open their doores And when Ualentyne sawe that none wold lodge him he vnboâ—â—d Orson and after made him sygne that he should smyte against the gate of a great place in the which was holden hostry and Orson toke a great pece of wodde and smote at the gate with so greate strengthe that at the thyrde stroke â—â—smore it to the earth and then they eâ—â—red and shytte the gate after theim When they that were within sawe that the wâ—ide maÌ„ was entred they ran all out at the backe dore Ualentine went towarde the stable and dressed his horse After that Orson and he went to the kechyn where as they founde capoâ—s diuers other meate vpon a great spytte before the fire Then Ualentine made signe vnto Orson that he shold torne the spytte for the meate was not ynough but also soone as Orson spied the meate he set handes on a great parte of it and pulled it of He asked not if it was â—oste ynough but eate as a wolfe doth his praye and after he espyed a caudron ful of water in the which he put in his head and dronke as a horse doth at the ryuer Ualentyne made hym sygne that he should leue drynkyng at that he would geue hym wyne And than he toke a pot ledde Orson into the seller that was open And when he had drawen the pot ful of wyne he gaue it him and Orson lyft vp the pot and tasted it found it good And he dronke so myghtely that he dronke all oute and after he cast the pot vnto the earth and made sygne vnto Ualentine that he shold drawe more wyne And valentyne toke vp the pot filled it w t good wyne Orson toke it and espied a great bolle put the wyne therin and then he bare it vnto Ualentynes horse for to drynke And when Ualentyne sawe that he made hym sygne that he dronke but water and Orson shewed hym by sygnes that the wyne was better then the water Dyuers other thynges dyd Orson in the house the whiche shoulde be longe to recounte The nyght was come and it was tyme to go to bedde So Ualentyne souped and made Orson soupe with hym the whiche spared not the wyne for he toke so muche y t he was dronke Than he layde hym do wâ—e by the fyre and began for to snore slepe marueylously And valentyne behelde him saying Ueray God what is a lytell thynge of a man on slepe and of the man that by to muche drinkyng leseth his memory Nowe se I this wylde man in whome nowe neither force nor streÌ„gth and myght be slayne or euer he awaked And when he had sayde this for to proue more the hardines of Orson â–ª he put hym so harde with his fote that he awaked hym and then he made hym sygne that there was folkes about the house Then Orson arose as all afrayde and toke a great logge that stoode in the chymney and ranne agaynst the gate so myghtely that he made al to shake And valentyne began for to laugh ryght strongly wherby Orson knewe that he did it for to assaye him So he made hym sygne that he shuld take his reste that he shoulde haue noo feare of nothing for he wold kepe him well Than Orson layd hym downe by the fyre and his logge in his armes And Ualentine was all the nyghte besyde him the whiche dyd watche hym with out slepynge for fere that he shuld be assailled for the noyse was so great that euery body left his house and withdrew them into the chyrch And al the nyght without any reast ronge the belles for to assemble the people that in a great nombre alarmed made the watche for fere of the wyld maÌ„ And thus passed the night tyll that it was lyghte daye And whan it was daye lyght Valentyne mounted on horsbacke and bounde Orson and put him on the way towarde Orlyaunce And he dyd so muche that vpon a thursday he aryued within the towne And whan he was apperceyued ledynge Orson the sauage they made so great a cry thaâ— within the town of Orleaunce was neuer none such herd euery body ranne into theyr houses and shyt the gates and than mounted into the wyndowes for to se hym The tidinges came vnto kyng Pepyn that Valentyne was arryued and that he had conquered orson the sauage and broughte him with him of the whiche tydynges kynge Pepyn was greatly abasshed And in makynge the sygne of the crosse sayd in thys manere â–ª Alas Valentyne my childe in a good houre was thou borne blessed be the father that engendred the and the moder that deliuered the in the wodde for I se know that thou art byloued of god and that by the he sheweth vs an euydent myracle And the people that were in the wyndowes cryed Lyue amongest the other the hardy Ualentine for he is wel worthy great honoure whan that by hys pro wesse he hath coÌ„quered this maÌ„ that neuer none durste assayle euery body is bound to do him honoure and reuerence for by him we are deliuered and assured of the thynge that we moost dredde Ualentyne rode thorowe the towne of Orleaunce tyl y t he came before the palays gaâ—e And whaÌ„ the porters sawe hym they shyt the gates for fere of Orson Than Valentyne sayd vnto them be nothynge afrayed but go vnto kynge Pepyn and tel hym that vpon my lyfe I Waâ—rant hym from the wylde man and all them of his courte For I know him so well that he wyl do no â—e erthly creature harme in no maner The porter dyd go vp into the palays and tolde the kyng the tidinges how Valentyne toke the wylde man vpon his charge Than the kynge commaunded that they should lette him in So Valentine entred in and toke Orson by the hande Whan the quene Berthe and the fayre Eglantyne knew that they were in the palays they went in to theyr chambres for great fere Valentyne mounted vp and entred into the halle where as kynge Pepyn was wyth all the barons and knightes of his court Haufray Henry that wyth semblaunt shewed great sygnes of loue to Valentyne And him semed that they were ryght Ioyous of his vyctory and prowesse But they were neuer so syrowfull in theyr hertes for they wende neuer that he should haue retorned on liue and cursed Orson because he had not slayne hi. The kinge Pepyn and all they of hys court behelde Orson gladly And the kyng sayd Lordes by god almighty it is a metuayllous thinge to se this wylde man he is tight well made and of a fayre stature And how wel that he is roughe yf he were clothed as we be he wolde seme a right fayre knyght Than spake Ualentyne vnto kynge Pepyn and sayd Syr I requyre you that he may be baptyzed and than he shall be taught the lawe of Ihesu cryste for that is my desyre and soo I haue promysed him It pleaseth me wel sayd the kynge and I wyll that
that of my dere moder y e I haue desyred so muche I hoped to haue had tydynges shortly and certayne knowledge and in thynkynge to haue ben assured to perfour me myn enterpryse but in y e places dysloyall I am vnhappely comen and fallen into the handes of myn enemyes that of my lyfe are enuyous and desyreth my dethe Alas my fayre broder Orson well is our thoughte and our entencyon in a shorte time chaunged and reuer â–ª sed for we shall neuer se frendes nor kynnesmen In this wyse complayned Ualentine Orson in lykewyse and the sarazyns demeaned grete Ioye and so moche they rowed vpon the see that they arryued in Portyngale at the castell of Ferragus And also soone as y e empresse Bellyssant herde saye that Ferragus had broughte with hym two christen men prisoners she lepte oute of her chambre for to go se them Whan she sawe valen tyne and Orson the whiche she knewe not she demaunded them Chyldren of what countree be you in what londe were you borne Lady sayd valentyne we be of y e countre of Fraunce and borne besyde Parys Also sone as Ferragus sawe the Empresse BellyssaÌ„t that spake vnto the chyldren he sayd vnto her fyersly lady leue me this language for I shall make them dye in my prison with grete sorowe but yf they byleue in mahoune He called the gayler and coÌ„maunded hym to put y e two prysoners in the moost depest pryson and y e moost derkeste that they sholde haue none other meet nor drynke but brede and water There was y e cursed sarazins that with grete staues and with theyr â—ystes smote vppon the two chyldren without hauynge ony pyte more than of dogges and in a dongeon full of fylthe and â—râ—ure caste them and lete them downe Whan they were in pryson they sette them on theyr knees cryâ—ge god mercy and in praynge him that he wolde forgyue theÌ„ theyr synnes for they neuer wende to haue comen oute of that place And after that Ferragus hadde thus enprysoned Ualeâ—tyne and Orson he mounted vp into his palais and made to be brought before hym the fayre Clerymonde that wepte so pyteously that with y e teres that yssued out of her eyen all her face was be wepte My syster said Ferragus leue your wepinge chauÌ„ge your courage for by mahowne my god you haue to longe byleued y e hed of brasse whan that you wyll wed and take in maryage a straunger and oute of our byleue To whome haue you your herte varyable and wyll of a woman whan you wyll loue him y t hathe shewed himselfe mortal enemye of your broder the grene knyghte well appertayneth you to haue a man more worthy and of more hygher lygnage And yf you wyl bileue me and do after my wyll I shall gyue you to husbaÌ„de the puyssaunt kinge Tromparte â–ª by the whiche you maye be at all seasons of hyghelyfe and rychely honoured And therfore forgete the two chrysten FreÌ„shmen and haue no more truste on them for I shal make them dye and be hanged by the necke Broder said Clerymonde it behoueth me to obeye vnto your commaundement for one muste forâ—ere and passe lyghtly of the thige that they maye not haue the force constrayneth ryght hath no vertue for necessyte maketh oftentymes a man â—ell good chene After these wordes fynysshed Ferragus dyde departe and the quene his wyfe entred into the hall the whiche in grete honoure and reuerence hath receyued the fayre Clerimonde in sayinge to her My Syster you be ryght welcome hether for I hadde ryght greate desyre for to se you Lady sayd Clerimonde I thancke you a hondred tymes but knowe that I am ryghte sorowful and dyspleasaunt of two christen knights the whiche my broder Ferragus vnder the vmbre of surenes and loyalte hathe made to passe the sea and after hathe put them into an obscare prysone vyle and abhomynable and in grete dispite hathe sworne their dethe yf they forsake not theyr lawe and byleue Alasse my dere syster it is true that I shoulde haue had one of the knightes in mariages the which among al the liuing menne is the mooste fayrest the mooste valyaunt and the moost hardy and that by force of armes hathe conquered my loue wherfore lady I beseche you counsayl me for I haue grete nede and also that you shewe me the christen woman the whych you haue kepte so longe in this castell Fayre syster said the quene here may you se her Than spake Bellyssant and sayd Ladye what is your wil speke on hardely for I haue grete desire for to here you speke Alas lady I bring you tidings that wyll make you gladde and after sorowful and dysplesaunt Know for a certainte that of your estate and of your lyfe I knowe the veray treuth for pebe sister vnto king Pepin and wyfe vnto the Emperour of grece the which with wronge and againste righte hathe banysshed you out of his Empyre and soone after you were deliuered of two fayre sonnes in a forest wherof the one was taken away from you by a wild bere and the other was lost you can not tell how Now is your chyldren yet on lyue and I knowe the place whereas you may fynde theym At these wordes the quene Bellyssant fel vnto the earth in a swowne for ioye and pyte that she hadde and Clerymonde toke her vp muche swetely betwene her armes And when she was rysen vp the demaunded the mayden howe she myght know suche thinges Then Cleremonde recounted vnto her the â—â—aâ—e and the maner how Ferragus her brother by false and cursed treason had put them in pryson And when the Empresse Bellissant vnderstode that her two chyldren was in pryson demauÌ„de not if she made great sorowe for she began to wepe so pyteously that Ferragus wyfe entred into the hall and demaunded wherefore she made so great sorowe and the fayre lady Clerymonde toldâ— her from poynte to poynte the cause and â—eason â–ª nâ—we sayde the wyfe of Ferragus appease you and make not of this thynge no semblaunt for if the kyng Ferragus knewe it paâ—auenture the king should rather eâ—payre then amende ⧠How Pacolet coÌ„forted the two ladies Cap. xxxiiiâ— Ryght so as the thre ladies spake of this ma ter Pacolet entred in to the chambre that was come on his horse of wodde And wheÌ„ Clerymonde sawe hym she sayde vnto him pyteously wepyng Alas Pacolet what haue I doone vnto the that thou seperate me from all my ioye and betraye me for thou myght haue aduertised me of the euill wyll of my brother Ferragus well tolde me my harte that I should haue sorow by the when thou went so soone into Portyngale without my lycence for to beare hym tydynges Lady sayd Pacolet be not so angry againste me for by the God of whome I beleue I knewe not the treason of your brother Ferragus but sythe that he hath wylled for to worke treason I promyse you by my lawe that I
tyme and other tymes haue enforsed them for to bere vs domage shall dye vylanously wherfore aduyse you amonge you of what death they shall dye In saynge these wordes Pacolet keste hymselfe in the prece the which threwe suche a charme that for all that they had sene hym befoore in the tyme that the Soudan Moradyn was taken yet at that houre he was not known of no body He entred into the pauilioÌ„ where as the iudgemente was gyuen on the two chrysten knyghtes and also soone as he apperceyued Ualentyne and the grene knight he set him on bothe his knees and in sarasyns language by mahoune he salued the soudan syth sayd vnto hym thus Ryght dere syr vnderstonde my message Knowe that I am messengere vnto your broder Groart the puyssaunt kynge of Argy ere the whych for to soucour you and for to confounde the christen men cometh toward you accompanied with foure kynges stronge and puyssaunt and a grete nombre of capptaynes that haue valyaunte knyghtes for to helpe you And by me he sendeth you wordde to wete on what syde you syl that he set hys syege And yf you haue ony christen prisoners that you sende hym them and he wyll make them be led into his contrie for to drawe the ploughe as dombe beastes So me thynketh that I see heare twayne that shoulde be muche propre for to do suche payne of whome your father shall be Joyous In sayinge these wordes Pacolet blewe agaynste the Son dan and made a charme so subtyll that of all that why the he sayd was byleued The Soudan was moche ioyous of thoose tydynges and made hym too be well serued that nyghte for he wende that he hadde sayd trouthe Great ioye demeaned Ualentyne the grene knyght in their hartes when they sawe Pacolet but they made no semblaunt Nowe the nyght was come that euery body withdrawe them vnto reste saue two hundred sarazyns that were in armes the which were committed for to kepe the prysoners that nyght But they made euyll watche for theim For whem it came towarde mydnyght Pacolet wente vnto them and in speaking vnto the sarazins by mahowne he kaste his charme by so subtyll a mater that they fell all vnto the earthe on slepe Then he toke two good horses came vnto the prysoners that were bounde against a pyller And after that he had vnbounde them in continent without any delay he made them for to mounte on horsbacke And in this wyse he did deliuer them and caste theÌ„ out of their enemies handes â–ª when they were in the fielde out of the hoost Pacolet said vnto them Lordes make good there and take comfort vnto you For know that vpon this lande is descended the good duke of Acquitayne and the knyght Orson for to sucour you and diuers capitaines with a great nonbre of fyghting men And there is come also in their company the noble Empresse Bellyssant and the fayre Fezonne Frende sayde Ualentyne wherfore commeth not the fayre Clerymonde By my faythe sayde Pacolet she woulde haue come ryght gladly but also sone as she was mounted vpon the sea for the odoure of the water she was so seke at her harte that it was force to leade her agayne in to Acquytayne Ualentyne beleued hym and for that tyme he questyoned him no forder for Ualentyne wende verely that he had said truthe Then sayd Pacolet lordes goo in to Constantinoble and make to morowe in the mornyng in suche wyse that you yssue oute of the cytie with the greatest noÌ„bre of men of armes that you can make for to go against your mortal enemies And I shall do so muche on the other syde that all the hâ—est of the duke of Acquitayne that is come shall geue assaulte Anâ—â—t that houre the soudan shal beleue that it is sucoure that cometh to hym For I haue made hym to vnderstande that the kyng of Argy his brother is a tyued accompanied with foure kynges the whiche to morowe in the mornyng oughte to fynde them in his hoost Pacolet sayde Valentine you speake wysely so it shall be done At these wordis they toke leue the one to the other Pacolet retourned towarde the duke of Acquytayne that was vpon the sea syde with his hoost toldâ— hym how he had bene within the soudans hoost how he had deliuered UaleÌ„tyne and the grene knight And after he tolde hym how by his sorte he had made the soudan beleue y t his brother the kyng Groâ—â— would come and sucour on him the morowe Parcolet said Orson you are much to be praysed when you can do such thynges Syr sayd Pacolet there is an other thynge y t is that to morowe in the morning we go and assail the hoost of the sarazins For they of Constantynoble with great puyssaunce of men of armes ought to assayll theÌ„ on their syde And by this maner they shall be al discoÌ„fyted For of all the armye on this syde the soudan shal thynke that we be paynyms by the subtyll language y t I haue enchaunted him with Of this enterprise was Ioyous and muche ameruayled the duke and they of his courte He made his men to be armed and appointed for to perfourme the dede and al the nyght he made to make good watche aboute hym ¶ The tydynges were anone throughe the citie of Cónstantinoble of the deliueringe of Ualentine and the grene knight The Emperour and kinge Pepin made great Joye for their deliueraunce And Ualentine recouted to them all the maner of his takinge And howe that he and the grene knight hadde ben deliuered bi Pacolet out of the handes of the Soudan Bruiant And tolde vnto them also the comminge of the duke of Acquitaine and of his brother Orson whiche for to come and succour them hadde passed the see with a great nauie of men of armes and finablie he tolde them all the enterprise that was made for to assaill the painims and sarazins euen so as it had ben delibered bi Pacolet ⧠How die the succoure of the duke of Acquitaine all the painims and sarazins were slaine before the citie of Constantinoble Ca. liii WHan the Emperour king Pepyn heard those tydynges dylygently and wythoute ony soiournyng they made to arme theyr men all the nyght and put them in poynt And of theyr hoost thei made to make fyue bataylles The fyrst was gyuen vnto Ualentyne the seconde to the grene knyghte The thirde to the kynge Pepyn The fourthe to Myllon dangler The fift was gyuen vnto Sampson of OrleauÌ„ce that bare in his baner a bere of syluer Thus ordeyned the Emperour hys bataylles And whan it came to the brekyng of thys day the yssued out of the cyte for to go assayll the sarazyns So whan they were vpon the felde they made to blowe vp trumpettes and clarons wherof the nyse was soo great that the sarazyns at that houre cryed alarme and lepte out of theyr tentes At that houre the paynyms sarazins were
kynge lady you haue faylled but I promyse to god that hath fourmed all the worlde that suche drynke as you haue brewed I shall make you drynke at thys houre or you shall tel me the reason wherfore you haue enterprysed suche a thynge Alas syr sayd the lady that kneled downe vpon her knâ—es I requyre you of pardon knowe that valentyne for to haue my loue hath made me to enterprise thys thing By god lady sayd the kynge I byleue you well but by my cepter ryall syth that you haue done thys thyng by euyll counsell I pardon you That nyghte the kynge slepte wyth Rozemonde the which in kyssyng and collynge hym all the nyght sayd vnto hym Syr I requyre you that you wyl put valentyne vnto death that thus wolde haue betrayed me Doubte you not sayd y e kinge for I haue wel thought it Whan the quene herde that she was muche sorowfull and dyd so muche that nyght that she spake to a secrete mayden and sent her vnto valentyne for to tel hym her wyll and the courage that y e kynge had agaynst him for her dede And whan valentine herde the tydynges that he was accused â—f y â— thyng that he was innocent of he blyssed hym dyuers tymes sayenge Swete lady what is it of the courage of women nowe muste I for the loue of the Quene departe from hence lyke a traytour yf I wyll not dy sooner her honour before euery body yet loue I better to departe out of this couÌ„tre leue all than her dy shonoure should be knowen by me ¶ At that houre he made hys men to make them redy and before the daye made to open the gates So incoÌ„tynent he yssued out of the cyte and rode so muche that he arryued at a porte of the see and founde there a marchauntes shyp that wolde passe ouer the see He entred in to it and put hym amonge the other in prayenge god deuoutly that he wolde sende hym some tydynges of the fayre Clerymonde eyther by water or by londe ¶ vpon the morowe be tymes whan the kynge of Antyoche was rysen vp he entred into hys palays and myde hys barons to be assembled and knyghtes and sayd vnto them in thys maner Lordes I am muche dyspleasaunt in my heart whan by the man that I moost trusted in of al the world and that I helde the derest I fynde me betrayed deceyued that is the fals Ualentyne the whych by hys molyce and dysordynate wyll hathe requyred the quene my wyfe of dyshonoure And hathe put her in courage for to poyson me vyllaynously and make me dye Wherfore I pray you to counsayll me in this matter and what Justyce I shal do on hym and also what death I shall make hym dye Syâ— sayd amuche wise baron y t was there for to condempne hym in his absence it is noo reason nor true Justyce Nor there is no maner of man be he neuer soo euyll nor â—yâ—ydus but that he oughte to be herde in hys reasons who that wolde do good true Justyce to euery boby Then the kyng of Antyoche commaunded that valentyne shold be brought before him Then his hoost came in to the palays the whiche tolde hym that valentyne was departed before the breakyng of the daye from his house wherof the kyng was ryght sorowfull and made his men to be armed for too putsue hym but of asmuche they lost their payne for he was mounted vpoÌ„ the sea as you haue hearde ⧠Howe the kynge of Antyoche was put vnto death for the renouncynge of mahowne by Brandyffer his wyues father And howe the Emperoure of Grece the Grece knyght were taken prysoners by Brandyffer before the cycie of Cretophe ⧠Capitulo lxv SOne after that the kyng of Anticche was coÌ„ uerted too the holy faythe the father of his wyfe Rozemonde a paynym that was called Brandyffer and amonge the other princes of turkye the moost experte in watre and was also tyght hardye So he had great dispite of the kyng that had left their lawe And sent him worde that he should sende hym his doughter Rozemonde Ot the whiche thynge the kyng of Antioche gaynesayed hym vtterly And for that same refuse Brandyster that was lorde of falyzee with a hondred thousande paynyms came and assyeged the kynge of Antioche within his cytie And he dyd so muche by his armes that within foure monethes the cytie was delyuered vnto hym by a false traytout and there was the king taken of his enemies the whiche made hym to be put vnto death in the myddes of the cytie because that he would not renounce the faythe of Thesu christ after he sent his doughter Rozemonde into his countrey and of the realme of Antyoche made hymselfe too be crowned kynge After these thynges done he put hymselfe vpon the sea for to retorne into his realme but by orage and tempest he descended in the laÌ„de of Grece beside a tytie named Cretophe the which was a great a large citie Now it happened that for certayne thinges the Emperour of Grece was newely atryued there and fortune was so peruers that he whiche knewe nothyng of the commyng of the paynyms yssued out of the cytie accompanied of the grene knyght and dyuers other lordes strong and valyaunt for to take their disporde but in an cuill houre yssued they without garde and watche for by the men of bran dyffer that no body knewe of the emperoure the grene knyght were taken and all they of their company were taken and discomfyted And at that same houre the pay nyms ronne vnto the gates of Cretophe where as they loste theyr payne for the cytie was strong and gatny shed with suche men that it behoued them to returne sodaynly agayne Angrye and sorowfull were they of Cretophe for the losse of the Emperoure and the grene knyght for the whiche they made a letter and sente it by a heraude to the Empresse Bellyssant in maundyng her tydynges of the taking of the Emperour and demaundyng succour agaynst their enemies to the end that the paynyms should not lede the Emperoure in to their countrey ¶ Sorowfull was the lady for the takyng of her husbande and wept without ceasyng She sent for her captaynes and made to assemble men of armes throughe all the Empyre of Grece in great dylygence And on the other syde she sent heraudes to warde the realme of Fraunce for to haue succoure of her brother kyng Pepyn and of her sonne Orson comfort in her aduetsite Within a shorte time yssued out of the cytie of Constantinoble a great hoost of them of the countrey of Grece for to go vnto Cretophe to succoure y e emperoure agaynst Brandiffer But that same Brandiffer that was subtyll and malicious had put tyders in the countrey aboute by the whiche he knewe the enterpryse of the Grekes And for seare of their puyssaunce to lese his prysoners with all his hoost entred in to y e sea and they rowed