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
perforce wée shall bee the first that shall receiue death and because I sée well that I cannot escape from hence I require you my deare Fréend and by the troth that you beare vnto Huon my Lord and yours that incontinent you take my deare Daughter Clariet whome I hold héere in mine armes and finde some meanes that you may depart out of this Citie and beare her straight to the Abbey of Cluny the which is in Burgoyne and deliuer her into the kéeping of the Abbot there and recommend me vnto him hée is Vncle to my Husband Huon and great Vncle to my Childe Lady quoth Bernard I know well that if I be taken here I shal be vtterly slaine howbeit if I could sée or knowe that my abiding héere could aid or succour you both for mine honour and for the loue of my good Lord and Maister Huon I woulde neuer depart hence from you but my resistance and force is but of small value and because I woulde serue you as I am bounde to doe I am readie sournished to take vppon mee that aduenture as to beare your Child away and to set her in sauegard by the grace of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ When the Duchesse vnderstood Barnard she was well comforted and as for her selfe shee regarded neither her life nor death when shee knewe that her Child should be saued Then shée deliuered her Childe vnto Barnard to the entent that in the night time hée should yssue out Then the Emperour and his Lordes came before the Castle and when the Duchesse knewe that shee came to the gate and at a windowe shee desired to speake with the Emperour who was there readie present and said Madame say what you will to mée at your pleasure and when shée sawe the Emperour shee sayd Sir I knowe well that you are the head and cheefest of all the christened and noblest whereby you are bound to defend and to kéepe from ill all noble men and women I that am the Daughter of an high and mightie Emperour and that for the loue of my good Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ haue forsaken mine owne false béeléefe to beléeue vppon the Christian faith Sir I require you for his sake that made and created you to haue pitie and compassion of mée and of all those that be héere with mée to respite our liues and to put from you all rancour and malice and pardon them that nothing had to doe with the beginning of this warre When the Emperour hadde heard the reasonable request of this faire Ladie hee cast from him all the mortall hate that hée had vnto her and vnto them that were within the Castle with her Then hée mooued with pitie and compassion of the noble Ladie aunsweared and sayde Madame for the loue of our Lord Iesus Christe I repell from mée all my displeasure so that you render vnto mee this Castle and to put it vnder mine obeysance to vse it at my pleasure and to yéelde your bodie as my Prisoner and all those that be within and thus you shall haue all your liues saued Sir quoth the Duchesse laude and praise bee giuen to our Lord Iesus Christ for this grace that you shewe vnto mée and to my companie Then the Emperour went backe and made expresse commandement throuhout the Citie that no man should bée so hardy as to doe any hurt or iniurie to any manner of person within the Citie but to suffer euerie man to abide in their owne houses peaceably without killinge whereof the Burgesses and communaltie of the Citie were right ioyfull Thus as yée haue heard the Citie of Bourdeaux was taken by the Emperour who was chosen in Almaine and committed by the Emperour Charlemaine vntill his Sonne Lewis shoulde bée of full age and able to rule the Empire Chap. CV ¶ How the Duchesse Escleremond deliuered her Daughter Clariet to Barnard to beare vnto the Abbot of Cluny of whome the Abbot was right ioyfull YEE haue heard the pitiful taking of the Citie of Bourdeaux and of the treatie and appointment that the Duchesse Escleremond had made with the Emperour when shee had made her appointment shee went vnto her companie pitiously weeping and shewed them all the manner of her treatie whereof euerie person was glad that their liues should bée saued but they made great sorrowe for that the Duchesse should become a Prisoner and then she called Barnard and sayd Sir when it is night yssue out by the Posterne with my Daughter Clariet and beare her vnto the good Abbot of Cluny who is her great Vncle. Madame quoth hée bée of good cheere and by the grace of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ I shall not rest twoo nights in one place vntill I haue deliuered your daughter vnto the good Abbot of Cluny her great Vncle. Then Barnard tooke leaue of the Duchesse who kissed her Daughter at her departing sore wéeping and pitifully complayning There was a Posterne that opened into the féeldes and it was so small that Barnard was faine to leade his horse in his hand the night was dark but he knew well the waies afterwards he mounted on his horse with the Childe in his armes and so road foorth and passed the Landes of Bourdeaux and was neuer séene by any mortall man vntill the next day he road so all the night that his horse was wearie And when hee sawe that hee was past all daungers and escaped all perils then hee road at his ease for loue of the Child and he complained greatly for the good horse Amphage that Huon had left in his kéeping vntill his returne but hee durst not take that Horse with him for feare that hée should haue dealt the worse with the Ladie Escleremond the which had béene true for the Emperour loued the horse so well that he desired more to haue the horse againe then for to winne the Citie and therefore Barnard durst not take the Horse with him So long Barnard road that hée arriued at Monglew the which is called Lyon on the Riuer of Roane and from thence hée road to Mascon and from thence he rested not vntill he came to the Abbey of Cluny and then hée alighted and desired to speake with the Abbot and when the Abbot sawe Barnard with a Child in his armes hee had great maruaile thereof and when Barnard sawe the Abbot all wéeping hee saluted him and said Sir the right desolate Duches of Bourdeaux your Néece and wise vnto the Duke Huon of Bourdeaux your Nephew hath sent héere vnto you her Daughter Clariet Then the good Abbot embraced him and tooke the child and kissed it more then twentie times and demaunded why hée brought the Child vnto him Sir quoth Barnard the Citie of Bourdeaux hath beene besieged by the Emperour of Almaine and so straightly kept that it was néere hand famished many Knightes that were within are slaine so that Huon your Nephewe by the counsaile of the Duchesse his wife and consent of all
sorrie that it endured so long When the King of Nauarre saw that all his men were yssued out of the Citie then hee withdrewe him into his Tent and he closed in the Citie with a siege abiding vntill the Truce was expired Now let vs leaue to speake of this warre betwéene these two Kinges and speake of Florence who sayled vppon the Sea with his Loue Clariet Chap. CLVIII ¶ How the Shippe wherein Florence was and his Loue was taken by the Sarazins and all their companie taken and slaine and ledde to the Castle of Anfalerne THe Historie sheweth that after that Florence was departed out of his couÌ„trey with his Loue Clariet howbeit he knewe not what she was so it was that the Maister of the Shippe that he was in was of Marsellis and when hee knewe that Florence was Sonne to King Garyn of Aragon and that he had put his trust in him then hee came vnto Florence and sayd Sir the goodnesse and honour that I sée in you causeth me to say vnto you that which I would not doe to another I well perceiue by you that you are in great doubt of the King your Father least hee should follow you to get you againe but Sir to the entent that you shall be well assured of me and of my Marriners I put into your handes my selfe my Shippe and all my Marriners and I will that they obay you as they haue done mee and that you are Maister ouer vs all and Sir neuer thinke that the king of Aragon your Father shall trouble you we are farre ynough from him by the grace of God we shall so conduct you that wee shall bring you to the holy Sepulchre and afterward bring you backe to Marsellis and then from thence you may goe whether as it please you Sir quoth Florence of the honour and great courtesie that you offer me I thanke you then all they that were within the Shippe sayd Sir refuse not to be our Maister for if the winde had not béene against vs wee had béene farre off by this time Sir haue no doubt we shall all obey you and doe as you commaund vs since it is so our Maisters pleasure Sirs quoth Florence I thanke you of your offer God suffer mee to dâ—serâ—e it Florence was ioyful of the good aduenture that God had sent him and thus hee and his Loue sayled ioyfully in the Sea of Affricke So long they sayled that they passed the Isles of Corsia and Sardania and Cicilie and â—n a Wednesday betimes they arriued néere to the Isle of Candy there arose vppon them a maruailous great winde and Tempest so that perforce they were driuen to the coast of Barbary the Tempest was so great that euery man was in feare of drowning the waues were great and fearefull the Damsell was in great doubt when she saw the mariners in such feare she called deuoutly vpon our Lord Iesus Christ desiring him to haue pitie of her to bring them to a good Port. When Florence perceiued his Loue and al the Marriners in such feare as they were hee comforted them the best he could but it auailed not for the wind draue them whether they would or not towards Bongy néere to a Citie named as then Anfalerne wheras they were faine to cast their anchor in great feare of loozing of their liues Then there fell on them a Galley wherein were a Hundred Sarazins another great Ship wherein were more then foure Hundred men and they all fell vppon Florence Shippe When Florence sawe both the Ship and Galley set vppon his Ship the Maister of the Ship and the Marriners began to wéepe and said vnto Florence Ah Sir you and we all are lost we shall be all slaues with the Sarazins yonder Galley and shippe are full of Sarazins and they are ready comming to sette vppon vs. When Florence heard that he said Sir bée not abashed hee whome God will saue cannot be perished no mortall man can hurt him lette vs put our trust in him take such grace as he will send vs the great number of people cannot hurt vs if God will ayd vs lette vs shewe our selues like men they bee without law and without faith and we beléeue in God by whome wee trust to be saued let vs arme our selues and shew our selues like men to defend our liues When the Maister and the Marriners heard Florence they sayd Sir into the sauegard of our Lord Iesus Christ and to you we commit our selues then they all armed them and euerie man stoode at their defence and Florence sayd Sirs let vs all thinke that we now doe fight for our liues and therefore let vs not be abashed euerie man thinke to do his best that he can I loue by amours behold her here by whome I am so mooued to doe well and to defend both her and me Sir quoth they shame haue hee that fainteth then the Ship and Galley came néere to Florence Shippe then the shotte of both parts flewe so thicke as though it hadde béene snowe there was a great Battaile betwéene them great hurt was done with casting out of barres from the tops two times Florence entred into the Ship of his enemies whereas he did maruailes and slewe so many Sarazins that the water was red with the bloud of them that were slaine on both parts there was an horrible Battaile many of Florence men were slaine the good Maister was slaine the most part of his men Also from the land there were shotte Bombardes and Gunnes at Florence ship so that thereby and with the great barres of yron the shippe was sore impaired for it was striken thorow in a hundred places in such sort that the Sea entred in with great abundance When the Damsell saw that mortall discomfiture how their company were slaine and their ship néere full of water and saw no more persons left aliue with Florence but six she was then in great feare and she thought that shee had rather enter into the Sarazins ship then to be drowned in the Sea shee sawe the Galley the which lay ioyning to the shippe she leapt into the Galley to saue her life When Florence sawe his Loue in the Galley hée was néere out of his wits for sorrow and hee sawe well that if he tarried still in his owne shippe hée should be drowned then he leapt into the Galley whereas his Loue was and there he slew many a Sarazin but there was so much people that with force of Darts and speares hée was borne downe then they tooke and bound his handes so sore that the bloud ran out at his nailes Thus Florence was taken and all his men slaine and drowned except some that were taken then Florence wept for pitie of them sayd Ah my Father how falsly haue you wrought against me thus by your folly I am in great daunger I shall neuer returne into my Countrey without God helpe me often times hée beheld his Loue whome the
more than I haue spoken of and al by thine owne folly Chap. XXVI ¶ How Huon arriued at Tormont and found a man at a gate who brought him to lodge at the Prouosts howse in the towne AFter that OberoÌ„ had shewed Huon part of that should fall to him and was departed Huon and his company theÌ„ mounted on their horses and so rode foorth so long till they came to the cittie of Tormont Gerames who had béen there before when he saw the citie he said to Huon Alas sir we be ill ariued behould here we be in the way to suffer much trouble Sir quoth Huon be not dismaide for by the grace of god wée shall right well escape for who that God will aide no man can hurt Then they entred into the Citie as they came to the gate they met a man with a bowe in his hand who had beene a sporting without the Citie Huon road formost and saluted him in the name of God saying Fréend what call you this Citie The man stood still and had maruaile what men they were that spake of God he beheld them and said Sirs the God in whose name you haue saluted mée kéepe and defende you from incombrance howbeit I desire you in as much as you loue your liues speake softly that you bée not heard for if the Lord of this Citie knowe that you bée christian men he will slay you all sirs you may trust me for I am christened but I dare not be knowne thereof I haue such feare of the Duke Fréend quoth Huon I pray thée shew me who is Lord of this Citie what is his name Sir quoth he he is a false Tyrant when he was christened he was named Macayr but he hath renounced God he is so fierce and proud that as nowe hee hateth nothing so much as them that beléeue in Iesus Christ but Sir I pray you shewe me whether you will goe Fréend quoth Huon I would gladly goe to the red Sea and from thence to Babilon I would tarie this day in this Citie for I and my companie are sore wearie Sir quoth he and if you will beléeue me you shall not enter into this Citie to lodge for if the Duke knewe it none could saue your liues therefore if it be your pleasure I shall lead you another way beside the Towne Sir quoth Gerames for Gods sake beléeue him that counsaileth you so truly Know for troth quoth Huon I will not doe thus I sée well it is almost night the Sun goeth lowe therefore I will lodge this night héere in this Towne whatsoeuer befall for a good Towne should neuer be forsaken Sir quoth the strange man séeing it is so for the loue of God I shall bring you to a lodging whereas you shal be well and honestly lodged in a good mans house that beléeueth in God named Gonder he is Prouost of the City and well beloued with the Duke Fréend quoth Huon God reward thée so this man went on thorow the Towne vntill he came at the Prouosts house whome they founde sitting at his gate Huon that was a faire speaker saluted him in the name of God and the Prouost arose vp beheld Huon and his companie and he had great maruaile what they were séeing they saluted him in the name of God then he said Sirs you be welcome but a Gods name I desire you speake softly that you be not heard for if the Duke of this Citie knewe this you should vtterly bee loste but if it please you to tary this night héere in my house for the loue of God all that I haue in my house shall be yours to doe therewith at your pleasure I abandon all to you Sir I thanke God I haue that in my house that if you abide héere this twoo yeare you shall not néede to buy any thing without Sir quoth Huon of this faire proffer I thanke you and so he and his companie alighted and there were seruants ynough to take their Horses and to set them vp then the Host tooke Huon and Gerames and the other brought them to Chambers to dresse them then they came into the hall wheras they found the Tables set and couered and so sat downe were richly serued with diuers meats When they had done and were rysen Huon called Gerames and said Sir goe in hast into the Towne and get a cryer and cause to be cryed in euerie market place and stréete that whosoeuer will come and sup at the Prouosts house aswell noble as vnâ—â—â—le men women and children rich and poore and all manner of people of what estate or degrée soeuer they be shall come merrily and fréely and nothing pay neither for meat nor drinke whereof they should haue as they wished and also hée commaunded Gerames that all the meat that he could get in the Towne he should buy it and pay readie money for the same Sir quoth Gerames your pleasure shall be done Sir quoth the Host you know well all that is in my house I haue abandoned vnto you therefore sir you shall not néed to seeke for any thing further take of my goods at your pleasure Sir quoth Huon I thanke you I haue monney ynough to fournish all that néede and also Sir I haue a Cup of great vertue for if all the people that be within this Citie were héere present they should haue drinke ynough by reason of my Cup the which was made in Fayry Land When the Host heard Huon he began to smile beléeued that those words had béene spoken but in iest Then Huon not well aduised tooke the Horne of Iuorie from his necke and tooke it to his Host to kéepe saying mine Hoste I take you this to kéepe for it is a precious thing therefore kéepe it surely that I may haue it againe when I demaund it Sir quoth he I shall surely kéepe it and when it please you it shall bée readie and so tooke the Horne and layd it vp in a Coffer But after fell such an houre that Huon would haue had it rather then all the goods in the world as you shall heare more hereafter Chap. XXVII ¶ How Huon gaue a supper vnto all the poore men of the Citie and howe the Duke was Vncle to Huon and howe the Duke had Huon into his Castle THVS when Gerames had this commaundement of Huon he went into the Citie and made to be cryed in diuers places as he was commanded to do When this crye was made there was no Begger Vacabound nor Ribauld Iugler Minstrell old nor yong but by great flockes they came all to the Prouosts house in number more then foure hundred and Gerames bought vp bread meat flesh and other victuals all that he could finde in the Citie and payed for it thus the supper was dressed and euerie man set at the Tables Huon serued them with his Cup in his hand and made euerie man to drinke of that he put out of his Cup into other pots
you liue you shall meddle no more with that matter but by the beard that I beare on my chinne I shal neuer dine nor eate meat after this dinner til I sée him hanged and drawne for all your bearing of him against me Then he commanded the tables to be set vp and when Gerard vnderstood the king he was ioyfull thereof in his hart but he made no semblance of ioy because of the Lords that were there present When Huon and Escleremond had heard how the King had sworne the death of Huon the dolorous weepings and teares that they made were so extreame that hard it were to declare it and Escleremond sayd to Huon Ah Sir now I see well that great pitie it shall be the departing of vs two but if I had a knife I would not abide your death but first I shoulde slay my selfe before this false and vntrue king Her complaints were so pitifull that most part of the Lords wept for pitie and the old Gerames sorely wept and sayd Ah good Lord God in what howre was I borne in great dolour and paine haue I continued my youth and now in mine age thus shamefully to die Thus all three made such sorrow that it would haue made a hard heart to lament All three thought no otherwise but to die because they had heard King Charlemaine make such promise but that which God will saue no man can let and god saue the good king Oberon for king Charlemaine shal be forsworne as ye shal heare hereafter Now let vs leaue speaking of this pitious companie and speake of the noble king Oberon of the Fayrie who as then was in his wood Chap. LXXIIII ¶ How king Oberon came to succour Huon and made Gerard to confesse all the treason that he had purchased against Huon his brother YE haue heard before how King Oberon was displeased with Huon bicause he had broken his commandement But when Huon had béen at Rome and confessed all his sinnes and was assoiled of the Pope then King Oberon was content and in his heart forgaue all the ill will that he had to Huon and as he sat at dyner he began to wéepe When his Seruants saw that they had great maruaile and sayd vnto him Sir we desire you to shew vs why you doe weepe and be so troubled there is some displeasure done vnto you therefore for the loue of our Lord Iesus Christ wee desire you hide it not from vs. Sirs quoth the Kinge I remember nowe the vnhappie Huon of Bourdeaux who is returned from the farre parts and he hath passed by Rome and there hath taken his Wife in mariage and is confessed of all his sinnes for the which sinnes he hath béen by me sore punished But it is time if euer I will doe him any good now to ayd him and to succour him against King Charlemaine for he hath sworne neuer to goe to bed vntill he haue hanged drawne the poore Huon but by the grace of our Lord God Charlemaine shall bée forsworne for at this time I shall succour and ayd him for he is as now in such a danger that without he be succoured incontinent death is néere him he was neuer in his life in such perill He is now in the Pallaice at Bourdeaux his Wife the fayre Escrelemond and the old Gerames with fetters on their feete being in great sorrow and king Charlemaine is set at dinner and hath made his oath to hang Huon but yet whether hee will or not he shall be periured for I will goe to my Fréend Huon and helpe him at his neede therefore I wish my Table and all that is thereon neere to King Charlemaines Table and somewhat aboue his about two foot hyer also I will bicause I haue heard say that often times of a little Castle commeth a greater therefore I will that on my table be set my Cup my Horne and my Armour the which Huon conquered of the Gyant Angolaffer and also I wish with me a C.M. men of armes such as I was woont to haue in battaile He had no sooner said the words but by the will of god and the puissance of the Fayrie his table and all that king Oberon had wished was set iust by king Charlemaines table more higher and greater then his was When king Charlemaine saw the table and the Cuppe Horne and coate of maile he had great maruaile and said to Duke Naymes Sir Duke I beléeue you haue enchaunted mée Sir quoth the Duke neuer in my life I meâ—leâ— with any such matter the Lords such as were there were greatly abashed howe that matter came to passe Gerames who sat néere to Huon when he saw the Table the Cup and horne of Iuorie the Armour thereon he knew them well and said to Huon Sir be not dismayed for on yonder Table that you may sée is your Cup horne of Iuorie and coat of maile whereby I perceiue that you shall bée succoured by King Oberon Huon beheld the Table had great ioy when he saw it then he lifted vp his hands to heauen and thanked our Lord God that hée would visit such a poore sinner as hee was saying Ah Kinge Oberon in many great needs haue you succoured me Therewith arriued King Oberon in the Citie whereof the Burgesses the Commons were greatly abashed when they saw such a number of men of war enter into their citie without any knowledge before When king Oberon was within the Towne all his company he said to his Lords Sirs looke that you set good watch at euery gate so that no man go out the which they did diligently for at euerie gate they set x. M. men Then King Oberon tooke the way to the Pallaice and at the gate he left x. M. men commanding them vpon payn of their liues that they should not suffer any man to passe out and also he commanded that if they heard him blow his Horne of Iuorie that incontinent they should come into the Pallaice to him slay all such as they should find there Then king Oberon went vp into the Pallaice and many of his Lords with him he was richly apprrelled in cloath of gold and the border thereof was sette with rich precious stones goodly it was to behold for a fayrer little person could not be found hee passed iust by King Charlemaine without speaking of any word and went so néere to him that he shouldred him so rudely that his bonnet fell from his head Ah good Lord quoth Charlemaine I haue great maruaile what this dwarfe may be that so rudly hath shouldred me and almost ouerthrowne my table he is fierce when hee thinkes scorne to speake to me howbeit I will see what hee will doe I cannot tell what hee thinketh to doe but me seemeth hee is right ioyfull and also he is the fayrest creature that euer I saw When Oberon had passed by the King he came to Huon and wished the fetters from all their féete and
Sir Emperour Charlemaine you haue well heard the confession of Gerard of the great treason that Gybouars and he haue done vnto Huon but by the Lord that fourmed me to his semblance both they two and the Abbot and his Chaplaine shall bée hanged for their false witnesse By the faith that I owe to Saint Denis quoth King Charlemaine they cannot escape it Sir quoth Duke Naymes it is great sinne to trouble a noble man you shall doe well if all foure be hanged When all the Lordes heard Gerard confesse that great treason that hée had done vnto his Brother they blessed them and had great maruaile of the false treason that the one Brother did to the other Chap. LXXV ¶ How King Oberon caused to be hanged the foure Traytours Gerard Gybouars and the two Monkes for their false witnesse and of the peace made betweene Huon and Charlemaine And how King Oberon gaue vnto Huon his Realme of the Fayrie WHEN King Oberon had heard Gerard confesse the treason done to his Brother and heard howe Gerard had offered to goe and fetch the beard great téeth and how he had denied him to goe then he sayd I wish them here vpon this Table he had no sooner made his wish but they were set on the Table whereof all such as were there hadde great maruaile Sir quoth Huon to King Oberon humbly I require you that of your grace you will pardon my Brother Gerard all the ill that he hath done against me for he did it by Gybouars and as for me héere and before God I pardon him and Sir if you will doe thus I shal be content therewith And to th entent that we may vse our liues from henceforth in good peace and loue I will giue him the halfe part of my Lands Signiories and Sir in the honour of our Lord Iesus Christ haue pity of him When the Lords that were there present vnderstood Huon they all for pity began to wéepe sayd among themselues that Huon was a noble knight and that it had béen pity if the matter had framed otherwise Sir Huon quoth Oberon it is not necessarie to request this for all the gold that is in the world shall not respit their deaths I wish by the puissance that I haue in the Fayrie that here beneath in the meadow there be a paire of Gallows and all iiij thereon hanged Incontinent it was don all iiij hanged thus as ye haue hard the traitors were paid their deserts When king Charlemaine had séene the great maruailes that were done by king Oberon he sayd to his Lords Sirs I beléeue this man be some God himselfe for there is no mortall man can doe this that he hath done When Oberon vnderstood the Emperour he sayd Sir know for truth I am no God but I am a mortall man as you be and was engendred on a woman as you were and my father was Iulius Cesar who engendred me on the Ladie of the Secret Isle who had béene before louer to Florymont sonne to the Duke of Albany she bare me nine moneths in her wombe and I was begotten by Iulius Cesar when he went into Thessaly after Pompey the Great he was amorous of my mother because she prophesied that my Father Iulius Cesar should winne the battaile as he did and when I was borne there were with my mother many Ladies of the Fairye and by them I had many gifts and among other there was one that gaue mee the gift to be such a one as you sée I am whereof I am sory but I cannot be none otherwise for when I came to the age of thrée yéeres I grew no more and when this Ladie sawe that I was so little to content againe my mother shee gaue me againe that I should be the fairest creature of the world and other Ladyes of the Fairie gaue me diuers other gifts the which I ouerpasse at this time and therefore Sir know for truth that aboue all things God loueth faith and troth when it is in men as it is here in Huon and because I know for certaine that he is true and faithfull therefore I haue alwaies loued him After that king Oberon had ended his words and shewed the Emperour Charlemaine of all his estate he called Huon and sayd Sir arise vp and take the beard and the téeth and beare them to king Charlemaine and desire him to render you your landes as he promised Sir quoth Huon I ought so to doe then Huon came to King Charlemaine and sayd Sir by your grace and if it may please you receiue here the beard and téeth of the Admirall Gaudis Huon quoth the King I hold you quit and I render to you all your lands and signiories and pardon you of all mine ill will and put all rancour from mée and from hencefoorth I retaine you as one of my Péeres Sir quoth Huon of this I thanke God and your grace Then the Emperour Charlemaine clipped and kissed Huon in token of peace and loue When the Lords saw that they wept for ioy and thanked God that the peace was made and especially Duke Naymes was ioyfull then within a while diuers of the Lords departed from the Court Then king Oberon called Huon vnto him and sayd Sir I commaund you as dearely as you loue mée that this same day foure yeare to come that you come into my Citie of Momur for I will giue you my Realme and all my dignitie the which I may lawfully do for at my birth it was giuen me that I might so doe for it lyeth in mée to giue it whereas I thinke best and bicause I loue you so entirely I shall set the crowne vpon your head and you shal be King of my Realme And also I will that you giue vnto Gerames all your Landes and Signiories in these parts for he hath well deserued it for with you and for your loue hee hath suffered many great trauailes Sir quoth Huon séeing this is your pleasure I ought well to be pleased therewith and I shall accomplish all your commandements Huon quoth Oberon know for troth I shall not abide longe in this world for so is the pleasure of god it be houeth me to go into paradice where as my place is appointed in the fayrie I shall bide no longer but beware as dearly as you loue your life that yée faile not to be with me at the daie that I haue appointed beware that yée forget it not for if yee faile I shall cause you to die an ill death and therefore remember it well When Huon heard king Oberon he was right ioyfull and stooped downe to haue kissed his féet but then Gloriant and Mallaborn tooke him vp Then said Huon Sir for this great guift I thanke you Chap. LXXVI ¶ How King Oberon departed and tooke leaue o f king Charlemaine and of Huon and Escleremond and also how king Charlemaine departed from Bourdeaux WHen king Oberon had imparted to Huon as much as he
the voyce of their Mother Father they had none for he was slaine but a little before by a Kinge of Persia with his Archers because the Griffen had slaine the Kings Horse for meat for his young ones Thus when they heard the crie of theyr Mother they arose vp into the ayre they were fiue in number they came all at once with open winges vppon Huon and when he saw all fiue comming vppon him he had great feare he strake the first vpon the necke in such sort that hee strake off the head cleane from the bodie then the second seazed Huon by the maile that if hée had not striken off her Legge hee hadde borne him vp into the ayre but Huon gaue him such a stroake that the Legge hanged still at the lappe of the maile and hee tooke it off with his hand and cast it to the earth and with another stroake hee slew that Griffen and then came the third and gaue Huon such a buffet with his winges that it made Huon to kneele downe vpon one of his knées Then Huon strake that Griffen such a stroake on the wing that it fell cleane from the bodie And the fourth hée strake off his Legges and with another stroake strake off his head and then also he slew the other with the one winge Then came the fifth Griffen who was bigger then any of the other Griffens and then Huon strake at him and the Griffen reared vp his féete and spreade abroade his winges and gaue Huon such a recounter that the noble Knight was striken to the earth When Huon felt himselfe hurt and lay vppon the earth hee called vppon God for ayd and succour for hee thought that he should neuer haue risen more and wished himselfe at that time that hee had taried still in the Castle of the Adamant with his companie who for sorrowe that they had when Huon went into the shippe they durst not abide the comming of the Griffen but went and did hide themselues in the Castle and Huon who was sore wounded with this fifth Griffen rose vp as well as he might and came to the Griffen who was ready to destroy him with his beake and nailes Thus Huon like a vertuous and a hardy Knight tooke courage and lifted vp his Swoord with both his handes and strake the Griffen such a stroake vpon the heade that hee claue it to the braynes so that the Griffen fell downe dead to the earth Chap. CX ¶ How Huon fought with the great Griffen and slew her WHen Huon sawe that hee had slaine the fiue young Griffens hee thanked our Lord God for the grace that hee had sent him as to ouercome such fiue terrible Foules then he sat downe to rest him and layd his Sword by him thinking that they had beene all slaine but it was not long but that the great Griffen who had brought him from the Castle of the Adamant came vppon him with thrée feete and beating with his winges and when shee sawe her young ones slaine she cast out a great crie so that all the Valley rang thereof When Huon sawe her comming he was in great feare for hee was sore wearie with trauaile and losse of bloud that it was paine to sustaine himselfe howbeit hee sawe well that it was great neede to defend himselfe and then hee came to the Griffen to haue striken her but hee could not the Griffen was so neere him beating with her winges so fiercely that Huon fell to the earth and his Sword fell out of his handes whereof he had great feare for he thought himselfe neuer so neere death in all his life as hee was then he called then right pitiously for ayd and succour of our Lord Iesus Christ and the Griffen did â—eat him maruailously with her beake winges and tallants but the noble coats of maile that he had on were so strong that the Griffen could not breake them but if the Griffen hadde not lost before one of her Legges and lost so much bloud as she had done Huon could neuer haue escaped without death the Griffen so sore defoyled and beat him that hee could not in no wise arise vp againe Then Huon remembred himselfe howe that hee had by his side a rich knife the which he brought with him from the Castle of the Adamant he drew it out and therewith strake the Griffen vppon the breast sixe great stroakes euerie stroake as déepe as the knife would goe and as his fortune was this knife was of length two foote and therewith the Griffen fell downe dead Then Huon arose and put off his helmet lifted vp his hands vnto Heauen and thanked our Lord God of his victorie and he was so sore trauailed and charged with bloud and sweat that hee put off his helmet and beheld round about him and could see nothing to trouble him When hee had taried there a certaine time hee arose vp and looked downe the Rocke and hee saw a Fountaine in a faire meadowe then he went down and came thether and he sawe the Fountaine so faire cleare that he had great maruaile thereof he sawe the workemanship thereof rich all of white Iasper wrought richly with flowers of fine gould and Azure and when hee sawe the water so faire he had great desire to drinke thereof then hee did off one of his double armours to be the more lighter and so approached vnto the Fountaine and sawe the grauell in the bottome all of precious stones and then hee put off his helmet and dranke of the water his fill and he had no sooner droonke thereof but incontinent hee was hole of all his wounds and as fresh and lustie as hee was when hee came from the Castle of the Adamant whereof hee most humbly thanked our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ This Fountaine was called the Fountaine of youth the which was of such vertue that whatsoeuer sicknesse a man or woman had if they bathed them in the streame of that Fountaine they should be hole of all infirmities Then Huon vnarmed himselfe and put off all his cloathes and bathed himselfe in the streame to wash away the bloud and sweat that his bodie was coloured withall and when hee was cleane washed he armed himselfe againe with one of his armours and left off the other By this Fountaine there grew an Apple Trée charged with leaues and fruite the fairest that might bee founde When Huon saw the Trée charged with so faire fruit he arose vppon his feete and approached vnto the Trée and tooke thereof a faire Apple and a great and did eat thereof his fill for the Apple was great he thought that hee did neuer eate before of such a fruit Ah good Lord quoth he I ought greatly to laud and praise thée séeing thou hast thus replenished mee this day with such a Fountaine and such fruit Then hée looked vppon his right hande and sawe a great Orchard full of Trées bearing good fruit of diuers sorts that great beautie it
was to behold them This Garden was so faire that it seemed rather a Paradice then a thing terrestriall For out of this Garden there yssued such a smell and odour that Huon thought that all the balme and spicerie in the world could not cast out so swéet a smell Ah good Lord quoth Huon what place is this that I am in for if the Griffen had not béen here I would haue thought that I had béen in Paradice good Lord God I pray thee to aid and succor mee in all mine affaires and enterprizes and at this time that I be not lost nor dead Chap. CXI ¶ Howe an Angell appeared vnto Huon and commaunded him to gather three Apples of the Tree by the Fountaine and no more and how the Angell shewed him tidings of his wife the faire Escleremond and of his Daughter Clariet and shewed him the way that hee should goe from thence THus as yee haue heard Huon deuised by himselfe at the Fountaine then hée went againe to the Trée and saide that hee would eat of that fruit and gather thereof as much as should suffice him for sixe dayes and in that space he trusted to come to some place whereas hee should haue meat sufficient Thus as hee was going towards the Trée suddainly there appeared vnto him a light shining that hee thought hee was rauished in Heauen among the Angels therewith hee heard a voice Angelicall that said Huon know for troth that our Lord God commandeth thée not to bee so hardy as to gather any more fruite of that Tree except thrée Apples the which God is well content that thou shalt gather and no more heereafter they shall serue thée well so that thou doest kéepe them cleane and worthily as they ought to be kept it shall not bee long ere thou shalt haue great neede of them the fruit of this Trée is called the fruit of youth it hath such vertue that if a man of Four-score or of a Hundred yeares of age doe eate thereof hee shall become againe as young as he was at the age of Thirtie yeares in yonder Garden thou maist goe and gather there of the fruit at thy pleasure and eate what thou list but eate no more of this that thou hast eaten of and therefore beware I charge thée gather no more thereof except the said thrée Apples Knowe for troth that if thou breakest my commaundement the fruit shall bee dearely sold vnto thee Sir quoth Huon laud and praise be giuen to our Lord God my Creatour when hee sheweth his grace vnto mée that am so poore a sinner and that hee will thus visit mée I shall neuer consent to breake his commaundement I had rather die then so to doe my bodie and my Soule I recommend vnto his good grace But thou the Messenger of God I require thee to shew me how doth my wife Escleremond and Clariet my Daughter whome I haue left in my Citie of Bourdeaux besieged by the Emperour Tirrey of Almaine I haue great feare that they be famished within the Citie and my Lords and company that I left there with her slaine and dead Fréend quoth the voice know for certaine that the Citie of Bourdeaux is taken and all thy men dead or taken and thy wife in prison in the great Tower of Mayence whereas the Emperour Tirrey keepeth her straightly and thy Daughter Clariet is at Cluny in the Abbey whereas shee is well serued and the Abbot who hath alwaies loued thée he hath her in his keeping and shée is as well cherished there euen as she were his owne Daughter Sir quoth Huon and why was shee brought thether Huon quoth the Voice knowe well that Barnard thy coozen Germaine brought her thether Fréend quoth Huon I pray you to shew me if Gerames Richard and Othon be aliue or not Freend quoth the Voice at the taking of the Citie they were slaine by the Emperour When Huon had well heard those pitifull tidings he began tenderly to weepe complayning for the faire Escleremond his wife and for the death of the old Gerames and said Fréend I require you to shew mee if euer I shall escape considering that I am heere closed in with the Sea the which goeth round about this Rocke I sée no way to goe out thereof gladly I would knowe if euer I shall returne into my Countrey to sée my Wife and Daughter who are in great feare and daunger Huon quoth the Voice comfort thy selfe thou shalt sée them againe thy Wife Escleremond and thy Daughter Clariet and thy good Citie of Bourdeaux but ere thou shalt come there thou shalt suffer much paine and bee in great feare and danger the Emperour Tirrey hath conquered all thy Countrey and Geronnell is vnder his obeysance with the Citie of Bourdeaux Then Huon sware and made promise that if our Lord Iesus Christ would giue him the grace that he might returne into his own Countrey that surely he would slay the Emperor Tirrey whatsoeuer end come thereof Messenger of God I require you to shew mée by what manner of wayes I may passe out of this Rocke Huon quoth the Voice goe to the said Trée and gather the thrée Apples as I haue saide vnto thée before and keepe them well and cleanly for thou shalt heereafter haue so much profit by them that at the end thou shalt come vnto thy desire and will and shalt bee out of thy great paine trouble and thought take this little path that thou séest here vppon thy right hand and so goe thou downe vnto the foote of the Rocke and there thou shalt find a faire cleare water and thereuppon a faire shippe enter into it but first goe into the Garden and gather fruit to serue thée as long as thou shalt be in the shippe then vnloose the shippe from the chaine that it is tyed by and let the shippe goe whether as it will vntill it commeth to the Port whereas thou shalt arriue but bee thou sure before thou commest there thou shalt be in as great feare as euer thou wert in all the dayes of thy life nor thou wert neuer in so great perill I commend thee into the sauegard of our Lord Iesus Christ I goe my way and leaue thee héere Then Huon knéeled downe and held vp his hands and said Ah thou verie Messenger of God I require thee to haue me recommended vnto my Creatour Huon quoth the Voice be of good comfort for as longe as thou art true and faithfull thou â—haâ—t haue ayde and succour of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ and shalt attaine to thy desires but ere thou commest thereto thou shalt suffer much paine and feare but after as I haue said thou shalt haue wealth inough exalt al thy Feends Huon was glad of that the Voice had said vnto him but he was in great displeasure in that his Wife the faire Escleremond was Prisoner in the great Tower of the City of Mayence and of the death of the old Gerames and of other
the Souldan cryed and sayd Sirs vppon him great shame it is vnto you all when by the bodie of one man you are so put barke and you sée well that he hath no succour goe and slay the Mare that hee rydeth vppon with speares and darts then he shall be soone ouercome and you know well that it is he whome I haue suffered at my great losse and dammage it is he that hath slaine my men and by him I haue lost the Battaile if he escape from you yée ought neuer to be séene in any Princes Court When the Paynims and Sarazins had well vnderstood their Souldan then they sore oppressed Huon who did great maruailes in armes but his puissance vertue should but little haue auailed him if he had not béen shortly aided succoured and also by reason of the rich stones and pearles that were vppon him then the Paynims and Sarazins who of fortie were left aliue but twentie eight they saw well that they could not ouercome Huon without they slew the Mare first that hee road vppon therefore they cast at her Darts and Iauelins in such wise that finally they slew her vnder him whereof Huon was right sorrowfull and sore displeased and was as then in great feare of his life then he called vppon our Lord Iesus Christ to haue pitie and compassion of his soule for he saw that his life was at an end and said Deare Lord Iesus Christ I pray thee by thy swéet mercie to haue pitie and compassion of my Wife Escleremond who is in great perrill and pouertie for the loue of mee without any desert of her part and also I recommend into thy sauegard my litle Daughter Clariet After that Huon had made his praier vnto our Lord God he tooke his shéeld and his sword in his hand afoote and he saw where there grew a bush he went thether and set his backe thereunto that the Sarazins and Paynims should not come behind him and so he stood at a bay like a wild Boare baited with Houndes there was not so hardy a Paynim or Sarazin that durst assayle him they cast at him speares and darts but they could neuer hurt his flesh he couered himselfe so well and so surely with his sheeld that nothing could pierce him The Souldan séeing that nothing could hurt him he said to his men Ah yée false and vntrue Cowards of Mahomet be yée cursed when yée cannot slay nor take one man alone and then the Souldan approached vnto Huon and gaue him a great stroake so that he brake his sheeld in two peeces whereof Huon then was in great feare of death Then the Souldan drew backe and looked behind him into the playnes of Rames wheras the great Battaile had beene and then hee sawe comming the Admirall of Persia with twentie Thousand men and they came to seeke for Huon and when the Souldan sawe that succour was comming vnto Huon the which he knew by reason of the great baner of Persia then the Souldan said vnto his men Sirs let vs leaue this enemie who by force of armes cannot be ouercome nor vanquished let vs saue our liues for yonder I sée comming the Admirall of Persia and if we tarie long héere we shal be all slaine and destroyed Néere vnto them was the sea-side about a League from Iaffe the way towardes Surrey there was ready a Galley the which the Souldan had sent thether from the Citie of Escalonne the Souldan road thether and his men left and did forsake Huon who was right wearie and could not long haue endured nor had not endured so longe but for the vertue of the riche stones and pearles that were about him The Souldan to saue his life hee and his men did so much that they came vnto the place whereas the Galley was and entred into it in as great hast as they could by any meanes for the sauegard of their liues and they did forsake their horses vppon the Sea-side Chap. CXXVIII ¶ How the Admirall of Persia and of Media found Huon wheras he had fought with Fortie men Sarazins and how the Souldan fled to Acres and how the Admirall of Persia and Media besieged him there and of the strange Vision that Huon had in the night AFter that the Souldan was thus fled and departed the Admirall of Persia and Media came to the place whereas Huon was sore wearie of trauaile and sawe lying about him a great number of men slaine whereof they had great maruaile the Admirall séeing Huon alone began sore to wéepe for pitie and for ioy that hee hadde and saide Oh right noble and valiant Knight most excellent of all other liuing in the world to whom in Prowesse and valour none can bee compared you are the mirrour of all Knightes the Temple of truth the comfort of widdowes and Orphelings to whom God hath giuen so great vertue and grace that none can report the bountie that is in you by whome the honour of the Persians and Medians this daye is saued and kept I desire you right hartely my deare Freend to shew mée if you haue any hurt whereby you should bee in any perill or daunger Sir quoth Huon it appertaineth not vnto me to haue such hie words or prayses to be giuen I ought to haue none other praise but as one of your other Knightes whereof you haue so many noble and valiant that they cannot be numbred but Sir know for troth this grace and glorie commeth of our Lord God who hath aided and succored you reporting how that you haue in him perfect affiance and then the Admirall alighted and came and embraced Huon and after him came Barnard sore wéeping for compassion and for ioy that he had found his Coozen Huon in sauegard and came and kissed him more then ten times and sayd My right deare Lord and Maister well you may thanke our Lord God for his goodnesse alwayes towardes you who hath saued you from so many perilous and dangerous aduentures whereof I thanke our Lord Iesus Christ that hath giuen you such grace and then he was of all the Barons greatly feasted and they had al great maruaile of the perils and aduentures that Huon had escaped wherefore they sayde that they ought greatly to laud praise God in that Huon was arriued in their Countrey by whome they were reduced and brought to beléeue in the faith of Iesus Christ Thus deuised the Lordes and Barons amonge themselues and behelde the dead men that lay about Huon and when they had beene there for a season and sawe that the Souldan was fledde then a Horse was brought vnto Huon and hee mounted vppon him and then they departed from thence and came vnto the place whereas the Battaile hadde béene whereas they found thrée-score and fourtéene Thousand men lye dead vppon the earth beside them that were slaine in the flying in that chace whereas there were slaine twelue Thousand men besides the Prisoners Great goods the Persians and Medians wanne there
will burne the Ladie Escleremond and hange vp all the Prisoners except they bee rescued againe Sir quoth Gloriand I cannot beléeue that the Emperour dare doe it or thinke so to doe Gloriand quoth the noble kinge Oberon know surely that the great hate that is rooted in the heart of the Emperour shall constraine and vrge him thus to dâ—e Nowe let vs leaue speaking of the noble king Oberon and speake of the Emperour Tirrey Chap. CXXXIIII ¶ How the Emperour Tirrey made the noble Ladie Escleremond to be well serued and apparelled and all the other Prisoners but about three Weekes after hee made the noble Ladie and the sayd Prisoners to be put againe into prison whereas they were in great miserie NOwe sheweth the Historie that after the two knightes of the Fayrie were departed and vanished away out of the presence of the Emperour and that the Emperor was returned into the Citie of Mayence with the ladie Escleremond and with the other Prisoners whereof the Burgesses Ladies and Damsels of the citie had great ioy of their good aduenture and the Emperour had them into his Pallaice and deliuered vnto them Chambers well drest and hanged as it appertained thereunto and the noble Duchesse Escleremond hadde foure ladies to serue her and she was bathed and washed and new apparelled as well and as richly as though shee had beene the Emperours owne proper Daughter so that within a short space she came againe to her beautie and to be as faire and well fauoured as euer she was and in like wise so did all the other Prisoners who were kept also in faire and rich Chambers and new apparelled and had their ease and pleasures as other knights of the Emperors Court had But assoone as thrée weekes were passed the great hate that the Emperour had vnto the noble ladie and to the other Prisoners constrained him to take from them the ioy and ease that they were in and turned the same into pitifull weepinges and great lamentations And the Emperour Tirrey sware that for all kinge Oberon or for any thinge that he could doe he would neuer be in peace in his heart vntill he had set all the companie againe intd prison and besides that he sware that Easter should not bee no sooner past but that the Ladie Escleremond should bee burnt and all the other prisoners hanged and vppon them to take vengeance in the despite of Huon of Bourdeaux who had done him so much trouble that hee could not forget it Then hee commaunded to take againe the Duchesse Escleremond and to put her and all the other prisoners into the prison againe the which was done according to his commandement Then the Duchesse Escleremond and all the other Prisoners were right sorrowfull and were in great feare and saide each to other Alas now our deathes approach and when that the Ladie sawe that she was set againe in prison she began sore to weepe and complaine for the Duke Huon her Husband Too longe quoth shee you tarie for I sée none other way but that my death approacheth for you shall not come in time well may I curse the houre that euer I was borne for in all my life I haue had but sorrowe and heauinesse and dolours in supportable better it had been for mee to haue béen dead then to spend my life in this darke Prison right deuoutly shee called vppon our Lorde Iesus Christ to haue pittie and compassion of her Thus was this noble Duchesse set againe in prison and also the thrée Hundred Prisoners whereas they suffered great famine and pouertie for other thing had they not to liue by but Barley bread and cleare water Now we will leaue to speake of them and speake of Duke Huon who was arriued at Marsellis Chap. CXXXV ¶ How Huon departed from Marsellis and came to his Vncle the good Abbot of Cluny in habite disguised and vnto him discouered himselfe whereof the Abbot had great ioy and so had Clariet his Daughter AS yee haue heard heere before howe Huon was at Marsellis and after that hee had iourned there foure dayes hee made him readie to depart bought Mules and horses for himselfe and for Barnard and for his companie and then hee charged his Somers and vppon one of them hee trussed the Griffens foote the which was great and horrible and couered it because euerie man shoulde not sée it When hee was readie and euerie thing trussed hee departed from Marsellis and roade so by his iourneys that hee passed by Prouence and came vnto Masconoys and vppon a Thursday at night he arriued at the Towne of Tournous And when they had supped hée called Barnard his Coozen and sayd Coozen I pray you to stay héere for I wil goe to sée mine Vncle the good Abbot of Cluny and Clariet my Daughter whome I sore desire to sée and shortly I shall returne againe vnto you I will goe priuily disguised to the entent that I will not bee knowne Sir quoth Barnard séeing that it is your pleasure we must be content Then they went to bed and in the Morning Huon arose vp and apparelled himselfe like a Pilgrim with a staffe in his hand and a bag about his necke and with great boots vppon his Legges hee hadde a great beard and long haire wherefore hee séemed well a Pilgrime that came out from a farre Countrey and so he had done indéede When Barnard and his company sawe him so apparelled they laughed and saide Sir it appeareth well by your manners that you are escaped out of some good place it séemeth to vs that if you will shake your staffe you will make the money to auoyd out of mens purses you are so bold a beggar When Huon heard them hee laughed and tooke leaue of them and departed all alone with his bagge about his necke so afoote hée went vntill he came vnto Cluny and then he came vnto the Abbey gate and called the Porter vnto him and sayd Fréend I pray you to let mée enter then hée opened the wicket and beheld Huon who séemed to him to be a tal and a goodly man and sayd Pilgrime enter when you please Then Huon entred in at the wicket and sayde vnto the Porter Fréende I come straight from beyond the great Sea and haue kissed the holy Sepulchre and haue suffered much paine and pouertie and because before this time I haue béene héere with the Abbot of this place therefore I thought that I would not passe by without speaking with him I pray you to shewe mee that courtesie that I may speake with him for hée will soone know mée Sir quoth the Porter it séemeth vnto mee by your manners that you séeme to be a man of a good place therefore I giue you leaue to goe into the house at your pleasure and you shall finde our good Abbot in his Hall whereas hee is communing with his Brethren certainly I knowe well that you shall bee welcome vnto him if hee haue of you any
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
Christ shall guide and conduct vs in sauegard Thus these two Brethren road night and day so long vntill they perceiued before them the Abbot of Cluny with a thirtie Horse in his companie as he was going to the Kinges Court When Huon perceiued that companie hee called his Brother Gerardin and said Loe yonder I sée men of religion holding the way to Paris and you knowe well when wee departed from the Duchesse our mother shée charged vs that we should alwaies company with good people therefore it is good that we make hast to ouertake them Brother quoth Gerardin your pleasure he fulfilled so they rode so long that they ouertooke the Abbot who regarded on the right side and sawe the two Brethren comming to ouertake him Then hée steede still and saw Huon who came riding on before Huon saluted him humbly and the Abbot in like manner to him and demaunded whether he râ—ad so hastily from whence he came and what he was and who was his Father Sir quoth Huon since it is your pleasure to know Duke Seuin of Bourdeaux was our Father it is Seauen yeares since he departed this life And Sir behold héere my Brother who is younger then I and we are going to noble King Charlemaines Court to reléeue of him our Lands and Countrey for he hath sent for vs by two noble Knights and Sir we are in doubt of some trouble by the way when the good Abbot vnderstoode that they were Sonnes to Duke Seuin he was right ioyfull and in token of true amitie he embraced them one afteâ— another and said Deare fréends haue no doubt for by the grace of Iesus Christ I shall conducte you safely to Paris for Duke Seuin your Father was my Coozen Germaine therefore I am bound to ayd you and know for troth that I am sworne of the great councell with King Charlemaine and if there be any that will mooue or stirrâ— against you I shall ayd you to my power wherefore you may ride surely in my companie without any doubt Sir quoth Huon I thanke you thus they road talking with the Abbot their kinsman and that night they came to Montleherry Then the next daye they arose béetimes and heard Masse and afterward tooke their Horses and they were in all a fourescore Horses they road so long vntil they came to a little wood-side whereas Charlot and Earle Amerie lay closely ambushed there they espyed Huon Gerard riding before whereof they were ioyfull Then Amerie said to Charlot Sir now is the time come to bee reuenged of the dammage that Duke Seuin did to mée yonder I sée his twoo Sonnes comming if they bée not incontinent slayne by vs wée are not worthy to haue any Land or life And Sir by their death you shall be Lord of Bourdeaux and of all the Duchy of Aquitaine Chap. VII ¶ How by the councell of Earle Amerie they ran firste at Gerardin Brother to Huon and bare him to the earth and sore wounded him whereof Huon was right sorowfull WHen that Charlot vnderstood Earle Amerie he stretched him in his stirrops and tooke a speare with a sharpe head and yssued alone out of the woode when Amerie sawe that Charlot went out of the wood alone he drew a little out of the way and sayd to his men suffer Charlot alone there néed none goe to ayd him This said the false Traytour bicause he desired nothing else but that one of the Sonnes of Duke Seuin might slay Charlot and so himselfe detecting them of the murder by this meanes he might compasse his damnable intent Charlot came against these twoo Brethren the Abbot of Cluny saw Charlot comming all armed and saw in the wood a great number of armed men more then hee stood still and called Huon and Gerard and said Déere Nephewes I perceiue in yonder wood a Knight all armed and the wood full of horsemen I cannot tell what they meane Haue you done any wrong to any man if you haue done or hold any thing that is not your owne step foorth and offer him reason and promise to make amendes Sir quoth Huon I know no man liuing that I or my Brother haue done vnto him any displeasure nor we know not that any creature doth hate vs. Then Huon said to his brother Brother ride on before and méete with yonder Knight demaund what is his pleasure Gerard road foorth met with Charlot and demaunded what his pleasure was to haue or whether he was kéeper of that passage or not and demaunded any tribute or not if he did he was readie to pay it Charlot answeared him fiercely and said What art thou Gerard answeared and sayd Sir I am of the Citie of Bourdeaux and Son to Duke Seuin whome God pardon and héere after commeth Huon mine elder Brother and we are going to Paris to the Kings Court to reléeue our Lands and our Fées and to serue him and if there be any that wil any thing with vs let him come to Paris and we shall doe him reason Hold thy tongue quoth Charlot whether thou wilt or not I will haue reason for some wrongs done me by thy Father Duke Seuin for he tooke thrée of my Castles from me and I could neuer know the reason thereof But now since thou art héere I will be reuenged of the wrong that thy Father did to me for as long as thou and thy Brother be aliue I shall neuer haue ioy in my heart therefore stand on thy ground for before it bee night I shall make thy life depart from thy bodie Sir quoth Gerard haue pitie of me you may sée I am but naked without armour It shall bée greatly to your shame and reproach if I be thus slaine by you it neuer commeth of a gentle courage or a Knight to assaile any person without armour or weapon howbeit Sir I crie you mercie well you sée that I haue neither Sword Shéeld nor Speare to defend mée withall you may sée yonder comming my elder Brother who shall be readie to make you amends if any harme hath béen done vnto you Peace quoth Charlot there is as now nothing so deare vnto me as can mooue mée contrarie But that shamfully I shall put thée to death beware of mée Gerard who was but young was in great feare and called vpon our Lord God and turned his Horse to come againe to his Brother But Charlot who was in his desperate moode â—ouched his Speare ran after Gerard and strooke him on the side with such force that the Speare ran through part of his bodie and so bare him to the earth weening he had béen slaine howbeit the stroake was not mortall although insooth verie dangerous for he was so sore â—urt that he could not remooue for paine that he felt The good Abbot of Cluny beheld Gerard in such sort borne to the ground ouercome with great gréefe hée said vnto Huon Ah Coozen I sée yonder your Brother Gerard slaine the fight whereof slayeth my poore
you and your Barons séene him discomfited in playne Battaile that hath brought you into all this trouble vndoubtedly my Lord if you doe to me as you say God in heauen be my witnes that neuer more wrong was done to any noble man This is but bad remembrance of the good seruice that the noble Duke Seuin my Father hath done vnto you for by this you shew great example to all your noble Barons and Knights for them to be well aduised how from henceforth they order themselues and how to trust in you when that by your owne obstinate opinion founded vpon an euill ground and against all Statutes royall and imperiall thus to execute your owne vnreasonable will Certainly if it were any other Prince beside you that should doe me this great wrong ere I would consent so to be dealt withall many a Castle and many a good towne should be destroyed and brought to ruine many poore men more impouerished and disenherited and many a good Knight brought to death When Huon had thus spoken to the King Duke Naymes stept foorth and sayd to the King My Lord what meane you to doe you haue seene that Huon hath done no more then his dutie hauing brought his enemy to confusion and slayn him you may wel thinke that it was the worke of God that such a Child should bring to shame and discomfite such a puissant Knight as was Earle Amerie Therefore my Lord if you doo as you haue said neither I nor any other man shall euer trust you but euerie one farre néere that shall heare of this crueltie will report that in the end of your daies you are become sencelesse more like a Tyrant then a wise Prince Then Huon desired all the Barons that were there present that they would all require the King to haue more respect of him séeing they were all bound so to doe in that he was one of the Péeres of the Realme Then al the Princes and Barons holding Huon by the hand knéeled downe before the King and Huon said Séeing it is so my Lord that your displeasure is such againste me as you haue expressed Let your Barons and my selfe obtaine but this fauour at your handes that I may be confined to my owne natiue Countrey for euer there to lead a poore priuate life neuer to be admitted to your presence againe for this grace we shall all right humbly thanke you Chap. XVII ¶ How King Charlemaine sent Huon to doe a messuage in Babylon to the Admirall Gaudise WHEN the Emperor had heard Huon speake he said incontinent auoid out of my sight for when I remember my Sonne Charlot whome thou hast sâ—aine I haue no part of mée but it trembleth for the displeasure I haue to thée and I charge all my Barons héere present that they neuer speake to me more for thée When Duke Naymes heard the King say so he said vnto all the Barons My Lords you that he héere present haue well heard the great vnreasonablenesse that the King offers to one of our Péeres the which as yée know well it is against right and reason and a thing not to be suffered But bycause we know certainly the King is our Soueraigne Lord we must suffer his pleasure but from hencefoorth since he will vse himselfe so and do things against all reason and honour I will neuer abide an houre longer with him but will depart and neuer returne againe into the place whereas such extremitie vnreasonablenes is vsed I will goe into my Countrey of Bauier and let the King doe from hencefoorth as he list Then all the Barons departed with the Duke from the King without speaking any one word and so left the King alone in his Pallaice When the King sawe the Duke depart his other Lords he was right sorrowfull and in great displeasure and said to the young Knights that were left about him howe that he ought in nature to take heauylie the death of his Sonne who was slaine so disloyally and could not likewise but gréeue to sée how his Barons had abandoned him and left him alone therefore there is no remedie I sée well but I must be forced somewhat to follow their wils therewith he wept pitiously and incontinent went foorth and followed them saying Duke Naymes and all you my Barons I desire you to returne againe for of force I must graunt your requests although it be against that promise that I made before Then the Duke and all the rest returned to the Pallaice with the King who sat downe on a bench of gould and his Barons about him Then he sent for Huon who knéeled downe before the King requiring him humbly of mercie and pitie to whom the King said Huon séeing thou wouldest be at peace with me it is requisit that thou performe whatsoeuer I enioyne thée Else my Lord said Huon God forbid there is no man in the world owes you more obedience then I doe or shall more gladly vndertake whatsoeuer your highnesse shall please to commaund me dreadlesse of death or any danger be it to goe to Hell gates to fight with the fiendes there as sometime did Hercules if I may thereby be reconciled to your grace Huon quoth the King I thinke to send thée into a worse place for of fiftéene Messengers that I haue sent there was neuer any returned againe I shall shew thée whether thou shalt goe séeing thou wilt that I shall haue mercie of thée Thou must goe to the Citie of Babylon to the Admirall Gaudise and there doe as I shall appoint thée but beware on paine of thy life that thou fayle not to doe it When thou commest thether mount vp into his Pallaice and there tarrie vntill he be at his dinner and when thou seest him sit at the table then thou to be armed with thy sword naked in thy hand and the verie greatest Lord that thou séeest sit at his Table whether he be King or Admirall thou shalt strike off his head and after that enquire for faire Escleremond Daughter to the Admirall and kisse her there openly in his presence and before all other there present for I giue thée to vnderstand she is the fairest mayd that is now liuing this being done thou shalt say to the Admirall Gaudise that I commaund him to send me a thousand Haukes a thousand Beares and a thousand Waighters all chained and a thousand young Varlets and a thousand of the fairest maydens in his realme And also thou to bring me thy handfull of the heare of his beard and foure of his greatest téeth Alas my Lord quoth the Barons wée sée well you desire greatly his death when you charge him with such a Messuage That is true quoth the King for without I haue his beard and his great téeth brought me hether vnfaynedly Let him neuer returne into Fraunce nor come into my presence for if he doe he shal be hanged and drawen My Lord quoth Huon haue you shewed me
her he did of his helmet and ranne and embraced her and when the Ladie saw that it was Huon the ioy that shee had was so great that it was maruaile to sée it there was such ioy at their méeting that it cannot be recounted Huon and the Ladie embraced kissed each other many times and she said Ah Huon ye be right hartily welcome for I thought that I should neuer haue séene you more Ladie quoth Huon I ought greatly to loue and cherish you and I am right ioyfull that it hath pleased God that I haue now found you in good health and prosperitie for a more truer man than ye be there is none liuing When all the companie had made their salutations one to another they went to dinner and were richly serued for there was great plentie in the citie and the Sarazins were without the Citie wheras they fought and slew each other there was such slaying on both parts that the fieldes were couered with dead men and fore wounded many a horse ran about the field and their Maisters lying dead these twoo Kings fought one against the other puissance against puissance and twoo Sarazins that were escaped out of the Citie of Anfalerne came to the Admirall Galaffer and said Ah Sir your Citie is lost by the Frenchmen who be entred into it there is neyther man nor woman therein but they are all slaine the old knight that came to you and his xiij companions be all seruants to the young man that slew your Nephew when the twoo Frenchmen fought one with another they tooke togither acquaintance and they be all subiects to the young man that was with king Iuoryn and it is he that slew the Admirall Gaudise and discomfited the gyant Agrapart we knew him well when he entred into the citie we would haue shewed you thereof but we durst not vntill yee were returned from the battaile Now they be in your Pallaice which pleaseth them for there is neither man nor child liuing but all are slaine except some xxx Ladies and Damsels who were with her that should be your wife and they be put out of the Citie yée may sée them sitting without the gate pitiously wéeping When the Admirall Galaffer heard that he was heauy sorowfull and said to his men that were about him Sirs I pray you hastily giue me some councell what I shall doe for it is néedfull Sir quoth they it is now of necessitie that yée goe to king Iuoryn and knéele downe at his foote and pray him to haue mercie vppon you other councell as now we cannot giue you Sirs quoth Galaffer I shall doe as yée haue said then the Admirall Galaffer with his sword in his hand went through the preasse and came to king Iuoryn alighted from his horse and knéeled downe before him and said Sir King I yéeld to you my swoord with the which if you please strike of my head for well I haue deserued it But Sir I pray you for the loue of Mahound haue mercie of me I offer to make you such amends as you your Lords shall iudge so that yée will aid me to take the Frenchmen that bee in my Citie and haue taken away my wife your Néece Escleremond Sir the young man that yée so loued who came but lately to your Court with a Minstrell is the same Frenchman that slew your brother the Admirall Gaudise these tydings I haue heard by twoo messengers that knew him in your Court and now there are with him xiij other Frenchmen whome I had retayned with me to maintaine my warre but they be al subiects to the yong man and now all xiii bee in my pallace and my wife with them Chap. LIX ¶ How Iuoryn caused Mouflet the old Minstrell to be brought to the gibet to haue beene hanged and how hee was rescued by Huon IVORIN heard Galaffer and saide Alas I was vnhappie that I knew not this yong man that had slaine my brother if I had it shold dearly haue béene bought Therefore Sir Galaffer cause your men to withdraw from the battaile and I shall withdraw mine and I shall know of my Barons what counsaile they will giue me Then both parties blew the retrait and King Iuoryn said to his Lords Sirs what counsaile will yee giue me as touching the Admirall Galaffer Sir quoth they giue him againe his lands since he asketh mercie if he hath done ill he offereth to make amends Then Iuoryn called Galaffer and sayd Sir Admirall I render againe to you all your lands and pardon you of all mine ill will and beside that I shall helpe you to destroy the Frenchmen that are in your citie of Anfalerne Then Galaffer kneeled downe and thanked King Iuoryn for the courtesie that he shewed him and offered to doe and so would haue kissed his feet but Iuoryn would not suffer him but lift him vp Thus these two kings agréed together and sware together to haue the death of Huon and his knights Then Huon and his companie abandoned vp the citie of Anfalerne because hee had so few men to kéepe it and so kept the Castle the which was strong inough standing on a rocke on the sea side it was indéede impregnable so it were well victualled at the corner of the Castle there was a strong towre and vnderneath it was the Port whereas ships came to their anchor When Iuoryn and Galaffer saw that the towne was giuen vp by the Frenchmen they entered into it with all their great puissance and lodged about in the towne but in taking of their lodgings Huon and Gerames and such as were with them shot out darts and quarrelled in such wise that there was not so hardie a paynim that durst peere before the Castle if he did he was slaine or hurt When Iuoryn Galaffer saw the dealing of the Frenchmen they raysed vp a gibbet before the Castle thereby to make the Frenchmen afraide and then they tooke Mouflet the Minstrell and bound his hands behind him so sore that the bloud came out at the nayles then they hanged his violl about his necke and then he was brought before Iuoryn who sayd to him A thou false traitour ill hast thou remembred the goodnesse that my brother Gaudise hath done to thee when he that slew him thou hast brought into my Court thereby to do me despight But I shall neither eate nor drinke till thou hast thy desert and that is to bee hanged Alas quoth Mouflet neuer in all my life haue I done or thought any treason nor knew not that that I brought to your Court him that slew your brother the Admiral Gaudys who was my Lord and Master therefore Sir great sinne it were for you to put me to death for that I am not guiltie of Thou lyest false traitour quoth Iuoryn and so commaunded a thirtie men to leade him to the gallowes and when they were come thither they caused the minstrell to mount vp on the ladder The Frenchmē in the
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
purchase your death for loue of your Wife and if by aduenture afterâ—ward you find him in the féeld or in town meadow or wood in Pallaice or in Hall and that you might accomplish your thought and your desire against the same Traitour who did purchace the said treason against you I demaund then of you if you would slay him or not Fréend quoth the Emperour you haue coniured me and I shall answeare you to the troth Not for the value of ten Cities I will not lye therefore know for troth if I hadde a Wife such a one as you speake of adorned with such faire vertues and whereof there bee many such Howbeit if I had such a one as you recite and that I knew surely that she loued me entirely then if I knâ—w any man liuing that wold purchase me such a treason although he were my neere Parent if I might find him in what place so euer it were and though I should be slain in the quarrel there should neither be Church nor Aulter that should saue his life but that with my two hands I should slay him and also my heart should serue me further that after I had slaine him I would draw out his heart out of his bodie and eat it for despite When Huon heard the Emperour he sayd Oh right noble and vertuous Emperour iust and true iudgement you haue giuen the which I repeale not but I shall shewe you what hath mooued me to demaund of you this iudgement if such a case should haue fallen vnto you And Sir to the entent that you shall know the troth what hath mooued me thus to doe you may sée héere before you he that would do in like case against me which is your Nephew Raoull who hath purchaced my death like a cruell and a false Traytor to the entent to haue Escrelemond my Wife and all mine heritages the iudgement that you haue giuen is iust and true you shall neuer bee blamed in any Court but you shall therein bee named a noble Prince and therefore Sir hauing found him so néere me that purchaceth for my death and shame I should neuer be worthy to appeare in any Princes court without I were reuenged of him and I had rather die then to forbeare him any longer Therewith he drew his Sword and when Raoul saw the clearenesse of the Sword he was affraid bicause he was vnarmed howbeit he thought that Huon would not haue béen so hardy as to doe him any hurt in the presence of his Vncle the Emperour but when hee saw that Huon did lift vp his Sword to strike him he was in great feare fled to the Emperor to saue his life but Huon perceiued him so quickly that he strake him with a reuerse stroke in such wise that he strake off his head from his shoulders and the bodie fell downe before the Emperour the head fell vpon the Table in the dish before the Emperour whereof he had great dolor God giue me good lucke quoth Huon this Traitour shall neuer be amourous of my wife for now I am sure inough of him The Emperour who sat the Table had great sorow at his heart when he saw his Nephew dead before him then he cried aloud and said Sirs yée my Barons looke that this Knight escape you not I will neuer eat nor drinke vntill I sée him hanged I should haue great sorrow at my heart if he should escape Huon vnderstood him well and feared him but litle but with his sword he layd on round about him and strake off armes handes and legs so that there was none so hardy that durst approch néere to him he slew so many that it was fearefull to behold him within a short space hee had slaine moe then eight and Twentie and the Emperour was in such feare that hee wiste not howe to saue himselfe for the great maruailes that he saw Huon do he doubted bicause he was vnarmed and Huon cried and saide Traytours I doubt you nothing Then on all parts Almaines and Bauiers assailed Huon but hee defended himselfe by such force and puissance that by the murder that he made the bloud ranne vpon the pauement like a Riuer Huon might haue tarried too long for the Emperour and his men went and armed them Huon who saw well that hée could not long endure without great perill of death striking with his sword round about him he withdrew backe downe the staires of the Pallaice and none durst approach neere him bicause they were vnarmed and for feare of him Huon by his hie prowesse for all his enimies came vnto his horse and mounted vpon him and so yssued out and there was a Knight called Galeram who was coozen Germaine to Duke Raoul and he was cleane armed and mounted on a good horse and hee followed Huon and said Abide Villaine thou haste slayne Duke Raoul my Coozen without thou returne vnto mée I shall strike thee behind When Huon heard him hée sware he had rather die then to refuse to turne vnto him then hee turned and they couched their Speares and they met so fiercely together that they gaue each other maruailous great stroakes Galerames Speare brake all to peeces and Huon who had employed all his force and vertue strake Galeram vppon the Sheeld with his Speare the which was bigge and strong so that Galeram fell out of his Saddle so rudely that in the fall hée brake his necke and so lay dead vppon the earth and Huon who thought hee had not béen dead returned againe to him but when he saw that he stirred not he departed thence but hée taried verie long for he saw well hee was closed in round about saw well without God had pitie of him hee was not like to scape without death or taken Prisoner They cast at him Darts and Swords and one with a sharpe Swoord came vnto him and gaue him a great stroake but his good Armour saued his life for all the stroakes that hée had receiued he neuer remooued out of his Saddle When Huon saw in what danger hee was he called vpon the Lord God humbly praying him to deliuer him out of that perill with his sword he did maruailes hee slew and claue heads to the braine that hee séemed rather a Spirit of hell then a man for he that had seene him would haue sayde that he had beene no mortaâ—l man Hee saw passe by him a Knight of Almayne called Sir Hans Sperguer as he passed by Huon gaue him such a stroke that hee claue him to the gyrdle whereof the Almaynes were so abashed that none durst approach néere to him they feared him sore Alas that his men at Coleyne had not knowne what case he was in they were so farre off Huon who fared like a wilde bore he layd on round about him so that his sword was all bloudy of the men that hee had slaine and maimed They cast darts at him so that at last his horse was slaine vnder him
to thée as thou sayst he wil shew how well he loueth thée he may haue great â—olor wheÌ„ before his eyes he shall sée his coozen and his men hanged then afterward I wil assaile the citie take it perforce so that then Huon in any wise shall not escape out of my hands so to be hanged with other the faire Escleremond shal be burnt or condemned to prison and then I will burne all the Citie and destroy it cleane Sir quoth Gerames you may say your pleasure but in the doing is all the matter when the Emperour saw that Gerames doubted not the death he was sore abashed Then he commanded incontinent Gallows to bée raised vp so great to hang thereon the fortie prisoners to be set on a little rocke neere to the Citie of Bourdeaux to the entent that Huon and his men might sée them plaine therby to abash them the which was done so the matter rested vntill the next day in the morninge And when it was day Huon within the Citie rose and came to his Pallaice and regarded out at his windowes to sée and behold the hoast of his enemies and as he stood he espied the newe Gallowes standing on the rocke then hee called his Lordes and sayd Sirs neuer beleeue but yonder Gallowes that I see newe raysed is for none other entent but for to hang thereupppon my men that bee taken and my good Freende old Gerames whereof I am verie sorrowfull Therefore Sirs quickly make you readie and mount vppon your horses for ere they be hanged we will prooue our selues against them looke toward the Hoast and sée when they bée comming toward the Gallowes and when you sée them be readie on horse-backe and open the gate that we may issue out all at once and let vs neuer thinke to returne vntill we haue rescued our men for I purpose neuer to returne into this Citie vntill I haue deliuered them out of the hands of our enemies Then they armed them about seauen Thousand by tale of good men of armes well horsed readie at the gate to depart when time came Now wée will leaue speaking of Huon and speake of the Emperour Chap. LXXXXII ¶ How Huon yssued out of Bourdeaux and rescued the ould Gerames and his companie whom the Emperor would haue hanged THe Emperour who hadde great desire that Gerames and his company were hanged caused theÌ„ to be brought forth by couples one fast tyed to another and Gerames was the formost who then right tenderly began to weepe when he saw himselfe in that case Ah good Lord quoth he I require thee haue mercie on our soules kéepe and defend my good Lord Duke Huon who by the commandement of King Oberon should giue me his Duchy and he to haue king Oberons dignitie of the Fayrie after foure yeares passed I cannot say what fortune will fall but I may well say that I shall neuer come to greater honor yet I am comforted in that I am so old it is good reason that I be content to haue liued so long it is now time that I depart out of this world Then the Emperour called vnto him a Knight and said Sir Othon I will that incontinent you take three Thousand men and take these Prisoners and hang them vp all vppon the Gallowes that were made yester-night late and if it bee so that Huon yssue out looke that you quit your selfe valiantly and if you haue néed of any ayd take my horne and blow it for I haue ready appointed ten Thousand men to succour you if need bée When Othon heard the Emperour hee was right sorrie to haue that euill office for in his youth hée was brought vp in the house of Duke Seuin Father to Huon and somewhat he was of his kin but as then hee had slaine a man wherefore he fled from Bourdeaux and came and serued the Emperor at Mayence wherefore he was right sorrowfull to haue that Commission then hee sayd vnto the Emperour Sir mée thinkes you doe ill to cause them to die so hastily better it were to abide to sée what end your warre will come vnto and also if it fortune that any of your Lords to be taken hereafter for one of them you might recouer him againe and if you slay them then if any of your Barons happen to bee taken they shall die of like death and therefore Sir if you wil beléeue me you shall forbeare slaying them at this time and Sir if you will giue me licence I will doe so much to Duke Huon that for the offence that he hath done vnto you hee shall make you amends at your owne pleasure and hee shall goe vnto some holy Pilgrimage to pray for the Soules of your Nephews and other of your lords that he hath slain and he to haue with him two Hundred men in their shirtes and so to goe to the holy Sepulchre at his owne charge and coste and hee to hould of you all his Landes and to doe you homage Then the Lordes that were there present all with one voice sayd vnto the Emperour Sir the counsaile that sir Othon hath giuen vnto you is worthy to bee beleeued wée all agree thereto and desire you so to doe but when the Emperour heard them he was sorowfull and sore displeased Sir quoth Othon you may surely know if you hang any of them that be taken if Huon happen to take any of your men hee shall neuer escape vnhanged and drawne When the Emperour had heard Othon speake he was so troubled angry that it seemed by his face that for verie anger he was neere hand in a rage and said Behold sirs this Foole who would let mee to take vengeance on them that so sore haue troubled me he hath heard me ere this time sweare and make solemn promise that I would neuer returne into my Countrey vntill I had hanged and drawne Huon of Bourdeaux for by that Lord that made mée to his similitude I knowe no man this day though he were neuer so neere a kin to me except mine owne Brother but I shall make him to be slaine if he speak any more to me for respiting of their liues nor I shall neuer loue him for I make a vow to our Lord God that I will neuer returne into my Country vntill I haue taken this Citie perforâ—e Sir quoth Othon séeing it is your pleasure I shal speake no more thereof but I beleeue it will bee longe hereafter before you finde any that will be glad to doe your pleasure Othon quoth the Emperour dispatch the matter and reuenge me vpon the old Gerames and vpon all his companie Sir quoth Othon it is conuenient that I doe it séeing it is your pleasure then without any more words he departed and tooke Gerames and the other Prisoners and went with them towards the Gallowes Gerames went before with the haulter about his necke sore weeping and all his companie after him so that at the laste they came
helpe him but rather hinder him therefore he lette it passe and so tooke leaue of his first Patron and lift vp their anthors and sayles and when they were in the sea the winde arose and increased more and more for the space of sixe weekes that the wind changed not so that if God had suffered the winde to haue continued one moneth or sixe weekes longer they had come to the place whereas they would haue beene But ere that they came there they suffered much paine for there arose vppon them such a winde and tempest that they were forced to auayle their sayles The heauens waxed darke the moone was couered the torment was great and daungerous the waues of the sea were of a great height terrible to beholde whereby whether they would or not they were constrained to goe as the winde would leade them theyr fortune was so great and terrible that there was neuer seene such a mightie storme before whereof Huon and his men and his Patron were greatly afraide specially the Patron more then Huon was hee was sore discomforted and pittiously he called on our Lord Iesus Christ requiring him to bring them to a good Port there was neither marriner nor Patron but all were sore afraide nor they wist not where they were They were in this torment for the space of ten dayes in all the which time they neuer sawe the cleerenesse of the sunne for the great darkenesse that was there as then the which did verie greatly annoy them And when it came to the eleuenth day and that the torment and winde beganne to abate and the sea waxed peaceable and still therewith Huon and his companie werâ— well comforted the heauen cleered by and the glorious sunne cast out his rayes along vpon the sea When the master of the shippe saw the fortune of the Sea and that the great torment beganne to cease hee caused one of the marriners to mount vppe into the toppe to see if hee might discrie any lande but hee could see none whereof the Patron was greatly abashed and sayde howe that hee knewe not in what Countrey hee was for hee neuer sayled in those parts and sayde to Huon Sir it is fiftie yéeres since that I first vsed the sea but yet I neuer sayled in these parts whereof I haue great maruaile When Huon heard that he was sore displeased and sayde Sir lette vs take the aduantage of the wind and let our Shippe driue vnder the conduct of our Lord Iesus Christ I hope that our Lord God will not suffer vs to bee perished in this Sea Sir quoth the Patrone I doe agree well to your saying and so let vs doe then they turned their helâ—â—â— and tooke the winde into their full sayle the winde was â—ood and fresh and the Sea very meeke and peaceable so that within a short space they had sayled a great iourney When Huon called vppon our Lorde God and helde vp his handes towards heauen and said Thou verie God who in 〈…〉 transitâ—rie world diddest vouchsafe to be borne in the 〈◊〉 of a maide and afterwards diddest raigne héere vpon earth xxxiâ— yeâ—res and then didst suffer death and passion vppon a Friday and after that didst rise from death to life and wentst into hell drewest out soules out of paines infernall Euen so as I beleeue that this is true I require thée to haue pitie and compassion vpon vs and giue vs grace that wée may safely escape out of this perillous Sea and to kéepe and saue my déere and louing wife Escleremond and my Childe and my noble Lords whome I left in the citie of Bourdeaux in great perill of their liues and giue mee the grace that I may bring with me such succour and aide that thereby I may bring them out of the danger that they he in Chap. LXXXXIX ¶ â—owe Huon arriued on the perillous Gulfe where as hee spake with â—â—das and howe hee arriued at the Port of the 〈◊〉 WHen Huon had made his praiers to God he beheld into the Sea and sawe a farre off like a great péece of Canuasse and there by he heard as great a noyse as though there had beene a Thousand Smithes and a Thousandâ— Carpenters and a Thousande great running Riuers together all beating and labouring together Huon who heard this great noise had great feare thereof so that hee wiâ—te not what to doe and so were all those that were in his companie the Patrone commaunded a Marriner to mount vp into the top of the Maâ—â— to see what 〈◊〉 it was that made all that noyse and so hee did and 〈◊〉 round about him and beheld that way and at 〈…〉 the daungerous Gulfe whereof hee hadde heard often times spoken and thereof hee had such great feare that neere hand hee had fallen downe into the Sea hee came downe and saide vnto the Patrone Sir wee bee all in the way to bee lost for wee bee neere one of the Gulfes of hell whereof Huon and the Patrone and all other had such great feare that they all trembled Sir quoth the Patrone knowe for troth that it is impossible to escape out of this perilous Gulfe for all the Seas and waters and Riuers there assembleth together and perforce wee muste passe that way which when Huon heard then hee beganne pitiously to complaine and sayd Ah sweete and loouing wife Escleremond I see nowe clearely that our loues muste depart the beautie and the bountie that is in you I cannot forget Alas I shall neuer see you more I pray to our Lord Iesus Christ to giue you that grace as to bee agreed with the Emperour Tirrey to the entent that in peace and rest you may vse the residue of your life for as for mee I shall neuer bring you any succour or ayd Then hee studied a long season and then sayd againe Good Lord I thanke thee and since it pleaseth thee that I shall passe out of this world I humbly require thee to receiue my Sâ—â—le into thine handes as for my bodie and life I care little for seeing it pleaseth thee that I shall thus end my dayes and depart this life Then Huon lefte his weeping and the winde ceased and the sayle abated yet neuerthelesse the shippe still went foorth alone in such wise as though it had flowne vppon the Sea Sir quoth the Maister of the Shippe you may see euidently that wee neede not to trauaile our selues to guide our Ship for the Gulfe that is so neere vs draweth the Shippe vnto him in such haste as yee may see and anone yee shall see that we shall tumble therein Maister quoth Huon it is conuenient now that wee abide the aduenture and fortune of the sea such as our Lord God will sende lette vs trust in him and desire him that his pleasure be fulfilled and more I cannot striue Then Huon Chaplaine confessed them one after another and then incontinent the great noyse ceased But they came thither at a good poynt for the verie same
daunger thereof When Huon vnderstood Iudas he had great maruaile ioyned his hands toward the heauen thanking God of the grace that hee had sent him Then Huon desired the Patron that they might depart from thence in haste Sir quoth he it shall bee done Then they drew vp theyr sayles and departed and they had not sailed a league but that the saw a farre off great brands of fire burning issuing out of the Gulfe so long and so high that they had neere hand come to theâ—r ship and the waues that issued out of the Gulfe were as high as mountaines and they approched so nere vnto their shippe that they had like to haue perâ—â—hes for there 〈◊〉 was neere hand full of water so that they had 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 to lade out the water and were fayne to abate theyr sayle and the water that â—ssed out of the Gulfe draâ—e them so â—â—orftly that a bird could not die no faster then they went In that case they weâ—e a moneth and durst neuer hoyse vppe sayle but thus they draue a great season without seeing of any land then Huon called vppon God and saide Ah verie God I hadde rather haue tarried still in mine owne Countrey and haue taken such fortune as it should haue pleased thée to send mee then heere to bée lost in this strange Sea Deare Laâ—ie Escleremond I pray vnto God to keepe you and Clariet my Daughter for I thinke that I shall neuer see you more Thus Huon complained sayling in the Sea in feare of his life and thus they were in the daunger of this Gulfe fiue weekes and neuer coulde see lande whereof they were in great feare often times they prayed to our Lord to haue pity of them Then Huon desired the Patrone to mount vp to the Mast to see if he might see any land and the Patrone who greatly desired so to doe anone hee mounted vp and regarded on all parts to see if hee might espy any land At last he saw a farre off an hye rocke and on the height thereof they sawe a thicke wood and at the entrie of the wood hee sawe a little house whereof hee thanked God and descended downe and shewed Huon what hee had seene and sayd Sir yonder a farre off I haue seen a great Rocke and on the height thereof a great thicke wood and therein I haue séene a little house or hermitage the house is white I cannot tell what it is but by the grace of God ere it be night wee shall land there and refresh our selues When Huon heard that hee was right ioyfull and thanked God then they drew to that Port and had good wind and a fresh wéening to haue come thether the same night but they sayled foure daies and foure nights and could come no neerer to the wood then they were before whereof they had maruaile for it seemed to them euer that the wood and the house roase vp higher and higher and then they could not tell whether they went for if they had known they would not haue gone thether for al the gold in the world for if God had not had pitie of them they were all likely to haue beene lost for the place that they sawe a farre of was a Castle and therein cloased the Rocke of the Adamant the which Castle was dangerous to approach for if any Ship come neere it and haue any yron nayles within it and that a shippe come but within the sight thereof the Adamant will draw the Shippe vnto him And therefore in those parts the Shippes that sayleth by that Sea are made and pinned with woodden nayles and without any manner of yron otherwise they be lost and perished for the propertie of the Adamant is to draw yron to him Thus Huon and his company were there the space of sixe dayes going and sayling about the Rocke of the Castle of the Adamant But if they had had a good wind the first day they had arriued euen at the white house that they saw first in the wood the which was the fairest and most richest house in the world within the which was so much gould and riches that no man liuing could esteeme the value thereof for the Pillars within that hâ—use were of Cassedony and the wals and Towers of white Alablaster There was neuer described in Scripture nor Historie the beautie of such a Castle as this was for when the Sun cast his rayes on it it seemed a farre of to be of fine christall it was so cleare shining In this Castle was neither man nor woman but dead mens bones lying at the gate of this Castle and at the Port there lay many Shippes so that their Mastes seemed a farre off to bee a great Forrest Chap. C. ¶ How Huon deuised with his Patrone in regarding of the Castle of the Adamant THis castle was set on a rock of the Adamant â—one from the East to the west was not so strong a Castle for if all the world had come before it and men within to defend it could neuer be wonne by any mortall men The forrest that so seemed to them a farre off were the â—aâ—â—s of shippes that had beene there arriued by constraint of the Adamant but for all the shippes that were there there was no man liuing therein yet there lay bones of men that had died by famine rage Huon and his câ—mâ—aâ—te had great maruaile for when they approached 〈◊〉 to the Castle they 〈◊〉 forced to strike sayle for the â—daâ—ant drew the shippe so sore that if they had not quickly striken their sayle their shippe had broken all to péeces and they all béen drowned in the sea The ship went so fast that it was maruailous to consider it and then the Patron of the shippe who was wise and discreet knew anon how they were néere to the Castle of the Adamant because their shippe went so fast without sayle thetherward faster than if they had had a full winde in all their sailes and they could not turne their ship any way from that part for they would gladly haue returned but it would not bee because the Adamant drew the yron so sore to him by nature When the Patron saw that néedes they must arriue there he began pitiously to lament and saide to Huon Sir our Lord God hath created vs in this world to liue and to die and there is none but must passe the passage of this and because wee knowe surely that no creature can escape that therefore we ought to be content with that which can be none otherwise Sir I say this that we must all dye When Huon heard the Patron he had great maruaile and said Patron I pray you shew me the cause why yée say thus in this Castle that we see before vs are there any Sarazins within it or spirits of hell that haue sworne our death surely I doubt them not make good cheere and bee nothing abashed take good courage and ioy â—or by the ayd of our
Lord Iesus Christ and by the force of my armes and good Swoorde if there bee any man within the Castle that will resiste againste vs I assure you I shall soone deliueâ— you from him Anone you shall see what I can doe I neuer 〈◊〉 in all my life so faire a Castle I cannot tell whether they within will defend vs the entrie into the Port or not if they will haue any Tribute of me I shall gladly pay it so they demaund nothing else and if I see that they will demaund any thinge else of mee I shall shewe them howe my Sword can answeare it for I had rather to die then in any Princes Court it should bee layd to my reproach and shame that for any man I should retire backe one â—oote for feare or doubt of any death for I will neuer bee taken aliue thereby to dye in prison Sir quoth the Patrone your force and great prowesse can nothinge auaile you for if wee were as stronge and as great as euer was Sampson it should nothing aduantage you I shall shewe you the cause why The Castle that you see yonder before you is the most fairest and strongest Castle in all the world it is set and compassed round about with a Rocke of Adamant stones the which naturally doth drawe vnto it all manner of yron as you may well see by our shippe that goeth so fast without any sayle the Adamant doth drawe it because of the anchors and nayles that bee in our Shippe the wood that seemeth to bee a Forrest are the Mastes of such Shippes as hath there arriued and are drawne thether by the Adamant When Huon vnderstood the Patrone hee was right sorowfull and no maruaile then pitiously hee complayned for his wife and for his Childe for hee sawe well that hee could not escape the death nor neuer depart from thence then hee wept pitiously and sayd Ah good Lord who in this world hath formed me I require thy grace that thus poore sinner that I am enclined to all misfortune that it may please thée to receiue my soule into Paradice as for my life I make none account thereof But I pray thee good Lorde to saue my Wife and Childe whome I haue lefte in daunger of death or else in shamefull imprisonment And with those woordes the Shippe entred into the Port with such a force and puissance that it ranne in amongest the other Shippes so that if the shippe had not been stronge and the other shippes rotten Huons shippe had béene broken all to peeces for it ranne vnder the water thrée or foure of the other olde shippes and was not broken thanked be almightie God Then hee looked into the Hauen and sawe so many shippes that hee had great maruaile thereof and hée was sore dismayed and abashed in that hee sawe neither man woman nor Child stirring abroad Also hee looked about him and behelde the Castle the which was so faire and rich that there was none such throughout all the world Then hee thought to send thether one of his companie for to know what people were within the Castle but hee sawe well that there was no way to enter but by a straight way of thrée Hundred and fourscore gréeces of height the way was so straight and narrow that no man but one at once coulde mount vp the degrées he had great maruell was sore troubled in mind when hee sawe no man comming from the Castle Then hee called one of his Knights and sayd Sir Arnold I will and command that you goe vp into this Castle to see what people bee within it either Sarazins or Paynims knowe who is Lord thereof and say how that I greatly desire to be acquainted with him if you can doe so much that I may bee acquainted with him then I and my men will mount vp together vntill some good aduenture fall for I hope in our Lord God that wee shall escape this daunger Sir quoth Arnold I shall doe as you haue commaunded mee Then he departed and went from one shippe to another vntill hee came to the land and then hee went to the 〈◊〉 and â—ound the degrees and mounted vp but before hée came to the Castle gate hee rested himselfe thrée times and when he came to the gate hee rested him he was so wearie and beheld the gate the which séemed vnto him maruailously faire and rich then hee beganne to crie and call to the entent that some man should come and to speake with him and when hee sawe that none did speake hee stoâ—de and hearkened if any person were comming to open the gate but none appeared and then hee knocked and called againe and sayd Porter that art within come and open the gate or else cursed be thou of God this Arnolde hadde a good occupation to knocke crie and call for within was neither man woman nor Childe that would open the gate when hee sawe that hee was neere angrie with displeasure and looked downe vnder the gate to knowe if hee might espie either man or woman to speake vnto then hee turned him round about and looked on the right hande of the Hall dore and there hee sawe an horrible Serpent the which kept the Castle and Pallaice it was a maruailous great Serpent higher then any horse his eyes like twoo Torches burning when Arnold sawe him hee was right sorrowfull and sore displeased and when the Serpent heard the knocking and great noyse at the gate braying and crying he came toward the gate and when Arnold sawe the Serpent with great furie approaching to the gate hee fledde away in so great hast that he néere hande with verie feare fell downe the staires hee rested not vntill hee came to the shippe whereas Huon was and saide Sir I haue beene aboue at the gate of the Castle and called and knocked thereat more then the space of an houre but there was neither man woman nor Childe that did appeare and when I sawe that I layde mee downe and looked vnder the gate to knowe if I might see either man or woman to speake vnto but I could neuer sée any creature but a great and a horrible Serpent higher then a great horse with eyes redder then fire with maruailous great tallons and and taile there was neuer man sawe a fowler figure of a beast Alas quoth Huon nowe I sée we be all but dead for wee haue nothing to eat nor drinke wherefore wee shall die for famine and rage But if I may enter into the Castle I shall giue that Serpent such a stroake that hee shall neuer hurt any man liuing Alas what haue I said my hardinesse nor my prowesse cannot helpe me for I see well that I and all you must die for it is impossible for vs to depart from hence Then the Patron sayd to Huon sore weeping Sir it behooueth vs to part our victuall if you will sustaine the right custome of the sea wheÌ„ men come to such a case that there is no remedie
faylest them at time of néede that serue thée nowe I may well say that with thy gracious ayd yet I shall once more see my Wife and my child thus Huon saide to himselfe beholding both Battailes fighting Chap. CXXIII ¶ How the City of Colanders was taken by the Admirall of Persia after he hadde wonne the Battaile and of the great ioy that was made vnto Huon when hee was knowne by the Admirall of Persia and his Cozen Barnard WHen the Admirall of Persia sawe and perceiued that they of the Towne were yssued out he marched foorth his Battailes and set vpon his enemies there was great slaughter made on both parts but at the last they of the Citie had the worst for the christian men were of a greater number then the Paynims and Sarazins that were yssued out wherefore they were constrained to graunt the Victorie to their enemies the Paynims retired fled towards their citie and the Admirall Barnard with their company chaced slew them that it was pity to sée it Finally the Admirall oppressed them so sore that hee entred into the Citie with them and Barnard and his companie and slew and beat down the Sarazins that great maruaile it was to see the bloud that ranne through the stréets When the Admirall saw that hee had the victorie then hée commaunded to cease slaying and that all such as would beleeue in our Lorde God their liues should bee saued and their goods and so all such as would not bee christened should bee slaine incontinent and none spared the which was done many of them receiued Christendome and as many as woulde not receiue it were all slaine Thus as this Citie was taken then Huon who was entred into the Citie with the Admirals men came to the Pallaice whereas hee sawe the Admirall and all the Barons and Barnard his Coozen Huon had still his Mall vppon his necke and when he came into the Hall he put off his helmet and saluted the Admirall and all the other that were there When the Admirall and his Lords saw Huon the great ioy that they had no tongue can tell Oh right déere and vertuous Knight quoth the Admirall your comming doth so reioyce me that I cannot tell whether I dreame or not you are much bound vnto God that hee hath giuen you the grace to saue you from perill Then the Admirall embraced Huon and you may well know that Barnard his Coozen had great ioy and so had all the other and then the Admirall sayd vnto Huon Sir I pray you to shew mee what aduentures you haue had since you departed from vs Then Huon shewed them all as yée haue heard héere before and how he escaped When the Admirall and the other vnderstood Huon they were neuer so amazed and abashed in all their liues of that hée was so escaped from the handes of the Diuell and sayd that hée was much bound vnto God they were all glad and right ioyfull for the comming of Huon and especially Barnard Then the Captaine of the Citie who had newly receiued Christendome came vnto Huon and sayd Sir I require you to desire the Admirall to bée my good Lord and Maister for I promised faithfully to abide heere in this Towne as his good and true Seruant keeping firmely the christian faith the which I haue newly receiued When Huon saw the Captaine who had receiued him into his house at his first comming into the Citie he went vnto the Admirall and said Sir I require you to giue the keeping of this Citie vnto this noble man and he to hold it as his owne and to doe homage vnto you for it Sir quoth the Admirall all that you will I am agréeable vnto I graunt it him for the loue of you Then Huon thanked the Admirall the Captaine seeing the great and rich guift that the Admirall had giuen vnto him for the loue of Huon he had great maruaile of the great Larges and courtesie that was done vnto him by the meanes of Huon and then hee kneeled downe before them and thanked them and did homage vnto the Admirall in the presence of all the Lordes and Barons and promised truely to keepe the Citie against all men that would doe any dammage thereunto nor neuer to yeeld it vp vnto any person but all onely vnto the Admirall or vnto him that shall haue his Commission thus as yee haue heard the Citie of Colanders was taken Chap. CXXIIII ¶ Howe the Admirall of Persia and Huon of Bourdeaux and all their Hoast passed by Antioch and by Damas and came to the Citie of Ierusalem to the holy Sepulchre and was nobly receiued by the King of Ierusalem and howe the Souldans Messenger came and defied the Admirall of Persia WHen the Admirall and Huon saw this Citie wonne and brought vnder their obeysance and hadde established there a newe Lorde and Captaine and set Prouostes and Baylifes and other Officers then they tooke aduise together determined since they were a â—and to send backe againe their Nauie of shippes into Persia and they to goe by land to the Citie of Ierusalem for they hadde from thence as they were but Tenne dayes iourney vnto Antioch and so to passe by that Citie and then vnto Damas and so to Ierusalem and there to doe their offering and if by aduenture they founde in their way either Kings or Admirals that would let or trouble them in their passing they sayd that they were of puissance sufficient to resist against them and then they sayd howe that from Ierusalem the Admirall might returne by land into Persia vnto the Riuer of Euphrates and there his Nauie to méet him and so to conuay him vnto his Citie of Thauris and Huon to returne vnto laffe and from thence by water to returne into Fraunce Thus they concluded to doe the which aduise was lauded and praised of all the Lordes and Barons of the Hoast After this conclusion thus taken the Admirall commaunded his shippes to be discharged of all thinges necessary to be caried by lande the which was done diligently according to his commaundement their horses were sette a lande and their Tents and Pauillions trussed vppon Mules and Cammels and Dromodaries the which cariage séemed a great Hoast there were so many together the noyse and brute that they made séemed to be a new world and when all the shippes were discharged the Patrons and Maisters of the Shippes tooke their leaue of the Admirall who commaunded them expresly to abide for him in the Riuer of Euphrates and so they did accordingly Nowe lette vs leaue speakinge of them and returne vnto our former matter When these Shippes were departed and euerie thinge trussed then the Admirall commaunded through-out all the Countrey that all Marchants and other able to doe it should send after his Hoast bread wine and flesh and bisket to vittaile his Hoast and the charge to sée this done was giuen to the newe Admirall of the Citie of Colanders the which he did diligently
your good husband Huon is come on this side of the Sea whome you shall sée within short time When the good Ladie had well vnderstood Gloriand shee had such ioy that of a great space she could speake no word shee was so rauished but at last she said Sir I ought greatly to loue you for bringing me such tidings and then they sayde vnto her Madame rest you héere a season vntill wee haue deliuered the other Prisoners whome we sée yonder leading toward their deaths and shortly we shall returne againe vnto you Therewith they departed from the Ladie and left her vpon her knées holding vp her handes vnto Heauen and deuoutly rendring thankes to our Lord Iesus Christ for the succor and aide that he had sent her Then Gloriand and Mallabron came to the Gallowes and there vnloozed the thrée Hundred Prisoners and sâ—ew diuers of them that were sent thether to doe execution whereof all they that were there present had great maruaile and did woonder thereat when they saw their company slaine and could not sée them that did it but they thought that there were a Thousand Knights by reason of the great brute and noyse that the two Knights of the Fayrie made whereof they had such feare that they fled away and ranne to the Emperour who was sore dismayed and abashed of that aduenture for it was also shewed vnto him that the Ladie was rescued and they could not tell by whom but they sayd that they heard a great brute and noyse then also the Emperour saw how the people came running towards him flying from the Gallowes and they shewed to him all that they had séen and heard wherof the Emperour and all his Lordes had great feare and were sore abashed Ah Sir quoth the Duke of Austrich it hadde beene better for you to haue beleeued Duke Hildebert your Coozen knowe surely that you haue greatly displeased our Lord Iesus Christ since that you would doe such cruell iustice in the holy time of Lent Thus after these two Knights of the Fayrie hadde rescued the good Ladie and the other Prisoners they tooke them and the Ladie and brought them vnto the Emperour and shewed themselues openly and when they were in the presence of the Emperour and the Prisoners with them and the Emperour saw that there were but twoo Knightes armed vppon horse-backe hee set little by them and said How are you so bolde and so hardy to deliuer and to take out of my mens handes those that are condemned to die by iustice and besides that you haue slaine many of my men and nowe bringe them into my presence whom I haue condemned to die wherefore I will that you well know that before I eat or drinke you and all they shal be hanged and the Ladie Escleremond burned nor I shall not depart from hence vntill I haue seen you all dye the death Then Gloriand and Mallabron lifted vp their visors and shewed their faces and they séemed vnto all them that sawe them that they neuer sawe before two so faire Knightes in all their liues Then Gloriand sayde vnto the Emperour Sir of you nor of your threatninges wee make thereof but little account but Sir knowe for troth that the noble King Oberon commandeth you by vs in as much as you feare your life that you bee not so hardy any further to doe any ill or iniurie nor commaund to bee done vnto this noble Ladie that is heere present nor to these other Prisoners vntill Easter day bee past And also Kinge Oberon commaundeth you that you doe keepe this Ladie in your house cloathed and apparelled and as well gouerned and to bee accompanied with Ladies and Damsels to serue her honourably as well as if she were your owne proper Daughter and that in like wise these Prisoners to be newly arrayed and ordered aswell as other Knights of your house and Sir we warne and charge you that in this that wee haue sayd that you do not the contrarie for any thing that may fall for if you do otherwise there is no mortall man shall saue your life thus the right noble Kinge Oberon commaundeth you to doe who is Soueraigne Lord and Gouernor of all the Realme of the Fayrie When the Emperour Tirrey had well heard these Knightes of the Fayrie thus speake vnto him and sawe howe they were armed with their Swordes in their handes taynted with the bloud of his Almaynes hee had great feare and beheld his Barons and sayde Sirs I pray you to giue me some good counsaile in this serious businesse wee haue well heard much speaking of King Oberon and of his great Acts and déeds wherefore I feare him much yée may wel sée what two of his knights haue done they haue rescued them that I haue condemned to die and slaine diuers of my men Also you heare what word he sendeth me by his two Knights that I should keepe this ladie and the other Prisoners honourably and that I should not be so hardy to put them to any danger vntill Easter be passed Then an ancient knight sayd Sir know for troth that King Oberon is puissant and wise for there is nothing in the world but that he knoweth it and also as often as hée list hee can bee whereas he will wish himselfe and with as great number of people as hee list and therefore Sir beléeue surely that if you doe otherwise then he hath commaunded you to doe these twoo knightes of his that be héere present haue puissance sufficient to destroy you and Kinge Oberon to sit still at home therefore Sir mine aduise is that you answeare these two knights that all that Kinge Oberon hath commaunded you to doe by them that you will doe it surely and then all the other Lordes gaue the Emperour the same counsaile When the Emperour had well heard and vnderstood his Lordes and Barons he turned him vnto the two Knightes of the Fayrie and said Sirs yée shall salute me to King Oberon and say that as for me I shall doe euerie thing as hee hath commaunded me to doe to the best of my power Sir Emperour quoth Gloriand if you will doe as you say the king will take you for his Fréend therevppon we commend you to God Thus the two knights departed so that the Emperour nor none other person knew not where they were become whereof euerie man had great maruaile and were sore abashed And thus Gloriand and Mallabron within a while came to the City of Momur whereas they found king Oberon to whome they shewed all that they had done Well quoth king Oberon as now the Lady Escleremond and the other Prisoners are at their ease and well serued but before a Moneth be passed they shall dearely abâ—y the ease that they bee in nowe for the Emperour hateth them so sore because of the malice that he beareth vnto Huon of Bourdeaux that he will set them all againe into Prison in great pouertie and miserie and when Easter is passed hee
whereof Huon hadde such sorrowe and greeâ—e at his heart that great pittie it was to sée him and saide Ah good Lord why was I euer borne into this world when I am so vnfortunate that I can haue no men to serue mée but at last they end their liues in my seruice miserably Ah my God why doest then suffer mée so longe to liue Then the Duchesse comforted him as much as shée could and said Ah Sir leaue your sorrowe and pray vnto our Lord God for his mercie and his grace and to haue pittie and compassion of vs that wée might arriue at some good Port. Thus the noble Duchesse Escleremond comforted Duke Huon her Husband howbeit shee was in as great feare and not without a cause and thus they floated vppon the Sea greatly bewailing the death of their men whome they sawe perish before their eyes Then Huon as farre off as he might sée he saw a Castle standing vppon a Rocke the which séemed darke and blacke and then hee lauded and praised our Lord God praying him humbly to bring them thether in sauegard Then the Sea was peaceable and the Tempest ceased and the winde fresh the which draue them in a short space vnto the Port vnder the Rocke and when they were neere to the land Huon and the Duchesse waded vnto the lande holding each other by the hand When they were vppon the drie land they kneeled downe and lifted vp their eyes vnto Heauen and made their deuoute prayers vnto our Lord Iesus Christ desiringe him to haue pitie and compassion of the Soules of their men that they sawe drowned and perished then they arose vp and saw a litle path way lying straight towardes the Castle and they entred into it and when they were néere vnto the Castle they sawe a great Riuer running round about it and sawe that the Castle was of maruailous great beautie thinkinge that they neuer sawe none such before the Towers were couered with glistering gould shining so bright as though the Sunne did shine thereon Also they sawe an auncient Church adioyning to the Castle with a goodly Steeple full of bels the which beganne to sound whereof Huon had great maruaile for he sawe neither man nor woman comming nor going and when hee had well regarded the Castle hee came vnto the gate and saw how that there were thrée bridges to passe before he could enter When Huon saw that hee sayd Ah good Lord in all my life I neuer sawe so faire a Castle hee that is Lord thereof séemeth to bee a great and a noble man for if there were within it but Fortie men to keepe it and garnished with victuals it would neuer be wonne for any man liuing So long Huon beheld this Castle that he had forgotten his sorrow the Castle pleased him so well and sayd vnto the Duchesse his Wife Madame I beléeue surely that this is the Castle of Momur appertaining vnto King Oberon wee may well thanke our Lord God that hee hath brought vs hether we shall sée him you knowe well that hée hath promised to giue mee his Realme and all his dignitie Sir quoth the Duchesse I haue heard say before this that Momur is a great and a noble Citie and full of people of all sorts wherefore you may well perceiue that this is not that Citie it may well bee that this Castle is his Madame quoth Huon the King hath that puissance that he may make Citie or Castle at his pleasure Sir quoth shee I beleeue it well Then Huon tooke his way to the gate and as hee went deuising with the Duchesse Escleremond his wife hee sawe before him foure Monkes in white apparell when they came vnto him they sayd Sir Duke of Bourdeaux of your comming we are right ioyfull for a more noble man came not heere of a long season God blesse you and the Duchesse your Wife Sirs quoth Huon God saue you I pray you to shew me what you be and who hath shewed you my name and who is Lord and Gouernor of this Castle Sir quoth one of the Monkes this Castle is ours and heere is no Gouernour but I and my Brethren wee make none answeare vnto any Lorde liuing therefore if it please you to enter wée shall make you as good feast and chéere as wée can if it please you to tarie Eight or fifteene dayes you shall bee welcome and when you depart wee shall giue you to carie with you meate and drinke sufficient to serue you and your Wife for Fifteene dayes and you shall haue neede thereof before you finde out Kinge Oberon Sirs quoth Duke Huon of your courtesie I most hartely thanke you Then Huon entred into the Castle with them and came into a great Hall well garnished and adorned with rich Pillers of white Marble vawted aboue and richly painted with goâ—ld and Azure and set full of rith precious stones the which cast a great light for by reason of the precious stones at midnight it was as bright as at noone dayes Huon and Escleremond thought that they neuer sawe so rich a thing Madame quoth Huon this place is delectable then they were brought into a rich Chamber whereas the Tables were set and garnished with euerie thinge that a man coulde wish for Then there came in many Seruants some brought in the Basons of gould adorned with precious stones and some brought in the Towell and water and they gaue the water vnto Huon and Escleremond to wash their handes then they satte downe at the Table and did eate and drinke at their pleasure for they had their meat and drinke at their wish When they hadde eaten at their pleasure and the cloathes taken vp then there were Spices brought and Huon did eate thereof but Escleremond would not so much as taft thereof then they were brought into a Garden to sport them and when they were there they thought that they had been in Paradice for the sweetnesse of flowers and fruites vppon euerie Trée and they heard diuers kind of birdes sing melodiously Sirs quoth Huon vnto the the Monkes well you ought to thanke our Lord Iesus Christ that he hath giuen you such a place to serue him in and Sirs I pray you when it is midnight awake me to the entent that I may ryse to go and heare your Seruice when you doe it Sir quoth one of them I shall awake you when the time is that you may come and héere vs. Sir quoth Huon therein shall you doe me great pleasure Then Duke Huon and the Duches Escleremond were brought into a rich Chamber well fournished with cloathes of gold and silke wherein was a rich and sumptuous bedde wherein Huon and the Duchesse his Wife lay together the Chamber was faire and rich for all the night it was as cleare as though the Chamber had been full of Torches by reason of the shining of the precious stones for there was no bench nor Post but that were set full of riche stones the
Oberon heere present or else you may depart and go and dwell in the Countrey of Brittaine Then King Oberon seeing appearance of great war to bee mooued betwéene these two Kinges hee spake and sayde that hee would haue their euill will layd downe and neuer to haue war betwéen them and sayd vnto King Arthur Sir I will that you hould your peace for if you speake one worde more against Huon the Soueraigne King of the Fayrie that hee would condemne him perpetually to be a warre-wolfe in those parts and there to end his dayes inpaine and miserie but if hee will beléeue him hee woulde agrée them together then Kinge Arthur stood still and would speake no word Then Morgue and Transeline fell downe vpon their knées and desired King Oberon to haue pitie of King Arthur and to pardon him of all his ill will and after that Morgue had spoken then Kinge Arthur kneeled downe and sayd Right déere Sir I pray you to pardon mée in that I haue spoken so much against your pleasure Arthur quoth Kinge Oberon I will that you well knowe that if it were not for the loue of your Sister who hath desired mee to pardon you I would haue shewed you the power that I haue in the Fayrie the which from hencefoorth I giue vnto Duke Huon of Bourdeaux and all the dignitie and puissance that I haue vsed in all my life Then Duke Huon thanked Kinge Oberon right humbly of his courtesie Chap. CXLVII ¶ Of the Ordinances that the noble King Oberon made before he dyed WHen King Oberon had deposed himselfe of his Realme and dignitie and that he had put all his puissance into the hands of Huon then he sayd vnto King Arthur Sir because I desire with all my heart that after my decease Huon and you shoulde liue together in good peace and loue I giue you all my Realme of Boulquant and all the Realme that Sâ—billa holdeth of me to do therewith at your pleasure and of all the Fayries that bee in the plaine of Tartary I will that you haue so much puissance there as Huon hath héere Prouided that héere before me you make homage vnto him and that good peace and loue may be betwéene you Then Arthur Morgue and Transeline and all the other Lordes and Ladies that were there thanked King Oberon and sayd how that they neuer heard nor saw so rich a guift giuen before as that Kinge Oberon had giuen vnto Kinge Arthur Then King Arthur in the presence of King Oberon came and made homage and kissed Duke Huon then Kinge Oberon and all the other hadde thereof great ioy because of the Peace made betwéene those two Kinges and great feasting and ioy was made in the Pallaice for all the most noble Lordes and Ladies of the Fayrie were there assembled there was great solemnitie made Thus as they were in this great ioy kinge Oberon féeling that his last end approached for hee knewe the day and houre then séeing that in his life time he had prouided a King for his Realme he humbly thanked our Lord God of the graces that he had giuen him in this world then hee called before him Huon of Bourdeaux and kinge Arthur Gloriand and Mallabron and sayd Sirs I aduertise you that longe I shall not abide among you therefore Huon for your bountie and noblenesse wherewith you haue béene alwayes indued I haue chosen you among other to haue the kéeping and Signiorie and the ministration of all the Fayrie as well of the Countrey of warrewolues as of other thinges secret reserued and not to bee shewed to any mortall men and also I haue giuen you my dignitie and puissance to doe therewith as I haue done in my time because I haue thus chosen you therefore I will that when I depart out of this world that you doe make a newe Abbey of Monkes the which I will bee set in the meadowe héere before this Citie because all my dayes I haue loued this Citie and I will that in the Church of the same Abbey you doe burie my bodie as richly as you shall thinke conuenient and I recommend vnto you all such as haue well serued me and I will that you retaine them into you Seruice When King Oberon had sayd as much as pleased him Huon answeared sayd Déere Sir of the great goodnesse and honour that you haue done vnto me I thanke you and all that you haue ordained or will do by the grace of God it shall be done in such wise that my soule shall beare no charge for it at the day of Iudgement When the Lordes and Ladies that were there assembled heard the words of king Oberon and saw well that his last end approached néere she cryes and clamours that were there made was great maruaile to heare and especially there was such wéepings and lamentations in the Citie that great pittie it was to heare it for they were aduertized that kinge Oberon drewe néere vnto his last end who lay in his rich Couch in the middest of his Pallaice making his prayers vnto our Lord God and holding Huon by the hand and at the last hee sayd My right déere Fréend Huon pray for mee and then hee made the signe of the Crosse and recommending his Soule vnto God the which incontinent was borne into Paradice by a great multitude of Angels sent from God who at their departing made such shining and clearnesse in the Pallaice that there was neuer none such seene before and therewith there was so sweet a smâ—ll that euerie man thought that they had been rauished into Paradice whereby they knewe surely that kinge Oberons Soule was saued When king Huon and king Arthur and Quéene Escleremond Morguele Fay and Transeline and king Carahew Gloriand and Mallabron and all other knightes and Ladies knew that king Oberon was dead there is no humane tong can tell the cries wéepings and complaints that were made there for the death of king Oberon â—hen his bodie was taken and borne to the place where his Sepulcher was deuised the which king Huon caused to be made right richly and sounded there an Abbey as king Oberon had deuised After the Buriall they returned to the Pallaice whereas the Tables were set and there sat thrée crowned kinges and two excellent Quéens full of great beautie at the vpper end of the Table sat king Huon and next vnto him king Arthur and then king Carahew and the two Quéens and the other Ladies departed and went and dyned in their Chambers and they were all serued of euerie thinge that was necessarie And after dinner and grace sayd king Arthur and king Carahew tooke their leaue of king Huon and of Queene Escleremond and so departed euerie man into his owne Countrey and Morgue and Transeline tarried a certaine space with Quéene Escleremond in great ioy and solace Now let vs leaue speaking of kinge Huon and Quéene Escleremond who tarried still in the Fayrie and shall do vntill the day of Iudgment and
the Garden to sée if he could find the Damsell he sought so long that he found the Damsell whereas shée lay in the bush in great perill to be drowned This Watchman was a wise man and as priuily as he could he yssued out of the Garden and went downe to the water side and there he found a little boat and entred into it so passed the vine Garden as priuily as he could so that none heard nor saw him and when he was against the bush whereas the Damsell was hée spake to her softly and sayd Faire Damsell be not abashed for if I may in any maner of wise I will ayd you come down and enter into this boat and I shall set you in the Forrest and tarie there vntil I bring to you Florence your Louer the which I shall doe by the grace of Iesus for if I can by any manner of meanes I shall bring him out of the danger that hee is in because I haue alwayes loued him and for the goodnesse that hée hath done to me I shall now reward it When the Damsell heard the Watch-man for ioy thereof shée forgat all her sorrow and incontinent aswell as she might she yssued out of the bush and went down the Riuer side then she entred into the boat and the Watch-man set her ouer and left her in the Forrest the which ioyned to the water side then he tooke his leaue of her and sayd Faire Damsell tarie here vntill I returne againe to you Fréende quoth the Damsell I pray to God that you may so spéed as to bring hether my Louer and to set him out of danger and so he departed and entred againe into the Garden hearkening towardes the Pallaice whereas there was great brute made for the escaping of the Damsell But there was no doubt made of Florence because the Tower that hee was in was stronge and thicke Also the Chamber that he was in was not toward the Pallaice but it lay open against the Garden then the sayd Watch-man came to the wall side whereas there was a straight loope hole into Florence Chamber and he had two Goates féete in his handes then hee called Florence and sayd Sir if you will bee with your Loue who tarieth for you in the Forrest whereas I haue lâ—â—t her in sauegard helpe your selfe that you were out of this Tower take heere this Goates foote and doe you so much there within to enlarge the loope that you may yssue out and héere without I shall make the hole wyder When Florence vnderstoode the Watch-man hee was neuer so ioyfull in all his life when he heard the man say that his Loue was in sauegard they laboured so sore that they made the loope so large that Florence yssued out and then the Watch-man brought Florence to the Stable whereas some of the Kinges horses stoode especially there was one whose like could not be found This Watch-man who had great affection and desire to doe seruice to this young Lord did so much that he brought vnto Florence his Armour his shéeld his helmet his sword and a good Speare and so Florence armed him and leapt vpon the good horse then the Watch-man shewed him the place in the Forrest whereas as hee had left the Damsell and then hee tooke his leaue of Florence who sayd Fréend the seruice that you haue done me shall be well rewarded in time to come then hee road foorth and left not vntill he came whereas his Loue was and when he saw her his ioy was renewed then he alighted and kissed his Loue and when he sawe that she was so bloudie he hadde great pitie of her and sayd Deere Loue it is néedfull that we depart before the day come Therefore make you readie and leape vp behind me and then Florence mounted and she leapt vp behind him and so departed assoone as they might When they were in the fields the Damsell looked backe towards the Citie and shee saw a great number of men yssuing out then shée sayd vnto Florence Sir I sée well that wee bee lost for I sée much people yssuing out of the Citie it is not possible for vs to be saued but that we shal be taken and especially I cannot escape I sée well that nowe our loue shall depart your Father is fell and cruell I knowe well that hee will slay mee Then the Watch-man came running after Florence for feare that he had of the king but he could not ouertake Florence who fled with his Loue behind him as fast as he might toward the Sea-side for Florence knew well the priuie wayes because he had often times vsed the wayes when he was woont to go a hauking or hunting So long he road that he came to a little Port where there was a Shippe readie to depart then Florence alighted and his Loue with him and tyed his horse to a Trée and then he tooke the Damsell by the hand and came to the Maister of the Shippe and agréed so with him that he and his Loue entred into the ship then they hoysed vp their sayles and so sayled from the land the Watch-man came to the Sea-side trusting to haue found Florence there and hee was right sorrowfull when he sawe them so farre on the Sea hee was in great feare of loosing of his life Then Kinge Garyn came thether with a great number and when he saw the Shippe so far in the Sea he sayd Ah good Lord now haue I lost my son for I know well he is gone inyonder Shippe and the Damsel with him but by the faith that I owe vnto our Lord Iesus Christ this Watch-man shall loose his head then the Watch-man was taken and fast bound so that the bloud came out at his fingers ends and sayd all wéeping Ah good Lord in an ill houre I was acquainted with Florence and his Loue Alas for the goodnesse that I haue done I shall haue a small reward this day I am like to loose my life for loue of my Lord. Chap. CLVII ¶ Of the great debate that was in the Pallaice for the VVatch-mans sake whome the King would haue had to be hanged and how the king of Nauarre tooke the Citie of Courtoys and how he departed from thence WHen the Earle Peter of Aragon saw the Watch-man taken by whom Florence and his Loue were saued hee was sorie to sée the man so sore beaten and threatened then he went in hast to the King and sayd Sir you shew well by your workes that you haue but small reason to suffer thus this poore man to be beaten and that you would put him to death for the goodnesse that he hath done to your Sonne he hath done therein but as he should doe and like a true Seruant you ought the better to loue him you shall doe ill to put him to death I will that you know that if you put him to death I will not serue you one day longer but I will rather goe to the King
the Castle thinking to haue won it but they found there such defence and resistance that that which they did there was small to their profit yet the assault endured vntill the next day and at last they were constrained to withdraw from the Castle a great space Florence who was within cryed to them and sayd Ah yée false Villaines yée haue slaine my men but if God suffer me to liue their deathes shall bee déerely bought When the Paynims saw that they could not attaine to the Castle they blew the retrait euerie man returned to their owne house Then Sorbarre said to Florence and his company Sirs I aduise you to leape on your horses for now the Paynims are returned to their Lodgings wearie of their trauaile and many of them sore hurt and they are in great feare I know their conditions well ynough and because that after trauaile labour a man is féeble and full of feare and nowe euerie man is in his owne house and vnarmed to be at their ease therefore I counsaile that incontinent we yssue out and set vpon the Towne Then Florence and all the other sayd Sir as you haue deuised we are readie to doe it for a more noble counsaile was neuer giuen Then euerie man made him readie yssued out of the Castle and Florence and Sorbarre went before them and rested not vntill they were entred into the Town for their entring could not bee defended because the Castle ioyned to a corner of the Towne then they made a great crie and spread abroad in the Towne and put in fire in diuers places and slewe downe the Paynims in the stréets and Market places finally they did so much by force of armes that they brought the Towne vnder their subâ—ection and the Inhabitants thereof all slaine and all the Christian Prisoners rescued who had great ioy when they saw Florence their Lord whome they thought had béene dead Great riches that day was wonne in that Towne the which was giuen and parted vnto them that had deserued it and Florence gaue to the Christian Prisoners great riches Thus when the Towne was wonne and the riches thereof put into their Shippes they all departed and sette fire on all the Citie then they went into the Castle whereas the Damsell Clariet was who had great ioy when she saw Florence her Louer and then Sorbarre who had great desire to depart from thence tooke all the Treasure riches and had it into their ships and victualled them with all thinges necessary then when it was day in the morning they departed from the Castle and went to their Ships with great ioy Florence holding his Loue by the hande said vnto her Deere Loue king Garyn my Father hath sent to seeke for me all about both by land and by water and these that bee come heere with these Shippes were sent forth by the Kinge my Father to search for me When the Damsell heard that Florence would bring her againe to his Father she hadde great feare and said Sir yâ—u know right well the great hate and displeasure that your Father hath to you and me for God sake sir let vs goe some other way Déere Loue quoth Florence haue no feare of my Father for if you had shewed your nâ—me what you bee before this time it had eased vs of much paine Ah Sir quoth shee it is not as you wéene it were Well quoth Florence it is sufficient for me as it is then they 〈◊〉 vp their sayles and so sayled vntill they were farre off 〈◊〉 that Land and Sorbarre was right ioyfull in that he had saued the Christian men and for the loue of Florence he forsooke his owne lawe and his countrey then hee sayd vnto Florence Sir my bodie and goods I abandon to you in such wise that I shall neuer leaue you for life nor death Sir quoth Florence of the goodnesse and troth that you haue shewed mee I thanke you and I shall neuer haue penny worth but the halfe shall be yours Now let vs leaue speaking of them sayling ioyfully vppon the Sea towards Aragon and let vs speake of king Garyn who was besieged within the Citie of Courtoys by his brother in lawe the king of Nauarre Chap. CLXI ¶ How King Huon Kinge of the Fayrey sent two of his Knightes to the two Kinges and how he appeared betweene them with a great number and of the Peace that he made between them WEll haue yee heard before how that after the King of Nauarre had taken King Garyn prisoner and that Truce was taken for a certaine space and then each of them to shew their powers so it fell that two daies before the breaking vp of the truce and that their ayds and puissances were assembled together the one partie within the Citie and the other without with the Kinge of Nauarre who sore threatned King Garyn because hee had banished away his Sonne Florence his Nephew and sayd that hée had rather die then such an ill King should not be punished this King of Nauarre had assembled such a number of people that the Valleys and Hils were couered with men of warre the night before the Truce brake vppe there was hearde in the ayre a fearefull voice the which when it began to speake the earth trembled and thundred and lightned in such sort that all they that were assembled aswell they within as without had such feare that they were likely to haue run away Then the voice began to speake and sayd Sirs ye that be here in the field readie to fight of both parties make no hast to ioyne together in Battaile for such ayd and succour shal be sent to you both that yee shal be all ioyfull Therewith the voice passed away and was heard no more whereby both parties were abashed all the night they were at their prayers beséeching God to ayd succour them King Garyn was sore abashed when he heard the voice and said Oh good Lorde if these people that are assembled bee slaine by my meanes for me my soule shall be lost for euer Alas my Son Florence I was ill counsailed when I chased you away from me and I did great sin when I put you in prison I am wearie of my life it is no matter though I die and I am more sorrie for you my déere Sonne whome I haue betrayed and driuen away without a cause alas by my meanes this Realme will be wasted and destroyed the which you ought to haue after me Therewith he swounded among his Lordes so that they all thought he had béene dead whereof they sore complained and at last the king came againe to himselfe then his Lordes comforted him and so bad him to heare Seruice and after seruice there appeared sodenly before him two goodly young Knightes the one was Gloriant and the other Mallabron they were twoo Knights of the Fayrey then they all smiling saluted the King and sayd Royall King Huon of Bourdeaux saluteth thée
by vs hee is King of all the Fayrey and he will come to ayd thée and to defend thy land also he will that thou knowest that he is Father to the faire Damsell Clariet whome thou namest the new-found Damsell and because thou hast banished from thée thy Son Florence hee will come to thée to make the Peace betweene thée and thy Brother in lawe the King of Nauarre and hee will make the Mariage betwéene thy Sonne Florence and Clariet his Daughter When kinge Garyn heard the Knight of the Fayrey hee hadde such ioy at his heart that hee wist not what to doe or say and hee came to the Knight and embraced him all wéeping and said Sir know for troth my body my life and all that I haue I submitte into the handes of the good King Huon to do therewith at his pleasure With those words the twoo Knightes vanished away no man wist how nor whether so that euerie man had great maruaile King Garyn and his Lordes lifted vp their hands to Heauen making the signe of the crosse recommending themselues to Iesus Christ and the twoo Knightes rested not vntill they came to the Cittie of Momur to King Huon and shewed him what they had done and sayd to King Garyn shewed Huon of the day of Battaile that was taken betwéene the two Kinges and said Sir haue pitie of Florence and of Clariet your Daughter who are as now on the Sea in a great Tempest then Huon sayde Surely I they shall be shortly before the Citie of Courtoys with a number of people that the earth shal be couered with them to the entent that if either of those two Kinges doe contrary to my will I shall destroy him for euer for shortly I will that my Daughter Clariet shall bee Duchesse of Bourdeloys and shee is so faire that there is none like her and I will shew the great loue that I beare to her Then Huon called to him Escleremond and sayd Ladie you shall sée this day the thinge that you much desire to sée that is your Daughter Clariet to whom I giue her the guift that she shal be beloued of euerie man and I will that from henceforth she shall giue large guiftes and rewards to Ladies Damsels Knightes and Squiers for I will that from hencefoorth shée haue her pleasure without suffering of any more ill or perill for she hath suffered inough This day was faire and cléere within the Citie of Courtoys there was many people assembled and they were in great deuotion some made seruice to be song and some were confessed and ordred themselues towardes the Battaile Then King Garyn commanded euerie man to leape vppon their horses readie armed and the King himselfe mounted then they issued out of the Citie and commanded his Constables and Marshals to ordaine Thrée Battailes in the name of God King Garyn had assembled a great number of men he had more then Fiftie Thousand men there ye might haue séen Ladies Damsels and Burgesses that wept for feare of their Freends whome they sawe going towards the Battaile and they went all to the wals Colledges and Churches to pray to God for the good spéed of their King and of their Fréends Now let vs leaue speaking of these two Kinges who were readie in the fielâ—s ranged in order of Battaile the one against the other and lette vs speake of King Huon who called before him all his Lordes of the Fayrey there was the faire Escleremond and Gloriant and Mallabron and many other Knights of the Fayrey then King Huon said Sirs yée all knowe well that by the will of God King Oberon whiles he liued gaue me all his Realme and Signiorie and puissance that he had ouer al the Fayrie of the world thereby then I may haue all my commaundements fulfilled and since God hath giuen me this gift I will not suffer the man-slaughter and murder that is like to be betwéene the Two Kinges of Aragon and Nauarre therefore I wish my selfe with Two Hundred Thousand men well armed and richly by séeming and all mounted on good horses and also I wish to haue as many â—â—urnished with bowes and Crosbowes on foote Also I wish a Hundred Thousand to be apparelled in Gownes of cloath of gould and silke and also I wish for my Daughter Clariet whome I haue left a long time in paine and miserie whereof I repent me for mine intention is to marrie her to Florence Sonne to Kinge Garyn of Aragon the which Florence is so faire so hardy and so humble and curteous that in all the world there is none like him I wish him and all his companie and Sorbarre with him to be at the Hauen of Courtoys Also I wish my Tent in the meadow betwéen the hoasts of the two Kings and I will that my Tent be such that there be none like it in all the world and vppon the toppe thereof I will there be pitcht a Dragon of fine gold King Huon hadde no sooner made his wish but hee and all his company were there as he had deuised When the king of Nauarre saw so many people and so many Tents and Pauillions so néere him and that he saw the rich and puissant Pauillion of Kinge Huons with the flambing Dragon hee was greatly dismayed Then he called his Lords and Knightes and saide Sirs behold what people yonder are before vs lodging mee thinkes I neuer sawe so many together in all my life I wot not what it should be I am in doubt then he called vnto him two knights and sayd Sirs goe thether and knowe what people they be and what they meane and whether they bee Fréendes or enemies who is chéefe ouer them Sir quoth the two knights we will not goe thether for we know not whether they bée our enemies or not When the King of Nauarre vnderstoode that those knightes nor none other would goe thether hee was sorrowfull and as the king was thus deuising thether came the two knightes of the Fayrey Gloriant and Mallabron and Gloriant sayd Kinge of Nauarre King Huon of Bourdeaux hath sent vs to you and commaundeth you that you make peace betwéen you and king Garyn for he will giue his Daughter Clariet to your Nephewe Florence who is the fairest Ladie of the worlde When the king of Nauarre vnderstoode these twoo Messengers sent from king Huon he was right ioyfull and commanded al his Lords to goe with him to kinge Huon they obayed his commaundement and road with him vntill hee came to the rich Pauillion of king Huons whereas they alighted and were well receiued then the king of Nauarre saluted king Huon who sayd Sir you be welcome and then the king of Nauarre knéeled down before kinge Huon and sayd Sir I am readie to fulfill your pleasure Then Gloriant tooke the king of Nauar by the arme and raysed him vp and set him down by king Huon and Escleremond then king Huon sent for king Garyn who incontinent came
great feasting chéere and caused him to be christened then king Huon said to the two kinges Sirs I will that presently each of you doe pardon other of all ill will Sir quoth they wee are readie to doe it and so each of them embraced other whereof king Huon hadde great ioy and so had all other Lordes and Knightes that were there assembled Kinge Garyn quoth Huon incontinent I will that your Son Florence haue my Daughter in mariage and I giue them the Citie of Bourdeaux Blames and Geronnill and all the appendants thereto belonging When king Garyn heard the offer that king Huon had made to his Sonne Florence he thanked him hartely so did all the other Lords who allowed greatly that mariage When kinge Garyn sawe the honour loue and courtesie that Kinge Huon did to Florence his Sonne hee knéeled downe and sayd Sir my Child and yours I commit into your handes vse them at your pleasure then by consent of both Fathers they were wedded and spoused together all in one day the Feast Solemnitie of this mariage endured Eight daies the king of Nauarre gaue vnto Florence his Realme of Nauarre to possesse and enioy after his decease Of the Feastes Iusts and Tourneys that was made on those Eight dayes I make no mention thereof for it were ouer-long to rehearse Then king Huon gaue his Daughter Thirtie Somers charged with gould and great riches whereby the ioy encreased of all parts then the Lordes and other people of Aragon came to king Huon and all wéeping they desired him to haue pitie and compassion of them and that he might find some meanes that they might haue some recompence for the great hurts an dammages that they had receiued by reason of the warre between these two kinges whereby they were neere hand destroyed by the Nauarnes When Queene Escleremond heard the people complaine she embraced her Husband and saide Sir I desire you for the loue of your children to haue pitie of these people who requireth for aide for in you is all their trust Madame quoth Huon I shal incontinent shew what grace I will doe for the loue of you Then king Huon commaunded all the people to kneele downe and then he sayd Sirs all yée that be here assembled to the entent that you shall not thinke that the thing that I will doe should bee any witch-craft or illusion but that it is by the will of Iesus Christ the gift that king Oberon gaue mee before hee dyed the which was all the puissance and dignitie that hee had in all the Fayrey of the world therefore knowe that by the puissance and dignitie that our Lord God made king Oberon my Predecessor to giue me I will that this Realme of Aragon whereas it hath had dammage by reason of the warre so that the Realme is sore burnt and wasted and I will that it be again in the same case as it was before any war began and that all Castles houses burnt or beaten downe be better thrée times then they were before and I will that from henceforth euerie man serue God and thanke him of this grace that he hath sent you then he lifted vp his handes and blessed all the people with the signe of the crosse and assoone as he had done his blessing euerie thing was as he had deuised throughout al the Realme Thus was the wil of Iesus Christ at the instance and prayer of the noble kinge Huon Chap. CLXIII ¶ How King Huon and Queene Escleremond departed and howe he gaue great rich guiftes vnto the two Kinges and to all other Lordes Ladies and Damsels and of the sorrowe that was betweene the Mother and the Daughter at their departing WHen Kinge Huon had made his prayers to our Lord God and that his request was graunted hee thanked God such Feasts Iusts and Tourneys as was made there during the Feast was neuer séene nor heard of in any Cronicle heere before Then king Huon made him readie to depart and he gaue guifts before he departed to them that were there and especially to Sorbarre to whome hée recommended his Daughter Clariet desired him not to leaue her Sir quoth Sorbarre the great loue that I haue to you constraineth me neuer to forsake her nor them that shall come of her as long as life is in my body When Quéen Escleremond vnderstood the departing of her Lord Huon and sawe that shee must leaue her Daughter shee had great sorrowe at her heart and so all wéeping shée came to her Daughter and said Right déere Daughter you ought greatly to thanke our Lord God in that hee hath cast you out of so many perils and nowe to haue great honour and to be exalted like a rich and puissant Ladie therefore alwaies set your heart on God and serue feare and loue him be liberall to them that be poore nor mocke no body neither bee no Iangler against your Husband nor hearken to none ill lyers flye from Flatterers loue your Husband kéepe your selfe alwaies true to the entent that none ill report bee made of you Marke well this doctrine for I cannot tell whether euer I shall sée you againe or not When the faire Clariet heard her Mother suddainly she began to wéepe and sayd Oh my right déere Lady and Mother the departing of you and of the king my Father from me ought sore to gréeue me since we haue béene together so small a time for your departing is to me so gréeuable that it is great paine for me to beare it Then the Mother the Daughter clipped and kissed each other more then Twentie times and oftener would haue done if king Huon had not béene for then hee tooke his Daughter Clariet in his armes and kissed her often times tenderly wéeping because he knew well that he should neuer sée her againe then he lifted vp his hands and gaue her and her Husband his blessing shewed them many faire examples and doctrines Then the noble Quéene Escleremond kneeled downe prayed king Huon her husband that he would counsaile and aduertize them what they should doe Madame quoth Huon rise vp for such pitie I haue of them of you that my heart neere hand faileth me and I tarie here too long for I must needs depart come hether my deere Daughter and kisse me and Son Florence with you I leaue my Daughter and keepe her well as longe as God will suffer her to bee with you Then king Huon tooke leaue of the two kinges who were right sorrowfull of his departing and he desired them alwaies to be good Louers together and so tooke his leaue and sayd I wish my selfe my Queen and all my company to be in my Pallaice at Momur he had no sooner spoken the words but that he was there and sudenly vanished from the twoo Kings whereof they and all other were greatly abashed so that they wist not what to say they had thought it had béen but a dreame but
escaped but my selfe and therefore Sirs I pray you let mee haue againe my horse and my sword and shew mee the way to Rome it would be a great almes deede to shew me that courtesie Nay quoth the maister Théefe that we will not doe but thou shalt tarrie with vs and learne to be a Thiefe and a Murderer and if thou wilt not thus doe with my Sword I shall strike off thy head Sirs quoth Ide you would haue me to do a thing that I was neuer accustomed to doe nor none of my Lineage nor I haue no intention to doe any such workes therefore I pray you lette me haue my horse and my sword then you doe me great courtesie and when I am mounted vpon my horse if one of you will defie me and if I defend not my selfe from him then strike off my head I haue bought my meate and drinke verie déere if I should looze my horse then the maister Théefe sayd Because I sée that thou art so hardy I will wrastle with thee vpon this couenant that if thou cast me thou shalt be one of our companie and if thou be cast to the earth then I will haue thy horse and thy Sword and spoyle thee of all thy cloathes Then I de sayd I am content thus to do so that you withdraw your men from me and set my horse by me and my sword tyed to my saddle bowe for it is a common prouerbe that a man is taken for a Foole that putteth his trust in a Theefe When the Theues heard that they could not forbare laughing and they had great desire to see this wrastling betwixt them then they withdrew backe and set his horse there by him then the noble Damsell I de quickly tooke the Théefe who thought to haue borne her to the earth but shee drew him so sore to her that he could scarce haue any breath and therewith shee cast him so rudely to the earth against a stone that he was therewith in a swound and with the fall his teeth burst in his mouth When Ide saw the Théefe in that danger she went quickely to her horse and mounted vp then she drew out her sword and sayd Ah ye vilde Théeues your treason shall not auaile you for ye haue all thought violence and treason against mee goe helpe your maister who lyeth yonder I thinke he shall euer remember this wrastâ—ing between vs and I haue now no doubt of you all though you were a Hundred more for if I can I shall make you all bee hanged and strangled then the quickest and the lightest Théefe amonge them stept foorth tooke him by the bridle of his horse and when shee sawe that shee lifted vp her Sword and strake the Théefe vpon the hand so that the hand flew from his bodie and hanged still vppon her bridle then hee ranne away thinking to die with the paine of his hande and then she dasht in among the Théeues for they had no weapons about them to defend themselues withall but they were there to their folly nor they had no feare of that which fell nor they beléeued not that such a young Squier should haue hadde such hardnes and force then shee fought fiercely among them and cut off armes and shoulders and claue some to the braines she did so much that she slew fiue of the Théeues before she depâ—rted and when she saw time to depart she spurred her horse for by that time the residue of the Théeues had gotten weapons and they followed her to haue slaine her or her horse then shée departed with the spurres her horse was good therefore anon she was farre from them then the Théeues sawe they lost but their labours to follow any further therefore they let her goe When Ide saw that she was escaped their handes she humbly thanked our Lord God desiring him to ayd and conduct her into some sauegard and she road so long that she yssued out of the great Forrest Of her iourneys and lodging I will make no mention but she sped so in her iourney that shee arriued at the noble Citie of Roome and she tooke vp her lodging néere to the Pallaice whereas the Emperor was deuising with his Lordes of the Feats of warre then I de went thether knéeled downe and saluted the Emperour and all his Lords When the Emperour and the Romanes that were there sawe the goodly yong man who so humbly saluted them they regarded him much for the beautie that they sawe in him then the Emperour sayd vnto him Faire Sonne shewe mee what you bee and from whence you come that thus commeth hether to mee Sir quoth Ide I am a Squier that came nowe straight from Almaine whereas I haue serued a certaine time and little there I haue wonne whereof I am sorrie and but lately I was in place where diuers Spaniards and other were in companie they had great desire to make warre and they went to the king of Spaine your enemie but before they had gone farre they that were in my company met with them and there we fought together and slew the most part of them and there I was a little hurt and now Sir I am come to you to serue your grace if my small seruice may please you and in the best wise that I can I shall serue you truely Chap. CLXVII ¶ Howe the Damsell I de was entertained with the Emperour of Roome and how the Lady Oliue his Daughter was enamoured of Ide weening shee had beene a man and howe the Kinge of Spaine came before the Citie of Roome and howe the noble Damsell I de tooke the King of Spaine in battaile and discomfited him WHen the Emperor heard Ide speake he beheld her well and sawe how shée was bigge and great and thought that in all his life he neuer saw so faire a young man and as the Emperour was talking with Ide there came to them Oliue the Emperours Daughter Then all the Lordes rose vp at her comming and she sate downe by her Father and greatly beheld the young Squier and much she praised him in her courage because of the maruailous great beauty that was in her wéening that shee had béene a man This Oliue was so faire so swéete and so méeke that for her bountie and humilitie she was beloued of euerie man then the Emperour demaunded of Ide what her name was and from whence she came Sir quoth she my name is Ide and I was borne at Terrascon and I am kinne to Duke Naymes of Bauier and to Aymerie of Narbon and to Gillerme the Scot but by the kinsmen of Ganelon I was chased and banished out of my Countrey since I haue endured much paine and pouertie Then the Emperour sayd Fréend thou art of a good kindred I entertaine thée into my Court for the bountie that I thinke to be in thée and also for thy good Lineage Sir quoth Ide God giue me grace that I may doe you such seruice that it
the goodlyest person of the world and the most worthy and hardy that euer was guirt with a sword or road on horse he maketh no semblance to doe that thinge which I haue so sore desired then she drew néere to Ide and touched her and Ide who knew well what her desire was turned toward her and wold hide himselfe no longer from her but all wéeping cryed her mercie and shewed her from the beginning to the ending the manner of all her aduenture and how that she was a woman and was fledde away because her Father would haue married her himselfe And when Oliue vnderstood Ide shee was right sorrowfull howbeit shee comforted Ide and sayd My right swéete Louer discomfort not your selfe for you shall not be accused by me neither to no man nor woman liuing we are wedded together and I will be good and true to you since you haue kept your selfe so truely with you I will vse my time passe my destiny since it is thus for I sée well that it is the pleasure of our Lord God Thus as Oliue and Ide were deuising together of their secrets a Page being in a Chamber that ioyned close to their Chamber heard well all their secret words and communication what each of them had sayd to the other then he in all hast went to the Emperour and shewed him all that he had heard betwéene the two Louers When the Emperour heard that he was right sorrowful and sayd Fellow beware what thou sayest looke that thy report bee true for if I finde it contrarie thou shalt die an ill death Sir if it bee not as I haue sayde and that I de be not a woman whom you take for a man strike off my head Then the Emperour made him to bee taken and kept to the intent to prooue the troth for he thought that matter strange to beleeue then hee called to him the Lordes of his priuie Counsaile and he shewed them the matter whereof they had much maruaile seeing the great vertue and hye Prowesse that was in Ide and they greatly complained of the matter and were sorrowfull then the Emperour who was right pensiue sware and made promise that if hee found the matter in that case hee would cause both his Daughter and Ide to bee burnt because of hyding of that strange case and sayd If I de hadde discouered the matter to me betimes my Daughter should neuer haue married her and the matter now kept close from me I shall neuer haue ioye at my heart vntill I knowe the troth Then hee commaunded a bath to bee made readie in his owne Chamber wherein he would haue Ide to bée bathed to the entent that he might know the troth before she escaped away for he sayd that he would not suffer no such falshood to bee vsed the bathing was made readie and I de was sent for who knewe nothing of that matter then the Emperour said to her I de doe off your cloathes for you shall bath you with mée When Ide heard the Emperour she was sore abashed and sayd Sir I pray you to forbeare it for this time because I haue not béene accustomed to be bathed then the Emperour sayd I wil not forbeare it because I will sée you naked for if I finde that true which hath béene shewed me both you and my Daughter shall be burnt When Ide heard that she saw that she was betrayed and lost then shee knéeled downe before the Emperour and cryed him mercie and required him to haue pitie of her and the Emperour in great hast sent for his Lordes who were in the Hall talking together and were sorrowfull for Ide whom they loued entirely so they came to the Emperour and found I de before him on her knées sore weeping in such sort that for pity of her they wept all then the Emperour shewed them all the déede wherefore ye must needs sée iustice to bee done vpon Ide who then by the Peeres and Lords of Roome was iudged to be burnt Then it was commaunded the fire to bee made readie to burne her the which was done and I de before the Emperor abyding her iudgement with her handes ioyned lifted vp towards Heauen making pitifull prayers to our Lord God and to the holy Ghost praying them to haue pitie of her soule and to receiue it into the holy Paradice for shee sawe well that the end of her life was come Chap. CLXX ¶ How our Lord God made great Miracles for Ide for God made her to chaunge from the nature of a woman and to become a perfect man whereof the Emperor and his Daughter Oliue had great ioy and so Ide and Oliue lay together and ingendred a faire Sonne named after Croissant And of the death of the Emperour THe same houre that I de was in her prayers there appeared sodenly in the Chamber a great cléere light and therewith a maruailous swéet odour that it séemed all the Chamber to bee full of essence spices Aromaticke then presently after they heard an Angel-like voice sent from our Lord God and sayd Thou Emperour of Rome our Lord God commaundeth thée by mée that thou be not so hardy as to touch Ide to doe her any hurt for our Lord God hath giuen her the grace for the goodnes that is in her he doth consent and will by his diuine puissance that she be changed in nature and to become a perfect man as all other be without any difference also God commandeth that the Page whom thou hast in prison that thou settest him at libertie for the which he shewed thée was of troth this morning I de was a woman but now shée is a man Also God commaundeth thée to make thy selfe readie for thou shalt liue here in the world but Eight daies longer therefore from hence foorth let Ide and Oliue thy Daughter haue the gouerning of thy Empire who before this yéere bee passed shall haue betwéene them a Sonne who shall be named Croissant who shall doe maruailes when hee commeth to age many aduentures and pouerties hee shall suffer in his youth but afterward he shall haue ioy and wealth ynough and with those words the Angell vanished away and left the Emperour and his Lordes and all the people of Rome in great ioy for the euident Miracle that our Lord God had sent by the prayer of Ide who with Oliue his Wife had great ioy and thanked our Lord God Then the Feast and triumph beganne againe at Rome that day passed and the night came and Ide and Oliue went to bedde together and tooke their sport in such wise that the same night was gotten and ingendred the faire Croissant whereby the ioy doubled in the City of Rome and the next day Ide came to the Pallaice with other Lordes And the Emperour was in his Chamber making of his Testament for he had not forgotten the wordes of the Angell so he liued Eight daies longer and on the Ninth day hee dyed and hee was borne into
from hence vntill you haue shewed vs your will to the intent that we may bring him some good newes Chap. CLXXII ¶ Howe the Emperour Ide and the Empresse Oliue gaue good instructions to their Sonne when they departed from Rome and howe they arriued at Courtoys and came to Florence who with great ioy receiued them as his Children WHen the Emperor I de had heard this Knight report these newes of the King his Father the water fell from his eies for pitie and ioy that he had and answeared and sayd Sirs I will that yee know well that of your comming and good newes I am right ioyfull but I am sorrie for the great sicknesse that my Father is in wherefore to recomfort him and to make him ioyfull I will that you returne to him and say howe that I humbly recommend me to his good grace and that at Midsummer next I and my Wife will bee with him the Messengers hearing that answeare were right ioyfull Then after dinner they tooke their leaue of the Emperor and of the Empresse who gaue them many rich guiftes for the honour of King Florence their Father and so the Messengers departed When the Empresse Oliue vnderstood the will of her Lord shee was right sorrowfull for to leaue her Countrey whereas shée was borne and nourished and especially to leaue her Son Croissant whom she loued but since it was the pleasure of her Lord so to doe she contented her selfe for shée loued her Husband so well that shée would in no wise say against his pleasure nor let him to do his will Right sorrowfull were the Princes and Lordes of that Countrey and all the people of Roome but in the best wise that they could they comforted themselues because of the yong Prince Croissant who should tarie and abide with them and whom the Emperour deliuered vnto them to be kept And then hee spake to his Sonne and shewed him many notable examples and reasons he commaunded him to bée gentle and courteous to his Lordes and people and that he should not bée light of credence and that in any wise hee should not listen with his eares to heare Flatterers nor the filth that commeth from them that will lye and flatter to please him withall to the intent to come to their intention whereby many a Prince hath béene destroyed and brought to Hell whereby they and their Lordes also for beléeuing of them haue béene damned perpetually Sonne looke thou be serued with Gentlemen such as are come of them that haue béene of good renowme loue the holy Church giue almes to the poore for the loue of Iesus Christ let thy Chests be open to thy good Knightes beware thou bée no Nigard and beware thou be not ouercome with wine lead an honest life haunt and kéepe companie with the ancient noble men and praise them if they be worthy flye Flatterers and Mockers and beware thereof thy selfe for thou canst not doe worse because it will abate thine honour Thus the Emperour I de sayd to his Son Croissant and shewed him many notable sayings and faire instructions then he called his Lordes and sayd Sirs the most part of you know my will the which is that I and my Wife will goe into Aragon to the King my Father therefore I desire you all and command you that yée will haue my Sonne as recommended to you I haue left him great treasure to the intent that if any warre or any other businesse fall to him that he shall haue riches sufficient to withstand them that would doe him or his Country any dammage and also the Realme of Aragon is not so farre from hence but that anone I may haue newes from him When the Lords vnderstood the Emperour and how he had taken on him this Voyage they knewe well they could not let nor stop him of his pleasure Then they all answeared in generall and sayd that as néere as they could they would accomplish his commandement and to serue truely his Sonne Croissant and to aid keepe and defend his Countrey against all men that would annoy him Sirs quoth the Emperor I thanke you Thus after the Emperour had spoken with his Sonne and with his Lordes and shewed them his will and pleasure hee made readie for his iourney and tooke with him a certaine number of Knightes to accompanie him and the Empresse his Wife and he fournished two great Shippes and caused them to be charged with victuall and Artillerie as it appertained for the defence of their bodies and liues and tooke with him great riches apparell iewels then he tooke his leaue of the Pope of all his Lordes and of all them of the Citie who made great sorrow for their departing Then they entred into the Riuer of Tyber accompanied with about fiue Hundred Knightes at their departing they tooke leaue of their Sonne Croissant and kissed him often times When the Empresse saw her Sonne whome shee must depart from she began to wéepe but the Emperour comforted her as much as he could Then they tooke their Shippes and so departed and so long sayled in the Riuer of Tyber that they came into the hye Sea whereas they sailed night and day with good winde that without danger they arriued at the Citie of Courtoys whereas they were receiued with great ioy and so they came to the Pallaice whereas they found King Florence lying on a Couch who when hee was aduertised of their comming he had great ioy Then the Emperour and the Empresse entred into the Pallaice and came whereas the Kinge lay then they both knéeled downe before him and when the King saw them he had such ioy that hee could speake no word but made a token that they should approach néere to him and so they did and hee embraced and kissed them oftentimes and when hee might speake hee sayde My right déere Children of your comming I am right ioyfull and of the grace that God hath sent to you then againe oftentimes he kissed the Empresse Oliue sayd how she was welcome into the Realme of Aragon Of the great ioy feasting guifts and presents that were giuen and done at their welcomming if I should shew it at length it would be ouer-long to rehearse and therefore I passe it ouer Nowe let vs leaue speaking of the King and of the Emperor and the Empresse his Wife who tooke such pleasure to abide with Kinge Florence that neuer after they returned to Rome but they raigned together all their liues in good peace and loue and they hadde no Child but Croissant whome they had left at Roome and of whome wee shall speake nowe héereafter Chap. CLXXIII ¶ How Croissant was so bountifull and so liberall that hee gaue away all the Treasure that his Father had left him so that at last he had no more to giue and so was constrained to goe seeke his aduenture he and a Varlet alonely AFter that the Emperour Ide and the Empresse Oliue were departed from the Citie of
Lineage Then he tooke Croissant by the hand and demaunded what his name was Sir quoth he my name is Croissant Croissant quoth the Earle you are welcome you are come wel at a point both for you and for mee for I haue great néede to haue men with me to ayd mee and mee thinkes by your personage that you should atchieue great Enterprizes for of your age I haue not séene in my daies a young man more likely to bee feared of his enemies and because I sée by your apparell that you are no Knight I shall make you a Knight to the intent that to morrow your Prowesse and hardines may be prooued for you may sée héere without this Towne two Kings enemies to our Christian faith and by the grace of God I intend to morrow to giue them battaile I looke this night for my Brother the Duke of Callaber who bringeth with him Thirtie Thousand men of warre and Twentie Thousand I haue alreadie within the Towne and considering your hye courage to come hether to serue mee I shall doe you more honour after I haue made you Knight I shall giue you my banner to beare and if you doe as me thinkes you should doe your paines shall not be lost Sir quoth Croissant God giue me the grace that to morrow to him and to you I may doe such seruice that it may bée wealth to all christendome and that God may performe in me that which wanteth for if you make me Knight all the dayes of my life after I shal be yours Then the Earle incontinent sent for a Son of his who as then was no Knight and diuers other whome he made Knightes with Croissant then he said to Croissant Fréend I pray to our Lord God to giue you such fortune to Morrowe that you may vanquish the Battaile Sir quoth he God giue me the grace to render to you thankes for the honour that now you doe to me for as for me by the grace of God to morrow I shall so doe that your enemies shall curse the houre that they came hether to assaile you Whiles the Croissant was thus made Knight with the Earles Sonne and others the same time came thether the Duke of Callaber and hee came to the Pallaice of the chéere that he had made him by his Brother the Earle Remon I will make no mention thereof but he came at the same season that these new Knightes were made and that a Quintaine was sette vp to prooue themselues Then the Duke of Callaber and the Earle Remon his Brother went thether verie desirous to sée who did best then the Duke demanded of the Earle what yong knight it was that road by his Nephew for hée thought that he neuer saw so goodly a yong person nor more puissant of his age then the Earle sayd how he was come thether to séeke for honour but what hee was nor of what Lineage he knew not Thus they talked together of this young knight Croissant and when they came to the place whereas the Quintaine was dressed vp the Earles Sonne ranne and brake his Speare all to péeces then others assayed themselues some brake their Speares and some fell to the earth by force of their stroake but there was none that could remooue the Quintaine When Croissant saw that all had assaied themselues to ouerthrow the Quintaine he had a great speare and ran so fiercely that hée strake the Quintaine and ouerthrew it to the ground whereof euerie man had great maruaile the Duke sayd to the Earle that he neuer saw so goodly a stroake and sayd how he is greatly to bee doubted that giue such stroakes hée was greatly praised of the Ladies Damsels that were there present and especially of the Earles Daughter who was a faire Damsell But whosoeuer was ioyfull the Earles Sonne was displeased hee tooke against him a mortall hate and an ill enuie so that if he durst he wold haue run vpon Croissant to haue destroyed him and concluded in his courage that if he might liue long he would make Croissants life to depart from his bodie and so hee had done if God had not aided Croissant When Croissant had runne his course he road to the Earle who sayd to him right swéetly Croissant God increase your honour and God giue you grace to perseuer in your goodnes and I pray you humbly to shew me the troth what you be and of what Lineage for I am sure that you are of some hye Lineage Sir quoth Croissant since you would know it I shall shew you the troth Sir knowe for troth I am Sonne to the noble Emperour of Roome and I am departed out of the countrey for certaine causes which I woulde not suffer and therefore I went to search mine aduentures such as God wold send me When the Earle heard him speake he was right ioyfull and thanked God and sayd Faire Sonne you are welcome I am ioyfull of your comming and for the goodnes that I sée in you apparant I haue a Daughter right faire whome I will giue you in marriage as much of my goods and of my Lands and Signiories that you shall neuer bee poore Sir quoth Croissant your faire offer that you make mee I will not refuse and I thanke you but before I take a Wife my will is to doe so much that mine honour may bee exalted and that renowne may run vpon me as it hath done of my Predecessors and that I may conquer Lands and Signiories Then the Earles son hearing his Father make Croissant such an offer as to giue him his Sister in marriage and a great part of his Land hee was therewith so sore troubled in his heart as he tooke against him a cordiall hate and made promise within himselfe that if hee might returne from the Battaile hee would cause Croissant to die an ill death thinking not to be disenherited by him After those words the Duke of Callaber and the Earle Remon tooke betwéene them the young Knight Croissant and led him by the hand to the Pallace whereas he was receiued with great ioy and after dinner they came into the Hall whereas all the Lords were Then Croissant who greatly delighted to be in such a place whereas hee might shewe his Prowesse spake on hye and sayde to the Earle Remon Sir you knowe well that the enemies of our Lord God yours haue besieged you in your Towne the which is a thing not to bee suffered so long without doing of them any annoyance and therefore Sir I counsel you that before they knew much of your estate or puissance or what people you haue it were best you went to assaile them therefore without any longer tarying ordaine your Battailes and your Captaines to guide your people to the intent that when you are yssued out of the Towne euerie man may know what you are purposed to doe and then send to your enemies a Messenger and giue your enemies knowledge of your comming and wee shall