â—He hye couragyous faytee And valyaunt actes of noble Illustrous and vertuous personnes ben digne to be recounted put in memorye and wreton to th ende that ther may be gyuen to them name Inmortal by souerayn laude and preysyng And also for to moeue and tenflawme the hertes of the Redars and hierers for â—â—â—che we and flee werkes vycious dishonnest and vytuperable And for tempryse and accomplysshe enterpryses honnestes and werkes of gloryous meryte to lyue in remembraunce perpetuel ffor as it is so that thystoryagraphes haue wreton many a noble hystorye as wel in metre as in prose By whiche thactes and noble fayttes of thauncyent conquerours ben had in remembraunce· and remayne in grete large and aourned volumes and so shal abyde in perpetuel memorye to thentente that gloryous Prynces and hye men of noble and vertuouse courage shold take ensample tempryse werkys leful and honneste Fyrst for goddes quarell in mayntenyng oure fayth and the libertees of holy chirche· For the recuperacion of the holy land whiche our blessyd lord Ihesu Criste hath halowed by his blessyd presence humayne and by shedyng therin for oure redempcion his precious blood ffor the releef of suche cristen men as there dwelle in grete myserye and thraldomÌ„ And also for the defence of theyr Royammes Londes Enherytages and subgâ—â—tes And for thyse causes tendeuoyre theym in theyr noble persones with alle theyr puyssauÌ„ces and power tadresse and remyse theym in theyr auncyent Fraunchyses and lyberte Acordyng to that we fynde wreton in holy scripture of many noble historyes· which were here ouer long to reherce· But in especial of thre noble and mooste worthy of alle other that is to wytte fyrst of duc Iosue that noble prynce whiche ladde and conduyted the Childeren of Israhel the chosen people of God oute of deserte in to the londe of promyssyon the Londe flowynge Mylke and hony· Socondly of Dauyd the Kynge and holy Prophete Whome God chaas after his herte And achyeuyd many grete Bataylles gouernyng the sayd chosen people of God by the space of fourty yeris And the thyrde of the Noble Iudas Machabeus· how he deffended the sayd people in fyghtyng many and merueyllous bataylles· for veray zeele and loue of his lawe and mayntenyng of the same· vnto the deth ffor which causes a forsayd the names of thyes thre abyde perpetuel for thre of the moste beste and Nobleste of the Iewys And in the nombre of the moost digne and moost worthy aNd by cause valyaunce and prowesse is remembryd emong the gentyles paynmes· as emong the brewes I fynde wreton of the incredible cheualrous prowesse of the noble and valyaunt Hector of troye whos excellent actes wryten Ouyde Homer Virgyle Dares Dyctes and other dyuerse· and eche better than other reherchyng his noble vertues strengthe and humanyte Secondly of Alysaundre the grete kynge of Macedone· which domyned and had to hym obeyssaunt the vnyuersal world And the thyrde the noble Iulyus Cezar Emperour of Rome· whos noble actes ben wreton by poetes as lucan stace and other And dayly remembryd as newe and ffresshe as he yet lyuyd whiche thre ben sette as for the moost worthy emong the gentyles and paynems nOw lete vs thenne remembre· what hystoryes ben wreton of Cristen men of whom ther be many wreton· But in especial as for the best and worthyest I fynde fyrst the gloryous most excellent in his tyme and fyrst founder of the round table Kyng Arthur kyng of the brytons that tyme regnyng in this Royamme of whos retenue were many noble Kynges Prynces lordes and knyghtes· of which the noblest were knyghtes of the round table· of whos actes and historyes there be large volumes and bookes grete plente and many O blessyd lord whan I remembre the grete and many volumes of seynt graal ghalehot and launce lotte de lake Gawayn perceual Lyonel and tristram and many other· of whom were ouer longe to reherce and also to me vnknowen But thystorye of the sayd Arthur is so gloryous and shynyng that he is stalled in the fyrst place of the mooste noble beste and worthyest of the cristen men Secondly of Charlemayn the grete Epemrour of Allemayne and kyng of ffraunce whos noble actes and conquestes ben wreton in large volumes with the noble faytes and actes of his douze pieres· that is to saye Rowlond and olyuer with the other whos name and renommee abydeth also perpetuel and is stalled in the second place emonge the most worthy of Cristen men Of alle thyse historyes a for reherced the bookes and volumes ben had in latyn ffrenssh and Englysshe and other langage tHenne as for the thyrd of the Cristen prynces taken reputed and renommed for to be egal emong thyse worthy best that euer were· I mene the noble Godefroy of Boloyne whiche now but late not yet four C. yere syth he flowred· and was stalled in the thyrde stalle of the moost worthy of Cristen men whos hystorye is made and wreton in Latyn and ffrensshe in large and grete volumes And as not knowen emonge vs here whiche ben adiacent and neyghbours to the place of his natyuyte whos noble hystorye I late fonde in a booke of ffrenssh al a longe of his noble actes valyaunces prowesses and accomplysshement of his hye empryses In whiche I fynde very causes as me semeth moche semblable and lyke· vnto suche as we haue nowe dayly to fore vs· By the mescreauntes and turkes emprysed ayenst Cristendom And yet moche more nowe than were in his dayes ffor in his dayes the turkes had conquerd vpon Cristendom but vnto the braas of seynt George by Constantynople· And had no foote on this syde the sayd Braas· But at this daye it is so that they haue comen ouer and goten that Imperial Cyte Constantynople a forsayd and many Royamâ—â— and countre to the grete dommage and hurte of alle Cristendom To the resistence of whom as yet fewe Cristen prynces haue put theym in deuoyr· Thenne I returne agayn vnto the conqueste at suche tyme as they were come to the sayd Braas that by the dylygent solicitude of a 〈◊〉 heremyte the sayd Godeffroy of Boloyne· and other dyuerse prynces lordes and comyn peple auowed the croysyng and empryse to warre agayn the mescreauntes And to recouere the holy Cyte of Iherusalem whiche afterward they achyeuyd and conquerd fro the sayd braas vnto the holy lande and recouerd the holy cyte of Iherusalem as in this sayd boook al a longe and playnly shal appere· In whiche cyte the sayd Godeffroy was elect and chosen for his vertue prowesse and blessyd diâ—posicion to be kyng of the sayd Iherusalem· and the londe therabout tHenne I thus vysytyng this noble hystorye whiche is no fable ne fayned thynge· But alle that is therin trewe Considerynge also the grete puyssaunce of the Turke grete enemye of oure Cristen fayth destroyar of Cristen blood and vsurpar of certayn Empyres and many Cristen Royammes and countrees And now late this sayd yere
dishonour to departe and retorne in to his coÌ„tre than â—ffre his peple to be destroyed myght not amende it Thus theÌ„ne he departed out of Surye by cause the kynge of Arabe his peple were of so grete power so proude as they that fonde all the contre habandonÌ„ned to them ffor in a short tyme they had conquered alle the contre of Surye vnto Egypte One thyng that was tâ— fore happenned in this contree whiche heelp moche them of Araâ—â— tenaâ—ce their power ffor cosdroe the puissanÌ„t kynge of perse of whom I haue spoken to fore had ben with grete puissaunce in Surye and had destroyed the Cytees and castels brent townes chirches and slayn grete partye of the peple and the remeunÌ„t had brought in to Captyuyte And toke the cyte of Iherusalem with force and slewe within the tounÌ„ xxxvj M. men And bare away with hym the veâ—ay crosse that our lord Ihesu Cryste suffred deth on for vs And ladde with hym the patriarke of Iherusalem named Acharye and brought hym with hym with the other Caytyfs Here recounteth thistorye how that the puissaunt kynge Cosdroe wastyd the Empyre of Rome for tauenge the deth of themperour Maurice fader of his wyf capitulo ijo. nOw I shal telle yow why he had so doon lyke as I sayde he was a ryght myghty kynge now had ther be an emperour at Rome named Mauryce whiche as we fynde was moche acqueynted with seint gregorâ—e And was his gossiâ— ffor the sayd seynt Gregorye had cristenyd to hym a doughter named Marie This Maurice gaf her in Maryage to this Cosdroe And ther by was a grete frenship bytwene them grete alyauÌ„ce bytwene them of perse and the Romayns as longe as themperour lyued in suche wise that for the loue of his wyf the Romayns whiche were Cristen This Emperour made Cosdroe to be baptised But after it befylle that foca slewe in treson this Emperour Maurice And was Emperour in his place and was called ffoâ—â— cezar whan cosdroe herd herof he had merveyllous grete sorow greâ—â— deâ—dayne grete orguyel grete hate ayenst the peple of the Romaâ—ns by cause that he whiche had slayn theyr lorde vntrewly and was yet blody of the blood of the emperour they had chosen to â—e their lord and had gyuen to hym thempire ffor this cause â—e enteâ—â—ded to his power to hurte and destroye al thempire of Româ—â— And for this cause for tauenge the deth of the fader of his 〈◊〉 whiche ofte enticed hym therto he entred in to the londe of 〈◊〉 whiche thenne was subget to th empyre of Rome and 〈…〉 destroyed it lyke as I haue said to fore and voyded almost 〈◊〉 the peple that was therin ffor whiche cause This kynge 〈◊〉 aforsaid his peple of Arabe that fonde this londe so voyde 〈◊〉 the better doo theyr wylles with alle How this puissaunt kynge entred in to Iherusalem and demauÌ„â—ded dylygently of the Temple and reedyfied it and assigned grâ—â—e reuenues therto for tentretene it capitulo iiio. wHan they cam in the holy cyte of Iherusalem they fonde it destroyed and deserte sauf a fewe cristen men whiche dwellyd there and were suffred that they shold lyue as Cristen men and make agayn their chirches and that they shold haue a patriarke In the while that this myghty prynce duellid in Iherusalem he began tenquyre moche euâ—entifly of the peple of the tounÌ„ pryncipally of the patriarke whiche was named Sophonye had ben chosen after modeste whiche was deed of whom I haue spoken to fore In what place the temple of our lord had be whan Titus the prynce deffeted and destroyed al the cyte he shewid to hym the very certayn place the fondamentes a parte of the muraylles whiche were thenÌ„e yet apperyng he made anon to be sought to be brouht to hym without longe taryeng grete nombre of masons of carpenters dide do be fette stones of marble of other manere alle thynges necessarye therto he dide do assemble as moche as shold nede And deuised the maner and ordynance of the mesure and of the dyspences for to make the temple And as he was a noble prynce of hyâ— affaire noble he brought anon to ende this that he had emprised in suche wise that the temple was reedefyed in suche forme and estate as it yet apeereth this saide prynce hym self assygned grete rentes reuenues ffor euer more for to sustene and repayre alle that shold be nedeful to thedyfiâ—es and other necessites of the temple and for the seruyng of the lyght day and nyght by the handes of them that he commysed to kepe the temple Ther is in the same temple within and without letters of golde in the langage of Arabe whiche deuyse as we suppose who was he that reedefyed the temple and what tyme And how moche it costeto rebylde it How Charlemayne by his lyberalite gate for the prouffyt of cristen peple in hethenes thamytye of hethen prynces capitulo iiij tHus it happed that this holy cyte of Iherusalem for the synnes of the peple was in seruage and in daunger of hethen peple longe tyme That is to wete cccc xxx iiij yere contynuelly but not all way in one manere They were one tyme better another tyme werse lyke as the lordes chaunged whiche were of dyuerse maners condicions but neuertheles thise peple were alway in subiection It happed that one grete lorde of this saide lawe had nyghe in his seignorye all the londe of thoryent sauf only ynde This prynce was named Aaron his surname ressit This man was of so grete cortosye of so grete largesse of so hye vygour and of so grete affaires in alle good maners that yet the paynems speke of hym lyke as they doo in ffrauÌ„ce of Charlemayn they were bothe in one tyme this aaron this charlemain And therfore in their tyme the cristen peple in Iherusalem were in better poynt than thei had euer be to fore vnder ony of the hethen peple ffor Charlemayn the good Emperour whiche so moche trauailled and suffryd for our lorde and so moche enhaunced the fayth of Ihesu Criste to th ende that the Cristiente in Surye myght be the better and more debonairly cherysshed and entreated Pourchassed so longe that he had the loue and acqueyntauÌ„ce of the said Aaron by messages that wente and cam Wherof this Aaron had moche grete Ioye And aboue alle the prynces of the world he louid and honoured themperour CharlemaynÌ„ and the Cristen peple that were vnder hym And alle the holy places that were vnder his power he wolde that they shold be entretiened mayntened and wel aourned lyke as Charlemayne had desyred and sente to hym worde Wherof it semed that our peple beynge there Were more vnder the power of Charlemayne than vnder the power of the hethen men Whan he myght fynde the messagers of Charlemayn he charged and laded them alle with richesses of thoryent
duchemen toke a castel by assault and slewe alle theym that were therin with the swerd capitulo xxiij o How Solyman lord of that countre reprised and toke agayn the castel· and slewe alle the duche men that were therin cao. xxiiij How our men armed theym for tauenge the duche men· And of a recountre that they had agaynst Solyman cao. xxv How Peter theremyte beyng in Constantynople was aduertysed of this disconfyture And saued thre thousand cristen men beyng in grete daunger capitulo xxvj How a preest named Godechan made hym self Capytayn of xv thousand duche men in this vyage And of theyr oultrayes Capitulo xxvij How two C thousand Cristen men a foote thre thousand on horsbak withoute Capitayn assembled in this pylgremage And of theyr mayntene capitulo xxviij How this peple began to destroye the londe of the kyng of hongrye by cause he wold not graunte them leue to passe capitulo xxix How the duc godeffroy of Boloyne beyng with a grete hoost cam vnto hongrye and sente his messagers to the kyng to demande â—assage capitulo xxx How the messagers of duc godeffroy declared theyr message vnto the kynge of hongrye and therupon his answere· cao. xxxj How the sayd kynge sente for to fetche the duc Godeffroyâ—· And how he wente of the deuyses that they had to gydre cao. xxxâ—â— How the duc Godefroy sente his messagers to themperour of constantynople to th ende that he shold delyuer to hym huon le mayne and other that he helde in pryson capitulo xxxâ—â—j How duc Godeffroy constrayned themperour by force to rendre â— delyuer his prysoners· capitulo xxxâ—â—â—â— The grete despyte that themperour toke that duc godeffroy refused to goo in to Constantynople vnto hym capitulo xxxv Of the descripcion of the Cyte of Constantynople And of many countrees and londes therabout capitulo xxxvi How our peple brente theyr lodgys· and toke theyr â—arnoys and of an assault that the grekâ—s made on them capitulo xxxvij How after our peple began to destroye the contre â— And of a message fro Buymont vnto duc godeffroy And the answere of the duc vpon the same agayn capitulo xxxviij How themperour appeased the duc Godeffroy and senâ—e for hym and of thonour that he dyde to hym capitulo xxxâ—x Of the yeftes that themperour made to duc Godeffroye· to the baâ—rons and to the gentilmen of his hooste capitulo xl How buymont was made Capitayn of a greet hooste· And the names of many nobles of thooste of theyr maytene cao. xlâ— Messagers and lettres fro themperour to buymont· And the conâ—tenue of the same as foloweth capitulo xlij How Buymont approched constantynople· and was sente for to come to the emperour And how by the prayer of duc Godeffroye he wente toward hym capitulo xliij o How th erle Robert of fflaundres with his hoost approchyd Constantinople And how themperour sente for hym And of theyr deuyses to gydre capitulo xliiij Of the mayntyene of thoost whiche th erle of tholouse and the bisshop of Puy brought ouer see capitulo xlv Ambassadours of themperour to the sayd erle and Bysshop· and of the contenue of his lettres and of the daunger wherin the sayd bisshop was cao. xlvj How th erle of tholouse beyng with themperour wold not doo hoÌ„mage to hym And of the despyte that themperour dyde ca o xlvij How themperour for tauenge hym and th erle made his conestables tenbusshe them· and assaylle thoost of th erle capitulo xlviij How at thynstaunte prayer of the barons of thooste th erle made homage to themperour which thenne gaf grete yeftes to hym and his capitulo xlix How duc Robert of Normandye and other here named approuched Constantynople· and made hommage to themperour cao. L How themperour sente for to destroye our cristen men one his seruaunt faynyng to be a trewe conduytour and guyde· cao. Lj Of the situacion of Nycene And how our peple approuched therto merueyllyng of the place and of the strengthe capitulo Lij How the puyssaunt turke Solyman with a grete hoost aduysed tyme and houre to assaylle and smyte on our peple for to reyse the siege capitulo Liij How Solyman beyng in the montaynes sente his messagers to them of the toun And of the comforte that he gaf to theym· Capitulo Liiij How the messagers of Solyman were taken by our men And by them was knowen the couyne of the sayd Solyman cao. Lv How a grete batayll of Solyman cam and smote on our peple And of th ende of the sckarmuche capitulo Lvj How our barons were lodged in the said siege of their mayntene how euery day they enforced them thassaylle the toun cao. Lvij How our barons made castellys of tree and approuched the toun And how they within brake one of theym and slewe them that were therin capitulo Lviij Of the counseyl that our men toke for tassiege the toun by water for to constrayne them not for to entre ne yssue capitulo Lix How after the cyte was assieged by water and by londe our men assaylle it And of a shotte that duc godeffroy dyde shote cao. Lx How after many assaultes oure men beyng in counseyl A lombard cam to them whiche offred to make an engyne that shold destroye the toun capitulo Lxj How after that this engyne was so wel wrought· the wyf of Solyman with tweyne of her childeren wente out of the toun· were taken by our men· capitulo Lxij How themperour sente grete barons for to receyue the toun after that our peple had acerteyned hym that they wold yelde it Capitulo Lxiij How our hoost departed on theyr iourneye And how somme departed fro theyr felawship And how solyman determyned tassaille them capitulo Lxiiij Of the bataylle that Solyman had ayenst somme of oure peple· that were departed fro theyr felawship folyly capitulo Lxv Of the dylygence that duc godeffroy made· whan he was aduertysed herof and how Solyman was disconfyted and his lygnage taken· capitulo Lxvj How the fourth day after this vyctorye our peple went forth on theyr waye· And of the grete mesease of the hooste the same daye Capitulo Lxvij How somme of the grete barons of thoste after to haue approuched Anthyoche the lasse departed for to goo vytaylle them Capitulo Lxvâ—ij Here recounted thystorye of somme aduentures that thenne fyâ—â—e in thoost of Cristen men capitulo Lxix How Tancre that was departed fro thoost assieged Tarse and toke it by certayn couenaunt· cao. Lxx How bawdwyn kroder of Godeffroy sechyng his aduentures sawe Tancre and his peple to fore Tarse· and adressyd hym to theym Capitulo Lxxj Of thenuye that Bawdwyn and his peple had to see the banâ—r of Tancre on the walle of the toun And how Tancre departed Capitulo Lxxij How a lytil after Tancre· cam to the Cyte of anamysâ—â—â— whiche the turkes helde and toke it by assault capitulo Lxxiij How Bawdwyn entred in to Tharse
pryme vnto nygh none ofte our peple had the werse ffor as I haue said solyman had ij C M men alle on horsbak our peple were but l· M on horsbak whan they were alle assembled the one with the other whan our lord had thus gyuen this victorye to his peple they rested them in this fayr place where the tentes were thre dayes theyr· horses refresshed them right wel in this whyle of the armures other gayne that they had conquerd vpon theyr enemyes they arrayed apparaylled them right wel that to fore were euyl armed Moche wel dyde they in this bataylle grete honour had they and shal euer haue· in especial they that here be named Bawdwyn leborgh thomas de fedre regnault de beauuays Gale de ehamont gasâ—e de bedyers gâ—art de cherysy theÌ„ne was ordeyned acorded by the barons cryed in thoost that no man shold ryde fro thens forth by hym self without leue of the capytayns How the iiij day after this victorye our peple went forth on their waye of the grete mesease of thoost the same day capo. lxvijo. Fter this whan they had abyden there thre dayes the fourth daye folowyng by tymes to fore day they dyde doo sowâ—â—e theyr trompettes wente forth on theyr waye Syth they passed bythyne And entred in to the londe that was named pisideâ— They trauaylled so long that at the laste they fonde a contre moche drye infertile without waters The tyme was moche hoot and brennyng as it falleth ofte in Iuyll They had so grete thurst that they wyst not what to doo· the peple on fote specially faylled and faynted alle for the duste for the heete and for thurste ther deyed wel this same day of mysease fyue honderd men wymmen And knowe ye certaynly that ther happed a merueyllous thynge that day in the hoost· that we fynde nowher in none other historye ffor the wymmen with childe that yet were not come to theyr terme by thanguyssh of the heete of the mesâ—ase of thurst that they were delyuerd of theyr childeren childed not only the â—our wymmen but the ryche also this was a grete sorow pyte to see The men that ought to be more hard stronge ayenst trauaylle wente theyr mouthes open sought thayer and moysture therof whiche they myght not haue the heete also the swote destroyed them ye shold haue seen the horses and other beestes that myght not goo forth in suche wyse that they muste leue them whiche deyde in the waye houndes for the chace huntyng fowles for the flyght as ffawcons hawkes fperhawkes ye shold haue seen that day abyde deye· in lyke wyse the grete stedes cursours whiche were moost perylloê° becam alle araged wood for thurst with grete payne were ledde forth whan they had ben long in this mesease Our lord beheld them in pyte· made them to adresse in to a valeye where they fonde a rennyng water fayr grete theÌ„ne ranne oure peple to the brynke or ryuage with grete haste many ther were that draÌ„k so moch that they deyde vpon the place ffor som of them that had eschewed the deth fonde it there by cause they kepte no mesure· this fylle vnto knyghtes other men beestes whiche dranke as moche as they wolde whan they were escaped this euyl aduenture· they cam in to a londe moch fayr and fertile ful of woodes of ryuers of medowes and of good feldes labourable This was by anthyoche the lasse whiche is the chyef cyte of the londe of pisside and there lodged they with theyr hoost How somme of the grete Barons of thoost after to haue approuched Antyoche the lasse departed for to goo vytaylle them Capitulo lxviijo. fRo thens departed som of the barons of thoost â—elde their waye by cause it was a greuous thyng to fynde vytaylles to so moche peple to gydre The fyrst was Bawdwyn Brother to the duc· with hym was peter th erle of scaruay· Reynart th erle of â—oul Bawdwyn de borgh guyllebert de montcler ther wer wel v. C on horsbak ladde with them men a fote largely The second was tancre with hym Rychard du pryncipat· Robert danse other knyghtes grete nombre that they were v C on horsbak had also many men a foote as the other had theyr enteÌ„cion and purpose was to ride about· the thoost in the contre for so seche somme aduenture and vytaylle yf they had founde ony paryll grief pas or plente of theyr enemyes that they wold â—ete thoost haue knowleche therof they wente strayt theyr waye passed by syde ij cytees that one was named lychonie that other Eraclee· after thâ—y torned on the right honde and passed toward the see side The duc Godeffroy the other prynces abode in theyr lodgys for the plesaunt delytable places that they had fouÌ„den by cause they wolde playe refresshe them of the trauaylles aÌ„noyes that they had suffred thenne said they that they wold goo hunte in to the forestes which were nygh to them on alle sydes were ful of wilde beestes On the morn they entred in the woode eche helde his way at his will· the duc as he wente a path thurgh the foreste herde a man crye he drewe thederward he sawe a poure man that was goo for to fetche wode for to bere in to the hoost fledde strongly cryeng to fore a grete bere The duc ran vpon hym drewe his swerd for to delyuere the pour man fro the beeste thenne the bere adressyd hym vnto the duc and lefte the pour man that fledde fro hym he hurte the dukes hors so sore that he caste the duc to therthe The duc 〈◊〉 a foote drewe oute his swerde· the beeste was nothyng afâ—rd of hym but made a felonnoê° crye horryble hydous syth ran vpon the duc bote hym right cruelly in the thye after he adressyd hym right vp embraced hym with his poâ—es or feet to fore for to haue caste hym to grouÌ„de the duc thus hurt as he was was yet moch stroÌ„g fyl not to theerthe theÌ„ne but caught hym by the skyn about the reck with his lyfte hande for to put away his heed from hym with that other hand he put his swerd in to his body thurgh bothe the sydes vnto the crosse and so slewe hym After he wente and sette hym doun on therthe right by ffor he had so moche bledde of his wounde that he had in his thyâ— and was so merueyllously sore hurte that he myghte not stonde longe on his feet The poure man whiche he had delyuerd fro deth can hastely in to the hoost and tolde them this tydynge of the duc Alle they that herde it were so effrayed that they ranne with grete haste theder The barons and alle the other that myght goo they founde hym
they fonde this grete occisâ—on and slaughter at the gate Thenne began a sorow and a moche grete crye in the toun Alle men put the blame and culpe on Bawdwyn and hys knygtes ffor they wold auenge the deth of theyr bretheren whom the sarasyns had so shamely and vylaynously slayn By cause that the knyghtes of bawdwyn and also he hym self wold not suffre them to come in to the toun· And in dede the men of foote sayd this was don by grete oultrage grete falshede· And yf they had not lyghtly withdrawen them in to the toures they had smyten them alle to deth The knyghtes helde them alle stylle tyl that the footemen were cooled and after sente messagers whiche spak to them and requyre them to forbere so long tyl that Bawdwyn had spoken to them they were content to here Bawdwyn speke Bawdwyn excused hym to fore aâ—e and swar and affermed that for none other thynge thentre was deffended them but for that he had sworn to them of the toun that by hym shold none entre tyl the grete hooste cam By thyse wordes and by cause other entermeted to make the peas and spoken debonayrly to the mene peple was bawdwyn acorded to the foote man and his knyghtes also In this toun they soiourned and abode a certayn whyle vntyl a mornyng they sawe in the see nygh them a shippe aboute in myle fro them They yssued oute of the toun and descended to the see they that were in the ship approched to them in such wyse that they spak to gydre they of the ship sayde that they were cristen men they demaunded of what contre and they answerd of fflaundres of holande and of ffryselande And trouth it was they had be escumours of the see and robbers the space of viij yere· Now they repented them And by penaunce cam in pylgremage to Iherusalem they desyred them to come a londe And they cam and made to gydre grete ioye they had a maister ouer them named guynemer And was born of boloyne vpon the see in the londe of Erle Eustace fader of the said duc Godeffroy whan â—e herde that Bawdwyn the sone of his lord was there· â—e lefte his ship And said he wold goo with hym to Iherusalem be was moche ryche of this euyl gayne And had many men with hym that be ladde in his ship thenne Bawdwyn lefte v· C men of armes for to kepe the toun wel in poynt And after he toke his waye for to seke somme auentures as he dyde to fore â—e helde the right way al he cam to the cyte of anamyster· whiche tancre had goten by force of armes vpon the turkes as I haue sayd you to fore Bawdwyn thought wel that he wold not lete hym entre in to the cyte â–ª And therfor he lodged hym in thâ— gardyns about Tancre knowe that bawdwyn whiche loued hym not was so nygh hym And â—e had not forgoten the wronge and the oultrage that bawdwyn had don to hym Thenne he dyde do arme his men· and sayde that thenne was tyme for to venge hym ffor he was nygh â—is retrayt· bawdwyn was for fro his They sente Archiers to fore in grete nombre for to hurte and slee theyr horses whiche they had sente in to the pastures Tancre had with hym fyue honderd men of armes in good poynt and wel horsed And smote in sodanly in to the peple of bawdwyn whiche were not aduysed of them they slewe many and moo they hurted the men of bawdwyn ran hastely to arme them cam fought with them that ran by the tentes therâ— began a bataylle bytwene them moche grete and fiers but it â—ndured not â—â—nge ffor tancre had not so grete plente of peple that myght endure ayenst the mâ—n of bawdwyn· therfor they wold withdrawe them in to theyr toun but theyr enemyes enchassed them strongly so moche that they muste flee there was a brygge ouer a water bytwene the hooste and the cyte the peple of tancre entred so thyck that many were lost and slayn vpon the brygge and drowned in the water whan they were put in to the toune agayn they were moche angry in theyr herte and wold take more peple and returne agayn but the nyght cam that destroubbed it In this scarmuche was taken Rychard le pryncipat cosyn germayn of tancre and robert danse both two were noble men· by their counseyl and atysement tancre had ronne vpon Bawdwyn· Of that other syde was taken a moche noble man named Gylbert de Mountcler· they were moche angry on that one syde and on that other for them that they had loste ffor they doubted that they had ben slayn or drowned whan it cam on the morn and theyr hertes a lytil aswaged they sente messagers eche to other And knewe certaynly that thyse men that were taken lyued of whom they dredde that had ben deed· and good men wente byt wene And medled for to speke of pees in suche wyse that they cam agayn to entier concordaunce and parfyght loue by the grace of the holy ghoost that adressyd theyr hertes They amended theyr trespaas eche to other And kyssed to gydre as frendes in good fayth How the sayd Bawdwyn retorned to the grete hooste And how Tancre mayntenyd hym moche wel in conqueryng contrees Capitulo lxxvjo. bAwdwyn had counseyl whan he was come to Maraze as I haue recompted that he shold goo no ferther forth But retorned in to thoosâ— of the barons By cause he herd saye how the duc his brother had be hurte peryllously And wold see and knowe of his estate and how he ferde theyr counseyl was that tancre shold goo forth Bawdwyn lefte with hym guy neuers And them that were in his companye comen fro the shippe They passed alle sylyâ—e and bete doun alle the forestes of the hethen men that they myght fynde they brente the townes and slewe theyr enemyes· And after cam vnto a Cyte called Alexandrye the lasse that they toke by force and conquerd al the câ—ntre about· The hermyns and turkes that dwellyd in the montaynes of this contre herde tydynges that Tancre and his men were so valyaunt and so myghty that nothyng myght holde ayensâ— them And sore dredde that lyke as he conquerd the playne· he wold come vpon them in the montaynes And destroye the londe entierly and the peple· ffor tappease his courage they sente ta hym good and certeyn messagers· whiche brought to hym grete yeftes as gold syluer precious stones clothes of sylk horses and mubettâ—s they sente hym moche largely ffor whiche cause Tancre lefte them in peas· Thus dyde he wel his honoure and his pronffyt in alle places that he went by in suche wyse that it semed wel to euery man that oure lord god adressyd his way and mayntened his wâ—rkes vertuosly How bawdwyn conquerd a grete contre vpon the turkes by the counseyl of a knyght bermyn named pancâ—ace cao. lxxvij o nOw ye haue herd how Tancre nayntened hym
of hongrye for to requyre his grace that they myght passe in good â—â—as they wold lodge them ther whylest in tho places that were ful of pastures to fore the paas How this peple began to destroye the londe of the kyng by caâ—â—se he wold not graunte to them leue for to passe cao. xxâ—x o a Lytil whyl taryed they that wente to the kyng but retorned anon ffor they myght not spede of such thynges as they deâ—manded The kyng answerd that for â—efte ne for prayer shold they entre in to his londe whan they of the oost greâ—e and smaâ—e hâ—rd this they were moche angry ffor they had trauaylled and despâ—â—â—ded moche good to come thedyr And now they had loost theiâ— waâ—ye They concluded emong them that â—hey shold brenne and destroâ—ye the contreye of the kynge as moche as was on this syde the mareys They sette fyer on townes and toke the men deâ—troyed alle the contrey· whyles theâ— dyde thus the peple of the fortreâ—â—â— cam out and with other peple of the kynâ—gâ—s to â—he nombre of 〈…〉 what of knyghtes and other peple wel armed passed by shippes er euer the pligrims knewe of it ony wâ—â—d and they sette them fâ—r to deffende the pylgryms at a paas that they shold not entre· whan the pylgryms sawe this they ran vygorously vpon them in suche wyse that er they myght saue them self they were slayn alle sauf a fewe of them that withdrewe them in to the mareys â— and â—ydde them in the reâ—d whan thyse pâ—lgryms thus had the victâ—â—ye tâ—ey mounted in moche grete hardynes said that by force they wold take the fortresse of hongrye and withoute leue they wold passe thurgh the londe Thenne they began to somonne and recomforte euery man to doo wel They toke poles made scaffholdes moche grete plente whiche they sette to the walles And mounted vp couerd with theyr sheldes and targes and assaylled it moche hardely many pyked with pykoys and myned the walles with grete force that thentre semed al redy for to entree they that were within were nyghe deed for despayer ffor they defended slowly as men affrayed in their hertes ffor they supposed anon to be slayn sodenly cam a fere and a drede vpon the hertes of the pylgryms that wened anon to be slayn And neuer was knowen wherfore it was and anon fyl donn fro the scaffoldes taryed not but fledde sodeynly none wyste why they fledde The hongers whan they sawe this myght wyth grete peyne byleue it that this was trouthe ffor they sawe no rayson why Neuertheles whan they apperceyuyd they descended doun began to folowe the chaas in suche wyse that them next to fore them were almost alle taken and slayn In this auenture was fonden none other reson sauf that the peple was so ful of synne that they had not deseruyd the loue of our lord ne thonoure of the world And therfor they re synnes acowarded them in suche wyse that they myght not doo ne accomplysshe this grete werke whiche they had nyghe achyeued The erle Emycon cam agayn in to his contre with grete nombre of peple disconfyted The other barons of ffraunce that I fore haue named wente in to lombardye and so in to puylle There had they knowleche that soÌ„me of the grete barons were passed in to duras and fro thens in to grece They wente aftir and folowyd them In this manere were the peple of ffraunce disperpled and of the contrees ther by The waye of hongrye was moche more strayte and ner yf they myght haue goon it And had not be destrowbled by theyr folye But the other that cam aftir peyned them moche for to goo more wysely and more in peas How the duc godefroy of boloyne beyng with a grete hoost cam vnto hongrye sente his messagers to the kyng for to demande passage capitulo xxxo. cOmen was the moneth of anguste in the yere of thyncarnacion of our lord M lxxxxvj the xv day of the same moneth The valyauÌ„t godefroy of buyllon duc of loraygne assembled them that shold be his felawes in this iourneye And cam fro his contrey with so grete apparayllement as it apperteyned to his estate with hym Bawdwyn his brother Bawdwyn the Erle of henawde Huge the Erle of seynt pol Euerard his sone which was a moche valyaunt yonge man Garnyer the Erle surnamed of grees Bernard the Erle of Toul Pieter his brother Bauwdwyn de bors cosyn to the duc Henry dasque godefrâ—y his brother And many other good knyghtes with them Thise men were so good frendes emonge them and so wyse men that in no wyse they wold departe that one fro that other they cam alle hool with their thynges in to Osteryche the xx daye of septembre vnto a town which is named taylleÌ„borch there reÌ„neth a ryuer named â—yntans departed th empyre of allemaygne fro the royamme of hongrye â— whan they were comen theder· they had herd by the waye euyl tâ—dynges of the grete mesauentures· that Godechan and his peple had in hongrye They assembled and toke counseyl emonge them â— how they myght passe this contre in peas They alle acorded that they shold sende messagers lettres vnto the kyng of hoÌ„grye for to demande first by what reason theyr felaws the pylgryms whicâ—e were theyr bretheren were thus perysshed in his power and â—is londe Aftir this they encharged the messagers that they shold â—ntre with hym in to coiÌ„cacion that they mygâ—t passe his Roâ—amâ—â—me seurly and in peas And that herin they put them in deuâ—yâ—â— payne ffor this waye was for them moche shorte and more couenable yf they myght haue it than for to passâ— by sâ—â—â— In this message wente godefroy dasâ—ue brother of henry· by cause he had long to fore ben acqueynted with the kynge of hongrye â—ith 〈…〉 sente other wyse men They wente fo fâ—r that they fonde the kynâ—â— And salewed hym in the name of hem that senâ—e thâ—m And delyuerd their lettres of credence And aftir sayd to hym thyse wordes How the messagers of the duc godefroy declared their message vnto the kyng of hongrye And ther vpon his answere cao. xxxio. tHe wyse man noble Godefroy Duc of â—â—â—â—yne And the other prynces that with hym come in pylgremage â—aue sente vs now vnto you And by you wolde knowe· by what occasion the other pylgryms whom they helde for felawâ— and bretheren â— haue so cruelly be slayn and smeton in pieces in your â—â—wer Wel they knowe and sende you worde that they haue ben so slayn ffor they haue fonden many of them that ben escaped Moche they meruaylle how ye your peple which ben cristen as ye saye haue thus destroyed the good companye whiche for to enhauÌ„se the fayth of Ihesu Crist ben departed out of theyr contre in suche wyse that the most mortal enemyes that they haue had not don werse They desire moche to knowe yf it were by
desired moche to be auenged of so grete oultrage Therfor sente he for alle the barons of th empyre and assembled moche grete court and made to be sayd and shewde in the presence of them alle the pryde and rebellyon of them of Saxone· wherof he demaunded debonayrly counseyl and theyr helpe They acorded alle that this thynge was for to be auenged asprely They habandouned bodye and power to themperour for thamendynge of this trespaas They departed and eche wente in to his countre· Themperour somoned his hooste as strongly as he myght at a castel on the marche of Saxone· whan they were entred in to the londe theyr enemyes sayde that they wolde fyghte ayenst them ffor they were prowd and fiers in suche wyse that they sette but lytil by the power of themperour whan they knewe that they must fyght they ordeyned theyr bataylles ffor they had moche peple And had ynowe Thenne demaunded themperour of whom they were acorded that shold bere thaygle which is the fawcon of th empyre They choos to fore alle other for to doo that the valyaunt duc of Loreyne worthy and moost sufficiant to do it They reputed it for a moche grete worship that he was thus chosen by comyn acord of them alle Neuertheles he with sayde it and refused as moche as he myghte But he muste nedes take it on hym This daye cam and that one partye approuched that other in suche wyse that they assembled fiersly ther were many men put to deth ffor they were merueillously wroth eche ayenst other whyles thus as the bataylle was grete and fyers in many places· the duc Godeffroye that conduyted the bataylle of Themperour espyed a grete Rowte of men wherin was this Raoul whiche was lorde of saxone ayenst them in the duc dyde do assemble the peple of themperour The duc knewe this Raoul· and smote the hors with his spores ayenst hym· And with the gonfanon that he bare Iusted ayenst hym in suche wyse that he bare hym thurgh the bodye and slewe hym that he fylle doun deed in the place And Incontinent he redressyd and reysed on heygthe his baner alle blody his peple sawe that they had loste theyr lord and anon were disconfyted Somme fledde· somme fylle doun vnto the feet of themperour and put them in his mercy Alle the gentilmen and other gaf good hostages for tobeye euer after to hym and be at his commauÌ„ment Many other prowesses made the valyaunt duc godeffroye but it behoueth not to put them alle in this historye ffor my purpose now is for to recountre of the holy londe by yonde the see and not of them on this syde· but of them of whom ye may vnderstande that he was in his countre noble and a valyaunt knyght· Of his largesse ayenst oure lord I shal saye to you one thynge by whiche ye maye vnderstande the other In the duchye of Loreyne was a castel whiche was moost renommed and chyef of thonour of buyâ—lon And bare that name whan he shold meue to goo 〈◊〉 his pylgremage by yonde the see he gaf this castel as the mooste noble and hyest of his herytage vnto oure lord in Almesse in to the chirche of lyege for to abyde there for euermore How the valyaunt duc godeffroy augmented the holy chirche And how he wold neuer bere crowne· cao. Clxxxxâ—â— sYth that he had thus by election the RoyaÌ„mâ— like as a deuoute and a relygyous man as he was 〈◊〉 louid moch holy chirch the seruise of our lord by coÌ„seyl of the bisshops of other wise clerkes that were in thoost he ordeyned fyrst in the chirchâ— of the sepulcre of our lord and in the temple clerkes for to serue· establysshed chanonnes gaf to them grete rentes large herytages of which they shold take theyr preâ—endes· he wold that the chirches in thoo partyes there shold be ordeyned after the establementis vses and custommes of the greâ—e chirches of fraunce He began moche hyly wel had accomplysshed yf our lord had gyuen to hym lenger lyf He had brought with hym oute of his countre relygyous Monkes whiche sayde and songe theyr 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 al a longe the waye as he cam· he gaf to them 〈◊〉 Abbâ—ye in the vale of Iosaphat· and establysshed them therâ— And endowed them there moche Rychely with good rentâ—s and reuennes And gaf to them grete pryueleges he was a very relygyous and deuoute man· And had his herte moche large vnto holy chirche· And gaf therto many grete thynges whan he was chosen to be kynge alle the barons requyred hym that he wold do hym be crowned and receyue thonour of the Royamme aâ— hyly as the other kynges in Cristendom doo he answerde that in this holy cyte where our sauyour Ihesu Criste suffred deth and had born a crowne of thornes vpon his heed for hym and for the synners he wold neuer bere yf it playsyd god crowne of gold ne of precious stones but hym semed that it was ynowe of that coronacion that he had the daye of his passion for to honoure alle the kynges Cristen that shold be after hym in Iherusalem ffor this cause he refused the crowne Ther ben soÌ„me men that wyll not accompte hym emong the kynges of Iherusalem but me thynketh that therfore he ought not to be lassed ne dymynued of his honoure but the more and hyer exalted and enhaunced ffor he dyde not this for despysyng of the sacrament of holy chirche· but he dyde it for tesche we the bobaunce and pryde of the world and for the grete mekenes humylyte that he had in his herte wherfore thenne I saye not only that he was not kynge but he was gretter than ony kynge that holdeth ony Royamme syth that the holy londe of Iherusalem was conquerd How the turkes of Arabe and of Egypte made theyr somauÌ„ce for to come in to Surye tassaylle our cristen men cao. CCo. nEwly whan the cyte was taken yet er that the Barons were departed cam tydynges in to the toun of Iherusalem trew they were that the Calyphe of Egypte which was the mooste puyssaunt and myghtiesâ— of all the londe of thoryenâ— had somoned alle his power· knyghtes gentilmen and alle otheâ— that myght bere armes in suche wyse that he had assembled a grete hooste merueyllously· ffor he had grete desdayne and despyâ—e of this that so lytil peple whiche were of a straunge londe and ferre â—ountrâ—y were so hardy and durst come in to this londe and Royamme and had taken the cyâ—e whiche he had â—onquerd vpon his enemyes he made come to fore hym his conâ—stable whiche was prynce of his hoost· he was named Elafdales To this man he commaunded that he shold take all this peple with hym goo in to Surye And renne vygorously vpon this peple that were so folyssh and oultrageous that had torned his peas and made warre to his peple Therfor he commaunded hym that he shold efface and destroye