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
gaue as yet any good counsaile My Lord quoth the Duke I knew wel the long absence of Duke Seuins Sonnes was for none other cause but by reason of their youth When Earle Amerie heard the King speake and sawe beside howe hée was offended against him hée was sorrowfull and so departed secretly from the Court and sware that he would prouide for the two Sonnes of Duke Seuin such a traine as should cost both their liues and hazard the heauinesse and trouble of all Fraunce beside So hee went to his lodging sorrowfull and in great displeasure and then he imagined and studied on the matter and how to bring about his Enterprize then he departed from his lodging and went vnto Charlot the Kinges Son with whome he was right priuie hée found him sitting on a rich bed communing with a young Knight then Amerie shewing a verie sad countenance the teares in his eyes and trecherie in his heart knéeling downe before Charlot who had of him great pitie to sée him in that case the Prince tooke him vp and demaunded wherefore he made that sorrow and whether any man had displeased him My Lord quoth Amerie my gréefe is not without great cause for the two Sonnes of Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux shall come to the Court and as I haue heard say the King hath promised that at their comming they shall bée made of his priuie councell so that none other about the King but they shall haue any honour or reckoning made of them And assure your selfe my Lord that if the State be thus aduaunced they that now are greatest about his Maiestie shall then scarce haue a looke or any countenance at all So that within short while the best partes in your Fathers Kingdome will they be Lords of and you your selfe if you suffer this will hold no grace or fauour with the Emperour Therefore my Lord I require you to helpe me now in this businesse for in time past Duke Seuin their Father by great wrong and treason tooke from me a strong Castle of mine owne and I neuer dyd him displeasure therefore you ought to ayd me in this serious matter for I am of your linage deriued of the Noble Quéene your Mother When Charlot had well vnderstood Earle Amerie hée demaunded in what manner he might ayd him Sir quoth he I will shew you I shall assemble the best of my linage and you shall let me haue of yours thréescore Knights well armed and I shall lye in the way to méete with the two Boyes and I shall lay the ambushment in a little wood a league from Montleherry on the way to Orleance by the which way they must néeds come there we shall set on them and slay them so that none shall dare to speake thereof and if it be knowne after who dare speake against you or weare any healme in féeld against you Sir quoth Charlot qualifie and appease your sorow for I shall neuer haue ioy in my heart vntill I be reuenged of those two Boyes goe and make readie your men and I shall prepare mine and I will goe my selfe with you the sooner to make an end of this businesse When Amerie heard Charlot so liberally to offer himselfe to goe in his ayd he thanked him and embraced his Leg and Sicophant-like would haue kissed his Shooe but Charlot would not suffer him but tooke him vp and said Sir hast you and now be diligent that this businesse may come to a good end Amerie departed from Charlot right ioyfull and at the day appointed he ceased not day nor night to assemble his men and his néerest fréends and in the Euening before he came to Charlot who was as then also readie with his men and as secretly as they might they departed about the houre of midnight out of Paris all armed and they stayed not vntill they came to the place appointed to tarie the comming of the two Sonnes of Duke Seuin Now I will leaue to speake of them and returne to the twoo Sonnes of Duke Seuin Huon and Gerardin Chap. VI. ¶ How the two Sonnes of Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux tooke leaue of the Duchesse their Mother and howe in their way they ouer-tooke the good Abbot of Cluny their Vncle going towards Paris to the Emperour Charlemaine YOu haue heard here before how the Kings Messengers departed frō Bourdeaux then the two Sons made them readie to goe to the Court richly apparelled and well fournished of euerie thing néedfull aswell of gold and siluer and other apparell of silke as to their state appertained then there assembled the Barons of the Countrey to whom they recommended their Lands and Signiories and did choose out ten Knights and foure Councellors to ride with them to aid and to gouerne their businesse Then they sent for the prouost of Gerone called Sir Guyre to whom they recommended all the affaires of Iustice Then when Huon and his Brother had chosen them that should goe in their companie they tooke their leaue of the Duchesse their Mother and of the Barons of the Countrey who sore did wéepe bycause of their departure for the which they had good occasion so to do and more if they had knowne the haplesse aduenture that afterward befell them on the way Or had the good Duchesse but dreamed thereof shee would neuer haue suffered them to departe from her for after there fell such mischéefe that it is a lamentable thing to recount it Thus the twoo Brethren departed and kissed their Mother sore wéeping Then they tooke their Horses and their companie and in passing by the Stréets of the Towne the people made great sorrow for their departing and sore wéeping prayed to God to be their guide and conduct The wéepings and lamentations were so extreame that the twoo Brethren could not haue so firme courage but that they gaue many a sore sigh at the departing out of the Towne and when they had ridden a certaine space and that their sorrow was somewhat appeased then Huon called his Brother Gerard sayd Brother we go to the Court to serue the King wherefore wee haue cause to be ioyfull therefore let vs twoo sing a song to refresh vs. Brother quoth Gerard my heart is not very ioyfull to sing or make any sport at all for this night I dreamed a maruailous dreame mée thought thrée Leopardes assayled mée and drewe my heart out of my bodie but me thought you esaped safe and sound and returned backe Wherefore deare Brother if so it be your pleasure to withstand my dreame which makes me dread our iourney to be dangerous might I preuaile with you we would ride backe againe to Bourdeaux to our Mother who will bée ioyfull of our returne Brother quoth Huon and God will we shall not returne for feare of a dreame it should be foreuer to our reproach and shame I will not returne to Bourdeaux vntill I haue séene the King Therefore swéet Brother dismay you not but rather make good chéere our Lord Iesus
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
bagge a rich stone the which was of such vertue that whosoeuer did beare it about him could not bee ouercome with his enemie nor coulde not be drowned nor burnt the stone had such great vertue that none could esteeme the value thereof and besides that it cast such clearnesse in the Chappell that the Emperour was abashed thereat nor hee knewe not from whence that light should come Then hee beheld Huon and Huon did holde the stone in his hande and shewed it vnto the Emperour and when the Emperour sawe the rich stone he greatly desired to haue it and aduaunced himselfe and tooke it out of the Pilgrimes hand who presented it vnto him When the Emperour had the stone in his hand he had great ioy at his heart for he was cunning in the descrying of stones and sware to himselfe that the Pilgrim should neuer haue it againe for any thing that he could doe but he thought within himselfe that if he would sell it hee would giue him as much gould and siluer as hée could reasonably demaund or else he thought to kéepe it still whatsoeuer fell thereof and then the Emperour sayde vnto Huon Pilgrim I pray thee to shewe vnto mee where thou hast gotten this rich and bountifull stone Sir quoth Huon I haue brought it from beyond the Sea Fréend quoth the Emperour wilt thou sell it and I shall giue thée for it whatsoeuer thou wilt haue and to bee in the more suertie to beare away my guift that I will giue thee for it I shall cause thée to bee conducted into thine owne Countrey wheresoeuer it bee Sir quoth Huon I will giue it vnto you with a good heart so that it bee true that mine Host hath shewed vnto mee this day for he hath shewed vnto me that your custome is that the first person Pilgrim that commeth vnto you vppon this day being good Friday should haue of you a guift such as hee would demaund after that you haue made your prayers to our Lord God Pilgrim quoth the Emperour he that shewed thée that sayd that which is true and therefore whatsoeuer thou demaundest either Borough Towne or Citie or what thing soeuer it be I promise faithfully to giue thée whosoeuer bee displeased therewith I graunt it to thée therefore demaund whatsoeuer thou wilt Sir quoth Huon of your grace and faire guift I most hartely thanke you therefore Sir with a good heart I giue you that stone the which I deliuered vnto you but euen now in the recompence of the courtesie and guift that you haue graunted vnto mée the which shall be neither gould nor siluer and Sir because I know certainely that the renowme is ouer all the world that you are a iust and a true noble man and that which you promise you will vphold and kéepe and neuer swarue from your promise and because that I know surely that the promise that you haue made vnto mee you will vphold of whatsoeuer guift I desire to haue Fréend quoth the Emperour I will that you well knowe that if you demaund foure of my best Cities I shall giue you them séeing I haue made that promise and if God bee pleased I shall not goe from my promise for I had rather that one of my handes were cut off then I should be found false in my wordes and therefore demaund and surely you shall haue your demand without any deniall Sir quoth Huon I hartely thanke you and would haue kissed his féete but the Emperor would not suffer him but tooke him vp Sir quoth Huon first and before all other thinges I desire of you pardon of all the ill déedes and trespasses that I or my men haue done against you and if you haue in your Prison either men or women appertaining vnto mee or of my lineage that you will deliuer them all vnto mee and also if you haue any thing of mine either Towne or Citie Borough or Castle I require you by the promise that you haue made vnto mee to render them vnto me quite Sir any other thinge I demaund not Pilgrim quoth the Emperour make no doubt to haue that which I haue promised vnto you therefore I graunt all your desire but I require you humbly to shew vnto mee what man you bée and of what Countrey and of what Lineage seeing you haue desired of me such a guift Sir quoth Huon I am hee that sometime was Duke of Bourdeaux whome you haue so much hated I come now from beyond the Sea whereas I haue endured much paine and pouertie I thanke our Lord Iesus Christ that I haue done so much that I am nowe agreed with you and I shall haue againe the Duchesse Escleremond my louing Wife and my men and my Landes and Signiories if you will bee as good as your word and vphold your promise When the Emperour had well heard and vnderstood Huon all his bloud beganne to change and hee was a great space before he spake any word hee was so sore abashed but at the last hee sayd Ah Huon are you hee by whome I haue suffered so many illes and dammages and haue slaine so many of my Nephewes and other of my men I would not haue thought that you would haue beene so hardy to haue shewed your selfe before mée nor to haue come into my presence you haue well ouercome me and enchaunted mee I had rather haue lost foure of my best Cities yea and all my Countrey burnt and destroyed and my selfe banished out of mine owne Countrey for thrée yeares rather then you should haue thus come to my presence but séeing that it is thus knowe for troth that which I haue promised vnto you I shall vphold and keepe and from hencefoorth in the honour of the passion of our Lord Iesus Christ and of this good day vppon the which hee was crucified and put to death I pardon you all mine ill will and good will I shall not bee periured your Wife your Landes and Signiories and your men I shall render them into your hands speake thereof who liste otherwise it shall not bee nor I will neuer doe the contrarie Then Huon knéeled downe before the Emperour and right humbly thanked him and desired him to forgiue him all his trespasses Huon quoth the Emperour God forgiue thée and as for me with a good heart I doe pardon you Then the Emperour tooke Huon by the hande and tooke him vp and kissed him verie kindlye in token of good peace and amitie Sir quoth Huon great grace haue I found in you séeing you kéepe and vphold your promise but Sir if it please our Lord God your guerdon shall be double Huon quoth the Emperour I require you to shew me of your newes and aduentures that you haue had since you departed from the Citie of Bourdeaux Sir quoth Huon with a good will after that your diuine Seruice is done and the passion of our Lord Iesus Christ read Huon quoth the Emperour I giue you good thankes for that you say Then
the Emperor tooke Huon by the hand and led him into his Oratorie with him whereas they heard the diuine Seruice whereof many Knightes and Lordes were sore abashed and had great maruaile what Pilgrim it was that the Emperour did so much honour vnto After that the diuine Seruice was done the Emperor returned into his Pallaice holding Huon by the hande and dinner was made radie and they washed their handes and sat downe to dinner and when dinner was done and the Tables taken vp then in the Emperours presence and of all the other Lordes there Huon shewed all his aduentures First hee shewed howe hee had passed the Gulfe and spoken with Iudas and afterward howe by fortune of the Sea he arriued at the Castle of the Adamant and how his Companie dyed there by famine and declared the beautie of the Castle and of the great riches therein and afterward how hee was caried from thence by a Griffen to a great Rocke and how he slew fiue young Griffens and the old Griffen that brought him thether whereof he hath left at Cluny the foote of the same then he shewed of the Fountaine and of the Trée of youth and howe hee gathered thereof thrée faire Apples and more hee would haue gathered but that our Lord God commaunded him by his Angell that he should not be so hardy as to gather any more And after that he shewed howe that he passed the Gulfe of Persia in â—reat perrill and daunger and sayd furthermore Sir when I was passed that Gulfe I gathered many precious stones that which I haue giuen you was one of them the which stone is of great vertue and then I came to the great Citie of Thauris in Persia whereas I found a noble Admirall an old auncient Knight and he shewed to me great courtesies and I gaue him one of mine Apples to eat and assoone as hee had eaten thereof he became to be as young as he was when he was but of Thirtie yeares of age and I thinke that from thence hether cannot be found a fairer Prince and hee was before of Six-score and Seauen yeares of age and Sir because I desire with all my heart to haue your good grace and that good peace and firme may bee had betwéene you and mee I will giue you the third Apple the which I kept for my selfe by the which if you doe eat it you shall become againe as young and as lusty and as stronge as you were when you were but of the age of Thirtie yeares The Emperour when hee heard that the Apple that Huon would giue him to eat should cause him to returne to his yong age againe hee was so ioyfull that hee neuer made such chéere before in all his life to any man as he did then vnto Huon and sayde howe that hee would bee his Fréend for euer and neuer faile him and sayd Fréend I abandon my bodie and goods at your pleasure and I giue you two good Cities to encrease your Signiorie and besides that I promise you if you haue any businesse to doe I shall succour you with fortie Thousand men and shall ayde you as the Father should doe the Sonne Therewith Huon would haue kneeled downe to haue thanked the Emperour but hee would not suffer him and then Huon tooke the Apple out of his bagge and deliuered it vnto the Emperour the Emperour who was sore desirous to knowe if hee should waxe young againe by reason of eating of the Apple he called vnto him his Lordes and Barons to the entent that they should sée that maruaile and when the Emperour had the Apple in his hand hee put it into his mouth and did eate it euerie whit and as hee was eating thereof his age chaunged into youth and by that time hee had eaten all the Apple his white beard fell off and the skinne chaunged like a man of Thirtie yeares of age and also his face and all his bodie that before was all wrinkled and rugged and pale became then as white and as ruddy and felt himselfe as light and as fresh and aâ— quicke to doe any thing and as strong as he was when he was of the age of Thirtie yeares whereof all that were there present had great maruaile and were right ioyfull of that aduenture that was fallen vnto the Emperour whome they loued then they sayd Sir such a guift was neuer giuen to any Emperour or King well you ought to praise our Lord God whatsoeuer losse you haue hadde or receiued that euer you were acquainted with Duke Huon Chap. CXXXIX ¶ Howe the Emperour made good cheere vnto Duke Huon of Bourdeaux WHen the Emperour saw himselfe waxe young againe he was so ioyfull that hee wist not what to doe then hee clipped and kissed Huon more then Ten times saying My right deare Fréend I pray you to forgiue mée all the illes and dammages that I haue done vnto you and for the paine and sorrow that I haue caused your noble Wife and men to suffer then the Emperour called vnto him two of his Lordes and sayd vnto them Sirs I will that all the poore people that be in my Chappell this day bee newly apparelled and to haue meat and drinke sufficient for the loue of the passion of our Lord Iesus Christ who this day hath done mee that grace that I am returned from age to youth Sir quoth they your commaundement shall bee done then they went and executed his pleasure Then Duke Huon approached vnto the Emperour and sayd Sir I humbly desire your grace to deliuer my Wife Escleremond and my men out of Prison Sir quoth the Emperour it is good reason that I doe it then he sent for the Iaylour who had the Ladie and the other Prisoners in his kéeping and commaunded him that the Ladie Escleremond and the other Prisoners should bee brought into the Hall the Iaylour went to the Prison and Huon with him and when they came thether Huon went to the dore and cryed out aloud and sayd Ah my right swéete Sister I beléeue that you haue béen but ill lodged héere I haue great feare that by reason of the paines that you haue endured you cannot long continue certainly if you die I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart When the Duchesse Escleremond hadde well heard the voice of him that spake at the dore shée stood still and studied what voice it might bee for shée thought within her selfe that she had heard that voice before that time and when she had muzed a little while she thought that it should be the voice of Huon her Husband whereof she had such ioy and mirth at her heart that of a great season shee could not speake but fell in a swound in the Prison and when shee reuiued and came againe to her selfe shee cryed out and sayde Ah my right deare Lord and Husband long haue you left me in paine and miserie all alone in this stinking and horrible Prison in the hands of them that loue you
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
Peter answeared and sayd Sir beware blame her no more bee content with that you haue done alreadie it may be that the Damsell is of as hy a Lineage as your Sonne wherefore such time may come that you may be déerely rewarded peraduenture the Damsell was stollen away by some ill Tyrant shee hath béen ill entertained with you when you would so cruelly haue slaine her Cozen quoth the Kinge the matter is ill come to passe for her sake you haue slaine many of my men the which I pardon you but as for the Damsell I will set her in prison in a Tower out of the which she shall not depart and I will shew my Sonne that shee is drowned in the Sea and I will kéepe her in prison till my Sonne hath forgotten her or else hath taken another wife then I will deliuer her and send her into some other Countrey whereas she shal be better entertained When the Earle Peter heard the King say so he agréed to his saying and thought that aduise to bee good and was content with that he had saued her life then the King opened the chamber dore and so came into the Pallaice then he sent for the damsell and then shee was set in prison in a Tower and the Kinge commaunded to a secret Seruant that hee shoulde sée that the Damsell should want nothtng for her liuing and charged him vppon paine of his life to kéepe the matter secret and hee charged all those that knewe thereof in any wise to shewe Florence his Sonne nothinge of her Then hee closed vp the dore with stone to the entent that shee shoulde not yssue out and left nothing open but a little windowe towards the Towne of Courtoys wherein her meate was put other windowes there were opening vppon the fields the which gaue great ligght into the house Thus the faire Ladie Clariet was closed vp into the Tower whereas shee hadde good leasure to wéepe and wayle Now let vs leaue speaking of the Ladie and speake of Florence who was in the Battaile Chap. CLIIII ¶ How Florence discomfited his enemies and tooke the King of Nauarre and led him into the Towne and deliuered him to the King his Father and howe Florence deliuered him againe quit because that his Father shewed vnto him that the faire Damsell was drowned YE haue well heard heere before how the Earle Peter of Aragon departed from Florence and returned into the Citie for he could not cause Florence to leaue the battaile whereas hee did maruailes for the loue of the faire Ladie Clariet whome he trusted to wed hee slew so many of his enemies that the fields were couered with the dead bodies When the king of Nauarre his Vncle sawe that hee was right sorrowfull to see his men so slaine then hee came against Florence his Nephewe and sayd Ah thou vnkind Nephewe cursed bee you I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart as long as I see thee aliue thou hast done me this day great dammage I had rather dye an ill death then not to be reuenged of thée wherefore I require thee to Iust with me I challeng thy Land the which shal be mine thou shalt neuer be Lord thereof Florence answeared and sayd I shall not refuse the Iustes then hee put vp his sword and tooke a great speare and so ran against the king his Vncle and the king came against him and they met together so rudely that the Kinges Speare brake all to péeces but Florence Speare was bigge wherewith he strake the kinge so rudely that hee fell to the earth with his feete vpward and he fell so sodenly that he lay in a traunce and before hee could bee recouered Florence tooke him by the ventale of his helmet and sayd Nauarre before I sleepe I shal deliuer you Prisoner into the handes of a faire Damsell whome I loue entirely for in all the world there is none like her in beautie if you refuse thus to doe with my Sworde I shall incontinent strike off your head from the shoulders the king sayd hee was content to fulfill his pleasure and to yéeld himselfe Prisoner Then Florence tooke his Sworde from him and made him to mount vppon his horse and to ride before him towardes the Towne and deliuered him to the keeping of Tenne knightes and Florence road after with his sword in his hand all bloudie the crie and noyse beganne to bee great among the Nauarnes they enforced them on all parts to haue rescued their king but they coulde not come in time for by that time Florence was within the gates of the Citie whereas hee was right ioyfully receiued When the Nauarnes sawe howe they lost their labour and how their king was entred into the Citie they were right sorrowfull and came before the Barriers and skirmished and wan but little and so returned with small profit and sorrowfull for the losse that they had receiued that day for the fieldes were couered with dead men Thus they returned to their Tents and Pauillions and the Aragons entred into the Citie of Courtoys with great ioy and when they were in the Citie then Florence tooke the king of Nauarre his Vncle by the hand and led him to the Pallaice and there alighted and went into the Hall whereas he found king Garyn his Father who hadde great ioy of his comming When he saw his Sonne Florence bring his enemie Prisoner he embraced his Sonne and sayd My right déere Sonne I am right ioyfull of your comming Father quoth Florence I haue done so much by the ayd of our Lord Iesus Christ that I haue taken your enemie Prisoner whom I render into your handes to do with him at your pleasure Nowe I will that you kéepe your promise with mée séeing I haue quit mine now it is time that you deliuer vnto me the Damsell whom I shall make Quéen and Ladie after your decease When the king vnderstood his Sonne he was all in a rage and said Faire Sonne leaue thy folly and take such a Wife according to thine estate and thinke no more of that new Fondling for know for troth I haue caused her to be cast into the Sea whereas shee is drowned Thou art a Foole to thinke that I will suffer after my decease that a poore Caitiffe new-found should bee Ladie and Quéene crowned of such a Realme beware in as much as thou thinkest to displease me that thou bee not so hardy as to speake or remember any more the new-found Damsell When Florence heard the Kinge his Father say howe the Damsell was drowned in the Sea his bloud mounted into his face and his heart was so oppressed and so heauie that he had no power to speake and such a maruailous colde sweat tooke him that there was no vaine nor member in his bodie but trembled for anger and sorrow that was in him so that he had no power to sustaine himselfe but fell downe to the earth in a great traunce in such sort that euerie man there
great feasting chéere and caused him to be christened then king Huon said to the two kinges Sirs I will that presently each of you doe pardon other of all ill will Sir quoth they wee are readie to doe it and so each of them embraced other whereof king Huon hadde great ioy and so had all other Lordes and Knightes that were there assembled Kinge Garyn quoth Huon incontinent I will that your Son Florence haue my Daughter in mariage and I giue them the Citie of Bourdeaux Blames and Geronnill and all the appendants thereto belonging When king Garyn heard the offer that king Huon had made to his Sonne Florence he thanked him hartely so did all the other Lords who allowed greatly that mariage When kinge Garyn sawe the honour loue and courtesie that Kinge Huon did to Florence his Sonne hee knéeled downe and sayd Sir my Child and yours I commit into your handes vse them at your pleasure then by consent of both Fathers they were wedded and spoused together all in one day the Feast Solemnitie of this mariage endured Eight daies the king of Nauarre gaue vnto Florence his Realme of Nauarre to possesse and enioy after his decease Of the Feastes Iusts and Tourneys that was made on those Eight dayes I make no mention thereof for it were ouer-long to rehearse Then king Huon gaue his Daughter Thirtie Somers charged with gould and great riches whereby the ioy encreased of all parts then the Lordes and other people of Aragon came to king Huon and all wéeping they desired him to haue pitie and compassion of them and that he might find some meanes that they might haue some recompence for the great hurts an dammages that they had receiued by reason of the warre between these two kinges whereby they were neere hand destroyed by the Nauarnes When Queene Escleremond heard the people complaine she embraced her Husband and saide Sir I desire you for the loue of your children to haue pitie of these people who requireth for aide for in you is all their trust Madame quoth Huon I shal incontinent shew what grace I will doe for the loue of you Then king Huon commaunded all the people to kneele downe and then he sayd Sirs all yée that be here assembled to the entent that you shall not thinke that the thing that I will doe should bee any witch-craft or illusion but that it is by the will of Iesus Christ the gift that king Oberon gaue mee before hee dyed the which was all the puissance and dignitie that hee had in all the Fayrey of the world therefore knowe that by the puissance and dignitie that our Lord God made king Oberon my Predecessor to giue me I will that this Realme of Aragon whereas it hath had dammage by reason of the warre so that the Realme is sore burnt and wasted and I will that it be again in the same case as it was before any war began and that all Castles houses burnt or beaten downe be better thrée times then they were before and I will that from henceforth euerie man serue God and thanke him of this grace that he hath sent you then he lifted vp his handes and blessed all the people with the signe of the crosse and assoone as he had done his blessing euerie thing was as he had deuised throughout al the Realme Thus was the wil of Iesus Christ at the instance and prayer of the noble kinge Huon Chap. CLXIII ¶ How King Huon and Queene Escleremond departed and howe he gaue great rich guiftes vnto the two Kinges and to all other Lordes Ladies and Damsels and of the sorrowe that was betweene the Mother and the Daughter at their departing WHen Kinge Huon had made his prayers to our Lord God and that his request was graunted hee thanked God such Feasts Iusts and Tourneys as was made there during the Feast was neuer séene nor heard of in any Cronicle heere before Then king Huon made him readie to depart and he gaue guifts before he departed to them that were there and especially to Sorbarre to whome hée recommended his Daughter Clariet desired him not to leaue her Sir quoth Sorbarre the great loue that I haue to you constraineth me neuer to forsake her nor them that shall come of her as long as life is in my body When Quéen Escleremond vnderstood the departing of her Lord Huon and sawe that shee must leaue her Daughter shee had great sorrowe at her heart and so all wéeping shée came to her Daughter and said Right déere Daughter you ought greatly to thanke our Lord God in that hee hath cast you out of so many perils and nowe to haue great honour and to be exalted like a rich and puissant Ladie therefore alwaies set your heart on God and serue feare and loue him be liberall to them that be poore nor mocke no body neither bee no Iangler against your Husband nor hearken to none ill lyers flye from Flatterers loue your Husband kéepe your selfe alwaies true to the entent that none ill report bee made of you Marke well this doctrine for I cannot tell whether euer I shall sée you againe or not When the faire Clariet heard her Mother suddainly she began to wéepe and sayd Oh my right déere Lady and Mother the departing of you and of the king my Father from me ought sore to gréeue me since we haue béene together so small a time for your departing is to me so gréeuable that it is great paine for me to beare it Then the Mother the Daughter clipped and kissed each other more then Twentie times and oftener would haue done if king Huon had not béene for then hee tooke his Daughter Clariet in his armes and kissed her often times tenderly wéeping because he knew well that he should neuer sée her againe then he lifted vp his hands and gaue her and her Husband his blessing shewed them many faire examples and doctrines Then the noble Quéene Escleremond kneeled downe prayed king Huon her husband that he would counsaile and aduertize them what they should doe Madame quoth Huon rise vp for such pitie I haue of them of you that my heart neere hand faileth me and I tarie here too long for I must needs depart come hether my deere Daughter and kisse me and Son Florence with you I leaue my Daughter and keepe her well as longe as God will suffer her to bee with you Then king Huon tooke leaue of the two kinges who were right sorrowfull of his departing and he desired them alwaies to be good Louers together and so tooke his leaue and sayd I wish my selfe my Queen and all my company to be in my Pallaice at Momur he had no sooner spoken the words but that he was there and sudenly vanished from the twoo Kings whereof they and all other were greatly abashed so that they wist not what to say they had thought it had béen but a dreame but
manner of defence made against them but it is an old saying that many things remaineth of foolish thoughts as it did with the Spaniards for they thought surely that the Citie of Rome was wonne but if God ayde and succour the Damsell Ide and her Chiualrie she should take from them ere it were night their hope to haue any Victory She road by her Battailes and encouraged her men and mooued them to doe valiantly and thus they approached towards their enemies Great ioy and noise there was when the Battailes encountred together the shot flew so thicke on both parts that it séemed to be snow and hayle I de encountred with a Knight Nephew to the King of Spaine hee receiued such a stroake that for all his armour Ides Speare went cleane through his bodie so that the Knight fell to the earth with his féet vpward and so dyed miserably among the horse féete then I de sayd of God be thou cursed in an ill houre thou camst hether to receiue such an offering I challenge from you all the Empire of Rome then shée sayd to her selfe Good Lord God I require thée humbly this day to aid and succour me a poore fugitiue therewith she spurred her horse and with the same speare she slew another great Baron of Spaine and so slew with the same Speare diuers other when the Speare was broken she drew out her sword the which the Emperour had giuen her then she came to a notable Duke of Spaine Vncle to the King to whome shee gaue such a stroake with her good sword that shee claue his head to the téeth and so he fell downe dead then she dasht into the thickest presse and euer did choose out the greatest personages and slew many of them for she thought the more that were slaine of the great men the more should her enemies bee afrayd therefore she chose out such one after another And also the Romans fought valiantly so that by the hye Prowesse of Ide and of the good Chiualrie of the Romanes that were with her they made the Spaniards abashed and caused them to flye away and had neuer returned againe if the Duke of Argon with thrée Thousand Knightes in his companie had not béene who made them that fled to returne againe Then there began againe a fierce Battaile and many a man slaine the Romanes did valiantly by the aide and comfort of Ide their Captaine she road into the thickest of the presse and bare downe the Spaniards on all sides that it was pittie to sée great was the noise pitiously cryed out the hurt men lying among the horse féete which were beaten downe to the earth then the King of Spaine came into the Battaile with his sword in his hand and encountred with a great Lord of Rome which was Coozen to the Emperour the King gaue him such a stroake vppon the helmet that hee claue his head into the braines and then the King slew another then Ide who saw that was sorrowfull and sayd I ought little to be praised without I reuenge the death of these two Lordes slaine by the King of Spaine then shee road to the Kinge and gaue him such a stroake vppon the helmet that all the circles with stones and pearles flew downe to the earth and stroake away part of his coife haire and skinne and if the King hadde not turned his head it had béen clouen to the téeth the sword glaunced and lighted vpon his horse necke and strake it cleane asunder and so the horse fell downe dead and the King to the earth whereof the Spaniards were sore abashed thinking their King had béen slaine so they fled away and left him there lying on the earth in a traunce in such sort that hee could neither sée heare nor speake one word then the Damsell I de tooke him and deliuered him to two noble Lordes of the Emperours Court and when he reuiued he was made to sweare and promise to be a true Prisoner Those two Lordes went with the King of Spaine into the Citie of Rome and presented him vnto the Emperour from Ide whereof the Emperour thanked God that hee had sent Ide thether to serue him then the King was sette in a strong Tower and I de was without still doing maruailes in armes so that euerie man was abashed thereof the Spaniards made her way Finally by the hye Prowesse of the Damsell Ide the Kinge of Spaine was taken and all his men discomfited happie was hee that might escape to saue his life the chase endured long wherein many were slaine and taken Then Ide and her companie returned to their Tents and Pauillions and there they found great riches the which was brought out of Spaine and was giuen and distributed to them that had deserued it Great ioy was made in the noble Citie of Rome for the Battaile was well séene ouer the wals and especially the Ladie Oliue had well regarded the hye prowesse of Ide whereby she loued her so in her heart that she smiled with ioy and sayd to her selfe To yonder young Knight I doe giue my loue the which I neuer granted before to any man liuing but it is good right and reason that I grant my loue to Ide such like wordes Oliue sayd to her selfe Chap. CLXVIII ¶ How the Emperour of Roome highly receiued the noble Damsell Ide and of the honour that was made vnto her and how the Emperor made her Constable of his Empire And how the king of Spaine was deliuered out of prison and made homage vnto the Emperour AFter that the Battaile was done and finished and the bootie distributed I de with great triumph accompanyed with Lordes and Knightes entred into the Citie of Roome and the Emperour was infourmed of the comming of Ide and of her valiant déedes by whom the Victorie was obtained how that none could endure against her whereof the Emperour had such ioy at his heart that hee wist not what to doe and hee thanked our Lord God that the matter went so to his honour and glorie therewith I de came to the Pallaice whereas she was receiued with great ioy with all the Colledges of the Citie and when the Emperour sawe her he arose and embraced her and sayd My true Fréend Ide of your comming I am right ioyfull for this day you haue done such honour to our Empire that you ought to bée honoured for euer and because you haue done vs such seruice wee will that you shall bee the mirrour for all other Knightes to encourage them to doe well wee therefore make you our first Chamberlaine and high Constable of all our Romane Empire and all my Landes and Signiories I abandon to be at your commandement in all things that you thinke reasonable to be done for I will and commaund that all my Lordes doe obey you Sir quoth Ide of this honour I thanke you God giue mee grace that I may alwaies perseuer to doe that thing which shal be to you agreeable
and 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
Companions he set his Horne to his mouth and blew so melodious a blast that the fourtéene Companions being vnder the Trée had so persit a ioy at their hearts that they al rose vp and began to sing and daunce Ah good Lord quoth Huon what fortune is come vnto vs me thinke we be in Paradise right now I could not sustaine my selfe for lacke of meat and drinke and nowe I féele my selfe neither hungrie nor thirstie from whence may this come Sir quoth Gerames knowe for troth this is done by the Dwarfe of the Fayrye whome you shall soone see passe by you But Sir I require you on ieopardie of loosing of your life that you speake to him no word without you purpose to abide euer with him Sir quoth Huon haue no doubt of me séeing I know the ieopardie Therewith the Dwarfe began to crie aloude and saide Yée fourtéene men that passe by my wood God kéepe you all and I desire you speake with mée and I coniure you thereto by God almightie and by the christendome that you haue receiued and by all that God hath made answeare mée Chap. XXII ¶ How King Oberon was right sorrowfull and sore displeased in that Huon would not speake and of the great feare that he put Huon and his companie in WHEN that Huon and his companie heard the Dwarfe speake they mounted on their Horses and road away as fast as they might without speaking of any word and the Dwarfe séeing how that they road away and would not speake hée was sorrowfull and angrie Then hée set one of his fingers on his Horne out of the which yssued such a winde and tempest so horrible to heare that it bare downe Trées and therewith came such a raine and hayle that it séemed that heauen and the earth had fought together and that the world should haue ended the beasts in the woods brayed and cryed and the foules of the ayre fell down dead for the feare that they were in there was no creature but he would haue béen afrayd of that tempest Then suddainly appeared before them a great Riuer that ran swifter then the birds did flye and the water was so blacke and so perilous made such a noyse that it might be heard ten Leagues of Alas quoth Huon I see well now we be all lost wée shall héere be oppressed without God haue pitie of vs I repent me that euer I entred into this wood I had béen better to haue trauailed a whole yéere then to haue come hether Sir quoth Gerames dismay you not for all this is done by the Dwarfe of the Fayrye Well quoth Huon I thinke it best to alight from our horses for I thinke we shall neuer escape from hence but that we shal be all oppressed Then Garyn and the other Companions had great maruaile and were in great feare Ah Gerames quoth Huon you shewed mee well that it was great perill to passe this wood I repent mée nowe that I had not beléeued you Then they sawe on the other side of the Riuer a faire Castell enuyroned with fourtéene great Towers and on euerie Tower a clocher of fine gould by séeming the which they long regarded and by that time they had gone a little by the Riuer side they lost the sight of the Castle it was cleane vanished away whereof Huon and his companie were sore abashed Huon quoth Gerames of all this that you sée dismay you not for all this is done by the crooked Dwarfe of the Fayrye and all to beguile you but he cannot gréeue you so you speake no word howbeit ere we depart from him he will make vs all abashed for anone he will come after vs like a mad man bicause you will not speake vnto him but sir I require you as in Gods name be nothing afrayd but ride foorth surely and euer beware that you speake vnto him no word Sir quoth Huon haue no doubt thereof for I had rather he were destroyed then I should speake one word vnto him then they road to passe the Riuer and they founde there nothing to let them and so road about fiue Leagues Sir quoth Huon wée may well thanke God that wee bée thus escaped this Dwarfe who thought to haue deceiued vs I was neuer in such feare during my life god confound him thus they road deuising of the little Dwarfe who had done them so much trouble Chap. XXIII ¶ How Kinge Oberon Dwarfe of the Fayry pursued so much Huon that he constrained him to speake to him at last WHen Gerames vnderstood the companie howe they thought they were escaped from the Dwarfe he began to smile and said Sirs make no braging that you be out of this danger for I beléeue you shall soone sée him againe and assoone as Gerames had spoke the same words they sawe before them a bridge the which they must passe and they sawe the Dwarfe on the other part Huon sawe him first and said I sée that Diuell who hath done vs so much trouble Oberon heard him and saide Fréend thou doest me iniurie without cause for I was neuer Diuell nor ill creature I am as other be but I coniure thée by the diuine puissance to speake vnto me Then Gerames said Sirs for Gods sake let him alone nor speake no word to him for by his faire language he may deceiue vs all as he hath done many other it is pity that he hath liued so long Then they road forth a good pace and left the Dwarfe alone sore displeased in that they would not speake to him then he tooke his Horne and set it to his mouth and blew it When Huon and his companie hearde it they had no power to ride any further but they began all to sing Then Oberon the Dwarfe said yonder company are fooles proud that for any salutation that I can giue them they disdaine to answeare mée but by the God that made me before they esâ—ape me the refusall of my words shal be déere bought Then he tooke againe his Horne and strooke it thrée times on his bowe and cryed out aloud said Yée my men come and appeare before me Then there came to him about foure hundred men of armes and demaunded of Oberon what was his pleasure who had displeased him Sirs quoth Oberon I shall shew you howbeit I am gréeued to shewe it héere in this woode there passed fourtéene Knights who disdaine to speake vnto me but to the entent that they shall not mocke me they shall déerely buy the refusing of their answeare Wherefore I will you goe after them and slay them all let none escape Then one of his Knights said Sir for Gods sake haue pitie of them Certainly quoth Oberon mine honour saued I cannot spare them since they disdaine to speake vnto me Sir quoth Glorianda for Gods sake doe not as you say but sir worke by my counsaile and after doe as it pleaseth you Sir I counsaile you yet once againe goe after them then if
day of battaile at Ronceuaux whereas he lost his twoo Nephews Rowland and Oliuer he neuer since assembled so much people as he will do this next sommer to come vpon thée both by water and by land without thou wilte beleue in the lawe of Iesus Christ therefore if thou wilt beléeue me be christened or else this mischiefe will fall vpon thée Speake no more of that quoth the Admirall for I had rather be hewen and slaine then to leaue my law and beléeue vpon thy god Sir Admirall quoth Huon moreouer king Charles commaundeth thée to send him a M. Sparhawkes a M. Goshawkes a M. Beares and a M. wayters chayned together a M. yong Varlets a M. faire Damsels and also a handfull of thy beard and Foure of thy great téeth Ha quoth the Admirall I sée thou art hardy and outragious to demaund of me this that thou hast said And also I haue great maruaile of thy Maister that he is so foolish as to commaund me by thee to send him my beard and great téeth before this time he hath sent me more than xv Messengers hath demaunded part of this that thou speakest of but all xv haue been hanged nowe thou art come by thy folly to make vp the xvj But by reason of the Ring that thou bearest we dare not touch thée I pray thée therefore by the faith and law that thou art of shewe mee what Diuell hath giuen thée that Ring Than Huon sore abashed as he that durst not make a lye for feare of king Oberon said Sir not for doubt of thée or of any Paynim héere I will not spare to shew thee the troth know then that with this good sword I haue slaine the Lord Angolofer the Gyant When the Admirall heard that he said to his Lords Sirs looke that this Villaine escape not for by all the Gods that I beléeue on I shall neuer haue ioy in my heart vntill I sée him takē Then Paynims and Sarazins on all parts assayled Huon when he saw that he commended himselfe to our Lord god and thought he should neuer sée faire day more and so with his sword in both his hands he defended himselfe nobly in slaying and cutting off handes and féete of the Sarazins of many he made the braynes to flye abroad on the pauement great terrour it was to behould for by reason of his good Armour there was no Paynim could do him any damage but they gaue him way and durst not approch néere him Huon being full of yre as he fought he saw on the one side of the Pallaice an Arch in the wall and so euer still fighting he drew thether and set his backe to the arch to thintent that none should come behind him There he fared like a wilde Boare in the wood and defended himlelfe in such wise that whome soeuer he touched with a full stroke had no néede after of any surgeon thus a long space Huon endured and had no great harme But the force of the Paynims was so great that it was not possible for him to sustaine long for he waxed so wearie that his stroakes féebled oftentimes he called vpon god and on the other part the Admirall cryed to his men and said Ah yee fainte harted slaues great shame is to you all that one man shall so long endure against you that ye can neither take him nor slay him Then the Paynims whē they heard the Admirall so dispraise them they came in a great rage all at once vppon Huon whereas he was alone vnder the arch and a Paynim who was Nephew to the Admirall came vpon Huon but when Huon saw him approch he lifted vp his sword and gaue the Paynim such a stroake on the helmet that he claue his head to the breast and therewith his sword fell out of his hands and another Sarazin tooke it vp then all the Sarazins at once ran vppon Huon tooke him and then tooke from him his Horne and his Cup and put off his armour whan he was vnarmed the Sarazins beheld him well and many said how they neuer saw so faire a man before affirming that if all Frenchmē were such as he there were no King able to resist them Chap. XXXVIII ¶ Of the great complaints that Huon made being in prison and how the Admirals Daughter came to comfort him and how she departed not well content with Huon WHen Huon was disarmed the Paynims tooke and brought him before the Admirall who was right ioyfull when he sawe Huon and called his Barons demaunded of them what death the Caytiffe should die that had done them such damage as to slay one of his most puissant Kings and also his Nephew beside many others Then they all answeared with one voice that hee should be slaine aliue incontinent Then stept foorth an old ancient Admirall of Six score yéeres of age who was of the Admirals priuie counsell and he said Sir Admirall yée may not doe thus for the loue of this good day the which is the feast of Saint Iohn according to our law there is none ought to die on that day but Sir respite his life for a whole yéere and then shal be the feast of your Gods on that day ye ought to deliuer xj Champions to doe with them you Sacrifice let this man be one and another may come by that time and which of the twoo Champions be ouercome yée shall make your sacrifice to your Gods of him Thus ye promised your Gods to doe the first day that yée tooke on you the Signiorie of Babylon and Sir if it were not for that this man hath slaine one of your Kings and your Nephew ye ought not to slay him but rather to thanke him for by him the man that you ought most to hate in the world is slaine that is Angolofer and now by his death yee are out of all seruitude bondage and by this man set at libertie When the Admirall Gaudise had well heard the Paynim he saide séeing it is so that ye giue me this counsell and that of right mine Auncestors haue euer accustomed the same I will not doe the contrarie but it shall be as ye haue said Then was Huon led with iiij Paynims to a darke prison and the Iaylor was commaunded to giue him meate and drinke suffitient When Huon saw how he was in prison he was right sorowfull and began to remember the noble Duches his Mother and Gerard his brother and said Ah Oberon how is it that art so vnkind outragious to me for so little an offence to suffer me to endure this great misery for I know well it is not vnknowen to thee that the offence that I haue done was but only by forgetfulnes Now let vs leaue speaking of Huon and say somewhat of faire Escleremond Daughter to the Admirall when shee saw that it was night and shee all alone in her bed shée remembred the French knight who had kissed her iij. times in the presence
he said Faire Nephew it seemeth well by you that you loue these christian men but little Sir quoth he I hate these christian men more then any men in the world for Sir all the waye that I haue come I haue thus beaten them thrée times in euery day in the honour of my God Mahound and in despight of their law and God on whome they beléeue Thus then Gerames departed from the Admirall and led with him the xij french prisoners beating them till he came to the prison and none of them durst speake one word but to themselues they cursed Gerames And as they went towards the prison they met with the Lady Escleremond and she said Cosin I am right ioyfull of your comming but if I durst trust you I would shew you a secret matter so that you promise not to discouer me Cousin quoth Gerames by the faith that I owe to my god Mahound ye may well shew me your will and pleasure for if mine eyes were to be drawne out I shal neuer discouer you And when the Damsell heard that promise she said Deare Cousin it is a v. months passed since there came to my Father the Admirall a french knight with a messuage from king Charlemaine who called himselfe Huon of Bourdeaux who when he had done his messuage hee slew a Paynim king as he sat at the table by my Father after came kissed me thrée times before my Fathers face and after that slew many Sarazins wherefore at last hee was taken Prisoner and put in prison whereas he is yet howbeit I made my Father beléeue that he is dead with famine yet deere cousin he is as yet aliue and as well serued of meat and drinke as my father is When Gerames vnderstood the Damsell Escleremond he was both sorowfull angrie for he thought that the Damsell did it to deceaue him and to cause him to shew forth the secretnes of his minde bicause he was in doubt thereof he passed foorth and made no manner of answeare to the Damsell but came to the prison and put in the Prisoners rudely and the Damsell returned right sorowfull in that she had shewed so much of her minde to Gerames whome she tooke for her Cousin When Gerames had put the xij Frenchmen in prison he returned right sorowfull and Huon being in the prison had greate maruaile what prisoners they were that were let downe into the prison for he could not sée theÌ„ the prison was so darke then he drew néere to them to heare them speake and at last one of them began to make his complaint and said Ah good Lord Iesu Christ succour vs for thou knowest well this that wee suffer we haue not deserued but it is for the loue of our yong Lord Huon of Bourdeaux we haue loued him so well that now wée be lost for â—uer except deere Lord thou haue mercie vppon vs. When Huon had heard what they said then he knew well that they were christened frenchmen and then he coueted much to know what they were so approched néere to them and said Sirs yée that be heere I pray you shew me what yée be and how yee be come hither Sir quoth one of them true it is that v. moneths passed there departed from vs a young knight with whome wee came out of the Realme of Fraunce and he was borne in Fraunce and sonne to a noble Duke called Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux this Knight slew Charlot sonne to King Charlemaine by misaduenture wherefore hee was banished out of the Realme of Fraunce and sent by king Charlemaine to do a messuage to the Admirall Gaudise and he is dead in prisoÌ„ as it is shewed vs and sir wée came to séeke for him are betrayed by one of our owne companie When Huon heard him speake he knew him well said Sirs be of good comfort and make good chéere for I am Huon safe and in good health thanked be god and the Admirals daughter who is so enamoured of me that she hath saued my life yée shall sée soone how shée will come and visite me But I pray you sirs what is become of ould Gerames whether he be left behind to kéepe the Tower with the Dammy cousin whome I left in your kéeping Sir quoth they a worse creature or more false Traytor was neuer borne for he hath betrayed vs and hath beaten and put vs in prison and as for the Damsell shee is with the Admiralls Daughter When Huon perceiued that all they were of his companie he went embraced them and said Sirs knowe of a suretie that all that Gerames hath done is done to the intent to deliuer vs all out of prison I doe so well know the troth of Gerames Sirs make good chéere for assoone as night commeth wée shal be visited with great ioy Sir quoth they surely wee beléeued that Gerames had forsaken the faith of Christ and was become a Sarazin for he hath made the Admirall beleeue that he is sonne to his brother king Iuoryn of Mombrance When Huon heard that he had great ioy at his heart and said Ah good Lord the troth of Gerames and loue that he hath alwaies shewed to me shal be to vs right profitable in the despight of king Oberon who hath forsaken me for a small offence by Gerames we shal be deliuered out of this pouertie and danger Now leaueth the Historie to speake of Huon and his companie being in pryson and returneth to the ould Gerames who studied and practised for the deliuerance of Huon and his company Chap. XLI ¶ How Gerames and the faire Escleremond went to the Pryson to comfort Huon and the other Prisoners NOw sheweth the Historie that when Gerames was retourned to the Admirall he said Sir the French men that I brought are fast in prison and well beaten Faire Nephew quoth the Admirall they haue had but an euill neighbor of you Then Gerames went into his chamber and studied how he might fournish the Prisoners with vittailes did so much that he had sufficient and when night came he went with his vittailes to the prisoÌ„ for he might do there what he listed for euery man was ready to doe him any seruice When he came to the prison dore he sent euery man away and taried there alone and he had not béen there longe but that the Admirals daughter came thether When Gerames saw her he wist not what to thinke but said Faire cousin I pray you shew me what you doe heare at this houre Déere cousin quoth shee the great trust that I haue in you hath made me to come hether bicause to day I discouered to you all my secrets and what I am intended to doe Therefore let me intreat you that you would leaue the law of Mahdund and receiue the christian faith and then to goe with mee into Fraunce together with these Prisoners and we shall well find the manner how to depart and we will take with vs al the prisoners
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
you such newes that all that bee in your Court will be sorrowfull much more my self Gerard quoth Charles come to the point vse no more such language nor such ceremonies by that I sée in you it is but euill that you will say Sir quoth hee but late as I was in my house at Bourdeaux and with me diuers Lords and Knights as we were deuising together I saw my Brother Huon enter into my house and thrée with him the one was a yong damosell and the other an old man called Gerames When Duke Naymes of Bauyer heard Gerard he had great maruaile when he sayd that Gerames was one of them and sayd Ah deere God I heare that which with great paine I can beleeue for if it be the same Gerames that I thinke it be he and I were companions together at a tourney holden at Chalons in Champanie where he slew by misaduenture the Earle Salamon Sir quoth Gerard I shall shew you as I haue begunne true it is when I saw my brother Huon I was greatly abashed howbeit I did him honour and made him good cheere and made him and all his companie to dine then after dinner I reasoned with my brother and demaunded of him if he had beene at the holy Sepulcher of our Lord God But when hee saw that I demaunded that of him he was sore abashed so that hee wist not what to answere and then I perceiued by his words that hee had not beene there And then Sir after I demaunded of him if hee had furnished your message to the Admirall Gaudys but hee could giue me no answere nor say any words that I could beléeue and when I saw that I could find no truth in any of his words I tooke him and set him in prison howbeit it was full sore against my will but I considered in my selfe that I must owe vnto your grace faith fidelitie and that I am your man and that for no man liuing though he were neuer so néere of my kinne yet I would not be found with any treason and therefore Sir my Brother his wife and his Companion I haue retained them in my prison wherefore Sir it is in you to doe herein what it shall please you best When all the Princes and Lords that were there vnderstood the words of Gerard and that he had taken his Brother Huon and had put him in prison there were none but that were sorry thereof and many for the loue that they bare to Huon began to wéepe and demaunded of Gerard who had done that déed saying surely it is done by some manner of treason Chap. LXX ¶ How the King commaunded that Huon should be sent for from Bourdeaux to the intent that he should die WHen the Emperour Charlemaine vnderstood Gerard he arose vp on his féet sore troubled and full of yre for by Gerardes wordes the ancient hate and displeasure that the King had to Huon for the death of Charlot his sonne was renewed in his heart and said openly that euery man might heare him Lordes that be héere present before you all I summon them that were Pledges for Huon in such wise that if the Traitour Huon be not rendred into my hands to doe with him my pleasure I shall cause thē to be hanged drawne and there is no man in my court that may be so hardy as to speake or desire the contrarie but I shall cause him to die a shamefull death And when he had thus said he sate him downe againe and called Duke Naymes to him and said Sir Duke ye haue heard what Gerard hath sayd of his brother Huon Sir quoth the Duke I haue well heard him but I beléeue the matter to be otherwise then hee hath sayd for there is no man will say the contrarie but that all that Gerard hath sayd is done by false treason and you shall finde it so if the matter be wisely enquired of Sir quoth Gerard you may say as it pleaseth you but I take God to witnesse and my father in Law Gibouars and this good notable religious Abbot and his Chaplaine that all that I haue sayd is true for I would not for any thing say that which is not iust and true Then Gibouars and the Abbot his Chaplaine answered and said how it was true that Gerard had sayd By my faith quoth the Duke Naymes all you foure are false lyars and theeues and the King is ill counselled if he beléeue you Naymes quoth the King I pray you how seemeth it vnto you this matter betwéen the two brethren Sir quoth the Duke it is a great matter he that is here before you is the accuser of his brother and hath set him in prison now he is come and accuseth him here before you because hee knoweth well he cannot come hither to defend himselfe I should do a great euil déed if I had a brother that were banished out of France and if hee came to mee for refuge and I then to take him and set him fast in prison in mine owne house and then after to goe and complaine vpon him to the intent to purchase his death I say there was neuer Noble man would thinke so to doe and they that haue done thus are all false Traytours all Noble men ought not to beléeue any such and specially he that will purchase such a deede against his owne brother I know well al that they haue imagined and done is by false treason therfore I say according to the right that all foure are false Traytours and I iudge for my part that they are worthie to receiue a villanous death for they are foure false witnesses When Gerard heard Duke Naymes he changed colour and waxed as white as snow repenting in himselfe the déede that he had done to his brother hee cursed to himselfe Gybouars in that hee beleeued his counsell yet hee answered Duke Naymes and sayd Ah Sir ye doe me great ill to owe me your ill will Gerard quoth the Duke it is for the ilnesse that is in you ye that would be one of the Peeres of France certainly of such a Councellor as you bée the King hath litle néede I had rather haue lost one of my hands then I should once haue consented thereto Duke Naymes quoth the King I will you cause to come before me all such as were pledges for Huon at his departing Then the Duke caused them to appeare before the Kings presence of whom there were diuers Dukes and Earles Then King Charlemaine sayd Sirs ye know well yee bee pledges for Huon of Bourdeaux and you know the paine that I laide on your heades if Huon did not accomplish my message that I gaue him in charge the which hee hath not fulfilled wherefore without you deliuer Huon into my handes yee shall not escape but that ye shall die all Sir quoth Duke Naymes for Gods sake I require you beleeue me at this time I counsell you to take a good number of your notable
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
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
God the Ship that is heere beneath arriued by fortune at the Port neere vnto the Rocke and I prayed him in the honour of God and of his Sonne Iesus Christe to saue our liues and the Patrone had pitie compassion of vs and tooke vs into his Ship and did so much for vs as though we had beene his Brethren Sir thus I haue shewed you our aduenture and Sir I require you to pardon mée in that I so stearnly behold you but I shall shew you quoth he the cause why I doe it mée thinks I see before me the good Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux who swéetly nourished mee in my youth you greatly resemble vnto him and hee set me to schoole at Paris and then hee sent mee to Rome vnto our holy Father the Pope of Rome to whom I was a kiâ— and hee did mée much good and hee gaue mee the Bishopricâ—e of Millaine Duke Seuin is dead God bee with him and hee had twoo Sonnes the eldest called Huon and the other Gerard Huon was sent for to Paris by Kinge Charlemaine and by the way there fell vnto him a maruailous aduenture for hee shewe the Kinges Sonne Charlot in his owne defence not knowing that it was the Kinges Sonne wherefore the King banished him out of the Realme of Fraunce and sent him to the Admirall Gaudise in Babilon to doe his Messuage and afterward hee returned into Fraunce and since hee hath hadde great warre with the Emperour of Almaine more I cannot say and I am right sorrie that I knowe not where he is become for my Father who was Brother to the good Abbot of Cluny longe agoe nourished Huon vp in his youth before his Father Duke Seuin died my Father did teach him wherefore I haue great sorrow and gréefe at my heart that I knowe not where hee is become since the peace was made and concluded betweene him and the King of Fraunce When Huon hadde well heard the Bishoppe and vnderstood him his bloud changed and embracing him sweetely he said Sir you are my Coozen I am Huon who passed the sea and went to the Admirall Gaudise and slewe him and ledde away with me his Daughter the faire Escleremond who was married vnto me by our holy Father the Pope and I haue left her in the Citie of Bourdeaux in great pouertie and miserie besieged by the Emperour of Almaine I beleeue surely that she is taken by this time When the Bishop heard Huon hee began sore to weepe and Huon embraced and kissed him and sayd Coozen you are happie to find me heere or else shortly you had béen dead Sir quoth he I ought greatly to thanke God thereof But Sir I require you to giue mée some meat for I am so sore punished with hunger and thirst that I am néere hande famished and can scarce sustaine my selfe vppon my féete Coozen quoth Huon by the grace of God I shall bring you to such a place whereas you shall haue meat and drinke at your pleasure and such as you will with for Then Huon tooke him by the hand and brought him into the Pallaice and through the Chambers the Bishoppe was greatly abashed to sée the riches that he saw there Then they went downe into the Seller the Bishop beheld the manner of euerie thing and had great maruaile that none of them that hee sawe there would not speake any word hee passed by them with Huon and saluted them and then he entred into the rich Chamber whereas the Table was readie and Seruants to giue them water and they all thrée sat downe and then Huon sayd vnto the Bishoppe Coozen I coniure you by the Sacrament that you haue receiued that you nor your Chaplaine be so hardy as to eat one morsell of meat if any of you bee in any deadly sin if you be incontinent confesse you to your Chaplain and hee vnto you for if you doe otherwise you shall no sooner eate one morsell but incontinent you shall die When the Bishop had well heard and vnderstood Huon hée hadde great maruaile and said Coozen by the grace of God I féele my selfe in good estate not to abide death for when I departed from Rome both I and my Nephewe were confessed of the Pope and assoyled of all our sinnes and since wée entred into the Sea wee haue committed no sinne Then Huon sayd Cozen seeing that you be both in this case you may eate and drinke at your pleasure and so they did for they had great néed thereof they all thrée were richly serued they had euerie thing as they wished for the Bishoppe and his Nephew did eat and drinke and they were greatly abashed of the great riches that they saw there and they were rauished at the swéet singing of the birds and the hearbes and flowers that were there spreade abroade smellinge so swéetely that they thought themselues in Paradice and they had great maruaile to see the Seruants to serue them so peaceable but they would neuer speak one word they woulde gladly haue demaunded the cause why but Huon hadde expresly charged them that they shoulde make none inquirie Thus they passed their dinner in great ioy and theÌ„ washed theyr hands arose vp from the Table and the Bishop and his Chaplaine sayde grace deuously Then Huon tooke the Bishoppe by the hand and sayde Cozen wee will goe vp into the Pallaice and then you shall goe downe into your Shippe and shew them without they will die incontinent let them be christened and dresse vp Tubbes with water of the Sea and hallowe you it and christen them therein and I shall come after you with my sword and cleane armed to the entent that if they refuse thus to doe I shall strike oft their heades Sir quoth the Bishop I shall doe your pleasure Then Huon armed himselfe and went after the Bishoppe and his Nephewe downe to the shippe and when they came there they found Elinas the Maister of them who had preached so much vnto the Sarazins that hée had conuerted them all except Tenne they bare him in hand that they were glad to bee christened but theyr thoughtes were otherwise for they Ten had concluded in their courages not to renounce the Lawe of Mahomet for to beleeue vppon Iesus Christ but they were content to be christened to the entent that they would not die there for famine When Huon and the Bishop was come vnto them the Bishop sayd Sirs I require you all to shew me your intention that if with a good heart not coloured you will become christened and beléeue on the Law of God the Father and of his Son our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ and leaue the false and detestable Lawe of Mahound the which is nothing woorth Sir quoth they all shortly deliuer vs for wee bee so hungrie and thirstie that we are almost famished the which ouer-presseth vs so much that we can no longer endure nor suffer it and when Huon had well heard them he humbly thanked our Lord
God and had great ioy thereof and the Bishop and his Chaplaine confessed them all and assoyled them of all their sinnes and in twoo great vessels christened them all Then they all cryed vppon Huon and sayd Sir for the loue of our Lord God giue vs some meate Sirs quoth Huon you shall haue incontinent ynough so that you shall bee satisfied Then Huon and the Bishop and his Chaplaine all thrée went into the Castle and charged vpon their neckes meat ynough and brought it into the Shippe and caused all the Marchants to sit downe and the meat was set before them and the wine powred out into Cuppes among other sat the tenne Sarazins who had receiued the christendome faintly and falsely and at the first morsell that they did put into their mouthes suddainly they died the other Marchants when they sawe that they were greatly abashed and regarded each other and durst not approach to touch the meat for they had thought that they should haue all died Sirs quoth Huon be not dismayed nor abashed at this for these tenne men that are dead did baptize themselues but all onely to saue their liues and to haue meate and not with a good conscience nor for the loue of almightie God who hath all mens heartes at his pleasure therefore be not afraid eate and drinke at your ease for yee shall want nothing but haue all thinges at your wish When the other Marchants vnderstood by Huon how that they that died were no true Christian men they were greatly abashed and so fell to theyr meate and drinke and when they had eaten and drunken at their pleasures they arose and tooke all the riches that were in the Shippe and carried it vp into the Castle and when they came there they had great ioy and pleasure to beholde the Hals and rich Chambers that were there so much gould and siluer and other riches they sawe there that they hadde thereof great maruaile Then they beheld the rich beddes and Chambers apparelled whereas they might rest them and then they sawe the faire Garden so pleasant and delightfull to behold that the more they regarded it the fairer it seemed vnto them the place was of length and breadth a bowe shoote and more And when the houre came for supper then Huon ledde them downe into the Seller and after into the rich Chamber whereas there was meat and drinke plentie and after Supper they went againe into the Pallaice and lay in the rich beds that they found there readie and in the morning the Bishop and his Chaplaine did sing Masse before Huon and all the other that were there present and when they woulde eate they went to the place accustomed and there they founde alwayes readie euerie thing that they desired or wisht for in the day time they would bee in the Garden to sport them oftentimes the Bishop preached vnto them and confessed them of all their sinnes Thus they were there all together the space of one Moneth in great pleasure and solace but whosoeuer had ioy Huon had none for his abiding there greatly greeued him for oftentimes hee would complaine for his Wife the faire Ladie Escleremond and for his Daughter Clariet and sayde Madame as often as I remember what danger I haue left you in my heart néere departeth out of my bodie Ah cursed Emperour thou causest me to suffer much ill when I thinke that by this time thou hast taken my Citie my Wife and my Child and set them in thy Prison I would if it were the pleasure of our Lord God that they were heere with mee then I would neuer depart from hence and no more I shall doe without it be by the grace of God Ah noble King Oberon you haue giuen me the realme of the Fayrie if it might bée your pleasure now so much to succour mée as to deliuer me from hence and to ayd me to destroy this Emperour who hath done me so much ill for euer were I bound to your Mightinesse Chap. CIX ¶ How Huon was borne by a Griffen out of the Castle of the Adamant and how he slewe the Griffen and fiue other young Griffens And of the Fountaine of the fayre Garden and of the fruit of the Tree neere to the Fountaine THus as yee haue heard Huon passed away the time in the Castle of the Adamant and vppon a day hee leaned and looked out at a windowe into the Sea-ward and hee sawe a farre off a great birde come flyinge thether-ward this bird or foule was bigger then any horse in the world whereof he had great maruaile Then he sawe where it came to the same Port and lighted vpon the Maste of a great Shippe and saw how with the weight of the Foule the Mast had neere hand broken asunder Then after he sawe the Foule alight downe into the Ship and tooke with his tallants one of the Ten men that died because they would not beleeue firmely vpon God and of his Sonne Iesus Christ they could not putrefie but lay still in the Shippe al whole and found then the Foule lifted him vp into the ayre and carried him away as lightly as a Hauke would carie a Pigeon Huon who sawe this had great maruaile and beheld the Griffen which way she did fly and as farre off as he might sée he sawe to his similitude a great Rocke as white to the sight as Christall and then he said to himselfe I would to God that I were there I think it be some place inhabitable and then he thought within himselfe to come thether againe the dext day to sée if the Griffen would come againe to fetch his pray if hee did he◠thought if he would be out of the Castle the Griffen might bear him armed as surely that hee should doe him no hurt with his tallants thinking to lye downe armed with his Sword in his hand among the dead men and when the Griffen had brought him where his young birdes were then to fight with the Griffen yet he thought before he would thus doe he would againe sée if the Griffen came and held the same way that she did before for he thought surely that if she returned to the same place it must needes bee some Land and hee thought that it were a thing impossible to get out of that Castle by any other manner of wayes Then Huon returned againe to the Garden to the Bishoppe and vnto the other companie and made no semblance of that he hadde thought to doe and then hee talked with them of diuers matters And when the time came they went to eat and drink as they had been accustomed to do before When night came and that Huon was in his bedde he lay and studied of the conuayance of the Griffen desiring greatly for the day light to goe and see if the Griffen returned to fetch her pray When day came Huon aroase and heard seruice and then hee went to the window and looked there so longe that at the laste
hee sawe a far off where the Griffen came flying from the place as shee had doone the day before and came and sat downe vppon the same Maste beholdinge the dead men that lay vnder her which of them she might take to her pray Huon beheld her and sawe howe that she was a cruell Foule Her necke was maruailous great her eies as great as a Bason and more redder then the mouth of a fournace and her tallants so great and so long that fearefull it was to behold her and then at last she lighted downe into the Shippe and tooke one of the dead bodies in her tallants and so mounted into the ayre and flew the same way as she did the day before Huon beheld the Griffen well and saw how that she flew to the white Rocke This Rocke was called the Rocke of Alexander for when Alexander passed the deserts of India and went to speake with the Trées of the Sunne and of the Moone hee came vnto the same Rocke and at his returne he bathed him in a Fountaine neere to the Rocke and there hee taried a certaine space and sawe there many thinges Now let vs leaue speaking of this Rocke and returne vnto Huon who fixed his courage that hee determined to bee borne from thence by the Griffen and sayd within himselfe that he hadde rather aduenture death then to abide any longer there for hee had so great a desire to see his Wife and his Child that he put from him all feare of death When Huon sawe that the Griffen was gone with her pray he went to the Bishoppe and vnto his companie and shewed vnto them all that hee had seene and thought to doe and when they all had heard Huon they beganne pitifully to weepe and wrang their handes and did tare their haire making the greatest sorrow and greefe in the world and cryed out and said Ah Coozen quoth the Bishop by the grace of God you shall neuer take vppon you such a follie you ought not io seeke your owne death sooner then it is the pleasure of God that your houre bée come Sir for Gods sake forsake vs not but tarrie heere with vs. Freendes quoth Huon when I remember the danger that I left my wife and my child and my Citie and Lords and Burgesses and Communaltie in my heart is so sorowfull and so agreeued there at that it neere hande slayeth mee you shall abide heere in the sauegard of our Lord God and I will take the aduenture that God will send me and I pray you to speake no more vnto me in this matter for by the grace of God I will venture it When they sawe that they could not turne Huon from his Enterprize the sorrowe that they made no man can declare that night they passed in great sorrowe and dolour vntill the next morning that Huon arose Then hee came to the Bishop and was confessed and receiued at his hand then he dined wel with his companie and then after dinner hée went and armed himselfe in double armour and with maile vppon his Legges and helmet vpon his head and guirded his Sword about him and when hee was readie and that it was time to depart hee tooke his leaue of the Bishop and of all the other and commended them all into the sauegard of almightie God When the good Bishop sawe his departure hee made great sorrow and so did all the other but none of them durst speake any more vnto him the Bishop embraced him at his departing and sayde Coozen into the sauegard of almightie God and of his Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ I commend you and that he may of his grace preserue you from all your enemies Sir quoth Huon the great desire that I haue to ayd and succor her whome I left in great pouertie and doubt of her life constrayneth me thus to depart for if I goe not by this meanes I must euer abide heere and then I shall breake my promise vnto her but by the grace of God I will keepe my faithfull promise Thus I recommend you vnto God and then he departed from them and passed out of the gate and went downe the staires and so came into the shippe and then hee looked into the Sea and sawe where the Griffen was comming and when hee perceiued that he lay downe among the dead men with his sword naked in his hand and held it vpon his thigh because it should not fall into the Sea and assoone as hee was layd crewling amonge the dead men the Griffen came and alighted vppon the shippe Mast as she was accustomed to doe and she was so heauie and so great as is aforesaid that the Mast was neere hand broken asunder When Huon saw that he was in great feare and called vppon our Lord Iesus Christ for aid and succour and to saue him from the cruel Griffen and the Grâ—ffen looking for her pray saw where Huon lay armed whereby hée seemed more greater then any of the other dead men the Griffen desired to haue him vnto her nest to giue him vnto her young birds and then she came downe into the shippe and tooke Huon in her clawes and strained him so faste by both sides that her clawes entred into the flesh for all his armour so that the bloud yssued out and Huon was in that distresse that all his bodie trembled and pitiously he called vppon our Lord God for ayd and succour but he durst not stirre for any paine that he felt the Griffen did beare him so hie and so farre that in lesse then thrée houres she did beare him vnto the white Rocke and there layde him downe and for trauaile that the Griffen had she flew down the Rocke to a Fountaine to drink the which Fountaine was of such great vertue that the bountie thereof could not bée described and Huon who lay vppon the Rocke was sore wearie and faint for the bloud that hee had lost hee thought within himselfe that if euer hee woulde escape from that daunger it was time for him then to shewe his Prowesse then he arose vp and looked round about him and sawe how that there was neere him a faire Forrest and then hee prayed vnto our Lord God to ayd and succour him to depart from thence in sauegard and that hee might once againe returne into his owne Countrey to see his Wife and Child whome hee so well loued then anone he saw the Griffen who had seene Huon rise vp then she came with her mouth open to haue deuoured Huon but hee was replenished with his Prowesse and came against the Griffen who had her pawes readie open to haue griped Huon but hee who was light and quicke gaue the Griffen such a stroake with his Swoord that he strake off one of her feete by the ioynt and so the Griffen fell to the earth and gaue such a crie that the young Griffens being in their nest in the Forrest heard the crie and knewe well that it was
comming hether he will haue of you Tribute as hee hath of other Marchants and as for your stones twoo of them that I sée yonder if you giue them for your Tribute hee will bee well content and Sir I shall aid you in your marchandize to the best of my power the Admirall is a noble man in his Lawe and of great credence Fréend quoth Huon I thanke you for the courtesie that you shew mee but Sir I pray you shew me the stones that be of so much vertue I would haue the best laid apart from the other When Barnard heard howe Huon desired him to shewe the vertue of the stones then especially hee shewed Huon sixe stones and he drew them out from the rest and laide them vppon Huons shéeld and so chose out Thirtie other and shewed them all vnto Huon and sayd Sir these Thirtie stones that I haue layde vppon your sheeld are of so great value that there is neither King nor Emperour that can pay the value of them and especially of fiue of them and when Huon heard that he was right ioyfull Then hee would hide no longer himselfe from Barnard and also because of the great heat that hee was in he did put off his helmet the which hee kept on all that season because he would first know of Barnard some tidings ere hée would be knowne vnto him for hee knew his Coozen Barnard well ynough at his first comming vnto him Chap. CXIIII ¶ How Huon of Bourdeaux and Barnard his Cozen acknowledged themselues eache to other and shewed the discourse of their aduentures WHen Barnard sawe Huon put off his helmet hee became as ruddie as a Rose and was so rauished that he wist not what to say or thinke and sayde Sir I cannot say truly what you bee but you resemble so much like Huon whome I séeke for that I cannot tel whether you be he or not Coozen quoth Huon come hether vnto mee and embrace me I am hée whom you doe seeke for and so they embraced each other in such wise that of a long space they could not speake one to another at last Huon sayde My right deare Coozen I pray you shewe vnto mée all the newes that you know of Bourdeaux since my departing Sir quoth Barnard I shall shewe you that I would faine know my selfe but first Sir I pray you shew vnto mee the aduentures that you haue hadde since your departing from Bourdeaux Coozen quoth Huon if I should shew you all the Aduentures and Fortunes that I haue had since my departing from you it would be ouer-long to rehearse it but breefely I shall declare it vnto you When I was vppon the Sea a great Tempest rose vppon vs the which continued the space of Ten dayes without ceasing and then Huon shewed him how he was in the Gulfe and what perill he was in there and how he spake with Iudas and how he arriued at the Castle of the Adamant and how his companie there died by famine and how he entred into the Castle and slewe the Serpent and shewed him of the beautie and aduentures that were in the Castle and how he was borne vnto a Rocke by a Griffen and how he slew the fiue young Griffens and afterward the great Griffen whose foote was in the Ship the which hee shewed vnto Sir Barnard and discoursed of the Fountaine and Garden and Trée of youth and of the Shippe the which they were in and how he found it by the Riuer and how by the voice of the Angell he entred into the Shippe and afterwards hee shewed what great paine and perill hée suffered in passing the Gulfe of Persia and howe hee was perforce driuen a shoare and there he cast in the stones thinking it had been grauell and how he was as then come and arriued at the great Citie of Thauris in Persia When Barnard had well heard and vnderstood Huon he embraced him and sayd Ah right deare and vertuous Knight to whome in prowesse and hardinesse none can bee compared of your comming I ought to bee ioyfull and I thanke our Lord God of the grace that he hath sent you Sir quoth Huon I ought greatly to thanke our Lorde Iesus Christ in that I sée you in good health and nowe I pray you to shewe mee what hath fallen in the Countrey of Bourdeaux since I departed from thence Then Barnard all wéeping shewed him euerie thinge as it had fallen and shewed vnto Huon the manner howe the good Citie of Bourdeaux was taken and of the death of the old Gerames and his companie and of the taking of the noble Duchesse the faire Escleremond and how the Emperour held her in prison in the Citie of Mayence in great pouertie and misery and of his Daughter Clariet howe he had brought her vnto the Abbey of Cluny and set her in keeping there with the Abbot her Coozen When Huon had well vnderstoode Barnard hee made great sorrow in his heart and sayd if God would ayd and helpe him hee would cause the Emperour to die an euill death Sir quoth Barnard will you appease your selfe if you haue trust in our Lord God desire of him aid succour and let the whéele of fortune runne and if you doe thus and take in woorth any thing that is fallen vnto you you shall not faile but come vnto your desire thus with such words Barnard appeased Huon his Coozen and thus they deuised together of diuers things Coozen quoth Huon I pray you to shewe mee the vertue of these precious stones that you haue layd aside from the other Sir quoth Barnard the fiue that lyeth there by themselues haue great vertue this stone is of such great vertue that he that beareth it vppon him cannot bee poysoned also it is of such dignitie and woorth that whosoeuer doe beare it may go and come thorow fire without féeling of any heate though hee were in a hot burning Ouē also if a man fall into the water hauing this stone about him hee cannot sinke nor drowne Sir this is the vertue of this first stone Then Huon tooke it and kept it for himselfe and then Barnard tooke vp another and sayd Sir heere is another stone of such vertue that a man bearing it about him can haue neither hunger thirst nor colde nor shall not waxe elder by séeming neither in bodie nor visage but he shall euer seeme to bée of the age of Thirtie yeares nor fasting shall not impaire him Then Huon tooke that stone and put it into his bagge and said that hee would keepe that stone for himselfe Well quoth Barnard Sir heere is another of such bountie and vertue that he that beareth it cannot bee hurt in armes nor vanguished by his enemies and if any of his kinne were blind and touch but his eyes with this stone incontinent he shall sée againe and if the stone be shewed vnto a mans eyes he shall incontinent bée blind and if a man be wounded doe but turne this stone
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
the which was parted and deuided to such as it appertained so that they were all made rich Then the Admirall and Huon departed from the playnes of Rames and then they went and lodged in the Towne and in the morning they determined to tarie there three dayes to refresh them and vppon the fourth day they departed because it was shewed them how that the Souldan was departed from Sayre and gone by sea with a small companie to the Citie of Acres Then the Admirall and Huon drewe their Hoast towards Napelous and there taried two dayes and from thence they went to Iene and so to the Citie of Nazareth and visited that holy place whereas the Angell brought the salutation Angel-like to the Virgin Marie Then from thence they went to the Castle of Saffet and tooke it with assault and slew all them that were within it except such as would beléeue in our Lord Iesus Christ and then from thence they went and lodged within halfe a League of Acres and there pitcht vp their Tents and Pauillions and when they were all lodged their Foragers ranne abroad and brought to the Hoast great plentie of victuals often times they skirmished before the Citie of Acres But they coulde neither finde man nor woman that durst yssue out to doe any deede of armes there they lay eight dayes and no man did them any dammage for the Paynims and Sarazins were so affraid for the great losse and dammage that they had suffered that they durst not stirre nor make any semblance And the Souldan who was within wrote Letters into all his Countreys as well into Arabia Egipt Barbary and Europe as to all other his Fréends that they would come and succour him at his neede he sent diuers Messengers both by land and by sea and also hée sent into Antioch and into Damas and to all other places wheras he thought to haue any ayd or succour and vpon a day two Foragers of the Admirals went foorth vppon the Sea-side and they found by the way Trampoiguiffle the Souldans Messenger they tooke and brought him into the Admirals Tent and there hee was examined and his Letters taken from him the which were seene and read before the Admirall and Huon the which when they heard it and the contents therof thereby they knewe somewhat of the Souldans counsaile then they tooke the Messenger and brought him before the Citie of Acres and made there a paire of Gallowes and hanged vp the Messenger within the sight of the Souldan and of them there within the Citie The same day the Admirall assembled his Lordes and Barons in his Tent and said vnto them Sirs all you that bee heere assembled know that I haue great desire to know what thing is best to be done and how we shall vse our selues in this warre that we haue begunne you know well that the Victorie by the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and by the hye prowesse of Huon wee haue now obtained and haue heere our enemie inclosed who cannot flye except it be by the sea therefore I desire you all that euerie one of you will shew your aduise what is best to be done and that to morrowe about this time to giue me an answeare Then all the Lordes and Barons aduised together and so amonge them was diuers opinions and reasons howbeit they departed euerie man to their owne lodging because they had day of answeare and the next day following thus the day passed without any thinge done and at night euerie man went to rest except such as had the charge of the watch that night who went not to bed as is the order and custome of the warres Huon taried all that night in the Admirals Tent and about the houre of midnight Huon dreamed in his sleepe and thought that he was at the Citie of Mayence in prison and sawe the Emperour of Almaine take Escleremond his Wife out of prison and she séemed vnto him pale and leane and ill coloured and howe shee was in her Kirtle and her haire hanging about her shoulders and ten men leading her out of the Town to be burnt and he thought that she made pitious complaints for Huon her Husband and for Clariet her Daughter And also hee thought that he saw passe through the streets three Hundred Genlemen who had beene taken at Bourdeaux when the Citie was taken and he thought that he saw diuers Gallowes made and howe the Emperour had sworne to hang them all so that hee thought that hee was right sorrowful and sore gréeued in his mind to see that companie led toward their deaths for in his sleepe hee thought verily that all this had beene true and that he could not helpe it Thus as Huon was in this paine sleeping he gaue an horrible crie so that the Admirall and Barnard awoake therewith in hast thinkinge it had beene their enemies that had entred to haue slaine them then they heard Huon say Oh good Lord I pray thée euen for thy Sons sake and by thy pittie and grace to succour and comfort my good Wife for certainly I cannot tell but my heart thinketh that the false Emperour will cause her to die and all the other Prisoners Then the Admirall and Barnard arose vp and came vnto Huon and had well heard his complaints and sayd Ah Sir discomfort not your selfe nor giue no faith nor credence to dreames for the Emperour will neuer doe such a villany as to put to death so noble a Ladie it is nothinge but your thought and remembraunce that you haue dayly the which in the night representeth vnto you sléeping Ah Sir quoth Huon I cannot beleeue but that my Wife hath somewhat to do Alas too long haue I taried here but if your warres were at an end I would gladly go my way for I shall neuer haue ioy at my heart vntill I may knowe the troth Then they arose for it was day and the appointed houre was come that al the Lords of the counsaile should assemble together in the Admirals Tent and euerie man sat downe vppon benches well couered with cloath of gold and other rich clothes of silke and when they were there assembled the Marshall arose vp for he was a right sage wise man and sayd Sir Admirall wee haue communed together and debated the matter at length and wee haue had diuers opinions but wee bee all concluded to say nothing vntill that Huon who is there by you hath shewed first his opinion what hee thinketh is best to bee done in this matter for it is good reason that hee bee heard to speake first and then the Admirall beheld Huon and sayd My deare Freend you heare what my Lordes and Barons haue concluded together and how they all rest vppon you that first you shall say your aduise wherefore I require you for the loue of our Lord God to shewe mee what I ought to doe as you thinke best Chap. CXXIX ¶ How Huon of Bourdeaux counsailed the Admirall of Persia to
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
knowledge for a more noble man courteous and liberall you shall not find vpon this side of the Sea Fréend quoth Huon your courtesie may auaile you Then Huon went into the Hall whereas hee found the Abbot with his Brethren and then hee saluted the Abbot and all his Couent Fréend quoth the Abbot you are welcome I pray you to shewe mée from whence you come Sir quoth Huon I shall shew you the troth I come now from beyond the Sea from the holy City of Ierusalem whereas I haue kissed the holy Sepulchre and where our Lord Iesus Christ was quicke and dead I haue béen in those parts more then Seauen yéeres and the cause why I am come hether to sée you is this I found there a young Knight of mine age named Huon of Bourdeaux and he sayd that he is your Nephew and when he saw that I would depart from thence to come into his Countrey he humbly prayed mée to recommend him vnto you and therefore I am come vnto you to doe his messuage for he and I hath been together in diuers Battailes and great amitie haue béen betweene vs. When the good Abbot had well heard and vnderstood the Pilgrim many teares fell from his eyes and trickled downe his chéekes when he heard his Nephew Huon named and saide Fréende I pray you if it bee true as you say to shew mée the troth if you haue séen my Nephew Huon for it is he that I loue best in all this world and desire most to sée him and I pray you to shewe vnto mée what is his minde either to returne hether or else to abide there still I would to God that I were in debt to pay a thousand Markes of gould so that hee were as now héere in this Hall Sir quoth Huon your Nephew whome you desire so much to sée before a Moneth be past he will by the grace of God bee héere with you and Sir hee shewed mée at my departing from him that he hath a Daughter whom you haue nourished and brought vp and he charged me greatly that I should desire of you to sée her before I departed from you he knoweth not whether she bee aliue or dead I woulde gladly sée her if it were your pleasure Fréend quoth the Abbot right gladly you shall sée her I shall cause her to come hether and then you may sée her at your ease and I dare well say vnto you that in all the world you shall find no fairer nor a sweeter creature nor more wiser of her age nor better learned and yet she is but Ten yeares of age When Huon vnderstood the Abbot you may well know that hee hadde great ioy at his heart priuily and thanked our Lord Iesus Christ Then the Abbot called vnto him a right notable Knight named Sir Emerie and commaunded him to goe and fetch thether his Néece Clariet the Knight went into the chamber whereas the faire Ladie was with other foure noble Ladies who had brought her vp then Sir Emerie saluted the Ladie and the other that were with her When the young Ladie perceiued Sir Emerie she arose vp and rendred to him his salutation and right humbly saying Sir Knight I am ioyfull of your commig I pray you to shewe mee of your newes and tidinges Certainly faire Ladie quoth the Knight hether is come a Pilgrim who is come from beyond the Sea and hee hath shewed vnto the Abbot your Vncle tidinges of your Father Duke Huon therefore your Vncle desireth you to come and speake with him When the Ladie heard speaking of her Father with all her heart she desired to knowe some certaine tidinges and then shee and her Damsels departed out of the Chamber and came into the Hall to the Abbot her Vncle accompanied with twoo notable Knightes then shee entred into the Hall richly apparelled no man could describe her beautie for shee was so well fourmed that nature her selfe could not amend her her skinne was as white as the flower in the meadowe and coloured like the red Rose her haunches lowe and her pappes somewhat rysing her throat smooth and cleare her chinne vaunted her mouth as vermeill as a Rose her téeth small and well ranged and white her face white and well coloured mingled white and red her eyes smiling her chéere amourous to behoulde her nose straight her fore-head white her haire yellowe and her eares gentle and close I cannot deuise the tenth part of her excellent beautie none could regard her nor looke vppon her but that praised and loued her all her beautie and sweete demeanour and great humilitie that was in her if I shoulde héere describe it it would bee ouer-long to rehearse When Huon had well séene his Daughter Clariet who was so faire hee gladly behelde her without making of any knowledge Then the Abbot tooke his Néece by the hand and ledde her vnto Huon and said Pilgrim how say you by her shee hath not beene sore trauailed nor much come in the Sunne I haue kept her a long time and if she be garnished with beauty in like wise so she is with witte and bountie shee is Daughter vnto Duke Huon of Bourdeaux the man that I most loue in this world I woulde to God that I did sée him as I doe you nowe but if God send mee life and health this Ladie shall bee richly maried I will giue her goods that she shal be rich and puissant Sir quoth Huon I pray to our Lord Iesus Christ to giue her good fortune and that shee may bee so maried that her bloud thereby may be lifted vp and exalted then the faire Ladie Clariet sayd vnto Huon Sir Pilgrim I pray you to shewe me if you know any tidings of my Father Duke Huon of Bourdeaux Faire Ladie quoth Huon hee and I together haue beene a long time beyond the Sea and Companions together and we sought the Souldan of Babilon that nowe is it is not hee that was set there by Huon after that he had slaine the great Admirall Gaudise it is another who since that time conquered both the Citie and the Countrey of Egipt many aduentures Huon and I haue suffered but at the end wee discomfited the Souldan and his men are slaine and destroyed Pilgrim quoth the faire Ladie Clariet I require you to shew me if you know whether my deare Father will returne hether again or no the which is the thing in the world that I most desire Faire Ladie quoth he I answeare you that before twoo Moneths bee passed you shall sée him héere in good health I pray vnto our Lord God quoth the Ladie that it may be so that he may deliuer my Mother out of the prison whereas shee is in great pouertie and miserie When Huon had well heard and vnderstood his Daughter he would no longer hide himselfe but sayd My right deare Daughter before August be passed I shall deliuer her or die in the paine for I shall make such warre against the Emperour Tirrey
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
it had béene better for mee neuer to haue béene borne for I sée well that héere I must dye Alas I wot not whether to goe for in this Isle is neither man nor woman to whome I may goe for any refuge Thus sore complayning the Ladie went downe the Mountaine and by that time the Shippe that she came in was floated away and as shee looked into the Sea shee sawe a great Shippe comming towards the Port for fresh water and for wood and when shee sawe that she was right ioyfull and thanked our Lord Iesus Christ and she thought that they had béene Christian men but they were Sarazins Paynims and with them was a King who was their Lord and Soueraigne he was king of Granado and was returning into his Countrey but hee had such fortune vppon the Sea that hee was constrained to come thether then they cast anchor anâ— tooke land and the King when hee saw the Ladie vppon the Sea-side hee demaunded of her what shee was and of what Countrey Sir quoth shée séeing you will know of mine estate I shall shew you then the Ladie shewed before all them that were there present how shee was Daughter to Duke Huon of Bourdeaux and shewed all the aduenture that was fallen vnto her When the Sarazin Kinge heard that hee was right ioyfull and sayd Faire Ladie it is happie for you that I haue found you for I haue no Wife you shall be my Wife and ly with me this night but first you must denie your Lawe and beléeue vppon the Law of Mahomet vppon whome I doe beléeue When the faire Ladie heard the Paynim King shee sayd God forbid that I should leaue the Law of Iesus Christ to beléeue in the Law of Mahomet I had rather haue all my members drawne one péece from another with wild horses then to be wedded wife to such a kind of man as you bée When the King heard the Damsell that shee set so little by him hee had great displeasure thereat and lifted vp his hand and gaue her vppon the chéeke such a blow that the bloud ran out of her mouth and nose so that she fell to the earth whereof he was sore blamed of his men and hee said vnto them Why Sirs did you not heare how shee despised our Law and set no more by me then if I had béen but a boy then he commaunded that they should take and cast her into the Sea and he departed from her in great displeasure that shee answeared him so rudely Then the Sarazins came and tooke the Ladie rudely and caried her into the Ship and so saued her but the King knewe not thereof Then when the King came againe to the Shippe they drew vp their anchors and hoysed vp sayle and had good wind then as the King walked vp and downe in the Shippe he saw the Damsell within the Shippe whereof hee was sore abashed for he thought that his men had drowned her then he looked vppon her and thought that hee neuer saw so faire a Ladie and so he desired her with all his heart and sayd vnto her Faire Lady now you be here your deniall shall not auaile you for this night you shall lye with mee When the faire Ladie Clariet heard the Paynim King deuoutly she called vppon our Lord God and humbly required him to preserue her virginity and to bringe her out of the handes of the Sarazins and then she knéeled down before the King humbly desiring him to haue pittie of her and sayd how she was content to follow his pleasure assoone as he came into his owne Countrey Well quoth the King whether you will or not you must suffer my pleasure for I will not depart from you vntill I haue lyne with you one night and that I may hold you in mine armes and when shée vnderstood him shée beganne sore to weepe desiring God to aid and succour her at that time for otherwise shee sawe well that she was but lost Therewith there arose so great a wind and so horrible that the Sea that was calme and peaceable began to arise and the wind was so great that whether the Sarazins would or not it behooued them to abandon their Shippe to the winde whereof they were in such feare that the Kinge and all other had great doubt of their deathes for their sayles were all to torne with the wind and néere hand the Shippe perished they cryed and called vpon their God Mahomet for succor and ayd The King was in such feare that he had now no list to desire the faire Ladie Clariet of her loue who was sore afrayd and pale for feare this torment Tempest endured all the night and they were driuen the same night beyond Valencia the great and in the morning they saw the Towne of Tours to the which Port the wind draue them and when the Paynims saw that they were arriued there they were right sorrowfull for they knew well that the Towne was christened they sawe no way howe to eschew it but they had rather to â—e as slaues all their liues then to be drowned in the Sea The same time there was arriued at the same Port a noble Knight named Sir Peter of Aragon and when hee sawe the other Shippe comming to the Port by constraint of the winde and saw well without it were succoured the shippe should be perished against the Rocke whereby they within and all the riches should de perished and drowned then he cryed to the Galleys that lay in the Port to goe and succour that strange ship and then the Marriners went to the Sea and came to the Ship When the Sarazins sawe that the were in great feare to bee slaine then there came two Paynims to the Damsell to haue taken her and to haue cast her into the Sea Then shee tooke the Mask of the Ship in her armes and held it so fast that they could not drawe her from it then the Aragonoyse began to approach to the Shippe and cast their hookes to ioyne together The Ladie in the Shippe had great feare the which was no maruaile howbeit she was ioyfull when she knew that they that came were christened then the Aragonoys by the cordes and roapes entred into the shippe and when Peter of Aragon and his companie were entred into the Shippe he saw the Ladie sore weeping then hée demaunded of the Sarazins where they had gotten that Princesse right now quoth hee I sawe howe you would haue taken her and cast her into the Sea if I had not come hastely then one of them said Sir wee bee of Granado and fortune of the Sea hath driuen vs hether we be readie to bee your slaues or else to pay raunsome at your pleasure Paynims quoth Peter all the gould in the world shall not saue your liues none of you shall escape then hée commanded that they should bee all slaine and that none shall escape aliue the which was done incontinent all were slaine except the King
I thanke God I haue had good fortune and Sir I shall shew you one thing that I haue wonne whereof I am most ioyfull then he shewed him the Damsell who was sober and sad and shewed him how hée wanne her When Florence saw the Ladie his heart sprang for ioy and the more hee beheld her the more fairer she séemed and the Damsell beheld him right humbly and she thought that she neuer saw a fairer young man before nor better made nor fourmed of all his members Florence so behelde the Damsell by reason whereof the dart of loue strake him to the heart whereof the wounde coulde not be lightly healed I may well say that in all the world in that time could not be found againe two such persons for the great beauty wherewith they were garnished could not be described for God and nature had forgotten nothing in forming of them swéetly they regarded each other at that time if Florence had knowne that shee had béene the faire Clariet of Bourdeaux hee would haue married her incontinent she was greatly taken in the loue of Florence and so was hee with her then hee desired with all his heart to knowe what shee was for his heart gaue him that she should be come of some noble bloud and sayd vnto himselfe that hee desired much to knowe it and that in all the world there was nothing hee loued so well and thought that without her loue hee could not long endure thinking to desire her to take him for her Louer and that if shee refused him that short should be his life but thought to bee so bolde as to speake to her Thus Florence taken with the fire of loue tooke the faire Damsell by the lilly white hand and caused her to sitte downe by him then he drew her a little apart to the entent that none should heare him and then hee sayd Faire Damsell you bee welcome into these parts I pray you to shew me what you be and of what Lineage Sir quoth the Damsell little shall you winne when you know the certaine what I am but since it pleaseth you to know I shall shew you Sir know for troth I am Daughter to a poore honest man of the Countrey and in times past was one of the Chamberers with the Duchesse Escleremond of Bourdeaux and Sir by great treason I was stollen away whereby since I haue suffered much pouertie so that if God and this noble man Peter of Aragon had not rescued me I had beene lost for euer and therefore Sir since I am poore and desolate I require you in the honor of our Lord God that you will not require mee of any villanie against my bodie and honestie neither in word nor deede and sir I beleue suerly no more ye thinke to doe for I had rather be hewen all to péeces then any creature should haue pleasure of my bodie without I were maried Faire Damsell quoth hee I sweare by God that mee created that of mee nor of any other man liuing you shall not be desired against your honour for I know no man liuing that would require you of any dishonour or say any thing that should not be agréeable vnto you but I shall make him to die of an ill death and I will that you know that from hencefoorth I will bee your true Louer and none shall make departure of vs two and if it were so that my Father were dead I would neuer haue other Wife but you Sir quoth the Ladie I pray you to forbeare speaking of any such wordes for it were not méete for the Sonne of a King so to debase himselfe as to set his loue vppon so poore a Mayd as I am beware how you set your heart to loue for if the Kinge your Father perceiue any thinge that you should set your loue vppon mee he would soone put me to death therewith she cast downe her head and sayd to her selfe Ah good Lord if this young Prince knewe surely what I were it might well be that hee would haue mee in marriage as yet in all my life I neuer set my loue vppon any person but this young man whome I neuer sawe before it maketh me to thinke that which I neuer thought before that it maketh my bloud and all my members to tremble I am in worse case for his loue then he is for me therewith shee began sore to wéepe When Florence saw her he was right sorrowfull and sayde Faire Damsell I require you to take mee for your true and faithfull Seruant otherwise I cannot sée howe I shall liue long Sir quoth she I am well content to graunt you my loue so that your deed and thought be vppon goodnesse and honour for if I may perceiue in any manner that your thought bee otherwise you haue lost my loue for euer Faire Loue quoth Florence haue no doubt thereof that euer I shall haue any thought of villany against you Thus as yée haue heard was the first acquaintance betwéene these two Louers that is to say the faire ladie Clariet Daughter to Duke Huon of Bourdeaux and of Florence Sonne to the King of Aragon Chap. CLII. ¶ How the King forbad his Sonne Florence that he should not be so hardy as to fall acquainted with the faire Ladie Clariet and how Florence promised the Kinge his Father to deliuer into his handes the King of Nauarre Prisoner in case that he would bee content at his returne that he might haue the new found Damsell the which thinge the King promised but hee did it not for he made the Damsell to be taken and had drowned her if Peter of Aragon had not beene who rescued and saued her from the death WHen Florence had long deuised with the Damsell he tooke his leaue of her and of Peter of Aragon his Cozen and then he returned to the King his Father and the next day hee went againe to the Damsels lodging So often he resorted thether that great brute ranne in the Pallaice and also in the Towne how that Florence was amorous of the Damsell that Sir Peter of Aragon had brought thether and the matter at the last was shewed to Kinge Garyn his Father wherewith hee was so sorrowfull that hee was all in a rage and sayd within himselfe Ah good lord this new found Damsell will winne my Sonne if shee can and get him from me I know well that by reason of the great beautie that is in her my Sonne will be enamoured of her but by the God that I beléeue vppon if I sée that my Sonne either goe or come vnto her as it is sayd he doth that acquaintance shall be déerely bought for with mine owne hands I shall slay her Right sorrowfull and angry was King Garyn with his Sonne Florence and with the Damsell then hee sent for his Sonne and when hee was before him the King demaunded of him fiercely from whence hee came Sir quoth Florence I haue béene a sporting in my Cozen Peter of
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
may bee to your pleasure Daughter Oliue quoth the Emperour for the loue of you I haue entertained this Squier to serue you Father quoth Oliue I thanke you for it séemeth that hee is come of a good Stocke and I had no Seruant a great season that better contented me then the Emperour sayd vnto Ide My Freend serue me well behold héere my Daughter whom I loue entirely and to whom I deliuer you to serue her I haue no moe Children but shee and therefore serue her truely as a man ought to doe that is come of such a Lineage as you are if you serue her well and truely you had neuer in all your life so good aduenture Sir quoth Ide I shall doe so much that by the grace of God you and shee shall bée well content and Sir there is nothing lightly but I can doe it to serue a noble man and in the warre I shall defend my selfe I trust aswell as another and also I can serue at a Table before a King or Quéene Fréend quoth the Emperour if you can doe thus as you say you are welcome hether and you shall fare the better and I am ioyfull of your comming to serue me you shall neuer haue néede to goe out of my seruice When Ide heard the Emperour shee humbly thanked him and thus was Ide entertained with the Emperor whereas she did so much by her good seruice that the Emperor his daughter and all they of the Court loued and praised her and the Damsell Oliue often times gladly regarded Ide and began in her heart sore to loue her and Ide who perceiued her prayed our Lord God that he would so deale that shée bee not accused neither of man nor woman Shée gaue almes often times to poore men and she visited gladly the holy Church she demeaned her selfe in such wise that of euerie man she was beloued praised often times shee prayed to God for King Florence her Father although she was chased and fled out of her Countrey by his occasion and cause yet shee alwaies prayed to God that she might be agréed with him Thus this Damsell I de was in this danger seruing the Emperour and his Daughter Oliue the space of two Moneths and on a day she was in the Pallaice with the Emperour and thether came in great hast a Messenger and came and saluted the Emperour and sayd Sir knowe for troth that the Kinge of Spaine with great puissance is entred into your Empire of Rome and wasteth all before him with fire and sword many a Romane he hath slaine and he hath sworne by his Law that before a moneth bee passed hee will bee within your Cittie of Rome with all his puissance and hee sayth that hee will haue his pleasure of your Daughter and to make you to die a shamful death because you haue refused to giue him your Daughter in mariage Sir it had béen better for you that he had maried your Daughter then so many men should haue béene slaine so many Townes burnt and destroyed and Castles beaten downe Sir goe quickely against him and defend your Coūtrey or else you shall sée him shortly pitch vp his Tents Pauillions before this City When the Emperour heard the messenger he studied a great season and looked vpon Ide and said Fréend counsaile mee for I thought full little that these men of warre would haue come vppon me and nowe they wast and destroy my Land Sir quoth Ide trouble not your selfe for it comfort your selfe and reioice your Lordes and Seruants and lette mee haue men to fight with them and I will looke vppon them before they come any néerer and by the grace of God I shall cause them to buy déerely the destruction that they haue made in your Countrey if God saue my life my sword hold When the Emperour heard the valiant courage of Ide he praised her much in his heart and sayd Fréend your reason pleaseth mee well and therefore I shall doe you that honour as to make you a Knight whereby your Prowesse and hardinesse shall increase Sir quoth Ide of the honour that you will doe to me I am right ioyfull and I thanke you thereof then the Emperor came vnto Ide and guirt about him a good sword and a rich it was so good that there was none like it in goodnes neither sharper nor harder and then the Emperour gaue her the necke-stroake of Knighthood and sayd Ide remember this order the which you haue receiued this day and I pray God that it may be to the increase of your honour and eue◠beware that your thoughts be not light nor wauering but rather sage discréet and temperate and bee hardy in Battaile and cast away from you all feare and when you haue wonne any goods or riches kéepe them not locked in your Coffers but distribute them to poore Knightes the which shall increase and exalt your honour and alwaies loue the holy Church if you do thus you cannot faile to come to great honour and euer shew your vertue against your enemies Sir quoth Ide by the grace of God I shall so doe and there is no Spaniard but that shall wish himselfe to be on the other side of the Sea then euerie man arrayed them in the Pallaice and in the Cittie then Trumpets Drummes and Hornes beganne to sound in the Citie so that all the Chiualrie and Communaltie of the Citie were ready armed then they came all before the Pallaice and presented themselues to the Emperor who did command them that day to follow and obey the commaundement of Ide whom he committed that day to doe and be as chéefe Captaine said Sirs looke that you doe as much for him as you would doe for me and yée know well that I am old and féeble and can beare armour no longer nor I am not able to ride as I might haue done before this time wherefore I desire you and also commaund you all on paine of your liues to doe euerie thing as he commaundeth in stead of mee aswell as though I did commaund you in mine owne person for hee that doth the contrarie he shall lose his head without any other redemption Then they all said they would so doe since it was his pleasure Then the noble Emperor caused Ide to be richly armed and then deliuered him his owne horse who was so good that his like could not be found in any Countrey then I de mounted vp quickly with helmet shéeld and a good Speare and I de tooke leaue of the Emperor and of the Ladie Oliue so road through the Citie of Roome with all his Hoast when they were without the Citie I de ordained Thrée Battailes the two first battailes were ledde by twoo great Lordes and the Third Ide did guide and thus with banners displayed they aduaunced foorth towards their enemies The Spaniards thought surely that all had been theirs because they saw of all the way that they had come no