mine age in peace and seruice of my Lord God Wherefore as much as I may I desire you all to aduise me which of you all shal be thereunto thought most able Yée all know that I haue two Sonnes that is to say Lewes who is too young and Charlot whome I loue well and he is of age sufficient to rule but his manners and conditions are not méete to haue the gouernance of such two Noble States as the Realme of Fraunce the holy Empire of Roome for yée know well in dayes past by reason of his pride my Realme was likely to haue béen destroyed and I to haue had warre against you all when by his rashnesse he slewe Baldwin son to the good Duke Ogier the Dane whereon so many mishaps ensued that it will neuer be raced out of remembrance Therefore so long as I liue I will not consent that he shall haue the gouernment though he be rightful inheritor that after me he ought to haue the Signiorie but instantly I entreat your noble opinions what in this case I were best to doe Chap. II. ¶ The conclusion and answeare that the Barons made And what counsaile the dishonorable Lord Earle Amerie gaue to the King against the twoo Sonnes of Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux whereby great mischiefe afterward ensued And of the good aduice that Duke Naymes gaue to the Emperour WHen Duke Naymes and all the Barons being assembled together in a priuate parte of the Pallaice there they were somewhat long together but at last they all concluded that to Charlot the Kinges eldest Sonne appertayned the gouerning of the said Realmes Then they returned to the King and shewed him the conclusion wherevpon they were agréed of which the Emperour was right ioyfull Then he called before him his Son and shewed him many faire reasons before all his Barons but therewith stepped foorth a fellon Traytour who had too much secrecie with the Emperour and likewise had the gouernance of Charlot the Kinges Sonne who did nothing but by his direction this Knight was called Earle Amerie and was Son to one of the Nephews of the Traytour Ganelon In this manner then hee spake to the King Right royall Emperour whence proceeds it that you are so forward in deliuerance of your Kingdome to the weake gouerning of Charlot your Sonne forbeare this hastinesse and first for a proofe of his ablenesse in such a case giue him a Land that ought to be yours and as yet is not and where you haue as yet neither fealtie nor seruice This Land is in the possession of two proud Boyes who these Seauen yeares passed would not serue you nor since their Father Duke Seuin dyed would doe you any obeysance the eldest is named Huon and the other Gerard they kéepe Bourdeaux and all the Land of Aquitaine thinke great scorne to hold their Lands of you But my Lord if you will giue me men and authoritie I will bringe them as Prisoners into your Pallace where you may doe your will with them and then the Land that they hold you may giue to Charlot your Sonne Amerie quoth the Emperour I giue you great thankes that you haue aduertised me of this matter I will that you take of your best fréends and beside them you shall haue of mée thrée Thousand Knightes well chosen and prooued men of warre and I will that you bring to mée the two Sonnes of Duke Seuin that is to say Huon and Gerard who in their pride set nothing by mée When Duke Naymes beeing there present heard the words of Amerie and sawe how the Emperour consented to his desire he stept foorth boldly and beholding Amerie stearnly thus spake My Soueraigne Lord the ill is great but the sinne farre greater when men of no truth or certaintie are so highly listned vnto As for Duke Seuin is it not well knowne my Lord what true and honorable seruice all his dayes he did you and can you then bee so easilye woone to disenherite his Children Consider good my Lord that the reason why as yet they haue not tendered their dutie in your presence is nothing else but their want of years for such allegiance and their Mother likewise déerely respecting them is loath to leaue their companie so young And would your Highnes but be aduised by me you should not so rashly depriue them of their Landes but rather as best becommeth a vertuous Prince and in some regard of their Fathers good Seruice first send twoo of your Knightes to the Duchesse let them in your name commaund her Sonnes personall appearance at your Court in case of seruice and dutifull homage which if she or they shall refuse to doe then may you iustly procéede otherwise against them But I dare my Lord engage mine honour that send them shée will that onely a Mothers loue and care of her Children hath béen the reason of their absence all this while Chap. III. ¶ How the Emperour Charlemaine sent two Knightes to the Duchesse of Bourdeaux to commaund her to send her two Sonnes to his Court. WHEN the Emperour Charles hadde heard Duke Naymes speake he said My Lord I know for certainty that Duke Seuin hath alwaies serued vs truely and the reasons that you haue shewed are iust Therefore I graunt that it shall bée as you haue aduised My Lord quoth the Duke I most humbly thanke your grace Then incontinent the king sent for two knights and gaue them in charge to go to Bourdeaux to doe his Messuage to the Duchesse and to the Sonnes of Duke 〈◊〉 the which they did so departed from Paris without resting past one night in a place vntill they arriued at Bourdeaux then incontinent they went to the Pallace whereas they found the Duchesse who was as then but newly rysen from dinner and when she was aduertised of their comming shée came in hast to méete them accompanied with Huon her Sonne who was by her and Gerard came after with a Sparrow-hawke on his fist When the Messengers saw the Duchesse her two goodly Sonnes they knéeled downe and saluted both her and her two Sonnes from King Charlemaine saying Ladie to you we be sent from our Emperour Charles who by vs sendeth vnto you his salutations of honour and amitie When the Noble Ladie vnderstood that they were Messengers sent from the great Emperour Charles she arose and embraced them and sayd that they were right welcome vnto her Madame quoth they our Emperour hath sent vs vnto you and commaundeth you to send your twoo Sonnes to serue him in his Court for there are verie few in his Realme but they are come to his seruice except your Sonnes And Ladie since you know right well that the Landes you enioy appertaining to your Sonnes is holden of the Emperour Charles by reason of his royall prerogatiue in Fraunce great maruaile is in many that you haue not sent them ere this time to doe him seruice as other Dukes and Princes in like case haue
done In this respect he commaundeth you both for your own good conseruation of their Landes that you send them vnto him or if you doe not know then for certaine that he will take frō you those Lands you hould giue them to the Prince Charlot his Sonne This is the summe of our Messuage wée attend your answeare Chap. IIII. ¶ The answeare that the Duchesse of Bourdeaux made to the Emperours Messengers WHen the good Lady had well vnderstood the Messengers she answered them gently in this maner My Lordes and honourable Freendes the reason why I haue not sent my Sons to the Court before this time to serue my Lord the King as dutie required was in regarde of their tender yeares and some respect of loue to Duke Seuin their Father and bycause I knew certainlye that my rightfull Lord the Emperour Charlemaine loued alwayes Duke Seuin I neuer feared that he would take displeasure with his Children these thinges haue béene the principall cause why I haue not sent them all this while to serue the King Therefore let my entreats preuaile so much with you as to be a meanes to the Emperour and al the other Barons to hold me and my Children excused in this case for the fault is onelie mine not in them Then Huon stept foorth before his mother and sayd Madame if it had béene your pleasure you might haue sent vs before this time that is true quoth Gerardine for wee are ould ynough to haue our knighthood The Ladie heheld her two Sonnes and wéeping said to the Messengers Sirs you may returne to the King howbeit you shall rest you this night in my house and to morowe depart at your pleasure and you shall recommend me and my Sonnes to the Kings good grace and to the other Barons and Knightes and among other salute Duke Naymes who is néere kinsman to my Sonnes and desire him for the loue of Duke Seuin to stand a continuall fréend vnto them Madame quoth the Messengers haue you no doubt of that for Duke Naymes is a noble Man and a true Knight nor will he at any time be in place where any ill opinion shal passe against them Then the Duchesse commaunded her Sonnes that they should make the Kings Messengers good chéere and to bring them into their Chamber to rest them the which they did and were serued and feasted as appertained to their woorth Then the next morning they returned to the Pallace whereas they found the Duchesse and her two Sonnes and they humbly saluted the Ladie When the Duchesse sawe them she called Huon and Gerardin and said My Sonnes here in the presence of these two Knightes I say that at Easter you shall go to our Soueraigne Lord the Emperour Charlemaine and when you bée in the Court serue your Soueraigne Lord well and truely as subiects ought to doe bée diligent at all times to serue him faithfully kéepe companie with Noble men such as you sée to be of good vertuous condicions be not in place where ill woords be spoken or ill counsalie giuen fly from the companie of them that loue not honour and troth open not your eares to héere Lyers or false Reporters or Flatteres haunt often the Church and giue largly for Gods sake be liberall and courteous and giue to poore Knights fly the companie of Ianglers and all goodnesse shall follow thereby I will there be giuen to each of these Knights a Courser and a rich Gowne as it appertaineth to the Messengers of so noble an Emperour as Charlemaine is and also each of them to haue a hundred Florents Madame quoth Huon your pleasure shal be accomplished then the two Sonnes caused to be brought before the Pallace two goodly Horses and presented them to the two Knights and gaue each of them a rich Gowne and a hundred Florents Whereof the Messengers were ioyfull and thanked the Duchesse and her two Sonnes said that their courtesie should be remembred in time to come howbeit they knew well it was done for the honour of the King then they tooke leaue of the Duchesse and of her two Sonnes and so departed and road without let vntill they came to Paris whereas they found the Emperour in his Pallace sitting among his Barons the King perceiued them and incontinent called them to his presence ere they had leasure to speake the Kinge had them welcome home and demanded of them if they had béen at Bourdeaux and spoken with the Duchesse the two Sonnes of Duke Seuin whether they would come and serue him in his Court or not Dread Lord quoth they we haue béen at Bourdeaux and done your message to the Duchesse who right humbly receiued vs and gaue vs gentle entertainment when shée had heard vs speake and knewe that wée were your Messengers shée made vs the best chéere that shée could deuise and sayd that the cause why shée had not sent her Sonnes to your Court before this time was by reason of their young age and shée humbly requireth your grace to hold both her and her two Sonnes excused and that at this next Easter shée will send them to your Court. As for her Sonnes trust mée my Lord they are two such louely Gentlemen as wée tooke great delight in beholding them especially Huon the eldest he is so fayre and so well fourmed that nature cannot amend him Also my Lord for the loue of you shée hath giuen each of vs a goodly Horse and a rich Gowne and a hundred Florents of gould My Lord the goodnesse the valour and the courtesie that is in the Duchesse and in her Sonnes cannot be recounted and on their behalfe are we to entreat your Maiestie to retaine them alwayes in your fauour and good grace and to pardon the fault of their long absence Chap. V. ¶ How the Emperour was content with the report of the two Knights and how the Traytour Earle Amerie went and complayned to Charlot the Kings Sonne WHen the Emperour had heard the Messengers speake hée was right ioyfull and said I haue alwayes heard say that a good Trée bringeth foorth good fruit I speake it in the behalfe of Duke Seuin who in his time was a valiant true Knight and by that I sée that the twoo Children resemble their good Father I perceiue they haue receiued my Messengers right honourably and with great reuerence haue giuen thē no meane gifts which shal be vnto them auailable in time to come for they shall no sooner be come into my Court but in despight of any that shall speake against them I will doe for them in such wise that it shall bée an example to all other to doe well for I will make them for loue I bare to their Father of my priuie Counsaile and turning then to olde Duke Naymes sayd My Lord alwayes your kindred haue béen good and true and therfore I will that Amerie bee banished from my Court for hée nor euer any of his lineage
agrée to beare witnesse of that I shall say to the King I will make you all so rich that yée shall neuer be poore after They answeared they would fulfill his pleasure then they went out of the wood and came there as Charlot lay dead then they tooke him vp and layd him before Earle Amerie on his horse necke and so road foorth but mischéefe and mishap followe them for as much as in them lay they laboured to haue Huon iudged to death Thus they road the hye way to Paris and the Abbot of Cluny who was ridden on before looked behind him and sawe the two Brethren comming after him then he taried and demaunded of Huon what aduenture hée had found Sir quoth he I haue slayne him that hath sore hurt my Brother where he thought to haue slaine me but thanked be God I haue left him dead in the place Faire Nephew quoth the Abbot I am sorrie thereof but séeing it is done if any hurt come thereby and that you be accused before the King I shall ayd you with all my power Sir quoth Huon of that I thanke you then Huon looked behind him and saw where Earle Amerie with all his power came faire easily after him therewith his heart trembled Then he said vnto the Abbot Sir what shall I doe yonder I sée them approach that desire my death they bée the same that lay in the wood watching for vs. Faire Nephew quoth the Abbot haue no doubt for they that come after vs come but a soft pace they make no semblance to ouertake you let vs ride on a good pace we shal be anone at Paris it is now but two miles thether Then they road on and rested not vntill they came to the Pallaice and béeing there alighted Huon went vp holding his Brother by the one hand and the Abbot by the other hand There they saw the King sitting among his Barons then Huon saluted Duke Naymes and all the other Barons and said Health and faire hap to all these noble Lords but shame and dishonour to my Lord the King for there was neuer heard of a fowler treason then the King hath practised against vs séeing that by his Messengers his Letters Patents he hath sent for vs to doe him seruice the which commaundement we haue in all dutie obayed as to our Soueraigne Lord but by false treason waight hath béen layd secretly for vs and a close ambush to haue murdered vs by the way first they assayled my brother héere present by them he was brought into such danger that they left him for dead and afterward they set vpon me to haue slayne mée but by the ayd of our Lord Iesus Christ and with my Sword I so defended me that he that thought to haue slayne vs I haue slayne him Chap. IX ¶ How the King was sore displeased with Huon bycause hee had appeached him of treason and how Huon shewed all the manner why he slewe the Knight that wounded his Brother WHEN the King had heard Huon he said Knight beware and thinke well what thou hast sayd héere before all my Barons for neuer in all my life did I either act or giue my consent to any treason But by the faith that I owe vnto my maker and by my beard if it be so that thou canst not prooue this that thou layest to my charge I shall cause both thée and thy Brother to dye an euill death When Huon heard the King how hée tooke his words he stept foorth and sayd Great King behold héere my Brother who by thy meanes is sore hurt and in ieopardie of his life And so did take off his Brothers Gowne and his Dublet to his shyrt and he did open the great wound so that the bloud ran out aboundantly euen that it enforced Gerardin to fall in a swound before the King and his Barons through the great anguishe that he felt whereof the Emperour tooke such compassion that he could not choose but much bemone him And therefore immediatly sent for his Surgeons causing thē to search his wounds demaunding if they could saue his life or no and when they had thorowly searched the wound they said Sir by the help of God within this moneth he shal be whole and sound The King was glad of that answeare and beholding Huon said Since thou layest this déed to my charge thou must thinke that thou hast touched the royall reputation of a King and that in such sort as verie hardly may the condition of Maiestie endure it But by my Countreys honour and by the Crowne that I iustly beare vpon my head if I may knowe who hath done this heynous offence I shall doe both thy Brother and thée such right and iustice as it shall remaine for a perpetuall memorie of due honour and that your selues shall report you haue no cause to complaine My Lord answeared Huon I humbly thanke you for through obaying your commaundement this mischéefe is fallen vnto vs. I cannot thinke nor know that any time of our life eyther I or my Brother did euer wrong or trespasse to any creature but thus by your Kingly pacience the case happened After we departed from Bourdeaux wée found no aduenture but when we came within a League of Montleherry wee met with our Vnckle the Abbot of Cluny and so fell in companie with him to conduct vs to the Court and so we road together vntill we came on this side Montleherry then we sawe a little wood and by the brightnesse of the Sonne we saw the healmes and speares and shéelds of them that were ambushed in the wood and that one came out of the wood all armed his speare in his hand and shéeld about his necke and hée came a soft pace towards vs then all we stood still and sent my brother to the knight to know whether they were Spies or men to kéepe the passage to the entent that if they demanded any Tribute they should haue right of vs if they would haue any of vs. When my brother came néere to the Knight he demaunded what we were and my brother said how we were the Children of the Duke of Bourdeaux and were comming by your commaundement to your Court to reléeue our Lands and Fées of your grace then the Knight sayd how we were the same persons that he sought for and sayd how that a Seauen yeares passed Duke Seuin our Father had taken from him thrée Castles the which was neuer so then my brother offered him that if he would come to Paris before you and your Barons he should haue right done to him if he had any wrong done to him Then the Knighte answeared that he would not doe soe and therewith suddainly couched his speare and stroake my brother as you sée he béeing vnarmed so that he fell to the earth wéening he had béen slain and then he road againe faire and easily toward the wood When I saw my brother borne to the earth I had such sorrow at
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
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