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
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
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
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
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
lion nor no bore fought so stroÌ„gly agaiÌ„st anye other beast as he dyd fyght against our men at eueri pace that he made forwarde he turned himself agaynst vs with Alarde behinde him that made vs so greatly abasshed the wee might not beare nor abyde his great strokes at this turnyng that he thus made he slew Esmenfraye a knight of Charlemaynes which he loued muche and whan he had slain hym he tooke his horse gaue him to Alarde made him to goe downe fro Bayarde and lighted anon vpoÌ„ the horse of Esmenfray And thus they went from vs wolde we or not And I wente agayne to Parys to Charlemayne and shewed to hym how the thynge was come and how Esmenfray was slayne wherof I trowed not to haue had blame but he bâ—amed me ryght greatlye for it but sixh that he is my heauy lorde with out a lawfull cause I shall make hiÌ„ wrothe and sory afore syx monethes come at an ende YE haue doone euyll sayd the lady that ye haue thus sore dommaged our chyldren ye should defeÌ„d them agaynst all men and ye doo to them the worste that ye can be they not your sonnes naturell comen of your owne flesshe For soothe my lorde ye ought wel to bear your self better towarde them than ye doo for neuer so ryche a bourdeyne was bore in the wombe of a lady blessed be the houre that they were beâ—otten nourisshed so helpe me goâ— my Lorde as I wolde that you children and myne had taken you prisoner to the ende that ye should yeelde to them agayne al that they haue loste by you and I thanke god right hyghly that Charlemayne is wrothe with you For euyll to doo may no good come of ye assayled your children agaynst god and agaynst ryghtwysenes and yf harme is come to you therefore thanked be God Than sayd Aymon Lady ye say me right for I haue doone great wronge and I promytte you that I neuer dyd thinge wherof I repent me so sore as I doo of this But truste I shall keep me another time to doo them ani harme ¶ But heere leaueth the history to speake of Charlemayne and of the duke AymoÌ„ of the duchesse his wife returneth to speake of reynawd and of his brethern that are in the woddes of Ardeyn ¶ How after that the olde Aymon had discoÌ„fited his children thei went and dwelled in the â—epeste of the forest of Ardeyne so longe that they were all couÌ„trefayte blacke rough as beastes for the great hungre that they had endured After they wente to Ardeyne to see theyr mother that feasted chered them greatly gaue to them so great good that they myght well enterteyne theymselfe and theyr estate thervpon agaynst Charlemayne And how Mawgys theyr cosin arriued whan they wolde departe whiche went with them into the Realme of Eascoyn wyth fyue hundred knightes And of the sorow that theyr lady mother made at theyr departinge Capitulum .iiii. IN this party the tale sayth that after that Reynawde had slayne Esmenfray and giueÌ„ his horse to his brother Alarde they passed ouer the ryuer and went into the forest of Ardeyn sore deep in it by cause they wolde not be aperceyued And whan they had ben there a lytle whyle they begaÌ„ to keep the wayes all they that came for by them and that bare any vytayles they were distressed by them and ther of they liued for they durste not goe to no towne nor to no Castelles for to bye anye vytaylles and therefore they suffred great need greate dysease for they had nother meate nor drynke but water For the most parte they eate flesshe without anye breade And knowe that for cause of thys great suffrauÌ„ce that they endured thus also of the great colde that they had for by cause of the snowes that were there theyr folke began to dy And abode nomo liue but Reynawd and his brethern And thys was because of the great strength that was in theyr bodies For no trauayle might not hinder them And wit that they had but eche of them foure an horse that is to wit Bayarde and the thre other but they haue nother Otes nor other Corne for to gyue theym but they eat only such as they might fynde in the forest of rootes and leaues And for this cause theyr horses were so leane that with peyne might they stande saue Bayarde that was fatte and in good plight for he could better feede and lyue with rootes than the other shoulde haue doon with hey andotes And wyt it well that the foure sonnes of Aymon lyued there this life so longe that euery man that passed there as they were and kepte theim selfe escaped not but he was other slayne or distressed of suche vycailles as he had so that all the countrie aboute them was sore wasted by theim that it was meruaille And at the laste the foure knightes were so sore apayred that they that had seene them afore shoulde not haue knowen them for their harnays was all rusty and their saâ—lles and brydelles all rotten so that they had made their reines with cordes And them self were become all blacke And it was no meruayle for they weared alwayes their cote of mayle all roustye vpon their doublettes and hadde nother sherte nor Iacket but they were all rotten ⧠What shal I tel you more and wyt that Reynawd was douted and feared sore that it was meruail For nigh there as Reinawd hauÌ„ted was no man that durst abide there but onely within the fortresses For whan Reynawd was mounted vpoÌ„ Bayarde and his three brethern vpon their other three horses all their rychesse and power was with them and yet they wasted and destroyed all the countrie all about theim And so the foure poore knightes were so sore disfigured that who someuer had seene them should not haue knowen them For they were as roughe as beres that been famyshed and were ryght sore lene that euery bodye had of it pytie ANd whan Reynawde sawe himselfe so porely arayed he called to him his brethern and sayde Lordes I meruayle my selfe muche that we take not some good counsell what we haue to doo and me semeth that we ben become yl that slouthe is amonge vs. For yf we were such as I crowed We shoulde not suffre the martirdome that we endure and that we haue endured so longe a goe no we know I that we ben but lytel worth to haue let reste oure enemyes as we haue But one thing I consider we haue but fewe horses litell harneis no money at a land yet we ben in such a plight that we ben more like beastes thâ—n folke So praye I you all in generall that ye wil tell me what we ought to doo for the best for I tel you for very certaine that I had muche leuer die as a knight than for to die heere for hungre for dysease ANd whan Alarde hearde Reynawde speake thus he sayde brother so
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
vpon the othe that ye haue made to me that ye will counseyll me truelye howe I shall be ruled in thys matter and howe I myghte haue thys Castell of Mountawban whan the kinge had thus spoken there was none so hardye that euer durste saye one worde but onely the Duke Naymes of Bauier the prâ—e and wyse knyght Syr said the Duke Naymes ye aske counsell for to besyege Mountawban but no manne that hathe any reason in his heade oughte not to counseyll you the same for whye the daunger is there greate because that Guynard the lorde of Berne knoweth of it and so dooth Godfray the Lorde of Poycy that are good knightes and sore dread for theyr worthynes and also the kinge yon that is at tholouse the whiche shall come all to helpe and succour Reinawd by cause they be of his aliauÌ„ce and also they know that he is one of the best knyghtes of the worlde And they knowe well also that Reynawd gyueth to vs muche to doone and so I tell you if they see themselfe togyther they shal giue you ynoughe to doo and shall maye beare to you a great dommage But and ye wil haue good counseyll and beleue me I shal gyue it to you truelye Syr sende worde to kynge yon that he withdraw not nor keep your enmyes within hys londe but that he yeeld them in to youre handes for to doo with them youre pleasure and your commaundemente And yf he wyll not doo so ye shall destroye all his londe and no mercy ye shall haue vpon him Naymes saide the kynge nowe gyue you me good counseyll and I wyll that ye haue saide be doone incontynente Than the kyng made come an Heraude of hys and sayde to hym Nowe goe lyghtlye to Tholouse and tell kynge yon on my behaulfe that I am entred in to Gascoyne accompanyed of the twelue peeres of Fraunce with an hundred thousand fyghting menne and with Rowlande and Olyuer and telle hym that by saynt Denys of fraunce yf he yeelde me not my enmyes that been the foure sonnes of Aymon that I shall waste and destroye all hys londe nor to hym shall abyde nother cytie nor Castell but it shal be ouer throwen to the earth And yf I canne take hym I shall take from him hys crowne so shall he be called kynge ouerthrowen Syr sayde the Heraude your commaundement I shall doo without varying of one word euen as your good grace pleaseth to commaunde me and thus departed the Heraude from the hoste of Charlemayne and tooke hys way towarde Tholouse there he founde the king yon of Gascoyn in his pallays with a right fayre company assone that he saw the king he knew hym well so made he than to hym the reuerence and said to him in the Emperours behalfe the thing worde by worde wherof he was sent there ANd whan the kyng yon vnderstoode the Heraude that spake so he bowed hys head towarde the earthe and began to thinke a longe while and said not a word And whaÌ„ he had thus longe mused ynoughe he said to the messaÌ„ger Good freend ye muste cary heere a seuen nyght I praye you and than I shall tell you my wyl and what I purpose to doo Syr saide the Heraude I shall abyde with a good will sith that it please you Than wente the king yon in to hys chambre and eyght earles with him and coÌ„maunded that the doores should be well sheete and than they set theim all vpon a benche And whan they were al set the kyng yon tooke the worde and said in this maner Lordes I beseche and require vpon the faith that ye owe to me that ye geue me good counseyll to the honoure of me not at my will but by reason Nowe wit it that the kynge Charlemain is entred within my loÌ„d with the tuelue peeres of Fraunce and Rowlande and Oliuer with an hundred thousande men And he sendeth to me word but if I deliuer vnto him the four sonnes of Aimon he shall not leaue me nother citie nor towne but he shal cast all to chearth and shal take the crown fro my head and so shal I becalled a kinge ouerthrowen My father helde neuer nothing of him and no more shal I it is better to die with great worship than to liue in great shame THan whan the king you had thus spoken there rose vp a knight named Godfraye that was neuew to king yon and sayd to him sir I merueyll me that ye aske counseyll for to betray suche knightes as ben the foure sonnes of Aimon Reinawde is your man and your carnall freend ye know what good he hathâ— doone to you and to your londe It is not longe a goe that he dyscomfited Marcyl the puysaunt Sarasin and chased him well foure mile and smot of his heade and presented it to you and ye haue promysed and sworne to him that ye shal defend and keep him him ayenst all menne Mine vncle if ye thynke to faylle him and wil not holde that ye haue promised to him let him and his bretherne goe out of your londe in to some other countrie to seeke theyr aduenture And hapely they shall serue some lorde that shal doo to them more good then ye wyll doo and also I praye you my deare lord and vncle as much as I caÌ„ that ye wil doo nothing that turneth you to blame nor to dyshonour nor that can be caste by maner of reproche toward your freendes Than spake the olde earle of Ansom and said Sir ye wil that we giue you counseill yf ye wil doo that we shal counseil you ye shal doo wel for your selfe Now say on hardely said the king that semeth you best to be doo for I wyll doo as ye shall counseyll me Syr sayde the earle ye haue wel heard saye and so it was trouth that Benes slew the earle Lohier wherfore Charlemaine sente for him and made hys head to be smyten of at Parys and at that time Reinawd and his brethern were verye yonge and of them was none mencyon made And afterwarde whan they were great the kyng wold amende it to them For the thynge toucheth them but they had the hert so fell that they wolde take none amendes and lasted theyr hate longe wherof euer syth hathe come greate harmes and euylles For Reynawde slewe Berthelot the neuewe of the king with a chesse borde sir I know not why I shoulde hyde anye thynge fro your knowledge ye knowe well that Charlemaine is so myghtye a kyng that he neuer vndertooke wanâ— but he came to his aboue of it Wherfore I doo geue you counseyll that ye yeelde Reinawde and hys brethern and Mawgis to the kynge Charlemayne and thus shall ye be delyuered of a greate thoughte and of a greate daunger And after thys spake the erle of Mobandes and sayde syr yf ye wil doo this that the erle of Ansom counseilleth you yee and we shall be traytours For Reynawd is your man and so muche ye haue
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
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
suche a childe as ye take me for Whan Rowlande felte that great stroke that Reinawde had gyuen to hym he was all meruaylled of it and withdrewe hymselfe a backe for he wold not that Reynawd should haue recouered a nother stroke vpon hym sodenly and sette hande to Durandall his good swerde and ranne vpon Reinawde and Reynawd helde his sheelde ayenst it and Rowlande smot in to the sheelde so great a stroke that he cloue it by the middes through and through the stroke descended vpon the helme and dyd it no harme And whan Rowland had made that stroke he said to Reinawd Vassail ye be now quite for I haue yelded you againe that ye lended me ryghte nowe Nowe shall I see who shall begynne agayne By my soule sayd Reinawde fowle fall haue I now yf I feyne me nowe For I dyd but playe afore nor your fraunchyse shal neuer auaylle you ayenst me but that I shall brynge youre pryde all downe to the erthe Reynawde said Rowland yf ye doo this that ye say ye shall werke merueilles And all thus as they wold haue begon again the bataylle so came there Mawgis al his company said to Reinawd Cosyn mounte vpon bayarde for it were to great a losse yf you or Rowlande were deade there came Ogier Olyuer and made Rowland to light agayne vpon his horse But wit it well that Ogyer had not be so gladde yf one had giue to him a great cytie as he was be cause that Reynawde had cast downe Rowland his horse And whan they had recouÌ„tred Rowland they began a sore batayle and a cruell and so fell that it was pytie for to see for the one hewe the other without anye mercye And whan Rowland sawe that the batail was begon again his hert dyd swell for angre by cause that Reinawde bad ouerthrowen him to the ground so beganne he to cal as hyghe as he myght Where are ye gone Reynawde the sonne of Aymon goe a side and lette vs parfornyshe our batayl for men knowe not yet whiche is the best knyghte of vs two Syr sayde Reynawde ye haue the courage of a knyght that wyll conquere honour but and we fyght heere togyther our folke shall not suffre it But lette vs doo one thyng that I shall tell you ye be well horsed and I am also let vs bothe swyme ouer the ryuer and goe to the wood of serpente For ye canne not wyshe no better place for to fyght and we shal not be there departed th one fro the other of our folke but wâ— shall maye fyght there togyther tyll the one of vs two be discomfited ouercome Certes sayde Rowlande ye haue well spoken and I graunt it as ye haue said and thaÌ„ they spurrrd their horses for to goe to the wood of the serpent but Olyuer tooke heed to them tooke RowlaÌ„d by the brydell and withhelde hym wolde he or no and Reinawde went for to haue passed ouer the ryuer vpon bayarde that ran as the winde and walloped so harde that he made al the erthe where he passed to shake vnder him as he raÌ„ in this maner he looked afore him saw the king yon that was auyronned with well foure score knightes that keept hym for feare of Reinawd lest he and his bretherne shoulde haue rescued hym these knyghtes ledde him shamefullie as ye haue hearde afore And whaÌ„ Reynawde sawe the kyng he was gladde of it and sayd Ha good lorde blessed be thy name whan ye haue graunted me so fayre aduenture and with this he set hande to hys swerd and spuâ—red bayard with the spurres and cried as highe as he could lette goe the kyng yon euell folke that ye be For ye be not worthy to ley hande vpon him And than he entred wyth in them and smot a knight vpon his helme so rudely that he cloue his head to the harde teeth and ouerthrewe him dead to the earth And whan the other sawe Reynawd amonge them they put themselfe to flyght and said the one to the other The deuyll hath brought this cruell man heere nowe lette vs flee goddes curse haue he that shall abide him for the soule of hym that wilfully suffreth him selfe to be slaine shall neuer come to the mercye of god And than they put themselfe into the thyckest of the forest and lefte behynde theym the kynge yon that they lodged as a prysoner And Reynawd came streyght to hym and vnbounde hym and vnstopped hys eyen and after sayde to hym Ha euell kynge how haue ye the hert for to betray vs so falslye as ye haue doone me and my brethern dyd we euer any thing that was in your displeasure It is not longe on you but that we should haue been all hanged by this but I shal smite of your head euen anon and shall auenge me and my bretherne vpon your body WhaÌ„ the kynge yon sawe Reynawde that hadde delyuered hym he kneeled a downe before hym and sayde to him Certes noble knyghte it is well reason that men slea me Wherof I pray you for god that your selfe will take the lyfe fro me and cut of my heade and lette it be doone by none other and pulle out my tonge wherwyth I spake that treason For I haue well deserued greater martyrdom and all this made me doo the erle of Ansom and the erle Anthony Now slea me for god for such an euil man as I am oughte not to liue longe I haue much leuer that ye kill me with your swerde than that cruell kynge Charlemayne should make me to be hanged Now lyghte vp sayde Reynawde for ye shall be well payed as ye haue deserued ⧠But heere leaue I to speake of the kyng yon of Gascoyne and of Reinawde that been in the wood of the serpente where that he taryed after Rowland for to fight with him as he had promysed vnto hym and shal retourne for to speake of Rowland and of Oliuer that spake vnto their folke for to tell theym a parte of their besines howe they had be dyscomfyted IN this parte sheweth the history that after Reinawd was departed from the bataylle for to goe fight body to body ayenst Rowlande the neuewe of the king Charlematiâ— in the wood of the serpente Rowland Olyuer and Ogier the Dane fought ayenst Alarde Guycharde and the litell Rychard ayenst Mawgys and ayenst theyr folke and the batayle was there so sharpe and so fell of one parte and of the other so that greate hurte and scathe was there made of both partes but at the laste the dyscomfyture turned vpon Rowlande and vpon his folke In so muche that Rowlande and Olyuer were constrayned by force for to goe backe againe all dyscomfyted for the three bretherne and Mawgis made ayenst them so greate efforte of armes that they gate the pryce that daye And thus as Rowlande wente backe againe all dyscomfyted he bare his head low for he was a shamed that he had be so
wyth you Wherfore syr yf ye wyll beleue me for your honour and for your profit ye shal seÌ„d worde to Reynawde that he delyuer you agayne Rycharde of Normandye all armed vpon his horse and ye shall make peace wyth hym and I promyse you syr he shall doo it gladly wyth all that ye wyl commaunde hym and so shall all hys brethern also Rowland sayd than the king wil ye say any thing more Nay syr sayd Rowlande And I sweare you vpon my fayth that the foure Sonnes of Aymon shall neuer haue peace with me and so I tel you that I feare me not for Rycharde of NormaÌ„dy for Reynawde should rather put out bothe his owne eyen thaÌ„ that he durst doo to Rycharde any harme vpon his body And whan the barons heard Charlemayne speake so the teares began to fal downe froÌ„ theyr eyen for great feare that Richarde of Normandye theyr Peere should haue any harme After all these thynges Reynawde and his bretherne were wythin Ardeyne making great Ioy. And after they were all out of theyr harneys Reynawde ordeyned good watche vpon the walles of the Citie And than he made come the duke Richarde of Normandy afore hym sayde to him in thys maner Duke richard ye know wel that the king doth great wronge for to trouble vs so as he hath doone and yet dooth withoute any resonable cause And therfore I tell you for certayne but yf that ye make vs to haue peace thinke not to lyue onye lenger for I shall doo smyte of your head and your body to be hewed in foure quarters Sir said the duke Richarde of Normandye I am in your daunger so maye ye doo of me your pleasure Ye haue taken me by warre and none otherwyse yf ye doo to me otherwyse than ye ought of ryght of warre ye shall haue dysshonour for euer more And so I wyll wel that ye know that as long as I liue I shall not fayle Charlemayne for no feare of death Whan Reynawde hearde Richarde of Normandye speake thus he refrayned a lytle his wrathe and than he commauÌ„ded that he should be put in yrons within his chaÌ„bres and that he should be well kept and curteysly and that he be well serued of that apperteyneth to hys estate Than was the Duke Rycharde all thus in prison but he was well serued of all good meates and he had good companye for to playe to what game that he wolde And also the good Duchesse clare dyd vysite him often and recoÌ„forted hym with her fayre langage WHan Charlemaine had beseged the Citie rounde aboute and sawe that by no sawtynge he myght not get it he dyd doo make many great engynes for to cast stones in but what someuer that he dyd Reynawde and his brethern and also his folke yssued out often as well by night as by day vpon the folke of the king Charlemayne and did him great domage for Reynawde tooke no man but he kept him prisoner for to see yf he myght haue peace wyth Charlemayne by meanes of them And whyle that Charlemayne had layde his siege thus afore Ardeyne the king Yon of gascoygne fell sike a bed of a great sickenes shrofe hym of al his sinnes praying god to haue pitie and mercy on hym and after he had be longe sycke he died God pardon hys soule And wyt that Reynawde made hym be buryed worshypfully as to a kinge perteyneth but there was no man that wept for hym for all they of the Citie hated hym bycause of the greate treason that he had doone to the foure sonnes of Aymon ¶ Now leueth the hystorye to speake of this mater returneth to speake of Mawgis that was in his hermitage that serued our lorde with good herte so muche that he had forgoten Reynawde his brethern hys freendes ¶ How Mawgys he beynge in hys hermytage came in hym a wyll by a vysyon that he had by nyght in a slepe for to go see Reynawd his brethern And how he met with two marchauÌ„tes that .vii. theues had robbed in a wood of whyche theues the sayde Mawgys slew fyue delyuered to the Marchauntes all theyr good agayne And after this he went to Ardeyne for to see Reynawde and his brethern NOw sheweth the history that whan Mawgys was in his hermitage had watched so longe about hys prayers to God he fell a slepe and him semed in his slepe that he was at Mountawban and sawe Reynawde and his brethern that came agaynst him and made theyr complaynt to hym of Charlemayne that wolde take fro them the good horse Bayarde but Reynawde had hym fast by the brydle and wolde not let it goe And wit it that Mawgys had so great sorow in his dreame that he a woke withall al wrothe and arose on his feete incontinent And than he sware our Lorde he should neuer ceasse to goe tyll he had seen Reynawde and hys brethern his good cosyns And whan Mawgis had said so he made none other tarying but he shet the doore of hys chapell and tooke his weede and hys staffe and went on his waye also soone as he myght And about the houre of noone he founde hymselfe in a great wood where he founde two men makyng euyll cheere and great sorow whaÌ„ Mawgys sawe them he cam to theÌ„ and sayd God be with you And one of them answered and sayd certes god is not with vs but rather the deuyll for vnhappy was that houre that euer we came into this wood for we ben vndoone for euer Good Syrs sayde Mawgys what eyleth you that ye speake so Good man sayd the one of the two a litle before you are theues that hath robbed vs of our clothe and haue slayne one of our felawes bycause he speake to them angrely Whan Mawgys heard theese poore marchauÌ„tê speke thus he had great pitie of them and sayd to them My freendes come with me I shal pray the theeues in our Lordes behalfe that they wyll delyuer you agayne your goodes and yf they wil not doo it I shall be wrothe with theÌ„ so I shall fight with theÌ„ wel as I can with my staffe for to wit yf theyr heades ben soft or harde Whan the marchauÌ„tes hearde Mawgis say so they began to looke vpon hym if they could know him but they might not knowe what he was Then spake to hym one of theÌ„ in this maner and what deuyll is that ye say thou art but a man alone all naked and they ben all armed and also ye can scantlye heaue vp your staffe Let this foole alone sayd that other see ye not howe his eyen goe in his head And than they sayd to Mawgys Brother go thy wayes and let vs in peace or els I shal giue thee suche a stroke with this same stafe that thou shalt feele it well And whan Mawgys saw the marchaunt speke thus to him he sayde Brother thou dooste not wel to speake to me so for by force thou cannot get ought of
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
coÌ„fessed them to the Pope and whan they were confessed they returned agayne into the shyp and tooke theyr way towarde Fraunce Shortly to speake they dyd so muche by theyr iourneys that they came to Ardeyne about noone whan the pleople of Adeyne wist the Reynawde Mawgis were comyng they were neuer so glad went to alarde and sayd wit that your brother Reynawde our lorde is come and also Mawgis your cosin whole and souÌ„d thanked be god ANd than whan Alarde and hys brethern heard these tydynges of theyr brother Reynawde that was come they had almost swouned for great ioye that they had and anon went to the gate of the towne agaynst theyr brother but they fouÌ„d him that he was all redy in the towne whan they saw him they ran him agaynst and Alarde enbraced hym fyrst weepyng and after kyssed him by great loue in likewyse dyd Guicharde and Richarde and thaÌ„ kissed mawgis theyr good cosin And whaÌ„ they had thus welcomed hym they weÌ„t together in the palays whaÌ„ thei were therr Alarde said to Reynawd fayre brother tell vs howe ye haue founde out cosyn mawgis Brother sayd Reynawde I founde him in coÌ„stantinople bi fortune than he began to reherse vnto them all his aduentures that he had sith he became pilgrime And whan he had tolde al he looked on his brother Alarde in his face saw he was pale whiche gaue hym suspeccion sayde Fayre brother now is it with my wyfe and mi children I meruaile me moche that I see them not heere Brother sayd Alarde haue no doubt for theym for they ben whole and sound at Mountawban and wit it that sith your departing we haue doo repayre again the towne haue doone garnisshe the castell with vitayle ynoughe for feare of warre yf any thynge had happed vs amys And than whaÌ„ Reynawde hearde good tydynges of hys wyfe of his children he was right glad of it and so he kneeled downe and thanked God of it WHan Reynawde knew that hys wyfe his childreÌ„ were wel it recoÌ„forted him muche begaÌ„ to make good cheere but whaÌ„ he saw that his brethern made no great ioy he meruayled muche so turned hym selfe towarde Alarde the syghed sore and sayd to hym Brother I awayte for to heare some heuye tidinges I trowe that that ye haue tolde me is not trouth and if ye tel me not how is it of al I shall go fro my self and therfore I pray you tell it me for I wyll know it WhaÌ„ alarde saw that Reynawde helde him so short he began to weepe full tenderly and than said vnto him Sir sith that it please you that I tell you the trouth I shal doo so Wit it that my lady your wife is deceassed out of this worlde vnto god For euer sithe that ye departed she ceassed not her sorow for nothynge that we could doo or shew vnto her And than she cast all her clothynge into a fyre and wolde neuer were vpon her but a sory maÌ„tel a smocke so longe she wept and sorowed dai and night that she died at last wherof I am sory for it for she was the goodliest and the fayrest of all the worlde WhaÌ„ Reynawde vnderstode these wordes he swouned downe to the erth for great sorowe that he tooke at his herte of the death of the good duchesse Clare his wyfe whan he was come agayne to himself he began to weepe sayd Ha king Charlemayne how wel may I hate you by you haue I lost my wife for she is dead bycause she se that ye chased me out of Fraunce with so great shame to make me goe a foote begging my bread lyke a truaunt but I knewe well that my sinnes ben cause of al this And whaÌ„ Reynawde had made hys mone he sayd to Alarde his brother fayre brother I pray you come shew me the tombe where my wyfe is begrauen Brother sayde Alarde with a good wil I shal doo so and thaÌ„ he brought him to the chirche where his good wife the Duchesse was buryed And whaÌ„ Reynawde cam there he swouned three times vpon her tombe and whaÌ„ he was come again to himselfe began to make great sorow for he rented his clothes and pulled his heaâ—es And whan he had sorowed longe he said as a man replenysshed with sorow Ha god what a pylgrym I am I beleue that there is none in the worlde more vnhappi than I am Now see I wel that I haue lost all my ioye and my coÌ„forte syth that I haue lost the fayrest lady of the worlde and the goodliest And as he was speakyng these wordes came there his children Aymonet yonnet that kneeled before theyr father And whan Reynawde saw the kneelyng afore him he weÌ„d his hert should haue brest So tooke he them vp and kissed them by great loue all weepynge and after sayd to them Mi fayre children see rhat ye be good men for I fere me that ye shal misse me soone And whan Reynawde had sayd this to his children he began to make more sorow than he had doone afore so did Mawgis ThaÌ„ begaÌ„ the sorow through al the towne right great and lasted .x. dayes without cease and whan came to the .xiii. daye Reynawde tooke hys way towarde Mountawban that was almoste as well peopled as it was or the warre began And Mawgys habaÌ„donned neuer reynawde where someuer he went but went alwayes on foote in his hermites araye and as they went thus to MountawbaÌ„ the brethern of Reynawd his children went on foote for to bere company to Mawgys theyr cosin And whan they of Mountawban knewe the coming of theyr lorde they were ryght glad of it made al the streetes for to be hanged with fayre clothes they came agaynst him al together makyng great ioye and made hym great reuerence welcomed him honourably And Reynawde receyued them gladly made theÌ„ good cheere for at that tyme he dyssimuled hys sorowe that he had at his hert bycause he should not dyscomfort hys folke that so great ioy made for hys comyng And also they of MouÌ„tawban welcomed mawgis honourably bicause they loued him of olde very well theÌ„ they brought Reinawde making great ioye vnto the castell and whaÌ„ Reynawde founde himself wythin hys castell of Mountawban he was glad of it and came to a window looked downe into the towne saw that it was as well peopled as euer it was and had meruayle of whens so muche people was come there for to dwell he was ryght glad of it for he weÌ„de neuer to haue seen mouÌ„tawban in that plyght as it was before the warre began After that the feast was ended â—eynawde called his brethern sayd vnto them Lordes I holde me destroyed for loue of the good duchesse whiche I haue lost wherof I am ryght heuy for it for loue of the great goodnes that I haue knowen in her I make my vowe to god that
¶ The right plesaunt and goodly Historie of the foure sonnes of Aimon the which for the excellent endytyng of it and for the notable Prowes and great vertues that were in them is no les pleasaunt to rede then worthy to be knowen of all estates bothe hyghe and lowe ☞ The Prologue AS the Philosopher in the fyrst booke of hys methafysyque sayth that euery man naturally desireth to know and to con newe thynges â–ª And therfore haue the Clerkes people of great vnderstandynge desyred and coueite to lerned sciences and to know vertues of thinges Some by Phylosophy other by Poetrye and other by Historyes and cronyckes of thynges passed And vpoÌ„ these three they haue greatly laboured in suche that thanked be God by theyr good dylygence and laboures they haue had greate knowledge by innumerable volumes of bookes whiche haue be made and compyled by great studye payne vnto thys day And bycause that aboue all thinges the princes lordes of hie estate and entendement desyre to see thy storyes of the ryght noble and hye vertues of the prodecessours whiche ben digne and worthy of remembraunce of perpetuall recommendacion Therfore lace at the request and commaundement of the ryght noble and vertus Erle Iohn Erle of Oxeforde my good synguler and especial lorde I reduced translated out of Frenche into our maternall and Englyshe tongue the lyfe of one of his predecessoures named Robert Erle of Oxeforde tofore sayd which diuerse many great myracles whiche God shewed for him as wel in his lyfe as after his death as it is shewed all a longe in hys sayde booke And also that my sayd Lorde desyreth to haue other Hystories of olde tyme passed of vertues chyualry reduced in lykewyse into our Englishe toÌ„gue he late sent to me a booke in Frenche conteynyng thactes and faytes of warre do one and made agaynst the great Emperour and king of Fraunce Charlemayne by the .iiii. sonnes of Aymon other wyse named in Frenche Les quatre sylz Aymon whyche booke accordynge to hys request I haue endeuorde me to accomplyshe and to reduce it into our englyshe to my great coste and charges as in the translatinge as in enprynting of the same hopyng not doubtyng but that hys good grace shall rewarde me in suche wise that I shal haue cause to pray for his good and prosperus welfare And besechynge his said noble good grace to pardon me of the rude and this simple worke For accordyng to the coppy whyche he seÌ„t to me I haue folowed as nigh as I can and where as any defaute shall be founde I submyt me to the correccion of them that vnderstande the cronycle hystory besethyng theÌ„ to correcte it amende there as they shall fynde faute And I shall praye almighty God for them that so doo to rewarde them in suche wyse that after this shorte and transytory lyfe we all may come to euerlastyng lyfe in heuen Amen ¶ Thus endeth the prologue ⧠Heere foloweth the Table of this presente booke WHo that wyll know the history of the foure noble and worthye knyghtes named the foure sonnes of Aymon wherof the fyrste was called Reynawde the seconde Alarde the thyrde Guychard and the fourthe Rycharde let hym first reade this presente table folowynge In whiche men shall fynde that thys presente booke conteyneth .xxviii. chapytres which speaken of many faire and dyuerse matters whiche they that shall reade thys sayde chapytres shall mowe see the history all alonge And ye shall see in this fyrst chapytre howe that after kynge Charlemayne was come agayne from the partyes of Lombardy where he had had great and merueyllouse battaylles ayenste the sarasyns he helde vpon whitsoâ—daye open courte at Parys where was a fayre felawshyp of Prynces and Barons as ye shall heare after alonge And in the same chapitre ye shall also see howe the same daye the duke Aymon of Ardeyne broughte to the courte hys 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 kyng 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 Parts by the commaundemente of kinge Charlemayne after that he had appointed for the death of his sonne And also in this first chapitre men shal nowe see many other faire matters whiche were to longe for to be reherced in this preambule of this present booke fol. i. THe seconde Chapyter sheweth howe Grysson of hauitefelle and Guenes after that they had slayne the Duke Benes of Aygremount-retourned to Parys and recounted to kynge Charlemayn the mortall treason that they had put to execucyon wherof the kynge was ryghte glad and syn after he was ryghte sorye for it For after that the two bretherne of the Duke Benes made great warre ayenst him and so dyd Gerarde of Rousillon and Dron and Mawgys the sonne of the duke Benes and after they made peace and accorded togyther But the kinge Charlemain accorded not with the foure sonnes of aimon nor to their cosin Mawgys ⧠Item howe Reynawde slew the neuew of king Charlemayne with a chesse boorde as they plaied togyther at the chesse wherof the warre began the whiche was so mortall and lasted so longe that it bare a great dommâ—ge to the realme of fraunce fol. xiii THe thirde chapitre speaketh how after that kynge Charlemayne hadde made all his barons to forsake the foure sonnes of aymon He went and besyeged them at mouÌ„tenforde where he was discomfyted two tymes but the castelle of MouÌ„tenforde was taken after that by treason And after howe Reynawde and his bretherne auenged theim of the traytoures that betrayed theym And after saued theym selfe wythin the forest of Ardeyne where theyr father found theÌ„ as he went from the syege towarde his londe of Dordon And howe for to keep his othe that he had made to kynge Charlemayne He dyd assayle hys sonnes so that of fyue hundred menne that they were there abod on liue with his sonnes but xvii persones But Reynawd and his brethern had none euil but slew many of their fathers men fol. xvi THe fourth chapytre sheweth how after that the olde Aimon had discomfyted his chyldern they went and dwelled in the depest of the forest of Ardeyne and abode there tyll that they were al counterfayte blacke and roughe as wilde beastes for the greate hungre that they had suffred and after they went to Dordon for to see their father that made them good chere and feasted them greately And gaue them of hauoyre so muche that they myghte well make war with ayenst the king and howe Mawgis their cosyn arryued whan that they should haue departed whiche went with theym in to the realme of Gascoygne with fyue hundred knightes And whan theyr mother sawe them departe she was for it full sorye fol. xxxi THe fyfthe
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
kynge but the kynge charged the Duke of Aygremount that she should come to serue hym at the feast of saynt Iohn next comynge And than returned kynge Charlemayne towarde Parys the bretherne went agayne ryght gladde eche of theym towarde hys place for well they trowed for to haue accorde the Duke Benes of Aygremount theyr brother towarde Charlemayne but otherwyse it weÌ„t full lytle was worthe theyr accord for soone after dyed therof the Duke Benes of Aygremount by treason and vnder the saufe conduyte of the kyng Charlemayne as ye shall vnderstande yf ye wyll heare me ¶ Ye shall wyt that a lytle afore the feast of saynt Iohn baptyst that the kyng Charlemayne helde a greate courte in Parys and the Duke Benes forgat not to goe thyther as he had promised so departed he fro AygremouÌ„te wyth two hundred knightes and tooke his way to Parys towarde the kyng for to serue hiÌ„ where he wolde put hym vnto Now shall ye heare how the kynge beyng in parys came towarde hym the earle Guenes his neuewe Aâ—ry foulquet of MorylloÌ„ Hardres Berenger which told hiÌ„ how the duke Benes cam for to serue him with two hundred knightes sayiÌ„g by this maner Syr how may ye loue or well be serued of him that so cruelly hath slayne your sonne oure cosin if your plesure were we should well aueÌ„ge you of hym For in good soth we should slea hym Guenê said the king it were treason for we haue gyuen to hym trewes alwayes doo with it your wyll so that the synne tourne not vpon me kepe you for in certayne the duke of AygremouÌ„t is ryght mighty of great kynred well ye myght happe to haue a doo yf ye fulfil in this your owne enteÌ„t Syr answered Guenes care ye not therfore for therin is so ryche a man in all the worlde the durst vndertake any thynge agaynst me my linage Syr sayd Guenelon to morowe erly we shall departe with foure thousand fyghting meÌ„ take no care for it For we shall delyuer this worlde of hym Certes sayd the king it were treason care not therfore sayd Guenes he slew well your sonne Lohyer by treason whyche was my kynsmaÌ„ and therfore I wyll be auenged and I can Now doo you there in sayde the kynge protestynge alwayes that I am not therto consentyng WHan the mornynge came departed well erly fro Parys the sayd Guenelon and his felawes and wyth them well foure thousaÌ„d fyghtynge men and neuer they taried tyll that they came in the valey of Soyssons and there thei recountred the Duke Benes with hys puyssaunce and whan the Duke Benes sawe them come he sayd to his folke lordes I trow that yonder be some folke of the kynges that retourne again from the courte It is no force sayd one of his knightes I wote not what it may be said the duke For the king Charlemayne is sore vengeable for to auenge hym self and also he hath with hym a lynage of folke the whiche be fell and cruell It is Guenes Foulquet of Moryllon and certayne other of his courte and in trouth to night in my sleape I dreamed that a Gryffon came out of the Heauens that perced my sheelde and all myne armes so that hys nayles stacke into my Lyuer and my mylte and all my men were therof in great tourmeÌ„t they all were eaten wyth bores and of Lions and none of them scaped but one alone And also me semed that out of my mouth yssued a whyte Doue Than sayde one of hys knightes that it was all but well that for cause of thys dreme he ought not to dismay hymself I wote not sayde the duke what god shall sende me but of thys my herte dredeth So coÌ„mauÌ„ded the duke Benes that euery man should arme hiÌ„ selfe hys knyghtes answered that ryght gladly they wolde so doo So began eueryche of them to seeke his armes and habylymeÌ„res Here shal you heare of the harde hewynge and of a thynge heuy to be recounted of the great slaughter that made the tray tour Guenellon of the good Duke Benes of Aygremount THe Erle Guenes rode wyth great force that was wonderfull stronge and fyers well accompanyed Than went and met with the Duke Benes fyrste Foulquet of Moryllon the whiche sayde to him that he had doone il for to slea Lohyer the eldest sonne of king Charlemayne but or euer the euyn cam he should haue a sory rewarde for it Whan the duke vnderstode hym he meruayled hym selfe muche and said Ha god howe myght one kepe hym from traytours Alas I helde the king Charlemayne for a true prince I se now the contrary but a fore that I dye I shall sell my death ful dere Than went they fought the one party agaynst the other muche angry in so muche that Guenes smote by force the duke his cosyn Reyner so that he ouerthrew hym downe dead to the erthe afore his fete and after he cried with an hye voyce smite on knyghtes for he slew my good cosin Lohier the duke Benes of AygremouÌ„t dayned not accorde with me but nowe I shall sell it him ful deare So ranguenes his folke vpon the duke of Aygremount and the Duke ryght worthyly defended himself smote a knyght named syr Fawcon so that he shoued his swerde into the bodye of hym and he fell dead afore hym And after thys the Duke Benes of Aygremount tooke himselfe for to weepe strongly wisshed much after his two brethern also after his neuewes Alas sayd he deere Sonne Mawgys where be you now that ye be not here for well I wote yf ye wyste this enterpryse ye should well succour me Ha my deere brother the duke of dordon of naÌ„tuel Gerard of roussyllon wel I know the ye shall neuer se me a lyue Alas that ye knowe not the false enterprise of charlemayn of the erle Guenellon that so cruelly by great treason shal this dai make me in humainli for to dye wel I wot that right worthely ye should come helpe me Ha my deere neuewes reynawde Alarde Rychard Guichard so much nede I haue this day of you Ha my deere neuew Reynawde worthy knight as thou art yf it please vnto god of hys benigne grace that thou might know the greuous turment and the sorowfull matter vnto the whiche by treason I am thys day lyuered Wel I wot that by thee I should haue succours For in al the worlde is not thy peere of beautie of goodnes of prowesse of worthynes Now may not this day succoure me al my noble and worthy linage but that cruelly and vnder the saufconduyte of Charlemayne I shall dye pyteously HYers was the bataile right harde to endure but well ye may wyt that the duke of AygremouÌ„t myght not resyste agaynst so manye folke For he had not with him but two hundred knyghtes and the other were more than foure thousand thus were they euyll matched ThaÌ„ should ye
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
lyghted on horsebacke And whan they were redy Reynawde sayde to them Lordes how many men ben we We ben answered Alard well .v. hundred It is ynough sayd Reynawde But wot ye what we shal doo let vs keep ourselfes alwayes together without makynge of anye affraye and so goe thorough the lande of Almayne and yf the folke of Charlemayne hap to assayle vs thynke to defende ourself well and smyte harde vpon them so that we haue to our worship the better of them whan it was tyme to light on horsebacke Reynawde moūted vpon Gayarde and the other also lyghted vpon theyr horses And whan they were all horsed they opened the gate and wente out at theyr leyser wythout makynge any noyse And whan they were all yssued out Reynawde behelde and saw the castell the brente wherof he tooke greate pitie and sayd Ha god good castel it is great domage that ye be thus distroied and wasted goddes curse haue he that betrayed this good castel It is a goe seuen yere that ye were made fyrste Alas we haue had there in so muche good and so mykyl worshyp and nowe we leue you mawgre vs. Certes ye were my truste after my brethern And whan I muste leese you there is none so sory for it as I am And as he spake these wordes the teres fell downe from his eyen and he was so taken with greate heuynes that almoste he fell downe in a swoune so muche of sorowe he had in his herte ANd whan Alarde sawe Reynawde so full of sorowe he came to hym and sayd By my fayth brother ye be to blame to say so ye be not the man that shall come to mischief For all the knightes that ben a lyue are not worthe you and therefore I pray you that ye wyll confort yourselfe for I swere you vpon all halowes that afore two yere be passed ye shall haue a Castell that shall be worthe suche foure as this is but now let vs put our selfe to the waye for we haue no need to tari Brother sayd Reynawde I haue founde euer in you good counsell Now goe we than our way and take you Guycharde the forewarde and I and Rycharde shall come behinde Syr sayd Alarde all shall be doone as ye saye And than tooke Alarde his brother Guycharde with him and wente afore with a. C. knightes with them and had forthe theyr caryage in the myddes of theim And Reynawde Rycharde came after with the resydue of theyr folke but they could neuer make nor passe so softli but that the folke of the hoste of the emperoure ouertooke them THan whan Charlemayne knewe we that Reynawde came he was muche wrothe made his cōmaūdemente that euery man should be armed than the hoste began to moue and went incontinent and armed themselfe whan Alarde and Guycharde that wente afore sawe that they myght not passe but that they must medle they spurred their horses ranne vpon Charlemayns folke so sharpely that they were all an angred with it for thei ouerthrew two knightes to the grounde and in continent was there greate a doo And whan Reynawde sawe that the hoste moued he called to hym twenty knyghtes and bad them take and lede foorthe the caryage afore out of the hoste he should go helpe hys bretherne syr sayd they we shall doo your commaundemente And than Reynawde spurred Bayarde and entred amonge the thickest and began there to make so great meruayles of armes that all the folke of Charlemaine wondred vpon for he and his bretherne ouerthrew there dead so many knightes that none durst com afore them but he was slayne ¶ What shall I tell you wyt it that the folke of king Charlemayne was so discōfited for bicause that it was nyght and myght not well see what nombre of folke the foure bretherne were that Reynawde and hys company passed mawgre them of the hoste And also I tel you for certayne that Reynawde and hys brethern dyd so great harme to the folke of Charlemayne that he was sory for it mani dayes after whan Reynawde was passed he foūd his sommers and his caryage and his Knightes that conduyte them wherof he was glad Thā he sayde to his brethern Syrs go on your waye and they dyd hys commaundement and Reynawde wyth his brother Rycharde abode behynde and whan Charlemayne wyste that Reynawde went a way he was glad by cause he had left the Castell of Mountaynforde and incontinent he made hym to be folowed and also the hoste was redelye armed and whan they were well arayed they tooke theyr way after the foure sonnes of Aymon NOw ben the foure knyghtes bretherne ryght sory of that they haue thus left theyr fayre castel of Mountaynforde and wit it that Charlemayne folowed them well of nyghe and sayd that it should hurt him sore but yf he might take them But Reynawde the worthy knyght is not abasshed but he taketh all his folke and setteth them afore hym sayde to hys brother Alarde Good brother Alarde take kepe of thys folke betwene you and Guicharde and yf the folke of Charlemayne assayle vs we shal defēd vs wel Syr sayd Alarde as ye haue sayd so shall it be doone And than they saw come Charlemayne and Ogyer the Dane the duke Naymes of bauiere Foulques of Moryllon and many other and whan Charlemayne that came afore well horsed saw Reynawde his folke he cryed to them and sayde So helpe me god glotons ye be now dead this is the day that I shall make you all foure to be all hanged Syr answered Reynawde it shall not be so as ye wene and it please God for yf god gyue me lyfe and health and to my horse Bayarde the pursucte shall sore dere be bought that ye nowe doo And whan he had sayd the same he turned Bayarde agaynst Charlemayne for to smite him For he wēde well to haue slayne him wythout any faute The kynge Charlemayne was in daunger to dye yf Reynawde had raught hym but Dampe hughe wente betwene the kynge and Reynawde that came with hys spere in the rest wylling for to doo great harme And at this coming he smote Dampe hughe thorough the sheelde so harde that he perced his herte wyth the Iron of his spere and so he fell downe dead afore the kynge And whan Reynawde had gyuen that stroke he wente hys waye after hys brethern WHan Charlemaine saw hughe fall dead he cryed with an highe voyce Now after lordes after for if these glotons scape vs I shal neuer be mery Reynawde came agayne to hys folke and sayd to thē Lordes doubt you not as longe as I am a lyue but be al assured and so ryde on hardly and in good araye ¶ What shall I tell you more Wyt it that .xxiiii myle lasted the chase and there was neuer a myle but that they iusted together many knightes were there ouerthrowē slayn But Reynawde and his folke bare themself so māly that they lost but
Reynawd did vpoÌ„ the helmes of steele and vpon the sheeldes of the frensshemen And whan the frensshmen saw that the discomfiture tourned vpon them they began to call Rowlande and sayd to him Ha Rowland what doo ye Why come ye not and helpe youre folke For they beÌ„ dead but if ye succoure them Whan Rowland vnderstood that word wherof he was wrothe and right sory And whaÌ„ he saw his folke so sore handled He began to cry MouÌ„tioye saynt Denys And after spurred his horse and entred in to the medle And went heere there crying Reinawde where be you gonâ— see me heere I am all ready for to doo the battaile of my body ayenst yours that ye aske of me Whan Reynawd hearde Rowlande that called thus after him He put flamberge into his sheth And tooke a speare in his haÌ„d and came there as Rowland was said to him where are ye Rowlande be ye a fearde of me that ye haue taried so longe for beware youre selfe from me and you of me saide Rowlande And thenne they spurred their horses and dyd Iouste the one ayeull the other And whan the frensshmen and the Gascoignes sawe that they withdrewe themselfe fro eche other for to behold the Iousting of the two worthy knightes for to say the trouthe there were not two other such in all the world ANd whan Salamon of Bretayne and Hector the sonne of Oedon saw that the Iousting of Reinawd and of Rowlande was begon they set themself to weep ful tenderly came to the Duke Naimes to the bysshop Turpyn and to Olyuer and sayd to them Howe lordes may ye suffre that one of the best knightes of the worlde and him that we ought to loue best be slayne and dead before you Certes said the duke Naymes that shall be great sorowe to vs for to see And than he came to Oliuer saide to him I praye you that ye goe to Rowland and tel him from vs al that he ought not to fight with Reinawde with the swerde But let him take a speare and breake it vpon Reinawde for to acquite his faythe For yf he slea Reinawde We shal neuer loue him after Lordes sayd then Ogier let them alone ye knowe not Reynawde so well as I doo Reynawde is no childe to be made a ferd so lyghtlye as ye trowe Lette theim shyfte hardely they two togither For by the fayth that I owe to you Rowlande shall be all werye or euer he returne agayne And he shall be as fayne to leaue the batayle as shall Reynawd And ye shal see that Rowland wolde he had not gone there for the best citie that themperoure Charlemaine hath Ogier saide Ector ye speake of it as for enuye certes yf he should fight with Rowland ye should well saye otherwise And than he saide to Olyuer Good syr lette thys batayle be desterred yf ye may by anye wise Lordes saide Olyuer with a good wyll syth that ye will haue it so And than he went to Rowlande sayd to him al that the barons hadde sayde Felaw myn answered Rowland god confounde them for they take away this day the desyre of my vncle Charlemain And than he turned him toward Reynawd and sayd to hym Syr Reynawde ye haue assaied of my swerde and not of my spote Rowlande sayde Reynawde if ye haue youre swerde I shall conne you â—o thanke nor gramercye for it For I feare you not of nothyng but lâ—e vs make an ende of our bataylle And to whome god gyueth the victorye let him haue it Rowland wolde not doo 〈◊〉 but dyd lyke a curteous knighte and he dyd as the barons had sente him worde For he tooke a spere and ranne vpon Reinawde as much as he myght And whan Reinaude sawe he wold none otherwise doo he ranne also with a spere vpon Rowlande and rought eche other so wonderful hard that they made theyr speres to flee all in peeces and whan they had broken their speres they recountred eche other with theyr sheeldes so stronglye that both theyr horses that is to wit Bayard and Melantes stakered and were all astonied therwithal But with that stroke Rowland and Melantes were both felled to the grounde on a heape and Reinawd passed forth by theÌ„ cryinge with an high voyce Mountawban Wherby I tell you for certayne that Rowlande neuer felle downe for no stroke of spere but onely that tyme. but it was no meruaile For he could not holde hym selfe by the cloudes whan his horse had failled hym THan whan Rowlande sawe hymselfe thus ouerthrowen he was not wel contente and rose in continente and toke his swerd in hys hand and came to Melantes for to cutte of his head and began to say euyll courser who keepeth me that I kille the not not sith that thou hast let falle thy selfe throughe the stroke of a childe I shall neuer trust thee So helpe me god Rowlande sayde Reynawd ye doo to Melantes great wronge For it is longe sith that he eat any meat and therfore he can not trauayll lyke bayarde for he is more strong than is your horse and than Reynawde lyghted downe fro bayard by cause that Rowlande was a foote And whan bayarde sawe hys maister a foote he ran vpon Melantis the horse of Rowland smot him with his hinder feet so great strokes that he hadde almost broken his thy whan Rowlande sawe that he was wrothe for it and came towarde bayarde for to haue smyte of hys heade And whan Reinawde sawe that he sayd to Rowland What wyl ye doo it is no worshyppe to you to smyte a beast and yf ye wyl doo any fayte of armes come to me not to my horse for I shall gyue you strokes ynoughe so muche that ye shall be wery of it or we departe but keep wel that I slea not you leue Bayard in peace For there is not in all the worlde an other so good a beast For he did shew it well whan he â—oan the crowne of Charlemayne your vncle in youre presence and yf he doth helpe me he both but his deuoyre that a good horse ought to doo but turne your sheeld towarde me and ye shall see howe Flamberge cutteth Reynawde Reinawde sayd Rowlande threten not so much For before thys day be com at an ende ye shall see a thynge that shall not please you ouer much REynawde was not contente whan he vnderstoode the ylle wordes of Rowlande and shooke al for angre and incontinent ranne vp on Rowlande and gaue him suche a stroke vpon his helme that he all to brused it and the stroke slided vpon the sheelde so that he cut of it a great quarter and of the courset of steele also but he cut nothinge of the fleshe And whan Reynawde hadde gyuen Rowlande that stroke he sayde in maner of a mocke to Rowlande what saye ye by my swerde doo it cut well or no for I haue not missed at that stroke now keep you well fro me for I am not
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
sorow Whan Ogier sawe rycharde speake so he was so sorye for it that he fell almost downe to the grounde for greate sorowe in swoune and saide to rycharde in angre What sayest thou foole detestable wylte thou be hanged for yf we said the same that thou sayest to Charlemayne all the golde of the worlde shoulde not saue thee but that thou shouldest soone be haÌ„ged by the necke I care not saide Rycharde happe as it happe wyll And than he turned himselfe toward rowlande and sayde to him I pardon you syr rowlande heere and afore god the faithe that ye haue promised me and that ye gaue me whan ye tooke me afore BalancoÌ„ And whan Ogier heard this he wexed almost mad for greate angre and saide to rowlande Syr beleue not rycharde for he speaketh as a man that is vexed in his spirites and not without a very great cause but keepe vnto him the fayth that ye haue promised to him for it shall be youre greate worshyp yf ye doo so Ogier said Rowlande doubte not I shall keepe to Richard al that I haue promysed him and more Whan rychard hearde that worde he called to hym Ogier sayde Fayre cosyn for god keep your peace for I haue seen here Mawgis ryght now and I wot wel he hath not forgotten me For by the faith that I owe to you such shal lede me to the gybet that shall soone lose theyr head and many other mo with him Cosyn sayde Ogier is it trouth that ye saye that ye haue seen Mawgis heere yea saide Richard without any faute than saide Ogyer blessed be the good lorde of these tydinges now haue I no doubte of Rycharde sith that my cosin knoweth of it And than all the .xii. peeres of frauÌ„ce lighted a foote and came to kynge Charlemayne and sayde to him Syr we ben all your men sworne to you All that we haue sayde and doon We did it for to see whether we myght haue delyuered oute cosyn from deâ—the by your good wyll but sith that it pleaseth not to you that he be saued and that ye wyll that he be hanged We wyll not speake no more ayenst it bycause that ye angre your selfe to sore Now sende Rycharde to be hanged by who me ye wyll for he shall not be letted of vs therfro ⧠How the emperour Charlemain sente Rypus for to hange Richarde And how that Reynawde succoured hym and hanged Rypus hymselfe Capitulum .xiiii. THan sayde Charlemayne by my faith now ye speake wel and wyselye now I pardon you al and than Charlemaine called to hym Ripus of ryplemond and said to him Rypus if ye wil doo so muche for me that ye will goe hange Rycharde I shall make thee lorde of great londes and ye shall be my chamberleyne all your lyfe Syr saide rypus I am all redy to fulfyl your commaundemeÌ„t for Reynawd slewe my vncle besyde balancon ye speake now wel said Ogyer ye shall be a cowarde but yf ye auenge your selfe at this tyme. And whan rypus vnderstood Ogier speake thus he thought him self the more sure for it and ryghte humbly and curteousli he kneeled down tofore the emperour Charlemaine and kyssed his feete after he said to him Syr I am ordeyned for to doo you seruice and youre commaundemente If it please you ye shal make me sure that whan I shal come again fro the hangyng of Richarde that none of your xii yeeres shall not a waite me none euyll turne for it afterward By my fayth said Charlemayne I wyll doo so with a good wil. And than he said to Rowlande and to Olyuer and to al the twelue peeres of fraunce Lordes I will that ye promise him that he shall not be hurte by none of you nor in time to come by no maner of wise by cause I make hym to hange Rycharde The whiche thinge all the xii peeres promised hym with a good wyll And whan typus hadde taken the othe of the .xii. peeres of fraunce for his suretye he went to his owne tente and made him to be armed And whan he was armed he lyghted on horsebacke and came before kyng Charlemain And whan the Emperour sawe him he sayde to hym Rypus take a thousand knightes with you for to keep you and if Reynawd or Mawgis come there take them and hange them with Rycharde Sir saide rypus I shal doo your commauÌ„demente And than the kynge made theym delyuer Richarde And whan rypus hadde him he put him to the waye and mounted Richard vpon a mule and put a halter at his necke so led him forth lyke as it had be a stronge theefe and broughte him before the pauyllyon of Charlemayne And whan the kynge sawe him he was glad of it and sayde to rypus wolde god that all the other sonnes of Aymon were in the plyghte that Richard is now in for I should well auenge you and my selfe also vpon them WHan the frenshemen saw rycharde that was led to hangynge so vilaynouslye they beganne to make suche a sorowe for hym that it was meruayl so that none so great was neuer seen Rypus rode on his waye and dyd so muche that he came to Mountfawcon And whan ripus dyd see the Galous set vp he sayde to rycharde By god rycharde see yonder is youre lodgynge where ye shall be hanged by myne owne handes thys daye shall be auenged the deathe of Foulques my vncle that Reynawd slew besides Balancon the succoures of Mawgys is now ferre fro you for he can not keepe you but that I shall hange you now in dyspite of Reinawde and of youre other bretherne whan rycharde hearde rypus speake so proudly saw that he was so nyghe the gybet and that he sawe no succours cominge of no parte he was sore agast and a ferde thought he wolde keep rypus with wordes saide to him Ripus for god haue pitie vpoÌ„ me for I am no man that should be hanged by reason but I ought to be delyuered with you and if ye wyll deliuer me I shal giue you two hundred marke weight of fyne golde and I shal make you a greate lorde Certes rycharde said ripus ye speake for nought for I wolde not leaue you but that ye should be hanged for .x. of the best cities of fraunce Rypus said Rycharde sith that ye will not haue pitie vpon my body haue pitie vpon my soule and I prai you as much as I can that ye wyll make a preest come to me for to shryue me certes sayd ripus ye shal haue one with right good wyll And thanne he made come a preest some sayen that it was a bysshop for to shriue richarde the which began to shriue himselfe and shewed to the preest manie moo sinnes than euer he dyd in hys dayes and this he dyd for to lengthe the tyme and to see if he should haue any succours or no. And whan Richarde sawe that his helpe came not he wexed almost mad said to his
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 the poore folke died for hungre by the streetes and with this was so great stenche in Mountawban of the dead that were there that no man coulde endure it And whan Reynawd saw this he was sorye for it and than he dyd doo make greate charnell wher in he made all the deade bodyes to be buryed And whan Richarde sawe so greate mortalitie within the castel of Mountawban throughe cause of the great dearth that was there and saw his brother Reinawd in so great distresse he could not forbeare but he saied to him by god my brother nowe goeth it worse then euer it dyd it had be muche better if ye hadde beleued me for yf ye wolde haue suffred me to slea the kynge Charlemayne we shoulde nowe not haue be in thys myscheef and great pouertie that we haue nowe nor your folke hadde not dyed for hungre as they doo and thaÌ„ he began to weep tenderly and sayde Alas why doo I complayne other I myght well complayne my selfe sithe that I must dye and be put in to the charnell as the poorest of vs all Ha Mawgis my fayre cosyn where be ye now ye faile vs at oure need for and ye were here within with vs we shoulde not be famyshed for hungre and also we should not doubte muche the kinge Charlemaine for I wot well that ye should get vs vitaylles ynough to lyue vpon for vs and our men and now we muste dye for hungre as the wulf should vpon a sea for Charlemaine hateth vs more than he dooth the sarasyns And therfore it is not for vs to wayte after pitie of him for he is ouer cruell a king vpon vs. CHarlemayne by the reporte of some folke knew the great det the scarslie of vitailles that was within MouÌ„tawbaÌ„ wherof he was right glad called to him his folke and said to them Lordes now can not Reinawd escape but he shal soon be taken hanged the false Richard drawen at an horse tayle Alarde Guichard also and theyr worthines shall be litill worthe to them And whan the kinge Charlemaine had sayde these wordes he sent for all his peeres barons and whan they were al come within his pauillion he was glad of it and sayd to them Lordes thanked be god that I haue brought mountawban so low that Reinawde and hys knyghtes haue no more vitailles in it and now they shal yeeld them selfe at my wyll mawgre their teeth for the moste parte of their folkes ben deade for hungre and yet dien dayly and ye must wyt I wyl that Reynawde be hanged his brethern also but first I wil that Rychard be drawen at an horse tayl And so I charg you that none of you be so hardye to moue my wyll to the contrary for I will that it be doone as I saye whan the duke Naimes Rowland Oliuer Ogier the bishop Turpin escouf the sonne of Oedon that were there heard the king speke thus they were righte sorye for the loue of Reinawd of his brethern looked down said no word at all for feare that they should be shent of the king Ogier with great payne kept his eyen fro weepinge lest Charlemaine should not perceiue his sorowful hert HEere ye ought to wit that duringe the time that Charlemain laye at the siege afore Mountawban persecuting the four sonnes of AimoÌ„ Reinawd Alard Guychard and Richarde Aymon their father helde the party of the king ayenst his children for he had promised him to doo so as ye haue heard about but wit it that whan he heard howe the emperoure thretened his children how be it that he had forsaken them he was wrothe for it for he knew we if his children died so he should neuer haue ioy after that for whatsoeuer warre he made ayenst them he loued them kindli as the father ought loue his childe for nature may not lie therfore he took so great sorow whaÌ„ he heard of hys sonnes that they were thretned to be hanged that he almost fel down dead to the ground of the great sorow that he had could not keep himselfe but he said Sir emperour I besech you that it wil please you to bryng my childreÌ„ to right for though I haue forsaken them yet are they my sonnes of my body begotten Hold your peace Aymon said Charlemain for I wil that it be so doone of theÌ„ for Reinawd did slea my neuew barthelor that I loued so much And after he turned him self saw the barons that spake th one to thother said to them Lordes loue your musing for I tel you for a trouthe that I shal not leaue to doo herin my wil for no maÌ„ that speaketh ye wot wel it is iii. yere gon sith we besieged this castel first and euer sith haue leien here where we haue lost many of oure foâ—ke wherfore I coÌ„maund you that either of you doo make engynes for to brynge downe this great towre all the remnaunt also for with such maner we shal abash them greatlye and ye my neuew Rowland ye shall doo make of the engines .vii. and Oliuer shal doo make vi the duke Naimes iiii the bishop Turpin and Ogier the dane other .iiii. and ye duke Aimon said the king Charlemain ye shal make three HOwe shoulde I nowe doo this good lord said thaÌ„ Aimon for sir Emperour ye know wel that they be my children nother truantes nor knaues but be the best knyghtes of the world so I tel you sir that if I saw theim die I shoulde for goe my wittes for angre And whan Charlemaine heard Aimon speake thus he was wroth and began to gnaw on a stafe that he held in his hand and after said By that god that made me if there be ani of you that gainsaith my wil I shall strike of his heade with my swerde Sir saide the duâ—e Naymes angre not your selfe For that that ye haue coÌ„maunded shal be doone incontinent whan the barons vnderstood the coÌ„maundemente of Charlemain they went their way for to make the engines that the king had commauÌ„ded the whiche were anon made ready these engines were for to cast greate multitude of stones And as soon that they were made they were set for to cast ayen mouÌ„tawbaÌ„ in short time they doÌ„maged it ful sore so I promise you that within the castel were made greate crying of women and of children for feare of the stones they went and hid them vnder the ground and so thei of Mountawban endured this mischef as longe as they had any morsell of meat And I ensure you that there was so great derth and so great mortalitie the men wist nomore where to laye the deade For the charnell was al full Alas who had seen so yong bachelers that for feintnes went leninge vpon their staues thorough MouÌ„tawbaÌ„ for lacke of meat he wolde haue had great pitie For afore that the castel was besieged they were so stronge and
had of his brethern of his wife and of his men wyt it that whan they saw him bring so much vitailes they swouned al for ioye to the earth and whan Reinawd saw this he wende they had ben dead for hungre So began he to make great sorow and not without a cause and while that Reinawde sorowed and made great mone his brethern began to come again to theymselfe his wife and also hys two children And whan Reinawd saw them al vpon their feet he was glad and presented to them meat for them and for hys folke and they thaÌ„ made great Ioy and eate their fill at theyr ease And whan they had eaten well they went to slepe excepte Reynawde that wolde keep watche hym self And on the morne whan the day was come they rose went to heare masse and after the masse was doon they fell to their meate againe and eat al that was left ouer euyn of that Reinawde had broughte and whan the next night was come Aimon that coulde not forget his children made his stuarde to come before him and sayde to him ye know how I haue forsworn my children wherof I am sori that euer I did so But it is said that ar the need the frend is knowen I let you wit that my children been yonder within in great pouertye and misease and howe be it that I haue forsworn theÌ„ I oughte nor maye not faile them we haue three engyines that Charlemain hath made me doo make for to hurt my children wherof we haue domaged them as muche as we might nowe must we helpe them after their domage And I shall tell you see that ye put within the engynes bread and flesh both salt freshe in great plenty in stead of stones and let this be cast in to the castell for yf I shoulde die my selfe for hungre I shall not fayle theym as longe as I haue wherof to helpe them and also I repent me full sore of the harm that I haue doon to them for al the world ought to blame me therof with good ryghte and we been in the wronge Syr saide the stuarde ye saye well For ye haue doone so muche ayenste them that al the worlde blameth you therof but incontinente I shall doo your commaundement And than the stuard went and made the three engins to be filled with vittailles and after he bad the gouerner to cast theÌ„ in to Mountawban And ye muste wyt that many of the hoste blamed Aymon sore that he made hys engynes to be caste ayenst hys chyldren for they wende it had be stones and whan the nighte was passed that Reinawd was vp he went heere and there within the castel found foison of vittailes that his father had cast wherof he was right glad and sayde Good lorde blessed be you now see I wel that they that haue their trust in you can not fare amis than he called his brethern his wife his childreÌ„ said My bretherne ye see howe our father hath pity of vs. And then he made the vittailles to be gathered vp and put in a sure place and so thei eate therof at their ease for they had well great need therof for they were so sore an hungred that it was greate pitie And wyt it that Aymon made easte so muche vytayll within MouÌ„tawban that they of within had ynoughe for thre monethes with good gouernaunce NOw must we vnderstond that Charlemain had some knowlege howe the olde duke Aimon had giuen vittailes to his childreÌ„ wherof he was sore an angred made Aimon to come incontinente afore him sayd to hym Aymon who maketh thee so bolde to giue any mâ—at to min enemies mortal I know wel al thy wyles thou mayst not excuse thiself but by the faythe that I owe to God I shall auenge me so well or nyght that if I may ye shal leese your heade for it Sir said the duke Aimon I wil not denie it for I tell you truely if ye should make me dye or be brente in a fyre I will not fayle my chyldren as longe as I maye helpe them For my children be no theues traytours nor no murderers but they been the most valiaunt knightes of the world the truest ween not you to slea my children in suche maner ye haue to longe wrought your foly yf it wolde suffise you whan Charlemayne heard Aymon speake thus he was angrye with it for great wrath he loked as fire Almost he smote Aimon whaÌ„ the duke Naimes saw this he auauÌ„ced him forth said Sir sende home Aimon for ye haue kepte hym heere to loÌ„g ye ought well to vnderstande that Aymon wil not see his children to be dystroyed and therfore ye ought not to blame him nor smite him after that Charlemayne hearde the duke Naimes speake he sayd to him Naimes syth that ye haue iudged it ye shall not be gaynsayd than he turned him towarde the duke Aymon sayde to hym Now goe forth out of myn hoste for ye haue doon me more domage than profyte sir said the duke Aimon I shal gladly doo your coÌ„maundemente And anon he went lighted on horsebacke and after said to the peeres of fraunce Lordes I pray you al that ye wil haue my children for recommeÌ„ded for they beÌ„ com of your bloude let the king see well to for yf he make my children to dye by such great vengeaunce as he hath sayd if I shoulde become a sarasyn dwel in Affryque al the dayes of my lyfe I shal stryke of his head for none other gage I wyll not take And whan Aimon had said thus he went out of thost into fraunce to his countrye wel heuy bicause that he left his children in so great pouerty Charlemayne that sawe Aymon goe thus quite and that he hadde garnyshed Mountawban of vitaylles he was full angrye for it So studyed he vpon this a longe whyle And whan he had studyed longe ynoughe he was so sory that none myght be more sorier and returned hym selfe towarde hys Barons and sayde Lordes I commaund you that ye breake al our engynes For by theym I haue myssed to haue the castell of Mountawban And incontinente the Barons made breake the engines as the king had commaunded And by all thus Reinawd abode a long while in good peace but their vittailles began sore to mynyshe And whan Reinawde sawe that he was sory and began to complayne in himselfe saide good lorde what shal I doo I knowe that at longe rennynge we shall not mow holde and so shall Charlemain haue no mercye of vs but he shall make vs die Alas Mawgis where be you For if ye were with vs we shoulde doubte nothinge nor I shoulde not suffre this great distres that I haue All thus as Reinawde complained hymselfe than came Alard that was so feble that with payne he mighte stande vpon his feete and sayde to Reynawd Reinawde for the loue of god
wente agaâ—ne vpon his enemyes and of them he ouerthrew foure one after an other and vpon the fyft he brake his spere into two peeces and hurted hym ryght sore and anon he 〈◊〉 hande to flamberge his good swerde and smote a knyght withall vpon his helme so great stroke that he cleued him vnto the harde teeth and forth with he smote another with suche strength that he made flee the head from the body of hym And after that he had doone these two strokes 〈◊〉 cryed Ardeyn as hye as he could for to reioyse his folke and whaÌ„ he had cryed so he sayd to them Now vpoÌ„ them good knightes for this day we shal auenge the great shame the Charlemayne hath doone to vs so longe wythout any reason And whan Alarde Guycharde Rycharde heard Reynawde speake thus they ranne vpon theyr enemies by suche a maner that eache of theÌ„ ouerthrew .vii. knightes at the enpraynte who that had be there than he should haue sene great faytes of armes doone of the foure sonnes of Aymon For after that they were ones assembled together the folke of the kinge Charlemayne myght not endure afore them For Reinawde and hys brethern wente smytynge at eyther hande and felled theyr enemies downe sterke dead as beastes so that the moste part of theÌ„ were slayne or dyscomfited WHan the Kynge Charlemaine sawe the great dommage that the foure sonnes of Aymon bare to him he was right sore an angred for it And wyth great wrathe he wente and ranne vpon the folke of Reynawde and smote a knyght so vengeably that he cast hym downe dead to the erth and brake his speare all in peeces And after he tooke his swerd in his hande wherof he did meruayles of armes so muche that his folk praysed hym for it for he bare hymselfe there valyauÌ„t and stronge And wyt that this meruaylous batayle was so cruell that it was great pytie for to see ¶ It is trouth that Rowland was aferde for his vncle charlemayne that he should be ouerthroweÌ„ whaÌ„ he saw him in the prese wherfore he went anon nyghe him and so dyd Oliuer Ogyer and all the .xii. peeres for to keep that he should haue no harme And whan the great batayles were asseÌ„bled the one against the other ye should haue seen there a sharpe and a heauy batayle so that it was pitie for to see for syth that Rowlande Oliuer and all the .xii. peeres of Fraunce were come in the medle they began to make so great slaughter of the folke of Reynawde that they made them leaue the place And whaÌ„ Reynawde and his brethern saw that they medled them so sharply among the Frenche men that euery man made them waye for they raught no man but they threw hym dead to the erth so muche that there was nothynge but it trembled afore them ye ought to wyt that from the houre of pryme vnto the houre of noone endured this mortall batayle that none wyst who should haue the better of it But whan noone was passed the folke of Reynawde beganne to wyth drawe themselfe for they might no more And for to saye the trouth yf the folke of Reynawde wtdrew them they were not to be blamed for it for Charlemayne had foure tymes moe folke than Reynawde beside the .xii. peeres that were suche knightes as men wel knewe But this that the folke of Reynawd dyd Was for the good ensample that they sawe in Reynawde in his brethern And whan the noble knyght perceyued that hys folke withdrewe themselfe he came to hym that bare his standarde and sayde to hym My freende ride towarde Ardeine in the wysest wise that ye can for this day we haue fought ryght sore and it is tyme that we goe rest ourselfe Syr sayde the knyght I shall well doo your commaundement and incontinent he tooke his way towarde Ardeyn And than Reinawde called his brethern and sayde to them let vs be behinde for to keep our folke for otherwyse we are lost Brother sayde Rycharde doubt not for as longe as god giueth lyfe to you to Bayard We need not feare nothynge WHan Charlemayne saw that Reynawde and all his company was gone he cryed wyth a hye voyce nowe after Lordes after for now ben they dyscomfyted But this worde of Charlemayne was cause that many a worthy knyght lost his lyfe For suche dyd folow after Reynawde that payed deerely for it For Reynawde and his brethern slewe more than an hundred that folowed after them And wolde Charlemain or no. Reynawde and his bretherne entred agayne with their folke with in Ardeyne And ye muste knowe that Rycharde the brother of Reynawde Iusted with Richarde the Duke of Normandye by the gate of Ardeyne as they wolde haue entred in And there the Duke was ouerthrowen the whiche was taken prysoner by Rycharde the brother of Reynawde and brought him into the Citie mawgre the folke of Charlemayne And whan Reynawde and all the folke were within Ardeyne he made the gates to be shet And after went and dysarmed theÌ„ for to take some ease For they had well need therof YE ought to wit the whan Charlemayne saw that the foure soÌ„nes of Aymon had saued them self and that thei had taken Richarde the Duke of Normandy prysoner that was one of the .xii. peeres he was sâ—â— angrye that no man can be more for he feared sore lest Reynawde should make to dye Rychard of normandye and whan he sawe that he might doo none other he commaunded that the Citie should be besieged of all sydes the which thing was incontinent doone as he commaunded And than sware Charlemayne that he should neuer leaue his syege vnto the tyme that he had taken the Citie and the foure sonnes of Aymon to be hanged shamfully Syr sayd Rowlande ye know that I am he that moste hath hurted the foure sonnes of Aymon nor neuer I speake to you of peace bewene you and them but froÌ„ hence foorth reason coÌ„maundeth me that I should speke moue there vnto Syr ye know well that it is a go .xv yeres and more that ye haue warred with the foure sonnes of Aymon we had alwaies the worse of the warre and not wythout a cause for Reynawde his brethern are valiaunt knightes nor they be not to be lyghtly brought to dyscomfiture And I promyse you yf ye had warred so loÌ„g vpon the sarasyns as ye haue doone on the foure sonnes of Aymon yee should haue be lorde of the moste part of them whiche had be to you more worshyp and lesse dommage worse is ye know howe Richarde of Normandy one of the best knightes that ye had is taken and yf otherwise it happeth to hym than well it shall be to you great dyshonour and blame For therof ye shall see all Fraunce in a rore and trouble but if ye put som remedy therto I tell you if I were in the case that Reynawde is in I should slea hym Syth that I might haue no peace
they left Charlemayne bycause he wolde not make peace And howe he sent worde to them that they should come to hym agayne And he should make peace with Reynawde IN this party sheweth that the kyng Charlemayne was at the syege of Ardeyn sore an angred that he myght not know howe Rychard of Normandy dyd So sent he for all hys Barons for to come to hym And whan they were come in his pauillion he sayd to them thus Lordes I see wel that it goeth now yll with me bycause I see that Reynawde hath not sent me agayne Richarde of Normandy and he might well haue delyuerd hym free quite and haue sende hym vnto me for all the harmes that he hath doone to me Vncle sayde Rowlande I merueyll greatly of that ye saye ye shew wel to vs that ye be wythout counsell By the fayth that I owe to you ye shal neuer see Richarde of Normandye but yf ye pardon Reynawde his brethern diuerse times he hath meked himselfe vnto you and hath be alwayes redy to fulfyll your plesure ye wyll not take hym to your grace be not than merueyled if Reinawde shewe nowe some dispite agaynst you For and ye consider wel the great curtesie that he hath doone vnto you namely whan he had you at his will within mountawban that he delyuered you and suffred you goe quite and free fro him at your liberti ye should doo for him otherwyse than ye doo but syth that Reynawde seeth that he may not finde no mercy in you he wyll not leese his curtesye but he shall doo the worste that he can as ye maye well perceyue experience of it euery day for he dōmageth vs dayly and keepeth his prisoner the best knyght that yee had that is Richarde the duke of normandy the whych I weene be dead by thys time Neuew sayd the kinge Charlemayne I promyse you that Reynawde hath not put hī to death but he kepeth hym wel at his ease with great honoure syr said than the duke Naymes Syth that the wordes ben come to this I must tel you my mynde Syr yf Reynawde beareth you dommage ye cānot blame hym for it For he hath prayed you so many times humbly that ye wold haue mercy on him and ye wolde neuer heare hym but ye haue alwayes shewed your selfe the moste proude kynge of the worlde agaynst hym the moste angry and ye wyll beleue no counsell and so I tell you if Reinawd hath not made to dye Richard of Normandy he is the kyndest mā of the worlde But I beleue better that he is dead than otherwyse for no man heere can tell whether he be dead or a liue WHan the kyng Charlemayne heard the Duke Naymes speke thus he knew wel that he tolde hym trouth So began he to syghe sore and to these wordes came forthe the Bysshop Turpin Ogyer the dane that sayd in this maner Sir wyt it verely that Naymes telleth you trouth For Reynawde hath a good cause to be angrye wyth you And whan Charlemayne heard his barōs speke thus he was all abasshed of it And called the duke Naimes the bisshop Turpyn Ogier the Dane Escouf the sonne of Oedon sayde to them Lordes I pray you goe to Ardeine tel Reynawde in my behalf that he wil sende me Richarde of Normandy And whan he hath doone so that he thā deliuer Mawgys into my handes for to doo my wyll of hym And then he shall haue peace wyth me al the dayes of my lyfe Deere syr sayde the duke Naymes ye sende vs for nought For I wot wel the Mawgis is gone from Reynawde it is three yeres passed and more And yf that Reynawde wolde delyuer him he may not For he knoweth not him selfe where he is Naymes sayd the king Charlemayne yee shall at leste heare what Reynawde shal say vnto you and ye shall also know how Richarde of Normādi dooth Syr sayd the duke Naymes syth that it pleaseth you that I shall goe I am well contente but I pray our Lorde that we maye returne agayne whole and sounde of our persones without to be dyshonoured whan the barons saw that kinge Charlemayne wolde that they should goe to Ardeyne for to doo his messager they durste not saye there agaynst And so they wēt thether anon and eche of them bare in his hande a braunche of an oliue tree in tooken of peace And whan they came vnto the gate they founde it open for them For Reynawde had seen thē come from ferre Wherfore he commaunded that the wicket should be open And whan the barons saw the litle gate open they went into the towne and cam to the Palays And whan Reynawde wyst that they were come within the palays he wēt and layde hymselfe downe vpon a bedde wyth hys legges crossed and sware God and his blessed mother that he should not praye the kinge Charlemayne of nothing For he had doon him to great harme for throughe the kynge Charlemayn he had loste his good cosyn Mawgis and Moūtawban that he loued so muche This hanginge came there the messagers of the king Charlemaine afore Reynawde Whan the Duke Naymes that was the formest saw Reynawde he saluted him honourably And after he sayd to hym Syr Reynawde the kinge sendeth you worde by vs that ye sende hym agayne Richarde the duke of Normandy And more ouer he sendeth you worde that yf ye wyll delyuer him Mawgys ye shal haue peace with him al the dayes of his lyfe And he shall deliuer you agayne all your landes And he shal keep bothe your childrē in his court with him and he shall make them knightes with his owne handes My Lordes sayde Reynawde ye be ryght welcome to me as the knightes of the worlde that I ought to loue best But I meruayle me greatly of Charlemaine that sendeth me these wordes for eueri man knoweth wel that I haue not Mawgys But by him I haue lost hym And wolde to god that I had heere Charlemayn as wel as I haue Rycharde of Normādye And yf he wolde not graunt me peace with him I promise you he should leaue his head for a pledge So should I be than auenged of all the great harmes dommages that he hath doone to me syth that I haue be made knight of him lordes I wēd that Charlemayne had be more curtoys then he is For if I had wyll that he wolde haue ben so fell vpon me and my brethern I should well auenged it vpon him But it is to late to repente me that I did not so wherfore that ye voyde out of my Palays and goe tell your king that I haue not Mawgys but I haue loste hym for him and also yf I had him he should not haue him And bicause I haue thus loste my good cosyn Mawgys for hym I shal make to morow Richarde the duke of Normandy to be hanged vpon the chefe gate of this Citie in the dispite of him for no lenger respite
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
stroke that the traytour had gyuen hym he set his armes in maner of a crosse vpon his brest and sayd in this maner O good lorde Iesu Chryst haue mercye on my soule and wyll pardon them that hath brought me to my death and whan he had sayd these wordes the soule departed out of the bodye And whan the traytour had thus slayne Reynawde they put hym in to a great sacke that they had ordeyned therfore and than they laded the cart wherin they brought the stones with the body of hym and so caryed hym into the ryuer of Ryne wherin they cast him whā they had doone so they laded the carte with stones brought them to the church worke as they were wont to doo as they were by the way they met the mayster mason that sayd to thē By my fayth galantes I con you now thāke for ye mende your selfe For ye haue doone great diligence syth dyner that ye haue laden so many stones and that ye ben so ferre wyth them to the worke warde Mayster sayd the traytours mocke not wyth vs so but go to your purse and giue vs some drynkyng money SOre meruayled was the mayster of that he saw his labourers more dilygent than they were accustumed Than the labourers began to say to the mayster of the worke by maner of a mocke where is that great lurden that he helpeth not now I holde hym gone without leue by cause he might not labour no lēger for we heard say that he should neuer ceasse tyll he had founde hys wyfe agayne And whan the mayster mason heard that he was sory and said to them agayne By my fayth I beleue that ye haue chased hym away but I promyse you yf I can wyt that ye haue doone so it were better for you that ye were at Iherusalē Mayster sayd the labourers ye may well say to vs what ye wyll but we dyd neuer say ought to him that shoulde displease hym And whan the noble Reynawde was thus caste into the ryuer of Ryne by the labourers of the churche of saynt Peter ye must wyt that he went not to the botome of the water but went harde aboue the water a longe the streme And at that our Lorde shewed for hym a fayre myracle For all the fysshe of the ryuer gathered them aboute the corps and by the strength of the fisshes it was taried and went no ferther with the streme by the wyll of our lorde And the great fysshes put theymself vnder hym and bare hym vpon the water so that he apered to euery mans syght And there the fisshes bare him so vp vnto night And whan the night was come apered aboute the corps a great quantytie of torches by the vertue of our lorde aungelles that songe there so melodyously that they that heard it wolde neuer haue gone fro it And to saye trouth there was so greate lyght aboute the corps that all they that sawe it wende that all the water of the Ryne had be a fyre And whan the folke of the citie saw so great a miracle they ran all thyther bothe men and women and children And also the archebisshop of saynt Peter we◠thyther with al his college in a fayre processyon syngyng by great deuocion and taryed vpon the Ryne for they durste not goe no ferther and they saw the fisshes that bare vp the Corps aboue the water And whan they that were there saw that they were abasshed meruayled greatlye what it might be and began to saye the one to the other God what mai he be for whome our lorde sheweth so fayre a myracle Lordes sayd the archbysshop I shall tell you as myne auyse giueth me Wyt it that it is the bodye of some saynt that our Lorde wyll haue worshypped that is come heere from som where whiche God wyl not that he be lost nor drowned in the water See ye not how the fisshes holde hym aboue the water by the vertue of our lorde Than the bisshop commaunded that men should go see what it was and anon folke went there with botes they founde that it was the great man that was one of the labourers with the masons in the churche of saynt Peter And whā the mayster of the worke sawe this he was greatly abasshed and went to them that had slayne hym sayd to them in thys maner of wyse Ye horesons false traytours ye haue slayne the good man say ye the trouth for if ye deny it I shal proue it vpon you And whan the labourers heard the maister mason speke thus they begā to crye and sayd By God mayster we haue doone it without doubt for enuy that we had at hym And therfore let vs be drowned hāged or drawen or what iustice ye wyll For we haue well deserued for to be punysshed And whan the archebysshop hearde the traytours speake so he began for to weepe ful tenderly and al his colege also And the archebisshop was counselled that he should let go the murderers at theyr auenture for to do penaunce for theyr sinnes the whiche thynge the archebysshop dyd wyth a good wyll Than was the body of Reynawde brought to lande and was put vpon a carte for to beare hym to the church wher as he was had worshypfully wyth fayre procession And whan the corps was in the church the archebysshop made him redy for to syng the masse by great deuocion And whan that the seruice was doone the archebysshop wolde haue gone a processyon with the corps aboute the churche commaunded foure lordes that were there that they should bere the corps And than the barons wolde haue doone hys commaundement but whan they came therto they coulde not moue the corps by no strength that they could put therto Sore meruayled were the barons whan they saw that and sayd vnto eche other Now may we well knowe that we be not worthy for to touche this holy corps For we be wicked synners wherfore let vs go for to shriue vs put our selfe in good estate And while that they spake thus together the corps rose vp of hym selfe and was borne no man knoweth howe out of the churche into the carte whiche anon moued and went his wayes streyght out of the citie wherof they were al greatly meruayled and whan the carte was out of Coleyne he went a pace all the hye waye And whan the people saw that they begā all to wepe bycause the corps wolde not abyde Than sayd the archebysshop vnto them Syrs now may ye well see that this is a holy corps by the great myracles that our Lorde sheweth by him now and al this day afore vs all Wherfore let vs goe after him for to worship him For it were not very well doone for to let hym go thus alone My lorde sayd the people ye say wel than al the clergie and al the comyn people litle and great that myght go folowed the corps And ye ought to wit that in all the citie