wepyng pyetously ¶ And Duc Naymes spake fyrst and sayd Ha Richard of Normandye I praye to god that he be in thy comfort and that he haue pyte of thy soule I knowe wel that for thy deth we shal neuer haue socoure Ne of thy partye we shal neuer haue none helpe Roulland and Olyuer heryng these wordes also the other wepte bytterly here vpon came floâ—ypes the curtoys in grete heuynes and sayd to them Lordes in the honour of god leue your lamen tyng and sorowe we knowe not yet the trouthe of the mater thus as they were in these grete thoughtes the Sarasyns came whyche had lefte Rychard ryde forth And in grete sorowe tormeÌ„t brouÈt the body of kyng Claryon And whan thadmyral sawe them come he beyng in the ethroclytes in hys entendement cryed and sayd and how is it is myn neuewe in good poynte The sarasyns ansuerd Syr admyral we may not lye to you Claryon is dede it nedeth nomore to demaunde therof Thadmyral heryng thoo wordes fyl doun to therth al in a trauÌ„se and he swouned more than iiij tymes as he had been dede thus emonge al the sarasyns was a grete wepyng made grete sorowe The sarasyns thus makyng thys lamentacyon the barons of fraunce herde and vnderstood them specially florypes whych knewe better the langage after that she knewe the cause of theyr sorowe she came to the barons and sayd to them in spekyng to rolland syr knowe ye wherfore the sarasyns demene suche sorowe it is trouth that Rychard your messager hath slayn the kyng claryon woÌ„ne his hors to whom is none lyke ne pâ—reylle of boun to in al the world as wel for that deth of claryon as for the losyng of the hors they demene make al thys sorowe torment that ye see here wherfore I praye you that euery man doo hys deuoyr to lede a good lyf and to make good chyere Olyuer sayd to rolland Ioyously O my felawe of armes ye knowe not how glad I am of these tydynges that we here I ensure you by my soule that I am as sure to passe thys dauÌ„ger that we be in as though I were in the strengest castel of frauÌ„ce blessyd be richard of god for he hath borne hym nobly and semblably sayd al the other his felawes After that richard rode thus thadmyral made a man to come to hym named Orages made hym to take a dromedary hastely comanded hym to bere his letters to galafre which kept the stronge brydge of maÌ„tryble I charge the to reÌ„ne as faste as the dromydary may bere the tomantryble and say to Galafre wherfore he suffred the messagers of charles to come ouer the brydge the whyche haue doon to vs so moche greuaunce and ennoyaunce as thou can wel telle to hym I swere by mahon my god that he dyd a grete folye sythe on that other parte the messager of the frensshe men goeth thyder and yf he recouÌ„te his message to Charles it myght happen he shold put me in subgectyon Therfore say to galafre that he kepe soo wel the brydge that noo persone passe and say to hym more ouer that yf he do otherwyse I shal put oute hys eyen and make hym deye shamefully Syr admyral sayd Orages the messager I shal do your commaundemente and I assure you I shal ryde as moche waye in one day as that other shal do in foure dayes for for to ryde an hondred leghes contynuelly I shal neuer be wery And thus he departed from the admyral vpon a dromydary taryed not tyl he came to mantryble and spake to Galafre sayeng Galafre I shal not hyde fro the that the admyral is not contente wyth the by cause thou suffredest the frenssh men to passe ouer the brydge whyche haue doon to hym grete dommage for they be lodged in the chyef toure holden in their subgectyon the goddes with floripes his douÈter and haue slayn many of the moost valyaunte of the courte of thadmyral the cause wherfore I am thus hastelye come is thys After me cometh a messager whyche is one of the barons of Fraunce whyche gooth for to fetche ayde vnto Charles theyr kyng the whyche hath slayne kyng Claryon wherfore kepe wel thys passage that he passe not For yf thou doo otherwyse thou shalt not conne fynde the manere to saue thy lyf but that thou shalt deye vylaynsly Of these wordes Galafre was â—â—â—turbled and replenysshed of yre for hys angre he made moche foule chyere and began to scâ—me at the mouthe lyke a bore enchaffed and took a staffe and had smyton the messager yf it had not be betted by them that were presente ¶ Neuertheles be mounted vpon a touâ—rette and with the sowne of a trompette he assembled many men of armes whyche were in nombre xv in whyche were anone of horsbuck and passed the brydge And whan they were ouer it was aâ— none lyfte vp and they wente and rode here and there for to recouÌ„tre that messager of the frenssh men yf by aduenture they myÈt fynde hym ¶ How rychard of normandâ—r passed the ryuer of flagot by myracle by the moyen of a whyt hert which cam tofore hym iiij RYchard of Neomandye messager of the frensshe birons prisoners rode in grete doubte ye may wel thynke and ymagyne how he onely by hym self myght passe the stronge and daungerous brydge And in rydyng he behelde behynde hym and sawe al the contree couerd wyth men of armes thus byholdyng theym he was sore troubled in hys mynde began to crye O Ihesus kyng of glorye at thys tyme be thou kepar of my body conseruatour of my soule For I see wel the declyne of my lyf yf I put my self to fyght I shal haue my hede smyton of and yf I entre in to this hydous ryuer I shal not conne passe ouer Thus at thys tyme I muste nedes deye And yf I by force retorned to my felawes I shold make a grete defaulte to therle Rolland to whom I haue pormysed faythfully to doo my deouoyr for to doo my message wherfore my god my maker I wote not what to say but that thy wylle be fulfylled and doon of me thou knowest myn entencion after the same gouerne me he beyng nyghe the ryuer the sarasyns maden grete bruyt in comyng to hym emonge whom a neuewe of the admyral auaunced hym to renne ageynst hym cryed wyth an hyghe boys O messager what someuer thou be thynke for to dye thou hast now ryden ouer ferre now is that houre come that the deth of kyng claryon shal be aduenged These wordes so herde of rychard were not to hym ouer playsaunt but he was euyl contente and sodenly he sâ—ored his hors ayenst hym holdyng a swerde in hys honde square sharpe whych he had conquerd of Claryon and came to hym and smote hym so daungerously ayenst the breste that it Perced thorugh the shelde in to hys body that he fyl doun to therthe al
noble chambre anone had good fyre and after were sette to the table and wel pourueyed of al good vytaylle and delycyous metes of whyche they had grete nede bycause of the grete hungre that they thenne had endured and after mete they had the buynes chauffed And thenne they bayned and refayted them at theyr ease and at the comyng out of theyr baynes they were wel adoubed wyth mantels ryche of sylke golde broundred theÌ„ne Floripes sayd lordes burons ye knowe wel how I haue put my self in grete daunger to brynge you oute of pryson mortal and ye be here in surete as ferre as no man hath herde vs For yf of aduenture it were knowen it shold torne vs to euyl I am not in doubte Olyuer whyche is here present hath ouercomen my brother to whome naturelly I ought to do repreâ—f I knowe you wel alle be ye nothyng abasshed ye knowe wel that ye haue promysed that my secrete shal be hydde emonge you and after the sayd Florypes sayd lordes I shal say to you there is a knyght in frannce whome I haue longe tyme loued he is named guy of bourgoyne whiche is the moost godelyest man that I knowe is of the parentage of Charlemayn of the myÈty Rolland ¶ On a tyme whan I was at Rome I sawe hym sythe that tyme I haue gyuen to hym myn hert whan my fader the admyral destroyed Rome lucafar of baÌ„das which was moche redoubted emonge the Paynyms the sayd guy of bourgoyne Iusteden to gyder but the sayd guy valyauÌ„tly smote hym doun to the erthe from hys hors whyche moche plesyd me And took in gree the halyauÌ„ce of hym in suche wyse that yf I haue hym not to husbond I shal neuer marye And for the loue of hym I wyl be baptysed byleue in the god of crysten men with these wordes the freÌ„sshe men were moche Ioyous and gyuen grete thankynges to god for the good wylle of thys fayre mayde and Gherard de mondydyer sayd to hyr Madame I swere to you that yf we now were armed were in the halle emonge the sarasyns we shold make on them a grete dyscomfyture But florypes was wyse and sayd lordes late vs thynke wysely on our affayres And sythe that ye be in surete take a litel reste Loo here vj maydens of grete no blesse Eche of you take one for hys owne for the better to passe wyth the tyme reste and take your playsyr And I shal warante you For as for my self I shal neuer haue to do with man but wyth Guy of bourgoyne to whome I haue gyuen my herte Neuertheles for to consyder wel this chapytre there was a grete werke comprysed whan fyrst florypes the curtoys which was a paynym had desyre to speke wyth the frensshe men alle this toucheth wel the desyre wylle of wymmen for to knowe newe thynges and tydynges but as moche as touched the werke that she dyd ayenst the kepar of the pryson how they were taken oute That was the werke of a man wel approued and it had ben grete damage yf those barons had abyden in pryson But the fayth of persones doth grete alegement of tormente for the sayntes of heuen by theyr holy fayth haue obteyned heuen and many other terryen men victorye of theyr enemyes and wyth good ryght he that fyghteth for the fayth and it happe that he be deteyned the mercy of god is nyghe for to delyuer hym The cause wherfore they were delyuerd fro pryson was come fro ferre that was of rome for guy of bourgoyne whome she had in loue and was contente for to be baptysed and byleue in god for to haue the sayd guy in maryage to hyr husbond wherfore it may not wel be comprysed how loue in thys damoysel was fyxed and comprysed of longe affectyon the which was cause of sauyng of the prysoners whyche were as I haue sayd in grete daunger ¶ How kyng charles sente to Ballant thadmyral seuen peres of Fraunce whyche wold not haue goon capitulo v THe Duc of genes fader of Olyuer which myÈt not slepe ne ete ne drinke for the sorowe that he had for his sone whan he myght no lenger endure he came to kyng charles and sayd to hym Syr Emperour for the loue of god haue pyte on me ye knowe my sorowe ought I to lose olyuer my sone for whome I am in contynuell anguysshe yf I haue none other tydynges I shal deye or ij dayes of melancolye or of force I must put my self on the waye to goo thyder whan charles vnderstode hym he was moeued and full of compassyon for the melancolye of Reyner sente for Rolland and sayd to hym Fayre neuewe rolland vnderstonde me To morne in the mornyng thou must goo to Aygremore shalt say to ballant thadmyral wythoute ony hydyng that he delyuer to the the crowne of Ihesu cryst the other relyques for which I haue taken grete payne And after aske of hym my barons whom he holdeth in pryson And yf he wythsaye the say to hym that I shal hym do be druwen vylaynously after haÌ„ge hym by the necke his eye bounden as a theef whan he had said Rolland answerd Syr kyng and fayre vncle haue mercy on me I am wel sure that yf I goo verayly I shal neuer see you ¶ The duke naymes was there whyche sayd syr emperour take hede what ye doo Rolland is your neuewe ye knowe of what valewe he is of yf he goo thyder he shal neuer come ageyn And I assure you sayd Charles that ye shal goo wyth hym and bere my letters that I sende to thadmyral Thys sayd Basyn the genewey came forth and sayd to hym how syr wyl ye thus lese your knyghtes I am certayn that yf they goo as ye haue sayd that there shal not one retorne ¶ Charles sware by his eyen in his heed that basyn shold goo wyth the other tweyne and so ther shal be thre Thyerry duc of ardayne sayd lyke to thother therfore he was ordeyned to goo also Ogyer the danoys semblably sayd they ought not goo and therfore he was ordeyned to bere them felywshyp Rychard of Normandye came to the emperour and sayd Syr kyng I am al abasshed how ye haue noo pyte of your knyghtes whyche wyllyngly ye wyl make them to deye I wote wel yf they goo thyder ye haue loste them by the god on whome I byleue sayd charles ye shal goo wyth the other and thenne shal ye be vj for to bere my letters to ballant thadmyral whome I soo moche hate And after he behelde guy of bourgoyne and sayd to hym come to me ye are my cosyn and of my next parentage ye shall be the seuenth for to doo my message to thadmyral of spayne And ye shal say to hym that I purpose to baptyse hym that he holde of me his Royame hys townes and hys cytees that he delyuer to me the relyques for whome I take on me soo
that allewaye they were lordes of the toure made the sarasyns theyr enemyes to goo abacke Florypes consyderyng theyr affayre was sorowful that no socours cam to them and also remembryng the menaces of hyr fader thadmyrall But Guye of bourgoyn recomforted hyr alwaye in suche wyse that of al she was contente ¶ How the peres of Fraunce had tydynges yf thoost of charles and the admyral also and how Ganellon bare hym merueyllously which allone was sente to the admyral and what he dyd capitulo x THe Frensshe men beyng in thys contynuel payn of bataylle for to defende yâ— toure Duc Naymes of bauyere went vp on hye and sawe oute of a wyndowe sawe bynethe in a valeye the sygne of saynt denys whyche was brought hastely after a grete companye of men of armes And thought in hym self that they came for to socour and ayde them and anone sent for hys felawes for to come see them Assone as Florypes vnderstood it she came to Guy of bourgoyn sayeng O gloryous vyrgyn marie moder of Ihesus worshypped mote ye be for these tydynges that I haue herde O noble knyght guye of bourgoyn my dere loue approche ye to me yf it playse you and kysse me Of the Ioye of Florypes were Ioyeful the erles and lordes ye may thynke that they were wel comforted whan they sawe the standard of fraunce wherin was the dragon wel fygured Grete Ioye and grete consolacion was emonge them they had cause seen the daunger wherein they were Anone a paynym cam to thadmyral sayd to hym that Charles wyth an hondred thousand men of armes came makyng grete bruyt The kynge Coldroe counceylled anone that euery man shold be armed and that they shold goo mete wyth hym at the fyrst poynte Hys counceyl was approued by thadmyral and by thother wherfore anone L thousand turkes were assembled in grete poynte for to kepe the grete vale of Iosue to th ende that he myght not come in to Aygremore Rolland sawe Rychard of Normandye wyth hys confanon reysed vp whyche came al afore and alle taryed in a medowe for to bayte and refresshe theyr horses and to tarye there al the nyght whyche was nyghe And wythoute makyng lodgyses or other thynge they there rested them al nyght For theyr tentes were lefte al mantryble On the morne erly the Emperour dyd to arme his peple sette them in good 〈◊〉 and in grete poynte And afâ—â—â— sente for Fyerabras and sayd to hym Ryght dere frende thou knowest that I haue doo the 〈◊〉 baptysed wherfore I loue 〈◊〉 the better yf thou myÈtest 〈◊〉 chace and make that thy 〈◊〉 baptysed and renye maâ—o◠〈◊〉 al hys dyabolike goddes I 〈◊〉 be wel glad and Ioyous And I promyse to the that of 〈…〉 goodes I shal not take 〈◊〉 And yf he wyl not so do I promyse that by force I shal 〈◊〉 ayenst hym yf he take 〈◊〉 wyte it not meâ—ne conne me 〈◊〉 maulgre for I may not 〈◊〉 Syr Emperour sayd Fyerabras take a messager and 〈…〉 demaunde hym yf he wyl soo 〈◊〉 as ye say and I shal be 〈◊〉 For yf he gaynsaye it I shal neuer praye for hym no haue pyte of hym though I see hym hewen and deye Hereupon charles demaunded Reyner and rycheâ—d of Normandye whyche were his nexte counceyllours and sayd to them Lordes whome seme you moost propyâ—â— for to sende on thys message to the Admyrall By myn aduys ganellon shold be good therfore yf he wold for to recounte speke hooly 〈◊〉 message I knowe hym for wel suffysaunt ye knowe wel that he dyd wel hys deuoyr at the entre of mantryble yf ye wyl consente he shal doo the message Rychard answerd and Reyner also that he shold doo wel the message The kyng sente for ganellon and sayd to hym My frende we haue chosen you for to goo say to thadmyral Ballant that he be baptysed renye mahon that he take Ihesu Cryste for hys god that he byleue in hym in hys passyon that he suffred for al humayn creatures after that he yelde to me my barons whyche he holdeth in hys pryson also the resyques that longe tyme I haue demaunded of hym yf he wyl do this we shal leue to hym hys contreye hys landes yf he wyl doo otherwyse we shal make to hym mortal warre and shal take of hym no mercy Ganellon was contente for to goo thyder allone And took sette on his helme mounted vpon his hors named gascon and henge on hys necke his shelde wherein was paynted the lyon after went in to the vale of Iosue hastely and anone he was taken of the turkes that kept the passage but whan they knewe that he was a messager for to speke to thadmyral they troubled hym not but lete hym goo he taryed not tyl that he came tofore thaby tacyon of thadmyral he lente vpon his spere with a knyghtly countenauÌ„ce moche resembled a baron of grete valure for to say wel hys message whan thadmyral knewe of his comyng he came to hym And thenue Ganellon spake hardyly to hym in this manere Sarasyn take hede vnderstonde me I am a messager of the noble charles kyng of fraunce ryght myghty Emperour he sendeth the worde by me that thou renye and forsake Mahon thyn other goddes dyabolyke byleue in Ihesu cryst the redemptour of al the worlde whyche took on hym humanyte and suffred deth cruel bytter in the tree ofithe crosse for to redeme al the world yf thou so do thou art assured not onely to deye also not to lese thy londe ne none of thy good but thou shalt alwaye be byloued of hym of Fyerabras thy sone and yf thou wylt not accorde herto withstande it knowe for certayn that of Charles thou art deffyed al thy people yf thou wylt saue thy self thynke to flee and wythdrawe the fro thys contreye For yf thou may be taken and holden thou shalt be delyuerd to daungerous deth and alle thy subgettes shal be dy smembred slayn after he shal gyue thy royame and thy rychesses to his scruauntes Therfore aduyse the wel whan thadmyral had herd hym he was almoost in a rage of hys wordes and by destresse of angre he took a staffe for to smyte the messager and sayd to hym Gloton payllard thou art dysmesured in thy langage by mahon to whome I am yeuen at thys tyme thou hast be ouer hardy lytel loued the Charles whan he sente the to me For thou shalt be wel sure that thou shalt neuer recounte to hym thy message Ganellon seyng that he was not wel sure wyth them he took hys swerde whyche was heuy sharpe and gaf wythal a stroke to buillant of moÌ„myere in the breste that he ouerthrewe fyl at the feet of the admyrall whyche seyng that escryed moche strongely tauenge hym Thenne wyth thys voys assembled moo
establysshyng theyr feestes to th ende that we shold ensyewe them and to eschewe al euyl And the magnytude of thys kyng was wel preued by sygnes seen on the heuen For in the same yere the mone derked thre tymes and the sonne ones and companyes of people were seen meruayllous whyche shewed that thys Charles was of grete magnytude that is to wete bytwene heuen and erthe ¶ How Aygolant sent to charles that he shold come to hym trustely for to make Iust warre and how Charles in habyte dyssymyled spake to hym and of other maters capitulo vj AS I haue sayd the kyn Aygolant the geaunte fledde in to hys contreye whan socours cam to Charles of foure marques he slepte not vpon his purpoos but maad grete dylygence for to assemble hys people whyche were sarasyns Innumerable for he assembled more 's Moabytes Ethiopiens Affrycans and percyens he brought wyth hym also the kyng of arabye the kyng of barbarye the kyng of malroste the kyng of maioryke the kyng of meques the kyng of cybylle the kyng of Cordube the whych cam with peple wythout nombre certayn in to gascoyne in to a stronge cyte named Agenne and took it And after sent to Charles that he shold come to hym peasybly trustyly with a fewe peple promysyng to hym for to gyue to hym ix hors laden with gold syluer and precyous stones yf he wold thus come at hys desyre this paynym shewed to hym this by canse he wold knowe his persone for hys strengthe puyssaunce knewe he wel by experyence and also to th ende whan he knewe hym that he myght in the warre slee hym whan kyng charles knewe this mandement he gadred not grete peple but he came onely wyth ijM knyghtes of honour of grete streÌ„gth And whan he was foure myle nygh the cyte where Aygolant and al the kynges tofore named were he left his people secretly came vnto a mountayne nygh the cyte accompanyed wyth xl knyghtes onely And fro thys place they saw the cyte by cause to wete yf the multytude of peple were departed soo that he shold not be deceyued Neuertheles vpon thys montayne he lefte hys people secretly took of hys clothes and cladde hym in the guyse of a messager and took one knyÈt onely with hym whyche bare his spere swerde and bocler vnder hys mantel and soo came in to the cyte and anone he was brought tofore aygolant the geaunt And whan he was tofore hym he sayd in thys manere Charles the kyng hath sente vs vnto the and leteth the wete by vs that he is comen lyke as thou hast comanded accompanyed wyth fourty knyghtes onely for to do that he ought to doo Now thenne come to hym wyth xl knyghtes withoute moo yf thou wylt accomplysshe and holde that thou 〈◊〉 promysed Aygolant sayd to hem that they shold retorne to charles and that they shold say to hym that he departe not but abyde hym there and he wold come and vysyte hym After this that charles had knowen the geaunt and after vysyted the towne for to knowe the feblest parte for to take conquer it whan he shold come ageyn sawe al the kynges forsayd their puyssaunces â—e after reterned to his peple whiche he had left vpon the montayne after came to hys ijM knyghtes anone after aygolant accompanyed wyth vijM knyÈtes came after them withoute taryeng But charles took hede whan he cam that there were many moo paynyms than crysten men and wythout lenger taryeng charles his peple departed and retourned in to fraunce wythout hauyng other delyberacyon ¶ How Charles accompanyed with moche peple retorned in to the place aforsayd toke the cyte of agenne other maters vij AFter that charles was retorned in to fraunce he assembled moche peple after came to the cyte of ageÌ„ne assyeged it there by grete facyon the space of vij monethes Aygolant was therin many sarasyns the crysten men had made fortressis castelles of tree tofore this cyte for to greue it whan Aygolant the grete lordes of his companye sawe that they myght not endure they maad hooles caues vnder therth for tescape oute secretly in that maner they came out of the cyte passed ouer a ryuer which raÌ„ne by the cyte named goronna and so they saued them self The next day after whan there was noo grete resystence made to the crysten men Charles wyth grete tryumphe puyssaunce entred in to the cyte put to deth xM sarasyns that he there fonde The other seyng that put them to flyght by the ryuer Aygolant was in another stronge toun whan charles knewe it he came thyder assaylled it sente to hym to delyuer ouer the cyte aygolant ansuerd that he wold not so doo but by a moyen that was that they shold make a batayll he that shold wynne the bataylle shold be lord of the toun so they assygned the day of the bataylle and nygh to that place bytwene the castel thalabourt a ryuer called carantha soÌ„me of the crysten men planted theyr speres in the grounde especially they that on the morn shold dâ—ye obteyne the crowne of glorye as marters of god and on the morne they fonde their speres al grene myraculously leued ful of bowes wherof the cristen men were moche Ioyous of this myracle and raught not for to deye for the crysten fayth m mayn tenyng the name of god After that they cutte of theyr speres and wente to bataylle and put many sarasyns to deth But in th ende were slayn and martred of crysten men moo than iiijM whyche were saurd in heuen that tyme the hors that Charles rode on was slayn vnder hym and at that bataylle were slayn by the sayd Charles the kynge of Agabye the kyng of bugye merueyllous myghty sarasyns ¶ Of the vertuous operacions that charles made whan he was retorned in to frannce what barons he had in hys companye of theyr puyssaunce ca viij THe bataylle toforesayd made Aygolant fledde and came in to panpylone and sent to kyng charles that he shold abyde hym for to gyue hym bataylle more ample large whan charles knewe hys desyre he retourned in to fraunce for to haue helpe of hys peple and made an open maundement thorugh out al Fraunce that al maner peple that were of euyl condycyon and in bondage that they that were present and theyr sucessours sholde be free there vpon tabellyons shold be delyuerd accordyng to the lawe that wold goo with hym ayenst the myscreauntes Also alle prysoÌ„ners that were in fraunce he delyuerd them al out of pryson to al them that shold haue ben delyuerd to deth for feloÌ„nye murdre or treason he pardonned them gaf to them theyr lyf and to al poure peple that had not wherby to lyue he gaf to them good largely them that were euyll clad he clothed them after
SAynt Poul doctour of veryte sayth to vs that al thynges that ben reduced by wrytyng ben wryton to our doctryne And Boece maketh mencion that the helthe of euery persone procedeth dyuercely Thenne syche it is soo that the cristen fâ—yth is â—ffermed and corrobered by the doctours of holy chyrche Neuertheles the thynges passed dyuersly reduced to remembraunce engendre in vs correctioÌ„ of vnlauful lyf For the werkes of the auncient and olde peple ben for to gyue to vs ensauÌ„â—le to lyue in good vertuous operacions digne worthy of helth â— folowyng the good and eschewyng the euyl And also in recountyng of hyâ— hystoryes the comune vnderstondyng is better content to the ymagynacion local than to symple auctoryte to which it is submysed I saye this gladly For oftymes I haue ben excyted of the venerable man messire henry bolomyer chanoÌ„ne of lausaÌ„ne for to reduce for his playsyr somme hystoryes as wel in latyn in romauÌ„ce as in other facion wryton that is to say of the ryght puyssaunt vertuous and noble charles the grete kyng of fraâ—Ì„ce and emperour of Rome Sone of the grete Pepyn And of his prynces barons As Rolland Olyuer and other touchyng somme werkes haultayâ— doon coÌ„mysed by their grete strength ryght ardaunt courage to the exaltacyon of the crysten fayth and to the confusyon of the hâ—then sarazyns and myscreaunts whiche is a werk wel contemplatyf for to lyue weâ— And by cause the sayd henry Bolomyer hath seen of thys mater and the hystoryes dysiâ—yned wythoute ordre therfore at his request after the capacyte of my lytel entendement And after thystoryes and mater that I haue founden I haue ordeyned this book folowyng And it myght soo haue ben that yf I had ben more largely enformed and al playn I had letter made it For I haue not sayd ony materâ— but I haue therof ben enformed Fyrst by an autentyke book named myrrour hystoryal as by the anoÌ„nes and somme other â—â—okes whiche make mencyon of the werke folowyng And bâ— causâ— I may haue a lytel partâ— of honourable fouÌ„demeÌ„t I shaâ— touche of the first cristen kyng 〈◊〉 frauÌ„ce For the moste parte of thâ—s book is made to thonour of thâ— freÌ„ssh men and for prouffyte of â—uery man and after the desyre of the redâ—r and herer there shalle be founden in the table all playne the mater of whyche the persone shal haue desyre to here or rede wythoute grete aâ—â—dyacyon by the playsyr of god to whome I submytte al myn enteÌ„te to wriâ—e no thyng that ought to be blamed ne but that it be to the helthe sauacion of euery persone THenne for as mocâ—e I late had fynysshed in enprynte the book of the noble vyctoryous kyng Arthur fyrst of the thre moost noble worthy of crysten kynges and also to fore had reduced in to englisshe the noble hystorye lyf of Godesroy of boloyn kyng of Iherusalem last of the said iij worthy Somme persones of noble estate and degree haue desyred me to reduce thystorye and lyf of the noble and crysten prynce Charles the grete kyng of frauuce emperour of Rome the second of the thre worthy to th ende that thystoryes actes lyues may be had in our maternal tongue lyke as they be in latyn or in frensshe For the moost quantyte of the people vnderstonde not latyn ne frensshe here in this noble royame of englond And for to satysfye the desyre requeste of my good synguler lordes specyal maysters and frendes I haue enprysed and concluded in my self to reduce this sayd book in to our englysshe as all alonge and playnely ye may rede here and see in thys book here folowyng besechyng al them that shal fynde faute in the same to correcte and amende it And also to pardone me of the rude symple reducyng and though so be there be no gaye termes nâ— subtyl ne newe eloquence yet I hope that it shal be vnderstonden to that â—ntente I haue specyally reduced it after the symple connyng that god hath lente to me wherof I humbly wyth al my herte thanke hym also am bounden to praye for my fader and moders soules that in my youthe sette me to scole by whyche by the suffraunce of god I gete my lyuyng I hope truly And that I may so do contynue I byseche hym to grauÌ„te me of his grace and so to laboure and occupye my self vertuously that I may come oute of dette dedely synne that after this lyf I may come to hys blysse in heuen AMEN ¶ Here begynnen the chapytres tytles of this book folowynge nombred for to fynde the more lyghtly the mater therin comprised ¶ Here begynneth the first book whyche conteyneth thre partyes by the chapytres folowyng declared ¶ The fyrst partye of the fyrst book conteyneth v chapytres speketh of the begynnyng of fraunce and of kyng Cloys Of the kynges of fraunce paynyms vnto kyng cloys the first crysten kyng capitulo primo How kyng cloys beyng a paynym had to wyf clotildis doughter of the kyng of bourgoyne meruayllously capitulo ij How the kyng was admonested of the quene clotildis affectuously that he shold byleue in the custen fayth other maters ca iij How kyng Clois was vyctorious on his enemyes by cause he byleued in Ihesu Cryst ca iiij How the kyng was baptysed by saynt remyge in his baptesme was brought by myracle the holy ampulle by an aungel fro heuen wyth whyche all kynges of fraunce ben enoynted at Raynes capitulo v ¶ The second partye of the book conteyneth v chapytres speketh fyrst of kyng pepyn of Charlemayn hys sone How Pepyn by hys prudence was chosen kyng of fraâ—â—ce whaÌ„ the lygne of Cloys faylled in succession capitulo primo Of kyng Charles whyche made many constytucyons wyth the pope Adryan and how he was made emperour of Rome ca ij Of the corpulence of kyng charles and of the manere of his lyuyng capitulo iij To whome the kyng Charles his chyldren sones doughters were dedyed capitulo iiij Of the studye of kyng Charles hys lyuyng and charytable werkes and other maters ca v ¶ The thyrd partye of the fyrst book conteyneth iij chapytres telleth how by deuyne reuelacyon Charles delyuerd the holy londe from the hondes of the hethen and myscreauntes and conteyneth thre chapytres How the patryarke of Iherusalem sente to charles that he shold gyue to hym socoure after that he was caste oute by the turkes capitulo primo How Charles with a grete companye went for to conguere the holy londe other maters ca ij Of the relyques whyche themperour Charles brought fro constantynoble fro the holy londe of myracles there doon iij ¶ Here begynneth the ij book whyche conteyneth thre partyes by chapytres Esyewyng declared ¶ The first partye of the second book conteyneth xvj chapytres and speketh of the bataylle bytwene Olyuer and Fyerabras a meruayllous
of the poure peple for to receyue almesse lyke as other dyden whan thoffyce was accomplysshed this mayde Clotildis like as the was accustomed acte departyng fro the chyrche began to gyue almesse to the poure peple whan she came to Aurelianus she gaf to hym in his honde a pyece of golde anone he as glad wel contente kyssed hyr hâ—ndeâ— whan this lady was in hyâ— chambre she began to thynke on that poure man that had kyssed hyr honde sent for to seche hym by hyr seruaunt whan he wyst it he cam to hir moche Ioyously and bare in his honde the rynge of kyng cloys humbly behaued hym tofore hyr ¶ The mayde began to say to hym saye to me wherfore dyssymylest thou thy self lyke to the poure people Aurelyanus answerd Madame knowe ye for trouthe that I am a messager of the noble Kyng cloys kyng of Fraunce whiche hath sente me to you beyng enformed of your beaute wysdom desyreth you to be hys wyf for to be quene forthwith he preseÌ„ted to hir the rynge of kyng cloys the whyche she took put it in to the tresour of agabondus hir vncle sayd to the messager that he shold recomaunde hyr to the kyng in tellyng to hym that it was not leeful to a paynym to haue to his wyf a crysten womaÌ„ Neuertheles she prayed hym that of al this he shold say noo worde that she wold not doe but as the kyng wold vpon this poynt auerlianus came and shewed al to the kyng wherevpon the kyng cloys the yere folowyng sent ageyn his messager anrelianê° to agaboÌ„dus vncle of Clotildis for to haue hyr to his wyf whan Agabondus knewe thenâ—necyon of kyng cloys he ansuerd to the messager Say hardyly to the kyng thy lord that he hath lytel to do in desyryng to haue my nyece to wyf but the bourgoynons wyse couÌ„seyllours redoubtyng the puyssaunce of kyng Cloys by good counceyl whan they had wel serched the tresour of Agabondus their kyng fouÌ„de the rynge of kyng cloys which clotyldis had layed therin wherin was graueÌ„ portrayed his ymage wente concluded to performe the wylle of kyng clois vpon this agabondus ful of yre delyuerd Clotildis to aurelianus he brouÈt hir with his peple with grete Ioye to kyng cloys which had grete playsyr to see thys fayr mayde And forthwyth with al solemnyte after the maner royal he espoused hir after the custome of his lawe ¶ How kyng Cloys was admonested by the quene clotildis affectuously that he shold byleue in the crysten fayth and other maters capitulo iij THe fyrst nyght after the espousaylles atte houre that the kyng and the quene shold slepe to gyder Clotyldis enbraced wyth the loue of god by grete knowlege of Ihesus our lord went and said to the kyng My right dere lord I requyre the that it please the to grauÌ„te to me a lytel demauÌ„de byfore or I entre in to thy bedde wyth the The kynge sayd demaundeâ— what thou wylt For I am wel contente Clotyldys thenne sayd to hym Fyrst I demaunde requyre and admoneste the that thou wylt byleue in god of heuen Fader almyghty whyche made heuen and erthe that hath created the And in Ihesu Cryst his gloryous sone kyng of alle kynges which by his passyon hath redemed the And in the holy ghoost confirmatour and Illumynatour of al good werkes procedyng fro the fader fro the sone the foresayd Trynyte in one onely essen to whome ought to be gyuen al honour and all lawde byleue Byleue ye in this holy byleue and mageste and leue the ydolles made wyth mannes honde a folysshe thyng and vayn and thynke for to restore the holy chyrches whyche thou hast brente Secondly I requyre the that thou wylt demaunde my parte and porcyon of the goodes of my fader and of my moder of agabondê° myn vncle whom he dyd put to deth falsely and wythoute occasyon but the vengeaunce I leue to god whan she had said this the kyng answerd ¶ Thou hast demaunded me a poynte passage which is to me ouer strayt hard to graunte that is that I shold forsake my goddes by whome I gouern me for to adoure one onely god of whome thou hast spoken to me demauÌ„de of me som other thynge with good hert I shal doo it Clotildis aÌ„suerd as moche as is possyble to me to requyer I supplye byseche the that thou wilt adoure the god of heuen maker of al to whome onely is due al honour the kyng made none other ansuer but sente anone Aurelyen his faâ—tour to agabondus for to haue the goodes longyng to the quene Clotildis whan Aurelyen had doon his message Agabondus replenysshed with grete Ire aÌ„suerd to the messager that he shold as soone haue alle his royame as ony thyng of hym For which cause Aurelyen said to hym the kyng clâ—ys my maister comauÌ„deth the by me that thou make an answer vpon my demaunde or ellys he shalle be euyl contente Thenne the bourgoynons helden a counceyl and sayd to agabondus their kyng Sir kyng gyue to your nyece of your goodes as reason wyl for it is ryght And we kâ—owe wel that so ought ye to doe and to take playsyr to haue good aâ—yaunces with clois the kyng and wyth all the frensshe peple to th ende that they â—â—nne not on vs For the people is boystous furious and that werke is wythout mynde of god And vpon this poynte Agabondus constrayned to the counceyl of the bourgoynons hys people sente a grete partye of his tresour to Aurelyen the messager of kyng Cloys In a litel tyme after the kyng cloys in vysityng his royame The quene clotyldis was anon grete with chylde and sone after was delyuerd of a sone whome she dyd do baptyse And contynuelly requyred the kyng that he wold byleue as tofore is sayd but he in no wyse wold here her ne do therafter And whan the chylde was baptysed anone it exspyred deyed wherof the kyng was euyl contente and sayd to the quene yf thou haddest gyuen hym and dedyed hym to my goddes he were now olyue The quene an swerd for this thyng I am noo thyng perturbled in my courage but I rendre gyue thaÌ„kynges to god my creatour by cause he hath me so dygne and worthy that it haâ—h plesed hym to take in to his royalme of heuen the fyrst fruyt of my wombe After the yere folowyng she had ageyn another sone named lodomyrus the whyche whan he was baptysed bycame anone so seke that it was supposed he shold deye And whan the kyng sawe it languysshe he beyng euyl contente said to the quene and how sayd he it shal none otherwyse be of this chylde but as it was of that other his broder by cause ayenst myn entente thou doost thy wylle in baptysyng them Thenne the quene for the fere of the â—yng prayed to god deuoutely for the helthe
of hyr chylde And anone he was guarysshed and hool ¶ How the kyng Cloys was vyctoryous of hys enemyes by canse he byleued in Ihesu Cryste Capitulo iiij KYng Cloys after certeyn tyme begaÌ„ to make warre mortal ayenst the Almayns And so perseueryng the alle mayns had vyctorye on the frensshe men in suche wyse that they were ouerthrowen slayn TheÌ„ne whan aurelyen sawe the dystructyon of the kynges peple he began to beholde the kyng hys lord sayd to hym Syr kyng ye see tofore your eyen the mortal destructyon of your peple I requyre you that ye byleue in god almyghty whych hath made heuen erthe I mene hym whome my lady the quene adoureth precheth and byleueth on whan the kyng had herde aurelyen thus speken in grete affectyon he began to lyfte his eyen vnto heuen and wepte moche largely and wyth grete pyte thus sayd O Ihesu cryst sone of the veâ—y god almyghty on whom my wyf by leueth and wyth al hyr hert precheth notyfyeth hym to gyue remedye to them that ben in trybulacyons I byseche the of ayde and socour that I may be vyctoryous of myn enemyes by experyence presently I byleueue on the and in thy name I shalle baptyse me I haue demaunded my goddes for to helpe me but they haue doon no thyng for me And I say they be of noo value ne of noo comforte whan they may not helpe them that requyre them wherfore to the as veray god and lord I requyre the that I may be delyuerd by thy hye puyssaunce fro myn aduersâ—ryes he thus sayeng wyth an hyghe voys The allemayns his enemyes vaynquysshed murdred began to flee in suche wyse that theyr kyng was deed wherfore they that abode yelded them to kyng cloys and byâ—men his subgettes and sette al that contreye vnder hys obayssaunce puyssaunce paâ—eng yerely trybute Thenne after this vyctory by the puyssaunce of god obteyned he came in to fraunce And recounted alle to the quene hys wyf how by Inuocacion dyuyne and by thayde of god almyghty he had obteyned vyctorye ¶ How the kyng was baptysed by saynt Remyge in hys baptesme by myracle was brouÈ the holy ampulle by an aungel fro heuen wherof euer after all the kynges of Fraunce â—â—â—â—â—noynted in theyr consecrâ—cyon atte cyte of Raynes capâ—â—ulo v AFter that the 〈…〉 herde the kynge whyche was conuerted vnto the crysten fayth for the vyctorye whych he had obteyned she had grete Ioye And Incontynet sent after saynt Remyge bysshop of raynes a moche holy man whiche came to hyr for to prech to the kyng his saluacyon he manerâ— of the crysten fayth whan he was comen after that he had wel enformed the kyng began strongely to excyte the peple of fraunce to byleue in Ihesu Cryst And the peple gaynsayed it not For in knowyng the errour of thydolles they began al to byleue in god say Syr kyng gloryous it is best that ye forsake thydolles and adoure the god Inmortal whome the quene adoureth and preyseth so for to do all we be contente Incontynent al this was shewed to saynt Remyge wherof he was moche Ioyous and cam to them dylygently as a good herdman that taketh grete payne to kepe the sheep fro his aduersarye and grete playsyr ought he to haue to come thyder For his comyng and hys prechyng dyd soo grete prouffyte that it made the peple to be regenerate after thordynaunce of holy baptesme wythoute whych no man may entre in to heuen wherfore the necessyte of the saluacion of thys kyng enlumyned of grace dysposed to byleue conioyned to good entencyon maad affectuously saynt â—emyge to come for he thought wel whan the kyng was baptysed and byleued in Ihesu cryst and his commaundements that al the peple subgette to hym shold do the same wyse And whan saynt remyge was comen and had coÌ„myned with the kyng touchyng his saluacyon began to ordeyne the place for to baptyse hym honourably and dyd to â—ynte the hystoryes after somme poyntes of our crysten fayth moche rychely and repayred the places ryght delycyously ¶ And on that other he dyd do ordeyne founde chirches auteâ—tykly compose baptyzatoryes funâ—es coâ—uenably whan al this was done yâ— kyng was al redy to receyue the holy sacrameÌ„t of baptesme to whome the frende of god saynt remyge began to say by faconde manere ¶ Syr kyng it is tyme that ye ought wyth pure entencyon to forsake the false goddes to whome tofore this tyme ye haue gyuen fayth And theÌ„ne the kyng was al redy to receyue the holy sacrameÌ„t of taptesme To whom Saynt Remyge began by fayr manere Syr kyng it is tyme that ye ought of pure Intencion to forsake the goddes to whome here afore tyme ye haue byleued on whyche ben ful of al vanyte and do no thynge but excersiâ—e of dampnacyon And ye ought to byleue wyth ryÈt humble hert in one onely god almyghty the fader the sone the holy ghoost one onely pure essence whyche hath created heuen and erthe to whome one onely ouÈt to gyue fayth and creaunce and in Ihesu cryst his sone whyche for the sauacyon of humayn creature wold take humanyte couenable for to repayre thynobedyence of our fyrst fader Adam And that was conceyued in the bely of the virgyn marie by the werk of the holy ghoost whyche after was sette on the crosse and took deth dolorously for to redeme vs was buryed and roos fro deth to lyf and after ascended in to heuen and sytteth vpon the ryght honde of the fader and fro thens shal come and Iudge the lyuyng and deed ¶ Also ye shal byleue in holy chyrche our catholyque moder her ordonnayre and whan saynt Remyge had ynough enformed the kyng and the peple of our fayth and byleue he baptysed them in the name of the fader of the sone of the holy ghoost And whan he came to enoyntyng after the custome of the holy cresme whyche noo man brought Incontynent by the plesyr of god and demonstraunce myraculous they alle stondyâ—g sodeynlye came doun descendyng fro heuen a douâ—e shynyng whiche bare in hyr becke an holy ampull and lefte it in the same place where the holy cresme was wherwyth the kyng cloys was fyrst enoynted in grete deuocyon by Saynt Remyge whyche Ampull is presently at Raynes of whyche holy cresme that is therin the kynges of frauÌ„ce onelyâ— been enoynted ones in theyr consecracyon ¶ In that tyme were baptysed the systers of the sayd kyng and thee thousand men of hys excersyte and so after all the peple of fraunce in grete Ioye and exaltacion of glorye ¶ The second partye of the first book conteyneth fyue chapytres and speketh of the begynnyng of kyng Pepyn And Charlemayn hys sone ¶ How Pepyn by his 〈◊〉 was chosen kyng of Fâ—aunce whan the lygnage of kyâ—g cloys faylled in successyâ—â—â— j THe book â—â—â—â—dent maketh mâ—ncyon of kyng Cloys the fyrst crysten
kynge of the lordes of Fraunce of whome the â—â—gnage succeded from heyre to â—yres vnto the foure and twenty kyng whych was the kyng â—â—epyn of another lygnage And the kynge whyche was the xxiij after the kyng Cloys and of his â—gnage was named hildâ—â—us the which beyng deuoute contempletyf wythoute cure to excersyse thoffyce royal of a kynge put hym self in relygyon for to lede a solytarye lyf ¶ In that tyme was Pepyn moche valyaunt of hys persone and moche noble prynâ—e And by cause that alle the kynges of fraunce haue succeded of thys sayd Pepyn and in especial charlemayn his sone vpon whome this werke is comprysed I wyl here begynne to treate the mater the whyche I entende superfycially to speke of And lyke as the book whyche is called myrrour hystoryal compryseth That Pepyn the prynce on a tyâ—e sente hys messagers to Rome to the Pope zacharye for to haue answer vpon a demaunde That is to wete whether is he more worthy to be a kyng or to be said a kyng whihe foâ— peâ—s and parfyght vnyon taketh on hym grete payne trauaylle or ellys he that retcheth of noo thynge and is abandonned and gyuen to all slouth and is onely contente to haue the name onely of kyng whan the pope had herde thys demauÌ„de he remaunded to Pepyn that he by ryght reason and veray equyte ought to be called a kyng that gouerneth and ruleth hys fayt for the comyn wele contynueth it For whyche ansuer demaunde the Frensshe men by câ—unceyl approuued consydered theyr kyng hyldrycus professed in a monasterye in lyf solytarye and contemplatyf And that not wythstondyng ought not to be ony thyng ayenst them that lyuen solytaryly how wel a kyng ought not to be solytarye For suche as is the Kyng suche is the Royame ¶ For salamon sayth yf the kyng be neclygeÌ„t the peple wote not what to doo And blessyd is the londe that hath a prynce noble Alle the frensshe men beyng wel enformed of the condycions apperteynyng to a kynge after an auctour that sayth thus ¶ The Prynce whan he is ordeyned ought not to haue horses superfluous ne make his peple more subgette than they ought to be and ought not to take but seruauntes propyce and necessarye wythoute superfluyte and not to nourysshe ouer many houndes ne other beestes vnprouffytable but take them in mesure ¶ And he shold eschewe multyplycacyon of menysâ—rellys Tabouryns commyn wymmen lecherous men ¶ And he shold not corrupte hys subgettes by euyl exaumple He shold not breke hys espousaylles he shold gladly rede in bookes shold haue by hym peple wel letterd And shold Iuge wythoute fauour ¶ And tofore al thynges he shold adoure serue god he shold not gladly take yeftes ought not gladly to châ—uÌ„ge hys offycers Alle thys thynge wel seen emonge them for the conseruacion of the people emonge the myscreauÌ„tes which were at that tyme wente and chosen for to be kyng of Fraunce the noble Pepyn and fro that tyme forthon the lygnage of kyng cloys regned nomore vpon the frensshe men And he was consecrate by saynt Boneface And by thauctoryte apostolyque by Saynt Stephen Pope with his ij sones Charlemayn charles the grete was confermed and approuued and ordeyned all the kynges of fraunce in grete benâ—dyction to succede fro lygnage to lygnage moost nexte And the said pope gaf his maledyction to al them that were opposaunts and ayenst these thynges aforesayd ¶ Thenne after this noble kyng Pepyn made grete warre to the englysshe men And after the guyse Romayn he ordeyned the seruyce in the chyrches of frauÌ„ce and many other maters meruayllous wherof thonour is attrybuted by good ryght to hym by vyctorye obteyned and was buryed in the chyrche of Saynt Denys in Fraunce And lefte hys heyres hys two sones afore sayd whome he had goten on the noble quene berte doughter of the grete Herclyn Cezar of whome the lignage of romayns of germayns and of the grekes haue had concurrence wherfore by good ryght in tyme folowyng the kyng Charles was chosen and maad Emperour of Rome And the sayd Kynge Pepyn regned xviij yere in prosperyte dygne of saluacyon and after that the broder of the sayd Charles had regned in his partye of the royame ij yere he deyed And thenne after alle the gouernement hoolly of the royame of fraunce abode to the sayd charles as here after shalle be more playnly shewed ¶ Of kyng Charles after that he had maad many constytucyons wyth the Pope Adryan how he was emperour of Rome capitulo ij THys noble Charlemayn otherwyse called Charles the grete the whiche for the gretenes of hys body puyssaunce and opperacions virtuouses by merite is called grete as I haue sayd whyche after the deth of hys brother he was onely kyng of Fraunce A lytel whyle after that the Pope adryan regned dyd grete dyligence to strengthe corobere the crysten fayth in annullyng the heresyes and constytutyng ymages for representacyon of sayntes in chyrches And to many other labours merytoryes adioyned in the seruyce of god of holy chyrche The kyng charles ayenst the mysereauntes taryed not to confounde them but had vyctorye of them in dyners maners the pope adryan whyche was wel enformed that thys Charles was a stronge pyler of the chyrche and protectour of the fayth sente for hym that he shold come to Rome And whan he came to pauye there he taryed sette hys syege and soiourned a lytel tyme And after wyth a fewe of hys people departed came to rome And there he was receyued affectuously and vysyted many places deuoutelye And after whan he retorned he took pauye And whan he had all doon his playsyr he retorned to Rome And wyth the Pope adryan he assembled many bysshoppes and abbottes the nombre of an hondred liij where they ordeyned many constytucyons vpon the fayt of the vnyuersal chyrche And in that synode for the grete holynes of charles The pope and al thassystentes gaf hym power for to ordeyne bisshoppes archbisshops in al his contrees and prouynces And al them that so shal be ordeyned he shal conferme and the rebellys that shall gaynsaye them he shal curse and theyr goodes be confysked This noble charles wyth hys two sones that one named Pepyn that other â—â—wys And the xij pyeres of fraunce whyche al had promysed fydelyte one to that other for to Ieoparde theyr lyf for the crysten fayth In that tyme many mortal warres duryng the lyf of kyng Pepyn of charles and after that the royame of lombardye was destroyed and delyuerd of the myscreauntes And maad pees not wythoute grete trauayll for to come from fraunce in to lombardye by cause of the dauÌ„gerous countre whan alle thys was termyned to hys playsyr he reduced alle ytalye vnder the trybute of the royame of Fraunce In suche wyse that whan ytalye was thus destroyed he went to Rome for to gyue thankynges and
laude to god moche deuoutelye for vyctorye that he had and for execusyon doon vpon the enemyes of the fayth And there with the pope Adryan he maad many constytucyons whyche by ryÈt equyte ought wel to be obserued And after he beyng thus in Rome vyctoryous hys sone Pepyn was ordeyned consecrate kyng of the ytalyens And hys sone lowys was ordeyned and consecrate kyng vpon gâ—yan thys doon the Romayns whyche of grete ancyaunte were of grete appâ—ete after that the emperour was by them put to deth Constantyn his sone wold haue regned for emperour whyche was not wel in the fauour of the senatours and other Romayns the whyche beyng in this poynte after that they had taken delyberacyon of grete counceyl seeyng the grete valure and noblesse of kyng Charles whyche was so parfyght in alle noblesse hardynesse prudence other vertues as I shalle touche herafter alle playne that by consente of eue ryche he was chosen emperour of Rome wyth grete loange exaltacyon of Ioye Innumerable And by the honde of Pope Leo he was crowned emperour with alle honoures that myght be comprysed And al wyth one voys gaf to hym laude and honour And called hym Cezar August by a symylytude of valure in contemplacyon of grete playsyr that they had maad hym kyng of ytalyens ¶ Of the corpulence of Kynge Charles and of the maner of hys lyuyng capitulo iij CHarlemayn Kynge of Fraunce after that he was Emperour â—e dyd many meruayllous werkes and regned emperour thyrtene yere And had thenne regned vpon the frensshe man xxxiij yere And in the contye of Rome he edyfyed many cytees and restored good townes many other thynges whyche may not well be recouÌ„ted by cause of his merueyllous werkes Neuertheles for to knowe what man he was his werkes wytnessen as moche as toucheth thexcercyte of hys persone Turpyn the holy man archebysshop of Raynes whych lyued that tyme and was oft tymes in the companye of kyng Charles sayth that he was a man wel faryng of hys body grete of persone and had hys â—yght and regarde fyers malycyous ¶ The lengthe of hys persone conteyned eyght feet after the mesure of his feet which were merueyllously long fatte and massyf was â—e of his sholdres and raynes wythoute hauyng the bely otherwise than wel a poynte The armes and thyes he had ample and laâ—ge he was a subtyl knyght ryghtwyse actyf and moche fyers and of alle hys membres he was of ryght grete strengthe he had the face deduyte in lengthe and hys â—â—â—de was a foot longe he had hys nose reysed vpon a roundnes A fayr regarde and countenaunce had thys man he had the face of a large fote brode he had the eyen like a lyon sparklyng lyke a cole by furyous regardâ— his wynbrowes grete Assone as he byhelde a man in anger eche man had of hym fere and drede in openyng his eyen The gyrdle of whyche he was gyrde was viij fote longe wyth oute that that henge doun fro the 〈◊〉 to the pendaunt whan he took hys â—â—paast he was contente wyth lytel brede but as touchyng the pytauÌ„ce he ete at his REpaast a quarter of moton or ij â—â—nnes or a grete ghoos or a grete pestel of porke or a pecok or a crane or an hare all hool he dranke wyn sobrely wyth a lytel water therin Of hys strengthe is not a lytel thynge to speke of For he wold smyte a knyght armed wyth one stroke of a swerde and cleue hym from the coppe of the hede doun to the sadel And yf he had bytwene hys handes iiij hors shoen wyth oute ouermoche prouyng hys myght he wold ryÈt them oute and breke them in pyeces And more ouer wyth one hande he wold take a knyght al armed and lyfte hym vp to the heyght of hys breste lyghtly And he had in hym thre thynges moche honourable Fyrst in yeftes yeuyng he was ryght large lyke vnto Tytus themperour sone of vaspasyanus which was so prodygal that it was not possyble to hym to gyue that whyche he promysed And whan it was demaunded why he promysed thynge that he myght not gyue forthwyth he answerd that a persone ought not departe fro a prynce desolate ne heuy nor with oute to obteyne somme thynge Secondly Charles was so sure in Iugement that no man coude reprehende hym and also he was pyetous mercyful vnto cristen men after the qualyte of the persone the occasyon of the trespaas And thyrdly in his wordes he was moche wel aduysed whan he spake he thought strongely on that he sayd whan one spake to hym he remembred the manere for to compryse then tencyon of the spekar ¶ To what thynge kyng Charles hys sone and hys doughters were Instructe and taughte to doo capitulo iiij DAme bertrode moder of Charles ful of grete scyence in grete prosperyte of lyf and in honour wexed olde and fynysshed hyr dayes and ordeyned bookes for to excersyse the artes lyberalle ¶ Of whome fyrst charles took gladly payne for to estudye And in the tyme of Infancye he maad scyence to be taught to his sones and doughters and after whan they knewe their byleue he made them to studye in the seuen artes lyberal And whan the sones were of age for to ryde on horsback after the guyse of Fraunce he made them to fere armes and to Iuste for texcersyle the warre whan it shold be nede whan they dyd not that he made them to hunte of maner wylde beestes and dyd them to do other of batements longyng to chyualrye contynuelly After this he made his doughters to spynne sowe and to occupye them in other honourable werkes 〈◊〉 th ende that by ydlenes and slouthe faute of occupacyon they shold not haue occasyon to falle in thouÈt dysordynate for to haue Inclynacyon to synne and vyce and whan he was not occupyed in maters of charge and weyghty he wold employe his tyme in wrytyng somme newe thynge to th ende that he wold not be ydle acoordyng to the pystle of saynt poule whiche admonesteth vs to do alwaye somme good by cause that out enemye the fonde holde vs not in ydlenes for to folowe his entencyon dampnable And he dyd do make in his polays in Acon in Almayn a chyrche of our lady comprysed of meruayllous beaute moche rychely ordeyned and wrought and in grete honour enhaunced in sygne of a parfyght crysten man For after that one loueth the lord and that is gyuen to hym the werkes desirous to meue other to doo to the bard lyke as hym self and in lyke wyse shold perseuere in the amplyfycacyon of hys contreye that sythe the deth of hys fader Pepyn be doubled by puyssauÌ„ce in the royame of fraunce ¶ Of the studye of kyng charles of hys lyuyng of hys charytable werkes and other maters capitulo v AFter that Charles was Instructe in gram yre other scyences â—â—â—pased speculatyf alwaye be contynued in them And by ardour
than fyfty thousand turkes for to take Ganellon whyche ranne after hym thurgh the vale of Iosue but he escaped them al and was not taken Due Naymes was at a wyndowe and sawe hym chaced demaunded Rolland Olyuer what he was they knewe for certayn that he was crysten and by presumyng made emonge them they Iuged that it was Ganellon that had spoken to thadmyral ¶ Alas sayd Rolland I praye to Ihesus our redemour that he graunte hym grace to passe wel without daunger I shal be euyl content yf he come not to his good desyre ¶ The other barons sayden semblably prayed god to kepe hym fro peryl Ganellon ranne alwaye forth tyl he came to the toppe of a montayne and there he torned hym ayenst the Paynyms sawe comyng to hym a grete paynym of the cyte of Aygremore and anone he took hys swerde named murgall 〈◊〉 trenchaunte atteyned the mynem vpon the helme and 〈◊〉 hym to the breste And after he slewe Tenebre whyche was â—â—â—der of kyng Sortybrant â—â—â—uer sawe al hys feat and 〈◊〉 to Rolland Brother beholâ—◠〈◊〉 vnlyaunce that thys baron 〈◊〉 I praye god that he 〈◊〉 hym And wete ye wel that in my hert I love hym Saue you charles I loue none betâ—â—r Now wold god that I were in hys companye I shal make grete marterdom on these Paynyms Neuertheles he was â—â—â—â—gely chaced of the paynyms But whan they sawe the hoost of Charles they retorned aback and wente tolde the affayre to thadmyral how Charles had moo than an hondred thousand fyghtyng men wherfore they couÌ„ceylled that euery man shold arme hym that counceyl was approued but whan sortybuant knewe that hys broder was dede he made to come an Innumerable companye of sarusyns rauenge his deth in menacyng to do harm to Charles Of hys entencyon was moche glad thadmyral by cause he myght the better come to hys desyre ¶ How Charles emperour ordeyned ten bataylles and how they dyd were recountred of the puyssaunce of the admyral where as themperour dyd meruaylles and of other maters capitulo xij WHan Ganellon was comen to kyng Charles themperour ordeyned x bataylles after that Ganellon had tolde hys message whyche was suche Syr emperour I say to you that thadmyral ne fereth you ne your dedes neyther god ne hys sayntes I was wel happy that I escaped For I haue been chaced wyth xx thousand sarasyns after that thadmyral wold haue had me after these wordes I slewe one of theyr kynges wher fore he was praysed of the kyng other And anone they sowned hornes and trompettes was open warre on alle partes in thoost of Charles Rolland herde the sowne and the voys of the frensshe hoost wherof he and al the barons were al reioyced made good thyere whan the ij hoostes recountred al the coutrey shone of theyr armes ther were so many of them after as I haue sayd tofore kyng charles made ten bataylles In the fyrst he ordeyned Rychard of Normandye Due Reyner of genes had the second Ganellon the thyrd A lory the fourth Geffroy the fyfthe Machayre the vj Hardre the seuenth Amangius the viij Sampson the ix And of the tenthe was conduytour charles the kyng in eche bataylle were x thousand men of armes wel fyghtyng atte leste whan Ballant the admyral sawe the kyng comyng he sayd to vuillant who shal be the fyrst that shal entre in to bataylle with an hondred thousand paynyms sayd that yf he took Charles he shold not slee them ne fyerabras for he wold after smyte of theyr heedes vpon thys poynte the warre was open Baullant began to goo a grete boroedrauÈt tofore the other and began to crye haw haw where is charles themperour wyth his euyl chere too I come to the thou hast enterprysed a grete folye whan thou passest the see ouer late thou shalt repente the On thys day shal be the ende of thy lyf and of the subgettes lyf And wythoute faulte thou shalte be yolden to thadmyral alle thy centreye shal be destroyed Themperour herde wel these wordes wherfore alle in a furye he lete renne hys hors came ageynst the paynym attayned hym in suche a wyse that hys harnoys brake and after he drewe hys swerde and neuer lefte hym tyl he was dede fro thens with his spere he came to a turke kynge of pyetrelee and smote hym in the breste that he fyl deed to the erthe and whan his spere was broken he dyd grete deuoyr with Ioyouse his swerd for hym that he attayned dyd neuer hurt after At that tyme he bare hym meruayllously that one of the hoostes medled eche wyth other in suche wyse that there was neuer seen warre so mortal for they that were lyuyng were lette by them that were dede Thenne emonge the paynyms there was a turke named Tenebres which cain makyng grete buryt vpon the frensshe men and attayned fyrst the noble Iehan of pouÌ„tayse vpon his shelde and brake it in pyeâ—s smote hym thurgh the body that he fyl deed to the erthe and after drewe hys swerde put to deth huon and guernyer thauncyen and after sayd to the frensshe men that on that day Charles and hys subgettes had loste theyr myght Rychard of Normandye had despyte of hys wordes came ageynste hym attayned hym so daungerously that he brake his hawberke and brake his shelde in quarters â— so smote hym that he fyl doun deed wythout ony more reproâ—â—â—â—â— sayeng euyl wordes after by force of strengthe they passâ—â— the vale of Iosue came and fonde thadmyral wyth alle hys puyssaunce whyche was accompanyed wyth 〈◊〉 kynges crowned wyth an 〈…〉 men as wel a horsback as 〈◊〉 Anone a messager came 〈◊〉 admyral tolde hym 〈…〉 lant his brother was 〈…〉 many in hys companye 〈◊〉 he sente for tempest hys 〈◊〉 for Sortybrant of 〈◊〉 his moost specyal frendes said to them My barons and 〈◊〉 freÌ„des yf euer ye haue loued me haue entencion to do me play syr Doo so moche that ye 〈◊〉 charles the kyng For I wyl goo to hym haue concluded in my self to fyght in my persone ayenst hys persone sythe I 〈◊〉 deye ones it suffyseth me that I myght slee hym thenne shal I be contente to deye yf I dede after For I retehe not yf I aduenge me or I deye Sortybrant many other consyderyng thastate of thadmyral bygonnen to wepe for pyte in comfortyng hym ¶ How in thys bataylle folowyng Sortybrant was slayne by Reyner fader of Olyuer and after how thadmyral dyd meruaylles and grete ennoye to the frensshe men capitulo xiij BAllant thadmyral rode vpon an hors the beste rennyng of alle the contreye ryght wel armed and it was blacke as a more hym self was grete of body wel membred had his herde hangyng to the sadel whyche was whyte as snowe after dyd do sowne hys
sygne yâ— the kyng of frauÌ„ce shold conquere them So theÌ„â—â— in the tyme that the noble kyng chacles regned in spayne for to brynge it to the cristen fayth the ydolle lete the â—ere falle doun to the grounde And whan the sarasyns sawe that They 〈◊〉 theyr tresours as golde 〈◊〉 and precyous stoones in 〈◊〉 by cause the crysten men 〈◊〉 no thynge fynde therof 〈…〉 al wente in to another 〈◊〉 and durst not abyde the comyng of the kyng ¶ Of the chyrche of saynt Iames in galyce and of dyuers other whyche Kyng Charles founded capitulo iiij CHarles beyng in galyce had Innumerable auantyte of gold of syluer and of precyous stones of many kynges prynces and other lordes and of trybutes of cytees that was gyuen to hym as lord ¶ Also he had moche of the tresour that he conquerd of the townes and contreyes of Spayne aforesayd Thenne he seyng the grete habundaunce of good dyd do compose and make a chirche of Saynt Iames in the place where as he had founde the body of hym and he abode there the space of thre yere wythout departyng and in that same place he ordeyned a bysshop and founded there chanonnes reguler vnder the rule of saynt Ysodore the confessour bought ordeyned for them rentes trybutes suffycyent and gaf to them synguler seygnourye The furnysshed the chyrche wyth velles bessellys of golde and syluer adournemeÌ„ts of precyous clothes al thynges necessarye apperteynyng in a chyrche pontyfycal also of bokes vestymentes chalyces other holy escryptures And of the resydue of gold and syluer that he brought oute of spayne he dyd doo edefye these chyrches folowyng ¶ Fyrst at Aoon in almayne where as he is buryed he dyd do make a chirche of our lady and though it be lytel yet is it moche rychely made The chyrche of Saynt Iames in the toun of vyterbe also the chyrche of saynt Iames in the cytre of Tholouse The chyrche of Saynt Iames in gascoyne also the chirche of saynt Iames in parys bytwene the sayne the mouÌ„te of martres aboue the chyrches aforesayd he fonnded rented releued many dyuers chyrches monasteryes other abbeyes in the world in many and dyuers places ¶ How after that Aygolant the geaunt had taken spayne put to deth the crysten people Charles recouerd it aud other maters capitulo v AFter that charles was retorned in to Fraunce a kyng sarasyn of affryque named aygolant wyth grete puyssaunce came in to spayne and remysed it in hys subgectyon And the crysten which charles had left there as many as he myght gete he put to deth and the other fledde And in shorte tyme the tydynges came vnto kyng Charles wherof he was moche abasshed angry bycause it was shewed to hym so pyetously wherfore Incontynent he assembled a grete hoost wyth a grete multytude of fyghtyng men he went thyder wythout taryeng And he made the conduytour of them al Myllon of angleres the fader of Rolland they cessed not tyl that they had iydynges where Aygolant the geaunt was whyche had doon thys feat whan charles knewe where Aygolant was lodged and semblably aygolaÌ„t knewe where Charles was Anone the geaunt sente to charles that he wold delyuer bataylle suche as he wold That is to wete that Charles shold sende to hym xx of hys men to fyght ageynst xx of hys sarasyns or xl ayenst xl or an C ayenst C or a thousand ayenst a thousand or two men ayenst two or one man ayenst one man onely kyng Charles seyng thentencyon of aygolant for thonour of noblesse he wold not refuse hys demaunde but sente to hym an C knyghtes in grete poynte and the geaunte sente another hondred ayenst the crysten men but anone the sarasyns were vaynquysshed put to deth and after were sente by aygolant two hondred sarasyns ayenst two hondred cyrsten men whyche Sarasyns were anone wythoute grete resystence put to deth and slayn Aygolant was not contente ne wold not leue herby but sente two thousand sarasyns ayenst ijM crysten men and whan they were in batayll many of yâ— sarasyns were slayn and the other put to flyght for to saue them self The thyrd day after Aygolant maad certeyn experyences and knewe that yf Charles made warre to hym he shold haue grete losse and sent to charles to were yf he wold make playne warre Charles was contente and there vpon they made redy theyr peple and specyally charles for hys subgettes had grete affectyon to goo to bataylle without ony 〈◊〉 of deth And also somme of the crysten men the day tofore the bataylle dyd do amende and 〈◊〉 theyr harnoys and sette theyr tentes nygh a ryuer named 〈◊〉 and pyght there theyr spâ—â—â—s euen in the place where as the bodyes of saynt faconde and saynt premyt yf rested where after was made a chyrche deuotely founded and also a stronge cyte by the moyen of the sayd Charles and in the place where the sâ—â—res were pyght our lord shewed grete myracle For of them thâ—â— shold deye there and be gloryfyed marters of god 〈◊〉 in heuen theyr speâ—rs on y◠〈◊〉 were fouÌ„den al grene fâ—â—resshed and leued whyche was a percedent sygne that they whyche shold deye shold haue the Ioye in heuen ¶ Eche man took his owne aud cutte of the bowes leues wyth whyche the leues were planted and vnder roâ—ed wherof in a lytel whyle after grewe a grete wode whyche stondeth there yet It was grete a meruayle of the Ioye that the horses made whyche dyd theyr deuoyrs as wel as the men after theyr qualyte whyche was a grete token Thenne valyaunt crysten men were slayne And emonge the other was slayne duc Myllon fader to Roulland Also that same day the hors of charles was slayn vnder hym whan he was a fote he maad grete murdre wyth hys swerde Ioyouse and dyd so moche that the sarasyns dredyng the euenyng fledde wythdrewe them in to place of surete And as it was the wylle of our lord the next day after came to Charles in to his helpe iiij marquyse of ytalye accompanyed wyth iiijM stronge fyghtyng men chosen wherfore Aygolant assone as he knewe of theyr comyng he fled and wythdrewe hym ouer the see toward hys contree but they myÈt not for hast here with them al theyr tresours wherfor frauÌ„ce was enryched meruayllously above alle other contrees ¶ And whan charles sawe his departyng he came wyth al hys rychesse in to fraunce and theÌ„ne duryng seuen yere he dyd do ordeyne the seruyce and offyce of the chyrche by preestes clerkes and the festes of sayntes of all the yere and grete vertu meruayllous effect was comprysed in thys man For whan it was not warre for to mynysshe thynfâ—dellys and encreace the crysten fayth For tenhaunce the name of god he made the offyces and legendes of holy sayntes dyd reduce in to mynde and remembraunce the passyons of holy marters in
glorious saynt that he wold praye vnto our lord Ihesu Cryst that alle they yâ— were dede of the crysten fayth in the tyme that he had regned that they myght be saued and that the payne that they had taken myÈt be to them the crowne of martyrdom in the glorye perdurable in semblable wyse he prayed for al them that wold paye gladly the pens aforesayd to his chyrche As god wold that nyght folowyng saynt denys appyered to hym sayd to hym in thys manere O kyng vnderstonde me knowe thou that I haue made prayer to god my maker he hath graunted that alle they that haue been ayenst the sarasyns with the haue pardon of al theyr trespaces that wyllyngly shal paye the penyes for the edefycacyon of my chyrche augmentyng the seruyce of god they shal haue amendement of lyf and pardon of theyr synnes This vysyon on the morne themperour recounted to hys peple lyke as he had herd by cause they shold wyth a good wylle payâ—the peâ—yes that he had ordeyned he that gaf it was called the franke of saynt denys by canse that he was free and quyte of al seruage by the commandement of the kyng After came the custome that that londe whyche was called Gallia loste hys name was called frauÌ„ce as it is named at thys day Fraunce is as moche to say as free of al seruage anenst al peple and therfore the lordes of Fraunce for this cause emonge al crysten men owen to be honoured praysed The recapitulacion of alle thys werke of his deth at Acon of hys sepulture capitulo viij THe kyng Charles contynued gloriously his lyf in vertuouse operacyons And whan he felte the declyne of hys lyf he went vnto Acon where he had tofore doon moche good enobled a chyrche of our lady the rounde the whyche he dyd do make and gaf therto grete tresour of relyques of bodyes of sayntes of gold syluer of clothes of sylke other precyosytees meruayllous and there he deyed in the yere of hys age lxxij for the magnyfycence of hys werkes he was called charles the grete he had iij sones theÌ„ne lyuyng of whom the fyrst was named Charles the second Pepyn the thyrd â—owys also he had iij doughters that one was named Rotrudys that other berga the thyrd gylla whan he knewe that he myght noo lenger lyue hys sone lowys whome he had ordeyned for specyal loue kyng of guyan he lefte to hym the mageste Imperyal For to knowe the holynes the gloryous ende of Charles how he was saued in heuen and renomed an holyman The deuoute Turpyn archebysshop of Raynes sayth in this manere I Turpyn archebysshop of Raynes was in vyâ—nne in the chyrche tofore th aulter was rauysshed in sayeng the psalm Deus in adintoryum meum intende I sawe a companye of blacke peple lyke Ethyopyens whych were in quantyte Innumerable whyche went toward lorayne and I sawe one tofore hys felowes I demaunded hym whyther al they wente the whyche beyng constrayned to ansuer sayd we alle goo to Acon to the dethe of Charles whyche lyeth a dyeng And we wyl see yf we may haue hys soule for to bere in to 〈◊〉 to perpetuel damynacyon Thenne I sayd to hym I adiure the by the vertue of the name of our Lord Ihesu cryst that wythoute faâ—â—â—lynge after that ye haue doon that thou retorne by me Anone after or he coude fynysshe hys psalme the deuylles cam retournyng ageyn in the same ordre that they wente And thenne I sayd to hym that I had spoken to byfore what haue ye doon there as ye haue been that same deuyl ansuerd that Iames of galyce frende to charles hath ben moche contrarye to vs for whan we were redy for to receyue hys soule and had egally departed his good dedes and his euyl he brought so many stones tymbre of chyrches whyche he had doo made in the name of hym that his good dedes surmounted moche his euyl dedes wherfore we myght haue noo thynge ne parte thys sayd the deuyll banysshed awaye soo he loste hys vysyon Thus Charles in the moneth of feueryere rendred his soule to god holyly Foâ— after that he retorned fro spayn he dyd But laÌ„guysshe appayre in hys body toward hys deth in hys ende he ordeyned many almesses to say many masses psaulters And the vysyon that the gloryous archebysshop Turpyn sawe is sygnyfycacion that he whyche maynteneth and edefyeth chyrches in thys present world that he maketh preparacyon of hys syege in heuen His sepulture was moche honourable emonge al the sepultures of the world noble and ryche excellently and so fayr that it myÈt not be amended and ouer hys tombe was maad an arche of gold syluer and of precyous stones comprysed by grete scyence thyder came Leo the pope accompanyed wyth prynces Romayns archebysshops bysshops Abbottes Dukes Erles and many other lordes and dyd do make a fayre representacyon of the body of Charles clad rychely and Imperyally with a fayre crowne of gold sette on his hede satte vpon a chayer of gold moche fayre and shynyng and resembled wel a notable Iuge lyuyng and they sette vpon his knees notably the texte of the four gospelles in fayre letters of gold wyth the ryÈt hande he helde the lettre in the lyfte hande he helde the ceptre Imperial moche ryche by cause the heed shold not enclyne to eyther syde hit was vnderset wyth a chayne of gold susteyned And the crowne that was on hys beed raught to the arche whiche was al aboue wel made the conduytes of the sepulture were replenysshed with al good odours aromatyques precyous and after closed shette moche subtylly honourably kepte as it was wel worthy for to be doon Thexcusacyon of thauctour ix THis werke accomplysshed to the playsyr of god tofore wryton conteyneth thre bookes by the chapytres deuyded as it appyereth openly to the reders and I haue made them thre after that I haue comprysed in the separacyon and deuydyng of the matyer Of whyche the fyrst book speketh of the begynnyng of fraunce and of the fyrst crysten kyng of fraunce thhyche was named Cloys by the moyen of his wyf clotildys in descendyng to kyng Pepyn fader of themperour Charles In the honour of whome thys book is composed for the moost parte to the whyche Pepyn the lygnage of kyng Cloys took an ende in successyon of the Royalme of Fraunce And the sayd fyrst book sayth more ouer how Charles was nourysshed of hys corpulence of hys etyng of hys strengthe of hys scyence other werkes of magnyfycence The second book speketh of the bataylle that Olyuer dyd ayenst Fyerabras the meruayllous geaunte sone of ballant Admyral of spayne a puyssaunt kynge al the fyrst parte of the second book is attrybued to noble olyuer and in the honour of hym After ye shal fynde how the
peres of fraunce were deteyned in Aygremore and put in surete after saued fynably by florypes the curtoys doughter of the sayd ballant And the holy relyques recouured and other maters of grete meruaylles The in book speketh how by reuelacyon of saynt Iames charles went and conquerd spayne galyce where as he dyd operacions vertuous made constytucyons of sauacyon wyth many bataylles doon by hym and hys subgettes and fynably of the trayson of Ganellon by the whyche the deth of Rolland was pyetous the deth of Olyuer dolorouse and of the other peres of crysten knyghtes slayn dede And fynably the deth of Charles themperour as tofore is sayd and wryton and after that ony persone wyl here or rede of thys matere the table made atte begynnyng shal shewe it to hym lyghtly yf it be hys playsyr to here or rede of that werk in thys book composed Thenuoye of thauctour ca x AS I haue sayd at the begynnyng of thys present werke the escryptures and feates somme haue ben reduced in wrytyng for to be in memorye to the ende that they that haue doon wel be to vs ensaumple in ensyewyng and folowyng them they that haue doon euyl may be cause to rewse our lyf for to come to the porte of helthe For the comune vnderstondyng is more contente to reteyne parables and examples for the ymagynacion locall than to symple auctoryte the whyche is reteyned by vnderstondyng and also semblably thysâ—oryes spekyng of our lord Ihesu cryst of hys myracles of his vertuous subgettes euery man ouÈt gladly to here and retenne them it is so that at the requeste of the sayd venerable man to fere named Maister henry bolonnyer chanonne of lausanne I haue been Incyted to translate reduyse in prose in to Frensshe the maâ—er tofore reduced as moche as toucheth the fyrst the thyrd book I haue taken drawen oute of a book named myrrour hystoryal for the moost parte the second book I haue onely reduced it out of an olde romauÌ„ce in frensshe And without other Informacyon thâ—n of the same book I haue reduced if in to prose substaÌ„cyally wythout fayllyng by ordynauÌ„ce of chapytres partyes of the sayd book after the mater in the same conteyned And yf in al thys book I haue mesprysed or spoken otherwyse than good langage substancyally ful of good vnderstondyng to al makers and clerkes I demaunde correxyon and amendemâ—nt and of the defaultes pardon For yf the penne hath wryton euyl the hert thought it neuer but entended to say wel also my wytte vnderstondyng whâ—che is ryght lytel can not vttre ne wryte thys matere withoute errour Neuertheles who so vnderstondeth wel the lettre shal wel compryse myn entencyon by which he shal fynde nothyng but moyen for to come to saluacâ—on To the whyche may fynably come alle they that wyllyngly rede or here or do thys book to be redde Amen ¶ And by cause I Wylliam Caxton was desyred requyred by a good and synguler frende of myn Maister wylliam daubeney one of the tresorers of the Iewellys of the noble moost crysten kyng our naturel and souerayn lord late of noble memorye kyng Edward the foâ—rth on whos soule Ihesu haue mercy To reduce al these sayd hystoryes in to our englysshe tongue I haue put me in deuoyr to translate thys sayd book as ye here tofore may see al a longe and plâ—yn prayeng alle them that shal rede see or here it to pardon me of thys symple rude translacyon and reducyng bysechyng theym that shal fynde faute to correcte it in so doyng they shal deserue thankynges I shal praye god for them who brynge them and me after this short and transytorye lyf to euerlastyng blysse Amen the whyche werke was fynysshed in the reducyng of hit in to englysshe the xvin day of Iuyn the second yere of kynge Rychard the thyrd And the yere of our lord MCCCClxxxv And enprynted the fyrst day of decembre the same yere of our lord the fyrst yere of kyng Harry the seuenth ¶ Explicit ê‘ william Caxton