and the kyng Yon he knewe them well And incontynente he salued the kyng and sayde to him Syr god geue you good lyfe and longe And the kynge rendred to hym his salute and after sayde to him Of whence be you syr sayde Ogyer We been of the sweet Fraunce And also we be sente vnto you And we are of Charlemaynes folke now heare vs if it please you Syr said the kyng ye be ryght welcome Nowe tell on what ye wyll saye Syr sayd Ogyer Themperour Charlemayne sendeth to you worde by vs that ye yelde agayne vnto hym his enemyes the whiche ye haue withdrawen into youre landes and ye sende to hym an hundrede of your men for to conduyte and brynge theym wyth hym vnto Fraunce And yf ye refuse to doo this We by his commaundement defye you of his be halfe And within these iii. monethes he shall be in Gascoigne and shall take all your landes and shall be syege you with in the citie of Bordews And yf he take you he shal punyshe you in your body Now haue we sayde our message and yf it please you ye shall gyue vs an answere OGyer sayde the kynge it is well trouthe that I haue reteyned the foure sonnes of Aymon whyche bene worthye knyghtes and so haue I reteyned theym because they bene prue and valiaunt in armes and also that they haue holpeÌ and socoured me at my great need For I was disherited and vndoone for euer if they had not bene And for the greate good that they haue done to me I haue gyuen my syster Germayne to Reynawde for his wyfe And therefore I should be to cruell and eke well mischaunt if I should now take them into the handes of their enemyes mortall sith that they haue doone to me so good seruyse I haue leuer to be disheryted and dye an euyll death than to yelde them or suffre that they haue anye harme nor shame to my power For namely the kynge Charlemayne should than holde me for a foole wel nyce And therfore Ogyer yf it please you ye shall tell the Emperoure from my behalfe that I shall for sake fyrst all my londe and my realme than I should delyuer them in his handes And thys is my answere THan whan the king had sayd thus Reynawde spake after and sayde Ogier I meruayll greatly of the kynge Charlemaine that will not leaue vs in peace He cast vs out of Fraunce poore disherited wherof I am ashamed as ye knowe I wolde be reformed with reason to the sayenge of his barons but it pleaseth him not And so he casted vs out of Mountainforde shamefully so that we wist not where we shoulde goe And yet it suffyseth hym not but he wyll caste vs out of the londe of Gascoigne wherof he dooth great synne For yet am I redy for to doo his wyll in reason ryght And I tell you well that yf he refuse this by his pryde I wyll well that he know that I and mi bretherne are not suche that shall be taken as lyghtly as he weeneth And I promyse you that or euer he hath vs I shall make hym more than .x. tymes angrie and wroth For this that he dothe he dothe it but of pryde Ogyer I wyll well that kynge Charlmayne knowe that the king yon of Gascoigne hath gyuen to vs leue to builde a Castel that hath to name Mountawban the whiche is strong and imprenable yet I haue knyghtes with me that shall not fayle me at my need and tell to kinge Charlemaine that sith I cannot haue no peace nor accorde with hiÌ that I shal doo to hym all the doÌmage and harme that shal be to me possyble for to doo REinawde said Ogier ye speake not wysely weene ye to abashe vs with wordes ye shal not so but whaÌ ye shall see the Hoste and the great power of Charlemayne to gether ye shal be sore abashed and at the ende ye shall be full wrothe and sorye ye knowe well that the Emperour Charlemayne made you knight and ye slewe his Neuewe Berthelot and therfore think not to finde peace toward him and ye weene to be assured bycause the kyng yon hath made you to close a Castell but well I wil that he knowe that he shall repente for it full sore For afore two monethes be past we shal be in the middes of his lande and shall destroy all his Realme and we shall brenne bothe Castelles and townes Ogier saide Reynawde I swere to you vpon my fayth that whan king Charlemaine shal be with his hoste in to this land he shall wisshe hym selfe soone againe in FrauÌce with his folke And whan he shall see the hard Iustyng and sharpe warre that I and my brethren shal make against him he and ye shal be sore abasshed of it and some of you speaketh nowe hye that whan the deed shall come to profe he shall be full lowe Reynawde sayde than Ogyer I wyll hyde nothinge from you The kyng Charlemayne hathe so great a power and is delibered for to besiege Bordews and if he maye take you he shall punysshe you cruellye nowe doo as ye will I haue tolde you al my message and I goo againe to kyng Charlemayne Whan he had sayde these wordes he returned toward king Charlemaine and shewed vnto hym what kinge you and Reynawde had saide And whan the king vnderstoode the same he shooke all for anger saide now shall it be seen how king yon and Reinawde shal defende Gascoigne against me than went forth Charlemaine and passed the ryuer of Gyronde rode so longe that he came to Parys and the daye after he called al his barons that thei should come to him And whan thei were all come the kynge helde hys counsell and saide to them Lordes I haue sent for you to tell you the great shame that the kinge yon of Gascoigne doth to me For he holdeth the foure sonnes of Aymon my mortall enemies in dispiâe of me ye knowe what domage they haue doone to me For they slewe my neuew Bertheloâ I dyd banisshe them out of Faunce than made thei the castell of Mountaynforde within my land and I chased them out of it Nowe been they in Gascoigne wyth the kynge Yon that saith he shal defend them against me and he hathe geuen his Sister to Reynawde wherefore I praye you all that ye wyll helpe me that I be auenged ANd whaÌ Charlemaine had said this there was none of the barons that answered to him any worde for they were werye of the warre that they had made so long against Reynawde And Charlemaine sawe that no bodye anwered to him no thing he called to him the Duke Naimes and Ogier the Dane and the Erle Guydellon and saide to them Lordes what counsell doo you geue gyue to me in this matter Syr sayde the Duke Naymes yf ye wyll beleue me I shall gyue you good counseyl Suffre youre hoste to reste thys fyue yeres bycause that your folke is
telle it you with a good wyll Nowe wyt it that I am called Reynawd of Mountawban but Charlemayne hathe casted me therfrom wrongefully the Duke Aimon is my father and I am now come in to the holy londe for to serue our lord ayenst his enmies For thus hathe commaunded me to doo Charlemayne my souerayne lorde whan I made peace with him And that worse is I must needes come thus poorely arrayed as ye see beggyng my brede where so euer I goe or come where ayenst I wolde neuer goe for to haue peace Whan the erle of rames vnderstoode Reynawd he was gladde of him and heaued vp his handes towarde heauen and thanked God and after sayd O noble knight Reinawde of Mountawban the best knyghte of the worlde take heere my homage For I gyue my selfe vnto you and al my goodes And whan Reynawde sawe this he sayde to the earle of Rames Stand vp for ye profer me outrage By god sayd the erle I shall neuer aryse tyll ye haue graunted me a thynge Sir sayde Reynawde I graunt it you with a good wyll and with good herte Gramercye sayd the erle and than he stoode vp and sayde to Reynawde Is it trouthe that ye haue peace with the great king Charlemaine Alas where been youre bretheren the worthy knightes and Mawgys youre cosyn in whome ye haue so great trust your good horse bayard Sir said Reynawd wit that I had peace with the kinge Charlemaine of the warre that so longe hath lasted by suche maner as I shall tell you that it is that I must come heere in suche clothyng as ye see vpon me and heere is Mawgis my cosyn that is comen heere with his free wyll for he is not constrayned therto for the kynge Charlemayn weneth he be deade longe a goe and my bretherne been abyden with my wyfe and my chyldren For the kyng hath returned all oure lyuelode vnto theym again And whan the earle vnderstoode the trouthe of all he was ryghte gladde of it so that he beganne to crye with a hyghe voyce Ha duke Reynawde of Mountawban howe greately be you welcome heere to vs as the most valyaunte knight of the world blissed be the good lorde that hathe conduyte you hyther And I praye you for god that ye receyue myne homage so shall ye saue the worshyppe of the kynge thomas that is nowe prysoner there within the citie for and ye be oure capitayne and oure heade I put no doubt but we shall well soone take Iherusalem And thus shall the kynge Thomas be belyuered oute of the handes of the false sarasyns THere came all the barons of Surrye that were full glad of the coming of Reynawd of mountawban to whome they made greate reuerence and feasted hym ryghte hyghly And shortly to speake they al prayed him to be theyr lorde and head capitayne and that he wolde guyde them as the erle of Rames had doon afore And whan Reynawde sawe that all the barons of Surrye desyred and prayed him so sore for to receyue theyr homages he sayde vnto theym Lordes sith that it pleaseth you for to doo me this great honour I take it saufe alwaye the ryght of kynge Thomas whiche is your souerayne lorde Syr sayde the barons we will haue it thus And thenne he receyued their homagis and whan he hadde receyued theim the erle of Rames kneeled before him and sayd Syr I wil that ye giue me now that thinge that ye haue graunted me Sir sayde Reynawde saye what it is and ye shall haue it Syr sayde the erle of Rames it is that ye wyl vouchesaufe to be lodged in my pauyllion and thât ye spende none other good but myne And if ye wyl gyue any thing I shall delyuer it to you and I shal gyue you syxe of my knightes for to serue you Good earle of Rames gramercye of the worship that ye doo to me ⪠than the erle tooke Reynawd by the hande and broughte so hym in to his pauyllion and made him to be serued as his souerayne lorde and whan all the barons hadde conueyed Reynawde to the pauyllion of the erle of Rames they tooke leaue of him and went again in to their pauyllioÌs and thanked God that he hadde sent theym suche a knyghte and so vallyaunte a manne to be their capitaine and theyr Lorde And than whan the erle of Rames sawe that all the barons were gon to theyr pauillioÌs he made to be broughte there manye good horses and fayre paifrays and ryche raymentes of dyuers coloures furred with ryche furres and all maner of good harneys for the warre curaces and ryche helmes and noble swerdes and greate plentye of plate bothe of fyne golde and of syluer and all thys he presented to Reynawde But he wolde take nothynge but onlie a complete harneys for his body and a swerde that he chose there amonge all and an horse And all the remenaunt he made to be dealed to the poore knyghtes that had mystre and need of it And whan the erle of Rames sawe that Reynawde hadde taken but one horse one harneys and one swerde he sayde vnto him Syr for God take on you a nother raymente for ye wot well it apperteyneth not to suche a man as ye be for to goe clothed as ye doo Sir said Reynawd pardonne me and it please you for I shall neuer were none other raymente but this that I haue nowe on tyll that I haue kyssed the holy sepulcre wherin God was put after that he was brought downe fro the crosse Sir said then the erle doo as ye wil and than he went to Mawgys and said to him I praye you put awaye this capye and this hood and take other raimentes syr said Mawgis than I pray you be not dyspleased yf I full fyll not youre desyre at this time for I tell you that I haue promysed that I shâll were no other cloth as longe as I lyue but such as the same is Thenne whanne the erle sawe that Reynawde nor Mawgys wolde not take none other raymentes for no thinge that he coulde saye vnto them he was sory for it And than he made the tables redye for to goe to supper And whan they hadde supped the erle of rames called wallerauen of fayer and Geffray of Nazareth and sayde to them Now thinke for to doo well syth that god hath sent to vs suche succour And whan the baroÌs heard the erle speake thus they answered we shal doo oure best by the grace of God And than euery man went to his pauillion and made greate plentie of torches to be fyred so that it was merueylles of the light that was in the hoste and euery man began to daunce and disporte theymselfe aboute their tentes and pauyllions a longe while for Ioye of the comynge of Reinawde And whan turkes that kept the towre of Dauyd sawe the greate lyghte that was in the hoste of the christen they were all merueylled of it Than some of them went and shewed it to
shall gyue theym to the gentyll Reynawde as to hym that is as I wene the moste valyaunt of all and of other good armes I shall gyue to the other three bretherne So brought there the stewarde the armes that were full fayre and riche and than were armed the foure gentyl brethreÌ children to the good Aimes of dordoÌne and Ogyer of Denmarke that was of theyr kynne dyd on theyr spurres to the new knight Reynawde the kynge Charlemayne gyrde hym his swearde and than doubed him to a Knighte sayinge God encreace in thee goodnes honour and worthines And than mounted Reinawde on horsbacke vpon Bayard that was suche a horse that neuer was his like in all the world nor neuer shall be except Busifal the horse of the great Kinge Alexander For as for to haue ronne .xxx. myle together he wolde neuer haue sweted The sayd Bayard thys horse was growen in the Isle of BoruscaÌ and Mawgys the sonne of the duke Benes of Aygremount had gyueÌ to his cosin Reynawde that after made the Kynge Charlemayne full wrothe and sory as ye shal now heare here after REynawde was a horse backe with a Sheelde paynted hangyng at his necke and thwerled his swerde by great fyersnesse And wyt wel that he was a fayre knight wounderful great and well founded and of hym was a fayre syght for well he semed one of the moste valyaunt Knightes that men coulde fynde in all the worlde And the Barons that were there sayde Ha god what a fayre Knight is he Neuer was nor shall be sene so fayre a man of armes as Reynawde god encrease to hym honour and worthynesse goodnes and pryse And after were moche honourably and worthily arayed and armed the other three bretherne of Reynawde and sith lyght all on horsebacke vnder Saint Victor nyghe Parys Than made the kinge Charlemayne to set vp in the grounde a poste agaynst whyche he made the new knightes for to assaye them selfe They Iusted moche worthely but Reynawde Iusted best vpon his horse bayarde ryght well lyked and were a greable vnto charlemayne the faytes of the valyaunt knyght Reynawde vnto whome the king sayd Reynawde froÌ hens forth ye shal come with vs in batayle and Reynawde answered him in thys maner Syr god yelde it you an hundred thousand tymes and I promit you in good fayth to obey and serue you truly Nor neuer ye shall fynde my selfe in no forfayte but yf it com of you THe Emperour Charlemaine after the Iustynge was doone he retourned to his Palays in Parys Than he resoned wyth hys prynces and BaroÌs and there were the duke Naymes of bauyres Oger the dane and the Aâchebysshop Turpin and sayd to them in thys wyse barons sayd he I cannot maruayle me to moche of Lohier my eldest son that âaâieth so longe in hys message I haue great feare that some incontinent be happed vnto hym I dremed this night in my slepe that the thonder bolte fell vpon my Sonne Lohier and then came the Duke benes of Aygremount vpon hym and smote his head of but by my bearde yf he haue doone so whyles he lyueth he shall neuer accorde with me Nor I shall neuer haue Ioye at my herte For it is he that I loue best in this worlde Syr sayd the duke Naymes I beleue not such thinges nor vnto suche dremes ye shall not gyue no credence alwayes sayde the king yf he haue doone so I shall neuer leue him the value of a peny for I shall sende for the Normans the Bernygeâs the Fleminges the chaÌpenoys the Almaynes the Bauiers and for Englishemen and so shall I goe vpon hym and shall vtterly destroy hym and Naymes sayde euer vnto hym that he shoulde not fraye hym selfe of nothynge tyll that he knewe the certentye And as they spake thus there came rydiÌg a messenger vpon a horse fauell sore sicke and werye and also sore wounded vnto the death He came vnto Parys afore the Palays where Kyng Charlemayne was at the wyndowes And whan he sawe come the Messanger he came downe lightlye from the Palays halle vnto the gate and with him Naymes of Bauyer and Ogyer the Dane And whan the Messanger saw the kinge he salued him fall soft as he that was ryght sorye and sore wounded and that wyth payne myght speake and said in this maner wyse Great folye ye dyd whan ye dyd sende my Lorde your sonne for to aske trybute and obeyssaunce of the Duke Benes of Aygremounte the whiche trybute your sonne asked him shaÌfully but the duke whiche is sore fel and cruel whan he heard speak my sayd lorde your sonne he coÌmauÌded to a mayny of knightes that were there that he should betake that he should neuer retourne agayn to you for to recouÌt his message nor what answere he had founde to the which takiÌg the medle was great and cruell so that your dere soÌne Lohier was dead there And the Duke Benes of Aygremount kylled hym and all your folke except me and .ix other that conduyte and bryng your sonne in a byere And I my selfe am sore hurt as ye may se And than the messaÌger could speake no more But fell downe in a swoune of the greate greefe and sore that he felte bycause of hys woundes And whan the kiÌg had heard these wordes he fel down vpon the grouÌd for the great sorow that he tooke therof and wrange his handes and pulled his beard And tare all hys heres sayinge Ha good lorde that made heauen and erth ye haue brought me in great sorowe tourment Irrecouerable that neuer shall cease with me So requyre I vnto you the death humbly For neuer more desyre I not to lyue The good duke of Bauyre began to recomfort him sayinge For goddes loue syr tourment not your self but haue good hert and hope in god and recomfort your folke And thys wolde say the duke Naymes for theÌ that he saw weepe there for theyr kiÌsmen and freendes that were dead with Lohier And doo sayd he to the kyng let your sonne be worshypfully buryed at saynt Germayne of the medowes And than ye shall goe vpon the Duke Benes of Aygremount wyth all your noble power and great puyssaunce and shall destroy hym and all hys landes at your pleasure Than the kinge Charlemayne recomforted him selfe and well he knew that Naymes couÌselled hym truly and lawfully Than sayd the kyng Barons make redy and wee shall go agaynst my dere sonne Lohier And incontinent all the prynces and Barons made them selfe redye for to doo the commaundement of the kinge And whan they were gone two myle out of Parys they met with the corps And were there with the Kinge Naymes Ogyer Sampson of bourgoyne and many other great Lordes Than sayd the kinge Charlemayne whan he sawe the body of his deere sonne Lohier Alas how shamefully am I created he descended from his horse a foote tooke vp the cloth that was vpoÌ the biere behelde his sonne Lohier Than saw he
three of theyr felawship at that tyme but they rode so longe tyll that they came to the riuer The kynge called to him his barons and sayd to them Lordes let a loue the chase it were foly from heÌs forth on for to folow them for I see in al our horses may no more let theÌ goe to a hundred thousand deuyls for yf Reynawde wrought with witch craft he could doo no more thaÌ he doth Let vs thinke for to lodge vs heere nyghe the ryuer For the couÌtrey is good and pleasauÌnt as me semeth Syr sayd the barons let it be doone as ye haue commauÌded Than they vnladed theyr sommers and pyght there their pauyllions And whan they were set vp the king made him to be dysarmed And in the meane whyle the supper was made redye lyghtlye for all the daye the king had nother eateÌ nor droÌkeÌ nor none of hys felowshyp And Reynawde was passed ouer the riuer he and his bretherne and his folke safe souÌd where as they wolde be by the grace of our Lorde and whan Reynawde and his brethern saw that the chase was ceassed and left they went all softly and whan they had gone ferre from the oste of king Charlemayne they found a fountayne fayre and cleare and aboute that fountayne was muche fayre grasse and thicke WhaÌ Reynawde saw the place was so pleasauÌt he sayd to hys folke Heere is a fayre ground for to lodge vs for our horê Sir said Alarde ye say trouth And thaÌ they vnladed theyr soÌmers and theyr cartes and wyt it the horse were wery but the poore knyghtes were euyl lodged for they had there no meate nor drynke but cleare water But wyt it that Reynawde nor none of his knightes disarmed them not but made good watche all the nyght one after another And whan they saw the daye come Reynawde made hys harneys to be trussed and they lyghted horsebacke and tooke theyr way through the great forest of Ardeyne and whaÌ they had riden longe they lyghted downe afore another fountayne that they that had watched the nyght afore should rest themselfe there NOw myght well say Charlemayne that he can neuer hurte the foure sonnes of Aymon And wit that he was lodged vpon the riuer where he abode whan he wolde no more folow after Reynawde and whan the day was clere he sayde to the duke Naymes What thynke ye what we ought to doo Syr sayd the duke Naymes yf ye wyll beleue me wee shall tourne backe agayne For to goe any ferther this waye it were but a foly for thys wood is to thick and the riuer ouer muche perillous also Reynawde his brethern are suche knyghtes that they be not for to belyghtly ouerthrowen while the king and the duke spake together there came many knyghtes to hym and whan Charlemayne saw them he called Vydelon Reynier Ogier the dane and sayd to them Lordes I will that ye come agayne to parys wyth me And whan they vnderstode this they were glad and sayd to the King Sir it is the beste counsell that ye caÌ doo and after that thei were so accorded Charlemayne made to be cryed that euery maÌ should returne agayn into his countrey that they should kepe it well that he prayed theym so to doo Syr sayd the barons wee shall doo your commaudement and whan all was sayde they made the hoste to descende take theyr way the king went streyght to paris and the barons in theyr countryes and whan Charlemayne was come to Paris he called afore him his baroÌs to them sayd fayre lordes I am the moste vnhappy kyng of the worlde whan I haue no power to auenge my selfe of the foure sonnes of Aymon and they led me as ye know I wene they shall returne into theyr countrie or to theyr castell and it be so I wyll that we go there agayne for to ley syege there Syr sayd the duke Naymes that shal they not doo for they are in Ardeyne And ye knowe that the forest is so great that they shall fynde some cheuysauÌce That might wel be sayd the kyng Charlemayne But where some euer they go euell way myght they fynde And whan he had sayd this he tourned toward Ogyer and sayd to him Take Gerarde Foulques the Almayne and Dron of Moudidier and gyue leaue to the frenche men and to the other Syr sayd Ogyer well shal be doone your commaundement And then weÌt Ogier to Foulques to Gerard and vnto Dron and tolde them that that Charlemayne had commaunded And after came to the frenche men tolde to the other knyghtes gaue them leue And whan the kynges folke haue had leue eueri man went to his countrey not the right waye But trauersynge the mountaynes And thus as Aymon went trauersynge the lande towarde hys countrie It happed to him so that he came by the fountayne where hys sonnes dwelled Whan Aymon saw hys chyldren he was abasshed and ryght sory for it And then he sayd to his barons Lordes counsell me I praye you what I ought to doo agaynst mi childreÌ For and I assayle them and that they ben slayne or taken I shall neuer haue Ioye And I I let them goe I shal be forsworne to Charlemayne Whan his barons hearde him speake so there was neuer one that answered anye worde And whaÌ Aymon sawe that he was counselled of no man he sayd agayn to them Syth it is so that ye wyll gyue me no counsell I shall doo after myne owne wyll For god forbid that it be layde to me that I haue fouÌd theÌ heere And haue not fought with them But well I tell you that it is for my synne that I haue founde them here But froÌ hens forth it shal be doone therin as it pleaseth God fortune Syr sayd Esmenfraye yf ye assayle your children ye doo not amysse for ye sware it to the kynge Charlemayne kepe syr Aimon that ye be not forsworne For a man of your age should rather dye than he should doo any treason Good freend ye say well sayd Aymon and I shall so doe that I shal not be blamed and than he called two of his knightes and sayd to them Go towarde Reinawde and his brethern and defye them in my behalfe Syr sayd the knightes it is a harde thinge for to be doone but sythe it please you we shall doo as ye haue commaunded than thei wente towarde Reynawde that was sore abasshed for he knew well that they were of his fathers folke wherof he was full sory for it And after he sayd vnto his bretherne Lordes now arme your selfe For a man that is well garnysshed is not of lyghte ouerthrowen and of the other syde I know so muche the hardynes of my father that he shall not feyne to be fyght vs. Brother sayd Richarde ye saw trouthe Thys hangyng came the two knightes afore him and whan Reynawde sawe them come nyghe hym he went agaynst them said to them Lordes what be
vpon the othe that ye haue made to me that ye will counseyll me truelye howe I shall be ruled in thys matter and howe I myghte haue thys Castell of Mountawban whan the kinge had thus spoken there was none so hardye that euer durste saye one worde but onely the Duke Naymes of Bauier the prâe and wyse knyght Syr said the Duke Naymes ye aske counsell for to besyege Mountawban but no manne that hathe any reason in his heade oughte not to counseyll you the same for whye the daunger is there greate because that Guynard the lorde of Berne knoweth of it and so dooth Godfray the Lorde of Poycy that are good knightes and sore dread for theyr worthynes and also the kinge yon that is at tholouse the whiche shall come all to helpe and succour Reinawd by cause they be of his aliauÌce and also they know that he is one of the best knyghtes of the worlde And they knowe well also that Reynawd gyueth to vs muche to doone and so I tell you if they see themselfe togyther they shal giue you ynoughe to doo and shall maye beare to you a great dommage But and ye wil haue good counseyll and beleue me I shal gyue it to you truelye Syr sende worde to kynge yon that he withdraw not nor keep your enmyes within hys londe but that he yeeld them in to youre handes for to doo with them youre pleasure and your commaundemente And yf he wyll not doo so ye shall destroye all his londe and no mercy ye shall haue vpon him Naymes saide the kynge nowe gyue you me good counseyll and I wyll that ye haue saide be doone incontynente Than the kyng made come an Heraude of hys and sayde to hym Nowe goe lyghtlye to Tholouse and tell kynge yon on my behaulfe that I am entred in to Gascoyne accompanyed of the twelue peeres of Fraunce with an hundred thousand fyghting menne and with Rowlande and Olyuer and telle hym that by saynt Denys of fraunce yf he yeelde me not my enmyes that been the foure sonnes of Aymon that I shall waste and destroye all hys londe nor to hym shall abyde nother cytie nor Castell but it shal be ouer throwen to the earth And yf I canne take hym I shall take from him hys crowne so shall he be called kynge ouerthrowen Syr sayde the Heraude your commaundement I shall doo without varying of one word euen as your good grace pleaseth to commaunde me and thus departed the Heraude from the hoste of Charlemayne and tooke hys way towarde Tholouse there he founde the king yon of Gascoyn in his pallays with a right fayre company assone that he saw the king he knew hym well so made he than to hym the reuerence and said to him in the Emperours behalfe the thing worde by worde wherof he was sent there ANd whan the kyng yon vnderstoode the Heraude that spake so he bowed hys head towarde the earthe and began to thinke a longe while and said not a word And whaÌ he had thus longe mused ynoughe he said to the messaÌger Good freend ye muste cary heere a seuen nyght I praye you and than I shall tell you my wyl and what I purpose to doo Syr saide the Heraude I shall abyde with a good will sith that it please you Than wente the king yon in to hys chambre and eyght earles with him and coÌmaunded that the doores should be well sheete and than they set theim all vpon a benche And whan they were al set the kyng yon tooke the worde and said in this maner Lordes I beseche and require vpon the faith that ye owe to me that ye geue me good counseyll to the honoure of me not at my will but by reason Nowe wit it that the kynge Charlemain is entred within my loÌd with the tuelue peeres of Fraunce and Rowlande and Oliuer with an hundred thousande men And he sendeth to me word but if I deliuer vnto him the four sonnes of Aimon he shall not leaue me nother citie nor towne but he shal cast all to chearth and shal take the crown fro my head and so shal I becalled a kinge ouerthrowen My father helde neuer nothing of him and no more shal I it is better to die with great worship than to liue in great shame THan whan the king you had thus spoken there rose vp a knight named Godfraye that was neuew to king yon and sayd to him sir I merueyll me that ye aske counseyll for to betray suche knightes as ben the foure sonnes of Aimon Reinawde is your man and your carnall freend ye know what good he hathâ doone to you and to your londe It is not longe a goe that he dyscomfited Marcyl the puysaunt Sarasin and chased him well foure mile and smot of his heade and presented it to you and ye haue promysed and sworne to him that ye shal defend and keep him him ayenst all menne Mine vncle if ye thynke to faylle him and wil not holde that ye haue promised to him let him and his bretherne goe out of your londe in to some other countrie to seeke theyr aduenture And hapely they shall serue some lorde that shal doo to them more good then ye wyll doo and also I praye you my deare lord and vncle as much as I caÌ that ye wil doo nothing that turneth you to blame nor to dyshonour nor that can be caste by maner of reproche toward your freendes Than spake the olde earle of Ansom and said Sir ye wil that we giue you counseill yf ye wil doo that we shal counseil you ye shal doo wel for your selfe Now say on hardely said the king that semeth you best to be doo for I wyll doo as ye shall counseyll me Syr sayde the earle ye haue wel heard saye and so it was trouth that Benes slew the earle Lohier wherfore Charlemaine sente for him and made hys head to be smyten of at Parys and at that time Reinawd and his brethern were verye yonge and of them was none mencyon made And afterwarde whan they were great the kyng wold amende it to them For the thynge toucheth them but they had the hert so fell that they wolde take none amendes and lasted theyr hate longe wherof euer syth hathe come greate harmes and euylles For Reynawde slewe Berthelot the neuewe of the king with a chesse borde sir I know not why I shoulde hyde anye thynge fro your knowledge ye knowe well that Charlemaine is so myghtye a kyng that he neuer vndertooke wanâ but he came to his aboue of it Wherfore I doo geue you counseyll that ye yeelde Reinawde and hys brethern and Mawgis to the kynge Charlemayne and thus shall ye be delyuered of a greate thoughte and of a greate daunger And after thys spake the erle of Mobandes and sayde syr yf ye wil doo this that the erle of Ansom counseilleth you yee and we shall be traytours For Reynawd is your man and so muche ye haue
that gifte so riche he was gladde of it by cause of the great valure of it Reinawd called Mawgis saide to him Cosin what shall we doo with this egle My cosin saide Mawgis me semeth that ye ought to put hym aboue vpon the apple of the greate towre of this castell to the ende that Charlemayne and all his hoste maye see it By my soule said Reinawdeye saie wel And they tooke the egle and made it to be borne vpon the highe towre of Mountawban And whan the sonne dyd shyne vpon thys Egle it casted so greate a light that it might be seen .x. myles thence And whan Charlemaine and his folke apperceued it they were ryght sorye for it and an angred WHan Charlemayne the greate Emperoure saw that the foure sonnes of Aymon mocked him thus he called to him Rowland and Olyuer and all the other Peeres of Fraunce and sayde to them Lordes it is sore mishapped to vs sith we came in this londe of Gascoygn for I haue lost my crowne and Ioious my swerde myn egle of golde that was of so great value as ye all know and ye al haue loste youre good swerdes where of we beÌ wel shamed also we haue ben chased fro the feeld shamefully Now haue wel the four sonnes of Aimon shamed vs al through that falce theef Mawgis Wherfore my faite lordes I complain me vnto you prayinge that you wil helpe me to auenge me vpon theim for they haue doone you shame as wel as vnto me Than said the .xii. peeres of FrauÌce syr we be ready for to doo all that ye wyll I wyll saide the kinge that ye Ogier also the duke Naymes and ye byshop Turpyn and ye Escoufe the sonne of Oedon that are of the kinred of Reinawde that ye goe to Mountawban and so tel to Reinawde to his brethern and Mawgys that they deliuer me againe my crowne Ioyous my swerd and also myne Egle of gold and the swerdes of you al and I shall giue them truce for two yeres And I shall doo al mine hoste to returne againe in to fraunce syr answered Ogier I shal with a good wyll doo your commaundement but I feare me of Reinawde that he will keep vs prisoners Ha Ogier sayde Charlemayne ye feare him but litell whan the barons heard the coÌmauÌdement of the king they made no tarying but lighted on horsbacke and rode to Mountawban And whaÌ thei were come togither to the draw bridge the porter that keept warde vpon the gate said to them lordes what be ye my freend said Ogyer we are of the folke of Charlemaine goe youre waye to Reinawd and tell him that the Duke Naymes the byshop Turpin Escoufe the sonne of Oedon and Ogier the Dane wolde speake with him My lordes said that porter I shal goe to him incoÌtinent than he went to Reynawde and shewed him howe foure knightes were at the gate that wolde speake with him what be they said Reinawde My lorde said the porter they tolde me that the one is called the duke Naymes that other the bishop Turpin and a nother Escoufe the soÌne of Oedon the fourth is named Ogyer the dane Whan Reynawd heard this he stood vp and said to his three brethern My lordes heere cometh foure valyaunt kâyghtes and wise I beseche you that we shew to them that we been no children for to be rocked in a slepe Cosin sayde Mawgis ye speake well and wisely Me semeth it were good that we should know wherfore they come or they entre to the ende that we may best answere to them Than they went vnto the gate and made the drawe brydge to be lette downe And whan it was doone Rycharde yssued out first vpon the brydge and went ayenst them and made to them greate honour and sayd to them My lordes ye be ryght welcome thys castel is ât your commaundement For I holde me so sure of my brother Reinawd that I dare offre it to you cosyn said the messangers gramercye And than Reinawde auaunced him selfe and saluted them honourablye and after tooke Ogier by the hande he him thother three he brought to the Dungeon where they were receiued honestly by the lady Clare the wife of Reinawde And whan Reinawde had receyued them he made them to sit vpon a benche and than he saide to them fayre lordes I praye you that ye wyll tell vs wherfore ye become For ye come not without a greate cause ye knowe wel syr Reynawd said Ogier that all we that been heere haue euer loued you well And I promise you yf it had been our will ye should haue had good peace with the kinge Charlemayne but many tymes he hathe vnbrayed vs therof ye must knowe that your cosyn Mawgis hath shamed vs al for we were his suretie to Charlemayne vpon our othe to deliuer hym at hys will And the said Mawgis is come hyther without our leaue ayenst hys promyse and that worse is he hath robbed the crowne of the king Charlemayne and his swerde and all the swerdes of vs all .xii. peeres Wherefore Charlemain sendeth to you worde by vs that ye see heere that ye deliuer him again his crown the egle of golde and all oure swerdes And he shall gyue you truce for two yeres and he shall doo returne al his armie in to fraunce After that Ogyer had said this Mawgis stood vp and spake by the leaue of Reynawde said Lordes ye ben right welcome in this castell of Mountawban And yf it please you ye shall not speake no more of this matter now and ye shall abyde this night with vs and to morowe ye shal haue an answere of that ye haue sayde Reynawde saide than Ogier wyl ye keep that Mawgys hath said yea without fault said Reinawde sith that it pleaseth you we shall abyde for the loue of you And than Mawgys went to the stuarde of Mountawban and aduised him the meates Wherof the knightes of Charlemaine should be feasted with all and tolde that they should be wel serued what so euer it coste And see that the great cup be borne afore the duke Naymes the whiche I did conquere at reyns My lorde answered the stuarde doubte not ye shall well be serued at my power And theâââe Mawgys came agayne And whan Reynawde sawe him come he calles hym and saide to him my cosyn I praye you see that we be well serued sir saide Mawgis I haue purueyed for it al ready WhaÌ Reinawd vnderstood him he was gladde of it and begaÌ to deuise with the folke of Charlemaine right honestly and of many thinges And whan he thought that the meate myght be well ready he his bretherne tooke the foure knightes and brought them to the halle to theyr meate whan they were there Mawgys made them washe than he tooke the duke Naimes and made hym syt downe and my lady Clare next hym And he made syt downe the bisshop Turpyn and Reynawde and than Ogyer and Alarde
swearde wolde haue slayne the Emperour Charlemayne but Reynawde drew him a syde And the duke Naymes and Ogyer sayde than vnto hym Rycharde Richarde refrayne your courage For it were not wel doone for to kyll a man that slepeth And also afore that we shal departe hence we shall set all at one and God wyll ¶ Shortelye for to speake Olyuer and the Duke Naymes spake so fayre vnto Rycharde that they made him promise them that he should doo no harme to the Kynge Charlemayne Neuerthelesse Rycharde left not to make great sorow for his cosyn Mawgys that he had lost For al them that saw him make so great mone had pitie for to se him It was no meruayle if Richarde made sorowe for Mawgis For I promise you he had greate need of hym not longe after And so had all his brethern as ye shall heare heere after ALl thus as the foure sonnes of Aymon made theyr moue for the loue of theyr cosin Mawgis The duke Nymes began to speake sayde in this wise By god lordes ye doo not wel for to make so great sorowe I pray you leue this heuynes And let vs begyn to speake of your peace that muste be made with the Emperour Charlemayn that an ende maye be hadde of thys warre that hath endured so longe By god sayd Rowlande ye be passynge slow therupon And also we muste fyrste haue his mercy or euer we moue any thing of the peace For ye wot wel that I left him bycause that peace should be made Syr sayd the duke Naymes ye speake wysely and well but howe shal we speake wyth hym wythout Mawgys were heere we cannot awake hym And but yf god remedyeth it we shal neuer speke wyth him But al thus as the barons spake in thys wyse The charme that Mawgys had set vpon Charlemayne was come at an ende and the strength of it was passed And sodenly Charlemaine began to moue hys body and arose anon vpon his feete and right sore abasshed looked al aboute him And whan he saw that he was at mouÌtawban in the subieccion of Reynawd the sonne of Aymon he was sore an angred and made suche sorowe for it so that al they that were there trowed that he had ben mad and from hymselfe And whaÌ his wittes were come agayne he knew wel that Mawgys had doone it vnto hym sware that as longe as he were manne on liue he should make no peace tyl that he were out of Mountawban and that men had brought Mawgys to hym And whaÌ Rycharde vnderstode this that Charlemayne sayd he began to saye in this wyse Howe the deuill dare ye thus speake syr ye see well that ye be our prysoner And yet ye threteÌ vs. I make to god mine a vowe and to Saynte Peter were not that I haue promysed that I shal not doo to you no harme at this tyme I should strike the head from the bodye of you Holde your pease sayd Reynawde let the kynge Charlemayne saye his wyll ye are ouer besy in your wordes And let vs all pray hym that he wyll pardon vs. For the warre hath lasted to longe cursed be he that began it For great euyles and harmes the whiche are happed therby REynawde was wyse and wel taught for to stylle thus hys brethern to whome he said My lordes my brethern yf it please you ye shal come with me for to cry mercy vnto our souerayne lorde the Emperour Charlemayne Reynawde said Alarde we shall doo all that ye wyl By mi faith said the duke Naimes My lordes ye doo ryght wisely and I promyse you that all good shall come to you therof Than Reynawd and all hys brethren and Rowland and Oliuer and Ogyer the Dane the duke Naymes the bisshop Turpin and Escoufe the sonne of OedoÌ began all for to fall on theyr knees before the emperour And Reinawde spake fyrste and sayd in this maner of wise Noble Emperour haue mercy of vs for I and my brethern wee yeeld vs to you to doo your pleasure of vs your will be so that our lyues ben saued there is nothinge but that we will doo it for the loue of you if it please you to graunt vs peace with you And for that piti pardon that God gaue vnto Mary Magdelene whan she wasshed hys feete in the house of Simeon good syr haue pity of vs. And yf it please you not for to pardon me at the least pardon my brethern And take them agayne theyr landes and I shal gyue you MountawbaÌ and Bayarde my good horse And so shall I goe into the holy laÌde I Mawgis where we shal serue to the Temple of our Lorde And whan the kinge Charlemain heard Reynawde speake thus he blastred all for angre and sayd by that good lorde that made me yf all the worlde speake to me therof yet should I neuer coseÌt me to no peace but I haue Mawgys in my handes for to doo my wyll vpon hym Alas sayd than Reynawde now haue I hearde that worde bytynge wherof I am al desperate For I should rather let my selfe be hanged thaÌ that I should coÌsente to the death of Mawgys my good cosyn For he hath not deserued towarde vs that we should betraye hym but rather he were worthy by reason for to be lorde aboue vs. Reynawde sayd thaÌ Charlemaine thiÌke not thoughe I am your prysoner that ye shall make me doo anye thynge agaynst my wyll syr sayd Reynawd wyte it that myne entente is for to meke my self toward you for I haue leuer that we suffre wronge of you than ye of vs now tell me syr how I shall delyuer you Mawgys that is our life hope sucours our comfort sheeld our spere and also our swerde our brede our wyne and our flesshe also our refute our mayster our guyde and our defence in all places wherby syr I tell you that yf ye had all my brethern in your pryson and that ye should make them to be hanged and that Mawgys were with in my power and with me yet wold I not yeelde hym vnto you for to quyte wythall my brethern And also I swere you vpon my fayth that I wot not where that he is gone god wot it Ha sayd the Emperour charlemayne goddes curse haue he for I am sure he is heere within you he is not sayd Reynawde I take it vpon my baptysme And than Reynawde turned himself toward Rowlande and all the other barons and sayd to them Lordes I beseche you for God that it wyll please you for to pray our souerayne lorde the kinge that he wyll haue mercye of me and of my bretherne to the ende the peace maye be had in Fraunce yf it please hym And than Naymes that was kneelinge vpon his knees and that heard that Reynawde had sayd and wyste well that he spake but well sayde to the Emperour in this wise Syr I pray you that ye wyll not be dyspleased of that I shall tell you ye know
syr that I am suretie for Reynawde and so is Ogyer the dane but me semeth that we ought now to be discharged therof sith that ye be here presente within his castell but another thynge I wyll tel you me thinketh that ye ought to take that the erle Reynawde proffereth to you or that any more harme come to you therof and so helpe me God ye shall doo wel And al they of your courte shal be glad of it And whan the barons hearde this that Naymes had sayde to the kinge Charlemaine they spoke all and sayde Syr doo that the duke Naymes hath tolde you for he hath gyuen you good counsell and true And yf so be that ye doo it not ye shall come to late for to repente you of it But WHan Charlemayne vnderstode this that the duke Naimes had sayd to him he was ryght wroth of it For his herte was so harde astonyed with great angre that he tooke no hede of good couÌsel and he sware by saynt Denys of Fraunce that he should not doo it for no man but yf he had fyrst Mawgys in hys handes for to doo hys wyll ouer hym And whan Reynawde hearde these wordes he blustered in his face for angre and rose vp from kneelinge his bretherne and all the other barons also And then Reynawde sayde to Rowlande and to all the other Lordes that were there Syr I wyl wel the Charlemaine know my wil my entente the whiche I shall shew afore hym vnto you Wyt it that syth I caÌ fynde no mercy in him I praye you that ye wyll not blame me froÌ hence for thou yf I seeke my ryght For I shall seeke it in all the maners that a true knight ought to doo And whaÌ Reynawde had sayd this he turned him towarde the kynge and sayd to hym Syr ye maye goe hens whan it please you for by my soule ye shal haue no harme of me now for ye be my souerayne lorde with good wil we shal be in good peace wyth you THe barons of frauÌce that were there wundred sore of the great kindenes of Reynawde ThaÌ sayd the duke Naymes haue ye heard the great humilite of the noble knight Reynawde By soule sayd rowlande Reynawde sayth meruaylously I wolde not haue trowed that he should euer haue fared so fayre with Charlemayne And whan Rychard vnderstoode that that his brother Reinawde had sayde he spake in thys wise brother Reinawde I holde you mad What wyll ye doo ye see that we haue in our handes this vengeable kyng the whiche we may kyll or els suffre hym to lyue yet he is set so sore to pryde that he wyll doo nothing that his good counsell telleth hym but he threteneth vs alwayes more and more and ye wil let him go thus a waye surely brother if he scapeth vs so he shal yet angre vs right sore and I promise you yf he hadde vs as we now haue hym he should make vs all to dye shamefullye not al the golde in the worlde should not saue vs therfro And therfore I tell you that ye doo greate folye to let him go thus away For and ye wyl ye shall now make our peace but me semeth ye seeke none other but your death wherof I pray god yf ye suffre him thus to goe awaye that he maye make you to dye a shamefull death And whaÌ Reynawd heard his brother speke so he was wroth sayd to hiÌ in angre Holde your peace brother for he shall goe his wayes quite will you or no and the peace shal be made whan he wyll and no soner it shal not be for there vnto he shal not be compelled of me and go you hens from me for your great wordes displeaseth me WHan Reynawde had sayde this he dyd call a gentylman of hys to whome he sayd go lightly without any taryenge to the yoman of min horses byd him bringe me my horse Bayarde For I wyll that my souerayne lorde ryde vpon hym vnto his hoste for he rode neuer vpoÌ no better horse And whan Richarde heard this he weÌt fro thens al swellinge with angre as a fyersfull lyon bycause he knew that Charlemayne should goe so And wit it that the king Charlemayne hearde and vnderstode well all these wordes but he durste not saye nothyng so sore he feared the fiersnes of the yong Richard This hangyng came there agayne the gentilman that was gone for Bayarde whiche he brought with him than Reynawde tooke his good horse baiarde came to Charlemayne said to hym syr ye maye lyght whan it please you and goe at your lybertye for to comforte your folke whiche I am fure ben full sory for the taking of you And whan Charlemayn saw this he lighted anon vpon Bayarde went out of Mountawban for to goe to his hoste and Reynawde conueyed him to the gate of Mountawban whan the kinge was gone he made the gate to be shet anon And the frenche men that sawe their king come agayn they were right gladde and receyued hym worthely after they asked hym how it weÌt with him and yf he had graunted the peace lordes it is wel with me God gramercy but of peace I haue made none nor neuer shall as longe as I am man a lyue for no man that shal speake to me of it but yf I haue the traytour mawgis for to doo with him mi wyll Syr sayd some of his barons how haue ye be delyuerd By my fayth sayd charlemayn Reynawde hath delyuerde me agaynst that the wyll of hys bretherne all quite at my lybertie Syr sayd the barons haue ye not seen Rowlande Olyuer the duke Naimes the bisshop Turpin Ogier the dane nor Escouf the sonne of oedon yea surely sayd Charlemayne but they haue all forsake me for the loue of Reynawde wherof by that god that hynge vpon the crosse yf I can haue them agayne I shall shew theÌ that they haue not doone well and whan he had sayd thus he lyghted from Bayarde and made him to be brought agayne to Reynawde ANd whan Reynawde sawe bayarde that Charlemayne had sent hym agayne he called rowland and his felawes sayd to theÌ fayre lordes I know well that ye be not in the grace of the greate kynge Charlemaine for the loue of me but I wyll not that ye haue mawgre for me nor for my brethern and therfore fayre lordes I quyte you all quarelles that I maye lay vpon you and gyue you leue to goe whan it please you And whan the Duke Naymes vnderstode the kindnes of the hert of Reinawde that was so noble he thaÌked hym hyghly and kyssed and enbrased hym for great loue wolde haue kneeled downe afore hym but Reynawde wolde not suffre hym Than the duke Naymes began to saye let vs thynke to goe after the kyng Charlemayne your vncle sith it please Reynawde to gyue vs leue Naymes sayd Rowlande how can we doo this shall we leue Reynawde the whiche ye se
you that the poore folke died for hungre by the streetes and with this was so great stenche in Mountawban of the dead that were there that no man coulde endure it And whan Reynawd saw this he was sorye for it and than he dyd doo make greate charnell wher in he made all the deade bodyes to be buryed And whan Richarde sawe so greate mortalitie within the castel of Mountawban throughe cause of the great dearth that was there and saw his brother Reinawd in so great distresse he could not forbeare but he saied to him by god my brother nowe goeth it worse then euer it dyd it had be muche better if ye hadde beleued me for yf ye wolde haue suffred me to slea the kynge Charlemayne we shoulde nowe not haue be in thys myscheef and great pouertie that we haue nowe nor your folke hadde not dyed for hungre as they doo and thaÌ he began to weep tenderly and sayde Alas why doo I complayne other I myght well complayne my selfe sithe that I must dye and be put in to the charnell as the poorest of vs all Ha Mawgis my fayre cosyn where be ye now ye faile vs at oure need for and ye were here within with vs we shoulde not be famyshed for hungre and also we should not doubte muche the kinge Charlemaine for I wot well that ye should get vs vitaylles ynough to lyue vpon for vs and our men and now we muste dye for hungre as the wulf should vpon a sea for Charlemaine hateth vs more than he dooth the sarasyns And therfore it is not for vs to wayte after pitie of him for he is ouer cruell a king vpon vs. CHarlemayne by the reporte of some folke knew the great det the scarslie of vitailles that was within MouÌtawbaÌ wherof he was right glad called to him his folke and said to them Lordes now can not Reinawd escape but he shal soon be taken hanged the false Richard drawen at an horse tayle Alarde Guichard also and theyr worthines shall be litill worthe to them And whan the kinge Charlemaine had sayde these wordes he sent for all his peeres barons and whan they were al come within his pauillion he was glad of it and sayd to them Lordes thanked be god that I haue brought mountawban so low that Reinawde and hys knyghtes haue no more vitailles in it and now they shal yeeld them selfe at my wyll mawgre their teeth for the moste parte of their folkes ben deade for hungre and yet dien dayly and ye must wyt I wyl that Reynawde be hanged his brethern also but first I wil that Rychard be drawen at an horse tayl And so I charg you that none of you be so hardye to moue my wyll to the contrary for I will that it be doone as I saye whan the duke Naimes Rowland Oliuer Ogier the bishop Turpin escouf the sonne of Oedon that were there heard the king speke thus they were righte sorye for the loue of Reinawd of his brethern looked down said no word at all for feare that they should be shent of the king Ogier with great payne kept his eyen fro weepinge lest Charlemaine should not perceiue his sorowful hert HEere ye ought to wit that duringe the time that Charlemain laye at the siege afore Mountawban persecuting the four sonnes of AimoÌ Reinawd Alard Guychard and Richarde Aymon their father helde the party of the king ayenst his children for he had promised him to doo so as ye haue heard about but wit it that whan he heard howe the emperoure thretened his children how be it that he had forsaken them he was wrothe for it for he knew we if his children died so he should neuer haue ioy after that for whatsoeuer warre he made ayenst them he loued them kindli as the father ought loue his childe for nature may not lie therfore he took so great sorow whaÌ he heard of hys sonnes that they were thretned to be hanged that he almost fel down dead to the ground of the great sorow that he had could not keep himselfe but he said Sir emperour I besech you that it wil please you to bryng my childreÌ to right for though I haue forsaken them yet are they my sonnes of my body begotten Hold your peace Aymon said Charlemain for I wil that it be so doone of theÌ for Reinawd did slea my neuew barthelor that I loued so much And after he turned him self saw the barons that spake th one to thother said to them Lordes loue your musing for I tel you for a trouthe that I shal not leaue to doo herin my wil for no maÌ that speaketh ye wot wel it is iii. yere gon sith we besieged this castel first and euer sith haue leien here where we haue lost many of oure foâke wherfore I coÌmaund you that either of you doo make engynes for to brynge downe this great towre all the remnaunt also for with such maner we shal abash them greatlye and ye my neuew Rowland ye shall doo make of the engines .vii. and Oliuer shal doo make vi the duke Naimes iiii the bishop Turpin and Ogier the dane other .iiii. and ye duke Aimon said the king Charlemain ye shal make three HOwe shoulde I nowe doo this good lord said thaÌ Aimon for sir Emperour ye know wel that they be my children nother truantes nor knaues but be the best knyghtes of the world so I tel you sir that if I saw theim die I shoulde for goe my wittes for angre And whan Charlemaine heard Aimon speake thus he was wroth and began to gnaw on a stafe that he held in his hand and after said By that god that made me if there be ani of you that gainsaith my wil I shall strike of his heade with my swerde Sir saide the duâe Naymes angre not your selfe For that that ye haue coÌmaunded shal be doone incontinent whan the barons vnderstood the coÌmaundemente of Charlemain they went their way for to make the engines that the king had commauÌded the whiche were anon made ready these engines were for to cast greate multitude of stones And as soon that they were made they were set for to cast ayen mouÌtawbaÌ in short time they doÌmaged it ful sore so I promise you that within the castel were made greate crying of women and of children for feare of the stones they went and hid them vnder the ground and so thei of Mountawban endured this mischef as longe as they had any morsell of meat And I ensure you that there was so great derth and so great mortalitie the men wist nomore where to laye the deade For the charnell was al full Alas who had seen so yong bachelers that for feintnes went leninge vpon their staues thorough MouÌtawbaÌ for lacke of meat he wolde haue had great pitie For afore that the castel was besieged they were so stronge and
shall take our way towarde Ardeyne for I counsel not that wee goe bi day and also it cannot be but the heremite shall haue some meate whiche we shall gyue vnto my wife and vnto my chyldren Brother said Alarde by my faythe ye speake well and wysely And than they put them selfe to the way and they had gone but a litle that they founde the heremitage but as they went al thoroughe the wood of the serpent they departed the one froÌ the other as wilde beastes eatyng the herbes and grasses as it had ben apples or Peres so great hungre they had And whan that Reynawde saw this he was sory and called them agayne and sayd Lordes ye doo not wel for to separe thus the one from the other For it might lightli turne vs to dommage I pray you that euerye man call other and gather your selfe together let vs goe into the hermytage For we shall fynde there Bernarde that shall make vs good cheere I wote it wel And whaÌ they were come there Reynawde knocked at the gate And whan Bernarde hearde it he came anon and saw Reynawde and hys folke wherof he was ryght glad came and kyssed Reynawde And after he sayd vnto him Fayre lorde ye be ryght welcome of whens come you and howe is it with you My freende Bernarde sayde than Reynawde Wyt it that I haue let myne herytaunce by fyne force of hungre and so I goe vnto Ardeyne For I can none otherwise doo at this time And I pray you that yf ye haue ani meat that ye for goddes sake wyll gyue it to my wyfe and to my chyldren For they ben so sore famysshed that they dye for hungre but yf they haue some meate WHan Bernarde vnderstoode these wordes of Reynawde he had of hym great piti for the distresse wherin he saw Reynawde and hys folke And of the other parte he was glad whan he wyste that they were scaped out of the daungers of Charlemayne and anon he wente to the duchesse and sayd to her madame ye be ryght welcome I pray you doubt nothing For ye be aryued in a good place to take your rest at your ease And than he wente into the Chambre and brought out bread and wine and all suche as god had sente hym And after he set hiÌ beside Reynawde and sayd to him Lorde take a worth suche vitayles as God hath gyuen to me there they ben I shal giue you meate in dispite of Charlemayne Gramercy sayd Reynawde heere beÌ good tidinges for vs but whan the nyght is come Wee shall goe to Ardeyne For I doubt sore that Charlemayne shall aperceyue that we beÌ departed For yf God graunt me that I may brynge me and my companye to Ardeyne I shal not set a roton apple for all the power of Charlemain for I shall well defende me agaynst hym Syr sayde the hermyte ye saye well I pray god that he wyll fulfil your wyll All that daye soiourned Reynawde and his folke wyth Bernarde the Heremite the whyche serued and comforted them with al hys power and also he gaue of the Otes of hys asse to Bayarde as muche as he myght eate And whan the nyght was come Reynawde wolde depart and bad fare well to the Heremite and whan the Heremyte sawe that they wolde goe away he founde the meanes that they had three horses wherof the duchesse had the one and the children had the other tweyne And thus Reynawde wyth hys felawshyp went on theyr way so loÌge that they came to Ardeyne And whaÌ they of the Citie wyste that theyr Lorde was come that they had desyred so longe they were well glad came agaynst hym in fayre company and receyued hym honourably and conueyed him vnto the fortresse after they went made feast through all the towne lyke as god had desceÌded there for greate Ioye that they had of theyr Lorde Reynawd And whan the Barons of the lande wyst that theyr Lorde Reynawde and his brethern were come to Ardeyne they were glad and came soone to se him and to hym they made reuerence ¶ But heere leaueth the historye to speake of Reynawde and of hys bretherne his wyfe and hys children that were in ardeyne wel at ease for their great hungre was ceased and shal returne to speake of Carlemayne and of his .xii. peeres for to shew howe he entred into Mountawban after that Reynawde was departed ⧠How Charlemayn after that he had besyeged Mountawban had famisshed Reinawde his brethern knew that they were gone had habandoned the place were gone to Ardeyn He wente there and besieged them a gayne but or euer he had pyght hys syege Reynawd his brethern made an issue vpon him his folke slew many of them And tooke prysoner Rycharde the duke of Normandye IN this party shewed the history that whan the kynge Charlemaine was at the siege before MouÌntawban sore an angred that he coulde not take Reinawd nor his brethern Now it happed vpon a day that Charlemayne rode nighe the Castell for to wyt how they bare them self with in Mountawban And whan he was nigh he looked vp to the walles and saw no body that was there as thei were wonte for to be And whan he saw that he was abasshed of it came to the pauilyon and sente Incontinent for all hys barons And whan they were come he sayd to theÌ Lordes it is wel nyghe eyght dayes age that I saw no body vpon the wallâs of Mountawban wherefore I beleue that all they of it be dead Syr sayde the Duke Naymes it were good that men wyst the trouthe of it sende thether syr if it please you Whan Carlemayne hearde thys he lyghted anon on horsbacke and all hys Barons wyth hym wente to Mountawban And whan they were come vnto the gate they made semblaunte to giue a sawt to the Castell but Reynawde was to ferre for to defeÌde it And than Charlemayne wende verelye that Reynawde and all hys had ben dead for hungre great distresse he made to be brought thether a longe ladder and righted it to the walles And incontynent Rowlande mounted vp fyrst of all and after him Ogyer Oliuer and the Duke Naymes And whan they were vpon the walles thei behelde within and they saw nother man nor woman and so they wente downe from the walles and yede opened the gate and made Charlemayne to come in and all his folke But wyt it that Charlemayne weÌt in as angry as any man myght bee And whan he was within founde no body he was so sore merueyled that he wyst not what he should say nor doo So wente he vp to the dungeon and he founde there no bodye wherof he was more meruayled thaÌ he was afore and than he began to say By my soule Lordes heere is great meruayles and wel the deuylles werke Wyt it that Reynawde is gone and all hys brethern and all hys folke also And all this hath doon
he shal not haue of me how be it that he is of my lignage and I tell you come no more heere nor no man of Charlemayne For I promyse you I shall stryke of the heades of as many as shal come fro him to me without any fayle WHan Ogyer the Dane saw Reynawde so angry that he answered so proudlye he meruailed sore aad drewe him selfe by Reynawde and said to him Fayre cosin I pray you that ye will shewe to vs Rycharde of Normandy to th ende that we may tell Charlemayne that we haue seene hym Ogyer I haue well vnderstande you sayde Reynawde but ye shall neuer see him afore that I haue hanged hym And yf Charlemayne be angry wyth me for it let him auenge it yf he can for I defie hym and all his powâr and goe you hens anon For by my soule if ye abide heere any lenger it shall repent you full sore And whan the barons saw that Reynawde was so feruently wrothe they durst no lenger tary there but tooke leue of him and went out of the Citie and went lightly to the hoste of Charlemayne that awayted after them Whan the kyng saw the Barons come he said vnto them Lordes ye be welcome what tidynges brynge you haue ye not seene Rycharde of Normandye Syr sayde the Duke Naymes Reynawde doth you to wit that as loge as he maye ryde vpon Bayarde yee shall not haue Mawgys for he hath lost him by you And for the vengeaunce to be taken of the same Reynawde seÌdeth you worde by vs that he shall hange to morow Rycharde of Normandye vpon the great gate of his towne and thus shall he doo of all your meÌ that he shall take and yet he sayth more yf he had you as well as he hath Richarde of NormaÌdie that if ye wolde not graunt him peace yee should leaue wyth hym your head for a pledge Whan Rowland heard the worde that the Duke Naymes had reported vnto hys vncle Charlemayne he sayde Syr be not displeased of that I shal tel you me semeth that ye shall neuer see the duke Richarde and al for your pride Syr we finde in holy scrypture that god curseth the fruite that neuer is ripe thus shall it be by you that neuer wyll rype nor condisceÌde to no peace with the foure soÌnes of Aymon the best knightes of the worlde that so many tymes haue prayed for it humbly and full piteously Wherfore I swere to you vpon all halowes that yf the duke Rycharde of NormaÌdy be hanged ye shall lose honour worshyp all your lyfe dayes Whan the kinge Charlemaine heard his neuew Rowlande speake thus that sayde that Rycharde of Normandy should be hanged he was so myscheuously an angred that he gnewe the nailes of his handes for great wrath ye ought to wit that Charlemayne was so angry at that tyme that yf he had had any maner of staffe in his haÌd he wolde haue gladly smitten Rowland but whan he sawe that he might not accomplisshe his wil he called his barons and sayde to them Lordes ye wene to make me a ferde with your wordes I am no childe for to be thê° abasshed and also I swere you by my fayth that if Reynawde were so hardy to doo anye harme vnto Rycharde of Normandy I should haÌg hym wyth myne owne handes he all his lygnage that none should be left a lyue RYght sore wrothe was the king Charlemayne whan he hearde tell that Reynawde wolde make Rycharde the duke of NormaÌdie to be hanged But whan Ogyer hâââde Charlemayne swere thus that he should hang all the linage of reinawde he coulde not absteyne hymself but that the teares fel downe fro his eyen and than he said to the bisshop Turpin Sir what thynke you by our kynge that sayth by his great pride that he shall hange vs all for al that he dooth procedeth but of enuye pryde but god sende me death yf I care for hys wrathe for yf Reynawde hath not lied to vs he shall doo be hanged to morowe Richarde of Normandy in such a place where as Charlemayne shall mow see him hange with his eyen This hanging the Duke Naymes saw that the king was angry and he sayd to him Sir wit that we all be sore abasshed that ye threre vs of one parte Reynawde of the other And I meruaile me not of Reynawde for he is so wroth rox bycause that ye haue make him lose Mawgys that no man might be more And I promyse you for greate angre he shal make Rycharde of normandy to be hanged and as to you namely he woulde stryke of your hed yf he had you in the case that he hath Rycharde nowe and yf he hangeth Richarde What may we doo therto that ye threten vs so muche therfore wherefore I counsell all my felawes that are of the lynage of Reynawde that we goe our wayes and that we let you shift of the warre of the foure sonnes of Aimon By god sayd that other peeres of fraunce Naimes speaketh well and he giueth vs good counsell THen whan Charlemayne saw his baroÌs so sore moue he wyst not what he should doo but gaue them leaue to withdraw them self vnto the morow that thei should returne to him and he hymself went to his bed but al night he could not fall a slepe but wâtied in his bed wtout any rest and wyste not what to doo And whan the day came he a rose from his bedde and sent for all hys barons Whan they were come he sayd to them Lordes what shall we doo of Reynawde that wyl hange the duke Richarde of Normandy afore mine eyen Sir said thaÌ the duke Naimes for nought seketh one couÌsell that wyll not put it to effect whi aske ye counsell sythe that ye wyll doo nothing but after your owne head but and ye wyll beleue me I swere you on my fayth that al good shal come therof Syr make peace with Reynawde and ye shall haue the Duke Rycharde and also ye shall haue the good loue of all your men for there is none but he is wery of the warre and they haue reason Naymes saide the king I wil not doo it holde your peace therof for that shal be the laste worde that euer I shal say Syr said Rowland by my soule ye doo great wronge yf ye suffre the good duke Richarde to be hanged that so muche loued you and doone great honour it shall be to you great shame and so I swere to you vpon all halowes that yf I see hange Rycharde of normandy I shal part out of your hoste fro your seruyce and I shall goe so ferre that ye shall neuer haue helpe of me Rowland sayd Olyuer ween not that I shall abide after that yee are gone for the kinge doothe great wronge to Reinawde our cosin Ful sore an angred was the kynge to heere these wordes but he helde thaÌ his peace and sayde neuer a worde And wyt it that al the
I am your lorde that shal defend you ayenst this vnhappy christeÌs Where is Margaris become that I see hym not Sir said one of the sarasins he is dead at the first Ioustinge that he made whan thadmiral hearde this he wend to haue gon out of his wyt and said who is the hath borne me so great harme as to slea the noble king margarys is it not the great earle with the forke yea sir said the folke for he is called the best knight of the world and also he hathe brought this daye to death many of your men with hys handes Muche sory was thadmiral for the death of Margaris and swore the god mahoune that he shoulde perse the herte in his bely And whan he had made this oth he gaue the spurres to the horse and put him selfe to the medle and the first that he recountred was wallerauen of fayete to whom he gaue such a stroke thorough the sheeld that he made his spere head to apere out at the backe of hym and slewe him dead to the erthe And whaÌ the admyrall had giuen that stroke he put hande to his swerde and shoued him amonge the thickest crying percie as hie as he coulde and saide barons smite vpon this vnhappy christens for now shal they be discomfyted And whan therle Iaffas Geffray of nasareth saw that thadmyrall fared so foule with the christens they put them in to the pâece amonge the Sarasyns and there was greaââ slaughter made of both partyes but at the last the christen had ben shrewdely handled if Reinawd and mawnys had not come lyghtly there Reinawde that sawe this harde batayll shoued him selfe amonge the thickest as a wolfe among a flocke of sheep and smot a persian that was cosin to thadmyrall that had to name Orrende and gaue him such a stroke with his swerde that he made his heade to slee wel a spere lengthe from his bodye with helme and all And after he smote a nother that was neuewe to Malbon so that he slewe both horse and man with one stroke To say the trouth Reinawd made there so great merueylles of armes that al the painymes were fore abashed for he had hys sheelde cast behynde his backe and held the âeyne of hys horse about hys arme and helde his swerde in bothe his handes and habandonned his body smytyng merueyllous strokes on ether side vpon the sarasyns so that he smot no stroke but he slew a turke or paynim And whan thadmyrââ sawe the great greef that Reinawd bare to his folke he sware his god appoâlyn he shoulde neuer eate meate till he had slaine the great villain Sir said than the king AlebroÌdye to him I pray you leaue this entrepryse for I tâll you for very certaine that if ye goe afore him he shall kylle you with one stroke Than said thadmyrall âo him yf I had nowe a good guysarn in my hande he should as lytil endure myn efforce as should a boy ⪠for and I bring him not downâ I shall neuer require to beare any armes more nor to ryde vpon anye horse more MVche cruell and harde was the medlyng Mawgis was there that made great occysyon fro the one syde and fro the other And whan reinawde saw Mangis that did so wel he was glad and so smot he a turke vpon his helme suche a stroke that he cleued his head in two peeces and so he smot a nother at the sydes so that he cleued all his ribbes and cut al to gyther a sundre his bodye and after this he smot a nother so that he hewed his heade clene of one of his armes and whan he had slain these .iii. with one enpraint he cried mouÌtawban saying smite barons for the sarasins bothe turkes persians been dead ouerthrowen and thânke to auenge your lord Thomas which is so excellent a king And whaÌ thadmiral barbas heard cry mountawban this worde abashed hym more than any other thinge for he anewe well than that he that his men called the great carie with the forke Was the valiaunt Reynawd of mountawban of whome he had heard speake of many tymes afore that and that he was the best knight of al the worlde and whaÌ he knewe this he wold ful fayne haue be again in percie than he tooke his way anon to ward the citye as a man discomfited and ouerthrowen and drewe to the gate fore for to haue gone in to it but the vallyaunte erle of Rames pursued him so nyghe that he suffered him not to goe at his wil. And than the admyrall sawe that he was so sore pursued he was aferde to be take and so he smote his horse with his spurres and gat in to the citie with great payne lefte all his folke behinde and saued hym selfe but the moste parte of his men were there slayne And whan Reynawde wyste that the admirall of percie was so scaped he was right sory for it and than he looked about him and saw there a great peece of tiÌbre that had .xv. foote of length he lyghted downe a foote and tooke the balke and trussed it vp afore hym vpon his horse necke as lyghtly as it had be some peece of welow ThaÌ he sayd to them that had victori as wel as he Lordes folow me yf it please you with a good will sayd the baroÌs for we shall neuer leue you nother for death nor for life NOw wyl I tel you why Reinawde did take that balke afore sayde Ye ought to wyt that Reynawde bethought well that the admirall barbas should not make the gate to be shet after him for loue hys folke should come in that were out therfore bare Reynawde the great balke or beme to the ende that if he found the gate open he should put it vnder the porte colisse that it should not be shit lyghtly agayne And after he had be thought hymselfe therof he went on his way with the christens as faste as they coulde runne towarde the gate of Iherusalem where the admyrall had saued hymseflfe whan he came there he sawe the gate open wherof he was glad so tooke he thaÌ his beme and put it vnder the port colisfe so that it myght not be lette downe nor the gate could not be shyt nother but ye may well know that Reynawde dyd not this wtout great trauayle for there was so many bodyes bothe quycke dead in his wai that he myght not well helpe hym self but one thyng helped hym wel for whan the Sarasyns saw hym they were so fearde of hym that they made him waye fled all afore him WHan the noble knyght Reynawde saw that the porte colisse was well faste vpon the beme that he had brought there without any tarying he put haÌd to his swerd and put hymself within IherusaleÌ And whan he was in he began to crye as hye as he myght Mountawban MouÌtawban the citie is woÌne and made there so muche of armes the Mawgys
the Erle of Rames and many other barons gate in by fyne force And whan the Sarasyns saw that the christens were within the citie they put themself so to flyght hyd them within the houses where as they might for to saue theyr lyues and alwayes Reynawde was at the gate for to keep the entre They that were vpon the greate towre of Dauid cryed fast to the other sarasyns that they should shet the gate saââg that yf the great lurden entred within they should be all lost And whaÌ Reinawde saw that a great parte of the christens were within Iherusalem he sayd to Mawgis Cosyn keep wel thys passage and I shall go at another gate for to make it open Cosyn sayd Mawgis goe your way hardelye and doubt nothyng I shall well keep this path Than departed Reinawde accompanyed with many valyaunt Christians and went vnto a nother gate whiche he founde well garnysshed with paynyms but Reynawde thoroughe his prowes put them anon to flyght and gat the gate open Thus as ye heare was doone for all the sarasyns lost theyr lyues and was recouered agayne the Citie of Iherusalem through the greate prowes of the noble Reynawde of Mountawban And whan the admyrall sawe this he wende to haue wexe mad all quicke and fared as he had be out of his witte and cursed his goddes mahowmet Appolyn pulled his heres of his berde and rent all hys raymentes and after he sayd By Apollo the souerayn God yf Thomas helpe me not to saue my lyfe I shall make hym to be slayne incontinent and than he sent for the kyng Thomas and sayd vnto hym Kynge Thomas yee muste chuse of two thinges th one that is that ye must saue my lyfe that I maye goo to percie agayne with two of my men in my felawship or els yee to be now cast out of these wyndowes downe Than sayde the kynge Thomas please you ye shal haue paciente that I may speake with my folke Go on said the admyral to theÌ at this wyndow For no ferther yee shal not go and delyuer you lyghtly Than went the kinge Thomas to the windowes saw Reynawde of Mountawban Mawgys come that cam al the formest for to sawte the towre of Dauyd where he was prysoner to the admirall And whaÌ he sawe Reynawde and Mawgys the formest of all he knewe them not looked ferther saw the erle of Rames behynde them whiche he knew not well and thaÌ he aspied Geffray of Nazareth wherof he was glad whan he saw him and than he begaÌ to crye Lorde of Nazareth looke vp to your king that is heere prysoner the admyrall Barbas sendeth you worde that if ye let him not goe sauf into his countrie and realme of pertie wyth two of his men with him he shall caste me nowe downe out of thys windowe Than answered to hym therle of Rames ha good kyng god saue you ye wot well that a good man ought not to make anye lye it is trouth that yesterdaye wee made our gouerner mayster of that lorde that ye see heere afore vs whiche is the best knyght of the worlde and to hym ye must shew your need for wtout hym we may doo nothyng And whan the kyng Thomas vnderstode this tidinge he wexed almoste oute of hys wit for sorow bycause he weÌd none other but he should die an euil death Than sayd he to the erle of Rames in great angre Ha erle of Rames haue ye betrayed me so that yee haue made a nother Lorde than me Syr sayde the Erle to hym agayne doubt nothyng for wee haue doone so your ryght and honour is alway saued in this behalfe nor ye shal not lese nothyng of your owne for the good knight hath ynough in frauÌce and ye must know that he hath takeÌ this citie he and his felow and take no suspecciyon of hym nor of vs for I am sure he shall doo euyn as yee wil yourself for he is heere for none other cause but for to delyuer you for as soone as he shall haue vysit the holy sepulcre of our lorde he shal goe agayne to Fraunce Than sayd the kynge Thomas lordes how is the knyght named Syr sayd therle of Rames he is called Reynawde of Mountawban the sonne of the Duke Aymon and the best knyght of the worlde For he is suche a knyght that the great kyng Charlemayne might neuer greue hym and yet haue they mayntened the warre .xv. yeres and more the one against thother and so hath he doone so many noble great faytes of armes during the warre that the renoÌme therof is flowen ouer al the worlde Erle of Lames sayd the kynge I pray you that ye wyll tell hym in my behalfe this that I haue sayd to Geffray of nazareth syr said therle wyth a good wyll I shall doo so And than he went to Reynawde shewed to him al that the king had sayd Lordes sayd Reinawd we shal not doo so but let vs sawte the towre for at worst fall we shall alwayes wel haue that apoyntement that thadmyral asketh so I tell you yf we sawte wel the towre shal be lyghtly wonne by force of armes we shal deliuer the kinge Thomas at oure owne wyll so shal we slea barbas that thorough treason tooke the citie Syr sayd therle of Rames we shall doo your coÌmaundement doubt not of it ThaÌ commauÌded Reynawd that the towre should be sawted of al sidê made great pleÌtie of ladders to be ryghted agaynst it he hymselfe began fyrst to clime vp with his sheeld for to couer him with and after him went Mawgis than therle of Rames after them Geffray of Nazareth wel thyrty knightes mo and men with crosbowes other archers abode byneth for to shoot vpwarde where they saw sarasins looke oute whan thadmirall saw Reynawde that wolde haue come into the towre he was sore aferde so wyst he not what he should doo but ranne to the kinge Thomas caught hym by the necke sayd to hiÌ by apollo thou I shall lepe bothe at once out of this window Sir sayd the king kill not your self nor me also for I shall make the sawte to cesse I will wel that ye doo so sayd thadmiral but ye shal come with me So tooke hym by the neck had him to the wyndowe sayd al hye Reynawde of Mountawban I shall angre you for I shall caste the king Thomas downe if ye pardon me not I shall slea my self whim for I may wel die after such a king And whan the duke Riynawde saw that the kyng Thomas hynge thus the head downewarde all redy for to fall he had great pitie of hym said Ha good lorde what shal I doo for if I leue the sawte it shal be greate shame for the towre is almoste taken and of the other part it shal be great mysshape yf the good kinge Thomas take death for it Thê° as
Reynawde was vpon the ladder thynkyng what he might best doo al the barons of the lande began to crye to Reynawde sweete syr suffre not that our kynge lese his lyfe so it were great shame to vs and to you also Lordes sayde Reynawde by the fayth that I owe to my bretherne and to my Cosyn Mawgys I wolde not that the kynge should take death for me and whan he had sayd so he came downe fro the ladder and after cryed to the admirall Leue the kyng Thomas doo hym no harme for ye shal be deliuered by suche a couenauÌt that yee and your two men shall go on foote into percie and ye shall leue here al your goods By mahouÌe sayd thadmiral I wyll not doo so but shall ryde on horsebacke I and my two men so shal ye gyue me saufconduyt vpon your fayth if ye wil not doo thus I shall let fall downe the kyng Thomas Admyrall sayd Reynawde the ye aske I graunt it to you vpon my fayth For ye haue with you suche a pledge that ye shal not be touched at this time for me Thadmirall was ryght glad whaÌ he heard Reynawde speake thus so drew he vp the kyng Thomas agayne and sayde to hym kyng Thomas ye shall go quite froÌ me and than he wente downe with the kyng opened the gate went our he his two men There was made great ioye betwene the kynge Thomas and Reynawde And after of all the other barons of surre and the great thankes that the kyng did to Reynawde and to Mawgis are not for to be named the langage the was betwene them are to longe to be recounted After this thadmyral tooke his saufconduyt and went his way towarde percie Heere of him is made none other mencion and after he was gone the king Thomas reynawde with all thother barons weÌt togyther into the towre whaÌ they were come vp the kynge Thomas kneeld afore Reynawde Syr sayde Reyaawde ye ought not to doo so Yes verely sayd the kynge whan Reynawde saw that he wexed red for shame and tooke vp the kyng thaÌ the kyng colled hym and sayd Blessed be our lorde that brought you in thys lande for ye haue succoured Iherusalem the holy citie brought miself out of the sarasins handes Now tell me and it please you if ye haue made peace with Charlemayn the great kynge of FrauÌce that hath doon you so great hinderaunce Syr sayde Reynawde yea bycause of the peace I am come heere begging my bread poorely arayed and whaÌ the king Thomas heard him speake he had great pitie of him and swore by the holy Sepulcre that he should araye hym honourably as to hym apperteineth for to returne into Fraunce After that the kynge had sayd thys worde they came downe fro the towre of dauyd for to go to the holy sepulcre And ye ought to wit that they made great feast through out the Citie of that was so befall ThaÌ went they al to the holy sepulcre for to yeelde thaÌkes to our lorde of the citie that was recouered fro the handes of the sarasyns And whan all this was doone the barons of surre tooke leue of the kyng of Reynawde of mawgis after went euery man into hys place in theyr couÌtrey the kiÌg toke Reynawde Mawgis and brought them to hys palays where he feasted them a hundred dayes honourablye And this hanging he shewed them all the crountrey aboute IherusaleÌ whaÌ Reynawde had sported him ynough with the king Thomas he wolde depart for to go agayne into the marches of frauÌce And whan the kyng saw that he gaue to Reynawd many riche giftes as horses silkes gold syluer many other thynges in great plenti And ye ought to wit that Mawgis wolde take nothyng nor chaunge his hermites araye in no wyse but arayed hym agayne as a pylgrime and bare foote wherof Reynawde was sory The kynge made a ship be redy honourabli at the hauen of Iaphes Reynawde ful teÌderly weepyng tooke leue of the kyng of his barons and entred into the ship And wit it that by fortune of wedryng they were well eyght monethes vpon the sea at last they tooke lande at a towne called Palerne whan they had takeÌ land Reinawde commaunded that the ship should be vnlade al thus as they vnladed the ship the king of Palerne which was called Simon af puill loking out at a wyndow of his castel than he said to them that were aboute hym I see yonder in the hauen a shyp setteth her good a lande and it cannot be but there muste be some great man in it for I see horses that beÌ had out great riches I cannot say what it may be but it were pilgrimes thaÌ he commaunded an horse for to be made redy for he wolde sporte himselfe to the hauen syde THe valyauÌt kyng Symon of Puill wtout any more taryeng came to the sea syde with many a noble knyght in his companye And whan he was come to the hauen he founde Reynawde that was come a lande assone as the king saw him he knew hym well wherof he was ryght glad also Reynawde knew wel the good king Symon So thaÌ enbraced they eche with other and made great cheare th one to thother Reynawde sayd the kyng ye be ryght welcome I pray you come lodge in my castell for thadmyral barbas is entred in my lande wasteth it dayly I fought yesterday with him but he droue me out of the feelde shamefully dyd great harme to my folke I am sure he shal come to besyege me to morowe I had thought to haue sende for succours towarde Charlemayn but sith that god hath brought you heere I feare not the kyng nother his admiral of Percie Syr said Reynawd I make you sure I shall helpe you withal my power if thadmyrall come to morowe âhe shall not mysse of batayle for I shal neuer eat bread till I haue discomfited him Than the kinge Simon brought Reynawde to hys palays where he made him good cheere and thus as Simon feasted Reynawde came there a knight that was called Ymes that said to the king Simon Syr thadmyrall of Percie is come before Palerne with so great folke that all therth is couered withall Whan the kynge vnderstoode these tidinges he was sory for it and Reynawde glad Than sayd Reynawde to the kynge Syr I pray you be not abasshed of nothynge for this daye shall ye be aueÌged and god before the holy sepulcre fro whens I came but late and whan the kyng hearde Reynawde speake so he made be cried that euery maÌ should arme hiâ self and whan Reynawde saw that he sent for his herneys and armed hym and sware the body of God he should doo greet to thadmyral that dai sith that he had found hym agayne And whan Mawgys saw that Reynawde wolde arme him for to fight he sayd to hym My
with a greate numbre of folke by the ille for to slea thy children And whan Reynawde vnderstoode these wordes he blustred red in his face all for angre and sayde Ha sweet fraunce that it is great domage that ye may neuer be withoute traytoures And whan he said this he called his brother Richarde and said to him Faire brother goe wythout tarying and arme your selfe and doo arme al our folke and than bring theym to the ysle and if the false traitoure Griffon of hautbraunche come for to greue my childerne slea hym incontinence And whan ye be there doo that ye maye be seen of both partyes And for God keepe well yf the soÌnes of Foulques of morillon haue the better that ye help not in no wise my childerne but let theym dye if it come so For it were greate dyshonoure for vs yf ye dyd otherwise Brother sayd Richarde let me alone therof our worship shal be saued by the grace of god For I wolde not helpe yf it came so for al the good of the worlde For all oure lyfe dayes we should be rebuked of it all oure lygnage also And whan Richarde had sayd so he departed fro his brethern and went and armed hym and all his folke and then they lyghted on horsebacke went anon there as Reynawd had sayd This hanging went Reynawde to the kinge in hys palays and when the kynge sawe him he sayde to him Reynawd ye be ryght welcome Syr sayde Reinawde god encrease youre honoure and whan Charlemayne sawe not Richarde with his bretherne he tooke some susspecion of him and sayde to Reynawde Where is youre brother Rycharde that he is not heere with thother Sir sayd Reinawde he is gone there as I haue sent him but take no susspeccion at al for him nomore I doo said Charlemayn as loÌge as ye be a liue but we must goe vpon the towre of saine for to see the bataille of youre children let vs goe there sir said reinawd whan it please you than went they vpon the toure with theim the byshop Turpyn salamon of breten Ogier the dane Guidellon of bauyere and manye other barons THus as the kynge Charlemayne was gon vpon the toure for to see the battayll he looked sawe come the brother of reynawd and a great company of men armed And whan Charlemayn saw him he knewe hym well for he bare hys owne cote of armes and Rycharde had doon so for bycause he should be knowen And whan Charlemayne saw this he was all abasshed of it and thenne he called Reynawde and sayde to hym What wyl ye doo Reynawde wyll ye dyshonour me haue ye forgoten all redy youre trouthe Syr sayde Reynawd nay saue your reuerence but I wyll serue you and worshyp you as my souerayn lorde why said the kynge Charlemayne is Richarde gon in to the ysle of our lady with so great felawship for to breake the feelde of the which thinge I shal be dyshonoured Sir sayd reynawde haue no doubte therof for I take god to suretye and waraunte that knoweth all thynges that rycharde shall doo nothynge that shal turne to your dyshonour ne to no domage to you and I shal tell you why my brother rycharde hathe put hymselfe in armes ye must wyt that the traytoure Gryffon of hautbraunche is enbâshed vnder Saynte Marcell in a gardyn with a greate numbre of folke armed that wyll breake your feelde for to slea my chylderne And therfore hath my brother armed him for to succoure them if neede be and yf ye see that rychard doo any thing againste youre wyll and comaundement heere I am that vpon me take the vengeaunce is It trouthe sayde Charlemayne that Gryffon hathe doon so as ye saye yea said reynawd verely for I wolde not tell you none otherwise Right angry was Charlemayne whan he hearde that Reinawde had tolde him Than he sware god and all his sayntes that if he might take Griffon of hautbraunch that he should make hym be hanged and all his folke with him He called than Salamon and the earle of poiters and Guidellon of bauiere faid to them Lordes make me anon a thousande knyghtes to be armed For I wil go in to the ysle for to see the pride of these traitours And I swere you by saint Iames yf I may they shall doo me no more dyshonour and yf I cane fynde theym they shal aby it ful deerely Syr sayde Reynawde ye speake lyke a kynge The barons than dyd that Charlemayne had sent in to the ysle sawe rycharde with his folke in armes And whan rowland sawe that they weare armes he was not well contente with it and sayde to the other Barons that were come wyth hym for to keepe the feelde what wyl Rychard doo blame haue the kinge Charlemayne yf he take not vengeaunce vpon Reynawde of that they haue doon ayenst his coÌmaundemeÌt by my faith said Oliuer and the duke Naymes ye saye well Than sayd Ogyer lordes I promyse you that Reynawde knoweth nothynge of that that rycharde dooth Thus as the peeres of fraunce were spekynge of that rychard was come in to the feelde in armed Gryffon yssued oute of his bushement with his folke bicause he was aferde that richarde wolde greue the chyldren of Foulques of Moryllon And whan rowlande sawe hym he cryed to him with a hie voice By god traytoure this shal nought auayl you for afore that anye stroke be gyuen of theym they shall make theyr othe and ye shall abye it full derelye that ye haue doon Ryght sorye was Rowlande whan he saw the foule treason that Griffon wolde haue brought about This hanging came there Charlemayne wyth a great company of folke well armed And whan he sawe Rowland he sayd to hym Neuewe whye doo ye suffre the outerage that the sonnes of Foulques of Morillon wolde doo to the chyldreÌ of Reinawde of mountawban I blamed Reynawd bicause his brother had armed him but I know now wel that they had reason sir said Rowlande none caÌ beware of traitours Neuew said Charlemane ye saye trouthe but by the fayth that I owe to god I shall make theym all to be hanged in dyspyte of all theyr lygnage onely for the treasoÌ that thei haue doon this day By god syr sayde Rowland ye shall doo well And than came there Reynawd vpon a palfrai without swerd And whan Rowlande sawe hym he saide vnto him Syr Reinawde is it youte will that Richarde youre brother is com hither in armes sir rowlande sayd Reynawd yea verely for nothing that I haue doon shal not be hydde from you ye haue now seen the treasoÌ that the traitours wold haue wrought ayenst my children therefore whan I knew their falshode I commaunded my brother Richard that he should put himselfe shortly in armes with my men for to succour them that the traytoures came them vpon yf ye thinke that richarde or I haue doon amys in any thinge so let the kyng make Iustice of it By my
thretenynge the duke Benes of AygremouÌt saying that they should take the head from the body of hym yf he doo ought to them agaynst his deuoyre But it shal go all other wyse with them For it haped all contrary to theyr myndes and purpose wherof afterward many ladyes abode widowes wtout husbaÌdes many gentil womeÌ with out a louer And so many churches destroyed and so many landes breÌte and wasted wherof it is yet pitie for to see And thus ridinge thretynge Benes of Aygremount a spy heard all that they sayd and came hastelye to Aygremo sit to ward Benes that was in his Palays and tolde hym how messaÌgers were coming vnto hym from kyng Charlemayne that sore thretened him and that the soÌne of kyng Charlemayne was there in person Than sayd the Duke to hys folke wherof he had at that houre foâ son with him in his Palays bicause of the feast of Penthecoste Lordes sayd he the kynge Charlemayne setteth lytle by me that will that I shal go serue him with all my power and my puyssance and that wors is he sendeth to me his eldest sonne for to tel me some message the threteneth me greatly what counsell ye me therto my bretherne freendes Than spâke a good knyght that was called syr Simon sayd My lorde I shal counsel you truly yf ye wyll herken and beleue me Receyue honourably the messangers of the kynge Charlemayne For wel ye wote that he is your ryght wyse lorde and wit that who that warreth against his souerayn Lorde he doth agaynst god rayson and haue no regarde to your kynne nor to thys that your bretherne Gyrarde of Roussyllon and the duke of Nantuell wolde not obey hym For I aduyse you wel that Charlemayn is myghty and he shall distroye you of body and of goodes but yf that ye obey him And yf ye amiablie go to hym he shall haue mercy of you Than answered the duke that thus he wolde not doo and that the sayd knight gaue him euill counsell For yet sayd he I am not so low brought but that I haue three brythren that shall helpe to susteine and beare out my warre agaynst Charlemayne also my foure neuewes the sonnes of my brother Aymes of Dordon that ben full fayre knightes worthy and wel taught in faytes of warre Alas sayd than the duchesse My good lorde beleue your good counsell For no men shall prayse you that ye make warre agaynst your right wyse lorde and wit it well that it is agaynst the coÌmaundementes of God against all equitie Wherfore yf ye haue misdoone any thiÌg agaynst hym doo so much that ye be accorded with him And take none heed to your brethern as syr Symon dothe counsell you For neuer good may come therof for to be euyl in fauoure with his souerayne Lorde Than behelde the duke the duchesse in great wrathe and had her that she should holde her peace in the deuilles name that she should neuer more speake to hym of this mater For in certayne he should not do for the kyng Charlemayne the mouÌtenaunce of a peny So helde her peace the duchesse sayd that she should speake nomore to hym therof GReat was the noyse and the bruyte within the palayce of Aygremount for some counselled the duke that thus as the duchesse sayd he should doo and many other sayd nay Than sayd the duke vnto them that counselled him naye and that he should not accorde nor make peace with the kyng Charlemayne that he could theym thanke muche longe they spake of this mater And the messangers of the Kyng Charlemayne duryng the same haue riden so muche that they ben come to Aygremount And the castell was see vpon a roche ryght hye and well enuyroned with stronge walles thycke highe and wel garnyshed with great towres so that for the strength and sytuacyon of the castell it was imprenable but only by famyshynge Than sayd Lohier to the lordes that were wyth hym Lordes nowe see what a fortresse is there what walles what a ryuer teÌneth at the foote of it I beleue verely that in al christendome is not her lyke It can neuer betake by force but yf it is by famysshyng ThaÌ spake a knight that was called Sauary and sayd to Lohier his lorde syr sayde he it semeth me spekynge vnder correccion that my lorde the kynge Charlemayne your father hath enterprised a great foly whan he troweth to come to at an ende of this duke of AygremouÌt for in good sothe he is right puissauÌt And I beleue that he shall make as mani men for to make the warre as shall my lorde your father yf it cam there to that he wolde make hym warre It were a fayre thynge yf they myght be accorded together and of my parte I shoulde counsell the same yf it myght be doone But well I wot that yf your father had hym al the golde in Paris should not kepe hym but that he should do hange hym or els slea hym quycke So beseche I you ryght deere syr that ye speake humbly vnto the duke benes of AygremouÌt For in certayne he is ryght fyers and outragyous incontinent might haue there a sore meddle betwene you and hym wher of the losse should tourne vpon vs. For we ben to lew folke Than answered Lohier and sayd to hym that he sayd well and wysely but alwayes sayd he we doubt hym not of any thynge We be here al redy an hoÌdred knyghtes well appoynted and for sothe yf he say vnto vs anye thynge vnto our dyspleasure he shal be the fyrst that shall repent and be sory for it Than sayd the knight Sauare al softly to hymself that this were not wysely doone For wel I swere said he vpon my fayth that yf it hap you to say any thyng to hym that by any maner shall displease hym he shall make you sorye and shall wreke it vpon you bodye And happelye we shall all be in a waye for to dy Syr aduyse your selfe well wyll to procede prudently in your message For well I say vnto you that he is ryght cruell and of greate worthynesse accomplysshed THus spekyng of one thyng and of other rode so longe the messangers that they ben come to the gate of the castel which was sone shet by the porter then knocked the sayd knightes and the porter answered to them Lordes what be you Freende answered Lohier open to vs this gate presently For we wyll speake to the Duke Benes of Aigremount from the kinge Charlemayn Now abyde you a lytle and hast you not sayd the porter And I wyl goe speake redely to my lorde the Duke So went the sayde porter into the halle where he sawe the Duke his lorde He kneeled incontynent afore him tolde him howe downe at the gate was a right great company of men of armes And that they were well an hondred men or more ryght well horsed well armed and with them is the eldest sonne of
king charlemayne that strongly threteneth you and also your folke My lorde sayde the porter shall I open the gates vnto theÌ yea sayd the duke For I doubt them nothynge and we ben ynough for them And many worthy knyghtes and esquyers ben no where able for to defende vs all were Charlemayne himself with them with hys puissauÌce So ran incontineÌt the porter downe agayne for to open vnto them the gate Lohier his felowes entred wtin and mounted vp vnto the dongeon of the castell where the duke was that sayd to hys barons Lordes heere cometh the eldest sonne of the kyng Charlemayne for to tell me his message But di that god that suffred death and passyon Yf he speake wysely to vs he shal do as sage And yf he sayth any thyng that shall dysplease vs we shall soone without delaye take vengeaunce therof So was the duke Benes well accompanyed nobly of wel two hondred knyghtes more Thys was in the moneth of May that all creatures humain ought wel for to reioyce theÌ and that folke preu and worthy in armes taken hert and hardinesse for to defende them self wel and warre agaynst theyr enemyes And this during Lohier the sonne of King charlemayne entred into the halle of the Palays of Aygremount ryght nobly armed and his folke also and saw the halle ryght well garnyshed of fayre folke rychelye arayed And the duke sittynge right proudlye amonge his barons and the duchesse hys wyfe next by hym and before hym his sonne Mawgys that was a great mayster of the science of Nigromancy that played afore his father of his art of nigromancy wherin the Lordes that were there tooke great pleasure And wit it well that in all the worlde was not a worthyer chrysten nor more able than was the sayd Mawgys Except onlye hys cosyn Reynawde one of the Sonnes of Aymon wherof specyally treateth now this History Than marched forthe Lohier and wente in the fyrst of all and after hym hys folke by good conduyte And salued the duke Bânes of Agremount in thys wyse wherby moch great euill happed vnto him at last That God that created the firmament and made all thynge of nought for the people to susteyne And on the crosse suffred death and passyon for all soules to be redemed out of the paynes of hel keep and saue the king Charlemayne Emperour of Aimayne and king of Fraunce and all hys noble lyne and confound thee Duke Benes of Aygremounte My father the kyng by me expressely seÌdeth to thee word thou come incontinent to Paris with fyue hondred knyghtes for to do to him right and reason of thys that thou were not wyth him in armes in the partyes of Lumbardy for to fyght agaynst the enemyes of the christen fayth Where by thy faute were dead there Bawdoyne lorde of Melanke Gesfroi of Bourdel and many other great Dukes Prynces knyghtes and barons And yf thou wylt not doo it I tell thee duke benes that the kinge shall come vpon thee wyth an hundred thousand men of armes So shalt thou be take and brought into Fraunce And there thou shalt be iudged as a theefe and a false traytour vnto thy Souerayne Lorde for to be slayne and hanged all quicke thy wyfe brente and thy chyldren destroyed and banysshed Doo therfore this that I commauÌd thee in the kinges behalfe for thou knowest well that thou arte his maÌ vassayle and subiecte WHan the Duke Benes of aygremount had heard Lohyer thus speake Than yf ye had sene hym chaunged hys coloure pouffe blowe as a maÌ cruel proude and outrageouse and sayd to Lohier in thys maner I shal not goe to kynge Charlemayne nor nothynge of hys wyll I shall not fulfyll For I hold nother Castell ne Fortresse of hym but I shall goe vpon him with all my puyssaunce and shall destroy all the lande of Fraunce vnto Parys Than sayd Lohier vnto Duke Benes of Aygremount Vassayle sayde he how darest thou answere thus And it the king knew now that thou thretenest hym thus as thou doest he should come incontynent vpon thee and should vtterli destroy thee well thou knowest that thou arte hys liege man and that thou canne not say agaynst it come than redely and serue thy souerayne lorde kinge Charlemyan and beleue me yf thou wyll saue thyne owne lyfe For if thou doo it not I make thee sure and certayne that yf he can haue thee by force that he shall make thee to be hanged there as the ayre and the wyndes with theyr great blastes shall dry vp the bones of thee Whan the duke heard Lohier speake to him in this maner he stode vp anon vpon his feete and sayd that to his euel chere he cam there for to make to hiÌ hys message ThaÌ came foorth a knyght named syr water that was a man of the Duke of Aygremount and sayd to the Duke My lorde keep for gods loue that ye doo no foly Let Lohier say all hys wyll for ye be neuer the worse for his sayenge and as ye well knowe kynge Charlemayne is ryght puyssauÌt and so moche that there is nother castell Citie nor towne neuer so stronge that can holde agaynst hiÌ Go than to him by my counsell for ye be his man his vassayle his subiect and of hym you holde your castell of Aygremount and all your laÌdes and yf ye so doo ye shall doo as sage and it shall be your prouffyte also of al your lande and for to war agaynst your ryght wise Lorde nothyng but euil can come to you thereof Whan the Duke had hearde the wyse knyght to speake he coulde to him right good thanke therfore but alwayes all angry he sayd to hym holde your peace For I shall holde nothyng of hym aslonge that I shal may beare armes and mouÌte a horse backe I shall sende for my deere bretherne Gerrade of Roussyllon and Dron of Natuell and Garnyer his sonne and than we shal gone vpon kyng Charlemayne and yf I canne mete with him in any place we shall destroy hym shall doo of hym that he troweth to doo of me Wene he that I am a cowarde nay by my faythe for I should not take all the gold in Parys but that I should slea the messanger Euyll was to hym whan he durst so threten me And than sayde Lohier I nether prayse you nor doubt you not Whan the Duke benes of Agremount vnderstode Lohyer he wexed for great wrathe as red as ony fyre in hys face and began to ryse vp and to call Nowe Barons vpon hym brynge hym to me for he shall neuer be wraunted but that I shall make hym to dye shamefullye And the baroÌs durst not say against theyr lorde but drew al theyr swerdes And incontynent did ren vpon Charlemaynes folke And Lohier called his baner and than began he and his folke to defende them selfe sharpely And god knoweth howe many heades and armes were there cut of that day For at the same houre began
a thynge wherof afterwarde so manye ladyes and damoyselles were with out husbandes wythout louers so many of children fatherlesse and so manye chirches wasted and distroyed that neuer sythe were repayred What shal I tel you more wyt it that they fought there so longe wythin the halle of the Palays that the noys went through all the towne ThaÌ should ye haue seen the bourgeys Marchauntes men of craft with axes swerdes and other wepyns and came to the Castel warde aboute seuen thousand men and more But the entre of the Palays of Aygremount was narow and the Frenche men were within that kept them well that they entred not in at theyr case Alas what terryble and vnhappy a slaughter was there that daye For the folke of kyng Charlemayne were but a few to the regard of them of the other parte And as ye may knowe suche assemble was ryght euyll So defended them selfe moche noblye and valyauntlye the folke of kyng Charlemayne and so muche that Lohier seynge that that he and hys folke had the worse he smote a knight by fore the duke Benes of Aygremount by suche a wyse that he ouerthrew hym downe dead forth sayd he gods curse haue thou and afterward he sayd pyteously in waylyng himselfe Lorde God that within the holy wombe of the blessed vyrgyn Marye tooke thy herbowrynge and suffred death passyon for to redeme mankynde wilt defende me thys daye from shamefull death and from tourment for I wot well but yt it be that your hygh diuynitie socoure me this day I shall not see the king Charlemayne my father no more Than the Duke called hygh vpon hym sayenge Lohier so helpe me God thys day shall be your laste It shall not be so sayde Lohyer And with this he smote the Duke vpon the head but hys helme saued hym And the stroke descended to the heele of him so that the bloud ranne out By God sayd Lohier ye shall not escape Than came the duke Benes of Aigremount to him as woode and sore an angred sayinge I should prayse my selfe full lytle it I might not auenge me vpon thee So heaued vp the Duke hys brande of steele and smote Lohyer so harde vpon hys bryght helme that he cleued hym to the teeth And Lohyer fell dead afore hym vpon the pauement of the Halle Ha God what great domage hath done the Duke Benes of AygremouÌt to haue thus slayne Lohier the eldest sonne of the great kyng Charlemayne Forafterwarde al the oste of Fraunce was in moche great and innumerable tourmente therfore and in ryght greate payne continual and the Duke himselfe dyed therfore full soryly That was the payment that he had for it as ye here after shall heare yf peasybly ye wyll heare me NOw is outrageouslye slayne the good Lohyer the eldest sonne of kinge Charlemayne And the duke Benes of Aygremount full of cruelnes tooke the hed from the body of hym And after that the folke of the sayd Lohyer the sonne of the great kyng Charlemayne saw thei Lorde dead thynke ye they made no great defence Alwayes of a huÌdred that they were entred within the palays with theyr Lord Lohyer abode there on lyue but .xx. wherof the duke incontynente made .x. of them to be slayne and the other .x. he reteyned a lyue and to them sayde yf ye wyll promyse and sweare to me vpoÌ your othe and fayth of knighthode that ye shall beare your Lorde Lohyer to hys father the Kyng Charlemayne and say to hym that I sende to hym his sonne Lohyer in good aray and that in an euyll houre he dyd sende hym to me for to tell me suche wordes I shall let you goe quyte and saute and to hym ye shall saye that for hym I shall not doo the mountenaunce of a Peny and that I shall go vpon hym in thys Sommer next comynge wyth fourtye thousande men and that I shall destroye hym and all hys lande They answered Syr wee shall doo that that shall please you to commaunde vs. ThaÌ the Duke dyd doo make redyly a byere and made the corps of Lohyer to be put wythin the sayd byere And after he delyuered it to his .x. knightes that were left on lyue and put it in a carte to drawe wyth two horses And the Duke conueyed theym thorough the Towne And whan they were in the feeldes the .x. knightes beganne to weepe and to make great mone for theyr Lorde Lohier saying alas my lorde Lohier what shall wee no we saye for you to the Kynge your father that so great sorowe shall haue whan he shal knowe your cruell death We may well be incertayne that that he shall make vs all dye Thus weepynge and makynge theyr mone for the loue of theyr Lorde Lohyer the rode on theyr way streyght to Parys ¶ But nowe we shall heere leaue to speake of the messangers and shall tell you of the Kynge Charlemayne that was at Parys CHarlemayne that was at Parys with a great multitude of Lordes that were there assembled And there vpon a day kynge Charlemayne sayd vnto hys Lordes and barons Lordes I am moch wroch and sory of my sonne Lohyer that I haue sente to Aygremounte and I feare me sore that they haue take debate wyth the duke Benes of Agremounte whiche is fell and cruell I doubte me leste he hath slayne my sonne Lohier But by my crowne yf he haue so doone or any thynge that turneth to dyspleasure or dommage to my sayd sonne I shal go vpoÌ him wyth a hundred thousand men and shall make hym to be hanged at agybet Syr sayd the good Duke Aymes of Dordonne I shall comeÌ you ryght sore yf he hath offeÌded against you that ye make punyssyon therof and wreke on hym greate vengeaunce He is your liege man and ought to serue prayse and honoure you Alwayes yf he hath trespassed agaynst you in any manere I am ryght sorye for it and yf ye haue a cause to be wrothe wyth hym I haue heare my foure sonnes That is to wyt Reynawde Alarde Guycharde and Rycharde that ben ryght valyaunt as ye syr well knowe which shal be trusty and true to you Aymon sayd the kyng Charlemayn I conne you great thanke of the offre that nowe ye haue doone to me And it is my wyll that ye make theÌ to come hether presently to the ende that I make them knightes and I shall gyue to them Castelles towres and Townes and Cities ynough Than sent the duke Aymes Incontinent for hys children and made them to come afore kynge Charlemayne And whan the king Charlemayne saw them they pleased him moche and Reynawde was the first that spake and sayd Syr yf it please yon for to make vs knyghtes we shal be euer redy for to serue you and your noble Lordshyp ThaÌ the king Charlemayne called hys stewarde and sayd to hym Bringe to me the armes that were the kynge Cedres whyche I haue wyth my handes slayne in batayle before Pampelune and
the head that was smytteÌ of from the body and the face that was all to Hewen Ha good Lorde sayd he how well maye I be made now al quicke well I ought for to hate the duke Benes of AygremouÌte that thus hath murdered my sonne he than kissed his childe al bloudiful often and said vnto him in this wise Ha faire sonne ye were a talle man and a gentil knight Now praye I the puyssant God of glorye that he take your soule this yf it be his pleasure into hys Realme of Paradyse Great sorow made the kyng Charlemayne for the death of his sonne Lohier But alwayes recomforted him the good Duke Naymes And theÌ Ogyer the Dane and Sampson of Bourgoyne tooke him vnder the armes of him and ledde him vnto saynt Germayne of the medowes And there the bodye of Lohier was buried and enoynted with balme as it apperteyneth vnto all the sonnes of kinges Thus was he put into hys graue God haue of hys Soule mercy WE shall bene heere to speake of the good king Charlemayne that was moch sori of his sonne Lohier as ye haue heard and shall tell you of the good Duke Aymon of Reynawde his sonne and of his three bretherne that were at Parys My children sayd Aymon ye know how the Kynge Charlemayne is moche wrothe and not without a cause by cause that my brother your vnkle hath slaine Lohier his sonne And I wote well that he shall go vpon him with all his puyssaunce but verelye we shall not go wyth him But rather shall we goe to Dordon and yf the Kyng make warre agaynst hym we shall helpe him with all our power So lyghted anon on horsebacke the good duke Aymon the foure knightes his children and bayted no wher tyll they came to Laon from theÌs they rode so longe tyll they came to Dordon And whan the Lady sawe her Lorde and her foure children she was right glad and went against them for to welcom them and asked after tydinges and yf Raynawde hys other childeren were made knightes Than the good duke answered yea and after she asked why they were departed fro the kinges court And than he rehersed vnto her word by word how hys brother the duke Benes had slayne Lohier the sonne of the Kinge Charlemayne Wherof the good Lady Margery was wondeâfull wrothe and sorye For well she knew that this death of Lohier was the totalle dystruccion of the Duke Aymon her housbande of her self and of her childerne and of their lande She heard Renawde her eldest Sonne that thretened Charlemayne the great Kynge then sayd to hym the Ladye hys Mother My Sonne Reynawde I pray thee vnderstande me alytle Loue thy souerayne and thy naturall Lorde and dread him aboue all thinge and bere him honour and reuereÌce And God shall rewarde thee for it and ye my Lorde Aymon I am moche maruelled of you that are departed from Charlemayne without leaue of him the hath doone to you so moche good and so great worship and hath geueÌ to your sonnes so noble and so riche armes and hath made them knightes with his owne handes more great honour he might not doo to you nor to your childreÌ Lady said the Duke we be thus departed froÌ King Charlemayne because that my brother hath slayne his sonne as I haue tolde you afore A God sayd the Lady that of the virgin was borne in bethlehem howe hath that euyll thys day surmounted the good For goddes loue my Lorde sayde the Ladye medle not withall For ye shall see this next soÌmer that the kinge shall go vpon your brother by my counsell serue the kynge your rightwyse Lorde nor fayle him for nothynge For and ye doo otherwyse ye shall be vntrew and false towarde your Souerayne and naturall Lorde Lady sayd the duke by god omnipotente I wold leuer haue lost my castell and the halfe of my lande than that my brother should haue slayne Lohier Now the wyl of god be done therin and none other wyse TO speake of the good Duke Aymon of DordoÌ and of his wife the duchesse and of theyr soÌnes we shal heere leue shall returne to speake of kynge Charlemayne that was come agayne to parys makiÌg great sorowe for his sonne Lohier There had you seene many a gowne torne broken many a hande wrongen and manye heares of the head pulled so that it was piti and wonder for to se Alas mi dere sonne said kyng Charlemayne he that hath slayne thee so cruelly loued me but lytle I shall neuer be in quiete nor in reste till that I haue take vengeaunce of thy death Syr sayd the duke Bauyere haue mercy of your selfe For it behoueth not so great a prince as ye be for to make so great sorow as ye doo And in the meane whyle came a messenger afore the kynge which shewed to him howe Aymon Duke of Dordon his foure soÌnes were gon into their countrie wherof the kyng was sore an angred and wrothe And sware god and saynt Denis the afore he sholde dye that Aymon and his chylderen sholde abye full sore for it that the duke Benes of AygremouÌte sholde not kepe them therfro The dyner was redy they wasshed their handes and were set at dinner but wyt it that the kynge dyd eate but lytle as he that was in greate melancolye the fayre Salamon serued that day afore hym the cuppe great people was there After diner the Emperour Charlemayne did reason with his barons and sayd to theÌ lorde sayd he the duke Benes of Aygremount hath doone to me greate outrage that so shamefully hath slayne my sonne Lohier But and it please God I shall go wreke it vpon hym this next somer and I shall destroye all his land and yf I may take him I shall not leaue hym for the duke Aymon the shamefullye is gone from mee nor for his foure sonnes that I haue made knightes wherof I me repente sore but that I shall make them to be hanged Syr sayd than the duke Naymes nowe heare what I shal say to you your soÌne is dead by great vnhap well in an euill hour was he put to death for neuer death was so sore solde ne so dere bought as this shal be So sende nowe for your folke through all your londes and than from hens toward Aygremounte take your waye And yf ye may take the Duke Benes let the death of your soÌne Lohier be to him ful dere soulde NAymes sayd the kynge ye be a good man sage curtoyse valyaunt euen thus shall I doo for well wysely ye haue counselled me Than gaue he leaue to many of hys barons and gentil men that were in his courte at that time tolde them that eche of them should go into his countrie for to make them self redy and that they should come agayne to him the next sommer So was it doone as the kynge had commaunded And thus wente the barons and the gentil men from
to hym answered his two bretherne that they wolde doo it syn that he counselled theÌ so and coÌcluded together that they should sende thyther as soone as it were day They made that nyght good watche vnto the morning and than they made redi their messangers for to sende to the kyng Charlemayne And whan they were redy Gerarde of Roussyllon sayd to them Lordes say wel to kynge Charlemayne that we be sore dyspleased of the death of hys sonne Lohier and that our brother the duke Benes repenteth him selfe of it full sore that yf it please hym to haue mercy of vs that we shal go serue hym where it shal please him to sende vs wyth .x. thousand fyghtynge men And also ye shall saye to Naymes of Bauyere that we pray hym that he wyll enploy hymselfe towarde the kyng Charlemayne that this accorde may be had AFter that the messaÌgers had well all alonge vnderstand what they should saye to the Kynge Charlemaine from the three brethern dukes They lyghted on horsbacke eche of them berynge braunches of Olyue tree in their handes in token of peace And ceased not to ryde tyll that they were come afore the tente of the kinge charlemayne Than spake one of them whiche was named steuen that salued the king in this maner Syr I praye our lorde that of his grace giue you good lyfe long And wyt syr that the duke Gerarde of Roussyllon and the Duke Benes of Aygremount and Dron of Nantuell ben come hither the whiche cry you mercye and beseche you ryght humbly that it please you to pardon them the death of your sonne Lohier Of the whiche they are wrothe sory And the duke of Aygremount let you wyte by vs that yf it be your pleasure to doo so that he and hys bretherne shal be your lyege men shall come to serue you with .x. thou sand fyghting men in all that shal be your pleasur to enploy them syr for goddes sake haue remembrauÌce that god forgaue his death to Longes the cruelly sticked him to the hart wherfore syr please it you to pardon theÌ take them to your good grace And of this right huÌbly they beseche you WHan the kynge Charlemayne had thus heard speake the messangers of the three brethern He froÌ peled his forehead knitted his browes and looked full angrely and at that houre he answered to them nothynge and than soone after he begaÌ to speake in this maner Bi my faith syr Steuen sayde he well had the duke Benes lost his wittes whan he so shamfully slew my deere sonne Lohier whiche I loued so tenderly Now is he my man wyll he or not Syr sayd SteueÌ I am certayne that he shall doo to you all reason to the direction of your good counsell Than sayd the kinge of this we shal counseyll vs and withdrewe hym a lytle a side and called to him duke Naymes Ogyer the Dane syr Salamon Huon of Mauns Walleran of Bollon Odet of Langres and Leon of Fryse sayd to them Lordes heere ben the messangers of the duke Benes and of his bretherne that sende me worde that they wyll come for to serue me where my wyl shal be wyth .x. thousand good fyghting meÌ yf we wyll pardon theym the death of my sonne Lohyer And they shall be our vassayle and true liege men of vs they shall holde theyr landes and theyr lordeships Syr answered the duke Naimes in this is nothing but well So counsell I you that ye pardon them For they be muche valyaunte and of great renome Wherfore pardon them yf it please you THan by the Counsell of the Duke Naymys of Bauyere the kynge dyd pardon the three bretherne called to him the .iii. knightes and said to them how he pardoned the three dukes the death of his sonne Lohier by suche a condicion that the duke Benes of AygremouÌt should come for to serue hym at the feast of Saynt Iohn next comynge wyth .x. thousand fyghtyng men wel arayed and ye shall tel to them that they surely come nowe to me for to take of theym theyr othe and fayth that they shall fro hens forthe obey and serue truly And that of me they shall holde all theyr landes Then departed the knyghtes from afore the kyng Charlemayne and came agayne vnto the Dukes and shewed vnto them how they had sped of their message with the king Charlemayn wherof the three brethern thanked much humbly our lorde God Then sayd the duke Rycharde of RoussylloÌ it is reason that we take of our good gownes and go to the kynge Charlemayne naked and crye hym mercy of this that we haue thus offended agaynst his hygh puyssaunce lorde shyp and the other two brethern answered that well they ought to doo so So tooke the noble knyghtes their clothes of and al naked bare foote and in poore estate departed from theyr lodges and well foure thousande knightes wyth them all bare fote and in their shertes and in such estate as were theyr maysters In thys wyse they came tofore the king Charlemayne And wyt wel that in right great humilitie were set the three bretherne for to haue peace and accorde wyth the kyng Charlemain that was wroth to them specyally to the Duke of Aygremount as more playnlye ye shall heare here after WHan the kynge Charlemayn sawe thus come the three bretherne wyth theyr barons knyghtes he called to hym the duke Naymes many other barons and sayd to theÌ can ye not tell me what folke ye see yonder comyng Syr sayd the dukes Naymes it is the Duke Benes of Aygremount with his folke that come for to requyre you of mercie This hanging the Duke Benes of Aygremount came afore the king and cast hymselfe vpon hys knee sayd vnto hym in this wise Syr for god I crye God mercy we ben heere comen by your commaundement if I haue slayne your deere Sonne by my foly I now as your man yelde me my bretherne also Gerarde of Roussyllon and Dron of Nantuell and wyl be your lyege men and serue you with all our puyssaunce where your plesure shal be to set vnto and neuer dayes of our lyues we shall fayle you but yf it belonge in you Than whan the kynge sawe theym thus come humblie towarde hys presence in theyr shertes barefoote and had hearde this that the Duke of Aygremount had sayd to hym he had of them ryght great pitie pardoned them the death of his Sonne Lohier and all his euyll wyll Than should ye haue sene from one part from the other kysse and colle eche other their kynnesmen and som wept for Ioye and the other for pitie WHan were peased the baroÌs with the king Charlemayne by the counsel of the good duke Raymos than sware promised the three brethern good fydelitie to the kynge Charlemayne and that they should serue him at all tymes that he should cal for theÌ So tooke they a glad leue from the
fayre castell sore stronge And whan the kynge vnderstoode these tydinges he sent worde incontinente to all his folke of armes that they should make ready themself the whiche dyd so without delaye â How after that kyng Charlemaine hadde made the duke Aymon to forsake his sonnes he went and besyeged theym at Mountaynforde where he was discomfited two tymes But the castell of Mountaynforde was taken by treason And howe Reynawde and his bretherne auenged themselfe of the traytoures that had betrayed theym and howe they saued them selfe after that with in the forest of Ardeyne where theyr father found theym as he went from the siege towarde hys countrey and howe for to keep his othe that he had made to kinge Charlemaine he dyd assayle to his sonnes so that of .v. hundred men that they were abode a liue with his sonnes but .xvii. persones but Reynawde and his brethern had no hurt of their bodies howe be it that they slewe manye of theyr fathers men Capitulum .iii. NOwe sayth the hystorye that sith the time of the kinge Alexander was none suche hearde as this same therfore faire lordes please you heare and vnderstande how it befell of the foure sonnes of Aymon that were enmyes of the emperoure Charlemayne kynge of fraunce for the same time king Charlemain had banyshed them oure of the realme of fraunce made all his barons bothe yonge olde to seeke after them and also made theÌ swere that they should neuer helpe ne confort theym by no maner of wise And the same oth had made with many other the olde duke Aimon theyr father as ye haue heard afore wherof he was full sory afterwarde It happed than that the kyng Charlemayne helde a greate courte in Parys And as this courte was assembled where all the barons of fraunce were togyther a messenger came there before the kynge Charlemayne kneeled afore him and sayd Syr I brynge you tydynges of that ye dyd sende me for wyt syr that I cam froÌ the great forest of Ardeyne where I haue founde the foure sonnes of Aimon that dwell there with in a stronge castell well sette vpon a roche and if ye wyll fynde theym and be auenged of them wyt that ye maye well ynough doo so as I byleue for certayne WhaÌ Charlemayne vnderstood this messenger he began to meruayle hymselfe sore and called hys barons and sayd to them Fayre lordes whan it is so that ye be heere it apperteyneth not that I shoulde sende for you at your places So I pray you and require as to my lyege men that ye help me to be auenged of the four soÌnes of AimoÌ that so great domage haue doon to me as ye know well WHan the barons vnderstoode the prayer that the emperoure Charlemaine made to them they answered withone voice Sir we shal doo your commauÌdement without doubt gyue vs leaue if it please you that we may goe to our couÌtries for to make vs ready to harueys and of horses the which thing the king graunted them And so departed al the baroÌs fro the court and went in to theyr countreys the which abode not long that they came agayne to Parys all a rayed and ready for to warre with their army And whan the kynge Charlemayne sawe them he receyued them gladly and in continent without anye taryinge he departed out of Parys went with al his hoste to Mountiyon a towne of his and there he laye that nyght And at the morowe as soone as the daye appered the kinge Charlemaine departed from Mountlyon and went on his wai with his hoste ordeined the foreward to the erle Guy of mouÌtpeller that wolde much great harme to Reynawd whan they had set theÌ selfe in the way the emperour Charlemaine called to him his good vasseylles Renyer Guyon of aubeford the erle Garner Gefray Langon Ogier the dane Rycharde of Normandy the duke Naymes of bauiere and saide vnto them all Lordes ye knowe well what ye haue to doo I praye you that ye keep well your selfe from Reynawde and goe not to nyghe but abyde all togither in such a stronge place that we may haue no domage and let good watche be made euery night for my hearte geueth me that we shal dwell there longe THan saide the duke Naimes of bauyere Sir we shall doo so Than made they the trompettes to be blowen all the hoste they made to come togyther And thus they rode so muche that they came to Mileyne otherwise called Aspes whaÌ they were come there they sawe the castell of Mountaynforde that Reinawde his bretherne their cosyn Mawgis had doo make euen at that houre that kinge Charlemayne and his hoste were com to Aspes the three bretherne of Reynawd were coming fro the chase oute of the wood of Ardeyn and Richard the yongest bare a right riche horne bothe fayre good the which Reinawd loued full deare And in their felawshyp myght well be .xx. knightes and no mo And as they returned to Mountainforde Richarde beheld and sawe ouer the Ryuer of Muse thoste of the king Charlemayn wherof he began to be sore merueylled called Guycharde his brother said to hym Fayre brother what folke maye be they that I see yonder I heard say the other day of a messenger that tolde it oure brother Reynawd that the emperoure came for to besyege vs within our castell ANd after whan Guycharde vnderstoode his brother he behelde ouer the ryuer sawe the forewarde that Guyon conduyted and whan Guychard sawe them he smot hys horse with his spurres he his folke went ayenst Guyon sayde to hym Fayre syr what are these folke syr sayde Guyon these been the folke of the emperoure Charlemaine that goeth to Ardeyn for to besyege a castell that the foure sonnes of Aymon haue doo make there for theyr strengthe they trauayle vs much god gyue them euyll rest Certes said Guycharde I am a souldier with Reynawde con you nother thanke nor grace of that that ye saye for I am holden to defend them at my power with this he spurred his horse and smote the said Guion throughe hys sheelde so harde that he ouerthrewe hym deade to the grounde and than he tooke the horse of the sayde Guion and tooke him to one of his squyers and assembled al the knightes togyther of one parte of the other they of Fraunce cried Mounridye saynte Denys the bretherne of Reinawd cried mountaynforde Than shoulde ye haue seen a fell batayle and ryght cruel the one aienst the other sheeldes broken and helmes broken som dead and som sore wounded so muche that it was great pitre to see What shall I tell you more al the folke of GuyoÌ that made the forewarde were there slayne This hangyng came a squiet to the king shewed him howe hys foreward was vtterly dystroyed that Guycharde the brother of Reynawd had slayne the earle Guyon O God saide than the emperoure Charlemaine
sore angred and sayd to hys brethern what shall we doo here for yf we tary any lenger we shall all be brent or taken and yf it were not the fyre that thus warreth agaynst vs I make myne a uowe to god that we should yet caste this folke out of thys castell but syn that the fyre is in it we cannot kepe it no lenger And than he sayd to his bretherne come all after me they went to the fausebray that was all wayes open and yssued out he his brethern his folke with them and whan they were out than were they more abasshed than they were afore for they wyst not whether to goe Now heare how they dyd as worthy knightes For whaÌ they saw the castell brenne they entred wythin a pyt that was there vnder the erthe for feare of the fyre set the dore vpon them there they began to defeÌd themselfe so strongly that none entred therein but he lost anon hys head And whan Hernyer the traytour was aware of the same he tooke his folke with him came to the pyt began to assayle Reynawde sharply and his brethern and al they that were therin with them wyt it that there at thentre of the sayd pyt were made great faytes of armes for they of within defended themself so wel that none myght come in but he were dead anon ¶ Whyle that the foure sonnes of Aymon were in that pyt vnder therthe they hearde the crye that his men made the whiche Hernyer made to be slayne Than began Reynawde to sai to his brethern Lordes let vs go succour our folke for and they should thus dye it were to vs a great blame Syr sayd hys bretherne goe in goddes name whan it please you and whan they were come out of the pitte the batayle began to be there ful terryble for ye should haue seen Reynawde his brethern gyue there great strokes and manye For Reynawde smote so merueyllouse strokes wyth hys swerd Flamberge the whyche did cut al that he rought For Reynawde was all wrothe and for great angre he habandoned and Ieoparded both lyfe and gooddes And therefore he bare greate hurte and harme to hys enemyes For he had cast hys Sheelde ouer hys backe and helde his swerde Flamberge wyth both his handes made so great destruccion of the folke of Charlemaine that the place was al full of bloud And whan Reynawde saw that theyr enemyes were sore abasshed and that they durste not abyde him he sayd to his brethern It was to vs great cowardnes to hyde vs so Syr sayd Alarde ye say trouthe Than sayd Reynawde My Lordes my brethern let vs to doo well For traitours ben good to ouercom they shall not now endure longe agaynst vs. And whan he had sayde these wordes he came to that gate of the castel and the fyre was a lytle quenched and maugre al his enemyes he shee the gate of that doungeon and had vp the draw bridge of the sayde castel And whaÌ he had doone this he came agayne to the batayle found his brethern that slewe and beate downe so many knyghtes and bare themselfe so worthelye that it was maruayle for to see For they smote no stroke but they slew a man THan was Hernyer the traytour in the medle within the doungeon whereof Reynawde had locked the gate and drawen the bridge and the good Reynawde saw that he was safe of the hoste of Charlemayne and began to put hymselfe in the medle so sharpely that he dyd so muche he and hys brethern that of the folke of Charlemayne that were wythin the douÌgeon abode of theÌ aliue but Hernier and .xii. other and whan Reynawde saw that they were all dead he and hys bretherne and hys folke tooke Hernyer and the .xii other And than Reynawde did doo make agybet vpon one of the hyghest towres and there he made to be hanged the .xii. men And made Hernier to be bound his foure membres that is to wyt feete and handes to foure horse tayles And so he was drawen all quicke and quartered in foure peeces as a traytour ought to be doone vnto And whan Hernier was dead Reynawde dyd make a great fyre and made hym to be cast therein and as he was al together brent he made the asshes of hym to be cast in the ayre to the wynde ¶ And heere ye may see how the traytours that wolde betraye Reynawde were dead and slayne For they were punysshed as they had deserued THan whan king Charlemayne wyst that his folke were thus dead and that he should not haue Reynawde nor his brethern he was sore angry therfore and sayd to him selfe Ha good God lorde how am I euyll dealed wythall by this foure knyghtes bretherne I dyd my selfe great harme whan euer I made theÌ knyghtes And it is often sayd that men make often a rod for them self And that I may well nowe take to me For theyr vncle slewe my sonne Lohyer and Reynawde my neuewe Berthelot that I loued so deerelye and yet nowe he hath hanged my men and many of them slayne Well I myght call my selfe vnhappye whan I that am the moste puyssauÌt of the worlde cannot auenge me of the foure symple knyghtes I shall neuer departe from hens till that I be auenged or els they shal ouercomme and all mine armye Syr sayde Folques of MorilloÌ ye haue a good cause why and Reynawde is a foole that he fereth you not For if he had doubted you he should not haue hanged your men but he hath doone so in dispyte of you ThaÌ sayd the Duke Naymes of banyer had ye beleued me ye should not haue lost your men ye wolde beleue Hernier it is happed of it as ye see Now beholde your folke the ben shaking with the winde ANd whan theÌperour Charlemayne vnderstoode this that the duke Naymes sayde to hym He knew that he sayd trouth and wyste not what he should say to it but looked downe all ashamed This hanging Reynawde hys brethern are gone vpon the walles and looked aboute them and sawe that the base courte of the castell brenned there as their vitailes were Then began reynawde to say to his bretherne fayre lordes the thinge goeth well syth that we ben scape thanked be god from so perillous and harde auenture It lacked lytle but that we were al dead by false treason but the worste that I see is that we haue loste our store of vitayles so that we haue nothing to liue vpon and me semeth that yf we dwell anye lenger heere within we doone not wysely But yf it seme you good it is tyme that we departe hence Brother said Alarde ye speke well and wysely and we shall doo as ye haue sayde For as longe as the lyfe is in our bodyes wee shall not leue you Whan the foure brethern were together accorded for to depart thens they trussed al theyr harneys and taryed tyl that it was night and than they armed themself
ye and what winde driueth you hyther thaÌ spake one of the knyghtes sayd to Reynawde Syr we ben knyghtes of my lorde your father that sendeth to you by vs a defiaunce Lordes sayd Reynawde I wyste it well as soone as I dyd see you of ferre But go agayne tel to our father that it wyll please hym to gyue vs trewce for he shall not doo wel for to be fight vs that are his naturall childreÌ Syr said the knight of the folye ye speake but thinke to defende your selues well for he shall assayle you wtout doubt ANd whan they had sayd these wordes hey retourned agayne for to reherse to Aymon theyr message how they had defyed hys children Whan the olde Aymon vnderstode them he made none other tarying but spurred his horse with the spurres and ranne the formaste vpon hys soÌne And whan Reynawde sawe his father come he came against him and said Ha father what doo you we haue none so great a foe as ye be to vs and I haue great meruayle that ye come alwayes vpon vs ye doo yll great sinne for to doo so At the least yf ye wyll by no wyse helpe vs be not to vs contrary ne enemy yf it please you Thou theefe said Aymon ye shal neuer doo good syth that ye begyn to preche Goe to the wood so shall ye become wylde beastes euyll day giue you god For ye ben not worth an handfull of straw Now thynke to defende your selfe For yf ye ben taken ye shal be put to a great tourmente Syr sayde Reynawde ye doo vs wronge I shal defende me syth that I mai none other wyse doo For yf I sholde let mi selfe to be slaine mi soule should be put to paine and tourmente Whan Aymon saw that he brought his spere in the rest and put himself among his children lyke as they had ben strauÌgers And whan Reynawde saw that he cryed to hys men and sayd heere is none other but doo wel now Lordes thiÌke to smite wel for need coÌpelleth vs therto And whan he had sayd the worde he spurred his horse with his spurres and put hymself in the thickest And began to make so great effortes of armes that all the folke of his father meruayled of it greatlye ¶ What shall I say the batayle began so fell and so cruell that pytie it was to see For ye should haue sene gyue and receyue great and horrible strokes of the one parte and of the other and many knightes and horses dye many sheeldes broken and mani white harneys broken So manye heades smittes of and so many legges and armes brokeÌ and sore hurt And thinke that this batayle was sore stronge and well holden of the one syde and of the other But to say the trouth Reynawde must lose at that tyme. For hys Father had three tymes as many folke as he had For of fyue hundred meÌ that abode with Reynawde after his castel was take which were with him at this bataile were left on lyue what hurt sound but fyfty persones But I tell you well for verye certayne that Reynawde his bretherne dyd so great harme to the folke of theyr father that they slew well halfe of the men that he had But at the last Reynawde must lose and flee away towarde the mountaynes and Aymon chased hym as well as he could for he weÌd well for to haue taken theym and whan Reinawde saw them self vpon the toppe of the mountayne he sayde vnto his brethern Let vs not departe froÌ hence For this is a good place for to defende Wyt that there was great scarmysshiÌg and iustyng made and many a knyght dead and verye sore wounded And there was slayne vnder Alarde his good horse And whan that Alarde sawe himselfe a ground he lept vpon his feete ryght quickli And tooke his swerde in his hande and began for to defende well his bones And whan that Rychard sawe his brother Alarde a foote he turned towarde him for to helpe succour hym and Aymon and his folke came there for to take him So began the batayle yet agayne more cruel then it had be afore And wyt that Alarde should haue ben taken there yf it had not be the noble and worthy knyght Renawde that came for to helpe him And whan that he was come there he smote Bayarde wyth hys Spurres and wente into the greatest prâse So that he ouerthrew the Duke Aymon his father doune vnto the grounde and after he sayd vnto hym Father ye haue pledged my brother Alarde For ye be now set a foote as he is Than was Aymon very sore angry that he loste almost his wittes And Reynawde set his hand to his swerde and began for to departe the prese in suche a wise that he brought hys brother Alarde out of the prese and after sayd to hym Fayre brother lepe behinde me vpon Bayarde For to abyde here any lenger it were folye WhaÌ Alarde vnderstode his brother Reynawde he was ryght glad for he was so wery that he myght no more and so he mounted vpon Bayarde behynde his brother Reynawde And whan Bayarde wyste him self lade wyth two knyghtes he strengthed hymself so strongly that it semed to Reynawde that he was more Ioyouse and more mery than he had be of al the daye Now wit it that Reynawde made foure Ioustes vpoÌ his horse Bayarde with hys brother Alarde behinde hym Whereof he slewe foure knightes of the folke of Charlemayne that were come with hys father Aymon And all thus Reynawde tooke Alarde out of hys enemyes handes Mawgre theyr teeth bare hymself right worthely the same day as here after ye shal mow more playnly vnderstande NOw ben the foure sonnes of Aymon recreaunt almoste wery but only Renawde that neuer was the weker for nothing that he dyd in armes For as he went he turned himselfe at euerye passe that he made and rebuked and kept his enemyes a backe with his harde strokes that he gaue to them so that his folke wente afore hym all at theyr ease and leyser And whan he sawe that his folke were wel ferre from their enemyes he spurred Bayarde and came to his folke his brother Alarde behinde hym as lightly as bayarde had be without anye brydell and no sadle vpon him For this horse was suche that he was neuer werye and thus as Reynawde went away than cam folowed after him Esmenfray that was one of the moste worthy knyghtes of Charlemayne was vpon a horse right good and blacke that Charlemayne had geuen to hym And whan he was nighe Reynawde he cried to them So helpe me God glottons ye ben dead or taken sureli I shal brynge you to Charlemayne And anon weÌt and smote Reynawde in his sheelde wherof Reynawde was muche angry and Reynawde smote him agayne in suche a wyse and wyth so great a strength that neyther for his sheelde nor for his good armures of steele he was not kepte but that Reynawde
ouerthrew hym sterke dead to the grounde And whaÌ this knight was dead Reynawde tooke his horse by the bridell and sayd to Alard his brother holde fayre brother light vpon this Blacke Horse whiche is good For I gyue him to you ANd whan that Alarde sawe the fayre present that his brother Reynawde had doone to hym he was as glad of the same as thoughe he had wonne Parys And thaÌ he made none other rarienge but that he lighted downe from Bayard and mounted vpon Esmenfrays blacke horse that his brother had giueÌ hym smote him with the spurres went and Iusted agaynst a knyght of his fathers folke that was called anfrai so harde that he ouerthrew him dead to therthe And shortly to speake after that Alarde was in this wise set agayne on horse backe began the batayle of a freshe sore hard and fell in so muche that at that houre were slayne .xx. of the best knyghtes that Aymon had with him Whan AymoÌ saw this he was sore angry for it cryed to hys folke Halordes yf they scape you I shal neuer haue ioy for they haue slayne Esmenfray the good knyght that king Charlemayne had gyuen to me Whan the folke of Aymon vnderstode these wordes the wyll theyr Lorde than they dyd ren vpon Alarde so much that thei made hym to leue the place by force and if it had not be the passage of a lytle riuer that eased and holye them greatly Reinawde and hys brethern had muche to doo but I tell you without faute that Reynawde and hys brethern made so great occisyon of that folke of theyr father that it was pitie for to beholde for there dyed well of them .xxv. at the passage of the ryuer and yf Reynawde had had wyth him a fyfty knightes more theÌ he had at the passage he should haue dyscomfyted his father and all hys folke but for faute of meÌ Reynawde must for sake the place and myght not saue with hym but .xiiii. knyghtes of hys owne Nowe see how sorowfull was the batayle for of fyue hundred knyghtes that Reynawde had with hym there abode wyth him alyue but .xiii. and ye maye well wit that the olde Aymon had dommaged his children right sore but that they passed ouer the Riuer for as it is sayde they had loste all theyr men wherof they were full sorye and wrothe ¶ Now hath Reynawde so fewe folke that he wot nomore what to doo but he might not doo therto wherof the teres fell downe continually froÌ his eyen and in lykewyse wept Aymon hys father at the other syde as the historye dooth tell and whan he had wept ynough he sayd in this maner Ha fayre Sonne pane and worthye howe sorye am I for I am the occasyon of your harme and domage now shall ye all goe as exiled for ye haue nought to lyue vpon I cannot helpe you by anye wyse wherof I ensure you I am greatlye displeased and sory for it The deuil take his soule that fyrst begaÌ that strife so shal he Whan he had made hys mone and lameÌtacions longe ynoughe he made incoÌtinent all the dead bodyes to be taken for to be buryed And they that were hurte he made to be brought wyth hym as well as he coulde And made the bodi of Esmenfray to be put vpon a litter and tooke on his way towarde Ardeyne where he bode but a night and in the mornyng he made the litter to be borne vpon two horses went agayne to Paris and came afore Charlemayne and sayd to hym Syr whan I went now last towarde my countrey wyt that as I was on my way I founde my children and fyue hundred knyghtes wyth them in the forest of Ardeyne for thacquitaunce of myn othe I dyd send to them mi diffiaunce wolde haue taken them for to haue brought them to you as prisoners but I myght not for they beÌ sore doubted And that I assailed theÌ it hath cost me sore dere for they haue borne vnto me so great harme and domage that it can not be estemed and I slew al theyr folke excepte .xii persones that ben scaped with them but they haue slayn your knyght Esmenfray but at the last they went away discomfited and ouerthrowen And they should haue ben taken yf it had not be a ryuer that they passed ouer wherby they were saued Whan Charlemayne vnderstode these wordes he was ryght sore an angred so muche that he loste almost his wytte And than he sayd to olde Aymon in angre by God AymoÌ ye excuse your selfe falsly for neuer Rauen eate his yonge byrdes to a nother ye shall make thys to beleue but not to me Whan thou olde Aymon vnderstode the kynge that he spake thus he sayd to hym Syr Emperour wit that I doo tell you is trouth and I doo shewe it to the ende that my trouthe be knoweÌ for none other cause doo bring afore me your reliques and halowes that I shall swere vpon the sayntes that ben in heauen that it was as I haue recountred sayd to you and yf it please you ye shall beleue me yf ye wyll not ye may chuse therof Aymon sayd Charlemayne I know well your herte for yf it went all at your wil your sonnes should be lordes of all FrauÌce and of all my empyre Syr sayd Aymon ye be wrothe of some other thynge wherof I may not doo therto yf ye haue any knight in your courte the wyl make good this that it please you for to saye I shall proue it on hym wyth my body that he lyeth falsely But euermore ye haue be such that ye neuer loued a true knyght but flateres and liers wherof mani euilles ben happed and shall happe And than Aymon came downe from the Palays and lyghted vpon hys horse and went agayn to his countrey without any leaue that he tooke of the kynge he rode so longe a day after another that he came to Ardeine and there he found the Duchesse his wyfe that came agaynst hym and receyued hym with a glad chere and asked hym howe he had doone THan sayde the duke Aymon ful euyll haue I doone For I fouÌd my foure sonnes in the wood of Ardeyne so I assayled them cruelly wenyng to me for to haue takeÌ them whiche I coulde not doo but I stewe discomfited all theyr folke they haue doone me so great harme of my folke and so many they haue slayne of them that I know not the nombre And I tell you for very certayne but yf it had ben the prowes great worthynes of our sonne Reynawde I had taken Alarde for my men had slayne his horse and had brought hym so lowe that he myght no more goe but Reynawde his brother came vpon vs and brake vs so sore that he brought Alarde out of the prese mawgre vs and oure folke made hym syt behinde hym vpon Bayarde And I tell you that Reynawde fought so sore that neuer
helpe me god It is longe sith I dyd take heede to that ye saye now but I feared me full sore to telle you therof lest ye wolde haue be dyspleased with me for it but sith that ye haue opened the wordes yf ye wyll beleue me I shal gyue you good couÌseyl as we semeth Sir we haue suffred heere great pouertie a longe time we may not goe into no couÌrtie but we shall be take for as ye knowe all the barons of fraunce namely oure father al our kinnesmen hateth vs deadlye and if ye will beleue me we shal goe streight to Aââeine towarde out mother for she shall not fayle vs and there we shall soiourne a lytell And whan we shall haue soiourned we shal take with vs some company and shall goe serue some great lorde where we shall get some good for ye be not such a man but that ye shal yet ones haue great plenti of goodes for I know no man in erthe that of worthynes of strength maye compare to you Brother said Reynawde ye saye well and wysely and I promyt you I shal doo so WhaÌ the two other knightes hearde the couseil that Alarde their brother had gyue to Reinawde they began to saye Brother Alarde we know wel that ye gyue good couÌseyll to our brother Reinawd Than sayd Reynawd Sith that this couÌseyll semeth to you good we shall doo it to nighte so muche abode the foure sonnes of Aymon that the nyghte came and whan it was come they lighted on horsebacke and put theimselfe to the way so well clothed and araied as I haue tolde you aboue and in suche wise that their flesh was seen naked in manye places of their bodies And so longe they rode by nyght and by daye that they came there as they were borne that was nigh the citie of Ardeyn and whan they were so nigh the citie that they myghte well see it they looked vpon it and they remembred the greate ryches wherfro thei were cast and banysshed and of the greate pouertye that they had suffred longe And as they aproched nyghe the cytye Reynawde sayde to hys brethern we haue doone euyl that we haue not taken suretie of oure father for ye knowe well that he is so cruell that yf he may take vs he shal yeelde vs prisoners to Charlemain Brother saide Rychard ye saye well but my herte gyueth me not that oure father wolde doo as ye haue said and he so dyd yet haue I leuer die afore Ardeyne than for greate dysease and hungre in the forest let vs ryde surely for I telle you that no bodye shall know vs. And of thother parte if we can set oure feet within Ardeyne we shal be safe ynough for we be wel beloued and my laid our mother should neuer suffre that men shoulde doo to vs any harme ne dyspleasure CErtes fayre brother saide Reynawde ye haue sayde tyght wel and wisely and much ye haue recomfort me Nowe let vs ryde in a good houre And whan he had sayd these wordes they entred soone after with in Ardeyne and they tode thorough the maystres streate that they were not knowen of no bodye they went streyght to the castel without any taryinge And wyt that whan they passed thoroughe the stretes the folke that behelde them merueylled muche of them for they wyste not what folke they were and sayd the one to the other see what folke ben these I trowe that they ben not of oure lawe nor of our beleue Than they asked theym what ben ye lordes that are so countrefaite are ye Paynemes or of what countrey ben ye Syrs answered Reynawde ye enquere ouer much see ye not what folke we been And whan they were come to the palays they lyghted downe a foote and tooke their horses to keep to their knightes that were come of late in their felawship and thaÌ the foure brethern wente vp to the halle and met with no body For the olde Aymon theyr father was a hawkyng vpon the riuer the duchesse their mother was in her chambre where she was contynually pencyful and sory bycause that she might not heare no tidinges of her childreÌ Whan thou foure brethern were entred wythin the haile they fouÌde no man to whom they should speake wherof they were sore meruayled and they set themself downe the one heere and the other there abode thê° a longe whyle that no body came there And whan they had caried longe ynoughe than came the duchesse theyr mother out of her chambre and she looked a longe the hall where she saw her sonnes thus counterfayte whiche she knew not but meruayled herself greatly what folke they were And whan Alarde sawe hys lady mother come he said to his brother Reynawde and to his other brethern yoÌder is our mother that we sore desyred for to see let vs goe agaynst her yf it please you and tell her our great penurye and oure need Brother sayd Reynawde wee shall doo so but we shall tary tyl she speake to vs or not and thus taried the foure brethern tyl that theyr mother was come to them And whan she sawe them so blacke so hidous principally Reynawde that was so great so rough she tooke so greate feare of them that she wolde haue gone agayn into her chambre but anon she assured herselfe said to theÌ God saue you Lordes What be you or of what nacyon are ye christen or paynimes or folke that dooth penauÌre wyll yee not haue some almesse or some clothyng for to couer your bodi with for I see ye haue great need of it and yf ye wyll haue it for goddes sake I shall giue it you gladlye to th ende he haue mercy on my chyldren and that he wyl keep them froÌ ylle combraunce and fro peril for it is wel seuen yeres that I did not see them And whan the Duchesse had sayd this she tooke so great pytie to remembre her children that she begaÌ to weepe sore tenderlye And whan she had wept a longe while she sayd so hygh that her chyldren vnderstode it Ha good god whan shall the daye come that I shall see my chyldren Alas good lorde how fayne wolde I see them Was there euer Ladye that bare so riche a bourden as I haue and that were of it so discomforted as I am ANd whan Reynawde sawe his lady mother so sorowful sory he had of it great pitie and the teres began to come at his eyen wolde dyscouer himselfe But whaÌ the duchesse behelde well his visage and his behauour and maner her bloud ranne vp to her face and heuered within her body and began to shake full fast so that almost she fel downe in a swoune to the erth and was a great whyle that she myght not speake her hert was so close and so sore pressed all her coloure lost and gone and whan she was come agayne to her selfe she dyd caste her syght agayne vpon Reynawde
so moche that he brake the great preses and came where Reynawde was And whan Reynawde saw the kynge Yon he sayd to hym Syr be sure and certayne that the Sarasins are discomfited than sayd the kyng Reynawde I am well assured that god shall do me grace through your high prowesse blessed be the houre that ye were borne came into these marches To speake shortly the batayles were assembled of one parte and of the other but whan Borgons sawe the great harme that Reynawde bare to hym of his folke he sayde to hys men we ben ouercomen by the prowesse of these fyue knyghtes Let vs go backe agayne for it is tyme. And whan he had sayde these wordes he and his folke begaÌ to flee And whaÌ Reynawde saw Borgons that fled he smote Bayarde with the spurres and ranne after him and said to him self that BorgoÌs should abide there or els it should coste hym his lyfe Wythin a shorte whyle Reynawde was ferre from hys brethern ferre from his felawship so that they wist not whiche way he drewe Whan that Alarde saw that he wyst not where Reynawde was drawen he sayd to hymselfe Ha god whiche way is my brother drawen to that I am not wyth hym than came there kyng Yon that sayd to them Lordes and knyghtes wel ye know gramercy God that it is not wysdome for to chase ouermoche his enemies for often tymes cometh there a great dommage let vs withdraw vs I pray you syr sayd Alarde what say ye we haue lost Reynawde our brother wot not where he is nor yf he is dead or taken whaÌ kyng Yon vnderstode this worde he was full sory and wrothe and they wente and sought amonge the dead men that lay vpon the feelde And whan Alarde sawe he coulde not be found he made great sorowe wyth Guycharde Richarde and Mawgis also And whan the folke of Reynawde saw that he was not found they began to make so great sorowe that it was pitie for to see ALas sayd Alarde what shal I doo I departed fro my lande poore exyled but I dyd not care for it for I wente with the best knyght of the worlde and trowed by the prowesse of hym to haue recouered honour and hauoyre my selfe my bretherne now I haue lost him thorough my defaute Alas my chauÌce what shal we doo fro hens forthou for the erth shal not mow susteyne vs no more But that it shal fouÌdre vnder our fete whan the kynge Yon saw the great sorow that the poore knightes made for theyr brother he sayde to them Lordes and knightes what is this that ye doo sith that he is not dead it ought to suffyse you for yf he be take ye shal haue him agayne it should cost me al that I haue in the worlde And also we haue so mani of them prysoners that Borgons shal not doo to hym no harme for nothiÌg Syr sayd Alarde let vs go after for goddes sake let vs wyt where he is become Freende sayde the kyng I wil doo so gladly And thaÌ they spurred theyr horses and went as fast as theyr horses might renne wit that Alarde Guycharde Richarde Mawgys rode a good pase so moche that it semed that the erthe should haue clouen a sondre vnder them ¶ No âowill I tel you of Reynawde that went after Borgons so fast as yf the tempest had chased hym and he was gone so ferre in a short while that it is woÌder for to hear tel for there was no beast that went afore Bayarde his horse And whan Reynawde had ouertaken Bargons he cryed vpon him as hye as he myght doo Certes Borgons thy horse may no more I see it well and therfore flee no ferther but turne thy self towarde me for yf thou dyed flyeng thou shouldest be shamed whaÌ Borgons heard Reynawde speake thus to hym he returned incontinente and whan he saw Reynawde he knew well that it was the good knyght that had dyscomfyted al his folke and sayd to hym Syr knyght go backe agayne and marre not your horse aboute nought for it ye lese him ye shal neuer recouer suche a nother and this he said for to abasshe the good knight Reynawde for he durste not Ioust with him bicause of the great prowes that he had seen in him but Reinawde was not the man that should be made aferde wyth wordes and than Reynawd sayde agayne to him Borgons this worde nedeth not to you for to say for ye must nedes defende your selfe And than he spurred incontynent bayarde and whan Borgons saw that he myght not be delyuered of Reynawde but by Iustyng he spurred his horse and ranne vpon Reynawde as harde as he might smote Reynawde so sharply that the spere wente in peces Reynawde fell not but smote Borgons suche a stroke that he ouerthrew both horse and man to the grounde and wounded borgons in his brest full sore And whan Borgon saw hymselfe at the grounde he rose vp lyghtlye and tooke hys swerde in hys hande and caste his sheelde vpon his head And whan Reynawde perceiued the stroke that he had giuen hym in hys breast he cryed to hym and sayd Certes it shal not be reproched to me that ye fyght wyth me a fote and I on horse backe and with this he lighted down fro bayarde drew out his swerde went against Borgons BorgoÌs agaynst hym there began a sharpe batayle and whan the horse of the payneÌ felt him selfe fro his mayster he begaÌ to reÌne away ouer the feeldes and whan Bayard sawe him renne away he went after and ouertooke hym soone ynough and thaÌ he tooke hym by the mane with his teeth and drew hym with so great myght that he brought him agayne to hys mayster in the same place where the two worthy knyghtes fought to gether and Reynawde gaue a stroke to borgons with his swerde vpoÌ his shelde and all that the sworde roughte he cut through to the fleshe and well an hundred mayles of his flancardes and made hym a great wounde into the haunce THan whaÌ borgons the sarasyn saw that wonderful streÌgthe of Reynawde the great strokes that he gaue to him he was sore afrayed and fered least he should die and so he withdrew himselfe a backe and sayd to Reynawde Ha gentyll knyght I pray thee for the loue that thou hast to thy God that thou giue me truce and I shall make the lorde syre of all the I haue in this worlde Certes sayd Reynawde I wyll not doo so for I haue promysed to kyng Yon that I shall helpe hym agaynst all men and he in lykewyse hath promysed me but and yf ye wyll make your selfe christen I shal doo it gladly Syr sayd Borgons I wyll yelde me to you for to no better knyght than ye be I cannot yelde my selfe if ye wyll saue my lyfe and my membres Borgons said Reynawde yf ye wyll yelde you to me ye shall haue no more
couÌtrey was no towne so wel peopled for there dwelled .v. hundred burgeys al riche men there were wel L. tauerners and xv.c. men of crafte besyde all other folke shortly to speake Mountawban was so well garnysshed and so riche wtin a litle while that it was great meruayle for to see and wyt it that the kyng Yon loued Reynawde with so good a loue for bycause of the greate worthynes of hym that he gaue to hym valerey and all the Lordeshyp that was worthe a thousande marke of good rente moche well set and whan the barons saw them that the kynge loued Reynawde so wel they were wroth for it and had enuye vpon hym and they came to the kynge and sayd to hym syr take wel good heed what ye doo for mouÌtawban is ryght stronge so is Reynawde suche a knight that none better is not in all the remenauÌt of the worlde and yf it happe by any wise that he be an angred vpon you he shall mow lyghtly beare to you and to all your folke ouer greate dommage Lordes sayd the kyng ye saye trouth but Reynawde is so gentyl so curtoys of himselfe that he shall neuer thynke vpon no trayson nor to no shame in no maner of wyse Syr sayd than an olde knyght that stode before the kyng yf ye wyll beleue me I shall tell you how ye shall alwayes be lorde and mayster aboue Reynawde al the tyme of your life Freend sayd the kyng tell me thys I pray you Syr sayd the knyght gyue him your syster to his wyfe so shall she be well maryed for Reynawde is well a noble gentylmaÌ of al foure sydes and therby ye shall be assured that he shal neuer be angry ne wroth with you Freend sayd kynge you ye gyue me good counsell and I shall doo it as ye haue counselled me but I pray you that ye purchase this mater Syr sayd the olde knyght syth that I know your wyll in thys behalfe I shall doo my best for to brynge the matter to a conclusyon effectuel After these wordes thus sayd the king returned agayne to Bordews with ioye deuysyng with the olde knyght of the matter wherof they had spoken togither THe first dai of the moneth of May Reynawde went from his castel of Mountawban to Bordews for to see kyng yon tooke Alarde his bother with hym And whaÌ the kyng yon wyste of it he came to hym agaynst receyued Reynawde with great ioye and kyssed hym full sweecely And after the kynge tooke hym by the hand and went vp together to the hall of the palays and so forth to the chambre of parements whyche was hanged right rychelye And than the kyng called for the cheffe for to playe at it with Reynawde And as they were playing together there came in the olde knyght that had charge of the kinge for to make the mariage of Reynawde and of the kynges Syster whyche knyght was called Godefray of Molins whaÌ he was come afore the kyng he sayd Heare lordê what I wil tel you to nyght as I was in my bed a slepe me semed that I saw Reynawde the sonne of Aymon that was set hyghe in a chayre and all the people of thys Realme enclyned theymselfe before him And the king gaue to hym a sperhawke mewed full fayre and good and me semed also that than came a great bore out of the woodes that made an horryble noyse so that no bodye durste not aproche nyghe him three men assayled him but they coulde not hurte him and passed by theym And whan Reynawde sawe that he lighted vpon Bayarde and came agaynst him and faught with hym hurted him sore and than I woke out of my sleape and whan the olde knyghte hadde sayde so then rose a doctour that was called bernarde the whych was ryght wise a great clerke and sayd fayre Lordes yf ye lyst to herken I shall expowne declare vnto you the sygnyfycacion of this dreme Wyt it that the chayer where Reynawde sat betokeneth the castell that he hath buylded and the people that bowed hemself towarde hym signifyeth the folke that are come to dwell there And the gyft that the kyng gaue to hym betokeneth that thou king Yon shal gyue him his sister to wyfe the wilde bore sygnyfyeth som great prince christeÌ or Paynym that shall come to assayle kynge yon and Reynawde shal defeÌde hym by force of armes and the same is the sygnyfication of the dreame of Godfray I indygne for to speake should counsell that the mariage should be doon of Reynawde of the syster of kyng yon For they shal be thus both right well and richely wedded and than the kynge answered thou haste spoken well and wysely Whan the clerke had declared the betokenyng of the dreame of tholde knyght Godfray the kyng yon sayd that touchynge thys maryage the thinge was well agreable vnto hym And whan Reynawde vnderstode thys warde he sayd to the king Syr gramercy of the fayre gift that ye doo to me but and if it please you ye shal haue a lytle pacyence vnto the tyme that I haue counselled with my brethern my cosyn mawgys Brother sayde Alarde ye haue sayd yll What refuse you of the king so great a gift as he giueth you now yf ye wyll beleue me ye shall fulfyll the kynges wyll incontynent for to me and to my bretherne it shall please well And whan the king gaue you not his syster but a symple Damoysell yet ought you to beleue him and doo after his wyl Brother said Reynawde it is not the fyrste tyme that ye haue giuen to me good counsell and true and I promyse you I shall doo it syth that ye doo counsel me so And than Reynawde turned hymselfe to warde the king and said to hym Syr I am all together redye to doo all that ye wyl and than Reynawde rose vp and the kynge tooke hym by the hand and made his sister to be affyaunced vnto hym THan whaÌ the maryage was made accorded made sure of the one parte of thother the kinge yon came to the chaÌber of his sister and found her besy aboute a penouncel of a spere that she made ful fayre for the knight Reynawde but she durst not tell it The kynge salued her as soone as he sawe her and the noble mayde rose vp anon against her brother and made hym due reuerence ryght manerly Fayre syster sayd the kynge I haue doo marye you well and hyghlye Whan the pucell vnderstode hym she began to chaunge her colour and bowed her body to hym and sayd no worde of a longe whyle And whan she had the power for to speake she sayd to the kyng her brother syr to whome haue you geuen me Fayre Syster sayd the kynge I haue gyuen you vnto the best knight of the worlde it is Reynawde the sonne of Aymon the noble knyght valyaunt Whan the noble Damoysell vnderstode that it was to Reynawde to
whome her brother had maryed her she was ryght glad of it for she loued Reynawde of a great loue and sayd to the kynge Syr I wyll doo withal my hert your commaundement and your wyll ThaÌ the king tooke her by the hand brought her to the palays and said to Reynawde afore al his bacoÌs Holde heere worthy knyght Reynawde I gyue you my syster to your wyfe and spouse Syr sayd Reynawde a thousand gramercyes of so fayre a gyft that ye giue to me presentlye for it apperteyneth not so great a gyft to so poore a knyght as I am than tooke Reynawde the pucell and fyaunced her and sware And the kynge wolde make no taryeng therat but tooke the pucel by the hande and brought her to the churche well honourably and the byshop of Bordews wedded theÌ And whan Reynawde had his wyfe espoused he sente for hys bretherne for his cosyn Mawgys that were at Mountawban the whiche made great Ioye and made all Mountaban for to be hanged wyth ryche tapissery And than they mouÌted their horses all couered wyth sendall and wente to Bordews and met with Reynawde and hys wyfe by the way where as great Iustinge was made afore the ladyes And after the Iustyng was doone they came all to Mountawban and whan they were come there the Ioye began for to be greate in the castell as god had descended there For to say trouth .viii. dayes lasted the feast many great gyftes were presented and gyuen to the lady And whan the feast had endured as longe as I tell you The king Yon went againe to Bordews ryght glad of the maryage that he had made of Reynawde and of hys syster For he thought wel that Reynawde should helpe hym agaynst al men and he sayd trouth For after that the Mariage was ones made there was no baron in all Gascoygne that durste looke vp and yet there were some that wolde not doo theyr deuoyre to the kynge but Reynawde made them well come foorth for to doo the kynges commauÌdement accordynge to theyr lygeaunce wolde they or not For reynawde was both loued and doubted through all the lande of Gascoygne ¶ But now leueth heere the history to speke of Reinawde and of his bretherne and of Mawgys And retourneth to speke of the king Charlemayne that went to saynt Iames in Galyce for to do penaunce for hys synnes ¶ How the king Charlemayne maie a vyage to saynt Iames of Galyce And how at his comynge agayne he knew how Reynawde and hys bretherne were in the Realme of Gascoygne in a ryght stronge eastell called Mountawban And how the kinge Charlemayne sente worde to the kyng Yon of Gascoygne that he should yelde to hym his enemyes that is for to vnderstand Reynawde Alarde Guycharde and Rycharde whyche be the sonnes of Aymon and in case that he wolde not he should com besyege him in his lande afore .x. monethes came at an ende Wherof the kynge Yon answered that he wolde doo nothynge for hym in this behalf And howe after that kynge Charlemayne was returned to Parys with his felowship Roulande his neuew arryued at Parys the whiche the king made knyght and after he sente him to reyse a syege afore Coleyne that a Sarasyn had besyeged that was called Escoufrawde the which Rouland conquered And after sheweth how Reynawde wanne the Crowne of kyng Charlemayne for the good reÌnyng that his horse Bayarde made at Parys ¶ Capi. vii Fol. NOw sheweth the History that Charlemayne was at Paris and came to hym a deuocyon for to go in pylgrymage to saynte Iames in Galice And so he departed out of Parys and tooke in hys companye Ogyer the dane and the duke Naymes of Bauyere and many other barons and great lordes Whan they were vpon theyr waye they dyd so muche by theyr Iurneys that they cam to saynt Iames in Galice And whaÌ they were arryued there The kynge went streyght to the churche and offred afore the auter .x. marke of fyne Golde And whan he had offred and doone his deuocyon he tooke on hys waye agayne and came with hys felawship to Bordews And in his cominge thither he looked ouer the riuer of girond not ferre thence and saw the castel of Mountawban that was vpon a roche so fayre so wel made and so well shette wyth fayre walles and thycke in the forme as I haue tolde you afore And whaÌ that Charlemayne sawe it he behelde it well a longe whyle and than sayd A good lorde yonder is a fayre castell strong and wel set I see well that the kyng Yon hath made it of late for it semeth yet to be all newe and it can be none otherwise syth that he hath buylded it in suche a strong place but that he thynketh to make warre to some body And than he called to hym a knight of the lond and sayd to hym tell me howe ye call that castel Syr sayd the knyght the name is Mountawban He had great lust to speake for yf he had keped his peace there had been none other thyng of it but he had suche woordes that afterward bare great harme to hym selfe and to manye other For he tolde Themperour that Reynawde and his brethren the sonnes of Aymon had doo make the castell was called Mountawban And how that the kyng Yon had geuen to Reynawde his syster to his wife WHan Charlemayne vnderstode these wordes he was ryght angry for it and wrothe And wyst not what he should saye and helde hymself a great whyle that he spake not and whan he had mused a lytle he sayde to his folke fayre lordes I shall tell you a wonder For I haue founde myne enemyes in this lond that ben the foure sonnes of Aymon Now vp Ogyer and you duke Naymes lyght on horsbacke incontinent and seke so muche kyng Yon that ye fynde hym and tell hym in my behalfe that he yelde to me againe the foure sonnes of Aymon that be mine enemyes them whiche he hath wythdrawen and borne out agaynst me And that he fynde me knyghtes for to bryng them onlye in to my lond for I am delyvered syth that I haue founde them for to hange them or fley them quycke And yf he wyll not doo so defye you hym on my behalfe And tell hym that wythin this thre or foure monethes I shal be with in his land of Gascoygne wyth all my Hoste and I shall distroy and ouerthrowe all his townes and castelles and yf I maye take hym I shall punysshe hym wythout any mercy Syr sayd Ogyer we shall doo youre commaundement but we shall take with vs Sauces and hostes the whiche been prue and sage and Charlemaine said that he was content and incontinent they went on theyr way And wente aboute to vnderstande where kyng Yon was And so long they asked after hym that they founde hym at Mountawban euen at the foote of the roche For the king yon went agayne to Bourdews and Reynawde conueyed him Whan Ogyer sawe Reynawde
Reynawde bayarde so turned they begaÌ to laugh were greatly merueylled how Mawgys hadde thus disfigured them Whan Mawgys had transfigured Reynawde bayarde and himself also Reynawd mounted vpon bayarde and Mawgys vpoÌ morel tooke leue of their folke But Reynawde at his departynge sayd to his brethren haue no fere for me For I shall not be knowen yf god wyll Than wente Reynawde on his way his folke wept for him for Reinawde went in such a place where he hadde manye enmyes For yf Charlemayne had coâne take him al the golde of the world had not saued him but he shold haue caused him to be hanged And whan they departed Alarde sayd to Mawgis I pray you for god that ye haue my brother Reynawde for recommeÌded for if it were not for the trust that I haue to you I should not suffre that he shoulde go to parys for al the golde of spaine And than Reynawde and Mawgys went on theyr waye ⧠Now shall I leue a litil to speke of them And shall retourne to the kyng Charlemayne that was at the Parys with his folke CHarlemaine sawe his barons that were all come and than he called the Duke Naymes Ogyer the Dane and Foulques of Moryllon and said to them Lordes I praye you that ye take an hundred knightes wel armed and goe towarde the waye of Orleaunce and beware that none goe by but ye knowe their names that they bene well aduised for I doubte me sore of Reynawde that he shall come for he weneth well him selfe to be ouer subtyll and yf it came in hys head he should come sone hytherward Syr sayde the barons we shall doo gladly your commaundemente and if Reynawde be so folisshe that he come hytherwarde he shal not escape vs but he shall be deade or taken and brought afore you And thaÌ they tooke leue of Charlemayne and wente to make them ready nere their horses after mounted on horsebacke with an hundred knyghtes well armed and rode the waye towarde Orleaunce and arested themselfe in the myddes of the waye foure myles oute of Parys and there they were a longe while that no bodye passed by and endured great hungre and thurste And whan the duke Naymes saw that they were there for nought he sayde to Ogyer Syr Ogyer by my faythe the Kynge Charlemayne maketh vs lyke fooles and holdeth vs for nice and musardes that he maketh vs to tary heere about nought Syr sayde Ogyer ye saye trouth and God confounde me yf I tary ony lenger And whan they wolde haue comen againe abacke the duke Naymes sawe come a farre Reynawd and Mawgys ThaÌ said Naymes to foulques of Moryllon yonder I see commyng two menne on horsebacke And whan that Foulques saw them he cried with an hyghe voyce by my faith heere commeth Reynawd Nowe can he not escape by no maner but he shall be hanged By my faythe said the Duke Naymes ye say trouth For the horse that cometh afore is much lyke Baiarde the horse of Reinawde yf he were of a nother coloure Whan that Foulques vnderstode these wordes he sette handes to his swerde and came ayenst Reynawde ryghte nere and when he was well nyghe them he behelde them And whan he sawe that it was not Reynawde he was a l abasshed and drewe hym selfe abacke and Reynawde and Mawgys rode furthe theyr wayes And whan the Duke Naymes sawe that they came furthe be went ayenste them and called Mawgys and sayde to hym what ben ye and whether go ye Sir saide Mawgys I am borne of Peâon and my name is Iousser Freend said the duke Naymes canne not ye âell me nothing of Reinawde the sonne of Aymon the worthy knight yea saide Mawgis by my faithe he hath ridden with vs two daies and he is not passed two miles behind vs. At that horre Reinawde spake not thaÌ said Naimes what is he that is with you that holdeth him soo still and that saieth no worde I beleue that he hathe some euill thought sir saide Mawgis it is my sonne and he can not speake no frensh For he hath bene nourisshed in the greate Bretaine Whan the duke Naymes vnderstoode this he sayde to Reynawde tell me vassell knowest thou no tydynges of Reynawde the sonne of Aymon and Reinawde answered to him in this wise By my fayth no poynt frenche grauÌt Bretaine horse a Paris cloyth ganera my And counterfetted thus hys longuage bicause the duke Naymes should not knowe him THan whan the duke Naymes heard Reinawde speake thê° euyl he began to laugh And after saide to him againe a hundred deuylles haue well taught thee to speake so good frenche vassell I wote not what thou sayest thou arte more lyke a foole than a bisshop And so Naymes let him in peace And than Reynawde and Mawgys tode so longe that they came to Parys tyme ynoughe for to doo theyr enterpryse And at the entre of the towne they mette with an euill rybaude vnto whome GOD geue yll aduenture For he knew Reinawde And as soone as he sawe him he beganne to cry with an high voice heere commeth Reinawde the sonne of Aymon Whan the folke vnderstoode the cry they wente that way And whan the yl rybawde saw com so many folke he was yet more hardye than he was afore and wente afore the other and tooke Reinawde by the bridle of Baiarde And whan Baiarde sawe that he lifted his forefoote and smote the ribaude vpon the brest that he brast the herte in his belye casted him all dead to the erthe And whaÌ the people saw the stroke thei began all to laugh and Bayard went forth Maugis after that thei were not knowen passed through the towne to the market And whan thei were comen there afore the lodges thei founde all the Innes full Wherof Reynawde was maruailed And so they lighted at a cordeners house that was of the deuilles side For by him was almoste Reinawde and Mawgys taken and delyuerd to Charlemaine that his bretherne sholde not haue holpen hym of no thynge whan they were lyghted and lodged where it is sayde that their horses were well dressed Mawgys dyd doo make a bedde for Reynawde and toke a thred of sylke and sered it well and came to Bayarde and bounde hym the mowes of the feet there withall well streyte And the hoste behelde well this and after said to him Why haue you thus bounde this horse he shall not conne well goe But tel me what knighte is he that oweth the horse For if he had of age more than he hath I should wene to knowe him For he is muche lyke Reynawde the sonne of Aymon Syr saide Mawgis I haue bounde thys horse thus bycause he wyll fyght and the yeman that rydeth vpon him is my sonne Now haue I telled you that that ye haue asked me Certes answered the hoste youre sonne is a fayre felawe but I beleue ye mocke me ¶ Nowe shall ye heare a greate
way that it semed that the tempest had chased hiÌ And whan the kynge Charlemayne vnderstode thys that Reynawde had sayd to hym he was wode angry for it that he wyste not what he should doo so that he myght not of a greate whyle speake a worde And whan he had recouered his speche he began to crye with a hye voyce nowe after lordes after for it is myne enemye Reynawde the sonne of Aymon And whan the knyghtes heard thus crye the kynge Charlemayne they spurred theyr horses with the spurres and went after Reynawde but their goynge auayled theym nought For Bayard was ferre from them with in a whyle so that they wyst not where he was become and Reynawde cam to Sayne and passed ouer it al at his ease with swymynge for Bayarde was well wonte therto and also he had passed it afore with more great haste And whaÌ that Reynawde was thus passed the ryuer of Sayne he lyghted from Bayarde at the banke of it Thus hanging the king Charlemayne and his knightes that folowed after hym came to the ryuers syde and began to call Reynawde sayd to hym Ha true man soone yelde me my crowne agayne and I shal gyue thee .x. tymes as muche as it is worthe and I shall gyue thee truce two yeres so that thy selfe and thy brethern shall mow go in ardeyne to see your mother the which desireth sore to see you and there is no knyght in my lande that shal say coÌtrary to it by god sayd Reynawde as for these wordes auayle you nothiÌg for ye shall neuer haue agayne your crowne I shall sell it and shall pay my knyghtes withall and the charboncle that thus shyneth shal be set hye vpon my pauylyon to the ende that they that shall go to saynt Iames in Galyee may see it the better and ye shall be blamed of your knyghtes that ye haue loste your crowne by the horse Bayarde whan Charlemayn hearde hym speake thus he wyst not what he should say for angre kept himself styl like as he had ben dead And whan Reynawde had sayde so he mounted agayne vpon Bayarde and put hymself to the way but not the ryght way but rode throughe a lytle pathe whyche he had passed afore tyme. NOw shal I tell you of Mawgys how he dyd for to come out of Parys that was mounted vpon his horse morell Whan he wyst that Reynawde was passed Sayne he issued out of Parys and passed the ryuer ouer the brydge as soone as he might And whan he was without he began to looke after Reynawde as he rode he looked a trauerse and sawe Reynawde so called he after hym as hie as he could cosyn thinke to ryde fast for to tary heere no good shall come to vs cosyn sayde Reynawde ye saye well and we shall doo so And so they tooke theyr waye towarde Myllon And whan Alarde saw his brother come and Mawgis he sayd to his folke Lordes we may well come out of our busshemente for I se come my brother Reynawde Mawgys Alas sayd Richarde I see them come wyth greate haste I fere me muche that men chase them Now light we al on horse backe and yf they haue mystre of vs let vs go helpe and succour them And they answered all we ben all redy whan they came out of theyr busshement there came Reynawde and Mawgis that sayd to them lordes thynke to make haste For the longe taryenge might doo to vs harme bicause that I brynge wyth me the crowne of Charlemayne the whiche Bayarde hath made me wynne by his prowesse And whan Alarde vnderstode his brother speake thus he was so greatly in Ioye that he wyste not what he should say but colled kyssed his brother Reynawde with greate Ioye And than incontineÌt they put themselfe to the waye and so longe they rode that they came to Orleaunce and passed the ryuer of Loyre wyth all dylygence and after they made so muche by theyr Iourneys that they came to Mountawban whole and glad thanked be god THan whan they were at mouÌtawban the lady came them agaynst receyued them right gladly and made them ryght great there and all the folke of the Castell were ryght glad of the comynge of Reynawde and of hys bretherne and asked him how he had doone in his viage lordes sayd Reynawde wel god gramercy I was knowen of myne hoste the whych wolde haue betrayed and accused me but I solde it to him ful deere I cloue his head to the teeth and went out of hys house by night and put vs in the prese of the other but ye wyst neuer folke so wel scorned as we were for the folke of charlemayne mocked me and Bayarde wherof the king was angry thus they left me in peace And whan the trompettes began to blowe for to begyn the course they that should renne departed incontinent and I bode be hinde well the shotte of a bowe and I tell you well for certayne there were well twenty thousande horses And whan I saw me behynde I said to Bayarde that it should be great shame to hym yf he abode behynde but god gramercy and Bayarde I ouer ranne them al. And bare awaye the pryce and of it I haue brought wyth me the crowne of the kynge charlemayne wherof he is ful sory WhaÌ thei of MouÌtawban vndestode these wordes they were ryght glad But heere I leaue for to speake of Reynawde and of his bretherne and returne to speake of the king Charlemayne that was at parys ryght sorye for hys crowne that he had loste ¶ How the kyng Charlemayne weÌt into Gascoyn with his hoste And how he besieged Reynawde and hys bretherne within the Castell of MouÌtawban And how Reynawde wan the fyrst batayle of the king the whyche Rowland conduyted Olyuer and the bysshop Turpyn ¶ Capitulum viii IN this party sheweth the hystory that whan Reynawde had wonne the crowne of kynge Charlemayne The kyng abode all wrothe and sore an angred and he called all his barons sayde to them Lordes I pray you that ye counsell me how I shall may auenge me of Reynawde the sonne of Aymon For ye know how he hath angred me I promise you but that I may haue my crowne againe I shal wex mad al quicke For my courage telleth me that he shall doo breke it he shal put the carborâtle that is theron vpon his pauyllâon bycause the folke that goe to saynt Iames shall see it to my great vytupere shame Syr sayd Rowland yf ye wil auenge you well of Reynawde go we vpon him and we shall exyle and destroye hym and his lande and yf the kynge You of Gascoyn may be taken so make iustice of hym in suche wyse that it may be remeÌbred perpetuallye Neuew sayd the kinge ye saye well and wysely it shal be doone as ye haue aduysed me I promise you that I shall neuer haue Ioye till that I be auenged at my wyl Syr
sayd the duke Naimes leue this angre in peace ye know how Reynawde is your enmye prayseth you nothinge but ye wyll I shall gyue you suche couÌsell that Reynawde shal be brought to distruccion and his brethern and Mawgys also Syr doo that your barons be redy at candelmas nexte comyng and that euery one of them make good prouysyon of vitayle for vii yere than abide so longe afore mountawban tyll that ye take them and after ye shall auenge your selfe at your wyll vpon them THan whan the kyng Charlemayne vnderstode the good counsell that the duke Naymes had gyuen vnto hym he lyft vp his hed and sayd Naymes it is noâ the fyrste good counsell that ye haue giuen to me and I wyll it bee doone as ye saye And than the kynge Charlemayne dyd doo make his letters and sente them through all his empyre In the whiche letters was conteyned that euery man that was accustomed to beare armes to go to warre should come to hym at the feast of Candelmasse nexte folowynge well garnisshed of vitayle for the space of .vii. yeres for to abyde at syege afore mountawban Whan the barons knewe the kinges wil eueri maÌ made him selfe redy as well as he coulde and came to Parys and presented them to kyng Charlemayne to hys neue with Rowlande and by cause of the great numbre of folke that were com there they myght not lodge al within Parys but they lodged wythout the towne vpon the riuer of Saine Whan the kinge saw that all his barons were come he made them al to come before hym sayd to them lordes ye all knowe right well at the lest the moste party of you howe I haue ouercome subdued .xl. kinges in my dayes the whyche are all to me obeyssaunt excepte the kynge Yon of Gascoyn that hath withdraweÌ in his lande my enemies mortall that ben the foure sonnes of Aymon ye know well the great dishonour thei haue doone to me wherof I me coÌplayne vnto you praye you commaunde you that ye come wyth me into Gascoyn for to helpe me that I be auenged of the greate harme and shame that these foure sonnes of Aimon doo to me for by your othe ye ben all beholden thervnto THan sayd the erle of Nantuel Syr wee shall not goe there at this tyme. Ye know well that that wee ben come out of Spayne but late wherof we ben yet all werye And also in this felawshyp ben many princes and barons that haue not ben yet in theyr couÌtrey nor seen theyr wiues and children and ye wil that that we go into Gascoyn vpon the kyng Yon vpon the foure sonnes of Aymon And I tell you that the two wouÌdes that I receyued in Spaine be not yet whole and therfore we may not goe into Gascoyn at thys tyme. But yf it please you ye shall doo as a good kynge and a sage and shall shewe that ye loue your folke For ye ought to kepe them as youre selfe Wythdrawe your hoste vnto whytsonday next coming and gyue leaue to all your barons to goe to their places for to rest them a while And whan the tyme shall be come that your pleasure is to call theym they shall than be all fresshe and redye to fulfil your commaundement wyth all diligence Whan the kynge vnderstode these wordes he was wrothe and sware by saynte Denys of Fraunce saying in thys maner if I should be dyssheryted I shall goe now into Gascoyn and I shall take wyth me all the younge folke of my hoste the whiche I shall put in good straye honestly and I shall gyue theÌ all that they shall need thoughe ye should abyde behynde as weke men and feynte Syr sayd the duke Naymes ye say well for thys yonge men shal be ryght glad for to assaye them selfe Therfore wyll I doo it sayde kyng Charlemayne and so shall the kyng Yon be destroyed and whan I shall haue Reynawde and hys brethern and Mawgys the theete takeÌ I shall departe the lande of Gascoyne to these yonge knightes for theyr herytage This hangyng that the king Charlemayne sayd these wordes a spye that longed to Reynawde was in thys companye that vnderstode all that sayde is And whan the spye had hearde all together well he put hymself to the way and dyd so much by his Iourneys that he came to mouÌtawban where he founde Reynawde his brethern and Mawgys And in contynent that Reynawde saw him he demaunded of hys what tydynges bryng you fro Parys and from the courte of kynge Charlemayne My Lorde sayd the spye wyt it that kyng Charlemayne is greatly wrothe with kynge yon and agaynst you and against your brethern against Mawgys He hath sente for all his subiectes in his Empyre but none wolde haue comen with him into Gascoygne And then he sware Saynte Denys that he should come into thâse partyes and should brynge wyth hym none other but al yonge knightes To the which he shall gyue all Gascoygne And sayth that he shall besyege MouÌtawban and shall doo to be cast downe the great towre and shall set al Gascoygne in a tyre and flame Than sayd Reynawde to his folke be not discouraged of nothing For I shall see how Rowlande and Oliuer shall beare themself agaynst me and mi brethern And than went Reynawde into the halle And found his brethern and Mawgys with his knyghtes and sayd to them Lordes I brynge you tidynges Now wyt that the kyng Charlemayne cometh to besyge vs and bryngeth with him all the puyssaunce of Fraunce Nowe let vs thynke to receyue him well for he shall haue more to doo than he weneth brother sayd Alarde haue no doubte for they shal be well receyued for as longe that we shall lyue and shal see you ryde vpon bayarde we shall not fayle you nor wee shal not be a ferde to be taken nor ill handled For no man aliue is worth you nother of goodnes nor of prowes THys hangyng Charlemayn was aduysed and thoughte vpon the counsell that the Duke of Nantuel had gyuen to him And after he called his folke sayd to theÌ Lordes I gyue you leue and let you wyt that at Easter I shall holde my counsell generall and it please you Now keep that ye faile not to come than well apparelled and redy for I wolde not leaue for nothynge but that I should goe see the kyng Yon. And yf he yelde me not the foure sonnes of Aymon I shall doo to hym with out doubt so much shame that I shal make his berde to be cut of harde by the chynne And also I shal take the crowne of Gascoygne from his hed and I shall make hym come a foote after me begginge his bread And whan he had sayde these wordes The barons tooke leaue of Charlemayne and wente into theyr countryes but at theyr departing Charlemaine sayd to them Lordes remeÌbre well your selfe that ye come at the terme that I haue set For I swere vnto
sayd vnto them Lordes Reynawde seÌdeth me worde that he shall doe nothynge after my wyll And for this cause I wyl that the castell be assayled forthwith Sir sayd the duke Naymes me semeth as I haue vnderstande the Reynawde offreth to you fayre and yf ye wyll belyue me ye shall take hym to mercy wyth hys brethern For ye knowe well that they beÌ folke that may doo to you good seruyce And yf Reynawde be once in peace with you ye shall be the better beloued and more dred therfore But sith that your wil cannot accorde to the same we maye not doo therto To assayle the castel I counsel it not For ye see that the Castell is fayre and ryght stronge and Reynawde hath whym a good company of good men and he and his brethern Mawgys ben suche knyghtes as ye knowe yf ye doo assayle the castel they shall yssue out at the fauce posternes and shall doo to you so great a dommage of your folke that ye shall be wrothe for it but and yf ye wyll beleue my counsell ye shall besyege the Castell so nyghe that no man shal not come out nor cutre in but he shal be take and thus ye shall mow haue the Castell by famisshynge For by no sawte ye shall not haue it CHarlemayne vnderstode well these wordes and knew well that the duke Naymes spake wel wysely and sayd to hym I wil that it be doone thus as ye haue deuysed it And thaÌ he made crye through his hoste that euery man should lodge hymself euyn nighe by the Castell and he himselfe commaunded that his pauyllion should be pight as nighe the gate as coulde be doone After thys was cryed ye should haue seen wyth in a litle whyle moe than ten thousand pauillions rounde aboute the Castell of Mountawban Whan the hoste was al lodged Rowlande departed out of the hoste well with two thousand knightes wel armed wel horsed and all yonge men of pryme berde whiche were very frenshe born of the douce fraunce and went at the other side of MouÌtawban in a place whiche is called Balancon where was a riuer great and deape in the whych was fisshe ynough and there he dyd pytche his pauillion And so full he was of great pryde that he bad set the dragon aboue vpon hys pauillion and did doo make the lodgis of his felawes rouÌde about him And they were in suche a grounde where as they myght see from thens the woodes and the Ryuers and all the countrey and Mountawban that was vpon the great roche well closed behelde the two great ryuers that is to wit Gyround and Dordone that enuyronned Mountawban ROwlande sawe the place so stronge that he meruaylled greatly sayd to hys folke Lordes I meruayle me sore of thys castell I meruayle not yf the foure sonnes of AymoÌ make warre agaynst mine vncle Charlemayne sythe that they haue so good and so stronge a place for to withdraw theym selfe For I promyse you that MouÌtawban shal neuer be taken of vs ye say not well sayd Olyuer For we tooke well by force Lezonne also we ouerthrew downe the great towre and the doungeon of Sernoble wherof I saye that we shall well haue Mountawban And yf Reynawde and his bretherne come not and yelde them selfe they shal be in daunger of death I promyse you sayde Rowlande that they shall doo nothynge of that ye saye For I promyse you that the gentyll Reynawde shall make vs so sore aferde that the moste hardy wolde be at Parys Reynawde is prue and coragious and his brethern in lykewise and also they haue within the castell many noble and worthy knightes Wherfore I say and I am of opinion that as loÌge as they haue vytayle they shall neuer be taken WhaÌ the pauillion of Rowlande was dressed and pight vp Rowlande behelde the riuer and saw that it was full of byrdes than he sayd to the Bysshop Turpyn and to the other Barons See howe wee are lodged in a good place Let vs goe in these Ryuers to let flee our Fawcons Syr sayde the Bisshoppe Turpin goe in the name of God Then lyghted Rowlande on horsebacke and tooke with hym wel .xxx. knightes and no mo And they tooke their hawkes rode the moste parte of them vpon mules all vnarmed saue theyr swerdes and came and sported them alonge the ryuer syde tooke many byrdes vpon the water in so great quantitie that they laded a horse wythall the bysshop Turpyn and Ogyer wente not there but abode behynde for to keep the hoste and they were before the tentes where they made two auncient knightes to recouÌte and tel how the great Troy was taken and dystroyed this hangyng was a spye in the hoste of king Charlemaine that longed vnto renawde the whyche he had sent there for to know what they wrought and howe they dyd all the fayte of Rowlande and incoÌtinent the spye departed out of the hoste and wente to Reynawde and shewed to hym how Rowlande and Olyuer were gone to sportynge with theyr Hawkes vpon the ryuer and wyth them thyrtye of the best of the hoste WHan the spye had recounted these tidynges to Reynawde he was of it ryght glad Than he called his brethern Mawgys his cosyn tolde them how Roulande and Olyuer and .xxx of the beste barons of Charlemayne were gone to hawking vpon the ryuers in the plaine of BalancoÌ What ought we to doo sayd Reynawde Cosyn sayd Mawgys we may well kill theÌ if we wyll for they ben well proude folyshe remeÌbre ye not wel that a messaÌger tolde you a moneth a goe that Charlemayne had left all olde knightes of his Realme had taken of the yonge that he had departed all Gascoyne to the yonge bachelers of Fraunce And by thys boban Rowland Olyuer ben mounted into so great pryde that they trow in al the worlde is no man that dare assaile them nor looke vpon them an grely But and yf ye wyl beleue me I shall tell you suche a thynge that shal make them wrothe sory And thaÌ reinawde made sowne his horne the which meÌ neuer herde sowned but that it was need for whan men hearde it euery man ran to his armes for to arme hym And incontynent Reynawde and his bretherne and Mawgys made themselfe to be armed And whan they were al armed and well apparelled Reynawde lyghted vpon Bayarde his good horse and spurred hym wyth hys spurres so that he made hym to lepe wel thyrty foote of length Ha good horse sayd Reynawde how ye make your selfe to be beloued And how wel I mistre you this dai Let vs go assayle these vnhappy folke of the kyng Charlemayne of Fraunce and make we by suche a maner that we need not retourne twyse and therof I praye you all ANd whan Reynawde sawe that his folke was wel apparelled he wente out with his men at a false posterne that they of the hoste coulde not see them
armes that none durste abyde longe afore him And than the frenshmen were so sore and werye that they mighte no more and were all dyscomfited at the passage of the ryuer than they dyd put theym selfe to flight and the gascoines chased them all beating a longe mile after returned to the hoste and tooke al the hauoyr that they founde there and Mawgis came to the pauillion of Rowland and tooke the dragon of golde that was set vpon the said pauillion and they passed through Balancon and so returned to MouÌtawban with greate ioye And whaÌ they were come there they disarmed them selfe eate right wel For they had well mister therof Whan they hadde caten at their ease Reinawde made brynge the boty afore him And after dealed it among his folke And keepe to him noâ one peny Whan Reinawd had thus departed all this goodes Mawgis went vpon the great towre of Mountawban And dyd set the dragon of Rowland vpon the same so that the folke of choste of bothe sides of the castell myghte see it And whan Charlemaine saw the dragon vpon the towre of âountawban he wende that Rowland his neuew had taken Mountawban by force but the thinge went wel otherwise For Reinawde and his bretherne had discomfited al the folke of Rowland and had brought with them al theyr hauoyre and the dragon of the sayde Rowland they had set vpon the towre of Mountawban ⧠How Reynawd and his brethern were betrayed and solde to the kinge Charlemayn by the king yon of gascoyn that sent them in the playne of Valcoloures all without armes but their swerdes and were mouÌted vpon mules and were clothed with mantelles of scarlet furred with ermine Fro the whiche they escaped by the wylle of god but they suffred muche payne and great trauayle for they were greatly hurt and sore wouÌded but of the king Charlemains party abode there dead Folques of Moryllon and manye other barons and worthy knightes wherof the kinge Charlemayn was wrothe and sory ⧠Capitulum .ix. NOw must we tel of Rowland and of Oliuer that came againe fro hawking vpon the riuers wyth theyr felowes and beseming they were ryghte gladde that they hadde so well chased and taken a greate quantitie of byrdes and thus as they came againe they met wyth damp Rambault the free knight that tolde them by a great angre ye haue taken manye byrdes see that ye be good marchauntes selle your proy well For I promyse you ye shall neuer selle your chase and hawking so deare as it hath coste you And yf ye haue taken byrdes I let you wyt that Reinawde his brethern haue taken knyghtes and horses and whan ye see youre dragon vpon the greate towre of Mountawban ye oughte wel to be than glad thanke muche therof the foure sonnes of Aimon For all tho that seen it set there of an heyght they ween that ye haue gotten the castell by force Whan Rowland vnderstood these wordes it lacked lityll that he went oute of hys mynde he lyghted downe from hys mule and sette hymselfe vpon a stone and begaÌ to thinke and muse sore and so dyd Oliuer in lyke wise and whan Rowlande had thoughte ynoughe he called to him the byshop Turpyn Ogier the dane Richard of Normandye and sayd to theym For god fayre lordes what counseyll gyue you me vpon thys deed For I dare neuer mote finde my selfe before my vncle the kyng Charlemayne for I feare me to sore of euyll reporte and that menne tell of me otherwyse than the trouth And he said to the byshop Turpyn For goddes loue good father in god geue me leaue to departe for I wolde goe into the holy londe to see the sepulture of our lorde for to warre there ayenst the sarasins For sith this my shappe is thus come to me I wyl no more beare armes ayenst christen men Syr sayde the byshop Turpyn be not dysmayed for nothinge for thys is but an vse of warre suche a thyng befalleth often to manye one I promise you that ye shall haue or three dayes been past as many of the folke of Reynawde as he hathe of yours Sir said Rowlande ye geue me good courage and I promise you that to your prudence I shall arrest my selfe Whan Rowland had said these woordes the bysshop Turpyn Ogier dyd so muche that thei made him âight a horseback and they went togither all towarde Charlemayn wit that after Rowlande came mo than a hundred yonge gentilmen all a foote by cause they had lost their horses and whan they were come to thoste of Charlemain they went streyghte to the pauyllion of the duke Naimes and whan Rowland entred within he was ashamed and abode there two dayes that he came not out durste not goe to the courte nor loke no maÌ in the face but helde himselfe in the saide pauillyon as a man all abashed of the great sorowe that he had at his heart Whan Rowland Olyuer was thus abideÌ in the duke Naymes tent this hangyng Turpyn came towarde kinge Charlemayne in hys rente Where he entred within saluted the kyng right honourably and the emperour rendred to him his sauâe and after sayd to him Damp byshop ye be welcome Syr said Turpyn god be your keeper I beseche you to pardoÌ me yf I tell you any thing that shal displease you Now tel harââây said the king what ye wyll For nothing that ye can tell canne not dysplease me Syr sayde the byshop Turpyn wyt that the foure sonnes of Aymon haue discomfyted vs. And haue take with them al that we had in our tentes bothe horses and harneys and al our pauyllyons and namely the dragon of Rowland beside a greate mâiny prisoners and they haue slain the moste party of our folke THan whaÌ the emperour vnderstoode this that Turpyn had tolde him he was a long while as a man all forcened And than he sware saint Denys by greate angre and said Now haue ye found that ye went telling the great pride that ye had ye haue wel found At this houre he did send through al his hoste by expresse wordes that euery lorde and baron should come incontinent afore him in his tente for he wolde keep parlyament with them Whan the prynces knew that commaundemeÌt of the king ye should haue seen them come with greate haste toward the king and whan they were all assembled within the kinges pauillion he stoode vpon his feete said to theim in this maner Lordes I haue sent for you for to shewe vnto you thaâ to vs is happed of newe Now wiâ that the four sonnes of Aimon haue discomfited all youre knightes that Rowlande my neuew had with him at Balancon wherof I am ryghte wroth and sorye for I wolde I had lost a greater thinge and that thys were not happed but a thyng that can not be amended must be suffred and borne as well as men may I require and beseche you all my lordes and freendes
the whiche tooke anon pen and ynke and wrote the letters word for worde as the king had deuised to hym And when they were wryten and sealed the kynge called hys stuarde and sayde to hym Now make you ready on horsebacke and goe to the syege of Mountawban and recomende me vnto the kinge Charlemayne and gyue hym these letters And tell him yf he wyl quite my londe I shall doo this that is of reason and none otherwyse Syr sayde the stuarde I shall gladly doo your commaundement doubte not for it than went the stuarde in his house and made him readye on horsebacke and rode out of Tholouse and tooke the Heraude of the kinge Charlemaine with him And whan they were com vnto Mountawban they fouÌde the Emperoure Charlemaine in his pauyllion where the stuarde lyghted down and went within and saluted the king Charlemayne fro the kynge yon of Gascoygn and presented him the letters fro his behalfe and sayde vnto hym Right mighty Emperour the kinge yon sendeth you worde by me that yf ye wil ensure his lond he shall fulfil the tenour of this lettre and otherwise he wyl not WHan Charlemayne vnderstood these tydynges he was ryghte gladde he tooke the lettre of the messanger and called Rowlande to him Olyuer the byshop Turpyn the duke Naymes Ogier the dane and the .xii. peeres of Fraunce and said to them Fayre lordes be not displeased goe out of this pauillyon for I will talke with this messanger priuely Syr said they al with a good will And than they went all out of the pauillion and whan they were al gone Charlemayne opened the lettres and red theim all alonge And he found therin that whiche he most desyred in this worlde that was the treason as it was ordeyned whan Charlemaine had red the lettre he myghte be no gladder than he was And of the great Ioye that he hadde of it he began to smyle Syr sayd the stuarde yf ye see oughte in the lettre that pleaseth you not blame not me for it For I know not yet what it is Than sayde Charlemaine to the stuarde Your lorde the kinge yon speaketh ful curteously and if he doo that he dooth me to wyt he shall be well my good freend And so shall I doo to hym great worship and shal make hym a great man and also I shal defende him ayenst all men Syr sayde the stuarde of this that ye say ye shal giue me sureties yf it please you Than said Charlemayne I wyl doo so gladlye This I swere vpon the sonne of the vyrgyn Mary and also vpon saint Denis of Fraunce whose man I am Sir ye haue said all ynough answered the messanger of king yon and none other surety I aske of you THan Charlemain called his chamberlayne said to hym make a lettre to king yon of gascoyne in my behalfe as I shall deuyse it vnto you Wryt that I sende him salutacion and good loue and that it he dooth for me as he sayth I shall encrease hys realme with fourtene good castelles and therof I giue him for suretie our lorde and saint denys of Fraunce and that I send him four manteles of scarlette furred with ermines for to clothe withall the traytoures whan they shall goe to the playne of Valcoloures and there they shal be hanged if god wil and I wil not that any other haue harme but only the foure sonnes of Aimon Syr said the chambrelain your commaundement shal be wel doone and than he made the lettres as themperoure had deuised him And whan he had made them the emperour Charlemayn sealed them and after he called the messager afore his presence and saide to him Holde these lettres and take them to king yon from me and recommend me to him And than he dyd gyue hym .x. marke of golde and a Kyng that he tooke of his fynger Wherof the messanger thanked him much humbly and incontinente lighted on horsebacke and whan he was aryued he salued the kyng yon of Gascoyn from king Charlemaines behalfe and tooke him the letters and the mantelles as Charlemayne had commaunded him THan whan the messanger of the king yon was gone Charlemaine made come afore hym Foulques of Moryllon and Ogier the dane and sayd to them Lordes I haue sente for you For I wil that ye two knowe a litill of my secretes But I tell you vpon your faith that none other shall know the same but onely we vs three vnto the time that the deede be accomplyshed Syr sayd Ogier yf ye thinke that we shoulde discouer youre secrete tell it vs not And if ye truste vs declare hardelye your pleasure Certes said the emperoure to Ogier ye be well worthy to knowe al for I know you for a good and a trusty knight Sir saide Ogier your good gcamercy But I tell you that I wyll not know nothyng therof but that ye take fyrste mine othe therupon Lordes said Charlemaine I take it Nowe shall ye goe to the plaine of Valcolours with three huÌdred knightes wel armed and whan ye shall come there ye shall finde the foure sonnes of Aimon And thus I commaunde you that ye brynge them to me other dead or quicke Syr saide Ogier I saw them neuer but armed howe shall we know theym Ogier saide Charlemaine ye shal well may knowe theym For eche of theym shall be clothed wyth a mantell of scarlette furred wyth ermynes and shall beare roses in theyr handes Syr saide Ogier that is a good token and we shal doo your commauÌdemente They made none other taryinge but departed from the hoste of the kinge Charlemaine as pryuelye as they myght doo And rode to the plaine of Valcolours and put them selfe in a busshemente wythin a woode all of serpyn trees vnto the tyme that the foure sonnes of Aimon came to the playne of Valcoloures Ha god whye knewe not Reynawde and hys bretherne this mortall treason for they wolde not haue come there vpon mules But they shoulde haue come there vpon good horses and well armed as prue and worthy knightes that they were But god had not remedied it thys Reynawde and his bretherne shoulde haue been so one taken in a litill space for they were in daunger of death Whan Ogyer the dane Foulques of MorylloÌ were in their bushement Foulques called his folke and sayde to theym Fayre lordes I oughte well to hate Reynawde for he slewe myne vncle by great wronge Nowe am I come to the poynt that I shall be auenged on hym and I shall tell you howe Nowe wyt it that the kynge you of Gascoyn hath betrayed theÌ and they shall come hyther anon all vnarmed sauf their swerdes And therfore I praye you all that ye thynke to smite well vpon them then shall I know who loueth me best Doo so that none of theim scape and ye shall be well my good freendes and I shall loue you well NOw shal we telle you of the kynge yon that was at Tholouse Whan he
otherwise Alas and what sorowful harme they hadde of this that they were thus clothed For that were the tokens and recognyssaunce wherof they were in dauÌger of death if god had not holpen them of his pitie and mercy And whan the foure sonnes of AimoÌ had their mautelles on the kyng yon behelde them and had of them great pitie and began to weep There was his stewarde that the ârayson well wist that saide not one word for âere of king yon And whaÌ the mete was redy Reynawde prayed muche the king that he woulde eate For he made him to be serued ryght wel Whan they had eaten the kyng yon rose vpon his feet and toke Reynawde by the hande and said to him My faire brother my frend I wil tell a counseyll that ye know not Nowe wyt that I haue bee at Mountbenden and I haue spoken with king Charlemayne the which charged me of treason by cause that I keep you in my realme wherof I haue presented my gage afore all hys company and no maÌ was there so hardy that durste speake ayenste that that I sayd After this we had many wordes togither among whiche we spake of good accorde and of peace whereof at the laste the kyng Charlemayne was contente for my loue for to make peace with you in the maner that foloweth That is to were that to morow erly ye shal goe to the playne of Valcoloures ye and your brethreÌ al vnarmed but of your swerdes mounted vpon youre mules and clothed with the mantelles that I haue geuen to you and that ye shall beare in your handes Roses and floures and I shall sende with you eyght of myne earles for to goe more honourably the which ben al of my lygnage And there ye shal finde the king Charlemaine and the duke Naymes of hauyere and Ogyer the Dane and all the twelue Peres of Fraunce and there Charlemayne shall gyue you suertie And ye shall doo to him reuerence in such maner that ye shal cast your selfe to his feet and there he shall pardone you and he shall gyue you agayne all youre londes entierly THan sayde Reinawde syr for gods mercy For I haue greate doubt of the king Charlemaine by cause he hateth vs to death as ye know And I promyse you it he holdethe vs he shall make vs to die a shamefull death Good freend saide the traytoure kynge yon haue ye no doubte at al. For he hath sworne vnto me vpon his faith afore al his baronye Sir answered Reynawde we shall doo your commaundements Ha God sayde Alarde What saye you my brother ye knowe well that kynge Charlemayne hath made his oth many times that if he may take vs ones by ony maner of meane he shall bringe vs to a shameful dethe Now I meruayle me greatly of you faire brother how ye wil accorde for to goe put your selfe and vs in to his handes al vnarmed as a poore mischaunte Neuer haue god mercy vpoÌ my soule yf I goe there without mine armes nor without to be as it apperteyneth brother said Reinawd ye saye not well God forbed that I should mistrust my lorde the kyng yon of any thing that he telleth me And than he turned hym towarde the kyng yon and sayde to hym Sir without any faute we shall be there to morowe earlye in the mornyng whatsoeuer happeth of it Fayre lordes said Reynawde god hath holpen vs wel that we haue peace with the kynge Charlemayne to whome we haue made so longe time so mortall a warre but sith that my Lorde the king you hath made thys peace I am content to doo to him as much reuerence as to me is possyble For I am delybered to goe naked in my small lynen clothes to the Mountesaynt Michael And whaÌ Reinawd had sayd this word he toke leaue of kyng yon and went in to the chambre of the faire lady his wife fouÌd there his other two brethren that were with her whaÌ the lady saw her husbonde come she came ayenst hym and tooke him betwen both her armes by great loue and kissed hym Lady sayd Reynawde I ought wel to loue you by great reason For your brother the king you hath trauailed hm selfe right sore for me and hathe be sore blamed at the courte of Charlemaine for me but he hath doone so muche blessed be god that he hathe made my peace with the king Charlemaine And that Rowland and Oliuer Nor all the twelue Peeres of frauÌce might neuer make he hathe graunted vs againe all our landes And all thus we shall be riche and shal liue al our life in reste peace so shall we mow helpe and gyue the hauoyre that we haue vnto the poore knightes that haue serued all theyr lyfe truely and wel THan sayd the lady I thanke god greatly therof with al my hert But tell me where the concordaunce shall be made and hyde it not from me yf it please you Lady sayde Reynawde I shal tell it you without any faute Wit that to morowe we muste ryde to the playne of Valcolours there the peace shal be made but I and my brethren must goe thither without armes but onely oure swerdes and vpon mules berynge roses in oure handes And there we shal fynde the duke Naymes of bauyere Ogyer the Dane al the .xii Peeres of Fraunce that shal receiue othes whaÌ the lady vnderstod these wordes she was so sore an angred thereof that almost she had lost her witte and saide to Reynawde Syr yf ye wyl beleue me ye shall not goe one fote there For the plaine of Valcolours are so daungerous for there is a roch ryght hyghe and there ben foure grete woodes rounde aboute yf ye will beleue me ye shall take a day for to speake with Charlemaine heere in the medowes of Mountawban ye shall goe there mounted vpon bayarde and youre brethren with you there ye may conferme youre peace or elles continew your warre take two thousande knyghtes and gyue theym to Mawgis youre cosyn whiche shall keep them in a busshemente vpon the ryuage if it happe you to haue need for I doubte me sore of treason wherfore I pray you that ye keep your selfe well sure For I dyd dreame to nyghte a dreame that was fereful merueilous for me semed that I was at the windowes of the great palace and sawe come out of the greate wood of Ardeyn well a thousande wilde bores that hadde greate and hortyble reeth the which flewe you and rented your body al in peeces and also I saw that the great towre of Mountawban fel downe to the grounde moreouer I saw a shot of aduenture that smot your brother Alarde so harde that it perced his body through and through and that the chapel of Saint Nycolas which is within this castel fell downe to the earthe and all the ymages that been in it wepte for greate pitte And the two auÌgelles came downe from heauen that haÌged your
brother Richarde at an apple tree and then the saide Richarde cried with an hyghe voice Fayre brother Reynawd come and helpe me and Incontinente ye went there vpon youre horse bayarde but he fell downe by the waye vnder you wherfore ye mightht not come time ynough wherof ye were ful sory therfore good syr I counseyle you that ye go not there LAdye sayde Reynawde holde your peace for who that beleueth ouer muche in dreames he dooth ayenst the commaundemente of God Than said Alarde by the faythe that I owe to god I shal neuer sette foote there nor I nother saide Rycharde Alas saide than Guycharde yf we must goe there lette vs not departe thitherwarde as men of counceylle but let vs go there lyke as prue and worthy knightes hauing eche of vs his armes vpon him wel horsebacke not vpon mules on that our brother Reinawde he well mounted vpon baiarde which shal may beare vs al foure at a need by god sayde Reynawd ye shal say what ye wil but I shal go there as I haue saide what so euer happeth and than he went out of his chambre came to king yon and said to him By god I merueill me muche of my brethren that wil not go with me because they haue no horses with them and yf it please you ye shall giue vs leaue to take eche of vs a horse ye shal keep stil your eyght earles with you and we shal go there as ye haue commauÌded vs I wil not doo it said the kyng you for the kyng Charlemaine douteth you to sore and youre bretherne and your horses also I haue giuen hostages suretes that ye shal beare no maner of harneys with you but onely your swerdes as I haue tolde you afore and that ye shal ride vpon mules not vpon horses And yf ye go there otherwise arayed Charlemayne shal thinke that I wyll betraye hym and so shall he destroye al my lande that shall be the paymente that I shal haue for you I haue trauailled my selfe full sore for to bring you and youre bretherne at one with Charlemaine therfore go there yf ye will and if ye wil not leaue it Than said Reinawd sir syth that it is so we shal go there And than he wente from kyng yon in to his chambre again and founde his wife that noble lady Alard and Richarde that asked him how he had doone if they should haue his good horse bayarde with theym By God said Reinawde I can not haue leaue to doo so but my bretherne doubte you not for the kynge yon is a true prince and if he shoulde betray vs he should be sore blamed for it for he shal make vs to be conduyted by eyght of the moste great erles of his realme god confounde me yf I sawe euer ony euil doone by him Sir said hys bretherne we shal goe gladly with you sith that ye wyl haue vs needes to doo so Whan they were thus accorded herto thei wente to bed slept vnto the daye appeared and whan Reynawde sawe the daye he rose vp and saide to his bretherne Arise sits and make vs redy for to goe there as we should goe For yf Charlemayne be sooner to the plaines of valcolours than we he shal hapely be angry for it Syr sayde hys bretherne we shall soone be redy whan they were all redy they weÌt to the churche of saint Nycolas for to heare masse whan it came to the offryng Reynawde his bretherne offred many ryche gyftes And after the masse was done they asked after theyr mules incoÌtinent they mounted vpon in their felowship were eyght earles the whiche knewe all the maner of treason whan they were all mounted they tooke on theyr way but the foure soÌnes of Aymon were good to knowe by the other for they had on greate mantelles of scarlet turred with ermynes bare in their handes roses in tokeÌ of peace also their swerdes for they wold not gyrde theim Now god be with them for if he keep them not they bene in waye of perdycyon neuer to come againe to MouÌtawban whan the king yon sawe them thus go he fell downe in a swount more then foure times for the great sorowe that he had at his hearte for how be it that he had betrayed them so yet had he great pitie of them but this that he had doone euyl counseyl had made him doo it And than he be gan to make the greatest sorow in the worlde said ha good lorde what haue I doone dyd euer man so great treason as I haue doone nay verely for I haue betrayed the best knyghts of the world and the moste worthye and true THan sayde his folke Syr ye doo not wel to make suche a sorowe for Reynawde is very wise he shal it perceiue ryght soone Ha god sayd the king yon were it as ye saye for I shoulde be more gladde than yf I had wonne tenne of the best cyties of Fraunce for Reynawde is my freend and my brother Ha Mawgys how shal ye be sory whaÌ ye shal know this matter Reynawde did great foly whan he tooke not your aduyse in this thynge for yf he had knowen of it ye should not haue suffred him to go there Lordes sayd the kyng yon I poore wretche whether shall I become yf the foure sonnes of Aymon diâ for Mawgis shal slea me without mercy and also it is well reason for who that betrayeth a nother and princypally his freend carnall ought not to lyue nor haue euer any worship but his folke tooke hym vp incontinente and began to recomforte him by many greate reasons that they layed afore him NOw begynneth the piteous hystory of the foure sonnes of Aimon that wente to theyr deathe by the meanes of the traytour kyng yon And bycause of the treason that he coÌmited ayenst the foure sonnes of Aymon he loste the realme of gascoygne the name the dygnyte therof for neuer sith that tyme was no kyng crowned in Gascoygne Now shall I tell you of Reynawde and of his brethren than tode Reynawde and his brethren towarde the plaine of Valcolours and as they toode thitherwardi Alarde began to syng ryghte sweetly and Ioyfull a newe songe and Guycharde and Rychard dyd in lykewise but I tell you that no instrument of musike sowned neuer so melodyouslye as the three brethren dyd syngyng to gither alas what pyty was it of so noble and so worthy knightes that went singing and makyng Ioy to their death they were as the swanne that syngeth that yere that she shall die Reynawd went behynde them sore thynkyng hys head bowed down towarde the earth and beheide hys brethern that rode forth makyng great Ioye and he sayd o god what knyghtes be my brethrene that there been none suche in all the world nother so gracyous And whan he had saide this he sette his hands together and heued them vp towarde
good horse and lighted vpon him swymmed agayn ouer Dordon and whan he was ouer he abode styll at the riâer side and lyghted downe to the earthe but he had no sadle vpon hys horse for the girthes brake whaÌ he Iousted wyth Reinawde Whan Reynawde sawe Brayforde saddellesse he called to Ogyer and sayde Ogier come fetche youre sadle for it shall be to you a greate shame yf ye ride thus and thanke our lorde that ye be thus departed fro me withoute any more harme for yf we had taryed a litell lenger togither I wolde haue brought you into suche a place where ye were neuer for the kynge Charlemaine your lord should neuer haue rescued you in tyme. Reinawde said Ogier ye threten me of feare it longeth not to a good knighte to threaten one so but I wot well that yf it had not be your folke that haue succoured you I wolde haue brought you to kynge Charlemaine or euyn Ogier saide reinawde ye haue well shewed that ye be a good knyghte that passed the riuer of Dordon for to come fight with me but shall ye tary there for me tyll I passe ouer at the other syde vpon my horse bayarde yea vpon my soule said Ogier and yf ye doo it I shall saye that ye be the best knyghte of the worlde whan Reinawde vnderstoode that worde he spurred bayarde with the spurres wold haue passed ouer dordon but Mawgis Alard and Guicharde letted him and wolde not suffre hym to goe but tooke hym by the brydell and Alarde saide to hym Ha fayre brother what is this that ye wil doo ye be ouer hastye for who that dooth you good he leseth well his time ye knowe well and Ogyer had not be we should haue been dead this daie and the succours of Mawgys had helped vs but litell Lette Ogier be in peace I praye you for there is not a better knighte in the worlde than he is one and than cried Alarde to Ogier Faire cosyn goe to god for ye haue well holpen vs whan Alarde had spoken to Ogyer he returned him to his brother Reynawde and saide to him Faire brother me semeth it were good that we should turne backe againe for to wit howe oure brother Richarde doothe that abideth vpon the roche Mountbron so wounded as ye knowe Let goe our enemies with shame ynough for we haue domaged theim righte sore Than called Ogier to Reinawde and said ye haue discomfited vs but by my fathers soule we shal com againe so greate folke vpon you that we shal beare to you greate harme and so shall we take the proye the whiche ye shall not dare defende Now threten al fayre said Reinawde for we haue suche a castell where we dare well abide the kinge Charlemaine and you at anye houre that ye come and also I tell you for certain that or euer three daies be passed ye shall neuer take vs for all that ye can doo And how someuer the game goeth the losse hathe euer be vpon you vnto this time And also ye shall beare no good tidinges to the king Charlemaine And whan Ogier had spoken ynoughe vnto Reinawde he spurred braiford and went after his folke that hadde lefte him and he rode so longe that he came to Mountbandell and lighted downe before the tente of the kinge Charlemaine And whan Rowland and Oliuer sawe come Ogier thus wounded and making so euill chere they trowed that there hadde be a battaile and that Ogier had taken Reynawd and his brethrene and so they dyd calle the Duke Nâimes Salomon of Breten Richarde of Normandye and the earle Guidellon And whan they were all assembled they saide the one to the other Poore vnhappy and what shal we doo this day shall we see hanged the foure sonnes of Aymon they be cosins to vs al and if the king Charlemain maketh theÌ to be hanged we be dishonoured for euer And whan the king Charlemayne sawe come Ogier he said to him Ogier where ben the foure sonnes of Aymon haue ye taken them or slaine theim or remysed theim for prisoners Sir saide Ogier all fayre and foftlye wit it that they been no children but they are the best knightes of the world and they be alyue I tell you sir that we founde them in the plaine of Valcolours all foure clothed in scarlet furred with ermines and vpon mules and bare in their handes floures and roses wel hath the king of Gascoygne kepte his couenaunt to you for he hath seÌt theym forth in such maner as he promised to you but the worthynes and the prowes was such that they chauÌged theyr mules to good horses and recouered both sheelde and spere And whan Reinawde had goten a horse he slew Foulques of Moryllon first of all and mounted vpon his horse but at the last they found a roche coruen after the maner of a caue that is a strong place where they defended themsele a longe while and Richard one of their bretherne had ben slaine and the other three should haue beÌ other taken or slaine and if Mawgis had not come there to succoure them mounted vpon bayard and broughte with him .v. thousande knyghtes which haue discomfited vs and haue slaine the Erle Guymarde HA said themperaur Charlemaine is it true that they been so scaped sir said Ogier yea verelye whan the king vnderstoode that Reinawd and his brethern were scaped he was right wroth ful angry for it and said A good lord of glorye how am I shamed for foure gluttoÌs certes this weries me sore but no force let them doo the worst that they can for if they haue scaped me now they shal not scape me another time syr said Ogier wyt it but if Mawgis had not be they coulde not haue scaped Goddes curse haue he for it said Charlemaine and an euyll yere for often hathe he holpen them ayenst me and so I wote well that yf I helde Reinawde and hys bretherne within my pryson Mawgis should delyuer theym oute and therfore I hate him to death wherof I pray out lorde that I die not till I be fyrst auenged of it syr saide Ogier by the faith that I owe to you Reinawde gaue me so greate a stroke that the corner of my helme fel downe wythall to the earthe and I promyse you I was wel glad whaÌ I was escaped from his handes for of three thousand that we brought with vs there are come againe but three hundred the surples is all slaine other taken Whan Rowland vnderstoode theyse wordes he shooke al for angre said by great wrathe By god syr Ogyer ye were sore hardy ye had not felowes that dyd so well as ye dyd but by saint Peter the apostle I sawe neuer so strong a cowarde as ye be nor neuer came oute of Denmarke a good knight Ha whoreson coward kaytif howe haue ye anye eyen that dare behold vpon a man but another thing there is for ye haue spared them for they ben your cosins and your
to hym Syr I shall tell you suche tydynges wherby ye shall get good ynoughe yf ye wyll beleue me and I shall tell you a thyng wherof ye shal be ryght glad Good freende sayde than Rowlande thou art welcom to me what tidinges bringest thou tel me I praye thee Syr sayde Pygwade wyt it that the kyng Yon fleeth away all vnarmed he and all hys folke and hath wyth theym nother Somer nor Mule but onlye theyr best horses and they go into the wood of the serpent into a house of religion whiche is named saint Lazare he himselfe is delibered for to take the habite and to be come a moÌke By my fayth sayd thaÌ Rowlande I shal go meet with them anon with foure thousande knightes and I shall auenge Reynawde hys bretherne vpon them and I shal make them to be hanged as traytours For I neuer loued traytours nor neuer shall and God wyll Syr sayde pigwade yet is there more for I haue found Reynawde his brethern and Mawgys that came ouer the ryuer of balancon that bringeth with theÌ many prysoners of your folke And yf ye wyll fynde theym ye muste go that waye Freende sayd Rowlande ye haue deserued a great reward for ye haue brought to vs good tydynges Than Rowlande called to hym Olyuer and sayd Olyuer my good true felaw lyght vpon your horse quickely and bryng wyth you Guidellon and Richarde of Normandy ye syr Ogyer of Denmarke ye shall come with me if it please you and ye shall see the great prowesse of Reynawde the sonne of Aymon and we shal take with vs but foure thousaÌd men and yet Reynawde is fiue thousand well horsed and well arayed And thus we shal mowe fyght with them wtout any auauntage Certes sayde Ogyer I shall goe there to see how ye shall haue hym And whan ye haue taken hym I promyse you to lend you a rope yf ye haue need of it And whan they had al deuised thei mounted on horsebacke and tooke theyr waye And the greate ribawde guided them streight to the riuer of Balancon and the king of Gascoin rode than through the woodes of the serpent wyth his folke and he rode so longe that he ariued at the monastery of saint Lazare And they praied the abbot of the place so muche that he made them monkes in the deuils name This hangynge came there Rowlande and Olyuer wyth theyr folke that entred anon into the abbay And whan the abbot saw them he came them agaynst and all the couent singyng Te deum laudamus And whan they had songe the abbote sayd to Rowlande Syr ye be ryght welcome wyll ye haue any thyng that we may doo lorde abbot sayd Rowlande we thanke you with all our harte But wyt that we seeke heere the falsest traytour of the worlde that men call the kynge Yon of Gascoyn the whych is heere within for I wil hange hym lyke a theefe THan answered the abbot ye shall not syr and please you for he is become our monke and also he hath taken the habite and therfore wee shall defende hym agaynst all men Whan Rowlande heard the abbot speake so he tooke hym by the hood And Olyuer tooke the priour that was nyghe and they shoued theÌ so pretely agaynst a piller of marble stone that theyr eyen lept out of their heads And than Rowland sayd to the abbot Now mayster monke delyuer to me lyghtly that deuyl the king yon whyche is the brother of Iudas or els I shall make an ende of you for I haue sworne that he shal neuer doo treason more WhaÌ the abbot vnderstoode this that Rowlande sayde to him he and all his monkes fled awai from him And whan Rowland saw this he set hande at his good swerde Durandall and entred into the cloystre where he founde the kynge Yon kneeling before an Image of our ladie and was clad with the habite of religion and the hode vpon his head And whan Rowlande sawe hym he knew him well For he had seen him with his vncle Charlemayne Than he tooke him and sayde to hym syr monke in the Deuils name conne ye well your lesson aryse vp with sorowe and come with me for to see the kyng Charlemayne For he shal make you to be haÌged as a traytour proued euill king and a felon Where beÌ the foure sonnes of Aymon that ye should haue delyuered vnto Charlemaine ye shal be paied for the treason that ye haue doone and I with mine handes shal auenge Reinawde and hys brethern vpon you whan he had sayd this he made the kynge Yon to be set vpon a horse and blinded his eyen wyth a cloute that he myght not see nothynge And than gaue him the mokes hode vpon his head And thus sat in the sadle the face towarde the horse tayle and the backe forwarde The king yon made none other thinge but that he wysshed styll after Reynawde and hys brethern and sayd Alas and that I dyd great harme whan that I conseÌted to this mortall treason nowe ought I well to dye ten tymes yf it might be so For I haue wel deserued death Whan the king yon had sayde this he sayd to one of his priuy couÌsell that he herd nyghe him how wel he saw not Freend go to MountawbaÌ and tell Reynawde that he come to succoure me for he is my man and that he take no heede to mi trespace and euil dede but to his fraunchise For he let me dye so he shal be therof repreued blamed euermore hys yssue shal be dyshonoured by it And yf he can recouer me I wyll that he make my tonge to be cut of wherby I dyd consent to the treason or elles my heade yf it semeth him good for I haue well deserued it ayenst hym Syr sayde the knyght I shall not goe there for I wot well that Reinawd wyll not set one foot out to saue you bycause of the greate harme that ye wolde haue doon to hym he shal sayd the kynge yon for I knowe so much by hym that he shall not saie there ayenst Syr I wyll than goe to hym with a good wyll syth that it please you and god gyue that Reynawd his bretherne and Mawgys wyll come and helpe you for I knowe wel that ye haue greate neede of it but yf god helpe you Thys hangyng Olyuer sayde to Rowlande Rowlande good felaw myne what shal we doo with this vnhappy kynge freende sayde Rowland we shal lede hym to mouÌtfawcon and we shall leue Balancon at the ryght hand And this they did for to fynde Reynawde and his bretherne for Rowlande was sore willynge to fynde Reynawd his brethren and Mawgys theyr cosyn good lorde sayde Ogyer the Dane by thy pytie and myserycord graunt to Rowlande his prayer and his wyll that is that we may fynde Reynawd and Mawgys for to see how Rowland shall bere himselfe and yf he shoulde take theym or no for I knowe well that none shall
to me And whan I sawe that the kyng repreued me thus I was wrothe and right angry for it I beheld vpon my brethern and knewe theyr stomackes and saw myne enemyes before me so neded not that I should haue sought them els where And it suffised theym not of that I had be outraged by Charlemayne but that Berthelot outraged me of newe he and I playinge at the Chesse wherof I tooke the chesse boorde and smote hym with it so greate a stroke vpon hys head that I slew hym afore my feet And Lewes a nother neuew of Charlemayne wolde haue slayne my brother Richarde and had hurte hym all redy full sore But I smote hym in suche wise with my fyst that I feld him downe dead afore me to therth whan Charlemayne wyst of it he wolde haue made me to be killed hewed into peeces but my kynsemeÌ wolde not suffre it for there was great medlyng so that many strokes were gyuen And whan the medling was ended I mounted vpon Bayarde my brethern I made to mouÌt also th one before the two other behynde me and thus rode we al foure vpon my horse bayarde so came to Ardeyne where I dyd buylde a castell And there Chaylemane came and beseeged me and made swere mi good father Aimon that he shoulde neuer helpe vs wyth none of all his goods and that he should be vtterly ayenste vs and in lyke wise he for closed me fro all my kynsmen that none of them was not so hardy for to haue shewed to vs the least fauour of the worlde Fayre bretherne ye knowe wel the great pouertie that we haue endured so longe time And whan I sawe that I wyst not where to go I came into thys lande wyth suche a felawship as ye knowe I spake to the kynge Yon and shewed hym howe I had warre agaynst Charlemayne and he shewed me great loue and made me great honour so that he gaue me his syster to my wyfe and with her a duchy builded MountawbaÌ for me And of the other parte my chyldren are hys neuews wherof th one beareth his name that is yonnet and ye see them here and I haue saued hym hys Realme and all hys londe and all his rebelles I haue made come to seeke mercy of hym I fouÌd him neuer in faute but Charlemayne is so great and so myghty a kynge and also ye knowe well that he hath ouercome and dysshonoured many good meÌ and for fere of him the kyng Yon betrayed vs wherof he is not to be blamed ouermuche seynge that agaynst Charlemayne nothinge hath power And therfore yf the kynge Yon deliuered me to charlemayne it was by euyll counsell that some of hys barons gaue hym For god made neuer so good a man but that that he misdoeth by euyll counsell somtyme And how can I leaue hym whan I haue not mystrusted hiÌ afore time me semeth that I ought to shew hym goodnes agaynst felonye Therfore I pray you all that ye wyll make you redy for I wyll goe succour him For it were great reproche to my chyldren that theyr vncle should be hanged as a theefe and it were to vs a great disshonour for he is our lord and if he had doone euil we ought to doo well agaynst it and also we ought not to forget the benefaytes that the kynge yon hath doone to vs and I promise you that the faute and the treason that he hath doone is not come through his malyce but through euyll counsel For yf it had be onlye by hys mocyon I wolde see the hert from the bodye of hym but I wot wel nay for Charlemayne is of so great power that euery man feareth him And therfore I tell you that I wil goe rescue him from Rowlande if I can wyth all my power By my fayth sayd Alard ye shall than goe wythout me for I shal not put my feet there for a traytour ought neuer to be holpeÌ nor succoured Nor I sayde Guycharde I shall not goe there âe shal sayd Richarde and it please you syth that Reynawde wyll haue vs to doo so for he is our Lorde and our welt therfore I pray you fayre bretherne that ye wyll obey him Whan Reynawde had concluded that he should goe for to rescue the kynge Yon agaynst the wyll of Alarde and of Guicharde al the Gascoynes that were there began to crye and sayde blessed be the houre that euer Reynawde was borne For no man erthely is worthe hym of goodnes and of prowes and than they sayde to Reynawde Syr we shall giue vp to you all the lande of Gascoyne and shall make you the Lorde of it For there shall be neuer none other lorde in Gascoyne but you as longe as ye shall lyue so that for god ryght sweet syr that ye suffre not the kynge yon to be had awaye to Charlemayne for it were a great shame to all them of the reame of Goscoyn that men had hanged theyr kyng By mi soule sayd Reinawde ye say trouth And than he tooke his horne and blewe it thre tymes so stronglye that he made all Mountawban to sowne with it And incoÌtynent without abydinge thei of the towne wente and armed them and came before Reinawde and whaÌ thei were all redy Reynawde lighted vpon bayarde the shelde at the necke and the spere in the hande and they were well in hys felawship syx thousande men on horsebacke and well a thousande a foote And whan thei were out of Mountawban Reinawd spake to his folke and sayd to them Lordes remeÌbre you that your lorde is in great daunger and in perill of death and but if we fight strongli he is dead without remedye wherfore I pray you all that ye doo this daye that that shall turne to our worshyp And whan Reynawde had said these wordes he wente agayne towarde hys brethern and sayd to theÌ Fayre brethern ye know that Rowland hateth me to death not through my defawte but only through enuye Wherfore I pray you that ye attende vpon me thys day and ye shal see me doo as a good knight thys day the pryde of Rowlande must be leyde or els mine a downe Whan Alarde hearde his brother Reynawde speake so he sayde to hym And wherof care youâ be sure and certayn that as longe that lyfe is in our bodyes we shall not fayle you and with this worde they put them to the waye And Reynawde tooke two thousand knyghtes and gaue them to Alarde and Guichard sayd to them Fayre brethern ye shal make the forward keep your men in good ordenauÌce I my brother Richarde shal make the reregarde syr sayde Alarde we shall doo it well yf god wyll and thaÌ they rode forthe so longe that they sawe the folke of Rowland nygh them whan Alarde a perceyued theym he made hys meÌ to tary and sent worde to Reynawde that he shoulde make haste to come for they had founde
theyr enemies And whan Reynawde wiste of these tidinges he made hys folke to ryde hastely and came anon to Alarde his brother and whan he saw his enemies he put his folke in araye deuised his batayles honestly as a good capitayne of warre THan whan Rowland saw so great folke he called to hym the bysshop Turpin Guydellon of bauyer sayd to theÌ Lordes now be holde I se yonder many folke armed might that be Reynawde and his bretherne wherof the renome is so great and of theyr cosin Mawgys the subtill knyght Syr sayde the Bysshop Turpyn yea they beÌ tho verely and also I tell you they make themselfe to be well knowe whersoeuer they goe and I tell you that wee cannot saue vs but that we muste medle with theÌ Whan Ogier sawe Reynawde he Ioyned heued his haÌdes towarde heauen and sayd O god blessed thou be that haste suffred Rowlande to fynde Reynawde his bretherne and Mawgys certes who that gaue me a thousande marke of golde I should not be so glad for Rowlande hathe nowe all his besyre and certayne I am ryght glad that we haue founde them Nowe shall I see how he shal beare himselfe ayenst the valliaunte Reynawd his bretherne and Mawgys whan he had said this he turned him selfe towarde Rowland and said to him Rowland nowe haue ye that ye haue desired so longe and I am glad that it is come so for nowe shal I see how ye shal take theÌ For it ye can take them a liue bryng theÌ to Charlemain he shal con you great thanke for it and so shall bayarde be your owne that ye haue so sore desired and the warre shall be thus finyshed Ogyer Ogier saide than Rowlande these ven reproches that ye tel me But by saynt Denys of fraunce ye shal see or euyn who shal be maister of vs two Rowland said Ogier now shall it be seen what ye can doo Whan Rowland knew that he muste haue medling with his enemyes he ordeined all his battaile as he coulde wel doo and after he set hys folke in ordenaunce of battaile the best that he myght And whan Reynawde sawe that Rowlande ordeyned his battailles he called his bretherne and sayde to thrm Lordes heere come the frenshemen yonder is Rowlande Olyuer and the Duke naymes of Bauiere and Ogier the dane ye shal abide heere for to make the reregaâde and if we haue mystre of helpe come and helpe vs. Syr sayd Mawgis ye make to longe sermon delyuer you for we tary to longe fro sawtynge vpon our enemies Cosyn sayde Reynawd ye say wel and ye speake lyke a good knyghte For yet haue I not better knyghte than ye be one whan I see you armed bi me Now thinke to doo well for I goe fyrst of all for to ouerthrowe the pryde of Rowland that is so greate as euerye man knoweth I pray you al that euery man doo his parte with all his power ANd whan the brethern vnderstood that Reinawd wolde goe proue himselfe vpon Rowland they began al three to weepe said A brother wil ye that ye and we be deade all at ones For ye can slea your selfe no better than to proue your selfe vpon Rowlande For he is ouermuche prue and vallyaunt also he can not be hurte with yron but we pray you that ye will assay your selfe vpon the other and let rowland alone Lordes sayde Reynawde ye haue spoken ful wel I know well that Rowlande is hardye prue and that his matche is not in the world of knighthode but I am in the ryght he is in the wrong whiche shall nowe turne hym to a great harme and therfore I wyll not refuse but that I shal goe ayenst him but and if he will peace he shall haue it and if he wil haue warre he shal fynde me redye to receyue hym therto For I haue leuer dye than be long sycke ⧠Now I praye you speake no more of it but see that ye beare your selfe well ayenst our enemies for we haue to doo ayenst many a noble knight Cosin saide Mawgis thynke to assayle well For ye shall be succoured ryght wel Than the worthy and valliaunte knight Reynawde went afore all the other with his sheeld at the necke and his spere in his hande syttinge vpon baiarde Whan rowlande sawe reynawd come with his folke well ordred he shewed it to Oliuer and said Felawe what thinke you by that folke see how they come towarde vs in good araye Certes rowlande sayde Olyuer reynawde knoweth more of warre than any other knighte that liues and the most gracious For there is none so poore a knyght in the worlde if he come to him but he shall be ryghte welcome to him and yf he come a foote he shal set him anon on horsebacke And yf he be yll appointed he shall anon araye him after his estate Is not this a great goodnes of him ye be my soule saide rowlande and he dothe wel For if he did otherwyse he myghte not abide longe ayenst myne vncle Charlemayne And me semeth sayde ayen Olyuer that he hath well three tymes mo folke than we haue wherof he myghte well get vpon vs but yf we take better heede for they been well subtyll folke Olyuer sayd rowlande ye saye trouthe but ye knowe well the Gâscoygnes ben cowardes of very kynde and can not abyde no stroke of swerde but that they wyll flee lyghtlye away that is true sayde the byshop Turpyn but they haue with theym a good guyde as any is in all the worlde And wit it syr rowlande that the valyaunte man causeth his folke to abide nyghe hym For a worthye capitaine is the myrrour ensaumple to the other for to doo well whan rowland heard this he wexed almost mad bycause men praysed Reynawde and his folke so muche and with this he spurred his horse and went before all his folke well the shot of a bowe ferre and came ayenst Reinawd And whan Reinawde sawe Rowland come alone he saide to Alarde Fayre brother beware vpon as muche as ye loue me that ye moue not nor your folke but abyde styl heere till that I haue Iousted with Rowland that cometh alone and therfore I wyl no man helpe me ayenst him Whan Reinawd had sayd this he spurred bayard with the spurres and came ayenst Rowlande so fast that they that saw it wend the Baiard had floughe in the ayer For the smallest lepe that he lept was of xxx foot ferre or more And whan he was come nigh Rowlande as for to haue Iousted Reinawd lighted downe a foote and pyght his spere in the erthe And bound bayarde therat bycause he should haue byde there styll And vngyrte flamberge hys swerde and came before Rowland presented it to him kneeled afore him and kissed his foot said al wepiÌg damp Rowland I cry you mercy for the pitie that our lord had on the crosse vpon his mother whan he coÌmeÌded her to saynt
Iohn that ye will haue pitie vpoÌ me ye know wel that I am your kinsman how be it I am poore yet shal I be my brethern your meÌ And also I shal giue you baiard shal make you lorde of Mountawban so that it will please you to purchace our peace with the king Charlemaine your vncle and if it please you for to doo so I shal make al my brethern to graunte the same and I shal forsake fraunce al my lyfe And I promise you that I shall goe into the holye lande wyth Mawgys and my bretherne for to make warre agaynst the sarasyns yf ye thinke that I say wel bringe it aboute yf ye canne For yf ye doo it ye shall haue a felow and a seruaunt of me ROwland had great pitie whaÌ he heard Reynawde speake in this maner and began to weepe ful tenderly and after sayd to hym By god Reynawde I dare not speake of it but if so be that ye wyll delyuer vnto him Mawgys Alas sayd Reynawde I should neuer doo that for to dye for it For Mawgys is no man for to be giueÌ away for to haue peace And thaÌ he rose vp toke his swerde and hys sheelde And came to Bayarde and mounted vpon hym wythout stirope than he tooke his spere in his hand And whan he was wel apparelled he went agayne to Rowland and sayd to him Rowland wit that I shal neuer more cry you mercy for fere that I haue of you but I haue cry you mercy for to beare you worship bicause that ye be of my kin but sith that I see that ye be so proude that ye will doo nothyng for me nor for my prayer I shall mowe deale resonably with you to the ende that ye shall not mow reporte nor saye to the other Barons and knightes of FrauÌce that Reynawde the sonne of Aymon hath cried you mercy for feare The cause is suche ye haue wyth you a great company of folke and also I haue of my syde men ynough thanked be god and if our folke asseÌble together it cannot be other wise but that great harme shal fall of ãâã the sides But and ye will we shall fyght we two together for them all without any help of other and if ye ouercome me ye shall bringe me âo Charlemayne that shall doo hys pleasure of me if I can conquere you ye shall come wyth me to MouÌtawban vnder condition that ye shall haue nother euyll nor shame no more thaÌ shall my owne person SHall ye doo this that ye haue sayde sayd Rowlande ye wtout faut sayd Reynawde By my hed sayde Rowlande ye shall make me sure therof fyrste Certes sayde Reynawde wyth a good wyll And thaÌ Reynawde sware it vnto him vpon his parte of paradyse Reynawde sayde Rowlande I wyl goe take leue of my felaw Oliuer for I haue promised him that al the batayles that I shall vndertake he shal mow make them himselfe if it please him Goe thaÌ sayd Reynawde make it shorte And than Rowlande wente agayne to hys felawes And whan he was come to theÌ Hector the sonne of Ocdon Oliuer and Ogyer the dane asked of him sayinge Sir Rowlande what saith Reynawde haue ye spoke with him yea sayd Rowlande and what thinke you bi him Certes said Rowland Reynawde is a sage knight well taught for he hath requyted me to fyght with him bodye to bodye and that our folke be styll of the one syde and of the other Rowland sayd Oliuer ye shal doo in this your pleasure for other yee or I must fight with him but I counsell that ye goe there for as longe as I shall lyue I shal not be enemy to Reynawde only for his worthynes For Reynawde is a knight of great honour Whan the bysshop Turpyn Hector the sonne of Oedon and the other Erles hearde this they began to say Rowland what is that ye wil doo For gods mercy doo it not for Reynawde is of your lynage and of ours and if ye bringe him to death we shal neuer loue you after Syr leue that offre that Reynawde giueth to you and make your folke to assemble with the folke of Reynawde for it is better that they be take of youre folke than that the one of you two were dead wyll ye that it be so sayde Rowland yea syr yf it please you Certes said Rowland it pleaseth me ryght well and than he sayd to al his folke Lordes thinke to defende you well for it is now need therof Syr sayd the other haue no doubte of nothynge for we shall doo wel your coÌmaundement and than they put theÌ selfe in ordenaunce And Rowlande began to crye mount ioye saynt Denys and whan came to settinge on with speres ye should haue seen thaÌ many a knight brought to grounde manye horse that ranne maysterles thorough the feeldes so much that it was great pitie for to see so greate a destructioÌ of knightes as was made there Whan Reynawde saw the two hostes muste assemble together he spurred Bayarde with the spurres put himself amonge the thickest of the Frenche men and smote a knight so harde in the breste that he ouerthrewe bothe horse and man to the grounde and after smote another so sore that nether for sheelde nor for quyras of steele he let not but that he shoued the yren of his spere thorough and thoroughe his bodi and fell dead to the erth and wit at that stroke he brake his spere and Reynawde set hande lightly to his swerde and began to crye Mountawban as lowde as he coulde And than he made so greate slaughter of Frenchemen that none durst abide afore hym but fled from him as fro the death Shortli to speake Reynawd did so much thorough his streÌgth thorough the highe knight hode of his brethern that he brake the fyrste batayle of the Frenche men wolde they or no. WHan the litell Richarde the brother of Reynawde saw that the frenshemen were put a backe He beganne to crie on heighte Ardeyne as muche as he mighte and put him selfe in to the greatest prese amonge hys enemies and beganne to make so great hewing of folke that it was wunderfull to see For Reinawde fought not for to loke the better vpon him And thenne Rycharde that thought hym selfe neuer wery of geuyng of strokes began to calle vpon his brother and saide Reynawde faire brother where ben youre greate strokes gone that ye were wunt for to gyue vpon youre enemyes Alas smite now vpon them for they been almost ouercome make that the frenshemen full of pride mocke not with you and so make we suche a thinge that it be spoken of it vnto Parys Whan Reynawde hearde Rycharde speake thus he beganne to smile and after he smote bayard with the spurres began to smite better thenne he byd afore Who that had seen than his greate strokes departe he might wel haue said that no carpenter smot neuer so wel in wood as
whan so fayre I was deliuered of theim And after I asked of the folke of the countrey what menne they were that so hadde slaine my men and they dyd tell me that they were the foure sonnes of AymoÌ and a greate theefe that was called Mawgis with theym And I asked them why they wold set themselfe to so foule a craft vnhappy seen that they were so greate gentilmen born and the people of the couÌtrey answerde me that they were constrained for to doo so bycause they had so greate pouertie within Mountawban that they wist nor what to doo But I did neuer see so cruel a man as the same Mawgys is for he bounde my handes behinde my backe whan he had robbed me and thaÌ he bet me so sore that I weened to haue dyed therof and hath araied me as ye see Syr ye be the best kynge in the worlde and ye be the lorde of all this land wherfore I pray you for god that ye wyl doo me ryght of these four sonnes of Aymon and of Mawgis that greate theefe And whan Charlemain vnderstood these wordes he ryghted his heade vp said Pylgryme is it true as thou saiest yea sir said Mawgis Nowe tell me thy name said Charlemayne Sir said Mawgys my name is Gaidon I am borne in Bretayne I am a great man in my contrey wherfore I require you in the worshyppe of the holye sepulcre that I haue sought that ye doo me ryght Pylgrime sayde Charlemaine I can not haue no ryght of them my selfe for I promyse thee if I had them all the worlde should not saue them but that I shoulde make them dye a shameful deathe Syr sayde then Mawgys sith that ye can do me no ryghte of theym I beseche almightye god that is in heuen that it pleaseth him for to doo it Syr saide the barons thys pilgrime semeth to be a good man and a true as we suppose For it is well seen on him geue to hym your almesse yf it please you And thenne the kinge commaunded that men should giue him twentye pound of money and Mawgis tooke them and put it in his hoode and he saide in himselfe ye haue gyuen to me of your own good but ye haue doon like a foole I shal rewarde you ryght euel for it or euer I departe fro you whan he had the syluer he asked for some meate for gods sake and oure ladyes for sythe yesterdaye he hadde not eaten as he said by my faith said Charlemaine thou shalt haue meat drinke ynoughe And anon they did brynge him meate and he sette him downe and tooke and eate wel of the best And the king saide to him nowe eat free good pilgrim For thou shalt be wel serued and Mawgys eat styl answered neuer a word but beheld onely the king in hys vysage And the kinge saide to him tell me Pylgryme and hide no thynge from me whi hast thou loked so on me sir said Mawgis I shall tel you with a good wyll Wyt that I am a wel trauaylled man but in no place that euer I was I saw neyther christen man ne sarasyn so goodly a prince ne so curteous as ye be one wherof of all the pardones that I haue wonne in my vyage makinge I giue you the haue freely Certes pilgrime said the king and I take it gladlye And I thanke you muche therof And Mawgys gaue hym for a witnesse of the same his palmers staffe for to kysse it thaÌ said the barons euery chone certainlye syr the pylgryme hath giuen vnto you a verye fayre gyfte ye oughte to rewarde him wel for it Syr said thenne Mawgis I aske none other rewarde of you for it but that it please you for to take my poore gyfte a worthe and that I may rest my selfe heere a while for I am verye sycke wery And thus as the kynge spake to Mawgys came than Rowlande and Oliuer and al their folke that brought Richard for a prisoner ANd whan Ogier Estorfawd the sonne of Oedon and the duke Naimes saw that Rowland wold goe to the pauilioÌ of charlemaine with Richard They came to Rowlande and saide to him Syr Rowland howe can ye hate Richard so sore that ye wyll yeeld hym to Charlemaine Lordes said RowlaÌd what wyll ye that I shall doo wyth him tell me and I shall doo it Syr sayde they we wyll that ye delyuer Richard and ye shall say that it was a noâher prisoner Lordes sayd Rowlande yf I canne doo this I shal doo it gladly And these wordes hearde a yoman that incontinent spurred his horse and came to the kinges tent said to Charlemayne Syr I bringe you tydynges sore straunge we haue foughten by the ryuer syde of Balancon where that Reinawd the sonne of Aymon hath keept his own right well ayenst Rowland your neuew and setteth not a straw by him And Rowland lost there more than he wan Whan the Emperoure charlemayne vnderstood that worde he was abasshed greatlye and after he said to the yoman Tel me my freend howe was yet of my neuewe Rowland Sir said the yoman he fought with the foure sonnes of Aimon that defended themselfe well But Rowlande hath brought with him prysoner one of the foure sonnes of AimoÌ the which is the most hardy and the most valiaunt of theÌ al in al pointes CHarlemayn began than to lepe for Ioye whan he vnderstoode these tydynges and came out of his tent and behelde and sawe Rychard that Rowlande broughte and whan Charlemayne sawe Richarde he knewe him well incontinente and began to crie for greate Ioye that he had By my soule neuewe it is well seen that ye haue ben there For elles Richarde shoulde not haue ben take Certes sir said Rowlande well lied Ogierro you for yf he hadde not be the foure sonnes of Aimon were take aswell as one and than said the king to Rychard Whoresone by the faith that I owe to god ye shal be hanged by the necke but fyrst ye shall haue of euil and of tormentes ynoughe sir said Richard I am in pryson I feare me not to be hanged as longe as my brother shal may lyght vpon bayard and that Mawgys be alyue Alarde and Guicharde my ryghte deare brethern for if ye do to me any outrage no castell ne town ne fortresse shal not keep you but they shal make you dye an euell deathe or two dayes be passed Whan Charlemayne heard Richard speake so proudlye he was ryghte an angred for it and tooke a staffe with bothe hys handes and smote Richard therwith vpon hys heade so hard that he made the bloud renne out of it to the earthe and whaÌ Richarde felte himselfe thus wounded he vaunced him selfe and tooke themperour Charlemain with both the hys armes by the waste wrastled togither a longe whyle so that they fell both downe the one heere the other there And Rycharde rose vp quickely and wolde haue renne vpon Charlemayne but Ogyer and
Salamon seassed him and kept him therfro and after they sayd to Charlemayne Syr ye haue doone ouermuche amys for to beate a prysoner Certes my lordes saide Richarde it is more dyshonoure to the kynge to smite me than it is to me for to defende my bodye but he is well wunt to doo suche outrages for it is not the fyrste that he hathe doone nor it shall not be the last And whan Mawgis sawe that Charlemayn had smytten Rychard he was sore an angred therfore that he had almost layed vpon him wyth his palmers staffe but he thought yf he had doo so bothe Richarde and he shoulde haue be dead And whan Charlemaine sawe that Richarde spake so boldly he sayde to hym Rycharde God confounde me yf ye scape me for all your wickednes for ye shall soone be haÌged by the necke Syr sayd Richard speake more courteouslye yf it please you For I shal see you sooner be flein quicke than ye shall see me hange nor ye shall not be so hardye to doo so what someuer ye prate saye or crake Charlemayne sayd ye shall not scape me but ye shall be hanged or nyghte and wolde God I helde as fast youre bretherne and Mawgys that theef as I holde you nowe for they shoulde be hanged wyth you to beare you company because ye should not be afetde And thus as Rycharde stroue with Charlemayne he turned hymselfe and sawe Mawgys behinde hym that helde him selfe styll lenynge vpon hys staffe and he knew hym well wherof he was wel gladde for he wyst well he shoulde not dye syth Mawgys was there And whaÌ Richarde had seen Mawgis he was sure of his lyfe and sayde to Charlemayne Syr where shall I be hanged tell me certes sayd Charlemaine at the gybet of Mountfawcon there shall your brethern maye see you and Mawgys youre cosyn Syr it is no reason that such a maÌ as I am should be hanged but make peace with vs ye shal doo wysly and yf ye doo not so ye shall sore repente it as I trowe And whan Mawgis had hearâe all that he wolde heare he made no longer taryinge but he went outâ of the pauyllion and sayde no worde and whan he was out of it he beganne to walke so greate a pase that no horse myghte not haue folowed hym and passed throughe the wood of the serpent and dyd so muche that he came to MountawbaÌ where he found Reinawde and his folke that wayted for him And whan Reinawd sawe him come without Richarde he was full sory so that he fell do âne in a swoune And Alard and Guycharde tooke hym vp and saide to him Fayre brother ye doo as a chylde ye oughte not to make suche a sorowe Holde your peace traytours sayd Reynawd for ye haue lost the best knyghte of the worlde for I see Mawgis come alone wherfore I beleue that Richarde is deade for yf he were a lyue Mawgys wolde haue broughte hym with him For he neuer myssed of no thing that he tooke in hand And whaÌ Alard Guychard vnderstood these wordes they tooke therof so greate a sorowe that they fell both downe in a swoune to the earthe and whan they were come againe to theim selfe they made so great sorow that it was pytie for to see And this haÌging cam there Mawgis And whan he sawe the great sorow that his cosyns made he was wrothe for it and sayde to them What eyleth you faire cosyns that ye make so euill cheere Alas Mawgys said Reinawd what is doone of oure brother Richard Cosyn sayd Mawgis Richard is yet in prison but Charlemaine hath saide that he shall make him to be haÌged at the gybet of mouÌtfawcon and hathe sayde that ye shall not keepe him longe a liue leste ye and I should rescue him and heere is .xx. li. of money that Charlemayne hathe gyue me in his pauillion and made me haue both meat and drynke at my pleasure Nowe shall it be seen yf ye loue Richard if ye be a good knight or not for ye must succour and deliuer him by force of armes or elles he shal die for all the world shal not keep him otherwise therfro REinawd was wel recomforted whan he heard Mawgis speake and after he sayd sith that it is so the Richarde is yet aliue if I had but my selfe my brethern and Mawgis yet should I keep Richard fro death mawgre the power of Charlemayne thaÌ Mawgis without any longe abiding tooke of his cope his hod and tooke an herbe eat it anon the swellinge went fro him whan he was armed he presented himself to Reinawd and incontinent all his brethern put them selfe in armes and anon they tooke their way toward mountfawcoÌ And whan they were come to a bowe shot nyghe fro it Reynawde sayde to hys folke Lordes if ye euer loued me thinke for to doo nowe so muche that my brother Richard may be rescued from this shamefull death For I promyse you that I shal brynge hym with me or els I and my bretherne and Mawgys shall die with him Syr sayde his men doubte not of vs for we shal doo oure deuoyre Brother sayde than Alard let vs lyghte heere down and let vs hyde oure selfe within that bushe that we see yonder for yf we were seen the frenshmen mighte kille oure brother Richarde or euer they wolde come Brother said Reynawd ye speake wisely and than they lyghted down a foote and put themselfe in a busshement within a wood that was nighe mountfawcon Reinawd at the ryght side of it Alard at the left side wyth him Guichard and Mawgis HOw they were sent to the plaine of Valcoloures ye haue well hearde and the paine that reynawd his bretherne suffred and than howe they wente and succoured kynge yon of Gascoyn that had betrayed theim And howe reynawde dyd fyght wyth Rowland wherof he was sore trauaylled and hadde been all ready three daies without slepe and therfore ye oughte not to be merueiled yf Reynawde his bretherne and mawgis fel a slepe and to say the trothe as soone as Reinawd his bretherne and maugys were enbushed vnder the sarpyn trees they fell into so harde a slepe that they forgate Richard Now god for his pytie haue pytie vpon him keep him For otherwise he must die NOw shal we tel you of Charlemaine that was in his pauyllio he called to him the duke Naimes and Richard of Normandy and saide to them Lordes what counseil gyue you me ye knowe that Richard the soone of Aymon is of great power I feare me that Reynawde shall come to succoure hym whan I shall sende him for to be hanged and therfore I must send company for to with stande Reynawde his bretherne and Mawgis And thus as the king and the duke Naymes spake togither he looked before him sawe Berenger of valoys and called him and said to him Berenger ye are of my men for ye holde of me scotlande Wales ye
ye will goe hang that whoreson Richard sir sayd Escoufe ye wot well that more Oedon holdeth all the londe that ye speake of and I had neuer nothynge therof but I am felaw with Rowlande in armes And whan I shal be lorde of that lond that my father holdeth in his hand I shal fulfyll youre commaundement by saint Denis of Fraunce ye must goe see that he be haÌged said Charlemain and I shal make you lorde of mo londes Syr sayd Estorfawd is it earnest that ye speake yea saide Charlemayne By my head sir saide Estorfawde ye wolde not be with me for to see Richard haÌge for halfe of your realm Whan the kinge heard that he was thus repreued he tooke a staffe and cast it after Estorfawd but Estorfawd stert from his place and the staffe brake in peeces ayenst a post And whan the .xii. peeres saw that they went all oute of the pauyllyon of Charlemayne and whaÌ that Charlemain returned him and saw that none of all the .xii. peeres wolde abyde there with him Than he saide to the duke Naymes where be my .xii. peeres gone sir said duke Naymes they ben all gone out of your pauillion and not without a cause for it becometh not to suche a noble kinge as ye be to smyte his barons for ye should be sore blamed THan whan Charlemayn saw this he called to him Richard of montrolonde saide to hym come foorthe Rycharde of montrolonde heare what I shal tell you ye knowe well that ye be one of theym that I loue best in this worlde but ye must doo one thinge at my request It is that ye wyll goe hange Richarde the sonne of Aimon at the gybet of mouÌtfawcon Than Richarde of montrolonde answered Syr I shall doo so with a good wyl for I am your man and so I ought not to refuse your coÌmaundemente but by my soule syr Emperour yf ye will that I goe hange Richarde ye shall come with me with a thousand knightes well armed and I shall hange hym where soeuer to please you And if Reinawd and hys bretherne come there for to rescue I shall ieoparde mine owne body for to saue youres Nowe see to yf ye will doo this or no for none othewise wil I not goe there one foote Goe from me glotton saide Charlemain gods curse haue thou THe kinge than called to hym the duke Naymes and sayde to him What counseill gyue you syr syr sayd the duke Naimes good if ye wyll beleue me sir ye wot that Reynawde his bretherne and Mawgis are the best knightes of Fraunce as euery man knoweth well this warre hath lasted ryght longe For it is wel xvi yeres that it began fyrst and many a noble knight hathe be slayne for the same if it please you ye shall send worde to Reinawde Alarde Guychard and Mawgys that they wyl become your men and ye shall delyuer agayne vnto them theyr brother Rycharde alyue and that ye wyl doo make Reinawde and Alarde of the xii peeres of Fraunce And whan Reinawd his brethern shal se that ye haue doone to theym so great worshyp they shall serue you with good herte and so that ye shall con them greate thanke for it and I ensure you ye shal be the more dredde and more redoubted for cause of theym and yf ye haue once the foure bretherne and Mawgis theyr cosyn to youre freendes there shall be no prynce in all christendom so hardy that dare moue watre ayenst you and I promise you syr that the more that ye keepe thys warre ayenst them the more shall ye lose therby and moreouer they be all of our house by theyr father Aymon this know ye wel and thefore I can not hate them by no wyse Naymes sayd Charlemaine I will not doo so for they all haue doone amys ayenst me and so shall I doo hange Richard by the faithe of my bodye syr sayde the duke Naymes ye shall not doo so and god wyll for he is of greate lygnage of our lignage for we shoulde neuer maye suffre it nor endure and ye also shoulde be blamed ful sore for it But and ye wyl make hym dye I shall gyue you better counseyll Tell me howe sayd Charlemayn I shall doo it yf it semeth me good Syr sayde the duke Naymes syth it please you that Richarde shall dye let him be cast into a deep prison vnder the earthe and make him to be kepte surely therin that he scape not awaye and commaund that no meat at all be broughte vnto him and so shall he dye for hungre And ye shall not be blamed if ye doo so Naymes sayde the Emperour Charlemayne ye doo Iape with me I knowe it wel whan ye doo tell me this ye knowe well that Mawgis is to great a nigromancer For I should neuer may keepe Richarde in pryson but that Mawgis wolde haue hym out thorough his craft and therfore I wyll not doo as ye say Than came Ogier the dane and said to the duke Naymes ye make to longe a sermon let the kinge doo with it as it pleaseth him For the more that ye praye him the worse shall he doo but he shall make peace whan he see that he can none otherwise doo But this daye shal be seen who loueth richard And whaÌ Ogier had said this he went oute of the pauillion and Escoufe with him and Richarde of Normandy the byshop Turpin and Guidellon of Bauyere and made theyr folke to be armed whan they were armed they were well .xii. thousande men And than Ogier began to crie with a hie voice Now shal it be seen who shal be so hardy for to leade Richarde the sonne of Aimon to haÌgyng For such shall bring him that neuer shal come againe but he be headles and Ogier went in to the pauyllyon where richarde was that was bound both handes and feet and was blindfeld And whan Ogyer sawe rycharde that was thus arayed he had of hym greate pytie so went he to him to haue deliuered him but he aduysed himselfe and sayd that he should not doo it but he wolde tary for to see an ende of it what the kynge should doo therof And whan rycharde hearde Ogier speake he called to hym and said in the preseÌce of the duke Naimes and of rycharde of Normandye of Guydellon of Bauyere and of the byshoppe Turpyn and of rowlande that than happed to com thete Faire lordes I knowe well that yf it were at youre pleasure ye wolde let me goe quyce and all ynoughe ye haue trauaylled youre selfe for me wherof I thanke you right much but syth that I must needes be brought vnto the galous it is better that I poore vnhappy die alone than that ye should haue anie harme for my sake wherfore looke that ye lose not the good grace of Charlemayne and I praye you that ye will goe vnto hym and telle him that he doo his wyll vpon me for I haue leuer die shortly than to liue longe in
sorow Whan Ogier sawe rycharde speake so he was so sorye for it that he fell almost downe to the grounde for greate sorowe in swoune and saide to rycharde in angre What sayest thou foole detestable wylte thou be hanged for yf we said the same that thou sayest to Charlemayne all the golde of the worlde shoulde not saue thee but that thou shouldest soone be haÌged by the necke I care not saide Rycharde happe as it happe wyll And than he turned himselfe toward rowlande and sayde to him I pardon you syr rowlande heere and afore god the faithe that ye haue promised me and that ye gaue me whan ye tooke me afore BalancoÌ And whan Ogier heard this he wexed almost mad for greate angre and saide to rowlande Syr beleue not rycharde for he speaketh as a man that is vexed in his spirites and not without a very great cause but keepe vnto him the fayth that ye haue promised to him for it shall be youre greate worshyp yf ye doo so Ogier said Rowlande doubte not I shall keepe to Richard al that I haue promysed him and more Whan rychard hearde that worde he called to hym Ogier sayde Fayre cosyn for god keep your peace for I haue seen here Mawgis ryght now and I wot wel he hath not forgotten me For by the faith that I owe to you such shal lede me to the gybet that shall soone lose theyr head and many other mo with him Cosyn sayde Ogier is it trouth that ye saye that ye haue seen Mawgis heere yea saide Richard without any faute than saide Ogyer blessed be the good lorde of these tydinges now haue I no doubte of Rycharde sith that my cosin knoweth of it And than all the .xii. peeres of frauÌce lighted a foote and came to kynge Charlemayne and sayde to him Syr we ben all your men sworne to you All that we haue sayde and doon We did it for to see whether we myght haue delyuered oute cosyn from deâthe by your good wyll but sith that it pleaseth not to you that he be saued and that ye wyll that he be hanged We wyll not speake no more ayenst it bycause that ye angre your selfe to sore Now sende Rycharde to be hanged by who me ye wyll for he shall not be letted of vs therfro ⧠How the emperour Charlemain sente Rypus for to hange Richarde And how that Reynawde succoured hym and hanged Rypus hymselfe Capitulum .xiiii. THan sayde Charlemayne by my faith now ye speake wel and wyselye now I pardon you al and than Charlemaine called to hym Ripus of ryplemond and said to him Rypus if ye wil doo so muche for me that ye will goe hange Rycharde I shall make thee lorde of great londes and ye shall be my chamberleyne all your lyfe Syr saide rypus I am all redy to fulfyl your commaundemeÌt for Reynawd slewe my vncle besyde balancon ye speake now wel said Ogyer ye shall be a cowarde but yf ye auenge your selfe at this tyme. And whan rypus vnderstood Ogier speake thus he thought him self the more sure for it and ryghte humbly and curteousli he kneeled down tofore the emperour Charlemaine and kyssed his feete after he said to him Syr I am ordeyned for to doo you seruice and youre commaundemente If it please you ye shal make me sure that whan I shal come again fro the hangyng of Richarde that none of your xii yeeres shall not a waite me none euyll turne for it afterward By my fayth said Charlemayne I wyll doo so with a good wil. And than he said to Rowlande and to Olyuer and to al the twelue peeres of fraunce Lordes I will that ye promise him that he shall not be hurte by none of you nor in time to come by no maner of wise by cause I make hym to hange Rycharde The whiche thinge all the xii peeres promised hym with a good wyll And whan typus hadde taken the othe of the .xii. peeres of fraunce for his suretye he went to his owne tente and made him to be armed And whan he was armed he lyghted on horsebacke and came before kyng Charlemain And whan the Emperour sawe him he sayde to hym Rypus take a thousand knightes with you for to keep you and if Reynawd or Mawgis come there take them and hange them with Rycharde Sir saide rypus I shal doo your commauÌdemente And than the kynge made theym delyuer Richarde And whan rypus hadde him he put him to the waye and mounted Richard vpon a mule and put a halter at his necke so led him forth lyke as it had be a stronge theefe and broughte him before the pauyllyon of Charlemayne And whan the kynge sawe him he was glad of it and sayde to rypus wolde god that all the other sonnes of Aymon were in the plyghte that Richard is now in for I should well auenge you and my selfe also vpon them WHan the frenshemen saw rycharde that was led to hangynge so vilaynouslye they beganne to make suche a sorowe for hym that it was meruayl so that none so great was neuer seen Rypus rode on his waye and dyd so muche that he came to Mountfawcon And whan ripus dyd see the Galous set vp he sayde to rycharde By god rycharde see yonder is youre lodgynge where ye shall be hanged by myne owne handes thys daye shall be auenged the deathe of Foulques my vncle that Reynawd slew besides Balancon the succoures of Mawgys is now ferre fro you for he can not keepe you but that I shall hange you now in dyspite of Reinawde and of youre other bretherne whan rycharde hearde rypus speake so proudly saw that he was so nyghe the gybet and that he sawe no succours cominge of no parte he was sore agast and a ferde thought he wolde keep rypus with wordes saide to him Ripus for god haue pitie vpoÌ me for I am no man that should be hanged by reason but I ought to be delyuered with you and if ye wyll deliuer me I shal giue you two hundred marke weight of fyne golde and I shal make you a greate lorde Certes rycharde said ripus ye speake for nought for I wolde not leaue you but that ye should be hanged for .x. of the best cities of fraunce Rypus said Rycharde sith that ye will not haue pitie vpon my body haue pitie vpon my soule and I prai you as much as I can that ye wyll make a preest come to me for to shryue me certes sayd ripus ye shal haue one with right good wyll And thanne he made come a preest some sayen that it was a bysshop for to shriue richarde the which began to shriue himselfe and shewed to the preest manie moo sinnes than euer he dyd in hys dayes and this he dyd for to lengthe the tyme and to see if he should haue any succours or no. And whan Richarde sawe that his helpe came not he wexed almost mad said to his
a good wyll sayd Charlemayne but I wote not who ye be how be it that ye haue iusted with me I thanke you huÌbly sayd Reynawd of that it pleaseth you to saye so by me Syr wyt that I am Reynawde the sonne of Aymon and I crye you mercy And for that pytie that oure lorde had vpon the crosse of hys mother whan he recommended her to saynte Iohn his disciple I beseche you that ye wyll haue pitie vpon me and vpon my bretherne ye knowe that I am your man and ye haue disherited me of my landes and haue chased me out of Fraunce It is a goe .xvi. yeres and by cause of thys are dead so many noble knyghtes and valyaunt men and other in so great nuÌbre that it can not be sayd For God ye see well what losse that cometh of the warre for a lorde that hath no piti in hym hath a hert as hard as a stone And therfore syr I beseche you for god that ye haue merci on me and of my brethern that ben such knyghtes as ye know I speke not these wordes for feare of death ne for couetyse of richesse For god gramerri we haue goodes ynough but I speake it for to haue your loue onely Syr suffre that we haue peace with you and we shall become your men for euermore and we shall swere to you fayth and legeaunce and also I shal gyue you MouÌtalban and my good horse bayarde which is the thing that I loue best in this worlde after my brethern and Mawgis For there is not in all the worlde suche another horse And yf thys caÌnot satisfy your mind I shal doo yet more pleseth it to you for to pardon my bretherne and I shall for swere FrauÌce for euermore that I shall neuer be seen there And I shal goe to the holy sepulcre in Ierusalem bare foote for the remembraunce of you and I nor Mawgys shal neuer come agayne into FrauÌce but we shall warre styll on goddes enemyes as ben turckes and Sarasyns THan whaÌ Charlemayn hear de Reynawde speake thus he answered hym and sayde Reynawde ye speake for nought ye dyd an ouer great foly whan ye tooke that hardines vpon for to speake with me in my palays as ye dyd and yet yee dyd worse whan ye slew my nenew berthelot that I loued so muche now ye speake of peace ye crie me merci I promyse you for certayne that ye shall haue no peace with me but yf ye doo that I shal tell you Syr said Reinawde what shall that be tel me I pray you I shall shewe it to you wyth a good wil sayd Charlemayne and if ye doo it ye and your brethern shall accorde wyth me and I shall gyue you agayne your heritage and yet I shal gyue you ynough of myne owne It is that ye gyue me Mawgis in my handes for to doo my pleasure with hym For I hate him more than ony thyng in the worlde Syr sayd Reynawde yf I should deliuer hym to you what wolde ye doo to hiÌ Reynawde sayd Charlemayne I êmyse you I should make hym to be drawen shamefully at foure horses tayles through Parys after that I should take from the body of hym the lymmes one after another and than I should make hym to be brent and his asshes to be cast at the winde And whan he shall be arayed as I tell you let hym than doo his incaÌtacions his magyke as he wyll I pardon hym all that he can doo to me after yâ Than sayd Reynawde to the Kynge Syr wolde ye doo it in deed as ye say yea said Charlemayne in good fayth Emperour sayd Reinawde wolde you not take townes ne castelles golde nor syluer for the raunsom of Maugis certes nay sayd Charlemayne Syr sayd Reynawde than shall we neuer be accorded to gither For I tell you for certeyn that yf ye had all my bretherne in your pryson and that ye were delibered for to make them to be hanged yet should I not gyue you mawgys for to haue them delyuered oute of your handes Holde your peace than sayd Charlemayne and beware of me for otherwyse get ye no peace wyth mee Syr sayd Reynawde I am sory for it for we be no men that ought to be caste from your sexuyse and sith that ye defye me I shal defend me and our lorde shall me doo that grace yf it please hym that I shall not betake of you And whan Charlemaine heard this he was sore angry and ranne vpon Reynawde and whan Reynawde sawe hym come vpon hym he sayd to hiÌ Syr for god mercy suffre not that I sette hande vpon you For if I should let my selfe for to be slayne by you I wexe well a myschauÌt Vassayl sayd Charlemayne these wordes auaileth you not for ye muste needes defende yourself And thaÌ Charlemayne smote hym with Ioyuse his swerde vpoÌ his helme and the stroke slided downe vpon the sheelde of Reinawde so that he kytted quyte and clene a great parte therof WhaÌ Reinawde felt so greate a stroke that kynge Charlemayne had gyueÌ hym he was sore an angred for it He vaunced hym selfe foorth and caught the kyng with bothe his armes by the backe by the waste in maner of wrastelynge For he wolde not smyte hym with his swerde flaÌberge and tooke layd him vpon the necke of his horse baiard for to haue brought hym with hym to Mountawban without any other harme And whan Charlemayne sawe that he was haÌdeled of this fation he began to crye as lowde as he myghte Mountioye saynt Denys and than he sayd ha fayre nenew Rowlande where be you Oliuer of vyenne and ye duke Naymes and bysshop Turpyn shall ye suffre that I be thus taken and brought as a prysoners and if ye doo so it shal be a great shame to you al Reynawde began thaÌ to crye Mountawban as hyghe as he coulde whan he heard Charlemayne speake so And after he sayd ha my brethern and ye cosyn Mawgis come hyther and let vs goe for I haue gyuen the kyng suche a checke that if we canne now brynge him with vs wee shall haue peace in FrauÌce froÌ hens forth on Than the noble peres of FrauÌce as Rowland Oliuer the other cam to the succours of Charlemayne and of that other parte came there for to helpe Reynawde his bretherne and Mawgis wel foure huÌdred knightes well armed And whan the valyaunt knightes were assembled together of bothe partyes ye should than haue seen a merueylous batayle For they slewe eche other as beastes and there were so many speres broken and so manye sheeldes clouen and hewed into peeces and so manâ helmes vnbuckled and so manye a quiras broken and perced and so many horses that drewe after theyr guttes a longe in the feeldes and so manye a man slayne that it was pytie for to see And whan Rowland was come to the meddle he wente vpon Reynawde and gaue him so great a stroke vpon his helme
into Gascoyne the death of my father the duke benes of Aigremount for I shal giue to you such a stroke that ye shal neuer make warre to vs nor to none other And with this he bare vp his speare for to haue shoued it through the brest of charlemayn but charlemaiÌ abode not the stroke but he turned himselfe aside the spere entred into the bed of the king wel two foote whan charlemayn saw this he was aferde he begaÌ to cry mouÌioye saynt denis than he said Ha fayre neuew RowlaÌd where are ye now Whan Mawgis heard call Rowlande he looked about him and saw not Reynawde nor his brethern for they had put themself to the way to retourne home agayne OVer longe taried Mawgis in the hoste of Charlemayne for Reynawde was all redy passed ouer Balancon and Rowland Oliuer were all redy come to the callinge of Charlemayne sore afrayed whan Mawgis sawe them he made no lenger taryinge but gaue the spurres to his horse went after Reynawde as fast as his horse myght runne And whan he wolde haue passed balaÌcon he met wyth a great company of the folke of Charlemayne and Mawgis smote one of them so hard in the sheeld that he ouerthrew both horse man to the erth And after that he smote the sonne of Mylen of Puyll so that he cleued his sheelde a sonder cast him downe to the grounde with a wounde mortaâl than he cryed MouÌtawban sayd Ha fayre cosin Reynawde where be you succour me for god for if ye lose me ye shal haue harme therat And than Mawgys thought well that Reynawde was gone this hangynge came Olyuer throughe the prese and came vpon Mawgis smote him so harde that it abode not nother for sheelde nor for courset of steele but he made hym a wounde in his breste and caste hym downe to the erth WHan Mawgis felt hymselfe thus hurt and ouerthrowen he was ryght wrothe for it So rose he vp quickly vpon his feete tooke hys swearde in his hande did meruayles of armes and the nyght was very darke that almoste the one knew not the other And whan Oliuer saw Mawgys defende hymself so well he sayde to him I knowe not thee knight whom thou art but and thou yeeld not thy selfe to me I shall now smyte of thy head from the shoulders what is thy name sayd than Mawgys for and thou be a good man I shall yeelde me to thee and els not knight my name is Oliuer of Vien whan Mawgys heard him named he knew him well and sayd to hym Ha gentyll knight Oliuer I yeelde me to you vpon your fayth vnder suche a condycion that ye shall not delyuer me to Charlemayn for if ye delyuer me in his handes I am dead wythout remedy he shall make me dye shamefully as a theefe By my fayth sayd Olyuer this wyll I not doo for I dare not hyde you from Charlemayne but yeelde you and I promise you that I shal help you to my power for to make your apoyntmeÌt with the king sir sayd Mawgys I yeeld me to you vpon your trouth and tooke his swerde to hym Olyuer tooke it after made hym to be lighted vpoÌ a litle horse brought him to the pauilion of Charlemaine where they fouÌd not the kyng bycause he was al afrayed as ye heard afore And whan Oliuer saw that he fouÌd not Charlemaine he was sore aferd the Mawgys should scape from hym through his incantacions wytche crafte and sayd to him Mawgis ye know how I haue taken you by armes and that ye are my prysoner I wyll that ye gyue me your fayth truly that ye shal not go out of with in with out my leue Syr sayde Mawgis with a good wyll and thus he dyd swere this Olyuer And whan Oliuer had taken the othe of Mawgys he made him to be vnarmed and made hys wouÌde to be wrapped and gaue him a mantell vpon him and made hym to lye vpon a bed Now shal we leue a litle to speake of Charlemayne of Olyuer and of Mawgys And shal shew of Reynawde and his brethern what they dyd whan the host of charlemayne was moued and how they wonne the Egle of Golde that was of so great value how Reynawde sayd to his brethern lordes let vs se now for to quyte vs wel for it were not good for vs for to tary heere ani lenger And than he made to withdraw his folke and made them put to the waye And as they wente Rychard sayd to Reynawde Syr wee haue gotten a ryche proy thanked be God For Charlemayne shall be many a longe day wrothe therfore Certes sayd Reynawde fayre brother ye saye trouth and also we haue slayne a great many of hys folke Ha God sayde than Alarde where is our cosin Mawgis for I se him not heere Brother sayd Richard be not aferde for Mawgys for I beleue that he is gone to Mountawban afore vs god be with hym wheresoeuer he be sayd Reynawde For he is right sage and a noble knyght I wolde not for all the Golde in the world that my cosin Mawgis had ani harme ¶ We shal leue a lytle to speake of Reynawde and hys brethern that are bounde to Mountawban glad of theyr proye And shall nowe speake of Charlemayne that was so sore wrothe as I haue sayde afore WHan Charlemayne was fro his harneys he fel in a swoune for the greate angre that he had of that he had be thus distressed And whan he was come agayne to hym selfe he sente for the duke Naymes the bisshoppe Turpyn Escoufe the sonne of Oedon for SalamoÌ of bretayne Richarde of NormaÌdy the erle Guydellon and for Ogier the dane And whan they were all gathered together the kynge began to shewe to them his complayntes in thys maner Lordes I haue kepte and maynteyned you vnder mi tuicion the space of .xl. yeres and more that no man hath not wronged you of a penye ye haue no neyghbour that dare aske you any thinge Now me semeth because that I am now olde that I am but half a man yet not so good as I wolde be and I maye not be a kyng without you for whan ye faile me I am no kynge ye know well that ye haue left me for loue of Reynawd wherof I am ryght sory as I maye well for Reynawde hath taken me where I was habandoned of you he hath chased me out of the feeld certes I am worse thaÌ mad of thys that ye haue forsake me for Reynawde And syth that it is thus wyth me I seeke not to lyue anye lenger nor to be kynge any more and now I take to you the crowne to the ende that ye shall gyue it vnto Reynawde whan ye wyll and that ye make him king of Fraunce For I wyll be no more your kynge WHan the .xii. peeres of Fraunce the other lordes hearde Charlemayn speake so sorowfullye
thei were sore abashed that there was no man so hardye that durst saye one worde And the one looked vpon the other and were abashed And whan the duke Naimes of bauiere vnderstood the wordes of Charlemain he put him self forth and said Sir Emperour god forbyd that ye should doo as ye saye for it were great shame to vs all and also to you but I wot wel that we haue mysprysed ayenst you in that we haue supported Reinawde but ye oughte to consydre that we haue doone was by no malyce but for good entencion For we wend for to haue made the peace of the warre that hath endured so longe wherby many good true men are deade but sith that we see that it pleaseth not you to make peace with the four sonnes of AimoÌ take again your crowne and be not wroth with vs and we shal promyse you that we al shal serue you well and truely and that we shal take Mountawban or a moneth be passed or elles we shall die all from hence forth on he that shal spare the foure sonnes of Aimon shal be slaine of vs. Than saide the kinge Charlemayne lette all this alone I tell you for certaine that I shall neuer be your kynge but ye yeeld to me Reynawde or Mawgis the cursed theef that hathe mocked me so often And whan Charlemaine had saide this he entred within his pauilion sore an angred And than came theere Olyuer that was sore abashed of that he sawe the king make so euill chere and after he saide to Charlemayne Syr wherof are ye so sore angry by my faith saide the duke Naymes he hath shamed vs for he hath forsaken his crowne and his realme Sir said than Olyuer doo not so but take ayen your crown and be our lorde and our kyng And who dooth not youre commaundemente chastyse him in such a maner that meÌ take ensample therby Olyuer saide Charlemayn ye speake for nought for I wyll not doo it but I haue Reinawd or Mawgis dead or quicke syr saide Olyuer now pardon vs than I shal delyuer to you Mawgis or euyn DAmp Oliuer sayd Charlemain I am not a chylde wherof men ought to mocke with For I âoe well that Mawgis doubteth you of nothing Syr said Olyuer yf ye will promyse me that ye shall take again your crowne and that ye shall keep vs as ye haue doone afore tyme I shall bringe him nowe afore you by my faithe sayde Charlemayne yf ye doo it and that I maye haue hym at my will for I hate hym most of all men in the worlde I shal doo al that ye will desire of me and also I shall giue you londes ynough that ye shal be conteÌt of me for if Mawgys were not the sonnes of Aymon myght not endure ayenst me for yf I had them in prison and thoughe I had sworn to keep them yet shoulde that theefe Mawgis stele theym awaie fro me Syr said Olyuer I shall bryng him to you witout any doubte And than Olyuer went to his pauylyon and Rowland with him and many other knightes for to see Mawgis Oliuer sayde then to Mawgis Mawgys ye must come to Charlemayne Oliuer saide Mawgys ye haue betrayed me but I wot well that Charlemaine shall be more curteous than ye haue be for he shall do me no harme and let vs goe to him in the name of god whan ye wyll And than Olyuer ledde Mawgys to Charlemaine and whan he was within the pauillion he went streighte to the king and saide to him Syr ye haue promised me that if I brought Mawgis that ye should take againe youre crowne And that ye should keep vs to right as ye haue doone afore time Certes saide Charlemain it is trouthe and if ye keep your couenaunt I shall doo that I haue promysed you Now holde you sir saide Olyuer here Mawgis that I delyuer to you for to doo your pleasure with him the which I haue take and conquered by force of armes WhaÌ the kyng Charlemaine sawe Mawgis he was so gladde that no man mighte be more and after he saide by my fayth nowe haue I one parte of my desyre thou false theef Mawgys now I holde thee nowe shalt thou be rewarded of thy pride that thou hast shewed to me whan thou barest awaye myne egle of golde and for all the good turnes and theftes that thou hast doone in thy daies For many times thou hast angred me sore wherof thou shalte be nowe payed after thy deseruynge Syr saide then Mawgis ye shal doo with me what it please you for I am now in your handes but I counseyll you for the best that ye let me goe and that ye make peace with Reinawde and with his bretherne for ye shall get no thinge by my deathe and my cosins been such that they shall aueÌge it right wel by force of armes and if ye doo as I saie ye shall haue with you the floure of knighthode of all the worlde A theef said Charlemain how fearful thou arte now Certes this that thou sayest shall auaylle the nothynge Syr saide Mawgis I am no theefe Now can I not doo nothing sith that I am in your handes And whan ye shall haue put me to death ye shal doo me no more nothinge and yet ye shal be sory for me or euer .xiiii. houres comen at an ende Rybawd saide Charlemaine speake not so boldly for I can thou shalte haue an euil night or euer thou scape me nor the glutons thy cosyns shall not helpe the therfro but that I shall make the die in dispite of al thy witch craft that thou cannest doo â Now we shal leue a litel to speake of Charlemain and of Mawgis and we shal speake of the good knight Reynawde Alard of Guichard and of the litylle Richard his brethern WHan Reynawd was departed from the hoste of Charlemayn as I sayde before he rode so longe that he came to Mountawban and his folke with hym And whan that lady wist that her lord came she came him ayenst and said to hym Sir ye bee righte welcome haue ye deliuered Rycharde yea verely sayd Reinawde god gramercy and blessed be god sayde the lady And than she went to Rycharde and kyssed hym more than ten tymes there was a cheere and a feast made ryght amyable And after they had made greate Ioye Reynawd began to demaunde after hys cosin and the lady answered my lorde I knowe no tydynges of hym and whan Reinawde heard that he was sore agast of it and turned himselfe towarde hys bretherne and sayde to theym My bretherne I praye you that we may know whether our cosyn mawgis is come or not and goe seeke him in his lodges for haply he is goe for to vnarme him selfe And incontynent Guicharde and Richard sought hym at thys lodges and asked for hym to two of his men the whiche sayde that they had not seen hym sith he was gone with them And whan they hearde that they were
Richarde of Normandye and ye Guydellon of Bauyere I praye you all that ye will be my surety for the loue of the good knight Reinawd Mawgys said than the duke Naymes will ye promyse to vs vpoÌ your faithe that ye shall not goe from vs without our leaue ye said Mawgis vpon my faith And than came the duke Naymes with the other peeres of Fraunce before the kyng Charlemayne and said to hym Sir we wil be suretie for Mawgys vpon our lyues vpon our landes that we holde of you that he shall not goe a waye without your leaue also of al your company and we shall deliuer hym agayne to you to morow in the mornynge for to doo with hym what ye wyll My lordes saide the king sith that ye wyll be his suretie I remyse him in to your keepynge by suche a condicyoÌ but that I haue him to morow in the morning erly ye shal leese all your londes And ye shall neuer maye returne in to douce fraunce again Sir said Oliuer we graunt it as ye haue sayd Lordes sayde the duke Naymes sith that this is doon lette vs goe recomforte Mawgys for he is well sory Lordes sayd than Mawgis to them againe Sith that ye haue doon me one good turne doo me a nother I pray you get me some meate for I am yl a hungred Whan Charlemayne vnderstoode Mawgis speake he looked vpon hym and said all laughinge And shalte thou eate sayde Charlemaine yea said Mawgis if I can haue any meate Nowe heare said Charlemaine what it is of this deuil heere that asketh for meate and so lytell a terme he hath to lyue For I were in his plyght I should not nowe haue courage for to eate Syr sayd the duke Naymes ye saye yll for who hath eaten well he is the better at his ease wherof I pray you that ye let him haue some meat And thenne the kinge washed his handes for to goe to soupper and said where shall Mawgis be for to eate syr said Rowlande he shall well be by you Neuewe said the king ye saie ryghte well for heere shal we be sure of him and I hadde thoughte for to doo so For I shoulde not date trust hym to none other man And than the kinge was sette at the table and he made Mawgys to syt nexte hym and serued hym at the table for as longe as the supper lasted he durste not eate nor drynke least that Mawgys shoulde werke wytche crafte vpon him but Mawgis eate ryghte wel for he had a good appetit to his meat And whan Oliuer sawe that he beganne to lawghe and shewed Rowland and after saide to hym Haue ye seen how the king durste not eate all this supper for feare that mawgys should werke wytchecraft vpon hym Surely sayde Rowlande it is true After supper Charlemaine called his stuarde and sayde to hym stuwarde I praye you brynge me .xl. torches and that they brenne all the nyghte Syr sayde the stuarde I shal doo your commaundement And whan Charlemayne hadde ordeined this he retourned him toward Rowlande and sayd to him Fayre neuew I pray you that ye and Olyuer and al the twelue peeres of Fraunce that ye wyll watche to nyghte with me for to keep this theef Mawgys and make an hundred men to be armed that shall watch with vs and make the play at the tables and at the chesses to th ende that none of vs falle a sleepe and also make a thousand knightes to make good watch wythout to the ende that yf Mawgys should escape vs thei should take him againe And whan Charlemayne hadde ordeyned this he set him downe vpon his bedde and he made Mawgis to sit downe by hym And of that other parte Rowlande Olyuer Ogier the Dane and all the twelue peeres rounde aboute the bedde Syr sayde then Mawgys where shal I sleep What say ye said Charlemain wyll ye slepe yea sayde Mawgys full fayne if please you to suffre me By my soule sayde Charlemayne ye shall haue euyll reste heere for ye shall not sleep as longe as ye be a lyue For ye shal be hanged to morow-at the spryngynge of the daye Syr sayde Mawgis ye doo me greate wronge Wherfore haue I giuen you suretie but only that I may haue my ease for so longe as I haue for to lyue Other suffre me to take my reste and that I may slepe or elles holde quite my suretees certes false theefe saide Charlemaine all this shal not auayl thee For I wyll that thy sureties goe quite and discharged But therfore ye be not out of my handes And than he made to be broughte a greate payre of yrens and fetted him with them bothe hys feete togither And made the cheyn to be fastned harde at a piller and with all he gaue him a greate coler of yron aboute his necke wherof the kynge kepte the key himselfe And whan Mawgis was arraied of this facioÌ Charlemaine saide to him By my soule Mawgis ye shall not escape me now Sir said Mawis ye mock well with me But I tell you nowe before the .xii. peeres of Fraunce that I shall see Mountawban or it be to morowe prime WHan Charlemayne vnderstoode this that Mawgys saide to him he trowed to haue wexed madde all quicke So he stood vp and set hande to hys swerd and came vnto Mawgys all wrothe for to haue smiten of his heade But whan Rowland sawe that he auauÌsed hym and sayde to the kinge Syr for God mercy for yf ye slewe him we been all shamed for euermore syr ye ought not to take heed to that he sayth to you For that that he sayth he saithe it like a man that is in despeyre And howe might that be that he shoulde escape you as ye hold hym now Verely my neuewe I wote not how but that he heere afore tyme hathe so often mocked me maketh me to doubte of him but at all auenture I shall leaue hym in peace tyll to morowe that he shall be hanged Syr sayd Rowlande ye saye well Than all they that were there beganne to playe at the tables and at the chesse and many other games And whan it came that they had played longe they began all to haue greate luste to slepe And whan Mawgis saw that he made his charme And whan he hadde made it they beganne all to fall in a stronge slepe and Charlemaine hym selfe slepte so harde that he fell backewarde vpon hys bed And whan Mawgys sawe that Charlemayne was so fast a slepe all the twelue peeres of Fraunce and all the company of them he beganne to make a nother charme that was of suche vertue that his feters that were on his feete the coler and the cheyne of yren fell all to the grounde a sundre And thenne Mawgys rose vpon his feete and saw Charlemaine that slept so wel grouelynge with his head a wrye and he tooke then a pelow righted vp his heade with all And then he vngirded him and tooke Ioyous
his swerde and girded about him and then after he weÌt to Rowland and tooke from him durandal his good swerde and after he tooke Hauteclere from Oliuer and Cortyn from Ogier And after thys he went to the coffres and tooke there out all the treasour of Charlemayne and went with all this streyght to Mountawban And whan Mawgis had taken all this he tooke an herbe and rubbed Charlemaynes nose and his lippes with it and vnhosed hym and after he shoued him wyth the fynger and sayde to hym awake sir emperoure I promysed you yester night that I should not goe wythout I should take my leue of you farewell I goe now And whan he had sayde this he went out of the pauilion and set him to the way towarde Mountawban And whan Charlemayne vnderstoode that Mawgys had said to him he rose vpon hys feete so wrothe that menne could be no more and called vpon hys twelue peeres that he coulde not awake And whan he sawe that he bethought hymselfe an herbe that he had broughte wyth hym from beyonde the greate sea and tooke it and rubbed withall the nose the mouth and the eien of Rowlande and in like wise to all the other .xii. peeres of FrauÌce and incoÌtinent they were awaked and rose vpon their feete sore abashed whaÌ they were all awaked they beganne to looke the one vpon the other And the first that began to speke was the duke Naymes that sayde to the king where is mawgies By my soule sayd Charlemayne ye shall delyuer him me agayne for ye haue let hym goe wilfully For yf ye wolde haue suffred me to haue hanged him yesterday I had be otherwyse ryd of hym Rowlande said Olyuer sawe ye him goe hens Naye by saynt Denys said Rowland I saw him wel goe saide Charlemaine Syr said Rowland ye ought thenne to haue tolde vs of it for he shoulde not haue escaped so And in saying this Rowland loketh at his side and he sawe not durandal his swerde wherof he did cast a great sighe And than Charlemayne sayde to him Neuew where is your swerd by my head I know well that the theef Mawgis hath be wytched vs. For none of vs hath his swerde and also he hath my hosen with him Nowe hath he well mocked vs. ANd whan the .xii. peeres of fraunce saw that thei had lost al their good swerds they were right sory for it more than any man canne saye And after Rowland sayde by my faythe Mawgis hath wonne a great gayne whan he bereth away thus our swerdes for they ben more worthe thaÌ is all Paris And whan Charlemayne perceyued that his cofers were open he went anon looked in he was sore an angred whaÌ he founde not his Crowne nor the best parte of hys treasoure wherof he made great sorow and after sayd Ha false theefe Mawgis full litle I haue goten of thee of thy takynge And who than had seen the sorowe that the .xii. peeres of Fraunce made wolde haue had no luste to lawghe ⧠Nowe shall we tell you a lytell of Mawgys that wente as fast as euer he coulde towarde Mountawban and he came to passe ouer the water of BalaÌcon at that place where Reinawde was full heauy and full of sorowe by cause he knew no tydinges of Mawgys but whan Mawgys had passed ouer the water bayarde smelled hym and begane to crye and came toward Mawgys wolde Reinawde or no. And whan Mawgys sawe Reinawde he knewe hym well and saide to him lawghinge Knighte what be ye that rideth at this time of night and Reinawd said to him ye know wel I am your cosin Reinawd the sonne of Aimon thân he lighted from bayard and came to Mawgis and kyssed him by greate loue many times and than sayde to hym Fayre cosin thanked be our lord that I see you delyuered from the haÌdes of Charlemaine By my faythe saide Mawgis ye forgate me well behinde Cosyn saide Reynawd by my soule I coulde not doe therto For I haue be heere syth yester day euyn And I promyse you that I was delibered for to haue succoured you or elles to haue dyed with you My cosin sayde Mawgys I thanke you ligât vpon your horse and lette vs goe to Mountawban Whan Reynawde was vpon his horse againe he sayd to Mawgis My cosân what is that ye haue laden Cosyn sayd Mawis it is the crowne of Charlemayne his swerde Ioyous durandall the swerde of Rowlande and the swerdes of al the .xii. peeres of FrauÌce Cosyn said Reinawde ye haue wroughte well god gramercye but of the swerde of Ogyer me displeaseth Cosyn sayde Mawgis I haue doon it all wilfully to the end that the king should marke therby none euil and that he were not a peched of treason And than he shewed him al the cause and the maner that Charlemayn had holde him Cosin saide Reynawde ye did ryghte well And whan he had sayde thys they went on their waye towarde Mountawban and they mette in their waye Alarde Guicharde and the lytil Richarde that came ridinge makinge greate mone for doubte of Reinawde And whan Reinawde sawe theim come he saide to them whether goe you my fayre brethern Sir saide they we went seekinge after you ye haue founde me said Reinawde and I haue founde our cosin Mawgis And whaÌ they vnderstood this tydinges they were righte gladde and thanked oure lorde of it And after Alarde saide to Mawgis Faire cosin where became ye that ye came not with vs again Alard said Mawgys whan Richarde was entred within the pauillion of Charlemain and had take the egle of golde I taried in the pauillion for to slea Charlemaine and it lacked but litill that I slewe him and whan I trowed to haue comen after you I founde a greate rowte of knightes that arested me and so I defended me of all my power And than came Oliuer of Vyenne that ouerthrewe me downe and I yeelded me to him for his prisoner the whiche deliuered me to Charlemayne that wolde haue made me to be hanged shamefullye but lorde I thanke you I haue doon so muche that I am escaped Cosin said Alarde it is well happed to you whan thei had deuised longe ynough they went to Mountawban where they made greate feast whan they were come there it is not to be asked if the good lady clare was wel glad For incootinente she did to be made ready diuerse meates for the diner whan they hadde eaten they went to rest for they were wery and specially Reynawde and Mawgis wold faine haue slept And the nexte daie they went to heare their Masse at the chirche of Mountawban and whan the masse was doone Reinawde called Mawgis his cosin and his bretherne and saide to them Lordes shewe me the bothie that ye gate yesterdaie Sir saide Richarde gladlie sith that it please you And than he tooke the egle that was of golde massi and of precious stones and gaue it to Reinawde And whan Reinawde saw
to powder Syr sayd Reynawde ye shal not doo so god wil. Ogyer sayde Charlemaine wyll ye defende agaynst me my mortall enemye Syr sayde Ogier I wil not defend your enemyes against you but I promise you that I shall defende my trouth agaynst all men Sir said than Reynawde what is your pleasure that I doo ye haue called me traytour wyt it that I was neuer such nor no maÌ of my lyuage nor I know not in the worlde that sayth that I haue be a traytour or that I haue doon any treason agaynst you out that I should fight in the quarell agaynste him body to body By my fayth said Charlemayne I shall make it to be proued vpon you by force of armes Syr sayd Reynawde ye speake now as a kynge heere is my gage that I giue sayinge that I am as true a man as any that is in all the worlde in lyke wise all they of my linage Than Charlemayne sayde to him if ye gyue me sureties wyt that I shal take vp your gage and not els Syr sayd reynawde I shall fynde suretie ynoughe Than he turned him saw Ogyer and sayd to him Syr Ogyer come forthe ye duke Naymes and also the bosshop Turpyn ye Escouf the sonne of Oedon be my suretie I I pray you for ye ought to be so ye knowe that I dyd neuer vntruthe Reynawde sayde the duke Naymes we shall be suretie for you wyth a good wyll THan sayde Reynawde syr heere ben my sureties that I take you are ye contente of theÌ yea sayd Charlemayne I aske no more Syr sayd than Reynawde who is he that shall make the batayle By my fayth sayde Charlemayne my selfe shal it be Syr sayde Rowland yee shal not doo so it please you for I shal fyght for you my selfe Syr said Reynawde ordeyn in your place suche as it shall please you and whan he had sayd this worde bayard was taken agayne to Reinawde the whych lighted vpon went towarde mountawban and with him went Ogyer the dane the duke Naymes escouf the sonne of Oedon and togither alard that had betaken as Reynawd And whaÌ they were come nigh mouÌtawban Guycharde Richarde and Mawgys sawe them come came theym agaynst and whan Rycharde sawe Reynawde he asked of hym howe he had doone By my faythe sayd Reynawde we are not welcom for the kynge knew that we were at Balancon where Ogyer had left vs and he sent anon Olyuer RowlaÌd for to take vs and were ouertaken so sodenly that we coulde not lyght vpon our horses we were brought to Charlemayne and I promyse you he is a cruell man fulfylled with all cursednes And thus recounted Reynawde to his brethern all that ye haue now hearde afore THat night Reinawde and his compani made good cheere at mouÌtawban and made the folke of charlemayne to be well feasted by the noble lady Clare his wyfe right honourably and after they had supped well they went to bed for that night and whan the mornynge was come that euery maÌ was vp Reynawde his felawship weÌt to heare masse in the chapell of saynte Nycolas and Reynawde offred .iiii. marke of golde And whan the masse was doone reinawde all his barons asked after theyr armes for to arme them whaÌ they were armed Reynawde tooke leue of his wyfe afore all the company and than he called to hym hys brethern and Mawgis and sayd to them My lordes I leue this castell in your protection and sauf garde I recommende you my wife and my chyldren for now I goe fyght wyth the best knight of the worlde now I knowe not what shall betyde of me wherfore I pray you that ye wil keep well this castell for I promyse you yf I dye ye shal haue need of it heere is Ogier that shall come with me the Duke Naymes also for they ben my sureties to the king Charlemain By my soule sayde Alarde ye speake for nought for wee shall goe with you and we shall beare you companye where someuer ye go and so shall we see the batayle and how ye shal be mayntened in your ryght and yf ye haue need of helpe ye shall fynde vs redy to your succours By Saynte Paule sayde Ogier the dane Alarde hath spoken wysely and whan Reynawde sawe this he called Mawgis sayd to him My fayre cosin I pray you that ye wyll abide heere that ye wyll keepe all well syth that my brethern wyll come with me Reynawde sayde Mawgis I shall doo as it pleaseth you I promise you the Mountawban shall haue no harme by my defaute whan Reynawd had ordeyned all well he tooke on incontynent his way in the felawshyp of his brethern and of the barons afore sayd And whan they came there as the batayle should be doone Reinawd lighted a foote taryed after Rowlande ¶ Heere leueth the hystorye to speake of Reynawde of his brethern of the other barons that were in the company of the said Reynawde and returneth to speake of Rowland how he and reynawde made theyr batayle the one agaynst the other ¶ Heere sheweth howe Reynawde faught agaynst Rowland the which he conquered by the wyll of god and brought him to mouÌtawbaÌ wherof Charlemayn was ful heuy wroth And also how Mawgys bare the emperour Charlemayne to Mountawban vpon Bayarde all a slepe deliuered hym to Reynawde in a bed where Renawde laye And howe Mawgys after this wente away tooke thabyte of a heremite and left his kinsmen and lyued poorely for he wolde not let the peace of Reynawde to Charlemayne for the warre had lasted longe ynoughe NOw sheweth the tale the whan Rowlande saw the day he rose fro his bed and weÌt after he was redy to heare masse and offred a riche gift vpon the alter whan the masse was doone Rowlande asked after his harneys for to arme him whan he was wel armed he lighted a horse backe quickly And thaÌ Charlemain sayd to hym Fayre neuewe I comeÌd you to God that he lede you to a good waye and keep you fro death and fro pryson for ye knowe that Reynawde hath ryght vpon vs we doo to hym wronge wherfore I wolde not for halfe of my realme that any harme came to you for it Syr sayde Rowlande it is to late for you to repent now for syth that ye knewe that ye were in the wronge ye should not haue accepted the batayle that ye haue enterprysed but sith it is so that the thynge is come so ferre forth I can not leue it but yf it were to me great shame now helpe me god if it please him through his mercy whan RowlaÌde had sayd these wordes he tooke hys way for to goe to the pintre of mouÌtawban where as the batayle of Reynawde of him should be made and whan he was nighe mountawbon he saw Reinawde that awaited after hym at the sayd tree and incoÌtinent he began to crye
that he brought with hym he was ryght glad and he came agaynst Reynawd and sayd to him Syr ye haue wel wrought this dai that ye haue taken such a proye Ogier sayd Reynawde I promise you that Rowlande hath let himselfe to be taken with his good wyll Thanked be god of it sayde the duke Names Reynawde said Ogier go your way to Mountawban and the bysshop Turpin the sonne of OedoÌ and I shal returne agayne we shal tary Charlemayne that cometh after you and wee shal doo so much that ye shall be wel at MountawbaÌ or they ouer take you Ogier sayde Rowland ye say well and I thanke you of your curtoysie whaÌ thei had thus shortlye spoken together Reynawde Rowlande rode so fast that they came to mouÌtawban It is not to be asked if Rowland was wel feasted at mouÌtawban I promise you it is not possible to feast a prince better nor more honourablie thaÌ he was at mouÌtawban This hanging Ogier was come against king Charlemain and he dyd so muche by his fayre laÌguage that he helde the king till that he thought that Reynawde Rowlande might be well at MountawbaÌ by that time And whaÌ he had doone so he spurred his horse and went to MountawbaÌ after the other where as he myght well goe without to be vnbraied for it for he was one of the suretyes of Reynawde as yee haue heard And whan Charlemaine saw this he folowed him vnto the gates And whan he was come to the gate of Mountawban he began to crye with an hie voyce By god Reynawde this that ye haue doone shall auayle you litle for ye shall neuer haue peace wyth me as longe as I am man a liue And whan that he had sayd this he returned him from the gate and sayd to Oliuer that was there with hym Oliuer go lightlye to Mountbendell and bring heere all my hoste for I wyll besiege all thys Castell Than sayd Oliuer I shall go there with a good wyll but and it please you ye shall come wyth me for I promise you if ye comnot there your selfe they shall not come hither for me Than shall I goe there my self and thus tooke Charlemayne hys waye towarde Mountbendel where his hoste laye whan his folke sawe him come they wente agaynst hym and began to saye to him syr what haue ye doone with RowlaÌd lordes sayd Charlemayne RowlaÌd is gone to Mountawban but I commaund you al that incontinent without delaye that my siege be transported all rounde aboute MouÌtawban and ye damp Oliuer shall beare the oriflaÌ and damp Rychard of Normandye shall lede our hoste Whan Charlemayne had comauÌded all this there was none that sayde agaynst it but set themself to bring downe the tentes and pauilion and to trusse and lede theyr baggages and caryed all to Mountawban RYcharde of Normandy went with .xii. thousande men to BalaÌcon to keep the passage of the ryuer tyll all the hoste were ouer the ryuer This hanging Charlemayne had put himself afore for to se where he might best pitche his tentes and his pauilion for to keep siege royall afore the Castell of Mountawban And whan al the hoste was come a fore Mountawban the kinge made incontineÌt his pauilion to be set vp before the great gate And whan all the hoste was set the nyght watche of the great Towre came to Mawgys and sayde vnto him Syr wyt the Charlemaine is come with his hoste and hath put his pauilion before the mayster gate Is it true sayd Mawgis yea without any faute sayd the watche Now care not for it sayde Mawgis for Charlemayne seeketh his domage and he shall haue it soner than he weeneth Than went Mawgys to Reynawde And shewed him howe Charlemayne was come with all his hoste And whan Reynawde heard this he went vnto Rowland and sayd vnto him Sir ye muste wyt that Charlemane youre vnkle hath layde siege afore vs but I promise you that if it were not for the loue of you I should shew him that he hath not doone wel Reynawde sayd Rowlande I thanke you muche but one thynge I wyll tell you saue your correccion me semeth that I ought to sende to myne vnkle the duke Naymes Ogyer the dane and also the bysshop Turpyn that shall shewe vnto him in this maner Syr Emperour wyt that Reynawde for the loue of you wyll not gyue no Irons to your neuew nor he wyl not put hym in prison But he maketh him as good cheere as he doth to his owne selfe And that more is Reynawde his brethern and Mawgys doo present themselfe for to giue theÌ and theyr castell vnto your handes so that theyr liues be saued ye speake well and wisely syr Rowland said Reynawde and so I am redy to doo as ye wyll haue it Rowland sayde the duke Naymes I dare not goe to hym ye may wel ynoughe sayd Rowland For ye be not hated of the king duke Naymes sayd Ogyer we shal goe to Charlemayne yf ye wyll doo after me And they accorded that thei two should goe togither to the kyng for to shew to hym as Rowland had deuised And whan that these two princes the duke Naymes and Ogyer came to the pauilion of Charlemayne they saluted him reuerently and the duke Naymes spake to him in thys maner of wyse Syr Emperour your neuew Rowland recommendeth him humblye to your good grace the whych Reynawde kepeth within Mountawban for his prisoner not vnkyndly but he maketh to hym as good there and as great honour he bereth vnto hym as he were his owne brother and his souerayn lorde and all this he dooth for your loue And demaundeth of you peace yf it please you to graunt it to hym by suche maner that he shall gyue you Mountawban and the Egle of golde and he shall let goe Rowlande at his libertie without raunsuÌ And also he shall yeelde hymselfe to you and his brethern in lyke wyse and also Mawgys for to doo your wyl with them saue theyr liues and they shall promyse you yf theyr seruyse pleaseth you that thei shal serue you agaynst all meÌ with all theyr power and puissaunce so that ye shall haue cause to thanke them for it WHaÌ Charlemayne vnderstood these wordes he shooke al for great angre And began to saye to the duke Naymes and to the other that were come to hym flee out of my pauilion euill folke I meruayle me how haue ye durst cum heere within and I tell you that Reynawde shall haue no peace with me but if I haue Mawgis for to doo my wyll of him whan the barons vnderstode charlemayne that spake thus they came out of hys Pauilion and tooke no leaue at hym but returned incontinent to Mountawban whan they were come there Rowland and Reinawde asked theym howe they had doone with Charlemaine Lordes said the duke Naimes it is no force to be asked after it For Charlemayn wyl not doo it but if men take vnto him Mawgis for to doo his will
myne vncle wyl dystroye wrongfully Syr said the duke Naymes heare me yf it please you I counsel that we go hens and whan we shal be afore Charlemayne we shall aske him how Reynawde dyd delyuer him for yf we speake to him of peace he shal be wrothe wyth vs but whan he shal remembre the great goodnes and curteysy of Reynawde his hert shal be molified it cannot be but he shal doo to him some grace and fauour for he shall know well that his hert is ouer great that he hath doone to Reynawde great wronge Certes syr Naymes sayd the barons ye speake wysely and ye giue ryght good counsell And whan they were accorded to the counsell of the Duke Naymes Rowlande asked after his horse and eche of the other barons also And whan they were redye for to lyght on horsbacke there came mi lady Clare the wyfe of Reynawde that kissed Rowlande Olyuer and all the other barons and after she sayde to them in this maner Lordes that be heere present I beseche you in the name of god for his blessed passion that it pleaseth you for to purchace the peace of my lorde Reynawde and semblably of hys bretherne towarde the great king Charlemayn ye know my lordes that the kynge dothe to my lorde great wrong and also ye know the great curteysy and the kyndnes that my Lorde my husbaÌd hath shewed vnto Charlemayn and well ye wot that yf my Lorde had not be hys brother Rycharde wolde haue striked the head from the body of hym Madame sayde the duke Naymes doubt not For and god be pleased the peace shal be made with in these three dayes And than they lighted al on horsbacke and the three brethern of Reynawde conueyed theÌ to the gate and Reynawde taryed after them vpon the brydge whan they were come to the sayde brydge Reynawde sayd to them My lordes I commende you to God I maye no lenger goe with you prayinge that ye wyl haue me in your remeÌbrauÌce Then al the Peeres of FrauÌce that were there began to weepe tenderly and tooke their leaue of Reynawde the noble knyght after they tooke theyr way towarde the hoste of Charlemayne And whan the Emperour saw them come he called to hym his barons and shewed them they that were comynge And whan the baroÌs saw them they meruayled greatly had greate feare for they wyste not what it was but Ydellon the Erle said by god we haue recouered rowlande and hys felawes yea sayde Charlemain godes curse haue they Thys hangyng Rowland and hys felawes came tofore Charlemayne and lighted a foote and incontinent they kneeled humbly afore the king and thaÌ the duke Naymes began to speake first and sayd Noble Emperour wee are come in your presence for to crye you mercy beseching you for God that it will please you to take vs vnto your good grace for we haue doone nothing agaynst you but that it was for your we le But sith that we haue knowen that your wyl was not for to haue peace we haue forsaken Reynawde and all his brethern nor neuer whyle we ben a liue they shall haue no succours of vs. Lordes sayde Charlemayne I pardon you but I tell you yf we tary heere longe stil we shal haue lytle gaynes therby wherfore I pray you that we go assaute Mountawban bothe by day and bi night by such maner that he be taken of vs incontinent they all that ben in it brought to death Sir sayd the duke Naymes ye say well but and yf ony mifortune happeth to vs as it hath doone heere afore time I promise you it shal be to you great dommage and me seemeth it were muche better to haue peace thaÌ for to contynewe the warre ANd whan the Barons of Fraunce heard this that the duke Naymes had sayde to the king they began to crye with a high voice Syr Emperour we praye you that ye wyl doo this that Naymes counselleth you For he gyueth you good counsell Whan Charlemayne heard the crye that hys folke made to him he came to the duke Naymes that was kneelyng afore hym and tooke him vp in lyke wyse his neuewe Rowlande and all the other and sayde to them My lordes ye knowe that I haue pardoned you with right good wyll but I wyll well that ye know but yf ye keep yourself fro helpinge of my enemies mortal I shal angre you vpon your bodies For I hate them so muche that yf I should abide heere all my lyfe I shal destroy theÌ And wit it that Charlemayne was glad that he had recouered hys neuew RowlaÌd and his other Peeres how be it he made no semblaunte of it And he sayd yet agayne that he shold neuer departe from hys syege tyll that he had taken Mountawban and all the foure sonnes of Aimon wherof he shall doo sharpe Iustyce shall doo brenne Mawgys the false traytour Syr sayd Rowland I promise you that Mawgys is not wtin MouÌtawban for he feareth you so muche that he dare not abyde you least yee should make him to be hanged bycause he dyd steale you so falsly oute of your hoste Ha god sayde Charlemayne whan shal I see that I haue him for to doo my wyll of hym For than the Sonnes of Aymon should soone be a greed with mee THan whan the kyng Charlemayne had deuysed longe ynoughe he gaue leaue to all hys barons for to go agayne into theyr teÌtes for to see theâr folke And whan the morow came all the barons caÌe agayne vnto Charlemain And whaÌ the kynge saw them together within his pauilion he was therof glad spake to them thus Lordes I haue besyeged Mountawban as nere as ye see and I am not dysposed for to departe heÌce nother for colde for hete nor for hungre vnto the time that I haue taken hym by fyne force the whiche thynge shall be lyghtly doone for I am sure that they shall want vytayles wythin And worse is for theym they haue loste the traytoure Mawgys whiche was theyr hope and comforte wherfore I saye that they caÌnot holde it longe against my power whan the barons hearde that Charlemayne thretened Reynawde so soore there was none of them but thei were sory for it for the most parte of theym loued Reynawde for the worthynes and the kyndnes that was in him Then spake the Duke Naimes and said to the Emperour Syr ye say that they of Mountawban be dyspurueyd of meate and that ye shall not departe from the syege tyll that ye haue taken the castel and that is a thinge that shall be doone lightlye but I promyse you yf ye tarye to their vittailles be doo ye shall lye here lenger theÌ ye ween of wherfore syr I beseche you that it wyll please you to beleue my counseyll yf it semeth you good fyrste take heede to the curtoysy that Reynawde hath doone to you for ye wot well that if he had not be his brother Richarde shoulde haue
had of his brethern of his wife and of his men wyt it that whan they saw him bring so much vitailes they swouned al for ioye to the earth and whan Reinawd saw this he wende they had ben dead for hungre So began he to make great sorow and not without a cause and while that Reinawde sorowed and made great mone his brethern began to come again to theymselfe his wife and also hys two children And whan Reinawd saw them al vpon their feet he was glad and presented to them meat for them and for hys folke and they thaÌ made great Ioy and eate their fill at theyr ease And whan they had eaten well they went to slepe excepte Reynawde that wolde keep watche hym self And on the morne whan the day was come they rose went to heare masse and after the masse was doon they fell to their meate againe and eat al that was left ouer euyn of that Reinawde had broughte and whan the next night was come Aimon that coulde not forget his children made his stuarde to come before him and sayde to him ye know how I haue forsworn my children wherof I am sori that euer I did so But it is said that ar the need the frend is knowen I let you wit that my children been yonder within in great pouertye and misease and howe be it that I haue forsworn theÌ I oughte nor maye not faile them we haue three engyines that Charlemain hath made me doo make for to hurt my children wherof we haue domaged them as muche as we might nowe must we helpe them after their domage And I shall tell you see that ye put within the engynes bread and flesh both salt freshe in great plenty in stead of stones and let this be cast in to the castell for yf I shoulde die my selfe for hungre I shall not fayle theym as longe as I haue wherof to helpe them and also I repent me full sore of the harm that I haue doon to them for al the world ought to blame me therof with good ryghte and we been in the wronge Syr saide the stuarde ye saye well For ye haue doone so muche ayenste them that al the worlde blameth you therof but incontinente I shall doo your commaundement And than the stuard went and made the three engins to be filled with vittailles and after he bad the gouerner to cast theÌ in to Mountawban And ye muste wyt that many of the hoste blamed Aymon sore that he made hys engynes to be caste ayenst hys chyldren for they wende it had be stones and whan the nighte was passed that Reinawd was vp he went heere and there within the castel found foison of vittailes that his father had cast wherof he was right glad and sayde Good lorde blessed be you now see I wel that they that haue their trust in you can not fare amis than he called his brethern his wife his childreÌ said My bretherne ye see howe our father hath pity of vs. And then he made the vittailles to be gathered vp and put in a sure place and so thei eate therof at their ease for they had well great need therof for they were so sore an hungred that it was greate pitie And wyt it that Aymon made easte so muche vytayll within MouÌtawban that they of within had ynoughe for thre monethes with good gouernaunce NOw must we vnderstond that Charlemain had some knowlege howe the olde duke Aimon had giuen vittailes to his childreÌ wherof he was sore an angred made Aimon to come incontinente afore him sayd to hym Aymon who maketh thee so bolde to giue any mâat to min enemies mortal I know wel al thy wyles thou mayst not excuse thiself but by the faythe that I owe to God I shall auenge me so well or nyght that if I may ye shal leese your heade for it Sir said the duke Aimon I wil not denie it for I tell you truely if ye should make me dye or be brente in a fyre I will not fayle my chyldren as longe as I maye helpe them For my children be no theues traytours nor no murderers but they been the most valiaunt knightes of the world the truest ween not you to slea my children in suche maner ye haue to longe wrought your foly yf it wolde suffise you whan Charlemayne heard Aymon speake thus he was angrye with it for great wrath he loked as fire Almost he smote Aimon whaÌ the duke Naimes saw this he auauÌced him forth said Sir sende home Aimon for ye haue kepte hym heere to loÌg ye ought well to vnderstande that Aymon wil not see his children to be dystroyed and therfore ye ought not to blame him nor smite him after that Charlemayne hearde the duke Naimes speake he sayd to him Naimes syth that ye haue iudged it ye shall not be gaynsayd than he turned him towarde the duke Aymon sayde to hym Now goe forth out of myn hoste for ye haue doon me more domage than profyte sir said the duke Aimon I shal gladly doo your coÌmaundemente And anon he went lighted on horsebacke and after said to the peeres of fraunce Lordes I pray you al that ye wil haue my children for recommeÌded for they beÌ com of your bloude let the king see well to for yf he make my children to dye by such great vengeaunce as he hath sayd if I shoulde become a sarasyn dwel in Affryque al the dayes of my lyfe I shal stryke of his head for none other gage I wyll not take And whan Aimon had said thus he went out of thost into fraunce to his countrye wel heuy bicause that he left his children in so great pouerty Charlemayne that sawe Aymon goe thus quite and that he hadde garnyshed Mountawban of vitaylles he was full angrye for it So studyed he vpon this a longe whyle And whan he had studyed longe ynoughe he was so sory that none myght be more sorier and returned hym selfe towarde hys Barons and sayde Lordes I commaund you that ye breake al our engynes For by theym I haue myssed to haue the castell of Mountawban And incontinente the Barons made breake the engines as the king had commaunded And by all thus Reinawd abode a long while in good peace but their vittailles began sore to mynyshe And whan Reinawde sawe that he was sory and began to complayne in himselfe saide good lorde what shal I doo I knowe that at longe rennynge we shall not mow holde and so shall Charlemain haue no mercye of vs but he shall make vs die Alas Mawgis where be you For if ye were with vs we shoulde doubte nothinge nor I shoulde not suffre this great distres that I haue All thus as Reinawde complained hymselfe than came Alard that was so feble that with payne he mighte stande vpon his feete and sayde to Reynawd Reinawde for the loue of god
make bayarde to be slayne For I may no lenger lyue without meate nother yet my bretherne THan whan Reynawd heard his brother Alard speke thê° he was ryght sorye for it and tooke his swerd went to bayarde for to slea him And whan bayarde sawe Reynawde he began to make greate Ioye and whan Reynawde saw the there that bayard him made he sayd to him Ha bayarde good beaste yf I had the herte to doo thee harme I were well cruell And than yonnet the yonger sonne heard that he cried vnto his father sir wherfore tary ye that ye slea not bayarde sith he must dye for I wexe madde for hungre and so I tell you yf I haue not shortly some foode ye ye shal seeme die afore your eyen yet my mother my brother also for we may not lenger lyue thus so harde we been famished And whan Reinawd hearde hys sonne speake to him so he had great pity of him and great sorow in his heart and so he had of bayarde that cheted him so muche Than wiste not Reynawde what he should saye nor doo and so began to thinke alonge while And whan he had bethoughte him selfe longe ynoughe he aduysed him howe Bayarde shoulde not dye And thaâ he called after a basyn and made bayarde be lette bloode much and after he had let him bloude ynough Reynawd stopped the vayne and gaue the bloud to Alard for to be dressed And whan it was soden they eate all alytell therof whyche gaue them great sustenaunce And to saye the trouth Reinawde and his folke were well foure dayes without any other foode And whan it came to the v. day that they wolde haue had bayard let bloud againe he was so feble that he caste no bloude at all And whan the duchesse sawe that she began to weep tenderly and sayde Sir for god sith that he giueth no more bluod let him be slayne and so shall eate your poore children of him that dyen for great hungre I also Madame saide thanne Reinawd I wyl not doo so For bayard hath born vs good companye in oure lifes and so shall he doo till the houre of our deth for we shal dye all togyther And ye ought to know that Reinawde and his company were brought so lowe that they waited none other but deth the whiche was them nigh ynough Than an olde man that was amoÌg theim came and sayde to Reynawde vp Syr what shal it be I see that you Mountawban shal be destroyed but in you is not the faute for it hath be well defended as longe as ye might as it apeereth and sith that I see yee mai no more doo come after me and I shal shew you away where throughe we shall well all goe out wyth out any daunger and I wyll well that ye knowe Mountawban was once made and shytte afore ye dyd make it and the Lorde that buylded it fyrst let make a waye vnder the erth that bringeth folke to the wood of the serpent I was a yonge childe whan that way was made I know well where it lieth doo digge where I shall shewe you and ye shall finde it without any fayle and thus shall we go free wtout any daunger whaÌ Reynawde heard theese wordes he was so glad of it that none might be more so that he forgat his hungre with all and sayde O fayre God that all made blessed be you Now haue I founde that I desyred for I shall goe to Ardeyne whiche I ought to loue deere And thaÌ he tooke the olde man by the hande and made him to bringe him to the place where he said and there he made to be digged in the erth and founde the way that the olde man sayd wherof he was right glad and than he wente to the stable and put the sadle vpon Bayarde and after brought him to the way but wit it that Bayarde was so feble that he scante coulde go the pase and thaÌ Reynawde hys wyfe hys brethern hys chyldren and the remenaunte of hys folke put theym selfe to the way vnder the erthe so that no creature a lyue abode wâthin the castell GReat plentie of torches Reynawde made to be fyred that thei might see the better within the caue as they wente and he ordeyned hys forwarde of that fewe folke that he had and wente forth in good ordeynaunce with his baner displayed he with his bretherne made the reregarde And whan they had gone a longe whyle through the Caue that was wyde large Reynawde made his folke to tary and sayd to hys brethern my brethern wee haue doone euyll For we haue lefte behinde vs kynge Yon in the prison certes I should leuer dye than that I should leaue him so for he should dye there for hungre as a famisshed wolfe that were to vs great sinne By god sayd Richarde he hath well deserued it for of a man that is a traytour men ought not to haue pitie brother sayd Reynawde ye say yll And than he returned agayne came to the pryson where the king Yon was whiche he tooke out brought with him And whaÌ the duchesse sawe her brother the kynge Yon come she sayde to hym Ha my brother ye are right yll come to me for al the harme that we haue suffred cometh thoroughe cause of you I am sory that ye be not dead roten within the prison for ye haue well deserued it Madame sayd Reynawde let that alone I pray you for he shall not dye yf I maye For I haue doone to him homage wherefore I ought to obey hym and how be it he hath wrought ful yl agaynst vs yet shall I neuer be forsworne agaynst him whaÌ his brethern heard him speake thus they sayde to hym brother ye speake well wyselye ye doo that ye ought to doo nor ye shall neuer he rebuked of vs for it doo therin as it pleaseth you and after these wordes they went on their waye SO longe went these knightes that they came out of the caue and found themselfe at the wood of the serpent euyn at the spryng of the day as soone as they were yssued out of the sayd caue they were so scaped fro Charlemayne Yonnet than the lytle sonne of Reynawde swouned there for great hungre And whaÌ Reynawde sawe that he was ryght sori for it and tooke him vp and said Fayre sonne I praye you be a good cheere for we shall haue soone meat great plentie And whan he had said this he tooke his other sonne AymoÌ in his armes and recomforted hym muche And whan Reynawde had doone so he looked aboute him and knew well where they were and he sayd to his brethern Lordes me semeth that we ben nyghe the hermytage of my good freende Bernarde syr sayd Alarde yee saye trouth but what shall we doo Brother sayde Reinawde I couÌsel for the moste profytable that we go there and we shal abide there tyll the nyght be come than we
that theef Mawgys that hath ben here within for it can none other wyse be AFter that Charlemayne had sayd these wordes he began to walke within the Castell sekynge all aboute to see yf he might finde Reynawde or any of his bretherne And so longe he wente thus heere there that he founde the waye there as they went out whan the kynge Charlemayne saw the caue he was sore abasshed with it and called Ogyer the dane sayd to him Ogyer heere is the way where thoroughe the traytours are gone awaye and all this hath doone me Mawgis For he hath made this caue in dyspite of me wherof he maketh my hert to breke in my bely Syr sayd the duke Naymes ye blame Mawgys but thys Caue sheweth not that it had be vnmade this hundred yeres passed and I tell you for certayne that sarasins made it firste Whan Charlemayne hearde these wordes he beganne to smile with an angri fare and cursed them that made the Caue and was meruaylousli an angred for he knew well that Reynawde and all his coÌpany were gone out at the same hole and so he was dismyssed of his purpose he sayd then to his folke Now goe lightly in seke where this hole bringeth men vnto for I shal not be at mine ease tyl I know it And whaÌ Rowland vnderstode Charlemain he put hym selfe wythin the Caue and made lyght a great many of torches for to see in it and after Rowlande went plentie of Frenthe men that folowed hym and they wrâtâ so longe til they came at the ende of the caue founde themself in the wood of the Serpente And whan Rowlande was come out of the caue he looked aboute for to knowe where they were but he coulde not hymself know it than he sayd to his folke Lordes me semeth that for to goe any forther for to seke after Reinawd it were but foly for he knoweth wel the countrey and we wot not where to goe Syr sayd his felawes ye say wel therfore let vs returne to Charlemayne your vncle for to tell hym what we haue founde wythin thys Caue WHan Rowlande and his felowes were accorded they returned that waye that they were come And whan the kynge sawe them come out agayne he asked of them what they had founde and yf they had found any yssue to goe out of the Caue Syr sayde RowlaÌd yea without anye fayle Wit that Reynawde and his folke are scaped you and they haue Bayarde with them for heere ye may see the path And whan the king Charlemayne knew the trouth how Reynawde and hys coÌpany were gone he was so greatly an angred the none might be more and the same houre he sent his messangers in all his landes and countreis for to wit yf he might vnderstande any tidinges where Reinawd and his brethern were become And whan he had doone thys he coÌmauÌded that his hoste should dyslodge that they should come all to Mountawban And whan the barons heard the king they did his commaundement and came al to Mountawban lodged them as wel as they could abode wel there six dayes making great Ioye that Reynawde and hys bretherne were thus expelled out of it And as the barons were deuising wythin Mountawban there came a messanger to fore Charlemayne and salued him as to him apperteyned and to him he said in this wise Sir wyt it that I haue seene Reynawde Alarde Guieharde and Richarde lokynge great to ye with great company of knightes keping a great courte within the citie of Ardeyne where as Reynawde gyueth great gyftes to euery one And I am sore merueyled where he hath gotten so greate treasur And also is there with him the kyng Yon of gascoygne and that more is I tell you for certayne that Reynawde hath made a great asseÌble of folke for to defend hym agaiÌst you if ye go in any wise for to assaile hym THe kinge was muche angry whaÌ he heard his messangere so sware he by saynt denis he should neuer lye in no bed tyll he had besyeged Ardeyne And whan he sayd so he commaunded to his barons that euery maÌ should trusse his baggage and they should take on theyr waye streyght to Ardeyne And whan the barons heard Charlemayne speake so they tooke on theyr way without any more taryinge towarde Ardein and rode so longe tyll that they cam to mountarg weil that was not ferre from Ardeyne for men might see from thens the steples of the towne There was lodged the hoste of charlemayne that nyght and I promise he did doo make good watche for doubt of the foure sonnes of Aymon And whaÌ the day was come Charlemayne did set his folke in good ordenaunce with his baner dysplayed they rode towarde Ardeyne And whan Reynawde wyst that Charlemaine was come for to besiege them within Ardeyn he began to swere that he should not let him besieged as he had doone within Mountawban For rather he wolde fight with Charlemayne And if it may so falle that he come in his handes he shall not haue pitie of him as he had to fore tyme bycause he had founde him so cruell and without pitie Brother sayde then Rycharde now I see you speake like a knight and by the fayth that I owe vnto you I promise you that or euer Charlemayne shall besiege vs I shall slea more than an huÌdred of his folke and but yf god fayle vs we shall doo suche a thing that shal be to the great hurte dyspleasure of hym wherof he shal be sory all the dayes of his life For he is not manered like a gentilmaÌ For the more that he is prayed the lesse he dooth Brother sayd Alarde ye speake wel and honestlye And I shall con you thanke for it as longe as I lyue YE ought to wyt that whan Reynawde saw Charlemayne com for to besyege him with a greate puissaunce of folke he was nothing abasshed with it but he made incontineÌt Bondy his good horne to be blowen and made his folke to be arryued redely that were in great numbre and made them yssue out of the Citie And whan his army was asseÌbled in the feeldes it was a noble thynge for to see and than he ordeyned hys batayles bi good ordenauÌce as a wise fighter And after he had doone so he called his brethern and sayde to them My fayre bretherne this daye is the day that we shal die or els doo so muche that we shall bringe the warre at an ende Wherfore I pray you that euery of vs shewe hym selfe a good knight for in you is all my truste and so I promyse you that I haue leuer di worthely in batayle than for to be hanged shamfully as theefe My brethern I praye you come all nighe me For I wyll that we ben the fyrst that smite vpoÌ our enemies Brother sayde Alarde we shall doo your commaundement doubt ye not of it and go forth whaÌ ye wyll and whaÌ they were so agreed
they left Charlemayne bycause he wolde not make peace And howe he sent worde to them that they should come to hym agayne And he should make peace with Reynawde IN this party sheweth that the kyng Charlemayne was at the syege of Ardeyn sore an angred that he myght not know howe Rychard of Normandy dyd So sent he for all hys Barons for to come to hym And whan they were come in his pauillion he sayd to them thus Lordes I see wel that it goeth now yll with me bycause I see that Reynawde hath not sent me agayne Richarde of Normandy and he might well haue delyuerd hym free quite and haue sende hym vnto me for all the harmes that he hath doone to me Vncle sayde Rowlande I merueyll greatly of that ye saye ye shew wel to vs that ye be wythout counsell By the fayth that I owe to you ye shal neuer see Richarde of Normandye but yf ye pardon Reynawde his brethern diuerse times he hath meked himselfe vnto you and hath be alwayes redy to fulfyll your plesure ye wyll not take hym to your grace be not than merueyled if Reinawde shewe nowe some dispite agaynst you For and ye consider wel the great curtesie that he hath doone vnto you namely whan he had you at his will within mountawban that he delyuered you and suffred you goe quite and free fro him at your liberti ye should doo for him otherwyse than ye doo but syth that Reynawde seeth that he may not finde no mercy in you he wyll not leese his curtesye but he shall doo the worste that he can as ye maye well perceyue experience of it euery day for he doÌmageth vs dayly and keepeth his prisoner the best knyght that yee had that is Richarde the duke of normandy the whych I weene be dead by thys time Neuew sayd the kinge Charlemayne I promyse you that Reynawde hath not put hiÌ to death but he kepeth hym wel at his ease with great honoure syr said than the duke Naymes Syth that the wordes ben come to this I must tel you my mynde Syr yf Reynawde beareth you dommage ye caÌnot blame hym for it For he hath prayed you so many times humbly that ye wold haue mercy on him and ye wolde neuer heare hym but ye haue alwayes shewed your selfe the moste proude kynge of the worlde agaynst hym the moste angry and ye wyll beleue no counsell and so I tell you if Reinawd hath not made to dye Richard of Normandy he is the kyndest maÌ of the worlde But I beleue better that he is dead than otherwyse for no man heere can tell whether he be dead or a liue WHan the kyng Charlemayne heard the Duke Naymes speke thus he knew wel that he tolde hym trouth So began he to syghe sore and to these wordes came forthe the Bysshop Turpin Ogyer the dane that sayd in this maner Sir wyt it verely that Naymes telleth you trouth For Reynawde hath a good cause to be angrye wyth you And whan Charlemayne heard his baroÌs speke thus he was all abasshed of it And called the duke Naimes the bisshop Turpyn Ogier the Dane Escouf the sonne of Oedon sayde to them Lordes I pray you goe to Ardeine tel Reynawde in my behalf that he wil sende me Richarde of Normandy And whan he hath doone so that he thaÌ deliuer Mawgys into my handes for to doo my wyll of hym And then he shall haue peace wyth me al the dayes of my lyfe Deere syr sayde the duke Naymes ye sende vs for nought For I wot wel the Mawgis is gone from Reynawde it is three yeres passed and more And yf that Reynawde wolde delyuer him he may not For he knoweth not him selfe where he is Naymes sayd the king Charlemayne yee shall at leste heare what Reynawde shal say vnto you and ye shall also know how Richarde of NormaÌdi dooth Syr sayd the duke Naymes syth that it pleaseth you that I shall goe I am well contente but I pray our Lorde that we maye returne agayne whole and sounde of our persones without to be dyshonoured whan the barons saw that kinge Charlemayne wolde that they should goe to Ardeyne for to doo his messager they durste not saye there agaynst And so they weÌt thether anon and eche of them bare in his hande a braunche of an oliue tree in tooken of peace And whan they came vnto the gate they founde it open for them For Reynawde had seen theÌ come from ferre Wherfore he commaunded that the wicket should be open And whan the barons saw the litle gate open they went into the towne and cam to the Palays And whan Reynawde wyst that they were come within the palays he weÌt and layde hymselfe downe vpon a bedde wyth hys legges crossed and sware God and his blessed mother that he should not praye the kinge Charlemayne of nothing For he had doon him to great harme for throughe the kynge Charlemayn he had loste his good cosyn Mawgis and MouÌtawban that he loued so muche This hanginge came there the messagers of the king Charlemaine afore Reynawde Whan the Duke Naymes that was the formest saw Reynawde he saluted him honourably And after he sayd to hym Syr Reynawde the kinge sendeth you worde by vs that ye sende hym agayne Richarde the duke of Normandy And more ouer he sendeth you worde that yf ye wyll delyuer him Mawgys ye shal haue peace with him al the dayes of his lyfe And he shall deliuer you agayne all your landes And he shal keep bothe your childreÌ in his court with him and he shall make them knightes with his owne handes My Lordes sayde Reynawde ye be ryght welcome to me as the knightes of the worlde that I ought to loue best But I meruayle me greatly of Charlemaine that sendeth me these wordes for eueri man knoweth wel that I haue not Mawgys But by him I haue lost hym And wolde to god that I had heere Charlemayn as wel as I haue Rycharde of NormaÌdye And yf he wolde not graunt me peace with him I promise you he should leaue his head for a pledge So should I be than auenged of all the great harmes dommages that he hath doone to me syth that I haue be made knight of him lordes I weÌd that Charlemayne had be more curtoys then he is For if I had wyll that he wolde haue ben so fell vpon me and my brethern I should well auenged it vpon him But it is to late to repente me that I did not so wherfore that ye voyde out of my Palays and goe tell your king that I haue not Mawgys but I haue loste hym for him and also yf I had him he should not haue him And bicause I haue thus loste my good cosyn Mawgys for hym I shal make to morow Richarde the duke of Normandy to be hanged vpon the chefe gate of this Citie in the dispite of him for no lenger respite
you slayne my men Cosin sayd he nowe hear me if it please you It is trouth that .x. ribaudes cam here right now layde hande vpon me they sayde that ye had thus commauÌded them whyche thinge I coulde not beleue For ye had sayd so it should haue be spoken outrageouslye so made I them to flee out of this chambre in great haste and slew of them I wote not how many bycause I might not absteine me if it semeth you that I haue doone amis so take ye ameÌdes vpon me But I will wel that ye wit that I wolde not haue doone to you suche a shame as yee haue doone to me ⪠if I had had you as ye haue me Reynawde if I haue doone amis in any maner I am redy to make ameÌdes for it but ye know it is no reasoÌ that no Carle shall Iudge suche a man as I am for that longeth to a king to a duke or to an erle the custome is suche ye wot it well if the earles haue harme be it that haue medled them with it none ought to blame me therfore By god Richarde sayde then Reynawde ye shal say what ye wil but trust me yf I haue not this day peace with Charlemayne I shall make you to be haÌged in such a place where that Charlemain may se you And whaÌ reinawde had said this he made Richarde to be take made his handes to be bounde fast and after sayd to him I tel you on my fayth that yf I haue not this day my peace with Charlemayne that for no prechynge that ye can make nor for no man of the worlde I shall not leue but I shal make you dye a shamfull death By my soule Reynawde sayd Richarde I fere me not that ye shall doo that ye sayd for ye dare not doo it as loÌg as Charlemayne is a liue Whan Reynawd hearde al the duke speake thus he was so wroth that he loked all blacke in the face for angre and than he sayde to Rycharde by that god that made me ye shal soone knowe what I dare doo whether I am a cowarde or hardy than he made him to be brought where as the galoes were righted than he sayde to him Richarde I wyll that of two thynges ye chose one yf ye lust that is that ye make me haue peace with charlemaine or els that ye helpe me against him but if ye doo this wyt that I shal make you be haÌged straÌgled I shall not leue you for all this that ye be of my lignage yf ye wil take my part agaynst the king Charlemain ye shal be deliuered forthwt. By god Reynawde sayd than Richard nowe haue I heard you speke like a childe ween ye that I shal doo the ye say for fere of death certes nay for charlemain is my souerayne lorde and of him I holde mine heritage and thoughe he dooth wrong to leue me heere I ought not to fayle him therfore But ye wil doo wel leue me a messager the whiche I shal sende to Charlemain to his baroÌs for to wit if he be disposed for to let me dye heere shamefully By my faith Richard sayd reinawde ye speake now wisely thaÌ he called one of his folke sayde to him Go doo that Richard of NormaÌdy shal tell you my freende sayd Richarde to the messager ye shall goe to charlemayn tel him on my behalf that I prai him as to my souerain lord that yf euer he loued me that he will pardon Reynawde I shal take vpon me to make amendes for hym yf he hath in any thing misdone agaiÌst him as the ⪠xii peeres of FrauÌce shâl Iudge him if he wil not doo for that he wil looke hitherwarde he shal see me hange shamefully Of that other parte ye shall say to Rowland to all my felawes that yf euer they loued me that they wil shew to Charlemayne that it shall be a great shame to him yf he suffreth that I hye thus shamefullye syr sayde the messager doubt not I shall doo your message well After these thinges thus sayd the messager went out of the towne to the hoste of Charlemayne the whiche he founde full of thought And whan he saw him he made him reuerence after sayd to hym Syr wit it that Richarde of Normandye recoÌmendeth hym humbly to you and prayeth you as hertlye as he can as to his soueraine lorde that if euer ye loued him that ye wyll shew it nowe for he mystreth wel of it For if reynawde haue not peace this day tourne your sight vpon yonder gate after that I am come home agayne ye shall see him hange shamefully whan the messager had sayd this to the kynge he looked about him and saw the .xii. peeres sayd to theym fyrst to RowlaÌd after to the other Lordes the duke Rycharde prayeth you Rowland all ye in generall that yf ye euer loued him that ye wyll pray Charlemaine that he wil make peace with Reynawde or otherwise he is dead without mercy And whaÌ Rowland heard this he spake fyrst to the kynge sayd Syr for God I pray you suffre not that ye be blamed ye know well that how the duke Richarde is one of the bâst knightes of the worlde he hath best serued you at your need For God syr make peace with Reinawde for to recouer suche a knight as is the duke Rychard of Normandye for greate shame it were to you for to let him thus die And whan the duke Naymes and the bysshop Turpyn Ogier Escouf the sonne of Oedon and Oliuer of vien heard Rowland speake so they begaÌ to say to the king By god sit if ye will not make peace with Reynuwde for to recouer our felaw the Duke Rycharde ye shall lose muche by it For within short time ye shall see your lande destroyed afore you WHan Charlemayne saw that his peeres were thus moued for loue of Richarde of Normandy that they accorded all for to make peace he wende to haue gone oute of hys minde and sware by greate wrathe as a man mad that Reynawde shoulde neuer haue peace with hym but if he had mawgis to doo his wil with hym And whan he had sayd so he turned him towarde the .xii. peeres of Fraunce sayd to them My freende take no fere for Rycharde of Normandy For Reynawde should sooner let to be drawen one of his eyes out than he should doo him any harme or shame Syr sayd the Bysshop Turpin ye are beside your self For ye see all redy that Richarde is Iudged to death Bisshop said charlemayne ye speke well folisshli knowe ye not wel that Richard of Normandye is of the linage of Reynawd I promyse you he dare not doo hym harme by no maner By god syr said oliuer ye haue wel paied vs by your sayinge Why dare not Reynawde hange the duke Richarde for I know so
muche by hym that yf he had you as he hath Rycharde He durst well hange yourself al vs. Syr Olyuer sayd the messanger I swere you on my fayth that Reynawd ceassed not all thys day to pray the duke Richard that he should forsake Charlemayn and he should saue his lyfe wherof Rycharde of Normandy wolde doo nothynge but spake great wordes to Reynawde And whan that the Messanger had sayd thus he sayd to the kyng Syr gyue me leue to goe if it please you and tel me what I shal say to Richarde of Normandye fro you Freende sayd Charlemayne ye shal tell him on my behalfe that he put no doubt in nothiÌg For Reynawde shall not be so hardy to doo him any harme WhaÌ the messager that was a wyse knight vnderstoode Charlemayne he coulde not absteyne hym selfe but he sayd to hym syr Emperour ye be ouer proude but I promyse you that Reynawde setteth lytle by your pryde and I make you sure that Alarde wayteth well for my comyng agayne For he wolde not take a hundred thousand pounde for to leue Rycharde but that he should hang him his owne handes And as soone as he had sayd so he went his wayes wythout any leue taking of the kyng streyght to Ardeyne ANd whan the .xii. peeres saw the messanger go with an yll answer they were full sory for it Ha god sayd Ogyer how the deuyll the kynge is felle and hard of hert that wil nother peace nor concorde I am well sure that his pride shal be cause of a shamefull death to Richarde Ogier sayd Rowlande ye saye trouth but I see him hang god neuer help me at my need if I abyde after it with Charlemayne whyles I liue whaÌ he had sayd so he went to the other peeres sayd to them Lordes what shall we doo shall we let thus Rycharde be hanged our felawe one of the best knightes of the worlde and moste hardy for thoroughe his prowes he is there as he is neuer no foule worde issued out of his mouth alas we shall now see hym hange with great shame certes yf wee suffre it we ben shamed for euer ROwland as a man disperate came than to the kyng al wroth and sayd to hym in this maner Syr by my soule I go now oute of your seruise without your leue after he sayd to Ogier Ogyer what wyl ye doo wil ye come with me leue this Deuyll heere for he is all beside him selfe By my head Rowland sayde Ogyer ye say trouth I shall neuer in my lyfe abyde with hym but I shall go gladlye wyth you where ye wyl And I shal not leue you for no man in the worlde syth that he suffreth that suche a valiaunt maÌ shall dye as the duke Rycharde of Normandy that he loued so muche He should soone doo so bi vs for he is a man that hath in hym nother loue nor pitie And whan Oliuer of vyen vnderstoode these wordes he stoode vp and sayd Lordes I will go with you I haue dwelled heere to longe and I also sayd the duke Naymes in likewise Escoufe the sonne of Oedon And whan the bisshop Turpin saw this he casted a great syghe and sayd By my fayth Charlemayne it is euill to serue you for of good seruyce ye doo yeelde an euill rewarde as it is well seen now by the Duke Rycharde of Normandye that hath serued you so well and so truly And if I dwel any loÌger with you I pray god punisshe me for it THan whaÌ Charlemayn saw his peeres that were so sore moued with angre agaynst him he sayd to them Lordes haue no doubt of nothyng for the duke Rycharde shall haue no harme Syr sayde the Duke Naymes ye doo great wrong for to say so for a foole neuer beleueth till he feele sore weene you to make vs fooles with your wordes We se the galous made vp for to haÌg our felaw wherfore I tel you that a myschiefe take me if I dwel with you any lenger Whan the duke Naymes had sayd so he went out of the ââââlion of Charlemayne and in likewise all the Peeres of Fraunce with hym and wente into hys tente the whiche he made to be pulled downe incontinent And whan they of the hoste of Charlemayne saw that they were sore afrayed And ye ought to wyt that they were so sore moued within a litle while that there abode in the hoste of Charlemayne not one baron nor knyght but onlye the poore symple gentilmen and comin people whan Rowlande saw thys he went on his wayes wyth the other peeres And wit it at that houre the hoste of Charlemayne was made lesse than it was afore by .xl. thousande men REynawde that was vpon the hyghe gate of Ardeyne saw so great numbre of folke cominge togither so called he to hym the messager that was but comen fro Charlemayne and sayd to hym in thys maner Come heere messanger tell me what Charlemayne hath sayd vnto you Syr sayd the messager wit it that ye haue missed of peace for charlemayne wil nothyng of it but he seÌdeth you worde by me that ye be not so hardy vpon the eyen of your head to doo any harme to the Duke Rycharde of Normandy And whan he had said this he turned him toward the duke Rycharde and sayd to him Syr duke now may ye know howe muche Charlemayne loueth you Wit it for certaine that ye get nother helpe nor succours of him and for the loue of you Rowlande and all the other peeres of Fraunce ben ful sore an angred with him For ye may perceyue it well by theyr tentes that beÌ pulled downe And so I am sure that the moste parte of the hoste shall depart for the loue of you And so shal not abyde there but only the erle guanellon his lignage For theyr tentes ben righted all the other brought downe Whan Reynawde wyste that the frenchemen were angry with Charlemayne for the loue of the duke Rycharde of Normandy he chaunged his courage and could not keep him from weepynge And after he turned hym towarde Rycharde of Normandy and sayd to hym for god my cosyn I praye you for to pardon me the great shame that I haue doon to you Reynawde sayd Rycharde I blame you not for I wot wel that ye cannot doo therto For the greate pride and cruelnes of Charlemayne is causer of al this WhaÌ Reynawde had cried mercy to the duke Richard he vnbounde him and Alarde and Guycharde came to helpe hym for they were all glad that Rychard was deliuered Notwithstandynge afore that they were disposed for to make him dye shamefully And whan they had doone so Reynawde sayd cosin Rycharde lene vpon this walle and we shall looke what Charlemayne wyl doo Syr sayd the duke Rycharde ye say well let vs see it ANd whan Charlemayn saw that his barons went away as it is said he was sori for it that he wexed almoste madde all quicke for the
greate angre that he had and helde a demylaunce in hys handes the whiche he began to gnawe with his teeth so angry he was and whaÌ his wrathe was a litle gone he called a knyght and sayd to hym Now lyght on horsbacke lyghtly and ride after Rowland and after the other barons and tell them in my behalfe that they come speake with me and I shal be demened as they wyl themselfe and that I shall pardon Reynawde yf they wyll come agayne to me Syr sayde the knyght blessed be God that hath brought you to thys mynde And than this knight tooke an horse and rode hastelye after the xii peeres of Fraunce And whan Reynawde that was with the duke Rycharde of Normandye vpon the gate of Ardeyn apperceyued this he sayde to the duke Richarde of Normandy cosin I se rome a knight out of the pauilion of the kynge Charlemayne I beleue that he goeth vnto the twelue Peeres of Fraunce for to make theym to returne agayne I weene we shall haue this daye peace and god before Syr sayd Rycharde ye shall haue peace mawgre them al that letteth it I ought for to loue deerli my felowes the whiche be cause to keepe me from death also to haue peace Wyt it that the knight rode so fast that he ouer tooke Rowlande all the other peeres of Fraunce and said vnto them in this maner of wise Lordes the kinge Charlemayne sendeth you worde by me that ye wyll returne agayne to hym and he shall pardon Reinawd for the loue of you for goddes loue come lyghtly For he neuer left weepyng sythe that yee went your waye from him Naymes sayd Rowland let vs retourne agayne For I holde the peace made wherof this sorowfull warre shall fayle that hath lasted so longe a whyle Whan the Duke Naymes hearde Rowland speake so he was ryght glad of it and Ioyned hys handes towarde heauen and sayde in this maner wise Good lorde Iesus blessed be the tyme that it hath pleased the to tourne the courage of the kynge Charlemayne and that this vnhappy warre is brought to an ende And whan the Duke Naymes had sayde this they returned agayne towarde Charlemayne ANd whan Reynawde apperceiued that the twelue yeeres wente agayne to Charlemayne he sayd to the Duke Rycharde of Normandy Cosyn the Barons returne agayne I beleue that the peace shal be made and that we shal mow wel goe soone at our libertie now shall Reynawde maye say that I and my brethern ben at his coÌmaundemeÌt and shall be as longe as we ben men on lyue Well glad were the Barons of the one part of thother bicause that God had suffred that the peace should be made And whan Charlemayne saw his barons come agayn he went agaynst theÌ sayd By God my lordes ye are wel ful of great pride that ye make me to be come peasible with Reynawde agaynst my wyll ye know that I haue hated hiÌ so muche that I may not see him but I shal be angry bycause of his pride that is so great Wherfore yf ye will that I make peace wyth hym I wil that he goe into the holy lande poorelye clothed on foote And so I wil haue his hors Bayarde And I shal also returne agayne to his brethern all theyr lyuelode out of my handes Therfore yf thus he wyl doo I shal fal to peace and accorde with hym els not For I make mine a vowe to God that I shall neuer doo other wyse therin thaÌ I tel you now And therfore looke wel whiche of you shall doo thys message Syr sayd the duke Naymes I shal go to Reynawde with a good wyll yf it be your pleasure that I go to hym Naymes sayd Charlemayn It pleaseth me well And than incoÌtinent the duke Naimes rode to Ardeyn And whan Reynawde saw him come he knew hym well and wente him agaynst and so did the duke Richarde and the brethern of Reynawde whan the duke Naymes saw the Noble Barons come agaynst hym he lyghted from the horse anon went and kyssed them all and after he had doone so he sayd Reynawde Charlemayne sendeth me to you with his greetynge God yelde hym sayd Reynawde Now haue I that I haue desyred so longe Naymes shal I haue peace yea sayd the Duke Naymes vnder a condicion the whiche I shal tell you It is that ye must go poorely clothed and begging your breade for godes sake in the holy lande and so shall ye leue bayarde wyth Charlemayn and this doone ye shal haue peace And he shal giue agayne your herytage to your bretherne Duke Naymes said Reynawde ye be right welcome And I promyse you that I am redy to doo the commaundement of the kinge And yf he wyll haue of me ony thynge more by any wyse I shall in euery poynt fulfyll his wil if it be possible for me to doo it Now shal I be a good truauÌt for I can well âske bread whan me nedeth Whan the duke Naymes heard Reynawde spâake thus he was wel glad of it and so was the duke Rycharde that they saw the noble Reinawde agreed to the will of Charlemayne so muche as for to be come a poore begger for to haue peace And after that Reynawde was thus acorded therto he went into hys stable and tooke Bayarde deliuered him to the duke Naimes than he tooke his âauer bare it on hie vpon the highe rowre in token of peace And whan Charlemayne saw the baner of Reynawde he shewed it to Rowland Ha god sayd Rowlande howe meke is Reynawde good of kynde to haue made peace in this maner of wyse Blessed be Ihesus that âath giuen him that wyll for to go nowe a foote wherof I playne hym sore Rowland sayd Ogier Reynawde is a lambe full of mekenes and in him are all the good condicions that a knight ought to haue This hanging came there the duke naymes that brought Bayarde with him and preâââed him to Charlemayne said to âân Sir ⪠Reynawde is redy for to ãâã all that ye haue coÌmaunded hiâ and he shal departe to more wyl ye wyll sythe your pleasure is so I wyll wel said Charlemayne but tell me where is the Duke Rycharde for I wil know it Syr sayd the duke Naymes wyt that the Duke Rycharde fareth well and is abiden with Reynawde for he wyll conuey hym whan he goeth And wyt that Reynawde this hangyng made great cheere with his folke at his ease and after sayd to theÌ Lordes I beseche you be not sory that I go for I haue made this peace more for you than for me I pray you that ye holde wel togither tyl I come agayne and whaÌ he had layd this to them he went into hys chaÌbre and vnclothed hymself from hys good raymentes and cast vpon him a poore mantell a payre of big shoone wel clouted made for to be brought to hym a palster well yrenned for to beare in his haÌde And
ye must wyt that the duke Rychard was styll with him to whome Reynawde commended his wyfe and his chyldren and all his brethern And that he wolde pray the kinge that he should haue theym for recommended And whan he had arrayed hymselfe so he came towarde the halle to the duchesse hys wyfe ANd whan the noble duchesse Clare saw her husband so arayed in his beggers clothynge she tooke suche sorowe for it that she fel downe in a swoune to the erth as she had be dead And whan Reynawde saw her fal he ran for to take her vp and after sayd to her Lady for God take it not so sore at your herte For I shall soone come agayne and god before And wyth you shall my bretherne abyde that shall serue you as theyr lady And so I tell you that I am so glad of the peace that me semeth that I am come agayne al redy Madame my deere wyfe I pray god keepe you from all euilles And with this he kissed her full sweetely And than he tooke on his way and whan the duchesse saw hym goe she tooke for it so great sorow that she swouned agayne and abode thus a longe while that all her gentil women went she had ben dead And after she was come againe to herself she maâ great mone for her lorde Reynawde For she scratched her face pulled her heres from her head for great sorow whan she had made so muche sorow she said O good husbaÌd Reinawde whose like is not in all the worlde of goodnes god be with you For I wot well that I shal neuer see you And whan she had sayde these wordes she went into her chambre tooke all her noble raymentes âast them in a fyre and whaÌ they were al brent she tooke a poore smocke and cast it about her said she should neuer were none other clothes till she saw her lorde husbande agayne AFter that Reynawde had takeÌ leue of his wife he departed the duke Richarde his brethern and his folke conueyed hym a great waye alwayes speaking that it was pitie to heare And whan Reynawde thought that they had gone ferre ynoughe with him he turned him towarde them sayd Lordes I praye you huÌbly that ye returne home again for as long as ye be with me I am not at my ease go your way in the name of God and recomforte my wyfe the duchesse that weepeth so sore to you my brethern I coÌmende her my children also Wyt it whan Reynawde had sayd this there was none that coulde take leue of him so ful of sorowe they were except Alarde that sayd to him Mi deere brother I prai you hertely that ye come shortlye agayne for your departinge is so heuy to me that I trow I shall die for sorow And whan Alarde had sayd so he enbrased his brother tooke leue of him making great sorow so did Richarde of Normandye to whome Reynawde sayd my cosyn I coÌmeÌde you ones my wife agayne and my children al my brethern for they be of your bloud well ye know it Reinawde sayd the duke Richarde I promyse swere as knight that I shal helpe defende them agaynst all meÌ except agaynst the king doubt not for them for they shal want nothiÌg ¶ Now leueth the hystory to speke of Reynawde that went to the holy lande araied as ye haue heard and retourneth to speake of his brethern howe they came to Charlemayne with the duke Richarde of Normandy ¶ How after that Reynawde was departed fro Ardeyn to make his viage beyonde the sea clothed poorely as a pilgrim askiÌg his meat for god sake the duke of Normandi tooke alarde Guycharde Richarde brought theÌ with him to Charlemayne whiche receiued them honourably tooke vp his siege went to paris But whan he cam to the citie of lege vpon the riuer of meuze he made bayarde to be cast in it with a milstone at the necke of him But meÌ sayen the bayarde scaped out and that he is a lyue yet in the forest of Ardeyne IN thys party sheweth the hystory that whaÌ Reynawde had put himselfe to the way as yee haue hearde Richarde of Normandy and his brethern came agayne to Ardein full sory for Reynawde where as they found the good duchesse Clare that made greate sorowe for her lordes departyng And whan they were come agayne there the duke Richarde tooke the duchesse by the hande and began to recomforte her so many fayre wordes he layde vnto her that she slaked a litle her sorow and after thys the duke Richarde sayde to the brethern of Reynawde in this maner Lordes goe make you redy and we shall go vnto Charlemayn Sir sayd the three brethern let vs whan it please you And then they went tooke on the best clothing that they had And I promise you they were three fayre knightes and after they were wel apparayled they mounted eche of them vpon a palfraye of hye pryce ryght fayre wythout anye armes And for to speake shortly they yssued out of Ardeyn and came to the pauilion of Charlemayne And whaÌ the king saw theÌ he was ryght glad So he commaunded al hys barons that they should go againe them Ha god sayd Rowland now comen the three bretherne well sorye certayne they haue a cause for they haue lost theyr helpe succoure and hope Now I see that the duke Richard cometh with them wherof he dooth well for he is their kynsman NOw ye ought to wit that the three brethern of Reynawde came to the pauilion of Charlemain well honestly arayed And whaÌ they were afore the kyng they kneeled huÌbly at his feete and Alarde spake fyrst sayd Sir Reynawde our brother recoÌmendeth him huÌbly to your good grace salueth you as his souerayne lorde he sendeth you Rycharde the duke of Normandy whiche ye se heere and so he praieth you that ye will haue vs for recommended for he hath taken his way towarde the holy lande for to accomplisshe your commauÌdemeÌt Freende sayd Charlemayne ye be right welcome Syth that it please our lorde that we shal be freendes I shall doo for you and shal bring you al to honour as it apperteyneth to suche knightes as ye ben And yf god wyl bring Reynawd saufe agayne from his viage I shal holde him as deere as I doo mine owne neuew Rowland for he is replenysshed with great worthines Syr sayd Richard god bring him agayn whan the king had thus spoken with the brethern of Reynawde he came to the duke Rycharde of Normandy kissed him more than .x. times and whan he had feasted him ynough he said to him duke Richarde I praye you that ye wil tel me what prisoÌ gaue you Reynawde what meates for to eat Sir said the duke of NormaÌdy by the fayth that I owe to god and to you I had better prison and was more at mine ease than euer knyght was
theyr maister and lorde And whan the admyralle hearde the tydynges he began to crye hie and said O Machomet what âilleth now that vnhappi folke that make so greate feast I beleue that they ben as the swanne is whan she shall die for I am sure they shal one of these daies be al slaine and therfore they make so great ioye And whan barbas the admirall had sayde this he sware by machomet afore all his barons that he should make an issue on the morow for to hewe al the christen in peeces Syr saide an olde paynym Beware your fleshe well of a greate kerle thae is there new come among them the whiche bereth a great forke in his hande for yf he hyt you ye are but dead I am well sure that all they of thoste make this Ioie for that lurden I know him not sayd thadmyral to the paynym but and I canne hye hym with my branke of steele I shall make him leue his great head behind him for a pledge till he commeth again for he is naked and therfore he may not endure ayenst me WHan the kynge Thomas that was there prisoner saw the great feast ioye that the christen made Wist not what he should thinke but sa it to himself Ha goddes what haue now my folkâ that they make suche a noyse suche a sporte alas doo they not remembre me I beleue better ye than naye for the feaste that they make nowe is for somwhat Wyt it that they of rames and of Iaffes and of all the countrey aboute Iherusalem whan they saw the great light they wende that the citie had be set a fyre and some were sore aferde leste thoste had a doo Thus was all the countrey abasshed but they that were in thoste cared but litell for it And whan they had sported themselfe ynoughe they ordeined the watche and after went to rest And whan the day was come the barons rose and went to the pauillyon of Reinawde whiche was vp and redie and they salued him reuerently and after said vnto him thus sir what thinke ye that we must doo shal we assaille the citie or no Lordes saide the duke Reinawde me semeth that it were good for to giue to it a sawte For we haue great auauntage afore hande for he that shall dyein the sawtinge of the holye citie he shal be saued without doubte whiles that the barons deuised thus together for to giue a sawte to the citie the admyrall of Percie made to open the gate a force and yssued out of the town with ten thousande fightinge menne well armed And whan Reinawde and the barons of surry knewe it they ranne to their harneys Reinawd was armed incontinent tooke his helme and his swerde and lighted vpoÌ his horse that the erle of Rames had geuen him And whan reinawde was on horsebacke Mawgis armed him also and mounted on horsebacke and began to crie Barons of Surrye be not dysmayed in no wyse for I promyse god I shal neuer returne to be hermyt yf the turkes be not dyscomfyted and ouerthrowen And after he had sayde so he went to Geffraye of Nasareth and saide to hym Baron keep you by Reynawde for if all the other knyghtes in the felawshyp were suche as ye be Barbas shoulde be discomfited or noone and whan al the barons were wel armed and wel on horsebacke they ordeined theyr battailles as wel as they could And than came the admyrall barbas that smot in to thoste of the christen The fyrste barrailie of the sarasins was conduited by a king that had to name Margarys that was lord of the towre of Tailes whiche was ryght cruell and dare in his armes a dragon pyctured with an horryble fygure WHan the kyng Margaris sawe it was time to smite vpon the christen he spurred his horse with his spurres ran ayenst Reinawd And whan Reinawde saw him come he said to therle of rames Heere cometh one to seeke his death with great haste ye haue doon me great honoure but this king shal haue dyshonoure for your loue at the fyrst And whan Reinawd had saide this he spurred his horse and ranne ayenst Margarys so harde that nother sheelde nor quyras could not saue him but he shoued his spere thorough the brest and ouerthrew sterke dead to the grounde And whan Reinawde had gyuen that great stroke he saide Goe thy waye to helle the deuill spede thee and beare felawship to thy predecessours that went there afore thee And after he put hande to the swerde and smot another sarasin so harde throughe the helme that he cloue him to the teethe and forthe withall he taught another vnder the bauere so that he made his heade to flee from the shoulders and whan he had slain these three he cried Mountawban vpon these panyms And whan Mawgis hearde hym he put himselfe amonge the Turkes so couragyously that the first that he recouÌtred he sent him downe in to helle and than tooke his swerd in his hande and dyd merueylles of armes so that he slewe so many turkes that reinawde and the barons meruaylled greatly Than saide Reinawde to the earle of Rames What say you by my cosin Mawgis saw you euer so good an hermyte By my soule said therle he is to be commended blessed be the wombe that bare hym and thoure the ye ben come in to this londe for now I am well sure that Iherusalem shal be recouered the king Thomas delyuered out of prison with the grace of God Whan therle of Rames had sayde this to Reynawde he spurred his horse with the spurres and smote a turke such a stroke that he made the yren of his spere to apeece at the back of him that he fel dead to therth after he tooke his swerde in his hand began to crye Rames as hie as he coulde sayinge barons smite nowe a good for the persians shall be nowe vtterly dyscomfyted yf god keep the valliaunt Reynawd of MountawbaÌ his valiauÌt cosin Mawgis Now is the houre come that the traytoure Barbas shall finish his life that thê° betraied the holy citie of Iherusalem by his false wit Than did set on the barons of the londe whiche began to make merueiles of armes ayenst the sarasins Who had seene that tyme Reynawde and Mawgis how they made way to them that cam after theÌ he wolde haue meruailled greatly for I promise you none durst abide afore them were he neuer so hardy or valliaunt but he was slayne of them After Reinawde and Mawgys was therle of Rames Geffray of Nasareth and wallerauen of fayete with their folke and thei made merueilles of armes ayenst their enemies and whan the sarasins sawe that they could not abide the greate domage of that the christeÌ bare to them they put them selfe to flyght taward the citie WHan thadmirall Barbas sawe that his folke were dyscomfited he was angry for it said whoresoÌnes whi doo ye slee thus awai know you not thus
cosyn I am yet dysposed for your loue to beare armes for I coulde not suffre you in daunger And whan the king Symon hearde Mawgis speake so he sayd hym great thanke and went enbraced hym and after sayd by my soule heere is a good Hermite for whan it was need he put wel hand to the swerde Syr sayd Reynawde ye say well trouth and I promyse you men should fynde in the worlde but few suche knightes as he is one After all these thynges sayde euery man tooke his harneys and the kinge all armed went to Mawgys sayd al laughyng My freend Mawgis I pray you that ye wyl beare my standarde this day Syr answerde mawgys yf ye take me it I promyse you I shall haue it in suche a place that ye shall swete or euer ye shall come to me And whan the kynge hearde Mawgys speake so he was ryght glad therof and than he tooke him hys baner And whan Mawgis had it in his hande he sayd to the kynge syr now folow me that wil for this day shall thadmyral be discomfited yf it please God whan Mawgys had sayd so he gaue the spurres to his horse put himself amonge the sarasyns as a lyon Reynawde folowed him nighe recountred a persian whome he smote with his spere so great a stroke that he made hym tumble dead to the ground wherof thother were sore abasshed after he put hande to hys swearde shoued himself into the greatest prece smote on eyther syde of him vpon the persians so meruailouse strokes that they were greatly meruayled with it for al they that he hit he brought theym to thyr ending and whan thadmyrall saw the great efforce of armes the Reinawde made agaynst hys folke he sayd to a neuew of hys that was by hym By mahoune I saw not yesterday that great maÌ of armes nother he that beareth now the baner of Simon from whens the deuil are they come that so greatly greueth vs I see wel they be some straunge knightes I am all redy so feard of them that all the bloud in my body trembleth This hangyng the kyng Symon Reynawde made great slaughter of the sarasyns But whaÌ the admiral saw that hys folke bare theÌselfe so yll he wyst not whether he wolde flee or abyde Than came reynawde brekyng the prece that cried as loude as he could mountawban And whan thadmiral heard that cry he was sore a ferde that he wyst not whether to go but sayd by mahoune I beleue that this deuil helpeth himself with some deuilry for I left him in Iherusalem and now he is heere THan whan thadmyral Barbas knew that he that made so great greef to his folke was Reynawde of mouÌtawbaÌ he shooke al for feare said to his neuew by machomet my god we haue doone yll to come heere for to make warre agaynst the king Simon syth that he hath this deuill Reynawde of mountawban for his like is there not in all the worlde of knighthoode now wolde I be wel in my ship in the middes of the sea for yf I abyde hym he shall make an ende of me Syr sayde his folke haue no doubt of the greate vilayn for and he come ones in our handes he shal not lyghtly scape vs lordes sayd thadmyral ye wot not what ye say ye know not the greate prowes of Reynawde for we were ten times mo folke than we ben yet should not we endure agaynst hym therfore by the fayth that I owe to mahoune I wil abide heere no lenger And whaÌ he had sayd these wordes he turned the brydel as sone as he might fled towarde his galays al his folke after him And whan Reynawde saw that the paynems were discomfited he began to crye after Mawgis after for the truauÌtes are discomfited And whan he had sayd so he put hymselfe to the chase the king Simon after him went castyng downe Sarasyns as beastes And wyt that they slew so many of theÌ that men should not beleue the numbre but they coulde not take thadmirall for he was the formest BArbas the admyrall of Persie whan he founde hymself saued in his shyp he began to looke a lande and saw the great domage that Reinawde Mawgys made of hys folke for all the shores of the sea were ful of sarasiÌs slayne wherof he had great sorow so began he to pull his heres of his berde cursed thoure that euer he was borne Reynawde came to the shores saw that thadmyrall was saued wherof he was full sory wyst not what he should doo more to him but he made to be cast boltes of wylde fyre into the galley of thadmyrall so that he brent the moste part of it and Barbas was fayne to entre into another ship And ye ought to wyt that all the sarasins that bode a land lost theyr liues whan yeâing SimoÌ saw that he was to his aboue of his enemies he was ryght glad of it so ranne he and enbraced Reynawde and after sayde to hym Reynawde I know wel that I am kiÌg by your prowes for ye had not be the admirall Barbas had distroyed me and had made an ende of me wherfore it is reason that ye be rewarded for it therfore Reynawd I make you lorde of all my goodes of all my lande Than sayde Reynawde syr I thanke you muche of your good wyl for we be not they that haue discomfyted the sarasyns It was god and none other for we be not so puyssaunt I and Mawgys for to doo it without him And whaÌ they had thus spoken together a loÌg whyle at the sea syde the kyng tooke Reynawde with the one hande and Mawgys with the other hande and went to warde the Citie And whan they were come there the king made the gayne to be brought presented it to Reynawde and to Mawgys wherof Reinawde Mawgis wolde take nothynge but gaue it to the poore knightes incoÌtinent Mawgis tooke agayn his hermites werd Than began the feast to be there great for the victorye that god had giuen them The cheere that the kyng made to Reynawde in his paleys is not for to say for it was great and for to make shorte tale Reynawde was honourably feasted the space of foure dayes And than he woulde departe asked leue of the kynge wherof the kyng was ful sory bycause he wolde bide no lenger and whan he sawe that he wolde go he gaue him mani fayre giftes made his ship to be garnisshed with muche good vitayles And whan this was doone Reynawde tooke leue of the kyng Symon of hys barons and the kyng conueyed Reynawde to the shyp And whan he came to the patting the king SimoÌ kissed Reynawde sore weepyng and after went agayne to Palerne and Reynawde did doo hale vp saile and tooke sea ceassed neuer tyl he cam to Rome and there they tooke lande and he and Mawgys went and
neuer whyle I lyue I shall neuer mary agayn Cosin sayd mawgys ye doo well but I praye you recomforte yourselfe for ye know wel that a thynge that may not be amended must be left alone Cosyn sayde Reynawde ye say well I shall doo so Whan Reynawde his brethern Mawgys had doone great cheere that day at Mountawban Mawgys on the morow next tooke leue of hys cosyns weÌt agayne to his hermytage whan he wolde departe he sayd to Reynawde Cosin remeÌbre you wel that for you are dead so many folke for whome ye beholden to pray god that he wyll haue mercy on their soules And whaÌ Mawgis had sayd so he tooke his way wolde not suffre no body to conuey him and he dyd so muche by his iourneys that he came to hys hermitage where he lyued a holy lyfe For after he was come agayne to his hermitage he ete neuer but herbes and rootes of the wood in this maner wise liued Mawgis the space of .vii. yeres that he sawe nother man nor woman And whan it came to the .viii. yere the good mawgys deceassed fro this worlde about Easter Iesu for his pitie pardoÌ hys soule ¶ Heere leueth the history to speke of mawgis whome god pardoÌ tourneth to speke agayne of Reynawde of his brethern of hys children how they were made knyghtes ¶ How Reynawde sent his two soÌnes to the kynge Charlemayne muche honourably for to be made knyghtes at Parys IN this party sheweth thistory that after that Mawgys was erturned agayne to his hermitage Reynawde was euer after sory for hym also for his wyfe But he recomforted hymself as wel as he might with his brethern A long while abode Reynawde with his brethern making as good cheere as he could and wit it that aboute that tyme died the olde duke Aymon which left greate goodes to his children but shortly to speket Reinawde departed gaue all his goodes as well that he had of his owne as that was fallen by the death of his father AymoÌ vnto hys brethern except onlye that he reteyned for himself the castell and town of Mountawban and found the wayes that they were al maryed noble rychely Who that should speke of the brethern of Reynawde and of theyr dedes it were to long to be recouÌted Reynawde thaÌ dwelled loÌge at Mountawban with his children which he endoctrined taught in al good and vertuous maners as wel as he could nouryshed them tyll that they were men and coulde beare bothe sheelde and spere And vpon a daye he had theym to the feelde on horsebacke and made to be brought there speres and sheeldes for to assay themselfe and tooke with hym tweÌty knightes whome whan they were comen in the feeld he made his children to iuste with And ye ought to wit that the two sonnes of Reynawd Iusted as well as thoughe they had be hauntynge the warre ten yeares more And whan Reynawde saw that they did so wel he called theym afore hym afore the knyghtes and sayd to them My fayre children thaÌked be our lorde ye be raile men and well made of body It is now tyme that ye were made knyghtes wherfore I wyl that ye go serue the king Charlemayne your souereyne lorde whyche shall make you knyghts for or more noble hande ye canne not be dowbed to the noble ordre of knight hode Syr sayd Aymonet we are redy to fulfyll your wyl in euery thing that ye commaunde vs. Father sayde Yonnet ye say well to vs for it is tyme that we folow the warres but sith it is your pleasure to sende vs to Charlemayne We must go there honourabli but it caÌnot be wtout great cost My sonne sayd Reynawde care not for the cost for we haue good ynoughe gramercy our lorde for to brynge you there accordyng to your âstate I promise you I shall sende you there or I be .vii. night elder as honourably as any went thither sin my tyme. Father sayd the childreÌ we are redy to goe whan it please you WhaÌ Reynawde had sayd this to his children he wente home agayne to MountawbaÌ wel ioyful of his two sonnes that proued so well whan he was within his castell he called his stewarde and sayd to hym Stewarde I commaunde you that ye aâay my childreÌ honorably richelye of diuerse maners of clothing and of thynges that longeth of them for I wil send them to the court of the king Charlemayne for to be made knightes of hym sâe that they goe as honestly as any went thyther this .xx. yeres My lorde sayd the stewarde I shall wel doo your coÌmauÌdemeÌt sith that it pleaseth you for ye haue inough clothes full ryche of your owne of dyuerse colours WHan the stewarde heard the coÌmaundement of hys mayster wythout anye taryeng he dyd right well al that was commaunded him by Reynawde for he made to be redy many palfreis and coursers wel barbed and couered wyth ryche cloth of golde with belles of siluer gylte in great plentye and purueyed for two good harneyses al complete for speres swerdes and for al suche other thinges as a perteyneth for the two yonge bachelers Shortli to speake it was not possible to ataye better two yonge squiers than the two yong sonnes of Reynawde were by the purueyaunce of his stewarde and whaÌ all thinges were redy he brought theÌ before his maysters And whan Reinawde saw this he was glad said by god stewarde I conne you thanke that ye haue purueyed so wel for my childreÌ Reynawde made .v. C knightes wel redy to bere coÌpani to his sonnes And whan they were al redi Reynawde called to his sonnes and sayd to theÌ Mi fayre sones ye be wel apoynted thaÌked be god heere is a fayre bende of noble meÌ to beare you felawship therfore ye shal now go to the court of Charlemayn our great kyng whiche shall make you great cheere and honour for my loue my chyldren ye be of hie lynage ryght noble therfore beware that ye doo nothynge ayenst your noblenes ne that myght returne to anye shame to me nor to your lygnage and I comaund you vpon the faith that ye owe to me that the money that I delyuer to you now ye dyspende it honestly spare not to doo good therwith to poore gentilmen and yonge bachelers that wold faine come to worship whan ye haue all spended it honestly sende to me for more and ye shall haue ynough and aboue this I charge you that ye serue god alwaies afore anye thyng that ye haue a doo and that ye speake no worde foule oute of youre mouth to no lady nor damsell worship your better and loue your neyghbour and so shal you be praysed of euery man Moreouer I charge you that ye liue freendly togither as two brethreÌ ought to boo to you yonnet my fayre sonne I commaunde you the ye bere honour and reuerence to your
brother for he is your elder that know ye well THan sayde yonnet father be you sure I shall serue my dere brother as I wolde doo you that are my lord my dere father By my faithe faire sonne saide reinawde if ye do so ye shal be praised for it whersomeuer ye come or goe But yet one thing I forbid you that ye speake not to muche for if ye doo the contrarie the frensshemen shall saie that ye be not like inconditions to your parentage Father saide the childrene we haue suche a trust in oure Lorde god that he shall keep vs from al thing that is contrarye to his will and that we shall so gouerne vs that ye shal gladlie auowe vs for your children all they of the courte of Charlemayne shall loue vs but yf they wil doo wrong whan Reynawd heard his children speake so the was âight glad therof and drewe them aside and said to theim My fayre children ye goe now into frauÌce remember well heere after al which I shall tell you now ye must know the there be in the courte of Charlemaine a great lygnage of folke that neuer loued vs but litel the which are of the greate power thei be of mauÌt I charge you that ye ne goe nor come with theim for nothing that they can tell you yf thei hurt you by any wise see that ye reueÌge your selfe wysely shewe them that ye be the sonnes of Reinawde of mountawban Father said the chyldren doubt not we shal not suffre that anye outrage be doo to vs if we mai Faire children saide reinawde kneele afore me they kneeled anon afore their father reinawd gaue theÌ his blessyng after kissed them weeping manie times gaue them leaue after turned him to his knightes and saide My lordes I commend you to god pray you that ye rend wel my children suffre not that any wrong be don to them to your power for ye knowe wel that we ben hated in fraunce I praie you giue theÌ alwaies good couÌseil and that thei be alwaies courteous gentil liberal of their goodes for a priÌce couetous was neuer praised whan reinawd had said this he withdrew him sore weeping Thus leueth thistorie to speake of reinawd of his bretherne and returneth to shew of his children that were gone to the courte of Charlemâine ⧠Howe after that the kyng Charlemayne had receyued ful sweetly the sonnes of Reynawde they foughte with the suÌnes of Foulques of Moryllon discomfited them in the ysle of oure lady within Parys bycause they had layde treason vpon reynawde theyr father for cause that he had slayne Foulques in the playne of Valcoloures NOwe sheweth the tale that after that Aimonet yonnet were departed fro theyr father they rode so muche by their Iourneys that they came to parys and lodged theym by the palays and whan thei were lodged the two childreÌ clothed themselfe honestly all theyr folke than they went with their felawshyp holdyng eche other by the handes to the palays And whan the barons of Charlemaine sawe come the .ii. brethern so rychely arayed and so goodly a felawshyp of knyghtes after them they meruayled greatlye what they myght be so said th one to thother heere be two fayre chyldren by lykelyhod they shoulde be brethreÌ and they must be of som hie lignage The barons theÌ folowed them whaÌ they mouÌted to the palays they entred within the great hall where thei found the king Charlemayne that deuised with some of his barons there was the duke naimes Richard of Normandy Salamon of breteyn Ogyer the dane therle GuaneiloÌ also Constans and rohats which .ii hated reynawde of Mountawban ryght sore for they were the sonnes of Foulques of morillon that reinawd had slayn in the plaine of valcoloures whan he and his bretherne defended them so wel at the roch of MouÌtbron These two bretherne Constans and rohars had great name in the court but their hertes were full false and the kinge Charlemayne loued theim well for theyr prowes and greate knighthode With Charlemain were also many other greate prynces and barons wherof the booke maketh no mencion For it were to long a thing for to be recounted THan whan the two brethern the sonnes of Reinawde of Mountawban were come in to the hall they saw the kinge amonge his barons so went they vnto hym and kneeled downe afore him and kissed his feete And than Aymonet spake first and said Sir god giue you good life longe and keepe from euill all youre noble companye Sir we are come to you for to haue the ordre of knighthod if it plese your good grace to giue it to vs for of no better hand than is youres We can not haue it wherfore sir we beseche you humbly for god and for the loue of our father that it will please you to receyue vs in your seruise vnto the time ye giue the saide ordre of knightehode who beÌ you said the king that speake thus Sir saide Aymonet we are the sonnes of Reynawde of Mountawban And whan the kyng Charlemayn vnderstoode that they were the sonnes of Reynawde he rose vpon hys feet lyghtly and receyued them honourably and after said vnto theym My chyldrene ye be righte welcome and how fareth your father syr sayde the chylderne he doothe well thanked be god and he recommendeth him right huÌbly to your good grace beseeching you that ye will haue vs for recommended and we haue lefte hym at Mountawban but he draweth now sore to age Thus goeth the worlde my children said the king euery man must take in it an ende Muche glad was the kynge Charlemayne of the comynge of the two sonnes of Reynawde and ryght gladly he looked vpon theim for the loue of theyr father for the more he behelde theim and the more fayrer he founde thâim and better lyked theim and well he loued theim because they were lyke the father And whaÌ that he had looked vpon them ynough he said to his barons Lordes if the children wold forsake the father they coulde not for neuer children were more lyke to him than they whan he had sayde so he turned roward the children and sayde to theym Fayre childrene ye shall be made knightes at al tymes whan ye will for the loue of youre father my good freend and I shal giue you more londes than your father hath and for loue of you I shal make an hundred knightes more with you for ye ben of suche a stocke come that ye be worthy for to be honoured prâised and holden dere And than whan the duke Naimes Rowland Oâiuer that came there and all the other Peeres of Fraunce sawe that they were the two soÌnes of Reinawd of mountawbaÌ they were ryght glad of it than euery man kissed theym by great loue and asked them howe Reinawde and his bretherne bâd lordes saide Aymonet what are you that be so glad of
Charlemayne syr we will be suretes for Constans Rohars for they be of our lygnage Lordes saide Charlemain I take them you to keepe and I charge you to bryng them againe to the court whan time shal be Syr sayd the sureties we shal doo as ye commaund vs. And whan the king had receiued the sureties of CoÌstans and of Rohars Aymonet and yonnet came forth said in this maner Sir heere been our gages howe that we wil defende that oure father slew neuer Foulques of morillon by treasoÌ Children said the king Charlemaine ye speake well but I must haue surety of you as I haue of the other party yf I wil doo reason than lept forth Rowland Olyuer the duke Naimes of bauyre Ogier of denmarke Richarde of Normandy and Escoufe the sonne of Oedon which said to the kyng Syr we been sureties for the sonnes of Reinawd we shall present theim to you at the daye of bataill Sirs saide the king Charlemayne it pleaseth me wel but the chyldren of Reynawde been not yet knightes as ye know but by the faithe that I owe to god they shall be to morowe and than we shal sende our letters to Reynawde that he come to see the battayl of his childreÌ for thys daie fourty dayes I deuyse it Whan the euyn came the kyng Charlemain made be called hys stuarde and sayde to hym Goe and bryng me to morow the sonnes of Reynawde for I wyll that they ben to morow named knightes and see that they been well honoured for I wyll doo this for the loue of theyr father and puruey so that they haue eche of theim a good courser and good harnays mete for their bodyes Whan the stuarde hearde the commaundement of the king Charlemayne he dyd well the tenour therof And whan the morning came the stuarde brought Aimonet yonnet well apoynted and in theyr companye all suche other as the kynge for their loue wolde make knightes that daye And whan that they were afore the kinge Aymonet and Yonnet requyred the ordre of knyghthode to whome the kinge gaue it with good hearte and in lyke wise the other for loue of them and than was a greate feast made that daye And whan the feast was finished Charlemain tooke a messager whiche he sente vnto Reinawd of Mountawban and sent him worde that he should come to the court with good companye for hys chylderne were called of treason by the sonnes of Foulques of Morillon sayinge that he had slayne theyr father by treason and how hys childreÌ had caste their gages sayinge that they had lyed falsely THan whan the duke Reinawde hearde these tydynges that Charlemayne sent hym he meruayled of it sore Than sent he for all his bretherne by his letters that he shoulde com to him in armes for it was neede And whan the bretherne of Reynawde vnderstoode these tydynges without anye taryinge they came to the brother at Mountawban And whan Reinawde sawe them he was glad and kyssed them th one after the other and after he tolde them al that the king Charlemayne had giue him to knowe and whan the brethern of Reynawde vnderstoode it they meruaylled of it brother saide Rycharde doubte not for the mater shall come better than ye weene of by the grace of god I counseyll that we goe to the court of the kyng Charlemayne For whan we shall be there we shal soone vnderstonde the kinges mynde and what his will is towarde you and I promise you yf he hathe doone anye wronge to our neuewes your childreÌ god neuer haue mercye on my soule but I shal slee him what hap therof Brother saide Reinawde I wyl wel that we goe to Paris and whan we shal be there we shal wel vnderstond how the kinge Charlemaine bereth himselfe toward my chyldren Brother sayd Alard ye speake well wiselye me semeth after myne aduise that we ought to goe thither without anye longe taryinge And whan they were there to accorded they departed fro MouÌtawban with a right noble company and so muche they rode by their Iourneys that they came to the citie of parys And whan they were come there al the .xii. peeres knew anon of their coming and went ayenst them and brought with them Aymonet yonnet and receyued Reinawd his bretherne with great ioye honour And whan Reynawd saw his two fayre sonnes he said to them in this wise My children now shal it be seen if ye be my sonnes or no. For and ye be my chylderne ye shall auenge me of that great shame that these traitoures put vpon me without a cause Father said the chyldren doubte not therof for they were .x. ayenst vs yet shall we ouercome theym by the grace of god For euerye man knoweth well that ye be as true a knyghte as any is in the worlde And whan the kynge Charlemaine knewe the comyng of Reinawd that was come so well accompanyed he was gladde of it and sent worde to Reynawde that he should come to him the which thynge Reynawde dyd and whan the kyng saw him he made him good chere and with good hearte and also to his brethern And whan Reinawde had be with the king a longe while he tooke leue of him went to his lodges again and whaÌ he was there he callede his bretherne and his children said to them My sonnes come hither tell me how the kynge Charmayn bereth himselfe towarde you what he sayth of this quarell that ye haue vndertake I muste knowe the trouth of it Father sayd the chyldren wyt it that the kynge Charlemayne loueth vs muche and he entreteyneth vs aboue all other honourably for the loue of you that he loueth ryghte much as he sayth And than they tolde him how he had made them knightes and how he susteined their quarell ayenst the traytoures and all other WHan Reinawde and his brethern heard the childreÌ speake thus they were glad of it for they doubted lest Charlemaine wolde haue faten euell with them And whan Reynawd of mouÌtawban wist that the king had borne hymselfe so wel toward his sonnes he saide that he shoulde serue hym euermore as his souerayne lorde And on the morowe Reinawde went for to see the king at his risyng from his bed and thanked him muche of the greate worshyp that he had doone to his chyldren Than said Charlemaine to him Reinawde euer syth that I sawe that ye dyd my commaundemente with good wil that ye were obeynge to me I dyd caste all myne angre from me and all the euyll wyll that I had ayenst you and I wil that ye wit that I am wel yours and shal be as longe as I lyue in this worlde for I take you for one of my best freendes And whan Reinawd heard the debonairtie and the kinde wordes of the king he cast himself to the feet of him and in lykewise dyd all hys bretherne and thanked him muche wyt that Reinawd his bretherne abode
in parys with greate Ioye and pleasure vnto the daye of the batayll that shoulde be of his childerne And this hangyng Reynawde had doon make good harnays for his chyldren and had pourueyed two good horses for them THan whan the day of the batayll was come the chyldren of Foulques of Moryllon came and presented them afore the kynge redy for to fyght And whan the kyng saw them he saide to theim Childrene ye haue had euyll counseyll to chalenge the sonnes of Reynawde of Mountawbân as ye haue doon For I am sure it shall repent you but this is not the first faut that your lygnage hath doon nor it shall not be the last I feare me of it And whan the earle Guanellon al they of the lygnage of Foulques of morillon heard the king speake so they were so greatlye abasshed that thei wist not what thei should doo but kept al their peace aswered no word And than said ConstaÌs to the king Syr we pray you for god that ye wyll telle to vs the place where we shall fight ayenst our enemies Than stood vp the duke Naymes of bauyere said syr Constans speaketh well ye must deuise the place and where they shall fyght two ayenst .ii. or one ayenst a nother alone Naymes sayde the kyng I wyl that ye Iudge this matter sir sith that it please you so I shal bespeake it with a good will Syr said the duke Naymes me semeth bycause that Constans hath called the sonnes of Reynawd to batayl both for one mater that they ought to fight two ayenst nawde to battayl both for one matter that they ought to fyght two ayenst two and al foure togyther Syr sayd Reynawde the duke Naymes sayth ryght well By my fayth Reinawde sayde the kinge Charlemayne and I graunt it so but I wyll that the bataylle be made in the ysle of our ladye within sauoine to morow in the mornynge And whan the kynge Charlemayne had sayde thus the barons tooke leue of him eche of theÌ went to their lodges and Reinawde also the which tooke his two sonnes with him and the two soÌnes of Foulques of Moryllon went also with theyr freendes Whan Reinawde and his bretherne had souped and had made good there he made brynge harneis ynoughe and made Alarde and Rycharde and hys two chyldren aymonet and yonnet to be armed And thaÌ he made to be shewed to Aymonet and to yonnet howe they shoulde defende themself of their enemies and in what maner they shoulde assaylle them And whaÌ that this was doon Reynawde dyd sende hys chyldren to sainte Vyctoure and the traytoures went to saynt Germayne for to watche that nyghte And whan the daye came a byshop that was of the lygnage of Constans and of rohars sange masse afore his cosins the bysshoppe Turpyn said masse affore the sonnes of Reinawd which was with them at saint Victoure and also the tuelue peeres of Fraunce And whan the yonge knightes had hearde the masse they came al in their harnays to the palays before the kynge Charlemayne And whan the kynge sawe them he called his neuew Rowland and Olyuer the duke Naimes of bauyete and Richarde of Normandye and sayde to them Lordes ye ben all my menne I commaunde you vpon the trouthe that ye owe to me that ye goe keep the feeld by such maner that my honoure be saued by it and that ye keep to euery man his ryghte For by the fayth that I owe to god yf there be any man so hardy that wyll doo any outrage I shall angre hym right sore Wherfore I wyll that ye passe the water of Sayne in to the ylle wyth the fyghters and that ye beare wyth you the halowes for to make theym swete there vpon a fore they shall entre in to the feelde that they goe to it all in good quarell truly Sir saide the barons we shall doo youre commaundemente and also we shall keep therin well your honour for we ben bounde therto Lordes sayde the kynge Charlemayne ye speake wel but ye must take good heede well to all For there shall be great folke gathered of the one parte of the other wherfore I feare me that some medlynge shall happe amonge them For Rohars is full of greate treason and all his freendes I know it well And of the other parte Reynawde hys bretherne are ryghte puyssaunte and wise and thei haue great power with them and they wyl not see themselfe wronged and namely Rycharde the brother of Reinawd for if he be ons angrye he spareth nother kynge nor erle And therfore I feare him most of all the other for he wolde once haue slayne me I am yet remembred therof Of Reynawde I doubte not for he is in euery thyng reasonable Sir saide the duke Naymes be not dysmayed of nothyng for we shall keep well youre ryght and your honoure without to doo any wronge to any body This hanging the children of Foulques of Moryllon went to the said ysle where as the king Charlemain had told them that they should fight And whan they were passed ouer the riuer in to the ysle with their horses they bounde theim and than they set theim selfe downe vpon the faire grasse waytinge after theyr aduerse partie Now heare what the traitoures had ordeyned ye ought to wyt that whyle the kynge Charlemaine had spoken with his Barons as ye haue heard Berenger Ardock and Griffon of haute braunche dyd put themselfe in a bushe nygh by the saide ysle of oure lady and purposed that yf the sonnes of Reynawde had the better of the feelde ayenst the two other sonnes of Morillon that than they shoulde yssue oute vpon theym with a right great numbre of folke for to slea them shamefully WHan that Reinawd saw that it was time that hys sonnes shoulde goe to the ysle for to accomplysh their battaille he called Aymonet said to him com hither faire sonne ye be the eldest and therfore ye ought to be honoured afore the yonger brother holde I gyue you flamberge my good swerde by the whiche ye shall take vengeaunce of these traytours For ye been in the righte and they in the wrong father said Aymonet ye may be in a suretie that ye shal see this day suche a thing that shal be to youre hertes ioye for we shall bring the traitours to their shamefull death it please god And whan Reinawd heard hys sonne so valiauntly speake he was glad and kissed him And than he gaue hym his benediccion and in lykewise to yonnet And whan he had doon this he broughte his bretherne his children to the ysle of our lady And whaÌ they were ouer he and his bretherne came again towarde the kynge But as they wolde haue gone there came a messengat that ascried to Reinawde as loude as he might Reynawde haue mercy on thy children For yf thou see not wel to them they be lost wyt that Griffon of haute braunche is embusshed
soule said Rowlande nother you nother youre brother be not to be blamed but ye haue doone as good knightê should doo And I promise you that youre enemies shal be this day brought to shame and confusion ANd whan Rycharde of mouÌtawban sawe Charlemayn he knew well that he was come for to keepe the feeld and that the traytours should not con doo any thing to his neuews So said he to his folke let vs take of our harneys For syth that the kyng is heere himself we need not to wayte heere no more Than went Richarde and his folke and dysarmed them And whan Richarde had doone so he lyght agayn vpon his horse and came agayne ouer the ryuer of Saynt swyminge vnto the foresayd ysle And whan he was on lande he spurred his horse and made him to lepe three or foure lepes afore the company And than he came streyght afore the kyng and made to him reuerens honourably whan the kinge sawe Rycharde he sayd to hym and ye Rycharde wyll ye dyshonour me that are come in arme for to breke my feeld Syr said Rycharde saue your grace for I neuer thought it but wyt it well for certayne that yf Gryffron of hautbrauÌche had come for to greue mine neues I wolde haue made his forhead for to swete Syr ye be our souerayne lorde so ought ye to maynten and keepe vs and so shall I tell you a thing afore al your barons that yf ye beleue the traytours of MauÌt ye shall ones repent it I am well a payed that ye your .xii. peres haue seen the treason of Griffon of haut-braunche how he wolde haue slayne mine neuews Ha by god said charlemayne ye saye trouth he is well worthy to be blamed and I tell you they that shal be ouer come shal be haÌged nor shall not be saued for none of theyr lynage Syr sayd Rycharde it pleaseth me well but I tell you that yf I should dye I should neuer suffre my neuews to be wronged By my head sayd the kynge ye shall see that I shal doo reason vnto euerye party For I shall bryng thâm together let god helpe the ryght Than whan Charlemayne had sayde so he went to the two children of Foulques of Moryllon and sayd to them now lordes hye you of that ye haue to doo goe and swere vpon the halowes that iustly ye entre in this quarell Syr sayd they we shall doo it with ryght good wyll for the chyldren of Reynawde ben dead but yf that they confesse that theyr father slew our father by treason Then spake the bisshop Turpin and sayd Lordes come hither and swere vpon the halowes see to that ye forswere not yourself for he that forswereth him selfe shal be ouer throwen no doubte therof whan the bisshop Turpin had said this the two sonnes of foulques of moryllon kneeled downe afore the halowes and sware that reinawde of Mountawban had slayne theyr father by treason after they had made theyr othe they kyssed the Halowes and offred two besans of golde And than went and lyghted vpon theyr horses And thê° as they lyghted they were to nye eche other so that th one hurted thother so hard that they fel downe almoste both to the erth And whan Reynawde saw this he sayd to the other barons heere is an euyll token I beleue that they ben forsworne This hanging cam the children of Reinawde that kneeled afore the halowes and swore that the two sonnes of Foulques of Moryllon had lied falsely all that they had sayd And then they put their haÌdes vpon the halowes and offred a ryche gifte and the Bysshop Turpyn gaue them the benediction in lykewyse the kynge Charlemayne and all the other barons than of Reynawde and of his brethern and after they wente and mouÌted vpon their horses lightly WHan the foure Champions were vpon theyr horses thei made none other taryenge but gaue the spurres to theyr horses and ran one against an other and smote eche other in theyr sheeldes so sore that the speres flew in peeces without that any of them fell on the ground And whaÌ they had broken their speres thei set hande vnto their swerdes Than Aymonet that helde Flamberge in hys hande sayde vnto Yonnet hys brother I pray you brother thynke to doo well For if ye helpe me they shal be vtterly shamed and discomfited as traytours as they ben Brother sayd Yonnet doubt not for I shall neuer fayle you to the death also we ought to recomfort vs. For we ben in the ryght and they be in the wronge Whan the two brethern had spoke ynoughe they went bothe at ones vpon theyr enemyes wyth theyr swerdes in theyr handes And than Aymonet ouertooke Constans with flamberge his swerd and gaue him suche a stroke that the swerde slyded vpon the viser and kut it and his nose a sunder And whan Aymonet sawe that the nose of his enemie fall to the erth he mocked him said to him By god Constans it is worse with you than it was afore for ye shall neuer ben without a mocke for that that this stroke hath doone vnto you for Flamberge slew your father and so shal it doo you it please god And whan Rohars sawe that his brother was so sore wounded he ranne vpon Yonnet and gaue hym so mighty a stroke vpon hys helme so that yf it had not ben of good fine steele he had slaine hiÌ without fayle This hangyng Aymonet ranne agayne vpon Constans and gaue hiÌ suche a stroke vpon hys helme that he made him for to bowe hys backe vpon the sadle for the great might of the stroke the horse muste for veri need fall down vpon his knees and smote his mussell into the erth And whan that the horse felt that stroke he rose lightly vp agayne all afrayed and began for to runne thoroghe the medowes maugre of his maister as mad nor Constans had not the myghte for to rule hym bycause he was a mased and a stonied of that stroke that he had receyued And than Aymonet and Yonnet wente bothe vpon Rohars and beganne to fare foule with him and whan Rohars sawe hymself so sharpelye handled he began to crye with a hie voyce Brother where be you shall ye ler me thus to be slayne falsly CoÌstans that ranne throughe the medow was comen agayne to himself and apeased his horse a litle heard his brother crye So came he agayn to hym and smote Aymonet vpon his helme a great stroke but the helme was good and dommaged hym not And whan that Constans sawe that he had not slayne Aymonet with his stroke he wend to haue gone out of his wit of the other part he saw the place that was al couered with the bloud of his brother so wyst not coÌstans what to doo For Aymonet gaue hym so muche to doo THys hanging Yonnet tooke Rohars bi the helme wolde haue straÌgled him by fyne force But whan Constans saw that he
spurred hys horse with the spurres and shoued him betwene Rohars Yonnet so that it was force to yonnet to let goe hys prise wolde he or no. And whan Aymonet saw that ConstaÌs had deliuered Rohars from the haÌdes of yonnet he went raÌne vpon Constans and smote him with flamberge vpon the sheelde so harde that he made of it two peeces Shortlye to speake the chyldren of Reynawde hasted so muche the two sonnes of Foulques that they began to lese place were so werye that they asked none other thyng but for to rest themselfe But Aymonet yonnet had none other wyll but for to fight still I tell you for certayne that they were all foure sore wounded that they lost much bloud for they had fought longe And whan Constans had soiourned a litle he came vpon Aymonet and gaue him suche a stroke so that he made him a great wounde but no dead wounde And whaÌ Aymonet saw him so wounded he gaue Constans so great a stroke vpon the eare that he bare it away withal the iawe bone whan charlemayne saw that great stroke he might not forbeare but he said By god now is he worse arayed thaÌ he was before for the two sonnes of Foulques of morillon beÌ shamed and confused Sir sayd Reynawde they haue well deserued it for they haue forsworne theÌ selfe falsly This hanging Yonnet went vpon Rohars and gaue him so great a stroke vpon hys helme that he brake it and made his swerde to entre in his head a finger deep Wyt it that the batayle lasted longe the one agaynst the other and it happed that by force of fighting the one against the other they were fyghtyng two two together wel a bowe shot from eche other and so made they two batayles for aymonet fought agaiÌst Constans yonnet faught agaynst Rohars which was fore greued for Yonnet had brought hym to the erth And whan yonnet sawe that he had brought downe rohars he sayd that it were shame to fyght with hym on horsbacke agaynst him on foote so lighted he downe for to fyght wyth Rohars But whaÌ he had habaÌdonned his horse In contynent the said horse ran to the horse of Rohars and wolde haue straÌgled him And whaÌ Charlemayne saw that he began to laughe with it and sayd by my fayth we haue three batayles But I se well that Yonnet hath brought Rohars so lowe that he may no more whan Rohars saw that he myght no more endure the great strokes of Yonnet he began to crye and sayde Ha fayre brother Constans where are ye that ye come not helpe me that are so good a knight and that toke first the quarell in hande wherof it goeth full euyll with vs. For yf ye succour me not now I shall dye incontinent And whan Constans heard his brother crye thus he left Aymonet and went towarde Yonnet for to helpe hys brother but wyt it well that he went not very sounde from Aymonet for he had made hym moe than xx woundes And whan Constans was come to hys brother Incontynent he ranne vpon Yonnet wyth his horse And whan Aymonet saw that he began to crie after ConstaÌs and sayd By my soule he baptysed you full yl the named you Constans For I saw neuer more towarde thaÌ ye be that so renneth away for feare of me whan he had sayd so he ran after for to succour hys brother yonnet And whan he was come there he went a fresshe vpon Constans Constans vpon hym the which gaue him a great stroke vpon his helme but the stroke slyded vpon the horse and slew hym withall And whan Aymonet haw him a grouÌd he righted hym quickely smote Constans vpon his helme and it was so harde that flamberge coulde not entre in it the stroke slyded vpon the vyser brast it and a great part of his visage so that the teeth were seen plainely and with that fel the stroke vpon the horse necke so that he kit it in two peeces and so fell the horse dead to the erth SOre abasshed was Constans whan he saw his horse slain and than Aymonet sayd to him By god false traytour nowe shalt thou dye ye dyd yll whan ye called euer my father of treason whiche is as true a knyght as is anye in all the worlde but now is the daye come that ye shall abye it ful deere And whan Reynawde heard his sonne speake thus he was ryght glad of it thaÌked God therof hertlye whan Aymonet saw Constans vpon his feet agayne he went him vpon and hasted hym ryght sore with strokes so that Constans had no power to strike one stroke more but he went abacke heere and there for to eschew the strokes of Aymonet And whan Constance saw that he wyst no more what to doo he cast hys sheelde to the erth and tooke Aimonet by the waste for to wrastle with hym And whan aymonet saw this he was not afearie of it for he was stronge and lyght so tooke he Constans by the helme and drew it towarde him with such might that he pulled it from the head of him And whan ConstaÌs saw him so sore handled he cryed vpon his brother Rohars sayd Ha brother succour me for I haue no power for to defende my selfe Whan Rohars heard his brother call thus he was ful sory that he might not help him for he had lost so much bloud that he might not well stand vpon his feete but alwayes he forced himselfe so muche that he came vnto his brother Constans and wende to haue smitteÌ Aymonet from behynde but he dyd not bycause Aymonet saw hym come went and smote hym suche a stroke that he felled hym to the earth And than went agayne vpon Constans and gaue him suche a stroke that he smote almoste his left arme of Than began Constans to crye and sayd Ha fayre brother succour me or els I am dead Brother sayde Rohars I can gyue you nother succoures nor helpe for I am my self nere gone and whan Charlemayn saw this he sayd by god now are dead the sonnes of Foulques or morillon by theyr false wit Syr sayd Ogier ye ought not to recke for they maynteyned a false quarell ye say trouth sayd Charlemayn Nowe theyr falshoode apereth well Whan Reynawde saw rhat his children were to their aboue he was ryght glad of it but so was not Guanellon for he was so angry for it that he became as blacke as a moore Then called the sayd Guanellon Berenger Hardock Henry of Lyon and Pignabell of Moryllon and sayd to them Lordes now be we all dyshonoured for the sonnes of Foulques of Morillon are discomfited I wolde fayne succour them yf I durst but I feare to sore the kynge that is there wyth great puyssauÌce Syr sayd Hardres or Hardocke wo is me for it but we can not doo none other thing as for this time therfore we muste refrain our wrathe shew a good face
to the ende that no medlyng falle not vpoÌ vs let vs abide tyll tyme come yâ we may auenge vs therof THis hanging Aimonet saw that he had smiten ConstaÌs a dead wouÌde so was he ryght glad of it by god brother ye haue doone yll that ye haue slayne this false traytour for I wolde haue slayne hym wyth myne owne handes but syth ye haue brought it so ferre make an ende of hym at ones and I shall goe slea Rohars Brother sayde Aymonet ye speake wel now go slea the one and I the other for thus ought men to doo wyth traytours ThaÌ ran the two brethern vpon theyr enemies that laye on the grouÌd that is to wyt vpon Constans to whom he sayd al on hye bycause all they that looked vpoÌ should heare it Tell me Constans false traytoure why dyd ye call my father of treason Withstandynge that men know wel that he is one of the truest knightes of the worlde And that he slew your father in his bodye defendynge Where as your father had purchased for to haue slayne hym by treasoÌ Now tell me your falshode and confesse your treason afore the kyng or els I shal now cut your throte Aymonet sayd Constans for god haue merci on me For I yeelde me to you and than he tooke him his swerde And whaÌ Aymonet had the swerde of the said constaÌs he tooke him vp brought him afore the kynge Charlemayne to whome he said Syr holde this traitour doo with him as reason requireth and whan Charlemayne sawe this he was glad of it and said to Aymonet freende ye haue doone well your deuoyr I can no more aske of you And wit it that whan the other is vaynquisshed I shall make theym bothe to be hanged Syr sayd Aymonet doo your wyl wyth them And whan he had sayde so he went agayn to his brother YoÌnet for to helpe him holdynge his swearde in his hande all bloudy with the bloud of Constans and sayd to Rohars by God false traytour ye shal dye heere anon and wolde haue smyten hym but Yonnet that sawe that sayd to his brother Fayre brother slea him not nor touche hiÌ but goe your way and test your self for I wyll conquere him by my selfe as ye haue doone yours brother sayde Aymonet ye say yll for it was ordeyned that we should eche helpe other and whan Yonnet saw that his brother wolde needes helpe agaynst his wyll he sayde to hym Fayre brother I make mine avowe to god if ye touche Rohars I shal neuer loue you brother sayde Aymonet ye saye not well but I shal forbere me sith it please you so but I promise you if I see you in daunger I shall help you if ye should slea me brother sayd yonnet I wyl wel than Aymonet wtdrew him a litle abacke and than ranne yonnet vpon Rohars that rose vp agayne for to defende hymselfe than gaue yonnet to hym so great a stroke vpon the shoulder that the arme with the shoulder bone fell clene of to the grounde and his swerde withal whan yonnet had giuen that stroke he put his swerde agayn into the sheeth sayd to Rohars the false traytour that must now confesse with thine owne mouth that Reynawde my father is no traytour but he is one of the truest knightes of the worlde and yf thou wylt not doo so thou shalt die incoÌtinent And whan he had sayd so he tooke Rohars by the helme and pulled him to hym warde so harde that he drew it fro his head and begaÌ for to smite him with the pomell of hys swerde vpon the bare head And whaÌ Rohars saw that he was so shrewdlye handled he began for to crye sayd good lorde haue mercy vpoÌ mi soule for I know well that it is doone wyth my body And whaÌ Constans heard his brother say so he began to weepe for he coulde none other doo And whaÌ yonnet sawe that Rohars wolde not forsake that he had sayd nor wolde not cry him mercy he smote him with hys owne swerde so hard that he tooke awaye the one legge from the body of him And than he put his foote vpon him and said Now anon false traytour confesse your falshode or els ye ben now dead to the whiche thynge Rohars answered not And whan yonnet saw that he smote hym the head of Whan Aymonet sawe that hys brother yonnet had slayne Rohars he was ryght glad of it and went to hym and sayde Brother ye haue doone valiauÌtly lorde gramercy that ye haue slayne so this traytour the two brethern tooke eche other by the hande and went to charlemayne to whome Aymonet sayd in thys wyse Syr like it you that wee haue doone for we be redi for to doo muche more for you yf ye coÌmauÌde vs. Fayre sonnes said Charlemayn ye need not for to doo more For ye haue doone ynoughe for Constans is ouercomen Rohars dead Now go rest your self and see that ye haue good leches for your woundes And I promyse you that I shal doo with the traytours as it aperteineth and than Charlemayne commaunded that Constans should be hanged and the body of his brother by him whan the king had giuen this commaundement Constans was anon taken and the body of his brother were drawen at horses tayles before all theyr lygnage and than were hanged as they had well deserued whaÌ they were haÌged Charlemayne said Lordes wyt that I wolde not for a great thyng that it went otherwise wyt it that whan Guanellon sawe hange the sonnes of Foulques that were his neuewes he was sore an angred for it that he almost had lost hys witte Than called he Hardres Berenger Malger that wyll more falshode than Lucifer Henry of Lion Pygnabell Geffray men that neuer dyd good and sayde to theym Lordes ye see howe Charlemayne hath doone to vs great dyshonour for he hath doone hange our kinsmeÌ shamefully but we shall see yet the day that this shame shal be auenged he sayd trouth the traytour For he be trayed afterwarde the .xii. Peeres of Fraunce and made them all die at the batayle of Rounceuales AFter these thiÌges aboue said Reinawde of MountawbaÌ saw that his childreÌ had vainequisshed the children of Foulques he was right glad of it thanked much our lorde god therof than he and his brethern went to them and asked howe they dyd father sayde the children we doo ryght well lorde gramercy Than Alarde Guicharde behelde theyr woundes wherof they were glad This haÌging came there charlemayne and the children came hym agaynst kneeled afore hiÌ thaÌ charmayne asked them children how is it with you be ye sore wounded Syr sayd the children it is well with vs thanked be our lorde you we shal soone be whole Than the kyng seÌt for al the leches sayd to them that they should looke the woundes of Aymonet of Yonnet the whyche thyng they did wtout any taryeng after they sayd to the
king that they made no doubt of them that they should be soone whole And after that the Iustice was doone of the sonnes of Foulques of MorilloÌ Reynawde abode in Paris til his children were whole whan they were whole they went to the Palays to see the kynge Charlemayne the whiche made theÌ good cheere gaue theÌ manye fayre giftes as ben castels fortresses of great name thaÌ Reynawde and hys brethern asked leue of the kyng he gaue it theÌ against his wil prayed them that they wolde come see him agayne syr sayd Reynawde we shal doo gladly your coÌmauÌdement WhaÌ Reynawde had taken leue of the king and also his brethern childreÌ they tooke on their way towarde mouÌtawban and they did so muche by theyr Iourneys that they came to bourdews And whaÌ Reynawde had rest hym a litle he called his chrildren afore his brethern and sayd to them my children heare what I wyl say to you I ordeyne at this tyme that yonnet shal haue ardeyne for his parte and Aymonet Mountawban for it is not longe a goe syth I heard saye that god sayd that the tree that beareth fruite shal neuer dye wit it that I haue offended god greatli and me semeth that the time is now come that I should amende my self for I feare sore my poore soule wherfore I shal doo my deuoure for to yeelde it agayne to the blessed lorde that made it after his Image whan his brethern hearde speake this they know wel what he wolde doo and therfore they began to make great sorow And whan reinawde saw that he sayd to them forsothe syrs ye are not wyse to make suche sorowe for ye knowe not yet what I wyll doo see ye not that I am yet with you Wherof are yee abasshed be not yee ryche ynoughe there is nother of you but mai keep a thousand horses in his stable Of the other part thoughe I am nowe whole of my bodye thanked be our lorde yet wyl I gyue in my lyfe to my children theyr part to the ende that they fall not in dyscorde after my death and therfore I wyll that eche of you knowe from hens forthon what he shal haue And whan Reynawde had thê° ordeyned for his children yonnet departed from his father with his blessing went to Ardeyne where they of the land receyued him to be their lorde and made to him fewte homage And after that Yonnet was gone Reynawde his brethern with Aymonet wente to Mountawban and whan they of Mountawban saw theyr lorde thei were glad receyued hym honourably And whan the feast was passed Reinawde commaunded al his subiectes that they should make theyr homage vnto hys sonne Aymonet whan al this was doone that nyght was come euery man went to bed than Reynawde entred hys chaÌbre walked in it til it was midnyght passed than Reynawde vncle theo himself al naked tooke a cote of sory russet vpon his fleshe wtout any shert thervpon a great mantel of the same And thus arayed barefoote wtout any wepyn but onlye a staffe in his hand to defende hym from the dogges yssued out of hys chambre went out of the palays came to the gate of the towne and made it to be opened whaÌ the porter saw his lorde so yll in so poorely aray barefoote he sayd to hym Syr alas whether goe ye thus without felawship so yll apoynted I wyl go awake your brethern my lorde your sonne for ye be in great daunger of theues because ye haue nother armour nor wepyn for to defende your selfe freende sayd Reynawde let alone go not there For my trust is in god that he shall keep me from all daunger But thou shalt tell my bretherne whan thou seest theym to morowe that I greete them wel to my sonne also and that they thynke alwayes to doo wel that they loâe eche other as thei ought for to doo and so tel them that they shal neuer see me more as I well trowe For I go to saue my soule yf God giue me the grace to doo so so shall I dye whan it please god for thorough mi cause are dead many a man wherof I feele my poore soule greued sore therfore wyll I beare payne on my body for it doinge penaunce all the remenauÌt of my lyfe and if I maye saue my soule I aske none other thing And whaÌ Reynawde had said this he looked on his finger tooke a ringe with a precious stone whiche was wel worth .v. mark gaue it to the porter sayd to him my freende ye be wel rewarded of your seruice that ye haue doone to me Syr said the porter gramercye of this gifte but alas syr ye put now all your countrie in great sorow for your departynge than he began to weepe right sore This hanging went Reynawde on hys waye thus arayed as ye haue heard and as he went the porter looked euermore after hym by the light as longe as he might see him whaÌ he might no more see hiÌ he fel down in a swoune to the erth and was thê° a longe while whan he was come agayne to himselfe he made greate mone sith sayd Ha God whether goth now my lorde so poorely arayed after he had made great sorow a longe whyle he shet the gate again and went into his house And whan he was there he looked vpon the ring that Reynawde had giuen him and knew wel that it was a ryche gyft wherof he was glad ¶ We shal leue heere to speake a litle of the valyauÌt Reynawde of Mountawban that goth for to saue his soule and to doo penaunce for hys synnes thoroughe the woodes lookyng downwarde and we shall speake of his brethern and of his sonne Aymonet ¶ How after that Reynawde was gone from MountawbaÌ neuer to returne his brethern and his soÌne Aymonet made great sorow whan they knew of it that he had not take leue of theÌ NOw sheweth the hystory that whan the morowe came and that Aymonet his vncles were vp they went to the churche weenyng to haue Reynawde there as they were wont And whan they saw hym com not to matyns they meruayled sore there was come his chapeleyne for to say matyns there with hym the whyche whan he fouÌde not his mayster in the churche he was all abasshed and spered after him to his brethern Syr sayd Alarde I weene he be sicke for god let vs go see how he dooth and than he weÌt to seeke him in his chambre where they founde him not wherof they wende all to haue ben desperate Lordes sayde Alarde nowe be we lost for heere ben his gownes his shertê his shone his swearde and all his armours now is he gone from vs. I see it well in poore arai god be with him And as they were thus makyng theyr mone came in the porter that made greate sorow for
of Coleyn abode nother maÌ nor woman but went with the corps and all the clergy folowed after singyng in great deuocion So muche went the carte that he came to a lytle towne that is called Croyne and there he abode styll And ye must wit that our lorde dyd shew there many fayre myracles for the loue of the holy body for al sycke people of what syckenes it was that came there for to worshyp the holye bodye Were whole incontinent This happed of the noble knight Reynawde of mouÌtawban as ye haue hearde And ye ought to wyt that the renome of the holy body was so spred all aboute that folke came to Croyne where it abode from ferre wayes for to seeke hym and he made there so fayre myracles that of all the Realme and of almayne folke drewe thether And so muche were worthe the offringes that were done there within a short while that of a litle chapell there as the bodye rested whiche was of our lady is now a royall churche and a great And whan the holy body was abyden in this lytle chapell as it is sayd where god made contynually miracles the archebysshop of Coleyn al the clergi came to the corps vncouered his visage that euerye body should see him that came there yf haply the ony man or woman myght know hym for to haue his name for none coulde name hym but the holy corps But there came no man that could know And whan the archebisshop saw that no body could say what he was he was sory for it for yf he had knowen his name he wold haue put him in a shrine of golde bicause of the great miracles that he made dayly for he made the defe to heare the blynde to see the lame to go ryght many that were dombe he made to speake often times apered tapres of wexe brennyng aboute the corps NOw shall ye heare howe the noble Reynawde was knowen Yee ought to wyt that the brethern of Reynawde that is to wyt Alarde Guicharde Richarde were on a daye vpon mountayne so sorye that they could heare no tidinges of theyr brother Reynawde Than cam a Pylgrime forth by that salued the barons Pylgrime sayde Alarde fro wheÌs come ye yf ye wot any tydinges tel it vs I pray you Lordes said the pilgrime with a good wyll I shall tell you that I know Wyt it that I come out of Almaine from a towne that is called Croyne by Coleyne vpon the ryne where I haue seen many great miracles doone of god for the loue of a man that came to the Citie but late ago the which was so great that euery body said there that he was a Giaunte And wyt ye that whan he came there that he sawe men make the churche of saynt Peter so dyd he present there hys seruyce to the mayster mason the whiche reteyned hym gladly Shortly for to say this great man dyd wonder of bearyng of stones and of morter For he bare more at ones than .xv. other of the labourers that were there with him and he was all day wtout meate saue at euyn he tooke a peny that he gate for no more he wolde haue for hys laboure a day and therwyth he bought hym a peny lose and dranke none other to it but water and thaÌ he went to his rest vpon a litle straw vnder a great vaute And ye muste wyt that this great man was well loued of the maysters masons of the sayd churche whyche wolde often haue gyuen him meate and wyne more money But he wolde neuer take nothyng but a peny onely by the day for to bye hym selfe a peny lofe as I told you afore He serued so wel all the masons there that they were more contente of hym alone then of the other labourers And whan the labourers saw that they were so lytle set by for the loue of this great maÌ they were sore an angred and tooke great enuy at hym and conspired togâther for to slea hym shamefully So dyd they aspye hym where as he slept vnder the vaute whyle that the mayster masons were gone to theyr dyner and then one of theym came to hym with great hamer in his haÌd and brayned him then they put hym in a sacke and caryed him in a carte to the Ryuer of the Ryne where they cast hym And wyt it that whaÌ they had doone so our lorde shewed there a great myracle For al the fisshes of the Ryne assembled them aboute the corps and made it abyde in one place aboue the water And whan that the nyght was come aungelles were hearde there whyche songe melodiously the seruyce of the dead so hye that all they of the Citie might haue heard them and it semed that al the water about hym had ben in a fyre of the greate lyght that was seen there Than came the archebisshop of Coleyne wyth all his colege and made the corps to be taken and brought in a Carte to the Churche And whan he was there the Archebysshop songe masse for this was in the mornyng and whan that the seruyce was doone the Achebysshop sayd to foure Lordes whyche were there that they should take vp the corps for to haue him into his graue wyth fayre prosessyon But these foure barons coulde neuer moue hiÌ from the place where as he was But the corps incontynent to euery bodies sight that was there was brought into the carte agayne wyth the twynkelyng of an eye and sodeynly the carte departed and wente away alone out of the towne as good a pace as thoughe ten horses had drawen at it whyche was sore agaynst the wyll of the people that wept ful tenderly bycause that it wolde not a byde with them But all they of the Cytye bothe lytle and great went a processyon after it vnto a lytle town where the corps of the great man abode styll whyche is called Croyne in a lytle chapell of our lady where he doth now many a fayre myracle for I ensure you that al the sicke folkes that seeke him there be made whole returne to their home in good helth And so I haue left there the archebisshop of Coleyne and all the clergye that hath doo make of the offerynges that ben gyuen there vnto thys holy corps a fayre place and a roial churche there as the sayd chapell of oure lady was afore WHan Alarde Guicharde and Rycharde heard the pilgryme speake so they began all three to weepe ful sore for pitie that they had of theyr brother reynawde for well they knew it was he of whome the Pylgryme spake of Alas my brethern sayd Rycharde Now ben with well destroyed and vndoone for euer more For I know wel that it is out deere brother that we haue sought so longe Wyt it that the three brethern made there so great sorowe that it cannot be rehersed And whan they had made this greate sorowe they tooke leaue of the pilgrime and thaÌked hym and went to make
them redy than tooke theyr waye toward Croyne by Coleyne vpon the Ryne And they dyd so muche by theyr iourneys that they came vnto Croyne And lyghted before the churche they and theyr folke where they found so great flowyng and gatheryng of the people and so great prese of folke that wyth great payne they myght entre wythin the Churche And whan the knyghtes were within they wente nyghe the holye corps that was vpon a fayre bere all vncouered and saw so great lyght aboute the corps as there had ben an hundred torches Than wente they as nyghe hym as they coulde for to looke hym in the face and anon thei knew that he was theyr brother with that they loked vpon hym they fell downe in a swoune to the erth And whan the archebysshop saw that he was sore abasshed and sayd to some of his Colege Syrs I beleue that wee shall soone know that we haue desyred so long For I wene that these lordes knowe wel this holy corps This hanging were the three brethern comeÌ agayn to themselfe and began to crye and fare as they had ben mad than sayd Alarde al weepynge in thys maner Alas what shall we nowe caytyfes knyghtes doo poore of honour and of al we le syth that we haue lost our brother by whome we were so sore doubted and dred Alas deere brother who was so hardy to laye hande on you I beleue that he knew not your debonayrtie kindnes for he wolde not haue slayne you so crueltye And than he turned hym towarde hys two brethern and sayd My fayre brethern we ought wel to be sory syth that we haue lost our brother Reinawde that was all our hope our trust and comfort Alas sayde Rycharde brother Reinawde whi had ye euer that courage for to habandone vs as ye did seyng that ye loued vs so muche Alas ye stale awaye yourself by night for to come amonge the handes of the murderers that haue slayne you so cruelly Alas they wyst not the great domage that is of your death whan the three brethern had wepte ynoughe in great sobbynges and lamentacions for the loue of theyr deere brother Reynawde they went kissed the corps on the mouth the one after the other and with this thei fel downe agayne in swoune And whaÌ they were come agayn to themselfe Rycharde began to crye and saye Alas fayre brethern now ben we loste for euer For we shall no more be set by nother doubted nor dred more than children wherefore I say that we should slea our selfe to the ende that we may be with you for we ought not to liue after your death Wit it that who had be there he should haue had an harde hert but he should haue wept for to see the three brethern make theyr mone WHan the archebishop and the Burgeys that were there saw the great sorowe that the three knightes made the good Archebysshop came to them and sayd Lordes be ye not dyspleased of that I shall say to you Syrs to my semynge ye doo not wel for to make so great sorow nor to discomfort your selfe so muche as ye do but rather ye should make great ioy and be glad for your brother that is a saynt in heuen the whyche had suffred martyrdom in the seruice of our lorde wherof ye may see that he rewardeth him wel for it For ye see now before your eyen the great miracles that he dooth wherfore I pray you that ye wyll recomforte your selfe And tell vs yf it please you what ye ben and howe is thys holy body named and what hys name was whaÌ he liued in this worlde to the ende that his name be wryten aboute his tombe And whan his brethern heard the archebysshop speake thus they began a lytle to leue theyr sorow And than Alarde that was theldest after Reynawde sayd to him Lorde sythe it please you to knowe what we be and howe this corps is called I shall tel it you wtout faute Ye muste wyt that this corps was called whan he was amonge vs aliue Reynawde of Mountawban the ryght worthy knyght and we three that ben heere are his brethern and wel I wot that ye haue heard speake of the foure sonnes of Aymon the whiche Charlemayne the great king of Fraunce warred so longe Than whan the archebysshop and the people hearde that they were the foure sonnes of Aymon of the whyche all the worlde spake and that the holy corps was the goood Reynawde of MountawbaÌ the noble and valiant knight they began all to weepe for pitie and for ioye bycause they sawe al before them the moste noble worthiest knyght of the worlde that in his lyfe was more to drede than any man alyue that was dead in the seruyse of our lorde doinge penaunce After that these three bretherne had thus left a lytle theyr sorowe they made theyr brother to be layde in his tombe that was right riche that the archebisshop had doone make where the holy corps resteth yet at this day as euydently is knowen and he is called saynt Reynawde the martyr The memory of him was that time put in wrytyng auctentykly eueri yere is there kept for him great soleÌpnitie and feast And after the sepulturyng of the holye corps the brethern went agayne into theyr owne Countrie MY fayre lordes who that this present booke shall rede or heare we shall pray our lorde god the gloryous Saynt Reynawde the marter that he giue vs grace to perseuer and continue our lyfe in good workes by the whiche we may haue at our endyng the life that euer shal last AMEN ¶ Here finissheth the hystory of the noble valiaunt knyght Reynawde of Mountawban and his three brethern ¶ Imprinted at London by Wynkynde worde the .viii. daye of Maye and the yere of our lorde M. CCCCC.iiii at the request and commaundement of the noble and puissaunt erle the Erle of Oxenforde And now Imprinted in the yere of our Lorde M. CCCCC.liiii the vi daye of Maye By wylliam Copland dwellyng in Fletestrete at the Signe of the Rose Garland for Iohn waley