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
the helme soo harde that the stoke came to the flessh and yf god had not wrought he had be slayn at that tyme wherfore Olyuer as a man enraged came ayenst the paynym the sarasyn lyfte on hyghe hys shelde so that he was al dyscouerd vnder the arme and hys flanke was there vnarmed Olyuer was wyse took good hede and came lyghtly smote fyerabras in hys flaÌ„ke so myghtyly contynued in suche wyse that he thrested his swerde in one of hys flankes wel depe hys swerde hym self the place was alle bybled of the blood Thus was Fyerabras hurte in suche manere that almoost hys lowellys yssued oute of his bely For thenne at that stroke olyuer employed al his strengthe for to make an ende of the bataylle so longe foughten ¶ How fyerabras beyng vaynquysshed byleued in god and how he was borne by Olyuer And how Olyuer was assaylled of the sarasyns and tormented capitulo xv AFter that the Paynym was smyton and hurte mortally as I haue sayd And he seyng that he myght nomore tesyste ayenst Olyuer by the vertu of god he was enlumyned in suche wyse that he had knowleche of the errour of the paynyms and lyfte vp hys eyen vnto heuen and began to escrye the holy trynyte and the grace of the holy ghost And after loked on Olyuer and sayd to hym O noble Olyuer valyaunt knyght in thonour of god on whome thou byleuest and to whome I consente I crye the mercy and requyre the that I dye not tyl I be baptysed yelden vaynquysshed vnto Charles the Emperour whyche so moche is redoubted For I shal byleue in the crysten fayth shal yelde the relyques for whyche ye be assemblyd and haue taken soo moche payne And I swere to the that yf by thy defaute I dye sarasyn I make the culpable of my dampnacyon And yf thou take not me in to thy garde I shal lose my blood Thou shalt see me deye tofore thyn eyen wherfore in the honour of god haue pyte on me Olyuer had so moche compassyon of hym for hys soor that he sore wepte and after he layed hym in the shadowe vnder a tree and there bouÌ„de his mortal wouÌ„des in suche wyse that he staunched hys bledyng And after the paynym prayed hym that it myght plese hym to bere hym awaye For hym self myght not goo but whan Olyuer sawe that he was so heuy he sayd that it was not to hym possyble to bere hym Fyerabras enforced hym self moche came nyghe to hym O noble and redoubted Erle Olyuer in the honour of god lede me to charles or I be dede for I am nyghe at myn ende for al my body bledeth take that hors and mounte shewn and come as nyghe to me as thou may and yf I may lye thwart tofore the vpon the sadel thou mayst lede me take my swerde by thy syde ¶ Now hast thou foure that been moche worthe and hye and depesshe the For thys day in the mornyng I lefte in the wode that thou there seest here by fyfty thousand men whyche been al my subgettes commanded them that none shold moeue tyl I were retorned fro the bataylle whan Olyuer vnderstood hym he was al afrayed and abasshed for fere but not wythstondyng he sayd Syr kyng sythe that it plese you I am contente took hym thwart the hors as it was sayd went forth on the waye in grete sorowe And sodeynly departed out of the wode where as were the subgettes of Fyerabras a moche fyers paynym named bruyllant of Mommere And after hym Sortybrant of nonymbres and the kynge of Mantryble after hym maradas Pynan Tenebras wel fyfty thousand sarasyns after whan Olyuer sawe theym come he smote the hors wyth the spores but the charge was so heuy that he myÈt not goo so faste as his enemyes came to hym whan the frensshe men sawe the paynyms come in so grete nombre anon lyghtely they armed them And emonge other rolland Gherard of mondydyer Guyllam the scot naymes of bauyere Ogier Rychard of normaÌ„dye Guy of bourgoyn Geffroy lantiguy Basyn the due Thyery of ardeyne And Aubert And semblably Reyner of genes fader of Olyuer faylled not Olyuer saw alonge the medowe and sawe come to fore thother brullaÌ„t of moÌ„myere which rode on an hors as swyft as a grehounde and made grete bruyt emonge the other For it semed as it had be thonder and tempeste and bare in hys honde a faus dart with a grete lede of stele square and sharpe whyche was alle enuenymed wyth the blood of a crapausd and was ryght daungerous whan Olyuer sawe hym he was al amoâ—ued and abasshed and sayd to Fyerabras in thys manere Sir kyng ye must nedes descente I may no ferther conduyte â—ou wherfore I am meruayllâ—usly sory and dysplaysaunt For I knowe that I must nedes be oppressyd ye see it wel And yf they may attayne I shal be â—ut to deth And Charles shal neuer see me whyche shall be to hym grete dyscomforte Thenne anone Fyerabras cryed with an hye veys O noble Olyuer wyl ye now leue me ye haue conquerd me to you I am yeuen and yelden it shal not be reputed noblesse determyned whan I am youres and ye forsake me Alas poure sorouful and caytyf that I am yf I deye paynym what shal come of me Virgyn marie moder of god haue pyte on me Vnworthy that I am to retorne me to you And after he sayd to Olyuer I am conquerd by the and haue promysed to the that I shal be baptysed Yf thou leue me thou oughtest lytel to be preysed Olyuer ansuerd Fyerabras thou spekest as a knyght But I auowe to god and to the courte of heuen that I shal not leue the I shal take the bataylle in honde for the and shal deffende the as longe as I shal be on lyue thou mayst wel truste therto there vpon he took the hauberk of the sarasyn and wyth suche as he myÈt haue he armed hym prestly he abylled hym and put on his heed an hatte of fyn stele and helde hys swerde drawen named haultelere wyth whiche he coude wel helpe hym hereupon came anone brullant wyth his faus darte atteyned Olyuer in the breste gaf hym an euyl stroke so that the dart brake theÌ„ne said fyerabras Syr Olyuer ye haue doon ynough for me For ye be hurte late me descende doun and laye me a parte out of the waye to th ende that I be not defoulled of these sarasyns ne taken and destroyed Therof had Olyuer grete compassyon layed Fyerabras in the shadowe of a pynapple tree forre out of the waye and whan he wold haue fledde he sawe aboute hym wel x thou sand sarasyns and sayd Alas god Ihesus my creatour thou knowest myn entencyon I requyre the to gyue me grace that I deye not at thys tyme present vnto the tyme that for thexaltacion of thy fayth I may be wyth Rolland
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
that broke that he was al enraged for the deth of the paynym as for the mysprysyng that guy had doon in hys presence tofore his eyen and cryed with a loude voys that he shold be takeÌ„ assone as he had sayd the worde the sarasyns as wulues enraged whyche wyth theyr feet and handes al to bete hym in suche wyse that he knewe not where he was And had slayne hym yf the admyraâ— had not commaunded theym that he shold not be put to deth in suche manere â—How the paynyms had purposed to haue hanged Guye of bourgoyne seeyng the crysten men whyche socoured hym myÈtely capitulo xv AFter that guye of bourgoyn was wel bounden and straytly Thadmyral sente to come to hym brullant of mommyere Sortybrant of conymbres and for many other of his couÌ„ceyl and sayd to them my frendes I praye you that ye gyue to me counceyl what I ought to do wyth thys prysonner whyche dothe me so grete reproche despysyng as ye see and knowe Syr sayd Sortybrant I shal gyue to you good connceyl yf ye wyl byleue me ye shal doo reyse vp a galowe tree nyghe to the dyches of the toure in whych been the prysonners of fraunce to morne ye shal do hange this prysoner see that ye haue in a secrete place nyghe vnto that said galowes thousaÌ„d turkes wel armed in good poynte and I am sure that the freysshe men be so hardy and oute of mesure that whan they shal see their felowe for to be hanged they shal come oute for to socoure hym your peple that shal be hydde in the busshement shal come out on them take them Thenne shal ye haue them al surely for to do wyth your playsyr this counceyl was approued by thadmyral to be good was therwyth wel content wherfore wythoute takyng of ony other delyberacy on the galowes were made as afore is sayd ryght nyghe to the place was a lytel wode lete put therin secretly xx M fyghtyng men comanded them to be gouerned by the kyng claryon other capytayns after thadmyral made guy of bourgoyne to be ledde with xxx sarasyns vnto the galowes whyche cessed not to bete and smyte on hym with grete staues whyche greued hym sore they bonde his handes behynde hys backe moche straytly whan he felte a grete corde aboute hih necke and hys eyen bounden sawe no thyuge whyther he wente Thys thynkyng wyth an hye voys he began to crye O redemptour of the world my maker and my god for whos name I am in payne and goo to deye an euyl deth the meryte of thy passyon take my soule in to thy kepyng for the body taketh hys ende And lyke as I haue nede of thy helpe So I beseche and requyre the to counceyll and comforte me ¶ O noble barons of fraunco ye shal neuer see me yf ye suffre me to be hanged it shal be to you grete shame O Roulland fayr cosyn remembre me or ellys shal ye neuer see me on lyue he thus sayeng and other pyetous wordes Rolland was in a wyndowe and behelde ouer a lytel rocke and sawe the galowes reysed wherfore he came to hys felawes and sayd I meruaylle moche what thys meneth that I haue seen the galowes sette vpon the dyches I wote neuer to what purpoos it is doon whan the other had seen it Duc naymes sayd to them that with oute faute they were made for to hange on guye of bourgoyne forthwith they saw hym comyng al despoyled and was ledde toward the galowes they knewe wel that yf he were not socoured and rescued that he shold be hanged put to deth â—whan the fayr florypes herde theÌ„ plede she came to them for to wete what it was and after whan she sawe the galowes reysed and guy hir loue and to comyng husbond so shamefully ledde ye may thynke in what estate she was reduced and began to crye O noble knyghtes shal ye suffre guy of bourgoyn your felawe to be hanged tofore your eyen Truste ye none other that yf he deye by the same god that fourmed me I shal lepe out of the wyndowe shal deye in desperacyen and after she came to rolland kneled doun on both hyr knees and kyssed hys feet humbly in sayeng Syr Rolland in thonour of god I requyre the that it may playse the to take the payne for to rescowe socoure my loue guye and ellys I am a boste woman Thynke for to arme you and I shal goo and make redy your horses for the tyme is ouer short so that by the playsyr of god ye shal be there in tyme Thenne Rolland his felowes armed them moche hastely and gyrde theyr swerdes and sheldes and wente oute of the toure and on hors backe sprange oute And or they rode ony ferther rolland sayd lordes at thys houre lyeth our deth our lyf in suche wyse that yf we haue not good conduyte loyal we shal neuer retorne we ne ben but x the payneÌ„s ben Innumerable of grete force In thonour of god I praye you that alwaye we holde vs togyder that eche take hede of other as moche as he may For yf we be deuyded we shal sone be taken and hanged And on that other parte yf one of vs falle to the grounde that prestly he be reysed And not to leue hym for lyf ne deth And that none faylle other And I shal be he that shal brynge you to gyder by thayde of god for I swere to you by my lyf that as long as I may holde durandal and may kepe the lyf in my body ye shal haue of me a good deffendour and waraunt and in lykewyse sayd al the other Florypes answerd my lordes ye may tarpe ouer longe she went in to hyr chambre and opened a coffre in whiche was the crowne of Ihesu Cryste and moche reuerently they kyssed it sette it on theyr heedes wherfor with a good courage they yssued out noo thynge dredyng the puyssaunce of the paynyms after Florypes and hyr damoysellys lyft vp the brydge shette fast the toure ¶ The noble peres of fraunce fayr and in good ordenaunce wente toward the galowes alonge the medowes the paynyms were vnder the galowes and were besy to brynge vp guy of bourgoyn which had hys eyen bounden hys handes also and a grete corde aboute hys necke and whan Rolland sawe that he hasted hys hors the other after began to crye to the paynyms sayeng ha trayters mastyns It shal not be as ye thynk ye haue begonne suche a thynge werof ye shal repente Of thys huâ—â—t which was made so Impetuously the moost hardy of xxx that helde guye began to flee and they were so hastely poursyewed that xx of them were slayn here vpon they that were in the wode camen out makyng a grete bruyt and al afore came Cornyfer a meruayllous paynym vpon a morel of grete facyon
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
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
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