swearde wolde haue slayne the Emperour Charlemayne but Reynawde drew him a syde And the duke Naymes and Ogyer sayde than vnto hym Rycharde Richarde refrayne your courage For it were not wel doone for to kyll a man that slepeth And also afore that we shal departe hence we shall set all at one and God wyll ¶ Shortelye for to speake Olyuer and the Duke Naymes spake so fayre vnto Rycharde that they made him promise them that he should doo no harme to the Kynge Charlemayne Neuerthelesse Rycharde left not to make great sorow for his cosyn Mawgys that he had lost For al them that saw him make so great mone had pitie for to se him It was no meruayle if Richarde made sorowe for Mawgis For I promise you he had greate need of hym not longe after And so had all his brethern as ye shall heare heere after ALl thus as the foure sonnes of Aymon made theyr moue for the loue of theyr cosin Mawgis The duke Nymes began to speake sayde in this wise By god lordes ye doo not wel for to make so great sorowe I pray you leue this heuynes And let vs begyn to speake of your peace that muste be made with the Emperour Charlemayn that an ende maye be hadde of thys warre that hath endured so longe By god sayd Rowlande ye be passynge slow therupon And also we muste fyrste haue his mercy or euer we moue any thing of the peace For ye wot wel that I left him bycause that peace should be made Syr sayd the duke Naymes ye speake wysely and well but howe shal we speake wyth hym wythout Mawgys were heere we cannot awake hym And but yf god remedyeth it we shal neuer speke wyth him But al thus as the barons spake in thys wyse The charme that Mawgys had set vpon Charlemayne was come at an ende and the strength of it was passed And sodenly Charlemaine began to moue hys body and arose anon vpon his feete and right sore abasshed looked al aboute him And whan he saw that he was at moūtawban in the subieccion of Reynawd the sonne of Aymon he was sore an angred and made suche sorowe for it so that al they that were there trowed that he had ben mad and from hymselfe And whā his wittes were come agayne he knew wel that Mawgys had doone it vnto hym sware that as longe as he were manne on liue he should make no peace tyl that he were out of Mountawban and that men had brought Mawgys to hym And whā Rycharde vnderstode this that Charlemayne sayd he began to saye in this wyse Howe the deuill dare ye thus speake syr ye see well that ye be our prysoner And yet ye thretē vs. I make to god mine a vowe and to Saynte Peter were not that I haue promysed that I shal not doo to you no harme at this tyme I should strike the head from the bodye of you Holde your pease sayd Reynawde let the kynge Charlemayne saye his wyll ye are ouer besy in your wordes And let vs all pray hym that he wyll pardon vs. For the warre hath lasted to longe cursed be he that began it For great euyles and harmes the whiche are happed therby REynawde was wyse and wel taught for to stylle thus hys brethern to whome he said My lordes my brethern yf it please you ye shal come with me for to cry mercy vnto our souerayne lorde the Emperour Charlemayne Reynawde said Alarde we shall doo all that ye wyl By mi faith said the duke Naimes My lordes ye doo ryght wisely and I promyse you that all good shall come to you therof Than Reynawd and all hys brethren and Rowland and Oliuer and Ogyer the Dane the duke Naymes the bisshop Turpin and Escoufe the sonne of Oedō began all for to fall on theyr knees before the emperour And Reinawde spake fyrste and sayd in this maner of wise Noble Emperour haue mercy of vs for I and my brethern wee yeeld vs to you to doo your pleasure of vs your will be so that our lyues ben saued there is nothinge but that we will doo it for the loue of you if it please you to graunt vs peace with you And for that piti pardon that God gaue vnto Mary Magdelene whan she wasshed hys feete in the house of Simeon good syr haue pity of vs. And yf it please you not for to pardon me at the least pardon my brethern And take them agayne theyr landes and I shal gyue you Mountawbā and Bayarde my good horse And so shall I goe into the holy lāde I Mawgis where we shal serue to the Temple of our Lorde And whan the kinge Charlemain heard Reynawde speake thus he blastred all for angre and sayd by that good lorde that made me yf all the worlde speake to me therof yet should I neuer cosēt me to no peace but I haue Mawgys in my handes for to doo my wyll vpon hym Alas sayd than Reynawde now haue I hearde that worde bytynge wherof I am al desperate For I should rather let my selfe be hanged thā that I should cōsente to the death of Mawgys my good cosyn For he hath not deserued towarde vs that we should betraye hym but rather he were worthy by reason for to be lorde aboue vs. Reynawde sayd thā Charlemaine thīke not thoughe I am your prysoner that ye shall make me doo anye thynge agaynst my wyll syr sayd Reynawd wyte it that myne entente is for to meke my self toward you for I haue leuer that we suffre wronge of you than ye of vs now tell me syr how I shall delyuer you Mawgys that is our life hope sucours our comfort sheeld our spere and also our swerde our brede our wyne and our flesshe also our refute our mayster our guyde and our defence in all places wherby syr I tell you that yf ye had all my brethern in your pryson and that ye should make them to be hanged and that Mawgys were with in my power and with me yet wold I not yeelde hym vnto you for to quyte wythall my brethern And also I swere you vpon my fayth that I wot not where that he is gone god wot it Ha sayd the Emperour charlemayne goddes curse haue he for I am sure he is heere within you he is not sayd Reynawde I take it vpon my baptysme And than Reynawde turned himself toward Rowlande and all the other barons and sayd to them Lordes I beseche you for God that it wyll please you for to pray our souerayne lorde the kinge that he wyll haue mercye of me and of my bretherne to the ende the peace maye be had in Fraunce yf it please hym And than Naymes that was kneelinge vpon his knees and that heard that Reynawde had sayd and wyste well that he spake but well sayde to the Emperour in this wise Syr I pray you that ye wyll not be dyspleased of that I shall tell you ye know
coÌ„fessed them to the Pope and whan they were confessed they returned agayne into the shyp and tooke theyr way towarde Fraunce Shortly to speake they dyd so muche by theyr iourneys that they came to Ardeyne about noone whan the pleople of Adeyne wist the Reynawde Mawgis were comyng they were neuer so glad went to alarde and sayd wit that your brother Reynawde our lorde is come and also Mawgis your cosin whole and souÌ„d thanked be god ANd than whan Alarde and hys brethern heard these tydynges of theyr brother Reynawde that was come they had almost swouned for great ioye that they had and anon went to the gate of the towne agaynst theyr brother but they fouÌ„d him that he was all redy in the towne whan they saw him they ran him agaynst and Alarde enbraced hym fyrst weepyng and after kyssed him by great loue in likewyse dyd Guicharde and Richarde and thaÌ„ kissed mawgis theyr good cosin And whaÌ„ they had thus welcomed hym they weÌ„t together in the palays whaÌ„ thei were therr Alarde said to Reynawd fayre brother tell vs howe ye haue founde out cosyn mawgis Brother sayd Reynawde I founde him in coÌ„stantinople bi fortune than he began to reherse vnto them all his aduentures that he had sith he became pilgrime And whan he had tolde al he looked on his brother Alarde in his face saw he was pale whiche gaue hym suspeccion sayde Fayre brother now is it with my wyfe and mi children I meruaile me moche that I see them not heere Brother sayd Alarde haue no doubt for theym for they ben whole and sound at Mountawban and wit it that sith your departing we haue doo repayre again the towne haue doone garnisshe the castell with vitayle ynoughe for feare of warre yf any thynge had happed vs amys And than whaÌ„ Reynawde hearde good tydynges of hys wyfe of his children he was right glad of it and so he kneeled downe and thanked God of it WHan Reynawde knew that hys wyfe his childreÌ„ were wel it recoÌ„forted him muche begaÌ„ to make good cheere but whaÌ„ he saw that his brethern made no great ioy he meruayled muche so turned hym selfe towarde Alarde the syghed sore and sayd to hym Brother I awayte for to heare some heuye tidinges I trowe that that ye haue tolde me is not trouth and if ye tel me not how is it of al I shall go fro my self and therfore I pray you tell it me for I wyll know it WhaÌ„ alarde saw that Reynawde helde him so short he began to weepe full tenderly and than said vnto him Sir sith that it please you that I tell you the trouth I shal doo so Wit it that my lady your wife is deceassed out of this worlde vnto god For euer sithe that ye departed she ceassed not her sorow for nothynge that we could doo or shew vnto her And than she cast all her clothynge into a fyre and wolde neuer were vpon her but a sory maÌ„tel a smocke so longe she wept and sorowed dai and night that she died at last wherof I am sory for it for she was the goodliest and the fayrest of all the worlde WhaÌ„ Reynawde vnderstode these wordes he swouned downe to the erth for great sorowe that he tooke at his herte of the death of the good duchesse Clare his wyfe whan he was come agayne to himself he began to weepe sayd Ha king Charlemayne how wel may I hate you by you haue I lost my wife for she is dead bycause she se that ye chased me out of Fraunce with so great shame to make me goe a foote begging my bread lyke a truaunt but I knewe well that my sinnes ben cause of al this And whaÌ„ Reynawde had made hys mone he sayd to Alarde his brother fayre brother I pray you come shew me the tombe where my wyfe is begrauen Brother sayde Alarde with a good wil I shal doo so and thaÌ„ he brought him to the chirche where his good wife the Duchesse was buryed And whaÌ„ Reynawde cam there he swouned three times vpon her tombe and whaÌ„ he was come again to himselfe began to make great sorow for he rented his clothes and pulled his heaâ—es And whan he had sorowed longe he said as a man replenysshed with sorow Ha god what a pylgrym I am I beleue that there is none in the worlde more vnhappi than I am Now see I wel that I haue lost all my ioye and my coÌ„forte syth that I haue lost the fayrest lady of the worlde and the goodliest And as he was speakyng these wordes came there his children Aymonet yonnet that kneeled before theyr father And whan Reynawde saw the kneelyng afore him he weÌ„d his hert should haue brest So tooke he them vp and kissed them by great loue all weepynge and after sayd to them Mi fayre children see rhat ye be good men for I fere me that ye shal misse me soone And whan Reynawde had sayd this to his children he began to make more sorow than he had doone afore so did Mawgis ThaÌ„ begaÌ„ the sorow through al the towne right great and lasted .x. dayes without cease and whan came to the .xiii. daye Reynawde tooke hys way towarde Mountawban that was almoste as well peopled as it was or the warre began And Mawgys habaÌ„donned neuer reynawde where someuer he went but went alwayes on foote in his hermites araye and as they went thus to MountawbaÌ„ the brethern of Reynawd his children went on foote for to bere company to Mawgys theyr cosin And whan they of Mountawban knewe the coming of theyr lorde they were ryght glad of it made al the streetes for to be hanged with fayre clothes they came agaynst him al together makyng great ioye and made hym great reuerence welcomed him honourably And Reynawde receyued them gladly made theÌ„ good cheere for at that tyme he dyssimuled hys sorowe that he had at his hert bycause he should not dyscomfort hys folke that so great ioy made for hys comyng And also they of MouÌ„tawban welcomed mawgis honourably bicause they loued him of olde very well theÌ„ they brought Reinawde making great ioye vnto the castell and whaÌ„ Reynawde founde himself wythin hys castell of Mountawban he was glad of it and came to a window looked downe into the towne saw that it was as well peopled as euer it was and had meruayle of whens so muche people was come there for to dwell he was ryght glad of it for he weÌ„de neuer to haue seen mouÌ„tawban in that plyght as it was before the warre began After that the feast was ended â—eynawde called his brethern sayd vnto them Lordes I holde me destroyed for loue of the good duchesse whiche I haue lost wherof I am ryght heuy for it for loue of the great goodnes that I haue knowen in her I make my vowe to god that
the head that was smytteÌ„ of from the body and the face that was all to Hewen Ha good Lorde sayd he how well maye I be made now al quicke well I ought for to hate the duke Benes of AygremouÌ„te that thus hath murdered my sonne he than kissed his childe al bloudiful often and said vnto him in this wise Ha faire sonne ye were a talle man and a gentil knight Now praye I the puyssant God of glorye that he take your soule this yf it be his pleasure into hys Realme of Paradyse Great sorow made the kyng Charlemayne for the death of his sonne Lohier But alwayes recomforted him the good Duke Naymes And theÌ„ Ogyer the Dane and Sampson of Bourgoyne tooke him vnder the armes of him and ledde him vnto saynt Germayne of the medowes And there the bodye of Lohier was buried and enoynted with balme as it apperteyneth vnto all the sonnes of kinges Thus was he put into hys graue God haue of hys Soule mercy WE shall bene heere to speake of the good king Charlemayne that was moch sori of his sonne Lohier as ye haue heard and shall tell you of the good Duke Aymon of Reynawde his sonne and of his three bretherne that were at Parys My children sayd Aymon ye know how the Kynge Charlemayne is moche wrothe and not without a cause by cause that my brother your vnkle hath slaine Lohier his sonne And I wote well that he shall go vpon him with all his puyssaunce but verelye we shall not go wyth him But rather shall we goe to Dordon and yf the Kyng make warre agaynst hym we shall helpe him with all our power So lyghted anon on horsebacke the good duke Aymon the foure knightes his children and bayted no wher tyll they came to Laon from theÌ„s they rode so longe tyll they came to Dordon And whan the Lady sawe her Lorde and her foure children she was right glad and went against them for to welcom them and asked after tydinges and yf Raynawde hys other childeren were made knightes Than the good duke answered yea and after she asked why they were departed fro the kinges court And than he rehersed vnto her word by word how hys brother the duke Benes had slayne Lohier the sonne of the Kinge Charlemayne Wherof the good Lady Margery was wondeâ—full wrothe and sorye For well she knew that this death of Lohier was the totalle dystruccion of the Duke Aymon her housbande of her self and of her childerne and of their lande She heard Renawde her eldest Sonne that thretened Charlemayne the great Kynge then sayd to hym the Ladye hys Mother My Sonne Reynawde I pray thee vnderstande me alytle Loue thy souerayne and thy naturall Lorde and dread him aboue all thinge and bere him honour and reuereÌ„ce And God shall rewarde thee for it and ye my Lorde Aymon I am moche maruelled of you that are departed from Charlemayne without leaue of him the hath doone to you so moche good and so great worship and hath geueÌ„ to your sonnes so noble and so riche armes and hath made them knightes with his owne handes more great honour he might not doo to you nor to your childreÌ„ Lady said the Duke we be thus departed froÌ„ King Charlemayne because that my brother hath slayne his sonne as I haue tolde you afore A God sayd the Lady that of the virgin was borne in bethlehem howe hath that euyll thys day surmounted the good For goddes loue my Lorde sayde the Ladye medle not withall For ye shall see this next soÌ„mer that the kinge shall go vpon your brother by my counsell serue the kynge your rightwyse Lorde nor fayle him for nothynge For and ye doo otherwyse ye shall be vntrew and false towarde your Souerayne and naturall Lorde Lady sayd the duke by god omnipotente I wold leuer haue lost my castell and the halfe of my lande than that my brother should haue slayne Lohier Now the wyl of god be done therin and none other wyse TO speake of the good Duke Aymon of DordoÌ„ and of his wife the duchesse and of theyr soÌ„nes we shal heere leue shall returne to speake of kynge Charlemayne that was come agayne to parys makiÌ„g great sorowe for his sonne Lohier There had you seene many a gowne torne broken many a hande wrongen and manye heares of the head pulled so that it was piti and wonder for to se Alas mi dere sonne said kyng Charlemayne he that hath slayne thee so cruelly loued me but lytle I shall neuer be in quiete nor in reste till that I haue take vengeaunce of thy death Syr sayd the duke Bauyere haue mercy of your selfe For it behoueth not so great a prince as ye be for to make so great sorow as ye doo And in the meane whyle came a messenger afore the kynge which shewed to him howe Aymon Duke of Dordon his foure soÌ„nes were gon into their countrie wherof the kyng was sore an angred and wrothe And sware god and saynt Denis the afore he sholde dye that Aymon and his chylderen sholde abye full sore for it that the duke Benes of AygremouÌ„te sholde not kepe them therfro The dyner was redy they wasshed their handes and were set at dinner but wyt it that the kynge dyd eate but lytle as he that was in greate melancolye the fayre Salamon serued that day afore hym the cuppe great people was there After diner the Emperour Charlemayne did reason with his barons and sayd to theÌ„ lorde sayd he the duke Benes of Aygremount hath doone to me greate outrage that so shamefully hath slayne my sonne Lohier But and it please God I shall go wreke it vpon hym this next somer and I shall destroye all his land and yf I may take him I shall not leaue hym for the duke Aymon the shamefullye is gone from mee nor for his foure sonnes that I haue made knightes wherof I me repente sore but that I shall make them to be hanged Syr sayd than the duke Naymes nowe heare what I shal say to you your soÌ„ne is dead by great vnhap well in an euill hour was he put to death for neuer death was so sore solde ne so dere bought as this shal be So sende nowe for your folke through all your londes and than from hens toward Aygremounte take your waye And yf ye may take the Duke Benes let the death of your soÌ„ne Lohier be to him ful dere soulde NAymes sayd the kynge ye be a good man sage curtoyse valyaunt euen thus shall I doo for well wysely ye haue counselled me Than gaue he leaue to many of hys barons and gentil men that were in his courte at that time tolde them that eche of them should go into his countrie for to make them self redy and that they should come agayne to him the next sommer So was it doone as the kynge had commaunded And thus wente the barons and the gentil men from
to hym answered his two bretherne that they wolde doo it syn that he counselled thē so and cōcluded together that they should sende thyther as soone as it were day They made that nyght good watche vnto the morning and than they made redi their messangers for to sende to the kyng Charlemayne And whan they were redy Gerarde of Roussyllon sayd to them Lordes say wel to kynge Charlemayne that we be sore dyspleased of the death of hys sonne Lohier and that our brother the duke Benes repenteth him selfe of it full sore that yf it please hym to haue mercy of vs that we shal go serue hym where it shal please him to sende vs wyth .x. thousand fyghtynge men And also ye shall saye to Naymes of Bauyere that we pray hym that he wyll enploy hymselfe towarde the kyng Charlemayne that this accorde may be had AFter that the messāgers had well all alonge vnderstand what they should saye to the Kynge Charlemaine from the three brethern dukes They lyghted on horsbacke eche of them berynge braunches of Olyue tree in their handes in token of peace And ceased not to ryde tyll that they were come afore the tente of the kinge charlemayne Than spake one of them whiche was named steuen that salued the king in this maner Syr I praye our lorde that of his grace giue you good lyfe long And wyt syr that the duke Gerarde of Roussyllon and the Duke Benes of Aygremount and Dron of Nantuell ben come hither the whiche cry you mercye and beseche you ryght humbly that it please you to pardon them the death of your sonne Lohier Of the whiche they are wrothe sory And the duke of Aygremount let you wyte by vs that yf it be your pleasure to doo so that he and hys bretherne shal be your lyege men shall come to serue you with .x. thou sand fyghting men in all that shal be your pleasur to enploy them syr for goddes sake haue remembraūce that god forgaue his death to Longes the cruelly sticked him to the hart wherfore syr please it you to pardon thē take them to your good grace And of this right hūbly they beseche you WHan the kynge Charlemayne had thus heard speake the messangers of the three brethern He frō peled his forehead knitted his browes and looked full angrely and at that houre he answered to them nothynge and than soone after he begā to speake in this maner Bi my faith syr Steuen sayde he well had the duke Benes lost his wittes whan he so shamfully slew my deere sonne Lohier whiche I loued so tenderly Now is he my man wyll he or not Syr sayd Steuē I am certayne that he shall doo to you all reason to the direction of your good counsell Than sayd the kinge of this we shal counseyll vs and withdrewe hym a lytle a side and called to him duke Naymes Ogyer the Dane syr Salamon Huon of Mauns Walleran of Bollon Odet of Langres and Leon of Fryse sayd to them Lordes heere ben the messangers of the duke Benes and of his bretherne that sende me worde that they wyll come for to serue me where my wyl shal be wyth .x. thousand good fyghting mē yf we wyll pardon theym the death of my sonne Lohyer And they shall be our vassayle and true liege men of vs they shall holde theyr landes and theyr lordeships Syr answered the duke Naimes in this is nothing but well So counsell I you that ye pardon them For they be muche valyaunte and of great renome Wherfore pardon them yf it please you THan by the Counsell of the Duke Naymys of Bauyere the kynge dyd pardon the three bretherne called to him the .iii. knightes and said to them how he pardoned the three dukes the death of his sonne Lohier by suche a condicion that the duke Benes of Aygremoūt should come for to serue hym at the feast of Saynt Iohn next comynge wyth .x. thousand fyghtyng men wel arayed and ye shall tel to them that they surely come nowe to me for to take of theym theyr othe and fayth that they shall fro hens forthe obey and serue truly And that of me they shall holde all theyr landes Then departed the knyghtes from afore the kyng Charlemayne and came agayne vnto the Dukes and shewed vnto them how they had sped of their message with the king Charlemayn wherof the three brethern thanked much humbly our lorde God Then sayd the duke Rycharde of Roussyllō it is reason that we take of our good gownes and go to the kynge Charlemayne naked and crye hym mercy of this that we haue thus offended agaynst his hygh puyssaunce lorde shyp and the other two brethern answered that well they ought to doo so So tooke the noble knyghtes their clothes of and al naked bare foote and in poore estate departed from theyr lodges and well foure thousande knightes wyth them all bare fote and in their shertes and in such estate as were theyr maysters In thys wyse they came tofore the king Charlemayne And wyt wel that in right great humilitie were set the three bretherne for to haue peace and accorde wyth the kyng Charlemain that was wroth to them specyally to the Duke of Aygremount as more playnlye ye shall heare here after WHan the kynge Charlemayn sawe thus come the three bretherne wyth theyr barons knyghtes he called to hym the duke Naymes many other barons and sayd to thē can ye not tell me what folke ye see yonder comyng Syr sayd the dukes Naymes it is the Duke Benes of Aygremount with his folke that come for to requyre you of mercie This hanging the Duke Benes of Aygremount came afore the king and cast hymselfe vpon hys knee sayd vnto hym in this wise Syr for god I crye God mercy we ben heere comen by your commaundement if I haue slayne your deere Sonne by my foly I now as your man yelde me my bretherne also Gerarde of Roussyllon and Dron of Nantuell and wyl be your lyege men and serue you with all our puyssaunce where your plesure shal be to set vnto and neuer dayes of our lyues we shall fayle you but yf it belonge in you Than whan the kynge sawe theym thus come humblie towarde hys presence in theyr shertes barefoote and had hearde this that the Duke of Aygremount had sayd to hym he had of them ryght great pitie pardoned them the death of his Sonne Lohier and all his euyll wyll Than should ye haue sene from one part from the other kysse and colle eche other their kynnesmen and som wept for Ioye and the other for pitie WHan were peased the barōs with the king Charlemayne by the counsel of the good duke Raymos than sware promised the three brethern good fydelitie to the kynge Charlemayne and that they should serue him at all tymes that he should cal for thē So tooke they a glad leue from the
haue sene that dai so moch braynes in the feelde so manye feete and heades smyten of that it was a pytious thyng to behold After cam yet agayne Guenes that smote Ioyusselyne of Bloy so that he casted hī dead to the erth and he made soone to goe backe the Duke Benes folke of Aygremounte Than was sore a basshed the duke of Aygremoūt the whyche knewe well that wythoute death he myght not escape So went he and smote one of Guenes folke so great a stroke that he ouerthrew him dead For none other wyse he coulde doo but defende hym selfe as well as he could for to length his lyfe wythall Ha god what a greate dommage it was to haue thus shamfully betrayed hym For after many chyrches many townes and Castelles were therfore set in a fyre and so many great nobles full pyteouslye brought to death So much sped the traytour Guenes agaynst the good duke of Aygremount that the folke of the duke were weke almost gō For of two hūdred that he had brought he had no moe with hym but fourty Barons sayd the duke Benes of aygremount ye se that we ben almoste all dead yf we defende vs not wyth great herte and worthynes And for goddes loue let euery of vs be worthe three as longe as we shall now be alyue For ye se that here pyteously we must departe breake felowshyp Than wente the duke agayne smote a knight named syr Helye so that he made hym to fall dead to the erth And than cryed with an hyghe voyce Smyte well barons The valey was fayre and soūded of the noyse that was made there at that hour one named Gryffon of Hautefell wente smote the dukes horse into the breste wyth hys spere so that he ouerthrew him vnder the horse and the duke anon arose vpon his feete tooke his swerde wenyng to smite the sayd Gryffon but the stroke fell vpon the horse so that he cutte him a sonder as it had ben nothynge WHan the duke of Aygremoūt saw himselfe thus on foote he knew wel that it was doone of him but well he sware that hys death he should sell ryght dere but sodaynly came there vpon him the erle Guenes that sat vpon a good courser the which smote the duke Benes of Aygremounte with his speare suche a stroke that he shoued hym through through his body thus fell downe dead the duke Benes of Aygremoūt and than the duke Griffon the father of the sayd Guenes came to the Duke Benes of Aygremoūt that lay dead vpon the sande shoued his swerde in to his foundement Than sayd the duke Gryffon no whast thou thy rewarde for mi lorde Lohiers death that thou let slew shamefullye with in thy palays Now is the good and worthy duke Benes of Aygremount deceassed god of his soule haue mercy the treatour Genellon the Lord of Hautefell that lighted vpon a good horse wente after the duke of Aigremountes folke that fled whiche were but .x. a lyue of two hundred and yet these .x. were soone ouertaken and than the traytours made theym to swere and promyt that the bodye of the late duke theyr mayster they shold beare to Aygremount lyke the he had doo bryng the body of Lohier to paris in a byere and the sayd knightes promysed them for to doo so So toke they the corps from the other bodyes dead wherof was there greate number put hym in a byere And than went on theyr way with all whan they were gon a lytle fercher God knoweth what sorowe and lamentacion that they made for the death of theyr mayster sayinge Ha god good duke that so worthy was how now we are sory for the certaynly full euyll hath doone kyng Charlemayne that vnder this saufcōduyte hath made thee to be slayne in treason These sorowful knightes went thus makynge theyr mone bearyng the body of the Duke Benes theyr mayster vpon a byere that two horses bare whiche corps neuer staunched of bledyng by the spare of .viii. myles how many dayes Iourney that these knightes were with the bodye of theyr mayster by the way I cannot tel you But they went so longe that they came nygh Agygremount and approched so moche that the tydynges came to the towne to the duchesse that her lorde had be thus traytoruslye slayne So ought not be asked of the greate sororow that the duchesse her sonne Mawgis made They yssued after out of the towne with them of the church went agaynst the corps Nor also ought not to be asked yf there were made that day great wepynges lamentacions For whan the duchesse saw her lorde the woūdes that he had in his body more than three times she fell downe in a swone vpon him And in this wyse they bare the corps to the chief churche the bisshop of the towne dyd the seruyse And thā he was put in his graue was right reuerently buryed Thā sayd his sonne mawgis Good lorde what a domage is this of such a worthy lorde to haue be thus slayn cruelly by treason but if I liue lōg Charlemayne and the traytours that thus haue doone shal abye for it ful deerely His lady mother he recomforted and said to her My deere mother haue a litle patience For myne vnkles Gerarde of Roussyllon Drō of nantuel and my cosyns Reynawde Alarde Guicharde and Rycharde shall helpe me wel for to auenge the death of my lorde my father Nowe shal we leue heare to speake of them of Aygremount that ben in great lamētacion weepinges for the death of their lorde and shal returne to tel of the traytours Griffon of Guenes his sonne that with theyr folke were gone agayne to Parys ¶ How Gryffon of Haultefell and Guenellon after that they had slayn the Duke Benes of Aygremounte they retourned to Parys recounted to the kynge Charlemayne the mortall treason that they had commysed and doone Wherof the kyng Charlemayne was glad But afterwarde he was ful wrothe sory for it For after the Duke of Aygremoūtes death his two bretherne Gerard of Roussyllon and Dron of Nantuel warred sore agaynst hym with their neuew Mawgys than they made peace and accorded together but the kynge Charlemayne apoynted not wyth the foure sonnes of Aymon nor to Mawgys theyr cosyn ¶ Item sheweth also the same chapter how Reynawde slewe the neuew of kyng Charlemayne wyth a chesse borde as they were playng together at the chesses Wherof the warre began The whyche was sore and mortall as ye shal now heare here after and lasted so longe that it dyd great dommage to the Realme of Fraūce Campitulum .ii. Fo. xiii YE shal mow heare and vnderstand from hensforthon a terryble and a piteous songe yf ye thereafter lyst to herken Thys was at the feaste of Penthecoste after the holy thursdaye that the king Charlemayne helde a great court at Parys after that he hadde accorded with the bretherne
the kyng he made to hym reuerence and than withdrew himself abacke And sayd to hys men let vs goe fourth for here cometh the kynge I wolde not for nothing in this worlde that any of you should laye hande vpon hym Whan the folke of Reynawde vnderstode these wordes they put theyr swerdes in theyr shethes and went agayne vnto theyr castel right glad of theyr fayre auenture that was happend to them that daye And whā that they were within theyr Castell of Mountaynforde they made the drawe brydge for to be drawen vp went and vnarmed them and foūde the supper redy and so they set them selfe at the table And there was a great mainy of prisoners And whā thei had eaten and dronken their fil Reynawde came to hys brother and thanked hym muche with al his hert of that he had slayne the erle of Estampes ANd whan themperour Charlemayne saw that Renawde was with in his Castell he lighted downe from his horse into his tente and sware by god that he should neuer departe from thence vnto the tyme that he should haue the foure sonnes of Aymon or that the castell were take ¶ What shall I tell more themperour Charlemayne lay well .xiiii. monethes at syege afore that castell of Mountaynforde and there was no weke but they had a batayle or a scarmyshe I tell you that Reynawde was not so sore besyeged but that he went to chase in woodes and in ryuers as often as hym pleased And dyuerse tymes it happed that Reynawde spake wyth the Frenche mē of trayte the one to the other sayinge thus to them Fayre Lordes I pray you that ye speake to the Emperour Charlemayne tel hym that he shal neuer take vs by no force for our castell is right stronge and well garnished But know the kynge one thing that whiche he may haue by goodnes he need not make by force He may haue the castell and vs also yf it please hym in such maner as I shal tell you Whan I shal put in his hād the castel of Mountaynforde my bretherne and my selfe our goodes and bagage saufe that the warre take an ende that hath lasted so longe he may be well content Reynawde said Ogier the Dane ye say wel and wisely I promyt you I shall shew the same to the kinge as ye haue sayd yf ye will beleue my coūsell I ensure you I shall tell hym that ye doo so for ye are not folke for to be set lytel by thus nor for to be for the courte for yf the kinge had you nyghe him he soulde be the better for it ALl thus as Reynawde Ogier spake together there came Forques of Morillon that cried to Reynawde vassayle yee be but a tool for certes I haue heard youre wordes well ye shall leue vs Moūtaynforde for it is not your herytage and your heades in lykewyse Foulques sayd Reynawde ye haue repreued me full often I know well all the harme that the Emperour Charlemain wyll to me is because I haue slayne Berthelot his neuew with a Chesse borde of whome god haue mercye Certes I could not doo therto but I was full sory for it god wot it It is trouth whan we played together we had some wordes by whyche without any wordes he gaue me suche a stroke vpon my face that the bloud ranne downe at the groūd And whā I saw my selfe so armed I myght not be so soft that I could endure the great ontrage that he had doone to me with out a cause So defended I my selfe to my power For who letteth hym selfe to be slayne his soule shal neuer haue pardon And thou knowest wel Foulques the I dyd was in my defēdyng But to this must be made shorte wordes and if it please you ye shal tel to the king charlemain that he taketh vs to mercy and that we may be freendes And yf ye doo thys ye shall doo your honoure For as soone may ye be slayne there as a nother Than sayde Foulques by god all thys is nought worth vnto you for ye shall die therfore ye and your brethern Foulques sayd Reynawde ye threten to muche it apperteineth not to you for to threten knightes so muche that ben better than you and yf ye haue ony thyng vpon your hert doo it wythout any more wordes for I tell you well that ye purchace your death And whanne Reynawde had sayd these wordes they wente agayne to theyr pauylyons And thus abode the hoste vnto than without any fyghtyng but the frechemen came agayn wolde they or not wherfore the kynge Charlemayne was wrothe THan the Emperour Charlemayne sent for men through all hys lande and whan they were all come he sayd to them Syres I complayne me to you of the foure sonnes of Aymon that hath my lād destroyed and wasted And Mountaynforde is so stronge that bi strength it can neuer be taken but by famysshyng Now tell me what I ought to doo for I shall doo therin your counsell whan the barons heard the complaynt that the kynge made to them of the foure sonnes of Aymō there was none so hardy the durst say a worde but the duke Naymes of Bauiere that sayd to the king Syr emperour yf ye wyll haue good coūsel I shall gyue you good yf ye wyl beleue me Let vs retourne nto hyghe Fraunce for we be to nighe the winter for to make warre And whan that newe tyme shal be come ye shal mow come agayne to lay your syege afore Mountaynforde For I doo you to vnderstond that Reynawde is not sore presed but that he goeth in wodes in riuers at all tymes that he wyl And a man that may goe out and in at his wil is not ouer sore besieged And of the other parte Reynawde and hys bretherne are suche knyghtes that they shall not be lyghtly ouercome This is my coūsel syr who knoweth a better let hym tell THen spake Hornier of Saueyne and to him said syr I shal gyue you a better counsell yf ye wil beleue me gyue me the castell and al the hauoyre that is with in and the Lordshyp fyue myles aboute it and I shall yelde to you Reynawde and al his brethern for prysoners afore a moneth cum to an ende And thā shal we goe into Fraunce for to see oure wyues and children Hernyer sayd the kyng ye haue sayd well and wysely yf ye may doo thys that ye haue said I graunt to you the castell and all that ye haue asked with the same Syr said Hernyer I thanke you for it an hūdred thousād tymes And I promys you I shall delyuer vnto you Reynawde and hys bretherne as youre prisoners or euer that a moneth be passed But knowe you that Hernyer dyd mysse of his enterpryse for he kept not couenaunt to the kynge as he had promised him for Reinawde tooke hym and made hym to be hewen all in peces and made all they that were wyth hym whan he made the treason
the sydes of Gyronde and of Dordone and namely betwene these two ryuers I saw a Mountayne sore hyghe and yf it please you I wolde well buylde thervpon a castell after my pleasure Wherfore syr it please you ye shall graunte to me thys gift for al the seruyce that euer I dyd to you Whan the king vnderstode this worde he was ryght glad of it and sayd to Reynawde I ryght gadlye graūt this to you And with the same ye shall haue of me .x. thousand marke euery yere for to maynteyne your estate Syr sayd Reynawde gramercie and cast hymself to his feete And the kynge Yon tooke hym vp anon curtoysly and kyssed hym for greate loue and after he sayd vnto hym Noble knight I promise you I shal make you a ryche man and yf God spare me lyfe Syr sayd Reynawde god yelde you and we shal serue you truly thus they departed eche fro other The next day after whan the kynge was rysen out of hys bed he made Reynawde to come afore hym And after he tooke .xx. knyghtes with hym and no more tooke his barge vpon gyrond and passed ouer the riuer Reynawde and hys bretherne with hym and they dyd so muche that thei came vpon the roche and whā they sawe the place so fayre and so pleasaunt the kynge was meruayled of it and Reynawde was ryght glad for the great strength that the place had for if he might doo so muche to buylde there a castelli he should not doubt Charlemayne of a penye nor none other person of the worlde whā vitayles were in it For vpon the highest of the mountayne sprong oute a fayre fountayne and plenteouse ynoughe for .x. thousand persons Whan the knyghtes that were wyth the kynge saw the place so fayre and so pleasaunt and so stronge with all they were greatly abasshed a knight than tooke the kyng and had hym a lytle a syde and tolde him Syr what is this that ye wyl doo Wyl ye haue a lorde aboue you Will ye doo make heere a Fortresse I tell you vpon my faythe that yf Reynawde set heere a Castel he shal feare you litle nother you nor all other barons of Gascoyn for Reynawde is suche a knyght as ye knowe and also hys brethern and theyr cosyn Mawgys and also they be straungers soone they shall beare you great harme yf they wyll doo to hī some other good yf ye wyll beleue me and let thys alone for ouer greate harme myght come to you therof THan whan kyng Yon vnderstode such wordes he became all abasshed of it for he wyste well that the knight sayde trouth and lytell it lacked that the werke of the Castell came not forth he began to thīke a lytle and after he sayde that he had promysed it to Reynawde and thus he sayd to the knyght that thée Castell should be made so called he Reynawde and sayde to hym My good freende where wyll ye that the castel be made Syr sayd Reynawde I wyll yf it please you that it be set here in the same place vpon this roche Certes sayd the kynge I gyue it to you Now hast you to see that it be made and builded vp as ye thynke best and than ye shall doubt nother me nor my folke Syr said Reinawde let be these wordes for it is no need to speake therof For I certyfye you as a true knyght that I had muche leuer to dye an euyll death amonge the Turkes than that I should thīke treason vpon you nor vpon no other Syr I am and haue betake hetherto and holde for a true knyght god giue me grace that I doo not fro hens forthou wherby I should otherwyse be taken Syr thynke you bycause I am enemy to Charlemayne my Souerayne lorde that I should be therfore a traytour and that I haue doone agaynst hym some treason Wyt that whan I slew Berthelot his nenew alas I dyd it in my defence for he drew fyrst bloud vpō me wythout reason or cause whye But I swere to you vpon my fayth that yf any man doo any wrong vnto you I shall auenge you therof after my power but and yf ye haue anye suspection vpon me gyue me it not Good freende Reynawd sayde the kynge I dyd but iape with you For I knowe well your trouth and well ye haue shewed it vnto me god thāke you And therfore I haue graunted it vnto you and yet I doo And I wyll the ye be lorde aboue me and of my lande ANd whan Reynawde vnderstode the curtesye the goodnes of the kyng he thāked him right muche he sent thorough all the lād and made come all the maysters masons and carpēters and many other crafty men in suche worke so muche that they were well two hundred besyde the labourers and whan al hys stuffe was redye he made theym to buylde there a stronge castell wherof the great hall was fyrst made and after many chambres and than the great tower And whā the doungeō was wel closed Reynawde made after all the castell to be closed rounde aboute with double walles hie thick of hard stones many toures vpon that it fered no sawtyng of no syde of it made to this castell foure gates and no mo and also he made the portcolysse fawsebrayes barbacanes well defensable so that it myght be no better Whan the castel was accomplysshed Reynawde and his brethern were therof ryght glad for it semed them that they were assured from theyr enemyes And whā king Yon knew that the castell was accomplysshed and full made he went to see it And whan Reynawde wist that the kyng came he went agaynste hym and welcomed him full honestly made him go vp to the great toure of the fortres bycause he should see the compas of the Castell rounde aboute at his ease for the great toure men myght se all The kyng behelde well the fayre werke that was so pleasaunt and so stronge wyth all and the fayre fountayne that was in the middes of it And thā he called Reynawde sayd to hym Good freende Reynawde how shall this castell be called for me semeth it ought wel to haue a noble name for the great beautie wherof it is garnysshed syr sayd Reynawde it hath no name yet yf it please you ye shall gyue it a name as it shall lyke you best Certes sayd the kyng the place is prety and fayre I wyll that it be called Mountawban and than the kinge made to be knowen through all his lande that who wolde come dwel and enhabite in the sayde castell whyche was as great as a towne he should be free of all maner of duytes the space of ten yeres THan whan the folke of the countrey knewe the freedome of the castel ye should haue see come there knightes gentylmen burgeys yonge and olde yeomen and folke of all maner of craftes so that this castell was so peopled of all maner of folke that in all the
put downe hys pryde but onelye Reynawde ⧠But heere I leue to speake of Rowlande Oliuer and of Ogier and of their folke and of the kynge yon of Gascoygne that they brought wyth them for to be hanged and retourne agayne to shew of the foure sonnes of Aymon ⧠Howe after that Reinawde and his brethern were garnished of their woundes that they had in the plaine of Valcoloures they went agayn to Mountawban And howe they rescued the kynge yon from the handes of Rowlande ⧠Capitulum .xi. IN this partye sheweth the history that whan Reinawd and his brethern were wel whole of their woundes by the helpe of Mawgys that had healed them they put theym selfe vnto the waye againe towarde Mountawbā And whan they were come there my ladye Clare went ayenst thē and broughte with her two chyldren yonnet and Aymonet that had wept and scratched theyr sweet vysages so sore that there appeered of theym nother eyen nor mouthes alwayes they wist not wherfore they dyd so for they were verye yonge And she also was all dysfygured for weepyng and of great lamentacions that she made for she wyst well how her brother the kynge yon had betraied Reynawde her housbond and his bretherne and wende that they had been dead But whan she sawe them come she was neuer so gladde And the two children ran at their fathers feete wolde haue kyssed them And whan Reinawd saw that he shoued theym away with his feete so strōglye that he had almoste broste theym And the lady wolde haue taken him in her armes and kyssed hym but he wold not suffre her and fayde to her Ladye goe oute of my syghte to your brother that fellon cruell and false traytoure for ye shall neuer haue my loue again for it hathe not holden in him but that we shoulde haue be deade by thys tyme yf God and oure cosyn Mawgis had not succoured vs nowe goe after hym all a foote and without companye for ye shall not take nothynge of myne and as an euyll woman ye shall goe youre wayes for ye be the syster of the king yon the greatest traytoure and the vntruest kinge of the worlde and I shall angre your chyldren for I feare me lest they should be traytours as theyr vncle Sir for god mercy sayd the ladi I shal swere to you vpon al halowes that I had doubt of your goynge and many times I dyd tell you of it through the occasion of the dreme that I dremed that night and I tolde you that ye should not beleue the king my brother And not withstandyng that he was my brother I doubted this that is be fallen syth Sir for God I cry you mercy for in this I am nothinge giltye and so God haue mercy of my soule For I loue moche better the least toe of your foote than al king Yon my brother nor all the lande of Gascoin And whan she had sayd this she fel downe in a swoune vpon the feete of Reynawd And whā Guicharde saw the Ladye in a swoune he tooke her vp sayde to her Madame discomfort not your selfe so sort let Reynawde saye hys wyll for ye be our owne Lady and our syster now be of good cheere as long as we be aliue we shal not fayle you and thoughe our brother Reynawde fayle you we shal not doo so but we shall serue you wyth all our hert Brother sayd Rycharde let vs doo one thyng go we pray our brother Reynawde that he pardon my lady our syster hys euyll wyll for she is not gilty in the mater And yf we wolde haue beleued her wee should not haue gone one foote out of thys place and now we ought to shewe the green and the russet Mantelles of ermynes the good horses and palfreys that mi lady did giue vs more oftener than did Reynawde now let vs rewarde her for it for she hath mystre of it and at the ende the freende is knowen By my fayth sayd Alarde ye saye well And than wente the three brethern vnto Reynawde and drewe hym a syde and after Alarde sayd to hym Fayre brother for goddes loue be not thus angrye for ye knowe that my Lady hath no culpe at all the treason that her brother that king yon hath doone to vs. For if ye wolde haue beleued her wee should not haue gone thether Wherfore we praye you that ye wyll pardon her Than sayd Reynawde my brethern for the loue of you I graunt the same and I pardon her myne euill wyll presently Whan the brethern vnderstode him they were ryght glad and came to the Lady Clare and sayd to her Madame be of good cheere and make ioye for we haue made youre peace And than Alarde and Guycharde tooke her by the handes and brought her to her husbād Reynawd whan Reynawde saw her he went and tooke her by the chyn and kissed her And than began the ioy and the feast ryght great at Mountawban And they wasshed their handes and went to theyr meate And thus as they sat at the table there came in the messanger of the king Yon that cam to Reynawde and whā he was afore Reynawde he sayd to hym Syr the kyng Yon sendeth you worde by me that ye com to succour him for other wyse he cannot scape the death For Rowlād and Olyuer ledeth him for to be hanged at Mountfawcon and doo thys syr yf it please you for god and beholde not his euyll wyl but take heed to your goodnes for oure Lorde pardonned Mary Magdalen and longis of their sinnes He knoweth well that he hath deserued death for the great faute that he hath doon to you and yf ye slea him he pardonneth to you his death GOddes curse haue he sayd Alarde that shall set hys foote thitherwarde nor that shal bye him agayne though he might be had for a strawe but goddes curse haue Rowland yf he hāgeth him not as a traytour approued whā Reynawde had heard this that the messanger sayd he looked downwarde and studied a good whyle that he sayd no worde whan he had thought long ynough he begā to weepe beholding his bretherne for a good herte can not lye whā it cometh to a need Than sayd he a good reason as a noble knight Lordes sayd Reynawde to hys brethern to his knightes Now heare what I wyll say to you Ye knowe how I was disherited at paris wrōgefully vpon a feast of Penthecoste that Charlemaine helde open court and full in hys palays where was a compani of great lordes For there were .vii. hundred knyghtes all gentilmen bothe of name and of armes and a hondred what of Dukes and of Erles and more than foure score bysshopes and many barons that tyme was slayne the duke Benes of Aygremount myne vncle that was so good a knyght as men knew wel I dyd aske right for him to Charlemayne afore all hys courte wherof the kynge rebuked me and called me all to nought and greate iniurye he sayd
to me And whan I sawe that the kyng repreued me thus I was wrothe and right angry for it I beheld vpon my brethern and knewe theyr stomackes and saw myne enemyes before me so neded not that I should haue sought them els where And it suffised theym not of that I had be outraged by Charlemayne but that Berthelot outraged me of newe he and I playinge at the Chesse wherof I tooke the chesse boorde and smote hym with it so greate a stroke vpon hys head that I slew hym afore my feet And Lewes a nother neuew of Charlemayne wolde haue slayne my brother Richarde and had hurte hym all redy full sore But I smote hym in suche wise with my fyst that I feld him downe dead afore me to therth whan Charlemayne wyst of it he wolde haue made me to be killed hewed into peeces but my kynsemeÌ„ wolde not suffre it for there was great medlyng so that many strokes were gyuen And whan the medling was ended I mounted vpon Bayarde my brethern I made to mouÌ„t also th one before the two other behynde me and thus rode we al foure vpon my horse bayarde so came to Ardeyne where I dyd buylde a castell And there Chaylemane came and beseeged me and made swere mi good father Aimon that he shoulde neuer helpe vs wyth none of all his goods and that he should be vtterly ayenste vs and in lyke wise he for closed me fro all my kynsmen that none of them was not so hardy for to haue shewed to vs the least fauour of the worlde Fayre bretherne ye knowe wel the great pouertie that we haue endured so longe time And whan I sawe that I wyst not where to go I came into thys lande wyth suche a felawship as ye knowe I spake to the kynge Yon and shewed hym howe I had warre agaynst Charlemayne and he shewed me great loue and made me great honour so that he gaue me his syster to my wyfe and with her a duchy builded MountawbaÌ„ for me And of the other parte my chyldren are hys neuews wherof th one beareth his name that is yonnet and ye see them here and I haue saued hym hys Realme and all hys londe and all his rebelles I haue made come to seeke mercy of hym I fouÌ„d him neuer in faute but Charlemayne is so great and so myghty a kynge and also ye knowe well that he hath ouercome and dysshonoured many good meÌ„ and for fere of him the kyng Yon betrayed vs wherof he is not to be blamed ouermuche seynge that agaynst Charlemayne nothinge hath power And therfore yf the kynge Yon deliuered me to charlemayne it was by euyll counsell that some of hys barons gaue hym For god made neuer so good a man but that that he misdoeth by euyll counsell somtyme And how can I leaue hym whan I haue not mystrusted hiÌ„ afore time me semeth that I ought to shew hym goodnes agaynst felonye Therfore I pray you all that ye wyll make you redy for I wyll goe succour him For it were great reproche to my chyldren that theyr vncle should be hanged as a theefe and it were to vs a great disshonour for he is our lord and if he had doone euil we ought to doo well agaynst it and also we ought not to forget the benefaytes that the kynge yon hath doone to vs and I promise you that the faute and the treason that he hath doone is not come through his malyce but through euyll counsel For yf it had be onlye by hys mocyon I wolde see the hert from the bodye of hym but I wot wel nay for Charlemayne is of so great power that euery man feareth him And therfore I tell you that I wil goe rescue him from Rowlande if I can wyth all my power By my fayth sayd Alard ye shall than goe wythout me for I shal not put my feet there for a traytour ought neuer to be holpeÌ„ nor succoured Nor I sayde Guycharde I shall not goe there â—e shal sayd Richarde and it please you syth that Reynawde wyll haue vs to doo so for he is our Lorde and our welt therfore I pray you fayre bretherne that ye wyll obey him Whan Reynawde had concluded that he should goe for to rescue the kynge Yon agaynst the wyll of Alarde and of Guicharde al the Gascoynes that were there began to crye and sayde blessed be the houre that euer Reynawde was borne For no man erthely is worthe hym of goodnes and of prowes and than they sayde to Reynawde Syr we shall giue vp to you all the lande of Gascoyne and shall make you the Lorde of it For there shall be neuer none other lorde in Gascoyne but you as longe as ye shall lyue so that for god ryght sweet syr that ye suffre not the kynge yon to be had awaye to Charlemayne for it were a great shame to all them of the reame of Goscoyn that men had hanged theyr kyng By mi soule sayd Reinawde ye say trouth And than he tooke his horne and blewe it thre tymes so stronglye that he made all Mountawban to sowne with it And incoÌ„tynent without abydinge thei of the towne wente and armed them and came before Reinawde and whaÌ„ thei were all redy Reynawde lighted vpon bayarde the shelde at the necke and the spere in the hande and they were well in hys felawship syx thousande men on horsebacke and well a thousande a foote And whan thei were out of Mountawban Reinawd spake to his folke and sayd to them Lordes remeÌ„bre you that your lorde is in great daunger and in perill of death and but if we fight strongli he is dead without remedye wherfore I pray you all that ye doo this daye that that shall turne to our worshyp And whan Reynawde had said these wordes he wente agayne towarde hys brethern and sayd to theÌ„ Fayre brethern ye know that Rowland hateth me to death not through my defawte but only through enuye Wherfore I pray you that ye attende vpon me thys day and ye shal see me doo as a good knight thys day the pryde of Rowlande must be leyde or els mine a downe Whan Alarde hearde his brother Reynawde speake so he sayde to hym And wherof care youâ— be sure and certayn that as longe that lyfe is in our bodyes we shall not fayle you and with this worde they put them to the waye And Reynawde tooke two thousand knyghtes and gaue them to Alarde and Guichard sayd to them Fayre brethern ye shal make the forward keep your men in good ordenauÌ„ce I my brother Richarde shal make the reregarde syr sayde Alarde we shall doo it well yf god wyll and thaÌ„ they rode forthe so longe that they sawe the folke of Rowland nygh them whan Alarde a perceyued theym he made hys meÌ„ to tary and sent worde to Reynawde that he shoulde make haste to come for they had founde
a good wyll sayd Charlemayne but I wote not who ye be how be it that ye haue iusted with me I thanke you huÌ„bly sayd Reynawd of that it pleaseth you to saye so by me Syr wyt that I am Reynawde the sonne of Aymon and I crye you mercy And for that pytie that oure lorde had vpon the crosse of hys mother whan he recommended her to saynte Iohn his disciple I beseche you that ye wyll haue pitie vpon me and vpon my bretherne ye knowe that I am your man and ye haue disherited me of my landes and haue chased me out of Fraunce It is a goe .xvi. yeres and by cause of thys are dead so many noble knyghtes and valyaunt men and other in so great nuÌ„bre that it can not be sayd For God ye see well what losse that cometh of the warre for a lorde that hath no piti in hym hath a hert as hard as a stone And therfore syr I beseche you for god that ye haue merci on me and of my brethern that ben such knyghtes as ye know I speke not these wordes for feare of death ne for couetyse of richesse For god gramerri we haue goodes ynough but I speake it for to haue your loue onely Syr suffre that we haue peace with you and we shall become your men for euermore and we shall swere to you fayth and legeaunce and also I shal gyue you MouÌ„talban and my good horse bayarde which is the thing that I loue best in this worlde after my brethern and Mawgis For there is not in all the worlde suche another horse And yf thys caÌ„not satisfy your mind I shal doo yet more pleseth it to you for to pardon my bretherne and I shall for swere FrauÌ„ce for euermore that I shall neuer be seen there And I shal goe to the holy sepulcre in Ierusalem bare foote for the remembraunce of you and I nor Mawgys shal neuer come agayne into FrauÌ„ce but we shall warre styll on goddes enemyes as ben turckes and Sarasyns THan whaÌ„ Charlemayn hear de Reynawde speake thus he answered hym and sayde Reynawde ye speake for nought ye dyd an ouer great foly whan ye tooke that hardines vpon for to speake with me in my palays as ye dyd and yet yee dyd worse whan ye slew my nenew berthelot that I loued so muche now ye speake of peace ye crie me merci I promyse you for certayne that ye shall haue no peace with me but yf ye doo that I shal tell you Syr said Reinawde what shall that be tel me I pray you I shall shewe it to you wyth a good wil sayd Charlemayne and if ye doo it ye and your brethern shall accorde wyth me and I shall gyue you agayne your heritage and yet I shal gyue you ynough of myne owne It is that ye gyue me Mawgis in my handes for to doo my pleasure with hym For I hate him more than ony thyng in the worlde Syr sayd Reynawde yf I should deliuer hym to you what wolde ye doo to hiÌ„ Reynawde sayd Charlemayne I ê“myse you I should make hym to be drawen shamefully at foure horses tayles through Parys after that I should take from the body of hym the lymmes one after another and than I should make hym to be brent and his asshes to be cast at the winde And whan he shall be arayed as I tell you let hym than doo his incaÌ„tacions his magyke as he wyll I pardon hym all that he can doo to me after yâ— Than sayd Reynawde to the Kynge Syr wolde ye doo it in deed as ye say yea said Charlemayne in good fayth Emperour sayd Reinawde wolde you not take townes ne castelles golde nor syluer for the raunsom of Maugis certes nay sayd Charlemayne Syr sayd Reynawde than shall we neuer be accorded to gither For I tell you for certeyn that yf ye had all my bretherne in your pryson and that ye were delibered for to make them to be hanged yet should I not gyue you mawgys for to haue them delyuered oute of your handes Holde your peace than sayd Charlemayne and beware of me for otherwyse get ye no peace wyth mee Syr sayd Reynawde I am sory for it for we be no men that ought to be caste from your sexuyse and sith that ye defye me I shal defend me and our lorde shall me doo that grace yf it please hym that I shall not betake of you And whan Charlemaine heard this he was sore angry and ranne vpon Reynawde and whan Reynawde sawe hym come vpon hym he sayd to hiÌ„ Syr for god mercy suffre not that I sette hande vpon you For if I should let my selfe for to be slayne by you I wexe well a myschauÌ„t Vassayl sayd Charlemayne these wordes auaileth you not for ye muste needes defende yourself And thaÌ„ Charlemayne smote hym with Ioyuse his swerde vpoÌ„ his helme and the stroke slided downe vpon the sheelde of Reinawde so that he kytted quyte and clene a great parte therof WhaÌ„ Reinawde felt so greate a stroke that kynge Charlemayne had gyueÌ„ hym he was sore an angred for it He vaunced hym selfe foorth and caught the kyng with bothe his armes by the backe by the waste in maner of wrastelynge For he wolde not smyte hym with his swerde flaÌ„berge and tooke layd him vpon the necke of his horse baiard for to haue brought hym with hym to Mountawban without any other harme And whan Charlemayne sawe that he was haÌ„deled of this fation he began to crye as lowde as he myghte Mountioye saynt Denys and than he sayd ha fayre nenew Rowlande where be you Oliuer of vyenne and ye duke Naymes and bysshop Turpyn shall ye suffre that I be thus taken and brought as a prysoners and if ye doo so it shal be a great shame to you al Reynawde began thaÌ„ to crye Mountawban as hyghe as he coulde whan he heard Charlemayne speake so And after he sayd ha my brethern and ye cosyn Mawgis come hyther and let vs goe for I haue gyuen the kyng suche a checke that if we canne now brynge him with vs wee shall haue peace in FrauÌ„ce froÌ„ hens forth on Than the noble peres of FrauÌ„ce as Rowland Oliuer the other cam to the succours of Charlemayne and of that other parte came there for to helpe Reynawde his bretherne and Mawgis wel foure huÌ„dred knightes well armed And whan the valyaunt knightes were assembled together of bothe partyes ye should than haue seen a merueylous batayle For they slewe eche other as beastes and there were so many speres broken and so manye sheeldes clouen and hewed into peeces and so manâ— helmes vnbuckled and so manye a quiras broken and perced and so many horses that drewe after theyr guttes a longe in the feeldes and so manye a man slayne that it was pytie for to see And whan Rowland was come to the meddle he wente vpon Reynawde and gaue him so great a stroke vpon his helme
And whan Geffraye of Nasareth sawe this he turned hym toward the admyrall and smot hym so great a stroke with his swerde vpon his helme that he astonyed hym And whan Geffray saw that he made no defence he bowed hys bodye toward him and tooke the admyrall by the helme and wolde haue brought hym away And whan the admyrall saw that he was take he cried Percy as loude as he mighte so that his folke hearde hym and ranne there as he was and delyuered hym from the handes of Geffraye and set hym vpon a horse and broughte him with them whan than Reinawd saw that the batayll was so cruell he sayde to Mawgis Alas cosyn yf I had my harneys I should goe gladly succour our folke for it is that thinge that I haue moste desyred as that I myghte beare armes ayenst the sarasins thaÌ„ said Mawgis to him ye are not wise to saye so ye woe howe we been traueylled of our pylgrymage and that it is time that we rest vs a lytill and also the warre shall not be ended so soone but that ye maye proue youreselfe in armes afore the holye cytie of Iherusalem be wonne wherfore I pray you rest your selfe thys nyght and to morow and god before we shal be fyghte our enmyes for I haue delybered that I shall be no hermyt as longe as we ben togither but I shal helpe you with al my power but one thinge I tell you that neuer whyle I lyue I shall cast no charme more for I haue promysed it God and all the saynctes to whome I praye to keep me therfro but I tell you that I loue you so hertelye that yf I shoulde be dampned yet shoulde I come oute of my hermytage for to succoure you yf ye had need My cosyn sayd Reinawde I thanke you for youre good wyl and I knowe well ye saye trouth that we haue mystre of rest but I canne not keepe my selfe but I must goe to battayll Alas that I haue not Bayarde and slamberge my good swerde for I shoulde doo thys daye that god shoulde conne me thanke of it Ryghte sory was Reynawd that he hadde nother horse nor harneys for to helpe the chrysten folke THis hanging that Reynawd and Mawgis spake togither the erie of Rames Geffraye of Nasareth and wallerauen made greate slaughter of the turkes and of the percians And whan the admyrall sawe this he with drew his folke again in to the cytye of Iherusalem For he might no lenger suffre the great harme and hurte that the christen made hym And whan the crysten saw that the Sarasins were discomâ—tâ—ed they chased theim sharpelye and stewe so many of theym that none canne tell the numbre And than the erle Iâ—ffas that was a worthy knight and a wise he went to the gate of saynt â—teueÌ„ and kepte him there with his folke And whan the Turkes came for to saue theimself within Iherusalem the erle Iaffas went ayenst them and kepte the passage that they myghte not entre at theyr ease wiâ—hin the citye and there agayne were manye of them slayne And the admyrall sawe that he was an angred for it and tooke an other waye to the cytie towarde the gate fore and it happed than that the turkes passed afore the lodge of Reynawde and by the great prece and stampynge of their horses the lodge of Reynawd was broken and marred wherof Reynawde was angrye Than Reynawde looked aboute hym and founde nothynge for to fyghte wythall but a forke that susteyned vp theyr lodge that was great stronge And he tooke it anon wyth both hys handes and mounted vpon a wall that was by the wayâ— And as the turkes passed there by he layed vpon them with a greate staffe and smote them downe two and two at once as swynes and to saye the trouthe Reinawde beinge thus vpon the broken wall slewe mo than a hundred of them as they passed by him And whan Mawgys sawe that Reinawd dyd so well he rooke his palstet and came vpon the wall by him and began to smite with both his handes so great strokes that thei that he taught fell deade to the grounde Whyle that Reinawd and Mawgis dyd these faytes of armes came there the erle of Rames and Geffray of Nasareth that folowed after the Sarasins with all dylygence Whiche sawe the great quantite of deade Sarasyns that Reynawde and Mawgys had slayne vpon the waye by theyr prowes in so muche that all moste menne could ride no more that way for the great heape of â—urkes that laye dead there wherof the Sarasyns were sore abasshed Than the erle of Rames shewed to Geffray of Nasareth the great slaughter that the two pylgrymes hadde doon and merueylled of him that held the forke that he was so greate and so valliaunt a man and in lykewise that other that helde the palster that was not so great See said he howe the waye is couered aboute theym with this cursed folke I beleue that they be felawes Ha goddis sayd Geffray I meruayill what folke they are I beleue that god hathe sente theym to vs for our sauyng or elles they ben ouer hardye fooles seyng that they ben al naked and fere not the deth Sir said the earle of Rames what so euer they ben they doo like worthye men God al mighty keep them from hurt daunger and from euel combraunce For they haue well greued our enmies and I shall neuer be at myne ease tyll that I haue spoken wyth theym for to wyt what folke they be and fro whence they come GReat was the chase that the erle of rames Geffray of Nasareth and wallerauen made after the Turkes and persiaÌ„s For right great slaughter they made of theym or they were withdrawen within Iherusalem For they lefte not the chase tyll they were within the gate fore Whan Reynawde sawe that all the Sarasins were passed he caste after them his great staffe for he could doo no more to theÌ„ And after he be thoughte hym and descended fro the wal and sayde he wolde not lese hys forke and fet it agayne for it shoulde serue for to make hys lodge as it dyd before This hangyng the earle of Rames cam from the chasyng again and soughte the two Pylgrymes for to speake with them and he fouÌ„d theim where they were makinge of their lodge Than he behelde them well and sayde nothinge And whan he sawe that they were so greate and so well shapen pryncypally Reynawde for he wanted nothing he lighted from his horse and tooke theim by the hande and made theim to sytte besyde hym Whan they were set the erle sayd to Reynawde My freende I praie you telle me trouthe of that I shall afke you By the faithe that ye owe to the temple where ye purpose to goe Tell me youre names and what ye be and of whence ye come and why you goe so poorlye arayed Sir said Reynawd sith that it please you to wit of oure beynge and of our name I shall