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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
durst make no semblance to the contrarie they feared so much to displease him Then they went and tooke the Damsell whereas shee was Sirs quoth shee what will you doe with mee wherefore doe you take mée let mee goe if you will haue any thing with mee shew mée They sayd Damsell speake no more for your end is come you shall neuer see faire day more and when she saw that she was so taken with Tenne men who went threatning to slay her then shee cast out a great crie and desired God to ayd and succour her Then they bound the Damsels handes with a cord in such manner that her white tender skinne burst and they bound her so sore that the bloud dropped out at her nayles Sirs quoth she I crie you mercie little shall you winne to slay mee you shall doe great sin seeing I haue not deserued it Madame quoth they your wordes cannot auaile you the Kinge will not that you shall make auaunt to haue his Sonne in mariage for you shal be drowned in the Sea whether you will or not your wéeping shall not ayd you Then foure Ribaulds tooke and bound her and drew her by the haire of her head and led her toward the Sea-side to haue drowned her but often times it is sayd that which God will haue saued cannot be perished The same season Florence was in the Battaile whereas hee fought with his enemies and Sir Peter of Aragon had taken many Prisoners and hee came vnto Florence and sayd Ah Sir I require you to let vs returne to the Citie and bee content with that you haue done this day for yonder you may sée comming al the whole Hoast of the Nauarnes against whom it is not possible for vs to endure for they are more then thréescore Thousand men and they all hate vs to the death you haue done ynough ought to be content if they take you none can saue your life Coozen quoth Florence I pray you before I depart let mee Iust once with mine Vncle the kinge of Nauarre whome I haue promised to yéeld as Prisoner vnto the king my Father and thereby I shall haue in mariage the faire Damsell my Loue and for the loue of that faire Damsell I shal make many a Nauernoys to loose their liues Sir quoth Peter since you desire your owne death I am right sorrie thereof but I will no longer tarie héere for it is not possible for vs to tarie héere without we will bee slaine wilfully and I haue héere many Prisoners I will go lead them into the Citie and then I shall returne again vnto you to the entent that if either I or you be taken Prisoner by them wee may bee redéemed againe Then Peter went to the Citie with all his Prisoners and when he was come into the Citie hee heard a great noise about the Market place whereof hee had great maruaile and went thether and then hee sawe there foure foule Villaines drawing the faire Damsell Clariet towardes the Sea-side to drowne her When he saw that hee was neuer so sorrowfull in all his life before and incontinent did let goe his Prisoners and drew out his sword and cryed vnto them that led the damsell Ah yée false Théeues let the Damsell go whom I brought from beyond the Sea yée did neuer such folly in all your liues and therewith hée strake the first with his Sword in such sort that his head slewe from his bodie and the second hee claue to the téeth and the third and fourth hee slewe When the faire Ladie saw the Earle Peter right pitifully she beganne to crie and said Sir I require you to haue pitie of me and help and ayde mee as you haue done before this time neither Lorde nor Maister I haue none but you Sir for Gods sake vnbind me and put me out of this paine that I am in Then Peter went to the Damsell and cut the cords asunder wherewith she was bound and for the sorrow that she was in shée fell downe in a swound then Peter tooke her vp and sayde Faire Damsell be of good chéere for I shall helpe to saue you the faire Ladie wept pitiously and sayd to her selfe Ah Huon of Bourdeaux my déere Father the great paines and pouerties that you were woont to suffer you haue left mee now Inheritour to the same alas I know not where you nor my Mother is I beléeue that I shall neuer sée you more Then Peter of Aragon tooke the Damsell by the hand and led her to his lodging in the Town then he went to the Pallaice whereas hee found Kinge Garyn vnto whome he sayd Ah thou old doating foole wherefore or for what cause wouldest thou haue slaine the Damsell and she is none of yours she is mine I wanne her vppon the Sea and saued her life you can make no claime to her Thus as Peter spake to the King there entred into the Pallaice two Knights and they sayd to the King Sir before you is the Earle Peter your Coozen who hath deliuered and rescued the new-found Damsell and hath slaine the Foure men that should haue drowned her in the Sea When King Garyn saw the Earle before him he sayd Why wert thou so hardy as to slay my men for dooing of my commaundement Then hee cried to his men and saide Sirs I charge you take this Villaine héere who hath done mee this offence for I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart vntill I sée him hanged a hye vppon a Rocke Then his men stept forth to haue taken the Earle Peter and when hee sawe that he approached néere vnto him hee drew his sword and claue the head of the first to the téeth and he slew the second third and fourth he beat downe more to the earth then the other that fled away so that there was none that durst approach néere vnto him for they were all vnarmed and hee well armed then hée came to the King and sayd Ah thou false old Dotard full of sin and out-rage how dare you thinke to bee such an out-rage you are not worthy to beare a crown your Sonne Florence ought to haue it for a Traytour ought to hould no Realme full déerely you shall abuy the ill will of the Damsell and the more to make him abashed hee made semblance to runne vppon the King with his sword who for feare of him ran into his Chamber and shut fast the dore after him and the Earle Peter standing without sore threatned the king then the King said Coozen Peter I crye you mercie if I haue done euill I am readie to make amendes at your pleasure I was sore displeased with my Sonne and therefore I thought to be reuenged vpon her that hath caused all this I shall make amendes but by the grace of God my Sonne shall neuer haue her in marriage to die therefore I will neuer consent that a new-found Damsell should bée Inheritour of such a Kingdome as the Realme of Aragon is Then Sir
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
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
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 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
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
of the Battaile then the feeld was ordained for the King hadde sworne that his Sonne should not be buried vntill he that were vanquished were hanged if he were not slaine in the feeld Then he commanded Duke Naymes to be ready with an hundred Knights to kéepe the féeld and to sée that no treason should be done for he said he had rather loose the best Citie of his Realme My Lord quoth Duke Naymes by the grace of God the matter shal be so ordered for the suertie of both parties that none shall haue wrong the which thing was done so diligently that euerie thing was ready so both parties were brought into the Church of our Ladie in Paris accompanied with their fréends as such a case requireth with Amerie was his next fréends all issued of the genealogie of Ganelon and when they both had heard Masse each tooke a draught of wine and then they were richly armed mounted vpon good Horses and so tooke the way to the féeld the Stages were filled and the King and his Barons there present abiding for the two Champions who came one after another through the Stréets First came Earle Amerie and he road vntil he came into the féeld and then he alighted and saluted the King and all his Barons Then Huon came anone after accompanied with a goodly sort there were leaning in the windowes Ladies and Damsels a great number all who prayed our Lord Iesus Christ to ayd and defend Huon from the Traytour Amerie The people complained and thought it vnpossible that Huon should resist against Earle Amerie bycause Huon was so faire and young but of the age of foure and twentie yeares But as he was faire so was he well made of bodie no Knight more gallant and séemely nor none more repleat with vertue therefore hée was much bemoned both of men and women that sawe him passe by And because Earle Amerie was a big boned man a valiant and an expert Knight in armes none stronger in all the Kinges Court he was inward with the King wel-beloued euerie one greatly pityed that he was such a traytour for a worse could not be found in any Realme hée had great trust in his owne strength and little regarded Huon of Bourdeaux thinking hee should not long endure against him But there is a common prouerbe which hath beguiled many a man it is sayd that a small rayne abateth a great wind for if our Lord Iesus Christ will saue Huon the force and puissance of Earle Amerie shal doe Huon but little hurt for the right excellent partes and great courage that was in Huon defended him as you shall heare hereafter Chap. XIIII ¶ How the two Champions made their oathes vppon the reliques that their saying was true and what the King said THus Huon road vntill hee came into the féelde where he saluted the King all the Barons right humbly then he approached to the relikes and there made his solempne oathe in the presence of Duke Naymes of Bauier who was kéeper of the féeld affirming that when he slew Charlot he knew him not to be the Kings Sonne and that as he was true Knight and loyall liegeman to the Emperour whatsoeuer Earle Amerie had sayd was false and vntrue and that he lyed like a false Traytor and so kissed the Reliques When Huon had thus taken his oath Earle Amerie stept foorth all afraid and swoore that Huons oath was false and that surely he knew it was Charlot when he slewe him bycause he claymed his Hauke the which Huon had taken vp and that he would cause him to confesse ere it were night When he had sworne he thought to haue returned to his Horse but stumbled so that he had néere hand fallen to the earth All that sawe it tooke it for an ill sinne and iudged in their minds that the matter was likely to goe euill against Earle Amerie When both these Champions had taken their oathes and that Duke Naymes had caused the féeld to be auoided hauing set the Kéepers of the féeld in due order as appertained thereto then the twoo Champions leapt vpon their Horses their Speares in their hands their shéelds about their necks theÌ„ a cry was made that none should be so hardie to mooue or to make any token vnto any of the partes vpon paine of death After this crie made the noble Emperor Charlemaine being full of yre and displeasure caused againe to be proclaimed that if it fortuned that the vanquisher should slay his enimie in the féelde before he confesse the treason for the death of his Sonne that then the vanquisher should loose all his Lands and himselfe to bée banished out of the Realme of Fraunce and out of the Empire of Roome foreuer After proclamation was ended Duke Naymes and the other Barons Péeres came to the King and saide Alas my Lord what will you doe this that you haue proclaymed is against all the Statutes of the noble Realme of Fraunce and Empire of Roome for often times it happeneth that one of the Champions is slaine and haue no power to speake shall therefore the conquerour bée so much iniuried for the great renowne which so long time hath béen spread abroad of you let it not now be wronged blemished let it not be sayd that you who haue liued in so great dignity all the daies of your life that now in your latter dayes you should become weaker then a Childe of the which words the King tooke small regard Chap. XV. ¶ How Huon of Bourdeaux and the Earle Amerie fought together before Kinge Charlemaine and how the Traytour Amerie was slain by the noble prowesse and chiualrie of Huon WHen King Charlemaine had heard Duke Naymes hee swoore by Saint Denis of Fraunce and by his crowne and beard that it should be as he had said nor otherwise he would not doe it Then the noble Barons were sorrie and sore displeased and they departed from the King and said that by all likelyhood from thence forward Right should haue no place in his Court. Many noble Princes and Barons murmoured sore at the Proclamation that was made the two Champions drew apart and each of them fiercely regarded other Then Earle Amerie spake aloud and said thou Huon of Bourdeaux false trayterous Knight this day I shall cause thée to confesse thy falsenesse howbeit I haue great pitie of thée in regard of thy youth if therefore thou wilt confesse this murder that thou hast done I shall desire King Charlemaine to haue compassion vpon thée When Huon heard the Traytour so speake for anger he blushed red and sayd Ah thou false and most disloyall Knight thy venomous words so full of bitternesse doe nothing at all abash me for that good right that I am in shall ayd me by the helpe of our Lord Iesus Christ and I shall so punish thy trespasse that this day I shall make thée to confesse thy falsenesse haue thereof no doubt Therewith â—ouched their Speares
and gaue such carrier to their horses that it séemed the thunder had fallen from heauen and with their sharp Speares they encountred in such wise that their Speares brake to their hands so that the shiuers flew vp high into the ayre and into the Kings Stage and both their Horses fell to the earth and the Knights sore astonied with their falling Then verie boldly they reléeued themselues with their Swords in their handes and so approached each to other and fought each with other so long while that Huons Horse strangled sir Ameries Horse who when he saw his horse slaine stoutly stept to Huon for to haue slaine him but Huon met him valiantly and lifting vp his Sword gaue the Earle such a stroake that he was astonied therewith and staggred backe more then two paces and a halfe hardly holding himselfe from falling to the earth so that all that sawâ— them had maruaile of Huons vertue force séeing the great strength that was in sir Amerie Then when Earle Amerie felt himselfe in such perill he began to despise the name of God and of the glorious Virgin Marie howbeit as well as hée might hée approached to Huon and with his Sword gaue Huon such a stroake on the helmet that all the flowers and precious stones there flew abroad in the féeld and the cirkle of the helmet all to broken and the stroake was so puissant that Huon was therewith sore astonied and perforce was faine to fall on one of his knées to the earth the other Legge but weakly supporting him There was present in the féeld Lords and Knights one of the Abbot of Clunyes seruants who when he saw the great stroake that Huon had receiued he departed out of the féeld and went into the church whereas he found his maister the Abbot at his prayers for the good spéed of Huon his Nephew to whome the seruant said Ah my Lord pray heartily to our Lord Iesus Christ to succour your Nephew for I saw him faine to knéele vpon one of his knées in great doubt of death Then the good Abbot without any answeare lifted vp his hands toward Heauen deuoutly and weeping prayed to God to ayd and defend the honour of his Nephew and to maintaine his right Thus Huon béeing in the féeld in great doubt of his life féeling the sturdie strength of Earle Amerie called with a good heart to our Lord Iesus Christ requiring him to aide his right the which he knew to be most true When Earle Amerie sawe that Huon had receiued of him such a heauy stroake he said Huon I beléeue thou wilt not endure long better it were that thou confesse the déede before I slay thée for ere it bée night I shall cause thée to waue in the wind Hold thy tonge thou false Traytour quoth Huon thine ilnesse shall not aid thée for I shall bring thée to that point that all thy fréends shall haue shame of thée Then Huon aduaunced him and made semblance to haue striken Amerie on the helmet and Amerie lifted vp his Shéeld to haue receiued the stroake but when Huon saw that he turned his stroake to a reuerse and stroake Amerie vnder the arme with his sharpe Sword so that he stroake off his arme the which fell downe in the féeld Shéeld and all When Earle Amerie sawe felt that maruailous stroake and that he had lost his left arme and saw it lye in the féeld hee was full of paine and sorrow and aduised himselfe of a great treason then he spake to Huon and saide Ah Noble Knight haue pitie of me for wrongfully and without cause I haue appeached thée of the death of Charlot the kings Son for I know in troth you knew him not but he is dead by my meanes for I brought him into the wood to haue murdered you and your Brother I am readie to acknowledg this before the King and all his Barons and to discharge you thereof therefore I pray you kill me not I yéeld me vnto you take heere my Sword Then Huon came vnto him and put downe his arme to haue taken the Sword but then the false Traytour Amerie with a reuerse stroake strooke Huon vpon the arme thinking to haue striken it off but he fayled howbeit he gaue him a great wound in the arme so that the bloud ran downe When Huon saw this horrible treason he said O thou vntrue and false Traytour thine â—â—esse can no longer saue thée for thou shalt nâ—uer doe treason more then Huon lifted vp his Sword gaue the Earle such a maruailous stroke betwéen the healme and the shoulder that he strooke off his head cleane from the bodie so that the healme and head fel one way and the body another way Alas what hap was it to Huon that he did not remember before he slew Amerie the Proclamation that the Emperor had made before for afterward Huon suffered so muche wrong and iniurie as might mooue the verie hardest heart to compassionate his case and as you shall more at large vnderstand in the following discourse Chap. XVI ¶ How after the Emperour Charlemaine had seene Earle Amerie was slaine he commaunded expresly that Huon should auoid the Realme and Empire and to be banished thence for euer WHen that Duke Naymes who kept the féeld saw how by Huon the Earle was slaine he was right ioyfull and came to Huon and demaunded how hée did Sir quoth he thanked be God I féele no dolour nor gréefe then they brought him to the Pallaice to the King who was departed out of the féeld When he saw the Earle slaine and was thereof right sorrowfull then he demanded of Huon and of Duke Naymes if they had heard Earle Amerie confesse the treason that hée had layde to Huon for the death of Charlot his Sonne My Lord quoth the Duke I thinke he did confesse it but I heard it not for Huon pressed so sore vpon him that he had no leasure to doe it Then Charlemaine sayd Ah Earle Amerie I know certainely thou didst neuer that treason nor neuer thought it wherefore thou art slaine wrongfully and without cause for there was neuer a truer Knight theÌ„ thou wert I am sure if thou hadst done it thou wouldest haue confessed it before me Then the King sayd vnto Huon I charg thée incontinent to auoid my Realme out of the which I banish thée foreuer nor shalt thou euer enioy one foote of Land in Bourdeaux nor in Aquitaine also I forbid thée that thou neuer be so hardy as to go to Bourdeaux for by my honour and crowne if I may know that thou goest thether I shall make thée to die an euill death nor there is no man liuing though he be neuer so néere a fréend vnto me but if he make any request for thée I shall neuer loue him nor he shall neuer after come in my sight Then Huon said Alas my Lord what iustice is this haue I done any more then knighthood bound me too haue not
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
Companions he set his Horne to his mouth and blew so melodious a blast that the fourtéene Companions being vnder the Trée had so persit a ioy at their hearts that they al rose vp and began to sing and daunce Ah good Lord quoth Huon what fortune is come vnto vs me thinke we be in Paradise right now I could not sustaine my selfe for lacke of meat and drinke and nowe I féele my selfe neither hungrie nor thirstie from whence may this come Sir quoth Gerames knowe for troth this is done by the Dwarfe of the Fayrye whome you shall soone see passe by you But Sir I require you on ieopardie of loosing of your life that you speake to him no word without you purpose to abide euer with him Sir quoth Huon haue no doubt of me séeing I know the ieopardie Therewith the Dwarfe began to crie aloude and saide Yée fourtéene men that passe by my wood God kéepe you all and I desire you speake with mée and I coniure you thereto by God almightie and by the christendome that you haue receiued and by all that God hath made answeare mée Chap. XXII ¶ How King Oberon was right sorrowfull and sore displeased in that Huon would not speake and of the great feare that he put Huon and his companie in WHEN that Huon and his companie heard the Dwarfe speake they mounted on their Horses and road away as fast as they might without speaking of any word and the Dwarfe séeing how that they road away and would not speake hée was sorrowfull and angrie Then hée set one of his fingers on his Horne out of the which yssued such a winde and tempest so horrible to heare that it bare downe Trées and therewith came such a raine and hayle that it séemed that heauen and the earth had fought together and that the world should haue ended the beasts in the woods brayed and cryed and the foules of the ayre fell down dead for the feare that they were in there was no creature but he would haue béen afrayd of that tempest Then suddainly appeared before them a great Riuer that ran swifter then the birds did flye and the water was so blacke and so perilous made such a noyse that it might be heard ten Leagues of Alas quoth Huon I see well now we be all lost wée shall héere be oppressed without God haue pitie of vs I repent me that euer I entred into this wood I had béen better to haue trauailed a whole yéere then to haue come hether Sir quoth Gerames dismay you not for all this is done by the Dwarfe of the Fayrye Well quoth Huon I thinke it best to alight from our horses for I thinke we shall neuer escape from hence but that we shal be all oppressed Then Garyn and the other Companions had great maruaile and were in great feare Ah Gerames quoth Huon you shewed mee well that it was great perill to passe this wood I repent mée nowe that I had not beléeued you Then they sawe on the other side of the Riuer a faire Castell enuyroned with fourtéene great Towers and on euerie Tower a clocher of fine gould by séeming the which they long regarded and by that time they had gone a little by the Riuer side they lost the sight of the Castle it was cleane vanished away whereof Huon and his companie were sore abashed Huon quoth Gerames of all this that you sée dismay you not for all this is done by the crooked Dwarfe of the Fayrye and all to beguile you but he cannot gréeue you so you speake no word howbeit ere we depart from him he will make vs all abashed for anone he will come after vs like a mad man bicause you will not speake vnto him but sir I require you as in Gods name be nothing afrayd but ride foorth surely and euer beware that you speake vnto him no word Sir quoth Huon haue no doubt thereof for I had rather he were destroyed then I should speake one word vnto him then they road to passe the Riuer and they founde there nothing to let them and so road about fiue Leagues Sir quoth Huon wée may well thanke God that wee bée thus escaped this Dwarfe who thought to haue deceiued vs I was neuer in such feare during my life god confound him thus they road deuising of the little Dwarfe who had done them so much trouble Chap. XXIII ¶ How Kinge Oberon Dwarfe of the Fayry pursued so much Huon that he constrained him to speake to him at last WHen Gerames vnderstood the companie howe they thought they were escaped from the Dwarfe he began to smile and said Sirs make no braging that you be out of this danger for I beléeue you shall soone sée him againe and assoone as Gerames had spoke the same words they sawe before them a bridge the which they must passe and they sawe the Dwarfe on the other part Huon sawe him first and said I sée that Diuell who hath done vs so much trouble Oberon heard him and saide Fréend thou doest me iniurie without cause for I was neuer Diuell nor ill creature I am as other be but I coniure thée by the diuine puissance to speake vnto me Then Gerames said Sirs for Gods sake let him alone nor speake no word to him for by his faire language he may deceiue vs all as he hath done many other it is pity that he hath liued so long Then they road forth a good pace and left the Dwarfe alone sore displeased in that they would not speake to him then he tooke his Horne and set it to his mouth and blew it When Huon and his companie hearde it they had no power to ride any further but they began all to sing Then Oberon the Dwarfe said yonder company are fooles proud that for any salutation that I can giue them they disdaine to answeare mée but by the God that made me before they esâ—ape me the refusall of my words shal be déere bought Then he tooke againe his Horne and strooke it thrée times on his bowe and cryed out aloud said Yée my men come and appeare before me Then there came to him about foure hundred men of armes and demaunded of Oberon what was his pleasure who had displeased him Sirs quoth Oberon I shall shew you howbeit I am gréeued to shewe it héere in this woode there passed fourtéene Knights who disdaine to speake vnto me but to the entent that they shall not mocke me they shall déerely buy the refusing of their answeare Wherefore I will you goe after them and slay them all let none escape Then one of his Knights said Sir for Gods sake haue pitie of them Certainly quoth Oberon mine honour saued I cannot spare them since they disdaine to speake vnto me Sir quoth Glorianda for Gods sake doe not as you say but sir worke by my counsaile and after doe as it pleaseth you Sir I counsaile you yet once againe goe after them then if
must néeds haue an end Sir quoth Huon such a gift ought to be well kept Huon quoth Oberon well you were counsailed when you spake to me you had neuer before so faire aduenture shew me by thy faith if thou wilt eate and what meate thou wilt haue and what wine thou wilt drinke Sir quoth Huon so that I had meate and drinke I care not what it were so that I and my company were filled and rid from our famine Then Oberon laughed at him and said Sirs all you sit down here in the meadowe and haue no doubt but all that I will doe is done by the puissance of our Lord God then Oberon began to wish and saide vnto Huon and his companie Sirs arise vp quickly the which they did then they looked before them and sawe a faire and a rich Pallaice garnished with Chambers and Halles hanged bedded with rich cloathes of silke beaten with gold and Tables ready set full of meat When Huon and his company sawe the rich Pallaice before them they had great maruaile and Oberon tooke Huon by the hand with him mounted vp into the Pallaice when they came there they found seruants there readie bringing vnto them Basons of gould garnished with precious stones they gaue water to Huon and he sat down at the Table the which was furnished with all manner of meate and drinke that man could wish Oberon sat at the tables end vpon a bench of Iuorie richly garnished with gould and precious stones the which seat had such vertue giuen vnto it by the Fayrie that whosoeuer by any subtil means would poyson him that should sit thereon assoone as he should approach néere to the seat he should fall downe starke dead King Oberon sat thereon richly apparelled and Huon who sat néere vnto him began to eate a great pace but Gerames had small appetite to eate for he beléeued that they should neuer depart thence when Oberon sawe him he said Gerames eate thy meat and drinke for assoone as thou hast eaten thou shalt haue leaue to goe when thou list When Gerames heard that he was ioyfull then he began to eate and drinke for he knew well that Oberon would not doe against his assurance All the companie did well eate and drinke they were serued with all thinges that they could wish for When Huon sawe how they were all satisfied and repleat and had well dyned he saide to Kinge Oberon Sir when it shall be your pleasure I would you should giue vs leaue to depart Huon quoth Oberon I am right well content so to doe but first I will shewe you my iewels then he called Clariand a Knight of the Fayrey and saide Fréend goe and fetch to me my Cup he did his commaundement and when Oberon had the Cup in his hand he said vnto Huon Sir behold well you sée that this Cup is nowe voyd and emptie that is true Sir quoth Huon Then Oberon set the Cup on the Table and saide vnto Huon Sir behold the great power that God hath giuen mée that in the Fayrie I may doe what is my pleasure then hée made ouer the Cup the signe of a Crosse thrée times and incontinent the Cup was full of wine and then he said Behold Sirs you may well sée that this is done by the gace of God yet I shall shewe you the great vertue that is in this Cup for if all the men in the world were héere assembled together and that the Cup were in the handes of any man being out of deadly sinne he might drinke thereof his fill but whosoeuer offers his hand to take it being in deadly sinne the Cuppe doth loose his vertue and if thou mayest drinke thereof I offer to giue thée the Cup. Sir quoth Huon I thanke you but I am in doubt that I am not worthy nor of valour to drinke thereof nor to touch the Cup I neuer heard of such dignitie as this Cup is of but Sir knowe for truth I haue béen confessed of all my sinnes and I am repentant and sorrowfull for that I haue done and I doe pardon and forgiue all the men in the world whatsoeuer iniurie hath béene done vnto me and I knowe not that I haue done wronge to any creature nor I hate no man and so hée tooke the Cup in both his handes and set it to his mouth and droonke of the good wine that was therein at his pleasure Chap. XXV ¶ Of the great gifts that Oberon gaue vnto 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 thē whereby he was in great perill of death WHen Oberon sawe that hee was right glad and came and embraced Huon saying that he was a noble man and I giue thée quoth he this Cup as it is in the manner as I shall shewe that in any wise for any thing for the dignitie of the Cup be thou euer true and faithfull for if thou wilt worke by my counsaile I shall aide thée and giue thée succour in all thine affaires but assoone as thou makest any lye the vertue of the Cup will be lost and loose his bountie and beside that thou shalt loose my loue and aide Sir quoth Huon I shall right well beware thereof and nowe Sir I require you suffer vs to depart Abide yet quoth he to Huon yet I haue another iewell the which I will giue thée bicause I thinke there bee truth and noblenes in thée I will giue thée a rich Horne of Iuorie the which is full of great vertue which thou shalt beare with thée it is of so great vertue that if thou be neuer so farre from me assoone as thou blowest the Horne I shall heare thée and shal be incontinent with thée with a hundred thousand men at armes for to succour and ayd thée But one thinge I commaund thée on the payne of loosing of my loue and on ieopardie of thy life that thou be not so hardy to sound the Horne without thou hast great néede thereof for if thou doe otherwise I vowe to God that created mée I shall leaue thée in as great pouertie and miserie as euer man was so that whosoeuer should sée thée in that case should haue pitie of thée Sir quoth Huon I shall right well beware thereof now I desire you let me depart I am content quoth Oberon and God be thy guide Then Huon tooke leaue of the Kinge Oberon and trussed vp all his baggage and did put his Cup into his bosome the Horne about his necke thus they all tooke their leaue of King Oberon all weeping embraced Huon who had maruaile why he wept and said Sir why doe you wéepe Fréend quoth Oberon you may well know you haue with you two things that I loue dearely God ayd you more I cannot speake to you Thus the fourtéene Knightes departed and so they road foorth about fiftéene Leagues or more then they sawe before them
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
do as thou doest counsaile me Then the Prouost came to the Pallaice and sayd to Huon Sir for Gods sake speake to mée What art thou quoth Huon I am your Host the Prouost and I require you in as much as you loue your liues kéepe well this Pallaice Sir quoth Huon for your good counsaile I thanke you and I desire you for the loue that you beare me and in that you would help to saue my life as to deliuer me againe the Horne of Iuorie that I tooke you to kéepe for without that I cannot escape death Sir quoth the Prouost it is not farre from me and so tooke it out of his bosome and deliuered it vnto Huon in at a windowe vpon the Garden side Chap. XXX ¶ How King Oberon came and succoured Huon and slewe all the Paynims except such as would be christened And how Huon slewe the Duke his Vncle. WHen Huon saw that he was possessed of his Horne of Iuorie hee was ioyfull the which was no maruaile for it was the only suertie of his life Then hée set it to his mouth and began to blowe it then Gerames said Ah Sir you should neuer bee so lighte to discouer your secrets for if this Prouost had béene vntrue he might haue discouered all you secrets to the Duke whereby you had béene lost and dead therefore neuer discouer your secrets more and also Sir I require you as yet blowe not your Horne for you bee not as yet hurt King Oberon commaunded you so at his departing Why quoth Huon will you then that I tarrye vntill I be slaine surely I will blowe it without any longer tarying and so he blewe it so sore that the bloud came out of his mouth so that all that were in the Pallaice began to singe and to daunce and the Duke and al such as were at the séege about the Pallaice could not rest but fell to singe and to daunce Kinge Oberon who as then was in his citie of Momur saide on high Ah I heare my fréend Huons Horne blowe whereby I knowe well he hath some businesse in hand wherefore I wishe my selfe there as the Horne was blowne with an Hundred Thousand men well armed He had made no sooner his wish but he was in the Citie of Tormont whereas he and his men slewe downe the Paynims that it was maruaile to sée the bloud run downe the Stréetes like a Riuer King Oberon made it to be cryed that as many as would receiue Baptisme their liues should be saued so that thereby there were many that were christened Then King Oberon came to the Pallaice when Huon sawe him hee went and thanked him of his succour at that time of néede Fréend quoth Oberon as longe as you beléeue and doe my commaundements I shall neuer fayle to succour you in all your affaires Thus all that were in the Towne and would not beléeue in God were slaine Then the Duke was taken brought to the Pallaice vnto Huon when he sawe his Vncle taken he was ioyfull and then the Duke sayd Faire Nephewe I require you haue pitie of me Ah vntrue Traytour quoth Huon thou shalt neuer depart hence aliue I shall neuer respite thy death then with his sword he strooke off his Vncles head then he made his bodie to be hanged ouer the wals of the Towne that his ilnesse might alwayes be had in memorie and to be an example to all other thus that Countrey was deliuered from that Traytour Chap. XXXI ¶ How King Oberon forbad Huon that he should not goe by the towre of the Giant to the which Huon would not accord but went thether whereby he was in great danger of death And of the Damsell that he found there who was his owne Cosen borne in Fraunce YEE haue all heard howe King Oberon came succoured Huon and when all was done then he said vnto Huon My deare Fréend I will take my leaue of thée for I shall neuer sée thée again vntill thou hast suffered as much paine and ill and pouerty and disease that it will be hard to declare it and all through thine owne folly When Huon heard that being affrayd he said Sir mee thinkes you saye great wronge for in all things to my power I will obserue your commaundement Fréend quoth Oberon séeing thou wilt doe so remember then thy promise and I charge thée vpon paine of thy life loosing for euer my loue that thou be not so hardy as to take the way to the Tower of Dunother the which is a maruaylous great Tower standing on the Sea-side Iulius Caesar caused it to be made and therein I was longe time nourished thou neuer sawest so faire a Tower nor better garnished with Chambers and glasse windowes and within hanged with rich Tapestrie At the Entrie of the gate there are two men of brasse each of them holding in their handes a â—layle of yron wherewith without cease day and night they beat by such a measure that when the one striketh with his â—layle the other is lifted vp readie to strike and they smite so suddainly that a swallow flying cannot passe by vnslayn And within this Tower there is a Gyant named Angolofer he tooke from mée the Tower and a stronge Armour of suche vertue that whosoeuer hath it on his bodie cannot be hurt nor wearie nor he cannot be drowned in no water nor burned with fire Therefore Huon my fréend I charge thee go not that way as much as thou fearest my displeasure for against that Gyant thou canst make no resistance Sir quoth Huon know for troth the day that I departed out of Fraunce I tooke vpon me that any aduenture that might be heard of though it were neuer so perilous that I would neuer eschew it for any feare of death and therefore Sir I haâ— rather die then to forsake to fight with that Gyant there is nâ— man shall let me Sir I promise you ere I returne againe to conquer your sayde stronge Armour it shall doe me good seruice héereafter it is a thinge not to bée forsaken and if I néede of your ayd I shall blowe my Horne you will come and succour me Huon quoth Oberon by the Lord that saued me if thou breakest the Horne in the blowing thou shalt haue no succour nor ayd of me Sir quoth Huon you may doe your pleasure and I shall doe mine Then Oberon departed without more speaking Huon aboad in the Citie the which he gaue to Geffrey and to the Prouost his Host all the Land that his Vncle held Then he made him readie and tooke gould and siluer plentie and tooke his leaue of Geffrey and of his Host and of all other so he and his companie departed and so road ouer Hils and Dals night and day a certaine space without finding of any aduenture worthy to be had in memorie At last he came néere to the Sea-side whereas the Tower of the Gyaunt was when Huon saw it he sayd vnto his companie
followed the Damsell who brought them into the Pallaice to Huon and when they saw him they all wept for ioy and embraced and kissed him and demanded if he had any hurt Sirs quoth Huon I thanke god I féele no hurt and then he brought them where as the Gyant lay dead when they saw him they had maruaile how he could be slaine by Huon they were affraid to sée him lye dead Then Gerames demanded of Huon what was the Damsell that was there and Huon shewed how she was his coozen and shewed thē all the maner how she came thether whereof they had great ioy and embraced her then they all vnarmed themselues and went to supper and eate and dranke at their pleasure but their ioy endured not long as yée shall heare héereafter Chap. XXXIIII ¶ How Huon departed from the castle of the Gyant and tooke leaue of his company and went alone a foot to the sea-side whereas he found Mallaborn of the Fayrie on whome he mounted to passe the Sea YE haue heard here before how Huon conquered the Giant the which was great ioy to all his companie then the next day Huon called them all together and said Sirs yée knowe well the enterprize that I haue taken on me to doe touching the Admyrall Gaudise therefore it is conuenient that as shortly as I can to doe my messuage that I am charged by king Charles to doe to the Admirall Gaudise wherefore I desire you all to kéepe good and true companie with this noble Damsell also I require you to tarrie héere xv daies and then if I retourne not goe you all into Fraunce and take this noble Damsell with you and salute from me king Charlemaine and all the Péeres of Fraunce and shew them the hard aduentures that I haue had and how I am gone to perfourme his messuage When his companie vnderstood that he would depart they were sorowfull and saide Sir yée desire vs to tarrie héere xv daies know for troth wée shall tarrie héere for you an whole yéere Sirs quoth he I thanke you then he made him readie to depart and armed him and tooke his Cuppe and Horne and also the Gyants Ring the which he did put about his arme and then he kist his Coosen and all the others and they all made great lamentation for his departing Then they went vp into the Pallaice looked out at the windowes after Huon as long as they might sée him Huon went foorth till he came to the sea-side the which was not farre from the Castle and there was a little Hauen whereas alwaies was wont to lye some manner of ship or vessell to passe ouer the Sea And when Huon came thether though nowe at this instant there was none at all finding no meanes for passage he said Ah good Lord what shall I doe that I can finde heere no boate or vessell to passe in alas in an ill houre I slew Charlot wherby I am thus still in danger howbeit I did it in mine owne defence great wrong therefore king Charles hath done to banish me out of mine owne Countrey These and the like complaints made Huon there being alone and began sore to lament but sodainly on his right hand he saw a great beast come swimming towards him like a Beare Huon beheld him and made on himselfe a signe of the Crosse and drew out his swoord to defend himselfe as thinking the Beast would haue assailed him but he did not but went a little off from Huon shooke himselfe in such wise that his skinne fell off and then he was as faire a man and as well fourmed as could be séene Then Huon had great feare and maruaile when he saw that this Beast was become a man yet he approached neere to him and demaunded what he was and whether he were an humane creature or els an ill spirite that was come thether to tempt him and said right nowe thow didst swimme in the sea trauersed the great waues in guise of a maruailous beast I charge thee in the name of God thou do me no hurt but shew me what thou art for I beleeue thou art of king Oberons company Huon quoth he dismay thou not I know thée right well thou art Sonne to Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux Royall king Oberon hath sent me to thee once it happened me to breake his commaundment wherfore he hath condemned me to be this xxx yéeres like a beast in the Sea Frend quoth Huon by the Lord that fourmed me I will trust thée till I be past the red sea Huon quoth Mallaborn know for troth I am sent hether for no other cause but to beare thee whether thou wilt therefore make thee readie and recommend thy selfe to the sauegard of our Lord Iesus Christ and than let me alone Than Mallaborn entred againe into the Beasts skinne and said to Huon Sir mount vpon my backe Chap. XXXV ¶ How Huon passed the Sea vpon Mallaborn who bare him to Babilon and how Huon came to the first gate and so to the second WHen Huon sawe the Beaste enter againe into his skinne and that hee taried for him he made the signe of the crosse and prayed god to saue and conduct him so leapt vpon him the Beast entred into the Sea and swamme as fast as though a bird had slowen so that within a short space he trauersed the great Ryuer of Nyle the which cometh from Paradise and which is a dangerous Riuer for the multitude of Serpents and Crocodilles that be therein howbeit there were none that did him any trouble Then when they came to land Huon was ioyfull and Mallaborn said Right déerely shall I aby the time that thou wert borne or that euer I knew thée for the intent to doe thée pleasure I shall endure yet x. yeares like a Beast in the Sea and xxx yeares I haue béen so already so that my time is in all xl yéeres I haue great pitie of thée for there is no man borne of a woman that knoweth the ill and pouertie that shall fall héereafter to thée and I shall suffer much for the loue that I haue to thée howbeit I shall take it in patience Yonder thou maiest sée the citie whether thou wouldest goe moreouer thou knowest what hath been commaunded thée what thou hast to doe and yet whatsoeuer fall breake not the commaundement of king Oberon and alwaies be true say the troth for assoone as thou makest any lye thou shalt loose the loue of king Oberon thus God be with thée for I may no longer tarrie So he went againe into the Sea and Huon tarried there alone recommending himselfe to our lord god and so tooke the way to the Citie and there entred in without let of any man So soone as he was entred he met a M. Paynims going a hawking another M. coming homeward and a M. horses led to be new shod a M. coming frō shooing than he saw a M. men playing at the Chesse
another M. that had played and béen mated another M. talking deuising with Damsels and another M. comming from drinking of the Admirals wine and another M. going thether When Huon all armed had gone a great space in the Citie he had great maruaile of that he had seene and that he had met such multitude of people And he studied thereon so much that he forgat the Gyants Ryng on his arme and the men that he met had great maruaile of him to sée him goe all armed a foote and yet he went still forward Alas poore vnhappie Huon that could not remember the Gyants Ring about his arme for lacke of remembrance thereof he suffered after so much trouble that there is no humane tongue can tell it as yée shall heare hereafter At last he came into a great place before the first gate of the Pallaice whereas there stoode a great Vine trée set vpon bricke pillers of diuers colours vnder the which the Admirall Gaudise one day in the wéeke would come thether and vsed to giue audience to all Suters When Huon had regarded all this he came to the first gate of the Pallaice there he cryed to the Porter said Friend I pray you open the gate and the Porter said with a good will if thou be a Sarazin thou shalt enter Then Huon as vnaduised and forgetting himselfe and not once thinking on king Oberons commaundement or of the Gyants Ring about his arme the which if hee had shewed foorth hee shoulde not haue néeded to haue made any lye when hee had heard the Paynim demaund whether he were a Sarazin or no he said yes than the Porter said than may you surely enter So Huon passed the first bridge and gate and when he came to the second he remembred himselfe how he had broken king Oberons commaundement wherewith he was so sorowfull at his hart that he wist not what to do and sware thē that he would neuer lye more Then he tooke the Ring in his hand and came to the second gate and said to the Porter Thou villaine he that died on the crosse cōfound thee open this gate for I must enter When the Porter heard him speake so fiercely he said who is it that the first Porter was so hardy to suffer to enter in at the first gate I shall shew thee quoth Huon séest not thou this Ring the which is a token that I may passe and goe whereas me list When the Porter heard him and saw the Ring he knew it well and said Sir ye be welcome how fareth the Lord the ye come from Huon who would not lye passed the bridge and gaue no answere and so came to the third gate where the Porter came to him and Huon shewed him the Ring then the Porter let downe the bridge and opened the gate and with great reuerence saluted Huon and suffered him to passe When Huon was thus passed the thrée bridges then he remembred how he had made a lye at the first bridge and said to himselfe Alas what shall become of me seeing I haue so lightly broken my promise to him that hath done so much for me alas I forgot the Ring that was about mine arme how be it I trust that Oberon will not be displeased for it seeing I did it not wilfully but that I forgat it I trust he will take no more regard to this déede then he did when I blew the Horne without any cause thus Huon passed the thrée gates of the Pallaice Chap. XXXVI ¶ How Huon passed the fourth Gate and howe he came into the garden whereas the Fountaine was and of that which he did there WHen Huon saw that he had passed the thrée gates he went on to the fourth gate with the Ring in his hand for he met with no man but that still did him honour when they saw the Ring then he said to the fourth Porter thou villaine Porter I charge thée foorthwith open the gate When the Porter heard him he had great maruaile said what art thou that art armed and speakest so fiercesly to me lay away thine armour and then shew me what thou art whether thou wilt goe for armed as thou art it is not possible for to enter shew me by thy faith how thou hast passed the thrée other bridges Than Huon said hould thy peace Paynim I am a Messenger sent frō noble king Charlemaine and whether thou wilt or not I will passe this way and goe to the Pallaice to the Admirall Gaudise there is neyther thou nor any other shall lett me behould this token that I shew thée The Paynim knew it anon and let downe the bridge and opened the gate and knéeled downe and kissed and embrabraced his leg desiring pardon of him in that he had caused him to tarrie so long Paynim quoth Huon good day mayest thou haue Sir quoth the Porter ye may goe to the Admirall who will make you good chéere and great honour for there is nothing that yée can desire but it shal be graunted vnto you yea and if it be his only Daughter for loue of the Lord from whome yée bring this Ring for a token and sir I require you how doth the Lord Angolofer commeth hee hether or not Porter quoth Huon if he come hether all the Diuels of hell muste bringe him hether and therewith hee passed foorth without any more wordes but he said to himselfe Ah good Lord Iesus Christ helpe and aid me in all my busines I was tempted with an euill spirite when I made the lye at the first gate I did it by lightnesse of courage and for lacke of remembrance whereof I am right sorie Huon thus being in displeasure with himselfe for the lye that hee had made went forth till he came to the Pallaice and entred into a faire garden wherein the Admirall tooke oftentimes his pastime for there could no trée frute nor flower be wished for but there they might be found both in sōmer winter And in the middest of this garden there was a faire Fountaine comming out of the Ryuer of Nyle that cōmeth from Paradise the which fountaine as then was of such vertue that if any sicke man did drinke thereof or washed his handes and face therin incontinent he should be whole and also if a man had béen of great age he should retourne againe to the age of xxx yéeres and old women to become as fresh and lustie as a maide of xv yeares This Fountaine had that vertue by the space of lx yeares but x. yeares after that Huon had béen there it was destroyed and broken by the Egiptians who made warre on the Admyrall that was as then in Babylon And when Huon had washed his handes and face in the Fountaine and dronke of the water he beheld the Pallaice and thought it maruaylous faire and whē he had well regard it he saw a little beside the fountaine a great Serpent who kept the Fountaine to thintent that none
day of battaile at Ronceuaux whereas he lost his twoo Nephews Rowland and Oliuer he neuer since assembled so much people as he will do this next sommer to come vpon thée both by water and by land without thou wilte beleue in the lawe of Iesus Christ therefore if thou wilt beléeue me be christened or else this mischiefe will fall vpon thée Speake no more of that quoth the Admirall for I had rather be hewen and slaine then to leaue my law and beléeue vpon thy god Sir Admirall quoth Huon moreouer king Charles commaundeth thée to send him a M. Sparhawkes a M. Goshawkes a M. Beares and a M. wayters chayned together a M. yong Varlets a M. faire Damsels and also a handfull of thy beard and Foure of thy great téeth Ha quoth the Admirall I sée thou art hardy and outragious to demaund of me this that thou hast said And also I haue great maruaile of thy Maister that he is so foolish as to commaund me by thee to send him my beard and great téeth before this time he hath sent me more than xv Messengers hath demaunded part of this that thou speakest of but all xv haue been hanged nowe thou art come by thy folly to make vp the xvj But by reason of the Ring that thou bearest we dare not touch thée I pray thée therefore by the faith and law that thou art of shewe mee what Diuell hath giuen thée that Ring Than Huon sore abashed as he that durst not make a lye for feare of king Oberon said Sir not for doubt of thée or of any Paynim héere I will not spare to shew thee the troth know then that with this good sword I haue slaine the Lord Angolofer the Gyant When the Admirall heard that he said to his Lords Sirs looke that this Villaine escape not for by all the Gods that I beléeue on I shall neuer haue ioy in my heart vntill I sée him takē Then Paynims and Sarazins on all parts assayled Huon when he saw that he commended himselfe to our Lord god and thought he should neuer sée faire day more and so with his sword in both his hands he defended himselfe nobly in slaying and cutting off handes and féete of the Sarazins of many he made the braynes to flye abroad on the pauement great terrour it was to behould for by reason of his good Armour there was no Paynim could do him any damage but they gaue him way and durst not approch néere him Huon being full of yre as he fought he saw on the one side of the Pallaice an Arch in the wall and so euer still fighting he drew thether and set his backe to the arch to thintent that none should come behind him There he fared like a wilde Boare in the wood and defended himlelfe in such wise that whome soeuer he touched with a full stroke had no néede after of any surgeon thus a long space Huon endured and had no great harme But the force of the Paynims was so great that it was not possible for him to sustaine long for he waxed so wearie that his stroakes féebled oftentimes he called vpon god and on the other part the Admirall cryed to his men and said Ah yee fainte harted slaues great shame is to you all that one man shall so long endure against you that ye can neither take him nor slay him Then the Paynims whē they heard the Admirall so dispraise them they came in a great rage all at once vppon Huon whereas he was alone vnder the arch and a Paynim who was Nephew to the Admirall came vpon Huon but when Huon saw him approch he lifted vp his sword and gaue the Paynim such a stroake on the helmet that he claue his head to the breast and therewith his sword fell out of his hands and another Sarazin tooke it vp then all the Sarazins at once ran vppon Huon tooke him and then tooke from him his Horne and his Cup and put off his armour whan he was vnarmed the Sarazins beheld him well and many said how they neuer saw so faire a man before affirming that if all Frenchmē were such as he there were no King able to resist them Chap. XXXVIII ¶ Of the great complaints that Huon made being in prison and how the Admirals Daughter came to comfort him and how she departed not well content with Huon WHen Huon was disarmed the Paynims tooke and brought him before the Admirall who was right ioyfull when he sawe Huon and called his Barons demaunded of them what death the Caytiffe should die that had done them such damage as to slay one of his most puissant Kings and also his Nephew beside many others Then they all answeared with one voice that hee should be slaine aliue incontinent Then stept foorth an old ancient Admirall of Six score yéeres of age who was of the Admirals priuie counsell and he said Sir Admirall yée may not doe thus for the loue of this good day the which is the feast of Saint Iohn according to our law there is none ought to die on that day but Sir respite his life for a whole yéere and then shal be the feast of your Gods on that day ye ought to deliuer xj Champions to doe with them you Sacrifice let this man be one and another may come by that time and which of the twoo Champions be ouercome yée shall make your sacrifice to your Gods of him Thus ye promised your Gods to doe the first day that yée tooke on you the Signiorie of Babylon and Sir if it were not for that this man hath slaine one of your Kings and your Nephew ye ought not to slay him but rather to thanke him for by him the man that you ought most to hate in the world is slaine that is Angolofer and now by his death yee are out of all seruitude bondage and by this man set at libertie When the Admirall Gaudise had well heard the Paynim he saide séeing it is so that ye giue me this counsell and that of right mine Auncestors haue euer accustomed the same I will not doe the contrarie but it shall be as ye haue said Then was Huon led with iiij Paynims to a darke prison and the Iaylor was commaunded to giue him meate and drinke suffitient When Huon saw how he was in prison he was right sorowfull and began to remember the noble Duches his Mother and Gerard his brother and said Ah Oberon how is it that art so vnkind outragious to me for so little an offence to suffer me to endure this great misery for I know well it is not vnknowen to thee that the offence that I haue done was but only by forgetfulnes Now let vs leaue speaking of Huon and say somewhat of faire Escleremond Daughter to the Admirall when shee saw that it was night and shee all alone in her bed shée remembred the French knight who had kissed her iij. times in the presence
of her Father and shee was in great sorow bicause he was put in prison said to her selfe Without he were a Knight of great enterprize he would neuer haue béen so hardy to haue done as he hath done this day in diuers manners Wherefore she said he was well worthy to be beloued and succoured Then incontinent shee arose and made her readie and priuily she tooke a torch of waxe in her hand and lighted it and issued out of her chamber as priuilye as she could It was about midnight and euery man was a sléepe in the Pallaice she went strait to the prison came at so good a time that she found the Iaylor fast a sléepe then she stole away the keyes and went and opened the prison dore But when Huon saw the torch light and the dore of the prison open he was in great feare least they would take him out to put him to death or to doe him some other displeasure whereupon he began to make pitifull complaints The Ladie who could well speake french vnderstood all Huons complaints and remembred his name bicause the day before she had heard himselfe shew her Father his name then shée said Huon dismay not I am Escleremond Daughter to the Admirall whome this day passed thou didst kisse iij. times in the presence of my Father if it be so that thou wilt fulfill my will I shall put to my endeauour to deliuer thée out of prison for I am so affectionate towards thée that euer since thou didst kisse me I haue none other thought nor immagination but only on thée how to bring thée out of the danger that thou art in Madame quoth Huon god reward you for your great courtesie that ye would do vnto me but faire Lady Escleremond you are a Sarazin and I am christened True it is that I did kisse you but that was by the commaundement of king Charlemaine who sent me hether so to doe but else I had rather to haue been heere in perpetuall prison than to haue touched any part of your bodie or mouth so long as ye be a Sarazyn Huon quoth the Ladie seing thou art of that mind thou shalt end thy daies heere in prison miserably and neuer trust me but if I can I shall cause thee deerely to aby the refusall that thou hast made me Then the Lady Escleremond parted from the prison and came to the Iaylor and awaked him and said Friend I charge thee on paine of thy life that to this french Prisoner within thy keeping for these iij. daies and iij. nightes thou giue him neither meate nor drinke Madame quoth the Iaylor your commaundement shal be fulfilled Then the Lady in this displeasure went againe to her bed right pensiue and full of fantasies and Huon was iij. daies and iij. nights without meate or drinke and on the iiij day he said all sorowing Ah good Lord I see well I must heere die for hunger I huÌ„bly require thee to ayd and succour me and graunt me thy grace that I neither consent nor doe any thing that shall be against thy pleasure or against thy holy law for any tribulation that can come to me Thus noble Huon complayned all sorowing there was no creature that had heard him but he would haue been partaker of his great sorowes Chap. XXXIX ¶ How Huon made great complaints for the famine that he endured and how the faire Escleremond came againe to coÌ„fort him conditionally that Huon would fulfill her desire Thus as haue ye haue heard before Huon complayned pitiously for he had been iij. daies and iij. nights without sustenance and the Lady Escleremond who caused it came euery morning and euening to the prison to heare what Huon would say and euer shee would demaund of Huon if he were any otherwise aduised to answere her or not and euer she found him at one point But at the last when she saw that he still continued in that minde then she demaunded of him that if she deliuered him out of prison whether he would then promise her to lead her with him into Fraunce and take her to his wife when hee came there if thou wilt promise me this quoth shee thou shalt haue meate and drinke sufficient at thy pleasure Madame quoth Huon I promise you faithfully that vppon your forsaking Paganisme and conuersion to our christian faith I shall doe your pleasure whatsoeuer happen to me thereby Then know for troth quoth the Lady that for the loue of thée I will become christened and beleeue in the law of the Lord Iesus Christe so soone as we come into any place whereas it may be done Huon thanked her and then she caused him to haue meate and drinke whereof he was ioyfull and she called the Iaylor and said Goe thy way in hast to the Admirall my Father and tell him that the french knight is dead iij. daies past through féeblenes hunger Ladie quoth the Iaylor I am ready to doe your commaundement and so he went to the Admirall and said Sir the french Knight that was in my keeping is dead by famine iij. daies past Alas quoth the Admirall I am sory therfore but seing it will none otherwise be I must passe it ouer as I may but I had rather that he were aliue And thus as ye haue heard Huon was deliuered from death for it is a commoÌ„ but a very true saying that one day of deliuerance is worth a hundred yeeres of endurance Then the Iaylor returned to the prison vnto the Ladie and shewed her what he had said to the Admirall Well friâ—nd quoth the Ladie if thou wilt be secret I shall make thée rich for euer helping to aide me in such things as I would haue thee Madame quoth he to die in the quarrell I shall doe you seruice such as you commaund me the feare of death shall not let me to doe it Now let vs leaue speaking of Huon who was oftentimes visited with the Iaylor and had all things as he desired and was well lodged at his pleasure And let vs now speake of Gerames and of them that were with him in the Castle of the Gyant Chap. XL. ¶ How Gerames and his company departed from the Tower and the Damsell with them and came to Babilon and of the manner that Gerames vsed to know some newes of Huon WE haue heard heere before how Huon departed from the Tower of the Gyant and left there Gerames and all his company with the Damsell his Coozen they taried there iij. moneths and neuer heard any thing of Huon wherof they were sorowfull They went foorth one morning and came to the Sea-side to sée if they might heare any newes of their Lord Huon and as they looked vpon the Sea they espied a shippe charged with xxx Paynims and great riches and Gerames saw how the ship was coming to that Port wherfore he said to his company Sirs let vs go and see if we can learne any tidingâ— of Huon by them
he said Faire Nephew it seemeth well by you that you loue these christian men but little Sir quoth he I hate these christian men more then any men in the world for Sir all the waye that I haue come I haue thus beaten them thrée times in euery day in the honour of my God Mahound and in despight of their law and God on whome they beléeue Thus then Gerames departed from the Admirall and led with him the xij french prisoners beating them till he came to the prison and none of them durst speake one word but to themselues they cursed Gerames And as they went towards the prison they met with the Lady Escleremond and she said Cosin I am right ioyfull of your comming but if I durst trust you I would shew you a secret matter so that you promise not to discouer me Cousin quoth Gerames by the faith that I owe to my god Mahound ye may well shew me your will and pleasure for if mine eyes were to be drawne out I shal neuer discouer you And when the Damsell heard that promise she said Deare Cousin it is a v. months passed since there came to my Father the Admirall a french knight with a messuage from king Charlemaine who called himselfe Huon of Bourdeaux who when he had done his messuage hee slew a Paynim king as he sat at the table by my Father after came kissed me thrée times before my Fathers face and after that slew many Sarazins wherefore at last hee was taken Prisoner and put in prison whereas he is yet howbeit I made my Father beléeue that he is dead with famine yet deere cousin he is as yet aliue and as well serued of meat and drinke as my father is When Gerames vnderstood the Damsell Escleremond he was both sorowfull angrie for he thought that the Damsell did it to deceaue him and to cause him to shew forth the secretnes of his minde bicause he was in doubt thereof he passed foorth and made no manner of answeare to the Damsell but came to the prison and put in the Prisoners rudely and the Damsell returned right sorowfull in that she had shewed so much of her minde to Gerames whome she tooke for her Cousin When Gerames had put the xij Frenchmen in prison he returned right sorowfull and Huon being in the prison had greate maruaile what prisoners they were that were let downe into the prison for he could not sée theÌ„ the prison was so darke then he drew néere to them to heare them speake and at last one of them began to make his complaint and said Ah good Lord Iesu Christ succour vs for thou knowest well this that wee suffer we haue not deserued but it is for the loue of our yong Lord Huon of Bourdeaux we haue loued him so well that now wée be lost for â—uer except deere Lord thou haue mercie vppon vs. When Huon had heard what they said then he knew well that they were christened frenchmen and then he coueted much to know what they were so approched néere to them and said Sirs yée that be heere I pray you shew me what yée be and how yee be come hither Sir quoth one of them true it is that v. moneths passed there departed from vs a young knight with whome wee came out of the Realme of Fraunce and he was borne in Fraunce and sonne to a noble Duke called Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux this Knight slew Charlot sonne to King Charlemaine by misaduenture wherefore hee was banished out of the Realme of Fraunce and sent by king Charlemaine to do a messuage to the Admirall Gaudise and he is dead in prisoÌ„ as it is shewed vs and sir wée came to séeke for him are betrayed by one of our owne companie When Huon heard him speake he knew him well said Sirs be of good comfort and make good chéere for I am Huon safe and in good health thanked be god and the Admirals daughter who is so enamoured of me that she hath saued my life yée shall sée soone how shée will come and visite me But I pray you sirs what is become of ould Gerames whether he be left behind to kéepe the Tower with the Dammy cousin whome I left in your kéeping Sir quoth they a worse creature or more false Traytor was neuer borne for he hath betrayed vs and hath beaten and put vs in prison and as for the Damsell shee is with the Admiralls Daughter When Huon perceiued that all they were of his companie he went embraced them and said Sirs knowe of a suretie that all that Gerames hath done is done to the intent to deliuer vs all out of prison I doe so well know the troth of Gerames Sirs make good chéere for assoone as night commeth wée shal be visited with great ioy Sir quoth they surely wee beléeued that Gerames had forsaken the faith of Christ and was become a Sarazin for he hath made the Admirall beleeue that he is sonne to his brother king Iuoryn of Mombrance When Huon heard that he had great ioy at his heart and said Ah good Lord the troth of Gerames and loue that he hath alwaies shewed to me shal be to vs right profitable in the despight of king Oberon who hath forsaken me for a small offence by Gerames we shal be deliuered out of this pouertie and danger Now leaueth the Historie to speake of Huon and his companie being in pryson and returneth to the ould Gerames who studied and practised for the deliuerance of Huon and his company Chap. XLI ¶ How Gerames and the faire Escleremond went to the Pryson to comfort Huon and the other Prisoners NOw sheweth the Historie that when Gerames was retourned to the Admirall he said Sir the French men that I brought are fast in prison and well beaten Faire Nephew quoth the Admirall they haue had but an euill neighbor of you Then Gerames went into his chamber and studied how he might fournish the Prisoners with vittailes did so much that he had sufficient and when night came he went with his vittailes to the prisoÌ„ for he might do there what he listed for euery man was ready to doe him any seruice When he came to the prison dore he sent euery man away and taried there alone and he had not béen there longe but that the Admirals daughter came thether When Gerames saw her he wist not what to thinke but said Faire cousin I pray you shew me what you doe heare at this houre Déere cousin quoth shee the great trust that I haue in you hath made me to come hether bicause to day I discouered to you all my secrets and what I am intended to doe Therefore let me intreat you that you would leaue the law of Mahdund and receiue the christian faith and then to goe with mee into Fraunce together with these Prisoners and we shall well find the manner how to depart and we will take with vs al the prisoners
Gyant and when he had made his praiers to god he put on his armour as quickly as though he had neuer béen in prison wherby he knew well that god was pleased with him and then he said Ah noble king Oberon I pray thée séeing God is pleased with me put away thy displeasure and pardon me for the breaking of thy commaundement I haue béen sore punished and I pray thee be not displeased if I spake any hasty worde being in prison for famine caused me to doe it In the breaking of thy commaundement I confesse I did ill therein yet it was but by negligence and forgetting Alas Sir remember but what courtesie ye shewed me when yée found me in the wood and gaue me your rich Horne and Cup by the which often times I haue been succoured therefore sir now I require thée to pardon me all my trespasses and helpe me at my néed for I sée well without it be by the grace of god your helpe there is nothing can saue my life thus he besought god of pardon and to giue him grace to destroy his enemy who was so horrible to behould And when he had made his prayer there came a Sarazin to Huon said Sir héere is your owne swoord that yée lost when yée were taken Friend quoth Huon yee do me great courtesie God giue me grace to reward thée Then he did on his helmet and girt on his sword and the Admirall sent him a good horse the best in all his Court for he was not so faire but he was in goodnes aboue all other When Huon saw him he was right ioyfull thanked the Admirall As for his rich fourniture I make no mention thereof the saddle harnesie and bridle were so rich that the value thereof could not be estéemed Then Huon made the signe of the crosse and mounted on his horse armed at all points and so rode out of the Pallaice into a faire meadow and there made a course to assay his horse then he rested him before the Admirall who leaned in a window in his Pallaice and when he beheld Huon he said to his Lords Trust me these Frenchmen are to be doubted feared for Huon is a goodly yong man and great wrong it had been if he had béen slaine The Admirall commaunded the field to be kept with a Thowsand Sarazins to thintent that no treason should be done or any iniurie offered to his faire séeming Champion Chap. XLIIII ¶ How Huon fought with Agrapart the Gyant and discomfited him and deliuered him to the Admirall who had great ioy thereof WHen Huon hadde made his course he came into the field whereas his enemie was ready and when Agrapart saw Huon hee said Thou that art of so great courage as to fight against me howe néere of kinne art thou to the Admirall séeing that for the loue of him thou wilt put thy selfe in aduenture of death Paynim quoth Huon know for troth that I am nothing of kinne to the Admirall but I was borne in the Realme of Fraunce and if thou desire to know what I am I say vnto thée that I am he that slew thy Brother For that quoth the Paynim I am the more sorowfull and yet againe ioyfull in that Mahound hath done mée the grace to haue power to reuenge his death but if thou wilt beléeue and worship my God Mahound and forsake thy beléefe and goe with me into my countrey I shall make thée so great a Lord that of all thy kinne there was neuer any such And I shall giue thée my sister in mariage who is a foote greater than I am and is as blacke as a cole Paynim quoth Huon I care neyther for thy land nor for thy sister but all the diuels in hell kéepe them both beware thou of me for I shall neuer ioy in my hart vntill the time that I haue slaine thee as I haue done thy brother I defie thée in the name of god and I thée quoth the Gyant in the name of Mahound Then they went a sunder to take their courses and they ran each at other and met so fiersly that their speares brake in péeces and the encounter was so rude that by force of the shocke both the horses fell to the earth but the Champions quickly recouered and came each vpon other Agrapart tooke vp his fawchin to haue striken Huon but he stept a litle on the one side whereby the Paynim missed his stroke Huon lifted vp his sword and strake the Gyant on the helmet so maruailous a stroke that he strake of a quarter therof and wounded him sore and the stroke descended downe and cut of his eare so that the black blood ran downe to the ground Then Huon said Paynim thou wert vnhappie when thou camest hether thou mightest haue béen content with the death of thy Brother and not to come hether to haue as much thy selfe for thou shalt neuer sée faire day more When the Gyant saw him selfe hurt he had great feare and said Cursed be he of Mahound that forged thy swoord I had rather I had béene bound to haue paid a great summe of money to haue saued my life than to be slaine héere therfore I yéeld my selfe to thée take héere my swoord I pray thée doe me no hurt Paynim quoth Huon haue no doubt séeing thou doest yéeld thée to me there is none so hardy that shall doe thée any displeasure Then Huon tooke the Paynim by the arme brought him into the Citie whereof the Admirall and all his Lords had great ioy but the inward content that Escleremond had passed all other When Gerames saw how the Gyant was ouercome he came to the Admiral and said Sir Admirall know for troth that I am christened and I am not your Nephew I came hether but only to search for my Lord Huon the better to know the troth I said I was sonne to Iuoryn of Mombrance your brother thereby to know the certentie what was become of Huon for I knew well he was sent to you from king Charlemaine on a Messuage Chap. XLV ¶ How Agrapart the Gyant cryed mercie to the Admirall and howe Huon desired the Admirall Gaudise to leaue his law and to be christened WHEN the Admirall heard Gerames he had great maruaile and said it is hard for any man to beware of the craft and subtiltie that is in a Frenchman Then the Admirall sawe where Huon was comming vp the steps and bringing with him the Gyant whereon the Admirall and all his Lords came met him and Gerames his company with him who were right ioyfull when they saw him come When Huon sawe the Admirall he tooke Agrapart by the hand and said to the Admirall Sir I deliuer him into your handes that this day did you so great iniurie euen he that drew you out of your chaire I deliuer to you to doe with him at your pleasure When Agrapart saw that he knéeled and said Sir Admirall he hath
they entred into â—he Isle wheras there dwelt neither man nor woman but the earth was so faire and gréen that great ioy it was to sée it it was likewise so faire hot that they hid them selues in the greene grasse to thintent they should not be perceaued still the Lady wept pitiously and Huon said vnto her Lady bée not abashed for if we dye for loue wée shall not be the first for Tristram died for the loue of the faire Isoluda and shée for him and so all wéeping they clipped and kissed eche other And as they lay wrapped in the gréene grasse there ariued Tenne Sarazins in a litle vessell who entred into the Isle to take fresh water and other things that they needed then they said eche to other let vs goe foorth into this Isle and see if wée can find any aduenture these men were Pyrates of the sea and had serued before the Admirall Gaudise Father to Escleremond Huon who was with his Louer in the gréen grasse heard how neere to them people was comming hée thought to go to them to sée if he might get any meate Deere Louer quoth Huon I pray you goe not hence till I returne Sir quoth shée God be your guide but I requyre you to returne againe shortely Then hee departed all as naked as he was borne and so came to theÌ„ before they had dyned where he saluted them desired them humbly for the loue of God to gyue hym some bread One of them aunswered and saide Fréend thou shalt haue ynough but we pray thee shew vs what aduenture hath brought thee hether Sir quoth Huon the tempest of the sea hath brought me hether for the shippe that I was in is perished and all my companye When they heard him they had great pity and gaue him two loaues of bread Huon tooke them departed and thanking them went backe to his Loue and gaue her parte of the bread whereof shée was not a little glad Then the Pyrates that had giuen Huon the bread said one to another this man that is thus gone from vs surely it can not be but that he hath some other company therfore let vs goe presently after him and peraduenture wée shall finde out his company for mee thinkes if he were alone hée would not so haue come to vs. Let vs go and sée quoth all the other and not returne till we know the troth Than they went all together followed Huon as priuilie as they could and when they came néere whereas hée was they saw him and the Ladie hard by him eating of the bread that they had giuen him there they stood still aduised them to sée if they could haue any knowledge of him or of the Lady Now among them there was one that said Sirs neuer beleue mée but this Ladie is the faire Escleremond daughter to the Admirall Gaudise and hée that is with her is the same FrenchmaÌ„ that fought with Agrapart slew him and also the Admirall it is happy that we haue found them and specially that he is naked without armour for if that he were armed our lyues were but short When they knew certainely that it was Escleremond daughter to the Admirall Gaudise then they approched néere to them and cryed aloude and saide Madame Escleremond your flying away auayleth you nothing for by you and your meanes your father hath been slaine by the theefe that sitteth there by you therefore wee shall bring you to your Vncle Iuoryn of Mombrance who shall take of you such correction that ye shal be an example to all other the leachour that is by you shal be there slayne before your face When the Lady saw these Paynims sheâ— was right sorowfull and sore discomforted then she kneled down and held vp hir handes prayed them humbly that they would haue pitie on the frenchman as for her owne life shée did put it to their owne pleasures either to slay hir or to drowne her or else to bring her to her Vncle. And sirs quoth shee I sweare by Mahound that if ye will grant my request if I can be agreed with mine Vncle Iuorin I shall doe you all such pleasures that ye and all yours shall be rich for euer after for little shall yee winne by the death of one poore man Ladie quoth they we are well content to leaue him héere but wée shall doe him all the shame and rebuke that we can that hee may remember it for euer after Then they tooke Huon and laide him on the grene grasse and did blind his eies and binde his hands and féet so that the blood burst out at his nayles wherby hée was in such distres that hée swonded three times and pitiously called on our lord god to haue pitie of him and to forgiue him his sinnes When the swéet Escleremond saw her Louer Huon so handled and that shee should depart from him to shewe the pitifull complaints that shée made it were impossible Also Huon made pitious complainâ—s when his Loue Escleremond departed the which gréeued him more then his own paine that hée suffred Now wee shall leaue speaking of him and say what happened afterward to the faire Escleremond Chap. XLVIII ¶ How the faire Escleremond was led away with the Pyrates of the sea and how the Admirall Galaffer of Anfalerne deliuered her out of their hands NOw sheweth the Historie how that when these théeues had takeÌ„ and bound Huons hands féet and eyen they left him alone in the Isle and tooke the faire Escleremond and brought hir into their shippe Then they gaue hir a gowne and a mantell furred with ermyns for they were Robbers of the sea and had much goods in their shippe then they sayled foorth night and day at last a wind tooke them that whether they would or not they arriued at the Port of Anfalerne and at the same time the Admirall there was newly risen from his dinner and stood leaning out at a window in his Pallaice and when hée perceiued the shippe that lay at anchor in the hauen and saw the banners and streamers wauing with the winde thereby hée well perceiued that the ship pertayned to Kinge Iuoryn of Mombrance whereuppon hée with his Lords went downe to the hauen Then he cryed out aloude said Sirs what marchandize haue ye brought Sir quoth they we haue brought sendals clothes of silke wherefore sir if we shall pay any Tribute or custome wee are redie to pay it at your pleasure Then Galaffer the Admirall said I know well ynough if yee should pay any tribute yee should not choose but doe it But sirs I pray you tell mee what Damsell is that which I sée in your shippe sore wéeping Sir quoth they it is a slaue a Christian woman whome we bought at Damieta The Ladie heard well how the Admirall demaunded for her and likewise what answere the Mariners had made then shee cried out aloud and said Alas Sir Admirall for the loue and honour of
Mahound I pray you haue pitie on me for I am no slaue but I am Daughter to the Admirall Gaudise of Babylon who is dead and slaine by a Frenchman the Mariners heere haue taken me and would carrie me to mine Vncle king Iuoryn of Mombrance and I know surely that if he had me he would burne me Faire Lady quoth the Admirall dismay you not for yee shall abide with mee whether they will or not then he commaunded the Mariners to bring the Ladie to him but they answered that they would not so doe then the Admirall commaunded to take her from them perforce and then they of the shippe began to make defence But anon they were all slaine and the Lady taken and brought to the Admirall who had great ioy therof howbeit he was sorie because one of them that were in the ship scaped away and fled to Mombrance notwithstanding the Admirall cared not greatly for it séeing he had the Ladie whome he brought into his Pallaice When the Admirall saw her so excéeding faire hee was taken in her loue so that incontinent he would haue married her after the Sarazins law whereof shee was right sorowfull and said Sir reason it is that I doe your pleasure séeing yée haue rid me out of the handes of these Pyrates of the sea But sir I require you for the loue that ye beare me that yee will forbeare your pleasure at this present time for Sir I haue made a faithfull vow and promise that for a yeere and a day from henceforth I will not lye with nor touch any man boldly for the which vow sir I am now sorie eueÌ„ for the loue that I beare to you but Sir I am right ioyfull that yee will doe me so much honor as to haue me to your wife our great god Mahound reward you Now sir for the loue of him I pray you be content vntill my vow be accomplished Faire Ladie quoth he know for troth that for the honour of my God Mahound but more for the loue of you I am content to tarrie this yeere yea and if it were Twentie yeeres to be sure of your loue then Sir quoth she Mahound reward you but she said to her selfe Ah deare Lord god Iesu Christ I humbly require thée to giue me that grace to kéepe my troth to my Louer Huon for ere I shall doe the contrarie I shall suffer as much paine and gréefe as euer womaÌ„ did and I will neuer breake my troth for feare of death Now leaue we to speak of her and say somewhat of the theefe that scaped out of the shippe Chap. XLIX ¶ How the Pyrate fled to Mombrance to Iuoryn and how he sent to defie the Admirall Galaffer of Anfalerne and of the answeare that he had there YE haue heard heere before how the faire Escleremond was receiued by the Admirall Galaffer and of the manner that shee found to keepe her selfe true to Huon and how one of the Mariners scaped away and fledde by land till at last he came to the Citie of Mombrance where he found Iuoryn to whome he shewed all the whole matter as ye haue heard and how his brother the Admirall Gaudise was slaine by a young french knight and how he and his companie found the said knight and his Néece the faire Escleremond whom they had thought to haue brought to him But quoth he the Admirall Galaffer hath taken them from vs by force and hath taken our shippe and slaine all your men that were within it so that none escaped but I alone When king Iuoryn vnderstood the Mariner he said Ah mightie Mahound how hast thou suffered that my brother Gaudise hath thus pitiously been slaine and also my Néece his Daughter to consent thereto certainely the gréefe that I féele at my heart constraineth mée rather to desire death than life And also moreouer to see him that is mine owne Subiect and houldeth his landes of me to keepe my Néece and thus to slay my men Alas I cannot well say what I should doe therein a little thing would cause me to slay my selfe Then in great displeasure he called his Lords and caused the Mariner to come before them there he made him to shew again all the matter bâ—fore them both how his brother the Admirall Gaudise was slaine and also how the Admirall Galaffer held his Néece by force and how he had slaine his men which when the Lords had heard they said thus to Iuoryn Sir our aduice is that yée should send one of your secret messengers to the Admirall Galaffer and commaund him incontinent to send you your Néece and to make amends for that he hath slaine your men and that he send you word by writing what cause hath mooued him thus to doe and if it be so that pride doth so surmount in him that hee will not obey your commaundements then by a iust quarrell ye may goe and make warre vpon him and take from him all his lands that he houldeth of you When Iuoryn vnderstood his Lords he said Sirs I perceaue well your opinion is good and then a Messenger was appointed and his charge giuen him and so he departed and rode so long till he came to Anfalerne where he found the Admirall Galaffer whome he saluted in the name of Mahound and then hee declared his Messuage at length but assoone as Galaffer had heard his messuage he said Friend goe and say to king Iuoryn that as for the deliuerance of his Néece I will not doe it and as for his men that are slaine it was through their owne folly and as touching that I should come to him I will not come to him let him do what he can but if he come to assaile me I shall defend as well as I can When the Messenger heard that he said Sir Admirall séeing yee will doe none otherwise in the name of our god Mahound and in the name of great king Iuoryn héere I defie you he sendeth you woord by me that he will leaue you neither Citie Towne nor Castle but he will put them all to flame and fire nor leaue you one foot of land but also if he may take you ye shall die a shamefull death When the Admirall saw how hee was defyed hee was more inflamed then a burning fire-brand and said to the messenger Go and say to thy Lord that I set nothing by his threatning and if I may know when hée commeth I shall do him that honour that I will not abide till hée enter into my country but I will méete with him before and say vnto him from me that if I can take him I shall soone ryd his soule out of his body So the messenger departed and came to Mombrance where wheÌ„ Iuoryn saw him he said Frend what saith Galaffer will hée send me my Néece Sir quoth the messenger hée will not doe it hée saith hée doubteth you nothing and if yee be so hardy as to come and assayle him then hée will meet
with you before and fight with you and I heard him sweare that if hée may take you hée will slay you without mercy When Iuoryn heard that hée swet for anger was in that case that hée could not speake one word of a long space but when hée had somewhat asswaged his yre hée sware by his God Mahound that hée should neuer haue ioy nor mirth at his heart till hee had destroyed the towne of Anfalerne and slaine the Admirall Galaffer Then in hast hée sent for all his Lords and with them concluded to send for all his men of warre and gaue them day to be with him within xv daies before Mombrance the which thing was done for at that day they were all assembled as ye shall heare heereafter Now leaueth the Historie to speake of them and returneth againe to speake of King Oberon Chap. L. ¶ How king Oberon at the request of twoo Knights of the Fayrie called Gloriant and Mallaborn the monster of the Sea went and succoured Huon and carried him out of the Isle of Noysant NOw the Historie sheweth that King Oberon the same time that Huon was in the Isle of Noysant was in his wood where for the most part hee was accustomed to be conuersant bicause the place was very much delectable and farre from people there hee sat him downe vnder a faire oake and hee began to weepe and complaine When Gloriant a knight of the Fairie saw him he had great maruaile and demaunded of him why he lamented so much Gloriant quoth king Oberon the periured Huon of Bourdeaux causeth mee thus to doe whome I haue alwayes perfectly loued and yet he still trespasseth my commandements for when I departed from him I caused him to haue the Admirall Gaudise at his pleasure and also I made him to haue the faire Escleremond the Admirals Daughter and also I haue giuen him my rich Horne of Iuorie and my good Cup the which he hath lost by his pride and folly and therefore he hath been punished and now hee lyeth all naked bound handes and féete and his eyes blindfolded in an Isle in the which place I will suffer him to die most miserably Not so Sir quoth Gloriant for the honour of our Lord Iesus Christ call to your remembrance howe that by Gods owne mouth Adam and Eue were forbidden from the eating of the fruit that was in Paradise yet they by their fragilitie brake Gods commaundement howbeit our Lord God had great pitie of them And therefore Sir I pray you haue pitie of Huon then Mallaborn stept foorth and sayd Alas Sir for the honour and reuerence of our Lord God I desire you to graunt me this one time that I may goe and ayd him When Oberon sawe he was so earnestly desired of Glorian◠and Mallaborn he was sore displeased and answearing sayd Mallaborn it pleaseth me so well that this Caytiffe Huon who endureth so much paine be visited by thée therefore I condemne thée to bee xxviij yeares a Monster in the Sea beside xxx yeares that thou art enioyned too alreadie Now I will that thou giuest him none other counsaile nor aid but alonely to beare him out of the Isle that he is in and to set him on the maine Land then let him goe whether hée will for I desire neuer more to see him Also I will that thou bringest againe vnto me my rich Horne of Iuorie and my rich Cup and my Armour fetch them there as hee hath lost them Alas Sir quoth Mallaborn great paine you put him vnto when for so smal an offence you are so sore displeased with Huon And as for the Armour that you would haue againe you know well how Huon of Bourdeaux did conquer it and hée had been lost if it had not béene great ill you shall doe if you cause him not to haue it againe But Sir since I haue Licence to bring him out of the Isle I pray you shewe mée in what place is the Isle whereas he is Then Gloriant sayd Brother Mallaborn this Isle is néere vnto Hell and it is called the Isle Noysant Well quoth Mallaborn then I commend you all to our Lord Iesus Christ and so he departed and came to the sea-side and when he came there he leapt into the Sea and began to swim as fast as the bird flyeth in the ayre and so arriued in the Isle Noysaunt and so came vnto Huon whome hée found sore wéeping and sayd Sir Huon I pray our Lord Iesus Christ to succour and aide thée Ah deare God quoth Huon who is that that speaketh vnto me Huon quoth hée I am a man who loueth thée and am called Mallaborn and am a beast of the Sea who hath before this time borne thée ouer the salt water to Babilon Ah Mallaborn déere Brother quoth Huon I require thée vnbind mée and bring me out of this dolorous paine With a right good will quoth Mallaborn then he did vnbind him and opened his eyes When Huon sawe that hée was right ioyfull and demanded who sent him thether Huon quoth he knowe for troth that it was King Oberon and whereas I was condemned before to be a beast of the Sea Thirtie yeares now for thy sake I must endure so eight and Twentie yeares more yet I care not for the paine for the loue that I beare vnto thée there is no paine impossible vnto mée to beare but I must carie againe vnto Oberon the rich Horne and Cup and Armour for so I haue promised King Oberon to doe Ah quoth Huon I pray to our Lord Iesus Christ to confound the Dwarfe who hath caused me to endure all these paines for so small an occasion Huon quoth Mallaborn you doe ill to say so for you haue no sooner spoken it but that King Oberon doth know it Certainly quoth Huon I care not what he can doe he hath done me so much ill that I can neuer loue him but Sir I pray thée tell me if thou wilt beare me hence or else whether that I must abide héere for euer Fréend quoth Mallaborn I will beare thée out of this Isle and set thée on the maine Lande other ayd may I not doe thée and then Mallaborn tooke vppon him againe his beasts skin and sayd Sir leape vppon mée then Huon leapt vppon his backe as naked as euer he was borne and Mallaborn leapt into the Sea and began to swim and came to the mayne Land and sayd Fréend Huon more seruice can I not doe vnto thée at this time but I recommend thée to the kéeping of our Lord God who send thee comfort I now must goe and séeke for the Horne Cup and Armor the which thou wert woont to haue and enioy and I am to beare them vnto King Oberon for thus haue I promised to doe Now Huon was there all alone and naked pitiously complayning and sayde Ah good Lord I require thée to ayde mée I know not where I am nor whether I may goe yet if I had cloathes to couer my
naked skinne I should haue some comfort for then I might goe and séeke some aduenture greatly I ought to hate the crooked Dwarfe Oberon who hath brought me into all this paine but by the faith that I owe vnto God séeing he hath left me thus from hencefoorth to doe him the more spite I shall make lyes ynough I shall not leaue for him whom I recommend now to a hundred Thousand Diuels When he had béen there a certen space all alone hee arose and looked all about him to sée if he might perceiue anye man passe by from whome hee might haue any succour for he was néere famished for lacke of sustenance howbeit he thought to depart thence to séeke some aduenture so he went on his way and hée went so far that he found an aduenture such as you shall heare for our Lord Iesus Christ neuer forgetteth his Seruants Chap. LI. ¶ How Huon found a Minstrell who gaue him cloathing and meat and tooke Huon with him as his Varlet and went to Mombrance WHen Huon hadde gone a great way hee beheld on his right hand and saw néere him a little wood by a faire meadow-side and therein was standing a great Dake full of leaues and there beside was a cleare Fountaine and there he saw an ancient man with white haires sitting vnder the Dake and before him he had a little cloth spread abroad on the grasse and thereon flesh and bread and wine in a Bottell When Huon saw the old man he came vnto him and the ancient man sayd Ah thou wild man I pray thée for the loue of Mahound doe me no hurt but take meat and drinke at thy pleasure When Huon sawe him he espied lying beside him a Harpe and a Vyoll whereon he could well play for in all Pagany there was no Minstrell like him Fréend quoth Huon thou hast named me right for a more vnhappy man then I am there is none lyuing Fréend quoth the Minstrell goe to yonder Male and open it and take what thou likest best to couer thy naked skinne then come to mée and eat at thy pleasure Sir quoth Huon good aduenture is come vnto mée thus to find you Mahound reward you Sir quoth the Minstrell I pray you come and eate with me and kéepe me companie for you shall not find a more sorowfull man then I am By my faith quoth Huon a companion of your owne sort haue you found for there was neuer man that suffered so much pouertie as I haue praise be vnto him that fourmed me but séeing I haue found meat to eat blessed be the houre that I haue found you for you séeme to bee a good man Then Huon went to the Male and tooke cloathes and then came vnto the Minstrell and sat down and did eat and drinke as much as pleased him The Minstrell beheld Huon and sawe that he was a faire young man and a courteous and then hee demaunded of him where hée was borne and by what aduenture hee was arriued there in that case that he was in When Huon heard how the Minstrell demaunded of his estate he began to study in himselfe whether he should shew the troth or else to lye then he called to our Lord God and sayd Ah good Lord if I shew to this man the troth of mine aduenture I am but dead and King Oberon for a small offence thou hast left me in this case now if I shewe the troth of my life to this man I am but dead I shall neuer trust thée more but I will now put all my trust in God for the loue that I haue to my Loue thou hast mee in hate but séeing it is so as often as I haue néede I shall ly nor I shall not leaue it for feare of thée but rather do it in despite of thée then Huon saide to the Minstrell Sir you haue demanded of mine estate and as yet I haue made you none answeare the troth is I find my selfe so well at mine ease that I forgat to answeare you but I shall nowe shewe you séeing you would know it Sir of certaine I was borne in the countrey of Affricke and fell in company with diuers Marchants by the Sea in a Shippe thinking to haue sayled to Damieta but a great misfortune fell vppon vs there arose such an horrible tempest that our Shippe perished and all that were within it none escaped but I and I thanke Mahound that I am escaped aliue therefore I desire you now to shew mée your aduenture as I haue shewed you mine Fréend quoth the Minstrell séeing you will knowe it knowe for troth I am named Mouflet I am a Minstrell as thou séest héere by mine Instruments and I say vnto thée that from hence to the red Sea there is none so cunning in all Instruments as I am and I can doe many other things and the dolour that thou séest mee make is bycause of late I haue loste my good Lorde and Maister the Admirall Gaudise who was slayne miserably by a Vacabond of Fraunce called Huon that Mahound shame him and bring him to an ill death for by him I am fallen into pouerty and miserie I pray thée tell me thy name Sir quoth Huon my name is Solater Well quoth the Minstrell Solater dismay thée not for the great pouerties that thou hast suffered thou séest what aduenture Mahound hath sent thée thou art nowe better arayed then thou wert if thou wilt follow my counsel thou shalt haue no néed thou art faire and young thou oughtest not to be dismayed but I that am old and ancient haue cause to be discomforted séeing in mine olde dayes I haue lost my Lord and Maister the Admirall Gaudise who did me so much good and profit I would it pleased Mahound that he that slewe him were in my power When Huon heard that he spake no word but cast down his head Solater quoth the Minstrell séeing my Lord is dead I will goe to Mombrance to King Iuoryn to shew him the death of his Brother the Admirall Gaudise and if thou wilt abide with me so that thou wilt beare my Fardell and harpe a foote ere it be halfe a yéere past I warrant thée thou shalt haue a Horse for whensoseuer thou shalt heare me play vpon my instruments all the hearers shall take therein such pleasure that they shall giue mee both Gownes and Mantles so that thou shalt haue much adoe to trusse them in my Male. Well Sir quoth Huon I am content to serue you and to doe all your Commaundements Then Huon tooke the Male on his necke and the Harpe in his hand and Mouflet his Maister bare the Vyoll and thus the maister and the seruant went on their way to goe to Mombrance Ah good Lord quoth Huon my heart ought to bée sorrowfull when I sée my selfe in this case that nowe I must become a Minstrels Varlet Gods curse haue Oberon the Dwarfe who hath done mee all this trouble Alas if I had nowe my good Armour my
her he did of his helmet and ranne and embraced her and when the Ladie saw that it was Huon the ioy that shee had was so great that it was maruaile to sée it there was such ioy at their méeting that it cannot be recounted Huon and the Ladie embraced kissed each other many times and she said Ah Huon ye be right hartily welcome for I thought that I should neuer haue séene you more Ladie quoth Huon I ought greatly to loue and cherish you and I am right ioyfull that it hath pleased God that I haue now found you in good health and prosperitie for a more truer man than ye be there is none liuing When all the companie had made their salutations one to another they went to dinner and were richly serued for there was great plentie in the citie and the Sarazins were without the Citie wheras they fought and slew each other there was such slaying on both parts that the fieldes were couered with dead men and fore wounded many a horse ran about the field and their Maisters lying dead these twoo Kings fought one against the other puissance against puissance and twoo Sarazins that were escaped out of the Citie of Anfalerne came to the Admirall Galaffer and said Ah Sir your Citie is lost by the Frenchmen who be entred into it there is neyther man nor woman therein but they are all slaine the old knight that came to you and his xiij companions be all seruants to the young man that slew your Nephew when the twoo Frenchmen fought one with another they tooke togither acquaintance and they be all subiects to the young man that was with king Iuoryn and it is he that slew the Admirall Gaudise and discomfited the gyant Agrapart we knew him well when he entred into the citie we would haue shewed you thereof but we durst not vntill yee were returned from the battaile Now they be in your Pallaice which pleaseth them for there is neither man nor child liuing but all are slaine except some xxx Ladies and Damsels who were with her that should be your wife and they be put out of the Citie yée may sée them sitting without the gate pitiously wéeping When the Admirall Galaffer heard that he was heauy sorowfull and said to his men that were about him Sirs I pray you hastily giue me some councell what I shall doe for it is néedfull Sir quoth they it is now of necessitie that yée goe to king Iuoryn and knéele downe at his foote and pray him to haue mercie vppon you other councell as now we cannot giue you Sirs quoth Galaffer I shall doe as yée haue said then the Admirall Galaffer with his sword in his hand went through the preasse and came to king Iuoryn alighted from his horse and knéeled downe before him and said Sir King I yéeld to you my swoord with the which if you please strike of my head for well I haue deserued it But Sir I pray you for the loue of Mahound haue mercie of me I offer to make you such amends as you your Lords shall iudge so that yée will aid me to take the Frenchmen that bee in my Citie and haue taken away my wife your Néece Escleremond Sir the young man that yée so loued who came but lately to your Court with a Minstrell is the same Frenchman that slew your brother the Admirall Gaudise these tydings I haue heard by twoo messengers that knew him in your Court and now there are with him xiij other Frenchmen whome I had retayned with me to maintaine my warre but they be al subiects to the yong man and now all xiii bee in my pallace and my wife with them Chap. LIX ¶ How Iuoryn caused Mouflet the old Minstrell to be brought to the gibet to haue beene hanged and how hee was rescued by Huon IVORIN heard Galaffer and saide Alas I was vnhappie that I knew not this yong man that had slaine my brother if I had it shold dearly haue béene bought Therefore Sir Galaffer cause your men to withdraw from the battaile and I shall withdraw mine and I shall know of my Barons what counsaile they will giue me Then both parties blew the retrait and King Iuoryn said to his Lords Sirs what counsaile will yee giue me as touching the Admirall Galaffer Sir quoth they giue him againe his lands since he asketh mercie if he hath done ill he offereth to make amends Then Iuoryn called Galaffer and sayd Sir Admirall I render againe to you all your lands and pardon you of all mine ill will and beside that I shall helpe you to destroy the Frenchmen that are in your citie of Anfalerne Then Galaffer kneeled downe and thanked King Iuoryn for the courtesie that he shewed him and offered to doe and so would haue kissed his feet but Iuoryn would not suffer him but lift him vp Thus these two kings agréed together and sware together to haue the death of Huon and his knights Then Huon and his companie abandoned vp the citie of Anfalerne because hee had so few men to kéepe it and so kept the Castle the which was strong inough standing on a rocke on the sea side it was indéede impregnable so it were well victualled at the corner of the Castle there was a strong towre and vnderneath it was the Port whereas ships came to their anchor When Iuoryn and Galaffer saw that the towne was giuen vp by the Frenchmen they entered into it with all their great puissance and lodged about in the towne but in taking of their lodgings Huon and Gerames and such as were with them shot out darts and quarrelled in such wise that there was not so hardie a paynim that durst peere before the Castle if he did he was slaine or hurt When Iuoryn Galaffer saw the dealing of the Frenchmen they raysed vp a gibbet before the Castle thereby to make the Frenchmen afraide and then they tooke Mouflet the Minstrell and bound his hands behind him so sore that the bloud came out at the nayles then they hanged his violl about his necke and then he was brought before Iuoryn who sayd to him A thou false traitour ill hast thou remembred the goodnesse that my brother Gaudise hath done to thee when he that slew him thou hast brought into my Court thereby to do me despight But I shall neither eate nor drinke till thou hast thy desert and that is to bee hanged Alas quoth Mouflet neuer in all my life haue I done or thought any treason nor knew not that that I brought to your Court him that slew your brother the Admiral Gaudys who was my Lord and Master therefore Sir great sinne it were for you to put me to death for that I am not guiltie of Thou lyest false traitour quoth Iuoryn and so commaunded a thirtie men to leade him to the gallowes and when they were come thither they caused the minstrell to mount vp on the ladder The Frenchmē in the
therewith by feare of the Tempest the Shippe came into the Hauen and caste their anchors Then Huon approached to the Ship and demaunded for the Patron and for the maister of them that were in the ship then the Marriners regarded the place whereas they were and they knew plainly by the great Tower that they were in the Port of Anfalerne whereof they had great feare and sayd one to another Ah good Lord God helpe vs for we sée well wee are but dead séeing wee bée arriued héere in this Port for wée knowe well that the Lord of this place is the most cruellest Paynim betwéen this and the red Sea Thus they complayned them one to another and Huon who was néere them vnderstood them well and sayd Sirs haue yée no doubt of death for yée are arriued at a good Port I require you to shew me from whence you come and what yée bée and they answeared sayd Sir séeing you can speake French we shall shew you so that you will assure our liues Sirs quoth Huon haue no feare of death nor of any hurt that yée shall haue for wee that haue this place in kéeping are French-men therefore shew vs hardly your entents Sir quoth they since you would know what wée bee wée are all borne in the Countrey of Fraunce and one of vs is of Saint Omers and some of the Citie of Paris and of diuers other parts of the Realme of Fraunce Fréends quoth Huon I pray you shew me if there be any among you borne in the Citie of Bourdeaux Sir quoth one of them heere is one in this ship that was borne in Bourdeaux an ould ancient man I thinke he be of an hundred yeares of age his name is Guyer and wee are going on pilgrimage for the loue of our Lord Iesus Christ to visit the holy Sepulchre but fortune by force of Tempest of the Sea hath caused vs to arriue héere and this Tempest hath endured these thrée dayes and thrée nights passed whereby wee be so wearie and so sore trauailed that wée can doe no more Fréend quoth Huon I pray you shew him foorth that you speake of Then the Patron of the Ship commaunded that the old man of Bourdeaux should come forth then Guyer the Prouost came to Huon and sayd Sir behold me héere what pleaseth it you to say vnto mée When Huon saw him he knew incontinent that it was Guyer the Prouost and sayd Fréend I require you shew mee where you were borne and what hath mooued you to come hether séeing the great age that you be of and to shew me what is your name Sir quoth he I shall shew you the truth I had a Lord whome I loued entirely hee was Sonne to Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux and hee was called Huon and it fell so out that after the death of his Father about a Seauen yeares King Charlemaine sent for him to doe his homage to receiue his Land of him the young man by the commaundement of his Mother he and his brother Gerard with him tooke their way towards Paris and by the way King Charlemaines Sonne called Charlot was lying in a wood by the counsaile of certaine Traytours and there lay in a waight to haue slaine Huon and his Brother Gerard but the case fell otherwise for Huon slew Charlot not knowing who it was wherefore Kinge Charlemaine banished him out of the Realm of Fraunce and charged him ere he returned to goe to Babilon to do a Messuage to the Admi Gaudise But his Brother Gerard aboad still at Bourdeaux to kéepe the heritage and then the Duchesse his Mother was so full of sorrowe that her Sonne was so banished without cause that shee tooke thereof such a maladie that shee dyed thereof about fiue yeares past and so thereby Gerard is Lord and Gouernour of all the Lands and hee is married to the daughter of the most cruellest Tirant from thence into Spaine and this Gerard hath learned of him many ill customes and hath left all the good wayes that was vsed in the dayes of Duke Seuin and of the Duchesse his Mother and hee hath raysed vp in all his Landes new Tayles and Gables and Impositions and chaced and put from him all noble men hee destroyeth the Burgesses and Marchants Widdowes Orphelings there can no man shew you the ill that hée hath done and doth dayly and he hath disenherited me And on a day the Barons of the Countrey desired me that I would take the paines to goe and search aswell by land as by water if I might finde the young Lord Huon who is our rightfull Lord it is now about two yeares that I haue searched for him in diuers Countreys but I coulde neuer heare one word of him whereof I am right sorrowfull to séeke him I haue spent all my gould and siluer howbeit these good Marchants haue taken me into their Ship and for the loue of God they thought to haue brought me into Fraunce but by fortune we be héere arriued at this Port. Chap. LXI ¶ Howe Huon and Gerames and all their companie with the faire Escleremond departed from the Castle of Anfalerne and sayled thence on the Sea WHen Huon vnderstood the Prouost Guyer he said vnto Gerames Sir come foorth héere I haue found your Brother Then Gerames came to his Brother and embraced and kissed him all wéping and said My deare fréend and Brother you be right heartily welcome Ah Brother quoth Guyer nowe I care not whether I liue or die séeing I haue found you and if it were so that yet once ere I dyed I might sée my Lord Huon then I cared not howe soone I dyed Ah deare Brother quoth Gerames you shall not die so soone and yet you shall sée Huon whose presence you so sore desire it is Huon to whome you haue spoken all this season Then Huon sore wéeping came and embraced Guyer and said My deare Fréend your comming is a ioy to my heart for a more truer Knight cannot bee found Sir quoth Guyer doe you know mée Yea truely quoth Huon and do you know mée Yea Sir quoth Guyer you are greatly desired in Fraunce and Brother Gerames I desire you to shew me where you haue béen since I sawe you for it is about Fortie yeares since you departed out of Fraunce then Gerames shewed him all his life and shewed at length how he found Huon Longe they were talking together whereof they of the Ship were right ioyfull for then they sawe well they were arriued at a good Port and then Huon said to the Marriners Sirs I pray you make this night no great noyse nor make no fire nor shewe no light for héere before the castle is lodged two Admirals Paynims who haue swoorne that they will neuer goe hence vntill they haue vs at their pleasure therefore I counsaile that wee may escape out of this castle wée bée hére about thurteene persons and with vs a noble Ladie wherefore I require you let vs come into your
Ship or else we be all lost and feare not but you shall be well paid for your labour ye shall haue gold and siluer as much as yée will desire Sir quoth the Patrone yée néed not to speake of any gold or siluer for this our ship is yours to do therewith at your pleasure Sir quoth Huon I thanke you of your courtesie I pray you and your company come with me into the castle and I shall charge your ship with gold and Siluer and rich iewels and pretious stones that you and all yours shal be rich for euer this must be done in hast before the Paynims héere without perceiue vs for if they perceiue vs wee shal neuer get hence but incontinent they will send some of their shippes and take this shippe Sir quoth the Patrone wee are ready to obey your commaundement and then the Patron and xxiiii Maryners went with Huon into the Castle and charged all the treasure that was within the castell and other riches that Huon and his company had taken in the towne they bare all into the ship and vittayles sufficient then Huon tooke Escleremond by the hand all smiling and said Fayre Ladie one thing I demaund of you be yee not displeased to leaue that country land where as yée were borne Sir quoth shée I haue long desired to sée the day that I now doe sée therefore well wée may thanke our Lord God that hath giuen vs that grace to be set out of the handes of the enemies of the faith of Christ wherein wée ought to beleue then Huon entred into the ship and the faire Escleremond and Gerames and all the other cōpany so they were in number within the ship some xxxiiij persons and with them was Mouslet the Minstrell when they were all entred into the ship and the ship charged with all things necessarie they weyed vp their anchors and hoysed vp their sailes and had so good and fresh a wind that they were within a while farre from the lands of the twoo Admiralles Sarazins They sayled so long that ere it was day light they were passed the coast of the Roades so came by the Isle of Creet and so by the aid of God and good wind they arriued at the Port of Brandis And so about noone the Admirall that lay at siege before the castell of Anfalerne had gread maruaile that they could sée no man stirring within the castle then a Paynim said to Iuoryn Sir know for troth that within the castle yée shall find no man the Frenchmen are all fled but wée cannot tell how When the twoo Admirals heard that they were sore troubled and in hast they set foorth a Galley and xxx Paynims therein commaunding them to goe to the Posterne which they did incontinent and when they came there they found neyther man nor woman but found the Posterne open and so they entred into the castle and so opened the broad gates and the twoo Admirals entred in sore displeased that the Frenchmen were so escaped Now let vs leaue speaking of them and retourne to Huon who was arriued in sauegard at the Port of Brandis Chap. LXII ¶ How Huon and his company arriued at the Port of Brandis and from thence went to Roome to the Pope who wedded together Huon and the faire Escleremond and of their departing from thence WHen Huon and his company saw how they were arriued at the Port of Brandis they issued out of their shippe and deuoustly went to the church of our Lady and there gaue laud praise to our Lord God that had brought them thether in such sauegard then they went to Garyn of Saint Omers lodging when they came there the Ladie of the house who was right wise and courteous came to Huon said Sir of your comming I am right ioyfull but Sir I pray you where haue you left Garyn my Lord and husband for séeing I sée him not with you my heart trembleth for feare least he be dead or else of some great incumbrance happened vnto him Madame quoth Huon to hide the troth from you cannot cause you to haue him againe for it hath pleased god that he is departed out of this world wherefore I will coūsell you as much as yée may leaue dolour and heauinesse for wée must all come thereto and I repute you so wise that yée know well that for any sorow or wéeping that ye make yée cannot haue him againe When the Lady had heard Huon she fell downe in a traunce more like to be dead then aliue than Huon and his companie set her vp and comforted her as much as they might then Escleremond tooke brought her into her chamber and did so much with her faire swéet words that somewhat shée appeased her and then sore wéeping shée came to Huon and he said Madame appease your selfe and praye for him for wee must all passe the same passage With these wordes and such other the Lady was appeased then they washed and went to dinner and after Gerames and other of his company went into the towne and bought horse and Mules to ryde on and bought rich gownes all in one liuery there they tarried about viij daies and on the ix day they payed the Patrone of the ship in such wise that hee was rich euer after and euery Mariner had a good reward whereof they thanked Huon and offered to doe him seruice Then Huon and Escleremond with all their company tooke their leaue of their hostesse whome they left sore wéeping and at their departing Huon gaue her a rich guift whereof she humbly thanked him and when they were all readie and their baggage trussed vp they depatred and tooke the way towards Roome with great ioy and gladnes whosoeuer was ioyfull Guyer the Prouost was ioyfull in twoo maners one in that he had found his Lord Huon and the other for that he had found his brother Gerames and also bicause that his Lord Huon had fulfilled the Messuage that King Charlemaine had charged him to doe to the Admirall Gaudise So long they rode together that in a morning they came to Roome and alighted at their lodging then they all together went to heare diuine seruice and as they issued out of the Church they met a seruant of the Popes then Huon demaunded of him in what estate the Pope was in Sir quoth the Squier he is readie to heare seruice then Huon and his companie leapt on their horses and road to the Popes Pallaice and their alighted and then Huon held the faire Escleremond by the hand and the good Prouost Guyer held his brother Gerames by the hand and so all the other twoo and twoo together then they found the Pope sitting in his throne deuising with his Cardinalles then Huon approched and saluted him humbly When the Pope beheld Huon he knew him incontinent and arose vp and came to him and embraced and kissed his cheeke and said Faire sonne Huon yee be welcome I pray you shew me
how is it with you and shew me of your aduentures Sir quoth Huon I haue endured many euils and troubles ynow and all these that are come with me but thanked be our Lord god it is so now that I haue brought with me the beard and great téeth of the Admirall Gaudise and haue also brought his Daughter who is heere present and Sir I require you to giue her Christēdome and then I will wed her to my wife Huon quoth the Pope all this pleaseth me right well to doe and the rather séeing it is your pleasure I desire you to tarrie héere with me this night Sir quoth Huon your pleasure shal be mine Thus Huon and his companie tarried with the Pope all that night whereas they made great ioy and on the nexts morning a Font was made readie wherein the faire Escleremond was christened without changing of her name and also there was christened Mouslet the Minstrell and he was called Garyn and when the Sacrament of Baptisme was finished the Pope himselfe said seruice first he confessed Huon and assoyled him of all his faultes then hee wedded him to Escleremond and when diuine seruice was ended then they went all with the Pope to his Pallaice and there was made the solempnities of the Mariage but to shew the maner of their seruice with the meates and drinkes and that apparell of the Brides it would be ouer-tedious to rehearse it But one thing I dare well saie that there had not béene séene of a long time before such a glorious and rich seast for the Pope did as much for them as though they had béen his owne Brother and Sister the melodie of the Minstrels that played was so swéet and delectable that euery man was satisfied with the hearing thereof and specially it was maruaile to heare Garyn the new christened Minstrell to play hee played so swéetlye on his vyoll that it was geat ioy to heare it Thus there was great ioy in the Popes Pallaice and euen as they were well serued at dinner so it was better at supper and at night euery man withdrew himselfe and the new Brydes lay together in great pleasure all that night in the morning they arose and heard seruice and then dined and then they trussed vp al their Baggage and charged their Somers Mules and Mullets and sadled their horses and then Huon and Escleremond went and tooke their leaue of the Pope and thanked him for the honour and great courtesie that he had shewed them Sir quoth the Pope if it would please you to tarrie longer heere with me my goodes and my house should be at your commaundment Sir quoth Huon I cannot render sufficient thankes to your Holines for the good that yée haue done to vs But Sir longer I cannot tarrie for the great desire that I haue to accomplish the rest of my businesse therefore Sir I recommend you to our Lord God The Pope kissed Huon and tooke Escleremond by the hand thus they tooke their leaue and at their departing the Pope sent to them a Somer charged with gold and cloathes of silke and thus they departed from Rome Chap. LXIII ¶ How Huon and his companie arriued at the Abby of Mauryse whereas hee was receiued by the Abbot and Couent with great reuerence AFter that Huon had taken leaue of the Pope he and his companie departed and the faire Escleremond was mounted on a faire mule and so long they rode till they might sée the town of Burdeux When Huon saw it he lift vp his hands to the heauens thanking God of his grace that he had brought him thether in sauegard and then he sayd to Escleremond Faire Ladie yonder you may sée the Citie and Countrey whereof ye shall be Lady and Duches though it hath béene ere this time a Realme Sir quoth Guyer the Prouost it is good ye regard wisely your businesse the which toucheth you right néere and Sir if you will doe after my counsell send first to an Abby that is here by called the Abby of Maurise the Abbot is a notable Clarke let him know of your comming and that ye wil dine with him Sir quoth Huon your counsell is to be beleeued and then Huon sent to the Abbot certifying him of his comming When the Abbot knew of Huons comming he was right ioyfull for he loued intierly Huon wherefore he sore desired the sight of him then hée called all his Couent and charged them in the vertue of obedience to make them selues readye to receiue Huon the rightfull Inheritour to the country of Bourdeaux though the kings of Fraunce be our founders But as to our good neighbour wée will doe this reuerence for honour is due to them that deserue it Then the Couent as they were commaunded ordered themselues and so went out of the Abby to méete Huon who when hée saw them hée alighted on foote and also Escleremond and Gerames and all the other thus the Abbot and his Couent in rich cluthes séeming mette with Huon when Huon was néere to the Abbot he was right ioyfull and the Abbot who anon knew Huon came to him right humbly and said Sir Duke of Bourdeux thanked be god that ye are come home for your presence hath long béene desired then they embraced each other with wéeping teares for ioy then the Abbot welcomed the Prouost Guyer and all the other But he knew not Gerames for for if he had he would haue made him great feasting Chap. LXIIII. ¶ How the good Abbot sent word to Duke Gerard of Bourdeaux how his brother Huon was in the Abbey of Maurise THVS the Abbot with his Couent brought Huon to the Abbey of Maurise and Huon and Escleremond on foot followed them when he came into the church Huon offered greate gyftes and after theyr offerings and prayers made they went into the hall and went to dinner how well they were lerned it neede not to be rehearsed they had euerie thing that néeded the Abbot sate by Huon and said Sir I pray you shew me how ye haue done how ye haue ended your messuage that ye were charged to do by King Charlemaine Sir quoth Huon thanked be our Lord God I haue accomplished and done all that I was commaunded to do for I haue brought with me the Beard and the foure great Téeth of the Admirall Gaudise and also I haue brought with me his Daughter the faire Escleremond whome I haue wedded in the citie of Roome and to morrow by the grace of God I will depart to goe to King Charlemaine my soueraigne Lord. Sir quoth the Abbot of that I am right ioyful but if it were your pleasure I would send to certefie your comming to Gerard your Brother that he might see you before yée depart hence Sir quoth Huon I am content that yée send for him Then the Abbot commaunded a Squier of his to goe for Duke Gerard and so he went and rested not till he came to Burdeux before Duke Gerard said
I came to my purpose and strooke off the Admirals head and so tooke his beard and great téeth Brother quoth Gerard and how do you kéepe them and where Brother quoth Huon behould héere Gerames who hath them in his side King Oberon did set them there by the Fayrie and by the will of God Sir quoth hée which is Gerames Brother quoth Huon héere you may sée him before you he with the great hoarie beard Sir quoth Gerard of what Land is hée of He is of the best Fréends that I haue quoth Huon and he is Brother to the good Prouost Guyer you neuer heard speake of a truer nor more noble man I found him in a wood whereas hee had dwelt about Fortie yeares in penance God ayded mee greatly when I found him for if hée had not béene I could not haue returned hether much paine and pouertie hee hath endured for my sake and nowe Brother I pray you shew me how ye haue done since I departed from you it hath béene shewed me that ye are very richly married I pray you where was your wife borne and of what lineage is she of Sir quoth Gerard she is daughter to Gybouars of Cecyle who is a great Lord and Signior Brother quoth Huon I am sorie that yee haue taken such aliance for I know him for the most vile traytour that can bee found and the most vntruest Sir quoth Gerard ye doe ill to say so for I take him for no such person Chap. LXVI ¶ How these two Brethren departed from the Abbey about midnight and how the Traitor Gerard began to fall at rude words with Huon when they approched neere the wood whereas Gibouars lay in ambush THus as these two brethren deuised of Gibouars the Abbot came to them and demanded of Huon if it were his pleasure to goe to supper Sir quoth Huon when it please you I and my brother shall be readie The fayre Escleremond who was wearie of trauaile was in her chamber apart and diuers other of her company with her whereas she supped and lay that night Huon was somewhat troubled because his brother had taken to his wife the daughter of a Traytour thus they washed and sate them downe to supper where they were richly serued and at another table sate the Prouost Guyer and Gerames his brother and diuers other Barons Gerard beheld the Prouost whom hee vtterly hated because hee went to seeke for Huon Hee sware to him selfe that if hee might once goe out of the Abbey that he should bee the first that shoulde loose his life and hee did eate and drinke but little for thinking to accomplish his ill Enterprize When they had supped they aroase from the board and their bedds were made readie Then Huon called the Abbot apart and sayd Sir I haue brought hether with me great riches I will leaue it héere with you to keepe vntill my returne and I pray you for any manner of thing that may fall deliuer it vnto no man liuing but all onely to my selfe and if God giue me the grace to returne your part shall bee therein Sir quoth the Abbot all that you take mée to keepe shall bée safely kept to your behoofe and I shall doe so that you shall bée content then hee went to bed and Gerard with him where Gerard sayd Brother if you thinke it good I shall call you vp betimes for it séemeth that to morrow the day will be hot Brother quoth Huon I am content Thus they lay together in one bed but the Traytour Gerard had no lyst to sleepe for the great desire that he had to be reuenged of his Brother who neuer did him any trespasse but alas why did not Huon know his entent if hée had the matter had not gone so to passe At last the houre came that the Cockes began to crowe then Gerard awooke Huon and said Brother it were good for vs to arise for anone it will be day it is good to ride in the coole but the ill Traytour his thought was otherwise When Huon heard his Brother he rose vp and euery man arose vp and made them redie Sir quoth Gerames how is it that yée be so hastie to depart from hence I pray you let me sléepe a little longer Sir quoth Gerard that is ill said for he that hath businesse to doe that toucheth him néere ought not to sléepe nor rest vntill his businesse be finished By my troth quoth Huon my Brother saith troth for I haue a great desire to speake with King Charlemaine then euery man trussed vp their things and tooke their horses and the faire Escleremond was readie and mounted on a stately mule and so they all tooke their leaues of the Abbot who was right sorowfull that they would depart so early Then the gates were opened and so departed Fourtéene in a companie and Escleremond made the Fiftéene and Gerard rode before to lead them the right way that he would haue them to ride and Escleremond being very sumptuously apparelled rode very soberly and she came to Huon and said Sir I cannot tell what ayleth me but my heart is so sore troubled that all my bodie trembleth Madame quoth Huon be not dismaid nor haue any feare for yée be in a good countrey where by the grace of god yée shall be serued like a Princesse and Ladie of the countrey and with those wordes speaking her Mule stumbled on the one foot before so that shée had néere hand a great fall then Huon approched to her tooke the bridle of the Mule in his hand said Faire Ladie haue yée any hurt No Sir quoth shée but I had almost fallen By my faith quoth Gerames we haue done very ill for that wée departed from the Abbey before day light Sirs quoth Gerard I neuer saw men so fearefull for so small a cause Sir quoth Gerames I know not why yée speake it but if I might councell yée we would not goe one foot farther but returne againe to the Abbey till day light By god quoth Gerard it were great folly to returne againe now for the stumbling of a Mule I neuer saw men so fearefull let vs ride foorth and make good chéere I sée the day beginneth to appeare So they road foorth vntill they came to a crosse whereas there was foure wayes this was about a League from the Abbey Then Huon rested and sayd Loe héere is the border of the Territorie of the Abbey of Saint Maurise and this one way is to Bourdeaux the which way I will not ride for so I haue promised to King Charlemaine to whome I neuer yet falsed my faith if I did it should bee the cause that I might loose my Signiorie and this other way goeth to Rome this other way before vs is the right way into Frāce the which way I will ride and none other So they road foorth and all their companie and within a while they were néere to the wood within a bow shoot whereas the Traytour
and Gerames wounded on the Side as he was Now wee will leaue to speake of this pitious company enduring great sorow in the horrible prison in the greate Tower of Bourdeaux Chap. LXVIII ¶ How the Traytours returned to the Abbey of St. Maurise and slewe the good Abbot and tooke away all the Treasure that Huon had left there THus as ye haue heard here before how Gerard and Gybouars had put in prison Huon and Escleremond and Gerames in great miserie and when it was day Gerard and Gybouars departed out of Bourdeaux and all their company and road againe vnto the Abbey and so came thether to dinner then Gerard sent for the Abbot to come and speake with him When the Abbot heard how Gerard was come againe to the Abbey he had great maruaile and so came to Gerard and sayd Sir you be welcome I pray you what aduenture hath brought you hether againe so shortly I had thought that you had been gone with your Brother Huon Sir quoth the Traitour after that my Brother Huon was departed hence hée remembred his riches that he left with you to kéepe and bycause he shall haue great neede thereof to giue gifts vnto the great Princes and Lordes that be about King Charlemaine to the entent that his businesse may take the better effect Therefore my Brother hath sent mée vnto you desiring you to send his goods vnto him by mée Sir quoth the Abbot when your Brother Huon departed hence true it was that hée left with mée his riches to kéepe and charged mée not to deliuer it to any person liuing but all onely to his owne person Therefore Sir by the faith that I owe vnto my Patron Saint Maurise I will not deliuer vnto you one penny When the Traytour Gerard vnderstoode that answeare he sayd Dane Abbot thou lyest for whether thou wilt or not I will haue it and no thankes to thée and yet thou shalt also repent thy woords Then Gerard sudainly tooke the Abbot by the haire of the head and Gybouars tooke him by the one arme and did so strike him with a staffe that hee all to bruzed him and then did cast him to the earth so rudely that his heart burst in his bodie and so dyed When the Monkes saw their Abbot slaine they had great feare so fled away and the two Traytours with their Swords in their hands went after them with sore threatnings when the Monks sawe howe they could not escape for the two Traytours and their men they fell downe on their knées humbly praying them to haue pitie of them and they would shew them all the gold treasure that was in the house to do therewith at their pleasure Then the Traytour Gybouars said how the Monks had spoken well when the Monkes saw how they had peace they shewed to the two Traitors the place where the treasure was and deliuered to them the keyes so they tooke away all the treasure that Huon had left there and besides that all the treasure of the church crosses sensers chalesses copes and candlestickes of siluer all they tooke and caryed away if I should recite all the riches that they had there it should be too long to be rehearsed In that house there was a Monke who was cousin to Gibouars whome the twoo Traytors made Abbot of that place so when they had atchieued their enterprise they departed with all that riches wherewith was charged xv strong Sommers they left not in the Abbey the value of a Florent for euerie thing that was good they tooke with them and so road vntill they came vnto Bourdeaux Nowe as they passed through the Towne they were greatly regarded of all the Burgesses of the Citie who had great maruaile from whence their Lord came with so great riches These Traytours passed foorth vntill they came to the Pallaice and there they discharged their Somers then Gerard tooke the Treasure that fiue of the Somers did carie and laid it in his Chambers and Coffers then hée ordained that Ten Somers should be trussed foorth to goe to Paris and sent them forward sayd how hée would follow soone after Then he and Gibouars dyned and after meat they mounted vppon their Horses and the new Abbot Coozen to Gibouars with them and two Squiers and about siâ—e other Seruants and so road in hast to ouer-take their Somers with their treasure and so within two Leagues they ouer-tooke them so then they all together road so long vntill on a Wednesday they came to Paris they lodged in the Stréete next vnto the Pallaice in a good Hostrie and were well serued and so rested vntill the next morning then they arose and apparelled them in fresh array and they led with them fiue of their Somers with riches and two of them they presented to the Quéene the other thrée to the King wherefore they were receiued with great ioy then after they gaue great guifts to euerie Lord in the Court and specially to the Officers wherefore they were greatly praised But whosoeuer tooke any guift Duke Naymes would take neuer a penie for he thought that all that riches was not well gotten and that they did it for some craft thereby to attaine to some false damnable enterprise this Duke was a noble wise and a true knight and of good councell and he very well perceiued their malice Then the King commaunded the thrée Coffers to be brought and set in his chamber and would not looke into them vntill he had spoken with Gerard whome he caused to sit downe by him and Gibouars in like manner and also the new Abbot for it is an old saying and a true that they that giue are alwaies welcome Gerard quoth king Charlemaine yée be welcome I pray you shew me the cause of your comming Sir quoth Gerard I shall shew you the great businesse that I haue to doe with your Maiestie and your Lords hath caused me to giue these large guifts that I haue giuen to you and others and Sir I am sorowfull at my heart for that which I must shew you and I had rather be beyond the Sea then to shew you that thing which I must néedes doe for to hide it that cannnot auaile me yet I neuer shewed any thing in all my life with so ill a will for I shall be blamed of many persons howbeit I loue better to defend mine honour then I loue all the world beside Gerard quoth the King yée say troth for better it is to shew the troth then to be silent in so great a matter which so much toucheth your honour Chap. LXIX ¶ How the Traitour Gerard shewed to King Charlemaine how Huon his brother was retourned to Bourdeaux without doing of his Messuage to the Admirall Gaudise SIr quoth Gerard true it is that you haue made me Knight and beside that I am your liege man wherfore I am bound to kéepe your honour to my power for I am certaine I shall shew
you such newes that all that bee in your Court will be sorrowfull much more my self Gerard quoth Charles come to the point vse no more such language nor such ceremonies by that I sée in you it is but euill that you will say Sir quoth hee but late as I was in my house at Bourdeaux and with me diuers Lords and Knights as we were deuising together I saw my Brother Huon enter into my house and thrée with him the one was a yong damosell and the other an old man called Gerames When Duke Naymes of Bauyer heard Gerard he had great maruaile when he sayd that Gerames was one of them and sayd Ah deere God I heare that which with great paine I can beleeue for if it be the same Gerames that I thinke it be he and I were companions together at a tourney holden at Chalons in Champanie where he slew by misaduenture the Earle Salamon Sir quoth Gerard I shall shew you as I haue begunne true it is when I saw my brother Huon I was greatly abashed howbeit I did him honour and made him good cheere and made him and all his companie to dine then after dinner I reasoned with my brother and demaunded of him if he had beene at the holy Sepulcher of our Lord God But when hee saw that I demaunded that of him he was sore abashed so that hee wist not what to answere and then I perceiued by his words that hee had not beene there And then Sir after I demaunded of him if hee had furnished your message to the Admirall Gaudys but hee could giue me no answere nor say any words that I could beléeue and when I saw that I could find no truth in any of his words I tooke him and set him in prison howbeit it was full sore against my will but I considered in my selfe that I must owe vnto your grace faith fidelitie and that I am your man and that for no man liuing though he were neuer so néere of my kinne yet I would not be found with any treason and therefore Sir my Brother his wife and his Companion I haue retained them in my prison wherefore Sir it is in you to doe herein what it shall please you best When all the Princes and Lords that were there vnderstood the words of Gerard and that he had taken his Brother Huon and had put him in prison there were none but that were sorry thereof and many for the loue that they bare to Huon began to wéepe and demaunded of Gerard who had done that déed saying surely it is done by some manner of treason Chap. LXX ¶ How the King commaunded that Huon should be sent for from Bourdeaux to the intent that he should die WHen the Emperour Charlemaine vnderstood Gerard he arose vp on his féet sore troubled and full of yre for by Gerardes wordes the ancient hate and displeasure that the King had to Huon for the death of Charlot his sonne was renewed in his heart and said openly that euery man might heare him Lordes that be héere present before you all I summon them that were Pledges for Huon in such wise that if the Traitour Huon be not rendred into my hands to doe with him my pleasure I shall cause thē to be hanged drawne and there is no man in my court that may be so hardy as to speake or desire the contrarie but I shall cause him to die a shamefull death And when he had thus said he sate him downe againe and called Duke Naymes to him and said Sir Duke ye haue heard what Gerard hath sayd of his brother Huon Sir quoth the Duke I haue well heard him but I beléeue the matter to be otherwise then hee hath sayd for there is no man will say the contrarie but that all that Gerard hath sayd is done by false treason and you shall finde it so if the matter be wisely enquired of Sir quoth Gerard you may say as it pleaseth you but I take God to witnesse and my father in Law Gibouars and this good notable religious Abbot and his Chaplaine that all that I haue sayd is true for I would not for any thing say that which is not iust and true Then Gibouars and the Abbot his Chaplaine answered and said how it was true that Gerard had sayd By my faith quoth the Duke Naymes all you foure are false lyars and theeues and the King is ill counselled if he beléeue you Naymes quoth the King I pray you how seemeth it vnto you this matter betwéen the two brethren Sir quoth the Duke it is a great matter he that is here before you is the accuser of his brother and hath set him in prison now he is come and accuseth him here before you because hee knoweth well he cannot come hither to defend himselfe I should do a great euil déed if I had a brother that were banished out of France and if hee came to mee for refuge and I then to take him and set him fast in prison in mine owne house and then after to goe and complaine vpon him to the intent to purchase his death I say there was neuer Noble man would thinke so to doe and they that haue done thus are all false Traytours all Noble men ought not to beléeue any such and specially he that will purchase such a deede against his owne brother I know well al that they haue imagined and done is by false treason therfore I say according to the right that all foure are false Traytours and I iudge for my part that they are worthie to receiue a villanous death for they are foure false witnesses When Gerard heard Duke Naymes he changed colour and waxed as white as snow repenting in himselfe the déede that he had done to his brother hee cursed to himselfe Gybouars in that hee beleeued his counsell yet hee answered Duke Naymes and sayd Ah Sir ye doe me great ill to owe me your ill will Gerard quoth the Duke it is for the ilnesse that is in you ye that would be one of the Peeres of France certainly of such a Councellor as you bée the King hath litle néede I had rather haue lost one of my hands then I should once haue consented thereto Duke Naymes quoth the King I will you cause to come before me all such as were pledges for Huon at his departing Then the Duke caused them to appeare before the Kings presence of whom there were diuers Dukes and Earles Then King Charlemaine sayd Sirs ye know well yee bee pledges for Huon of Bourdeaux and you know the paine that I laide on your heades if Huon did not accomplish my message that I gaue him in charge the which hee hath not fulfilled wherefore without you deliuer Huon into my handes yee shall not escape but that ye shall die all Sir quoth Duke Naymes for Gods sake I require you beleeue me at this time I counsell you to take a good number of your notable
men send them to Bourdeaux and let them take Huon out of prison and bring him to you and heare what hee himselfe will say and if it be true that Gerard hath sayd then I desire you to haue no pittie on him but I beléeue surely yee shall finde the matter otherwise then Gerard his brother hath sayd Naymes quoth the king your saying is reasonable I accord thereto I will he be sent for Chap. LXXI ¶ How the Emperor Charlemain went himselfe to Bourdeaux to cause Huon to bee slaine for the great ill will that he bare to him YE haue heard before how the good Duke Naymes did so much that King Charlemain was content to send for Huon but the king was sore displeased with him that hée would not abide so long as to send for him but he made himself readie to go thether in person with all his traine and commanded that the pledges should be set in prison till his returne but the good Duke Naymes became pledge for them all to bée forth comming and so they went not to prison The King made him readie and tooke with him twelue of his Péeres and so tooke their way towards Bourdeaux God aide Huon for hee was now in perill of his life if God had not pitie on him Thus as I haue shewed you King Charlemaine nobly accompanied rode so long by his iourneyes that hee came within the sight of Bourdeaux and when he approched neere to the Citie Gerard came to the king and said Sir if it please you I would gladly ride before you into the Citie to ordain to receiue you accordingly Gerard quoth the King it is no néede that you goe before to prepare for my comming there be other that shall goe before you shall not goe till I goe my selfe When Duke Naymes heard the kings answere hee said to the king Sir you haue answered like a noble Prince blessed be he that counselled you so to say thus the king rode forth without giuing any knowledge of his comming and so entered into the Citie of Bourdeaux and rode to the Pallaice and there alighted Then dinner was made readie the King sate down and Duke Naymes by him and at other bordes other Lords and knights and there they were richly serued great brute was made in the Pallaice so that Huon being in prison had great maruel of the noyse that he heard and demaunded of the Gailer what noyse it was that hee heard aboue in the Pallaice the Gayler answered with great pride and despight and sayd It néedes not you to demaund for you are like to know it too soone but since you would know it I shall shew you the truth it is king Charlemaine and all his Barons who are come hether to iudge you to be hanged Goe thy way false traitour quoth Huon canst thou not shew to me none other tydings but that thus Huon answered the Gayler and there was as great brute in the Citie as in the Pallaice with lodging of the kings men The Commons and Burgesses of the Citie of Bourdeaux had full great maruaile why the king came thether at that time so sodainely and the king sitting at the table made good â—heere but Duke Naymes who sate by him began to wéepe and could neither eate nor drinke he rose vp then sodainely so â—udely that hee ouerthrew cuppes and dishes vpon the table Naymes quoth the King you haue done ill thus to doe Sir quoth Duke Naymes I haue good cause thus to doe and I haue wondrous great maruaile that I sée you so doted I am in such sorrow thereby that I am néere hand out of my wits how is it that you be come into the Citie of Bourdeaux for to eate and to drinke and to take your ease you néede not to haue gone out of France for that for you had meate and also good wines sufficient at home in your owne house Ah right Noble and worthie Emperour what meane you to do it is no small matter to iudge to death one of your twelue Peeres it is not possible to giue any true iudgement when you and we are full of wine and spices But Sir sayd the Duke by the Lord that mee fourmed that whosoeuer this day doth eate or drinke wine as long as the life is in my bodie I shall neuer loue him Naymes quoth the King I am content with your will Then the King commanded that the table should be auoyded commanded incontinent Huon to be taken out of prison and brought before him they that had commission to doe it went to the prison and there they tooke out Huon and his wife Escleremond and old Gerames and they were all three brought before the King and his Barons Huon sawe where King Charlemaine sate among all his Lordes and they all arose when they saw Huon and his companie so pale and ill coloured by reason of the noysome prison that his brother had put them in and Escleremond and old Gerames were greatly regarded and when the Pledges sawe Huon before the King they said Sir now yée may sée Huon for whom we be pledges wee trust now to be quit and discharged it lyeth now in you to doe with him at your pleasure Sirs quoth the King I hold you quit you may go from hence forth where you please for Huon cannot now scape our handes then Huon kneeled downe before the King right humblie and when Duke Naymes saw him the drops fell from his eyes and sayd to the king Sir I require you giue Huon audience and heare what hee will say I am content quoth the King let him say what hee will then Huon kneeling on his knées sayd Sir in the honour of our Lord Iesus Christ I first crie mercie to God and to you and to all your Barons I complaine me of that false traitour that I sée there who was my brother if there had béene any faith or troth in him but I beleeue in all the world cannot be found so cruell and false a Traytour for Cayne that slew Abell his brother was neuer so false nor so cruell When all the Lords heard Huon they al beganne to weepe saying each to others Ah good Lord where is the beautie become that was woont to be in Huon we haue séene him so faire that no one could passe him in beautie and now wee sée him pale and leane and ill coloured it appeareth well he hath not béene alwayes in the Ladies Chambers nor among damsels to sport and to play with him Thus they deuised of him and tooke no heede of Gerard who was by them Then Huon spake againe and sayd to the King Sir true it is the message that you gaue me in charge to doe vnto the Admirall Gaudys I haue doone to the verie vttermost as you haue commaunded vnto mee and I haue passed the Sea and came vnto Babilone to the Admirall Gaudys there I required of him in the presence of all his Lords to haue his beard
foure great téeth But when he had heard my demaund he held it for a great folly and so incontinent he cast me into prison whereas I had died by famine if the Admirals Daughter had not béene whome yée may sée yonder sitting by the piller and also by the aid of good King Oberon whome I ought greatly to loue he is a king of the Fairie right puissant and is in the Citie of Momur and he knowing of the perill that I was in had pitie on me and came and succoured me in such wise with so great a puissance that in Babilon he slew al such as would not beléeue in our Lord Iesus Christ Then he tooke me out of prison and then we entred into the Pallaice and there wee slew all such as wee found there Then I went to the Admirall Gaudys and strake off his head and then I cut off his beard and opened his mouth and drew out foure of his great téeth and when I had them then I desired king Oberon to aid me and to finde the meanes that I might safely bring the Beard and Téeth to your presence and to shew me where I might best kéepe them Then the good king Oberon by the grace of our Lord God and by the puissaunce that God had giuen vnto him he closed them within the side of Gerames so that they could not be perceiued and Sir know for troth ye neuer heard of such a man Now when I saw that I had fournished your messuage I retourned tooke with me the faire Ladie Escleremond Daughter to the foresaid Admirall Gaudys and the Twelue gentlemen that went with me out of Fraunce who alwaies haue béen with me And Sir if I should shew you the great paines and pauerties that I and they haue suffered it would be too long to rehearse but I may well say if the grace of God had not been I had neuer come hether againe if I had had x. liues I could neuer haue escaped the death Next after all these paines and trauailes that I and they that were with mee suffered by the grace of God we came and arriued at Rome whereas the Pope receiued me with great ioy there wedded me to Escleremond the Admiralles daughter whom you may sée yonder all desolate and full of displeasures and not without cause When the Barons that were there heard the pittious complaints of Huon euerie man of pitie beheld the Lady who pale and ill coloured sate sore wéeping so that such as regarded her were constrained to take part of her sorrow there was no man but they began sore to wéepe and Huon who was before the King was sorrowfull to sée his wife make so great dolour Then hee sayd vnto the King Sir if you will not beleeue my saying send to Rome to the Pope to know the truth if you proue my words contrarie I submit my selfe to receiue such death as you and your Barons can deuise if the Pope doe not beare witnesse of that I haue sayd God forbid that I should shew you any thing otherwise then truth I haue sayd nothing but hee shall shew tokens that my saying is true and I can say more if I would shew all but it is not néedefull that I should make a long sermon But Sir thus as I haue shewed you I did returne from the place that you sent me to and Sir know for truth I came not so vnprouided but that I brought with me great plentie of gould and siluer and my companie came all with mee and I purposed not to rest in any place till I had spoken with your grace for the great desire that I had to see you and so along I rode till I came to an Abbey heere hard by a foure leagues hence called Saint Mauris because the Abbey was of your foundation and not pertayning to the land of Bourdeaux for I would not haue entred into this towne because of the commandement that you gaue me Thus I came and lodged me in the Abbey and the Abbot receiued me with great ioy and hee sent word of my being there to my brother Gerard and the traytour came to mee like a false traytour and brought with him but one Squire whereby now I may perceiue that in him was nothing but falsenesse and treason Huon quoth Duke Naymes your reason is good for if he had beene true as he ought to haue been he ought to assemble the Barons and Lords of the Country and so to haue come with them and haue receiued you with reuerence and honour Sir quoth Huon it is true but the Traytour did otherwise for when hee was come to mee by great subtiltie hee demaunded how I had sped in my iourney and whether I had spoken with the Admirall Gaudys or not and declared to him your message and if I had brought with mee his beard and foure great teeth and I shewed him I had accomplished your whole commandement then the vnhappy Traitour demaunded where I kept them and I shewed him for I had no mistrust in him Then he so exorted mee that at the houre of midnight hee made me to arise hastily and mkde me and al my company ready and so leapt on our horses and rode forth our way and when 〈◊〉 came to a crosse way and saw that I tooke the way into France he beganne to speake rigorously to haue occasion of some strife betwéene vs and neere thereunto was a little wood whereas there lay in ambushment Gibouars and his companie fortie men of armes well armed and they came and ranne at mee and my companie that were vnarmed whereby they found in vs but small resistance and so finallie the twelue Gentlemen that were with mee were all slaine and all to hewen and then they tooke their dead bodyes and did cast them into the Ryuer of Gerone then they strake me to the earth and bound fast mine féete and handes and blindfolded mine eyes and in like sort they did to my wife and then they came to Gerames and the Traitour my Brother came to him and with a sharpe knife opened his side and there 〈◊〉 tooke the beard and foure great treeth of the Admirall Gauâ—â—s the which were set there by king Oberon the 〈◊〉 Traytour knew the place whereas they lay by reaâ—â—â— that I had shewed him therof before would to God that the same time that hee came to Gerames to doe that cruell 〈◊〉 that Gerames had beene armed I am sure then the 〈◊〉 durst not haue regarded him to haue done him 〈…〉 but Sir when he had taken out the beard and téeth then he bound Gerames handes and féete hurt as he was as Sir ye may know the truth by him Then Gerames stept forth and lift vp his cloake and shewed the king the wound in his side the which euerie man might sée that was there Sir quoth Huon to the king when he had done all this hee set vs on three leane horses and so brought vs into this
towne bound hands and féete and then set vs in a déepe prison and so hath kept vs hetherto with bread and water and so hath taken from vs all the riches that wee brought with vs and Sir if hee be so hardie to say the contrarie that it is not true that I haue sayd let him and Gybouars like traytours as they be arme themselues and I shall fight against them both and if I can conquere them both whereof I haue no doubt with the aide of our Lord God then let them haue as they haue deserued and if I cannot ouercome them nor make them to shew the truth I will that then incontinent you cause me to be drawne and hanged By my faith quoth Duke Naymes Sir Huon can say nor offer no more for hee offereth to proue the contrarie of that Gerard hath saide Sir quoth Gerard my brother sayth at his pleasure because hee knoweth well that I will not striue against him because he is mine elder brother let the king doe as it shall please him as for me I neuer consented to doe so cruell a deede as hee layeth to my charge Ah good Lord quoth Duke Naymes how the false Traitour can cloke and couer his ilnesse Huon quoth Charlemain I cannot tel what you haue done but I will you shew mee the beard and â—oure great teeth of the Admirall Gaudis Sir quoth Huon I crie you mercie I haue shewed you how they be taken from me by the false traytour my Brother Gerard. Huon quoth the Kinge yée know well at your departure out of Fraunce I charged you vppon paine of your life that iâ— by aduenture you returned againe into France that you should not bée so hardy as to enter into this Citie of Bourdeaux vntill you had spoken with mee first and to keepe mee promise you deliuered to mee Hostages the which I haue quit séeing I haue you in my handes it lyeth now in mée either to hange you or to draw you or to giue vnto you any other iudgment for at your departure you were agréed that I should so doe and by the faith that I owe vnto Saint Denis before it bee night I shall cause thée to bee hanged and drawne and that shall I not let so to doe for any man liuing for nowe I take you in your owne house Sir quoth Huon God forbid that a Kinge of Fraunce should doe so great a crueltie My Lord I crie you mercie for Gods sake doe not to mee so great an out-rage for you may knowe right well that perforce I was brought hether and therefore great King I require you let mee haue rightfull and true iudgement By my faith Huon quoth Duke Naymes it is but a small request that you make for your right is so cleare that if reason may be shewed to you there is no man can say the contrarie but that your Lands ought to bee rendred vnto you franke and frée and your Brother Gerard to bee hanged and strangled Then the Duke said to the King My Lord I require you haue pitie of Huon and doe nothing to him but right and you shall doe great sinne without you doe him right Naymes quoth the King you know well it is in mée to cause Huon to die but séeing that he is one of my Péeres I will order him by iudgement When the Lordes and other Knightes heard the King say so they were right ioyfull for then they beleeued that the King would haue pitie of Huon but whosoeuer was ioyfull yet Duke Naymes was not content and sayde to the King My Lord by that I sée and heare you beare Huon but small â—oâ—e seeing that you will put him to iudgement considering his deedes and sayings to be true and namely whereas hee â—ffereth to prooue it by the holy Father the Pope then Huon with-drew backe and leaned him to a piller there by Then the Kinge called vnto him all his Peeres and Lordes and 〈◊〉 Sirs I require you by the faith and truth and homage that you beare vnto mée that for me nor for mine amitie that you ayd not Huon against mée nor lay nor doe no falsehood but the most rightfull iudgement that you can make doe I charge you giue true iudgement without any fauour or partialitie When the Lords heard the King say so vnto them and that he coniured them so sore to doe right and iustice well they perceiued that the King had great hate vnto Huon and that the death of his Sonne Charlot was not forgotten out of his mind Then they all together drew apart into a Chamber right pensiue and mourning and they sat downe on benches and beheld each other without speaking of any word a long space When Duke Naymes saw that hée arose vppon his féet and sayd Sirs yée haue heard how the King hath charged vs to say the troth wée may perceiue well by him that hee beareth great hate vnto Huon who is one of our Companions and therefore Sirs I require you that euerie man by himselfe will say his aduise as hée thinketh Chap. LXXII ¶ How the Twelue Peeres drew to counsaile to giue sentence vppon Huon either with him or against him THen there rose vp a knight called Gaulter hée was yssued of the lineage of Ganelon who was one of the Péeres of Fraunce then hée sayd Sirs as for mée I say séeing the case as it is that Huon by right iudgement ought to bee hanged and drawne for as yée know well the King hath founde him in the Citie of Bourdeaux therefore I say that the King may without doing any sinne put him to death and Sirs if yee thinke that I haue sayde good reason agrée yée then to the same and let Gerard his Brother be Lord and Maister of all the Landes and Signiories that should appertaine vnto Huon I consent and will as much as toucheth my part that Gerard be one of the Péeres of Fraunce in the place of Huon his Brother and when Gaulter had ended his reason Henry of Saint Omers spake and sayd Sir Gaulter goe and sit downe your wordes can beare none effect for they bée of no valure But Sirs quoth hée shortly to speake and righteously to iudge I say that it is reason that Huon be restored to all his Landes for his déede is well prooued and by good witnesse as our holy Father the Pope for wee may beléeue surely that Gerard his Brother that thus hath betrayed him hath done it by false couetousnesse therefore I say and iudge that Gerard bee drawne at horse tayles and then hanged vntill hée be dead Then hée sayd no more but sat downe againe When Henry of Saint Omers had sayd his reason that Earle of Flaunders arose vp and said to Henry All that you haue sayd I will not consent thereto but I shall shewe you mine aduise what ought to bée done Sirs yée all knowe well the world the which as nowe is little woorth for nowe adayes cannot be found such true Fréends as
you liue you shall meddle no more with that matter but by the beard that I beare on my chinne I shal neuer dine nor eate meat after this dinner til I sée him hanged and drawne for all your bearing of him against me Then he commanded the tables to be set vp and when Gerard vnderstood the king he was ioyfull thereof in his hart but he made no semblance of ioy because of the Lords that were there present When Huon and Escleremond had heard how the King had sworne the death of Huon the dolorous weepings and teares that they made were so extreame that hard it were to declare it and Escleremond sayd to Huon Ah Sir now I see well that great pitie it shall be the departing of vs two but if I had a knife I would not abide your death but first I shoulde slay my selfe before this false and vntrue king Her complaints were so pitifull that most part of the Lords wept for pitie and the old Gerames sorely wept and sayd Ah good Lord God in what howre was I borne in great dolour and paine haue I continued my youth and now in mine age thus shamefully to die Thus all three made such sorrow that it would haue made a hard heart to lament All three thought no otherwise but to die because they had heard King Charlemaine make such promise but that which God will saue no man can let and god saue the good king Oberon for king Charlemaine shal be forsworne as ye shal heare hereafter Now let vs leaue speaking of this pitious companie and speake of the noble king Oberon of the Fayrie who as then was in his wood Chap. LXXIIII ¶ How king Oberon came to succour Huon and made Gerard to confesse all the treason that he had purchased against Huon his brother YE haue heard before how King Oberon was displeased with Huon bicause he had broken his commandement But when Huon had béen at Rome and confessed all his sinnes and was assoiled of the Pope then King Oberon was content and in his heart forgaue all the ill will that he had to Huon and as he sat at dyner he began to wéepe When his Seruants saw that they had great maruaile and sayd vnto him Sir we desire you to shew vs why you doe weepe and be so troubled there is some displeasure done vnto you therefore for the loue of our Lord Iesus Christ wee desire you hide it not from vs. Sirs quoth the Kinge I remember nowe the vnhappie Huon of Bourdeaux who is returned from the farre parts and he hath passed by Rome and there hath taken his Wife in mariage and is confessed of all his sinnes for the which sinnes he hath béen by me sore punished But it is time if euer I will doe him any good now to ayd him and to succour him against King Charlemaine for he hath sworne neuer to goe to bed vntill he haue hanged drawne the poore Huon but by the grace of our Lord God Charlemaine shall bée forsworne for at this time I shall succour and ayd him for he is as now in such a danger that without he be succoured incontinent death is néere him he was neuer in his life in such perill He is now in the Pallaice at Bourdeaux his Wife the fayre Escrelemond and the old Gerames with fetters on their feete being in great sorrow and king Charlemaine is set at dinner and hath made his oath to hang Huon but yet whether hee will or not he shall be periured for I will goe to my Fréend Huon and helpe him at his neede therefore I wish my Table and all that is thereon neere to King Charlemaines Table and somewhat aboue his about two foot hyer also I will bicause I haue heard say that often times of a little Castle commeth a greater therefore I will that on my table be set my Cup my Horne and my Armour the which Huon conquered of the Gyant Angolaffer and also I wish with me a C.M. men of armes such as I was woont to haue in battaile He had no sooner said the words but by the will of god and the puissance of the Fayrie his table and all that king Oberon had wished was set iust by king Charlemaines table more higher and greater then his was When king Charlemaine saw the table and the Cuppe Horne and coate of maile he had great maruaile and said to Duke Naymes Sir Duke I beléeue you haue enchaunted mée Sir quoth the Duke neuer in my life I meâ—leâ— with any such matter the Lords such as were there were greatly abashed howe that matter came to passe Gerames who sat néere to Huon when he saw the Table the Cup and horne of Iuorie the Armour thereon he knew them well and said to Huon Sir be not dismayed for on yonder Table that you may sée is your Cup horne of Iuorie and coat of maile whereby I perceiue that you shall bée succoured by King Oberon Huon beheld the Table had great ioy when he saw it then he lifted vp his hands to heauen and thanked our Lord God that hée would visit such a poore sinner as hee was saying Ah Kinge Oberon in many great needs haue you succoured me Therewith arriued King Oberon in the Citie whereof the Burgesses the Commons were greatly abashed when they saw such a number of men of war enter into their citie without any knowledge before When king Oberon was within the Towne all his company he said to his Lords Sirs looke that you set good watch at euery gate so that no man go out the which they did diligently for at euerie gate they set x. M. men Then King Oberon tooke the way to the Pallaice and at the gate he left x. M. men commanding them vpon payn of their liues that they should not suffer any man to passe out and also he commanded that if they heard him blow his Horne of Iuorie that incontinent they should come into the Pallaice to him slay all such as they should find there Then king Oberon went vp into the Pallaice and many of his Lords with him he was richly apprrelled in cloath of gold and the border thereof was sette with rich precious stones goodly it was to behold for a fayrer little person could not be found hee passed iust by King Charlemaine without speaking of any word and went so néere to him that he shouldred him so rudely that his bonnet fell from his head Ah good Lord quoth Charlemaine I haue great maruaile what this dwarfe may be that so rudly hath shouldred me and almost ouerthrowne my table he is fierce when hee thinkes scorne to speake to me howbeit I will see what hee will doe I cannot tell what hee thinketh to doe but me seemeth hee is right ioyfull and also he is the fayrest creature that euer I saw When Oberon had passed by the King he came to Huon and wished the fetters from all their féete and
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
sworne your death therefore if you enter into the Tourney you can neuer escape the death and I haue heard Duke Raoul sweare that when he hath slaine you hée will keepe all your Landes When Duke Huon had heard the Varlet hee sware by God and made a solemne promise that Duke Raoul should dearely buy his false treason Then the Duchesse Escleremond knéeled downe before Huon and sayd Deare Lord I desire you to forbeare your going thether at this time for I haue heard often repeated that this Duke Raoull is puissant and hath great Lands besides is Nephew to the Emperour of Almaine and also I haue heard say that a faller Traytour there is none lyuing in this world Madame quoth Huon I haue well heard you but by the Lord that fourmed me to his Image though I should loose halfe my landes yet will I goe to sée the Traytor what thinketh he to abash me with his threatenings If I may méete him at the Tournay or in any other place where soeuer it be though he had with him ten Thowsand men of armes and that I had alonely but my swoord in my hand I shall slay him whatsoeuer should fall thereof and let our Lord God do with me as it shall please him I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart till I haue slaine him When the Duchesse heard Huon how he would doe none otherwise and that shée could not let him of his enterprize she was sorrowfull and said Sir séeing it is your pleasure reason it is that I must be content but yet Sir I desire you to take with you x. M. men well armed to thintent that ye be not found vnprouided so that if ye be assayled yet yée may be of sufficient puissance to resist your enemies and that it will please you to suffer me to goe with you and I will he armed with my shéeld and swoord by my side and if I may méete Duke Raoull I shall giue him such a buffet that I shall strike him from his horse for I am so displeased with him that there is no ioynt in me but in trembleth for anger and I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart till I be reuenged of him When Huon heard the Duchesse his wife he was well comforted and began to laugh and said Faire Ladie I giue you great thankes for your wordes but yee are too farre gone with child to ride armed it is a vij moneths past since yée were first with child then Huon made to be proclaimed in all his lands that euery man should be readie to goe with him to the Tourney at Mayence The Dukes entent was anon knowen throughout all the countrie so that it being spread abroad the brute therof came to the hearing of the Duke Raoull and when he heard that Huon would come to the Tournay hee was not a little ioyfull thereof then hee sware he would go and sée Escleremond in the guise of a Pylgrime and then hee putte on a beggers garment and tooke a staffe and a wallet hée shewed his intent to them of his priuie Councell they would haue stopped his going but they could not Thus he apparelled himselfe like a beggar and with an hearbe rubbed on his face and handes that such as had not séene him otherwise apparelled could not haue knowne him hée was so foule and blacke then he desired his men to kéepe secret his enterprise Then hee departed from Vyenna and neuer rested till hee came to the Citie of Bourdeaux and so went vnto the Pallayce where hée founde Huon amongst his Barons making great chéere and feast for vnto him were come diuers Lords and Knights deuising of the Tourney that should be holden at Mayence Thus Raoull came before Huon and desired him for the honor of our Lord God to giue him some meat and almes Friend quoth Huon thou shalt haue inough but I pray thée tell me from whence thou commest and whether thou wilt go and of what countrie thou art Sir quoth Raoull I was borne in the countrey of Berry but it is xx yeres past since I was there when I departed thence I was but yong for if I saw my father or mother now before me I should not know them Sir I came froÌ„ beyond the Sea wheras I haue been prisoner among the Sarazins the space of 14. yéeres in a strong Castle where I haue suffered much disease of hunger and cold and at the last I escaped by reason of a yong man to whome I promised that if hée could bring mee to Acre in sauegard that I would then giue him twentie Duckets of gold the yong man was couetous to haue the money and founde the meanes that hee brought mee to Acre whereas I founde a kinsman of mine who payed the yonge man the money the which I had promised vnto him and also hee gaue me fifteene Ducates the which I haue spent with comming hether Fréend quoth Huon I pray vnto God to ayd thée for if thou wert not so ill apparelled thou shouldest séeme a man of a high lineage for it séemeth to me if thou wert well armed weaponed and were in some businesse thou wert like ynough to be feared Chap. LXXX ¶ Howe after that Duke Raoul had beene at Bourdeaux in the guise of a Pilgrime to see the faire Ladie Escleremond he returned againe to Vyenna AFter that Huon hadde long deuised with Raoul hée washed sat downe to diner and the Duchesse his wife by him then Huon commaunded that at the end of the Table right before his Table Raoul the Pilgrime should bee set and there hee was well serued but Raoul had litle care either of meat or drinke for his thought was of another matter whereupon he sore studied for before him he saw the noble Duchesse Escleremond of whom he was so amourous that he could not withdraw his eies from her for the more he beheld her the more hee was embraced with her loue he thought he neuer sawe before so faire a Ladie in all his life so that for the great beautie that was in her hée changed often times his colour but it could not bee perceiued bicause he was so blacke and foule with rubbing of certaine hearbes and he sayd within himselfe that whosoeuer had such a Ladie to his Wife might well make auant to be the happiest man of the world euen hee that might but haue his pastime with so faire a Ladie swâ—â—re by the Lorde that fourmed him though he should bée damned in hell for euer he would slay Huon and haue his Wife in mariage and all Huons Lands to be his for euer Alas that it had not pleased our Lord God that at this houre Huon might haue knowne the treason of Raoull hee shoulde then haue bought it full dearely When the Traytour had eaten and made good théere Huon gaue him a Gowne shirt hose and shooes and monney for his dispence Raoul tooke it he durst not refuse it but thanked Huon and so tooke his
leaue and departed hee durst no longer tarie for feare of knowledge and assoone as hée could he departed out of the Towne of his iourneys I will make no long rehearsall but he laboured so long that he arriued at Vyenna then he went to his Pallaice whereas he was well receiued of his Lords and they laughed when they saw him in that apparell Then within a while after hee made him readie and his men who were a great number and so departed from Vyenna and tooke the way to Mayence When his Vncle the Emperour of Almayne was aduertised of his comming he went and met him without the Towne to doe him the more honour and when he saw him he was ioyfull and kissed him and said Faire Nephew I am glad of your comming I haue long desired to sée you The good Emperour knew nothing of the treason that his Nephew had purchaced against Huon of Bourdeaux for if he had knowne it to haue dyed in the quarrell he would neuer haue consented to that treason Thus hand in hand the Emperour and his Nephew Raoul entred with great ioy into the City of Mayence wheras they were highly receiued great ioy was made at their comming much people were in the Towne come thether to Iust and Tournay and many other to behould the Tryumph Now let vs speake of Huon of Bourdeaux Chap. LXXXI ¶ How Duke Huon tooke leaue of the Duchesse his Wife and how he arriued at Mayence and went to the Pallaice WHen Huon sawe his time to depart from Bourdeaux to goe to the Tourney at Mayence he made readie his traine and tooke with him tenne Thousand men of armes for the guard of his person of the best horsemen in all his Countrey then he tooke his leaue of the faire Escleremond his Wife who began sore to weepe when she saw his departure right swéetly they kissed together at their departing Then he tooke his Horse and hee and his companie departed from Bourdeaux and rested not vntill he came to Coleyne on the Rheine there hee taried two dayes to refresh him and vpon the third day he armed himselfe and called his companie before him and said Sirs I will take my leaue of you all for none of you shall goe with me be nothing abashed for hée that alwayes hath saued mee out of all perils will not forsake mee at this time When his men heard him they had great maruaile that he would take his Voyage alone and hee saide vnto them Sirs haue no doubt of me for I shall not die vntill mine houre be come They of Coleyne enquired nothing of their estate for as then there was no warre and they beléeued that they would goe to the Tourney When his Lords saw that he would thus depart they were sorrie that he would goe to the Tourney alone and said one to another we feare greatly that he shall neuer returne againe wee shall neuer haue such another Maister againe Sirs quoth Huon you shall not need to take any sorrow for mée for certainly I knowe well if any perilous businesse should come to mee that I should be aided by King Oberon but he needed not to haue said so for when Kinge Oberon departed from him hee had him not to trust vpon any ayd from him and therefore Huon was a foole and ill aduised to trust thereon or to vndertake so perilous an Enterprize as he did wherby he was in great perill of death as yee shall heare héereafter When Huon was readie he leapt vpon his horse without any stirrop cleane armed as he was and after stretched him so in his stirrops that the leathers strained out thrée fingers he was a puissant Knight armed or vnarmed and greatly to be feared hee tooke leaue of his men and left them wéeping in that Citie of Coleyn Then hee road towards the Citie of Mayence and so long he road that he had a sight of the Citie and then he saw about in the meadow many Tents and rich Pauilions pitcht vp with pummels of fine gould shining against the Sunne Huon behelde them well and so passed foorth and entred into the Citie whereas he saw euerie stréet full of Knights and Squiers abiding there vntill the day of the Tourney Huon passed foorth vntill he came to the Pallaice whereas hee founde the Emperour and his Nephewe Raoul whom Huon loued but little as he shewed well shortly after as yée shall heare When Huon was come before the Pallaice hee sawe the Emperour and Raoul his Nephew going vp the staires then Huon met with a great Almayne and said to him Fréend I pray thée shew mée what be yonder two Princes that goe vp the staires and that so much honor is done to them Sir quoth he the first is the Emperour and he that followeth is his Nephew Duke Raoul he was Sonne to the Emperours Brother the Tourney that shal be made is done for the loue of him at his request and after the Tourney he thinketh to marrie a great Ladie whose name shall not bee knowne till the Tourney be done When Huon heard that hee blushed in the face for the great yre that he was in for he knew well that Raoul if he could find the means would haue from him his Wife the faire Escleremond but he promised in his mind that first hee should dearely buy her Fréend quoth Huon I desire you to do so much for me as to hold my horse vntill I returne againe out of the Hall and that I haue spoken with the Emperor and with his Lords Sir quoth the Squier with a good will I shall héere hold your horse vntil you come Nowe God ayd Huon for ere he might returne againe he was in great perill of death as ye shall heare Chap. LXXXII ¶ How Huon slew Duke Raoul in the presence of the Emperor sitting at his Table and of the maruailes that hee did And how in the chace that was made after him he strake downe the Emperour and wanne his good horse HVon who was ful of ire and displeasure went vp into the Pallaice and came into the Hall whereas hée found many people there was the Emperour who had newly washed his handes and was set at the Table Huon pressed foorth before the Table with his Sword in his hand and said Noble Emperour I coniure thée by the great vertue diuine by your hopefull part of Paradice or that your Soule is to be damned if case be that you say not the troth and giue true iudgment without falshood nor to spare to say the troth for no man liuing although he be your néerest Parent Fréend quoth the Emperour say your pleasure and I shall answere you Sir quoth Huon if you haue wedded a Ladie loue her dearely and that she be faire good swéete and sage and repleat with all good vertues and that you know surely that she loueth you entirely as a good true wife ought to loue her Lord and Husband and then a Traitour priuily to
wherof he was sorrowfull howbeit like a couragious Knight with his sword still fought valiantly with his enemies and he saw where the Earle of Seyne came to him to haue striken him with his sword but Huon met him so hastily that hee had no leysure to strike him and Huon gaue him such a stroke that his helmet could not saue his life for Huons sword entred into his braine and so he fell downe dead among the horse féete Huon who was quicke and expert tooke the dead knights horse and leapt vppon him and when he saw that he was new horsed againe he was ioyfull and then hee was able to depart in despight of his enemies but the Emperour who had great sorrow at his heart for the death of his nephew Raoull made great haste after Huon with ten thousand men with him and so came from Mayens all on the spurre desiring to ouertake Huon and so rode on before his men for his horse was so good that hee would runne as fast as a byrde could flie in all the world there was no horse like him The Emperour on this horse followed Huon and as he rode hee saw all the way dead men lie that Huon had slaine he spurred his horse that anon he ouertooke Huon and sayd Thou Traytour turne thy shéeld towards me or else my Speare shall goe through thy bodie for the sorrowe that lyeth at my heart for loue of my Nephew whome thou hast slaine constrayneth me to make hast to be reuenged of thée nor I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart vntill I haue slaine thée much it greeueth mee that I am constrayned to slay thee with my Speare for I had rather hang thée When Huon heard the Emperour who was so néere him saw how he was mounted on so good a horse he called vpon our Lord God desired him of his grace to ayd him to conquere that horse and when he saw that the Emperour was farre before his men he turned his horse head towards the Emperour and couched his speare and the Emperour came against him like the tempest and they mette together so rudely that their speares were pearced so that the Emperours speare brake all to shiuers and Huons speare was so rude strong that he strake the Emperour with such puissance that hee was striken from his horse to the earth sore astonied so that he wist not where he was and Huon who had great desire to haue the Emperours horse alighted quickly from his owne horse and tooke the Emperours horse and mounted on him and was thereof right ioyous then he sayd to himselfe that hee doubted not them all he strake the good horse with his spurres and found him quicke and light vnder him There he left the Emperour lying on the earth who was not a little content that he was so soone succoured for if the Almaines had not quickly come Huon had slaine him but when the Almaynes came to their Lord and found him lying on the earth they beléeued verily he had beene dead they beganne to make great sorrow and the Emperour who was come againe to himselfe sayd Syrs thanked be God I féel◠no hurt but I may well ride but I haue great sorrow at my heart that Huon hath thus ledde away my good horse and is escaped away and also hath slaine my two nephewes but Sirs I counsell you that none follow him for it shall be but a lost time for the good horse that is vnder him and he that is on him is so valiant in armes that he is greatly to be doubted therefore I counsell let vs returne backe again for we may loose more then wee shall winne but by the grace of God ere it be thrée moneths past I shall assemble such a number of men that the vallies and mountaines shall bee full of men then I will goe to the Citie of Bourdeaux and will not depart thence till I haue woonne it and if I may get Huon I shall make him die of an euill death and shall take and wast all his lands Chap. LXXXIII ¶ How Huon after that he was mounted vpon the Emperours good horse he arriued at Coleyn where he found his men and howe hee departed thence And of the Emperour who laye enambushed in a wood abiding there to haue slaine Huon THus as yee haue heard Huon departed with the Emperors good horse and left the Emperour lying on the earth who commaunded his Barons to returne backe and not to follow Huon any further Therewith there came to the Emperour a Knight called Godun he was borne at Norembridge and he sayd Sir if you will beléeue me and doe after my councell you shall doe otherwise you shall returne to Mayence this night and ordaine foure Thousand of such men as you haue heere and send them within two Leagues of Coleyne on the hye way into Fraunce and there you shall find a little wood and there let them lye enambushed till Huon passe by them for I know well he will goe straight to Coleyne this night lodge in a French-mans house that dwelleth there and in the morning surely he will depart thence and so passe by the said ambushment so that it shall not be possible to saue himselfe alone but either he shall be slaine or taken When the Emperour heard Godun he said Sir you haue giuen me good counsaile and this is likely to be done but it were conuenient to send more then foure Thousand for the great desire that I haue to get him into my hands constraineth me to cause him to bee taken to the entent to be reuenged of him therefore I would goe my selfe and take with mée ten Thousand men and shall go and ly in the place that you haue appointed for I shall neuer haue perfect ioy at my heart as long as Huon is aliue for he hath caused much sorrow at my heart for the death of my two Nephewes whom so pitiously hee hath slaine let vs take our way about twoo Leagues beside Coleyne néerer wee will not approach to the entent that our comming bée not knowne Then hee chose out ten Thousand of the most valiantest men in his companie and the rest he sent backe to Mayence Thus the Emperour road foorth and road so long that day and night that an houre before it was day he came to the sayd wood and there layd his ambush And Huon rode so after he was departed from the Emperor that late in the Euening he came to Coleyne whereas hee was receiued of his men with great ioy then Gerames said Sir I require you shew vs of your aduentures then Huon shewed them euerie thing and the manner how he had slaine Duke Raoul and how hee departed from Mayence and how he was pursued and howe hee wanne the Emperours good horse whereat Gerames and all the other had great ioy and thanked God of his faire aduenture and hadde great maruaile howe hee escaped but they knewe nothinge what the
Emperour was about to doe nor that hee was in the woode abydinge there for Huon That night Huon and his companie were at Coleyne making good chéere and the next morning they heard seruice then they mounted on their horses issued out of the towne they were to the number of thurteene Thousand hardy fighting men and when they were out in the feelds Huon like a good man of warre said Sirs I desire you let vs keepe together and ride like men of warre to the entent that we be not suddainly taken and so they did the day was faire and cleare they might well be perceiued a farre off as they were by the Emperour of Almaine who lay enambushed for Huon the Emperour espied them firste and sayde to his companie Sirs yonder a farre off I sée many people comming towarde vs they séeme vnto mée men well expert in armes neuer beléeue me but they be Frenchmen and he that is their Captaine is Huon of Bourdeaux he is not come hether like a small Personage but he is highly accompanied like a great and mightie Prince I sée well he is valiant by that he hath done hee is so noble hardy that none may be compared to him you haue well séene howe that hee all alone came into my Pallaice and there slewe my Nephew Duke Raoul wherewith my heart is in great displeasure hee is greatly to bee doubted for without God helpe vs wee shall haue ynough to doe with him would to God that hee and I were at accordment and agréed for he is so noble and so valiant that he feareth no man You haue well séen since he departed from Mayence he hath slaine more then fortie of my men and hath borne me to the earth and he hath taken from me my good horse whereby he may be wel assured that there is no man shall take him if he be vppon his backe howbeit we must set vpon him for my heart shall neuer be in ease as long as he liueth therefore Sirs I desire you euerie man this day shew the loue that you beare vnto me and the sauegard of your liues for to fly away auaileth not therefore Sirs set on together and doe so that wee may haue the first aduantage Chap. LXXXIIII ¶ Of the great Battaile within two Leagues of Coleyn between the Emperor of Almaine and Huon of Bourdeaux and of the Truce that was taken betweene them HVon who roade before his Barons deuising with old Gerames regarded on his right hand towards the litle wood and he saw in the wood great clearenesse by reason of the Sunne shining on the healmes and on the speares poynts whereby he perceiued plainely that there was much people hidden in the wood hee shewed them to Gerames and to his other companie and sayd Sirs bee in a surety that without battaile we cannot scape héere is the Emperour who lyeth in waite for vs. I desire you let vs doe so that hee shall haue no cause to make any auaunt of vs yonder you may sée them how they set themselues in order to abide vs therefore let vs quickly sette on them and so they did in such wise that with the very running of their horses the earth trembled and the sunne lost his light by reason of the powder that rose vp into the ayre from both parts Huon who ranne before on his puissant horse behelde Godun who was formost in his companie hee ranne at him with a strong speare so that he ranne him cleane through the body so that hee fell downe to the earth and with the same speare Huon met Crassyn Polinger who bare the Emperors banner Huon strake him so fiercely that he bare horse and man and banner all to the ground whereof the Almaines and Bauiers were sorrowfull Huon did so much ere his speare was broken that he first bare fiue to the earth so that they had no power after to reléeue themselues there were many speares broken and many a knight borne to the earth and there dyed among the horse féete for the father could not helpe the sonne nor the sonne could not helpe the father and many a horse ranne abrode in the field and their Maisters lying dead in the bloud and myre Huon who rode about in the battaile slaying and wounding his enemies behelde on his right side and saw the Earle Sauary slaying many of them of Bourdeaux Ah good Lord quoth Huon if yonder knight raigne long he shall doe me great damage Then hée rode to him and gaue him such a stroke with his sword so that he strake off his shoulder and arme so rudely that it fell vpon the earth so that for the great paine that the Earle Sauary endured he fell from his horse and there was slaine among the horse féete whereof the Emperour who was there by right sorrowfull when he saw another of his nephewes slaine and sayd Ah Huon of God bee thou cursed since thou hast slaine so many of my friends I shall neuer haue ioy in my heart till I haue thée in my hands to hang thée Sir quoth Huon ere you haue taken me you are like to loose more of your friendes and beware of your selfe that you come not into my handes by your nephew Raoull yee haue all this damage who by his falsenesse thought to haue betrayed me and to haue had my wife if I haue slaine your nephewes and your men I haue doone it in defending mine owne body I say to you if you bee not well aware of me I shall bring you to the poynt that it shall be hard for you to be carried away in a litter Huon quoth the Emperor the great hate that I haue to thée for the death of my nephewes makes me féele much dolour at my heart that I had rather die then that I should not bee reuenged of thée therefore beware thou of mée for I shall neither eate nor drinke till I haue thée either quicke or dead Then they two went backe to take their course together but ere they met the Almaynes came running thether for the feare that they had of loosing their Emperour and on the other part came thither the olde Gerames who fought so fiercely that whomsoeuer he strake with a full stroke had no neede of any Surgion and his companie fayled not for their parts and Huon with his good sword opened the thick prease so that the Almaynes greatly doubâ—ed him Huon with his noble chiualrie caused his enemies to recule backe halfe a bowes shoote Then there was a knight of Almain saw well that without some remedie were found the Emperour and his companie were like to be slaine he went out of the battell as priuily as he could and ranne on the spurres and rested not till hee came to Coleyn where incontinent he rode to the Prouosts house and found him in his house newly reine from masse then the Knight sayd to him Sir Prouost if euer you will sée the Emperour aliue cause the commons of this
to tremble and when I come there I will tarrie till I bee whole Sir quoth his Lords your commandement shal be done then they layde the Emperour in a litter sore complayning the losse and death of his nephewes and Lordes that were slaine and his legge gréeued him sore Then Huon sayd to Gerames Sir thanked be God we haue vanquished the Emperour and slaine many of his men therefore it is good that we returne now to Bourdeaux I haue great desire to sée my wife Escleremond who thinking long for my comming I am sure shee is sorrowfull that I haue tarried so long Sir quoth Gerames if ye haue great desire to returne so haue al other of your seruants they would gladly see their wiues and children and some would sée their louers Chap. LXXXV ¶ How Huon graunted the truce to the Emperour and howe the Prouost of Coleyne came and assayled Huon not knowing of any peace taken WHen Huon vnderstood the old Gerames he had great ioy then he sounded the Trumpets with such brute that maruaile it was to heare and commanded euery man to set forward towards Bourdeaux Then he beheld on his right hand and saw them of Coleyne comming in a great number they were well néere twentie thousand Burgesses and other they came with banners displayde readie to fight When Huon saw them he had great maruaile from whence they should come so hastily Then he sayd to his men Sirs I perceiue cléerely we be betrayed for if I had pleased the Emperour nor his men could not haue escaped he hath falsely betrayed me since vnder the colour of truce they come to set newly vpon me Thus Huon sayd by the Emperour without cause for hée knew nothing thereof nor that any succour should haue come to him Sirs quoth Huon let vs rest here and tarrie till they come néerer to vs then let vs set on them with such haste that they shall not know what to doe Sir quoth his men haue no doubt wee shall not faile you for feare of any death we trust to slay so many that the earth shall bee couered with the dead bodies of your enemies Huon ordered his battaile and the Prouost of Coleyne comforted his men saying Sirs our Emperour is discomfited by Huon and his companie who be yonder abiding before vs they thinke to depart in sauegard but they haue no power to doe so for the most part of them are sore hurt and their horses sore trauailed wherefore they shall the sooner be discomfited Then the Prouost and his men ranne quickly vpon Huon and his men there beganne a fierce battaile wherein many a most valiaunt man lay on the earth dead and at the verie first brunt there were so many slaine that the whole fielde was couered with dead and maimed men some were ouerthrowne without any hurt at all and yet they could neuer rise because of the great prease of the horses that did runne ouer them Huon who was very full of ire because hee had thought that vnder the colour of truce he was assayled he ranne fiercely at a knight who had doone verie great hurt among his men it was he that went to Coleyne for that succour and Huon strake him cleane through the body with his Speare so that he fell downe dead to the earth Then Huon cryed his crie to call his men together hée layd on the right side and on the left so that hee did cutte of armes and legges and raced their helmets from their heades he séemed rather a man of the Fayrie then a mortall man But he had much to doe for his men who had fought all the day were sore trauayled and wearie howbeit they defended them selues right valiantly and slew so many of the Commons of Coleyn that the bloud ran on the ground in great streames and the Emperour who issued out of the wood in his Lyttour when he came into the field he heard the brute and crie of the Battaile wherewith he was so abashed Then he demaunded what noise it might be Sir quoth a Knight it is the good Prouost of Coleyn who hath brought with him the Commons of the Citie of Coleyn to aid and succour you Sir quoth the Emperour and he shall dearely buy it howbeit I thinke hee knoweth not of the Truce that we haue taken with Huon for if I knew that he was aduertised therof I should cause him to die an il death Goe to him and command him that incontinent he goe to Huon to make amendes for his trespasse and if he will not doe it I charge you incontinently to slay him When the Emperour had giuen his commaundement to one of his knights he rode as fast as he might to the Prouost who was right sorrowfull for that he had lost foure thousand of his Commons the knight was slain that came to him Then the Emperours knight sayd Sir Prouost ye haue doone right ill séeing ye haue broken the truce that was made betwéene him and Huon if the Emperour may gette you yée shall neuer sée fayre day more without incontinent ye goe to Huon and deale so with him that he be content so that no reproch be layd to the Emperor When the Prouost and his companie heard the Emperors commandement they were sore abashed reculed back And the Prouest who was in great feare for that hee had done and desiring to accomplish the Emperours commandement strake his horse with his spurres and rested not till he hrd found Duke Huon Then he lighted a foote and tooke his sword and sayd Ah right noble and vertuous Prince I desire thée in the honour of Iesus Christ haue pitie on me and pardon me the iniurie that I haue done against you the which I haue done without the knowledge or licence of the Emperour who will cause mee to die a shamefull death without yee pardon mee for all I knew not of the truce betwéene you and the Emperour for I thought he had beene dead Sir that which I haue done was to the intent to rescue my rightfull Lord and thereby I haue lost this day more then foure thousand Burgesses and commons of the Citie of Coleyn and the most part of my best friends and therfore Sir I pray you haue pittie on me else the Emperour will slay mee or sette me in perpetuall pryson Chap. LXXXVI ¶ How Huon arriued at Bourdeaux and of the counsell of the fayre Escleremond his wife the which he would not beleeue nor follow WHen Huon vnderstood the Prouost he had great pitie and though that he ought in reason to pardon him séeing that that hee had done was in a iust cause and that hee was not aduertised of the truce taken betweene the Emperour and him Then Huon approched to the Prouost and sayd Friends arise vp I pardon you this trespasse that you haue done for your Lord and it is but reasonable since ye knew nothing of the truce ye haue done as a true subiect ought to doe to his Lord and
I cannot bee angry with you for the same Then the Prouost tooke leaue of Huon and returned to the Emperour who was then néere to Coleyn and Huon rode forth towards Bourdeaux and so on a Wednesday about dinner he entred into Bourdeaux wheras he was receiued with great solemnitie of the Bourgesses and of all the Clergie of the Citie Then he alighted at his Pallaice wheras he was by the Duchesse Escleremod wel receiued with great ioy and she demaunded of him if hee were well and in good estate Fayre Lady quoth Huon thanked bee our Lord God I am in good health Sir quoth shee of your comming I am right ioyous and I desire you to shew me of your aduentures Madam quoth Huon know for truth I haue béene at Mayens whereas I found the Emperour and with him Duke Raoull his nephew who had proclaimed a tourney and because he was aduertised of my comming his intention was that if he had found me there hee had concluded with his men to haue slaine mee but by the grace of God I haue done so much that in the presence of the Emperour his vncle and all them that were there present I strake off his head because he made his auaunt that as soone as he had slaine me he would haue had you to his wife and all mine heritage And when I had slaine him I departed in haste to Mayens and it was not long after but that the Emperour followed me with all his men mounted vpon the good horse that yee haue séene who is so good that I beléeue surely there is not such another in the world and the Emperour who had great desire to reuenge the death of his nephew Duke Raoull vaunced himselfe a bow shoote before his companie and cryed after me with many iniurious words And when I saw that he was farre off from his men I turned toward him and ranne and bare him to the earth then I tooke the good horse and mounted on him and let mine owne go and whâ—n his men sawe him lying on the earth they feared lest he had beene dead they assembled about him and tooke no héede to follow mee because they knew well it was but a folly to follow me séeing I was mounted on the Emperors good horse Thus I departed from them and went and lay all that night at Coleyne whereas I found my men whom I had left there when I went to the Emperours Court all alone the next day I departed but I was not gone farre out of Coleyn when the Emperour and tenne thousand men mette me in the way whereas they had lien in a little wood in waite for me Then they ranne at me and at my men there was a great battaile on both parts and many slain and wounded but I did so much by the grace of God my good company that I ouercame them and I slew two of his nephews and I bare the Emperour to the earth and when he saw that the losse of the battaile ranne on his side he sent to mee then a messenger to haue truce for halfe a yeere the which I granted because I thought I had doone him displeasure inough as in slaying of thrée of his nephewes Thus we departed as he returned I met the Prouost of Coleyn who brought with him twentie thousand men to haue rescued the Emperour and so we fought together But as soone as the Emperour was aduertised thereof hee sent and commaunded that he should no more fight with mee Then the Prouost came to me and cryed me mercie for that which he had done excusing himselfe that he knew nothing of the truce Then wee made to sound the retrayt on both parts and thus wee departed without any more strokes giuing whereof I thanke God that I am thus scaped Sir quoth Escleremond ye ought to thanke God that hee hath sent you that grace for I haue heard say that the Emperour of whom you haue slain his two nephewes is great puissant and a rich Prince right sage and expert in the wars wherefore it is to be feared that he will not lette the matter thus to rest Madam quoth Huon I know well this that you say is true I thinke well he be displeased with mee for the death of his nephewes and many other of his kin thus as I haue said I iusted with him two times and at the second time I strake him to the earth in such wise that hee brake his thigh so that hee was constrained to bee borne thence in a litter and it hath beene told me since that the losse of his good horse gréeueth him more then the losse of his men Lady to shew you the perils and aduentures that I haue had since I departed from you it would be too long to shew you But surely I thinke as soone as the truce is expired that then the Emperour with all his puissance wil come and besiege me here in Bourdeaux for it hath béene shewed me of troth that then the Emperour hath so made his oath and promise and hath sworne by his crowne imperiall that he will not depart hence till he haue taken and destroyed the Citie Sir quoth Escleremond if you will beleeue me ye shall resist this and I shall tell you how ye know well I haue a brother called king Salybraunt who is king of Bougye the which extendeth on the one side néere to Mombraunt and on the other side néere to Trypoley in Barbary he may leade in battaile a hundred thousand men and Sir surely hee is a good Christian howbeit there are but few that know it verily he hath beleeued in Iesus Christ and Sir if you will goe to him and desire his aide by the same token that when you were prisoner in Babylon I discouered the secrets of my minde to him and shewed him of the loue betwéene you and me and how ye would leade me into Fraunce whereof hee was ioyfull and desired me affectuously that I should doe so much to you that we might come and see him in his own Realme But the aduenture fell so that our departing fell otherwise then we had deuised he was there and saw howe my father was slaine and all such as were with him then for feare he ranne away and did hide him in a garden behinde the Pallayce and there tarried till it was night and then he stole away and went into his owne Realme there shall yee finde him if you will goe thither I know surely that hee will make you excéeding great good chéere and will not refuse for to ayde and succour you for hée will bee so excéeding puissaunt and mightie that hee will bring with him more then a hundred thousand Sarizens and also Sir I would counsaile and aduise you for to take along wyth you some fiue or sixe Priestes well furnished wyth Oyle and creame for assoone as hee hath his men out of his owne Countrey hee will cause them to be christened and such as will not
he will cause them to die an ill death Sir I require you beleeue my counsaile at this time for you knowe well that out of Fraunce you shall get no succor for if some would yet they dare not for doubt of King Charlemaine the hate that he hath to you is not yet quenched for the death of his sonne Charlot he will neuer forget and Sir if yée goe not to my brother for succour yée may happen to repent it and peraduenture it may be too late and doe as he doth that shutteth the stable dore when the horse is stollen Thus the faire Ladie Escleremond exhorted Duke Huon her husband whome shée loued entierly Chap. LXXXVII ¶ How Huon had great ioy for the birth of Claryet his Daughter WHen Huon had well heard his Wife hée said My right deare Ladie and Companion right well I know the great loue that you beare to mee the which hath constrayned you to say thus whereof I thanke you But by the Lord that vpon the Crosse died for to redeeme humane Lineage I will goe to no place nor send for any succours vntill I sée them before my Citie and that I haue cause to labour for succours nor vntill I feele the stroaks of Almaines and Bauiers that they can giue when they be out of their owne Countrey nor as longe as my sheeld is hole and found first I thinke they shall feele the sharpnesse of my Speares head and good Sword and yet by Gods grace I shall not abandon you nor leaue my City and good Burgesses for it might greatly bée layd to my reproach if I should thus goe away Alas Sir quoth Escleremond yée may well know that this that I haue said is for the feare that I haue of you for I haue béene well aduertised that the Emperour sore hateth you and not without cause for his Nephewes and Lords that yée haue slaine and therefore Sir if ye will beléeue me yée shall haue men to defend you brought hether by the king my brother so that when the Emperour is come into your land it shall lie in you either to make peace or warre at your will reason it were that you made him some amends for the hurts that yée haue done vnto him And on the other part if he will haue no peace thē it shall lie in you to make him such warre so that he shall not depart without your agréement and to his great losse Sir the feare that I haue to loose you constrayneth me thus to say I haue heard it often times said that the entrie into warre is large but the issuing out therof is very straight nor there is no warre but it causeth pouertie But séeing it is your pleasure not to beléeue me it is reason that I must be content that your pleasure shal be fulfilled then they entred into other deuises and great ioy feasts were made in the Pallaice at Bourdeaux between Huon and the Lordes of the Countrey At last the faire Ladie Escleremond who was great with child fell vpon trauayling and shée prayed to god for helpe and suffered great paine whereof Huon had great pitie whē he heard thereof for the loue betwéene them was excéeding great at last the Lady was brought to bed of a faire Daughter whereof Huon thanked God then entred into the Ladies chamber a great number of the Ladies of the Fairie and came to Escleremonds bed-side and said Ladie yée ought 〈◊〉 to thanke God for yée haue brought foorth the fairest best creature that as now is in the world and to whome our Lord god hath graunted most graces at her birth for a more faire me dest wise and courteous hath not béen borne this C. yéeres past for shée shall haue such destinie fortune in this world that of the Realme of Aragon shée shall bee crowned Quéene and shée shall so gouerne her selfe that shée shal be accounted of as if she were a Saint in Paradice At Tortouse there is the Church where she is honoured the which is founded in her name and is named Saint Clare Escleremond was ioyfull of the wordes of these Ladies of the Fairie and great ioy feasting was made euery where for the birth of this Child who was greatly regarded of the Ladies of the Fayrie and they said each to other that this Child was the fairest creature in all the world they tooke this Child each after other and blessed it thrée times then they layd it downe and departed suddainly so that no man wist not where they were become whereof all the Ladies and other had great maruaile This tidings was brought vnto Huon he was right ioyfull and sayd A worthy King Oberon I beleeue surely that as yet you haue not forgotten me now I doubt nothing the Emperour nor all his puissance séeing you haue remembraunce of mee Then Huon came into the Hall and thether his Daughter was brought vnto him to sée hée tooke her in his armes and shewed her to his Lords who were very ioyfull to sée her Then shee was borne to the Church and with great solemnitie christened and named Clariet bicause she was so faire and cleare to behold Then shee was brought to the Duchesse who had of her great ioy When the Duchesse had kept her Chamber a Moneth then she was churched whereof all the Court was ioyfull and such feasting was made that if I should shewe you the riches and noblenesse that was there shewed it should be ouer-long to rehearse Therefore I wil leaue speaking thereof at this time vntill another season Chap. LXXXVIII ¶ How the Emperour assembled a great hoast and came vnto Bourdeaux YE haue at large heard here before the manner and cause why this war was mooued betweene the Emperour of Almaine and Huon Duke of Bourdeaux the which after the Truce was expired that the Emperour was hole of his thigh that Huon had broken he published the war againe and sent ouer all his Empire that euerie Duke Earle Baron Knight and Squier should come to him and Souldiers from all parts and that within a Moneth they were to be at the Citie of Mayence to the entent to make warre vppon Huon of Bourdeaux This commaundement was published and such diligence was made that by the day appointed euerie man was come to the City of Mayence and lodged in the Citie and in Pauilions about the Citie there were assembled more then fortie Thousand and all men well appointed for the warre When this Emperour who was named Tirrey saw them he was verie ioyfull and sore threatned Huon and made promise to all his Barons that hee would neuer returne into his owne Countrey vntill hee had first slaine Huon who hadde doone him so great damage Then hee commaunded his Constables and Marshals to be readie to depart the next day to take the way towardes Coleyne with all his Artilerie and carriage the which was done The next day the Emperour entred into the feeld so road towards Coleyne
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
to the place of execution where the Ladders were set vp and then the hang-man came vnto Gerames and said Come on thou old Dotard thou hast liued long inough thou shalt no more see him whome thou louest so well and I hope shortly he shal beare thée company wauing in the wind When Gerames heard him he beheld him fiercely and sayd Ah thou vnhappie Villaine if one of my handes were loose thou shouldest neuer sée faire day more how art thou so hardy to say or to thinke so villainous a worde of the best and most valiantst Knight now liuing Then Othon came to them and hearing the hangman how hee reuiled Gerames he sayd Ah thou base slaue thinkst thou not that this knight hath not inough to suffer though thou dost not reuile him if thou thy selfe were in that case that they be in and they in the citie of Bourdeaux thou wouldest soone repent thy saucie words and therewith hee lift vp a staffe that he had in his hand and strake the hangman therewith that he fell down to the earth then hee sayd Ah thou false theefe doe thine office and speake no words whereupon the hangman durst speake no more but then he tooke Gerames by the halter that was about his necke and so mounted vpon the ladder and Gerames after him who made pittious complaints for Huon his good Lord. The same time that Gerames mounted vpon the first step of the ladder they within the Citie vpon the walles perceiued it and saw euidently that without the prisoners were spéedily rescued their liues were lost then they said to Huon Sir if you tarrie any longer your men shall be all hanged for yonder wée sée one of them is mounted on the ladder who hath a beard as white as the snow When Huon heard that he was sore displeased and sayd Ah good Lord I know surely that it is my true friend Gerames whom they would first put to death therefore Sirs I require you quickly let vs issue out at the gate for if Gerames bee not presently succoured the Traitours will putte him to death but if that I may come time inough his perill shall bee dearely solde to them Hereupon Huon with seuen thousand fighting men issued out at the gate so fiercely that the earth seemed to groane vnder them their horses made such a thundering and so within a short spare by a secret way they came to the place whereas the gallowes stood Huon was the first that arriued there and he marked well the hangman that should haue hanged Gerames and gaue him such a stroke with his speare that he ranne him through so that hee fell from the ladder dead so was Gerames reuenged of the iniury that hee had done to him before then Huon saide Gerames come downe of the Ladder and arme you in some armour of them that shall bée heere slaine Gerames thanked our Lord God and came downe the ladder and then thether came Huons companie who vntyed all the other Prisoners then began a sore Battaile the Almaines would not fly the which Huon séeing cried to them and said Yée false Traytours your deaths are iudged deare shal be sould to you the offence that yée haue done vnto mee when yée would slay thus my men with so villainous a death better it had béen for you to haue been at Mayence hidden in the laps of your Mothers and Louers When they vnderstood Huon anon they knew him wherof they were sore abashed then Huon met with a Knight of Almayne and ran him cleane through and so hée serued thrée other then he drew his sword wherewith he did great maruailes for ere he ceased he slew fourteene and also his men did maruailes in armes so that within a short space the Almaines were discomfited so that none escaped away aliue except Sir Othon who valiantly defended himselfe But when he saw that his force would not helpe him hée yéelded himselfe to Huon and gaue him his sword and cryed him mercie and sayd Sir I beséech you slay me not but haue pitie on me and I promise you faithfully that against my wil I came hither but I was forced so to doe by the Emperour and first I desired respite Insomuch that the Emperor was sore displeased with me I intreated for a peace to haue been made betwéene you and him but my words could not preuaile Sir I am your kinsman was brought vp in Duke Seuin your fathers house and there I serued a maister who did beate mee and when I felt my selfe strong and of age I was displeased that he did beate me so without a cause I slew him fled away and came to Mayens and euer since I haue serued the Emperour who is come hither to besiege you Friend quoth Huon feare not your death but I pray you from hence forth ayde and serue mee as ye ought to doe to your louing friend Sir quoth Othon God shame mee if I doe the contrarie but I shall serue you truely as long as life is in my body Then Huon came to the foote of the ladder whereas hee found Gerames as then not vntied Huon embraced and kissed him often times and sayd Right déere friend I am right glad at my heart when I see you whole of body and then hee went to the other and losed them and vnbound their eyes and sayd Sirs arme your selues with the harnesse of them that bee dead for a man that is armed hath the aduantage of others that bee not armed It was néedfull for them to be armed God defend them from euill for anon after they had so maruailous a reencounter that they had neuer the like before for the other tenne thousand men came to reuenge them that were dead they hoped to haue come time inough but they fayled for they came too late Huon had taken of al them their truage When Huon saw that he had done that which he came for he returned him towardes the Citie but he was so pursued that he was neere surprised and stopped from entring into the Citie When Huon saw his enemies comming he cryed aloude to his men saying Sirs let vs turne vpon them that come toward vs to the intent that they shall not make their auaunts that they haue caused vs to flie away before them then hee and all his men turned against their enemies with a most valiaunt courage and at that méeting many speares were broken on both parts and many a knight borne to the earth that had neuer the power after to reléeue themselues there was such a slaughter on both parts that it was pittie to sée them And great maruaile it was to see Huon how he beate downe his enemies claue helmets and rased them from the heads of his enemies hee dealt in such wise that no Almaine durst abide his strokes he was so doubted and feared hee made the thicke prease to breake a sunder and flie away before him and by him was Sir Othon who that day did
helpe him but rather hinder him therefore he lette it passe and so tooke leaue of his first Patron and lift vp their anthors and sayles and when they were in the sea the winde arose and increased more and more for the space of sixe weekes that the wind changed not so that if God had suffered the winde to haue continued one moneth or sixe weekes longer they had come to the place whereas they would haue beene But ere that they came there they suffered much paine for there arose vppon them such a winde and tempest that they were forced to auayle their sayles The heauens waxed darke the moone was couered the torment was great and daungerous the waues of the sea were of a great height terrible to beholde whereby whether they would or not they were constrained to goe as the winde would leade them theyr fortune was so great and terrible that there was neuer seene such a mightie storme before whereof Huon and his men and his Patron were greatly afraide specially the Patron more then Huon was hee was sore discomforted and pittiously he called on our Lord Iesus Christ requiring him to bring them to a good Port there was neither marriner nor Patron but all were sore afraide nor they wist not where they were They were in this torment for the space of ten dayes in all the which time they neuer sawe the cleerenesse of the sunne for the great darkenesse that was there as then the which did verie greatly annoy them And when it came to the eleuenth day and that the torment and winde beganne to abate and the sea waxed peaceable and still therewith Huon and his companie werâ— well comforted the heauen cleered by and the glorious sunne cast out his rayes along vpon the sea When the master of the shippe saw the fortune of the Sea and that the great torment beganne to cease hee caused one of the marriners to mount vppe into the toppe to see if hee might discrie any lande but hee could see none whereof the Patron was greatly abashed and sayde howe that hee knewe not in what Countrey hee was for hee neuer sayled in those parts and sayde to Huon Sir it is fiftie yéeres since that I first vsed the sea but yet I neuer sayled in these parts whereof I haue great maruaile When Huon heard that he was sore displeased and sayde Sir lette vs take the aduantage of the wind and let our Shippe driue vnder the conduct of our Lord Iesus Christ I hope that our Lord God will not suffer vs to bee perished in this Sea Sir quoth the Patrone I doe agree well to your saying and so let vs doe then they turned their helâ—â—â— and tooke the winde into their full sayle the winde was â—ood and fresh and the Sea very meeke and peaceable so that within a short space they had sayled a great iourney When Huon called vppon our Lorde God and helde vp his handes towards heauen and said Thou verie God who in 〈…〉 transitâ—rie world diddest vouchsafe to be borne in the 〈◊〉 of a maide and afterwards diddest raigne héere vpon earth xxxiâ— yeâ—res and then didst suffer death and passion vppon a Friday and after that didst rise from death to life and wentst into hell drewest out soules out of paines infernall Euen so as I beleeue that this is true I require thée to haue pitie and compassion vpon vs and giue vs grace that wée may safely escape out of this perillous Sea and to kéepe and saue my déere and louing wife Escleremond and my Childe and my noble Lords whome I left in the citie of Bourdeaux in great perill of their liues and giue mee the grace that I may bring with me such succour and aide that thereby I may bring them out of the danger that they he in Chap. LXXXXIX ¶ â—owe Huon arriued on the perillous Gulfe where as hee spake with â—â—das and howe hee arriued at the Port of the 〈◊〉 WHen Huon had made his praiers to God he beheld into the Sea and sawe a farre off like a great péece of Canuasse and there by he heard as great a noyse as though there had beene a Thousand Smithes and a Thousandâ— Carpenters and a Thousande great running Riuers together all beating and labouring together Huon who heard this great noise had great feare thereof so that hee wiâ—te not what to doe and so were all those that were in his companie the Patrone commaunded a Marriner to mount vp into the top of the Maâ—â— to see what 〈◊〉 it was that made all that noyse and so hee did and 〈◊〉 round about him and beheld that way and at 〈…〉 the daungerous Gulfe whereof hee hadde heard often times spoken and thereof hee had such great feare that neere hand hee had fallen downe into the Sea hee came downe and saide vnto the Patrone Sir wee bee all in the way to bee lost for wee bee neere one of the Gulfes of hell whereof Huon and the Patrone and all other had such great feare that they all trembled Sir quoth the Patrone knowe for troth that it is impossible to escape out of this perilous Gulfe for all the Seas and waters and Riuers there assembleth together and perforce wee muste passe that way which when Huon heard then hee beganne pitiously to complaine and sayd Ah sweete and loouing wife Escleremond I see nowe clearely that our loues muste depart the beautie and the bountie that is in you I cannot forget Alas I shall neuer see you more I pray to our Lord Iesus Christ to giue you that grace as to bee agreed with the Emperour Tirrey to the entent that in peace and rest you may vse the residue of your life for as for mee I shall neuer bring you any succour or ayd Then hee studied a long season and then sayd againe Good Lord I thanke thee and since it pleaseth thee that I shall passe out of this world I humbly require thee to receiue my Sâ—â—le into thine handes as for my bodie and life I care little for seeing it pleaseth thee that I shall thus end my dayes and depart this life Then Huon lefte his weeping and the winde ceased and the sayle abated yet neuerthelesse the shippe still went foorth alone in such wise as though it had flowne vppon the Sea Sir quoth the Maister of the Shippe you may see euidently that wee neede not to trauaile our selues to guide our Ship for the Gulfe that is so neere vs draweth the Shippe vnto him in such haste as yee may see and anone yee shall see that we shall tumble therein Maister quoth Huon it is conuenient now that wee abide the aduenture and fortune of the sea such as our Lord God will sende lette vs trust in him and desire him that his pleasure be fulfilled and more I cannot striue Then Huon Chaplaine confessed them one after another and then incontinent the great noyse ceased But they came thither at a good poynt for the verie same
daunger thereof When Huon vnderstood Iudas he had great maruaile ioyned his hands toward the heauen thanking God of the grace that hee had sent him Then Huon desired the Patron that they might depart from thence in haste Sir quoth he it shall bee done Then they drew vp theyr sayles and departed and they had not sailed a league but that the saw a farre off great brands of fire burning issuing out of the Gulfe so long and so high that they had neere hand come to theâ—r ship and the waues that issued out of the Gulfe were as high as mountaines and they approched so nere vnto their shippe that they had like to haue perâ—â—hes for there 〈◊〉 was neere hand full of water so that they had 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 to lade out the water and were fayne to abate theyr sayle and the water that â—ssed out of the Gulfe draâ—e them so â—â—orftly that a bird could not die no faster then they went In that case they weâ—e a moneth and durst neuer hoyse vppe sayle but thus they draue a great season without seeing of any land then Huon called vppon God and saide Ah verie God I hadde rather haue tarried still in mine owne Countrey and haue taken such fortune as it should haue pleased thée to send mee then heere to bée lost in this strange Sea Deare Laâ—ie Escleremond I pray vnto God to keepe you and Clariet my Daughter for I thinke that I shall neuer see you more Thus Huon complained sayling in the Sea in feare of his life and thus they were in the daunger of this Gulfe fiue weekes and neuer coulde see lande whereof they were in great feare often times they prayed to our Lord to haue pity of them Then Huon desired the Patrone to mount vp to the Mast to see if he might see any land and the Patrone who greatly desired so to doe anone hee mounted vp and regarded on all parts to see if hee might espy any land At last he saw a farre off an hye rocke and on the height thereof they sawe a thicke wood and at the entrie of the wood hee sawe a little house whereof hee thanked God and descended downe and shewed Huon what hee had seene and sayd Sir yonder a farre off I haue seen a great Rocke and on the height thereof a great thicke wood and therein I haue séene a little house or hermitage the house is white I cannot tell what it is but by the grace of God ere it be night wee shall land there and refresh our selues When Huon heard that hee was right ioyfull and thanked God then they drew to that Port and had good wind and a fresh wéening to haue come thether the same night but they sayled foure daies and foure nights and could come no neerer to the wood then they were before whereof they had maruaile for it seemed to them euer that the wood and the house roase vp higher and higher and then they could not tell whether they went for if they had known they would not haue gone thether for al the gold in the world for if God had not had pitie of them they were all likely to haue beene lost for the place that they sawe a farre of was a Castle and therein cloased the Rocke of the Adamant the which Castle was dangerous to approach for if any Ship come neere it and haue any yron nayles within it and that a shippe come but within the sight thereof the Adamant will draw the Shippe vnto him And therefore in those parts the Shippes that sayleth by that Sea are made and pinned with woodden nayles and without any manner of yron otherwise they be lost and perished for the propertie of the Adamant is to draw yron to him Thus Huon and his company were there the space of sixe dayes going and sayling about the Rocke of the Castle of the Adamant But if they had had a good wind the first day they had arriued euen at the white house that they saw first in the wood the which was the fairest and most richest house in the world within the which was so much gould and riches that no man liuing could esteeme the value thereof for the Pillars within that hâ—use were of Cassedony and the wals and Towers of white Alablaster There was neuer described in Scripture nor Historie the beautie of such a Castle as this was for when the Sun cast his rayes on it it seemed a farre of to be of fine christall it was so cleare shining In this Castle was neither man nor woman but dead mens bones lying at the gate of this Castle and at the Port there lay many Shippes so that their Mastes seemed a farre off to bee a great Forrest Chap. C. ¶ How Huon deuised with his Patrone in regarding of the Castle of the Adamant THis castle was set on a rock of the Adamant â—one from the East to the west was not so strong a Castle for if all the world had come before it and men within to defend it could neuer be wonne by any mortall men The forrest that so seemed to them a farre off were the â—aâ—â—s of shippes that had beene there arriued by constraint of the Adamant but for all the shippes that were there there was no man liuing therein yet there lay bones of men that had died by famine rage Huon and his câ—mâ—aâ—te had great maruaile for when they approached 〈◊〉 to the Castle they 〈◊〉 forced to strike sayle for the â—daâ—ant drew the shippe so sore that if they had not quickly striken their sayle their shippe had broken all to péeces and they all béen drowned in the sea The ship went so fast that it was maruailous to consider it and then the Patron of the shippe who was wise and discreet knew anon how they were néere to the Castle of the Adamant because their shippe went so fast without sayle thetherward faster than if they had had a full winde in all their sailes and they could not turne their ship any way from that part for they would gladly haue returned but it would not bee because the Adamant drew the yron so sore to him by nature When the Patron saw that néedes they must arriue there he began pitiously to lament and saide to Huon Sir our Lord God hath created vs in this world to liue and to die and there is none but must passe the passage of this and because wee knowe surely that no creature can escape that therefore we ought to be content with that which can be none otherwise Sir I say this that we must all dye When Huon heard the Patron he had great maruaile and said Patron I pray you shew me the cause why yée say thus in this Castle that we see before vs are there any Sarazins within it or spirits of hell that haue sworne our death surely I doubt them not make good cheere and bee nothing abashed take good courage and ioy â—or by the ayd of our
Lord Iesus Christ and by the force of my armes and good Swoorde if there bee any man within the Castle that will resiste againste vs I assure you I shall soone deliueâ— you from him Anone you shall see what I can doe I neuer 〈◊〉 in all my life so faire a Castle I cannot tell whether they within will defend vs the entrie into the Port or not if they will haue any Tribute of me I shall gladly pay it so they demaund nothing else and if I see that they will demaund any thinge else of mee I shall shewe them howe my Sword can answeare it for I had rather to die then in any Princes Court it should bee layd to my reproach and shame that for any man I should retire backe one â—oote for feare or doubt of any death for I will neuer bee taken aliue thereby to dye in prison Sir quoth the Patrone your force and great prowesse can nothinge auaile you for if wee were as stronge and as great as euer was Sampson it should nothing aduantage you I shall shewe you the cause why The Castle that you see yonder before you is the most fairest and strongest Castle in all the world it is set and compassed round about with a Rocke of Adamant stones the which naturally doth drawe vnto it all manner of yron as you may well see by our shippe that goeth so fast without any sayle the Adamant doth drawe it because of the anchors and nayles that bee in our Shippe the wood that seemeth to bee a Forrest are the Mastes of such Shippes as hath there arriued and are drawne thether by the Adamant When Huon vnderstood the Patrone hee was right sorowfull and no maruaile then pitiously hee complayned for his wife and for his Childe for hee sawe well that hee could not escape the death nor neuer depart from thence then hee wept pitiously and sayd Ah good Lord who in this world hath formed me I require thy grace that thus poore sinner that I am enclined to all misfortune that it may please thée to receiue my soule into Paradice as for my life I make none account thereof But I pray thee good Lorde to saue my Wife and Childe whome I haue lefte in daunger of death or else in shamefull imprisonment And with those woordes the Shippe entred into the Port with such a force and puissance that it ranne in amongest the other Shippes so that if the shippe had not been stronge and the other shippes rotten Huons shippe had béene broken all to peeces for it ranne vnder the water thrée or foure of the other olde shippes and was not broken thanked be almightie God Then hee looked into the Hauen and sawe so many shippes that hee had great maruaile thereof and hée was sore dismayed and abashed in that hee sawe neither man woman nor Child stirring abroad Also hee looked about him and behelde the Castle the which was so faire and rich that there was none such throughout all the world Then hee thought to send thether one of his companie for to know what people were within the Castle but hee sawe well that there was no way to enter but by a straight way of thrée Hundred and fourscore gréeces of height the way was so straight and narrow that no man but one at once coulde mount vp the degrées he had great maruell was sore troubled in mind when hee sawe no man comming from the Castle Then hee called one of his Knights and sayd Sir Arnold I will and command that you goe vp into this Castle to see what people bee within it either Sarazins or Paynims knowe who is Lord thereof and say how that I greatly desire to be acquainted with him if you can doe so much that I may bee acquainted with him then I and my men will mount vp together vntill some good aduenture fall for I hope in our Lord God that wee shall escape this daunger Sir quoth Arnold I shall doe as you haue commaunded mee Then he departed and went from one shippe to another vntill hee came to the land and then hee went to the 〈◊〉 and â—ound the degrees and mounted vp but before hée came to the Castle gate hee rested himselfe thrée times and when he came to the gate hee rested him he was so wearie and beheld the gate the which séemed vnto him maruailously faire and rich then hee beganne to crie and call to the entent that some man should come and to speake with him and when hee sawe that none did speake hee stoâ—de and hearkened if any person were comming to open the gate but none appeared and then hee knocked and called againe and sayd Porter that art within come and open the gate or else cursed be thou of God this Arnolde hadde a good occupation to knocke crie and call for within was neither man woman nor Childe that would open the gate when hee sawe that hee was neere angrie with displeasure and looked downe vnder the gate to knowe if hee might espie either man or woman to speake vnto then hee turned him round about and looked on the right hande of the Hall dore and there hee sawe an horrible Serpent the which kept the Castle and Pallaice it was a maruailous great Serpent higher then any horse his eyes like twoo Torches burning when Arnold sawe him hee was right sorrowfull and sore displeased and when the Serpent heard the knocking and great noyse at the gate braying and crying he came toward the gate and when Arnold sawe the Serpent with great furie approaching to the gate hee fledde away in so great hast that he néere hande with verie feare fell downe the staires hee rested not vntill hee came to the shippe whereas Huon was and saide Sir I haue beene aboue at the gate of the Castle and called and knocked thereat more then the space of an houre but there was neither man woman nor Childe that did appeare and when I sawe that I layde mee downe and looked vnder the gate to knowe if I might see either man or woman to speake vnto but I could neuer sée any creature but a great and a horrible Serpent higher then a great horse with eyes redder then fire with maruailous great tallons and and taile there was neuer man sawe a fowler figure of a beast Alas quoth Huon nowe I sée we be all but dead for wee haue nothing to eat nor drinke wherefore wee shall die for famine and rage But if I may enter into the Castle I shall giue that Serpent such a stroake that hee shall neuer hurt any man liuing Alas what haue I said my hardinesse nor my prowesse cannot helpe me for I see well that I and all you must die for it is impossible for vs to depart from hence Then the Patron sayd to Huon sore weeping Sir it behooueth vs to part our victuall if you will sustaine the right custome of the sea wheÌ„ men come to such a case that there is no remedie
dye in the quarrell Thus Huon was there alone without any company sore weeping and almost dead through famine When Huon sawe that no manner of shippe was comming thether hee was right sorrowfull Then hee turned him and regarded the Castle the which seemed vnto him maruailously faire and great and sayd Ah good Lord how can it be that this faire and rich Castle should bee voyd without man or woman I haue great maruaile of that sir Arnold shewed mee for he shewed me that within the Castle there was neither man nor woman and howe that there should bee a great Serpent I cannot tell whether it be true or not or whether hee spake it for feare but by the grace of God though I shall die in the quarell I will knowe the troth for I were as good to die by the horrible Serpent as to die for hunger Then hee tooke his good Sword and put on his helmet and tooke his sheeld and did so much with going from shippe to shippe vntill hee came to the gate of the land And then with much paine hee mounted vp the degrees and so came to the Castle and then he sat downe and rested him and beheld the faire Castle he thought that he neuer saw none such before for the wals and Towers were of fine Alablaster cleare shining and the Towers richly couered with fine goulde of Arabia when the Sunne cast his rayes and spheares thereuppon it cast so great a light that it gaue light a farre off and when hee had longe beheld it at his pleasure hee sawe the gate the which was faire and rich that great beautie was to beholde it for the twoo leaues of the gate were couered with fine goulde intermedled with other rich ouerages And on his right side he saw by the gate a window and ouer the same there was written in Letters of gould saying Let any man beware how he entreth into this Castle without hee bee the worthyest Knight of all other or else it were folly to assay it For he shall find there such aduentures as if his bodie were harder then a stethye of steele yet hee should be but dead and lost without hee bee of that puissance to resiste againste the great Serpent and vanquishe him many men haue assayled that neuer coulde speed and he that will enter into the Castle behold a little purse that hangeth on the right hand of the gate where he shall find the key for to open the gate When Huon had read the writing hee began sore to muse in himselfe and said Good Lord since thou hast saued mee from so many perils in time past I humbly require thee at this time to ayde and succour mee and to giue me that grace that I may vanquish this horrible Serpent and bring him to the death for I had rather die in fighting like a valiant knight then to die for famine Then Huon arose vp and went to the purse and tooke out the key and opened the gate and entred and closed the gate againe after him Chap. CII ¶ How Huon of Bourdeaux fought with the horrible Serpent and slew him within the Castle of the Adamant WHen Huon was entred into the Castle hee sawe before the Hall dore the horrible Serpent who was risen vp his skin was of diuers colours and it was so hard that no yron nor steele could enter into it When Huon sawe the beast so great hee doubted himselfe and called vppon Iesus Christ requiring him to haue pity vppon him and to giue him the grace to slay that dreadfull beast when the beast sawe Huon hee had great maruaile for hee had beene there a long space that neuer man came there he stretched out his clawes and cast his tayle round about him and came hastily against Huon who when he sawe the beast approach neere to him hee made the signe of the Crosse vppon his forehead recommending himselfe to God with his Sword in his hand and his sheeld before him and hee fiercely marched towards the Serpent he was so hideous and fearful to behold that the beast seemed rather an enemie of Hell then any other beaste his bodie was maruailous great with an ougly head with twoo eyes bigger then twoo basons full of burning fire and when hee came neere vnto Huon hée lifted vp one of his pawes thinkinge to haue drawne downe Huon to the earth hee strake vpon Huons Sheeld with such force that hee pulled it from his shoulder leather nor buckle could not resiste it and then with his teeth and nayles hee tare the Sheeld all to peeces Huon who was legier and light leapt by the side of the Serpent and gaue him a great stroake with his Sword vppon the eare that he thought to haue clouen asunder his head But hee coulde doe it no more hurt then if hee had striken vppon a stethy so that his Sword rebounded againe whereof Huon was right sorrowfull and said Ah good Lord nowe I sée well that my dayes are at an end Ah faire Ladie Escleremond I pray our Lord God to saue you and my Daughter Clariet for this day you shall loose mée Then hee aduaunced him to the Serpent and gaue him a great stroake vppon the haunch behinde and if hée did but little with his first stroake hee did lesse hurt with that stroake for hee could in no wise cut through the Serpents skinne wherefore hee was in great feare and the Serpent when he felt himselfe striken cast his tayle rounde about Huon with such force that hee ouerthrew Huon to the earth yet hee quickly releeued againe Then he saw by the gate a great square Speare with a sharpe broad head and then hee put vp his Sword and tooke the Speare in both his handes and came with all his force and strength against the Serpent who came and encountred him with open mouth to haue swallowed Huon but Huon who was strong and light tooke the speare and layd it on his arme and saw the Serpent with his mouth open hee strake the Speare into the mouth of the Serpent so deepe that with the head of the Speare he cutte his heart asunder when the Serpent felt himselfe hurt to the death hee cast out a terrible crye so that all the place sounded and so that the noyse might be heard a league off Thus the horible Serpent was slaine When Huon saw that hee was dead hee kneeled downe and lift vp his hands to heauen thanking our Lord God for his grace Then he arose and went to the Serpent and behelde him for hee was hidious and fearefull to behold he was eighteene foote long When Huon had well beheld him he went and sate downe by the hall doore for to rest him for he was so wearie and faynt with the bloud that hee had lost and with sweat that he had much paine to draw his breath the which was no maruaile for hee had neither eate nor drunke of all that day When he had well rested him then he
his men so great damage he perceiued where the old Gerames was who had oftentimes slaine many of his men and done him so mightie damages that hee thought hee could neuer be reuenged thereof sufficiently and thought that if hee should haue scaped then aliue that hee would doe him much more hurt and damage after and sayd to himselfe that hee had rather die incontinent then he should not as then bee reuenged on him and therewith incontinent he couched his Speare and ran at old Gerames on the one side ere he was aware so that the Emperour ranne him cleane through the bodie so that the gentle knight Gerames fell to the earth and died incontinent great damage fell that day to Huon of Bourdeaux for he lost the truest and best friend that he had Alas for that pitious iourney that fell that day to them of Bourdeaux They had good cause for to wéepe alas good Duchesse Escleremond what losse haue yee receiued to loose him who was your cheefe comfort and refuge ye might haue called him more then father Ah right noble Ladie there neuer came to you a greater mischiefe then ye haue by the death of Gerames who lieth dead euen now among the enemies When the Almaines sawe that Gerames was dead then they fought so that within a short space all them of Bourdeaux were slaine and not one scaped aliue except Barnard who was on the puissant horse Amphage for the gambaudes and worke that he made not an Almaine durst approach neere him for Bernard next vnto Huon was the most valiaunt knight of his body that was as then liuing for when the Almaines sawe him vpon that horse they chased him no further but they went to theyr tents and Bernard ceased not till hee came vnto the gate of the Citie the which was opened when hee was entred and the gate closed againe the Burgesses and comunaltie saw how Bernard came in all alone they demaunded of him and sayd Sir where is your captaine and the old Gerames Then sore wéeping he shewed them at length the pittious and dolorous aduenture the which when they heard they made such cries and wéeping that pittie it was for to heare and to sée them the bruite and noyse was so great and loud that the Ladie Escleremond heard it whereat she maruailed and stood in a great feare Therewith Syr Bernard entred in at the Castle gate and so mounted into the hall whereas hee found the Duchesse Escleremond who was sore abashed when she sawe Syr Bernard come alone who shewed her the great losse that he had sustained that day wherwith for inward sorrow she fell down in a swound and so lay a long space as though she had beene dead Then the Ladyes and Damsels sore wéeping reléeued her and then shee cast out a great crie wringing her handes and tearing her hayre and sayde Ah Huon my right déere Lord this day yée haue lost your most sorrowfull and dolorous wife and well beloued daughter Then the Ladies Damselles and other wiues who had lost their husbands fathers and brethren came into the Castle and made such cryes and sorrow that the noyse thereof was heard into the Emperours hoast without and it was shewed the Emperour that the noyse and brute that was made within the Citie and Castle was for the losse they hadde receiued that day And then they sayde that it should be good that the next morning euerie man should be readie to goe and assayle the Citie and sayd that if euer they would winne it the howre then was come When the Emperour had heard that reason he sayd that the aduise was very good and that he would that it should so be done hee gaue the charge thereof to his Constable and Marshalles so the next morninge his hoast was readie and the Emperour commanded to set forward and then they came before the Citie garnished with all things néedfull and necessarie for assault and they marched forward and approached the Citie and when they came there they gaue a great crie and entred into the Dykes and reared vp their ladders to the walles in diuers places so that they that were within were sore afrayd For within were but Burgesses and Marchants who could but little skil of warre howbeit they mounted vpon the walles and defended their Cittie But the Citie was so sore assayled on all parts that the defendants wist not where to make resistance the shotte of them without slew so thicke that none within durst appeare vppon the walles whereby they entred perforce into the Citie and slew as many as they mette withall in their entring And then they went vnto the gate and opened it so that the Emperour and all his Lords entred into the Citie Then euerie man went abroade in the stréetes to take prisoners and to spoyle mens houses When the Emperour saw hee was Lord of the Citie hee caused it to be proclaimed in euerie streete that no man on paine of death should wrong any woman or deflowre anie mayde nor to breake any Church nor to set any house on fire and also such as were in any Church for sauegard that they should goe at their pleasure without any trouble or danger either of body or goods for the Emperour who was a wise Prince thought in himselfe that great damage and pittie it would bee to destroy and putte to ruine such a famous Citie so strong and well furnished with Burgesses and Marchants When such as were fledde into strong places for refuge vnderstood the Emperours commaundement euerie man and woman returned to their owne houses so that there was but little damage done and that was done by them that entred first When the Lady Escleremond saw how the Citie was taken ye may bee sure she was right sorrowfull For first shee saw her Citie taken by the enemie and her selfe closed within the Castle ill furnished with victualles and much people with her whereby she saw cleerely without God did ayde her that her death approched neere Then pitiously she complayned to God and sayd Verie God on whome I beléeue firmely and for whose sake I haue left my first misbeleefe and forsooke my parents and friends to take to my husband a Christian man to the intēt to receiue thy law O God I require thee of thy grace to haue pittie vpon mee poore desolate creature and to keepe and defend my deere children from all ill incombrances for if it be thy pleasure to saue my childe I am content to abide what fortune it shall please thee to send mee and beside that I require thy grace to saue and keepe Huon my deere Lord and husband Then all wéeping she called vnto her sir Bernard and said Right deare Fréend I can take no counsaile nowe but of you you sée well howe our deathes approache and that it is impossible for vs to kéepe and defend this Castle against the Emperour who hath wonne the Citie and I doubt if he enter into this Castle
perforce wée shall bee the first that shall receiue death and because I sée well that I cannot escape from hence I require you my deare Fréend and by the troth that you beare vnto Huon my Lord and yours that incontinent you take my deare Daughter Clariet whome I hold héere in mine armes and finde some meanes that you may depart out of this Citie and beare her straight to the Abbey of Cluny the which is in Burgoyne and deliuer her into the kéeping of the Abbot there and recommend me vnto him hée is Vncle to my Husband Huon and great Vncle to my Childe Lady quoth Bernard I know well that if I be taken here I shal be vtterly slaine howbeit if I could sée or knowe that my abiding héere could aid or succour you both for mine honour and for the loue of my good Lord and Maister Huon I woulde neuer depart hence from you but my resistance and force is but of small value and because I woulde serue you as I am bounde to doe I am readie sournished to take vppon mee that aduenture as to beare your Child away and to set her in sauegard by the grace of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ When the Duchesse vnderstood Barnard she was well comforted and as for her selfe shee regarded neither her life nor death when shee knewe that her Child should be saued Then shée deliuered her Childe vnto Barnard to the entent that in the night time hée should yssue out Then the Emperour and his Lordes came before the Castle and when the Duchesse knewe that shee came to the gate and at a windowe shee desired to speake with the Emperour who was there readie present and said Madame say what you will to mée at your pleasure and when shée sawe the Emperour shee sayd Sir I knowe well that you are the head and cheefest of all the christened and noblest whereby you are bound to defend and to kéepe from ill all noble men and women I that am the Daughter of an high and mightie Emperour and that for the loue of my good Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ haue forsaken mine owne false béeléefe to beléeue vppon the Christian faith Sir I require you for his sake that made and created you to haue pitie and compassion of mée and of all those that be héere with mée to respite our liues and to put from you all rancour and malice and pardon them that nothing had to doe with the beginning of this warre When the Emperour hadde heard the reasonable request of this faire Ladie hee cast from him all the mortall hate that hée had vnto her and vnto them that were within the Castle with her Then hée mooued with pitie and compassion of the noble Ladie aunsweared and sayde Madame for the loue of our Lord Iesus Christe I repell from mée all my displeasure so that you render vnto mee this Castle and to put it vnder mine obeysance to vse it at my pleasure and to yéelde your bodie as my Prisoner and all those that be within and thus you shall haue all your liues saued Sir quoth the Duchesse laude and praise bee giuen to our Lord Iesus Christ for this grace that you shewe vnto mée and to my companie Then the Emperour went backe and made expresse commandement throuhout the Citie that no man should bée so hardy as to doe any hurt or iniurie to any manner of person within the Citie but to suffer euerie man to abide in their owne houses peaceably without killinge whereof the Burgesses and communaltie of the Citie were right ioyfull Thus as yée haue heard the Citie of Bourdeaux was taken by the Emperour who was chosen in Almaine and committed by the Emperour Charlemaine vntill his Sonne Lewis shoulde bée of full age and able to rule the Empire Chap. CV ¶ How the Duchesse Escleremond deliuered her Daughter Clariet to Barnard to beare vnto the Abbot of Cluny of whome the Abbot was right ioyfull YEE haue heard the pitiful taking of the Citie of Bourdeaux and of the treatie and appointment that the Duchesse Escleremond had made with the Emperour when shee had made her appointment shee went vnto her companie pitiously weeping and shewed them all the manner of her treatie whereof euerie person was glad that their liues should bée saued but they made great sorrowe for that the Duchesse should become a Prisoner and then she called Barnard and sayd Sir when it is night yssue out by the Posterne with my Daughter Clariet and beare her vnto the good Abbot of Cluny who is her great Vncle. Madame quoth hée bée of good cheere and by the grace of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ I shall not rest twoo nights in one place vntill I haue deliuered your daughter vnto the good Abbot of Cluny her great Vncle. Then Barnard tooke leaue of the Duchesse who kissed her Daughter at her departing sore wéeping and pitifully complayning There was a Posterne that opened into the féeldes and it was so small that Barnard was faine to leade his horse in his hand the night was dark but he knew well the waies afterwards he mounted on his horse with the Childe in his armes and so road foorth and passed the Landes of Bourdeaux and was neuer séene by any mortall man vntill the next day he road so all the night that his horse was wearie And when hee sawe that hee was past all daungers and escaped all perils then hee road at his ease for loue of the Child and he complained greatly for the good horse Amphage that Huon had left in his kéeping vntill his returne but hee durst not take that Horse with him for feare that hée should haue dealt the worse with the Ladie Escleremond the which had béene true for the Emperour loued the horse so well that he desired more to haue the horse againe then for to winne the Citie and therefore Barnard durst not take the Horse with him So long Barnard road that hée arriued at Monglew the which is called Lyon on the Riuer of Roane and from thence hée road to Mascon and from thence he rested not vntill he came to the Abbey of Cluny and then hée alighted and desired to speake with the Abbot and when the Abbot sawe Barnard with a Child in his armes hee had great maruaile thereof and when Barnard sawe the Abbot all wéeping hee saluted him and said Sir the right desolate Duches of Bourdeaux your Néece and wise vnto the Duke Huon of Bourdeaux your Nephew hath sent héere vnto you her Daughter Clariet Then the good Abbot embraced him and tooke the child and kissed it more then twentie times and demaunded why hée brought the Child vnto him Sir quoth Barnard the Citie of Bourdeaux hath beene besieged by the Emperour of Almaine and so straightly kept that it was néere hand famished many Knightes that were within are slaine so that Huon your Nephewe by the counsaile of the Duchesse his wife and consent of all
Spanish language answeared to the Maister and sayd Freends you that be here arriued shew mée I pray you the troth from whence you are come and what you be for be you sure that as longe as you liue you shall neuer depart from hence and without you haue victuals brought with you you are all arriued at an vnfortunate place Then the Maister trembling said Sir know for troth that I am of the countrey of Spaine and dwelling in the Citie of Luysarne and they that are come hether with me are all Marchants of Portugall and are come from the citie of Acre and there wée charged our shippe with Marchandize and we had a maruaylous good wind vntill wée were passed the straites of Morrocco and that wée were néere to our owne countrey and then suddenly a great tempest arose and tooke vs and draue vs off from the coast of our owne Countrey a great distance and this tempest hath continewed these twentie daies past so extreamely that wée were faine perforce to abandon our shippe to the raging of the Sea and winde euen as the shippe would goe at aduenture but at the last by good fortune wée chaunced to arriue by a great rocke and there wee cast anchor and presently after that we were arriued there we went vp into the Rocke and there we found the Bishop of Lishborne and one of his Chaplaines with him who came thether driuing vpon a mast of a shippe that had béene perished but all the rest of his company were drowned by misfortune at sea Then the Bishop and his Chaplaine humbly prayed me to haue pitie vpon them and to saue their liues and to take them into my shippe whereuppon I had compassion on theÌ„ and as one verie glad and willing to deliuer them from that danger I tooke them into my shippe and gaue them meate and drinke other thinges such as I had for they had béen almost dead by famine if I had not succoured them and yet I thinke that they will not liue vntill to morrow at night for truly I haue no more victualles neyther for my selfe nor for such as be within my shippe thus Sir I haue answered to your demaund and therefore I desire you in the honoure of God and of Mahound to shew me to whome this Castle doth appertaine and who is Lord thereof and what is the name thereof and of this Port whereas wée be arriued Friend quoth Huon know for troth that this Castle and Port is the place in the world most hated and doubted of Paynims and Sarazins and I shall shewe you the cause why this Castle is set on a Rocke of Adamant stones so that if any shippe chaunce to come hether by aduenture it can neuer depart from hence againe For the Adamant is of that nature that it draweth alwaies vnto him the yron and therefore any shippe that is nayled or haue in it any yron and by chaunce come neere this Port by force it shal be constrained héere to arriue When the Marchant heard Huon hee beganne sore to wéepe and lament and so did all the other and sayd Sir wee are sore dismayed and abashed of these words that you haue said Freend quoth Huon all that I haue sayd is of troth but sirs if you will beleeue mée and take vppon you christendome and beléeue vppon the faith of Iesus Christ and beléeue firmely in him you and all such as be in your shippe I shall bringe you into such a place whereas you shall haue meat and drinke at your pleasure and apparell as rich as you shall demaund and then I shall shewe you so much gould and riches that you shal bee satisfied with the beholding thereof Therefore if you will beleeue vppon God and of his Sonne Iesus Christ you shall haue all this that I haue said before or else you shall al die of rage and of famine miserably When the Patrone had well heard Huon hee sayde Sir knowe for troth it is about Seauen yeares past since I beléeued vpon the faith of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ and Sir I thanke you of the courtesie that you haue shewed vnto mee and from hencefoorth I submit my selfe to the sauegard of almightie God and of his Sonne Iesus Christ When Huon heard that he was right ioyfull and sayd Fréend goe to thy Shippe and remooue all thy companie to beleeue vppon Iesus Christ and shewe them what perâ—ll and daunger they be in now and what wealth they shall haue if they beleeue vppon almightie God and of his Sonne Iesus Christ and also shew them what pleasure they shall finde in this place and if they will not thou mayest well say that they are come to their laste and shortly and the twoo men that thou hast saued cause them to come hether vnto mée Sir quoth the Patron I shall send them vnto you and then he departed and entred into his Ship and there he shewed his companie all that he had heard of Huon and what he was commaunded to say vnto them When the Marchaunts who were all Paynims had heard their Patron declare in what case and perrill they were in they all answered how that they were all readie to doe his pleasure and to receiue christendome whereof the Patron was right ioyfull to heare them say so Then the Patron sent for the Bishop and his Nephew who was his Chaplaine and saide Sirs in the Castle there is a Lord who prayeth you that incontinent yée will come a land and goe to speake with him When the Bishoppe heard the Patrone he arose vp with much paine for faintnesse by reason of famine and said how that hee would gladly fulfill his commaundement Then he and his Chaplaine departed out of the Shippe and came to the staires and mounted vp to the Castle but they were faine to rest them by the way diuers times and when they came vnto the gate they maruailed greatly of the great beautie and rich worke that they sawe there and so they came vnto Huon who taried for them at the Hall dore When they came neere vnto him they humbly saluted him Sirs quoth Huon God saue you and I pray you shewe mee the troth what Countrey you be of Sir quoth the Bishop seeing it is your pleasure to knowe I shall shewe you the troth Sir I was borne in the Cite of Bourdeaux and am Bishoppe thereof and haue beene this Twentie yeares and a deuoâ—ion tooke me to goe a Pilgrimage to the holy Sepulchre but God would not suffer vs so to doe for when we were departed from Lishborne a great wind and torment arose vppon our Ship the which was faire and rich and wel furnished with Marchants and so by fortune our Shippe ranne against a Rocke so that our Shippe burst all to péeces and there all our company were drowned except my selfe and my Chaplaine who is my Nephew and wee twoo saued our selues vppon the Maste of our Shippe floating vppon the Sea so that by the grace of
God the Ship that is heere beneath arriued by fortune at the Port neere vnto the Rocke and I prayed him in the honour of God and of his Sonne Iesus Christe to saue our liues and the Patrone had pitie compassion of vs and tooke vs into his Ship and did so much for vs as though we had beene his Brethren Sir thus I haue shewed you our aduenture and Sir I require you to pardon mée in that I so stearnly behold you but I shall shew you quoth he the cause why I doe it mée thinks I see before me the good Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux who swéetly nourished mee in my youth you greatly resemble vnto him and hee set me to schoole at Paris and then hee sent mee to Rome vnto our holy Father the Pope of Rome to whom I was a kiâ— and hee did mée much good and hee gaue mee the Bishopricâ—e of Millaine Duke Seuin is dead God bee with him and hee had twoo Sonnes the eldest called Huon and the other Gerard Huon was sent for to Paris by Kinge Charlemaine and by the way there fell vnto him a maruailous aduenture for hee shewe the Kinges Sonne Charlot in his owne defence not knowing that it was the Kinges Sonne wherefore the King banished him out of the Realme of Fraunce and sent him to the Admirall Gaudise in Babilon to doe his Messuage and afterward hee returned into Fraunce and since hee hath hadde great warre with the Emperour of Almaine more I cannot say and I am right sorrie that I knowe not where he is become for my Father who was Brother to the good Abbot of Cluny longe agoe nourished Huon vp in his youth before his Father Duke Seuin died my Father did teach him wherefore I haue great sorrow and gréefe at my heart that I knowe not where hee is become since the peace was made and concluded betweene him and the King of Fraunce When Huon hadde well heard the Bishoppe and vnderstood him his bloud changed and embracing him sweetely he said Sir you are my Coozen I am Huon who passed the sea and went to the Admirall Gaudise and slewe him and ledde away with me his Daughter the faire Escleremond who was married vnto me by our holy Father the Pope and I haue left her in the Citie of Bourdeaux in great pouertie and miserie besieged by the Emperour of Almaine I beleeue surely that she is taken by this time When the Bishop heard Huon hee began sore to weepe and Huon embraced and kissed him and sayd Coozen you are happie to find me heere or else shortly you had béen dead Sir quoth he I ought greatly to thanke God thereof But Sir I require you to giue mée some meat for I am so sore punished with hunger and thirst that I am néere hande famished and can scarce sustaine my selfe vppon my féete Coozen quoth Huon by the grace of God I shall bring you to such a place whereas you shall haue meat and drinke at your pleasure and such as you will with for Then Huon tooke him by the hand and brought him into the Pallaice and through the Chambers the Bishoppe was greatly abashed to sée the riches that he saw there Then they went downe into the Seller the Bishop beheld the manner of euerie thing and had great maruaile that none of them that hee sawe there would not speake any word hee passed by them with Huon and saluted them and then he entred into the rich Chamber whereas the Table was readie and Seruants to giue them water and they all thrée sat downe and then Huon sayd vnto the Bishoppe Coozen I coniure you by the Sacrament that you haue receiued that you nor your Chaplaine be so hardy as to eat one morsell of meat if any of you bee in any deadly sin if you be incontinent confesse you to your Chaplain and hee vnto you for if you doe otherwise you shall no sooner eate one morsell but incontinent you shall die When the Bishop had well heard and vnderstood Huon hée hadde great maruaile and said Coozen by the grace of God I féele my selfe in good estate not to abide death for when I departed from Rome both I and my Nephewe were confessed of the Pope and assoyled of all our sinnes and since wée entred into the Sea wee haue committed no sinne Then Huon sayd Cozen seeing that you be both in this case you may eate and drinke at your pleasure and so they did for they had great néed thereof they all thrée were richly serued they had euerie thing as they wished for the Bishoppe and his Nephew did eat and drinke and they were greatly abashed of the great riches that they saw there and they were rauished at the swéet singing of the birds and the hearbes and flowers that were there spreade abroade smellinge so swéetely that they thought themselues in Paradice and they had great maruaile to see the Seruants to serue them so peaceable but they would neuer speak one word they woulde gladly haue demaunded the cause why but Huon hadde expresly charged them that they shoulde make none inquirie Thus they passed their dinner in great ioy and theÌ„ washed theyr hands arose vp from the Table and the Bishop and his Chaplaine sayde grace deuously Then Huon tooke the Bishoppe by the hand and sayde Cozen wee will goe vp into the Pallaice and then you shall goe downe into your Shippe and shew them without they will die incontinent let them be christened and dresse vp Tubbes with water of the Sea and hallowe you it and christen them therein and I shall come after you with my sword and cleane armed to the entent that if they refuse thus to doe I shall strike oft their heades Sir quoth the Bishop I shall doe your pleasure Then Huon armed himselfe and went after the Bishoppe and his Nephewe downe to the shippe and when they came there they found Elinas the Maister of them who had preached so much vnto the Sarazins that hée had conuerted them all except Tenne they bare him in hand that they were glad to bee christened but theyr thoughtes were otherwise for they Ten had concluded in their courages not to renounce the Lawe of Mahomet for to beleeue vppon Iesus Christ but they were content to be christened to the entent that they would not die there for famine When Huon and the Bishop was come vnto them the Bishop sayd Sirs I require you all to shew me your intention that if with a good heart not coloured you will become christened and beléeue on the Law of God the Father and of his Son our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ and leaue the false and detestable Lawe of Mahound the which is nothing woorth Sir quoth they all shortly deliuer vs for wee bee so hungrie and thirstie that we are almost famished the which ouer-presseth vs so much that we can no longer endure nor suffer it and when Huon had well heard them he humbly thanked our Lord
God and had great ioy thereof and the Bishop and his Chaplaine confessed them all and assoyled them of all their sinnes and in twoo great vessels christened them all Then they all cryed vppon Huon and sayd Sir for the loue of our Lord God giue vs some meate Sirs quoth Huon you shall haue incontinent ynough so that you shall bee satisfied Then Huon and the Bishop and his Chaplaine all thrée went into the Castle and charged vpon their neckes meat ynough and brought it into the Shippe and caused all the Marchants to sit downe and the meat was set before them and the wine powred out into Cuppes among other sat the tenne Sarazins who had receiued the christendome faintly and falsely and at the first morsell that they did put into their mouthes suddainly they died the other Marchants when they sawe that they were greatly abashed and regarded each other and durst not approach to touch the meat for they had thought that they should haue all died Sirs quoth Huon be not dismayed nor abashed at this for these tenne men that are dead did baptize themselues but all onely to saue their liues and to haue meate and not with a good conscience nor for the loue of almightie God who hath all mens heartes at his pleasure therefore be not afraid eate and drinke at your ease for yee shall want nothing but haue all thinges at your wish When the other Marchants vnderstood by Huon how that they that died were no true Christian men they were greatly abashed and so fell to theyr meate and drinke and when they had eaten and drunken at their pleasures they arose and tooke all the riches that were in the Shippe and carried it vp into the Castle and when they came there they had great ioy and pleasure to beholde the Hals and rich Chambers that were there so much gould and siluer and other riches they sawe there that they hadde thereof great maruaile Then they beheld the rich beddes and Chambers apparelled whereas they might rest them and then they sawe the faire Garden so pleasant and delightfull to behold that the more they regarded it the fairer it seemed vnto them the place was of length and breadth a bowe shoote and more And when the houre came for supper then Huon ledde them downe into the Seller and after into the rich Chamber whereas there was meat and drinke plentie and after Supper they went againe into the Pallaice and lay in the rich beds that they found there readie and in the morning the Bishop and his Chaplaine did sing Masse before Huon and all the other that were there present and when they woulde eate they went to the place accustomed and there they founde alwayes readie euerie thing that they desired or wisht for in the day time they would bee in the Garden to sport them oftentimes the Bishop preached vnto them and confessed them of all their sinnes Thus they were there all together the space of one Moneth in great pleasure and solace but whosoeuer had ioy Huon had none for his abiding there greatly greeued him for oftentimes hee would complaine for his Wife the faire Ladie Escleremond and for his Daughter Clariet and sayde Madame as often as I remember what danger I haue left you in my heart néere departeth out of my bodie Ah cursed Emperour thou causest me to suffer much ill when I thinke that by this time thou hast taken my Citie my Wife and my Child and set them in thy Prison I would if it were the pleasure of our Lord God that they were heere with mee then I would neuer depart from hence and no more I shall doe without it be by the grace of God Ah noble King Oberon you haue giuen me the realme of the Fayrie if it might bée your pleasure now so much to succour mée as to deliuer me from hence and to ayd me to destroy this Emperour who hath done me so much ill for euer were I bound to your Mightinesse Chap. CIX ¶ How Huon was borne by a Griffen out of the Castle of the Adamant and how he slewe the Griffen and fiue other young Griffens And of the Fountaine of the fayre Garden and of the fruit of the Tree neere to the Fountaine THus as yee haue heard Huon passed away the time in the Castle of the Adamant and vppon a day hee leaned and looked out at a windowe into the Sea-ward and hee sawe a farre off a great birde come flyinge thether-ward this bird or foule was bigger then any horse in the world whereof he had great maruaile Then he sawe where it came to the same Port and lighted vpon the Maste of a great Shippe and saw how with the weight of the Foule the Mast had neere hand broken asunder Then after he sawe the Foule alight downe into the Ship and tooke with his tallants one of the Ten men that died because they would not beleeue firmely vpon God and of his Sonne Iesus Christ they could not putrefie but lay still in the Shippe al whole and found then the Foule lifted him vp into the ayre and carried him away as lightly as a Hauke would carie a Pigeon Huon who sawe this had great maruaile and beheld the Griffen which way she did fly and as farre off as he might sée he sawe to his similitude a great Rocke as white to the sight as Christall and then he said to himselfe I would to God that I were there I think it be some place inhabitable and then he thought within himselfe to come thether againe the dext day to sée if the Griffen would come againe to fetch his pray if hee did he◠thought if he would be out of the Castle the Griffen might bear him armed as surely that hee should doe him no hurt with his tallants thinking to lye downe armed with his Sword in his hand among the dead men and when the Griffen had brought him where his young birdes were then to fight with the Griffen yet he thought before he would thus doe he would againe sée if the Griffen came and held the same way that she did before for he thought surely that if she returned to the same place it must needes bee some Land and hee thought that it were a thing impossible to get out of that Castle by any other manner of wayes Then Huon returned againe to the Garden to the Bishoppe and vnto the other companie and made no semblance of that he hadde thought to doe and then hee talked with them of diuers matters And when the time came they went to eat and drink as they had been accustomed to do before When night came and that Huon was in his bedde he lay and studied of the conuayance of the Griffen desiring greatly for the day light to goe and see if the Griffen returned to fetch her pray When day came Huon aroase and heard seruice and then hee went to the window and looked there so longe that at the laste
hee sawe a far off where the Griffen came flying from the place as shee had doone the day before and came and sat downe vppon the same Maste beholdinge the dead men that lay vnder her which of them she might take to her pray Huon beheld her and sawe howe that she was a cruell Foule Her necke was maruailous great her eies as great as a Bason and more redder then the mouth of a fournace and her tallants so great and so long that fearefull it was to behold her and then at last she lighted downe into the Shippe and tooke one of the dead bodies in her tallants and so mounted into the ayre and flew the same way as she did the day before Huon beheld the Griffen well and saw how that she flew to the white Rocke This Rocke was called the Rocke of Alexander for when Alexander passed the deserts of India and went to speake with the Trées of the Sunne and of the Moone hee came vnto the same Rocke and at his returne he bathed him in a Fountaine neere to the Rocke and there hee taried a certaine space and sawe there many thinges Now let vs leaue speaking of this Rocke and returne vnto Huon who fixed his courage that hee determined to bee borne from thence by the Griffen and sayd within himselfe that he hadde rather aduenture death then to abide any longer there for hee had so great a desire to see his Wife and his Child that he put from him all feare of death When Huon sawe that the Griffen was gone with her pray he went to the Bishoppe and vnto his companie and shewed vnto them all that hee had seene and thought to doe and when they all had heard Huon they beganne pitifully to weepe and wrang their handes and did tare their haire making the greatest sorrow and greefe in the world and cryed out and said Ah Coozen quoth the Bishop by the grace of God you shall neuer take vppon you such a follie you ought not io seeke your owne death sooner then it is the pleasure of God that your houre bée come Sir for Gods sake forsake vs not but tarrie heere with vs. Freendes quoth Huon when I remember the danger that I left my wife and my child and my Citie and Lords and Burgesses and Communaltie in my heart is so sorowfull and so agreeued there at that it neere hande slayeth mee you shall abide heere in the sauegard of our Lord God and I will take the aduenture that God will send me and I pray you to speake no more vnto me in this matter for by the grace of God I will venture it When they sawe that they could not turne Huon from his Enterprize the sorrowe that they made no man can declare that night they passed in great sorrowe and dolour vntill the next morning that Huon arose Then hee came to the Bishop and was confessed and receiued at his hand then he dined wel with his companie and then after dinner hée went and armed himselfe in double armour and with maile vppon his Legges and helmet vpon his head and guirded his Sword about him and when hee was readie and that it was time to depart hee tooke his leaue of the Bishop and of all the other and commended them all into the sauegard of almightie God When the good Bishop sawe his departure hee made great sorrow and so did all the other but none of them durst speake any more vnto him the Bishop embraced him at his departing and sayde Coozen into the sauegard of almightie God and of his Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ I commend you and that he may of his grace preserue you from all your enemies Sir quoth Huon the great desire that I haue to ayd and succor her whome I left in great pouertie and doubt of her life constrayneth me thus to depart for if I goe not by this meanes I must euer abide heere and then I shall breake my promise vnto her but by the grace of God I will keepe my faithfull promise Thus I recommend you vnto God and then he departed from them and passed out of the gate and went downe the staires and so came into the shippe and then hee looked into the Sea and sawe where the Griffen was comming and when hee perceiued that he lay downe among the dead men with his sword naked in his hand and held it vpon his thigh because it should not fall into the Sea and assoone as hee was layd crewling amonge the dead men the Griffen came and alighted vppon the shippe Mast as she was accustomed to doe and she was so heauie and so great as is aforesaid that the Mast was neere hand broken asunder When Huon saw that he was in great feare and called vppon our Lord Iesus Christ for aid and succour and to saue him from the cruel Griffen and the Grâ—ffen looking for her pray saw where Huon lay armed whereby hée seemed more greater then any of the other dead men the Griffen desired to haue him vnto her nest to giue him vnto her young birds and then she came downe into the shippe and tooke Huon in her clawes and strained him so faste by both sides that her clawes entred into the flesh for all his armour so that the bloud yssued out and Huon was in that distresse that all his bodie trembled and pitiously he called vppon our Lord God for ayd and succour but he durst not stirre for any paine that he felt the Griffen did beare him so hie and so farre that in lesse then thrée houres she did beare him vnto the white Rocke and there layde him downe and for trauaile that the Griffen had she flew down the Rocke to a Fountaine to drink the which Fountaine was of such great vertue that the bountie thereof could not bée described and Huon who lay vppon the Rocke was sore wearie and faint for the bloud that hee had lost hee thought within himselfe that if euer hee woulde escape from that daunger it was time for him then to shewe his Prowesse then he arose vp and looked round about him and sawe how that there was neere him a faire Forrest and then hee prayed vnto our Lord God to ayd and succour him to depart from thence in sauegard and that hee might once againe returne into his owne Countrey to see his Wife and Child whome hee so well loued then anone he saw the Griffen who had seene Huon rise vp then she came with her mouth open to haue deuoured Huon but hee was replenished with his Prowesse and came against the Griffen who had her pawes readie open to haue griped Huon but hee who was light and quicke gaue the Griffen such a stroake with his Swoord that he strake off one of her feete by the ioynt and so the Griffen fell to the earth and gaue such a crie that the young Griffens being in their nest in the Forrest heard the crie and knewe well that it was
was waxed so feeble that he could scarce sustaine himselfe vppon his feete and vpon the eleauenth day at the Sunne rising hee sawe appeare the clearnesse of the day light and then he was out of the darknes and entred into the Sea of Persia the which was so pleasant and peaceable that great pleasure it was to behold it and then the Sunne arose and spread abroad his streames and spheares vppon the Sea whereof Huon was so ioyfull as though he had neuer felt paine nor feare then a farre off hee saw appeare before him a faire great Citie and in the hauen therof there were so many shippes and Galleys that their Mastes seemed to bée a great Forrest whereof Huon hadde such ioy at his heart that he knéeled downe lifting by his hands vnto Heauen and humbly thanking our Lord God that hee had saued him from this perilous Gulfe This Citie was called the great Citie of Thauris in Persia the Lord thereof was a puissant Admirall who had made to be proclaimed and published that all manner of Marchaunts by land or by Sea that would come to his Citie should haue frée going and frée comming without lette or disturbance either in their bodies or goods whether they were christian men or Sarazins so that if they lost the worth of a penny they should haue againe foure times the value thereof and the same time that Huon came and arriued at that Port was the day of their frée Feast wherefore there was so much people of diuers Landes that they could not well bee numbred When Huon was come into the Port hee cast his anchor neere vnto the bancke-side and was right ioyfull when hee sawe himselfe that he was vppon the firme land and then hee had great desire to knowe in what place hee was arriued in and whether hee was arriued at a good Port or no Now lette vs leaue speaking of the good Duke Huon vntill wee haue occasion to returne vnto him againe Chap. CXIII ¶ How Sir Barnard departed from the Abbey of Cluny and went to seeke for Huon his Cozen whom he found at the Port of the great Citie of Thauris YE haue heard heere before howe after the taking of Bourdeaux Barnard who was Cozen vnto Huon had borne Clariet Huons child into Burgoine and deliuered her to bee kept with the good Abbot of Cluny After that Barnard had taried there the space of eight dayes he was wearie with being there and vpon a day hee sayde vnto the Abbot Ah Sir I would at the taking of Bourdeaux I had béen slaine with my Cozen Gerames for when I remember my good Lord Huon my heart fayleth mee in such wise that it is great paine for mee to beare the sorrow that I endure and afterward when I remember the Duchesse Escleremond his Wife who endureth such miserie that it is pitie to thinke thereof doubleth the sorrowe and greefe that I haue at my heart Alas what shall Huon say if hee returne and find his Citie taken his men taken and destroyed and his Wife in Prison in great pouertie and miserie I feare mee that hee will die for sorrowe Alas I sée all that I haue is loste for the loue of Huon my Lord for the which I care little for if hee bee in safetie aliue and that hee may returne againe and I am in great displeasure that wée can heare no newes of him since hée departed from Bourdeaux I shall neuer rest as longe as I liue vntill I haue found him or heare some certaine newes of him Cozen quoth the Abbot if you will enter into this enquest you should doe mee great pleasure and for the great desire that I haue had that you should goe this Voyage I will giue you a Thousand Florents towardes your iourney Sir quoth Barnard I thanke you Then the Abbot deliuered him the money and Barnard made him readie to depart the next day and so hee did and tooke his leaue of the Abbot and departed and rested not vntill hee came to Venyce whereas hee found Galleys readie to goe to the holy Sepulchre whereof hee was right ioyfull and so sayled foorth vntill they came to the Port Iaffe whereas hee went a shoare with other Pilgrims and euer as he passed by the other Ports he euer demanded for Huon but he could neuer find any man that coulde shewe vnto him any manner of newes of him and then he departed from the Port Iaste and went vnto Ierusalem whereas he taried eight dayes Then when hee had done his Pilgrimage he tooke forth his iourney vnto Kayre in Babilon and when he came to Gasere which standeth at the entring of the Desarts hee met with many Marchants who were going to the frée Feast which was holden in the great Citie of Thauris Then hee thought to demaund of them whether so much people were going and all in one companie and he spake vnto a Marchant of Geanes and demaunded of him whether so much people went together in one companie for they were to the number of six-score Marchants christian men and hee Then the Marchant saide Sir as mee thinketh by you you are of the Countrey of Fraunce I shall shew you whether we goe Sir within this eight dayes the frée Feast shal be at the great Citie of Thauris whereas there shall come a great number of Marchants as well Christian men as Sarazins as wel by land as by Sea and there is nothing in this mortall world but there you shall find it and heare of all manner of newes from all the parts of the world Nowe I haue shewed you whether wee are going I pray you shewe mee whether you would goe and whome you doe seeke for Sir quoth Barnard knowe for troth that I am of the Realme of Fraunce and I doe séeke for a Knight who is Lord of Bourdeaux and is called Huon and it is longe since I departed out of my Countrey and I could neuer heare any thing of his life nor death Sir quoth the Geneuoys if euer you shall heare of him if you will beléeue mée you shall goe with vs into the Realme of Persia to the frée Feast at the great Citie of Thauris Sir quoth Barnard in a good houre I haue met with you I shall not leaue your companie vntill you come there to sée if God will send mee so good fortune as to find him that I seeke for Then the Marchants departed and road all together vntill they came vnto the great Citie of Thauris and when they were lodged they went about their marchandize whereas they lysted Thus Barnard was eight dayes in the Citie going heere and there euer enquiring newes for him whome he sought for and vppon a day he went down to the Port vnto the Sea-side whereas many Shippes and Galleys lay at anchor and as hée looked about he saw neere to the Sea-side a little proper Vessell maruailously faire and the neerer he came vnto it the fairer and richer it seemed for he saw great clearnesse
comming hether he will haue of you Tribute as hee hath of other Marchants and as for your stones twoo of them that I sée yonder if you giue them for your Tribute hee will bee well content and Sir I shall aid you in your marchandize to the best of my power the Admirall is a noble man in his Lawe and of great credence Fréend quoth Huon I thanke you for the courtesie that you shew mee but Sir I pray you shew me the stones that be of so much vertue I would haue the best laid apart from the other When Barnard heard howe Huon desired him to shewe the vertue of the stones then especially hee shewed Huon sixe stones and he drew them out from the rest and laide them vppon Huons shéeld and so chose out Thirtie other and shewed them all vnto Huon and sayd Sir these Thirtie stones that I haue layde vppon your sheeld are of so great value that there is neither King nor Emperour that can pay the value of them and especially of fiue of them and when Huon heard that he was right ioyfull Then hee would hide no longer himselfe from Barnard and also because of the great heat that hee was in he did put off his helmet the which hee kept on all that season because he would first know of Barnard some tidings ere hée would be knowne vnto him for hee knew his Coozen Barnard well ynough at his first comming vnto him Chap. CXIIII ¶ How Huon of Bourdeaux and Barnard his Cozen acknowledged themselues eache to other and shewed the discourse of their aduentures WHen Barnard sawe Huon put off his helmet hee became as ruddie as a Rose and was so rauished that he wist not what to say or thinke and sayde Sir I cannot say truly what you bee but you resemble so much like Huon whome I séeke for that I cannot tel whether you be he or not Coozen quoth Huon come hether vnto mee and embrace me I am hée whom you doe seeke for and so they embraced each other in such wise that of a long space they could not speake one to another at last Huon sayde My right deare Coozen I pray you shewe vnto mée all the newes that you know of Bourdeaux since my departing Sir quoth Barnard I shall shewe you that I would faine know my selfe but first Sir I pray you shew vnto mee the aduentures that you haue hadde since your departing from Bourdeaux Coozen quoth Huon if I should shew you all the Aduentures and Fortunes that I haue had since my departing from you it would be ouer-long to rehearse it but breefely I shall declare it vnto you When I was vppon the Sea a great Tempest rose vppon vs the which continued the space of Ten dayes without ceasing and then Huon shewed him how he was in the Gulfe and what perill he was in there and how he spake with Iudas and how he arriued at the Castle of the Adamant and how his companie there died by famine and how he entred into the Castle and slewe the Serpent and shewed him of the beautie and aduentures that were in the Castle and how he was borne vnto a Rocke by a Griffen and how he slew the fiue young Griffens and afterward the great Griffen whose foote was in the Ship the which hee shewed vnto Sir Barnard and discoursed of the Fountaine and Garden and Trée of youth and of the Shippe the which they were in and how he found it by the Riuer and how by the voice of the Angell he entred into the Shippe and afterwards hee shewed what great paine and perill hée suffered in passing the Gulfe of Persia and howe hee was perforce driuen a shoare and there he cast in the stones thinking it had been grauell and how he was as then come and arriued at the great Citie of Thauris in Persia When Barnard had well heard and vnderstood Huon he embraced him and sayd Ah right deare and vertuous Knight to whome in prowesse and hardinesse none can bee compared of your comming I ought to bee ioyfull and I thanke our Lord God of the grace that he hath sent you Sir quoth Huon I ought greatly to thanke our Lorde Iesus Christ in that I sée you in good health and nowe I pray you to shewe mee what hath fallen in the Countrey of Bourdeaux since I departed from thence Then Barnard all wéeping shewed him euerie thinge as it had fallen and shewed vnto Huon the manner howe the good Citie of Bourdeaux was taken and of the death of the old Gerames and his companie and of the taking of the noble Duchesse the faire Escleremond and how the Emperour held her in prison in the Citie of Mayence in great pouertie and misery and of his Daughter Clariet howe he had brought her vnto the Abbey of Cluny and set her in keeping there with the Abbot her Coozen When Huon had well vnderstoode Barnard hee made great sorrow in his heart and sayd if God would ayd and helpe him hee would cause the Emperour to die an euill death Sir quoth Barnard will you appease your selfe if you haue trust in our Lord God desire of him aid succour and let the whéele of fortune runne and if you doe thus and take in woorth any thing that is fallen vnto you you shall not faile but come vnto your desire thus with such words Barnard appeased Huon his Coozen and thus they deuised together of diuers things Coozen quoth Huon I pray you to shewe mee the vertue of these precious stones that you haue layd aside from the other Sir quoth Barnard the fiue that lyeth there by themselues haue great vertue this stone is of such great vertue that he that beareth it vppon him cannot bee poysoned also it is of such dignitie and woorth that whosoeuer doe beare it may go and come thorow fire without féeling of any heate though hee were in a hot burning Ouē also if a man fall into the water hauing this stone about him hee cannot sinke nor drowne Sir this is the vertue of this first stone Then Huon tooke it and kept it for himselfe and then Barnard tooke vp another and sayd Sir heere is another stone of such vertue that a man bearing it about him can haue neither hunger thirst nor colde nor shall not waxe elder by séeming neither in bodie nor visage but he shall euer seeme to bée of the age of Thirtie yeares nor fasting shall not impaire him Then Huon tooke that stone and put it into his bagge and said that hee would keepe that stone for himselfe Well quoth Barnard Sir heere is another of such bountie and vertue that he that beareth it cannot bee hurt in armes nor vanguished by his enemies and if any of his kinne were blind and touch but his eyes with this stone incontinent he shall sée againe and if the stone be shewed vnto a mans eyes he shall incontinent bée blind and if a man be wounded doe but turne this stone
shew you at length all mine aduentures without hyding of any thinge from you Sir knowe for troth my name is Huon and I was borne in the Countrey of Fraunce in a Citie named Bourdeaux and I departed from thence about two yeres past since the which time I haue suffered much paine and pouertie When I departed from thence I had with mee Seauen Knightes and my Chaplaine and a Clarke to serue him and we tooke our Shippe at Bourdeaux and wee sayled downe the Riuer vntill wee came into the maine Sea then the wind rose against vs and so continued a long space so that our Patrone knew not where he was and so at the last we came to a Port whereas wee found many shippes of strang Countreys and there we got vs a new Patron and as shortly as we might wée sayled foorth on our iourney But when wée were come againe into the hye Sea a great Tempest arose so that wee were neere hand all perished this Tempest endured Tenne dayes so that wee were faine to abandon our shippe to the wind and vppon the eleauenth day we arriued at the perilous Gulfe whereas wee found Iudas who betrayed our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ wee were then in such feare that wee looked for nothinge but when wee shoulde perish and end our liues but God alwayes his Seruants and such as beleeue in his holy Lawes and keepe his Commaundements will euer kéepe and preserue them hee sent vs a wind the which draue vs from that perilous Gulfe and brought vs vnto the Castle of the Adamant and there hee shewed the Admirall at length the beautie of that Castle and howe there arriued a shippe with Sarazins who were Pirats of the Sea and howe they fought together and also he shewed him all the aduentures of the Castle that he had there as well of his men that dyed by famine as of them that hee left there and also hee discoursed howe hee â—ame by victuâ—ls and also hee shewed how hee departed from thence and was borne away by the Griffen and how he strake off one of her Legges when hee fought with her after the Griffen had set him vppon the Rocke the which Legge hee shewed vnto the Admirall whereof he had woonderfull great maruell and then also he shewed him how he fought with the fiue young Griffens and slew them and also of the old Griffen and also of the Fountaine wherein hee bathed himselfe and of the faire Garden and of the Trée of youth that stood by the Fountaine and of the vertue of the fruit thereof and howe hee did gather of the same and more woulde haue done but that hee was forbidden so to doe by an Angell sent from God but before I was commaunded to the contrarie I did both eat of the fruit and dranke of the water of the Fountaine whereby I was whole incontinent of all the great wounds that the Griffens had giuen mée when I slewe them And Sir quoth Huon knowe for troâ—h that of this Trée I gathered thrée apples by the commandement of the Angell and haue kept thâ—m surely then the Angâ—ll shâ—wed mée the way howe I shoulde goe from the Rocke and vnder the Rock side I found a great faire Riuer and there I found this shippe that we be now in and entred into it and then there came a wind quoth he and draue my shippe so fast that a bird could not haue ouertaken it Then hee discoursed vnto the Admirall howe hee passed by â—he Gulfe of Persia and what torments hee suffered there and howe hee was there ten dayes and how he was driuen to the shâ—are whereas he found â—hose precious stones and he thought that it had beene nothing 〈◊〉 grauâ—ll and that hee purposed nothing else but to ballâ—â—ice therewith his ship that the ship might sayle the more surely and he saide Sir God vppon whome I stedfastly beleeue so aided and succoured mee that I am escaped from thence in sauegard When the Admirall had well heard and vnderstood Huon hee had great maruaile for hee neuer heard before of so great and woonderfull aduentures and was sore dismayed and abashed and saide Fréend I haue great maruaile of that I haue heard you say for it is neere hand six-score yeares since I came first into this world and I neuer heard that euer any man escaped aliue out of the Gulfe of Persia therefore you may well say that the God vpon whome you doe stedfastly beleeue hath shewed that hee loueth you well when hee hath saued and preserued you out of that perilous Gulfe your God is puissant and loueth all men that stedfastly and vnfainedly beleeue in his holy Lawes and keepe his Commaundements and hee is false and vntrue that beleeueth not in his Lawes but hee loueth you well when hee hath deliuered you out of twoo such Gulfes and also from the Castle of the Adamant from whence none can depart nor neuer did nor I thinke neuer shall and also hath suffered you to slay the Griffens surely you ought to loue him that hath giuen you that grace and for the great maruailes that he hath done vnto you I will be christened and receiue your Lawe but I feare me if my Lords and men knewe thereof they would slay me shortly for against them all I cannot resist Sir quoth Huon to the entent that you should haue the firmer beléefe in our Lord Sauiour Iesus Christ I haue three Apples the which haue such vertue in them that if you will beleeue in our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ I shall giue you one of them the which you shall eate and incontinent after you haue eaten it you shall become young againe of the age of Thirtie yeares and you shall bâ—e as faire and as lustie as you were when you were of that age there is not so olde a man nor so crooked if hee eate of this and beleeue firmely and vnfainedly in our Lord Iesus Christ but hee shall become as yong and as lusty as he was at Thirtie yéeres of age Freend quoth the Admirall if it bee so that by eating of this Apple I shall become as young and as lusty as I was at Thirtie yéeres of age whatsoeuer come of mée I will bee christened and beleeue in the Lawe of Iesus Christ the feare of death shall not let me to doe it for too longe I haue beleeued in this false and detestable Lawe of Mahomet for if I hadde neither seene nor heard no more then you haue shewed vnto mée I ought to beleeue yet in your Law and I shall doe so much that I trust I shall cause all my Realme to beleeue in the same Sir quoth Huon and if you doe as you say you shall be saued and I shall giue you the Apple the which you shall eat in the presence of all your Lordes and men and when they shall sée you waxe young againe know for troth that maruaile thereof shall cause them to beleeue in our Lord Iesus Christ and to
renounce their false and detestable Law of Mahomet Fréend quoth the Admirall I beleeue well that which you say and I shall vse my selfe after your aduise Then the Admirall tooke Huon by the hand and went together out of the shippe and Huon left Barnard there to keepe it many people were come thether to sée the Shippe and also for the great maruailes that they had heard fallen vnto Huon and they beheld Huon and hadde great maruaile of the honour that the Admirall made vnto him for hee led him still by the hand â—ntill hee came to his Pallaice as they passed through the Citie they were greatly regarded of men of sundrie Nations for Huon was so faire in his visage and so valiaunt a Knight in â—â—ature that none could bee found as then that might bee compared vnto him When Huon was come to the Pallaice whereas hee was honourably receiued with great ioy the Admirall made him great feast and chéere and the Tables were set vp and they sat downe to dinner of their seruice and meats I will make no long rehearsall but when dinner was done the Admirall commaunded Carpenters to make a great scaffold of Timber before the Pallaice the which was couered with rich cloathes of gould and silke and thether was brought a riche Standard of gould with other thinges and then hee commaunded throughout the Citie that all his Lordes and Barons of his Realme that were come thether vnto his frée Feast that they should all come vnto him at an houre appointed the which they did there came so many strangers and other that there were moâ— assembled together then a Hundred and Fiftie Thousand men When they were all there assembled together then the Admirall holding Huon by the hand mounted vpon the rich stage and diuers other great Lordes with him and when they were there the Admirall stoode vp and sayd with a hye voice vnto the Lordes and to the people Sirs yée that bee come hether by my commaundement knowe for troth the great loue that I haue had vnto yée and haue mooueth me to say and to shew you the way how that I and al you may come to eternall Saluation for if wee die in this case that we bee in wee shall bee all damned and loste by the false and detestable way that you and I doe hold therefore I counsaile and pray you for the loue that you haue longe borne vnto mee that you will leaue with mee the Law of Mahomet and beleeue in the Law of our Sauiour and Redéemer Iesus Christ who is worthy and holy as yée may sée by the euident miracles that he hath shewed for this poore Knight that yée sée héere by mée Then the Admirall shewed vnto the people all the maruailous aduentures that had fallen vnto Huon that is to say how he had béene at the Castle of the Adamant and how the Griffen did beare him from thence whome hee slewe and fiue of the young Griffens and also of the Fountaine and Garden and of the fruit of the Trée of youth and how he had passed the two Gulfes whereas he had taken the rich stones that he had brought thether the which thinges could not haue been without the ayd and helpe of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ and also hee shall shew before you euident Miracles that Iesus Christ will doe for me if I will take his Lawe for hee sayth vnto mee that if I will beleeue in his God hee will make mée to eate of such a holy fruite by the which I shall become againe but of the age of Thirtie yeares and as lusty as I was at that time and therefore Sirs if Iesus Christ will doe this for me I will be christened Then all the people answeared and sayd Sir if this that you haue sayd come to proofe wee shall be all content to bee christened and to beleeue vppon the Lawe of Iesus Christ and to leaue the law that wee haue longe kept but wee are hard of beleefe that this shall bee for if it be so there was neuer heard of such a wâ—onderfull Miracle Chap. CXVI ¶ Howe the Emperour by reason of the Apple that Huon gaue him to eat he became of the age of Thirtie yeares whereby hee and all the people of Persia and Media were christened and of the great honour that the Admirall made vnto Huon WHen Huon hadde well heard and vnderstood the Lords and the people how they were content to leaue their Lawe and to beleeue vppon Iesus Christ he was right ioyfull and thanked God with all his heart then Huon sayde vnto the Admirall Sir eate of the Apple that I haue giuen vnto you and then the people that be here assembled shall sée what grace our Lord God shall send you the Admirall tooke the Apple and began to eate thereof and as he did eate hee beganne to change colour his haire and his beard the which were white beganne to change and waxe yellow before the Apple was cleane eaten he was cleane changed and his beautie and strength as he was when he was but of Thirtie yeares of age Then generally all the people that were there with one voice cried and required to bee cristened whereof the Admirall and Huon were right ioyfull because they sawe that the good will and desire of the people was to receiue Christendome When the Admirall felt himselfe againe younge and lusty the ioy that he had at his heart could not be declared the people also were right ioyfull the Admirall who was a goodly Prince tooke Huon by the hande and sayde My right déere Fréend blessed be the houre that you came hether for me and my people you haue brought vs into the way of Saluation and deliuered vs out of darkenesse therefore I will from hencefoorth that in all my Realme you shall haue your part as well as my selfe and I will and commaund that you be so obayed then he embraced and kissed Huon more then Tenne times saying Fréend blessed bee the good houre that euer you were borne and happie was that woman that bare you in her bodie the Paynims and Sarazins that were there séeing the great beautie that the Admirall was of and also the woonderfull great Miracle that they had seene sayd one to another how they neuer hadde heard of such a Miracle and how that from thencefoorth they that would beleeue vppon Mahound were accursed and vnhappie for they sayd that his beleefe his lawe his doctrine was of no valour then they cryed with a hye voice Oh right noble and puissant Admirall desire that noble man that is there with you that hee will cause vs to receiue Christendome And as then in the Citie there was a Bishop of Greece who was come thether in ambassage to the Admirall from the Emperour of Constantinople who hearing the will and desire of the people was right ioyfull and hee came vnto the Admirall and to Huon and sayd Sir it shall bee no daunger for you to bee
christened for Sir I am heere readie to doe it Then incontinent there was brought foorth Fortie great Vessels full of cleare water the Bishop did hallowe them and christened the Admirall and named him Huon because Huon was his Godfather Then afterward all the Lords and people were christened and receiued the Lawe of our Sauiour and Redéemer Iesus Christ When they were all christened the Admirall with great triumph and ioy returned vnto his Pallaice leading Huon by the hand and great ioy and feasting was made that day in the Citie and especially of the Christian Marchants that were there among the which there were about fiftéene Priests and they all aided the Bishoppe to christen the people the number could not be declared of the men women and children that receiued that day christendome The Admirall being in his Pallaice making great ioy and Feasting with the noble Duke Huon of Bourdeaux sayd vnto him Freend well you ought to render thankes to our Lord Iesus Christ séeing by you these two Realmes that is to say Persia and Media are reduced and brought vnto the Christian faith and Lawe and I will that you knowe that you may well say that in these two Realmes you may commaund any thing at your pleasure without finding any person to doe or say to the contrarie of your will and pleasure and to the entent that you shall surely beleeue what great loue and affection I beare vnto you I will that mine all onely Daughter you shall haue to your wife so that you be not bound vnto none other Sir knowe for troth the great desire that I haue to haue you tarie still heere with me mooueth mee thus to doe I haue none other heire but my Daughter whereby after my death you shall bee Lorde and heire of the Realmes and Dominions that I hold and in the meane season I will that the moitie of the reuenewes of these Realmes and Dominions shall bee yours for your companie pleaseth mée so entirely that I would neuer haue you to depart from hence Chap. CXVII ¶ Of the complaints that Huon made vnto the Admirall of Persia vppon the Emperour of Almaine and of the succours that the Admirall promised vnto Huon WHen Huon had well vnderstood the Admirall hee saide Sir knowe for troth that it is foure yéeres passed since I was maried vnto a noble Ladie who passeth in beautie all other that be aliue in these dayes and when I remember her all my bodie and heart trembleth for sorrow when I thinke of the trouble displeasure and pouertie that shee is in and therefore Sir I thanke you of the great honour and courtesie that of your bountie you offer mée I pray vnto God that hee may reward you Huon quoth the Admirall seeing it is so that you haue a Wife I hold you wel excused but I pray you to shew vnto me for what cause your Wife is in such case or what Christian Prince is so hardie as to trouble you or to doe you any displeasure Sir quoth Huon when I came out of my Countrey I left my Citie of Bourdeaux besieged by the Emperour of Almaine who hath taken my Citie and slaine my men and some hee keepeth in seruage and my Wife put in prison and there kept in great pouertie and miserie the which when I remember sorrowe and gréefe so sore gripeth my heart that all my members and ioynts tremble with displeasure Huon quoth the Admirall I pray you to leaue your sorrow and displeasure and cast it from you and take ioy and comfort for by the holy law that I haue receiued I shall so ayde and succour you that the Emperour who hath done vnto you so many displeasures I shall make him such warre that whether he will or not for the dammage and losse that you haue had and receiued I shall constraine him to make full restitution for I shall lead with me in your company such number of people that all the Valleys and Mountaines shall be couered with them Sir quoth Huon of the courtesie and succour that you offer me I humbly thanke you but if it please our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ who hath ayded mee out of many perils I hope that he will so aide mee that I shall not neede to make any warre to destroy the Christian bloud but Sir first I shall goe to the holy Sepulchre and then I will returne into my Countrey and doe what I can to get my Wife out of daunger and the paine that shee is in Sir the wife that I haue wedded was Daughter to the Admirall Gaudise who held as then Babilon and all the Realme of Egipt Then Huon shewed him all the matter how he came by the faire Escleremond whereof the Admirall was sore abashed for the great maruailes that hee hadde heard Huon declare and so were all other that heard it and said one to another that without Huon had beene well beloued of our Lord Iesus Christ hée could neuer haue escaped the death with one of the least aduentures that he had shewed vnto the Admirall Sir quoth Huon the Emperour of Almaine hath taken my Citie and my Wife and destroyed my men and hath taken into his handes all my Lands and Signiories but by the grace of God I shal doe so much to get them againe and if I cannot attaine thereto then I shall returne againe vnto you to haue your succour and ayd Huon quoth the Admirall put all melancholy from you for if you giue mee knowledge that you cannot haue your wil of this Emperour I shall bring you people innumerable that all Christendome shall tremble for feare of you and shall render vnto you your wife and al your Lands and Signiories and your men that bee in prison or in seruage and I shall put the Emperour into your hands to doe with him your pleasure or else I shal not leaue in all his Land neither Citie nor towne standing vppon the earth Sir quoth Huon of this I thanke you heartily but Sir I must woorke another way first for when I escaped from the Gulfe of Persia I promised vnto God that before I went into mine owne Countrey to goe and visite the holy Sepulchre in Ierusalem and to make warre vppon the Sarazins before I made any warre vppon any Christian men but Sir if I may get of the Emperour by faire speach my Landes and my wife I shall serue him with all my heart for as long as I liue I shall make no warre against any christian man if I may haue right and reason shewed vnto mee Sir quoth the Admirall of this that you say I giue you good thankes but by the grace of God I shall goe with you the Voyage to the holy Sepulchre and take with mee fiftie Thousand men to make warre against the Paynims and Sarazins such as beleeue not in God and I shall put to my paine with all my power to exalt and encrease the lawe of our Lord Iesus Christ Sir quoth Huon
you haue sayde nobly if you thus doe great grace and glorie perpetuall you shall deserue whereby you shal be crowned aboue in the Emperiall Heauen Nowe leaue wee to speake of this matter Chap. CXVIII ¶ Howe the Admirall of Persia assembled much people and hee and Huon with all his armie tooke the Sea and came to the Port before the Citie of Angory whereas they found a great number of Paynims and Sarazins readie to defend the Port. AFter that the Admirall and Huon had deuised together of many thinges the Admirall sent out his letters and bréefes commaunding through-out Persia and Media men of warre to bee readie and gaue them a day to bee readie to goe with him certifying them that his Nauie of Shippes should be readie for the transporting of him and them the which was done and euerie man came at the day that was assigned In the meane season Huon and Barnard went oftentimes together and visited the Citie of Thauris whereas much honour was made vnto them whereof Huon and Barnard oftentimes thanked God of the good aduenture that he had sent them Thus as yée haue heard the Admirall of Persia assembled a great number of people and made him readie and entred into his shippe and all other into diuers Shippes and shipped their Armour and horses and Huon who desired to please the Admirall tooke his owne little Shippe and discharged it and tooke all the precious stones did put them into another ship the which the Admirall had deliuered to serue him and then he sayd vnto the Admirall Sir I know well that the little ship that I came in hether is not to serue in the warres and therefore Sir as it is I doe giue it vnto you whereof the Admirall had great ioy for in all the world there was none such of beautie nor of riches Then Huon gaue the Admirall all a Bushell of the stones and vnto the Lordes together and they thanked Huon of his courtesie and Larges of all the stones he kept to his owne vse but thrée Hundred and gaue away all the residue Then hee entred into the Shippe that was appointed for him and then euerie man entred into their Shipps the which were well fournished and victualed for the wars then the Admirall tooke his leaue of his Daughter who pitifully wept at her Fathers departing and then they weighed vp anchors and hoysed vp the sayles and they had such good winde that anon they were farre from the Port A goodly sight it was to beholde the Nauie for at their departing they made such great noyse with Trumpets Drummes and Hornes that all the Sea did ring thereof Great ioy and gladnesse had Huon and Barnard of the grace that God had sent them so longe they sayled with good winde and sayle that they entred into the great Sea of Caspis and then they saw a farre off a faire City standing by the Sea-side called the Citie of Angory wherein there dwelt an Admirall right puissant and rich and the same time he was in one of his Towers of his Pallaice and when he saw and perceiued such a puissant Nauie come sayling so fast towardes his Citie hee had great maruaile and was sore dismayed and abashed for he knewe well that the Shippes were of Persia by the penons and banners that hee sawe wauing vppon the shippes and vpon the other part he sawe in the toppes and fore-castles baners standing all of white and therein red crosses then he said vnto his Lordes that were about him Sirs I am greatly dismayed and abashed what meaneth yonder great fléete séeing this Citie was wonne by Reignard of Montauban there came neuer Christian man heere and I haue more maruaile to sée the bannâ—rs and armes of Persia the which these Christian men doe bearâ— vpon their shippes Then the Admirall went downe and published in the Citie that euerie man should arme them and goe to the Port to defend it that the christian men should not land there then the crie and allarum began in the Citie so great and horrible with the noyse of Trumpets and Drummes Hornes and Basons so that the noyse of them range vppon the Sea so that the Admirall of Persia and Huon and such as were vpon the sea might well heare them Then the Admirall said vnto Huon Sir I see and perceiue well that at our landing wee shall haue great battaile and resistance Sir quoth Huon I pray you what people be they that haue that City in guiding and who is Lord thereof Sir quoth the Admirall knowe for troth that this Citie is great and well peopled they beleeue not in God and about Twentie yeares passed this Citie was wonne by a Lord of Fraunce called Reignard of Montauban and hee made it to bee christened and then about eight yeares after it was wonne againe vpon Christian men by the Admirals Sonne the which Admirall was Lord thereof when it was wonne And now againe they bee all Paynims and Sarazins as you may sée vpon the sea-side they are readie to abide for vs and to defend their Port. Sir quoth Huon we ought greatly to thanke our Lord Iesus Christ of this faire aduenture when we sée before vs the enemies of our Christian faith and by the grace of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ this day we shall doe so much that the Citie and the Inhabitants therein shall be in our handes to vse them at our pleasure Sir quoth the Admirall I beséech almightie God to giue vs the grace that it may be so great grace our Lord God shall doe vnto vs if wee may winne this Citie Then the Admirall caused his men to bee armed and then they sawe halfe a League from the Citie a Port or Hauen the which was not kept nor defended because the Admirall of Angory would not yssue out farre from his Citie vntill hee sawe what countenance the christian men would make Then the Admirall of Persia and Huon aduanced themselues so forward that they cast out their anchors and launched out their boats well garnished with men Archers and Crosbowes so that they landed at this Port in sauegard without any danger Then the shippes drew to the land and vnshipped their Armour and Horses and so euerie man landed except such as were assigned to keepe the shippes and then euerie man mounted vpon their horses and ordained three Battailes the first was led by Huon and with him twentie Thousand men of hautie and hye courage the second was ledde by a great Lord of Persia who was Marshall of the Hoast the third guided the Admirall of Persia who road from ranke to ranke admonishing his men to doe their endeauours valiantly then a soft pace they drewe in battaile array towards the Citie Chap. CXIX ¶ Howe the Admirall and Huon tooke the Port and fought with the Admirall of Angory and dicomfited him and tooke the Citie and howe afterward Huon went into the Deserts of Abillant to search aduentures WHen the Admirall of
Angory sawe and perceiued that the christian men hadde taken land and were readie to giue battaile and were comming towardes the Citie hee ordained ranged his Battailes and deuided them into foure parts and set them to be led and guided by such as hee thought best then he aduaunced forward and was to the number of fiftie Thousand men When these twoo Hoastes sawe each other there was none of them but that feared the death the day was faire and cleare and so they approached and all at a rush on both partes dashed together in such wise that by reason of the pouder and dust that did rise by their horses the Sunne that was faire and bright waxed darke and â—he shot on both partes flewe so fast and as thicke as though it had snowed At their first méeting many speares were broken and many a Knight borne to the earth so that they could neuer be releeued after but lay on the ground among the horse feete and there died in dolour there were many horses running abroad trayling their bridles after them and their Masters lying dead vppon the earth in the bloud and in the myre Great slaughter there was made vppon both parts and Huon who went breaking the great preasses whereas hee slewe so many Paynims that euerie man feared him he saw where the Admirall of Angoryes Nephew was who had slaine a christian Knight and they ranne so fiercely each at other that the Paynim brake his speare vppon Huon and Huon fayled him not but gaue him so maruailous and so great a stroake that his Speare passed through his bodie and so he fell downe to the earth and died Then Huon ranne at another and gaue him such a maruailous stroake that it passed through his sheeld and bodie and with drawing out of the speare hee fell to the earth and neuer reléeued after and so they thrée and foure more hee serued in like manner and did so valiantly behaue himselfe that he slewe eight before his Speare brake and then he drew out his Sword and therewith hee did such déedes that it was fearfull to behold him hee cut legges and armes and rassed off helmets so that none of his enemies durst approach néere vnto him but they fledde before him as the birde doth before the Hauke hee brake asunder the thicke preasses hee did so to bee feared that his enemies left him for hee neuer strooke any man with a full stroake but hee that receiued it was slaine Also with him was Barnard his Coozen who euer followed him and did maruailes in armes for hee was a sharpe and an eager Knight And also the Admirall of Angory enforced himselfe to doe dammage vnto the Christian men hée sawe where the Admirall of Persia was slaying of his men and came and ranne at him and the Admirall of Persia sawe him and encountred with him by such force and puissance that each of them bare the other to the earth then quickly they releeued themselues with their Swords in their hands willing both of them to slay each other the which had beene done indéede if their men had not come and succoured them but thether came so many on both parts that the twoo Admirals hadde no power one of them to touch the other With great force came thether Paynims and Sarazins so that the Christian men could not remount vp againe the Admirall of Persia but was faine to fight a foote and hadde beene in great ieopardie and danger if Huon and Barnard had not come and rescued him they came thether hastily when they heard the showting and crying that was made about the Admirall of Persia and they brake asunder the great preasse of the Paynims And when they saw Huon approach neere vnto them they were sore afraid and they knewe him well and parted and spread abroad and durst not abide and Huon seeing the Admirall of Persia a foot among his enemies with his Sword valiantly defending himselfe which should but little auailed if he had not beene quickly succoured and when Huon sawe him hee sayde Oh right puissant Admirall haue no doubt then Huon tooke a Speare out of the handes of a Paynim whom hée had slaine and therewith he ranne at the Admirall of Angory and gaue him so horrible and so vehement a stroake that the Speare passed through his bodie more then a foote and so hee fell downe dead among his men whereof the Paynims were sore dismayed and abashed when they saw their Lord lye dead vppon the earth and then Huon quickly tooke the Admirals horse by the raine of the bridle and came vnto the Admirall of Persia whereas he was fighting a foote and said Sir mount vppon this horse for the Paynims and Sarazins are discomfited Sir quoth the Admirall blessed bee the houre that eâ—er you were borne for by your excellent Prowesse I am saued and all mine Hoast and haue vanquished and ouercome mine enemies Then the Admirall mounted vppon the good horse whereof he was right ioyfull and so he and Huon and Barnard dealt such stâ—â—â—kes amonge the Paynims and Sarazins that they were constrained to â—y and to turne their backes and then they were chaced by such force that they entred into the Citie one with another then the Christian men sâ—ewe the Paynims and Sarazins men women and children that great pitie it was to 〈…〉 lye dead vppon heapes in the stréets so that the bloud of them that were slaine ran through the streets to the horse pastours finally by the hye prowesse of Huon and by the puissaâ—â—e of the Admirall of Persia the Paynims and Sarazins were discomfited in the Citie of Angory When the slaying was ceased and that the Admirall and Huon sawe how that they hadde ouercome their enemies they ceased slaying of the people and they went into the Temples Towers and Pallaices wherein many Paynims and Sarazins were withdrawne they were taken to mercie promising to saue their liues if they would leaue the false and detestable Lawe of Mahomet and beléeue in our Sauiour and Redéemer Iesus Christ and so many were christened and such as would not were slaine When the Admirall and Huon sawe that the Citie was become christened then they set their Officers Prouosts and Baylifes to gouerne the Citie and with them two Thousand persons to keepe the Citie Thus they taried there by the space of Eight dayes and theÌ„ they made readie to depart and trussed new vittayled their shippes and then they entred into their shippes and the trompets busins and tabors made great noyse and the Marriners weyed vp their anchors and hoysed vp their sayles and sayled so long vntill they were out of the Sea of Caspus and entred into the great floud of Euphrates the which descendeth into the great Sea and when they were passed the Riuer they coasted the deserts of Abilaunt the season was faire and cleare and the windâ— fresh Thus as they sayled by this great sea the Admirall and Huon stood at the boord side of
their shippe and deuised of their aduentures and praysed God of his grace for that he done vnto them Huon quoth the Admirall I haue great desire to sée the holy Citie where our Lord God was crucified and laid in the Sepulchre Sir quoth Huon by the grace of God wée shall right well and shortly come thether and I hope hée shall doe vnto vs farre greater grace yet as to ayde vs to conquer and to destroy all those in our way that beléeue not on our holy Lawe for that is the chéefest entent of our Voyage Thus they deuised together the space of eight dayes without finding of any aduenture and so vppon an Euening Huon all alone stood leaning ouer the shippe board beholding the Sea the which was plaine and peaceable and then hee remembred the Duchesse Escleremond his Wife therewith the teares ran tenderly downe his visage and said Ah right noble Ladie when I remember what peril and daunger that I left you in and in what pouertie and miserie you bee in nowe I haue no ioynt nor member but that tremblesh for the displeasure that I am in and for feare least that the false Emperour cause you to die ere my returne then he beganne to make great sorrow and gréefe but Barnard who was not farre from him said Ah Sir you knowe well that in all the fortunes and aduentures that haue come vnto you God hath ayded you and saued you from the perill of death therefore take good comfort to your selfe and laud and praise our Lord God for that he sendeth vnto you and doubt not if you haue perfect hope and trust in him he will ayd and comfort you and he neuer forgetteth them that with good heart serue him Thus with such wordes Barnard comforted Huon and then the Admirall came and leaned down by Huon and they deuised together about diuers and sundrie matters The same time there arose vp a wind and Tempest so great and so horrible that the sayles were broken in diuers places and some Mastes brake and flew ouer the boards of the shippe the sea beganne to bee rough and furious so that euerie man thought to haue beene perished the fortune of this Tempest was so horrible as euerie man deuoutly called vpon our Lord God to saue them from the perill and daunger that they were in Sir quoth Huon I pray you to shewe mee what Countrey is yonder that I see before mée we were happie and fortunate if wee might arriue there and cast our anchors vnder the Rocke that I see there Sir quoth the Admirall wée bée arriued at an euill Port for wee bée néere to the Deserts of Abilaunt vppon yonder Mountaine that you sée is conuersant an enemie who hath caused many a ship and Vessell to be drowned in this Sea whereby wee bée all in great daunger to bee lost for none can approach to this Rocke but that he is strangled and slaine by the enemie that is there then euerie man was in great feare and the Admirall said vnto the Marriners Sirs I pray you if it may bee let vs drawe out of this quarter Sir quoth Huon mee thinkes you are too sore dismayed aâ—ashâ—d for by that Lord that made me to his semblance I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart vntill I knowe why that enemie causeth them to perish so fast this way I shall neuer rest vntill I haue spoken with him and if hee doe any thinge contrarie to my pleasure I shall strike off his head Huon quoth the Admirall I haue great maruaile of that you doe saye for if there were fiue Hundred such as you bée within one houre you should bée all dead and stangled Sir quoth Huon doubt not you that for though I should die in the quarrell I will goe sée him and knowe the cause why hée letteth or troubleth this passage before it be three dayes to an end I shal goe and speake with him what fortune soeuer commeth thereof Sir quoth the Admirall in you it is to doe your owne will for since it pleaseth you I must bee content but if you would beleeue mée you should not take vpon you that Voyage and Enterprize Sir quoth Huon all smiling I haue my hope and trust in almightie God who hath heeretofore saued me from death and so I hope he will doe yet for it is a common prouerbe sayd hee whome God will ayde and succour no man can hurt Sir quoth the Admirall I pray vnto our Lord God to defend you from all euill and to giue you the grace to returne againe in sauegard Sir quoth Huon I thanke you heartily Then Barnard arose vp and saide Deare Coozen I require you to let me goe with you and then the Admirall sayd Sir I desire you to bee content that I and Barnard may keepe you companie and wee shall haue with vs for the more sauegard of our persons foure Hundred hardy Knights Sir quoth Huon by Gods grace I will goe alone none shall goe with mee but my selfe and Iesus Christ and his blessed Mother in whose sauegard I commit my selfe When Barnard heard that hee had great sorrowe at his heart and so had the Admirall when they sawe that they could not turne Huon from his dangerous Voyage and Enterprize Then Huon armed himselfe and tooke leaue of the Admirall and of the other Lords and of Barnard who made great sorrow for his Coozen Huon who all alone would goe into the Deserts to seeke aduentures When Huon hadde taken his leaue hee was set a shoare and made the signe of a crosse vpon his breasâ— then hee mounted vppon the Mountaine but ere hee was the halfe way a great wind arose vppon the Sea so that the Tempest was great and horrible whereby the cordes and cables of the shippes with the Admirall burst asunder and so perforce they were â—ain to take the Sea and sayle at aduenture as wind and weather would serue them whereuppon they were cast out of that great Sea whereof the Admirall and Barnard and all the other Lordes had great feare and greatly complained for Huon who alone without companie was mounted vppon the Mountaine and as hee was going hee looked downe into the Sea and sawe the maruailous Tempest that was in the Sea so that of two Hundred ships that hee had left there with the Admirall he could then sée no more but two together for al the rest were seperated one from another in great perill and danger Then hée began pitifully to wéepe and complayne for his Wife the faire Escleremond whome he thought then neuer to sée more because hee was in that Desert and sawe the shippes driuen from the land in great feare of loosing Then he kneeled downe and held vp his handes vnto Heauen requiring our Lord God of his pitie and grace to ayd and to giue him comfort that hee might escape from thence aliue and to saue the shippes and to bring them againe in sauegard to the place from whence they departed Then
and meete with the enemies of the Christian faith the which are come against vs therefore I desire euery one of you to shew me your opinions what in this case is best to be done Then Thibault King of Ierusalem arose vp and sayd Sir Admirall of Persia and Media mée thinkes you should not abide them heere but rather you ought to depart and to goe against your enemies for if you abide for them in this Citie you shall doe great dammage to this countrey for wée haue truce with the Souldan for fiue yeares the which with our honour wee cannot breake for if we would haue made warre against him we could not haue resisted against him and also wee are far off from Fraunce to seeke for succor and ayd there thus the King spake no more Then Duke Huon of Bourdeaux sayd Sir Admirall the King of Ierusalem hath shewed you the troth for if wee should abide heere it should bee alwaies to our reproach and shame if this holy Citie should bee lost the which was wonne by twoo noble Emperours of Rome and of Greece for the King that is heere his honour saued and the suertie of his countrey may not breake the Truce that hee hath taken with the Souldan of Babilon and therefore mine aduice is that as 〈◊〉 as we may commaund your men that be at Napelous 〈◊〉 to dislodge and to meete with you at Rames and then when you haue somewhat refreshed your Hoast then set forward towards your enemies as the Kinge of Ierusalem hath said for â— were great folly to giue them leasure to come too farre forward first let them knowe how the Swords and Speares of the Persians and Medians can strike who sometime did 〈◊〉 in armes wherefore it is reason that they followe nowe thâ—ir Predecessors When Huon had finished his reason the Admirall and all the other Lords that were there praised and held that counsaile good that was purposed by the King of Ierusalem and of Huon and then they departed and returned to their Chambers and Lodgings Then the Admirall commaunded hastily his Hoast to withdrawe towards Rames whereas hee would tarie for them the which thing was done diligently and the Hoast rested not vntil they came vnto Rames whereas they â—ound readie the Admirals Harbingers who had alreadie appointed their Lodgings Thus after that the Admirall had written to his Marshals of his Hoast then hee tooke his leaue of the King of Ierusalem and in like wise so did Huon and Barnard his coozen without knowledging of himselfe to the King of Ierusalem Then they departed from the holy citie and road so long that they came to the Towne of Rames whereas they found their Hoast lodged Then they rested them there vntill the next day and then the Admirall commanded them to dislodge and to make them readie to take the way towards Escalonne A goodly sight it was to see the Hoast dislodge Huon had thereof great ioy for hee desired rather to slay the Paynims then to bee in chambers with 〈◊〉 and Damsels When they were all in the feelds the Admirall ordained his Battailes the first guided Huon of Burdeaux and Barnard his coozen he had with him twentie Thousand Persians fierce and hardy the second Battaile ledde the Marshall of Persia with twentie Thousand of good mâ—n of warre the third Battaile led the Admirall of Persia and of Media and with him thirtie Thousand of the most valiantest men in his hoast and when euerie thing was ordained as it appertained hee went and visited them exhorting them to doe well their deuoyre and prayinge them to quit themselues valiantly then hee came vnto Huon and said Oh right deare and vertuous Knight garnished and repleat with al prowesse all my hope I put in the strength and vertue of your armes and bodie therefore I pray you this day to shewe out your great vertues wherewith you are garnished for especially for the loue of you and for your bountie I haue taken and receiued the holy baptisme whereof I laud and praise our Lord God of his grace that hee hath done vnto mee therefore I desire you this day to shew vnto the Sarazins that your Sword is to be feared Sir quoth Huon God giue mee grace to bee such a one as you say and to performe in me that which lacketh and Sir I trust by me it shall not be let but that this day our enemies shall haue no cause to praise nor to make their boast and therefore Sir let vs ride foorth surely for by the grace of God I haue hope that this day we shall make our enemies so much adoe that they shall haue scarce time and leasure to graunt vnto vs the Victorie Now as the Admirall and Huon were thus deuisinge together they sawe before them a farre off the ayre waxe thicke and that the Sunne lost his clearnesse whereof they had great maruaile because they sawe a little before the Sunne shine so faire and cleare there as they were anon they perceiued that the darknesse arose by reason of the dust rising of the Horses of their enemies who were hastily comming towardes them to haue taken them in their lodginge whereby they came all out of order trusting al in their great number of men for they were more then a hundred Thousand fearfull it was to sée them comming so fast they roade that the one hoast might sée the other When Huon had well perceiued them and saw their demeanour and disorder hee saide vnto the Admirall Sir well you ought to praise our Lord God for this day hee shall bring your enemies into your handes to slay them at your pleasure therefore Sir I counsaile you that incontinent we hasten and set vppon them to the entent that they shall haue no time nor leasure to assemble together to bring themselues in good order if wee doe thus there is no doubt but by the grace of God wee shall shortly discomfite them before they bee assembled Sir quoth the Admirall your opinion is good and reasonable let it be done as you haue deuised Then the Admirall commaunded the Marshals and Captaines of his hoast to march forward his Battailes against his enemies and then Trumpets and Drummes began to sound that it was maruaile to heare them and then they sette on towardes their enemies When the Souldan and they of his hoast sawe the Persians comming against them readie ranged in battaile hee called vnto him his Kinges and Admirals who were fiftéene in number and sayd vnto them Sirs it were good that our men rested still a season that wee may order and range our Battailes for yonder we may sée well our enemies comming Then stept foorth the Admirall of Dorbrey who was horrible and great to behold he was fiftéene foote of height and road vppon a goodly splayed Mare the most fairest and greatest that euer was séene shee had a great horne in her fore-head if shee were any thing chafed none durst approach néere vnto her but alonely
and as fortune was she ranne among the broken speares and dead men that lay vppon the ground so that shee stumbled thereby knéeled to the earth and the Gyant thought to gaue relieued her but he could not by reason of the weight that lay vppon her neâ—ke and by the great swiftnesse of her running she was faine to fall down to the earth When Huon saw and well perceiued that he was light and quicke and arose vppon his feete and when he sawe the Giant fallen downe and beganne to relieue he hasted him and lifted vp his Sword with both his handes and gaue the Gyant such a stroake vpon the helmet that he claue his head to the braines so that therewith he fell downe dead to the earth and then Huon seazed vppon the Mare by the raines of the bridle and leapt vppon her and had great ioy and so had the Persians and the Admirall had great ioy for it had beene shewed him how the Gyant had taken Huon and that he was escaped and had slaine the Gyant When Huon felt himselfe vpon the strong Mare hee dashed in amonge the Paynims and Sarazins and mette with the King of Olyfarne whome hee gaue such a stroake that he claue his head asunder then he ranne at the Admirall of Orcaâ—â—y who was Brother Germaine vnto the Souldan he gaue him such a stroake vppon the shoulder that hee strake off his arme so that it fell downe to the earth shéeld and all and when the Admirall felt himselfe hurt and wounded hee would haue fled away but Huon sitting vppon the Mare who was the swiftest of pace in all the world ranne after him and when Huon had ouertaken the Sarazin he gaue him such a stroake vppon the head that he claue it to his téeth and so hee fell downe â—â—ad to the earth whereby the Paynims and Sarazins were â—o affrayde that after that they durst not assemble together This was shewed vnto the Souldan howe the Gyant was slaine and fiue other Kinges and Admirals and his Brother also slaine and all by the hands of one Knight and also he saw his Battaile sore broken and how they beganne to flye wherefore he sawe well that if he taried there long he should be either slaine or taken then the King of Antiphoney who was néere paâ—ent to the Souldan came vnto him and sayd Sir thinke how to saue thy life for if thou tariest long heere there is none can saue thée for if the Knight that is with the Admirall of Persia happen to come hether thy life is lost therefore I counsaile thée to depart and saue thy selfe or else thou art but dead Then the Souldan and about Twentie men with him departed and tooke the way by the Sea-side to goe towards Acres the which as then appertained vnto the Sarazins and Huon who was mounted vppon the puissant Mare beating downe his enemies so that none durst abide his stroakes and the Admirall of Persia following him regarding that by the hye prowesse of Huon his enemies were confounded and discomfited and saw well how that there was no humane bodie that had any power to resist against him and escaped without death then hee sayd vnto all his Lords and to Barnard Sirs quoth the Admirall yonder before you yee may sée maruailes and thinges incredible to be declared for you may sée that there is none so puissant and strong that can resist against my Fréend Huon I would to God that he were vnmaried then hée should neuer depart from mée for I woulde then giue him my Daughter in mariage I shall bee verie sore displeased and discomforted when hee shall depart from me Thus as yee haue heard the Admirall of Persia and Media sayd vnto his companie and so slaying and beating downe the Paynims and Sarazins that fledde the Admirall and Barnard followed Huon but by reason of his good horse hee was so farre before them that they could not ouertake him for hee desired nothing so much as he did to ouertake the Souldan who was flying as fast as hée might towards the Citie of Acres When the Admirall saw that he could not ouertake Huon then he and Barnard entred in among the Sarazins who were flying away the Admirall and Barnard slewe and beat them downe that great pitie it was to sée and behold them for with the bloud of the dead Paynims and Sarazins their swoordes were taynted all red if I should shew all the hye Prowesse and maruailous déedes that were done there that day it would bée ouer-long to rehearse but I dare well say that by the great prowesse of Huon the Battaile was vanquished and cleane discomfited the Persians and Medians chaced the Paynims and Sarazins and slewe and did beat them downe the chace endured more then foure Leagues and the Admirall had great maruaile that he could not ouertake nor heare any thing of Huon who chaced still the Souldan and followed him so long that Huon found the Souldan all alone for his men could not follow him so fast because their Horses were so wearie that they coulde not goe no further the Souldan road vppon a puissant and a goodly horse and Huon who followed him vppon the puissant Mare anon ouertooke him and when he came néere to the Souldan he said Oh thou traiterous Souldan great shame and reproach thou maist haue when thou flyest away thus all alone without any company turne thy shéeld against mée or else I shall slay thée flying When the Souldan had well heard Huon hee hadde great maruaile and was greatly feared for hée knew well that it was he by whome he had receiued so great losse and damage and by whome many Kinges and Admirals had béene slaine and thought to himselfe if hée returned not that hee should bee slaine wherefore he tooke courage to himselfe seeing that Huon was alone aswell as he and also hee thought that it should not be long before he was succoured with some of his men that followed him and therefore like a hardy Knight he turned his horse head towards Huon who fiercely ranne one at another and gaue each other great stroakes But it had béene vnto the Souldan but small profite if hee had not béene rescued by his men for if they had not come when they did Huon had slaine him but thether came about fortie Knightes Sarazins and they all ranne at Huon who was sore dismayed and abashed when he sawe himselfe so inclosed with his enemies howbeit hee might haue saued himselfe well ynough if he had listed to haue fledde away but for any feare of them hee would not flye and he dealt such stroakes amonge them that there was none so hardy that durst approach néere vnto him so sore they feared him for hee strake none with a full stroake but that his head was clouen to the braines or to the teeth so that hee needed after no Surgeon When they sawe that they could not take nor slay him they were right sorrowfull and angrie then
the which was parted and deuided to such as it appertained so that they were all made rich Then the Admirall and Huon departed from the playnes of Rames and then they went and lodged in the Towne and in the morning they determined to tarie there three dayes to refresh them and vppon the fourth day they departed because it was shewed them how that the Souldan was departed from Sayre and gone by sea with a small companie to the Citie of Acres Then the Admirall and Huon drewe their Hoast towards Napelous and there taried two dayes and from thence they went to Iene and so to the Citie of Nazareth and visited that holy place whereas the Angell brought the salutation Angel-like to the Virgin Marie Then from thence they went to the Castle of Saffet and tooke it with assault and slew all them that were within it except such as would beléeue in our Lord Iesus Christ and then from thence they went and lodged within halfe a League of Acres and there pitcht vp their Tents and Pauillions and when they were all lodged their Foragers ranne abroad and brought to the Hoast great plentie of victuals often times they skirmished before the Citie of Acres But they coulde neither finde man nor woman that durst yssue out to doe any deede of armes there they lay eight dayes and no man did them any dammage for the Paynims and Sarazins were so affraid for the great losse and dammage that they had suffered that they durst not stirre nor make any semblance And the Souldan who was within wrote Letters into all his Countreys as well into Arabia Egipt Barbary and Europe as to all other his Fréends that they would come and succour him at his neede he sent diuers Messengers both by land and by sea and also hée sent into Antioch and into Damas and to all other places wheras he thought to haue any ayd or succour and vpon a day two Foragers of the Admirals went foorth vppon the Sea-side and they found by the way Trampoiguiffle the Souldans Messenger they tooke and brought him into the Admirals Tent and there hee was examined and his Letters taken from him the which were seene and read before the Admirall and Huon the which when they heard it and the contents therof thereby they knewe somewhat of the Souldans counsaile then they tooke the Messenger and brought him before the Citie of Acres and made there a paire of Gallowes and hanged vp the Messenger within the sight of the Souldan and of them there within the Citie The same day the Admirall assembled his Lordes and Barons in his Tent and said vnto them Sirs all you that bee heere assembled know that I haue great desire to know what thing is best to be done and how we shall vse our selues in this warre that we haue begunne you know well that the Victorie by the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and by the hye prowesse of Huon wee haue now obtained and haue heere our enemie inclosed who cannot flye except it be by the sea therefore I desire you all that euerie one of you will shew your aduise what is best to be done and that to morrowe about this time to giue me an answeare Then all the Lordes and Barons aduised together and so amonge them was diuers opinions and reasons howbeit they departed euerie man to their owne lodging because they had day of answeare and the next day following thus the day passed without any thinge done and at night euerie man went to rest except such as had the charge of the watch that night who went not to bed as is the order and custome of the warres Huon taried all that night in the Admirals Tent and about the houre of midnight Huon dreamed in his sleepe and thought that he was at the Citie of Mayence in prison and sawe the Emperour of Almaine take Escleremond his Wife out of prison and she séemed vnto him pale and leane and ill coloured and howe shee was in her Kirtle and her haire hanging about her shoulders and ten men leading her out of the Town to be burnt and he thought that she made pitious complaints for Huon her Husband and for Clariet her Daughter And also hee thought that he saw passe through the streets three Hundred Genlemen who had beene taken at Bourdeaux when the Citie was taken and he thought that he saw diuers Gallowes made and howe the Emperour had sworne to hang them all so that hee thought that hee was right sorrowful and sore gréeued in his mind to see that companie led toward their deaths for in his sleepe hee thought verily that all this had beene true and that he could not helpe it Thus as Huon was in this paine sleeping he gaue an horrible crie so that the Admirall and Barnard awoake therewith in hast thinkinge it had beene their enemies that had entred to haue slaine them then they heard Huon say Oh good Lord I pray thée euen for thy Sons sake and by thy pittie and grace to succour and comfort my good Wife for certainly I cannot tell but my heart thinketh that the false Emperour will cause her to die and all the other Prisoners Then the Admirall and Barnard arose vp and came vnto Huon and had well heard his complaints and sayd Ah Sir discomfort not your selfe nor giue no faith nor credence to dreames for the Emperour will neuer doe such a villany as to put to death so noble a Ladie it is nothinge but your thought and remembraunce that you haue dayly the which in the night representeth vnto you sléeping Ah Sir quoth Huon I cannot beleeue but that my Wife hath somewhat to do Alas too long haue I taried here but if your warres were at an end I would gladly go my way for I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart vntill I may knowe the troth Then they arose for it was day and the appointed houre was come that al the Lords of the counsaile should assemble together in the Admirals Tent and euerie man sat downe vppon benches well couered with cloath of gold and other rich clothes of silke and when they were there assembled the Marshall arose vp for he was a right sage wise man and sayd Sir Admirall wee haue communed together and debated the matter at length and wee haue had diuers opinions but wee bee all concluded to say nothing vntill that Huon who is there by you hath shewed first his opinion what hee thinketh is best to bee done in this matter for it is good reason that hee bee heard to speake first and then the Admirall beheld Huon and sayd My deare Freend you heare what my Lordes and Barons haue concluded together and how they all rest vppon you that first you shall say your aduise wherefore I require you for the loue of our Lord God to shewe mee what I ought to doe as you thinke best Chap. CXXIX ¶ How Huon of Bourdeaux counsailed the Admirall of Persia to
rayse vp his siege before Acres for diuers reasons and to returne into Persia WHen Huon hadde well vnderstood the Admirall and that he had well heard the Lordes and Barons that their opinions was that they would not speake vntill hee had first shewed his aduise and opinion then hee said vnto the Admirall Sir if it be your pleasure I ought not to beginne first this reason for you haue many Lordes that can speake better in this matter then I but séeing that it is your pleasure and theirs I shall shewe vnto you shortly mine aduise and as I would doe if I were as you are Then Duke Huon of Bourdeaux sayd Sir Admirall of Persia and of Media it is a long season since you departed from your Countrey Landes and Signiories and not without great trauaile and much paine and that God hath done you that grace that with one Armie all you haue passed and taken Castles and haue slaine and destroyed the Countreys and men of the Souldans of Babilon and of Egipt and haue béen at the holy Citie of Ierusalem the which is in the middest of his Countrey after that the Souldan hath fought with you with people innumerable whom you haue discomfited and slaine almost all they that were with him And also God hath giuen you the grace that you are safely escaped with little losse or dammage and now you haue in this Citie before vs besieged and inclosed in the Souldan your enemie who night and day doth imagine howe hee may recouer his losse as you may well knowe by his Letters sent by his Messengers the which you haue séene and red the contents of the same And Sir you may well thinke that hee hath sent diuers other Messengers aswell by Land as by Sea to his Fréendes to seeke for succour and for ayd in the intention to bee reuenged of you wherefore I counsaile you séeing you are so farre off from your Countrey as shortly as you can to depart from hence and to rayse your siege and to returne into your owne Countrey your men be wearie and sore trauailed and the Souldan is in his owne Countrey hée will alwayes assemble great numbers of people and alwayes hee may haue succour and victuals the which you cannot doe nor haue for héere without great paine you shall haue no victuall for the Country is sore fowled and oppressed and you can haue no succour from any part wherefore of necessitie you must depart the which you may doe without any losse For you may passe the Riuer of Euphrates before his people bee assembled to doe you any dammage and when the spring time of the yeare commeth if it bee your pleasure you may returne with such number of men as you shall thinke best for you are of puissance so to doe Sir this that I say is for nothing that I would forsake or leaue you as long as you be in these parts I had rather die although it be so as you well knowe that the thing that I ought most to desire is to depart from you and to goe into my owne Countrey whereas I haue left my Wife my Daughter and my Countrey in great pouertie and daunger of death and destruction Chap. CXXX ¶ Howe the Admirall of Persia agreed well to the counsaile of Duke Huon of Bourdeaux and praised his saying and of the faire offer that the Admirall of Persia made vnto Duke Huon of Bourdeaux WHen the Admirall had well hearde and vnderstoode Huon hee behelde his Lordes and all wéeping saide Sirs all you that be my men you haue all well heard Duke Huon who hath shewed his aduice and opinion and therefore I commaund and desire you all to shewe mee what you thinke by the saying of Huon then they all with one voice sayd Sir a more noble or profitabler counsaile no mortall man can giue for your wealth and suerty of your person and of vs all there was neuer man spake better and therefore all we pray and counsaile you to vphold the counsaile that hee hath giuen you Then the Admirall séeing that all his Lordes and Barons agréed to the counsaile that Huon had giuen him hee sayd Sirs as for mée since yoâ—â—re agréed thereunto I am readie to beléeue all good counsaile there was neuer a higher counsaile giuen vnto any Kinge or Prince and when the Admirall had saide howe that hee would beleeue the counsaile that Huon had giuen him hee called then Huon vnto him and sayd Sir Duke of Bourdeaux the pillar shéeld and sword of the Christian faith and the Defendour of the Persians and Medians I knowe well that by right I ought not to kéepe you for it is good reason that you returne thether where as you were borne and to ayde and comfort your true Spouse and Wife for whome you be in great discomfort and not without cause and therefore for the goodnesse and honour that wée haue found in you wée offer to goe with you in our owne proper persons with all our Armie and more to the number inestimable and to aide to reuenge you of the false Emperour of Almaine who hath doone to you so much ill and dammage or else if you will returne vnto vs into Persia at this next springe time we shall deliuer vnto you such puissance and my selfe to goe with them into Almaine so that the Valleys and Mountaines shall bee full of people and wee shall doe so much by the grace of our Lord God that wée shall deliuer the Emperour into your hands to doe with him at your pleasure When Huon had well heard and vnderstood the Admirall of Persia and of Media who offered him so great an offer hée sayd Sir of the courtesâ—e and kindnesse that you offer mee I thanke you with all my heart God forbid that I should be the causer of destruction of Christian bloude first I will assay with all swéetnesse and reasonable offers as much as in mee is possible to doe to present and offer vnto the Emperour to the entent that I may attaine to his loue and to haue peace the which thinge I will and desire to doe with all my heart And if it be so that he will not encline neither to right nor reason then Huon will come to you and vnto all other that I thinke or knowe to bee my Fréends and then desire you all of your courtesies for ayd and succour Chap. CXXXI ¶ How Duke Huon of Bourdeaux tooke his leaue of the Admirall and of all the other Lordes of Persia and went and tooke shipping at the Port of Thesayre and how he arriued at Marsellis without finding of any strange aduenture WHen the Admirall had well vnderstood Huon he sayd My right deare and wel-beloued Fréend I giue you good thankes of that you say you may bee sure that if you haue any neede and that you can make no appointment with the Emperour the offers that I haue made vnto you I shall vphold and succour you in mine ownâ— person Sir
were they themselues The same time the Emperours Nephewe was slaine who was a goodly Knight and the Emperour had before sent him to Bourdeaux to gouerne the Land and Countrey of Burdeloys and he had ben there the space of foure yéeres of whose death the Lord of Vergier was sorrie for he had rather that he had béen taken Prisoner then they tooke his bodie and buried him in the chiefe Church of Tournous whereas they lay all night with their Prisoners who were to the number of eight Hundred they of Bourdeaux that were taken as Prisoners were right ioyfull when they were thus escaped from the handes of the Almaines After this discomfiture they returned to the Abbey of Cluny whereas they were receiued with great ioy of the Abbot and of the Couent then the Lord of Vergier shewed the whole discourse of their discomfiture and then the booties were deuided amongest them that had wonne and all the men of warre departed except a Thowsand men whome the Abbot retayned for the sauegard of the towne of Cluny who made many skirmishes with the Emperours menne And after this discomfiture the newes thereof was presently brought to the Citie of Mayence to the Emperour Tirrey who was right sorrowfull for the death of his Nephew who was his sisters sonne by reason of the sorrow and great displeasure that he had for hee was thrée dayes after before he would come foorth of his chamber and on the fourth day he sent for all his Lords and Councell and to them he made his complaints how by the occasion of Duke Huon of Bourdeaux he had lost foure of his Nephews and his Bastard sonne and said I ought greatly to be gréeued when I cannot bée reuenged of Huon I thinke hee shall neuer returne againe but séeing it is so that I can take no vengeance of him I shall take it vppon his Wife Escleremond and vppon the thrée Hundred Prisoners that I brought out of Burdeaux but by the same Lord that made and fourmed mee to his semblance I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart nor eate nor drinke vntill I haue seene Escleremond burnt in a fire and the thrée Hundred prisoners hanged and strangled and I wil that each of you knowe that he that speaketh to me first to the contrarie I shall hate him euer after When the Lords had well heard the Emperour make that promise there was none so hardy that durst speake one woord then the Emperour commaunded in hast great plentie of thornes to be caried out of the Citie vnto a little Mountaine there beside and there by to be reared vp certaine Gallowes to hange thereon the thrée Hundred Prisoners All this was done as hee commaunded for more then tenne Load of thornes were caried out to burne the noble Ladie Escleremond and she was sent for out of the prison by foure hangmen and the Prisoners with her were brought into the Citie and all to bée beaten by the way When the noble Ladie saw how shee was dealt withall shee pitiously complained for her good Husband Huon and for her Daughter Clariet and saide Ah my right swéet Lord and Husband Huon at this time shall bee the departure of vs two and then shee called vppon our Lord Iesus Christ praying him by his grace and pity to bring her soule into Paradice thus crying and complayning the noble Ladie was ledde through the Towne and then Ladies and Burgesses and Maidens of the Citie ranne to their windowes and dores and beheld the dolourous and pitifull companie leading towardes their deaths then they sayd a high Ah right noble Ladie where is become the great beautie that you were woont to bee of for now your Visage is pale and discoloured that was woont to be so faire and nowe so loathed and disfigured where is become your faire haires that nowe bee so blacke and rugged for the great pouertie that you haue endured Alas noble Ladie great pitie and compassion we haue to sée you in this estate if we could amend it thus as this Ladie was led through the Towne she was bemoned of them that sawe her the three Hundred Gentlemen were also led forth and the Emperour Tirrey and his Lords road after them for his desire was to see the noble Ladie burnt and the other Prisoners hanged hee made hast because of the sorrow that hee had for the death of his Nephewe and of his men who were newly slaine by the meanes of the Abbot of Cluny When they were yssued out of the Citie of Mayence Duke Hildebert a néere kinsman of the Emperours was comming into the Citie the same time that the Ladie was ledde foorth and hée sawe how rudely they dealt with the Ladie and when he sawe her he knew well that it was the faire Ladie Escleremond but when hee sawe her at that point the water was in his eyes and he sayd vnto them that ledde her Sirs go not too fast vntill I haue spoken with the Emperour the which they did gladly When the noble Ladie Escleremond had well heard and vnderstood the Duke shee had some little hope shee turned her eyes towards him sayd Ah right noble Prince haue pittie and compassion of mee for I haue done nothinge whereby I should deserue to die When the Duke had well vnderstood her he had such pitie that he could speake no word his heart was so full of sorrowe and then he road as fast as he might to méet with the Emperour and passed by the thrée hundred prisoners and had great pity and compassion of them and so he came vnto the Emperour all wéeping and said Ah right noble Emperour I require you in the honour of the passion of our Lord Iesus Christ haue pitie and compassion of this dolourous companie that are likely to die this day remember that it is nowe in the holy time of Lent wherefore I require you to respite their liues vntill it be past Easter and Sir humbly I require you for all the seruice that I and mine haue done vnto you graunt me but this request for my reward the which is both reasonable and iust great wronge you doe to reuenge your anger vppon this noble Ladie you haue chaced her out of her Countrey Landes and Signiories the which you hold in your handes and take the Reuenewes and profits thereof if you bee not sufficed with this I doubt that our Lord Iesus Christ will be sore displeased with you When the Emperour had well heard the Duke his Cozen hee stoode still and spake hastely and sayd Faire Coozen I haue well heard you and therefore I answeare you in briefe wordes how that if all the men that bee in mine Empire and all the Priestes and Friers were here and did preach vnto me a whole yeare desiring me to respite this Ladies death and the other that be with her I would doe nothing for all them and therefore speake no more to me in that matter for by the beard that hangeth vnder my chinne
that yet before I die I shall strike off his head from his bodie whatsoeuer fall thereof When the Ladie heard Huon how he sayd that hee was her Father shee changed colour and blushed as ruddie as a Rose and thought to her selfe by the words that he spake that hee was her Father whereof she was right ioyfull and said Ah Sir I pray you if you bee Duke Huon of Bourdeaux my Father to shew me My right deare Daughter beléeue it surely for I will no longer hide it from you When the Ladie heard that he was her Father she clipped him and Twentie times kissed him Then the Abbot came and embraced him and sayd My right deare Nephewe the ioy that my heart hath of your comming is to mee so acceptable that I cannot tell whether I dreame or not that I sée you heere and then againe hee embraced him making the greatest ioy in the world Also there was Clariet his Daughter who embraced and kissed him then all that were in the house came thether to make great chéere and feasting Faire Nephewe quoth the Abbot I am sore abashed that you be returned with so small a companie Good Vncle quoth Huon it could bee none otherwise I haue had such fortunes vppon the Sea that the most part of my men are dead and perished some by maladie and some are returned into their owne Countreys and especially they that went with me are abiding at the Rocke of the Adamant and there all be dead by famine and they that were my Guides to haue brought mee vnto Euphame are in like wise dead there Then Duke Huon beganne to shewe vnto the Abbot all the aduentures that he had since he departed from the noble Citie of Bourdeaux there were some that heard it that tooke it for a mocke and a lye he shewed of so many great maruailes they thought that the most part of them were lyes and one saide to another Great aduantage haue these Vagabounds to lye because they finde no man to say them nay and if any man say nay their answeare is readie to say go and sée then the good Abbot sayd Faire Nephew if I were of the age to beare armour gladly I would goe with you to ayde you to destroy this Emperour who hath done you so much ill I shall send for such a number of men of warre and pay them with my Treasure the which I haue long time gathered together and shall ayde you to make such war that it shall alwayes be had in remembrance or else I would die in the paine and all they that should goe with me and to cause him to make you amends of all the ils and dammages that he hath done vnto you yet somewhat I haue done alreadie for it is not long since that one of the Emperours Nephewes were slaine by my men and all they that were with him slaine or taken for Nephewe I haue gathered together a great Treasure that I may therewith entertaine a hundred Thousand men for two yeares without selling or laying to pledge any foote of Land appertaining to my Church but as now I am so old that I cannot ride out for I am a hundred and fourteene yeares of age and therefore séeing that I cannot goe with you I shall abandon vnto you all my Treasure and take thereof as much as it shall please you Sir quoth Huon you make me so great an offer that once before I die I trust to render vnto you the double value by the grace of God Chap. CXXXVI ¶ How Duke Huon of Bourdeaux shewed to his Vncle the Abbot of Cluny all the aduentures that hee had since he departed from the noble Citie of Bourdeaux and how he gaue the Abbot the Apple of youth whereby the good Abbot became againe to his beautie that hee had when hee was but of Thirtie yeares of age WHen Duke Huon of Bourdeaux had well vnderstood the good Abbot his Vncle and sawe the faire offer and seruice that he had offered vnto him he saide Sir of your courtesie and Larges and all the good that you haue done vnto me and to my Daughter Clariet God reward you for it true it is after that I had fought with the Griffens I came vnto a faire Fountaine and there by was a Trée growing charged full of faire fruit the Trée was called the Trée of youth of the which I gathered three Apples whereof you shall haue one and shall eate it and assoone as you haue eaten thereof thereby you shall become as young and as strong and lusty as you were when you were of the age of Thirty yeares Then there was a Monke in the house called Dan Iohan Saliuet who beganne to laugh and hasted him to speake and sayde Ah Sir what is it that you say these two Thousand yeares there was neuer man at the Tree of youth therefore this tale is not to be beléeued and when Huon heard the Monke he waxed red for anger and lifted vp his staffe and would haue striken therewith the Monke and if he had not skipt backe and sayd Ah thou false Monke thou lyest falsely I haue been there and that thou shalt sée the proofe thereof whether I say true or not Then the Abbot came betweâ—ne them and stopped the stroake and sayd vnto Huon 〈…〉 â—ight deare Nephewe appease your selfe and then hee sayd to the Monke Ah thou rude Groome by the faith that I owe vnto my Lord Saint Bennet for thy words thou shalt bee sore punished then he caused the Monke to be set in prison and then the Abbot sayd vnto Huon Sir I pray you to be no longer displeased Then Huon tooke one of his Apples and gaue it to his good Vncle the Abbot and sayd Sir take this Apple the which I gathered of the Trée of youth I gathered therof thrée and one I gaue to the Admirall of Persia and another I kept for my selfe the which I giue you and I woulde haue gathered moe but I was forbidden by an Angell sent from our Lord Iesus Christ and Sir knowe for troth that the Admirall of Persia before I gaue him the Apple he was of the age of Six-score yeares and more but assoone as hee had eaten thereof he became as faire and as strong as when he was of Thirtie yeares of age and hee is as now one of the fairest Princes in the world By the which Miracle he and all his people of his Realme did forsake the false and detestable Law of Mahomet and tooke vpon them the beliefe of our Lord Iesus Christ and were christened and they that woulde not were hewen all to péeces and after that for the loue that he bare vnto mée hée passed the Sea with mee with great puissance and wee entred into the Souldans Lande whereas wee discomfited him in plaine Battaile When the good Abbot had well heard and vnderstood his Nephew he had great ioy and tooke the Apple and made thereon the signe of the Crosse and did
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
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
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
whereof Huon hadde such sorrowe and greeâ—e at his heart that great pittie it was to sée him and saide Ah good Lord why was I euer borne into this world when I am so vnfortunate that I can haue no men to serue mée but at last they end their liues in my seruice miserably Ah my God why doest then suffer mée so longe to liue Then the Duchesse comforted him as much as shée could and said Ah Sir leaue your sorrowe and pray vnto our Lord God for his mercie and his grace and to haue pittie and compassion of vs that wée might arriue at some good Port. Thus the noble Duchesse Escleremond comforted Duke Huon her Husband howbeit shee was in as great feare and not without a cause and thus they floated vppon the Sea greatly bewailing the death of their men whome they sawe perish before their eyes Then Huon as farre off as he might sée he saw a Castle standing vppon a Rocke the which séemed darke and blacke and then hee lauded and praised our Lord God praying him humbly to bring them thether in sauegard Then the Sea was peaceable and the Tempest ceased and the winde fresh the which draue them in a short space vnto the Port vnder the Rocke and when they were neere to the land Huon and the Duchesse waded vnto the lande holding each other by the hand When they were vppon the drie land they kneeled downe and lifted vp their eyes vnto Heauen and made their deuoute prayers vnto our Lord Iesus Christ desiringe him to haue pitie and compassion of the Soules of their men that they sawe drowned and perished then they arose vp and saw a litle path way lying straight towardes the Castle and they entred into it and when they were néere vnto the Castle they sawe a great Riuer running round about it and sawe that the Castle was of maruailous great beautie thinkinge that they neuer sawe none such before the Towers were couered with glistering gould shining so bright as though the Sunne did shine thereon Also they sawe an auncient Church adioyning to the Castle with a goodly Steeple full of bels the which beganne to sound whereof Huon had great maruaile for he sawe neither man nor woman comming nor going and when hee had well regarded the Castle hee came vnto the gate and saw how that there were thrée bridges to passe before he could enter When Huon saw that hee sayd Ah good Lord in all my life I neuer sawe so faire a Castle hee that is Lord thereof séemeth to bee a great and a noble man for if there were within it but Fortie men to keepe it and garnished with victuals it would neuer be wonne for any man liuing So long Huon beheld this Castle that he had forgotten his sorrow the Castle pleased him so well and sayd vnto the Duchesse his Wife Madame I beléeue surely that this is the Castle of Momur appertaining vnto King Oberon wee may well thanke our Lord God that hee hath brought vs hether we shall sée him you knowe well that hée hath promised to giue mee his Realme and all his dignitie Sir quoth the Duchesse I haue heard say before this that Momur is a great and a noble Citie and full of people of all sorts wherefore you may well perceiue that this is not that Citie it may well bee that this Castle is his Madame quoth Huon the King hath that puissance that he may make Citie or Castle at his pleasure Sir quoth shee I beleeue it well Then Huon tooke his way to the gate and as hee went deuising with the Duchesse Escleremond his wife hee sawe before him foure Monkes in white apparell when they came vnto him they sayd Sir Duke of Bourdeaux of your comming we are right ioyfull for a more noble man came not heere of a long season God blesse you and the Duchesse your Wife Sirs quoth Huon God saue you I pray you to shew me what you be and who hath shewed you my name and who is Lord and Gouernor of this Castle Sir quoth one of the Monkes this Castle is ours and heere is no Gouernour but I and my Brethren wee make none answeare vnto any Lorde liuing therefore if it please you to enter wée shall make you as good feast and chéere as wée can if it please you to tarie Eight or fifteene dayes you shall bee welcome and when you depart wee shall giue you to carie with you meate and drinke sufficient to serue you and your Wife for Fifteene dayes and you shall haue neede thereof before you finde out Kinge Oberon Sirs quoth Duke Huon of your courtesie I most hartely thanke you Then Huon entred into the Castle with them and came into a great Hall well garnished and adorned with rich Pillers of white Marble vawted aboue and richly painted with goâ—ld and Azure and set full of rith precious stones the which cast a great light for by reason of the precious stones at midnight it was as bright as at noone dayes Huon and Escleremond thought that they neuer sawe so rich a thing Madame quoth Huon this place is delectable then they were brought into a rich Chamber whereas the Tables were set and garnished with euerie thinge that a man coulde wish for Then there came in many Seruants some brought in the Basons of gould adorned with precious stones and some brought in the Towell and water and they gaue the water vnto Huon and Escleremond to wash their handes then they satte downe at the Table and did eate and drinke at their pleasure for they had their meat and drinke at their wish When they hadde eaten at their pleasure and the cloathes taken vp then there were Spices brought and Huon did eate thereof but Escleremond would not so much as taft thereof then they were brought into a Garden to sport them and when they were there they thought that they had been in Paradice for the sweetnesse of flowers and fruites vppon euerie Trée and they heard diuers kind of birdes sing melodiously Sirs quoth Huon vnto the the Monkes well you ought to thanke our Lord Iesus Christ that he hath giuen you such a place to serue him in and Sirs I pray you when it is midnight awake me to the entent that I may ryse to go and heare your Seruice when you doe it Sir quoth one of them I shall awake you when the time is that you may come and héere vs. Sir quoth Huon therein shall you doe me great pleasure Then Duke Huon and the Duches Escleremond were brought into a rich Chamber well fournished with cloathes of gold and silke wherein was a rich and sumptuous bedde wherein Huon and the Duchesse his Wife lay together the Chamber was faire and rich for all the night it was as cleare as though the Chamber had been full of Torches by reason of the shining of the precious stones for there was no bench nor Post but that were set full of riche stones the
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
I thanke God I haue had good fortune and Sir I shall shew you one thing that I haue wonne whereof I am most ioyfull then he shewed him the Damsell who was sober and sad and shewed him how hée wanne her When Florence saw the Ladie his heart sprang for ioy and the more hee beheld her the more fairer she séemed and the Damsell beheld him right humbly and she thought that she neuer saw a fairer young man before nor better made nor fourmed of all his members Florence so behelde the Damsell by reason whereof the dart of loue strake him to the heart whereof the wounde coulde not be lightly healed I may well say that in all the world in that time could not be found againe two such persons for the great beauty wherewith they were garnished could not be described for God and nature had forgotten nothing in forming of them swéetly they regarded each other at that time if Florence had knowne that shee had béene the faire Clariet of Bourdeaux hee would haue married her incontinent she was greatly taken in the loue of Florence and so was hee with her then hee desired with all his heart to knowe what shee was for his heart gaue him that she should be come of some noble bloud and sayd vnto himselfe that hee desired much to knowe it and that in all the world there was nothing hee loued so well and thought that without her loue hee could not long endure thinking to desire her to take him for her Louer and that if shee refused him that short should be his life but thought to bee so bolde as to speake to her Thus Florence taken with the fire of loue tooke the faire Damsell by the lilly white hand and caused her to sitte downe by him then he drew her a little apart to the entent that none should heare him and then hee sayd Faire Damsell you bee welcome into these parts I pray you to shew me what you be and of what Lineage Sir quoth the Damsell little shall you winne when you know the certaine what I am but since it pleaseth you to know I shall shew you Sir know for troth I am Daughter to a poore honest man of the Countrey and in times past was one of the Chamberers with the Duchesse Escleremond of Bourdeaux and Sir by great treason I was stollen away whereby since I haue suffered much pouertie so that if God and this noble man Peter of Aragon had not rescued me I had beene lost for euer and therefore Sir since I am poore and desolate I require you in the honor of our Lord God that you will not require mee of any villanie against my bodie and honestie neither in word nor deede and sir I beleue suerly no more ye thinke to doe for I had rather be hewen all to péeces then any creature should haue pleasure of my bodie without I were maried Faire Damsell quoth hee I sweare by God that mee created that of mee nor of any other man liuing you shall not be desired against your honour for I know no man liuing that would require you of any dishonour or say any thing that should not be agréeable vnto you but I shall make him to die of an ill death and I will that you know that from hencefoorth I will bee your true Louer and none shall make departure of vs two and if it were so that my Father were dead I would neuer haue other Wife but you Sir quoth the Ladie I pray you to forbeare speaking of any such wordes for it were not méete for the Sonne of a King so to debase himselfe as to set his loue vppon so poore a Mayd as I am beware how you set your heart to loue for if the Kinge your Father perceiue any thinge that you should set your loue vppon mee he would soone put me to death therewith she cast downe her head and sayd to her selfe Ah good Lord if this young Prince knewe surely what I were it might well be that hee would haue mee in marriage as yet in all my life I neuer set my loue vppon any person but this young man whome I neuer sawe before it maketh me to thinke that which I neuer thought before that it maketh my bloud and all my members to tremble I am in worse case for his loue then he is for me therewith shee began sore to wéepe When Florence saw her he was right sorrowfull and sayde Faire Damsell I require you to take mee for your true and faithfull Seruant otherwise I cannot sée howe I shall liue long Sir quoth she I am well content to graunt you my loue so that your deed and thought be vppon goodnesse and honour for if I may perceiue in any manner that your thought bee otherwise you haue lost my loue for euer Faire Loue quoth Florence haue no doubt thereof that euer I shall haue any thought of villany against you Thus as yée haue heard was the first acquaintance betwéene these two Louers that is to say the faire ladie Clariet Daughter to Duke Huon of Bourdeaux and of Florence Sonne to the King of Aragon Chap. CLII. ¶ How the King forbad his Sonne Florence that he should not be so hardy as to fall acquainted with the faire Ladie Clariet and how Florence promised the Kinge his Father to deliuer into his handes the King of Nauarre Prisoner in case that he would bee content at his returne that he might haue the new found Damsell the which thinge the King promised but hee did it not for he made the Damsell to be taken and had drowned her if Peter of Aragon had not beene who rescued and saued her from the death WHen Florence had long deuised with the Damsell he tooke his leaue of her and of Peter of Aragon his Cozen and then he returned to the King his Father and the next day hee went againe to the Damsels lodging So often he resorted thether that great brute ranne in the Pallaice and also in the Towne how that Florence was amorous of the Damsell that Sir Peter of Aragon had brought thether and the matter at the last was shewed to Kinge Garyn his Father wherewith hee was so sorrowfull that hee was all in a rage and sayd within himselfe Ah good lord this new found Damsell will winne my Sonne if shee can and get him from me I know well that by reason of the great beautie that is in her my Sonne will be enamoured of her but by the God that I beléeue vppon if I sée that my Sonne either goe or come vnto her as it is sayd he doth that acquaintance shall be déerely bought for with mine owne hands I shall slay her Right sorrowfull and angry was King Garyn with his Sonne Florence and with the Damsell then hee sent for his Sonne and when hee was before him the King demaunded of him fiercely from whence hee came Sir quoth Florence I haue béene a sporting in my Cozen Peter of
sorrie that it endured so long When the King of Nauarre saw that all his men were yssued out of the Citie then hee withdrewe him into his Tent and he closed in the Citie with a siege abiding vntill the Truce was expired Now let vs leaue to speake of this warre betwéene these two Kinges and speake of Florence who sayled vppon the Sea with his Loue Clariet Chap. CLVIII ¶ How the Shippe wherein Florence was and his Loue was taken by the Sarazins and all their companie taken and slaine and ledde to the Castle of Anfalerne THe Historie sheweth that after that Florence was departed out of his couÌ„trey with his Loue Clariet howbeit he knewe not what she was so it was that the Maister of the Shippe that he was in was of Marsellis and when hee knewe that Florence was Sonne to King Garyn of Aragon and that he had put his trust in him then hee came vnto Florence and sayd Sir the goodnesse and honour that I sée in you causeth me to say vnto you that which I would not doe to another I well perceiue by you that you are in great doubt of the King your Father least hee should follow you to get you againe but Sir to the entent that you shall be well assured of me and of my Marriners I put into your handes my selfe my Shippe and all my Marriners and I will that they obay you as they haue done mee and that you are Maister ouer vs all and Sir neuer thinke that the king of Aragon your Father shall trouble you we are farre ynough from him by the grace of God we shall so conduct you that wee shall bring you to the holy Sepulchre and afterward bring you backe to Marsellis and then from thence you may goe whether as it please you Sir quoth Florence of the honour and great courtesie that you offer me I thanke you then all they that were within the Shippe sayd Sir refuse not to be our Maister for if the winde had not béene against vs wee had béene farre off by this time Sir haue no doubt we shall all obey you and doe as you commaund vs since it is so our Maisters pleasure Sirs quoth Florence I thanke you of your offer God suffer mee to dâ—serâ—e it Florence was ioyful of the good aduenture that God had sent him and thus hee and his Loue sayled ioyfully in the Sea of Affricke So long they sayled that they passed the Isles of Corsia and Sardania and Cicilie and â—n a Wednesday betimes they arriued néere to the Isle of Candy there arose vppon them a maruailous great winde and Tempest so that perforce they were driuen to the coast of Barbary the Tempest was so great that euery man was in feare of drowning the waues were great and fearefull the Damsell was in great doubt when she saw the mariners in such feare she called deuoutly vpon our Lord Iesus Christ desiring him to haue pitie of her to bring them to a good Port. When Florence perceiued his Loue and al the Marriners in such feare as they were hee comforted them the best he could but it auailed not for the wind draue them whether they would or not towards Bongy néere to a Citie named as then Anfalerne wheras they were faine to cast their anchor in great feare of loozing of their liues Then there fell on them a Galley wherein were a Hundred Sarazins another great Ship wherein were more then foure Hundred men and they all fell vppon Florence Shippe When Florence sawe both the Ship and Galley set vppon his Ship the Maister of the Ship and the Marriners began to wéepe and said vnto Florence Ah Sir you and we all are lost we shall be all slaues with the Sarazins yonder Galley and shippe are full of Sarazins and they are ready comming to sette vppon vs. When Florence heard that he said Sir bée not abashed hee whome God will saue cannot be perished no mortall man can hurt him lette vs put our trust in him take such grace as he will send vs the great number of people cannot hurt vs if God will ayd vs lette vs shewe our selues like men they bee without law and without faith and we beléeue in God by whome wee trust to be saued let vs arme our selues and shew our selues like men to defend our liues When the Maister and the Marriners heard Florence they sayd Sir into the sauegard of our Lord Iesus Christ and to you we commit our selues then they all armed them and euerie man stoode at their defence and Florence sayd Sirs let vs all thinke that we now doe fight for our liues and therefore let vs not be abashed euerie man thinke to do his best that he can I loue by amours behold her here by whome I am so mooued to doe well and to defend both her and me Sir quoth they shame haue hee that fainteth then the Ship and Galley came néere to Florence Shippe then the shotte of both parts flewe so thicke as though it hadde béene snowe there was a great Battaile betwéene them great hurt was done with casting out of barres from the tops two times Florence entred into the Ship of his enemies whereas he did maruailes and slewe so many Sarazins that the water was red with the bloud of them that were slaine on both parts there was an horrible Battaile many of Florence men were slaine the good Maister was slaine the most part of his men Also from the land there were shotte Bombardes and Gunnes at Florence ship so that thereby and with the great barres of yron the shippe was sore impaired for it was striken thorow in a hundred places in such sort that the Sea entred in with great abundance When the Damsell saw that mortall discomfiture how their company were slaine and their ship néere full of water and saw no more persons left aliue with Florence but six she was then in great feare and she thought that shee had rather enter into the Sarazins ship then to be drowned in the Sea shee sawe the Galley the which lay ioyning to the shippe she leapt into the Galley to saue her life When Florence sawe his Loue in the Galley hée was néere out of his wits for sorrow and hee sawe well that if he tarried still in his owne shippe hée should be drowned then he leapt into the Galley whereas his Loue was and there he slew many a Sarazin but there was so much people that with force of Darts and speares hée was borne downe then they tooke and bound his handes so sore that the bloud ran out at his nailes Thus Florence was taken and all his men slaine and drowned except some that were taken then Florence wept for pitie of them sayd Ah my Father how falsly haue you wrought against me thus by your folly I am in great daunger I shall neuer returne into my Countrey without God helpe me often times hée beheld his Loue whome the
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
money to liue withall and so went a foote and at the last came to the Citie of Basile and there shee tarried a season and there spent her monney so long shee lay there that shee heard the Emperour of Roome sent for men all about to ayd and succour him against the King of Castile who made him great warre When she said that many noble men were going to Roome to succour the Emperour she was ioyfull and sayd to her Host that if she had horse and armour shee would goe with other into the warres and thought within her selâ—e that she would gladly be acquainted with the Emperour of Roome who was named Othon and she thought if she might she would take counsaile of him she did so much that she fell in acquaintance with some of the Almaines so that they were glad to see her she séemed to them to be so faire and a young Squier then an Almaine that was there sayd vnto her Freend come hether to me and shew me what thou art Sir quoth she I am to him that my seruice may please for I desire nothing but to serue some noble man but of late I was in Aragon and there I serued a Lord that is dead wherefore I am come hether for the displeasure that I haue of his death and I can well serue a Gentleman and kéepe his horse and if néed be to driue his Sompter-horse and if I come in Battaile or in Skirmish with my Maister I thinke hee shall haue a worse then I am in his company The Almaine hearing her so to speake sayd Faire Sonne that thou sayst procéedeth of a good courage therefore good must come to thée yet I pray thée shew mee thy name Sir quoth shee I am called Ide Brother quoth the Almaine I entertain thée into my seruice take héed of my horse Sir quoth she I am ready to doe you the best seruice that I can so the Almaine had her to his Lodging Thus she then serued that was woont to be serued for shee feared if it should be perceiued that she were a woman it wold be to her trouble therefore she kept her selfe close and secret and she continued thrée dayes with her Maister after the other company were gone towardes Roome but her Master might not depart so soone as the other did for his businesse was not readie then thrée dayes after they departed to go to Roome and shee was armed after the custome of the Countrey she serued her Maister so well that hee praysed her So long they road that they came and approached neere to the Countrey of Rome so that on a day they entred into a great darke Forrest wherein lay in ambushment about Seauen-score Spaniards lying there to abide their aduenture they lay in a darke Valley and when they saw the Almaines they dispised them to the death and ranne vppon them Then Ide who road before her Master couched her Speare and strake a Spaniard therewith cleane through the bodie and with the drawing out of her Speare the Spaniard fell downe dead of the which course her maister praised her then the Spaniards ran in among the Almaines who right valiantly defended themselues but their defence could not auaile them for at the end they were all slaine so that none escaped aliue but alonely Ide who did beare her selfe so valiantly that shee slewe Foure of the Spaniards but when she saw that her maister and all his companie wer slain with her sword in her hand all bloudie she fled away and road out of the way and tooke a little path the which brought her to a Rocke and there she alighted and taried in the wood all that night vntill the next morning she had so great hunger thirst that she was néere hand famished for she had ridden all the day without meat or drinke and in the morning she looked al about her and sawe in an arbour about Thirtie Théeues sitting at a Table eating and drinking at their pleasure and when the Damsell saw them for the great rage of hunger that she suffered constrained her in such wise that she forgat all feare went vnto them When the Théeues saw her one of them sayd to his fellowes I see yonder comming a Squier mounted vpon a good horse the which shal be ours and when I de approached to them shee humbly saluted the companie and sayd Sirs if it may please you to let me eate and drinke with you I will pay for my shotte Fréende quoth one of them is there any man that hath beene your guide in this Forrest Sirs quoth Ide God hath beene my conduct and none other then one of the Theeues stept forth and tooke her horse by the bridle and said to his companie Sirs lay on strike him downe he shall neuer eate nor drinke more his horse shall not escape me When the Damsell saw that she was taken she was in great feare shee durst make no countenance to defend her selfe there were so many Theeues vpon her and she thought to humble her selfe which should bee more profit and sayd Sirs why make you that hast to slay mee little shall yee winne thereby nor looze hold heere my sword I yeild my selfe into your handes and I pray you in the honour of Iesus Christ to giue me some meat and drinke for I am so hungrie that I am almost famished Then the master Theefe sayd Squier haue no feare to be striken thou shalt haue no more hurt then my selfe but thou shalt haue all that thou lackest goe thy way and sit downe and eat and drinke at thy pleasure Sir quoth Ide I thanke you Then the Damsell sate downe with them and did eat drinke at their pleasure and when they had all eaten and were risen vp the Théeues beganne to striue among themselues saying to their chiefe maister howe hee had done ill that he would not suffer them to slay the Squier then another answeared said how there should be no hurt done vnto him because hee was so faire a young man and so courteous and sayde that it should be great dammage to slay him and that it were better to kéepe him still with them and to learne him to steale and to murder men and if he will not so doe then it were good reason to slay him When Ide vnderstood the Théeues she was in great feare called vpon our Lord God praying him humbly in her great néede to ayd and succour her then the chiefe maister demaunded what was her name then shee answeared in great feare to bee slaine and said Sir my name is Ide and I am of the Realme of Faunce and we were in company when we departed out of our Countrey about fortie Gentlemen we were going to haue serued the Emperour of Rome who hath now war with the King of Spaine and we found in our way about seauen score Spaniards in ambushment lying in a Valley so they set vppon vs and slewe all my company none
manner of defence made against them but it is an old saying that many things remaineth of foolish thoughts as it did with the Spaniards for they thought surely that the Citie of Rome was wonne but if God ayde and succour the Damsell Ide and her Chiualrie she should take from them ere it were night their hope to haue any Victory She road by her Battailes and encouraged her men and mooued them to doe valiantly and thus they approached towards their enemies Great ioy and noise there was when the Battailes encountred together the shot flew so thicke on both parts that it séemed to be snow and hayle I de encountred with a Knight Nephew to the King of Spaine hee receiued such a stroake that for all his armour Ides Speare went cleane through his bodie so that the Knight fell to the earth with his féet vpward and so dyed miserably among the horse féete then I de sayd of God be thou cursed in an ill houre thou camst hether to receiue such an offering I challenge from you all the Empire of Rome then shée sayd to her selfe Good Lord God I require thée humbly this day to aid and succour me a poore fugitiue therewith she spurred her horse and with the same speare she slew another great Baron of Spaine and so slew with the same Speare diuers other when the Speare was broken she drew out her sword the which the Emperour had giuen her then she came to a notable Duke of Spaine Vncle to the King to whome shee gaue such a stroake with her good sword that shee claue his head to the téeth and so he fell downe dead then she dasht into the thickest presse and euer did choose out the greatest personages and slew many of them for she thought the more that were slaine of the great men the more should her enemies bee afrayd therefore she chose out such one after another And also the Romans fought valiantly so that by the hye Prowesse of Ide and of the good Chiualrie of the Romanes that were with her they made the Spaniards abashed and caused them to flye away and had neuer returned againe if the Duke of Argon with thrée Thousand Knightes in his companie had not béene who made them that fled to returne againe Then there began againe a fierce Battaile and many a man slaine the Romanes did valiantly by the aide and comfort of Ide their Captaine she road into the thickest of the presse and bare downe the Spaniards on all sides that it was pittie to sée great was the noise pitiously cryed out the hurt men lying among the horse féete which were beaten downe to the earth then the King of Spaine came into the Battaile with his sword in his hand and encountred with a great Lord of Rome which was Coozen to the Emperour the King gaue him such a stroake vppon the helmet that hee claue his head into the braines and then the King slew another then Ide who saw that was sorrowfull and sayd I ought little to be praised without I reuenge the death of these two Lordes slaine by the King of Spaine then shee road to the Kinge and gaue him such a stroake vppon the helmet that all the circles with stones and pearles flew downe to the earth and stroake away part of his coife haire and skinne and if the King hadde not turned his head it had béen clouen to the téeth the sword glaunced and lighted vpon his horse necke and strake it cleane asunder and so the horse fell downe dead and the King to the earth whereof the Spaniards were sore abashed thinking their King had béen slaine so they fled away and left him there lying on the earth in a traunce in such sort that hee could neither sée heare nor speake one word then the Damsell I de tooke him and deliuered him to two noble Lordes of the Emperours Court and when he reuiued he was made to sweare and promise to be a true Prisoner Those two Lordes went with the King of Spaine into the Citie of Rome and presented him vnto the Emperour from Ide whereof the Emperour thanked God that hee had sent Ide thether to serue him then the King was sette in a strong Tower and I de was without still doing maruailes in armes so that euerie man was abashed thereof the Spaniards made her way Finally by the hye Prowesse of the Damsell Ide the Kinge of Spaine was taken and all his men discomfited happie was hee that might escape to saue his life the chase endured long wherein many were slaine and taken Then Ide and her companie returned to their Tents and Pauillions and there they found great riches the which was brought out of Spaine and was giuen and distributed to them that had deserued it Great ioy was made in the noble Citie of Rome for the Battaile was well séene ouer the wals and especially the Ladie Oliue had well regarded the hye prowesse of Ide whereby she loued her so in her heart that she smiled with ioy and sayd to her selfe To yonder young Knight I doe giue my loue the which I neuer granted before to any man liuing but it is good right and reason that I grant my loue to Ide such like wordes Oliue sayd to her selfe Chap. CLXVIII ¶ How the Emperour of Roome highly receiued the noble Damsell Ide and of the honour that was made vnto her and how the Emperor made her Constable of his Empire And how the king of Spaine was deliuered out of prison and made homage vnto the Emperour AFter that the Battaile was done and finished and the bootie distributed I de with great triumph accompanyed with Lordes and Knightes entred into the Citie of Roome and the Emperour was infourmed of the comming of Ide and of her valiant déedes by whom the Victorie was obtained how that none could endure against her whereof the Emperour had such ioy at his heart that hee wist not what to doe and hee thanked our Lord God that the matter went so to his honour and glorie therewith I de came to the Pallaice whereas she was receiued with great ioy with all the Colledges of the Citie and when the Emperour sawe her he arose and embraced her and sayd My true Fréend Ide of your comming I am right ioyfull for this day you haue done such honour to our Empire that you ought to bée honoured for euer and because you haue done vs such seruice wee will that you shall bee the mirrour for all other Knightes to encourage them to doe well wee therefore make you our first Chamberlaine and high Constable of all our Romane Empire and all my Landes and Signiories I abandon to be at your commandement in all things that you thinke reasonable to be done for I will and commaund that all my Lordes doe obey you Sir quoth Ide of this honour I thanke you God giue mee grace that I may alwaies perseuer to doe that thing which shal be to you agreeable
and profitable to your Countreys and Signiories Then the Emperour sent for the King of Spaine out of prison and when hee was come hee knéeled downe and sayd Sir I require you to haue pitie of me the Emperour answered â—â—ercely and sayd King of Spaine for what cause are you come out of your Countrey of Spaine and thus to destroy and wast mine Empire you haue slaine many of my Lordes and Knightes who neuer did you any displeasure and besides that you haue burnt many of my Townes and beaten downe my Castles whereof I am sorrie seeing that I nor none of mine did you neuer any displeasure and because that all euill ought to bee punished and all good déedes rewarded before euer I drinke any wine I shall cause your head to be striken off for any mans speaking to the contrarie I shall not fayle to doe it When the King heard that he was in great feare and humbly prayed him to haue pitie him and sayd how he was readie to make amends for all his trespasses and to repaire again all the ill damages done by him or caused to be done within the Empire and therewith to doe homage and feaultie vnto him and to hould the Realme of Spaine of him promising also if any warre were made against the Emperour hee would come and succour him with twentie Thousand men at his owne proper costes and charges and to bee with him against all men that would trouble him then the Emperor sayd King of Spaine know for troth that for all your promise and words I will doe but little for it for you shall not escape from me then the damsell I de stept foorth and sayd to the Emperour Sir I haue often times heard say that he that humbleth himselfe and cryeth for mercie then reason requireth that hee should haue mercie graunted him and therefore Sir I require you to receiue this â—ing to your grace and pardon his trespasse séing the offers that he hath offered to do that he will become your Liege-man hold his Land of you and amend the dammages that you haue suffered he that reason offereth ought to haue haue reason and you ought to thanke God since such a man as hee is putteth himselfe into your handes When the Emperour vnderstoode Ide he sayd Fréend Ide your wit and courtesie is to bee allowed and because I knowe that the counsaile that you giue mee is reasonable I will doe as you will haue mee take you him and by you hee shall bee deliuered Sir quoth Ide I thanke you When the Kinge of Spaine sawe that hee should haue grace and that with amends making he should be deliuered he thanked God and did homage to the Emperour and deliuered sufficient pledges to make restitution as he had promised then the Emperour gaue him a safe conduct vntill he came into his owne Countrey and all the other Prisoners were deliuered such as were taken in the Battaile by the Romanes then the King of Spaine was ioyfull and often times thanked the Damsell Ide by whose meanes this bountie and courtesie was shewed him Then hee tooke his leaue of the Emperour of Ide and of all other Lords and Knights that were there present and so hee returned into his Countrey of Spaine whereas he was receiued with sore wéepings for the great losse that he had receiued Now we shall leaue speaking of him and returne to our matter Chap. CLXIX ¶ How the Emperour gaue his Daughter Oliue in mariage to the Damsell Ide knowing none other but that she had been a man and how shee was appeached by a Varlet that heard their deuises whiles they were in bedde together whereby the Emperour would haue burnt the Damsell Ide AFter that the King of Spaine was departed from Roome the Emperour honored and praised much Ide for the good seruice that shee had done who euer better and better perseuered in good seruice doing for she did so much by her wit that all discords and debates that were in the Empire betwéene Lordes or Neighbors she set them in peace and accord wherefore the Emperour loued her in such wise that without her he did nothing and the Emperours Daughter Oliue loued her in such wise that she could not liue one day without the sight of her she was so taken with loue thinking that she neuer sawe so goodly a young man And so on a day the Emperour assembled his Lords and his priuie Counsaile to whome he shewed and sayd that he had but one Daughter the which as then was of lawfull age wherefore he would that she should be married to the intent that she might haue heires to enioy his Lands after his decease and sayd Sirs I thinke if all the world should be searched there could not bee found a man so worthy to haue my Daughter Oliue in mariage as our welbeloued Constable the valiant Ide by whome so noble seruice hath béene done vnto vs and to our whole Empire for I would before I die that she should be married and I thinke I cannot better bestowe her for in all the world there is not a more valiaunt Knight then Ide is nor that is more worthy to gouerne an Empire or a great Realme When the Lords vnderstood the Emperour they all allowed his mind and counsailed him to doe the same then the good Emperour called to him Ide and sayd My déere Fréend for the great seruice that you haue done I will reward you as by reason I am bound to doe and I cannot giue you a more richer thing nor that I loue better then Oliue my déere Daughter whome I will giue you in mariage and I will that you take her to your wife to the intent that after my dayes you may gouerne mine Empire for now I féele my selfe aged and féeble wherefore I shall be content that from hencefoorth you haue the gouerning thereof and now I deliuer to you my Land in kéeping to gouerne it as your owne Ah Sir quoth Ide what is that you say you know well that I am but a poore Gentleman banished out of my Countrey and I am woorth nothing great dammage it should bee to so noble a Damsell to be assigned to such a poore man as I am Sir I crie you mercie humbly requiring you to take aduice that your Daughter who is so faire may be married to some hye Prince puissant to the intent that if you should haue any busâ—nesse that he might be of power to ayd and succor you for I am poore and ought alwaies to trauaile and to take paines to get honour for mee and to increase my Lineage What quoth the Emperour are you so hardy as to refuse my Daughter by whome great wealth and goodnesse may come to you Sir quoth Ide since it is so that it pleaseth you to shew me this honour I will not refuse it but Sir I say it to this intent that you should take good aduise therein and séeing you are content that I shall
thus doe and that it is your pleasure I am content and I humbly thanke your grace of the honour that you beare me Then the Emperour sent for his Daughter who came vnto him with a glad heart for shée had béene aduertised of the matter why her Father sent for her and then the Emperour sayd Daughter you must promise mée to doe as I shall shewe you Déere Father quoth she it is not in me nor I will not refuse any thinge that is your pleasure Daughter quoth the Emperour you doe well so to answeare mée and because I haue no more but you that ought to haue my Realme after me therfore I will that you take a Husband to the intent that your Landes and Signiories may bee defended by him and therefore I will that you take to your Husband our Captaine the valiant Ide whome I loue entirely this is my pleasure and agréement of all my Lordes if it be your pleasure to haue him he shall be King and you Quéen after my decease Sir quoth the Ladie I am readie to fulfil your pleasure and to obey your commaundements and I thanke God of this faire aduenture that is fallen to mee this day for I shall haue him that I loue best I haue not nowe lost my time when I shall haue at my will him whome I loue best in all the world then shee knéeled downe before her Father and thanked him of his guilt and then she rose and kissed her Father and sayd Right déere Father I require you to hasten that this may bee done let vs goe to the Church to be wedded for me thinkes we ought so to doe When the Lordes heard the Ladie they laughed at her hast and then the Emperour sayd Daughter come foorth and fiance your Husband and you I de approach néere and nowe after my death I giue you all mine Empire and I giue you my déere daughter in recompence of the good seruice that you haue done me When Ide vnderstood the Emperour all her bloud changed and she wist not what to doe all her bodie trembled for feare and she called vppon our Lord God right pitiously to her selfe and prayed him to haue pitie of her and to counsaile her what was best for her to doe for shée saw that perforce the Emperour would marrie her to his Daughter and sayd Ah my Father Florence by you by your disordinate rage I am nowe brought to this case when you made mée to depart because you would haue had me to your wife but before I would haue consented thereto I had rather to haue béen burnt therefore I fled away to eschewe that shame whereby I haue béene since in many perils from the which by the will of God I haue escaped whereof I ought to thanke him I thought to kéepe my selfe within Roome secret and that no man shoulde knowe that I am a woman but I shall be accused by the Emperours Daughter whose loue is so much sette on mée that I haue no power to escape without I steale away priuily from them all and if I shew them what I am I may then haue some villany and bee accused and sent vnto the Kinge my Father or else to send him word where I am and then in great hast he will send for me or else if I will escape I must flye away ouer the Sea howbeit I speake but like a Foole séeing this fortune is fallen vnto me to haue the Emperors Daughter in mariage and his Empire I will wed her and doe as God will giue me grace to doe All this the Damsell I de spake to her selfe Then shée sayd to the Emperour Sir since it is your pleasure to giue me your Daughter in mariage I am ready to take her Then they were ledde to the Minster-church and there they were fianced whereof great ioy was made in Roome then the day of marriage came and the faire Oliue was ledde to the Church betwéene two Kinges and I de went afore verie sadly and so came to the Church there they were wedded Then great was the triumph and ioy in the Citie of Roome many a rich garment of gould and silke was worne that day and euery man ran to sée the new Brides then they went to the Pallaice and so to dinner Of the Feasts sports and rich meates that were there that day if I should shew it the time would bee ouer-long to rehearse it but since Roome was first founded it was not knowne that there had béen such a Feast as this wedding for no bodie thought but that I de had béen a man and after Supper when it was time to goe to rest the Brides were brought into their Chamber then the Ladie Oliue went to her bed then came Ide and the Chamber auoided and shee locked fast the dore to the intent that none should heare them then shee came to bed and layd her downe on the bed-side and sayd to Oliue My right swéete Loue God giue you good night for as for me I can giue you no good because I féele such a disease the which gréeueth me sore and therewith she kissed Oliue who answeared and sayd My swéete Louer you are the thinge in the world that I most desire for the bountie and swéetnesse that I knowe in you then doe with me as it shall please you and to the intent that you shall not thinke that I haue so great desire that you should do the thing which of right ought to be done betwéene man and Wife I am content to forbeare it Fiftéene dayes and because that diuers folkes are héere about to heare vs I am content to giue you truce for wee shall haue time ynough hereafter to sport vs and I know such noblenesse in you that I am sure you will take none other Wife nor touch none other but that you will kéepe your faith and troth to me for I am chast and so shall you find me it sufficeth me to kisse you as for the priuie loue I am content for this time since it is your pleasure to forbeare it Then I de answeared Faire Ladie I wil not refuse your will thus they passed that night with clipping and kissing Then in the morning they arose and made them readie and came into the Pallaice the Emperour beheld Oliue his Daughter to sée if shee were any thing chaunged and sayd Daughter how is it with your new husband Sir quoth shee euen as I desire for I loue Ide my Husband better then I loue you although you are my Father at that word the Emperour and all his Lordes laughed so great ioy and feasting was there made that it endured Eight dayes Then euerie man tooke leaue and went whether as they listed and after the Fiftéene dayes were expired that I de had layne with Oliue I de touched her not but with kissing whereof Oliue was sorrowfull and sayde to her selfe Oh good Lord I was ingendred in an euill houre when I haue married with
from hence vntill you haue shewed vs your will to the intent that we may bring him some good newes Chap. CLXXII ¶ Howe the Emperour Ide and the Empresse Oliue gaue good instructions to their Sonne when they departed from Rome and howe they arriued at Courtoys and came to Florence who with great ioy receiued them as his Children WHen the Emperor I de had heard this Knight report these newes of the King his Father the water fell from his eies for pitie and ioy that he had and answeared and sayd Sirs I will that yee know well that of your comming and good newes I am right ioyfull but I am sorrie for the great sicknesse that my Father is in wherefore to recomfort him and to make him ioyfull I will that you returne to him and say howe that I humbly recommend me to his good grace and that at Midsummer next I and my Wife will bee with him the Messengers hearing that answeare were right ioyfull Then after dinner they tooke their leaue of the Emperor and of the Empresse who gaue them many rich guiftes for the honour of King Florence their Father and so the Messengers departed When the Empresse Oliue vnderstood the will of her Lord shee was right sorrowfull for to leaue her Countrey whereas shée was borne and nourished and especially to leaue her Son Croissant whom she loued but since it was the pleasure of her Lord so to doe she contented her selfe for shée loued her Husband so well that shée would in no wise say against his pleasure nor let him to do his will Right sorrowfull were the Princes and Lordes of that Countrey and all the people of Roome but in the best wise that they could they comforted themselues because of the yong Prince Croissant who should tarie and abide with them and whom the Emperour deliuered vnto them to be kept And then hee spake to his Sonne and shewed him many notable examples and reasons he commaunded him to bée gentle and courteous to his Lordes and people and that he should not bée light of credence and that in any wise hee should not listen with his eares to heare Flatterers nor the filth that commeth from them that will lye and flatter to please him withall to the intent to come to their intention whereby many a Prince hath béene destroyed and brought to Hell whereby they and their Lordes also for beléeuing of them haue béene damned perpetually Sonne looke thou be serued with Gentlemen such as are come of them that haue béene of good renowme loue the holy Church giue almes to the poore for the loue of Iesus Christ let thy Chests be open to thy good Knightes beware thou bée no Nigard and beware thou be not ouercome with wine lead an honest life haunt and kéepe companie with the ancient noble men and praise them if they be worthy flye Flatterers and Mockers and beware thereof thy selfe for thou canst not doe worse because it will abate thine honour Thus the Emperour I de sayd to his Son Croissant and shewed him many notable sayings and faire instructions then he called his Lordes and sayd Sirs the most part of you know my will the which is that I and my Wife will goe into Aragon to the King my Father therefore I desire you all and command you that yée will haue my Sonne as recommended to you I haue left him great treasure to the intent that if any warre or any other businesse fall to him that he shall haue riches sufficient to withstand them that would doe him or his Country any dammage and also the Realme of Aragon is not so farre from hence but that anone I may haue newes from him When the Lords vnderstood the Emperour and how he had taken on him this Voyage they knewe well they could not let nor stop him of his pleasure Then they all answeared in generall and sayd that as néere as they could they would accomplish his commandement and to serue truely his Sonne Croissant and to aid keepe and defend his Countrey against all men that would annoy him Sirs quoth the Emperor I thanke you Thus after the Emperour had spoken with his Sonne and with his Lordes and shewed them his will and pleasure hee made readie for his iourney and tooke with him a certaine number of Knightes to accompanie him and the Empresse his Wife and he fournished two great Shippes and caused them to be charged with victuall and Artillerie as it appertained for the defence of their bodies and liues and tooke with him great riches apparell iewels then he tooke his leaue of the Pope of all his Lordes and of all them of the Citie who made great sorrow for their departing Then they entred into the Riuer of Tyber accompanied with about fiue Hundred Knightes at their departing they tooke leaue of their Sonne Croissant and kissed him often times When the Empresse saw her Sonne whome shee must depart from she began to wéepe but the Emperour comforted her as much as he could Then they tooke their Shippes and so departed and so long sayled in the Riuer of Tyber that they came into the hye Sea whereas they sailed night and day with good winde that without danger they arriued at the Citie of Courtoys whereas they were receiued with great ioy and so they came to the Pallaice whereas they found King Florence lying on a Couch who when hee was aduertised of their comming he had great ioy Then the Emperour and the Empresse entred into the Pallaice and came whereas the Kinge lay then they both knéeled downe before him and when the King saw them he had such ioy that hee could speake no word but made a token that they should approach néere to him and so they did and hee embraced and kissed them oftentimes and when hee might speake hee sayde My right déere Children of your comming I am right ioyfull and of the grace that God hath sent to you then againe oftentimes he kissed the Empresse Oliue sayd how she was welcome into the Realme of Aragon Of the great ioy feasting guifts and presents that were giuen and done at their welcomming if I should shew it at length it would be ouer-long to rehearse and therefore I passe it ouer Nowe let vs leaue speaking of the King and of the Emperor and the Empresse his Wife who tooke such pleasure to abide with Kinge Florence that neuer after they returned to Rome but they raigned together all their liues in good peace and loue and they hadde no Child but Croissant whome they had left at Roome and of whome wee shall speake nowe héereafter Chap. CLXXIII ¶ How Croissant was so bountifull and so liberall that hee gaue away all the Treasure that his Father had left him so that at last he had no more to giue and so was constrained to goe seeke his aduenture he and a Varlet alonely AFter that the Emperour Ide and the Empresse Oliue were departed from the Citie of
follow so fast that they shall haue no leasure to arme them When the Duke of Callaber and the Earle Remon vnderstood the noble Croissant they much praised his counsaile and aduise Then they ordained their Battailes and their Captaines and then they yssued out of the Towne with all their companie Chap. CLXXVI ¶ How Croissant did maruailes in the Battaile by whome the Sarazins were discomfited and slaine whereof the Earle Remon and the Duke of Callaber were right ioyfull WHEN the Earle Remon was without the Towne hee ordained Thrée Battailes The first Croissant hadde the leading thereof and the Earle sayd to him Fréend I pray you this day to shewe from whence you come and how that you bee of the Lineage Emperiall and of the good Line of the Duke of Bourdeaux for I haue such trust in God and in the vertue of your armes that me thinkes mine enemies doe now flye away before me Sir quoth Croissant I shall doe so much by the grace of God that our enemies shall haue no leasure to graunt vs the Victorie The second Battaile the Earle Remons Sonne led and his Father sayd to him that hee should that day shew foorth his vertue and Prowesse The third Battaile the Earle Remon and the Duke of Callaber had the guiding thereof and they set in euery Battaile Fiftéen Thousand men then the Earle Remon went before euerie battaile stirring moouing them to doe well and then the Earle sent a Messenger to the Hoast of the Sarazins to shewe them of the comming of the Christian men they were before their Tents in Fiue Battailes they were in number about a Hundred Thousand Sarazins whereof there were two Kings and Foure Admirals This Messenger did his Messuage when he had done hée returned to the Earle Remon and shewed him all that hee had heard and séene Then Croissant sayd to the Earle Sir I pray you to shew mee what armes the two Sarazin Kinges doe beare to the intent that I may know them for the sooner the great men bee slaine the sooner the other will flye because that will abash them and the sooner to be discomfited for men without a Lord are as shéepe without a shepheard Then the Earle shewed him their armes and badges Sir quoth Croissant since I am hereof aduertised I shall neuer rest vntill I haue encountred them if God will saue mine armes and good sword Then the Paynims who saw well the Christian men comming cast vp a great crie and so maruailous that there was none so hardy but was thereof abashed for it séemed that all the world arriued there When Croissant sawe the Sarazins approach he aduaunced his Battaile and when they ioyned he couched his Speare and strake therewith the King of Belmarins Sonne so that the Speare-head passed through his bodie more then a foote and so with drawing out of his Speare the Sarazin fell downe dead among the horse féele whereof the Paynims had great dolour When Croissant hadde slaine the King of Belmarins Sonne there came before him the Nephewe of the King of Granado and Croissant bare him to the earth so rudely that in the falling he brake his necke then he ran at the Third the Fourth and slew them and as long as his Speare held he ceased not to slay and to beat downe the Sarazins and when his Speare was broken he tooke his Sword wherewith hee claue the Sarazins to the braines and cutte off armes and handes hee made among them such slaughter that there was not so hardie a Sarazin that durst abide his full stroake but they fled before him as the shéepe doe before the Wolfe Anon the tidings was brought to the King of Belmarin how his Son was slaine by a young Knight who did maruailes in the Battaile and when the King knew that his Sonne was slaine he wept for sorrow and made promise that he had rather die then the death of his Sonne should be vnreuenged and therewith he preassed into the Battaile and met at his comming the Duke of Callabers Seneschall and strake him with his Speare in such wise that he ran him cleane through and so he fell downe dead then the Battaile began fiercely and they of Prouaunce Callaber did valiantly Then the Earle Remon came into the battaile and met with the Admirall of Cordes and gaue him such a stroake with his sword on the helmet that he claue his head to the braines and so he fell downe dead Then hee sawe the King of Granado who slewe many a Christian man and the Earle Remon tooke a speare and ran at the Kinge and strake him so on the visor of his helmet that hee fell to the earth with his féet vpward among his owne men and had béen there slain if his men had not succoured him In another place was Croissant and hee saw before him the King of Belmarin who road about séeking for Croissant to be reuenged of him for the death of his Sonne and when the King saw Croissant beating down horse and men and that none could resist against him he had great desire to be reuenged and sayd to Croissant Oh thou false Traytour that hath slaine my son I ought greatly to laud and praise Mahomet if I may bee reuenged vpon thée then he couched his speare and strake Croissant in the middest of his shéeld so that his speare flew all to péeces but for all the stroake Croissant remooued no more then though he had striken a stone wall and Croissant sore displeased that the king had giuen him such a stroake let goe the bridle of his horse and lifted vp his sword with both his hands strake the king as he passed by on the corner of his helmet in such wise that he strake it cleane asunder if the stroake had not glaunced he had clouen his head to the guirdle but the sword turned and alighted vppon the horse necke so that he strake the necke cleane asunder in such sort that of force the king tumbled to the earth sore astonied of the stroke that he had receiued and if he had not béen quickly rescued Croissant had striken off his head Then the Sarazins remounted againe their King and ran at Croissant and cast darts at him and Iauelins to haue slain him but they durst not approch néere him so much they feared him howbeit they hurt him in diuers places hee held his sword in his handes wherewith hee strake no man with a full stroake but that hee claue his head to the braines Then hee sawe the great Admirall of Spaine and he gaue him such a stroake that his head was clouen to the chinne and so hee fell downe dead Great sorrowe made the Sarazins and especially the King of Granado and when Croissant saw him he knewe him well by his armes whereof hee was ioyfull and Croissant approached to him and gaue him such a stroke on the helmet that his head was clouen to the braines and so the Kinge fell
led them before Charlemaine without any woord speaking and caused them to sit downe with him at his own table that he had wished thither then he tooke his cup and made thereon thrée crosses then incontinent the cup was ful of wine then King Oberon tooke it gaue it to Escleremond to drinke and then to Huon and so to Gerames and when they had all three dranke well he said to Huon Friend arise vp and take the cuppe and beare it to King Charlemaine and say vnto him that he drinke to you in the name of peace if hee refuse it hee did neuer such a follie in all his life King Charlemaine who sate néere to them at his owne table hearing king Oberons words wist not what to thinke and so sate still and durst not speake one word for the great maruailes that he saw there and no more durst none of his men for they were so abashed that there was none there but that gladly would haue béene a hundred leagues thence But whosoeuer was afrayde Gerard was not verie well pleased Then Huon rose from Oberons table and tooke the cuppe and went therewith to king Charlemaine and deliuered it to him The king tooke it durst not refuse it as soone as it was in his hands it was drie voyde not a drop of wine therin Fellow quoth the King you haue inchaunted me Sir quoth Oberon it is because you are full of sin for the cup is of such dignitie that none can drinke thereof without he be a noble man and cleane without deadly sinne and I know one that ye did not long agoe the which as yet you were neuer confessed of and if it were not to your shame I should shew it héere openly that euery man should heare it When the Emperour Charlemaine heard King Oberon hee was abashed and afraid that King Oberon would haue shamed him openly then Huon tooke againe the cuppe and then incontinent it was full of wine againe and then Huon bare it to Duke Naymes who sate next to Charlemaine Naymes tooke the cup and dranke thereof at his pleasure but all the other could not touch the cup they were so full of sinne Then Huon returned to king Oberon and sate downe by him then Oberon called to him Duke Naymes and commanded him to rise from Charlemaines table and to sit downe by him at his table the which Duke Naymes did for hee durst not say nay Then Oberon sayd to him Sir Duke Naymes right good thanks I giue you in that you haue béene so true and iust to Huon and thou King Charlemaine that art Emperour of the Romaines behold here Huon whom wrongfully and without cause you haue disenherite and would take from him all his lands hee is a Noble man and true and besides that I say vnto you for truth hee hath done your message vnto the Admirall Gaudys and I ayded to bring him to his death and then hée tooke out of his mouth foure of his greatest téeth and also did cutte off his white beard and I did â—lose them within the side of Gerames by the will of God this that I haue sayd you may bee surely beléeue for at all these déedes I was present Sée yonder false Traitour Gerard who by his malicious intent hath done this treason and to the ende that you may know the matter more surely you shall heare it confessed by his owne mouth Then Oberon sayd to Gerard I coniure thée by the diuine puissance and power that God hath giuen mee that héere before King Charlemaine and all his Lords thou shew and declare the troth of this treason which thou hast done against Huon thy Brother When Gerard vnderstoode Oberon hee was in such feare that hée trembled for dread for hée felt in himselfe that hee coulde haue no power to hide the troth of the treason then he sayd Sir I sée well to hide the troth cannot auaile mée therefore true it is I went to the Abbey of Saint Maurise to sée my Brother Huon and Gybouars accompanied with Fortie men at armes wee departed from this Citie and layde our ambushment in a little wood about twoo Leagues from this Citie to watch when my Brother Huon should passe by that way Gerard quoth King Oberon speake out hyer that you may the better be heard and that euerie man may heare the treason falsenesse that you haue done vnto your Brother Sir quoth Gerard I wote not what to say for I haue done so ill and falsely against my Brother that more ill I could not doe and I am ashamed to recount it But to say truely that before it was midnight I made my Brother to rise and to depart from the Abbey and when wee came néere the place where as my Father in law Gibouars was with his ambushment I began to striue with my brother so highly that Gibouars might heare mee who when he heard me speake he brake forth of his ambushment and ranne at my brothers companie and so slew them all except these three that be here then we tooke the dead bodies and did cast them into the Riuer of Gerone then wee tooke Huon and his wife and the old Gerames and bound their handes and féete and blindfolded their eyes and so brought them on thrée leane horses into the Citie and I tooke out of the side of old Gerames the beard and foure great téeth the which if it please you I shall fetch from the place where I left them Gerard quoth Oberon you shall not neede to take that labour for when it shall please me I can haue them without you Well Sir quoth Gerard thus when I had set them in prison I went backe againe to the Abbey and then I demaunded of the Abbot and Couent where the treasure was that my Brother had left there and that hée should deliuer it to me bearing him in hand that my Brother Huon had sent for it The good Abbot would not deliuer it to me wherefore Gybouars and I slew him then wée made this Monke héere the Abbot who is néere of kinne to Gybouars to the entent that he should ayd to beare vs witnesse and to iustifie our sayings Then we tooke all the treasure that was there and brought it hether then I charged Tenne Somers the which I had with me to King Charlemaines Court at Paris the which treasure I gaue part thereof to the King and to other by whom I thought to be aided to performe mine vnhappie Enterprize and I beléeued surely that by reason of the riches that I gaue that my Brother should haue receiued death and thereby I to haue béene Lord and Maister of all his Landes and Signiories and all this treason that I haue shewed Gybouars caused me to doe it or else I had neuer thought to haue done it Gerard quoth King Oberon if it please our Lord Iesus Christ you and he both shal be hanged by the necks there is no man liuing shall saue you
but they within cast them downe so that they had no power to rise vp againe for there was cast downe vpon them earth timber and stones Fierce was the assault that the Almaines made they within made noble defence for Huon and Gerames shot so with their crosbowes thar at euery shoote they slew some man or sore wounded him and long endured this assault so that finally the Almaines were constrained to recule backe a bow shoote whereof they within were very ioyfull Then the Emperour Tirrey being sorrowfull and full of rage came to his men and rebuked them shamefully commaunding them that incontinent they should returne again to assaile the Citie saying that they should not faile to winne it Then the Almaines to please their Lord retourned in great hast with their ladders pikes and came into the dikes whereas then there was no water raysed them vp to the walles but they were no sooner vp but they within beat them downe againe and put them in danger of their liues for they cast downe Timber stones and faggots with fire and hoat oyle and lead vppon them so that the assailants were faine perforce to recoile backe and they within shot arrowes so thicke that it seemed like snowe The Emperour was sore displeased and Duke Sauary when they saw none other remedie many were slaine and sore hurt and the Emperor and Sauary his Brother seeing that they could nothing profite sounded the retrait and so returned to their Tents sore displeased for their great losse that they had for they lost that day more then two Thousand men lyinge dead in the feeld and in the Dikes and more then thrée Thousand sore hurt Then Duke Sauary sayd to the Emperor Sir me thinks it is but folly to assaile this Citie it is strong and well furnished with men and good Knightes to defend it wherefore we may well perceiue that without great damage we cannot winne it without it be by famine for hee that is Lorde thereof is hardy and cruell and to be feared and doubted for he is expert in armes wherefore it is impossible to take the Citie perforce When the Emperour vnderstoode him hee was right sorrowfull and made againe newe promise not to depart thence vntill hee had Huon at his pleasure Huon who little set by the threatnings of the Emperour went into his Pallaice and said to his men Sirs we ought greatly to thanke God for the defence of our Citie many Almains â—ee slaine and hurt I doubt them nothing for our Citie is strong before it be lost it will cost many men their liues I desire you all take good héed that we be not beguiled Sir quoth they we shall take good héed thereof as well for you as for the sauegard of our liues Thus Huon and his men deuised together howbeit they were sore greeued for at the beginning they were about twentie Thousand men then they were not aboue six Thousand Now let vs leaue speaking of them and speake of the Emperour who was right sorrowfull for his losse Chap. LXXXXIIII ¶ How Huon sent Habourey his Messenger to the Emperour to require peace and of his answeare WHen the Emperor hadde heard Duke Sauary his Brother speake he made a solemne oath that whatsoeuer fortune should fall hee would not depart thence Winter nor Summer till hee had wonne the Citie and then he sent for his Réerband as farre as his Empire stretched commaunding euerie man to come to him all excuses layd apart and so they did Now of their comming by the way I make no mention but so long they trauailed that they came within a League of Bourdeaux and when the Emperour knew thereof he had great ioy and mounted on his horse with other Lords with him and road met them and spake to them and made them good cheere Thus his force encreased Huons diminished daily often times Huon issued out vpon his horse called Amphage made daily many great Skirmishes sometime hée wan and sometime hee lost he slew many Almaines so that they all feared him for there was none that durst abide him his horse was so cruell that none durst approach néere him without he were slaine Huons men quit them valiantly so that if they lost at one time they wan iij. times for it but their force could not long endure for their enemies were so many they so few they had made so many issues that they had lost many of their company for of xx M. they were left but v. C. men wherof Huon was sorowfull Now when he saw that he had but v. C. men he called to him Gerames Othon Barnard Richard saying Sirs I see that euery day we diminish wherfore we cannot long endure against the Emperors force therefore I thinke that it were good that wee sent to the Emperor to know if he wil heare speaking of any peace Sir quoth they wee thinke your aduise right good and it were good to knowe if hee will agrée thereto or not Then Huon called Habourey his Messenger and commaunded him that incontinent he should goe to the Emperour and say vnto him that if it bee his pleasure to heare speaking of any peace I shall quoth he condescend therto and to make him amends at his pleasure for the wronge and damage that I haue done vnto him and his men Also shew him how that I will become his man and doe him homage for all the Landes that I haue the which I was woont to hould of the King of Fraunce but séeing I haue no succour from him I am driuen perforce to purchase for my profit in some other place And besides that shewe him that the fiue Hundred Prisoners that I haue of his men I shall deliuer them quit without any raunsome paying and also when Lent commeth I and a Hundred knightes with me at my cost charges shall passe the Sea and goe to the holy Sepulchre to pray for the Soules of his Nephews that I haue slaine and for all other that haue been slaine by occasion of this warre Sir quoth the Messenger I am readie to fulfill your commaundement whatsoeuer fall thereof and so hee departed went to the Emperours Hoast entred into the riche Tent and then hee kneeled downe before the Emperour and sayd The almightie God who on the Crosse dyed to saue all humane kinde kéepe and defend from all ill the Emperour all his Barony Sir Duke Huon of Bourdeaux sendeth to you salutation and good amitie requiring you in the honour of god that he may haue peace with you by that hee will become your liege-man and doe you homage and hould his Landes of you and will deliuer quite the fiue Hundred men of yours that he hath in prison in the Citie and moreouer hee offereth himselfe and a Hundred Knights to passe the Sea this next Lent and to goe to the holy Sepulchre to pray to our Lord God for the soules of your Nephewes
that be dead and for other that by him and by his meanes haue beene slaine in this warre Sir if it please you this to doe ye shall doe a great almes deede for life cannot bee had againe to them that bee dead When the Emperour Tyrrey had wel heard Habourey the messenger he became as red as a brand of fire and regarded the messenger fiercely and sayd Auoyd my sight thou false varlet but that I doubt to be reprooued I should cause thée to be hewen in peeces but a messenger ought not to be touched for any words that hee can speake but say to thy Lord that by him and by his meanes I haue lost more then twentie thousand men beside my thrée Nephewes my yonger brother but by the Lord that died on the Crosse to redeeme vs all I will neuer haue peace with him till I haue him at my pleasure nor neuer returne thou againe hither to mee nor none other vpon any such message When Habourey the messenger heard the Emperour hee was in great feare and would gladly haue béen in Bourdeaux then he departed without any more speaking and rested not till hee came to Bourdeaux where hee went to the Pallaice wheras he found Duke Huon then he sayd Sir I haue béene with the Emperour and shewed him at full all your message but his answere will not serue to your demaunde for he sayd to mee that he will haue no peace with you till he haue you at his pleasure to doe with you what hee will and thus I departed from him and left him sitting at his table at dinner Chap. LXXXXV ¶ How Huon issued out of Bourdeaux and came to the tents and fought with the Emperour WHen Huon vnderstood the Messenger hee was full of anger and displeasure and saide Sirs I commaunde you all in hast to goe and arme you for ere euer the Almaines bee risen from their dinners and armed I shall make them so sorrowfull that they shall curse the houre that euer they were borne for I had rather die then to leaue them in this point for I will goe serue them of their first messe Then euery man armed him and Huon leapt vpon his good horse Amphage and then he tooke his leaue of the faire Escleremond his wife and so departed out of Bourdeaux with his company and road towardes the Emperours Tents The same time the Emperour was risen from his Table and he had ordained three hundred men on horsebacke to keepe the Tents whiles he was at dinner then Huon and his company came so quickly that hee was among them ere they perceiued any thing and he cried Bourdeaux and strake a Knight with his Speare cleane through the body so that he fell dead to the earth then he ran at another and serued him in likewise and so he slew foure before his Speare brake Then he drew his Sword beat down men and horses and brake the thickest presse so that euerie man gaue him way and Gerames Othon Barnard and Rychard and all his company did maruels in armes so much they did that within a short space the iij. hundred Almaines that were set to keepe the Tents were all slayne Then Huon and his company entred in among the Tents and Pauilions where they bet downe the Tents such as they met were slaine then the Almaines on all parts armed them and the Emperour sounded his Trumpets armed him he was so sorrowfull and angry with the trauell damage he was put too by Huon that hee enraged and was néere out of his wit for night and day he could take no rest When he was armed hee mounted on his horse and xx M. Almaines with him and they all sware the death of Huon whome God defend for if he long taried there he should be in danger of his life But he was wise and discréet in Feats of armes hée looked towards the Emperours Tent and sawe well twentie Thousand men readie to come vpon him then he said to his men Sirs it is time that wee retire to our Citie wee may well now goe without blame for we may no longer tarie heere without great danger Sir quoth Gerames wée bee readie to doe your commaundement then they tooke the way to returne to the Citie but the Emperour who greatly desired the death of Huon he his men pursued Huon as fast as their horses could goe when the Emperor was néere to Huon he said Ah thou false Traytour so many times thou hast troubled and angered mee that longer I will not suffer thée to liue turne toward me for with thee I will iust or else I shall slay thée flying I had rather to die then not to take of thée vengeance for the hurts that thou hast done to mée When Huon heard how the Emperor called him Traytor hee was sore displeased and turned his horse towardes the Emperour and sayd Ah false old Churle whereas thou sayest I am a Traytor I shall shew thee how thou lyest falsely then they ran eache at other with their Speares in their restes so that they met so rudely strake each other on their sheelds by such force that their sheeldes burst assunder the Emperour was a puissant Prince so that his Speare burst all to péeces but Huons Speare was strong and held wherewith he gaue the Emperour such a stroake that Sheeld nor Holberd coulde not warraunt him but that the Speare entred into the Emperors side so that if he had not swarued aside he had not escaped death that stroake was so sore that the Emperour sell to the earth in such wise that néere hand he had broken his neck with the fall and so lay in a swound Huon séeing the Emperour lying on the earth in great rage and displeasure he desired to haue slaine the Emperor then he drew out his Sword turned to strike off his head the which he had don if he had not ben rescued but the Almains frō all parts came thither so that they rescued the Emperour from death and sette him on a horse with much paine then he thanked our Lord God that he was so well escaped and made a vowe to God that he would neuer more fight with Huon hand to hand but hee would pursue him to the death if he could Chap. LXXXXVI ¶ How Huon made another issue out of Bourdeaux and tooke away all the beastes that were in the pastures without the towne pertaining to the Emperours hoast WHen Huon sawe that hee could doe no more at that time and that the Almaines encreased in great number to haue assayled him then he spurred his good horse Amphage who made such leapes that it séemed hee had flowne in the ayre he had his sword in his hand and stroke therewith so great strokes that none durst approach neere him Thus he rode after his men and led them towards the Citie as the shepheard doth his shéepe for as soone as his enemies approached néere him he shewed