes they brake downe a corner Tower and the christian men within defended them selues valiantly But their defence had little auailed them if our Lord God had not mightily succoured them When Huon knewe the danger that they were in hée was sore displeased and sayd Ah good Lord I ought to be sore agréeued when I see that wée be thus kept in by mine Vncle I feare me we shall neuer sée more dayes Then Gerames said Sir for the loue of God blowe nowe your Horne Alas quoth Huon it is not in my power to doe it for the Prouost Gonder hath it in kéeping Ah Huon quoth Gerames in an ill houre we were acquainted with you for nowe by your folly and pride we are in the way of distruction Thus as they were deuising Gonder the Prouost came to the Duke and said Sir I haue great maruaile that you will thus destroy your owne Pallaice great folly you doe therein rather I would councell you to leaue this assault and let there be a peace made betwéene you and your Nephew vpon condition to let him and his company go safely away Prouost quoth the Duke I pray 〈◊〉 goe and doe the best that thou canst I will
Sirs yonder I sée a Tower the which was forbidden me by Oberon but as God help me before it be night I will sée what is within it whatsoeuer come thereof Then Gerames beheld the Tower and began to sorow and said Ah Huon he is a foole that agréeth to the counsaile of a Child Sir for Gods sake beware that you breake not the commandement of King Oberon for if you doe great ill is like to come vnto you Sir quoth Huon if all the men nowe liuing shoulde forbid mee to goe thether I would not obay them for you knowe well I departed out of Fraunce for none other thing but to search the strangest aduentures and I demaund nothing else but to find aduentures therefore speake no more to the contrarie for ere I sléepe I will fight with the Gyant for though he be more harder then yron yet I shall slay him or he mée and you Gerames all the other abyde you héere in this meadowe vntill I returne againe Sir quoth Gerames in wéeping it sore displeaseth me that it will bee no better therefore I recommende you vnto the sauegard of God Thus Huon departed and left his companie heauily complayning Huon armed himselfe and so tooke his way and kissed all his men one after another and tooke with him his Horne and Cup so all alone on foot he went foorth rested not vntill he came to the gate of the castle of Dunother there he saw the twoo men of Brasse that without ceasing beate with their â—layles he beheld them well and thought it was in a manner impossible to enter without death Then he began to consider hereon with himselfe how King Oberon had shewed him the troth and thought without the aide of the grace of God it were impossible to enter whereuppon he beheld all about if there were any other place to enter at last he saw neere to a piller of marble a Bason of gould fast tyed with a chaine then he approached neere thereto and drew out his sword wherwith he strake thrée great stroaks on the Bason so that the sound thereof might well be heard into the Castle Within the Tower there was a Damsell called Sibilla when she heard the Bason sound she had great maruaile thereat then she went to a window and looked out and saw that Huon would enter whereuppon she went backe againe and said ah good Lord what knight is yonder without that would enter if the Gyant awake anone he will be slaine for if there were a Thowsand Knights together they should all soone be destroyed surely I haue great desire to know what he is and where he was borne for as me séemeth he should be of Fraunce to know the troth I wil goe to the window againe to sée if I may haue of him any knowledge Then shée went out of her chamber and went to a window néere to the gate and looked out and saw Huon all armed abiding at the gate then she beheld the blazure of his shield wherein was portrayed thrée crosses of gould whereby she knew well he was of Fraunce Alas quod shée I am but lost if the Gyant know that I haue béene héere then she returned againe in hast and went to the Chamber dore whereas the Gyant lay and slept and she perceiued hée was yet a sléepe for he rowted that it was maruaile to héere Then she returned againe quickly to the gate and opened a wicket out of the which there yssued such a wind that if caused the two men with their flayles to stand still in rest when shée had opened the wicket hastily shée returned into her Chamber and when Huon sawe the little wicket open he aduaunced himselfe entred for the two men with their flayles were in rest then hée went further thinking to finde them that had opened the wicket but hée was sore abashed when he could finde no creature there were so many Chambers that he wist not whether to goe to finde that he sought for Thus he searched all about and at last hée sawe about a Pillar fourtéene men lye dead whereof hée had great maruaile and said that he would returne backe againe then he went out of the Hall and came to the gate wéening to haue found it open but it was closed by it selfe and the men againe did beat with their flayles Alas quoth Huon nowe I sée well I cannot escape from hence then he returned into the Castle and hearkened about and as he went searching carefully he heard the voice of a Damsell pitiously wéeping He came there as she was and humbly saluted her and said Faire Damsell I cannot tell if you can vnderstand my language or not knowe of you I would wherefore you make this great sorrowe Sir quoth she I wéepe because I haue of you great pitie for if the Gyant heare within who is yet a sléepe hap to awake you are but dead lost Faire Ladie quoth Huon I pray you shew me what you be and where you were borne Sir quoth shée I am Daughter to Guinemer who in his time was Earle of Saint Omers am Néece to Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux When Huon heard that right humbly he kissed her and saide Madame knowe for troth that you are my néere Kinsewoman for I am Sonne to Duke Seuin I pray you shew me what aduenture hath brought you into this Castle Sir quoth she my Father had deuotion to sée the holy Sepulchre and he loued me so well that he would not leaue me behind him and as we were on the Sea néere to the Citie of Escalone in Surry there arose a great tempest vpon the Sea that the winde brought vs néere vnto this Castle and the Gyant being in his Tower saw vs in great danger of drowning that we were driuen into this Port he came downe out of his Pallaice and slewe my Father and all them that were with him except my selfe and so brought me into this Tower whereas I haue béen these Seauen yeares in great distresse and miserie And nowe Coozen I pray you what aduenture hath brought you hether into this strang Countrey Coozen quoth he séeing you will knowe of my aduentures I shal shew you the troth King Charlemaine hath sent mee in messuage to the Admirall Gaudise in Babilon I beare him a Messuage by mouth and by Letters and as my way lay I am come by this Tower and I demaunded of a Paynim who was within this Tower and he answeared me and sayd howe héere should bée a great and an horrible Gyant who hath done much euill to them that haue passed this way And I thought to passe this way to fight with him and destroy him and to deliuer the Countrey of him and I haue left my companie héere by in a Valley to tarie for me Deare Coozen quoth she I haue great maruaile that you would take on you such a folly for if ye were Fiue hundred men together well armed yée durst not all abide him if hée were
in it another especiall vertue for he that must weare that armour must be without spot of deadly sinne also his mother must be without carnall copulation with any man except with her owne husband I beléeue there cannot be found any man that may weare this Armour Also it is of such vertue that whosoeuer hath it on his bodye cannot be grieued neither with fire nor water By Mahoūd I haue prooued it and because I haue found such courtesie in thee that thou gauest me leaue to arme me I will giue thee leaue to assay if thou canst put on that Armour in regard I know that neither thou nor any knight else can be able to doe it Then the Gyant went to his coffer and tooke out the Armour and came to Huon and said See heere is the good armour I giue thee leaue to assay to put it on thy body Then Huon tooke the Armour and went back a little and put off his owne armour and tooke that belonging to the Gyant and incontinent did it on his bodie then hastily he put on his helmet and tooke his shéeld sword in his hand and deuoutly thanked our Lord God of this great grace Then the Gyant said by Mahound I had little thought thou hadst been such a man that Armour becommeth thee exceeding well nowe I haue quit the courtesie that thou shewedst mee therefore I pray thee put off the Armour and deliuer it me againe Not so sir by your leaue answeared Huon this Armour is meeter for me than such a Helhound as thou art therefore know for troth I will not render it againe for xiiij of the best Cities between this and Parys Friend quoth the Gyant seing thou wilt not render me againe the Armour I am content to let thee depart hence without any hurt or damage and also I will giue thée my Ring of gould the which the Admirall Gaudise gaue me for I know well it will stand thee in good stead if thou thinkest to fournish thy messuage for when thou comest to the gate of his Pallaice and sayst how thou art a messenger sent frō kyng Charles thou shalt find foure gates and at euery gate foure Porters so that at the first gate if it be knowen thou be a frenchman one of thy hands shal be cut of and at the second gate thy other hand and at the third gate one of thy féet and at the fourth the other foote and then shalt thou bee brought before the Admirall and there thy head striken off And therfore to escape these perils furnish thy messuage and to thintent that thou maiest surely retourne giue me againe my Armour and I shall giue the my ring of gold the which when thou but shewest it thou shalt be receiued with great honor at euery gate and then thou maist go retourne surelye into the Pallaice at thy pleasure and no man to let thee for if thou hadst slaine Fiue hundred men there shal be none so hardy as to touch thée nor to doe thee any yll if thou hast this Ring about thée for when I haue nede of men or mony I cannot lacke if I send this ring for a token therfore I pray thee let me haue againe my Armour Chap. XXXIII ¶ How Huon slew rhe great Gyant and how he called Gerames and his company to him and of the ioy that they made for the death of the Gyant WHen Huon vnderstoode the Paynim he said Ah thou fell and false deceiuer know for troth if all the Preachers betwéen the east west preached to me a whole yeare and that thou wouldest giue me all that thou hast and thy Ring therewith I would not render againe the good Armour that is now on my bodie first I slay thée then as for thy Ring that thou praisest so much I will likewise haue it whether thou wilt or not When the Gyant had well heard Huon and saw that in no wise he could get againe his Armour he was then sorowfull and because he saw how Huon reprooued him therewith he was so sore displeased that his eyes séemed like twoo burning candels then he yet demaunded of Huon if he would doe none otherwise No truly quoth Huon though thou be great and strong I haue no feare of thée seing I haue on this good Armour therefore in the name of god and of his diuine puissance I defie thée And I thée quoth the Gyant for all the Armour thou canst not endure against me Then the Gyant approched to Huon and lift vp his fawchin thinking to haue striken him but he fayled for the stroke glent and the fawchin light vpon a piller and entred into it more then twoo foot then Huon who was quicke and light behoulding the maruaylous stroke quickly stept foorth with his good sword in his hand and seing how the Gyant had his fawchin sticking fast in the piller he strake the Gyant on both the armes néere to his hands in such wise that he strake off both his hands so that they with the fawchin fell downe to the earth When the Gyant felt himselfe so sore hurt with paine therof he gaue a maruaylous crie so horrible as though all the Towre had fallen to the earth whereat the Damsell Sibylla being in her chamber was sore abashed she went out of her chamber and found a staffe by the way she tooke it vp in her hands and came to the Pallaice whereas she heard the cry and met the Gyant flying away to saue himselfe but the Damsell well aduised when she saw that he fled she cast the staffe betwéene his legges so that thereby he fell to the earth and Huon who came after him with his sword in his hand he hasted him gaue the Gyant many a great stroke and the Gyant cryed out so high that it was very terrible to heare him Then Huon lift vp his sword and gaue him such a stroake in the necke that his head flew to the earth then Huon wiped his sword and put it vp into the sheath and he came to the head thinking to haue taken it vp and to haue set it on the height of the Towre but the head was so great and heauy that he could not remooue it nor tourne the bodie then he smiled and said Ah good Lord I thanke thée of thy grace that thou hast giuen me the puissance to slay such a creature would to god that this body and head were nowe in the Pallaice of Parys before Charlemaine Kinge of Fraunce so that he knewe that I haue slaine him Then Huon went to a window and looked out and saw where his company were than said he to them on hie Sirs come vp hether ye may doe it surely for this Pallaice is woonne the Gyant slaine When Gerames Garyn the other heard that they were ioyfull and thanked our lord god then they came to the gate and Sybilla the Damsell went opened the wicket whereby the enchantment fayled then they entred
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
another M. that had played and béen mated another M. talking deuising with Damsels and another M. comming from drinking of the Admirals wine and another M. going thether When Huon all armed had gone a great space in the Citie he had great maruaile of that he had seene and that he had met such multitude of people And he studied thereon so much that he forgat the Gyants Ryng on his arme and the men that he met had great maruaile of him to sée him goe all armed a foote and yet he went still forward Alas poore vnhappie Huon that could not remember the Gyants Ring about his arme for lacke of remembrance thereof he suffered after so much trouble that there is no humane tongue can tell it as yée shall heare hereafter At last he came into a great place before the first gate of the Pallaice whereas there stoode a great Vine trée set vpon bricke pillers of diuers colours vnder the which the Admirall Gaudise one day in the wéeke would come thether and vsed to giue audience to all Suters When Huon had regarded all this he came to the first gate of the Pallaice there he cryed to the Porter said Friend I pray you open the gate and the Porter said with a good will if thou be a Sarazin thou shalt enter Then Huon as vnaduised and forgetting himselfe and not once thinking on king Oberons commaundement or of the Gyants Ring about his arme the which if hee had shewed foorth hee shoulde not haue néeded to haue made any lye when hee had heard the Paynim demaund whether he were a Sarazin or no he said yes than the Porter said than may you surely enter So Huon passed the first bridge and gate and when he came to the second he remembred himselfe how he had broken king Oberons commaundement wherewith he was so sorowfull at his hart that he wist not what to do and sware thē that he would neuer lye more Then he tooke the Ring in his hand and came to the second gate and said to the Porter Thou villaine he that died on the crosse cōfound thee open this gate for I must enter When the Porter heard him speake so fiercely he said who is it that the first Porter was so hardy to suffer to enter in at the first gate I shall shew thee quoth Huon séest not thou this Ring the which is a token that I may passe and goe whereas me list When the Porter heard him and saw the Ring he knew it well and said Sir ye be welcome how fareth the Lord the ye come from Huon who would not lye passed the bridge and gaue no answere and so came to the third gate where the Porter came to him and Huon shewed him the Ring then the Porter let downe the bridge and opened the gate and with great reuerence saluted Huon and suffered him to passe When Huon was thus passed the thrée bridges then he remembred how he had made a lye at the first bridge and said to himselfe Alas what shall become of me seeing I haue so lightly broken my promise to him that hath done so much for me alas I forgot the Ring that was about mine arme how be it I trust that Oberon will not be displeased for it seeing I did it not wilfully but that I forgat it I trust he will take no more regard to this déede then he did when I blew the Horne without any cause thus Huon passed the thrée gates of the Pallaice Chap. XXXVI ¶ How Huon passed the fourth Gate and howe he came into the garden whereas the Fountaine was and of that which he did there WHen Huon saw that he had passed the thrée gates he went on to the fourth gate with the Ring in his hand for he met with no man but that still did him honour when they saw the Ring then he said to the fourth Porter thou villaine Porter I charge thée foorthwith open the gate When the Porter heard him he had great maruaile said what art thou that art armed and speakest so fiercesly to me lay away thine armour and then shew me what thou art whether thou wilt goe for armed as thou art it is not possible for to enter shew me by thy faith how thou hast passed the thrée other bridges Than Huon said hould thy peace Paynim I am a Messenger sent frō noble king Charlemaine and whether thou wilt or not I will passe this way and goe to the Pallaice to the Admirall Gaudise there is neyther thou nor any other shall lett me behould this token that I shew thée The Paynim knew it anon and let downe the bridge and opened the gate and knéeled downe and kissed and embrabraced his leg desiring pardon of him in that he had caused him to tarrie so long Paynim quoth Huon good day mayest thou haue Sir quoth the Porter ye may goe to the Admirall who will make you good chéere and great honour for there is nothing that yée can desire but it shal be graunted vnto you yea and if it be his only Daughter for loue of the Lord from whome yée bring this Ring for a token and sir I require you how doth the Lord Angolofer commeth hee hether or not Porter quoth Huon if he come hether all the Diuels of hell muste bringe him hether and therewith hee passed foorth without any more wordes but he said to himselfe Ah good Lord Iesus Christ helpe and aid me in all my busines I was tempted with an euill spirite when I made the lye at the first gate I did it by lightnesse of courage and for lacke of remembrance whereof I am right sorie Huon thus being in displeasure with himselfe for the lye that hee had made went forth till he came to the Pallaice and entred into a faire garden wherein the Admirall tooke oftentimes his pastime for there could no trée frute nor flower be wished for but there they might be found both in sōmer winter And in the middest of this garden there was a faire Fountaine comming out of the Ryuer of Nyle that cōmeth from Paradise the which fountaine as then was of such vertue that if any sicke man did drinke thereof or washed his handes and face therin incontinent he should be whole and also if a man had béen of great age he should retourne againe to the age of xxx yéeres and old women to become as fresh and lustie as a maide of xv yeares This Fountaine had that vertue by the space of lx yeares but x. yeares after that Huon had béen there it was destroyed and broken by the Egiptians who made warre on the Admyrall that was as then in Babylon And when Huon had washed his handes and face in the Fountaine and dronke of the water he beheld the Pallaice and thought it maruaylous faire and whē he had well regard it he saw a little beside the fountaine a great Serpent who kept the Fountaine to thintent that none
should be so hardy as to drinke or touch the Fountaine for if a traytour or any man that had falsefied his faith did touch it he could not escape without death But when the Serpent saw Huon he enclined himselfe without making of semblance to do him any ill Huon sat down by the Fountaine and began gréeuouslye to lament and said Ah good Lord without thy succour it is impossible for me to depart hence aliue Ah noble king Oberon forsake me not nowe in this néede for the trespas that I haue done ought to be forgiuen me séeing I did it negligently for lacke of remembrance certenly I will know if for so small a cause yee will leaue me wherefore whatsoeuer fall I shall prooue assay to know the troth then he tooke his Horne and blew it so fiercely that king Oberon heard it being in his Forrest when he heard it he said Ah good Lord I heare the false Knight blow his Horne who setteth so little by me for at the first gate that he passed by he made a false lye by the Lord that fourmed me if he blow till the vaines of his necke burâ—â— in sunder he shall not be succoured for me nor for any manner of mischiefe that may fall to him Then Huon being in the garden blew so lowde that the Admirall who was set at his dinner arose from the boord with all his Lords and all other ladies and Damsels knights and squiers boyes and scullions of the kitchen and all other came into the Pallaice to the Admirall and began to daunce and singe and made great ioy the more that Huon blew his Horne the more they daunced and sang And when Huon left blowing than the Admirall called his Barons and commaunded them to be armed and said Sirs goe into this garden for surely there is some Enchaunter therefore take héed that he escape not but bring him aliue to me for I will know of him the cause why he hath done this déed for if he escape he will doe vs more ill When Huon had blowen a longe space and sawe no body come to him he was sore abashed and thaÌ„ he began to lament and said Ah good Lord god now I sée well mine end approcheth when king Oberon fayleth me in whom I haue all my trust in life and death Ah déere Lady Mother and brother Gerardine I shall neuer sée you more Ah noble king Charlemaine great wrong haue yée done to me thus to banish me without desert for that that I did was in my defence god forgiue it you Ah king Oberon well mayeÌ„st thou be reputed for an vnkind creature thus to leaue me for one small fault certenly if thou be a noble man I hope thou wilt pardon me at least I put all to god and to him I submit me And whatsoeuer fall I will enter into the Pallaice doe my Messuage that king Charlemaine hath commaunded me to doe So he made him readie and departed from the Fountaine thinking he should finde the Admirall at dinner at that time Chap. XXXVII ¶ How Huon came into the Pallaice and did his messuage to the Admirall and how he slew many Paynims and was afterward taken and put in Pryson WHen Huon had been a certen space at the fountaine he departed all armed and mounted vp the degrees of the Pallaice the same time the Admirall had caused twoo of his principall goddes to be set in the middest of the Pallaice richly adorned and before theÌ„ twoo great torches burning so that no Sarazin passed by them but made to them great reuerence but Huon passed by them and would not once looke on them nor speake to no man that hée met whereof they had all great maruaile and sayd one to another so that Huon easily heard them I beléeue this man who thus entred into the Pallaice all armed is some messenger sent from some great Prince to the Admyrall and then Huon saw a Paynim King speaking to the Admyrall who was newly come to the Admirall bicause the same day the Admirall Gaudise should haue deliuered to him his Daughter the faire Escleremond in mariage and Huon sawe well howe hee was the greatest Prince that as then was there with the Admirall then Huon sayd to himselfe Ah good Lord if I acquite my selfe truly to King Charlemaine I must slay this Paynim king I thinke it be he that I looke for séeing he sitteth so néere to the Admirall god confound me but incontinent I will strike of his head and then let our Lord Iesus Christ do with me at his pleasure Then Huon came nere to the table and drew out hys sword and therewith gaue the said King suche a stroke that his head fell on the table so that the Admyrall was therwith all bloody Then Huon with a hye voyce said Ah good Lord what a good beginning is this the rest I remit to our Lord Iesus Christ whome I require to aid me to perfourme the rest of mine enterprise in this point I haue nere quit my selfe agaynst king Charlemaine Then the Admirall said to his Barons take this man that hath doone me this offence as to murder this king â—itting at my table if he escape looke me neuer in the face TheÌ„ the Paynims assailed Huon on all sides and cast at him darts and swords to haue slaine him But his good Armor saued him from the death and with his sword he slew many a bolde Paynim so that none durst approch néere him When he saw that he was sore oppressed he tooke his Ring from off his arme and cast it on the table before the Admirall and said Sir Admirall beware on paine of thy lyfe of doing to me any hurt or damage by this token that I shew thee Whan the Admirall saw the Ring hee knew it well then hee began to crye that no man should be so hardye as to touch him that hath slayne the Paynim King and euery man let Huon in rest wherof he was right ioyfull than he said to the Admirall Sir I will from hence forth that thou do as I commaund thee Friend quoth the Admirall thou mayest do in my Pallaice what thou wilt whatsoeuer thou commaund shal be done no man shall say the coÌ„trary Than Huon saw where his daughter the fayre Escleremond sat by her Father and Huon went to her and kissed her iij. times before her Father whereat the Damsell was much abashed but she saw him so fayre and felt his mouth so sweet that she thought without she might haue him to her Louer she should dye for sorow so that she changed colour and blushed as ruddie as a rose Whan Huon had kissed the ladie than he went to the Admirall and said Sir Admirall know for troth that I am christened and am a Messenger sent from noble king Charlemaine to thée bicause there is no Prince christian nor heatheÌ„ but that obeyeth his coÌ„maundement except thy selfe therefore by me hee sendeth thee worde that since the dolorous
he said Faire Nephew it seemeth well by you that you loue these christian men but little Sir quoth he I hate these christian men more then any men in the world for Sir all the waye that I haue come I haue thus beaten them thrée times in euery day in the honour of my God Mahound and in despight of their law and God on whome they beléeue Thus then Gerames departed from the Admirall and led with him the xij french prisoners beating them till he came to the prison and none of them durst speake one word but to themselues they cursed Gerames And as they went towards the prison they met with the Lady Escleremond and she said Cosin I am right ioyfull of your comming but if I durst trust you I would shew you a secret matter so that you promise not to discouer me Cousin quoth Gerames by the faith that I owe to my god Mahound ye may well shew me your will and pleasure for if mine eyes were to be drawne out I shal neuer discouer you And when the Damsell heard that promise she said Deare Cousin it is a v. months passed since there came to my Father the Admirall a french knight with a messuage from king Charlemaine who called himselfe Huon of Bourdeaux who when he had done his messuage hee slew a Paynim king as he sat at the table by my Father after came kissed me thrée times before my Fathers face and after that slew many Sarazins wherefore at last hee was taken Prisoner and put in prison whereas he is yet howbeit I made my Father beléeue that he is dead with famine yet deere cousin he is as yet aliue and as well serued of meat and drinke as my father is When Gerames vnderstood the Damsell Escleremond he was both sorowfull angrie for he thought that the Damsell did it to deceaue him and to cause him to shew forth the secretnes of his minde bicause he was in doubt thereof he passed foorth and made no manner of answeare to the Damsell but came to the prison and put in the Prisoners rudely and the Damsell returned right sorowfull in that she had shewed so much of her minde to Gerames whome she tooke for her Cousin When Gerames had put the xij Frenchmen in prison he returned right sorowfull and Huon being in the prison had greate maruaile what prisoners they were that were let downe into the prison for he could not sée theÌ„ the prison was so darke then he drew néere to them to heare them speake and at last one of them began to make his complaint and said Ah good Lord Iesu Christ succour vs for thou knowest well this that wee suffer we haue not deserued but it is for the loue of our yong Lord Huon of Bourdeaux we haue loued him so well that now wée be lost for â—uer except deere Lord thou haue mercie vppon vs. When Huon had heard what they said then he knew well that they were christened frenchmen and then he coueted much to know what they were so approched néere to them and said Sirs yée that be heere I pray you shew me what yée be and how yee be come hither Sir quoth one of them true it is that v. moneths passed there departed from vs a young knight with whome wee came out of the Realme of Fraunce and he was borne in Fraunce and sonne to a noble Duke called Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux this Knight slew Charlot sonne to King Charlemaine by misaduenture wherefore hee was banished out of the Realme of Fraunce and sent by king Charlemaine to do a messuage to the Admirall Gaudise and he is dead in prisoÌ„ as it is shewed vs and sir wée came to séeke for him are betrayed by one of our owne companie When Huon heard him speake he knew him well said Sirs be of good comfort and make good chéere for I am Huon safe and in good health thanked be god and the Admirals daughter who is so enamoured of me that she hath saued my life yée shall sée soone how shée will come and visite me But I pray you sirs what is become of ould Gerames whether he be left behind to kéepe the Tower with the Dammy cousin whome I left in your kéeping Sir quoth they a worse creature or more false Traytor was neuer borne for he hath betrayed vs and hath beaten and put vs in prison and as for the Damsell shee is with the Admiralls Daughter When Huon perceiued that all they were of his companie he went embraced them and said Sirs knowe of a suretie that all that Gerames hath done is done to the intent to deliuer vs all out of prison I doe so well know the troth of Gerames Sirs make good chéere for assoone as night commeth wée shal be visited with great ioy Sir quoth they surely wee beléeued that Gerames had forsaken the faith of Christ and was become a Sarazin for he hath made the Admirall beleeue that he is sonne to his brother king Iuoryn of Mombrance When Huon heard that he had great ioy at his heart and said Ah good Lord the troth of Gerames and loue that he hath alwaies shewed to me shal be to vs right profitable in the despight of king Oberon who hath forsaken me for a small offence by Gerames we shal be deliuered out of this pouertie and danger Now leaueth the Historie to speake of Huon and his companie being in pryson and returneth to the ould Gerames who studied and practised for the deliuerance of Huon and his company Chap. XLI ¶ How Gerames and the faire Escleremond went to the Pryson to comfort Huon and the other Prisoners NOw sheweth the Historie that when Gerames was retourned to the Admirall he said Sir the French men that I brought are fast in prison and well beaten Faire Nephew quoth the Admirall they haue had but an euill neighbor of you Then Gerames went into his chamber and studied how he might fournish the Prisoners with vittailes did so much that he had sufficient and when night came he went with his vittailes to the prisoÌ„ for he might do there what he listed for euery man was ready to doe him any seruice When he came to the prison dore he sent euery man away and taried there alone and he had not béen there longe but that the Admirals daughter came thether When Gerames saw her he wist not what to thinke but said Faire cousin I pray you shew me what you doe heare at this houre Déere cousin quoth shee the great trust that I haue in you hath made me to come hether bicause to day I discouered to you all my secrets and what I am intended to doe Therefore let me intreat you that you would leaue the law of Mahdund and receiue the christian faith and then to goe with mee into Fraunce together with these Prisoners and we shall well find the manner how to depart and we will take with vs al the prisoners
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
much to doe that foolishly thinketh I say this by my selfe for to day when I came to you I thought my selfe the most puissant man that raigned on the earth thought that yée were not sufficient nor worthy to serue me but often times rash beléeuing deceaueth his maister for I thought that for x. men I would not once turne my chaire to haue regarded them but otherwise is fallen to me for I am discomfited alonely by one man and am taken and broughâ— into your hands therefore ye may do with me at your pleasure yet sir I require you haue pitie on me and pardon the outrage that I haue done vnto you Then the Admirall answered said how he would parâ—on him on the condition that he should neuer after trespas him nor any man in his country and beside that to become his man and to doe him homage before all them that were there present Sir quoth Agrapart I am readie to fulfiâ—l your pleasure and then he did homage to the Admirall in the presence of all theÌ„ that were there and in ioy they sat all downe to dinner The Admirall made great honour to Huon and caused him to sit by him then Agrapart and Gerames and al the other Frenchmen sat downe As for their seruice and many dishes of sondrie sorts of meates I leaue speaking of them Huon who had great desire to accomplish his enterprize drew out his Cup the which Gerames had before deliuered to him with his Horne of Iuory and then said to the Admirall Sir yée may sée héere this rich Cup in my hand the which yee see is all emptie Sir quoth the Admirall I sée well there is nothing therein Now Sir quoth Huon I shall shew you how our Law is holy and diuine then Huon made the signe of the crosse thrée times ouer the Cup the which incontinent was full of wine whereat the Admirall hadde great maruaile Sir quoth Huon I present you this Cuppe that yée may drinke thereof and then shall yée tast the goodnes of the wine The Admirall tooke it in his hand and incontinent the Cuppe was voyde and the wine vanished away whereat the Admirall had great maruaile and saide Huon yée haue enchaunted me Not so Sir quoth Huon I am no Enchaunter but it is because yée be full of sinne for the law that yée hould is of no worth the great vertue that god hath put in this cuppe is by reason of the signe of the crosse that I made whereby yée may perceyue that my saying is true Huon quoth the Admirall yée néed not to trouble your selfe to speake to me to forsake my beléefe and to take yours but I would know of you whether you will abide heere with me or else goe into Fraunce for that I haue promised you I shall fulfill it Ah Sir Admirall quoth Huon I know well you will kéepe couenaunt with me in that yee haue promised me but Sir aboue all other matters I pray you haue pitie on your owne soule the which shal be damned in hell without yée leaue your beleefe in that it is neyther good nor iust without yée doe thus I sweare by my faith that I shall call hether many men of armes that all the houses in your Pallaice and Citie shal be full When the Admirall heard Huon say so he beheld his owne men said Sirs heere yée may well heare the pride that is in this Frenchman who hath been more than halfe a yéere in my prison and now he threateneth to slay mee because I will not take on me his law and leaue mine owne I haue great maruaile where he should find such store of men as he hath said or what lets me to slay him at my pleasure Sir quoth Huon yet I demaund once more of you if ye will doe as I haue said Huon quoth the Admirall beware on paine of your eyen and as much as you loue your life that ye speake no more to me of this matter for by the faith that I owe to Mahound if all King Charlemaines Hoast were heere asseÌ„bled it should not lye in their power to saue your life Admirall quoth Huon I am in doubt that too late yée will repent you Chap. XLVI ¶ How Huon seeing that the Admirall would not forsake his beleefe blew his Horne whereby Oberon came to him and how the Admirall was slaine and all his men And how Huon and the faire Escleremond were in perill of drowning by reason that he brake the commaundement of king Oberon WHen Huon saw that the Admirall would not leaue his Law to receiue christendom he set his Horne to his mouth blew it with such violence that the blood issued out at his mouth so that the Admirall and all other that were there put the tables from them and rose and all that were in the Pallaice began to sing and daunce The same time king Oberon was in his wood hearing the Horne blow said Ah good Lord I know surely that my friend Huon hath great neede of mee I pardon him of all his trespasses for he hath been sufficiently punished nowe I wish my selfe with him with an C.M. men well armed for there is not in all the world so noble a man as Huon it is great pitie that his hart is so light and mutable Then incontinent he with all his companie were in the Citie of Babylon whereas they began to slay all such as would not beleeue on Iesus Christ and then Oberon went to the Pallaice with all his Chiualrie and euery man with his sword naked in his hand When Huon saw Oberon hee embraced him and said I ought greatly to thanke God and you that yée be come so farre off to aide me in all my businesse Huon quoth Oberon as yee beleeue me and worke by my councell I shall not faile you then on all sides they slewe the Paynims men women and children except such as would bee christened Oberon came to the Admirall tooke him and deliuered him into the handes of Huon who had thereof great ioy and then Huon demaunded of the Admirall what he was minded to doe if he would leaue the lawe of Mahound and take christendome Huon quoth the Admirall I had rather be hewen all to péeces then to take your law and forsake mine owne Oberon then said to Huon why doe yée tarrie to put him to death whereupon Huon lifted vp his sword and therewith strake the Admirall that his head flew from his shoulders and Oberon said to Huon Now it lieth well in thy power to be quit with king Charlemaine then Huon tooke the Admirals head and opened his mouth and tooke out his foure great téeth then cut off his beard and tooke therof as much as pleased him then Oberon said Now thou hast in thy hands the Admirals téeth and beard looke as well as thou louest thy life that thou keepe them well O Sir quoth Huon I require you to put them in such a place where
with you before and fight with you and I heard him sweare that if hée may take you hée will slay you without mercy When Iuoryn heard that hée swet for anger was in that case that hée could not speake one word of a long space but when hée had somewhat asswaged his yre hée sware by his God Mahound that hée should neuer haue ioy nor mirth at his heart till hee had destroyed the towne of Anfalerne and slaine the Admirall Galaffer Then in hast hée sent for all his Lords and with them concluded to send for all his men of warre and gaue them day to be with him within xv daies before Mombrance the which thing was done for at that day they were all assembled as ye shall heare heereafter Now leaueth the Historie to speake of them and returneth againe to speake of King Oberon Chap. L. ¶ How king Oberon at the request of twoo Knights of the Fayrie called Gloriant and Mallaborn the monster of the Sea went and succoured Huon and carried him out of the Isle of Noysant NOw the Historie sheweth that King Oberon the same time that Huon was in the Isle of Noysant was in his wood where for the most part hee was accustomed to be conuersant bicause the place was very much delectable and farre from people there hee sat him downe vnder a faire oake and hee began to weepe and complaine When Gloriant a knight of the Fairie saw him he had great maruaile and demaunded of him why he lamented so much Gloriant quoth king Oberon the periured Huon of Bourdeaux causeth mee thus to doe whome I haue alwayes perfectly loued and yet he still trespasseth my commandements for when I departed from him I caused him to haue the Admirall Gaudise at his pleasure and also I made him to haue the faire Escleremond the Admirals Daughter and also I haue giuen him my rich Horne of Iuorie and my good Cup the which he hath lost by his pride and folly and therefore he hath been punished and now hee lyeth all naked bound handes and féete and his eyes blindfolded in an Isle in the which place I will suffer him to die most miserably Not so Sir quoth Gloriant for the honour of our Lord Iesus Christ call to your remembrance howe that by Gods owne mouth Adam and Eue were forbidden from the eating of the fruit that was in Paradise yet they by their fragilitie brake Gods commaundement howbeit our Lord God had great pitie of them And therefore Sir I pray you haue pitie of Huon then Mallaborn stept foorth and sayd Alas Sir for the honour and reuerence of our Lord God I desire you to graunt me this one time that I may goe and ayd him When Oberon sawe he was so earnestly desired of Glorian◠and Mallaborn he was sore displeased and answearing sayd Mallaborn it pleaseth me so well that this Caytiffe Huon who endureth so much paine be visited by thée therefore I condemne thée to bee xxviij yeares a Monster in the Sea beside xxx yeares that thou art enioyned too alreadie Now I will that thou giuest him none other counsaile nor aid but alonely to beare him out of the Isle that he is in and to set him on the maine Land then let him goe whether hée will for I desire neuer more to see him Also I will that thou bringest againe vnto me my rich Horne of Iuorie and my rich Cup and my Armour fetch them there as hee hath lost them Alas Sir quoth Mallaborn great paine you put him vnto when for so smal an offence you are so sore displeased with Huon And as for the Armour that you would haue againe you know well how Huon of Bourdeaux did conquer it and hée had been lost if it had not béene great ill you shall doe if you cause him not to haue it againe But Sir since I haue Licence to bring him out of the Isle I pray you shewe mée in what place is the Isle whereas he is Then Gloriant sayd Brother Mallaborn this Isle is néere vnto Hell and it is called the Isle Noysant Well quoth Mallaborn then I commend you all to our Lord Iesus Christ and so he departed and came to the sea-side and when he came there he leapt into the Sea and began to swim as fast as the bird flyeth in the ayre and so arriued in the Isle Noysaunt and so came vnto Huon whome hée found sore wéeping and sayd Sir Huon I pray our Lord Iesus Christ to succour and aide thée Ah deare God quoth Huon who is that that speaketh vnto me Huon quoth hée I am a man who loueth thée and am called Mallaborn and am a beast of the Sea who hath before this time borne thée ouer the salt water to Babilon Ah Mallaborn déere Brother quoth Huon I require thée vnbind mée and bring me out of this dolorous paine With a right good will quoth Mallaborn then he did vnbind him and opened his eyes When Huon sawe that hée was right ioyfull and demanded who sent him thether Huon quoth he knowe for troth that it was King Oberon and whereas I was condemned before to be a beast of the Sea Thirtie yeares now for thy sake I must endure so eight and Twentie yeares more yet I care not for the paine for the loue that I beare vnto thée there is no paine impossible vnto mée to beare but I must carie againe vnto Oberon the rich Horne and Cup and Armour for so I haue promised King Oberon to doe Ah quoth Huon I pray to our Lord Iesus Christ to confound the Dwarfe who hath caused me to endure all these paines for so small an occasion Huon quoth Mallaborn you doe ill to say so for you haue no sooner spoken it but that King Oberon doth know it Certainly quoth Huon I care not what he can doe he hath done me so much ill that I can neuer loue him but Sir I pray thée tell me if thou wilt beare me hence or else whether that I must abide héere for euer Fréend quoth Mallaborn I will beare thée out of this Isle and set thée on the maine Lande other ayd may I not doe thée and then Mallaborn tooke vppon him againe his beasts skin and sayd Sir leape vppon mée then Huon leapt vppon his backe as naked as euer he was borne and Mallaborn leapt into the Sea and began to swim and came to the mayne Land and sayd Fréend Huon more seruice can I not doe vnto thée at this time but I recommend thée to the kéeping of our Lord God who send thee comfort I now must goe and séeke for the Horne Cup and Armor the which thou wert woont to haue and enioy and I am to beare them vnto King Oberon for thus haue I promised to doe Now Huon was there all alone and naked pitiously complayning and sayde Ah good Lord I require thée to ayde mée I know not where I am nor whether I may goe yet if I had cloathes to couer my
naked skinne I should haue some comfort for then I might goe and séeke some aduenture greatly I ought to hate the crooked Dwarfe Oberon who hath brought me into all this paine but by the faith that I owe vnto God séeing he hath left me thus from hencefoorth to doe him the more spite I shall make lyes ynough I shall not leaue for him whom I recommend now to a hundred Thousand Diuels When he had béen there a certen space all alone hee arose and looked all about him to sée if he might perceiue anye man passe by from whome hee might haue any succour for he was néere famished for lacke of sustenance howbeit he thought to depart thence to séeke some aduenture so he went on his way and hée went so far that he found an aduenture such as you shall heare for our Lord Iesus Christ neuer forgetteth his Seruants Chap. LI. ¶ How Huon found a Minstrell who gaue him cloathing and meat and tooke Huon with him as his Varlet and went to Mombrance WHen Huon hadde gone a great way hee beheld on his right hand and saw néere him a little wood by a faire meadow-side and therein was standing a great Dake full of leaues and there beside was a cleare Fountaine and there he saw an ancient man with white haires sitting vnder the Dake and before him he had a little cloth spread abroad on the grasse and thereon flesh and bread and wine in a Bottell When Huon saw the old man he came vnto him and the ancient man sayd Ah thou wild man I pray thée for the loue of Mahound doe me no hurt but take meat and drinke at thy pleasure When Huon sawe him he espied lying beside him a Harpe and a Vyoll whereon he could well play for in all Pagany there was no Minstrell like him Fréend quoth Huon thou hast named me right for a more vnhappy man then I am there is none lyuing Fréend quoth the Minstrell goe to yonder Male and open it and take what thou likest best to couer thy naked skinne then come to mée and eat at thy pleasure Sir quoth Huon good aduenture is come vnto mée thus to find you Mahound reward you Sir quoth the Minstrell I pray you come and eate with me and kéepe me companie for you shall not find a more sorowfull man then I am By my faith quoth Huon a companion of your owne sort haue you found for there was neuer man that suffered so much pouertie as I haue praise be vnto him that fourmed me but séeing I haue found meat to eat blessed be the houre that I haue found you for you séeme to bee a good man Then Huon went to the Male and tooke cloathes and then came vnto the Minstrell and sat down and did eat and drinke as much as pleased him The Minstrell beheld Huon and sawe that he was a faire young man and a courteous and then hee demaunded of him where hée was borne and by what aduenture hee was arriued there in that case that he was in When Huon heard how the Minstrell demaunded of his estate he began to study in himselfe whether he should shew the troth or else to lye then he called to our Lord God and sayd Ah good Lord if I shew to this man the troth of mine aduenture I am but dead and King Oberon for a small offence thou hast left me in this case now if I shewe the troth of my life to this man I am but dead I shall neuer trust thée more but I will now put all my trust in God for the loue that I haue to my Loue thou hast mee in hate but séeing it is so as often as I haue néede I shall ly nor I shall not leaue it for feare of thée but rather do it in despite of thée then Huon saide to the Minstrell Sir you haue demanded of mine estate and as yet I haue made you none answeare the troth is I find my selfe so well at mine ease that I forgat to answeare you but I shall nowe shewe you séeing you would know it Sir of certaine I was borne in the countrey of Affricke and fell in company with diuers Marchants by the Sea in a Shippe thinking to haue sayled to Damieta but a great misfortune fell vppon vs there arose such an horrible tempest that our Shippe perished and all that were within it none escaped but I and I thanke Mahound that I am escaped aliue therefore I desire you now to shew mée your aduenture as I haue shewed you mine Fréend quoth the Minstrell séeing you will knowe it knowe for troth I am named Mouflet I am a Minstrell as thou séest héere by mine Instruments and I say vnto thée that from hence to the red Sea there is none so cunning in all Instruments as I am and I can doe many other things and the dolour that thou séest mee make is bycause of late I haue loste my good Lorde and Maister the Admirall Gaudise who was slayne miserably by a Vacabond of Fraunce called Huon that Mahound shame him and bring him to an ill death for by him I am fallen into pouerty and miserie I pray thée tell me thy name Sir quoth Huon my name is Solater Well quoth the Minstrell Solater dismay thée not for the great pouerties that thou hast suffered thou séest what aduenture Mahound hath sent thée thou art nowe better arayed then thou wert if thou wilt follow my counsel thou shalt haue no néed thou art faire and young thou oughtest not to be dismayed but I that am old and ancient haue cause to be discomforted séeing in mine olde dayes I haue lost my Lord and Maister the Admirall Gaudise who did me so much good and profit I would it pleased Mahound that he that slewe him were in my power When Huon heard that he spake no word but cast down his head Solater quoth the Minstrell séeing my Lord is dead I will goe to Mombrance to King Iuoryn to shew him the death of his Brother the Admirall Gaudise and if thou wilt abide with me so that thou wilt beare my Fardell and harpe a foote ere it be halfe a yéere past I warrant thée thou shalt haue a Horse for whensoseuer thou shalt heare me play vpon my instruments all the hearers shall take therein such pleasure that they shall giue mee both Gownes and Mantles so that thou shalt haue much adoe to trusse them in my Male. Well Sir quoth Huon I am content to serue you and to doe all your Commaundements Then Huon tooke the Male on his necke and the Harpe in his hand and Mouflet his Maister bare the Vyoll and thus the maister and the seruant went on their way to goe to Mombrance Ah good Lord quoth Huon my heart ought to bée sorrowfull when I sée my selfe in this case that nowe I must become a Minstrels Varlet Gods curse haue Oberon the Dwarfe who hath done mee all this trouble Alas if I had nowe my good Armour my
Horne and my Cup I would reckon al the sorrow that I haue endured as nothing But when I had xiij Knights to serue me how is this chaunce now turned that I my selfe must serue a poore Minstrell When Mouflet heard Huon make such sorow within him selfe hée said Déere brother Solater take good comfort for before to morow at night thou shalt see the good cheere that shall bee made to mée wherof thou shalt haue part and of all the goodes that I can get Maister quoth Huon Mahound reward you for the goodnes that ye haue shewed mée and shall do thus the maister and the seruant went foorth together deuising at last Huon espied behind them coming certē men of armes houlding the waye to Mombrance Maister quoth Huon héere behind vs are coming men in armour I know not whether they will doe vs any hurt or not Solater quoth Mouflet bee not abashed wee will abide héere and know whether they will goe and within a while the man of war came to them who were in number Fiue C. persons the minstrell saluted them and said Sirs I pray you shewe mee whether ye will goe Frend quoth one of them bicause we sée that ye be a gentle minstrell I shall shew you we are going to king Iuoryn of Mombrance who will néeds goe and make warre vppon the Admirall Galaffer bicause that now of late the Damsell Escleremond daughter to the Admirall Gaudise passed by Anfalerne who should haue béen brought to her Vncle king Iuoryn of Mombrance but the Admirall Galaffer tooke her by force and slew all them that ledde her and hath maryed the faire Escleremond whereof King Iuoryn is as sorowfull as may be and for that cause we be sent for by king Iuoryn who is minded to assemble all his power to go destroy the Admirall Galaffer Now I haue shewed you the cause of our going to the Citie of Mombrance Chap. LII ¶ How Huon and his Maister Mouflet arriued at Mombrance and how Huon spake with king Iuoryn WHen Huon of Bourdeaux vnderstood the Paynims how they were going where the Ladie Escleremond was he was surprized with ioy said to his Maister Sir I require you lette vs goe to the warres with them Solater quoth Mouflet beware what thou sayest for where as warre is I would not come there for any thing Thus they went foorth vntill they came to Mombrance and went straight to the Pallaice whereas they found King Iuoryn and all his Barons when the Minstrell saw him hee saluted him in the name of Mahound and sayde Sir I am right dolorous for the newes that I bring you for Sir your Brother my Lord and Maister the Admirall Gaudise is pitiously slayn Mouflet quoth Iuoryn these newes hath béen brought vnto mée before this time whereof I am much agréeued and also I am sorrie for my Néece the faire Escleremond who is kept from mée by the Admirall Galaffer and for any Messuage that I can send to him he will not send her backe to mée But by the faith that I owe to my God Mahound I shall make him such warre that the memorie thereof shall bee had an Hundred yeares héereafter For I shall leaue him neuer a foote of Land but I shall bring all into fire and flame and cleane destroy him and in the despite of his téeth I will sée my Neece Escleremond and if I may get her I shall cause her to be striken al to péeces and burne her into ashes for my Brother is dead by a Villaine of Fraunce vppon whome shée was amourous When Huon heard him speake of his Lady his heart rose made promise in himselfe that ere the moneth was past he would goe and sée her and find the meanes how to speake with her Then King Iuoryn called Mouflet the Minstrell and sayd Fréend I pray thée doe some thinge to make mée merrie for by reason of the displeasure that I haue had my ioy is lost therefore it were better for me to take some mirth then to bee long in sorrow Sir quoth Mouflet I am readie to doe your pleasure then hée tooke his Vyoll and playd thereof in such wise that it was great melodie to heare it for al the Paynims that were there had great ioy and mirth and made great feasting when Huon heard it he said Good Lord I require thée that this great ioy may turne to mée as to heare some good newes of her who I desire so sore to sée When the Minstrell had finished his song the Paynims did of their cloathes and some gaue him their Gownes some their Mantles hee thought himselfe right well happie that could giue the Minstrell any thing Huon had ynough to doo to gather together the cloathes that were giuen him and hée put them into his Male whereof Huon was ioyfull bicause he should haue the one halfe King Iuoryn beheld Huon and sayd vnto them that were about him great dammage it is that so faire a younge man should serue a Minstrell Sir quoth Mouflet be not abashed though this young man doe serue me hee hath cause so to doe for when your Brother was dead I departed from thence to come hether by the way I found a great Dake vnder the which I sat downe to rest me and there by was a great Fountaine faire and cleare there I spread abroad a Towell on the grasse and set thereon bread and such meate and drinke as I had and the same time this young man arriued and came vnto mee all naked and prayed me for the loue of Mahound to giue him some of my bread and so I did and cloathed him as you sée and I did so much for him that he promised to serue mée and to beare my Fardell and my Harpe and moreouer when I came to any passage of water hee would cast me in his necke as light as though I had béen nothing he is so strong and beare me ouer Ah poore Catiffe quoth King Iuoryn hast thou liued so longe cannot perceiue why he doth it he abideth vntill thou hast gotten some riches and then he will cut thy threat and cast thée into the Riuer and then goe away with all thy riches cause him to come and speake with mée Sir quoth Mouflet hée shall come to you and so he called Huon and brought him to King Iuoryn My fréend quoth the King I pray thée shewe me where thou wert borne for I haue pitie of thée to sée thée in so low estate as to bee Varlet to a Minstrell it were better for thée to serue some Prince or helpe to kéepe a Towne or a Castle rather then thus to loose thy time I wote not what I should thinke therein but that it séemeth to mee that thou art of a faint courage what hath mooued thée thus to doe thou séeest thy Maister hath nothing but that hee getteth with his Vyoll canst thou find none other meanes to liue by more honestly Sir quoth Huon I can Crafts ynow the
her he did of his helmet and ranne and embraced her and when the Ladie saw that it was Huon the ioy that shee had was so great that it was maruaile to sée it there was such ioy at their méeting that it cannot be recounted Huon and the Ladie embraced kissed each other many times and she said Ah Huon ye be right hartily welcome for I thought that I should neuer haue séene you more Ladie quoth Huon I ought greatly to loue and cherish you and I am right ioyfull that it hath pleased God that I haue now found you in good health and prosperitie for a more truer man than ye be there is none liuing When all the companie had made their salutations one to another they went to dinner and were richly serued for there was great plentie in the citie and the Sarazins were without the Citie wheras they fought and slew each other there was such slaying on both parts that the fieldes were couered with dead men and fore wounded many a horse ran about the field and their Maisters lying dead these twoo Kings fought one against the other puissance against puissance and twoo Sarazins that were escaped out of the Citie of Anfalerne came to the Admirall Galaffer and said Ah Sir your Citie is lost by the Frenchmen who be entred into it there is neyther man nor woman therein but they are all slaine the old knight that came to you and his xiij companions be all seruants to the young man that slew your Nephew when the twoo Frenchmen fought one with another they tooke togither acquaintance and they be all subiects to the young man that was with king Iuoryn and it is he that slew the Admirall Gaudise and discomfited the gyant Agrapart we knew him well when he entred into the citie we would haue shewed you thereof but we durst not vntill yee were returned from the battaile Now they be in your Pallaice which pleaseth them for there is neither man nor child liuing but all are slaine except some xxx Ladies and Damsels who were with her that should be your wife and they be put out of the Citie yée may sée them sitting without the gate pitiously wéeping When the Admirall Galaffer heard that he was heauy sorowfull and said to his men that were about him Sirs I pray you hastily giue me some councell what I shall doe for it is néedfull Sir quoth they it is now of necessitie that yée goe to king Iuoryn and knéele downe at his foote and pray him to haue mercie vppon you other councell as now we cannot giue you Sirs quoth Galaffer I shall doe as yée haue said then the Admirall Galaffer with his sword in his hand went through the preasse and came to king Iuoryn alighted from his horse and knéeled downe before him and said Sir King I yéeld to you my swoord with the which if you please strike of my head for well I haue deserued it But Sir I pray you for the loue of Mahound haue mercie of me I offer to make you such amends as you your Lords shall iudge so that yée will aid me to take the Frenchmen that bee in my Citie and haue taken away my wife your Néece Escleremond Sir the young man that yée so loued who came but lately to your Court with a Minstrell is the same Frenchman that slew your brother the Admirall Gaudise these tydings I haue heard by twoo messengers that knew him in your Court and now there are with him xiij other Frenchmen whome I had retayned with me to maintaine my warre but they be al subiects to the yong man and now all xiii bee in my pallace and my wife with them Chap. LIX ¶ How Iuoryn caused Mouflet the old Minstrell to be brought to the gibet to haue beene hanged and how hee was rescued by Huon IVORIN heard Galaffer and saide Alas I was vnhappie that I knew not this yong man that had slaine my brother if I had it shold dearly haue béene bought Therefore Sir Galaffer cause your men to withdraw from the battaile and I shall withdraw mine and I shall know of my Barons what counsaile they will giue me Then both parties blew the retrait and King Iuoryn said to his Lords Sirs what counsaile will yee giue me as touching the Admirall Galaffer Sir quoth they giue him againe his lands since he asketh mercie if he hath done ill he offereth to make amends Then Iuoryn called Galaffer and sayd Sir Admirall I render againe to you all your lands and pardon you of all mine ill will and beside that I shall helpe you to destroy the Frenchmen that are in your citie of Anfalerne Then Galaffer kneeled downe and thanked King Iuoryn for the courtesie that he shewed him and offered to doe and so would haue kissed his feet but Iuoryn would not suffer him but lift him vp Thus these two kings agréed together and sware together to haue the death of Huon and his knights Then Huon and his companie abandoned vp the citie of Anfalerne because hee had so few men to kéepe it and so kept the Castle the which was strong inough standing on a rocke on the sea side it was indéede impregnable so it were well victualled at the corner of the Castle there was a strong towre and vnderneath it was the Port whereas ships came to their anchor When Iuoryn and Galaffer saw that the towne was giuen vp by the Frenchmen they entered into it with all their great puissance and lodged about in the towne but in taking of their lodgings Huon and Gerames and such as were with them shot out darts and quarrelled in such wise that there was not so hardie a paynim that durst peere before the Castle if he did he was slaine or hurt When Iuoryn Galaffer saw the dealing of the Frenchmen they raysed vp a gibbet before the Castle thereby to make the Frenchmen afraide and then they tooke Mouflet the Minstrell and bound his hands behind him so sore that the bloud came out at the nayles then they hanged his violl about his necke and then he was brought before Iuoryn who sayd to him A thou false traitour ill hast thou remembred the goodnesse that my brother Gaudise hath done to thee when he that slew him thou hast brought into my Court thereby to do me despight But I shall neither eate nor drinke till thou hast thy desert and that is to bee hanged Alas quoth Mouflet neuer in all my life haue I done or thought any treason nor knew not that that I brought to your Court him that slew your brother the Admiral Gaudys who was my Lord and Master therefore Sir great sinne it were for you to put me to death for that I am not guiltie of Thou lyest false traitour quoth Iuoryn and so commaunded a thirtie men to leade him to the gallowes and when they were come thither they caused the minstrell to mount vp on the ladder The Frenchmē in the
Ship or else we be all lost and feare not but you shall be well paid for your labour ye shall haue gold and siluer as much as yée will desire Sir quoth the Patrone yée néed not to speake of any gold or siluer for this our ship is yours to do therewith at your pleasure Sir quoth Huon I thanke you of your courtesie I pray you and your company come with me into the castle and I shall charge your ship with gold and Siluer and rich iewels and pretious stones that you and all yours shal be rich for euer this must be done in hast before the Paynims héere without perceiue vs for if they perceiue vs wee shal neuer get hence but incontinent they will send some of their shippes and take this shippe Sir quoth the Patrone wee are ready to obey your commaundement and then the Patron and xxiiii Maryners went with Huon into the Castle and charged all the treasure that was within the castell and other riches that Huon and his company had taken in the towne they bare all into the ship and vittayles sufficient then Huon tooke Escleremond by the hand all smiling and said Fayre Ladie one thing I demaund of you be yee not displeased to leaue that country land where as yée were borne Sir quoth shée I haue long desired to sée the day that I now doe sée therefore well wée may thanke our Lord God that hath giuen vs that grace to be set out of the handes of the enemies of the faith of Christ wherein wée ought to beleue then Huon entred into the ship and the faire Escleremond and Gerames and all the other cōpany so they were in number within the ship some xxxiiij persons and with them was Mouslet the Minstrell when they were all entred into the ship and the ship charged with all things necessarie they weyed vp their anchors and hoysed vp their sailes and had so good and fresh a wind that they were within a while farre from the lands of the twoo Admiralles Sarazins They sayled so long that ere it was day light they were passed the coast of the Roades so came by the Isle of Creet and so by the aid of God and good wind they arriued at the Port of Brandis And so about noone the Admirall that lay at siege before the castell of Anfalerne had gread maruaile that they could sée no man stirring within the castle then a Paynim said to Iuoryn Sir know for troth that within the castle yée shall find no man the Frenchmen are all fled but wée cannot tell how When the twoo Admirals heard that they were sore troubled and in hast they set foorth a Galley and xxx Paynims therein commaunding them to goe to the Posterne which they did incontinent and when they came there they found neyther man nor woman but found the Posterne open and so they entred into the castle and so opened the broad gates and the twoo Admirals entred in sore displeased that the Frenchmen were so escaped Now let vs leaue speaking of them and retourne to Huon who was arriued in sauegard at the Port of Brandis Chap. LXII ¶ How Huon and his company arriued at the Port of Brandis and from thence went to Roome to the Pope who wedded together Huon and the faire Escleremond and of their departing from thence WHen Huon and his company saw how they were arriued at the Port of Brandis they issued out of their shippe and deuoustly went to the church of our Lady and there gaue laud praise to our Lord God that had brought them thether in such sauegard then they went to Garyn of Saint Omers lodging when they came there the Ladie of the house who was right wise and courteous came to Huon said Sir of your comming I am right ioyfull but Sir I pray you where haue you left Garyn my Lord and husband for séeing I sée him not with you my heart trembleth for feare least he be dead or else of some great incumbrance happened vnto him Madame quoth Huon to hide the troth from you cannot cause you to haue him againe for it hath pleased god that he is departed out of this world wherefore I will coūsell you as much as yée may leaue dolour and heauinesse for wée must all come thereto and I repute you so wise that yée know well that for any sorow or wéeping that ye make yée cannot haue him againe When the Lady had heard Huon she fell downe in a traunce more like to be dead then aliue than Huon and his companie set her vp and comforted her as much as they might then Escleremond tooke brought her into her chamber and did so much with her faire swéet words that somewhat shée appeased her and then sore wéeping shée came to Huon and he said Madame appease your selfe and praye for him for wee must all passe the same passage With these wordes and such other the Lady was appeased then they washed and went to dinner and after Gerames and other of his company went into the towne and bought horse and Mules to ryde on and bought rich gownes all in one liuery there they tarried about viij daies and on the ix day they payed the Patrone of the ship in such wise that hee was rich euer after and euery Mariner had a good reward whereof they thanked Huon and offered to doe him seruice Then Huon and Escleremond with all their company tooke their leaue of their hostesse whome they left sore wéeping and at their departing Huon gaue her a rich guift whereof she humbly thanked him and when they were all readie and their baggage trussed vp they depatred and tooke the way towards Roome with great ioy and gladnes whosoeuer was ioyfull Guyer the Prouost was ioyfull in twoo maners one in that he had found his Lord Huon and the other for that he had found his brother Gerames and also bicause that his Lord Huon had fulfilled the Messuage that King Charlemaine had charged him to doe to the Admirall Gaudise So long they rode together that in a morning they came to Roome and alighted at their lodging then they all together went to heare diuine seruice and as they issued out of the Church they met a seruant of the Popes then Huon demaunded of him in what estate the Pope was in Sir quoth the Squier he is readie to heare seruice then Huon and his companie leapt on their horses and road to the Popes Pallaice and their alighted and then Huon held the faire Escleremond by the hand and the good Prouost Guyer held his brother Gerames by the hand and so all the other twoo and twoo together then they found the Pope sitting in his throne deuising with his Cardinalles then Huon approched and saluted him humbly When the Pope beheld Huon he knew him incontinent and arose vp and came to him and embraced and kissed his cheeke and said Faire sonne Huon yee be welcome I pray you shew me
Gybouars lay in ambushment Now when Gerard saw his houre and time to speake vnto his Brother Huon he said Brother I sée you are in mind to goe into Fraunce vnto Kinge Charlemaine to haue your Lands and Signories the which I am sure you shall haue it is a long space that I haue kept it maintained the Countrey in peace and rest and good iustice and haue wonne but little nor haue hadde but small profit not the value of one pennie and I am maried to a noble Ladie Daughter to a great Lord and it troubleth my heart sore when you repute him for a Traytour if hée knewe it by likely-hood it might turne you to great folly for wee beléeued that you should neuer haue returned therefore nowe I may say that I am not woorth a pennie Therefore I would knowe of you howe you would ayd mée and what part I shall haue at your returne out of Fraunce Brother quoth Huon I haue great maruaile of this that you say you knowe well that in the Abbey of Saint Maurise I haue left Twentie Somers charged with fine gould and I haue saide vnto you that your part shall bée therein as much as mine nor I shall haue no penny but that one halfe is yours Brother quoth Gerard all this suffizeth not to me for I would haue part of the Signorie to maintaine mine estate When Huon vnderstood his Brother his bloud roase into his face for hée sawe well his Brother searched all that he could to fall at debate with him and Gerames who was sage and wise perceiued anone that the matter was like to goe euill and sayd vnto Huon Sir graunt to Gerard your Brother his demaund you are both young inough to conquer Landes Gerames quoth Huon I am content that he shall haue Bourdeaux or Gerone let him take which hee list Brother quoth Huon shewe which of these two you will haue and I will haue the other Chap. LXVII ¶ How these Traytours slewe all Huons Company except Gerames and Escleremond and Huon himselfe the which all three were fast bound handes and feete and blindfold and so brought vnto Bourdeaux and were put in prison WHen the false Traytour Gerard saw and vnderstood his Brother how hée did graunt him his desire saw how that in no wise hée wold striue with him hee was therewith so displeased that he was néere hand in a rage then he came to the Prouost Guyer and sayd Guyer Guyer false Traytour by thée and by thy purchase I am like to loose all my Signorie but by the faith that I owe vnto him that created mée before I die I shall strike off thy head nor I shall not let to doe it for any person and therewith when he sawe his time he cried his word and token and Gybouars who was in the wood with Fortie men armed brake out with their speares in their rests and when Huon perceiued them it was no maruaile though hee was abashed then humbly he besought our lord God to saue his body from misfortune and gladly hée would haue returned to the Abbey but hée was so sore ouer-layd that hee could not then hée drewe out his Sword and gaue therewith the first that came such a stroake that he claue his head to the téeth and so fell dead to the ground and Huon strake so vppon the right hand and vppon the left that whosoeuer he strake a full stroake néeded after no Surgion if hée had béene armed hée would not lightly haue béene taken without great losse but his defence could not auaile him for he and all his companie were vnarmed and all the other Fortie were cleane armed they all fought cruelly in such wise that within a while Twelue of Huons men were slaine in the place none escaped aliue except Huon who was beaten downe to the earth his hands bound then Gerard the Traytour came to Gerames who was beaten downe by force and then hee cut open his right Side and tooke out thereof the Admirall Gaudise beard and foure great teeth the which were set there by Kinge Oberon of the Fayrie Huon séeing the old Gerames lying on the earth hee sayd with a hie voice vnto Gerard Brother I pray you shew me that courtesy as not to slay that old Gentleman but saue his life Brother quoth Gerard that hée hath let him keepe other hurt hee shall none haue at this time then they bound his eyes and then they came to Escleremond who lay on the earth in a swound they bound her hands and eyes and so set her whether shée would or not vppon a horse and Huon as he was blindfold hée heard the cries wéepings that she made then he sayd Brother Gerard I pray you for the loue of our Lord Iesus Christ suffer none ill to be done to that good Ladie who is my Wife nor no dishonour Brother quoth the Traytour Gerard thinke on your selfe speake no more I shall doe as it pleaseth me Then they set Huon Gerams on two horses the false Traytour tooke the Twelue dead bodies and did cast them into the great Riuer of Gerone then they tooke that way to the Citie of Bourdeaux and led the thrée Prisoners fast bound vpon thrée horses Pitie it was to heare the noble Ladie Escleremond complaine and she said vnto Huon Ah Sir you haue sayde to me that when wée were once in your Countrey of Bourdeaux that you woulde cause mee to bée crowned with gould but now I sée well that in great paine miserie we must vse the residue of our liues you haue found héere an ill Brother since hée hath purchased for you so much ill surely there is better faith troth among the Sarazins then is in the people of the Realme of France Madame quoth Huon your trouble more displeaseth mée then mine owne God send to my Brother Gerard such reward as he hath deserued for the treasō that he hath done vs. Thus they complayned and wist not whether they were caried they entred into the Citie of Bourdeaux an houre before day Alas that the good Burgesses of the City had but knowen how their Lord Huon was so falsely betrayed if they had knowne it he had béene rescued and Gerard Gybouars hewen all to péeces but the false Gerard brought them by priuy darke Lanes to the Pallaice for that they should not be perceiued Thus they came to the Castle where they alighted and vnarmed them then they tooke Huon and Escleremond Gerames and put them all into a deepe Prison all thrée together ordained that they should haue euery day barley bread and water and commaunded the Iaylor to giue them none other thing also commaunded that neither man nor woman should speake with them the Iaylor promised so to doe for he was seruant to Gybouars such as the Maister was so was the Seruant Thus Huon betraied pitiously by his Brother Gerard set in prison and with him his wife Escleremond
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
you such newes that all that bee in your Court will be sorrowfull much more my self Gerard quoth Charles come to the point vse no more such language nor such ceremonies by that I sée in you it is but euill that you will say Sir quoth hee but late as I was in my house at Bourdeaux and with me diuers Lords and Knights as we were deuising together I saw my Brother Huon enter into my house and thrée with him the one was a yong damosell and the other an old man called Gerames When Duke Naymes of Bauyer heard Gerard he had great maruaile when he sayd that Gerames was one of them and sayd Ah deere God I heare that which with great paine I can beleeue for if it be the same Gerames that I thinke it be he and I were companions together at a tourney holden at Chalons in Champanie where he slew by misaduenture the Earle Salamon Sir quoth Gerard I shall shew you as I haue begunne true it is when I saw my brother Huon I was greatly abashed howbeit I did him honour and made him good cheere and made him and all his companie to dine then after dinner I reasoned with my brother and demaunded of him if he had beene at the holy Sepulcher of our Lord God But when hee saw that I demaunded that of him he was sore abashed so that hee wist not what to answere and then I perceiued by his words that hee had not beene there And then Sir after I demaunded of him if hee had furnished your message to the Admirall Gaudys but hee could giue me no answere nor say any words that I could beléeue and when I saw that I could find no truth in any of his words I tooke him and set him in prison howbeit it was full sore against my will but I considered in my selfe that I must owe vnto your grace faith fidelitie and that I am your man and that for no man liuing though he were neuer so néere of my kinne yet I would not be found with any treason and therefore Sir my Brother his wife and his Companion I haue retained them in my prison wherefore Sir it is in you to doe herein what it shall please you best When all the Princes and Lords that were there vnderstood the words of Gerard and that he had taken his Brother Huon and had put him in prison there were none but that were sorry thereof and many for the loue that they bare to Huon began to wéepe and demaunded of Gerard who had done that déed saying surely it is done by some manner of treason Chap. LXX ¶ How the King commaunded that Huon should be sent for from Bourdeaux to the intent that he should die WHen the Emperour Charlemaine vnderstood Gerard he arose vp on his féet sore troubled and full of yre for by Gerardes wordes the ancient hate and displeasure that the King had to Huon for the death of Charlot his sonne was renewed in his heart and said openly that euery man might heare him Lordes that be héere present before you all I summon them that were Pledges for Huon in such wise that if the Traitour Huon be not rendred into my hands to doe with him my pleasure I shall cause thē to be hanged drawne and there is no man in my court that may be so hardy as to speake or desire the contrarie but I shall cause him to die a shamefull death And when he had thus said he sate him downe againe and called Duke Naymes to him and said Sir Duke ye haue heard what Gerard hath sayd of his brother Huon Sir quoth the Duke I haue well heard him but I beléeue the matter to be otherwise then hee hath sayd for there is no man will say the contrarie but that all that Gerard hath sayd is done by false treason and you shall finde it so if the matter be wisely enquired of Sir quoth Gerard you may say as it pleaseth you but I take God to witnesse and my father in Law Gibouars and this good notable religious Abbot and his Chaplaine that all that I haue sayd is true for I would not for any thing say that which is not iust and true Then Gibouars and the Abbot his Chaplaine answered and said how it was true that Gerard had sayd By my faith quoth the Duke Naymes all you foure are false lyars and theeues and the King is ill counselled if he beléeue you Naymes quoth the King I pray you how seemeth it vnto you this matter betwéen the two brethren Sir quoth the Duke it is a great matter he that is here before you is the accuser of his brother and hath set him in prison now he is come and accuseth him here before you because hee knoweth well he cannot come hither to defend himselfe I should do a great euil déed if I had a brother that were banished out of France and if hee came to mee for refuge and I then to take him and set him fast in prison in mine owne house and then after to goe and complaine vpon him to the intent to purchase his death I say there was neuer Noble man would thinke so to doe and they that haue done thus are all false Traytours all Noble men ought not to beléeue any such and specially he that will purchase such a deede against his owne brother I know well al that they haue imagined and done is by false treason therfore I say according to the right that all foure are false Traytours and I iudge for my part that they are worthie to receiue a villanous death for they are foure false witnesses When Gerard heard Duke Naymes he changed colour and waxed as white as snow repenting in himselfe the déede that he had done to his brother hee cursed to himselfe Gybouars in that hee beleeued his counsell yet hee answered Duke Naymes and sayd Ah Sir ye doe me great ill to owe me your ill will Gerard quoth the Duke it is for the ilnesse that is in you ye that would be one of the Peeres of France certainly of such a Councellor as you bée the King hath litle néede I had rather haue lost one of my hands then I should once haue consented thereto Duke Naymes quoth the King I will you cause to come before me all such as were pledges for Huon at his departing Then the Duke caused them to appeare before the Kings presence of whom there were diuers Dukes and Earles Then King Charlemaine sayd Sirs ye know well yee bee pledges for Huon of Bourdeaux and you know the paine that I laide on your heades if Huon did not accomplish my message that I gaue him in charge the which hee hath not fulfilled wherefore without you deliuer Huon into my handes yee shall not escape but that ye shall die all Sir quoth Duke Naymes for Gods sake I require you beleeue me at this time I counsell you to take a good number of your notable
men send them to Bourdeaux and let them take Huon out of prison and bring him to you and heare what hee himselfe will say and if it be true that Gerard hath sayd then I desire you to haue no pittie on him but I beléeue surely yee shall finde the matter otherwise then Gerard his brother hath sayd Naymes quoth the king your saying is reasonable I accord thereto I will he be sent for Chap. LXXI ¶ How the Emperor Charlemain went himselfe to Bourdeaux to cause Huon to bee slaine for the great ill will that he bare to him YE haue heard before how the good Duke Naymes did so much that King Charlemain was content to send for Huon but the king was sore displeased with him that hée would not abide so long as to send for him but he made himself readie to go thether in person with all his traine and commanded that the pledges should be set in prison till his returne but the good Duke Naymes became pledge for them all to bée forth comming and so they went not to prison The King made him readie and tooke with him twelue of his Péeres and so tooke their way towards Bourdeaux God aide Huon for hee was now in perill of his life if God had not pitie on him Thus as I haue shewed you King Charlemaine nobly accompanied rode so long by his iourneyes that hee came within the sight of Bourdeaux and when he approched neere to the Citie Gerard came to the king and said Sir if it please you I would gladly ride before you into the Citie to ordain to receiue you accordingly Gerard quoth the King it is no néede that you goe before to prepare for my comming there be other that shall goe before you shall not goe till I goe my selfe When Duke Naymes heard the kings answere hee said to the king Sir you haue answered like a noble Prince blessed be he that counselled you so to say thus the king rode forth without giuing any knowledge of his comming and so entered into the Citie of Bourdeaux and rode to the Pallaice and there alighted Then dinner was made readie the King sate down and Duke Naymes by him and at other bordes other Lords and knights and there they were richly serued great brute was made in the Pallaice so that Huon being in prison had great maruel of the noyse that he heard and demaunded of the Gailer what noyse it was that hee heard aboue in the Pallaice the Gayler answered with great pride and despight and sayd It néedes not you to demaund for you are like to know it too soone but since you would know it I shall shew you the truth it is king Charlemaine and all his Barons who are come hether to iudge you to be hanged Goe thy way false traitour quoth Huon canst thou not shew to me none other tydings but that thus Huon answered the Gayler and there was as great brute in the Citie as in the Pallaice with lodging of the kings men The Commons and Burgesses of the Citie of Bourdeaux had full great maruaile why the king came thether at that time so sodainely and the king sitting at the table made good â—heere but Duke Naymes who sate by him began to wéepe and could neither eate nor drinke he rose vp then sodainely so â—udely that hee ouerthrew cuppes and dishes vpon the table Naymes quoth the King you haue done ill thus to doe Sir quoth Duke Naymes I haue good cause thus to doe and I haue wondrous great maruaile that I sée you so doted I am in such sorrow thereby that I am néere hand out of my wits how is it that you be come into the Citie of Bourdeaux for to eate and to drinke and to take your ease you néede not to haue gone out of France for that for you had meate and also good wines sufficient at home in your owne house Ah right Noble and worthie Emperour what meane you to do it is no small matter to iudge to death one of your twelue Peeres it is not possible to giue any true iudgement when you and we are full of wine and spices But Sir sayd the Duke by the Lord that mee fourmed that whosoeuer this day doth eate or drinke wine as long as the life is in my bodie I shall neuer loue him Naymes quoth the King I am content with your will Then the King commanded that the table should be auoyded commanded incontinent Huon to be taken out of prison and brought before him they that had commission to doe it went to the prison and there they tooke out Huon and his wife Escleremond and old Gerames and they were all three brought before the King and his Barons Huon sawe where King Charlemaine sate among all his Lordes and they all arose when they saw Huon and his companie so pale and ill coloured by reason of the noysome prison that his brother had put them in and Escleremond and old Gerames were greatly regarded and when the Pledges sawe Huon before the King they said Sir now yée may sée Huon for whom we be pledges wee trust now to be quit and discharged it lyeth now in you to doe with him at your pleasure Sirs quoth the King I hold you quit you may go from hence forth where you please for Huon cannot now scape our handes then Huon kneeled downe before the King right humblie and when Duke Naymes saw him the drops fell from his eyes and sayd to the king Sir I require you giue Huon audience and heare what hee will say I am content quoth the King let him say what hee will then Huon kneeling on his knées sayd Sir in the honour of our Lord Iesus Christ I first crie mercie to God and to you and to all your Barons I complaine me of that false traitour that I sée there who was my brother if there had béene any faith or troth in him but I beleeue in all the world cannot be found so cruell and false a Traytour for Cayne that slew Abell his brother was neuer so false nor so cruell When all the Lords heard Huon they al beganne to weepe saying each to others Ah good Lord where is the beautie become that was woont to be in Huon we haue séene him so faire that no one could passe him in beautie and now wee sée him pale and leane and ill coloured it appeareth well he hath not béene alwayes in the Ladies Chambers nor among damsels to sport and to play with him Thus they deuised of him and tooke no heede of Gerard who was by them Then Huon spake againe and sayd to the King Sir true it is the message that you gaue me in charge to doe vnto the Admirall Gaudys I haue doone to the verie vttermost as you haue commaunded vnto mee and I haue passed the Sea and came vnto Babilone to the Admirall Gaudys there I required of him in the presence of all his Lords to haue his beard
foure great téeth But when he had heard my demaund he held it for a great folly and so incontinent he cast me into prison whereas I had died by famine if the Admirals Daughter had not béene whome yée may sée yonder sitting by the piller and also by the aid of good King Oberon whome I ought greatly to loue he is a king of the Fairie right puissant and is in the Citie of Momur and he knowing of the perill that I was in had pitie on me and came and succoured me in such wise with so great a puissance that in Babilon he slew al such as would not beléeue in our Lord Iesus Christ Then he tooke me out of prison and then we entred into the Pallaice and there wee slew all such as wee found there Then I went to the Admirall Gaudys and strake off his head and then I cut off his beard and opened his mouth and drew out foure of his great téeth and when I had them then I desired king Oberon to aid me and to finde the meanes that I might safely bring the Beard and Téeth to your presence and to shew me where I might best kéepe them Then the good king Oberon by the grace of our Lord God and by the puissaunce that God had giuen vnto him he closed them within the side of Gerames so that they could not be perceiued and Sir know for troth ye neuer heard of such a man Now when I saw that I had fournished your messuage I retourned tooke with me the faire Ladie Escleremond Daughter to the foresaid Admirall Gaudys and the Twelue gentlemen that went with me out of Fraunce who alwaies haue béen with me And Sir if I should shew you the great paines and pauerties that I and they haue suffered it would be too long to rehearse but I may well say if the grace of God had not been I had neuer come hether againe if I had had x. liues I could neuer haue escaped the death Next after all these paines and trauailes that I and they that were with mee suffered by the grace of God we came and arriued at Rome whereas the Pope receiued me with great ioy there wedded me to Escleremond the Admiralles daughter whom you may sée yonder all desolate and full of displeasures and not without cause When the Barons that were there heard the pittious complaints of Huon euerie man of pitie beheld the Lady who pale and ill coloured sate sore wéeping so that such as regarded her were constrained to take part of her sorrow there was no man but they began sore to wéepe and Huon who was before the King was sorrowfull to sée his wife make so great dolour Then hee sayd vnto the King Sir if you will not beleeue my saying send to Rome to the Pope to know the truth if you proue my words contrarie I submit my selfe to receiue such death as you and your Barons can deuise if the Pope doe not beare witnesse of that I haue sayd God forbid that I should shew you any thing otherwise then truth I haue sayd nothing but hee shall shew tokens that my saying is true and I can say more if I would shew all but it is not néedefull that I should make a long sermon But Sir thus as I haue shewed you I did returne from the place that you sent me to and Sir know for truth I came not so vnprouided but that I brought with me great plentie of gould and siluer and my companie came all with mee and I purposed not to rest in any place till I had spoken with your grace for the great desire that I had to see you and so along I rode till I came to an Abbey heere hard by a foure leagues hence called Saint Mauris because the Abbey was of your foundation and not pertayning to the land of Bourdeaux for I would not haue entred into this towne because of the commandement that you gaue me Thus I came and lodged me in the Abbey and the Abbot receiued me with great ioy and hee sent word of my being there to my brother Gerard and the traytour came to mee like a false traytour and brought with him but one Squire whereby now I may perceiue that in him was nothing but falsenesse and treason Huon quoth Duke Naymes your reason is good for if he had beene true as he ought to haue been he ought to assemble the Barons and Lords of the Country and so to haue come with them and haue receiued you with reuerence and honour Sir quoth Huon it is true but the Traytour did otherwise for when hee was come to mee by great subtiltie hee demaunded how I had sped in my iourney and whether I had spoken with the Admirall Gaudys or not and declared to him your message and if I had brought with mee his beard and foure great teeth and I shewed him I had accomplished your whole commandement then the vnhappy Traitour demaunded where I kept them and I shewed him for I had no mistrust in him Then he so exorted mee that at the houre of midnight hee made me to arise hastily and mkde me and al my company ready and so leapt on our horses and rode forth our way and when 〈◊〉 came to a crosse way and saw that I tooke the way into France he beganne to speake rigorously to haue occasion of some strife betwéene vs and neere thereunto was a little wood whereas there lay in ambushment Gibouars and his companie fortie men of armes well armed and they came and ranne at mee and my companie that were vnarmed whereby they found in vs but small resistance and so finallie the twelue Gentlemen that were with mee were all slaine and all to hewen and then they tooke their dead bodyes and did cast them into the Ryuer of Gerone then they strake me to the earth and bound fast mine féete and handes and blindfolded mine eyes and in like sort they did to my wife and then they came to Gerames and the Traitour my Brother came to him and with a sharpe knife opened his side and there 〈◊〉 tooke the beard and foure great treeth of the Admirall Gauâ—â—s the which were set there by king Oberon the 〈◊〉 Traytour knew the place whereas they lay by reaâ—â—â— that I had shewed him therof before would to God that the same time that hee came to Gerames to doe that cruell 〈◊〉 that Gerames had beene armed I am sure then the 〈◊〉 durst not haue regarded him to haue done him 〈…〉 but Sir when he had taken out the beard and téeth then he bound Gerames handes and féete hurt as he was as Sir ye may know the truth by him Then Gerames stept forth and lift vp his cloake and shewed the king the wound in his side the which euerie man might sée that was there Sir quoth Huon to the king when he had done all this hee set vs on three leane horses and so brought vs into this
towne bound hands and féete and then set vs in a déepe prison and so hath kept vs hetherto with bread and water and so hath taken from vs all the riches that wee brought with vs and Sir if hee be so hardie to say the contrarie that it is not true that I haue sayd let him and Gybouars like traytours as they be arme themselues and I shall fight against them both and if I can conquere them both whereof I haue no doubt with the aide of our Lord God then let them haue as they haue deserued and if I cannot ouercome them nor make them to shew the truth I will that then incontinent you cause me to be drawne and hanged By my faith quoth Duke Naymes Sir Huon can say nor offer no more for hee offereth to proue the contrarie of that Gerard hath saide Sir quoth Gerard my brother sayth at his pleasure because hee knoweth well that I will not striue against him because he is mine elder brother let the king doe as it shall please him as for me I neuer consented to doe so cruell a deede as hee layeth to my charge Ah good Lord quoth Duke Naymes how the false Traitour can cloke and couer his ilnesse Huon quoth Charlemain I cannot tel what you haue done but I will you shew mee the beard and â—oure great teeth of the Admirall Gaudis Sir quoth Huon I crie you mercie I haue shewed you how they be taken from me by the false traytour my Brother Gerard. Huon quoth the Kinge yée know well at your departure out of Fraunce I charged you vppon paine of your life that iâ— by aduenture you returned againe into France that you should not bée so hardy as to enter into this Citie of Bourdeaux vntill you had spoken with mee first and to keepe mee promise you deliuered to mee Hostages the which I haue quit séeing I haue you in my handes it lyeth now in mée either to hange you or to draw you or to giue vnto you any other iudgment for at your departure you were agréed that I should so doe and by the faith that I owe vnto Saint Denis before it bee night I shall cause thée to bee hanged and drawne and that shall I not let so to doe for any man liuing for nowe I take you in your owne house Sir quoth Huon God forbid that a Kinge of Fraunce should doe so great a crueltie My Lord I crie you mercie for Gods sake doe not to mee so great an out-rage for you may knowe right well that perforce I was brought hether and therefore great King I require you let mee haue rightfull and true iudgement By my faith Huon quoth Duke Naymes it is but a small request that you make for your right is so cleare that if reason may be shewed to you there is no man can say the contrarie but that your Lands ought to bee rendred vnto you franke and frée and your Brother Gerard to bee hanged and strangled Then the Duke said to the King My Lord I require you haue pitie of Huon and doe nothing to him but right and you shall doe great sinne without you doe him right Naymes quoth the King you know well it is in mée to cause Huon to die but séeing that he is one of my Péeres I will order him by iudgement When the Lordes and other Knightes heard the King say so they were right ioyfull for then they beleeued that the King would haue pitie of Huon but whosoeuer was ioyfull yet Duke Naymes was not content and sayde to the King My Lord by that I sée and heare you beare Huon but small â—oâ—e seeing that you will put him to iudgement considering his deedes and sayings to be true and namely whereas hee â—ffereth to prooue it by the holy Father the Pope then Huon with-drew backe and leaned him to a piller there by Then the Kinge called vnto him all his Peeres and Lordes and 〈◊〉 Sirs I require you by the faith and truth and homage that you beare vnto mée that for me nor for mine amitie that you ayd not Huon against mée nor lay nor doe no falsehood but the most rightfull iudgement that you can make doe I charge you giue true iudgement without any fauour or partialitie When the Lords heard the King say so vnto them and that he coniured them so sore to doe right and iustice well they perceiued that the King had great hate vnto Huon and that the death of his Sonne Charlot was not forgotten out of his mind Then they all together drew apart into a Chamber right pensiue and mourning and they sat downe on benches and beheld each other without speaking of any word a long space When Duke Naymes saw that hée arose vppon his féet and sayd Sirs yée haue heard how the King hath charged vs to say the troth wée may perceiue well by him that hee beareth great hate vnto Huon who is one of our Companions and therefore Sirs I require you that euerie man by himselfe will say his aduise as hée thinketh Chap. LXXII ¶ How the Twelue Peeres drew to counsaile to giue sentence vppon Huon either with him or against him THen there rose vp a knight called Gaulter hée was yssued of the lineage of Ganelon who was one of the Péeres of Fraunce then hée sayd Sirs as for mée I say séeing the case as it is that Huon by right iudgement ought to bee hanged and drawne for as yée know well the King hath founde him in the Citie of Bourdeaux therefore I say that the King may without doing any sinne put him to death and Sirs if yee thinke that I haue sayde good reason agrée yée then to the same and let Gerard his Brother be Lord and Maister of all the Landes and Signiories that should appertaine vnto Huon I consent and will as much as toucheth my part that Gerard be one of the Péeres of Fraunce in the place of Huon his Brother and when Gaulter had ended his reason Henry of Saint Omers spake and sayd Sir Gaulter goe and sit downe your wordes can beare none effect for they bée of no valure But Sirs quoth hée shortly to speake and righteously to iudge I say that it is reason that Huon be restored to all his Landes for his déede is well prooued and by good witnesse as our holy Father the Pope for wee may beléeue surely that Gerard his Brother that thus hath betrayed him hath done it by false couetousnesse therefore I say and iudge that Gerard bee drawne at horse tayles and then hanged vntill hée be dead Then hée sayd no more but sat downe againe When Henry of Saint Omers had sayd his reason that Earle of Flaunders arose vp and said to Henry All that you haue sayd I will not consent thereto but I shall shewe you mine aduise what ought to bée done Sirs yée all knowe well the world the which as nowe is little woorth for nowe adayes cannot be found such true Fréends as
you liue you shall meddle no more with that matter but by the beard that I beare on my chinne I shal neuer dine nor eate meat after this dinner til I sée him hanged and drawne for all your bearing of him against me Then he commanded the tables to be set vp and when Gerard vnderstood the king he was ioyfull thereof in his hart but he made no semblance of ioy because of the Lords that were there present When Huon and Escleremond had heard how the King had sworne the death of Huon the dolorous weepings and teares that they made were so extreame that hard it were to declare it and Escleremond sayd to Huon Ah Sir now I see well that great pitie it shall be the departing of vs two but if I had a knife I would not abide your death but first I shoulde slay my selfe before this false and vntrue king Her complaints were so pitifull that most part of the Lords wept for pitie and the old Gerames sorely wept and sayd Ah good Lord God in what howre was I borne in great dolour and paine haue I continued my youth and now in mine age thus shamefully to die Thus all three made such sorrow that it would haue made a hard heart to lament All three thought no otherwise but to die because they had heard King Charlemaine make such promise but that which God will saue no man can let and god saue the good king Oberon for king Charlemaine shal be forsworne as ye shal heare hereafter Now let vs leaue speaking of this pitious companie and speake of the noble king Oberon of the Fayrie who as then was in his wood Chap. LXXIIII ¶ How king Oberon came to succour Huon and made Gerard to confesse all the treason that he had purchased against Huon his brother YE haue heard before how King Oberon was displeased with Huon bicause he had broken his commandement But when Huon had béen at Rome and confessed all his sinnes and was assoiled of the Pope then King Oberon was content and in his heart forgaue all the ill will that he had to Huon and as he sat at dyner he began to wéepe When his Seruants saw that they had great maruaile and sayd vnto him Sir we desire you to shew vs why you doe weepe and be so troubled there is some displeasure done vnto you therefore for the loue of our Lord Iesus Christ wee desire you hide it not from vs. Sirs quoth the Kinge I remember nowe the vnhappie Huon of Bourdeaux who is returned from the farre parts and he hath passed by Rome and there hath taken his Wife in mariage and is confessed of all his sinnes for the which sinnes he hath béen by me sore punished But it is time if euer I will doe him any good now to ayd him and to succour him against King Charlemaine for he hath sworne neuer to goe to bed vntill he haue hanged drawne the poore Huon but by the grace of our Lord God Charlemaine shall bée forsworne for at this time I shall succour and ayd him for he is as now in such a danger that without he be succoured incontinent death is néere him he was neuer in his life in such perill He is now in the Pallaice at Bourdeaux his Wife the fayre Escrelemond and the old Gerames with fetters on their feete being in great sorrow and king Charlemaine is set at dinner and hath made his oath to hang Huon but yet whether hee will or not he shall be periured for I will goe to my Fréend Huon and helpe him at his neede therefore I wish my Table and all that is thereon neere to King Charlemaines Table and somewhat aboue his about two foot hyer also I will bicause I haue heard say that often times of a little Castle commeth a greater therefore I will that on my table be set my Cup my Horne and my Armour the which Huon conquered of the Gyant Angolaffer and also I wish with me a C.M. men of armes such as I was woont to haue in battaile He had no sooner said the words but by the will of god and the puissance of the Fayrie his table and all that king Oberon had wished was set iust by king Charlemaines table more higher and greater then his was When king Charlemaine saw the table and the Cuppe Horne and coate of maile he had great maruaile and said to Duke Naymes Sir Duke I beléeue you haue enchaunted mée Sir quoth the Duke neuer in my life I meâ—leâ— with any such matter the Lords such as were there were greatly abashed howe that matter came to passe Gerames who sat néere to Huon when he saw the Table the Cup and horne of Iuorie the Armour thereon he knew them well and said to Huon Sir be not dismayed for on yonder Table that you may sée is your Cup horne of Iuorie and coat of maile whereby I perceiue that you shall bée succoured by King Oberon Huon beheld the Table had great ioy when he saw it then he lifted vp his hands to heauen and thanked our Lord God that hée would visit such a poore sinner as hee was saying Ah Kinge Oberon in many great needs haue you succoured me Therewith arriued King Oberon in the Citie whereof the Burgesses the Commons were greatly abashed when they saw such a number of men of war enter into their citie without any knowledge before When king Oberon was within the Towne all his company he said to his Lords Sirs looke that you set good watch at euery gate so that no man go out the which they did diligently for at euerie gate they set x. M. men Then King Oberon tooke the way to the Pallaice and at the gate he left x. M. men commanding them vpon payn of their liues that they should not suffer any man to passe out and also he commanded that if they heard him blow his Horne of Iuorie that incontinent they should come into the Pallaice to him slay all such as they should find there Then king Oberon went vp into the Pallaice and many of his Lords with him he was richly apprrelled in cloath of gold and the border thereof was sette with rich precious stones goodly it was to behold for a fayrer little person could not be found hee passed iust by King Charlemaine without speaking of any word and went so néere to him that he shouldred him so rudely that his bonnet fell from his head Ah good Lord quoth Charlemaine I haue great maruaile what this dwarfe may be that so rudly hath shouldred me and almost ouerthrowne my table he is fierce when hee thinkes scorne to speake to me howbeit I will see what hee will doe I cannot tell what hee thinketh to doe but me seemeth hee is right ioyfull and also he is the fayrest creature that euer I saw When Oberon had passed by the King he came to Huon and wished the fetters from all their féete and
Sir Emperour Charlemaine you haue well heard the confession of Gerard of the great treason that Gybouars and he haue done vnto Huon but by the Lord that fourmed me to his semblance both they two and the Abbot and his Chaplaine shall bée hanged for their false witnesse By the faith that I owe to Saint Denis quoth King Charlemaine they cannot escape it Sir quoth Duke Naymes it is great sinne to trouble a noble man you shall doe well if all foure be hanged When all the Lordes heard Gerard confesse that great treason that hée had done vnto his Brother they blessed them and had great maruaile of the false treason that the one Brother did to the other Chap. LXXV ¶ How King Oberon caused to be hanged the foure Traytours Gerard Gybouars and the two Monkes for their false witnesse and of the peace made betweene Huon and Charlemaine And how King Oberon gaue vnto Huon his Realme of the Fayrie WHEN King Oberon had heard Gerard confesse the treason done to his Brother and heard howe Gerard had offered to goe and fetch the beard great téeth and how he had denied him to goe then he sayd I wish them here vpon this Table he had no sooner made his wish but they were set on the Table whereof all such as were there hadde great maruaile Sir quoth Huon to King Oberon humbly I require you that of your grace you will pardon my Brother Gerard all the ill that he hath done against me for he did it by Gybouars and as for me héere and before God I pardon him and Sir if you will doe thus I shal be content therewith And to th entent that we may vse our liues from henceforth in good peace and loue I will giue him the halfe part of my Lands Signiories and Sir in the honour of our Lord Iesus Christ haue pity of him When the Lords that were there present vnderstood Huon they all for pity began to wéepe sayd among themselues that Huon was a noble knight and that it had béen pity if the matter had framed otherwise Sir Huon quoth Oberon it is not necessarie to request this for all the gold that is in the world shall not respit their deaths I wish by the puissance that I haue in the Fayrie that here beneath in the meadow there be a paire of Gallows and all iiij thereon hanged Incontinent it was don all iiij hanged thus as ye haue hard the traitors were paid their deserts When king Charlemaine had séene the great maruailes that were done by king Oberon he sayd to his Lords Sirs I beléeue this man be some God himselfe for there is no mortall man can doe this that he hath done When Oberon vnderstood the Emperour he sayd Sir know for truth I am no God but I am a mortall man as you be and was engendred on a woman as you were and my father was Iulius Cesar who engendred me on the Ladie of the Secret Isle who had béene before louer to Florymont sonne to the Duke of Albany she bare me nine moneths in her wombe and I was begotten by Iulius Cesar when he went into Thessaly after Pompey the Great he was amorous of my mother because she prophesied that my Father Iulius Cesar should winne the battaile as he did and when I was borne there were with my mother many Ladies of the Fairye and by them I had many gifts and among other there was one that gaue mee the gift to be such a one as you sée I am whereof I am sory but I cannot be none otherwise for when I came to the age of thrée yéeres I grew no more and when this Ladie sawe that I was so little to content againe my mother shee gaue me againe that I should be the fairest creature of the world and other Ladyes of the Fairie gaue me diuers other gifts the which I ouerpasse at this time and therefore Sir know for truth that aboue all things God loueth faith and troth when it is in men as it is here in Huon and because I know for certaine that he is true and faithfull therefore I haue alwaies loued him After that king Oberon had ended his words and shewed the Emperour Charlemaine of all his estate he called Huon and sayd Sir arise vp and take the beard and the téeth and beare them to king Charlemaine and desire him to render you your landes as he promised Sir quoth Huon I ought so to doe then Huon came to King Charlemaine and sayd Sir by your grace and if it may please you receiue here the beard and téeth of the Admirall Gaudis Huon quoth the King I hold you quit and I render to you all your lands and signiories and pardon you of all mine ill will and put all rancour from mée and from hencefoorth I retaine you as one of my Péeres Sir quoth Huon of this I thanke God and your grace Then the Emperour Charlemaine clipped and kissed Huon in token of peace and loue When the Lords saw that they wept for ioy and thanked God that the peace was made and especially Duke Naymes was ioyfull then within a while diuers of the Lords departed from the Court Then king Oberon called Huon vnto him and sayd Sir I commaund you as dearely as you loue mée that this same day foure yeare to come that you come into my Citie of Momur for I will giue you my Realme and all my dignitie the which I may lawfully do for at my birth it was giuen me that I might so doe for it lyeth in mée to giue it whereas I thinke best and bicause I loue you so entirely I shall set the crowne vpon your head and you shal be King of my Realme And also I will that you giue vnto Gerames all your Landes and Signiories in these parts for he hath well deserued it for with you and for your loue hee hath suffered many great trauailes Sir quoth Huon séeing this is your pleasure I ought well to be pleased therewith and I shall accomplish all your commandements Huon quoth Oberon know for troth I shall not abide longe in this world for so is the pleasure of god it be houeth me to go into paradice where as my place is appointed in the fayrie I shall bide no longer but beware as dearly as you loue your life that yée faile not to be with me at the daie that I haue appointed beware that yée forget it not for if yee faile I shall cause you to die an ill death and therefore remember it well When Huon heard king Oberon he was right ioyfull and stooped downe to haue kissed his féet but then Gloriant and Mallaborn tooke him vp Then said Huon Sir for this great guift I thanke you Chap. LXXVI ¶ How King Oberon departed and tooke leaue o f king Charlemaine and of Huon and Escleremond and also how king Charlemaine departed from Bourdeaux WHen king Oberon had imparted to Huon as much as he
would that he should doe then he said to Huon how he would depart and tooke leaue of him and kindly embraced him then Oberon stoode still a little while and beheld Huon and began to lament when Huon sawe that he was sorie in his heart and said Ah Sir king I desire you to shew me why you make this sorow at your departure Huon quoth Oberon I shall shew you it is for pitie that I haue of you for I sweare by him that created me that before I shall sée thée againe thou shalt suffer so much paine trauaile pouertie hunger thirst feare and aduersitie that there is no toong can tell it and thy good wife shall suffer so much that there is no creature that shall sée her but shall haue great pitie of her Ah Sir quoth Huon then I require you to aide comfort me Huon quoth Oberon what comfort would ye haue of me Sir quoth Huon I desire you to let me haue your horne of Iuory to thintent that if I should haue any néed that you may succour me for so well I know you that you will come and succour me Huon quoth Oberon séeing I haue agréed you with Charlemaine trust not on me to be succoured in any of your businesse suffice you with the gift that I haue giuen you euen all my Realme and puissance that I haue in the Fayrie trust on none other succour of mē Sir I am sorrie thereof quoth Huon that it may be none otherwise Then King Oberon tooke leaue of King Charlemaine and of Duke Naymes and of all other Lords there present and went to Huon and embraced him and tooke his leaue of him and of Escleremond and Gerames and sayd to Escleremond I commend you to God and desire you if you haue done well hetherto that you will perseuere euer better and better and beare alwaies fayth and honour to your husband Sir quoth she I pray God I liue no longer then if I doe the contrary Thus King Oberon departed and after his departure king Charlemaine made readie his companie and tooke leaue of Huon and of Escleremond and Gerames and they brought the King about two leagues off and then tooke their leaues of him of Duke Naymes and of all the Lords Then the king sayd Huon if any war be moued against you or if that you haue any great affaires to do let me haue knowledge thereof and I shal come and succour you or else send you such aide as shall bee sufficient Sir quoth Huon I thanke your grace and so tooke his leaue of the king and returned to Bourdeaux whereas he was receiued with great ioy Now let vs leaue speaking of Huon and speake of Oberon of the Fayrie Chap. LXXVII ¶ How king Oberon deuised with his knights in the Citie of Momur in the Fayrie of the deedes of Huon of Bourdeaux and of that which should happen after to him WHen King Oberon was departed from Bourdeaux he came to his Citie of Momur and there he began sore to wéep Then Gloryant demaunded of him why he made that sorrow Gloryant quoth Oberon it is for the vnhappy Huon he is alone and I know well hereafter hee shall be betrayed and all for Escleremond his wife for though that hee haue ere this time suffered great trauaile and much trouble and pouerty yet I know surely that he shall suffer more then euer he did and hée shall haue no succour of any man liuing Why Sir quoth Gloriant how can that be for Huon is a great Lord and hath many fréends and is the most hardiest Knight now liuing and hée is at accord wich King Charlemaine therefore he were a great Foole that would make him any warre or doe him any displeasure Well quoth Oberon God aid him in all his affaires for ere it be long hée shall haue much to doe Thus Oberon entred into his rich Pallaice and sayde againe Ah deare Knight Huon I knowe well you shall bee betrayed for the loue of your Wife who is faire and good and if you take not good héede you shall leaue her and your selfe in great perill of death and if you escape the death yet you shall suffer such paine and pouertie that there is no Clearke liuing so sage that can put it in writing Sir quoth Gloriant mée thinkes this cannot bée séeing the loue that is now betwéen him and Charlemaine Gloriant quoth Oberon yet I say againe vnto you that before this yeare be passed Huon shall be in such distresse and so hardly kept that if he had Ten Realmes he would giue them all to be out of that danger that he shal be in Then Gloriant was pensiue and said Alas Sir for Gods sake neuer leaue Huon your fréend in such danger but rather succour him Nay surely quoth Oberon that will I not doe séeing I haue promised him my dignitie and Land he shall not be aided nor succoured by me for he shall be closed in such a place that I would not goe thether for Tenne of the best Cities of the world Nowe let vs returne vnto Huon being in his Pallaice at Bourdeaux Chap. LXXVIII ¶ How Huon tooke homage of his men and chasticed his Rebels and of three Pilgrimes by whom much ill fell after as yee shall heare AFter that king Charlemaine was departed from Bourdeaux that Huon was returned he assembled al his Barons to whome hee made good chéere and there they tooke their Landes and Fées of him and made their homage Then hée tooke a Thousand chosen Knights with him road to his Lands and tooke possession of Townes and Castles and was obayed in euerie place except of one named Angelers who was Coozen germaine to Amerie whom Huon had slaine before at Paris before the Emperour Charlemaine for the loue of Charlot This Angelars was false and a Traytour and hee had a strong Castle within thrée Leagues of Bourdeaux he would not hold of Huon nor obay him though he was his Leige-man When Huon saw that he wold not hold of him nor doe him homage he was sore displeased and made promise that if that he might get him perforce he would surely hange him vp and as many as were in the Castle with him Then Huon assailed the Castle and they within defended themselues valiantly so that many were hurt and slaine on both parts Huon was there eight daies and could not win the Castle then Huon ordained before the place a paire of Gallowes and vppon the ninth day he made a fresh assault by such strength that hee wanne the Castle and entred perforce Angelars was taken and Fortie men with him and they were all hanged on the Gallowes Then Huon gaue the Castle vnto one of his Knightes and then hee departed and went to the Castle of Blay whereas hee was receiued with great ioy And the faire Escleremond was in the Pallaice at Bourdeaux well accompanied with Ladies Damsels and as they were deuising together there entred into the Pallaice thrée
Pilgrimes who right humbly saluted the Ladie Escleremond Sirs quoth the Lady I pray you shew mee out of what Countrey yée are come Madame quoth one of them knowe for troth that we are come from Ierusalem and haue made our offering to the holy Sepulchre wée haue suffered much pouertie in our iourney wherefore Ladie wee require you humbly for the loue of our Lord Iesus Christ to giue vs some meat Sirs quoth shée you shall haue ynough and then she commaunded two of her Knights to sée that the Pilgrimes should haue meat and drinke and so they were set at the end of the Hall and a Table couered for them and thereon bread flesh and wine they were well serued Then the Duchesse Escleremond went to visit them and demaunded where they were borne and whether they would goe Madame quoth they wee bee all thrée borne at Vyenna and thether wee would returne Sirs God bee your guide quoth the Ladie and she gaue them Ten Florents whereof they had great ioy thanked the Duchesse but alas that guifte was ill bestowed as you shall heare héereafter They departed tooke their way and trauailed so longe that vpon a Tuesday they arriued halfe a League from Vyenna and there they met Duke Raoul who was going a kauking hée was a great and puissant Lord of Lands and Signiories and hardy in déedes of armes great pittie it was that he was such a Traytour for a more subtill man coulde not be knowne for all the daies of his life he was euer a moouer of warre and strife and to doe treason without hauing regard either to kinne or other God confounde him for by him and his cause Huon suffered so much ill that it cannot bee recounted This Duke Raoul was to marrie thus as hée was in the feelds a hauking and twentie Knights with him he met the said thrée Pilgrimes and anone hee knewe them Then he road vnto them and said Sirs yée be welcome home they were ioyfull when they sawe the Duke their Lorde salute them so humbly and for ioye thereof they shewed him such newes that by the occasion thereof twentie Thousand Knights lost after their liues and Raoul himselfe receiued the death and Huon had such trouble that hée had neuer none such before as you shall heare héereafter Then the Duke said to the Pilgrimes Freends I pray you shew mee by what Countreys you haue passed to come hether Sir quoth they we haue passed by Fraunce and first we were at Bourdeaux and there we found the Duches Escleremond wife to Huon of Bourdeaux of whome you haue heaâ—d so much speaking for she is so faire and so well fauoured so swéet pleasant and gracious as can bée deuised shée is Daughter to the Admirall Gaudise whom Huon hath slaine and taken her to his wife great pitie it is that Huon should haue such a wife for she were méeter to be wife to a puissant Kinge for whosoeuer had such a wife to lye by might well say that there were none like her in all the world would to our Lorde God Sir that shee were your wife When the Duke heard that hee chaunged colour and greatly coueted the Ladie in his heart so that he was striken with such violent and burning loue that he had to the Ladie Escleremond as he promised and sware that he would haue her whosoeuer sayd the contrarie and said that he would slay Huon them haue Escleremond to his Wife Thus Duke Raoul sware the death of Huon then hée departed from the Pilgrimes ill was bestowed the almes that Escleremond had giuen them Chap. LXXIX ¶ How Duke Raoul of Austrich by the report of the Pilgrims was amourous of the faire Escleremond and of the Tourney that was proclaimed to the entent to haue slaine Huon THus Duke Raoul returned to the Citie of Vyenna right pensiue sent for his priuie counsaile and then he commaunded them to assemble as many people as they could bicause he sayd that he would goe to his Vncle the Emperour of Almaine to whome he sent a secret Messuage that hee should cause a Tourney to bee proclaimed in some conuenient place to the entent that the Knights of Almaine and of other Countreys should assemble there The false Traytor did it for a craft to the entent that Huon by his prowesse and hardinesse shold come to that Tourney The Messenger roade foorth vntill he came to Strasbrough whereas hee found the Emperour who was vncle to Raoull for he was the Emperours brothers sonne When the Emperour heard the messuage hee was ioyfull and not a little pleased to heare such newes froÌ„ his Nephew Duke Raoull whome he loued entierly and to doe him pleasure he sent to all Lands vnder his obeysance to all Knights and Squiers such as of custome were woont to iust and tournay desiring them to come at a day assigned to the citie of Mayence for there he would kéepe open Court Now the Emperour knew not for what entent his Nephew Raoull had deuised that tournay Alas he did it but to find the place to slay Huon to thintent to haue his wife Escleremond Then Duke Raoull assembled his Barons especialle such as he had perfect trust in he shewed them at large the cause why he had assembled all the people to goe to the tournay Therefore Sirs quoth he I will that yée sweare to me the death of Huon of Bourdeaux for I will that yée and I put all our vttermost to slay him and then I will wed his wife of whome I am so amourous that I cannot sléepe nor take any rest The same time that they thus made promise and sware the death of Huon there was among them a varlet with Duke Raoul who in his youth had serued Huon of Bourdeaux now when he vnderstood that if Huon came to the Tournay there hee should be murdered as priuily as he could he departed from Vyenna and neuer rested vntill hee came to the Citie of Bourdeaux whereas he found Duke Huon in his Pallaice with his Lords who had béen before aduertised that there should be held a great Tournay at Mayence in Almaine and he deuised with his Lords how to goe thether The same time the Varlet came thether and humbly saluted Duke Huon who said to him Friend where hast thou béen so long Sir quoth the Varlet I come now from Vyenna in Austrich where Duke Raoul who is Lord thereof hath proclaymed a Tourney in euery Countrey but Sir if you goe thether you shall bée slaine for this Tourney is deuised for none other entent bicause it is too well knowne that there can bee no hye déedes of armes done in any place but that you will bee present at it And when they haue slayne you then Duke Raoul will haue the Duchesse your Wife in mariage therefore Sir for Gods sake aduise you well that you come not there in as much as you loue your life for you cannot escape there be twentie Thousand men that haue
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
leaue and departed hee durst no longer tarie for feare of knowledge and assoone as hée could he departed out of the Towne of his iourneys I will make no long rehearsall but he laboured so long that he arriued at Vyenna then he went to his Pallaice whereas he was well receiued of his Lords and they laughed when they saw him in that apparell Then within a while after hee made him readie and his men who were a great number and so departed from Vyenna and tooke the way to Mayence When his Vncle the Emperour of Almayne was aduertised of his comming he went and met him without the Towne to doe him the more honour and when he saw him he was ioyfull and kissed him and said Faire Nephew I am glad of your comming I haue long desired to sée you The good Emperour knew nothing of the treason that his Nephew had purchaced against Huon of Bourdeaux for if he had knowne it to haue dyed in the quarrell he would neuer haue consented to that treason Thus hand in hand the Emperour and his Nephew Raoul entred with great ioy into the City of Mayence wheras they were highly receiued great ioy was made at their comming much people were in the Towne come thether to Iust and Tournay and many other to behould the Tryumph Now let vs speake of Huon of Bourdeaux Chap. LXXXI ¶ How Duke Huon tooke leaue of the Duchesse his Wife and how he arriued at Mayence and went to the Pallaice WHen Huon sawe his time to depart from Bourdeaux to goe to the Tourney at Mayence he made readie his traine and tooke with him tenne Thousand men of armes for the guard of his person of the best horsemen in all his Countrey then he tooke his leaue of the faire Escleremond his Wife who began sore to weepe when she saw his departure right swéetly they kissed together at their departing Then he tooke his Horse and hee and his companie departed from Bourdeaux and rested not vntill he came to Coleyne on the Rheine there hee taried two dayes to refresh him and vpon the third day he armed himselfe and called his companie before him and said Sirs I will take my leaue of you all for none of you shall goe with me be nothing abashed for hée that alwayes hath saued mee out of all perils will not forsake mee at this time When his men heard him they had great maruaile that he would take his Voyage alone and hee saide vnto them Sirs haue no doubt of me for I shall not die vntill mine houre be come They of Coleyne enquired nothing of their estate for as then there was no warre and they beléeued that they would goe to the Tourney When his Lords saw that he would thus depart they were sorrie that he would goe to the Tourney alone and said one to another we feare greatly that he shall neuer returne againe wee shall neuer haue such another Maister againe Sirs quoth Huon you shall not need to take any sorrow for mée for certainly I knowe well if any perilous businesse should come to mee that I should be aided by King Oberon but he needed not to haue said so for when Kinge Oberon departed from him hee had him not to trust vpon any ayd from him and therefore Huon was a foole and ill aduised to trust thereon or to vndertake so perilous an Enterprize as he did wherby he was in great perill of death as yee shall heare héereafter When Huon was readie he leapt vpon his horse without any stirrop cleane armed as he was and after stretched him so in his stirrops that the leathers strained out thrée fingers he was a puissant Knight armed or vnarmed and greatly to be feared hee tooke leaue of his men and left them wéeping in that Citie of Coleyn Then hee road towards the Citie of Mayence and so long he road that he had a sight of the Citie and then he saw about in the meadow many Tents and rich Pauilions pitcht vp with pummels of fine gould shining against the Sunne Huon behelde them well and so passed foorth and entred into the Citie whereas he saw euerie stréet full of Knights and Squiers abiding there vntill the day of the Tourney Huon passed foorth vntill he came to the Pallaice whereas hee founde the Emperour and his Nephewe Raoul whom Huon loued but little as he shewed well shortly after as yée shall heare When Huon was come before the Pallaice hee sawe the Emperour and Raoul his Nephew going vp the staires then Huon met with a great Almayne and said to him Fréend I pray thée shew mée what be yonder two Princes that goe vp the staires and that so much honor is done to them Sir quoth he the first is the Emperour and he that followeth is his Nephew Duke Raoul he was Sonne to the Emperours Brother the Tourney that shal be made is done for the loue of him at his request and after the Tourney he thinketh to marrie a great Ladie whose name shall not bee knowne till the Tourney be done When Huon heard that hee blushed in the face for the great yre that he was in for he knew well that Raoul if he could find the means would haue from him his Wife the faire Escleremond but he promised in his mind that first hee should dearely buy her Fréend quoth Huon I desire you to do so much for me as to hold my horse vntill I returne againe out of the Hall and that I haue spoken with the Emperor and with his Lords Sir quoth the Squier with a good will I shall héere hold your horse vntil you come Nowe God ayd Huon for ere he might returne againe he was in great perill of death as ye shall heare Chap. LXXXII ¶ How Huon slew Duke Raoul in the presence of the Emperor sitting at his Table and of the maruailes that hee did And how in the chace that was made after him he strake downe the Emperour and wanne his good horse HVon who was ful of ire and displeasure went vp into the Pallaice and came into the Hall whereas hée found many people there was the Emperour who had newly washed his handes and was set at the Table Huon pressed foorth before the Table with his Sword in his hand and said Noble Emperour I coniure thée by the great vertue diuine by your hopefull part of Paradice or that your Soule is to be damned if case be that you say not the troth and giue true iudgment without falshood nor to spare to say the troth for no man liuing although he be your néerest Parent Fréend quoth the Emperour say your pleasure and I shall answere you Sir quoth Huon if you haue wedded a Ladie loue her dearely and that she be faire good swéete and sage and repleat with all good vertues and that you know surely that she loueth you entirely as a good true wife ought to loue her Lord and Husband and then a Traitour priuily to
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 was about to doe nor that hee was in the woode abydinge there for Huon That night Huon and his companie were at Coleyne making good chéere and the next morning they heard seruice then they mounted on their horses issued out of the towne they were to the number of thurteene Thousand hardy fighting men and when they were out in the feelds Huon like a good man of warre said Sirs I desire you let vs keepe together and ride like men of warre to the entent that we be not suddainly taken and so they did the day was faire and cleare they might well be perceiued a farre off as they were by the Emperour of Almaine who lay enambushed for Huon the Emperour espied them firste and sayde to his companie Sirs yonder a farre off I sée many people comming towarde vs they séeme vnto mée men well expert in armes neuer beléeue me but they be Frenchmen and he that is their Captaine is Huon of Bourdeaux he is not come hether like a small Personage but he is highly accompanied like a great and mightie Prince I sée well he is valiant by that he hath done hee is so noble hardy that none may be compared to him you haue well séene howe that hee all alone came into my Pallaice and there slewe my Nephew Duke Raoul wherewith my heart is in great displeasure hee is greatly to bee doubted for without God helpe vs wee shall haue ynough to doe with him would to God that hee and I were at accordment and agréed for he is so noble and so valiant that he feareth no man You haue well séen since he departed from Mayence he hath slaine more then fortie of my men and hath borne me to the earth and he hath taken from me my good horse whereby he may be wel assured that there is no man shall take him if he be vppon his backe howbeit we must set vpon him for my heart shall neuer be in ease as long as he liueth therefore Sirs I desire you euerie man this day shew the loue that you beare vnto me and the sauegard of your liues for to fly away auaileth not therefore Sirs set on together and doe so that wee may haue the first aduantage Chap. LXXXIIII ¶ Of the great Battaile within two Leagues of Coleyn between the Emperor of Almaine and Huon of Bourdeaux and of the Truce that was taken betweene them HVon who roade before his Barons deuising with old Gerames regarded on his right hand towards the litle wood and he saw in the wood great clearenesse by reason of the Sunne shining on the healmes and on the speares poynts whereby he perceiued plainely that there was much people hidden in the wood hee shewed them to Gerames and to his other companie and sayd Sirs bee in a surety that without battaile we cannot scape héere is the Emperour who lyeth in waite for vs. I desire you let vs doe so that hee shall haue no cause to make any auaunt of vs yonder you may sée them how they set themselues in order to abide vs therefore let vs quickly sette on them and so they did in such wise that with the very running of their horses the earth trembled and the sunne lost his light by reason of the powder that rose vp into the ayre from both parts Huon who ranne before on his puissant horse behelde Godun who was formost in his companie hee ranne at him with a strong speare so that he ranne him cleane through the body so that hee fell downe to the earth and with the same speare Huon met Crassyn Polinger who bare the Emperors banner Huon strake him so fiercely that he bare horse and man and banner all to the ground whereof the Almaines and Bauiers were sorrowfull Huon did so much ere his speare was broken that he first bare fiue to the earth so that they had no power after to reléeue themselues there were many speares broken and many a knight borne to the earth and there dyed among the horse féete for the father could not helpe the sonne nor the sonne could not helpe the father and many a horse ranne abrode in the field and their Maisters lying dead in the bloud and myre Huon who rode about in the battaile slaying and wounding his enemies behelde on his right side and saw the Earle Sauary slaying many of them of Bourdeaux Ah good Lord quoth Huon if yonder knight raigne long he shall doe me great damage Then hée rode to him and gaue him such a stroke with his sword so that he strake off his shoulder and arme so rudely that it fell vpon the earth so that for the great paine that the Earle Sauary endured he fell from his horse and there was slaine among the horse féete whereof the Emperour who was there by right sorrowfull when he saw another of his nephewes slaine and sayd Ah Huon of God bee thou cursed since thou hast slaine so many of my friends I shall neuer haue ioy in my heart till I haue thée in my hands to hang thée Sir quoth Huon ere you haue taken me you are like to loose more of your friendes and beware of your selfe that you come not into my handes by your nephew Raoull yee haue all this damage who by his falsenesse thought to haue betrayed me and to haue had my wife if I haue slaine your nephewes and your men I haue doone it in defending mine owne body I say to you if you bee not well aware of me I shall bring you to the poynt that it shall be hard for you to be carried away in a litter Huon quoth the Emperor the great hate that I haue to thée for the death of my nephewes makes me féele much dolour at my heart that I had rather die then that I should not bee reuenged of thée therefore beware thou of mée for I shall neither eate nor drinke till I haue thée either quicke or dead Then they two went backe to take their course together but ere they met the Almaynes came running thether for the feare that they had of loosing their Emperour and on the other part came thither the olde Gerames who fought so fiercely that whomsoeuer he strake with a full stroke had no neede of any Surgion and his companie fayled not for their parts and Huon with his good sword opened the thick prease so that the Almaynes greatly doubâ—ed him Huon with his noble chiualrie caused his enemies to recule backe halfe a bowes shoote Then there was a knight of Almain saw well that without some remedie were found the Emperour and his companie were like to be slaine he went out of the battell as priuily as he could and ranne on the spurres and rested not till hee came to Coleyn where incontinent he rode to the Prouosts house and found him in his house newly reine from masse then the Knight sayd to him Sir Prouost if euer you will sée the Emperour aliue cause the commons of this
Citie to be armed and come and succour the Emperour hastily for when I came from him he had great neede of ayde there is Huon of Bourdeaux who hath slayne thrée of his nephewes and this other day he was lodged in this Citie the Emperour knoweth well that you knew nothing thereof for Huon had lodged his men in the suburbs and in other little houses because hee would not be perceiued Syr Prouost make haste in this businesse When the Prouost heard what daunger the Emperour was in he sounded the watch bell and made to be cryed in euery stréete that euery man that was able to beare armes should arme them and goe out into the field to succour the Emperour who was in great daunger of his life When the Bourgesses of the towne heard that crie euery man armed them as well as they could some were harnessed behind and some in a Iacke all smoked and with staues and other weapons what a foote and a horse backe there went out of the Citie twentie thousand men if you had séene the horsemen you would haue laught at them for it séemed they were set on horse backe in despite there was neuer séene so rude a companie it was no maruaile for they were not accustomed to ryde in harnesse The Prouost went before and exhorted them to doe their deuoirs so they tooke their way to come to the battaile whereas Huon and his companie did part of their willes and the Emperour séeing that he began to loose his men and place hee rode searching in the battaile for Duke Huon whereas he found by aduenture Huon who had then newly slaine by aduenture the Emperours Seneschall When that the Emperour sawe him slaine he was right sorrowfull and in a great rage he cryed to Huon and saydâ— Thou knight that neuer art satisfied to shedde the bloud of my men to abate my linage and force I pray thée turne thy shield vnto mee for if thou knewest the great hate that I beare thée thou wouldst neuer appeare before me Sir quoth Huon I maruell that you so sorely hate me haue tarryâ—d so long for reueÌ„ge therfore beware for if I can I wil send you after your Nephewes whome yée say that yée loue so well They tooke their course with great and rude speares and so came together like the tempest and met so rudely that the buckles of their Armour all to brast and the Emperours speare brake all to péeces but Huons speare was bigge and strong therewith he strake the Emperour with such puissance that his speare ranne through his shoulder so that the Emperour fell to the earth so rudely that with the fall he brake the bone of his thigh whereby he was in such dolour that he swounded And when Huon saw him lye on the ground hee came to him with his swoord in his hand and would haue slaine him if he had not béene succoured but there came so many Almaines that whether Huon would or not they tooke the Emperour and bare him out of the field and laid him in the wood and then demaunded of him how he did Sirs quoth he I am sore hurt for my thigh is broken whereby I endure more gréefe than I can abide but as for death I trust by the grace of god I shall escape it When they heard that they were all ioyfull and said Sir know for troth that your men are sore discomfited for they be so sore oppressed by Huon and his men that wée feare all your men will be slaine wée will goe againe to the battaile and leaue some with you to looke vnto your Maiestie Well quoth the Emperour but your force nor your defence cannot auaile you any thing against Huon nor against his men But I shall shew you what yée shall doe yée shall send quickly to Huon and desire him in my name to cease slaying of my men and that there may be a truce had betwéene him and me for the space of halfe a yéere for within that time I hope to finde some other treatie that hee and I might be friendes and if he refuse this then I see none other remedie but that wée shall be all slaine or taken and then he will cause me to die in some noysome prison Sir quoth his knights we shall doe your commaundement but we feare sore that we shall not be heard Sirs quoth the Emperour goe to him and doe the best yée can Then they returned to the battaile whereas they founde their companie readie to flie away for they were neere all slaine and taken the Knights from the Emperour came to Huon and desired him in the name of the Emperour that he would cease the battaile and sound the treatie and they would do likewise in the same manner and that there might be a firme truce betweene them for halfe a yeere and in that season they trusted that some good wayes would be found that the Emperour and hee might be good friendes together Sirs quoth Huon if the Emperour your Master had mee in that danger which he is in hee would not suffer me to scape aliue for all the gold in the world howbeit I am content that he haue truce for halfe a yeere the which I shall surely kéepe on my part and if I be assayled I shall defend mee and if so be that hee come to Bourdeaux to assayle mee by the helpe of God and my good friendes I shall doe the best that I can But if he will haue peace with mee and pardon mee his displeasure for the death of his nephewes I shall be readie to make peace and I shall make amends for al wrongs though I was not the beginner Then Huon caused the retrait to bee sounded and in likewise so did the Almaynes who had thereof great ioy it came to them at a good poynt for else all had béene slaine or foyled When he had the vpper hand now that he pursued still his chase for then he might haue had an end of that warre and neither shield nor speare more broken whereas after many a man was slaine and was the cause that the Citie of Bourdeaux was lost and the fayre Escleremond taken and set in prison in the Citie of Mayens and Huon suffered so much paine and trouble that no mortall man can shewe it Thus as you haue heard Huon granted the truce and so both parts withdrew whereof the Emperour and his companie were right ioyfull Then Huon called his companie and shewed Gerames and his Lords how he had graunted truce to the Emperour for halfe a yeere and therefore I charge you all not to breake the peace the Emperour was glad when hee heard it for he knew well hee had scaped a great daunger Then he charged all his men on paine of death that they should not breake the truce And Sirs quoth he I pray you make readie a litter that I may be carried to Coleyne for the paine that I féele in my legges causeth all my bodie
to tremble and when I come there I will tarrie till I bee whole Sir quoth his Lords your commandement shal be done then they layde the Emperour in a litter sore complayning the losse and death of his nephewes and Lordes that were slaine and his legge gréeued him sore Then Huon sayd to Gerames Sir thanked be God we haue vanquished the Emperour and slaine many of his men therefore it is good that we returne now to Bourdeaux I haue great desire to sée my wife Escleremond who thinking long for my comming I am sure shee is sorrowfull that I haue tarried so long Sir quoth Gerames if ye haue great desire to returne so haue al other of your seruants they would gladly see their wiues and children and some would sée their louers Chap. LXXXV ¶ How Huon graunted the truce to the Emperour and howe the Prouost of Coleyne came and assayled Huon not knowing of any peace taken WHen Huon vnderstood the old Gerames he had great ioy then he sounded the Trumpets with such brute that maruaile it was to heare and commanded euery man to set forward towards Bourdeaux Then he beheld on his right hand and saw them of Coleyne comming in a great number they were well néere twentie thousand Burgesses and other they came with banners displayde readie to fight When Huon saw them he had great maruaile from whence they should come so hastily Then he sayd to his men Sirs I perceiue cléerely we be betrayed for if I had pleased the Emperour nor his men could not haue escaped he hath falsely betrayed me since vnder the colour of truce they come to set newly vpon me Thus Huon sayd by the Emperour without cause for hée knew nothing thereof nor that any succour should haue come to him Sirs quoth Huon let vs rest here and tarrie till they come néerer to vs then let vs set on them with such haste that they shall not know what to doe Sir quoth his men haue no doubt wee shall not faile you for feare of any death we trust to slay so many that the earth shall bee couered with the dead bodies of your enemies Huon ordered his battaile and the Prouost of Coleyne comforted his men saying Sirs our Emperour is discomfited by Huon and his companie who be yonder abiding before vs they thinke to depart in sauegard but they haue no power to doe so for the most part of them are sore hurt and their horses sore trauailed wherefore they shall the sooner be discomfited Then the Prouost and his men ranne quickly vpon Huon and his men there beganne a fierce battaile wherein many a most valiaunt man lay on the earth dead and at the verie first brunt there were so many slaine that the whole fielde was couered with dead and maimed men some were ouerthrowne without any hurt at all and yet they could neuer rise because of the great prease of the horses that did runne ouer them Huon who was very full of ire because hee had thought that vnder the colour of truce he was assayled he ranne fiercely at a knight who had doone verie great hurt among his men it was he that went to Coleyne for that succour and Huon strake him cleane through the body with his Speare so that he fell downe dead to the earth Then Huon cryed his crie to call his men together hée layd on the right side and on the left so that hee did cutte of armes and legges and raced their helmets from their heades he séemed rather a man of the Fayrie then a mortall man But he had much to doe for his men who had fought all the day were sore trauayled and wearie howbeit they defended them selues right valiantly and slew so many of the Commons of Coleyn that the bloud ran on the ground in great streames and the Emperour who issued out of the wood in his Lyttour when he came into the field he heard the brute and crie of the Battaile wherewith he was so abashed Then he demaunded what noise it might be Sir quoth a Knight it is the good Prouost of Coleyn who hath brought with him the Commons of the Citie of Coleyn to aid and succour you Sir quoth the Emperour and he shall dearely buy it howbeit I thinke hee knoweth not of the Truce that we haue taken with Huon for if I knew that he was aduertised therof I should cause him to die an il death Goe to him and command him that incontinent he goe to Huon to make amendes for his trespasse and if he will not doe it I charge you incontinently to slay him When the Emperour had giuen his commaundement to one of his knights he rode as fast as he might to the Prouost who was right sorrowfull for that he had lost foure thousand of his Commons the knight was slain that came to him Then the Emperours knight sayd Sir Prouost ye haue doone right ill séeing ye haue broken the truce that was made betwéene him and Huon if the Emperour may gette you yée shall neuer sée fayre day more without incontinent ye goe to Huon and deale so with him that he be content so that no reproch be layd to the Emperor When the Prouost and his companie heard the Emperors commandement they were sore abashed reculed back And the Prouest who was in great feare for that hee had done and desiring to accomplish the Emperours commandement strake his horse with his spurres and rested not till he hrd found Duke Huon Then he lighted a foote and tooke his sword and sayd Ah right noble and vertuous Prince I desire thée in the honour of Iesus Christ haue pitie on me and pardon me the iniurie that I haue done against you the which I haue done without the knowledge or licence of the Emperour who will cause mee to die a shamefull death without yee pardon mee for all I knew not of the truce betwéene you and the Emperour for I thought he had beene dead Sir that which I haue done was to the intent to rescue my rightfull Lord and thereby I haue lost this day more then foure thousand Burgesses and commons of the Citie of Coleyn and the most part of my best friends and therfore Sir I pray you haue pittie on me else the Emperour will slay mee or sette me in perpetuall pryson Chap. LXXXVI ¶ How Huon arriued at Bourdeaux and of the counsell of the fayre Escleremond his wife the which he would not beleeue nor follow WHen Huon vnderstood the Prouost he had great pitie and though that he ought in reason to pardon him séeing that that hee had done was in a iust cause and that hee was not aduertised of the truce taken betweene the Emperour and him Then Huon approched to the Prouost and sayd Friends arise vp I pardon you this trespasse that you haue done for your Lord and it is but reasonable since ye knew nothing of the truce ye haue done as a true subiect ought to doe to his Lord and
and when the Emperor was within a League then there met with him the old Sauarie his Brother who was Father to Duke Raoul slaine by Huon when these two brethren met together there was great ioy made betwéene them But then Duke Sauary beganne to wéepe and sayd to his brother the Emperour Sir of your comming I am right ioyfull But when the pitious death of my deare beloued sonne your nephew Raoull commeth to my minde there is no member of me but for dolour and displeasure trembleth nor I can neuer haue perfect ioye at my heart as long as he that hath done mee this displeasure liueth This Duke Sauary was a noble man but betwéene him and his sonne Raoull was great difference for the Duke Raoull was the vntruest Traitor that euer liued the which wickednes procéeded by the Duchesse his mother who was daughter to Hurdowin of Fraunce the most vntruest and falsest Traytour that as then liued in the world When the Emperour heard his brother speake the teares fell from his eyes and he embraced him sayd My right deare brother your dolour much displeaseth mee for your dolour is mine and thereof I will haue a part and if ye haue much ioy my part shall likewise be therein But it is not possible for vs to haue him againe for whom we make this sorrow God ayde Huon now froÌ„ his enemies for they greatly desire his death yet oftentimes they that desire another mans death auaunceth their own Thus as you haue heard the Emperour and Duke Sauary entred into the Citie of Coleyne whereas they were receiued with great ioy and so rode to the Pallayce and there they supped I will make no long rehearsall of the good chéere that they made there Then after Supper they went to their rest and the next morning rose and heard seruice and tooke a sop in wine then departed out of Coleyne It was a goodly hoast to behold they and their carriage and their artillerie reached foure leagues of length Thus they all had sworne the death of Huon they passed by high Borgoyn and by Dolphinne and so passed the riuer of Roan and so into the countrey of Bourdeaux Now I will leaue speaking of them till another season Chap. LXXXIX ¶ How the Emperour Tirrey of Almaine besieged the Citie of Bourdeaux and how Huon made him readie to fight with his enemies THus you haue heard heere before the deuises that the Duchesse Escleremond had made to her husband Huon who as soone as she was churched Huon sent his commaundement through all his countrie euery man to be readie in armes and to come to Bourdeaux because he was aduertised of the comming of his enâ—mies The messengers made such diligence that within fifteene dayes after euerie man was come to Bourdeaux and there Duke Huon receiued them with great ioy Then he repayred the Citie and the towres and walles and it was well furnished with victuals and artillerie as in such a case it well appertained for at that time the Citie of Bourdeaux was not so strong as it is now when Duke Huon saw the Citie so well garnished with men and victuales he was right ioyfull and then he called to him the old Gerames and sayd my right deere friend ye see wel this warre that is apparent betweene the Emperour and mee and now we be wel aduertised of his comming who is ready to come with all his 〈◊〉 to besiege this our Citie and therefore my heartie deere friend who hath ayded me in so many businesses I pray you counsell and ayde me now for in all the conduct of my warre I will that ye haue the charge and that you will comfort my men well so that of vs there be no euill report maâ—e and that our enemies haue no cause to prayse the warre that they haue against vs nor that when they bee returned into their countries that they make not their auaunts among their wenthes and their louers Sir quoth Gerames I thanke you of the honour and great trust that you haue in mee howbeit ye haue many other more sage and hardie then I am to whom this great charge should better appertaine then to me But Syr as for me I shall so acquite me that I trust I shall not be reprehended Thus as you haue heard Huon made his deuises among all his Barons and made all his ordinances for the defence of the Citie and the manner of their issuing and appoynted men for their rescue in reculing And the Emperour was entred into the Countrey of Bourdeaux with a mightie armie burning and destroying the Countrey whereof the poore people were sore abashed because they neuer had war before and thus the Emperour neuer rested wasting and destroying the Countrey till they came before the Cittie of Bourdeaux and there hee pitcht vp his tents and pauillions and the Emperour lay on the way leading to Paris on the other part Duke Sauary father to Raoull was lodged by the Emperours marshalles so that all the Cittie was closed round about Huon who was within the Cittie beheld their countenaunces and manner of their lodging he commaunded that all his men should be readie to issue out vpon their enemies the which they did Then Huon armed himselfe verie richly and mounted vpon his good horse the which was the Emperours and sware that ere he returned again he would shew his enemies what they of Bourdeaux could doe When hee was mounted on his good horse hee came into the Citie and found the old Gerames readie apparelled with all his companie Then he appoynted fiue thousand men to keepe the Citie and twentie thousand men to goe with him Thus Duke Huon made his ordinances Yee may well imagine that the sorrow was great that Escleremond made for the Duke her husband she was right wise she feared to loose him because she knew him so aduenturous and that his enemies were of so great number but right pitiously weeping shee made her prayers to the Lord God deuoutly that hee would keepe and defend Huon her husband and all his men from danger and losse and to send him peace with his enemies Chap. LXXXX ¶ Of the great Battaile that was before Bourdeaux whereas Huon had great losse and the old Gerames taken THus as you haue heard Bourdeaux was besieged by the Emperour of the high Almaynes and by his brother the Duke Sauary with a great number of men Then Huon issued out and when hee was past the port hee made haste to the intent to surprise his enemies for at that time the Emperour was set at dinner Then Huon and his companie all at once dasht in among the tents and Pauillions and beate them down to the earth so that they that were within were much abashed for they thought verily that Huon durst neuer haue issued out of the Citie against him and the great number that hee was of Huon layd on round about him so that who soeuer met with him had no néede of
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
to thée as thou sayst he wil shew how well he loueth thée he may haue great â—olor wheÌ„ before his eyes he shall sée his coozen and his men hanged then afterward I wil assaile the citie take it perforce so that then Huon in any wise shall not escape out of my hands so to be hanged with other the faire Escleremond shal be burnt or condemned to prison and then I will burne all the Citie and destroy it cleane Sir quoth Gerames you may say your pleasure but in the doing is all the matter when the Emperour saw that Gerames doubted not the death he was sore abashed Then he commanded incontinent Gallows to bée raised vp so great to hang thereon the fortie prisoners to be set on a little rocke neere to the Citie of Bourdeaux to the entent that Huon and his men might sée them plaine therby to abash them the which was done so the matter rested vntill the next day in the morninge And when it was day Huon within the Citie rose and came to his Pallaice and regarded out at his windowes to sée and behold the hoast of his enemies and as he stood he espied the newe Gallowes standing on the rocke then hee called his Lordes and sayd Sirs neuer beleeue but yonder Gallowes that I see newe raysed is for none other entent but for to hang thereupppon my men that bee taken and my good Freende old Gerames whereof I am verie sorrowfull Therefore Sirs quickly make you readie and mount vppon your horses for ere they be hanged we will prooue our selues against them looke toward the Hoast and sée when they bée comming toward the Gallowes and when you sée them be readie on horse-backe and open the gate that we may issue out all at once and let vs neuer thinke to returne vntill we haue rescued our men for I purpose neuer to returne into this Citie vntill I haue deliuered them out of the hands of our enemies Then they armed them about seauen Thousand by tale of good men of armes well horsed readie at the gate to depart when time came Now wée will leaue speaking of Huon and speake of the Emperour Chap. LXXXXII ¶ How Huon yssued out of Bourdeaux and rescued the ould Gerames and his companie whom the Emperor would haue hanged THe Emperour who hadde great desire that Gerames and his company were hanged caused theÌ„ to be brought forth by couples one fast tyed to another and Gerames was the formost who then right tenderly began to weepe when he saw himselfe in that case Ah good Lord quoth he I require thee haue mercie on our soules kéepe and defend my good Lord Duke Huon who by the commandement of King Oberon should giue me his Duchy and he to haue king Oberons dignitie of the Fayrie after foure yeares passed I cannot say what fortune will fall but I may well say that I shall neuer come to greater honor yet I am comforted in that I am so old it is good reason that I be content to haue liued so long it is now time that I depart out of this world Then the Emperour called vnto him a Knight and said Sir Othon I will that incontinent you take three Thousand men and take these Prisoners and hang them vp all vppon the Gallowes that were made yester-night late and if it bee so that Huon yssue out looke that you quit your selfe valiantly and if you haue néed of any ayd take my horne and blow it for I haue ready appointed ten Thousand men to succour you if need bée When Othon heard the Emperour hee was right sorrie to haue that euill office for in his youth hée was brought vp in the house of Duke Seuin Father to Huon and somewhat he was of his kin but as then hee had slaine a man wherefore he fled from Bourdeaux and came and serued the Emperor at Mayence wherefore he was right sorrowfull to haue that Commission then hee sayd vnto the Emperour Sir mée thinkes you doe ill to cause them to die so hastily better it were to abide to sée what end your warre will come vnto and also if it fortune that any of your Lords to be taken hereafter for one of them you might recouer him againe and if you slay them then if any of your Barons happen to bee taken they shall die of like death and therefore Sir if you wil beléeue me you shall forbeare slaying them at this time and Sir if you will giue me licence I will doe so much to Duke Huon that for the offence that he hath done vnto you hee shall make you amends at your owne pleasure and hee shall goe vnto some holy Pilgrimage to pray for the Soules of your Nephews and other of your lords that he hath slain and he to haue with him two Hundred men in their shirtes and so to goe to the holy Sepulchre at his owne charge and coste and hee to hould of you all his Landes and to doe you homage Then the Lordes that were there present all with one voice sayd vnto the Emperour Sir the counsaile that sir Othon hath giuen vnto you is worthy to bee beleeued wée all agree thereto and desire you so to doe but when the Emperour heard them he was sorowfull and sore displeased Sir quoth Othon you may surely know if you hang any of them that be taken if Huon happen to take any of your men hee shall neuer escape vnhanged and drawne When the Emperour had heard Othon speake he was so troubled angry that it seemed by his face that for verie anger he was neere hand in a rage and said Behold sirs this Foole who would let mee to take vengeance on them that so sore haue troubled me he hath heard me ere this time sweare and make solemn promise that I would neuer returne into my Countrey vntill I had hanged and drawne Huon of Bourdeaux for by that Lord that made mée to his similitude I knowe no man this day though he were neuer so neere a kin to me except mine owne Brother but I shall make him to be slaine if he speak any more to me for respiting of their liues nor I shall neuer loue him for I make a vow to our Lord God that I will neuer returne into my Country vntill I haue taken this Citie perforâ—e Sir quoth Othon séeing it is your pleasure I shal speake no more thereof but I beleeue it will bee longe hereafter before you finde any that will be glad to doe your pleasure Othon quoth the Emperour dispatch the matter and reuenge me vpon the old Gerames and vpon all his companie Sir quoth Othon it is conuenient that I doe it séeing it is your pleasure then without any more words he departed and tooke Gerames and the other Prisoners and went with them towards the Gallowes Gerames went before with the haulter about his necke sore weeping and all his companie after him so that at the laste they came
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 be dead and for other that by him and by his meanes haue beene slaine in this warre Sir if it please you this to doe ye shall doe a great almes deede for life cannot bee had againe to them that bee dead When the Emperour Tyrrey had wel heard Habourey the messenger he became as red as a brand of fire and regarded the messenger fiercely and sayd Auoyd my sight thou false varlet but that I doubt to be reprooued I should cause thée to be hewen in peeces but a messenger ought not to be touched for any words that hee can speake but say to thy Lord that by him and by his meanes I haue lost more then twentie thousand men beside my thrée Nephewes my yonger brother but by the Lord that died on the Crosse to redeeme vs all I will neuer haue peace with him till I haue him at my pleasure nor neuer returne thou againe hither to mee nor none other vpon any such message When Habourey the messenger heard the Emperour hee was in great feare and would gladly haue béen in Bourdeaux then he departed without any more speaking and rested not till hee came to Bourdeaux where hee went to the Pallaice wheras he found Duke Huon then he sayd Sir I haue béene with the Emperour and shewed him at full all your message but his answere will not serue to your demaunde for he sayd to mee that he will haue no peace with you till he haue you at his pleasure to doe with you what hee will and thus I departed from him and left him sitting at his table at dinner Chap. LXXXXV ¶ How Huon issued out of Bourdeaux and came to the tents and fought with the Emperour WHen Huon vnderstood the Messenger hee was full of anger and displeasure and saide Sirs I commaunde you all in hast to goe and arme you for ere euer the Almaines bee risen from their dinners and armed I shall make them so sorrowfull that they shall curse the houre that euer they were borne for I had rather die then to leaue them in this point for I will goe serue them of their first messe Then euery man armed him and Huon leapt vpon his good horse Amphage and then he tooke his leaue of the faire Escleremond his wife and so departed out of Bourdeaux with his company and road towardes the Emperours Tents The same time the Emperour was risen from his Table and he had ordained three hundred men on horsebacke to keepe the Tents whiles he was at dinner then Huon and his company came so quickly that hee was among them ere they perceiued any thing and he cried Bourdeaux and strake a Knight with his Speare cleane through the body so that he fell dead to the earth then he ran at another and serued him in likewise and so he slew foure before his Speare brake Then he drew his Sword beat down men and horses and brake the thickest presse so that euerie man gaue him way and Gerames Othon Barnard and Rychard and all his company did maruels in armes so much they did that within a short space the iij. hundred Almaines that were set to keepe the Tents were all slayne Then Huon and his company entred in among the Tents and Pauilions where they bet downe the Tents such as they met were slaine then the Almaines on all parts armed them and the Emperour sounded his Trumpets armed him he was so sorrowfull and angry with the trauell damage he was put too by Huon that hee enraged and was néere out of his wit for night and day he could take no rest When he was armed hee mounted on his horse and xx M. Almaines with him and they all sware the death of Huon whome God defend for if he long taried there he should be in danger of his life But he was wise and discréet in Feats of armes hée looked towards the Emperours Tent and sawe well twentie Thousand men readie to come vpon him then he said to his men Sirs it is time that wee retire to our Citie wee may well now goe without blame for we may no longer tarie heere without great danger Sir quoth Gerames wée bee readie to doe your commaundement then they tooke the way to returne to the Citie but the Emperour who greatly desired the death of Huon he his men pursued Huon as fast as their horses could goe when the Emperor was néere to Huon he said Ah thou false Traytour so many times thou hast troubled and angered mee that longer I will not suffer thée to liue turne toward me for with thee I will iust or else I shall slay thée flying I had rather to die then not to take of thée vengeance for the hurts that thou hast done to mée When Huon heard how the Emperor called him Traytor hee was sore displeased and turned his horse towardes the Emperour and sayd Ah false old Churle whereas thou sayest I am a Traytor I shall shew thee how thou lyest falsely then they ran eache at other with their Speares in their restes so that they met so rudely strake each other on their sheelds by such force that their sheeldes burst assunder the Emperour was a puissant Prince so that his Speare burst all to péeces but Huons Speare was strong and held wherewith he gaue the Emperour such a stroake that Sheeld nor Holberd coulde not warraunt him but that the Speare entred into the Emperors side so that if he had not swarued aside he had not escaped death that stroake was so sore that the Emperour sell to the earth in such wise that néere hand he had broken his neck with the fall and so lay in a swound Huon séeing the Emperour lying on the earth in great rage and displeasure he desired to haue slaine the Emperor then he drew out his Sword turned to strike off his head the which he had don if he had not ben rescued but the Almains frō all parts came thither so that they rescued the Emperour from death and sette him on a horse with much paine then he thanked our Lord God that he was so well escaped and made a vowe to God that he would neuer more fight with Huon hand to hand but hee would pursue him to the death if he could Chap. LXXXXVI ¶ How Huon made another issue out of Bourdeaux and tooke away all the beastes that were in the pastures without the towne pertaining to the Emperours hoast WHen Huon sawe that hee could doe no more at that time and that the Almaines encreased in great number to haue assayled him then he spurred his good horse Amphage who made such leapes that it séemed hee had flowne in the ayre he had his sword in his hand and stroke therewith so great strokes that none durst approach neere him Thus he rode after his men and led them towards the Citie as the shepheard doth his shéepe for as soone as his enemies approached néere him he shewed
shee had great cause to weepe and to be sorrowfull â—or before Huon returned to Bourdeaux shee and all they that were with her suffered so much pain and pouerty that to shew it would cause a hard heart to weepe for pitie And after that Huon had thus spoken to his companie hee entred into his Chappell and was confessed of the Bishops of the Citie and receiued the Sacrament Then the Bishop gaue to Huon a stoale that was hallowed and of great vertue and saide Sir I require you for the loue of our Lord Iesus Christ keepe well this stoale for such an houre may fall that it will stand you in good stead Huon right humbly tooke it and thanked the Bishop it did him good seruice afterward for on a day as hee passed he had thereof so great neede that he would not haue forborne it for fourtéene good Cities as yee shall heare more heereafter Chap. LXXXXVIII ¶ Howe Huon departed from the Citie of Bourdeaux and sayled vntill hee came into the hye Sea and hadde many great fortunes WHen Huon had taken the the halowed stoâ—le hee deliuered it to his Chaplain who was a wise man of a holy life and commaunded 〈◊〉 to keepe it well Then he toâ—ke fiue knights to haue with him and his Chaplayne and a clack to serue him Then Huon went to his wife and kissed her at his departing and she fell in a swound in his armes and Huon 〈…〉 releaued heâ— and sayd Faâ—re Lady I require 〈…〉 making of this sorrow Ah good sir quoth she 〈…〉 ought to bee sorrowfull since ye leaue mee besieged with them that desire your death Madam quoth Huon 〈…〉 you not for by the grace of God I shall make a short returne Then he clipped and kissed her recomâ—â—â—ding her to our Lord Iesus Christ Then Huon and such as were appoynted to goe with him departed out of the Pallaice and went to a backe posâ—erâ—e vpon the riuer of Gâ—round where there was a shippe ready and richly garnished with all things conuenient there Huon being armed and his men entred into the shippe and had no horse with them When Huon departed hee deliuered his good horse to the â—éeping of sir Bernarde his cosen and tooke his leaue of Gerâ—mes and of all his other companie so hoysed vp sayle and 〈◊〉 was day in the morning hee was more then two 〈◊〉 from Bourdeaux Then Huon regarded the Citie and â—â—re weeping did recommend it to our Lord Iesus Christ humbly requiring him to haue in his sauegard his 〈◊〉 wife and child and all other that were within it Thus 〈◊〉 Huon sailed along the riuer of Geround pitiously complayning for his wife the fayre Escleremond and for hiâ—â—ayre daughter Claryet whom he could not forget for he had so great doubt to loose them that when hee remembred them hee wept They sayled so long that they entred into the high Sea and hee had good cause to weepe and 〈◊〉 great sorrowe for hee 〈…〉 till the 〈◊〉 had taken it 〈…〉 Huon 〈◊〉 in his Shippe 〈…〉 his heart gaue him that before hee 〈…〉 Citie of Bourdeaux the Citie should bee taken and his 〈…〉 Escleremond 〈…〉 therefore he 〈…〉 that if it so 〈◊〉 and if euer he returned 〈…〉 end 〈◊〉 thereof he would 〈◊〉 the Emperour 〈◊〉 and that Castle nor Towne should noâ— saue him There was a notable knight with Huon who said 〈◊〉 him Sir leaue your musing and put your trust in God hee shall ayd you and succour you in all your 〈…〉 your Wiâ—e and keepe your Citie 〈…〉 for t your selfe no further 〈◊〉 thâ—nke of God and 〈◊〉 vnto him to giue you the grace to accomplish your Voyage the 〈◊〉 I hope you shall not faile of if you thus dâ—e When Huon heard him hee was much comforted and thanked the Knights and so sayled â—oorth vntill they were 〈…〉 the Sea and lost their right way for the â—hippe turned â—n the right hand and losse the way that they should haue saâ—led and 〈◊〉 vnto places not knowne to any of the 〈◊〉 whereof the Patron was sore abashed in himselfe without making any knowledge thereof and so long they sayled with winde and weather that they arriued at a Port whereas they found many boats there they casâ— their anchor and went a 〈…〉 themselues Then Huon called to him the 〈…〉 and demaunded of him if he could sayle 〈…〉 Sir quoth the Maister I was 〈…〉 no winde to goe thether it were a 〈…〉 me to sayle thether 〈…〉 by that straunge Sea But I 〈…〉 heere in this Port whereas you are nowe to 〈…〉 Patrone that can bring you 〈…〉 quoth Huon I pray you to doe so much as to get me 〈◊〉 Sir quoth 〈…〉 doe what I can then hâ—â— and Huon 〈…〉 Shippe and from boat to boat to get a Pilot 〈…〉 to an auncient man who sayde that he could well bring them thither and sayde how that hee had beene there before that time Friend quoth Huon if hee will bring me to the Realme of Aufamie I shall giue you gold and siluer plentie Sir quoth the old Patron I shall doe your pleasure but Sir one thing I say to you know for troth the voyage is very daungerous for to passe and a verie long voyage for it will be halfe a yeere â—re you can come thither and beside that wee must passe by a perilous Gulfe the which is reputed to be one of the mouthes of hell and if by aduenture or fortune of the winde that wee bee blowen neere vnto it wee shall neuer depart but be lost foreuer When Huon heard the Pilate hee beganne to weepe and complaine for his wife and his deere daughter whome he had left in the citie of Bourdeaux in great daunger to be taken For he saw well then that hee could not returne for the space of a whole yeere with any succour howbeit hee left not his voyage then hee commaunded his seruaunts to discharge all his baggage and victualles out of the one shippe into the other and when the newe shippe with the newe Patron was readye in all things Huon entred into it Then the new Patron demanded of the old marriner the cause why they came thither and from whence they came Sir quoth hee true it is wee came from the citie of Bourdeaux the which standeth vpon a notable riuer and when we were entred into the sea a sore winde rose vpon vs in such wise that wee were constrained to abandon our shippe to the winde and weather and fortune of the sea the which hath brought vs hither Friend quoth the newe Patron as soone as yee were out of the riuer of Gerone if yee had turned your sterne towards the sea roade yee had neuer come hither and within a moneth yee should haue come to the realme of Aufamie whereas now ye be verie farre off When Huon vnderstood the cause of their comming thither he was right sorrowfull and sore displeased if he could haue amended it But his displeasure could not
helpe him but rather hinder him therefore he lette it passe and so tooke leaue of his first Patron and lift vp their anthors and sayles and when they were in the sea the winde arose and increased more and more for the space of sixe weekes that the wind changed not so that if God had suffered the winde to haue continued one moneth or sixe weekes longer they had come to the place whereas they would haue beene But ere that they came there they suffered much paine for there arose vppon them such a winde and tempest that they were forced to auayle their sayles The heauens waxed darke the moone was couered the torment was great and daungerous the waues of the sea were of a great height terrible to beholde whereby whether they would or not they were constrained to goe as the winde would leade them theyr fortune was so great and terrible that there was neuer seene such a mightie storme before whereof Huon and his men and his Patron were greatly afraide specially the Patron more then Huon was hee was sore discomforted and pittiously he called on our Lord Iesus Christ requiring him to bring them to a good Port there was neither marriner nor Patron but all were sore afraide nor they wist not where they were They were in this torment for the space of ten dayes in all the which time they neuer sawe the cleerenesse of the sunne for the great darkenesse that was there as then the which did verie greatly annoy them And when it came to the eleuenth day and that the torment and winde beganne to abate and the sea waxed peaceable and still therewith Huon and his companie werâ— well comforted the heauen cleered by and the glorious sunne cast out his rayes along vpon the sea When the master of the shippe saw the fortune of the Sea and that the great torment beganne to cease hee caused one of the marriners to mount vppe into the toppe to see if hee might discrie any lande but hee could see none whereof the Patron was greatly abashed and sayde howe that hee knewe not in what Countrey hee was for hee neuer sayled in those parts and sayde to Huon Sir it is fiftie yéeres since that I first vsed the sea but yet I neuer sayled in these parts whereof I haue great maruaile When Huon heard that he was sore displeased and sayde Sir lette vs take the aduantage of the wind and let our Shippe driue vnder the conduct of our Lord Iesus Christ I hope that our Lord God will not suffer vs to bee perished in this Sea Sir quoth the Patrone I doe agree well to your saying and so let vs doe then they turned their helâ—â—â— and tooke the winde into their full sayle the winde was â—ood and fresh and the Sea very meeke and peaceable so that within a short space they had sayled a great iourney When Huon called vppon our Lorde God and helde vp his handes towards heauen and said Thou verie God who in 〈…〉 transitâ—rie world diddest vouchsafe to be borne in the 〈◊〉 of a maide and afterwards diddest raigne héere vpon earth xxxiâ— yeâ—res and then didst suffer death and passion vppon a Friday and after that didst rise from death to life and wentst into hell drewest out soules out of paines infernall Euen so as I beleeue that this is true I require thée to haue pitie and compassion vpon vs and giue vs grace that wée may safely escape out of this perillous Sea and to kéepe and saue my déere and louing wife Escleremond and my Childe and my noble Lords whome I left in the citie of Bourdeaux in great perill of their liues and giue mee the grace that I may bring with me such succour and aide that thereby I may bring them out of the danger that they he in Chap. LXXXXIX ¶ â—owe Huon arriued on the perillous Gulfe where as hee spake with â—â—das and howe hee arriued at the Port of the 〈◊〉 WHen Huon had made his praiers to God he beheld into the Sea and sawe a farre off like a great péece of Canuasse and there by he heard as great a noyse as though there had beene a Thousand Smithes and a Thousandâ— Carpenters and a Thousande great running Riuers together all beating and labouring together Huon who heard this great noise had great feare thereof so that hee wiâ—te not what to doe and so were all those that were in his companie the Patrone commaunded a Marriner to mount vp into the top of the Maâ—â— to see what 〈◊〉 it was that made all that noyse and so hee did and 〈◊〉 round about him and beheld that way and at 〈…〉 the daungerous Gulfe whereof hee hadde heard often times spoken and thereof hee had such great feare that neere hand hee had fallen downe into the Sea hee came downe and saide vnto the Patrone Sir wee bee all in the way to bee lost for wee bee neere one of the Gulfes of hell whereof Huon and the Patrone and all other had such great feare that they all trembled Sir quoth the Patrone knowe for troth that it is impossible to escape out of this perilous Gulfe for all the Seas and waters and Riuers there assembleth together and perforce wee muste passe that way which when Huon heard then hee beganne pitiously to complaine and sayd Ah sweete and loouing wife Escleremond I see nowe clearely that our loues muste depart the beautie and the bountie that is in you I cannot forget Alas I shall neuer see you more I pray to our Lord Iesus Christ to giue you that grace as to bee agreed with the Emperour Tirrey to the entent that in peace and rest you may vse the residue of your life for as for mee I shall neuer bring you any succour or ayd Then hee studied a long season and then sayd againe Good Lord I thanke thee and since it pleaseth thee that I shall passe out of this world I humbly require thee to receiue my Sâ—â—le into thine handes as for my bodie and life I care little for seeing it pleaseth thee that I shall thus end my dayes and depart this life Then Huon lefte his weeping and the winde ceased and the sayle abated yet neuerthelesse the shippe still went foorth alone in such wise as though it had flowne vppon the Sea Sir quoth the Maister of the Shippe you may see euidently that wee neede not to trauaile our selues to guide our Ship for the Gulfe that is so neere vs draweth the Shippe vnto him in such haste as yee may see and anone yee shall see that we shall tumble therein Maister quoth Huon it is conuenient now that wee abide the aduenture and fortune of the sea such as our Lord God will sende lette vs trust in him and desire him that his pleasure be fulfilled and more I cannot striue Then Huon Chaplaine confessed them one after another and then incontinent the great noyse ceased But they came thither at a good poynt for the verie same
time as theyr good fortune was the Gulfe was full and plaine so that a shippe might passe ouer it without daunger as well as in another place of the sea and when the Patron sawe that hee sayd to Huon Sir wee ought greatly to thanke our Lord God for wee are now come at such a time that the Gulfe is full and plaine so that wee may passe ouer surely without any danger When Huon heard that hee was right ioyfull and all weeping he kneeled downe and so did all the companie and deâ—outly they thanked our Lord God that hee had sent them that good grace Then Huon rose vp and sawe beside him a great peece of Canuasse and the waues of the sea beating against it with great violence whereof he had great maruaile For the waues of the sea beaâ—e so sore against the cloath and with so great violence that they reculed backe and for all the beating of the sea against the canuasse yet it brake not Then Huon hearde a voyce crying an hie and pittifully complayning saying O verie God in an ill howre I was borne when I sold the puissant God who did mee that fauour as to take me as one of his disciples and Apostles and for the goodnesse that hee did mee I rendered him an euill reward for the diuell the enemie of all humane linage entred into my body the which was full of sinne and exhorted me to sell my God good Lord for thirtie pence of money that was then currant in the country of Iude and vnhappie that I was if I had trusted in his great mercy all the trespasse that I had doone had beene forgiuen mee But pride and misbeleefe and false hope that was in mee with the â—iuell who blinded mine vnderstanding and would not suffer me to haue any hope of grace or pardon for my trespasse for of my sinne I neuer had repentance And the Diuell doubting to haue lost mee put mee into despiration whereby I loste the grace of God for if I would haue asked mercie of my Lord God hee would haue pardoned mee of all the trespasse that I had committed against him Alas poore Caytiffe that I am from hence shall I neuer depart but alwaies to remaine in this torment and paine When the Maister of the Shippe heard this voyce hee demaunded of him and sayde What art thou that thus pityously complaineth I commaund thee to shewe mee and whether there bee any man liuing in this world that can ayde and succour thâ—e and cast thee out of the torment and paine that thou art in When the voyce heard him hee spake no more woordes nor made no answeare at all then Huon aduaunced himselfe to the board of the Shippe beeing desirous to know what thing it was that made that pitifull complaint and saide Thou that so sore doest complaine and mourne I coniure thee in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ and by all his power and by the blessed Virgin Saint Marie his Mother and by all the Saints and holy Angels and Archangels that are in the Realme of Paradice and by all that euer God hath made and created in Heauen and in earth that thou aunsweare and shewe mee what man thou art and who hath put thee heere in this miserie and wherefore thou art heere and whether thou maist come to vs or not and what is thy name and why that this Canuasse is heere set wherefore it serueth and also shew me if euer thou shalt depart from hence or not When this voyce had heard Huon coniure him in such wise it aunswered him shortly and sayd O thou mortall man that hast coniured mee so sore and also hast desired for to knowe my name I shall shewe vnto thee for certaintie that my name is Iudas and I am the selfe same man that sould our Lord Iesus Christ to the Iewes for thirtie pence then being currant money in the countrey of Iude and deliuered into their hands my right deere Lorde and Maister who so much honoured me as to account me as one of his Apostles and by a false and a fained loue I kissed him on the mouth for to 〈…〉 which was he And after I saw him beaten 〈…〉 as yee may read in the holy 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 who therein haue made 〈…〉 passion 〈…〉 I had betrayed my 〈…〉 〈…〉 my 〈…〉 sore displease◠〈…〉 crie 〈…〉 I did commit 〈◊〉 â—olly for he was so 〈…〉 that if I had cried him mercie hee 〈…〉 But the Diuell 〈◊〉 is enemie to 〈…〉 would not suffer me to do it for I went 〈…〉 and hanged my selfe on a tree and when I was 〈…〉 in the place whereas yee sée 〈…〉 I shall remaine 〈…〉 paine 〈…〉 from hence for now it is too late to 〈…〉 grace for iudgement is giuen vpon me 〈…〉 suffer this torment and paine continually 〈…〉 and â—euers of the world doe assemble together 〈◊〉 euen heere as I am in this Gulfe where I am sore 〈◊〉 and greatly tormented by the great 〈◊〉 and course 〈…〉 I am tormented and cannot by 〈…〉 shall come out of this great torment nor 〈◊〉 〈…〉 that yee demaunde whereto it serueth and 〈…〉 knowe for a troth that on a day I 〈…〉 of God nor I 〈◊〉 gaue after any thing 〈…〉 as long as I liued and therefore when I was 〈…〉 God would that the good deede that I 〈…〉 this 〈◊〉 for his sake should not bee 〈…〉 our Lorde God would that this 〈…〉 right side to the intent for to 〈…〉 and from the great waues of the sea 〈…〉 against mee as you haue 〈…〉 against this Câ—â—â—as I had no grace for 〈…〉 God for my trespasse the deuill was 〈…〉 wherefore let euerie man take example by 〈…〉 he hath space and thus I haue shewed 〈…〉 quoâ—h Huon I beléeue if thou wilt yet cry 〈…〉 he will haue mercie and pitie on thee Nay nay quoth Iudas to pray now cannot auayle me for I am damned for euer and if yee will beleeue mee beware and tarrie not here too long for if ye doe ye shall neuer depart hence for the Gâ—lfe which is now full and plaine it will not continue long but that the sea will issue out and al the riuers within it yee were happie that yee came at the howre that you did for anon the waters will issue out with such aboundance that the waues that will rise shall seeme like high mountaines It is more then two hundred yeeres since there passed any ship this way but that men ship and all were swallowed into the Gulfe wherefore Huon I counsayle thee that incâ—ntinently thou depart hence without thou wilt bee lost foreuer it is time that thou depaâ—t hence whilst the Gulfe is full for it will not long rest but that the waters will issue out with such a brute and noyse that if ye be fiâ—teene leagues off ye shall well heare the torment that it will make If ye had come but halfe an houre sooner then yee did ye had neuer escaped the great
arose vp as desirous to know whether any man or woman were within the Castle or not to speake vnto them he entred into the hall the which he maruailously regarded it was so fayre and ritch to beholde that there is no Clarke in the world can discribe the beautie and richesse thereof the rich Chambers that were on the side of the hall were all composed and made of whiâ—e marble poliâ—â—ed the posts were couered with fine golde at the ende of the hall there was a chimney whereof the two pillars that sustained the Mantle trée were of fine Iasper and the Mantle was of a rich Calsedony and the Lintell was made of fine Emeraâ—is â—rayled with a wing of fine gold and the Grapis of fine Saphers This chimney was so rich that none such could bée â—ound and all the Pillars in the hall were of red Calsedonie and the pauement was of fine Amber When Huon had well beheld this Hall hee looked towards the Chambers ouer the doore of euerie Chamber was written in letters of gold the which shewed where the keyes were of euerie chamber Huon who could well reade the letters and vnderstood it he found a purse wherein were the keyes of euerie chamber all of fine golde he tooke one of the keyes and opened one of the Chamber doores and entred into the Chamber Then he looked all about the Chamber and sawe it garnished and hanged with the most richest cloathes that euer were séene the benches and bedsteads were all of white Iuorie so richly entrayled and wrought and garnished with precious stones that no mans tongue could describe the beautie and richesse thereof all was made by enchauntment This Pallaice was exceeding great and large and well garnished with chambers When Huon had well beheld this chamber hee was greatly abashed that hee could neyther see man nor woman Then he looked ouer another Chamber doore where there was also written in letters of gold according as it was written ouer the first doore Then Huon tooke the key and opened another doore and entred into that Chamber also and there he found a great quantitie of gold and riches and rich Iewelles with other most precious stones that great beautie it was for to behold Ah good Lord quoth Huon I would neuer haue beléeued that in all the world there had beene so much riches as I sée héere present before mée then anone he sawe another chamber and tooke the key and entred therein and for all the riches that he sawe before there hee found much more there were Presses made of fine Iuorie very richly wrought and entrayled so that there was no beast nor birde but there it was most cunningly wrought in the which Presse were gownes and roabes of most fine gold and most rich mantles furred with Sabyles and all other things the which were appertayning vnto the apparell of man-kinde and the beds so richly couered that it was impossible to be described by anie mortall man this chamber was so fayre and rich that Huon could neuer bee satisfied with beholding and viewing thereof there were windowes verie richly glazed opening vppon a Garden side the which Garden was so fayre and so well garnished with flowers of most precious swéete smelling and of all manner of trees charged with fruits so good and so delicious to eate that the verie smell of them would haue satisfied a mans appetite Huon who saw this fayre garden desired greatly to enter into it to gather some of that fruit hee looked ouer the doore and found the purse with the key therin and then he opened the doore and went into the garden and gathered of the fruite at his pleasure and did eate thereof for hee had a great desire to eate hee thought the fruit maruailous good If I should shewe or discribe the beautie of this garden it would be ouerlong to resite there were so many sundrie fruits so fayre and so sweete of smelling that a sicke man of any infirmitie would soone haue recouered his health Also there were herbs and flowres so sweet and delightfull that all the garden seemed to be full of balme When Huon had beene there a good space and had well eaten of the fruite at his pleasure hee returned backe into the chamber that hee came from and then hee vnarmed him and putte off all his cloathes and tooke out of the Presse a fine shirt and doublet hosen and shooes gowne coate and cappe such as he would choose for there was no man to say him nay when hee was thus newly arriued there could not bee founde a more goodlier man according as the Chronicle sayth I beléeue hee was borne by the Fairie as then there could not bee found so goodly a man liuing When he was thus apparelled he went from chamber to chamber alwayes hearkening whether he could heare the voyces either of men or women but as long as hee continued there he could heare nothing whereof hee was right sorrowfull There hée continued eight dayes without eating of any thing sauing of the fruits of the Gardine whereby hee waxed féeble and â—aint the which was no maruaile for hee had béene there eight dayes without eating either bread or flesh he was so féeble that hee thought he could not long indure there without death Then he prayed vnto our Lord God for to comfort and strengthen him out of that great daunger most pittiously hee complayned for his wife and childe saying Ah my deere Wife God ayde and succour you in all your affayres for ye shall neuer haue any succour and ayde of me more for I tarrie but for the howre of my death the which is nowe neere at hand approaching vnto mee for I am so sore and grieuously bitten with famine that I haue much paine to sustaine my selfe Thus Huon was eight dayes in the Caâ—â—le of the Adamant euerie day eating of the fruits of the gardine and at night hee lay euer in the 〈◊〉 bed in the chamber Now let vs leaue speaking of him and let vs turne to the Duchesse Escleremond who was besieged within the Citie of Bourdeaux whereas she was in great displeasure and not without a cause for shee suffered much paine and trouble Chap. CXII ¶ How after that Huon was departed from Bourdeaux the Emperour made diuers assaults to the Cittie but hee could not win it for the defence of the good chiualrie that was within it and of the ambushment that was layd by the counsell of Duke Sauary whereby the Citie was taken and wonne YE haue heard before howe Duke Huon departed from his Citie of Bourdeaux wheras hee left the Duchesse his wife who was in great displeasure when she sawe the departing of her husband she greatly complayned and sayd Ah my right â—eere Lord your departure ought gâ—eatly to greeue mee I feare you shall not come in time to succour and to bring me out of the danger that I am in for it is impossible for vs long to endure against this Emperour Aâ—as I haue
more soâ—roâ— for my daughter theÌ„ for my selfe and I am sorrowfull for my Lords and 〈◊〉 who for the loue of you and mee are in peâ—â—ll of thâ—ir 〈…〉 had beene better for vs to haue tarryed still in 〈…〉 come hither to â—uffer all these toâ—menâ—s pâ—ines and 〈…〉 and at last painefull deaâ—h with saying of these 〈…〉 Duchesse fell in a trâ—â—â—ce among her Lords 〈…〉 releeâ—ed 〈◊〉 sayde discomfort you 〈◊〉 but take good 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 your men who haue great desire to defend 〈◊〉 Citie for the sauegard of their owne bodyes and liues thus to make sorrow ye can winne nothing thereby but loose more to more haue no doubt that Huon your husbande will leaue you at this poynt hee is gone to your brother for succour hee will not long tarrie and he will bring you such succour that the Emperour nor the Almaines shall haue no leysure to grant him the victorie Thus Gerames comforted the Duchesse who was glad for to heare Gerames and thus as they deuised together the Emperour who was aduertised of Huons departing and how he was gone for succour he assembled his Councell into his tent and there hee shewed and declared the great losses that he had suffered as well of the death of his nephewes as of other of his friends and kynne and the great domage that by Huon he had suffered and sayde Sirs all this ye know well his acquaintance hath cost vs déerely ye haue all heard how he is departed to séeke for succour but I cannot tell to what part hee is gone As for the Realme of Fraunce I know right well hee shall haue no succour there for as it hath béene shewed mée of â—ate that the right Noble and victorious Prince Charlemaine is dead who loued Huon but little because of his sonne Charlot whome Huon slew and Charlemaine hath left behinde him but one sonne named Lewes who is but of a yong age and I beléeue if hee were of full age that he would rather come for to succour me then Huon who slewe Charlot his brother therfore it can be no otherwise but that he is gone into some far countrey for succour therefore I thinke it best that in the meane time ere he returne that on all sides let vs continually assaile the Citie and let euerie one doe their part to bee reuenged for the death of their friendes which are héere slaine by them within the Citie When the Lordes heard the Emperour all with one voyce aunswered and sayd Syr the reason which you haue shewed vnto vs is to bee kept and done and wee shall goe arme vs and make vs all readye to the intent to come to your intention the which is verie good and reasonable Then they sounded al their hornes and busins and euerie man speedily armed himselfe and came with Ensigne displayde to assayle the Cittie and they that were within as well as they could they defended the Citie they which were without reared vppe ladders against the walles with mightie strength but they which were within did beate them down into the Dikes and then they did cast downe vppon them hote leade and boyling Dyle and quicke Lyme and great stones and fagots burning so that they which were down in the Dikes had no power for to reléeue themselues againe but there most miserably dyed vnder the ladders There was on both parts exceeding great shooting wyth Crosbowes and slinging of stones so thicke that they seemed like vnto snow flying in the ayre maruailous it was to beholde the olde Gerames howe hee exhorted his companie for to doe well and also the Duchesse Escleremond with her daughter in her armes crying vnto her men and sayde Yee my deere Lords and Knights fight lustily but to your paynes for to defende your bodyes and your liues your wiues and your children to the intent that the Almaynes make not their bragges and vaunts of theyr winning of this most noble Citie by theyr assaults the which is so goodly and rich for Sirs I knowe right well yee shall not abide this trouble for no long season for Duke Huon your rightfull Lorde will shortly ayde and succour vs all Then all the noble Barons Knights and Burgesses hearing the excéeding great comfort of the Noble and vertuous Lady the Duchesse Escleremond with a maruaylous great courage and valour they came to theyr defences and behaued themselues so valiantly that theyr enemies were forced to retyre backe with great losse and domage whereof the Emperour and his Lords were right sorrowfull and they within the Citie right ioyfull of the great victorye the which God had giuen them that day Then euery man went vnto his lodging and made great ioy and the Emperour and his men withdrew themselues in great displeasure for his losse When the Emperour was vnarmed and had well refreshed himselfe then hee sayde vnto his Lordes Sirs wee haue beene a long season before this Citie and haue sustained many losses therefore sirs I require you to counsell mee what is 〈…〉 do this Citie is strong and wel furnished with knights and men to defend it by vs it will neuer be wonne without vicâ—ualles â—aile them but I thinke they haue but small store of 〈◊〉 therefore I desire you to shew me your abuises whether 〈◊〉 shall depart from this Citie without more doing or 〈◊〉 here vpon such fortune as God will send vs. When the Emperour had sayd as much as hee pleased then the Duke Sauâ—â—y his brother rose vp and sayd Sir me thinkes if it may 〈◊〉 beleeued that this Citie cannot long endure and the cause 〈◊〉 I shall shew you ye knowe well that Huon their Lord is 〈◊〉 to seeke for succour on the other side they within the Citie haue but fewe men and but ill furnished of victualles within the Citie there is an old knight who is a valiant and a hardie knight and therefore it were profitable to studie howe he might bee taken or else slaine this should greatly aduaunce your enterprise of the which ye cannot fayle if you wil beléeue my counsell as I shall shewe you True it is that this day wee haue had great losse and receiued great domage whereof they within are ioyfull wherefore it were good to send certain mutâ—ons and beasts in the night time with a few keepers sende them into the medow neere vnto the Citie and I am sure that when the olde knight knowes thereof the which he shall know by the watch men on the towres and walles then incontinent he 〈◊〉 out 〈◊〉 such power as hee hath to take the beasts 〈◊〉 bring them into the Citie And to the intent that they â—â—all neuer returne againe into the Citie incontinent ere the 〈…〉 a good number of Béefs and Muttons Then 〈…〉 armed tenne thousand men and send them to a 〈…〉 whereas the gallowes is raysed and when they 〈◊〉 that they within the Citie bee issued out to fetch the 〈…〉 the tenne Thousand men drawe neere to the gate 〈…〉 to the
eâ—tent that they without shall not enter 〈…〉 to their great losse And if you will thus doe I put 〈…〉 that before it be midnight they shall bee all taken 〈◊〉 and the matter may so come to passe that you shall enter into the Citie at your pleasure Thus I haue shewed you as I thinke best if any man know any better way let him speake Then euerie man regarded the Emperour and sayde Sir the counsaile that Duke Sauary hath giuen you wee thinke that a better counsayle cannot bée giuen to any Prince When the Emperour vnderstod the counsaile of his brother Duke Sauary and that all his Lordes did allow the same hee was right ioyfull and sayde that it should bee so done Then he called his marshall and commanded that it should be done according as his Brother had deuised it before the which was done verie diligently and sent with him fiftie men with sixe hundred muttons and two hundred beasts néere vnto the Citie and then layd theyr ambushment of tenne thousande men by the little mountaine it was darke night and the Moone was not risen whereby they within could not perceiue them the which turned to theyr great losse and damage for all those that issued out of the Citie of Bourdeaux were slaine and taken prisoners as ye shal heare hereafter Chap. CIIII. ¶ Of the death of the olde Gerames and of the taking of the Citie of Bourdeaux and of the comming of the Duchesse with the Emperour and of the deliuering vp of the Castle to the Emperour YE haue heard before howe the Emperour assayled the Citie of Bourdeaux and of the great losse that he sustained wherof Gerames and they within the Citie were right ioyfull and made great feasts and thanked our Lord God Then after Supper Gerames called all the knights and other together and sayde Sirs ye haue séene this day the great assault that the Emperour and his men haue made to this Citie but thanked be God the losse is returned to them for there are dead and wounded a great number of them and many of them are sore wearyed with trauaile and thinke now for to rest themselues and now is their howre that they be sette at Supper and customably they sitte euer long at their Table farre longer then French men doe wherefore I thinke best that incontinent without delay we should arme our selues and issue out of the Citie and goe to their tents and rayse them and then lette vs doe there as good Knights ought to doe to the intent that good songs may bee made of vs and that the Almaines haue no cause to say but that wee bee as good men as they bee Sir quoth Othon and Barnard we be readie thus to doe Sirs quoth Gerames let vs make haste that we may returne againe ere the Moone riseth Then they armed themselues Alas what an il aduenture came to them at night for the most part of those that issued out were taken and slaine Ah good Lord what a losse fell to the Citie of Bourdeaux Ah noble Lady Escleremond yee may well weepe and complaine all your dayes for sorow paine and dolour approacheth néere whereby ye are like to beare such diseases and pouertie that no man liuing can recount it nor yee shall neuer bee out of that daunger and trouble till yee be deliuered by the good Duke Huon your husband When Gerames and his companie were readie they mounted on their horses and issued out at the gate as priuily as they could so that they were not perceiued by them that were set to watch for them nor they heard not when they were in the field they rode a false gallop to the tents the which they might well â—e cleerely by the lights that were in the tents when they came neere they dashed their spurres to their horses and cryed Bourdeaux and sâ—rake and cut asunder the cordes and stayes so that many tents fell to the earth and such as came out were slaine a great noyse and crie beganne to rise in the hoast and euerie man ranne to their armour and Gerames and his companie slew many of their enemies and made them for to flie before them it was dreadfull for to beholde the damage that they did there But finally the losse fell vpon them for the Emperour and all his men were readie when Gerames sawe howe all the hoast was mooued then he sayd to his companie Sirs it is time for vs to retyre backe for we may tarrie héere too long yonder commeth the Emperour with a mightie armie to close vs in it is needfull for vs to make haste that wee may goe away in safetie Then altogether in one companie they returned and went the way towards Bourdeaux But they had not gone farre ere that they were ouertaken by the Almaynes they layd on on all parts with their swords speares Then Gerames turned him to an Almaine and with his speare ran him cleane through and in drawing out his speare hee fell downe dead to the earth and then he strake another whome also he slew He did such déedes of armes that ere his speare brake hee slewe fiue of his enemies whereof the Almaynes were sore abashed He brake the prease in such wise that none durst approach néere vnto him right well did Othon and Bernard and such as were with him But when the Duke Sauary who with tenne thousand men lay in ambushment néere vnto the Citie had heard the greate noyse and crie hee supposed that they within the Citie were issued out When Gerames and his companie sawe howe they were inclosed both before and behinde they were sore abashed When Gerames sawe that their force and powers could not auayle them but that either they must bee taken or slaine then earnestly he called vpon our Lord Iesus Christ requiring him to saue and defend his good Lord Huon of Bourdeaux and the Duchesse Escleremond his wife And he cryed to his companie sayd Sirs I pray you hartily at this time shew forth your Prowesse and behaue your selues so valiantly that this Emperour Almaines haue no cause to make their auaunts that they haue found vs as men amazed but let vs shew them how our swords can cut Then all together they assayled their enemies in such wise that at the first brunt the Almaines were constrayned to retyre backe and Gerames did such déeds that none durst approach néere vnto him Then the Duke Sauary with ten thousand men came vpon them sodainely the which was no equall part and also the Emperour with his great battaile came also vpon old Gerames and his companie who had gotten themselues into the subburbs of the Citie and a mightie wall behind them at theyr backes whereas they did stand at a bay against the Almaines Gerames was in the middest of them and vnderneath his helmet appeared his long white beard and the Emperour who had great shame that so few men in number should kéepe a baye against his highnesse and doe vnto
his companie is departed out of Bourdeaux to séeke succour of the King of Auphamie brother vnto Escleremond Huons Wife and so it is a longe time since hee departed and wée neuer could heare word of him and thus hée left vs in Bourdeaux and our chéefe Captaine was the old Gerames your Coozen who was Brother to the good Prouost Guyer and so it was that vppon a night wée yssued out and roade to the Emperours Tents and slewe many of our enemies and when wée sawe our time wee returned towardes our Citie but by some spie wée were perceiued when wée yssued out whereby the Emperour knowing thereof sent Duke Sauary his Brother with tenne Thousand men to lye in ambushment néere to the Citie so that when wee hadde thought to haue entred into the Citie Duke Sauary was before vs with tenne Thousand men there wée fought a long space but finally the old Gerames and his companie were all slaine none escaped but my selfe and that was by reason of my horse so I entred into the Citie whereas there was made great sorrow and the next day the Emperour with great assault wanne the Citie and came to the Castle whereas the Duchesse was who saw well that shée could not long hold the Castle shée made her treatie to saue her bodie and her companie and so they are all Prisoners before she deliuered vppe the Castle shee deliuered me her daughter and so I issued out at a Posterne priuily and was not perceiued therefore Syr your Néece hath sent you her daughter to the intent that for the loue of her father and of her yee would kéepe and nourish her till her father Duke Huon were returned When the abbot vnderstood Bernard he beganne to weepe and tooke the childe in his armes and kissed her oftentimes and sayd My deere childe if it please our Lord God I shall bee to you both father and mother and shall nourish you vntill yee be great and then marrie you vnto some mightie Prince in whome it shall lie to conquers your heritage lands and signories for I haue here in my house such treasure that it is sufficient to conquer a whole Empire Then the Abbot sent for a noble Ladie of the countrey and a nurse and deliuered vnto them the child for to keepe and to nourish for a fayrer creature of her age was neuer seene Then the Abbot sayd to Barnard Sir yee shall abide heere still with mee vntill the childe bee of age or else till her father bee returned Now lette vs leaue to speake of this young child Clariet and of the Abbot and returne to speake of the dolorous companie that were in the Castle of the noble Citie of Bourdeaux Chap. CVI. ¶ How the Duchesse Escleremond yeelded vp the Castle to the Emperor and how she and her companie were prisoners in the Citie of Mayence YE haue well heard heere before that after the departing of Barnard from the Castle of Bourdeaux with Claret Huons daughter how the Emperour had made a treatie with the Duchesse Escleremond for the deliuerance of the Castle the which passed and on the next morning the Duchesse spake with the Emperour who with all his men was there readie before the place abiding to haue the deliuerance of the Castle And when hee saw the Duchesse at a window ouer the gate he sayd Madame I will that the promise that yee made mee yesterday ye performe or else I will do according as I thinke best Syr quoth the Duchesse I am readie to fulfill my promise so that ye promise me againe that my body and all Ladyes and Damselles and other shall be saued and not touched by no villaine nor no ill done vnto our bodyes Madame quoth the Emperour all this that you require heere I promise to performe but you and all such as be with you shall bee my prisoners Sir quoth the Duchesse my life and my bodie and all such as be here with mee I put them in the sauegard of God and of you Then she descended downe and came into the hall whereas she found her company making great sorow each to other for they knew not where euer they should méet againe or not Then the Duchesse commaunded to open the gate the which was doone immediatly Then the Emperour and all his Lords entred into the Castle but hee would not goe into the hall till he had all the Ladyes and other brought out to the intent that they should make no request to him and he ordained a thousand Knights of the most auncient men of his hoast and then be deliuered the Duchesse and sixe Ladyes with her and al the other prisoners as well they that were within the Castle as other that hadde beene taken before at diuers skirmishes sent them straight to the Citie of Mayence and sette them all in prison in Towres and other places but the duchesse was putte all alone in a strong towre within the which there was a déep dungeon and therein shée was set out of the which shee neuer yssued vntill shee was deliuered by Huon her Husband Then the Emperour being in the Castle of Bourdeaux sent ouer all the Countrey that all such as were aliue should come and do their homage vnto him and take their Landes of him the which they did according to his commaundement Then hée made his Prouosts and Officers to doe iustice both in the Citie and Countrey and after that the Emperour had béene there eight dayes he went out of the Citie and road and tooke possession of Blames and Gerone and set there his Officers and when hee hadde full possession of al the Countrey hee left Keepers in the Countrey and so returned to the Citie of Mayence whereas hee was receiued with great ioy and triumph Nowe lette vs leaue to speake of the Emperor Tirrey and speake of Duke Huon of Bourdeaux being in the Castle of the Adamant in great pouertie and famine Chap. CVII ¶ How there arriued at the Castle of the Adamant a Shippe full of Sanazins wherein was the Bishop of Mâ—llaine and how Huon caused them to bee christened and then hee brought them into the Castle whereas they found great store and plentie of victuals YEE haue heard here before howe Huon was in the Castle of the Adamant in great pouertie and famine whereas he had beene tenne dayes without meat and drinke except Apples and fruit that grew in the Garden whereby he became so féeble and weake that he had scarre power to sustaine himselfe vppon his feete hee found there riches inough gould and siluer apparell and Iewels and riche bedding so that he wanted nothing except victuall and as hee walked in the chamber whereas the treasure lay he beheld an Arch vaulted richly painted with gould and azure vnder the which stoode a riche chayre and therein a coushin of cloath of gould bordered with pearles and precious stones Huon who was wearie of walking sat downe in the chaire to reste him Then he beganne sore
God the Ship that is heere beneath arriued by fortune at the Port neere vnto the Rocke and I prayed him in the honour of God and of his Sonne Iesus Christe to saue our liues and the Patrone had pitie compassion of vs and tooke vs into his Ship and did so much for vs as though we had beene his Brethren Sir thus I haue shewed you our aduenture and Sir I require you to pardon mée in that I so stearnly behold you but I shall shew you quoth he the cause why I doe it mée thinks I see before me the good Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux who swéetly nourished mee in my youth you greatly resemble vnto him and hee set me to schoole at Paris and then hee sent mee to Rome vnto our holy Father the Pope of Rome to whom I was a kiâ— and hee did mée much good and hee gaue mee the Bishopricâ—e of Millaine Duke Seuin is dead God bee with him and hee had twoo Sonnes the eldest called Huon and the other Gerard Huon was sent for to Paris by Kinge Charlemaine and by the way there fell vnto him a maruailous aduenture for hee shewe the Kinges Sonne Charlot in his owne defence not knowing that it was the Kinges Sonne wherefore the King banished him out of the Realme of Fraunce and sent him to the Admirall Gaudise in Babilon to doe his Messuage and afterward hee returned into Fraunce and since hee hath hadde great warre with the Emperour of Almaine more I cannot say and I am right sorrie that I knowe not where he is become for my Father who was Brother to the good Abbot of Cluny longe agoe nourished Huon vp in his youth before his Father Duke Seuin died my Father did teach him wherefore I haue great sorrow and gréefe at my heart that I knowe not where hee is become since the peace was made and concluded betweene him and the King of Fraunce When Huon hadde well heard the Bishoppe and vnderstood him his bloud changed and embracing him sweetely he said Sir you are my Coozen I am Huon who passed the sea and went to the Admirall Gaudise and slewe him and ledde away with me his Daughter the faire Escleremond who was married vnto me by our holy Father the Pope and I haue left her in the Citie of Bourdeaux in great pouertie and miserie besieged by the Emperour of Almaine I beleeue surely that she is taken by this time When the Bishop heard Huon hee began sore to weepe and Huon embraced and kissed him and sayd Coozen you are happie to find me heere or else shortly you had béen dead Sir quoth he I ought greatly to thanke God thereof But Sir I require you to giue mée some meat for I am so sore punished with hunger and thirst that I am néere hande famished and can scarce sustaine my selfe vppon my féete Coozen quoth Huon by the grace of God I shall bring you to such a place whereas you shall haue meat and drinke at your pleasure and such as you will with for Then Huon tooke him by the hand and brought him into the Pallaice and through the Chambers the Bishoppe was greatly abashed to sée the riches that he saw there Then they went downe into the Seller the Bishop beheld the manner of euerie thing and had great maruaile that none of them that hee sawe there would not speake any word hee passed by them with Huon and saluted them and then he entred into the rich Chamber whereas the Table was readie and Seruants to giue them water and they all thrée sat downe and then Huon sayd vnto the Bishoppe Coozen I coniure you by the Sacrament that you haue receiued that you nor your Chaplaine be so hardy as to eat one morsell of meat if any of you bee in any deadly sin if you be incontinent confesse you to your Chaplain and hee vnto you for if you doe otherwise you shall no sooner eate one morsell but incontinent you shall die When the Bishop had well heard and vnderstood Huon hée hadde great maruaile and said Coozen by the grace of God I féele my selfe in good estate not to abide death for when I departed from Rome both I and my Nephewe were confessed of the Pope and assoyled of all our sinnes and since wée entred into the Sea wee haue committed no sinne Then Huon sayd Cozen seeing that you be both in this case you may eate and drinke at your pleasure and so they did for they had great néed thereof they all thrée were richly serued they had euerie thing as they wished for the Bishoppe and his Nephew did eat and drinke and they were greatly abashed of the great riches that they saw there and they were rauished at the swéet singing of the birds and the hearbes and flowers that were there spreade abroade smellinge so swéetely that they thought themselues in Paradice and they had great maruaile to see the Seruants to serue them so peaceable but they would neuer speak one word they woulde gladly haue demaunded the cause why but Huon hadde expresly charged them that they shoulde make none inquirie Thus they passed their dinner in great ioy and theÌ„ washed theyr hands arose vp from the Table and the Bishop and his Chaplaine sayde grace deuously Then Huon tooke the Bishoppe by the hand and sayde Cozen wee will goe vp into the Pallaice and then you shall goe downe into your Shippe and shew them without they will die incontinent let them be christened and dresse vp Tubbes with water of the Sea and hallowe you it and christen them therein and I shall come after you with my sword and cleane armed to the entent that if they refuse thus to doe I shall strike oft their heades Sir quoth the Bishop I shall doe your pleasure Then Huon armed himselfe and went after the Bishoppe and his Nephewe downe to the shippe and when they came there they found Elinas the Maister of them who had preached so much vnto the Sarazins that hée had conuerted them all except Tenne they bare him in hand that they were glad to bee christened but theyr thoughtes were otherwise for they Ten had concluded in their courages not to renounce the Lawe of Mahomet for to beleeue vppon Iesus Christ but they were content to be christened to the entent that they would not die there for famine When Huon and the Bishop was come vnto them the Bishop sayd Sirs I require you all to shew me your intention that if with a good heart not coloured you will become christened and beléeue on the Law of God the Father and of his Son our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ and leaue the false and detestable Lawe of Mahound the which is nothing woorth Sir quoth they all shortly deliuer vs for wee bee so hungrie and thirstie that we are almost famished the which ouer-presseth vs so much that we can no longer endure nor suffer it and when Huon had well heard them he humbly thanked our Lord
hee sawe a far off where the Griffen came flying from the place as shee had doone the day before and came and sat downe vppon the same Maste beholdinge the dead men that lay vnder her which of them she might take to her pray Huon beheld her and sawe howe that she was a cruell Foule Her necke was maruailous great her eies as great as a Bason and more redder then the mouth of a fournace and her tallants so great and so long that fearefull it was to behold her and then at last she lighted downe into the Shippe and tooke one of the dead bodies in her tallants and so mounted into the ayre and flew the same way as she did the day before Huon beheld the Griffen well and saw how that she flew to the white Rocke This Rocke was called the Rocke of Alexander for when Alexander passed the deserts of India and went to speake with the Trées of the Sunne and of the Moone hee came vnto the same Rocke and at his returne he bathed him in a Fountaine neere to the Rocke and there hee taried a certaine space and sawe there many thinges Now let vs leaue speaking of this Rocke and returne vnto Huon who fixed his courage that hee determined to bee borne from thence by the Griffen and sayd within himselfe that he hadde rather aduenture death then to abide any longer there for hee had so great a desire to see his Wife and his Child that he put from him all feare of death When Huon sawe that the Griffen was gone with her pray he went to the Bishoppe and vnto his companie and shewed vnto them all that hee had seene and thought to doe and when they all had heard Huon they beganne pitifully to weepe and wrang their handes and did tare their haire making the greatest sorrow and greefe in the world and cryed out and said Ah Coozen quoth the Bishop by the grace of God you shall neuer take vppon you such a follie you ought not io seeke your owne death sooner then it is the pleasure of God that your houre bée come Sir for Gods sake forsake vs not but tarrie heere with vs. Freendes quoth Huon when I remember the danger that I left my wife and my child and my Citie and Lords and Burgesses and Communaltie in my heart is so sorowfull and so agreeued there at that it neere hande slayeth mee you shall abide heere in the sauegard of our Lord God and I will take the aduenture that God will send me and I pray you to speake no more vnto me in this matter for by the grace of God I will venture it When they sawe that they could not turne Huon from his Enterprize the sorrowe that they made no man can declare that night they passed in great sorrowe and dolour vntill the next morning that Huon arose Then hee came to the Bishop and was confessed and receiued at his hand then he dined wel with his companie and then after dinner hée went and armed himselfe in double armour and with maile vppon his Legges and helmet vpon his head and guirded his Sword about him and when hee was readie and that it was time to depart hee tooke his leaue of the Bishop and of all the other and commended them all into the sauegard of almightie God When the good Bishop sawe his departure hee made great sorrow and so did all the other but none of them durst speake any more vnto him the Bishop embraced him at his departing and sayde Coozen into the sauegard of almightie God and of his Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ I commend you and that he may of his grace preserue you from all your enemies Sir quoth Huon the great desire that I haue to ayd and succor her whome I left in great pouertie and doubt of her life constrayneth me thus to depart for if I goe not by this meanes I must euer abide heere and then I shall breake my promise vnto her but by the grace of God I will keepe my faithfull promise Thus I recommend you vnto God and then he departed from them and passed out of the gate and went downe the staires and so came into the shippe and then hee looked into the Sea and sawe where the Griffen was comming and when hee perceiued that he lay downe among the dead men with his sword naked in his hand and held it vpon his thigh because it should not fall into the Sea and assoone as hee was layd crewling amonge the dead men the Griffen came and alighted vppon the shippe Mast as she was accustomed to doe and she was so heauie and so great as is aforesaid that the Mast was neere hand broken asunder When Huon saw that he was in great feare and called vppon our Lord Iesus Christ for aid and succour and to saue him from the cruel Griffen and the Grâ—ffen looking for her pray saw where Huon lay armed whereby hée seemed more greater then any of the other dead men the Griffen desired to haue him vnto her nest to giue him vnto her young birds and then she came downe into the shippe and tooke Huon in her clawes and strained him so faste by both sides that her clawes entred into the flesh for all his armour so that the bloud yssued out and Huon was in that distresse that all his bodie trembled and pitiously he called vppon our Lord God for ayd and succour but he durst not stirre for any paine that he felt the Griffen did beare him so hie and so farre that in lesse then thrée houres she did beare him vnto the white Rocke and there layde him downe and for trauaile that the Griffen had she flew down the Rocke to a Fountaine to drink the which Fountaine was of such great vertue that the bountie thereof could not bée described and Huon who lay vppon the Rocke was sore wearie and faint for the bloud that hee had lost hee thought within himselfe that if euer hee woulde escape from that daunger it was time for him then to shewe his Prowesse then he arose vp and looked round about him and sawe how that there was neere him a faire Forrest and then hee prayed vnto our Lord God to ayd and succour him to depart from thence in sauegard and that hee might once againe returne into his owne Countrey to see his Wife and Child whome hee so well loued then anone he saw the Griffen who had seene Huon rise vp then she came with her mouth open to haue deuoured Huon but hee was replenished with his Prowesse and came against the Griffen who had her pawes readie open to haue griped Huon but hee who was light and quicke gaue the Griffen such a stroake with his Swoord that he strake off one of her feete by the ioynt and so the Griffen fell to the earth and gaue such a crie that the young Griffens being in their nest in the Forrest heard the crie and knewe well that it was
the voyce of their Mother Father they had none for he was slaine but a little before by a Kinge of Persia with his Archers because the Griffen had slaine the Kings Horse for meat for his young ones Thus when they heard the crie of theyr Mother they arose vp into the ayre they were fiue in number they came all at once with open winges vppon Huon and when he saw all fiue comming vppon him he had great feare he strake the first vpon the necke in such sort that hee strake off the head cleane from the bodie then the second seazed Huon by the maile that if hée had not striken off her Legge hee hadde borne him vp into the ayre but Huon gaue him such a stroake that the Legge hanged still at the lappe of the maile and hee tooke it off with his hand and cast it to the earth and with another stroake hee slew that Griffen and then came the third and gaue Huon such a buffet with his winges that it made Huon to kneele downe vpon one of his knées Then Huon strake that Griffen such a stroake on the wing that it fell cleane from the bodie And the fourth hée strake off his Legges and with another stroake strake off his head and then also he slew the other with the one winge Then came the fifth Griffen who was bigger then any of the other Griffens and then Huon strake at him and the Griffen reared vp his féete and spreade abroade his winges and gaue Huon such a recounter that the noble Knight was striken to the earth When Huon felt himselfe hurt and lay vppon the earth hee called vppon God for ayd and succour for hee thought that he should neuer haue risen more and wished himselfe at that time that hee had taried still in the Castle of the Adamant with his companie who for sorrowe that they had when Huon went into the shippe they durst not abide the comming of the Griffen but went and did hide themselues in the Castle and Huon who was sore wounded with this fifth Griffen rose vp as well as he might and came to the Griffen who was ready to destroy him with his beake and nailes Thus Huon like a vertuous and a hardy Knight tooke courage and lifted vp his Swoord with both his handes and strake the Griffen such a stroake vpon the heade that hee claue it to the braynes so that the Griffen fell downe dead to the earth Chap. CX ¶ How Huon fought with the great Griffen and slew her WHen Huon sawe that hee had slaine the fiue young Griffens hee thanked our Lord God for the grace that hee had sent him as to ouercome such fiue terrible Foules then he sat downe to rest him and layd his Sword by him thinking that they had beene all slaine but it was not long but that the great Griffen who had brought him from the Castle of the Adamant came vppon him with thrée feete and beating with his winges and when shee sawe her young ones slaine she cast out a great crie so that all the Valley rang thereof When Huon sawe her comming he was in great feare for hee was sore wearie with trauaile and losse of bloud that it was paine to sustaine himselfe howbeit hee sawe well that it was great neede to defend himselfe and then hee came to the Griffen to haue striken her but hee could not the Griffen was so neere him beating with her winges so fiercely that Huon fell to the earth and his Sword fell out of his handes whereof he had great feare for he thought himselfe neuer so neere death in all his life as hee was then he called then right pitiously for ayd and succour of our Lord Iesus Christ and the Griffen did â—eat him maruailously with her beake winges and tallants but the noble coats of maile that he had on were so strong that the Griffen could not breake them but if the Griffen hadde not lost before one of her Legges and lost so much bloud as she had done Huon could neuer haue escaped without death the Griffen so sore defoyled and beat him that hee could not in no wise arise vp againe Then Huon remembred himselfe howe that hee had by his side a rich knife the which he brought with him from the Castle of the Adamant he drew it out and therewith strake the Griffen vppon the breast sixe great stroakes euerie stroake as déepe as the knife would goe and as his fortune was this knife was of length two foote and therewith the Griffen fell downe dead Then Huon arose and put off his helmet lifted vp his hands vnto Heauen and thanked our Lord God of his victorie and he was so sore trauailed and charged with bloud and sweat that hee put off his helmet and beheld round about him and could see nothing to trouble him When hee had taried there a certaine time hee arose vp and looked downe the Rocke and hee saw a Fountaine in a faire meadowe then he went down and came thether and he sawe the Fountaine so faire cleare that he had great maruaile thereof he sawe the workemanship thereof rich all of white Iasper wrought richly with flowers of fine gould and Azure and when hee sawe the water so faire he had great desire to drinke thereof then hee did off one of his double armours to be the more lighter and so approached vnto the Fountaine and sawe the grauell in the bottome all of precious stones and then hee put off his helmet and dranke of the water his fill and he had no sooner droonke thereof but incontinent hee was hole of all his wounds and as fresh and lustie as hee was when hee came from the Castle of the Adamant whereof hee most humbly thanked our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ This Fountaine was called the Fountaine of youth the which was of such vertue that whatsoeuer sicknesse a man or woman had if they bathed them in the streame of that Fountaine they should be hole of all infirmities Then Huon vnarmed himselfe and put off all his cloathes and bathed himselfe in the streame to wash away the bloud and sweat that his bodie was coloured withall and when hee was cleane washed he armed himselfe againe with one of his armours and left off the other By this Fountaine there grew an Apple Trée charged with leaues and fruite the fairest that might bee founde When Huon saw the Trée charged with so faire fruit he arose vppon his feete and approached vnto the Trée and tooke thereof a faire Apple and a great and did eat thereof his fill for the Apple was great he thought that hee did neuer eate before of such a fruit Ah good Lord quoth he I ought greatly to laud and praise thée séeing thou hast thus replenished mee this day with such a Fountaine and such fruit Then hée looked vppon his right hande and sawe a great Orchard full of Trées bearing good fruit of diuers sorts that great beautie it
was to behold them This Garden was so faire that it seemed rather a Paradice then a thing terrestriall For out of this Garden there yssued such a smell and odour that Huon thought that all the balme and spicerie in the world could not cast out so swéet a smell Ah good Lord quoth Huon what place is this that I am in for if the Griffen had not béen here I would haue thought that I had béen in Paradice good Lord God I pray thee to aid and succor mee in all mine affaires and enterprizes and at this time that I be not lost nor dead Chap. CXI ¶ Howe an Angell appeared vnto Huon and commaunded him to gather three Apples of the Tree by the Fountaine and no more and how the Angell shewed him tidings of his wife the faire Escleremond and of his Daughter Clariet and shewed him the way that hee should goe from thence THus as yee haue heard Huon deuised by himselfe at the Fountaine then hée went againe to the Trée and saide that hee would eat of that fruit and gather thereof as much as should suffice him for sixe dayes and in that space he trusted to come to some place whereas hee should haue meat sufficient Thus as hee was going towards the Trée suddainly there appeared vnto him a light shining that hee thought hee was rauished in Heauen among the Angels therewith hee heard a voice Angelicall that said Huon know for troth that our Lord God commandeth thée not to bee so hardy as to gather any more fruite of that Tree except thrée Apples the which God is well content that thou shalt gather and no more heereafter they shall serue thée well so that thou doest kéepe them cleane and worthily as they ought to be kept it shall not bee long ere thou shalt haue great neede of them the fruit of this Trée is called the fruit of youth it hath such vertue that if a man of Four-score or of a Hundred yeares of age doe eate thereof hee shall become againe as young as he was at the age of Thirtie yeares in yonder Garden thou maist goe and gather there of the fruit at thy pleasure and eate what thou list but eate no more of this that thou hast eaten of and therefore beware I charge thée gather no more thereof except the said thrée Apples Knowe for troth that if thou breakest my commaundement the fruit shall bee dearely sold vnto thee Sir quoth Huon laud and praise be giuen to our Lord God my Creatour when hee sheweth his grace vnto mée that am so poore a sinner and that hee will thus visit mée I shall neuer consent to breake his commaundement I had rather die then so to doe my bodie and my Soule I recommend vnto his good grace But thou the Messenger of God I require thee to shew me how doth my wife Escleremond and Clariet my Daughter whome I haue left in my Citie of Bourdeaux besieged by the Emperour Tirrey of Almaine I haue great feare that they be famished within the Citie and my Lords and company that I left there with her slaine and dead Fréend quoth the voice know for certaine that the Citie of Bourdeaux is taken and all thy men dead or taken and thy wife in prison in the great Tower of Mayence whereas the Emperour Tirrey keepeth her straightly and thy Daughter Clariet is at Cluny in the Abbey whereas shee is well serued and the Abbot who hath alwaies loued thée he hath her in his keeping and shée is as well cherished there euen as she were his owne Daughter Sir quoth Huon and why was shee brought thether Huon quoth the Voice knowe well that Barnard thy coozen Germaine brought her thether Fréend quoth Huon I pray you to shew me if Gerames Richard and Othon be aliue or not Freend quoth the Voice at the taking of the Citie they were slaine by the Emperour When Huon had well heard those pitifull tidings he began tenderly to weepe complayning for the faire Escleremond his wife and for the death of the old Gerames and said Fréend I require you to shew mee if euer I shall escape considering that I am heere closed in with the Sea the which goeth round about this Rocke I sée no way to goe out thereof gladly I would knowe if euer I shall returne into my Countrey to sée my Wife and Daughter who are in great feare and daunger Huon quoth the Voice comfort thy selfe thou shalt sée them againe thy Wife Escleremond and thy Daughter Clariet and thy good Citie of Bourdeaux but ere thou shalt come there thou shalt suffer much paine and bee in great feare and danger the Emperour Tirrey hath conquered all thy Countrey and Geronnell is vnder his obeysance with the Citie of Bourdeaux Then Huon sware and made promise that if our Lord Iesus Christ would giue him the grace that he might returne into his own Countrey that surely he would slay the Emperor Tirrey whatsoeuer end come thereof Messenger of God I require you to shew mée by what manner of wayes I may passe out of this Rocke Huon quoth the Voice goe to the said Trée and gather the thrée Apples as I haue saide vnto thée before and keepe them well and cleanly for thou shalt heereafter haue so much profit by them that at the end thou shalt come vnto thy desire and will and shalt bee out of thy great paine trouble and thought take this little path that thou séest here vppon thy right hand and so goe thou downe vnto the foote of the Rocke and there thou shalt find a faire cleare water and thereuppon a faire shippe enter into it but first goe into the Garden and gather fruit to serue thée as long as thou shalt be in the shippe then vnloose the shippe from the chaine that it is tyed by and let the shippe goe whether as it will vntill it commeth to the Port whereas thou shalt arriue but bee thou sure before thou commest there thou shalt be in as great feare as euer thou wert in all the dayes of thy life nor thou wert neuer in so great perill I commend thee into the sauegard of our Lord Iesus Christ I goe my way and leaue thee héere Then Huon knéeled downe and held vp his hands and said Ah thou verie Messenger of God I require thee to haue me recommended vnto my Creatour Huon quoth the Voice be of good comfort for as longe as thou art true and faithfull thou â—haâ—t haue ayde and succour of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ and shalt attaine to thy desires but ere thou commest thereto thou shalt suffer much paine and feare but after as I haue said thou shalt haue wealth inough exalt al thy Feends Huon was glad of that the Voice had said vnto him but he was in great displeasure in that his Wife the faire Escleremond was Prisoner in the great Tower of the City of Mayence and of the death of the old Gerames and of other
was waxed so feeble that he could scarce sustaine himselfe vppon his feete and vpon the eleauenth day at the Sunne rising hee sawe appeare the clearnesse of the day light and then he was out of the darknes and entred into the Sea of Persia the which was so pleasant and peaceable that great pleasure it was to behold it and then the Sunne arose and spread abroad his streames and spheares vppon the Sea whereof Huon was so ioyfull as though he had neuer felt paine nor feare then a farre off hee saw appeare before him a faire great Citie and in the hauen therof there were so many shippes and Galleys that their Mastes seemed to bée a great Forrest whereof Huon hadde such ioy at his heart that he knéeled downe lifting by his hands vnto Heauen and humbly thanking our Lord God that hee had saued him from this perilous Gulfe This Citie was called the great Citie of Thauris in Persia the Lord thereof was a puissant Admirall who had made to be proclaimed and published that all manner of Marchaunts by land or by Sea that would come to his Citie should haue frée going and frée comming without lette or disturbance either in their bodies or goods whether they were christian men or Sarazins so that if they lost the worth of a penny they should haue againe foure times the value thereof and the same time that Huon came and arriued at that Port was the day of their frée Feast wherefore there was so much people of diuers Landes that they could not well bee numbred When Huon was come into the Port hee cast his anchor neere vnto the bancke-side and was right ioyfull when hee sawe himselfe that he was vppon the firme land and then hee had great desire to knowe in what place hee was arriued in and whether hee was arriued at a good Port or no Now lette vs leaue speaking of the good Duke Huon vntill wee haue occasion to returne vnto him againe Chap. CXIII ¶ How Sir Barnard departed from the Abbey of Cluny and went to seeke for Huon his Cozen whom he found at the Port of the great Citie of Thauris YE haue heard heere before howe after the taking of Bourdeaux Barnard who was Cozen vnto Huon had borne Clariet Huons child into Burgoine and deliuered her to bee kept with the good Abbot of Cluny After that Barnard had taried there the space of eight dayes he was wearie with being there and vpon a day hee sayde vnto the Abbot Ah Sir I would at the taking of Bourdeaux I had béen slaine with my Cozen Gerames for when I remember my good Lord Huon my heart fayleth mee in such wise that it is great paine for mee to beare the sorrow that I endure and afterward when I remember the Duchesse Escleremond his Wife who endureth such miserie that it is pitie to thinke thereof doubleth the sorrowe and greefe that I haue at my heart Alas what shall Huon say if hee returne and find his Citie taken his men taken and destroyed and his Wife in Prison in great pouertie and miserie I feare mee that hee will die for sorrowe Alas I sée all that I haue is loste for the loue of Huon my Lord for the which I care little for if hee bee in safetie aliue and that hee may returne againe and I am in great displeasure that wée can heare no newes of him since hée departed from Bourdeaux I shall neuer rest as longe as I liue vntill I haue found him or heare some certaine newes of him Cozen quoth the Abbot if you will enter into this enquest you should doe mee great pleasure and for the great desire that I haue had that you should goe this Voyage I will giue you a Thousand Florents towardes your iourney Sir quoth Barnard I thanke you Then the Abbot deliuered him the money and Barnard made him readie to depart the next day and so hee did and tooke his leaue of the Abbot and departed and rested not vntill hee came to Venyce whereas hee found Galleys readie to goe to the holy Sepulchre whereof hee was right ioyfull and so sayled foorth vntill they came to the Port Iaffe whereas hee went a shoare with other Pilgrims and euer as he passed by the other Ports he euer demanded for Huon but he could neuer find any man that coulde shewe vnto him any manner of newes of him and then he departed from the Port Iaste and went vnto Ierusalem whereas he taried eight dayes Then when hee had done his Pilgrimage he tooke forth his iourney vnto Kayre in Babilon and when he came to Gasere which standeth at the entring of the Desarts hee met with many Marchants who were going to the frée Feast which was holden in the great Citie of Thauris Then hee thought to demaund of them whether so much people were going and all in one companie and he spake vnto a Marchant of Geanes and demaunded of him whether so much people went together in one companie for they were to the number of six-score Marchants christian men and hee Then the Marchant saide Sir as mee thinketh by you you are of the Countrey of Fraunce I shall shew you whether we goe Sir within this eight dayes the frée Feast shal be at the great Citie of Thauris whereas there shall come a great number of Marchants as well Christian men as Sarazins as wel by land as by Sea and there is nothing in this mortall world but there you shall find it and heare of all manner of newes from all the parts of the world Nowe I haue shewed you whether wee are going I pray you shewe mee whether you would goe and whome you doe seeke for Sir quoth Barnard knowe for troth that I am of the Realme of Fraunce and I doe séeke for a Knight who is Lord of Bourdeaux and is called Huon and it is longe since I departed out of my Countrey and I could neuer heare any thing of his life nor death Sir quoth the Geneuoys if euer you shall heare of him if you will beléeue mée you shall goe with vs into the Realme of Persia to the frée Feast at the great Citie of Thauris Sir quoth Barnard in a good houre I haue met with you I shall not leaue your companie vntill you come there to sée if God will send mee so good fortune as to find him that I seeke for Then the Marchants departed and road all together vntill they came vnto the great Citie of Thauris and when they were lodged they went about their marchandize whereas they lysted Thus Barnard was eight dayes in the Citie going heere and there euer enquiring newes for him whome he sought for and vppon a day he went down to the Port vnto the Sea-side whereas many Shippes and Galleys lay at anchor and as hée looked about he saw neere to the Sea-side a little proper Vessell maruailously faire and the neerer he came vnto it the fairer and richer it seemed for he saw great clearnesse
christened for Sir I am heere readie to doe it Then incontinent there was brought foorth Fortie great Vessels full of cleare water the Bishop did hallowe them and christened the Admirall and named him Huon because Huon was his Godfather Then afterward all the Lords and people were christened and receiued the Lawe of our Sauiour and Redéemer Iesus Christ When they were all christened the Admirall with great triumph and ioy returned vnto his Pallaice leading Huon by the hand and great ioy and feasting was made that day in the Citie and especially of the Christian Marchants that were there among the which there were about fiftéene Priests and they all aided the Bishoppe to christen the people the number could not be declared of the men women and children that receiued that day christendome The Admirall being in his Pallaice making great ioy and Feasting with the noble Duke Huon of Bourdeaux sayd vnto him Freend well you ought to render thankes to our Lord Iesus Christ séeing by you these two Realmes that is to say Persia and Media are reduced and brought vnto the Christian faith and Lawe and I will that you knowe that you may well say that in these two Realmes you may commaund any thing at your pleasure without finding any person to doe or say to the contrarie of your will and pleasure and to the entent that you shall surely beleeue what great loue and affection I beare vnto you I will that mine all onely Daughter you shall haue to your wife so that you be not bound vnto none other Sir knowe for troth the great desire that I haue to haue you tarie still heere with me mooueth mee thus to doe I haue none other heire but my Daughter whereby after my death you shall bee Lorde and heire of the Realmes and Dominions that I hold and in the meane season I will that the moitie of the reuenewes of these Realmes and Dominions shall bee yours for your companie pleaseth mée so entirely that I would neuer haue you to depart from hence Chap. CXVII ¶ Of the complaints that Huon made vnto the Admirall of Persia vppon the Emperour of Almaine and of the succours that the Admirall promised vnto Huon WHen Huon had well vnderstood the Admirall hee saide Sir knowe for troth that it is foure yéeres passed since I was maried vnto a noble Ladie who passeth in beautie all other that be aliue in these dayes and when I remember her all my bodie and heart trembleth for sorrow when I thinke of the trouble displeasure and pouertie that shee is in and therefore Sir I thanke you of the great honour and courtesie that of your bountie you offer mée I pray vnto God that hee may reward you Huon quoth the Admirall seeing it is so that you haue a Wife I hold you wel excused but I pray you to shew vnto me for what cause your Wife is in such case or what Christian Prince is so hardie as to trouble you or to doe you any displeasure Sir quoth Huon when I came out of my Countrey I left my Citie of Bourdeaux besieged by the Emperour of Almaine who hath taken my Citie and slaine my men and some hee keepeth in seruage and my Wife put in prison and there kept in great pouertie and miserie the which when I remember sorrowe and gréefe so sore gripeth my heart that all my members and ioynts tremble with displeasure Huon quoth the Admirall I pray you to leaue your sorrow and displeasure and cast it from you and take ioy and comfort for by the holy law that I haue receiued I shall so ayde and succour you that the Emperour who hath done vnto you so many displeasures I shall make him such warre that whether he will or not for the dammage and losse that you haue had and receiued I shall constraine him to make full restitution for I shall lead with me in your company such number of people that all the Valleys and Mountaines shall be couered with them Sir quoth Huon of the courtesie and succour that you offer me I humbly thanke you but if it please our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ who hath ayded mee out of many perils I hope that he will so aide mee that I shall not neede to make any warre to destroy the Christian bloud but Sir first I shall goe to the holy Sepulchre and then I will returne into my Countrey and doe what I can to get my Wife out of daunger and the paine that shee is in Sir the wife that I haue wedded was Daughter to the Admirall Gaudise who held as then Babilon and all the Realme of Egipt Then Huon shewed him all the matter how he came by the faire Escleremond whereof the Admirall was sore abashed for the great maruailes that hee hadde heard Huon declare and so were all other that heard it and said one to another that without Huon had beene well beloued of our Lord Iesus Christ hée could neuer haue escaped the death with one of the least aduentures that he had shewed vnto the Admirall Sir quoth Huon the Emperour of Almaine hath taken my Citie and my Wife and destroyed my men and hath taken into his handes all my Lands and Signiories but by the grace of God I shal doe so much to get them againe and if I cannot attaine thereto then I shall returne againe vnto you to haue your succour and ayd Huon quoth the Admirall put all melancholy from you for if you giue mee knowledge that you cannot haue your wil of this Emperour I shall bring you people innumerable that all Christendome shall tremble for feare of you and shall render vnto you your wife and al your Lands and Signiories and your men that bee in prison or in seruage and I shall put the Emperour into your hands to doe with him your pleasure or else I shal not leaue in all his Land neither Citie nor towne standing vppon the earth Sir quoth Huon of this I thanke you heartily but Sir I must woorke another way first for when I escaped from the Gulfe of Persia I promised vnto God that before I went into mine owne Countrey to goe and visite the holy Sepulchre in Ierusalem and to make warre vppon the Sarazins before I made any warre vppon any Christian men but Sir if I may get of the Emperour by faire speach my Landes and my wife I shall serue him with all my heart for as long as I liue I shall make no warre against any christian man if I may haue right and reason shewed vnto mee Sir quoth the Admirall of this that you say I giue you good thankes but by the grace of God I shall goe with you the Voyage to the holy Sepulchre and take with mee fiftie Thousand men to make warre against the Paynims and Sarazins such as beleeue not in God and I shall put to my paine with all my power to exalt and encrease the lawe of our Lord Iesus Christ Sir quoth Huon
you haue sayde nobly if you thus doe great grace and glorie perpetuall you shall deserue whereby you shal be crowned aboue in the Emperiall Heauen Nowe leaue wee to speake of this matter Chap. CXVIII ¶ Howe the Admirall of Persia assembled much people and hee and Huon with all his armie tooke the Sea and came to the Port before the Citie of Angory whereas they found a great number of Paynims and Sarazins readie to defend the Port. AFter that the Admirall and Huon had deuised together of many thinges the Admirall sent out his letters and bréefes commaunding through-out Persia and Media men of warre to bee readie and gaue them a day to bee readie to goe with him certifying them that his Nauie of Shippes should be readie for the transporting of him and them the which was done and euerie man came at the day that was assigned In the meane season Huon and Barnard went oftentimes together and visited the Citie of Thauris whereas much honour was made vnto them whereof Huon and Barnard oftentimes thanked God of the good aduenture that he had sent them Thus as yée haue heard the Admirall of Persia assembled a great number of people and made him readie and entred into his shippe and all other into diuers Shippes and shipped their Armour and horses and Huon who desired to please the Admirall tooke his owne little Shippe and discharged it and tooke all the precious stones did put them into another ship the which the Admirall had deliuered to serue him and then he sayd vnto the Admirall Sir I know well that the little ship that I came in hether is not to serue in the warres and therefore Sir as it is I doe giue it vnto you whereof the Admirall had great ioy for in all the world there was none such of beautie nor of riches Then Huon gaue the Admirall all a Bushell of the stones and vnto the Lordes together and they thanked Huon of his courtesie and Larges of all the stones he kept to his owne vse but thrée Hundred and gaue away all the residue Then hee entred into the Shippe that was appointed for him and then euerie man entred into their Shipps the which were well fournished and victualed for the wars then the Admirall tooke his leaue of his Daughter who pitifully wept at her Fathers departing and then they weighed vp anchors and hoysed vp the sayles and they had such good winde that anon they were farre from the Port A goodly sight it was to beholde the Nauie for at their departing they made such great noyse with Trumpets Drummes and Hornes that all the Sea did ring thereof Great ioy and gladnesse had Huon and Barnard of the grace that God had sent them so longe they sayled with good winde and sayle that they entred into the great Sea of Caspis and then they saw a farre off a faire City standing by the Sea-side called the Citie of Angory wherein there dwelt an Admirall right puissant and rich and the same time he was in one of his Towers of his Pallaice and when he saw and perceiued such a puissant Nauie come sayling so fast towardes his Citie hee had great maruaile and was sore dismayed and abashed for he knewe well that the Shippes were of Persia by the penons and banners that hee sawe wauing vppon the shippes and vpon the other part he sawe in the toppes and fore-castles baners standing all of white and therein red crosses then he said vnto his Lordes that were about him Sirs I am greatly dismayed and abashed what meaneth yonder great fléete séeing this Citie was wonne by Reignard of Montauban there came neuer Christian man heere and I haue more maruaile to sée the bannâ—rs and armes of Persia the which these Christian men doe bearâ— vpon their shippes Then the Admirall went downe and published in the Citie that euerie man should arme them and goe to the Port to defend it that the christian men should not land there then the crie and allarum began in the Citie so great and horrible with the noyse of Trumpets and Drummes Hornes and Basons so that the noyse of them range vppon the Sea so that the Admirall of Persia and Huon and such as were vpon the sea might well heare them Then the Admirall said vnto Huon Sir I see and perceiue well that at our landing wee shall haue great battaile and resistance Sir quoth Huon I pray you what people be they that haue that City in guiding and who is Lord thereof Sir quoth the Admirall knowe for troth that this Citie is great and well peopled they beleeue not in God and about Twentie yeares passed this Citie was wonne by a Lord of Fraunce called Reignard of Montauban and hee made it to bee christened and then about eight yeares after it was wonne againe vpon Christian men by the Admirals Sonne the which Admirall was Lord thereof when it was wonne And now againe they bee all Paynims and Sarazins as you may sée vpon the sea-side they are readie to abide for vs and to defend their Port. Sir quoth Huon we ought greatly to thanke our Lord Iesus Christ of this faire aduenture when we sée before vs the enemies of our Christian faith and by the grace of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ this day we shall doe so much that the Citie and the Inhabitants therein shall be in our handes to vse them at our pleasure Sir quoth the Admirall I beséech almightie God to giue vs the grace that it may be so great grace our Lord God shall doe vnto vs if wee may winne this Citie Then the Admirall caused his men to bee armed and then they sawe halfe a League from the Citie a Port or Hauen the which was not kept nor defended because the Admirall of Angory would not yssue out farre from his Citie vntill hee sawe what countenance the christian men would make Then the Admirall of Persia and Huon aduanced themselues so forward that they cast out their anchors and launched out their boats well garnished with men Archers and Crosbowes so that they landed at this Port in sauegard without any danger Then the shippes drew to the land and vnshipped their Armour and Horses and so euerie man landed except such as were assigned to keepe the shippes and then euerie man mounted vpon their horses and ordained three Battailes the first was led by Huon and with him twentie Thousand men of hautie and hye courage the second was ledde by a great Lord of Persia who was Marshall of the Hoast the third guided the Admirall of Persia who road from ranke to ranke admonishing his men to doe their endeauours valiantly then a soft pace they drewe in battaile array towards the Citie Chap. CXIX ¶ Howe the Admirall and Huon tooke the Port and fought with the Admirall of Angory and dicomfited him and tooke the Citie and howe afterward Huon went into the Deserts of Abillant to search aduentures WHen the Admirall of
their shippe and deuised of their aduentures and praysed God of his grace for that he done vnto them Huon quoth the Admirall I haue great desire to sée the holy Citie where our Lord God was crucified and laid in the Sepulchre Sir quoth Huon by the grace of God wée shall right well and shortly come thether and I hope hée shall doe vnto vs farre greater grace yet as to ayde vs to conquer and to destroy all those in our way that beléeue not on our holy Lawe for that is the chéefest entent of our Voyage Thus they deuised together the space of eight dayes without finding of any aduenture and so vppon an Euening Huon all alone stood leaning ouer the shippe board beholding the Sea the which was plaine and peaceable and then hee remembred the Duchesse Escleremond his Wife therewith the teares ran tenderly downe his visage and said Ah right noble Ladie when I remember what peril and daunger that I left you in and in what pouertie and miserie you bee in nowe I haue no ioynt nor member but that tremblesh for the displeasure that I am in and for feare least that the false Emperour cause you to die ere my returne then he beganne to make great sorrow and gréefe but Barnard who was not farre from him said Ah Sir you knowe well that in all the fortunes and aduentures that haue come vnto you God hath ayded you and saued you from the perill of death therefore take good comfort to your selfe and laud and praise our Lord God for that he sendeth vnto you and doubt not if you haue perfect hope and trust in him he will ayd and comfort you and he neuer forgetteth them that with good heart serue him Thus with such wordes Barnard comforted Huon and then the Admirall came and leaned down by Huon and they deuised together about diuers and sundrie matters The same time there arose vp a wind and Tempest so great and so horrible that the sayles were broken in diuers places and some Mastes brake and flew ouer the boards of the shippe the sea beganne to bee rough and furious so that euerie man thought to haue beene perished the fortune of this Tempest was so horrible as euerie man deuoutly called vpon our Lord God to saue them from the perill and daunger that they were in Sir quoth Huon I pray you to shewe mee what Countrey is yonder that I see before mée we were happie and fortunate if wee might arriue there and cast our anchors vnder the Rocke that I see there Sir quoth the Admirall wée bée arriued at an euill Port for wee bée néere to the Deserts of Abilaunt vppon yonder Mountaine that you sée is conuersant an enemie who hath caused many a ship and Vessell to be drowned in this Sea whereby wee bée all in great daunger to bee lost for none can approach to this Rocke but that he is strangled and slaine by the enemie that is there then euerie man was in great feare and the Admirall said vnto the Marriners Sirs I pray you if it may bee let vs drawe out of this quarter Sir quoth Huon mee thinkes you are too sore dismayed aâ—ashâ—d for by that Lord that made me to his semblance I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart vntill I knowe why that enemie causeth them to perish so fast this way I shall neuer rest vntill I haue spoken with him and if hee doe any thinge contrarie to my pleasure I shall strike off his head Huon quoth the Admirall I haue great maruaile of that you doe saye for if there were fiue Hundred such as you bée within one houre you should bée all dead and stangled Sir quoth Huon doubt not you that for though I should die in the quarrell I will goe sée him and knowe the cause why hée letteth or troubleth this passage before it be three dayes to an end I shal goe and speake with him what fortune soeuer commeth thereof Sir quoth the Admirall in you it is to doe your owne will for since it pleaseth you I must bee content but if you would beleeue mée you should not take vpon you that Voyage and Enterprize Sir quoth Huon all smiling I haue my hope and trust in almightie God who hath heeretofore saued me from death and so I hope he will doe yet for it is a common prouerbe sayd hee whome God will ayde and succour no man can hurt Sir quoth the Admirall I pray vnto our Lord God to defend you from all euill and to giue you the grace to returne againe in sauegard Sir quoth Huon I thanke you heartily Then Barnard arose vp and saide Deare Coozen I require you to let me goe with you and then the Admirall sayd Sir I desire you to bee content that I and Barnard may keepe you companie and wee shall haue with vs for the more sauegard of our persons foure Hundred hardy Knights Sir quoth Huon by Gods grace I will goe alone none shall goe with mee but my selfe and Iesus Christ and his blessed Mother in whose sauegard I commit my selfe When Barnard heard that hee had great sorrowe at his heart and so had the Admirall when they sawe that they could not turne Huon from his dangerous Voyage and Enterprize Then Huon armed himselfe and tooke leaue of the Admirall and of the other Lords and of Barnard who made great sorrow for his Coozen Huon who all alone would goe into the Deserts to seeke aduentures When Huon hadde taken his leaue hee was set a shoare and made the signe of a crosse vpon his breasâ— then hee mounted vppon the Mountaine but ere hee was the halfe way a great wind arose vppon the Sea so that the Tempest was great and horrible whereby the cordes and cables of the shippes with the Admirall burst asunder and so perforce they were â—ain to take the Sea and sayle at aduenture as wind and weather would serue them whereuppon they were cast out of that great Sea whereof the Admirall and Barnard and all the other Lordes had great feare and greatly complained for Huon who alone without companie was mounted vppon the Mountaine and as hee was going hee looked downe into the Sea and sawe the maruailous Tempest that was in the Sea so that of two Hundred ships that hee had left there with the Admirall he could then sée no more but two together for al the rest were seperated one from another in great perill and danger Then hée began pitifully to wéepe and complayne for his Wife the faire Escleremond whome he thought then neuer to sée more because hee was in that Desert and sawe the shippes driuen from the land in great feare of loosing Then he kneeled downe and held vp his handes vnto Heauen requiring our Lord God of his pitie and grace to ayd and to giue him comfort that hee might escape from thence aliue and to saue the shippes and to bring them againe in sauegard to the place from whence they departed Then
escape from hence Cain quoth Huon haue no doubt and that I promise thée to kéepe my faith so thou wilt shew mee the manner howe I may depart out of this Desert I shall deliuer thée out of thy torment Then Cain said thou shalt goe by this little path that thou séest héere by vppon thy right hand the which shall bring thée straight to the Sea-side the which is not farre from hence and then goe downe the Mountaine whereas thou shalt find a shippe and therein but one man but before thou doest enter into the shippe blesse thrée times for hée that thou shalt finde there is a Féende of Hell and shewe vnto him howe thou art Cain escaped out of the rowling Tun and bid him to passe thée ouer and say that thou wilt goe and slay all the Christian men that bee in the world and bring their soules into Hell and when hée heareth thée say thus hee wlil passe thée ouer in safetie for it is longe since that hee hath taried for mee because he thinketh that I should escape out of this Tun but thou must take with thée this mall of yron vpon thy necke to the entent that hee shall the better beleeue thee and surely he will then passe thee ouer Cain quoth Huon I pray thee is this of troth that thou hast sayd Fréend quoth Cain I lye neuer a word Now I pray thée seeing I haue shewed thée the manner how thou mayest escape take this Mall of yron and breake asunder this Tunne that I am in that I may be deliuered out of this paine and torment Cain quoth Huon I pray thee to shew mee who is hee that did put thée into this Tun and what is his name Sir quoth Cain know for troth that God of Heauen set me héere because I had displeased him for slaying of my Brother Abell wherefore I haue suffered so much paine and sorow that more I cannot endure and therefore yet againe I pray thee to deliuer mee from hence Cain quoth Huon God forbid that I should deliuer thee séeing our Lord God hath set thee there Know for troth that thou shalt neuer depart from thence except it bee by his commaundement for there thou shalt bee euer for mee I had rather bee periured then to vndoe that thing which God will haue done to punish thee for the euils that thou hast done I knowe well as for the euill that I haue done as in breaking of my promise to thee God will lightly pardon mee for it abide thou there with thy cursed sinnes for sure by mee thou shalt haue none other ayd Chap. CXXI ¶ How Huon departed from Cain and passed the Sea in a Vessell guided by the Diuell who beleeued it had beene Cain and Huon arriued at a Citie called Colanders whereas he found the Admirall of Persia and Barnard his Cozen who had layde siege to the Citie WHen Cain had well vnderstood Huon he said Ah thou false Traytor by whom I am beguiled and mocked thou art not worthy to be beleeued in any thinge that thou sayest thou lyest worse then a Dogge Oh thou false periured Traitour thou hast ill kept thy promise thou art not worthy to bee beleeued Cain quoth Huon other good gettest thou none of mee for thou art not worthie to bee heard when thou hast staine thy deare Brother by false enuie and cursed treason whereof thou art full goe thy way false Traytour too much euill cannot bée done vnto thee bee content with the Tunne that thou art in thou néedest not feare of any refreshing nor of more furthering for mee well hast thou deserued it but within short time thou shalt haue worse paine and sorrow Ah Traytour quoth Cain and false lyer thou hast lost thy part of Paradice Thou lyest quoth Huon vnto thee ought to bee kept neither faith nor promise because thou hast slaine Abell thy Brother wherefore thou art now punished and well hast thou deserued it Ah thou false lier quoth Cain subtilly thou hast deceiued and mocked mee by thy false words and subtilties I see well that thou wilt goe from hence and leaue me still in this paine Certainly quoth Huon that which I promised thee was but to beguile thee for as by mee thou shalt not come out without hee commaund it that set thee heere Well Huon quoth Cain know for certaine that in all thy life thou wert neuer better counsailed for if thou haddest deliuered me out incontinent I would haue strangled thee Ah false Feend quoth Huon yet hast thou no repentaunce of thine euill that thou hast done I will goe my way and thou shalt abide heere still in great pain and torment foreuer therewith Huon departed and tooke the Mall vppon his necke and entred into the little way that Cain had shewed vnto him Now we will leaue speaking of Huon and speake of the Admirall of Persia and of his Armie vppon the Sea Vppon the second day the Tempest ceased and the Sea waxed calme and faire then the shippes drew againe together as it pleased God and arriued at a noble Citie the which was as then in Armeâ—â—â— called Colanders a great and a faire Citie but after it was destroyed by the noble Duke Ogyer the Danoyse he went into Iâ—â—ia The Admirall and his company greatly complayned for Huon whome they had so lost they thought neuer to sée him more and Barnard his Coozen made such sorrow that great pittie it was to see him the Admirall and all his Lords sore wept and pitifully complayned for Huon they thought neuer to see him agayne but hee that our Lord Iesus Christ will haue saued cannot perish for Huon the same time came downe the Mountaine to come vnto the Port whereas the Vessell lay and the Diuell within it When Huon sawe the Vessell and the Feend within it who was so hideous and horrible to behold that it was maruaile to see hee séemed well to bee the Diuell of Hell his head was as great as an Oxe head his eyes more â—edder then two burning coales his téeth great and long and as rough as a Beare hee cast fire and smoake out of his gorge like a Furnace it was no maruaile though Huon doubted him for when hee sawe him so foule hee had great feare and so lent himselfe to a Rocke the better to behold him and then hee blessed him with the signe of the Crosse recommending himselfe to the sauegard of our Lord God but it fortuned so the same time that the enemie sawe him not Ah good Lord quoth Huon I pray and require thee humbly to counsaile mee in what manner I should trust in this foule Féend who is fearfull so behold I maruaile how I might bee acquainted with him whether I might trust to be in the shippe with him certainly I haue great doubt that hee will cast me into the Sea or else slay mee on the other side of the Sea I wotte not what to doe for I must bee faine to trust him or else
to returne into the Desert whereas I shall die with famine and neuer more sée wife nor child but séeing it is thus I shall aduenture my selfe with him and if I may escape from this aduenture I shall goe to the holy Sepulchre whereas our Lorde Iesus Christ was quicke and dead and then I shall make warre vpon the Sarazins Then Duke Huon tooke vppon him heart and courage and with the Mall vppon his necke hee marched foorth fiercely then hee called the enemy and said Oh thou that kéepest this Vessell and passage passe me incontinent ouer this Sea and set me a land vpon the other side When the Diuell sawe Huon with the Mall vppon his necke and speaking so fiercely hee said What art thou whether wilt thou goe or what doest thou seeke for héere or how art thou so bold to come hether thou shalt neuer goe further but I shall cast thee into the Sea or strangle thée and then beare thy Soule into Hell When Huon heard him he beganne to tremble but he was nothing abashed for if he hadde fainted or taried to haue made answeare hee had incontinent béene destroyed and slaine but like a hardy Knight full of great Prowesse and firme in the faith of Iesus Christ sayde Hold thy peace thou Foole for I am Cain for whome thou hast taried héere so long I came euen now out of the rowling Tunne vpon the Mountaine hast thée and passe mée ouer this arme of the Sea for I shall find neither man nor woman that beléeueth in Iesus Christ but I shall slay him to the entent that hell may be filled with their soules When the Féend heard Huon say so he had great ioy and said Cain why hast thou made me tarie héere so long as I haue don I am ioyfull of thy comming for I could neuer haue departed out of this place without thou haddest béen deliuered out of the Tunne therefore Cain come on thy way enter into this Ship presently and I shall bring thée whereas thou wilt be gladly I will passe thée ouer the Sea to the entent that thou shouldest slay Christian men and Sarazins to haue their Soules into hell Then Huon entred into the Ship recommending himselfe to our Lord Iesus Christ and sayde Quickly passe me ouer Before Huon thought that he had gone but two Leagues he was ouer on the other side whereof Huon had great maruaile that hee was so soone ouer and thanked our Lord God that hee was out of that daunger then hee tooke leaue of the enemie and sayde Farewell I will returne againe shortly within these thrée dayes thou shalt heare tidinges of mee and then the Féend answeared shortly and sayd Cain goe thy way quickly and hast thée to the entent that when thou returnest into hell thou shalt haue good chéere of our Maisters who greatly desire thy comming Then Huon departed quickly he thought euer that the Diuell had followed him and hee went so longe that hee approached to a Citie called Colanders glad was Huon when hee had lost the sight of the euill Spirit and in the Euening he entred into the Citie of Colanders with the Mall vppon his necke the Paynims and Sarazins that were within the Citie had great maruaile when he came alone afoote cleane armed into the Citie and among other there was one demaunded of him what hee was and why hee went so alone armed Then Huon answered him fiercely to abash him therewith and said I am Cain who by mine ilnesse slew Abell my Brother wherewith God was angrie with mée but before it bee longe time I shall take such vengeance that as many men or women or children as I find beléeuing in the Lawe of Iesus Christ I shall destroy them all in such wise that the Paynims and Sarazins shall haue no doubt for any euill that they shall doe vnto them for I shall destroy and slay them all neither sparing old nor young When the Paynims heard that they were right ioyfull and that night serued Huon well and made him a great feast because they trusted that hee should destroy all Christendome and saide among themselues that as then hee was welcome thether because the Citie the day before was besieged by the Admirall of Persia Thus Huon had great ioy and feasting made vnto him and after Supper he was brought into a faire and rich Chamber wherein hee lay and slept soundly vntill the next morning Chap. CXXII ¶ How Huon of Bourdeaux had great ioy when he sawe the Admirall of Persia before Colanders where he fought with the Sarazins AFTER that the Admirall of Persia had left Huon in the Desert of Abillaunt and how he had a great storme vppon the sea and at last their Shippes assembled together and arriued at the Port before the Citie of Colanders in the which Citie Huon was now in who was right ioyfull when he knew that the Admirall was come thether to lay siege to the Citie and the Admirall and his companie was sorrowfull because they had lost Huon and especially Barnard his coozen for he thought neuer to haue seene him againe but hee had shortly tidinges of him as yée shall heare after When the Admirall was arriued at the Port they armed themselues and ordained their men as well as they might to assayle the citie of Colanders They yssued out of their Shippes and came marching towards the City and made a great assault and then the Paynims and Sarazins armed them on all sides and went to their defences then the Captaine of the Towne came vnto Huon and said Come on foorth Cain it is time for you to shew what you can doe for héere without are christian men assayling the Citie I pray you spare them not for wee haue great trust in you Sirs quoth Huon séeing I am in this citie yée néede not to feare any person anon yée shall sée what I can doe Cain quoth the captaine I pray you goe on before and wee shall followe you Well quoth Huon with this Mall I shall astone them all the Paynims had great ioy of his words wéening surely it had been Cain Then Huon armed himselfe and hee had a good horse brought vnto him whereuppon hee mounted then he and the Paynims yssued out of the citie and found as then the Admirall of Persia and all his companie readie arriued in Battaile And when hee sawe that the Sarazins were yssued out hee sette vppon them fiercely and Huon who was ioyfull of the aduenture that was fallen to him hee stept out apart to behold the battaile and wold not meddle because hee had beene so well receiued and feasted in the citie by them of the Towne and hee well perceiued that the assaults were of the Realme of Persia and howe the Admirall and his coozen Barnard were there whereof he had such ioy that hee wept for gladnesse and thanked God of the good fortune that he had sent him and said Ah good Lord thou oughtest greatly to be praysed for thou neuer
faylest them at time of néede that serue thée nowe I may well say that with thy gracious ayd yet I shall once more see my Wife and my child thus Huon saide to himselfe beholding both Battailes fighting Chap. CXXIII ¶ How the City of Colanders was taken by the Admirall of Persia after he hadde wonne the Battaile and of the great ioy that was made vnto Huon when hee was knowne by the Admirall of Persia and his Cozen Barnard WHen the Admirall of Persia sawe and perceiued that they of the Towne were yssued out he marched foorth his Battailes and set vpon his enemies there was great slaughter made on both parts but at the last they of the Citie had the worst for the christian men were of a greater number then the Paynims and Sarazins that were yssued out wherefore they were constrained to graunt the Victorie to their enemies the Paynims retired fled towards their citie and the Admirall Barnard with their company chaced slew them that it was pity to sée it Finally the Admirall oppressed them so sore that hee entred into the Citie with them and Barnard and his companie and slew and beat down the Sarazins that great maruaile it was to see the bloud that ranne through the stréets When the Admirall saw that hee had the victorie then hée commaunded to cease slaying and that all such as would beleeue in our Lorde God their liues should bee saued and their goods and so all such as would not bee christened should bee slaine incontinent and none spared the which was done many of them receiued Christendome and as many as woulde not receiue it were all slaine Thus as this Citie was taken then Huon who was entred into the Citie with the Admirals men came to the Pallaice whereas hee sawe the Admirall and all the Barons and Barnard his Coozen Huon had still his Mall vppon his necke and when he came into the Hall he put off his helmet and saluted the Admirall and all the other that were there When the Admirall and his Lords saw Huon the great ioy that they had no tongue can tell Oh right déere and vertuous Knight quoth the Admirall your comming doth so reioyce me that I cannot tell whether I dreame or not you are much bound vnto God that hee hath giuen you the grace to saue you from perill Then the Admirall embraced Huon and you may well know that Barnard his Coozen had great ioy and so had all the other and then the Admirall sayd vnto Huon Sir I pray you to shew mee what aduentures you haue had since you departed from vs Then Huon shewed them all as yée haue heard héere before and how he escaped When the Admirall and the other vnderstood Huon they were neuer so amazed and abashed in all their liues of that hée was so escaped from the handes of the Diuell and sayd that hée was much bound vnto God they were all glad and right ioyfull for the comming of Huon and especially Barnard Then the Captaine of the Citie who had newly receiued Christendome came vnto Huon and sayd Sir I require you to desire the Admirall to bée my good Lord and Maister for I promised faithfully to abide heere in this Towne as his good and true Seruant keeping firmely the christian faith the which I haue newly receiued When Huon saw the Captaine who had receiued him into his house at his first comming into the Citie he went vnto the Admirall and said Sir I require you to giue the keeping of this Citie vnto this noble man and he to hold it as his owne and to doe homage vnto you for it Sir quoth the Admirall all that you will I am agréeable vnto I graunt it him for the loue of you Then Huon thanked the Admirall the Captaine seeing the great and rich guift that the Admirall had giuen vnto him for the loue of Huon he had great maruaile of the great Larges and courtesie that was done vnto him by the meanes of Huon and then hee kneeled downe before them and thanked them and did homage vnto the Admirall in the presence of all the Lordes and Barons and promised truely to keepe the Citie against all men that would doe any dammage thereunto nor neuer to yeeld it vp vnto any person but all onely vnto the Admirall or vnto him that shall haue his Commission thus as yee haue heard the Citie of Colanders was taken Chap. CXXIIII ¶ Howe the Admirall of Persia and Huon of Bourdeaux and all their Hoast passed by Antioch and by Damas and came to the Citie of Ierusalem to the holy Sepulchre and was nobly receiued by the King of Ierusalem and howe the Souldans Messenger came and defied the Admirall of Persia WHen the Admirall and Huon saw this Citie wonne and brought vnder their obeysance and hadde established there a newe Lorde and Captaine and set Prouostes and Baylifes and other Officers then they tooke aduise together determined since they were a â—and to send backe againe their Nauie of shippes into Persia and they to goe by land to the Citie of Ierusalem for they hadde from thence as they were but Tenne dayes iourney vnto Antioch and so to passe by that Citie and then vnto Damas and so to Ierusalem and there to doe their offering and if by aduenture they founde in their way either Kings or Admirals that would let or trouble them in their passing they sayd that they were of puissance sufficient to resist against them and then they sayd howe that from Ierusalem the Admirall might returne by land into Persia vnto the Riuer of Euphrates and there his Nauie to méet him and so to conuay him vnto his Citie of Thauris and Huon to returne vnto laffe and from thence by water to returne into Fraunce Thus they concluded to doe the which aduise was lauded and praised of all the Lordes and Barons of the Hoast After this conclusion thus taken the Admirall commaunded his shippes to be discharged of all thinges necessary to be caried by lande the which was done diligently according to his commaundement their horses were sette a lande and their Tents and Pauillions trussed vppon Mules and Cammels and Dromodaries the which cariage séemed a great Hoast there were so many together the noyse and brute that they made séemed to be a new world and when all the shippes were discharged the Patrons and Maisters of the Shippes tooke their leaue of the Admirall who commaunded them expresly to abide for him in the Riuer of Euphrates and so they did accordingly Nowe lette vs leaue speakinge of them and returne vnto our former matter When these Shippes were departed and euerie thinge trussed then the Admirall commaunded through-out all the Countrey that all Marchants and other able to doe it should send after his Hoast bread wine and flesh and bisket to vittaile his Hoast and the charge to sée this done was giuen to the newe Admirall of the Citie of Colanders the which he did diligently
When the Admirall of Persia sawe his time to depart he made it to bee proclaimed through-out the Citie by a Trumpet that euery man should make him ready to depart the next morning to goe whether it pleased the Admirall this was done so that at an houre before the next day there was great brute and noise made in the remoouing then the Admirall and Huon made them readie and mounted vppon their horses and yssued out of 〈◊〉 Citie and eâ—tred into the féelds and then the whole Hoast tooke the way towards Antioch Of their iourneys I make no 〈◊〉 fall they road foorth so that they passed by low Armenia 〈◊〉 thâ— hye Ermine and so vpon a Monday they came before 〈◊〉 whereas they lodged that night a longe by the the 〈…〉 without that any person of the Citie made any 〈…〉 or to let them but they brought out of the 〈…〉 bread wine and flesh and other thinges 〈…〉 their companie whereof the Admirall and Huon 〈…〉 ioyfull and gaue them great thankes and for that 〈…〉 woulde not suffer that any of his Hoast 〈…〉 hurt or dammage vnto any person of the Citie 〈…〉 buy when they had dyned they tooke their way to 〈◊〉 the Citie of Damas and as they went thether-ward they â—ooke certaine Townes and Castles and brought them vnder their obeysance and such as were taken perforce and 〈◊〉 not beléeue in our Sauiour and Redeemer Iesus Christ incontinent they were all slaine and brought to vtter ruine and destroyed 〈◊〉 wasting and destroying the Countrey in their way at last they came before the Citie of Damas. When they came thether they lodged about the Citie in the Gardens and 〈◊〉 and constrained them within the Citie to bringe them 〈…〉 the which they did for doubt of the destroying of their 〈…〉 and fruits there they lay one night and the next day 〈…〉 the way to Ierusalem and hadde diuers Battailes by the way but they were of so great puissance that none could 〈…〉 them So longe roade this christian Hoast that they came and lodged before Nâ—pelous and there left their hoast then the next morning the Admirall and Huon and diuers of the great Lords and Barons of Persia accompanied with them 〈◊〉 from Napelous to the number of foure Thousand valiâ—â—â— Knights to guard them into the Citie of Ierusalem thether they came about noone whereas they were receiued with great ioy of Kinge Thibault and of the Patriarke and Arch-priest who as then were in the Citie of Ierusalem whome the Emperour Constantine had left there and ordered for the keeping of the Citie When the Admirall of Persia and Duke Huon and Barnard and other went and offered to the holy Sepulchre then they went to the Temple of Salomon and vnto the holy Temple of Simeon whereas they made their offerings and the next Pilgrimages vnto all the holy places in the Citie with great deuotion and reuerence When they had accomplished their holy Pilgrimages they returned to the Pallaice of the King of Ierusalem whereas they were greatly feasted and honourably receiued of their seruice I will make none account but one thing I dare well say that there was neuer Kinge nor Admirall better serued And as they sat at dinner there entred a Sarazin â—oule and blacke called Trampoiguyffle the which is as much to saye as Balaach Then he said a hye before the Table the same God that made the Firmament and that downe to vs sent his holy Prophet Mahomet to teach vs his holy Lawe he saue and keepe Saphadin Souldan of Babilon and of Egipt and may confound them that be his enemies To the Admirall of Persia and of Media the Souldan sendeth word by mée that wrongfully and without cause thou goest and destroyest his Countrey and his people not giuing him any knowledge why thou doest so therefore by me he sendeth thee word that am his secret Messenger that he will assigne vnto thee the day of battaile that is vpon Thursday next comming between Rames and lafte whereas there is a plaine Countrey and hée will that thou knowest for certaine that if he take thée thou shalt be hanged and slaine all quicke and neuer sée faire day more and al other that I sée heere sitting at this Table Chap. CXXV ¶ Of the answere that the Admirall of Persia and of Media made vnto the Souldans Messenger and of the report that he made vnto his Maister WHen the Admirall had well heard and vnderstood the Souldans Messenger he beganne to smile and said Tell thy Maister that I set nothing by his threatning nor by nothing that he can do nor I will not leaue for all his saying to destroy and to take his Townes and his Castles and to slay all them that will not beleeue in the Lawe of Iesus Christ and say vnto him from me that I am not in minde to retire backe but by the ayde of God my creatour I shall come and meete with him so that he shall not neede to tarrie for mee and I shall fight with him my puissance against his to shew him howe they can doe that beleeue in Iesus Christ Goe thy way and say vnto thy Maister that he shall not find me flying for any feare that I haue of any man beléeuing in the false and detestable fayth of Mahomet Then the Admirall commaunded to giue the Messenger meate and drinke and fortie Florents the Messenger refused it not but tooke it and thanked the Admirall and when hee had dyned he taried not night nor day vntill hee came to the Citie of Gasere whereas he found the Souldan and al his Armie the which was a great number for they were a Hundred Thousand men and all they threatened the death of the Admirall of Persia but it is a comon saying that many things lacketh of foolish thoughts and so did they When the Messenger was arriued at Gasere hee came before the Souldan and made his reporte what answeare the Admirall had made him and when the Souldan had well heard and vnderstood the Messenger hee hadde great maruaile of the great outrage that hee thought to be in the Admirall of Persia in that hee durst abide him and sware by his Lawe that if hée might haue the vpper-hand of the Admirall that he would slay him quicke Then he commanded his Hoast to dislodge and to take the way towardes Escalonne the which they did Chap. CXXVI ¶ Howe the Admirall of Persia sent for his men that lay at Napelous and caused them to withdrawe towards Rames and howe they departed from Ierusalem and howe he went to fight with his enemies AFter that Trampoiguyfle the Messenger was departed from Ierusalem and returned to his Master the Souldan then the Admirall of Persia and Huon of Bourdeaux who were in the Pallaice with the Kinge of Ierusalem thether they called all their counsaile and when they were all assembled the Admirall sayd Sirs I pray you to counsaile me in what manner I shall vse my selfe to goe
the Souldan cryed and sayd Sirs vppon him great shame it is vnto you all when by the bodie of one man you are so put barke and you sée well that he hath no succour goe and slay the Mare that hee rydeth vppon with speares and darts then he shall be soone ouercome and you know well that it is he whome I haue suffered at my great losse and dammage it is he that hath slaine my men and by him I haue lost the Battaile if he escape from you yée ought neuer to be séene in any Princes Court When the Paynims and Sarazins had well vnderstood their Souldan then they sore oppressed Huon who did great maruailes in armes but his puissance vertue should but little haue auailed him if he had not béen shortly aided succoured and also by reason of the rich stones and pearles that were vppon him then the Paynims and Sarazins who of fortie were left aliue but twentie eight they saw well that they could not ouercome Huon without they slew the Mare first that hee road vppon therefore they cast at her Darts and Iauelins in such wise that finally they slew her vnder him whereof Huon was right sorrowfull and sore displeased and was as then in great feare of his life then he called vppon our Lord Iesus Christ to haue pitie and compassion of his soule for he saw that his life was at an end and said Deare Lord Iesus Christ I pray thee by thy swéet mercie to haue pitie and compassion of my Wife Escleremond who is in great perrill and pouertie for the loue of mee without any desert of her part and also I recommend into thy sauegard my litle Daughter Clariet After that Huon had made his praier vnto our Lord God he tooke his shéeld and his sword in his hand afoote and he saw where there grew a bush he went thether and set his backe thereunto that the Sarazins and Paynims should not come behind him and so he stood at a bay like a wild Boare baited with Houndes there was not so hardy a Paynim or Sarazin that durst assayle him they cast at him speares and darts but they could neuer hurt his flesh he couered himselfe so well and so surely with his sheeld that nothing could pierce him The Souldan séeing that nothing could hurt him he said to his men Ah yée false and vntrue Cowards of Mahomet be yée cursed when yée cannot slay nor take one man alone and then the Souldan approached vnto Huon and gaue him a great stroake so that he brake his sheeld in two peeces whereof Huon then was in great feare of death Then the Souldan drew backe and looked behind him into the playnes of Rames wheras the great Battaile had beene and then hee sawe comming the Admirall of Persia with twentie Thousand men and they came to seeke for Huon and when the Souldan sawe that succour was comming vnto Huon the which he knew by reason of the great baner of Persia then the Souldan said vnto his men Sirs let vs leaue this enemie who by force of armes cannot be ouercome nor vanquished let vs saue our liues for yonder I sée comming the Admirall of Persia and if we tarie long héere we shal be all slaine and destroyed Néere vnto them was the sea-side about a League from Iaffe the way towardes Surrey there was ready a Galley the which the Souldan had sent thether from the Citie of Escalonne the Souldan road thether and his men left and did forsake Huon who was right wearie and could not long haue endured nor had not endured so longe but for the vertue of the riche stones and pearles that were about him The Souldan to saue his life hee and his men did so much that they came vnto the place whereas the Galley was and entred into it in as great hast as they could by any meanes for the sauegard of their liues and they did forsake their horses vppon the Sea-side Chap. CXXVIII ¶ How the Admirall of Persia and of Media found Huon wheras he had fought with Fortie men Sarazins and how the Souldan fled to Acres and how the Admirall of Persia and Media besieged him there and of the strange Vision that Huon had in the night AFter that the Souldan was thus fled and departed the Admirall of Persia and Media came to the place whereas Huon was sore wearie of trauaile and sawe lying about him a great number of men slaine whereof they had great maruaile the Admirall séeing Huon alone began sore to wéepe for pitie and for ioy that hee hadde and saide Oh right noble and valiant Knight most excellent of all other liuing in the world to whom in Prowesse and valour none can bee compared you are the mirrour of all Knightes the Temple of truth the comfort of widdowes and Orphelings to whom God hath giuen so great vertue and grace that none can report the bountie that is in you by whome the honour of the Persians and Medians this daye is saued and kept I desire you right hartely my deare Freend to shew mée if you haue any hurt whereby you should bee in any perill or daunger Sir quoth Huon it appertaineth not vnto me to haue such hie words or prayses to be giuen I ought to haue none other praise but as one of your other Knightes whereof you haue so many noble and valiant that they cannot be numbred but Sir know for troth this grace and glorie commeth of our Lord God who hath aided and succored you reporting how that you haue in him perfect affiance and then the Admirall alighted and came and embraced Huon and after him came Barnard sore wéeping for compassion and for ioy that he had found his Coozen Huon in sauegard and came and kissed him more then ten times and sayd My right deare Lord and Maister well you may thanke our Lord God for his goodnesse alwayes towardes you who hath saued you from so many perilous and dangerous aduentures whereof I thanke our Lord Iesus Christ that hath giuen you such grace and then he was of all the Barons greatly feasted and they had al great maruaile of the perils and aduentures that Huon had escaped wherefore they sayde that they ought greatly to laud praise God in that Huon was arriued in their Countrey by whome they were reduced and brought to beléeue in the faith of Iesus Christ Thus deuised the Lordes and Barons amonge themselues and behelde the dead men that lay about Huon and when they had beene there for a season and sawe that the Souldan was fledde then a Horse was brought vnto Huon and hee mounted vppon him and then they departed from thence and came vnto the place whereas the Battaile hadde béene whereas they found thrée-score and fourtéene Thousand men lye dead vppon the earth beside them that were slaine in the flying in that chace whereas there were slaine twelue Thousand men besides the Prisoners Great goods the Persians and Medians wanne there
the which was parted and deuided to such as it appertained so that they were all made rich Then the Admirall and Huon departed from the playnes of Rames and then they went and lodged in the Towne and in the morning they determined to tarie there three dayes to refresh them and vppon the fourth day they departed because it was shewed them how that the Souldan was departed from Sayre and gone by sea with a small companie to the Citie of Acres Then the Admirall and Huon drewe their Hoast towards Napelous and there taried two dayes and from thence they went to Iene and so to the Citie of Nazareth and visited that holy place whereas the Angell brought the salutation Angel-like to the Virgin Marie Then from thence they went to the Castle of Saffet and tooke it with assault and slew all them that were within it except such as would beléeue in our Lord Iesus Christ and then from thence they went and lodged within halfe a League of Acres and there pitcht vp their Tents and Pauillions and when they were all lodged their Foragers ranne abroad and brought to the Hoast great plentie of victuals often times they skirmished before the Citie of Acres But they coulde neither finde man nor woman that durst yssue out to doe any deede of armes there they lay eight dayes and no man did them any dammage for the Paynims and Sarazins were so affraid for the great losse and dammage that they had suffered that they durst not stirre nor make any semblance And the Souldan who was within wrote Letters into all his Countreys as well into Arabia Egipt Barbary and Europe as to all other his Fréends that they would come and succour him at his neede he sent diuers Messengers both by land and by sea and also hée sent into Antioch and into Damas and to all other places wheras he thought to haue any ayd or succour and vpon a day two Foragers of the Admirals went foorth vppon the Sea-side and they found by the way Trampoiguiffle the Souldans Messenger they tooke and brought him into the Admirals Tent and there hee was examined and his Letters taken from him the which were seene and read before the Admirall and Huon the which when they heard it and the contents therof thereby they knewe somewhat of the Souldans counsaile then they tooke the Messenger and brought him before the Citie of Acres and made there a paire of Gallowes and hanged vp the Messenger within the sight of the Souldan and of them there within the Citie The same day the Admirall assembled his Lordes and Barons in his Tent and said vnto them Sirs all you that bee heere assembled know that I haue great desire to know what thing is best to be done and how we shall vse our selues in this warre that we haue begunne you know well that the Victorie by the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and by the hye prowesse of Huon wee haue now obtained and haue heere our enemie inclosed who cannot flye except it be by the sea therefore I desire you all that euerie one of you will shew your aduise what is best to be done and that to morrowe about this time to giue me an answeare Then all the Lordes and Barons aduised together and so amonge them was diuers opinions and reasons howbeit they departed euerie man to their owne lodging because they had day of answeare and the next day following thus the day passed without any thinge done and at night euerie man went to rest except such as had the charge of the watch that night who went not to bed as is the order and custome of the warres Huon taried all that night in the Admirals Tent and about the houre of midnight Huon dreamed in his sleepe and thought that he was at the Citie of Mayence in prison and sawe the Emperour of Almaine take Escleremond his Wife out of prison and she séemed vnto him pale and leane and ill coloured and howe shee was in her Kirtle and her haire hanging about her shoulders and ten men leading her out of the Town to be burnt and he thought that she made pitious complaints for Huon her Husband and for Clariet her Daughter And also hee thought that he saw passe through the streets three Hundred Genlemen who had beene taken at Bourdeaux when the Citie was taken and he thought that he saw diuers Gallowes made and howe the Emperour had sworne to hang them all so that hee thought that hee was right sorrowful and sore gréeued in his mind to see that companie led toward their deaths for in his sleepe hee thought verily that all this had beene true and that he could not helpe it Thus as Huon was in this paine sleeping he gaue an horrible crie so that the Admirall and Barnard awoake therewith in hast thinkinge it had beene their enemies that had entred to haue slaine them then they heard Huon say Oh good Lord I pray thée euen for thy Sons sake and by thy pittie and grace to succour and comfort my good Wife for certainly I cannot tell but my heart thinketh that the false Emperour will cause her to die and all the other Prisoners Then the Admirall and Barnard arose vp and came vnto Huon and had well heard his complaints and sayd Ah Sir discomfort not your selfe nor giue no faith nor credence to dreames for the Emperour will neuer doe such a villany as to put to death so noble a Ladie it is nothinge but your thought and remembraunce that you haue dayly the which in the night representeth vnto you sléeping Ah Sir quoth Huon I cannot beleeue but that my Wife hath somewhat to do Alas too long haue I taried here but if your warres were at an end I would gladly go my way for I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart vntill I may knowe the troth Then they arose for it was day and the appointed houre was come that al the Lords of the counsaile should assemble together in the Admirals Tent and euerie man sat downe vppon benches well couered with cloath of gold and other rich clothes of silke and when they were there assembled the Marshall arose vp for he was a right sage wise man and sayd Sir Admirall wee haue communed together and debated the matter at length and wee haue had diuers opinions but wee bee all concluded to say nothing vntill that Huon who is there by you hath shewed first his opinion what hee thinketh is best to bee done in this matter for it is good reason that hee bee heard to speake first and then the Admirall beheld Huon and sayd My deare Freend you heare what my Lordes and Barons haue concluded together and how they all rest vppon you that first you shall say your aduise wherefore I require you for the loue of our Lord God to shewe mee what I ought to doe as you thinke best Chap. CXXIX ¶ How Huon of Bourdeaux counsailed the Admirall of Persia to
rayse vp his siege before Acres for diuers reasons and to returne into Persia WHen Huon hadde well vnderstood the Admirall and that he had well heard the Lordes and Barons that their opinions was that they would not speake vntill hee had first shewed his aduise and opinion then hee said vnto the Admirall Sir if it be your pleasure I ought not to beginne first this reason for you haue many Lordes that can speake better in this matter then I but séeing that it is your pleasure and theirs I shall shewe vnto you shortly mine aduise and as I would doe if I were as you are Then Duke Huon of Bourdeaux sayd Sir Admirall of Persia and of Media it is a long season since you departed from your Countrey Landes and Signiories and not without great trauaile and much paine and that God hath done you that grace that with one Armie all you haue passed and taken Castles and haue slaine and destroyed the Countreys and men of the Souldans of Babilon and of Egipt and haue béen at the holy Citie of Ierusalem the which is in the middest of his Countrey after that the Souldan hath fought with you with people innumerable whom you haue discomfited and slaine almost all they that were with him And also God hath giuen you the grace that you are safely escaped with little losse or dammage and now you haue in this Citie before vs besieged and inclosed in the Souldan your enemie who night and day doth imagine howe hee may recouer his losse as you may well knowe by his Letters sent by his Messengers the which you haue séene and red the contents of the same And Sir you may well thinke that hee hath sent diuers other Messengers aswell by Land as by Sea to his Fréendes to seeke for succour and for ayd in the intention to bee reuenged of you wherefore I counsaile you séeing you are so farre off from your Countrey as shortly as you can to depart from hence and to rayse your siege and to returne into your owne Countrey your men be wearie and sore trauailed and the Souldan is in his owne Countrey hée will alwayes assemble great numbers of people and alwayes hee may haue succour and victuals the which you cannot doe nor haue for héere without great paine you shall haue no victuall for the Country is sore fowled and oppressed and you can haue no succour from any part wherefore of necessitie you must depart the which you may doe without any losse For you may passe the Riuer of Euphrates before his people bee assembled to doe you any dammage and when the spring time of the yeare commeth if it bee your pleasure you may returne with such number of men as you shall thinke best for you are of puissance so to doe Sir this that I say is for nothing that I would forsake or leaue you as long as you be in these parts I had rather die although it be so as you well knowe that the thing that I ought most to desire is to depart from you and to goe into my owne Countrey whereas I haue left my Wife my Daughter and my Countrey in great pouertie and daunger of death and destruction Chap. CXXX ¶ Howe the Admirall of Persia agreed well to the counsaile of Duke Huon of Bourdeaux and praised his saying and of the faire offer that the Admirall of Persia made vnto Duke Huon of Bourdeaux WHen the Admirall had well hearde and vnderstoode Huon hee behelde his Lordes and all wéeping saide Sirs all you that be my men you haue all well heard Duke Huon who hath shewed his aduice and opinion and therefore I commaund and desire you all to shewe mee what you thinke by the saying of Huon then they all with one voice sayd Sir a more noble or profitabler counsaile no mortall man can giue for your wealth and suerty of your person and of vs all there was neuer man spake better and therefore all we pray and counsaile you to vphold the counsaile that hee hath giuen you Then the Admirall séeing that all his Lordes and Barons agréed to the counsaile that Huon had giuen him hee sayd Sirs as for mée since yoâ—â—re agréed thereunto I am readie to beléeue all good counsaile there was neuer a higher counsaile giuen vnto any Kinge or Prince and when the Admirall had saide howe that hee would beleeue the counsaile that Huon had giuen him hee called then Huon vnto him and sayd Sir Duke of Bourdeaux the pillar shéeld and sword of the Christian faith and the Defendour of the Persians and Medians I knowe well that by right I ought not to kéepe you for it is good reason that you returne thether where as you were borne and to ayde and comfort your true Spouse and Wife for whome you be in great discomfort and not without cause and therefore for the goodnesse and honour that wée haue found in you wée offer to goe with you in our owne proper persons with all our Armie and more to the number inestimable and to aide to reuenge you of the false Emperour of Almaine who hath doone to you so much ill and dammage or else if you will returne vnto vs into Persia at this next springe time we shall deliuer vnto you such puissance and my selfe to goe with them into Almaine so that the Valleys and Mountaines shall bee full of people and wee shall doe so much by the grace of our Lord God that wée shall deliuer the Emperour into your hands to doe with him at your pleasure When Huon had well heard and vnderstood the Admirall of Persia and of Media who offered him so great an offer hée sayd Sir of the courtesâ—e and kindnesse that you offer mee I thanke you with all my heart God forbid that I should be the causer of destruction of Christian bloude first I will assay with all swéetnesse and reasonable offers as much as in mee is possible to doe to present and offer vnto the Emperour to the entent that I may attaine to his loue and to haue peace the which thinge I will and desire to doe with all my heart And if it be so that he will not encline neither to right nor reason then Huon will come to you and vnto all other that I thinke or knowe to bee my Fréends and then desire you all of your courtesies for ayd and succour Chap. CXXXI ¶ How Duke Huon of Bourdeaux tooke his leaue of the Admirall and of all the other Lordes of Persia and went and tooke shipping at the Port of Thesayre and how he arriued at Marsellis without finding of any strange aduenture WHen the Admirall had well vnderstood Huon he sayd My right deare and wel-beloued Fréend I giue you good thankes of that you say you may bee sure that if you haue any neede and that you can make no appointment with the Emperour the offers that I haue made vnto you I shall vphold and succour you in mine ownâ— person Sir
quoth Huon I most hartely thanke you for I am much bound vnto you wherefore I am yours Then the Admirall tooke Huon by the hande and sayd Sir I see well that wee two must part the which gréeneth mée sore but since it is thus I must suffer it and I knowe well that you thinke longe vntill you bee gone the seruice that you haue done vnto mee I cannot recompence it for our twâ—â— wayes are contrarie yours is by water and mine is by land And therefore at the Port of Thesayre there is a riche Shippe the which was wonne vppon the Souldans men I giue her to you enter into her at your pleasure and therewith I giue you tenne Somers charged with gould and Tenne other charged with cloathes of gold and silke and you may take with you all the French men that be in this hoast such as followed vs when we departed from Ierusalem lette them goe with you into their Countrey and after that you are departed I shall rayse my siege and returne into Persia Sir quoth Huon of your guift and of your courtesie I thanke you Then the Admirall sent these Somers to the Port of Thesayre and there all the riches were put into the Shippe that were giuen vnto Huon and then hee deliuered to Huon to serue him all the Pilgrims that were there of Fraunce the Admirall gaue them rich guifts whereof they were right ioyfull and of the faire aduenture that was fallen vnto them for they had more monney at their departing then they hadde when the came out of their owne Countrey whereof they thanked the Admirall and promised to doe true seruice vnto Huon and not to leaue him vntill he had atchieued all his businesse Then Huon made him readie and tooke with him tâ—â— great Griffens foote and the Admirall and his Constables and Marshals and the other Lordes of the Hoast leapt vppon their Horses and conuayed Huon and his companie to the Port of Thesayre whereas his shippe was readie fournished with victuall and other things appertaining thereto then Huon all wéeping tooke his leaue of the Admirall and of the other Lords and Barons for whose departing they were right sorrowfull and so returned to their Hoast before Acres deuising of the great valour prowesse and courtesâ—e that was in Huon Then the Admirall commaunded priuily the next morning to dislodge and depart the which was done Thus the Admirall departed from the Citie of Acres and tooke his way towards Persia and he found vppon the Citie of Euphrates all his shippes and so with them hee sayled into his owne Countrey And Huon and Barnard his Coozen and diuers other Knightes and Squiers of Fraunce and when they were in their shippe they weighed vp their anchors and made sayle Then they passed the Gulfe of Sathale and then passed by the Rhodes and by Sardaine and so long they sayled without danger or lette that they came and arriued at the Port of Marsellâ—s and there they went a shoare with great ioy and discharged the shippe and then Huon gaue the shippe to the Patron that had brought them thether whereby the Patron was riche and thanked Huon When they were all a land they conuayed all their baggage into their Lodging in the Towne whereas they rested about eight dayes Nowe let vs leaue to speake of Huon and of them that were with him and let vs speake of the Abbot of Cluny Chap. CXXXII ¶ How the good Abbot of Cluny layd an ambushment of men of armes betweene Mascon and Tournous against the Emperour of Almaines Nephewe who was there slaine and all his men whereof the Emperour was so sore vexed and troubled that hee tooke the Duchesse Escleremond out of prison to haue burnt her and the three Hundred Prisoners of Bourdeaux to haue hanged them all YEE haue well heard in this Historie how Barnard departed from the Abbey of Cluny to go and search for his Nephew Huon and the Abbot seeinge that hee coulde heare no newes of Huon nor of Barnard his Coozen who was gone to séeke for him he was right sorrowfull and sore displeased that he could haue none other knowledge but the thing that caused him to passe the matter the more easier was because of Clariet Huons Daughter whome he kept and shee was all his comfort she was so faire and so swéet that none were like her in beauty and in good vertues and againe when hee remembred the Duchesse her mother Escleremond whome he knew was in great pouertie and miserie he was therewith so sore displeased that all his members trembled So vppon a day it was reported vnto him by a notable man that as he came from Saint Iames and by Bourdeaux how that a Nephew of the Emperours should goe from Bourdeaux to the Citie of Mayence to his Vncle Tirrey the Emperour of Almaine and howe hee should haue with him a great number of the Burgesses of the Citie of Bourdeaux as Prisoners because vppon a day they spake of Huon their naturall Lord and also how that he should carie with him the Tribute and monney of the Rents and Reuenewes of the Countrey of Burdeloys and such monney as euerie man was bound to paye vnto the Emperour When the good Abbot of Cluny was aduertised of the comming of the Emperours Nephew whome he reputed as his enemie hee assembled a great number of noble men the most part appertaining vnto the Duke of Burgoyne who as then was Father to Gerard of Roussellon being at that time but three yeares of age and when the Abbot had assembled a great number of men he chose the Lord of Vergier to be Captaine and leader of that companie and then he sent out his Spies to knowe certainely which way the Emperours Nephewe should come and at the last hee had certaine knowledge that hee was lodged at Mascon and the next day he should depart to Tournous and then the Lord of Vergier and diuers other by the commaundement of the Abbot of Cluny went and layde their ambushment betwéene Mascon and Tournous in a Valley so that by their Spies who laye vppon a Mountaine they sawe the Almaines comming about the number of two Thousand horses and the Lord of Vergier hadde in his companie aboue three Thousand horses defencibly apparelled and they were right ioyfull when they heard by their Spies that their enemies were comming then they apparelled themselues to abide their enemies who were come so forwarde that they were past their first ambushment and were entred into the Valley When they of the first ambushment and they of the second ambushment sawe their time they yssued out and brake vpon their enemies and made a great crie so that within a short space their enemies and the most part of them were slaine not one that escaped but either he was slaine or taken they could not saue themselues because vppon the one side was the Mountaine and vpon the other side the Riuer of Some and before and behinde their enemies
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
your good husband Huon is come on this side of the Sea whome you shall sée within short time When the good Ladie had well vnderstood Gloriand shee had such ioy that of a great space she could speake no word shee was so rauished but at last she said Sir I ought greatly to loue you for bringing me such tidings and then they sayde vnto her Madame rest you héere a season vntill wee haue deliuered the other Prisoners whome we sée yonder leading toward their deaths and shortly we shall returne againe vnto you Therewith they departed from the Ladie and left her vpon her knées holding vp her handes vnto Heauen and deuoutly rendring thankes to our Lord Iesus Christ for the succor and aide that he had sent her Then Gloriand and Mallabron came to the Gallowes and there vnloozed the thrée Hundred Prisoners and sâ—ew diuers of them that were sent thether to doe execution whereof all they that were there present had great maruaile and did woonder thereat when they saw their company slaine and could not sée them that did it but they thought that there were a Thousand Knights by reason of the great brute and noyse that the two Knights of the Fayrie made whereof they had such feare that they fled away and ranne to the Emperour who was sore dismayed and abashed of that aduenture for it was also shewed vnto him that the Ladie was rescued and they could not tell by whom but they sayd that they heard a great brute and noyse then also the Emperour saw how the people came running towards him flying from the Gallowes and they shewed to him all that they had séen and heard wherof the Emperour and all his Lordes had great feare and were sore abashed Ah Sir quoth the Duke of Austrich it hadde beene better for you to haue beleeued Duke Hildebert your Coozen knowe surely that you haue greatly displeased our Lord Iesus Christ since that you would doe such cruell iustice in the holy time of Lent Thus after these two Knights of the Fayrie hadde rescued the good Ladie and the other Prisoners they tooke them and the Ladie and brought them vnto the Emperour and shewed themselues openly and when they were in the presence of the Emperour and the Prisoners with them and the Emperour saw that there were but twoo Knightes armed vppon horse-backe hee set little by them and said How are you so bolde and so hardy to deliuer and to take out of my mens handes those that are condemned to die by iustice and besides that you haue slaine many of my men and nowe bringe them into my presence whom I haue condemned to die wherefore I will that you well know that before I eat or drinke you and all they shal be hanged and the Ladie Escleremond burned nor I shall not depart from hence vntill I haue seen you all dye the death Then Gloriand and Mallabron lifted vp their visors and shewed their faces and they séemed vnto all them that sawe them that they neuer sawe before two so faire Knightes in all their liues Then Gloriand sayde vnto the Emperour Sir of you nor of your threatninges wee make thereof but little account but Sir knowe for troth that the noble King Oberon commandeth you by vs in as much as you feare your life that you bee not so hardy any further to doe any ill or iniurie nor commaund to bee done vnto this noble Ladie that is heere present nor to these other Prisoners vntill Easter day bee past And also Kinge Oberon commaundeth you that you doe keepe this Ladie in your house cloathed and apparelled and as well gouerned and to bee accompanied with Ladies and Damsels to serue her honourably as well as if she were your owne proper Daughter and that in like wise these Prisoners to be newly arrayed and ordered aswell as other Knights of your house and Sir we warne and charge you that in this that wee haue sayd that you do not the contrarie for any thing that may fall for if you do otherwise there is no mortall man shall saue your life thus the right noble Kinge Oberon commaundeth you to doe who is Soueraigne Lord and Gouernor of all the Realme of the Fayrie When the Emperour Tirrey had well heard these Knightes of the Fayrie thus speake vnto him and sawe howe they were armed with their Swordes in their handes taynted with the bloud of his Almaynes hee had great feare and beheld his Barons and sayde Sirs I pray you to giue me some good counsaile in this serious businesse wee haue well heard much speaking of King Oberon and of his great Acts and déeds wherefore I feare him much yée may wel sée what two of his knights haue done they haue rescued them that I haue condemned to die and slaine diuers of my men Also you heare what word he sendeth me by his two Knights that I should keepe this ladie and the other Prisoners honourably and that I should not be so hardy to put them to any danger vntill Easter be passed Then an ancient knight sayd Sir know for troth that King Oberon is puissant and wise for there is nothing in the world but that he knoweth it and also as often as hée list hee can bee whereas he will wish himselfe and with as great number of people as hee list and therefore Sir beléeue surely that if you doe otherwise then he hath commaunded you to doe these twoo knightes of his that be héere present haue puissance sufficient to destroy you and Kinge Oberon to sit still at home therefore Sir mine aduise is that you answeare these two knights that all that Kinge Oberon hath commaunded you to doe by them that you will doe it surely and then all the other Lordes gaue the Emperour the same counsaile When the Emperour had well heard and vnderstood his Lordes and Barons he turned him vnto the two Knightes of the Fayrie and said Sirs yée shall salute me to King Oberon and say that as for me I shall doe euerie thing as hee hath commaunded me to doe to the best of my power Sir Emperour quoth Gloriand if you will doe as you say the king will take you for his Fréend therevppon we commend you to God Thus the two knights departed so that the Emperour nor none other person knew not where they were become whereof euerie man had great maruaile and were sore abashed And thus Gloriand and Mallabron within a while came to the City of Momur whereas they found king Oberon to whome they shewed all that they had done Well quoth king Oberon as now the Lady Escleremond and the other Prisoners are at their ease and well serued but before a Moneth be passed they shall dearely abâ—y the ease that they bee in nowe for the Emperour hateth them so sore because of the malice that he beareth vnto Huon of Bourdeaux that he will set them all againe into Prison in great pouertie and miserie and when Easter is passed hee
will burne the Ladie Escleremond and hange vp all the Prisoners except they bee rescued againe Sir quoth Gloriand I cannot beléeue that the Emperour dare doe it or thinke so to doe Gloriand quoth the noble kinge Oberon know surely that the great hate that is rooted in the heart of the Emperour shall constraine and vrge him thus to dâ—e Nowe let vs leaue speaking of the noble king Oberon and speake of the Emperour Tirrey Chap. CXXXIIII ¶ How the Emperour Tirrey made the noble Ladie Escleremond to be well serued and apparelled and all the other Prisoners but about three Weekes after hee made the noble Ladie and the sayd Prisoners to be put againe into prison whereas they were in great miserie NOwe sheweth the Historie that after the two knightes of the Fayrie were departed and vanished away out of the presence of the Emperour and that the Emperor was returned into the Citie of Mayence with the ladie Escleremond and with the other Prisoners whereof the Burgesses Ladies and Damsels of the citie had great ioy of their good aduenture and the Emperour had them into his Pallaice and deliuered vnto them Chambers well drest and hanged as it appertained thereunto and the noble Duchesse Escleremond hadde foure ladies to serue her and she was bathed and washed and new apparelled as well and as richly as though shee had beene the Emperours owne proper Daughter so that within a short space she came againe to her beautie and to be as faire and well fauoured as euer she was and in like wise so did all the other Prisoners who were kept also in faire and rich Chambers and new apparelled and had their ease and pleasures as other knights of the Emperors Court had But assoone as thrée weekes were passed the great hate that the Emperour had vnto the noble ladie and to the other Prisoners constrained him to take from them the ioy and ease that they were in and turned the same into pitifull weepinges and great lamentations And the Emperour Tirrey sware that for all kinge Oberon or for any thinge that he could doe he would neuer be in peace in his heart vntill he had set all the companie againe intd prison and besides that he sware that Easter should not bee no sooner past but that the Ladie Escleremond should bee burnt and all the other prisoners hanged and vppon them to take vengeance in the despite of Huon of Bourdeaux who had done him so much trouble that hee could not forget it Then hee commaunded to take againe the Duchesse Escleremond and to put her and all the other prisoners into the prison againe the which was done according to his commandement Then the Duchesse Escleremond and all the other Prisoners were right sorrowfull and were in great feare and saide each to other Alas now our deathes approach and when that the Ladie sawe that she was set againe in prison she began sore to weepe and complaine for the Duke Huon her Husband Too longe quoth shee you tarie for I sée none other way but that my death approacheth for you shall not come in time well may I curse the houre that euer I was borne for in all my life I haue had but sorrowe and heauinesse and dolours in supportable better it had been for mee to haue béen dead then to spend my life in this darke Prison right deuoutly shee called vppon our Lorde Iesus Christ to haue pittie and compassion of her Thus was this noble Duchesse set againe in prison and also the thrée Hundred Prisoners whereas they suffered great famine and pouertie for other thing had they not to liue by but Barley bread and cleare water Now we will leaue to speake of them and speake of Duke Huon who was arriued at Marsellis Chap. CXXXV ¶ How Huon departed from Marsellis and came to his Vncle the good Abbot of Cluny in habite disguised and vnto him discouered himselfe whereof the Abbot had great ioy and so had Clariet his Daughter AS yee haue heard heere before howe Huon was at Marsellis and after that hee had iourned there foure dayes hee made him readie to depart bought Mules and horses for himselfe and for Barnard and for his companie and then hee charged his Somers and vppon one of them hee trussed the Griffens foote the which was great and horrible and couered it because euerie man shoulde not sée it When hee was readie and euerie thing trussed hee departed from Marsellis and roade so by his iourneys that hee passed by Prouence and came vnto Masconoys and vppon a Thursday at night he arriued at the Towne of Tournous And when they had supped hée called Barnard his Coozen and sayd Coozen I pray you to stay héere for I wil goe to sée mine Vncle the good Abbot of Cluny and Clariet my Daughter whome I sore desire to sée and shortly I shall returne againe vnto you I will goe priuily disguised to the entent that I will not bee knowne Sir quoth Barnard séeing that it is your pleasure we must be content Then they went to bed and in the Morning Huon arose vp and apparelled himselfe like a Pilgrim with a staffe in his hand and a bag about his necke and with great boots vppon his Legges hee hadde a great beard and long haire wherefore hee séemed well a Pilgrime that came out from a farre Countrey and so he had done indéede When Barnard and his company sawe him so apparelled they laughed and saide Sir it appeareth well by your manners that you are escaped out of some good place it séemeth to vs that if you will shake your staffe you will make the money to auoyd out of mens purses you are so bold a beggar When Huon heard them hee laughed and tooke leaue of them and departed all alone with his bagge about his necke so afoote hée went vntill he came vnto Cluny and then he came vnto the Abbey gate and called the Porter vnto him and sayd Fréend I pray you to let mée enter then hée opened the wicket and beheld Huon who séemed to him to be a tal and a goodly man and sayd Pilgrime enter when you please Then Huon entred in at the wicket and sayde vnto the Porter Fréende I come straight from beyond the great Sea and haue kissed the holy Sepulchre and haue suffered much paine and pouertie and because before this time I haue béene héere with the Abbot of this place therefore I thought that I would not passe by without speaking with him I pray you to shewe mee that courtesie that I may speake with him for hée will soone know mée Sir quoth the Porter it séemeth vnto mee by your manners that you séeme to be a man of a good place therefore I giue you leaue to goe into the house at your pleasure and you shall finde our good Abbot in his Hall whereas hee is communing with his Brethren certainly I knowe well that you shall bee welcome vnto him if hee haue of you any
knowledge for a more noble man courteous and liberall you shall not find vpon this side of the Sea Fréend quoth Huon your courtesie may auaile you Then Huon went into the Hall whereas hee found the Abbot with his Brethren and then hee saluted the Abbot and all his Couent Fréend quoth the Abbot you are welcome I pray you to shewe mée from whence you come Sir quoth Huon I shall shew you the troth I come now from beyond the Sea from the holy City of Ierusalem whereas I haue kissed the holy Sepulchre and where our Lord Iesus Christ was quicke and dead I haue béen in those parts more then Seauen yéeres and the cause why I am come hether to sée you is this I found there a young Knight of mine age named Huon of Bourdeaux and he sayd that he is your Nephew and when he saw that I would depart from thence to come into his Countrey he humbly prayed mée to recommend him vnto you and therefore I am come vnto you to doe his messuage for he and I hath been together in diuers Battailes and great amitie haue béen betweene vs. When the good Abbot had well heard and vnderstood the Pilgrim many teares fell from his eyes and trickled downe his chéekes when he heard his Nephew Huon named and saide Fréende I pray you if it bee true as you say to shew mée the troth if you haue séen my Nephew Huon for it is he that I loue best in all this world and desire most to sée him and I pray you to shewe vnto mée what is his minde either to returne hether or else to abide there still I would to God that I were in debt to pay a thousand Markes of gould so that hee were as now héere in this Hall Sir quoth Huon your Nephew whome you desire so much to sée before a Moneth be past he will by the grace of God bee héere with you and Sir hee shewed mée at my departing from him that he hath a Daughter whom you haue nourished and brought vp and he charged me greatly that I should desire of you to sée her before I departed from you he knoweth not whether she bee aliue or dead I woulde gladly sée her if it were your pleasure Fréend quoth the Abbot right gladly you shall sée her I shall cause her to come hether and then you may sée her at your ease and I dare well say vnto you that in all the world you shall find no fairer nor a sweeter creature nor more wiser of her age nor better learned and yet she is but Ten yeares of age When Huon vnderstood the Abbot you may well know that hee hadde great ioy at his heart priuily and thanked our Lord Iesus Christ Then the Abbot called vnto him a right notable Knight named Sir Emerie and commaunded him to goe and fetch thether his Néece Clariet the Knight went into the chamber whereas the faire Ladie was with other foure noble Ladies who had brought her vp then Sir Emerie saluted the Ladie and the other that were with her When the young Ladie perceiued Sir Emerie she arose vp and rendred to him his salutation and right humbly saying Sir Knight I am ioyfull of your commig I pray you to shewe mee of your newes and tidinges Certainly faire Ladie quoth the Knight hether is come a Pilgrim who is come from beyond the Sea and hee hath shewed vnto the Abbot your Vncle tidinges of your Father Duke Huon therefore your Vncle desireth you to come and speake with him When the Ladie heard speaking of her Father with all her heart she desired to knowe some certaine tidinges and then shee and her Damsels departed out of the Chamber and came into the Hall to the Abbot her Vncle accompanied with twoo notable Knightes then shee entred into the Hall richly apparelled no man could describe her beautie for shee was so well fourmed that nature her selfe could not amend her her skinne was as white as the flower in the meadowe and coloured like the red Rose her haunches lowe and her pappes somewhat rysing her throat smooth and cleare her chinne vaunted her mouth as vermeill as a Rose her téeth small and well ranged and white her face white and well coloured mingled white and red her eyes smiling her chéere amourous to behoulde her nose straight her fore-head white her haire yellowe and her eares gentle and close I cannot deuise the tenth part of her excellent beautie none could regard her nor looke vppon her but that praised and loued her all her beautie and sweete demeanour and great humilitie that was in her if I shoulde héere describe it it would bee ouer-long to rehearse When Huon had well séene his Daughter Clariet who was so faire hee gladly behelde her without making of any knowledge Then the Abbot tooke his Néece by the hand and ledde her vnto Huon and said Pilgrim how say you by her shee hath not beene sore trauailed nor much come in the Sunne I haue kept her a long time and if she be garnished with beauty in like wise so she is with witte and bountie shee is Daughter vnto Duke Huon of Bourdeaux the man that I most loue in this world I woulde to God that I did sée him as I doe you nowe but if God send mee life and health this Ladie shall bee richly maried I will giue her goods that she shal be rich and puissant Sir quoth Huon I pray to our Lord Iesus Christ to giue her good fortune and that shee may bee so maried that her bloud thereby may be lifted vp and exalted then the faire Ladie Clariet sayd vnto Huon Sir Pilgrim I pray you to shewe me if you know any tidings of my Father Duke Huon of Bourdeaux Faire Ladie quoth Huon hee and I together haue beene a long time beyond the Sea and Companions together and we sought the Souldan of Babilon that nowe is it is not hee that was set there by Huon after that he had slaine the great Admirall Gaudise it is another who since that time conquered both the Citie and the Countrey of Egipt many aduentures Huon and I haue suffered but at the end wee discomfited the Souldan and his men are slaine and destroyed Pilgrim quoth the faire Ladie Clariet I require you to shew me if you know whether my deare Father will returne hether again or no the which is the thing in the world that I most desire Faire Ladie quoth he I answeare you that before twoo Moneths bee passed you shall sée him héere in good health I pray vnto our Lord God quoth the Ladie that it may be so that he may deliuer my Mother out of the prison whereas shee is in great pouertie and miserie When Huon had well heard and vnderstood his Daughter he would no longer hide himselfe but sayd My right deare Daughter before August be passed I shall deliuer her or die in the paine for I shall make such warre against the Emperour Tirrey
that yet before I die I shall strike off his head from his bodie whatsoeuer fall thereof When the Ladie heard Huon how he sayd that hee was her Father shee changed colour and blushed as ruddie as a Rose and thought to her selfe by the words that he spake that hee was her Father whereof she was right ioyfull and said Ah Sir I pray you if you bee Duke Huon of Bourdeaux my Father to shew me My right deare Daughter beléeue it surely for I will no longer hide it from you When the Ladie heard that he was her Father she clipped him and Twentie times kissed him Then the Abbot came and embraced him and sayd My right deare Nephewe the ioy that my heart hath of your comming is to mee so acceptable that I cannot tell whether I dreame or not that I sée you heere and then againe hee embraced him making the greatest ioy in the world Also there was Clariet his Daughter who embraced and kissed him then all that were in the house came thether to make great chéere and feasting Faire Nephewe quoth the Abbot I am sore abashed that you be returned with so small a companie Good Vncle quoth Huon it could bee none otherwise I haue had such fortunes vppon the Sea that the most part of my men are dead and perished some by maladie and some are returned into their owne Countreys and especially they that went with me are abiding at the Rocke of the Adamant and there all be dead by famine and they that were my Guides to haue brought mee vnto Euphame are in like wise dead there Then Duke Huon beganne to shewe vnto the Abbot all the aduentures that he had since he departed from the noble Citie of Bourdeaux there were some that heard it that tooke it for a mocke and a lye he shewed of so many great maruailes they thought that the most part of them were lyes and one saide to another Great aduantage haue these Vagabounds to lye because they finde no man to say them nay and if any man say nay their answeare is readie to say go and sée then the good Abbot sayd Faire Nephew if I were of the age to beare armour gladly I would goe with you to ayde you to destroy this Emperour who hath done you so much ill I shall send for such a number of men of warre and pay them with my Treasure the which I haue long time gathered together and shall ayde you to make such war that it shall alwayes be had in remembrance or else I would die in the paine and all they that should goe with me and to cause him to make you amends of all the ils and dammages that he hath done vnto you yet somewhat I haue done alreadie for it is not long since that one of the Emperours Nephewes were slaine by my men and all they that were with him slaine or taken for Nephewe I haue gathered together a great Treasure that I may therewith entertaine a hundred Thousand men for two yeares without selling or laying to pledge any foote of Land appertaining to my Church but as now I am so old that I cannot ride out for I am a hundred and fourteene yeares of age and therefore séeing that I cannot goe with you I shall abandon vnto you all my Treasure and take thereof as much as it shall please you Sir quoth Huon you make me so great an offer that once before I die I trust to render vnto you the double value by the grace of God Chap. CXXXVI ¶ How Duke Huon of Bourdeaux shewed to his Vncle the Abbot of Cluny all the aduentures that hee had since he departed from the noble Citie of Bourdeaux and how he gaue the Abbot the Apple of youth whereby the good Abbot became againe to his beautie that hee had when hee was but of Thirtie yeares of age WHen Duke Huon of Bourdeaux had well vnderstood the good Abbot his Vncle and sawe the faire offer and seruice that he had offered vnto him he saide Sir of your courtesie and Larges and all the good that you haue done vnto me and to my Daughter Clariet God reward you for it true it is after that I had fought with the Griffens I came vnto a faire Fountaine and there by was a Trée growing charged full of faire fruit the Trée was called the Trée of youth of the which I gathered three Apples whereof you shall haue one and shall eate it and assoone as you haue eaten thereof thereby you shall become as young and as strong and lusty as you were when you were of the age of Thirty yeares Then there was a Monke in the house called Dan Iohan Saliuet who beganne to laugh and hasted him to speake and sayde Ah Sir what is it that you say these two Thousand yeares there was neuer man at the Tree of youth therefore this tale is not to be beléeued and when Huon heard the Monke he waxed red for anger and lifted vp his staffe and would haue striken therewith the Monke and if he had not skipt backe and sayd Ah thou false Monke thou lyest falsely I haue been there and that thou shalt sée the proofe thereof whether I say true or not Then the Abbot came betweâ—ne them and stopped the stroake and sayd vnto Huon 〈…〉 â—ight deare Nephewe appease your selfe and then hee sayd to the Monke Ah thou rude Groome by the faith that I owe vnto my Lord Saint Bennet for thy words thou shalt bee sore punished then he caused the Monke to be set in prison and then the Abbot sayd vnto Huon Sir I pray you to be no longer displeased Then Huon tooke one of his Apples and gaue it to his good Vncle the Abbot and sayd Sir take this Apple the which I gathered of the Trée of youth I gathered therof thrée and one I gaue to the Admirall of Persia and another I kept for my selfe the which I giue you and I woulde haue gathered moe but I was forbidden by an Angell sent from our Lord Iesus Christ and Sir knowe for troth that the Admirall of Persia before I gaue him the Apple he was of the age of Six-score yeares and more but assoone as hee had eaten thereof he became as faire and as strong as when he was of Thirtie yeares of age and hee is as now one of the fairest Princes in the world By the which Miracle he and all his people of his Realme did forsake the false and detestable Law of Mahomet and tooke vpon them the beliefe of our Lord Iesus Christ and were christened and they that woulde not were hewen all to péeces and after that for the loue that he bare vnto mée hée passed the Sea with mee with great puissance and wee entred into the Souldans Lande whereas wee discomfited him in plaine Battaile When the good Abbot had well heard and vnderstood his Nephew he had great ioy and tooke the Apple and made thereon the signe of the Crosse and did
the Emperor tooke Huon by the hand and led him into his Oratorie with him whereas they heard the diuine Seruice whereof many Knightes and Lordes were sore abashed and had great maruaile what Pilgrim it was that the Emperour did so much honour vnto After that the diuine Seruice was done the Emperor returned into his Pallaice holding Huon by the hande and dinner was made radie and they washed their handes and sat downe to dinner and when dinner was done and the Tables taken vp then in the Emperours presence and of all the other Lordes there Huon shewed all his aduentures First hee shewed howe hee had passed the Gulfe and spoken with Iudas and afterward howe by fortune of the Sea he arriued at the Castle of the Adamant and how his Companie dyed there by famine and declared the beautie of the Castle and of the great riches therein and afterward how hee was caried from thence by a Griffen to a great Rocke and how he slew fiue young Griffens and the old Griffen that brought him thether whereof he hath left at Cluny the foote of the same then he shewed of the Fountaine and of the Trée of youth and howe hee gathered thereof thrée faire Apples and more hee would haue gathered but that our Lord God commaunded him by his Angell that he should not be so hardy as to gather any more And after that he shewed howe that he passed the Gulfe of Persia in â—reat perrill and daunger and sayd furthermore Sir when I was passed that Gulfe I gathered many precious stones that which I haue giuen you was one of them the which stone is of great vertue and then I came to the great Citie of Thauris in Persia whereas I found a noble Admirall an old auncient Knight and he shewed to me great courtesies and I gaue him one of mine Apples to eat and assoone as hee had eaten thereof he became to be as young as he was when he was but of Thirtie yeares of age and I thinke that from thence hether cannot be found a fairer Prince and hee was before of Six-score and Seauen yeares of age and Sir because I desire with all my heart to haue your good grace and that good peace and firme may bee had betwéene you and mee I will giue you the third Apple the which I kept for my selfe by the which if you doe eat it you shall become againe as young and as lusty and as stronge as you were when you were but of the age of Thirtie yeares The Emperour when hee heard that the Apple that Huon would giue him to eat should cause him to returne to his yong age againe hee was so ioyfull that hee neuer made such chéere before in all his life to any man as he did then vnto Huon and sayde howe that hee would bee his Fréend for euer and neuer faile him and sayd Fréend I abandon my bodie and goods at your pleasure and I giue you two good Cities to encrease your Signiorie and besides that I promise you if you haue any businesse to doe I shall succour you with fortie Thousand men and shall ayde you as the Father should doe the Sonne Therewith Huon would haue kneeled downe to haue thanked the Emperour but hee would not suffer him and then Huon tooke the Apple out of his bagge and deliuered it vnto the Emperour the Emperour who was sore desirous to knowe if hee should waxe young againe by reason of eating of the Apple he called vnto him his Lordes and Barons to the entent that they should sée that maruaile and when the Emperour had the Apple in his hand hee put it into his mouth and did eate it euerie whit and as hee was eating thereof his age chaunged into youth and by that time hee had eaten all the Apple his white beard fell off and the skinne chaunged like a man of Thirtie yeares of age and also his face and all his bodie that before was all wrinkled and rugged and pale became then as white and as ruddy and felt himselfe as light and as fresh and aâ— quicke to doe any thing and as strong as he was when he was of the age of Thirtie yeares whereof all that were there present had great maruaile and were right ioyfull of that aduenture that was fallen vnto the Emperour whome they loued then they sayd Sir such a guift was neuer giuen to any Emperour or King well you ought to praise our Lord God whatsoeuer losse you haue hadde or receiued that euer you were acquainted with Duke Huon Chap. CXXXIX ¶ Howe the Emperour made good cheere vnto Duke Huon of Bourdeaux WHen the Emperour saw himselfe waxe young againe he was so ioyfull that hee wist not what to doe then hee clipped and kissed Huon more then Ten times saying My right deare Fréend I pray you to forgiue mée all the illes and dammages that I haue done vnto you and for the paine and sorrow that I haue caused your noble Wife and men to suffer then the Emperour called vnto him two of his Lordes and sayd vnto them Sirs I will that all the poore people that be in my Chappell this day bee newly apparelled and to haue meat and drinke sufficient for the loue of the passion of our Lord Iesus Christ who this day hath done mee that grace that I am returned from age to youth Sir quoth they your commaundement shall bee done then they went and executed his pleasure Then Duke Huon approached vnto the Emperour and sayd Sir I humbly desire your grace to deliuer my Wife Escleremond and my men out of Prison Sir quoth the Emperour it is good reason that I doe it then he sent for the Iaylour who had the Ladie and the other Prisoners in his kéeping and commaunded him that the Ladie Escleremond and the other Prisoners should bee brought into the Hall the Iaylour went to the Prison and Huon with him and when they came thether Huon went to the dore and cryed out aloud and sayd Ah my right swéete Sister I beléeue that you haue béen but ill lodged héere I haue great feare that by reason of the paines that you haue endured you cannot long continue certainly if you die I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart When the Duchesse Escleremond hadde well heard the voice of him that spake at the dore shée stood still and studied what voice it might bee for shée thought within her selfe that she had heard that voice before that time and when she had muzed a little while she thought that it should be the voice of Huon her Husband whereof she had such ioy and mirth at her heart that of a great season shee could not speake but fell in a swound in the Prison and when shee reuiued and came againe to her selfe shee cryed out and sayde Ah my right deare Lord and Husband long haue you left me in paine and miserie all alone in this stinking and horrible Prison in the hands of them that loue you
nothing and haue suffered much paine cold and hunger and haue endured great pouertie and in great feare of death and desperation When Huon had wâ—ll heard and vnderstood his déere Wife who spake so pitiously sorrow and gréefe so closed his heart that hee had no power to speake one word and the teares fell from his eyes and trickled downe his chéekes for the pitie that he had of his louing Wife Escleremond and also the Iaylor for verie pitie thâ—t hee had was constrained to wéepe and so went downe into the Prison and brought the Ladie vp and then Huon and she beheld each other and could speake no word of a great space but renue and embraced and kissed each other and so fell downe to the ground both in a traunce and they lay vntill other Knightes came thether fearing that they had beene dead there was none but that wept for pitie Then the Emperour came thether himselfe and sore wept and repented himselfe of the illes that he had done to the Ladie and made her â—o suffer and then the Knightes and Lordes reuiued them then they clipped and kissed together and Huon sayd Faire Ladie I require you to pardon mee in that I haue taried so long from you and haue left you in such pouertie paine and daunger of death and haue escaped for the which I humbly thanke our Lord God of his grace Sir quoth shee we ought greatly to thanke almightie God when hee hath sent vs that grace to sée each other and to come together againe and that you haue peace with the Emperour Then the Iaylour went to all the Prisons and tooke out all Huons men and brought â—hem vnto him and they had great ioy when they saw their Lord Maister in sauegard and thanked our Lord God and humbly saluted Huon and sayd Sir blessed bee the houre of your comming whereby wee are deliuered from the paines trauailes and pouerties that we haue been in My right deare Freends quoth Huon thus goeth the world you and I are bound to thanke our Lord God for that hee sendeth vnto vs. Then the Emperour tooke Huon by the one hand and Escleremond by the other and ledde them into his Pallaice whereas the Tables were set and there sat downe together the Emperour and Huon and the Duchesse and all the Prisoners at another Table and were all richly serued Of their meats and Seruices and ioy that they made I will make thereof but small rehearsall And when they had all dyned the Emperour ordained Ladâ—es and Damsels to serue the Duches Escleremond and ordained Chambers for the Duke and her and for all the other they were there serued of all thinges that they desired and they had new apparell according to their degrées Anon the newes and tidinges were knowne in the Citie of the Peace made betwéene Huon and the Emperour and how hee had his Wife the Duchesse Escleremond rendred vnto him and his men deliuered out of prison whereof Bâ—rnarâ— as hee was in the Towne hearkening for newes was right ioyfull and went in hast vnto the Pallaice whereas he found Huon in his Chamber with his Wife the faire Esâ—leremond and assoone as hee sawe the Duchesse the water fell from his eyes for ioy then he saluted Huon and the Duchesse and the Ladie knew him incontinent and said Ah sir Barnard well I ought to loue and cherish you that yée haue so sought for my Lord and husband as that now at last through your tedious trauaile you haue found him and brought him hether Madame quoth he I haue done nothing but what I was bound in duty to doe I am sory for the great paines and trauaile that my Lord hath suffered and then hée shewed such newes as he knew whereof many great Lords and knights had great ioy to heare him for she maruayles that he discoursed vnto them Then when they had béene there the space of Eight dayes and that their men were well refreshed the Emperour assembled all his Lords said Sirs it is my will to lead and conduct Duke Huon and the Duches to Bourdeaux and to set them in possession of their Lands and Signiories and I will haue Ten Thowsand men to goe with mee and them and to bring mee againe hether to Mayence according to his commaundement the men were made readie and when the Emperour had ordained for Huons estate as it appertained for him and his Wife and his men and when euerie thing was readie they all mounted vpon their horses and the Duchesse had a rich Littour so they departed from the Citie of Mayence and ceased not till they came within twoo Leagues of the Abbey of Cluny The good Abbot who knew nothing of the agréement made betwéene the Emperour and Huon had gathered together of men of warre about twentie Thousand and they were lodged in the Towne of Cluny and the Abbot was aduertised of the Emperours comming into those parts and he heard no newes of Huon whereof he was right sorrowfull and sore displeased and thought that the Emperour hadde taken Huon Prisoner then hee yssued out of the Towne and ranged his men in good order of Battaile without the Towne in a faireplaine and there abiding for the Emperour whome he saw comming Chap. CXL ¶ How the Emperour arriued at Cluny and how the Abbot set vpon him and of the peace that was there made and how the Emperour conueyed Huon to Bourdeaux and rendred to him all his Lands and of the parting of them and the Emperour and how Huon made his prouision to goe to king Oberon WHen the Emperour sawe the Towne of Cluny he demaunded of Huon if he could tell him to whome that towne appertayned Sir quoth he it belongeth to an Vncle of mine who is Abbot thereof and wée must passe that way and also I must néedes speake with him before I goe to Bourdeaux The same time the Abbot who was then mounted on a puissant and strong Courser well armed at all points sawe the Emperour comming towards Cluny and then he said to his men Sirs thinke this day to doe well and valiantly for yonder before vs we may sée the Emperour our enemie comming wherefore wée cannot escape the Battaile I am sure he hath taken Huon my Nephew but by the faith that I owe to my Lord and to Saint Bennet my Patron that taking shal be déerely bought then they couched their speares and spurred their horses and came running towards the Emperour and when the Emperour saw them hee called Huon and said Sir yonder yée may sée men of warre all armed come running against vs I wot not what they meane to doe but they séeme to be our enemies as far as I can perceiue and they are a great number and therfore they are to be doubted and feared Sir quoth Huon it is mine Vncle the Abbot of Cluny who hath raysed vp his men to succour me for he is not aduertised of the Peace made betwéen you and mée surely he thinketh
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
that haue before this time made vnto mee fealtie and homage I deliuer you quite into the handes of your right naturall Lord as you haue beene before time and I quit clearely your homages and fealties done vnto mée then they all thanked the Emperour of his good iustice and reason that hee had alwayes done vnto them in the season whiles they were vnder him the Emperour was right ioyfull that they so praised him before Duke Huon and then they came vnto Duke Huon and to the Duches Escleremond his Wife and to Clariet their Daughter and did vnto them their reuerence accordingly Thus they came vnto the Citie of Bourdeaux whereas they were ioyfully receceiued and a cloath of estate was borne before the Emperour vnder the which he road still holding Huon by the hand vntill they came vnto the Pallaice the stréets were strewed with gréene hearbs and rushes and hanged richly the windowes garnished with Ladies and Damsels Burgesses and Maydens melodiously singing whereof the Emperour was right ioyfull the Children running in the Stréetes and crying noel noel for the great ioy and mirth that they had of the comming of their Lord and Ladie When they were come vnto the Pallaice they alighted and went to their Chambers readie appointed for them if I should rehearse the ioyes and sports and solemnities that was made at the noble Citie of Bourdeaux it would bee too tedious and ouer-long to declare it for the feast and chéere was such that no man as then liuing had séen any such the which endured for the space of Eight dayes during the which time the Emperour declared vnto them of that Countrey the Peace that was made betwéen him and Duke Huon and how hee would deliuer all his Landes and Signiories into his handes and clearely acquit euerie man of their fealtie homage to him made whereof euerie man was ioyfull and vppon the Ninth daye that the Emperour should depart he called Duke Huon vnto him and sayd My right déere Fréend he that I loue best in this world if any warre or businesse happen to fall vnto you let mée haue knowledge thereof and I shall send you fortie Thousand men at armes and my selfe in person to come to ayde and succour you Sir quoth Huon of the courtesie that you offer mee I hartely thanke you and alwayes I shall repute my selfe as your true Seruant and faithfull Fréend Then the Emperor went to the Duchesse Escleremond and tooke his leaue of her and of the faire Ladie Clariet her Daughter and embraced and kissed them at his departing and so hee did all the other Ladies and Damsels and gaue euerie one of them some guift hee gaue rich guiftes vnto the Duchesse and to her Daughter and then he tooke his leaue and mounted vppon his Horse and so yssued out of the Citie of Bourdeaux and Duke Huon and the good abbot of Cluny conuayed him about twoo Leagues then they tooke their leaue of the Emperour and of his Lords and Knightes and returned vnto the noble Citie of Bourdeaux Then after that Huon had soiourned there about Eight dayes he road vnto Geronnill and to Blames and vnto all other townes and Castles where he was receiued with great ioy and mirth and set Officers in them then hee returned againe vnto the Citie of Bourdeaux to the Duchesse Escleremond his Wife and after that he had taried there about a Moneth Duke Huon deuised with his Wife in the presence of the good Abbot his Vncle and of Barnard his Coozen and sayd My right déere wife hee that remembreth not the goodnesse done vnto him may bee reputed as vngratefull I say it because you know well that King Oberon hath done vnto vs great good and hath deliuered vs out of many great perils of death and as you sawe but lately by the twoo Knightes that rescued you from the death and from the daunger that you were in and you knowe well that the last time that Kinge Oberon departed from Bourdeaux hee gaue mee all his Realme of the Fayrie and the puissance that he hath there and he made mée to promise him that after that Foure yeares were passed that I should come vnto him and that he would then put me in possession of his Realme and hée saide that if I failed my day hée would vtterly destroy me you know well what hath fallen vnto me before this by breaking of his Commaundement and therefore déere Lady and Wife it is necessarie that I goe vnto him and I shall leaue with you Barnard who shall haue the kéeping of my Landes and of you and as for my Daughter I will leaue her with the Abbot héere mine Vncle who I desire héere before you that hee will kéepe and gouerne my Daughter Clariet and with him I will leaue all my riches and precious stones that I brought with mée to the entent to marrie her so that it be to a man of great valour but I will not that shee bee maried vnto any person for riches but a person that is worthy and valiant I would should haue her for she hath and shall haue riches ynough for her selfe and for a man of great authoritie Faire Nephew quoth the Abbot your going shall be displeasing vnto me if I might amend it if God will no man liuinge shall haue your Daughter my Néece in marriage except hee bée a man of a high Parentage and garnished with vertues and good manners and as for your riches pearles and Iewels shee shall not néede to haue any thereof for I haue Treasure and riches ynough to marrie her nobly Chap. CXLI ¶ How Duke Huon deuised with the Duchesse his Wife of his departing and how shee sayd that she would goe with him And how hee left his Daughter and Land and Signiories in the keeping of his Vncle the good Abbot of Cluny and of Barnard his Coozen WHen the Duchesse Escleremond had well heard her Husband the Duke make his deuises to goe vnto Kinge Oberon you may well beléeue that she had great dolour and gréefe at her heart and then all wéeping shée kneeled downe before her Husband and said My right deare Lord and if God will you shall not goe on foote but that I will goe with you if you take any ill or annoyance I will haue my part and if you haue any good aduenture I will haue my part with you for your long absence hath béen right hard for mée to endure Faire Ladie quoth Huon I pray you to forbeare your going and abide héere with your Daughter for the Voyage shall bée sore for you to doe here I shall leaue Barnard my Coozen and mine Vncle the good Abbot and they shal be vnto you as Fathers Sir quoth she I shall haue many sorowes to abide héere without you I had rather to endure whatsoeuer God shall send vs together then to abide héere without your companye Thus yée haue heard héere before that for any excuse or reason that Huon could shew vnto the Duchesse
his Wife he could not turne her from her opinion but that shee woulde in any wise goe with him When Huon saw that he sayd My right déere Ladie since it is your pleasure to go with mée and to be content whatsoeuer God doth send vs either good or euill your companie pleaseth mée well and I am right ioyfull thereof When the good Abbot and Barnard had well heard and vnderstood the will and pleasure of Duke Huon and of the Duchesse Escleremond his Wife they were sore displeased therewith if they could in any wise haue letted them but they could not turne him for any thing that they could doe then Huon sayd vnto the good Abbot Faire Vncle I leaue with you my Landes Signiories and my Daughter vntill I returne againe the which shall bée as shortly as I may But of force now I am driuen to goe and take possession of the Realme that Kinge Oberon hath giuen to mée Therefore faire Vncle and Coozen Barnard vnto you I recommend my Daughter whome I loue entirely and all my Landes and Signiories I leaue all in your kéeping vntill my returne and with you mine Vncle I leaue all my precious stones and Treasure for the mariage of my Daughter whom I leaue in your kéeping Faire Nephew quoth the good Abbot séeing that it is your pleasure I shall kéepe her as well as though she were mine owne Child Good Vncle quoth Huon I pray you that the Griffens foote that I brought with me may bée sent vnto the young Kinge Lewis of Fraunce and salute him from mee and present it vnto him to doe therewith his pleasure Sir quoth the good Abbot before Easter bee come your Messuage shall bee done and that being done the young King was ioyfull thereof and caused it to bée hanged in his Pallaice and afterward by King Phillip it was hanged in the holy Chappell whereas it is vntill this day Now let vs leaue speaking of the Griffens foote and returne to our former matter Chap. CXLII ¶ How Huon tooke leaue of his Daughter and of the good Abbot his Vncle and of Barnard his Cozen and entred into the Riuer of Gerone and the Duchesse with him and of the strange Fortunes that they had WHen the good Abbot and Barnard had well vnderstood Huon and hadde heard his will and pleasure they answeared that as for his Lands and Signiories and for his Daughter hee should not need to care but they sayd that it greatly displeased them the Voyage that they were in minde to doe but since it was his plâ—asure so to doe it was reason that they should bee content and then hee ordained that Barnard shoulde make readie a little Ship apparelled and garnished with victuals and other things necessarie and that another great Shippe to be made readie at the mouth of the Sea to enter into it when they were out of the Riuer of Gerone the which thinge was done Then hee tooke sixe Knightes and a Dozen Seruants of his owne and when Huon saw euerie thing readie and had shewed his Enterprize vnto his men and to the men of his Countrey and that euery thing was readie fournished then hee tooke his Daughter in in his armes and kissed her more then Ten times and in like wise so did Escleremond her Mother and her heart was so closed with sorrow and gréefe that shee could speake no word for the departing from her Daughter you may well thinke that great was the sorrow there at their departing for he that had beene there and seene the dolour and pitifull complaints that the Ladie Clariet made for the departing of her Father and Mother with whome shee had not beene no long season there is not so hard a heâ—rt but that needs he must haue taken part of her sorrow for there was neuer séene so heauie a departing Then Huon all wéeping embraced the good Abbot his Vncle who gaue Huon at his departing a hollowed stoole the which afterward did good seruice vnto Huon and to Escleremond Also Huon tooke leaue of Barnard his Cozen then the Duchesse sayde vnto the Abbot and to Barnard Sirs vnto you twoo I due recommend my Daughter Thus Huon departed and they went to the Posterne and there they found readie their little Shippe and they entred into it and so made sayle downe along the Riuer of Gerone and when they came to the mouth of the Sea they tooke their great Shippe and so made sayle and had good wind so that shortly they were farre off from any land and were in the hye Sea for the space of Sixe dayes and vppon the Seauenth day a wind arose with such an horrible Tempest that they were driuen into the great Spanish Sea and were so far from any land that they wyst not where they were and euer the Tempest encreased in such wise that there was neuer none such seen nor heard of before the waues were like Mountaines and like to haue swallowed vp the ship so that sometime there entred into the Shippe a Tunne of water at once Chap. CXLIII ¶ How Huon lost all his men and the Ship brake in peecesâ— and how hee and the Duchesse saued themselues vpon a board and came and arriued at the Castle of the Monkes WHen Duke Huon of Bourdeaux and the Duchesse Escleremond his Wife sawe these great and suddaine tempests they were in great feare of death they greatly complained for their Daughter Clariet whome they had left at Bourdeaux Then Huon who had with him in his bagge Nine of his déere precious stones hée drew out two of them and knew the vertue and bountie of them and gaue his wife one of them and sayd My déere and louing Wife hold this stone in your hand and haue no feare for the vertue of the stone will not let you perish nor me neither he that had heard the cryes and lamentations that the Marriners made would haue had pittie and compassion of them for they saw well that they should all perish And Huon and Escleremond were vpon their knees sore weeping holding each other by the hande humbly praying to our Lord Iesus Christ to haue pittie and compassion of them and to bringe them vnto some Port in sauegard of their liues great and horrible was the Tempest and long endured so that the healme Maâ— and sayles burst all to péeces and when the Shippe was without a sterne to guide it the great waues entred into it so that the Shippe was full of water whereby it was constrayned to sinke into the Sea in such sort that it was all couered with water and all that were within were drowned and perished except Huon and Escleremond who satte together vpon a Table floating vpon the Sea so that by the grace of our Lord God and by the great bountie and vertue of the precious stones that were vppon them they were saued And when they saw their Shippe all to péeces and their men drowned and perished and themselues floating vppon the Sea
saw neither Castle nor Church Rocke nor Riuer but hee sawe that they were in a faire meadowe whereof Huon and Escleremond were sore abashed and blessed them hauing great maruaile of that they had séen then the Monke desired Huon to let him go Monke quoth Huon to drawe or to struggle cannot auaile thee for thou shalt not escape out of my handes vntill thou hast shewed me the Citie of Momur whereas King Oberon is Huon quoth the Monke I am content to doe it but first I pray thée to take from my necke the stole Monke quoth Huon thy reasoning cannot auaile thée for thou shalt not escape from me vntill thou hast set both me and my Wife néere vnto the Citie of Momur for thou shalt goe with vs foote by foote Well quoth the Monke since it is thus I am content to fulfill your pleasure but one thinge I say vnto you you neuer did a wiser deed then that you would not let me goe away for if the stole were not wherewith you doe hold me and the precious stones that you haue about you you shold neuer haue departed from hence I thought to haue beguiled you so that you might haue let mée gone my wayes whether I would goe Monke quoth Huon if I can you shall not depart from me vntill you haue set mee and my Wife within the Citie of Momur Sir quoth the Monke that will I not doe nor I cannot doe it though I would but I shall sette you both vppon the Mount of Hircama and from thence you may well sée vnto the Citie of Momur and all the countrey of the Fayrie and then I will returne vnto my companie who by this time are passed the great Sea of Tâ—rtaâ—y Monke quoth Huon I am content so that thou wilt sette vs in that place whereas wée may see the Citie of Momur Chap. CXLV ¶ How the Monke bare Huon and Escleremond ouer hils and Valleys in the ayre vntill hee came into the Countrey of Kinge Oberon THen the Monke tooke Huon vppon the one arme and Escleremond vpon the other but alwayes Huon held the stoale still about the Monkes necke to the entent that the Monke shoulde not beguile him and thus by the Fayrie and enchauntment the Monke bare Huon and Escleremond vnto a hye Rocke to rest them and from thence hee bare them as fast as the bird flyeth in the ayre at last they alighted in a faire meadowe then the Monke said Sir in an euill houre I met with you for you haue caused me to suffer great paine and nowe Sir I can goe no further for you are now in the Land of King Oberon whereas wée haue no puissance but first I will bring you vnto your lodging whereas you shall rest then before them they sawe a Castle newly made the which was so faire rich and strong that if I should describe it to the vttermost it would be ouer-long to rehearse Then the Monke tooke his leaue of Huon and of the Duchesse Escleremond his Wife and left them in the Castle that hee had made Huon suffered him to goe and thanked him of his curtesie the Monke suddainly vanished away they wist not whether and then Huon and his louing Wife entred into the Castle and came into a rich Chamber well fournished and there they found a Table sette with diuers meates and drinkes but there was no man to speake vnto then they sat downe at the Table and did eat and drinke at their pleasure and then they went from thence and when they were gone a little way they looked behind them and saw neither Towne nor Castle wherof they were sore abashed and recommended themselues vnto our Lord God then they went foorth into the meadow and could see neither Towne nor Castle House nor Village nor man to demaund the way of and they went so long that they came to the foote of a Mountaine whereon they mounted with great paine and trauaile and when they were vppon the toppe of the hill they rested them and then within a little season Huon sawe appeare before him a great Citie and vpon the one side thereof a faire and rich Pallaice the wals and Towers of the Citie and the Pallaice were al of white Marble pollished the which did shine so bright against the Sunne as though it had been all of Christall then Huon said vnto his Wife Madame yonder before vs we may sée the noble Citie of Momur whereas King Oberon is Sir quoth Escleremond our Lord God hath done vnto vs a great grace in that hee hath brought vs hether in the sauegard of our persons Then they went foorth vntill they came néere vnto the Citie of Momur and before the Citie they sawe a maruailous great Riuer and verie déepe and two bowe shoots in largenesse and it was maruailous pleasant to behould and when they came to the Riuer-side they founde there a man with a little Vessel awaiting vppon all them that woulde come vnto the Citie to passe them ouer Then Huon and Escleremond his Wife entred into the little Shippe and saluted the Guider thereof but hee woulde giue them none aunsweare but maruailously behelde them and when they were ouer the Marriner who was named Clarimodes and he was Sonne to a Damsell of the Fayrie then he demaunded of Huon what he and his Wife were and sayd mée thinkes you be none of the Fayrie wherefore I am not content that I haue passed you ouer Then Huon gaue him none aunsweare but went foorth and entred into the Citie and as they passed they were greatly regarded of them within the Citie and sayd one to another it is great maruaile to sée these two persons enter into this Citie for King Oberon who lyeth sicke in his bedde gaue great charge vnto Clarimodes that no straunger should passe the Riuer to enter into this Citie Huon heard them and was thereof right sorrowfull when he heard that the King lay sicke in his bedde so he passed foorth and came vnto the Pallaice euery man there beheld him and his Wife and had great maruaile to sée any mortall persons to enter into that Pallaice and they were thereof abashed and wist not what to thinke At the same time Mallâ—bron and Gloriand were walking together in the hall they saw Huon and Escleremond entring into the Hall and incontinent they knew them and came vnto them and embraced them and sayd Ah noble Duke Huon and Duchesse Escleremond you are welcome of your comminge wee are right ioyfull then Mallabron went from them and went into the Chamber whereas the King lay sicke and sayd Right déere Sir your good Fréend Huon and Escleremond his Wife are come into your Hall When the King heard that Huon and Escleremond were come for the great ioy that he had he quickly arose out of his bedde Therewith Gloriand Huon and Escleremond entred into the chamber where King Oberon was and when the King saw them he came vnto them and sayde My right déere Fréende Huon
and you my déere Loue Escleremond of your comming I am right ioyfull then hee embraced and kissed them both more then Tenne times and sayde Huon my right déere Freend for the great truth and noblenesse that I find in you I shall make you King of all the Fayrie and your Wife Escleremond shall be Lady and Quéene of the same and besides that I will giue vnto you all my dignitie When the Kinge had well saluted them then hee sat downe vppon a Couch and made Huon and Escleremond to sit downe before him and then hee commaunded Gloriand that incontinent he should fetch vnto him his bowe and when hee had it in his hand hee tooke an arrow and did shoot therewith then incontinent it séemed that all the world had arriued in the Town and Pallaice there came thether so many Knights and Ladies of the Fayrie that all the Towne and Pallaice was full and when they were all assembled together in the Pallaice Kinge Oberon commaunded to carrie him into the great Hall in his rich Couch then he commanded silence to be kept among them all and then he sayd Lordes and Ladie that bée héere assembled all yée knowe that euerie mortall thing cannot long endure I speake it for my owne selfe because I am Sonne to a mortall man and was engendred vppon the Ladie of the prime Isle who can neuer die because shee is one of the Fayrie engendred of a man of the Fayrie and Daughter to a woman of the Fayrie and whereas it is so that Iulius Caesar was a mortall man therefore it behooueth me to passe out of this world by the commandement of our Lord God who hath ordained that it should be so And because of my loue during the time that I haue béen conuersant héere with you therefore I will not leaue you without a Lorde but first in my life dayes I will puruay you of one who shall bee Duke Huon whome I loue well and déerely and also I will that his Wife the Duchesse Escleremond shall abide with him for in no wise I will seperate them asunder therefore I ordaine that Huon who is héere present be your King and Lord and Escleremond your Queâ—ne and Ladie and from hencefoorth I put my Realme and dignitie into his handes and I will that hee vse it as I haue done in my life time howbeit King Arthur hath sore pressed vppon mee to haue my Realme and dignitie but I will that none shall haue it but alonely Huon of Bourdeaux who is héere present and whome I will crowne King in all your presence Chap. CXLVI ¶ How the noble Kinge Oberon crowned Huon and Escleremond and gaue them all his Realme and dignitie that he hadde in the Land of the Fayrie and made the Peace betweene Huon and King Arthur WHen the people of the Fayrie both Knightes and Ladies had well heard and vnderstood King Oberon they were right sorrowfull in that hee should leaue them and sayd Sir since it is your pleasure and that it is your will oâ— reason wee must bee content to receiue Huon of Bourdeaux for our kinge and Madame Escleremond his Wife for our Quéene When the King vnderstood his Lordes and people then he caused to be brought thether two Crownes the one was set vppon Huons head and the other vppon Escleremonds head then Oberon sent for his Horne Napkin and Cup and the good Armour hee deliuered them vnto Huon to doe with them his pleasure great ioy and feasting was made in the Pallaice by the Knights Ladies of the Fayrie Then king Huon looked out at a window and sawe vpon the Mountaine that he passed ouer at his comming thether a great number of Tents and Pauillions and hée sayd vnto King Oberon Sir vppon yonder Mountaine I see a great number of men assembled and many Tentes and Pauillions picht vp Huon quoth king Oberon know for troth that it is kinge Arthur who meeneth to haue my Realme and dignitie but hee cometh too late for the promise that you made vnto me you haue kept therefore he fayleth and commeth too late for if you hadde not come I had giuen him my Realme and dignity I know well that hee will be heere soone to see me and hee will be sorrowfull and angrie of your comming hether but if I can I shall doe so much that you shall bee both in peace and rest for good reason it is that he doe obay you Therewith kinge Arthur and all his Chiualrie entred into the Citie of Momur and came alighted at the Pallaice and with him his Sister Quéene Morguele Fay and Transeline their Néece they came and saluted king Oberon who receiued them with great ioye and sayde Great kinge Arthur you are welcome and Morgue your Sister and Transeline your Néece and Sir â—â—ray you to shewe mée what faire Childe is that I sée there before your Sister Morgue Sir quoth Arthur hee is called Marlyn and is Sonne to Ogier the Dane who hath wedded my Sister Morgue and I haue left him in my Countrey to rule it vntill I returne Sir quoth king Oberon the child shall haue good fortune hee shall bee in his time feared and redoubted for Ogier his Father is a good and a valiant knight And noble kinge Arthur you are welcome and of your comming I am right ioyfull I haue sent for you to shewe you the pleasure of our Lord God that I shall depart out of this world and to the entent that you should be content in that I haue giuen you heretofore in the Fayrie so much dignitie and puissance wherewith I desire you to be contented for behold here Duke Huon of Bourdeaux and his Wife the Duchesse Escleremond vnto whome I haue giuen my Realme and my dignity to vse it as I haue done héeretofore and therefore I pray and commaund you that you will obay him as Kinge and Soueraigne of all the Fayrie and you to liue together with good loue and peace When King Arthur heard King Oberon he answeared fiercely and sayd Sir I haue well heard you and you know well that your Realme and dignity you gaue me after your decease and now I sée well that you haue giuen it to Duke Huon Sir lette him goe into his owne Countrey and vnto his Citie of Bourdeaux whereas hee hath left his Daughter Clariet and let him goe and marrie her for as heere he hath nothing to doe I hadde rather to bee cleane exiled for euer and chaced out of my Realme then I should obay him or doe vnto him any homage for he shall haue nothing to doe ouer mee without hee winne it with the point of the Sworde When Kinge Huon hadde well heard King Arthur of Brittaine he answeared fiercely and said King Arthur knowe for troth for all your wordes and threatninges I will not spare to say vnto you that whether you will or not it must behooue you to obay and to be vnder me since it is the pleasure of my Lord Kinge
Oberon heere present or else you may depart and go and dwell in the Countrey of Brittaine Then King Oberon seeing appearance of great war to bee mooued betwéene these two Kinges hee spake and sayde that hee would haue their euill will layd downe and neuer to haue war betwéen them and sayd vnto King Arthur Sir I will that you hould your peace for if you speake one worde more against Huon the Soueraigne King of the Fayrie that hee would condemne him perpetually to be a warre-wolfe in those parts and there to end his dayes inpaine and miserie but if hee will beléeue him hee woulde agrée them together then Kinge Arthur stood still and would speake no word Then Morgue and Transeline fell downe vpon their knées and desired King Oberon to haue pitie of King Arthur and to pardon him of all his ill will and after that Morgue had spoken then Kinge Arthur kneeled downe and sayd Right déere Sir I pray you to pardon mée in that I haue spoken so much against your pleasure Arthur quoth Kinge Oberon I will that you well knowe that if it were not for the loue of your Sister who hath desired mee to pardon you I would haue shewed you the power that I haue in the Fayrie the which from hencefoorth I giue vnto Duke Huon of Bourdeaux and all the dignitie and puissance that I haue vsed in all my life Then Duke Huon thanked Kinge Oberon right humbly of his courtesie Chap. CXLVII ¶ Of the Ordinances that the noble King Oberon made before he dyed WHen King Oberon had deposed himselfe of his Realme and dignitie and that he had put all his puissance into the hands of Huon then he sayd vnto King Arthur Sir because I desire with all my heart that after my decease Huon and you shoulde liue together in good peace and loue I giue you all my Realme of Boulquant and all the Realme that Sâ—billa holdeth of me to do therewith at your pleasure and of all the Fayries that bee in the plaine of Tartary I will that you haue so much puissance there as Huon hath héere Prouided that héere before me you make homage vnto him and that good peace and loue may be betwéene you Then Arthur Morgue and Transeline and all the other Lordes and Ladies that were there thanked King Oberon and sayd how that they neuer heard nor saw so rich a guift giuen before as that Kinge Oberon had giuen vnto Kinge Arthur Then King Arthur in the presence of King Oberon came and made homage and kissed Duke Huon then Kinge Oberon and all the other hadde thereof great ioy because of the Peace made betwéene those two Kinges and great feasting and ioy was made in the Pallaice for all the most noble Lordes and Ladies of the Fayrie were there assembled there was great solemnitie made Thus as they were in this great ioy kinge Oberon féeling that his last end approached for hee knewe the day and houre then séeing that in his life time he had prouided a King for his Realme he humbly thanked our Lord God of the graces that he had giuen him in this world then hee called before him Huon of Bourdeaux and kinge Arthur Gloriand and Mallabron and sayd Sirs I aduertise you that longe I shall not abide among you therefore Huon for your bountie and noblenesse wherewith you haue béene alwayes indued I haue chosen you among other to haue the kéeping and Signiorie and the ministration of all the Fayrie as well of the Countrey of warrewolues as of other thinges secret reserued and not to bee shewed to any mortall men and also I haue giuen you my dignitie and puissance to doe therewith as I haue done in my time because I haue thus chosen you therefore I will that when I depart out of this world that you doe make a newe Abbey of Monkes the which I will bee set in the meadowe héere before this Citie because all my dayes I haue loued this Citie and I will that in the Church of the same Abbey you doe burie my bodie as richly as you shall thinke conuenient and I recommend vnto you all such as haue well serued me and I will that you retaine them into you Seruice When King Oberon had sayd as much as pleased him Huon answeared sayd Déere Sir of the great goodnesse and honour that you haue done vnto me I thanke you and all that you haue ordained or will do by the grace of God it shall be done in such wise that my soule shall beare no charge for it at the day of Iudgement When the Lordes and Ladies that were there assembled heard the words of king Oberon and saw well that his last end approached néere she cryes and clamours that were there made was great maruaile to heare and especially there was such wéepings and lamentations in the Citie that great pittie it was to heare it for they were aduertized that kinge Oberon drewe néere vnto his last end who lay in his rich Couch in the middest of his Pallaice making his prayers vnto our Lord God and holding Huon by the hand and at the last hee sayd My right déere Fréend Huon pray for mee and then hee made the signe of the Crosse and recommending his Soule vnto God the which incontinent was borne into Paradice by a great multitude of Angels sent from God who at their departing made such shining and clearnesse in the Pallaice that there was neuer none such seene before and therewith there was so sweet a smâ—ll that euerie man thought that they had been rauished into Paradice whereby they knewe surely that kinge Oberons Soule was saued When king Huon and king Arthur and Quéene Escleremond Morguele Fay and Transeline and king Carahew Gloriand and Mallabron and all other knightes and Ladies knew that king Oberon was dead there is no humane tong can tell the cries wéepings and complaints that were made there for the death of king Oberon â—hen his bodie was taken and borne to the place where his Sepulcher was deuised the which king Huon caused to be made right richly and sounded there an Abbey as king Oberon had deuised After the Buriall they returned to the Pallaice whereas the Tables were set and there sat thrée crowned kinges and two excellent Quéens full of great beautie at the vpper end of the Table sat king Huon and next vnto him king Arthur and then king Carahew and the two Quéens and the other Ladies departed and went and dyned in their Chambers and they were all serued of euerie thinge that was necessarie And after dinner and grace sayd king Arthur and king Carahew tooke their leaue of king Huon and of Queene Escleremond and so departed euerie man into his owne Countrey and Morgue and Transeline tarried a certaine space with Quéene Escleremond in great ioy and solace Now let vs leaue speaking of kinge Huon and Quéene Escleremond who tarried still in the Fayrie and shall do vntill the day of Iudgment and
tooke the healme in their handes and so departed a long the Riuer of Gerone Chap. CXLIX ¶ when the Traytour Brohart drowned Barnard and of theyr aduentures and how Brohart was slaine WHen Brohart saw that they were farre off from the Towne and that the night was darke he came vnto Barnard and sayd Sir quickly drawe vp the stone by the corde out of the water then Barnard stouped downe low to drawe it vp and Brohart tooke Barnard by one of his legges before hee was aware and with all his strength hee tumbled him ouer the ship-board into the water whereas hee was drowned the which was great pitie for a more truer Knight could not be found When the faire Ladie Clariet saw that Brohart had cast Barnard ouer the ship-board shee gaue a great crie and shee came vnto Brohart and drewe him by the haire When that the Traytour saw that the Ladie tare his haire hee tooke her by the armes so fiercely that hee cast her to the bottome of the Shippe and did beat her cruelly sayd that her cryes and wéepings could not ayd her for whether she would or not hee would haue his pleasure of her When the Ladie heard the false Traytour shee was in great feare and beganne sore to tremble making her prayers to our Lord God to defend her from dishonour and to bring her out of the handes of that false Traytour her enemie then the vnhappie Traytour came vnto her and sayd that it were better for her to fulfill his pleasure with good will and loue rather then by force or else he would cast her into the Riuer of Gerone Oh false Traytour quoth she as long as thou liuest thou shalt neuer haue ioy nor pleasure of my bodie then the false murderer did beat the Ladie that pitie it was to sée and so he left her in a manner lying dead When he saw that it would bee no better hee was wearie and so fell a sleepe the Ship went forth by force of the streame and by that time it was faire day so farre the shippe went that night that they were néere to the end of the Riuer of Gerone and the Ladie sore wéeping beheld the Traytour how he slept and saw lying by him a loafe of bread the famine that she was in constrained her to take and to eat it for she had such famine that she could forbeare it no longer then she made her prayers all wéeping to our Lord God requiring him to kéepe and defend her virginitie and to preserue her from that false Tirant who had betrayed her So farre went the Shippe that it entred into the Sea the winde was great and they had neither healme nor sayle to aide themselues withall then the winde tooke them and draue them to a little Port vnder a hye Rocke in a little Isle then Brohart awoake and was glad when hee sawe that they were arriued neere to the Land for hee knewe right well the countrey and then he sayd to the Ladie Thou â—eest well that thou hast no puissance to goe against my will the which thou must néeds fulfill for thou canst not haue any succour of any man or woman liuing nor all thy defence cannot auaile thee thou séest well wee bee in an Isle whereas the Sea goeth round about it wherefore I haue great doubt that wee shall neuer depart from hence therefore dismay you not for as now I will doe thée no hurt This théefe when he sawe that he was in this Isle he began to curse God and the houre that euer he saw Clariet for the false Traytour sawe well that he should die there by famine and rage for there was no shippe to enter into the Sea therefore he had then no mind to doe any harme to the Ladie the which was by the grace of God who woulde not that the Ladie shoulde bee dishonored and when shee saw that they were so neere the land sore wéeping shee yssued out of the boat and ranne vp the Rocke Nowe God defend her for the same time there was vppon the Mountaine sixe Théeues who lay to espy the Marchaunts and they had a little Galley lying in a little corner of the Rocke néere to them and had couered it with bowes and gréen leaues When Brohart saw the Damsell runne away he cryed as loud as he could and sayd By God Madame your flying shall not auaile you for whether thou wilt or not this night I will haue my pleasure of thée the sixe Théeues who were vppon the Mountaine eating of their meate when they heard Brohart crying after the Damsell they were sore abashed and were in great feare that they had béen espyed Then the Damsell who ranne vppon the Mountaine when shee sawe them shee sayd Ah Sirs I pray you haue pittie of me and ayd and succour mee against this false Traytour this night passed hee did steale me away out of the Citie of Bourdeaux and I am Daughter to noble Duke Huon When these Théeues heard the Damsell they arose vp all and thought that it hadde béene some fayned matter to haue beguiled them but when they sawe Brohart follow the Ladie then the Maister of the Theeues stept foorth and sayd Howe is it that thou art so hardy to come vppon vs thou art come hether to espie vs but we shall neuer be accused by thée thou art but ill come to this bridale When the Traytour Brohart saw the sixe Théeues he was sore abashed and saw well that hée should bee faine to defend himselfe then he drew out his sword and strake the Maister Théefe such a blow vppon the head that hee claue him to the téeth and when the other fiue Théeues saw their Maister slaine they were right sorrowfull and angrie then they assailed Brohart on all sides and hee defended himselfe so well that before he was striken to the earth he slew foure of them and in the meane time whiles they fought the Ladie Clariet came to the place whereas the Théeues had béen and there shee sound meat and drinke plentie and when she saw the meat she was right ioyfull and thanked God thereof and did eat and drinke at her pleasure and she saw that the Théeues had cast Brohart to the earth whereof she was ioyfull howbeit shee knew not what companie shee was come into nor in whose handes shee was arriued in When the Théeues hadde cast Brohart to the earth they made him shew where hee had taken the Damsell and he shewed them all the matter and how hee had taken her to the entent to haue dishonoured her and to haue hadde her to his Wife and to haue caried her into some strange place vnknowne When the Théeues heard what Brohart had said they sayde Oh thou vntrue and false Traytour there is no torment in the world so cruell but that thou hast deserued a worse paine and therefore by vs thy desert shall be rewarded then they tooke him and bound fast his féet and hanged him vp by
of whome Peter of Aragon demaunded why hee woulde haue drowned that noble Damsell and where they had found her Sir quoth the King we know her not nor what she is for we found her all alone vppon a Rocke in an Isle within the Sea And when I saw the great beautie and bounty that was in her I coueted her and caused her to be put into my Shippe thinking to haue had my pleasure of her but shee woulde in no wise suffer mee wherefore I was displeased with her Well quoth Peter you shall be slaine and goe after your men without you will beléeue in Iesus Christ and renounce the Lawe of Mahomet Sir quoth the Paynim I had rather to bee slaine all quicke then to leaue my holy Lawe and to take that beléefe that you are of When Peter heard him say so hée gaue him with his sword such a stroake vpon the head that he claue it to the téeth and the King fell downe dead whereof the Ladie Clariet was right ioyfull Then Peter came vnto her and demaunded what she was and where the Paynims had found her Sir quoth the Ladie I was borne in a part of Fraunce in a Towne called Naunts in Brittaine and my Father was of Lâ—sborne and he had great desire to sée his Fréends so he entred into a Shippe and two of my brethren and my selfe and diuers other Marchants together and when wee hadde thought to haue entred into the Hauen at Lisborne a great horrible winde tooke vs so that we were faine to abandon our shippe and to let it goe by the grace of God and at the will of the winde and weather then wee passed the straights of Maurocco and there our Shippe ranne against a Rocke and burst all to péeces so that my Father and all that were in the Shippe were drowned and by the grace of God I sat vppon a sacke of woll and held me fast and then the waues brought mee to the land-side whereof I thanked God and within an houre after this heathen Kinge arriued there with his companie by fortune of the Sea and so they tooke me into their Shippe and the Kinge enforced himselfe to haue had his pleasure of mee and then by fortune of another Tempest we arriued heere whereas you haue slaine him and all his men Faire Damsell quoth Peter of Aragon you may thanke God that you bee come into my handes Sir quoth shée I know well that if you had not béene I had béene lost for euer and therefore Sir as long as God shall giue me life I will be glad to serue you as the most lowliest Chamberlaine in your house and put my bodie and honestie into Gods handes and yours Faire Damsell quoth Peter as longe as I liue you shall not lacke for by the grace of God your bodie and your honour shall be well saued and peraduenture you shall haue such a Husband that you shall thinke your selfe right happie our lord God did vnto you a great grace when you fell into my handes Then Peter of Aragon tooke the Damsell by the hande and commaunded to hoyse vp the sayles and to returne vnto Taragon a Citie betwéene Barselona and Valencia the great whereas then was the Kinge of Aragon and so longe they sayled night and day that at the last they saw the Towers of Taragon wherof they thanked God and as they approached néere to the Citie the Kinge of Aragon was in his Pallaice looking out at a window then hee sawe comming in the Sea sixe Galleys and a great Ship whereof he was abashed and maruailed what it might be for hee knew them not because of the great Shippe then they that knew them came to the Kinge and sayd howe that it was his Coozen Peter of Aragon who is come home in safetie thanked be God Then the Kinge and his lordes with him went downe and went to the Sea-side whereas he found the noble man Peter of Aragon his Coozen and all his company with him Then the King embraced him and said Coozen you are right hartely welcome I am ioyfull of your good aduenture I pray you Cozen to shew me where haue you gotten this great Shippe that séemeth to bee so rich Then Peter shewed vnto him all the aduentures and howe hee resâ—ued the Damsell out of the handes of the Sarazins and he shewed her vnto the Kinge and sayd Sir I beleeue in this world there is not a fairer swéeter nor more gracious creature nor none that séemeth more to be extract of a higher lineage The Kinge beheld the Damsell and she knéeled downe before him Faire Damsell quoth the King I pray you to shewe mee what you bée and of what lineage and from whence you come the Ladie who was in great feare to name her selfe truely for feare least shee should be in ill handes cast downe her head presently began to wéepe so that the teares fell from her eyes and said Sir I require you desire no such thing of me at this time for I knowe not who is my Parents nor of what lineage I am of When the King vnderstood the Damsell and sawe howe shee wept hee had great pitie of her and comforted her as much as hee could then Peter shewed vnto the King all that the Damsell had shewed him before and she was found by the Sarazins quoth he whome I haue slaine she was happie that she fel in to my handes for by the grace of God I shall sée her well maried and set foorth Then the Kinge and Peter went from the Shippes into the Towne and caused the Damsell to bee brought after them with twoo Gentlemen into Peters lodging and as shee passed through the Towne she was regarded with Ladies and Damsels and they all praysed her beautie saying one to another that there was neuer a fairer Ladie borne nor more likely to be come of a noble bloud Great feasting was made in the Citie for the comming home of Peter of Aragon and of the Damsell that he had brought with him The same time Florence the Kinges Sonne had béene a hunting and came home and when hee was in the Towne and sawe the stréets hanged and the Ladies and Damsels and other making so great ioy and feasting he was abashed and demaunded of a Burges if there were any newe wedding and wherefore it was that the people made so great ioy and feasting Sir quoth the Burges the feast that is made now and the ioy is for the comming home of Peter of Aragon who hath béene so long out for that God hath sent him good aduenture for hée hath wonne and conquered the great Shippe of Maliga wherein was the King of Granado great riches hee hath wonne and hee hath slaine all the Sarazins that were in the Shippe Then Florence rested not vntil he came to his Cozen Peter of Aragons lodging and made him good cheere and saide Cozen you are welcome home and I am right ioyfull of your good aduenture Sir quoth Peter
I thanke God I haue had good fortune and Sir I shall shew you one thing that I haue wonne whereof I am most ioyfull then he shewed him the Damsell who was sober and sad and shewed him how hée wanne her When Florence saw the Ladie his heart sprang for ioy and the more hee beheld her the more fairer she séemed and the Damsell beheld him right humbly and she thought that she neuer saw a fairer young man before nor better made nor fourmed of all his members Florence so behelde the Damsell by reason whereof the dart of loue strake him to the heart whereof the wounde coulde not be lightly healed I may well say that in all the world in that time could not be found againe two such persons for the great beauty wherewith they were garnished could not be described for God and nature had forgotten nothing in forming of them swéetly they regarded each other at that time if Florence had knowne that shee had béene the faire Clariet of Bourdeaux hee would haue married her incontinent she was greatly taken in the loue of Florence and so was hee with her then hee desired with all his heart to knowe what shee was for his heart gaue him that she should be come of some noble bloud and sayd vnto himselfe that hee desired much to knowe it and that in all the world there was nothing hee loued so well and thought that without her loue hee could not long endure thinking to desire her to take him for her Louer and that if shee refused him that short should be his life but thought to bee so bolde as to speake to her Thus Florence taken with the fire of loue tooke the faire Damsell by the lilly white hand and caused her to sitte downe by him then he drew her a little apart to the entent that none should heare him and then hee sayd Faire Damsell you bee welcome into these parts I pray you to shew me what you be and of what Lineage Sir quoth the Damsell little shall you winne when you know the certaine what I am but since it pleaseth you to know I shall shew you Sir know for troth I am Daughter to a poore honest man of the Countrey and in times past was one of the Chamberers with the Duchesse Escleremond of Bourdeaux and Sir by great treason I was stollen away whereby since I haue suffered much pouertie so that if God and this noble man Peter of Aragon had not rescued me I had beene lost for euer and therefore Sir since I am poore and desolate I require you in the honor of our Lord God that you will not require mee of any villanie against my bodie and honestie neither in word nor deede and sir I beleue suerly no more ye thinke to doe for I had rather be hewen all to péeces then any creature should haue pleasure of my bodie without I were maried Faire Damsell quoth hee I sweare by God that mee created that of mee nor of any other man liuing you shall not be desired against your honour for I know no man liuing that would require you of any dishonour or say any thing that should not be agréeable vnto you but I shall make him to die of an ill death and I will that you know that from hencefoorth I will bee your true Louer and none shall make departure of vs two and if it were so that my Father were dead I would neuer haue other Wife but you Sir quoth the Ladie I pray you to forbeare speaking of any such wordes for it were not méete for the Sonne of a King so to debase himselfe as to set his loue vppon so poore a Mayd as I am beware how you set your heart to loue for if the Kinge your Father perceiue any thinge that you should set your loue vppon mee he would soone put me to death therewith she cast downe her head and sayd to her selfe Ah good Lord if this young Prince knewe surely what I were it might well be that hee would haue mee in marriage as yet in all my life I neuer set my loue vppon any person but this young man whome I neuer sawe before it maketh me to thinke that which I neuer thought before that it maketh my bloud and all my members to tremble I am in worse case for his loue then he is for me therewith shee began sore to wéepe When Florence saw her he was right sorrowfull and sayde Faire Damsell I require you to take mee for your true and faithfull Seruant otherwise I cannot sée howe I shall liue long Sir quoth she I am well content to graunt you my loue so that your deed and thought be vppon goodnesse and honour for if I may perceiue in any manner that your thought bee otherwise you haue lost my loue for euer Faire Loue quoth Florence haue no doubt thereof that euer I shall haue any thought of villany against you Thus as yée haue heard was the first acquaintance betwéene these two Louers that is to say the faire ladie Clariet Daughter to Duke Huon of Bourdeaux and of Florence Sonne to the King of Aragon Chap. CLII. ¶ How the King forbad his Sonne Florence that he should not be so hardy as to fall acquainted with the faire Ladie Clariet and how Florence promised the Kinge his Father to deliuer into his handes the King of Nauarre Prisoner in case that he would bee content at his returne that he might haue the new found Damsell the which thinge the King promised but hee did it not for he made the Damsell to be taken and had drowned her if Peter of Aragon had not beene who rescued and saued her from the death WHen Florence had long deuised with the Damsell he tooke his leaue of her and of Peter of Aragon his Cozen and then he returned to the King his Father and the next day hee went againe to the Damsels lodging So often he resorted thether that great brute ranne in the Pallaice and also in the Towne how that Florence was amorous of the Damsell that Sir Peter of Aragon had brought thether and the matter at the last was shewed to Kinge Garyn his Father wherewith hee was so sorrowfull that hee was all in a rage and sayd within himselfe Ah good lord this new found Damsell will winne my Sonne if shee can and get him from me I know well that by reason of the great beautie that is in her my Sonne will be enamoured of her but by the God that I beléeue vppon if I sée that my Sonne either goe or come vnto her as it is sayd he doth that acquaintance shall be déerely bought for with mine owne hands I shall slay her Right sorrowfull and angry was King Garyn with his Sonne Florence and with the Damsell then hee sent for his Sonne and when hee was before him the King demaunded of him fiercely from whence hee came Sir quoth Florence I haue béene a sporting in my Cozen Peter of
Peter answeared and sayd Sir beware blame her no more bee content with that you haue done alreadie it may be that the Damsell is of as hy a Lineage as your Sonne wherefore such time may come that you may be déerely rewarded peraduenture the Damsell was stollen away by some ill Tyrant shee hath béen ill entertained with you when you would so cruelly haue slaine her Cozen quoth the Kinge the matter is ill come to passe for her sake you haue slaine many of my men the which I pardon you but as for the Damsell I will set her in prison in a Tower out of the which she shall not depart and I will shew my Sonne that shee is drowned in the Sea and I will kéepe her in prison till my Sonne hath forgotten her or else hath taken another wife then I will deliuer her and send her into some other Countrey whereas she shal be better entertained When the Earle Peter heard the King say so he agréed to his saying and thought that aduise to bee good and was content with that he had saued her life then the King opened the chamber dore and so came into the Pallaice then he sent for the damsell and then shee was set in prison in a Tower and the Kinge commaunded to a secret Seruant that hee shoulde sée that the Damsell should want nothtng for her liuing and charged him vppon paine of his life to kéepe the matter secret and hee charged all those that knewe thereof in any wise to shewe Florence his Sonne nothinge of her Then hee closed vp the dore with stone to the entent that shee shoulde not yssue out and left nothing open but a little windowe towards the Towne of Courtoys wherein her meate was put other windowes there were opening vppon the fields the which gaue great ligght into the house Thus the faire Ladie Clariet was closed vp into the Tower whereas shee hadde good leasure to wéepe and wayle Now let vs leaue speaking of the Ladie and speake of Florence who was in the Battaile Chap. CLIIII ¶ How Florence discomfited his enemies and tooke the King of Nauarre and led him into the Towne and deliuered him to the King his Father and howe Florence deliuered him againe quit because that his Father shewed vnto him that the faire Damsell was drowned YE haue well heard heere before how the Earle Peter of Aragon departed from Florence and returned into the Citie for he could not cause Florence to leaue the battaile whereas hee did maruailes for the loue of the faire Ladie Clariet whome he trusted to wed hee slew so many of his enemies that the fields were couered with the dead bodies When the king of Nauarre his Vncle sawe that hee was right sorrowfull to see his men so slaine then hee came against Florence his Nephewe and sayd Ah thou vnkind Nephewe cursed bee you I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart as long as I see thee aliue thou hast done me this day great dammage I had rather dye an ill death then not to be reuenged of thée wherefore I require thee to Iust with me I challeng thy Land the which shal be mine thou shalt neuer be Lord thereof Florence answeared and sayd I shall not refuse the Iustes then hee put vp his sword and tooke a great speare and so ran against the king his Vncle and the king came against him and they met together so rudely that the Kinges Speare brake all to péeces but Florence Speare was bigge wherewith he strake the kinge so rudely that hee fell to the earth with his feete vpward and he fell so sodenly that he lay in a traunce and before hee could bee recouered Florence tooke him by the ventale of his helmet and sayd Nauarre before I sleepe I shal deliuer you Prisoner into the handes of a faire Damsell whome I loue entirely for in all the world there is none like her in beautie if you refuse thus to doe with my Sworde I shall incontinent strike off your head from the shoulders the king sayd hee was content to fulfill his pleasure and to yéeld himselfe Prisoner Then Florence tooke his Sworde from him and made him to mount vppon his horse and to ride before him towardes the Towne and deliuered him to the keeping of Tenne knightes and Florence road after with his sword in his hand all bloudie the crie and noyse beganne to bee great among the Nauarnes they enforced them on all parts to haue rescued their king but they coulde not come in time for by that time Florence was within the gates of the Citie whereas hee was right ioyfully receiued When the Nauarnes sawe howe they lost their labour and how their king was entred into the Citie they were right sorrowfull and came before the Barriers and skirmished and wan but little and so returned with small profit and sorrowfull for the losse that they had receiued that day for the fieldes were couered with dead men Thus they returned to their Tents and Pauillions and the Aragons entred into the Citie of Courtoys with great ioy and when they were in the Citie then Florence tooke the king of Nauarre his Vncle by the hand and led him to the Pallaice and there alighted and went into the Hall whereas he found king Garyn his Father who hadde great ioy of his comming When he saw his Sonne Florence bring his enemie Prisoner he embraced his Sonne and sayd My right déere Sonne I am right ioyfull of your comming Father quoth Florence I haue done so much by the ayd of our Lord Iesus Christ that I haue taken your enemie Prisoner whom I render into your handes to do with him at your pleasure Nowe I will that you kéepe your promise with mée séeing I haue quit mine now it is time that you deliuer vnto me the Damsell whom I shall make Quéen and Ladie after your decease When the king vnderstood his Sonne he was all in a rage and said Faire Sonne leaue thy folly and take such a Wife according to thine estate and thinke no more of that new Fondling for know for troth I haue caused her to be cast into the Sea whereas shee is drowned Thou art a Foole to thinke that I will suffer after my decease that a poore Caitiffe new-found should bee Ladie and Quéene crowned of such a Realme beware in as much as thou thinkest to displease me that thou bee not so hardy as to speake or remember any more the new-found Damsell When Florence heard the Kinge his Father say howe the Damsell was drowned in the Sea his bloud mounted into his face and his heart was so oppressed and so heauie that he had no power to speake and such a maruailous colde sweat tooke him that there was no vaine nor member in his bodie but trembled for anger and sorrow that was in him so that he had no power to sustaine himselfe but fell downe to the earth in a great traunce in such sort that euerie man there
thought hee had béen dead and euerie man complayned for him and especially the king his Father was right sorrowfull and would as then that he had neuer begunne that matter When Florence came againe to himselfe hee sayde Oh good Lorde the earth ought to be cursed when it sustaineth such a trayterous kinge that hath done such a déede great perill it is to bee conuersant with him then Florence looked vppon the knightes about him and sayde Sirs I require you for the loue you ought of reason to beare me bring me to the same place whereas she whom I loued perfectly was perished and drowned for other Sepulcher I desire none but the same that she hath for the loue of her it shall please me well to bee vnder couert vnder the waues of the Sea whereas my Loue is to the entent that of me there be heard neuer more remembrance Then hee beheld the king of Nauarre his Vncle whome hee had taken Prisoner and sayd Sir king of Nauarre thou art my Prisoner but if thou wilt ayd mee to bee reuenged of this treason that my Father hath done I shall then let thée goe againe frée and quit Faire Nephew quoth he leaue that folly and speake no more thereof for it toucheth much your honour and you shall be blamed of all them that heare speaking thereof Sir quoth Florence what is that you say you knowe well that you are my Prisoner and that it lyeth in me whether you shall liue or die Faire Nephew quoth the king I will well agrée to your wordes but if you will beléeue mee beléeue the king your Father leaue to doe after your owne will What quoth Florence you know well that in me it lyeth to strike off your head without you will agrée vnto my will and pleasure the which thing I will doe except incontinent you sweare the death of kinge Garyn my Father and that neuer to take peace with him vntill you haue brought him to the death vpon this condition I shall set you in sauegard for the Traytour hath deceiued me of the thing that I loue best in all this world Then the king of Nauarre sayd Déere Nephewe you are as yet young I cannot tell whether your wordes and promises are stable and firme or not for the youth that I sée in you and also for the great displeasure that you be in now and therefore faire Nephew I haue great feare that you should beguile me Sir quoth Florence God forbid that I shoulde bée so deceiuable of my promise to promise you any thinge and fulfill it not whatsoeuer should fall thereof At this time there were but few persons in the Pallace with the kinge for all the Lordes and knightes were gone into the Towne to their Lodgings to refresh them of their trauaile and wearines therefore the king was in his Pallaice with a small companie the which Florence had well espyed and there was certaine of Florence knightes about him vnto whome hee sayd all wéeping Sirs incontinent goe and get mee my horse and also the king of Nauarre his horse readie at the gate the which was done and when they were come then Florence sayd vnto the kinge of Nauarre his Vncle. Good Vncle if there bee any courage in you to be safe and out of seruage take this sword in your hand and let vs leaue this vnhappie king to vse his daies in sorrow and come and follow me Faire Nephew quoth the king of Nauarre I haue great feare that you will beguile me Sir quoth Florence thinke it not but come after mee and you shall sée what I will doe then Florence departed and the kinge of Nauarre with him they leapt vppon their horses and when they were vpon their good horses there was no man at that time in the Towne abroad to let Florence of his Enterterprize but thus they passed both vntill they were without the Towne then Florence sayd to the king his Vncle. Sir nowe you knowe well that I haue brought you out of this Towne and therefore I require you againe that you neuer take peace with the king my Father vntill you haue slaine him Faire Nephew quoth the king that which you require me to doe I shall fulfill it and thus I recommend you to God When the kinge sawe himselfe so well deliuered hee was ioyfull and so road vntill hee came to his Hoast whereas his men receiued him with great ioy and they demaunded how he was escaped out of the handes of Florence then the king shewed all the manner howe Florence deliuered him whereof they had great maruaile and had great ioy of his comming and to accomplish his promise to Florence his Nephewe he sent to all his Realme of Nauarre to his Fréends and other to come and ayd him Now wee shall leaue speaking of the king of Nauarre and speake of Florence his Nephew Chap. CLV ¶ How King Garyn put Florence his Sonne into a Tower in prison and how the Damsell escaped out of the Tower and spake with Florence her Louer at an arch vpon the Garden-side and how they were espyed and howe shee thought to haue drowned her selfe WHen Florence had deliuered the king of Nauarre his Vncle whom hee had taken before in the Battaile then he returned againe into the Citie and so road till he came to the Pallaice whereas he found the king his Father and sayd as a man almost out of his wits Oh thou false Traytor thou hast done so much through thine ilnesse that I rather desire thy death then thy life Then he sayd to the Knightes that were there present Sirs I pray you bringe mee to the Sea and cast mee therein in the same place whereas my Loue was cast for I will not liue one houre longer if you doe not this I shall slay my selfe with mine own handes When king Garyn heard his Sonne say so hee was right sorrowfull and spake fiercely vnto his Sonne and commaunded to take him and to set him in prison in the Tower in such wise that hee may bee sure of him and sayde Well I ought to be angrie in my heart when this boy mine own Son thus dealeth with mee but by the faith that I owe vnto our Lord God the displeasure that he hath done vnto mee hee shall deerely abuy it for as long as he liueth hee shall haue no foote of my Land Sir quoth Florence by you nor by your Land nor by any thinge that you can doe I set not thereby a button for I hadde rather die then liue There was no man present but that wept greeuously for pitie and when Florence saw them wéepe he sayd vnto them Sirs come vnto mee take off my Armour and put me into the handes of the king my Father for I will not that any of you shoulde haue any displeasure for my sake let mee beare the blame my selfe séeing that I haue lost the thing that I loue best Then the Knightes came vnto Florence and vnarmed him and
deliuered him to the King his Father then the king tooke him by the hand and led him foorth rudely and sayd howe hée would sette him in such a place out of the which hee should not come of a long space The Earle Peter of Aragon had great sorow but hee durst speake no word the king himselfe led him to the great Tower and there left him sore wéeping and making great sorrow for his Loue whom 〈◊〉 had lost he made such sorrow that pitie it was to heare when the night came and that hee remembred the Damsell his sorrowes beganne to renew And aswell as hee made sorrowe for his Loue the faire Damsell Clariet who was in the same Tower immured vp in prison thee heard the complaintes that Florence made and so long the hearkened that at last she thought that shee knew the voice and sayd Oh good Lord what may this bee who is this that I heare thus complaine mée thinkes I haue heard that voice before this time and mée thinkes it should be he that loued me so well I will not leaue searching vntill I may know the troth Then the Damsell came to the dore that was newly immured vp whereby the morter was not fully drie and shee scraped with her fingers and with a little knife that shee had so that at the last she scraped out a stone Then she assayed to pull out more and so much shee did with her fingers and the knife that shee made a great hole in the newe wall so that shee créeped out and went into the Garden the which ioyned to the Tower then shee felt by her a Roster vnder the which shee sate downe the Moone shone bright whereby the Garden was as light as though it had béen cléere day Then she tooke a faire Rose in her hand the which smelled swéetly and saide Ah good Lord I woulde that it were thy pleasure that my Louer were heere with me I thinke hee be not farre from hence I wish with him this swéet Rose so that hee knew that it came from mee I will not leaue searching vntill I haue found him and if I cannot find him in dolour and miserie I must end my dayes The same time that the Damsell complayned thus in the Garden Florence who was in the Tower and heard the faire Damsell in the Garden hee knâ—we her well by the voice and saide Oh good God what is it that I heare yonder in the Garden Déere Louer quoth the faire Ladie it is she whom you doe loue so well I am yssued out of the Tower wherein I haue béene in great miserie and I cannot tell what will fall thereof comfort mee or else I shall die héere in great sorrow When Florence heard the voice of his Loue he had such ioy at his heart that he forgat all his dolour when hee saw that shee was not dead then hee sayd vnto her Ah my right swéete Loue whether will you goe for if the King my Father know that you be escaped out of the Tower incontinent hee will slay you hee will haue no pitie of you and I cannot succour you Swéet Loue I pray you to gather me some flowers and cast them in at this window then I shall passe my dolours the better when I haue in my handes any thing that commeth out of yours Then the Damsell gathered Roses and flowers and did cast them in to her Louer whereof Florence had great ioy when hee had receiued them from her and kissed them oftentimes then hee came to the window thinking to haue taken his Loue by the hand but he could not the wall was so thicke whereof they were both sorrie The same time whiles they were thus deuising together the watchmen came about whome the King had sent thether to espie and knowe if Peter of Aragon did sende vnto those Prisoners any comfort or ayd and when they came thether they hearkened and heard the voices of those two persons heard well their words and wept for méere pitie of them then swéetly one watch-man called vnto them and sayde Holde your peace for if you be spyed you cannot escape the death I haue great pitie of you both I pray God to preserue you for I cannot comfort you Then they held their peace and so went asunder to the entent that they should not bee heard nor séene then there came thether two other watch-men sent thether by the King to sée if any bodie came to the Tower to aid or comfort the two Prisoners and when they were come néere to the Tower they sawe the newe made wall broken then they sayd each to other surely the Damsell is fled and hath broken out of prison then they cryed out and made a great crie and sayd the Damsell is fled out of the Tower When the Damsell being in the Garden heard the noyse that the Spies made shee was in great feare and doubt the which was no maruaile then incontinent as priuily as she could she went from the Tower and went to the end of the Garden whereas there was a hye Rocke and vnder the Rocke a great water and déepe shee did clime vppon the Rocke and sayd Ah Florence my déere Louer this day shall bee the departing of vs two it must behooue me to die for your sake shee sawe in the Garden a great number of Torches light and men séeking all about for her whereof she was afrayd and not without cause for shee knewe well that if she were taken she were lost for euer Right swéetly she called vppon our Lord God and on the holy Ghost for ayd and comfort and saide Alas if I be taken I cannot escape from the martirdome of death but since it is thus that we must néeds depart for euer I had rather bee drowned then be taken therewith shee made the signe of the crosse recommending her selfe to our Lord God therewith tumbled downe the Rocke to haue fallen downe into the water but as she fell she lighted in a great bush by the way whereby she was pricked in diuers places on her face and hands so that the bloud followed wherby shée felt such paine that she swounded Then the noyse ran through-out the Pallaice that the Damsell was escaped out of the Tower in such sort that the King was aduertised thereof who was sorrowfull and made promise that Earle Peter of Aragon should loose all his Lands and goods for he thought that by his meanes she was escaped the prison Cbap. CLVI ¶ Howe the first Watchman found out the Damsell and led her into a great wood there by and afterward the same Watchman deliuered Florence out of prison and shewed him the place where the Damsell was and how Florence and Clariet entred into the Sea and how the Kinge went after his Sonne and the VVatchman taken THus as the brute was in the Pallaice for the escaping of the Damsell the first Watch-man that first espyed the two Louers together went all about in
the Garden to sée if he could find the Damsell he sought so long that he found the Damsell whereas shée lay in the bush in great perill to be drowned This Watchman was a wise man and as priuily as he could he yssued out of the Garden and went downe to the water side and there he found a little boat and entred into it so passed the vine Garden as priuily as he could so that none heard nor saw him and when he was against the bush whereas the Damsell was hée spake to her softly and sayd Faire Damsell be not abashed for if I may in any maner of wise I will ayd you come down and enter into this boat and I shall set you in the Forrest and tarie there vntil I bring to you Florence your Louer the which I shall doe by the grace of Iesus for if I can by any manner of meanes I shall bring him out of the danger that hee is in because I haue alwayes loued him and for the goodnesse that hée hath done to me I shall now reward it When the Damsell heard the Watch-man for ioy thereof shée forgat all her sorrow and incontinent aswell as she might she yssued out of the bush and went down the Riuer side then she entred into the boat and the Watch-man set her ouer and left her in the Forrest the which ioyned to the water side then he tooke his leaue of her and sayd Faire Damsell tarie here vntill I returne againe to you Fréende quoth the Damsell I pray to God that you may so spéed as to bring hether my Louer and to set him out of danger and so he departed and entred againe into the Garden hearkening towardes the Pallaice whereas there was great brute made for the escaping of the Damsell But there was no doubt made of Florence because the Tower that hee was in was stronge and thicke Also the Chamber that he was in was not toward the Pallaice but it lay open against the Garden then the sayd Watch-man came to the wall side whereas there was a straight loope hole into Florence Chamber and he had two Goates féete in his handes then hee called Florence and sayd Sir if you will bee with your Loue who tarieth for you in the Forrest whereas I haue lâ—â—t her in sauegard helpe your selfe that you were out of this Tower take heere this Goates foote and doe you so much there within to enlarge the loope that you may yssue out and héere without I shall make the hole wyder When Florence vnderstoode the Watch-man hee was neuer so ioyfull in all his life when he heard the man say that his Loue was in sauegard they laboured so sore that they made the loope so large that Florence yssued out and then the Watch-man brought Florence to the Stable whereas some of the Kinges horses stoode especially there was one whose like could not be found This Watch-man who had great affection and desire to doe seruice to this young Lord did so much that he brought vnto Florence his Armour his shéeld his helmet his sword and a good Speare and so Florence armed him and leapt vpon the good horse then the Watch-man shewed him the place in the Forrest whereas as hee had left the Damsell and then hee tooke his leaue of Florence who sayd Fréend the seruice that you haue done me shall be well rewarded in time to come then hee road foorth and left not vntill he came whereas his Loue was and when he saw her his ioy was renewed then he alighted and kissed his Loue and when he sawe that she was so bloudie he hadde great pitie of her and sayd Deere Loue it is néedfull that we depart before the day come Therefore make you readie and leape vp behind me and then Florence mounted and she leapt vp behind him and so departed assoone as they might When they were in the fields the Damsell looked backe towards the Citie and shee saw a great number of men yssuing out then shée sayd vnto Florence Sir I sée well that wee bee lost for I sée much people yssuing out of the Citie it is not possible for vs to be saued but that we shal be taken and especially I cannot escape I sée well that nowe our loue shall depart your Father is fell and cruell I knowe well that hee will slay mee Then the Watch-man came running after Florence for feare that he had of the king but he could not ouertake Florence who fled with his Loue behind him as fast as he might toward the Sea-side for Florence knew well the priuie wayes because he had often times vsed the wayes when he was woont to go a hauking or hunting So long he road that he came to a little Port where there was a Shippe readie to depart then Florence alighted and his Loue with him and tyed his horse to a Trée and then he tooke the Damsell by the hand and came to the Maister of the Shippe and agréed so with him that he and his Loue entred into the ship then they hoysed vp their sayles and so sayled from the land the Watch-man came to the Sea-side trusting to haue found Florence there and hee was right sorrowfull when he sawe them so farre on the Sea hee was in great feare of loosing of his life Then Kinge Garyn came thether with a great number and when he saw the Shippe so far in the Sea he sayd Ah good Lord now haue I lost my son for I know well he is gone inyonder Shippe and the Damsel with him but by the faith that I owe vnto our Lord Iesus Christ this Watch-man shall loose his head then the Watch-man was taken and fast bound so that the bloud came out at his fingers ends and sayd all wéeping Ah good Lord in an ill houre I was acquainted with Florence and his Loue Alas for the goodnesse that I haue done I shall haue a small reward this day I am like to loose my life for loue of my Lord. Chap. CLVII ¶ Of the great debate that was in the Pallaice for the VVatch-mans sake whome the King would haue had to be hanged and how the king of Nauarre tooke the Citie of Courtoys and how he departed from thence WHen the Earle Peter of Aragon saw the Watch-man taken by whom Florence and his Loue were saued hee was sorie to sée the man so sore beaten and threatened then he went in hast to the King and sayd Sir you shew well by your workes that you haue but small reason to suffer thus this poore man to be beaten and that you would put him to death for the goodnesse that he hath done to your Sonne he hath done therein but as he should doe and like a true Seruant you ought the better to loue him you shall doe ill to put him to death I will that you know that if you put him to death I will not serue you one day longer but I will rather goe to the King
the Castle thinking to haue won it but they found there such defence and resistance that that which they did there was small to their profit yet the assault endured vntill the next day and at last they were constrained to withdraw from the Castle a great space Florence who was within cryed to them and sayd Ah yée false Villaines yée haue slaine my men but if God suffer me to liue their deathes shall bee déerely bought When the Paynims saw that they could not attaine to the Castle they blew the retrait euerie man returned to their owne house Then Sorbarre said to Florence and his company Sirs I aduise you to leape on your horses for now the Paynims are returned to their Lodgings wearie of their trauaile and many of them sore hurt and they are in great feare I know their conditions well ynough and because that after trauaile labour a man is féeble and full of feare and nowe euerie man is in his owne house and vnarmed to be at their ease therefore I counsaile that incontinent we yssue out and set vpon the Towne Then Florence and all the other sayd Sir as you haue deuised we are readie to doe it for a more noble counsaile was neuer giuen Then euerie man made him readie yssued out of the Castle and Florence and Sorbarre went before them and rested not vntill they were entred into the Town for their entring could not bee defended because the Castle ioyned to a corner of the Towne then they made a great crie and spread abroad in the Towne and put in fire in diuers places and slewe downe the Paynims in the stréets and Market places finally they did so much by force of armes that they brought the Towne vnder their subâ—ection and the Inhabitants thereof all slaine and all the Christian Prisoners rescued who had great ioy when they saw Florence their Lord whome they thought had béene dead Great riches that day was wonne in that Towne the which was giuen and parted vnto them that had deserued it and Florence gaue to the Christian Prisoners great riches Thus when the Towne was wonne and the riches thereof put into their Shippes they all departed and sette fire on all the Citie then they went into the Castle whereas the Damsell Clariet was who had great ioy when she saw Florence her Louer and then Sorbarre who had great desire to depart from thence tooke all the Treasure riches and had it into their ships and victualled them with all thinges necessary then when it was day in the morning they departed from the Castle and went to their Ships with great ioy Florence holding his Loue by the hande said vnto her Deere Loue king Garyn my Father hath sent to seeke for me all about both by land and by water and these that bee come heere with these Shippes were sent forth by the Kinge my Father to search for me When the Damsell heard that Florence would bring her againe to his Father she hadde great feare and said Sir yâ—u know right well the great hate and displeasure that your Father hath to you and me for God sake sir let vs goe some other way Déere Loue quoth Florence haue no feare of my Father for if you had shewed your nâ—me what you bee before this time it had eased vs of much paine Ah Sir quoth shee it is not as you wéene it were Well quoth Florence it is sufficient for me as it is then they 〈◊〉 vp their sayles and so sayled vntill they were farre off 〈◊〉 that Land and Sorbarre was right ioyfull in that he had saued the Christian men and for the loue of Florence he forsooke his owne lawe and his countrey then hee sayd vnto Florence Sir my bodie and goods I abandon to you in such wise that I shall neuer leaue you for life nor death Sir quoth Florence of the goodnesse and troth that you haue shewed mee I thanke you and I shall neuer haue penny worth but the halfe shall be yours Now let vs leaue speaking of them sayling ioyfully vppon the Sea towards Aragon and let vs speake of king Garyn who was besieged within the Citie of Courtoys by his brother in lawe the king of Nauarre Chap. CLXI ¶ How King Huon Kinge of the Fayrey sent two of his Knightes to the two Kinges and how he appeared betweene them with a great number and of the Peace that he made between them WEll haue yee heard before how that after the King of Nauarre had taken King Garyn prisoner and that Truce was taken for a certaine space and then each of them to shew their powers so it fell that two daies before the breaking vp of the truce and that their ayds and puissances were assembled together the one partie within the Citie and the other without with the Kinge of Nauarre who sore threatned King Garyn because hee had banished away his Sonne Florence his Nephew and sayd that hée had rather die then such an ill King should not be punished this King of Nauarre had assembled such a number of people that the Valleys and Hils were couered with men of warre the night before the Truce brake vppe there was hearde in the ayre a fearefull voice the which when it began to speake the earth trembled and thundred and lightned in such sort that all they that were assembled aswell they within as without had such feare that they were likely to haue run away Then the voice began to speake and sayd Sirs ye that be here in the field readie to fight of both parties make no hast to ioyne together in Battaile for such ayd and succour shal be sent to you both that yee shal be all ioyfull Therewith the voice passed away and was heard no more whereby both parties were abashed all the night they were at their prayers beséeching God to ayd succour them King Garyn was sore abashed when he heard the voice and said Oh good Lorde if these people that are assembled bee slaine by my meanes for me my soule shall be lost for euer Alas my Son Florence I was ill counsailed when I chased you away from me and I did great sin when I put you in prison I am wearie of my life it is no matter though I die and I am more sorrie for you my déere Sonne whome I haue betrayed and driuen away without a cause alas by my meanes this Realme will be wasted and destroyed the which you ought to haue after me Therewith he swounded among his Lordes so that they all thought he had béene dead whereof they sore complained and at last the king came againe to himselfe then his Lordes comforted him and so bad him to heare Seruice and after seruice there appeared sodenly before him two goodly young Knightes the one was Gloriant and the other Mallabron they were twoo Knights of the Fayrey then they all smiling saluted the King and sayd Royall King Huon of Bourdeaux saluteth thée
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
great feasting chéere and caused him to be christened then king Huon said to the two kinges Sirs I will that presently each of you doe pardon other of all ill will Sir quoth they wee are readie to doe it and so each of them embraced other whereof king Huon hadde great ioy and so had all other Lordes and Knightes that were there assembled Kinge Garyn quoth Huon incontinent I will that your Son Florence haue my Daughter in mariage and I giue them the Citie of Bourdeaux Blames and Geronnill and all the appendants thereto belonging When king Garyn heard the offer that king Huon had made to his Sonne Florence he thanked him hartely so did all the other Lords who allowed greatly that mariage When kinge Garyn sawe the honour loue and courtesie that Kinge Huon did to Florence his Sonne hee knéeled downe and sayd Sir my Child and yours I commit into your handes vse them at your pleasure then by consent of both Fathers they were wedded and spoused together all in one day the Feast Solemnitie of this mariage endured Eight daies the king of Nauarre gaue vnto Florence his Realme of Nauarre to possesse and enioy after his decease Of the Feastes Iusts and Tourneys that was made on those Eight dayes I make no mention thereof for it were ouer-long to rehearse Then king Huon gaue his Daughter Thirtie Somers charged with gould and great riches whereby the ioy encreased of all parts then the Lordes and other people of Aragon came to king Huon and all wéeping they desired him to haue pitie and compassion of them and that he might find some meanes that they might haue some recompence for the great hurts an dammages that they had receiued by reason of the warre between these two kinges whereby they were neere hand destroyed by the Nauarnes When Queene Escleremond heard the people complaine she embraced her Husband and saide Sir I desire you for the loue of your children to haue pitie of these people who requireth for aide for in you is all their trust Madame quoth Huon I shal incontinent shew what grace I will doe for the loue of you Then king Huon commaunded all the people to kneele downe and then he sayd Sirs all yée that be here assembled to the entent that you shall not thinke that the thing that I will doe should bee any witch-craft or illusion but that it is by the will of Iesus Christ the gift that king Oberon gaue mee before hee dyed the which was all the puissance and dignitie that hee had in all the Fayrey of the world therefore knowe that by the puissance and dignitie that our Lord God made king Oberon my Predecessor to giue me I will that this Realme of Aragon whereas it hath had dammage by reason of the warre so that the Realme is sore burnt and wasted and I will that it be again in the same case as it was before any war began and that all Castles houses burnt or beaten downe be better thrée times then they were before and I will that from henceforth euerie man serue God and thanke him of this grace that he hath sent you then he lifted vp his handes and blessed all the people with the signe of the crosse and assoone as he had done his blessing euerie thing was as he had deuised throughout al the Realme Thus was the wil of Iesus Christ at the instance and prayer of the noble kinge Huon Chap. CLXIII ¶ How King Huon and Queene Escleremond departed and howe he gaue great rich guiftes vnto the two Kinges and to all other Lordes Ladies and Damsels and of the sorrowe that was betweene the Mother and the Daughter at their departing WHen Kinge Huon had made his prayers to our Lord God and that his request was graunted hee thanked God such Feasts Iusts and Tourneys as was made there during the Feast was neuer séene nor heard of in any Cronicle heere before Then king Huon made him readie to depart and he gaue guifts before he departed to them that were there and especially to Sorbarre to whome hée recommended his Daughter Clariet desired him not to leaue her Sir quoth Sorbarre the great loue that I haue to you constraineth me neuer to forsake her nor them that shall come of her as long as life is in my body When Quéen Escleremond vnderstood the departing of her Lord Huon and sawe that shee must leaue her Daughter shee had great sorrowe at her heart and so all wéeping shée came to her Daughter and said Right déere Daughter you ought greatly to thanke our Lord God in that hee hath cast you out of so many perils and nowe to haue great honour and to be exalted like a rich and puissant Ladie therefore alwaies set your heart on God and serue feare and loue him be liberall to them that be poore nor mocke no body neither bee no Iangler against your Husband nor hearken to none ill lyers flye from Flatterers loue your Husband kéepe your selfe alwaies true to the entent that none ill report bee made of you Marke well this doctrine for I cannot tell whether euer I shall sée you againe or not When the faire Clariet heard her Mother suddainly she began to wéepe and sayd Oh my right déere Lady and Mother the departing of you and of the king my Father from me ought sore to gréeue me since we haue béene together so small a time for your departing is to me so gréeuable that it is great paine for me to beare it Then the Mother the Daughter clipped and kissed each other more then Twentie times and oftener would haue done if king Huon had not béene for then hee tooke his Daughter Clariet in his armes and kissed her often times tenderly wéeping because he knew well that he should neuer sée her againe then he lifted vp his hands and gaue her and her Husband his blessing shewed them many faire examples and doctrines Then the noble Quéene Escleremond kneeled downe prayed king Huon her husband that he would counsaile and aduertize them what they should doe Madame quoth Huon rise vp for such pitie I haue of them of you that my heart neere hand faileth me and I tarie here too long for I must needs depart come hether my deere Daughter and kisse me and Son Florence with you I leaue my Daughter and keepe her well as longe as God will suffer her to bee with you Then king Huon tooke leaue of the two kinges who were right sorrowfull of his departing and he desired them alwaies to be good Louers together and so tooke his leaue and sayd I wish my selfe my Queen and all my company to be in my Pallaice at Momur he had no sooner spoken the words but that he was there and sudenly vanished from the twoo Kings whereof they and all other were greatly abashed so that they wist not what to say they had thought it had béen but a dreame but
money to liue withall and so went a foote and at the last came to the Citie of Basile and there shee tarried a season and there spent her monney so long shee lay there that shee heard the Emperour of Roome sent for men all about to ayd and succour him against the King of Castile who made him great warre When she said that many noble men were going to Roome to succour the Emperour she was ioyfull and sayd to her Host that if she had horse and armour shee would goe with other into the warres and thought within her selâ—e that she would gladly be acquainted with the Emperour of Roome who was named Othon and she thought if she might she would take counsaile of him she did so much that she fell in acquaintance with some of the Almaines so that they were glad to see her she séemed to them to be so faire and a young Squier then an Almaine that was there sayd vnto her Freend come hether to me and shew me what thou art Sir quoth she I am to him that my seruice may please for I desire nothing but to serue some noble man but of late I was in Aragon and there I serued a Lord that is dead wherefore I am come hether for the displeasure that I haue of his death and I can well serue a Gentleman and kéepe his horse and if néed be to driue his Sompter-horse and if I come in Battaile or in Skirmish with my Maister I thinke hee shall haue a worse then I am in his company The Almaine hearing her so to speake sayd Faire Sonne that thou sayst procéedeth of a good courage therefore good must come to thée yet I pray thée shew mee thy name Sir quoth shee I am called Ide Brother quoth the Almaine I entertain thée into my seruice take héed of my horse Sir quoth she I am ready to doe you the best seruice that I can so the Almaine had her to his Lodging Thus she then serued that was woont to be serued for shee feared if it should be perceiued that she were a woman it wold be to her trouble therefore she kept her selfe close and secret and she continued thrée dayes with her Maister after the other company were gone towardes Roome but her Master might not depart so soone as the other did for his businesse was not readie then thrée dayes after they departed to go to Roome and shee was armed after the custome of the Countrey she serued her Maister so well that hee praysed her So long they road that they came and approached neere to the Countrey of Rome so that on a day they entred into a great darke Forrest wherein lay in ambushment about Seauen-score Spaniards lying there to abide their aduenture they lay in a darke Valley and when they saw the Almaines they dispised them to the death and ranne vppon them Then Ide who road before her Master couched her Speare and strake a Spaniard therewith cleane through the bodie and with the drawing out of her Speare the Spaniard fell downe dead of the which course her maister praised her then the Spaniards ran in among the Almaines who right valiantly defended themselues but their defence could not auaile them for at the end they were all slaine so that none escaped aliue but alonely Ide who did beare her selfe so valiantly that shee slewe Foure of the Spaniards but when she saw that her maister and all his companie wer slain with her sword in her hand all bloudie she fled away and road out of the way and tooke a little path the which brought her to a Rocke and there she alighted and taried in the wood all that night vntill the next morning she had so great hunger thirst that she was néere hand famished for she had ridden all the day without meat or drinke and in the morning she looked al about her and sawe in an arbour about Thirtie Théeues sitting at a Table eating and drinking at their pleasure and when the Damsell saw them for the great rage of hunger that she suffered constrained her in such wise that she forgat all feare went vnto them When the Théeues saw her one of them sayd to his fellowes I see yonder comming a Squier mounted vpon a good horse the which shal be ours and when I de approached to them shee humbly saluted the companie and sayd Sirs if it may please you to let me eate and drinke with you I will pay for my shotte Fréende quoth one of them is there any man that hath beene your guide in this Forrest Sirs quoth Ide God hath beene my conduct and none other then one of the Theeues stept forth and tooke her horse by the bridle and said to his companie Sirs lay on strike him downe he shall neuer eate nor drinke more his horse shall not escape me When the Damsell saw that she was taken she was in great feare shee durst make no countenance to defend her selfe there were so many Theeues vpon her and she thought to humble her selfe which should bee more profit and sayd Sirs why make you that hast to slay mee little shall yee winne thereby nor looze hold heere my sword I yeild my selfe into your handes and I pray you in the honour of Iesus Christ to giue me some meat and drinke for I am so hungrie that I am almost famished Then the master Theefe sayd Squier haue no feare to be striken thou shalt haue no more hurt then my selfe but thou shalt haue all that thou lackest goe thy way and sit downe and eat and drinke at thy pleasure Sir quoth Ide I thanke you Then the Damsell sate downe with them and did eat drinke at their pleasure and when they had all eaten and were risen vp the Théeues beganne to striue among themselues saying to their chiefe maister howe hee had done ill that he would not suffer them to slay the Squier then another answeared said how there should be no hurt done vnto him because hee was so faire a young man and so courteous and sayde that it should be great dammage to slay him and that it were better to kéepe him still with them and to learne him to steale and to murder men and if he will not so doe then it were good reason to slay him When Ide vnderstood the Théeues she was in great feare called vpon our Lord God praying him humbly in her great néede to ayd and succour her then the chiefe maister demaunded what was her name then shee answeared in great feare to bee slaine and said Sir my name is Ide and I am of the Realme of Faunce and we were in company when we departed out of our Countrey about fortie Gentlemen we were going to haue serued the Emperour of Rome who hath now war with the King of Spaine and we found in our way about seauen score Spaniards in ambushment lying in a Valley so they set vppon vs and slewe all my company none
manner of defence made against them but it is an old saying that many things remaineth of foolish thoughts as it did with the Spaniards for they thought surely that the Citie of Rome was wonne but if God ayde and succour the Damsell Ide and her Chiualrie she should take from them ere it were night their hope to haue any Victory She road by her Battailes and encouraged her men and mooued them to doe valiantly and thus they approached towards their enemies Great ioy and noise there was when the Battailes encountred together the shot flew so thicke on both parts that it séemed to be snow and hayle I de encountred with a Knight Nephew to the King of Spaine hee receiued such a stroake that for all his armour Ides Speare went cleane through his bodie so that the Knight fell to the earth with his féet vpward and so dyed miserably among the horse féete then I de sayd of God be thou cursed in an ill houre thou camst hether to receiue such an offering I challenge from you all the Empire of Rome then shée sayd to her selfe Good Lord God I require thée humbly this day to aid and succour me a poore fugitiue therewith she spurred her horse and with the same speare she slew another great Baron of Spaine and so slew with the same Speare diuers other when the Speare was broken she drew out her sword the which the Emperour had giuen her then she came to a notable Duke of Spaine Vncle to the King to whome shee gaue such a stroake with her good sword that shee claue his head to the téeth and so he fell downe dead then she dasht into the thickest presse and euer did choose out the greatest personages and slew many of them for she thought the more that were slaine of the great men the more should her enemies bee afrayd therefore she chose out such one after another And also the Romans fought valiantly so that by the hye Prowesse of Ide and of the good Chiualrie of the Romanes that were with her they made the Spaniards abashed and caused them to flye away and had neuer returned againe if the Duke of Argon with thrée Thousand Knightes in his companie had not béene who made them that fled to returne againe Then there began againe a fierce Battaile and many a man slaine the Romanes did valiantly by the aide and comfort of Ide their Captaine she road into the thickest of the presse and bare downe the Spaniards on all sides that it was pittie to sée great was the noise pitiously cryed out the hurt men lying among the horse féete which were beaten downe to the earth then the King of Spaine came into the Battaile with his sword in his hand and encountred with a great Lord of Rome which was Coozen to the Emperour the King gaue him such a stroake vppon the helmet that hee claue his head into the braines and then the King slew another then Ide who saw that was sorrowfull and sayd I ought little to be praised without I reuenge the death of these two Lordes slaine by the King of Spaine then shee road to the Kinge and gaue him such a stroake vppon the helmet that all the circles with stones and pearles flew downe to the earth and stroake away part of his coife haire and skinne and if the King hadde not turned his head it had béen clouen to the téeth the sword glaunced and lighted vpon his horse necke and strake it cleane asunder and so the horse fell downe dead and the King to the earth whereof the Spaniards were sore abashed thinking their King had béen slaine so they fled away and left him there lying on the earth in a traunce in such sort that hee could neither sée heare nor speake one word then the Damsell I de tooke him and deliuered him to two noble Lordes of the Emperours Court and when he reuiued he was made to sweare and promise to be a true Prisoner Those two Lordes went with the King of Spaine into the Citie of Rome and presented him vnto the Emperour from Ide whereof the Emperour thanked God that hee had sent Ide thether to serue him then the King was sette in a strong Tower and I de was without still doing maruailes in armes so that euerie man was abashed thereof the Spaniards made her way Finally by the hye Prowesse of the Damsell Ide the Kinge of Spaine was taken and all his men discomfited happie was hee that might escape to saue his life the chase endured long wherein many were slaine and taken Then Ide and her companie returned to their Tents and Pauillions and there they found great riches the which was brought out of Spaine and was giuen and distributed to them that had deserued it Great ioy was made in the noble Citie of Rome for the Battaile was well séene ouer the wals and especially the Ladie Oliue had well regarded the hye prowesse of Ide whereby she loued her so in her heart that she smiled with ioy and sayd to her selfe To yonder young Knight I doe giue my loue the which I neuer granted before to any man liuing but it is good right and reason that I grant my loue to Ide such like wordes Oliue sayd to her selfe Chap. CLXVIII ¶ How the Emperour of Roome highly receiued the noble Damsell Ide and of the honour that was made vnto her and how the Emperor made her Constable of his Empire And how the king of Spaine was deliuered out of prison and made homage vnto the Emperour AFter that the Battaile was done and finished and the bootie distributed I de with great triumph accompanyed with Lordes and Knightes entred into the Citie of Roome and the Emperour was infourmed of the comming of Ide and of her valiant déedes by whom the Victorie was obtained how that none could endure against her whereof the Emperour had such ioy at his heart that hee wist not what to doe and hee thanked our Lord God that the matter went so to his honour and glorie therewith I de came to the Pallaice whereas she was receiued with great ioy with all the Colledges of the Citie and when the Emperour sawe her he arose and embraced her and sayd My true Fréend Ide of your comming I am right ioyfull for this day you haue done such honour to our Empire that you ought to bée honoured for euer and because you haue done vs such seruice wee will that you shall bee the mirrour for all other Knightes to encourage them to doe well wee therefore make you our first Chamberlaine and high Constable of all our Romane Empire and all my Landes and Signiories I abandon to be at your commandement in all things that you thinke reasonable to be done for I will and commaund that all my Lordes doe obey you Sir quoth Ide of this honour I thanke you God giue mee grace that I may alwaies perseuer to doe that thing which shal be to you agreeable
and profitable to your Countreys and Signiories Then the Emperour sent for the King of Spaine out of prison and when hee was come hee knéeled downe and sayd Sir I require you to haue pitie of me the Emperour answered â—â—ercely and sayd King of Spaine for what cause are you come out of your Countrey of Spaine and thus to destroy and wast mine Empire you haue slaine many of my Lordes and Knightes who neuer did you any displeasure and besides that you haue burnt many of my Townes and beaten downe my Castles whereof I am sorrie seeing that I nor none of mine did you neuer any displeasure and because that all euill ought to bee punished and all good déedes rewarded before euer I drinke any wine I shall cause your head to be striken off for any mans speaking to the contrarie I shall not fayle to doe it When the King heard that he was in great feare and humbly prayed him to haue pitie him and sayd how he was readie to make amends for all his trespasses and to repaire again all the ill damages done by him or caused to be done within the Empire and therewith to doe homage and feaultie vnto him and to hould the Realme of Spaine of him promising also if any warre were made against the Emperour hee would come and succour him with twentie Thousand men at his owne proper costes and charges and to bee with him against all men that would trouble him then the Emperor sayd King of Spaine know for troth that for all your promise and words I will doe but little for it for you shall not escape from me then the damsell I de stept foorth and sayd to the Emperour Sir I haue often times heard say that he that humbleth himselfe and cryeth for mercie then reason requireth that hee should haue mercie graunted him and therefore Sir I require you to receiue this â—ing to your grace and pardon his trespasse séing the offers that he hath offered to do that he will become your Liege-man hold his Land of you and amend the dammages that you haue suffered he that reason offereth ought to haue haue reason and you ought to thanke God since such a man as hee is putteth himselfe into your handes When the Emperour vnderstoode Ide he sayd Fréend Ide your wit and courtesie is to bee allowed and because I knowe that the counsaile that you giue mee is reasonable I will doe as you will haue mee take you him and by you hee shall bee deliuered Sir quoth Ide I thanke you When the Kinge of Spaine sawe that hee should haue grace and that with amends making he should be deliuered he thanked God and did homage to the Emperour and deliuered sufficient pledges to make restitution as he had promised then the Emperour gaue him a safe conduct vntill he came into his owne Countrey and all the other Prisoners were deliuered such as were taken in the Battaile by the Romanes then the King of Spaine was ioyfull and often times thanked the Damsell Ide by whose meanes this bountie and courtesie was shewed him Then hee tooke his leaue of the Emperour of Ide and of all other Lords and Knights that were there present and so hee returned into his Countrey of Spaine whereas he was receiued with sore wéepings for the great losse that he had receiued Now we shall leaue speaking of him and returne to our matter Chap. CLXIX ¶ How the Emperour gaue his Daughter Oliue in mariage to the Damsell Ide knowing none other but that she had been a man and how shee was appeached by a Varlet that heard their deuises whiles they were in bedde together whereby the Emperour would haue burnt the Damsell Ide AFter that the King of Spaine was departed from Roome the Emperour honored and praised much Ide for the good seruice that shee had done who euer better and better perseuered in good seruice doing for she did so much by her wit that all discords and debates that were in the Empire betwéene Lordes or Neighbors she set them in peace and accord wherefore the Emperour loued her in such wise that without her he did nothing and the Emperours Daughter Oliue loued her in such wise that she could not liue one day without the sight of her she was so taken with loue thinking that she neuer sawe so goodly a young man And so on a day the Emperour assembled his Lords and his priuie Counsaile to whome he shewed and sayd that he had but one Daughter the which as then was of lawfull age wherefore he would that she should be married to the intent that she might haue heires to enioy his Lands after his decease and sayd Sirs I thinke if all the world should be searched there could not bee found a man so worthy to haue my Daughter Oliue in mariage as our welbeloued Constable the valiant Ide by whome so noble seruice hath béene done vnto vs and to our whole Empire for I would before I die that she should be married and I thinke I cannot better bestowe her for in all the world there is not a more valiaunt Knight then Ide is nor that is more worthy to gouerne an Empire or a great Realme When the Lords vnderstood the Emperour they all allowed his mind and counsailed him to doe the same then the good Emperour called to him Ide and sayd My déere Fréend for the great seruice that you haue done I will reward you as by reason I am bound to doe and I cannot giue you a more richer thing nor that I loue better then Oliue my déere Daughter whome I will giue you in mariage and I will that you take her to your wife to the intent that after my dayes you may gouerne mine Empire for now I féele my selfe aged and féeble wherefore I shall be content that from hencefoorth you haue the gouerning thereof and now I deliuer to you my Land in kéeping to gouerne it as your owne Ah Sir quoth Ide what is that you say you know well that I am but a poore Gentleman banished out of my Countrey and I am woorth nothing great dammage it should bee to so noble a Damsell to be assigned to such a poore man as I am Sir I crie you mercie humbly requiring you to take aduice that your Daughter who is so faire may be married to some hye Prince puissant to the intent that if you should haue any busâ—nesse that he might be of power to ayd and succor you for I am poore and ought alwaies to trauaile and to take paines to get honour for mee and to increase my Lineage What quoth the Emperour are you so hardy as to refuse my Daughter by whome great wealth and goodnesse may come to you Sir quoth Ide since it is so that it pleaseth you to shew me this honour I will not refuse it but Sir I say it to this intent that you should take good aduise therein and séeing you are content that I shall
thus doe and that it is your pleasure I am content and I humbly thanke your grace of the honour that you beare me Then the Emperour sent for his Daughter who came vnto him with a glad heart for shée had béene aduertised of the matter why her Father sent for her and then the Emperour sayd Daughter you must promise mée to doe as I shall shewe you Déere Father quoth she it is not in me nor I will not refuse any thinge that is your pleasure Daughter quoth the Emperour you doe well so to answeare mée and because I haue no more but you that ought to haue my Realme after me therfore I will that you take a Husband to the intent that your Landes and Signiories may bee defended by him and therefore I will that you take to your Husband our Captaine the valiant Ide whome I loue entirely this is my pleasure and agréement of all my Lordes if it be your pleasure to haue him he shall be King and you Quéen after my decease Sir quoth the Ladie I am readie to fulfil your pleasure and to obey your commaundements and I thanke God of this faire aduenture that is fallen to mee this day for I shall haue him that I loue best I haue not nowe lost my time when I shall haue at my will him whome I loue best in all the world then shee knéeled downe before her Father and thanked him of his guilt and then she rose and kissed her Father and sayd Right déere Father I require you to hasten that this may bee done let vs goe to the Church to be wedded for me thinkes we ought so to doe When the Lordes heard the Ladie they laughed at her hast and then the Emperour sayd Daughter come foorth and fiance your Husband and you I de approach néere and nowe after my death I giue you all mine Empire and I giue you my déere daughter in recompence of the good seruice that you haue done me When Ide vnderstood the Emperour all her bloud changed and she wist not what to doe all her bodie trembled for feare and she called vppon our Lord God right pitiously to her selfe and prayed him to haue pitie of her and to counsaile her what was best for her to doe for shée saw that perforce the Emperour would marrie her to his Daughter and sayd Ah my Father Florence by you by your disordinate rage I am nowe brought to this case when you made mée to depart because you would haue had me to your wife but before I would haue consented thereto I had rather to haue béen burnt therefore I fled away to eschewe that shame whereby I haue béene since in many perils from the which by the will of God I haue escaped whereof I ought to thanke him I thought to kéepe my selfe within Roome secret and that no man shoulde knowe that I am a woman but I shall be accused by the Emperours Daughter whose loue is so much sette on mée that I haue no power to escape without I steale away priuily from them all and if I shew them what I am I may then haue some villany and bee accused and sent vnto the Kinge my Father or else to send him word where I am and then in great hast he will send for me or else if I will escape I must flye away ouer the Sea howbeit I speake but like a Foole séeing this fortune is fallen vnto me to haue the Emperors Daughter in mariage and his Empire I will wed her and doe as God will giue me grace to doe All this the Damsell I de spake to her selfe Then shée sayd to the Emperour Sir since it is your pleasure to giue me your Daughter in mariage I am ready to take her Then they were ledde to the Minster-church and there they were fianced whereof great ioy was made in Roome then the day of marriage came and the faire Oliue was ledde to the Church betwéene two Kinges and I de went afore verie sadly and so came to the Church there they were wedded Then great was the triumph and ioy in the Citie of Roome many a rich garment of gould and silke was worne that day and euery man ran to sée the new Brides then they went to the Pallaice and so to dinner Of the Feasts sports and rich meates that were there that day if I should shew it the time would bee ouer-long to rehearse it but since Roome was first founded it was not knowne that there had béen such a Feast as this wedding for no bodie thought but that I de had béen a man and after Supper when it was time to goe to rest the Brides were brought into their Chamber then the Ladie Oliue went to her bed then came Ide and the Chamber auoided and shee locked fast the dore to the intent that none should heare them then shee came to bed and layd her downe on the bed-side and sayd to Oliue My right swéete Loue God giue you good night for as for me I can giue you no good because I féele such a disease the which gréeueth me sore and therewith she kissed Oliue who answeared and sayd My swéete Louer you are the thinge in the world that I most desire for the bountie and swéetnesse that I knowe in you then doe with me as it shall please you and to the intent that you shall not thinke that I haue so great desire that you should do the thing which of right ought to be done betwéene man and Wife I am content to forbeare it Fiftéene dayes and because that diuers folkes are héere about to heare vs I am content to giue you truce for wee shall haue time ynough hereafter to sport vs and I know such noblenesse in you that I am sure you will take none other Wife nor touch none other but that you will kéepe your faith and troth to me for I am chast and so shall you find me it sufficeth me to kisse you as for the priuie loue I am content for this time since it is your pleasure to forbeare it Then I de answeared Faire Ladie I wil not refuse your will thus they passed that night with clipping and kissing Then in the morning they arose and made them readie and came into the Pallaice the Emperour beheld Oliue his Daughter to sée if shee were any thing chaunged and sayd Daughter how is it with your new husband Sir quoth shee euen as I desire for I loue Ide my Husband better then I loue you although you are my Father at that word the Emperour and all his Lordes laughed so great ioy and feasting was there made that it endured Eight dayes Then euerie man tooke leaue and went whether as they listed and after the Fiftéene dayes were expired that I de had layne with Oliue I de touched her not but with kissing whereof Oliue was sorrowfull and sayde to her selfe Oh good Lord I was ingendred in an euill houre when I haue married with
from hence vntill you haue shewed vs your will to the intent that we may bring him some good newes Chap. CLXXII ¶ Howe the Emperour Ide and the Empresse Oliue gaue good instructions to their Sonne when they departed from Rome and howe they arriued at Courtoys and came to Florence who with great ioy receiued them as his Children WHen the Emperor I de had heard this Knight report these newes of the King his Father the water fell from his eies for pitie and ioy that he had and answeared and sayd Sirs I will that yee know well that of your comming and good newes I am right ioyfull but I am sorrie for the great sicknesse that my Father is in wherefore to recomfort him and to make him ioyfull I will that you returne to him and say howe that I humbly recommend me to his good grace and that at Midsummer next I and my Wife will bee with him the Messengers hearing that answeare were right ioyfull Then after dinner they tooke their leaue of the Emperor and of the Empresse who gaue them many rich guiftes for the honour of King Florence their Father and so the Messengers departed When the Empresse Oliue vnderstood the will of her Lord shee was right sorrowfull for to leaue her Countrey whereas shée was borne and nourished and especially to leaue her Son Croissant whom she loued but since it was the pleasure of her Lord so to doe she contented her selfe for shée loued her Husband so well that shée would in no wise say against his pleasure nor let him to do his will Right sorrowfull were the Princes and Lordes of that Countrey and all the people of Roome but in the best wise that they could they comforted themselues because of the yong Prince Croissant who should tarie and abide with them and whom the Emperour deliuered vnto them to be kept And then hee spake to his Sonne and shewed him many notable examples and reasons he commaunded him to bée gentle and courteous to his Lordes and people and that he should not bée light of credence and that in any wise hee should not listen with his eares to heare Flatterers nor the filth that commeth from them that will lye and flatter to please him withall to the intent to come to their intention whereby many a Prince hath béene destroyed and brought to Hell whereby they and their Lordes also for beléeuing of them haue béene damned perpetually Sonne looke thou be serued with Gentlemen such as are come of them that haue béene of good renowme loue the holy Church giue almes to the poore for the loue of Iesus Christ let thy Chests be open to thy good Knightes beware thou bée no Nigard and beware thou be not ouercome with wine lead an honest life haunt and kéepe companie with the ancient noble men and praise them if they be worthy flye Flatterers and Mockers and beware thereof thy selfe for thou canst not doe worse because it will abate thine honour Thus the Emperour I de sayd to his Son Croissant and shewed him many notable sayings and faire instructions then he called his Lordes and sayd Sirs the most part of you know my will the which is that I and my Wife will goe into Aragon to the King my Father therefore I desire you all and command you that yée will haue my Sonne as recommended to you I haue left him great treasure to the intent that if any warre or any other businesse fall to him that he shall haue riches sufficient to withstand them that would doe him or his Country any dammage and also the Realme of Aragon is not so farre from hence but that anone I may haue newes from him When the Lords vnderstood the Emperour and how he had taken on him this Voyage they knewe well they could not let nor stop him of his pleasure Then they all answeared in generall and sayd that as néere as they could they would accomplish his commandement and to serue truely his Sonne Croissant and to aid keepe and defend his Countrey against all men that would annoy him Sirs quoth the Emperor I thanke you Thus after the Emperour had spoken with his Sonne and with his Lordes and shewed them his will and pleasure hee made readie for his iourney and tooke with him a certaine number of Knightes to accompanie him and the Empresse his Wife and he fournished two great Shippes and caused them to be charged with victuall and Artillerie as it appertained for the defence of their bodies and liues and tooke with him great riches apparell iewels then he tooke his leaue of the Pope of all his Lordes and of all them of the Citie who made great sorrow for their departing Then they entred into the Riuer of Tyber accompanied with about fiue Hundred Knightes at their departing they tooke leaue of their Sonne Croissant and kissed him often times When the Empresse saw her Sonne whome shee must depart from she began to wéepe but the Emperour comforted her as much as he could Then they tooke their Shippes and so departed and so long sayled in the Riuer of Tyber that they came into the hye Sea whereas they sailed night and day with good winde that without danger they arriued at the Citie of Courtoys whereas they were receiued with great ioy and so they came to the Pallaice whereas they found King Florence lying on a Couch who when hee was aduertised of their comming he had great ioy Then the Emperour and the Empresse entred into the Pallaice and came whereas the Kinge lay then they both knéeled downe before him and when the King saw them he had such ioy that hee could speake no word but made a token that they should approach néere to him and so they did and hee embraced and kissed them oftentimes and when hee might speake hee sayde My right déere Children of your comming I am right ioyfull and of the grace that God hath sent to you then againe oftentimes he kissed the Empresse Oliue sayd how she was welcome into the Realme of Aragon Of the great ioy feasting guifts and presents that were giuen and done at their welcomming if I should shew it at length it would be ouer-long to rehearse and therefore I passe it ouer Nowe let vs leaue speaking of the King and of the Emperor and the Empresse his Wife who tooke such pleasure to abide with Kinge Florence that neuer after they returned to Rome but they raigned together all their liues in good peace and loue and they hadde no Child but Croissant whome they had left at Roome and of whome wee shall speake nowe héereafter Chap. CLXXIII ¶ How Croissant was so bountifull and so liberall that hee gaue away all the Treasure that his Father had left him so that at last he had no more to giue and so was constrained to goe seeke his aduenture he and a Varlet alonely AFter that the Emperour Ide and the Empresse Oliue were departed from the Citie of
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
and what they were determined to doe then he sayd to himselfe that surely he would aduertise Croissant of their malicious Enterprize to the intent that he should not be surprized then he departed as priuily as he could and so came to Croissant and shewed him how the Earles Sonne with Ten men were determined to murder him the very same night in his bed sléeping and how that each of them had a sharpe knife and he sayd Sir be readie armed to defend your life for they all haue sworne your death When Croissant vnderstood the Squier he waxed as red as a burning coale and sayd I cannot beleeue that such a treason should be in the courage of a noble man as to murder him that neuer did him trespasse Sir quoth the Squier you may doe as you please but except you finde a remedie you are but lost When Croissant heard that hee trembled for the displeasure that he was in and he thought within himselfe that he would not shew the matter to any person liuing but he sware that if any came to doe him displeasure with his Sword hee woulde cléeue his head to the braines Thus the matter rested vntill it was night so he went into the Hal among the other Lords and there he found the Earle who made him great chéere and Supper was readie then they satte downe of their seruice I make no rehearsall After they had supped diuers sports were shewed in the hall and when the houre requisite came euerie man went to bed the Earle Remon had prepared for Croissant a faire Chamber with a rich bed for him and a Couch for his Squier Then Croissant tooke leaue of the Earle and of the Damsel with whom he was enamoured then he came to his Chamber well accompanied with Knights Squiers within a while they tooke leaue of him then he was alone sauing onely his Squier whome he made to lye in the Couch shewed him nothing of that he thought to doe Then Croissant armed him at all péeces his helmet on his head his sheeld about his necke and his sword about him and so layd him downe in his bed and hid him with cloathes that his armour should not be séen by them that would come thether so there he lay as priuily as he could and then about midnight the Earles Son entred into the chamber al vnarmed with his sword in his hand and his ten companions with him each of them with a sharpe weapon in their hands then they approached to Croissants bed and the Earles Sonne lifted vp his Sword and strâ—ke Croissant such a stroake on the helmet that the sword swarned in his hand whereby he perceiued that hée was armed and that hée had warning of their comming whereof he was right sorrowfull then he recouered again another stroake thinking to haue â—â—aine Croissant but he could not his helmet was so good then the other Tenne strake at Croissant but they could doe him no hurt his armour was so good Then Croissant rose vp quickly as a hardy Knight with his sword in his hand When the Earles Sonne saw that he was neuer so afraid in all his life and thought to haue fled away but Croissant was before him and gaue him such a stroake on the head with his sword that he claue it to the chin and so he fell downe dead and the other had slaine Croissants Squier whereof hee was sorrie then hée ran at them like a man desperate and did so much that within a short space he had slaine Fiue of them and the other fledde away into another Chamber and durst not speake one word Chap. CLXXVIII ¶ Howe Croissant depated from Nise with his sword in his hand And howe the Earle Râ—mon was sorrowfull for the death of his Sonne and chased after Croissant but he could not bee found WHen Croissant saw himselfe so enterprized and that hée had slaine the Earles Sonne he was in great feare for hee knewe wel that if he were taken he should be in danger of his life therefore hastely he departed out of the Pallaice and when hee came to the Stable where his horse stood he found a great yron chaine before the dore to the 〈◊〉 that the horse should not bee taken out in the night time when he saw that he was sore discomforted and sayd Oh good Lord now by thy grace ayd me I ought well to be sorrie when I must leaue my horse Alas now I cannot tell how to 〈◊〉 mine armour certainely except God succour mee I sée no way how I can escape aliue Alas I thought to haue béene married to the Earles Daughter but now I am farre from it 〈◊〉 I haue slaine her Brother I was not minded to haue returned into my Countrey so soone vntill I had conquered some â—â—â—our and Landes whereby I might haue béene receiued honourably of them that did sette nothing by me then hee began sore to wéepe so he went through the towne as he might for he coulde not trauaile long in his armour but hee beheld a voide house in a corner of a streete hee went thether and vnarmed him of all his armour except his sword so he was in a white Iacket and then he rested not vntill hee came to the gate and called the Porter desired him to open the gate saying that he had businesse to doe a little without the Towne the Porter answeared stubbornely and sayd there rrquireth no hast hée might well abide for he sayd that hee would not open the gate vntill it was faire day Fréend quoth Croissant I pray thée shew me this courtesie the Porter answered him fiercely and sayd Thou doest but loose thy labour for the gate shall not be opened vntill the Sunne rise When Croissant saw that the Porter would not open the gate by faire meanes hee sette his hand to his sword and sayd Thou false Traitour except thou doest open the gate incontinent with my sword I shall slay thee When the Porter saw that Croissant held a naked sword in his hand to strike him he had great feare and he came forth in hast with the keyes in his hande and sayd Sir I shall open the gate with a good will howbeit he was so afraide that all his bodie trembled for feare then he came to the gate and opened the wicket and then Croissant yssued out vnarmed and hadde on but a Cloake ouer his Iacket and a sword about him and a little purse at his guirdle and therein Twentie Shillings in monney and no more Thus as yée haue heard Croissant yssued out of the Towne of Nise in Prouaunce and tooke the way towards Roome but before he had gone two Leagues the Fiue Traytours that fled from him and were hidden in a Chamber when they thought that Croissant was departed for they thought he would not tarie because hee had slaine the Earles Sonne then they went out of the Chamber making great brute and noise so that euerie
himselfe nothing to liue by And after I heard say that he had in himselfe such shame that he departed priuily with a Squier went to séeke his aduentures but no man knoweth where he is nor whether he will euer come againe or not and the Communaltie of the Cittie made little thereof for after hee was departed they sent for King Guymart of Puille whome they haue made Emperour of this Empire When Croissant vnderstood his Host he complained right pitiously to himselfe and sayde Alas poore Caitiffe that I am what shall I do that thus haue lost al mine Inheritance without recouerie and besides that I haue nothing to spend nor I haue no trade to liue by it must behooue me to die through hunger and cold I haue no more but fiue and Twentie shillings for the which I sould my purse Thus as well as he could he continued till Lent then the season began to be somewhat hotter and euerie day in the morning he would heare seruice and euerie man that saw him beheld him greatly for the great beautie that he was of there were diuers that knew him but they would make no semblance thereof to the intent that they wold giue him nothing and when they sawe him they would shun the way because he should not know them there were many of them that hee had done much good vnto and giuen them in such wise that they were become rich and he poore and there was none of them that would offer him one morsell of bread whereof he was sorrowfull for then he sawe well his monney was gone so that he had neuer a penny left then he thought to sell his Gowne rather then to die for hunger and so he did he sould it for eight Twentie shillings and then he taried in his Lodging as long as his money endured hée continued there vntill Easter by that time all his monney was gone Then he thought that he would goe into the stréetes to sée if he might espie any Burgesses to whome he had done in times past some good vnto and to demaund of them some courtesie so he yssued out of his Lodging and walked into the stréetes saw a rich Burgesse who was leaning out at a window in his house Croissant knew him well for it was hee that made him rich and before he was but poore then he thought to acknowledge himselfe to that Burgesse Then Croissant went and saluted him right humbly and sayd Sir haue remembrance of a poore Caitiffe to whome fortune is contrarie and who in time past did you much good when you serued him if you bee a good man as I beléeue you are of the goodnes haue you remembrance and it may be so if you doe so you shall fare the better When the Burgesse heard Croissant he beheld him fiercely he knew him presently and without making of any manner of answeare he called his Page and commaunded him to bring him a pan full of water to the windowe and he did as his master had commanded him then the Burgesse tooke the pan full of water and he beheld Croissant who stood vnder the window and did cast the water vppon his head so that his faire haire coat and shirt were all wet Croissant without any word speaking made himselfe cleane and afterward said to the Burges that if he liued long the offence that he had done him he should déerely buy it but the Burgesse who was proud and disdainfull set but little by his words Croissant who was right sorrowfull tooke his way towards the Pallaice before the which there was an old Pallaice whereas no man had dwelled in of a long space and he entred in at the gate the which was great and stood open and there he saw a great Piller whereas there lay two burdens of strawe then he layd him downe and slept right sorrowfull angrie with the Burgesse that had so wet him with water the which Burges after he had cast this water vppon Croissant hee went to the Pallaice to the Emperour Guymart to flatter and to please him he found the Emperor leaning in a window and saluted him and sayd Sir I bring you certaine tidings of Croissant Sonne to the Emperour Ide who of right ought to be Inheritour of this Empire whereof you are as now Emperour he is come into the Towne in his doublet without hose or shooes he is arrayed like a Vagabond or a Ruffian comming from the Tauerne he is so great and so well made in all his members that hee séemeth more like a Champion readie to fight then euer I saw man in all my life if you will follow my counsaile strike off his head or cast him into a pit that of him there may neuer be had any more memorie For if he liue long he may doe you dammage and put you out of this Empire which you hould the which should appertaine to him When the Emperour Guymart vnderstoode the Burges he beheld him fiercely and sayd Speake no more to me of this matter for thou doest like a Traytor thou knowest well that by him and his déeds thou and other bee made rich thou art like him that betrayed our Lord Iesus Christ therefore I command thée from hencefoorth come not in my sight for I wil haue no acquaintance nor conuersation with a Traitor if it be so that Croissant be poore it is pitie and lamentable and great sin to doe him any ill for I haue done him great ill when I kéepe his Landes and Signiories wrongfully and without a cause wherefore I thinke my selfe greatly culpable against the almighty God for the sinne that I haue done him in that I hold the honour and Signiorie that of reason ought to appertaine to him this day is Easter day vpon the which day euerie good Christian man ought to humble himselfe to God crying him mercie and pardon for all their sinnes it is reason that I make peace with God and doe so that hee may bee content with me Chap. CLXXX ¶ How the Emperor Guymart spake rebuked the Burgesse that spake ill of Croissant and howe the Emperour bare meate and drinke to the place whereas Croissant slept And of the maruailous Treasure that hee found in a Chamber in the sayde ould Pallaice and of that which was shewed him by two Knights whome he found there WHen the Burgesse vnderstood the Emperour hee was in great feare and so departed right sore abashed thought he had béene too hasty to report such newes so right sorowful departed and lâ—ft the Emperour alone in a windowe right pensiue sayd to himselfe Oh verie God the pouertie that Croissant is in is by my cause for all that I haue ought to bee his and I kéepe it from him perforce if I kéepe it still I may wel say that my soule shall neuer come into Paradice but shall bee damned for euer Thus the Emperour Guymart complained to himselfe and so went downe
into his Pallaice and there walked vp and downe by himselfe before the olde Pallaice the which was néere to his Pallaice he looked in at a gate saw a man lye sléeping on a burden of straw and he thought incontinent that it should be Croissant by the report of the Burgesse When the Emperour saw him he had such great pitie of him that hée wept and then he went into his Pallaice and commaunded one to bring vnto him a Towell with bread and flesh a bottell of wine the which thing was done then the Emperour tooke a Mantle furred with grise and did it about himselfe and tooke the wine and meat and commaunded his men that none should follow him then he went downe the gréeces and came to the Pallaice whereas Croissant slept and the Emperour set the meat and wine néere by Croissant and awoake him not then he couered him with the mantle and then he departed and as the Emperour was departing he looked on his right hand and sawe a dore open all of yron banded verie strongly with yron barres and hee saw a cléerenesse within in such wise as though there had béene a Hundred torches burning he went thether and entred into the Chamber the which was great large and hee sawe all about the Chamber great Coffers the which stood open and they were full of gould and other Coffers full of iewels rich stones the which did shine with such light that the Emperor greatly maruailed also he saw great péeces of plate and monney lying on the earth and besides hee saw a great Vessell of Cups and pots of gould and siluer and great péeces of gould bordered with precious stones Also hee sawe rich Gownes hanging on pearches of cloth of gould and silke in so great number that the Emperour was sore abashed and sayd whosoeuer left this Treasure héere might well be called a great Lord for hee thought if all the gould in the world and all the rich iewels were brought together they might not bee compared to the Treasure that he saw there and sayd hee was happie to come thether Then he passed foorth where he saw an Image of fine gold and it was as bigge as a Child of two yéeres of age and wheras the eyes should stand there was two great Carbuckles the which cast so great cléerenesse that all the Chamber was light therewith When the Emperour saw that Image he thought to haue taken it and to haue borne it into his Pallaice but he had much adoe to lift it then hee looked towardes a little dore out of the which he saw comming two Knights well armed at all péeces with their swords in their handes and they came to the Emperour and sayd Beware Fréend be not so hardy to beare any thing from hence for the Treasure that is héere is not yours nor it belongeth not to you to haue it therefore set downe againe that Image for without you doe it shortly you shall déerely buy it The Emperour séeing the Two Knightes threatning him he was in great feare and he sette downe the Image and beheld the Knightes and sayd Sirs you speake fiercely to me for the Treasure the which you warne me that I shold not take any part thereof by al right it ought to be mine and none others since I haue found it and therefore I coniure you by the puissance of God of his Angels and Archangels and of all Saints that you shew me the troth to whome this Treasure doth belong you ought to knowe it since you haue the kéeping thereof then the Two Knightes answeared and sayd Sir this Treasure that you sée héere ought to appertain to Croissant Sonne to the Emperour Ide who alone lyeth on a burden of strawe héere by not farre from this Chamber hee lyeth right poorely and naked the which Treasure was iudged to him Fiue Hundred yeares passed and neuer since that time hath there béene taken from it the value of one pennie nor neuer since it was layd here there neuer entred any earthly man but alonely you Croissant who sléepeth without is a valiant knight and full of troth wherefore if you will know to whom this Treasure appertaineth I shall shew you the manner how you may know it behold yonder heape of gould goe and take thereof thrée Besans and put them into your purse then returne into your Pallaice and cause to be proclaimed throughout Roome that all poore men come to your Court and that to each of them you will giue a Florent of gould When Croissant shall heare that he will not be behind but he will come among other to take that almes and then the Thrée Besans that shall be in your purse take and cast them on the earth one in one place and another in another place whereas the people must passe to come to receiue your almes then Croissant shall come the same way and finde the thrée Besans the which by reason of his noblenesse and bounti◠hee will come and bring to you againe thereby you shall know that the Treasure that is heere before you appertaineth to him ought to bee his Then giue him your faire Daughter in marriage and bringe him hether and you shall sée that he may take of this Treasure at his pleasure for it is all his no man shall say the contrarie and doing thus as wée haue sayd you shall haue part of this Treasure Chap. CLXXXI ¶ How the two Knightes that kept this Treasure spake with the Emperor Guymart and shewed him the manner how he should know Croissant And of the maruaile that Croissant had when he awoake and saw the meat and drinke by him WHen the Emperour had well heard the two Knightes he went to the heape of gould and tooke the thrée Besans and put them into his purse and then he tooke his leaue of the twoo Knightes and departed and when he was yssued out he looked behinde him and he saw the dore fast closed whereof he had great maruaile and found Croissant still sléeping and so he passed by and would not awake him and then he went to his Pallaice and his Lords demanded of him where hee had béene that hée tarried so long but hee would not shew them any thing of the matter Then the Emperor went to dinner and was richly serued and then Croissant who lay and slept in the old Pallaice suddainly awoake and had great maruaile of the furred Mantle that he found vppon him and he saw also lying by him a Napkin and therein wrapped good white bread Capon rosted Fesant Partridge and thereby he saw lying a great bottell full of wine and when he saw this good chéere he thanked God of that aduenture Then hee did eate of the meat and dranke of the wine at his pleasure and when he had well eaten and drunke he departed from thence and left the rest behind him and tooke nothing with him and also hee left the furred Mantle for hee
durst not weare it but sayd to himselfe that he had no right thereto because it was a thing that was none of his and so he went downe through the stréets of the Towne Chap. CLXXXII ¶ The proofe that the Emperor Guymart made to know Croissant vnto whome he gaue his faire Daughter in marriage and deliuered him all his Signiorie and Inheritance whereof great ioye was made at Rome WHen the Emperor was risen from dinner he called to him Foure of his seruants to whome he gaue in charge that they should cause to be proclaimed in euerie Stréete of the Towne that all poore men that would come to the Emperor should haue in almes euerie man a Florent of gould of the value of Ten Sons the which crie was made in euerie stréete and Market-place in Roome whereby euerie poore man drew towards the Pallaice When this crie was made Croissant heard it whereof he was ioyfull and said howe hee would goe thether among others to haue the Emperours almes wherewith hee thought hee would pay his Host and then in hast he went thether The Emperour who was there readie thought to sée prooue whether the two Knights sayings were true or not so drew out of his purse the Three Besans of gould the which he did cast in diuers places in the way as the poore men should come to the Pallaice but many poore men passed ouer them and perceiued them not then Croissant came among others and he saw among the mens féet one Besan of gould faire and bright and he stouped downe and tooke it vp and then he went forth within a little while after he found the second Besan the which also he tooke vp and a little further among the mens feete hée espyed the Third Besan the which also hee tooke vp then hee thought within himselfe and sayd Alas what a Caitiffe am I if these had béene siluer they had béen mine but they are fine gould wherefore I am beguiled for they appertaine to the Emperour Guymart who holdeth this Empire I haue no right to kéepe them because they belong not to mee therefore I will render them to the Emperour vnto whome they doe appertaine then hee came to the Emperour sayd Sir I haue found by the way as I came to your Pallaice thrée Besans of gould the which here I deliuer to you for of right and reason they appertaine vnto you bicause of the right and title that you haue to the Empire but if they hadde béene siluer I might haue kept them as mine owne without blame When the right noble Emperour vnderstood him he beheld him and sighing he sayd Fréend you are welcome the bountie noblenesse and wisedome that is in you shall ayd you to come to the place wherof in reason you ought to be for the goodnesse and troth that I haue séene in you I will giue you my déere Daughter in Marriage whome I loue entirely and you shall take her to your Wife and therewith I shal yéeld you the Crowne Emperiall of the noble Empire of Rome the which of right appertaineth to you When the noble Croissant had wel heard and vnderstood the Emperor he was right ioyfull and kneeled downe to the earth in the presence of all the Lords that were there present thanking him of the honour that he offered him The Emperour who was a noble and a wise Prince tooke him vp by the hand and led him into a Chamber wherin hee caused a bathing to be prepared in the which the noble Croissant was bathed and then the Emperour brought him such apparell as was méete for him to haue When Croissant was thus richly apparelled a fairer nor a better fourmed man could not be found in Eightéene Realmes christened whereof the Emperour Guymart had great ioy and sayd how that in all his life he neuer saw a more goodlyer Prince for he was great among other men and well fournished of all his members he was bigge and large in the shoulders and the skinne white mingled with red his haire like golden wyre and his face straight with a large forehead his eyes gray and his nose well made long armes and bigge handes his Legs faire and straight and his féete well proportioned and made the Emperour Guymart could not bee satisfied with the regarding of him and then hee led him into the Pallaice where his Lordes were who greatly lauded and praised him and sayd each to other how that they had neuer séene before so goodly a Prince nor better made nor fourmed of his members Then the Emperour sent for his Daughter by two great Lordes and they went to her Chamber for her then she came to the Pallaice to the Emperour her Father richly accompanied with Ladies Damsels Of their apparell I will make no long rehearsall for it was as rich as might be and she was so faire that God and nature could not amend her nor no Painter in the world though he were neuer so skilfull could not paint the fashion nor proportion of her beautifull bodie and all that were there present both young and old sayd that they neuer sawe nor heard report of so faire a couple of Creatures as the noble Croissant and this Ladie were for euerie man thought that they were made for nothing else but to cause men to behould them and their beautie Chap. CLXXXIII ¶ Howe the Emperour Guymart promised Croissant that within three dayes he should haue his Daughter in mariage And how the Emperour Guymart led Croissant to the olde Pallaice and shewed him the great Treasure that the two Knightes kept for him WHen the Emperour Guymart sawe his Daughter come hee tooke her by the hand and sayd My right déere Daughter I haue found for you a Husband to whome I haue giuen you and you may well say that a fairer man nor a hardyer Knight you neuer sawe before and that is the noble Croissant vnto whom this Empire appertaineth by rightfull enheritance and he is Son to the noble Emperour Ide who hath giuen this Empire to his Son Croissant but when he was of no great age he departed from this Cittie with a small companie and went to serue in strang countreys and when the Lords of this countrey saw that they were without a Lord they sent for me into Puille and so they made mee héere Emperour wrongfully and without reason but nowe since that Croissant the rightfull Inheritour is returned for to discharge my soule towards God I shall put into his hands al his Empire without kéeping from him any part thereof for as for me I am rich and puissant ynough and therefore Croissant if it be your pleasure you shall haue my Daughter in mariage Sir quoth Croissant if it be her pleasure I will not refuse her for I neuer sawe a fairer nor none that I had rather to haue When the faire Damsell vnderstood Croissant shee was right ioyfull and she beheld Croissant who séemed to her so faire that her loue was
enflamed vpon him for the more she beheld him the more she loued him and she thought it long vntill the matter was made perfect then shee sayd to the Kinge her Father Sir then it is your will and pleasure that I shall haue Croissant in marriage you may commaund mee as it please you it were a folly for mee to make refuse and Sir I require you to let vs be married shortly for if I haue not him I renounce all marriage for euer for there is none other that euer shall set the King on my finger but onely Croissant When the King vnderstoode his Daughter hee laughed hartely and sayd Déere Daughter thinke not the contrarie but that you shall haue him to your Husband then the King sent for a Bishoppe who assured them together whereof the Damsell was so ioyful that shee wist not what to doe and priuily shee thanked our Lorde God and if she loued him well Croissant loued her aswell and both of them desired for the day that they might come together in wedlocke When Thrée dayes were passed and that the prouision was made readie for the Wedding then King Guymart made them to sweare each to other and especially he made Croissant to promise that on the Third day hee should take his Daughter in marriage the which Croissant promised and sware so to doe then the King tooke Croissant by the hand and ledde him to the old Pallaice to prooue if the Treasure that was there might be had away by Croissant as the Two Knightes had shewed him and then they two alone came to the ould Pallaice when they were come thether the King sayd Faire Sonne I loue you well and also you ought to beare me your loue since you shall haue my Daughter in marriage and because I haue great affiance in you I shall shew you what I thinke to say and that which lyeth in my heart it is of troth that about foure dayes passed as I came from seruice I stoode and leaned out at a window of my Pallaice and I beheld this same place whereas we be now and where I saw you lye a sléepe repleat with famine and pouertie I tooke of you great pitie and I brought to you bread and drinke and did sette it by you and I couered you with a furred mantle and so I let you lye still for I would not awake you and as I returned from you I sawe a dore open of this Chamber the which you sée now closed out of the which I sawe a great light yssue then I went thether and entred into the Chamber and there I sawe so great Treasure that I neuer saw none such in all my life there was a rich Image of gould the which I thought to haue taken and borne with me as I had it in my handes two Knights well armed came foorth whereof I was afraide then they sayd vnto me that I should not be so hardy as to touch the Image nor no part of the Treasure that I saw there for they sayd that it did not appertaine to me and if I did the contrarie I should repent it and they sayd incontinent they would slay me then I demaunded to whome that Treasure did belong Then they sayd that it did belong vnto Croissant who lay héere without a sléepe and they commaunded me to take thrée Besans of gould to prooue thereby to whome the Treasure should appertaine and then they aduised me to make a Dole to poore men and that I shold cast down the Besans vppon the earth whereas the poore men should passe by and hee that found them and brought them to me this Treasure should appertaine to him wherefore I pray you let vs go thether to know the troth Sir quoth Croissant I pray you let vs goe thether When they came there they found the dore closed and then Croissant knocked thereat and sayd Yée Sirs that be within I pray you in the name of God to open this dore incontinent the dore opened and there they found the two Knightes with their swords in their hands Then Guymart and Croissant entred into the Chamber and the two Knightes came to Croissant made him great chéere and sayd Croissant your great Prowesse and Noblenes is greatly to be praised we haue béen a longe time héere sette to kéepe for you this Treasure that you sée héere for it is Fiue Hundred yeares since that we were set héere by King Oberon to kéepe this Treasure for you and hée shewed vs that it appertained to you and neuer since it was touched by any man but onely by King Guymart whome to the intent to ayd and succour you wee bad him take thrée Besans of gould and shewed him that this Treasure appertained neither to King nor Emperour but alonely to you which is so great that no man liuing can estéeme it you may take it beare it away or giue it whereas it shall please you and whatsoeuer you take from it all your life it shall not diminish nor decrease When Croissant vnderstood them hee was ioyfull and thanked the Knightes in that they hadde so longe kept his Treasures then they tooke leaue of Croissant and embraced him and sayd Sir we require you to bee courteous and liberall and pitifull to the poore and loue well all noble and wise men and giue to them largely and be good and true to your Father in law King Guymart for he is a noble and a wise Prince you ought to thanke him to loue him aboue all other men liuing When Croissant thanked them of their good aduertisement and then they tooke their leaue and so departed sodenly that neither Croissant nor Guymart wist not where they were become whereof they were abashed and made on them the signe of the crosse then they looked about the Chamber and saw the Treasure that was there where of Croissant was so abashed that he will not what to say for there was a great light in the Chamber as though there had béen Thirtie Torches lighted by reason of the bright stones that were there to speake of the Treasure that was in that Chamber I cannot shewe it for there 〈◊〉 so much that they were thereof abashed to behold it When Croissant sawe this Treasure it was no maruaile though he was ioyfull and thought to himselfe that he would not spaâ—e to giue to them that were worthy such as did serue him truely and so hee did for hee gaue so largely that all the 〈◊〉 praised him and when they had beene there a certaine space Croissant sayd to King Guymart Sir of this Treasure I will that you haue the one halfe you shall haue the keys of that and giue thereof at your pleasure Faire Sonne quoth the King I thanke you all that I haue is yours and all that you haue is mine wée will part nothing betwéene vs as longe as wee liue Then they departed from thence and Croissant tooke certaine of the iewels to giue to his Spouse and then they departed out of the Chamber and locked the dore tooke the key with them and so they returned to the Pallaice right ioyfull Then Croissant gaue to his Lady the rich iewels who right humbly thanked him therefore Chap. CLXXXIIII ¶ Of the great Treasure that they had and how Croissant wedded the noble Damsell daughter to King Guymart and of the Feast that was there made AFter that King Guymart and Croissant were returned to the Pallace the Ladie was readie apparelled and then the Two Louers were wedded together in the Chappell of the Pallaice The great ioy and mirth that was made in the Pallaice and in the Citie I make no mention thereof they dyned and of their seruice and rich apparell I make no rehearsall for it were too longe to declare it After dinner the young Knightes and Squiers Iusted in the Cittie of the ioy and sport that was there made no man can expresse it at length Then they went to supper and if they were well serued at dinner it was aswell at Supper And after supper and that the dauncing was done Croissant and his Ladie went to bed together in a rich Chamber where the same night they accomplished their desires so faire a couple was neuer seene as were Croissant and the Ladie Katherine his Wife when the night was passed they arose and came into the Pallaice whereas the feasting and ioy began againe the whiâ—h 〈◊〉 Fiftéen dayes Great was the triumph that was there made after that euerie man departed from the Court except all such as appertained to the Court. Of the good life that they led all such as loued them reioyced thereat and longe time they liued together so that at last through age King Guymart â—ay sicke in his bed and so the Fourth day he dyed great sorow the Ladie Katherine his Daughter made and so did Croâ—ssant who déerely loued him and his body was borne to the Church of Saint Pâ—ter and his obsequies done and so layd in his Sepulture with sore wéepings for in his time he was a good Prince and a true Iusticer hee was greatly complained for both with poore and with rich Then after his death by the consent of all the Lords of the Empire Croissant was crowned Emperour and the Ladie Katherine Empresse at whose Coronation was made great feasting and ioy a godly life they led as longe as they liued Croissant amended and encreased the Signiorie of Roome and conquered diuers Realmes as Ierusalem and al Surrey as more plainely you may knowe by the Cronicle that is made of him and of his déedes and now héere of him I make no more mention they that will know more let them search the Bookes of Cronicles making mention of his déedes Thus endeth the Ancient Honourable Famous and delightfull Historie of Huon of Bourdeaux one of the Péeres of Fraunce and Duke of Guyenne and of diuers Princes liuing in his time Translated out of French into English by Sir Iohn Bourchier Knight Lord Berners at the request of the Lord Hastings Earle of Huntington in the yeare of our Lord God one Thousand Fiue Hundred Thréescore Ten And now newly reuised and corrected this present yeare 1601. FINIS
led them before Charlemaine without any woord speaking and caused them to sit downe with him at his own table that he had wished thither then he tooke his cup and made thereon thrée crosses then incontinent the cup was ful of wine then King Oberon tooke it gaue it to Escleremond to drinke and then to Huon and so to Gerames and when they had all three dranke well he said to Huon Friend arise vp and take the cuppe and beare it to King Charlemaine and say vnto him that he drinke to you in the name of peace if hee refuse it hee did neuer such a follie in all his life King Charlemaine who sate néere to them at his owne table hearing king Oberons words wist not what to thinke and so sate still and durst not speake one word for the great maruailes that he saw there and no more durst none of his men for they were so abashed that there was none there but that gladly would haue béene a hundred leagues thence But whosoeuer was afrayde Gerard was not verie well pleased Then Huon rose from Oberons table and tooke the cuppe and went therewith to king Charlemaine and deliuered it to him The king tooke it durst not refuse it as soone as it was in his hands it was drie voyde not a drop of wine therin Fellow quoth the King you haue inchaunted me Sir quoth Oberon it is because you are full of sin for the cup is of such dignitie that none can drinke thereof without he be a noble man and cleane without deadly sinne and I know one that ye did not long agoe the which as yet you were neuer confessed of and if it were not to your shame I should shew it héere openly that euery man should heare it When the Emperour Charlemaine heard King Oberon hee was abashed and afraid that King Oberon would haue shamed him openly then Huon tooke againe the cuppe and then incontinent it was full of wine againe and then Huon bare it to Duke Naymes who sate next to Charlemaine Naymes tooke the cup and dranke thereof at his pleasure but all the other could not touch the cup they were so full of sinne Then Huon returned to king Oberon and sate downe by him then Oberon called to him Duke Naymes and commanded him to rise from Charlemaines table and to sit downe by him at his table the which Duke Naymes did for hee durst not say nay Then Oberon sayd to him Sir Duke Naymes right good thanks I giue you in that you haue béene so true and iust to Huon and thou King Charlemaine that art Emperour of the Romaines behold here Huon whom wrongfully and without cause you haue disenherite and would take from him all his lands hee is a Noble man and true and besides that I say vnto you for truth hee hath done your message vnto the Admirall Gaudys and I ayded to bring him to his death and then hée tooke out of his mouth foure of his greatest téeth and also did cutte off his white beard and I did â—lose them within the side of Gerames by the will of God this that I haue sayd you may bee surely beléeue for at all these déedes I was present Sée yonder false Traitour Gerard who by his malicious intent hath done this treason and to the ende that you may know the matter more surely you shall heare it confessed by his owne mouth Then Oberon sayd to Gerard I coniure thée by the diuine puissance and power that God hath giuen mee that héere before King Charlemaine and all his Lords thou shew and declare the troth of this treason which thou hast done against Huon thy Brother When Gerard vnderstoode Oberon hee was in such feare that hée trembled for dread for hée felt in himselfe that hee coulde haue no power to hide the troth of the treason then he sayd Sir I sée well to hide the troth cannot auaile mée therefore true it is I went to the Abbey of Saint Maurise to sée my Brother Huon and Gybouars accompanied with Fortie men at armes wee departed from this Citie and layde our ambushment in a little wood about twoo Leagues from this Citie to watch when my Brother Huon should passe by that way Gerard quoth King Oberon speake out hyer that you may the better be heard and that euerie man may heare the treason falsenesse that you haue done vnto your Brother Sir quoth Gerard I wote not what to say for I haue done so ill and falsely against my Brother that more ill I could not doe and I am ashamed to recount it But to say truely that before it was midnight I made my Brother to rise and to depart from the Abbey and when wee came néere the place where as my Father in law Gibouars was with his ambushment I began to striue with my brother so highly that Gibouars might heare mee who when he heard me speake he brake forth of his ambushment and ranne at my brothers companie and so slew them all except these three that be here then we tooke the dead bodies and did cast them into the Riuer of Gerone then wee tooke Huon and his wife and the old Gerames and bound their handes and féete and blindfolded their eyes and so brought them on thrée leane horses into the Citie and I tooke out of the side of old Gerames the beard and foure great téeth the which if it please you I shall fetch from the place where I left them Gerard quoth Oberon you shall not neede to take that labour for when it shall please me I can haue them without you Well Sir quoth Gerard thus when I had set them in prison I went backe againe to the Abbey and then I demaunded of the Abbot and Couent where the treasure was that my Brother had left there and that hée should deliuer it to me bearing him in hand that my Brother Huon had sent for it The good Abbot would not deliuer it to me wherefore Gybouars and I slew him then wée made this Monke héere the Abbot who is néere of kinne to Gybouars to the entent that he should ayd to beare vs witnesse and to iustifie our sayings Then we tooke all the treasure that was there and brought it hether then I charged Tenne Somers the which I had with me to King Charlemaines Court at Paris the which treasure I gaue part thereof to the King and to other by whom I thought to be aided to performe mine vnhappie Enterprize and I beléeued surely that by reason of the riches that I gaue that my Brother should haue receiued death and thereby I to haue béene Lord and Maister of all his Landes and Signiories and all this treason that I haue shewed Gybouars caused me to doe it or else I had neuer thought to haue done it Gerard quoth King Oberon if it please our Lord Iesus Christ you and he both shal be hanged by the necks there is no man liuing shall saue you
I cannot bee angry with you for the same Then the Prouost tooke leaue of Huon and returned to the Emperour who was then néere to Coleyn and Huon rode forth towards Bourdeaux and so on a Wednesday about dinner he entred into Bourdeaux wheras he was receiued with great solemnitie of the Bourgesses and of all the Clergie of the Citie Then he alighted at his Pallaice wheras he was by the Duchesse Escleremod wel receiued with great ioy and she demaunded of him if hee were well and in good estate Fayre Lady quoth Huon thanked bee our Lord God I am in good health Sir quoth shee of your comming I am right ioyous and I desire you to shew me of your aduentures Madam quoth Huon know for truth I haue béene at Mayens whereas I found the Emperour and with him Duke Raoull his nephew who had proclaimed a tourney and because he was aduertised of my comming his intention was that if he had found me there hee had concluded with his men to haue slaine mee but by the grace of God I haue done so much that in the presence of the Emperour his vncle and all them that were there present I strake off his head because he made his auaunt that as soone as he had slaine me he would haue had you to his wife and all mine heritage And when I had slaine him I departed in haste to Mayens and it was not long after but that the Emperour followed me with all his men mounted vpon the good horse that yee haue séene who is so good that I beléeue surely there is not such another in the world and the Emperour who had great desire to reuenge the death of his nephew Duke Raoull vaunced himselfe a bow shoote before his companie and cryed after me with many iniurious words And when I saw that he was farre off from his men I turned toward him and ranne and bare him to the earth then I tooke the good horse and mounted on him and let mine owne go and whâ—n his men sawe him lying on the earth they feared lest he had beene dead they assembled about him and tooke no héede to follow mee because they knew well it was but a folly to follow me séeing I was mounted on the Emperors good horse Thus I departed from them and went and lay all that night at Coleyne whereas I found my men whom I had left there when I went to the Emperours Court all alone the next day I departed but I was not gone farre out of Coleyn when the Emperour and tenne thousand men mette me in the way whereas they had lien in a little wood in waite for me Then they ranne at me and at my men there was a great battaile on both parts and many slain and wounded but I did so much by the grace of God my good company that I ouercame them and I slew two of his nephews and I bare the Emperour to the earth and when he saw that the losse of the battaile ranne on his side he sent to mee then a messenger to haue truce for halfe a yeere the which I granted because I thought I had doone him displeasure inough as in slaying of thrée of his nephewes Thus we departed as he returned I met the Prouost of Coleyn who brought with him twentie thousand men to haue rescued the Emperour and so we fought together But as soone as the Emperour was aduertised thereof hee sent and commaunded that he should no more fight with mee Then the Prouost came to me and cryed me mercie for that which he had done excusing himselfe that he knew nothing of the truce Then wee made to sound the retrayt on both parts and thus wee departed without any more strokes giuing whereof I thanke God that I am thus scaped Sir quoth Escleremond ye ought to thanke God that hee hath sent you that grace for I haue heard say that the Emperour of whom you haue slain his two nephewes is great puissant and a rich Prince right sage and expert in the wars wherefore it is to be feared that he will not lette the matter thus to rest Madam quoth Huon I know well this that you say is true I thinke well he be displeased with mee for the death of his nephewes and many other of his kin thus as I haue said I iusted with him two times and at the second time I strake him to the earth in such wise that hee brake his thigh so that hee was constrained to bee borne thence in a litter and it hath beene told me since that the losse of his good horse gréeueth him more then the losse of his men Lady to shew you the perils and aduentures that I haue had since I departed from you it would be too long to shew you But surely I thinke as soone as the truce is expired that then the Emperour with all his puissance wil come and besiege me here in Bourdeaux for it hath béene shewed me of troth that then the Emperour hath so made his oath and promise and hath sworne by his crowne imperiall that he will not depart hence till he haue taken and destroyed the Citie Sir quoth Escleremond if you will beleeue me ye shall resist this and I shall tell you how ye know well I haue a brother called king Salybraunt who is king of Bougye the which extendeth on the one side néere to Mombraunt and on the other side néere to Trypoley in Barbary he may leade in battaile a hundred thousand men and Sir surely hee is a good Christian howbeit there are but few that know it verily he hath beleeued in Iesus Christ and Sir if you will goe to him and desire his aide by the same token that when you were prisoner in Babylon I discouered the secrets of my minde to him and shewed him of the loue betwéene you and me and how ye would leade me into Fraunce whereof hee was ioyfull and desired me affectuously that I should doe so much to you that we might come and see him in his own Realme But the aduenture fell so that our departing fell otherwise then we had deuised he was there and saw howe my father was slaine and all such as were with him then for feare he ranne away and did hide him in a garden behinde the Pallayce and there tarried till it was night and then he stole away and went into his owne Realme there shall yee finde him if you will goe thither I know surely that hee will make you excéeding great good chéere and will not refuse for to ayde and succour you for hée will bee so excéeding puissaunt and mightie that hee will bring with him more then a hundred thousand Sarizens and also Sir I would counsaile and aduise you for to take along wyth you some fiue or sixe Priestes well furnished wyth Oyle and creame for assoone as hee hath his men out of his owne Countrey hee will cause them to be christened and such as will not
God and had great ioy thereof and the Bishop and his Chaplaine confessed them all and assoyled them of all their sinnes and in twoo great vessels christened them all Then they all cryed vppon Huon and sayd Sir for the loue of our Lord God giue vs some meate Sirs quoth Huon you shall haue incontinent ynough so that you shall bee satisfied Then Huon and the Bishop and his Chaplaine all thrée went into the Castle and charged vpon their neckes meat ynough and brought it into the Shippe and caused all the Marchants to sit downe and the meat was set before them and the wine powred out into Cuppes among other sat the tenne Sarazins who had receiued the christendome faintly and falsely and at the first morsell that they did put into their mouthes suddainly they died the other Marchants when they sawe that they were greatly abashed and regarded each other and durst not approach to touch the meat for they had thought that they should haue all died Sirs quoth Huon be not dismayed nor abashed at this for these tenne men that are dead did baptize themselues but all onely to saue their liues and to haue meate and not with a good conscience nor for the loue of almightie God who hath all mens heartes at his pleasure therefore be not afraid eate and drinke at your ease for yee shall want nothing but haue all thinges at your wish When the other Marchants vnderstood by Huon how that they that died were no true Christian men they were greatly abashed and so fell to theyr meate and drinke and when they had eaten and drunken at their pleasures they arose and tooke all the riches that were in the Shippe and carried it vp into the Castle and when they came there they had great ioy and pleasure to beholde the Hals and rich Chambers that were there so much gould and siluer and other riches they sawe there that they hadde thereof great maruaile Then they beheld the rich beddes and Chambers apparelled whereas they might rest them and then they sawe the faire Garden so pleasant and delightfull to behold that the more they regarded it the fairer it seemed vnto them the place was of length and breadth a bowe shoote and more And when the houre came for supper then Huon ledde them downe into the Seller and after into the rich Chamber whereas there was meat and drinke plentie and after Supper they went againe into the Pallaice and lay in the rich beds that they found there readie and in the morning the Bishop and his Chaplaine did sing Masse before Huon and all the other that were there present and when they woulde eate they went to the place accustomed and there they founde alwayes readie euerie thing that they desired or wisht for in the day time they would bee in the Garden to sport them oftentimes the Bishop preached vnto them and confessed them of all their sinnes Thus they were there all together the space of one Moneth in great pleasure and solace but whosoeuer had ioy Huon had none for his abiding there greatly greeued him for oftentimes hee would complaine for his Wife the faire Ladie Escleremond and for his Daughter Clariet and sayde Madame as often as I remember what danger I haue left you in my heart néere departeth out of my bodie Ah cursed Emperour thou causest me to suffer much ill when I thinke that by this time thou hast taken my Citie my Wife and my Child and set them in thy Prison I would if it were the pleasure of our Lord God that they were heere with mee then I would neuer depart from hence and no more I shall doe without it be by the grace of God Ah noble King Oberon you haue giuen me the realme of the Fayrie if it might bée your pleasure now so much to succour mée as to deliuer me from hence and to ayd me to destroy this Emperour who hath done me so much ill for euer were I bound to your Mightinesse Chap. CIX ¶ How Huon was borne by a Griffen out of the Castle of the Adamant and how he slewe the Griffen and fiue other young Griffens And of the Fountaine of the fayre Garden and of the fruit of the Tree neere to the Fountaine THus as yee haue heard Huon passed away the time in the Castle of the Adamant and vppon a day hee leaned and looked out at a windowe into the Sea-ward and hee sawe a farre off a great birde come flyinge thether-ward this bird or foule was bigger then any horse in the world whereof he had great maruaile Then he sawe where it came to the same Port and lighted vpon the Maste of a great Shippe and saw how with the weight of the Foule the Mast had neere hand broken asunder Then after he sawe the Foule alight downe into the Ship and tooke with his tallants one of the Ten men that died because they would not beleeue firmely vpon God and of his Sonne Iesus Christ they could not putrefie but lay still in the Shippe al whole and found then the Foule lifted him vp into the ayre and carried him away as lightly as a Hauke would carie a Pigeon Huon who sawe this had great maruaile and beheld the Griffen which way she did fly and as farre off as he might sée he sawe to his similitude a great Rocke as white to the sight as Christall and then he said to himselfe I would to God that I were there I think it be some place inhabitable and then he thought within himselfe to come thether againe the dext day to sée if the Griffen would come againe to fetch his pray if hee did he◠thought if he would be out of the Castle the Griffen might bear him armed as surely that hee should doe him no hurt with his tallants thinking to lye downe armed with his Sword in his hand among the dead men and when the Griffen had brought him where his young birdes were then to fight with the Griffen yet he thought before he would thus doe he would againe sée if the Griffen came and held the same way that she did before for he thought surely that if she returned to the same place it must needes bee some Land and hee thought that it were a thing impossible to get out of that Castle by any other manner of wayes Then Huon returned againe to the Garden to the Bishoppe and vnto the other companie and made no semblance of that he hadde thought to doe and then hee talked with them of diuers matters And when the time came they went to eat and drink as they had been accustomed to do before When night came and that Huon was in his bedde he lay and studied of the conuayance of the Griffen desiring greatly for the day light to goe and see if the Griffen returned to fetch her pray When day came Huon aroase and heard seruice and then hee went to the window and looked there so longe that at the laste
bagge a rich stone the which was of such vertue that whosoeuer did beare it about him could not bee ouercome with his enemie nor coulde not be drowned nor burnt the stone had such great vertue that none could esteeme the value thereof and besides that it cast such clearnesse in the Chappell that the Emperour was abashed thereat nor hee knewe not from whence that light should come Then hee beheld Huon and Huon did holde the stone in his hande and shewed it vnto the Emperour and when the Emperour sawe the rich stone he greatly desired to haue it and aduaunced himselfe and tooke it out of the Pilgrimes hand who presented it vnto him When the Emperour had the stone in his hand he had great ioy at his heart for he was cunning in the descrying of stones and sware to himselfe that the Pilgrim should neuer haue it againe for any thing that he could doe but he thought within himselfe that if he would sell it hee would giue him as much gould and siluer as hée could reasonably demaund or else he thought to kéepe it still whatsoeuer fell thereof and then the Emperour sayde vnto Huon Pilgrim I pray thee to shewe vnto mee where thou hast gotten this rich and bountifull stone Sir quoth Huon I haue brought it from beyond the Sea Fréend quoth the Emperour wilt thou sell it and I shall giue thée for it whatsoeuer thou wilt haue and to bee in the more suertie to beare away my guift that I will giue thee for it I shall cause thée to bee conducted into thine owne Countrey wheresoeuer it bee Sir quoth Huon I will giue it vnto you with a good heart so that it bee true that mine Host hath shewed vnto mee this day for he hath shewed vnto me that your custome is that the first person Pilgrim that commeth vnto you vppon this day being good Friday should haue of you a guift such as hee would demaund after that you haue made your prayers to our Lord God Pilgrim quoth the Emperour he that shewed thée that sayd that which is true and therefore whatsoeuer thou demaundest either Borough Towne or Citie or what thing soeuer it be I promise faithfully to giue thée whosoeuer bee displeased therewith I graunt it to thée therefore demaund whatsoeuer thou wilt Sir quoth Huon of your grace and faire guift I most hartely thanke you therefore Sir with a good heart I giue you that stone the which I deliuered vnto you but euen now in the recompence of the courtesie and guift that you haue graunted vnto mée the which shall be neither gould nor siluer and Sir because I know certainely that the renowme is ouer all the world that you are a iust and a true noble man and that which you promise you will vphold and kéepe and neuer swarue from your promise and because that I know surely that the promise that you haue made vnto mee you will vphold of whatsoeuer guift I desire to haue Fréend quoth the Emperour I will that you well knowe that if you demaund foure of my best Cities I shall giue you them séeing I haue made that promise and if God bee pleased I shall not goe from my promise for I had rather that one of my handes were cut off then I should be found false in my wordes and therefore demaund and surely you shall haue your demand without any deniall Sir quoth Huon I hartely thanke you and would haue kissed his féete but the Emperor would not suffer him but tooke him vp Sir quoth Huon first and before all other thinges I desire of you pardon of all the ill déedes and trespasses that I or my men haue done against you and if you haue in your Prison either men or women appertaining vnto mee or of my lineage that you will deliuer them all vnto mee and also if you haue any thing of mine either Towne or Citie Borough or Castle I require you by the promise that you haue made vnto mee to render them vnto me quite Sir any other thinge I demaund not Pilgrim quoth the Emperour make no doubt to haue that which I haue promised vnto you therefore I graunt all your desire but I require you humbly to shew vnto mee what man you bée and of what Countrey and of what Lineage seeing you haue desired of me such a guift Sir quoth Huon I am hee that sometime was Duke of Bourdeaux whome you haue so much hated I come now from beyond the Sea whereas I haue endured much paine and pouertie I thanke our Lord Iesus Christ that I haue done so much that I am nowe agreed with you and I shall haue againe the Duchesse Escleremond my louing Wife and my men and my Landes and Signiories if you will bee as good as your word and vphold your promise When the Emperour had well heard and vnderstood Huon all his bloud beganne to change and hee was a great space before he spake any word hee was so sore abashed but at the last hee sayd Ah Huon are you hee by whome I haue suffered so many illes and dammages and haue slaine so many of my Nephewes and other of my men I would not haue thought that you would haue beene so hardy to haue shewed your selfe before mée nor to haue come into my presence you haue well ouercome me and enchaunted mee I had rather haue lost foure of my best Cities yea and all my Countrey burnt and destroyed and my selfe banished out of mine owne Countrey for thrée yeares rather then you should haue thus come to my presence but séeing that it is thus knowe for troth that which I haue promised vnto you I shall vphold and keepe and from hencefoorth in the honour of the passion of our Lord Iesus Christ and of this good day vppon the which hee was crucified and put to death I pardon you all mine ill will and good will I shall not bee periured your Wife your Landes and Signiories and your men I shall render them into your hands speake thereof who liste otherwise it shall not bee nor I will neuer doe the contrarie Then Huon knéeled downe before the Emperour and right humbly thanked him and desired him to forgiue him all his trespasses Huon quoth the Emperour God forgiue thée and as for me with a good heart I doe pardon you Then the Emperour tooke Huon by the hande and tooke him vp and kissed him verie kindlye in token of good peace and amitie Sir quoth Huon great grace haue I found in you séeing you kéepe and vphold your promise but Sir if it please our Lord God your guerdon shall be double Huon quoth the Emperour I require you to shew me of your newes and aduentures that you haue had since you departed from the Citie of Bourdeaux Sir quoth Huon with a good will after that your diuine Seruice is done and the passion of our Lord Iesus Christ read Huon quoth the Emperour I giue you good thankes for that you say Then