desyre frequented the bookes 〈◊〉 vpon the crysten fayth for to be protectour and defer 〈◊〉 of the chyrche the whyche is vysyted on mornynges and on euenes in the nyght oftyâ—es and of good festes be faylled not to doo gretely hys deuoyr in sacrifyses oblacions And also gaf largely almesse for the leue of god and was alway redy to socour the poure people in tâ—e largest wyse Foâ— he socoured not onely the poure folke of his ownâ— contreye with his hauoyr goodes but in many other places beyoÌ„de the see he sente golde and syluer and vytayll after the necessyte of the place as in surrye in egypt in affrique in Iherusalem other contreyes as he that sayd gold and syluer is not myn To euery man he desyred amytye and pees Of body he was moche ample boystous of stature well apparysaunt the coppe of hys heed rounde the heere 's in grete reuerence the vysage Ioyous he had the boys clere of grete force at his souper he ete not for the moost parte sauf rosted veneson whyche aboue alle other flesshe he loued and vsed at his souper Alwaye he loued redars for to rede cronycles or other thynges contemplatyues as he that wold as wel fede the soule whiche is ê‘petuel of spyrituel fode for to mayntene it in vnyon of grace toward god his maker as of refeccyon of the body for to conserue the lyf And emonge al other bookes he delyted strongely in the bookes of saint austyn especyally in that whyche is named de ciuitate dei he draÌ„ke not ouer ofte For at souper he dranke not but thre tymes In somer tyme gladly after mydday he wold ete a lytel faiyt drynke ones wold goo reste hym al naked in his bedde two or three houres In the nyght he brake his slepe foure or v tymes and walked in hys chambre Thus Charles preseuerd in felicyte ryal and emperyal sente oueral thorugh hys empyre hys messagers and grete counceylllours for to vysyte hys prouynces and good townes for to be enformed of the gouernoure of them for to do to eueriche Iustyce and reson and made many constytucyons lawes accordyng to the places and commaunded them to be obserued and kepte vpon grete payne Semblably the sayd Charles sente thorugh al the world for to knowe ouer al the gouernement That is to wete for do knowe the meruayllous faytes that were doon in the world And also for to lerne the lyf of sayntes of whom the festes were halowed and made of them bookes for tabyde in eternal memorye euery day he dyd doo put in wrytyng that whyche he dyd In suche maner that after the wrytyng that he thenne fonde were founde more than thre hondred festes of sayntes one tyme of the yere wherfor he excersycyng his spyrituel werkes he was byloued dere reputed of euery body In that tyme Aaron the kyng of perce for the magnyfycence of charles sente to hym an Olyphaunt merueyllously grete for a synguler yefte and many other thynges precyouses ¶ Thys Charles for hys grete holynesse and no blesse was in suche renommce of honour and of vertures On a tyme aaron the kyng of Perse sente to hym emonge other yeftes the bodyes of saynt Cypryan and of saynt speratus and the heed of saynt Panthaleon marters in to Fraunce ¶ The thyrd parte of the fyrst book conteyneth thre chapytres and speketh how by reuelacion deuyne Charles defyuerd the holy londe fro the honde of the paynyms ¶ How the patryorke of Iherusalem sente to Charles for socours after that he was deiecte and caste oute of the Turkes capitulo primo IT is redde that in the tyme that charles was emperour of rome the patryarke of Iherusalem was soo oppressyd of the paynyms by mortall warre that vnnethe he myght saue hym self And thus whan he knewe nomore what to do He had in remembrauÌ„ce the noble charles and he beyng en formed of hys holynes for socour he sente to hym the keyes of the holy sepulcre of our lord Ihesu Cryst of Caluarye and of the cyte And wyth that he sente to hym the standart of the fayth as to the pyler of crystente and deffendour of holy chyrche After thys the patryarke came to constantynoble vnto themperour constantyn and to hys sone Leo brought wyth hym Iohan of naples preste and another whyche named hym self Dauyd areâ—â—prâ—est whome themperour Constantyn sent incontynent to charles And wyth them tweyne â—e ordeyned for to goo wyth them two other whyche were named ysaac and Samuel delyuerd to them a lettre wryton with his owne hande for to bere to charâ—les And the sayd Constantyn had wryton in one parte of the lettre thus On a nyght me sâ—â—med that I sawe tofore my bedde a yonge womaÌ„ moche fayre stendyng ryght vp whyche touâ—â—ed me softly and sayd to me 〈◊〉 swete wordes CoÌ„stantyn whan thou knewest thaffayre 〈◊〉 of the paynyms whyche hoâ—deâ— the holy londe by gretâ— afâ—ectyon thou hast prayed â—od for to haue helpe â—o what â—â—ou shalhe doo Pourchace that â—â—ou mayst haue wyth the charles the grete kyng of the gallyens whych is protectour of holy crystente and defendour of holy chyrâ—â—â— And after the same lady shewed me a knyght armed in al his body and spores on hys beleâ— had hys shelde rede gyrde wyth hys swerde had his sleue of purple helde a spere moche grete And the heed of yron whyche was on hye caste in to the ayer grete flambes of fyre he helde in his hoÌ„de a bacynet al of golde shynyng and he was auncient wyth a longe herde ryght fayre of vysage and longe of body he had eyen shynyng as ij sterres and hys heerys began to wexe whyte and after was wryton O thou August that neuer refusest the comandements of god enioye the in Ihesu Cryst in thy mynde alwaye yelde to hym thankynges be enclosed in Iustyce lyke as thou hast be reclamed in honour Ihesu Cryste gyue the grace to preseuere and kepe alwaye the commandemeÌ„ts of god as thou oughtest to doo feemely And as it is wryton themperour Constantyn in hys tyme had deiected the paynyms oute of Iherusalem seuen tymes wherfore whan he myÈt nomore he sente his messagers to kyng Charles whyche at that tyme was at parys And whan the messagers had presented the letters and he had seen them he began to wepe moche greuously in contemplacyon of pyte of the holy sepulcre of our lord so holden of the paynyms After this he sente for tharchebysshop Turpyn and maad hym to preche openlye the pyteous tydynges whyche were thenne presentlye comen the whyche wel herde and vnderstood the peple alle generally were enclyned to goo thyder ¶ How charles with a grete companye wente for to conquere the holy lande and many other maters capitulo ij AFter that thys whyche I haue tofore sayd was publysshed The kynge dyd do make an edyct and dyd do crye it thorugh out al the
capitulo xiij How the peres of fraunce that were in the toure cam oute whan they sawe thoost of Charles how thadmyral was taken and holden prysoner ca xiiij How ballant thadmyral for all the admonycion that was made to hym he wold not be baptysed but was slayn Floripes hys doughter was baptysed after wedded to guy of burgoyne guy crowned kyng the quene of that contre capitulo xv How Florypes gaf the reliques to themperour how they were assayed proued by myracle of the retournyng of charles the ende of this book ca xvj ¶ Here begynneth the iij book whiche conteyneth ij partyes by the chapytres folowyng declared ¶ The first partye of the iij book conteyneth xiiij chapytres speketh of the warres in spayne of two grete geantes How saynt Iames appyered to Charles how by the moyen by the conduyte of the sterres he went in to Galice what citees he there subdued ca primo Of cytees goten in spayne by charles how somme of theym were by hym cursed capitulo ij Of a grete ydolle whyche was in a cyte that myght not be beten doun and of the sygnes condycyons thewf capitulo iij Of the chyrche of saynt Iames in Galyce of other chyrches that he dyd there do founde iiij How after that Aygolant the geaunt had taken spayne destroyed and put to deth the crysten men Charles recouerd it other maters capitulo v How aygoland sent to Charles that he shold feably come to hym with lytel peple to make Iuste warre how charles in habyte dissimyled spake to hym other maters capitulo vj How charles accompanyed with moche peple retorned to the place forsaid took the cite of agâ—ne other maters capitulo vij Of the vertuous operacions that charles dyd whan he was retorned in to fraunce what baroÌ„s he had in his companye and of theyr puyssaunce capitulo viij Of the tryewes of charles of aygolant of the deth of his peple wherfore aygoland was not baptysed ca ix ¶ Of the deth of aygolaÌ„t of his peple how moche people of the criâ—â—en men were dede by coÌ„cupysceâ—ce of money the crysten fouÌ„dâ—n dede by myracle ca x ¶ Of fâ—â—agê° the meruayllous geant hoâ— he 〈◊〉 aweye the barons of frâ—uÌ„ce without dauÌ„ger how afteâ—ward rolland fouÈt ayenst hym câ— xj How on the morne rolland and ferragus foughten to gâ—der and of their desputyng of their fayth and by what meane Ferragus was slayn by rolland ca xij How Charles went to cordube where as the kyng of that place the kyng of abyllâ— abode hym of their destructyoâ— ca xiij How the chirche of saint Iames was hallowed sacred by turpin tharchebisshop 〈◊〉 chirhes of spayne subgettes to the same of that pryncypal chyrches xiiij ¶ The second partye of the iij book conteyneth x chapytres speketh of the trayson doon and made by Ganellon of the deth of the peres of fraunce How the trayson was comprysed by Ganellon of the deth of the crysten men how ganellon is repreued by thauctour ca j Of the deth of kyng marfuryus and how Rolland was hurte wyth foure speres mortally after that al his peple were slayn and deed capitulo ij How Rolland deyed moche holyly after many maters orysons made and prayed to god moche deuoutely and of the complaynte made vpon hys swerde durandal capitulo iij Of the vysion of the deth of rolland shewed to tharchebysshop Turpyn of the sorowe of charles how he complayned hym pytâ—ously other maters iiij How olyuer was fouÌ„den slayn and of the deth of the sarasyns of the deth of ganellon whyche was hydous capitulo v How after the thynges aforesayd Charles gaf thankynges and preysynges to god and to Saynt Denys And of the constitucions that he made in frauÌ„ce capitulo vi How Charles wente in to Almayn where as he deyed holyly and of his deth shewed to tharchebysshop Turpyn and of his buryeng Imperyally ca vij Of the recapitulacion of al this werke and of hys deth at 〈◊〉 of his sepulture capitulo viij Thexcusacyon of thauctour ix Thenuoye of thauctor ca x ¶ Explicit AS it is redde in thystoryes of the troians After the dystructyon of the noble cyte of Troye there was a kyng moche noble named francus the whyche was felowe of Eneas which whan he departed fro Troye came in to the regyon of fraunce begaâ— to regne in grete prosperyte for the felycyte of his name he dyd coÌ„pose do edyfye a cyte whiche he named fraunce so folowyng all the regyon was called frauÌ„ce after whaÌ„ frauÌ„ce was enhauÌ„ced reduced to mageste ryal Priamus was the fyrst that regned vpon the frensshe men v yere The second was marcurius xxxiij yere The iij pharaâ—â—uÌ„dus regned xj yere The iiij clodyus xiiij yere The v Meroneus x yere The vj hildericus xxvij yere the vij was Clodoneus the fyrst crysten kyng whyche regned vpon the frensshe men after thyncarnacion of our lord CCCC lxxxiiij yere of whome I entende to make a litel mencyon vpon hys â—â—â—ueyllous conuersacyon ¶ How the kyng clodoneus paynym had to wyf the noble clotildis doughter of the kynge of burgoyne capitulo ij IN that tyme was kyng of the burgoynons guydengus the whiche had iiij sones al of good aege that is to wete Agabondus the ij godogesylus the iij Hyspericus the fourth Godamarus The fyrst agabondus repleynsshed of al inyquyte put to deth by swerd his broder hispericus and after henge his wyf put a stone aboute hyr necke drowned hyr This hyspericus had two fayre doughters theldest was named throne whom agabondus her vncle bannysshed fro hys contrey sent hir forth in habyte dyâ—â—ymyled The yonger of these ij douâ—ters was named clotildis whom he reteyned for hir beaute wyth hym in his hous duryng thyâ— the kyng clodoneus or Cloys iij frensshe beyng a paynym whyche byleued with his subgettâ—â— but vpon ydâ—lles oftymes fâ—r hys affayres sent his messageâ—s 〈◊〉 to burgoyne clotyldys thâ—â— fayr mayde was ofte seen of â—he messagers of the kyng 〈…〉 by holden affectuously and for hir grete beaulte dyscrescyon the sayd messagers â—â—tyfyed it to the kyng 〈◊〉 â— and whan thys kyng Cloy◠〈◊〉 ynough informed of the grete beauteâ—â— wysdom of this mayde whyche was crysten he was moche curyous to sende his herawdes vnto agabondus â—ncle of thys doughter for to haâ—e hyr to maryage Duryng those dayes the kyng Cloys had a subtyl man wyth hym named aurelyanus which by comaundement of hys lord wente to the place where as was thyâ— mayde put hym self in habyte moche poure and dyssymyled leâ—t his good habytes with his felowes in a wode weÌ„t moche holyly tofore the moder chyrche of that place the day of a grete feste set hym self in the myddes
of the poure peple for to receyue almesse lyke as other dyden whan thoffyce was accomplysshed this mayde Clotildis like as the was accustomed acte departyng fro the chyrche began to gyue almesse to the poure peple whan she came to Aurelianus she gaf to hym in his honde a pyece of golde anone he as glad wel contente kyssed hyr hâ—ndeâ— whan this lady was in hyâ— chambre she began to thynke on that poure man that had kyssed hyr honde sent for to seche hym by hyr seruaunt whan he wyst it he cam to hir moche Ioyously and bare in his honde the rynge of kyng cloys humbly behaued hym tofore hyr ¶ The mayde began to say to hym saye to me wherfore dyssymylest thou thy self lyke to the poure people Aurelyanus answerd Madame knowe ye for trouthe that I am a messager of the noble Kyng cloys kyng of Fraunce whiche hath sente me to you beyng enformed of your beaute wysdom desyreth you to be hys wyf for to be quene forthwith he preseÌ„ted to hir the rynge of kyng cloys the whyche she took put it in to the tresour of agabondus hir vncle sayd to the messager that he shold recomaunde hyr to the kyng in tellyng to hym that it was not leeful to a paynym to haue to his wyf a crysten womaÌ„ Neuertheles she prayed hym that of al this he shold say noo worde that she wold not doe but as the kyng wold vpon this poynt auerlianus came and shewed al to the kyng wherevpon the kyng cloys the yere folowyng sent ageyn his messager anrelianê° to agaboÌ„dus vncle of Clotildis for to haue hyr to his wyf whan Agabondus knewe thenâ—necyon of kyng cloys he ansuerd to the messager Say hardyly to the kyng thy lord that he hath lytel to do in desyryng to haue my nyece to wyf but the bourgoynons wyse couÌ„seyllours redoubtyng the puyssaunce of kyng Cloys by good counceyl whan they had wel serched the tresour of Agabondus their kyng fouÌ„de the rynge of kyng cloys which clotyldis had layed therin wherin was graueÌ„ portrayed his ymage wente concluded to performe the wylle of kyng clois vpon this agabondus ful of yre delyuerd Clotildis to aurelianus he brouÈt hir with his peple with grete Ioye to kyng cloys which had grete playsyr to see thys fayr mayde And forthwyth with al solemnyte after the maner royal he espoused hir after the custome of his lawe ¶ How kyng Cloys was admonested by the quene clotildis affectuously that he shold byleue in the crysten fayth and other maters capitulo iij THe fyrst nyght after the espousaylles atte houre that the kyng and the quene shold slepe to gyder Clotyldis enbraced wyth the loue of god by grete knowlege of Ihesus our lord went and said to the kyng My right dere lord I requyre the that it please the to grauÌ„te to me a lytel demauÌ„de byfore or I entre in to thy bedde wyth the The kynge sayd demaundeâ— what thou wylt For I am wel contente Clotyldys thenne sayd to hym Fyrst I demaunde requyre and admoneste the that thou wylt byleue in god of heuen Fader almyghty whyche made heuen and erthe that hath created the And in Ihesu Cryst his gloryous sone kyng of alle kynges which by his passyon hath redemed the And in the holy ghoost confirmatour and Illumynatour of al good werkes procedyng fro the fader fro the sone the foresayd Trynyte in one onely essen to whome ought to be gyuen al honour and all lawde byleue Byleue ye in this holy byleue and mageste and leue the ydolles made wyth mannes honde a folysshe thyng and vayn and thynke for to restore the holy chyrches whyche thou hast brente Secondly I requyre the that thou wylt demaunde my parte and porcyon of the goodes of my fader and of my moder of agabondê° myn vncle whom he dyd put to deth falsely and wythoute occasyon but the vengeaunce I leue to god whan she had said this the kyng answerd ¶ Thou hast demaunded me a poynte passage which is to me ouer strayt hard to graunte that is that I shold forsake my goddes by whome I gouern me for to adoure one onely god of whome thou hast spoken to me demauÌ„de of me som other thynge with good hert I shal doo it Clotildis aÌ„suerd as moche as is possyble to me to requyer I supplye byseche the that thou wilt adoure the god of heuen maker of al to whome onely is due al honour the kyng made none other ansuer but sente anone Aurelyen his faâ—tour to agabondus for to haue the goodes longyng to the quene Clotildis whan Aurelyen had doon his message Agabondus replenysshed with grete Ire aÌ„suerd to the messager that he shold as soone haue alle his royame as ony thyng of hym For which cause Aurelyen said to hym the kyng clâ—ys my maister comauÌ„deth the by me that thou make an answer vpon my demaunde or ellys he shalle be euyl contente Thenne the bourgoynons helden a counceyl and sayd to agabondus their kyng Sir kyng gyue to your nyece of your goodes as reason wyl for it is ryght And we kâ—owe wel that so ought ye to doe and to take playsyr to haue good aâ—yaunces with clois the kyng and wyth all the frensshe peple to th ende that they â—â—nne not on vs For the people is boystous furious and that werke is wythout mynde of god And vpon this poynte Agabondus constrayned to the counceyl of the bourgoynons hys people sente a grete partye of his tresour to Aurelyen the messager of kyng Cloys In a litel tyme after the kyng cloys in vysityng his royame The quene clotyldis was anon grete with chylde and sone after was delyuerd of a sone whome she dyd do baptyse And contynuelly requyred the kyng that he wold byleue as tofore is sayd but he in no wyse wold here her ne do therafter And whan the chylde was baptysed anone it exspyred deyed wherof the kyng was euyl contente and sayd to the quene yf thou haddest gyuen hym and dedyed hym to my goddes he were now olyue The quene an swerd for this thyng I am noo thyng perturbled in my courage but I rendre gyue thaÌ„kynges to god my creatour by cause he hath me so dygne and worthy that it haâ—h plesed hym to take in to his royalme of heuen the fyrst fruyt of my wombe After the yere folowyng she had ageyn another sone named lodomyrus the whyche whan he was baptysed bycame anone so seke that it was supposed he shold deye And whan the kyng sawe it languysshe he beyng euyl contente said to the quene and how sayd he it shal none otherwyse be of this chylde but as it was of that other his broder by cause ayenst myn entente thou doost thy wylle in baptysyng them Thenne the quene for the fere of the â—yng prayed to god deuoutely for the helthe
kynge of the lordes of Fraunce of whome the â—â—gnage succeded from heyre to â—yres vnto the foure and twenty kyng whych was the kyng â—â—epyn of another lygnage And the kynge whyche was the xxiij after the kyng Cloys and of his â—gnage was named hildâ—â—us the which beyng deuoute contempletyf wythoute cure to excersyse thoffyce royal of a kynge put hym self in relygyon for to lede a solytarye lyf ¶ In that tyme was Pepyn moche valyaunt of hys persone and moche noble prynâ—e And by cause that alle the kynges of fraunce haue succeded of thys sayd Pepyn and in especial charlemayn his sone vpon whome this werke is comprysed I wyl here begynne to treate the mater the whyche I entende superfycially to speke of And lyke as the book whyche is called myrrour hystoryal compryseth That Pepyn the prynce on a tyâ—e sente hys messagers to Rome to the Pope zacharye for to haue answer vpon a demaunde That is to wete whether is he more worthy to be a kyng or to be said a kyng whihe foâ— peâ—s and parfyght vnyon taketh on hym grete payne trauaylle or ellys he that retcheth of noo thynge and is abandonned and gyuen to all slouth and is onely contente to haue the name onely of kyng whan the pope had herde thys demauÌ„de he remaunded to Pepyn that he by ryght reason and veray equyte ought to be called a kyng that gouerneth and ruleth hys fayt for the comyn wele contynueth it For whyche ansuer demaunde the Frensshe men by câ—unceyl approuued consydered theyr kyng hyldrycus professed in a monasterye in lyf solytarye and contemplatyf And that not wythstondyng ought not to be ony thyng ayenst them that lyuen solytaryly how wel a kyng ought not to be solytarye For suche as is the Kyng suche is the Royame ¶ For salamon sayth yf the kyng be neclygeÌ„t the peple wote not what to doo And blessyd is the londe that hath a prynce noble Alle the frensshe men beyng wel enformed of the condycions apperteynyng to a kynge after an auctour that sayth thus ¶ The Prynce whan he is ordeyned ought not to haue horses superfluous ne make his peple more subgette than they ought to be and ought not to take but seruauntes propyce and necessarye wythoute superfluyte and not to nourysshe ouer many houndes ne other beestes vnprouffytable but take them in mesure ¶ And he shold eschewe multyplycacyon of menysâ—rellys Tabouryns commyn wymmen lecherous men ¶ And he shold not corrupte hys subgettes by euyl exaumple He shold not breke hys espousaylles he shold gladly rede in bookes shold haue by hym peple wel letterd And shold Iuge wythoute fauour ¶ And tofore al thynges he shold adoure serue god he shold not gladly take yeftes ought not gladly to châ—uÌ„ge hys offycers Alle thys thynge wel seen emonge them for the conseruacion of the people emonge the myscreauÌ„tes which were at that tyme wente and chosen for to be kyng of Fraunce the noble Pepyn and fro that tyme forthon the lygnage of kyng cloys regned nomore vpon the frensshe men And he was consecrate by saynt Boneface And by thauctoryte apostolyque by Saynt Stephen Pope with his ij sones Charlemayn charles the grete was confermed and approuued and ordeyned all the kynges of fraunce in grete benâ—dyction to succede fro lygnage to lygnage moost nexte And the said pope gaf his maledyction to al them that were opposaunts and ayenst these thynges aforesayd ¶ Thenne after this noble kyng Pepyn made grete warre to the englysshe men And after the guyse Romayn he ordeyned the seruyce in the chyrches of frauÌ„ce and many other maters meruayllous wherof thonour is attrybuted by good ryght to hym by vyctorye obteyned and was buryed in the chyrche of Saynt Denys in Fraunce And lefte hys heyres hys two sones afore sayd whome he had goten on the noble quene berte doughter of the grete Herclyn Cezar of whome the lignage of romayns of germayns and of the grekes haue had concurrence wherfore by good ryght in tyme folowyng the kyng Charles was chosen and maad Emperour of Rome And the sayd Kynge Pepyn regned xviij yere in prosperyte dygne of saluacyon and after that the broder of the sayd Charles had regned in his partye of the royame ij yere he deyed And thenne after alle the gouernement hoolly of the royame of fraunce abode to the sayd charles as here after shalle be more playnly shewed ¶ Of kyng Charles after that he had maad many constytucyons wyth the Pope Adryan how he was emperour of Rome capitulo ij THys noble Charlemayn otherwyse called Charles the grete the whiche for the gretenes of hys body puyssaunce and opperacions virtuouses by merite is called grete as I haue sayd whyche after the deth of hys brother he was onely kyng of Fraunce A lytel whyle after that the Pope adryan regned dyd grete dyligence to strengthe corobere the crysten fayth in annullyng the heresyes and constytutyng ymages for representacyon of sayntes in chyrches And to many other labours merytoryes adioyned in the seruyce of god of holy chyrche The kyng charles ayenst the mysereauntes taryed not to confounde them but had vyctorye of them in dyners maners the pope adryan whyche was wel enformed that thys Charles was a stronge pyler of the chyrche and protectour of the fayth sente for hym that he shold come to Rome And whan he came to pauye there he taryed sette hys syege and soiourned a lytel tyme And after wyth a fewe of hys people departed came to rome And there he was receyued affectuously and vysyted many places deuoutelye And after whan he retorned he took pauye And whan he had all doon his playsyr he retorned to Rome And wyth the Pope adryan he assembled many bysshoppes and abbottes the nombre of an hondred liij where they ordeyned many constytucyons vpon the fayt of the vnyuersal chyrche And in that synode for the grete holynes of charles The pope and al thassystentes gaf hym power for to ordeyne bisshoppes archbisshops in al his contrees and prouynces And al them that so shal be ordeyned he shal conferme and the rebellys that shall gaynsaye them he shal curse and theyr goodes be confysked This noble charles wyth hys two sones that one named Pepyn that other â—â—wys And the xij pyeres of fraunce whyche al had promysed fydelyte one to that other for to Ieoparde theyr lyf for the crysten fayth In that tyme many mortal warres duryng the lyf of kyng Pepyn of charles and after that the royame of lombardye was destroyed and delyuerd of the myscreauntes And maad pees not wythoute grete trauayll for to come from fraunce in to lombardye by cause of the dauÌ„gerous countre whan alle thys was termyned to hys playsyr he reduced alle ytalye vnder the trybute of the royame of Fraunce In suche wyse that whan ytalye was thus destroyed he went to Rome for to gyue thankynges and
laude to god moche deuoutelye for vyctorye that he had and for execusyon doon vpon the enemyes of the fayth And there with the pope Adryan he maad many constytucyons whyche by ryÈt equyte ought wel to be obserued And after he beyng thus in Rome vyctoryous hys sone Pepyn was ordeyned consecrate kyng of the ytalyens And hys sone lowys was ordeyned and consecrate kyng vpon gâ—yan thys doon the Romayns whyche of grete ancyaunte were of grete appâ—ete after that the emperour was by them put to deth Constantyn his sone wold haue regned for emperour whyche was not wel in the fauour of the senatours and other Romayns the whyche beyng in this poynte after that they had taken delyberacyon of grete counceyl seeyng the grete valure and noblesse of kyng Charles whyche was so parfyght in alle noblesse hardynesse prudence other vertues as I shalle touche herafter alle playne that by consente of eue ryche he was chosen emperour of Rome wyth grete loange exaltacyon of Ioye Innumerable And by the honde of Pope Leo he was crowned emperour with alle honoures that myght be comprysed And al wyth one voys gaf to hym laude and honour And called hym Cezar August by a symylytude of valure in contemplacyon of grete playsyr that they had maad hym kyng of ytalyens ¶ Of the corpulence of Kynge Charles and of the maner of hys lyuyng capitulo iij CHarlemayn Kynge of Fraunce after that he was Emperour â—e dyd many meruayllous werkes and regned emperour thyrtene yere And had thenne regned vpon the frensshe man xxxiij yere And in the contye of Rome he edyfyed many cytees and restored good townes many other thynges whyche may not well be recouÌ„ted by cause of his merueyllous werkes Neuertheles for to knowe what man he was his werkes wytnessen as moche as toucheth thexcercyte of hys persone Turpyn the holy man archebysshop of Raynes whych lyued that tyme and was oft tymes in the companye of kyng Charles sayth that he was a man wel faryng of hys body grete of persone and had hys â—yght and regarde fyers malycyous ¶ The lengthe of hys persone conteyned eyght feet after the mesure of his feet which were merueyllously long fatte and massyf was â—e of his sholdres and raynes wythoute hauyng the bely otherwise than wel a poynte The armes and thyes he had ample and laâ—ge he was a subtyl knyght ryghtwyse actyf and moche fyers and of alle hys membres he was of ryght grete strengthe he had the face deduyte in lengthe and hys â—â—â—de was a foot longe he had hys nose reysed vpon a roundnes A fayr regarde and countenaunce had thys man he had the face of a large fote brode he had the eyen like a lyon sparklyng lyke a cole by furyous regardâ— his wynbrowes grete Assone as he byhelde a man in anger eche man had of hym fere and drede in openyng his eyen The gyrdle of whyche he was gyrde was viij fote longe wyth oute that that henge doun fro the 〈◊〉 to the pendaunt whan he took hys â—â—paast he was contente wyth lytel brede but as touchyng the pytauÌ„ce he ete at his REpaast a quarter of moton or ij â—â—nnes or a grete ghoos or a grete pestel of porke or a pecok or a crane or an hare all hool he dranke wyn sobrely wyth a lytel water therin Of hys strengthe is not a lytel thynge to speke of For he wold smyte a knyght armed wyth one stroke of a swerde and cleue hym from the coppe of the hede doun to the sadel And yf he had bytwene hys handes iiij hors shoen wyth oute ouermoche prouyng hys myght he wold ryÈt them oute and breke them in pyeces And more ouer wyth one hande he wold take a knyght al armed and lyfte hym vp to the heyght of hys breste lyghtly And he had in hym thre thynges moche honourable Fyrst in yeftes yeuyng he was ryght large lyke vnto Tytus themperour sone of vaspasyanus which was so prodygal that it was not possyble to hym to gyue that whyche he promysed And whan it was demaunded why he promysed thynge that he myght not gyue forthwyth he answerd that a persone ought not departe fro a prynce desolate ne heuy nor with oute to obteyne somme thynge Secondly Charles was so sure in Iugement that no man coude reprehende hym and also he was pyetous mercyful vnto cristen men after the qualyte of the persone the occasyon of the trespaas And thyrdly in his wordes he was moche wel aduysed whan he spake he thought strongely on that he sayd whan one spake to hym he remembred the manere for to compryse then tencyon of the spekar ¶ To what thynge kyng Charles hys sone and hys doughters were Instructe and taughte to doo capitulo iiij DAme bertrode moder of Charles ful of grete scyence in grete prosperyte of lyf and in honour wexed olde and fynysshed hyr dayes and ordeyned bookes for to excersyse the artes lyberalle ¶ Of whome fyrst charles took gladly payne for to estudye And in the tyme of Infancye he maad scyence to be taught to his sones and doughters and after whan they knewe their byleue he made them to studye in the seuen artes lyberal And whan the sones were of age for to ryde on horsback after the guyse of Fraunce he made them to fere armes and to Iuste for texcersyle the warre whan it shold be nede whan they dyd not that he made them to hunte of maner wylde beestes and dyd them to do other of batements longyng to chyualrye contynuelly After this he made his doughters to spynne sowe and to occupye them in other honourable werkes 〈◊〉 th ende that by ydlenes and slouthe faute of occupacyon they shold not haue occasyon to falle in thouÈt dysordynate for to haue Inclynacyon to synne and vyce and whan he was not occupyed in maters of charge and weyghty he wold employe his tyme in wrytyng somme newe thynge to th ende that he wold not be ydle acoordyng to the pystle of saynt poule whiche admonesteth vs to do alwaye somme good by cause that out enemye the fonde holde vs not in ydlenes for to folowe his entencyon dampnable And he dyd do make in his polays in Acon in Almayn a chyrche of our lady comprysed of meruayllous beaute moche rychely ordeyned and wrought and in grete honour enhaunced in sygne of a parfyght crysten man For after that one loueth the lord and that is gyuen to hym the werkes desirous to meue other to doo to the bard lyke as hym self and in lyke wyse shold perseuere in the amplyfycacyon of hys contreye that sythe the deth of hys fader Pepyn be doubled by puyssauÌ„ce in the royame of fraunce ¶ Of the studye of kyng charles of hys lyuyng of hys charytable werkes and other maters capitulo v AFter that Charles was Instructe in gram yre other scyences â—â—â—pased speculatyf alwaye be contynued in them And by ardour
harnays hys hawberke hys helme and harnays necessarye And whan he was alle furnyshed he took hys swerde named hautrelere the whyche swerde he moche loued After brought he hym hys hors the moost specyall that he loved whyche was named Ferraunt despaygne And whan he was brought tofore hym alle sadled and brydled The Ioly and gentyl Olyuer sprange in to the sadle wythoute settyng foot in the styrop and sette hys shelde at hys ease and in hys honde a myghty spere sharpe whych garyn took to hym And after smote the hors wyth the spores so harde that in the leepyng he maad hys hors to bowe vnder hym It was a good syght to see Olyuer on horsback wyth a moche fyers countenaunce And they that were presente bysought Ihesu Cryst our redemar that he shold take hym in hys kepyng For in that day he shold fyght ageynst the moost strong and moost fyers paynym that euer was born of moder or euer was in thys world That is Fyerabras of Alexandrye sone of the admyral Ballant of spayne of whome we shalle see by the playsyr of god the termynacyon after ¶ He beyng thus on horsback in grete poynt vpon hys vysage and vpon his body he maad the sygne of the crosse in the name of Ihesus and commaunded hym self to the wylle of god whyche that day shold be to hym in comforte and ayde after hys good entencyon And of euery man he was byseen and knowen that he had first hole in hys body for to do grete feat of armes so rode forth vnto the lyces of themperour Charles with whom was the Duc naymes guyllam de scot Gerard de mondydyer and Ogyer the danoys wyth other barons of freunce emonge alle other there was Rolland moche sorouful of the wordes that he had ayenst his vncle the kyng for gladly he wolde haue doo the bataylle yf he had not wythsayed if tofore the kyng whan he was requyred Thus Olyuer beyng seen tofore Charles was moche alowed preysed of one and other moche affectuously byholden And the said olyuer put doun his helme and byhelde the lodgyce of the kyng And reuerently came salewed hym and after sayd to hym Noble emperour puyssauÌ„t redoubted and my synguler lord I beseche you to here me ye know Wel that there ben iij yeres past that I haue been in your seruyce and haue had of you no rewarde ne wages I you supplye with al myn herte that now ye wyll rewarde me wyth a yefte that I shal desyre To whom the kyng ansuerd Olyuer noble erle I assure to you by my fayth that I shal do it wyth a good wylle And assone as we shall be in fraunce there is neyther cyte to nigh ne castel that ye wyl haue ne none other thyng that to me is possyble faysyble that shal be denyed to you Syr kyng said Olyuer I am not comen to you for to demaunde suche thynge But I demaunde and requyre of you the bataylle ayenste the paynym so oute of mesure And at thys houce I graunte to you alle my goodes and seruyces for this yefte to be quyte of them whan the frensshe men had herde Olyuer they were all abasshed of hys prowesse eche of them loked on other and said emonge them A saynt marie what hath Olyuer founden wyyche is hurt quasi to deth wyl now goo to fyght and bataylle O Olyuer answerd charles thou hast loste thy wytte For thou know est wel that wyth a spere heed square and sharpe thou hast be hurte and wounded mortally and now thou wylt abandonâ—â— thy self to a gretter daunger mortall beware Retorne and take thy reste For 〈◊〉 well that for noo thynge I shall suffre the to do that fayte sythen that thou arte not presently in helthe of the body Vpon thys poynte aroos ganellon and Andrewe the traytres that dyd the 〈◊〉 as the laste look shall make mencyon ¶ And Oanellon sayd Syr Kyng ye haue ordeygned in Fraunce that it whyche by ij of vs is Iugâ—d ought to be holden and so is it that we ij Iuge ordeyne that Olyuer shalle goo and doo the bataylle wherfore the kyng ful of maltalente wyth coloure chaunged answerd Ganellon thou arte of euyl dysposycyon Wythoute spekyng that whyche is honourable Sythe it so is he shal doo the bataylle it may none otherwyse be but that he be dede But I swere to the my trouth that yf he be taken or put to deth al gold of the world shal not saue the but that thou shalt dye a vylaynous deth I shall destroye thy lygnage Syr Emperour sayd Ganellon god and our lady kepe me after the trayter sayd to hym self secretly God forbede that euer Olyuer retorne but that he haue hys heed smyton of and whan themperour sawe that he myght not gaynsaye but that olyuer shold goo and the bataylle ayenst Fyerabras he sayd I praye god of the fyrmamente gyue the grace to do wel that thou mayst retorne wyth Ioye And took hys ryght gloue and threwe it to Olyuer the which he receyued wyth grete desyre wylle in thankyng hym ryght humbly and takyng leue of al moche swetely ¶ Hoth Olyuer was requyred by his fader reyner that he shold not fyght wyth the geaunt but for al that he went forth ca vij WHan that Olyuer was lycenced for to goo doo hys bataylle and was redy to departe Reyner of genes hys fader came to the kyng and by grete compassyon kneled doun at hys feet and sayd Syr kyng I crye you mercy hane pyte of my sotte and me I say as for me ye wyl al dyscomforte me whan I see that my sone gooth to perdycyon seeyng the daunger that hys persone is in I say also that ye take pyte of his presumptuous yongthe of hys desyre ouer couetous and of his body wouÌ„ded dauÌ„gerously ye knowe wel that a man that is hurte so sore and that hath loste of hys blood may not wel endure bataylle But Reyner loste hys payne For the kyng had gyuen to hym hys gloue in sygne of lycence And not wythstondyng these wordes doubted no thyng but that he shold wel do hys deuoyr and valyauntly And yet ageyn reyner requyred the kyng and sayd Syr kyng in thonour of hym that for vs deyed on the crosse suffre not my sone to Iust Alas whan I shal haue lost my sone where shal I become and ye may wel fynde other for to take thys bataylle in honde Thempero ur Charles answerd Reyner ye knowe wel that I may not gaynsaye that I haue to hym graunted For in sygne of lyceÌ„ce I haue gyuen hym my gloue wherof Olyuer was contente thenne Olyuer sayd wyth an hye voys tofore alle the people Syr kyng and alle ye barons I beseche you alle of a yefte that is that I requyre you yf I haue mesprysed or mysdoon in dede or in worde ony ayenst you that in the name of god ye
establysshyng theyr feestes to th ende that we shold ensyewe them and to eschewe al euyl And the magnytude of thys kyng was wel preued by sygnes seen on the heuen For in the same yere the mone derked thre tymes and the sonne ones and companyes of people were seen meruayllous whyche shewed that thys Charles was of grete magnytude that is to wete bytwene heuen and erthe ¶ How Aygolant sent to charles that he shold come to hym trustely for to make Iust warre and how Charles in habyte dyssymyled spake to hym and of other maters capitulo vj AS I haue sayd the kyn Aygolant the geaunte fledde in to hys contreye whan socours cam to Charles of foure marques he slepte not vpon his purpoos but maad grete dylygence for to assemble hys people whyche were sarasyns Innumerable for he assembled more 's Moabytes Ethiopiens Affrycans and percyens he brought wyth hym also the kyng of arabye the kyng of barbarye the kyng of malroste the kyng of maioryke the kyng of meques the kyng of cybylle the kyng of Cordube the whych cam with peple wythout nombre certayn in to gascoyne in to a stronge cyte named Agenne and took it And after sent to Charles that he shold come to hym peasybly trustyly with a fewe peple promysyng to hym for to gyue to hym ix hors laden with gold syluer and precyous stones yf he wold thus come at hys desyre this paynym shewed to hym this by canse he wold knowe his persone for hys strengthe puyssaunce knewe he wel by experyence and also to th ende whan he knewe hym that he myght in the warre slee hym whan kyng charles knewe this mandement he gadred not grete peple but he came onely wyth ijM knyghtes of honour of grete streÌ„gth And whan he was foure myle nygh the cyte where Aygolant and al the kynges tofore named were he left his people secretly came vnto a mountayne nygh the cyte accompanyed wyth xl knyghtes onely And fro thys place they saw the cyte by cause to wete yf the multytude of peple were departed soo that he shold not be deceyued Neuertheles vpon thys montayne he lefte hys people secretly took of hys clothes and cladde hym in the guyse of a messager and took one knyÈt onely with hym whyche bare his spere swerde and bocler vnder hys mantel and soo came in to the cyte and anone he was brought tofore aygolant the geaunt And whan he was tofore hym he sayd in thys manere Charles the kyng hath sente vs vnto the and leteth the wete by vs that he is comen lyke as thou hast comanded accompanyed wyth fourty knyghtes onely for to do that he ought to doo Now thenne come to hym wyth xl knyghtes withoute moo yf thou wylt accomplysshe and holde that thou 〈◊〉 promysed Aygolant sayd to hem that they shold retorne to charles and that they shold say to hym that he departe not but abyde hym there and he wold come and vysyte hym After this that charles had knowen the geaunt and after vysyted the towne for to knowe the feblest parte for to take conquer it whan he shold come ageyn sawe al the kynges forsayd their puyssaunces â—e after reterned to his peple whiche he had left vpon the montayne after came to hys ijM knyghtes anone after aygolant accompanyed wyth vijM knyÈtes came after them withoute taryeng But charles took hede whan he cam that there were many moo paynyms than crysten men and wythout lenger taryeng charles his peple departed and retourned in to fraunce wythout hauyng other delyberacyon ¶ How Charles accompanyed with moche peple retorned in to the place aforsayd toke the cyte of agenne other maters vij AFter that charles was retorned in to fraunce he assembled moche peple after came to the cyte of ageÌ„ne assyeged it there by grete facyon the space of vij monethes Aygolant was therin many sarasyns the crysten men had made fortressis castelles of tree tofore this cyte for to greue it whan Aygolant the grete lordes of his companye sawe that they myght not endure they maad hooles caues vnder therth for tescape oute secretly in that maner they came out of the cyte passed ouer a ryuer which raÌ„ne by the cyte named goronna and so they saued them self The next day after whan there was noo grete resystence made to the crysten men Charles wyth grete tryumphe puyssaunce entred in to the cyte put to deth xM sarasyns that he there fonde The other seyng that put them to flyght by the ryuer Aygolant was in another stronge toun whan charles knewe it he came thyder assaylled it sente to hym to delyuer ouer the cyte aygolant ansuerd that he wold not so doo but by a moyen that was that they shold make a batayll he that shold wynne the bataylle shold be lord of the toun so they assygned the day of the bataylle and nygh to that place bytwene the castel thalabourt a ryuer called carantha soÌ„me of the crysten men planted theyr speres in the grounde especially they that on the morn shold dâ—ye obteyne the crowne of glorye as marters of god and on the morne they fonde their speres al grene myraculously leued ful of bowes wherof the cristen men were moche Ioyous of this myracle and raught not for to deye for the crysten fayth m mayn tenyng the name of god After that they cutte of theyr speres and wente to bataylle and put many sarasyns to deth But in th ende were slayn and martred of crysten men moo than iiijM whyche were saurd in heuen that tyme the hors that Charles rode on was slayn vnder hym and at that bataylle were slayn by the sayd Charles the kynge of Agabye the kyng of bugye merueyllous myghty sarasyns ¶ Of the vertuous operacions that charles made whan he was retorned in to frannce what barons he had in hys companye of theyr puyssaunce ca viij THe bataylle toforesayd made Aygolant fledde and came in to panpylone and sent to kyng charles that he shold abyde hym for to gyue hym bataylle more ample large whan charles knewe hys desyre he retourned in to fraunce for to haue helpe of hys peple and made an open maundement thorugh out al Fraunce that al maner peple that were of euyl condycyon and in bondage that they that were present and theyr sucessours sholde be free there vpon tabellyons shold be delyuerd accordyng to the lawe that wold goo with hym ayenst the myscreauntes Also alle prysoÌ„ners that were in fraunce he delyuerd them al out of pryson to al them that shold haue ben delyuerd to deth for feloÌ„nye murdre or treason he pardonned them gaf to them theyr lyf and to al poure peple that had not wherby to lyue he gaf to them good largely them that were euyll clad he clothed them after
peres of fraunce were deteyned in Aygremore and put in surete after saued fynably by florypes the curtoys doughter of the sayd ballant And the holy relyques recouured and other maters of grete meruaylles The in book speketh how by reuelacyon of saynt Iames charles went and conquerd spayne galyce where as he dyd operacions vertuous made constytucyons of sauacyon wyth many bataylles doon by hym and hys subgettes and fynably of the trayson of Ganellon by the whyche the deth of Rolland was pyetous the deth of Olyuer dolorouse and of the other peres of crysten knyghtes slayn dede And fynably the deth of Charles themperour as tofore is sayd and wryton and after that ony persone wyl here or rede of thys matere the table made atte begynnyng shal shewe it to hym lyghtly yf it be hys playsyr to here or rede of that werk in thys book composed Thenuoye of thauctour ca x AS I haue sayd at the begynnyng of thys present werke the escryptures and feates somme haue ben reduced in wrytyng for to be in memorye to the ende that they that haue doon wel be to vs ensaumple in ensyewyng and folowyng them they that haue doon euyl may be cause to rewse our lyf for to come to the porte of helthe For the comune vnderstondyng is more contente to reteyne parables and examples for the ymagynacion locall than to symple auctoryte the whyche is reteyned by vnderstondyng and also semblably thysâ—oryes spekyng of our lord Ihesu cryst of hys myracles of his vertuous subgettes euery man ouÈt gladly to here and retenne them it is so that at the requeste of the sayd venerable man to fere named Maister henry bolonnyer chanonne of lausanne I haue been Incyted to translate reduyse in prose in to Frensshe the maâ—er tofore reduced as moche as toucheth the fyrst the thyrd book I haue taken drawen oute of a book named myrrour hystoryal for the moost parte the second book I haue onely reduced it out of an olde romauÌ„ce in frensshe And without other Informacyon thâ—n of the same book I haue reduced if in to prose substaÌ„cyally wythout fayllyng by ordynauÌ„ce of chapytres partyes of the sayd book after the mater in the same conteyned And yf in al thys book I haue mesprysed or spoken otherwyse than good langage substancyally ful of good vnderstondyng to al makers and clerkes I demaunde correxyon and amendemâ—nt and of the defaultes pardon For yf the penne hath wryton euyl the hert thought it neuer but entended to say wel also my wytte vnderstondyng whâ—che is ryght lytel can not vttre ne wryte thys matere withoute errour Neuertheles who so vnderstondeth wel the lettre shal wel compryse myn entencyon by which he shal fynde nothyng but moyen for to come to saluacâ—on To the whyche may fynably come alle they that wyllyngly rede or here or do thys book to be redde Amen ¶ And by cause I Wylliam Caxton was desyred requyred by a good and synguler frende of myn Maister wylliam daubeney one of the tresorers of the Iewellys of the noble moost crysten kyng our naturel and souerayn lord late of noble memorye kyng Edward the foâ—rth on whos soule Ihesu haue mercy To reduce al these sayd hystoryes in to our englysshe tongue I haue put me in deuoyr to translate thys sayd book as ye here tofore may see al a longe and plâ—yn prayeng alle them that shal rede see or here it to pardon me of thys symple rude translacyon and reducyng bysechyng theym that shal fynde faute to correcte it in so doyng they shal deserue thankynges I shal praye god for them who brynge them and me after this short and transytorye lyf to euerlastyng blysse Amen the whyche werke was fynysshed in the reducyng of hit in to englysshe the xvin day of Iuyn the second yere of kynge Rychard the thyrd And the yere of our lord MCCCClxxxv And enprynted the fyrst day of decembre the same yere of our lord the fyrst yere of kyng Harry the seuenth ¶ Explicit ê‘ william Caxton