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
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
in great feare and as much as he might he drew backe from the King and was greatly agreeued for that he had slayne the Kings Sonne not knowing him And blame him not to be much troubled in mind when he sawe no man that appertained to him to ayd him or to maintaine his right but onely the good Abbot of Cluny his Vnckle who could giue him none other ayd but with his words yet he tooke on him courage and right humbly said to the King My Lord I require your grace touch me not but know for troth he that lyeth there dead before you I slewe him in my defence and not knowing that he was your Sonne Charlot for if I had known him I would in no wise haue touched him and you may well know my Lord if I had knowne that it had béene he I would not haue come to you for rescue I would rather haue fled away so farre that no man should haue heard any tydings of me therefore for Gods sake I require you as heartily as I can let mee haue right I submit my bodie to abide the iudgment of your noble Péeres if it can be prooued that I slew Charlot knowing him to be your Son then my Lord let me haue a shamfull death then all the Peeres Barons being there said with a hye voyce how he had spoken reasonably and that if Earle Amerie would any thing say to the contrarie it was time then to speake and to shewe it Chap. XI ¶ How the Traytour Earle Amerie charged Huon before the Emperour that he trayterously with treason pretended had slayne the Kinges Sonne and in that quarrell he appealed Huon to battaile WHEN the King had heard Huon speake he beheld Duke Naymes and desired him to giue his aduice My Lord quoth the Duke I can say none other thing vnto you but as I sayd before demaunde Earle Amerie why he led forth your Sonne all armed and kept the ambushment in the wood to set vpon the two Brethren or else what was it that hee sought for there Then Earle Amerie said My Lord I shall shew you the troth and if I doe otherwise let me dye a shamefull death True it is this night passed your Son sent for me desiring me to ryde with him on hawking and I desired him to abide vntill the morning but he said that he would néeds go afore night then I graunted to goe with him so that he would ryde armed for I doubted the men of Arden to the entent that if we met with any of them wee might be able to resist them and so we did thus we road out of this towne and came into a little wood and there we cast off our Hawkes and there we lost one of them and therewith the same way came the Children of Duke Seuin and there we saw Huon the eldest who is héere present who had taken vp our Hauke your Sonne came in courteous maner vnto him and desired him to render againe his Hauke but the Traytour would not in no wise then Gerard the yonger brother came to your Son and they stroue so together that your Sonne stroke him then Huon without any word speaking lifted vp his sword and so villaynously slew your Sonne then hée and his Brother ranne away so fast that we could not ouer-take them whereof we were sory Thus he knew well your Sonne and he slewe him and if he will say to the contrarie heere is my Gage which I present héere before you and if hée be so hardy as to take it vp I shall make him confesse ere it be night that it is true that I haue said and this I will prooue with my bodie against his Chap. XII ¶ How the Abbot of Cluny would prooue that the saying of Earle Amerie was false and vntrue and how the Earle did cast his Gage against Huon who tooke it vp AFter that Earle Amerie had ended his tale the Abbot of Cluny stept forth and said to the King My Lord you neuer heard so false a tale before as this Traytor Amerie hath sayd for I and foure more of my Monks being Priests here present are readie to sweare and take our solempne oathes that the saying of this Traytour is false and therefore there ought no Gage to be laid in that cause séeing there is true witnesse of the matter Abbot quoth the King the witnesse is to be beléeued Sir Amerie how say you thereto My Lord quoth he I would be loath to speake against the Abbot but the troth is as I haue sayd the Abbot may say as it please him but if Huon be so hardie to deny this that I haue said before you let him come into the field against me and before it be night I shall cause him to confesse it openly When the Abbot heard this he grew offended and looking stearnly vpon Huon sayd Faire Nephew offer your gage for the right is with thée and if thou be vanquished in this quarell if euer I returne into mine Abbey there is no Saint in my Church but I shall with a staffe beat and breake them alâ— to peeces for if God will suffer such a wrong I shall giue such strâ—akes vpon the shryne of Saint Peter that I shall leaue neither gould nor precious stone whole together Vnckle quoth Huon God will I shall not let to take vp his gage for I shall prooue that falsly and vntruly Sir Amerie lyeth as an euill and a false Traytour and shall make him to confesse that I neuer knew that he that I flew was the Kinges Sonne Then the King said that Huon must giue hostage My Lord quoth Huon you shall haue my Brother I cannot deliuer you any that is so néere or deare to me as he is for héere I haue neyther Coozen nor Kinsman that will lay in hostage for mée Faire Nephew quoth the Abbot say not so for I and my Monkes will be pledges for you and if any thing should fall vnto you otherwise then well which God forbid then shame haue King Charlemaine without hée hang vppon gallowes both me and all my Monkes Go too Abbot quoth the King you say ill for I would neuer doe that then sayd the King to Amerie bring in pledges for your part The Traytour answeared My Lord héere be two of my Nephewes shall be pledges for me I am content quoth the King vppon this condition that if thou be vanquished or discomfited I shall cause them to dye an euill death Then the pledges sayd that they would be no pledges vpon that condition let other be pledges who would but they said if the king would take them on the loosing of their Lands they were content and the King graunted them Chap. XIII ¶ How those two Champions came into the feeld whereas they should fight accompanied with their freends THus as ye haue heard both parties deliuered pledges then the King to be in the more suertie put them both in a Tower vntill the day
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
were woont to bée yée may well sée by these two Brethren the strife that is betwéene them is foule and dishonest wée should doe well if we could find the meanes by any manner of wayes to appease them and therefore I counsaile let vs all together goe to the King and desire him to haue mercie pitie of both these twoo Brethren and that it might please him to appease them renâ—er to Huon all his Landes and if wee could bring it to this point it should bée a good déede as to accord them together Chap. LXXIII ¶ How the Peeres layd all the deede vppon Duke Naymes to giue the iudgement vpon him But for all that euer he could say or doe the King iudged Huon to die AFter that the Earle of Flanders had spoken the Earle of Chalons rose vp and said My Lord of Flanders your reason is good and you haue spoken like an Noble man but I know surely that the King will doe nothing at our desires But Sirs if ye thinke it good let vs all put the whole matter vpon Duke Naymes of Bauyer and all that hee will say let vs agrée thereto then all the Lords accorded together and sayd how the Earle of Chalons had sayd right well Then they came to Duke Naymes and desired him that he would take the charge of that matter vpon him and whatsoeuer he did they were all agreed thereto when the Duke heard them he stood still a certaine space and beganne to studie on the matter and tooke all the tenne Peeres to counsell with him And when the faire Escleremond saw Huon her husband in that danger among them with whom he should haue béene in ioy then she beganne sore to wéepe and sayd Ah Huon I sée here great pouertie when in the same proper towne whereas you ought to be Lord to be in this danger and beside that ye are not beleeued nor heard of any man that is here for any proofe or witnesse that yee can say or shew King Charlemaine will not beléeue that you haue béene in the Citie of Babylone and yet surely there you haue beene for I saw you there slay my Father the Admirall Gaudys and tooke his beard and drew out of his mouth foure of his greatest teeth great pitie it were if you should die for your truth and faythfulnesse but the thing that most feareth me is that I sée none that be héere likelie to be a Noble man except the King who is chiefe of all other and yet me thinkes hee is full of falshood for I sée none other but he that séekes your death But I promise to God that if hee suffer you to haue this wrong and thus to die I say then as for my part that Mahound is better worth then your King Charlemaine and it be so that you receiue death without a cause I will neuer more beléeue in your king but renounce his law and beléeue in Mahound There were many Lords and knights that heard the Ladies words whereof they had such pitie that the most part of them beganne to wéepe And when Huon heard his wife he turned toward her and sayd Ladie I desire you to leaue your sorrow and trust in God almightie who so oftentimes hath succoured vs you know not what he will doe let vs bee content with his good pleasure Thus with such words Huon appeased the fayre Escleremond And Duke Naymes who was in counsell with the other Peeres sayd to them Sirs I haue great sorrow at my heart bicause of these two Brethren so that I cannot tell what counsaile to find I desire you all in this waightie matter to counsaile me and shewe mee your opinions therein Sir quoth the Lords other counsaile you shall not haue of vs for we haue layde all the matter vppon you to doe therein what it shall please you Sirs quoth the Duke to dissemble the matter auayleth not but since that Huon must passe by iudgement how say you shall he be hanged or drawne Sir quoth Gaulter who was the first speaker mée thinkes he can escape none otherwise Ah Traytour quoth the Duke thou liest falsely for it shall not follow after thy councell whether thou wilt or not there is no man this day that shall be so hardie as to iudge him to die therefore Sirs yet shew me againe whether yée will agrée to my councell Sir quoth they wée haue laid the charge vpon you the which we will all abide by but whosoeuer was glad Gaulter was sorowfull angrie for he would haue consented to the death of Huon Then all the Barons right sad and pensiue went out of the counsell Chamber and they could find no manner of wayes how to saue Huon but they all prayed to God to aide and succour him And Huon seeing the Barons comming so sadly together thought that the matter was not at a good poynt whereby hee beganne sore to weepe when Escleremond and Gerames saw the sorrow that Huon made they had great pitie thereof Then Huon beheld Duke Naymes for he knew well all the matter lay in his hands he feared greatly the iudgement that should be made vpon him and said Thou very God and man as I beléeue verily that thou didst die on the holy crosse to redeeme vs all and that on the third day thou didst rise from death to life I require thee humbly in this great neede to succour me as truely as I am in the right for more wrong no man can haue Then the Duke Naymes of Bauier came to the king and sayd Sir will it please you to heare what we haue deuised Yea quoth the king I desire nothing else to know Well Sir quoth the Duke then I demaund of you in what place of your Region thinke you to iudge one of your Peeres of Fraunce Naymes quoth the King I know well you be a Nobleman and all that you say is to deliuer Huon of Bourdeaux but I will ye know all shall not profite him Then the Duke sayd Sir to say so ye doe great wrong Therefore sir regard well in what place you will haue one of your Peeres iudged if you know not where it should be done I will shew you In your Realme are but three places to doe it in The first is the Towne of Saint Omers the second is Orleance and the third is Paris and therefore Sir if you will proceede vpon Huon by iustice it is conuenient that it bee done in one of these three places for here in this town he cannot be iudged Naymes quoth the King I vnderstand well why you say this I well see and perceiue that you entend to none other end but to deliuer and quit Huon I had thought to haue entreated him by the order of iustice to the intent that none of you should haue reprooued mee therefore I ordained that he should haue beene iudged by you that bee the Péeres of France and I sée well you haue done nothing therein and therefore as long as
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
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
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
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
Emperor Ide and the Empresse Oliue gaue good instructions to their Son when they departed from Rome how they arriued at Courtoys and came to Florence who with great ioy receiued them as his Children Chap. 172. How Croissant was so bountifull and so liberall that he 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 hee and a Varlet alonely chap. 173. Howe they of Rome sent to King Guymart of Puille to the entent that he should come and gouerne that Countrey to be their Lord because Croissant was a child and had giuen and wasted all that he had and how Guymart came thether and was receiued as Lord. chap. 174. How Croissant ariued 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 Chap. 175. How Croissant did maruailes in the Battaile by whome the Sarazins were discomfited and slaine whereof the Earle Remon and the Duke of Callaber were right ioyfull Chap 176. Of the great honour that the Earle Remon did to Croissant and howe hee would haue giuen him his Daughter in marriage whereof the Earles Son was sore enuious and thought the same night to haue murdered the noble Croissant in his bed but he fayled for the noble Croissant slew him and afterward fled away as fast as he might Chap. 177. How Croissant departed from Nise with his Sword in his hand And howe the Earle Remon was sorrowfull for the death of his Sonne and chased after Croissant but he could not bee found Chap. 178. How Croissant arriued in the Subburbs of a little Towne called Florencolle lodged among Ruffians and Villaynes and how they fell at strife and how Croissant slew them and fledde and was in great danger And how hee came into the Cittie of Rome whereas there was no man that would giue him one morsell of bread and how he went into an old Pallaice and lay vppon a burden of strawe chap. 179. Howe the Emperour Guymart spake and rebuked the Burgesse that spake ill of the noble Croissant and howe the Emperour bare meâ—te and drinke to the place whereas Croissant slept And of the maruailous great Treasure that hee found in a Chamber in the sayde ould Pallaice and of that which was shewed and declared to him by twoo Knightes whome he found there Chap. 180. How the two Knightes that kept this Treasure spake with the Emperour Guymart and shewed him the manner how hee should know Croissant And of the maruaile that Croissant had when he awoake and saw the meat and drinke by him Chap. 181. The proofe that the Emperor Guymart made to knowe 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 Chap. 182. How the Emperor Guymart promised Croissant that within three daies 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 Chap. 183. 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 Chap. 184. FINIS THE ANCIENT Honorable and famous Historie of Huon of Bourdeaux a Peere of Fraunce and Duke of Guyenne c. Chap. I. ¶ How the Emperour Charlemaine required his Barons that they would choose one among them to gouerne his Empire IN the time by computation called the yéere of grace which was Seauen Hundred Fifty and Six yeares after our Sauiors sufferings Charles the Great more vulgarly knowen by the name of Charlemaine a right royall religious and warlike Prince rained as KING in Fraunce and Emperour of Roome Whose course of time was applyed to many high and heroycall enterprises wherein the fauour of heauen was euermore so assistant to him as his owne heart good hopes crowned him with the honour of many succesfull Victories enabling all his endeauours with the ayd of diuers noble Princes and Barons whose Chiualrie and right knightly perfourmances entitled him to the conquest of Almaigne Sclauonia Spaine Saxonie and a great part of Affrike in all which attempts it is not to be doubted but both he and they had their handes full of busie imployments But let it suffice God was their guide Religion the cause Honour the obiect and perpetuall Fame the reward which both led him and his traine to these worthy attempts and still brought them backe with the due to their valorous Enterprises extending both his and their renowne to all parts of the world and registring their names in the Kalender of neuer dying memorie AFter that this righte noble Emperour Charlemaine had lost his deare Nephews Rowland and Oliuer and diuers other Barons and Knightes in the vnfortunate and dolorous Battaile that was at Rownseuall where was so great and lamentable a losse as all the twelue Peeres of Fraunce were there slaine except the good Duke Naimes of Bauier On a day the Noble Emperour held open Court at his chéefe Citie of Paris where were assembled many Dukes Earles and Barons being the Sonnes Nephewes and kindred to the Noble Princes before slayn and dead in the foresaid Battaile by the falshood and great treason doone and contriued by Duke Ganelon the Noble Emperour being euer after in gréefe and heauinesse by reason of the great annoyance and displeasure that hée had by his said losse and also bicause he was growen verie féeble through the great age that now was stollen vppon him Thus when the King Princes Barons were there assembled the Emperour called his Lorde before him and seating himselfe in his royall Chaire of Estate his Barons Lordes and Knightes likewise placed in their seuerall degrees hee called foorth Duke Naymes and thus began Honourable old Naymes and all you my Barons hether summoned by our royall commaundement I shall not néede to tell yée bycause it is to you all most apparant howe longe I haue gouerned this Kingdome of Fraunce and likewise swayed the imperiall Diadem of Roome In all which time I haue found your duty and seruice so agréeable as I cannot but thanke Heauen for so gracious good fortune And now bycause I know certainly that my life by course of nature cannot long endure for this reason principally I haue caused you all to bée assembled here together to declare to you my pleasure and will wherein I require and heartily desire you that yée will counsaile together and take aduice which of you best may and will vndertake the Gouernance of my Realme for I can no longer beare the trauaile and paine belonging to the ruling thereof but will from hencefoorth liue the residue of
Christ shall guide and conduct vs in sauegard Thus these two Brethren road night and day so long vntill they perceiued before them the Abbot of Cluny with a thirtie Horse in his companie as he was going to the Kinges Court When Huon perceiued that companie hee called his Brother Gerardin and said Loe yonder I sée men of religion holding the way to Paris and you knowe well when wee departed from the Duchesse our mother shée charged vs that we should alwaies company with good people therefore it is good that we make hast to ouertake them Brother quoth Gerardin your pleasure he fulfilled so they rode so long that they ouertooke the Abbot who regarded on the right side and sawe the two Brethren comming to ouertake him Then hée steede still and saw Huon who came riding on before Huon saluted him humbly and the Abbot in like manner to him and demaunded whether he râ—ad so hastily from whence he came and what he was and who was his Father Sir quoth Huon since it is your pleasure to know Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux was our Father it is Seauen yeares since he departed this life And Sir behold héere my Brother who is younger then I and we are going to noble King Charlemaines Court to reléeue of him our Lands and Countrey for he hath sent for vs by two noble Knights and Sir we are in doubt of some trouble by the way when the good Abbot vnderstoode that they were Sonnes to Duke Seuin he was right ioyfull and in token of true amitie he embraced them one afteâ— another and said Deare fréends haue no doubt for by the grace of Iesus Christ I shall conducte you safely to Paris for Duke Seuin your Father was my Coozen Germaine therefore I am bound to ayd you and know for troth that I am sworne of the great councell with King Charlemaine and if there be any that will mooue or stirrâ— against you I shall ayd you to my power wherefore you may ride surely in my companie without any doubt Sir quoth Huon I thanke you thus they road talking with the Abbot their kinsman and that night they came to Montleherry Then the next daye they arose béetimes and heard Masse and afterward tooke their Horses and they were in all a fourescore Horses they road so long vntil they came to a little wood-side whereas Charlot and Earle Amerie lay closely ambushed there they espyed Huon Gerard riding before whereof they were ioyfull Then Amerie said to Charlot Sir now is the time come to bee reuenged of the dammage that Duke Seuin did to mée yonder I sée his twoo Sonnes comming if they bée not incontinent slayne by vs wée are not worthy to haue any Land or life And Sir by their death you shall be Lord of Bourdeaux and of all the Duchy of Aquitaine Chap. VII ¶ How by the councell of Earle Amerie they ran firste at Gerardin Brother to Huon and bare him to the earth and sore wounded him whereof Huon was right sorowfull WHen that Charlot vnderstood Earle Amerie he stretched him in his stirrops and tooke a speare with a sharpe head and yssued alone out of the woode when Amerie sawe that Charlot went out of the wood alone he drew a little out of the way and sayd to his men suffer Charlot alone there néed none goe to ayd him This said the false Traytour bicause he desired nothing else but that one of the Sonnes of Duke Seuin might slay Charlot and so himselfe detecting them of the murder by this meanes he might compasse his damnable intent Charlot came against these twoo Brethren the Abbot of Cluny saw Charlot comming all armed and saw in the wood a great number of armed men more then hee stood still and called Huon and Gerard and said Déere Nephewes I perceiue in yonder wood a Knight all armed and the wood full of horsemen I cannot tell what they meane Haue you done any wrong to any man if you haue done or hold any thing that is not your owne step foorth and offer him reason and promise to make amendes Sir quoth Huon I know no man liuing that I or my Brother haue done vnto him any displeasure nor we know not that any creature doth hate vs. Then Huon said to his brother Brother ride on before and méete with yonder Knight demaund what is his pleasure Gerard road foorth met with Charlot and demaunded what his pleasure was to haue or whether he was kéeper of that passage or not and demaunded any tribute or not if he did he was readie to pay it Charlot answeared him fiercely and said What art thou Gerard answeared and sayd Sir I am of the Citie of Bourdeaux and Son to Duke Seuin whome God pardon and héere after commeth Huon mine elder Brother and we are going to Paris to the Kings Court to reléeue our Lands and our Fées and to serue him and if there be any that wil any thing with vs let him come to Paris and we shall doe him reason Hold thy tongue quoth Charlot whether thou wilt or not I will haue reason for some wrongs done me by thy Father Duke Seuin for he tooke thrée of my Castles from me and I could neuer know the reason thereof But now since thou art héere I will be reuenged of the wrong that thy Father did to me for as long as thou and thy Brother be aliue I shall neuer haue ioy in my heart therefore stand on thy ground for before it bee night I shall make thy life depart from thy bodie Sir quoth Gerard haue pitie of me you may sée I am but naked without armour It shall bée greatly to your shame and reproach if I be thus slaine by you it neuer commeth of a gentle courage or a Knight to assaile any person without armour or weapon howbeit Sir I crie you mercie well you sée that I haue neither Sword Shéeld nor Speare to defend mée withall you may sée yonder comming my elder Brother who shall be readie to make you amends if any harme hath béen done vnto you Peace quoth Charlot there is as now nothing so deare vnto me as can mooue mée contrarie But that shamfully I shall put thée to death beware of mée Gerard who was but young was in great feare and called vpon our Lord God and turned his Horse to come againe to his Brother But Charlot who was in his desperate moode â—ouched his Speare ran after Gerard and strooke him on the side with such force that the Speare ran through part of his bodie and so bare him to the earth weening he had béen slaine howbeit the stroake was not mortall although insooth verie dangerous for he was so sore â—urt that he could not remooue for paine that he felt The good Abbot of Cluny beheld Gerard in such sort borne to the ground ouercome with great gréefe hée said vnto Huon Ah Coozen I sée yonder your Brother Gerard slaine the fight whereof slayeth my poore
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
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
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
I came to my purpose and strooke off the Admirals head and so tooke his beard and great téeth Brother quoth Gerard and how do you kéepe them and where Brother quoth Huon behould héere Gerames who hath them in his side King Oberon did set them there by the Fayrie and by the will of God Sir quoth hée which is Gerames Brother quoth Huon héere you may sée him before you he with the great hoarie beard Sir quoth Gerard of what Land is hée of He is of the best Fréends that I haue quoth Huon and he is Brother to the good Prouost Guyer you neuer heard speake of a truer nor more noble man I found him in a wood whereas hee had dwelt about Fortie yeares in penance God ayded mee greatly when I found him for if hée had not béene I could not haue returned hether much paine and pouertie hee hath endured for my sake and nowe Brother I pray you shew me how ye haue done since I departed from you it hath béene shewed me that ye are very richly married I pray you where was your wife borne and of what lineage is she of Sir quoth Gerard she is daughter to Gybouars of Cecyle who is a great Lord and Signior Brother quoth Huon I am sorie that yee haue taken such aliance for I know him for the most vile traytour that can bee found and the most vntruest Sir quoth Gerard ye doe ill to say so for I take him for no such person Chap. LXVI ¶ How these two Brethren departed from the Abbey about midnight and how the Traitor Gerard began to fall at rude words with Huon when they approched neere the wood whereas Gibouars lay in ambush THus as these two brethren deuised of Gibouars the Abbot came to them and demanded of Huon if it were his pleasure to goe to supper Sir quoth Huon when it please you I and my brother shall be readie The fayre Escleremond who was wearie of trauaile was in her chamber apart and diuers other of her company with her whereas she supped and lay that night Huon was somewhat troubled because his brother had taken to his wife the daughter of a Traytour thus they washed and sate them downe to supper where they were richly serued and at another table sate the Prouost Guyer and Gerames his brother and diuers other Barons Gerard beheld the Prouost whom hee vtterly hated because hee went to seeke for Huon Hee sware to him selfe that if hee might once goe out of the Abbey that he should bee the first that shoulde loose his life and hee did eate and drinke but little for thinking to accomplish his ill Enterprize When they had supped they aroase from the board and their bedds were made readie Then Huon called the Abbot apart and sayd Sir I haue brought hether with me great riches I will leaue it héere with you to keepe vntill my returne and I pray you for any manner of thing that may fall deliuer it vnto no man liuing but all onely to my selfe and if God giue me the grace to returne your part shall bee therein Sir quoth the Abbot all that you take mée to keepe shall bée safely kept to your behoofe and I shall doe so that you shall bée content then hee went to bed and Gerard with him where Gerard sayd Brother if you thinke it good I shall call you vp betimes for it séemeth that to morrow the day will be hot Brother quoth Huon I am content Thus they lay together in one bed but the Traytour Gerard had no lyst to sleepe for the great desire that he had to be reuenged of his Brother who neuer did him any trespasse but alas why did not Huon know his entent if hée had the matter had not gone so to passe At last the houre came that the Cockes began to crowe then Gerard awooke Huon and said Brother it were good for vs to arise for anone it will be day it is good to ride in the coole but the ill Traytour his thought was otherwise When Huon heard his Brother he rose vp and euery man arose vp and made them redie Sir quoth Gerames how is it that yée be so hastie to depart from hence I pray you let me sléepe a little longer Sir quoth Gerard that is ill said for he that hath businesse to doe that toucheth him néere ought not to sléepe nor rest vntill his businesse be finished By my troth quoth Huon my Brother saith troth for I haue a great desire to speake with King Charlemaine then euery man trussed vp their things and tooke their horses and the faire Escleremond was readie and mounted on a stately mule and so they all tooke their leaues of the Abbot who was right sorowfull that they would depart so early Then the gates were opened and so departed Fourtéene in a companie and Escleremond made the Fiftéene and Gerard rode before to lead them the right way that he would haue them to ride and Escleremond being very sumptuously apparelled rode very soberly and she came to Huon and said Sir I cannot tell what ayleth me but my heart is so sore troubled that all my bodie trembleth Madame quoth Huon be not dismaid nor haue any feare for yée be in a good countrey where by the grace of god yée shall be serued like a Princesse and Ladie of the countrey and with those wordes speaking her Mule stumbled on the one foot before so that shée had néere hand a great fall then Huon approched to her tooke the bridle of the Mule in his hand said Faire Ladie haue yée any hurt No Sir quoth shée but I had almost fallen By my faith quoth Gerames we haue done very ill for that wée departed from the Abbey before day light Sirs quoth Gerard I neuer saw men so fearefull for so small a cause Sir quoth Gerames I know not why yée speake it but if I might councell yée we would not goe one foot farther but returne againe to the Abbey till day light By god quoth Gerard it were great folly to returne againe now for the stumbling of a Mule I neuer saw men so fearefull let vs ride foorth and make good chéere I sée the day beginneth to appeare So they road foorth vntill they came to a crosse whereas there was foure wayes this was about a League from the Abbey Then Huon rested and sayd Loe héere is the border of the Territorie of the Abbey of Saint Maurise and this one way is to Bourdeaux the which way I will not ride for so I haue promised to King Charlemaine to whome I neuer yet falsed my faith if I did it should bee the cause that I might loose my Signiorie and this other way goeth to Rome this other way before vs is the right way into Frāce the which way I will ride and none other So they road foorth and all their companie and within a while they were néere to the wood within a bow shoot whereas the Traytour
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
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
daunger thereof When Huon vnderstood Iudas he had great maruaile ioyned his hands toward the heauen thanking God of the grace that hee had sent him Then Huon desired the Patron that they might depart from thence in haste Sir quoth he it shall bee done Then they drew vp theyr sayles and departed and they had not sailed a league but that the saw a farre off great brands of fire burning issuing out of the Gulfe so long and so high that they had neere hand come to theâ—r ship and the waues that issued out of the Gulfe were as high as mountaines and they approched so nere vnto their shippe that they had like to haue perâ—â—hes for there 〈◊〉 was neere hand full of water so that they had 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 to lade out the water and were fayne to abate theyr sayle and the water that â—ssed out of the Gulfe draâ—e them so â—â—orftly that a bird could not die no faster then they went In that case they weâ—e a moneth and durst neuer hoyse vppe sayle but thus they draue a great season without seeing of any land then Huon called vppon God and saide Ah verie God I hadde rather haue tarried still in mine owne Countrey and haue taken such fortune as it should haue pleased thée to send mee then heere to bée lost in this strange Sea Deare Laâ—ie Escleremond I pray vnto God to keepe you and Clariet my Daughter for I thinke that I shall neuer see you more Thus Huon complained sayling in the Sea in feare of his life and thus they were in the daunger of this Gulfe fiue weekes and neuer coulde see lande whereof they were in great feare often times they prayed to our Lord to haue pity of them Then Huon desired the Patrone to mount vp to the Mast to see if he might see any land and the Patrone who greatly desired so to doe anone hee mounted vp and regarded on all parts to see if hee might espy any land At last he saw a farre off an hye rocke and on the height thereof they sawe a thicke wood and at the entrie of the wood hee sawe a little house whereof hee thanked God and descended downe and shewed Huon what hee had seene and sayd Sir yonder a farre off I haue seen a great Rocke and on the height thereof a great thicke wood and therein I haue séene a little house or hermitage the house is white I cannot tell what it is but by the grace of God ere it be night wee shall land there and refresh our selues When Huon heard that hee was right ioyfull and thanked God then they drew to that Port and had good wind and a fresh wéening to haue come thether the same night but they sayled foure daies and foure nights and could come no neerer to the wood then they were before whereof they had maruaile for it seemed to them euer that the wood and the house roase vp higher and higher and then they could not tell whether they went for if they had known they would not haue gone thether for al the gold in the world for if God had not had pitie of them they were all likely to haue beene lost for the place that they sawe a farre of was a Castle and therein cloased the Rocke of the Adamant the which Castle was dangerous to approach for if any Ship come neere it and haue any yron nayles within it and that a shippe come but within the sight thereof the Adamant will draw the Shippe vnto him And therefore in those parts the Shippes that sayleth by that Sea are made and pinned with woodden nayles and without any manner of yron otherwise they be lost and perished for the propertie of the Adamant is to draw yron to him Thus Huon and his company were there the space of sixe dayes going and sayling about the Rocke of the Castle of the Adamant But if they had had a good wind the first day they had arriued euen at the white house that they saw first in the wood the which was the fairest and most richest house in the world within the which was so much gould and riches that no man liuing could esteeme the value thereof for the Pillars within that hâ—use were of Cassedony and the wals and Towers of white Alablaster There was neuer described in Scripture nor Historie the beautie of such a Castle as this was for when the Sun cast his rayes on it it seemed a farre of to be of fine christall it was so cleare shining In this Castle was neither man nor woman but dead mens bones lying at the gate of this Castle and at the Port there lay many Shippes so that their Mastes seemed a farre off to bee a great Forrest Chap. C. ¶ How Huon deuised with his Patrone in regarding of the Castle of the Adamant THis castle was set on a rock of the Adamant â—one from the East to the west was not so strong a Castle for if all the world had come before it and men within to defend it could neuer be wonne by any mortall men The forrest that so seemed to them a farre off were the â—aâ—â—s of shippes that had beene there arriued by constraint of the Adamant but for all the shippes that were there there was no man liuing therein yet there lay bones of men that had died by famine rage Huon and his câ—mâ—aâ—te had great maruaile for when they approached 〈◊〉 to the Castle they 〈◊〉 forced to strike sayle for the â—daâ—ant drew the shippe so sore that if they had not quickly striken their sayle their shippe had broken all to péeces and they all béen drowned in the sea The ship went so fast that it was maruailous to consider it and then the Patron of the shippe who was wise and discreet knew anon how they were néere to the Castle of the Adamant because their shippe went so fast without sayle thetherward faster than if they had had a full winde in all their sailes and they could not turne their ship any way from that part for they would gladly haue returned but it would not bee because the Adamant drew the yron so sore to him by nature When the Patron saw that néedes they must arriue there he began pitiously to lament and saide to Huon Sir our Lord God hath created vs in this world to liue and to die and there is none but must passe the passage of this and because wee knowe surely that no creature can escape that therefore we ought to be content with that which can be none otherwise Sir I say this that we must all dye When Huon heard the Patron he had great maruaile and said Patron I pray you shew me the cause why yée say thus in this Castle that we see before vs are there any Sarazins within it or spirits of hell that haue sworne our death surely I doubt them not make good cheere and bee nothing abashed take good courage and ioy â—or by the ayd of our
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
of Nauarre and helpe to maintaine his war against you When the King heard him so to threaten him he swoore by God that he should repent it and how there should no man saue the Watch-mans life Then the poore man embraced the Kings Legge and cried for mercie but the King sware and made promise howe he should bee hanged without mercie When the Earle Peter heard that he was verie sorrowfull the poore man wept and beheld the people that were there assembled and desired them to pray for his soule saying how he should die for sauing of his Lord there was many of the poore mans kinred they knéeled all downe before the King desiring him to pardon him the king answeared that hee would not When the Earle Peter heard that he sayd to the King Sir surely he shall not die without it be by iudgement as your Lords and Counsaile shall ordaine When the King heard that he was sore displeased and so entred into the Citie and set the Watch-man in prison then hée went to his Pallaice and Peter followed him and accompanied with many other Knightes such as loued him and in like wise so did the poore mans kindred When the Kinge was in his Pallaice he commaunded a Scaffold to be made whereon hee would haue the Watch-man to loose his head When his Kins-men heard that they cried for mercie but the king would doe nothing at their desire When the Earle Peter saw the ill will of the king he made a token to the Watch-mans freends who were in number about a Hundred and Fiftie that they should goe to such a Tower where there was great plentie of Armour and to breake it vp and to arme them and so they did and came againe to the Pallaice and when the king saw them comming armed hee cryed to his men that they should arme them and take them that were so bolde to come into his presence all armed and when euerie man was armed they came again to the Pallaice to haue taken the Watch-man and all his kindred but the Watch-man and his Fréendes who were readie in armour set vpon the kinges men and also Peter of Aragon and his companie aided them so that there was so great a Skirmish in the Pallaice that it was pitie to sée it they cut off armes legs and heads each of other Finally the king and his men were so sore constrained that of force they abandoned the Pallace and fled away and the king fled into his Chamber for sauegard Anon the newes ran in the Towne that the king was sore assaulted in the Pallaice and in ieopardie of his life Then all the Communaltie went and armed them and sounded the larum bell there was such a noyse and brute as though all the world had béen lost Then a Spie went out and shewed the king of Nauarre howe king Garyn was assembled in his Pallaice within the Citie because of a Watch-man that the King would put to death in that hee had deliuered out of prison Florence and the Damsell his Loue. Then the King of Nauarre right ioyfull of those newes commanded hastely his men to be readie in Armour for he sayd that it was then time or else neuer to assaile the Citie Great desire I haue quoth he to bee reuenged of this King who had wedded my Sister whom he hath slaine I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart vntill I bee reuenged then euerie man armed them and so assembled together with banners displayed and so came in good order toward the Citie to assayle it but when they within the Towne heard the crye and noise without and sawe their enemies comming towards them they went and shewed it at the Pallaice wherby the strife there ceased and then the king and all his Lordes with all his people yssued out in Battaile Then there began a sore Battaile and many a man slaine and maymed but there were so many Nauarnes that whether king Garyn would or not perforce they were faine to abandon the Victorie to their enemies and were faine to retire into the Towne but their enemies followed them so néere that the kinge of Nauarre and his men entred in with them Then the kinge of Nauarre commanded that none should be slain without they were found in defence for he sayd that he cared not so he might be reuenged of the king Then the Nauarnes spread abroad in the Citie taking prisoners then kinge Garyn fled to the Minster-church then hee stoode in the Church dore to make defence but it could not auaile him there was so many of his enemies that he fledde to the hye Aulter for sauegard but the kinge of Nauarre who was entred into the Church commanded his men to take king Garyn the which they did Sirs quoth king Garyn yée doe me great wrong to take me in this holy place whereas euerie man should be saued aboue all thinges the house of God ought to be refuge for euerie man Then the king of Nauarre who was holden for a good holy man hearing what king Garyn sayd he knewe well that he sayd the truth and repented himselfe and sayd Faire Nephewe for the offence that I haue committed against our Lord God I shall amend it to the double so that you will pardon the Watch-man that hath deliuered my Nephew Florence out of your prison I shall then shew you this courtesie for the offence that I haue made I and all my men shall yssue out of this Citie without taking of any prisoner or any manner of goods for the loue of my Nephewe Florence whome I loue entirely and for the goodnes of the people I shall goe to my Tents without and I will graunt you a Truce to endure for a Moneth and I promise you the Moneth once expired I shall approach againe so nere to this Citie that as long as life is in my bodie I shall not depart vntill I haue taken this Citie and you whome I take for mine enemie to haue you as my prisoner for I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart vntill I haue reuenged the death of my Sister your Wife Then King Garyn sayd King of Nauarre of the courtesie and bountie that you shewe vnto me I thanke you and as for the Watch-man I doe pardon him all mine ill will whereas you say that you will come so néere my Citie to winne it when that commeth by the grace of God and by the helpe of my true Subiects I shall doe the best I can to defend my selfe and my Citie Then the King of Nauarre yssued out of the Church and leapt vpon his horse and road to the gate and taried there vntill all his men were cleane auoided out of the Citie to the entent that neither Prisoners nor goods should be caried out of the Citie whereof his men were angrie and especially they that were poore the other cared not greatly because the two Kinges had béene so long fréendes together wherefore the warre displeased them and they were
by vs hee is King of all the Fayrey and he will come to ayd thée and to defend thy land also he will that thou knowest that he is Father to the faire Damsell Clariet whome thou namest the new-found Damsell and because thou hast banished from thée thy Son Florence hee will come to thée to make the Peace betweene thée and thy Brother in lawe the King of Nauarre and hee will make the Mariage betwéene thy Sonne Florence and Clariet his Daughter When kinge Garyn heard the Knight of the Fayrey hee hadde such ioy at his heart that hee wist not what to doe or say and hee came to the Knight and embraced him all wéeping and said Sir know for troth my body my life and all that I haue I submitte into the handes of the good King Huon to do therewith at his pleasure With those words the twoo Knightes vanished away no man wist how nor whether so that euerie man had great maruaile King Garyn and his Lordes lifted vp their hands to Heauen making the signe of the crosse recommending themselues to Iesus Christ and the twoo Knightes rested not vntill they came to the Cittie of Momur to King Huon and shewed him what they had done and sayd to King Garyn shewed Huon of the day of Battaile that was taken betwéene the two Kinges and said Sir haue pitie of Florence and of Clariet your Daughter who are as now on the Sea in a great Tempest then Huon sayde Surely I they shall be shortly before the Citie of Courtoys with a number of people that the earth shal be couered with them to the entent that if either of those two Kinges doe contrary to my will I shall destroy him for euer for shortly I will that my Daughter Clariet shall bee Duchesse of Bourdeloys and shee is so faire that there is none like her and I will shew the great loue that I beare to her Then Huon called to him Escleremond and sayd Ladie you shall sée this day the thinge that you much desire to sée that is your Daughter Clariet to whom I giue her the guift that she shal be beloued of euerie man and I will that from henceforth she shall giue large guiftes and rewards to Ladies Damsels Knightes and Squiers for I will that from hencefoorth shée haue her pleasure without suffering of any more ill or perill for she hath suffered inough This day was faire and cléere within the Citie of Courtoys there was many people assembled and they were in great deuotion some made seruice to be song and some were confessed and ordred themselues towardes the Battaile Then King Garyn commanded euerie man to leape vppon their horses readie armed and the King himselfe mounted then they issued out of the Citie and commanded his Constables and Marshals to ordaine Thrée Battailes in the name of God King Garyn had assembled a great number of men he had more then Fiftie Thousand men there ye might haue séen Ladies Damsels and Burgesses that wept for feare of their Freends whome they sawe going towards the Battaile and they went all to the wals Colledges and Churches to pray to God for the good spéed of their King and of their Fréends Now let vs leaue speaking of these two Kinges who were readie in the fielâ—s ranged in order of Battaile the one against the other and lette vs speake of King Huon who called before him all his Lordes of the Fayrey there was the faire Escleremond and Gloriant and Mallabron and many other Knights of the Fayrey then King Huon said Sirs yée all knowe well that by the will of God King Oberon whiles he liued gaue me all his Realme and Signiorie and puissance that he had ouer al the Fayrie of the world thereby then I may haue all my commaundements fulfilled and since God hath giuen me this gift I will not suffer the man-slaughter and murder that is like to be betwéene the Two Kinges of Aragon and Nauarre therefore I wish my selfe with Two Hundred Thousand men well armed and richly by séeming and all mounted on good horses and also I wish to haue as many â—â—urnished with bowes and Crosbowes on foote Also I wish a Hundred Thousand to be apparelled in Gownes of cloath of gould and silke and also I wish for my Daughter Clariet whome I haue left a long time in paine and miserie whereof I repent me for mine intention is to marrie her to Florence Sonne to Kinge Garyn of Aragon the which Florence is so faire so hardy and so humble and curteous that in all the world there is none like him I wish him and all his companie and Sorbarre with him to be at the Hauen of Courtoys Also I wish my Tent in the meadow betwéen the hoasts of the two Kings and I will that my Tent be such that there be none like it in all the world and vppon the toppe thereof I will there be pitcht a Dragon of fine gold King Huon hadde no sooner made his wish but hee and all his company were there as he had deuised When the king of Nauarre saw so many people and so many Tents and Pauillions so néere him and that he saw the rich and puissant Pauillion of Kinge Huons with the flambing Dragon hee was greatly dismayed Then he called his Lords and Knightes and saide Sirs behold what people yonder are before vs lodging mee thinkes I neuer sawe so many together in all my life I wot not what it should be I am in doubt then he called vnto him two knights and sayd Sirs goe thether and knowe what people they be and what they meane and whether they bee Fréendes or enemies who is chéefe ouer them Sir quoth the two knights we will not goe thether for we know not whether they bée our enemies or not When the King of Nauarre vnderstoode that those knightes nor none other would goe thether hee was sorrowfull and as the king was thus deuising thether came the two knightes of the Fayrey Gloriant and Mallabron and Gloriant sayd Kinge of Nauarre King Huon of Bourdeaux hath sent vs to you and commaundeth you that you make peace betwéen you and king Garyn for he will giue his Daughter Clariet to your Nephewe Florence who is the fairest Ladie of the worlde When the king of Nauarre vnderstoode these twoo Messengers sent from king Huon he was right ioyfull and commanded al his Lords to goe with him to kinge Huon they obayed his commaundement and road with him vntill hee came to the rich Pauillion of king Huons whereas they alighted and were well receiued then the king of Nauarre saluted king Huon who sayd Sir you be welcome and then the king of Nauarre knéeled down before kinge Huon and sayd Sir I am readie to fulfill your pleasure Then Gloriant tooke the king of Nauar by the arme and raysed him vp and set him down by king Huon and Escleremond then king Huon sent for king Garyn who incontinent came
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
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
you shoulde not bee worthy to sitte in a royall Chaire and you ought to bee the mirrour and example to other men how they should liue will you then breake the Lawe that God hath giuen vs put from you that crueltie you shall find no man that will praise you in so doing or thinking When the king heard Sorbarre hee beheld him angerly and said Sorbarre know for troth but that I hold my selfe much bound vnto you I would strike off your head and there is no man that speaketh to the contrarie but I shall put him to death Then all the Lords together saide to the king Sir doe as you please Sorbarre hath sayd as a noble man ought to doe for if you doe otherwise you are not worthy to beare a Crowne and so held their peace they durst speake no more for feare of him and also because they thought surely that the Diuell was within him to motion any such matter When the king heard the will of his Lordes he sent for his Daughter hastely who came with a smiling countenance not knowing of the vnreasonable will of the king her Father and when she came before him she knéeled downe the king tooke her vp and set her betwéene his armes and kissed her more then Twentie times The Ladie knewe nothing of her Fathers intention none otherwise but that shee thought hee did it but as a Father ought to doe with his Child then the Lordes sayd softly one to another Oh vnhappie King his thoughts bée farre vnlike to his Daughters for if she were here alone he would dishonour her although she be his owne Daughter The King séeing his Daughter I de so excellent faire he sayd to himselfe that without hee hadde his Daughter in marriage he should die with rage and the King beheld her and made her to sit downe by him and sayd My déere Daughter you are as an Orpheling on the Mothers side wherefore I haue great pitie of you that you haue lost her and you resemble so much your Mother that I thinke when I sée you in the face that I sée her before mee and therefore I loue you the better and for this cause it is my will to take you to my Wife for I will haue none other in mariage Chap. CLXV ¶ Of the great sorrow that the Damsell I de made when she heard her Father how he would haue her in mariage and how by the means of a noble Lady and Sorbarre she departed at midnight and went at the aduenture that God would send her WHen the Damsell heard her Father her fresh red colour became pale and wanne and she cast downe her lookes to the earth sayd Ah my right déere Father take héede what you say for if you be heard of them that bee héere present you shall bee greatly blamed Then the Damsell would haue risen vp to haue gone from her Father but the King tooke her by the hand and sayd My Daughter make no daunger nor refuse to follow my will for you slay me for the loue that I beare you then all the Lords knéeled downe before the King and held vp their handes and desired the King for his owne wealth and honour that he would haue pitie of himselfe and of his Daughter and that he would neuer thinke to doe such a déede for if he did hée should neuer be set by after When the king heard his Lords and how they reasoned with him to haue turned his mind hee answeared as a man full of villany and yre and saide that in despight of them all and whether they would or not he would haue her to his Wife and that if there were any so hardy as to speake to him to the contrarie hee woulde cause them to die a shamefull death and he sore rebuked them When the Damsell heard her Father to speake vnto the Lordes and Knightes then she saw well the inordinate loue of her Father and she began to wéepe and sayd Oh good God I shall be shamed and lost for euer if he take me to his Wife for both of vs cannot escape without damnation then shee thought within her selfe that if she could in any wise escape she would flye away so far off that there should neuer any tidings be heard of her Then the Kinge sent her into her Chamber with her Maydens who were sorrowfull and discomforted when they heard of that matter for the King had commaunded them to kéepe her well and to ordaine a rich bed for her because the next day hée would marrie her When the Damsell I de was in her chamber she called to her an ancient Ladie who had béene her Mistresse and then she auoided all other out of her Chamber and made semblance to sléepe and when she saw that al other were gone she knéeled downe and held vp both her hands before the Ladie and all wéeping sayde Ah my right déere Ladie and Mistresse I come to you as a poore Orpheling without Father or Mother my Mother is dead as you know well but he that should bee my Father would bee my Husband the which is a thing that the earth ought not to beare nor sustaine them that woulde liue in such manner and therefore déere Mistresse counsaile and ayd this poore discomforted Orpheling and help me that I may bee out of the sight of him that ought to bee my Father for I had rather goe into some farre Countrey there to liue in pouertie then to end my dayes with him in doing of such a déede and at the end to bee damned and lost When the olde Ladie who was right noble and sage heard the pitifuâ—l complaint of the Damsell Ide whome shee had nourished and brought vp she answeared and sayd My right déere daughter for the great loue that I beare you I shall ayde and counsaile you and bring you out of this doubt as sometime did my Brother Peter of Aragon to the Ladie Clariet your Mother hée rescued her out of the hands of the Sarazins when she was in ieopardie of her life for all your Father I shall not let to aide you When the Damsell I de heard the good will of the Ladie how shee would ayd her all wéeping shee kissed her and sayd Ah my right deere Mother the goodnes that you doe to me God reward you for it for it lyeth not in me then the old Ladie yssued out of her Chamber and left the Ladie I de verie pensiue and went into Sorbarres Chamber who was as then in the Pallaice for he was one of the kinges priuie Counsaile and when he came to his Chamber and found the Ladie there he demanded what aduenture had brought her thether the Ladie drewe him apart and shewed him the request and prayer of the Damsell Ide whereof Sorbarre for the great pitie hée had of her began to weepe and auoided his Chamber the better to speake with the Ladie at his ease and they deuised together of diuers things and at last
they concluded for the sauegard of the damsels bodie that this ancient Lady should beare to her the apparell of a man and that at the houre of midnight she should array her therewith and then shew her and let her goe out of the Pallaice and come to the stable whereas she shall find me readie with the best horse that her Father hath readie for her to leape vppon When the ancient Ladie vnderstood Sorbarre she was right ioyfull and thought his counsaile good and then she departed and made readie all the apparell belonging to a man then she came to the Damsell Ides Chamber and shewed her the conclusion that was taken betweene her and Sorbarre When the Damsell heard that she had great ioy at her heart and she clipped and kissed her the Ladie was glad when she saw her somwhat comforted and sayd Faire Ladie the Kinge your Father hath ordained a bath for you therefore goe thether and hath with other Damsels to the intent that the Kinge doe not suspect any thinge and when you haue bathed you a certaine space lette your bed be made readie and when you are in your Chamber goe to your bed and then commaund me and all the Damsels to goe and bath vs I shall kéepe them there so long a space that they shall haue good list to sleepe and I shall leaue heere by your bed-side all your mans apparell and array you therein and then guird this sword about you and put on your spurres and when you are out of the Pallaice goe to the Stables where you shall finde a horse readie for you Then they went into the bathing Chamber and shee in her smocke readie to goe into the bath and all the other Damsels were ioyfull when they saw her come thether for they thought she had been gone to sléepe because of the displeasure that shee hadde at her heart then they sayd one to another it seemeth that our Ladie is well appeased of her sorrow me thinkes to morrow she shall be Ladie and Quéene and she shall bee wife and Daughter to the King her Father the which is a thing vnreasonable then they came to her and bathed her feasted her as much as they might When the Ladie I de thought that it was time to depart she sayd to her Mistresse and to the other Damsels howe shee had bathed her ynough and that she would go into her Chamber to sleepe and bad all the other to go and bath them and that there should no moe goe with her but two of them to haue her to bed and she sayd to her Mistresse that she should goe and bring her with the Damsels the which thing they did ioyfully the damsell departed and went into her Chamber wrapped in a Mantle of scaâ—let When the two Damsels had brought her to bed they tooke leaue of her and departed and closed the dore after them and then they went and bathed them with others and when the Damsell I de felt her selfe all dry she rose and arrayed her in the mans apparell aswel as she could and tooke the sword and guirt it about her put on her spurres and then she went to a great low window on the Garden-side and there she leapt out into the Garden as priuily as she could and so went along by the wall side vntill she came to the Posterne then shee went out towards the Stable and when she came there shee found a horse readie in Sorbarres hand and at the pommell of the saddle a bagge full of bread and flesh two bottels of good wine Then the Damsell tooke the horse and without any word speaking shee leapt vp quickely then Sorbarre all wéeping saide My déere Daughter God bee thy guide and bring thée to sauegard goe thy way and kéepe the way vpon thy left hand and follow the Sea-side Sir quoth she for the goodnes you haue shewed me God reward you into whose sauegard I commend you thus departed this noble Ladie Ide to eschew and flye from the ill and dishonorable will of her Father and she entred into the Forrest kéeping no hye way and so she road thrée daies along the wood vntill she thought well that she was farre from her Countrey Nowe let vs lâ—aue speaking of her vntill wée haue occasion to returne to her againe and lette vs speake of King Florence her Father Chap. CLXVI ¶ Howe King Florence was sorrowfull when he was aduertised of his Daughters departing who was apparelled like a man and howe shee came into Almaine and howe shee found certaine Theeues in a Forrest and how shee came to Rome to the Emperour like a Squier YE haue heard here before in this Historie howe King Florence of Aragon would haue his owne Daughter the Damsell Ide in mariage against the will of al his Lords and people after that he had spoken with her and commanded the bath to be ordred for her to the intent that the next day to haue her in mariage The night approached and after Supper the King went to his bed and the next morning betimes tidings was brought to the King how the King of Nauarre was come to sée him the King went to méete him and made him great chéere so came together to the Pallaice and then incontinent it was shewed the King how his daughter was fledde away whereof the King was so sorrowfull and angrie that no man durst speake a word to him and hee went into his Daughters Chamber and there he found the Ladies and Damsels that had the kéeping of her the King would haue run vpon them if the King of Nauarre had not béene who letted him and blamed him much when hee knew the cause of her departing and what the King would haue done then came the Horse-kéeper to the King and sayd howe his good horse was stollen away the same night Then the King as a man desperate commaunded on all sides men to ride after her and whosoeuer could bringe his Daughter againe or else sure tidinges of her he promised to giue him a Thousand Florents of gold There were many that for loue of that monney road foorth to the number of thrée hundred they road diuers wayes but there was none of them that could bring any tidinges of her and so returned to the King who was sorowfull when he could heare nothing of her Great lamentations there was made in the Citie for the going away of the Damsell because of the feare that she had of her Father and road vpon the good horse in the day time shee would rest her in the woods and in the night shee would ride foorth Thus shee paâ—â—ed all the Prâ—uinces of Aragon and she passed into Lombardy of her iourneys and aduentures I will make no mention because she found nothing in the way to let her she road so long that shee approached to the Countrey of Almaine and when she came there her monney fayled her whereby she was constrained to sell her horse for
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
may bee to your pleasure Daughter Oliue quoth the Emperour for the loue of you I haue entertained this Squier to serue you Father quoth Oliue I thanke you for it séemeth that hee is come of a good Stocke and I had no Seruant a great season that better contented me then the Emperour sayd vnto Ide My Freend serue me well behold héere my Daughter whom I loue entirely and to whom I deliuer you to serue her I haue no moe Children but shee and therefore serue her truely as a man ought to doe that is come of such a Lineage as you are if you serue her well and truely you had neuer in all your life so good aduenture Sir quoth Ide I shall doe so much that by the grace of God you and shee shall bée well content and Sir there is nothing lightly but I can doe it to serue a noble man and in the warre I shall defend my selfe I trust aswell as another and also I can serue at a Table before a King or Quéene Fréend quoth the Emperour if you can doe thus as you say you are welcome hether and you shall fare the better and I am ioyfull of your comming to serue me you shall neuer haue néede to goe out of my seruice When Ide heard the Emperour shee humbly thanked him and thus was Ide entertained with the Emperor whereas she did so much by her good seruice that the Emperor his daughter and all they of the Court loued and praised her and the Damsell Oliue often times gladly regarded Ide and began in her heart sore to loue her and Ide who perceiued her prayed our Lord God that he would so deale that shée bee not accused neither of man nor woman Shée gaue almes often times to poore men and she visited gladly the holy Church she demeaned her selfe in such wise that of euerie man she was beloued praised often times shee prayed to God for King Florence her Father although she was chased and fled out of her Countrey by his occasion and cause yet shee alwaies prayed to God that she might be agréed with him Thus this Damsell I de was in this danger seruing the Emperour and his Daughter Oliue the space of two Moneths and on a day she was in the Pallaice with the Emperour and thether came in great hast a Messenger and came and saluted the Emperour and sayd Sir knowe for troth that the Kinge of Spaine with great puissance is entred into your Empire of Rome and wasteth all before him with fire and sword many a Romane he hath slaine and he hath sworne by his Law that before a moneth bee passed hee will bee within your Cittie of Rome with all his puissance and hee sayth that hee will haue his pleasure of your Daughter and to make you to die a shamful death because you haue refused to giue him your Daughter in mariage Sir it had béen better for you that he had maried your Daughter then so many men should haue béene slaine so many Townes burnt and destroyed and Castles beaten downe Sir goe quickely against him and defend your Coūtrey or else you shall sée him shortly pitch vp his Tents Pauillions before this City When the Emperour heard the messenger he studied a great season and looked vpon Ide and said Fréend counsaile mee for I thought full little that these men of warre would haue come vppon me and nowe they wast and destroy my Land Sir quoth Ide trouble not your selfe for it comfort your selfe and reioice your Lordes and Seruants and lette mee haue men to fight with them and I will looke vppon them before they come any néerer and by the grace of God I shall cause them to buy déerely the destruction that they haue made in your Countrey if God saue my life my sword hold When the Emperour heard the valiant courage of Ide he praised her much in his heart and sayd Fréend your reason pleaseth mee well and therefore I shall doe you that honour as to make you a Knight whereby your Prowesse and hardinesse shall increase Sir quoth Ide of the honour that you will doe to me I am right ioyfull and I thanke you thereof then the Emperor came vnto Ide and guirt about him a good sword and a rich it was so good that there was none like it in goodnes neither sharper nor harder and then the Emperour gaue her the necke-stroake of Knighthood and sayd Ide remember this order the which you haue receiued this day and I pray God that it may be to the increase of your honour and eue◠beware that your thoughts be not light nor wauering but rather sage discréet and temperate and bee hardy in Battaile and cast away from you all feare and when you haue wonne any goods or riches kéepe them not locked in your Coffers but distribute them to poore Knightes the which shall increase and exalt your honour and alwaies loue the holy Church if you do thus you cannot faile to come to great honour and euer shew your vertue against your enemies Sir quoth Ide by the grace of God I shall so doe and there is no Spaniard but that shall wish himselfe to be on the other side of the Sea then euerie man arrayed them in the Pallaice and in the Cittie then Trumpets Drummes and Hornes beganne to sound in the Citie so that all the Chiualrie and Communaltie of the Citie were ready armed then they came all before the Pallaice and presented themselues to the Emperor who did command them that day to follow and obey the commaundement of Ide whom he committed that day to doe and be as chéefe Captaine said Sirs looke that you doe as much for him as you would doe for me and yée know well that I am old and féeble and can beare armour no longer nor I am not able to ride as I might haue done before this time wherefore I desire you and also commaund you all on paine of your liues to doe euerie thing as he commaundeth in stead of mee aswell as though I did commaund you in mine owne person for hee that doth the contrarie he shall lose his head without any other redemption Then they all said they would so doe since it was his pleasure Then the noble Emperor caused Ide to be richly armed and then deliuered him his owne horse who was so good that his like could not be found in any Countrey then I de mounted vp quickly with helmet shéeld and a good Speare and I de tooke leaue of the Emperor and of the Ladie Oliue so road through the Citie of Roome with all his Hoast when they were without the Citie I de ordained Thrée Battailes the two first battailes were ledde by twoo great Lordes and the Third Ide did guide and thus with banners displayed they aduaunced foorth towards their enemies The Spaniards thought surely that all had been theirs because they saw of all the way that they had come no
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
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
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
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
Lineage Then he tooke Croissant by the hand and demaunded what his name was Sir quoth he my name is Croissant Croissant quoth the Earle you are welcome you are come wel at a point both for you and for mee for I haue great néede to haue men with me to ayd mee and mee thinkes by your personage that you should atchieue great Enterprizes for of your age I haue not séene in my daies a young man more likely to bee feared of his enemies and because I sée by your apparell that you are no Knight I shall make you a Knight to the intent that to morrow your Prowesse and hardines may be prooued for you may sée héere without this Towne two Kings enemies to our Christian faith and by the grace of God I intend to morrow to giue them battaile I looke this night for my Brother the Duke of Callaber who bringeth with him Thirtie Thousand men of warre and Twentie Thousand I haue alreadie within the Towne and considering your hye courage to come hether to serue mee I shall doe you more honour after I haue made you Knight I shall giue you my banner to beare and if you doe as me thinkes you should doe your paines shall not be lost Sir quoth Croissant God giue me the grace that to morrow to him and to you I may doe such seruice that it may bée wealth to all christendome and that God may performe in me that which wanteth for if you make me Knight all the dayes of my life after I shal be yours Then the Earle incontinent sent for a Son of his who as then was no Knight and diuers other whome he made Knightes with Croissant then he said to Croissant Fréend I pray to our Lord God to giue you such fortune to Morrowe that you may vanquish the Battaile Sir quoth he God giue me the grace to render to you thankes for the honour that now you doe to me for as for me by the grace of God to morrow I shall so doe that your enemies shall curse the houre that they came hether to assaile you Whiles the Croissant was thus made Knight with the Earles Sonne and others the same time came thether the Duke of Callaber and hee came to the Pallaice of the chéere that he had made him by his Brother the Earle Remon I will make no mention thereof but he came at the same season that these new Knightes were made and that a Quintaine was sette vp to prooue themselues Then the Duke of Callaber and the Earle Remon his Brother went thether verie desirous to sée who did best then the Duke demanded of the Earle what yong knight it was that road by his Nephew for hée thought that he neuer saw so goodly a yong person nor more puissant of his age then the Earle sayd how he was come thether to séeke for honour but what hee was nor of what Lineage he knew not Thus they talked together of this young knight Croissant and when they came to the place whereas the Quintaine was dressed vp the Earles Sonne ranne and brake his Speare all to péeces then others assayed themselues some brake their Speares and some fell to the earth by force of their stroake but there was none that could remooue the Quintaine When Croissant saw that all had assaied themselues to ouerthrow the Quintaine he had a great speare and ran so fiercely that hée strake the Quintaine and ouerthrew it to the ground whereof euerie man had great maruaile the Duke sayd to the Earle that he neuer saw so goodly a stroake and sayd how he is greatly to bee doubted that giue such stroakes hée was greatly praised of the Ladies Damsels that were there present and especially of the Earles Daughter who was a faire Damsell But whosoeuer was ioyfull the Earles Sonne was displeased hee tooke against him a mortall hate and an ill enuie so that if he durst he wold haue run vpon Croissant to haue destroyed him and concluded in his courage that if he might liue long he would make Croissants life to depart from his bodie and so hee had done if God had not aided Croissant When Croissant had runne his course he road to the Earle who sayd to him right swéetly Croissant God increase your honour and God giue you grace to perseuer in your goodnes and I pray you humbly to shew me the troth what you be and of what Lineage for I am sure that you are of some hye Lineage Sir quoth Croissant since you would know it I shall shew you the troth Sir knowe for troth I am Sonne to the noble Emperour of Roome and I am departed out of the countrey for certaine causes which I woulde not suffer and therefore I went to search mine aduentures such as God wold send me When the Earle heard him speake he was right ioyfull and thanked God and sayd Faire Sonne you are welcome I am ioyfull of your comming and for the goodnes that I sée in you apparant I haue a Daughter right faire whome I will giue you in marriage as much of my goods and of my Lands and Signiories that you shall neuer bee poore Sir quoth Croissant your faire offer that you make mee I will not refuse and I thanke you but before I take a Wife my will is to doe so much that mine honour may bee exalted and that renowne may run vpon me as it hath done of my Predecessors and that I may conquer Lands and Signiories Then the Earles son hearing his Father make Croissant such an offer as to giue him his Sister in marriage and a great part of his Land hee was therewith so sore troubled in his heart as he tooke against him a cordiall hate and made promise within himselfe that if hee might returne from the Battaile hee would cause Croissant to die an ill death thinking not to be disenherited by him After those words the Duke of Callaber and the Earle Remon tooke betwéene them the young Knight Croissant and led him by the hand to the Pallace whereas he was receiued with great ioy and after dinner they came into the Hall whereas all the Lords were Then Croissant who greatly delighted to be in such a place whereas hee might shewe his Prowesse spake on hye and sayde to the Earle Remon Sir you knowe well that the enemies of our Lord God yours haue besieged you in your Towne the which is a thing not to bee suffered so long without doing of them any annoyance and therefore Sir I counsel you that before they knew much of your estate or puissance or what people you haue it were best you went to assaile them therefore without any longer tarying ordaine your Battailes and your Captaines to guide your people to the intent that when you are yssued out of the Towne euerie man may know what you are purposed to doe and then send to your enemies a Messenger and giue your enemies knowledge of your comming and wee shall
follow so fast that they shall haue no leasure to arme them When the Duke of Callaber and the Earle Remon vnderstood the noble Croissant they much praised his counsaile and aduise Then they ordained their Battailes and their Captaines and then they yssued out of the Towne with all their companie Chap. CLXXVI ¶ How Croissant did maruailes in the Battaile by whome the Sarazins were discomfited and slaine whereof the Earle Remon and the Duke of Callaber were right ioyfull WHEN the Earle Remon was without the Towne hee ordained Thrée Battailes The first Croissant hadde the leading thereof and the Earle sayd to him Fréend I pray you this day to shewe from whence you come and how that you bee of the Lineage Emperiall and of the good Line of the Duke of Bourdeaux for I haue such trust in God and in the vertue of your armes that me thinkes mine enemies doe now flye away before me Sir quoth Croissant I shall doe so much by the grace of God that our enemies shall haue no leasure to graunt vs the Victorie The second Battaile the Earle Remons Sonne led and his Father sayd to him that hee should that day shew foorth his vertue and Prowesse The third Battaile the Earle Remon and the Duke of Callaber had the guiding thereof and they set in euery Battaile Fiftéen Thousand men then the Earle Remon went before euerie battaile stirring moouing them to doe well and then the Earle sent a Messenger to the Hoast of the Sarazins to shewe them of the comming of the Christian men they were before their Tents in Fiue Battailes they were in number about a Hundred Thousand Sarazins whereof there were two Kings and Foure Admirals This Messenger did his Messuage when he had done hée returned to the Earle Remon and shewed him all that hee had heard and séene Then Croissant sayd to the Earle Sir I pray you to shew mee what armes the two Sarazin Kinges doe beare to the intent that I may know them for the sooner the great men bee slaine the sooner the other will flye because that will abash them and the sooner to be discomfited for men without a Lord are as shéepe without a shepheard Then the Earle shewed him their armes and badges Sir quoth Croissant since I am hereof aduertised I shall neuer rest vntill I haue encountred them if God will saue mine armes and good sword Then the Paynims who saw well the Christian men comming cast vp a great crie and so maruailous that there was none so hardy but was thereof abashed for it séemed that all the world arriued there When Croissant sawe the Sarazins approach he aduaunced his Battaile and when they ioyned he couched his Speare and strake therewith the King of Belmarins Sonne so that the Speare-head passed through his bodie more then a foote and so with drawing out of his Speare the Sarazin fell downe dead among the horse féele whereof the Paynims had great dolour When Croissant hadde slaine the King of Belmarins Sonne there came before him the Nephewe of the King of Granado and Croissant bare him to the earth so rudely that in the falling he brake his necke then he ran at the Third the Fourth and slew them and as long as his Speare held he ceased not to slay and to beat downe the Sarazins and when his Speare was broken he tooke his Sword wherewith hee claue the Sarazins to the braines and cutte off armes and handes hee made among them such slaughter that there was not so hardie a Sarazin that durst abide his full stroake but they fled before him as the shéepe doe before the Wolfe Anon the tidings was brought to the King of Belmarin how his Son was slaine by a young Knight who did maruailes in the Battaile and when the King knew that his Sonne was slaine he wept for sorrow and made promise that he had rather die then the death of his Sonne should be vnreuenged and therewith he preassed into the Battaile and met at his comming the Duke of Callabers Seneschall and strake him with his Speare in such wise that he ran him cleane through and so he fell downe dead then the Battaile began fiercely and they of Prouaunce Callaber did valiantly Then the Earle Remon came into the battaile and met with the Admirall of Cordes and gaue him such a stroake with his sword on the helmet that he claue his head to the braines and so he fell downe dead Then hee sawe the King of Granado who slewe many a Christian man and the Earle Remon tooke a speare and ran at the Kinge and strake him so on the visor of his helmet that hee fell to the earth with his féet vpward among his owne men and had béen there slain if his men had not succoured him In another place was Croissant and hee saw before him the King of Belmarin who road about séeking for Croissant to be reuenged of him for the death of his Sonne and when the King saw Croissant beating down horse and men and that none could resist against him he had great desire to be reuenged and sayd to Croissant Oh thou false Traytour that hath slaine my son I ought greatly to laud and praise Mahomet if I may bee reuenged vpon thée then he couched his speare and strake Croissant in the middest of his shéeld so that his speare flew all to péeces but for all the stroake Croissant remooued no more then though he had striken a stone wall and Croissant sore displeased that the king had giuen him such a stroake let goe the bridle of his horse and lifted vp his sword with both his hands strake the king as he passed by on the corner of his helmet in such wise that he strake it cleane asunder if the stroake had not glaunced he had clouen his head to the guirdle but the sword turned and alighted vppon the horse necke so that he strake the necke cleane asunder in such sort that of force the king tumbled to the earth sore astonied of the stroke that he had receiued and if he had not béen quickly rescued Croissant had striken off his head Then the Sarazins remounted againe their King and ran at Croissant and cast darts at him and Iauelins to haue slain him but they durst not approch néere him so much they feared him howbeit they hurt him in diuers places hee held his sword in his handes wherewith hee strake no man with a full stroake but that hee claue his head to the braines Then hee sawe the great Admirall of Spaine and he gaue him such a stroake that his head was clouen to the chinne and so hee fell downe dead Great sorrowe made the Sarazins and especially the King of Granado and when Croissant saw him he knewe him well by his armes whereof hee was ioyfull and Croissant approached to him and gaue him such a stroke on the helmet that his head was clouen to the braines and so the Kinge fell
downe dead then Croissant ran at him that bare the Sarazins banner wheron was painted the Image of Mahomet hee strake him that bare it with a reuerse stroake betwéene the necke and the sholders that the head with the helmet flewe in the field and layd on so in the thicke preasse that anone he made way the Sarazins would faine haue raised vp againe their banner but they could not When the Sarazins saw their king dead and their banner lying on the ground their courage beganne to faile them then they brayed and opened their array and began to loose place Croissant who tooke héed of nothing but to slay the great Captaines at last sawe before him the kinge of Belmarin who had slaine many a Christian man that day Croissant gaue him such a stroake on the right shoulder that his arme shéeld fell to the earth and by reason of the great dolour that the king felt he fel in aswound among the horse féete whereas he died miserably The Duke of Callaber and the Earle Remon regarding the hye déedes of armes done and atchieued by Croissant hadde great maruell of his force and puissance they blessed the houre that hee was borne in thanking God of his comming thether they rested and beheld him how he made their enemies to fly away for none was so hardy to abide him Finally if I shoulde rehearse the hye déedes that Croissant did that day it would be ouer-long to declare for by him and by his great Prowesse the Paynims and Sarazins were vtterly discomfited for he was happie that could saue himselfe Thus they fled on all partes towards the Sea-side and there were moe slaine in the flying then were in the plaine Battaile for from thence to the Sea-side the wayes were couered with dead men such as might saue themselues in the Ships were happie but there were verie few that escaped After the chace was done they of Prouaunce and Callaber came to the bootie the which was excéeding great and the Earle Remon distributed so liberally therof that euery man was wel contented for there was such riches in the Tents of the Sarazins that it could not bee valued whereby all such as were at the Battaile were rich euer after both theâ— and their Freends Chap. CLXXVII ¶ Of the great honour that the Earle Remon did to Croissant and how he would haue giuen him his Daughter in mariage whereof the Earles Son was sore enuious and thought the same night to haue murdered the noble Croissant in his bed but he fayled for the noble Croissant slew him and afterward fled away as fast as he might AFter that the Battaile was finished and that the Sarazins were dead the Earle Remon with great reuerence came vnto Croissant and tooke him by the hand and ledde him into the Towne betwéen the Duke of Callaber himselfe and they did him as great honor as they could deuise and so entred into the Towne and with great ioy and solemnitie they were receiued and they came to the Pallaice vnarmed them and when they were refreshed the Duke of Callaber and the Earle Remon came to Croissant and the Earle sayd Oh right noble Knight repleat with all vertues and hie Prowesse to whome no man is comparable the strong arme shéeld and refuge of the Countrey of Prouaunce and Languedoc by thy hye Prowesse this day thou hast saued one of the quarters of Christendome whereby the faith of Christ is exalted the which if thou â—â—â—â—est not béene had béene abated staunched it is not in mee to say nor recount the goodnesse that you haue done vs this day nor it lyeth not in me to reward it but if it were thy pleasure to abase thy selfe so lowe as to take my Daughter in marriage the which I would gladly sée I will giue thée the one halfe of all that euer I haue for a fairer iewell nor a richer I cannot giue then my déere Daughter whome I loue entirely shée is the most faire swéete and the humblest Damsell that is now liuing When Croissant had well vnderstood the Earle Remon hee sayd Sir of your courtesie rich guiftes that you offer mee I will not refuse it but thanke you hartely thereof as for your daughter whom you offer to giue me I trust that I shall doe her that honour that vpon her head I shall set a Crowne of gold and make her Empresse of Rome whereas she shall be serued and honoured as Ladie ouer all the Countrey When the Earle heard the answeare of Croissant he was verie ioyfull but his Sonne who was there present was néere hand in a rage with the displeasure that he had and sayd inragedly to him By God Croissant since thus by you I shall bée disenherited and that my Father will giue you that which of right appertaineth to me before I grant thereto I shal make you to die of an ill death though I doe it by treason nor thou shalt neuer haue my sister in marriage thus thought the Earles Sonne to worke against Croissant who knew nothing thereof and thus without God helps him he was likely to haue béene slaine pitiously Then there began great ioy in the Pallaice the Earle Remon went to sée his Daughter and sayd to her My déere Daughter know for troth I haue giuen you in mariage to the most faire hardyest Knight that euer was guirt with a sword that is Croissant who you sée héere by whom we were all deliuered and brought out of seruice into fréedome for we had béen all lost if his hye prowesse had not béene by whom all the Paynims are discomfited When the Damsell heard her Father she was right ioyfull and thanked God and said Sir since it is your pleasure to giue me to this noble Knight I shall not refuse him but I am content to fulfill your pleasure whereof Croissant was ioyfull for shee was so faire that euerie man had maruaile thereof Then the Damsell saluted Croissant and sayd Sir of your comming and succours we ought to be ioyfull for by you wée are restored to ioy the which was lost Ladie quoth Croissant so goeth the works of our Lord God for men make Battailes and God giueth the Victorie Thus deuising they entred into the Chamber whereas the boards were readie spread but Izacars the Earles Son would not come there but went into a secret place of the Towne and thether hée sent for Ten of his affinitie in whome hee had perfect affiance then he shewed to them all his intention and determined that when Croissant was in bed and a sléepe then they to murder him in his bedde and his Squier also When these Ten Traytours vnderstood their Master they answeared and sayd howe they were all readie to doe his commaundement whatsoeuer came thereof Thus they taried the houre to accomplish their vngracious Enterprize as they were in their communication there was in a Chamber there beside a young Squier who had well heard their Enterprize
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
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