kynge of the lordes of Fraunce of whome the â—â—gnage succeded from heyre to â—yres vnto the foure and twenty kyng whych was the kyng â—â—epyn of another lygnage And the kynge whyche was the xxiij after the kyng Cloys and of his â—gnage was named hildâ—â—us the which beyng deuoute contempletyf wythoute cure to excersyse thoffyce royal of a kynge put hym self in relygyon for to lede a solytarye lyf ¶ In that tyme was Pepyn moche valyaunt of hys persone and moche noble prynâ—e And by cause that alle the kynges of fraunce haue succeded of thys sayd Pepyn and in especial charlemayn his sone vpon whome this werke is comprysed I wyl here begynne to treate the mater the whyche I entende superfycially to speke of And lyke as the book whyche is called myrrour hystoryal compryseth That Pepyn the prynce on a tyâ—e sente hys messagers to Rome to the Pope zacharye for to haue answer vpon a demaunde That is to wete whether is he more worthy to be a kyng or to be said a kyng whihe foâ— peâ—s and parfyght vnyon taketh on hym grete payne trauaylle or ellys he that retcheth of noo thynge and is abandonned and gyuen to all slouth and is onely contente to haue the name onely of kyng whan the pope had herde thys demauÌ„de he remaunded to Pepyn that he by ryght reason and veray equyte ought to be called a kyng that gouerneth and ruleth hys fayt for the comyn wele contynueth it For whyche ansuer demaunde the Frensshe men by câ—unceyl approuued consydered theyr kyng hyldrycus professed in a monasterye in lyf solytarye and contemplatyf And that not wythstondyng ought not to be ony thyng ayenst them that lyuen solytaryly how wel a kyng ought not to be solytarye For suche as is the Kyng suche is the Royame ¶ For salamon sayth yf the kyng be neclygeÌ„t the peple wote not what to doo And blessyd is the londe that hath a prynce noble Alle the frensshe men beyng wel enformed of the condycions apperteynyng to a kynge after an auctour that sayth thus ¶ The Prynce whan he is ordeyned ought not to haue horses superfluous ne make his peple more subgette than they ought to be and ought not to take but seruauntes propyce and necessarye wythoute superfluyte and not to nourysshe ouer many houndes ne other beestes vnprouffytable but take them in mesure ¶ And he shold eschewe multyplycacyon of menysâ—rellys Tabouryns commyn wymmen lecherous men ¶ And he shold not corrupte hys subgettes by euyl exaumple He shold not breke hys espousaylles he shold gladly rede in bookes shold haue by hym peple wel letterd And shold Iuge wythoute fauour ¶ And tofore al thynges he shold adoure serue god he shold not gladly take yeftes ought not gladly to châ—uÌ„ge hys offycers Alle thys thynge wel seen emonge them for the conseruacion of the people emonge the myscreauÌ„tes which were at that tyme wente and chosen for to be kyng of Fraunce the noble Pepyn and fro that tyme forthon the lygnage of kyng cloys regned nomore vpon the frensshe men And he was consecrate by saynt Boneface And by thauctoryte apostolyque by Saynt Stephen Pope with his ij sones Charlemayn charles the grete was confermed and approuued and ordeyned all the kynges of fraunce in grete benâ—dyction to succede fro lygnage to lygnage moost nexte And the said pope gaf his maledyction to al them that were opposaunts and ayenst these thynges aforesayd ¶ Thenne after this noble kyng Pepyn made grete warre to the englysshe men And after the guyse Romayn he ordeyned the seruyce in the chyrches of frauÌ„ce and many other maters meruayllous wherof thonour is attrybuted by good ryght to hym by vyctorye obteyned and was buryed in the chyrche of Saynt Denys in Fraunce And lefte hys heyres hys two sones afore sayd whome he had goten on the noble quene berte doughter of the grete Herclyn Cezar of whome the lignage of romayns of germayns and of the grekes haue had concurrence wherfore by good ryght in tyme folowyng the kyng Charles was chosen and maad Emperour of Rome And the sayd Kynge Pepyn regned xviij yere in prosperyte dygne of saluacyon and after that the broder of the sayd Charles had regned in his partye of the royame ij yere he deyed And thenne after alle the gouernement hoolly of the royame of fraunce abode to the sayd charles as here after shalle be more playnly shewed ¶ Of kyng Charles after that he had maad many constytucyons wyth the Pope Adryan how he was emperour of Rome capitulo ij THys noble Charlemayn otherwyse called Charles the grete the whiche for the gretenes of hys body puyssaunce and opperacions virtuouses by merite is called grete as I haue sayd whyche after the deth of hys brother he was onely kyng of Fraunce A lytel whyle after that the Pope adryan regned dyd grete dyligence to strengthe corobere the crysten fayth in annullyng the heresyes and constytutyng ymages for representacyon of sayntes in chyrches And to many other labours merytoryes adioyned in the seruyce of god of holy chyrche The kyng charles ayenst the mysereauntes taryed not to confounde them but had vyctorye of them in dyners maners the pope adryan whyche was wel enformed that thys Charles was a stronge pyler of the chyrche and protectour of the fayth sente for hym that he shold come to Rome And whan he came to pauye there he taryed sette hys syege and soiourned a lytel tyme And after wyth a fewe of hys people departed came to rome And there he was receyued affectuously and vysyted many places deuoutelye And after whan he retorned he took pauye And whan he had all doon his playsyr he retorned to Rome And wyth the Pope adryan he assembled many bysshoppes and abbottes the nombre of an hondred liij where they ordeyned many constytucyons vpon the fayt of the vnyuersal chyrche And in that synode for the grete holynes of charles The pope and al thassystentes gaf hym power for to ordeyne bisshoppes archbisshops in al his contrees and prouynces And al them that so shal be ordeyned he shal conferme and the rebellys that shall gaynsaye them he shal curse and theyr goodes be confysked This noble charles wyth hys two sones that one named Pepyn that other â—â—wys And the xij pyeres of fraunce whyche al had promysed fydelyte one to that other for to Ieoparde theyr lyf for the crysten fayth In that tyme many mortal warres duryng the lyf of kyng Pepyn of charles and after that the royame of lombardye was destroyed and delyuerd of the myscreauntes And maad pees not wythoute grete trauayll for to come from fraunce in to lombardye by cause of the dauÌ„gerous countre whan alle thys was termyned to hys playsyr he reduced alle ytalye vnder the trybute of the royame of Fraunce In suche wyse that whan ytalye was thus destroyed he went to Rome for to gyue thankynges and
laude to god moche deuoutelye for vyctorye that he had and for execusyon doon vpon the enemyes of the fayth And there with the pope Adryan he maad many constytucyons whyche by ryÈt equyte ought wel to be obserued And after he beyng thus in Rome vyctoryous hys sone Pepyn was ordeyned consecrate kyng of the ytalyens And hys sone lowys was ordeyned and consecrate kyng vpon gâ—yan thys doon the Romayns whyche of grete ancyaunte were of grete appâ—ete after that the emperour was by them put to deth Constantyn his sone wold haue regned for emperour whyche was not wel in the fauour of the senatours and other Romayns the whyche beyng in this poynte after that they had taken delyberacyon of grete counceyl seeyng the grete valure and noblesse of kyng Charles whyche was so parfyght in alle noblesse hardynesse prudence other vertues as I shalle touche herafter alle playne that by consente of eue ryche he was chosen emperour of Rome wyth grete loange exaltacyon of Ioye Innumerable And by the honde of Pope Leo he was crowned emperour with alle honoures that myght be comprysed And al wyth one voys gaf to hym laude and honour And called hym Cezar August by a symylytude of valure in contemplacyon of grete playsyr that they had maad hym kyng of ytalyens ¶ Of the corpulence of Kynge Charles and of the maner of hys lyuyng capitulo iij CHarlemayn Kynge of Fraunce after that he was Emperour â—e dyd many meruayllous werkes and regned emperour thyrtene yere And had thenne regned vpon the frensshe man xxxiij yere And in the contye of Rome he edyfyed many cytees and restored good townes many other thynges whyche may not well be recouÌ„ted by cause of his merueyllous werkes Neuertheles for to knowe what man he was his werkes wytnessen as moche as toucheth thexcercyte of hys persone Turpyn the holy man archebysshop of Raynes whych lyued that tyme and was oft tymes in the companye of kyng Charles sayth that he was a man wel faryng of hys body grete of persone and had hys â—yght and regarde fyers malycyous ¶ The lengthe of hys persone conteyned eyght feet after the mesure of his feet which were merueyllously long fatte and massyf was â—e of his sholdres and raynes wythoute hauyng the bely otherwise than wel a poynte The armes and thyes he had ample and laâ—ge he was a subtyl knyght ryghtwyse actyf and moche fyers and of alle hys membres he was of ryght grete strengthe he had the face deduyte in lengthe and hys â—â—â—de was a foot longe he had hys nose reysed vpon a roundnes A fayr regarde and countenaunce had thys man he had the face of a large fote brode he had the eyen like a lyon sparklyng lyke a cole by furyous regardâ— his wynbrowes grete Assone as he byhelde a man in anger eche man had of hym fere and drede in openyng his eyen The gyrdle of whyche he was gyrde was viij fote longe wyth oute that that henge doun fro the 〈◊〉 to the pendaunt whan he took hys â—â—paast he was contente wyth lytel brede but as touchyng the pytauÌ„ce he ete at his REpaast a quarter of moton or ij â—â—nnes or a grete ghoos or a grete pestel of porke or a pecok or a crane or an hare all hool he dranke wyn sobrely wyth a lytel water therin Of hys strengthe is not a lytel thynge to speke of For he wold smyte a knyght armed wyth one stroke of a swerde and cleue hym from the coppe of the hede doun to the sadel And yf he had bytwene hys handes iiij hors shoen wyth oute ouermoche prouyng hys myght he wold ryÈt them oute and breke them in pyeces And more ouer wyth one hande he wold take a knyght al armed and lyfte hym vp to the heyght of hys breste lyghtly And he had in hym thre thynges moche honourable Fyrst in yeftes yeuyng he was ryght large lyke vnto Tytus themperour sone of vaspasyanus which was so prodygal that it was not possyble to hym to gyue that whyche he promysed And whan it was demaunded why he promysed thynge that he myght not gyue forthwyth he answerd that a persone ought not departe fro a prynce desolate ne heuy nor with oute to obteyne somme thynge Secondly Charles was so sure in Iugement that no man coude reprehende hym and also he was pyetous mercyful vnto cristen men after the qualyte of the persone the occasyon of the trespaas And thyrdly in his wordes he was moche wel aduysed whan he spake he thought strongely on that he sayd whan one spake to hym he remembred the manere for to compryse then tencyon of the spekar ¶ To what thynge kyng Charles hys sone and hys doughters were Instructe and taughte to doo capitulo iiij DAme bertrode moder of Charles ful of grete scyence in grete prosperyte of lyf and in honour wexed olde and fynysshed hyr dayes and ordeyned bookes for to excersyse the artes lyberalle ¶ Of whome fyrst charles took gladly payne for to estudye And in the tyme of Infancye he maad scyence to be taught to his sones and doughters and after whan they knewe their byleue he made them to studye in the seuen artes lyberal And whan the sones were of age for to ryde on horsback after the guyse of Fraunce he made them to fere armes and to Iuste for texcersyle the warre whan it shold be nede whan they dyd not that he made them to hunte of maner wylde beestes and dyd them to do other of batements longyng to chyualrye contynuelly After this he made his doughters to spynne sowe and to occupye them in other honourable werkes 〈◊〉 th ende that by ydlenes and slouthe faute of occupacyon they shold not haue occasyon to falle in thouÈt dysordynate for to haue Inclynacyon to synne and vyce and whan he was not occupyed in maters of charge and weyghty he wold employe his tyme in wrytyng somme newe thynge to th ende that he wold not be ydle acoordyng to the pystle of saynt poule whiche admonesteth vs to do alwaye somme good by cause that out enemye the fonde holde vs not in ydlenes for to folowe his entencyon dampnable And he dyd do make in his polays in Acon in Almayn a chyrche of our lady comprysed of meruayllous beaute moche rychely ordeyned and wrought and in grete honour enhaunced in sygne of a parfyght crysten man For after that one loueth the lord and that is gyuen to hym the werkes desirous to meue other to doo to the bard lyke as hym self and in lyke wyse shold perseuere in the amplyfycacyon of hys contreye that sythe the deth of hys fader Pepyn be doubled by puyssauÌ„ce in the royame of fraunce ¶ Of the studye of kyng charles of hys lyuyng of hys charytable werkes and other maters capitulo v AFter that Charles was Instructe in gram yre other scyences â—â—â—pased speculatyf alwaye be contynued in them And by ardour
the aygle shynyng And he sware by Mahommet his god by his myÈt that he wold neuer departe tyll he had foughten made batayll to somme crysten man And he seeyng that no man cam to hym began to crpe with an hye voys O kyng of Parys coward with oute hardynesse sende to Iuste ayenst me somme of thy barons of fraunce the moost stronge the moste hardy as Rolland olyuer Thyerâ—y or ogyer the danoys I swere to the by my god Mahon that I shal not refuse vnto the nombre of vj or vij that they shal be receyued of me and yf thou make to me reffuse of thys that I of the demaunde I promyse the that tofore or it be nyÈt thou shalt of me be assaylled dyscomfyted I shal smyte of thy heed as meschaunt withoute ony fayllyng and after I shal lede with me Rolland Olyuer vnhappy meschaunt caytyfs For oultragyously folyly as euyl and olde hast enprysed to come iij to thys contreye wherfro thou shalt haue cause hastely to departe These wordes or semblable spoken Fyerabras wente hym vnto the shadowe of a tree and laye there dysarmed hym of the armes of whyche he was cladde and bonde his hors vnto a tree and whan he was thus at his ease he began to crye with an hye voys o charlemayn kyng of Parys where art thou now whome I haue thys day so ofte called wythoute more lenger delaye sende to Iuste ayenst me rolland or Olyuer of whom thou makest so grete counte and been so valyaunte or ogyer the danoys whom I haue herde preysed And yf perauenture one of them dare not come allone hardyly late come the two or thre or foure of the moost valyauntest and that they be courageous hardy and wel armed And yf the four dare not come late come fyue For vnto the nombre of vi of the moost valyauntest of thyn excersyte I shal not refuse And I thynke not to retorne tyl they be confused and destroyed by me for be ye sure that it shal neuer be to me reproche that I be fugytyf for ony frensshe man lyuyng I haue here tofore put to deth by the valyaunce of my persone ten kynges of grete puyssaunce and that they coude not resyste ageynst my strengthe in no wyse ¶ How Rychard if Normandye sayd to Charles what maner man Fyerabras was ca iij Assone as fyerabras had fynysshed hys wordes the Emperour Charles whyche wel had herde hym meruaylled moche of hys langage And demaunded Rychard of Normandye what was that Turke that so had cryed wyth soo hye a voys vpon the valyaunce of hys persone For kyng Charles sayd I haue wel herkened what he hath said that he shal not fayle to fyght ayenst vj of the moost valyauntest of myn excersyte To whome Rychard Duke of normandye ansuerd Syr kyng thys is a man meruayllous ryche and one of the strengest borne of moder And he is a sarasyn of so grete fyerste that he ne preyseth kyng ne erle ne none other persone of the worl◠¶ Whan Charles vnderstood hym he began to clawe his â—eed And sware by Saynt Deâ—ys of fraunce that he shold not ete ne neuer drynke tyl one of the pyeres of fraunce shold goo Iuste ageynst hym And demaunded of Rychard of Normandye how thys Popnyt was named ¶ Rychard answerd syr Emperour his paynym nameth hym self Fyerabras Which is moche to redoubte and hath done moche harme or crysten men He hath slayn the Pope hanged abbottes monkes and nonnes and hath deffuled chyrches ¶ And he hath robbed taken awaye the holy crowne of but lord and many other relyâ—ues for whome ye take grete payne And he holdeth Iherusalem in grete subgectyon And the holy sepulcre wherin god was buryed wherupon Charles ansuerd of thys that thou hast sayd to me I am more aÌ„gry than I was but knowe thou for certayn I shalle neuer haue Ioye tyll that my desyre be accomplysshed and that he be vaynquysshed And of that fayt al the frensshe men were commoeued and troubled And ther was not one that presented hym for to goo to hym And whan charles sawe that noo persone was of courage for to goo and fyght ageynst thys geaunt Fyerabras He sayd to Rolland My dere neuewe I praye the that thou dyspose the for tassaylle thys turke that thou doo there thy deuoyr ¶ Of the answer of Roulland to the Emperour sodeynlye and what it was capitulo iiij WHan themperour Charles had spoken thus curtoysly vnto his neuewe Rolland Folyly wythoute reason Rolland answerd hym thus Fayt vncle speke neuer to me therof For I had leuer that ye were confused and dysmembred than I shold take armes or hors for to Iuste lyke as ye say For on the last day that we were so nyghe taken of the paynyms that is to say of moo than fyfty thousand we yonge knyghtes bare the burthen and suffred many mortal strokes of whych olyuer my felowe is quasi hurt vnto the deth For yf ye had not be socoured of vs the hole destructyon had been of vs and th ende whan we repayred and were in our lodgys for to take reste at euen whan ye were wel dronken ye maad auaunte openlye that the olde and auncyent knygytes whyche ye had brouÈt wyth you for to ayde vs had moche better borne them in the fayt of armes and had more stronge bataylle than the yonge knyghtes ¶ And euery man knoweth wel how I was that euenyng affebled and wery of trauaylle that I took in that day And by my faders soule that was euyll sayd of you ¶ And now it shal be knowen how the olde auncient knyghtes shal bere them for by god whyche ought to haue al in his subgectyon there is noo yonge man in my companye that euer shal be in my fauour and loue yf he take vpon hym to Iuste ageynst the Paynym Also sone as Roulland had spoken that worde Themperour hys vncle hauyng moche IudignacioÌ„ therat smote hym thwarte the vysage wyth hys ryght ganntetoâ— that hys nose breste a blood habundauntly of the stroke Thenne Roulland in a grete furye sette honde on hys swerde whan he sawe hys blood and had smeton hys vncle yf he had not be lette by them that were presente And whan Charles sawe then tencyon of Roullaud he was meruayllously abasshed sayd O god of heuen who wold haue thought that I shold haue had vylonye of Rolland my neuew whyche been knytte to gyder in one fayth ayenst our aduersaryes And he cometh rennyng ageynst me wyth affectyon mortal He that is moost nexte of my blood and lignage that here is present And that more sonner shold sâ—coure me than ony other ¶ Now I beseche God that on the crosse suffred passyon that this day he be punysshed as he is worthy And this said in a grete furour he comaunded the frensshe men sayd to them anone take ye hym for I shall neuer ete tyl he be delyuerd to
ye haue sayd And yf it were not bycause the kyng is present ye shold lose your hede and it shold be smyton of we knowe wel what ye be your fader garyn was neuer but a pour man and of lowe condycyon Alle your lygnage ne ben but people of nought ¶ The duc Reyner myght not suffre thys Iniurye but came to hym and smote hym wyth hys fyst in suche wyse that he ouerthrewe to grounde and there were made many reproches and ylle talent in so moche that yf the kyng had not be present and made the pees and tranquylyte they had slayn eche other For anone there were moo than a thousand of the lygnage of ganellon But fyerabras which was present blamed them strongely And on that other syde the kyng sware by hys crowne that yf there were ony persone that began bataylle or fyght that he shold do hym be hanged as a theef attaynt of what someuer estate that he were and by thys they were aferde for to offende and was nomore spoken Not withstandyng that the counceyl was taken emonge them that they shold put Reyner to deth as sone as they shold be in Fraunce Charles sent for them to come to hym and said to them ye haue done to me a grete shame but yf it be not amended now to fore me I shal do opene Iustyce Alwaye nedes must the kynge be obeyed in suche wyse that aâ—ory on hys knees cryed duc Reyner mercy but he wold neuer haue doon it yf it had not been for to appease the furour of kyng charles thus they maad the pees And after themperour sayd his oppynyon that yf he torned backe that it shold be to hym grete dyshonour Therfor cam geffroy daulteuylle fader of Ganellon whyche sayd Syr Emperour I am olde and haue seen moche thynge wherfore me semeth that ye ought to byleue me as wel as ony persone of your companye ye knowe wel that I and Ganellon my sone haue alwaye loued you And how that it be he that counceylleth you to retorne hath good ryght I haue now my body alle to brused for beryng of armes and be ye sure that tofore that twenty yere be passed the chyldren that be now in fraunce shal be grete myghty to bere armes and they shal be so grete a companye that lyÈte by ye shal mowe conquere spayn and auenge the deth of rolland and of hys other felowes Whan Charles vnderstode these wordes he wepte bytterly saw that by force he must ayenst hys wylle retorne in to fraunce and leue hys enemyes wherfore by the sowne of trompettes was cryed the retraytte And anone the artylleryes were assembled and the harnoys trussed wherof the companye of traytres were Ioyous and many of the other were euyl contente in especyal Reyner whych retorned withoute hys sone Olyuer wherof ye may wel thynke in what estate was hys hert by cause he hast loste al hys comforte ¶ How after the complaynte of Charles Rychard came vnto hym whyche tolde to hym th affayres of the peres of Fraunce capitulo vj WHan charles was mouÌ„ted on horsback and in waye for to retorne he took remors of Rolland Olyuer and of other how he lefte them with oute to do otherwyse his deuoyr he taryed sayeng O vnhappy that I am I may wel sorowe whan I now leue the men that I loue best in the world and retorne fro them whan I ought by good ryght to auenge them I shal be reputed for a fool sore blamed O Rolland how I haue loued you may euer your vnclle so longe lyue that he moy see your deth auenged God deffende that euer I bere crowne on my hede seen the pouerte of my fayte thys sayeng almoost he fyl a swoune to the erthe for the dysplaysaunce that he had moche heuynes had he that tyme Alas sayd Charles Rolland I was moche euyl auysed whan I consented that thou sholdest goo to thadmyral wel am I cause of al your perdycyon In makyng thys heuynes the hoost made soo grete bruyt to retourne that it was meruaylle thus as they began to ryde forth The emperour loked toward the eest and from ferre he sawe rychard come rydyng vpon an hors sore rennyng and helde in his hande a swerde al naked wherfor the Emperour sente for to come to hym the moost grettest lordes of hys companye and made thoost to tarye and goo no ferther forth I see sayd he yonder â—myng a man on horsback which maketh grete haste and ledeth on hys ryght syde a fayr courser as me thynketh and he semeth by hys rydyng that he is Rychard of normandye Now I praye to god almyghty that thys day he sende me tydynges of rolland and of the other barons that they be alyue Thenne the hoost taryed and anone came richard whyche maad hys hors to lepe moche gentylly tofore the kyng whome he salewed moche humbly And thenne charles sayd to rychard of normandye Sone of noble baron how is hyt wyth you what is bycomen of my neuewe Rolland and of myn other barons be ye come allone be they alyue or dede telle me I praye you Rychard ansuerd Syr Emperour Rolland the other whan I departed fro them were al hole and in good poynt and been in aygremore in a stronge toure bysyeged by ballant the admyral of spayne and fader of Fyerabras there been aboute them an hondred thousad sarasyns And knowe ye for certayn that thadmyral is a man moche fyers terryble whyche hath sworn by his god mahoun and Termagaunt that he shal neuer departe fro thens but that they shal be haÌ„ged by the necke And on that other syde your barons haue wyth them floripes the curtoys doughter of thadmyral the fayrest that euer was seen the whyche hath in hyr kepyng the relyques that ye soo moche desyre to haue and sende you worde by me that ye shold come and ayde them for to saue theyr lyues And yf it please you to remembre them ye shal mowe conquere the contreye of spayne other goodes ynough Grete consolacyon had kyng Charles And thenne he conceyued wel that Ganellon was a traytre and ful of wyckednesse And neuer after hys counceyll ne sayeng shold be herde ne alowed in hys courte For he sawe wel that as for hym it abode not but Rolland and hys felowes shold haue dyed Now gentyl Rychard sayd the kyng is the toure in whyche they been bysyeged stronge wel garnysshed of vytayl for to defende them ony whyle yf they may holde vj dayes I shal make thadmyral to dye and al hys complyces Syr answerd Rychard I shal say to you the trouthe they haue noo vytayl but they grete it with the swerde thadmyral is meruayllously fyers and ful of cruelte and hath of people a multytude Innumerable the whyche holde the space of two myle the town is stronge where he habyteth also there is on thys syde of the toun the brydge of mantryble where the passage is
sygne yâ— the kyng of frauÌ„ce shold conquere them So theÌ„â—â— in the tyme that the noble kyng chacles regned in spayne for to brynge it to the cristen fayth the ydolle lete the â—ere falle doun to the grounde And whan the sarasyns sawe that They 〈◊〉 theyr tresours as golde 〈◊〉 and precyous stoones in 〈◊〉 by cause the crysten men 〈◊〉 no thynge fynde therof 〈…〉 al wente in to another 〈◊〉 and durst not abyde the comyng of the kyng ¶ Of the chyrche of saynt Iames in galyce and of dyuers other whyche Kyng Charles founded capitulo iiij CHarles beyng in galyce had Innumerable auantyte of gold of syluer and of precyous stones of many kynges prynces and other lordes and of trybutes of cytees that was gyuen to hym as lord ¶ Also he had moche of the tresour that he conquerd of the townes and contreyes of Spayne aforesayd Thenne he seyng the grete habundaunce of good dyd do compose and make a chirche of Saynt Iames in the place where as he had founde the body of hym and he abode there the space of thre yere wythout departyng and in that same place he ordeyned a bysshop and founded there chanonnes reguler vnder the rule of saynt Ysodore the confessour bought ordeyned for them rentes trybutes suffycyent and gaf to them synguler seygnourye The furnysshed the chyrche wyth velles bessellys of golde and syluer adournemeÌ„ts of precyous clothes al thynges necessarye apperteynyng in a chyrche pontyfycal also of bokes vestymentes chalyces other holy escryptures And of the resydue of gold and syluer that he brought oute of spayne he dyd doo edefye these chyrches folowyng ¶ Fyrst at Aoon in almayne where as he is buryed he dyd do make a chirche of our lady and though it be lytel yet is it moche rychely made The chyrche of Saynt Iames in the toun of vyterbe also the chyrche of saynt Iames in the cytre of Tholouse The chyrche of Saynt Iames in gascoyne also the chirche of saynt Iames in parys bytwene the sayne the mouÌ„te of martres aboue the chyrches aforesayd he fonnded rented releued many dyuers chyrches monasteryes other abbeyes in the world in many and dyuers places ¶ How after that Aygolant the geaunt had taken spayne put to deth the crysten people Charles recouerd it aud other maters capitulo v AFter that charles was retorned in to Fraunce a kyng sarasyn of affryque named aygolant wyth grete puyssaunce came in to spayne and remysed it in hys subgectyon And the crysten which charles had left there as many as he myght gete he put to deth and the other fledde And in shorte tyme the tydynges came vnto kyng Charles wherof he was moche abasshed angry bycause it was shewed to hym so pyetously wherfore Incontynent he assembled a grete hoost wyth a grete multytude of fyghtyng men he went thyder wythout taryeng And he made the conduytour of them al Myllon of angleres the fader of Rolland they cessed not tyl that they had iydynges where Aygolant the geaunt was whyche had doon thys feat whan charles knewe where Aygolant was lodged and semblably aygolaÌ„t knewe where Charles was Anone the geaunt sente to charles that he wold delyuer bataylle suche as he wold That is to wete that Charles shold sende to hym xx of hys men to fyght ageynst xx of hys sarasyns or xl ayenst xl or an C ayenst C or a thousand ayenst a thousand or two men ayenst two or one man ayenst one man onely kyng Charles seyng thentencyon of aygolant for thonour of noblesse he wold not refuse hys demaunde but sente to hym an C knyghtes in grete poynte and the geaunte sente another hondred ayenst the crysten men but anone the sarasyns were vaynquysshed put to deth and after were sente by aygolant two hondred sarasyns ayenst two hondred cyrsten men whyche Sarasyns were anone wythoute grete resystence put to deth and slayn Aygolant was not contente ne wold not leue herby but sente two thousand sarasyns ayenst ijM crysten men and whan they were in batayll many of yâ— sarasyns were slayn and the other put to flyght for to saue them self The thyrd day after Aygolant maad certeyn experyences and knewe that yf Charles made warre to hym he shold haue grete losse and sent to charles to were yf he wold make playne warre Charles was contente and there vpon they made redy theyr peple and specyally charles for hys subgettes had grete affectyon to goo to bataylle without ony 〈◊〉 of deth And also somme of the crysten men the day tofore the bataylle dyd do amende and 〈◊〉 theyr harnoys and sette theyr tentes nygh a ryuer named 〈◊〉 and pyght there theyr spâ—â—â—s euen in the place where as the bodyes of saynt faconde and saynt premyt yf rested where after was made a chyrche deuotely founded and also a stronge cyte by the moyen of the sayd Charles and in the place where the sâ—â—res were pyght our lord shewed grete myracle For of them thâ—â— shold deye there and be gloryfyed marters of god 〈◊〉 in heuen theyr speâ—rs on y◠〈◊〉 were fouÌ„den al grene fâ—â—resshed and leued whyche was a percedent sygne that they whyche shold deye shold haue the Ioye in heuen ¶ Eche man took his owne aud cutte of the bowes leues wyth whyche the leues were planted and vnder roâ—ed wherof in a lytel whyle after grewe a grete wode whyche stondeth there yet It was grete a meruayle of the Ioye that the horses made whyche dyd theyr deuoyrs as wel as the men after theyr qualyte whyche was a grete token Thenne valyaunt crysten men were slayne And emonge the other was slayne duc Myllon fader to Roulland Also that same day the hors of charles was slayn vnder hym whan he was a fote he maad grete murdre wyth hys swerde Ioyouse and dyd so moche that the sarasyns dredyng the euenyng fledde wythdrewe them in to place of surete And as it was the wylle of our lord the next day after came to Charles in to his helpe iiij marquyse of ytalye accompanyed wyth iiijM stronge fyghtyng men chosen wherfore Aygolant assone as he knewe of theyr comyng he fled and wythdrewe hym ouer the see toward hys contree but they myÈt not for hast here with them al theyr tresours wherfor frauÌ„ce was enryched meruayllously above alle other contrees ¶ And whan charles sawe his departyng he came wyth al hys rychesse in to fraunce and theÌ„ne duryng seuen yere he dyd do ordeyne the seruyce and offyce of the chyrche by preestes clerkes and the festes of sayntes of all the yere and grete vertu meruayllous effect was comprysed in thys man For whan it was not warre for to mynysshe thynfâ—dellys and encreace the crysten fayth For tenhaunce the name of god he made the offyces and legendes of holy sayntes dyd reduce in to mynde and remembraunce the passyons of holy marters in
theyr degree alle them that were at debate he peased them accorded Alle them yâ— were dysheryted put oute from theyr lyuelode he restored al to them Alle yâ— peple that myght bere armes he armed them The valyaunt squyers of theyr persones he made knyghtes al them that were in hys Indygnacyon pryued to hys loue bannysshed for the loue of god he was constraynede to pardonne them made pâ—â—s with euery man and thenne he was fournysshed of moo than an C thousand men wel fyghtynge wythoute them that were a fote whyche were Innumerable And for to gyue courage to the prynces of Charles Turpyn sayd in this maner I Turpyn archbysshop of Raynes by the 〈◊〉 of god shal gyue good courage to crysten people and shal 〈◊〉 the Iufydele sarasyns with myn owne handes ¶ wyth Charles was Roulland of Cenonye neuewe of Charles sone of hys syster dame Berthe of Duke Myllon wyth foure thousand fyghtyng men Olyuer duc of genes sone of duc Reyner with iij M fyghtyng men Aristagius kyng of brytayne wyth vij thousand fyghtyng men Not wythstondyng that in brytayne was another kyng Engelius whyche was duke of Guyan whome Augustus Cezar had ordeyned wyth the byturyciens the monyques pictauyns scauctonens and Elogysmes cytres with their prouynces vnder guyan he cam with iijM horsmen good fyghtars Garferus kyng of bordeloys wyth iiijM men Salamon felowe of estok bawde wyn brother of Rolland Naymes duc of bauyere wyth xM fyghtyng men Hoel of Nauntrs Lambert prynce of bourgoyn wyth ijM fyghtars San son duc of bourgoyn with xM Garyn duc of lorayne many other and Charles had of his owne contre moo than fyfty M men The excercyte of Charles the noble emperour and ryght puyssaunt Kyng of Fraunce was so grete and so ample that it helde two Iourneyes longe in brede half o Iourneye more In suche wyse that of the bruyt that was made for the grete multytude of the frensshemen it was herde two myle ferre and more ¶ Of the tryews of Charles of Aygolant and of the deth of hys peple wherfore aygolant was not baptysed capitulo ix THe whyle that charles was a yonge chylde he lerned at Toulete the langage of sarasyns and spake it whan he wold Aygolant thys geaunt and grete Lord coude not absteyne hym and camnygh vnto crystyente and sente to Charles to come to hym vnto Pampylone and tryews was maad bytwene them For Aygolant consyderyd the multytude of hys people and the puyssaunces of their persones For by cours of nature hym semed he shold surmounte the crysten peple but he thought that the god of crysten people was more certayn and trewe than the god of the paynyms but er he wold declyne fro the worshyppyng of hys goddes he had desyre to assaye yet ones the nombre of paynyms ayenst the nombre of crysten men And he was contente to make a pacte and couenaunt wyth charles that he that shold obteyne the vyctorye vpon others peple that his god were hâ—lden and worshypped And that the god of hym that shold lose the bataylle shold be of noo valure renyed and reputed for nought And vpon thys couenaunte were sente twenty crysten knyghtes ayenst xx knyghtes paynyms And anone as they were assembled and medled to gyder the twenty sarasyns were slayn And after were sente fourty ayenst fourty And anone the sarasyns were slayn and vaynaquysshed And after he sent an C ayenst an C but they were not slayne but fledde AygolaÌ„t thouÈt he wold do better and sent ij hondred ayenst ij C and anone the sarasyns were ouercomen slayn ¶ Thys geaunt was euyl contente of the destructyon of hys peple and for to make a grete descomfyte he sente a thousand sarasyns ayenst a M cristen men and wythoute makyng grete rebellyon the sarasyns were anone slayn and put to deth Thenne the kyng Aygolant by experyence fore made afermed the fayth the lawe of crysten peple to be better more sure more certeyn than the lawe of the paynyms and sarasyns and thus he was enclyned to the crysten fayth dysposed hym to receyue baptym on the moene without fayn tyse and here vpon he demanded tryews and surete for to goo come to Charles he graunted it to hym wyth good hert and thus atte houre of tyerce whan charles was at dyner Aygolant had entencyon to see charles and hys maner at mete for to knowe hys astate yf it were vayllerous and soo grete as it was in armes and in bataylles And also he came pryncypally for to be baptysed and he sawe Charles at hys table with grete magnyfycence and after behelde the ordre of hys peple and sawe that somme were in habyte of knyghtes and grete prynces Other in habyte of channons monkes asked so that he was certefyed of euery ordre and the canse of theyr estate and after that he sawe in a parte of yâ— halle syttyng on the grouÌ„de xiij poure persones which dyned ete as other dyd for charles of custom wold not take his repaste tyl he had xiij poure men in the worshyp of our lord and of his xij appostles he toke hede how these poure men satte on the grounde without to wayl in ryght poure habyte dyned al soroufully he demaunded what people they were Charles ansuerd sayd they be goddes peple and messagers of our lord Ihesu cryst whome I susteyne in thonour of hym his xii appostles that he had with hym gyue to them refectyon corporel AygolaÌ„t said certeynlye he serueth euyl hys lord yâ— receyueth his messagers in thys manere I see wel that they that ben aboute the been in good poynt wel arayed wel serued of mete drynke the seruauÌ„tes of thy god lyue rourely euyl clothed ayenst yâ— colde ben withrawen ferre fro thy he dooth grete shame to his lord that receyueth his messagers in this manere more ouer I see now wel that the lawe whyche thou hast sayd to me to be good holy by thy werkes thou shewest them to be fals of no valewe herof aygolant was all moeued troubled in his entendement he beyng put out alle fro hys purpose toke leue of the kyng retourned to hys peple renounced to be baptysed and sente word to charles for to begynne warre ageyn on yâ— morne more stronge than euer he had doon tofore ¶ Of the deth of aygolant and of his peple how moche crysten peple were slayn by concupyscence of syluer of crysten men founden dede by myracle x WHan charles sawe Aygolant come for to baptyse hym he was moche Ioyous but whan he retorned forsoke it be was euyl contente took aduys vpon the pour men whyche he sayd were messagers of god For after the pouerte of them and after that they were named fore to holde them so was none honour to theyr mayster
capitulo xiij How the peres of fraunce that were in the toure cam oute whan they sawe thoost of Charles how thadmyral was taken and holden prysoner ca xiiij How ballant thadmyral for all the admonycion that was made to hym he wold not be baptysed but was slayn Floripes hys doughter was baptysed after wedded to guy of burgoyne guy crowned kyng the quene of that contre capitulo xv How Florypes gaf the reliques to themperour how they were assayed proued by myracle of the retournyng of charles the ende of this book ca xvj ¶ Here begynneth the iij book whiche conteyneth ij partyes by the chapytres folowyng declared ¶ The first partye of the iij book conteyneth xiiij chapytres speketh of the warres in spayne of two grete geantes How saynt Iames appyered to Charles how by the moyen by the conduyte of the sterres he went in to Galice what citees he there subdued ca primo Of cytees goten in spayne by charles how somme of theym were by hym cursed capitulo ij Of a grete ydolle whyche was in a cyte that myght not be beten doun and of the sygnes condycyons thewf capitulo iij Of the chyrche of saynt Iames in Galyce of other chyrches that he dyd there do founde iiij How after that Aygolant the geaunt had taken spayne destroyed and put to deth the crysten men Charles recouerd it other maters capitulo v How aygoland sent to Charles that he shold feably come to hym with lytel peple to make Iuste warre how charles in habyte dissimyled spake to hym other maters capitulo vj How charles accompanyed with moche peple retorned to the place forsaid took the cite of agâ—ne other maters capitulo vij Of the vertuous operacions that charles dyd whan he was retorned in to fraunce what baroÌ„s he had in his companye and of theyr puyssaunce capitulo viij Of the tryewes of charles of aygolant of the deth of his peple wherfore aygoland was not baptysed ca ix ¶ Of the deth of aygolaÌ„t of his peple how moche people of the criâ—â—en men were dede by coÌ„cupysceâ—ce of money the crysten fouÌ„dâ—n dede by myracle ca x ¶ Of fâ—â—agê° the meruayllous geant hoâ— he 〈◊〉 aweye the barons of frâ—uÌ„ce without dauÌ„ger how afteâ—ward rolland fouÈt ayenst hym câ— xj How on the morne rolland and ferragus foughten to gâ—der and of their desputyng of their fayth and by what meane Ferragus was slayn by rolland ca xij How Charles went to cordube where as the kyng of that place the kyng of abyllâ— abode hym of their destructyoâ— ca xiij How the chirche of saint Iames was hallowed sacred by turpin tharchebisshop 〈◊〉 chirhes of spayne subgettes to the same of that pryncypal chyrches xiiij ¶ The second partye of the iij book conteyneth x chapytres speketh of the trayson doon and made by Ganellon of the deth of the peres of fraunce How the trayson was comprysed by Ganellon of the deth of the crysten men how ganellon is repreued by thauctour ca j Of the deth of kyng marfuryus and how Rolland was hurte wyth foure speres mortally after that al his peple were slayn and deed capitulo ij How Rolland deyed moche holyly after many maters orysons made and prayed to god moche deuoutely and of the complaynte made vpon hys swerde durandal capitulo iij Of the vysion of the deth of rolland shewed to tharchebysshop Turpyn of the sorowe of charles how he complayned hym pytâ—ously other maters iiij How olyuer was fouÌ„den slayn and of the deth of the sarasyns of the deth of ganellon whyche was hydous capitulo v How after the thynges aforesayd Charles gaf thankynges and preysynges to god and to Saynt Denys And of the constitucions that he made in frauÌ„ce capitulo vi How Charles wente in to Almayn where as he deyed holyly and of his deth shewed to tharchebysshop Turpyn and of his buryeng Imperyally ca vij Of the recapitulacion of al this werke and of hys deth at 〈◊〉 of his sepulture capitulo viij Thexcusacyon of thauctour ix Thenuoye of thauctor ca x ¶ Explicit AS it is redde in thystoryes of the troians After the dystructyon of the noble cyte of Troye there was a kyng moche noble named francus the whyche was felowe of Eneas which whan he departed fro Troye came in to the regyon of fraunce begaâ— to regne in grete prosperyte for the felycyte of his name he dyd coÌ„pose do edyfye a cyte whiche he named fraunce so folowyng all the regyon was called frauÌ„ce after whaÌ„ frauÌ„ce was enhauÌ„ced reduced to mageste ryal Priamus was the fyrst that regned vpon the frensshe men v yere The second was marcurius xxxiij yere The iij pharaâ—â—uÌ„dus regned xj yere The iiij clodyus xiiij yere The v Meroneus x yere The vj hildericus xxvij yere the vij was Clodoneus the fyrst crysten kyng whyche regned vpon the frensshe men after thyncarnacion of our lord CCCC lxxxiiij yere of whome I entende to make a litel mencyon vpon hys â—â—â—ueyllous conuersacyon ¶ How the kyng clodoneus paynym had to wyf the noble clotildis doughter of the kynge of burgoyne capitulo ij IN that tyme was kyng of the burgoynons guydengus the whiche had iiij sones al of good aege that is to wete Agabondus the ij godogesylus the iij Hyspericus the fourth Godamarus The fyrst agabondus repleynsshed of al inyquyte put to deth by swerd his broder hispericus and after henge his wyf put a stone aboute hyr necke drowned hyr This hyspericus had two fayre doughters theldest was named throne whom agabondus her vncle bannysshed fro hys contrey sent hir forth in habyte dyâ—â—ymyled The yonger of these ij douâ—ters was named clotildis whom he reteyned for hir beaute wyth hym in his hous duryng thyâ— the kyng clodoneus or Cloys iij frensshe beyng a paynym whyche byleued with his subgettâ—â— but vpon ydâ—lles oftymes fâ—r hys affayres sent his messageâ—s 〈◊〉 to burgoyne clotyldys thâ—â— fayr mayde was ofte seen of â—he messagers of the kyng 〈…〉 by holden affectuously and for hir grete beaulte dyscrescyon the sayd messagers â—â—tyfyed it to the kyng 〈◊〉 â— and whan thys kyng Cloy◠〈◊〉 ynough informed of the grete beauteâ—â— wysdom of this mayde whyche was crysten he was moche curyous to sende his herawdes vnto agabondus â—ncle of thys doughter for to haâ—e hyr to maryage Duryng those dayes the kyng Cloys had a subtyl man wyth hym named aurelyanus which by comaundement of hys lord wente to the place where as was thyâ— mayde put hym self in habyte moche poure and dyssymyled leâ—t his good habytes with his felowes in a wode weÌ„t moche holyly tofore the moder chyrche of that place the day of a grete feste set hym self in the myddes
pardoÌ„ne me whan the frenssh men herde hym so speke there was none but that he wepte tenderly and soo takyng hys leue wyth his standard reysed The kyng blessyd hym in makyng the sygne of the crosse And wepyng comauÌ„ded hym in the kepyng of the fader of the sone of the holy ghost ¶ How Olyuer spake to Fyerabras Whyche sette noo thynge by hym with other disputacions capitulo viij OLyuer departed rode forth on hys waye taryed not tyl that he cam where as fyerabras was which was al vnarmed and laye in the shadowe and whan Olyuer had aresonned hym The paynym torned his heed ayenst hym and dayned vnnethe to loke on hym For he setted nought by hym by cause he was so lytel of stature to the regarde of Fyerabras And thenne Olyuer said to the sarasyn Awake thou thou hast thys day so ofte called vs that I am come hyther And I praye the that thou telle to me thy name Fyerabras ansuerd to hym by Mahoun my god to whome I owe honour I am the moost ryche man that is in the world borne Fyerabras of alexandrye am I named I am be that thou knowe that dyd doo destroye rome your cyte shewe the Pope and many other and bare awaye the relyques that I there founde For which ye take grete payne and laboure to receuer them And furthermore holde Iherusalem that fayre 〈◊〉 and the sepulere in whych your god rested Olyuer ansuerd by my fayth I haue gladlâ— herde the say that whyche thou hast sayd And yf it be trouth that thou hast sayd for certayn now thou mayst repute thy self well vnhappy and myschaunt Now wythout more â—â—â—kyng make the redy and 〈◊〉 the seest thou yonder the frensshe men that doo no thynge but byholde vs wherfore depessâ—e the For by the god on whome I byleue I shalle smyte the 〈◊〉 as thou lyeâ—â— whan Fyerabras herde that he spake soo hardyly he began to lawhe and sayd I am wel admeruaylled fro whens that cometh to the suche presumâ—on to speke so hasâ—yly but for touche I shal not remeue fro hens tyll I knowe who thou arte and of what lygnage And whan thou hast tolde to me thy name thou shalt see me armed Olyuer an suerd to hym O paynem know thou for trouthe that or it be nyght thou shalt knowe what I am by me sendeth to the charles the Emperour my redoubted lord that for the consecracion of thy body and the saluacyon of thy soule thou leue the creaunce of thy god Mahoun of other ydolles whyche ben but abusyon and decrepcyon whych haue neyther wytâ—â— ne reason ne feelyng ne good vnderstondyng wherfore that thou enclyne the to consente and thynke fro hens forth to byleue in god almyghty the holy Trynyte the fader the sone and the holy ghoost iij persones in one essence of one wylle whyche hath made heuen erthe and al that there in dwelleth whyche for our saluacion wold be borne of the vyrgyn marie whan thou shalt haue this byleue wyth the holy sacrament of baptesme which is vpon this establysshed thou mayst come to the glorye eternal and yf thou do not lyke as I haue taught the I am here redy to doo bataylle ayenst the and of two thynges thou must doo that one Fyrst that thou departe oute of thys contree as ouercomen to here no thyng with the or thou must come and fyght ayenst me For tenhaunce thy body to susteyne thy fals laâ—de Fyerabras answerd what someuer thou artâ—thon arte ouer presumptuous to haue intencyon for to fyght ageynst me For surely yf thou see me on fote wythoute armes thou shalt be wel hardy yf thou tremble not for drede to approche me But by the god in whome thou byleuest Say to me what man is Charlemayn For it is long sythe I herde hym fyrst preysed and redoubted in many contrees and also that I may haue tydynges of rolland Olyuer of Ogyer the danoys and of gerarde de mondydyer For by my trouthe I wold fayn be acqueynted with them Olyuer ansuerd Paynym vpon that thou me demaundest A telle to the that Charles themperour is so grete a maystre that there is no man in the world may compare to hym as wel for the baluer of hys persone of hys counceyl of hys maners as of hys puyssaunce and rychesses Innumerable of regarde Of hys neuewe Rolland he is wythoute pere Olyuer lytel lasse than he and as for the other frensshe men emonge al people humayn they be balyaunte men but thyse wordes haue noo place here depesshe the and arme the For by the god on whom I byleue yf thou auaunce the not I shalle smyte the wyth thys swerde of stele Fyerabras began too lyfte vp hys heed and sayd By my god mahoÌ„met yf I thought not that it shold be my dyshonour I shold now smyte of thy heed Olyuer ansuerd I praye the leue thys pletyng For or it be euen thou shalt knowe what I am For certeyn I haue entencyon to plunge my swerde in thy bely where vpon Fyerabras was not wroth so moche noble was he and rested hys heed vpon hys sheld and sayd to Olyuer I seâ—â—te not therby but I praye the bell to me thy name thy lygnage Olyuer sayd to hym my name is garyn and can borne in perrogort sone of a man called Aosue whyche came that other day in to fraunce where I was adouted knyght by the noble kyng Charles and am ordryned for to defende hys ryght also to fyght ayenst the wherfor conclude wythoute more taryeng arme the take thy hors for I am redy to doo the bataylle yf thou be soo hardy to abyde me Fyerabras wold not consente to the bataylle For hym thought that olyuer was to litel to Iuste ayenst hym and sayd to hym Garyn I demaunde of the wherfore is not comen hyther rolland ne Olyuer or Gerard or Ogyer whyche been of so grede renoÌ„mee as I haue herd say Olyuer ansuerd The cause wherfore they be not comen to the is for they sette nought by the they haue desdayn to come but I am comen to the as he that taketh noo regarde to theyr intencyon and shal do the bataylle ageynst the yf thou wylt abyde it But I swere to the by saynt Petre the appostle of Ihesu Cryst that yf thou arme the not I shal smyte the to the deth wyth thys darte that A holde in my honde Garyn answerd Fyerabras I shal say to the that sythe I was adoubed knyght A Iusted neuer but ayenst a kyng an erle on a baron of grete valure and thou art departed of a bow hous for to say that I shold haue aded wyth the it shold be to me ouer grete dyshonour yf thou were put to deth by me but for the good wylle that I knowe in the whych is moche noble I am contente that thou smyte me and I shal falle doun to therthe
of nauntes and Syr Ryol du 〈◊〉 whyche alle had courage lyke vnto lyons These foure barons wyth charles made the paynyms to remeue and to reentre ageyn by force in to the towne of man tryble And anone the turkes whyche were moo than x thousand cam to the yate for to shette it in makyng grete defence with bowes and other shotte besyde them that came after whyche kepte the passages which were wel as thystorye maketh mencyon fyue thousand but alle they coude not fynde the maner to lyfte vp the brydge For it was conserned and kept ayenst the sarasyns by the frenssh men There was grete bruyt in thys recountre And though Charles doubted it was noo meruaysse For he knewe wel that yf the sarasyns had lyfte vp the brydge to the yate of the towne It had not be possyble to hym to haue passed ouer And he seyng them reyse vp toward the yate grete barres of yron supposed not to haue passed And wyth a moche wooful herte began to wayle Roulland his neuewe and the other hys felowes as he shold neuer haue seen them ¶ Rychard of Normandye consyderyng thys escryed and sayd Syr Emperour in the honour of god of maye you not but thynke to destroye and smyte doun these Turkes and god shal ayde helpe vs ye knowe wel that there is none so franke ne valyaunte that wyl acoward hym self but that he ought to be despysed and wyth good ryght ¶ And I praye to god that he be confounded that suffreth hym self to be taken a lyue for to dye afterward and that had not leuer be hewen in pyeces than to retorne And wythoute more late vs auaunce vs For now it is nede that eche man proue hys strengthe and the valure of hys persone wyth these wordes of a grete courage entre in to the towne Charles Reyner Hoel Ryol and Rychard These fyue onelye eche wyth a swerde in hys honde And ye ought to wete that they entred not wythout grete slaughter of turkes and of Paynyms Charles seyng come grete multytude of sarasyns cryed a larme and socours moche hye and furyously Ganellon vnderstood hym and had of hym grete pyte Not wythstondyng at the laste he founde hym not good came to geffroy escryed haateuyle his fader the other hys kynnesmen whyche were armed moche rychely to the nombre of M vij and al they came a fote for to assayle the yate The turkes maad grete deffence wyth brondes and barres of yron and mortal shotte where as many were dede and hurte of the people of the sayd Ganelon Thenne alory the traytre sayd to ganellon in fayth we ben grete foles for to late vs thus deye suffre thys torment And after he sayd to ganellon yet late vs goo and departe Charles is wythin wel empesshed god forbede that he euer departe thou mayst wel see now that of hym and of Reyner we are wel auenged of the contradyctyons that they made to vs of theyr subgettes also And euyl deth mote he deye that foloweth them ony ferther for we may wynne Fraunce at our ease and wylle holde it wythout contradyctyon Seen that there is no baron that wyl be to vs contrarye Ganellon ansuerd God of glorye forbede that euer I shold do suche trayson to my ryÈtful lord we holde of hym al our londes seygnouryes I shold be holden for an ouer vntrewe man yf I consented to hys deth we haue none other cause but that we ought to do our deuoyr for hym whan Alory vnderstood hym he enraged almoost for angre and after sayd to ganellon ye be a veray fool that ye tarye whan ye now may wel aduenge you yf themperour Charles be slayn al the other barons shal haue theyr heedes smyton of And thus we shal be aduenged on al our enemyes Therfore loue of and come on Ganellon ansuerd god forbede that euer I shold be a traytre to my lord Ne that I leue hym vnholpen but doo my deuoyr to ayde hym I had louer to be dysmembred than to be shamed and blamed in this dede ¶ Of these wordes were euyl contente Alory and also geffroy daulteuyle in suche 〈◊〉 that there was grete debate emonge them Vpon this came Fyerabras in good araye and grete poynte and began to crye where is Charles ¶ The Traytre answerd Syr ye shal neuer see hym He is wythin enclosed and I 〈◊〉 he be dede now Fyerabras answerd And ye emonge you what doo you here what 〈◊〉 ye why socoure ye hym not in thys nede ye may be reproched of treson wyth good ryght And after bygan to crye socours and ayde moche lowde and by hys voys all the frenssâ— men came wythoute ony taryeng to the belfroye and fende Fyerabras and Ganellon that thenne had lefte the Traytres at the entre of the brydge ¶ And Fyerabras thene was wel Ioyous whan be sawe that the brydge was not drawen up And thenne he and Ganellon dyd gretely theyr deuoyr for to entre in to the cyte And whan they were wythin the traytres sawe the toun woÌ„ne by a manere to do gretely theyr deuoyr entred in a foot smote doun wyth the other comunelye And grete habundauÌ„ce of blode runne thurgh the towne oute of the dede bodyes that eche man meruaylled that sawe it The paynyms cryed and brayed as wulues enfamysshed whan they sawe that they coude not resyste them They sente to the admyral that he shold socoure them and cryed on mahon Termagaunt that they wold come to theyr ayde but for all that they were dyscomforted sorowfully put oute of theyr habytacyons robbed pylled of theyr rychesses and goodes and destroyed Thus doyng a messager departed secretely for to goo to Aygremore for tacompte and telle the tydynges of theyr destructyons ¶ How Amyotte a geantesse wyth a sythe greued gretely the crysten men and how hyr two sones were baptysed of the Emperour Charles capitulo ix WHan mantryble was taken many strokes were gyuen but whan Amyotte the geantesse knewe herd the crye of the cytezeyns whiche were troubled She was as blacke as pytche boylled hyr eyen were rede as brennyng fyre she had a grete vysage croked as hye of lengthe as a spere gretely affrayed of the deth of hyr husbond also aferde for hyr ij sones of whyche she was late delyuerd soo she in a rage lepte out of hyr hous and fonde a sythe trenchauÌ„t and meruayllously sharpe and cam vpon the frensshe men so Impetuously that she maad grete dyscomfyte in suche wyse that none durst wel approche hyr Kyng Charles sceyng thys was euyl contente of the deth of hys peple and demaunded a crosse bowe And whan it was lende he shotte so ryght that he atteyned hyr bytwene the browes so that she fyl doun deed to the erthe She began to cast oute of hyr throte a flamme of fyre moche hydous Neuertheles she was smyton so wyth stones and thynges that she neuer
trompettes hornes tassemble his hoost made the archers to goo byfore whyche coude wel shote wyth bowes turauoys al furyously that one ayenst the other goo shote make mortal warre so that the shotte flâ—we in thayer thycker than hayl So moche people was there slayn that the wayes were empesshed lette by dede bodyes The Duke Reyner passed thurgh forth the fyrst that he encountred was kyng Sortybrant gaf to hym a grete stroke without faynyng that hys shelde auaylled hym not hys hauberk al to brake so that he made his spere to plonge and bayne in hys body soo depe that he abode there deed lyke a beest after wyth hys swerde made so grete murdre slaughter of the fals turkes that it was meruaylle Anone the admyral knewe the deth of Sortybrant wherof he was almoost oute of hys wytte in a rage and sythe sayd O Sortybrant my special frende I see wel now that I shal be auenged yf I benge not thy deth with thyse wordes he maad his hors to renne vpon the frenssh men so despytously that whome he attayned he put to deth and came to huon of myllan slewe hym thenne he dyd grete dommage and fought that tyme so strongely that he put to deth wel seuen frensshe men xiiij Normans moche valyantly sayeng ¶ O ye vnhappy frensshe men I shal now make you knowe that thadmyral of spayne is comen in this day shal thoost of frauÌ„ce be destroyed shal neuer repayre home ageyn in to fraunce I shal lede awaye with me the kynge Charles with his florisshed berd I shal do hange or brenne hym also with hym Rolland Olyuer their felowes with these wordes the paynems enhardyed them in suche wyse that they dyd gretely theyr deuoyr ayenst the frensshe men At this medle the counte ganellon haldre alory geffroy daulteuyle that lygnage dyd gretely theyr deuoyr and bare them wel For in a shorte space by them were slayn moo than a M paynyms Thadmyral moost valyaunt of the sarasyns attayned the counte myllon by hys helme that almoost he had abyden in the place and with a stroke thadmyral smote of hys hors hede that he fyl to the erthe and after he took hym layed hym tofore hym for to haue born hym awaye but the lygnage of ganellon saued hym notwythstondyng that many of theym were slayn and dede Neuertheles the frensshe men surmounted the paynyms and that was by the ayde of fyerabras which for loue of Charles dyd fyght and made grete dyscomfyture of the sarasyns for there he put to deth Tempeste and the olde Rubyon and moo than fyfty other of these mastyns myscreaâ—ntes he there bare hym in suche wyse that there was not one persone that durst come tofore hym to resyste hym ¶ How the peres of Fraunce whyche were in the toure came oute whan they sawe the hoost how thadmyral was taken holden prysonner capitulo xiiij THe paynyms frensshe men alwaye perseueryng in mortal bataylle coude not make th ende eche one of other For the multytude of the paynyms was so grete that they myÈt not be dyscomfyted whan the barons that were in the tour sawe the fayt that they that kepte the toure were goon to the socours and crye of thadmyral they sprange out eche took an hors of them that were dede which ranne at al aduenture and 〈◊〉 also took his swerde in his hond sodeynly cam vpon the sarasyns for to passe thurgh them to the frensshe hoost made so grete bruyt that the moost hardyest of the paynyms gaf them waye lete them passe and in especyal rolland for where be smote with durandal cam neuer afteâ— tofore hym at this departyng was derly recomanded guy of bâ—urâ—â—goyn of florypes for she had fere of hym Neuertheles whan they were assembled wyth the other wythoute letyng them to be 〈◊〉 wen went vpon the sarasyns helde them soo short that anone they slewe them in suche royle â— the other put them to flyght for there was neuer larke fledde more ferfully tofore yâ— sperâ—awke than the sarasyns fledde tofore rollaÌ„d Thadmyral knewe wel hys destructyon by the comyng of the peres that were in that toure cryed wyth an hâ—e voys mahon my god to whome I haue gyuen my self and haue doon to so moche honour thou hast forygoten me Remembre me now ¶ For and euer I may gete the I shal bete the bothe flankes hede vysage and also put out thyn eyen fals recreaunt god that thou art he thus sayeng he was so pursyewed and smyton that he fyl doun vnder his hors and taken and not slayn at the request of hys sone fyerabras to th ende that he shold be aduysed to byleue in Ihesu cryst in the holy Trynyte bycome crysten al his contreye Thenne the bataylle took an ende and he that wold not be conuerted was in contynent put to deth Somme fledde and somme were taken Thenne after thys the Frensshe men wente vnarmed them Charles sawe there hys barons whom he desyred so moche to see in especial his neuew rolland Olyuer whom he loued so moche were so gretly valyaunt It can not be sayd ne expressed the Ioye that was emonge them the consolacyon reioycyng of kyng charles was Inestymable Thenne they recounted alle thynges what were happend to them of theyr daungers and Ieopardyes whiche they had escaped sorowes lamentacions that they had endured wherfore Charles and many other wept for pyte And thys endured many dayes there where as the hurt men seek were heeled they that were hole passed theyr tyme in deduyte tryumphe and Ioye ¶ How ballant thadmyrall for ony admonycyon that was shewed to hym wold not be baptysed and how after guy of bourgoyn espoused florypes was crowned kyng and she quene of that contreye capitulo xv WHan charles had al appeased he took ballaÌ„t the admyral tofore hys noblesse sayd to hym in this maner ballant al creatures resonable owen to gyue synguler honour pertyculer loue to hym that hath gyuen to them beyng knowleche lyf it is wel requesyte nedeful that he haue honour and penerence that hath made heuen and erthe al that therein enhabyteth wherfore by good ryght he is superyour and abouen al And a grete abusyon is comprysed in hym which gyueth fayth and hope in that whyche he hath made wyth hys hondes of mater dede Insensyble and that hath neyther reson ne soule as thy goddes dyabolyke whyche may not ne can gyue consolacyon to theyr subgettes wherfore I warne the for the helthe of thy soule and for the preseruyng of thy body of thy goodes that thou take a waye alle these Iniquytees and peruerse affectyons byleue in the holy Trynyte fader sone and holy ghoost one onely god almyghty and byleue that the sone of god for to
clothes of sylke and other rychesses iiij hondred hors laden with swete wyn for to gyue to the men of warre for to drynke also they sente aboue thys to them a thousand fayr wymmen sarasyns in grete poynte and yonge of age And al thys in sygne of loue and of obeyssaunce and after they gaf to Ganellon xx hors charged wyth gold and syluer sylkes and other precyosytes that by hys moyen he shold brynge in to theyr hondes the companye of charles yf he myght doo it Thenne ganellon was surprysed wyth thys fals auaryce whych consumeth alle the swetenes of charyte that is in persones for to haue gold or syluer other rychesses made a pacte and couenaunte wyth the sarasyns for to bytraye hys lord hys neyghbours crysten brethern sware that he wold not faylle them of thenterpryse but I merueylle moche of ganellon which made thys treason wythoute to hane cause coloured ne Iuste ¶ O wycked Ganellon thou were comen of noblesse thou hast doon a werke vylaynnous thou were ryche a grete lord and for money thou hast betrayed thy mayster Emonge alle other thou were chosen for to goo to yâ— sarasyns for grete trust emonge al the other and for the fydelyte that was thought in the thou hast consented to trayson and allone hast commysed Infydelyte Fro whens cometh thyn Inyquyte but of a fals wylle plunged in thabysme of auaryce Thy naturel souerayn lord Roulland Olyuer the other what haue they doon to the yf thou haue a wycked hate ayenst one persone wherfore consentest thou to destroye thynnocentes was there noo persone that thou loue dest whan to al crysten men thou hast ben trayter was there ony reason in the whan thou hast ben capytayn ayenst the fayth what auayleth the prowesse that thou hast made in tyme passed whan thyn ende sheweth that thou hast doo wyckednes O fals auaryce and ardeur of concupiscence he is not the fyrst that by the is comeâ—â— to myschyef by the Adam was to god dysobeysaunt and the noble cyte of Troye the grauÌ„de put to vttre ruyne and destructyon Thus in thys manere ganellon brought gold and syluer wyn wymmen and other rychesses as tofore he had enterprysed whan charles sawe al this he thought that al way doon in good entent and equyte and wythout barat The grete lordes knyghtes toke the wyn for them and charles took onely the gold and syluer the moyen people took the hethen wymmen Themperour gaf consente to the wâ—â—des of ganellon For he spake moche wysely and wrought in suche wyse that charles and alle hys hoost passed the porte of Cezarye for ganellon dyd hym to vnderstoÌ„de that the kynges aforesayd wold become crysten and be baptysed and swere fydelyte to the emperour And anone sent his peple tofore and he came after in the ryere warde had sente Roulland Olyuer the moost specyal of hys subgettes wyth a thousand fyghtyng men and were in Founcyuale Thenne the kynges Marfuryus Bellegandus after the couÌ„ceyl of ganellon wyth fyfty thousand sarasyns were hydde in a wode abydyng awaytyng the frenssh men there they abode ij dayes and two nyghtys deuyded theyr men in two partyes In the first they put xx M sarasynâ— and in that other they put xxx thousand sarasyns ¶ In the haunte garde of charles were xx thousand crysten men whyche anone were assaylled wyth xx thousand sarasyns and maad warre in sucheâ— wyse that they were constreyned to withdrawe them For fro the mornyng vnto the houre of tyerce they seaced not to fyght and smyte on them wherfore the crysten men were moche wery and had nede to reste theym Neuertheles they dronken wel of the good swete wyn of the sarasyns moche largely And after many of them that were dronke went laye by the â—oymem sarasynoys also wyth other that they had brought oute of fraunce wherfore the wylle of god was that they shold al be dede to th ende that their martyrdom passyon myght be the cause of theyr sauacyon purgyng of their synne For anone after the thyrty thou sand sarasyns cant that were in the secoÌ„d batayl vpon the frenssh men soo Impetuovsly that they were al dede and slayn Gxcept Roulland baulduyn Thyerry The other were slayn and dede with spâ—â—â—s somme flayn soÌ„me rosted and other quartred and submysed to many tormentes And whan thys dyscomfyture was doon Ganellon was with charles and also tharchebysshop Turpyn whych knewe nothyng of this werke so sorouful sauf onely the traytre whyche supposed that they alle had be destroyed and put to deth ¶ Of the languysshe that was comyng to Charles he wyste not how sone it was comyng Of the deth of kyng Marfurius and how Roulland was hurt wyth foure speres mortally after that al his peple were slayn capitulo ij THe bataylle as I haue sayd tofore was moche sharpe whan Rolland whyche was moche wery retorned he recountred in hys waye a sarasyn moche fyers blacke as boylled pytche and anone he took hym at thentre of a wode bonde hym to a tree straytely wythoute doyng to hym ony more harme and after took and rode vpon an hylle for to see the hoost of the sarasyns And the crysten men that were fledde saw grete quantyte of paynyms wherfore anone he sowned and blewe his horne of yuorye moche lowde And wyth that noyse came to hym an hondred crysten men wel arayed and babylled wythoute moo And whan they were come to hym he retorned to the sarasyn that was bounde to the tree And Roulland helde hys swerd ouer hym sayeng that he shold deye yf he shewed to hym not clerely the kyng Marfuryus yf he so wold do he shold not deye The sarasyn was contente and sware that he shold gladly do it for to saue his lyf soo he brought hym wyth hym vnto the place where they sawe the paynyms and shewed to Rolland whyche was the kyng whyche rode vpon a rede hors other certeyn tokenes And in thys poynt Roulland reconfermed in hys strengthe trustyng veryly in the myght of god and in the name of Ihesus as a lyon entred in to the bataylle emonge them he encountred a sarasyn whyche was gretter than ony of the other gaf to hym so grete a stroke wyth durandal vpon the hede that he clefte hym hys hors in two partes that the one parte went on one syde that other on the other syde wherfore the sarasyns were soo troubled and abasshed of the myght and puyssaunce of Rolland that they alle fledde tofore hym thenne abode the kynge Marfuryus wyth a fewe foâ—ke Thenne rolland sawe thys kyng And wythoute fere came to hym and put hym to deth IncontyneÌ„t And alle the hondred crysten men that were wyth Roulland in thys recountre were dâ—â—erousâ—ly slayn put to deth 〈◊〉 onely baulduyn and Thyerry whyche for fere fledde in
Olyuer and of many other wherfore Charles sware by god almyghty that he wold neuer cesse tyl that he had founden the sarasyns forthwyth he went wyth his hoost noblesse and by cause that the paynyms were moche ferre fro them god shewed a fayr myracle For that same day was prolonged thre dayes longe wythout that the sonne remâ—ued ony thynge and they fonde the sarasyns by a ryuer named Ebra in Cezarye whyche rested them and ete dranke at theyr ease wythout doubtyng of ony thyng and charles hys people came vpon them so Impetuously that in a letel whyle there were slayn iiij M sarasyns and the other fledde saued them self Thenne themperour seyng that he mygâ—â— goo no ferther retorned to rouâ—cyuale And began tenquâ—â—â— vpon the fayt of traysen and who had doon it what man Thenne he was enformed that Ganellon had made it and that was the comune oppynyon of them alle And emonge alle other Thyerry accused and appled hym of the treason and that he wold fyght in the quarel ¶ For Thyerry had know 〈◊〉 locke by the sarasyn that rolland had bounden to a tree The kyng charles ordeyned a knyght for ganellon named pynable to fyÈt ayenst thyerry And whan these ij champyons were in the lystes anone pynalle was slayne by Thyerry and as wel by thys moyen as by other it appyered clerely that ganellon had bytrayed them wherfore the emperour Charles wythoute goyng ony ferther dyd to take iiij grete horses made to sytte on them iiij stronge men bonde ganellon to two horses by his ij handes and bonde the two feet to the other ij horses made hym to be drawen with the one hors toward yâ— eest that other toward the weste that other ayenst the southe and that other toward the north In this maner eche of the hors drewe forth his quarter of the body of the parte whyche he was bounden vnto ¶ How after the thynges afore sayd charles gaf thankynges pâ—eysynges to god saynt Denyz of the constytucions that he made in fraunce capitulo vj WHan therecucyon was doon of Ganellon and executed charles hys people cam in to the place where the frensshe men had be slayn bygan to knowe theyr parents frendes lordes for to bere them in to halowed place they caryed somme vpon theyr horses Other salted them wyth salte for to mayntene them to brâ—nge them in to theyr contreye Other buryed them in the same place somme bare theym on their sholdres Somme ennoynted them wyth oylle and myrre somme wyth baulme the best wyse they myght Neuertheles there were two cymytoyres or chircheyerdes ryght deuoute pryncypally halowed emonge the other whych were sacred and blessyd wyth vij bysshops That one of the cymytoyres was in orles and that othe in burdegale Saynt maxymyen of ayz Saynt Trophyn of arles poule of nerboÌ„ne Saynt Saturyn of Tholouse saynt fontyn of poytyers saynt Marcel of lymoges and saynt Eutrope of xayntes had sacred and halowed them In whyche places were buryed the moost partye of the frensshe men slayn and destroyed in rouncyuale Themperour dyd do bere rolland the gloryous marter vpon two mules couerd wyth clothes of sylke honourably vnto bloye in the chyrche of saynt Romayn the whyche he had edefyed and founded wyth chanonnes reguler he dyd rychely burye hym and wyth grete magnyfycence on hye ouer his sepulture he dyd do sette hys swerde and at hys feet he dyd do sette his horne of yuorye Not wythstondyng after the horne was taken aweye and borne to Saynt Seueryn at bourdeaws At bourdeanlx were buryed olyuer gaudeboy kyng of Fryse Ogyer kynge of denmark and Crestayn kyng of bretayne Garyn duc of Lorayne and many other As for Eaferus kyng of bourdeaulx Euglerius kyng of guyan lambert kyng of bourges and galerus reygnaut with v M other charles gaf xij C vnces of siluer of money that tyme courant as moche of talents of gold many robes and mete to poure peple for sauacyon of their soules and al the londe seuen myle aboute he gaf to the chyrche of saynt Romayn and maad if subgette to that relygyon And al bloye wyth thappertenauntes and the see ayenst the sayd terrytorye he gaf semblably to the sayd chyrche for charyte loue of Rolland and ordeyned it so for euer and on the day of their passyon he ordeyned that in the same place shold euery yere perpetuelly xxx poure men be fedde and clothed competently and thyrty messys songen for them that there were buryed and entyered and for alle them that were dede in spayne for the crysten fayth In Arles was buryed the counte of lengres samson duc of bourgoyne Naymes duc of bauyere Arnold de bellandus and Allert bourgoynon and other fyue knyghtes wyth ten thousand other moyen peple Constantyn prouoste of Rome was borne to Rome wyth many other Romayns and for the remedye of theyr soules themperour gaf in arles for almesse xij C vnces of syluer and xij talentes of gold whyche was worth a grete somme of gold syluer courant in that tyme ¶ How Charles wente in to Almayne where he deyed holyly And of hys deth shewed to Turpyn and of hys buryeng Imperyally capitulo vij AFter the thynges aforesayd Themperour charles and Turpyn wyth the other came and passed by vyenne 〈◊〉 there Turpyn tharchebysshop a moche holy man abode for he was wery and moche febled of â—â—r payne that he had had for the fayth in spayne and Charles wente to parys anone after he assemaled al the nobles and the moost grettest lordes of hys contreye for to establyssh certayn ordynaunces and for to gyue thankynges to god to saynt Denys of the vyctorye that he had obteyned in his tyme vpon the sarasyns paynyms myscreauntes And after that he had thanked god and saynt denys and to his chyrche fast by parys lyke as saynt Poule thappostle and saynt Clement the pope had doon in tyme passed he maad constytucyon entyere that al the kynges of Fraunce present to come shold obeye to the pastour that shold be for that tyme of that chyrche and that neuer kyng shold be crowned wythoute the pastâ—ur of that chyrche ne the bysshop of parys shold not be receyued at Rome wythout hys consent comandement And he gaf many rychesses to yâ— chirche in token that fraunce was gyuen to that chyrche of saynt deâ—yâ— he ordeyned that euery possessour in al the nacyon of frauÌ„ce shold gyue be bouÌ„den to gyue to the chyrche of saynt denys for to edefye augmente it iiij pens of money courant yerely perpetuelly al they that shold gyue it wyth a good wylle yf they were of bonde serue condycion â—e wold they shold be franke fâ—re of condycyon And after anone these thynges ordeyned he went came tofore the body of saynt denys moche deuousely there he prayed the
glorious saynt that he wold praye vnto our lord Ihesu Cryst that alle they yâ— were dede of the crysten fayth in the tyme that he had regned that they myght be saued and that the payne that they had taken myÈt be to them the crowne of martyrdom in the glorye perdurable in semblable wyse he prayed for al them that wold paye gladly the pens aforesayd to his chyrche As god wold that nyght folowyng saynt denys appyered to hym sayd to hym in thys manere O kyng vnderstonde me knowe thou that I haue made prayer to god my maker he hath graunted that alle they that haue been ayenst the sarasyns with the haue pardon of al theyr trespaces that wyllyngly shal paye the penyes for the edefycacyon of my chyrche augmentyng the seruyce of god they shal haue amendement of lyf and pardon of theyr synnes This vysyon on the morne themperour recounted to hys peple lyke as he had herd by cause they shold wyth a good wylle payâ—the peâ—yes that he had ordeyned he that gaf it was called the franke of saynt denys by canse that he was free and quyte of al seruage by the commandement of the kyng After came the custome that that londe whyche was called Gallia loste hys name was called frauÌ„ce as it is named at thys day Fraunce is as moche to say as free of al seruage anenst al peple and therfore the lordes of Fraunce for this cause emonge al crysten men owen to be honoured praysed The recapitulacion of alle thys werke of his deth at Acon of hys sepulture capitulo viij THe kyng Charles contynued gloriously his lyf in vertuouse operacyons And whan he felte the declyne of hys lyf he went vnto Acon where he had tofore doon moche good enobled a chyrche of our lady the rounde the whyche he dyd do make and gaf therto grete tresour of relyques of bodyes of sayntes of gold syluer of clothes of sylke other precyosytees meruayllous and there he deyed in the yere of hys age lxxij for the magnyfycence of hys werkes he was called charles the grete he had iij sones theÌ„ne lyuyng of whom the fyrst was named Charles the second Pepyn the thyrd â—owys also he had iij doughters that one was named Rotrudys that other berga the thyrd gylla whan he knewe that he myght noo lenger lyue hys sone lowys whome he had ordeyned for specyal loue kyng of guyan he lefte to hym the mageste Imperyal For to knowe the holynes the gloryous ende of Charles how he was saued in heuen and renomed an holyman The deuoute Turpyn archebysshop of Raynes sayth in this manere I Turpyn archebysshop of Raynes was in vyâ—nne in the chyrche tofore th aulter was rauysshed in sayeng the psalm Deus in adintoryum meum intende I sawe a companye of blacke peple lyke Ethyopyens whych were in quantyte Innumerable whyche went toward lorayne and I sawe one tofore hys felowes I demaunded hym whyther al they wente the whyche beyng constrayned to ansuer sayd we alle goo to Acon to the dethe of Charles whyche lyeth a dyeng And we wyl see yf we may haue hys soule for to bere in to 〈◊〉 to perpetuel damynacyon Thenne I sayd to hym I adiure the by the vertue of the name of our Lord Ihesu cryst that wythoute faâ—â—â—lynge after that ye haue doon that thou retorne by me Anone after or he coude fynysshe hys psalme the deuylles cam retournyng ageyn in the same ordre that they wente And thenne I sayd to hym that I had spoken to byfore what haue ye doon there as ye haue been that same deuyl ansuerd that Iames of galyce frende to charles hath ben moche contrarye to vs for whan we were redy for to receyue hys soule and had egally departed his good dedes and his euyl he brought so many stones tymbre of chyrches whyche he had doo made in the name of hym that his good dedes surmounted moche his euyl dedes wherfore we myght haue noo thynge ne parte thys sayd the deuyll banysshed awaye soo he loste hys vysyon Thus Charles in the moneth of feueryere rendred his soule to god holyly Foâ— after that he retorned fro spayn he dyd But laÌ„guysshe appayre in hys body toward hys deth in hys ende he ordeyned many almesses to say many masses psaulters And the vysyon that the gloryous archebysshop Turpyn sawe is sygnyfycacion that he whyche maynteneth and edefyeth chyrches in thys present world that he maketh preparacyon of hys syege in heuen His sepulture was moche honourable emonge al the sepultures of the world noble and ryche excellently and so fayr that it myÈt not be amended and ouer hys tombe was maad an arche of gold syluer and of precyous stones comprysed by grete scyence thyder came Leo the pope accompanyed wyth prynces Romayns archebysshops bysshops Abbottes Dukes Erles and many other lordes and dyd do make a fayre representacyon of the body of Charles clad rychely and Imperyally with a fayre crowne of gold sette on his hede satte vpon a chayer of gold moche fayre and shynyng and resembled wel a notable Iuge lyuyng and they sette vpon his knees notably the texte of the four gospelles in fayre letters of gold wyth the ryÈt hande he helde the lettre in the lyfte hande he helde the ceptre Imperial moche ryche by cause the heed shold not enclyne to eyther syde hit was vnderset wyth a chayne of gold susteyned And the crowne that was on hys beed raught to the arche whiche was al aboue wel made the conduytes of the sepulture were replenysshed with al good odours aromatyques precyous and after closed shette moche subtylly honourably kepte as it was wel worthy for to be doon Thexcusacyon of thauctour ix THis werke accomplysshed to the playsyr of god tofore wryton conteyneth thre bookes by the chapytres deuyded as it appyereth openly to the reders and I haue made them thre after that I haue comprysed in the separacyon and deuydyng of the matyer Of whyche the fyrst book speketh of the begynnyng of fraunce and of the fyrst crysten kyng of fraunce thhyche was named Cloys by the moyen of his wyf clotildys in descendyng to kyng Pepyn fader of themperour Charles In the honour of whome thys book is composed for the moost parte to the whyche Pepyn the lygnage of kyng Cloys took an ende in successyon of the Royalme of Fraunce And the sayd fyrst book sayth more ouer how Charles was nourysshed of hys corpulence of hys etyng of hys strengthe of hys scyence other werkes of magnyfycence The second book speketh of the bataylle that Olyuer dyd ayenst Fyerabras the meruayllous geaunte sone of ballant Admyral of spayne a puyssaunt kynge al the fyrst parte of the second book is attrybued to noble olyuer and in the honour of hym After ye shal fynde how the
of the poure peple for to receyue almesse lyke as other dyden whan thoffyce was accomplysshed this mayde Clotildis like as the was accustomed acte departyng fro the chyrche began to gyue almesse to the poure peple whan she came to Aurelianus she gaf to hym in his honde a pyece of golde anone he as glad wel contente kyssed hyr hâ—ndeâ— whan this lady was in hyâ— chambre she began to thynke on that poure man that had kyssed hyr honde sent for to seche hym by hyr seruaunt whan he wyst it he cam to hir moche Ioyously and bare in his honde the rynge of kyng cloys humbly behaued hym tofore hyr ¶ The mayde began to say to hym saye to me wherfore dyssymylest thou thy self lyke to the poure people Aurelyanus answerd Madame knowe ye for trouthe that I am a messager of the noble Kyng cloys kyng of Fraunce whiche hath sente me to you beyng enformed of your beaute wysdom desyreth you to be hys wyf for to be quene forthwith he preseÌ„ted to hir the rynge of kyng cloys the whyche she took put it in to the tresour of agabondus hir vncle sayd to the messager that he shold recomaunde hyr to the kyng in tellyng to hym that it was not leeful to a paynym to haue to his wyf a crysten womaÌ„ Neuertheles she prayed hym that of al this he shold say noo worde that she wold not doe but as the kyng wold vpon this poynt auerlianus came and shewed al to the kyng wherevpon the kyng cloys the yere folowyng sent ageyn his messager anrelianê° to agaboÌ„dus vncle of Clotildis for to haue hyr to his wyf whan Agabondus knewe thenâ—necyon of kyng cloys he ansuerd to the messager Say hardyly to the kyng thy lord that he hath lytel to do in desyryng to haue my nyece to wyf but the bourgoynons wyse couÌ„seyllours redoubtyng the puyssaunce of kyng Cloys by good counceyl whan they had wel serched the tresour of Agabondus their kyng fouÌ„de the rynge of kyng cloys which clotyldis had layed therin wherin was graueÌ„ portrayed his ymage wente concluded to performe the wylle of kyng clois vpon this agabondus ful of yre delyuerd Clotildis to aurelianus he brouÈt hir with his peple with grete Ioye to kyng cloys which had grete playsyr to see thys fayr mayde And forthwyth with al solemnyte after the maner royal he espoused hir after the custome of his lawe ¶ How kyng Cloys was admonested by the quene clotildis affectuously that he shold byleue in the crysten fayth and other maters capitulo iij THe fyrst nyght after the espousaylles atte houre that the kyng and the quene shold slepe to gyder Clotyldis enbraced wyth the loue of god by grete knowlege of Ihesus our lord went and said to the kyng My right dere lord I requyre the that it please the to grauÌ„te to me a lytel demauÌ„de byfore or I entre in to thy bedde wyth the The kynge sayd demaundeâ— what thou wylt For I am wel contente Clotyldys thenne sayd to hym Fyrst I demaunde requyre and admoneste the that thou wylt byleue in god of heuen Fader almyghty whyche made heuen and erthe that hath created the And in Ihesu Cryst his gloryous sone kyng of alle kynges which by his passyon hath redemed the And in the holy ghoost confirmatour and Illumynatour of al good werkes procedyng fro the fader fro the sone the foresayd Trynyte in one onely essen to whome ought to be gyuen al honour and all lawde byleue Byleue ye in this holy byleue and mageste and leue the ydolles made wyth mannes honde a folysshe thyng and vayn and thynke for to restore the holy chyrches whyche thou hast brente Secondly I requyre the that thou wylt demaunde my parte and porcyon of the goodes of my fader and of my moder of agabondê° myn vncle whom he dyd put to deth falsely and wythoute occasyon but the vengeaunce I leue to god whan she had said this the kyng answerd ¶ Thou hast demaunded me a poynte passage which is to me ouer strayt hard to graunte that is that I shold forsake my goddes by whome I gouern me for to adoure one onely god of whome thou hast spoken to me demauÌ„de of me som other thynge with good hert I shal doo it Clotildis aÌ„suerd as moche as is possyble to me to requyer I supplye byseche the that thou wilt adoure the god of heuen maker of al to whome onely is due al honour the kyng made none other ansuer but sente anone Aurelyen his faâ—tour to agabondus for to haue the goodes longyng to the quene Clotildis whan Aurelyen had doon his message Agabondus replenysshed with grete Ire aÌ„suerd to the messager that he shold as soone haue alle his royame as ony thyng of hym For which cause Aurelyen said to hym the kyng clâ—ys my maister comauÌ„deth the by me that thou make an answer vpon my demaunde or ellys he shalle be euyl contente Thenne the bourgoynons helden a counceyl and sayd to agabondus their kyng Sir kyng gyue to your nyece of your goodes as reason wyl for it is ryght And we kâ—owe wel that so ought ye to doe and to take playsyr to haue good aâ—yaunces with clois the kyng and wyth all the frensshe peple to th ende that they â—â—nne not on vs For the people is boystous furious and that werke is wythout mynde of god And vpon this poynte Agabondus constrayned to the counceyl of the bourgoynons hys people sente a grete partye of his tresour to Aurelyen the messager of kyng Cloys In a litel tyme after the kyng cloys in vysityng his royame The quene clotyldis was anon grete with chylde and sone after was delyuerd of a sone whome she dyd do baptyse And contynuelly requyred the kyng that he wold byleue as tofore is sayd but he in no wyse wold here her ne do therafter And whan the chylde was baptysed anone it exspyred deyed wherof the kyng was euyl contente and sayd to the quene yf thou haddest gyuen hym and dedyed hym to my goddes he were now olyue The quene an swerd for this thyng I am noo thyng perturbled in my courage but I rendre gyue thaÌ„kynges to god my creatour by cause he hath me so dygne and worthy that it haâ—h plesed hym to take in to his royalme of heuen the fyrst fruyt of my wombe After the yere folowyng she had ageyn another sone named lodomyrus the whyche whan he was baptysed bycame anone so seke that it was supposed he shold deye And whan the kyng sawe it languysshe he beyng euyl contente said to the quene and how sayd he it shal none otherwyse be of this chylde but as it was of that other his broder by cause ayenst myn entente thou doost thy wylle in baptysyng them Thenne the quene for the fere of the â—yng prayed to god deuoutely for the helthe
of hyr chylde And anone he was guarysshed and hool ¶ How the kyng Cloys was vyctoryous of hys enemyes by canse he byleued in Ihesu Cryste Capitulo iiij KYng Cloys after certeyn tyme begaÌ„ to make warre mortal ayenst the Almayns And so perseueryng the alle mayns had vyctorye on the frensshe men in suche wyse that they were ouerthrowen slayn TheÌ„ne whan aurelyen sawe the dystructyon of the kynges peple he began to beholde the kyng hys lord sayd to hym Syr kyng ye see tofore your eyen the mortal destructyon of your peple I requyre you that ye byleue in god almyghty whych hath made heuen erthe I mene hym whome my lady the quene adoureth precheth and byleueth on whan the kyng had herde aurelyen thus speken in grete affectyon he began to lyfte his eyen vnto heuen and wepte moche largely and wyth grete pyte thus sayd O Ihesu cryst sone of the veâ—y god almyghty on whom my wyf by leueth and wyth al hyr hert precheth notyfyeth hym to gyue remedye to them that ben in trybulacyons I byseche the of ayde and socour that I may be vyctoryous of myn enemyes by experyence presently I byleueue on the and in thy name I shalle baptyse me I haue demaunded my goddes for to helpe me but they haue doon no thyng for me And I say they be of noo value ne of noo comforte whan they may not helpe them that requyre them wherfore to the as veray god and lord I requyre the that I may be delyuerd by thy hye puyssaunce fro myn aduersâ—ryes he thus sayeng wyth an hyghe voys The allemayns his enemyes vaynquysshed murdred began to flee in suche wyse that theyr kyng was deed wherfore they that abode yelded them to kyng cloys and byâ—men his subgettes and sette al that contreye vnder hys obayssaunce puyssaunce paâ—eng yerely trybute Thenne after this vyctory by the puyssaunce of god obteyned he came in to fraunce And recounted alle to the quene hys wyf how by Inuocacion dyuyne and by thayde of god almyghty he had obteyned vyctorye ¶ How the kyng was baptysed by saynt Remyge in hys baptesme by myracle was brouÈ the holy ampulle by an aungel fro heuen wherof euer after all the kynges of Fraunce â—â—â—â—â—noynted in theyr consecrâ—cyon atte cyte of Raynes capâ—â—ulo v AFter that the 〈…〉 herde the kynge whyche was conuerted vnto the crysten fayth for the vyctorye whych he had obteyned she had grete Ioye And Incontynet sent after saynt Remyge bysshop of raynes a moche holy man whiche came to hyr for to prech to the kyng his saluacyon he manerâ— of the crysten fayth whan he was comen after that he had wel enformed the kyng began strongely to excyte the peple of fraunce to byleue in Ihesu Cryst And the peple gaynsayed it not For in knowyng the errour of thydolles they began al to byleue in god say Syr kyng gloryous it is best that ye forsake thydolles and adoure the god Inmortal whome the quene adoureth and preyseth so for to do all we be contente Incontynent al this was shewed to saynt Remyge wherof he was moche Ioyous and cam to them dylygently as a good herdman that taketh grete payne to kepe the sheep fro his aduersarye and grete playsyr ought he to haue to come thyder For his comyng and hys prechyng dyd soo grete prouffyte that it made the peple to be regenerate after thordynaunce of holy baptesme wythoute whych no man may entre in to heuen wherfore the necessyte of the saluacion of thys kyng enlumyned of grace dysposed to byleue conioyned to good entencyon maad affectuously saynt â—emyge to come for he thought wel whan the kyng was baptysed and byleued in Ihesu cryst and his commaundements that al the peple subgette to hym shold do the same wyse And whan saynt remyge was comen and had coÌ„myned with the kyng touchyng his saluacyon began to ordeyne the place for to baptyse hym honourably and dyd to â—ynte the hystoryes after somme poyntes of our crysten fayth moche rychely and repayred the places ryght delycyously ¶ And on that other he dyd do ordeyne founde chirches auteâ—tykly compose baptyzatoryes funâ—es coâ—uenably whan al this was done yâ— kyng was al redy to receyue the holy sacrameÌ„t of baptesme to whome the frende of god saynt remyge began to say by faconde manere ¶ Syr kyng it is tyme that ye ought wyth pure entencyon to forsake the false goddes to whome tofore this tyme ye haue gyuen fayth And theÌ„ne the kyng was al redy to receyue the holy sacrameÌ„t of taptesme To whom Saynt Remyge began by fayr manere Syr kyng it is tyme that ye ought of pure Intencion to forsake the goddes to whome here afore tyme ye haue byleued on whyche ben ful of al vanyte and do no thynge but excersiâ—e of dampnacyon And ye ought to byleue wyth ryÈt humble hert in one onely god almyghty the fader the sone the holy ghoost one onely pure essence whyche hath created heuen and erthe to whome one onely ouÈt to gyue fayth and creaunce and in Ihesu cryst his sone whyche for the sauacyon of humayn creature wold take humanyte couenable for to repayre thynobedyence of our fyrst fader Adam And that was conceyued in the bely of the virgyn marie by the werk of the holy ghoost whyche after was sette on the crosse and took deth dolorously for to redeme vs was buryed and roos fro deth to lyf and after ascended in to heuen and sytteth vpon the ryght honde of the fader and fro thens shal come and Iudge the lyuyng and deed ¶ Also ye shal byleue in holy chyrche our catholyque moder her ordonnayre and whan saynt Remyge had ynough enformed the kyng and the peple of our fayth and byleue he baptysed them in the name of the fader of the sone of the holy ghoost And whan he came to enoyntyng after the custome of the holy cresme whyche noo man brought Incontynent by the plesyr of god and demonstraunce myraculous they alle stondyâ—g sodeynlye came doun descendyng fro heuen a douâ—e shynyng whiche bare in hyr becke an holy ampull and lefte it in the same place where the holy cresme was wherwyth the kyng cloys was fyrst enoynted in grete deuocyon by Saynt Remyge whyche Ampull is presently at Raynes of whyche holy cresme that is therin the kynges of frauÌ„ce onelyâ— been enoynted ones in theyr consecracyon ¶ In that tyme were baptysed the systers of the sayd kyng and thee thousand men of hys excersyte and so after all the peple of fraunce in grete Ioye and exaltacion of glorye ¶ The second partye of the first book conteyneth fyue chapytres and speketh of the begynnyng of kyng Pepyn And Charlemayn hys sone ¶ How Pepyn by his 〈◊〉 was chosen kyng of Fâ—aunce whan the lygnage of kyâ—g cloys faylled in successyâ—â—â— j THe book â—â—â—â—dent maketh mâ—ncyon of kyng Cloys the fyrst crysten
my felawe in the name of Ihesus drewe out haulte clere and came in to the waye the first that he recouÌ„tred was the sone of the grettest lord that was there and gaf hym suche a stroke that he clefte hym to the breste and fyl doun dede Olyuer was abylle delyuer and took fro hym hys shelde whyche was al newe for in the bataylle tofore maad he had loste hys also he had his spere lete hys hors renne emonge the myscreauntes And atteyned at the fyrst stroke Clorgys smote hym vnto the hert And in retornyng he slewe thre sarasyns they raÌ„ne tofore hym as sheep tofore the wulf whiche is hongry Thenne came on hym mara bas Turgys Sortybrant of conymbres and the kyng Margaris and they cryed with an hye voys to gydre by Mahoun our god thou freÌ„sshe man thou shalt not escape vs kepe the wel for by vs thou shalt deye And thenne cam Olyuer emonge his enemyes and smote and slewe on al sydes And the saresyns smote on hym in suche wyse that it was grete meruaylle that he was not slayne and ouercomen but by force and shotte and of strokes hys hors was slayn vnder hym And he beyng on the erthe as sone as he myght he aroos and beyng afoot sette his shelde tofore hym whyche he had goten and helde fast haultclore whyche was alle hys comforte for to socoure hym And alwaye whome he raught fyl doun and was slayn It is not redde in ony book that euer ony man so hurt as he was bare hym so wel and dyd so grete portemente of armes ¶ How Olyuer was taken blynfeld pyteously myght not be socoured by the Frensshe men capitulo xvij OLyuer was a allone on fote emong the sarasyns ageynst whome he made grete resystence meruayllous but it is not a thynge possyble that he myght escape fro theyr handes for wyth glayues with swerdes and with faus dartes of yron they pressyd hym so fore that hys shelde was perced in moo than xxx places whan hys hawberk was broken perced wyth foure sharpe dartes they perced and wounded hym in his body meruaillously wherfore by veray force for feblesse he fyl to the erthe there they took hym moche outerageously and after blynfelde hys eyen bonde hym straytely soo that he myÈt not see ne wyst not where he was they sette hym vpon a good hors bonde hym surely And whan thys valyaunt olyuer was thus dyspourueyed fro al helpe fro al syÈt fro al hope and fro al comforte it is good to wete that he was in grete desplaysaunce For he knewe not what they wold doo wyth hym Thenne wyth an hye voys by a compassyon of hert he sayd O Charlemayn kyng of noblesse Emperour of valure where art thou now knowest thou not where I am seest thou not what I do remembrest not me Noble felawe Rolland thou art all a slepe am I deef or how I may not here the is there none of you crysten that remembreth me These and suche other complayntes makyng the kyng Maradas sayd to hym Frensshe man what someuer thou be thou spekest of folye For I shal not ete tyl thou be hanged These sarasyns ranne wyth olyuer his â—yen blynfelde and hys hondes straytly bounden in the garde of four fals tyrants TheÌ„ne vpon thys in especyal came Rolland Thyerry al the peres charles hym self also but thys was ouer late for to saue Olyuer wyth grete cryes they cryed on god on al the sayntes of heuen And wyth grete Ire Rolland smote Corsuble in the brest Gherard of mondydyer came ayenst Turgys Ogyer smote athenas And Rychad Amancdys Guy of bourgoyne atteyned brullant There was none of the peres of fraunce but that ouer thre we hys man and made so grete dyscomfyte of the sarasyns that they were al empesshed to holde them to gyders and to goo theyr waye but the other paynyms that conduyted Olyuer wente alwaye forth And in thys bataylle was slayn guyllam gaultier other ynow of valyaunte peple many other of the moyen people laye on the grounde And Gherard de mondydier the sone of Duke Thyerey and geffroy langeuyn they bonde dylygently to theyr horses rode aweye wyth them hastely but whan charles sawe theym thus fadde for angre he loste almoost hys wytte And wyth an hyghe voys cryed saue kepe and socoure the barons O knyÈtes desloyal that ye be slowe yf they lede awaye the barons neuer shal ye fare wel whan the Frensshe men herde Charles thus moeued as enraged smote theyr horses wyth theyr sports and wente doun of a mountayn And there was Rolland fyrst that helde hys swerde durandall drawen for tauenge hym fyersly and hym that he atteyned was sure to passe by the deth For he was al enraged by cause that they ledde aweye his felowe Olyuer smote a paynym that he clefte hym to the myddle of hys body at that tyme rolland bare hym myghtely by cause of the multytude of the paynyms he myght not passe forth for to socoure the barons prysonners and chaced them more than v myle ferre coude not approche them thenne were many good knyghtes deed morfounded and wery And not wythstondyng Rolland sware that he wold neuer retorne tyl the barons of fraunce were taken fro the handes of theyr enemyes But he myght not do it For the nyght came on Wyst neuer whyther to goo The sarasyns that were tofore went fleyng alwaye at theyr playsyr ¶ Thys seyng Charles wyst not what he shold doo ne say For he doubted that the paynyms made a watche a ryere garde for to close them ¶ And therfore by force they must leue the felde in ryÈt grete dysplaysyr anguysshe and so al they retorned ¶ The second partye of the second book conteyneth xvij chapytres speketh of the tormente of the barons of fraunce how they that were taken spaken to ballant thadmyral of spayne ¶ How fyerabras was fouÌ„den by Charles and after was baptysed and heled of his wounde capitulo primo AFter that charles knew that he myght not haue ageyn Olyuer ne the other prysoners it was force to hym to retorne wyth hys people for the nyght was theÌ„ne to them greuous also in retornyng they fonde fyerabras vnder a tre languysshyng to whom the kyng said O vnhappy paynym I ouÈt wel to hate the for by the been my men prysonners and boste thou hast take fro me oliuer one of the best byloued that I had emonge al thumayn creatures hym yâ— hath be synguler to mayntene my good name by the in the ende in stede of Ioye thou yeldest me sorowe whan fyerabras vnderstode hym he sore syghed sayd O ryche emperour noble the moost myghty of humayn lygnage In thonour of god I crye the mercy pardone me It is trouthe that Olyuer hath conquerd me I shal not hyde it and I haue
promysed hym that I shal be crystned I haue left forsaken al my goddes and yelde me to Ihesus the creatour of the world And I requyre the yet that I may be baptysed and yf I were heled of my woundes I shal enhauÌ„ce to my power the crysten fayth many sarasyns shal be maad crysten and by my moyan the holy sepulcre the holy reliques shal be delyuerd for whome ye take grete payne and trauaylle And also I make an oth to you by god in whom I now byleue that I am more heuy sory for Olyuer that noble knyÈt whiche is taken prysonner than I am for my body whyche is morrally wounded by the grace of god we shal haue hym ones wherfore conclude we that I be crystened For yf I deye sarasyn it shal be to you reproche ¶ And vpon thys Charles whyche had grete compassyon on hym made hym to be borne in to hys ledgyng by his barons and whan they saw hym so hugely meÌ„bred they al were abasshed of his gretenes and largenes for whan he was vâ—armed he was one of the semelyest men that euer was ¶ And al the Frensshe men gaf grete loss and honour to Olyuer that had foughten ouercomen suche a man and as he was vnclothed partye of hys woundes opened and began to blede wherof hys hert faylled fyl doun a swoune rolland anone lyfte hym vp And in al haste they made redy a fonte sente for thachebysshop Turpyn and Naymes which were moche Ioyous of this that the paynym shold be crystend after that the baptesme was redy the godfaders gaf hym another name was named floren but as longe as he lyued he was called Fyerabras and thenne he was layed in a bedde honourable And at the laste ende of hys dayes he was a saynt and god shewed for hym myracles and is now called Saynt Floren of Roye And thenne anone charles made hym to be vysyted by his medycynes surgyens wel expert serche den al his woundes and as god wolde they fonde none of his bowellys eÌ„tamed ne hurt wherfore the leches were sure for to delyuer hym al hole wythin ij monethes next after comyng In makyng this vysytacion the Emperour charles was present sayd to fyerabras yf now olyuer the other barons were here present tofore the we shold wel be contente And charles was thenne al pencyf and heuy moche thynkyng vpon hys barons prysoners but he maad no more semblaunte ¶ How Olyuer his felowes were presented to ballant thadmyral and cruelly passyoned in pryson capitulo ij THe sarasyns after they had the barons of frauÌ„ce tofore named for prysoners they taryed not but ranne tyl they came in to a ryche cytee named Agrymore and at the entre of the sayd cyte they sowned and blewe vp trumpes makyng grete bruyt whan ballant thadmyral fader of Fyerabras sawe them he came vnto them fonde there brullant of moÌ„myer to whome he sayd O brullant my frende â—â—lle to vs of your tydynges how ye haue borne you in my warre and affayres haue ye taken Charles the emperour whyche so moche is redoubted his peres of fraunce be they dyscomfyted Brullant sayd to hym O syr admyral the tydynges that I brynge you been alle otherwyse and of lasse valewe than ye say by Charles the kyng we haue been almoost defeated and dyscomfyted For of hys puyssaunce it is a meruayllous thynge Fyerabras your sone is with hym vaynquysshed by one of his barons and is made crysten he was taken vaynquysshed dyscomfyted in loyal batayl without doyng ony treason whan thadmyral vnderstode this he fyl to therthe al in a traunse And or he came ageyn to hys mynde it was a grete whyle for the sowwe that he had of hys sone and whan he was releued he cryed wyth an hye voys O dolaunt vnhappy that I am ha poure caytyf what shal bycome of me O Fyerabras my ryght dere sone and heyer whyther art thou gone Fro whens cometh thys trespaas wherfore were thou taken whyche neuer in bataylle were wery ne had reproche ¶ O what euyl tydynges been brought to me of the yf he be crysten I am sory that he lyueth I had moche leuer that he were dysmembred and put to deth thenne as a man feble for sorowe fyl doun to the grounde and cryed O brullant of mommyere what is betyd of the noble kyng of Cordube and of my neuewe bruchart sythe my sone fyerabras the ledar and captayn of all yf it be trewe that he be lost I shal smyte oute the brayne of MahoÌ„met the god whiche hath promysed to me so moche good to whome I haue gyuen my self and yolden Thus sayeng alle in a rage he tormented hym self greuously vpon the grounde And whan thadmyral was a lytel coled of hys grete yre He demaunded of Brullant whiche is the knyÈt that hath vaynquysshed fyerabras my sone brullaÌ„t answerd Syr admyrall your sone hath be conquerd by yonde knyght in shewyng Olyuer whiche was so fayr wel formed membred had emonge al other his eyen bended Now anone sayd thadmyral of spayn hye you brynge hym to me for I shal neuer ete tyl 〈…〉 membred whan the frenssh men vnderstode that he wold do put Olyuer to deth whiche was al theyr comforte begonne to were greuously olyuer whiche vnderstode it sawe them waylle be recomforted them sayeng in suche manere that the sarasyns wyst not what they sayd My lordes my brethern ye knowe our necessite yf thadmyral myÈt know that we be of the peres of frauÌ„ce our lyues shal be sone termyned for for no thyng shal he take ryte of vs but that we shal deye shamefully wherfor I praye you that we al say as I shal begynne to whome alle the other frensshe men prysoÌ„ners dyd consente wold say do lyke as he counceylled them after that thadmyral had comanded them to come tofore hym the paynyms vnarmed them bonde fast theyr hondes blynfelde theyr eyen wherof they were moche greued daungerously hurt anon thadmyral furiously demauÌ„ded olyuer yâ— frenssh maÌ„ beware that yâ— lye not but say to me the trouthe how thou arte named hyde it not Olyuer ansuerd sayd syr I am named engynes sone vnto a yeman of poure lygnage and was borne in lorayne cam on a tyme to the courte of Charles emperour whiche gaf to me armes after adoubed me knyght also my felawes that ye see tofore you ben poure knyghtes aduenturous haue enterprysed payne to serue our kyng bycause that by our seruyce we myÈt be auaunced haue soÌ„me good guerdon rewarde O Mahoun sayd thadmyral now I am wel deceyued I supposed by my god that I had had fyue of the valyauntest erles of fraunce of the gretest thought I had the kayes of fraunce by the moyen of these barons anone called barbaâ—as his chamberlayn and sayd to hym anone depesshe
men of kyng Charles al enraged and sayd that they came in hys name to do a message vnto you after they ranne vpon vs and haue doon theyr deuoyr so gretely ayenst vs that al be dede sauf I whyche am escaped wyth grete payne for to come and shewe to you whan thadmyral vnderstode thys he was almoost dede for sorowe of the deth of hys kynges aforesayd ¶ Of the meruayllous bridge of Mantryble of the trybute there payed for to passe ouer and how wyth fayr wordes â—e frenssh men passed ouer the said brydge capitulo vij WHan the frensshe men a foresayd had put to deth the sarasyns they were al trauaylled and wery and wente and rested them in a medowe al grene and ful of swete floures and after sayd the duc naymes my lordes I 〈◊〉 ylle you that we retorne to Charles and say to hym how we haue doon I wote wel that he shal be wel contente whan he shall knowe how we haue gouerned vs Thenne Rolland answerd and sayd How Syr naymes speke ye of retornyng Speke not therof For as longe as I may holde durandal in my hond by the playsyr of god I thynke not to retorne For we wyl doo our message to ballant thadmyral how someuer it be and late vs do one thynge wherof euery man shal speke late eche of vs take one of these hedes and we shal presente them to thadmyral Naymes sayd to hym syr rolland it semeth that ye he oute of your wytte For yf we do so we shal be anone slayn Thyery and the other were of thoppynynyon of Rolland and so eche of them took an hede and rode forth on theyr waye Duc naymes was the fyrst that wente behelde the brydge of mantryble whyche was meruayllous as ye shal here and sayd to hys felowes lordes ye shal vnderstonde that beyonde the brydge is Aygremore where we shal fynde thadmyral Ogyer thâ— danoys sayd be byhoueth fyrst to passe by thys brydge whych is moche daungerous There ben xxx arâ—â—s of marble wel spacyous brode whyche been soulded wyth had and cyment with grete barees of yron wpon whyche brydge been grete towres wyth fayr pylers rychely ordeyned the walles ben of grete strengthe For at the lowest may wel be mesured ten ellys a brede hyt is soo brode that xx knyghtes may goe arme in arem at their ease there is a drawe brydge for to drawe vp whyche descendeth wyth ten grete chaynes of yron And aboue on hye is an egle of golde moche replendysshaunte and shynyng lyke the soÌ„ne that it semeth that it were a flame of fyre whyche is seen a large myle ferce and the ryuer that passeth vnder is named flagot whyche is byuethe the arche by mesure xv foot and renneth so Inpytuously as a quarel out of an arbalastre in suche wyse that neyther lote ne galeye may passe ouer for the grete cours of the water And more ouer this brydge is kepte wyth a geauÌ„te for thadmyral whyche geaunte is named Galafre one of the moost terryble of humayn people And he holdeth a grete axe of stele for to destroye them that wyl doo ageynst hys wylle And who that wyl speke wyth thadmyral must nedes passe by hym Seygnours sayd rolland doubte ye no thynge I praye you care not for passyng ouer the brydge For I swere to you that as longe as it shal please god to slepe my body that I may holde durandal in my honde I shal not doubte ony paynym the balewe of a peny what someuer he be And by god that henge on the crosse I shal smyte the porter yf he come tofore me what someuer shal happe Duc naymes of bauyere reprysed hym Rolland ye speke not wysely It is not good to gyue a stroke for to receyue therfore fyftene late me do For by the playsyr of god and of hys saynâ—es I shal say to hym suche lesynges and other thynges that we shal passe wythoute daunger whan the frensshe men came tofore the brydge the porter toke an hondred knyghtes came aualed the lytel brydge wyth as many guysarmes other glayues of defence The fyrst that went byfore was due naymes with hys whyte heere 's for he was older than ony of the other Anon the porter passed ouer toke Naymes by the honde drewe hym ouer after sayd to hym why ther wylt thou goo Naymes aÌ„suerd I shal say you the trouth we be men of charles the noble emperour goo to Aygremore to do a message to ballant thadmyral But certeynly he hath quytte his contreye of fals peple for it is not longe tyme passed that on the felde we fonde xv gloutons whyche wold haue taken fro vs our lyf our horses Neuertheles we haue gouerned them in suche manere that here ben the hedes beholde them wel whan they be yf ye byleue me not whan the porter herde hym he was almoost oute of hys wytte for angre sayd to Naymes vassal vnderstonde me ye must paye the passage of the brydge tofore al thyng Duc Naymes sayd porter demaunde what ye ought to haue we shal contente you by mahoun sayd the porter it is not a lytel For I aske of you xxx couple houndes after an C maydens chaste of good maners an C fawcons mewed an C palfroyes in good poynte rested and for euery foot of the horses a marke of fyn gold atte last I must haue ii sommyers charged with golde syluer thus ought ye paye or ellys come not here and he that may not paye the trybute tofore deuysed he must lese hys heed wythoute other excusacyon duc Naymes was not abasshed Not withstondyng that he knewe the occasyon that the porter sought that they shold deye by cause that it was not possyble to paye that he had deuysed ansuerd to the porter in this manerr and sayd Syr porter yf I owe noo more than ye haue sayd ye shal be contente or mydday be passed Our bagayge cometh after vs and harnoys more in nombre than an hondred thousand where there be maydens fayr gentyl fawcons dogges grete pleâ—te hawberks helmes and good sheldes wythoute nombre And many other Iewellys noble and ryche take of them as it shalle playse your wylle ¶ The portyer supposed that he had said trouthe and was wel contente and lete the brydge doun and after they passed ouer lyghtly Rolland which myght not forbere lawhyng sayd In trouthe syr Duc Naymes ye haue wel spoken for by lesynges we passe thys brydge and rolland came behynde alle the other whan they were a lytel forth vpon the brydge Roulland encountred a Turke and sythe sayd in his courage A lord god of paradys late me do a thynge wherof thow mayst he honoured and alle thynge happe wel and with oute sayeng of ony worde to his felowes he lyghted doun from hys hors and toke thylke turk by the myddel and threwe hym bastely in to the ryuer ¶ Duc
creatures and moost ryche wythoute comparyson demaundeth of the Rendre and yelde to hym the relyques whyche thou hast borne awaye or ellys he shal do dysmembre the and doo the deye shamefully Thadmyral beyng al wroth made hym to sytte wyth the other After hym rolland the courageous came tofore Ballant thadmyral wythoute doyng to hym ony reuerence and sayd to hym Thou sarasyn vnhappy cursed take hede to my wordes Charles the noble kyng and Emperour redoubted sendeth to the by me that thou byleue in god Ihesu cryst the maker of al the world in the gloryous vyrgyn marie his moder and do the to be baptysed and thynke to rendre the relyques whiche thou occupyest and atteynest ayenst hys wylle And also see that hys barons be rendred and delyuerd hole and in good poynte For yf thou do otherwyse than I haue sayd to the Charles the valyaunte shal make the to be hanged as a theef Thadmyral sayd to hym thou hast rebuked and blamed me proudly but I swere to the by Mahoun my god by Termagaunte that I shal not ete tyl thou be hanged strangled Thenne Rolland answerd for trouthe sarasyn yf thou abyde to that houre thou sholdest faste ouer longe Thou shalt not do so For I doubte the not the valure of an olde dede hounde drowned ¶ Guy of bourgoyn came after hym tofore ballant thadmyral and sayd to hym in thys manere Charles commoundeth the that thou make to hym obâ—yssaunce and that thou restore the relyques and hys barons and thenne shalte thou do as a wyse man and yf thou wylt byleue me I wyl wel counceyl the Byleue in god Ihesu Cryste whyche is almyghty wych â—ute ende and wythoute begynnynge And yf thou byleuest my counceyl thou mayst be in his grace And to what thou shalt do take of thy robe thy hosen thy shoon of thy body and goo in thy 〈◊〉 and bere on thy body a sadel of an hors and reste not tyl thou come byfore the face of Charles and humbly presente thy self to hym crye for mercy to god thy maker almyghty for thyn errours and oultrages And crye hym mercy in the honour of god almyghty and yf thou doo not thou as I haue sayd he shal make the be hanged brente or drowned and shameflluy to dye ¶ The Admyrall was more do termyned and araged than he had been tofore and sent anone for Brullant de Mommyere Sortybrant do conymbres and for the other that were of hys counceyl and demaunded theyr aduys and counceyl vpon these thynges aforesayd Anone for tybrant sayd to hym Syr admyral I counceylle you that anone they be dysmembred and slayn and after ye may goo and ryde with your strengthe oueral and come to mormyonde where charles is pensyf yf ye may take hym ye shal put hym to deth ¶ After ye shal descende in to fraunce doo you be crowned there as kyng by mahoun sayd ballant ye haue wel sayd Now be it doon after your deuyse goo in to the pryson brynge wyth you the other theyr felowes for to do after the enterpryse And thus as I haue sayd Thadmyral was of entencyon to make of the frensshe men aforesayd after that is tofore deuysed ¶ How by the moyen of florypes al the frensshe men were saued and lodged to gydre and the relyques shewed and other thynges capitulo ix FLoripes the curtoys after that she had wel secretly herde al the debate to foresayd she came out of hyr chambre and salewed hir fader demaunded of hym what been these knyghtes sette there a parte Thadmyral ansuerd my doughter they be borne in frauÌ„ce the whyche haue sayd to me wordes of grete Importaunce ful of reproches and haue blamed me and offended gretely more than I can telle you or say what couÌ„ceyl gyue ye to me that I ought to do Ioyth them The doughter sayd I shal say to you my fader that ye wythoute longe taryeng do smyte of theyr heedes for they haue wel deserued it And do smyte of theyr hondes brenne them in a fyre without your cyte my doughter sayd the admyral ye haue ryght wel sayd ryght soo shal it be doon Goo ye in to the pryson and brynge to me the other good fader ansuerd the doughter it is tyme to dyne and yf ye wyl begynne to do Iustyce ye may not ete tyl mydday be passed This doughter sought none other thyng but occasyon by fayr wordes accordyng to the wylle of hyr fader thadmyral for to brynge al the frensshe men to gyder wyth them that were prysonners ¶ And after sayd to hyr fader gyue to me these Frensshe men I shal make theym wel to be kepte and after your dyner ye shall do Iustyce wyth lasse tedyacyon and thenne your people shal be assembled ¶ To the whyche the Admyral consented And was contente thyt hys doughter shold haue them in kepyng Alwaye sortybraÌ„t which knewe the mutabylyte of wommen thynconstaunce sayd to Ballant Syr Admyral it is noo thynge couenable that vpon thys fayte ye ought truste in a woman by cause of theyr mutabylyte ye haue oft berd say ensaumples and also ye knowe the trouthe how many haue ben deceyued by wymmen Moche angry euyl content was floripes of the wordes of Sortybrant And sayd horson Traytour desloyal pariured yf I thought not it shold torne me to ouermoche blame I shold gyue to the suche a buffet on thy vysage that the blode shold auale doun habundauntly And after these wordes thadmyral was euyl contente of thys debate And therupon she took the frensshe men ladde them 〈◊〉 to hyr chambre wythoute ony lenger taryeng And goyng by the waye Syr naymes the due sayd A god of heuen kyng of eternal glorye who is he that euer sawe a more fayrer lady in hys lyf Moche wel shold he he Inspyred with the grace of god that shal haue hyr in hys courage in loue Rolland was euyl contente and sayd to Naymes what hondred thousand of deuyls hath maad you to speke now of loue It is not now tyme to speke of suche thynge Due Naymes sayd thus Syr Rolland dysplese you not For I was ones amerous the douÈter sayd to them that they were not assembled to plede that one ageynst that other and also sone as they were wythin the chambre the doughter made to shette faste the yatrs anone rolland mette wyth Olyuer and enterbraced eche other kyssed wyth franke and tender herte in wepyng moch tenderly and alle the other semblably Rolland sayd Alas Olyuer my faythful felowe how is it with you sythe I last sawe you Ryght wel answerd Olyuer and eche demaunded of other of theyr feates of the contreyes and of theyr lordes tydynges Now ye may thynke that they were gladde eche of other that they were al togyder in good poynte by the moyen of Florypes the fayr lady whyche dyd grete socours to crystendom whan by hyr hyr wysedom and dyscrescyon
the captayne of the crysten fayth as moche as toucheth the excersyte of bataylle to destroye the myscreauntes and paynyms ben founded alle togyder in surete whyche fyrst were comen in to the hondes of theyr enemyes mortall ¶ But it is grete scyence for to eschewe the wylle of a woman whan by effecte she putteth hyr entente to a thynge that her hert dyrectly draweth and taketh no regarde to the ende of her entente but onely that she may achyeue hyr enterpryse and determynacyon Florypes retched of noo thynge but that she myÈt haue tydynges certeyn of guy of bour goyne to whome she had gyuen hyr hert and was contente to be crystened for the loue of hym Thys fayr Florypes whan she sawe these barons to gydre she sayd to them lordes I wyl that ye alle of one â—coorde promyse to me the fayth of loyalte that ye shal ayde and helpe me of that I shal demaunde you toward me ye shal truly bere and endeuoyre you Ryght gladly ansuerd due Naymes and also ye shal assure vs that we shal be here in surete withoute ony doubte of ony man lyuyng she was contente they were contente and promysed fydelyte that our to the other whan this was doon the doughter came to duc naymes for to knowe what he was and demaunded of hym hys name the duc sayd to hyr Madame I am called Naymes of bauyere Man and counceyllour to Charles the Emperour redoubted Alas sayd the douÈter your kyng is sory for you After she came to Rychard and demaunded of hym how he was named he ansuerd to hyr dame I am Rychard of Normandye the doughter sayd to hym Mahomet curse the thou puttest to deth on a tyme corsuble myn vncle But for the loue of these other thou shalt be in no daunger Florypes came after to rolland and prayed that he wold telle hys name I am named rolland sayd he sone to duc Myllon am neuewe to charles sone of hys syster Anone the doughter cryed hym mercy kneled doun to hys feet and Rolland toke hyr swetely vp ¶ After the doughter sayd ye knowe what ye haue promysed to me I shal say to you myn entencyon It is trouthe that I loue a knyght of fraunce â—boue al them of the world whyche is named guye of bourgoyne of whom I wold gladly haue tydynges rolland sayd I swere to you by my hede that he is here in your syght that there is not bytwene you tweyne the space of foure foot of mesure Seynours sayd she I praye you that I may knowe hym and that he be gyuen to me for of hym is alle my playsyr Rolland ansuerd and sayd syr guy of bourgoyne come ye hyther to thys mayde and receyue hyr Ioyously Guy of bourgoyn ansuerd god forbede that euer I shold take wyf But yf she were gyuen to me by Charles themperour ¶ whan Florypes vnderstode hym anone she chauÌ„ged colour and sware mahoÌ„met hyr god that yf he gaynsayed it she shold make them alle to be hanged by the necke on a gybette Rolland enhorted Guye that he shold do hyr wylle and vpon that he aduaunced hym hath graunted Thenne florypes sayd the sone of god of crystyante be preysed and honoured For I haue tofore myn eyen the moost grettest playsyr that euer myn hert desyred For his loue I shal byleue in Ihesu Cryst shal do me be baptysed after she approched to hym for to treate a lytel the desyre of hir hert and she durst not kysse hym on the mouthe but on hys chekes chynne by cause she was a paynym Thenne florypes Ioyously and by grete loue came vnto a cheste and opened it tofore the barons and spredde a fayr cloth of sylke And after she dysclosed and she wed the relyques of whyche I haue spoken tofore emonge whome was the gloryous crowne wyth which Ihesu cryste was crowned with in the tyme of hys passyon and the holy naylles whyche perced hys holy handes and feet and after sayd to Rolland Loo here is the tresour that ye haue so moche desyred whan the frensshe men sawe thus tofore them the relyques For Ioye they alle wepte moche tenderly and one after the other wente kyssed them knelyng moche humbly after they were layed in to the cheste where as they had ben tofore ¶ How Lucafer neuewe of the admyral vyolently entred in to the chambre after was slayn of duc Naymes in blowyng of the cool capitulo x BAllaÌ„t thadmyral beyng moche wroth syttynge at the table A paynym fyers proude a specyal frende of thadmyral named lucafer of bandas sayd to thadmyral affectuously ¶ Syr admyral is it trouthe that I haue herde say that Fyerabras your sone and my ryght dere brother is taken and vaynquysshed whiche was the beste knyght that euer was a lyue Thadmyral said to hym by my fayth I shal not hyde it fro you A frensshe man hath conquerd hym whome maboun confounde Brullant of Mommyere made grete deffence and the kyng of Sulye They â—are them soo wel that they brought to vs fyue of the gloutons of fraunce knyghtes of Charles whyche ben in pryson and sythe ryght now we haue other seuen whiche ben comen as messagers fro the sayd charles which haue vytupered and blamed vs gretelye in reprochyng out lawe despysyng my goddes Florypes my doughter hath conduyted them in to pryson syr sayd lucafer ye do grete folye wymmen al day for lytel thynge ben chaunged and torned fro theyr thouÈt neuertheles for the more surete yf it playse you and by your comaundement I shal goo to them and shal knowe what they be and of what condycion Goo forth said thadmyral ye say ryght wel and make my doughter to retorne wyth you herupon lucafer moche proude and replenysshed with grete fyersnes cam in to the chambre where the douÈter was and the frensshe men wythoute demaundyng to opene the dore but lyfte vp his ryght fote and smote it so strongely wyth hys foot that the barres lockes flewe vnto the grounde whan Florypes sawe that she was al abasshed And anone sayd to Rolland Syr noble knyght I am ryght euyl contente of the vyoleÌ„ce that is thus done to me this is he that shold be my husband ageyn my wylle I requyre you in as moche as ye wyl do me playsyr that ye wyl auenge thys dyshonour For I complayne me wythoute makyng ouermoche cuyl semblaunte to whome Rolland answerd doubte ye no thyng madame For or he departe hens he shal knowe that he hath euyll doon And I promyse you that he bought neuer locke so dere ne of the prys as he shal for the brekyng herof Hereupon Lucafer entred in to the chambre and be helde the frensshe men al armed wythout ony doubte that he had to them And came fyrst to duc Naymes whych was dyscouerd and bare hede wythoute other delyberacyon took hym by the berde and drewe hym to hym so boystously that almoost
he had ouerthrowen hym after sayd to hym of whens art thou veyl lard hyde it not fro me The duke Naymes ansuerd paynym I am of bauyere and that is my contree and am specyal counceyllour of Charlemayne And al these barons that ben here been al erles and grete lordes and ben comen for to shewe to ballaÌ„t the admyral a message fro the sayd charles redoubted Emperour by cause that we haue not spoken to hys entencion he hath made vs prysonners Neuertheles take your hande from my berde ye haue holde me longe ynough And be ye sure that I say not al that I thynke ¶ The paynym ansuerd I am contente thy folye be pardonned the but I demaunde of the by thy loyalte what maner folke been they of fraunce and of what enterpryse and what playes vse they whan they been in your royame In trouthe sayd the duc whan the kyng hath dyned who that wyl may goo playe where hym lyste Somme ryde oute on horsback somme goo in to the feldes and synge other make good chere at tables at the chesse other playsaunte games and in the morne euery man gooth gladly hereth masse at the houre whan it is sayd and been wel charytable to gyue almesse to yâ— poure peple largely and customably Also whan they goo to bataylle they been fyers and hardy and been not lyghtly vaynquysshed Suche been the peple in the contreye of crystente lucafer began to lawhe and sayd by my god Mahoun vylayne olde dotard that thou arte thou spekest folysshly It is no thynge so of your feat ne frensshe men be of no valure but yf they can blowe at the grete cole In trouth said the duc I herde neuer therof the Paynym ansuerd I shal teche you the manere and he approched to the duc nyghe by a grete fyre and in goyng Rolland made sygne to the duc that he shold bere hym wel Anone lucafer toke the grettest bronde that was on the fyre And blewe so sharply that the fyre flewe alle aboute habundantly and after said to duc naymes that he must also blowe The Duc took the bronde and knewe wel the manere that the paynym wold hurt hym and approched to hym and blewe the bronde so puyssauntly that it fyl al on a flame and came to the vysage of the Paynym in suche wyse that it brâ—â—te al hys berde whan the paynym sawe that he was almoost out of his wytte for angre The Duc Naymes wyth that smote hym wyth the broÌ„de in the necke that he brake the bone and so raught hym wyth so grete myght that his eyen flewe oute of hys â—â—ed to the grounde and sayd to hym Fals creature that thou arte whome I byseche god confouÌ„de thou wendest to haue made me to muse in thy folyes Now 〈◊〉 there wyth sorowe Rolland said to hym by my fayth syr duc 〈◊〉 can wel playe and blowe atre cole blessyd be that arme that gaf that stroke ¶ Lordes sayd duc Naymes yf I haue maad hym to vnderstonde hys folye ye ought not to blame me ye haue soon how he truffed wyth me Florypes the curtoys came ner vnto duc Naymes And sayd Certes syr ye be worthy to be honoured I see wel that Lucafer hath no more charge to playe wyth you at the cole he is now at his ease I see wel that he remeueth not And I wote now that he neuer shal haue grete desyre to espouse me For by force he wold haue had me and my fader had gyuen me to hym but neuer wold I haue suffred it but father haue myn hede smyton of or suffred vylaynous deth ¶ How by the counceyl of floripes the frensshe men dyslodged thadmyral fro his paleys wyth grete bataylle and how by enchauntement a gyrdle was taken awaye fro the douÈter ca xi FLorypes was wyse and had consyderacyon that Lucafer whyche was dede was wel byloued wyth thadmyral and sayd to the frensshe men lordes knowe ye for trouthe that my fader loueth more thys man than ony man lyuyng he abydeth for hym to come to dyner wyl not be at ease tyl he shal be retorned and yf by aduenture he knowe what is doon ye shal be here encombred and assaylled and al the golde of the world shal not redeme you but that ye shal be dede wherfore I couÌ„ceyl you that ye doo arme you and put you in poynte take lyÈtly your helmes and your sheldes For people that been armed be moche redoubted of other vnarmed therfore I wyl not that ye be closed ne shette herin whan ye come in the paleys where thadmyral is See that ye bere you and behaue you soo that ye be maysters and lordes of the place and thenne shal ye be wel lodged whan the doughter had thus sayd they were ryght wel contente prestly armed them and gyrde their swerdes aboute them And two two yssued oute of the chambre and goon corageously as lyons boystously as wulues hungry in suche wyse as they that wold abyde them onght sore to doubte and haue grete fere And they went oute at the tyme that the sonne wente vnder bytwene nyght and day And the formest of them in the waye was rolland and the other folowed hym ryÈt fyersly for to fyght Roulland cryed to hys felowes that eche man shold do hys parte slee al the paynyms and sarasyns that they fonde in the paleys whyche faylled not Roulland smote corsuble mortally Olyuer put to deth the kynge Coldroe Ther was not one but that they alle bare them wel The soupper whyche was wel appoynted anone was torned vp so doun caste to the grounde cuppes of golde and of syluer slewe and sowned in the place Sarasyns goon to therthe slayn and dysmembred Other lepe out of the wyndowes whyche after were founden dede Other were all to hewen sholdres legges smyton of Thadmyral all araged put hym self to flyght oute of a wyndowe and lepe doun in to the depe dyche Rolland went after whyche had hym gretely at the hert supposed to haue smyten hym And atteyned the marble stone of the wyndowe in suche wyse that his swerde entred a foot depe Brother sayd Olyuer the admyral is escaped fro you Certeyn ansuerd Rolland therof am I euyl contente Neuertheles they dyd so grete portement and bare them so wel that they were lordes maysters of the chyef toure of the castel palays And after shetted fast the yates and were alle sure wythoute daunger Sauf they myght haue noo mete This passed a lytel whyle the Admyral was in the dyches al affrayed and yf there had not be somme for to haue drawen hym oute he had neuer departed and began to crye to his men that they shold come to hym to drawe hym oute Brullant of mommyere and sor tybraÌ„t of conymbres drewe hym out And after that sayd Sortybrant Syr Admyral byleue me another tyme Alwaye attetayl of an olde dogge kepe you Thadmyrall answerd
the frenssh men that he within the toure ben of soo feble condycyon that ye shal make theym aferde wyth blowyng sownyng of hornes Certeyn ye haue nothyng to fere them wyth And I shal say to you the reason The flour of the barons of frauÌ„ce is there wythin the moost puyssaunt the moost noble Rolland is there whych is so puyssaunt and courageous that who someuer Ioyneth to hym he putteth hym to deth And there is the counte olyuer knowe ye not of his grete fyersnes whyche conquerd â—eynge Fyerabras the myghtyest of all the paynyms And I swere to you by mahoun that he is in theyr companye For I haue herde say also that there is the counte of mondydyer Gherurd whyche hath doon to vs grete dommage Also there is thyerry the duc of ardayne and another fals olde knyght that named hym self naymes duâ— of â—â—uyere semblably guy of bourgoyne whyche was taken from vs whan he was ledde to be hanged And other ther be whyche I haue not named There ben but xj for one of them was slayn and ye knowe wel they ben alle of grete resystence Roulland the nenewe of charles is of soo grete fyersnes that he doubteth no man lyuyng no stroke ne shotte that is gyuen hym and doubte ye not that yf they were al suche as be is that ben in the castel they shold chace vs oute of thys royame or they shold slee vs And I knowe wel that theyr god waketh for them for he hath ryÈt wel kepte them Our goddes ben accursed and vnhappy For it is longe sythe that they haue ony thynge holpen vs ¶ Of these wordes that brullant thus sayd thadmyral was passyng angry sayd to hym ye haue ryght euyl and folysshly spoken and so sayeng he wold haue smyton hym wyth hys staf but the kyng Sortybrant wythdrowe the stroke sayeng Syr admyral leue your angre and late vs thynke for to assaylle thys toure and late vs so do that these fals frenssh men be vaynquysshed and smyton in pyeces and thus as he had said thadmyral made to come hornes trompettes and other Instrumentes for to sowne to make bruyt and noyse in suche wyse that al the sarasyns were there assembled that they helde the space of a myle longe aboute the toure After thadmyral made to come a man Ingenyous enchauntour whyche was named Mahon that made two meruayllous engynes with couertures surely made kept them that were there vnder that they myght not be hurte of the frensshe men And by the moyen of these engynes they conquerd the fyrst wardes of the castel wherfore the frensshe men furyous and wode as lyons came to the yates of the toure the maydens also al armed whyche with the barons dyd so wel theyr deuoyr that he that was raught and smyton by them was so terrybly hurt that he ouerthrewe and fyl doun dede For they were aboue on hyr and threwe doun grete stones dartes of yron other mortal engynes wyth whyche they made contynuel resystence ¶ How the toure was broken and brente by enchauntement the barons in grete peryl of deth and restored by assoulte maad on the Paynyms capitulo xvij THe Paynyms perseueryng in thassault aforesayd ThenchauÌ„tour came tofore the admyral and sayd to hym RyÈt dere syr I haue made myn engynes al redy by moyen of whyche I shal delyuer to you the frensshe men make your men of armes to god a parte that I may haue somme to awayte on me And whan they were alle redy as he had deuysed he sette them rounde aboute the tour And by hys crafte and arte he made a flamme of fyre so meruayllous that yâ— pylers of marble other stones bygonnen to brenne make fyre at vtterauÌ„ce wherfore the frensshe men were so perturbed that the one sayd to the other that by force they must yelde the toure for they had no moyen to saue theyr persones wyth thys florypes sayd to them lordes esmaye you nothyng yet vnto the tyme ye see more And anone she wente took somme herbesâ— and other medecynes dyd tempere them in wyn For she knewe the manere how that fyre artyfycyally brente the stones thus she made this beurage and whan it was caste vpon the fyre it brenned nomore wherfore the admyral wende to haue been out of hys wytte for angre But Sortybrant tolde hym that al was quenched by the moyen of floripes his doughter wherfore thadmyral was of entencyon to make hys doughter to deye of an euyl deth The kyng Sortybrant sayd that he shold do sowne his hornes and trompettes and recommence the assaulte al newe and at that tyme by force the frensshe men shold be vaynquysshed For I am sure sayd he that they haue nomore to caste oute vpon vs For they haue nomore shotte ne stones but al is faylled to them And thassaulte was made as it was ordeyned Impetuous that it semed derke for the shotte of arowes of dartes stones other engynes in suche wyse that the grete quarters of the murayl walles fyl and tombled doun to the erthe the barons of frauÌ„ce moche abasshed sayd one to another that thenne they must nedes be vaynquysshed For they sawe parte of the walles the pryncipal of the castel falle doun And they beyng in grete thouÈt Florypes sayd to them thus Lordes dysmaye ye noo â—ynge thys toure is stronge ynough for to kepe vs yet And of that other parte the treâ—our of my fader is herin which is in 〈◊〉 wedges and places of 〈…〉 buyllyon late vs goo 〈◊〉 it and as wel may we 〈◊〉 the paynyms therwyth as wyth stones and better Thenne 〈◊〉 of bourgoyn hyr loue came to 〈◊〉 wyth grete Ioye hyssed 〈◊〉 moche amerously and swetelye And after she wente opened the toure and place where 〈◊〉 tresour was Innumerable and wyth grete quantyte therof they wente to the butysments of the toure and threwe vpon the â—aynyms in suche wyse that they made grete dyscomfyture And more ouer the paynems seeyng the golde falle on them in suche habundaunce anone they cessyd their fyghtyng ayense the freÌ„ssh men And for the concupyscence of that golde they fâ—ught and slewe eche other wherfore thadmyral was so dysplaysaunt angry that he wende to haue dyed and began to crye wyth an hye voys O ye barons sarasyns leue ye thassaulte whiche torneth to me grete dommage Innumerable For I see that my tresour wasteth is loste which I haue wyth grete payue dylygence assembled And had recomaunded it to my god mahon and had made hym kepar of it whyche now hath faylled me but by my soule yf I may take hym and that he come in to myn holde I shal make hym wepe The kyng Sortybrant answerd Syr Admyral be ye noo thyng ameruayllyd of your tresour ne wroth ayenst Mahon for he may nomore do they may wel take it fro hym for he is aslepe I byleue none other for in tyme passed
wepyng pyetously ¶ And Duc Naymes spake fyrst and sayd Ha Richard of Normandye I praye to god that he be in thy comfort and that he haue pyte of thy soule I knowe wel that for thy deth we shal neuer haue socoure Ne of thy partye we shal neuer haue none helpe Roulland and Olyuer heryng these wordes also the other wepte bytterly here vpon came floâ—ypes the curtoys in grete heuynes and sayd to them Lordes in the honour of god leue your lamen tyng and sorowe we knowe not yet the trouthe of the mater thus as they were in these grete thoughtes the Sarasyns came whyche had lefte Rychard ryde forth And in grete sorowe tormeÌ„t brouÈt the body of kyng Claryon And whan thadmyral sawe them come he beyng in the ethroclytes in hys entendement cryed and sayd and how is it is myn neuewe in good poynte The sarasyns ansuerd Syr admyral we may not lye to you Claryon is dede it nedeth nomore to demaunde therof Thadmyral heryng thoo wordes fyl doun to therth al in a trauÌ„se and he swouned more than iiij tymes as he had been dede thus emonge al the sarasyns was a grete wepyng made grete sorowe The sarasyns thus makyng thys lamentacyon the barons of fraunce herde and vnderstood them specially florypes whych knewe better the langage after that she knewe the cause of theyr sorowe she came to the barons and sayd to them in spekyng to rolland syr knowe ye wherfore the sarasyns demene suche sorowe it is trouth that Rychard your messager hath slayn the kyng claryon woÌ„ne his hors to whom is none lyke ne pâ—reylle of boun to in al the world as wel for that deth of claryon as for the losyng of the hors they demene make al thys sorowe torment that ye see here wherfore I praye you that euery man doo hys deuoyr to lede a good lyf and to make good chyere Olyuer sayd to rolland Ioyously O my felawe of armes ye knowe not how glad I am of these tydynges that we here I ensure you by my soule that I am as sure to passe thys dauÌ„ger that we be in as though I were in the strengest castel of frauÌ„ce blessyd be richard of god for he hath borne hym nobly and semblably sayd al the other his felawes After that richard rode thus thadmyral made a man to come to hym named Orages made hym to take a dromedary hastely comanded hym to bere his letters to galafre which kept the stronge brydge of maÌ„tryble I charge the to reÌ„ne as faste as the dromydary may bere the tomantryble and say to Galafre wherfore he suffred the messagers of charles to come ouer the brydge the whyche haue doon to vs so moche greuaunce and ennoyaunce as thou can wel telle to hym I swere by mahon my god that he dyd a grete folye sythe on that other parte the messager of the frensshe men goeth thyder and yf he recouÌ„te his message to Charles it myght happen he shold put me in subgectyon Therfore say to galafre that he kepe soo wel the brydge that noo persone passe and say to hym more ouer that yf he do otherwyse I shal put oute hys eyen and make hym deye shamefully Syr admyral sayd Orages the messager I shal do your commaundemente and I assure you I shal ryde as moche waye in one day as that other shal do in foure dayes for for to ryde an hondred leghes contynuelly I shal neuer be wery And thus he departed from the admyral vpon a dromydary taryed not tyl he came to mantryble and spake to Galafre sayeng Galafre I shal not hyde fro the that the admyral is not contente wyth the by cause thou suffredest the frenssh men to passe ouer the brydge whyche haue doon to hym grete dommage for they be lodged in the chyef toure holden in their subgectyon the goddes with floripes his douÈter and haue slayn many of the moost valyaunte of the courte of thadmyral the cause wherfore I am thus hastelye come is thys After me cometh a messager whyche is one of the barons of Fraunce whyche gooth for to fetche ayde vnto Charles theyr kyng the whyche hath slayne kyng Claryon wherfore kepe wel thys passage that he passe not For yf thou doo otherwyse thou shalt not conne fynde the manere to saue thy lyf but that thou shalt deye vylaynsly Of these wordes Galafre was â—â—â—turbled and replenysshed of yre for hys angre he made moche foule chyere and began to scâ—me at the mouthe lyke a bore enchaffed and took a staffe and had smyton the messager yf it had not be betted by them that were presente ¶ Neuertheles be mounted vpon a touâ—rette and with the sowne of a trompette he assembled many men of armes whyche were in nombre xv in whyche were anone of horsbuck and passed the brydge And whan they were ouer it was aâ— none lyfte vp and they wente and rode here and there for to recouÌ„tre that messager of the frenssh men yf by aduenture they myÈt fynde hym ¶ How rychard of normandâ—r passed the ryuer of flagot by myracle by the moyen of a whyt hert which cam tofore hym iiij RYchard of Neomandye messager of the frensshe birons prisoners rode in grete doubte ye may wel thynke and ymagyne how he onely by hym self myght passe the stronge and daungerous brydge And in rydyng he behelde behynde hym and sawe al the contree couerd wyth men of armes thus byholdyng theym he was sore troubled in hys mynde began to crye O Ihesus kyng of glorye at thys tyme be thou kepar of my body conseruatour of my soule For I see wel the declyne of my lyf yf I put my self to fyght I shal haue my hede smyton of and yf I entre in to this hydous ryuer I shal not conne passe ouer Thus at thys tyme I muste nedes deye And yf I by force retorned to my felawes I shold make a grete defaulte to therle Rolland to whom I haue pormysed faythfully to doo my deouoyr for to doo my message wherfore my god my maker I wote not what to say but that thy wylle be fulfylled and doon of me thou knowest myn entencion after the same gouerne me he beyng nyghe the ryuer the sarasyns maden grete bruyt in comyng to hym emonge whom a neuewe of the admyral auaunced hym to renne ageynst hym cryed wyth an hyghe boys O messager what someuer thou be thynke for to dye thou hast now ryden ouer ferre now is that houre come that the deth of kyng claryon shal be aduenged These wordes so herde of rychard were not to hym ouer playsaunt but he was euyl contente and sodenly he sâ—ored his hors ayenst hym holdyng a swerde in hys honde square sharpe whych he had conquerd of Claryon and came to hym and smote hym so daungerously ayenst the breste that it Perced thorugh the shelde in to hys body that he fyl doun to therthe al
that allewaye they were lordes of the toure made the sarasyns theyr enemyes to goo abacke Florypes consyderyng theyr affayre was sorowful that no socours cam to them and also remembryng the menaces of hyr fader thadmyrall But Guye of bourgoyn recomforted hyr alwaye in suche wyse that of al she was contente ¶ How the peres of Fraunce had tydynges yf thoost of charles and the admyral also and how Ganellon bare hym merueyllously which allone was sente to the admyral and what he dyd capitulo x THe Frensshe men beyng in thys contynuel payn of bataylle for to defende yâ— toure Duc Naymes of bauyere went vp on hye and sawe oute of a wyndowe sawe bynethe in a valeye the sygne of saynt denys whyche was brought hastely after a grete companye of men of armes And thought in hym self that they came for to socour and ayde them and anone sent for hys felawes for to come see them Assone as Florypes vnderstood it she came to Guy of bourgoyn sayeng O gloryous vyrgyn marie moder of Ihesus worshypped mote ye be for these tydynges that I haue herde O noble knyght guye of bourgoyn my dere loue approche ye to me yf it playse you and kysse me Of the Ioye of Florypes were Ioyeful the erles and lordes ye may thynke that they were wel comforted whan they sawe the standard of fraunce wherin was the dragon wel fygured Grete Ioye and grete consolacion was emonge them they had cause seen the daunger wherein they were Anone a paynym cam to thadmyral sayd to hym that Charles wyth an hondred thousand men of armes came makyng grete bruyt The kynge Coldroe counceylled anone that euery man shold be armed and that they shold goo mete wyth hym at the fyrst poynte Hys counceyl was approued by thadmyral and by thother wherfore anone L thousand turkes were assembled in grete poynte for to kepe the grete vale of Iosue to th ende that he myght not come in to Aygremore Rolland sawe Rychard of Normandye wyth hys confanon reysed vp whyche came al afore and alle taryed in a medowe for to bayte and refresshe theyr horses and to tarye there al the nyght whyche was nyghe And wythoute makyng lodgyses or other thynge they there rested them al nyght For theyr tentes were lefte al mantryble On the morne erly the Emperour dyd to arme his peple sette them in good 〈◊〉 and in grete poynte And afâ—â—â— sente for Fyerabras and sayd to hym Ryght dere frende thou knowest that I haue doo the 〈◊〉 baptysed wherfore I loue 〈◊〉 the better yf thou myÈtest 〈◊〉 chace and make that thy 〈◊〉 baptysed and renye maâ—o◠〈◊〉 al hys dyabolike goddes I 〈◊〉 be wel glad and Ioyous And I promyse to the that of 〈…〉 goodes I shal not take 〈◊〉 And yf he wyl not so do I promyse that by force I shal 〈◊〉 ayenst hym yf he take 〈◊〉 wyte it not meâ—ne conne me 〈◊〉 maulgre for I may not 〈◊〉 Syr Emperour sayd Fyerabras take a messager and 〈…〉 demaunde hym yf he wyl soo 〈◊〉 as ye say and I shal be 〈◊〉 For yf he gaynsaye it I shal neuer praye for hym no haue pyte of hym though I see hym hewen and deye Hereupon charles demaunded Reyner and rycheâ—d of Normandye whyche were his nexte counceyllours and sayd to them Lordes whome seme you moost propyâ—â— for to sende on thys message to the Admyrall By myn aduys ganellon shold be good therfore yf he wold for to recounte speke hooly 〈◊〉 message I knowe hym for wel suffysaunt ye knowe wel that he dyd wel hys deuoyr at the entre of mantryble yf ye wyl consente he shal doo the message Rychard answerd and Reyner also that he shold doo wel the message The kyng sente for ganellon and sayd to hym My frende we haue chosen you for to goo say to thadmyral Ballant that he be baptysed renye mahon that he take Ihesu Cryste for hys god that he byleue in hym in hys passyon that he suffred for al humayn creatures after that he yelde to me my barons whyche he holdeth in hys pryson also the resyques that longe tyme I haue demaunded of hym yf he wyl do this we shal leue to hym hys contreye hys landes yf he wyl doo otherwyse we shal make to hym mortal warre and shal take of hym no mercy Ganellon was contente for to goo thyder allone And took sette on his helme mounted vpon his hors named gascon and henge on hys necke his shelde wherein was paynted the lyon after went in to the vale of Iosue hastely and anone he was taken of the turkes that kept the passage but whan they knewe that he was a messager for to speke to thadmyral they troubled hym not but lete hym goo he taryed not tyl that he came tofore thaby tacyon of thadmyral he lente vpon his spere with a knyghtly countenauÌ„ce moche resembled a baron of grete valure for to say wel hys message whan thadmyral knewe of his comyng he came to hym And thenue Ganellon spake hardyly to hym in this manere Sarasyn take hede vnderstonde me I am a messager of the noble charles kyng of fraunce ryght myghty Emperour he sendeth the worde by me that thou renye and forsake Mahon thyn other goddes dyabolyke byleue in Ihesu cryst the redemptour of al the worlde whyche took on hym humanyte and suffred deth cruel bytter in the tree ofithe crosse for to redeme al the world yf thou so do thou art assured not onely to deye also not to lese thy londe ne none of thy good but thou shalt alwaye be byloued of hym of Fyerabras thy sone and yf thou wylt not accorde herto withstande it knowe for certayn that of Charles thou art deffyed al thy people yf thou wylt saue thy self thynke to flee and wythdrawe the fro thys contreye For yf thou may be taken and holden thou shalt be delyuerd to daungerous deth and alle thy subgettes shal be dy smembred slayn after he shal gyue thy royame and thy rychesses to his scruauntes Therfore aduyse the wel whan thadmyral had herd hym he was almoost in a rage of hys wordes and by destresse of angre he took a staffe for to smyte the messager and sayd to hym Gloton payllard thou art dysmesured in thy langage by mahon to whome I am yeuen at thys tyme thou hast be ouer hardy lytel loued the Charles whan he sente the to me For thou shalt be wel sure that thou shalt neuer recounte to hym thy message Ganellon seyng that he was not wel sure wyth them he took hys swerde whyche was heuy sharpe and gaf wythal a stroke to buillant of moÌ„myere in the breste that he ouerthrewe fyl at the feet of the admyrall whyche seyng that escryed moche strongely tauenge hym Thenne wyth thys voys assembled moo
than fyfty thousand turkes for to take Ganellon whyche ranne after hym thurgh the vale of Iosue but he escaped them al and was not taken Due Naymes was at a wyndowe and sawe hym chaced demaunded Rolland Olyuer what he was they knewe for certayn that he was crysten and by presumyng made emonge them they Iuged that it was Ganellon that had spoken to thadmyral ¶ Alas sayd Rolland I praye to Ihesus our redemour that he graunte hym grace to passe wel without daunger I shal be euyl content yf he come not to his good desyre ¶ The other barons sayden semblably prayed god to kepe hym fro peryl Ganellon ranne alwaye forth tyl he came to the toppe of a montayne and there he torned hym ayenst the Paynyms sawe comyng to hym a grete paynym of the cyte of Aygremore and anone he took hys swerde named murgall 〈◊〉 trenchaunte atteyned the mynem vpon the helme and 〈◊〉 hym to the breste And after he slewe Tenebre whyche was â—â—â—der of kyng Sortybrant â—â—â—uer sawe al hys feat and 〈◊〉 to Rolland Brother beholâ—◠〈◊〉 vnlyaunce that thys baron 〈◊〉 I praye god that he 〈◊〉 hym And wete ye wel that in my hert I love hym Saue you charles I loue none betâ—â—r Now wold god that I were in hys companye I shal make grete marterdom on these Paynyms Neuertheles he was â—â—â—â—gely chaced of the paynyms But whan they sawe the hoost of Charles they retorned aback and wente tolde the affayre to thadmyral how Charles had moo than an hondred thousand fyghtyng men wherfore they couÌ„ceylled that euery man shold arme hym that counceyl was approued but whan sortybuant knewe that hys broder was dede he made to come an Innumerable companye of sarusyns rauenge his deth in menacyng to do harm to Charles Of hys entencyon was moche glad thadmyral by cause he myght the better come to hys desyre ¶ How Charles emperour ordeyned ten bataylles and how they dyd were recountred of the puyssaunce of the admyral where as themperour dyd meruaylles and of other maters capitulo xij WHan Ganellon was comen to kyng Charles themperour ordeyned x bataylles after that Ganellon had tolde hys message whyche was suche Syr emperour I say to you that thadmyral ne fereth you ne your dedes neyther god ne hys sayntes I was wel happy that I escaped For I haue been chaced wyth xx thousand sarasyns after that thadmyral wold haue had me after these wordes I slewe one of theyr kynges wher fore he was praysed of the kyng other And anone they sowned hornes and trompettes was open warre on alle partes in thoost of Charles Rolland herde the sowne and the voys of the frensshe hoost wherof he and al the barons were al reioyced made good thyere whan the ij hoostes recountred al the coutrey shone of theyr armes ther were so many of them after as I haue sayd tofore kyng charles made ten bataylles In the fyrst he ordeyned Rychard of Normandye Due Reyner of genes had the second Ganellon the thyrd A lory the fourth Geffroy the fyfthe Machayre the vj Hardre the seuenth Amangius the viij Sampson the ix And of the tenthe was conduytour charles the kyng in eche bataylle were x thousand men of armes wel fyghtyng atte leste whan Ballant the admyral sawe the kyng comyng he sayd to vuillant who shal be the fyrst that shal entre in to bataylle with an hondred thousand paynyms sayd that yf he took Charles he shold not slee them ne fyerabras for he wold after smyte of theyr heedes vpon thys poynte the warre was open Baullant began to goo a grete boroedrauÈt tofore the other and began to crye haw haw where is charles themperour wyth his euyl chere too I come to the thou hast enterprysed a grete folye whan thou passest the see ouer late thou shalt repente the On thys day shal be the ende of thy lyf and of the subgettes lyf And wythoute faulte thou shalte be yolden to thadmyral alle thy centreye shal be destroyed Themperour herde wel these wordes wherfore alle in a furye he lete renne hys hors came ageynst the paynym attayned hym in suche a wyse that hys harnoys brake and after he drewe hys swerde and neuer lefte hym tyl he was dede fro thens with his spere he came to a turke kynge of pyetrelee and smote hym in the breste that he fyl deed to the erthe and whan his spere was broken he dyd grete deuoyr with Ioyouse his swerd for hym that he attayned dyd neuer hurt after At that tyme he bare hym meruayllously that one of the hoostes medled eche wyth other in suche wyse that there was neuer seen warre so mortal for they that were lyuyng were lette by them that were dede Thenne emonge the paynyms there was a turke named Tenebres which cain makyng grete buryt vpon the frensshe men and attayned fyrst the noble Iehan of pouÌ„tayse vpon his shelde and brake it in pyeâ—s smote hym thurgh the body that he fyl deed to the erthe and after drewe hys swerde put to deth huon and guernyer thauncyen and after sayd to the frensshe men that on that day Charles and hys subgettes had loste theyr myght Rychard of Normandye had despyte of hys wordes came ageynste hym attayned hym so daungerously that he brake his hawberke and brake his shelde in quarters â— so smote hym that he fyl doun deed wythout ony more reproâ—â—â—â—â— sayeng euyl wordes after by force of strengthe they passâ—â— the vale of Iosue came and fonde thadmyral wyth alle hys puyssaunce whyche was accompanyed wyth 〈◊〉 kynges crowned wyth an 〈…〉 men as wel a horsback as 〈◊〉 Anone a messager came 〈◊〉 admyral tolde hym 〈…〉 lant his brother was 〈…〉 many in hys companye 〈◊〉 he sente for tempest hys 〈◊〉 for Sortybrant of 〈◊〉 his moost specyal frendes said to them My barons and 〈◊〉 freÌ„des yf euer ye haue loued me haue entencion to do me play syr Doo so moche that ye 〈◊〉 charles the kyng For I wyl goo to hym haue concluded in my self to fyght in my persone ayenst hys persone sythe I 〈◊〉 deye ones it suffyseth me that I myght slee hym thenne shal I be contente to deye yf I dede after For I retehe not yf I aduenge me or I deye Sortybrant many other consyderyng thastate of thadmyral bygonnen to wepe for pyte in comfortyng hym ¶ How in thys bataylle folowyng Sortybrant was slayne by Reyner fader of Olyuer and after how thadmyral dyd meruaylles and grete ennoye to the frensshe men capitulo xiij BAllant thadmyral rode vpon an hors the beste rennyng of alle the contreye ryght wel armed and it was blacke as a more hym self was grete of body wel membred had his herde hangyng to the sadel whyche was whyte as snowe after dyd do sowne hys
repayre th offence of our formest fader adam descended in to thys world and took humanyte in the wombe of the blessyd vyrgyn marie whyche was al pure and wythoute spotte And byleue in the artycles of the fayth and obeye and kepe hys comandementes which he hath gyuen to vs for our helth and byleue how he was taken of the Iewes and by enuy hanged on the crosse for to redeme vs fro the paynes of helle Byleue hys resurrexyon and ascencyon in hys body gloryfyed and the other thynges as the holy baptesme whyche he hath establysshed wyth the other sacramentes yf thou wylt thus byleue thou shalt be saued thou shalt neyther lose body ne goodes Thadmyral answerd that he wold no thynge do so and sware that for deth ne for lyf he wold not leue Mahon Themperour holdyng a naked swerd sayd to hym that yf he forsoke not Mahon he shold do put hym to deth Fyerabras seyng thys kneled doun to therthe prayed hys fader to do as the emperour had sayd Thadmyral fered the deth sayd that he was contente that the fonte shold be blessed Charles was glad and dyd do make redy a fonte wyth fayr water in a fayr vessel and the bysshop wyth other mynystres of the chyrche dyd halowe the fonte and made alle redy after whan thadmyral was vncladde the bysshop demaunded hym sayeng Syr ballant forsake ye mahon and crye ye mercy to god of heuen for your trespaâ—â—s and byleue ye in Ihesu cryst the sone of the vyrgyn marye whan thadmyral vnderstode these wordes al hys body began to tremble than in despyte of Ihesuâ— he spytte in the fonte and caught the bysshoop wold haue drowned hym in the fonte and had plonged hym therin ne had not Ogyer haue been whyche letted hym yet notwythstondyng 〈◊〉 gaf a grete stroke to thadmyral that the blood came oute of hys mouthe habondantly Of 〈◊〉 were al abasshed that were present and thenne the kyng sayd to Fyerabras ye be my specyâ—â— frende Ye see that your fader wyl neuer be crystened And also the oultrage that he hath doon to the fonte it can not be excused but that be must be dede and dysmembred ¶ Fyerabras requyred hym yet of a lytel pacyence and yf he wold not amende hym that thenne he shold doo hys wylle ¶ Florypes the doughter of the Admyrall seeyng thys sayd ¶ O Syr Emperour wherfore delaye ye soo moche to put thys deuyl to deth I retche not though he be put to deth so that I onely may haue guye of bourgoyn to myn husbond whom I haue so moche desyred Fyerabras answerd fayr suster ye haue grete wronge For I ensure you and swere by god whiche hath made me that I wold that I had lost two of my membres on the condycyon that he were a good cristen man were baptysed and byleued in Ihesu cryst ye wote wel that he is our fader whiche hath engendred vs we ought to honour hym and to loue hys helth ye are wel obstynat whan ye haue of hym noo pyte And after in wepyng sayd to his fader O moost dyer fader I praye you to be better aduysed and by loue in hym that hath fourmed you to hys ymage whyche is Ihesus god souerayn lyke as themperour hath sayd and leue mahon which hath neither wytte ne reason ne noo thyng is but gold stones wherof he is composed yf ye thus do ye shal do to vs grete Ioye of your enemyes ye shal make frendes Ballant ansuerd fool glouton that thou art speke nomore to me therof thou art al oute of resoÌ„ I shal neuer byleue in hym that deyed v C yere a goon acursed be he that putteth in hys byleue that he is arysen fro deth to lyf by mahon my god yf I were on my hors back or I were taken I shold angre charles that fool whan fyerabras had al vnderstonden hym he said to charles that he shold do wyth hym hys playsyr For by good ryght he ought to deye Anon themperour demanded who wold slee ballaÌ„t the vnmesurable felon Thenne Ogier was present which hated hym in his hert forthwyth he smote of his heed Fyerabras pardoÌ„ned hym gladly Thenne after this florypes sayd to Rolland that he shold accomplysshe his promesses bytwene hyr and guy of bourgoyn rollaÌ„d ansuerd ye say trouth and after sayd to guye ¶ Syr ye remembre wel what wordes and loue hath ben bytwene you the curtoys Florypes kepe your trouth and promesse to hyr Guy ansuerd that he was redy to do al that themperour wold haue hym to doo Charles was contente Thenne anone afore theym alle she was despoyled and vnclad hyr for to be baptysed She beyng there al naked shewed hyr beaute whyche was ryght whyte and wel formed so playsaunt and amerouse for the formosyte of hyr persone that euery man merueylled ¶ For she had hyr eyen as clere as two sterres a fayre forhede and large hyr nose ryght wel stondyng in the myddes of the vysage hyr chekes were reed whyt medled hyr browes compaced as it had been a lytel shadowe to the colour of the vysage hyr heyr shynyng as golde that in soo good an ordre accumyled that it henge bynethe hyr knees hyr mouth was wel composed with an attemperat rouÌ„denes a smal longe necke and hyr sholdres fayr wel syttyng ij pappes tofore smale rounde somwhat enhaunced lyke ij rounde apples And so wel was she made and so amerouse that she smote the hertes of many and enflaÌ„med theyr entencyon wyth concupyscence and specyally of charles the Emperour how wel that he was auncyen olde and in the fonte whyche was ordeyned for the Admyral hyr fader she was baptysed And charles Duc thyery of ardayne were her godfaders wythout chaunchyng hyr name And anone after whan she was honourably cladde the bysshop wedded them after themperour comanded to bryngeforth the crowne of ballant and crowned wyth al guy of bourgoyn and Florypes And the bysshop sacred and blessed them And so tho said guy was kyng of that contreye gaf a partye to Fyerabras by condycion that yf Fyerabras wold haue it he shold holde it of guye and all that euer guye shold haue he shold holde it of charles After thys the feest of the weddyng and espousaylles endured viij dayes And charles abode there two monethes and two dayes tyl that the contreye was wel assured ¶ How Florypes delyuerd the reliques to themperour and how they were proued by myracle of the retournyng of Charles and of the ende of thys book CHarles dyd suche dylygence in aygremore and in the contreye adiacent that he that wold not be baptysed was put to deth and so serched oueral And on a sonday after masse he sente for florypes and sayd to hyr fayr doughtre ye knowe how I haue crowned you and maad you quene of thys contre I haue accomplys shed
kepe and conserue the place it shal be a memoyre perpetuell Thus in thys maner appyered thre tymes saynt Iames to the emperour Charles After these vysyons and certyfycacyons of god he called and assembled hys subgettes whome he dyd do put a grete multytude in good poynte after took hys waye drewe toward the contre where the sterres had shewed the waye aforesayd and came fyrst in to spayne and the fyrst cyte that was rebelle to hym was panpy loÌ„ne whyche was ryght stronge of murayl and towres garnysshed wyth sarasyns and he abode tofore it thre monethes or he coude fynde maner to confouÌ„de it Thenne Charles knewe not what to do but to praye god and saynt Iames for whom he went that in the vertu of hys name he myght take that cyte and sayd in thys manere Fayr lord god my maker helpe me that am comen in to thys contreâ— for to enhaunce the crysten fayth for to establysshe and maytene thyn holy name And also thou holy saynt Iames by the reuelacyon of whome I am in thys Iourneye I reqnyre the that I may subdewe thys cytee entre therin for to shewe the mysbyleuyng peple the cause of theyr errour to th ende that this begynnyng may the better determyne the ende of myn entencyon Assone as Charles had fynysshed his oryson the walles of the cyte whyche were of marble merueillously strong ouerthrew to the erth fyl alle in pyeces and after charles and his hoost entred in to the cyte he that wold be baptysed byleue in god wythoute fyctyon was saued and put a parte and who sayd the contrarye was forthwyth put to deth Al the people of that contre whan they knewe of these tydynges meruayllous operacyons of this cyte torned in to Ruyne at the symple postulacyon of charles without contradyctyon came and yelded them to the mercy of kyng charles And thus many were baptysed and chyrches were ordeyned and al the contreye reduced to certeyn trybute vnder the fydelyte of the emperour charles and brought theyr trybutes fro the cytees wyth oute ony other gaynsayeng in sygne of seygnourye ¶ Of the cytees goten in espayne by charles how somme were by hym destroyed AFter that charles had the domynacyon auasi in al espayne he came to the scpulture of Saynt Iames where he dyd hys deuocyon and made deuoutely hys prayers after came to a place in ytâ—ond whych was so ferre that he myght goo no ferther and there fyyed pyght hys spere and that place was called petronium thanked god and saynt Iames that by theyr suffrauÌ„ce he was comen so ferre wythoute ony contradye tyon surely vnto suche place that he myght passe no ferther And in that londe who that wold by leue in god tharchebysshop Turpyn baptysed them who that wold not he was slayn or put in pryson And after Charles wente from one see to that other and theÌ„ne he gate in galyee xiij cytees emonge whome compestelle was thenne the lesâ—e In espayne he had xvj grete townes stronge emonge whome was onsea in which were wont to be x stronge toures a toun named petrosse in whyche was made the fynest syluer that had thenne cours Also another cyte named attentyua where as the body of sayut Torquete rested whyche was dyscyple of saynt Iames and there vpon the sepulture was an olyue tree florysshe bere rype fruyt a certayn day of may euery yere withoute fayllyng Alle the contreye of spayne that tyme was subgette to charles That is to wete the londe of alandaluf the londe of perdoures the londe of castellans the londe of maures The londe of portyngale the londe of sarrasyns the londe of nauarre the londe of Alemans The londe of byscoys the londe of bascles the londe of palargyens and somme of theyr cytees taken by warre subtyl and mortal And somme wythoute warre he coude not wynne the grete towne of Lucerne tyl at the laste he layed syege tofore it by the space of foure monethes and it stode in a grene valeye And after whan he saw that they wold not yelde them that he coude not wynne them he made hys prayer vnto god and to saynt Iames that he myght be vyctorious seen that he had nomore to termyne in that contreye but that cyte onely hys oryson was herde soo that the walles fyl doun to the erthe and was put to destructyon in suche wyse yâ— neuer man dwelled therin after and after it sanke and therin was an abysme or swolowe of water In whyche were founden after fysshes alle blacke Emonge the other cytees that he took there were iiij that dyd hym moche payne or he myght gete them therfore he gaf them the maladyctyon of god and they were cursed in suche wyse that vnto thys day there is in them none habytacion the sayd cytees been named lucerne ventose caperee adame ¶ Of the grete ydole that was in a cyte whyche coude not be smyton doun and of the condycyons and sygnes therof ca iij WHan charles had doon in spayne other places wyth the Inhabytauntes of it at hys wylle Alle thydolles and other symylacres that he fonde he dyd do destroye and put to confusyon But in the londe of Alandaluf in a cyte called Salancadys in arabyque and was the place of a grete god as the sarasyns sayd That ydolle was made of the honde of MachoÌ„mete in the tyme that he lyued was named MahoÌ„met in thonour of hym and by arte magyke and dyabolyke he closed therin a legyon of deuylles for to kepe it and make sygnes for to abuse the peple and thys ydolle was kepte so by deuylles that noo persone lyuyng coude by strengthe destroye it ne put it doun In suche wyse that yf ony crysten man came nyghe for to see it or to coniure it or to destroye Assone as he began to coniure and preche anon he was perysshed destroyed And the sarasyns that came for to preche adoure make sacrefyse or doo obeyssaunce therto were wythout peryl and yf by aduenture a byrde fleyng came rested vpon it Incontynent it was deed The stone vpon whyche thydolle was sette was meruayllously made It was a stone of the see wrought of sarasyns and grauen subtylly of grete and ryche facyon the whyche was enhauÌ„ced vpryght not without grete crafte connyng toward the erth it was meruayllously grete alway vpward it was lasse and that stone was so hye as a crowe myght flee vpon whyche stone was thydolle sette whyche was of fyn yuorye after thassemblaunce of a man stondyng vpryght on his feet had hys face tourned to the south helde in his ryght honde a grete heye the srasyns were certefyed for trouthe that whan a kyng of fraunce shold be borne in strengthe to subdue the contreye of spayne and brynge it in to crysten fayth the ymage shold lete falle the keye whych shold be a
establysshyng theyr feestes to th ende that we shold ensyewe them and to eschewe al euyl And the magnytude of thys kyng was wel preued by sygnes seen on the heuen For in the same yere the mone derked thre tymes and the sonne ones and companyes of people were seen meruayllous whyche shewed that thys Charles was of grete magnytude that is to wete bytwene heuen and erthe ¶ How Aygolant sent to charles that he shold come to hym trustely for to make Iust warre and how Charles in habyte dyssymyled spake to hym and of other maters capitulo vj AS I haue sayd the kyn Aygolant the geaunte fledde in to hys contreye whan socours cam to Charles of foure marques he slepte not vpon his purpoos but maad grete dylygence for to assemble hys people whyche were sarasyns Innumerable for he assembled more 's Moabytes Ethiopiens Affrycans and percyens he brought wyth hym also the kyng of arabye the kyng of barbarye the kyng of malroste the kyng of maioryke the kyng of meques the kyng of cybylle the kyng of Cordube the whych cam with peple wythout nombre certayn in to gascoyne in to a stronge cyte named Agenne and took it And after sent to Charles that he shold come to hym peasybly trustyly with a fewe peple promysyng to hym for to gyue to hym ix hors laden with gold syluer and precyous stones yf he wold thus come at hys desyre this paynym shewed to hym this by canse he wold knowe his persone for hys strengthe puyssaunce knewe he wel by experyence and also to th ende whan he knewe hym that he myght in the warre slee hym whan kyng charles knewe this mandement he gadred not grete peple but he came onely wyth ijM knyghtes of honour of grete streÌ„gth And whan he was foure myle nygh the cyte where Aygolant and al the kynges tofore named were he left his people secretly came vnto a mountayne nygh the cyte accompanyed wyth xl knyghtes onely And fro thys place they saw the cyte by cause to wete yf the multytude of peple were departed soo that he shold not be deceyued Neuertheles vpon thys montayne he lefte hys people secretly took of hys clothes and cladde hym in the guyse of a messager and took one knyÈt onely with hym whyche bare his spere swerde and bocler vnder hys mantel and soo came in to the cyte and anone he was brought tofore aygolant the geaunt And whan he was tofore hym he sayd in thys manere Charles the kyng hath sente vs vnto the and leteth the wete by vs that he is comen lyke as thou hast comanded accompanyed wyth fourty knyghtes onely for to do that he ought to doo Now thenne come to hym wyth xl knyghtes withoute moo yf thou wylt accomplysshe and holde that thou 〈◊〉 promysed Aygolant sayd to hem that they shold retorne to charles and that they shold say to hym that he departe not but abyde hym there and he wold come and vysyte hym After this that charles had knowen the geaunt and after vysyted the towne for to knowe the feblest parte for to take conquer it whan he shold come ageyn sawe al the kynges forsayd their puyssaunces â—e after reterned to his peple whiche he had left vpon the montayne after came to hys ijM knyghtes anone after aygolant accompanyed wyth vijM knyÈtes came after them withoute taryeng But charles took hede whan he cam that there were many moo paynyms than crysten men and wythout lenger taryeng charles his peple departed and retourned in to fraunce wythout hauyng other delyberacyon ¶ How Charles accompanyed with moche peple retorned in to the place aforsayd toke the cyte of agenne other maters vij AFter that charles was retorned in to fraunce he assembled moche peple after came to the cyte of ageÌ„ne assyeged it there by grete facyon the space of vij monethes Aygolant was therin many sarasyns the crysten men had made fortressis castelles of tree tofore this cyte for to greue it whan Aygolant the grete lordes of his companye sawe that they myght not endure they maad hooles caues vnder therth for tescape oute secretly in that maner they came out of the cyte passed ouer a ryuer which raÌ„ne by the cyte named goronna and so they saued them self The next day after whan there was noo grete resystence made to the crysten men Charles wyth grete tryumphe puyssaunce entred in to the cyte put to deth xM sarasyns that he there fonde The other seyng that put them to flyght by the ryuer Aygolant was in another stronge toun whan charles knewe it he came thyder assaylled it sente to hym to delyuer ouer the cyte aygolant ansuerd that he wold not so doo but by a moyen that was that they shold make a batayll he that shold wynne the bataylle shold be lord of the toun so they assygned the day of the bataylle and nygh to that place bytwene the castel thalabourt a ryuer called carantha soÌ„me of the crysten men planted theyr speres in the grounde especially they that on the morn shold dâ—ye obteyne the crowne of glorye as marters of god and on the morne they fonde their speres al grene myraculously leued ful of bowes wherof the cristen men were moche Ioyous of this myracle and raught not for to deye for the crysten fayth m mayn tenyng the name of god After that they cutte of theyr speres and wente to bataylle and put many sarasyns to deth But in th ende were slayn and martred of crysten men moo than iiijM whyche were saurd in heuen that tyme the hors that Charles rode on was slayn vnder hym and at that bataylle were slayn by the sayd Charles the kynge of Agabye the kyng of bugye merueyllous myghty sarasyns ¶ Of the vertuous operacions that charles made whan he was retorned in to frannce what barons he had in hys companye of theyr puyssaunce ca viij THe bataylle toforesayd made Aygolant fledde and came in to panpylone and sent to kyng charles that he shold abyde hym for to gyue hym bataylle more ample large whan charles knewe hys desyre he retourned in to fraunce for to haue helpe of hys peple and made an open maundement thorugh out al Fraunce that al maner peple that were of euyl condycyon and in bondage that they that were present and theyr sucessours sholde be free there vpon tabellyons shold be delyuerd accordyng to the lawe that wold goo with hym ayenst the myscreauntes Also alle prysoÌ„ners that were in fraunce he delyuerd them al out of pryson to al them that shold haue ben delyuerd to deth for feloÌ„nye murdre or treason he pardonned them gaf to them theyr lyf and to al poure peple that had not wherby to lyue he gaf to them good largely them that were euyll clad he clothed them after
the emperour remembred wel that the peple of god ought to be receyued honestly honourably holden scrued wherfore the poure men that he fonde in thexcercyte he dyd them to be wel clothed honestly and gaf to them mete largely And took suche custome in hym self that he faylled not but the pour peple were receyued with honour in his companye vpon thys purpose on a day folowyng the sarasyns put them to bataylle and to fyght ayenst the crysten men by grete fyerste and there was soo grete destructyon that day of the sarasyns that the crysten men were empesshed and lette by the blood that ranne so habundantly as it had rayned many dayes water and blood wherfore Aygolant seyng the destractyon of his people as he that doubted nothyng to deye and aduaunced so hym self that he was slayn and put to deth and after the cristen men entred in to the cyte of pampylone and put to deth al the sarasyns that they fonde therin Thenne the kyng of Cybylle the kyng of cordube saued them self wyth somme of their subgettes After thys the crysten men ful of couetyse for to haue gold and syluer of the sarasyns that were deed retorned And whan they were wel charged laden wyth golde syluer and other hauoyr the kyng of Cybylle and the kyng of Cordube took hede therof And wyth al their meyne came couuertly vpon the crysten men and put to deth moo than a thousand ¶ Thus may be knowen that the ardeur of concupyscence was cause of the deth of the soule wythoute vyctorye and to god dysplaysaunte ¶ On the morne tydynges came how so many sarasyns were slayn and specyally of aygolaÌ„t vnto the prynce of Nauarre named Furre wherfore he sent to Charles to haue batayll ordynayre Charles was so noble so puyssaunt so trustyng in god whan he faught for the crysten fayth that he refused hym not and after at the day of bataylle whyche was assygned on bothe partyes Charles put hym self to prayer and prayed god deuoutely that it plesed hym to shewe what crysten men shold deye in that bataylle and on the day folowyng whan euery man was armed for to fyght by the wylle of our lord Charles sawe that same day the sygne of the crosse alle rede vpon the sholdres behynde vpon theyr harnoys whan charles sawe it he thanked our lord had compassyon of theyr deth by cause of the valyauÌ„ce of theyr persones Thenne he sent for all them that bare thensigne made them to goo in to hys oratorye and after shette them fast therin to the ende that they shold not take deth that day and thenne wyth al his other hoost he went ayenst thoost of the prynce furre but it was not longe but furre and hys people were destroyed and put to deth and whan that was doon the emperour came in to hys oratorye vyctoryous vpon hys enemyes and fonde al them that were shette wythin dede expyred thenne knewe he wel that alle they that were marked with the crosse were assygned that day to be receyued in to heuen with glorye crowne of marterdom that it apperteyned not to Charles to prolonge theyr helthe wherfor he is wel symple that wyl put hym in payne to eschewe the passage of whyche he is not maystre ¶ Of feragus the merueyllous geaunt how he bare awaye wyth hym the barons of fraunce wythout daunger how â—olland faught wyth hym capitulo xj AFter that aygosaÌ„t was slayn Furre many kynges sarasyns as tofore is wryton the tydynges cam to the admyral of babyloÌ„ne the which had a geant moche terryble that was of the generacÌ„on of golias he made hym to be accoÌ„panyed with xxM turkes moche strong and sente hym for to fyght ayenst charles themperour For hys puyssaunce was redoubted thurgh the world the sayd feragus cam vnto the cyte of vagyere nygh to saynt Iames bytwene cristendom bethenes sente to Charles that he shold come to fyght ayenst hym This geant was moche meruayllous For he doubted neyther spere ne swerde ne arowe ne other shotâ—e And he had the strengthe of â—l myghty men and stronge Anone as Charles knewe the hidynges of hys comyng he â—â—â—nt to hym and was vpon his 〈◊〉 nygh by vagyere whan thâ—s was knowen this geaunte yssued oute of the towne and demaunded synguler persone ayenst a persone Charles whiche neuer had refused that to persone sente to hym Ogyer the danoys but whan the geant sawe hym allone on the felde without â—â—â—yng of ony semblaunte of warre he came allone to hym took hym wyth one hande put hym vnder hys arme wythoute doyng to hym ony harme and bare hym vnto hys lodgys and dyd do put hym in pryson and made nomore a doo to bere hym than dooth a wulf to bere a lytel lambe The heyght of thys geaunt was of twelue cubytes he had the face a cubyte brode the nose a palme longe the armes theys foure cubytes long The backe of his hand was thre palmes longe After that ogyer was borne thus awaye charles sente raynold daultepyn whan Feragus sawe hym he bare hym awaye as lyghtly as the other Charles was abasshed and sent tweyne other that is to wete constayn of Rome therle hoel This geauÌ„t took that one wyth the ryght honde and that other in the lyft honde and bare them bothe tweyne in to pryson in to hys lodgyng that euery man myght see yet after charles sent other tweyne and semblably they were bothe borne awaye wythoute ony wythstandyng or contradyctyon whan Charles saw the feet of this man he was al abasshed durst nomore sende ony persone For no man myght resyste hym Roulland whyche was prynce of al thexcersyte of Charles was cuyl contente of thys that the geaunt was vyctoryous and came to Charles and presented hym self for to goo fyght wyth hym but charles wold not graunte hym At the last by force he was constrayned to gyue to hym lycence Roulland made hym redy and cam tofore Feragus but anone he was taken and reteyned with hys ryght hande lyke the other and the geant layed hym tofore hym on hys hors whan Rolland sawe that he was taken borne awaye soo vylaynsly he took a gtete courage in hym self and called the name of Ihesus to help to be in hys ayde and torned hym ayenst Feragus and took hym by the chynne and made to ouerthrowe fro hys hors fyl to the grounde and rolland also And after anone they arose and eueryche took hys owne hors Roulland whyche was moche habyle and courageous drewe hys swerde durandal and came ayenst the geaunt and gaf soo grete a stooke on the Paynyms hors that he carf hym a sondre in the myddes and the paynym fyl to the erthe Feragus beyng euyl contente for hys hors that was dede took hys swerde for to smyte Rolland had slayne hym wyth the stroke yf he had attayned hym but assone
manere they spared not but slewe doun ryght put the sarasyns to deth tyl mydday but yet they were not al vaynquysshed For they had a carte myghty and grete for to resyte and make grete empesshement to theyr enemyes And this engyne was drawen wyth viij oxen in the warre thre vpon stode an hye the standard of theyr ensygne theyr custome was that on payne of deth noo persone shold retorne ne goo aback for no thyng as long as the standard stode vpryght hereof Charles was enformed wherfore moche puyssauntly he rode thurgh the sarasyns tyl he came to the standard and with Ioyouse hys swerde he smote it a sondre and anone as the sarasyns sawe that they fledde many of yâ— paynyms were slayn and dede on the morne after the towne was delyuerd vnto Charles by the lord of the tonn whyche coude not resyste hym charles was content to lete hym haue hys lyf yf he wold be baptysed and also the toun for to holde it of hym and none otherwyse And thenne charles ordeyned in spayne certayn of hys barons to kepe it in suche wyse that none durst assaylle it ne make to it warre For he was alwaye vyctoryous of his enemyes by the puyssaunce that he ledde and also by dyscrescyon of hys persone and pryncypally by the grace of god whyche faylled not in hym and in hys subgettes ¶ How the chyrche of Saynt Iames was halowed by tharchebysshop Turpyn the chyrches of spayne subgettes therto and of other pryncypal chyrches capitulo xiiij CHarles the noble emperour after that he had put and sette good estate and good warde in spayne he went to saynt Iames wyth fewe people And whan he was there suche cristen men as he there fond he rewarded them dyd to them moche good and he punysshed suche as were apostates other maner of peple suche as he fonde vntryewe and dysobeysaunte to holy chyrche he lete slee and put to deth or he sente theym in to fraunce to do penaunce and bannysshed them And thenne thorugh al the cytees of spayne he ordeyned bysshops relygyous and other peple of the chyrche made many constytucyous synodals and other ordynaunces vpon the chyrche and vpon other peple And in thonour of saynt Iames he made constytucyons and Instytuted that al the bysshops prynces and kynges dwellyng in spayne shold all be subget to the bysshop of saynt Iames and al they shold owe to that chyrche fydelyte wyth al the peple of the londe of galyce And accordyng to the same the archebisshop Turpyn wryteth in thys manere And I Turpyn archebysshop of Raynes was in the same place where the ordenaunces aforesayd were maad And I accompanyed wyth ix honourable bysshops of good lyf at the requeste and postulacyon of Charles in the moneth of Iuyl haue halowed dedycated blessyd and consecrated the chyrche of saynt Iames the aulter of the same And after thenne the kynge Charles gaf al the londe of spayne of galyce to that chyrche And after ordeyned yâ— euery hous of spayn and galyce shold gyue to the chyrche of saynt Iames iiij pens of the money corraunt for amuel trybute And by the moyen therof they shold be franke and free of seruytude And for the honour of saynt Iames he establysshed that the chyrche of the sayd place shold be sayd apostolyque for thexaltacion of the place And more ouer that the bysshopryches and specyal dygnyte of alle spayne of galyce and semblably the coronacions of kynges of al the contre shold be crowned sacred by the bysshop of saynt Iames al in lyke wyse as it hath been tofore doon in Asye in the place of ephesym for the honour of holy Saynt Iohan theuangelyst brother of saynt Iames and sone of Zebedee thus Saynt Iohan was lodged in the ryght syde And Saynt Iames hys brother in the lyft syde Thenne was accomplisshed the peticyon of their moder and of hyr two sones gloryouse frendes of our lord Ihesu Cryst whan she desyred that hyr two sones shold sytte one on the ryght syde and that other on the lyfte whyche was thenne accomplysshed and termyned therfore in the world ben thre syeges and chyrches pryncypal whyche crysten men by ryght owen tâ—yaâ—â—e deffende and mayntene wyth all theyr myght ¶ That is to were the chyrche of Rome The chyrche of Ephesym of saynt Iohan the euangelyst And the chyrche of Saynt Iames in galyce And yf ony demaunded the cause of these thre places and syeges pryncipal of cristyente the cause is ynough apparente These thre places ben honoured pryncypally by cause the synners may haue theyr recours to them for tamende theyr lyues and put awaye theyr synnes obteyne pardon and forgyuenes Fyrst these iij appostles that is to say Saynt Peter Saynt Iohan saynt Iames haue preceded all the other in the companye of Ihesu Cryste whan he was in thys world haue ben called to hys secretes and that haue moost contynued wyth hym Thus by good ryght the places in whyche they haue conuersed and contynued theyr lyues and where theyr bodyes resten oughten to be honoured and to be habundaunt in grace ¶ Pryncypally saynt Peter was the fyrst and moost hye preched at Rome and there was martred buryed Therefor the chyrche of Rome is enhaunced exalted aboue al other chyrches after saynt Iohan whyche sawe the secretes of god in his souper in ephesym he made the gospel In principio erat verbum câ— And by his holy prechyng hath conuerted thynfydellys to the holy crysten fayth And also saynt Iames whyche had grete payne in spayne and in galyce for the honour of god as wel for hys holy lyf for hys myracles as for hys marterdom and hys sepulture by good ryght ought the memorye of them to be thorugh the vnyuersal world ¶ The second parte of the thyrd book conteyneth x chapytres speketh of the treason made by ganellon and of the deth of the pyeres of Fraunce ¶ How the treason was comprysed by Ganellon and of the deth of crysten men how ganellon is repreuyd by thauctour capitulo primo IN this tyme were in Cezarye two kynges sarasyns moche myghty that one was named marfurrius and that other bellegandus his brother whyche were sente by thadmyral of babylonne in to spayne the whyche were vnder Kynge Charles made to hym sygne of loue and of subgectyon and went by hys commaundement holyly and vnder the shadowe of decepcyon Themperour seyng that they were not crysten and for to gete seygnourye ouer them he sente for ganellon in whome he had fyaunce that they shold doo baptyse them or ellys that they shold sende to hym trybute in sygne of fydelyte of their contre Ganellon the traytre went thyder and dyd to them the message and after that he had with them many deceyuable wordes they sente hym ageyn to charles wyth xxx hors laden with gold syluer wyth
to the wode But after that Rolland had slayn kyng Marfuryus he was sore oppressyd in suche wyse deteyned that wyth foure grete speâ—es he was smyton and wounded mortally beten with stâ—ones and hurte wyth dartes and other shotte mortally And not withstondyng these greuous hurte woundes yet maulgre al the sarasyns he spâ—â—nge out of the bataylle and saued hym self the best wyse he myght Bellegandus broder of Marfuryus doubtyng that helpe ayde shold come to the crysten people retorned in to another coutreye wyth hys peple moche hastely And themperour Charles had thenne passed the montayne of Roncyuale and knewe nothyng of these thynges afore sayd ne what had be doon ¶ How Rolland deyed holyly after many martyres orysons made to god ful deuoutely of the complaynte maad for hys swerde durandal capitulo iij ROlland the valyaunt champyon of the crysten fayth was moche sorouful of the crysten men by cause they had noo soâ—ours he was moche wery gretely abasshed moche affebled in hys persone for he had lost moche of his blode by his foure mortal woundes of whyche the leste of them was suffysaunt for hym to haue deyed and he had grete payne to gete hym oute fro the sarasyns for to haue a lytel commemoracion of god tofore or the soule shold departe fro his body so moche he enforced hym that he came to the fote of a montayne nygh to the porte of Cezarye and brought hym self nygh to a roche ryght by Roncyuale vnder a tree in a fayr medowe whan he sat doun on the grounde he byhelde hys swerde the best that euer was named durandal whyche is as moche to say as gyuyng an hard stroke whyche was ryght fayr rychely made the handle was of fyn beryle shynyng meruayllously on hye it had a fayre crosse of gold in the which was wryton the name of Ihesus It was so good fyn that sonner shold the arme faylle than the swerde he took it out of yâ— shethe sawe it shyne moche bryght and by cause it shold chaunge his maister he had moche sorowe in his hert and wepyng he sayd in thys maner pytously ¶ O swerd of valure the fayrest that euer was thou were neuer but fayr Ne neuer fonde I the but good thou art long by mesure Thou hast be so moche honoured that alwaye thou barest with the the name of the blessyd Ihesus sauyour of the world whyche hath endowed the wyth the power of god who may comprehende thy valure Alas who shal haue the after me who someuer hath the shal neuer be vaynquysshed alwaye he shal haue good fortune Alas what shal I more ouer say for the good swerde many sarasyns haue ben destroyed by the thynfydels and myscreauntes haue ben slayn by the the name of god is exalted by the by the is made the path of sauement O how many tymes haue I by the auenged thyniâ—rye made to god O how many inen haue I smyton and cutte a sondre by the myddle O my swerde whyche hast ben my comfort and my Ioye whych neuer hurtest persone that myght escape fro deth O my swerde yf ony persone of noo value shold haue the I knewe it I shold deye for sorowe After that Rolland had wepte ynough he had fere that somme paynym myght fynde it after hys deth wherfore he cencluded in hym self to breke it and toke it smote it vpon a roche wyth alle hys myght iij tymes wythoute hurtyng ony thynge the swerde and clefte the rocke to therthe and coude in no wyse breke the swerde whan he sawe the facyon and coude do nomore therto he took his horne whyche was of yuorye moche rychely made and sowned blewe it moche strongely to the ende that yf there were ony crysten men hydde in the wodes or in the waye of theyr retournyng that they shold come to hym to fore they wente ony ferther and to fore he rendred hys soule TheÌ„ne seyng that none came he sowned it ageyn by soo grete force and vertu and so Impetuonsly that the horne roof a sondre in the myddle and the vaynes of hys necke braken a sondre and the synewes of his body stratcheden And that noyse or voys by the grace of god came to the eeres of Charles whyche was eyght myle fro hym The Emperour herryng the horne he knewe wel that Rolland had blowen it and wold haue retorned ageyn but Ganellon the traytre whyche knewe wel alle the fayt dystourned hym in sayeng that Rolland had blowen his horâ—e for somme wylde beest that he chaced for hys playsyr For ofte tymes he wold blowe hys horne for lytel thynge and that he shold not doubte of nothyng ¶ And thus he dyd the kynge to vnderstonde that he byleued hym and made none other sâ—â— blaunte Neuertheles Rolland beyng in thys sorowe â—e peased hys woundes also wel as he myght and stratched hym self on the grasse to the fresshenes for to forgete hys thurst whyche was ouer grete ¶ Here vpon Baulduyn hys brother came vnto hym whyche was moche heuy and sorouful for hys brother Roulland whyche was in that necessyte And anone Roulland sayd to hym my frende and my brother I haue so grete thurst that I must nedes deye yf I haue not drynke to aswage my thurst ¶ Baulduyn had grete payne in goyng here and there and coude fynde no water and came to hym ageyn sayd he coude fynde none and in grete anguysshe he lefte on Roullandes hors and rode for to fetche charles For he knewe wel that rolland was nyghe hys deth Anone after came to hym Thyerry duâ— of Ardayne whyche wepte vpon Rolland so contynuelly that he myÈt not speke but with grete payne Rolland confessyd hym and dysposed hym of hys conâ—eyence neuertheles that same day Rolland had receyued the body of our lord For the custome was that the subgettes of Charles that day whyche they shold fyght were confessyd comuned wythoute fayllyng by men of the chyrche which alway were wyth them Rolland whyche knewe hys ende by entyer contemplacyon hys eyen lyfte vp to heuen hys hondes Ioyned al stratched in the medowe began to say thus Fayre lord god my maker my redemour sone of the gloryous moder of comforte thou kowest myn entencyn thou knowest what I haue doon for the bounte that is in the by thy grete mercy of whyche thou art enuyronned by the grace whyche in the haboundeth by the meryte of thy passyon holy and bytter with a good and humble hert I requyre the yâ— tofore the thys day my faultes synnes and ygnoraunces may be pardonned to me and take noo regarde to the trespaces that I haue doon to the but beholde that I deye for the and in the fayth that thou hast ordeyned remembre that thou hengest on the tree of the crosse for the synnars and so as thou hast redemed me I beseche the that I be not loste Alas my maker god omnypotent wyth good wylle I departed
and take thou my hors my shelde and goo thou to kyng Charles and say to hym that thou hast vaynquysshed me And yf I do thys for the I do to the grete amytye And thou oughtese for thye tyme to be contente ¶ On whiche woodes Olyuer coude not haue pacyence but that he sayd to hym Thy sa yt lyeth in noothynge but in wordes full of folysshe presumpsyon I am of thys intencion that byfore euensonge tyme I shal make thy hede free from thy sholdres I am none hare ne wylde beest for to be aferde And thou knowest the comyn â–ª prouerbe that sayth that there is tyme of spekyng and tyme of beyng stylle And of one and that other one may be reputed a fool now come of depesshe the of that I haue sayd to the or ellys I shal slee the Frrwbras answerd I desyre ne praye the of no thynge but that thou sende to me Rolland or olyuer or one of thother knyghtes of the rounde table And yf one of them be not hardy for to come late come ij or iij or iiij attones For by me they shal not be refused In makyng these desputacyoÌ„s Olyuer which sore was hurte the day to fore his woundes opened by force of rydyng and of chauffyng bledde sore so that fyerabras sawe the blood renne doun by is knee And demauÌ„ded of hym fro whens came that blood that soo renneth doun to therthe I trowe thou be hurte Olyuer sayd I am not hurte but my hors is harde atte spore wherof he is blody Fyerabras behelde sawe it was not of the hors and answerd Certes garyn thou sayst not sooth for thou art hurte in thy body I know it wel by the blood that cometh doun by thy knee but see what I shal do for the there been two flagons hangyng on the sadle of my hors whyche been full of the bawme that I conquered iij Iherusalem it is the same of whyche your god was enbawmed wyth whan he was taken doun fro the crosse and layed in hys graue hye the and goo drynke therof I promyse to the that Incontynent thou shalte be hole and thene thou shalt mowe defende the wel wythoute daunger ¶ Olyuer ansuerd that he wold not that he sayd was folye Thenne fyerabras ansuerd that he was a fool wythoute reason And that it myght happe to repente hym ¶ How after many dysputacyons Olyuer ayded to arme Fyerabras and of the ix meruayllous swerdes And how olyuer named his name ca ix WHan fyerabras had long abyden lyeng wythoute arysyng for Olyer he salte vp and after sayd Garyn A demaunde the wythoute hydyng of what strengthe is Rolland Olyuer that been soo moche redoubted of paynems of what gretenes ben they of Olyuer answerd as towchyng to rolland he is a lytel lasse of body than I am but of courage he is right hardy to fyght and so chyualrous that there is no man lyuyng in the world lyke to hym For he neuer faught yet ayenst ony man in the world but he vaynquysshed hym and as for Olyuer thou mayst wel apperceyue that he is a man moche semblable and lyke to me and of the same gretenes that I am Thenne sayd Fyerabras by the fayth that I owe to my god appollyn to Termagaunt thou tellest to me a thynge wherof I am moche abasshed For yf they were suche foure as thou tellest to me I wold not refuse them ne leue them tyl I had put them to deth with my swerde Olyuer coude no longer forbere ne haue pacyence vnto the delayes of fyerabras but made redy to smyte hym wherfore Fyerabras sayd to hym thou wyll haue no pycyon thyn owne persone By mahoun my god yf I aryse take my hors Charles thy kyng ne alle thy goodes shal not redeme the but that thou shalt Incontynente be slayn For onelye yf thou see me tofore the on my feet thou shalt be moche corageous yf thou tremble not for fere ¶ Olyuer answerd thou hast haunted the ouer longe to doo thyng whiche thou neuer sawest in thy lyue For better it were to speke by mesure for by ouer moche spekyng otherwyse than trouthe may brynge the soone to myschyef Herof was fyerabras strongely despyteous And roos on hys feet in a grete fyersnes whyche was by comyn estymacyon xv foot longe And yf he wold haue be bartysed and byleue in Ihesu Cryst ther had neuer be seen a man of his valure And whan he was a foot he had grete dysplaysyr by cause he had not a valyaunte man to Iuste ageynst hym and sayd to Olyuer In trouthe I haue grete pyte of thyn affaire for the noblesse of the courage that I see in the I am yet contente for this present tyme that thou retorne And sende to me Rolland or Olyuer or Ogyer or Gerard demondydyer and expressely say to Olyuer that I shall not passe thys auauntagarde tyl I haue conquerd hym Olyuer myght no lenger abyde the paynym for yf it had not be for hys honour he had symte hym dyuers tymes vnarmed And whan he must nedes fyght Fyerabras called Olyuer and prayed hym that he wold helpe to arme hym Olyuer demaunded yf he myght truste hym Fyerabras ansuerd helpe me hardyly For I â—â—ere and assure the that neuer whyle I lyue shal I be traytour to no man lyuyng And vpon that promyse olyuer dyd his dyligeÌ„ce to arme hym and he took fyrst lether of arabye and cladde hym therwyth after hys cote his habergeoÌ„ of stele wel boucled polysshed after sette on hys heed an helme garnysshed wyth precyous stones rychely But wel consydered the facyon of thys paynyâ—n and of this cristen man there was grete toyalte curtosye bytwene them whyche were assembled for to make mortal warre and eche to flee other and yet they dyd eche to other synguler seruyce Fyrst the pay â—ym had grete pyte for to destroye Olyuer For he was not hys pere ne egal to the regarde of hys persone And on that other parte whan he sawe hym hurte and the blood descende to therthe he wold haue gyuen to hym of the precyous bawme Semblably Olyuer whan he fonde hym dysarmed he had slayne hym wythoute grete payne yf he had wold and after he was soo curtoys that he ayded to arme hym that shold fyÈt ayenst hym ¶ O what grete loyalte of noblesse was bytwene them whyche were of fayth and creaunce contrarye I suppose that god shold be wel pleased yf there were suche confyaunce emonge crysten men and so ful of naturel noblesse But I retorne ageyn to my mater whan Fyerabras was wel armed he thanked moche Olyuer And after gyrde hys swerde named plouraunce and in the arson of his sadyl he had tweyne other of whom that one was named baptysme and that other grabaâ—n the whyche swerdes were maad in suche wyse that ther was none harnoys but they wold breke and cutte a sondre And who that