which made Hufray and Henry, the King's bastard sons, exceedingly envy him.—At this juncture great complaints were made against the Wild Man, from whom no Knight had escaped with his life that had encountered him; which made the King promise a thousand merks to any one that should bring him dead or alive; which offer none dared to accept; but Hufray and Henry desired King Pepin to send Valentine, with a view of getting rid of so powerful a rival in the King's favour: but his Majesty seeing their malice, was very angry; telling them, he had rather lose the best baron in the land.
However, Valentine desired leave of his Majesty to go to the forest, resolving either to conquer the Wild Man, or die in the attempt. Accordingly, having furnished himself with a good horse and arms, he set forward on his journey, and after hard travelling, he arrived in the forest; in the evening he tied his horse to a large spreading oak; and got up into a tree himself, for his security, where he rested for that night.
