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
enemies encreased wherefore hee was constrained to retire backe towardes the Citie howbeit before he entred he did great losse and dammage vnto his enemies When the Nauarnes sawe the Aragons retire into the Citie then they pitcht vp their Tents and Pauillions about the Towne and when king Garyn saw his men returned then he called his Sonne Florence and said Sonne take thine armour and ayd to defend the Land the which appertaineth to thée after my decease Sir quoth Florence that will I neuer doe without first you promise me to giue me the faire Damsel in marriage by that couenant that I shall deliuer into your hands as Prisoner mine Vncle the King of Nauarre When the King his Father heard him hee muzed a litttle and sayd My Sonne I graunt thee thy desire so that thou wilt deliuer me thine Vncle the kinge of Nauarre to doe with him at my pleasure therefore take thine armour and make thée readie thine armour is good and thy swoorde is with the best and if thou canst do as thou sayest thou shalt haue the faire Damsell howbeit he sayd to himselfe priuily that he had rather to loose one of his handes then a stranger should be Quéen after him for assoone as my Sonne quoth hee shall be yssued out of the Citie I shall cause the Damsell to be drowned in the Sea for I will not suffer her to liue although I should bee disenherited for it Then Florence hearing his Father promising to him to haue the Damsâ—ll he was right ioyfull but he knew not the inward ill will of his Father then hee sayd Sir then I require you to send for my Loue hether to the entent that she may guird my sword about mee whereby I shall be the more bold and hardy when I come into the Battaile The kinge did as his Sonne required but the Sonne knewe not the Fathers thought the Kinge sent twoo knightes for the Damsell and when shee came there shee was greatly regarded of them that were there for they had neuer séen a fairer nor one that séemed to be extract of a hye generation When Florence sawe her in the Pallaice his heart rose vp and he ranne vnto her and embraced and kissed her and the Ladie suffered him with a good will wherewith the king had at his heart such sorrow that he had neere hand runne vppon them but he forbare it because he saw his Son readie to goe against his enemies then he helped to arme his Sonne richly and in like wise so did the faire Damsell When king Garyn hadde made his Sonne readie the Damsell did guird his Sword about him then the king drew it out of the sheath and therewith made him knight and then his horse was brought vnto him and hee leapt lightly vppon him with his Speare in his hand and helmet vppon his head and shéelde about his necke Then Florence sayd vnto the kinge his Father Sir I leaue with you my Loue whome I loue best in all this world I leaue her in your kéeping for if our Lord God giue me the grace that I may returne I shall bring vnto you mine Vncle the king of Nauarre as a Prisoner The king graunted vnto his Sonne all that he would desire but he knewe not the inward intention that hee was purposed to doe Then the king commaunded Ten of his knights to sée the guiding of the Damsell and to honor her as much as they might vntill his Sonne were out of the Citie and then to drowne her in the Sea to the entent that neuer more tidinges should bee heard of her Chap. CLIII ¶ How Florence went to fight with his enemies and how Sir Peter of Aragon returned towards the Towne to bring thether Prisoners and howe hee rescued the faire Damsell Clariet from drowning and how afterward Kinge Garyn caused the Damsell to be closed vp in a prison WHen Florence was armed and mounted hee tooke vp his horse freshly before the Damsell and blessed him and tooke his leaue of the kinge and of his Loue and so departed and road to the gate and all that sawe him sayde howe they neuer sawe so goodly a knight nor more séeming to bee feared then hee yssued out of the gate and roade towardes the Tents of his enemies with ten Thousand good knights and hardy the Ladies and Damsels went to the wals of the Citie to behold the young knight When the Nauarnes saw him comming there came against him more then fiftéene Thousand men and they came downe in a Valley by couert to haue cutte him the way betwéene the Hoast and the Towne but the valiant knight Sir Peter of Aragon who was with Florence espyed them and so made hast to be afore them and when hee sawe his time to set vppon his enemies Florence who was sore desirous to fulfill his promise to the king his Father tooke his Speare and encountred with a knight with such vertue that he ranne him cleane through and with drawing out of his Speare the Nauarnes fel downe dead then Florence sayd God hath giuen mee a good beginning then hee drewe out his sword and strake another vppon the helmet in such sort that he claue his head to the teeth and the third and fourth hee made dolorously to die and hee neuer ceased vntill he had slaine Tenne of his enemies Thus vnder the meadowes of Courtoys was a horrible Battaile betwéen the Nauarnes and Aragons where there was vpon both partes such slaughter that it was great maruaile to behold it Anon Florence sword was well knowne for by the force of his armes he brake the great preasses for vppon whom soeuer his stroke lighted hee was either slaine or cast to the earth euerie man feared him so much that none durst abide nor approach néere vnto him The same time that Florence was in the Battaile dooing of maruailes the faire Damsell Clariet was vppon the wals of the Citie with other Ladies and Damsels regarding the hye Prowesse that Florence did in the field and the ioy that she had thereof was soone turned into sorrow and wéepings for king Garyn who could not forget the mortall hate that he had to the Damsell called vnto him Ten knightes of them that were secret with him and sayd Sirs this new found Damsell with whome my Sonne Florence is in hot amours shee displeaseth me so much that I cannot find in my heart to looke vppon her my Sonne thinketh to haue her in marriage at his returne but as long as he liueth hee shall neuer see her more whatsoeuer fall thereof therefore goe your way and take and cast her into the Sea amonge the greatest waues that you can finde When these knightes vnderstood the King who commaunded them to doe this murder they were right sorrowfull at their heartes but they durst not say nay nor doe against his will for if they had they knewe well that they should die and they knew that there was neither mercie nor pitie in him therefore they
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
and gaue such carrier to their horses that it séemed the thunder had fallen from heauen and with their sharp Speares they encountred in such wise that their Speares brake to their hands so that the shiuers flew vp high into the ayre and into the Kings Stage and both their Horses fell to the earth and the Knights sore astonied with their falling Then verie boldly they reléeued themselues with their Swords in their handes and so approached each to other and fought each with other so long while that Huons Horse strangled sir Ameries Horse who when he saw his horse slaine stoutly stept to Huon for to haue slaine him but Huon met him valiantly and lifting vp his Sword gaue the Earle such a stroake that he was astonied therewith and staggred backe more then two paces and a halfe hardly holding himselfe from falling to the earth so that all that sawâ— them had maruaile of Huons vertue force séeing the great strength that was in sir Amerie Then when Earle Amerie felt himselfe in such perill he began to despise the name of God and of the glorious Virgin Marie howbeit as well as hée might hée approached to Huon and with his Sword gaue Huon such a stroake on the helmet that all the flowers and precious stones there flew abroad in the féeld and the cirkle of the helmet all to broken and the stroake was so puissant that Huon was therewith sore astonied and perforce was faine to fall on one of his knées to the earth the other Legge but weakly supporting him There was present in the féeld Lords and Knights one of the Abbot of Clunyes seruants who when he saw the great stroake that Huon had receiued he departed out of the féeld and went into the church whereas he found his maister the Abbot at his prayers for the good spéed of Huon his Nephew to whome the seruant said Ah my Lord pray heartily to our Lord Iesus Christ to succour your Nephew for I saw him faine to knéele vpon one of his knées in great doubt of death Then the good Abbot without any answeare lifted vp his hands toward Heauen deuoutly and weeping prayed to God to ayd and defend the honour of his Nephew and to maintaine his right Thus Huon béeing in the féeld in great doubt of his life féeling the sturdie strength of Earle Amerie called with a good heart to our Lord Iesus Christ requiring him to aide his right the which he knew to be most true When Earle Amerie sawe that Huon had receiued of him such a heauy stroake he said Huon I beléeue thou wilt not endure long better it were that thou confesse the déede before I slay thée for ere it bée night I shall cause thée to waue in the wind Hold thy tonge thou false Traytour quoth Huon thine ilnesse shall not aid thée for I shall bring thée to that point that all thy fréends shall haue shame of thée Then Huon aduaunced him and made semblance to haue striken Amerie on the helmet and Amerie lifted vp his Shéeld to haue receiued the stroake but when Huon saw that he turned his stroake to a reuerse and stroake Amerie vnder the arme with his sharpe Sword so that he stroake off his arme the which fell downe in the féeld Shéeld and all When Earle Amerie sawe felt that maruailous stroake and that he had lost his left arme and saw it lye in the féeld hee was full of paine and sorrow and aduised himselfe of a great treason then he spake to Huon and saide Ah Noble Knight haue pitie of me for wrongfully and without cause I haue appeached thée of the death of Charlot the kings Son for I know in troth you knew him not but he is dead by my meanes for I brought him into the wood to haue murdered you and your Brother I am readie to acknowledg this before the King and all his Barons and to discharge you thereof therefore I pray you kill me not I yéeld me vnto you take heere my Sword Then Huon came vnto him and put downe his arme to haue taken the Sword but then the false Traytour Amerie with a reuerse stroake strooke Huon vpon the arme thinking to haue striken it off but he fayled howbeit he gaue him a great wound in the arme so that the bloud ran downe When Huon saw this horrible treason he said O thou vntrue and false Traytour thine â—â—esse can no longer saue thée for thou shalt nâ—uer doe treason more then Huon lifted vp his Sword gaue the Earle such a maruailous stroke betwéen the healme and the shoulder that he strooke off his head cleane from the bodie so that the healme and head fel one way and the body another way Alas what hap was it to Huon that he did not remember before he slew Amerie the Proclamation that the Emperor had made before for afterward Huon suffered so muche wrong and iniurie as might mooue the verie hardest heart to compassionate his case and as you shall more at large vnderstand in the following discourse Chap. XVI ¶ How after the Emperour Charlemaine had seene Earle Amerie was slaine he commaunded expresly that Huon should auoid the Realme and Empire and to be banished thence for euer WHen that Duke Naymes who kept the féeld saw how by Huon the Earle was slaine he was right ioyfull and came to Huon and demaunded how hée did Sir quoth he thanked be God I féele no dolour nor gréefe then they brought him to the Pallaice to the King who was departed out of the féeld When he saw the Earle slaine and was thereof right sorrowfull then he demanded of Huon and of Duke Naymes if they had heard Earle Amerie confesse the treason that hée had layde to Huon for the death of Charlot his Sonne My Lord quoth the Duke I thinke he did confesse it but I heard it not for Huon pressed so sore vpon him that he had no leasure to doe it Then Charlemaine sayd Ah Earle Amerie I know certainely thou didst neuer that treason nor neuer thought it wherefore thou art slaine wrongfully and without cause for there was neuer a truer Knight theÌ„ thou wert I am sure if thou hadst done it thou wouldest haue confessed it before me Then the King sayd vnto Huon I charg thée incontinent to auoid my Realme out of the which I banish thée foreuer nor shalt thou euer enioy one foote of Land in Bourdeaux nor in Aquitaine also I forbid thée that thou neuer be so hardy as to go to Bourdeaux for by my honour and crowne if I may know that thou goest thether I shall make thée to die an euill death nor there is no man liuing though he be neuer so néere a fréend vnto me but if he make any request for thée I shall neuer loue him nor he shall neuer after come in my sight Then Huon said Alas my Lord what iustice is this haue I done any more then knighthood bound me too haue not
you and your Barons séene him discomfited in playne Battaile that hath brought you into all this trouble vndoubtedly my Lord if you doe to me as you say God in heauen be my witnes that neuer more wrong was done to any noble man This is but bad remembrance of the good seruice that the noble Duke Seuin my Father hath done vnto you for by this you shew great example to all your noble Barons and Knights for them to be well aduised how from henceforth they order themselues and how to trust in you when that by your owne obstinate opinion founded vpon an euill ground and against all Statutes royall and imperiall thus to execute your owne vnreasonable will Certainly if it were any other Prince beside you that should doe me this great wrong ere I would consent so to be dealt withall many a Castle and many a good towne should be destroyed and brought to ruine many poore men more impouerished and disenherited and many a good Knight brought to death When Huon had thus spoken to the King Duke Naymes stept foorth and sayd to the King My Lord what meane you to doe you haue seene that Huon hath done no more then his dutie hauing brought his enemy to confusion and slayn him you may wel thinke that it was the worke of God that such a Child should bring to shame and discomfite such a puissant Knight as was Earle Amerie Therefore my Lord if you doo as you haue said neither I nor any other man shall euer trust you but euerie one farre néere that shall heare of this crueltie will report that in the end of your daies you are become sencelesse more like a Tyrant then a wise Prince Then Huon desired all the Barons that were there present that they would all require the King to haue more respect of him séeing they were all bound so to doe in that he was one of the Péeres of the Realme Then al the Princes and Barons holding Huon by the hand knéeled downe before the King and Huon said Séeing it is so my Lord that your displeasure is such againste me as you haue expressed Let your Barons and my selfe obtaine but this fauour at your handes that I may be confined to my owne natiue Countrey for euer there to lead a poore priuate life neuer to be admitted to your presence againe for this grace we shall all right humbly thanke you Chap. XVII ¶ How King Charlemaine sent Huon to doe a messuage in Babylon to the Admirall Gaudise WHEN the Emperor had heard Huon speake he said incontinent auoid out of my sight for when I remember my Sonne Charlot whome thou hast sâ—aine I haue no part of mée but it trembleth for the displeasure I haue to thée and I charge all my Barons héere present that they neuer speake to me more for thée When Duke Naymes heard the King say so he said vnto all the Barons My Lords you that he héere present haue well heard the great vnreasonablenesse that the King offers to one of our Péeres the which as yée know well it is against right and reason and a thing not to be suffered But bycause we know certainly the King is our Soueraigne Lord we must suffer his pleasure but from hencefoorth since he will vse himselfe so and do things against all reason and honour I will neuer abide an houre longer with him but will depart and neuer returne againe into the place whereas such extremitie vnreasonablenes is vsed I will goe into my Countrey of Bauier and let the King doe from hencefoorth as he list Then all the Barons departed with the Duke from the King without speaking any one word and so left the King alone in his Pallaice When the King sawe the Duke depart his other Lords he was right sorrowfull and in great displeasure and said to the young Knights that were left about him howe that he ought in nature to take heauylie the death of his Sonne who was slaine so disloyally and could not likewise but gréeue to sée how his Barons had abandoned him and left him alone therefore there is no remedie I sée well but I must be forced somewhat to follow their wils therewith he wept pitiously and incontinent went foorth and followed them saying Duke Naymes and all you my Barons I desire you to returne againe for of force I must graunt your requests although it be against that promise that I made before Then the Duke and all the rest returned to the Pallaice with the King who sat downe on a bench of gould and his Barons about him Then he sent for Huon who knéeled downe before the King requiring him humbly of mercie and pitie to whom the King said Huon séeing thou wouldest be at peace with me it is requisit that thou performe whatsoeuer I enioyne thée Else my Lord said Huon God forbid there is no man in the world owes you more obedience then I doe or shall more gladly vndertake whatsoeuer your highnesse shall please to commaund me dreadlesse of death or any danger be it to goe to Hell gates to fight with the fiendes there as sometime did Hercules if I may thereby be reconciled to your grace Huon quoth the King I thinke to send thée into a worse place for of fiftéene Messengers that I haue sent there was neuer any returned againe I shall shew thée whether thou shalt goe séeing thou wilt that I shall haue mercie of thée Thou must goe to the Citie of Babylon to the Admirall Gaudise and there doe as I shall appoint thée but beware on paine of thy life that thou fayle not to doe it When thou commest thether mount vp into his Pallaice and there tarrie vntill he be at his dinner and when thou seest him sit at the table then thou to be armed with thy sword naked in thy hand and the verie greatest Lord that thou séeest sit at his Table whether he be King or Admirall thou shalt strike off his head and after that enquire for faire Escleremond Daughter to the Admirall and kisse her there openly in his presence and before all other there present for I giue thée to vnderstand she is the fairest mayd that is now liuing this being done thou shalt say to the Admirall Gaudise that I commaund him to send me a thousand Haukes a thousand Beares and a thousand Waighters all chained and a thousand young Varlets and a thousand of the fairest maydens in his realme And also thou to bring me thy handfull of the heare of his beard and foure of his greatest téeth Alas my Lord quoth the Barons wée sée well you desire greatly his death when you charge him with such a Messuage That is true quoth the King for without I haue his beard and his great téeth brought me hether vnfaynedly Let him neuer returne into Fraunce nor come into my presence for if he doe he shal be hanged and drawen My Lord quoth Huon haue you shewed me
in it another especiall vertue for he that must weare that armour must be without spot of deadly sinne also his mother must be without carnall copulation with any man except with her owne husband I beléeue there cannot be found any man that may weare this Armour Also it is of such vertue that whosoeuer hath it on his bodye cannot be grieued neither with fire nor water By Mahoūd I haue prooued it and because I haue found such courtesie in thee that thou gauest me leaue to arme me I will giue thee leaue to assay if thou canst put on that Armour in regard I know that neither thou nor any knight else can be able to doe it Then the Gyant went to his coffer and tooke out the Armour and came to Huon and said See heere is the good armour I giue thee leaue to assay to put it on thy body Then Huon tooke the Armour and went back a little and put off his owne armour and tooke that belonging to the Gyant and incontinent did it on his bodie then hastily he put on his helmet and tooke his shéeld sword in his hand and deuoutly thanked our Lord God of this great grace Then the Gyant said by Mahound I had little thought thou hadst been such a man that Armour becommeth thee exceeding well nowe I haue quit the courtesie that thou shewedst mee therefore I pray thee put off the Armour and deliuer it me againe Not so sir by your leaue answeared Huon this Armour is meeter for me than such a Helhound as thou art therefore know for troth I will not render it againe for xiiij of the best Cities between this and Parys Friend quoth the Gyant seing thou wilt not render me againe the Armour I am content to let thee depart hence without any hurt or damage and also I will giue thée my Ring of gould the which the Admirall Gaudise gaue me for I know well it will stand thee in good stead if thou thinkest to fournish thy messuage for when thou comest to the gate of his Pallaice and sayst how thou art a messenger sent frō kyng Charles thou shalt find foure gates and at euery gate foure Porters so that at the first gate if it be knowen thou be a frenchman one of thy hands shal be cut of and at the second gate thy other hand and at the third gate one of thy féet and at the fourth the other foote and then shalt thou bee brought before the Admirall and there thy head striken off And therfore to escape these perils furnish thy messuage and to thintent that thou maiest surely retourne giue me againe my Armour and I shall giue the my ring of gold the which when thou but shewest it thou shalt be receiued with great honor at euery gate and then thou maist go retourne surelye into the Pallaice at thy pleasure and no man to let thee for if thou hadst slaine Fiue hundred men there shal be none so hardy as to touch thée nor to doe thee any yll if thou hast this Ring about thée for when I haue nede of men or mony I cannot lacke if I send this ring for a token therfore I pray thee let me haue againe my Armour Chap. XXXIII ¶ How Huon slew rhe great Gyant and how he called Gerames and his company to him and of the ioy that they made for the death of the Gyant WHen Huon vnderstoode the Paynim he said Ah thou fell and false deceiuer know for troth if all the Preachers betwéen the east west preached to me a whole yeare and that thou wouldest giue me all that thou hast and thy Ring therewith I would not render againe the good Armour that is now on my bodie first I slay thée then as for thy Ring that thou praisest so much I will likewise haue it whether thou wilt or not When the Gyant had well heard Huon and saw that in no wise he could get againe his Armour he was then sorowfull and because he saw how Huon reprooued him therewith he was so sore displeased that his eyes séemed like twoo burning candels then he yet demaunded of Huon if he would doe none otherwise No truly quoth Huon though thou be great and strong I haue no feare of thée seing I haue on this good Armour therefore in the name of god and of his diuine puissance I defie thée And I thée quoth the Gyant for all the Armour thou canst not endure against me Then the Gyant approched to Huon and lift vp his fawchin thinking to haue striken him but he fayled for the stroke glent and the fawchin light vpon a piller and entred into it more then twoo foot then Huon who was quicke and light behoulding the maruaylous stroke quickly stept foorth with his good sword in his hand and seing how the Gyant had his fawchin sticking fast in the piller he strake the Gyant on both the armes néere to his hands in such wise that he strake off both his hands so that they with the fawchin fell downe to the earth When the Gyant felt himselfe so sore hurt with paine therof he gaue a maruaylous crie so horrible as though all the Towre had fallen to the earth whereat the Damsell Sibylla being in her chamber was sore abashed she went out of her chamber and found a staffe by the way she tooke it vp in her hands and came to the Pallaice whereas she heard the cry and met the Gyant flying away to saue himselfe but the Damsell well aduised when she saw that he fled she cast the staffe betwéene his legges so that thereby he fell to the earth and Huon who came after him with his sword in his hand he hasted him gaue the Gyant many a great stroke and the Gyant cryed out so high that it was very terrible to heare him Then Huon lift vp his sword and gaue him such a stroake in the necke that his head flew to the earth then Huon wiped his sword and put it vp into the sheath and he came to the head thinking to haue taken it vp and to haue set it on the height of the Towre but the head was so great and heauy that he could not remooue it nor tourne the bodie then he smiled and said Ah good Lord I thanke thée of thy grace that thou hast giuen me the puissance to slay such a creature would to god that this body and head were nowe in the Pallaice of Parys before Charlemaine Kinge of Fraunce so that he knewe that I haue slaine him Then Huon went to a window and looked out and saw where his company were than said he to them on hie Sirs come vp hether ye may doe it surely for this Pallaice is woonne the Gyant slaine When Gerames Garyn the other heard that they were ioyfull and thanked our lord god then they came to the gate and Sybilla the Damsell went opened the wicket whereby the enchantment fayled then they entred
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
commeth and ouer-runnes all the Country and he hath with him a young man I know not of what countrey hee is of but this last day hée slewe a Nephewe of mine whome I right dearely loued and who was called Sorbryn hée was Sonne to my Sister for whome I haue such sorrowe at my heart that it cannot be appeased and he hath led away his Horse called Blanchardyn the which is the best horse in ten Realmes his like is not in all the world wherefore I desire you as I may deserue your seruice to abide with mée and to doe so much that I might haue the saide younge man taken Prisoner and the horse againe to me restored and if you can this doe I shall so reward you that you shall alwaies be rich and all those in your companie Sir quoth Gerames if hée come any more hether that you shewe mée him I shall doe my best to bring him and the Horse also vnto you Freend quoth the Admirall if you will shew me this courtesie I shall abandon all my Realme to bee at your pleasure and commaundement With these words the old Gerames yssued out of the Ship all his companie and entred into the Citie of Anfalerne with the Admirall Galaffer when they came to the Pallaice Gerames sayd Sir I and my companie require you to shewe vs the Damsell for whose sake you maintaine this war Fréend quoth the Admirall if you were a young man I would not shew her vnto you but I see well you bee olde and ancient wherefore no young Ladie will set any thinge by you then the Admirall tooke Gerames by the hand and led him into the Chamber whereas Escleremond was assoone as the Ladie saw Gerames she knew him wherewith she began to chang colour and fell down in a swound in the Chamber making a great out-crie When the Admirall Galaffer saw that he was right sorrowfull and said Faire Ladie why doe you make this sorrow are you troubled at the sight of this olde man that I haue brought hether Nay surely Sir quoth shée it is for a paine that hath taken mée in the right side whereby I haue often times great annoyance but Sir if it were your pleasure I would gladly speak with this french Knight for customably they know many things and peradueÌ„ture he may shew me such things as shal be for my health for French-men are right discréet in giuing of good counsell Madame quoth the Admirall it pleaseth me well that you speake with him secretly Then the Ladie called Gerames and said Fréend I pray thee giue me some good counsaile that I may be eased of the paine that I endure Madame quoth Gerames for the honour of you and of the Admirall that is héere present I shall ayd you in such wise that you shal be eased of the paine that you endure Then Gerames who was subtill well perceiued the mind of the Ladie then he approached néere vnto her and they sat downe together on a Couch there by Gerames quoth the Ladie I pray you what aduenture hath brought you hether Madame quoth he wee bee come hether by reason of tempest of the Sea but Ladie quoth he I pray you what is become of Huon By my faith quoth she I beléeue hee is dead for when you departed from vs such a maruelous tempest rose on the Sea that all that were in our Shippe were perished and the ship drowned and broken in small peeces except Huon and I we saued vs on a Table of wood wherevpon we arriued in an Isle that was neere vs and when wée were on the Land there came vnto vs Ten Marriners and they tooke me from thence and â—â—it Huon there blindfold his hands and féet fast bound so that he had no power to reléeue himselfe and those Ten Marriners brought me hether and the Admirall Galaffer hath slayn them al therefore I thinke surely that Huon is dead Iesus haue mercie vppon him and thus I am héere with this Admirall who hath assured me to wed mée but as yet he neuer medled with me bodily but I haue made him to beléeue that I made a vowe to Mahound for twoo yeares to come that no man should haue vse of my body and that is for the loue of Huon whome I cannot forget the Admirall hath beleeued me and for as long as I liue I shall neuer forget Huon and shall alwayes be ready to die in the payn to kéepe me from the bodily company of any man liuing Ah Sir Gerames if you might doe so much that I might escape from hence with you you should do me a great courtesie for if I might escape from hence and come into a christian Realme I would yéeld my selfe into some Abbie of Nunnes to the entent that the reasidue of my life I might pray for the Soule of my Louer Huon Madam quoth Gerames be not dismayed for if I can escape from hence whatsoeuer come to me thereof I shall carie you with me Then the Admirall came vnto them and sayd Fréend you hold ouer-long talking with the Damsell come away you haue taried there long ynough then Gerames departed from Escleremond strayning her by the hand and the Admirall Galaffer tooke Gerames by the arme and brought him into the Hall to Supper and after Supper they communed of the Feates of the warre Now let vs leaue speaking of them and returne to King Inoryn of Mombranâ—e and noble Huon who was with him Chap. LVIII ¶ How King Iuoryn came againe before Anfalerne and how Gerames and Huon fought together and at laste they knewe each other And how they entred into Anfalerne and shut the Admirall without NOw sheweth the Historie that about twoo dayes after King Iuoryn had made his course before Anfalerne then Huon came vnto Iuoryn sayd Sir cause your men to be armed and let vs goe visite the Admirall Galaffer for a man that is in warre ought neuer to lye still vntill he hath brought his enemie to vtter ruine for it séemeth that he setteth but little by you when he kéepeth still your Neece against your will hée being your Subiect and one that holdeth his Lands of you Freend quoth Iuoryn you say truely I shall doe by your counsaile then he made to be cryed through the Citie that euerie man should make him readie to go with the King before Anfalerne Huon who was desirous to haue battaile armed him and tooke Blanchardyn his good Horse mounted on him without any stirrop and tooke a great Speare in his hand with a good sharpe head Now the same time as Huon was in the Pallaice king Iuorins daughter was leaning in a window in her chamber accompanied with diuers Ladies and Damsels shee beheld Huon and shée said By Mahound it is a goodly sight to behould yonder young man sitting on the horse Blanchardyn how well he becommeth his armour a goodlier man cannot be found nor a more hardie for the last day he slew Sorbryn the valiantest
knight in all Pagany and also wanne his good horse But yet I am displeased with him for that whē he played with me at the Chesse he was not so hardy as once to embrace and kisse me if he had I would haue loued him in such wise that if he had required of me my loue I would not haue refused him though my father had sworne the contrarie an hundred times thus the Ladies and Damsels deuised together but Huon set little thereby Thus king Iuoryn and his men issued out of the Citie of Mombrance and came to the fields and then roade foorth toward Anfalerne at the last came before the gates of the citie and there ordered them in battaile array and Huon who had great desire to attaine to renowne came to the gate with his speare in his hand and cried alowd to them that were on the walles and said Where is Galaffer your Lord goe and shew him that he come and Iust against him that hath slaine his Nephew and that I will serue him in like sort if I may méete with him in Battaile or else he shall deliuer to me the faire Escleremond Galaffer was néere by and heard what Huon saide and knew well that it was he by reason of the horse Blanchardyn whereof he was right sorowfull said to Gerames Friend I shal shew you héere him that hath done me al this ill now I shall sée if yée will kéepe promise with me Sir quoth Gerames take no care for by the faith that I owe to God I shall render to you both the horse and the man to doe with them at your pleasure Then Gerames yssued out all armed well horsed and tooke a good speare in his hand hee was a goodly knight of his age puissant of bodie and in his time greatly redoubted and when he was on his horse hee stretched himselfe in his saddle in such wise that his stirrops stretched out a long handfull or more he was greatly praysed of the Paynims that saw him and then the Admirall Galaffer commaunded euery man to be armed and he himselfe was armed richly Then the gate was opened and Gerames was the first that issued out with his company when he was without the citie he strake his horse with his spurres so that he was a great space before all his companie with his speare in his hand his shield about his necke and his white beard hanging downe on his brest vnder his helmet Nowe when Huon on the other part saw Gerames comming hee spurred Blanchardyn and came against Gerames and so they met together without any word speaking and strake each other on their shéeldes so that all was broken but their armour was so good that they tooke no hurt but their speares brake to their handes and the shiuers flew vp into the ayre and the stroakes were so rude that both the knights horses fell to the earth but they arose againe and gaue each other great stroakes Gerames who was expert in déedes of armes tooke his sword with both his hands and gaue Huon such a stroake on the helmet that perforce he was faine to set one of his knées to the earth the stroake was so heauy and if it had not béen by the grace of God he had béene slaine and Huon was so astonished with the stroake that he had much adoo to recouer but said Ah good Lord succour me and graunt me that before I die I maye sée the faire Escleremond These words he spake openly for he thought that Gerames had not vnderstood him for he little thought that it had béen Gerames that fought with him thē he came to Gerames with his sword in his hand to haue béen reuenged for he neuer before receiued such a stroake as Gerames had giuen him But Gerames vnderstood Huon by his words and knew him and therwith cast downe his sword to the earth and had such sorow that he could not speake a word When Huon saw that he maruayled greatly why he cast his sword to the earth and then Huon would not touch him but said Paynim what is thy mind to doe wilt thou haue peace or else fight with me Ah sir quoth Gerames come foorth and strike of my head for well I haue deserued it séeing I haue stricken you so rudely but I knew you not whereof I am very sory When Huon heard him speake anon he knew well that it was Gerames wherof he had great ioy in his heart for finding of him The Paynims that regarded them hadde great maruaile what thing the twoo Champions ment or thought to do Sir quoth Gerames it behooueth vs shortly to determine our businesse for I sée on all parts Paynims assemble together to behould vs I shall shew you what is best for vs twoo to doe leape you vpon your horse and I shall leape on mine then I shall take you and lead you perforce as my prisoner to the Citie of Anfalerne and there shall yée sée your Loue Escleremond who will haue great ioy with your comming and shée will tell you other newes Friend quoth Huon I shall doe as yee deuise then they leapt on their horses and Gerames came to Huon and laid hand on him as though he tooke him Prisoner and so led him toward the citie of Anfalerne and his companie followed him and when king Iuoryn sawe how Gerames had led away Huon as Prisoner he began to crie said On forth yée Sarazins how suffer you this yong man to be led away as a Prisoner to the citie of Anfalerne I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart if ye suffer him thus to be ledde away Then the Sarazins dashed into the preasse to haue rescued Huon and on the other part the Admirall Galaffer came met Gerames and Huon and then Gerames said to him Sir goe and fight with your enemies behould heere the young man that slew your Nephew Sorbryn I shall lead him into the citie and set him in sure prison and then I shall shortly retourne againe to you to fight against king Iuoryn Friend quoth Galaffer I require you so to doe and assoone as yee haue set him in prison retourne againe Gerames departed from the Admirall and went to the citie with Huon and his xiij companions with him when they were entred into the Citie they lifted vp the bridges and closed the gates in the Citie there was no man of warre for all were in the field with the Admirall against king Iuoryn there were none but women children ould folkes and when that Gerames and Huon saw how they were strong ynough for them in the Citie they went into the stréetes and cried Saint Dennis and slew all that they met aswell old men as women and children so that within a short space they had cleane wonne the towne Many Paynims fled and leapt into the dikes and brake neckes armes and legges then they went into the Pallaice and there they found the faire Escleremond when Huon saw
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
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
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
the voyce of their Mother Father they had none for he was slaine but a little before by a Kinge of Persia with his Archers because the Griffen had slaine the Kings Horse for meat for his young ones Thus when they heard the crie of theyr Mother they arose vp into the ayre they were fiue in number they came all at once with open winges vppon Huon and when he saw all fiue comming vppon him he had great feare he strake the first vpon the necke in such sort that hee strake off the head cleane from the bodie then the second seazed Huon by the maile that if hée had not striken off her Legge hee hadde borne him vp into the ayre but Huon gaue him such a stroake that the Legge hanged still at the lappe of the maile and hee tooke it off with his hand and cast it to the earth and with another stroake hee slew that Griffen and then came the third and gaue Huon such a buffet with his winges that it made Huon to kneele downe vpon one of his knées Then Huon strake that Griffen such a stroake on the wing that it fell cleane from the bodie And the fourth hée strake off his Legges and with another stroake strake off his head and then also he slew the other with the one winge Then came the fifth Griffen who was bigger then any of the other Griffens and then Huon strake at him and the Griffen reared vp his féete and spreade abroade his winges and gaue Huon such a recounter that the noble Knight was striken to the earth When Huon felt himselfe hurt and lay vppon the earth hee called vppon God for ayd and succour for hee thought that he should neuer haue risen more and wished himselfe at that time that hee had taried still in the Castle of the Adamant with his companie who for sorrowe that they had when Huon went into the shippe they durst not abide the comming of the Griffen but went and did hide themselues in the Castle and Huon who was sore wounded with this fifth Griffen rose vp as well as he might and came to the Griffen who was ready to destroy him with his beake and nailes Thus Huon like a vertuous and a hardy Knight tooke courage and lifted vp his Swoord with both his handes and strake the Griffen such a stroake vpon the heade that hee claue it to the braynes so that the Griffen fell downe dead to the earth Chap. CX ¶ How Huon fought with the great Griffen and slew her WHen Huon sawe that hee had slaine the fiue young Griffens hee thanked our Lord God for the grace that hee had sent him as to ouercome such fiue terrible Foules then he sat downe to rest him and layd his Sword by him thinking that they had beene all slaine but it was not long but that the great Griffen who had brought him from the Castle of the Adamant came vppon him with thrée feete and beating with his winges and when shee sawe her young ones slaine she cast out a great crie so that all the Valley rang thereof When Huon sawe her comming he was in great feare for hee was sore wearie with trauaile and losse of bloud that it was paine to sustaine himselfe howbeit hee sawe well that it was great neede to defend himselfe and then hee came to the Griffen to haue striken her but hee could not the Griffen was so neere him beating with her winges so fiercely that Huon fell to the earth and his Sword fell out of his handes whereof he had great feare for he thought himselfe neuer so neere death in all his life as hee was then he called then right pitiously for ayd and succour of our Lord Iesus Christ and the Griffen did â—eat him maruailously with her beake winges and tallants but the noble coats of maile that he had on were so strong that the Griffen could not breake them but if the Griffen hadde not lost before one of her Legges and lost so much bloud as she had done Huon could neuer haue escaped without death the Griffen so sore defoyled and beat him that hee could not in no wise arise vp againe Then Huon remembred himselfe howe that hee had by his side a rich knife the which he brought with him from the Castle of the Adamant he drew it out and therewith strake the Griffen vppon the breast sixe great stroakes euerie stroake as déepe as the knife would goe and as his fortune was this knife was of length two foote and therewith the Griffen fell downe dead Then Huon arose and put off his helmet lifted vp his hands vnto Heauen and thanked our Lord God of his victorie and he was so sore trauailed and charged with bloud and sweat that hee put off his helmet and beheld round about him and could see nothing to trouble him When hee had taried there a certaine time hee arose vp and looked downe the Rocke and hee saw a Fountaine in a faire meadowe then he went down and came thether and he sawe the Fountaine so faire cleare that he had great maruaile thereof he sawe the workemanship thereof rich all of white Iasper wrought richly with flowers of fine gould and Azure and when hee sawe the water so faire he had great desire to drinke thereof then hee did off one of his double armours to be the more lighter and so approached vnto the Fountaine and sawe the grauell in the bottome all of precious stones and then hee put off his helmet and dranke of the water his fill and he had no sooner droonke thereof but incontinent hee was hole of all his wounds and as fresh and lustie as hee was when hee came from the Castle of the Adamant whereof hee most humbly thanked our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ This Fountaine was called the Fountaine of youth the which was of such vertue that whatsoeuer sicknesse a man or woman had if they bathed them in the streame of that Fountaine they should be hole of all infirmities Then Huon vnarmed himselfe and put off all his cloathes and bathed himselfe in the streame to wash away the bloud and sweat that his bodie was coloured withall and when hee was cleane washed he armed himselfe againe with one of his armours and left off the other By this Fountaine there grew an Apple Trée charged with leaues and fruite the fairest that might bee founde When Huon saw the Trée charged with so faire fruit he arose vppon his feete and approached vnto the Trée and tooke thereof a faire Apple and a great and did eat thereof his fill for the Apple was great he thought that hee did neuer eate before of such a fruit Ah good Lord quoth he I ought greatly to laud and praise thée séeing thou hast thus replenished mee this day with such a Fountaine and such fruit Then hée looked vppon his right hande and sawe a great Orchard full of Trées bearing good fruit of diuers sorts that great beautie it
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
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
of whome Peter of Aragon demaunded why hee woulde haue drowned that noble Damsell and where they had found her Sir quoth the King we know her not nor what she is for we found her all alone vppon a Rocke in an Isle within the Sea And when I saw the great beautie and bounty that was in her I coueted her and caused her to be put into my Shippe thinking to haue had my pleasure of her but shee woulde in no wise suffer mee wherefore I was displeased with her Well quoth Peter you shall be slaine and goe after your men without you will beléeue in Iesus Christ and renounce the Lawe of Mahomet Sir quoth the Paynim I had rather to bee slaine all quicke then to leaue my holy Lawe and to take that beléefe that you are of When Peter heard him say so hée gaue him with his sword such a stroake vpon the head that he claue it to the téeth and the King fell downe dead whereof the Ladie Clariet was right ioyfull Then Peter came vnto her and demaunded what she was and where the Paynims had found her Sir quoth the Ladie I was borne in a part of Fraunce in a Towne called Naunts in Brittaine and my Father was of Lâ—sborne and he had great desire to sée his Fréends so he entred into a Shippe and two of my brethren and my selfe and diuers other Marchants together and when wee hadde thought to haue entred into the Hauen at Lisborne a great horrible winde tooke vs so that we were faine to abandon our shippe and to let it goe by the grace of God and at the will of the winde and weather then wee passed the straights of Maurocco and there our Shippe ranne against a Rocke and burst all to péeces so that my Father and all that were in the Shippe were drowned and by the grace of God I sat vppon a sacke of woll and held me fast and then the waues brought mee to the land-side whereof I thanked God and within an houre after this heathen Kinge arriued there with his companie by fortune of the Sea and so they tooke me into their Shippe and the Kinge enforced himselfe to haue had his pleasure of mee and then by fortune of another Tempest we arriued heere whereas you haue slaine him and all his men Faire Damsell quoth Peter of Aragon you may thanke God that you bee come into my handes Sir quoth shée I know well that if you had not béene I had béene lost for euer and therefore Sir as long as God shall giue me life I will be glad to serue you as the most lowliest Chamberlaine in your house and put my bodie and honestie into Gods handes and yours Faire Damsell quoth Peter as longe as I liue you shall not lacke for by the grace of God your bodie and your honour shall be well saued and peraduenture you shall haue such a Husband that you shall thinke your selfe right happie our lord God did vnto you a great grace when you fell into my handes Then Peter of Aragon tooke the Damsell by the hande and commaunded to hoyse vp the sayles and to returne vnto Taragon a Citie betwéene Barselona and Valencia the great whereas then was the Kinge of Aragon and so longe they sayled night and day that at the last they saw the Towers of Taragon wherof they thanked God and as they approached néere to the Citie the Kinge of Aragon was in his Pallaice looking out at a window then hee sawe comming in the Sea sixe Galleys and a great Ship whereof he was abashed and maruailed what it might be for hee knew them not because of the great Shippe then they that knew them came to the Kinge and sayd howe that it was his Coozen Peter of Aragon who is come home in safetie thanked be God Then the Kinge and his lordes with him went downe and went to the Sea-side whereas he found the noble man Peter of Aragon his Coozen and all his company with him Then the King embraced him and said Coozen you are right hartely welcome I am ioyfull of your good aduenture I pray you Cozen to shew me where haue you gotten this great Shippe that séemeth to bee so rich Then Peter shewed vnto him all the aduentures and howe hee resâ—ued the Damsell out of the handes of the Sarazins and he shewed her vnto the Kinge and sayd Sir I beleeue in this world there is not a fairer swéeter nor more gracious creature nor none that séemeth more to be extract of a higher lineage The Kinge beheld the Damsell and she knéeled downe before him Faire Damsell quoth the King I pray you to shewe mee what you bée and of what lineage and from whence you come the Ladie who was in great feare to name her selfe truely for feare least shee should be in ill handes cast downe her head presently began to wéepe so that the teares fell from her eyes and said Sir I require you desire no such thing of me at this time for I knowe not who is my Parents nor of what lineage I am of When the King vnderstood the Damsell and sawe howe shee wept hee had great pitie of her and comforted her as much as hee could then Peter shewed vnto the King all that the Damsell had shewed him before and she was found by the Sarazins quoth he whome I haue slaine she was happie that she fel in to my handes for by the grace of God I shall sée her well maried and set foorth Then the Kinge and Peter went from the Shippes into the Towne and caused the Damsell to bee brought after them with twoo Gentlemen into Peters lodging and as shee passed through the Towne she was regarded with Ladies and Damsels and they all praysed her beautie saying one to another that there was neuer a fairer Ladie borne nor more likely to be come of a noble bloud Great feasting was made in the Citie for the comming home of Peter of Aragon and of the Damsell that he had brought with him The same time Florence the Kinges Sonne had béene a hunting and came home and when hee was in the Towne and sawe the stréets hanged and the Ladies and Damsels and other making so great ioy and feasting he was abashed and demaunded of a Burges if there were any newe wedding and wherefore it was that the people made so great ioy and feasting Sir quoth the Burges the feast that is made now and the ioy is for the comming home of Peter of Aragon who hath béene so long out for that God hath sent him good aduenture for hée hath wonne and conquered the great Shippe of Maliga wherein was the King of Granado great riches hee hath wonne and hee hath slaine all the Sarazins that were in the Shippe Then Florence rested not vntil he came to his Cozen Peter of Aragons lodging and made him good cheere and saide Cozen you are welcome home and I am right ioyfull of your good aduenture Sir quoth Peter
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
Sarazins did sore beate and ill threaten whereof Florence had such displeasure that he was néere hand out of his wits Alas quoth he I ought to be sorrowfull to see her that I loue best so sore beaten and tormented before my face Oh cursed death why sufferest thou me to liue to see this day that my Loue shoulde bee thus dealte with and yet I cannot helpe nor succour her therewith hee wept and suddainly fell in a swound among the handes of the Sarazins When the Damsell sawe her Louer fallen in a traunce and saw him so pale of colour she came vnto him and she thought surely that he had been dead and also the Sarazins sayd the same Then she cryed out and said Oh good Lord why doâ—st thou consent the death of my Louer séeing that we must thus depart for euer it is nothing the paine and ill that I suffer but my sorrow is for the death of my Louer héere before me I ought to be sorrowfull when the most faire swéete and gentlest creature of all the world is thus dead and lost for euer and the most valiant Knight that euer was borne and therewith she fel downe in a traunce by her Louer and all that saw them thought surely that they had béen both dead without any recouerie and had great pitie and compassion of them then hee that was the Captaine of the towne and Castle who was named Sorbarre came into the Shippe and saw where Florence his Loue lay one by another as dead he had great pitie of them for he was a good Christian man but he durst not be to knowe thereof for feare of slaying hee loued God well and did afterward good seruice in christendome for by him the sayd two Louers were saued from the death as yée shall heare héereafter When these two Louers were come againe to themselues the Sarazins deliuered them both into the Captaines handes and when Florence sawe his swéete Loue by him hee embraced and kissed her swéetely the Captaine Sorbarre when hee sawe the youth of these two Louers hée had great pitie of them but hee made thereof no semblance hee tooke them both into the Castle with him and the other Prisoners such as hadde taken them brought them into diuers Towers whereas they were kept in great miserie for the Sarazins had no pittie of them because they were christened Chap. CLIX. ¶ How Sorbarre the Captain comforted Florence and Clariet and how there arriued foure Shippes with Christian men by fortune of the Sea and how Florence was knowne by them WHen the Captain of the Castle was within the Castle and Florence and his Loue with him he sayd to them Fréends I haue great pity of you shew me what yée be and what fortune hath brought you hether séeing you bée so young how is it that you would aduenture vppon the Sea wherein are so many perils if yée shew mée the troth yée shall looze nothing thereby for if I can I shall set yée in such a place whereas yée shall be in sauegard Sir quoth Florence I shall shew you all mine aduenture whatsoeuer fall thereof Sir knowe for troth that I am Sonne to King Garyn Kinge of Aragon and I am departed from him in displeasure Thus Florence shewed Sorbarre al his whole aduenture and how he was taken by his Father and how he escaped and his Loue also then he said Sir I haue shewed you the troth and I commit my bodie and my Loues here into your handes for in you lyeth our liues and deathes you may doe with vs at your pleasure and therewith he knéeled downe then Sorbarre tooke him vp and sayd Faire Sonne bee not abashed for I haue béene before this time in as great aduenture haue no doubt I shall so order the matter that you shal be out of all perill but keepe euerie thing secrette to your selues then Sorbarre called vnto him Foure of his seruants and said I command you to vse well this Prisoner and this Damsell and let them haue flesh bread and wine at their pleasure as I had when I was prisoner at Terrascon Faire Son quoth Sorbarre to Florence know for troth that I was once king of Belmarin and once I fought with Aymerie of Narbone and I was taken by the handes of Reynalt of Beanland then I was brought to the Citie of Bourdeaux whereas I sawe a noble Prince named Duke Huon who had wedded a noble Ladie called Escleremond Daughter to the Admirall Gaudise and they had a Daughter well beloued of them she was the fairest Ladie that euer I did sée shee was not aboue at that time Sixe yeares of age and as I heard say since there came to Bourdeaux diuers Kinges and great Princes for to haue hadde her in mariage then I came priuily to mine Vncle who gaue me this Castle to kéepe when hee saw that I had lost all mine owne Realme and because I was well entertained amonge the Christian men I will that these Prisoners bee well dealt withall Sir quoth his Seruants séeing that it is your pleasure wée shall accomplish the same Then they tooke Florence and the Damsell and did set them in a Tower each of them in a Chamber apart whereof they were right sorrowfull When the faire Damsell saw that she was put from her Louer she was right sorrie then shee began to complaine and said Ah my right déere Father Duke Huon and déere Mother Escleremond I may well hate the acquaintance that yée haue had with King Oberon for by him I haue lost you both yée haue forgotten mee in this worlde when yée leaue me in this prison Ah King Oberon thou hast done mée great ill and dammage when thou diddest giue my Father thy Realme whereas is the Citie of Momur and whereas now is the Duke my Father and the Duchesse my Mother I haue lost the flower of all my kindred and I am sure that I shall die in this Tower with sorrowe Ah false death thou diddest mée great ill in that thou tookest not me when I was yong little I yéeld my selfe to God whome I require to haue pitie of me would to God that I were in companie with my Louer Florence the Captaine hath done ill thus to seperate vs asunder for if I were with him I should the better passe the time if his Father knew of what lineage I am of and whose Daughter I am he would not haue refused to haue giuen me his Sonne in mariage but he shall not knowe for me whatsoeuer paine I suffer Florence who was aboue in the Chamber next vnto the Chamber whereas the faire Damsell Clariet was who hadde well heard the complaintes that shee had made before and vnderstood euerie word that shée had spoken whereof hee was the â—â—â—fullest man at his heart liuinge for if hée loued her well before then he loued her much better and then he looked out at a window whereas he sawe Sorbarre walking vp and downe in the Court
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
escaped but my selfe and therefore Sirs I pray you let mee haue againe my horse and my sword and shew mee the way to Rome it would be a great almes deede to shew me that courtesie Nay quoth the maister Théefe that we will not doe but thou shalt tarrie with vs and learne to be a Thiefe and a Murderer and if thou wilt not thus doe with my Sword I shall strike off thy head Sirs quoth Ide you would haue me to do a thing that I was neuer accustomed to doe nor none of my Lineage nor I haue no intention to doe any such workes therefore I pray you lette me haue my horse and my sword then you doe me great courtesie and when I am mounted vpon my horse if one of you will defie me and if I defend not my selfe from him then strike off my head I haue bought my meate and drinke verie déere if I should looze my horse then the maister Théefe sayd Because I sée that thou art so hardy I will wrastle with thee vpon this couenant that if thou cast me thou shalt be one of our companie and if thou be cast to the earth then I will haue thy horse and thy Sword and spoyle thee of all thy cloathes Then I de sayd I am content thus to do so that you withdraw your men from me and set my horse by me and my sword tyed to my saddle bowe for it is a common prouerbe that a man is taken for a Foole that putteth his trust in a Theefe When the Theues heard that they could not forbare laughing and they had great desire to see this wrastling betwixt them then they withdrew backe and set his horse there by him then the noble Damsell I de quickly tooke the Théefe who thought to haue borne her to the earth but shee drew him so sore to her that he could scarce haue any breath and therewith shee cast him so rudely to the earth against a stone that he was therewith in a swound and with the fall his teeth burst in his mouth When Ide saw the Théefe in that danger she went quickely to her horse and mounted vp then she drew out her sword and sayd Ah ye vilde Théeues your treason shall not auaile you for ye haue all thought violence and treason against mee goe helpe your maister who lyeth yonder I thinke he shall euer remember this wrastâ—ing between vs and I haue now no doubt of you all though you were a Hundred more for if I can I shall make you all bee hanged and strangled then the quickest and the lightest Théefe amonge them stept foorth tooke him by the bridle of his horse and when shee sawe that shee lifted vp her Sword and strake the Théefe vpon the hand so that the hand flew from his bodie and hanged still vppon her bridle then hee ranne away thinking to die with the paine of his hande and then she dasht in among the Théeues for they had no weapons about them to defend themselues withall but they were there to their folly nor they had no feare of that which fell nor they beléeued not that such a young Squier should haue hadde such hardnes and force then shee fought fiercely among them and cut off armes and shoulders and claue some to the braines she did so much that she slew fiue of the Théeues before she depâ—rted and when she saw time to depart she spurred her horse for by that time the residue of the Théeues had gotten weapons and they followed her to haue slaine her or her horse then shée departed with the spurres her horse was good therefore anon she was farre from them then the Théeues sawe they lost but their labours to follow any further therefore they let her goe When Ide saw that she was escaped their handes she humbly thanked our Lord God desiring him to ayd and conduct her into some sauegard and she road so long that she yssued out of the great Forrest Of her iourneys and lodging I will make no mention but she sped so in her iourney that shee arriued at the noble Citie of Roome and she tooke vp her lodging néere to the Pallaice whereas the Emperor was deuising with his Lordes of the Feats of warre then I de went thether knéeled downe and saluted the Emperour and all his Lords When the Emperour and the Romanes that were there sawe the goodly yong man who so humbly saluted them they regarded him much for the beautie that they sawe in him then the Emperour sayd vnto him Faire Sonne shewe mee what you bee and from whence you come that thus commeth hether to mee Sir quoth Ide I am a Squier that came nowe straight from Almaine whereas I haue serued a certaine time and little there I haue wonne whereof I am sorrie and but lately I was in place where diuers Spaniards and other were in companie they had great desire to make warre and they went to the king of Spaine your enemie but before they had gone farre they that were in my company met with them and there we fought together and slew the most part of them and there I was a little hurt and now Sir I am come to you to serue your grace if my small seruice may please you and in the best wise that I can I shall serue you truely Chap. CLXVII ¶ Howe the Damsell I de was entertained with the Emperour of Roome and how the Lady Oliue his Daughter was enamoured of Ide weening shee had beene a man and howe the Kinge of Spaine came before the Citie of Roome and howe the noble Damsell I de tooke the King of Spaine in battaile and discomfited him WHen the Emperor heard Ide speake he beheld her well and sawe how shée was bigge and great and thought that in all his life he neuer saw so faire a young man and as the Emperour was talking with Ide there came to them Oliue the Emperours Daughter Then all the Lordes rose vp at her comming and she sate downe by her Father and greatly beheld the young Squier and much she praised him in her courage because of the maruailous great beauty that was in her wéening that shee had béene a man This Oliue was so faire so swéete and so méeke that for her bountie and humilitie she was beloued of euerie man then the Emperour demaunded of Ide what her name was and from whence she came Sir quoth she my name is Ide and I was borne at Terrascon and I am kinne to Duke Naymes of Bauier and to Aymerie of Narbon and to Gillerme the Scot but by the kinsmen of Ganelon I was chased and banished out of my Countrey since I haue endured much paine and pouertie Then the Emperour sayd Fréend thou art of a good kindred I entertaine thée into my Court for the bountie that I thinke to be in thée and also for thy good Lineage Sir quoth Ide God giue me grace that I may doe you such seruice that it
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
armed with his armour for none can endure against him therefore Cosin I counsell you to returne backe againe ere he doe awake and I shall open you the wicket so that you shall passe out without any danger Chap. XXXII ¶ How the Damsell cosen to Huon shewed him the chamber whereas the Gyant slept and how he went and waked him and of the good armour that the Gyant deliuered to Huon WHen Huon had well vnderstood the Damsell he said Cosen know for troth ere I depart hence I will sée what man he is it shall neuer be said to my reproch in the court of any Prince that for feare of any miscreant I should be of so faint a courage that I durst not abide him certainly I had rather die than such a fault should come to me Ah Cosen quoth shée then I sée well both you and I are destroyed but séeing it is thus I shall shew you the chamber whereas he sléepeth and when yée haue séene him yet then yée may returne First goe into this chamber that you sée héere before you wherein yée shall find bread and wine and other victuals and in the next you shall find clothes of silke and many rich iewels then in the third chamber yée shall find the foure Gods of the Paynims they be all of fine massie gould in the fourth yée shall find the Gyant lying a sléepe on a rich bed then sir if ye were of my mind I would counsell you to strike of his head sléeping for if he awake you cannot escape without death Ladie quoth Huon and god will it shall neuer be said to my disgrace that I should strike any man without his knowledge Then Huon departed from the Ladie his sword being in his hand and his helmet on his head and his shield about his necke and so entred into the first chamber and then into the second and third wheras he saw the foure Gods when he had well regarded them he gaue each of thē a stroake with his sword and then he entred into the chamber whereas the Gyant lay sléeping Huon noted him aduisedly and the bed that he lay on the which was so rich that the valew thereof could not be prized the curtaines couerings and pillowes were of such riches that it was great beautie to behould them Also the chamber was hanged with rich clothes the floare couered with carpets whē Huon had well regarded all this and well considered of the Gyant who was xvij foote of length and his body fournished thereafter and all his other members but a more fowler hideous creature was neuer séene with a great head great eares and a camelled nose eyes burning like a candle Ah good Lord quoth Huon I would King Charlemaine were héere to sée vs twoo fight for I am sure then ere he departed my peace should be made with him Lord god I humbly require thée to be my succour against this enemy for if it be not thy good pleasure against him I can no while endure Then Huon fiercely aduanced foorth and made the signe of the Crosse casting in his mind what he might doe for he thought if he slew him sléeping it should be a great reproch to him and it would be said that he had slaine a man dead whereupon he said to himselfe shame haue I if I touch him ere I haue defied him then Huon cryed out aloud and said Arise thou heathen hound or else I shall strike off thy head When the Gyant heard Huon speake he awaked fiercely and beheld Huon and rose vp so quickly that in rising he brake the bedsted that he lay vpon then he said to Huon Frend they that sent thée hether loued thée but little nor doubted not me And when Huon heard the Gyant speake french he had great maruaile and said I am come hether to see thee and it may be so that I haue done it vnaduisedly Then the Gyant said thou sayest troth for if I were armed as thou art Fiue hundred men such as thou art could not endure me but that they should all die but thou seest I am naked without sword or weapon yet for all that I doubt thée not Then Huon thought in himselfe that it would be a great shame to him to assaile a man without armour or weapon wherefore he said Goe and arme thée or incontinent I shall slay thée Fréend quoth the Gyant this that thou sayest procéedeth of a good courage of courtesie Then he armed him and tooke in his hand a great fawchin and Huon was withdrawne into the Pallaice abiding for the Gyant who tarried not long but came to Huon said where art thou behould me héere ready to destroy thée without thou make good defence yet I desire thee tell me what thou art to thintent that I may when I haue slaine thée tell how I haue slaine such a one that by his folly came to assaile me in myne owne Pallaice Great pride it was in thée that thou wouldest not strike me ere I was armed but whosoeuer thou art thou séemest sonne to a noble man I pray thée shew mee whether thou wouldest goe and what mooued thée to come hether to thintent that I might know the troth of thine enterprize that when I haue slaine thee I may make my vaunt to my men that I haue slaine such a man that thought scorne and disdaine to strike me ere I was armed Paynim quoth Huon thou art in a great folly when thou so rashly reputest me for dead But seing thou wouldst know the troth I am a poore knight from whome king Charlemaine hath taken my Lands and banished me out of the Realme of Fraunce and hath sent me for to doe a messuage to the Admirall Gaudise at Babilon and my name is Huon Sonne to Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux Now I haue shewed all the troth of mine enterprize and now I pray thée tell me where thou wert borne and who engendred thée to thintent that when I haue slaine thée I may make mine auaunt in king Charles Court and before all my frends that I haue slaine such a maruaylous great Gyant as thou art Then the Giant said if thou slay me thou maiest well make thy vaunt that thou hast slaine Angolofer the Gyant who hath xvij brethren of whome I am the yongest Also thou maiest say that vnto the drie trée and to the red sea there is no man but is tributarie to me I haue chaced the Admirall Gaudise to whome thou saiest thou goest haue taken from him by puissance diuers of his Cities and he doth me yéerely seruage by the tender of a Ring of gould to buy his heade withall Also I tooke from Oberon the Fayrie King this puissant Towre who for all his enchaunting Fayries could not resist me and also I tooke from him a rich Armour thou neuer heardst of such another for it hath such vertue that whosoeuer can put it on can neuer be wearie nor discōfited But there is
that ye haue put in prison When Gerames had heard the Lady he was right ioyfull for then he knew well that shee went not about to descrie him but that she did it of good heart and good will that she bare to Huon howbeit hee thought that hee would not discouer himselfe to her vntill the time he knew the troth of Huon wherfore he answered the Damsell angerly and said O thou false and vntrue maide how art thou so hardy as to speake or thinke thus surely the Admirall thy Father shall know it assoone as he commeth out of his chamber and then shalt thou be burned and the Frenchmen hanged Alas Sir quoth shee yet I pray you let mee goe into the prison with you to thintent that I may sée Huon once yet before I die for the loue of whome I am content to die for if he die I will not liue one day after therefore let me once take my leaue of him Well quoth Gerames for this time I am content that ye goe with me then Gerames tooke a torch in his hand and opened the dore entred he was no sooner entred but Huon knew him and went and embraced him and said Ah my true louer blessed be the houre that I found you then they all clipped and embraced him when the Lady saw their maner of saluting she was ioyfull for then she saw well that her intent should be more surely compassed then she came to Huon demaunded if they were his seruants that made so great loue together Madame quoth Huon surely all these that be heere be my men boldly ye may trust them for there is none of them but that they shall do your commaundment Huon quoth the Damsell their comming pleaseth me right well then Huon said to his companie Gentlemen and my deare friends forbeare this extremitie of kindnesse to me and bestow it vpon this noble Ladie for by her wee shal be deliuered and it is shee that hath saued my life theÌ„ they all together humbly thanked her Sirs quoth she if yée will worke by my councell I shall shew you how I may aid you to deliuer you froÌ„ hence First let me vnfainedly perswade ye that I doe firmely beléeue in Iesus Christ and at this day there is no man that I more hate than the Admirall Gaudise my Father bicause he beléeueth not in our Lord Iesus Christ for hee hateth so the christian men that he cannot abide to heare any speaking of them for he beléeueth but vpon Mahound and his Idols therefore my hart cannot loue him if he did otherwise I would purchase to him none ill for all the good in the world but I shall shewe you what yee must doe When it is the houre of midnight I shall bring you all into my chamber whereas I will prouide Armour for you all and there yée shall all be armed then I shall bring you into the Admirall my Fathers chamber whome yee shall find sléeping and there yee may slay him and as for mee I will bee the first that shall strike him and when he is slaine then shall wée depart surely When Huon had vnderstood her he said Madame and god will your Father shall not be so slaine the day shall come that ye shall otherwise deliuer vs wée thanke you that yee so much desire our deliuerance but I thinke it good that you and Gerames depart hence for this time for it is néere hand day to thintent that our busines be not perceiued Then the Lady and Gerames departed and closed againe the prison dore and went vp into the Pallaice as if they had not béene there at all And thus euery day Gerames the Lady went to visite the Prisoners and bare them euery thing that was néedefull for them Gerames was alwaies with the Admirall and did what he would for there was not any Paynim that durst do contrarie to his commaundment Now leaue wée to speake of the Admirall of Gerames and of Huon and of all them that were in prison vntill such time as wée may returne to them againe Chap. XLII ¶ How the great Giant Agrapart eldest brother to Angolofer whome Huon slew assembled his people and came to Babylon to haue the tribute of the Admirall as his brother had and of the battaile hand to hand that he desired of the Admirall Gaudis the which was agreed vnto IT hath beene sufficiently declared heere before how Huon slew the Gyant Angolofer the which Gyant had Seauentéene Brethren all elder than himselfe who liued distant from him in diuers seuerall places It was no longe while after but that his elder Brother named Agrapart was aduertised of the death of his Brother which he tooke to his hart excéeding heauilie Now you must vnderstand that he was in all respects of as huge stature as his brother for he was xvij foote of length and in bignes he was made therafter he was a foot betwéen the browes his eyes more redder and burning than a brand of fire and the gristle of his nose as great as the nostrill of an oxe and he had twoo téeth issuing out of his mouth more than a foot long each of them but if I should describe his foule figure at the full it would annoy all the hearers thereof therefore yee may well beléeue when he was in his displeasure that he had a fearefull countenance to looke vpon for then his twoo eyes séemed like twoo burning torches When he was certenly aduertised of the death of his brother he sent ouer all his countrey that euery man should come to him in armour and so they did and when they were come he declared to them the death of his brother Angolofer said how it was his mind to goe to Babylon to the Admirall Gaudise there to take possession of the landes and signiories that were his brothers and also to haue the tribute that was due by the Admirall then all his Lâ—â—ds said Sir commaund at your pleasure and wee shall obay it Well sirs quoth he then I will that euerye man mount on their horses to goe towards Babylon and so they all obayed and got on their horses and departed rode so long that they came into a plaine néere to the citie of Babylon there were about Ten Thowsand men together and Agrapart said Sirs tarie yée all héere till I come againe for I will goe all alone and speake with the Admirall Gaudise Then he armed himselfe and tooke a great fawchin in his hand and departed all alone and so went and entred into the citie of Babylon and so past the Foure gates there was no Paynim that durst say him nay and he rested not vntill he came to the Pallaice the same time as the Admirall was sitting at dinner Gerames with him then the Gyant came to the table said The same god Mahound vnder whome we liue confound the Admirall Gaudise as an ill caytiffe and a false Traytour When the Admirall heard himselfe so highly
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
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
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
Sir if it be your pleasure to come to the Abbey of Saint Maurise there shall ye find your brother Huon who is come lately from beyond the sea when Duke Gerard heard certainely how his brother Huon was come to the Abbey of Saint Maurise hee was so ouercome with ire and displeasure that his visage became like a flame of fire and sayd to the messenger Goe and returne and say to my brother Huon that I will incontinent come and visite him Sir quoth he I shall shew him of your comming and so departed and came again to the Abby and shewed Huon what his brother Gerard had sayd And when Duke Gerard saw that the messenger was departed he was sorrowfull and pensiue and called to him his father in law his wiues father who was named Gibouars the most falsest traitour that was from the East to the West and Gerard said to him Sir I pray you giue me counsell in that I haue to doe for all the diuels in hell haue brought my Brother Huon from the parts beyond the Sea and he is now present in the Abbey of Saint Maurise the Abbot there hath sent me word thereof and that I should come thether to speake with him for as to morrow he would depart to goe to Paris to the king so that when he is come thether he will doe so much that all his land shal be rendred to him and that I shal haue neuer a foot of land left me but that which yée haue giuen me with my wife your Daughter wherefore deare Father in law I pray you in this great matter to councell and aid me or else I am but lost Faire Sonne quoth Gibouars dismay you nothing for without my wit doe faile me I thinke to play him a tourne that it had béen better for him to haue tarried where he was than to haue come hether to claime my land Chap. LXV ¶ How Gybouars of Beam and Gerard practised Huons death and how the traitour Gerard came to see his brother Huon who with great ioy receiued him THus as ye haue heard these two traitours conspired and then Gybouars sayd to Gerard. Faire sonne go ye your way to your brother Huon and take with you but one Squier and when you come there make to him all the chéere you can and shew him as great loue as ye can doe and humble your selfe to him to the intent that he take in you no suspicion But when the morning commeth hast him to depart and when ye câ—me with him néere such a little wood find some rigorous words to him and make as though ye were displeased with him and I shall be readie in that same little wood ambashed and xl men of armes with me And when I see that words are betwéene you I shall issue out and slay al those that come with him so that none shal escape aliue and then take your brother Huon and cast him into prison in one of the Towres of your Pallaice in Bourdeaux and there miserably he shall end his dayes and then in haste ye shall ride to Paris But ere ye goe to Paris ye shall take from him the Admiralles beard and great téeth and then ye shall shew to the King how Huon your brother is returned without bringing either beard or téeth of the Admirall Gaudys and how for that cause you haue put him in prison The King will beleeue you for he hateth Huon greatly because of the death of his sonne Charlot whom hee slew for the hate that the King hath to him in his heart shall neuer depart from him and therefore sonne when you be with your brother demaund of him if he haue the Admirals beard and téeth or not and whether he doe beare them himselfe or who else for if he haue them not he shall neuer haue peace with the King but he will cause him to be slaine of an euill death either hanged or drawne for your brother laide hostage promising that he would neuer returne without he brought with him the Admirall Gaudys beard and great téeth and also he promised that he would neuer enter into his heritage till he had spoken with the King and that was enioyned him on paine of death Thus as ye haue heard these two Traitours deuised and concluded the death of Huon Gerard quoth Gibouars thinke well on your businesse and I shall goe and assemble together fortie of my most secret seruants and in other places where I can get them to furnish this enterprise Sir quoth Gerard I shall goe to the Abbey to see my brother when it is a little néere to night So when the houre came the false Traytor departed from Bourdeaux and with him but one Squier and so they rode till they came to the Abbey and there alighted and when he perceiued his brother Huon hee imbraced and kissed him with such a kisse as Iudas kissed Christ When Huon saw his brother Gerard come with such humilitie the water fell from his eyes with kindnesse and embraced him and kissed him and sayd Right déere brother I haue great ioy to see you I pray you shew me how ye haue done since my departure Sir quoth Gerard right well now I see you in good health Brother quoth Huon I haue great maruaile that ye bee thus come alone without company Sir quoth Gerard I did it for the more humilitie because I know not how ye shall speede with the king nor whether ye shall haue againe your land or no if God will that ye shall haue it I shal assemble al the Barons of the court to receiue you to make you cheere according this Sir I shall do till you returne for often times these great Princes are mutable lightly beleeue for this cause Sir I am secretly come to you Brother quoth Huon your aduise is good I am content that you thus doe and to morrow betimes I will depart towards Paris then these two Brethren tooke each other by the hand making great ioy Brother quoth Gerard I am right ioyous when I sée you thus returned in health and prosperitie haue you accomplished the Messuage that Kinge Charles charged you withall Brother quoth Huon know for troth that I haue the beard and great téeth of the Admirall Gaudise and beside that I haue brought with me his Daughter the faire Escleremond whom I haue taken to my wife and wedded her in the Citie of Rome and also I haue héere with me thirtie Somers charged with gould and siluer and rich Iewels garnished with pecious stones whereof the halfe part shall be yours and if I should shew thee the paines trauailes and pouerties that I haue endured since I sawe you last it would bee ouer-long to rehearse Sir quoth Gerard I beléeue you well but Sir I pray you shew me by what meanes or aid you did bring your Enterprize to an end Brother quoth Huon it was by a king of the Fayrie called Oberon who did mée such succour and ayd that
I came to my purpose and strooke off the Admirals head and so tooke his beard and great téeth Brother quoth Gerard and how do you kéepe them and where Brother quoth Huon behould héere Gerames who hath them in his side King Oberon did set them there by the Fayrie and by the will of God Sir quoth hée which is Gerames Brother quoth Huon héere you may sée him before you he with the great hoarie beard Sir quoth Gerard of what Land is hée of He is of the best Fréends that I haue quoth Huon and he is Brother to the good Prouost Guyer you neuer heard speake of a truer nor more noble man I found him in a wood whereas hee had dwelt about Fortie yeares in penance God ayded mee greatly when I found him for if hée had not béene I could not haue returned hether much paine and pouertie hee hath endured for my sake and nowe Brother I pray you shew me how ye haue done since I departed from you it hath béene shewed me that ye are very richly married I pray you where was your wife borne and of what lineage is she of Sir quoth Gerard she is daughter to Gybouars of Cecyle who is a great Lord and Signior Brother quoth Huon I am sorie that yee haue taken such aliance for I know him for the most vile traytour that can bee found and the most vntruest Sir quoth Gerard ye doe ill to say so for I take him for no such person Chap. LXVI ¶ How these two Brethren departed from the Abbey about midnight and how the Traitor Gerard began to fall at rude words with Huon when they approched neere the wood whereas Gibouars lay in ambush THus as these two brethren deuised of Gibouars the Abbot came to them and demanded of Huon if it were his pleasure to goe to supper Sir quoth Huon when it please you I and my brother shall be readie The fayre Escleremond who was wearie of trauaile was in her chamber apart and diuers other of her company with her whereas she supped and lay that night Huon was somewhat troubled because his brother had taken to his wife the daughter of a Traytour thus they washed and sate them downe to supper where they were richly serued and at another table sate the Prouost Guyer and Gerames his brother and diuers other Barons Gerard beheld the Prouost whom hee vtterly hated because hee went to seeke for Huon Hee sware to him selfe that if hee might once goe out of the Abbey that he should bee the first that shoulde loose his life and hee did eate and drinke but little for thinking to accomplish his ill Enterprize When they had supped they aroase from the board and their bedds were made readie Then Huon called the Abbot apart and sayd Sir I haue brought hether with me great riches I will leaue it héere with you to keepe vntill my returne and I pray you for any manner of thing that may fall deliuer it vnto no man liuing but all onely to my selfe and if God giue me the grace to returne your part shall bee therein Sir quoth the Abbot all that you take mée to keepe shall bée safely kept to your behoofe and I shall doe so that you shall bée content then hee went to bed and Gerard with him where Gerard sayd Brother if you thinke it good I shall call you vp betimes for it séemeth that to morrow the day will be hot Brother quoth Huon I am content Thus they lay together in one bed but the Traytour Gerard had no lyst to sleepe for the great desire that he had to be reuenged of his Brother who neuer did him any trespasse but alas why did not Huon know his entent if hée had the matter had not gone so to passe At last the houre came that the Cockes began to crowe then Gerard awooke Huon and said Brother it were good for vs to arise for anone it will be day it is good to ride in the coole but the ill Traytour his thought was otherwise When Huon heard his Brother he rose vp and euery man arose vp and made them redie Sir quoth Gerames how is it that yée be so hastie to depart from hence I pray you let me sléepe a little longer Sir quoth Gerard that is ill said for he that hath businesse to doe that toucheth him néere ought not to sléepe nor rest vntill his businesse be finished By my troth quoth Huon my Brother saith troth for I haue a great desire to speake with King Charlemaine then euery man trussed vp their things and tooke their horses and the faire Escleremond was readie and mounted on a stately mule and so they all tooke their leaues of the Abbot who was right sorowfull that they would depart so early Then the gates were opened and so departed Fourtéene in a companie and Escleremond made the Fiftéene and Gerard rode before to lead them the right way that he would haue them to ride and Escleremond being very sumptuously apparelled rode very soberly and she came to Huon and said Sir I cannot tell what ayleth me but my heart is so sore troubled that all my bodie trembleth Madame quoth Huon be not dismaid nor haue any feare for yée be in a good countrey where by the grace of god yée shall be serued like a Princesse and Ladie of the countrey and with those wordes speaking her Mule stumbled on the one foot before so that shée had néere hand a great fall then Huon approched to her tooke the bridle of the Mule in his hand said Faire Ladie haue yée any hurt No Sir quoth shée but I had almost fallen By my faith quoth Gerames we haue done very ill for that wée departed from the Abbey before day light Sirs quoth Gerard I neuer saw men so fearefull for so small a cause Sir quoth Gerames I know not why yée speake it but if I might councell yée we would not goe one foot farther but returne againe to the Abbey till day light By god quoth Gerard it were great folly to returne againe now for the stumbling of a Mule I neuer saw men so fearefull let vs ride foorth and make good chéere I sée the day beginneth to appeare So they road foorth vntill they came to a crosse whereas there was foure wayes this was about a League from the Abbey Then Huon rested and sayd Loe héere is the border of the Territorie of the Abbey of Saint Maurise and this one way is to Bourdeaux the which way I will not ride for so I haue promised to King Charlemaine to whome I neuer yet falsed my faith if I did it should bee the cause that I might loose my Signiorie and this other way goeth to Rome this other way before vs is the right way into Frāce the which way I will ride and none other So they road foorth and all their companie and within a while they were néere to the wood within a bow shoot whereas the Traytour
Gybouars lay in ambushment Now when Gerard saw his houre and time to speake vnto his Brother Huon he said Brother I sée you are in mind to goe into Fraunce vnto Kinge Charlemaine to haue your Lands and Signories the which I am sure you shall haue it is a long space that I haue kept it maintained the Countrey in peace and rest and good iustice and haue wonne but little nor haue hadde but small profit not the value of one pennie and I am maried to a noble Ladie Daughter to a great Lord and it troubleth my heart sore when you repute him for a Traytour if hée knewe it by likely-hood it might turne you to great folly for wee beléeued that you should neuer haue returned therefore nowe I may say that I am not woorth a pennie Therefore I would knowe of you howe you would ayd mée and what part I shall haue at your returne out of Fraunce Brother quoth Huon I haue great maruaile of this that you say you knowe well that in the Abbey of Saint Maurise I haue left Twentie Somers charged with fine gould and I haue saide vnto you that your part shall bée therein as much as mine nor I shall haue no penny but that one halfe is yours Brother quoth Gerard all this suffizeth not to me for I would haue part of the Signorie to maintaine mine estate When Huon vnderstood his Brother his bloud roase into his face for hée sawe well his Brother searched all that he could to fall at debate with him and Gerames who was sage and wise perceiued anone that the matter was like to goe euill and sayd vnto Huon Sir graunt to Gerard your Brother his demaund you are both young inough to conquer Landes Gerames quoth Huon I am content that he shall haue Bourdeaux or Gerone let him take which hee list Brother quoth Huon shewe which of these two you will haue and I will haue the other Chap. LXVII ¶ How these Traytours slewe all Huons Company except Gerames and Escleremond and Huon himselfe the which all three were fast bound handes and feete and blindfold and so brought vnto Bourdeaux and were put in prison WHen the false Traytour Gerard saw and vnderstood his Brother how hée did graunt him his desire saw how that in no wise hée wold striue with him hee was therewith so displeased that he was néere hand in a rage then he came to the Prouost Guyer and sayd Guyer Guyer false Traytour by thée and by thy purchase I am like to loose all my Signorie but by the faith that I owe vnto him that created mée before I die I shall strike off thy head nor I shall not let to doe it for any person and therewith when he sawe his time he cried his word and token and Gybouars who was in the wood with Fortie men armed brake out with their speares in their rests and when Huon perceiued them it was no maruaile though hee was abashed then humbly he besought our lord God to saue his body from misfortune and gladly hée would haue returned to the Abbey but hée was so sore ouer-layd that hee could not then hée drewe out his Sword and gaue therewith the first that came such a stroake that he claue his head to the téeth and so fell dead to the ground and Huon strake so vppon the right hand and vppon the left that whosoeuer he strake a full stroake néeded after no Surgion if hée had béene armed hée would not lightly haue béene taken without great losse but his defence could not auaile him for he and all his companie were vnarmed and all the other Fortie were cleane armed they all fought cruelly in such wise that within a while Twelue of Huons men were slaine in the place none escaped aliue except Huon who was beaten downe to the earth his hands bound then Gerard the Traytour came to Gerames who was beaten downe by force and then hee cut open his right Side and tooke out thereof the Admirall Gaudise beard and foure great teeth the which were set there by Kinge Oberon of the Fayrie Huon séeing the old Gerames lying on the earth hee sayd with a hie voice vnto Gerard Brother I pray you shew me that courtesy as not to slay that old Gentleman but saue his life Brother quoth Gerard that hée hath let him keepe other hurt hee shall none haue at this time then they bound his eyes and then they came to Escleremond who lay on the earth in a swound they bound her hands and eyes and so set her whether shée would or not vppon a horse and Huon as he was blindfold hée heard the cries wéepings that she made then he sayd Brother Gerard I pray you for the loue of our Lord Iesus Christ suffer none ill to be done to that good Ladie who is my Wife nor no dishonour Brother quoth the Traytour Gerard thinke on your selfe speake no more I shall doe as it pleaseth me Then they set Huon Gerams on two horses the false Traytour tooke the Twelue dead bodies and did cast them into the great Riuer of Gerone then they tooke that way to the Citie of Bourdeaux and led the thrée Prisoners fast bound vpon thrée horses Pitie it was to heare the noble Ladie Escleremond complaine and she said vnto Huon Ah Sir you haue sayde to me that when wée were once in your Countrey of Bourdeaux that you woulde cause mee to bée crowned with gould but now I sée well that in great paine miserie we must vse the residue of our liues you haue found héere an ill Brother since hée hath purchased for you so much ill surely there is better faith troth among the Sarazins then is in the people of the Realme of France Madame quoth Huon your trouble more displeaseth mée then mine owne God send to my Brother Gerard such reward as he hath deserued for the treasō that he hath done vs. Thus they complayned and wist not whether they were caried they entred into the Citie of Bourdeaux an houre before day Alas that the good Burgesses of the City had but knowen how their Lord Huon was so falsely betrayed if they had knowne it he had béene rescued and Gerard Gybouars hewen all to péeces but the false Gerard brought them by priuy darke Lanes to the Pallaice for that they should not be perceiued Thus they came to the Castle where they alighted and vnarmed them then they tooke Huon and Escleremond Gerames and put them all into a deepe Prison all thrée together ordained that they should haue euery day barley bread and water and commaunded the Iaylor to giue them none other thing also commaunded that neither man nor woman should speake with them the Iaylor promised so to doe for he was seruant to Gybouars such as the Maister was so was the Seruant Thus Huon betraied pitiously by his Brother Gerard set in prison and with him his wife Escleremond
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
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
Citie to be armed and come and succour the Emperour hastily for when I came from him he had great neede of ayde there is Huon of Bourdeaux who hath slayne thrée of his nephewes and this other day he was lodged in this Citie the Emperour knoweth well that you knew nothing thereof for Huon had lodged his men in the suburbs and in other little houses because hee would not be perceiued Syr Prouost make haste in this businesse When the Prouost heard what daunger the Emperour was in he sounded the watch bell and made to be cryed in euery stréete that euery man that was able to beare armes should arme them and goe out into the field to succour the Emperour who was in great daunger of his life When the Bourgesses of the towne heard that crie euery man armed them as well as they could some were harnessed behind and some in a Iacke all smoked and with staues and other weapons what a foote and a horse backe there went out of the Citie twentie thousand men if you had séene the horsemen you would haue laught at them for it séemed they were set on horse backe in despite there was neuer séene so rude a companie it was no maruaile for they were not accustomed to ryde in harnesse The Prouost went before and exhorted them to doe their deuoirs so they tooke their way to come to the battaile whereas Huon and his companie did part of their willes and the Emperour séeing that he began to loose his men and place hee rode searching in the battaile for Duke Huon whereas he found by aduenture Huon who had then newly slaine by aduenture the Emperours Seneschall When that the Emperour sawe him slaine he was right sorrowfull and in a great rage he cryed to Huon and saydâ— Thou knight that neuer art satisfied to shedde the bloud of my men to abate my linage and force I pray thée turne thy shield vnto mee for if thou knewest the great hate that I beare thée thou wouldst neuer appeare before me Sir quoth Huon I maruell that you so sorely hate me haue tarryâ—d so long for reueÌ„ge therfore beware for if I can I wil send you after your Nephewes whome yée say that yée loue so well They tooke their course with great and rude speares and so came together like the tempest and met so rudely that the buckles of their Armour all to brast and the Emperours speare brake all to péeces but Huons speare was bigge and strong therewith he strake the Emperour with such puissance that his speare ranne through his shoulder so that the Emperour fell to the earth so rudely that with the fall he brake the bone of his thigh whereby he was in such dolour that he swounded And when Huon saw him lye on the ground hee came to him with his swoord in his hand and would haue slaine him if he had not béene succoured but there came so many Almaines that whether Huon would or not they tooke the Emperour and bare him out of the field and laid him in the wood and then demaunded of him how he did Sirs quoth he I am sore hurt for my thigh is broken whereby I endure more gréefe than I can abide but as for death I trust by the grace of god I shall escape it When they heard that they were all ioyfull and said Sir know for troth that your men are sore discomfited for they be so sore oppressed by Huon and his men that wée feare all your men will be slaine wée will goe againe to the battaile and leaue some with you to looke vnto your Maiestie Well quoth the Emperour but your force nor your defence cannot auaile you any thing against Huon nor against his men But I shall shew you what yée shall doe yée shall send quickly to Huon and desire him in my name to cease slaying of my men and that there may be a truce had betwéene him and me for the space of halfe a yéere for within that time I hope to finde some other treatie that hee and I might be friendes and if he refuse this then I see none other remedie but that wée shall be all slaine or taken and then he will cause me to die in some noysome prison Sir quoth his knights we shall doe your commaundement but we feare sore that we shall not be heard Sirs quoth the Emperour goe to him and doe the best yée can Then they returned to the battaile whereas they founde their companie readie to flie away for they were neere all slaine and taken the Knights from the Emperour came to Huon and desired him in the name of the Emperour that he would cease the battaile and sound the treatie and they would do likewise in the same manner and that there might be a firme truce betweene them for halfe a yeere and in that season they trusted that some good wayes would be found that the Emperour and hee might be good friendes together Sirs quoth Huon if the Emperour your Master had mee in that danger which he is in hee would not suffer me to scape aliue for all the gold in the world howbeit I am content that he haue truce for halfe a yeere the which I shall surely kéepe on my part and if I be assayled I shall defend mee and if so be that hee come to Bourdeaux to assayle mee by the helpe of God and my good friendes I shall doe the best that I can But if he will haue peace with mee and pardon mee his displeasure for the death of his nephewes I shall be readie to make peace and I shall make amends for al wrongs though I was not the beginner Then Huon caused the retrait to bee sounded and in likewise so did the Almaynes who had thereof great ioy it came to them at a good poynt for else all had béene slaine or foyled When he had the vpper hand now that he pursued still his chase for then he might haue had an end of that warre and neither shield nor speare more broken whereas after many a man was slaine and was the cause that the Citie of Bourdeaux was lost and the fayre Escleremond taken and set in prison in the Citie of Mayens and Huon suffered so much paine and trouble that no mortall man can shewe it Thus as you haue heard Huon granted the truce and so both parts withdrew whereof the Emperour and his companie were right ioyfull Then Huon called his companie and shewed Gerames and his Lords how he had graunted truce to the Emperour for halfe a yeere and therefore I charge you all not to breake the peace the Emperour was glad when hee heard it for he knew well hee had scaped a great daunger Then he charged all his men on paine of death that they should not breake the truce And Sirs quoth he I pray you make readie a litter that I may be carried to Coleyne for the paine that I féele in my legges causeth all my bodie
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
keep the beasts pertaining to his host the which are without number what in beefes kine hogs and more theâ— ten thousand shéep which beasts ere I sléep I will bring into this Citie and then ye may slay them and poâ—der them in salt so that ye shall haue no famine for a whole yeere Sir quoth she I pray vnto God you may bring it well to passe thus they taried vntill supper time and after when it was night and that they thought that they of the hoast were a sleepe and saw that the weather was troubleous euen as they would desire it he armed him and all his men and set men at the gate to defende him at his recoiling Then hee mounted vppon his good horse and he opened the gate and yssued out as priuily as hée might and tooke the way to the meadow and came thether and Huon then cried and sayde Ah ye Villaines this pasturage is mine I come to challeng it in an euill houre yee put your beasts heere to pasture yee shall make me amends for all the beasts that I find héere in my pasture I will goe and pound them and if the Emperor will haue them hee must buy them and make amendes for their forfaite and yee that bee the Keepers shall dearely abide it When the kéepers heard Huon speake they had great feare and they thought to haue gone and taken their horses and so to haue defended themselues but Huon and his companie gaue them no leysure so to doe for Huon with his speare strake one starke dead and after he slew the second then the third and fourth and so slew very many as long as his Speare held then hée set his hand on his sword wherewith he claue asunder healmets and sheelds and beat down men on euerie side and Gerames Othon Richard did verie valiantly and so much did Huon and his men within a short space that the twoo Hundred men that kept the beasts were all slaine except one who escaped and ranne to the Emperours hoast where he shewed the Emperour how Huon and his men were issued out of the Citie and that all the kéepers of the beastes were slaine and the beasts taken and driuen into the Citie When the Emperour heard these tidings he was right sorrowfull and armed him and his men and leapt on their horses and ranne towards the Citie to stoppe Huon from entring into the Citie but before they came thether all the beastes were entred into the Citie Nowe when Huon saw the Emperour comming he said vnto his men Sirs I require you let vs turne vpon our enemies who commeth after vs for I would faine shew them how men that commeth from foraging can runne with their Speares Then they turned against the Almaines so that each of them â—â—re a man to the earth and they drewe their Swords and stewe men round about them and Huon vpon his good horse Amphage held his Swoord in his hand all to be sprinkled wâ—th the bloud of his enemies wherewith he cut off armes legs and hands he was more doubted then the Deuill for by his prowesse hee did so muâ—h that his enemies fledde before him and made him way so that in despite of all the Almaines after that he and his men had slaine foure Thousand of his enemies he entred into the City with al that pray of his beasts wherewith the Emperour and his men that followed were sore displeased for the losse that they had receiued for that Huon was so escaped from their hands and that he had taken away their beastes and slaine his men Thus as yee haue heard Huon entred into the Citie of Bourdeaux with all his pray Chap. LXXXXVII ¶ How Huon of Bourdeaux made him readie to go to seeke for some succour And of the sorrow that the Duchesse his wife made AFter that Huon was entred into the Citie he went to his Pallaice and there found the Duchesse Escleremond who vnlaced his helmet and clipped and kissed him and saide Sir I pray you howe haue you done Faire Ladie quoth he we haue slaine many an Almaine and haue brought away the pray for in all the Emperours hoste we haue not left neither Porke Kine nor Mutton we haue brought all into this Citie thanked bee God so now I shall leaue you in more suertie in mine absence for you haue nowe victuall inough for a whole yeare Nowe I will goe to your Brother and if I find that hee will bee christened I shall bring him with me if not I shall defie him and slay him without he will beleeue on Iesus Christ whatsoeuer fortune fall Sir quoth Escleremond sore wéeping haue no doubt of that for it is more then seauen yeres since he desired to be christened wherefore Sir I require you loue my Brother Madame quoth Huon I shall doe your pleasure then he called to him his priuie friends and saide Sirs yée knowe well what danger and perill we be in and because in all thinges néedefull there ought to be made prouision with diligence this Citie is now well prouided of victualles wherefore yée shall not néede to make any issuing out without yée sée great aduantage as for assault if yée defend it well it is impregnable for our enemies to win it but if yée be to yéeld it vp beware what yée doe for the great hate that the Emperour hath against vs peraduenture will constraine him to breake his promise if yée be taken by force or by this meanes yée shall all die miserably and my wife bee murdered in prison or else miserably to finish her dayes and my little Daughter Clariet whome I loue so dearely shee shal be lost and my Citie destroyed and brought to vtter ruine wherefore I commend vnto you my wife and my Daughter and all the rest vntill I returne againe the which shal be shortly if I may and I shall bring with mee such succour that yee shall all bee ioyfull thereof Sir quoth Gerames God giue grace to send you againe in sauegard you knowe well that you leaue vs in great pouertie and feare wherefore wee all desire you not to forget vs and therewith they all wept Then Huon sayd I pray yee make no such sorrow â—or my departing for yee know the businesse that causeth mee to depart for without I goe for some succour yee know well we are but dead and Gerames I giue you the keeping of my wife and Child ye are bound to serue me truely for in you I haue my perfect trust Sir quoth Gerames haue you no doubt but that as longe as I haue life in my bodie I shall not faile them in life nor death When Huon heard Gerames say so he began sore to wéepe and the faire Ladie Escleremond began to make such sorrow that great pitie it was to see her she wrang her hands and tore her haire and made such out-cries that euerie man had pitie of her yet they comforted her as much as they might But
helpe him but rather hinder him therefore he lette it passe and so tooke leaue of his first Patron and lift vp their anthors and sayles and when they were in the sea the winde arose and increased more and more for the space of sixe weekes that the wind changed not so that if God had suffered the winde to haue continued one moneth or sixe weekes longer they had come to the place whereas they would haue beene But ere that they came there they suffered much paine for there arose vppon them such a winde and tempest that they were forced to auayle their sayles The heauens waxed darke the moone was couered the torment was great and daungerous the waues of the sea were of a great height terrible to beholde whereby whether they would or not they were constrained to goe as the winde would leade them theyr fortune was so great and terrible that there was neuer seene such a mightie storme before whereof Huon and his men and his Patron were greatly afraide specially the Patron more then Huon was hee was sore discomforted and pittiously he called on our Lord Iesus Christ requiring him to bring them to a good Port there was neither marriner nor Patron but all were sore afraide nor they wist not where they were They were in this torment for the space of ten dayes in all the which time they neuer sawe the cleerenesse of the sunne for the great darkenesse that was there as then the which did verie greatly annoy them And when it came to the eleuenth day and that the torment and winde beganne to abate and the sea waxed peaceable and still therewith Huon and his companie werâ— well comforted the heauen cleered by and the glorious sunne cast out his rayes along vpon the sea When the master of the shippe saw the fortune of the Sea and that the great torment beganne to cease hee caused one of the marriners to mount vppe into the toppe to see if hee might discrie any lande but hee could see none whereof the Patron was greatly abashed and sayde howe that hee knewe not in what Countrey hee was for hee neuer sayled in those parts and sayde to Huon Sir it is fiftie yéeres since that I first vsed the sea but yet I neuer sayled in these parts whereof I haue great maruaile When Huon heard that he was sore displeased and sayde Sir lette vs take the aduantage of the wind and let our Shippe driue vnder the conduct of our Lord Iesus Christ I hope that our Lord God will not suffer vs to bee perished in this Sea Sir quoth the Patrone I doe agree well to your saying and so let vs doe then they turned their helâ—â—â— and tooke the winde into their full sayle the winde was â—ood and fresh and the Sea very meeke and peaceable so that within a short space they had sayled a great iourney When Huon called vppon our Lorde God and helde vp his handes towards heauen and said Thou verie God who in 〈…〉 transitâ—rie world diddest vouchsafe to be borne in the 〈◊〉 of a maide and afterwards diddest raigne héere vpon earth xxxiâ— yeâ—res and then didst suffer death and passion vppon a Friday and after that didst rise from death to life and wentst into hell drewest out soules out of paines infernall Euen so as I beleeue that this is true I require thée to haue pitie and compassion vpon vs and giue vs grace that wée may safely escape out of this perillous Sea and to kéepe and saue my déere and louing wife Escleremond and my Childe and my noble Lords whome I left in the citie of Bourdeaux in great perill of their liues and giue mee the grace that I may bring with me such succour and aide that thereby I may bring them out of the danger that they he in Chap. LXXXXIX ¶ â—owe Huon arriued on the perillous Gulfe where as hee spake with â—â—das and howe hee arriued at the Port of the 〈◊〉 WHen Huon had made his praiers to God he beheld into the Sea and sawe a farre off like a great péece of Canuasse and there by he heard as great a noyse as though there had beene a Thousand Smithes and a Thousandâ— Carpenters and a Thousande great running Riuers together all beating and labouring together Huon who heard this great noise had great feare thereof so that hee wiâ—te not what to doe and so were all those that were in his companie the Patrone commaunded a Marriner to mount vp into the top of the Maâ—â— to see what 〈◊〉 it was that made all that noyse and so hee did and 〈◊〉 round about him and beheld that way and at 〈…〉 the daungerous Gulfe whereof hee hadde heard often times spoken and thereof hee had such great feare that neere hand hee had fallen downe into the Sea hee came downe and saide vnto the Patrone Sir wee bee all in the way to bee lost for wee bee neere one of the Gulfes of hell whereof Huon and the Patrone and all other had such great feare that they all trembled Sir quoth the Patrone knowe for troth that it is impossible to escape out of this perilous Gulfe for all the Seas and waters and Riuers there assembleth together and perforce wee muste passe that way which when Huon heard then hee beganne pitiously to complaine and sayd Ah sweete and loouing wife Escleremond I see nowe clearely that our loues muste depart the beautie and the bountie that is in you I cannot forget Alas I shall neuer see you more I pray to our Lord Iesus Christ to giue you that grace as to bee agreed with the Emperour Tirrey to the entent that in peace and rest you may vse the residue of your life for as for mee I shall neuer bring you any succour or ayd Then hee studied a long season and then sayd againe Good Lord I thanke thee and since it pleaseth thee that I shall passe out of this world I humbly require thee to receiue my Sâ—â—le into thine handes as for my bodie and life I care little for seeing it pleaseth thee that I shall thus end my dayes and depart this life Then Huon lefte his weeping and the winde ceased and the sayle abated yet neuerthelesse the shippe still went foorth alone in such wise as though it had flowne vppon the Sea Sir quoth the Maister of the Shippe you may see euidently that wee neede not to trauaile our selues to guide our Ship for the Gulfe that is so neere vs draweth the Shippe vnto him in such haste as yee may see and anone yee shall see that we shall tumble therein Maister quoth Huon it is conuenient now that wee abide the aduenture and fortune of the sea such as our Lord God will sende lette vs trust in him and desire him that his pleasure be fulfilled and more I cannot striue Then Huon Chaplaine confessed them one after another and then incontinent the great noyse ceased But they came thither at a good poynt for the verie same
time as theyr good fortune was the Gulfe was full and plaine so that a shippe might passe ouer it without daunger as well as in another place of the sea and when the Patron sawe that hee sayd to Huon Sir wee ought greatly to thanke our Lord God for wee are now come at such a time that the Gulfe is full and plaine so that wee may passe ouer surely without any danger When Huon heard that hee was right ioyfull and all weeping he kneeled downe and so did all the companie and deâ—outly they thanked our Lord God that hee had sent them that good grace Then Huon rose vp and sawe beside him a great peece of Canuasse and the waues of the sea beating against it with great violence whereof he had great maruaile For the waues of the sea beaâ—e so sore against the cloath and with so great violence that they reculed backe and for all the beating of the sea against the canuasse yet it brake not Then Huon hearde a voyce crying an hie and pittifully complayning saying O verie God in an ill howre I was borne when I sold the puissant God who did mee that fauour as to take me as one of his disciples and Apostles and for the goodnesse that hee did mee I rendered him an euill reward for the diuell the enemie of all humane linage entred into my body the which was full of sinne and exhorted me to sell my God good Lord for thirtie pence of money that was then currant in the country of Iude and vnhappie that I was if I had trusted in his great mercy all the trespasse that I had doone had beene forgiuen mee But pride and misbeleefe and false hope that was in mee with the â—iuell who blinded mine vnderstanding and would not suffer me to haue any hope of grace or pardon for my trespasse for of my sinne I neuer had repentance And the Diuell doubting to haue lost mee put mee into despiration whereby I loste the grace of God for if I would haue asked mercie of my Lord God hee would haue pardoned mee of all the trespasse that I had committed against him Alas poore Caytiffe that I am from hence shall I neuer depart but alwaies to remaine in this torment and paine When the Maister of the Shippe heard this voyce hee demaunded of him and sayde What art thou that thus pityously complaineth I commaund thee to shewe mee and whether there bee any man liuing in this world that can ayde and succour thâ—e and cast thee out of the torment and paine that thou art in When the voyce heard him hee spake no more woordes nor made no answeare at all then Huon aduaunced himselfe to the board of the Shippe beeing desirous to know what thing it was that made that pitifull complaint and saide Thou that so sore doest complaine and mourne I coniure thee in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ and by all his power and by the blessed Virgin Saint Marie his Mother and by all the Saints and holy Angels and Archangels that are in the Realme of Paradice and by all that euer God hath made and created in Heauen and in earth that thou aunsweare and shewe mee what man thou art and who hath put thee heere in this miserie and wherefore thou art heere and whether thou maist come to vs or not and what is thy name and why that this Canuasse is heere set wherefore it serueth and also shew me if euer thou shalt depart from hence or not When this voyce had heard Huon coniure him in such wise it aunswered him shortly and sayd O thou mortall man that hast coniured mee so sore and also hast desired for to knowe my name I shall shewe vnto thee for certaintie that my name is Iudas and I am the selfe same man that sould our Lord Iesus Christ to the Iewes for thirtie pence then being currant money in the countrey of Iude and deliuered into their hands my right deere Lorde and Maister who so much honoured me as to account me as one of his Apostles and by a false and a fained loue I kissed him on the mouth for to 〈…〉 which was he And after I saw him beaten 〈…〉 as yee may read in the holy 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 who therein haue made 〈…〉 passion 〈…〉 I had betrayed my 〈…〉 〈…〉 my 〈…〉 sore displease◠〈…〉 crie 〈…〉 I did commit 〈◊〉 â—olly for he was so 〈…〉 that if I had cried him mercie hee 〈…〉 But the Diuell 〈◊〉 is enemie to 〈…〉 would not suffer me to do it for I went 〈…〉 and hanged my selfe on a tree and when I was 〈…〉 in the place whereas yee sée 〈…〉 I shall remaine 〈…〉 paine 〈…〉 from hence for now it is too late to 〈…〉 grace for iudgement is giuen vpon me 〈…〉 suffer this torment and paine continually 〈…〉 and â—euers of the world doe assemble together 〈◊〉 euen heere as I am in this Gulfe where I am sore 〈◊〉 and greatly tormented by the great 〈◊〉 and course 〈…〉 I am tormented and cannot by 〈…〉 shall come out of this great torment nor 〈◊〉 〈…〉 that yee demaunde whereto it serueth and 〈…〉 knowe for a troth that on a day I 〈…〉 of God nor I 〈◊〉 gaue after any thing 〈…〉 as long as I liued and therefore when I was 〈…〉 God would that the good deede that I 〈…〉 this 〈◊〉 for his sake should not bee 〈…〉 our Lorde God would that this 〈…〉 right side to the intent for to 〈…〉 and from the great waues of the sea 〈…〉 against mee as you haue 〈…〉 against this Câ—â—â—as I had no grace for 〈…〉 God for my trespasse the deuill was 〈…〉 wherefore let euerie man take example by 〈…〉 he hath space and thus I haue shewed 〈…〉 quoâ—h Huon I beléeue if thou wilt yet cry 〈…〉 he will haue mercie and pitie on thee Nay nay quoth Iudas to pray now cannot auayle me for I am damned for euer and if yee will beleeue mee beware and tarrie not here too long for if ye doe ye shall neuer depart hence for the Gâ—lfe which is now full and plaine it will not continue long but that the sea will issue out and al the riuers within it yee were happie that yee came at the howre that you did for anon the waters will issue out with such aboundance that the waues that will rise shall seeme like high mountaines It is more then two hundred yeeres since there passed any ship this way but that men ship and all were swallowed into the Gulfe wherefore Huon I counsayle thee that incâ—ntinently thou depart hence without thou wilt bee lost foreuer it is time that thou depaâ—t hence whilst the Gulfe is full for it will not long rest but that the waters will issue out with such a brute and noyse that if ye be fiâ—teene leagues off ye shall well heare the torment that it will make If ye had come but halfe an houre sooner then yee did ye had neuer escaped the great
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
reason that their shippes were nayled with yron nayles they could not depart from hence for the Adamant stone that by nature draweth the yron vnto him and so they lay heere so longe that they al died miserably for famine and rage for no shippe can depart from hence without it be pinned with nayles of wood and not of yron And whereas you demaund from whence commeth the Treasure that is heere within this Castle Knowe for a troth that it was the riches that these thrée Kinges lefte in their shippes when they dyed the which Treasure after that they were dead Caesar caused it to be brought into this Castle and before hée dyed hee deliuered vnto mee the kéeping of this Castle and Treasure And I and Fortie other of my fellowes are heere condemned by the Fayrie to abide heere vnto the end of the world Nowe when that tidinges came to the knowledge of the noble Kinge Oberon that his Father Iulius Caesar was slaine and murdered within the Senate of Rome by them whome hee trusted well King Oberon tooke such displeasure that he made promise and assurement that hée would neuer come heere more and no more he hath done for he thought if he should haue come hether againe that hee should haue dyed for sorrow for the great loue that he had vnto his Father Iulius Caesar And since you will knowe my name I am called Gloriadas and this Castle is called the Adamant Nowe I haue shewed you the troth of your demaund and one thing I say vnto you you shall neuer depart from hence as long as you liue without you flye in the ayre as a bird doth flye nowe I haue shewed you your desire When Huon vnderstood him he was right sorrowfull and so after hee had well eaten and drunken at his owne pleasure hee tooke his leaue and departed and came vnto a dore of a chamber and sawe Letters of goulde written ouer the dore whereby hee had knowledge where the key was hee tooked it and opened the dore and entred into the Chamber and sawe how that all the Chamber was made of Christall and painted richly with gould and Asure and there was the protraiture of all the Battailes of Troy and all the déedes of Alexander and vppon the pauement was spread abroad Roses flowers and hearbes swéete smelling aboue all other sauours in the worlde and in the Chamber there were diuers birdes flyinge about singing so maruailous sweetly that great ioye and melodie it was to heare them the riches and great beauty of that chamber could not bee described Huon had maruailous great pleasure to behould it and there hee sawe a Table set full of meate and there by stood great pots of gould garnished with precious stones full of wine there was no meat in the world but that there it was readie Huon had good appetite to eate for he had eaten but little before by reason of the talking that he had with Gloriadas and then two young men brought him a Bason of gould broadered with pearles to wash his hands and another brought him a Towell to wipe his handes Then Huon sat downe at a rich Table the which was bordered with precious stones the cloath that lay vpon the Table was of silke richly wrought Huon did eate his meate for hee hadde good appetite thereto a goodly young man carued for him and another bare his Cuppe many folkes there was to haue done seruice vnto any creature liuing in the world and hée spake vnto them but none would answeare him one word wherewith hee was angrie and sore displeased but when he saw that there was none other reamedie hee did let it passe and forgat it because of the swéete melodie that the birdâ—s made often times he wished for his Wife the faire Escleremond and for his Daughter Clariet and for Gerames Barnard and Richard and his other company that hee left at Bourdeaux Thus Huon was serued in the Castle of the Adamant and when hee hadde dined the Seruants tooke vp the Table and brought him water and a Towell for to wash his handes and â—â—en he rose vp from the Table and went downe into the Seller whereas he sawe euerie thing as he had seene before he saâ—â—â—â— them in passing by but they made none answeare so hee came vnto greeces and mounted vp and then went and sported him from chamber to chamber and then into the Garden wherein hée tooke great pleasure and when the time came for to eate hee returned into the Seller and so into the Chamber whereas hee found euerie thing readie as hee had done before but hee was sore and greatly displeased that they that serued him would not speake no word Thus Huon was there a whole Moneth and tooke such pleasure there that hee recouered his heath and strength and beautie greatly hée was annoyed that there was no man there that would speake one word vnto him oftentimes hee wished himselfe at Bourdeaux with a hundred Thousand men at armes to giue battaile vnto the Emperour who had done him so much dammage And vppon a day as Huon walked in the Hall saying of his prayers he looked out at a window into the Sea and hee sawe a farre off a Shippe comming with full sayle to arriue at the Port and they were about Foure-score Marchants all of Spaine and they knew not what Port they did arriue at Chap. CVIII ¶ Howe Huon sawe a Shippe arriue at the Port of the Castle of the Adamant WHen Huon saw this Shippe arriue at the Port hee greatly complayned for them and sayd Ah good Lord what a sorte of good Marchants haue heere beene lost if they of yonder Shippe knewe thereof they would not ariue here by their wils and so then hée sawe the Shippe come in with such a force and it dashed in so sore amongest the other olde Shippes that the Shippe was neere hande perished But the other Shippes were so old that they were rotten so that thereby the new Ship was saued who hadde beene twentie dayes in torment on the the Sea so that the men that were within it were sore trauayled and faint for famine that they were scarce able to sustaine themselues vppon their féete When Huon saw them arriue all wéeping hee complayned for them for he saw well that they were all lost and that they shoulde neuer depart from thence when the Shippe was arriued the Marchants within it called vppon Mahound to ayde and to succour them and the Maister of the Ship stood vp and went a shoare and looked towards the Castle and sawe Huon where hee stood leaning in a window whereof they had great ioy thinking that they were arriued at a good Port supposing that he that they sawe there before them had beene the Lord of the Castle because he was so maruailous richly aparelled and then they saluted Huon in the name of Mahounde their God When Huon heard that hee knew surely that they were Sarazins and he that could very wel speake the
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 to behold them This Garden was so faire that it seemed rather a Paradice then a thing terrestriall For out of this Garden there yssued such a smell and odour that Huon thought that all the balme and spicerie in the world could not cast out so swéet a smell Ah good Lord quoth Huon what place is this that I am in for if the Griffen had not béen here I would haue thought that I had béen in Paradice good Lord God I pray thee to aid and succor mee in all mine affaires and enterprizes and at this time that I be not lost nor dead Chap. CXI ¶ Howe an Angell appeared vnto Huon and commaunded him to gather three Apples of the Tree by the Fountaine and no more and how the Angell shewed him tidings of his wife the faire Escleremond and of his Daughter Clariet and shewed him the way that hee should goe from thence THus as yee haue heard Huon deuised by himselfe at the Fountaine then hée went againe to the Trée and saide that hee would eat of that fruit and gather thereof as much as should suffice him for sixe dayes and in that space he trusted to come to some place whereas hee should haue meat sufficient Thus as hee was going towards the Trée suddainly there appeared vnto him a light shining that hee thought hee was rauished in Heauen among the Angels therewith hee heard a voice Angelicall that said Huon know for troth that our Lord God commandeth thée not to bee so hardy as to gather any more fruite of that Tree except thrée Apples the which God is well content that thou shalt gather and no more heereafter they shall serue thée well so that thou doest kéepe them cleane and worthily as they ought to be kept it shall not bee long ere thou shalt haue great neede of them the fruit of this Trée is called the fruit of youth it hath such vertue that if a man of Four-score or of a Hundred yeares of age doe eate thereof hee shall become againe as young as he was at the age of Thirtie yeares in yonder Garden thou maist goe and gather there of the fruit at thy pleasure and eate what thou list but eate no more of this that thou hast eaten of and therefore beware I charge thée gather no more thereof except the said thrée Apples Knowe for troth that if thou breakest my commaundement the fruit shall bee dearely sold vnto thee Sir quoth Huon laud and praise be giuen to our Lord God my Creatour when hee sheweth his grace vnto mée that am so poore a sinner and that hee will thus visit mée I shall neuer consent to breake his commaundement I had rather die then so to doe my bodie and my Soule I recommend vnto his good grace But thou the Messenger of God I require thee to shew me how doth my wife Escleremond and Clariet my Daughter whome I haue left in my Citie of Bourdeaux besieged by the Emperour Tirrey of Almaine I haue great feare that they be famished within the Citie and my Lords and company that I left there with her slaine and dead Fréend quoth the voice know for certaine that the Citie of Bourdeaux is taken and all thy men dead or taken and thy wife in prison in the great Tower of Mayence whereas the Emperour Tirrey keepeth her straightly and thy Daughter Clariet is at Cluny in the Abbey whereas shee is well serued and the Abbot who hath alwaies loued thée he hath her in his keeping and shée is as well cherished there euen as she were his owne Daughter Sir quoth Huon and why was shee brought thether Huon quoth the Voice knowe well that Barnard thy coozen Germaine brought her thether Fréend quoth Huon I pray you to shew me if Gerames Richard and Othon be aliue or not Freend quoth the Voice at the taking of the Citie they were slaine by the Emperour When Huon had well heard those pitifull tidings he began tenderly to weepe complayning for the faire Escleremond his wife and for the death of the old Gerames and said Fréend I require you to shew mee if euer I shall escape considering that I am heere closed in with the Sea the which goeth round about this Rocke I sée no way to goe out thereof gladly I would knowe if euer I shall returne into my Countrey to sée my Wife and Daughter who are in great feare and daunger Huon quoth the Voice comfort thy selfe thou shalt sée them againe thy Wife Escleremond and thy Daughter Clariet and thy good Citie of Bourdeaux but ere thou shalt come there thou shalt suffer much paine and bee in great feare and danger the Emperour Tirrey hath conquered all thy Countrey and Geronnell is vnder his obeysance with the Citie of Bourdeaux Then Huon sware and made promise that if our Lord Iesus Christ would giue him the grace that he might returne into his own Countrey that surely he would slay the Emperor Tirrey whatsoeuer end come thereof Messenger of God I require you to shew mée by what manner of wayes I may passe out of this Rocke Huon quoth the Voice goe to the said Trée and gather the thrée Apples as I haue saide vnto thée before and keepe them well and cleanly for thou shalt heereafter haue so much profit by them that at the end thou shalt come vnto thy desire and will and shalt bee out of thy great paine trouble and thought take this little path that thou séest here vppon thy right hand and so goe thou downe vnto the foote of the Rocke and there thou shalt find a faire cleare water and thereuppon a faire shippe enter into it but first goe into the Garden and gather fruit to serue thée as long as thou shalt be in the shippe then vnloose the shippe from the chaine that it is tyed by and let the shippe goe whether as it will vntill it commeth to the Port whereas thou shalt arriue but bee thou sure before thou commest there thou shalt be in as great feare as euer thou wert in all the dayes of thy life nor thou wert neuer in so great perill I commend thee into the sauegard of our Lord Iesus Christ I goe my way and leaue thee héere Then Huon knéeled downe and held vp his hands and said Ah thou verie Messenger of God I require thee to haue me recommended vnto my Creatour Huon quoth the Voice be of good comfort for as longe as thou art true and faithfull thou â—haâ—t haue ayde and succour of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ and shalt attaine to thy desires but ere thou commest thereto thou shalt suffer much paine and feare but after as I haue said thou shalt haue wealth inough exalt al thy Feends Huon was glad of that the Voice had said vnto him but he was in great displeasure in that his Wife the faire Escleremond was Prisoner in the great Tower of the City of Mayence and of the death of the old Gerames and of other
his Lordes Seruants and said to himselfe if I may the Emperour shall deerly abuy that bargaine Then Huon went to the Garden and gathered fruit to bear into the Shippe and then hee went to the Fountaine whereas the Trée of youth was there by and there by the commaundement of the Angell hée gathered thrée Apples and trussed them safely and then he dranke of the Fountaine at his pleasure Then hee departed and tooke the little path the which was betweene the Garden and the streame that yssued out of the Fountaine the which streame ranne and fell into the great Riuer whereas the Shippe lay and when hée was entred into this streame he sawe the goodlyest precious stones that euer he sawe they were so faire and so rich that the value of them could not bee esteemed the grauell of the streame that yssued out of the Fountaine were all precious stones and they cast such light that all the Mountaine and Rocke did shine thereof whereof Huon had great maruaile Also he sawe the Shippe so faire that he was thereof greatly dismayed and abashed the Riuer ioyned to the rich Garden whereas Huon had gathered fruit of Fourteene sorts the which hee put into the Shippe and then recommending himselfe to our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ he entred into the Shippe and vntyed the ship from the chaine then the shippe departed from that Port this Riuer was called Diplayre Thus this shippe went as fast as though a bird hadde flowne and thus as yee haue heard Huon sayled all alonge in this Shippe vppon the Riuer of Diplayre right desirous to bring out of danger his Wife the faire Ladie Escleremond Chap. CXII ¶ How Huon of Bourdeaux sayled in a rich Shippe and of the perilous Gulfe that he passed by and how hee arriued at the Port of the great Citie of Thauris of Persia THus as yee haue heard was Huon vppon this rich Riuer in his Shippe the which was bordered with white Iuorie and nayled with nayles of fine gould and the fore Castle of white Christall mingled with riche Caâ—sidony and therein a Chamber the sealing wrought with starres of gould and precious stones the which gaue such clearnesse in the darke night as though it had beene faire day and the bedde that Huon lay vpon there is no humane tongue can estéeme the value thereof therein lay Huon euerie night and in the day came abroad in the Shippe it was yrkesome to him for that hee was alone without companie and sayled euerie day betwéene two Rockes without sight of any Towne or Village man or woman and when hee had béene in this Shippe thrée dayes and thrée nights hee beheld before him and sawe how the two Rockes beganne to drawe together and couer the Riuer and it séemed vnto his fight that the Shippe should enter into a darkenesse howbeit the Riuer euer still kept his full breadth but the néerer he came the darker the passage séemed and when the shippe came néere vnto it shee went so fast that Huon thought that no bird in all the world could flye so fast and then it beganne to be sore blacke and darke and the wind rose and it hayled so extreamly that hee thought the Ship should haue perished and Huon was so cold that hee wiste not howe to get him any heat Then he heard pitifull voyces speaking diuers languages cursing the time that euer they were borne Then hee heard thunder and saw lightning so often that certainly hee thought to haue beene perished and neuer to haue escaped out of that danger Thus Huon was in this shippe in great feare of loozing of his life and when he was hungrie hee did eat of the fruit that he had brought thether then againe he was comforted in that the Angell had said vnto him that he should sée again his Wife Escleremond and his Daughter Clariet When hée had beene in this case the space of thrée dayes he sat downe vpon the Sea board of the Ship and then hée heard such a brute so great and so horrible that if the thunder had fallen from the Heauens and that al the Riuers in the world had fallen downe from the Rockes they could not haue made so hideous a noyse as the Tempest of the Gulfe made the which is betweene the Sea of Persia and the great Sea Ocean it was neuer heard that euer any Shippe or Galley escaped that way without perishing When Huon saw himselfe in that danger deuoutly hee called vppon our Lord God and said Ah good Lord now I sée and perceiue that without thy ayd and succour I am lost and come to my end but séeing that it is your pleasure and will that I shall perish héere I beséech your beneuolent grace to accept my Soule into your fauourable handes Huon had no sooner spoken those words but a winde aroase with so great a Tempest that hee thought then surely to haue beene cast away Then he saw comming against him great barres of yron red hoat that fell downe from on high into the Riuer before Huon in such sort that when they fell into the water by reason of the heat of the barres troubled so the water that fearfull it was to behold it Thus Huon was a great space before he could passe the Gulfe the which was so perrilous and the Shippe went so sore by force of the wind so that the shippe went out of the middest of the streame and was neere to the Land so that the Ship was grounded and could goe no further When Huon saw and perceiued that the Shippe was vpon the grounde hee thought then surely to haue béene drowned Then hee tooke an anchor and put it into the water to knowe how many foote the water was of déepenesse and hee found it but fiue foote Then hee tooke one of his anchors and cast it a shoare and then drewe by the coard vntill the shippe came neere to the bancke-side then hee yssued out of the Shippe and leapt a land and then hee sawe suddainly about him a great clearnesse whereof he was greatly dismayed and abashed and wist not what to thinke then hee sawe before him that all the grauell in the water were mingled with precious stones and when Huon saw that he tooke a scoope and cast into the shippe so much of those precious stones that it gaue as great a light as though tenne Torches hadde beene burning and so much of this grauell Huon did cast into the Shippe that hee was wearie of labour and when hee sawe the Shippe sufficiently charged then hee entred againe and drewe vp the anchor and trauailed so sore that hee brought againe the shippe into the middest of the streame then the ship went so fast that a bird could not haue followed it Thus he was tenne dayes before he could passe that Gulfe and thus day and night hee sayled with great feare and sore oppressed through hunger and thirst for hee had nothing to eat nor drinke but fruit so that thereby hee
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
and shining within it by reason of the rich stones that were therein wherof he had great maruaile and especially because hee saw within the Shippe but one man cleane armed hee wist not what to thinke but he thought that he was christened then he approached neere to the Shippe and saluted Huon and sayde Sir God giue you good aduenture for me thinkes you bee a Christian man Fréend quoth Huon God saue thée me thinkes by thy speach that thou wert borne in the good Countrey of France by reason that thou speakest French for I haue great ioy when I heare that language spoken and fréend I require thée to shew me where thou wert borne and what thou séekest for heere Sir quoth Barnard séeing you will know of my businesse I shall shew you as he that is right sorrowfull and heauie and little shall you winne thereby when you doe know it but séeing that it is your pleasure I shall shewe you the troth Sir I was borne in the good Citie of Bourdeaux whereas I haue left my house and heritage to séeke for my good Lord somtime Lord of the same Citie and he was called Duke Huon who went from Bourdeaux to séeke for some succour whiles the City was besieged and so it is my Lord Huon returned not nor it cannot bee knowne where he is become and because the Citie at his departing was beséeged by the Emperour of Almaine and the Citie but ill fournished with victuall to maintaine it long and also it was so sore beaten with Engins that the Emperor wanne the Citie perforce and slew all those that my Lord Huon had lefte there except thrée Hundred the which were taken Prisoners by the Emperour and led into the Citie of Mayence with the noble Duchesse Escleremond wife vnto my good Lord Huon and shee is kept in a straighc Prison whereas she spendeth her dayes miserably whereof my heart is in such sorrowe and gréefe that when I remember them it neere hand slayeth my heart When Huon hadde well heard and vnderstood Barnard hee knew him well but hee had no power to speake any word vnto him his heart was so full of sorrow and gréefe for that his Cozen Barnard had shewed him and the chéefest of his sorrow was for the trouble of his wife the faire Lady Escleremond who was in great perill of death Thus Huon was a great space and could speake no word for sorrow and gréefe and wist not what to doe and also hee saw his Coozen Barnard who hadde taken great paines to search for him whereof hee had such pitie that the teares fell from his eyes When Barnard saw that the Knight gaue him no answeare and beheld vnder the ventaile of his helmet the teares of water fell downe from his eyes hee was thereof so dismayed and abashed that he wist not what to say Then hee sayde Sir mee thinkes you are a Christian man and because I see and perceiue in you that you are a man that hath beene in many places and Countreys therefore I desire you to shewe mee if you heard euer any manner of speaking of my good Lord Huon Duke of Bourdeaux whome I haue sought for in many Countreys both by land and by Sea and I could neuer heare any certaine tidings of him whereof I am right sorrie for if I can heare no word of him by you I will neuer hope more to haue any knowledge of him I thinke I shall haue some knowledg by you if he be aliue for if I knowe nothing by you I will neuer séeke him further but I will goe into a Desart vnto some solitarie place and there to doe penance and to pray vnto God for my good Lord Huon and to pardon me of all my sinnes and offences and I require you in the name of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to shewe mee what you bée and where you were borne and from whence you come that hath brought in your shippe so great riches for I knowe certainly that in all Fraunce cannot bee found the value of so great riches nor the puissant Charlemaine coulde neuer assemble together such riches as you haue in your Shippe When Huon had well heard Barnard hee sayde Freend I haue great maruaile of that I heare you say for in my Shippe I knowe neither gould nor siluer nor none other thing but my bodie and mine armour Sir quoth Barnard beware what you say for the riches that I see in your Shippe if you will sell it you may fill againe your shippe with monney if you will beleeue me the Treasure and riches that you haue brought in your Shippe the value thereof cannot bee estéemed When Huon heard that he had great maruaile and was right ioyfull then he looked downe into the bottome of the Shippe and saw the rich stones there lying among the grauell the which he neuer tooke heede of before for when he did cast it into his Ship hee thought all had beene but grauell to ballaice his Shippe withall that it might sayle the more surely Then Barnard sayd Sir I pray you hide it not from mee where haue you had this Treasure and in what Countrey all the stones that bee there I knowe the vertue of them all for since I came out of my Countrey I was a whole yeare with the best Lapidarie and knower of stones that was in all the world and he taught me his Science Sir surely the place whereas you had them in is of great dignitie Freend quoth Huon I shall shewe you the troth fortune brought me by the Gulfe of Persia whereas as I suffered much paine and trouble but thanked be God I escaped from that hard aduenture the force of the winde that came out of the Gulfe draue my Shippe out of the streame to the land and when I sawe that I was so néere to the land I went out of the shippe and tooke a scoope and therewith I did cast into the shippe some store of the grauell that lay by the sea side to ballays my shippe therewith not knowing that any precious stones had beene amonge the grauell and when I thought that I cast in sufficient I entred againe into my ship and so sayled foorth more surely then I did before there I had these stones that be in this shippe the which yée say be of so great value Sir quoth Barnard I pray you wherefore serueth yonder foote of a great Foule or beast that I see hange yonder in your Shippe I cannot tell whether it be of a Foule or of a Dragon for it is a fearfull thing to behold Fréend quoth Huon anone I shall shew you but first I pray you shewe mee what vertue and bountie are in these stones the which you haue so much praised and also to shew me vnto whome this noble Citie appertaineth Sir quoth Barnard this Citie is called Thauris whereof is Lord a rich Admirall who is Lord of all Persia and of Media who when hee shall bee aduertised of your
in the wound and incontinent he shall be whole When Huon heard that hee was right ioyfull and said that hee would keepe well that stone Sir quoth Barnard heere is another the which hath so great vertue that if a man or woman bée neuer so sicke shewe them but this stone and incontinent they shall be whole of any manner of maladie and also if a man were closed in prison in chaines and fetters handes and feet doe but touch them with this stone and the chaines shall breake and also if any man haue any cause to be pleaded in any Court before any Iudge be his matter rightfull or wrongfull hee shall winne his cause whether it bee for Landes or Goods and also if a man haue this stone in his hande and close it hee shall bee inuisible and may go whereas he list and shall not bee seene And you shall sée the proofe for as he had this stone in his hand he closed it and incontinent he was inuisible so that Huon could not see him whereof he was not content for he feared least that hee had lost his Cosen Barnard foreuer and sayd Ah good Lord thou hast giuen mee the grace to find my coosen Barnard who should haue kept me companie vntill I had returned into mine owne countrey and now I see well that I haue lost him When Barnard hearde Huon hee laughed and Huon who heard him groaped all about with his armes abroad vntill at last he embraced him and held him fast and when Barnard felt that hee opened his hande and then Huon sawe him againe whereof hee was right ioyfull and blessed him at the vertue of that stone and tooke it and layde it vp amonge the other in his bagge and sayd how that he would keepe that stone especially because it was of such a woonderfull great vertue Thus Barnard did choose out the stones one from another and there were so many good stones that the value of them coulde not be esteemed then hee turned vp the bottome of the grauell to seeke out the best and among other hee did choose out a Carbouncle the which cast out such a light as though twoo Torches had beene light Barnard tooke it and deliuered it vnto Huon and said Sir bee you sure that whosoeuer beares this stone vppon him may goe drie footed vppon the water as sure as though hee were in a Vessell and also if a man goe in the darke night he shall sée as well as though he had the light of sixe Torches and if a man bee in battaile hauing this stone about him hee cannot bee ouercome nor hurt nor his horse weari◠nor faint nor hurt nor wounded When Huon heard that hee smiled and tooke the stone and put into his bagge among the other Thus as they were deuising together there came vnto them diuers Marchants Sarazins who with great maruaile beheld this little shippe and they sawe it so faire and rich and so wel garnished with precious stones that they thought that all the marchandize that were in the Hauen was not halfe the value and woorth of that they sawe there then they approached vnto the shippe and saluted Huon and sayde Sirs is it your pleasure to sell vs any of your stones wee are heere diuers Marchants that will bee glad to buy of them if yee please Sirs quoth Huon as for mée as this day I will sell none vntill to morrow in the morning and then if it please yée you shall haue of them therewith the Marchants held their peace and spake no more but there came so many Sarazins and Paynims to behold the Shippe that great maruaile it was to behold them so that the newes thereof spread abroad in the City and the Admirall was aduertized thereof who incontinent accompanied with his Lords came to the Port side whereas this Ship lay at anchor When the Admirall was come thether he beheld the Ship the which hee thought faire and rich and how that there was neuer Kinge nor Emperour that euer behelde any such and it shined so cleare by reason of the stones that the Admirall and all such as were with him thought that it had been the Sunne shining in the middest of the day Then hée approached vnto the shippe and found there Huon and Barnard the Admirall saluted them and said Sirs it appeareth well that you be Christian men it is conuenient that you pay mee the Tribute that is accustomed to be payd in this Citie Sir quoth Huon it is good reason and right that we pay you as we ought to doe Sir heere is twoo stones the which I giue you and I desire you to take them in woorth the Admirall tooke the stones and beheld them well and said Fréend nowe you may goe and come into this Citie to make your marchandize at your pleasure to your most profite and gaine for the guift that you haue giuen me is to me more acceptable then if you had giuen mee the value of foure of the best Cities in all this Countrey right ioyfull was the Admirall for hee knewe well the vertue of the stones the one of them was of such bountie and dignitie that the bearer thereof could not bee poysoned nor no treason could be done nor purposed comming in the presence of him that beareth this stone but incontinent the dooer should fall downe dead and the other stone had that vertue and dignitie that the bearer thereof coulde neuer bee perished by fire nor water nor destroyed by yron for though hee were all a day burning in a hot Ouen or Fournace hee should not loose one haire of his head nor perish in the Sea Fréende quoth the Admirall the courtesie that you haue done vnto mee this day shall be well rewarded I will and commaund that throughout my Realme as well of Persia as of Media that you shall goe at your pleasure to sell your Marchandize and no man shall let nor trouble you but one thinge I would desire of you to shewe mee what aduenture hath brought you hether and of whence you bee and of what Countrey and in what place you haue founde these stones whereof you haue so great plentie howbeit I vnderstand your language whereby I knowe that you bee French-men longe agoe I was in Fraunce and dwelt there and serued in the Court of Kinge Charlemaine and was neuer knowne and I haue great maruaile where you haue found so many goodly stones it is neere hand a Hundred yeares since I was guirded with a Swoord but I neuer sawe so rich stones heere before Chap. CXV ¶ How the Admirall of Persia did great honor vnto Huon of Bourdeaux and ledde him into his Pallaice whereas he was receiued with great ioy and triumph WHen Huon of Bourdeaux had well heard and vnderstood the Admirall he regarded him much because hee was a faire olde man and séemed to be a noble man and sayd Sir because I knowe and sée apparantly in you great noblenesse troth and fréedome I shall
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
you haue sayde nobly if you thus doe great grace and glorie perpetuall you shall deserue whereby you shal be crowned aboue in the Emperiall Heauen Nowe leaue wee to speake of this matter Chap. CXVIII ¶ Howe the Admirall of Persia assembled much people and hee and Huon with all his armie tooke the Sea and came to the Port before the Citie of Angory whereas they found a great number of Paynims and Sarazins readie to defend the Port. AFter that the Admirall and Huon had deuised together of many thinges the Admirall sent out his letters and bréefes commaunding through-out Persia and Media men of warre to bee readie and gaue them a day to bee readie to goe with him certifying them that his Nauie of Shippes should be readie for the transporting of him and them the which was done and euerie man came at the day that was assigned In the meane season Huon and Barnard went oftentimes together and visited the Citie of Thauris whereas much honour was made vnto them whereof Huon and Barnard oftentimes thanked God of the good aduenture that he had sent them Thus as yée haue heard the Admirall of Persia assembled a great number of people and made him readie and entred into his shippe and all other into diuers Shippes and shipped their Armour and horses and Huon who desired to please the Admirall tooke his owne little Shippe and discharged it and tooke all the precious stones did put them into another ship the which the Admirall had deliuered to serue him and then he sayd vnto the Admirall Sir I know well that the little ship that I came in hether is not to serue in the warres and therefore Sir as it is I doe giue it vnto you whereof the Admirall had great ioy for in all the world there was none such of beautie nor of riches Then Huon gaue the Admirall all a Bushell of the stones and vnto the Lordes together and they thanked Huon of his courtesie and Larges of all the stones he kept to his owne vse but thrée Hundred and gaue away all the residue Then hee entred into the Shippe that was appointed for him and then euerie man entred into their Shipps the which were well fournished and victualed for the wars then the Admirall tooke his leaue of his Daughter who pitifully wept at her Fathers departing and then they weighed vp anchors and hoysed vp the sayles and they had such good winde that anon they were farre from the Port A goodly sight it was to beholde the Nauie for at their departing they made such great noyse with Trumpets Drummes and Hornes that all the Sea did ring thereof Great ioy and gladnesse had Huon and Barnard of the grace that God had sent them so longe they sayled with good winde and sayle that they entred into the great Sea of Caspis and then they saw a farre off a faire City standing by the Sea-side called the Citie of Angory wherein there dwelt an Admirall right puissant and rich and the same time he was in one of his Towers of his Pallaice and when he saw and perceiued such a puissant Nauie come sayling so fast towardes his Citie hee had great maruaile and was sore dismayed and abashed for he knewe well that the Shippes were of Persia by the penons and banners that hee sawe wauing vppon the shippes and vpon the other part he sawe in the toppes and fore-castles baners standing all of white and therein red crosses then he said vnto his Lordes that were about him Sirs I am greatly dismayed and abashed what meaneth yonder great fléete séeing this Citie was wonne by Reignard of Montauban there came neuer Christian man heere and I haue more maruaile to sée the bannâ—rs and armes of Persia the which these Christian men doe bearâ— vpon their shippes Then the Admirall went downe and published in the Citie that euerie man should arme them and goe to the Port to defend it that the christian men should not land there then the crie and allarum began in the Citie so great and horrible with the noyse of Trumpets and Drummes Hornes and Basons so that the noyse of them range vppon the Sea so that the Admirall of Persia and Huon and such as were vpon the sea might well heare them Then the Admirall said vnto Huon Sir I see and perceiue well that at our landing wee shall haue great battaile and resistance Sir quoth Huon I pray you what people be they that haue that City in guiding and who is Lord thereof Sir quoth the Admirall knowe for troth that this Citie is great and well peopled they beleeue not in God and about Twentie yeares passed this Citie was wonne by a Lord of Fraunce called Reignard of Montauban and hee made it to bee christened and then about eight yeares after it was wonne againe vpon Christian men by the Admirals Sonne the which Admirall was Lord thereof when it was wonne And now againe they bee all Paynims and Sarazins as you may sée vpon the sea-side they are readie to abide for vs and to defend their Port. Sir quoth Huon we ought greatly to thanke our Lord Iesus Christ of this faire aduenture when we sée before vs the enemies of our Christian faith and by the grace of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ this day we shall doe so much that the Citie and the Inhabitants therein shall be in our handes to vse them at our pleasure Sir quoth the Admirall I beséech almightie God to giue vs the grace that it may be so great grace our Lord God shall doe vnto vs if wee may winne this Citie Then the Admirall caused his men to bee armed and then they sawe halfe a League from the Citie a Port or Hauen the which was not kept nor defended because the Admirall of Angory would not yssue out farre from his Citie vntill hee sawe what countenance the christian men would make Then the Admirall of Persia and Huon aduanced themselues so forward that they cast out their anchors and launched out their boats well garnished with men Archers and Crosbowes so that they landed at this Port in sauegard without any danger Then the shippes drew to the land and vnshipped their Armour and Horses and so euerie man landed except such as were assigned to keepe the shippes and then euerie man mounted vpon their horses and ordained three Battailes the first was led by Huon and with him twentie Thousand men of hautie and hye courage the second was ledde by a great Lord of Persia who was Marshall of the Hoast the third guided the Admirall of Persia who road from ranke to ranke admonishing his men to doe their endeauours valiantly then a soft pace they drewe in battaile array towards the Citie Chap. CXIX ¶ Howe the Admirall and Huon tooke the Port and fought with the Admirall of Angory and dicomfited him and tooke the Citie and howe afterward Huon went into the Deserts of Abillant to search aduentures WHen the Admirall of
their shippe and deuised of their aduentures and praysed God of his grace for that he done vnto them Huon quoth the Admirall I haue great desire to sée the holy Citie where our Lord God was crucified and laid in the Sepulchre Sir quoth Huon by the grace of God wée shall right well and shortly come thether and I hope hée shall doe vnto vs farre greater grace yet as to ayde vs to conquer and to destroy all those in our way that beléeue not on our holy Lawe for that is the chéefest entent of our Voyage Thus they deuised together the space of eight dayes without finding of any aduenture and so vppon an Euening Huon all alone stood leaning ouer the shippe board beholding the Sea the which was plaine and peaceable and then hee remembred the Duchesse Escleremond his Wife therewith the teares ran tenderly downe his visage and said Ah right noble Ladie when I remember what peril and daunger that I left you in and in what pouertie and miserie you bee in nowe I haue no ioynt nor member but that tremblesh for the displeasure that I am in and for feare least that the false Emperour cause you to die ere my returne then he beganne to make great sorrow and gréefe but Barnard who was not farre from him said Ah Sir you knowe well that in all the fortunes and aduentures that haue come vnto you God hath ayded you and saued you from the perill of death therefore take good comfort to your selfe and laud and praise our Lord God for that he sendeth vnto you and doubt not if you haue perfect hope and trust in him he will ayd and comfort you and he neuer forgetteth them that with good heart serue him Thus with such wordes Barnard comforted Huon and then the Admirall came and leaned down by Huon and they deuised together about diuers and sundrie matters The same time there arose vp a wind and Tempest so great and so horrible that the sayles were broken in diuers places and some Mastes brake and flew ouer the boards of the shippe the sea beganne to bee rough and furious so that euerie man thought to haue beene perished the fortune of this Tempest was so horrible as euerie man deuoutly called vpon our Lord God to saue them from the perill and daunger that they were in Sir quoth Huon I pray you to shewe mee what Countrey is yonder that I see before mée we were happie and fortunate if wee might arriue there and cast our anchors vnder the Rocke that I see there Sir quoth the Admirall wée bée arriued at an euill Port for wee bée néere to the Deserts of Abilaunt vppon yonder Mountaine that you sée is conuersant an enemie who hath caused many a ship and Vessell to be drowned in this Sea whereby wee bée all in great daunger to bee lost for none can approach to this Rocke but that he is strangled and slaine by the enemie that is there then euerie man was in great feare and the Admirall said vnto the Marriners Sirs I pray you if it may bee let vs drawe out of this quarter Sir quoth Huon mee thinkes you are too sore dismayed aâ—ashâ—d for by that Lord that made me to his semblance I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart vntill I knowe why that enemie causeth them to perish so fast this way I shall neuer rest vntill I haue spoken with him and if hee doe any thinge contrarie to my pleasure I shall strike off his head Huon quoth the Admirall I haue great maruaile of that you doe saye for if there were fiue Hundred such as you bée within one houre you should bée all dead and stangled Sir quoth Huon doubt not you that for though I should die in the quarrell I will goe sée him and knowe the cause why hée letteth or troubleth this passage before it be three dayes to an end I shal goe and speake with him what fortune soeuer commeth thereof Sir quoth the Admirall in you it is to doe your owne will for since it pleaseth you I must bee content but if you would beleeue mée you should not take vpon you that Voyage and Enterprize Sir quoth Huon all smiling I haue my hope and trust in almightie God who hath heeretofore saued me from death and so I hope he will doe yet for it is a common prouerbe sayd hee whome God will ayde and succour no man can hurt Sir quoth the Admirall I pray vnto our Lord God to defend you from all euill and to giue you the grace to returne againe in sauegard Sir quoth Huon I thanke you heartily Then Barnard arose vp and saide Deare Coozen I require you to let me goe with you and then the Admirall sayd Sir I desire you to bee content that I and Barnard may keepe you companie and wee shall haue with vs for the more sauegard of our persons foure Hundred hardy Knights Sir quoth Huon by Gods grace I will goe alone none shall goe with mee but my selfe and Iesus Christ and his blessed Mother in whose sauegard I commit my selfe When Barnard heard that hee had great sorrowe at his heart and so had the Admirall when they sawe that they could not turne Huon from his dangerous Voyage and Enterprize Then Huon armed himselfe and tooke leaue of the Admirall and of the other Lords and of Barnard who made great sorrow for his Coozen Huon who all alone would goe into the Deserts to seeke aduentures When Huon hadde taken his leaue hee was set a shoare and made the signe of a crosse vpon his breasâ— then hee mounted vppon the Mountaine but ere hee was the halfe way a great wind arose vppon the Sea so that the Tempest was great and horrible whereby the cordes and cables of the shippes with the Admirall burst asunder and so perforce they were â—ain to take the Sea and sayle at aduenture as wind and weather would serue them whereuppon they were cast out of that great Sea whereof the Admirall and Barnard and all the other Lordes had great feare and greatly complained for Huon who alone without companie was mounted vppon the Mountaine and as hee was going hee looked downe into the Sea and sawe the maruailous Tempest that was in the Sea so that of two Hundred ships that hee had left there with the Admirall he could then sée no more but two together for al the rest were seperated one from another in great perill and danger Then hée began pitifully to wéepe and complayne for his Wife the faire Escleremond whome he thought then neuer to sée more because hee was in that Desert and sawe the shippes driuen from the land in great feare of loosing Then he kneeled downe and held vp his handes vnto Heauen requiring our Lord God of his pitie and grace to ayd and to giue him comfort that hee might escape from thence aliue and to saue the shippes and to bring them againe in sauegard to the place from whence they departed Then
her Kéeper this Admirall was foule and great hee rather séemed a Féend of Hell then any humane creature and when he came vnto the Souldan euerie man made him way then hee sayd vnto the Souldan Sir I haue great maruaile of thée that thou art so affraid for a small number of men who are comming towards their deaths Sir know for troth that before you can order your men in battaile array I shall discomfite your enemies and deliuer vnto you the Admirall of Persia either quicke or dead When the Souldan had well heard and vnderstood the Admirall of Dorbrey hee sayd Sir Admirall I put all the conduct of mine hoast into your hands I haue great affiance in the vertue that is in you and in the strength of your armes the which are greatly to bée feared then the Souldan commanded all his hoast to set vppon their enemies and said Séeing the the Admirall of Dorbrey is with mee I feare no man of Persia nor of Media and so spurred his horse without making of any good order Chap. CXXVII ¶ Now speake wee of the great Battaile that was in the playnes of Rames betweene the Souldan of Babilon and the Admirall of Persia the which was discomfited by the Prowesse of Huon of Bourdeaux WHen Huon who led the first Battaile of the Persians beheld and saw how the Sarazins came on without any good order or conduct hee sounded his Trumpets exhorting his men to doe well and valiantly and commaunded his Constables and Marshals to march forward and so did the Admirall and his company and they ioyned néere one to another to the entent each of them to succour other When Huon sawe his enemies approach and that it was time to set vpon them he commaunded his Archers and Crosbowes to shoote and so they did that by reason of the shooting of both partes it séemed like a cloud that thereby and with the dust together it darkened the light of the Sunne and then Huon â—ouched his Speare and ranne at him that bare the Souldans Standard who was comming before all the other to cause his company to follow the faster Huon gaue him such a stroake with his Speare that he pierced him cleane through the bodie so that hee fell from his horse with the Standard whereof the Sarazins were sore abashed and displeased then they approached and came to rayse vp againe their banner but Huon and the Persians encountred them so fiercely that many were slaine on both parts he that had séen Huon howe he slew and beat downe the Paynims and Sarazins would haue said that hee was no mortall man but rather a man of the Fayrie for the great prowesse and maruailes that he did for he caused the Paynims whether they would or not to retire backe and to forsake the banner that lay vpon the earth for before he departed from thence hee slewe fiue Kinges and twoo Admirals Huon was so feared that there was none so hardy that durst approach néere to him aad also his Coozen Barnard was greatly to be feared and he euer followed Huon as néere as he could then there ioyned the Battailes of the Marshals and the Admirall of Persia set vppon the Souldans battaile and the Battaile began so great and horrible that a hundred yeares before were séen none such so valiantly did the Admirall of Persia and such as were in his companie When the Souldan sawe his menne so slaine he was right sorrowfull and sore displeased and sayde vnto the Admirall of Dorbrey I may well curse the day and time that I beléeued you for by you I haue lost my banner and I sée my men slayn for if I had ordered my battailes before this mischiefe had not hapned nor that which is apparant to fall and then the Souldan couched his Speare and strake therewith a Knight who was great Maister of the house of Persia in such wise that the Souldan ranne him cleane through and so he serued the second third and fourth and when his Speare was broken he drew out his Sworde and did therewith great dammage great crie and noyse was made when the battailes ioyned there might haue béene seen many horses running abroad in the field trayling their bridles after them and their maisters lyinge in the field amonge the horse féete and a horrible thinge it was to see and to heare the complaints and cries that the wounded men made among the horse féete hauing no power to relieue themselues but there died and finished their dayes miserably great crie made the Sarazins and Persians that fought together and especially whereas Huon fought and searched the Rankes and brake the great preasses he beat downe and confounded al that came before him so that none durst abide before him for by that time hee had slaine sixe of the Kinges and fiue Admirals beside many other so that the noise and crie came to the hearing of the Admirall of Dorbrey who did great distruction among the Persians so that it was an horrible thing to sée and behold and when hee heard how that there was a Knight that did great dammage and hurt among them and had slaine diuers Kinges and Admirals hee said vnto a Paynim who had brought vnto him those tidings and newes Goe thy way and shewe him vnto me that hath done vs so great damage Sir quoth the Paynim I shall shew him vnto you but I will approach to him no néerer then I am now you may sée him yonder how he fighteth and maketh our men to retire backe from him for there is none so hardy that dare approach néere vnto him Then the Giant beheld Huon and sawe howe hee made the Paynims to retire backe and then hee strake his Mare with his spurres and Huon who well perceiued and sawe him comming feared him howbeit he refused him not but came with his Sword in his hand then against the Sarazin and the Sarazin who bare a great hatchet vppon his necke sawe Huon comming and strake at him but as God would haue it he mist him for if the stroake had lighted vppon hâ—m he had béen slain the stroake alighted vppon the crooper of his Horse so that the horse fell downe dead and Huon vppon his backe and hee was not so soone relieued but that the Gyant tooke him by the armour and cast him before his Saddle as lightly as though it he had béen but a feather and so hee held and caried Huon with the one hand and fought with the other hand When Huon felt himselfe so taken he cryed and called vppon our Lord God and prayed him to haue pitie and compassion of Escleremond his Wife for hee sawe well that his life was determined The Gyant who was right ioyfull in that hee had taken Huon who had done the Sarazins so much dammage hee desired to finde the Souldan to make him a present of Huon so that with the hast that he made hee strake his Mare and shee began to leape and gambauld and beganne to runne
were they themselues The same time the Emperours Nephewe was slaine who was a goodly Knight and the Emperour had before sent him to Bourdeaux to gouerne the Land and Countrey of Burdeloys and he had ben there the space of foure yéeres of whose death the Lord of Vergier was sorrie for he had rather that he had béen taken Prisoner then they tooke his bodie and buried him in the chiefe Church of Tournous whereas they lay all night with their Prisoners who were to the number of eight Hundred they of Bourdeaux that were taken as Prisoners were right ioyfull when they were thus escaped from the handes of the Almaines After this discomfiture they returned to the Abbey of Cluny whereas they were receiued with great ioy of the Abbot and of the Couent then the Lord of Vergier shewed the whole discourse of their discomfiture and then the booties were deuided amongest them that had wonne and all the men of warre departed except a Thowsand men whome the Abbot retayned for the sauegard of the towne of Cluny who made many skirmishes with the Emperours menne And after this discomfiture the newes thereof was presently brought to the Citie of Mayence to the Emperour Tirrey who was right sorrowfull for the death of his Nephew who was his sisters sonne by reason of the sorrow and great displeasure that he had for hee was thrée dayes after before he would come foorth of his chamber and on the fourth day he sent for all his Lords and Councell and to them he made his complaints how by the occasion of Duke Huon of Bourdeaux he had lost foure of his Nephews and his Bastard sonne and said I ought greatly to be gréeued when I cannot bée reuenged of Huon I thinke hee shall neuer returne againe but séeing it is so that I can take no vengeance of him I shall take it vppon his Wife Escleremond and vppon the thrée Hundred Prisoners that I brought out of Burdeaux but by the same Lord that made and fourmed mee to his semblance I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart nor eate nor drinke vntill I haue seene Escleremond burnt in a fire and the thrée Hundred prisoners hanged and strangled and I wil that each of you knowe that he that speaketh to me first to the contrarie I shall hate him euer after When the Lords had well heard the Emperour make that promise there was none so hardy that durst speake one woord then the Emperour commaunded in hast great plentie of thornes to be caried out of the Citie vnto a little Mountaine there beside and there by to be reared vp certaine Gallowes to hange thereon the thrée Hundred Prisoners All this was done as hee commaunded for more then tenne Load of thornes were caried out to burne the noble Ladie Escleremond and she was sent for out of the prison by foure hangmen and the Prisoners with her were brought into the Citie and all to bée beaten by the way When the noble Ladie saw how shee was dealt withall shee pitiously complained for her good Husband Huon and for her Daughter Clariet and saide Ah my right swéet Lord and Husband Huon at this time shall bee the departure of vs two and then shee called vppon our Lord Iesus Christ praying him by his grace and pity to bring her soule into Paradice thus crying and complayning the noble Ladie was ledde through the Towne and then Ladies and Burgesses and Maidens of the Citie ranne to their windowes and dores and beheld the dolourous and pitifull companie leading towardes their deaths then they sayd a high Ah right noble Ladie where is become the great beautie that you were woont to bee of for now your Visage is pale and discoloured that was woont to be so faire and nowe so loathed and disfigured where is become your faire haires that nowe bee so blacke and rugged for the great pouertie that you haue endured Alas noble Ladie great pitie and compassion we haue to sée you in this estate if we could amend it thus as this Ladie was led through the Towne she was bemoned of them that sawe her the three Hundred Gentlemen were also led forth and the Emperour Tirrey and his Lords road after them for his desire was to see the noble Ladie burnt and the other Prisoners hanged hee made hast because of the sorrow that hee had for the death of his Nephewe and of his men who were newly slaine by the meanes of the Abbot of Cluny When they were yssued out of the Citie of Mayence Duke Hildebert a néere kinsman of the Emperours was comming into the Citie the same time that the Ladie was ledde foorth and hée sawe how rudely they dealt with the Ladie and when he sawe her he knew well that it was the faire Ladie Escleremond but when hee sawe her at that point the water was in his eyes and he sayd vnto them that ledde her Sirs go not too fast vntill I haue spoken with the Emperour the which they did gladly When the noble Ladie Escleremond had well heard and vnderstood the Duke shee had some little hope shee turned her eyes towards him sayd Ah right noble Prince haue pittie and compassion of mee for I haue done nothinge whereby I should deserue to die When the Duke had well vnderstood her he had such pitie that he could speake no word his heart was so full of sorrowe and then he road as fast as he might to méet with the Emperour and passed by the thrée hundred prisoners and had great pity and compassion of them and so he came vnto the Emperour all wéeping and said Ah right noble Emperour I require you in the honour of the passion of our Lord Iesus Christ haue pitie and compassion of this dolourous companie that are likely to die this day remember that it is nowe in the holy time of Lent wherefore I require you to respite their liues vntill it be past Easter and Sir humbly I require you for all the seruice that I and mine haue done vnto you graunt me but this request for my reward the which is both reasonable and iust great wronge you doe to reuenge your anger vppon this noble Ladie you haue chaced her out of her Countrey Landes and Signiories the which you hold in your handes and take the Reuenewes and profits thereof if you bee not sufficed with this I doubt that our Lord Iesus Christ will be sore displeased with you When the Emperour had well heard the Duke his Cozen hee stoode still and spake hastely and sayd Faire Coozen I haue well heard you and therefore I answeare you in briefe wordes how that if all the men that bee in mine Empire and all the Priestes and Friers were here and did preach vnto me a whole yeare desiring me to respite this Ladies death and the other that be with her I would doe nothing for all them and therefore speake no more to me in that matter for by the beard that hangeth vnder my chinne
your good husband Huon is come on this side of the Sea whome you shall sée within short time When the good Ladie had well vnderstood Gloriand shee had such ioy that of a great space she could speake no word shee was so rauished but at last she said Sir I ought greatly to loue you for bringing me such tidings and then they sayde vnto her Madame rest you héere a season vntill wee haue deliuered the other Prisoners whome we sée yonder leading toward their deaths and shortly we shall returne againe vnto you Therewith they departed from the Ladie and left her vpon her knées holding vp her handes vnto Heauen and deuoutly rendring thankes to our Lord Iesus Christ for the succor and aide that he had sent her Then Gloriand and Mallabron came to the Gallowes and there vnloozed the thrée Hundred Prisoners and sâ—ew diuers of them that were sent thether to doe execution whereof all they that were there present had great maruaile and did woonder thereat when they saw their company slaine and could not sée them that did it but they thought that there were a Thousand Knights by reason of the great brute and noyse that the two Knights of the Fayrie made whereof they had such feare that they fled away and ranne to the Emperour who was sore dismayed and abashed of that aduenture for it was also shewed vnto him that the Ladie was rescued and they could not tell by whom but they sayd that they heard a great brute and noyse then also the Emperour saw how the people came running towards him flying from the Gallowes and they shewed to him all that they had séen and heard wherof the Emperour and all his Lordes had great feare and were sore abashed Ah Sir quoth the Duke of Austrich it hadde beene better for you to haue beleeued Duke Hildebert your Coozen knowe surely that you haue greatly displeased our Lord Iesus Christ since that you would doe such cruell iustice in the holy time of Lent Thus after these two Knights of the Fayrie hadde rescued the good Ladie and the other Prisoners they tooke them and the Ladie and brought them vnto the Emperour and shewed themselues openly and when they were in the presence of the Emperour and the Prisoners with them and the Emperour saw that there were but twoo Knightes armed vppon horse-backe hee set little by them and said How are you so bolde and so hardy to deliuer and to take out of my mens handes those that are condemned to die by iustice and besides that you haue slaine many of my men and nowe bringe them into my presence whom I haue condemned to die wherefore I will that you well know that before I eat or drinke you and all they shal be hanged and the Ladie Escleremond burned nor I shall not depart from hence vntill I haue seen you all dye the death Then Gloriand and Mallabron lifted vp their visors and shewed their faces and they séemed vnto all them that sawe them that they neuer sawe before two so faire Knightes in all their liues Then Gloriand sayde vnto the Emperour Sir of you nor of your threatninges wee make thereof but little account but Sir knowe for troth that the noble King Oberon commandeth you by vs in as much as you feare your life that you bee not so hardy any further to doe any ill or iniurie nor commaund to bee done vnto this noble Ladie that is heere present nor to these other Prisoners vntill Easter day bee past And also Kinge Oberon commaundeth you that you doe keepe this Ladie in your house cloathed and apparelled and as well gouerned and to bee accompanied with Ladies and Damsels to serue her honourably as well as if she were your owne proper Daughter and that in like wise these Prisoners to be newly arrayed and ordered aswell as other Knights of your house and Sir we warne and charge you that in this that wee haue sayd that you do not the contrarie for any thing that may fall for if you do otherwise there is no mortall man shall saue your life thus the right noble Kinge Oberon commaundeth you to doe who is Soueraigne Lord and Gouernor of all the Realme of the Fayrie When the Emperour Tirrey had well heard these Knightes of the Fayrie thus speake vnto him and sawe howe they were armed with their Swordes in their handes taynted with the bloud of his Almaynes hee had great feare and beheld his Barons and sayde Sirs I pray you to giue me some good counsaile in this serious businesse wee haue well heard much speaking of King Oberon and of his great Acts and déeds wherefore I feare him much yée may wel sée what two of his knights haue done they haue rescued them that I haue condemned to die and slaine diuers of my men Also you heare what word he sendeth me by his two Knights that I should keepe this ladie and the other Prisoners honourably and that I should not be so hardy to put them to any danger vntill Easter be passed Then an ancient knight sayd Sir know for troth that King Oberon is puissant and wise for there is nothing in the world but that he knoweth it and also as often as hée list hee can bee whereas he will wish himselfe and with as great number of people as hee list and therefore Sir beléeue surely that if you doe otherwise then he hath commaunded you to doe these twoo knightes of his that be héere present haue puissance sufficient to destroy you and Kinge Oberon to sit still at home therefore Sir mine aduise is that you answeare these two knights that all that Kinge Oberon hath commaunded you to doe by them that you will doe it surely and then all the other Lordes gaue the Emperour the same counsaile When the Emperour had well heard and vnderstood his Lordes and Barons he turned him vnto the two Knightes of the Fayrie and said Sirs yée shall salute me to King Oberon and say that as for me I shall doe euerie thing as hee hath commaunded me to doe to the best of my power Sir Emperour quoth Gloriand if you will doe as you say the king will take you for his Fréend therevppon we commend you to God Thus the two knights departed so that the Emperour nor none other person knew not where they were become whereof euerie man had great maruaile and were sore abashed And thus Gloriand and Mallabron within a while came to the City of Momur whereas they found king Oberon to whome they shewed all that they had done Well quoth king Oberon as now the Lady Escleremond and the other Prisoners are at their ease and well serued but before a Moneth be passed they shall dearely abâ—y the ease that they bee in nowe for the Emperour hateth them so sore because of the malice that he beareth vnto Huon of Bourdeaux that he will set them all againe into Prison in great pouertie and miserie and when Easter is passed hee
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 haue before this time made vnto mee fealtie and homage I deliuer you quite into the handes of your right naturall Lord as you haue beene before time and I quit clearely your homages and fealties done vnto mée then they all thanked the Emperour of his good iustice and reason that hee had alwayes done vnto them in the season whiles they were vnder him the Emperour was right ioyfull that they so praised him before Duke Huon and then they came vnto Duke Huon and to the Duches Escleremond his Wife and to Clariet their Daughter and did vnto them their reuerence accordingly Thus they came vnto the Citie of Bourdeaux whereas they were ioyfully receceiued and a cloath of estate was borne before the Emperour vnder the which he road still holding Huon by the hand vntill they came vnto the Pallaice the stréets were strewed with gréene hearbs and rushes and hanged richly the windowes garnished with Ladies and Damsels Burgesses and Maydens melodiously singing whereof the Emperour was right ioyfull the Children running in the Stréetes and crying noel noel for the great ioy and mirth that they had of the comming of their Lord and Ladie When they were come vnto the Pallaice they alighted and went to their Chambers readie appointed for them if I should rehearse the ioyes and sports and solemnities that was made at the noble Citie of Bourdeaux it would bee too tedious and ouer-long to declare it for the feast and chéere was such that no man as then liuing had séen any such the which endured for the space of Eight dayes during the which time the Emperour declared vnto them of that Countrey the Peace that was made betwéen him and Duke Huon and how hee would deliuer all his Landes and Signiories into his handes and clearely acquit euerie man of their fealtie homage to him made whereof euerie man was ioyfull and vppon the Ninth daye that the Emperour should depart he called Duke Huon vnto him and sayd My right déere Fréend he that I loue best in this world if any warre or businesse happen to fall vnto you let mée haue knowledge thereof and I shall send you fortie Thousand men at armes and my selfe in person to come to ayde and succour you Sir quoth Huon of the courtesie that you offer mee I hartely thanke you and alwayes I shall repute my selfe as your true Seruant and faithfull Fréend Then the Emperor went to the Duchesse Escleremond and tooke his leaue of her and of the faire Ladie Clariet her Daughter and embraced and kissed them at his departing and so hee did all the other Ladies and Damsels and gaue euerie one of them some guift hee gaue rich guiftes vnto the Duchesse and to her Daughter and then he tooke his leaue and mounted vppon his Horse and so yssued out of the Citie of Bourdeaux and Duke Huon and the good abbot of Cluny conuayed him about twoo Leagues then they tooke their leaue of the Emperour and of his Lords and Knightes and returned vnto the noble Citie of Bourdeaux Then after that Huon had soiourned there about Eight dayes he road vnto Geronnill and to Blames and vnto all other townes and Castles where he was receiued with great ioy and mirth and set Officers in them then hee returned againe vnto the Citie of Bourdeaux to the Duchesse Escleremond his Wife and after that he had taried there about a Moneth Duke Huon deuised with his Wife in the presence of the good Abbot his Vncle and of Barnard his Coozen and sayd My right déere wife hee that remembreth not the goodnesse done vnto him may bee reputed as vngratefull I say it because you know well that King Oberon hath done vnto vs great good and hath deliuered vs out of many great perils of death and as you sawe but lately by the twoo Knightes that rescued you from the death and from the daunger that you were in and you knowe well that the last time that Kinge Oberon departed from Bourdeaux hee gaue mee all his Realme of the Fayrie and the puissance that he hath there and he made mée to promise him that after that Foure yeares were passed that I should come vnto him and that he would then put me in possession of his Realme and hée saide that if I failed my day hée would vtterly destroy me you know well what hath fallen vnto me before this by breaking of his Commaundement and therefore déere Lady and Wife it is necessarie that I goe vnto him and I shall leaue with you Barnard who shall haue the kéeping of my Landes and of you and as for my Daughter I will leaue her with the Abbot héere mine Vncle who I desire héere before you that hee will kéepe and gouerne my Daughter Clariet and with him I will leaue all my riches and precious stones that I brought with mée to the entent to marrie her so that it be to a man of great valour but I will not that shee bee maried vnto any person for riches but a person that is worthy and valiant I would should haue her for she hath and shall haue riches ynough for her selfe and for a man of great authoritie Faire Nephew quoth the Abbot your going shall be displeasing vnto me if I might amend it if God will no man liuinge shall haue your Daughter my Néece in marriage except hee bée a man of a high Parentage and garnished with vertues and good manners and as for your riches pearles and Iewels shee shall not néede to haue any thereof for I haue Treasure and riches ynough to marrie her nobly Chap. CXLI ¶ How Duke Huon deuised with the Duchesse his Wife of his departing and how shee sayd that she would goe with him And how hee left his Daughter and Land and Signiories in the keeping of his Vncle the good Abbot of Cluny and of Barnard his Coozen WHen the Duchesse Escleremond had well heard her Husband the Duke make his deuises to goe vnto Kinge Oberon you may well beléeue that she had great dolour and gréefe at her heart and then all wéeping shée kneeled downe before her Husband and said My right deare Lord and if God will you shall not goe on foote but that I will goe with you if you take any ill or annoyance I will haue my part and if you haue any good aduenture I will haue my part with you for your long absence hath béen right hard for mée to endure Faire Ladie quoth Huon I pray you to forbeare your going and abide héere with your Daughter for the Voyage shall bée sore for you to doe here I shall leaue Barnard my Coozen and mine Vncle the good Abbot and they shal be vnto you as Fathers Sir quoth she I shall haue many sorowes to abide héere without you I had rather to endure whatsoeuer God shall send vs together then to abide héere without your companye Thus yée haue heard héere before that for any excuse or reason that Huon could shew vnto the Duchesse
his Wife he could not turne her from her opinion but that shee woulde in any wise goe with him When Huon saw that he sayd My right déere Ladie since it is your pleasure to go with mée and to be content whatsoeuer God doth send vs either good or euill your companie pleaseth mée well and I am right ioyfull thereof When the good Abbot and Barnard had well heard and vnderstood the will and pleasure of Duke Huon and of the Duchesse Escleremond his Wife they were sore displeased therewith if they could in any wise haue letted them but they could not turne him for any thing that they could doe then Huon sayd vnto the good Abbot Faire Vncle I leaue with you my Landes Signiories and my Daughter vntill I returne againe the which shall bée as shortly as I may But of force now I am driuen to goe and take possession of the Realme that Kinge Oberon hath giuen to mée Therefore faire Vncle and Coozen Barnard vnto you I recommend my Daughter whome I loue entirely and all my Landes and Signiories I leaue all in your kéeping vntill my returne and with you mine Vncle I leaue all my precious stones and Treasure for the mariage of my Daughter whom I leaue in your kéeping Faire Nephew quoth the good Abbot séeing that it is your pleasure I shall kéepe her as well as though she were mine owne Child Good Vncle quoth Huon I pray you that the Griffens foote that I brought with me may bée sent vnto the young Kinge Lewis of Fraunce and salute him from mee and present it vnto him to doe therewith his pleasure Sir quoth the good Abbot before Easter bee come your Messuage shall bee done and that being done the young King was ioyfull thereof and caused it to bée hanged in his Pallaice and afterward by King Phillip it was hanged in the holy Chappell whereas it is vntill this day Now let vs leaue speaking of the Griffens foote and returne to our former matter Chap. CXLII ¶ How Huon tooke leaue of his Daughter and of the good Abbot his Vncle and of Barnard his Cozen and entred into the Riuer of Gerone and the Duchesse with him and of the strange Fortunes that they had WHen the good Abbot and Barnard had well vnderstood Huon and hadde heard his will and pleasure they answeared that as for his Lands and Signiories and for his Daughter hee should not need to care but they sayd that it greatly displeased them the Voyage that they were in minde to doe but since it was his plâ—asure so to doe it was reason that they should bee content and then hee ordained that Barnard shoulde make readie a little Ship apparelled and garnished with victuals and other things necessarie and that another great Shippe to be made readie at the mouth of the Sea to enter into it when they were out of the Riuer of Gerone the which thinge was done Then hee tooke sixe Knightes and a Dozen Seruants of his owne and when Huon saw euerie thing readie and had shewed his Enterprize vnto his men and to the men of his Countrey and that euery thing was readie fournished then hee tooke his Daughter in in his armes and kissed her more then Ten times and in like wise so did Escleremond her Mother and her heart was so closed with sorrow and gréefe that shee could speake no word for the departing from her Daughter you may well thinke that great was the sorrow there at their departing for he that had beene there and seene the dolour and pitifull complaints that the Ladie Clariet made for the departing of her Father and Mother with whome shee had not beene no long season there is not so hard a heâ—rt but that needs he must haue taken part of her sorrow for there was neuer séene so heauie a departing Then Huon all wéeping embraced the good Abbot his Vncle who gaue Huon at his departing a hollowed stoole the which afterward did good seruice vnto Huon and to Escleremond Also Huon tooke leaue of Barnard his Cozen then the Duchesse sayde vnto the Abbot and to Barnard Sirs vnto you twoo I due recommend my Daughter Thus Huon departed and they went to the Posterne and there they found readie their little Shippe and they entred into it and so made sayle downe along the Riuer of Gerone and when they came to the mouth of the Sea they tooke their great Shippe and so made sayle and had good wind so that shortly they were farre off from any land and were in the hye Sea for the space of Sixe dayes and vppon the Seauenth day a wind arose with such an horrible Tempest that they were driuen into the great Spanish Sea and were so far from any land that they wyst not where they were and euer the Tempest encreased in such wise that there was neuer none such seen nor heard of before the waues were like Mountaines and like to haue swallowed vp the ship so that sometime there entred into the Shippe a Tunne of water at once Chap. CXLIII ¶ How Huon lost all his men and the Ship brake in peecesâ— and how hee and the Duchesse saued themselues vpon a board and came and arriued at the Castle of the Monkes WHen Duke Huon of Bourdeaux and the Duchesse Escleremond his Wife sawe these great and suddaine tempests they were in great feare of death they greatly complained for their Daughter Clariet whome they had left at Bourdeaux Then Huon who had with him in his bagge Nine of his déere precious stones hée drew out two of them and knew the vertue and bountie of them and gaue his wife one of them and sayd My déere and louing Wife hold this stone in your hand and haue no feare for the vertue of the stone will not let you perish nor me neither he that had heard the cryes and lamentations that the Marriners made would haue had pittie and compassion of them for they saw well that they should all perish And Huon and Escleremond were vpon their knees sore weeping holding each other by the hande humbly praying to our Lord Iesus Christ to haue pittie and compassion of them and to bringe them vnto some Port in sauegard of their liues great and horrible was the Tempest and long endured so that the healme Maâ— and sayles burst all to péeces and when the Shippe was without a sterne to guide it the great waues entred into it so that the Shippe was full of water whereby it was constrayned to sinke into the Sea in such sort that it was all couered with water and all that were within were drowned and perished except Huon and Escleremond who satte together vpon a Table floating vpon the Sea so that by the grace of our Lord God and by the great bountie and vertue of the precious stones that were vppon them they were saued And when they saw their Shippe all to péeces and their men drowned and perished and themselues floating vppon the Sea
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
deliuered him to the King his Father then the king tooke him by the hand and led him foorth rudely and sayd howe hée would sette him in such a place out of the which hee should not come of a long space The Earle Peter of Aragon had great sorow but hee durst speake no word the king himselfe led him to the great Tower and there left him sore wéeping and making great sorrow for his Loue whom 〈◊〉 had lost he made such sorrow that pitie it was to heare when the night came and that hee remembred the Damsell his sorrowes beganne to renew And aswell as hee made sorrowe for his Loue the faire Damsell Clariet who was in the same Tower immured vp in prison thee heard the complaintes that Florence made and so long the hearkened that at last she thought that shee knew the voice and sayd Oh good Lord what may this bee who is this that I heare thus complaine mée thinkes I haue heard that voice before this time and mée thinkes it should be he that loued me so well I will not leaue searching vntill I may know the troth Then the Damsell came to the dore that was newly immured vp whereby the morter was not fully drie and shee scraped with her fingers and with a little knife that shee had so that at the last she scraped out a stone Then she assayed to pull out more and so much shee did with her fingers and the knife that shee made a great hole in the newe wall so that shee créeped out and went into the Garden the which ioyned to the Tower then shee felt by her a Roster vnder the which shee sate downe the Moone shone bright whereby the Garden was as light as though it had béen cléere day Then she tooke a faire Rose in her hand the which smelled swéetly and saide Ah good Lord I woulde that it were thy pleasure that my Louer were heere with me I thinke hee be not farre from hence I wish with him this swéet Rose so that hee knew that it came from mee I will not leaue searching vntill I haue found him and if I cannot find him in dolour and miserie I must end my dayes The same time that the Damsell complayned thus in the Garden Florence who was in the Tower and heard the faire Damsell in the Garden hee knâ—we her well by the voice and saide Oh good God what is it that I heare yonder in the Garden Déere Louer quoth the faire Ladie it is she whom you doe loue so well I am yssued out of the Tower wherein I haue béene in great miserie and I cannot tell what will fall thereof comfort mee or else I shall die héere in great sorrow When Florence heard the voice of his Loue he had such ioy at his heart that he forgat all his dolour when hee saw that shee was not dead then hee sayd vnto her Ah my right swéete Loue whether will you goe for if the King my Father know that you be escaped out of the Tower incontinent hee will slay you hee will haue no pitie of you and I cannot succour you Swéet Loue I pray you to gather me some flowers and cast them in at this window then I shall passe my dolours the better when I haue in my handes any thing that commeth out of yours Then the Damsell gathered Roses and flowers and did cast them in to her Louer whereof Florence had great ioy when hee had receiued them from her and kissed them oftentimes then hee came to the window thinking to haue taken his Loue by the hand but he could not the wall was so thicke whereof they were both sorrie The same time whiles they were thus deuising together the watchmen came about whome the King had sent thether to espie and knowe if Peter of Aragon did sende vnto those Prisoners any comfort or ayd and when they came thether they hearkened and heard the voices of those two persons heard well their words and wept for méere pitie of them then swéetly one watch-man called vnto them and sayde Holde your peace for if you be spyed you cannot escape the death I haue great pitie of you both I pray God to preserue you for I cannot comfort you Then they held their peace and so went asunder to the entent that they should not bee heard nor séene then there came thether two other watch-men sent thether by the King to sée if any bodie came to the Tower to aid or comfort the two Prisoners and when they were come néere to the Tower they sawe the newe made wall broken then they sayd each to other surely the Damsell is fled and hath broken out of prison then they cryed out and made a great crie and sayd the Damsell is fled out of the Tower When the Damsell being in the Garden heard the noyse that the Spies made shee was in great feare and doubt the which was no maruaile then incontinent as priuily as she could she went from the Tower and went to the end of the Garden whereas there was a hye Rocke and vnder the Rocke a great water and déepe shee did clime vppon the Rocke and sayd Ah Florence my déere Louer this day shall bee the departing of vs two it must behooue me to die for your sake shee sawe in the Garden a great number of Torches light and men séeking all about for her whereof she was afrayd and not without cause for shee knewe well that if she were taken she were lost for euer Right swéetly she called vppon our Lord God and on the holy Ghost for ayd and comfort and saide Alas if I be taken I cannot escape from the martirdome of death but since it is thus that we must néeds depart for euer I had rather bee drowned then be taken therewith shee made the signe of the crosse recommending her selfe to our Lord God therewith tumbled downe the Rocke to haue fallen downe into the water but as she fell she lighted in a great bush by the way whereby she was pricked in diuers places on her face and hands so that the bloud followed wherby shée felt such paine that she swounded Then the noyse ran through-out the Pallaice that the Damsell was escaped out of the Tower in such sort that the King was aduertised thereof who was sorrowfull and made promise that Earle Peter of Aragon should loose all his Lands and goods for he thought that by his meanes she was escaped the prison Cbap. CLVI ¶ Howe the first Watchman found out the Damsell and led her into a great wood there by and afterward the same Watchman deliuered Florence out of prison and shewed him the place where the Damsell was and how Florence and Clariet entred into the Sea and how the Kinge went after his Sonne and the VVatchman taken THus as the brute was in the Pallaice for the escaping of the Damsell the first Watch-man that first espyed the two Louers together went all about in
they concluded for the sauegard of the damsels bodie that this ancient Lady should beare to her the apparell of a man and that at the houre of midnight she should array her therewith and then shew her and let her goe out of the Pallaice and come to the stable whereas she shall find me readie with the best horse that her Father hath readie for her to leape vppon When the ancient Ladie vnderstood Sorbarre she was right ioyfull and thought his counsaile good and then she departed and made readie all the apparell belonging to a man then she came to the Damsell Ides Chamber and shewed her the conclusion that was taken betweene her and Sorbarre When the Damsell heard that she had great ioy at her heart and she clipped and kissed her the Ladie was glad when she saw her somwhat comforted and sayd Faire Ladie the Kinge your Father hath ordained a bath for you therefore goe thether and hath with other Damsels to the intent that the Kinge doe not suspect any thinge and when you haue bathed you a certaine space lette your bed be made readie and when you are in your Chamber goe to your bed and then commaund me and all the Damsels to goe and bath vs I shall kéepe them there so long a space that they shall haue good list to sleepe and I shall leaue heere by your bed-side all your mans apparell and array you therein and then guird this sword about you and put on your spurres and when you are out of the Pallaice goe to the Stables where you shall finde a horse readie for you Then they went into the bathing Chamber and shee in her smocke readie to goe into the bath and all the other Damsels were ioyfull when they saw her come thether for they thought she had been gone to sléepe because of the displeasure that shee hadde at her heart then they sayd one to another it seemeth that our Ladie is well appeased of her sorrow me thinkes to morrow she shall be Ladie and Quéene and she shall bee wife and Daughter to the King her Father the which is a thing vnreasonable then they came to her and bathed her feasted her as much as they might When the Ladie I de thought that it was time to depart she sayd to her Mistresse and to the other Damsels howe shee had bathed her ynough and that she would go into her Chamber to sleepe and bad all the other to go and bath them and that there should no moe goe with her but two of them to haue her to bed and she sayd to her Mistresse that she should goe and bring her with the Damsels the which thing they did ioyfully the damsell departed and went into her Chamber wrapped in a Mantle of scaâ—let When the two Damsels had brought her to bed they tooke leaue of her and departed and closed the dore after them and then they went and bathed them with others and when the Damsell I de felt her selfe all dry she rose and arrayed her in the mans apparell aswel as she could and tooke the sword and guirt it about her put on her spurres and then she went to a great low window on the Garden-side and there she leapt out into the Garden as priuily as she could and so went along by the wall side vntill she came to the Posterne then shee went out towards the Stable and when she came there shee found a horse readie in Sorbarres hand and at the pommell of the saddle a bagge full of bread and flesh two bottels of good wine Then the Damsell tooke the horse and without any word speaking shee leapt vp quickely then Sorbarre all wéeping saide My déere Daughter God bee thy guide and bring thée to sauegard goe thy way and kéepe the way vpon thy left hand and follow the Sea-side Sir quoth she for the goodnes you haue shewed me God reward you into whose sauegard I commend you thus departed this noble Ladie Ide to eschew and flye from the ill and dishonorable will of her Father and she entred into the Forrest kéeping no hye way and so she road thrée daies along the wood vntill she thought well that she was farre from her Countrey Nowe let vs lâ—aue speaking of her vntill wée haue occasion to returne to her againe and lette vs speake of King Florence her Father Chap. CLXVI ¶ Howe King Florence was sorrowfull when he was aduertised of his Daughters departing who was apparelled like a man and howe shee came into Almaine and howe shee found certaine Theeues in a Forrest and how shee came to Rome to the Emperour like a Squier YE haue heard here before in this Historie howe King Florence of Aragon would haue his owne Daughter the Damsell Ide in mariage against the will of al his Lords and people after that he had spoken with her and commanded the bath to be ordred for her to the intent that the next day to haue her in mariage The night approached and after Supper the King went to his bed and the next morning betimes tidings was brought to the King how the King of Nauarre was come to sée him the King went to méete him and made him great chéere so came together to the Pallaice and then incontinent it was shewed the King how his daughter was fledde away whereof the King was so sorrowfull and angrie that no man durst speake a word to him and hee went into his Daughters Chamber and there he found the Ladies and Damsels that had the kéeping of her the King would haue run vpon them if the King of Nauarre had not béene who letted him and blamed him much when hee knew the cause of her departing and what the King would haue done then came the Horse-kéeper to the King and sayd howe his good horse was stollen away the same night Then the King as a man desperate commaunded on all sides men to ride after her and whosoeuer could bringe his Daughter againe or else sure tidinges of her he promised to giue him a Thousand Florents of gold There were many that for loue of that monney road foorth to the number of thrée hundred they road diuers wayes but there was none of them that could bring any tidinges of her and so returned to the King who was sorowfull when he could heare nothing of her Great lamentations there was made in the Citie for the going away of the Damsell because of the feare that she had of her Father and road vpon the good horse in the day time shee would rest her in the woods and in the night shee would ride foorth Thus shee paâ—â—ed all the Prâ—uinces of Aragon and she passed into Lombardy of her iourneys and aduentures I will make no mention because she found nothing in the way to let her she road so long that shee approached to the Countrey of Almaine and when she came there her monney fayled her whereby she was constrained to sell her horse for
the goodlyest person of the world and the most worthy and hardy that euer was guirt with a sword or road on horse he maketh no semblance to doe that thinge which I haue so sore desired then she drew néere to Ide and touched her and Ide who knew well what her desire was turned toward her and wold hide himselfe no longer from her but all wéeping cryed her mercie and shewed her from the beginning to the ending the manner of all her aduenture and how that she was a woman and was fledde away because her Father would haue married her himselfe And when Oliue vnderstood Ide shee was right sorrowfull howbeit shee comforted Ide and sayd My right swéete Louer discomfort not your selfe for you shall not be accused by me neither to no man nor woman liuing we are wedded together and I will be good and true to you since you haue kept your selfe so truely with you I will vse my time passe my destiny since it is thus for I sée well that it is the pleasure of our Lord God Thus as Oliue and Ide were deuising together of their secrets a Page being in a Chamber that ioyned close to their Chamber heard well all their secret words and communication what each of them had sayd to the other then he in all hast went to the Emperour and shewed him all that he had heard betwéene the two Louers When the Emperour heard that he was right sorrowful and sayd Fellow beware what thou sayest looke that thy report bee true for if I finde it contrarie thou shalt die an ill death Sir if it bee not as I haue sayde and that I de be not a woman whom you take for a man strike off my head Then the Emperour made him to bee taken and kept to the intent to prooue the troth for he thought that matter strange to beleeue then hee called to him the Lordes of his priuie Counsaile and he shewed them the matter whereof they had much maruaile seeing the great vertue and hye Prowesse that was in Ide and they greatly complained of the matter and were sorrowfull then the Emperour who was right pensiue sware and made promise that if hee found the matter in that case hee would cause both his Daughter and Ide to bee burnt because of hyding of that strange case and sayd If I de hadde discouered the matter to me betimes my Daughter should neuer haue married her and the matter now kept close from me I shall neuer haue ioye at my heart vntill I knowe the troth Then hee commaunded a bath to bee made readie in his owne Chamber wherein he would haue Ide to bée bathed to the entent that he might know the troth before she escaped away for he sayd that he would not suffer no such falshood to bee vsed the bathing was made readie and I de was sent for who knewe nothing of that matter then the Emperour said to her I de doe off your cloathes for you shall bath you with mée When Ide heard the Emperour she was sore abashed and sayd Sir I pray you to forbeare it for this time because I haue not béene accustomed to be bathed then the Emperour sayd I wil not forbeare it because I will sée you naked for if I finde that true which hath béene shewed me both you and my Daughter shall be burnt When Ide heard that she saw that she was betrayed and lost then shee knéeled downe before the Emperour and cryed him mercie and required him to haue pitie of her and the Emperour in great hast sent for his Lordes who were in the Hall talking together and were sorrowfull for Ide whom they loued entirely so they came to the Emperour and found I de before him on her knées sore weeping in such sort that for pity of her they wept all then the Emperour shewed them all the déede wherefore ye must needs sée iustice to bee done vpon Ide who then by the Peeres and Lords of Roome was iudged to be burnt Then it was commaunded the fire to bee made readie to burne her the which was done and I de before the Emperor abyding her iudgement with her handes ioyned lifted vp towards Heauen making pitifull prayers to our Lord God and to the holy Ghost praying them to haue pitie of her soule and to receiue it into the holy Paradice for shee sawe well that the end of her life was come Chap. CLXX ¶ How our Lord God made great Miracles for Ide for God made her to chaunge from the nature of a woman and to become a perfect man whereof the Emperor and his Daughter Oliue had great ioy and so Ide and Oliue lay together and ingendred a faire Sonne named after Croissant And of the death of the Emperour THe same houre that I de was in her prayers there appeared sodenly in the Chamber a great cléere light and therewith a maruailous swéet odour that it séemed all the Chamber to bee full of essence spices Aromaticke then presently after they heard an Angel-like voice sent from our Lord God and sayd Thou Emperour of Rome our Lord God commaundeth thée by mée that thou be not so hardy as to touch Ide to doe her any hurt for our Lord God hath giuen her the grace for the goodnes that is in her he doth consent and will by his diuine puissance that she be changed in nature and to become a perfect man as all other be without any difference also God commandeth that the Page whom thou hast in prison that thou settest him at libertie for the which he shewed thée was of troth this morning I de was a woman but now shée is a man Also God commaundeth thée to make thy selfe readie for thou shalt liue here in the world but Eight daies longer therefore from hence foorth let Ide and Oliue thy Daughter haue the gouerning of thy Empire who before this yéere bee passed shall haue betwéene them a Sonne who shall be named Croissant who shall doe maruailes when hee commeth to age many aduentures and pouerties hee shall suffer in his youth but afterward he shall haue ioy and wealth ynough and with those words the Angell vanished away and left the Emperour and his Lordes and all the people of Rome in great ioy for the euident Miracle that our Lord God had sent by the prayer of Ide who with Oliue his Wife had great ioy and thanked our Lord God Then the Feast and triumph beganne againe at Rome that day passed and the night came and Ide and Oliue went to bedde together and tooke their sport in such wise that the same night was gotten and ingendred the faire Croissant whereby the ioy doubled in the City of Rome and the next day Ide came to the Pallaice with other Lordes And the Emperour was in his Chamber making of his Testament for he had not forgotten the wordes of the Angell so he liued Eight daies longer and on the Ninth day hee dyed and hee was borne into
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
and what they were determined to doe then he sayd to himselfe that surely he would aduertise Croissant of their malicious Enterprize to the intent that he should not be surprized then he departed as priuily as he could and so came to Croissant and shewed him how the Earles Sonne with Ten men were determined to murder him the very same night in his bed sléeping and how that each of them had a sharpe knife and he sayd Sir be readie armed to defend your life for they all haue sworne your death When Croissant vnderstood the Squier he waxed as red as a burning coale and sayd I cannot beleeue that such a treason should be in the courage of a noble man as to murder him that neuer did him trespasse Sir quoth the Squier you may doe as you please but except you finde a remedie you are but lost When Croissant heard that hee trembled for the displeasure that he was in and he thought within himselfe that he would not shew the matter to any person liuing but he sware that if any came to doe him displeasure with his Sword hee woulde cléeue his head to the braines Thus the matter rested vntill it was night so he went into the Hal among the other Lords and there he found the Earle who made him great chéere and Supper was readie then they satte downe of their seruice I make no rehearsall After they had supped diuers sports were shewed in the hall and when the houre requisite came euerie man went to bed the Earle Remon had prepared for Croissant a faire Chamber with a rich bed for him and a Couch for his Squier Then Croissant tooke leaue of the Earle and of the Damsel with whom he was enamoured then he came to his Chamber well accompanied with Knights Squiers within a while they tooke leaue of him then he was alone sauing onely his Squier whome he made to lye in the Couch shewed him nothing of that he thought to doe Then Croissant armed him at all péeces his helmet on his head his sheeld about his necke and his sword about him and so layd him downe in his bed and hid him with cloathes that his armour should not be séen by them that would come thether so there he lay as priuily as he could and then about midnight the Earles Son entred into the chamber al vnarmed with his sword in his hand and his ten companions with him each of them with a sharpe weapon in their hands then they approached to Croissants bed and the Earles Sonne lifted vp his Sword and strâ—ke Croissant such a stroake on the helmet that the sword swarned in his hand whereby he perceiued that hée was armed and that hée had warning of their comming whereof he was right sorrowfull then he recouered again another stroake thinking to haue â—â—aine Croissant but he could not his helmet was so good then the other Tenne strake at Croissant but they could doe him no hurt his armour was so good Then Croissant rose vp quickly as a hardy Knight with his sword in his hand When the Earles Sonne saw that he was neuer so afraid in all his life and thought to haue fled away but Croissant was before him and gaue him such a stroake on the head with his sword that he claue it to the chin and so he fell downe dead and the other had slaine Croissants Squier whereof hee was sorrie then hée ran at them like a man desperate and did so much that within a short space he had slaine Fiue of them and the other fledde away into another Chamber and durst not speake one word Chap. CLXXVIII ¶ Howe Croissant depated from Nise with his sword in his hand And howe the Earle Râ—mon was sorrowfull for the death of his Sonne and chased after Croissant but he could not bee found WHen Croissant saw himselfe so enterprized and that hée had slaine the Earles Sonne he was in great feare for hee knewe wel that if he were taken he should be in danger of his life therefore hastely he departed out of the Pallaice and when hee came to the Stable where his horse stood he found a great yron chaine before the dore to the 〈◊〉 that the horse should not bee taken out in the night time when he saw that he was sore discomforted and sayd Oh good Lord now by thy grace ayd me I ought well to be sorrie when I must leaue my horse Alas now I cannot tell how to 〈◊〉 mine armour certainely except God succour mee I sée no way how I can escape aliue Alas I thought to haue béene married to the Earles Daughter but now I am farre from it 〈◊〉 I haue slaine her Brother I was not minded to haue returned into my Countrey so soone vntill I had conquered some â—â—â—our and Landes whereby I might haue béene receiued honourably of them that did sette nothing by me then hee began sore to wéepe so he went through the towne as he might for he coulde not trauaile long in his armour but hee beheld a voide house in a corner of a streete hee went thether and vnarmed him of all his armour except his sword so he was in a white Iacket and then he rested not vntill hee came to the gate and called the Porter desired him to open the gate saying that he had businesse to doe a little without the Towne the Porter answeared stubbornely and sayd there rrquireth no hast hée might well abide for he sayd that hee would not open the gate vntill it was faire day Fréend quoth Croissant I pray thée shew me this courtesie the Porter answered him fiercely and sayd Thou doest but loose thy labour for the gate shall not be opened vntill the Sunne rise When Croissant saw that the Porter would not open the gate by faire meanes hee sette his hand to his sword and sayd Thou false Traitour except thou doest open the gate incontinent with my sword I shall slay thee When the Porter saw that Croissant held a naked sword in his hand to strike him he had great feare and he came forth in hast with the keyes in his hande and sayd Sir I shall open the gate with a good will howbeit he was so afraide that all his bodie trembled for feare then he came to the gate and opened the wicket and then Croissant yssued out vnarmed and hadde on but a Cloake ouer his Iacket and a sword about him and a little purse at his guirdle and therein Twentie Shillings in monney and no more Thus as yée haue heard Croissant yssued out of the Towne of Nise in Prouaunce and tooke the way towards Roome but before he had gone two Leagues the Fiue Traytours that fled from him and were hidden in a Chamber when they thought that Croissant was departed for they thought he would not tarie because hee had slaine the Earles Sonne then they went out of the Chamber making great brute and noise so that euerie
pay for the shot I will pay it all together without any strife then they sayd that they were well content therewith and thanked him then one of them the falsest Villayne among them wilfully cast downe a potte of wine vpon the Table whereof his fellowes blamed him then he answeared and sayd Sirs you néed not to be angry therewith for there is none of you will drinke thereof it is better to haue a fresh pot of wine of a new Vessell they sayd well that is true so be it Then their Host brought them a new pot full of wine and sayd Sirs this potte of wine is not of the first reckoning this is a potte of a newe account then the Maister Ruffian sayd to Croissant Sir take and cast the dice for the first cast shal be yours Croissant beheld them fiercely and sayd Nay Sirs I will kéepe mée from that for I neuer played at dice in all my life be content with the twelue shillings that I shall pay for our shot for by reason of the longe Voyage that I haue made I am not well fournished of monney for I haue but Thirtéen Shillings in my purse then the Maister sayd Thou art better arrayed then we and thou must vse thy tongue otherwise for thou shalt not thus scape thou shalt leaue thy Gowne to pay for our shot to morrow in the morning then another Ruffian sayd and I will haue his hose and shooes to morrow to buy fish for our dinner When Croissant heard the Villaynes he began to change colour and was sore displeased and sayd right fiercely Sirs leaue your clattering yet I haue xiij sÌ„ in my purse the which I wil giue you rather then you should be displeased me thinks this ought to suffice you and Sirs I am a noble man lately I was made Knight for if I were once againe in my Countrey I would neuer come from thence to séeke for such aduentures you ought to beare my honour since I shew you that I am a Knight the Ruffians sayd how his words nor his preaching should not auaile him but that he must leaue his gowne Iacket hose and shooes Then Croissant repleat with yre did off his surcot the which was furred with armins and cast it to them and sayd Sirs now you ought to be content with me and I ought to be quit When the Ruffians vnderstood him they cried all at once that he should put off his hose and shooes and his guirdle purse and Gowne and bad him quickely deliuer it to them and then to auoid the house for they sayd there was no lodging for him and the Host to please the Villaynes sayd how they sayd troth Then Croissant full of yre and displeasure turned his visage to the bench where his good Sword â—ay whereof hee was ioyfull that they had not taken it away then he stept thether and tooke it in his handes and drewe it out and came to the Villaynes and they rose against him with their swords in their hands he strake the Maister Ruffian so maruailous a stroake that he claue his head to the téeth so hee fell downe dead before the Chimney from another hee strake his head and then he slewe the Third and Fourth the other Two had so great feare that they fled away Then the Host began to crie a Théefe a Murderer but Croissant would doe him no hurt and hee yssued out of the house with his sword in his hand and ran as fast as he could vntill he was without the Subburbs then he ranne in the field ouer hedges and diches to the entent that none should follow him and he hearkened towards the Towne where hee heard great crying and noise of the Host of the house that he came from whereby all his neighbours Taylours Shoomakers Drapers and men of al crafts came to the house and there was such a noise made in the subburbs that the Towne gates were opened and the Burgesses yssued out and came to the house whereas the noise was and when the Magistrates of the Towne came thether and sawe the men lye dead they demaunded of the Host who had done that murder Sir quoth the Host a Vagabond hath done it who is bigge and mightie for I neuer sawe with mine eyes a man better made nor fourmed and he is fledde away with his sword in his hands on yonder hye way but Sir for God sake come not too néere him for hee séemeth no man when hee is angrie but hée is like a man out of his wittes without all feare and doubt Then the Magistrates commaunded to follow him both on horse-backe and afoote and they all ranne to armour though the Captaine were not greatly afraide yet hee would not bee the first that should go foorth he loued better that another shold take that aduantage Thus on all sides on horse-backe and afoote they followed Croissant who kept not the high way and it was far in the night and also there were many that would not chafe themselues ouer much to séeke for him for they wold make no preasse to receiue his offering because they feared to finde him and when they had sought a long space in the fields and in the high wayes and could not finde him they all returned to their Towne and Croissant went euer from the Town-ward with his sword naked in his hand and when hee sawe that he was two Leagues off he entred into the high way and praised God that hee was so escaped without daunger but hee was sore displeased in that he had neuer a penny in his purse and nothing but his Sword his Coat and a rich purse at his guirdle and also he sawe that it was Winter frost and snow also he felt the cold winde the which did him much ill Thus hee went foorth all night and the next day vntill it was néere night then he arriued at a Village and there he was faine to sell his sword for lacke of monney to pay for his shot he came to a Lodge where he was serued of euerie thing that he would haue then in the morning when he departed he sold his purse for as much as hee could get and hee trauailed so long that hee approached to Roome and hee came to a Lodging without the gate and there he lodged that night and in the morning he demaunded of his Host to whome that Towne appertained and who was lord thereof and what his name was that gouerned the Towne The Host sayd Fréend hee that nowe is Lord héere is named Guymart of Puille but before hee came hether we had a young Lord the fairest young Gentleman that euer was séene and he was Sonne to the noble Emperour Ide you somewhat resemble him but he was of so ill rule and so full of follies that all the riches and wealth that his Father had left him hée spent and gaue away to euerie man that would craue any thing of him so that in the end hee left
durst not weare it but sayd to himselfe that he had no right thereto because it was a thing that was none of his and so he went downe through the stréets of the Towne Chap. CLXXXII ¶ The proofe that the Emperor Guymart made to know Croissant vnto whome he gaue his faire Daughter in marriage and deliuered him all his Signiorie and Inheritance whereof great ioye was made at Rome WHen the Emperor was risen from dinner he called to him Foure of his seruants to whome he gaue in charge that they should cause to be proclaimed in euerie Stréete of the Towne that all poore men that would come to the Emperor should haue in almes euerie man a Florent of gould of the value of Ten Sons the which crie was made in euerie stréete and Market-place in Roome whereby euerie poore man drew towards the Pallaice When this crie was made Croissant heard it whereof he was ioyfull and said howe hee would goe thether among others to haue the Emperours almes wherewith hee thought hee would pay his Host and then in hast he went thether The Emperour who was there readie thought to sée prooue whether the two Knights sayings were true or not so drew out of his purse the Three Besans of gould the which he did cast in diuers places in the way as the poore men should come to the Pallaice but many poore men passed ouer them and perceiued them not then Croissant came among others and he saw among the mens féet one Besan of gould faire and bright and he stouped downe and tooke it vp and then he went forth within a little while after he found the second Besan the which also he tooke vp and a little further among the mens feete hée espyed the Third Besan the which also hee tooke vp then hee thought within himselfe and sayd Alas what a Caitiffe am I if these had béene siluer they had béen mine but they are fine gould wherefore I am beguiled for they appertaine to the Emperour Guymart who holdeth this Empire I haue no right to kéepe them because they belong not to mee therefore I will render them to the Emperour vnto whome they doe appertaine then hee came to the Emperour sayd Sir I haue found by the way as I came to your Pallaice thrée Besans of gould the which here I deliuer to you for of right and reason they appertaine vnto you bicause of the right and title that you haue to the Empire but if they hadde béene siluer I might haue kept them as mine owne without blame When the right noble Emperour vnderstood him he beheld him and sighing he sayd Fréend you are welcome the bountie noblenesse and wisedome that is in you shall ayd you to come to the place wherof in reason you ought to be for the goodnesse and troth that I haue séene in you I will giue you my déere Daughter in Marriage whome I loue entirely and you shall take her to your Wife and therewith I shal yéeld you the Crowne Emperiall of the noble Empire of Rome the which of right appertaineth to you When the noble Croissant had wel heard and vnderstood the Emperor he was right ioyfull and kneeled downe to the earth in the presence of all the Lords that were there present thanking him of the honour that he offered him The Emperour who was a noble and a wise Prince tooke him vp by the hand and led him into a Chamber wherin hee caused a bathing to be prepared in the which the noble Croissant was bathed and then the Emperour brought him such apparell as was méete for him to haue When Croissant was thus richly apparelled a fairer nor a better fourmed man could not be found in Eightéene Realmes christened whereof the Emperour Guymart had great ioy and sayd how that in all his life he neuer saw a more goodlyer Prince for he was great among other men and well fournished of all his members he was bigge and large in the shoulders and the skinne white mingled with red his haire like golden wyre and his face straight with a large forehead his eyes gray and his nose well made long armes and bigge handes his Legs faire and straight and his féete well proportioned and made the Emperour Guymart could not bee satisfied with the regarding of him and then hee led him into the Pallaice where his Lordes were who greatly lauded and praised him and sayd each to other how that they had neuer séene before so goodly a Prince nor better made nor fourmed of his members Then the Emperour sent for his Daughter by two great Lordes and they went to her Chamber for her then she came to the Pallaice to the Emperour her Father richly accompanied with Ladies Damsels Of their apparell I will make no long rehearsall for it was as rich as might be and she was so faire that God and nature could not amend her nor no Painter in the world though he were neuer so skilfull could not paint the fashion nor proportion of her beautifull bodie and all that were there present both young and old sayd that they neuer sawe nor heard report of so faire a couple of Creatures as the noble Croissant and this Ladie were for euerie man thought that they were made for nothing else but to cause men to behould them and their beautie Chap. CLXXXIII ¶ Howe the Emperour Guymart promised Croissant that within three dayes he should haue his Daughter in mariage And how the Emperour Guymart led Croissant to the olde Pallaice and shewed him the great Treasure that the two Knightes kept for him WHen the Emperour Guymart sawe his Daughter come hee tooke her by the hand and sayd My right déere Daughter I haue found for you a Husband to whome I haue giuen you and you may well say that a fairer man nor a hardyer Knight you neuer sawe before and that is the noble Croissant vnto whom this Empire appertaineth by rightfull enheritance and he is Son to the noble Emperour Ide who hath giuen this Empire to his Son Croissant but when he was of no great age he departed from this Cittie with a small companie and went to serue in strang countreys and when the Lords of this countrey saw that they were without a Lord they sent for me into Puille and so they made mee héere Emperour wrongfully and without reason but nowe since that Croissant the rightfull Inheritour is returned for to discharge my soule towards God I shall put into his hands al his Empire without kéeping from him any part thereof for as for me I am rich and puissant ynough and therefore Croissant if it be your pleasure you shall haue my Daughter in mariage Sir quoth Croissant if it be her pleasure I will not refuse her for I neuer sawe a fairer nor none that I had rather to haue When the faire Damsell vnderstood Croissant shee was right ioyfull and she beheld Croissant who séemed to her so faire that her loue was