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
my heart that I could tarie no longer to be auenged then I demaunded of mine Vnckle if he would ayd me heâ— answeared and said no bycause he was a Priest so hee and all his Monkes departed and left me alone then I tooke the Ten Knightes that came with me out of my Countrey and so I road as fast as I could to the entent that he should not escape that had so wounded my brother and assoone as hee saw that I followed him he returned against me then I demaunded of him what he was he said he appertained vnto Duke Terrey of Arden then I demaunded why he had slayn my brother he answeared and said in likewise he wouldâ— serue me and therewith he couched his speare and stroake me on the side through my Gowne and Dublet and hurt not my flesh as it was the pleasure of God then I wrapped my Mantle about mine arme and drew out my Sword and with both my hands as he passed by me I gaue him such a stroake that I cloue his head néere to the téeth and so he fell downe to the earth dead I know not what he is but whatsoeuer he be I haue slayne him and if there be any that will demaund right in this cause let him come into your royall Court before all your Péeres and I shall doe him reason if it be found that I haue done any wrong When I had slayn him I layd my Brother vpon the dead Knightes horse and ouertooke the Abbot mine Vnckle Then as I road and looked behind me I saw them that were ambushed in the wood come ryding after one Knight came before the rest bringing vppon his horse the said dead Knighte I know well if they bée not come they will soone be héere When Kinge Charlemaine vnderstood Huon he had great maruaile what Knight it was that was slaine and sayd vnto Huon know for troth I shall doe you reason for I know none so great in my Realme whosoeuer it be but if I can prooue on him any point of treason I shall cause him to dye an euill death for the matter toucheth me right néere séeing vnder mine assurance and by my commaundement you are come hether Then the King commaunded that Gerard should be had to a goodly Chamber and well looked vnto the which was done Chap. X. ¶ How Charlot the Kings Son was brought before him dead and of the great sorrow that he made and how Earle Amerie appeached Huon for the death of Charlot and how the King would haue run vpon Huon and of the good counsaile that Duke Naymes of Bauier gaue to the King WHEN Huon of Bourdeaux and the Abbot of Cluny his Vnckle heard the good will of the King and the offer that he made they knéeled downe to haue kissed his foote and thanked him of his courtesie but the King tooke theÌ„ vp then the Abbot sayd My Lord all that my Nephew Huon hath sayd is true the King said I beléeue you well the Kinge did to them great honour and feasted them in his Pallaice royally but hée had great desire to know the troth of this case and said Huon and you the Abbot of Cluny know for certaintie I haue a Sonne whome I loue entirely if you haue slayne him in doing such a villainous deede as to breake my assurance I doe pardon you so that it be as you say My Lord quoth Huon for that I thanke your grace and surely the truth is as I haue shewed you Then the King sent for Charlot his Sonne so he was searched for in his lodging newes were returned how he was departed out of the Towne the night before so the Messenger departed and when thâ—y came into the stréete they saw where Earle Amerie came ryding with Charlot dead on his horse necke they heard in the Stréetes Lords Knights Ladies and Damsels making great cries and pitious complaints for Charlot the Kings Son whomâ— they sawe dead The Messengers were amazed at these exclamations but at last they perceiued it was for the death of Charlot then they returned to the Pallaice But by reason of the outcries and pityous moane the people made with often repetition of Charlots name all which the Emperour leaning at a windowe confusedly heard his heart waxed woondrous heauie saying Mée thinkes I heare such sorrow as hath not béen vsuall and my Sonne Charlots name is tossed too and fro in this outcry it maketh me feare that it is my Sonne whome Huon hath slain Then calling Duke Naymes vnto him requested him to goe foorth and resolue him in this matter Then Duke Naymes departed and incontinent hée encountred Charlot borne dead betwéene foure Knightes vpon a Shéeld when he sawe that he was right sorrowfull so that he could not speake one word then the vnhappie Earlâ— Amerie went vp into the Hall and came before the King and all his Barons and there he layde downe Charlot When Charles sawe his Sonne so slayne the dolour and sorrowâ— that he made was vnspeakable it was pitie to sée him and Duke Naymes was as sorrowfull as any other seéing the pityfull aduenture and also the moane that the Lords made then he came to the King and said Good my Lord comfort your selfe in this misaduenture for by ouer-gréeuing at this ill hap you can winne nothing nor recouer your Childe againe you know right wel that my Coozen Ogier the Dane slew my Sonne Bertrand who bare your Messuage of defiance to the king of Pauey yet I did suffer it without any great sorrow making bycause I knew well sorrow could not recouer him againe Naymes quoth the king I cannot forget this I haue great desire to know the cause of this déede Then Duke Naymes sayd to Duke Amerie Sir know you who hath slayne Charlot and for what cause Then Earle Amerie stept foorth and said with a loud voyce Great King Charlemaine why demand you any further when you haue him before you that hath slayne your Sonne and that is Huon of Bourdeaux who standeth héere in your presence When the King heard what Earle Amerie had sayd he looked fiercely vpon Huon and had strokeÌ„ him with his Scepter but for Duke Naymes who blamed the King and sayd Forbeare my Lord what meane you to doe this day to receiue the Children of Duke Seuin into your Court and hath promised to doe them right and reason and nâ—w would slay them so may all such as shall heare of the matter say that you haue sent for them to no other end but to murder them and that you sent your Sonne to lye in waight for them to haue slayne them By this may be discerned that you forget 〈…〉 Maiestie of a King and expresse actions vnséeming Charlemaine demaund of Earle Amerie the cause why he had foorth Charlot your Sonne and why that he assailed the two Brethren Huon being there in presence was greatly abashed at the Kings furie receiuing him first so kindly and now would kill him he was
and gaue such carrier to their horses that it séemed the thunder had fallen from heauen and with their sharp Speares they encountred in such wise that their Speares brake to their hands so that the shiuers flew vp high into the ayre and into the Kings Stage and both their Horses fell to the earth and the Knights sore astonied with their falling Then verie boldly they reléeued themselues with their Swords in their handes and so approached each to other and fought each with other so long while that Huons Horse strangled sir Ameries Horse who when he saw his horse slaine stoutly stept to Huon for to haue slaine him but Huon met him valiantly and lifting vp his Sword gaue the Earle such a stroake that he was astonied therewith and staggred backe more then two paces and a halfe hardly holding himselfe from falling to the earth so that all that sawâ— them had maruaile of Huons vertue force séeing the great strength that was in sir Amerie Then when Earle Amerie felt himselfe in such perill he began to despise the name of God and of the glorious Virgin Marie howbeit as well as hée might hée approached to Huon and with his Sword gaue Huon such a stroake on the helmet that all the flowers and precious stones there flew abroad in the féeld and the cirkle of the helmet all to broken and the stroake was so puissant that Huon was therewith sore astonied and perforce was faine to fall on one of his knées to the earth the other Legge but weakly supporting him There was present in the féeld Lords and Knights one of the Abbot of Clunyes seruants who when he saw the great stroake that Huon had receiued he departed out of the féeld and went into the church whereas he found his maister the Abbot at his prayers for the good spéed of Huon his Nephew to whome the seruant said Ah my Lord pray heartily to our Lord Iesus Christ to succour your Nephew for I saw him faine to knéele vpon one of his knées in great doubt of death Then the good Abbot without any answeare lifted vp his hands toward Heauen deuoutly and weeping prayed to God to ayd and defend the honour of his Nephew and to maintaine his right Thus Huon béeing in the féeld in great doubt of his life féeling the sturdie strength of Earle Amerie called with a good heart to our Lord Iesus Christ requiring him to aide his right the which he knew to be most true When Earle Amerie sawe that Huon had receiued of him such a heauy stroake he said Huon I beléeue thou wilt not endure long better it were that thou confesse the déede before I slay thée for ere it bée night I shall cause thée to waue in the wind Hold thy tonge thou false Traytour quoth Huon thine ilnesse shall not aid thée for I shall bring thée to that point that all thy fréends shall haue shame of thée Then Huon aduaunced him and made semblance to haue striken Amerie on the helmet and Amerie lifted vp his Shéeld to haue receiued the stroake but when Huon saw that he turned his stroake to a reuerse and stroake Amerie vnder the arme with his sharpe Sword so that he stroake off his arme the which fell downe in the féeld Shéeld and all When Earle Amerie sawe felt that maruailous stroake and that he had lost his left arme and saw it lye in the féeld hee was full of paine and sorrow and aduised himselfe of a great treason then he spake to Huon and saide Ah Noble Knight haue pitie of me for wrongfully and without cause I haue appeached thée of the death of Charlot the kings Son for I know in troth you knew him not but he is dead by my meanes for I brought him into the wood to haue murdered you and your Brother I am readie to acknowledg this before the King and all his Barons and to discharge you thereof therefore I pray you kill me not I yéeld me vnto you take heere my Sword Then Huon came vnto him and put downe his arme to haue taken the Sword but then the false Traytour Amerie with a reuerse stroake strooke Huon vpon the arme thinking to haue striken it off but he fayled howbeit he gaue him a great wound in the arme so that the bloud ran downe When Huon saw this horrible treason he said O thou vntrue and false Traytour thine â—â—esse can no longer saue thée for thou shalt nâ—uer doe treason more then Huon lifted vp his Sword gaue the Earle such a maruailous stroke betwéen the healme and the shoulder that he strooke off his head cleane from the bodie so that the healme and head fel one way and the body another way Alas what hap was it to Huon that he did not remember before he slew Amerie the Proclamation that the Emperor had made before for afterward Huon suffered so muche wrong and iniurie as might mooue the verie hardest heart to compassionate his case and as you shall more at large vnderstand in the following discourse Chap. XVI ¶ How after the Emperour Charlemaine had seene Earle Amerie was slaine he commaunded expresly that Huon should auoid the Realme and Empire and to be banished thence for euer WHen that Duke Naymes who kept the féeld saw how by Huon the Earle was slaine he was right ioyfull and came to Huon and demaunded how hée did Sir quoth he thanked be God I féele no dolour nor gréefe then they brought him to the Pallaice to the King who was departed out of the féeld When he saw the Earle slaine and was thereof right sorrowfull then he demanded of Huon and of Duke Naymes if they had heard Earle Amerie confesse the treason that hée had layde to Huon for the death of Charlot his Sonne My Lord quoth the Duke I thinke he did confesse it but I heard it not for Huon pressed so sore vpon him that he had no leasure to doe it Then Charlemaine sayd Ah Earle Amerie I know certainely thou didst neuer that treason nor neuer thought it wherefore thou art slaine wrongfully and without cause for there was neuer a truer Knight theÌ„ thou wert I am sure if thou hadst done it thou wouldest haue confessed it before me Then the King sayd vnto Huon I charg thée incontinent to auoid my Realme out of the which I banish thée foreuer nor shalt thou euer enioy one foote of Land in Bourdeaux nor in Aquitaine also I forbid thée that thou neuer be so hardy as to go to Bourdeaux for by my honour and crowne if I may know that thou goest thether I shall make thée to die an euill death nor there is no man liuing though he be neuer so néere a fréend vnto me but if he make any request for thée I shall neuer loue him nor he shall neuer after come in my sight Then Huon said Alas my Lord what iustice is this haue I done any more then knighthood bound me too haue not
you and your Barons séene him discomfited in playne Battaile that hath brought you into all this trouble vndoubtedly my Lord if you doe to me as you say God in heauen be my witnes that neuer more wrong was done to any noble man This is but bad remembrance of the good seruice that the noble Duke Seuin my Father hath done vnto you for by this you shew great example to all your noble Barons and Knights for them to be well aduised how from henceforth they order themselues and how to trust in you when that by your owne obstinate opinion founded vpon an euill ground and against all Statutes royall and imperiall thus to execute your owne vnreasonable will Certainly if it were any other Prince beside you that should doe me this great wrong ere I would consent so to be dealt withall many a Castle and many a good towne should be destroyed and brought to ruine many poore men more impouerished and disenherited and many a good Knight brought to death When Huon had thus spoken to the King Duke Naymes stept foorth and sayd to the King My Lord what meane you to doe you haue seene that Huon hath done no more then his dutie hauing brought his enemy to confusion and slayn him you may wel thinke that it was the worke of God that such a Child should bring to shame and discomfite such a puissant Knight as was Earle Amerie Therefore my Lord if you doo as you haue said neither I nor any other man shall euer trust you but euerie one farre néere that shall heare of this crueltie will report that in the end of your daies you are become sencelesse more like a Tyrant then a wise Prince Then Huon desired all the Barons that were there present that they would all require the King to haue more respect of him séeing they were all bound so to doe in that he was one of the Péeres of the Realme Then al the Princes and Barons holding Huon by the hand knéeled downe before the King and Huon said Séeing it is so my Lord that your displeasure is such againste me as you haue expressed Let your Barons and my selfe obtaine but this fauour at your handes that I may be confined to my owne natiue Countrey for euer there to lead a poore priuate life neuer to be admitted to your presence againe for this grace we shall all right humbly thanke you Chap. XVII ¶ How King Charlemaine sent Huon to doe a messuage in Babylon to the Admirall Gaudise WHEN the Emperor had heard Huon speake he said incontinent auoid out of my sight for when I remember my Sonne Charlot whome thou hast sâ—aine I haue no part of mée but it trembleth for the displeasure I haue to thée and I charge all my Barons héere present that they neuer speake to me more for thée When Duke Naymes heard the King say so he said vnto all the Barons My Lords you that he héere present haue well heard the great vnreasonablenesse that the King offers to one of our Péeres the which as yée know well it is against right and reason and a thing not to be suffered But bycause we know certainly the King is our Soueraigne Lord we must suffer his pleasure but from hencefoorth since he will vse himselfe so and do things against all reason and honour I will neuer abide an houre longer with him but will depart and neuer returne againe into the place whereas such extremitie vnreasonablenes is vsed I will goe into my Countrey of Bauier and let the King doe from hencefoorth as he list Then all the Barons departed with the Duke from the King without speaking any one word and so left the King alone in his Pallaice When the King sawe the Duke depart his other Lords he was right sorrowfull and in great displeasure and said to the young Knights that were left about him howe that he ought in nature to take heauylie the death of his Sonne who was slaine so disloyally and could not likewise but gréeue to sée how his Barons had abandoned him and left him alone therefore there is no remedie I sée well but I must be forced somewhat to follow their wils therewith he wept pitiously and incontinent went foorth and followed them saying Duke Naymes and all you my Barons I desire you to returne againe for of force I must graunt your requests although it be against that promise that I made before Then the Duke and all the rest returned to the Pallaice with the King who sat downe on a bench of gould and his Barons about him Then he sent for Huon who knéeled downe before the King requiring him humbly of mercie and pitie to whom the King said Huon séeing thou wouldest be at peace with me it is requisit that thou performe whatsoeuer I enioyne thée Else my Lord said Huon God forbid there is no man in the world owes you more obedience then I doe or shall more gladly vndertake whatsoeuer your highnesse shall please to commaund me dreadlesse of death or any danger be it to goe to Hell gates to fight with the fiendes there as sometime did Hercules if I may thereby be reconciled to your grace Huon quoth the King I thinke to send thée into a worse place for of fiftéene Messengers that I haue sent there was neuer any returned againe I shall shew thée whether thou shalt goe séeing thou wilt that I shall haue mercie of thée Thou must goe to the Citie of Babylon to the Admirall Gaudise and there doe as I shall appoint thée but beware on paine of thy life that thou fayle not to doe it When thou commest thether mount vp into his Pallaice and there tarrie vntill he be at his dinner and when thou seest him sit at the table then thou to be armed with thy sword naked in thy hand and the verie greatest Lord that thou séeest sit at his Table whether he be King or Admirall thou shalt strike off his head and after that enquire for faire Escleremond Daughter to the Admirall and kisse her there openly in his presence and before all other there present for I giue thée to vnderstand she is the fairest mayd that is now liuing this being done thou shalt say to the Admirall Gaudise that I commaund him to send me a thousand Haukes a thousand Beares and a thousand Waighters all chained and a thousand young Varlets and a thousand of the fairest maydens in his realme And also thou to bring me thy handfull of the heare of his beard and foure of his greatest téeth Alas my Lord quoth the Barons wée sée well you desire greatly his death when you charge him with such a Messuage That is true quoth the King for without I haue his beard and his great téeth brought me hether vnfaynedly Let him neuer returne into Fraunce nor come into my presence for if he doe he shal be hanged and drawen My Lord quoth Huon haue you shewed me
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
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
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
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
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
all your pleasure Yea quoth the King my will is as I haue said if thou wilt haue peace with me My Soueraigne Lord quoth Huon by the grace of God I shall finish your messuage the feare of death shall not let me to doe it Huon quoth the King if God of his grace will suffer thée to returne againe into Fraunce I charge thee be not so hardy to come vnto Bourdeaux nor to any part of thy Countrey vntill thou hast spoken with mée if I finde thée dooing contrarie I shall cause thée to die an ill death and vpon this I will thou layest vnto me good hostages My Lord quoth Huon héere be Ten Knights whom I shall leaue with you for suerty to the entent that you shall be content with me howbeit my Lord I require your grac◠to suffer the Knights that came with me from Bourdeaux to goe with me to the holy Sepulchre I am content quoth the King that they go with thée thether or else-where My Lord quoth Huon I thanke your grace Then Huon made him readie to fournish his voyage Chap. XVIII ¶ How Huon of Bourdeaux tooke leaue of the King and of the Barons and rode with the good Abbot to Cluny AFter that King Charlemaine had giuen Huon the charge of his messuage the King called before him Gerardine Brother to Huon and deliuered to him the gouernance of all his Brothers Lands in his absence vntill his retourne And thus whē Huon was readie he came to the King and to the Barons to take his leaue of them and the Abbot of Cluny who said they would goe with him part of his way so likewise did Twelue of the greatest Princes Ladies accompanie him for twoo daies iourney and when they came to the towne of Troy in Champaine Duke Naymes tooke leaue of his Coozen Huon and gaue him a Sommer charged with gould and kissed him at their departing Then Gerard his Brother tooke his leaue and also kissed him but know for troth the kisse that he gaue him was like to the kisse that Iudas gaue to his Maister the which was dearely bought as héereafter yée shall heare Thus Duke Naymes and Gerard departed tooke their way to Paris but the Abbot and Huon rested not vntill they came to the Abbie of Cluny where they were receiued with great ioy and well feasted Then the next morning Huon departed and tooke leaue of his Vncle sore wéeping desiring him to recommend him vnto his Mother the Duchesse and to Gerard his Brother the Abbot promised so to doe and gaue Huon his Nephew a Mulet charged with money currant in Fraunce thus he departed and tooke the way to Roome Now leaue we to speake of Huon and shew of Duke Naymes and Gerard who returned to Paris where Gerard required the King that it would please him to receiue his homage for the Lands of Bourdeaux to the entent that he might be aduaunced and to be in the State of one of the Péeres of Fraunce the which thing Duke Naymes would not consent nor agrée vnto but said to the King My Lord you ought not to suffer that Huon should be disenherited whereof Gerard was not content but Duke Naymes set litle thereby for he loued Huon entirely so this homage was delayed Then Gerard returned to Bourdeaux where he was well receiued but when the Duchesse saw him not Huon to returne she was sorrowfull in her heart and then she demanded of Gerard why that Huon his brother was not returned with him Then Gerard shewed her all the whole matter and aduenture and of the departing of Huon of the manner of his voyage whereof the Duchesse had such sorrowe that she fell sicke and so lay nine and Twenty daies and on the Thirtieth daye she dyed and rendred vp her Soule vnto God whereof all the Countrey was sorrowfull Gerard nobly buried her in the Church of Saint Seueryn by the Duke her husband Amon after married him to the Daughter of Duke Gilberd of Cecill who was the greatest Traytour and moste cruell that might be heard of And Gerard Amons Sonne in law learned his wayes and followed his condition for he dealt so ill with the towne of Bourdeaux and with the Countrey about that pitie it was to heare the poore people to wéepe for the losse of Duke Seuin and of the Duchesse and prayed to God for the good returne of their Lord Huon Nowe wee shall leaue to speake of them and returne vnto Huon Chap. XIX ¶ How Huon of Bourdeaux came to Roome 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 Saint Omers who for loue of Huon passed the Sea wyth him Here before you haue heard how Huon departed from his Vncle the Abbot of Cluny and so longe hée road with his Knights that he came to the City of Roome where hee was lodged in a good Hostrey Then Huon arose in the morning accompanied with Guichard whom he loued well and with the other Knights that came thether with him and went to the Church of Saint Peter and heard Seruice and when that Seruice was done the Pope came out of his Oratorie then Huon came vnto him and humbly saluted him the Pope beheld him and demaunded what he was Sir quoth he my Father was Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux who is deceased then the Pope stept vnto him embraced him and sayd Faire Nephew you are welcome I pray you shew me how doth my Sister the Duchesse your Mother and what aduenture hath brought you hether Sir quoth he I desire your holynesse that you will heare my confession a part for I haue great néede thereof Faire Nephewe quoth the Pope it pleaseth me right well to héere you then the Pope tooke him by the hand went with him into his Oratorie and there Huon shewed him all the aduenture that he had since he came from Bourdeaux and of the voyage that Charlemaine had set him to doe and what he had to say to the Admirall Gaudise all which being declared and done he required pardon and penaunce for his sinnes The Pope said he would assigne him no penaunce for the Emperour Charles had done that alreadie and which was so great that no humane bodie could suffer it nor durst vndertake to doe it Then the Pope gaue him absolution of all his sinnes and louingly led him into his Pallaice where he was honourably receiued with great ioy After they had dyned and deuised together a great space the Pope said vnto Huon Faire Nephew the way that you must goe is to goe to the Porte of Brandis there shall you find my Brother Garyn of Saint Omers who is your Vncle to whome I shall write a Letter to the entent that he shall haue knowledge of you for I know well he will haue great ioy of you he hath the kéeping of the Orientall Sea he shal adresse you and deliuer you Ship or
men send them to Bourdeaux and let them take Huon out of prison and bring him to you and heare what hee himselfe will say and if it be true that Gerard hath sayd then I desire you to haue no pittie on him but I beléeue surely yee shall finde the matter otherwise then Gerard his brother hath sayd Naymes quoth the king your saying is reasonable I accord thereto I will he be sent for Chap. LXXI ¶ How the Emperor Charlemain went himselfe to Bourdeaux to cause Huon to bee slaine for the great ill will that he bare to him YE haue heard before how the good Duke Naymes did so much that King Charlemain was content to send for Huon but the king was sore displeased with him that hée would not abide so long as to send for him but he made himself readie to go thether in person with all his traine and commanded that the pledges should be set in prison till his returne but the good Duke Naymes became pledge for them all to bée forth comming and so they went not to prison The King made him readie and tooke with him twelue of his Péeres and so tooke their way towards Bourdeaux God aide Huon for hee was now in perill of his life if God had not pitie on him Thus as I haue shewed you King Charlemaine nobly accompanied rode so long by his iourneyes that hee came within the sight of Bourdeaux and when he approched neere to the Citie Gerard came to the king and said Sir if it please you I would gladly ride before you into the Citie to ordain to receiue you accordingly Gerard quoth the King it is no néede that you goe before to prepare for my comming there be other that shall goe before you shall not goe till I goe my selfe When Duke Naymes heard the kings answere hee said to the king Sir you haue answered like a noble Prince blessed be he that counselled you so to say thus the king rode forth without giuing any knowledge of his comming and so entered into the Citie of Bourdeaux and rode to the Pallaice and there alighted Then dinner was made readie the King sate down and Duke Naymes by him and at other bordes other Lords and knights and there they were richly serued great brute was made in the Pallaice so that Huon being in prison had great maruel of the noyse that he heard and demaunded of the Gailer what noyse it was that hee heard aboue in the Pallaice the Gayler answered with great pride and despight and sayd It néedes not you to demaund for you are like to know it too soone but since you would know it I shall shew you the truth it is king Charlemaine and all his Barons who are come hether to iudge you to be hanged Goe thy way false traitour quoth Huon canst thou not shew to me none other tydings but that thus Huon answered the Gayler and there was as great brute in the Citie as in the Pallaice with lodging of the kings men The Commons and Burgesses of the Citie of Bourdeaux had full great maruaile why the king came thether at that time so sodainely and the king sitting at the table made good â—heere but Duke Naymes who sate by him began to wéepe and could neither eate nor drinke he rose vp then sodainely so â—udely that hee ouerthrew cuppes and dishes vpon the table Naymes quoth the King you haue done ill thus to doe Sir quoth Duke Naymes I haue good cause thus to doe and I haue wondrous great maruaile that I sée you so doted I am in such sorrow thereby that I am néere hand out of my wits how is it that you be come into the Citie of Bourdeaux for to eate and to drinke and to take your ease you néede not to haue gone out of France for that for you had meate and also good wines sufficient at home in your owne house Ah right Noble and worthie Emperour what meane you to do it is no small matter to iudge to death one of your twelue Peeres it is not possible to giue any true iudgement when you and we are full of wine and spices But Sir sayd the Duke by the Lord that mee fourmed that whosoeuer this day doth eate or drinke wine as long as the life is in my bodie I shall neuer loue him Naymes quoth the King I am content with your will Then the King commanded that the table should be auoyded commanded incontinent Huon to be taken out of prison and brought before him they that had commission to doe it went to the prison and there they tooke out Huon and his wife Escleremond and old Gerames and they were all three brought before the King and his Barons Huon sawe where King Charlemaine sate among all his Lordes and they all arose when they saw Huon and his companie so pale and ill coloured by reason of the noysome prison that his brother had put them in and Escleremond and old Gerames were greatly regarded and when the Pledges sawe Huon before the King they said Sir now yée may sée Huon for whom we be pledges wee trust now to be quit and discharged it lyeth now in you to doe with him at your pleasure Sirs quoth the King I hold you quit you may go from hence forth where you please for Huon cannot now scape our handes then Huon kneeled downe before the King right humblie and when Duke Naymes saw him the drops fell from his eyes and sayd to the king Sir I require you giue Huon audience and heare what hee will say I am content quoth the King let him say what hee will then Huon kneeling on his knées sayd Sir in the honour of our Lord Iesus Christ I first crie mercie to God and to you and to all your Barons I complaine me of that false traitour that I sée there who was my brother if there had béene any faith or troth in him but I beleeue in all the world cannot be found so cruell and false a Traytour for Cayne that slew Abell his brother was neuer so false nor so cruell When all the Lords heard Huon they al beganne to weepe saying each to others Ah good Lord where is the beautie become that was woont to be in Huon we haue séene him so faire that no one could passe him in beautie and now wee sée him pale and leane and ill coloured it appeareth well he hath not béene alwayes in the Ladies Chambers nor among damsels to sport and to play with him Thus they deuised of him and tooke no heede of Gerard who was by them Then Huon spake againe and sayd to the King Sir true it is the message that you gaue me in charge to doe vnto the Admirall Gaudys I haue doone to the verie vttermost as you haue commaunded vnto mee and I haue passed the Sea and came vnto Babilone to the Admirall Gaudys there I required of him in the presence of all his Lords to haue his beard
towne bound hands and féete and then set vs in a déepe prison and so hath kept vs hetherto with bread and water and so hath taken from vs all the riches that wee brought with vs and Sir if hee be so hardie to say the contrarie that it is not true that I haue sayd let him and Gybouars like traytours as they be arme themselues and I shall fight against them both and if I can conquere them both whereof I haue no doubt with the aide of our Lord God then let them haue as they haue deserued and if I cannot ouercome them nor make them to shew the truth I will that then incontinent you cause me to be drawne and hanged By my faith quoth Duke Naymes Sir Huon can say nor offer no more for hee offereth to proue the contrarie of that Gerard hath saide Sir quoth Gerard my brother sayth at his pleasure because hee knoweth well that I will not striue against him because he is mine elder brother let the king doe as it shall please him as for me I neuer consented to doe so cruell a deede as hee layeth to my charge Ah good Lord quoth Duke Naymes how the false Traitour can cloke and couer his ilnesse Huon quoth Charlemain I cannot tel what you haue done but I will you shew mee the beard and â—oure great teeth of the Admirall Gaudis Sir quoth Huon I crie you mercie I haue shewed you how they be taken from me by the false traytour my Brother Gerard. Huon quoth the Kinge yée know well at your departure out of Fraunce I charged you vppon paine of your life that iâ— by aduenture you returned againe into France that you should not bée so hardy as to enter into this Citie of Bourdeaux vntill you had spoken with mee first and to keepe mee promise you deliuered to mee Hostages the which I haue quit séeing I haue you in my handes it lyeth now in mée either to hange you or to draw you or to giue vnto you any other iudgment for at your departure you were agréed that I should so doe and by the faith that I owe vnto Saint Denis before it bee night I shall cause thée to bee hanged and drawne and that shall I not let so to doe for any man liuing for nowe I take you in your owne house Sir quoth Huon God forbid that a Kinge of Fraunce should doe so great a crueltie My Lord I crie you mercie for Gods sake doe not to mee so great an out-rage for you may knowe right well that perforce I was brought hether and therefore great King I require you let mee haue rightfull and true iudgement By my faith Huon quoth Duke Naymes it is but a small request that you make for your right is so cleare that if reason may be shewed to you there is no man can say the contrarie but that your Lands ought to bee rendred vnto you franke and frée and your Brother Gerard to bee hanged and strangled Then the Duke said to the King My Lord I require you haue pitie of Huon and doe nothing to him but right and you shall doe great sinne without you doe him right Naymes quoth the King you know well it is in mée to cause Huon to die but séeing that he is one of my Péeres I will order him by iudgement When the Lordes and other Knightes heard the King say so they were right ioyfull for then they beleeued that the King would haue pitie of Huon but whosoeuer was ioyfull yet Duke Naymes was not content and sayde to the King My Lord by that I sée and heare you beare Huon but small â—oâ—e seeing that you will put him to iudgement considering his deedes and sayings to be true and namely whereas hee â—ffereth to prooue it by the holy Father the Pope then Huon with-drew backe and leaned him to a piller there by Then the Kinge called vnto him all his Peeres and Lordes and 〈◊〉 Sirs I require you by the faith and truth and homage that you beare vnto mée that for me nor for mine amitie that you ayd not Huon against mée nor lay nor doe no falsehood but the most rightfull iudgement that you can make doe I charge you giue true iudgement without any fauour or partialitie When the Lords heard the King say so vnto them and that he coniured them so sore to doe right and iustice well they perceiued that the King had great hate vnto Huon and that the death of his Sonne Charlot was not forgotten out of his mind Then they all together drew apart into a Chamber right pensiue and mourning and they sat downe on benches and beheld each other without speaking of any word a long space When Duke Naymes saw that hée arose vppon his féet and sayd Sirs yée haue heard how the King hath charged vs to say the troth wée may perceiue well by him that hee beareth great hate vnto Huon who is one of our Companions and therefore Sirs I require you that euerie man by himselfe will say his aduise as hée thinketh Chap. LXXII ¶ How the Twelue Peeres drew to counsaile to giue sentence vppon Huon either with him or against him THen there rose vp a knight called Gaulter hée was yssued of the lineage of Ganelon who was one of the Péeres of Fraunce then hée sayd Sirs as for mée I say séeing the case as it is that Huon by right iudgement ought to bee hanged and drawne for as yée know well the King hath founde him in the Citie of Bourdeaux therefore I say that the King may without doing any sinne put him to death and Sirs if yee thinke that I haue sayde good reason agrée yée then to the same and let Gerard his Brother be Lord and Maister of all the Landes and Signiories that should appertaine vnto Huon I consent and will as much as toucheth my part that Gerard be one of the Péeres of Fraunce in the place of Huon his Brother and when Gaulter had ended his reason Henry of Saint Omers spake and sayd Sir Gaulter goe and sit downe your wordes can beare none effect for they bée of no valure But Sirs quoth hée shortly to speake and righteously to iudge I say that it is reason that Huon be restored to all his Landes for his déede is well prooued and by good witnesse as our holy Father the Pope for wee may beléeue surely that Gerard his Brother that thus hath betrayed him hath done it by false couetousnesse therefore I say and iudge that Gerard bee drawne at horse tayles and then hanged vntill hée be dead Then hée sayd no more but sat downe againe When Henry of Saint Omers had sayd his reason that Earle of Flaunders arose vp and said to Henry All that you haue sayd I will not consent thereto but I shall shewe you mine aduise what ought to bée done Sirs yée all knowe well the world the which as nowe is little woorth for nowe adayes cannot be found such true Fréends as
Sir Emperour Charlemaine you haue well heard the confession of Gerard of the great treason that Gybouars and he haue done vnto Huon but by the Lord that fourmed me to his semblance both they two and the Abbot and his Chaplaine shall bée hanged for their false witnesse By the faith that I owe to Saint Denis quoth King Charlemaine they cannot escape it Sir quoth Duke Naymes it is great sinne to trouble a noble man you shall doe well if all foure be hanged When all the Lordes heard Gerard confesse that great treason that hée had done vnto his Brother they blessed them and had great maruaile of the false treason that the one Brother did to the other Chap. LXXV ¶ How King Oberon caused to be hanged the foure Traytours Gerard Gybouars and the two Monkes for their false witnesse and of the peace made betweene Huon and Charlemaine And how King Oberon gaue vnto Huon his Realme of the Fayrie WHEN King Oberon had heard Gerard confesse the treason done to his Brother and heard howe Gerard had offered to goe and fetch the beard great téeth and how he had denied him to goe then he sayd I wish them here vpon this Table he had no sooner made his wish but they were set on the Table whereof all such as were there hadde great maruaile Sir quoth Huon to King Oberon humbly I require you that of your grace you will pardon my Brother Gerard all the ill that he hath done against me for he did it by Gybouars and as for me héere and before God I pardon him and Sir if you will doe thus I shal be content therewith And to th entent that we may vse our liues from henceforth in good peace and loue I will giue him the halfe part of my Lands Signiories and Sir in the honour of our Lord Iesus Christ haue pity of him When the Lords that were there present vnderstood Huon they all for pity began to wéepe sayd among themselues that Huon was a noble knight and that it had béen pity if the matter had framed otherwise Sir Huon quoth Oberon it is not necessarie to request this for all the gold that is in the world shall not respit their deaths I wish by the puissance that I haue in the Fayrie that here beneath in the meadow there be a paire of Gallows and all iiij thereon hanged Incontinent it was don all iiij hanged thus as ye haue hard the traitors were paid their deserts When king Charlemaine had séene the great maruailes that were done by king Oberon he sayd to his Lords Sirs I beléeue this man be some God himselfe for there is no mortall man can doe this that he hath done When Oberon vnderstood the Emperour he sayd Sir know for truth I am no God but I am a mortall man as you be and was engendred on a woman as you were and my father was Iulius Cesar who engendred me on the Ladie of the Secret Isle who had béene before louer to Florymont sonne to the Duke of Albany she bare me nine moneths in her wombe and I was begotten by Iulius Cesar when he went into Thessaly after Pompey the Great he was amorous of my mother because she prophesied that my Father Iulius Cesar should winne the battaile as he did and when I was borne there were with my mother many Ladies of the Fairye and by them I had many gifts and among other there was one that gaue mee the gift to be such a one as you sée I am whereof I am sory but I cannot be none otherwise for when I came to the age of thrée yéeres I grew no more and when this Ladie sawe that I was so little to content againe my mother shee gaue me againe that I should be the fairest creature of the world and other Ladyes of the Fairie gaue me diuers other gifts the which I ouerpasse at this time and therefore Sir know for truth that aboue all things God loueth faith and troth when it is in men as it is here in Huon and because I know for certaine that he is true and faithfull therefore I haue alwaies loued him After that king Oberon had ended his words and shewed the Emperour Charlemaine of all his estate he called Huon and sayd Sir arise vp and take the beard and the téeth and beare them to king Charlemaine and desire him to render you your landes as he promised Sir quoth Huon I ought so to doe then Huon came to King Charlemaine and sayd Sir by your grace and if it may please you receiue here the beard and téeth of the Admirall Gaudis Huon quoth the King I hold you quit and I render to you all your lands and signiories and pardon you of all mine ill will and put all rancour from mée and from hencefoorth I retaine you as one of my Péeres Sir quoth Huon of this I thanke God and your grace Then the Emperour Charlemaine clipped and kissed Huon in token of peace and loue When the Lords saw that they wept for ioy and thanked God that the peace was made and especially Duke Naymes was ioyfull then within a while diuers of the Lords departed from the Court Then king Oberon called Huon vnto him and sayd Sir I commaund you as dearely as you loue mée that this same day foure yeare to come that you come into my Citie of Momur for I will giue you my Realme and all my dignitie the which I may lawfully do for at my birth it was giuen me that I might so doe for it lyeth in mée to giue it whereas I thinke best and bicause I loue you so entirely I shall set the crowne vpon your head and you shal be King of my Realme And also I will that you giue vnto Gerames all your Landes and Signiories in these parts for he hath well deserued it for with you and for your loue hee hath suffered many great trauailes Sir quoth Huon séeing this is your pleasure I ought well to be pleased therewith and I shall accomplish all your commandements Huon quoth Oberon know for troth I shall not abide longe in this world for so is the pleasure of god it be houeth me to go into paradice where as my place is appointed in the fayrie I shall bide no longer but beware as dearly as you loue your life that yée faile not to be with me at the daie that I haue appointed beware that yée forget it not for if yee faile I shall cause you to die an ill death and therefore remember it well When Huon heard king Oberon he was right ioyfull and stooped downe to haue kissed his féet but then Gloriant and Mallaborn tooke him vp Then said Huon Sir for this great guift I thanke you Chap. LXXVI ¶ How King Oberon departed and tooke leaue o f king Charlemaine and of Huon and Escleremond and also how king Charlemaine departed from Bourdeaux WHen king Oberon had imparted to Huon as much as he
would that he should doe then he said to Huon how he would depart and tooke leaue of him and kindly embraced him then Oberon stoode still a little while and beheld Huon and began to lament when Huon sawe that he was sorie in his heart and said Ah Sir king I desire you to shew me why you make this sorow at your departure Huon quoth Oberon I shall shew you it is for pitie that I haue of you for I sweare by him that created me that before I shall sée thée againe thou shalt suffer so much paine trauaile pouertie hunger thirst feare and aduersitie that there is no toong can tell it and thy good wife shall suffer so much that there is no creature that shall sée her but shall haue great pitie of her Ah Sir quoth Huon then I require you to aide comfort me Huon quoth Oberon what comfort would ye haue of me Sir quoth Huon I desire you to let me haue your horne of Iuory to thintent that if I should haue any néed that you may succour me for so well I know you that you will come and succour me Huon quoth Oberon séeing I haue agréed you with Charlemaine trust not on me to be succoured in any of your businesse suffice you with the gift that I haue giuen you euen all my Realme and puissance that I haue in the Fayrie trust on none other succour of mē Sir I am sorrie thereof quoth Huon that it may be none otherwise Then King Oberon tooke leaue of King Charlemaine and of Duke Naymes and of all other Lords there present and went to Huon and embraced him and tooke his leaue of him and of Escleremond and Gerames and sayd to Escleremond I commend you to God and desire you if you haue done well hetherto that you will perseuere euer better and better and beare alwaies fayth and honour to your husband Sir quoth she I pray God I liue no longer then if I doe the contrary Thus King Oberon departed and after his departure king Charlemaine made readie his companie and tooke leaue of Huon and of Escleremond and Gerames and they brought the King about two leagues off and then tooke their leaues of him of Duke Naymes and of all the Lords Then the king sayd Huon if any war be moued against you or if that you haue any great affaires to do let me haue knowledge thereof and I shal come and succour you or else send you such aide as shall bee sufficient Sir quoth Huon I thanke your grace and so tooke his leaue of the king and returned to Bourdeaux whereas he was receiued with great ioy Now let vs leaue speaking of Huon and speake of Oberon of the Fayrie Chap. LXXVII ¶ How king Oberon deuised with his knights in the Citie of Momur in the Fayrie of the deedes of Huon of Bourdeaux and of that which should happen after to him WHen King Oberon was departed from Bourdeaux he came to his Citie of Momur and there he began sore to wéep Then Gloryant demaunded of him why he made that sorrow Gloryant quoth Oberon it is for the vnhappy Huon he is alone and I know well hereafter hee shall be betrayed and all for Escleremond his wife for though that hee haue ere this time suffered great trauaile and much trouble and pouerty yet I know surely that he shall suffer more then euer he did and hée shall haue no succour of any man liuing Why Sir quoth Gloriant how can that be for Huon is a great Lord and hath many fréends and is the most hardiest Knight now liuing and hée is at accord wich King Charlemaine therefore he were a great Foole that would make him any warre or doe him any displeasure Well quoth Oberon God aid him in all his affaires for ere it be long hée shall haue much to doe Thus Oberon entred into his rich Pallaice and sayde againe Ah deare Knight Huon I knowe well you shall bee betrayed for the loue of your Wife who is faire and good and if you take not good héede you shall leaue her and your selfe in great perill of death and if you escape the death yet you shall suffer such paine and pouertie that there is no Clearke liuing so sage that can put it in writing Sir quoth Gloriant mée thinkes this cannot bée séeing the loue that is now betwéen him and Charlemaine Gloriant quoth Oberon yet I say againe vnto you that before this yeare be passed Huon shall be in such distresse and so hardly kept that if he had Ten Realmes he would giue them all to be out of that danger that he shal be in Then Gloriant was pensiue and said Alas Sir for Gods sake neuer leaue Huon your fréend in such danger but rather succour him Nay surely quoth Oberon that will I not doe séeing I haue promised him my dignitie and Land he shall not be aided nor succoured by me for he shall be closed in such a place that I would not goe thether for Tenne of the best Cities of the world Nowe let vs returne vnto Huon being in his Pallaice at Bourdeaux Chap. LXXVIII ¶ How Huon tooke homage of his men and chasticed his Rebels and of three Pilgrimes by whom much ill fell after as yee shall heare AFter that king Charlemaine was departed from Bourdeaux that Huon was returned he assembled al his Barons to whome hee made good chéere and there they tooke their Landes and Fées of him and made their homage Then hée tooke a Thousand chosen Knights with him road to his Lands and tooke possession of Townes and Castles and was obayed in euerie place except of one named Angelers who was Coozen germaine to Amerie whom Huon had slaine before at Paris before the Emperour Charlemaine for the loue of Charlot This Angelars was false and a Traytour and hee had a strong Castle within thrée Leagues of Bourdeaux he would not hold of Huon nor obay him though he was his Leige-man When Huon saw that he wold not hold of him nor doe him homage he was sore displeased and made promise that if that he might get him perforce he would surely hange him vp and as many as were in the Castle with him Then Huon assailed the Castle and they within defended themselues valiantly so that many were hurt and slaine on both parts Huon was there eight daies and could not win the Castle then Huon ordained before the place a paire of Gallowes and vppon the ninth day he made a fresh assault by such strength that hee wanne the Castle and entred perforce Angelars was taken and Fortie men with him and they were all hanged on the Gallowes Then Huon gaue the Castle vnto one of his Knightes and then hee departed and went to the Castle of Blay whereas hee was receiued with great ioy And the faire Escleremond was in the Pallaice at Bourdeaux well accompanied with Ladies Damsels and as they were deuising together there entred into the Pallaice thrée
Pilgrimes who right humbly saluted the Ladie Escleremond Sirs quoth the Lady I pray you shew mee out of what Countrey yée are come Madame quoth one of them knowe for troth that we are come from Ierusalem and haue made our offering to the holy Sepulchre wée haue suffered much pouertie in our iourney wherefore Ladie wee require you humbly for the loue of our Lord Iesus Christ to giue vs some meat Sirs quoth shée you shall haue ynough and then she commaunded two of her Knights to sée that the Pilgrimes should haue meat and drinke and so they were set at the end of the Hall and a Table couered for them and thereon bread flesh and wine they were well serued Then the Duchesse Escleremond went to visit them and demaunded where they were borne and whether they would goe Madame quoth they wee bee all thrée borne at Vyenna and thether wee would returne Sirs God bee your guide quoth the Ladie and she gaue them Ten Florents whereof they had great ioy thanked the Duchesse but alas that guifte was ill bestowed as you shall heare héereafter They departed tooke their way and trauailed so longe that vpon a Tuesday they arriued halfe a League from Vyenna and there they met Duke Raoul who was going a kauking hée was a great and puissant Lord of Lands and Signiories and hardy in déedes of armes great pittie it was that he was such a Traytour for a more subtill man coulde not be knowne for all the daies of his life he was euer a moouer of warre and strife and to doe treason without hauing regard either to kinne or other God confounde him for by him and his cause Huon suffered so much ill that it cannot bee recounted This Duke Raoul was to marrie thus as hée was in the feelds a hauking and twentie Knights with him he met the said thrée Pilgrimes and anone hee knewe them Then he road vnto them and said Sirs yée be welcome home they were ioyfull when they sawe the Duke their Lorde salute them so humbly and for ioye thereof they shewed him such newes that by the occasion thereof twentie Thousand Knights lost after their liues and Raoul himselfe receiued the death and Huon had such trouble that hée had neuer none such before as you shall heare héereafter Then the Duke said to the Pilgrimes Freends I pray you shew mee by what Countreys you haue passed to come hether Sir quoth they we haue passed by Fraunce and first we were at Bourdeaux and there we found the Duches Escleremond wife to Huon of Bourdeaux of whome you haue heaâ—d so much speaking for she is so faire and so well fauoured so swéet pleasant and gracious as can bée deuised shée is Daughter to the Admirall Gaudise whom Huon hath slaine and taken her to his wife great pitie it is that Huon should haue such a wife for she were méeter to be wife to a puissant Kinge for whosoeuer had such a wife to lye by might well say that there were none like her in all the world would to our Lorde God Sir that shee were your wife When the Duke heard that hee chaunged colour and greatly coueted the Ladie in his heart so that he was striken with such violent and burning loue that he had to the Ladie Escleremond as he promised and sware that he would haue her whosoeuer sayd the contrarie and said that he would slay Huon them haue Escleremond to his Wife Thus Duke Raoul sware the death of Huon then hée departed from the Pilgrimes ill was bestowed the almes that Escleremond had giuen them Chap. LXXIX ¶ How Duke Raoul of Austrich by the report of the Pilgrims was amourous of the faire Escleremond and of the Tourney that was proclaimed to the entent to haue slaine Huon THus Duke Raoul returned to the Citie of Vyenna right pensiue sent for his priuie counsaile and then he commaunded them to assemble as many people as they could bicause he sayd that he would goe to his Vncle the Emperour of Almaine to whome he sent a secret Messuage that hee should cause a Tourney to bee proclaimed in some conuenient place to the entent that the Knights of Almaine and of other Countreys should assemble there The false Traytor did it for a craft to the entent that Huon by his prowesse and hardinesse shold come to that Tourney The Messenger roade foorth vntill he came to Strasbrough whereas hee found the Emperour who was vncle to Raoull for he was the Emperours brothers sonne When the Emperour heard the messuage hee was ioyfull and not a little pleased to heare such newes froÌ„ his Nephew Duke Raoull whome he loued entierly and to doe him pleasure he sent to all Lands vnder his obeysance to all Knights and Squiers such as of custome were woont to iust and tournay desiring them to come at a day assigned to the citie of Mayence for there he would kéepe open Court Now the Emperour knew not for what entent his Nephew Raoull had deuised that tournay Alas he did it but to find the place to slay Huon to thintent to haue his wife Escleremond Then Duke Raoull assembled his Barons especialle such as he had perfect trust in he shewed them at large the cause why he had assembled all the people to goe to the tournay Therefore Sirs quoth he I will that yée sweare to me the death of Huon of Bourdeaux for I will that yée and I put all our vttermost to slay him and then I will wed his wife of whome I am so amourous that I cannot sléepe nor take any rest The same time that they thus made promise and sware the death of Huon there was among them a varlet with Duke Raoul who in his youth had serued Huon of Bourdeaux now when he vnderstood that if Huon came to the Tournay there hee should be murdered as priuily as he could he departed from Vyenna and neuer rested vntill hee came to the Citie of Bourdeaux whereas he found Duke Huon in his Pallaice with his Lords who had béen before aduertised that there should be held a great Tournay at Mayence in Almaine and he deuised with his Lords how to goe thether The same time the Varlet came thether and humbly saluted Duke Huon who said to him Friend where hast thou béen so long Sir quoth the Varlet I come now from Vyenna in Austrich where Duke Raoul who is Lord thereof hath proclaymed a Tourney in euery Countrey but Sir if you goe thether you shall bée slaine for this Tourney is deuised for none other entent bicause it is too well knowne that there can bee no hye déedes of armes done in any place but that you will bee present at it And when they haue slayne you then Duke Raoul will haue the Duchesse your Wife in mariage therefore Sir for Gods sake aduise you well that you come not there in as much as you loue your life for you cannot escape there be twentie Thousand men that haue
sworne your death therefore if you enter into the Tourney you can neuer escape the death and I haue heard Duke Raoul sweare that when he hath slaine you hée will keepe all your Landes When Duke Huon had heard the Varlet hee sware by God and made a solemne promise that Duke Raoul should dearely buy his false treason Then the Duchesse Escleremond knéeled downe before Huon and sayd Deare Lord I desire you to forbeare your going thether at this time for I haue heard often repeated that this Duke Raoull is puissant and hath great Lands besides is Nephew to the Emperour of Almaine and also I haue heard say that a faller Traytour there is none lyuing in this world Madame quoth Huon I haue well heard you but by the Lord that fourmed me to his Image though I should loose halfe my landes yet will I goe to sée the Traytor what thinketh he to abash me with his threatenings If I may méete him at the Tournay or in any other place where soeuer it be though he had with him ten Thowsand men of armes and that I had alonely but my swoord in my hand I shall slay him whatsoeuer should fall thereof and let our Lord God do with me as it shall please him I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart till I haue slaine him When the Duchesse heard Huon how he would doe none otherwise and that shée could not let him of his enterprize she was sorrowfull and said Sir séeing it is your pleasure reason it is that I must be content but yet Sir I desire you to take with you x. M. men well armed to thintent that ye be not found vnprouided so that if ye be assayled yet yée may be of sufficient puissance to resist your enemies and that it will please you to suffer me to goe with you and I will he armed with my shéeld and swoord by my side and if I may méete Duke Raoull I shall giue him such a buffet that I shall strike him from his horse for I am so displeased with him that there is no ioynt in me but in trembleth for anger and I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart till I be reuenged of him When Huon heard the Duchesse his wife he was well comforted and began to laugh and said Faire Ladie I giue you great thankes for your wordes but yee are too farre gone with child to ride armed it is a vij moneths past since yée were first with child then Huon made to be proclaimed in all his lands that euery man should be readie to goe with him to the Tourney at Mayence The Dukes entent was anon knowen throughout all the countrie so that it being spread abroad the brute therof came to the hearing of the Duke Raoull and when he heard that Huon would come to the Tournay hee was not a little ioyfull thereof then hee sware he would go and sée Escleremond in the guise of a Pylgrime and then hee putte on a beggers garment and tooke a staffe and a wallet hée shewed his intent to them of his priuie Councell they would haue stopped his going but they could not Thus he apparelled himselfe like a beggar and with an hearbe rubbed on his face and handes that such as had not séene him otherwise apparelled could not haue knowne him hée was so foule and blacke then he desired his men to kéepe secret his enterprise Then hee departed from Vyenna and neuer rested till hee came to the Citie of Bourdeaux and so went vnto the Pallayce where hée founde Huon amongst his Barons making great chéere and feast for vnto him were come diuers Lords and Knights deuising of the Tourney that should be holden at Mayence Thus Raoull came before Huon and desired him for the honor of our Lord God to giue him some meat and almes Friend quoth Huon thou shalt haue inough but I pray thée tell me from whence thou commest and whether thou wilt go and of what countrie thou art Sir quoth Raoull I was borne in the countrey of Berry but it is xx yeres past since I was there when I departed thence I was but yong for if I saw my father or mother now before me I should not know them Sir I came froÌ„ beyond the Sea wheras I haue been prisoner among the Sarazins the space of 14. yéeres in a strong Castle where I haue suffered much disease of hunger and cold and at the last I escaped by reason of a yong man to whome I promised that if hée could bring mee to Acre in sauegard that I would then giue him twentie Duckets of gold the yong man was couetous to haue the money and founde the meanes that hee brought mee to Acre whereas I founde a kinsman of mine who payed the yonge man the money the which I had promised vnto him and also hee gaue me fifteene Ducates the which I haue spent with comming hether Fréend quoth Huon I pray vnto God to ayd thée for if thou wert not so ill apparelled thou shouldest séeme a man of a high lineage for it séemeth to me if thou wert well armed weaponed and were in some businesse thou wert like ynough to be feared Chap. LXXX ¶ Howe after that Duke Raoul had beene at Bourdeaux in the guise of a Pilgrime to see the faire Ladie Escleremond he returned againe to Vyenna AFter that Huon hadde long deuised with Raoul hée washed sat downe to diner and the Duchesse his wife by him then Huon commaunded that at the end of the Table right before his Table Raoul the Pilgrime should bee set and there hee was well serued but Raoul had litle care either of meat or drinke for his thought was of another matter whereupon he sore studied for before him he saw the noble Duchesse Escleremond of whom he was so amourous that he could not withdraw his eies from her for the more he beheld her the more hee was embraced with her loue he thought he neuer sawe before so faire a Ladie in all his life so that for the great beautie that was in her hée changed often times his colour but it could not bee perceiued bicause he was so blacke and foule with rubbing of certaine hearbes and he sayd within himselfe that whosoeuer had such a Ladie to his Wife might well make auant to be the happiest man of the world euen hee that might but haue his pastime with so faire a Ladie swâ—â—re by the Lorde that fourmed him though he should bée damned in hell for euer he would slay Huon and haue his Wife in mariage and all Huons Lands to be his for euer Alas that it had not pleased our Lord God that at this houre Huon might haue knowne the treason of Raoull hee shoulde then haue bought it full dearely When the Traytour had eaten and made good théere Huon gaue him a Gowne shirt hose and shooes and monney for his dispence Raoul tooke it he durst not refuse it but thanked Huon and so tooke his
Emperour was about to doe nor that hee was in the woode abydinge there for Huon That night Huon and his companie were at Coleyne making good chéere and the next morning they heard seruice then they mounted on their horses issued out of the towne they were to the number of thurteene Thousand hardy fighting men and when they were out in the feelds Huon like a good man of warre said Sirs I desire you let vs keepe together and ride like men of warre to the entent that we be not suddainly taken and so they did the day was faire and cleare they might well be perceiued a farre off as they were by the Emperour of Almaine who lay enambushed for Huon the Emperour espied them firste and sayde to his companie Sirs yonder a farre off I sée many people comming towarde vs they séeme vnto mée men well expert in armes neuer beléeue me but they be Frenchmen and he that is their Captaine is Huon of Bourdeaux he is not come hether like a small Personage but he is highly accompanied like a great and mightie Prince I sée well he is valiant by that he hath done hee is so noble hardy that none may be compared to him you haue well séene howe that hee all alone came into my Pallaice and there slewe my Nephew Duke Raoul wherewith my heart is in great displeasure hee is greatly to bee doubted for without God helpe vs wee shall haue ynough to doe with him would to God that hee and I were at accordment and agréed for he is so noble and so valiant that he feareth no man You haue well séen since he departed from Mayence he hath slaine more then fortie of my men and hath borne me to the earth and he hath taken from me my good horse whereby he may be wel assured that there is no man shall take him if he be vppon his backe howbeit we must set vpon him for my heart shall neuer be in ease as long as he liueth therefore Sirs I desire you euerie man this day shew the loue that you beare vnto me and the sauegard of your liues for to fly away auaileth not therefore Sirs set on together and doe so that wee may haue the first aduantage Chap. LXXXIIII ¶ Of the great Battaile within two Leagues of Coleyn between the Emperor of Almaine and Huon of Bourdeaux and of the Truce that was taken betweene them HVon who roade before his Barons deuising with old Gerames regarded on his right hand towards the litle wood and he saw in the wood great clearenesse by reason of the Sunne shining on the healmes and on the speares poynts whereby he perceiued plainely that there was much people hidden in the wood hee shewed them to Gerames and to his other companie and sayd Sirs bee in a surety that without battaile we cannot scape héere is the Emperour who lyeth in waite for vs. I desire you let vs doe so that hee shall haue no cause to make any auaunt of vs yonder you may sée them how they set themselues in order to abide vs therefore let vs quickly sette on them and so they did in such wise that with the very running of their horses the earth trembled and the sunne lost his light by reason of the powder that rose vp into the ayre from both parts Huon who ranne before on his puissant horse behelde Godun who was formost in his companie hee ranne at him with a strong speare so that he ranne him cleane through the body so that hee fell downe to the earth and with the same speare Huon met Crassyn Polinger who bare the Emperors banner Huon strake him so fiercely that he bare horse and man and banner all to the ground whereof the Almaines and Bauiers were sorrowfull Huon did so much ere his speare was broken that he first bare fiue to the earth so that they had no power after to reléeue themselues there were many speares broken and many a knight borne to the earth and there dyed among the horse féete for the father could not helpe the sonne nor the sonne could not helpe the father and many a horse ranne abrode in the field and their Maisters lying dead in the bloud and myre Huon who rode about in the battaile slaying and wounding his enemies behelde on his right side and saw the Earle Sauary slaying many of them of Bourdeaux Ah good Lord quoth Huon if yonder knight raigne long he shall doe me great damage Then hée rode to him and gaue him such a stroke with his sword so that he strake off his shoulder and arme so rudely that it fell vpon the earth so that for the great paine that the Earle Sauary endured he fell from his horse and there was slaine among the horse féete whereof the Emperour who was there by right sorrowfull when he saw another of his nephewes slaine and sayd Ah Huon of God bee thou cursed since thou hast slaine so many of my friends I shall neuer haue ioy in my heart till I haue thée in my hands to hang thée Sir quoth Huon ere you haue taken me you are like to loose more of your friendes and beware of your selfe that you come not into my handes by your nephew Raoull yee haue all this damage who by his falsenesse thought to haue betrayed me and to haue had my wife if I haue slaine your nephewes and your men I haue doone it in defending mine owne body I say to you if you bee not well aware of me I shall bring you to the poynt that it shall be hard for you to be carried away in a litter Huon quoth the Emperor the great hate that I haue to thée for the death of my nephewes makes me féele much dolour at my heart that I had rather die then that I should not bee reuenged of thée therefore beware thou of mée for I shall neither eate nor drinke till I haue thée either quicke or dead Then they two went backe to take their course together but ere they met the Almaynes came running thether for the feare that they had of loosing their Emperour and on the other part came thither the olde Gerames who fought so fiercely that whomsoeuer he strake with a full stroke had no neede of any Surgion and his companie fayled not for their parts and Huon with his good sword opened the thick prease so that the Almaynes greatly doubâ—ed him Huon with his noble chiualrie caused his enemies to recule backe halfe a bowes shoote Then there was a knight of Almain saw well that without some remedie were found the Emperour and his companie were like to be slaine he went out of the battell as priuily as he could and ranne on the spurres and rested not till hee came to Coleyn where incontinent he rode to the Prouosts house and found him in his house newly reine from masse then the Knight sayd to him Sir Prouost if euer you will sée the Emperour aliue cause the commons of this
more soâ—roâ— for my daughter theÌ„ for my selfe and I am sorrowfull for my Lords and 〈◊〉 who for the loue of you and mee are in peâ—â—ll of thâ—ir 〈…〉 had beene better for vs to haue tarryed still in 〈…〉 come hither to â—uffer all these toâ—menâ—s pâ—ines and 〈…〉 and at last painefull deaâ—h with saying of these 〈…〉 Duchesse fell in a trâ—â—â—ce among her Lords 〈…〉 releeâ—ed 〈◊〉 sayde discomfort you 〈◊〉 but take good 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 your men who haue great desire to defend 〈◊〉 Citie for the sauegard of their owne bodyes and liues thus to make sorrow ye can winne nothing thereby but loose more to more haue no doubt that Huon your husbande will leaue you at this poynt hee is gone to your brother for succour hee will not long tarrie and he will bring you such succour that the Emperour nor the Almaines shall haue no leysure to grant him the victorie Thus Gerames comforted the Duchesse who was glad for to heare Gerames and thus as they deuised together the Emperour who was aduertised of Huons departing and how he was gone for succour he assembled his Councell into his tent and there hee shewed and declared the great losses that he had suffered as well of the death of his nephewes as of other of his friends and kynne and the great domage that by Huon he had suffered and sayde Sirs all this ye know well his acquaintance hath cost vs déerely ye haue all heard how he is departed to séeke for succour but I cannot tell to what part hee is gone As for the Realme of Fraunce I know right well hee shall haue no succour there for as it hath béene shewed mée of â—ate that the right Noble and victorious Prince Charlemaine is dead who loued Huon but little because of his sonne Charlot whome Huon slew and Charlemaine hath left behinde him but one sonne named Lewes who is but of a yong age and I beléeue if hee were of full age that he would rather come for to succour me then Huon who slewe Charlot his brother therfore it can be no otherwise but that he is gone into some far countrey for succour therefore I thinke it best that in the meane time ere he returne that on all sides let vs continually assaile the Citie and let euerie one doe their part to bee reuenged for the death of their friendes which are héere slaine by them within the Citie When the Lordes heard the Emperour all with one voyce aunswered and sayd Syr the reason which you haue shewed vnto vs is to bee kept and done and wee shall goe arme vs and make vs all readye to the intent to come to your intention the which is verie good and reasonable Then they sounded al their hornes and busins and euerie man speedily armed himselfe and came with Ensigne displayde to assayle the Cittie and they that were within as well as they could they defended the Citie they which were without reared vppe ladders against the walles with mightie strength but they which were within did beate them down into the Dikes and then they did cast downe vppon them hote leade and boyling Dyle and quicke Lyme and great stones and fagots burning so that they which were down in the Dikes had no power for to reléeue themselues againe but there most miserably dyed vnder the ladders There was on both parts exceeding great shooting wyth Crosbowes and slinging of stones so thicke that they seemed like vnto snow flying in the ayre maruailous it was to beholde the olde Gerames howe hee exhorted his companie for to doe well and also the Duchesse Escleremond with her daughter in her armes crying vnto her men and sayde Yee my deere Lords and Knights fight lustily but to your paynes for to defende your bodyes and your liues your wiues and your children to the intent that the Almaynes make not their bragges and vaunts of theyr winning of this most noble Citie by theyr assaults the which is so goodly and rich for Sirs I knowe right well yee shall not abide this trouble for no long season for Duke Huon your rightfull Lorde will shortly ayde and succour vs all Then all the noble Barons Knights and Burgesses hearing the excéeding great comfort of the Noble and vertuous Lady the Duchesse Escleremond with a maruaylous great courage and valour they came to theyr defences and behaued themselues so valiantly that theyr enemies were forced to retyre backe with great losse and domage whereof the Emperour and his Lords were right sorrowfull and they within the Citie right ioyfull of the great victorye the which God had giuen them that day Then euery man went vnto his lodging and made great ioy and the Emperour and his men withdrew themselues in great displeasure for his losse When the Emperour was vnarmed and had well refreshed himselfe then hee sayde vnto his Lordes Sirs wee haue beene a long season before this Citie and haue sustained many losses therefore sirs I require you to counsell mee what is 〈…〉 do this Citie is strong and wel furnished with knights and men to defend it by vs it will neuer be wonne without vicâ—ualles â—aile them but I thinke they haue but small store of 〈◊〉 therefore I desire you to shew me your abuises whether 〈◊〉 shall depart from this Citie without more doing or 〈◊〉 here vpon such fortune as God will send vs. When the Emperour had sayd as much as hee pleased then the Duke Sauâ—â—y his brother rose vp and sayd Sir me thinkes if it may 〈◊〉 beleeued that this Citie cannot long endure and the cause 〈◊〉 I shall shew you ye knowe well that Huon their Lord is 〈◊〉 to seeke for succour on the other side they within the Citie haue but fewe men and but ill furnished of victualles within the Citie there is an old knight who is a valiant and a hardie knight and therefore it were profitable to studie howe he might bee taken or else slaine this should greatly aduaunce your enterprise of the which ye cannot fayle if you wil beléeue my counsell as I shall shewe you True it is that this day wee haue had great losse and receiued great domage whereof they within are ioyfull wherefore it were good to send certain mutâ—ons and beasts in the night time with a few keepers sende them into the medow neere vnto the Citie and I am sure that when the olde knight knowes thereof the which he shall know by the watch men on the towres and walles then incontinent he 〈◊〉 out 〈◊〉 such power as hee hath to take the beasts 〈◊〉 bring them into the Citie And to the intent that they â—â—all neuer returne againe into the Citie incontinent ere the 〈…〉 a good number of Béefs and Muttons Then 〈…〉 armed tenne thousand men and send them to a 〈…〉 whereas the gallowes is raysed and when they 〈◊〉 that they within the Citie bee issued out to fetch the 〈…〉 the tenne Thousand men drawe neere to the gate 〈…〉 to the
eâ—tent that they without shall not enter 〈…〉 to their great losse And if you will thus doe I put 〈…〉 that before it be midnight they shall bee all taken 〈◊〉 and the matter may so come to passe that you shall enter into the Citie at your pleasure Thus I haue shewed you as I thinke best if any man know any better way let him speake Then euerie man regarded the Emperour and sayde Sir the counsaile that Duke Sauary hath giuen you wee thinke that a better counsayle cannot bée giuen to any Prince When the Emperour vnderstod the counsaile of his brother Duke Sauary and that all his Lordes did allow the same hee was right ioyfull and sayde that it should bee so done Then he called his marshall and commanded that it should be done according as his Brother had deuised it before the which was done verie diligently and sent with him fiftie men with sixe hundred muttons and two hundred beasts néere vnto the Citie and then layd theyr ambushment of tenne thousande men by the little mountaine it was darke night and the Moone was not risen whereby they within could not perceiue them the which turned to theyr great losse and damage for all those that issued out of the Citie of Bourdeaux were slaine and taken prisoners as ye shal heare hereafter Chap. CIIII. ¶ Of the death of the olde Gerames and of the taking of the Citie of Bourdeaux and of the comming of the Duchesse with the Emperour and of the deliuering vp of the Castle to the Emperour YE haue heard before howe the Emperour assayled the Citie of Bourdeaux and of the great losse that he sustained wherof Gerames and they within the Citie were right ioyfull and made great feasts and thanked our Lord God Then after Supper Gerames called all the knights and other together and sayde Sirs ye haue séene this day the great assault that the Emperour and his men haue made to this Citie but thanked be God the losse is returned to them for there are dead and wounded a great number of them and many of them are sore wearyed with trauaile and thinke now for to rest themselues and now is their howre that they be sette at Supper and customably they sitte euer long at their Table farre longer then French men doe wherefore I thinke best that incontinent without delay we should arme our selues and issue out of the Citie and goe to their tents and rayse them and then lette vs doe there as good Knights ought to doe to the intent that good songs may bee made of vs and that the Almaines haue no cause to say but that wee bee as good men as they bee Sir quoth Othon and Barnard we be readie thus to doe Sirs quoth Gerames let vs make haste that we may returne againe ere the Moone riseth Then they armed themselues Alas what an il aduenture came to them at night for the most part of those that issued out were taken and slaine Ah good Lord what a losse fell to the Citie of Bourdeaux Ah noble Lady Escleremond yee may well weepe and complaine all your dayes for sorow paine and dolour approacheth néere whereby ye are like to beare such diseases and pouertie that no man liuing can recount it nor yee shall neuer bee out of that daunger and trouble till yee be deliuered by the good Duke Huon your husband When Gerames and his companie were readie they mounted on their horses and issued out at the gate as priuily as they could so that they were not perceiued by them that were set to watch for them nor they heard not when they were in the field they rode a false gallop to the tents the which they might well â—e cleerely by the lights that were in the tents when they came neere they dashed their spurres to their horses and cryed Bourdeaux and sâ—rake and cut asunder the cordes and stayes so that many tents fell to the earth and such as came out were slaine a great noyse and crie beganne to rise in the hoast and euerie man ranne to their armour and Gerames and his companie slew many of their enemies and made them for to flie before them it was dreadfull for to beholde the damage that they did there But finally the losse fell vpon them for the Emperour and all his men were readie when Gerames sawe howe all the hoast was mooued then he sayd to his companie Sirs it is time for vs to retyre backe for we may tarrie héere too long yonder commeth the Emperour with a mightie armie to close vs in it is needfull for vs to make haste that wee may goe away in safetie Then altogether in one companie they returned and went the way towards Bourdeaux But they had not gone farre ere that they were ouertaken by the Almaynes they layd on on all parts with their swords speares Then Gerames turned him to an Almaine and with his speare ran him cleane through and in drawing out his speare hee fell downe dead to the earth and then he strake another whome also he slew He did such déedes of armes that ere his speare brake hee slewe fiue of his enemies whereof the Almaynes were sore abashed He brake the prease in such wise that none durst approach néere vnto him right well did Othon and Bernard and such as were with him But when the Duke Sauary who with tenne thousand men lay in ambushment néere vnto the Citie had heard the greate noyse and crie hee supposed that they within the Citie were issued out When Gerames and his companie sawe howe they were inclosed both before and behinde they were sore abashed When Gerames sawe that their force and powers could not auayle them but that either they must bee taken or slaine then earnestly he called vpon our Lord Iesus Christ requiring him to saue and defend his good Lord Huon of Bourdeaux and the Duchesse Escleremond his wife And he cryed to his companie sayd Sirs I pray you hartily at this time shew forth your Prowesse and behaue your selues so valiantly that this Emperour Almaines haue no cause to make their auaunts that they haue found vs as men amazed but let vs shew them how our swords can cut Then all together they assayled their enemies in such wise that at the first brunt the Almaines were constrayned to retyre backe and Gerames did such déeds that none durst approach néere vnto him Then the Duke Sauary with ten thousand men came vpon them sodainely the which was no equall part and also the Emperour with his great battaile came also vpon old Gerames and his companie who had gotten themselues into the subburbs of the Citie and a mightie wall behind them at theyr backes whereas they did stand at a bay against the Almaines Gerames was in the middest of them and vnderneath his helmet appeared his long white beard and the Emperour who had great shame that so few men in number should kéepe a baye against his highnesse and doe vnto
his companie is departed out of Bourdeaux to séeke succour of the King of Auphamie brother vnto Escleremond Huons Wife and so it is a longe time since hee departed and wée neuer could heare word of him and thus hée left vs in Bourdeaux and our chéefe Captaine was the old Gerames your Coozen who was Brother to the good Prouost Guyer and so it was that vppon a night wée yssued out and roade to the Emperours Tents and slewe many of our enemies and when wée sawe our time wee returned towardes our Citie but by some spie wée were perceiued when wée yssued out whereby the Emperour knowing thereof sent Duke Sauary his Brother with tenne Thousand men to lye in ambushment néere to the Citie so that when wee hadde thought to haue entred into the Citie Duke Sauary was before vs with tenne Thousand men there wée fought a long space but finally the old Gerames and his companie were all slaine none escaped but my selfe and that was by reason of my horse so I entred into the Citie whereas there was made great sorrow and the next day the Emperour with great assault wanne the Citie and came to the Castle whereas the Duchesse was who saw well that shée could not long hold the Castle shée made her treatie to saue her bodie and her companie and so they are all Prisoners before she deliuered vppe the Castle shee deliuered me her daughter and so I issued out at a Posterne priuily and was not perceiued therefore Syr your Néece hath sent you her daughter to the intent that for the loue of her father and of her yee would kéepe and nourish her till her father Duke Huon were returned When the abbot vnderstood Bernard he beganne to weepe and tooke the childe in his armes and kissed her oftentimes and sayd My deere childe if it please our Lord God I shall bee to you both father and mother and shall nourish you vntill yee be great and then marrie you vnto some mightie Prince in whome it shall lie to conquers your heritage lands and signories for I haue here in my house such treasure that it is sufficient to conquer a whole Empire Then the Abbot sent for a noble Ladie of the countrey and a nurse and deliuered vnto them the child for to keepe and to nourish for a fayrer creature of her age was neuer seene Then the Abbot sayd to Barnard Sir yee shall abide heere still with mee vntill the childe bee of age or else till her father bee returned Now lette vs leaue to speake of this young child Clariet and of the Abbot and returne to speake of the dolorous companie that were in the Castle of the noble Citie of Bourdeaux Chap. CVI. ¶ How the Duchesse Escleremond yeelded vp the Castle to the Emperor and how she and her companie were prisoners in the Citie of Mayence YE haue well heard heere before that after the departing of Barnard from the Castle of Bourdeaux with Claret Huons daughter how the Emperour had made a treatie with the Duchesse Escleremond for the deliuerance of the Castle the which passed and on the next morning the Duchesse spake with the Emperour who with all his men was there readie before the place abiding to haue the deliuerance of the Castle And when hee saw the Duchesse at a window ouer the gate he sayd Madame I will that the promise that yee made mee yesterday ye performe or else I will do according as I thinke best Syr quoth the Duchesse I am readie to fulfill my promise so that ye promise me againe that my body and all Ladyes and Damselles and other shall be saued and not touched by no villaine nor no ill done vnto our bodyes Madame quoth the Emperour all this that you require heere I promise to performe but you and all such as be with you shall bee my prisoners Sir quoth the Duchesse my life and my bodie and all such as be here with mee I put them in the sauegard of God and of you Then she descended downe and came into the hall whereas she found her company making great sorow each to other for they knew not where euer they should méet againe or not Then the Duchesse commaunded to open the gate the which was doone immediatly Then the Emperour and all his Lords entred into the Castle but hee would not goe into the hall till he had all the Ladyes and other brought out to the intent that they should make no request to him and he ordained a thousand Knights of the most auncient men of his hoast and then be deliuered the Duchesse and sixe Ladyes with her and al the other prisoners as well they that were within the Castle as other that hadde beene taken before at diuers skirmishes sent them straight to the Citie of Mayence and sette them all in prison in Towres and other places but the duchesse was putte all alone in a strong towre within the which there was a déep dungeon and therein shée was set out of the which shee neuer yssued vntill shee was deliuered by Huon her Husband Then the Emperour being in the Castle of Bourdeaux sent ouer all the Countrey that all such as were aliue should come and do their homage vnto him and take their Landes of him the which they did according to his commaundement Then hée made his Prouosts and Officers to doe iustice both in the Citie and Countrey and after that the Emperour had béene there eight dayes he went out of the Citie and road and tooke possession of Blames and Gerone and set there his Officers and when hee hadde full possession of al the Countrey hee left Keepers in the Countrey and so returned to the Citie of Mayence whereas hee was receiued with great ioy and triumph Nowe lette vs leaue to speake of the Emperor Tirrey and speake of Duke Huon of Bourdeaux being in the Castle of the Adamant in great pouertie and famine Chap. CVII ¶ How there arriued at the Castle of the Adamant a Shippe full of Sanazins wherein was the Bishop of Mâ—llaine and how Huon caused them to bee christened and then hee brought them into the Castle whereas they found great store and plentie of victuals YEE haue heard here before howe Huon was in the Castle of the Adamant in great pouertie and famine whereas he had beene tenne dayes without meat and drinke except Apples and fruit that grew in the Garden whereby he became so féeble and weake that he had scarre power to sustaine himselfe vppon his feete hee found there riches inough gould and siluer apparell and Iewels and riche bedding so that he wanted nothing except victuall and as hee walked in the chamber whereas the treasure lay he beheld an Arch vaulted richly painted with gould and azure vnder the which stoode a riche chayre and therein a coushin of cloath of gould bordered with pearles and precious stones Huon who was wearie of walking sat downe in the chaire to reste him Then he beganne sore
your good husband Huon is come on this side of the Sea whome you shall sée within short time When the good Ladie had well vnderstood Gloriand shee had such ioy that of a great space she could speake no word shee was so rauished but at last she said Sir I ought greatly to loue you for bringing me such tidings and then they sayde vnto her Madame rest you héere a season vntill wee haue deliuered the other Prisoners whome we sée yonder leading toward their deaths and shortly we shall returne againe vnto you Therewith they departed from the Ladie and left her vpon her knées holding vp her handes vnto Heauen and deuoutly rendring thankes to our Lord Iesus Christ for the succor and aide that he had sent her Then Gloriand and Mallabron came to the Gallowes and there vnloozed the thrée Hundred Prisoners and sâ—ew diuers of them that were sent thether to doe execution whereof all they that were there present had great maruaile and did woonder thereat when they saw their company slaine and could not sée them that did it but they thought that there were a Thousand Knights by reason of the great brute and noyse that the two Knights of the Fayrie made whereof they had such feare that they fled away and ranne to the Emperour who was sore dismayed and abashed of that aduenture for it was also shewed vnto him that the Ladie was rescued and they could not tell by whom but they sayd that they heard a great brute and noyse then also the Emperour saw how the people came running towards him flying from the Gallowes and they shewed to him all that they had séen and heard wherof the Emperour and all his Lordes had great feare and were sore abashed Ah Sir quoth the Duke of Austrich it hadde beene better for you to haue beleeued Duke Hildebert your Coozen knowe surely that you haue greatly displeased our Lord Iesus Christ since that you would doe such cruell iustice in the holy time of Lent Thus after these two Knights of the Fayrie hadde rescued the good Ladie and the other Prisoners they tooke them and the Ladie and brought them vnto the Emperour and shewed themselues openly and when they were in the presence of the Emperour and the Prisoners with them and the Emperour saw that there were but twoo Knightes armed vppon horse-backe hee set little by them and said How are you so bolde and so hardy to deliuer and to take out of my mens handes those that are condemned to die by iustice and besides that you haue slaine many of my men and nowe bringe them into my presence whom I haue condemned to die wherefore I will that you well know that before I eat or drinke you and all they shal be hanged and the Ladie Escleremond burned nor I shall not depart from hence vntill I haue seen you all dye the death Then Gloriand and Mallabron lifted vp their visors and shewed their faces and they séemed vnto all them that sawe them that they neuer sawe before two so faire Knightes in all their liues Then Gloriand sayde vnto the Emperour Sir of you nor of your threatninges wee make thereof but little account but Sir knowe for troth that the noble King Oberon commandeth you by vs in as much as you feare your life that you bee not so hardy any further to doe any ill or iniurie nor commaund to bee done vnto this noble Ladie that is heere present nor to these other Prisoners vntill Easter day bee past And also Kinge Oberon commaundeth you that you doe keepe this Ladie in your house cloathed and apparelled and as well gouerned and to bee accompanied with Ladies and Damsels to serue her honourably as well as if she were your owne proper Daughter and that in like wise these Prisoners to be newly arrayed and ordered aswell as other Knights of your house and Sir we warne and charge you that in this that wee haue sayd that you do not the contrarie for any thing that may fall for if you do otherwise there is no mortall man shall saue your life thus the right noble Kinge Oberon commaundeth you to doe who is Soueraigne Lord and Gouernor of all the Realme of the Fayrie When the Emperour Tirrey had well heard these Knightes of the Fayrie thus speake vnto him and sawe howe they were armed with their Swordes in their handes taynted with the bloud of his Almaynes hee had great feare and beheld his Barons and sayde Sirs I pray you to giue me some good counsaile in this serious businesse wee haue well heard much speaking of King Oberon and of his great Acts and déeds wherefore I feare him much yée may wel sée what two of his knights haue done they haue rescued them that I haue condemned to die and slaine diuers of my men Also you heare what word he sendeth me by his two Knights that I should keepe this ladie and the other Prisoners honourably and that I should not be so hardy to put them to any danger vntill Easter be passed Then an ancient knight sayd Sir know for troth that King Oberon is puissant and wise for there is nothing in the world but that he knoweth it and also as often as hée list hee can bee whereas he will wish himselfe and with as great number of people as hee list and therefore Sir beléeue surely that if you doe otherwise then he hath commaunded you to doe these twoo knightes of his that be héere present haue puissance sufficient to destroy you and Kinge Oberon to sit still at home therefore Sir mine aduise is that you answeare these two knights that all that Kinge Oberon hath commaunded you to doe by them that you will doe it surely and then all the other Lordes gaue the Emperour the same counsaile When the Emperour had well heard and vnderstood his Lordes and Barons he turned him vnto the two Knightes of the Fayrie and said Sirs yée shall salute me to King Oberon and say that as for me I shall doe euerie thing as hee hath commaunded me to doe to the best of my power Sir Emperour quoth Gloriand if you will doe as you say the king will take you for his Fréend therevppon we commend you to God Thus the two knights departed so that the Emperour nor none other person knew not where they were become whereof euerie man had great maruaile and were sore abashed And thus Gloriand and Mallabron within a while came to the City of Momur whereas they found king Oberon to whome they shewed all that they had done Well quoth king Oberon as now the Lady Escleremond and the other Prisoners are at their ease and well serued but before a Moneth be passed they shall dearely abâ—y the ease that they bee in nowe for the Emperour hateth them so sore because of the malice that he beareth vnto Huon of Bourdeaux that he will set them all againe into Prison in great pouertie and miserie and when Easter is passed hee
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
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
the great Cittie of Thauris in Persia chap. 112. How Sir Barnard departed from the Abby of Cluny and went to seeke for Huon his Cozen whome hee found at the Port of the great Cittie of Thauris chap. 113. How Huon of Bourdeaux and Barnard his Cozen acknowledged themselues each to other and shewed the discourse of their aduentures chap. 114. Howe the Admirall of Persia did great honour to Huon of Bourdeaux and led him into his Pallaice whereas hee was receiued with great ioye and triumph chap. 115. How the Admirall by reason of the Apple that Huon gaue him to eat he became of the age of Thirtie yeares whereby he and all the people of Persia and Media were christened and of the great honor that the Admirall made vnto Huon chap. 116. Of the complaints that Huon made to the Admirall of Persia vpon the Emperour of Almaine and of the succours that the Admirall promised to Huon chap. 117. How the Admirall of Persia assembled much people and he and Huon with all their Armie tooke the Sea and came to the Port before the Cittie of Angory whereas they found a great number of Paynims and Sarazins readie to defend the Port. chap. 118. How the Admirall and Huon tooke the Port and fought with the Admirall of Angory and discomfited him and tooke the Cittie and how afterward Duke Huon went into the Deserts of Abillant to search aduentures chap. 119. How Huon went so long in this Desert that hee found Cain and spake with him a long season how he beguiled Cain deparâ—â—d chap. 1â—0 How Huon departed from Cain passed the Sea in a Vessâ—â— guided by the Diuell who beleeued it had beene Cain and Huon arriued at a Cittie called Colanders whereas hee found the Admirall of Persia and Barnard his Cozen who had layd siege to the Citie Chap. 121. How Huon of Bourdeaux had great ioy when he saw the Admirall of Persia before Colanders where he fought with the Sarazins chap. 122. How the Citie of Colanders was taken by the Admirall of Persia after he had wonne the Battaile and of the great ioy that was made vnto Huon when hee was knowne by the Admirall of Persia and Barnard his Cozen chap. 123. How the Admirall of Persia and Huon of Bourdeaux and all their hoast passed by Antioch and by Damas and came to the Citie of Ierusalem to the holy Sepulchre and was nobly receiued by the King of Ierusalem and how the Souldans Messenger came and defied the Admirall of Persia chap. 124 Of the answeare that the Admirall of Persia made vnto the Souldans Messenger and of the report that he made to his Maister chap. 125. Howe the Admirall of Persia sent for his men that lay at Napelous and caused them to withdraw towards Rames and howe they departed from Ierusalem and how he went to fight with his enemies chap. 126. Now speake we of the great Battaile that was in the plaines of Rames betweene the Souldan of Babylon and the Admirall of Persia the which was discomfited by the Prowesse of Huon of Bourdeaux Chap. 127. How the Admirall of Persia and Media found Huon whereas 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 chap. 128. How Huon counsailed the Admirall of Persia to rayse vp his siege before Acres for diuers reasons and to returne into Persia chap. 129. How the Admirall of Persia a greede to the counsaile of Duke Huon and praisâ—ed his saying and of the faire offer that the Admirall of Persia 〈◊〉 vnto Duke Huon of Burdeaux chap. 130. How Duke Huon of Bourdeaux tooke his leaue of the Admirall and of all the other Lordes of Perâ—sa and went and tooke shipping at the Port of Thesâ—râ—e and how he arriued at Marsellis without finding of any strange aduenture Chap. 131. How the good Abbot of Cluny layd an ambushment of men betwene Mascon and Tournous against the Emperour of Almaines Nephewe who was there slaine and all his men whereof the Emperour was so sore vexed and troubled that he tooke the Duchesse Escleremond out of prison to haue burnt her and the three Hundred prisoners of Bourdeaux to haue hanged them all chap. 132. Haw King Oberon sent two of his Knights of the Fayrie that is to saye Mallabron and Gloriant to deliuer the faire Escleremond who should haue beene burnt and the three Hundred Prisoners that shoulde haue beene hanged who were all delyuered by the afore sayde Knights chap. 133. How the Emperour Tirrey made the noble Ladie Escleremond to bee well serued and apparelled and all the other Prisoners but about three weekes after hee made the Ladie and the prisoners to be put againe into prison whereas they were in great miserie chap. 134. How Huon departed from Marsellis and came to his Vncle the Abbot of Cluny in habit disguised and vnto him discouered himselfe wherof the abbot had great ioy and so had Clariet his Daughter Chap. 135. How Duke Huon shewed to his Vncle the Abbot of Cluny all the aduentures that he had since he departed from the Citie of Bourdeaux and how he gaue the Abbot the Apple of youth whereby the abbot became againe to his beautie that hee had when hee was but of Thirtie yeares of age chap. 136. How Huon of Bourdeaux departed from Cluny and went to the Citie of Mayence vppon Friday and how he came nere vnto the Emperours Oratorie chap. 137. How Huon did so much with the Emperour Tirrey that he had peace with him and his wife rendred vnto him and all his Landes and Signiories and how the Emperour brought him vnto the abby of Cluny whereas they found the Abbot in armour not knowing any thing of the peace that was made chap. 138. How the Emperour made good chere vnto Duke Huon of Bourdeaux Chap. 139 How the Emperour arriued at Cluny and how the abbot set vpon him and of the peace that was made and how the Emperour conueyed Huon to Burdeaux and rendred vp all his Lands and of the parting of the Emperour how Huon made prouision to goe to king Oberon chap. 140. How Huon deuised with the Duchesse his Wife of his departing and how shee would goe with him And how hee left his Daughter Land and Signiories in the keeping of his Vncle the Abbot of Cluny and with Barnard his Cozin chap. 141. How Huon tooke leaue of his Daughter and of the good Abbot his Vncle of Barnard his cozin entred into the Riuer of Gerone the Duches with him and of the strange Fortunes that they had chap. 142. How Huon lost all his men and the Ship brake in peeces and how he and the Duchesse saued them selues vpon a board and came and arriued at the Castle of the Monkes chap. 143. How Duke Huon made semblance to haue slaine the Monke holding him fast with 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
done In this respect he commaundeth you both for your own good conseruation of their Landes that you send them vnto him or if you doe not know then for certaine that he will take frō you those Lands you hould giue them to the Prince Charlot his Sonne This is the summe of our Messuage wée attend your answeare Chap. IIII. ¶ The answeare that the Duchesse of Bourdeaux made to the Emperours Messengers WHen the good Lady had well vnderstood the Messengers she answered them gently in this maner My Lordes and honourable Freendes the reason why I haue not sent my Sons to the Court before this time to serue my Lord the King as dutie required was in regarde of their tender yeares and some respect of loue to Duke Seuin their Father and bycause I knew certainlye that my rightfull Lord the Emperour Charlemaine loued alwayes Duke Seuin I neuer feared that he would take displeasure with his Children these thinges haue béene the principall cause why I haue not sent them all this while to serue the King Therefore let my entreats preuaile so much with you as to be a meanes to the Emperour and al the other Barons to hold me and my Children excused in this case for the fault is onelie mine not in them Then Huon stept foorth before his mother and sayd Madame if it had béene your pleasure you might haue sent vs before this time that is true quoth Gerardine for wee are ould ynough to haue our knighthood The Ladie heheld her two Sonnes and wéeping said to the Messengers Sirs you may returne to the King howbeit you shall rest you this night in my house and to morowe depart at your pleasure and you shall recommend me and my Sonnes to the Kings good grace and to the other Barons and Knightes and among other salute Duke Naymes who is néere kinsman to my Sonnes and desire him for the loue of Duke Seuin to stand a continuall fréend vnto them Madame quoth the Messengers haue you no doubt of that for Duke Naymes is a noble Man and a true Knight nor will he at any time be in place where any ill opinion shal passe against them Then the Duchesse commaunded her Sonnes that they should make the Kings Messengers good chéere and to bring them into their Chamber to rest them the which they did and were serued and feasted as appertained to their woorth Then the next morning they returned to the Pallace whereas they found the Duchesse and her two Sonnes and they humbly saluted the Ladie When the Duchesse sawe them she called Huon and Gerardin and said My Sonnes here in the presence of these two Knightes I say that at Easter you shall go to our Soueraigne Lord the Emperour Charlemaine and when you bée in the Court serue your Soueraigne Lord well and truely as subiects ought to doe bée diligent at all times to serue him faithfully kéepe companie with Noble men such as you sée to be of good vertuous condicions be not in place where ill woords be spoken or ill counsalie giuen fly from the companie of them that loue not honour and troth open not your eares to héere Lyers or false Reporters or Flatteres haunt often the Church and giue largly for Gods sake be liberall and courteous and giue to poore Knights fly the companie of Ianglers and all goodnesse shall follow thereby I will there be giuen to each of these Knights a Courser and a rich Gowne as it appertaineth to the Messengers of so noble an Emperour as Charlemaine is and also each of them to haue a hundred Florents Madame quoth Huon your pleasure shal be accomplished then the two Sonnes caused to be brought before the Pallace two goodly Horses and presented them to the two Knights and gaue each of them a rich Gowne and a hundred Florents Whereof the Messengers were ioyfull and thanked the Duchesse and her two Sonnes said that their courtesie should be remembred in time to come howbeit they knew well it was done for the honour of the King then they tooke leaue of the Duchesse and of her two Sonnes and so departed and road without let vntill they came to Paris whereas they found the Emperour in his Pallace sitting among his Barons the King perceiued them and incontinent called them to his presence ere they had leasure to speake the Kinge had them welcome home and demanded of them if they had béen at Bourdeaux and spoken with the Duchesse the two Sonnes of Duke Seuin whether they would come and serue him in his Court or not Dread Lord quoth they we haue béen at Bourdeaux and done your message to the Duchesse who right humbly receiued vs and gaue vs gentle entertainment when shée had heard vs speake and knewe that wée were your Messengers shée made vs the best chéere that shée could deuise and sayd that the cause why shée had not sent her Sonnes to your Court before this time was by reason of their young age and shée humbly requireth your grace to hold both her and her two Sonnes excused and that at this next Easter shée will send them to your Court. As for her Sonnes trust mée my Lord they are two such louely Gentlemen as wée tooke great delight in beholding them especially Huon the eldest he is so fayre and so well fourmed that nature cannot amend him Also my Lord for the loue of you shée hath giuen each of vs a goodly Horse and a rich Gowne and a hundred Florents of gould My Lord the goodnesse the valour and the courtesie that is in the Duchesse and in her Sonnes cannot be recounted and on their behalfe are we to entreat your Maiestie to retaine them alwayes in your fauour and good grace and to pardon the fault of their long absence Chap. V. ¶ How the Emperour was content with the report of the two Knights and how the Traytour Earle Amerie went and complayned to Charlot the Kings Sonne WHen the Emperour had heard the Messengers speake hée was right ioyfull and said I haue alwayes heard say that a good Trée bringeth foorth good fruit I speake it in the behalfe of Duke Seuin who in his time was a valiant true Knight and by that I sée that the twoo Children resemble their good Father I perceiue they haue receiued my Messengers right honourably and with great reuerence haue giuen thē no meane gifts which shal be vnto them auailable in time to come for they shall no sooner be come into my Court but in despight of any that shall speake against them I will doe for them in such wise that it shall bée an example to all other to doe well for I will make them for loue I bare to their Father of my priuie Counsaile and turning then to olde Duke Naymes sayd My Lord alwayes your kindred haue béen good and true and therfore I will that Amerie bee banished from my Court for hée nor euer any of his lineage
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
agrée to beare witnesse of that I shall say to the King I will make you all so rich that yée shall neuer be poore after They answeared they would fulfill his pleasure then they went out of the wood and came there as Charlot lay dead then they tooke him vp and layd him before Earle Amerie on his horse necke and so road foorth but mischéefe and mishap followe them for as much as in them lay they laboured to haue Huon iudged to death Thus they road the hye way to Paris and the Abbot of Cluny who was ridden on before looked behind him and sawe the two Brethren comming after him then he taried and demaunded of Huon what aduenture hée had found Sir quoth he I haue slayne him that hath sore hurt my Brother where he thought to haue slaine me but thanked be God I haue left him dead in the place Faire Nephew quoth the Abbot I am sorrie thereof but séeing it is done if any hurt come thereby and that you be accused before the King I shall ayd you with all my power Sir quoth Huon of that I thanke you then Huon looked behind him and saw where Earle Amerie with all his power came faire easily after him therewith his heart trembled Then he said vnto the Abbot Sir what shall I doe yonder I sée them approach that desire my death they bée the same that lay in the wood watching for vs. Faire Nephew quoth the Abbot haue no doubt for they that come after vs come but a soft pace they make no semblance to ouertake you let vs ride on a good pace we shal be anone at Paris it is now but two miles thether Then they road on and rested not vntill they came to the Pallaice and béeing there alighted Huon went vp holding his Brother by the one hand and the Abbot by the other hand There they saw the King sitting among his Barons then Huon saluted Duke Naymes and all the other Barons and said Health and faire hap to all these noble Lords but shame and dishonour to my Lord the King for there was neuer heard of a fowler treason then the King hath practised against vs séeing that by his Messengers his Letters Patents he hath sent for vs to doe him seruice the which commaundement we haue in all dutie obayed as to our Soueraigne Lord but by false treason waight hath béen layd secretly for vs and a close ambush to haue murdered vs by the way first they assayled my brother héere present by them he was brought into such danger that they left him for dead and afterward they set vpon me to haue slayne mée but by the ayd of our Lord Iesus Christ and with my Sword I so defended me that he that thought to haue slayne vs I haue slayne him Chap. IX ¶ How the King was sore displeased with Huon bycause hee had appeached him of treason and how Huon shewed all the manner why he slewe the Knight that wounded his Brother WHEN the King had heard Huon he said Knight beware and thinke well what thou hast sayd héere before all my Barons for neuer in all my life did I either act or giue my consent to any treason But by the faith that I owe vnto my maker and by my beard if it be so that thou canst not prooue this that thou layest to my charge I shall cause both thée and thy Brother to dye an euill death When Huon heard the King how hée tooke his words he stept foorth and sayd Great King behold héere my Brother who by thy meanes is sore hurt and in ieopardie of his life And so did take off his Brothers Gowne and his Dublet to his shyrt and he did open the great wound so that the bloud ran out aboundantly euen that it enforced Gerardin to fall in a swound before the King and his Barons through the great anguishe that he felt whereof the Emperour tooke such compassion that he could not choose but much bemone him And therefore immediatly sent for his Surgeons causing thē to search his wounds demaunding if they could saue his life or no and when they had thorowly searched the wound they said Sir by the help of God within this moneth he shal be whole and sound The King was glad of that answeare and beholding Huon said Since thou layest this déed to my charge thou must thinke that thou hast touched the royall reputation of a King and that in such sort as verie hardly may the condition of Maiestie endure it But by my Countreys honour and by the Crowne that I iustly beare vpon my head if I may knowe who hath done this heynous offence I shall doe both thy Brother and thée such right and iustice as it shall remaine for a perpetuall memorie of due honour and that your selues shall report you haue no cause to complaine My Lord answeared Huon I humbly thanke you for through obaying your commaundement this mischéefe is fallen vnto vs. I cannot thinke nor know that any time of our life eyther I or my Brother did euer wrong or trespasse to any creature but thus by your Kingly pacience the case happened After we departed from Bourdeaux wée found no aduenture but when we came within a League of Montleherry wee met with our Vnckle the Abbot of Cluny and so fell in companie with him to conduct vs to the Court and so we road together vntill we came on this side Montleherry then we sawe a little wood and by the brightnesse of the Sonne we saw the healmes and speares and shéelds of them that were ambushed in the wood and that one came out of the wood all armed his speare in his hand and shéeld about his necke and hée came a soft pace towards vs then all we stood still and sent my brother to the knight to know whether they were Spies or men to kéepe the passage to the entent that if they demanded any Tribute they should haue right of vs if they would haue any of vs. When my brother came néere to the Knight he demaunded what we were and my brother said how we were the Children of the Duke of Bourdeaux and were comming by your commaundement to your Court to reléeue our Lands and Fées of your grace then the Knight sayd how we were the same persons that he sought for and sayd how that a Seauen yeares passed Duke Seuin our Father had taken from him thrée Castles the which was neuer so then my brother offered him that if he would come to Paris before you and your Barons he should haue right done to him if he had any wrong done to him Then the Knighte answeared that he would not doe soe and therewith suddainly couched his speare and stroake my brother as you sée he béeing vnarmed so that he fell to the earth wéening he had béen slain and then he road againe faire and easily toward the wood When I saw my brother borne to the earth I had such sorrow at
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
Galley such as shall bée necessarie for you Most holy Father quoth Huon of this I thanke you Well quoth the Pope this night you shall abide hâ—ere with me Sir quoth he I require you to let me depart for greatly I desire to sée mine Vncle Garyn When the Pope saw that he would néedes depart he deliuered him his Letter and sayd Faire Nephew salute from me my Brother Garyn your Vncle. Sir quoth he I shall do your commaundement then the Pope gaue to Huon great and rich presents and to all them that were with him and hée kissed his Nephew at his departing Huon tooke leaue of theÌ„ all wéeping and so departed and entred into the Riuer of Tiber in a rich Shippe the which the Pope had well garnished for him Thus hee had good winde so that anone they arriued at Brandis but whiles he was on the water hee wept sore and pityously complayned in that he was so departed out of his Countrey then his men comforted him and shewed many faire examples to comfort him Sir quoth Guichard leaue your sorrow for gréefe and sadnesse cannot auaile you you must put all to the mercie of our Lord God who neuer forgetteth them that loue him shew your selfe a man and no Child to the entent that we that be with you may be reioyced for the sorrow that we sée you in doth sore trouble vs. Deare fréend quoth Huon since it is so I shall follow your will and thus they arriued at the Port of Brandis Then they yssued out of their Shippe and tooke out their Horses and there they saw Garyn sitting before the Port in a lodge well and richly hanged in a goodly Chaire When Huon saw him sitting he saluted him thinking that he was Lord of that Countrey then Garyn beheld Huon and began to wéepe and said Sir it doth not appertaine vnto me that you should doe me so great honour as you doe for by that I sée in you I am constrained to wéepe bycause you resemble so much to a Prince of the Realme of Fraunce called Duke Seuin who was Lord of the Citie of Bourdeaux the great loue that euer I bare vnto him caused me to wéepe therefore I require you tell me where you were borne and who be your Parents and fréends for Duke Seuin wedded my Sister the Duchesse Aclis Sir quoth Huon séeing you will néedes know what I am I may well shew it vnto you for that Duke was my Father and the Duchesse Aclis is my Mother we are two brethren I am the eldest the younger is still at Bourdeaux to kéepe our Land When Garyn vnderstood that Huon was Sonne to Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux the ioy that he had could not be expressed then he embraced Huon all wéeping and said Right deare Nephew your comming is to me the greatest ioy in this world so he knéeled downe and would haue kissed Huons féete but Huon reléeued him incontinent The ioy that was betwéene them two was so great that all that saw it had maruaile thereof Then Garyn demaunded of Huon and said Faire Nephew what aduenture hath brought you into these parts Then Huon shewed him from point to point all his businesse and the cause why he was entred into that Enterprize When Garyn had heard all he began to wéepe and yet to comfort his Nephew he said Faire Huon whereas lyeth great perils there lyeth great honour God ayd you to eschew and to finish this great businesse all is possible to God and to man by meanes of his grace a man ought neuer to bâ— abashed for worldly matters Then Huon deliuered his Letters to his Vncle Garyn who gladly receiued them and read the contents thereof at large Then he said Faire Nephew there néede none other recommendations but the sight of your presence for it appeareth well by your countenance that you be the same person that our holy Father maketh mention of surely your comming séemeth to mée faire and good and you be arriued at a good Port for I promise you faithfully I loue well my Wife and my Children but the great loue that I haue vnto you for the loue of your Father Duke Seuin and the Duchesse your Mother who was mine owne deare Sister I abandon all that I haue to serue you and kéepe you companie both with my bodie and all that I haue Knowe for truth I haue thrée good Galleys three great Shippes well fournished of euerie thing for the warre the which I shall lead with you for as longe as life abideth in my bodie I shall not abandon you but I shall ayde you in all your Enterprizes Faire Vncle quoth Huon for the great courtesie that you offer mée I can but thanke you then Garyn tooke Huon by the hand and led him into his Castle whereas hée was richly receiued Garyns Wife and foure of her Sonnes came vnto Huon and he full courteously kissed the Ladie and her foure Children his Coozens great ioy was made there in the Hall and the Tables set for Supper Then Garyn called his Wife and said Madame this young Knight that you sée héere is my Nephew and Coozen to your Children who is come hether for refuge to haue counsaile and ayd of me in a Voyage and Enterprise that he hath to doe and by the grace of God I shall go with him to ayd and to conduct him wherefore I pray and commaund that you take in rule all my affaires and kéepe your Children Sir quoth she séeing it is your pleasure thus to doe and that you will goe with him your will let be fulfilled howbeit I had rather you abode then went this shée spake sore wéeping The next day in the morning Garyn who had great will to serue and please his Nephew ordained a great Shippe to be made readie well fournished with Bisket Wines and flesh and all other manner of victuals and with munition of warre as it appertained and put therein their horses and armour gould and siluer other riches necessarie for them then they tooke leaue of the Ladie and so lest her sore wéeping Thus Garyn and Huon entred into their Ship and all their companie there were Thirtéene Knightes and Twoo Varlets to serue them for they would haue no greater number Chap. XX. ¶ How Huon of Bourdeaux departed from Brandis and Garyn his Vncle with him and how he came to Ierusalem and from thence into the Deserts whereas hee founde Gerames and of their conference WHen Huon and Garyn were entred into their Ship they hoysed vp their Sailes and sayled night and daye so that at last they arriued safely at the Port of Iaffe where they tooke landing and drew out their horses and road foorth so the same day that they came to Rames and the next day to the Citie of Ierusalem that night they rested and the next day they did their Pilgrimage to the holy Sepulchre and there deuoutly heard Seruice and offered according to their deuotion When Huon came before the
holy Sepulchre he kneeled downe vpon his bare knées and all wéeping made his prayers to our Lord God requiring him to ayd and comfort him in his voyage so that he might returne againe into Fraunce and to haue peace with King Charlemaine And when they all had made their prayers and offered Huon and Garyn went into a little Chapell vpon the mount of Caluerye whereas nowe lyeth the bodies of Godfrey of Bullen and Bauldwin his Brother there Huon called vnto him all those that came with him out of Fraunce and said Sirs you that for the loue of mée haue left your Fathers and Mothers Wiues and Children Lands and Signiories for this courtesie that you haue shewed mee I thanke you Now you may returne into Fraunce againe and humbly recommend mée to the Kinges good grace and vnto all the other Barons and when you come to Bourdeaux do my dutie to the Duchesse my Mother and to Gerard my Brother and vnto the Lords of my Countrey Then Guichard and all the other Knights answeared Huon and said Sir as yet we will not leaue you neither for death nor life vntill we haue brought you vnto the red Sea why then quoth Huon for the great seruice and curtesie that you offer mee I thanke you Then Garyn called two of his seruants and commaunded them to returne vnto his wife and to desire her to be of good chéere and that shortly he would returne the which thing they did and returned and did their messuage When Huon vnderstood that his Vncle Garyn was disposed to abide with him he sayd Faire Vncle you shall not néede to trauaile so much I would councell you to returne vnto your Wife and Children Sir quoth Garyn God will I shall not leaue you no day vntill you returne your selfe Vncle quoth Huon I thanke you of your courtesie then they went to their lodging and dyned and after dinner tooke their horses and so road by Hils and Dales so that if I should recount all the aduentures that they found in their way it should be too long a processe to shew it but as the true Historie witnesseth they suffered much paine and trauaile for they passed such Deserts whereas they found but small sustenance whereof Huon was right sorrowfull for the loue of them that were with him and began to wéepe and to remember his owne Countrey saying Alas noble King of Fraunce great wrong and great sinne you haue done me thus to driue me out of my Countrey and to send mée into a strange Land to the entent to shorten my dayes I pray God to pardon you therefore then Garyn and the other Knights comforted him and said Alas Sir dismay you not for vs God is puissant ynough to ayd vs hée neuer fayleth them that loueth him Thus they road forth in the Desert so long vntill at last they saw a little Cottage before the which sat an old ancient man with a long white beard and his heare hanging ouer his shoulders when Huon perceiued him he drew thether and saluted the olde man in the name of God and of the blessed Virgin Marie then the ancient man lifted vp his eyes and beheld Huon and had great maruaile for of a long season before he had séene no man that spake of God then he beheld Huon in the face and began sore to wéepe and stepping vnto Huon tooke him by the Leg kissed it more then twentie times Fréend quoth Huon I desire you shew me why you make this sorrow Sir quoth he about thirtie yeares passed I came hether and since that time I neuer sawe man beléeuing on the Christian faith and now the regarding of â—our visage causeth me to remember a noble Prince that I haue séene in Fraunce who was called Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux therefore I require you shew me if euer you saw him I pray you hide it not from me Fréend quoth Huon I pray you shew me where you were borne of what lineage and Countrey you be of Nay sir quoth he that will I not doe first you shal shew me what you be and where you were borne and why you come hether Fréend quoth Huon séeing it pleaseth you to know I shall shew you then Huon and all his companye alighted and tyed theyr Horses to Trées When Huon was alighted he sat downe by the old man and said Fréend since you will néedes know my businesse I shall shew you know for troth I was borne in the Citie of Bourdeaux and am Son to Duke Seuin and Huon shewed him all his whole case and Enterprize and of the death of Charlot and how he discomfited Earle Amerie and howe that Charlemaine hadde chaced him out of Fraunce and of the Messuage that he was charged to say vnto the Admirall Gaudise affirming all to be for certaintie When the oulde man hadde well heard Huon he began sore to wéepe Sir quoth Huon since it pleaseth you to know of my sorrowe Duke Seuin my Father is dead seauen yeares past my Mother I trust be aliue and a Brother of mine whome I haue left with her And nowe sir séeing you haue heard of mine affaires I require you giue me your counsaile and aduice and also if it please you to shew me what you be and of what Countrey and how you came into these parts Sir quoth the old man know for troth I was borne in Geronâ—ill am brother to the good Prouost Guyer when I departed thence I was a young Knight haunted the Iustes and Tourneys so that on a daie it fortuned at a Tourney that was made at Poytiers I slew a Knight of a noble bloud wherefore I was banished out of the Realme of Fraunce But my brother the Prouost made such a request to Duke Seuin your Father that by his meanes my peace was made with the King and my land saued vpon condition that I should goe to the holy Sepulchre to punish my bodie for the Knight that I flew and to forgiue my faults Thus I departed out of my countrey and when I had done my voyage I thought to haue returned but as I departed out of the Citie of Ierusalem to take the way to Acres passing by a wood betwéene Ierusalem and Naples there came vpon me ten Sarazins who tooke me and brought me to the Citie of Babilon whereas I was in prison two yeares complet whereas I suffered much pouertie and miserie but our Lord God who neuer fayleth them that serueth him and haue in him full affiance he sent me the grace that by the meanes of a right noble Ladie I was brought out of prison in a night and so I fled into this Forrest whereas I haue béene this thirtie yeares in all this space I neuer saw nor heard man beléeuing in Iesus Christ thus I haue shewed you all mine affaires When Huon had heard the Knights tale he had great ioy and embraced him and saide howe often times he had séene Guyre his Brother the Prouost wéepe for
a great déepe Riuer and they could finde no guide nor passage to passe ouer and so they wist not what to doe then suddainly they sawe passe by them a seruant of King Oberon bearing a rod of gold in his hand and so without speaking of any word he entred into the Riuer and tooke his rod stroke the water therewith thrée times then incontinent the water withdrew a both sides in such wise that there was a path that thrée men might ride a froont and that done he departed againe without speaking of any word Then Huon and his companie entred into the water and so passed thorowe without any danger and when they were past they looked behind them and sawe the Riuer close againe and ran after his old course By my faith quoth Huon I thinke we be enchaunted I beléeue surely King Oberon hath done this but séeing we be thus scaped out of perill I trust from henceforth we shall haue no more doubt Thus they roade foorth together singing and oftentimes spake of the great maruailes that they had seene King Oberon doe and as they road Huon beheld on his right hand and sawe a faire meadowe well garnished with hearbes and flowers and in the middest thereof a faire cleare Fountaine then Huon roade thether and alighted and let their Horses goe to pasture then they spread a cloath on the gréene grasse and set thereon such meate as Kinge Oberon had giuen them at their departing and there they did eat drinke such drinke as they found in the Cup. By my faith quoth Huon it was a faire aduenture for vs when we met Oberon and that I spake to him he hath shewed me great tokens of loue when he gaue me such a Cup if I may returne into Fraunce in sauegard I shall giue it to Charlemaine who will make great ioy therwith and if he cannot drinke thereof the Barons of Fraunce will haue great sport thereof Then againe he repented him of his owne words and said I am a foole to thinke or to say thus for as yet I cannot tell what end I shall come to the Cup that I haue is better worth then two Cities but as yet I cannot beléeue the vertue to be in the Horne as Oberon haâ—h shewed nor that he may héere it so farre off but whatsoeuer fortune fall I will assay it if it hath such vertue or not Alas Sir quoth Gerames beware what you doe you knowe well when wée departed what charge he gaue you certainly you and we both are lost if you trespas against his commaundement Surely quoth Huon whatsoeuer fortune fall I will assay it and so tooke the Horne and set it to his mouth and blewe it so loud that the wood rang then Gerames and all the other began to sing and to make great ioy Then Garyn said Faire Nephewe blowe still and so Huon blew still with such force that Oberon who was in his wood about fiftéene Leagues of heard him clearely and said Alas my fréends I heare my fréend blowe whome I loue best of all the world alas what man is so hardy to doe him any ill I wishe my selfe with him with a hundred thousand men at armes incontinent he was nere to Huon with a hundred thousand men at armes When Huon and his companie heard the Hoast comming and saw Oberon come ryding on before them they were affraid and it was no maruaile séeing the commaundement that Oberon had giuen them before Then Huon saide alas Sirs I haue done ill nowe I sée well we cannot escape but that we are likely all to die certainly quoth Gerames you haue well deserued it houlde your peace quoth Huon dismay you not let me speake to him therewith Oberon came to them and saide Huon what meaâ—eth this where are they that will doe thée any ill why hast thou broken my commaundement Alas Sir quoth Huon I shall shew you the truth wée were sitting right now in this meadowe and did eat of that you gaue vs I beléeue I tooke too much drinke out of the Cup that you gaue me the vertue of the which we well assayed then I thought to trye also the vertue of the rich Horne to the entent that if I shoulde haue any néede that I might be sure thereof now I know for troth that all is true that you haue shewed me wherefore Sir in the honour of God I require you to pardon my trespas else sir héere is my swoord strike off my head at your pleasure for â— know well without your ayd I shall neuer come to atchieue mine enterprise Huon quoth Oberon the bountie and great troth that is in thée coÌ„streyneth me to giue thee pardon but beware from hencefoorth be not so hardy as to breake my commaundement Sir quod Huon I thanke you well quoth Oberon I knowe surely that thou hast as yet much to suffer for thou must passe by a citie named Tormont wherein there is a Tyrant called Macayr and yet he is thine owne Vncle brother to thy father Duke Seuin when he was in Fraunce he had thought to haue murdered king Charlemaine but his treason was knowne and he had béen slaine if thy Father Duke Seuin had not béen so he was sent to the holy Sepulchre to do his penaunce for the ill that he had dâ—ne and so afterward there he renounced the faith of our Lord God and tooke vppon him the Paynims Law the which he hath kept euer since so strongly that if he heare any man speake of our lord god he will pursue him to death and looke what promise that hée maketh he keepeth none therefore I aduise thee trust not on him for surely he will put thee to death if he may thou canst not escape if thou goest by that City therefore I counsaile thee take not that way if thou be wise Sir quoth Huon of your courtesie loue and good councell I thanke you but whatsoeuer fortune fall to me I will go to mine Vncle and if he be such a one as you say I shall make him to die an ill death and if néede be I shall sound my Horne and I am sure at my néede you will ayd me Of that you may be sure quoth Oberon but of one thing I forbid thée be not so hardy to sound thy Horne without thou bée hurt for if thou doe the contrarie I shall so martir thée that thy bodie shall not endure it Sir quoth Huon bée assured your commaundement I will not breake then Huon tooke leaue of King Oberon who was sorrie when Huon departed Sir quoth Huon I haue maruaile why you wéepe I pray you shew mee the cause why you doe it Huon quoth Oberon the great loue that I haue to thée is that causeth me to doe it for as yet hereafter thou shalt suffer so much ill and trauaile that no humane tongue can tell it Sir quoth Huon ye shew me many things not greatly to my profite Sure quoth Oberon and yet thou shalt suffer
more than I haue spoken of and al by thine owne folly Chap. XXVI ¶ How Huon arriued at Tormont and found a man at a gate who brought him to lodge at the Prouosts howse in the towne AFter that OberoÌ„ had shewed Huon part of that should fall to him and was departed Huon and his company theÌ„ mounted on their horses and so rode foorth so long till they came to the cittie of Tormont Gerames who had béen there before when he saw the citie he said to Huon Alas sir we be ill ariued behould here we be in the way to suffer much trouble Sir quoth Huon be not dismaide for by the grace of god wée shall right well escape for who that God will aide no man can hurt Then they entred into the Citie as they came to the gate they met a man with a bowe in his hand who had beene a sporting without the Citie Huon road formost and saluted him in the name of God saying Fréend what call you this Citie The man stood still and had maruaile what men they were that spake of God he beheld them and said Sirs the God in whose name you haue saluted mée kéepe and defende you from incombrance howbeit I desire you in as much as you loue your liues speake softly that you bée not heard for if the Lord of this Citie knowe that you bée christian men he will slay you all sirs you may trust me for I am christened but I dare not be knowne thereof I haue such feare of the Duke Fréend quoth Huon I pray thée shew me who is Lord of this Citie what is his name Sir quoth he he is a false Tyrant when he was christened he was named Macayr but he hath renounced God he is so fierce and proud that as nowe hee hateth nothing so much as them that beléeue in Iesus Christ but Sir I pray you shewe me whether you will goe Fréend quoth Huon I would gladly goe to the red Sea and from thence to Babilon I would tarie this day in this Citie for I and my companie are sore wearie Sir quoth he and if you will beléeue me you shall not enter into this Citie to lodge for if the Duke knewe it none could saue your liues therefore if it be your pleasure I shall lead you another way beside the Towne Sir quoth Gerames for Gods sake beléeue him that counsaileth you so truly Know for troth quoth Huon I will not doe thus I sée well it is almost night the Sun goeth lowe therefore I will lodge this night héere in this Towne whatsoeuer befall for a good Towne should neuer be forsaken Sir quoth the strange man séeing it is so for the loue of God I shall bring you to a lodging whereas you shal be well and honestly lodged in a good mans house that beléeueth in God named Gonder he is Prouost of the City and well beloued with the Duke Fréend quoth Huon God reward thée so this man went on thorow the Towne vntill he came at the Prouosts house whome they founde sitting at his gate Huon that was a faire speaker saluted him in the name of God and the Prouost arose vp beheld Huon and his companie and he had great maruaile what they were séeing they saluted him in the name of God then he said Sirs you be welcome but a Gods name I desire you speake softly that you be not heard for if the Duke of this Citie knewe this you should vtterly bee loste but if it please you to tary this night héere in my house for the loue of God all that I haue in my house shall be yours to doe therewith at your pleasure I abandon all to you Sir I thanke God I haue that in my house that if you abide héere this twoo yeare you shall not néede to buy any thing without Sir quoth Huon of this faire proffer I thanke you and so he and his companie alighted and there were seruants ynough to take their Horses and to set them vp then the Host tooke Huon and Gerames and the other brought them to Chambers to dresse them then they came into the hall wheras they found the Tables set and couered and so sat downe were richly serued with diuers meats When they had done and were rysen Huon called Gerames and said Sir goe in hast into the Towne and get a cryer and cause to be cryed in euerie market place and stréete that whosoeuer will come and sup at the Prouosts house aswell noble as vnâ—â—â—le men women and children rich and poore and all manner of people of what estate or degrée soeuer they be shall come merrily and fréely and nothing pay neither for meat nor drinke whereof they should haue as they wished and also hée commaunded Gerames that all the meat that he could get in the Towne he should buy it and pay readie money for the same Sir quoth Gerames your pleasure shall be done Sir quoth the Host you know well all that is in my house I haue abandoned vnto you therefore sir you shall not néed to seeke for any thing further take of my goods at your pleasure Sir quoth Huon I thanke you I haue monney ynough to fournish all that néede and also Sir I haue a Cup of great vertue for if all the people that be within this Citie were héere present they should haue drinke ynough by reason of my Cup the which was made in Fayry Land When the Host heard Huon he began to smile beléeued that those words had béene spoken but in iest Then Huon not well aduised tooke the Horne of Iuorie from his necke and tooke it to his Host to kéepe saying mine Hoste I take you this to kéepe for it is a precious thing therefore kéepe it surely that I may haue it againe when I demaund it Sir quoth he I shall surely kéepe it and when it please you it shall bée readie and so tooke the Horne and layd it vp in a Coffer But after fell such an houre that Huon would haue had it rather then all the goods in the world as you shall heare more hereafter Chap. XXVII ¶ How Huon gaue a supper vnto all the poore men of the Citie and howe the Duke was Vncle to Huon and howe the Duke had Huon into his Castle THVS when Gerames had this commaundement of Huon he went into the Citie and made to be cryed in diuers places as he was commanded to do When this crye was made there was no Begger Vacabound nor Ribauld Iugler Minstrell old nor yong but by great flockes they came all to the Prouosts house in number more then foure hundred and Gerames bought vp bread meat flesh and other victuals all that he could finde in the Citie and payed for it thus the supper was dressed and euerie man set at the Tables Huon serued them with his Cup in his hand and made euerie man to drinke of that he put out of his Cup into other pots
and yet euer the Cup was full When the people had well eaten and dronken the good wines and were well chased in their braines some began to sing and some to sleepe at the Table and some did beat their fysts vpon the boards that it was maruaile to sée the life that they led whereof Huon had great ioy The same time the Dukes Steward came into the Towne to buy his Maisters Supper but he could neither find bread nor flesh nor no other victuals whereof he was sore displeased and then he demaunded the cause why he found no victuals as he was accustomed to doe Sir quoth the Butchers and Bakers in the house of Gonder the Prouost is lodged a yong man who hath made to be cryed in all the City that al beggers and ribaulds should come to Supper at his lodging and he hath bought vp all the victuals that he could get in the Towne Then the Paynim in great despight went to the Pallaice vnto the Duke and said Sir I can get nothing in the Towne for your Supper there is a young man lodged in the Prouosts house that hath bought vp all the victuals to giue a Supper to all the beggers vacabounds and ribaulds that can be found in the Towne When the Duke vnderstood that he was sore displeased and swoore by Mahound that he would go see that Supper then he commaunded all his men to be readie in harnesse to goe with him and as he was going out of his Pallaice a Traytor who had stollen priuily out of the Prouosts house whereas he had been at supper with other said to the Duke sir know for troth there is in your Prouosts house a knight who hath giuen a Supper to all people that would come thether and so there is no begger no ribauld nor other that would sup but are come thether and Sir this Knight hath a Cup Letter worth then all this Citie for if all the people betweene East and West should dye for lacke of drinke they should haue all ynough for as often as you will emptie the Cup it will be full againe incontinent When the Duke heard that he had great maruaile and saide such a Cuppe were good for him and swoore by Mahound that he would haue that Cup let vs go thether for my will is to haue that Cup and all those Knights shall loose their horses and baggage I will leaue them nothing Then he went foorth with thirtie Knights and rested not vntill he came to the Prouosts house and founde the gates open When the Prouost perceiued him he came to Huon and saide Alas Sir you haue done ill héere is come the Duke in great displeasure if God haue not pitie of you I cannot sée how you can escape without death Sir quoth Huon dismay you not for I shall speake so faire that he shall be content then Huon with a merrie chéere came to the Duke and said Sir you be welcome Beware quoth the Duke come not néere me for no christian man may come into my Citie without my Licence wherefore I will thou knowest that you shall all loose your heads and all that you brought hether Sir quoth Huon when you haue slaine vs you shall win thereby but little and it were great wrong for you so to doe I shall tell thée quoth the Duke why I will so do it is bycause you be christian men therefore thou shalt be the first shewe me on thy faith why hast thou assembled all this companie héere to Supper Sir quoth Huon I haue done it bicause I am going to the red Sea and bicause these poore men will pray to God for me that I may safely returne Sir this is the cause that I haue made them to sup with me Well quoth the Duke great folly hast thou spoken for thou shalt neuer sée faire day you shall all loose your heads Sir quoth Huon leaue all this I pray you and your comapanie sit downe and eate and drinke at your pleasure and I shall serue you as well as I can and then Sir if I haue done any wrong I will make you amends in such wise that you shall be content for if you doe me any hurt it shall be to you but a small conquest Sir me thinks if you will do nobly you should somewhat forbeare vs for as I haue heard say you were once christened Then the Duke said vnto Huon thou hast sayd well I am content to sup for as yet I haue not supped Then the Duke commaunded euerie man to be disarmed and to sit downe at the Table the which they did and Huon and Gerames serued them and they were well serued at that supper then Huon tooke his Cup and came to the Duke and said Sir sée you not héere this Cup the which is voyd and emptie I sée well quoth the Duke there is nothing therein Then Huon made the signe of the crosse ouer the Cup and incontinent it was full of wine he tooke the Cuppe to the Duke who had great maruaile thereof and assoone as the Cuppe was in his handes it was voyd againe What quoth the Duke thou hast enchaunted mee Sir quoth Huon I am none Enchaunter but it is for the sin that you be in set it down for you are not worthy to hold it you were borne in an euill houre How art thou so hardy quoth the Duke to speake thus vnto me I repute thee for a proud foole thou knowest well it lyeth in my power to destroy thée there is no man dare say the contrarie yet I pray thée tell me thy name and where thou wert borne and whether thou goest and of what kinne thou art Sir quoth Huon for any thinge that may fal vnto me I wil not hide my name nor kindred therefore Sir know for troth I was borne at Bourdeaux vpon Gerone and am Sonne to Duke Seuin who is dead seauen yeares passed When the Duke heard how Huon was his Nephew he saide The Sonne of my Brother Nephew why hast thou taken in this Citie any other lodging but mine shewe mée whether thou wilt goe Sir quoth Huon I am going to Babilon to the Admirall Gaudise to doe to him a Messuage from King Charlemaine of Fraunce bycause I slewe his Sonne there so he shewed his Vncle all his aduenture and how the king had taken away his Land nor should he haue it againe vntill he had done his Messuage to the Admirall Faire Nephew quoth the Duke in like wise I was banished the Realme of Fraunce and since I haue denyed the faith of Iesus Christ and since I married héere in this Countrey a great Ladie by whome I haue great Lands to gouerne whereof I am Lord Nephew I will that you shall goe and lodge with me in my Castle and to morrow you shall haue of my Barons to conduct you vntill you come vnto Babilon Sir quoth Huon I thanke you since it is your pleasure I will goe with you to your Pallaice Then Gerames priuily
sayd vnto him Sir if you goe thether you may perhaps repent your selfe so it may well be quoth Gonder the Prouost Then Huon commanded to trusse vp all their geare and to make readie their horses and tooke with him his Cup but he left still his Horne with the Prouost Thus Huon went with his Vncle vnto his Castle and lay there all night the next morning Huon came vnto his Vncle to take his leaue Faire Nephew quoth the Duke I require you to tarie vntill my Barons come that shall conduct you in your iourney Sir quoth Huon séeing it pleaseth you I am content to abide and so they sat them downe to dinner Chap. XXVIII ¶ How the Duke thought to haue murdered Huon his owne Nephew whiles he sat at the Table WHen this Traytour Duke sawe his Nephewe sit at the Table hee called to him a Knight borne in Fraunce called Geffrey who came out of Fraunce with the Duke and had in like manner denyed the law of Christ and he was secret with the Duke then the Duke priuily sayde vnto him Fréend go and arme an Hundred or Six score Paynims and cause them to come hether let them slay my Nephew and all that are come with him for if one escape you shall loose my fauour Sir quoth Geffrey your will shal be done then Geffrey went into a Chamber whereas there was two Hundred Armours hanging when he came thether he said within himselfe Alas good Lord this villaine Traytour would slay the Sonne of his Brother who when I was in Fraunce did me once a great courtesie for I had béene dead slaine if Duke Seuin his Father had not succoured me it is reason for that he did then to mée to render againe some reward vnto his Sonne God confound mee if he hath any ill for me but I shall rather cause the false Duke to buy dearely the treason that he would doe vnto his Nephewe The same season there was in the Castle about Seauen-score Prisoners all French-men who were taken vpon the Sea and the Duke kept them in prison to the intent to put them to death he was so cruell against all christian men but God who neuer forgetteth his seruants sucoured them This Geffrey went to the Prison and said to the prisoners Sirs if you will saue your liues come out and follow me Then the prisoners incontinent yssued out of the Prison and followed Geffrey he brought them into the Chamber whereas all the harnesse hanged and caused them all to be armed and said Sirs if you haue courage and will to issue hence it is time now you shew your vertue Sir quoth they to dye in the quarrell we shall doe your commaundement to come out of bondage into fréedome When Geffrey hearde them he was right ioyfull and sayd Sirs know surely that there is héere in this Pallaice at dinner the Son of Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux and he is Nephewe to the Duke Lord of this house who was once christened and hath denyed the faith of our Lord God and he hath commaunded me to cause Seauen-score Paynims to be armed to come and to slay his Nephewe and all his company Thus when they were all armed and Swords by their sides they followed Geffrey to the Pallaice and when they entred Huon sayd to the Duke his Vncle. Sir these men in harnesse that enter into this hall be they such as ye haue commaunded to come hether to conduct me in my iourney No Huon quoth the Duke it is otherwise then thou thinkest thinke surely to die there is no remedie thou shalt neuer sée faire day more Then he said Sirs step forth looke that no christian man escape you but let them all be slaine Chap. XXIX ¶ How by the ayd of Geffrey and of the Prisoners Huon was succoured and slew all the Paynims and the Duke fled and after besieged the Castle WHen Huon sawe the malice of his Vncle and his false treason he was sore abashed and arose vp suddainly and put his helmet on his head and tooke his Sword in his hand Then Geffrey came in and cryed Saint Denis you noble French-men take héede that no Paynim escape aliue but slay them all with sorrow The French-men drew out their Swords and fought with the Paynims on all parts so that within a short time they were all slaine And when the Duke sawe howe they were no Paynims that slewe his men hée was in great feare of his life and so fled away into a secret Chamber When Huon perceiued that they were French-men that had thus succoured him he pursued the Duke with his Sword in his hand all bloudy with the bloud of the Paynims that he had slaine and when the trayterous Duke saw that his Nephewe so followed him hee fledde from Chamber to Chamber vntill hee came to a windowe opening vppon the Garden side and so leapt out thereat and ran away whereof Huon and Geffrey and the other French-men were right sorrowfull Then they closed the gates and lifted vp the bridges to the entent that they should not be taken within then they came into the Hall whereas one tooke acquaintance of another whereof they had great ioy But if God had not succoured them their ioy had béen turned to sorrow for the Duke who was escaped when he came into the towne he made a crye that as many as were able to beare armour should come vnto him so that he and all that he could make came with him before the Pallaice being more then Tenne Thousand persons and they all sware the death of the christian men within the Pallaice When the Duke saw that hée had such a number he was ioyfull and then he commanded his Engins to be raised vp and Ladders on euerie part and there with Pikes and Mattockes they brake downe a corner Tower and the christian men within defended them selues valiantly But their defence had little auailed them if our Lord God had not mightily succoured them When Huon knewe the danger that they were in hée was sore displeased and sayd Ah good Lord I ought to be sore agréeued when I see that wée be thus kept in by mine Vncle I feare me we shall neuer sée more dayes Then Gerames said Sir for the loue of God blowe nowe your Horne Alas quoth Huon it is not in my power to doe it for the Prouost Gonder hath it in kéeping Ah Huon quoth Gerames in an ill houre we were acquainted with you for nowe by your folly and pride we are in the way of distruction Thus as they were deuising Gonder the Prouost came to the Duke and said Sir I haue great maruaile that you will thus destroy your owne Pallaice great folly you doe therein rather I would councell you to leaue this assault and let there be a peace made betwéene you and your Nephew vpon condition to let him and his company go safely away Prouost quoth the Duke I pray 〈◊〉 goe and doe the best that thou canst I will
Sirs yonder I sée a Tower the which was forbidden me by Oberon but as God help me before it be night I will sée what is within it whatsoeuer come thereof Then Gerames beheld the Tower and began to sorow and said Ah Huon he is a foole that agréeth to the counsaile of a Child Sir for Gods sake beware that you breake not the commandement of King Oberon for if you doe great ill is like to come vnto you Sir quoth Huon if all the men nowe liuing shoulde forbid mee to goe thether I would not obay them for you knowe well I departed out of Fraunce for none other thing but to search the strangest aduentures and I demaund nothing else but to find aduentures therefore speake no more to the contrarie for ere I sléepe I will fight with the Gyant for though he be more harder then yron yet I shall slay him or he mée and you Gerames all the other abyde you héere in this meadowe vntill I returne againe Sir quoth Gerames in wéeping it sore displeaseth me that it will bee no better therefore I recommende you vnto the sauegard of God Thus Huon departed and left his companie heauily complayning Huon armed himselfe and so tooke his way and kissed all his men one after another and tooke with him his Horne and Cup so all alone on foot he went foorth rested not vntill he came to the gate of the castle of Dunother there he saw the twoo men of Brasse that without ceasing beate with their â—layles he beheld them well and thought it was in a manner impossible to enter without death Then he began to consider hereon with himselfe how King Oberon had shewed him the troth and thought without the aide of the grace of God it were impossible to enter whereuppon he beheld all about if there were any other place to enter at last he saw neere to a piller of marble a Bason of gould fast tyed with a chaine then he approached neere thereto and drew out his sword wherwith he strake thrée great stroaks on the Bason so that the sound thereof might well be heard into the Castle Within the Tower there was a Damsell called Sibilla when she heard the Bason sound she had great maruaile thereat then she went to a window and looked out and saw that Huon would enter whereuppon she went backe againe and said ah good Lord what knight is yonder without that would enter if the Gyant awake anone he will be slaine for if there were a Thowsand Knights together they should all soone be destroyed surely I haue great desire to know what he is and where he was borne for as me séemeth he should be of Fraunce to know the troth I wil goe to the window againe to sée if I may haue of him any knowledge Then shée went out of her chamber and went to a window néere to the gate and looked out and saw Huon all armed abiding at the gate then she beheld the blazure of his shield wherein was portrayed thrée crosses of gould whereby she knew well he was of Fraunce Alas quod shée I am but lost if the Gyant know that I haue béene héere then she returned againe in hast and went to the Chamber dore whereas the Gyant lay and slept and she perceiued hée was yet a sléepe for he rowted that it was maruaile to héere Then she returned againe quickly to the gate and opened a wicket out of the which there yssued such a wind that if caused the two men with their flayles to stand still in rest when shée had opened the wicket hastily shée returned into her Chamber and when Huon sawe the little wicket open he aduaunced himselfe entred for the two men with their flayles were in rest then hée went further thinking to finde them that had opened the wicket but hée was sore abashed when he could finde no creature there were so many Chambers that he wist not whether to goe to finde that he sought for Thus he searched all about and at last hée sawe about a Pillar fourtéene men lye dead whereof hée had great maruaile and said that he would returne backe againe then he went out of the Hall and came to the gate wéening to haue found it open but it was closed by it selfe and the men againe did beat with their flayles Alas quoth Huon nowe I sée well I cannot escape from hence then he returned into the Castle and hearkened about and as he went searching carefully he heard the voice of a Damsell pitiously wéeping He came there as she was and humbly saluted her and said Faire Damsell I cannot tell if you can vnderstand my language or not knowe of you I would wherefore you make this great sorrowe Sir quoth she I wéepe because I haue of you great pitie for if the Gyant heare within who is yet a sléepe hap to awake you are but dead lost Faire Ladie quoth Huon I pray you shew me what you be and where you were borne Sir quoth shée I am Daughter to Guinemer who in his time was Earle of Saint Omers am Néece to Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux When Huon heard that right humbly he kissed her and saide Madame knowe for troth that you are my néere Kinsewoman for I am Sonne to Duke Seuin I pray you shew me what aduenture hath brought you into this Castle Sir quoth she my Father had deuotion to sée the holy Sepulchre and he loued me so well that he would not leaue me behind him and as we were on the Sea néere to the Citie of Escalone in Surry there arose a great tempest vpon the Sea that the winde brought vs néere vnto this Castle and the Gyant being in his Tower saw vs in great danger of drowning that we were driuen into this Port he came downe out of his Pallaice and slewe my Father and all them that were with him except my selfe and so brought me into this Tower whereas I haue béen these Seauen yeares in great distresse and miserie And nowe Coozen I pray you what aduenture hath brought you hether into this strang Countrey Coozen quoth he séeing you will knowe of my aduentures I shal shew you the troth King Charlemaine hath sent mee in messuage to the Admirall Gaudise in Babilon I beare him a Messuage by mouth and by Letters and as my way lay I am come by this Tower and I demaunded of a Paynim who was within this Tower and he answeared me and sayd howe héere should bée a great and an horrible Gyant who hath done much euill to them that haue passed this way And I thought to passe this way to fight with him and destroy him and to deliuer the Countrey of him and I haue left my companie héere by in a Valley to tarie for me Deare Coozen quoth she I haue great maruaile that you would take on you such a folly for if ye were Fiue hundred men together well armed yée durst not all abide him if hée were
followed the Damsell who brought them into the Pallaice to Huon and when they saw him they all wept for ioy and embraced and kissed him and demanded if he had any hurt Sirs quoth Huon I thanke god I féele no hurt and then he brought them where as the Gyant lay dead when they saw him they had maruaile how he could be slaine by Huon they were affraid to sée him lye dead Then Gerames demanded of Huon what was the Damsell that was there and Huon shewed how she was his coozen and shewed thē all the maner how she came thether whereof they had great ioy and embraced her then they all vnarmed themselues and went to supper and eate and dranke at their pleasure but their ioy endured not long as yée shall heare héereafter Chap. XXXIIII ¶ How Huon departed from the castle of the Gyant and tooke leaue of his company and went alone a foot to the sea-side whereas he found Mallaborn of the Fayrie on whome he mounted to passe the Sea YE haue heard here before how Huon conquered the Giant the which was great ioy to all his companie then the next day Huon called them all together and said Sirs yée knowe well the enterprize that I haue taken on me to doe touching the Admyrall Gaudise therefore it is conuenient that as shortly as I can to doe my messuage that I am charged by king Charles to doe to the Admirall Gaudise wherefore I desire you all to kéepe good and true companie with this noble Damsell also I require you to tarrie héere xv daies and then if I retourne not goe you all into Fraunce and take this noble Damsell with you and salute from me king Charlemaine and all the Péeres of Fraunce and shew them the hard aduentures that I haue had and how I am gone to perfourme his messuage When his companie vnderstood that he would depart they were sorowfull and saide Sir yée desire vs to tarrie héere xv daies know for troth wée shall tarrie héere for you an whole yéere Sirs quoth he I thanke you then he made him readie to depart and armed him and tooke his Cuppe and Horne and also the Gyants Ring the which he did put about his arme and then he kist his Coosen and all the others and they all made great lamentation for his departing Then they went vp into the Pallaice looked out at the windowes after Huon as long as they might sée him Huon went foorth till he came to the sea-side the which was not farre from the Castle and there was a little Hauen whereas alwaies was wont to lye some manner of ship or vessell to passe ouer the Sea And when Huon came thether though nowe at this instant there was none at all finding no meanes for passage he said Ah good Lord what shall I doe that I can finde heere no boate or vessell to passe in alas in an ill houre I slew Charlot wherby I am thus still in danger howbeit I did it in mine owne defence great wrong therefore king Charles hath done to banish me out of mine owne Countrey These and the like complaints made Huon there being alone and began sore to lament but sodainly on his right hand he saw a great beast come swimming towards him like a Beare Huon beheld him and made on himselfe a signe of the Crosse and drew out his swoord to defend himselfe as thinking the Beast would haue assailed him but he did not but went a little off from Huon shooke himselfe in such wise that his skinne fell off and then he was as faire a man and as well fourmed as could be séene Then Huon had great feare and maruaile when he saw that this Beast was become a man yet he approached neere to him and demaunded what he was and whether he were an humane creature or els an ill spirite that was come thether to tempt him and said right nowe thow didst swimme in the sea trauersed the great waues in guise of a maruailous beast I charge thee in the name of God thou do me no hurt but shew me what thou art for I beleeue thou art of king Oberons company Huon quoth he dismay thou not I know thée right well thou art Sonne to Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux Royall king Oberon hath sent me to thee once it happened me to breake his commaundment wherfore he hath condemned me to be this xxx yéeres like a beast in the Sea Frend quoth Huon by the Lord that fourmed me I will trust thée till I be past the red sea Huon quoth Mallaborn know for troth I am sent hether for no other cause but to beare thee whether thou wilt therefore make thee readie and recommend thy selfe to the sauegard of our Lord Iesus Christ and than let me alone Than Mallaborn entred againe into the Beasts skinne and said to Huon Sir mount vpon my backe Chap. XXXV ¶ How Huon passed the Sea vpon Mallaborn who bare him to Babilon and how Huon came to the first gate and so to the second WHen Huon sawe the Beaste enter againe into his skinne and that hee taried for him he made the signe of the crosse and prayed god to saue and conduct him so leapt vpon him the Beast entred into the Sea and swamme as fast as though a bird had slowen so that within a short space he trauersed the great Ryuer of Nyle the which cometh from Paradise and which is a dangerous Riuer for the multitude of Serpents and Crocodilles that be therein howbeit there were none that did him any trouble Then when they came to land Huon was ioyfull and Mallaborn said Right déerely shall I aby the time that thou wert borne or that euer I knew thée for the intent to doe thée pleasure I shall endure yet x. yeares like a Beast in the Sea and xxx yeares I haue béen so already so that my time is in all xl yéeres I haue great pitie of thée for there is no man borne of a woman that knoweth the ill and pouertie that shall fall héereafter to thée and I shall suffer much for the loue that I haue to thée howbeit I shall take it in patience Yonder thou maiest sée the citie whether thou wouldest goe moreouer thou knowest what hath been commaunded thée what thou hast to doe and yet whatsoeuer fall breake not the commaundement of king Oberon and alwaies be true say the troth for assoone as thou makest any lye thou shalt loose the loue of king Oberon thus God be with thée for I may no longer tarrie So he went againe into the Sea and Huon tarried there alone recommending himselfe to our lord god and so tooke the way to the Citie and there entred in without let of any man So soone as he was entred he met a M. Paynims going a hawking another M. coming homeward and a M. horses led to be new shod a M. coming frō shooing than he saw a M. men playing at the Chesse
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
you such newes that all that bee in your Court will be sorrowfull much more my self Gerard quoth Charles come to the point vse no more such language nor such ceremonies by that I sée in you it is but euill that you will say Sir quoth hee but late as I was in my house at Bourdeaux and with me diuers Lords and Knights as we were deuising together I saw my Brother Huon enter into my house and thrée with him the one was a yong damosell and the other an old man called Gerames When Duke Naymes of Bauyer heard Gerard he had great maruaile when he sayd that Gerames was one of them and sayd Ah deere God I heare that which with great paine I can beleeue for if it be the same Gerames that I thinke it be he and I were companions together at a tourney holden at Chalons in Champanie where he slew by misaduenture the Earle Salamon Sir quoth Gerard I shall shew you as I haue begunne true it is when I saw my brother Huon I was greatly abashed howbeit I did him honour and made him good cheere and made him and all his companie to dine then after dinner I reasoned with my brother and demaunded of him if he had beene at the holy Sepulcher of our Lord God But when hee saw that I demaunded that of him he was sore abashed so that hee wist not what to answere and then I perceiued by his words that hee had not beene there And then Sir after I demaunded of him if hee had furnished your message to the Admirall Gaudys but hee could giue me no answere nor say any words that I could beléeue and when I saw that I could find no truth in any of his words I tooke him and set him in prison howbeit it was full sore against my will but I considered in my selfe that I must owe vnto your grace faith fidelitie and that I am your man and that for no man liuing though he were neuer so néere of my kinne yet I would not be found with any treason and therefore Sir my Brother his wife and his Companion I haue retained them in my prison wherefore Sir it is in you to doe herein what it shall please you best When all the Princes and Lords that were there vnderstood the words of Gerard and that he had taken his Brother Huon and had put him in prison there were none but that were sorry thereof and many for the loue that they bare to Huon began to wéepe and demaunded of Gerard who had done that déed saying surely it is done by some manner of treason Chap. LXX ¶ How the King commaunded that Huon should be sent for from Bourdeaux to the intent that he should die WHen the Emperour Charlemaine vnderstood Gerard he arose vp on his féet sore troubled and full of yre for by Gerardes wordes the ancient hate and displeasure that the King had to Huon for the death of Charlot his sonne was renewed in his heart and said openly that euery man might heare him Lordes that be héere present before you all I summon them that were Pledges for Huon in such wise that if the Traitour Huon be not rendred into my hands to doe with him my pleasure I shall cause thē to be hanged drawne and there is no man in my court that may be so hardy as to speake or desire the contrarie but I shall cause him to die a shamefull death And when he had thus said he sate him downe againe and called Duke Naymes to him and said Sir Duke ye haue heard what Gerard hath sayd of his brother Huon Sir quoth the Duke I haue well heard him but I beléeue the matter to be otherwise then hee hath sayd for there is no man will say the contrarie but that all that Gerard hath sayd is done by false treason and you shall finde it so if the matter be wisely enquired of Sir quoth Gerard you may say as it pleaseth you but I take God to witnesse and my father in Law Gibouars and this good notable religious Abbot and his Chaplaine that all that I haue sayd is true for I would not for any thing say that which is not iust and true Then Gibouars and the Abbot his Chaplaine answered and said how it was true that Gerard had sayd By my faith quoth the Duke Naymes all you foure are false lyars and theeues and the King is ill counselled if he beléeue you Naymes quoth the King I pray you how seemeth it vnto you this matter betwéen the two brethren Sir quoth the Duke it is a great matter he that is here before you is the accuser of his brother and hath set him in prison now he is come and accuseth him here before you because hee knoweth well he cannot come hither to defend himselfe I should do a great euil déed if I had a brother that were banished out of France and if hee came to mee for refuge and I then to take him and set him fast in prison in mine owne house and then after to goe and complaine vpon him to the intent to purchase his death I say there was neuer Noble man would thinke so to doe and they that haue done thus are all false Traytours all Noble men ought not to beléeue any such and specially he that will purchase such a deede against his owne brother I know well al that they haue imagined and done is by false treason therfore I say according to the right that all foure are false Traytours and I iudge for my part that they are worthie to receiue a villanous death for they are foure false witnesses When Gerard heard Duke Naymes he changed colour and waxed as white as snow repenting in himselfe the déede that he had done to his brother hee cursed to himselfe Gybouars in that hee beleeued his counsell yet hee answered Duke Naymes and sayd Ah Sir ye doe me great ill to owe me your ill will Gerard quoth the Duke it is for the ilnesse that is in you ye that would be one of the Peeres of France certainly of such a Councellor as you bée the King hath litle néede I had rather haue lost one of my hands then I should once haue consented thereto Duke Naymes quoth the King I will you cause to come before me all such as were pledges for Huon at his departing Then the Duke caused them to appeare before the Kings presence of whom there were diuers Dukes and Earles Then King Charlemaine sayd Sirs ye know well yee bee pledges for Huon of Bourdeaux and you know the paine that I laide on your heades if Huon did not accomplish my message that I gaue him in charge the which hee hath not fulfilled wherefore without you deliuer Huon into my handes yee shall not escape but that ye shall die all Sir quoth Duke Naymes for Gods sake I require you beleeue me at this time I counsell you to take a good number of your notable
foure great téeth But when he had heard my demaund he held it for a great folly and so incontinent he cast me into prison whereas I had died by famine if the Admirals Daughter had not béene whome yée may sée yonder sitting by the piller and also by the aid of good King Oberon whome I ought greatly to loue he is a king of the Fairie right puissant and is in the Citie of Momur and he knowing of the perill that I was in had pitie on me and came and succoured me in such wise with so great a puissance that in Babilon he slew al such as would not beléeue in our Lord Iesus Christ Then he tooke me out of prison and then we entred into the Pallaice and there wee slew all such as wee found there Then I went to the Admirall Gaudys and strake off his head and then I cut off his beard and opened his mouth and drew out foure of his great téeth and when I had them then I desired king Oberon to aid me and to finde the meanes that I might safely bring the Beard and Téeth to your presence and to shew me where I might best kéepe them Then the good king Oberon by the grace of our Lord God and by the puissaunce that God had giuen vnto him he closed them within the side of Gerames so that they could not be perceiued and Sir know for troth ye neuer heard of such a man Now when I saw that I had fournished your messuage I retourned tooke with me the faire Ladie Escleremond Daughter to the foresaid Admirall Gaudys and the Twelue gentlemen that went with me out of Fraunce who alwaies haue béen with me And Sir if I should shew you the great paines and pauerties that I and they haue suffered it would be too long to rehearse but I may well say if the grace of God had not been I had neuer come hether againe if I had had x. liues I could neuer haue escaped the death Next after all these paines and trauailes that I and they that were with mee suffered by the grace of God we came and arriued at Rome whereas the Pope receiued me with great ioy there wedded me to Escleremond the Admiralles daughter whom you may sée yonder all desolate and full of displeasures and not without cause When the Barons that were there heard the pittious complaints of Huon euerie man of pitie beheld the Lady who pale and ill coloured sate sore wéeping so that such as regarded her were constrained to take part of her sorrow there was no man but they began sore to wéepe and Huon who was before the King was sorrowfull to sée his wife make so great dolour Then hee sayd vnto the King Sir if you will not beleeue my saying send to Rome to the Pope to know the truth if you proue my words contrarie I submit my selfe to receiue such death as you and your Barons can deuise if the Pope doe not beare witnesse of that I haue sayd God forbid that I should shew you any thing otherwise then truth I haue sayd nothing but hee shall shew tokens that my saying is true and I can say more if I would shew all but it is not néedefull that I should make a long sermon But Sir thus as I haue shewed you I did returne from the place that you sent me to and Sir know for truth I came not so vnprouided but that I brought with me great plentie of gould and siluer and my companie came all with mee and I purposed not to rest in any place till I had spoken with your grace for the great desire that I had to see you and so along I rode till I came to an Abbey heere hard by a foure leagues hence called Saint Mauris because the Abbey was of your foundation and not pertayning to the land of Bourdeaux for I would not haue entred into this towne because of the commandement that you gaue me Thus I came and lodged me in the Abbey and the Abbot receiued me with great ioy and hee sent word of my being there to my brother Gerard and the traytour came to mee like a false traytour and brought with him but one Squire whereby now I may perceiue that in him was nothing but falsenesse and treason Huon quoth Duke Naymes your reason is good for if he had beene true as he ought to haue been he ought to assemble the Barons and Lords of the Country and so to haue come with them and haue receiued you with reuerence and honour Sir quoth Huon it is true but the Traytour did otherwise for when hee was come to mee by great subtiltie hee demaunded how I had sped in my iourney and whether I had spoken with the Admirall Gaudys or not and declared to him your message and if I had brought with mee his beard and foure great teeth and I shewed him I had accomplished your whole commandement then the vnhappy Traitour demaunded where I kept them and I shewed him for I had no mistrust in him Then he so exorted mee that at the houre of midnight hee made me to arise hastily and mkde me and al my company ready and so leapt on our horses and rode forth our way and when 〈◊〉 came to a crosse way and saw that I tooke the way into France he beganne to speake rigorously to haue occasion of some strife betwéene vs and neere thereunto was a little wood whereas there lay in ambushment Gibouars and his companie fortie men of armes well armed and they came and ranne at mee and my companie that were vnarmed whereby they found in vs but small resistance and so finallie the twelue Gentlemen that were with mee were all slaine and all to hewen and then they tooke their dead bodyes and did cast them into the Ryuer of Gerone then they strake me to the earth and bound fast mine féete and handes and blindfolded mine eyes and in like sort they did to my wife and then they came to Gerames and the Traitour my Brother came to him and with a sharpe knife opened his side and there 〈◊〉 tooke the beard and foure great treeth of the Admirall Gauâ—â—s the which were set there by king Oberon the 〈◊〉 Traytour knew the place whereas they lay by reaâ—â—â— that I had shewed him therof before would to God that the same time that hee came to Gerames to doe that cruell 〈◊〉 that Gerames had beene armed I am sure then the 〈◊〉 durst not haue regarded him to haue done him 〈…〉 but Sir when he had taken out the beard and téeth then he bound Gerames handes and féete hurt as he was as Sir ye may know the truth by him Then Gerames stept forth and lift vp his cloake and shewed the king the wound in his side the which euerie man might sée that was there Sir quoth Huon to the king when he had done all this hee set vs on three leane horses and so brought vs into this
you liue you shall meddle no more with that matter but by the beard that I beare on my chinne I shal neuer dine nor eate meat after this dinner til I sée him hanged and drawne for all your bearing of him against me Then he commanded the tables to be set vp and when Gerard vnderstood the king he was ioyfull thereof in his hart but he made no semblance of ioy because of the Lords that were there present When Huon and Escleremond had heard how the King had sworne the death of Huon the dolorous weepings and teares that they made were so extreame that hard it were to declare it and Escleremond sayd to Huon Ah Sir now I see well that great pitie it shall be the departing of vs two but if I had a knife I would not abide your death but first I shoulde slay my selfe before this false and vntrue king Her complaints were so pitifull that most part of the Lords wept for pitie and the old Gerames sorely wept and sayd Ah good Lord God in what howre was I borne in great dolour and paine haue I continued my youth and now in mine age thus shamefully to die Thus all three made such sorrow that it would haue made a hard heart to lament All three thought no otherwise but to die because they had heard King Charlemaine make such promise but that which God will saue no man can let and god saue the good king Oberon for king Charlemaine shal be forsworne as ye shal heare hereafter Now let vs leaue speaking of this pitious companie and speake of the noble king Oberon of the Fayrie who as then was in his wood Chap. LXXIIII ¶ How king Oberon came to succour Huon and made Gerard to confesse all the treason that he had purchased against Huon his brother YE haue heard before how King Oberon was displeased with Huon bicause he had broken his commandement But when Huon had béen at Rome and confessed all his sinnes and was assoiled of the Pope then King Oberon was content and in his heart forgaue all the ill will that he had to Huon and as he sat at dyner he began to wéepe When his Seruants saw that they had great maruaile and sayd vnto him Sir we desire you to shew vs why you doe weepe and be so troubled there is some displeasure done vnto you therefore for the loue of our Lord Iesus Christ wee desire you hide it not from vs. Sirs quoth the Kinge I remember nowe the vnhappie Huon of Bourdeaux who is returned from the farre parts and he hath passed by Rome and there hath taken his Wife in mariage and is confessed of all his sinnes for the which sinnes he hath béen by me sore punished But it is time if euer I will doe him any good now to ayd him and to succour him against King Charlemaine for he hath sworne neuer to goe to bed vntill he haue hanged drawne the poore Huon but by the grace of our Lord God Charlemaine shall bée forsworne for at this time I shall succour and ayd him for he is as now in such a danger that without he be succoured incontinent death is néere him he was neuer in his life in such perill He is now in the Pallaice at Bourdeaux his Wife the fayre Escrelemond and the old Gerames with fetters on their feete being in great sorrow and king Charlemaine is set at dinner and hath made his oath to hang Huon but yet whether hee will or not he shall be periured for I will goe to my Fréend Huon and helpe him at his neede therefore I wish my Table and all that is thereon neere to King Charlemaines Table and somewhat aboue his about two foot hyer also I will bicause I haue heard say that often times of a little Castle commeth a greater therefore I will that on my table be set my Cup my Horne and my Armour the which Huon conquered of the Gyant Angolaffer and also I wish with me a C.M. men of armes such as I was woont to haue in battaile He had no sooner said the words but by the will of god and the puissance of the Fayrie his table and all that king Oberon had wished was set iust by king Charlemaines table more higher and greater then his was When king Charlemaine saw the table and the Cuppe Horne and coate of maile he had great maruaile and said to Duke Naymes Sir Duke I beléeue you haue enchaunted mée Sir quoth the Duke neuer in my life I meâ—leâ— with any such matter the Lords such as were there were greatly abashed howe that matter came to passe Gerames who sat néere to Huon when he saw the Table the Cup and horne of Iuorie the Armour thereon he knew them well and said to Huon Sir be not dismayed for on yonder Table that you may sée is your Cup horne of Iuorie and coat of maile whereby I perceiue that you shall bée succoured by King Oberon Huon beheld the Table had great ioy when he saw it then he lifted vp his hands to heauen and thanked our Lord God that hée would visit such a poore sinner as hee was saying Ah Kinge Oberon in many great needs haue you succoured me Therewith arriued King Oberon in the Citie whereof the Burgesses the Commons were greatly abashed when they saw such a number of men of war enter into their citie without any knowledge before When king Oberon was within the Towne all his company he said to his Lords Sirs looke that you set good watch at euery gate so that no man go out the which they did diligently for at euerie gate they set x. M. men Then King Oberon tooke the way to the Pallaice and at the gate he left x. M. men commanding them vpon payn of their liues that they should not suffer any man to passe out and also he commanded that if they heard him blow his Horne of Iuorie that incontinent they should come into the Pallaice to him slay all such as they should find there Then king Oberon went vp into the Pallaice and many of his Lords with him he was richly apprrelled in cloath of gold and the border thereof was sette with rich precious stones goodly it was to behold for a fayrer little person could not be found hee passed iust by King Charlemaine without speaking of any word and went so néere to him that he shouldred him so rudely that his bonnet fell from his head Ah good Lord quoth Charlemaine I haue great maruaile what this dwarfe may be that so rudly hath shouldred me and almost ouerthrowne my table he is fierce when hee thinkes scorne to speake to me howbeit I will see what hee will doe I cannot tell what hee thinketh to doe but me seemeth hee is right ioyfull and also he is the fayrest creature that euer I saw When Oberon had passed by the King he came to Huon and wished the fetters from all their féete and
and when the Emperor was within a League then there met with him the old Sauarie his Brother who was Father to Duke Raoul slaine by Huon when these two brethren met together there was great ioy made betwéene them But then Duke Sauary beganne to wéepe and sayd to his brother the Emperour Sir of your comming I am right ioyfull But when the pitious death of my deare beloued sonne your nephew Raoull commeth to my minde there is no member of me but for dolour and displeasure trembleth nor I can neuer haue perfect ioye at my heart as long as he that hath done mee this displeasure liueth This Duke Sauary was a noble man but betwéene him and his sonne Raoull was great difference for the Duke Raoull was the vntruest Traitor that euer liued the which wickednes procéeded by the Duchesse his mother who was daughter to Hurdowin of Fraunce the most vntruest and falsest Traytour that as then liued in the world When the Emperour heard his brother speake the teares fell from his eyes and he embraced him sayd My right deare brother your dolour much displeaseth mee for your dolour is mine and thereof I will haue a part and if ye haue much ioy my part shall likewise be therein But it is not possible for vs to haue him againe for whom we make this sorrow God ayde Huon now froÌ„ his enemies for they greatly desire his death yet oftentimes they that desire another mans death auaunceth their own Thus as you haue heard the Emperour and Duke Sauary entred into the Citie of Coleyne whereas they were receiued with great ioy and so rode to the Pallayce and there they supped I will make no long rehearsall of the good chéere that they made there Then after Supper they went to their rest and the next morning rose and heard seruice and tooke a sop in wine then departed out of Coleyne It was a goodly hoast to behold they and their carriage and their artillerie reached foure leagues of length Thus they all had sworne the death of Huon they passed by high Borgoyn and by Dolphinne and so passed the riuer of Roan and so into the countrey of Bourdeaux Now I will leaue speaking of them till another season Chap. LXXXIX ¶ How the Emperour Tirrey of Almaine besieged the Citie of Bourdeaux and how Huon made him readie to fight with his enemies THus you haue heard heere before the deuises that the Duchesse Escleremond had made to her husband Huon who as soone as she was churched Huon sent his commaundement through all his countrie euery man to be readie in armes and to come to Bourdeaux because he was aduertised of the comming of his enâ—mies The messengers made such diligence that within fifteene dayes after euerie man was come to Bourdeaux and there Duke Huon receiued them with great ioy Then he repayred the Citie and the towres and walles and it was well furnished with victuals and artillerie as in such a case it well appertained for at that time the Citie of Bourdeaux was not so strong as it is now when Duke Huon saw the Citie so well garnished with men and victuales he was right ioyfull and then he called to him the old Gerames and sayd my right deere friend ye see wel this warre that is apparent betweene the Emperour and mee and now we be wel aduertised of his comming who is ready to come with all his 〈◊〉 to besiege this our Citie and therefore my heartie deere friend who hath ayded me in so many businesses I pray you counsell and ayde me now for in all the conduct of my warre I will that ye haue the charge and that you will comfort my men well so that of vs there be no euill report maâ—e and that our enemies haue no cause to prayse the warre that they haue against vs nor that when they bee returned into their countries that they make not their auaunts among their wenthes and their louers Sir quoth Gerames I thanke you of the honour and great trust that you haue in mee howbeit ye haue many other more sage and hardie then I am to whom this great charge should better appertaine then to me But Syr as for me I shall so acquite me that I trust I shall not be reprehended Thus as you haue heard Huon made his deuises among all his Barons and made all his ordinances for the defence of the Citie and the manner of their issuing and appoynted men for their rescue in reculing And the Emperour was entred into the Countrey of Bourdeaux with a mightie armie burning and destroying the Countrey whereof the poore people were sore abashed because they neuer had war before and thus the Emperour neuer rested wasting and destroying the Countrey till they came before the Cittie of Bourdeaux and there hee pitcht vp his tents and pauillions and the Emperour lay on the way leading to Paris on the other part Duke Sauary father to Raoull was lodged by the Emperours marshalles so that all the Cittie was closed round about Huon who was within the Cittie beheld their countenaunces and manner of their lodging he commaunded that all his men should be readie to issue out vpon their enemies the which they did Then Huon armed himselfe verie richly and mounted vpon his good horse the which was the Emperours and sware that ere he returned again he would shew his enemies what they of Bourdeaux could doe When hee was mounted on his good horse hee came into the Citie and found the old Gerames readie apparelled with all his companie Then he appoynted fiue thousand men to keepe the Citie and twentie thousand men to goe with him Thus Duke Huon made his ordinances Yee may well imagine that the sorrow was great that Escleremond made for the Duke her husband she was right wise she feared to loose him because she knew him so aduenturous and that his enemies were of so great number but right pitiously weeping shee made her prayers to the Lord God deuoutly that hee would keepe and defend Huon her husband and all his men from danger and losse and to send him peace with his enemies Chap. LXXXX ¶ Of the great Battaile that was before Bourdeaux whereas Huon had great losse and the old Gerames taken THus as you haue heard Bourdeaux was besieged by the Emperour of the high Almaynes and by his brother the Duke Sauary with a great number of men Then Huon issued out and when hee was past the port hee made haste to the intent to surprise his enemies for at that time the Emperour was set at dinner Then Huon and his companie all at once dasht in among the tents and Pauillions and beate them down to the earth so that they that were within were much abashed for they thought verily that Huon durst neuer haue issued out of the Citie against him and the great number that hee was of Huon layd on round about him so that who soeuer met with him had no néede of
a leches craft Also the old Gerames did maruailes and so did the Bourdeloies many a rich tent and Pauillion was beaten to the ground and they within slaine and all to behewen and Huon who was mounted on a good horse met a Knight of the Emperours house and he gaue him such a stroke with his sword that he cloue his head to the teeth and then he stroke another that his head helme and all fell to the earth they that sawe that stroke were sore abashed The Emperours men assembled together by heapes but by the mightie prowesse of Huon anon they were againe departed for he was so doubted and feared that none was so hardie to approach néere him The crie and voyce mounted so high that the Emperour who was at dinner when hee heard them crie he rose from the table and demaunded what noyse it was Sir quoth a knight who was fledde and sore hurt know for truth that your enemie Huon is issued out of Bourdeaux and hath done so much hurt that he hath slaine a quarter of your hoste and without that you doe rescue your men verie shortly your losse is like to be excéeding great for I haue séene Huon your enemie mounted vppon your good horse whereon he doth great maruailes for there is none that méeteth him but he is slaine he is so cruell and hardie When the Emperour heard the knight he swet for displeasure and incontinent he armed him and issued out of his tent and mounted on his horse and found his men readie Then he saw Huon mounted on his good horse whereon hee sayd to his men Sirs I require you at this time putte to your paines that I may be reuenged on my enemie who before my face yonder killeth my men he is so valiant that whomsoeuer he striketh with a full stroke is but dead great domage it was when he slew my nephewes whosoeuer can deliuer him to me quicke or dead shall be my friend for euer and I will shew him that courtesie that Escleremond who is so fayre I shall giue her vnto him in marriage and all the Court of Bourdeaux Then such as heard the promise made them ready for the couetousnesse of that gift But some hasted so much to accomplish the Emperours will that it was too late after for them to repent It is an old saying that an ill haste is not good some hasted so much that afterwards bought it too déere as you shall heare héere After these wordes spoken by the Emperour such as desired to accomplish his will ranne in altogether into the Battaile against the Burdeloyes where was great slaughter made on both parts Huon who had great desire in his heart to slay his enemies did so much by his prowesse that hee reculed his enemies to their tents and it had béene ill with them if Duke Sauary had not rescued them he with his great prowesse made them to recouer againe the fielde and there was a sore battaile on both the parts The old Gerames that day slew many a man but hée aduentured himselfe so farre forth among his enemies that his horse was slaine vnder him so that hee was constrained to fall to the earth and then hee was taken and led to the Emperours tent and great fetters clapt vpon his legges alas that Huon had not knowne thereof if he had he should not haue béene ledde away without great losse But he was in the Battaile doing maruailes in armes he held his sword in his hand tainted with bloud and braines of men that hee had slaine there was none so hardie that durst approach néere vnto him he cryed still Bourdeaux to draw his men together and dashed into the greatest prease and strake on all parts in such wise that his enemies still gaue him place for none durst abide his strokes Now the prease was so great of the men of Duke Sauaries that he had great paine to breake in among them hée fought so that hee séemed rather a man of the Fayrie or a Spirit then a mortall man euerie man had great maruaile of the prowesse that hee and his companie shewed Then came against him the old Duke Sauary with a burning desire to be reuenged for the death of his sonne Raoull And Huon perceiued him well and made such haste that the Duke had no leysure to giue the first stroke for Huon gaue him such a stroke with his sword that hee cutte a quarter of his shield cleane off and the stroke glyded to the horse necke by such vertue that it strake off the horse head cleane so that thereby the Duke fell to the earth and if he had not béene wel succoured he had béene slaine but there came to him so many men that whether Huon would or not he was succoured and mounted vpon a new horse When Huon sawe that he was escaped he called vpon our Lord God and sayd Ah good Lord if I tarrie héere long I sée well that my force shal but little profit me for there be twentie against one Then hee called certaine of his Lordes that were about him and sayd Sirs I perceiue well our force cannot long endure therefore it is better to depart betimes then to tarrie too long Sir quoth they as it shall please you so then they turned them towardes Bourdeaux a soft pace and Huon did as the shepheard doth goe behinde his shéepe so went hée with his sword in his hand defending his companie from his enemies right sorrowfull and angrie for the losse that he had that day for in the morning when he departed from Bourdeaux hee had twentie thousand of good fighting men and at his returne he sawe well that he had not aboue foure thousand wherewith he was sore displeased and oftentimes by the way turned and returned to his enemies At last hee met with a Knight named Iozeram and gaue him such a stroke that he fell downe dead to the earth whereof the Emperour Tyrrey was sore displeased for hee was his cosin germaine and after that he slew foure other Knights of Almaine Then he returned againe after his men and so ledde them forth still as the shepheard doth his sheepe and oftentimes turned and returned vpon his enemies so that there was none so hardie that durst approach néere him Therewith thither came the Emperour richly armed with armes imperiall and mounted vppon a puissant horse Then hee cryed on forth my Barons take héede that this traitour Huon scape not away if I may haue him in my hands all the gold in the world shall not redeeme him from hanging Huon who heard the Emperour sayd Ah false olde dotard thou lyest falsely I was neuer traitour Then the Emperour ranne at Huon and strake him on the shield and strake it cleane through and the speare brake all to péeces but Huon with his sword strake the Emperour on the Helmet so that the circle sette with stone and pearle was beaten to the earth and if the horse had not swarued the
Emperour had not scaped aliue neuerthelesse the stroke light so on his shoulder that the sword pierced the maile gaue him a déep wound further the sword desceÌ„ded to the bow of the saddle so that the horse was stroken nigh asunder in two péeces and so the Emperour and the horse fell downe to the ground together so that if he had not béene rescued by the Almaines he had béene slaine Huon was sorie when he saw the Emperor so scaped with his life then he turned and rode towards Bourdeaux after his men who tarried still for him and Huon did so much by his prowesse that for all the Emperour and his men he entred into the Citie of Bourdeaux But as then hee knew not that the olde Gerames was taken prisoner so thus as you haue heard Duke Huon entred into Bourdeaux with foure thousand men of whom the most part were sore hurt then he rode to the Pallaice and there alighted Then he looked about him and was sore abashed when he saw not Gerames by him then he demanded if any man knewe where hee was Sir quoth a Knight named Gallerance know for truth that hee is taken prisoner and is in the hands of your enemies for to haue ayded him I was wounded in thrée places and néere hand slaine I employed my force to haue succoured him but I could finde no remedie When Huon heard that hee praysed greatlie Gerames force and vertue and greatly complained and said Alas that I had not knowne of his taking ere I returned I would sooner haue dyed but that at the least I would haue taken some man sufficient to haue redéemed him againe out of danger A lamentable thing it was to heare Duke Huon what sorrow hee made for his friend Gerames but his complaints could not auaile him his Lords sayd Sir by the grace of God you shall haue him againe safe and aliue Sirs quoth Huon it shall be a great aduenture without they put him to death Then Huon mounted vp to the Pallaice whereas he met Escleremond his wife whom hee kissed and embraced manie times Sir quoth the Ladie I pray you shew mee of your newes Ladie quoth Huon they be but poore and dolorous for of twentie thousand men that I had with me out of this Citie I haue brought home aliue but foure thousand and yet the most part of them before wounded and beside the old Gerames is taken prisoner who hath suffered before this time so many paines and trauailes for my sake Alas Sir quoth the Ladie sore wéeping I had rather you had beléeued me and that you had gone and sought for succour of my brother who would not haue fayled you but would haue come with you with so much people and puissance that the Emperour should not haue durst to haue abiden you Madame quoth Huon speake no more thereof for the losse of as much as tenne Cities be in value I would not haue gone thither nor to none other part for any succour nor yet will not till that I sée mée more oppressed then I am as yet I might well be reputed for a coward and recreaunt thus to abandon my Citie I had rather be dismembred into péeces then for feare I should leaue you it would be greatlie to my reproch in the Courts of hie Princes and when I come there to be marked with the finger for that great default Sir quoth Escleremond your pleasure is mine since that you wil haue it so but I am right sorrowful for the old Gerames who is prisoner in the tents of your enemies who hath suffered for your sake many great pains and pouerties I cannot be but sory when I remember him Madame quoth Huon as yet Gerames is not dead I hope by the grace of our Lord God that we shall haue him againe aliue Sir quoth she I pray to God that it may be so Now let vs leaue speaking of Huon and speake of the Emperour who lay sore hurt on the earth Chap. LXXXXI ¶ How the Emperour raysed vp a paire of Gallowes to hang vp the old Gerames and all the Bourdeloyes that were taken prisoners YOu haue alredy heard here before recounted howe Huon entred into Bourdeaux after hee had beaten downe the Emperour Tirrey whome he left lying vpoÌ„ the earth and had beene flaine if his men had not quickly rescued him now his men were sorrowfull for they feared hee had been dead and vnlaced his helmet and was right ioyful when they found him aliue Then they demaunded and said Sir we desire you shew vs in what case you feele your selfe Sirs quoth he I am sore hurt whereby I feele great paine this enemie Huon hath brought me into this case I was foolishly counsailed when I came hether to seeke for him for if I had taried still at Mayence I beleeue to do me displeasure he would haue come thether sirs I pray you beare me into my Tent that my wound may bee searched then hee was borne into his Tent vnarmed and layd vpon his bed and he swounded thrice for paine of his hurt And when he came to himselfe and his woundes were searched by his Surgions hee demaunded where the Knightes of Bourdeaux were they that were taken in the Battaile and demaunded that they should be brought to his presence Gerames was brought before him who was great puissant with a beard as white as snow hee was a faire ould Knight to behould his visage plaine and smiling he seemed to be a man of high affaires when the Emperour saw him he said Thou old Catiffe shew me what thou art beware and shew me the troth Sir quoth Gerames know well that for feare of any death I shall not spare to say the troth â—â—â—ing you will needs know what I am I am named Gerames and am Huons Seruant whome I loue naturally and also I am his kinsman whereby I haue the more cause to loue him and I haue slaine diuers of your men Well quoth the Emperour I repute thee for a Foole to giue mee this knowledge for by the grace of God to morow early ere I eate or drinke thou shalt be drawne hanged xl of thy company that were taken with thée in the battaile Sir quoth Gerames of this that you shew me I giue you no thanke for it but I hope by the aid of Iesus christ that I shal do you more damage ere I die Ah Villain quoth the Emperor great maruaile I haue of thée that thus before me thou doest vse these threatnings yet thou séest how thou art my prisoner that it lyeth in me to put thée to what death it pleaseth me know for troth if it were not so late of the day as it is I wold not suffer thée to liue one houre But ere I sleepe I shall cause a Gallowes to be made whereas thou and thy company shall be hanged and I shall cause thée to be hanged so néere to the Citie that if Huon be so néere kin
to thée as thou sayst he wil shew how well he loueth thée he may haue great â—olor wheÌ„ before his eyes he shall sée his coozen and his men hanged then afterward I wil assaile the citie take it perforce so that then Huon in any wise shall not escape out of my hands so to be hanged with other the faire Escleremond shal be burnt or condemned to prison and then I will burne all the Citie and destroy it cleane Sir quoth Gerames you may say your pleasure but in the doing is all the matter when the Emperour saw that Gerames doubted not the death he was sore abashed Then he commanded incontinent Gallows to bée raised vp so great to hang thereon the fortie prisoners to be set on a little rocke neere to the Citie of Bourdeaux to the entent that Huon and his men might sée them plaine therby to abash them the which was done so the matter rested vntill the next day in the morninge And when it was day Huon within the Citie rose and came to his Pallaice and regarded out at his windowes to sée and behold the hoast of his enemies and as he stood he espied the newe Gallowes standing on the rocke then hee called his Lordes and sayd Sirs neuer beleeue but yonder Gallowes that I see newe raysed is for none other entent but for to hang thereupppon my men that bee taken and my good Freende old Gerames whereof I am verie sorrowfull Therefore Sirs quickly make you readie and mount vppon your horses for ere they be hanged we will prooue our selues against them looke toward the Hoast and sée when they bée comming toward the Gallowes and when you sée them be readie on horse-backe and open the gate that we may issue out all at once and let vs neuer thinke to returne vntill we haue rescued our men for I purpose neuer to returne into this Citie vntill I haue deliuered them out of the hands of our enemies Then they armed them about seauen Thousand by tale of good men of armes well horsed readie at the gate to depart when time came Now wée will leaue speaking of Huon and speake of the Emperour Chap. LXXXXII ¶ How Huon yssued out of Bourdeaux and rescued the ould Gerames and his companie whom the Emperor would haue hanged THe Emperour who hadde great desire that Gerames and his company were hanged caused theÌ„ to be brought forth by couples one fast tyed to another and Gerames was the formost who then right tenderly began to weepe when he saw himselfe in that case Ah good Lord quoth he I require thee haue mercie on our soules kéepe and defend my good Lord Duke Huon who by the commandement of King Oberon should giue me his Duchy and he to haue king Oberons dignitie of the Fayrie after foure yeares passed I cannot say what fortune will fall but I may well say that I shall neuer come to greater honor yet I am comforted in that I am so old it is good reason that I be content to haue liued so long it is now time that I depart out of this world Then the Emperour called vnto him a Knight and said Sir Othon I will that incontinent you take three Thousand men and take these Prisoners and hang them vp all vppon the Gallowes that were made yester-night late and if it bee so that Huon yssue out looke that you quit your selfe valiantly and if you haue néed of any ayd take my horne and blow it for I haue ready appointed ten Thousand men to succour you if need bée When Othon heard the Emperour hee was right sorrie to haue that euill office for in his youth hée was brought vp in the house of Duke Seuin Father to Huon and somewhat he was of his kin but as then hee had slaine a man wherefore he fled from Bourdeaux and came and serued the Emperor at Mayence wherefore he was right sorrowfull to haue that Commission then hee sayd vnto the Emperour Sir mée thinkes you doe ill to cause them to die so hastily better it were to abide to sée what end your warre will come vnto and also if it fortune that any of your Lords to be taken hereafter for one of them you might recouer him againe and if you slay them then if any of your Barons happen to bee taken they shall die of like death and therefore Sir if you wil beléeue me you shall forbeare slaying them at this time and Sir if you will giue me licence I will doe so much to Duke Huon that for the offence that he hath done vnto you hee shall make you amends at your owne pleasure and hee shall goe vnto some holy Pilgrimage to pray for the Soules of your Nephews and other of your lords that he hath slain and he to haue with him two Hundred men in their shirtes and so to goe to the holy Sepulchre at his owne charge and coste and hee to hould of you all his Landes and to doe you homage Then the Lordes that were there present all with one voice sayd vnto the Emperour Sir the counsaile that sir Othon hath giuen vnto you is worthy to bee beleeued wée all agree thereto and desire you so to doe but when the Emperour heard them he was sorowfull and sore displeased Sir quoth Othon you may surely know if you hang any of them that be taken if Huon happen to take any of your men hee shall neuer escape vnhanged and drawne When the Emperour had heard Othon speake he was so troubled angry that it seemed by his face that for verie anger he was neere hand in a rage and said Behold sirs this Foole who would let mee to take vengeance on them that so sore haue troubled me he hath heard me ere this time sweare and make solemn promise that I would neuer returne into my Countrey vntill I had hanged and drawne Huon of Bourdeaux for by that Lord that made mée to his similitude I knowe no man this day though he were neuer so neere a kin to me except mine owne Brother but I shall make him to be slaine if he speak any more to me for respiting of their liues nor I shall neuer loue him for I make a vow to our Lord God that I will neuer returne into my Country vntill I haue taken this Citie perforâ—e Sir quoth Othon séeing it is your pleasure I shal speake no more thereof but I beleeue it will bee longe hereafter before you finde any that will be glad to doe your pleasure Othon quoth the Emperour dispatch the matter and reuenge me vpon the old Gerames and vpon all his companie Sir quoth Othon it is conuenient that I doe it séeing it is your pleasure then without any more words he departed and tooke Gerames and the other Prisoners and went with them towards the Gallowes Gerames went before with the haulter about his necke sore weeping and all his companie after him so that at the laste they came
them his shield and his speares poynt and as hee rode there came a yong knight named Gerard right hardie and valiant in armes hee was bastard sonne to the Emperour who greatly desired in his heart to winne honour and prayse hee sawe Huon mounted on his good horse and sawe likewise that no man durst approach neere vnto him hee came after him and cryed Ah thou false Traitour to flie away it shal not auaile thée for I bring thy death in the point of my speare with the which I shal slay thee flying without thou turne to mee for ere thou scape me I shall cause thée to be hanged in the sight of them within Bourdeaux When Huon vnderstood the Knight and saw the great hate and rage that he was in and hearing how he called him Traitour he thought and sayd to himselfe that he had rather die then he that had sayd these words should haue departed without feeling the sharpenesse of his speare the which hee couched in the rest and spurred his horse who ranne like the thunder and he gaue the knight such a horrible stroke that neither his shield nor his armour could saue his life for his speare pierced through both his sides and hee was cleane borne ouer his horse â—â—upper starke dead Go thy way quoth Huon thou shalt neuer haue power to doe any man displeasure any more and then he drew his sword wherewith hee dealt such discipline among the Almaines that all fledde before him Gerames Othon and Bernarde and Richard employed their forces and vertues right valiantly but the Almaines did so much that Huon lost part of his men and the rest he ledde with him oftentimes hee turned and returned against his enemies but whatsoeuer force or prowesse hee shewed if he had not in haste gone away he nor neuer a one of his men had escaped without death for more then thirtie thousand Almaines were néere him and all those desired his death but God gaue him that grace that hee and the small number that he had left entred with him into the Citie and the gates were cloâ—â—â— and the Emperour in great displeasure returned to his tent and by the way hee found his bastard sonne dead for whome he made such sorrow that his Lords nor his brother could not appease him and so hee caused him to be borne to the tents and was greatly complained of all the Barons for hee was like to haue beene a verie noble man And Huon went to his Pallaice where he found the faire Escleremond who demaunded how he did Right well Lady quoth Huon thanked bee God I am returned in sauegard but I haue lost many of my men and therwith he wept and the Ladie comforted him so much as shee might Then the Emperour being in his hoast knowing for truth that Huon 〈…〉 a small companie in the Citie and that he thought hee could doâ— him but small damage from thence forth 〈◊〉 and came and lay neerer the Citie and dressed vp his 〈◊〉 and mountaines to breake the wâ—lles and made euerie day bâ—ttering at the walles and they within defended â—hem valiantly for with their crosbowes many men both within and without were slaine This siege endured from the beginning of August to the Easter after whereof Huon was sore displeased and verie much complayned for the losse of his noble Barons and other good men that hee had lost Also hee saw his towres and gates so beaten and his enemies lying before the Citie and looked for no succor from any part and that he had with him not aboue thrée hundred knights and a hundred men to keepe the Citie withall then he called Esâ—leâ—emond his wife and sayd Madame I know well you indure trouble and displeasure inough and therefore I pray you if you can giue me any good counsell giue it me now for the rage and displeasure that I haue at my heart troubleth so mine vnderstanding that I cannot tell what to doâ— now on the other part I see my Citie besieged and my men slaine and I can get no agréement with the Emperour for he is sore displeased with mee that I can neuer haue his loue hee hath slaine my men whereof I am so sorrowfull that my heart neere fayleth me Sir quoth Escleremond yee doe great wrong to say these words before mee or in this sort to complaine your damages if you would haue beleeued mee then you had gone to my brother for succour who would haue come with you and brought you such a number of men that the Emperour durst not haue abidden you and also to haue made therby my brother a Christian man for hee hath beléeued in our Lord God this seuen yeeres past Madam quoth Huon all that you say might haue beene done but I hadde rather haue lost three such Cities as this then to haue left you and my Lords and good Burgesses whome I loue so faythfully if I had but a thousand Knights to defend my Citie with an ill will I should depart from you for I am assured that if I goe and seeke for succour both I shall haue paine inough and yee that shall abide heere are like to haue more for I know well that the Emperour so hateth vs as hee setteth all his intent to haue vs and if hee take you you shall be in great perill and if I tarâ—ie here with you and goe for no succour this Citie will bee taken or famished and both you and I be destroyed the Emperour who loueth vs but a little and not without a cause iâ— he may take mee I shall die a shamefull death It is no maruaile if hee be displeased with mee for I haue slaine his sonnes and nephewes and many of his best friendes if he may take me I shal haue no pitie shewed me and I know well without I haue some succour my ende is at hand Wherefore Madame I thinke it best that I goe to your brother for succour for I sée that I haue tarried ouerlong Sir quoth Escleremond ye speake of this verie late for now ye know well that all our bread and wine and flesh and fish begins to faile vs and all our other victuals wherefore it cannot be long after your departure but that this Citie wil be taken and destroyed and the men within slaine and I ledde into great misery yet for all that I would not couÌ„sel you to abide here but I pray you make hast to depart When Huon heard her he began to weep abashing his cheere to the earth and studying a little hee sayd Madame I thinke vpon one thing the which to you will be profitable whereby you shall haue victuall inough to liue an whole yéere Sir quoth she of that I thanke God if it may so come to passe Madam quoth Huon I shall tell you how this City may be reuitayled without any great losse of any men true it is that here without in the medow there are two hundred men set there by the Emperor to
to get any fresh victuall then it is reason that the Lord and Captaine to haue the one halfe to his part and the other part 〈◊〉 to bee deuided amongest his men Maister quoth 〈◊〉 you may doe your pleasure doe as you shall thinke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Patrone caused all their victuals to bee brought 〈…〉 was deuided the Patrone was a wise man 〈…〉 that hee began to weepe hee did eate but 〈…〉 because his victuall should endure the 〈…〉 all that but little auailed for before fifteene 〈…〉 all their victuals were spent except Huons 〈…〉 man part and kept for 〈…〉 other men had And as they were in this 〈…〉 a Galley wherein were Thirtie men 〈…〉 and Pirats of the Sea they came and arriued â—eere â—â— the Shippe whereas Huon was in not knowing what place they were in when they arriued it was in a darke night they had great maruaile of Huons Shippe wherein they sawe great light and then they sayd one to another it is happie for 〈◊〉 that wee haue found heere this faire Shippe it can â—ot â—ee but it is rich and full of goods they shall not escape vs 〈◊〉 shalâ— bee ours for therâ—in are â—ut fewe men to defend the Shippe Chap. CX ¶ Howe a Galley with Sarazins came and â—ffâ—yled Huon who 〈…〉 and also all Huons men and how Huon went to 〈…〉 of the Adamant and slewe the great Serpent and of 〈…〉 that hee found there WHen Huon saw the Galley ariue and going to his Shippe hee hadde great maruaile what men they were then he alighted a torch and toâ—ke it in his hand and came 〈…〉 on the Shippe and sayd Sirs of this 〈…〉 well arriued heere wee haue great ioy of your companie wheÌ„ the Sarasins heard Huon they perceiued by his language that he and his companie were Christian men then each of them beheld other smiling for ioy one of them turned his spéech and spake good Spanish and sayde to Huon Fellow it is no néede for vs to hide what wee bée all wee that thou séest héere bee Sarasins and ye be Christned wherefore we will haue al the riches that is in your ship and beside that all your heads shall be striken off and your bodyes cast into the sea Paynim quoth Huon ere thou hast our shippe at thy commandement first thou shalt buye it déerely Then Huon cryed to his men that they should arme themselues to defende them from the Paynims the which they did diligently And Huon who was readie armed and by that time the Sarasins were entred into the shippe Huon was readie before them with his sword in his hand wherewith he strake the first that he mette with all in such wise that his head flew from his shoulders Then he strake another and claue him to the throat and so the third and the fourth were shortly slaine he layd on so rounde about him that his enemies were afrayde to behold him Then the cheefe maister of the theeues came and rebuked his men because they had suffered Huon to doe them so much hurt and domage he approached to Huon to haue striken him but Huon who was light and expert in déedes of armes auoyded his stroke and strake the Sarasin with a reuerse that his head flew from his body a great way off Then Huon cryed Bourdeaux to reioyce his men and to giue them courage Also Arnolde who had seene the Serpent in the Castle did maruailes and beate downe his enemies whereof Huon had great ioy And there was a great mightie Sarasin who came behinde this knight Arnold as he fought with another Sarasin and he gaue Arnold with an axe such a great stroke that hee claue his head to the téeth whereof Huon was right sorrowfull and sayd hee had rather die then the death of Arnold should not be reuenged Then hee approached neere vnto the same Paynim and lifting vppe his Sworde with both his handes hee strooke the Sarasin on the shoulder that the sword entred into the breast And the Patron of Huons Shippe vnarmed came into the battaile with a great staffe in his handes wherewith hee laid vppon the Sarazins in such wise that such as hee strake needed after no Surgion Then a Sarazin aduised him and came and gaue the Patrone such a stroake with a Swoord vppon the head that his head was clouen to the braine wherewith Huon was right sorrowfull and sore displeased But it was not long before he reuenged his death for hee strake the Sarazin such a stroake that hee claue him to the breast and when the Patrones Seruaunts sawe that their Maister was slayne they all made great sorrowe and disarmed as they were they came and entred into the Battaile with great staues in their handes and fought with them fiercely But the Sarazins who were all armed had anone slayne them all whereof Huon was right sorrowfull and angry for hee hadde then with him lest aliue no moe but foure men of defence And the Sarazins who in the beginning were Thirtie were all slayne except seauen persons they greatly feared Huon for they sawe well that none coulde endure against his stroakeâ— and then they fledde out of Huons shippe and entred into their owne Galley But Huon and his thrée Knightes that were with him followed them so fast that they slew them all and caste them into the Sea Then Huon and the thrée Knightes that were with him tooke all the flesh bread and wine that was in the Galley and bare it into their shippe whereby they liued more then seauen Monethes And then when their victuals begann to fayle then they were right sorrowfull they had no victuall to liue by longe and yet they did â—aâ—e but little so they beganne to be pale and leane through famine pitiously Huon complayned and sayd Oh yee my déere and true Freends who for my loue haue left your Lands your Wiues and Children nâ—we I peâ—ceiue yée must néedes die for thâ—â—agâ— of famine â—las poore Cayliffe that I am I shall not longe liue after you great pitie it was to heare the complaints that Huon made who saw that he must folow the same daunce Then hee sayd Ah faire Ladie Escleremond I shall neuer see you more I pray vnto our Lord God that hee will comfort you in all your affaires as for mee poore soule it is impossible to liue foure dayes longer After that hee had made this pitifull complaint hee beheld the thrée Knights who rendred vp their soules and died through hunger The pitifull complaints that then he made was pitie to heare he had no hope to be aided by any mortall man wherefore he knew surely that hee could not liue aboue twoo dayes longer Then all weeping hee went from his Knightes that lay there dead and went to the board of his shippe and looked into the Sea to see if hee might espie any manner of Shippe comming thether For hee thought that if any shippe came thether of the Sarazins hee woulde haue some victuals or else to
arose vp as desirous to know whether any man or woman were within the Castle or not to speake vnto them he entred into the hall the which he maruailously regarded it was so fayre and ritch to beholde that there is no Clarke in the world can discribe the beautie and richesse thereof the rich Chambers that were on the side of the hall were all composed and made of whiâ—e marble poliâ—â—ed the posts were couered with fine golde at the ende of the hall there was a chimney whereof the two pillars that sustained the Mantle trée were of fine Iasper and the Mantle was of a rich Calsedony and the Lintell was made of fine Emeraâ—is â—rayled with a wing of fine gold and the Grapis of fine Saphers This chimney was so rich that none such could bée â—ound and all the Pillars in the hall were of red Calsedonie and the pauement was of fine Amber When Huon had well beheld this Hall hee looked towards the Chambers ouer the doore of euerie Chamber was written in letters of gold the which shewed where the keyes were of euerie chamber Huon who could well reade the letters and vnderstood it he found a purse wherein were the keyes of euerie chamber all of fine golde he tooke one of the keyes and opened one of the Chamber doores and entred into the Chamber Then he looked all about the Chamber and sawe it garnished and hanged with the most richest cloathes that euer were séene the benches and bedsteads were all of white Iuorie so richly entrayled and wrought and garnished with precious stones that no mans tongue could describe the beautie and richesse thereof all was made by enchauntment This Pallaice was exceeding great and large and well garnished with chambers When Huon had well beheld this chamber hee was greatly abashed that hee could neyther see man nor woman Then he looked ouer another Chamber doore where there was also written in letters of gold according as it was written ouer the first doore Then Huon tooke the key and opened another doore and entred into that Chamber also and there he found a great quantitie of gold and riches and rich Iewelles with other most precious stones that great beautie it was for to behold Ah good Lord quoth Huon I would neuer haue beléeued that in all the world there had beene so much riches as I sée héere present before mée then anone he sawe another chamber and tooke the key and entred therein and for all the riches that he sawe before there hee found much more there were Presses made of fine Iuorie very richly wrought and entrayled so that there was no beast nor birde but there it was most cunningly wrought in the which Presse were gownes and roabes of most fine gold and most rich mantles furred with Sabyles and all other things the which were appertayning vnto the apparell of man-kinde and the beds so richly couered that it was impossible to be described by anie mortall man this chamber was so fayre and rich that Huon could neuer bee satisfied with beholding and viewing thereof there were windowes verie richly glazed opening vppon a Garden side the which Garden was so fayre and so well garnished with flowers of most precious swéete smelling and of all manner of trees charged with fruits so good and so delicious to eate that the verie smell of them would haue satisfied a mans appetite Huon who saw this fayre garden desired greatly to enter into it to gather some of that fruit hee looked ouer the doore and found the purse with the key therin and then he opened the doore and went into the garden and gathered of the fruite at his pleasure and did eate thereof for hee had a great desire to eate hee thought the fruit maruailous good If I should shewe or discribe the beautie of this garden it would be ouerlong to resite there were so many sundrie fruits so fayre and so sweete of smelling that a sicke man of any infirmitie would soone haue recouered his health Also there were herbs and flowres so sweet and delightfull that all the garden seemed to be full of balme When Huon had beene there a good space and had well eaten of the fruite at his pleasure hee returned backe into the chamber that hee came from and then hee vnarmed him and putte off all his cloathes and tooke out of the Presse a fine shirt and doublet hosen and shooes gowne coate and cappe such as he would choose for there was no man to say him nay when hee was thus newly arriued there could not bee founde a more goodlier man according as the Chronicle sayth I beléeue hee was borne by the Fairie as then there could not bee found so goodly a man liuing When he was thus apparelled he went from chamber to chamber alwayes hearkening whether he could heare the voyces either of men or women but as long as hee continued there he could heare nothing whereof hee was right sorrowfull There hée continued eight dayes without eating of any thing sauing of the fruits of the Gardine whereby hee waxed féeble and â—aint the which was no maruaile for hee had béene there eight dayes without eating either bread or flesh he was so féeble that hee thought he could not long indure there without death Then he prayed vnto our Lord God for to comfort and strengthen him out of that great daunger most pittiously hee complayned for his wife and childe saying Ah my deere Wife God ayde and succour you in all your affayres for ye shall neuer haue any succour and ayde of me more for I tarrie but for the howre of my death the which is nowe neere at hand approaching vnto mee for I am so sore and grieuously bitten with famine that I haue much paine to sustaine my selfe Thus Huon was eight dayes in the Caâ—â—le of the Adamant euerie day eating of the fruits of the gardine and at night hee lay euer in the 〈◊〉 bed in the chamber Now let vs leaue speaking of him and let vs turne to the Duchesse Escleremond who was besieged within the Citie of Bourdeaux whereas she was in great displeasure and not without a cause for shee suffered much paine and trouble Chap. CXII ¶ How after that Huon was departed from Bourdeaux the Emperour made diuers assaults to the Cittie but hee could not win it for the defence of the good chiualrie that was within it and of the ambushment that was layd by the counsell of Duke Sauary whereby the Citie was taken and wonne YE haue heard before howe Duke Huon departed from his Citie of Bourdeaux wheras hee left the Duchesse his wife who was in great displeasure when she sawe the departing of her husband she greatly complayned and sayd Ah my right â—eere Lord your departure ought gâ—eatly to greeue mee I feare you shall not come in time to succour and to bring me out of the danger that I am in for it is impossible for vs long to endure against this Emperour Aâ—as I haue
to muze casting downe his lookes to the earth and by reason that his long Mantle had swept the powder away from the pauement there appeared letters of gould written vpon the pauement he red them and the tennour of them was Whosoeuer reads this Letter shall find that vnder this pauement there is a Celler with victuall both bread flesh and wine and of all sundry meats for man or woman to eate of But the Letters sayd that whosoeuer should enter into this Celler except he be without deadly sinne as soone as he toucheth any of the meat suddainly he shall die When Huon had read all the Letters hee hadde great maruaile and feare and thought within himselfe that when hée departed from Bourdeaux hee was confessed before his Priest died and since that time hee could not remember any thinge that hee had committed that should bee deadly sinne and then hee made his prayers to our Lord God deuoutly sore weeping and when hee had ended his prayers as hee kneeled vppon his knees before the chaire hee sawe hanging vppon the side of the chaire a little key of gould he tooke it vp in his hand and beganne to muze on the writing that sayd Whosoeuer enters into this Castle though they be valiaunt and wise or noble Knightes yet they shall not knowe well what to doe Then he said vnto himselfe rather then I should die for famine it were better to die shortly then longe to endure in this hunger and thirst Then Huon recommended himselfe to the ayd and helpe of almightie God and tooke the key and opened a little wicket and drew the dore vnto him Then he looked downe into the Celler the which was as cleare as though the Sunne in the middest of the day hadde entred in at the windowes and so hee went downe about Seauen-score greeces then hee regarded on the right hand and saw a great Ouen with twoo mouthes the which cast out a great clearenesse then he saw néere thereunto Ten faire young men they were all of the Fayrie foure of them made the Past for bread and two deliuered the loaues to other twoo and they did sette them downe vppon a rich cloath of silke then the other twoo men tooke the loaues and deliuered them vnto one man by twoo loaues at once and hee did sette them into the Ouen to bake and at the other mouth of the Ouen there was a man that drewe out the white loaues and Pastes and before him there was another young man that receiued them and put them into Basketts which were richly painted When Huon had well aduised them he had great maruaile and came and saluted them saying Sir I pray to our Lord God to saue you and all your companie and when they heard Huon speake they gaue vnto him no manner of answeare but beheld each other and when Huon saw that none of them wold make him any answere he was sore abashed and greatly troubled in his mind howbeit he sayd Sirs you that be héere I coniure you in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost and of the Angels and Archangels and of all the Court celestiall that yée answeare mee to that I doe demaund of you Then they all ceased from their labour and businesse and beheld Huon and rubbed off the paste meale from off their hands and fingers and the Maister of them beheld Huon and saide Fréend you do vs great wrong to coniure vs we will that you well know if you were either Sarazin or Paynim you should neuer depart from hence without death your troth and noblenesse hath preserued you you ought greatly to thanke God I knowe well that you haue great hunger for it is Tenne dayes since you did either â—ate or drinke any thinge except all onely of the fruit that you founde in the Garden the which as yet is not ripe nor readie to eate Therefore Huon faire Sir I know well that you haue great hunger and therefore if that you will drinke or eate enter into yonder rich Chamber the which you sée open where you shall finde the Table readie set and the cloth layd and the pots of siluer and the vessell of gould bordered with precious stones and pearle and the Basons of gould and Ewers with water to wash your hands and there sit you downe at the Table and there you shall find meats and drinks such as you will with for and as long as you will tarie here in this Castle you shall haue euerie day like seruice or better if you list for any meat that you will wish for you shall haue it at your pleasure and of wine in likewise twoo times of the day without you will fast But sir I require you of one thing that from henceforth you do not coniure me nor any of my companie and then you shall haue euerie thinge at your desire Sir quoth Huon from henceforth I shall not speake vnto you so that by the coniuration that I haue coniured you you will shewe mee what people you bee that abide heere in this Castle and what you call this Castle and who is Lord thereof and by whome all the riches that is heere within is kept I will goe eate some meat and then I pray you for to shewe it vnto mée Then they answeared Huon right fiercely and said Ah thou false and vntrue Knight for to demaund any such thing of vs at this time I shall shewe you but afterward by mee nor by none other of my company you shall neuer heare word spoken Sir quoth Huon the requeste I am sorrie of and I heartily desire you yet if heereafter I speake vnto you alone that you will answeare mee Nay surely quoth hee that will I neuer doe but I shall shew you that I haue promised seeing you are so desirous to know it Sir knowe for troth that Iulius Caesar Father to the good and noble King Oberon caused this Castle to be made by craft of the Fayrie the which Castle cannot bee gréeued nor taken perforce so it fortuned vppon a day that Iulius Caesar after hee had vanquished the great Pompey he came into Alexandria to â—â—olomeus King of Egipt and discomfited him and tooke from him all his Landes to giue it vnto his Sister the faire Cleâ—â—â—tra who was Quéene of that Land and after shee maried Marcus Antonius and after that Iulius Caesar had this done to refresh him he came hether with the Queene of the priuie Isle and brought her the same night into this Castle and there were thrée Kinges of the lineage of Tholomeus who when they knewe that Caesar was in this Castle they made an armie and with many Shippes and Galleys they came and layde seege before this Castle and lay at the seege a long space and could not hurt it the value of one pennie so long they lay héere that they were sore displeased therewith and so they thought to depart home into their owne countreys but by
and shining within it by reason of the rich stones that were therein wherof he had great maruaile and especially because hee saw within the Shippe but one man cleane armed hee wist not what to thinke but he thought that he was christened then he approached neere to the Shippe and saluted Huon and sayde Sir God giue you good aduenture for me thinkes you bee a Christian man Fréend quoth Huon God saue thée me thinkes by thy speach that thou wert borne in the good Countrey of France by reason that thou speakest French for I haue great ioy when I heare that language spoken and fréend I require thée to shew me where thou wert borne and what thou séekest for heere Sir quoth Barnard séeing you will know of my businesse I shall shew you as he that is right sorrowfull and heauie and little shall you winne thereby when you doe know it but séeing that it is your pleasure I shall shewe you the troth Sir I was borne in the good Citie of Bourdeaux whereas I haue left my house and heritage to séeke for my good Lord somtime Lord of the same Citie and he was called Duke Huon who went from Bourdeaux to séeke for some succour whiles the City was besieged and so it is my Lord Huon returned not nor it cannot bee knowne where he is become and because the Citie at his departing was beséeged by the Emperour of Almaine and the Citie but ill fournished with victuall to maintaine it long and also it was so sore beaten with Engins that the Emperor wanne the Citie perforce and slew all those that my Lord Huon had lefte there except thrée Hundred the which were taken Prisoners by the Emperour and led into the Citie of Mayence with the noble Duchesse Escleremond wife vnto my good Lord Huon and shee is kept in a straighc Prison whereas she spendeth her dayes miserably whereof my heart is in such sorrowe and gréefe that when I remember them it neere hand slayeth my heart When Huon hadde well heard and vnderstood Barnard hee knew him well but hee had no power to speake any word vnto him his heart was so full of sorrow and gréefe for that his Cozen Barnard had shewed him and the chéefest of his sorrow was for the trouble of his wife the faire Lady Escleremond who was in great perill of death Thus Huon was a great space and could speake no word for sorrow and gréefe and wist not what to doe and also hee saw his Coozen Barnard who hadde taken great paines to search for him whereof hee had such pitie that the teares fell from his eyes When Barnard saw that the Knight gaue him no answeare and beheld vnder the ventaile of his helmet the teares of water fell downe from his eyes hee was thereof so dismayed and abashed that he wist not what to say Then hee sayde Sir mee thinkes you are a Christian man and because I see and perceiue in you that you are a man that hath beene in many places and Countreys therefore I desire you to shewe mee if you heard euer any manner of speaking of my good Lord Huon Duke of Bourdeaux whome I haue sought for in many Countreys both by land and by Sea and I could neuer heare any certaine tidings of him whereof I am right sorrie for if I can heare no word of him by you I will neuer hope more to haue any knowledge of him I thinke I shall haue some knowledg by you if he be aliue for if I knowe nothing by you I will neuer séeke him further but I will goe into a Desart vnto some solitarie place and there to doe penance and to pray vnto God for my good Lord Huon and to pardon me of all my sinnes and offences and I require you in the name of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to shewe mee what you bée and where you were borne and from whence you come that hath brought in your shippe so great riches for I knowe certainly that in all Fraunce cannot bee found the value of so great riches nor the puissant Charlemaine coulde neuer assemble together such riches as you haue in your Shippe When Huon had well heard Barnard hee sayde Freend I haue great maruaile of that I heare you say for in my Shippe I knowe neither gould nor siluer nor none other thing but my bodie and mine armour Sir quoth Barnard beware what you say for the riches that I see in your Shippe if you will sell it you may fill againe your shippe with monney if you will beleeue me the Treasure and riches that you haue brought in your Shippe the value thereof cannot bee estéemed When Huon heard that he had great maruaile and was right ioyfull then he looked downe into the bottome of the Shippe and saw the rich stones there lying among the grauell the which he neuer tooke heede of before for when he did cast it into his Ship hee thought all had beene but grauell to ballaice his Shippe withall that it might sayle the more surely Then Barnard sayd Sir I pray you hide it not from mee where haue you had this Treasure and in what Countrey all the stones that bee there I knowe the vertue of them all for since I came out of my Countrey I was a whole yeare with the best Lapidarie and knower of stones that was in all the world and he taught me his Science Sir surely the place whereas you had them in is of great dignitie Freend quoth Huon I shall shewe you the troth fortune brought me by the Gulfe of Persia whereas as I suffered much paine and trouble but thanked be God I escaped from that hard aduenture the force of the winde that came out of the Gulfe draue my Shippe out of the streame to the land and when I sawe that I was so néere to the land I went out of the shippe and tooke a scoope and therewith I did cast into the shippe some store of the grauell that lay by the sea side to ballays my shippe therewith not knowing that any precious stones had beene amonge the grauell and when I thought that I cast in sufficient I entred againe into my ship and so sayled foorth more surely then I did before there I had these stones that be in this shippe the which yée say be of so great value Sir quoth Barnard I pray you wherefore serueth yonder foote of a great Foule or beast that I see hange yonder in your Shippe I cannot tell whether it be of a Foule or of a Dragon for it is a fearfull thing to behold Fréend quoth Huon anone I shall shew you but first I pray you shewe mee what vertue and bountie are in these stones the which you haue so much praised and also to shew me vnto whome this noble Citie appertaineth Sir quoth Barnard this Citie is called Thauris whereof is Lord a rich Admirall who is Lord of all Persia and of Media who when hee shall bee aduertised of your
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
escape from hence Cain quoth Huon haue no doubt and that I promise thée to kéepe my faith so thou wilt shew mee the manner howe I may depart out of this Desert I shall deliuer thée out of thy torment Then Cain said thou shalt goe by this little path that thou séest héere by vppon thy right hand the which shall bring thée straight to the Sea-side the which is not farre from hence and then goe downe the Mountaine whereas thou shalt find a shippe and therein but one man but before thou doest enter into the shippe blesse thrée times for hée that thou shalt finde there is a Féende of Hell and shewe vnto him howe thou art Cain escaped out of the rowling Tun and bid him to passe thée ouer and say that thou wilt goe and slay all the Christian men that bee in the world and bring their soules into Hell and when hée heareth thée say thus hee wlil passe thée ouer in safetie for it is longe since that hee hath taried for mee because he thinketh that I should escape out of this Tun but thou must take with thée this mall of yron vpon thy necke to the entent that hee shall the better beleeue thee and surely he will then passe thee ouer Cain quoth Huon I pray thee is this of troth that thou hast sayd Fréend quoth Cain I lye neuer a word Now I pray thée seeing I haue shewed thée the manner how thou mayest escape take this Mall of yron and breake asunder this Tunne that I am in that I may be deliuered out of this paine and torment Cain quoth Huon I pray thee to shew mee who is hee that did put thée into this Tun and what is his name Sir quoth Cain know for troth that God of Heauen set me héere because I had displeased him for slaying of my Brother Abell wherefore I haue suffered so much paine and sorow that more I cannot endure and therefore yet againe I pray thee to deliuer mee from hence Cain quoth Huon God forbid that I should deliuer thee séeing our Lord God hath set thee there Know for troth that thou shalt neuer depart from thence except it bee by his commaundement for there thou shalt bee euer for mee I had rather bee periured then to vndoe that thing which God will haue done to punish thee for the euils that thou hast done I knowe well as for the euill that I haue done as in breaking of my promise to thee God will lightly pardon mee for it abide thou there with thy cursed sinnes for sure by mee thou shalt haue none other ayd Chap. CXXI ¶ How Huon departed from Cain and passed the Sea in a Vessell guided by the Diuell who beleeued it had beene Cain and Huon arriued at a Citie called Colanders whereas he found the Admirall of Persia and Barnard his Cozen who had layde siege to the Citie WHen Cain had well vnderstood Huon he said Ah thou false Traytor by whom I am beguiled and mocked thou art not worthy to be beleeued in any thinge that thou sayest thou lyest worse then a Dogge Oh thou false periured Traitour thou hast ill kept thy promise thou art not worthy to bee beleeued Cain quoth Huon other good gettest thou none of mee for thou art not worthie to bee heard when thou hast staine thy deare Brother by false enuie and cursed treason whereof thou art full goe thy way false Traytour too much euill cannot bée done vnto thee bee content with the Tunne that thou art in thou néedest not feare of any refreshing nor of more furthering for mee well hast thou deserued it but within short time thou shalt haue worse paine and sorrow Ah Traytour quoth Cain and false lyer thou hast lost thy part of Paradice Thou lyest quoth Huon vnto thee ought to bee kept neither faith nor promise because thou hast slaine Abell thy Brother wherefore thou art now punished and well hast thou deserued it Ah thou false lier quoth Cain subtilly thou hast deceiued and mocked mee by thy false words and subtilties I see well that thou wilt goe from hence and leaue me still in this paine Certainly quoth Huon that which I promised thee was but to beguile thee for as by mee thou shalt not come out without hee commaund it that set thee heere Well Huon quoth Cain know for certaine that in all thy life thou wert neuer better counsailed for if thou haddest deliuered me out incontinent I would haue strangled thee Ah false Feend quoth Huon yet hast thou no repentaunce of thine euill that thou hast done I will goe my way and thou shalt abide heere still in great pain and torment foreuer therewith Huon departed and tooke the Mall vppon his necke and entred into the little way that Cain had shewed vnto him Now we will leaue speaking of Huon and speake of the Admirall of Persia and of his Armie vppon the Sea Vppon the second day the Tempest ceased and the Sea waxed calme and faire then the shippes drew againe together as it pleased God and arriued at a noble Citie the which was as then in Armeâ—â—â— called Colanders a great and a faire Citie but after it was destroyed by the noble Duke Ogyer the Danoyse he went into Iâ—â—ia The Admirall and his company greatly complayned for Huon whome they had so lost they thought neuer to sée him more and Barnard his Coozen made such sorrow that great pittie it was to see him the Admirall and all his Lords sore wept and pitifully complayned for Huon they thought neuer to see him agayne but hee that our Lord Iesus Christ will haue saued cannot perish for Huon the same time came downe the Mountaine to come vnto the Port whereas the Vessell lay and the Diuell within it When Huon sawe the Vessell and the Feend within it who was so hideous and horrible to behold that it was maruaile to see hee séemed well to bee the Diuell of Hell his head was as great as an Oxe head his eyes more â—edder then two burning coales his téeth great and long and as rough as a Beare hee cast fire and smoake out of his gorge like a Furnace it was no maruaile though Huon doubted him for when hee sawe him so foule hee had great feare and so lent himselfe to a Rocke the better to behold him and then hee blessed him with the signe of the Crosse recommending himselfe to the sauegard of our Lord God but it fortuned so the same time that the enemie sawe him not Ah good Lord quoth Huon I pray and require thee humbly to counsaile mee in what manner I should trust in this foule Féend who is fearfull so behold I maruaile how I might bee acquainted with him whether I might trust to be in the shippe with him certainly I haue great doubt that hee will cast me into the Sea or else slay mee on the other side of the Sea I wotte not what to doe for I must bee faine to trust him or else
faylest them at time of néede that serue thée nowe I may well say that with thy gracious ayd yet I shall once more see my Wife and my child thus Huon saide to himselfe beholding both Battailes fighting Chap. CXXIII ¶ How the City of Colanders was taken by the Admirall of Persia after he hadde wonne the Battaile and of the great ioy that was made vnto Huon when hee was knowne by the Admirall of Persia and his Cozen Barnard WHen the Admirall of Persia sawe and perceiued that they of the Towne were yssued out he marched foorth his Battailes and set vpon his enemies there was great slaughter made on both parts but at the last they of the Citie had the worst for the christian men were of a greater number then the Paynims and Sarazins that were yssued out wherefore they were constrained to graunt the Victorie to their enemies the Paynims retired fled towards their citie and the Admirall Barnard with their company chaced slew them that it was pity to sée it Finally the Admirall oppressed them so sore that hee entred into the Citie with them and Barnard and his companie and slew and beat down the Sarazins that great maruaile it was to see the bloud that ranne through the stréets When the Admirall saw that hee had the victorie then hée commaunded to cease slaying and that all such as would beleeue in our Lorde God their liues should bee saued and their goods and so all such as would not bee christened should bee slaine incontinent and none spared the which was done many of them receiued Christendome and as many as woulde not receiue it were all slaine Thus as this Citie was taken then Huon who was entred into the Citie with the Admirals men came to the Pallaice whereas hee sawe the Admirall and all the Barons and Barnard his Coozen Huon had still his Mall vppon his necke and when he came into the Hall he put off his helmet and saluted the Admirall and all the other that were there When the Admirall and his Lords saw Huon the great ioy that they had no tongue can tell Oh right déere and vertuous Knight quoth the Admirall your comming doth so reioyce me that I cannot tell whether I dreame or not you are much bound vnto God that hee hath giuen you the grace to saue you from perill Then the Admirall embraced Huon and you may well know that Barnard his Coozen had great ioy and so had all the other and then the Admirall sayd vnto Huon Sir I pray you to shew mee what aduentures you haue had since you departed from vs Then Huon shewed them all as yée haue heard héere before and how he escaped When the Admirall and the other vnderstood Huon they were neuer so amazed and abashed in all their liues of that hée was so escaped from the handes of the Diuell and sayd that hée was much bound vnto God they were all glad and right ioyfull for the comming of Huon and especially Barnard Then the Captaine of the Citie who had newly receiued Christendome came vnto Huon and sayd Sir I require you to desire the Admirall to bée my good Lord and Maister for I promised faithfully to abide heere in this Towne as his good and true Seruant keeping firmely the christian faith the which I haue newly receiued When Huon saw the Captaine who had receiued him into his house at his first comming into the Citie he went vnto the Admirall and said Sir I require you to giue the keeping of this Citie vnto this noble man and he to hold it as his owne and to doe homage vnto you for it Sir quoth the Admirall all that you will I am agréeable vnto I graunt it him for the loue of you Then Huon thanked the Admirall the Captaine seeing the great and rich guift that the Admirall had giuen vnto him for the loue of Huon he had great maruaile of the great Larges and courtesie that was done vnto him by the meanes of Huon and then hee kneeled downe before them and thanked them and did homage vnto the Admirall in the presence of all the Lordes and Barons and promised truely to keepe the Citie against all men that would doe any dammage thereunto nor neuer to yeeld it vp vnto any person but all onely vnto the Admirall or vnto him that shall haue his Commission thus as yee haue heard the Citie of Colanders was taken Chap. CXXIIII ¶ Howe the Admirall of Persia and Huon of Bourdeaux and all their Hoast passed by Antioch and by Damas and came to the Citie of Ierusalem to the holy Sepulchre and was nobly receiued by the King of Ierusalem and howe the Souldans Messenger came and defied the Admirall of Persia WHen the Admirall and Huon saw this Citie wonne and brought vnder their obeysance and hadde established there a newe Lorde and Captaine and set Prouostes and Baylifes and other Officers then they tooke aduise together determined since they were a â—and to send backe againe their Nauie of shippes into Persia and they to goe by land to the Citie of Ierusalem for they hadde from thence as they were but Tenne dayes iourney vnto Antioch and so to passe by that Citie and then vnto Damas and so to Ierusalem and there to doe their offering and if by aduenture they founde in their way either Kings or Admirals that would let or trouble them in their passing they sayd that they were of puissance sufficient to resist against them and then they sayd howe that from Ierusalem the Admirall might returne by land into Persia vnto the Riuer of Euphrates and there his Nauie to méet him and so to conuay him vnto his Citie of Thauris and Huon to returne vnto laffe and from thence by water to returne into Fraunce Thus they concluded to doe the which aduise was lauded and praised of all the Lordes and Barons of the Hoast After this conclusion thus taken the Admirall commaunded his shippes to be discharged of all thinges necessary to be caried by lande the which was done diligently according to his commaundement their horses were sette a lande and their Tents and Pauillions trussed vppon Mules and Cammels and Dromodaries the which cariage séemed a great Hoast there were so many together the noyse and brute that they made séemed to be a new world and when all the shippes were discharged the Patrons and Maisters of the Shippes tooke their leaue of the Admirall who commaunded them expresly to abide for him in the Riuer of Euphrates and so they did accordingly Nowe lette vs leaue speakinge of them and returne vnto our former matter When these Shippes were departed and euerie thinge trussed then the Admirall commaunded through-out all the Countrey that all Marchants and other able to doe it should send after his Hoast bread wine and flesh and bisket to vittaile his Hoast and the charge to sée this done was giuen to the newe Admirall of the Citie of Colanders the which he did diligently
When the Admirall of Persia sawe his time to depart he made it to bee proclaimed through-out the Citie by a Trumpet that euery man should make him ready to depart the next morning to goe whether it pleased the Admirall this was done so that at an houre before the next day there was great brute and noise made in the remoouing then the Admirall and Huon made them readie and mounted vppon their horses and yssued out of 〈◊〉 Citie and eâ—tred into the féelds and then the whole Hoast tooke the way towards Antioch Of their iourneys I make no 〈◊〉 fall they road foorth so that they passed by low Armenia 〈◊〉 thâ— hye Ermine and so vpon a Monday they came before 〈◊〉 whereas they lodged that night a longe by the the 〈…〉 without that any person of the Citie made any 〈…〉 or to let them but they brought out of the 〈…〉 bread wine and flesh and other thinges 〈…〉 their companie whereof the Admirall and Huon 〈…〉 ioyfull and gaue them great thankes and for that 〈…〉 woulde not suffer that any of his Hoast 〈…〉 hurt or dammage vnto any person of the Citie 〈…〉 buy when they had dyned they tooke their way to 〈◊〉 the Citie of Damas and as they went thether-ward they â—ooke certaine Townes and Castles and brought them vnder their obeysance and such as were taken perforce and 〈◊〉 not beléeue in our Sauiour and Redeemer Iesus Christ incontinent they were all slaine and brought to vtter ruine and destroyed 〈◊〉 wasting and destroying the Countrey in their way at last they came before the Citie of Damas. When they came thether they lodged about the Citie in the Gardens and 〈◊〉 and constrained them within the Citie to bringe them 〈…〉 the which they did for doubt of the destroying of their 〈…〉 and fruits there they lay one night and the next day 〈…〉 the way to Ierusalem and hadde diuers Battailes by the way but they were of so great puissance that none could 〈…〉 them So longe roade this christian Hoast that they came and lodged before Nâ—pelous and there left their hoast then the next morning the Admirall and Huon and diuers of the great Lords and Barons of Persia accompanied with them 〈◊〉 from Napelous to the number of foure Thousand valiâ—â—â— Knights to guard them into the Citie of Ierusalem thether they came about noone whereas they were receiued with great ioy of Kinge Thibault and of the Patriarke and Arch-priest who as then were in the Citie of Ierusalem whome the Emperour Constantine had left there and ordered for the keeping of the Citie When the Admirall of Persia and Duke Huon and Barnard and other went and offered to the holy Sepulchre then they went to the Temple of Salomon and vnto the holy Temple of Simeon whereas they made their offerings and the next Pilgrimages vnto all the holy places in the Citie with great deuotion and reuerence When they had accomplished their holy Pilgrimages they returned to the Pallaice of the King of Ierusalem whereas they were greatly feasted and honourably receiued of their seruice I will make none account but one thing I dare well say that there was neuer Kinge nor Admirall better serued And as they sat at dinner there entred a Sarazin â—oule and blacke called Trampoiguyffle the which is as much to saye as Balaach Then he said a hye before the Table the same God that made the Firmament and that downe to vs sent his holy Prophet Mahomet to teach vs his holy Lawe he saue and keepe Saphadin Souldan of Babilon and of Egipt and may confound them that be his enemies To the Admirall of Persia and of Media the Souldan sendeth word by mée that wrongfully and without cause thou goest and destroyest his Countrey and his people not giuing him any knowledge why thou doest so therefore by me he sendeth thee word that am his secret Messenger that he will assigne vnto thee the day of battaile that is vpon Thursday next comming between Rames and lafte whereas there is a plaine Countrey and hée will that thou knowest for certaine that if he take thée thou shalt be hanged and slaine all quicke and neuer sée faire day more and al other that I sée heere sitting at this Table Chap. CXXV ¶ Of the answere that the Admirall of Persia and of Media made vnto the Souldans Messenger and of the report that he made vnto his Maister WHen the Admirall had well heard and vnderstood the Souldans Messenger he beganne to smile and said Tell thy Maister that I set nothing by his threatning nor by nothing that he can do nor I will not leaue for all his saying to destroy and to take his Townes and his Castles and to slay all them that will not beleeue in the Lawe of Iesus Christ and say vnto him from me that I am not in minde to retire backe but by the ayde of God my creatour I shall come and meete with him so that he shall not neede to tarrie for mee and I shall fight with him my puissance against his to shew him howe they can doe that beleeue in Iesus Christ Goe thy way and say vnto thy Maister that he shall not find me flying for any feare that I haue of any man beléeuing in the false and detestable fayth of Mahomet Then the Admirall commaunded to giue the Messenger meate and drinke and fortie Florents the Messenger refused it not but tooke it and thanked the Admirall and when hee had dyned he taried not night nor day vntill hee came to the Citie of Gasere whereas he found the Souldan and al his Armie the which was a great number for they were a Hundred Thousand men and all they threatened the death of the Admirall of Persia but it is a comon saying that many things lacketh of foolish thoughts and so did they When the Messenger was arriued at Gasere hee came before the Souldan and made his reporte what answeare the Admirall had made him and when the Souldan had well heard and vnderstood the Messenger hee hadde great maruaile of the great outrage that hee thought to be in the Admirall of Persia in that hee durst abide him and sware by his Lawe that if hée might haue the vpper-hand of the Admirall that he would slay him quicke Then he commanded his Hoast to dislodge and to take the way towardes Escalonne the which they did Chap. CXXVI ¶ Howe the Admirall of Persia sent for his men that lay at Napelous and caused them to withdrawe towards Rames and howe they departed from Ierusalem and howe he went to fight with his enemies AFter that Trampoiguyfle the Messenger was departed from Ierusalem and returned to his Master the Souldan then the Admirall of Persia and Huon of Bourdeaux who were in the Pallaice with the Kinge of Ierusalem thether they called all their counsaile and when they were all assembled the Admirall sayd Sirs I pray you to counsaile me in what manner I shall vse my selfe to goe
rayse vp his siege before Acres for diuers reasons and to returne into Persia WHen Huon hadde well vnderstood the Admirall and that he had well heard the Lordes and Barons that their opinions was that they would not speake vntill hee had first shewed his aduise and opinion then hee said vnto the Admirall Sir if it be your pleasure I ought not to beginne first this reason for you haue many Lordes that can speake better in this matter then I but séeing that it is your pleasure and theirs I shall shewe vnto you shortly mine aduise and as I would doe if I were as you are Then Duke Huon of Bourdeaux sayd Sir Admirall of Persia and of Media it is a long season since you departed from your Countrey Landes and Signiories and not without great trauaile and much paine and that God hath done you that grace that with one Armie all you haue passed and taken Castles and haue slaine and destroyed the Countreys and men of the Souldans of Babilon and of Egipt and haue béen at the holy Citie of Ierusalem the which is in the middest of his Countrey after that the Souldan hath fought with you with people innumerable whom you haue discomfited and slaine almost all they that were with him And also God hath giuen you the grace that you are safely escaped with little losse or dammage and now you haue in this Citie before vs besieged and inclosed in the Souldan your enemie who night and day doth imagine howe hee may recouer his losse as you may well knowe by his Letters sent by his Messengers the which you haue séene and red the contents of the same And Sir you may well thinke that hee hath sent diuers other Messengers aswell by Land as by Sea to his Fréendes to seeke for succour and for ayd in the intention to bee reuenged of you wherefore I counsaile you séeing you are so farre off from your Countrey as shortly as you can to depart from hence and to rayse your siege and to returne into your owne Countrey your men be wearie and sore trauailed and the Souldan is in his owne Countrey hée will alwayes assemble great numbers of people and alwayes hee may haue succour and victuals the which you cannot doe nor haue for héere without great paine you shall haue no victuall for the Country is sore fowled and oppressed and you can haue no succour from any part wherefore of necessitie you must depart the which you may doe without any losse For you may passe the Riuer of Euphrates before his people bee assembled to doe you any dammage and when the spring time of the yeare commeth if it bee your pleasure you may returne with such number of men as you shall thinke best for you are of puissance so to doe Sir this that I say is for nothing that I would forsake or leaue you as long as you be in these parts I had rather die although it be so as you well knowe that the thing that I ought most to desire is to depart from you and to goe into my owne Countrey whereas I haue left my Wife my Daughter and my Countrey in great pouertie and daunger of death and destruction Chap. CXXX ¶ Howe the Admirall of Persia agreed well to the counsaile of Duke Huon of Bourdeaux and praised his saying and of the faire offer that the Admirall of Persia made vnto Duke Huon of Bourdeaux WHen the Admirall had well hearde and vnderstoode Huon hee behelde his Lordes and all wéeping saide Sirs all you that be my men you haue all well heard Duke Huon who hath shewed his aduice and opinion and therefore I commaund and desire you all to shewe mee what you thinke by the saying of Huon then they all with one voice sayd Sir a more noble or profitabler counsaile no mortall man can giue for your wealth and suerty of your person and of vs all there was neuer man spake better and therefore all we pray and counsaile you to vphold the counsaile that hee hath giuen you Then the Admirall séeing that all his Lordes and Barons agréed to the counsaile that Huon had giuen him hee sayd Sirs as for mée since yoâ—â—re agréed thereunto I am readie to beléeue all good counsaile there was neuer a higher counsaile giuen vnto any Kinge or Prince and when the Admirall had saide howe that hee would beleeue the counsaile that Huon had giuen him hee called then Huon vnto him and sayd Sir Duke of Bourdeaux the pillar shéeld and sword of the Christian faith and the Defendour of the Persians and Medians I knowe well that by right I ought not to kéepe you for it is good reason that you returne thether where as you were borne and to ayde and comfort your true Spouse and Wife for whome you be in great discomfort and not without cause and therefore for the goodnesse and honour that wée haue found in you wée offer to goe with you in our owne proper persons with all our Armie and more to the number inestimable and to aide to reuenge you of the false Emperour of Almaine who hath doone to you so much ill and dammage or else if you will returne vnto vs into Persia at this next springe time we shall deliuer vnto you such puissance and my selfe to goe with them into Almaine so that the Valleys and Mountaines shall bee full of people and wee shall doe so much by the grace of our Lord God that wée shall deliuer the Emperour into your hands to doe with him at your pleasure When Huon had well heard and vnderstood the Admirall of Persia and of Media who offered him so great an offer hée sayd Sir of the courtesâ—e and kindnesse that you offer mee I thanke you with all my heart God forbid that I should be the causer of destruction of Christian bloude first I will assay with all swéetnesse and reasonable offers as much as in mee is possible to doe to present and offer vnto the Emperour to the entent that I may attaine to his loue and to haue peace the which thinge I will and desire to doe with all my heart And if it be so that he will not encline neither to right nor reason then Huon will come to you and vnto all other that I thinke or knowe to bee my Fréends and then desire you all of your courtesies for ayd and succour Chap. CXXXI ¶ How Duke Huon of Bourdeaux tooke his leaue of the Admirall and of all the other Lordes of Persia and went and tooke shipping at the Port of Thesayre and how he arriued at Marsellis without finding of any strange aduenture WHen the Admirall had well vnderstood Huon he sayd My right deare and wel-beloued Fréend I giue you good thankes of that you say you may bee sure that if you haue any neede and that you can make no appointment with the Emperour the offers that I haue made vnto you I shall vphold and succour you in mine ownâ— person Sir
quoth Huon I most hartely thanke you for I am much bound vnto you wherefore I am yours Then the Admirall tooke Huon by the hande and sayd Sir I see well that wee two must part the which gréeneth mée sore but since it is thus I must suffer it and I knowe well that you thinke longe vntill you bee gone the seruice that you haue done vnto mee I cannot recompence it for our twâ—â— wayes are contrarie yours is by water and mine is by land And therefore at the Port of Thesayre there is a riche Shippe the which was wonne vppon the Souldans men I giue her to you enter into her at your pleasure and therewith I giue you tenne Somers charged with gould and Tenne other charged with cloathes of gold and silke and you may take with you all the French men that be in this hoast such as followed vs when we departed from Ierusalem lette them goe with you into their Countrey and after that you are departed I shall rayse my siege and returne into Persia Sir quoth Huon of your guift and of your courtesie I thanke you Then the Admirall sent these Somers to the Port of Thesayre and there all the riches were put into the Shippe that were giuen vnto Huon and then hee deliuered to Huon to serue him all the Pilgrims that were there of Fraunce the Admirall gaue them rich guifts whereof they were right ioyfull and of the faire aduenture that was fallen vnto them for they had more monney at their departing then they hadde when the came out of their owne Countrey whereof they thanked the Admirall and promised to doe true seruice vnto Huon and not to leaue him vntill he had atchieued all his businesse Then Huon made him readie and tooke with him tâ—â— great Griffens foote and the Admirall and his Constables and Marshals and the other Lordes of the Hoast leapt vppon their Horses and conuayed Huon and his companie to the Port of Thesayre whereas his shippe was readie fournished with victuall and other things appertaining thereto then Huon all wéeping tooke his leaue of the Admirall and of the other Lords and Barons for whose departing they were right sorrowfull and so returned to their Hoast before Acres deuising of the great valour prowesse and courtesâ—e that was in Huon Then the Admirall commaunded priuily the next morning to dislodge and depart the which was done Thus the Admirall departed from the Citie of Acres and tooke his way towards Persia and he found vppon the Citie of Euphrates all his shippes and so with them hee sayled into his owne Countrey And Huon and Barnard his Coozen and diuers other Knightes and Squiers of Fraunce and when they were in their shippe they weighed vp their anchors and made sayle Then they passed the Gulfe of Sathale and then passed by the Rhodes and by Sardaine and so long they sayled without danger or lette that they came and arriued at the Port of Marsellâ—s and there they went a shoare with great ioy and discharged the shippe and then Huon gaue the shippe to the Patron that had brought them thether whereby the Patron was riche and thanked Huon When they were all a land they conuayed all their baggage into their Lodging in the Towne whereas they rested about eight dayes Nowe let vs leaue to speake of Huon and of them that were with him and let vs speake of the Abbot of Cluny Chap. CXXXII ¶ How the good Abbot of Cluny layd an ambushment of men of armes betweene Mascon and Tournous against the Emperour of Almaines Nephewe who was there slaine and all his men whereof the Emperour was so sore vexed and troubled that hee tooke the Duchesse Escleremond out of prison to haue burnt her and the three Hundred Prisoners of Bourdeaux to haue hanged them all YEE haue well heard in this Historie how Barnard departed from the Abbey of Cluny to go and search for his Nephew Huon and the Abbot seeinge that hee coulde heare no newes of Huon nor of Barnard his Coozen who was gone to séeke for him he was right sorrowfull and sore displeased that he could haue none other knowledge but the thing that caused him to passe the matter the more easier was because of Clariet Huons Daughter whome he kept and shee was all his comfort she was so faire and so swéet that none were like her in beauty and in good vertues and againe when hee remembred the Duchesse her mother Escleremond whome he knew was in great pouertie and miserie he was therewith so sore displeased that all his members trembled So vppon a day it was reported vnto him by a notable man that as he came from Saint Iames and by Bourdeaux how that a Nephew of the Emperours should goe from Bourdeaux to the Citie of Mayence to his Vncle Tirrey the Emperour of Almaine and howe hee should haue with him a great number of the Burgesses of the Citie of Bourdeaux as Prisoners because vppon a day they spake of Huon their naturall Lord and also how that he should carie with him the Tribute and monney of the Rents and Reuenewes of the Countrey of Burdeloys and such monney as euerie man was bound to paye vnto the Emperour When the good Abbot of Cluny was aduertised of the comming of the Emperours Nephew whome he reputed as his enemie hee assembled a great number of noble men the most part appertaining vnto the Duke of Burgoyne who as then was Father to Gerard of Roussellon being at that time but three yeares of age and when the Abbot had assembled a great number of men he chose the Lord of Vergier to be Captaine and leader of that companie and then he sent out his Spies to knowe certainely which way the Emperours Nephewe should come and at the last hee had certaine knowledge that hee was lodged at Mascon and the next day he should depart to Tournous and then the Lord of Vergier and diuers other by the commaundement of the Abbot of Cluny went and layde their ambushment betwéene Mascon and Tournous in a Valley so that by their Spies who laye vppon a Mountaine they sawe the Almaines comming about the number of two Thousand horses and the Lord of Vergier hadde in his companie aboue three Thousand horses defencibly apparelled and they were right ioyfull when they heard by their Spies that their enemies were comming then they apparelled themselues to abide their enemies who were come so forwarde that they were past their first ambushment and were entred into the Valley When they of the first ambushment and they of the second ambushment sawe their time they yssued out and brake vpon their enemies and made a great crie so that within a short space their enemies and the most part of them were slaine not one that escaped but either he was slaine or taken they could not saue themselues because vppon the one side was the Mountaine and vpon the other side the Riuer of Some and before and behinde their enemies
knowledge for a more noble man courteous and liberall you shall not find vpon this side of the Sea Fréend quoth Huon your courtesie may auaile you Then Huon went into the Hall whereas hee found the Abbot with his Brethren and then hee saluted the Abbot and all his Couent Fréend quoth the Abbot you are welcome I pray you to shewe mée from whence you come Sir quoth Huon I shall shew you the troth I come now from beyond the Sea from the holy City of Ierusalem whereas I haue kissed the holy Sepulchre and where our Lord Iesus Christ was quicke and dead I haue béen in those parts more then Seauen yéeres and the cause why I am come hether to sée you is this I found there a young Knight of mine age named Huon of Bourdeaux and he sayd that he is your Nephew and when he saw that I would depart from thence to come into his Countrey he humbly prayed mée to recommend him vnto you and therefore I am come vnto you to doe his messuage for he and I hath been together in diuers Battailes and great amitie haue béen betweene vs. When the good Abbot had well heard and vnderstood the Pilgrim many teares fell from his eyes and trickled downe his chéekes when he heard his Nephew Huon named and saide Fréende I pray you if it bee true as you say to shew mée the troth if you haue séen my Nephew Huon for it is he that I loue best in all this world and desire most to sée him and I pray you to shewe vnto mée what is his minde either to returne hether or else to abide there still I would to God that I were in debt to pay a thousand Markes of gould so that hee were as now héere in this Hall Sir quoth Huon your Nephew whome you desire so much to sée before a Moneth be past he will by the grace of God bee héere with you and Sir hee shewed mée at my departing from him that he hath a Daughter whom you haue nourished and brought vp and he charged me greatly that I should desire of you to sée her before I departed from you he knoweth not whether she bee aliue or dead I woulde gladly sée her if it were your pleasure Fréend quoth the Abbot right gladly you shall sée her I shall cause her to come hether and then you may sée her at your ease and I dare well say vnto you that in all the world you shall find no fairer nor a sweeter creature nor more wiser of her age nor better learned and yet she is but Ten yeares of age When Huon vnderstood the Abbot you may well know that hee hadde great ioy at his heart priuily and thanked our Lord Iesus Christ Then the Abbot called vnto him a right notable Knight named Sir Emerie and commaunded him to goe and fetch thether his Néece Clariet the Knight went into the chamber whereas the faire Ladie was with other foure noble Ladies who had brought her vp then Sir Emerie saluted the Ladie and the other that were with her When the young Ladie perceiued Sir Emerie she arose vp and rendred to him his salutation and right humbly saying Sir Knight I am ioyfull of your commig I pray you to shewe mee of your newes and tidinges Certainly faire Ladie quoth the Knight hether is come a Pilgrim who is come from beyond the Sea and hee hath shewed vnto the Abbot your Vncle tidinges of your Father Duke Huon therefore your Vncle desireth you to come and speake with him When the Ladie heard speaking of her Father with all her heart she desired to knowe some certaine tidinges and then shee and her Damsels departed out of the Chamber and came into the Hall to the Abbot her Vncle accompanied with twoo notable Knightes then shee entred into the Hall richly apparelled no man could describe her beautie for shee was so well fourmed that nature her selfe could not amend her her skinne was as white as the flower in the meadowe and coloured like the red Rose her haunches lowe and her pappes somewhat rysing her throat smooth and cleare her chinne vaunted her mouth as vermeill as a Rose her téeth small and well ranged and white her face white and well coloured mingled white and red her eyes smiling her chéere amourous to behoulde her nose straight her fore-head white her haire yellowe and her eares gentle and close I cannot deuise the tenth part of her excellent beautie none could regard her nor looke vppon her but that praised and loued her all her beautie and sweete demeanour and great humilitie that was in her if I shoulde héere describe it it would bee ouer-long to rehearse When Huon had well séene his Daughter Clariet who was so faire hee gladly behelde her without making of any knowledge Then the Abbot tooke his Néece by the hand and ledde her vnto Huon and said Pilgrim how say you by her shee hath not beene sore trauailed nor much come in the Sunne I haue kept her a long time and if she be garnished with beauty in like wise so she is with witte and bountie shee is Daughter vnto Duke Huon of Bourdeaux the man that I most loue in this world I woulde to God that I did sée him as I doe you nowe but if God send mee life and health this Ladie shall bee richly maried I will giue her goods that she shal be rich and puissant Sir quoth Huon I pray to our Lord Iesus Christ to giue her good fortune and that shee may bee so maried that her bloud thereby may be lifted vp and exalted then the faire Ladie Clariet sayd vnto Huon Sir Pilgrim I pray you to shewe me if you know any tidings of my Father Duke Huon of Bourdeaux Faire Ladie quoth Huon hee and I together haue beene a long time beyond the Sea and Companions together and we sought the Souldan of Babilon that nowe is it is not hee that was set there by Huon after that he had slaine the great Admirall Gaudise it is another who since that time conquered both the Citie and the Countrey of Egipt many aduentures Huon and I haue suffered but at the end wee discomfited the Souldan and his men are slaine and destroyed Pilgrim quoth the faire Ladie Clariet I require you to shew me if you know whether my deare Father will returne hether again or no the which is the thing in the world that I most desire Faire Ladie quoth he I answeare you that before twoo Moneths bee passed you shall sée him héere in good health I pray vnto our Lord God quoth the Ladie that it may be so that he may deliuer my Mother out of the prison whereas shee is in great pouertie and miserie When Huon had well heard and vnderstood his Daughter he would no longer hide himselfe but sayd My right deare Daughter before August be passed I shall deliuer her or die in the paine for I shall make such warre against the Emperour Tirrey
bagge a rich stone the which was of such vertue that whosoeuer did beare it about him could not bee ouercome with his enemie nor coulde not be drowned nor burnt the stone had such great vertue that none could esteeme the value thereof and besides that it cast such clearnesse in the Chappell that the Emperour was abashed thereat nor hee knewe not from whence that light should come Then hee beheld Huon and Huon did holde the stone in his hande and shewed it vnto the Emperour and when the Emperour sawe the rich stone he greatly desired to haue it and aduaunced himselfe and tooke it out of the Pilgrimes hand who presented it vnto him When the Emperour had the stone in his hand he had great ioy at his heart for he was cunning in the descrying of stones and sware to himselfe that the Pilgrim should neuer haue it againe for any thing that he could doe but he thought within himselfe that if he would sell it hee would giue him as much gould and siluer as hée could reasonably demaund or else he thought to kéepe it still whatsoeuer fell thereof and then the Emperour sayde vnto Huon Pilgrim I pray thee to shewe vnto mee where thou hast gotten this rich and bountifull stone Sir quoth Huon I haue brought it from beyond the Sea Fréend quoth the Emperour wilt thou sell it and I shall giue thée for it whatsoeuer thou wilt haue and to bee in the more suertie to beare away my guift that I will giue thee for it I shall cause thée to bee conducted into thine owne Countrey wheresoeuer it bee Sir quoth Huon I will giue it vnto you with a good heart so that it bee true that mine Host hath shewed vnto mee this day for he hath shewed vnto me that your custome is that the first person Pilgrim that commeth vnto you vppon this day being good Friday should haue of you a guift such as hee would demaund after that you haue made your prayers to our Lord God Pilgrim quoth the Emperour he that shewed thée that sayd that which is true and therefore whatsoeuer thou demaundest either Borough Towne or Citie or what thing soeuer it be I promise faithfully to giue thée whosoeuer bee displeased therewith I graunt it to thée therefore demaund whatsoeuer thou wilt Sir quoth Huon of your grace and faire guift I most hartely thanke you therefore Sir with a good heart I giue you that stone the which I deliuered vnto you but euen now in the recompence of the courtesie and guift that you haue graunted vnto mée the which shall be neither gould nor siluer and Sir because I know certainely that the renowme is ouer all the world that you are a iust and a true noble man and that which you promise you will vphold and kéepe and neuer swarue from your promise and because that I know surely that the promise that you haue made vnto mee you will vphold of whatsoeuer guift I desire to haue Fréend quoth the Emperour I will that you well knowe that if you demaund foure of my best Cities I shall giue you them séeing I haue made that promise and if God bee pleased I shall not goe from my promise for I had rather that one of my handes were cut off then I should be found false in my wordes and therefore demaund and surely you shall haue your demand without any deniall Sir quoth Huon I hartely thanke you and would haue kissed his féete but the Emperor would not suffer him but tooke him vp Sir quoth Huon first and before all other thinges I desire of you pardon of all the ill déedes and trespasses that I or my men haue done against you and if you haue in your Prison either men or women appertaining vnto mee or of my lineage that you will deliuer them all vnto mee and also if you haue any thing of mine either Towne or Citie Borough or Castle I require you by the promise that you haue made vnto mee to render them vnto me quite Sir any other thinge I demaund not Pilgrim quoth the Emperour make no doubt to haue that which I haue promised vnto you therefore I graunt all your desire but I require you humbly to shew vnto mee what man you bée and of what Countrey and of what Lineage seeing you haue desired of me such a guift Sir quoth Huon I am hee that sometime was Duke of Bourdeaux whome you haue so much hated I come now from beyond the Sea whereas I haue endured much paine and pouertie I thanke our Lord Iesus Christ that I haue done so much that I am nowe agreed with you and I shall haue againe the Duchesse Escleremond my louing Wife and my men and my Landes and Signiories if you will bee as good as your word and vphold your promise When the Emperour had well heard and vnderstood Huon all his bloud beganne to change and hee was a great space before he spake any word hee was so sore abashed but at the last hee sayd Ah Huon are you hee by whome I haue suffered so many illes and dammages and haue slaine so many of my Nephewes and other of my men I would not haue thought that you would haue beene so hardy to haue shewed your selfe before mée nor to haue come into my presence you haue well ouercome me and enchaunted mee I had rather haue lost foure of my best Cities yea and all my Countrey burnt and destroyed and my selfe banished out of mine owne Countrey for thrée yeares rather then you should haue thus come to my presence but séeing that it is thus knowe for troth that which I haue promised vnto you I shall vphold and keepe and from hencefoorth in the honour of the passion of our Lord Iesus Christ and of this good day vppon the which hee was crucified and put to death I pardon you all mine ill will and good will I shall not bee periured your Wife your Landes and Signiories and your men I shall render them into your hands speake thereof who liste otherwise it shall not bee nor I will neuer doe the contrarie Then Huon knéeled downe before the Emperour and right humbly thanked him and desired him to forgiue him all his trespasses Huon quoth the Emperour God forgiue thée and as for me with a good heart I doe pardon you Then the Emperour tooke Huon by the hande and tooke him vp and kissed him verie kindlye in token of good peace and amitie Sir quoth Huon great grace haue I found in you séeing you kéepe and vphold your promise but Sir if it please our Lord God your guerdon shall be double Huon quoth the Emperour I require you to shew me of your newes and aduentures that you haue had since you departed from the Citie of Bourdeaux Sir quoth Huon with a good will after that your diuine Seruice is done and the passion of our Lord Iesus Christ read Huon quoth the Emperour I giue you good thankes for that you say Then
nothing and haue suffered much paine cold and hunger and haue endured great pouertie and in great feare of death and desperation When Huon had wâ—ll heard and vnderstood his déere Wife who spake so pitiously sorrow and gréefe so closed his heart that hee had no power to speake one word and the teares fell from his eyes and trickled downe his chéekes for the pitie that he had of his louing Wife Escleremond and also the Iaylor for verie pitie thâ—t hee had was constrained to wéepe and so went downe into the Prison and brought the Ladie vp and then Huon and she beheld each other and could speake no word of a great space but renue and embraced and kissed each other and so fell downe to the ground both in a traunce and they lay vntill other Knightes came thether fearing that they had beene dead there was none but that wept for pitie Then the Emperour came thether himselfe and sore wept and repented himselfe of the illes that he had done to the Ladie and made her â—o suffer and then the Knightes and Lordes reuiued them then they clipped and kissed together and Huon sayd Faire Ladie I require you to pardon mee in that I haue taried so long from you and haue left you in such pouertie paine and daunger of death and haue escaped for the which I humbly thanke our Lord God of his grace Sir quoth shee we ought greatly to thanke almightie God when hee hath sent vs that grace to sée each other and to come together againe and that you haue peace with the Emperour Then the Iaylour went to all the Prisons and tooke out all Huons men and brought â—hem vnto him and they had great ioy when they saw their Lord Maister in sauegard and thanked our Lord God and humbly saluted Huon and sayd Sir blessed bee the houre of your comming whereby wee are deliuered from the paines trauailes and pouerties that we haue been in My right deare Freends quoth Huon thus goeth the world you and I are bound to thanke our Lord God for that hee sendeth vnto vs. Then the Emperour tooke Huon by the one hand and Escleremond by the other and ledde them into his Pallaice whereas the Tables were set and there sat downe together the Emperour and Huon and the Duchesse and all the Prisoners at another Table and were all richly serued Of their meats and Seruices and ioy that they made I will make thereof but small rehearsall And when they had all dyned the Emperour ordained Ladâ—es and Damsels to serue the Duches Escleremond and ordained Chambers for the Duke and her and for all the other they were there serued of all thinges that they desired and they had new apparell according to their degrées Anon the newes and tidinges were knowne in the Citie of the Peace made betwéene Huon and the Emperour and how hee had his Wife the Duchesse Escleremond rendred vnto him and his men deliuered out of prison whereof Bâ—rnarâ— as hee was in the Towne hearkening for newes was right ioyfull and went in hast vnto the Pallaice whereas he found Huon in his Chamber with his Wife the faire Esâ—leremond and assoone as hee sawe the Duchesse the water fell from his eyes for ioy then he saluted Huon and the Duchesse and the Ladie knew him incontinent and said Ah sir Barnard well I ought to loue and cherish you that yée haue so sought for my Lord and husband as that now at last through your tedious trauaile you haue found him and brought him hether Madame quoth he I haue done nothing but what I was bound in duty to doe I am sory for the great paines and trauaile that my Lord hath suffered and then hée shewed such newes as he knew whereof many great Lords and knights had great ioy to heare him for she maruayles that he discoursed vnto them Then when they had béene there the space of Eight dayes and that their men were well refreshed the Emperour assembled all his Lords said Sirs it is my will to lead and conduct Duke Huon and the Duches to Bourdeaux and to set them in possession of their Lands and Signiories and I will haue Ten Thowsand men to goe with mee and them and to bring mee againe hether to Mayence according to his commaundement the men were made readie and when the Emperour had ordained for Huons estate as it appertained for him and his Wife and his men and when euerie thing was readie they all mounted vpon their horses and the Duchesse had a rich Littour so they departed from the Citie of Mayence and ceased not till they came within twoo Leagues of the Abbey of Cluny The good Abbot who knew nothing of the agréement made betwéene the Emperour and Huon had gathered together of men of warre about twentie Thousand and they were lodged in the Towne of Cluny and the Abbot was aduertised of the Emperours comming into those parts and he heard no newes of Huon whereof he was right sorrowfull and sore displeased and thought that the Emperour hadde taken Huon Prisoner then hee yssued out of the Towne and ranged his men in good order of Battaile without the Towne in a faireplaine and there abiding for the Emperour whome he saw comming Chap. CXL ¶ How the Emperour arriued at Cluny and how the Abbot set vpon him and of the peace that was there made and how the Emperour conueyed Huon to Bourdeaux and rendred to him all his Lands and of the parting of them and the Emperour and how Huon made his prouision to goe to king Oberon WHen the Emperour sawe the Towne of Cluny he demaunded of Huon if he could tell him to whome that towne appertayned Sir quoth he it belongeth to an Vncle of mine who is Abbot thereof and wée must passe that way and also I must néedes speake with him before I goe to Bourdeaux The same time the Abbot who was then mounted on a puissant and strong Courser well armed at all points sawe the Emperour comming towards Cluny and then he said to his men Sirs thinke this day to doe well and valiantly for yonder before vs we may sée the Emperour our enemie comming wherefore wée cannot escape the Battaile I am sure he hath taken Huon my Nephew but by the faith that I owe to my Lord and to Saint Bennet my Patron that taking shal be déerely bought then they couched their speares and spurred their horses and came running towards the Emperour and when the Emperour saw them hee called Huon and said Sir yonder yée may sée men of warre all armed come running against vs I wot not what they meane to doe but they séeme to be our enemies as far as I can perceiue and they are a great number and therfore they are to be doubted and feared Sir quoth Huon it is mine Vncle the Abbot of Cluny who hath raysed vp his men to succour me for he is not aduertised of the Peace made betwéen you and mée surely he thinketh
and you my déere Loue Escleremond of your comming I am right ioyfull then hee embraced and kissed them both more then Tenne times and sayde Huon my right déere Freend for the great truth and noblenesse that I find in you I shall make you King of all the Fayrie and your Wife Escleremond shall be Lady and Quéene of the same and besides that I will giue vnto you all my dignitie When the Kinge had well saluted them then hee sat downe vppon a Couch and made Huon and Escleremond to sit downe before him and then hee commaunded Gloriand that incontinent he should fetch vnto him his bowe and when hee had it in his hand hee tooke an arrow and did shoot therewith then incontinent it séemed that all the world had arriued in the Town and Pallaice there came thether so many Knights and Ladies of the Fayrie that all the Towne and Pallaice was full and when they were all assembled together in the Pallaice Kinge Oberon commaunded to carrie him into the great Hall in his rich Couch then he commanded silence to be kept among them all and then he sayd Lordes and Ladie that bée héere assembled all yée knowe that euerie mortall thing cannot long endure I speake it for my owne selfe because I am Sonne to a mortall man and was engendred vppon the Ladie of the prime Isle who can neuer die because shee is one of the Fayrie engendred of a man of the Fayrie and Daughter to a woman of the Fayrie and whereas it is so that Iulius Caesar was a mortall man therefore it behooueth me to passe out of this world by the commandement of our Lord God who hath ordained that it should be so And because of my loue during the time that I haue béen conuersant héere with you therefore I will not leaue you without a Lorde but first in my life dayes I will puruay you of one who shall bee Duke Huon whome I loue well and déerely and also I will that his Wife the Duchesse Escleremond shall abide with him for in no wise I will seperate them asunder therefore I ordaine that Huon who is héere present be your King and Lord and Escleremond your Queâ—ne and Ladie and from hencefoorth I put my Realme and dignitie into his handes and I will that hee vse it as I haue done in my life time howbeit King Arthur hath sore pressed vppon mee to haue my Realme and dignitie but I will that none shall haue it but alonely Huon of Bourdeaux who is héere present and whome I will crowne King in all your presence Chap. CXLVI ¶ How the noble Kinge Oberon crowned Huon and Escleremond and gaue them all his Realme and dignitie that he hadde in the Land of the Fayrie and made the Peace betweene Huon and King Arthur WHen the people of the Fayrie both Knightes and Ladies had well heard and vnderstood King Oberon they were right sorrowfull in that hee should leaue them and sayd Sir since it is your pleasure and that it is your will oâ— reason wee must bee content to receiue Huon of Bourdeaux for our kinge and Madame Escleremond his Wife for our Quéene When the King vnderstood his Lordes and people then he caused to be brought thether two Crownes the one was set vppon Huons head and the other vppon Escleremonds head then Oberon sent for his Horne Napkin and Cup and the good Armour hee deliuered them vnto Huon to doe with them his pleasure great ioy and feasting was made in the Pallaice by the Knights Ladies of the Fayrie Then king Huon looked out at a window and sawe vpon the Mountaine that he passed ouer at his comming thether a great number of Tents and Pauillions and hée sayd vnto King Oberon Sir vppon yonder Mountaine I see a great number of men assembled and many Tentes and Pauillions picht vp Huon quoth king Oberon know for troth that it is kinge Arthur who meeneth to haue my Realme and dignitie but hee cometh too late for the promise that you made vnto me you haue kept therefore he fayleth and commeth too late for if you hadde not come I had giuen him my Realme and dignity I know well that hee will be heere soone to see me and hee will be sorrowfull and angrie of your comming hether but if I can I shall doe so much that you shall bee both in peace and rest for good reason it is that he doe obay you Therewith kinge Arthur and all his Chiualrie entred into the Citie of Momur and came alighted at the Pallaice and with him his Sister Quéene Morguele Fay and Transeline their Néece they came and saluted king Oberon who receiued them with great ioye and sayde Great kinge Arthur you are welcome and Morgue your Sister and Transeline your Néece and Sir â—â—ray you to shewe mée what faire Childe is that I sée there before your Sister Morgue Sir quoth Arthur hee is called Marlyn and is Sonne to Ogier the Dane who hath wedded my Sister Morgue and I haue left him in my Countrey to rule it vntill I returne Sir quoth king Oberon the child shall haue good fortune hee shall bee in his time feared and redoubted for Ogier his Father is a good and a valiant knight And noble kinge Arthur you are welcome and of your comming I am right ioyfull I haue sent for you to shewe you the pleasure of our Lord God that I shall depart out of this world and to the entent that you should be content in that I haue giuen you heretofore in the Fayrie so much dignitie and puissance wherewith I desire you to be contented for behold here Duke Huon of Bourdeaux and his Wife the Duchesse Escleremond vnto whome I haue giuen my Realme and my dignity to vse it as I haue done héeretofore and therefore I pray and commaund you that you will obay him as Kinge and Soueraigne of all the Fayrie and you to liue together with good loue and peace When King Arthur heard King Oberon he answeared fiercely and sayd Sir I haue well heard you and you know well that your Realme and dignity you gaue me after your decease and now I sée well that you haue giuen it to Duke Huon Sir lette him goe into his owne Countrey and vnto his Citie of Bourdeaux whereas hee hath left his Daughter Clariet and let him goe and marrie her for as heere he hath nothing to doe I hadde rather to bee cleane exiled for euer and chaced out of my Realme then I should obay him or doe vnto him any homage for he shall haue nothing to doe ouer mee without hee winne it with the point of the Sworde When Kinge Huon hadde well heard King Arthur of Brittaine he answeared fiercely and said King Arthur knowe for troth for all your wordes and threatninges I will not spare to say vnto you that whether you will or not it must behooue you to obay and to be vnder me since it is the pleasure of my Lord Kinge
Oberon heere present or else you may depart and go and dwell in the Countrey of Brittaine Then King Oberon seeing appearance of great war to bee mooued betwéene these two Kinges hee spake and sayde that hee would haue their euill will layd downe and neuer to haue war betwéen them and sayd vnto King Arthur Sir I will that you hould your peace for if you speake one worde more against Huon the Soueraigne King of the Fayrie that hee would condemne him perpetually to be a warre-wolfe in those parts and there to end his dayes inpaine and miserie but if hee will beléeue him hee woulde agrée them together then Kinge Arthur stood still and would speake no word Then Morgue and Transeline fell downe vpon their knées and desired King Oberon to haue pitie of King Arthur and to pardon him of all his ill will and after that Morgue had spoken then Kinge Arthur kneeled downe and sayd Right déere Sir I pray you to pardon mée in that I haue spoken so much against your pleasure Arthur quoth Kinge Oberon I will that you well knowe that if it were not for the loue of your Sister who hath desired mee to pardon you I would haue shewed you the power that I haue in the Fayrie the which from hencefoorth I giue vnto Duke Huon of Bourdeaux and all the dignitie and puissance that I haue vsed in all my life Then Duke Huon thanked Kinge Oberon right humbly of his courtesie Chap. CXLVII ¶ Of the Ordinances that the noble King Oberon made before he dyed WHen King Oberon had deposed himselfe of his Realme and dignitie and that he had put all his puissance into the hands of Huon then he sayd vnto King Arthur Sir because I desire with all my heart that after my decease Huon and you shoulde liue together in good peace and loue I giue you all my Realme of Boulquant and all the Realme that Sâ—billa holdeth of me to do therewith at your pleasure and of all the Fayries that bee in the plaine of Tartary I will that you haue so much puissance there as Huon hath héere Prouided that héere before me you make homage vnto him and that good peace and loue may be betwéene you Then Arthur Morgue and Transeline and all the other Lordes and Ladies that were there thanked King Oberon and sayd how that they neuer heard nor saw so rich a guift giuen before as that Kinge Oberon had giuen vnto Kinge Arthur Then King Arthur in the presence of King Oberon came and made homage and kissed Duke Huon then Kinge Oberon and all the other hadde thereof great ioy because of the Peace made betwéene those two Kinges and great feasting and ioy was made in the Pallaice for all the most noble Lordes and Ladies of the Fayrie were there assembled there was great solemnitie made Thus as they were in this great ioy kinge Oberon féeling that his last end approached for hee knewe the day and houre then séeing that in his life time he had prouided a King for his Realme he humbly thanked our Lord God of the graces that he had giuen him in this world then hee called before him Huon of Bourdeaux and kinge Arthur Gloriand and Mallabron and sayd Sirs I aduertise you that longe I shall not abide among you therefore Huon for your bountie and noblenesse wherewith you haue béene alwayes indued I haue chosen you among other to haue the kéeping and Signiorie and the ministration of all the Fayrie as well of the Countrey of warrewolues as of other thinges secret reserued and not to bee shewed to any mortall men and also I haue giuen you my dignitie and puissance to doe therewith as I haue done in my time because I haue thus chosen you therefore I will that when I depart out of this world that you doe make a newe Abbey of Monkes the which I will bee set in the meadowe héere before this Citie because all my dayes I haue loued this Citie and I will that in the Church of the same Abbey you doe burie my bodie as richly as you shall thinke conuenient and I recommend vnto you all such as haue well serued me and I will that you retaine them into you Seruice When King Oberon had sayd as much as pleased him Huon answeared sayd Déere Sir of the great goodnesse and honour that you haue done vnto me I thanke you and all that you haue ordained or will do by the grace of God it shall be done in such wise that my soule shall beare no charge for it at the day of Iudgement When the Lordes and Ladies that were there assembled heard the words of king Oberon and saw well that his last end approached néere she cryes and clamours that were there made was great maruaile to heare and especially there was such wéepings and lamentations in the Citie that great pittie it was to heare it for they were aduertized that kinge Oberon drewe néere vnto his last end who lay in his rich Couch in the middest of his Pallaice making his prayers vnto our Lord God and holding Huon by the hand and at the last hee sayd My right déere Fréend Huon pray for mee and then hee made the signe of the Crosse and recommending his Soule vnto God the which incontinent was borne into Paradice by a great multitude of Angels sent from God who at their departing made such shining and clearnesse in the Pallaice that there was neuer none such seene before and therewith there was so sweet a smâ—ll that euerie man thought that they had been rauished into Paradice whereby they knewe surely that kinge Oberons Soule was saued When king Huon and king Arthur and Quéene Escleremond Morguele Fay and Transeline and king Carahew Gloriand and Mallabron and all other knightes and Ladies knew that king Oberon was dead there is no humane tong can tell the cries wéepings and complaints that were made there for the death of king Oberon â—hen his bodie was taken and borne to the place where his Sepulcher was deuised the which king Huon caused to be made right richly and sounded there an Abbey as king Oberon had deuised After the Buriall they returned to the Pallaice whereas the Tables were set and there sat thrée crowned kinges and two excellent Quéens full of great beautie at the vpper end of the Table sat king Huon and next vnto him king Arthur and then king Carahew and the two Quéens and the other Ladies departed and went and dyned in their Chambers and they were all serued of euerie thinge that was necessarie And after dinner and grace sayd king Arthur and king Carahew tooke their leaue of king Huon and of Queene Escleremond and so departed euerie man into his owne Countrey and Morgue and Transeline tarried a certaine space with Quéene Escleremond in great ioy and solace Now let vs leaue speaking of kinge Huon and Quéene Escleremond who tarried still in the Fayrie and shall do vntill the day of Iudgment and
Aragons house and haue passed the time there with the newe come Damsell the most fairest that euer was borne and the most gentlest and best taught right faire and swéet are her deuises Florence quoth the King I charge thée in as much as thou fearest my displeasure that thou commest no more at her beware that thou fallest not enamoured of her if thou doest thou wert neuer so ill acquainted with any Loue nor there neuer came so ill aduenture to the Damsell if shee draw thée to loue her for if I may know that thou goest thether any more I shall sette her in such a prison whereas I shall cause her to end her dayes miserably Father quoth Florence mée thinkes that you doe vs great wronge to forbid vs to play and sport together in all goodnes and honour and God defend that I shoulde entend any wayes to deceiue her Déere Father remember that you haue béen young therfore suffer that youth may passe their time in goodnesse and honour with vs as it hath done with you nowe you are about Four-score yeares or more you ought to thinke of nothing but to serue God and eat and drinke and sléep it ought not to trouble you though our youth passe the time in good workes you ought to bee content that we loue by amours as you haue done before this for to the Damsell I beare all honour and I will loue her howsoeuer it bee taken faire or foule there is no man liuing that shall let mee as longe as life is in my bodie shee is faire and gentle and it is said that I am faire and that it were a méet couple for vs two to be ioyned together in mariage and therefore Father I praye you to blame mee no more nor the Damsell for in all that I can doe I am her Louer and shee is mine When the King hadde well vnderstood his Sonne in great yre and displeasure he sayd Oh thou vngracious Son little thou prizest or honourest me in that thou wilt doe thus against my will know for certaine if I may liue but till to morrow in the morning I shall make a departure of your twoo loues When Florence heard his Father he sayd My déere Lord and Father if God will you shall not doe as you haue sayd for if you doe with mine owne handes I shall slay my selfe for I will not liue one day after When the Kinge heard that hee was right sorrowfull for feare of loozing of his Sonne and studied within himselfe what to doe then he said Faire Son take thine armour and goe and seeke aduentures as I haue done in my time then I shall marrie thée to some Wife such a one as thou canst finde in any Countrey although she be neuer so great or noble I shall cause thee to haue her iâ— thou wilt forsake and leaue this new found Damsell for by her no wealth nor honour can come vnto thée it should bee a great euill vnto thee that after my daies it should bee saide that a newe found Damsell should bee Ladie and Queene of my Realme Thou knowest well howe thine Vncle the King of Nauarre maketh me great warre for a debate that is lately fallen betwéene him and me I knowe well that now at this Moneth of Aprill hee wiâ—l come and inuade my Realme and therefore good Sonne seeke for some other Wife and let this folly passe then I shall make thée a Knight then helpe to aid and defend my Realme against the Kinge of Nauarre thine Vncle thou art bigge and strong inough to defend my Land Good Father quoth Florence speake no more vnto me for I will neuer haue no other Wife but this faire Damsell whome I loue entirely Sonne quoth the King thou abasest thy selfe ouer lowe nor there is no friend nor kindred that thou hast that will keepe any company with thée but they will cleane flye from thée therefore good Sonne put away from thée this folly beware in as much as thou thinkest to haue my Realme after my decease and vppon the paine to bee banished out of my Countrey take not her against my will Then the Kinge called vnto him his Cozen Peter of Aragon and charged him that if Florence his Sonne came any more to his lodging that he should incontinent tell him of it for I promise quoth hée by the faith that I owe vnto our Lord God if he come thether any more I shall cause the Damsell that is in your house to be slaine Florence was right sorrowfull when hee heard to the pleasure of the Kinge his Father Thus as the King rebuked his Sonne there came in a Knight and kneeled downe and sayd Sir I haue brought you ill tidings for the King of Nauarre is entred into your Realme and setteth all your Countrey in flame and fire and néere to your Citie they be to the number of more then Thirtie Thousand men besides the great Battaile that commeth after wherein there is about thrée-score Thousand men they exile your Countrey and they slay men women and Children they spare neither young nor old it is great néed that you make hast and to bring your men together to resist your enemies When King Garyn heard the Messenger he was right sorrowfull then hee called vnto him his Cozen Peter of Aragon who was his chiefe Constable and sayd Sir make readie our men to resist our enemies then he called vnto him Florence his Sonne and sayd Faire Sonne take thine armour and shew thy vertue against thine enemies who waste my Realme and take vpon thée the chiefe charge and lead mine Hoast for I haue no puissance nor strength to do it because of the great age that I am of I haue liued so long that I can no more ride therefore defend thou the Land that thou shalt hold after mee and then thou doest as a wise man should doe Father quoth Florence by the grace of God I will put no armour vppon my backe to defend your Land except you will giue mee in marriage the faire Damsell that is in my Cozen Peter of Aragons house if you will doe me that courtesie and promise mée to doe it I shall deliuer into your hands your enemy as Prisoner to doe with him your pleasure otherwise looke not that I shall doe any thing When the King saw that his Sonne would doe none otherwise then he commaunded all his other men euerie man to arme himselfe and to goe and resist his enemies the which they did incontinent and they yssued out into the fields more then tenne Thousand men and Sir Peter of Aragon hadde the leading of them and they were not out of the Towne aboue twoo Leagues but they encountred their enemies there were many speares broken and many a Knight beaten downe to the earth and slain and their bodies lying without soules among the horse féete right valiantly did Sir Peter of Aragon behaue himselfe that day but hee had not strength ynough sufficient for his
thought hee had béen dead and euerie man complayned for him and especially the king his Father was right sorrowfull and would as then that he had neuer begunne that matter When Florence came againe to himselfe hee sayde Oh good Lorde the earth ought to be cursed when it sustaineth such a trayterous kinge that hath done such a déede great perill it is to bee conuersant with him then Florence looked vppon the knightes about him and sayde Sirs I require you for the loue you ought of reason to beare me bring me to the same place whereas she whom I loued perfectly was perished and drowned for other Sepulcher I desire none but the same that she hath for the loue of her it shall please me well to bee vnder couert vnder the waues of the Sea whereas my Loue is to the entent that of me there be heard neuer more remembrance Then hee beheld the king of Nauarre his Vncle whome hee had taken Prisoner and sayd Sir king of Nauarre thou art my Prisoner but if thou wilt ayd mee to bee reuenged of this treason that my Father hath done I shall then let thée goe againe frée and quit Faire Nephew quoth he leaue that folly and speake no more thereof for it toucheth much your honour and you shall be blamed of all them that heare speaking thereof Sir quoth Florence what is that you say you knowe well that you are my Prisoner and that it lyeth in me whether you shall liue or die Faire Nephew quoth the king I will well agrée to your wordes but if you will beléeue mee beléeue the king your Father leaue to doe after your owne will What quoth Florence you know well that in me it lyeth to strike off your head without you will agrée vnto my will and pleasure the which thing I will doe except incontinent you sweare the death of kinge Garyn my Father and that neuer to take peace with him vntill you haue brought him to the death vpon this condition I shall set you in sauegard for the Traytour hath deceiued me of the thing that I loue best in all this world Then the king of Nauarre sayd Déere Nephewe you are as yet young I cannot tell whether your wordes and promises are stable and firme or not for the youth that I sée in you and also for the great displeasure that you be in now and therefore faire Nephew I haue great feare that you should beguile me Sir quoth Florence God forbid that I shoulde bée so deceiuable of my promise to promise you any thinge and fulfill it not whatsoeuer should fall thereof At this time there were but few persons in the Pallace with the kinge for all the Lordes and knightes were gone into the Towne to their Lodgings to refresh them of their trauaile and wearines therefore the king was in his Pallaice with a small companie the which Florence had well espyed and there was certaine of Florence knightes about him vnto whome hee sayd all wéeping Sirs incontinent goe and get mee my horse and also the king of Nauarre his horse readie at the gate the which was done and when they were come then Florence sayd vnto the kinge of Nauarre his Vncle. Good Vncle if there bee any courage in you to be safe and out of seruage take this sword in your hand and let vs leaue this vnhappie king to vse his daies in sorrow and come and follow me Faire Nephew quoth the king of Nauarre I haue great feare that you will beguile me Sir quoth Florence thinke it not but come after mee and you shall sée what I will doe then Florence departed and the kinge of Nauarre with him they leapt vppon their horses and when they were vpon their good horses there was no man at that time in the Towne abroad to let Florence of his Enterterprize but thus they passed both vntill they were without the Towne then Florence sayd to the king his Vncle. Sir nowe you knowe well that I haue brought you out of this Towne and therefore I require you againe that you neuer take peace with the king my Father vntill you haue slaine him Faire Nephew quoth the king that which you require me to doe I shall fulfill it and thus I recommend you to God When the kinge sawe himselfe so well deliuered hee was ioyfull and so road vntill hee came to his Hoast whereas his men receiued him with great ioy and they demaunded how he was escaped out of the handes of Florence then the king shewed all the manner howe Florence deliuered him whereof they had great maruaile and had great ioy of his comming and to accomplish his promise to Florence his Nephewe he sent to all his Realme of Nauarre to his Fréends and other to come and ayd him Now wee shall leaue speaking of the king of Nauarre and speake of Florence his Nephew Chap. CLV ¶ How King Garyn put Florence his Sonne into a Tower in prison and how the Damsell escaped out of the Tower and spake with Florence her Louer at an arch vpon the Garden-side and how they were espyed and howe shee thought to haue drowned her selfe WHen Florence had deliuered the king of Nauarre his Vncle whom hee had taken before in the Battaile then he returned againe into the Citie and so road till he came to the Pallaice whereas he found the king his Father and sayd as a man almost out of his wits Oh thou false Traytor thou hast done so much through thine ilnesse that I rather desire thy death then thy life Then he sayd to the Knightes that were there present Sirs I pray you bringe mee to the Sea and cast mee therein in the same place whereas my Loue was cast for I will not liue one houre longer if you doe not this I shall slay my selfe with mine own handes When king Garyn heard his Sonne say so hee was right sorrowfull and spake fiercely vnto his Sonne and commaunded to take him and to set him in prison in the Tower in such wise that hee may bee sure of him and sayde Well I ought to be angrie in my heart when this boy mine own Son thus dealeth with mee but by the faith that I owe vnto our Lord God the displeasure that he hath done vnto mee hee shall deerely abuy it for as long as he liueth hee shall haue no foote of my Land Sir quoth Florence by you nor by your Land nor by any thinge that you can doe I set not thereby a button for I hadde rather die then liue There was no man present but that wept greeuously for pitie and when Florence saw them wéepe he sayd vnto them Sirs come vnto mee take off my Armour and put me into the handes of the king my Father for I will not that any of you shoulde haue any displeasure for my sake let mee beare the blame my selfe séeing that I haue lost the thing that I loue best Then the Knightes came vnto Florence and vnarmed him and
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
the Castle thinking to haue won it but they found there such defence and resistance that that which they did there was small to their profit yet the assault endured vntill the next day and at last they were constrained to withdraw from the Castle a great space Florence who was within cryed to them and sayd Ah yée false Villaines yée haue slaine my men but if God suffer me to liue their deathes shall bee déerely bought When the Paynims saw that they could not attaine to the Castle they blew the retrait euerie man returned to their owne house Then Sorbarre said to Florence and his company Sirs I aduise you to leape on your horses for now the Paynims are returned to their Lodgings wearie of their trauaile and many of them sore hurt and they are in great feare I know their conditions well ynough and because that after trauaile labour a man is féeble and full of feare and nowe euerie man is in his owne house and vnarmed to be at their ease therefore I counsaile that incontinent we yssue out and set vpon the Towne Then Florence and all the other sayd Sir as you haue deuised we are readie to doe it for a more noble counsaile was neuer giuen Then euerie man made him readie yssued out of the Castle and Florence and Sorbarre went before them and rested not vntill they were entred into the Town for their entring could not bee defended because the Castle ioyned to a corner of the Towne then they made a great crie and spread abroad in the Towne and put in fire in diuers places and slewe downe the Paynims in the stréets and Market places finally they did so much by force of armes that they brought the Towne vnder their subâ—ection and the Inhabitants thereof all slaine and all the Christian Prisoners rescued who had great ioy when they saw Florence their Lord whome they thought had béene dead Great riches that day was wonne in that Towne the which was giuen and parted vnto them that had deserued it and Florence gaue to the Christian Prisoners great riches Thus when the Towne was wonne and the riches thereof put into their Shippes they all departed and sette fire on all the Citie then they went into the Castle whereas the Damsell Clariet was who had great ioy when she saw Florence her Louer and then Sorbarre who had great desire to depart from thence tooke all the Treasure riches and had it into their ships and victualled them with all thinges necessary then when it was day in the morning they departed from the Castle and went to their Ships with great ioy Florence holding his Loue by the hande said vnto her Deere Loue king Garyn my Father hath sent to seeke for me all about both by land and by water and these that bee come heere with these Shippes were sent forth by the Kinge my Father to search for me When the Damsell heard that Florence would bring her againe to his Father she hadde great feare and said Sir yâ—u know right well the great hate and displeasure that your Father hath to you and me for God sake sir let vs goe some other way Déere Loue quoth Florence haue no feare of my Father for if you had shewed your nâ—me what you bee before this time it had eased vs of much paine Ah Sir quoth shee it is not as you wéene it were Well quoth Florence it is sufficient for me as it is then they 〈◊〉 vp their sayles and so sayled vntill they were farre off 〈◊〉 that Land and Sorbarre was right ioyfull in that he had saued the Christian men and for the loue of Florence he forsooke his owne lawe and his countrey then hee sayd vnto Florence Sir my bodie and goods I abandon to you in such wise that I shall neuer leaue you for life nor death Sir quoth Florence of the goodnesse and troth that you haue shewed mee I thanke you and I shall neuer haue penny worth but the halfe shall be yours Now let vs leaue speaking of them sayling ioyfully vppon the Sea towards Aragon and let vs speake of king Garyn who was besieged within the Citie of Courtoys by his brother in lawe the king of Nauarre Chap. CLXI ¶ How King Huon Kinge of the Fayrey sent two of his Knightes to the two Kinges and how he appeared betweene them with a great number and of the Peace that he made between them WEll haue yee heard before how that after the King of Nauarre had taken King Garyn prisoner and that Truce was taken for a certaine space and then each of them to shew their powers so it fell that two daies before the breaking vp of the truce and that their ayds and puissances were assembled together the one partie within the Citie and the other without with the Kinge of Nauarre who sore threatned King Garyn because hee had banished away his Sonne Florence his Nephew and sayd that hée had rather die then such an ill King should not be punished this King of Nauarre had assembled such a number of people that the Valleys and Hils were couered with men of warre the night before the Truce brake vppe there was hearde in the ayre a fearefull voice the which when it began to speake the earth trembled and thundred and lightned in such sort that all they that were assembled aswell they within as without had such feare that they were likely to haue run away Then the voice began to speake and sayd Sirs ye that be here in the field readie to fight of both parties make no hast to ioyne together in Battaile for such ayd and succour shal be sent to you both that yee shal be all ioyfull Therewith the voice passed away and was heard no more whereby both parties were abashed all the night they were at their prayers beséeching God to ayd succour them King Garyn was sore abashed when he heard the voice and said Oh good Lorde if these people that are assembled bee slaine by my meanes for me my soule shall be lost for euer Alas my Son Florence I was ill counsailed when I chased you away from me and I did great sin when I put you in prison I am wearie of my life it is no matter though I die and I am more sorrie for you my déere Sonne whome I haue betrayed and driuen away without a cause alas by my meanes this Realme will be wasted and destroyed the which you ought to haue after me Therewith he swounded among his Lordes so that they all thought he had béene dead whereof they sore complained and at last the king came againe to himselfe then his Lordes comforted him and so bad him to heare Seruice and after seruice there appeared sodenly before him two goodly young Knightes the one was Gloriant and the other Mallabron they were twoo Knights of the Fayrey then they all smiling saluted the King and sayd Royall King Huon of Bourdeaux saluteth thée
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
manner of defence made against them but it is an old saying that many things remaineth of foolish thoughts as it did with the Spaniards for they thought surely that the Citie of Rome was wonne but if God ayde and succour the Damsell Ide and her Chiualrie she should take from them ere it were night their hope to haue any Victory She road by her Battailes and encouraged her men and mooued them to doe valiantly and thus they approached towards their enemies Great ioy and noise there was when the Battailes encountred together the shot flew so thicke on both parts that it séemed to be snow and hayle I de encountred with a Knight Nephew to the King of Spaine hee receiued such a stroake that for all his armour Ides Speare went cleane through his bodie so that the Knight fell to the earth with his féet vpward and so dyed miserably among the horse féete then I de sayd of God be thou cursed in an ill houre thou camst hether to receiue such an offering I challenge from you all the Empire of Rome then shée sayd to her selfe Good Lord God I require thée humbly this day to aid and succour me a poore fugitiue therewith she spurred her horse and with the same speare she slew another great Baron of Spaine and so slew with the same Speare diuers other when the Speare was broken she drew out her sword the which the Emperour had giuen her then she came to a notable Duke of Spaine Vncle to the King to whome shee gaue such a stroake with her good sword that shee claue his head to the téeth and so he fell downe dead then she dasht into the thickest presse and euer did choose out the greatest personages and slew many of them for she thought the more that were slaine of the great men the more should her enemies bee afrayd therefore she chose out such one after another And also the Romans fought valiantly so that by the hye Prowesse of Ide and of the good Chiualrie of the Romanes that were with her they made the Spaniards abashed and caused them to flye away and had neuer returned againe if the Duke of Argon with thrée Thousand Knightes in his companie had not béene who made them that fled to returne againe Then there began againe a fierce Battaile and many a man slaine the Romanes did valiantly by the aide and comfort of Ide their Captaine she road into the thickest of the presse and bare downe the Spaniards on all sides that it was pittie to sée great was the noise pitiously cryed out the hurt men lying among the horse féete which were beaten downe to the earth then the King of Spaine came into the Battaile with his sword in his hand and encountred with a great Lord of Rome which was Coozen to the Emperour the King gaue him such a stroake vppon the helmet that hee claue his head into the braines and then the King slew another then Ide who saw that was sorrowfull and sayd I ought little to be praised without I reuenge the death of these two Lordes slaine by the King of Spaine then shee road to the Kinge and gaue him such a stroake vppon the helmet that all the circles with stones and pearles flew downe to the earth and stroake away part of his coife haire and skinne and if the King hadde not turned his head it had béen clouen to the téeth the sword glaunced and lighted vpon his horse necke and strake it cleane asunder and so the horse fell downe dead and the King to the earth whereof the Spaniards were sore abashed thinking their King had béen slaine so they fled away and left him there lying on the earth in a traunce in such sort that hee could neither sée heare nor speake one word then the Damsell I de tooke him and deliuered him to two noble Lordes of the Emperours Court and when he reuiued he was made to sweare and promise to be a true Prisoner Those two Lordes went with the King of Spaine into the Citie of Rome and presented him vnto the Emperour from Ide whereof the Emperour thanked God that hee had sent Ide thether to serue him then the King was sette in a strong Tower and I de was without still doing maruailes in armes so that euerie man was abashed thereof the Spaniards made her way Finally by the hye Prowesse of the Damsell Ide the Kinge of Spaine was taken and all his men discomfited happie was hee that might escape to saue his life the chase endured long wherein many were slaine and taken Then Ide and her companie returned to their Tents and Pauillions and there they found great riches the which was brought out of Spaine and was giuen and distributed to them that had deserued it Great ioy was made in the noble Citie of Rome for the Battaile was well séene ouer the wals and especially the Ladie Oliue had well regarded the hye prowesse of Ide whereby she loued her so in her heart that she smiled with ioy and sayd to her selfe To yonder young Knight I doe giue my loue the which I neuer granted before to any man liuing but it is good right and reason that I grant my loue to Ide such like wordes Oliue sayd to her selfe Chap. CLXVIII ¶ How the Emperour of Roome highly receiued the noble Damsell Ide and of the honour that was made vnto her and how the Emperor made her Constable of his Empire And how the king of Spaine was deliuered out of prison and made homage vnto the Emperour AFter that the Battaile was done and finished and the bootie distributed I de with great triumph accompanyed with Lordes and Knightes entred into the Citie of Roome and the Emperour was infourmed of the comming of Ide and of her valiant déedes by whom the Victorie was obtained how that none could endure against her whereof the Emperour had such ioy at his heart that hee wist not what to doe and hee thanked our Lord God that the matter went so to his honour and glorie therewith I de came to the Pallaice whereas she was receiued with great ioy with all the Colledges of the Citie and when the Emperour sawe her he arose and embraced her and sayd My true Fréend Ide of your comming I am right ioyfull for this day you haue done such honour to our Empire that you ought to bée honoured for euer and because you haue done vs such seruice wee will that you shall bee the mirrour for all other Knightes to encourage them to doe well wee therefore make you our first Chamberlaine and high Constable of all our Romane Empire and all my Landes and Signiories I abandon to be at your commandement in all things that you thinke reasonable to be done for I will and commaund that all my Lordes doe obey you Sir quoth Ide of this honour I thanke you God giue mee grace that I may alwaies perseuer to doe that thing which shal be to you agreeable
and profitable to your Countreys and Signiories Then the Emperour sent for the King of Spaine out of prison and when hee was come hee knéeled downe and sayd Sir I require you to haue pitie of me the Emperour answered â—â—ercely and sayd King of Spaine for what cause are you come out of your Countrey of Spaine and thus to destroy and wast mine Empire you haue slaine many of my Lordes and Knightes who neuer did you any displeasure and besides that you haue burnt many of my Townes and beaten downe my Castles whereof I am sorrie seeing that I nor none of mine did you neuer any displeasure and because that all euill ought to bee punished and all good déedes rewarded before euer I drinke any wine I shall cause your head to be striken off for any mans speaking to the contrarie I shall not fayle to doe it When the King heard that he was in great feare and humbly prayed him to haue pitie him and sayd how he was readie to make amends for all his trespasses and to repaire again all the ill damages done by him or caused to be done within the Empire and therewith to doe homage and feaultie vnto him and to hould the Realme of Spaine of him promising also if any warre were made against the Emperour hee would come and succour him with twentie Thousand men at his owne proper costes and charges and to bee with him against all men that would trouble him then the Emperor sayd King of Spaine know for troth that for all your promise and words I will doe but little for it for you shall not escape from me then the damsell I de stept foorth and sayd to the Emperour Sir I haue often times heard say that he that humbleth himselfe and cryeth for mercie then reason requireth that hee should haue mercie graunted him and therefore Sir I require you to receiue this â—ing to your grace and pardon his trespasse séing the offers that he hath offered to do that he will become your Liege-man hold his Land of you and amend the dammages that you haue suffered he that reason offereth ought to haue haue reason and you ought to thanke God since such a man as hee is putteth himselfe into your handes When the Emperour vnderstoode Ide he sayd Fréend Ide your wit and courtesie is to bee allowed and because I knowe that the counsaile that you giue mee is reasonable I will doe as you will haue mee take you him and by you hee shall bee deliuered Sir quoth Ide I thanke you When the Kinge of Spaine sawe that hee should haue grace and that with amends making he should be deliuered he thanked God and did homage to the Emperour and deliuered sufficient pledges to make restitution as he had promised then the Emperour gaue him a safe conduct vntill he came into his owne Countrey and all the other Prisoners were deliuered such as were taken in the Battaile by the Romanes then the King of Spaine was ioyfull and often times thanked the Damsell Ide by whose meanes this bountie and courtesie was shewed him Then hee tooke his leaue of the Emperour of Ide and of all other Lords and Knights that were there present and so hee returned into his Countrey of Spaine whereas he was receiued with sore wéepings for the great losse that he had receiued Now we shall leaue speaking of him and returne to our matter Chap. CLXIX ¶ How the Emperour gaue his Daughter Oliue in mariage to the Damsell Ide knowing none other but that she had been a man and how shee was appeached by a Varlet that heard their deuises whiles they were in bedde together whereby the Emperour would haue burnt the Damsell Ide AFter that the King of Spaine was departed from Roome the Emperour honored and praised much Ide for the good seruice that shee had done who euer better and better perseuered in good seruice doing for she did so much by her wit that all discords and debates that were in the Empire betwéene Lordes or Neighbors she set them in peace and accord wherefore the Emperour loued her in such wise that without her he did nothing and the Emperours Daughter Oliue loued her in such wise that she could not liue one day without the sight of her she was so taken with loue thinking that she neuer sawe so goodly a young man And so on a day the Emperour assembled his Lords and his priuie Counsaile to whome he shewed and sayd that he had but one Daughter the which as then was of lawfull age wherefore he would that she should be married to the intent that she might haue heires to enioy his Lands after his decease and sayd Sirs I thinke if all the world should be searched there could not bee found a man so worthy to haue my Daughter Oliue in mariage as our welbeloued Constable the valiant Ide by whome so noble seruice hath béene done vnto vs and to our whole Empire for I would before I die that she should be married and I thinke I cannot better bestowe her for in all the world there is not a more valiaunt Knight then Ide is nor that is more worthy to gouerne an Empire or a great Realme When the Lords vnderstood the Emperour they all allowed his mind and counsailed him to doe the same then the good Emperour called to him Ide and sayd My déere Fréend for the great seruice that you haue done I will reward you as by reason I am bound to doe and I cannot giue you a more richer thing nor that I loue better then Oliue my déere Daughter whome I will giue you in mariage and I will that you take her to your wife to the intent that after my dayes you may gouerne mine Empire for now I féele my selfe aged and féeble wherefore I shall be content that from hencefoorth you haue the gouerning thereof and now I deliuer to you my Land in kéeping to gouerne it as your owne Ah Sir quoth Ide what is that you say you know well that I am but a poore Gentleman banished out of my Countrey and I am woorth nothing great dammage it should bee to so noble a Damsell to be assigned to such a poore man as I am Sir I crie you mercie humbly requiring you to take aduice that your Daughter who is so faire may be married to some hye Prince puissant to the intent that if you should haue any busâ—nesse that he might be of power to ayd and succor you for I am poore and ought alwaies to trauaile and to take paines to get honour for mee and to increase my Lineage What quoth the Emperour are you so hardy as to refuse my Daughter by whome great wealth and goodnesse may come to you Sir quoth Ide since it is so that it pleaseth you to shew me this honour I will not refuse it but Sir I say it to this intent that you should take good aduise therein and séeing you are content that I shall
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
from hence vntill you haue shewed vs your will to the intent that we may bring him some good newes Chap. CLXXII ¶ Howe the Emperour Ide and the Empresse Oliue gaue good instructions to their Sonne when they departed from Rome and howe they arriued at Courtoys and came to Florence who with great ioy receiued them as his Children WHen the Emperor I de had heard this Knight report these newes of the King his Father the water fell from his eies for pitie and ioy that he had and answeared and sayd Sirs I will that yee know well that of your comming and good newes I am right ioyfull but I am sorrie for the great sicknesse that my Father is in wherefore to recomfort him and to make him ioyfull I will that you returne to him and say howe that I humbly recommend me to his good grace and that at Midsummer next I and my Wife will bee with him the Messengers hearing that answeare were right ioyfull Then after dinner they tooke their leaue of the Emperor and of the Empresse who gaue them many rich guiftes for the honour of King Florence their Father and so the Messengers departed When the Empresse Oliue vnderstood the will of her Lord shee was right sorrowfull for to leaue her Countrey whereas shée was borne and nourished and especially to leaue her Son Croissant whom she loued but since it was the pleasure of her Lord so to doe she contented her selfe for shée loued her Husband so well that shée would in no wise say against his pleasure nor let him to do his will Right sorrowfull were the Princes and Lordes of that Countrey and all the people of Roome but in the best wise that they could they comforted themselues because of the yong Prince Croissant who should tarie and abide with them and whom the Emperour deliuered vnto them to be kept And then hee spake to his Sonne and shewed him many notable examples and reasons he commaunded him to bée gentle and courteous to his Lordes and people and that he should not bée light of credence and that in any wise hee should not listen with his eares to heare Flatterers nor the filth that commeth from them that will lye and flatter to please him withall to the intent to come to their intention whereby many a Prince hath béene destroyed and brought to Hell whereby they and their Lordes also for beléeuing of them haue béene damned perpetually Sonne looke thou be serued with Gentlemen such as are come of them that haue béene of good renowme loue the holy Church giue almes to the poore for the loue of Iesus Christ let thy Chests be open to thy good Knightes beware thou bée no Nigard and beware thou be not ouercome with wine lead an honest life haunt and kéepe companie with the ancient noble men and praise them if they be worthy flye Flatterers and Mockers and beware thereof thy selfe for thou canst not doe worse because it will abate thine honour Thus the Emperour I de sayd to his Son Croissant and shewed him many notable sayings and faire instructions then he called his Lordes and sayd Sirs the most part of you know my will the which is that I and my Wife will goe into Aragon to the King my Father therefore I desire you all and command you that yée will haue my Sonne as recommended to you I haue left him great treasure to the intent that if any warre or any other businesse fall to him that he shall haue riches sufficient to withstand them that would doe him or his Country any dammage and also the Realme of Aragon is not so farre from hence but that anone I may haue newes from him When the Lords vnderstood the Emperour and how he had taken on him this Voyage they knewe well they could not let nor stop him of his pleasure Then they all answeared in generall and sayd that as néere as they could they would accomplish his commandement and to serue truely his Sonne Croissant and to aid keepe and defend his Countrey against all men that would annoy him Sirs quoth the Emperor I thanke you Thus after the Emperour had spoken with his Sonne and with his Lordes and shewed them his will and pleasure hee made readie for his iourney and tooke with him a certaine number of Knightes to accompanie him and the Empresse his Wife and he fournished two great Shippes and caused them to be charged with victuall and Artillerie as it appertained for the defence of their bodies and liues and tooke with him great riches apparell iewels then he tooke his leaue of the Pope of all his Lordes and of all them of the Citie who made great sorrow for their departing Then they entred into the Riuer of Tyber accompanied with about fiue Hundred Knightes at their departing they tooke leaue of their Sonne Croissant and kissed him often times When the Empresse saw her Sonne whome shee must depart from she began to wéepe but the Emperour comforted her as much as he could Then they tooke their Shippes and so departed and so long sayled in the Riuer of Tyber that they came into the hye Sea whereas they sailed night and day with good winde that without danger they arriued at the Citie of Courtoys whereas they were receiued with great ioy and so they came to the Pallaice whereas they found King Florence lying on a Couch who when hee was aduertised of their comming he had great ioy Then the Emperour and the Empresse entred into the Pallaice and came whereas the Kinge lay then they both knéeled downe before him and when the King saw them he had such ioy that hee could speake no word but made a token that they should approach néere to him and so they did and hee embraced and kissed them oftentimes and when hee might speake hee sayde My right déere Children of your comming I am right ioyfull and of the grace that God hath sent to you then againe oftentimes he kissed the Empresse Oliue sayd how she was welcome into the Realme of Aragon Of the great ioy feasting guifts and presents that were giuen and done at their welcomming if I should shew it at length it would be ouer-long to rehearse and therefore I passe it ouer Nowe let vs leaue speaking of the King and of the Emperor and the Empresse his Wife who tooke such pleasure to abide with Kinge Florence that neuer after they returned to Rome but they raigned together all their liues in good peace and loue and they hadde no Child but Croissant whome they had left at Roome and of whome wee shall speake nowe héereafter Chap. CLXXIII ¶ How Croissant was so bountifull and so liberall that hee gaue away all the Treasure that his Father had left him so that at last he had no more to giue and so was constrained to goe seeke his aduenture he and a Varlet alonely AFter that the Emperour Ide and the Empresse Oliue were departed from the Citie of
the Emperor tooke Huon by the hand and led him into his Oratorie with him whereas they heard the diuine Seruice whereof many Knightes and Lordes were sore abashed and had great maruaile what Pilgrim it was that the Emperour did so much honour vnto After that the diuine Seruice was done the Emperor returned into his Pallaice holding Huon by the hande and dinner was made radie and they washed their handes and sat downe to dinner and when dinner was done and the Tables taken vp then in the Emperours presence and of all the other Lordes there Huon shewed all his aduentures First hee shewed howe hee had passed the Gulfe and spoken with Iudas and afterward howe by fortune of the Sea he arriued at the Castle of the Adamant and how his Companie dyed there by famine and declared the beautie of the Castle and of the great riches therein and afterward how hee was caried from thence by a Griffen to a great Rocke and how he slew fiue young Griffens and the old Griffen that brought him thether whereof he hath left at Cluny the foote of the same then he shewed of the Fountaine and of the Trée of youth and howe hee gathered thereof thrée faire Apples and more hee would haue gathered but that our Lord God commaunded him by his Angell that he should not be so hardy as to gather any more And after that he shewed howe that he passed the Gulfe of Persia in â—reat perrill and daunger and sayd furthermore Sir when I was passed that Gulfe I gathered many precious stones that which I haue giuen you was one of them the which stone is of great vertue and then I came to the great Citie of Thauris in Persia whereas I found a noble Admirall an old auncient Knight and he shewed to me great courtesies and I gaue him one of mine Apples to eat and assoone as hee had eaten thereof he became to be as young as he was when he was but of Thirtie yeares of age and I thinke that from thence hether cannot be found a fairer Prince and hee was before of Six-score and Seauen yeares of age and Sir because I desire with all my heart to haue your good grace and that good peace and firme may bee had betwéene you and mee I will giue you the third Apple the which I kept for my selfe by the which if you doe eat it you shall become againe as young and as lusty and as stronge as you were when you were but of the age of Thirtie yeares The Emperour when hee heard that the Apple that Huon would giue him to eat should cause him to returne to his yong age againe hee was so ioyfull that hee neuer made such chéere before in all his life to any man as he did then vnto Huon and sayde howe that hee would bee his Fréend for euer and neuer faile him and sayd Fréend I abandon my bodie and goods at your pleasure and I giue you two good Cities to encrease your Signiorie and besides that I promise you if you haue any businesse to doe I shall succour you with fortie Thousand men and shall ayde you as the Father should doe the Sonne Therewith Huon would haue kneeled downe to haue thanked the Emperour but hee would not suffer him and then Huon tooke the Apple out of his bagge and deliuered it vnto the Emperour the Emperour who was sore desirous to knowe if hee should waxe young againe by reason of eating of the Apple he called vnto him his Lordes and Barons to the entent that they should sée that maruaile and when the Emperour had the Apple in his hand hee put it into his mouth and did eate it euerie whit and as hee was eating thereof his age chaunged into youth and by that time hee had eaten all the Apple his white beard fell off and the skinne chaunged like a man of Thirtie yeares of age and also his face and all his bodie that before was all wrinkled and rugged and pale became then as white and as ruddy and felt himselfe as light and as fresh and aâ— quicke to doe any thing and as strong as he was when he was of the age of Thirtie yeares whereof all that were there present had great maruaile and were right ioyfull of that aduenture that was fallen vnto the Emperour whome they loued then they sayd Sir such a guift was neuer giuen to any Emperour or King well you ought to praise our Lord God whatsoeuer losse you haue hadde or receiued that euer you were acquainted with Duke Huon Chap. CXXXIX ¶ Howe the Emperour made good cheere vnto Duke Huon of Bourdeaux WHen the Emperour saw himselfe waxe young againe he was so ioyfull that hee wist not what to doe then hee clipped and kissed Huon more then Ten times saying My right deare Fréend I pray you to forgiue mée all the illes and dammages that I haue done vnto you and for the paine and sorrow that I haue caused your noble Wife and men to suffer then the Emperour called vnto him two of his Lordes and sayd vnto them Sirs I will that all the poore people that be in my Chappell this day bee newly apparelled and to haue meat and drinke sufficient for the loue of the passion of our Lord Iesus Christ who this day hath done mee that grace that I am returned from age to youth Sir quoth they your commaundement shall bee done then they went and executed his pleasure Then Duke Huon approached vnto the Emperour and sayd Sir I humbly desire your grace to deliuer my Wife Escleremond and my men out of Prison Sir quoth the Emperour it is good reason that I doe it then he sent for the Iaylour who had the Ladie and the other Prisoners in his kéeping and commaunded him that the Ladie Escleremond and the other Prisoners should bee brought into the Hall the Iaylour went to the Prison and Huon with him and when they came thether Huon went to the dore and cryed out aloud and sayd Ah my right swéete Sister I beléeue that you haue béen but ill lodged héere I haue great feare that by reason of the paines that you haue endured you cannot long continue certainly if you die I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart When the Duchesse Escleremond hadde well heard the voice of him that spake at the dore shée stood still and studied what voice it might bee for shée thought within her selfe that she had heard that voice before that time and when she had muzed a little while she thought that it should be the voice of Huon her Husband whereof she had such ioy and mirth at her heart that of a great season shee could not speake but fell in a swound in the Prison and when shee reuiued and came againe to her selfe shee cryed out and sayde Ah my right deare Lord and Husband long haue you left me in paine and miserie all alone in this stinking and horrible Prison in the hands of them that loue you