the courte his foure sonnes that is to wit Reynawde Alarde Guichard and Richarde and howe kynge Charlemayne made theim knyghtes wyth his owne handes also howe the duke Benes of Aigremounte slewe Lohier the eldest sonne of kynge Charlemain the duke benes was vncle to the foure soÌ„nes of Aimon and after how the duke Benes of aygremount was slaine coming to Paris by the commaundemente of kinge Charlemayn after that he had appointed for the death of his sonne And also in this first chapitre men shal now see many other faire matters which were to longe for to be reherced in the preamble of this present booke TRuelye we finde in the gestes faites of the good kynge Charlemayne that vpoÌ„ a time at a feast of Penthecoste the sayde kyng Charlemayne kept a ryght great and solempne court at Parys after that he was come againe fro the partyes of Lombardy where he had had a ryght great and meruaylous batayle ayenst the Sarasyns and suche folke as were oute of the beleue wherof the cheef of the sayde Sarasins was named Guithelym the sesne The whiche the said kynge Charlemayne by hys prowesse and valyauntnes had dyscomfyted ouercomen At the which battaylle and dyscomfyture dyed greate noblenesses of kinges princes Dukes Erles barons knyghtes and squyers As Salamon of bretayne Huon erle of Mauns syr yues syr yuoyre berenger and Haton syr Arnaulde of Beaulande syr walleraunte of Bollon and many valyaunte knyghtes The House peres of Fraunce were come there and many Almaynes and Englyshemenne Normans Poeteuyns Lombardes and Barnyers And amonge other Dukes princes was come thyther The good and worthye duke Aymes of Ardeyne And in his felawshyp his foure fayre sonnes that is to wyt Reâ—nawde Alarde Guycharde and Rycharde that were wonderfull fayre wytty great mightye and valyaunte specyally Reynawde whiche was the greatest and the tallest manne that was founde at that tyme in al the worlde For he had xvi feete of length and more Than at this assemble and feast stood the sayd kynge Charlemayne on his feete amonge his prynces and barons sayinge in this wyse barons my bretheren and freendes ye knowe howe I haue conquested and gotten so manye greate londes by youre helpe and succours So many of the Sarasins and misbeleuers brought to death in my subieccion how but late agoe ye haue seene by the paynni Guerelym whiche I haue dyscomfyted ouercomen and reduced to the christen faith Notwithstandynge we haue loste there ryghte greate cheualry and noblenesse And for faute of many of oure vassaylles and subiectes that to vs dayneth not to come howe be it that we had sent for theym as the Duke Rycharde of Roussellon the duke Dron of Nantuell and the duke Benes of Aygremounte that been all three bretherne Germayne Wherof vnto you I complayne me and tell you that yf it were not syr Salamon that worthylye came to succoure vs with .xxx. thousande fygheynge menne and syr Lambreyght bernyer and syr Geffraye of Bourdelle with walleraunce of Bullon that bare our baner we were alle dyscomfyted and lost as ye all knowe wel and this by the defaut of the said three bretherene that dayned neuer to come to our sendynge nor obey and aboue all the duke Benes of Aygremounte All be it that they be all oure lyege menne that euer owen to me seruyce and fydelytie Now I shal sende hym worde that he come to serue me at this nexte somer with all his power And in case that he shall be refusynge to obeye oure commaundementes by saynt denys of fraunce I shall sende for al my freendes and subiectes and I shall goe besyege him at Aygremounte And yf we can haue him I shall make him to be shamefully hanged and his sonne Mawgis to be slaine all quycke and shall do brenne his vncourteous wyfe And I shall sert all his londes in fyre Than the good Duke Naymes of Bauyere rose vp dyligently and said to kynge Charlemayne in this wyse Syr me semeth that ye ought not to angre your selfe so sore And yf ye will beleue my counsell ye shal sende a messanger to the duke of Aygremount which messanger shal be wel and honourably accompanied And he muste be sage and prudent for to shewe wel to the Duke of Aygremounte all that ye shal charge hym And after whan ye shall know hys answere and his wyll ye shall than aduyse you what ye oughte for to doo In good fayth sayde the kyng ye counseylle me ryght well and wiselye Than thoughte Charlemayne what message he myght sende to him And than he sayde all hyghe afore them all complayninge himselfe who shall be he that shall doo thys message And for doubte of deathe shall not leue nothynge vnsayd of hys message to the duke benes but there was none of them all that oughte answered For manye of theim were of Sybbe to hym As the duke Aymon of Ardeyne that was his brother Germayne Thus were the foure brethern of one father and of one mother Than was kynge Charlemayne ryghte wrothe and angrye And sware by saynte denys that the Duke benes shoulde be wasted and destroyed And no manne shoulde be in the worlde that shoulde keep him therfro Than he called high his eldest sonne Lohier saying in this maner ye must doo this message my dere sonne and lede with you for your conduyt and suretye an hundred knightes armed and honourably arayed And ye shall saye to the Duke benes of Aygremounte that yf he come not for to serue vs thys somer aboute saynte Iohans daye nexte comynge as I haue saide afore that I shall besyege Aygremounte shall dystroye all his lande and he and his I shal doo hange or slea al quycke and his wyfe to be brente Syr sayd Lohier al at your pleasure I shal doo And wit that it shall not be taryed for feare of death but that I shal tell him al a longe all that ye haue charged me of And I shall depart to morow in the mornyng by the grace of God Than should you haue sene the king weepe of pitie for his sonne Lohier For he repented him that he had charged him for to doo this message but syn that he had so sayd he must doo it And the morne was come Lohier his noble company made them redy and after lept on horsbacke and came afore the kyng Than sayd Lohier to the king his father Syr here I am redye and all my folke for to fulfyll your wyll Fayre sonne sayd Charlemayne I recoÌ„mend thee vnto god that on the crosse suffred death and passion and hym I beseche to kepe and waraunt thee al thy felawshyp from euyl from any combraunce than departed Lohier and his company wherof after warde the kynge made great lamentacyon for his sonne Lohier and not wyth out a cause For he shal neuer see hiÌ„ quicke agayne as ye shal vnderstaÌ„d yf ye wyll kerken it Now go the geÌ„till messangers streyght to warde Aygremount sore
knyght with his spere in his sheeld rought him with so great a might that steâ—ke deade he ouerthrewe him So seased Reinawde the knyghtes horse and tooke him to his brother Alarde that lyghted anon vpon the backe of him And after that he was on this good horse he went smote a nother knyght with his swerd so that he made him fall deade afore him and so betooke this knightes horse to his brother Guicharde that thanked hym muche for it And a nother knighte of the kynge Charlemayne came to theym Glotons sayd the knighte ye shall come to the king that shal make you al for to be hanged Ha by my fayth said Reynawd thou shalt lye and with this Reinawd tooke vp his swerd gaue him suche a stroke that he ouerthrew him dead at the grouÌ„d than tooke Reinawd the horse by the reyne and gaue hym to his brother Rycharde that great need had of it Now be the three brethern new horsed Reinawd is vpon bayarde and his cosin Mawgis that he loued so wel behynde him now they goe god wyll leade them keep them from euyll Charlemayne pursued after them but for nought he trauayled for they were neuer the rather taken for hym Than was the sonne gone vnder and the nyght began to come and the foure brethern their cosyn were come into the towne of SoissoÌ„ SO much rode Reynawd by nyght and by daye vpon bayarde that bare him and Mawgis his cosyn that they came to Dordon there they met with the duchesse theyr mother that ranne for to kysse them and colle them And syn asked what they had doon of theyr father and if they were departed from the courte with wrathe Lady sayd Reinawd for I haue slayne Berthelot the neuewe of the kynge Charlemayn the reason why I dyd so was because he called me horeson gaue me with his fyst vpon my vissage so that the bloud came out of it And whan the ladye vnderstoode him she felle downe all in a swoune and Reynawd tooke her vp redely And whan the good lady was come againe to her selfe she sayde to Reynawde Fayre sonne and howe durst you doo this that ye haue doon For I promit you ye shal once repent for it And your father shal be destroied therfore and cast out of his loÌ„des And if he scape on liue it shal be great meruayl So pray I you all my children that ye flee awaye but take afore all my treasour For yf youre father come againe from the courte he shall will yeeâ—d you to the king Charlemayn Lady said Reynawd weene ye that our father is so cruel so wroth with vs that he wolde take deliuer vs in to the haÌ„des of the kyng Charlemaine that is oure greate enemye mortall REynawd his three bretherne Mawgys wolde make none other soiournynge but tooke so muche of the hauoyre and treasoure of theyr father and mother that they had ynough of it And thenne tooke theyr leue of their lady mother wherof there was great pytie at the departinge For the children wept tenderly and the mother also of the other side whan she saw that her children that thus went fro her wist not yf she should euer see them again so departed the newe knightes with theyr cosin Mawgis and yssued out of the towne entred in to the greate forest of Ardeyne streyght through the valeye of Feyry and rode so much that they came vpon the ryuer of Muse and there they chose a faire grounde where they made to be buylded a faire castell vpon a fayre roche muche stronge at the foote of it passed the saide riuer of Muse And whan that the castell was made vp they called it Mountaynford as I trow there was not suche another of strengthe fro the said place vnto Mountpeller For it was closed with great walles enuyronned rounde about with dyches sore deep well garnished with all maner of vittailles of all thinges be nedeful to be had in a fortres now doubte the newe knightes nothinge Charlemayn yf he wrought not by treason Charlemayn was at paris much angry for the deth of his neuew Berthelot the which Reinawd had slayne playing at the chesse as it is sayde so made he to come afore hym the duke Aymon of dordonne the father of the foure knightes and made hym to swere that he shoulde neuer gyue no help to his children and that they shoulde neuer be the better of a peny by hym in what place that he should them fynde he should take theÌ„ and shoulde bringe them to him the which Aymon durste not saie ayenst hym but sware that he should doo so wherof afterwarde he was sore repreued And after that he had sworn thus he departed oute of Parys all wroth angrye of this that he muste chase thus his children and came to Dordon And whan the duches saw him she began to weep full sore and the duke knew wel what she yeelde Lady said the duke where be my sonnes gone Syr sayde the ladye I can not telle whether they are drawen but why suffred you that oure sonne Reynawde slewe Berthelot the neuewe of kynge Charlemaine ladye saide he I coude not doo therto wit that oure sonne Reynawde is of so greate a strength that neuer syth the incarnacion of oure lorde was not seen so stronge a knyghte as he is Nor all the assemble that than was in the pallays at Parys myghte not keep him but that he slewe berthelot afore all the lordes that were there And afore this our saide sonne Reynawde demaunded of kinge Charlemayne ryght and reason to be doone to him of the deathe of my brother his vncle the duke Benes of Aygremount wherupon the king fulshamfullye and outerageouslye answered to our said sonne wherfore Reinawd was wrothe and sore angred and the cause why Reynawde slewe Berthâ—lot was for to aueng him of the king Charlemaine Not withstandynge that Berthelot had Iniuryed oure sayde sonne ful sore at the playe of the chesse And also he smote hym fyrste outrageously that the bloud came out of his face so Reinawd for his great and hardy courage might not suffre this by no wise And therfore the kiÌ„g hathe made me swere that yf I can take my chyldren that I shal brynge them to hym at Parys and that no helpe they shal neuer haue of me nor succours nor that they shall not be the better a peny of all my hauoure Wherof I am wrothe and full sorye ⧠We shall leaue heere to speake of the duke Aymon and of the duchelle that ben ryght sory for theyr children And shal shew you how the worthye kynge Charlemain made to seeke after the foure sonnes of Aymon thoroughe all his realme but he myght not know nor vnderstande no tidinges of them tyll that at last came to hym a messenger that recounted to hym howe he had founde them in the forest of Ardeyne In which they had edyfyed a
my fayre cosyn where are ye now that ye knowe not thys myshap for ye wolde come anon to helpe vs but ye know it not wherof I am euyll contente For I was a foole and ouer hasty that I spake not to you of thys matter afore that I came heere Ha Bayarde yf I were vpon your backe I should neuer entre wtin this roche for feare of the frenchemen but the king Charlemayne should lese heere of the best knyghtes of his company whan he had sayde this he began to weepe full tenderly for the loue of his brethern that he saw so sore wounded and so werye Than the Frenchemen sawted them efte as stronge agayne I promise you if it had not be the greate prowes of Reynawde they should haue ben takē at that time by fine force Whan the sawtinge was finisshed Reynawde set himself vpō his defence for he was so wery that if he had gone he should haue fallen downe to the erthe so weke he was and that was no meruayle for they had so sore trauayled him had suffred so many tormentes and terrible sawtes that it was wunder that they coulde endure so longe ANd whan Ogyer the Dane saw his Cosin so sore tormēted he tooke himself to weepe tenderly And thus as he wept he bethought him selfe of a great wysedome called to hym a knight of hys that was named Gerarde sayd to hym haue for god mercy of me and but yf ye doo that I shall tel you I am dishonoured for euer more Syr sayde Gerade tell me what it please you for it shall be doo thoughe I should lose my life Gramercy sayd Ogier now shall I tell you what I wyll that ye doo take wyth you .xl. knightes of the best of my felawship go lyghtly to the mo sit Hosy kepe your selfe thervpon beholde towarde Mountawban all the right way that no body come but ye see hym for yf Mawgys may wit by any way the misfortune of his cosyns I promise you that he wyll come to succoure them and shall gyue vs muche a doo so that the moste hardy shal be sore afrayed syr sayd gerarde this that ye haue said shal be well doone and than he tooke .xl. of the best knightes of his company wēt to the mount Hosye where they made not well theyr watche for the profite of the frenchemen Ye ought here to wit the Ogier foūd this maner to send his mē forth but only the Reynawde and his brethern should not haue a doo with so many folke and thought not of that that happed ¶ But now leueth heere the hystory to speake of the foure sonnes of Aymon that were in the roche moūtbrō And also leueth to speake of Ogier the Dane and of thother folke that Charlemayne had sent returneth to speake of Godarde the secretary of the king Yon that had red the letters where the treason was conteyned al playnly ¶ How after that Godarde the secretory of the kynge Yon had rehersed al the treason of Mawgis that the kyng Yon had doone to hys cosins Mawgis brought suche a succoures to Reynawde and to his brethern that he saued them frō death bi his great wysdome ¶ Capitulum .x. NOw sheweth the hystory that whan Godarde saw Reynawde and his brethern go to theyr death thorough so false a treason he had of it great sorowe and pitie and he was ryght sory for it for two pryncipal causes wherof th one was for his mayster the kynge Yon that had wrought that shamefull treason and the other was for the great pitie and domage that it was for to make die so pitiously suche worthy knyghtes as the foure sonnes of Aimon were So began he to weep pitiously and thus as he wept came there Mawgys the cosyn of the foure sonnes of Aymon that went to the kechyn for to haste the meate for the kinge Yon wolde eate to the whyche men made good cheere bycause they knew not the treason that he had doone Whan the clerke sawe Mawgys he called hym and sayd to hym Ha Mawgys how it is yl with you for if god put no remedy in you ye haue loste that thyng that ye moste loue in thys worlde that is Reynawde and hys brethern for the kyng Yon hath betrayed thē shamefully And than he shewed to hym all the treason whan Mawgys vnderstode these wordes he was all out of his wittes sayd to the clerke Godarde for god go awaye fro me for all my limmes shaken for angre nor I cannot stande vpon my feete for mi hert telleth me that Reinawde and hys brethern ben dead Certes sayd Godarde ye sai trouth For the lettre sheweth that Ogyer the dane and Foulques of Morillon are set in a busshemēt with a great numbre of folke in the plaine of Valcolours and Reynawde and his brethern are gone thyther al vnarmed by the coūsell of kyng Yon and thus they cannot defende but they muste be dead or takē Whā Mawgis vnderstoode thys he was sorye for it that he fell downe in a swoune to therth and at the fallyng that he made he brake all hys browes And whan he was com agayne to himselfe he was so sory that he wyst not what he should doo So tooke he a knife and wolde haue shoued it in hys breste but he myght not for Godarde tooke hym by the hand and sayd to hym Ha gentyll knyght haue mercye vpon you kyll not your selfe for your soule shal be dāpned for it but light a horsbacke and take wyth you all the men of armes that ben within and the good horse bayarde that renneth so fast and goe there as your cosyns ben gone as soone as ye may And whan ye com there ye shal see anon yf ye can helpe them or not for yf they ben alyue ye shall succour theym ryght wel Godarde sayd Mawgys your coūsel is right good and thā he began to weep and said Ha noble knight Reynawd it is great dommage yf ye be dead but I make my vowe to God that if ye and your brethern be dead I shall neuer liue two dayes after you And than Mawgys without any noyse or onye worde to be made of this to kyng Yon nor to his syster the wife of Reynawde cōmaunde all the soldiours of the castell to be redy in armes lightly and whan the knightes vnderstode hym they tooke theyr harneys on in contynent as they were wōt to doo And whan they were all armed thei came al to the lowest part of the palays and presēted themself and whan Mawgys saw them he shewed to them all the treason that the king you had doone to Reynawde and to his brethern THen whan the Knightes of Reynawde vnderstode thys they begā to make suche sorow that it was pity for to see wisshed after the noble knightes that were gone to theyr death were sore desperat that they wolde almost haue killed them selfe For the one wysshed after Reynawde the
a thynge wherof afterwarde so manye ladyes and damoyselles were with out husbandes wythout louers so many of children fatherlesse and so manye chirches wasted and distroyed that neuer sythe were repayred What shal I tel you more wyt it that they fought there so longe wythin the halle of the Palays that the noys went through all the towne Thā should ye haue seen the bourgeys Marchauntes men of craft with axes swerdes and other wepyns and came to the Castel warde aboute seuen thousand men and more But the entre of the Palays of Aygremount was narow and the Frenche men were within that kept them well that they entred not in at theyr case Alas what terryble and vnhappy a slaughter was there that daye For the folke of kyng Charlemayne were but a few to the regard of them of the other parte And as ye may knowe suche assemble was ryght euyll So defended them selfe moche noblye and valyauntlye the folke of kyng Charlemayne and so muche that Lohier seynge that that he and hys folke had the worse he smote a knight by fore the duke Benes of Aygremount by suche a wyse that he ouerthrew hym downe dead forth sayd he gods curse haue thou and afterward he sayd pyteously in waylyng himselfe Lorde God that within the holy wombe of the blessed vyrgyn Marye tooke thy herbowrynge and suffred death passyon for to redeme mankynde wilt defende me thys daye from shamefull death and from tourment for I wot well but yt it be that your hygh diuynitie socoure me this day I shall not see the king Charlemayne my father no more Than the Duke called hygh vpon hym sayenge Lohier so helpe me God thys day shall be your laste It shall not be so sayde Lohyer And with this he smote the Duke vpon the head but hys helme saued hym And the stroke descended to the heele of him so that the bloud ranne out By God sayd Lohier ye shall not escape Than came the duke Benes of Aigremount to him as woode and sore an angred sayinge I should prayse my selfe full lytle it I might not auenge me vpon thee So heaued vp the Duke hys brande of steele and smote Lohyer so harde vpon hys bryght helme that he cleued hym to the teeth And Lohyer fell dead afore hym vpon the pauement of the Halle Ha God what great domage hath done the Duke Benes of Aygremoūt to haue thus slayne Lohier the eldest sonne of the great kyng Charlemayne Forafterwarde al the oste of Fraunce was in moche great and innumerable tourmente therfore and in ryght greate payne continual and the Duke himselfe dyed therfore full soryly That was the payment that he had for it as ye here after shall heare yf peasybly ye wyll heare me NOw is outrageouslye slayne the good Lohyer the eldest sonne of kinge Charlemayne And the duke Benes of Aygremount full of cruelnes tooke the hed from the body of hym And after that the folke of the sayd Lohyer the sonne of the great kyng Charlemayne saw thei Lorde dead thynke ye they made no great defence Alwayes of a hūdred that they were entred within the palays with theyr Lord Lohyer abode there on lyue but .xx. wherof the duke incontynente made .x. of them to be slayne and the other .x. he reteyned a lyue and to them sayde yf ye wyll promyse and sweare to me vpō your othe and fayth of knighthode that ye shall beare your Lorde Lohyer to hys father the Kyng Charlemayne and say to hym that I sende to hym his sonne Lohyer in good aray and that in an euyll houre he dyd sende hym to me for to tell me suche wordes I shall let you goe quyte and saute and to hym ye shall saye that for hym I shall not doo the mountenaunce of a Peny and that I shall go vpon hym in thys Sommer next comynge wyth fourtye thousande men and that I shall destroye hym and all hys lande They answered Syr wee shall doo that that shall please you to commaunde vs. Thā the Duke dyd doo make redyly a byere and made the corps of Lohyer to be put wythin the sayd byere And after he delyuered it to his .x. knightes that were left on lyue and put it in a carte to drawe wyth two horses And the Duke conueyed theym thorough the Towne And whan they were in the feeldes the .x. knightes beganne to weepe and to make great mone for theyr Lorde Lohier saying alas my lorde Lohier what shall wee no we saye for you to the Kynge your father that so great sorowe shall haue whan he shal knowe your cruell death We may well be incertayne that that he shall make vs all dye Thus weepynge and makynge theyr mone for the loue of theyr Lorde Lohyer the rode on theyr way streyght to Parys ¶ But nowe we shall heere leaue to speake of the messangers and shall tell you of the Kynge Charlemayne that was at Parys CHarlemayne that was at Parys with a great multitude of Lordes that were there assembled And there vpon a day kynge Charlemayne sayd vnto hys Lordes and barons Lordes I am moch wroch and sory of my sonne Lohyer that I haue sente to Aygremounte and I feare me sore that they haue take debate wyth the duke Benes of Agremounte whiche is fell and cruell I doubte me leste he hath slayne my sonne Lohier But by my crowne yf he haue so doone or any thynge that turneth to dyspleasure or dommage to my sayd sonne I shal go vpō him wyth a hundred thousand men and shall make hym to be hanged at agybet Syr sayd the good Duke Aymes of Dordonne I shall comē you ryght sore yf he hath offēded against you that ye make punyssyon therof and wreke on hym greate vengeaunce He is your liege man and ought to serue prayse and honoure you Alwayes yf he hath trespassed agaynst you in any manere I am ryght sorye for it and yf ye haue a cause to be wrothe wyth hym I haue heare my foure sonnes That is to wyt Reynawde Alarde Guycharde and Rycharde that ben ryght valyaunt as ye syr well knowe which shal be trusty and true to you Aymon sayd the kyng Charlemayn I conne you great thanke of the offre that nowe ye haue doone to me And it is my wyll that ye make thē to come hether presently to the ende that I make them knightes and I shall gyue to them Castelles towres and Townes and Cities ynough Than sent the duke Aymes Incontinent for hys children and made them to come afore kynge Charlemayne And whan the king Charlemayne saw them they pleased him moche and Reynawde was the first that spake and sayd Syr yf it please yon for to make vs knyghtes we shal be euer redy for to serue you and your noble Lordshyp Thā the king Charlemayne called hys stewarde and sayd to hym Bringe to me the armes that were the kynge Cedres whyche I haue wyth my handes slayne in batayle before Pampelune and
sayd the duke Naimes leue this angre in peace ye know how Reynawde is your enmye prayseth you nothinge but ye wyll I shall gyue you suche couÌ„sell that Reynawde shal be brought to distruccion and his brethern and Mawgys also Syr doo that your barons be redy at candelmas nexte comyng and that euery one of them make good prouysyon of vitayle for vii yere than abide so longe afore mountawban tyll that ye take them and after ye shall auenge your selfe at your wyll vpon them THan whan the kyng Charlemayne vnderstode the good counsell that the duke Naymes had gyuen vnto hym he lyft vp his hed and sayd Naymes it is noâ— the fyrste good counsell that ye haue giuen to me and I wyll it bee doone as ye saye And than the kynge Charlemayne dyd doo make his letters and sente them through all his empyre In the whiche letters was conteyned that euery man that was accustomed to beare armes to go to warre should come to hym at the feast of Candelmasse nexte folowynge well garnisshed of vitayle for the space of .vii. yeres for to abyde at syege afore mountawban Whan the barons knewe the kinges wil eueri maÌ„ made him selfe redy as well as he coulde and came to Parys and presented them to kyng Charlemayne to hys neue with Rowlande and by cause of the great numbre of folke that were com there they myght not lodge al within Parys but they lodged wythout the towne vpon the riuer of Saine Whan the kinge saw that all his barons were come he made them al to come before hym sayd to them lordes ye all knowe right well at the lest the moste party of you howe I haue ouercome subdued .xl. kinges in my dayes the whyche are all to me obeyssaunt excepte the kynge Yon of Gascoyn that hath withdraweÌ„ in his lande my enemies mortall that ben the foure sonnes of Aymon ye know well the great dishonour thei haue doone to me wherof I me coÌ„playne vnto you praye you commaunde you that ye come wyth me into Gascoyn for to helpe me that I be auenged of the greate harme and shame that these foure sonnes of Aimon doo to me for by your othe ye ben all beholden thervnto THan sayd the erle of Nantuel Syr wee shall not goe there at this tyme. Ye know well that that wee ben come out of Spayne but late wherof we ben yet all werye And also in this felawshyp ben many princes and barons that haue not ben yet in theyr couÌ„trey nor seen theyr wiues and children and ye wil that that we go into Gascoyn vpon the kyng Yon vpon the foure sonnes of Aymon And I tell you that the two wouÌ„des that I receyued in Spaine be not yet whole and therfore we may not goe into Gascoyn at thys tyme. But yf it please you ye shall doo as a good kynge and a sage and shall shewe that ye loue your folke For ye ought to kepe them as youre selfe Wythdrawe your hoste vnto whytsonday next coming and gyue leaue to all your barons to goe to their places for to rest them a while And whan the tyme shall be come that your pleasure is to call theym they shall than be all fresshe and redye to fulfil your commaundement wyth all diligence Whan the kynge vnderstode these wordes he was wrothe and sware by saynte Denys of Fraunce saying in thys maner if I should be dyssheryted I shall goe now into Gascoyn and I shall take wyth me all the younge folke of my hoste the whiche I shall put in good straye honestly and I shall gyue theÌ„ all that they shall need thoughe ye should abyde behynde as weke men and feynte Syr sayd the duke Naymes ye say well for thys yonge men shal be ryght glad for to assaye them selfe Therfore wyll I doo it sayde kyng Charlemayne and so shall the kyng Yon be destroyed and whan I shall haue Reynawde and hys brethern and Mawgys the theete takeÌ„ I shall departe the lande of Gascoyne to these yonge knightes for theyr herytage This hangyng that the king Charlemayne sayd these wordes a spye that longed to Reynawde was in thys companye that vnderstode all that sayde is And whan the spye had hearde all together well he put hymself to the way and dyd so much by his Iourneys that he came to mouÌ„tawban where he founde Reynawde his brethern and Mawgys And in contynent that Reynawde saw him he demaunded of hys what tydynges bryng you fro Parys and from the courte of kynge Charlemayne My Lorde sayd the spye wyt it that kyng Charlemayne is greatly wrothe with kynge yon and agaynst you and against your brethern against Mawgys He hath sente for all his subiectes in his Empyre but none wolde haue comen with him into Gascoygne And then he sware Saynte Denys that he should come into thâ—se partyes and should brynge wyth hym none other but al yonge knightes To the which he shall gyue all Gascoygne And sayth that he shall besyege MouÌ„tawban and shall doo to be cast downe the great towre and shall set al Gascoygne in a tyre and flame Than sayd Reynawde to his folke be not discouraged of nothing For I shall see how Rowlande and Oliuer shall beare themself agaynst me and mi brethern And than went Reynawde into the halle And found his brethern and Mawgys with his knyghtes and sayd to them Lordes I brynge you tidynges Now wyt that the kyng Charlemayne cometh to besyge vs and bryngeth with him all the puyssaunce of Fraunce Nowe let vs thynke to receyue him well for he shall haue more to doo than he weneth brother sayd Alarde haue no doubte for they shal be well receyued for as longe that we shall lyue and shal see you ryde vpon bayarde we shall not fayle you nor wee shal not be a ferde to be taken nor ill handled For no man aliue is worth you nother of goodnes nor of prowes THys hangyng Charlemayn was aduysed and thoughte vpon the counsell that the Duke of Nantuel had gyuen to him And after he called his folke sayd to theÌ„ Lordes I gyue you leue and let you wyt that at Easter I shall holde my counsell generall and it please you Now keep that ye faile not to come than well apparelled and redy for I wolde not leaue for nothynge but that I should goe see the kyng Yon. And yf he yelde me not the foure sonnes of Aymon I shall doo to hym with out doubt so much shame that I shal make his berde to be cut of harde by the chynne And also I shal take the crowne of Gascoygne from his hed and I shall make hym come a foote after me begginge his bread And whan he had sayde these wordes The barons tooke leaue of Charlemayne and wente into theyr countryes but at theyr departing Charlemaine sayd to them Lordes remeÌ„bre well your selfe that ye come at the terme that I haue set For I swere vnto
lappe the wouÌ„de was so great that the lyuer and the lounges appered Than began Gerarde to crye No ware dyscoupled the foure sonnes of AymoÌ„ for I haue slayne Richard the hardy fighter all the other shall soone be slayne or taken yf god giue me helth And I shall brynge them vnto the kynge Charlemayne that shal make theÌ„ to be hanged at MouÌ„tfawcon as soone as he hath them THan whan Richarde was come a lytle to his ese he rose vp quyckely vpon hys feete tooke hys bowelles with bothe his haÌ„des and put them agayne into his belye and after set hande to hys swerde came to Gerarde and sayd to hym in great angre Thou cursed man thou shalt haue thy rewarde anon for that ye haue doon to me for certes it shal not be vmbrayed to Reynawde that ye haue slayne his brother and whaÌ„ he had sayde thus he smote Gerarde through the quyras and throughe the sheelde so great a strooke that he hewed the shouldre and the arme with all from the body felled hym down dead to the erth afore hys feete and than sayd to him Certes Gerarde it had be better for you that ye had not come hytherwarde for to the kynge Charlemayne now shal ye not beare your boste that ye haue slayne one of the foure Sonnes of Aymon And whan he had sayd that he fel downe in a swonne and whan he was come agayne to hymselfe he began for to wisshe after hys brethern and complayned them sore sayinge O Reynawde fayre brother this daye shall departe our company For I shal neuer see you nother ye me O Castell of Mountawban I coÌ„mende thee to god that he wil by his mercy pitie bringe agayne your lorde saufe and sounde of his body Ha king yon of Gascoygne whye haue ye betrayed vs and taken vs to the kyng Charlemayne certes ye dyd therin greate syn and ashamfull fault and after he sayd all weeping O father king of glory and lorde of al the worlde succoure this day my poore bretherne For I wot not where they ben nor of me they may neyther haue helpe nor succors for I am all redy for to dye NOwe shall I tell you of Reynawde of Alarde and of Guicharde that faught strongly agaynst theyr enemies as worthy knightes that they were But all theyr great faytes of armes should auayled theÌ„ nothinge yf they had not come to a narowe way of the Roche where men myght not come to them but a fore And whan they had be longe there Reynawde began to say to his brother Alarde Brother where is become our brother Richarde that we saw not of a good whyle a goe now thinke none other but that we shall neuer see him for I left him heere bi thys sapyn tree whan ye and I had so much to doo I praye god yf he be dead that he haue his soule Now I wyl wit tidinges of him yf it be possible Brother sayd Alarde yf ye wyll beleue me ye shall abyde heere God pardon him if he be dead for we mai not helpe him the perill is to greate and I beleue that we should dy afore that eueÌ„ were come Ha brother sayd Reynawde shall we fayle to our brother Richarde the good knight and worthy Than sayde Alarde what will ye that we shall doo therto for as to me I knowe no remedy to it Alas sayde Reynawde ye speake folyshly for I should not doubt for fere of death to wit where he is becom And if I should goe alone yet shall I vnderstand some tidinges of him Brother said Alarde I promise you if we depart the one from the other We shall neuer see vs agayne together Brother sayd Reynawde other dead or all quicke I shall finde him where so euer he be it maye none other be and whan Reynawde had sayde these wordes he spurred hys horse wyth his spurres and cam at the other side of the roche And whaÌ„ they that had chased Richarde there for to slea him saw Reinawde come they smote hemselfe to flight than Reynawde wente a lytle more vpwarde vpon the roche and founde there his brother Richarde that laye nyghe dead vpon the ground helde his bowelles betwene his handes and about him were a great numbre of folke which he had slayne Whan Reynawde saw him dead and so sore wounded he had of it so great sorow at hys hert that almoste he fell down dead to the grounde but he tooke corage and cam nighe his brother and lyghted downe from his horse kissed him sore weeping and sayd Ha fayre brother it is great pitie dommage of you and of your death for certes neuer man was worthe you for yf ye had come to mans age neuer Rowlande nor Olyuer were so prue in knighthode as ye shuld haue be Alas now is lost our beauty and our youthe thorough greate synne O good lorde who should euer haue thought the onye treason should haue entred into the hert of the king yon Alas my brother Rycharde woe is me for your death for I am cause of it Alas thys daye in the mornynge whan wee departed out of Mountawban we were foure bretherne al good knightes now are we but .iii. that ben perillousli wounded and al vnarmed Nowe God forbed that I should scape sythe that ye be dead vpon the traytours But I pray god that I may venge your death vpon them or euer I deceasse For I shall set therto my good will if god will it shal be so Euen thus as Reinawde made mone ouer hys brother he behelde behynde hym and sawe come his brethern Alarde and Guycharde all discomfyted that cryed vpoÌ„ Reynawde Brother what doo you com anon and help vs for we haue great need And whan Richarde heard the voyce of Alarde he opened his eyen and whan he saw his brother Reynawde afore hym he sayd to hym O brother Reinawde and what doo you heere see ye yonder that roche which is so hyghe and so stronge where as ben manye small stones aboue yf we myght doo so muche that we climed vp there I beleue that we shold be safe from our enemies for it cannot be but our cosyn Mawgys knoweth our disease by thys and he shal come to succour vs. Brother sayde Reynawde wolde god we were there now tell me my fayre brother howe feele ye your selfe thinke ye that ye maye recouer healthe yea sayde Rycharde yf ye scape and els not for with the sore that I haue I myght well dye for sorowe ANd whan Reynawde heard Richarde speake thê° he was ryght glad of it So called he Alard to him and sayde Brother take Rycharde vpon your sheelde and lede hym vpon the roche and Guicharde and I shall rowme the waye a fore you brother sayde Alarde doubt not I shall doo my power And than he lighted downe and tooke vp Richard and layde hym vpon hys sheeld and after he lighted againe on horsbacke and Reynawde and Guycharde leyd
chaptre sheweth how after that Reynawde and hys brethern with their cosyn mawgys were departed from theyr mother for to seeke their aduenture they went so longe tyll they came to the realme of Gascoygne And how goynge thither warde they made manye euylles in Fraunce And howe the kynge of Gascoign whaÌ„ they were come there â–ª dyd receiue them in his seruise ryghte sweetly in bourdeux vpon Gyrond by cause that than this king of Gascoigne that was called Yon had warre ayenst a kyng sarasin that was entred in to Gascoygne that had to name Porrus that helde Tholouse and all the londe aboute fol. xxxvi THe .vi. chapter speaketh how Reinawde and his bretherne dystressed bourgons a sarasyn that had distroyed the realme of Gascoign and had chased the kinge yon to bourdeux vpon Gyronde that durste not depart from thence for feare of the sarasyns And howe kyng you gaue his sister Clare vnto Reinawde to be hys wyfe for the greate seruyse that he hadde doon to hym And dyd doo make for hym the castell of Mountawban fol. xxxviii THe seuenth chapitre speaketh how Charlemayne for a voyage that he made to saint Iames in Galyce he knewe in his comynge agayne howe Reynawde and his bretherne that were his mortalle enmies were in Gascoygne with in a stronge castel called Mountawban And how he sente worde to kinge yon that he shoulde delyuer to him Reynawd and hys bretherne And yf he refused to doo thys he sholude come and besyege hym in hys loude afore .x. or xii moneths were passed wherof kiÌ„g yon answered that he shoulde not doo it And howe after that kynge Charlemayne was retourned to Parys Rowlande his neuewes arryued at Parys which the kyng made knyght And after sent him for to reyse a siege afore Coloyne that a sarasyn had besyeged that was called Estorfawde the which was ouercome by RowlaÌ„d And howe Reynawde wan the crowne of Charlemayne for his well renuynge vpon hys baye horse at Parys fol. xliii THe .viii. chapitre speaketh how Charlemayne went into Gascoygne with his host besieged Reynawd and his bretherne within Mountawhan and howe Reynawde wan the fyrst batail of the king which Rowlande conduyted with Olyuer and the bishop Turpin wherof Charlemayne was so sore wrothe that he wende to haue wexed mad for it of the great shame that he had of it fol. li. THe .ix. chapitre sheweth howe Reynawde and his bretherne were betrayed and solde to king Charlemayne by kynge you that sent theym in to the playne of Valcoloures all vnarmed but onelye of theyr swerdes rydinge vpon mulectes clothed with mantelles of scarlace furred with ermynes From the whyche walle they escaped worthylye by the wyll of oure lorde But they were sore wounded Of Charlemaines parrye abode there deade Foulques of Morillon and many other barons for whome the kynge was ryghte sorye folio lvi THe .x. chapitre speaketh howe after that Goodard the secretarye of kynge you had be wrayed all the treason to Mawgys that the kynge yon had doone to hys cosyns whiche he knewe well For he had seene kynge Charlemaynes lettres And had wrytten answere therupon from kinge yon Mawgis brought to reynawde and hys suche a succoures that by his wyt they were kepte from death fol lxxii THe .xi. chapitre speaketh howe by the succours that Mawgis brought to reynawd and to his bretherne into the playne of Valcoloures they discomfited kyng charlemaynes folke wherof Ogier had manye reproches of rowlande for some goodnes and fauoure that he had shewed to reynawde and his bretherne at roche mountbron and was therfore called traitoure wherof a great inconuenience came therof afterwarde a fore king Charlemayne foli lxxxi THe .xii. chapitre sheweth howe that after reynawde and hys brethern were whole of their wouÌ„des that they had had in the playnes of Valcoloures they retourned to Mountawban But whan kyng yon knewe of theyr commynge agayn he fledde awaye and made hym selfe to be shorne a monke in a monastery that was within the woode of the serpente where rowlande and Ogyer the Dane founde him and wold haue made him be hanged for the treason that he had doone to reynawde and to his bretheren yf Reynawde had not succoured him fol. lxxviii THe xiii chapiter sheweth how â—hâ—â— after Reynawd had succouâ—eâ—â—yng yon was the same houre a mâ—rueylâ—ouâ—e battaylle betweene Reynawde and the frenshe men For Rowlande was there sore beten and many other wherof Ogyer was glad by cause that Rowland had called him traytoure And also he knewe that the foure sonnes of Aymon were not for to be so lyghtelye ouercomen as men had sayde afore And for this cause there had been a sore medle betweene Rowland and Ogyer yf it had not be the other barons that departed them and in this recountre Rycharde the brother of Reynawde abode for prisoner of Rowlande fol. lxxxviii THe xiiii chapitre sheweth how after that Reynawde Alarde and Guycharde were gone towarde Mountawban after the battayle and that they had made full greate sorowe for Rychard theyr brother which was in kynge Charlemaines handes The sayd Rychard was delyuered by mawgys greate wysedome fol. xc THe .xv. chapitre speaketh how after that Reynawde and hys brethern and Mawgys had discomfyted Charlemayn they came and ouerthrewe downe his pauilyon and bare awaye with theym the Egle of golde that was there vpon the pauilion wherof kynge Charlemayne was sore an angred in so muche that he wolde yeelde vp his crowne vnto his barons sayinge that he wolde be no more kynge for they had fayled hym and habandonned for the foure sonnes of Aymon and sayde to theÌ„ that they should crown Reinawd that he might be theyr king for they loued him much more than they dyd hym Than Olyuer sayde to kinge Charlemayne that he shoulde take againe the crown and that he shoulde brynge to him Mawgys that he had taken whan he was aboute to pylle the pauyllyon for he abode alone whan kynge Charlemaine hearde the same he tooke agayne his crowne and was ryghte glad of the prise of mawgys fol. cii THe .xvi. chapitre speaketh how the kynge Charlemayne wolde doo hange Mawgys Incontynente that Olyuer had take hym to him But by the meane of the Douseperes of Fraunce that at the requests of Mawgys pledgyd hym for one nyght onelye He made so muche that he escaped to the honoure and acquytaunce of hys sureties and of hym and bare awaye with hym to Mountawban the crowne and the sworde of kynge Charlemayne the same nyghte Wherof kynge Charlemayne was full sory And therfore he sende worde to Reynawde that he shoulde sende to hym agayne his crowne and his swerde and all that Mawgys had borne awaye with hym and he shoulde graunt hym his truce for two yeres To the which thing Reynawd accorded hym wherof happed to hym after that many great euylles fol. cv THe .xvii. Chapytre sheweth how Reynawde faught with Rowland Which he ouercame by the wyl of god And brought
him to mouÌ„tawban wherof kyng Charlemayne was greatly wrothe And also sheweth how mawgis brought king Charlemayne in to the castel of Mountawban vpon bayarde all a slepe And after tooke him to Reinawd within his bed And after went and arrayed hym selfe in maner of an Hermyte poorely clothed And lefte all his kinnesmen and freendes bycause that he wolde not let the peace of Reynawde toward the kynge Charlemayne For the war had lasted to longe fol. cxiii THe .xviii. chapytre sheweth how after that Mawgys had taken Charlemaine in to the handes of Reinawde his good cosin he went with out leaue in to a woode nyghe the ryuer of Dordon in to a hermitage where he dyd dwelle as an Hermyte lyuinge poorely for to saue his soule fol. cxvi THe .xix. chapitre sheweth howe the barons of Fraunce that were at Mountawban made great sorowe by cause that they myghte not awake the kynge Charlemayne that Mawgys by his crafte had made to slepe and broughte vnto Mountawban But whan the houre of the enchauntmente of Mawgys was passed kyng Charlemayn awaked And whan he saw himselfe in Mountawban he sware that he shoulde neuer make peace wyth Reynawde as longe as that he were prysoner And so Reynawde dyd sende him againe vpon his horse bayard free and quite wherof he repented him sore afterwarde For soone after this kyng Charlemayn made Mountawban to be besyeged of so nyghe that he famyshed Reynawd and his bretherne his wife and his children and all the people so that they dyed for hungre and thirst the most parte fol. cxvii THe .xx. chapitre speaketh how after that Charlemaine had besyeged Mountawban of so nyghe that he dyd famysh all them that were wythin knewe howe Reynawd was gone and had habandonned Mountawban and was gone his waye he and his bretherne hys wyfe and hys chylderne by vnder the erthe and were gone to Ardeyne where kynge Charlemayne went and besyeged theÌ„ agayne But afore that he dyd set hys syege Reynawde and hys bretherne yssued oute ayenst hym whereby manye one loste their lyfe of the one partie and of the other And the duke Richarde of Normandye was taken there which was one of the Douse peres of Fraunce and a ryghte noble and a worthy knyght preu and hardy wherfore kynge Charlemaine was righte sorye fol. cxxix THe .xxi. chapitre sheweth how Mawgys beynge in his hermytage came in his mynde a vysyon that he hadde by nyghte in his slepe for to goe see Reynawde and his bretherne Than in the mornynge he tooke hys waye and founde two marchauntes the whiche had be robbed by seuen theeues in a wood Of the whiche seuen theues Mawgys slewe fiue of theym with his palster and tooke again to the marchauntes theyr marchaundyses and all theyr hauoyre And than he went forth his waye toward Mountawban for to see his cosyns and his brethern fol. cxxxiiii THe .xxii. Chapiter sheweth how Reynawde wolde haue doon hange Richard the duke of Normandye by cause he myghte not haue peace with the kinge Charlemayne And howe whan the Douse peeres of Fraunce knewe this they came to kyng Charlemayne and prayed him to make peace with Reynawde for to haue againe theyr felawe the duke Rycharde of Normandye to the whiche thynge kynge Charlemayne answered that he would not doo it wherof they were so sore an angred that they left him but kynge Charlemain dyd sende after theym and sent theym worde that they shoulde returne agayne to hym and that he shoulde make peace with Reynawde vnder this condicyon that Reinawd should goe beyonde the sea beggynge his breade fol. cxxxvii THe .xxiii. Chapytre sheweth howe after that Reynawde was departed from Ardeyne for to make his vyage beyonde the sea poorely clothed as a pylgrym seekynge hys breade for goddes sake Rycharde of Normandye tooke Bayarde and brought with him Alard Guychard and Rycharde bretherne to Reynawd and presented them to Charlemayneâ— the whiche he receyued ryghte honourablye by good loue and after brake his syege and departed for to goe to Parys But whan he was in the citye of Lyege vpon the brydge ouer the ryuer of Mewse he made Bayard to be cast into the water with a mille stone at the necke of hym but bayarde the horse escaped and is yet a lyue in the forest of Ardeyne as men sayen Fol. Cxiiiii THe .xxiiii. Chapytre sheweth howe that after Reynawde was departed from Ardeyne from hys bretherne from his wise and fro hys chyldrene for to goe beyonde the sea for to accomplyshe hys voyage 〈◊〉 to the holy graue he found in ConstaÌ„tynople his cosyn Mawgis and went both togither vnto afore Iherusalem that a kynge sarasyn whiche was admyral of percie had taken by treason but Reynawde and Mawgis dyd so much wyth the folke of the lond that the cyrye was take agayne of the christen fol. cxivi THe .xxv. Chapytre sheweth how that after Reynawde was come agayne from the holy londe where he had doone merueyles he sent Aimonet and Yoâ—net hys two sonnes to kynge Charlemaine muche honourably for to be made knightes of hys hande For he taughte theym well in armes in all good maners and tooke to them fyue hundred good men well horsed for to conduyte them towardâ— the kyng at Parys fol. Civii THe .xxvi. Chhapytre sheweth how after that kyng Charlemayne had muche swetely receyued the chylden of Reynawde and made them knightes they fought wyth the sonnes of Foulques of Moryllon and discomfited them in the feeld at Parys whyche is called the ysle of our ladi Bicause that they had charged theyr father of treason bycause he had slaine theyr father Foulques of moryllon in the playnes of Valcolours Fol. Clviii THe .xxvii. chapitre conteineth how that after Reynawde was gone fro Mountawban in maner of a pilgrime neuer to haue returned agayne after that he had dealed his goodes to his children his brethern and his sonne Aymoner made great sorow whan they wyst that he was gone wythout theyr knowledge all barefote with a palster in his hande Folio Clxviii THe .xxviii. chapitre sheweth how after that Reynawde was departed fro MountawbaÌ„ for to saue his soule he went to Colcinâ— vpon the Rine and founde that men builded the churche of saynt Peter And there came to hym a wyll and a deuocyon for to serue the masons that wrought there for the loue that he had to our lorde But at the laste the other labourers had so great enuy at hym of that he was more loued than they were of all the maysters for the good seruice that he dyd that they slew hym and after they put hym in a sacke caste hym into the water of the Ryue but by the wil of our lord his corps appered aboue the water makyng so many fayre myracles healyng of all sykenesses so that he was named a saynte the day of hys buryenge Fol. Clxix ¶ Here finyssheth the table and consequentely foloweth the booke heere after Howe duke Aimon of Ardein brought to
the head that was smytteÌ„ of from the body and the face that was all to Hewen Ha good Lorde sayd he how well maye I be made now al quicke well I ought for to hate the duke Benes of AygremouÌ„te that thus hath murdered my sonne he than kissed his childe al bloudiful often and said vnto him in this wise Ha faire sonne ye were a talle man and a gentil knight Now praye I the puyssant God of glorye that he take your soule this yf it be his pleasure into hys Realme of Paradyse Great sorow made the kyng Charlemayne for the death of his sonne Lohier But alwayes recomforted him the good Duke Naymes And theÌ„ Ogyer the Dane and Sampson of Bourgoyne tooke him vnder the armes of him and ledde him vnto saynt Germayne of the medowes And there the bodye of Lohier was buried and enoynted with balme as it apperteyneth vnto all the sonnes of kinges Thus was he put into hys graue God haue of hys Soule mercy WE shall bene heere to speake of the good king Charlemayne that was moch sori of his sonne Lohier as ye haue heard and shall tell you of the good Duke Aymon of Reynawde his sonne and of his three bretherne that were at Parys My children sayd Aymon ye know how the Kynge Charlemayne is moche wrothe and not without a cause by cause that my brother your vnkle hath slaine Lohier his sonne And I wote well that he shall go vpon him with all his puyssaunce but verelye we shall not go wyth him But rather shall we goe to Dordon and yf the Kyng make warre agaynst hym we shall helpe him with all our power So lyghted anon on horsebacke the good duke Aymon the foure knightes his children and bayted no wher tyll they came to Laon from theÌ„s they rode so longe tyll they came to Dordon And whan the Lady sawe her Lorde and her foure children she was right glad and went against them for to welcom them and asked after tydinges and yf Raynawde hys other childeren were made knightes Than the good duke answered yea and after she asked why they were departed fro the kinges court And than he rehersed vnto her word by word how hys brother the duke Benes had slayne Lohier the sonne of the Kinge Charlemayne Wherof the good Lady Margery was wondeâ—full wrothe and sorye For well she knew that this death of Lohier was the totalle dystruccion of the Duke Aymon her housbande of her self and of her childerne and of their lande She heard Renawde her eldest Sonne that thretened Charlemayne the great Kynge then sayd to hym the Ladye hys Mother My Sonne Reynawde I pray thee vnderstande me alytle Loue thy souerayne and thy naturall Lorde and dread him aboue all thinge and bere him honour and reuereÌ„ce And God shall rewarde thee for it and ye my Lorde Aymon I am moche maruelled of you that are departed from Charlemayne without leaue of him the hath doone to you so moche good and so great worship and hath geueÌ„ to your sonnes so noble and so riche armes and hath made them knightes with his owne handes more great honour he might not doo to you nor to your childreÌ„ Lady said the Duke we be thus departed froÌ„ King Charlemayne because that my brother hath slayne his sonne as I haue tolde you afore A God sayd the Lady that of the virgin was borne in bethlehem howe hath that euyll thys day surmounted the good For goddes loue my Lorde sayde the Ladye medle not withall For ye shall see this next soÌ„mer that the kinge shall go vpon your brother by my counsell serue the kynge your rightwyse Lorde nor fayle him for nothynge For and ye doo otherwyse ye shall be vntrew and false towarde your Souerayne and naturall Lorde Lady sayd the duke by god omnipotente I wold leuer haue lost my castell and the halfe of my lande than that my brother should haue slayne Lohier Now the wyl of god be done therin and none other wyse TO speake of the good Duke Aymon of DordoÌ„ and of his wife the duchesse and of theyr soÌ„nes we shal heere leue shall returne to speake of kynge Charlemayne that was come agayne to parys makiÌ„g great sorowe for his sonne Lohier There had you seene many a gowne torne broken many a hande wrongen and manye heares of the head pulled so that it was piti and wonder for to se Alas mi dere sonne said kyng Charlemayne he that hath slayne thee so cruelly loued me but lytle I shall neuer be in quiete nor in reste till that I haue take vengeaunce of thy death Syr sayd the duke Bauyere haue mercy of your selfe For it behoueth not so great a prince as ye be for to make so great sorow as ye doo And in the meane whyle came a messenger afore the kynge which shewed to him howe Aymon Duke of Dordon his foure soÌ„nes were gon into their countrie wherof the kyng was sore an angred and wrothe And sware god and saynt Denis the afore he sholde dye that Aymon and his chylderen sholde abye full sore for it that the duke Benes of AygremouÌ„te sholde not kepe them therfro The dyner was redy they wasshed their handes and were set at dinner but wyt it that the kynge dyd eate but lytle as he that was in greate melancolye the fayre Salamon serued that day afore hym the cuppe great people was there After diner the Emperour Charlemayne did reason with his barons and sayd to theÌ„ lorde sayd he the duke Benes of Aygremount hath doone to me greate outrage that so shamefully hath slayne my sonne Lohier But and it please God I shall go wreke it vpon hym this next somer and I shall destroye all his land and yf I may take him I shall not leaue hym for the duke Aymon the shamefullye is gone from mee nor for his foure sonnes that I haue made knightes wherof I me repente sore but that I shall make them to be hanged Syr sayd than the duke Naymes nowe heare what I shal say to you your soÌ„ne is dead by great vnhap well in an euill hour was he put to death for neuer death was so sore solde ne so dere bought as this shal be So sende nowe for your folke through all your londes and than from hens toward Aygremounte take your waye And yf ye may take the Duke Benes let the death of your soÌ„ne Lohier be to him ful dere soulde NAymes sayd the kynge ye be a good man sage curtoyse valyaunt euen thus shall I doo for well wysely ye haue counselled me Than gaue he leaue to many of hys barons and gentil men that were in his courte at that time tolde them that eche of them should go into his countrie for to make them self redy and that they should come agayne to him the next sommer So was it doone as the kynge had commaunded And thus wente the barons and the gentil men from
of the saide duke Benes of AygremouÌ„t And to the said feast came William the Englyshe Walleran of Bullon .xv. kinges .xxx. dukes and well .lx. erles were there at that daye for to crown Charlemain And also was come there the duke Aymon of Dordon with his foure sonnes that is to wit Reinawd Alard Richard Guichard to the which Aimon the kynge said AimoÌ„ said he I loue you your children wel and wyt that I voyl make of the fayre Reinawd my stuard the other shall serue me for to beare my faucons goe with me Syr said the good Aymon I thank you muche of the greate worshyp that ye doo to me to my children And wyt that thei shal serue you truly as your lieg meÌ„ but wel I tol you good king that ye mysprised sore whan my brother the duke Benes of Aygremount vnder your saufconduit in treason ye made thus shamefullye die beleue that it greueth me ful sore at the hert if we doubted not you so much certes vengeaunce we should take therof But sith that my brother Gerard hath pardoned it to you I forgeue it you also AimoÌ„ said the king ye know better than that ye saye For ye know wel the offence that your brother had doon to me for to haue slaine so crueâ—ly Loihere my eldest sonne that I loued so much Now set the one ayenst the other let be spoken nomore therof No more we shal saide duke Aimon but wel I pray god to haue mercye of his soule for he was a right worthy knight TheÌ„ came forth Reinawde Alard Guychard and Richarde which reasoned with the kinge saying in this maner Sir said Reinawde the fairest of al knights and moste expert in faites of knighthode ye haue made me my brethern that been now afore you knightes but wit it for very certain that we loue you not that we haue toward you a greate and a mortall hate for the deathe of our vncle the duke Benes of Aygremount of the whiche deathe ye haue not accorded with vs. Whan the king vnderstoode Reinawde he looked grymly and fyerssly in his visage for greate wrath and became blacke as a cole and smote his forhed for angre and after said Reinawd thou yong boye voide out of my presence For I swere by saynt Simon and if it were not the companye of the barons that be heere I should make thee to be put in suche pryson that thou shouldest not see nother hande nor foote that thou haste Syr said Reinawd it wer not reason But sith that it is so ferre come that ye will not heere vs we shall keep our peace THus lefte the foure sonnes of Aimon the debate and spake no more to the kyng Charlemayn for that tyme of this matter Fayre was the courte and the day was ful fayre and bryghte and fayre was the companye as of .xv. kinges .xxx. dukes and .lx. erles They went to the chirch for to heare the faire masse that was songe and muche rych was the offeryng And whan they had hearde the masse they came agayn to the palays and asked after water for to washe theyr handes and the dyner was readye so they washed and set theym downe to dyner And the .xv. kynges were all set except the king Salamon that serued that daye with the Duke Godfraye But Reynawde at thys dynner myght not eat by cause that the kynge Charlemayne had rebuked hym so shamefully Ha saide Reynawde to hymselfe Alas howe shall I conne doo so muche that I may auenge my selfe of Charlemayne for the death of my vncle that so much was beloued whiche traitorusly and shamefully hath be slain if I take not vengeaunce of it I shal wexe mad In this wise sorowed the good Reinawd and his brethern recomforted him The baroÌ„s came out after diner for to play sporte theym selfe and Berthelot the neuewe of Charlemayn called Reynawd for to play with him wherof grew a great mischeef for afterward many a good knight died therfore manye a fayre childe fatherles as here after ye shal herken well NOwe was set Berthelot and the worthy Reynawde for to playe at the ches whiche were of yuory wherof the boord was of golde massy and so longe they played that debate fel betwene them two by such maner that berthelot called Reinawde horsonne and tooke vp his hand and smote Reynawde in the vysage so that the bloud fell to the grounde and whan Reynawde sawe himself thus shamefully outeraged he was ryght wroth and sore angred sware by god him should yl betyde therfore ThaÌ„ tooke Reinawd the ches boord and smote Berthelot vpon his head so harde that he cloued hym to the teeth and thus Berthelot fell down deade to the grounde afore hym so began the crye at that houre sore strong in the Palays that Reynawde the sonne of Aimon had slain Berthelot the neuewe of kyng Charlemayn Whan the kynge vnderstoode thys he went nyghe oute of his wyt and called of heyghte Barons keep well that Reinawd scape not For by saint Denis of Fraunce he shall not escape quicke yf we maye holde hym for he hath slaine our neuew Berthelor Than ran soone the knightes vpon Reinawde And his kynnesmen defended him nobly And thus was there greate stryfe and manye heres pulled and many gownes toren For suche a fray was there neuer seen as that daye was in the palays of Parys Many strokes gaue there Mawgys the cosin of Reinawd and sonne to the duke Benes of Aygremount And while that this fraye was in the palays Reinawde and his three bretherne and theyr cosyn Mawgys escaped redyly out of the palays and came vnto theyr horses that soone were made redye So lyghted they on horsebacke and tode soone oute of Parys and fled streight vnto DordoÌ„ towarde theyr lady mother ANd whan themperour Charlemaine wyst that Reinawd and his bretherne were gone oute of Parys he made for to be redy wel two thousand knightes for to folow them Now keep them our lorde that on the crosse suffred passyon For yf the kynge holde them they shall dye withoute remyssyon but Reinawde vpon hym is no care For he was vpon his horse bayard that goeth as the wynde So taryed not the foure brethern theyr cosyn tyll that they came vnto Sawmore and they bayred theyr horses of Alarde Richard and of Guycharde Thanne began Reynawde to make sorowe sayinge Fayre god that suffred deathe and passyon keep thys daye my brethern and my cosyn from the deathe and from combraunce and from fallinge in the handes of Charlemayne the cruell and of the other parte chased them the frenchemen brochyng with the spurres as fast as theyr horses myght renne so muche that a knight that was better horsed then the other were ouertooke Reynawde and sayd to hym ye shall abyde ye vntrue knyghte and I shall brynge you to kinge Charlemayne And whan Reinawde heard hym he turned bayarde ayenst hym and smot the
the kyng he made to hym reuerence and than withdrew himself abacke And sayd to hys men let vs goe fourth for here cometh the kynge I wolde not for nothing in this worlde that any of you should laye hande vpon hym Whan the folke of Reynawde vnderstode these wordes they put theyr swerdes in theyr shethes and went agayne vnto theyr castel right glad of theyr fayre auenture that was happend to them that daye And whā that they were within theyr Castell of Mountaynforde they made the drawe brydge for to be drawen vp went and vnarmed them and foūde the supper redy and so they set them selfe at the table And there was a great mainy of prisoners And whā thei had eaten and dronken their fil Reynawde came to hys brother and thanked hym muche with al his hert of that he had slayne the erle of Estampes ANd whan themperour Charlemayne saw that Renawde was with in his Castell he lighted downe from his horse into his tente and sware by god that he should neuer departe from thence vnto the tyme that he should haue the foure sonnes of Aymon or that the castell were take ¶ What shall I tell more themperour Charlemayne lay well .xiiii. monethes at syege afore that castell of Mountaynforde and there was no weke but they had a batayle or a scarmyshe I tell you that Reynawde was not so sore besyeged but that he went to chase in woodes and in ryuers as often as hym pleased And dyuerse tymes it happed that Reynawde spake wyth the Frenche mē of trayte the one to the other sayinge thus to them Fayre Lordes I pray you that ye speake to the Emperour Charlemayne tel hym that he shal neuer take vs by no force for our castell is right stronge and well garnished But know the kynge one thing that whiche he may haue by goodnes he need not make by force He may haue the castell and vs also yf it please hym in such maner as I shal tell you Whan I shal put in his hād the castel of Mountaynforde my bretherne and my selfe our goodes and bagage saufe that the warre take an ende that hath lasted so longe he may be well content Reynawde said Ogier the Dane ye say wel and wisely I promyt you I shall shew the same to the kinge as ye haue sayd yf ye will beleue my coūsell I ensure you I shall tell hym that ye doo so for ye are not folke for to be set lytel by thus nor for to be for the courte for yf the kinge had you nyghe him he soulde be the better for it ALl thus as Reynawde Ogier spake together there came Forques of Morillon that cried to Reynawde vassayle yee be but a tool for certes I haue heard youre wordes well ye shall leue vs Moūtaynforde for it is not your herytage and your heades in lykewyse Foulques sayd Reynawde ye haue repreued me full often I know well all the harme that the Emperour Charlemain wyll to me is because I haue slayne Berthelot his neuew with a Chesse borde of whome god haue mercye Certes I could not doo therto but I was full sory for it god wot it It is trouth whan we played together we had some wordes by whyche without any wordes he gaue me suche a stroke vpon my face that the bloud ranne downe at the groūd And whā I saw my selfe so armed I myght not be so soft that I could endure the great ontrage that he had doone to me with out a cause So defended I my selfe to my power For who letteth hym selfe to be slayne his soule shal neuer haue pardon And thou knowest wel Foulques the I dyd was in my defēdyng But to this must be made shorte wordes and if it please you ye shal tel to the king charlemain that he taketh vs to mercy and that we may be freendes And yf ye doo thys ye shall doo your honoure For as soone may ye be slayne there as a nother Than sayde Foulques by god all thys is nought worth vnto you for ye shall die therfore ye and your brethern Foulques sayd Reynawde ye threten to muche it apperteineth not to you for to threten knightes so muche that ben better than you and yf ye haue ony thyng vpon your hert doo it wythout any more wordes for I tell you well that ye purchace your death And whanne Reynawde had sayd these wordes they wente agayne to theyr pauylyons And thus abode the hoste vnto than without any fyghtyng but the frechemen came agayn wolde they or not wherfore the kynge Charlemayne was wrothe THan the Emperour Charlemayne sent for men through all hys lande and whan they were all come he sayd to them Syres I complayne me to you of the foure sonnes of Aymon that hath my lād destroyed and wasted And Mountaynforde is so stronge that bi strength it can neuer be taken but by famysshyng Now tell me what I ought to doo for I shall doo therin your counsell whan the barons heard the complaynt that the kynge made to them of the foure sonnes of Aymō there was none so hardy the durst say a worde but the duke Naymes of Bauiere that sayd to the king Syr emperour yf ye wyll haue good coūsel I shall gyue you good yf ye wyl beleue me Let vs retourne nto hyghe Fraunce for we be to nighe the winter for to make warre And whan that newe tyme shal be come ye shal mow come agayne to lay your syege afore Mountaynforde For I doo you to vnderstond that Reynawde is not sore presed but that he goeth in wodes in riuers at all tymes that he wyl And a man that may goe out and in at his wil is not ouer sore besieged And of the other parte Reynawde and hys bretherne are suche knyghtes that they shall not be lyghtly ouercome This is my coūsel syr who knoweth a better let hym tell THen spake Hornier of Saueyne and to him said syr I shal gyue you a better counsell yf ye wil beleue me gyue me the castell and al the hauoyre that is with in and the Lordshyp fyue myles aboute it and I shall yelde to you Reynawde and al his brethern for prysoners afore a moneth cum to an ende And thā shal we goe into Fraunce for to see oure wyues and children Hernyer sayd the kyng ye haue sayd well and wysely yf ye may doo thys that ye haue said I graunt to you the castell and all that ye haue asked with the same Syr said Hernyer I thanke you for it an hūdred thousād tymes And I promys you I shall delyuer vnto you Reynawde and hys bretherne as youre prisoners or euer that a moneth be passed But knowe you that Hernyer dyd mysse of his enterpryse for he kept not couenaunt to the kynge as he had promised him for Reinawde tooke hym and made hym to be hewen all in peces and made all they that were wyth hym whan he made the treason
Ardeyn and these three knightes ben my brethern heere is Alard Guichard Richarde heere is Mawgis our cosyn one of the best knightes of the world most wise Charlemayne hath cast vs oute of Fraunce hath disheryted vs our father hath disauowed vs for the loue of him for this cause sir we goe seeke a bout after a lorde that is good and true that shoulde helpe vs to defende ayenst Charlemayne and we shall serue him wel and truely WHan king yon hearde this that Reynawde sayde he was right gladde of it that they were the foure sonnes of Aymon the best knyghtes of all the worlde and most doubted Mawgis that was the moste subtyll of the worlde that were come for to serue him he wolde not haue ben so glad yf men had gyuen to him al parys For he wyst well that yf euer he shoulde fynishe his warre it shoulde be by their meane Than he looked vp toward heauen and thanked our lorde of the comyng of these worthye knyghtes than he sayde to them Lordes ye are reteyned of me for ye ben not the men that ought to be refused I promyt you truely and in feith of a kinge that I shall defende you with all my power ayenst all men ye are dysheryted I also therfore it is well reason that we be togyther and that the one helpe the other of all his power Sir said Reinawd we thanke you a thousande tymes I promyse you that we shall die in youre seruise or elles your londe shall be recouered again The king called his stuarde sayde to him and commaunded that Reinawd his felawshyp should be well lodged Incontinent the stuarde tooke Reynawd by the hande fulfylled the commaundemente of the kyng Now are the foure sonnes of Aymon acqueynted with the kinge yon of Gascoyn whiche went to haue doo wel but he repented him soone after ¶ But here we leaue to speake of king yon and of the foure sonnes of Aymon return to speake of bourgoyns that were at Tholouse the which he had take by force of armes ⧠How Reynawd and his brethern and Mawgys destroyed Bourgons the sarasins that had dystroyed the realme of Gascoygne and chased the kyng you vnto Bordews vpon Gyronde that durst not goe theÌ„ce for feare of the Sarasyns And after howe kyng you gaue my ladye Clare hys syster to Reynawde for to be his wife for the greate seruyse that he had doone to him And howe he made for hym the castell of Mounta whan ⧠Capitulum .vi. IN this party sheweth the hystorye that after bourgons had taken tholouse he made a great parlyamente to his folke And sayde to them Lordes ye knowe well that whan the yron is well hot it werketh the better This worde I haue sayde afore youre lordshyppes for to gyue you to knowe what we oughte to doo And therfore me semeth that we ought to ryde now towarde bourdewes while the corne is in the ere For our horses shal haue meat ynoughe sir saide his folke ye speake wel and wisely let it be doone as ye haue deuised whan the morowe came Bourgons departed oute of Tholouse with well .xx. thousand knyghtes wel armed and ceassed not for to ryde tyll that they came afore Bourdews in .ix. daies And he set all hys folke in a bushement within a greate woode that was nygh abode there with theym excepte foure hundred men that wente to the cytie wâ—sting and brennynge all the countrie vnto the citie of Bourdews and whan the daye watche that was vpon the gate of the citie sawe the sarasins come he cried with an highe voyce arme you knightes for heere ben the Paynymes that come for to hurte you whan the Citie vnderstode this she began to before moued THan whan Reynawde sawe that it was tyme to take hys harneys on he sayd to hys brethern Goe make you all redye and make our trompettes to be blowen that al our folke put them self in armes In contynent made hys brethern his coÌ„maundement And whan they were al armed Reynawde mounted vpon Bayarde and came to kinge You sayd to hym Syr be not abasshed of nothynge but be sure that god helpe vs thys daye My self my brethern and all our folke we goe afore and make your folke to be redi incoÌ„tinet for my hert giueth me that this cursed Sarasyn shal be thys day dyscoÌ„fited and ouercomeÌ„ wyth the helpe of god Freende sayd the king god be wyth you and I shal doo that ye tâ—l me And thus Reynawde went out of Bordews the formest of all hys folke agaynste the Sarasyns vpon hys horse Bayarde the sheeld at his necke and his swerde in hys hande and ranne fiersly vpon hys enemies and incontynent smote a Paynym throughe his sheelde so that he ouerthrew him dead to the grounde and forth wyth he cast a mother god wot he helde well his swerde for he hew the Sarasyns as they had ben without Harneys And shortly to speake after that Reynawde and hys folke were assembled the Paynymes might not endure For Reynawde and his brethern slewe them as beastes so that they must nedes flee toward theyr busshement And whan bourgons saw hys folke câ—me thus he yssued out of the wood wyth hys company and made bussynes hornes to be blowen came for to succoure his men And whan Reinawde saw so great numbre of folke coming out of the wood he was sore meruayled and turned hym self towarde his bretherne and sayd to them Lordes keep that ye be not dismayed for we shall get a great worshyp thys daye and I praye you that euery maÌ„ parforce hymselfe to doo well brother sayd Rycharde we shall neuer be dysmayed as longe as ye be vpon Bayarde Brother sayd Reynawde doo as good men for yf ye wyll parforce your selfe a lytle These Paynems shal not holde afore vs. Thus as Reinawde spake to his bretherne they sawe BourgoÌ„s come the spere in his rest and smote a man of Reynawde by such a strength that he shoued his spere through and throughe his body so that hâ— fâ—ll downe dead to the earth Whan Alarde saw that he was wrothe sparred his horse and ranne vpon a Paynym so harde that he felled hym sterke dead afore hym And shortly to speke there was neuer seene suche a distresse of folke as Reynawde his brethern mawgys hys cosyn made wyth so fewe folke as they were agaynst Bourgons the Sarasyn THan whan the king you that came to the succours of Reynawde saw the great faytes of armes that he and his bretherne made and how hardlye they dyd set vpon and ouerthrew all that they recountred afore them the blessed hymself of the meruayle that he had of theym And than he sayd to hys folke go we succour these worthy knyghtes for it is tyme longe a go and whan the king You had sayd these wordes he spurred his horse put hymself amonge the thickest began to doo wel and dyd
the sydes of Gyronde and of Dordone and namely betwene these two ryuers I saw a Mountayne sore hyghe and yf it please you I wolde well buylde thervpon a castell after my pleasure Wherfore syr it please you ye shall graunte to me thys gift for al the seruyce that euer I dyd to you Whan the king vnderstode this worde he was ryght glad of it and sayd to Reynawde I ryght gadlye graūt this to you And with the same ye shall haue of me .x. thousand marke euery yere for to maynteyne your estate Syr sayd Reynawde gramercie and cast hymself to his feete And the kynge Yon tooke hym vp anon curtoysly and kyssed hym for greate loue and after he sayd vnto hym Noble knight I promise you I shal make you a ryche man and yf God spare me lyfe Syr sayd Reynawde god yelde you and we shal serue you truly thus they departed eche fro other The next day after whan the kynge was rysen out of hys bed he made Reynawde to come afore hym And after he tooke .xx. knyghtes with hym and no more tooke his barge vpon gyrond and passed ouer the riuer Reynawde and hys bretherne with hym and they dyd so muche that thei came vpon the roche and whā they sawe the place so fayre and so pleasaunt the kynge was meruayled of it and Reynawde was ryght glad for the great strength that the place had for if he might doo so muche to buylde there a castelli he should not doubt Charlemayne of a penye nor none other person of the worlde whā vitayles were in it For vpon the highest of the mountayne sprong oute a fayre fountayne and plenteouse ynoughe for .x. thousand persons Whan the knyghtes that were wyth the kynge saw the place so fayre and so pleasaunt and so stronge with all they were greatly abasshed a knight than tooke the kyng and had hym a lytle a syde and tolde him Syr what is this that ye wyl doo Wyl ye haue a lorde aboue you Will ye doo make heere a Fortresse I tell you vpon my faythe that yf Reynawde set heere a Castel he shal feare you litle nother you nor all other barons of Gascoyn for Reynawde is suche a knyght as ye knowe and also hys brethern and theyr cosyn Mawgys and also they be straungers soone they shall beare you great harme yf they wyll doo to hī some other good yf ye wyll beleue me and let thys alone for ouer greate harme myght come to you therof THan whan kyng Yon vnderstode such wordes he became all abasshed of it for he wyste well that the knight sayde trouth and lytell it lacked that the werke of the Castell came not forth he began to thīke a lytle and after he sayde that he had promysed it to Reynawde and thus he sayd to the knyght that thée Castell should be made so called he Reynawde and sayde to hym My good freende where wyll ye that the castel be made Syr sayd Reynawde I wyll yf it please you that it be set here in the same place vpon this roche Certes sayd the kynge I gyue it to you Now hast you to see that it be made and builded vp as ye thynke best and than ye shall doubt nother me nor my folke Syr said Reinawde let be these wordes for it is no need to speake therof For I certyfye you as a true knyght that I had muche leuer to dye an euyll death amonge the Turkes than that I should thīke treason vpon you nor vpon no other Syr I am and haue betake hetherto and holde for a true knyght god giue me grace that I doo not fro hens forthou wherby I should otherwyse be taken Syr thynke you bycause I am enemy to Charlemayne my Souerayne lorde that I should be therfore a traytour and that I haue doone agaynst hym some treason Wyt that whan I slew Berthelot his nenew alas I dyd it in my defence for he drew fyrst bloud vpō me wythout reason or cause whye But I swere to you vpon my fayth that yf any man doo any wrong vnto you I shall auenge you therof after my power but and yf ye haue anye suspection vpon me gyue me it not Good freende Reynawd sayde the kynge I dyd but iape with you For I knowe well your trouth and well ye haue shewed it vnto me god thāke you And therfore I haue graunted it vnto you and yet I doo And I wyll the ye be lorde aboue me and of my lande ANd whan Reynawde vnderstode the curtesye the goodnes of the kyng he thāked him right muche he sent thorough all the lād and made come all the maysters masons and carpēters and many other crafty men in suche worke so muche that they were well two hundred besyde the labourers and whan al hys stuffe was redye he made theym to buylde there a stronge castell wherof the great hall was fyrst made and after many chambres and than the great tower And whā the doungeō was wel closed Reynawde made after all the castell to be closed rounde aboute with double walles hie thick of hard stones many toures vpon that it fered no sawtyng of no syde of it made to this castell foure gates and no mo and also he made the portcolysse fawsebrayes barbacanes well defensable so that it myght be no better Whan the castel was accomplysshed Reynawde and his brethern were therof ryght glad for it semed them that they were assured from theyr enemyes And whā king Yon knew that the castell was accomplysshed and full made he went to see it And whan Reynawde wist that the kyng came he went agaynste hym and welcomed him full honestly made him go vp to the great toure of the fortres bycause he should see the compas of the Castell rounde aboute at his ease for the great toure men myght se all The kyng behelde well the fayre werke that was so pleasaunt and so stronge wyth all and the fayre fountayne that was in the middes of it And thā he called Reynawde sayd to hym Good freende Reynawde how shall this castell be called for me semeth it ought wel to haue a noble name for the great beautie wherof it is garnysshed syr sayd Reynawde it hath no name yet yf it please you ye shall gyue it a name as it shall lyke you best Certes sayd the kyng the place is prety and fayre I wyll that it be called Mountawban and than the kinge made to be knowen through all his lande that who wolde come dwel and enhabite in the sayde castell whyche was as great as a towne he should be free of all maner of duytes the space of ten yeres THan whan the folke of the countrey knewe the freedome of the castel ye should haue see come there knightes gentylmen burgeys yonge and olde yeomen and folke of all maner of craftes so that this castell was so peopled of all maner of folke that in all the
otherwise Alas and what sorowful harme they hadde of this that they were thus clothed For that were the tokens and recognyssaunce wherof they were in dauÌ„ger of death if god had not holpen them of his pitie and mercy And whan the foure sonnes of AimoÌ„ had their mautelles on the kyng yon behelde them and had of them great pitie and began to weep There was his stewarde that the â—rayson well wist that saide not one word for â—ere of king yon And whaÌ„ the mete was redy Reynawde prayed muche the king that he woulde eate For he made him to be serued ryght wel Whan they had eaten the kyng yon rose vpon his feet and toke Reynawde by the hande and said to him My faire brother my frend I wil tell a counseyll that ye know not Nowe wyt that I haue bee at Mountbenden and I haue spoken with king Charlemayne the which charged me of treason by cause that I keep you in my realme wherof I haue presented my gage afore all hys company and no maÌ„ was there so hardy that durste speake ayenste that that I sayd After this we had many wordes togither among whiche we spake of good accorde and of peace whereof at the laste the kyng Charlemayne was contente for my loue for to make peace with you in the maner that foloweth That is to were that to morow erly ye shal goe to the playne of Valcoloures ye and your brethreÌ„ al vnarmed but of your swerdes mounted vpon youre mules and clothed with the mantelles that I haue geuen to you and that ye shall beare in your handes Roses and floures and I shall sende with you eyght of myne earles for to goe more honourably the which ben al of my lygnage And there ye shal finde the king Charlemaine and the duke Naymes of hauyere and Ogyer the Dane and all the twelue Peres of Fraunce and there Charlemayne shall gyue you suertie And ye shall doo to him reuerence in such maner that ye shal cast your selfe to his feet and there he shall pardone you and he shall gyue you agayne all youre londes entierly THan sayde Reinawde syr for gods mercy For I haue greate doubt of the king Charlemaine by cause he hateth vs to death as ye know And I promyse you it he holdethe vs he shall make vs to die a shamefull death Good freend saide the traytoure kynge yon haue ye no doubte at al. For he hath sworne vnto me vpon his faith afore al his baronye Sir answered Reynawde we shall doo your commaundements Ha God sayde Alarde What saye you my brother ye knowe well that kynge Charlemayne hath made his oth many times that if he may take vs ones by ony maner of meane he shall bringe vs to a shameful dethe Now I meruayle me greatly of you faire brother how ye wil accorde for to goe put your selfe and vs in to his handes al vnarmed as a poore mischaunte Neuer haue god mercy vpoÌ„ my soule yf I goe there without mine armes nor without to be as it apperteyneth brother said Reinawd ye saye not well God forbed that I should mistrust my lorde the kyng yon of any thing that he telleth me And than he turned hym towarde the kyng yon and sayde to hym Sir without any faute we shall be there to morowe earlye in the mornyng whatsoeuer happeth of it Fayre lordes said Reynawde god hath holpen vs wel that we haue peace with the kynge Charlemayne to whome we haue made so longe time so mortall a warre but sith that my Lorde the king you hath made thys peace I am content to doo to him as much reuerence as to me is possyble For I am delybered to goe naked in my small lynen clothes to the Mountesaynt Michael And whaÌ„ Reinawd had sayd this word he toke leaue of kyng yon and went in to the chambre of the faire lady his wife fouÌ„d there his other two brethren that were with her whaÌ„ the lady saw her husbonde come she came ayenst hym and tooke him betwen both her armes by great loue and kissed hym Lady sayd Reynawde I ought wel to loue you by great reason For your brother the king you hath trauailed hm selfe right sore for me and hathe be sore blamed at the courte of Charlemaine for me but he hath doone so muche blessed be god that he hathe made my peace with the king Charlemaine And that Rowland and Oliuer Nor all the twelue Peeres of frauÌ„ce might neuer make he hathe graunted vs againe all our landes And all thus we shall be riche and shal liue al our life in reste peace so shall we mow helpe and gyue the hauoyre that we haue vnto the poore knightes that haue serued all theyr lyfe truely and wel THan sayd the lady I thanke god greatly therof with al my hert But tell me where the concordaunce shall be made and hyde it not from me yf it please you Lady sayde Reynawde I shal tell it you without any faute Wit that to morowe we muste ryde to the playne of Valcolours there the peace shal be made but I and my brethren must goe thither without armes but onely oure swerdes and vpon mules berynge roses in oure handes And there we shal fynde the duke Naymes of bauyere Ogyer the Dane al the .xii Peeres of Fraunce that shal receiue othes whaÌ„ the lady vnderstod these wordes she was so sore an angred thereof that almost she had lost her witte and saide to Reynawde Syr yf ye wyl beleue me ye shall not goe one fote there For the plaine of Valcolours are so daungerous for there is a roch ryght hyghe and there ben foure grete woodes rounde aboute yf ye will beleue me ye shall take a day for to speake with Charlemaine heere in the medowes of Mountawban ye shall goe there mounted vpon bayarde and youre brethren with you there ye may conferme youre peace or elles continew your warre take two thousande knyghtes and gyue theym to Mawgis youre cosyn whiche shall keep them in a busshemente vpon the ryuage if it happe you to haue need for I doubte me sore of treason wherfore I pray you that ye keep your selfe well sure For I dyd dreame to nyghte a dreame that was fereful merueilous for me semed that I was at the windowes of the great palace and sawe come out of the greate wood of Ardeyn well a thousande wilde bores that hadde greate and hortyble reeth the which flewe you and rented your body al in peeces and also I saw that the great towre of Mountawban fel downe to the grounde moreouer I saw a shot of aduenture that smot your brother Alarde so harde that it perced his body through and through and that the chapel of Saint Nycolas which is within this castel fell downe to the earthe and all the ymages that been in it wepte for greate pitte And the two auÌ„gelles came downe from heauen that haÌ„ged your
fayre Cosyn take heed what I shall saye and leaue this sorowe ye knowe well that ye be all my cosyns and therfore we ought to perforce oure selfe for to socoure the one the other whan it is need I haue socoured you manye tymes and wit it that all the harme that Charlemaine bereth to me it is al through your occasion he slew my father but late wherof I beare yet at my hert greate heauynes that was your vncle that died for your loue that know ye well But yf ye wyll promise me afore all youre barons for to come wyth me into the tente of the kynge Charlemayne and helpe me to sawe hym for to auenge vpon hym the death of my saide father yf we can I shall deliuer to you Richarde euyn now whole and sound wythout any sore And whan Reynawde vnderstoode these wordes he came vnto Mawgis kissed him in the brest all weeping and said to hym Righte sweet and fayre cosyn for god mercy Delyuer to me ayen my brother Rychard whole yf it please you And yf ye will that I doo any thyng for you coÌ„maund me and I shal doo it with right good hert For ye wot wel that I dyd neuer any thyng that was ayenst your wyll nor there is no man in the worlde for whome I wolde doo so much as I wolde doo for you whan Mawgys sawe Reynawde weep so tenderly he had greate pitie of it and sayde to him Nowe be not dysmayed of no thyng fayre cosyne for ye shall haue Rycharde whole and sounde incontynente And than lyghted downe from his horse and toke a bottell with white wine and washed the wounde of Richarde therwithall ryghte well and had away all the bloode that was about And be not meruaylled where he gatte all suche thynges as apperteyned vnto this cute For he was the subtelleste nygromancyer that euer was in the worlde And whan he had doone soo he toke his bowelles and put theym agayne in to his bodye and than he toke a nedell and a threde and sewed vp the wounde full maysterly hurted not Rycharde and after he tooke a salue Whereof he anoynted all the wounde and as soone as the wound was thus anoynted it was as whol as thoughe he had neuer be hurte in that place of his body And whan he had doone al this he tooke a drinke gaue it to Richarde for to drynke whan Richard had dronken it he rose lyghtly vpon his feete al deliuered and quyte fro his disease and sayde to his bretherne where is Ogier gone and his folke are they scaped fro vs brother answered Reynawde we haue dyscomfyted theym God gramercye and Mawgis that came for to succoure vs for otherwyse we should haue ben al dead so he hath saued vs and our lyues at thys tyme now ought we well to loue him more than our selfe brother sayde Rycharde ye saye trouth and after Alarde sayde to Mawgys fayre cosyn heale me I pray you for I haue a greate wounde in the thie And I also sayd Reynawde for I am hurte right sore and I also sayde Guychard for goddes loue gyue vs health vnto al vs than sayde Mawgys vnto theym be not dismaied my fayre cosynes for I shal helpe you all anone Than tooke Mawgis of the white wyne wherof he had washed the wounde of Richard and washed their woundes of them all and after anoynted them sweetly and anon they were all whole And whan they were al garnyshed they made Richarde to light vpon a horse and put them self to the way for to returne againe to Mountawban And thus thei went on their waye a spye departed fro the felowship of Reinawd and came to MouÌ„tawban to the king yon and sayde to him Sir I bringe you tydynges Now wit that Reinawde and his brethren been scaped fro the plaine of Valcolours where that ye had sente them and they haue dyscomfited Ogyer the dane al the folke of Charlemaine and also they haue slaine Foulques of Morillon and the earle Guimard so many of other knightes that I caÌ„ not tel you the nombre ANd whan the king yon vnderstoode these tidinges he was sore abashed of it that he wyst not what he should saye and after he said Alas how goeth this here ben euil tydynges how may this be dyd they fynde the busshemente of the kynge Charlemayne Syr sayde the spie yea certaynly and shoulde haue been cursedly handled if their cosyne Mawgys had not socoured them for the socours that Maugis brought with him Ogier was discomfited all his folke of Charlemaine so that fewe of them scaped For Mawgys brought to Reinawde Bayarde hys good horse that was cause of all the harme that was doon there of the other parte Alas vnhappy myschauÌ„t said than the king yon and what shal I doo if I abide Reinawd Mawgis Alard Guycharde and Richarde I am deade without doubte for all the worlde canne not defende me therfro And also it were well ryght nor Reynawde should doo but well yf he slewe me cruelly For I haue wel deserued death for neuer Iudas ne the Emperour Neron of Rome made so great a treason as I haue doone that wolde haue brought to a cruel death the best knightes of the worlde that been the foure sonnes of Aimon for the thretning of a prince And whan he had said these wordes he begaÌ„ for to make great sorowe and saide Ha fayre sister Clare this daye shall departe our loue ye shall neuer seme more This day shal I forsake Gascoygne for I shall neuer come again therin And than he cried with an high voice Now go hence faire lordes for goddes sake be lyghtly ready For the need of it is nowe come and lette vs goe bringe with vs the best knyghtes that I ye haue and if we may doo so much to get the woode of the serpeÌ„t whiche is a great forest we shal be safe ynough we shal maye scape at our ease For we shall lodge our self within an abbay of saint Lazare and we shal take such habyte as the monkes there haue And by all thus shal we may be saued For I know so much goodnes in Reinawd that whan he shall fynde vs shorne as Monkes he shall doo vs no harme Than was there a spye that was called Pygwade that was so great that he had well .xv. fote of leÌ„gthe and went as fast as anye horse coulde trot This Pygwade had wel heard all that the kyng yon had sayd wrote it in a skinne of Parchement and wente lightlye ought of Mountawban at the gate called the gate fawcon and passed through the wood of the serpent in a litle while and met with Reynawde his bâ—ethern Mawgis that came agayne to MouÌ„tawban that brought with them a great multitude of prysoners and Pigwade that great theefe watched vpon them And anon he tanne as fast as he might to MouÌ„tbendell and went into the pauilion of Charlemayne and called Rowlande and sayde
ye will goe hang that whoreson Richard sir sayd Escoufe ye wot well that more Oedon holdeth all the londe that ye speake of and I had neuer nothynge therof but I am felaw with Rowlande in armes And whan I shal be lorde of that lond that my father holdeth in his hand I shal fulfyll youre commaundement by saint Denis of Fraunce ye must goe see that he be hāged said Charlemain and I shal make you lorde of mo londes Syr sayd Estorfawd is it earnest that ye speake yea saide Charlemayne By my head sir saide Estorfawde ye wolde not be with me for to see Richard hāge for halfe of your realm Whan the kinge heard that he was thus repreued he tooke a staffe and cast it after Estorfawd but Estorfawd stert from his place and the staffe brake in peeces ayenst a post And whan the .xii. peeres saw that they went all oute of the pauyllyon of Charlemayne and whā that Charlemain returned him and saw that none of all the .xii. peeres wolde abyde there with him Than he saide to the duke Naymes where be my .xii. peeres gone sir said duke Naymes they ben all gone out of your pauillion and not without a cause for it becometh not to suche a noble kinge as ye be to smyte his barons for ye should be sore blamed THan whan Charlemayn saw this he called to him Richard of montrolonde saide to hym come foorthe Rycharde of montrolonde heare what I shal tell you ye knowe well that ye be one of theym that I loue best in this worlde but ye must doo one thinge at my request It is that ye wyll goe hange Richarde the sonne of Aimon at the gybet of moūtfawcon Than Richarde of montrolonde answered Syr I shall doo so with a good wyl for I am your man and so I ought not to refuse your cōmaundemente but by my soule syr Emperour yf ye will that I goe hange Richarde ye shall come with me with a thousand knightes well armed and I shall hange hym where soeuer to please you And if Reinawd and hys bretherne come there for to rescue I shall ieoparde mine owne body for to saue youres Nowe see to yf ye will doo this or no for none othewise wil I not goe there one foote Goe from me glotton saide Charlemain gods curse haue thou THe kinge than called to hym the duke Naymes and sayde to him What counseill gyue you syr syr sayd the duke Naimes good if ye wyll beleue me sir ye wot that Reynawde his bretherne and Mawgis are the best knightes of Fraunce as euery man knoweth well this warre hath lasted ryght longe For it is wel xvi yeres that it began fyrst and many a noble knight hathe be slayne for the same if it please you ye shall send worde to Reinawde Alarde Guychard and Mawgys that they wyl become your men and ye shall delyuer agayne vnto them theyr brother Rycharde alyue and that ye wyl doo make Reinawde and Alarde of the xii peeres of Fraunce And whan Reinawd his brethern shal se that ye haue doone to theym so great worshyp they shall serue you with good herte and so that ye shall con them greate thanke for it and I ensure you ye shal be the more dredde and more redoubted for cause of theym and yf ye haue once the foure bretherne and Mawgis theyr cosyn to youre freendes there shall be no prynce in all christendom so hardy that dare moue watre ayenst you and I promise you syr that the more that ye keepe thys warre ayenst them the more shall ye lose therby and moreouer they be all of our house by theyr father Aymon this know ye wel and thefore I can not hate them by no wyse Naymes sayd Charlemaine I will not doo so for they all haue doone amys ayenst me and so shall I doo hange Richard by the faithe of my bodye syr sayde the duke Naymes ye shall not doo so and god wyll for he is of greate lygnage of our lignage for we shoulde neuer maye suffre it nor endure and ye also shoulde be blamed ful sore for it But and ye wyl make hym dye I shall gyue you better counseyll Tell me howe sayd Charlemayn I shall doo it yf it semeth me good Syr sayde the duke Naymes syth it please you that Richarde shall dye let him be cast into a deep prison vnder the earthe and make him to be kepte surely therin that he scape not awaye and commaund that no meat at all be broughte vnto him and so shall he dye for hungre And ye shall not be blamed if ye doo so Naymes sayde the Emperour Charlemayne ye doo Iape with me I knowe it wel whan ye doo tell me this ye knowe well that Mawgis is to great a nigromancer For I should neuer may keepe Richarde in pryson but that Mawgis wolde haue hym out thorough his craft and therfore I wyll not doo as ye say Than came Ogier the dane and said to the duke Naymes ye make to longe a sermon let the kinge doo with it as it pleaseth him For the more that ye praye him the worse shall he doo but he shall make peace whan he see that he can none otherwise doo But this daye shal be seen who loueth richard And whā Ogier had said this he went oute of the pauillion and Escoufe with him and Richarde of Normandy the byshop Turpin and Guidellon of Bauyere and made theyr folke to be armed whan they were armed they were well .xii. thousande men And than Ogier began to crie with a hie voice Now shal it be seen who shal be so hardy for to leade Richarde the sonne of Aimon to hāgyng For such shall bring him that neuer shal come againe but he be headles and Ogier went in to the pauyllyon where richarde was that was bound both handes and feet and was blindfeld And whan Ogyer sawe rycharde that was thus arayed he had of hym greate pytie so went he to him to haue deliuered him but he aduysed himselfe and sayd that he should not doo it but he wolde tary for to see an ende of it what the kynge should doo therof And whan rycharde hearde Ogier speake he called to hym and said in the presēce of the duke Naimes and of rycharde of Normandye of Guydellon of Bauyere and of the byshoppe Turpyn and of rowlande that than happed to com thete Faire lordes I knowe well that yf it were at youre pleasure ye wolde let me goe quyce and all ynoughe ye haue trauaylled youre selfe for me wherof I thanke you right much but syth that I must needes be brought vnto the galous it is better that I poore vnhappy die alone than that ye should haue anie harme for my sake wherfore looke that ye lose not the good grace of Charlemayne and I praye you that ye will goe vnto hym and telle him that he doo his wyll vpon me for I haue leuer die shortly than to liue longe in
that gifte so riche he was gladde of it by cause of the great valure of it Reinawd called Mawgis saide to him Cosin what shall we doo with this egle My cosin saide Mawgis me semeth that ye ought to put hym aboue vpon the apple of the greate towre of this castell to the ende that Charlemayne and all his hoste maye see it By my soule said Reinawdeye saie wel And they tooke the egle and made it to be borne vpon the highe towre of Mountawban And whan the sonne dyd shyne vpon thys Egle it casted so greate a light that it might be seen .x. myles thence And whan Charlemaine and his folke apperceued it they were ryght sorye for it and an angred WHan Charlemayne the greate Emperoure saw that the foure sonnes of Aymon mocked him thus he called to him Rowland and Olyuer and all the other Peeres of Fraunce and sayde to them Lordes it is sore mishapped to vs sith we came in this londe of Gascoygn for I haue lost my crowne and Ioious my swerde myn egle of golde that was of so great value as ye all know and ye al haue loste youre good swerdes where of we beÌ„ wel shamed also we haue ben chased fro the feeld shamefully Now haue wel the four sonnes of Aimon shamed vs al through that falce theef Mawgis Wherfore my faite lordes I complain me vnto you prayinge that you wil helpe me to auenge me vpon theim for they haue doone you shame as wel as vnto me Than said the .xii. peeres of FrauÌ„ce syr we be ready for to doo all that ye wyll I wyll saide the kinge that ye Ogier also the duke Naymes and ye byshop Turpyn and ye Escoufe the sonne of Oedon that are of the kinred of Reinawde that ye goe to Mountawban and so tel to Reinawde to his brethern and Mawgys that they deliuer me againe my crowne Ioyous my swerd and also myne Egle of gold and the swerdes of you al and I shall giue them truce for two yeres And I shall doo al mine hoste to returne againe in to fraunce syr answered Ogier I shal with a good wyll doo your commaundement but I feare me of Reinawde that he will keep vs prisoners Ha Ogier sayde Charlemayne ye feare him but litell whan the barons heard the coÌ„mauÌ„dement of the king they made no tarying but lighted on horsbacke and rode to Mountawban And whaÌ„ thei were come togither to the draw bridge the porter that keept warde vpon the gate said to them lordes what be ye my freend said Ogyer we are of the folke of Charlemaine goe youre waye to Reinawd and tell him that the Duke Naymes the byshop Turpin Escoufe the sonne of Oedon and Ogier the Dane wolde speake with him My lordes said that porter I shal goe to him incoÌ„tinent than he went to Reynawde and shewed him howe foure knightes were at the gate that wolde speake with him what be they said Reinawde My lorde said the porter they tolde me that the one is called the duke Naymes that other the bishop Turpin and a nother Escoufe the soÌ„ne of Oedon the fourth is named Ogyer the dane Whan Reynawd heard this he stood vp and said to his three brethern My lordes heere cometh foure valyaunt kâ—yghtes and wise I beseche you that we shew to them that we been no children for to be rocked in a slepe Cosin sayde Mawgis ye speake well and wisely Me semeth it were good that we should know wherfore they come or they entre to the ende that we may best answere to them Than they went vnto the gate and made the drawe brydge to be lette downe And whan it was doone Rycharde yssued out first vpon the brydge and went ayenst them and made to them greate honour and sayd to them My lordes ye be ryght welcome thys castel is â—t your commaundement For I holde me so sure of my brother Reinawd that I dare offre it to you cosyn said the messangers gramercye And than Reinawde auaunced him selfe and saluted them honourablye and after tooke Ogier by the hande he him thother three he brought to the Dungeon where they were receiued honestly by the lady Clare the wife of Reinawde And whan Reinawde had receyued them he made them to sit vpon a benche and than he saide to them fayre lordes I praye you that ye wyll tell vs wherfore ye become For ye come not without a greate cause ye knowe wel syr Reynawd said Ogier that all we that been heere haue euer loued you well And I promise you yf it had been our will ye should haue had good peace with the kinge Charlemayne but many tymes he hathe vnbrayed vs therof ye must knowe that your cosyn Mawgis hath shamed vs al for we were his suretie to Charlemayne vpon our othe to deliuer hym at hys will And the said Mawgis is come hyther without our leaue ayenst hys promyse and that worse is he hath robbed the crowne of the king Charlemayne and his swerde and all the swerdes of vs all .xii. peeres Wherefore Charlemain sendeth to you worde by vs that ye see heere that ye deliuer him again his crown the egle of golde and all oure swerdes And he shall gyue you truce for two yeres and he shall doo returne al his armie in to fraunce After that Ogyer had said this Mawgis stood vp and spake by the leaue of Reynawde said Lordes ye ben right welcome in this castell of Mountawban And yf it please you ye shall not speake no more of this matter now and ye shall abyde this night with vs and to morowe ye shal haue an answere of that ye haue sayde Reynawde saide than Ogier wyl ye keep that Mawgys hath said yea without fault said Reinawde sith that it pleaseth you we shall abyde for the loue of you And than Mawgys went to the stuarde of Mountawban and aduised him the meates Wherof the knightes of Charlemaine should be feasted with all and tolde that they should be wel serued what so euer it coste And see that the great cup be borne afore the duke Naymes the whiche I did conquere at reyns My lorde answered the stuarde doubte not ye shall well be serued at my power And theâ—â—â—e Mawgys came agayne And whan Reynawde sawe him come he calles hym and saide to him my cosyn I praye you see that we be well serued sir saide Mawgis I haue purueyed for it al ready WhaÌ„ Reinawd vnderstood him he was gladde of it and begaÌ„ to deuise with the folke of Charlemaine right honestly and of many thinges And whan he thought that the meate myght be well ready he his bretherne tooke the foure knightes and brought them to the halle to theyr meate whan they were there Mawgys made them washe than he tooke the duke Naimes and made hym syt downe and my lady Clare next hym And he made syt downe the bisshop Turpyn and Reynawde and than Ogyer and Alarde
slayne you al the golde in the worlde should not haue saued you Item thynke thenne also in the great mekenes that he hath alwaies shewed to you also for the great trust that he hathe had in you he leued you his good horse bayarde that hath no matche in all the world syr yf ye ouerthynke well al ye shall find that no manne dyd neuer to none other so greate curtoysye as Reynawd hath doone to you and of that other parte he and his bretherne ben such knightes as euery body knoweth I swere to you syr by al hallowen that or euer ye shal take Mountawban Reynawde and his brethern shall beare to you suche domage wherof ye shal be wrothe And yet ye ought well to take heed how we wast and destroye the country and the feeldes and great good ye doo dyspende whiche for youre honoure were better to be employed vpon the sarasins than vpon the foure sonnes of Aymon for the sarasins been now in rest makynge great ioy for the cause of this warre and they doo well For warre hathe left them and it is come among our selfe so horrible and so cruel that many noble and worthy knyghtes ben deade therof THe kinge Charlemain was sore abashed whan he hearde the duke Naymes speake so and it moued his bloud ful sore and became pale as a white cloth for the greate wrathe that he had at his heart and casted a syde his sight angrely vpon the duke Naymes and sayde to hym by great wrathe Duke Naymes by the faith that I owe to that blessed ladye that conceyued the sonne of god in her virginitie that if there be any man so hardy to speake more to me of accorde to be made with the four sonnes of Aymon I shal neuer loue him but I shal angre hym on his bodye For I am not dysposed to make peace with them for nothynge that can be sayd but I shal hange them what soeuer it coste me or I departe from this syege whan the barons hearde Charlemaine speake thus proudely they were sore meruaylled of it and left to talke of this matter But whaÌ„ Ogier sawe that al the barons held theym stylle he began to saye to the kynge Charlemaine Cursed be the houre that Reynawde suffred not Rycharde to smite of your heade for ye had not thretned him so now And whaÌ„ Charlemayn heard that Ogier sayde to him he bowed his necke and looked downeward all pensifull and syn he sayd now lordes make you redy see that euery man fal to his armures for I wil now gyue assaute to Mountawban And whan the frenshemen hearde the commaundemente of the king they made no tarying but went armed themselfe and whan they were al ready they came in good ordenaunce and broughte ladders other instrumentes with them for to saute withal the castell and engynes for to breake downe the walles and presented theÌ„ before Charlemain for to accomplysh his wyll And whan the kinge saw them so wel apparelled he commaunded theÌ„ to goe saute the castell of Mountawban ANd as soone as Reynawde saw his enemies come he called his brother Alarde and sayde to him Brother I pray you take bondy my good horne blowe in it strongly to the ende that our folke arme them selfe when they heare it for heere come the frenshmen to saute vs. whan Alard vnderstoode the commaundement of Reynawde he tooke bondy and blewe in it with so great a winde three tymes that all they of the castel hearde it and were all abashed wyth all and without anye taryinge they went armed themself and lyghtly gate vpon the walles for to defend the Castell Neuerthelesse the frensh men came neare and entred in to the dyches as hogges doone in a myre and dressed vp their ladders to the walles But wyt it that they of within the castel beganne to defende so stronglye with castinge of stones that they domaged sore the frenshemen so that many of them lay deade within the dyches For Reynawd his bretherne dyd there so great feates of armes that no body myght endure their strokes who had seen the poore duchesse and her yong children at that saut bryngynge stones to Reynawde and to his brethern vpon the walles he wolde haue had pytie of it For the two yonge sonnes of Reinawd said to theyr vncles holde our vncles these stones for they been greate ynâ—ughe Suche defence made they of Mountawban that they ouerthrewe them that were vpon the ladders to the botome of the diches all dead and sore wounded and whan the king Charlemaine saw this he was wrothe for he knewe than wel that he should neuer take MountawbaÌ„ by force nor also the noble knightes that were within it as Reinawd and his bretherne And therfore he made the trompette to be blowen to call his folke a backe with so greate angre that he was almoste out of his mynde and whan the frenshmenne hearde blowe the retrete they were glad for they were shrewdly handeled and I promyse you that Charlemain left such a company dead with in the diches that he longe after was full sory for it WHan Charlemayn and all hys folke were wythdrawen again he beganne to sweare Saynte Denys of fraunce that he should neuer departe thence til he had famished Reynawde his bretherne within the castel of MouÌ„tawban than he commaunded that afore euerye gate of the castel should be layed two hundred knightes for to keep that no bodye might in nor oute but he should be take And whan Reinawde sawe that he kneeled down vpon his knees and heued vp his handes toward heauen and said Good lord that suffred deth on the crosse I beseche you that ye wil grauÌ„t vs that grace that we maye haue peace with Charlemain saue our liues And whan Richard heard the praier of Reinawd he tooke heed to it and said Brother I promise you if ye wolde haue beleued me we shoulde nowe haue be in good rest peace For Charlemaine wolde haue be glad therof for to saue his life ye know that our cosin mawgis broughte him not heere for none other cause to be our prisoner but to the entent that we should make our peace but ye wold not take heed to it whan we might haue had our wyll and I promyse you we shall not doo as we wolde THe emperour Charlemain abode so longe at the siege afore Mountawban that they that were within it had great need of vitaylles for he that had any meat he hyd it incontinent and so great scarstie of vittailles was there within a while that men coulde get there no meat for golde nor for siluer and many other fell downe at grounde heere and there so feynt for hungre that it was great pitie for to see for the derth was there so great that th one brother hidde his meat from the other and the father from the childe the childe fro the father fro the mother And shortlye to speake I promise
you that ye wyl doo of this cope that ye were vpon you For my eyen cannot see you thus poorely arayed Than answered Mawgis to hym and sayde My cosyn be not displeased of that I shal tel you ye must wyt that I haue made my vow to god that I shal neuer eate but alonly breade and wilde herbes and that to my drynke I shal take none other but water and that I shal neuer weare the dayes of my lyfe none other clothes but suche as this is for I haue giuen my self vtterly to serue and loue our blessed sauiour hys glorious mother for to brynge my soule to saluacyon in the blysse that euer shall laste WHan Reynawde hearde his Cosyn Mawgis speke thus he was in a thought whether it was Mawgys or no for he coulde not knowe hym well bycause he was so sore apayred of his person And began to looke well vpon him agayn and he should neuer haue knowen him if it had not be a litle liste that he had by hys right eye And after that he had verye knowledge of hym he made greate ioye for hym And he prayde hym agayne sayinge in this wyse Fayre Cosin I pray you for the loue of the fayth that ye owe to me that ye wyl tell me the trouth of that I shal aske you Syr sayd Mawgis I shall tell it you gladly Cosyn said Reynawde I wolde wyt where yee haue be euer syth that ye went from me fro whens ye come nowe Syr sayd Mawgis sythe it please you to wyt of my lyuynge I shall shew it you with a good wyll yee ought to knowe my fayre cosyn for certayne that I haue made my selfe an hermite I haue left the worlde for to serue hym that made me the blessed vyrgyn Marye his mother for to haue pardon of my synnes that I haue doone in my lyfe for I haue doone many great euilles agaynst my creatour by me are dead so many folke wherof I knowe that our Lorde is greatly wrothe agaynst me After that Reynawde had hearde Mawgys speake thus he had so great pity on him that the teres fell alonge hys chekes fro his eyen for loue of hys good cosyn And than he called hys brethern sayd to them come hyther my bretherne ye shal se your cosyn Mawgys And whan Alarde Guycharde Richarde heard these wordes their hertes rose in their belyes for ioye and raâ—â— all to Mawgys kyssed him ful sweetly And whan the duchesse wyste that Mawgys was come she cam anon there as he was and kissed hym weepyng ful sore for ioy that she had to see hym And thaÌ„ came there Aymonet Yonnet that made great Ioye welcomed hym And thorowe all the citie was anon knowen the coming of the valiaunt Mawgis wherof many folke cam to see him But he was so chaunged and so apayred that it was pitie for to see Thus was Reynawde well glad of the cominge of his good cosyn after that they had made greate Ioye a longe whyle Reynawde called his brother Richarde and sayd to hym Brother go fet anon a good gownâ— for our Cosyn Mawgys and let him be brought a payre of shone that ben wyne ynoughe for I know wel that his feete ben sore than he said to his wyfe Lady arise and fet hym suche lennen as he nedeth Syr sayd she he shall haue of the best ynoughe anon And whaÌ„ Mawgis heard this worde he sayd to Reynawde Syr I tell you truly that I haue sworne that I shall neuer weare shone nor linnen clothes aboute me But doo to me if it please you to giue me a new slop and a large hoode a palster wel yrende and a male and therwith yee shal well contente me And than I shal comende you to god and I shal go my way for I am not comeÌ„ heere but only for to see you wherof my desyre was sore set vnto Right sory was Reinawde whaÌ„ he heard mawgys say so in so muche that almoste he was swouning for sorowe Reynawde sayd thaÌ„ Mawgis leue your sorow for I haue gyuen my self to god vtterly for to brynge my soule to blesse of heuen and so wyll I goe to the holy lande for to serue to the teÌ„ple of Iherusalem and for to vysite the holy sepulcre of our lorde And whan I haue doone so I shal come agayne to se you and God spare me my life and than I shal go agayn to mine hermitage and shal lyue there as a beast with rootes and with wylde herbes as I dyd before that I came heere Whan Reynawde heard thys he was sory for it sayd to Mawgis in this wise Fayre cosin for god take with you a good horse and money ynough For ye shal haue al this of me Holde your peace said Mawgis I wil not therof for whaÌ„ I haue brede it is to me ynoughe for al my hope is in God to whome I pray that I may come agayne whole and sounde AFter all these thynges thus sayd Mawgys prayed Reynawde that he wolde make haste to make hym be deliuered suche thinges as he had desyred of hym And Reynawde dyd so syth that he myght not make hym to take none other thynge with hym And whan the morow cam and that Mawgis had his newe sloppe and his hoode he tooke hys palster and his new male that Reinawde had giuen him he went and hearde masse and after the masse he tooke his leaue of euery one went on his way And Reynawde coÌ„ueied him vnto the wieket of the gate of the Citie and kissed him and in likewise dyd all his bretherne and also the duchesse Clare and her chyldren And whan they had all kyssed Mawgys he commended them to God went out of the towne and went forth the ryght waye But he was not ferre gone whan he was aduyroÌ„ned rouÌ„d about him with the folke of the kyng Charlemayne And the one sayd to the other heere is the hermite that we saw yesterday but he is now better clothed than he was at that time It might be well Mawgys the cosyn of Reynawde that hath mocked vs diuerse times certes sayde the other it is he verelye let vs slea hym and we shall doo well we shall not saiâ— some for thys man semeth to be an hundred yere olde It cannot be but that he must be a good man it were synne to do hym harme All thus as these folke sayd these wordes Mawgis heard al that they sayd and held his peace and went on his way styl thoroughe the hoste without any lettynge of any man ¶ Here leueth the hystory to speake of Mawgys that went into the holy lande and returneth to speake of Charlemayne that had besyeged Ardeyn bycause that Reynawde and hys brethern were wythin ¶ How Reynawde wolde doâ— haÌ„ge Rycharde of Normandy by cause he myght not haue peace with the king Charlemayne And how the twelue Peeres required Charlemayne to make peace with Reynawde And how
greate angre that he had and helde a demylaunce in hys handes the whiche he began to gnawe with his teeth so angry he was and whaÌ„ his wrathe was a litle gone he called a knyght and sayd to hym Now lyght on horsbacke lyghtly and ride after Rowland and after the other barons and tell them in my behalfe that they come speake with me and I shal be demened as they wyl themselfe and that I shall pardon Reynawde yf they wyll come agayne to me Syr sayde the knyght blessed be God that hath brought you to thys mynde And than this knight tooke an horse and rode hastelye after the xii peeres of Fraunce And whan Reynawde that was with the duke Rycharde of Normandye vpon the gate of Ardeyn apperceyued this he sayde to the duke Richarde of Normandy cosin I se rome a knight out of the pauilion of the kynge Charlemayne I beleue that he goeth vnto the twelue Peeres of Fraunce for to make theym to returne agayne I weene we shall haue this daye peace and god before Syr sayd Rycharde ye shall haue peace mawgre them al that letteth it I ought for to loue deerli my felowes the whiche be cause to keepe me from death also to haue peace Wyt it that the knight rode so fast that he ouer tooke Rowlande all the other peeres of Fraunce and said vnto them in this maner of wise Lordes the kinge Charlemayne sendeth you worde by me that ye wyll returne agayne to hym and he shall pardon Reinawd for the loue of you for goddes loue come lyghtly For he neuer left weepyng sythe that yee went your waye from him Naymes sayd Rowland let vs retourne agayne For I holde the peace made wherof this sorowfull warre shall fayle that hath lasted so longe a whyle Whan the Duke Naymes hearde Rowland speake so he was ryght glad of it and Ioyned hys handes towarde heauen and sayde in this maner wise Good lorde Iesus blessed be the tyme that it hath pleased the to tourne the courage of the kynge Charlemayne and that this vnhappy warre is brought to an ende And whan the Duke Naymes had sayde this they returned agayne towarde Charlemayne ANd whan Reynawde apperceiued that the twelue yeeres wente agayne to Charlemayne he sayd to the Duke Rycharde of Normandy Cosyn the Barons returne agayne I beleue that the peace shal be made and that we shal mow wel goe soone at our libertie now shall Reynawde maye say that I and my brethern ben at his coÌ„maundemeÌ„t and shall be as longe as we ben men on lyue Well glad were the Barons of the one part of thother bicause that God had suffred that the peace should be made And whan Charlemayne saw his barons come agayn he went agaynst theÌ„ sayd By God my lordes ye are wel ful of great pride that ye make me to be come peasible with Reynawde agaynst my wyll ye know that I haue hated hiÌ„ so muche that I may not see him but I shal be angry bycause of his pride that is so great Wherfore yf ye will that I make peace wyth hym I wil that he goe into the holy lande poorelye clothed on foote And so I wil haue his hors Bayarde And I shal also returne agayne to his brethern all theyr lyuelode out of my handes Therfore yf thus he wyl doo I shal fal to peace and accorde with hym els not For I make mine a vowe to God that I shall neuer doo other wyse therin thaÌ„ I tel you now And therfore looke wel whiche of you shall doo thys message Syr sayd the duke Naymes I shal go to Reynawde with a good wyll yf it be your pleasure that I go to hym Naymes sayd Charlemayn It pleaseth me well And than incoÌ„tinent the duke Naimes rode to Ardeyn And whan Reynawde saw him come he knew hym well and wente him agaynst and so did the duke Richarde and the brethern of Reynawde whan the duke Naymes saw the Noble Barons come agaynst hym he lyghted from the horse anon went and kyssed them all and after he had doone so he sayd Reynawde Charlemayne sendeth me to you with his greetynge God yelde hym sayd Reynawde Now haue I that I haue desyred so longe Naymes shal I haue peace yea sayd the Duke Naymes vnder a condicion the whiche I shal tell you It is that ye must go poorely clothed and begging your breade for godes sake in the holy lande and so shall ye leue bayarde wyth Charlemayn and this doone ye shal haue peace And he shal giue agayne your herytage to your bretherne Duke Naymes said Reynawde ye be right welcome And I promyse you that I am redy to doo the commaundement of the kinge And yf he wyll haue of me ony thynge more by any wyse I shall in euery poynt fulfyll his wil if it be possible for me to doo it Now shal I be a good truauÌ„t for I can well â—ske bread whan me nedeth Whan the duke Naymes heard Reynawde spâ—ake thus he was wel glad of it and so was the duke Rycharde that they saw the noble Reinawde agreed to the will of Charlemayne so muche as for to be come a poore begger for to haue peace And after that Reynawde was thus acorded therto he went into hys stable and tooke Bayarde deliuered him to the duke Naimes than he tooke his â—auer bare it on hie vpon the highe rowre in token of peace And whan Charlemayne saw the baner of Reynawde he shewed it to Rowland Ha god sayd Rowlande howe meke is Reynawde good of kynde to haue made peace in this maner of wyse Blessed be Ihesus that â—ath giuen him that wyll for to go nowe a foote wherof I playne hym sore Rowland sayd Ogier Reynawde is a lambe full of mekenes and in him are all the good condicions that a knight ought to haue This hanging came there the duke naymes that brought Bayarde with him and preâ—â—â—ed him to Charlemayne said to â—â—n Sir â–ª Reynawde is redy for to 〈◊〉 all that ye haue coÌ„maunded hiâ— and he shal departe to more wyl ye wyll sythe your pleasure is so I wyll wel said Charlemayne but tell me where is the Duke Rycharde for I wil know it Syr sayd the duke Naymes wyt that the Duke Rycharde fareth well and is abiden with Reynawde for he wyll conuey hym whan he goeth And wyt that Reynawde this hangyng made great cheere with his folke at his ease and after sayd to theÌ„ Lordes I beseche you be not sory that I go for I haue made this peace more for you than for me I pray you that ye holde wel togither tyl I come agayne and whaÌ„ he had layd this to them he went into hys chaÌ„bre and vnclothed hymself from hys good raymentes and cast vpon him a poore mantell a payre of big shoone wel clouted made for to be brought to hym a palster well yrenned for to beare in his haÌ„de And
the Erle of Rames and many other barons gate in by fyne force And whan the Sarasyns saw that the christens were within the citie they put themself so to flyght hyd them within the houses where as they might for to saue theyr lyues and alwayes Reynawde was at the gate for to keep the entre They that were vpon the greate towre of Dauid cryed fast to the other sarasyns that they should shet the gate saâ—â—g that yf the great lurden entred within they should be all lost And whaÌ„ Reinawde saw that a great parte of the christens were within Iherusalem he sayd to Mawgis Cosyn keep wel thys passage and I shall go at another gate for to make it open Cosyn sayd Mawgis goe your way hardelye and doubt nothyng I shall well keep this path Than departed Reinawde accompanyed with many valyaunt Christians and went vnto a nother gate whiche he founde well garnysshed with paynyms but Reynawde thoroughe his prowes put them anon to flyght and gat the gate open Thus as ye heare was doone for all the sarasyns lost theyr lyues and was recouered agayne the Citie of Iherusalem through the greate prowes of the noble Reynawde of Mountawban And whan the admyrall sawe this he wende to haue wexe mad all quicke and fared as he had be out of his witte and cursed his goddes mahowmet Appolyn pulled his heres of his berde and rent all hys raymentes and after he sayd By Apollo the souerayn God yf Thomas helpe me not to saue my lyfe I shall make hym to be slayne incontinent and than he sent for the kyng Thomas and sayd vnto hym Kynge Thomas yee muste chuse of two thinges th one that is that ye must saue my lyfe that I maye goo to percie agayne with two of my men in my felawship or els yee to be now cast out of these wyndowes downe Than sayde the kynge Thomas please you ye shal haue paciente that I may speake with my folke Go on said the admyral to theÌ„ at this wyndow For no ferther yee shal not go and delyuer you lyghtly Than went the kinge Thomas to the windowes saw Reynawde of Mountawban Mawgys come that cam al the formest for to sawte the towre of Dauyd where he was prysoner to the admirall And whaÌ„ he sawe Reynawde and Mawgys the formest of all he knewe them not looked ferther saw the erle of Rames behynde them whiche he knew not well and thaÌ„ he aspied Geffray of Nazareth wherof he was glad whan he saw him and than he begaÌ„ to crye Lorde of Nazareth looke vp to your king that is heere prysoner the admyrall Barbas sendeth you worde that if ye let him not goe sauf into his countrie and realme of pertie wyth two of his men with him he shall caste me nowe downe out of thys windowe Than answered to hym therle of Rames ha good kyng god saue you ye wot well that a good man ought not to make anye lye it is trouth that yesterdaye wee made our gouerner mayster of that lorde that ye see heere afore vs whiche is the best knyght of the worlde and to hym ye must shew your need for wtout hym we may doo nothyng And whan the kyng Thomas vnderstode this tidinge he wexed almoste oute of hys wit for sorow bycause he weÌ„d none other but he should die an euil death Than sayd he to the erle of Rames in great angre Ha erle of Rames haue ye betrayed me so that yee haue made a nother Lorde than me Syr sayde the Erle to hym agayne doubt nothyng for wee haue doone so your ryght and honour is alway saued in this behalfe nor ye shal not lese nothyng of your owne for the good knight hath ynough in frauÌ„ce and ye must know that he hath takeÌ„ this citie he and his felow and take no suspecciyon of hym nor of vs for I am sure he shall doo euyn as yee wil yourself for he is heere for none other cause but for to delyuer you for as soone as he shall haue vysit the holy sepulcre of our lorde he shal goe agayne to Fraunce Than sayd the kynge Thomas lordes how is the knyght named Syr sayd therle of Rames he is called Reynawde of Mountawban the sonne of the Duke Aymon and the best knyght of the worlde For he is suche a knyght that the great kyng Charlemayne might neuer greue hym and yet haue they mayntened the warre .xv. yeres and more the one against thother and so hath he doone so many noble great faytes of armes during the warre that the renoÌ„me therof is flowen ouer al the worlde Erle of Lames sayd the kynge I pray you that ye wyll tell hym in my behalfe this that I haue sayd to Geffray of nazareth syr said therle wyth a good wyll I shall doo so And than he went to Reynawde shewed to him al that the king had sayd Lordes sayd Reinawd we shal not doo so but let vs sawte the towre for at worst fall we shall alwayes wel haue that apoyntement that thadmyral asketh so I tell you yf we sawte wel the towre shal be lyghtly wonne by force of armes we shal deliuer the kinge Thomas at oure owne wyll so shal we slea barbas that thorough treason tooke the citie Syr sayd therle of Rames we shall doo your coÌ„maundement doubt not of it ThaÌ„ commauÌ„ded Reynawd that the towre should be sawted of al sidê made great pleÌ„tie of ladders to be ryghted agaynst it he hymselfe began fyrst to clime vp with his sheeld for to couer him with and after him went Mawgis than therle of Rames after them Geffray of Nazareth wel thyrty knightes mo and men with crosbowes other archers abode byneth for to shoot vpwarde where they saw sarasins looke oute whan thadmirall saw Reynawde that wolde haue come into the towre he was sore aferde so wyst he not what he should doo but ranne to the kinge Thomas caught hym by the necke sayd to hiÌ„ by apollo thou I shall lepe bothe at once out of this window Sir sayd the king kill not your self nor me also for I shall make the sawte to cesse I will wel that ye doo so sayd thadmiral but ye shal come with me So tooke hym by the neck had him to the wyndowe sayd al hye Reynawde of Mountawban I shall angre you for I shall caste the king Thomas downe if ye pardon me not I shall slea my self whim for I may wel die after such a king And whan the duke Riynawde saw that the kyng Thomas hynge thus the head downewarde all redy for to fall he had great pitie of hym said Ha good lorde what shal I doo for if I leue the sawte it shal be greate shame for the towre is almoste taken and of the other part it shal be great mysshape yf the good kinge Thomas take death for it Thê° as
our coming Children saide the duke Naymes we ben all youre kinnesmen And than the duke Naimes tolde them all theyr names And whan the childrē knew what that they were they meeked themsele before theim honestlye and after yonnet sayde to theim Lordes our father greteth you wel and praieth you that ye wyll haue vs for recommended as youre kynsmen And than whan the barons heard the two children speake so wisely they were glad of it and also of their comming But the two sonnes of Foulques of Moryllon were full sory and wrothe for it by my soule sayde Constans to his brother Rahars the father of these two chyldrene slewe oure father wherof the hert in my body swelleth highe for angre that I see them heere nother min eyen can not looke vpon them brother said Rohars nor I nother by my trouthe but I counseyll not that we fight with them not heere for it were foly But let vs await a tyme and place couenable for syth that they shall dwell heere We shall auenge vs vpon them Brother said Constans lette vs doo one thynge that I shall tell you whiche is easye for to doo that ye shall calle the one of treason and I the other sayinge that theyr father slewe our father by treason And also we shall proue that their father wroughte treason ayenst the king Charlemayn brother sayde Rohars ye speake well but we must suffre a while till we see howe they shal bere themself in court for they doo any otherwyse than they oughte to doo We shal mowe kylle them and be not blamed for it After this doon ye oughte to knowe that the children of Reinawde of Mountawban bare themselfe full honestlye in courte for all the barons loued them dere saue only the two sonnes of Foulques of moryllon wherof Aimonet and yonnet perceyued it ryght well and spake not with them nor haunted theim not It was greate meruayll of the great giftes that the sōnes of Reynawd gaue to the Barons and gentilmen of the court of Charlemain as were fayre horses and harnays and many clothes of sylke of dyuers coloures and in lyke wise they gaue to the ladyes and gentil women fayre gounes of clothe of golde and of syluer And of the other parte they kepte a great estate and good house to al poore gentylmen and squiets and dyd so much good that they were greately praised of euerye manne What shoulde I telle you more the childrene of Reynawde dyd so muche in the courte of the king Charlemayne that of all the worlde they were loued and princypallye of the kinge Charlemayne whan the kinge sawe that they behaued theim so well and so wisely in his court he was ryght glad of it so loued he theym moste of anye yonge knyght of his courte and made them his keruers a fore hym And thenne whan the two sonnes of Foulques of Moryllon sawe that the kynge loued theim so muche they were full angrye in so muche that they wexed mad all quicke for angre of it and so swate by greate angre that they should slea thē or euer theishould goe to from the courte It happed so that vpon whyt sonday euyn as the kyng was at Parys and wolde keep opē courte and there was Aymonet and yonnet with the other barons in the halle This hanging aryued there a knyghte of Almayne that presented to the kynge a fayre knyfe after the facyon of the londe then called the king yonnet gaue it him by greate loue And whan yonner had receiued this gyft of the kyng as he shoulde haue gone to his place agayn he shoued Constans with his elbowe ayenst his wil. And whan Constans saw that yonnet had doon so he had greate dispite at it and saide What is this must there be so muche set by these two boies the sonnes of a traitour whiche been not worth a roten apple this one is all redye become so proude that he hathe nowe shoued me with his elbowe by great enuye and pride muche other langage constans saide by Yonnet Whiche he ought not for to saye and whan yonnet hearde that Constans had called him the sonne of traytour he was sore an angred So came he to him and saide Constans ye haue learned a foule craft that is that ye can speake shrewdely withoute a cause lawfull why for I haue hearde that ye haue called me and my brother the sonnes of a traitour that the kinge knoweth well that our father slewe yours by treason wherof I will ye wyt that ye lie falsely but your father did assail oures by treason as a traitour come of the lignage of traitoures But God wolde not that my father shoulde dye so nor myne vncles my father slew your father it is true but it was in his defendynge of hys body he did then as a noble knight as he is and if ye be so hardy that ye wil maintein that he did it by treasō heere I cast now my gage afore thys noble companye saying that ye haue lied falsely saue the reuerence of the kinge Charlemayne and of his felawshyp THan whan the kynge Charlemayne sawe that none of the barons said nothyng of the stryfe of yonnet and of Constans he was angry for it and sayde Constans ye doo greate wronge for to saye that I and the twelue peeres of fraunce know well that Reinawde of Mountawban slewe your father by treason holde your peace said Charlemayne for yf ye knew well how the matter is ye shaulde not speake of it wherfore I commaund you in as much as ye feare to angre me that ye make amēdes to yonnet of that ye haue said or elles voide incontinent my courte and my realme for ye haue troubled all my courte wherof I am not contente And whan Rohars hearde this that the kinge Charlemayne had sayde to Constans his brother he was angry and so rose on his feete and said Sir I am redy to proue vpon Aimonet that his father slew our father by treason and heere is my gage Rohars saide Charlemain heere ye take a wronge waie and it shall be to you ouer late whan ye shal repent it Whan Aymonet and yonnet vnderstoode these wordes thei kneeled afore the kynge Charlemayne and saide to him Syr for god we praye you ryght humblye that ye take the gages that Rohars hathe caste for with goddes grace we shal wel defend our father of the traison that they put vpon him Childrē saide the king sith it please you that I take them I shall doo so and than the king Charlemayn tooke the gages Constans auaunced himself saide Syr we vnderstonde that we shall fyghte two and two the one ayenst the other ¶ whan the kynge Charlemayne had take the gages of bataile of Constans and of Rohars he asked theym who shoulde be theyr suretes than lept forth the traytoure Guanellon betenger Escouf of moryllon Lyon of pygnabel Gryffon of hautbraunche the whiche said to king
Charlemayne syr we will be suretes for Constans Rohars for they be of our lygnage Lordes saide Charlemain I take them you to keepe and I charge you to bryng them againe to the court whan time shal be Syr sayd the sureties we shal doo as ye commaund vs. And whan the king had receiued the sureties of Cōstans and of Rohars Aymonet and yonnet came forth said in this maner Sir heere been our gages howe that we wil defende that oure father slew neuer Foulques of morillon by treasō Children said the king Charlemaine ye speake well but I must haue surety of you as I haue of the other party yf I wil doo reason than lept forth Rowland Olyuer the duke Naimes of bauyre Ogier of denmarke Richarde of Normandy and Escoufe the sonne of Oedon which said to the kyng Syr we been sureties for the sonnes of Reinawd we shall present theim to you at the daye of bataill Sirs saide the king Charlemayne it pleaseth me wel but the chyldren of Reynawde been not yet knightes as ye know but by the faithe that I owe to god they shall be to morowe and than we shal sende our letters to Reynawde that he come to see the battayl of his childrē for thys daie fourty dayes I deuyse it Whan the euyn came the kyng Charlemain made be called hys stuarde and sayde to hym Goe and bryng me to morow the sonnes of Reynawde for I wyll that they ben to morow named knightes and see that they been well honoured for I wyll doo this for the loue of theyr father and puruey so that they haue eche of theim a good courser and good harnays mete for their bodyes Whan the stuarde hearde the commaundement of the king Charlemayne he dyd well the tenour therof And whan the morning came the stuarde brought Aimonet yonnet well apoynted and in theyr companye all suche other as the kynge for their loue wolde make knightes that daye And whan that they were afore the kinge Aymonet and Yonnet requyred the ordre of knyghthode to whome the kinge gaue it with good hearte and in lyke wise the other for loue of them and than was a greate feast made that daye And whan the feast was finished Charlemain tooke a messager whiche he sente vnto Reinawd of Mountawban and sent him worde that he should come to the court with good companye for hys chylderne were called of treason by the sonnes of Foulques of Morillon sayinge that he had slayne theyr father by treason and how hys childrē had caste their gages sayinge that they had lyed falsely THan whan the duke Reinawde hearde these tydynges that Charlemayne sent hym he meruayled of it sore Than sent he for all his bretherne by his letters that he shoulde com to him in armes for it was neede And whan the bretherne of Reynawde vnderstoode these tydynges without anye taryinge they came to the brother at Mountawban And whan Reinawde sawe them he was glad and kyssed them th one after the other and after he tolde them al that the king Charlemayne had giue him to knowe and whan the brethern of Reynawde vnderstoode it they meruaylled of it brother saide Rycharde doubte not for the mater shall come better than ye weene of by the grace of god I counseyll that we goe to the court of the kyng Charlemayne For whan we shall be there we shal soone vnderstonde the kinges mynde and what his will is towarde you and I promise you yf he hathe doone anye wronge to our neuewes your childrē god neuer haue mercye on my soule but I shal slee him what hap therof Brother saide Reinawde I wyl wel that we goe to Paris and whan we shal be there we shal wel vnderstond how the kinge Charlemaine bereth himselfe toward my chyldren Brother sayd Alard ye speake well wiselye me semeth after myne aduise that we ought to goe thither without anye longe taryinge And whan they were there to accorded they departed fro Moūtawban with a right noble company and so muche they rode by their Iourneys that they came to the citie of parys And whan they were come there al the .xii. peeres knew anon of their coming and went ayenst them and brought with them Aymonet yonnet and receyued Reinawd his bretherne with great ioye honour And whan Reynawd saw his two fayre sonnes he said to them in this wise My children now shal it be seen if ye be my sonnes or no. For and ye be my chylderne ye shall auenge me of that great shame that these traitoures put vpon me without a cause Father said the chyldren doubte not therof for they were .x. ayenst vs yet shall we ouercome theym by the grace of god For euerye man knoweth well that ye be as true a knyghte as any is in the worlde And whan the kynge Charlemaine knewe the comyng of Reinawd that was come so well accompanyed he was gladde of it and sent worde to Reynawde that he should come to him the which thynge Reynawde dyd and whan the kyng saw him he made him good chere and with good hearte and also to his brethern And whan Reinawde had be with the king a longe while he tooke leue of him went to his lodges again and whā he was there he callede his bretherne and his children said to them My sonnes come hither tell me how the kynge Charmayn bereth himselfe towarde you what he sayth of this quarell that ye haue vndertake I muste knowe the trouth of it Father sayd the chyldren wyt it that the kynge Charlemayne loueth vs muche and he entreteyneth vs aboue all other honourably for the loue of you that he loueth ryghte much as he sayth And than they tolde him how he had made them knightes and how he susteined their quarell ayenst the traytoures and all other WHan Reinawde and his brethern heard the childrē speake thus they were glad of it for they doubted lest Charlemaine wolde haue faten euell with them And whan Reynawd of moūtawban wist that the king had borne hymselfe so wel toward his sonnes he saide that he shoulde serue hym euermore as his souerayne lorde And on the morowe Reinawde went for to see the king at his risyng from his bed and thanked him muche of the greate worshyp that he had doone to his chyldren Than said Charlemaine to him Reinawde euer syth that I sawe that ye dyd my commaundemente with good wil that ye were obeynge to me I dyd caste all myne angre from me and all the euyll wyll that I had ayenst you and I wil that ye wit that I am wel yours and shal be as longe as I lyue in this worlde for I take you for one of my best freendes And whan Reinawd heard the debonairtie and the kinde wordes of the king he cast himself to the feet of him and in lykewise dyd all hys bretherne and thanked him muche wyt that Reinawd his bretherne abode