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
of the saide duke Benes of AygremouÌ„t And to the said feast came William the Englyshe Walleran of Bullon .xv. kinges .xxx. dukes and well .lx. erles were there at that daye for to crown Charlemain And also was come there the duke Aymon of Dordon with his foure sonnes that is to wit Reinawd Alard Richard Guichard to the which Aimon the kynge said AimoÌ„ said he I loue you your children wel and wyt that I voyl make of the fayre Reinawd my stuard the other shall serue me for to beare my faucons goe with me Syr said the good Aymon I thank you muche of the greate worshyp that ye doo to me to my children And wyt that thei shal serue you truly as your lieg meÌ„ but wel I tol you good king that ye mysprised sore whan my brother the duke Benes of Aygremount vnder your saufconduit in treason ye made thus shamefullye die beleue that it greueth me ful sore at the hert if we doubted not you so much certes vengeaunce we should take therof But sith that my brother Gerard hath pardoned it to you I forgeue it you also AimoÌ„ said the king ye know better than that ye saye For ye know wel the offence that your brother had doon to me for to haue slaine so crueâ—ly Loihere my eldest sonne that I loued so much Now set the one ayenst the other let be spoken nomore therof No more we shal saide duke Aimon but wel I pray god to haue mercye of his soule for he was a right worthy knight TheÌ„ came forth Reinawde Alard Guychard and Richarde which reasoned with the kinge saying in this maner Sir said Reinawde the fairest of al knights and moste expert in faites of knighthode ye haue made me my brethern that been now afore you knightes but wit it for very certain that we loue you not that we haue toward you a greate and a mortall hate for the deathe of our vncle the duke Benes of Aygremount of the whiche deathe ye haue not accorded with vs. Whan the king vnderstoode Reinawde he looked grymly and fyerssly in his visage for greate wrath and became blacke as a cole and smote his forhed for angre and after said Reinawd thou yong boye voide out of my presence For I swere by saynt Simon and if it were not the companye of the barons that be heere I should make thee to be put in suche pryson that thou shouldest not see nother hande nor foote that thou haste Syr said Reinawd it wer not reason But sith that it is so ferre come that ye will not heere vs we shall keep our peace THus lefte the foure sonnes of Aimon the debate and spake no more to the kyng Charlemayn for that tyme of this matter Fayre was the courte and the day was ful fayre and bryghte and fayre was the companye as of .xv. kinges .xxx. dukes and .lx. erles They went to the chirch for to heare the faire masse that was songe and muche rych was the offeryng And whan they had hearde the masse they came agayn to the palays and asked after water for to washe theyr handes and the dyner was readye so they washed and set theym downe to dyner And the .xv. kynges were all set except the king Salamon that serued that daye with the Duke Godfraye But Reynawde at thys dynner myght not eat by cause that the kynge Charlemayne had rebuked hym so shamefully Ha saide Reynawde to hymselfe Alas howe shall I conne doo so muche that I may auenge my selfe of Charlemayne for the death of my vncle that so much was beloued whiche traitorusly and shamefully hath be slain if I take not vengeaunce of it I shal wexe mad In this wise sorowed the good Reinawd and his brethern recomforted him The baroÌ„s came out after diner for to play sporte theym selfe and Berthelot the neuewe of Charlemayn called Reynawd for to play with him wherof grew a great mischeef for afterward many a good knight died therfore manye a fayre childe fatherles as here after ye shal herken well NOwe was set Berthelot and the worthy Reynawde for to playe at the ches whiche were of yuory wherof the boord was of golde massy and so longe they played that debate fel betwene them two by such maner that berthelot called Reinawde horsonne and tooke vp his hand and smote Reynawde in the vysage so that the bloud fell to the grounde and whan Reynawde sawe himself thus shamefully outeraged he was ryght wroth and sore angred sware by god him should yl betyde therfore ThaÌ„ tooke Reinawd the ches boord and smote Berthelot vpon his head so harde that he cloued hym to the teeth and thus Berthelot fell down deade to the grounde afore hym so began the crye at that houre sore strong in the Palays that Reynawde the sonne of Aimon had slain Berthelot the neuewe of kyng Charlemayn Whan the kynge vnderstoode thys he went nyghe oute of his wyt and called of heyghte Barons keep well that Reinawd scape not For by saint Denis of Fraunce he shall not escape quicke yf we maye holde hym for he hath slaine our neuew Berthelor Than ran soone the knightes vpon Reinawde And his kynnesmen defended him nobly And thus was there greate stryfe and manye heres pulled and many gownes toren For suche a fray was there neuer seen as that daye was in the palays of Parys Many strokes gaue there Mawgys the cosin of Reinawd and sonne to the duke Benes of Aygremount And while that this fraye was in the palays Reinawde and his three bretherne and theyr cosyn Mawgys escaped redyly out of the palays and came vnto theyr horses that soone were made redye So lyghted they on horsebacke and tode soone oute of Parys and fled streight vnto DordoÌ„ towarde theyr lady mother ANd whan themperour Charlemaine wyst that Reinawd and his bretherne were gone oute of Parys he made for to be redy wel two thousand knightes for to folow them Now keep them our lorde that on the crosse suffred passyon For yf the kynge holde them they shall dye withoute remyssyon but Reinawde vpon hym is no care For he was vpon his horse bayard that goeth as the wynde So taryed not the foure brethern theyr cosyn tyll that they came vnto Sawmore and they bayred theyr horses of Alarde Richard and of Guycharde Thanne began Reynawde to make sorowe sayinge Fayre god that suffred deathe and passyon keep thys daye my brethern and my cosyn from the deathe and from combraunce and from fallinge in the handes of Charlemayne the cruell and of the other parte chased them the frenchemen brochyng with the spurres as fast as theyr horses myght renne so muche that a knight that was better horsed then the other were ouertooke Reynawde and sayd to hym ye shall abyde ye vntrue knyghte and I shall brynge you to kinge Charlemayne And whan Reinawde heard hym he turned bayarde ayenst hym and smot the
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
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
and after Guicharde and Escoufe the sonne of Oedon and than the lytle Rychard And whan they were all set at the table the meates of the first course were brought to the borde thā the other one after another by good ordenaūce and fayre And to say the trouthe they were well and honourablye serued and of many and dyuerse seruises of royall meates And after that they had well eaten at theyr ease the duke Naymes called Reynawd and sayd to him Good cosin I pray you that ye wyl delyber your selfe for to gyue vs a good answere of that ye haue heard of vs. Lordes sayd Reynawde I shall doo it in so muche that the kyng shall haue a cause to be contēte of me For I shall doo all that he wyll for to haue peace and hys loue withall and that for the loue of the other my lordes that be heere now And than Reynawde made to bryng the swerde of Charlemayne the swerdes of the twelue peeres and also the crowne and the Egle of golde And whan Ogyer sawe this he began to laughe and sayd By my soule Reynawde ye had heere a fayre gayne yf ye had kept it And whan Rycharde saw that his brother wolde delyuer the Egle of golde he began for to say By saynt poule my fayre brother ye shall not doo so Ye shall not delyuer agayne that I haue wonne wel and truly by force of armes brother Richarde sayde Reynawde let me doo I pray you I will not sayd Richard by my soule for Charlemayne hymselfe smote me whyle that I was prysoner within his pauilion full shāefully wyth a staffe Lordes said the duke Naymes let thys a lone And take we that Reynawde giueth to vs in thanke for he hath doone ynough By my fayth sayd the bysshop Turpyn he dooth so And than they tooke the crowne of Charlemayne all theyr swerdes And whan thei had them Ogyer sayd to Reynawde My cosyn I counsell you that ye come with vs and Alarde Guycharde shal abyde heere to keep your castell Syr sayd Reynawde I feare me to sore the kynge wolde make me for to be killed outrageously Come on hardely sayd the duke Naymes for we shall lede you wel surely For syth that ye shal be with vs ye ought not to fear nothyng Lordes sayde than Reynawde I shall doo your commaundemente vnder your assurynge WHan Reynawde was accorded for to go wyth the Duke Naimes and with the bisshop Turpyn wyth Ogyer the dane and Escoufe the sonne of Oedon they lyghted all vpon theyr horses and Reynawde mounted vpon bayarde and armed hym And in like wise dyd Alarde And whan the duchesse Clare saw that Reynawde her Lorde wolde go with the folke of the Emperour Charlemayne she came before them kneeled downe before them and sayd vnto them my lordes I thanke you muche of the fauour that ye did shew to my brother Richarde and to Mawgis now agayne I pray you that ye will haue Reynawde for recōmended mi lorde and my deere husbande the whiche ye lede with you Madame said Ogier haue no doubt that Reynawde shall haue anie harme For wee should not suffre it for nothing for to leese both life gooddes And than they put them to the way for to goe thens and Reinawd tooke ten knyghtes wyth him for to beare hym felawship whan they were come to the riuer of Balancō they sought after the passage and passed ouer And whan they were all ouer Ogier began for to sai Lordes ye wot well all is of euyll courage agaynst Reynawd wherfore I doubt me of him that we haue brought heere wyth vs. I counsell that we knowe fyrst the wyll of charlemayne or euer he see Reynawd Ogier sayd the duke Naymes ye speake well and wisely we shal go speake ye and I to Charlemaine and Reynawde shall abyde heere tyll we come agayne Lordes sayd than Reynawde I shal doo that ye counsel me but I pray you holde me that ye haue promised me that is that ye shall keep my bodye and my lymmes from harme Reynawde sayd the duke Naymes we shall rather dye than that ye should haue any harme And than he and Ogyer tooke the way towarde the hoste of Charlemayne and Reinawde abode with the bysshop Turpyn and wyth the sonne of Oedon Now herken of Pynabell a spye that longed vnto the kynge Charlemayne wyt it that the spye was at the riuer side of Balancon with this felawship whan the wordes afore sayde were spoken whan the spye had well vnderstand all the conclucion he stale hymselfe fro the companye and rode a good pace as he myght in the worlde and came to Charlemayne to whome he sayd in this maner syr I bryng you tidinges wherof ye shal be ryght glad my freende sayd Charlemayne thou art well come I praye you tell me what tidinges ye brynge wyt it syr that I haue left Reynawde and Alarde hys brother at the ryuer side of Balancon with the bisshop Turpyn and Escouf the Sonne of Oedon and the duke Naymes and Ogyer are coming towarde you for to aske leue yf they shall brynge them to you wyth sureti Is it trouth said Charlemaine yea without faut said Pinable By my soule sayd the king I shall rewarde thee for it ryght well but keep well that ye shew not this to no man vpon thy life for I shall put therto a good remedy And than he behelde aboute hym and saw Oliuer and sayde Olyuer incontynent and without any desaye take two hundred knyghtes with horses and wel armed and lede them at the ryuer syde of Balancon where yee shall fynde Reynawde and Alarde see that ye take them bring them hither and if ye doo this aske of me what ye wyll ye shall haue it And than sayd Oliuer syr I shal wel doo your commaundemente And than he tooke wyth him two hūdred knightes as the kinge Charlemayne had ordeyned hī tooke his way towarde the ryuer of Balancon Now god through his pitie saue the good knight Reynawde and Alarde his deere brother for they ben in great peril of theyr lyues This hangyng that Olyuer was gone towarde the ryuer of Balancon the duke Naymes and Ogyer came to the hoste and lighted a fore the pauilion of the kinge and went in And whan they sawe the kyng they made him the reuerence but he sayd no worde to them whā Ogier saw the countenaunce of the king he sayd to hym Syr what sēblaunt is this that ye shewe to vs I meruayle me greatli that ye make vs so euyll cheere seen that we come fro thens where ye haue sende vs that was to Moūtawbā where we haue spoken with Reynawde the sonne of Aymon the whiche is al togither redy for to doo al that your pleasur is and so he hath delyuered vs agayne your crowne and al our swerdes as for your egle ye shal haue it whā ye wyll Ogyer sayd than Charlemain what haue ye doone of Reynawde for I
¶ 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
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
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
to be hanged and slayne as more playnly ye shall vnderstand here after yf that ye lyste to harken HErnier of Saueyn made none other taryenge but he sayd to kyng Charlemayne in this maner Syr cōmaunde ye Guyon of Bourgone that he doo put in array a thousand knightes well armed and that to morrow afore the day he goe vpon the moūtayne fayre and softly with out noyse I shall put hym within the castell shortly Whan he had sayd this he went to hys tente made hīselfe to be armed And whan he was armed he lyghted a horsbacke and rode to the gate of the castell sayd to them that kepte warde Alas for god fayre lordes haue mercye of me if it please you let me in or els I am but dead for the Emperour Charlemayne maketh to folow and seke me all aboute for to make me dye bycause I haue said to him much good of Reynawde also I tell you wel that I shall shew to Reynawde a thing wherof he shall he ryght glad yf hys pleasure is to heare me WHan they that were aboue vpon the gate heard hī speak thus they without lōg taryeng let goe downe the draw bridge and made him come in dysaimed him did to him great honour But the false traytour rewarded thē full yll for it after that This hangyng Charlemayne commaunded Guion to make him redy a thousand knightes with him and sent them vpon the hylle without makyng of anye bruyte tyll that the day were come And wyt that Guyon had wyth hym of the best Knyghtes of Charlemayne NOw is Harnyer the traytour within the castell of Mountaynforde vnto whome men made good cheere And whan Reynawde wyste that a knight of Charlemayn was come He sayde that he wolde speake with hym And so he was brought afore hym And whan he sawe him he sayd to hī What be you fayre knighte that are come hither And he answered syr my name is Hernier of Saueyne I haue angred kinge Charlemayne for the loue of you and for this cause I am com hither praying that ye haue me for recommaūded for I wot not whether to goe nowe Good freend sayd Renawde syth that ye say that ye be oure freend ye be ryght welcome to me For of suche goodes that God hath sent me ye shall not fayle Now tell me I pray you how doth the hoste of the Emperour Haue they anye great plentie fo vytayles Syr sayd Hernyer they ben scarse wyth them But I tell for very certayne that they shall goe theyr wayts within these fourty dayes for none of the barōs wyll no lenger abyde there Wherefore the kyng Charlemayne is sore an angred with them And I promit you yf the hoste wente awaye ye might hurte theym ryght verye sore and gette verye muche good yf ye wyll sette then vpon the tayle of them Freende sayde Reynawde to hym ye haue comforted me ryght well yf it is so as ye say For yf the king Charlemayne be once ouerthrowen he shall not come a nother tyme vpon vs wyth so good a wyll as he dooth nowe And then Reynawde had hym wyth hym to hys brethern that made vnto hym good cheere And whan the supper was redy Reynawde and his bretherne set thē downe vnto theyr meat and supped gladly And in theyr companye was the traytour Hernier vnto whom they made good cheere After supper all the knyghtes wente to slepe For they were wery of bearīg of theyr Harneys and they had not ceased to fyght all that day And wit that Hernier was well and honestly brought to bed For Reynawde had so commaunded And whan all the knyghtes were fast a slepe Hernier as the false Iudas slepte not But he rose and tooke hys harneys and armed hym selfe And whan he was well armed at his ease he came to the drawe bridge and cut the cordes that kept it vp and let the draw brydge go downe and than he went vpon the walles where he found him that made the watche and slew him And whā he had doone this he came to the gate and opened it For he had taken the keyes from hym that he had slayne whyche had them in his kepyng THan whan Guyon of Bourgoyne saw the gate open he made no tarying but came and entred into the castell and al hys folke with hym And began to kylle and flea all thē that they found ¶ Now shall ye heare of the fayre aduenture how that Reynawde his brethern were saued from this mortall slawghter Wyt that whan the yemen of the stable had supped thei were drōke and went to theyr bed whan they were a slepe the horse of Alarde that was sōwhat proude began to make noyse agaynst the other And Alarde and Richarde heard the noyse of the horses they rose vp and saw the doore of the halle open and perceyued out of it the harneys that glystered agaynst the moone that shone full bryght Than went they to the bedde where they had brought the false Hernyer whyche they foūd not there Whereof they were ryght sore abasshed And than was Reynawde awaked and asked who was there that maketh thys noyse Let our knyghtes take theyr rest that haue so sore trauayled all the day it is euyl doone for to go thus stampyng at this houre thā cryed Alarde to Reinawde and sayd Fayre brother we ben betrayed for Hernyer that false knyght hath put the folke of Charlemayne within thys castell the whiche kyll and slea your folke and put them to a greate matter whan Reynawde vndestode this he made no taryīg but he arose and armed hymself quickly and cried vnto his brethern and to his men Now my freendes let vs beare our selfe worthy we had neuer so great need any wyt that Reynawde had with hym but .xxx. Knyghtes within the dongeon of that fortresse for al the other were within the base courte whiche was as it had ben a lytle towne well peopled where as Guyon of Bourgoyne his folke slew them This hanging Reynawde his brethern had armed themselfe right wel hopynge for to defende theymselfe well THan came Hernyer the traytour steryng about throughe the maystres strete with him well an hundred knightes Thā sayd Reinawde to hys brethern fayre Lordes come forth for yf god helpe vs not we are all lost than Reynawde and his brethern came to the gate defended so well the none durst passe but he was slayne what shall I tell you more the base courte began to be sore moued and the erye was so great for al them of the dongeon defended themselfe valyantlye Whan the folke of the Emperour Charlemayne sawe that they that were wtin the dongeon defended themselfe so well they set the base court in a fire and began to brenne and pul down the houses and al that they founde And the fyre was soone so great that it tooke the dongeon of the castell Whan Reynawde saw that he was so taken wyth fyre he was
ouerthrew hym sterke dead to the grounde And whā this knight was dead Reynawde tooke his horse by the bridell and sayd to Alard his brother holde fayre brother light vpon this Blacke Horse whiche is good For I gyue him to you ANd whan that Alarde sawe the fayre present that his brother Reynawde had doone to hym he was as glad of the same as thoughe he had wonne Parys And thā he made none other rarienge but that he lighted downe from Bayard and mounted vpon Esmenfrays blacke horse that his brother had giuē hym smote him with the spurres went and Iusted agaynst a knyght of his fathers folke that was called anfrai so harde that he ouerthrew him dead to therthe And shortly to speake after that Alarde was in this wise set agayne on horse backe began the batayle of a freshe sore hard and fell in so muche that at that houre were slayne .xx. of the best knyghtes that Aymon had with him Whan Aymō saw this he was sore angry for it cryed to hys folke Halordes yf they scape you I shal neuer haue ioy for they haue slayne Esmenfray the good knyght that king Charlemayne had gyuen to me Whan the folke of Aymon vnderstode these wordes the wyll theyr Lorde than they dyd ren vpon Alarde so much that thei made hym to leue the place by force and if it had not be the passage of a lytle riuer that eased and holye them greatly Reinawde and hys brethern had muche to doo but I tell you without faute that Reynawde and hys brethern made so great occisyon of that folke of theyr father that it was pitie for to beholde for there dyed well of them .xxv. at the passage of the ryuer and yf Reynawde had had wyth him a fyfty knightes more thē he had at the passage he should haue dyscomfyted his father and all hys folke but for faute of mē Reynawde must for sake the place and myght not saue with hym but .xiiii. knyghtes of hys owne Nowe see how sorowfull was the batayle for of fyue hundred knyghtes that Reynawde had with hym there abode wyth him alyue but .xiii. and ye maye well wit that the olde Aymon had dommaged his children right sore but that they passed ouer the Riuer for as it is sayde they had loste all theyr men wherof they were full sorye and wrothe ¶ Now hath Reynawde so fewe folke that he wot nomore what to doo but he might not doo therto wherof the teres fell downe continually frō his eyen and in lykewyse wept Aymon hys father at the other syde as the historye dooth tell and whan he had wept ynough he sayd in this maner Ha fayre Sonne pane and worthye howe sorye am I for I am the occasyon of your harme and domage now shall ye all goe as exiled for ye haue nought to lyue vpon I cannot helpe you by anye wyse wherof I ensure you I am greatlye displeased and sory for it The deuil take his soule that fyrst begā that strife so shal he Whan he had made hys mone and lamētacions longe ynoughe he made incōtinent all the dead bodyes to be taken for to be buryed And they that were hurte he made to be brought wyth hym as well as he coulde And made the bodi of Esmenfray to be put vpon a litter and tooke on his way towarde Ardeyne where he bode but a night and in the mornyng he made the litter to be borne vpon two horses went agayne to Paris and came afore Charlemayne and sayd to hym Syr whan I went now last towarde my countrey wyt that as I was on my way I founde my children and fyue hundred knyghtes wyth them in the forest of Ardeyne for thacquitaunce of myn othe I dyd send to them mi diffiaunce wolde haue taken them for to haue brought them to you as prisoners but I myght not for they bē sore doubted And that I assailed thē it hath cost me sore dere for they haue borne vnto me so great harme and domage that it can not be estemed and I slew al theyr folke excepte .xii persones that ben scaped with them but they haue slayn your knyght Esmenfray but at the last they went away discomfited and ouerthrowen And they should haue ben taken yf it had not be a ryuer that they passed ouer wherby they were saued Whan Charlemayne vnderstode these wordes he was ryght sore an angred so muche that he loste almost his wytte And than he sayd to olde Aymon in angre by God Aymō ye excuse your selfe falsly for neuer Rauen eate his yonge byrdes to a nother ye shall make thys to beleue but not to me Whan thou olde Aymon vnderstode the kynge that he spake thus he sayd to hym Syr Emperour wit that I doo tell you is trouth and I doo shewe it to the ende that my trouthe be knowē for none other cause doo bring afore me your reliques and halowes that I shall swere vpon the sayntes that ben in heauen that it was as I haue recountred sayd to you and yf it please you ye shall beleue me yf ye wyll not ye may chuse therof Aymon sayd Charlemayne I know well your herte for yf it went all at your wil your sonnes should be lordes of all Fraūce and of all my empyre Syr sayd Aymon ye be wrothe of some other thynge wherof I may not doo therto yf ye haue any knight in your courte the wyl make good this that it please you for to saye I shall proue it on hym wyth my body that he lyeth falsely But euermore ye haue be such that ye neuer loued a true knyght but flateres and liers wherof mani euilles ben happed and shall happe And than Aymon came downe from the Palays and lyghted vpon hys horse and went agayn to his countrey without any leaue that he tooke of the kynge he rode so longe a day after another that he came to Ardeine and there he found the Duchesse his wyfe that came agaynst hym and receyued hym with a glad chere and asked hym howe he had doone THan sayde the duke Aymon ful euyll haue I doone For I foūd my foure sonnes in the wood of Ardeyne so I assayled them cruelly wenyng to me for to haue takē them whiche I coulde not doo but I stewe discomfited all theyr folke they haue doone me so great harme of my folke and so many they haue slayne of them that I know not the nombre And I tell you for very certayne but yf it had ben the prowes great worthynes of our sonne Reynawde I had taken Alarde for my men had slayne his horse and had brought hym so lowe that he myght no more goe but Reynawde his brother came vpon vs and brake vs so sore that he brought Alarde out of the prese mawgre vs and oure folke made hym syt behinde hym vpon Bayarde And I tell you that Reynawde fought so sore that neuer
sayd the duke Naimes leue this angre in peace ye know how Reynawde is your enmye prayseth you nothinge but ye wyll I shall gyue you suche couÌ„sell that Reynawde shal be brought to distruccion and his brethern and Mawgys also Syr doo that your barons be redy at candelmas nexte comyng and that euery one of them make good prouysyon of vitayle for vii yere than abide so longe afore mountawban tyll that ye take them and after ye shall auenge your selfe at your wyll vpon them THan whan the kyng Charlemayne vnderstode the good counsell that the duke Naymes had gyuen vnto hym he lyft vp his hed and sayd Naymes it is noâ— the fyrste good counsell that ye haue giuen to me and I wyll it bee doone as ye saye And than the kynge Charlemayne dyd doo make his letters and sente them through all his empyre In the whiche letters was conteyned that euery man that was accustomed to beare armes to go to warre should come to hym at the feast of Candelmasse nexte folowynge well garnisshed of vitayle for the space of .vii. yeres for to abyde at syege afore mountawban Whan the barons knewe the kinges wil eueri maÌ„ made him selfe redy as well as he coulde and came to Parys and presented them to kyng Charlemayne to hys neue with Rowlande and by cause of the great numbre of folke that were com there they myght not lodge al within Parys but they lodged wythout the towne vpon the riuer of Saine Whan the kinge saw that all his barons were come he made them al to come before hym sayd to them lordes ye all knowe right well at the lest the moste party of you howe I haue ouercome subdued .xl. kinges in my dayes the whyche are all to me obeyssaunt excepte the kynge Yon of Gascoyn that hath withdraweÌ„ in his lande my enemies mortall that ben the foure sonnes of Aymon ye know well the great dishonour thei haue doone to me wherof I me coÌ„playne vnto you praye you commaunde you that ye come wyth me into Gascoyn for to helpe me that I be auenged of the greate harme and shame that these foure sonnes of Aimon doo to me for by your othe ye ben all beholden thervnto THan sayd the erle of Nantuel Syr wee shall not goe there at this tyme. Ye know well that that wee ben come out of Spayne but late wherof we ben yet all werye And also in this felawshyp ben many princes and barons that haue not ben yet in theyr couÌ„trey nor seen theyr wiues and children and ye wil that that we go into Gascoyn vpon the kyng Yon vpon the foure sonnes of Aymon And I tell you that the two wouÌ„des that I receyued in Spaine be not yet whole and therfore we may not goe into Gascoyn at thys tyme. But yf it please you ye shall doo as a good kynge and a sage and shall shewe that ye loue your folke For ye ought to kepe them as youre selfe Wythdrawe your hoste vnto whytsonday next coming and gyue leaue to all your barons to goe to their places for to rest them a while And whan the tyme shall be come that your pleasure is to call theym they shall than be all fresshe and redye to fulfil your commaundement wyth all diligence Whan the kynge vnderstode these wordes he was wrothe and sware by saynte Denys of Fraunce saying in thys maner if I should be dyssheryted I shall goe now into Gascoyn and I shall take wyth me all the younge folke of my hoste the whiche I shall put in good straye honestly and I shall gyue theÌ„ all that they shall need thoughe ye should abyde behynde as weke men and feynte Syr sayd the duke Naymes ye say well for thys yonge men shal be ryght glad for to assaye them selfe Therfore wyll I doo it sayde kyng Charlemayne and so shall the kyng Yon be destroyed and whan I shall haue Reynawde and hys brethern and Mawgys the theete takeÌ„ I shall departe the lande of Gascoyne to these yonge knightes for theyr herytage This hangyng that the king Charlemayne sayd these wordes a spye that longed to Reynawde was in thys companye that vnderstode all that sayde is And whan the spye had hearde all together well he put hymself to the way and dyd so much by his Iourneys that he came to mouÌ„tawban where he founde Reynawde his brethern and Mawgys And in contynent that Reynawde saw him he demaunded of hys what tydynges bryng you fro Parys and from the courte of kynge Charlemayne My Lorde sayd the spye wyt it that kyng Charlemayne is greatly wrothe with kynge yon and agaynst you and against your brethern against Mawgys He hath sente for all his subiectes in his Empyre but none wolde haue comen with him into Gascoygne And then he sware Saynte Denys that he should come into thâ—se partyes and should brynge wyth hym none other but al yonge knightes To the which he shall gyue all Gascoygne And sayth that he shall besyege MouÌ„tawban and shall doo to be cast downe the great towre and shall set al Gascoygne in a tyre and flame Than sayd Reynawde to his folke be not discouraged of nothing For I shall see how Rowlande and Oliuer shall beare themself agaynst me and mi brethern And than went Reynawde into the halle And found his brethern and Mawgys with his knyghtes and sayd to them Lordes I brynge you tidynges Now wyt that the kyng Charlemayne cometh to besyge vs and bryngeth with him all the puyssaunce of Fraunce Nowe let vs thynke to receyue him well for he shall haue more to doo than he weneth brother sayd Alarde haue no doubte for they shal be well receyued for as longe that we shall lyue and shal see you ryde vpon bayarde we shall not fayle you nor wee shal not be a ferde to be taken nor ill handled For no man aliue is worth you nother of goodnes nor of prowes THys hangyng Charlemayn was aduysed and thoughte vpon the counsell that the Duke of Nantuel had gyuen to him And after he called his folke sayd to theÌ„ Lordes I gyue you leue and let you wyt that at Easter I shall holde my counsell generall and it please you Now keep that ye faile not to come than well apparelled and redy for I wolde not leaue for nothynge but that I should goe see the kyng Yon. And yf he yelde me not the foure sonnes of Aymon I shall doo to hym with out doubt so much shame that I shal make his berde to be cut of harde by the chynne And also I shal take the crowne of Gascoygne from his hed and I shall make hym come a foote after me begginge his bread And whan he had sayde these wordes The barons tooke leaue of Charlemayne and wente into theyr countryes but at theyr departing Charlemaine sayd to them Lordes remeÌ„bre well your selfe that ye come at the terme that I haue set For I swere vnto
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
his swerde and girded about him and then after he weÌ„t to Rowland and tooke from him durandal his good swerde and after he tooke Hauteclere from Oliuer and Cortyn from Ogier And after thys he went to the coffres and tooke there out all the treasour of Charlemayne and went with all this streyght to Mountawban And whan Mawgis had taken all this he tooke an herbe and rubbed Charlemaynes nose and his lippes with it and vnhosed hym and after he shoued him wyth the fynger and sayde to hym awake sir emperoure I promysed you yester night that I should not goe wythout I should take my leue of you farewell I goe now And whan he had sayde this he went out of the pauilion and set him to the way towarde Mountawban And whan Charlemayne vnderstoode that Mawgys had said to him he rose vpon hys feete so wrothe that menne could be no more and called vpon hys twelue peeres that he coulde not awake And whan he sawe that he bethought hymselfe an herbe that he had broughte wyth hym from beyonde the greate sea and tooke it and rubbed withall the nose the mouth and the eien of Rowlande and in like wise to all the other .xii. peeres of FrauÌ„ce and incoÌ„tinent they were awaked and rose vpon their feete sore abashed whaÌ„ they were all awaked they beganne to looke the one vpon the other And the first that began to speke was the duke Naymes that sayde to the king where is mawgies By my soule sayd Charlemayne ye shall delyuer him me agayne for ye haue let hym goe wilfully For yf ye wolde haue suffred me to haue hanged him yesterday I had be otherwyse ryd of hym Rowlande said Olyuer sawe ye him goe hens Naye by saynt Denys said Rowland I saw him wel goe saide Charlemaine Syr said Rowland ye ought thenne to haue tolde vs of it for he shoulde not haue escaped so And in saying this Rowland loketh at his side and he sawe not durandal his swerde wherof he did cast a great sighe And than Charlemayne sayde to him Neuew where is your swerd by my head I know well that the theef Mawgis hath be wytched vs. For none of vs hath his swerde and also he hath my hosen with him Nowe hath he well mocked vs. ANd whan the .xii. peeres of fraunce saw that thei had lost al their good swerds they were right sory for it more than any man canne saye And after Rowland sayde by my faythe Mawgis hath wonne a great gayne whan he bereth away thus our swerdes for they ben more worthe thaÌ„ is all Paris And whan Charlemayne perceyued that his cofers were open he went anon looked in he was sore an angred whaÌ„ he founde not his Crowne nor the best parte of hys treasoure wherof he made great sorow and after sayd Ha false theefe Mawgis full litle I haue goten of thee of thy takynge And who than had seen the sorowe that the .xii. peeres of Fraunce made wolde haue had no luste to lawghe ⧠Nowe shall we tell you a lytell of Mawgys that wente as fast as euer he coulde towarde Mountawban and he came to passe ouer the water of BalaÌ„con at that place where Reinawde was full heauy and full of sorowe by cause he knew no tydinges of Mawgys but whan Mawgys had passed ouer the water bayarde smelled hym and begane to crye and came toward Mawgys wolde Reinawde or no. And whan Mawgys sawe Reinawde he knewe hym well and saide to him lawghinge Knighte what be ye that rideth at this time of night and Reinawd said to him ye know wel I am your cosin Reinawd the sonne of Aimon thâ—n he lighted from bayard and came to Mawgis and kyssed him by greate loue many times and than sayde to hym Fayre cosin thanked be our lord that I see you delyuered from the haÌ„des of Charlemaine By my faythe saide Mawgis ye forgate me well behinde Cosyn saide Reynawd by my soule I coulde not doe therto For I haue be heere syth yester day euyn And I promyse you that I was delibered for to haue succoured you or elles to haue dyed with you My cosin sayde Mawgys I thanke you ligâ—t vpon your horse and lette vs goe to Mountawban Whan Reynawde was vpon his horse againe he sayd to Mawgis My cosâ—n what is that ye haue laden Cosyn sayd Mawis it is the crowne of Charlemayne his swerde Ioyous durandall the swerde of Rowlande and the swerdes of al the .xii. peeres of FrauÌ„ce Cosyn said Reinawde ye haue wroughte well god gramercye but of the swerde of Ogyer me displeaseth Cosyn sayde Mawgis I haue doon it all wilfully to the end that the king should marke therby none euil and that he were not a peched of treason And than he shewed him al the cause and the maner that Charlemayn had holde him Cosin saide Reynawde ye did ryghte well And whan he had sayde thys they went on their waye towarde Mountawban and they mette in their waye Alarde Guicharde and the lytil Richarde that came ridinge makinge greate mone for doubte of Reinawde And whan Reinawde sawe theim come he saide to them whether goe you my fayre brethern Sir saide they we went seekinge after you ye haue founde me said Reinawde and I haue founde our cosin Mawgis And whaÌ„ they vnderstood this tydinges they were righte gladde and thanked oure lorde of it And after Alarde saide to Mawgis Faire cosin where became ye that ye came not with vs again Alard said Mawgys whan Richarde was entred within the pauillion of Charlemain and had take the egle of golde I taried in the pauillion for to slea Charlemaine and it lacked but litill that I slewe him and whan I trowed to haue comen after you I founde a greate rowte of knightes that arested me and so I defended me of all my power And than came Oliuer of Vyenne that ouerthrewe me downe and I yeelded me to him for his prisoner the whiche deliuered me to Charlemayne that wolde haue made me to be hanged shamefullye but lorde I thanke you I haue doon so muche that I am escaped Cosin said Alarde it is well happed to you whan thei had deuised longe ynough they went to Mountawban where they made greate feast whan they were come there it is not to be asked if the good lady clare was wel glad For incootinente she did to be made ready diuerse meates for the diner whan they hadde eaten they went to rest for they were wery and specially Reynawde and Mawgis wold faine haue slept And the nexte daie they went to heare their Masse at the chirche of Mountawban and whan the masse was doone Reinawde called Mawgis his cosin and his bretherne and saide to them Lordes shewe me the bothie that ye gate yesterdaie Sir saide Richarde gladlie sith that it please you And than he tooke the egle that was of golde massi and of precious stones and gaue it to Reinawde And whan Reinawde saw
make bayarde to be slayne For I may no lenger lyue without meate nother yet my bretherne THan whan Reynawd heard his brother Alard speke thê° he was ryght sorye for it and tooke his swerd went to bayarde for to slea him And whan bayarde sawe Reynawde he began to make greate Ioye and whan Reynawde saw the there that bayard him made he sayd to him Ha bayarde good beaste yf I had the herte to doo thee harme I were well cruell And than yonnet the yonger sonne heard that he cried vnto his father sir wherfore tary ye that ye slea not bayarde sith he must dye for I wexe madde for hungre and so I tell you yf I haue not shortly some foode ye ye shal seeme die afore your eyen yet my mother my brother also for we may not lenger lyue thus so harde we been famished And whan Reinawd hearde hys sonne speake to him so he had great pity of him and great sorow in his heart and so he had of bayarde that cheted him so muche Than wiste not Reynawde what he should saye nor doo and so began to thinke alonge while And whan he had bethoughte him selfe longe ynoughe he aduysed him howe Bayarde shoulde not dye And thaâ— he called after a basyn and made bayarde be lette bloode much and after he had let him bloude ynough Reynawd stopped the vayne and gaue the bloud to Alard for to be dressed And whan it was soden they eate all alytell therof whyche gaue them great sustenaunce And to saye the trouth Reinawde and his folke were well foure dayes without any other foode And whan it came to the v. day that they wolde haue had bayard let bloud againe he was so feble that he caste no bloude at all And whan the duchesse sawe that she began to weep tenderly and sayde Sir for god sith that he giueth no more bluod let him be slayne and so shall eate your poore children of him that dyen for great hungre I also Madame saide thanne Reinawd I wyl not doo so For bayard hath born vs good companye in oure lifes and so shall he doo till the houre of our deth for we shal dye all togyther And ye ought to know that Reinawde and his company were brought so lowe that they waited none other but deth the whiche was them nigh ynough Than an olde man that was amoÌ„g theim came and sayde to Reynawde vp Syr what shal it be I see that you Mountawban shal be destroyed but in you is not the faute for it hath be well defended as longe as ye might as it apeereth and sith that I see yee mai no more doo come after me and I shal shew you away where throughe we shall well all goe out wyth out any daunger and I wyll well that ye knowe Mountawban was once made and shytte afore ye dyd make it and the Lorde that buylded it fyrst let make a waye vnder the erth that bringeth folke to the wood of the serpent I was a yonge childe whan that way was made I know well where it lieth doo digge where I shall shewe you and ye shall finde it without any fayle and thus shall we go free wtout any daunger whaÌ„ Reynawde heard theese wordes he was so glad of it that none might be more so that he forgat his hungre with all and sayde O fayre God that all made blessed be you Now haue I founde that I desyred for I shall goe to Ardeyne whiche I ought to loue deere And thaÌ„ he tooke the olde man by the hande and made him to bringe him to the place where he said and there he made to be digged in the erth and founde the way that the olde man sayd wherof he was right glad and than he wente to the stable and put the sadle vpon Bayarde and after brought him to the way but wit it that Bayarde was so feble that he scante coulde go the pase and thaÌ„ Reynawde hys wyfe hys brethern hys chyldren and the remenaunte of hys folke put theym selfe to the way vnder the erthe so that no creature a lyue abode wâ—thin the castell GReat plentie of torches Reynawde made to be fyred that thei might see the better within the caue as they wente and he ordeyned hys forwarde of that fewe folke that he had and wente forth in good ordeynaunce with his baner displayed he with his bretherne made the reregarde And whan they had gone a longe whyle through the Caue that was wyde large Reynawde made his folke to tary and sayd to hys brethern my brethern wee haue doone euyll For we haue lefte behinde vs kynge Yon in the prison certes I should leuer dye than that I should leaue him so for he should dye there for hungre as a famisshed wolfe that were to vs great sinne By god sayd Richarde he hath well deserued it for of a man that is a traytour men ought not to haue pitie brother sayd Reynawde ye say yll And than he returned agayne came to the pryson where the king Yon was whiche he tooke out brought with him And whaÌ„ the duchesse sawe her brother the kynge Yon come she sayde to hym Ha my brother ye are right yll come to me for al the harme that we haue suffred cometh thoroughe cause of you I am sory that ye be not dead roten within the prison for ye haue well deserued it Madame sayd Reynawde let that alone I pray you for he shall not dye yf I maye For I haue doone to him homage wherefore I ought to obey hym and how be it he hath wrought ful yl agaynst vs yet shall I neuer be forsworne agaynst him whaÌ„ his brethern heard him speake thus they sayde to hym brother ye speake well wyselye ye doo that ye ought to doo nor ye shall neuer he rebuked of vs for it doo therin as it pleaseth you and after these wordes they went on their waye SO longe went these knightes that they came out of the caue and found themselfe at the wood of the serpent euyn at the spryng of the day as soone as they were yssued out of the sayd caue they were so scaped fro Charlemayne Yonnet than the lytle sonne of Reynawde swouned there for great hungre And whaÌ„ Reynawde sawe that he was ryght sori for it and tooke him vp and said Fayre sonne I praye you be a good cheere for we shall haue soone meat great plentie And whan he had said this he tooke his other sonne AymoÌ„ in his armes and recomforted hym muche And whan Reynawde had doone so he looked aboute him and knew well where they were and he sayd to his brethern Lordes me semeth that we ben nyghe the hermytage of my good freende Bernarde syr sayd Alarde yee saye trouth but what shall we doo Brother sayde Reinawde I couÌ„sel for the moste profytable that we go there and we shal abide there tyll the nyght be come than we
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
muche by hym that yf he had you as he hath Rycharde He durst well hange yourself al vs. Syr Olyuer sayd the messanger I swere you on my fayth that Reynawd ceassed not all thys day to pray the duke Richard that he should forsake Charlemayn and he should saue his lyfe wherof Rycharde of Normandy wolde doo nothynge but spake great wordes to Reynawde And whan that the Messanger had sayd thus he sayd to the kyng Syr gyue me leue to goe if it please you and tel me what I shal say to Richarde of Normandye fro you Freende sayd Charlemayne ye shal tell him on my behalfe that he put no doubt in nothiÌ„g For Reynawde shall not be so hardy to doo him any harme WhaÌ„ the messager that was a wyse knight vnderstoode Charlemayne he coulde not absteyne hym selfe but he sayd to hym syr Emperour ye be ouer proude but I promyse you that Reynawde setteth lytle by your pryde and I make you sure that Alarde wayteth well for my comyng agayne For he wolde not take a hundred thousand pounde for to leue Rycharde but that he should hang him his owne handes And as soone as he had sayd so he went his wayes wythout any leue taking of the kyng streyght to Ardeyne ANd whan the .xii. peeres saw the messanger go with an yll answer they were full sory for it Ha god sayd Ogyer how the deuyll the kynge is felle and hard of hert that wil nother peace nor concorde I am well sure that his pride shal be cause of a shamefull death to Richarde Ogier sayd Rowlande ye saye trouth but I see him hang god neuer help me at my need if I abyde after it with Charlemayne whyles I liue whaÌ„ he had sayd so he went to the other peeres sayd to them Lordes what shall we doo shall we let thus Rycharde be hanged our felawe one of the best knightes of the worlde and moste hardy for thoroughe his prowes he is there as he is neuer no foule worde issued out of his mouth alas we shall now see hym hange with great shame certes yf wee suffre it we ben shamed for euer ROwland as a man disperate came than to the kyng al wroth and sayd to hym in this maner Syr by my soule I go now oute of your seruise without your leue after he sayd to Ogier Ogyer what wyl ye doo wil ye come with me leue this Deuyll heere for he is all beside him selfe By my head Rowland sayde Ogyer ye say trouth I shall neuer in my lyfe abyde with hym but I shall go gladlye wyth you where ye wyl And I shal not leue you for no man in the worlde syth that he suffreth that suche a valiaunt maÌ„ shall dye as the duke Rycharde of Normandy that he loued so muche He should soone doo so bi vs for he is a man that hath in hym nother loue nor pitie And whan Oliuer of vyen vnderstoode these wordes he stoode vp and sayd Lordes I will go with you I haue dwelled heere to longe and I also sayd the duke Naymes in likewise Escoufe the sonne of Oedon And whan the bisshop Turpin saw this he casted a great syghe and sayd By my fayth Charlemayne it is euill to serue you for of good seruyce ye doo yeelde an euill rewarde as it is well seen now by the Duke Rycharde of Normandye that hath serued you so well and so truly And if I dwel any loÌ„ger with you I pray god punisshe me for it THan whaÌ„ Charlemayn saw his peeres that were so sore moued with angre agaynst him he sayd to them Lordes haue no doubt of nothyng for the duke Rycharde shall haue no harme Syr sayde the Duke Naymes ye doo great wrong for to say so for a foole neuer beleueth till he feele sore weene you to make vs fooles with your wordes We se the galous made vp for to haÌ„g our felaw wherfore I tel you that a myschiefe take me if I dwel with you any lenger Whan the duke Naymes had sayd so he went out of the â—â—â—â—lion of Charlemayne and in likewise all the Peeres of Fraunce with hym and wente into hys tente the whiche he made to be pulled downe incontinent And whan they of the hoste of Charlemayne saw that they were sore afrayed And ye ought to wyt that they were so sore moued within a litle while that there abode in the hoste of Charlemayne not one baron nor knyght but onlye the poore symple gentilmen and comin people whan Rowlande saw thys he went on his wayes wyth the other peeres And wit it at that houre the hoste of Charlemayne was made lesse than it was afore by .xl. thousande men REynawde that was vpon the hyghe gate of Ardeyne saw so great numbre of folke cominge togither so called he to hym the messager that was but comen fro Charlemayne and sayd to hym in thys maner Come heere messanger tell me what Charlemayne hath sayd vnto you Syr sayd the messager wit it that ye haue missed of peace for charlemayne wil nothyng of it but he seÌ„deth you worde by me that ye be not so hardy vpon the eyen of your head to doo any harme to the Duke Rycharde of Normandy And whan he had said this he turned him toward the duke Rycharde and sayd to him Syr duke now may ye know howe muche Charlemayne loueth you Wit it for certaine that ye get nother helpe nor succours of him and for the loue of you Rowlande and all the other peeres of Fraunce ben ful sore an angred with him For ye may perceyue it well by theyr tentes that beÌ„ pulled downe And so I am sure that the moste parte of the hoste shall depart for the loue of you And so shal not abyde there but only the erle guanellon his lignage For theyr tentes ben righted all the other brought downe Whan Reynawde wyste that the frenchemen were angry with Charlemayne for the loue of the duke Rycharde of Normandy he chaunged his courage and could not keep him from weepynge And after he turned hym towarde Rycharde of Normandy and sayd to hym for god my cosyn I praye you for to pardon me the great shame that I haue doon to you Reynawde sayd Rycharde I blame you not for I wot wel that ye cannot doo therto For the greate pride and cruelnes of Charlemayne is causer of al this WhaÌ„ Reynawde had cried mercy to the duke Richard he vnbounde him and Alarde and Guycharde came to helpe hym for they were all glad that Rychard was deliuered Notwithstandynge afore that they were disposed for to make him dye shamefully And whan they had doone so Reynawde sayd cosin Rycharde lene vpon this walle and we shall looke what Charlemayne wyl doo Syr sayd the duke Rycharde ye say well let vs see it ANd whan Charlemayn saw that his barons went away as it is said he was sori for it that he wexed almoste madde all quicke for the
ye must wyt that the duke Rychard was styll with him to whome Reynawde commended his wyfe and his chyldren and all his brethern And that he wolde pray the kinge that he should haue theym for recommended And whan he had arrayed hymselfe so he came towarde the halle to the duchesse hys wyfe ANd whan the noble duchesse Clare saw her husband so arayed in his beggers clothynge she tooke suche sorowe for it that she fel downe in a swoune to the erth as she had be dead And whan Reynawde saw her fal he ran for to take her vp and after sayd to her Lady for God take it not so sore at your herte For I shall soone come agayne and god before And wyth you shall my bretherne abyde that shall serue you as theyr lady And so I tell you that I am so glad of the peace that me semeth that I am come agayne al redy Madame my deere wyfe I pray god keepe you from all euilles And with this he kissed her full sweetely And than he tooke on his way and whan the duchesse saw hym goe she tooke for it so great sorow that she swouned agayne and abode thus a longe while that all her gentil women went she had ben dead And after she was come againe to herself she maâ— great mone for her lorde Reynawde For she scratched her face pulled her heres from her head for great sorow whan she had made so muche sorow she said O good husbaÌ„d Reinawde whose like is not in all the worlde of goodnes god be with you For I wot well that I shal neuer see you And whan she had sayde these wordes she went into her chambre tooke all her noble raymentes â—ast them in a fyre and whaÌ„ they were al brent she tooke a poore smocke and cast it about her said she should neuer were none other clothes till she saw her lorde husbande agayne AFter that Reynawde had takeÌ„ leue of his wife he departed the duke Richarde his brethern and his folke conueyed hym a great waye alwayes speaking that it was pitie to heare And whan Reynawde thought that they had gone ferre ynoughe with him he turned him towarde them sayd Lordes I praye you huÌ„bly that ye returne home again for as long as ye be with me I am not at my ease go your way in the name of God and recomforte my wyfe the duchesse that weepeth so sore to you my brethern I coÌ„mende her my children also Wyt it whan Reynawde had sayd this there was none that coulde take leue of him so ful of sorowe they were except Alarde that sayd to him Mi deere brother I prai you hertely that ye come shortlye agayne for your departinge is so heuy to me that I trow I shall die for sorow And whan Alarde had sayd so he enbrased his brother tooke leue of him making great sorow so did Richarde of Normandye to whome Reynawde sayd my cosyn I coÌ„meÌ„de you ones my wife agayne and my children al my brethern for they be of your bloud well ye know it Reinawde sayd the duke Richarde I promyse swere as knight that I shal helpe defende them agaynst all meÌ„ except agaynst the king doubt not for them for they shal want nothiÌ„g ¶ Now leueth the hystory to speke of Reynawde that went to the holy lande araied as ye haue heard and retourneth to speake of his brethern howe they came to Charlemayne with the duke Richarde of Normandy ¶ How after that Reynawde was departed fro Ardeyn to make his viage beyonde the sea clothed poorely as a pilgrim askiÌ„g his meat for god sake the duke of Normandi tooke alarde Guycharde Richarde brought theÌ„ with him to Charlemayne whiche receiued them honourably tooke vp his siege went to paris But whan he cam to the citie of lege vpon the riuer of meuze he made bayarde to be cast in it with a milstone at the necke of him But meÌ„ sayen the bayarde scaped out and that he is a lyue yet in the forest of Ardeyne IN thys party sheweth the hystory that whaÌ„ Reynawde had put himselfe to the way as yee haue hearde Richarde of Normandy and his brethern came agayne to Ardein full sory for Reynawde where as they found the good duchesse Clare that made greate sorowe for her lordes departyng And whan they were come agayne there the duke Richarde tooke the duchesse by the hande and began to recomforte her so many fayre wordes he layde vnto her that she slaked a litle her sorow and after thys the duke Richarde sayde to the brethern of Reynawde in this maner Lordes goe make you redy and we shall go vnto Charlemayn Sir sayd the three brethern let vs whan it please you And then they went tooke on the best clothing that they had And I promise you they were three fayre knightes and after they were wel apparayled they mounted eche of them vpon a palfraye of hye pryce ryght fayre wythout anye armes And for to speake shortly they yssued out of Ardeyn and came to the pauilion of Charlemayne And whaÌ„ the king saw theÌ„ he was ryght glad So he commaunded al hys barons that they should go againe them Ha god sayd Rowland now comen the three bretherne well sorye certayne they haue a cause for they haue lost theyr helpe succoure and hope Now I see that the duke Richard cometh with them wherof he dooth well for he is their kynsman NOw ye ought to wit that the three brethern of Reynawde came to the pauilion of Charlemain well honestly arayed And whaÌ„ they were afore the kyng they kneeled huÌ„bly at his feete and Alarde spake fyrst sayd Sir Reynawde our brother recoÌ„mendeth him huÌ„bly to your good grace salueth you as his souerayne lorde he sendeth you Rycharde the duke of Normandy whiche ye se heere and so he praieth you that ye will haue vs for recommended for he hath taken his way towarde the holy lande for to accomplisshe your commauÌ„demeÌ„t Freende sayd Charlemayne ye be right welcome Syth that it please our lorde that we shal be freendes I shall doo for you and shal bring you al to honour as it apperteyneth to suche knightes as ye ben And yf god wyl bring Reynawd saufe agayne from his viage I shal holde him as deere as I doo mine owne neuew Rowland for he is replenysshed with great worthines Syr sayd Richard god bring him agayn whan the king had thus spoken with the brethern of Reynawde he came to the duke Rycharde of Normandy kissed him more than .x. times and whan he had feasted him ynough he said to him duke Richarde I praye you that ye wil tel me what prisoÌ„ gaue you Reynawde what meates for to eat Sir said the duke of NormaÌ„dy by the fayth that I owe to god and to you I had better prison and was more at mine ease than euer knyght was
brother for he is your elder that know ye well THan sayde yonnet father be you sure I shall serue my dere brother as I wolde doo you that are my lord my dere father By my faithe faire sonne saide reinawde if ye do so ye shal be praised for it whersomeuer ye come or goe But yet one thing I forbid you that ye speake not to muche for if ye doo the contrarie the frensshemen shall saie that ye be not like inconditions to your parentage Father saide the childrene we haue suche a trust in oure Lorde god that he shall keep vs from al thing that is contrarye to his will and that we shall so gouerne vs that ye shal gladlie auowe vs for your children all they of the courte of Charlemayne shall loue vs but yf they wil doo wrong whan Reynawd heard his children speake so the was â—ight glad therof and drewe them aside and said to theim My fayre children ye goe now into frauÌ„ce remember well heere after al which I shall tell you now ye must know the there be in the courte of Charlemaine a great lygnage of folke that neuer loued vs but litel the which are of the greate power thei be of mauÌ„t I charge you that ye ne goe nor come with theim for nothing that they can tell you yf thei hurt you by any wise see that ye reueÌ„ge your selfe wysely shewe them that ye be the sonnes of Reinawde of mountawban Father said the chyldren doubt not we shal not suffre that anye outrage be doo to vs if we mai Faire children saide reinawde kneele afore me they kneeled anon afore their father reinawd gaue theÌ„ his blessyng after kissed them weeping manie times gaue them leaue after turned him to his knightes and saide My lordes I commend you to god pray you that ye rend wel my children suffre not that any wrong be don to them to your power for ye knowe wel that we ben hated in fraunce I praie you giue theÌ„ alwaies good couÌ„seil and that thei be alwaies courteous gentil liberal of their goodes for a priÌ„ce couetous was neuer praised whan reinawd had said this he withdrew him sore weeping Thus leueth thistorie to speake of reinawd of his bretherne and returneth to shew of his children that were gone to the courte of Charlemâ—ine ⧠Howe after that the kyng Charlemayne had receyued ful sweetly the sonnes of Reynawde they foughte with the suÌ„nes of Foulques of Moryllon discomfited them in the ysle of oure lady within Parys bycause they had layde treason vpon reynawde theyr father for cause that he had slayne Foulques in the playne of Valcoloures NOwe sheweth the tale that after that Aimonet yonnet were departed fro theyr father they rode so muche by their Iourneys that they came to parys and lodged theym by the palays and whan thei were lodged the two childreÌ„ clothed themselfe honestly all theyr folke than they went with their felawshyp holdyng eche other by the handes to the palays And whan the barons of Charlemaine sawe come the .ii. brethern so rychely arayed and so goodly a felawshyp of knyghtes after them they meruayled greatlye what they myght be so said th one to thother heere be two fayre chyldren by lykelyhod they shoulde be brethreÌ„ and they must be of som hie lignage The barons theÌ„ folowed them whaÌ„ they mouÌ„ted to the palays they entred within the great hall where thei found the king Charlemayne that deuised with some of his barons there was the duke naimes Richard of Normandy Salamon of breteyn Ogyer the dane therle GuaneiloÌ„ also Constans and rohats which .ii hated reynawde of Mountawban ryght sore for they were the sonnes of Foulques of morillon that reinawd had slayn in the plaine of valcoloures whan he and his bretherne defended them so wel at the roch of MouÌ„tbron These two bretherne Constans and rohars had great name in the court but their hertes were full false and the kinge Charlemayne loued theim well for theyr prowes and greate knighthode With Charlemain were also many other greate prynces and barons wherof the booke maketh no mencion For it were to long a thing for to be recounted THan whan the two brethern the sonnes of Reinawde of Mountawban were come in to the hall they saw the kinge amonge his barons so went they vnto hym and kneeled downe afore him and kissed his feete And than Aymonet spake first and said Sir god giue you good life longe and keepe from euill all youre noble companye Sir we are come to you for to haue the ordre of knighthod if it plese your good grace to giue it to vs for of no better hand than is youres We can not haue it wherfore sir we beseche you humbly for god and for the loue of our father that it will please you to receyue vs in your seruise vnto the time ye giue the saide ordre of knightehode who beÌ„ you said the king that speake thus Sir saide Aymonet we are the sonnes of Reynawde of Mountawban And whan the kyng Charlemayn vnderstoode that they were the sonnes of Reynawde he rose vpon hys feet lyghtly and receyued them honourably and after said vnto theym My chyldrene ye be righte welcome and how fareth your father syr sayde the chylderne he doothe well thanked be god and he recommendeth him right huÌ„bly to your good grace beseeching you that ye will haue vs for recommended and we haue lefte hym at Mountawban but he draweth now sore to age Thus goeth the worlde my children said the king euery man must take in it an ende Muche glad was the kynge Charlemayne of the comynge of the two sonnes of Reynawde and ryght gladly he looked vpon theim for the loue of theyr father for the more he behelde theim and the more fayrer he founde thâ—im and better lyked theim and well he loued theim because they were lyke the father And whaÌ„ that he had looked vpon them ynough he said to his barons Lordes if the children wold forsake the father they coulde not for neuer children were more lyke to him than they whan he had sayde so he turned roward the children and sayde to theym Fayre childrene ye shall be made knightes at al tymes whan ye will for the loue of youre father my good freend and I shal giue you more londes than your father hath and for loue of you I shal make an hundred knightes more with you for ye ben of suche a stocke come that ye be worthy for to be honoured prâ—ised and holden dere And than whan the duke Naimes Rowland Oâ—iuer that came there and all the other Peeres of Fraunce sawe that they were the two soÌ„nes of Reinawd of mountawbaÌ„ they were ryght glad of it than euery man kissed theym by great loue and asked them howe Reinawde and his bretherne bâ—d lordes saide Aymonet what are you that be so glad of