pryme vnto nygh none ofte our peple had the werse ffor as I haue said solyman had ij C M men alle on horsbak our peple were but l· M on horsbak whan they were alle assembled the one with the other whan our lord had thus gyuen this victorye to his peple they rested them in this fayr place where the tentes were thre dayes theyr· horses refresshed them right wel in this whyle of the armures other gayne that they had conquerd vpon theyr enemyes they arrayed apparaylled them right wel that to fore were euyl armed Moche wel dyde they in this bataylle grete honour had they and shal euer haue· in especial they that here be named Bawdwyn leborgh thomas de fedre regnault de beauuays Gale de ehamont gasâe de bedyers gâart de cherysy theÌne was ordeyned acorded by the barons cryed in thoost that no man shold ryde fro thens forth by hym self without leue of the capytayns How the iiij day after this victorye our peple went forth on their waye of the grete mesease of thoost the same day capo. lxvijo. Fter this whan they had abyden there thre dayes the fourth daye folowyng by tymes to fore day they dyde doo sowââe theyr trompettes wente forth on theyr waye Syth they passed bythyne And entred in to the londe that was named pisideâ They trauaylled so long that at the laste they fonde a contre moche drye infertile without waters The tyme was moche hoot and brennyng as it falleth ofte in Iuyll They had so grete thurst that they wyst not what to doo· the peple on fote specially faylled and faynted alle for the duste for the heete and for thurste ther deyed wel this same day of mysease fyue honderd men wymmen And knowe ye certaynly that ther happed a merueyllous thynge that day in the hoost· that we fynde nowher in none other historye ffor the wymmen with childe that yet were not come to theyr terme by thanguyssh of the heete of the mesâase of thurst that they were delyuerd of theyr childeren childed not only the âour wymmen but the ryche also this was a grete sorow pyte to see The men that ought to be more hard stronge ayenst trauaylle wente theyr mouthes open sought thayer and moysture therof whiche they myght not haue the heete also the swote destroyed them ye shold haue seen the horses and other beestes that myght not goo forth in suche wyse that they muste leue them whiche deyde in the waye houndes for the chace huntyng fowles for the flyght as ffawcons hawkes fperhawkes ye shold haue seen that day abyde deye· in lyke wyse the grete stedes cursours whiche were moost perylloê° becam alle araged wood for thurst with grete payne were ledde forth whan they had ben long in this mesease Our lord beheld them in pyte· made them to adresse in to a valeye where they fonde a rennyng water fayr grete theÌne ranne oure peple to the brynke or ryuage with grete haste many ther were that draÌk so moch that they deyde vpon the place ffor som of them that had eschewed the deth fonde it there by cause they kepte no mesure· this fylle vnto knyghtes other men beestes whiche dranke as moche as they wolde whan they were escaped this euyl aduenture· they cam in to a londe moch fayr and fertile ful of woodes of ryuers of medowes and of good feldes labourable This was by anthyoche the lasse whiche is the chyef cyte of the londe of pisside and there lodged they with theyr hoost How somme of the grete Barons of thoost after to haue approuched Antyoche the lasse departed for to goo vytaylle them Capitulo lxviijo. fRo thens departed som of the barons of thoost âelde their waye by cause it was a greuous thyng to fynde vytaylles to so moche peple to gydre The fyrst was Bawdwyn Brother to the duc· with hym was peter th erle of scaruay· Reynart th erle of âoul Bawdwyn de borgh guyllebert de montcler ther wer wel v. C on horsbak ladde with them men a fote largely The second was tancre with hym Rychard du pryncipat· Robert danse other knyghtes grete nombre that they were v C on horsbak had also many men a foote as the other had theyr enteÌcion and purpose was to ride about· the thoost in the contre for so seche somme aduenture and vytaylle yf they had founde ony paryll grief pas or plente of theyr enemyes that they wold âete thoost haue knowleche therof they wente strayt theyr waye passed by syde ij cytees that one was named lychonie that other Eraclee· after thây torned on the right honde and passed toward the see side The duc Godeffroy the other prynces abode in theyr lodgys for the plesaunt delytable places that they had fouÌden by cause they wolde playe refresshe them of the trauaylles aÌnoyes that they had suffred thenne said they that they wold goo hunte in to the forestes which were nygh to them on alle sydes were ful of wilde beestes On the morn they entred in the woode eche helde his way at his will· the duc as he wente a path thurgh the foreste herde a man crye he drewe thederward he sawe a poure man that was goo for to fetche wode for to bere in to the hoost fledde strongly cryeng to fore a grete bere The duc ran vpon hym drewe his swerd for to delyuere the pour man fro the beeste thenne the bere adressyd hym vnto the duc and lefte the pour man that fledde fro hym he hurte the dukes hors so sore that he caste the duc to therthe The duc ãâã a foote drewe oute his swerde· the beeste was nothyng afârd of hym but made a felonnoê° crye horryble hydous syth ran vpon the duc bote hym right cruelly in the thye after he adressyd hym right vp embraced hym with his poâes or feet to fore for to haue caste hym to grouÌde the duc thus hurt as he was was yet moch stroÌg fyl not to theerthe theÌne but caught hym by the skyn about the reck with his lyfte hande for to put away his heed from hym with that other hand he put his swerd in to his body thurgh bothe the sydes vnto the crosse and so slewe hym After he wente and sette hym doun on therthe right by ffor he had so moche bledde of his wounde that he had in his thyâ and was so merueyllously sore hurte that he myghte not stonde longe on his feet The poure man whiche he had delyuerd fro deth can hastely in to the hoost and tolde them this tydynge of the duc Alle they that herde it were so effrayed that they ranne with grete haste theder The barons and alle the other that myght goo they founde hym
them alle In suche wyse that neuer worde be spoken of them This Elafdales was of Ermenye born And was called Cimireenx by another name Of the Cristen men he was comen But for the Rychesse that was gyuen hym and for the lecherye that he fonde emonge the mescreauntes he renyed our lord and Cristen fayth for to become sarasyn This same man had conquerd the Cyte of Iherusalem vpon the turkes· and sette it in the puyssaunce of his lord the same yere· that the cristen men had besieged it And had not yet holden it ·xj monethis· whan thoost of the pylgryms toke it vpon them and rendred it to Cristiente hit was a thynge that it moche displaysyd his conestable that his lord had hold it so short a whyle And enioyed nomore his conqueste· ffor this cause he enterprysed in hym this werke and for to rennâ vpon oure peple· And hym thought it but a lytil thynge and a light for to doo· consyderyng the grete plente of peple that he had for to disconfyte them that had taken the Cyte He cam in to Surye· brought with hym alle the power of Egypte· he had grete pryde in his herte by cause of the grete people that he had And was moche angry toward our men But our lord that can fettâ wel counseyl in alle the purpoos of men ordeyned this werke all in another maner than he deuysed he cam with alle his men to fore the Cyte of Escalone There they lodged them and pourprised grete space of ground with them were ioyned alle the dukes of damaske and they of arabe that were in thoo partyes moche grete pâple Trouthe it is that to fore eâ oure peple entred in to the londe They of Egypte and the turkes of arabe louyd not to gydre but doubted moch thencreacyng of the one and other But after they accompanyed them togydre to come vpon oure men· more for ãâã of oure peple than for loue that they had emonge them self They were alle to gydre to fore Escalone· And they there concluded to come after to fore Iherusalem for tassiege the toun ffor they supposed veryly that oure barons durst in no wyse yssue out ayenst them in bataylle How our Cristen men whan they knewe thyse tydynges cryed to god for mercy and for to haue the vyctorye· ca o CCjo. wHan thyse tydynges were spradd thurgh the cyte of Iherusalem Alle the peple were gretely affrayed grete and smale By comyn acord of the bisshoppes they cam wullân and barfote in the chirche of our lord There were alle the peple and cryed mercy to oure lorde with syghes and treris And besought Ihesu Criste moche swetly that his peple whiche he had kept and deffended vnto that day he wold delyuer fro this peryll ne suffre that the cyte and holy places that they late had rendred and yeuen to his name and to his seruyse and that he wold not that they shold be remysed agayn and habandouned in ordure and fylthe and in the desloyalte of the hethen men ffro thens they weÌte a procession syngynge with moche grete pyte vnto the temple of oure lord There dyde the bisshops and the clerkes the seruyse And the laye peple prayde with moche good herte and pytous whan this was don the bisshops gaf to them the benediction And after they departed The duc ordeyned barons and knyghtes that shold kepe the cytâ After this he yssued out and th erle of fflaundres And cam in to the playnes of Rames The other Barons abode in Iherusalem The cytezâyns of napples had sente to fetche eustace broder of the duc and Tancre for to come theder to them· they wold yelde to them the cyte· They were goon by the commaundement of the duc and garnysshed moche wel the toun with peple and vytaylle of which the countre was moche fertile therfor they abode there and knewe nothynge of thyse tydynges But the duc sente for them And they cam hastely and were with the other barons· whan the duc and the erle of fflaundres arryued atte Cyte of Rames they knewe wel the trouthe certaynly that this admiral was lodged to foreEscalone with so grete peple that the contre was couerd Thenne sente they hastely messagers in to Iherusalem vnto the other barons which abode and awayted the certaynte of this thynge And he bad them hastely to come alle· sauf suche as shold kepe the cyte And shold brynge alle the peple moche hastely as for to fyghte ayenst grete plente of theyr enemyes How our men assembled and ordeyned· theyr bataylles for to fyghte ayenst the turkes And how the turkes were disconâyted Capitulo CCijo. tH erle of tholouse the other barons that were with hym knewe the certaynte how theyr enemyes cam vpon them with so grete power therfor they gadred to gydre alle theyr men that were in Iherusalem and yssued out and come to them moch dilygently in to the playnes where the duc was atte a place named now yâelyn whan they were alle assembled they nombred theyr peple and fonde xijC horsmen and of footemen ix M. whan thoost of our men had ben there one day or therabout after euen songe whan it hegan to wexe derk they espyed a fer a greet prees that cam takyng vp the couÌtrey and couerd grete partes of the playnes Oure men had supposed certaynly that it had be thoost of the sarasyns And merueylled moche how they cam ayenst them at that hour Thenne they sente oute ij·C horsmen armed lightly wel horsed for to see more nygh what peple they were that cam how many were of them they roode forth a good paas whan they approuched them they knewe that it were Oxen· Kyen and mares ther were so many of them· that them semed there were no moo in alle the world and that it myght suffyse for alle the peple ther about· with thyse beestes were comen men on horsbak whiche kepte them from theuys And commaunded to the herdmen what they shold doo They that were sente forth by the barons retorned and sayde that ther was none other but beestes Thenne alle oure men ran theder The kepars of them fledde that myght Somme ther were that were taken· whiche tolde the trouthe of the turkes In suche wyse that it was wel knowen· that this grete hooste of sarasyns were lodged but .vij myle from them· And that theyâ purpoos was to come on them and to sâee them alle· Our barons were thenne certayn of the bataylle And deuysed emonge them ix bataylles And commaunded that thre shold goo to fore on that one syde· For the playnes were greet· And thir shold goo in the mydle and thre shold come behynde Of the samsyns myght noman knowe the nombre ffor ther was so grete plenâe that euery daye they encreaced and grewe of the contre about whiche ranne to them in suche wyse that it was not for to be estemed whan our men had goten this grete gayne that I spak
prynce of the weâte ãâ¦ã and had slayn so many ãâ¦ã saunt a Royamme· contâyned ãâ¦ã hym tappytys ne clothes of ãâ¦ã hym ne had not aboute hym sergeanâââ ãâ¦ã naked swerdes or haches or axis ãâã by ãâ¦ã that sawe hym shold doubte and fere hym but sattâ ãâ¦ã he were a maÌ of lytil affayre The valiauÌt duc demauÌded ãâ¦ã that knewe vnderstode theyr langage what they sayde It was told answerd of this which they merueylled Thenne he sayd that it was no shame to a man mortel to sytte vpon therthe ffor theder muste he retorne after his deth and lodge there in his body and become erthe· whan they herd this answere they that were comen for teâpye and essaye what he was began moche for to allowe and preyse his wytte and his humilyte· They departed fro thens sayeng that he was shapen and lyke for to be lord of alle that londe and to gouerne the peple that was so withoute pryde And knewe pouerte and the fragilyte of his nature so wel This word was sprâdd ouer al by the m that had herd hym he was so moche deadde and doubted of his enemyes that enquyred of his affayres whiche founde not in hym but vygour· Rayson and mesure without ony pryde or oultrage How buymont was taken in goyng to Meletene whiche cyte the lord of the same wold yelde to hym cao. CCxjo. iN the Royamme of Iherusalem they conteyned them thus as ye haue herd Thenne it happened that a ryche man of eâmenye named Gabryel was lord of the cyte of meletene which stondeth by yonde the Ryuer of Eufrates in the londe of mesoââtayne· This gabriel doubted moche that the turkes of Perse shold âome on hym ffor the men that they helde ran ofte on hym in suche wyse that he myght not wel suffre it Therfore he toke counseyl And sente messagâââ to buymont prynce of Anthyoche that that shold saye to ãâ¦ã name that he shold haste hym in to his londe ffor he ãâ¦ã ouer to hym his Cyte by certayn couenauntes ãâ¦ã whiche he sente to hym· he loâyd buymont And ãâã that he had leuer that buymont had his cyte by his ãâ¦ã the turkes sholde take it from hym ayenst his wyll whan ãâ¦ã herde thyse tydynges as he that was hardy hasted ãâã âoche for to make hym redy· And toke with hym a good company and went forth on his way he passed the Ryuer of Eufâaââs and entred in to mesopotayne And was nyghe the Cyte of meletene ffor whiche he wente for to receyue whan a puyssaunt amyral of the turkes named domsmayn that had certaynly the ââry knowleche of his comynge And laye in awayte for hym and ranne vpon hym sodenly· and his men beyng alle out of arraye and dispourueyed They that abode were alle slayn ffor ther were oâer grete plente of turkes The other fledde Buymont was taken and reteyned· and they ladde hym the handes bounden with cordes And his feet chayned wyth yron Of this auenture mounted the turke in grete pryde And ârusted moche in his hoost that he ledde that he cam to fore the cyte of meletene and assieged it by cause he supposed that they wold haue delyuerd it without taryeng But somme of them that escaped fro thens where the prynce was taken cam fleyng in to the cyte of Rages They told to th erle Bawdwyn this grete mesauenture that was fallen to them whan the valyaunt Erle herd this he was moche angrye· And had grete pyte of the prynce whom he helde for broder for the companye of the pylgremage And by cause they had theyr countrees so nygh to gydre It shold haue displesyd hym yf the turkes shold conquere this cyte that buymont shold haue had Therfor he somoned hastely alle his men that he myght haue on horsbak and a fote· and toke with hym that was necessarye for suche a vyage and wente toward thoo partyes· wel a thre daye iourneye was Rages fro meletene· he had sone passed this waye in suchewyse that he was nyghe the cyte· But the sayd donysmayn knewe wel the comyng of th erle and durst not abyde ne fyght with hym But lefte the siege and departed and ledde forth with hym buymont faste bounden and straytly whan Bawdwyn herde that he durst not abyde hym but fledde to fore hym he ran after with his men and chaced hym thre dayes longe whan he sawe that he myght not ouertake hym he retourned in to the cyte of Meletene Gabryel the lord of the toun receyued hym with moche grete ioye with alle his men and made to them good chere· And after gaf ouer the cyte to hym by the same couenauntes that he had offred to buymont· whan he had don this he reborned home agayn to Rages How the duc godeffroy assembled alle his peple· And entred in to Arabye And of the gayn that he made· And of his deth Capitulo CCxijo. gOdeffroy the valyaunt Duc and his men that were lefte with hym for to kepe the Royamme began to haue moche grete mesease and suffre suche pouerte that vnnethe it may be deuysed Thenne it happed that good espyes and trewe brought to hym tidynges that in the partyes of arabye on that other syde of fâom Iordan were moche ryche peple whiche doubted nothynge And therfore they dwellyd out of fortresses· yf they were surprised there shold be moch grete gayne wonne The valyaunt Duc that so moche had suffred toke with hym peple a foote and on horsbak as many as he myght sauf the garde of the Cyte Thenne entred he sodeynly in to the londe of his enemyes There gadred be many grete proyes· that is to wete· horses beufes âyen and sheep And ryche prysonners brought he grete plente Thenne retorned he toward Iherusalem Somme turkes ther were hye and purssaunt of them of Arabye whiche were moche hardy· and noble in Armes· And had grete prys· Emonge all other ther was one that had longe desired for to see the duc Godeffroye of boloyne wold fayn knowe yf it were trewe that was said of his force streÌgthe acqueynte hym with his peple of ffraunce of whom he had herd so moche that were come fro the occident vnto thââyent And had conquerd so many londes And sette them in theyr subiection Aboue alle other he desired to see duc godeffroy and knowe yf it were trouth that was sayd of his prowesse his strengthe he dide so moch to such meÌ as he spak· that he had good sureââ trie ws to come vnto the duc· he salewed hym moche lowe enclynyng lyke as is theyr customme And after he prayd and desired of the duc moche humbly that it wold plese hym to smyte with his swerd a Camel that he had brought moche grete· ffor as he sayde it shold be grete honour to hym in his countre yf he myght recounte ony of his strokes that he had seen hym self The duc knewe wel that he was come fro for to see hym And dyde that he requyred hym
âHe hye couragyous faytee And valyaunt actes of noble Illustrous and vertuous personnes ben digne to be recounted put in memorye and wreton to th ende that ther may be gyuen to them name Inmortal by souerayn laude and preysyng And also for to moeue and tenflawme the hertes of the Redars and hierers for âââche we and flee werkes vycious dishonnest and vytuperable And for tempryse and accomplysshe enterpryses honnestes and werkes of gloryous meryte to lyue in remembraunce perpetuel ffor as it is so that thystoryagraphes haue wreton many a noble hystorye as wel in metre as in prose By whiche thactes and noble fayttes of thauncyent conquerours ben had in remembraunce· and remayne in grete large and aourned volumes and so shal abyde in perpetuel memorye to thentente that gloryous Prynces and hye men of noble and vertuouse courage shold take ensample tempryse werkys leful and honneste Fyrst for goddes quarell in mayntenyng oure fayth and the libertees of holy chirche· For the recuperacion of the holy land whiche our blessyd lord Ihesu Criste hath halowed by his blessyd presence humayne and by shedyng therin for oure redempcion his precious blood ffor the releef of suche cristen men as there dwelle in grete myserye and thraldomÌ And also for the defence of theyr Royammes Londes Enherytages and subgââtes And for thyse causes tendeuoyre theym in theyr noble persones with alle theyr puyssauÌces and power tadresse and remyse theym in theyr auncyent Fraunchyses and lyberte Acordyng to that we fynde wreton in holy scripture of many noble historyes· which were here ouer long to reherce· But in especial of thre noble and mooste worthy of alle other that is to wytte fyrst of duc Iosue that noble prynce whiche ladde and conduyted the Childeren of Israhel the chosen people of God oute of deserte in to the londe of promyssyon the Londe flowynge Mylke and hony· Socondly of Dauyd the Kynge and holy Prophete Whome God chaas after his herte And achyeuyd many grete Bataylles gouernyng the sayd chosen people of God by the space of fourty yeris And the thyrde of the Noble Iudas Machabeus· how he deffended the sayd people in fyghtyng many and merueyllous bataylles· for veray zeele and loue of his lawe and mayntenyng of the same· vnto the deth ffor which causes a forsayd the names of thyes thre abyde perpetuel for thre of the moste beste and Nobleste of the Iewys And in the nombre of the moost digne and moost worthy aNd by cause valyaunce and prowesse is remembryd emong the gentyles paynmes· as emong the brewes I fynde wreton of the incredible cheualrous prowesse of the noble and valyaunt Hector of troye whos excellent actes wryten Ouyde Homer Virgyle Dares Dyctes and other dyuerse· and eche better than other reherchyng his noble vertues strengthe and humanyte Secondly of Alysaundre the grete kynge of Macedone· which domyned and had to hym obeyssaunt the vnyuersal world And the thyrde the noble Iulyus Cezar Emperour of Rome· whos noble actes ben wreton by poetes as lucan stace and other And dayly remembryd as newe and ffresshe as he yet lyuyd whiche thre ben sette as for the moost worthy emong the gentyles and paynems nOw lete vs thenne remembre· what hystoryes ben wreton of Cristen men of whom ther be many wreton· But in especial as for the best and worthyest I fynde fyrst the gloryous most excellent in his tyme and fyrst founder of the round table Kyng Arthur kyng of the brytons that tyme regnyng in this Royamme of whos retenue were many noble Kynges Prynces lordes and knyghtes· of which the noblest were knyghtes of the round table· of whos actes and historyes there be large volumes and bookes grete plente and many O blessyd lord whan I remembre the grete and many volumes of seynt graal ghalehot and launce lotte de lake Gawayn perceual Lyonel and tristram and many other· of whom were ouer longe to reherce and also to me vnknowen But thystorye of the sayd Arthur is so gloryous and shynyng that he is stalled in the fyrst place of the mooste noble beste and worthyest of the cristen men Secondly of Charlemayn the grete Epemrour of Allemayne and kyng of ffraunce whos noble actes and conquestes ben wreton in large volumes with the noble faytes and actes of his douze pieres· that is to saye Rowlond and olyuer with the other whos name and renommee abydeth also perpetuel and is stalled in the second place emonge the most worthy of Cristen men Of alle thyse historyes a for reherced the bookes and volumes ben had in latyn ffrenssh and Englysshe and other langage tHenne as for the thyrd of the Cristen prynces taken reputed and renommed for to be egal emong thyse worthy best that euer were· I mene the noble Godefroy of Boloyne whiche now but late not yet four C. yere syth he flowred· and was stalled in the thyrde stalle of the moost worthy of Cristen men whos hystorye is made and wreton in Latyn and ffrensshe in large and grete volumes And as not knowen emonge vs here whiche ben adiacent and neyghbours to the place of his natyuyte whos noble hystorye I late fonde in a booke of ffrenssh al a longe of his noble actes valyaunces prowesses and accomplysshement of his hye empryses In whiche I fynde very causes as me semeth moche semblable and lyke· vnto suche as we haue nowe dayly to fore vs· By the mescreauntes and turkes emprysed ayenst Cristendom And yet moche more nowe than were in his dayes ffor in his dayes the turkes had conquerd vpon Cristendom but vnto the braas of seynt George by Constantynople· And had no foote on this syde the sayd Braas· But at this daye it is so that they haue comen ouer and goten that Imperial Cyte Constantynople a forsayd and many Royamââ and countre to the grete dommage and hurte of alle Cristendom To the resistence of whom as yet fewe Cristen prynces haue put theym in deuoyr· Thenne I returne agayn vnto the conqueste at suche tyme as they were come to the sayd Braas that by the dylygent solicitude of a ãâã heremyte the sayd Godeffroy of Boloyne· and other dyuerse prynces lordes and comyn peple auowed the croysyng and empryse to warre agayn the mescreauntes And to recouere the holy Cyte of Iherusalem whiche afterward they achyeuyd and conquerd fro the sayd braas vnto the holy lande and recouerd the holy cyte of Iherusalem as in this sayd boook al a longe and playnly shal appere· In whiche cyte the sayd Godeffroy was elect and chosen for his vertue prowesse and blessyd diâposicion to be kyng of the sayd Iherusalem· and the londe therabout tHenne I thus vysytyng this noble hystorye whiche is no fable ne fayned thynge· But alle that is therin trewe Considerynge also the grete puyssaunce of the Turke grete enemye of oure Cristen fayth destroyar of Cristen blood and vsurpar of certayn Empyres and many Cristen Royammes and countrees And now late this sayd yere
And how thre hondred pylgryms were slayn of the turkes a fore the same toun Capitulo Lxxiiij How the peple of bawdwyn knewe the departyng of the turkes And of the slaughter of the cristen men capitulo Lxxv How the sayd Bawdwyn retorned to the grete hoost And how Tancre mayntened hym moche wel in conqueryng countrees Capitulo Lxxvâ How bawdwyn conquerd a grete contre vpon the turkes by the counseyl of a knyght Ermyne named Pancrace cao. Lxxvij How they of Rages sente their messagers to bawdwyn prayeng hym that he wold come to theym capitulo Lxxviij How this duc that was at Rages varyed for to holde this that he had promysed to bawd wyn capitulo Lxxix How bawdwyn wente tassaylle famosette a Cyte nygh to rages Capitulo Lxxx How they of the toun of rages slewe theyr duc· And chaas bawdwyn for to be theyr lord· capitulo lxxxj How bawdwyn wente and assieged the toun of Sororge nygh to Rages· and toke it and of his ordenaunces· capitulo lxxxij How the grete hoost cam to fore Marese· and how the turkes that were within fledde And how our peple payned them to conquere countrees capitulo lxxxiij How it was commaunded vnto alle the barons to come to thoost for to goo vnto Anthyoche· And of somme recountrees that they had in the waye capitulo Lxxxiiij How Anthyoche by succession of tyme had dyuerse names And of the noblesse of auncyente capitulo Lxxxv Of the situacion of Anthyoche Lxxxvj Who was thenne lord of anthyoche and by what maner he was comen vnto this seygnorye· capitulo Lxxxvij Diuerse oppiynons of our men to fore they had assieged anthyoche And how they acorded alle for tassiege it· capitulo Lxxxviij How after the situacion of the toun eche of the hyâ barons of thoost were lodged at the sayd siege capitulo Lxxxix How our peple assembled in counseyl for to fynde the moyen for to sende for vytaylle and of a brydge that they made cao. Lxxxx How our peple stopped a yate without forth And of a castel of tree that they made capitulo Lxxxxj How oure peple were in grete meschyef for as moche as they of the toun yssued entred in out with grete rowtes cao. Lxxxxij Of the famyne and mortalyte of thost after that they had be at the sayd siege· the space of two monethis capitulo· Lxxxxiij How our peple ordeyned grete Rowtes for to goo for vytayllâ· to reteyne the peple whiche fledde for hongre capitulo lxxxxiiij How buymont and th erle of fflauÌdres mayntened theym beyng in fourage of theyr recountrees and of the gayn that they made capitulo Lxxxxv How a grete Rowteâ of Cristen men were in this tyme slayn by the turkes bytwene Fynemye and terme capitulo Lxxxxvj How the vntrewe greke latyus departed fraudelously fro thoost And other moo by the ensample of hym capitulo Lxxxxvij How the prelates of thoost couÌseylled to doo penaunce for tappese god· of thordenauÌces that were made teschewe synne· Lxxxxviij How buymont fonde a subtil remedye for to delyuer and purge thoost of tespyes of the turkes capitulo Lxxxxix How the Calyphe of Egypte sente his messagers with greââ yeftes vnto our hoost capitulo C How Ancean lord of Anthyoche and the barons sente vnto the turkes theyr neyghbours for to demaunde socours cao. Cj How oure peple knewe the couyne of the turkes Of thembussâe that they made· of theyr vyctorye gayn that they had cao. Cij How the turkes of Anthyoche sprang out and assaylled the ãâã gyses of our peple capitulo Ciij Of a castel that oure men made Of somme pylgryms that arryâued atte porte And how they were disconfyted by a busshement of turkis· capitulo Ciiij Of a bataylle where our men auenged them of the turkes And of a stroke that duc godeffroy gaf in this bataylle· cao. Cv How the cristen men thanked our lord of this vyctorye And made a castel in their mahommerye where they founde grete gayne Capitulo Cvj Of a fortresse that Tancre made ouer the ryuer· And how he deffeÌded it valyauntly capitulo Cvij How thenne the turkes of the toun began to haue mesease and sorowe and our peple ease capitulo Cviij How th erle estieuen of chartrys and of bloys fledde fro thooste shamefully· capitulo Cix How a Cristen man Emyrferyus whiche was in Anthyoche acqueynted hym with buymont capitulo Cx Of som deuises that the said emirferius sent to buymoÌt in what maner he acorded to delyuer hym the toun capitulo Cxj How buymont discouerid this thyng to duc godeffroy· to buon âemayne· to the duc of normandye to th erle of flauÌdres cao. Cxij Of the grete socours that the soudan of Perse âad senââ to them of Anthyoche· And corbagat assieged Rages capitulo Cxiij How oure men aduertysed of the grete hooste of corbagât· senââ soÌme of theyr knyghtes for to esteme them· And what they ââported of that they had seen· capitulo Cxiiij Of the counseyl that oure peple toke for to ordeyne theyr nedes â whan they sawe the comyng of this right grete hoost capo. Cxv How after that buymoÌt bad declared his fayt to alle thoost they acorded that the touÌ shold be his sauf th erle of tholouse ca o Cxvj How they of Anthyoche had fere of treson· And how they assembled in couÌseil· of that which emirferiê° deposed therat cao. Cxvij Of the meschyef that the turkes made euery day to the cristen men that were in Anthyoche enhabytyng with them cao. Cxviij Of the dylygence that buymont made in this werke· And emyrferius slewe his broder delyud the toun to the cristeÌ men ca o Cxix Of the mayntene of the cristen men in this pryse· And of thaââââye of the turkes of the toun capitulo Cxx How Ancean lord of Anthyoche fledde by a posterne oute of the toun and he was recountred and put to deth· capitulo Cxxj How after that our men had made grete slaughter of theyr enemyes our men helde couÌseyl for to take the dongeon thenne beyng seased of the turkes capitulo Cxxij How whyles that thoost garnysshyd the toun Somme of thoost corbagat cam rennyng to fore it capitulo Cxxiij How the thyrd day after the getynge and pryse of Anthyoche corbagat with his hoost arryued to fore it· capitulo Cxxiiij How after that the duc was within the barres of the toun many of his men slayn the turkes entred in to the toun cao. Cxxv How oure cristen men that a lytil to fore had assieged the toun were now assieged in the same· capitulo Cxxvj How corbagat dyde do assaylle a fortresse which th erle of fflauÌdres kepte without the gate· of that ensiewed capitulo Cxxvij Of the grete famyne and mesease that our men suffred in the cyte of Anthyoche beyng assieged on alle sydes by the said corbagat capitulo Cxxviij How the turkes felyng that oure men were in suche meschyef of hongre enforced them
dishonour to departe and retorne in to his coÌtre than âffre his peple to be destroyed myght not amende it Thus theÌne he departed out of Surye by cause the kynge of Arabe his peple were of so grete power so proude as they that fonde all the contre habandonÌned to them ffor in a short tyme they had conquered alle the contre of Surye vnto Egypte One thyng that was tâ fore happenned in this contree whiche heelp moche them of Araââ tenaâce their power ffor cosdroe the puissanÌt kynge of perse of whom I haue spoken to fore had ben with grete puissaunce in Surye and had destroyed the Cytees and castels brent townes chirches and slayn grete partye of the peple and the remeunÌt had brought in to Captyuyte And toke the cyte of Iherusalem with force and slewe within the tounÌ xxxvj M. men And bare away with hym the veâay crosse that our lord Ihesu Cryste suffred deth on for vs And ladde with hym the patriarke of Iherusalem named Acharye and brought hym with hym with the other Caytyfs Here recounteth thistorye how that the puissaunt kynge Cosdroe wastyd the Empyre of Rome for tauenge the deth of themperour Maurice fader of his wyf capitulo ijo. nOw I shal telle yow why he had so doon lyke as I sayde he was a ryght myghty kynge now had ther be an emperour at Rome named Mauryce whiche as we fynde was moche acqueynted with seint gregorâe And was his gossiâ ffor the sayd seynt Gregorye had cristenyd to hym a doughter named Marie This Maurice gaf her in Maryage to this Cosdroe And ther by was a grete frenship bytwene them grete alyauÌce bytwene them of perse and the Romayns as longe as themperour lyued in suche wise that for the loue of his wyf the Romayns whiche were Cristen This Emperour made Cosdroe to be baptised But after it befylle that foca slewe in treson this Emperour Maurice And was Emperour in his place and was called ffoââ cezar whan cosdroe herd herof he had merveyllous grete sorow greââ deâdayne grete orguyel grete hate ayenst the peple of the Romaâns by cause that he whiche had slayn theyr lorde vntrewly and was yet blody of the blood of the emperour they had chosen to âe their lord and had gyuen to hym thempire ffor this cause âe enteââded to his power to hurte and destroye al thempire of Romââ And for this cause for tauenge the deth of the fader of his ãâã whiche ofte enticed hym therto he entred in to the londe of ãâã whiche thenne was subget to th empyre of Rome and ãâ¦ã destroyed it lyke as I haue said to fore and voyded almost ãâã the peple that was therin ffor whiche cause This kynge ãâã aforsaid his peple of Arabe that fonde this londe so voyde ãâã the better doo theyr wylles with alle How this puissaunt kynge entred in to Iherusalem and demauÌâded dylygently of the Temple and reedyfied it and assigned grââe reuenues therto for tentretene it capitulo iiio. wHan they cam in the holy cyte of Iherusalem they fonde it destroyed and deserte sauf a fewe cristen men whiche dwellyd there and were suffred that they shold lyue as Cristen men and make agayn their chirches and that they shold haue a patriarke In the while that this myghty prynce duellid in Iherusalem he began tenquyre moche euâentifly of the peple of the tounÌ pryncipally of the patriarke whiche was named Sophonye had ben chosen after modeste whiche was deed of whom I haue spoken to fore In what place the temple of our lord had be whan Titus the prynce deffeted and destroyed al the cyte he shewid to hym the very certayn place the fondamentes a parte of the muraylles whiche were thenÌe yet apperyng he made anon to be sought to be brouht to hym without longe taryeng grete nombre of masons of carpenters dide do be fette stones of marble of other manere alle thynges necessarye therto he dide do assemble as moche as shold nede And deuised the maner and ordynance of the mesure and of the dyspences for to make the temple And as he was a noble prynce of hyâ affaire noble he brought anon to ende this that he had emprised in suche wise that the temple was reedefyed in suche forme and estate as it yet apeereth this saide prynce hym self assygned grete rentes reuenues ffor euer more for to sustene and repayre alle that shold be nedeful to thedyfiâes and other necessites of the temple and for the seruyng of the lyght day and nyght by the handes of them that he commysed to kepe the temple Ther is in the same temple within and without letters of golde in the langage of Arabe whiche deuyse as we suppose who was he that reedefyed the temple and what tyme And how moche it costeto rebylde it How Charlemayne by his lyberalite gate for the prouffyt of cristen peple in hethenes thamytye of hethen prynces capitulo iiij tHus it happed that this holy cyte of Iherusalem for the synnes of the peple was in seruage and in daunger of hethen peple longe tyme That is to wete cccc xxx iiij yere contynuelly but not all way in one manere They were one tyme better another tyme werse lyke as the lordes chaunged whiche were of dyuerse maners condicions but neuertheles thise peple were alway in subiection It happed that one grete lorde of this saide lawe had nyghe in his seignorye all the londe of thoryent sauf only ynde This prynce was named Aaron his surname ressit This man was of so grete cortosye of so grete largesse of so hye vygour and of so grete affaires in alle good maners that yet the paynems speke of hym lyke as they doo in ffrauÌce of Charlemayn they were bothe in one tyme this aaron this charlemain And therfore in their tyme the cristen peple in Iherusalem were in better poynt than thei had euer be to fore vnder ony of the hethen peple ffor Charlemayn the good Emperour whiche so moche trauailled and suffryd for our lorde and so moche enhaunced the fayth of Ihesu Criste to th ende that the Cristiente in Surye myght be the better and more debonairly cherysshed and entreated Pourchassed so longe that he had the loue and acqueyntauÌce of the said Aaron by messages that wente and cam Wherof this Aaron had moche grete Ioye And aboue alle the prynces of the world he louid and honoured themperour CharlemaynÌ and the Cristen peple that were vnder hym And alle the holy places that were vnder his power he wolde that they shold be entretiened mayntened and wel aourned lyke as Charlemayne had desyred and sente to hym worde Wherof it semed that our peple beynge there Were more vnder the power of Charlemayne than vnder the power of the hethen men Whan he myght fynde the messagers of Charlemayn he charged and laded them alle with richesses of thoryent
with clothes of sylke with spyces Ieweles of golde of dyuerse facions And with ryche precious stones whiche he sente to his frende Charlemayn And largely he gaf and rewarded the messagers And emonge al other thinges He sente into ffraunce an Olyphant This debonayrte pourchased the good Charlemayn for the Crysten men that were in captiuyte vnder the said Aaron And in lyke wyse the said Aaron for the loue that he bare to Carlemayn pourchassed for other Cristen men that were in al hethenes vnder dyuerse lordes as in egypte And in Aufrigue That is to seye in Allexandrye And in Cartage ffor âe sente grete yeftes and moche good to sustene the power of Cristen men sente grete presentes vnto theyr lordes maistres myscreauntes amyable letters In suche wise that he pourchassed their loue acqueyntaunce by whiche they conteyned them more debonairly vn to cristiens that were in theyr subiection thus dyde the hye prynce charlemayn vnto the hethen lordes that were fer fro hym ffor it is to be bileuid that yf he had ben nyghe to them that he wold haue essayed for to haue delyuerd in another maner the peple of our lord lyke as he dyde ryght gloriously in many places Of the noyse that sourded emonge the hethen men discordyng in theyr lawe and how they of egypte yssued out of theyr londe and of the euyllis that they dyde capitulo vo. iN this season it happed that a grete debate sourded bytwene the mescreaunts of Egypte and the mescreaunts of Perse ffor eueryche partye of this peple wold haue the seignourye vpon the other The Rote of this grete hate and enuye sourded ande aroos of that whyche discorded and yet dyscorde of certayn poyntes of theyr lawe in suche wise that they haue dyuerse names ffor they that holde the lawe of perse haue the name in theyr langage soun And they of the lawe of Egypte be named siha And they be not so ferre fro the very crysten lawe as ben the other It happed that they of Egypte yssued out of theyr londe and conquered alle the londes vnto Antyoche And emonge the other cytees that were taken The holy cyte of Iherusalem cam vnder theyr power and seignourye The peple that were there in captinyte were resonably wel entreated tyl it happed by the suffrauÌce of god that his peple shold be chastised and that was by a desloyal and cruel lord and calyphe of Egypte whiche was named hecam he passed in malyce and cruelte alle his predecessours in suche wyse that the peple of his lawe helde them as wode men of pryde of rage and of falsched Emonge the other tyrannyes he commanded to caste doun to the ground the chyrche of the sepulcre of our lorde Ihesu Cryste whiche had ben made first of Constantyne themperour by a noble Patryarke of Iherusalem named Maxyme and after râedefyed by modest that other patriarke In the tyme of heracles of whom we haue spoken to fore he sente to them a fals caliphe one his bayly whiche was lord of Rames and named hyart This dyde the commandement of his lord and caste it doun to grounde In this tyme was patriarke of this chyrche a right valyaunt man named Oreste and was vncle vnto this vntrew kynge of Egypte broder of his moder And this was the reson why he was so cruel ayenste Crystiente ffor the heethen men sayde that he shold neuer be ferme in theyr lawe by cause he had a crysten moder And for to take away this suspecion he destroyed this holy chirche of the holy sepulcre whiche was the fontayne and begynnyng of our very creaunce How thaffliccyon iniuries and tormentes of crysten men grewe in the tyme of Calyphe hetam capitulo vjo. fRo thenne forthon began thestate of our peple at Iherusalem to be more greuous and more sorowful than it was wonte to be ffor they toke grete displaysir at theyr berâe for the chirche of the resurrexion of our lorde whiche they sawe so destroyed emonge them And on that other syde they were charged ouer sorowfully wyth tributes taskes and tayllages aâenât the custome and preuyleges graunted to them of hethen prynces ⪠And also they were deffended to make ony festes on the daâes of theyr hye festes but thenne they were compellyd to trauaâlle by force and angre or they were commanded not to yssue out of ãâã howses ne dores but holde them cloos wythin to th ende that tâey shold make no semblaunce of feste wythin them And âet alâo they myght not be therin in pees ne assured but they caste at ãâã by the wyndows grete stones donge dyrâe and foul orââreâ And yf it happed somtyme a Crysten man to saye a light worâe that dyspleased ony of the hethen men Anon he shold be taken like a murderer and brought to pryson and shold lose therfore his fyste or fote or he was brought to the gybet And alle the good that he had was brought in to the handes of the Calyââe â Somtyme they wold take the chyldren of the crysten peple boââe soâes and doughtres in to theyr owne howses and made them mescreaunts ayenst theyr wylle And somtyme by betynge and another wyth lyes and flaterye made many yonge folke to renye our fayth And thus they dyde to our peple moche ãâã and grief But notwythstondyng good crysten men leâte not but admonested and conforted the peple to suffre al this with a good herte and veri penitence for the faith of Ihesu Criste and promysed them for thise shames the Ioye thonour and the glorye of heuen whiche euer shal endure The good Cristen peple spack so to gydre that they enforced them to holde And kepe their cristen fayth the more surely By cause they dyde them so moche harm And repreef It sholde be ouer longe a thinge to recâunte to you Alle the meseases the myschiefs that the peple of our lord endured that tyme. But I shal shew yow one exampel to th ende that by the same ye vnderstonde the more of other One of the hethen men ouermoche malicious and vntrewe whiche hated of ouermoche cruel hate the cristen men he aduised and thoughte an a day how he myght brynge them to deth He sawe wel that alle the cyte helde the temple in moche grete honour reuerence whiche was reedefyed the laye peple named it the temple dominus that they whiche had the charge to kepe it dide al their peyne to kepe it cleen nette now ther was a place to fore the temple whiche was named thaitre of the temple Whiche they wolde kepe as clene as cristen men kepe their chirches and aultres And this vntreu man that I haue said yow of to fore Toke by nyght in suche wise that no man sawe it a dede hounde al roten and stynkyng and brought it in to the same aitre to fore the temple On the morn whan they of the toun cam to the temple they fonde this dogge Thenne sourded
and aroos a crye a noyse and a clamour so grete thurgh alle the toun That ther was nothinge spoken of but of this hounde· They assembled and put out of doubte that this was not doon ne caste there but by the Cristyens Alle the hethen men Accorded to this poynt that alle the cristen peple shold be put to deth with the swerd And there were theyr swerdes drawen redy out And they also that sholde smyte of their heedes· Emonge the crysten men was a yonge man of a moche grete herte and of grete pyte And spak to the peple and said to them ffair lordes trouthe it is That I am not culpable in this thinge ne none of yow as I byleue certaynly But it shold be ouermoche grete doÌmage yf we alle shold deye thus ffor by this shold alle the CristendoÌme be quenchid in this londe Wherfore I haue thought in my self How I shal delyuer yow alle by thayde of our lord Two thynges I desyre of you for the loue of god That one is that ye praye for my sowle in your orisons That other is that ye deporte and honoure my poure lygnage ffor I will take this thinge on me and saye that I all one haue doon this fayt whiche they put on vs alle they that doubted the deth had grete Ioye whan they herd this and promysed to hym their orisons and thonoure of his lygnage In this maner that they of his lygnage eueâmore on palmsonday shal bere tholyue whiche signyfyeth Ihu Criste whan he cam in to Iherusalem Thus this man cam to fore the Justice And said to them that the other Cristen men were nothyng culpable in this fayt and sayde that he hym self had doon the dede whan they hârde this they delyuerd alle the other And he only had his heed smeten of How at the requeste of Themperour of Constantynoble the cristân men obteyned lycence to bylde agayn the chirche of the holy seâulcre capitulo .vijo. sVche diseases suffred the peple of our lord in this tyme but Ihu cryste that wel can sette remedyes in thinges mâruâillous out of ordre recomforte them after ffor tâis vntrâwe prynce of egipte hetam deyde and his sone named dâââr regned aâter hym This daher renewed the alyauÌces with themperour of constantynoble whiche was a Romayn and named Elioââlitans he prayde the said daher whom he moche louâd that he wold suffre that the Cristen men myght reedefye the chirche of the holy ãâã whiche his fader had do beten dounÌ he graunted it for the loue of themperour It was not longe after that this emperour deyde and after hym regned Constantyn whiche had to surname Monomaâques whiche is to saye in grece as a man fyghtyng allone Tâe poure cristen that were in Iherusalem had lycence for to make agayn their chirches but they had not the power for their pouerââ And herupon they had a counseyl that they wold sende to themperour and requyre hym for goddes sake that he wold helpe and socour of his Almesse for the reedefyeng of this holy werke Ther was in the tounÌ of Iherusalem a good man named Iohan Cariaintes born in Constantynople had ben a grete gentilman of the contre as of his lignage But yet was he more gentil of herte good manere This man was comen on pylgremage to the holy sepulcre and had lefte alle the bobauÌce and thonour of the world had taken thabyte of relygion ffor to folowe our lord Ihesu Criste in ponerte in the place where he suffred pouerte messease for vs This said Iohn was prayd of alle the cristen peple there that he wolde entrepryse this message for to go to themperour for the loue of god and of them he dyde it with a good wylle and departed and cam in to Constantynoble and spak to themperour and dide alle that he was requyred ffor themperour graunted that he wolde make alle the dispences that shold be nedeful to the byldyng of this holy chirche and wolde reedefye it at hiâ owen coste This Iohn was moche Ioyous whan he had so wel accomplissyd his message and toke leue of themperour and cam agayn in to Iherusalem whan he had said to the peple the good tydinges that he brought they made grete Ioye And many weâte grete terees for pyte by cause they thoughte that our lord wolde not alway forgete them whan he had doo to them suche câmforte In this tyme was patriarke in Iherusalem an holy man named nycesores Themperour held ryght wel his promesse ffor he sente without taryeng grete partyr of his tresour and dide do make the chyrche of the holy sepulcre moche hye in thestate and manere that it is yet And was ful made the yere of thincarnacion of our lord a M xlviij And had ben xxxvij yere destroyed This was ryght the yere to fore that our peple recouerd the cyte Whan the Cristen men there had made agayn the chirche they were moche Ioyous and were also therin well comforted of all theyr mescases and repreues that they suffred wherof they had grete plente not only in Iherusalem But also in alle the cytâes aboute as in bethleem And in the cyte where Amos the prophete was born named Tecua As ofte as the Caliphe sente in to the lande a newe bayly so ofte were sette on them new tributes taillages whiche they myght not well paye yf they payed not anon they menaced them for to caste doun their chirches to the ground saide they had of their lord coÌmandement so to doo thus in this sorow were the cristen peple one while vnder them of egipte another tyme vnder them of Perse but this was not but yet a begynning to them as whan they cam vnder the power of the turques ffor the turques conquerd the Royame of perse and also of Egypte Thus the holy cyte fylle in to their demayne whiche demened it so cruelly tormented it so cruely that it semed to the peple of our lord that they had be in fraunchise and in grete reste vnder them of Egypte and of perse Thus helde the turkes them there viij yere Of the turkes fro wens they cam and how they grewe in to grete puisaunce and dide chese them a kynge for to mayntene their warres capitulo vijjo. for as moche as we haue spoken of the turkes shal ofer speke of them in this book me semeth good that I saye to yow fro whens this peple cam first wherby they had so grete power The turke turkemans cam out of a lynage Roce of a contre toward the Eest whiche is in surye And were a peple moche rude without ordynauÌce ne had no contreye ne no certayn dwellyng place But went all aboute fro londe to londe sought pastures for their beestis ne neuer duellid in castel ne tounÌ And whan they wolde meue from one place to another tâenne wente euery lynage by hym self And they made in euery kynred or lygnage a
prince whiche was theyr Iusticer by thise pâynces all their mesfeates and trespeaces were redressyd and amendid And they obeyed and dide that he or they coÌmanded They caryed with them alle theyr thynges seruauntes menages houshold thier Oxen kyen sheep and other beestis In this thynge was alle theyr rychesse They laboured no londe by eeryng ne sowyng ne they coude neyther bye ne selle ffor they had no moneye but their beestis their chese and Mylke changed thei for to haue other thinges that they neded Whan they had ben in one place and had nede to goo in to another they sente the wisest of their peple vnto the princes of the coÌtre And they made couenauntes for them for to dwelle in theyr wodes pastures for the tribute that they shold paye lyke as they shold accorde Now it happed that a grete partye of this peple departed fro the other and entred in to the londe of perse fonde this londe moche plentyvous of pastures and ryght good of suche as they neded And gaf to the kynge the trybute that they were accorded fore And dwellyd there I can not telle how longe This peple began to growe and multeplye in suche wise that there were of them a meruayllous grete nombre in so moche that the kynge and they of the contre self began to haue grete doubte of them and fere leste they myght doo harme by the power that ouermoche grewe and encreced here vpon they had a counseyl emonge them that they wold dryue and chasse them by force out of theyr londe But after they chaunged theyr counseyl and semed better that they shold charge them with suche tributes that they myght not suffre And thenne they shold departe by their owne agrement lyke as they were come Thus they dyde But they suffred longe thise greues til atte laste whan they myght nomore suffre thei couÌseylled emong them self that they wold nomore paye to the kynge whan the kynge herde this he dide do crye thurgh alle his Royamme that they shold yssue out of it by a certayn day that was named to them And that they shold passe the flood named cobar whiche is vtterist part of the RoyaÌme of perse on that other syde And whan they were departed and on the playn they sawe them self ouer apperceyued that they were so grete plente of peple that no londe myght suffyse them ne withstonde them yf they helde hem to gydre ffor to fore whan they dwellid in perse they dwellid fer a sondre in suche wise that they knewe not their power But now whan they sawe that they were so many they had meruaillous grete desdayne of that they had suffred and the pryde grieuousnes of one prince They take counseyl emonge them and sawe that no peple myght resiste them but myght conquere alle londes ther aboute But one thynge destrobled them and that was they had no kynge on them And thenne they dyde in this manere They fonde emonge them an hondred lignages of whiche euerich had his meyne And euery lignage brought forth an Arowe marked in suche wise that the Arowe of eche lignage myght be knowen and whan alle thise Arowes were brought to gydre They called a lytil chylde and commanded hym to take vp suche one as he wolde ffor they had acorded emonge them that of the lignage that the Arowe shold be taken vp by the chylde they shold chese them a kynge The chylde toke vp one of a lignage that after was called Selduces Now they knewe that of this lignage they muste chese a kynge And they toke an hondred of the most prudent wise men that they coude fynde in al the lignage And commanded that eche of them shold brynge an arowe wheron his name shold be wreton And after they called the chylde and bad hym take vp one of the Arowes And concluded emonge them that he shold be kynge of whom he toke vp the arowe he toke vp one on whiche was wreton Selduc This Selduc was a moche goodly man and gretely honoured in his lignage he was grete and stronge a good knyght and wel proued and semed wel to be a good man and of hye werkes They chees alle this man for to be theyr kynge as they had promysed And dyde to hym homage and feaulte by oth and obeyed hym and honoured hym lyke as is don to a new kynge This kynge for the first of his commandementis commanded and made do crye ouerall on payne of lesyng of theyr lyues they shold repasse goo ouer agayn the flood of Cobar and retorne agayn in to perse ffor they wold no lengre be in danger for to seche place and stede where they myght dwelle but wolde that they shold conquere this lânde and other and reteyne them in theyr seignourye lyke as he sayd and commanded it was don ffor the peple conquerd in a short space by force of armes not only the Royame of Perse but alle Arabe and other contrees of thoryent and toke them by strengthe and reteyned them vnder theyr power And thus it happed that this peple that tofore had be so rude and lyued so out of rule as beestis after gate in lasse than fourty yere so grete seignouryes as ye now ãâã And mounted in so grete pryde that they wolde no more haue the name lyke as the other had wherfore they were called turkes â The other that wold not leue theyr maner of lyuynge were alleâway named and yet ben Turquemans Thise peple whan they âad conquerd this contre of thoryent they wold entre in to the Royamâme of Egypte ffor they were of moche grete puissaunce And descended in to Surrye and conquered the contre And emonge the other cytees they toke the holy cyte of Iherusalem And suche peple as they fonde there they demened right euyl and tormentâd and greued them more than they had ben to fore lyke as I haue sayd to you to fore Of thorryble synnes regnyng thenne in crystiante as wel in thyse partyes as in tho partyes capitulo ixo. yE haue herd how this peple that were crysâen were demeâned in this contre of thoryent Now ye may bere how the crystiente is contened and ruled in other partyes of the world knowe ye for certayn that this tyme were fouÌden but fewe ⪠that had the drede of our lord in theyr herte Alle right wysnesse alle trouthe alle pyte were faylled The fayth of Ihesu cryste was as it had be quenchid and of charyte men spack not debates discordes and warres were nyhe oueral in suche wyse that it semed that th ende of the world was nyghe by the signes that our lord sayth in the gospell ffor pestylences and famynes were grete on therthe ferdfulnes of heuen tremblyng of therthe in many places and many other thinges there were that ought to fere the hertes of men to drawe them fro euyl to brynge to them the remembraunce of our lord But they were as deef and
blynde of heeryng and of seeyâg this that was nedeful to them for to saue theyr sowles The prynces and the barons brente and destroyed the contrees of theyr neyghbours yf ony man had saued ony thynge in theyr kepyng theyr owne lordes toke them and put them in prison and in greuous tormentis for to take fro them suche as they had in suche wyse that the chyldren of them that had ben riche men men myght see them goo fro dore to dore for to begge and gete theyr brede and somme deye for hungre and mesease As to the chirches ne Religyouses they kept not theyr priuyleges ne none other fraunchyses but were taken fro them alle that mocht be founden as wel meobles rentes and other thynges ye the crosses chalyces and the sensours they toke fro the chirches and moltâ them for to selle yf ony fledde to the chirche for to warante and saue hym he was taken drawen out vylaynously as out of a tauerne or an other place To Monkes and clerkes were doon wronges and all the shames they myght Ther was no iustyce but on them that trespaced not ne forfayted nothyng The contrees were ful of theues of murdriers In cytees ne in good townes was noman sure There regned customably dronkenship lecherye playeng at dyse roberyes ther was no mariage kepte ne lignage And also as of euyl lyf were the clerkes or werse as the other The bysshops ne the other prelates durst not reprehende ne chastyse none for theyr euyl werkes The Rentes of holy chirche they gaf ne payd none but solde the benefices And fynably I saye yow that alle euyl werkes had surprysed alle crystiente in suche wyse that it semed that eueryche dyde payne for to serue the deuyll Of a bataylle that themperour Romayne of Constantynople had ayenst a puissaunt prynce of thoryent named Belphet cao. xo. oWr lorde that by his pyte chastyseth in this world for to spare in that other and can wel bete his children that he loueth for to saue them suffred a grete flawe to come in to the contre for to chastyse the peple ffor in this tyme whan themperour Romayn was lord in constantynoble yssued out of the partyes of thoryent a puissant hethen prynce named Belphet whiche brought with hym so grete pleÌte of peple out of perse surye that they couerd all the coÌtre the multitude was so grete that it myght not wel be noÌbred they brought with them caâtes Charyottes horses· camels beuffes kyen other smale beestys so grete plente that vnnethe it myght be byleuyd with this grete apparayl This grete force strengthe he brought in to thempire of constantinoble began to take waste all that he foÌde where as they fonde fortresses cytees or castellis they toke it al with assault ffor nothyng myght resist e them but that they smote all doun to therthe all the pepl hool fledde to fore hym this tydynges cam to themperour that this grete lord had supprised taken alle his contre anon without taryeng he sente all about in thempire dyde thenÌe somone all his hoost assembled as moche peple as he coude gete as moche good as âe myght fine for this worke that was so grete whan his peple werâ comen he yssued with as many men of armâs and of warre as ãâã myght haue drewe to that parte where this belââât cam he fonde hym to sone as he that was ferre entred in to the londe whan they knewe that eche of them was so nygh other they ordeyned thâyâ bataylles for to fyghte assembled so cruelly of so grete angââ as peple that had eche to other grete hate The heâhen foughte foâ tenhaunce theyr lawe for tencrece theyr power â the cristen men defended theyr fayth the lawe of Ihesu criste to saue and keâe theyr liues franchyses and theyr wyues childeren theyr contree The bataylle was moche grete cruelle moche peple slaân â blode shadde here there Atte laste the grekes myght not suffre tâe faytes ne the grete plente of the mescreauÌs and fâedde as discomfyted so fowle· that none retorned agayn· but ranne awaâ with oute ordenauÌce euerychÌ where he myght best saue hym they that folowed them dyde alle that they wolde They slewe many ⪠toke grete plente a lyue And emonge alle other Themperour was taken hym self whan tydinges cam in to the contre that the batayl was loste· and themperour taken ther was grete sorowe of alle tholde men wyues childeren that had not ben there belphet this prynâce of myscreauntes seeyng that he had thus playn victorye of the cristen men· mounted aroos in to grete pryde ffor he thought wel that he shold fynde no barre that shold letee hym to doo his will in th empyre whan he was lodged his hoost aboute hym he coÌmanded themperour to be brought to fore hym which had be taken in the bataylle he sette his foote vpon the necke of themperour this dyde he ofte whan he shold mounte vpon horsbak or descende in shame and despite of the fayth of our lord and of the cristen peple Whan he had thus a whyle shamed reuyled despyted themperour He lete hym goo delyuerd hym som of his barons that had he prisoners whan themperour was come agayn in to constantynoble the barons of the londe reputed hym as ouermoche dishonoured as he that had shamefully conduyted the bataille toke hym raced out his eyen lete hym vse his lif in sorowe shame This prynce belphet began to take alle the londe in suche wyse that in a lytil whyle he coÌquerd fro the lystes of surye vnto the see called the braas of seynt george which is wel xxx iourneyes of lengthe x of brede in som place xv whan he cam to the braas he wold haue passed in to constantinoble whiche is on that other side of that litil see but he myght not finde shippis ynowgh Thus the cristen peple of that londe for theyr synnes were vnder this cruell peple emong the other the noble and hye cyte where saynt peter was made fyrst as chyef of cristente that is antioche was taken in the ende and subgette vnto the turkes thus had this belphet in his seygnorye demayne the londes named celessurye the two cilices pamphylee lyce· lycarne cappadoce galace bethuye a parte of the lasse asye all thise couÌtrees ar moch fertile ful of peple this hethen peple began to bete down the chirches greue the cristen peple as it plesyd them ffor so grete affraye drede was in the hertes of the cristen peple that they all fledde vj iourneyes fro the said belphet this was a thynge that greuyd merueylously the holy cyte of Iherusalem the peple of the couÌtre ffor whyles themperour of constantynoble was in good pees in his grete power many grete socours
grete comfort of ryche yeftes of large almesses cam· vnto the peple of surye and also fro the londe of antioche But thenne they had loste alle had none hope that euer ony ayde ne socours shold come to them wherfor they supposed euer to be in seruage captyuite without ony rauÌson Of many maners of tormens that the cristen peple suffred for theyr synnes in that tyme capitulo xjo. wHyles that this tyme was so peryllous for the seygnorye of thyse hethen men cam oftymes in pylgremages the grekes and the latyns in to Iherusalem ffor to praye oure lord and crye hym mercy that he wold not forgete thus his peple yet many cam theder in grete perylle ffor alle the countrees by whiche they shold passe were ful of theyr enemyes and ofte they were robbed and slayn And whan they myght escape and come to the holy cyte they myght not entre therin But eche persone muste paye a besaunt for trybute wherof happed ofte that they that were despoylled had not wherof they myght paye this trybute myght not entre in to the town And for this they suffred Colde hungre and grete mesease And many deyde And herof the Casten men of the town were moche greued For they susteyned them that lyued And muste burye them that were dede and secâe such thyng as was nedeful to them self other They that myght entre in the town were yet more greued ffor som were murdred in the holy places of the cyte secretely was doon to them moche ãâã repreef openly· Ther was fyl the caste in theyr visage other spytte in the myddes of theyr visage som men bette them wâerfore the cristen men of the town that had som acqueyntauÌces with the hethen men conduyted and ladde thâm to thâyr pâlgremages for to kepe them to theyr power There were in the cyte of them of Malfe which is a cyte of puyeâl which had a chirche in ãâã nâmed saynte marye de la latyne whereby was an hospital of âouâe peple where as was a chappel that was named saynt Iohn âlââmont This saynt Iohan was a patriarkâ of Allââandrââ ãâã of the chirche of our lady had in his cure in his ãâã this hospital pourchassed alle that was nedeâul for them There were receyuyd alle the pour pylgryms whiche had not wâerof âââyue And this how 's was of moche greâe chaâyte Thus were âf ââccisten peple in grete disease in the toun But there was nothyng that displesyd them as whan they had made theyr deuocionâ ãâã holy places in the toun with grete traueylles grete cosââe And whan they were in the seruyse of our lord the hethen ãâã cam in with grete noyse crye· and satte vpon the aulceââ threwe doun the chalyces brake the lampes the tapres yet for more to angre the cristen peple they toke ofte the patriarke which was theÌâne by the herde and by the âeer And threwe hym down to the grounde defowled hym vnder theyr feet of whiche alle ãâã had grete sorowe moche pyte In thyse soâowes meseases weâre the cristen men in the londe of Sârâe as I haue sayd you to fore CCCC four score ten yere and alwey cryed vnto our lord for mercy with syghes treres prayde hym deuoutly that he wold not alle forgete them But the good lord that aftir the tempeste derke weder can wel brynge clerenes and fayr season behelde this peple in pyte And sente to them comforte and delyuerance of the tormentes in whiche they had longe ben How aftir the had ben four CCCClxxxx yere in seruage of the hethen peple our lord pourueyed remedye for his cristen peple capitulo xij i Haue wel said to you byfore that out of many londes cam pilgryme in to Ihrlm emong all other ther was one which was of the royame of ffrance born in the bisshopprych of Amyens That is to were one named peter whiche had ben an heremyte in a wode And therfor he was called peter theremyte this was a litil man of body as a persone had in despite lytil preysed by semblaunt But he was of a merueyllous grete herte of moche clere engyne and good vnderstondyng and spak right wel whan he cam to the gate of Iherusalem he payd the trybute of a besauÌt entred in to the cyte and was lodged in a good cristen mans how 's This petre alwey enquyred demauÌded moche of his hoost of the gouernaunce estate of the cyte And how the cristen men conteyned them vnder the hethen men And how theyr lord demened gouerned them his hoost whiche had longe ben in the towne tolde to hym alle the maner playnly of the tymes passyd And how the cristentâ had be defowled And the holy places dishonoured whiche was sorouful to here And he hym self which a good while had be in the town for to doo his pylgremage sawe wel perceyued a grete partye of the caityfnes in which the cristen men were he herd saye that the patriarke was a good wyse man deuote religyoê° which was named symeon Peter thought that he wold goo speke with hym demande of hym the estate of the chirches of the clergye of the peple he cam to hym dyde so as he thoughâ And asked of hym alle thise thynges The patriarke apperceyued wel by his wordes and his couÌtinaunce that he was a man that dredde god right wyse and vnderstondyng And began to telle to hym by layser alle the meseases of the cristen peple whan peter herde thise sorowes of the mouthe of this good man whom he byleuyd wel coude not absteyne hym fro grete syghes wepyng many teeres for pyte ofte dâmaÌded of the patriarke yf ther were ony coÌseil remedye for this werke the holy deuote patriarke answerd hym· we haue made many orysons prayers vnto oure lord god for to receyue vs in to his mercy and grace But we apperceyue wel that our synnes be not yet purged ffor we ben certaynly in the culpe and blame whan oure lord whiche is so rightwys holdeth vs yet in the payne But the renoÌme of the contrees by yonde the montaynes is moche grete here that the peple there and specially of them of ffraunce ben good cristen peple and moche stedfaste in the fayth And therfor oure lord holdeth them at this day in moche grete peas and in hye puissance yf they wold praye our lord that he wolde haue pyte on vs or that they toke counseyl for to socoure vs we haue certaynly hope that our lord shold helpe vs by them for taccomplysshe oure werke ffor ye see wel that the grekes and themperour of Constantinoble whiche ben our neyghbours and as kynnesmen maye not helpe ne counseyle vs ffor they them self ben as who sayth destroyed And haue no power to defende theyr owne lande Whan peter herd this he answerd in this maner fayr fader trouthe
it is that ye haue sayd ffor of that londe am I· And god be thanked the fayth of oure lord is moche better holden there and kepte than it is in ony other londes that I haue ben in syth that I departed on my Iourneye fro my contre And I byleue certaynly that of the mescase and seruage in whiche thise hethen mysbyleuyd peple holde you Inne that by the playsyre of almyghty god by theyr good wylles they shold fynde couÌseyl and ayde in this your grete nede werke wherfor I counseyl you one thyng yf it be aggreable to you seme good that is that ye sende your lettres vnto oure holy fader the pope and to the chirche of rome vnto the kynges prynces barons of the occident weste parte In which late them wete playnly how it is with you that ye crye to them for mercy that they wolde socoure you for the loue of god for his fayth in suche maner that they myght haue honoure in this world sauacoÌn of their soules in that other for that ye be pour peple ye haue no nede to make grete dispeÌcis yf ye thynke I be sufficiaunt for so grete a message ffor the loue of Ihu Criste remyssyon of my synnes I shal entreprise this vyage and offre my self to take so moche traueyl for you And I promyse truly to you that I shal late them haue knowleche how it is with you yf god sende me grace to come thydre whan the patriarke herd this he had moche grete ioye he sente anon for the moost saddest wysest men of the cristen pepl for the clerkes laye men sayde shewde to them the bounte and the seruyse that this good man offryd to them They were right glad And thanked hym moche Thenne anon withoute taryenge they made theyr wrytynges and sealed them with theyr seales and delyuerd them to peter theremyte How the said peter theremyte entreprised the more hardyly his vyage by thapparicoÌn or vision that he sawe in his sleep ca xiijo. tRuly our lord god is swete pyteous and mercyful ffor he wylle not suffre to perysshe ne to be loste them that haue in hym ferme and stedfast hope And whan the men lacke helpe god sendeth to them his ayde And this may clerely be seen in this werke for fro whens cometh that this pour man whiche was lytil despysed persone wery and brused of so grete Iourneye and waye that durste enterprise so grete a dede and werke how myght he wene that our lord wolde accomplysshe so grete a werke by hym as for to dylyure his peple fro the myserye and caytyfnes that they had ben in nygh fyue C yere But this hardynesse cam to hym of the grete charyte that he had in hym And the fayth wrought in hym for the loue that he had to his bretheren In thise dayes happed a thynge that moche lyft vp his herte to poursue his enterprise ffor this good man whan he had taken this message and charge therof he wente moche ofter than he was woonte to doo to the holy places in the cyte and cam on an euentide to the chirche of the holy sepulchre and made there his prayers deuoutly with grete plente of teeris Aftir this he sleepte vpon the pamente hym semed that our saueour Ihesu Criste cam to fore hym and charged hym self to doo this message And said to hym petre aryse vp hastely and goo surely thedyr as thou hast entreprysed ffor I shal be with the It is now tyme from hens forth that my holy Cyte be clensed and that my peple be socoured Petre awoke in this poynt And was fro than forthon more abandouned vnto the waye and also sure as his Iourneye and message had be doon he entermed and appoynted his departyng for to doo his erande And had leue and benediction of the patriarke he descended doun to the see and fonde there a shyp of marchauntes that wolde passe in to puylle he entred in to the ship the which had good wynde in shorte tyme arryued at bar peter yssued out wente by londe to rome he fonde in the contre the pope vrban and salewed hym in the name of the Patriarke and of the cristen peple of Surye and delyuerd to hym theyr lettres sayde to hym by mouthe moche truli wysely the grete sorowes the miseryes and vyletees that the cristen suffred thenne in the holy londe as he that was expert therof and coude wel saye to hym the trouthe Of the persecucions of the chirche in that tyme and how the pope Vrban was putte oute of the see of Rome by the bysshop of Rauenne cao. xiiij iN this tyme Harry themperour of Allemayne had a grete debate ayenst the pope Gregory the seuenth to fore this Vrban and the discorde aroos for the rynges and the croses of tâe bisshoppes that were dede in th empyre For suche a customme had ronne a grete whyle there that whan the prelates were deed tâe rynges and croses of them were brought to themperour And ãâã gaf them to his clerkes and his chapylayns or whom he wolde ãâã sente to the chyrches and bad them that they shoolde holde them for theyr bisshops and archebisshops without other election oâther proef by whiche holy chirche was adommaged sore For he sente ofte persoÌnes that were not propice therto The pope gregoâââ sawe that this customme was ayenst the right and lawe ãâã and also ayenst reason and prayd hym amyably to leue this ãâã the loue of god of holy chirche and for sauacion of his sowle ãâã it apperteyned nothyng to hym Themperour wold not leuâ ãâã for the pope wherfor the pope cursed hym herof themperour had so grete despite so gtete desdayne that moontineÌt he began to waâââ ayenst the chyrche of rome ayenst the pope he made to rise an adâuersarye Tharchiebisshop of rauenne whiche was named Gilbert was wel lettred moche riche This bisshop trusted ouermochâ in thayde of themperour And in the plente of his rychesse â And he cam to rome and deposed and put out the pope of his seâ by fauour force And becam so fel and of so greâe pryde that he had that he forgate his wytte reson that he ought to haue by his clergye And sette hym self in the see And made hym to be holden for pope as he that wel wende to haue ben it â I haue said you to fore â that at that tyme Cristen peple were in gret paryll thurghout all the world that the comandemens of the gospel were moche forgoten and of holy chyrche And men ranne faste and habouÌdantly to the werkes of the deuyl to all synnes whan this discorde and Scysme was so grete Thenne alle trouthe was goon the fayth of our saueour was lyke as it had ben alle perysshed The bysshoppes the abbottes and the prouostes were beten sette in prison And
alle theyr thynges were taken awey fro them namely by them that helde of themperour In this debate was done alle the shames and repreues to the pope Thenne the holy fader sawe that he was not obeyed as he shold be and that he was in paryl of his lyf And he went in to puylle by the helpe and counseyl of Robert guichart whiche theÌne was lord of the contre This Robert dyde vnto our holy fader and to his peple as moche of honour of servyse and bounce as they wold take and yet more at laste on holy fader wente hym in to salerne becam seke and laye doun there deyde was there buryed The Cardynals that were there Chose another whiche was named viator whiche endured but one moneth or there aboutes After hym they choos this vrban that I spack of to fore This vrban sawe that themperour was yet in his maââce his angre durst not abandone to hym ne put hym in his power but helde hym in the forteresses of some barons that for goddes sake retryned hym in grete doubte whiles he was in this poynt peter theremyte cam to hym and brought to hym the message fro the Crysten men in the holy londe our holy fader the pope knewe moche wel the bounte the wytte and the religion that was in this peter And ansuerd to hym moche swetly and sayde that he shold goo hastyly speke to the princes and barons of the royame of ffrannce of this werke for yf he myght escape sauely fro the handes of themperour he hym self had Intencion to passe the montaygnes and drawe hym toward tho parties for to helpe the better to this wherke yf it were possible Thenne peter was right glad of this good answere of our holy fader and passed lombardye and the montaygnes and cam in to ffrance And began diligently to gete the barons like as he was sent expresly to them and tolde to eche of them the shames and disconvenyences that the hethen peple dyde to the Crysten folke in the holy londe And the same he said to the mene peple for he assembled them oftymes and tolde to them the sorouful state of the londe Cyte of Irlm in suche wyse that he made them to wepe many a tâere And at euery tyme he made some fruyt by his sayeng and exhortyng the peple to gyue socours to the holy lande And like wise as saynt Iohn baptyste preched to fore to make the way to fore IhuÌ cryste so in the same wyse this Peter brought tydynges to fore the comyng of our holy fader wherfore he hym self whan âhe cam was the lecter heâd and byleuid and the more dyde in this werke Of a general counseyl that the pope vrban ordeyned for the reformacion of holy chirche thamendement of the peple capo. xvo. iN the yere of thyncarnacion of our lord M. lxxxxv regned the fourth harry kynge of almayn and emperour of Rome the xviij yere of his regne and the xij of his Empire and In frannce regned thenne philipe the sone of harry ThenÌe sawe our holy fader the pope vrban that the world was moche empeyred and torned to evyl and helde a counseyl ther vpon of the prelates of ytalye at playsance where he made establysshemens by theyr counseyl for tamende the maners of the Clergye and of the laye peple After he knewe wel that he was not sure in the power of themperour and passed the montaygnes and cam in to the royame of frannce he fonde the peple euyl endoctryned and ouermoche enclyned to synne-Charite faylled and warres and discordes were emonge the riche men And thought that it was nede to doo his power myght for tamende Cristiente he ordeyned a generall counseyl of alle the prelates that were bytwene the montaynes and the see of Englonde this counseyl was sette fyrst at Clony Another tyme at puyâârÌe dame And the thirde tyme at Cleremont in anuergne This was in the moneth of Nouembre Ther were many Archebisshops bisshops abbotes and grete prelates and persones of holi chirche of thise parties Ther were by thâ general counseyl many coumandements gyuen for ââmende clerkes layefee for teshewe synnes and recouâre good maners There was holy chirche al reformed of whiche it had grete nede Emonge alle other Peter theremyte was there whiche forgate not the werke that he was charged with but admonesced the prelates eche pryuatly by hym self prayde the comune peple openly moche wel and wysely TheÌne toke our holy fader the wordes and shewed generally to alle the counseyl what grete shame it was to alle the cristen men of our faith that was so nyghe destroyed yâd faylled in the place where it began and it myght be grete fere and drede whan it faylled at the heed welle that the ryveââ shold not endure that were rennyng thurgh the world And saide moche wel that alle the very Crystân peple shold take herof grete despite of thus desheryted by their defaulte and his contre dâlâuerd to his enemyes And promysed that yf they wolâe toke vpon this pylgremage he wolde chauÌge theyr penaunce in to this werke· And yf they deyde in this waye confessid and repentaunt· he wolde take it on his fayth that they incontinent shold goo in to the Ioye of heuen On that other syde as long as they were in the seruyse of our lord they were in the warde and kepyng of holy chirche bothe they and theyr thynges in suche wyse that they that dyde to them ony domage shold be acursed alle this commanded he to be kept of alle the prelates that were atte couÌseyl This doon he gaf euery man leue and commanded shold preche this pylgremage and pardon And tolde to them that alle men shold trauayll to gyue and make longe trewes and pees of the warres for taccoÌplysshe the better this pylgremage and to performe it How many noble hye men and other of the Royame of fraunse crossed them for to goo ouer see ca xvjo. oWr lord gaf his grace vnto our holy fader the pope in vtteryng of the word of god· which was said in suche wyse that it was fyxed roted in the hertes of them that herde hym and not only of them that were present but of alle other that it was recorded and told vnto ffor the bisshops wente in to theyr countrees preched to theyr peple like as it was to them commanded How be it that it was a strange thyng right greuoê° for a man to leue his contree his wyf his childeren and lygnage And leue them that he loueth by nature But whan one thynketh what reward he shal haue of our lord so to doo thenne he geteth a feruent loue in hym self for the charyte of our lord and leueth the naturel loue of his flessh for to saue his sowle and this myght wel be perceyued and sâen ffor the peple of the Royame of ffraunce and the grete barons and other lasse that were
enclyned to synnes acustomed to doo ylle as I haue said to fore aftir they herde this prechââg entreprysed so vygorously the werke of our lord and auowed them to ward this pylgremage as ye shal here ffor it semed that euery man ought to entreprise tauenge the wronge and shame that the hethen dyde to our lord and to his peple in the londe of Iherusalem Ye shold haue seen the husbonde departe fro his wyf And the faders fro the childeren and the childeren fro the fadres And it semed that euery man wolde departe fro that he louyd best in this wrold for to wynne the Ioye of that other Ther was so grete affraye and so grete a meuyng thurgh alle the londe that vnneth ye shold haue fouÌde an how 's but that som had enterprised this viage I saye not that alle that wente were wyse and of pure entencion toward our lord ffor som monkes wente out of theyr cloystres without leue of theyr abbottes or pryours the recluses wente out of the places where they had ben closed in and wente forth with the other Som wente forth for loue of theyr frendes to bere them felawship Other wente forth for bobaunce lesâ they shold be reputed for euyl and not good And som there were that wolde withdrawe them for theyr creancers and haue respite of theyr dettes But how that it was theyr entencions within theyr hertes semyd good for the grete enterpryse that they shewed outward And it was of grete nede that this pylgremage was chosen at that tyme ffor there were in the world so many synnes that they withdrewe the peple fro our lord And it was well behoueful that god shold sende to them som addressement by whiche they myght come to heuen and that he gaf them som traueylle as it were a purgatorye to fore theyr deth At this counseyl auowed presently this pylgremage the good bisshop of Puy named Aymart whiche aftirward was legate in the same hoost and conteyned hym moche wysely truly Also the bisshop of Orenge whi he was an holy man and relygyous auowed tâere the same viage And ynowhe of other whiche were not at that counseyl that enterprised the same vowe Our holy fader had commanded made the bisshops to holde it that alle they that wolde auowe this pylgremage shold sette the signe of the crosse on their right sholdre ffor thonoure of hym that bare the torment of the crosse vpon his sholders for to saue vs and taccomplysshe this that oure lord sayth in the gospell Who that wil lyue aftir me renye hym self take the crosse folowe me wel forsaketh he hym self that leueth that the flessh loueth for sauyng of his sowle whan one of the grete barons was croysed so on his sholdre in a contre alle the peple of the contre that were also crossyd cam to hym and chees hym for theyr captayne and made to hym feaulte for to haue his ayde and warantise in the waye of the sayd pylgremage The names of noble men that enterprised this pylgremage as wel on this side as beyonde the montaynes capitulo xvij o iN the Royame of frauÌce and of Allemayne hughe the yonger brother of the kyng of fraunce Robert th erle of flaundres Robert Duc of Normandye Sone to kynge William of Englond Stephen th erle of chartres of bloys which was fader to erle thybauld the olde whiche lyeth at laigny Raymond th erle of tholouse and many knyghtes of that londe The valyant man Godefroy of buyllon Duc of lorayne with his two bretheren Bawdwyn and eustace And one theyr cosyn Bawdwyn sone to the counte huon de Retel Th erle garnyer de gres Bawdwyn the erle of henawde Ysoart the erle of ye Rembout th erle of Orenge William th erle of forests Steuen th erle of Aubmalle Rotrout the erle of Perche Hughe the erle of saynt pol many barons knyghtes that were not counted As raoul de bangenel Euerard du puisat Guy de garlande which was sâeward of fraunce Thomas de ffeâre Guy de possesse Giles de chanmouÌt Girard cherisy Rogier de baruyle Henry daÌsique Centon of bea rt Guillem amanâux Gaste the bediers Guillem de montpellyer and Gyrard de Roussilon ye may wel knowe that with this peple were croyssed moche grete plente of knyghtes and other with grete nombre of comune peple whiche peter theremyte gadred in the Royamme of frauÌce in th empyre of Allemaygne And by yonde the montayns men croyssed them also Buymount the prynce of Tarente whiche was soon to Robart guychart that was Duc of puylle Tancre his neuew his sustres sone and many other grete barons of this londe that were not so renommed ne knowen as thise were There was grete Appareyllemens and araye that was made for this pylgremage The grete men had enterprised that assone as the wynter was passed they wold putte them on this pylgremage· The mene peple the knyghtes· the barous and other aftir they were acqueynted that one with that other sente to eche other lettres and messages for taccorde to goo to gydre and apoynted the tyme of departyng and of the waye that they sholde holde And whan Marche was come ye sholde haue seen horses arrayed with sommyers palfroyes and stedes tentes and pauyllons· and to make armures ye maye wel knowe that there was moche to doo of many thynges ffor the barons were acorded that they shold not goo alle to gydre ffor no contre myght suffyse ne fynde that which shold be nedeful for them ffor whiche cause alle the hoostes neuyr assembled as ye shal here tyl they cam vnto the cyte of Nycene The mene peple charged them self not moche with tentes ne Armures ffor they myght not bere it And therfor euery man garnysshid hym aftir that he was with moneye and goodes as moche as he supposed shold be nedeful for hym Whan the daye of departyng cam ther were grete sorowes grete wepynges and grete cryes at departyng of the pylgryms ffor there were but fewe howses but of them som wente And suche howsholders ther were that they wente alle and caryed theyr wyues and bare theyr childerân with them It was a merueyllous thynge to see this meuynges ffor it had not byfore be acustomed to see suche thynges in fraunce ne neuer byfore was crosse born ne taken for pylgremage Of thauentures that a Rowte of Cristen men had in this viage Of whome one Gaultyer withoute knowleche was Captayne capitulo xviij o tHe yere of thyncarnacion of our lord M. four score xvj the eght daye of Marche cam a gentilman a knyght right noble named Gaultier without knowleche to his surname with hym cam a merueyllous grete plente of folke a foot ffor ther were but fewe men a hors bak in this rowte they passed in allemayne and drewe hem toward hongrye The Royamme of hongrye was alle enuyronned with grete waters and large mersââs and depe lakes in suche wyse that none myght entre ne
armours and vytaylle Peter the heremyte and his hoost fonde a brygge of stone by whiche they passed a water rennyng nyghe to the cyte they passed the brygge and lodged them bytwene the water and the towne And by cause they had not mete ynough Peter sente his messages vnto the lord of the toun and prayd hym fayr for hym and for his peple that were cristen and pylgryms that wente in the seruyse of our lord that they myght bye vytaylles of the toun at resonable prys ThenÌe the lord sende worde to peter that he wold not suffre that they shold entre in to the toun But yf he wold gyue hym good ostages that his peple shold doo no harme ne oultrage to the peple marcheaunces of the toun that shold come for to selle them vytaylle he shold sende to them ynough at resonable prys· whan Peter and his peple herd this they were glad ynough They delyuerd good ostages and anon they of the town cam out with grete plente of vytayl and other thynges necessarye in the hoost How some of the oost of peter theremyte vnwetyng hym sette fyre in the subarbes of Nyz at theyr departyng capo. xxo. moche was this nyght the hoost of the pylgryms refresshyd of alle thynges that they had nede ffor they had ben long fro ony good toun And they of the cyte were to them moche debonair and resonable On the morne they demanded theyr ostages And they were delyuerd gladly And forth they wente in peas But now ye shal here how the deuyl doth grete peyne for to empesshe lette good werkes In this companye had ben the euen a fore a stryâ to one of the marcchauÌtes of the town and som of the oost whan the hoost was departed the duchemen assembled to the nombre of an hunderd and for vengeaunce of the stryf they sawe vij myllenes· whiche stode at brygge nyghe the town and sette them a fyre and brente them anone this was not ynowgh but there was a litil borough without the cyte and they sette that a fyre also and brende hit to asshes and syth wente theyr waye aftir theyr felawship whiche knewe nothyng herof Of this thynge the lord of the town whiche had the euen to fore shewde to them grete dââânayrte was gretely meuyd for he sawe that they rendrid euyl for god and was half out of his wytte for angre This felonnye that this fewe dyde was wyted alle the hoost whiche was euyl pyte· he made anon arme alle the town yssued on horsbak and on fote hym self cam to fore and prayde and moche desyred his peple for to venge vpon thyse false rowters and theuys the oultrage that they had don whan they approched the hoost they fonde fyrst thise thre malefactours whiche had not yet ouertaken theyr felaws And ronne on them and smote of their heedes it had theÌ ne be ynowgh but they were not content· but smote in the aftirst parte of thoost whiche doubted nothyng they fonde charyottes sommyers males· seruauntes· wymmen and childrren whiche myght not goo so faste as the other They slewe many and somme they ouerthrewe and ladde away the cariage And thus retorned in to theyr cyte without hurte and alle blody of the bloode of the pylgryms How Peter theremyte was aduertysed of alle this And of the harme that ensiewed capitulo xxio. pEter was goyng with the grete coÌpanye whan a messager cam to hym rydyng told to hym of this aduenture that was fallen in the taylle of thoost· Peter sente anon to them that were to fore that they shold retourne agayn the way that they were comyn vnto the cyte of nyz In this retorne they fonde thynges ynowgh that displesyd them ffor they fonde their felawes byâeded lyeng by the waye they had grete sorowe herof Onâ fonde his fader deed Another his brother or his sone and another his wyf or his doughter there were many disconuenyents Peter whiche had his entencion pure vnto oure lord entented not but caââese the malyce and leye doun the discorde whiche was sourded emong the peple he sente som wyse and prudent men to the lord and to the moost hye men of the cyte· for to demaunde by what occasion they had don this euil crueltees ayenst the peple of our lord They answerd that this was by the defaulte of the pylgryme that they had fyrst doon grete oultrage to brenne theyr mylneâ and burghe whan Peter and the wyse men that were with hym herd this They thought wel that it was no place ne tyme to venge theyr shames And therfor torned the mater vnto peas and acorde for to recounre the praye the prysonners and Caryage whiche they had ledde away fro thoost ffor there were of the mene peple whiche wold not be ruled and wold not suffre them of the towne to haue pees with vs but wolde aneuge by force the oultrage that they had doon Peter felte this thynge· And apperceyued anone the euylle that sourded And sente of the wysest and grettest of his companye to make the pees his peple wold not haue pees· He made a crye on payne of deth in his name and the name of the barons that noman be so hardy to breke the pees that was made And this he charged vpon their pylgremages theyr feaulte and on thobedyence that they had promysed hym And whan they of the hoost herd this they remeuyd not But folyssh peple wente forth and made grete noyse and wold not obeye The messagers that were in the town for taccorde this that was don sawe that the noyse grewe more and more and retourned to theyr felawshhip withoute ony conclusion or doyng that they had enterprised dyde theyr best to seece the debate but they had no power ffor there were moo than a thousend pylgryms whiche noman myght holde ne reteyne But that they wold goo armed to the toun Out of the toun yssued as many or moo ayenst them ther began the bataylle and the medle grete and thyk and began to slee eche other largely Peter ne his route meuyd not but byhelde the bataylle They of the town that were on the walles and at wyndowes sawe that theyr peple had the werse and apperceyued that the grete power of thoost entermeted not of this warre thought that they wold not helpe them And opened theyr yates and yssued oute by grete rowtes alle armed and smote in the bataylle And founde of our peple aboute a v C. vpon the brygge And addressyd to them and slewe them alle· sauf somme that were caste in the water And alle were perysshed whan the grete hoost apperceyued theyr peple thus euyl demened they myght suffre it no lenger but wente to Armes and smote in to the bataylle one aftir another lyke as they myght be armed· the peple that had bygonne this debate were discomfyted fyrst And began to flee so fast that nothyng myght tarye them They began to bete them an horsbak that cam for to
of hongrye for to requyre his grace that they myght passe in good ââas they wold lodge them ther whylest in tho places that were ful of pastures to fore the paas How this peple began to destroye the londe of the kyng by caââse he wold not graunte to them leue for to passe cao. xxâx o a Lytil whyl taryed they that wente to the kyng but retorned anon ffor they myght not spede of such thynges as they deâmanded The kyng answerd that for âefte ne for prayer shold they entre in to his londe whan they of the oost greâe and smaâe hârd this they were moche angry ffor they had trauaylled and despâââded moche good to come thedyr And now they had loost theiâ waâye They concluded emong them that âhey shold brenne and destroâye the contreye of the kynge as moche as was on this syde the mareys They sette fyer on townes and toke the men deâtroyed alle the contrey· whyles theâ dyde thus the peple of the fortreâââ cam out and with other peple of the kynâgâs to âhe nombre of ãâ¦ã what of knyghtes and other peple wel armed passed by shippes er euer the pligrims knewe of it ony wââd and they sette them fâr to deffende the pylgryms at a paas that they shold not entre· whan the pylgryms sawe this they ran vygorously vpon them in suche wyse that er they myght saue them self they were slayn alle sauf a fewe of them that withdrewe them in to the mareys â and âydde them in the reâd whan thyse pâlgryms thus had the victââye tâey mounted in moche grete hardynes said that by force they wold take the fortresse of hongrye and withoute leue they wold passe thurgh the londe Thenne they began to somonne and recomforte euery man to doo wel They toke poles made scaffholdes moche grete plente whiche they sette to the walles And mounted vp couerd with theyr sheldes and targes and assaylled it moche hardely many pyked with pykoys and myned the walles with grete force that thentre semed al redy for to entree they that were within were nyghe deed for despayer ffor they defended slowly as men affrayed in their hertes ffor they supposed anon to be slayn sodenly cam a fere and a drede vpon the hertes of the pylgryms that wened anon to be slayn And neuer was knowen wherfore it was and anon fyl donn fro the scaffoldes taryed not but fledde sodeynly none wyste why they fledde The hongers whan they sawe this myght wyth grete peyne byleue it that this was trouthe ffor they sawe no rayson why Neuertheles whan they apperceyuyd they descended doun began to folowe the chaas in suche wyse that them next to fore them were almost alle taken and slayn In this auenture was fonden none other reson sauf that the peple was so ful of synne that they had not deseruyd the loue of our lord ne thonoure of the world And therfor they re synnes acowarded them in suche wyse that they myght not doo ne accomplysshe this grete werke whiche they had nyghe achyeued The erle Emycon cam agayn in to his contre with grete nombre of peple disconfyted The other barons of ffraunce that I fore haue named wente in to lombardye and so in to puylle There had they knowleche that soÌme of the grete barons were passed in to duras and fro thens in to grece They wente aftir and folowyd them In this manere were the peple of ffraunce disperpled and of the contrees ther by The waye of hongrye was moche more strayte and ner yf they myght haue goon it And had not be destrowbled by theyr folye But the other that cam aftir peyned them moche for to goo more wysely and more in peas How the duc godefroy of boloyne beyng with a grete hoost cam vnto hongrye sente his messagers to the kyng for to demande passage capitulo xxxo. cOmen was the moneth of anguste in the yere of thyncarnacion of our lord M lxxxxvj the xv day of the same moneth The valyauÌt godefroy of buyllon duc of loraygne assembled them that shold be his felawes in this iourneye And cam fro his contrey with so grete apparayllement as it apperteyned to his estate with hym Bawdwyn his brother Bawdwyn the Erle of henawde Huge the Erle of seynt pol Euerard his sone which was a moche valyaunt yonge man Garnyer the Erle surnamed of grees Bernard the Erle of Toul Pieter his brother Bauwdwyn de bors cosyn to the duc Henry dasque godefrây his brother And many other good knyghtes with them Thise men were so good frendes emonge them and so wyse men that in no wyse they wold departe that one fro that other they cam alle hool with their thynges in to Osteryche the xx daye of septembre vnto a town which is named taylleÌborch there reÌneth a ryuer named âyntans departed th empyre of allemaygne fro the royamme of hongrye â whan they were comen theder· they had herd by the waye euyl tâdynges of the grete mesauentures· that Godechan and his peple had in hongrye They assembled and toke counseyl emonge them â how they myght passe this contre in peas They alle acorded that they shold sende messagers lettres vnto the kyng of hoÌgrye for to demande first by what reason theyr felaws the pylgryms whicâe were theyr bretheren were thus perysshed in his power and âis londe Aftir this they encharged the messagers that they shold ântre with hym in to coiÌcacion that they mygât passe his Roâamââme seurly and in peas And that herin they put them in deuâyââ payne ffor this waye was for them moche shorte and more couenable yf they myght haue it than for to passâ by sâââ In this message wente godefroy dasâue brother of henry· by cause he had long to fore ben acqueynted with the kynge of hongrye âith ãâ¦ã sente other wyse men They wente fo fâr that they fonde the kynââ And salewed hym in the name of hem that senâe thâm And delyuerd their lettres of credence And aftir sayd to hym thyse wordes How the messagers of the duc godefroy declared their message vnto the kyng of hongrye And ther vpon his answere cao. xxxio. tHe wyse man noble Godefroy Duc of ââââyne And the other prynces that with hym come in pylgremage âaue sente vs now vnto you And by you wolde knowe· by what occasion the other pylgryms whom they helde for felawâ and bretheren â haue so cruelly be slayn and smeton in pieces in your ââwer Wel they knowe and sende you worde that they haue ben so slayn ffor they haue fonden many of them that ben escaped Moche they meruaylle how ye your peple which ben cristen as ye saye haue thus destroyed the good companye whiche for to enhauÌse the fayth of Ihesu Crist ben departed out of theyr contre in suche wyse that the most mortal enemyes that they haue had not don werse They desire moche to knowe yf it were by
the defaulte of the pylgryms ffor yf ye haue doon it by Iustyce or in deffendyng you and youre londes or other wyse that they wold enforce and take ony thyng away yf it were so The duc and his felaws wold take it more lightly But yf it be doo without their trespaas or for hate that ye had to them thus murdred them they that sente vs hether lete you wete by vs. that they haue lefte theyr owne couÌtreyes for tauenge the wronges the oultrages that haue ben don to the peple of oure lord And yf they finde that ye haue so doo they be not in wylle to passe ferther tyl they haue to theyr power auenged the deth of the pylgryms of our lord And herwith godefroy that acounted this to the kyng made an ende of his wordes The kyng was in his palays where he had grete plente of barons of his Royamme and of other peple thenne answerd and sayde Godefroy it plesyth me moche that ye be come in to this contrey for to speke to me It is a moche good thyng for me for two causes that one is that ye be of myn acqueyntauÌce and my frende longe syth And we shal afferme and renewe our loues and our acqueyntaunces in this youre comyng That other cause is that I knowe you to be a man wyse· resonable of good wille and am moche ioyous of this that ye shal here my excusacion trouthe it is that we haue the name of the cristiente it were shold be moche fayr to vs· yf we had the werkes But they that ben passed tofore with peter theremyte and with godechan haue not the werkes of pylgryms ne of cristen men ffor we receyuyd peter theremyte his peple in oure londes and in our townes with grete debonayrte And departed with them oure vytaylles and other thynges we gaf to them But they lyke as the serpent that prycketh or styngeth hym that kepeth hym warme in his bosomme hath guerdonned rewarded vs for our good dedes for in th ende of the royamme of hongrye whan they ought to thanke vs and rendre graces to god to theyr frendes They toke by force one of oure best castellis And put to deth alle that were therin and caryed the beestys with them they toke alle the maydens of the town lyke rowters theues The company of godechan cam after them they abode not to forfaytte til the ende of our Royamme but assone as they were entred and passed the yates of hongrye they began to make alle thoultrages they myghte They brente the townes slewe the men enforced the wymmen and bare away alle thynges they dyde so moche that for theyr trespaces were wel worthy to haue hate of god of the world we that be here in the place in the dygnyte by whiche we ought to kepe the peple as long as it shal please god and our barons that haue sworn the feaulte of the Royalme myght not wel endure thus to destroye our peple and our contrey but haue put to the hand by force in vs defendyng The thyrde companye cam also with folke a foote we doubted the noyse and debate in suche wyse that we wold not suffre them entre in to our londe ne come emonge vs Our lord that Iugeth alle the wordes knoweth alle thyng wote wel that it is thus that I haue lyed to you no worde Now we praye you that ye excuse vs oueraal where ye shal here speke of it whan he had said this be sente the messagers in to theyr Innes where they had moche grete honour and grete feste The kyng toke counseyl of his barons and ordeyned his owne messagers whiche he sente to the duc godefroy and to the prynces that cam He had spoken ynowgh to godefroy dasque and made hym grete câere and gaf to hym and his felawshippe yeftes And aftir toke leue of hym and retorned al to gydre â with the messagers whan they were comen to fore the duc godefroy one of them sayd the message in this manere· The kyng of hongrye saleweth you my lordes And sendeth yow worde that he knoweth certaynly by renoÌme that ye be a man of moche hye lygnage puyssauÌt of peple wyse and trewe of herte prudent and valyaunt of body in suche wyse that your prouesse is born in to many londes ffor thyse thynges our lord the kynge whiche neuer sawe yow preyseth and loueth yow moche in his herte And hath moche grete desire to doo you honoure These pylgryme that ben with you And that haue enterprysed so hye a pylgremage be preyseth moche and desyreth moche to see them· and to worshippe and to haue theyr acqueyntaunce ffor he holdeth hym selfe wrous and gracious that our lord hath sette hym in such a poynt that he may doo seruyse and bounte to one so valyaunt a man· Therfore vnto you fayr lord and to the hye men of your companye be prayeth requyreth and demandeth for a synguler yefte that it wold plese you to come see hym at one his castel named Cipeâon ffor be desireth moche to speke to you at leyser doo that ye wille demauÌde How the said kynge sente for to fetche the duc godefroye And how he wente and of the deuyses that they had to gydrâ cao. xxxij wHan the duc and his barons had herd the messager thus speke he drewe them a parte and toke counseyl They acorded wel that the duc shold goo he sente for suche companye as hâ wold haue And wente forth with thre honderd horse withoute mââ on his way hit was not long but he cam to aperon he passed the brygge and fonde the kynge whiche made to hym grete ioye and moche honour· And long they spak to gydre And the kynge excused hym of the deth of the pylgryms vnto the duc lyke as he had doon to the messagers At th ende the kyng cam so to poynt that they were appeased goodly The kyng acorded to hym the passage thurgh his royamme yf he wold sette hym suche hoostages as he shold chese for to kepe the pees Alle this was graunted And he demanded in hostage Bawdwyn brother of the sayd duc his wyf and her maygne they were delyuerd to hym gladly Thus entred they with alle theyr peple in to the lond of hongrye The kynge helde to them wel his couenauntes ffor he dyde doo crye in alle the townes as they shold passe and also thereby that they shold selle to them vytaylles good cheep and that noman shold meue to them no debate The duc commanded also and made to be cryed that none on payne of his lyf were so hardy to take ony thynge fro the lond ne fro no man ne for to doo no wronge but holde them for felawes and bretheren Thus it happed that they passed alle hongrye without ony maner stryf or noyse· The kynge rode alwey nyghe to thooste on the lyfte syde ledyng his hostages with hym redy
for tappese yf ony noyse arroos Atte laste they cam to malleuylle wherof ye haue herd to fore whiche stondeth on the ryuer of the dunoc There they ãâã tyl alle the hoost were passed by shippes wherof were but fewe But to fore he had don sette ouer a thousand men wel armed for to kepe the arryuyng on that other syde whan the hoosâ of the comyn peple were passed the kyng cam to the duc to the barons and brought the hostages that were delyuerd to hym he made to them moche ioye and honour at departyng· and gaf to euerych grete yiftes ryche Aftir he toke leue and retorned home ageyn The duc and the barons passed ouer with their peple and cam to bellegraue a cyte of hongrye of whiche we haue spoken to fore And there they lodged them After they passed thurgh the wodes til they cam to the cyte of nyz and after to stralyce How the duc godeffroye sente his messagers to themperour of constantinoble to th ende that he shold delyuer huon le mayne and other that he helde in prison cap o xxxiij o hEre may be knowen the euyl disposicion and deceyte of the grekes ffor syth themperours latyns faylled in constantynople and th empyre cam vnto the grekes of whom the fyrst was nycofores Anon the barbaryns that were aboute them· the blacz and the comans they of hongrye whiche ben toward the eest supprised and toke thyse londes that were so good plentyuous and delytable And conquerd alle fro the dunoe vnto constantinople· And on that other parte vnto the see Adryane There is a cyte in lombardye nygh to the londe of the marquys named Adre is right a litil cyte But by cause it is nygh the see of venyse and of Ancone hath this see the name of the see Adryane in wrytyng This see goth right nygh constantinoble vnto a xxx myle This euyl peple of th empyre of constantinoble had wel wonue vpon the grekes xxx iourneyes of lengthe· And x of brede ffor aboue this see that I haue spoken of is a countre named Epyre. The chyef cyte is named duras of whiche pycrus was somtyme kynge· Another is named Mayene that is in the myddle of the londe where ben also noble Cytees Nyz and stralyce In this londe was Archade Thessale and machedone Of thyse thre landes euerych was called Trace And alle thise were conquerd vpon the grekes But afterward ther was an Emperour named Basilie recouerd thise londes· And brought the blacz and the bongres longe afore this tyme in suche wyse that the two danemarches were comen agayn to his po wer but yet wold not the grekes suffre to repayre agayn the townes ne laboure the loÌdes which shold be right good to th ende that none shold enhabyte there· By cause they holde it for a strengthe And that nothyng shold be fonde therin Also in espyre whiche extendeth fro duras· vnto a mount named bagulaâs And endureth foure iourneyes by that passed the other barons But the Duc and his companye passed by danemarche la Maâen whiche is named other wyse Mese They cam by a destrayte whiche is named the Cloysââe of seynt Basyle And syth they descended in to a playne Where they fonde grete plente of vytaylle and of pastures And cam vnto Aâine poâ whiche is a moche fayr cyte and good There herd they saye and trouthe it was that themperour of constantynoble had enprisonned huon le mayne broder of the kynge of ffraunce· and many other barons that cam with hym ffor thise noble men were hasty and cam by lombardye in to puylle ffro thens they passed to duras And soiourned for tabyde the other barons whiche ought to come in to tho partyes ne they supposed to haue doubted ony thyng in the londe of the grekes that were cristen as they were But the baylly of duras toke alle the moost grete barons and sente them in yrons to themperour of Constantynoble to doo his wylle with them he helde them in prison and abode the comyng of the other barons by cause yf they cam with grete power he wolde delyuer them for theyr loue and yf they cam not with grete myght he thought not lyghtly to lete them passe whan the duc godefroye and the other barons herd tydynges of this prisonment he toke good messagers and sente them with theyr lettres to themperour And they prayde and warned hym that he shold sende to them without delaye this hye and noble man huon le mayne and alle his companye ffor they helde hym for lordes bretheren and felaws of this pylgremage And herin he had don more his wylle and his force than right whan he had reteyned one so gentil and hye prynce· How the duc godefroye constreyned themperour by force to rendre and delyuere his prisonners capitulo xxxiiijo. iN this tyme was Emperour a greke moche fals and ful of tricherye and was named alexes and to his surname Conius he was moche acqueynted and pryue with that other Emperour Nychofores bothomat in suche wyse that he made hym his steward And was the grettest man of the londe sauf themperour He by his malyce purchaced euyl and harme ayenst his lorde by thassent of grete peple that he helde aboute hym and toke hym and helde hym in his prison vj yere tofore that our pilgryms cam theder The messagers of the Duc and the other barons demanded of this Emperoure Huon le Mayne lyke as they were commaunded and the other prysonners in lyke wyse Themperour answerde shortly that he wold not delyuere them They retourned in to the hoost and said to them thansuer of themperour whan the duc the other barons herd this they were moche wroth And concluded emong them by theyr counseyl that they wold playnly make warre ayenst hym that dyde so grete oultrage to holde so hye a prynce in prison ne wolde not answere by mesure ne reason They habandonned to the hooste to take in that contre where they were in Alle that they coude fynde· And brente alle the townes Thus abode they in thise partyes and destroyed alle the contre And dyde moche grete dommage and harme and· grete plente of proyes and other gaynes cam in to the hoost of the barons Themperour sence vnto the duc and vnto the other barons that they shold doo holde theyr peple in pees And that he wold delyuere huon te mayne and the other prisonners· They agreed and acordid gladly· And cam with alle theyr bataylles renged and in ordenaunce to fore constantynoble· as for tassiege the toun Anon yssued oute huon the mayne· doene dancelle Guylla ne charpentier Clarembault de venduel And entred in to the âauyllon of the Duc And thanked hym moche and alle the other of theyr delyueraunce And the duc and the hooste receyued them with moche grete ioye ffor they had moche grete angâe and greââ despite of that was don to them The grete despyte that themperour toke that duc
godeffroy reffused to goo in to constatinoble vnto hym capo. xxxv wHyles they spak thus to gydre cam the messagers fro themperour to the duc· And requyred them in theyr lordes name that he wold entre with a fewe of his companye in to the town And come speke with themperour The duc had counseyl herupon and answerd that he wold not yet come in to the toune whan themperour herd this he had therof moche grete despite And deffended oueral that ther shold nomore vâtaylle be sold to them ne none other thynges The noble men sawe this· and sente out on fouragyng ouer alle the countrey· And they brought in vytaylle grete plente in suche wyse that they had ynowgh poure and ryche Themperour sawe that this contre shold be destroyed and doubted that they wold yet doo werse therfor he commanded to his marcheauntes that they shold goo in to the hooste and selle to them suche thynge as they neded The daye of Cristemasse or of the Natyuite of oure Lord approched Therfore the Duc and the Barons dyde do crye in the hooste that no man shold forfaytte ne trespace in tho foure dayes The mene whyle cam the messagers of themperour that spak to the barons moche saye that they wold passe the brygge and come on the syde of the palays whiche was named blaquerne· ffor there myght alle the hooste lodge in grete howses whiche were nygh the braas of seynt george And alle this said they for tricherye and deceyte Neueâtheles our peple byleuyd them lyghtly ffor the wynter was moche cold and sharpe of raynes and snowes in suche wyse that the pauyllons roted and ne myght not hold out the water of the rayne the horses and poure peple myght not endure it· herof toke themperour his occasion for to sende in to the hoost and that they shold passe toward the town and semed that he had grete pyte on them but his entencion was alle other wyse ffor he dyde this to th ende that he shold enclose them in a place more strayt that they shold not renne in to the contre And that he myght haue the gretteâ power to constrayne them therin Of the descripcion of constantinoble And of many countreââ and londes ther aboute capitulo xxxvjo. fOr to vnderstoÌde how the barons were enclosed by the desloyaulte of themperour it is to wete how the cyte of constantinoble stondeth the see whiche is in venyse cometh nygh vnto xxx myle of constantinoble ffor thens departeth an arme like a fresshe water And estendeth it toward the eest in lengthe ij C xxx myle it is not lyke euen ffor in somme place it is· but a myle broode And in another it is wel xxx of brede or more after the places that it renneth in· And it renneth bytwene thyse two Auncyent cytees Sexton and Abydon of whiche that one is in asye And that other in europe ffor the arme is deuyded fro thyse two londes Constantinoble is in europe That other parte is nycene whiche is in asye This braas or arme thus as it is moost brode toward the see lyke a roode where the porte is it is sayde that it is moostâ paysible And easyer than the see is nyghe therto stondeh constantinoble whiche is lyke a tryangle The first syde is byâwene the porte and this arme Ther standeth a chirche of seynt george of whiche that see is named the braas of seynt george And this enduââth vnto the new palays of blacquerne after the porte That other pan of the walle dureth fro this chirche of seynt george vnto the porte aire The thyrde pan fro that yate vnto the palays of Blacquerne The towne is moche wel closed toward the champayne of walles of dyches of towres and of barbicans Atte porte descendeth a fressh water rennyng whiche is lytil in the somer but in wynter it becometh moche grete for the rayne This water hath a brygge on whiche oure men passed ouer whiche is enclosid bytwene the grete see and the braas behynde the yate where they lodged for tabyde that comyng of other barons Themperour sente ofte his messagers to the duc· And sente for hym to come and speke with hym· The duc doubted moche his tricherye and wold not goo But to th ende that he toke it not for euyl he sente to hym thre noble men that is to wyte Canon de montagu Henry dasque and bawdwyn de bort and excused hym by them that the barons that were with hym wold not counseylle hym to goo and speke with hym· tyl that the other barons were comon Themperour was moche wroth and deffended agayn that no vytaylles sold be shold to the hoost And dyde yet werse ffor he senâe on a daye erly in the mornyng shippes al ful of archers that cam sodenly by the braas right there as the duc was lodged they shotte grete plente of arowes in suche wyse that they slewe moche peple that was goon on the see syde· And many they hurted by the dores and wyndowes How our peple brente theyr lodgys and toke theyr harnoys And of an assault that the grekes made on them cao. xxxvijo. wHan the Duc and the other barons herd this by comââ counseyl they sente the brother of the duc for to take the brigge to th ende that they of the toun shold not sease ne take it They toke v honderd men what knyghtes as other wel armed and cam fyrst to the brygge and kepte it and sawe that alle the cyte was meued and armed for to come on them· Our men were thenne adcerteyned that they of the towne were theyr enemyes And sette fyer in the howses were they lodged in and in other by whiche they doubted and fered wel a vj thousand or seuen in suche wyse that som of Emperours owne howses were brente After they dyde do sowne theyr tompetâes And wente them alle in ordenaunce after the Duc toward the brygge· ffor they doubted moche that they of the towne wolde come theder for to deffende them the paas but as I haue sayd bawdwyn brother of the duc had thenne goten it vpon the grekes whom he had oueâthrowen and chased ryght ferre The hoost and alle the cariage passed ouer alle in to the contrey And arrested there alle in ordenaunce in a fayr playn moche fyers and courageous by the chirche of seynt cosme and damyan which now is named the palays of buymont the palays of blacquerne whan it was come nygh the euentyd there were many slayn of them of the town of the other but not so many The grekes myght no lenger sufre but the pylgryms discomfyted them chassed them sleyng and he wyng alle them that they myght arreche in suche wyse that they droof them in to the toun by force· Thenne retourned they agayne as they that had wonne the felde And lodged in the playne The grekes were moche swollen and angry of that they had lost so many men and had ben so euyl demened· And
answerd that they were seruauntes and soldyours of· themperour and muste doo his commandement ffor by hym they had this don here by myght alle they apperceyue that herde this that the fayre wordes that themperour sayde were but deceyuaunce and tricherye but buymont whiche was wyse and knewe that he muste passe by th empyre made semblauÌt that he apperceyued not and made good chere to thise men for to couure his courage And that plesyd not som of his barons How Buymont approuched coustantinoble and was sente to come to themperour And how by the prayer of duc Godefroye he wente toward hym capitulo xliijo. bVymont and his hoost wente so ferre by the countrees that they approched Constantynoble whan themperour knewe that he sente agayn grete mesagers to hym and prayde hym entierly that he wold leue his hoost and come speke with hym with a pryue meyne Buymont wyst not what to doo ffor he was in the daunger of hym so grete a man whom he doubted to angre And on that other parte he knewe his falsenesse and deceyuaunce And had wel apperceyued that he louyd hym not And therfore he fered to goo to hym whyles he was thus entredeux The Duc Godefroye cam to hym the thursdaye afore Esterdaye ffor themperour had so moche prayd the Duc by cause he doubted that he wold not gladly come to hym that the Duc wente to hym for to make hym come to themperour whan the duc and Buymont mette they made moche grete Ioye to gydre and spak to gydre of many thynges After entred the duc for to praye hym to come to his fader themperour Buymont was loth tobeye his prayer and request But with grete peyne the duc vaynquysshyd hym by prayer And made hym to goo· Themperour receyued hym with grete honour and ioye and kyssyd hym And aftir spak so moche to hym and to the duc that Buymont by the counseyl of the duc made to themperour hommage with his hondes and swar to hym feaulte as to his lorde Thenne shold ye haue seen come out of the tresour of themperour many grete rychesses gold syluer vessel precious stones and clothes of sylk so moche that vnneth myght be preysed whyles that Buymont abode in the palays Tancre his neuew sone of his suster that was right wyse and of grete her te retched not for to see Themperour ne to speke to hym But made alle the hoost to passe ouer the braas seynt george to lodge in bethine nygh to calcedome where thooste of the other barons had ben agood whyle whan themperour knewe that tanâââ had eschewed hym he was moche wroth· but he made no semblaunt therof as he that wel coude couure his courage he made moche grete feste to the barons that were with hym· euery daye he gaf to them grete yeftes and newe thynges Aftir they departed by his leue And passed the braas with the other There soiourned they abode the comyng of the other barons· There was brought to them grete plente of vytaylles and of other thynges fro the cyte of constantynoble and fro the countree aboute· How the erle Robert of fflaundres with his hooste approched Constantynoble And how themperour sente for hym And of theyr deuyses to gydre capo. xliiijo. rObert the Erle of fflaundres whiche was comen to fore the wynter to bar a cyte of puylle where the body of seynt Nicholas lieth had passed the see and was descended at duras Ther in a moche fayr place and plentiuous he had wynterd hym But assone as it began to wexe fayr tyme ⪠he toke his Iourneye afâeâ the other And hasted faste to folowe them but it haââed that âr he cam to the barons he receyued the messagers of themperour that sayd to hym in his name that he shold leue his hooste and come see themperour and speke with hym wyth a fewe of his meyne he demaunded and knewe wel how the other barons had don to fore hym· And therfor he cam in to constantynoble with a fewe of his companye· Themperour receyued hym wyth greâe Ioye and honour They spak of many thynges to gydrâ· And afâeâ lyke as other barons had don he dyde hommage and made ãâã of feaulte Themperour gaf to hym grete yeftes and to alle thâm of his companye· whan he and his peple had abyden and soiourned there· by the wylle of themperour he made his peple passe ouer And he hym self wente after vnto the other barons whiche with grete Ioye receyued hym· And spak moche to gydre of theyr auentures of the waye And ofte they were in counseyl how they shold doo fro than forthon they were moche displesyd for taryeng of the other barons whom they abode It was not longe after but that the messagers of the Erle of Tholouse and of the bisshop of puy were come And tolde how theyr lordes cam and that they were nygh And shold be hastely in constantynoble Of the mayntienÌ of the hooste that th erle of Tholouse and the bisshop of puy brought ouer see capo. xlvo. tHyse tweyne noble men departed to gydre out of their countrees with grete nombre of peple with them They were accompanyed with many valyaunt and puyssaunt men of theyr countreyes Ther was fyrst William bisshop of Orenge Raybout erle of the same cyte Gaste de bedyers Giralt de roussylon Guillem de montpeliers Guillem erle of forestes Raymont peles centon de bea rt Guillem de Amauenx And many other barons moche worshipful· whiche for the seruyse of oure lord lefte theyr countrees theyr lygnages and alle theyr delytes They cam alle in to lombaâdye· and passed by the syde of aquylee And aftir cam in to the londe called Ister ffro thens in to dalmace whiche is a grete contrey bytwene hongrye and the see adryane Therin before Archiebisshopps Iadre spalete Antibare and Raguse The peple of that contre is cruel and moche acustomed to robbe and to slee There be montaynes and the londe is ful of depe waters rennyng And large mareyses in suche wyse that there is but lytil londe gaynable Beestes ther be grete plente in the pastures by whiche they lyue Neuertheles they that dwelle nygh the see ben of other maner lyuyng of habyte of langage ffor they speke RoÌmant And the other speke not but as they be nourysshid The noble men of whom I spak camen in to this londe And had ther many grete trauayllys and diseases for the wynter which was ouercold And for the contre whiche was euyl garnysshyd of vytaylles they hadde merueyllous grete suffraunce ffor alle the peple of the countree for feer of the· pylgryms had lefte cytees ⪠castellys and townes for to flee and hyde them in montaynes They had born theder alle theyr thynges ffrom thens they poursiewed the pylgryms And them that were olde seke and feble and taryed after the hoost they slewe alle The erle whiche was wyse toke hede of the hoost The other barons he sente to fore he
in emong them and slewe and wounded many or they were awaked and apperceyued it But whan the crye arroos â And the noble men of thooste apperceyued the trayson they armed them and reteyned theyr peple that began to flee and after ran vpon them of themperour· And slewe many chassed the remenaunt On the morn they of the hooste began to be moche esmayed of the trauaylle that they had suffred in the nyght And of the trayson of the grekes and theyr hertes began to cole and to faylle of the purpoose of theyr waye and pylgremage And noâ only the smal comune peple· but many of the grete noble men had forgoten theyr vowes theyr honours wold haue retorned home vnto theyr countrey But the noble bisshop of Puy and the Bissâop of Orenge were emonge them and many good wyse relygyous men and clerkys that prechyd to them the wordes of our lord and recomforted them moche wel And shewde them that yf they retourned they shold lese thonour of this world And also of that other· Thus with grete peyne they reteyned them whan the erle whiche was in Constantynople herde of the trayson that was don to hym in his hoost he was as a man out of his wytte anon sente his men to themperour And sente hym word that he had betrayde hym ffor whyles he reteyned hym and made hym good chere he had doo slee his peple by trayson And sente worde herof to the barons that were on that other syde prayeng them as his bretheren that they wold come to hym to aueÌge it· wel may ye knowe that yf th erle had power sufficient he wold not haue departed tyl he had auengyd hym· And that it shold haue ben dere bought ffor he was a man of grete courage And forgate not lyghtly shame don to hym Themperour sawe that this thynge was goon ouer ferre in suche wyse that he repented hym that he had so commaunded in his angre and hastynes and hasted hym moche for to sette counseyl in this werke And sente for Buymont and th erle of fflaundres to come and speke with hym by cause he wold sende them for to appese th erle of Tholouse They cam whiche were moche angry of this that was don They wente to th erle in the name of themperour But they sayd to hym more on theyr owne behalue than of themperours They shewde hym wel that it was not tyme ne place for tauenge his shames that had ben don to hym in the seruyse of oure lord· ffor it shold be empesshement vnto the grete werke that they had enterprised for to saue theyr sowles And on that other syde yf they wolde so doo they had not the power ne puyssaunce therfor it were better to hyde their thoughtes than to discouere theyr hertes to theyr domage and shame the Erle thus angry was no fool but souffred that his wytte vaynquysshe his angre And said that he wold submette to thyse two noble men that spak to hym and byleue them They cam to themperour priuely and shewd to hym al the fowle dede and werke that was commysed Themperour vnderstode the grete yre that they had in their hertes sente for th erle to come to hym in to his palays excused hym to fore alle pryue apperte estrangers that he had not comanded this fayte to be doon but it displesyd hym moche And yet he beyng without culpe and blame therof he was redy to restore to the Duc alle the dammages that were don to his hooste after his power· Thus euery day by day and more and more myght wel be perceyued the grete hate that the grekes had to the latyns And of the desloyal felonnye that themperour had in his herte ayenst oure pephe but it must be suffred ffor it myght not thenne be amended How at thynstaunt prayer of the barons of the hooste The Erle made hommage to themperour whiche gaf grete yeftes to hym and his· Capitulo xlixo. aFter the counseyl of the other barons the erle was therto meuyd And by the grete prayers of themperour that he dyde hommage to hym and sware to hym feaulte· lyke as the other had doon And the pees was affermed emong them· Themperour gaf to them so grete yeftes that alle they were merueyllously ââmayed The other barons that were come ouer agayn on the ââther syde receyued newe yeftes and presentes· After they passed the braas and retourned in to bethâe· And they prayd moche the erle that he shold not longe tarye and abyde there the Erles hoost cam in to Constantynoble And he made them passe ouer the braas· to lodge with the other he hym self abode in the toun for certeyn necessytees that he had do to doo and to ordeyne And âe as a moche wyseman prayde and Inated ofte themperour that he shold enterpryse the seruyse of our lord· And that he wold be lord and capytayn of alle the hoost where as were so many noble men â And he had hope that our lord shold sende to hym suche honnour that he shold delyuere his peple and londe by hym wel coude the Erle make to hym remonstrance acordyng to the barons whiche had spoken in this mater Themperour answerd to them alle in one maner that this pylgrenagr was a moche hye thynge â and that he moche desyred the pardon And aboue alle other thynge the companye of so hye noble men plesyd hym moche And about hym and his empyre he sayd he had moch cruel peple and moch vntrew as the Bongres the comans and other that gladly wold doo harme to hym and to his londe and conquere his Empyre as moche as they myght gete And therfore it were grete parylle for me to withdrawe fro my Countreye well and fayre he excused hym withoute forth But that he sayd to oure fore Nycene whan they were alle assembled sixe C thousand men a fote And of knyghtes and men of armes on horsbak an hundred thousand or moo They alle had moche grete wylle for to employe them wel in this warre And desyred moche at this fyrst begynnyng of theyr warre to enterprise so hyely and doo so wel that alle other peple shold doubte them Of the situacion of Nycene And how our peple approched ther to Merueyllyng of the place and of the strengthe capo. lijo. oF the cyte of nycene knowe ye that it had be vnder tharchebysshop of nychomede But themperour constantyn made it to be taken away fro the power of this archebysshop and it was a place of honour by cause the fyrst of the iiij grete couÌseylles had be sette there ffor in the tyme of seynt syluestre the pope ther was a partriarke of coÌstaÌtinoble named alexaÌdre emperour coÌstaÌtin ther was a mescreauÌt named arrius which mesprised certeyn poyntes of the fayth many men folowed hym therfor assembled in the Cyte of Nycene .iij. C. xviij· prelates And there was disputed ayenst this popelican And by wytnes of
toure wythdrewe them to their habyllemens and to thengynes alle in saufte whiche were a grete way of About mydnyght the fyre had soo brente and wrought that this tour fylle doun to therthe with so grete a noyse and tempeste that it semed that alle therthe trembled And ther was none but he had grete horrour and feer in his herte Oure peple made hastely do sowne the trumpettes and crye to armes for to come dilygently to thassault How after that this engyn had so wel wrought The wyâ of solyman with two of her childeren wente out of the toun and were taken by our men capo. lxijo. tHe wyf of Solyman that longe had be in mesâase of drede had so grete feere that almost she deyde for drede· and sayd she myght no lenger see it ne suffre and made sodanly make redy a vessel and put it on the lake for âescape by nyght But ourâ peple that were in the shippes for to kepe the water fro theyr enââmyes cam ayenst her and toke the lady with her two sones that she had with her thenne in her companye· They presented them in the mornyng to fore the barons· They made them to be kept right surely with the other prisonners that they had The Turkes in the toun were thenne in grete meschief as wel for thenââe that was so grete and brode as for their lady that they had loste theÌne they axed trewes for to speke to the barons to gyue ouer the toun and them self in to theyr handes Tacius the greek of whom I haue spoken to fore whiche was moche double and malycious spak to the noble men that had the gouernaunce of the toun in counseyl And shewd to them that thyse pylgryms were straunâgers of ferre countrees and euyl and cruel men â And shold doo to them alle the harme they myght· And destroye the peple and the londe yf they yelded the cyte to them But and yf they wold aduowe and take themperour to theyr lord And yelde them to hym theyr lyues sauf and theyr goodes in to his hande ⪠he shold kepe them well and saufly and shold doo to them grete good â ffor âe was theyr neyghbour So moche sayd he and dyde that they of the toun toke theyr counseyl cam to the barons and sayd to them that they wold put in the handes of themperour theyr lyues sauf theyr bodyes the cyte and theyr godes This displesyd not moche to the barons ffor theyr entencion was for to passe forther hoped that themperour wolde departe the gayn proye and goodes of the toun generally in thoost· neuertheles to fore that they wold grauÌte them this thynge they sayde that they shold delyuer entierly and doo come in to the hoost alle the prisonners of pieter theremyte that were in the castel of counthot And in lyke wyse alle the other that they had taken in the siege and them to fore that Solyman helde And this don they acorded that they shold yelde them to themperour Thenne the barons prynces and knyghtes and also the comyn peple sente by one· acorde messagers to themperour for to sygnefye hym how they of the cyte had yelded them to hym Therfore they sente to hym that he shold sende of his hye and noble men with grete nombre of peple for to resseyue the toun And the persones of whom they had many ffor they alle acorded that the honour shold be his· And that the toun shold come in his demayne· And the prisonners at his wylle They that had enterprised theyr vowe for taccomplysshe had purposed for to departe fro this place and to goo forth vnto the lande of surye How themperour sente grete barons for to receyue the sayd toun after that our peple had acerteyned hym that they wolde yelde it Capitulo lxiij gRete ioye had themperour of thyse tidynges he taryed not but sente of his moost priue men as wel barons as knyghtes with grete quantite of men of armes that resseyued the cyte in his name And garnysshed it of alle thynge that was nedeful dyde repayre the walles and alle that was broken of the torettes Alle that euer they founde in the toun of Armures of Rychesses and of vytaylles they seased for themperour And sente the prisonners in to Constantinoble Themperour sente to euerych of the barons special lettres presented to them grete yeftes And thanketh them moche of thonour that they had don to hym And of this that they so wel kepte theyr promesse ffor that toun had don grete gryef and anoyaunce to th empyre The mene peple that moch had trauaylled in the siege and had holpen with grete courage compleyned sore ffor they had hoped that alle the hauoyr and goodes of the toun shold haue ben departed emonge them But themperours men bare it alle away· And they that trauaylled for it were not rewardid the worde that was moche grete cam vnto the barons they sayd that they had grete wronge ffor the couenauÌtes made bytwene themperour them were suche that yf they gate in theyr waye ony cytees that had ben to fore themperours they shold deyluere the cyte the londe to themperour but the proyes gayne shold be dâparted in thoost Ayenst thyse couenauÌtes dyde themperour· but it was not tyme thenne ne place to make argument ne debate ayenst the Grekes therfor the noble men made the comyn peple to tarye· to th ende that they shold not ânpesshe this pylgremage thus was suffred that the wyf of soliman his ij sones grete pleÌte of prisoners were ledde in saefte vnto theÌperour which made moch grete feste to the lady her childeren as longe as they were in the toun he helde them moche honorably after in short tyme he sente them agayn to solyman alle âuyte delyuerd without demandyng of ony raunson this dyde he to th ende to haue the loue and grace of the turkes in suche wyse that ther was bytwene them a counseyl acorde to greue our peple also for another rayson that is to wete yf they were in such poynt of another cyte or place that the cristieÌs coÌstreyned so by force that they shold not be aferd to yelde them frely in the hande of themperour thus was taken the cyte of nycene the yere of thyncarnacion of our lord a M lxxxxvij the xx day of the moneth of Iuyn How our hooost departed on theyr iourney how som departed fro theyr felawship and how solyman determyned tassayle them Capitulo lxiiiio. tHe hoost of the pylgryms departed by the commaundement of the barons the iij daye to fore thentree of Iuylle fro the place where they had holden siege they wente two dayes to gydre moche peasybly after lodged them by a brygge for the ease of the water On the morn after theyr customme atte spryngyng of the day they passed the brygge duryng the derknesse of the nyght ffor it was not wel day Or perauenture they departed wetyngly
they fonde this grete occisâon and slaughter at the gate Thenne began a sorow and a moche grete crye in the toun Alle men put the blame and culpe on Bawdwyn and hys knygtes ffor they wold auenge the deth of theyr bretheren whom the sarasyns had so shamely and vylaynously slayn By cause that the knyghtes of bawdwyn and also he hym self wold not suffre them to come in to the toun· And in dede the men of foote sayd this was don by grete oultrage grete falshede· And yf they had not lyghtly withdrawen them in to the toures they had smyten them alle to deth The knyghtes helde them alle stylle tyl that the footemen were cooled and after sente messagers whiche spak to them and requyre them to forbere so long tyl that Bawdwyn had spoken to them they were content to here Bawdwyn speke Bawdwyn excused hym to fore aâe and swar and affermed that for none other thynge thentre was deffended them but for that he had sworn to them of the toun that by hym shold none entre tyl the grete hooste cam By thyse wordes and by cause other entermeted to make the peas and spoken debonayrly to the mene peple was bawdwyn acorded to the foote man and his knyghtes also In this toun they soiourned and abode a certayn whyle vntyl a mornyng they sawe in the see nygh them a shippe aboute in myle fro them They yssued oute of the toun and descended to the see they that were in the ship approched to them in such wyse that they spak to gydre they of the ship sayde that they were cristen men they demaunded of what contre and they answerd of fflaundres of holande and of ffryselande And trouth it was they had be escumours of the see and robbers the space of viij yere· Now they repented them And by penaunce cam in pylgremage to Iherusalem they desyred them to come a londe And they cam and made to gydre grete ioye they had a maister ouer them named guynemer And was born of boloyne vpon the see in the londe of Erle Eustace fader of the said duc Godeffroy whan âe herde that Bawdwyn the sone of his lord was there· âe lefte his ship And said he wold goo with hym to Iherusalem be was moche ryche of this euyl gayne And had many men with hym that be ladde in his ship thenne Bawdwyn lefte v· C men of armes for to kepe the toun wel in poynt And after he toke his waye for to seke somme auentures as he dyde to fore âe helde the right way al he cam to the cyte of anamyster· whiche tancre had goten by force of armes vpon the turkes as I haue sayd you to fore Bawdwyn thought wel that he wold not lete hym entre in to the cyte ⪠And therfor he lodged hym in thâ gardyns about Tancre knowe that bawdwyn whiche loued hym not was so nygh hym And âe had not forgoten the wronge and the oultrage that bawdwyn had don to hym Thenne he dyde do arme his men· and sayde that thenne was tyme for to venge hym ffor he was nygh âis retrayt· bawdwyn was for fro his They sente Archiers to fore in grete nombre for to hurte and slee theyr horses whiche they had sente in to the pastures Tancre had with hym fyue honderd men of armes in good poynt and wel horsed And smote in sodanly in to the peple of bawdwyn whiche were not aduysed of them they slewe many and moo they hurted the men of bawdwyn ran hastely to arme them cam fought with them that ran by the tentes therâ began a bataylle bytwene them moche grete and fiers but it ândured not âânge ffor tancre had not so grete plente of peple that myght endure ayenst the mân of bawdwyn· therfor they wold withdrawe them in to theyr toun but theyr enemyes enchassed them strongly so moche that they muste flee there was a brygge ouer a water bytwene the hooste and the cyte the peple of tancre entred so thyck that many were lost and slayn vpon the brygge and drowned in the water whan they were put in to the toune agayn they were moche angry in theyr herte and wold take more peple and returne agayn but the nyght cam that destroubbed it In this scarmuche was taken Rychard le pryncipat cosyn germayn of tancre and robert danse both two were noble men· by their counseyl and atysement tancre had ronne vpon Bawdwyn· Of that other syde was taken a moche noble man named Gylbert de Mountcler· they were moche angry on that one syde and on that other for them that they had loste ffor they doubted that they had ben slayn or drowned whan it cam on the morn and theyr hertes a lytil aswaged they sente messagers eche to other And knewe certaynly that thyse men that were taken lyued of whom they dredde that had ben deed· and good men wente byt wene And medled for to speke of pees in suche wyse that they cam agayn to entier concordaunce and parfyght loue by the grace of the holy ghoost that adressyd theyr hertes They amended theyr trespaas eche to other And kyssed to gydre as frendes in good fayth How the sayd Bawdwyn retorned to the grete hooste And how Tancre mayntenyd hym moche wel in conqueryng contrees Capitulo lxxvjo. bAwdwyn had counseyl whan he was come to Maraze as I haue recompted that he shold goo no ferther forth But retorned in to thoosâ of the barons By cause he herd saye how the duc his brother had be hurte peryllously And wold see and knowe of his estate and how he ferde theyr counseyl was that tancre shold goo forth Bawdwyn lefte with hym guy neuers And them that were in his companye comen fro the shippe They passed alle sylyâe and bete doun alle the forestes of the hethen men that they myght fynde they brente the townes and slewe theyr enemyes· And after cam vnto a Cyte called Alexandrye the lasse that they toke by force and conquerd al the cântre about· The hermyns and turkes that dwellyd in the montaynes of this contre herde tydynges that Tancre and his men were so valyaunt and so myghty that nothyng myght holde ayensâ them And sore dredde that lyke as he conquerd the playne· he wold come vpon them in the montaynes And destroye the londe entierly and the peple· ffor tappease his courage they sente ta hym good and certeyn messagers· whiche brought to hym grete yeftes as gold syluer precious stones clothes of sylk horses and mubettâs they sente hym moche largely ffor whiche cause Tancre lefte them in peas· Thus dyde he wel his honoure and his pronffyt in alle places that he went by in suche wyse that it semed wel to euery man that oure lord god adressyd his way and mayntened his wârkes vertuosly How bawdwyn conquerd a grete contre vpon the turkes by the counseyl of a knyght bermyn named pancâace cao. lxxvij o nOw ye haue herd how Tancre nayntened hym
herte whan he sawe this Ioye that alle made to Bawdwyn· thenne by enuye he began to fynde occasions by whiche he myght parte fro the couenauÌtes suche as he had sente whiche were suche Bawdwyn shold haue half the Rentes of alle the Cyte and of alle thexploytes as long as the duc lyued After his deth whiche was olde he shold haue alle the seygnorye entierly and hool· Now the duc wold not holde this But sayde that yf bawdwyn wold deffende the cyte fro the strengthe of the turkes and fro theyr gryeues that they made in the countre he wold gyue to hym and his men resonable souldye and good wages whan Bawdwyn herd this that he was come theder for to be a souldyour he had moche grete desdayne and sayd that he wold not abyde there so but wold ordeynâ for hym his men for to retorne the Cytezeyns of the toun sawe that this thyng wente not wel And cam to the duc and shewde hym that grete euyl peryll shold folowe yf he lete this noble maÌ departe ffor by thayde of hym they and alle theyr thynges shold be kept in peas and deffended and they shold be in grete franchysâ The duc sawe wel by thyse wordes that he shold do folye yf he sette hym ayenst them of the toun therfore he couerd his herte for that tyme not withstondyng he considered many thynges and thought But sayde that he wold acorde therto and made semblaunt that he dyde it with good wille in the presence of alle them of the toun and auowed bawdwyn to his sone and graunted hym the half of alle that he had and shold haue his lyf duryng And after his decees to haue alle as his heyr Grete ioye had they in the cyte whan this was made And had moost ferme hope for to recounte the franchyse of the trubutes that the turkes had charged them with ffro that day forth they began to remembre in theyr hertes the wronges and gryefs that theyr duc had don to them in tyme passed And thought moche that yf tyme and place cam to poynt they wold suffre it no lenger But thought how they myght auenge this that they had suffred alle the tyme that he had be duc How Bawdwyn wente to assaylle famosette the cyte nyghe to Rages Capitulo lxxxo. a Cyte was there nyghe by moche stronge and wel garnysshed named famosette An vntrew turke named blanduc was lord therof he was a trychour but he was noble and hardy in armes This sarasyn had don moche harme to the cytezeyns of Rages he sette on them trybutes and dyuerse demaundes ofte as they had ben his bondemen And for to haue thyse thynges be had good ostages he helde theyr childeren so fowle as they had ben in seruage he made them to bere donge and fylthe and dâs fowle werkes herof they of rages were moche greuyd They cam to fore bawdwyn and kneled to hym at his feet and prayd hym with ioyned handes right humbly wepyng grete teres that he wold delyuer them fro this turk forsayd in suche wyse that they myght recouure theyr childeren whom he helde so shamefully Bawdwyn wold fayne doo theyr requestâ after theyr desire at this theyr first requeste And to gete theyr loue and thanke he dyde do arme hym and alle them that he myght haue And yssued with them out of the toun And cam to fore famosete And assaylled the toun moche vygorously But they within deffended them as men wel garnysshed and in a strong place whan Bawdwyn had ben there I wote not how many dayes and sawe ãâã coude not lightly be taken he lefte in a fortresse nyghe by ãâã knyghtes and put in it garnyson of men of armes and vytaylles And commanded them that euery day they shold renne to fore the toun of famosete· And suffre to yssue of the toun neyther man ne beste· and after he cam agayn to rages the Cytezeyns of the toun sawe wel that bawdwyn was a moche curtoys man wyse â noble and valyaunt in alle his thynges And had despyte and greâe desdayne that this old duc whiche was nought worth· and that had don to them moche sorowe and was not his felaw but his lord in the toun therfor they toke counseyl emonge them â sente for a puyssaunt man whiche had many fortresses by them in the montaynes named constantyn acorded alle to gydre for to slee their duc wold make bawdwyn duc lord vpon them· ffor they moch hated this old man that without fayll had greued them loÌg tyme in many maners for he toke fro them gold sylu all that plesyd hym in the toun· ther was none so hardy that dursâ withstaÌde hym ne displese hym ffor yf they dide anoÌ by the turkes with whom he was acqueynted made them to destroye theyr vygnes and fruytes and brenne theyr whete and corne and lede away theyr beestes And yf ony of them went out of the toun they had fere for to lese theyr heedes How they of the toun of rages slewe theyr duc· and chees bawdwyn for to be theyr lord capo. lxxxjo. tHey had not forgeten the wronges and Iniuryes that they had suffred of theyr duc they hoped al that yf he were deed thad bawdwyn shold deffende them better than he· Therfore they wente al armed as it was enterprised vnto a tour where as he laye And began strongly tassayle it and enuyronned round about The duc sawe that the peple was so sore meuyd and angry on hym And called bawdwyn and prayd hym to take of his tresour as moche as he wolde and repease the peple Bawdwyn cam emong them and trauaylled moche by prayers and menaces for to haue supposed to haue repeased them but he myght doo nothyng ffor alway ther cam moo and more in suche wyse that the companye encreced Bawdwyn departed thens fro them and spak to the Duc and said that he shold take to hym suche counseyl that he myght eschewe the furye of the peple ffor he myght not remedye it· thenne the duc as a man despayred bonde a corde to a wyndowe and descended doun therby But whan they apperceyued he was thurgh smeton with arowes er he myght come to therthe· Thenne they toke hym al deed And drewe hym thurgh the toun And after smote of his heed And coude not doo ynowgh to satisfie theyr crueltees On the morn they toke bawdwyn by force ayenst his will in deffendyng hym self and lyft hym vp as theyr kyng and lorde They made to hym oth of feaulte And after delyuerd to hym the grete fortresse of the toun And gaf to hym at his will Rychesses and moche grete tresours that the grekes had assembled by long tyme Thus was the cyte of Rages delyuerd withoute contradiction to bawdwyn Banduc that was lord of ffamosete sawe how Bawdwyn conquerd alwey the londes and contrees and encreced his puyssaunce And sente to hym messagers whiche lete hym wete
counseyl they had sente xv C horsmen to fore to socoure them yf they had nede They commanded them that yf the siege were departed they shold leue peple resonably to keâe the toun And shold saye to th erle of fflaundres and to them that were with hym that they shold come agayn in to the hoost Tancrâ whiche had conquerd alle sylyce had in commaundement to come agayn and he retorned and alle the other also that were departed fro the hooste generally were comen agayne â sauf Bawdwyn whiche abode aboute Rages where he did wel his thynges whan the hoost was thus couÌseylled ordeyned they dyde do crye thurgh out al thoost that noman shold departe without leue· Thenne toke they al theyr way for to goo strayt vnto Anthyoche they âerd wel saye that ther ran a water whiche they muste passe But the brygge vpon this water was moche wel garnysshed of theyr enemyes· to th ende thenne that the hoost shold not be destroubled for to passe whan they shold arryue there by comyn counseyl of them alle Robert the duc of normandye shold goo to fore for to knowe yf he myght delyuere the passage and to sende worde to the barons what he founde· with hym wente euerard du puysant and Rogyer de barneuylle thyse two he made conestables of his hooste and had thauaunt garde ffor they were bothe moche cheualrous and proued in armes· thus departed they fro the hooste and cam to the brygge the brygge was lyft vp whiche is named esenclaues And in scripture Orontes Also it is called in the contre helle The brygge was moche strong And had at thentre on this syde two hye towres and stronge In euery tour were .l men of Armes for to deffende with bowes and arabalestres the entree of the brygge and the passage of the water On that other syde toward antyoche were comen seuen honderd horsmen for to kepe that syde of the water to ward them this ryuer of helle renneth on the syde of Antyoche· And cometh by another cyte named cesaire But it sourdeth by another cyte named Eliopee· And is called mallec and descendeth in to the see by there as I haue sayd whan our peple were comen to this brygge thentre was wel denyed them ffor grete plente of turkes were descended doun to the bariers The other toures rested not to caste stones and shote so sore that it was a moche grete scarmuche and fiers· they fought so moche to gydre that tydynges cam in to the hoost which alwey meuyd and was thenne not fer fro the brygge they auaunced theyr paas and sowned trompes and busynes and smote on them that held ayenst them the paas they that were in the toures durst holde them no lenger there for fere of the grete peple that they sawe come with the grete hoost ffor they thought they shold not be there sure The other also descended And were put alle to flyght in suche wyse that oure men toke the brydge the other knyghtes of oure peple that myght not come to the baryers for the preee whilis the scarmuche was were moche anguysshous and descended doun· where as there was a place to passe whiche they of the contre knewe not of And passed ouer and discomfyted the seuen honderd sarasyns that kepte the bancke So moche dyde one and other that alle the hoost passed delyuerly ouer And caryage after they lodged them in a moche fayr place a vj myle fro the toun On the morn they approched alle the grete waye bytwene the montaynes and the ryuer in suche wyse that they lodged but a myle fro the cyte How Antyoche by succession of tyme had dyuerse names and of the noblesse of auncyente capo. lxxxvo. aNthyoche is a moche noble cyte which conteyneth the third place emong the patriarkes after the chirche of Rome· This cyte was named somtyme Esencianes after that the wrytynges witnesse Nabugodonosor kynge of babylone brought sedechyas kyng of Iherusalem theder whan he had taken hym And slewe his sones to fore hym And after put out his eyen as is founden in the fourth book of kynges whan Alysaundre kyng of macedone was deed Anthyochus had this part of the londe enforced moche the cyte of grete toures and wallys And wold haue it named after hym Anthyoche and ordeyned it chyef of alle the Royame the prynce of thappostlys seynt Peter was first bisshop there in a chirche that theophilus made to hym of his how 's which was a noble and a myghty man in the toun Seynt luke the holy euangelyste was born in this toun to the same theophle wrote he thactes of thappostles whiche was the .vij bisshop in anthyoche ther was the first counseyl of them that byleuyd in Ihesu Criste after his deth And thenne was establysshed that they shold be called crysten men of crist ffor byfore they were called nazaryens of the cyte that he was of this cyte was conuerted by the prechyng of Seynt Peter· therfore he gaf it the name theopoble whiche is as moche to saye as of god oure lord vnder Antyochâ ben .xx. grete cytees of whiche ben xiiij Archebisshoprickes The sex haue two Primates whiche ben called catholicos that one is in the cyte whiche is named Amene And that other is at bandras And alle this claymeth thoryent Of the situacion of Anthyoche· capitulo lxxxvj o tHis cyte of whom I haue spoken is anthyoche And stondeth in the londe of this Surye And is parte of the londe of the grete surye It stondeth in a moche fayr place and delytable Now I shal recounte to you how it stondeth It is a moche grete towne And aboute moche good londe for to bere habondannce of whete of corn of fayr fontaynes and smale rennyng waters and it is emong the montaynes toward the âest whiche contre dureth wel yl myle of leÌgthe wel vj myle of brede aboue ther is a lake or mere assembled of sprynges wellys that reÌne therin whiche is ful of fysshe Of this lake yssueth a rennyng water whiche cometh nygh the cyte And renneth in to the ryuer that renneth by the toun the montaynes closed the two sides of the toun· Neuertheles ther ben vnder them fressh waters and erable londe The mount whiche is toward the south is named Oronte lyke as I sayd you of the ryuer· ffor seynt Gregoire sayth that antyoche is sette bytwene oronte the ryuer oroÌte the moÌtayne one partie of this moÌtayne that goth toward the see is moch hye insuch wyse that it hath a name by hym self Somme peple wene that this hylle be pernasus a montayne of whiche scripture speketh moche by cause of a fontayne that is atte the foote of the same hylle which is named leschielle buymand But without faulte this is not the mount of whiche the auctors speke ffor this montayne pernasus stondeth in the lande named Thessaylle That other montayne whiche is toward the south is named the black montayne
delyuerd to oure peple for to lede and conduyte them had soynously taken heede of the gouernaunce of thoost vnto this day and of the rewle of the barons alway peyned hym for to deceyue them in alle the maners that he myght Now apperceeued he wel that th affayres of thooste were not in good poynt ne in good disposicion· and doubted moche for he was ful of cowardyse and thought the pylgryms shold somme day be surprised of the turkes of the toun· and shold alle be slayn therfor he spak secretely to one and other and counseylled them to leue the siege· And that al thooste shold departe in to the cytees that our men helde vnto the newe tyme· ffor it was certayn he sayde that themperour had sente for the gretâest hooste that he myght assemble for to come and socoure them as sone as he myght fynde grasse on the erthe for the horses And he hym self By cause he loued the werke of oure lord with the noble men that he had wold eÌterprise vpon hym for the comyn prouffyt a grete trâuayll And he hym self wold goo dylygently to themperour for robaste hym with his hoost and alle the vytaylle that he myght fynde And to make hym come Many of the Barons knewe vpon this poynt his falsenes And apperceyued that he sought manere by this waye for to flee And byleuyd hym not but acordedâ that he shold goo his waye he made semblaunt for to retourne and come sone ageyn and lefte his pauyllons and som of his men to whom pereaduenture he had sayd that they shold folowe and come after or ellys that he neraught what myght come of them· Thus departed he whom the deuyl had brought· And lad hym away agayn ffor by the wordes that he had sowen and by thensample of his departyng· began many men to departe fro thoost And toke no regarde to theyr auowe ne to the oth that they had promysed but wente secretely one after another The famyne was moche grete in thooste· The barons conde fynde no remedye ne counseyl therfore· Trouth it was they sente ofte two and two of the grettest lordes with grete companye of men for to pourchasse vytaylles They wente moch surely in the landes of theyr enemyes right deep and ferre And sleyng many of them that wold haue deffended theyr passage but vytaylles brought they none ffor the turkes of the contre that had apperceyued that oure peple wente for to secke vytaylles had do ledde away alle theyr beestes and theyr vytaylles vnto the montaynes and deserte places where none myght come· somme had they hydde in the wodes and caues vnder the erthe whiche our men coude not fynde How the prelates of the hoost counseylled to doo penaunce for tappese god And of thordenaunces that were made teschewe synne Capitulo lxxxxviijo. fAmyne mortalyte and many other peryllys cessed not to renne on the peple of oure lord The noble and wysemen of thoost that were trewe good and relygyous as the bisshop of puy that was legate for oure holy fader the pope and other spak to gydre thenne And sayd it was moche to drede and· doubte that our lord were angry with his pylgryms for their synnes therfor they aduysed that they wold speke with the barons for to make peas and acorde vnto our lord And was ordeyned by the consentement of alle them of thoost· that they shold faste in prayers and in penauÌce for to crye mercy vnto our lord by the space of iij dayes to th ende that he wold pardone theyr trespaces beholde them in pyte· this was don with grete wepyng wayllynges of herte after this they commanded that alle the comyn wymmen of euil lyf shold be voyded cast out of thoost was cryed thurgh out al the hooste that who that after that were taken in adulterye or in fornycacion shood haue his heed smeton of Incontinent the droncardys of the tauernes the players of dyse and the grete othes were deffended vpon the same payne fals mesures and thefte alle suche thynges were commaunded to be lefte and eschewed there were choosen wise men and trewe that shold take heed for to punnysshe the malefactours After thyse ordenaunces and statutes were somme founden culpable in the same where were so punnysshed therfore that the other were chastysed therby whan the peple were amended vnto our lord· the mercy of our lord cam without taryeng on them ffor the duc Godeffroy whiche was ãâã the surete of thoost And as theyr estandart had ben longe seke by thoccasion of his hurte that he had taken in the londe of pysside by a bere as it hath be sayd to fore nygh by lytil Anthyoche· and was now sodenly come to good helthe wherof alle they of thooste had moche grete ioye and byleuyd fermely that theyr penaunce and prayers had lengthed his lyf and respyted it How Buymont fonde a subtil remydye for to delyuer and purge the hooost of the espyes of the turkes capo. lxxxxixo. gRete renommee was spradd thurgh out al thoryent and toward the contrees of the south that ouer grete nombre of peple of the contrees where the sonne goth doun were comen and had besieged the noble cyte of Anthyoche hit was a grete thyng in trouth But the tydynges were moche more gretter withoute comparyson Eueryche of the puyssaunt lordes of that countrees and londes had sente theyr espyes in to the hoost and ther were so many that they cessed not to come and goo and continuelly vnnethe myght ony thyng be don or sayd in thooste ne in the lodgys but that it was auon knowen in the panemye It was a ãâã and easy thyng for them to be with our peple in those â Ther were of the turkes that coude speke greek and the langage of Ermenye And toke thabyte of the surreyens ⪠of grekes and of them of hermeny ther were many of suche maner of peple the barons toke couÌseyl emoÌg them how they myght voyde purge thoost of this pestelence of espyes ffor they helde them in grete paryll grete dauÌger that theyr couyne purpoos shold be knowen in the loÌdes of theyr enemyes and it was no light thynge to knowe them that were suche espyes Emonge alle other thynges they coude fynde none other remedye but to holde theyr counseyl secrete and fro them forthon saye lasse to the peple than they were woont to doo Buymont whiche was of moche grete wytte and hye hertâ spak to the barons and sayd in this manere ffayr lordes I praye you that ye wil late me cheuysshe with this matere ffor I haue remembryd how we shal be delyuerd of this peryl wherfor I praye you gyue to me the charge therof The barons helde Buymont for a moche wyseman and prudent And gladly sette the charge therof on hym and departed fro the counseyll Buymont forgate not this that he had promysed whan tyme of soupper cam he disposed and ordeyned hym for to
souppe he made the knyghtes of his contre to take out somme turkes that he had in prison· And made theyr throtes to be cutte And after smote them in pyeces and arrayed them for to be rosted· Thenne began they to demaunde what he wold doo Thenne Buymont sayd to his men And âad his men also to saye to other that alle the barons had thus ordeyned and sworn that alle the espyes that myght be taken in thost shold be rosted and secuyd at the tables of the barons And the barons shold ete them by their oth· thyse tidynges were anon spred thurgh out thoost that suche Iustyce was don in the lodgys of buymont· Alle men ran theder for to see this merueylle The turkes them self that were comen in to thoost for to espye were moche affrayed· And euerych of them thought longe or he was departed fro the lodgys by cause they doubted that they shold be seruid in lyke wyse Aftir whan they were retorned home to their lordes that had sent them they sayd to them And tolde al aboute the countrey that suche men as were come for tassiege Anthyoche suffred moche mesease And were harder ayenst trauayll and laboure than stone or yron Of cruelte they passed alle beres and Lyons ffor the wylde beestes âte men alle Rawe· But thyse men roste them afore after deuoure them· This tydynge was in suche wyse knowen and publysshyd in alle paynemye that after the Soudan and the grete admyrals myght neuer fynde man that wolde come and espye the hoost They that were in the Cyte assyeged were so effrayed and had so grete hydour of this that fro that tyme afterward the counseyl of the barons was better kept and more secretely than it was to fore How the Calephâ of Egypte sente his messagers with grete yâftes vnto our hoost Capitulo Co. eMong other mescreauntes grete lordes and prynces· The caliphe of Egipte was the moost myghty of men and moost ryche of goodes he sente his messagers vnto the barons that were in thoost· And I shal saye how and by what occasion Grete hate and moche fiers hath hen bytwene the Turkes of thoryent and the Turkes of Egypte And hath be of auncyent and long tyme By cause they discorde in theyr creaunce and mysbyleue And eche sayd to other and yet doo that they be fals sarasyns as I haue sayd to fore in the begynnyng of this book· And therfore they ben ofte in warre Somtyme one partye is aboue And another tyme that other In the tyme that our peple were to fore Anthyoche this caliphe of whom I speke now helde alle the londe of Egypte vnto the Cyte of Sureye whiche conteyneth wel xxx Iourneyes longe The Soudan of Perse a lytyl tofore that oure peple cam had conquerd the toun of Anthyoche wyâche is by the Royame of egypte and alle the londe entierly vnto the the braas of seynt george as I haue sayd to fore Now had the calyphe of egipte in moche suspection the Sowdan of Perse· and moche plesyd hym his destruction and dommage And had moche ioye that Solyman had lost Nycene whiche Solyman was neuew to the sayd Soudan and was so enfebled of his men· And also âe was plesyd that our cristen peple had besieged the Cyte of Anthyoche Therfor he sente good messagers to speke to them whiche brought right grete yeftes And moche ryche presentes yf they wold receyue them And they sayde that the Caliphe was redy for to gyue to them socoure and ayde right largely of men of good and of vytayll· and prayd them moche derely that they wold mayntene and contenue theyr siege The barons of our hoost receyued the noble men that were comen and sent from hym honorably and made them to soiourne with them And they that were wyse knewe anon the wytâe vygour of our barons· begonne to haue moche grete doubte suspection that our peple were so valyauÌt that yet they sholde do grete dommage in theyr londe so that they deuysed in this thyng as ye shal mo we here in redyng hoolly this book How Ancean the lord of anthyoche and his barons sente vnto the turkes theyr neyghbours for to demaunde socours capo. Cjo. tHe lord of Anthyoche and the other grete and noble men of the toun seyng that our men suffred so moche famyne and mesease as we haue sayd to fore and for alle thyse thynges wolâ in no wyse leue theyr siege but shewed by theyr countenaunces that this trauayl greued them not wherfore they were moche abasshyd And thenne Ancean by the counseyl of his men and them that were moost pryue with hym sente messagers and lettres to his moost ryche neyghbours And prayd hym right derely for the honour of theyr lawe· for the sauyng of them self And for his loue that they wold come and socoure them without taryeng And he sente them word in what maner they shold approche secretely to Anthyoche And after they shold couere them in a busshement nygh by And there abyde the pylgryms like as they had ben acustomed and at suche tyme as they shold come to the brydge ffor there shold they sprynge out of the toun And shold assaylle them whyle they were besy in fyghtyng they that were embusshed shold sodenly breke come by hynde on them fyght And so shold they be enclosed bytwene them within And them withoute in suche wyse that none shold escape They that herd thise lettres and thyse messagers doubted them moche of oure peple wherfor they acorded gladly to this counseyl· they assembled them of hallape them of cezayre them of haman and of other cytees about tyl they were a grete nombre of peple And this dyde they the moost secretely they myght as was to them commaunded and began to departe and approuche Anthyoche And cam to a castel named harant whiche is fro thens a .xiiij myle there they lodged and thought on the morn as sone as the scarmuche shold be bytwene the pylgryms and them of the toun they shold smyte in with theyr spores vpon oure men And oure cristen men were in grete peryl But one thyng ther was thenne that tho and other tymes dyde them grete good ffor ther were cristen men hermyns and surryens in the cyteeâ of whiche the turkes were departed whiche anon lete the barons of thooste haue knowleche how it was concluded bytwene the turkes They assembled anon for to take aduys herupon· And was acorded emonge them that alle they that had ony horses to ride on shold be arayed And on horsbak as sone as it were nyght And that euery man shold drawe in to his bataylle lyke as they were assygned And after shold yssue out of thoost without makyng ony noyse· the peple on foote shold abyde styll alle and be redy to deffende the lodgys yf ony thyng sourded ayenst them How oure peple knewe the couyne of the turkes of thenbusshe that they made and of their victorye and gayne that they
thynges And toke none heede of them that laye in a wayte The turkes brake sodenly on them And surprised oure men at a paas· The erle of tholouse had the vâward And Buymont cam after The crye began moche grete whan the Turkes sawe thyse noble men they held them al stylle And began tenseigne the peple on foote that they shold holde them to gydre· They of the grete affraye that they herde· ffor drede that they had hydde them in the busshes and fledde in to the montaynes and woodes· and toke none heed to that they brought whan our barons sawe this they knewe wel that theyr strengthe was not lyke theyres· And began to come to the lodgys dylygently with as many men as they myght conduyte The other that wold not folowe ne myght not were alle there slayn there were slayn wel of men and wymmen to the noÌbre of iijC· this duryng tydynges cam to the hoost that alle they that were comyng were al slayn put to deth by the turkes that had espyed them Of the barons them self that conduyted them was not knowen whether they were a lyue or deed the duc Godeffroy that was not ydle had grete anguyssh in his herte for the peple of our lord that was thus lost· And lete do crye that alle men shold arme them in thoost on peyne of deth and that none shold abyde behynde in so grete a werke alle assembled passed the brygge of the shippis they made ·v bataylles robert duc of NormaÌdye lad that one The ·ij lad th erle of FlauÌdres the thyrd huon le mayne The forth Eustace brother to the duc Godeffroy And the duc hym self had the fyfthe whan they were all ordeyned the duc called them· And alle they heryng sayde in this manere Fayr lordes yf it be trouthe thus as the tydynges renne that for oure synnes thise cruel houndes and fals haue slayn so valyaunt men and of so grete counseyl· whom ye sente to the see fâde And with them be perysshed also our felaws whom they shold haue conduyted I see not but of two wayes that one or that we deye with them as good criscen men in this world and certeyn to receyue the reward of Ihesu Criste whom we shal serue vnto the deth Or yf oure lord wyll that oure seruyce be to hym acceptable that we take vengeaunce on thyse mastyfs that haue thus enpayred cristiente and endommaged and destroyed thyse valyaunt men· As for my self I saye to you certaynly I had leuer to deye presently· than to lyue without to be aduenged on them Now vnderstande ye what I shal saye to you me semeth that thyse turkes yf they haue the victorye vpon oure men as it is sayd they shal be now mounted in grete pride And by grete bobance for to angre vs wyl come to the cyte And brynge theyr proyes and fardellys to fore vs And ye shal wel see that they shal not kepe them wel in ordenaunce but shal goo folyly And this shal be grete auantage to vs Therfore by my counseyll yf it be so that we hold vs alredy for to doo the seruyse of oure lord ffor whiche we departed oute of oure countrees late vs haue in hym stedfast hope· ffor he guerdonneth right wel his souldyours whan our enemyes shal come to vs. late vs receyue them vygorously with glayues speres and swerdes late eueryche of you remembre wel in his herte of the wronge and shame that they haue don to oure lord and to oure self This worde that the duc sayde was wel vnderstande of alle And plesyd them merueyllously well· They began to warne eche other and somone to doo well As there they knewe to gydre And there helde them al redy And thenne buymont aryued cam emong them And a lytil whyle after cam th erle of tholouse· And they tolde to them of theyr mesauenture They had moche grete ioye of their comyng and that they were escaped They moche comforted eche other And after sayd to them the counseyl of duc godeffroy They acorded therto and sayd that it ought so to be doo· And so abode there alle they to gydre Ancean Capytayn of the Cyte by thyse semblaunces that he sawe· knewe that his peple had discomfyted the oures· Moche doubted he of theyr comyng agayn by cause that our men were yssued ayenst them therfor âe dyde do crye in the toun that alle men shold arme them and come to the yate of the brydge for to be redy in araye for to socoure their peple yf nede were Our men had sente their espyes and theyr courreurs in dyuerse partyes for tenquyre and knowe whan the turkes shold come and fro what parte Of a batayll where our men auenged them of the turkes and of a stroke that duc godeffroy gaf in this bataylle· capo. Cvo. iT was not longe after but whyles as they taryed there ⪠and had theyr hertes desyryng to doo prowesse yf they had tyme and place· that theyr messagers arryued alle rennynge whiche told to them that the turkes were nygh They began to recomande them self to oure lord and wente forward in theyr bataylles like as they were ordeyned whan they sawe tyme and place they smote theyr hors with theyr spores And cam to so fiersly that the turkes were al abasshed thenne they began to smyte asprely on the right syde and lyft And flewe in to the presse in suche wyse that euery man wold be the best and moost valyaunt in so moche that they gaf to theyr enemyes no leyser to aduyse them what they shold doo They myght not endure the grete strengthe of oure men but wold haue drawen toward the brydge But the duc godeffroy that moche knâwe of suche thynges was pouruâyed therof to fore And had taken a lytil âââritoire whiche was ayenst the brydge And there he helde hym in his bataylle Alle the turkes that they chaced to ward hym he slewe them or he made retorne ayenst them fro whens they cam· where they slewe them alle and he we them the erle of fflaundres dyde right wel this day as a good valyaunt hardy man in armes the Duc of Normandye brak the presse that no turke durst approche hym the Erle of tholouse hym self wold auenge this that they had made hym to spore his hors the daye to fore huon le mayne forgate not to shewe of what lygnage he was and of what contre buf semed that he dyde to his enemyes that alle the werke and charge had ben his thenne eustace brother of duc godeffroy· Bawdwyn erle of benawd hughe th erle of seynt poul And alle the other barons knyghtes and noble men in theyr countrees dyde meruaylles of armes· ther was neuer man lyuyng that sawe ony werk better enterprised and mââe valyauntly achyeuyd and that communely of alle Ancean sawe this bataylle so grete And sawe his peple yssue out for tâ gyue them herte and courage And to
put awaye thesperaunce of theyr flyght· commaunded to shette the yates after them· they cam pryckyng ayenst oure men wold haue made theyres to retorne whiche were discomfyted but the affraye and the drede was so grete in them that they neuer made semblaunt therto they them self that frely cam on whan they sawe the prowesse of our men and the grete strokes that they gaf torned theyr backes with the other ne neuer made grete resistence there was the fyghtyng grete and merueyllous betyng doun of the turkes that men myght not but with grete payne passe ther was so grete noyse so grete crye· so terryble neyhyng of horses oueral that a maÌ shold not haue herd thondre they that had made the yates to be slette after them were ofte this day in peryl to lese theyr lyues· the wyues of the turkes the maydens and feble peple of the toun were vpon the walles and tourettes where they sawe theyr peple torne to meschyef and to destruction ye may wel thynke that they had grete sorowe wepynge and moche grete crye and noyse wel cursed they that tyme that they so longe had lyued that they shold see suche meschyef happen to them Ancean sawe that he loste alle his men and had none hope for to recoure them commaunded that that yate shold be opened for to receyue in to the toun them that were lefte whan the turkes sawe the yate opene they had so grete wylle to entre in to the toun that vpon the brydge they pressyd so euyl for haste that they fylle in to the water of them gretâ plente· The Duc Godeffroye that al that day had so wel don And whan it cam for to departe to fore the brrdge he gaf a strook moche valyaunt and suche one that it shal perpetuelly and euermore be spoken of in wele and in honour ffor I trowe ther happed neuer none suche to fore ne neuer shal happen here after There were this daye many heedes smeton of Armes and sholders at one stroke he wel apperceyued one of his enemyes whiche helde hym nygh to Godeffroy· And auaunced hym ofte and peyned to greue hym The valyaunt Duc smote hym with his swerde by suche myght and vertue that he smote hym in two pyeces in the myddle in suche wyse that the ouerste part of hym fyl to the ground And that other parte abode styll syttyng on the hors whiche entred in to the Cyte with the other And knowe ye certaynly that this sayd Turke was armed with a good hauberk and moche stronge Alle they that sawe this merueylle were gretely abasshed And the Turkes them self had grete fere and deedâ O mercyful God what myght and strengthe gyuest thou to thy seruauntes that haue their fayth and truste in the Suche a stroke hath not be herd of to fore this tyme That same daye they of Anthyoche loste moo than two thousand men· And yf the nyght had not comen so sone on· they shold haue ben so enfebled of men that with payne shold they haue conne holden and kept the toun ayenst oure men· It semed wel that at the brydge were many Turkes slayn ffor it was thycke there of deede bodyes· The ryuer that descended to the see was alle blody vnto the See Somme Cristen men of the londe yssued oute of the toun· And cam to our peple that told them that· xij grete admyrals had the Turkes loste in the bataylle For whom they were ouermoche sorouful For they were so endommaged that neuer in theyr lyf shold they be therof restored How the Cristen men thanked oure lord of this vyctorye And made a Castel in theyr mahommerye where there they fonde grete gayne· Capitulo Cvjo. tHe next day whan the daye was wel cleer· the barons assembled alle for humbly to thancke our lord of the victorye that he had gyuen to them· And after spak of the comyn besynes· Comynly was deuysed and acorded of alle that there shold be made a tour as they had entreprysed at th ende of the brydge for to take away the yssue fro them of the toun And for to kepe and warante oure peple whan they ranne to fore it There had the Turkes buryed by nyghte the dede men that had ben slayn in the bataylle to fore whan the peple afoote knewe this they ranne And there vnburyed them And toke them out of theyr sepultures and graues And toke and bare away Gold Syluer And theyr robes the whiche they had buryed with them in their sepultures after theyr customme They of the toun had moche sorowe by cause they sawe to fore theyr eyen the corses taken vp of theyr frendes whiche they had buryed with grete costes and dispenses· And it displesyd them moche that the nombre of theyr deed men shold be knowen whom they had supposed to haue kepte secrete ffor without them that fylle in the flood or Ryuer And withoute them that were buryed in the toune And them that were hurt vnto the deth and buryed in the toun were taken vp oute of theyr graues in the mahomerye a thousand and fyue honderd They smote of thre honderd heedes and sente them to Themperour for to late hym haue certayn tydynges of the bataylle that they had ayenst the turkes The messagers of the Calyphe of Egypte were not yet departed fro thens And whan they sawe this· they were ioyous of the deth of theyr enemyes But they were alway after a feerd and dred oure peple There were many of oure owne men that had fledde in to the woodes and montaygnes whiche after retourned in to thooste There cam many in to thooste that men supposed had ben deed the barons commanded that the fortresse shold be made adressyd moch hye stroÌge hastely It was made of such stones as they drewe out of the toÌbes sepultures of the turkes after the barons began to aduyse to whom the kepyng of this tour shold be delyud which was fayr strong to fore was made a dyche moche depe· ther were Barons ynowe whiche excused them by many reasons why they myght not kepe it But the valyant Erle of Tholouse prouffred hym self And prayde that it myght be delyuerd to hym ffor to gouerne ffor by the grace of God he shold kepe it wel Alle the Barons coude hym moche good thancke And by this recouerd he the grace and loue of the comyn peple whiche he had alle loste ffor fro the somer to fore by thoccasion of a sekenes and maladye that he had he had don none auauncement of ony werkes and nedes of the hoost· Eueryche of the other barons had don his power But he dyde right nought therfore th empyre coude hym thank ffor it was supposed that he was the rychest· but for tentreprise of this thyng· they sayd wel alle that he was not a ferd ne euyll And on that othersyde yet he dyde more· ffor he leyd out· v C marck weyght of syluer in the hand of the Bisshop
this cyte he had assembled merueyllous grete peple· ffor the tydynge cam not only to them of thooste But it was sayd of many men that yssued out of the Cyte for to come in to thooste as hermyens and surryens whiche were cristen wherof it happed that Steuen th erle of chartres of bloys whiche was so noble puyssaunt and wyse· that for his wysdom the other barons of thooste named hym the fader of couÌseyl made hym self seke as was sayd he toke leue of his frendes Bycause he sayde he wold goo in to Allexandrye the lasse whiche was nyghe to the porte And wold abyde there til he were deed or ellys hool Thus he departed and lad away with hym grete good with hym departed iiij M. men whiche were of his companye and of his countreye· he wente strayt in to Allexandrye the lasse And there helde hym to th ende that yf oure peple had vyctorye of the bataylle whiche they a wayted dayly he wold retorne in to thoost as guarysshyd and hool of his maladye· and yf it had meshapped them anon he wold haue entred in to shippis whiche were alle redy for to retourne in to his countrey Of this thynge alle the barons of thooste were so abasshed angry that they wepte hoote teeris for pyte that they had of so hye and noble man that toke none hede to his gentilnesse· to his wytte ne to the worshyppe that men dyde to hym But departed so euyl in poynt that many men had no shame to withdrawe them after hym Thus departed many The Barons had counseyl to gydre And dyde do crye thurgh the hooste that noman shold be so hardy to departe withoute leue ffor yf ony wente· they shold be holden for murdyrere And Iustyce shold be doon to suche men By this ordenaunce for teschewe the payne and for to kepe theyr honour they held them in peas in thoost And obeyed alle in pees in the hooste And obeyed debonayrly to the barons of thooste· As Monkes or Cloystrers to theyr Abbot withoute departyng ony of theyr companye How a Cristen man Emyrferins whiche was in Anthyoche acqueynted hym with Buymont cao. Cxo. aNthyoche this holy cyte that I haue spoken of to fore was conuerted by the prechyng of seynt peter thappostle alway it helde wel this fayth and yet holdeth certaynly god be thanked Whan the disloyalte and falsenes of mahomet âan thurgh thoryent this cyte wold neuer receyue his lawe and whan the myghty men of the countre wold constrayne them by force to this euyl lawe they deffended them well ayenst alle suche wherof it happed that whan the deuyl had sette this false byleue thurgh alle the londe of Perse vnto the braas of seynt George and fro Inde vnto spayne this cyte abode alway in the fayth of the trouthe of Ihesu Criste Trouthe it is that fourten yere to fore that our peple cam theder the grete Soudan of Perse had conquerd alle the londes vnto Anthyoche And bycause they were not myghty to hold it ony lenger they yelded it vnder the puyssaunce of this grete man Thenne after cam oure men for tassiege it· Almost alle they of the toune helde the fayth of oure lord But withoute faylle they had no power ne noo seygnorye in the cyte ffor they medled of nothyng sauf theyr craftes theyr marchaundyses to wynne theyr breed the turkes had the bataylles and wente to armes whan it was nede· ther was none so hardy of the cristen men that durst arme hym and specially syth our peple cam to fore the toun The cristen meÌ that were therin were holden suspect that they durst not yssue ne goo oute of theyr howses there were many of suche cristen men that were of grete lygnage to whom was don moche shame· there was a lygnage of noble men that were beremyens· They were named in theyr langage Bam and Cyrra that is to saye the sones of harbergyers And for certeyn of the same langage were descended theyr lygnages and yet ben ther somme that make hawberks they had a toure whiche was named the tour of the two sustres· In this toure were ii bretheren that were lordes of this lygnage· The oldesâ had to Name Emerferyus a moche sage and prudent man Acqueynted he was and pryue with the lord of the toun in suche wyse that he had made hym his notarye within the palays This man herde men speke moche good of Buymont fro the begynnynge of the siege And wel vnderstode by the comyn renommee that he was a wyse man And trewe of grete herte and enterpryse Therfore he sente to hym his Messager And acqueynted with hym moche pryuely and lete hym knowe alle the beyng state of the Cyte and the purpoos of the turkes but they were bothe two wysemen ther for coude they wel couere theyr counntenaunces There were but fewe peple about buymont that knewe hym Of somme deuyses that the sayd Emyrferius sente to buymont in what maner he acorded to delyuer to hym the toun· ca o Cxjo. sEuen monethes had tho endured the siege to fore the toun Buymont the wyse subtil had many tymes essayed his frende of the toun how the cyte myght be yolden to the cristen men So ofte he sente to hym by his sone that sayd thus to hym in this manere fayre swete syre ⪠I trowe certaynly that our lord Ihesus Criste wold that I had this acqueyntaunce with you and this loue ffor euer syth I haue be acqueynted with you myn herte neuer rested to drawe and acorde euery day more and more· in your bounte and your maner plesyd me moche I haue veray ferme fast hope that I and the myne shal be yet in tyme comynge moche holpen and honoured by you of this thynge that ye haue discouerid to me of which I haue ben merueyllously pensyf syth I haue herd of it I haue moch counterpeysed the wayes of that one side and of that other· ffor I thynke wel certeynly that yf I maye delyuer my countrey fro the peple that ben enemyes of oure lord and rendre and delyuere it to the seygnorye of my fayth I shal haue grete guerden of oure lord and grete honour in the world But yf it so happed thus that this werke were discouerd that I haue enterprised to fore er it cam to an ende or conclusion I shold be delyuerd to alle the tormentes of the world alle my lygnage effaced and destroyed that it neuer shold be spoken of after And neuertheles many thynges be put in aduenture therfore I wylle discouere to you alle my herte as to hym that I hold for a trewe frende yf the barons that be in your companye wylle graunte as trewe men as they be that this Cyte shal be youres for euermore and your heyres yf it may be conquerd I shal put me in aduenture so that I shal delyuer to you this tour that I holde whiche is moche strong and wel garnysshed
And this I shal doo for goddes loue and youres But yf they entende that euery man shal haue his part as of thyng goten by warre therupon wyl I not laboure ne doo payne ffor I wote neuer to what ende it shold come· therfor I pray you fayr swete syre trew frende that ye put you in deuoyr payne that this toun be youres not for couetyse but for the prouffyt of the cyte Cristen I promyse to you that the day that I shal knowe that it shal be thus graunted to you I shal delyuer to you the entree of the toun· Alway one thynge I saye to you for certayn· that yf it be not made within short tyme that ye shal neuer day of the world recouere it ffor euery day come to the lord of this toun lettres and messagers certefyeng that they that come to socoure the toun ben about the ryuer of eufrates whiche is not ferre And they ben wel a .ij C M men of Armes· yf they come an you on that one syde And they of the Cyte on that other ye may not suffre ne withstande them but ye shal be alle deed or taken And therfore take ye here vpon hasty counseyl How buymont discouerd this thynge to duc godeffroy to huâon the mayne to the duc of Normandye and to th erle of fflaundres Capitulo C xijo. fRo the day that buymont had herd this he began tenanyre moche subtylly and examyne the hertes of the barons And demaunded them otherwhyle what they wold doo with this Cyte yf it were taken Of the ansuer somme of them thought that it was fer of Therfore taryed buymont to discouere his herte and his thought til he sawe better his poynt and tyme neuertheles he drewe a part duc godefroy huon de mayne the duc of normandye and th erle of fflauÌdres· To them he sayde that he trusted so moche in oure lord that yf the cyte myght be graunted to hym it myght be wel in short tyme conquerd They acorded it and moche preysed in theyr courage the wytte of this man that had in wylle to accomplysshe so grete a thyng By thaccord of them this thyng was discouerd to th erle of tholouse he ansuerd that he wold neuer yf the Cyte were taken gyue his parte to another man The barons prayd hym moche· but he wold not consente therto for nothynge Therfor the thynge was in suche daunger that almost the thynge was alleloste ffor Buymont put not the payne ne his frende of the toun wold not but yf the toun shold be alle his Neuertheles for alle this Buymont sente to hym ofte grete yeftes for to kepe hym in acqueyntaunce and in the loue that was begonne bytwene them Of the grete socours that the Soudan of perse had sente to them of ânthyoche and how Cââhagat assyeged rages capitulo Cxiijo. iN the whyle that thyse thynges ran thus in Anthyoche the messagers that fro Ancean were goon to the soudan of perse for to demaunde ayde were retorned as they that had wel don theyr thynges· ffor that grete prynce atte requeste of them of Anthyoche And atte prayer of his men had enterprysed to efface and destroye alle our pylgryms that theder were comen And ther fore he sente theder grete plente of Turkes and of cordyns in to this countre And had delyuerd alle the seygnorye and gouernauÌce of the hooste to one his acqueynted ffor he trusted moche in his wytte in his loyalte and in his prowesse This man was named Corbagat he commaunded alle men to obeye to hym· he sente lettres pendantes oueral his londes and commauÌded that they shold be delyuerd ouer all that where he shold lede them that they shold goo And alle that he commaunded them they shold doo without contradiction he departed fro his countrey with alle his peple and his power he passed so ferre that he cam in to the countre of rages Ther was told to hym that one of the barons of ffraunce helde the Cyte of Rages which he had conquerd and alle the londe about it He had therof grete despyte and sayd to fore and er he passed the Ryuer of Eufrates he shold take the toun and destroye alle the fren Themen that he shold fynde within Bawdwyn was not of lityl courage And had wel herd tydynges of this peple he had wel garnysshed his Cyte with armes vytaylles and noble men And doubted but lytil his comynge ne the menaces ne the grete wordes of thyse peple that were reported to hym Corbagat commaunded that the cyte of rages shold be assieged And after dyde do crye to assault grete peyne dyde they wenyng to haue taken the cyte and alle them that were therin But they that kept the toun deffended them moche wel in suche wyse that they endommaged moche them that were without· And they within loste no thynge They helde them about the toun thre wekes he had no worship ne prouffyt there At laste the grete and noble men of thooste cam to hym And sayde and counseylled hym to departe fro the siege ffor he ought fyrst do that thyng for whiche he cam that is to saye for to take and slee alle them that were to fore Anthyoche And after in his retornyng in a morowtyde he shold haue the toun of Rages And Bawdwyn yf he were not deed· they shold take and bynde hym And presente hym to theyr lord as a sheep or a moton hâ acorded to theyr counseyl and departed fro thens But allewaye the taryeng that the turkes had made sauyd oure prlgryms ffor the mater was not so acorded bytwene Buymont and his frende that yf they had comen strayt to Anthyoche oure men had ben in ouer grete meschyef bytwene them that he brought and the other turkes that were in the toun· How our men beyng aduertysed of the grete hoooste of corbagat sente somme of theyr knyghtes for to esteme them And what they reported of that they had seen cao. Cxiiij o tHe tydynges began strongly to growe of this people that cam And it was no merueyll yf they were effcayed in the hooste of the pylgryms The barons assembled in counseyl And ordeyned by comyn acord that somme of theyr wysemen that vnderstode them in· suche thynges as to esteme peple in the felde shold goo and knowe their couyne to this were chosen Dreues de Nelle Clarembault de venduel Euerard de cherysy Renard th erle of toul They ledde with them other knyghtes knowen and preuyd in Armes they departed fro thoost so ferre that they approuched the turkes whom they sawe and folowed them fro fer Neuertheles they wel apperceyued that lyke as water renneth in the see cam fro alle partes grete rowtes and merueyllous plente of peple in this hooste of Corbagat Thise noble men wente so ferr that they sawe and knewe alle theyr beyng and sârengthe And syth drewe them to the barons and sayd to them the trouthe The barons prayde and
deffended them also dere as they had the werk of oure lord that they wold not discouere this thyng to the foote men of thoost in no wyse but kepe it secrete fro them ffor it shold be grete peryll yf they knewe the trouth that they shold flee away by nyght And be alle in despayr Of the counseyl that our peple toke for to ordeyne theyr nedes whan they knewe the comyng of this right grete hooost cao. Cxvo. tHe barons toke counseyl on whom the faites and burthon of this werke laye· how they myght conteyne them in this greuoê° poynt in whiche they were som ther were that gaf counseyl that they shold departe fro the siege And that somme of them on horsbak and they on foote shold abyde for to kepe that they of the toun shold not mowe ioyne to the other· And somme other the best horsed shold lede of them a foote a grete partye ayenst Corbagat and fyght ayenst hym The thyng was in grete doubte And wyste not how to accorde Buymont whan he sawe them so surprised called the duc Godeffroy th erle of fflaundres Huon de mayne· the duc of normandye th erle of tholouse And syth sayd to them thise wordes Fayr lordes I see you in moche grete doubte and it is no merueyl ffor the comynge of this puyssaunt man that cometh on vs and bryngeth with hym so grete plente of our enemyes Ne ye be not yet acorded in what maner ye shal attende ne what shal be your countenaunce whan he shal come Ne I can not saye to you as me semeth tââng that by this way may moche auaylle ffor yf we yssue alle ayenâââhe turkes lyke as somme men counseylle somme in one partye And that other to abyde as other counseyl we haue loste our payne and oure dispencis in the siege of this toun· ffor as sone as we shal departe fro hens or alle or half they that comen shal sende in to the toun grete plente of vytaylles and fresshe men put in to it· yf noman abyde at the siege this shal be good for them to doo· And yf ther abyde a parte they shal not leue for them ffor whan we be alle to gydre· vnnethe maye we constrayne them of the toun thenne the fewe that shal abyde how may they haue the force and myght ayenst them within Therfor me thyncketh that we muste seche other remedye and connseyl that we may fynde maner how this cyte maye be yolden to vs. And that we may be within to fore er thyse turkes come· this shal be a more sure thyng yf ye demaunde how this maye be I shal shewe you the way and manere how it shal wel be as me semeth I haue a frende in this Cyte a trewe man and wyse after that I can apperceyue we haue couenauuted he and I to gydre wherfor he ought to delyuer to me a tour moche strong and wel garnysshed of alle that nedeth whiche he holdeth whan I shal demaunde hym I muste gyue to hym thus doyng a grete partye of my good and hauoyr and franchyses and other alyaunces muste kepe to hym and hys· But this maye not be but that eche of you gyue ouer his part to me· And quyte hym of ony part of the cyte that it shal abyde to me to myn heyres for euermore· ffor other wyse he entendeth not that shall delyuer hit· yf it plese you in this maner ye may haue the toun· And yf ye wil graunte this I somone and warne you to fore in suche wyse that thyse couenauÌtes be wel accomplysshed by godes grace And yf it plese you not And ye maye fynde ony other maner· I am redy tacquyte alle my parte to one of you or to another of oure companye yf be wyl delyuer to vs the Cyte And god knoweth It shal plese me wel And I shal be right ioyous in good fayth How after that Buymont had declared his fayte to alle the hooste· they acorded that the toun shold be his sauf the Erle of Tholouse Capitulo Cxvjo. wHan the barons herd this they had grete ioye in theyr hertes and anon acorded to this that buymont requyred euery man graunted his part that he shold be quyte therof· except only th erle of tholouse· whiche in a reuerrye wheryn he was sayde that he wold not acquyte his part ne gyue it oner to noman lyuyng ⪠The other barons promysed certeynly to holde it And gaf to hym their fayth that they shold not discouere it to noman They prayd hym that he wold wysely brynge this mater aboute And dylygently laboure taccomplisshe it ffor grete peryll myght come in the taryeng of it The counseyl departed thus This Buymont which was wyse and trewe· spak to the messager that knewe theyr couyne And sente hym to his frende And bad hym saye that the barons had graunted to hym that the toun shold be hoolly his with moche glad chere Therfor he somoned hym by his fayth that he shold accomplysshe this next nyght hooly that he had promysed hym One thynge happed this same day that was moch helpyng to this werke to thaccomplisshyng therof ffor this frende of buymont named Emyrferyus entremedled moche of th affayres and thynges of ancean and of the toun This same day whan he was besy in this werke he sente his sone that was tho grete to his how 's for to fetche somwhat whan he cam to the tour hastely he founde that one· of the grete admyrals of the toun pleyed and deled with his moder· whan he sawe this he had so grete sorowe in his âerte· that he ran agayn to his fader And told to hym lyke as âe had founden it The fader was a moche wyseman· And was moche sore angry· And sayd thyse wordes to his sone Fayr sone it semeth not ynowgh to thyse fals houndes that they take fro vs alle that we haue and kepe vs fowle in their seruage· Bât with this they doo vs alle the shame that they maye By the ayde of Ihesu cristâ in whom I byleue I shal laboure and doo payne to fynde the maner by whiche theyr power and myght shal be lassed mynuysshed and shorted And they shal haue guerdon for the euyl that they haue don to vs· he made thenne no semblaunt of Angre that he had But sente his sone to buymont anon by the maner that he was acustomed to goo· And badde hym that he shold be redy· ffor as to hym he wold hold hym this nyght alle his couenauntes he badde hym also that alle the Barons of thooste shold yssue oute abeut none euery man armed in his bataylle· And make semblaunt for to goo ayenst Corbagat And after in the begynnyng of the nyght to retorne agayn pryuely withoute noyse And kepe them so armed and redy to doo that shal be sayd to them aboute mydnyght Buymont was moche ioyous whan he herd this message And aftir ledde hym to fore the barons to whom this thyng was discouerd
And made hym saye in theyr presence the wordes as he had brought The barons whan they herd hym· were moche Ioyous And sayd wel that this counseyl was good and faythful and of grete courage acorded therto How they of Anthyoche had fere of treson And how they assembled in counseyl And of that whiche Emyrferius deposed there at Capitulo C xvijo. oNe thyng happed in this toun that is acustomed ofte to come in grete werkes They that had the kepyng and charge of the toun began to haue suspection within theyr hertes and deuyned that the Cyte shold be by trayed they knewe no reson ne how ne they apperceyued no grete semblaunce But alway that one spak to that other of the grete men And them semed that it shold falle So moche aroos this murmur and wordes that they assembled to fore Ancean lord of the toun And told to hym that his men had such fere it was not without reson· ffor the cristen men were in the toun and were in doubte that by them dommage myght come to the Cyte They ledde so Ancean with wordes that they made hym to be aferd also Anon he sente for hym that was named Emyrferyus· And told to hym how this worde ranne about And by cause he helde hym for a wyseman he demaunded what counseyl he wold gyue here on he that was sharp of entendement apperceyuyng knewe anon that his lord demaunded thyse wordes for to knowe· yf he shold answere ony thyng By whiche he shold be suspecte And knewe wel that this assemblee was there made by cause they had suspection he thought wel to brynge them out of this wenyng by his answere and sayd Fayr lordes ye be hye noble and wysemen ye ought to conne them good thancke And the lord specially of this that they ymagyne and doubte of trayson ffor in so grete a thyng as ye haue to kepe ought to be doubted alle that may be falle ffor we be in peryll of our lyues of oure franchyses of wyues· of Chylderen and herytages Thise ben thynges that ought to be well vnderstanden and kepte But me semeth that by two wayes maye be gyuen counseyl in this thyng in suche wyse that yf ony were vntrew suche a ttaytre that wold destroye his countrey he shold haue no power This thynge myght not be don ne spoken of but by them that haue the toures in kepyng Therfor me thynketh yf ye haue suspection her of ye may wel remedye it By ofte remeuyng them fro theyr places· ffor this thynge may not be deuysed but by moche grete leyser And whan ye chauÌge them thus ofte in suche wyse that they that be here this nyght shal be sette the next nyght fer thens where he shal haue no knowleche her by ye shaltake fro them alle the ease for to commune or speke of ony trayson whan they herd this couÌseyl that this cristen man emyrferyê° gaf to them they acorded alle well therto by this fylle from them alle the suspection fro theyr hertes that they had ayenst them thus as he had deuysed shold haue be don yf it had not ben so late for it was nyght and so grete remeuyng myght not be made but by space of tyme The lord commaunded them to kepe alle the cyte hoolly Thus departed they fro the counseyl Emyrferyus that sawe wel that the thynge that he had enterprised yf he and Buyuont hasted not that it shold neuer take good ende Therfor he thought moche to brynge his purpoos to effect without that ony man shold perceyue it Of the meschyef that the turkes made euery daye to the cristen men that were in Anthyoche enhabytyng with them· cao. Cxviijo. fRo the begynnyng that the Cyte was assyeged the turkes of the toun had in grete suspection the Grekes· Surryens and heremyns· and generally alle the other Cristen men that duellyd in Anthyoche wherof it happed that the poure Cristen men that had not in theyr howses garnyson sufficiant for longe tyme they made them to voyde the toun and alle theyr meyne ffor they wold not that the Cyte were charged ne encombred with them They retâyned the ryche men within by cause they had vytayll ynowgh they kepte them strayte and by fals occasions robbed them euery daye and toke fro them alle theyr thynges· They chaced them to the labours and werkes of the toun yf they had walles for to make or amende They bare the stones the morter and sande yf they woldâ adresse engyns for to caste stones or other Instrumentes of warrâ they muste drawe the cordes· And neuer as longe as they foâde cristen men they fought none other for to doo suche werkes And whan they had trauaylled longe in stede of rewardes they ledde them and bete them thurgh the stretes in suche wyse that they had leuer to haue ben caste out of the toun atte begynnynge with the other than to be receyued with thyse fals houÌdes that thus greued them of the toun that were cristen Thus were they acorded viij dayes to fore to speke to Emyrferyus frende of Buymont that they wolde slee alle the cristen men and had don it yf one of the admyrals of the toun had not âetted and empesshed it which was alway pryue· and frende of the cristen men he made to delaye it vij dayes by this reason· ffor he sayd to them Fayr sirs I hope that the cristen men that haue assieged vs shal departe fro the siege with in viij dayes for doubte of corbagat which cometh yf they departe why shal we slee the cristen men that ben in this toun And yf they departe not· thenne maye ye doo· as ye haue deuysed Thyse .viij. dayes were now passed iâ suche wyse that it was commaunded moche pryuely to them that had the charge· that they shold âlee them the same nyght thenÌe the sameÌ day at none it was cryed thurgh the hooste of the pylgryms that alle they that had horses were armed and to drawe euery man to his bataylle where he was constituted and ordeyned for to doo that theyr Capytayns shold commaunde them The men on foote knewe nothyng what they shold doo ne the horsmen neyther sauf they that buymont had aduertysed· thus departed they fro thoost alle in ordenaunce It semed wel that they wold goo ferre They wente forth tyl it was nyght whan it was derke it was commaunded that they shold retorne agayn secretely without ony noyse And that they shold holde them armed in theyr lodgys· This valyaunt man Emyrferius of whom I haue spoken to fore had a brother with hym· But he was not of suche courage as he was the good man had sayd nothynge to hym of that he purposed to doo ffor he doubted moche he wold not be agreable therto They were to gydee in the tour at the hour of none whan thâ bataylles yssued of thooste they behelde it by the batayllementes· Emyrferyus wold preue and knowe the courage of
the watche that kepte it they slewe And after opened the gate A squyer of Buymontys ran til he cam to an hye towre whiche was vpon the tertre by the dongeoÌ of the toun there be fyxed the Baner of Buymont his lord Whan oure peple that were in the toun appercâyued that the daye was nyghe· And the dawenyng appiered· thenne they made to sowne theyr trompettes and âusynes for to calle al the people of the hooste The Barons vnderstode the signe and smote the hârs with the sporâs And entred by the yates whiche they founde opene with alle theyr bataylles· The foote men of thooste a wooke that knewe nothyng of this counseyll They sawe the tentes empty and voyde· and apperceyued that the toun was taken· thenne began they hastely to âenne to the gayne· in suche wyse that none abode other· The turkes of the toun a woke and herde the noyse and sawe the men of armes thurgh the stretes· Thenne apperceyued they in what poynt they were· They began to flee out of theyr howses and lede theyr wyues and chylderen with them· whan they fledde fro one rowte of our men they âecountred another gretter· whiche slewe them alle· The surryens the hermyeus the other cristen men of the toun apperceyued that the thyng wente so· they had moche grete ioye and toke the armes hastely· and wente forth with our men and tolde to them the places where mooste peple were And where the tresours were· They them slewe the turkes moche gladly· They payned them moche to rendre to them the guerdon of betynges and tormentes that they had don to them Thoost was theÌne entred in to the toun The barons had sette their baners on the toures· grete occision and slaughter had be in the toun they spared noman ne woman ne childe they brak vp dores and chestes· ye shold haue seen gold and syluer departed in the stretes It semeth well a thyng conquerd and wonne by warre· what shal I make long deuyses· ther were slayn of them of the toun that day moo than ·x·M· of whom the bodyes laye alle bare in the wayes and stretes How Ancean lord of authyoche fledde by a posterne out of the toun· And he was recountred and put to deth cao. Cxxjo. wHan Ancean sawe that the cyte was thus bytrayed· And that his peple that myght escape fledde an hye in to the fortresse of the dongeon he doubted moch to goo theder ffor he thought wel that the cristen men wold enuyroÌne incontinent this tour yf be entred therfor he yssued out at a posterne out of the toun and wente allone as he had be oute of his wytte Ne he knewe not whether he myght goo· And flee for to kepe hym whan he wente thus by the feeldes moche ferre fro the Cyte Certeyne Hermyns mette hym and knewe hym And moche merueylled what this myght be· And after thought that the Cyte was taken And they approched hym lyke as they wold haue enclyned to hym as they were woonte but theÌne they toke hym smote hym doun to therthe and after with a swerde smote of his heed and bare it in to the toun And presented it vnto the barons to fore the peple one maner peple was comen in to aÌthyoche which were not of the toun· that were come for to deffende theyr lawe and other for to be souldyours And other for prowesse of armes· to gete honour and prys· thyse knewe not wel the leyng of the toun and were mouÌted vpon their horses alle armed and begonne to renne ayenst the hylle toward the dongeon and by aduenture they mette a route of our men thus as they wente sechyng in the toun which ran on them moche hardyly· Thyse maner of peple wold haue eschewed them and smote theyr hors toward the valeye and fylle doun of a bancke in suche wyse· that they were alle to brused men hors harnoys and abyllementes ther were deed wel a iij C. som ther were that in the toun were born whan they apperceyued in the mornyng that our men were within· They toke their hors and rode out by the yates that our men had opened ther were of oure men that wente aftir and sued them and brought many of them agayn whom they put in pryson som other escaped ran vnto the montaynes about the hour of tierce whan the toun was serched Our peple assembled and anon apperceyued that in alle the toun was no vytayll· and it was not wondre ffor the siege had theÌne endured nygh ix· monethes and moche peple had ben therin duryng the siege but gold syluer preceoê° Iewellis and vessel of dyuerse facions clothes of sylke ryche tappets· of other thynges they fouÌde so moch that eche of our meÌ was alle charged as moch as they myght bere It cam wel to poynt to oure poure pylgryms for to fynde suche rychesse after the grete mesease that they had suffred ther were fouÌden in the toun v C. good hors of armes But they were riyht lene and wery· thus was the cyte of Anthyoche taken the yere of thyncarnacion of our lord a M·lxxxxviij the iij day of the moneth of Iuyn How aftir that our men had made grete slaughter of theyr enemyes our men helde counseyl for to take the dongeon theÌne beyng seased of the turkes cao. ·C·xxijo. tHe pylgryms that were theder comen fro many couÌtrees by grete labour were theÌne ful of shedyng of the blood of their enemyes The Barons assembled in counseyl and aduysed emonge them that this werk was not yet parfyght but that ther was yet trauayll and peryll tyl that the dongeon were taken and goten· whiche was right stronge and wel garnysshed with walles of the toun they sette good warde and kepers of alle the yates And dyde do crye thurgh alle the toun to assault and commanded that all shold come to the tour that was on the montayne whan they cam theder· they knewe wel certaynly· that this was not a thynge lightly to be goten ffor the fortresse myght not be goten but by famyne therfor they trauaylled but lytil but withdrewe them and made the peple to retorne this montayne that is aboue the toun is deuyded in tweyne like as I sayd to fore by a depe valleye whiche is as stepe as it were plom doun The syde whiche is toward thoryent is moch fayrer vpon a playne wel brode ful of vygnes and londe erable· That other partye toward the west is moche hyer as a man shold goo vp right And right vpon the sommet ot toppe of the tertre stondeth the dongeon ferme of ouer stronge walles and thycke toures they be hye and grete toward thoryent and toward northeste about the valeye it is so deep that it semeth a right helle And it is an hydous thynge to beholde It coude neuer be ymagyned how it myght be myned and fro this dongeon vnto the toun is a way whiche is so strayt that with grete payne one man
that toke none hede wyth bowes with swerdes they slewe them but whan they were apperceyued our men chassed them But they put them in to the dongeon where they were sauf thus dyde they oftymes harme ffor they knewe another way to descânde than that whiche our men had garnysshed The barons assembled for to take couÌseyll what they shold doâ of the peryll wherin they were By comyn acorde it was ordeyned that Buymont and The Erle of Thoolouse shold make there a dyche moche depe and brode ynowgh bytwene the toun· and the pendaunt of the montayne they made it there as it was deuysed And made there a fortresse whiche they garnysshed wel with men wel armed The turkes that were in the dongeon And they also that were comen in by this gate descended ofte by a way couerte vnto this fortresse· And assaylled it moche fiersly· in suche wyse as they ãâã them haue no reste that it happed on a day that so grete plenââ of turkes descended that the crye aroos in to the toun that and yf the other barons and knyghtes whiche were a brode in the toun had not come and ronne to them they had slayn or taken thyse noble men that is to wete Buymont Euerard du puyssat Raoul de la fontayne Rembault crecon And somme other lordes that were in theyr companye Alle they were grete men and good knyghâes that were put in this newe fortresse for to defende it But th erle of Flaundres· the duc of normandye And âuon the mayne ranne moche hastely theder And metââ with the turkes er they myght entre in to the dongeon They slewe many and many they reâeyned prysonners The other turkes that escaped cam to fore Corbagat And counted to hym that thyse men of the toun were ouer fiers hardye· And it semeth whan they ben in werke that they doubte nothyng the deth ne this ne that· Corbagat whiche was lodged in the montayne as I haue sayd dyde not theron moche his prouffyt ne his honoure ne he founde not there pasture for his hors as he dyde bynethe in the valeye whan he sawe this he commâundâd that he shold be dislodged descended in to the valeye with his ãâã he passed the riuer of helle· there deuised he the places to his barons about the toun· on the morn it happed that I can not say how many turkes approched the cyte descended fro theyr horses for to shote at our peple that were on the walles for to come more ner· Tancre yssued by the gate toward the eest and stopped the way fro them in suche wyse that er they myght take theyr horses he slâwe ·vj· of them And brought them in to the toun for to recomforte our peple for the deth of Rogyer de barneuylle How our cristen men that a lytil to fore assieged the toun were now assieged in the same Capitulo Cxxvj o iN this tyme durynge the peple of the cristen men that had assieged Anthyoche but a litil to fore as ye haue herd They were now them self assieged within· Thus goon the chaunges and mutacions of the world they had moche grete trauayll for to kepe and deffende the· Cyte It was to them ouer peryllous that the dongeon was so strong so wel garnysshed as it was· They made to them ofte grete assaylles by daye and by nyght· ffor they of the hooste cam in by the yate vnder the dongeon as ofte as it plesyd them· Our men began to be moche abasshed Ther were many that toke no regarde to theyr oth that they had made to mayntene the companye ne to theyr honoure But by nyght descended doun of the walles by ropes or cordes and fledde to the see And many of them the turkes toke whom they slewe and brought in prison They that myght escape cam vnto the porte sayeng to the marchauns and to other pylgryms that were there comen· that they shold disancre theyr shippes and flee anon ffor this prynce Corbagat whom so moche peple folowed had taken Anthyoche by force and had slayn alle the barons and alle them that he founde within And that they were escaped by ouer grete peryll and fiers aduenture Therfore sayd they to the maronners· that they shold departe and flee withoute taryenge ffor yf the turques cam serchynge the countre vnto the see and founde them there they shold be alle delyuerd to deth Thus they fledde alle for feere And they them self that brought thise tydynges wente with them· And to th ende that ye shold not suppose that thyse were but mene peple for the trouthe of this hystorye spareth noman I shall name somme that thus dâparted shamefully· that is to wete GuyllaÌme de Gratemeuyl a noble man born in Normandye whiche held grete londe in puylle And had to his wyf the suster of Buymont· Aubery charpenter· Guy croseanlx Lambert be poure And many other had they with them· Somme there were that wente for pyllage· And for the mesease of hungre and drede for to be slayn· yolde them to the turkes And they tolde the certaynte of the meschief that oure men suffred alle a longe to the turkes· Many abode in the toun that gladly wold haue goon But buymont by the counseyl of the bisshop of Puy dyde do make watche atte alle the gates and vpon the walles And toke kepe bothe by daye and nyght that none shold goo vp ne doun And they swore alle that they shold not departe fro the companye ne breke the commaundementes of Buymont· He hym self wente euery nyght thurgh the toun wyth grete plente of men and with greââ lyght to th ende that no peryll shold happe ne trayson Foure fortresses had he whiche he muste nedes kepe and better than the other Than one was on the lasse tertre ayenst the dongeon And that other was lower ayenst the assaylles that they made The thyrde was withoute the eest gate the whiche was made to kepe thoosteer the toun was take thhe fourthe was at th ende of the brydge by whiche the port of the brydge was kept And th erle of tholouse kept it fyrst· But whan the Cyte was taken he lefte it and entred in to the toun· Th erle of fflaundres toke it and garnysshyd it wyth fyue honderd men of Armes of knyghtes and other wel in poynt ffor he thought yf the turkes toke it our men myght not after yssue by the brydge by which their strengthe shold be moche empeyred How Corbagat dyde do assaylle a fortresse which th erle of FlauÌdres kepte without the gate and of that enslewed cao. Cxxvij o oN a daye it happed that Corbagat thought that they of the toun had ouermoche lyberte to yssue onte to entre agayn· Therfor he coÌmaunded to a bataylle of his peple in whiche were .ij. thousand turkes wel in poynt that they shold so longe assaylle the fortresse of the brydge tyl they were taken· it happed so that th erle of Flaundres
many emonge them in whom is lytil reson we our self had ben deed yf we had abyden there ne we myght doo none honour to our lord ne to our prouffyte Therfor we departed And commaunded them to god whiche saue them and kepe for they haue nede Ye syre to whome I am bounden in good fayth I aduyse you that ye take counseyl of your wyse men to fore ye goo ony ferther Trouth it is that ye be the moost hye man of the world But for al that ye haue not here now in your companye so moche peple as Corbagat hath aboute Anthyoche And ayenst one of you he hath seuen therfore myn oppynyon is yf the other so acorde that to fore your men be put in so grete aduenture· ye retorne home agayn For yf ye apârouche them And that they haue achyeued theyr werke in the Cyte ye shal fynde them redy the more ner ye approuche them the more shame and vyle shal it be to retorne fro them whan ye be so nygââ them· thise thynges that I haue acouÌted to you knowe wel thise valyaunt men that be here with me also a grete parte maye ye knowe by this good man that ye delyuerd to vs that is wete taâtyn your seruaunt whiche is so wyse and trewe whiche departed fro vs for many defaultes· that he apperceyued with vs whan he had sayd all this themperour was moche ameâyd of thise wordes with hym was a brother of Buymont named guyon that whan he had herd th erle Stephen thus speke he was alle wroth and angry And as half araged for despyte sayde al on hye that he sayd not the trouthe But that they were departed as Cowardes He had moo grete wordes but guylleÌ de gratemeuyl which was a gentilman born of lygnage· And not of courage· And had to his wyf the suster of the same guyen made hym to holdâ his peas And blamed hym by cause he spak ayenst th erle Steuen· And so this guyen forbare hym How by the warnynges of the sayd Erle themperour whiche wold haue goon socoured our men· retorned shortly cao. Cxxxiij vPon thyse wordes that themperour had herd he wold be couÌseylled and called his barons· And alle they acorded that themperour shold retorne fro thens wher he was withoute goyng ony ferther ffor they thought it were bettâr to remeue his peple withoute perylle and hurte than for to fyght in so grete meschyef ayenst Corbagat· And to meue ayenst hym in hate and in warre alle the londe of thoryent He byleuyd so fermely the wordes of th erle Stephen that he doubted that the turkes had slayn them of Anthyoche And wold thenne goo in to his londe for to receyue the Cyte of Nycene And alle the londe of Bythynie whiche oure men had delyuerd to hym he wold garnysshe it whan he departed fro thens he brente and destroyed alle the londe fro the cryne vnto Nycene on both sides· By cause the turkes shold not folowe hym vytaylle began to faylle hym· And so he muste retourne Thus it happed that by the wordes of this grete man that so fowly departed fro the other barons themperour retorned the Cristen peple beyng in Anthyoche lost so grete socours by whiche myght haue comen alle theyr delyueraunce in so grete necessyte as they were thenne· But consydered this that was gyue to be vnderstonde to Themperour· yet he dyde not But his deuoyre Certaynly it was the werke of our lord ffor yf this Emperour that cam with his peple and grete power of men al fresshe had reysed the siege discomfyted the turkes oure lord shold not haue ben so honoured ne thanked And yf of the trauayll that the barons and the other pylgryms had suffred· themperour that come laste shold haue had the vyctorye· theyr payne shold not haue ben so wel guerdonned Therfor our lord suffred that themperour departed And that the werke shold be accomplysshed as ye shal here to his gloryâ· and honour of his peple How our peple of Anthyoche beyng aduertysed herof were all discouraged And Corbagat enhaunced in pryde cao. Cxxxiiijo. rEnoÌmee cam in to anthyoche that theÌperour that was approched by the wordes of th erle Stephen of Guyllem de gratemeuyll And of theyr felaws was torned back They had on alle sydes anguysshes But thyse tydynges empoysonned them alle And put them as in despayr thenne began they to curse the Erle Stephen and alle his companye that had taken fro them so grete ayde Crobagat that had knowleche that Themperour cam had moch doubte of his comyng ffor it was a grete thyng of the puyssaunce of themperour Now was he certayn that he was retorned Wherof he had moch grete ioye in his herte he was risen in a moch fiers pryde He ran the more asprely on them of the toun Oure men in the toun were so abasshed that them semed wel that ouer lord god had alle forgete them· They lete them falle in despayre· And wold not endure no trauaylle that apperteyned to the defence of the Cyte Alle hydde them in theyr howses On a day it happed that Buymont whiche had alle the power of thoost had to doo with men ffor th assaultes withoute forth and for thassaylles within forth He dyde do crye on peyn of deth that alle shold come· And there cam none· He sente his men for to feteâe them in theyr howses and somone them to come And none wold come oute· He was abasshed And thought what he shold doo· Atte laste be sette fyre in the toun in dyuerse places· And thenne yssued in to the stretes grete rowtes Buymont sawe them and sayd to hem his commaundement And bad what they shold doo they dyd it· A worde sourded in the toun that many knyghtes and Barons had had counseyl pâyuely emonge them that they wold yssue oute of the toun by nyght And leue the pepole within And wold doo the best they myght and drawe them to the porte· for to entre vpon the see· The duc Godeffrey knewe this word he sente hastely for the bisshop of puy And alle the barons and grete partye of the knyghtes and he fylle at theyr feetâ requyred them for the loue of god that they wold neuer thynke suche a thynge· ffor yf they dyd so god shold hate them And they shold lefe theyr sowles· as men that were in despayre of the mercy of oure lord And on that other syde in the world they shold lefe their honour for euer and also theyr lygnage whiche had nothyng forfayted And shold be shamed euer and poynted with the fingre The londes out of whiche they yssued shold be the lasse renomed and lasse preysed as long as the world shold endure Of alle thise departynges myght they neuer receyue good worde ne honoure By thyse wordes and by the prechyng of the bisshop of puyâthey loste this euyl talente alle that had be in this euyll purpops But they began to affeble in the
toun for honger and mesease in suche wyse that they abode not but the wylle of oure lord Ofte cam in theyr remembraunce what goodes Rychesses and grete eases they had lefte in theyr countrees for the loue of the seruyse of oure lord And now yelded he to them suche guerdon that they deyed euery day for honger And kept hem not fro thyse dogges cruel whichâ byleuyd not in hym but they slewe and beheded them in despyte reprouche of the Cristen fayth· In this maner wold they chyde with our lord often as men that wyste not what to do ne saye How the spere was fonnden of whiche Ihesus was percyd on the crosse· And of the comfort that our pylgryms toke therby Capitulo Cxxxvo. wHyles as they were in this anguysshe th erle herman an hye man of duche land was in so grete pouerte that duc godeffroy dyde do delyuer to hym euery day one loof of breede for pyte whiche was not moche grete But the Duc myght nomore gyue hym ffor he had not wherof Harry dasque whiche was one of the beste knyghtes of thooste was brought in so grete pouerte that he deyde for hongre It were a long thyng for to recounte alltheir meseases· but our lord that in alle his werkes may not forgete mercy seÌte to them grete coÌfort· ffor a clerk born in prouynce named âeter cam on a day to the bisshop of puy and to th erle of tholouse sayd to them in moche grete drede· that the holy apostel seynt an drew had appiered to hym thryes in the nyght slepyng· warned hym that he shold goo to the barons saye to them that the speer with which our lord was percid in the syde on the crosse was hyd in the chirch of seint peter in the cyte the place where it was he had certainly shewd to hym he said wel that he was not come for to saye ne signefye them but that seynt andreu had menaced hym at the last tyme yf he dide not his message he shold meshappeÌ in his body It was no merueylle yf the clerke doubted for to saye this ffor he was a poure man and of a lowe lygnage And but lytil lettred Thyse two hye men whan they herd hym they brought hym to fore the other barons· They assembled them and they wolde that he shold saye to them the same wordes as he had sayd to them whan the other Prynces herd this they mysbyleuyd not the clerke They cam in to the Chirche of seynt Peter And sayd theyr confessions And cryed our lord mercy in teres wepynges and wayllynges And repentaunces of theyr synnes Thenne began to delue and dygg depe in the place that the clerke had shewed to them They fonde the spere lyke as he had sayd to them· Thenne had they a Ioye emonge them so grete lyke as euery man had had as moche as he myght They ronge the belles And thâs thynge was anon spred al about the toun They ran aâle to the chirche hastely And sawe this noble relyquye whiche was doluen out of therthe ThenÌe were they recomforted alle both men and wymmen poure and ryche as they had our lord emong them and seen hym· there were thus many other good men that sayde certaynly that certeyn vysyons of Angeles and apostles were appered to them By thyse thynges the peple forgate moche of theyr meseases· The bisshop of puy and other holy men that wâre in the companye sayd to the pylgryms that oure lord shewde to them tokene and signe that shortly he wold sende to them his ayde and his couÌseyl They concluded alle noble and vnnoble men and wymmen greâe and lytil And sware vpon the holy relyques that yf oure lord wold delyuer them oute of the peryll· in whiche they were And gyue them vyctorye of theyr enemyes that they shold neuer departe fro this holy companye vnto the tyme that they had conquerd Iherusalem that noble Cyte where oure lord suffred deth for to saue his peple· And shold delyuer the holy sepulcre oute of the handes of the fals mysbyleuyng houÌdes turkes and saresyns that kepte it in theyr power How Peter theremyte was sente by our men vnto Corbagat the wordes what he sayde· And the answer of the sayd Corbagat Capitulo Cxxxvjo. tHey had suffred this famyne xxvâ dayes in the Cyte In so moche that the people to whome our lord god had sente good hope in theyr hertes began moch to be comforted fylle alle to one wyll in such wise that they sayd emong them that it were good to brynge theyr mesease to an ende Therfore was theyr comyn acorde that they shold fyght with the turkes that had assieged them· ffor them thought a fayrer thyng that yf our lord wold that they deyde in bataylle that they shold doo it in deffendyng theyr cyte that they had conquerd to the Cristiente than to languysshe and to faylle within without essayeng yf our lord wold ayde them herof sourded a comyn word emonge them that alle cryed bataylle· bataylle the bataylle· whan they myght see ony of the Barons· Alle they sayde that they taryed alle to longe This word was thus meuyd of the mene peple The barons thought that this enterprise myght well come of our lord· And so by comyn acord they assembled in couÌseyl they alowed muche this that the peple made this request· and acorded that they wold sende to this proude prynce Corbagat Peter theremyte whiche was an holy man moche wyse and wel bespokin And delyuerd to hym for felaw a valyaunt man named hellom trewe and of grete wytte that coude wel speke the langage of the sarasyns And specially the langage of perse They charged them with the message like as ye shal here what they sayde to Corbagat· Thise two sad men to fore sayd dyde do demaunde trews for to goo to the sayd Corbagat ffor they wold speke with hym in the name of the pylgryms hit was graunted with good wyll They wente out of the Cyte and toke with hym good companye whiche were assygned to them they wente so ferre that they arryued at the pauyllon of this noble prynce Corbagat· They sawe hym sytte in moche grete bobaunce emonge his ryche men Peter salewed hym nothyng ne made to hym honour ne reuerence· But spak heeryng alle in this maner This holy companye of hye noble men barons noble knyghtes and other peple of our lord god that ben yonder within the cyte sende to the comaunde that thou departe fro this siege that thou nomore assaylle them but late them haue and kepe the toun in pees whiche our lord Ihesu crist hath delyuerd to them for to holde his fayth for to doo hym seruyse· ffor seynt peter the prynce of thappostles vpon the creaunce of whom our fayth is founded hath conuerted it fyrst by his precâyng And by the merueyllous myracles that he dyde our peple hath conquerd it not long syth by the wyll and ayde of
oure lord vpon the turkes that haue holden it with wrong by force a certeyn tyme. Therfor thou oughtest to suffre vs to enioye oure herytage And retorne thou in to thy countrey and yf thou wilt not so doo knowe thou for certayn that within the thyrde day swerdes shal fynysshe and ende this debate And to th ende that thou complayne not that we desire and wille the deth pourchasse of so moch peple in comyn bataylle they shal offre to the this that is to wete yf thou wilt fyght in thyn owne persone they shal sende ayenst the· one al so hye a prynce as thou art· to whom thou shalt fyght And whiche of you maye vaynquysshe and ouercome that other· shal conquere the quarelle for euermore withoute other debate yf this thynge plese the not take certayn nombre of thy men vâ·x or xij or as many as thou wylt our pilgryms shal sette as many ayenst them· withoute ony moo of that one syde and that other· And that they that shal wynne thâ feelde shal allewaye haue the gayne of this debate Whan Corbagat herde this message he was moche wroth and angry and had grete desdayne and despyte Thenne he tourned hym toward Peter and sayd to hym Peter they that hath sente the hether· ben not in suche poynt as me semeth that they shold offâe to me for to chose of theyr deuyses But they be brought by my pussaunce and ââreng the that they maye doo nothynge of theyr wylle But I shaâl doo with them alle my playsyre But retourne thou and saye to thyse musardes and saye to them that haue made the to mene fro the Cyte and come hether· that they vnderstonde not yet· the maleurte that they be in And byleue certaynly that yf I had wold· I had or now broken and destroyed this toun and sette my men therin by force· in suche wyse that the cristen men had be alle slayn men and wymmen lytil and grete But I wyll that ye abyde in more caytyfnes and mesease· dyeng languysshyng for hongre lyke as other houndes· And whan it shal please me I shal entre in to the toun· alle them that I shal fynde men and wymmen of couenable eage I shal put them alle bouÌden handes feet in pyetoê° estate And shal lede them alle to my lorde for to serue hym And they shal be his esclaues Alle thâ other I shall slee with the swerd lyke an euyl tree that wyll bere no fruyt How the sayd Peter retorned in to the toun and wold openly haue sayd his message of the subtyl counseyll of the duc whiche wold not suffre it cao. C·xxxvijo. pEter theremyte vnderstode his pryde whiche was grete and of the grete quantite of peple that he had And also of his Rychesses whiche were ouer moche Thenne he departed and cam agayn in to the toun he wold haue sayd the message of Corbagat openly in the presence of them that wold here hym ffor theder ran grete and smale But the duc Godeffroy that was moche wyse and knewe moche drewe hym a part and called only the barons and bad hym saye that he hath founden he recounted to them alle· as he that had wel reteyned in his mynde coude saye and vtter it in the beste manere The duc doubted that yf the peple had herd this grete pryde and the menaces that Corbagat had sayd that they shold be ouer moche abasshed and feced Therfor he commaunded to Peter that he shold saye none other thyng But that only Corbagat desyred and demaunded the bataylle ayenst them And that they shold make them redy Peter acorded wel therto· And sayd to them lyke as the duc had commaunded hym And vnnethe Peter had sayd the worde But that alle cryed with one voys And we wylle also the bataylle ayenst hym in godes name They shewde wel by theyr sight and semblaunce· that the desyre of the bataylle was grete in their hertes· Alle their meseases were forgoten for Ioye to haue the vyctorye· The Barons whan they sawe that theyr peple made suche ioye they were moche glad And moche the more trusted in them By comyn counseyl they ordeyned the day of the batayll on the morn And that thus wold Corbagat haue it· they byleuyd it wel· And hastely wente euery man to his lodgyng There ye shold haue seen Armourers put in poynt· hauberks and helmes fourbousshed swerdes and custrellis whette This nyght slepte they not in the toun noman Thây that kept the hors toke good hede this nyght And made alle thynge redy As soone as it was nyght It was cryed vpon peyne of deth that alle man shold be in the mornyng to fore the sonne rysynge alle armed as he best myght And drawe hym in to the bataylle where as he was ordeyned And that euery man shold folowe the baner· of his Captayne whan the spryngyng of the day apperâd in the mornyng the men of the chirche were redy fâr to synge masse· And songe deuoutly They that shold goo to the batayll were confessyd and alle receyued the bodye of oure lord which gaf to them surete of body and of sowle· Alle rancour and wrath were entierly perdonned by cause they wold be in parfyght charyte· And therin doo the seruyse of our lord whiche sayth in the gospell In this shal alle men knowe that ye be my disciples yf ye haue loue and charyte emonge you whan they were thus redy oure lord sente to them his grace which gaf to them so grete hardânes· that they that were the daye to fore so ferdful feble and bene that they myght not susteyne them self for feblenesse becam stronge and delyuer in suche wyse that the armes that they baââ weyed nothyng as them semed· and were hardy and vygorous so that ther was none so litil but he had talente to doo grete thyng in the bataylle· The tyme cam that the bisshops and alle the other men of the chirche were reuested as for to synge masse· they helde the crosse and the sainctuaryes with whiche they blessyd the peple And recommaunded them to god· They graunted pardon and remyssyon to them of alle their synnes yf they deyde in the seruyse of our lord· To fere alle the other the bisshop of puy prechyd and spak to the barons And prayd them that they shold thyncke to auenge the shame of our lord Ihesu Criste· that thyse vntrewe sarasyns had don to hym so longe in withholdyng of his herytage Atte laste he blessyd them with his hand· and commaunded them to god deuoutly How to fore er our men departed they made redy theyr bataylles right wel in poynt of the nombre of them cao. ·C xxxviijo. oN the morn erly our pylgryms assembled as it was ordenyed deuysed the thyrde day to fore thentre of Iuyll to fore the yate of the brydge to fore thyssue oute of the yate They had theyr bataylles ordeyned and deuysed lyke as who shold
goo to fore And who shold come after The fyrst bataylle bad huon le mayne broder of the kynge of ffraunce· And with hym Ancean de Rybemont· And the other Barons and knyghtes of theyr countrey They thought wel that the men that they ledde shold not lyghtly be discomfyted therfore wenââ they first for to perse in the better to fore· The second batayll ledde Robert th erle of fflauÌdres which was called the ffryson he had none other in his bataylle but peple of his owne countree The thyrde batayll ledde Robert the Duc of Normandye with his neueuw whiche was moche valyaunt th erle stââen of Aubuale And alle them of his owen couÌtreye The fourth batayll was delyuerd to the bisshop of puy whiche had don of thabyt of the chyrche and rode vpon a good stede the helme laced· And be bare in his hond the holy spere of whiche oure saueour Ihesu Criste was perced in the side and conduyted vygorously the bataylle of th erle of tholouse whiche was not there· The Erle Reignald of toul had the v. bataylle with hym was peter de stadenous his broder Th erle Garnyer of grece· Henry dasque Reynart of Anmellac Gaultier of domedart In the .vj bataylle were Rembold the erle of Orenge Loys de moucous and Lambert sone of Euenam de Montagu The vij bataylle ledde the right valyaunt Godeffroy duc of Loreyne with hym was Eustace his brother And them that he brought out of his countrey The .viij bataylle conduyted the noble wyse and wel preuyd· Tancre with the men that were delyud to hym The .ix. bataylle ledde th erle huon of seynt poul· Aniaran his sone was with hym Thomas de boure bawdwyn de bourgh Robert futz gerard Regnauld de bauuaus And Gales de chamont The x· ladde th erle of Perse. And had with hym Euerard du puyssat Droon de moncy Raoul fytz godeffroy and Conayn the breton· Of the ·xj was Capytayn Ysachar th erle of dyo with hym were Remon pabes Gaste de bedyers Gyrard de Roussylon Guyllem de monpellyer And Guyllem ameneux The xij and the laste in whiche was moost peple was delyuerd to buymont And was ordeyned that he shold goo socoure suche bataylles as had moost nede Th erle of tholouse whiche was merueyllously seke lefte they in the toun for to kepe fro the turkes in the dongeon ffor yf ther had be no garde they myght haue sprongen and haue slayn alle the seke men wymmen and children and the feble men that abode byhynde in the toun of whom ther were grete mombre in theyr herberous They had made as I haue sayd to fore vpon a lytil tertre a stronge walle of chalke in whiche were ordeyned places for to dresse engyns· whiche were al redy for to caste They had left ij C. men of Armes noble and hardy for to deffende this paas fro the turkes whiche were on hye on the dongeon How Corbagat was aduertysed of thyssue of oure peple and sente his Archiers for to deffende the brydge And how they were disconfyted· Capitulo Cxxxixo. wHan they hâd thus deuysed theyr bataylles in euery batayll they had sette men on foote It vas acorded emonge them that they a foote shold goo to fore· And the knyghtes that cam after shold kepe them It was deffended and cryed on payne of deth that none shold be so hardy that shold entende to ony gayn As longe as ony turke deffended hym but whan oure lord had gyuen them the vyctorye Thenne shold they retorne and myght tarye to take gadre the despoylles Corbagat fro the begynnyng of the siege of the cyte had alwaye doubte grete suspection thaâ our peple shold sodanly come vpon his hoost· And specially syth that peter theremyte had be with hym in message And therfor he had commaunded to them that were in the dongeon that yf oure men thought to yssue they shold sowne a busyne And sette oute a baner where they shold yssue wherof it happed that whan thyse bataylles were renged to fore the yate to fore they yssued aboute the houre of pryme They of the tour made the signe like as they were commaunded Corbagat vnderstode that our men cam· And anon he sente two thousend Archiers to the brydge to kepe it that they shold not passe· whan the turkes cam theder for to mayntene the passage they descended alle afoote· The yates were opened oure men yssued after thordenaunce that was deuysed Huon be mayne with alle his bataylle cam fyrst vn to this paas whiche was kept with his enemyes· his archiers and men a foote taryed a lytil and myght not passe in no wise whan huon the noble man apperceyued this he smoâe the hors with the spores and so smote in on bothe sydes that it was to late for the turkes a foote to take theyr horses Thenne torned they fleyng defendyng them shotyng with their bowes Ancean de Ribemont rode ayenst them and bete and helde the rowte so short allone that his men that cam after hym myght come and smyte in emong them and delyuerd many And oftymes he plunged so depe in the presse that certaynly our men had supposed he had ben lost but whan he cam agayn he discouerd hym wel and made large place about hym Alle men bebelde hym he gate there moche grete honour and prys Huon le mayne forgate not his swerd· And he dyde so mocâe that our pylgryms had by hym good luck and hope at this fyrst assemblee Th erle of fflaundres and the duc of Normandye with the valyaunt erle of henawd cam to this chaas The Archiers of the turkes that so fledde were so euyl mened that they were but a fewe whan they retorned in to thoost Our men folowed them tyl nygh theyr lodgys· many of them they bete doun that neuer releuyd· How oure men reioysed them of a dew or rousee descendyng thenne fro heuen And of theyr mayntyen in approchyng the turkes Capitulo C xl oNe thynge happed whan oure men yssued out of the toun that ought not to be forgoten ffor whan thyse Archiers were disconfyted the latynes cam after in theyr ordenaunce a softe paas Thenne began to falle a rayne or a dewe so swete a rousee was neuer seen It semed to euery man verytably that it was the benediction of our lord and the grace of heuen that descended vpon them Anon they were as fressh al so light as they neuer had suffred mesease This refresshement was not only in the men· but alle theyr horses were anon so stronge so fresshe and so reioyced As they had had alway al that whiche was nedeful for them This was moche apperceyued that daye certaynly· ffor the horses that many dayes had nothyng to ete sauf leeues of trees and skorches or Ryndes were in this bataylle more stronge and more penyble than were the horses of the turkes whiche had alwaye as moche as they myght The Capytayns acorded that they shold drawe them toward
the montaynes whiche was fer fro the Cyte wel .ij. myles ffor yf the turkes whiche had moch grete plente wold goo thederward they shold be bytwene oure men and the toun and shold close them in In this maner wente one bataylle to fore another withoute this That one touched another in ony wyse whan the turkes sawe them alle· they merueylled and were abasshed· ffor they had supposed that they had not be but a fewe enclosed in the toun Now they semed by the myracle of our lord that they were as many of them as were of the turkes and yet moo Emonge the men of armes were the men of the Chirche reuested with awbes and stooles they that were preestes· And the clerkys in surplys eche of them bare a crosse in his haÌd they that were abyden in the toun were on the walles· reuestyd also in prayers and oroysons and teeris cryeng mercy to oure lord that he wolde haue pyte of his peple And saue them that day that he wold not suffre that his name and his fayth shold torne to reproche by the mescreauntes and hethen peple How Corbagat ordeyned his bataylles And how the two hoostes marched to gydre in bataylle C.xljo. bY the signes that they of the dongeon made to them of thoost and by the tydynges that the Archiers brought Corbagat knewe and vnderstode certaynly· that oure men were yssued oute of the Cyte and cam toward hym for to fyghte Thenne of this that he was thenne adcerteyned he had desdayne to fore and holden it for mocquerye· he toke counseyl of his barons And hastely ordeyned his bataylles· by the counseyl of his wysemen And specially of them that were born in Anthyoche· of whom he had many with hym He made a bataylle of moche grete plente of knyghtes the best and moost hardy that he had This bataylle delyuerd he to Solyman of whom ye haue herd in dyuerse places to fore He commaunded that they shold drawe them toward the see· to fore er our men shold haue taken and pourprysed alle the· playn bytwene the montayne the Cyte This grete bataylle cam thenÌe to fore· And was staked as bytwene two townes and closed His other bataylles he sette in poynt by leyser And made that one to goo to fore another as he that knowe ynowgh of the âaytes of warre And after spak to the Capytaynes and sayde to them that they shold mayntene them as hye men and good knyghtes· and not to be aferd ne esmayed of thyse Caytyues men enâamyned euyll armed and all to brused of the grete trauaylles that they had suffred· whan our men had pourprised entierly the playn in such wise that they doubted not to be closed in They approuched so nyghe the turkes that the turkes myght shote at them They made theyr trompes and busynes to sowne lowd And spored their horses the thre fyrst bataylles to gydre wel founde they that receyued them· ffor the turkes were grete men and well armed Our men dyde right wel in this comyng on The ffrensshemen âflemynges conteyned them vygorously in brekynge the presse â But thenne cam so grete rowtes of turkes that it behoued the other bataylles of our men to assemble hastely for to socoure the thre firsâ bataylles They were alle at the medle sauf the laste bataylle whiche buymont conduyted as ye haue herd There shold ye haue seen fiers skarmoche of swerdes of maces axesse the malles were so grete and strokes that ye shold not haue âerd yf it had thondred The duc godeffroy sawe a bataylle come where in were moâ men than ony of the other· well thought he that yf that were disconfyted The other shold be moche abasshed he drewe thederward Anâ smote in them asprely and vygorously there dyde be his felawship moche wel and so valyauntly that they slewe many and hewe of heedes and armes in suche wyse that the felde layâful of dede men· of hurt and wounded in so many that the turkes of the turkes there founde they so grete Rychesses of gold of syluer of precious stones of vayssell of dyuerse facioÌs tapytes and clothes of sylk so moche that neuer man myght wel preyse· Oxen sheep· and kyen were there grete plente whete and mele grounden of which they had grete nede ther was so moch that all they were encombred to bere it They wan horses in this discomfyture good and fatte so many that they were abasshed of the grete multitude that was there They toke and gadred the despoylles and the tentes· wherof they had so grete rychesses that of suche an hoost· was neuer none seen more faire ne ryche And this cam to them merueyllously well to poynt ffor alle theyr tentes theyr pauyllons were holly rotten wymmen Childeren and other peple whiche bare none acmes they founde ouer many in the lodgyses whom alle they brought in to the cyte Emong the other thynges· the barons assembled them for to see the tentes of Corbagat whiche was merueyllous· ffor it was made in the forme of a Cyte It had towres and crestes of dyuerse colours wrought with fyn sylke ffro the mayster palays were aleys in to other tentes lyke to stretes in a grete toun· Ther myght sytte in the grete halle moo than two thousand men whan our men had recuyelled thus the rychesses and despoylles they alle made grete trusses full of ryche thynges and charged them on theyr horses and backes and entred in to the Cyte of Anthyoche· yf they thenne were glad and ioyous It was no merueylle ffor in longe tyme to fore fylle ne happed suche aduenture in CristieÌte They rendred gaf to our lord many thankes and graces of lawde with alle theyr very hertes humbly and deuoutly ffor wel knewe they that alle was comen fro hym The turkes whiche were in the dongeon had wel seen that theyr peple were vaynquysshyd And had none hope thenne to be rescowed ne of no socoure Therfor anon as the barons were entred in the cyte they made them to speke and trete with them And acorded to gydre that they alle shold take theyr wyues and childeren and bere with them suche goodes as they had and rendre and gyue ouer the dongeon The baners of our barons were sette aboue on it thenne The werkes of our lord Ihu crist ben moche hye and merueyllous· ffor fro right grete pouerte· cam oure peple to ouer grete rychesses in so short a tyme It is moche good to affye and truste in hym that hath such power and myght It was meruayl of the disease pouârte that our barons had suffred The valyauÌt Duc godefroy was brought to this poynt at the day of the batayl that he had not wheron to ryde But he must praye and requyre moche swetly th erle of tholouse whiche remeuyd noâ oute of the toun that he wold leue to hym an hors but he had grete payne to gete it he had despended alle his hauoyr and good
entierly for to susteyne the pour gentilmen· in suche wyse that he had nothynge hym self There were many knyghtes that rychely were come in to the hoost atte begynnyng that were brought to so grete pouerte that this day they rode on asses and on pour mares And many hye men as knyghtes valyaunt and hardy myght not cheuysshe for to ryde but wente afoot emong the foote men where they helde moche wel theyr place ffor they mayntened and taught the mene peple how they myght doo to theyr enemyes grettest dommage The power of perse was moche affebled this day· For ther were so many slayn and deed that alle therthe ther aboute was couerd The nombre of them that were slayn was neuer verytably ⪠knowen Moche was chaunged the state of our men ffor he that in the mornyng yssued oute alle poure in suche wyse that he had not for to ete At euen he entred in to the cyte ryche of good and of vâtaylles in suche wyse as he myght haue holden a grete court and companye This good aduenture whiche honoured alle cristiente and specially the Royamme of ffraunce happed the yere of thyncaânacion of oure lord ·M lxxxxviij the .xxj day of the moneth of Iuyn Of the fayre ordenaunces that oure peple made in the chirches of Anthyoche And in other townes by after this vyctorye Capitulo Cxliiijo. sYth that the barons were retornâd fro the bataylle and the thynges of the Cyte were wel ordeyned By the counseyl of the valyaunt bisshop of puy and by the prelates that were in the hoost was acorded by them alle· that the chirches of the toun were entierly made clene And ordeyned to doo the seruyse of oure lord God And specially the chyef cathedralle chirche whiche is founded in thonour of seynt Peter They establysshed therin clerkes and curates that shold serue in the chirche And other to gouerne and kepe the holy places clene ffor the false and vntrew sarasyus had defowled them They had sette in the chirches somme theyr kyen Oxen and sheep· And other theyr horses and asses The comyn wymmen and euylle knaues had made theyr ordure and fylthe in them that it was pyte to see And also they defowled thymages of Iâesu· Crist of our lady and of other sayntes with fylth myre and ordure And lyke as they had ben a lyue they had drawe them and cut of theyr noses and pycked out theyr eyen The barons and alle the pylgryms acorded that there shold be ordeyned and establyssyd rentes to the clerkes that shold serue in the chirches· there was offerd gold syluer ynowgh· for to make crosses chalyces· And also clothes of sylk for to make agayn vestemeÌtes for men of the chirche and aâurnementes for aulters The patriarke of the toun whiche was a greek named Iohan they ordeyned and sette hym agayn in his place with moche more grete honour and solempnyte The turkes had caste and put hym onte with grete shame and had don to hym many euyllis for the fayth of our sauyour Ihesu Criste that he helde in the Cytees beyng aboute Anthyoche Oure men sette bisshoppes in the cytees where as none were at that tyme But in Anthyoche where as· they fonde one they sette none other til afterward that the good man apperceyued that he lytil prouffyted there· by cause the latyns vnderstode no grekysshe langage· And lefte his dygnyte and wente in to constantynoble with his good wyll without ony forse or constraynt Thenne assembled the men of the chirche· And they chose and elected for to be patriarke the bisshop of Tarse· whiche was named bernard born at valence He was comen with the good bisshop of puy And he had made hym his chappellayn· he was made patriarke The Seygnorye of the Cyte graunted alle the barons to buymont lyke as they had promysed and couenaunted sauf the Erle of tholouse whiche helde the yate of the brydge I wote not how many dayes he had garnysshed it And in no wyse wold gyue it ouer But sayde that it was his parte· And by cause that Buymont to fore was called prynce of the peple of his contre· Therfor that name abode to hym to alle the lordes after hym of the Cyte and ben alwaye called Prynces of Anthyoche How our peple sente ambassadours to themperour of Constantinople for to somone hym to come and socoure them as he had promysed Capitulo C xlvo. tHe tydynges were thus ordeyned in the cyte as I haue deuysed to you Thenne was the counseyl taken emong the baroÌs that they shold seÌde to themperour of coÌstaÌtinoble for to somone hym by his fayth that acordyng to the couenauÌtes that he had made to them that he shold not tarye but come in his propre persone for to helpe them· specially at the siege of Iherusalem to whiche they entended for to goo yf he wold not thenne knewe they that he wold not forthon holde his couenauntes that were made with hym ne kepe them And for to doo this message they chaas huon be mayne broder to kyng phelip of ffraunce and bawdwyn th erle of henawd Thyse two departed fro thoost for to goo vnto Constantinoble But in the waye certayn turkes assaylled them in whiche medle was lost th erle bawdwyn in suche wyse that neuer after were tydynges heâd of hym Somme sayde that he was slayn there And other sayde that he was taken and ladde in to ferre countrees But the trouthe of hym was neuer knowen huon le mayne escaped alle hool with out hurt and cam vnto constantinoble to themperour· but there âe empeyred moche his renommee ffor he that was of so hye lygnage And alway had ben in thoost large wyse· noble and a moche âalyaunt knyght had thenne no regarde to them that sent hym ne wolde not retourne to them agayn but departed fro themperour and went strayte in to fraunce hit was a gretter blame in âym than in a lasse man whyles the pylgryms soiourned in Anthyoche a mortalyte and deth sourded and roos emong them so greâe that ther was no day but there were xxx oâ xl bâers in the chirches It was so grete that euery man awayted presently the detâ there was none that supposed to haue escaped Thenne happed a grete dommage in thooste ffor the valyaunt man of grete trouthâ and of hye counseyl deyde that tyme Aymart the bisshop of puy ffor his deth was grete sorowe thenne thurgh the toun he was entered and honorably buryed in the chirche of seynt peter where as the spere that opened the syde of oure lord was founden be was moche bewaylled as the fader of thoost After deyde a right valyaunt knyght a trew wyseman and of grete courage henry dâsoâe in the castel of torbesel where he soiourned and there he deyde and was buryed In the same place reynard de mollac a good knyght and of hye lygnage deyde in Anthyoche· he was buryed in the porche ⪠of seynt peter Alle the wymmen
that were in the toun deyed by this pestylence sauf a fewe in such wyse that of this lytil peple deyde in a lytil whyle in this toun· L. M. men and wymmen The occasion of this mortalyte was many tymes demaunded of the fisiciens wyse clerkes The soÌme sayde that thayer was corromped The other sayde that the peple had had ouer longe moche anguyssh of hongre of thurst And whan they cam therto pleÌte of vytaylles they toke therof ouer oultrageously By whiche they ranne in a grete Infirmyte and sekenes This shewde they euydently by them that ete but lytil and by mesure ffor they that so dyde cam lyghtly to conualence and helthe How the pylgryms of thoost desired to goo vnto Iherusalem for to eschewe the mortalite· taccoÌplisshe their vowe cao. Cxlvjo. tHe pylgryms for teschewe the mortalyte of the toun also for taccomplysshe their pilgremage began to crye for to goo to Iherusalem· ffor therfor were they departed out of theyr countrees They moche prayd the barons that they wold make them redy and dylygently lede and conduyte them theder The barons that myght not be in reste for theyr requestes assembled and had counseyl on this mater Somme sayde· that it were good that they shold anon go forth toward the holy Cyte by cause the comyn peple desyred it And also that euery man was bounden by his vowe so to doo The other sayde that it was not tyme for to goo forth ffor the brennynge hete was ouer grete and the drought shold cause that they shold lacke water The peple shold not fynde whete the horses shold lacke pastures But counseylled to tarye and delaye this passage tyl mychelmasse thenne shold the tyme be more attempered and moderat· And duryng the mene whyle men myght do reste theyr horses· and gete newe for them that had none and had nede of somme and also men myght refresshe them self whiche were wery and seke· To this laste counseyll acorded they alle And therfor it was late or they departed ThenÌe deuysed the barons that they wold remeue for thynfyrmyte of the place to goo there as they myght haue vytailles better chepe Buymont descended in to the londe of Cylyce There toke he tarse Adane· Mamstre Aunaure Thyse four cytees a fore sayd he garnysshed well with his men· And helde entierly alle the countree aboute· The other wente ferther in the countre and ladde theder theyr horses for to soiourne there were many knyghtes and men a fote that passed the Ryuer of Eufrates for to goo forth at al auenture thurgh the countrees tyl they come to bawdwyn broder of duc Godeffroye to Rages whiche receyued them gladly And gaf them vytaylles and made them good chere as long as they were there And atte departyng he gaf to them fayre and good yeftes It was not longe after that it happed that one Rodahan the lord of halappe had debate and warre ayenst a baron of his whiche was Castelayn of a castel named Hasart· And ye shal vnderstande for certayn that there was founden first the playe of dyse and fro thens it cam· and it is named so· This grete man of halappe assembled his peple And assyeged this castel with alle his power The lord that was within sawe wel that he myght not holde it ayenst his lord And he had no turkes for to socoure hym· ne helpe hym Therfor he spak to one his frende a crysten man· which was pryue with hym· and sente to duc godefroy many grete yeftes And requyred and prayd hym moche affectuously that he wold socoure hym in his nede ffor he had desire to be his and wold be bounden to hym to doo hym grete playsyrs and seruyses· And sente to hym his sone in hostage for surete Thâ valyaunt duc that had a softe herte and debonayr receyued the loue and thalyaunce of the lord of hasart· he thought wel that it was not ayenst the wylle of our lord for to afeblyssâe one of his ãâã for another Thenne sente he to his brother Bawdwyn to Rââges for to sende hym peple ynowâ ffor his purpoos wylle was to reyse the siege to fore this castel for to socoure his frende Roââhan had holden· vj dayes longe siege to fore this castel· The Duc godefroy cam by grete iourneyes the messagers of the lord of ãâã castel were with hym ffor they myght not goo in to the caâtel to their lord ffor it was besieged round about· therfor they tokâ two douues or culuers which they had takeÌ brought with them for to doo this that is to saye they toke lettres and wrote theryn ãâã theyr entent And bonde thoo lettres to the tayles of the douues ⪠and lete them flee And the douues flewe and cam sârayt to âaâsart fro wheÌs they were had beÌ there nourisshed they that awayted on them toke them the lord toke the lettres ⪠and fonde therin how he had alyaunce of the duc his loue and grâce And how he cam for to socoure hym with grete strengthe he had thenne grete Ioye and toke to hym grete hardynesse in suche wyse that be hym self yssued out of the yates with his men largely And assaylled them of the siege vygorously whom he had sore doubted not long byfore The dylygence that duc godeffroy made for to socoure a turke to whom he had promysed And how he reysed the siege beyng to fore his castell cao. Cxlvij o nOw was the duc Godeffroy approuched whan his brother cam with iij M horsmen noble valyaunt and hardy men âight wel armed They were but on iourneye fro the castel Th erle Bawdwyn acorded wel to thentârprise of the duc his broder but he sayd wel that Rodohan the lord of halappe had moche grete peple· And that he knewe wel for certayn Therfore he counseylled hym that he shold sende for the other barons that were abyden in Anthyoche· and praye them as his frendes that they wold addresse them âaccomplisshe this that he had enterprysed Trouth it was that he had moche prayd buymont and th erle of tholouse to fore er he departed but they had a lytil enuye· by cause the turke had more requyred the duc than ony of them· but now whan he had sente for them· them thought that they myght not goodly abyde behynde And ordeyned moche dilygently theyr goyng forth And wente so ferre that they ouertoke hym whan they were alle to gydre they were wel .xxx M. men of armes Rodahan had his espyes by whome he knewe certaynly that thyse men cam vpon hym he doubted them moche· he had wel· xl M men· but yet he durst not abide them but departed fro the siege And retorned to halappe The duc knewe nothyng that the siege was departed but weÌte strayt toward hasart There were ynowe in Anthyoche of knyghtes gentilmen other which knewe that the valyaunt duc had to doo with men· and departed fro thens and wente toward hym for to
hym and delyuââ by cause he had no more and also he wold haue nomoo a ãâ¦ã ffor his loue shold suffyse hym· And be wold sende his wyâ âis childeren in to rages for to dwell there vnder hym· by cause ãâ¦ã sayde that the turkes his neyghbours specially they of his lygnage hated hym moche· pourchassed alle the harme theâ mygât for the grete acqueyntaunce that he had with the Cristen men The Erle thought nothyng but alle wel And sayd that he wold goâ at his requeste to this fortresse at the day appointed bytwene theâ bothe Th erle cam theder with an honderd horsmen Balac ãâã to fore and as a fals traytre had hyd an honderd of his men well armed within the fortresse whan they were arryued to fore the fortresse· Balac prayd th erle that he wold come vp on hye and see the place how stronge it was And that he shold brynge but fewe men with hym· ffor he sayd he had certayn âhynges of which he myght take harme yf they alle entred â The good Erle wold haue doon soo but he had in his company a valyaunt knyght wel aduysed and a wise man whiche aduertysed his felaws other knyghtes how it was grete perylle and daunger so to lete hym goo And they wold not suffre hym but reteyned hym by force ffor they doubted moche the malyce of this man in suche wyse that in theyr hertes they had suspection of treson The Erle abode by their counseyl sente vp .xij. of his men wel armed in to the toure for to see yf ther were ony thyng to doubte he helde hym emoÌg his men they that wente vp anon apperceyued wel the trayson ffor the Turkes sprange oute of theyr places where they were hyd And toke thise .xij. men by force· and desarmed them and reteyned them bounden handes and feet· whan the erle knewe this· he was moche sorouful for his men that he had thus lost Thenne he drewe hym forth and spak to balac And moche prayd hym and coniured hym by the feaulte and oth that he had made to hym that he wold yelde his men to hym or atte leste sette them at rawnson and he wold gyue for them as moche as he wold haue Balac answerd to hym· that he trauaylled for nought ffor he shold neuer haue none of them But yf he wold gyue to hym the Cyte of Sororge whiche had ben his to fore Th erle sawe that this fortresse was not lyghtly to be goten ffor it was ouer stronge and stode in a stronge place and rychely garnysshyd And retorned to rages moche anguysshous of the paryll that he had be in· whan he wold by thatycemeÌt of this feloÌ turk haue goon vp in to the tour And sorouful he was for them that were taken· he had delyuerd the Cyte of Sororge to kepe vnto a moche wise valyauÌt and good knyght named Foubert de chartres this man kept hit with an C men of Armes valyauÌt men whan he herd saye that his lord had ben thus almost be bytrayed and how he had lost .xij. men he was sory· and thought how he myght helpe them ayenst this fals turk that had don this feet It was not longe after that in a nyght he sette a busshement nygh vnto this fortresse a part of his men· and in the mornynge he with a fewe of his companye cam to fore this toure and toke the proye of beestes They that were on hye on the batayllemeÌt sawe that they were but a fewe And told it to balak and to the other men that were in the fortresse They toke their hoâses hastely· and folowed them for to rescowe that whiche they droof awaye In suche wyse they exployted that they cam vpon thembusshement They sprange sodanly oute and closed them in Foubert retorned vpon them· And slewe I wote not how many but· vj he toke a lyue ffor whom he had incontinent vj of our men of them that he helde in his fortresse It was not longe aftir that four of the other escaped out of the fortresse and brake theyr prison whyles theyr kepars slepte whan balak sawe that ther were nomoo but two he dype do smyâe of theyr heddes ffro than forth on th erle bawdwyn that had acqueyntance to dyuerse admycalâ aboute hym wold neuer after acqueynte hym more ne truste ony turk But eschewed theyr companyes and theyr Amytee· And that he shewde wel sone after ffor ther was an hye and grete man a turk in that contre named Balduc of whom I haue spoken to fore whiche sold this Auncyen Cyte named Samoloc vnto bawdwyn And this turk had encouenaunted and promysed that he shold brynge his wyf and childeren within Rages but he sought fals occasions for to delaye this thynge On a day he cam to bawdwyn as he was acustomed to doo And Bawdwyn demaunded hym why he dyde not that he had couenaunted and promysed âe âegan to excuse hym by thynges that were not trewe The Erle toke hym and Incontinent dyde do smyte of his heed How th erle of tholouse toke the cyte of Albane· And tâere constitued a bisshop capitulo CLiio. tHe Duc Godeffroy soiourned thus as I haue sayd in the lond of torbesel Th erle of tholouse assembled his· peple and toke grete plente of pour pilgryms that were there ydle and dyde nought he wente to a Cyte wel garnysshyd named albane ãâã iourneyes fro Anthyoche he assyeged it And so constreyned theâ within that they yelded the toun te hym· and he entred therin and helde it And by the moyen therof he had alle the countre about âe thanked oure lord humbly of thonour that he had gyuen to hâm Thenne chasse he a bisshop in the toun a good wyseman that was named Peter and born in nerbonne· And he gaf to hym entierly half this Cyte· After this he cam in to Anthioche· and was there sacred by the patriarke bernard And gaf to hym his enâememet and made hym Archibisshop· In the company of th erle of tholoâse was a noble knyght and valyauÌt named guyllaÌme This man whan Anthyoche was taken toke by aduenture the wyf of A ncean lord of the toun and two of his neuewes sones of his broder named sansadol· and helde them yet prysoners But this sansadol gaf to hym for them grete good and rychesse· wherfor be delyuerd them bothe the lady and childeren In this sayson cam grete plente of peple out of ducheland And arryued atâe port seynt Syme on And soiournd within Anthyoche â but the mortalyte endured yet in suche wyse that they deyde almost alle· ther escaped but few but that they were alle deed in short tyme. ffor this pestylence continued thre monethes hool vnto thentree of wynter There were deed of knyghtes only .v. C. of the mene peple noman knewe the nombre How our peple retorned in to Anthyoche· and toke counseyl for to goo to Iherusalem and of this that foloweth cao. Cliijo. tHe fyrst day of Nouembre the
Cyte whiche is half waye bytwene marran and Anthyoche· ffor to haue a counseyl there emonge them yf they shold fro thens drawe forth toward to Iherusalem ffor the mâne peple languysshyd moche and hasted for to goo theder· There the barons coude not acorde so that there was no conclusion taken whyles that th erle of· tholouse abode at this parlement The foote men that were lefte at marran ayenst the wyll and deffence of the bisshop bete doun the walles and toures of the Cyte of Marran ffor they wold not for thoccasion of this toun abide lenger in this countre· whan the erle retorned he was moche angry of this that they had don but for that he coude not amende it he couerd well his courage withoute forth The men a foote began alway to ãâã and requyre moche the barons that they wold conduyte them for taccomplysshe theyr pylgremage or yf they wold not they wold chese a knyght and make hym Capytayn ouer them And they shold folowe hym vnto the Cyte of Iherusalem On that other syde was grete scarsete in thoost of vytaylles· in such wyse tâat ãâã poure peple deyde for honger Men sayde that many of them ãâã flesshe of men and other thynges that were not fayr nâ good ãâã ne honeste for to ete herof sourded a grete mortalyte ffor theâ had holden siege about this Cyte of Marran with suche mâschyââ of famyne that they had lost moche of theyr peple and not so many by armes· but by mesease that they suffred Ther deyde a moch noble valyaunt yonge man Emorran sone of huon Erle of seynt poul of a sekenesse of whom waâ grete dommage and moch was bewaylled in thoost How atte request of the comyn peple the erle of tholouse ordeyned day for to conduyte them ca o CLvj oF thyse Inconuenientes that ran in thoost of the pilgryms the vygorous and valyaunt erle of tholouse was in moch grete anguysshe ffor he wyste not wel what be myght doo On that one syde he had pyte and grete sorowe of the meseases that he sawe the poure peple suffre And was moche meuyd by theyr requestes whan they so swetly prayd hym and the other barons to lede them for taccomplysshe theyr vowes pylgremage On that taken out all that they fynde therin They ledde away horses ynow whiche they founde in the pastures emong our men were dyuerse messagers of the contre that the grete lordes and men ther aboutes had sente for to see theyr couyne whiche whan they sawe that oure barons dyde thus theyr wylle And that nothynge myght resiste them· they wente to theyr lordes And told them that they were ouer cruel and fiers peple aspre and hardy· Thennne shold ye haue seen brought And presented to oure men grete presentes and honorable and vytaylles as for nought fro alle partes In so moche they doubted them that they dyde grete cure for tacqueynte them and to brynge them in to theyr loue It was not longe but they passed alle the contre til they cam to the playnes of an Auncyent cyte by the see syde named archys they lodged nygh by the toun How th erle of tholouse approuched with his hoost vnto archis And of the situacion of the same· cao. CLviijo. aRrhys is a Cyte of the lande of Fenyce and standeth atte foote of a montayne named Lybane in a tereitorye moche stronge and is a four or .v myle fro the see hath moche plenteuous londe aboute it and delectable of pastures of waters The scriptures saye that it was founded moche auncyently· For Noâ that was in the arke had· iij sones that one of them was named Caym he had a sone named Canaham Of hym cam a sone that was Arracheus he founded this cyte And after hym this Cyte was named Archys Ther were prisonners of oure men in this toun hit was sente worde by tho prysonners to th erle of tholouse that he shold assiege this cyte· also to the other barons ffor they shold haue grete good therby the cite of tripl which was moch noble rych was but vj myle from theÌs· ther were also of our peple prysonners For syth the begynnynge of the siege of Anthyoche and after that it was goten our peple began to renne in the contree nycely folyly for to seche somme vytaylles other necessitees that they lacked they were taken in many places in such wyse ther was vnneth cyte ne castel in the contre but ther were therin som of our pylgryms prysoners In the cyte of trypple were moo than ij C· They them self had sente to oure men that yf they wolde make semblaunt to conquere the countree The kyng of trypple wold gyue them grete hauoyr and good for to departâ thens and shold delyuer to them alle theyr prysonners It happeed theÌne to them thus that our peple approuched the cyte of archis for to see what· semblaunt they wold make also for tabyde the other barons that shortly shold come and folowe them Of a toun named tortuose whiche Raymont toke with a Rowte of pylgryms· And of the departynge of the other barons fro Anthyoche Capitulo CLixo. tHer yssued out of our lodgys of oure men an honderd men on horsbak and two honderd a foote And made theyr Capytayne Raymont pelet whiche was a wyseman and a moche valyaunt knyght· They wente to fore a cyte whiche was named tortuose for to see yf they myght fynde ony auenture for to gete som gayne They approuched the cyte and began tassayle it vygorously and moche sharply They within deffended them bothe men and wymmeÌ valiauÌtly but our men left but litil or nought the nyght cam on them· And they left thassault· for to be more feessh on the morn And abode for more companye of thooste that shold folowe them And to begyn on the morn thassault agayn They of the toun had moch grete drede· that our meÌ wold assaille them agayn on the morn and myght not resiste them therfor in the nyght they wente pryuely out of the toun· and wente to the montaines· and caryed nothyng with them but theyr wyues and childeren· Allâ theyr other geer they lefte in the toun Oure men that knewe no thynge herof aroos erly and began to make redy and encorage eche other to doo wel at thassault· they approched the walles alle armed· and they herde noman they entred in to the toun and opened the yates in such wyse that alle entred· thenne sawe they that they of the toun were yssued and goon· they founde the Cyte ful of goodes in so moche that they were alle ryche· they trussed all and bare as moche as they myght in to thoost· recounted theyr aduenture of whiche they were alle glad and ioyous and thanked our lord· whan the moneth of Marche was come and that the season was more attemperat· the people that was left in Anthyoche sawe that it was tyme to departe they spak to duc godeffroyâ to
withdrawe them fro the werke in suche wyse that euery man dyde nought· ffor it plesyd them wel that th erle were greued and ennoyed that he myght departe and lede them forth with the other barons How thoost murmured of the spere founden in Anthyoche of the grete myracle that happed in the presence of alle the hoste Capitulo CLxjo. tHere was renewed a word· by whiche the comyn people also soÌme of the barons whiche began to doubte of the spere that was founden in Anthyoche lyke as ye haue herde to fore· ffor somme sayde certaynly that it was the very spere that opened the Syde of oure Lord on the crosse And that was with his precious blood bydewed And by reuelacion of oure lord had be founden by an holy good man for to recomforte his people whiche had grete necessyte and nede Other sayde that it was not but fals ãâã tromperye and abuse ffor th erle of tholouse had fonden this contryued for to mene the peple to drawe and gete syluer of theyr offrynges And this altercacion was meuyd by a preest named Arnold chppellayn and moche acqueynted with the noble duc of normandye· he was wel lettred but he was not of good lyf· he was ouer malycious and pourchassoure of discordes As ye shal here afterward in this book· This rumour was grete in thoost as I haue sayd The man that had fonde the spere herde the doubte of the peple And cam to fore the barons moche hardily And sayd to them in this maner Fayr lordes doubte ye nothyng that this werke hath ben by barat nâ by tromperye· For theryn hath be none But it is comen of god And certaynly for the comfort of the cristen peple sâynte andrew appered to me by the wylle of our saueour Ihesu crist whiche deuysed to me alle the maner how I haue founden it And for to shewe to yow that this that I saye is trouth I praye you that ye make a grete fyre and merueyllous And I shal entre in to it And holde the spere in my hand and shal passe and goo thurgh hool and sauf whan they herd this they acorded alle therto· The fyre was made and brennyd lyght which was greete merueyllous And this was on the blessyd good fryday And it plesed them that this thynge shold be thus pâeuyd the same day that our lord was smeton to the herte with the same spere he that thus of fred hym self thus and enterprysed for to preue it was named Peter bertilme we clerk and but litil lettred after that it coude be vnderstonde without forth· and was a moche symple man â TheÌne was alle thooste assembled aboute the fyre Peter cam forth kneled doun for to recommande hym vnto god whan he had made his prayer he toke the spere· And entred in to the fyre And passed thurgh it· and was nothynge on hym perysshed nâ hurâe that ony man coude see or knowe whan the peple sawe this alle they ranne for to kysse hym And made to hym moche grete ioye Of this doubte thenne they wende veryly that it had be quenchid But yet sourded a gretter errour and murmur than to fore ffor it was not longe after but that this Clerke deyde thenne sayde somme that by thanguysshe of the fyre he toke his deth And that shold be thoccasion therof· The other sayde that he yssued oute al hool and sauf fro the fyre But it was the wylle of ours lord syth the trouthe was knowen that he shold deye thus· or peraduenture the prees that cam vpon hym was so grete whan he yssued ouâ of the fyre that he was therby hurte that he ãâã In this maner murmured yet the peple emong them Of thamabassade of Egipte comân with our men in to thooste of pylgryms of the reuerence that was don to them cao. C lxijo. sOmme messagiers that were sente in to Egypte by our barons atte requeste of them that cam vnto Anthyoche fro the Calyphe of Egypte had be reteyned and holden there by force and barat wel a yere But now they were retourned And with them were comen the messagers of the Calyphe which brought to our barons fro hym wordes moche dyuerse moch chauÌged fro that· they had sente to them to fore Anthyoche· ffor thenne he sente to them that they shold conteyne them vygorously ayenst the Sowdan of Perse· And they shold haue of hym grete ayde of gold of syluer and of vytaylles Now had he chaunged moche his langage· ffor he sente them worde that he thought· that he dyde moch grete thyng for them yf he suffred that the pilgrims myght goo to Iherusalem .ij. C to gydre or iij· C alle vnarmed And whan they had made theyr prayers· and don theyr pylgremage to retorne saufly agayn· whan oure barons herd this· they had herof grete desdayne And sayde to the messagers that they shold retorne agayn to theyr lord and telle hym that by his licence ne leue wold they not goo to Iherusalem vnarmed one after another But they shold goo maulgre hym alle to gydre in bataylles renged and the baners reysed and desployed Now I shal say to you why the Calyphe of Egypte was reysen in so grete prydeâ whan our men had discomfyted Corbagat to fore Anthyoche The power of the Soudan of Perse was moche affebled· in such wise that none of his neyghbours doubted hym ne fered to make warre agaynst hym ffor he had alwaye the werse· By whiche occasion it happed that a conestable of the Calyphes of Egypte named Emites had taken the Cyte of Iherusalem fro the men of the soudan of Perse whiche had holden it xxxviij yere Therfore sawe nowe the Calyphe that he was at his aboue by the disconfyture that our men had don to Corbagat And had wende that he shold not haue had nede of ony ayde Therfor he despysed now our peple Of an ambassade fro themperour of constantinoble comen to our pylgryms of thanswer to the sayd ambassade ca Clxiijo. oN that other syde were comen messagers fro themperour of Constantinoble· whiche complayned moche on buymont and also on the other barons ffor they sayde that all the barons were becomen his men· And had sworn vpon the holy ewangelyes that alle suche Cytees and Castellys by them conquerd whiche had be vnder the power of Constantynoble shold be rendred to hym as his owen thurgh out alle the londe to Iherusâlem Now buymont dyde contrarye this whiche helde Anthyoche and the other Barons that had gyuen it to hym· Thus spak they of the couenauntes But they spak not of alle ffor withoute faylle trouthe it was that they had couenaunted this but themperour had promysed to them that he shold folowe them with his grete hoost And shold furnysshe to them grete plente of vytaylles by seâ· he was the fyrst that had broken the couenaunt and promesses· ffor he had not don that one ne that other And he myght wel
haue don it And therfor they were not bounden to holde his couenauntes made by oure barons by cause he helde not that he had promysed ffor the lawe wyll not that a man shal holde couenauÌt to hym that holdeth not his Thus answerd the barons to them· And therfore sayde they that the yefte that they made to buymont of the Cyte of Anthyoche ou ght to be ferme and stable And so wold they mayntene it to hym and to his heyres for euer whan the messagers herd this· they moche prayd the barons that they wold tarye theyr goyng to Iherusalem til that themperour were comen ffor they sayde that withoute faulte âe wolde come to fore thentree of Iuyll And brynge with hym moche grete plente of peple And yf they wold doo thus moche for hym· âe shold conne them grete thanke And shal gyue to eche of the barons many grete ryche yeftes also shal departe largely to the gentil men to the footemen· whan ouâ barons herd this they sayde that they wold counseylle them to gydre· and drewe them a part· Th erle of tholouse acorded wel to this that they shold abyde so grete an ayde as was the puyssaunce of themperour And sayd he supposed certaynly that he shold come as it was sayd but the other supposed that he sayd so for to kepe the barons and other men atte siege til the cyte were taken ffor it shold be moche dishonour· and fowl for hym to departe fâo thens without accomplysshyng that whiche he had enterprised The other barons acorded nothynge therto but wolde that they shold goo dylygently assiege the holy cyte of Iherusalem for to doo theyr pylgremage· accomplysshe theyr vowe For whiche they had suffred so many trauaylles and diseaseâ For they knewe moche wel the delaye of themperour and ãâã âayr wordes full of tromperyes and deceytes· Therfor it was not theyr oppynyon for to truste ony more his couert dissimylacions Thus sourded a grete debate bytwene the barons And myght not acorde of whiche it happed that he that helde the cyte of trypple whiche had offred to them so moche good by couenaunt that they shold departe fro the siege and goo out of the londe whan he knewe that the barons were emonge them self in discorde· he wold no more offre to them ony thyng but enterprised so grete hardynes· that he wold fyghte ayenst them The barons acorded therto and lefte the Bisshop of Albare for to kepe the lodgys And whan they had so doo· they wente so alle in bataylles ordeyned toward trypple whan they cam there they fonde the lord of the toun and the Cytezeyns out with grete plente of men on horsbak and afoote where they had ordeyned theyr bataylles and abode our peple whiche they doubted not moche For they had seen that the Erle of tholouse had holde siege to fore this Cyte· And had no thynge preuayled· wherfor they preysed our men moche the lasse than they dyde byfore· But whan oure men approuched so nyghe that they sawe them anon they ranne on them moche firersly in suche wyse that they loste anon ·vij·C of theyr men whiche oure men slewe And of· oures were slayn but .xiiij. There helde they the feste of ester or of pasque the .x day of Apryll How the comyn peple complayned them of this that they wente not hastely to Iherusalem· cao. Clxiiijo. oWr barons that had disconfyted thise men Retourned in to theyr lodgys with alle theyr gayne Thenne recommenced and began agayn the playnte and the clamour moche grete that the peple made by cause they wente not hastely to Iherusalem all they cryed with hye wis that they shold departe fro the siege so long contynued theyr crye that the valyaunt Duc Godeffrey Th erle of Flaundres· The Duc of Normandye and Tancre sayde that they wold doo the requeste of the peple afoote And thenne recâylled they theyr tentes and pauyllons brente theyr lodgys and departed It displesyd ãâã th erle of tholouse he prayde them moche affectuously to abyde âut it myght not be· ffor they them self that fyrst were comen with âym were wery and anguysshous of the siege And strayt helââhey the way toward trypple whan th erle of tholouse sawe that he myght none other wise cheuisshe ne accomplysshe his empryse he wold not abyde there allonâ he had right But dislodged hym and folowed the other whan they were a ·v myle fro trypple they lodged them the baylly that helde the cyte and the countre about in the name of the Calyphe sente thâder to them his messagers he had moche leyd doun his pryde ffor as I sayd to you to fore he wende to haue foughten peer to peer his messagers knewe wel that he was to feble and that it was fâlââ He thennâ desyred and moche requyred that oure men wold takâ of hym right largely and goo out of his power· The mater was so demened that he gaf xv M. besauntes and delyuerd to them alle the prysonners that he had of our pilgryms And abouâ that he gaf to them grete yeftes and ryche presenâes as horses mulets Cloth of sylk and vessel of dyuerse facions And thây promysed to hym that they wold doo none harme to the Cytees that he had and helde That is to wete· archys trypple and Ybelyn ne to tâeiâ appertenauntes And he hym self sente to them oxân ââyen sheâp and moche grete plente of other vytaylles· to th ende that they shold not destroye his londe Thenne cam in to thoost somme surryens whiche dwellyd vpon the mount of lybane whiche is nyghe vnto thyse Cytees toward the est moche hye They were of oure fayth wyse men and trewe And were come for to see our barons for to salewe and feste them· The good men of thoost called them and desyred of them affâctuously that they wold teche them the moost strait way easiest for to goo to Iherusalem· They toke aduys and couÌseylled to gydre· and behelde alle thynges that in suche a caas behoued and cam to our barons and sayd to them that they counseylled to holde the waye by the see coste for many reasons Fyrst for the surete and comforte of theyr shippes ffor in the nauye were not only the shippes of guyneuyers that cam fro fflauÌdres· but ther were shippes of geâe of venyse of Cypres of Rhodes· and of other yles of grece charged with vytaylles and marchaundyses whiche dyde moche grete good in thoost The surryens wente to fore for to conduyte the hoost· the baylly of trypple delââd to them also men that knewe wel the countrees and the londe· They passed alle the see syde· and the cyte of ybelyn and lodged vpon a Ryuer that renneth there in a place whiche is named Mans And for tabyde the feble peple that were not comen ne arryued they soiourned there a day Of the grete dylygence that our men made for to approche to Iherusalem of thalyaunces of somme turkes made vnto them Capitulo
CLvo. He thyrde day they cam to fore the Cyte· of Baruth And lodged them vpon a Ryuer that ran to fore the toun The baylly of the toun gaf to them grete good And made do come plente of vitayll and good cheep for to spare the trees the fruytes of the contre· On the morn cam they to the Cyte of Sayette there they lodged them vpon a Ryuer therby· he that gouerned and kepte the Cyte wold not doo thynge ne bounte to them I wote not wherin he trusted but he sente out many of his men for to doo hurte to thoost and for to atteyne certayn knyghtes which were lodged by for tassaylle them but our men toke theyr horses and ran on them vygorously And slewe of them I wote not how many And the other fledde in to the cyte· And had nomore talente to atteyne our peple in suche wyse that our men rested them in pees that nyght On the morn for to reste and refresshe the mene peple they departed not thens But sente oute for fourage many men a foote and certayn men of Armes to kepe them in to the contre and vyllages about· They brought largely vytaylles and horses wyth grete quantite of beestes grete and smale· and cam agayn without lesyng of ony thyng· alle to gydre sauf only a knyght named Gaultier de ver he wente by his valyauÌce ouer ferre ffor he retorned neuer agayn· ne neuer was knowen where he becam they were all moch sory for hym in thoost The day aftir passed they by a moche sharp aspre way· after descended by a destrayt in to a playne· and on the right syde they lefte this auÌcyent Cyte named Saââpte wherin helyas the prophete was in After they pessed a water whiche is bytwene Sur and Sayette They wente so fer that they cam to this noble cyte of Sur. There they lodged them by the noble fontayne and pytte of water lyâyng lyke as scripture sayth They lodged this nyght in gardyns moche delectable· whan it was daye they sette them forth on theyr Iourneye· And passed by a strayt moche peryllous· whiche is bytwene the montaines the see· They descended in to the playnes of the Cyte of Acres therevpon and by a water rennyng they sette vp theyr pauyllons he that had the charge of the toun made them to haue vytaylles at resonable prys· and made acqueyntauÌces good and honorable in this maner that yf oure people myght take the Cyte of Iherusalem and dwelle there after xx· dayes in the Royamme in suche wyse that they were not put oute of it by force or yf they myght disconfyte in the felde the puyssaunce of egypte that fro thenne forth on they shold yelde and gyue ouer the Cyte of Acres without makyng of ony resistence The pylgryms wente fro thens on the lyft syde they leâte galylee bytwene the mount of Carmely and the see they cam in to Cezaire whiche is the second Archebisshoprych of the londe of palestyne they lodged them vpon a water that yssueth oute of thâ palus or maryles· whiche ben by the toun there helde they theyr penthecost or wytson tyde thre dayes after thentre of Iuyn they abode there on ãâ¦ã they toke their way On the right side they lefte Iaphe And by a grete playn and euen waye they cam in to the Cyte of Lâdeâ where the bodye of the glorious martir seynt gâorge lyeth In thoânoure of whom Iustynyen that was Emperour of Rome made there a moche fair chirche and ryche But whan the turkes herde tydynges that our men cam they bete it doun and brence tâe tymbre werke whiche was moche grete For they doubâed that oure pilgrims shold take them for to make engyns to caste sâonâs and castellis to assaile with thenne herde our barons saye that ther fasâ by was a moche noble Cyte named Rames they sente the erle of Flaundres with v·C horsmen to fore the toun for to knowe what semblaunt they wold make None yssued out whan they approuched it they cam ner and founde the yates open And entred in to the Cyte And founde neyther man ne woman For the nyght to fore they had herd tydynges how oure pilgrims cam ladde to the montaynes wyues and childeren and alle their howshold whan th erle knewe herof he sente to the barons how the mater was and counseylled them to come in to the toun they were moche glad of thyse tidynges they made deuoutly theyr prayers at the tombe of seynt George And after cam in to the Cyte whiche was al ful of wyne of whâte of oylle and of other vytaylles to them necessarye they abode there .iij. dayes they chose thâr a bisshop of the cyte and was a normant named Robert whiche was born in tharchebisshopryche of Roen They· gaf to hym entierly the two Cytres for euermore that is to wete Lyde and Rames and the countree and vyllages about them ffor they gaf it to honoure god and seynt George for the fyrst gayne of the same holy londe How the Cristen men of bethlehem receyued moche wel Tancre and his rowte And sette his baner on the chirche of our lady Capitulo CLxvjo. tHe turkes beyng in Iherusalem herde wel tydynges of the comyng of our pylgryms wel knewe they certaynly· that alle theyr entencion was to come to the holy cyte ffor whiche thynge they were pryncipally meuyd and departed fro the couÌtrees· whan they herde this they were moche esmeuyd And sayd that it was reason to deffende it The Cristen men that were in bethlehem sente certayn messagers to the barons desyred of them that they wold delyuere the toun in to thâir handes if they wold sende men to receyue and kepe it They sayd that it was reson to doo that they requyred They toke an honderd men of Armes wel horsed noble valyaunt and hardy And delyuerd to them Tancre for a Capytayn· They that cam to fetche them conduyted them in such wise that erly in the mornyng they entred in to the toun· Alle they of the Cyte clerkes and laye men receyued them honorably· and with moche grete ioye with procession brought them in to the chirche whiche standeth in the place· in whiche the gloryouse vyrgyne marye was desyud chylded oure lord Ihesu criste the saueour of the world they sawe the crybbe in which was leyde in to resteâche swete childe that made heuen erthe whan our peple sawe thyse holy places they were moche ioyous and had grete tendrenes in theyr hertes The Cytezeyns of the toun for signe of ioye And for demonstraunce that oure lord and his dere moder oure lady shold gyue to them vyctorye· toke the baner of Tancre and sette it on hye vpon the chirche of oure lady They that were lefte in thoost had moche grete desyre to see and vysyte the holy places that wâre nygh by as it was sayd· ffor for the loue of god for to honoure hym were they departed fro theyr countreee and had suffred
many annoyes and grete trauaylles· And they myght not slepe this nyght· suche brennyng desire had they forto see the cyte which shold be th ende of their trauaylle· and thaccomplysshement of theyr vowe Them thought longe er the daye cam and them semed that thys nyght was moche lenger than the other ffor to a corageous desire ther is not haste ynowgh Of thardaunt desire that the peple had for to see Iherusalem And how the hoost approched and were lodged by ordenaunce Capitulo· CLxvijo. sYth that it was knowen certaynly in the lodgys that the Duc hadde receyued this nyght the messagers of bethlehem And that he had sente his men in to the toun The peple afoote abode neuer for leue of the barons ne myght not suffre til the dayâ was come· but began to calle alle the nyght for to goo vnto Iherusalem· whan they were goon a whyle forth One of the noble men of thooste named Gaste de bedyers had moche grete pyte of this peple that they shold be slayn in the waye· And therfore be toke his hors and toke .xxx men of Armes with hym wel hoâsed and ordeyned in arraye· And thought that he wolde goo nygh to Iherusalem for to see yf they myght fynde out of the toun beââtes and other gayne for to take and lede a way with hym Alle thus as he thoughte it fylle thus in partye ffor whan he cam nygh the toun he fonde Oxen kyen largely in the pastures and but fewe that kâpt them· they fledde away whan they sawe our men come Gaste and his men began to gadre the beestes to gydre and droof them hastely toward thoost but the hârdmen and kepaâs of them made a grete crye In the toun were turkes hardy and desyryng to doo armes They armed them dilygently ronne hastely after for to rescowe the proye gaste his men sawe them come· knewe well that they were not strong ynough for the turkes therfor they left this that they brought mouÌted vpon an hye montayne therby moche angry of this mesauenture whan they had abyden a whyle vpon this montayne· They behelde in to the valeye And sawe Tancre come fro bethlehem retornyng to thoost with an â C. men on horsbak· whan Gaste sawe them he smote his hors with his spores cam to hym and told hym of his mesauentuââ and moche auguysshous and sayd that the turkes were not ferâââ they ran alle to gydre after them and ouertoke them âr they myght to me in to the cyte In theyr comyng they discomfyted the turkes that they that myght fledde in to the Cyte The remenaunt they slewâ And oure men recoueryd theyr proyâ And brought iâ in to thoost with grete ioye Alle they that were in the lodgys assembled about them· And demaunded of them ententyfly fro whânâ this proye cam· They answerd that they had take it to fore the yaârs of Iherusalem whan they herde named the holy Cyte of Iherusalem· and knewe certaynly that it was so nygh thenne began they tendrely to wepe And fylle doun on theyr knees and rendred thankynges to oure lord with moche grete syghes of this that he had so moche loued them and conduyted that they myght see shortly the ende of theyr pylgremage that is to wete the holy Cyte of Iherusalem· whiche our lord so moche louyd that he wold dye therin for to saue the world Grete pyte was it to see and here the teres the cryes of this good peple They departed in this same maner And wente so forth that they sawe the towres and the walles of the toun Thenne lyft they vp theyr handes toward hâuen· and dyd of theyr hosen and shoes men and wymmen and kyssed therthe who that had seen this thaugh he had had an hard herte he shold haue be meuyd to pyte ffro ãâ¦ã the waye greued them nothynge· but they wente moch lyghtly til they cam to fore the toun There they lodged them all aftir thordenaunce and deuyse of the barons whiche delyuerd to them the places Thenne semed verytably that the worde of the holy prophete was entirely accomplysshyd whiche sayd longe to fore Leua Iherusalem â Aryse vp Iherusalem and lyft vp thyn eyen· And beholde the puissaunce of the kyng thy sauiour which cometh to onthynde the and put the oute of the bonde wherin thou art· O lord god how the hye barons the knyghtes the gentylmen of our hoost and alle the other generally men and wymmen were recomforted and reconcyled of the grete trauaylles and meseasââ that they had âonge endured whan they founde them to fore the holy Cyte of Iherusalem And how eche of them had good wylle to conteyne hym self in this nede and werke Of the situacion of Iherusalem and descripcion and also of many other cytees townes countrees ther aboute cao. CLxviijo. tRouthe it is that the holy Cyte of Iherusalem stondeth bytwene two montayneâ· wherof dauid sayth in the psaulter Fundamenta eius in montibus sanctis The fondementes oâ it ben in the holy montaynes toward the wâst is the see and the londe of the philistees ·xxiiij myle vnto port Iaphe and that is the next part of the see Bytwene bothe is the castel of Emaus where as oure lord after his resurexion appered to two discyples There is modyn the cyte and the fortresse of the machaâews There is the place temple where alymelech the holy preest gaf to dauid and to his squyers the loues of breed to ete that were offred vpon the table of our lord wherfor saul dyde do slee hym and the other admynystratours of the chirche and men of the toun There is lyde where seynt Peter heeled a lame man named Eneanx· and had leyen viij· yere paralityk There is also Iaphe as I haue sayd where seynt Peter reysed a dede woman named thabyte There was seint peter herberowed in a tanners how 's that tanned leder whan he receyued the message fro Cornelle whom he baptysed as is sayd in thactes of the apostles· toward the âest is the flome Iordan And the deserte is by yonde where the holy prophetes were woont to repayre There is the vale sauage whiche is named the dede ãâã whiche was a moche fayr and delectable countre lyke a paradys to fore that oure lord made do synke .v. Cytees Sodome and the other as is sayd in Genesys On this syde Iordan is the cyte of Iherycho that Iosue wan more by prayer than by bataylle Theder wente oure lord Ihesu Caste â and made a blynde man to see There is galgala where helyzeus the proophete dwellyd· Toward the south is the cyte of Bethlehem where our lord was born and lâyde in the crybbe emonge the beestes There by is tâcua the cyte where Amos and Abacuc the prephetes were born Toward northeest is Gabao where atte prayer of Iosue the sonne rested ⪠til he had vaynquysshed the batayll There is Sâeirs where as our lord spak to the woman of Samarye There is
bethel where as the peple of Isâahel worshipped the calf of god ayenst the wylle of oure lord There is Sebaste whiche is named seynt Iohan de sabaste· There is the sepulcre of seynt Iohan baptist ââlizeus and Abdyas the prophetes were there buryed It was sommetyme named Samarye The Cyte of naples is there which somme tyme was named Sychem· And it was there where Symeon and leuy sones of Iacob for to venge theyr suster whiche had ben enforced slewe them of the toun and brente alle the cyte How Iherusalem had many names after dyuerse lordes therin âânnyng and yet of the situacion wel at a longe cao. Clxixâ iHerusalem is the chyef cyte of Iudee It is withoute medowes and withoute Ryuers ne no brooke ne welle· It was first called Salem after Zebus After in the tyme whââ tyme were caste out the Iherubesees whan dauid had regned vij yere in Ebron he grewe and amended moche this cyte And wold that it shold be the chyef and hede place of alle the Royamme Thenne was it named Iherusalem To fore that dauid assayâled the toun he toke the towre of Syon whiche was named the cyte of Dauyd Thenne made dauyd the cyte to be made about the place whiche was named Mellon Ioab made the remenaunt of the toun After whan Salamon regned in Iherusalem It was named Iherosolima· That is to saye Iherusalem of Salamon· As they saye that made thystoryes After the deth of Ihesu cristâ Titus the sone of vaspasian was a moche grete prynce of Româ And assieged this cyte with a grete hoost toke it by force and destroyed it and threwe it doun to therthe After cam Elyus Aâdrian the fourth Emperour after hym and called it after his name elye ffor he reedefred it moch wel ffirst it stode in an hangyng of an hylle in suche wyse as toward theest and south it was sette in the roundnesse of the tertre of the mount of syon· And of another mouÌt named Moria The temple only and the toure named Anthone was on the toppe of the tertre· But the same Elyus made alle the Cyte to be born and reedefyed right on the toppe or sommet of the tertre in suche wyse that the place where oure lord was crucyfyed and the holy sepulcre· where his blessid body was leyed in whiche to fore were without the Cyte· were thenne enclosed within the walles The Cyte was not ouer grete ne ouer lytle It was more long than brood hit is on the four quaters enuyronned with depe valeyes toward the eest is the valeye of Iophat There stondeth a moche fayr chirche made in thonour of the glorious vyrgyne Marye where it is sayd that she was buryed ther is shewed yet the sepulcre Ther vnder is the rennyng water of which seynt Iohn euangelyste sayth that Ihu Crist passed Toward the southe is a valeye named Ennon there is the felde that was beught with the pens that Iudas sold oure lord fore which is made in sepulture of pilgrims named acheldemach toward the weste is a parte of the valeye where as the piscyne is whiche was a grete thynge whan the kynges of Iude were there it stratcheth vnto the Cysterne whiche is called the lake of the Patriarke By the old Cymetyer whiche is in the caue named the Lyon toward the northeest may men goo vp playn to the Cyte There is shewed the place where seynt Stephen the prothomarter was stoned of the Iuys· whan he prayd vpon his knees for them· that so pytte hym to deth And so deyed a very marter Here thystorye deuyseth of many merueyllous edyfyces conteyned in the same Cyte of Iherusalem And who made them Capitulo Clxxo. sO as I haue sayd two montaynes ben enchayned within the walles of Iherusalem· a litil valeye is bytwene them both whiche departed the toun as in the myddle Syon is toward the weste on the soÌmete or toppe theron stondeth the chirche which is named Syon And after there is a tour of dauyd whiche is the dongeon of the toun made of moche stronge werke· walles and barbycans there be many that ben aboute the toun· Trouthe it is that to fore oure pylgryms cam in to this holy lande· the place where our lord was crucifyed whiche was named caluarye And there where the very crosse was founden And where our sauyour Ihesu Criste was taken doun of the crosse· And enoynted with precioê° oynementis enuoluped in whyte lynen cloth this places were strayte as lytil chapellys But after that oure cristen men had the power them thought that the chirche was made ouer sâaât and lytil where so grete and noble thynges were Therfore they made it al newe walled about with good strong werke and hye whiche conteyned and enclosed within it the fyrst chirche and the holy names that I haue named Toward the parte of the ocyent is the other mount named mona On the hangyng therof as who beholdeth toward the south stondeth the temple whiche the laye peple calle it Templum domini There as Dauyd bought the place for to sette in the Arke of oure lord And Salamon his sone made there the temple by the commaundement of God At the begynnyng of this book we sayde to you· that Omar the sone of Captap dyde make the forme in this manere There is a place square longe as moche as an Archer maye shote at twyes And as brood closed with good walles stronge· and hye And there toward the weste ben two gates by whiche men entre Thââ one is named Speciosa where âeynt peâer heelâd hym that was lame fâo his byrth· and fatââ to fore the gate for to demaunde Almesse· That other gate had no name toward the north eestâ Toward the thoryent is another gate named the Golden ãâã Toward the south is the how 's Ryall whiche is the temple of salamon· vpon eche of thyse yates· By whiche men entre in to the toun· And on the cornes ben hye towâes vpon whichâ the prouostes were woonte to goo vp at certayn howres for to warne and somone the peple to praye and saye theyr orysons and to honoure our lord after theyr custommes Somme endure yet the other ben falle in the cloysture of this place ther dar noman dweââle ne noman is suffred to entre but bare foot and clene wasshen ffor there ben porters sette at alle the yates that take hedâ therof In the mydle of this place whiche is thus closed is another place more hye and square toward the weste men goo vp therto in two places by degrees or stappes and in lyke wyse toward the southe But toward the south goth noman vp· but by one place In eueryche of the angles or corners were woont to be oratoryes where the sarasyns made theyr orysons and prayers Somme endure yet And many ben beten doun In the myddle of this hye place stondeth the temple whiche is made ·viij square And with out ben the walles couerd with tables of marble
tonges on witsondaye In the same place passed oute of this world the gloryous vyrgyne Marye whiche bare in her precious body the saueour of the world ther is shewde the sepulture of seynt steuen How oure men began tassaylle Iherusalem And of the grete dilygeÌce that they dyde to make engyns for to take it cao. Clxxiijo. wHan the barons were thus lodged fro the yate toward northeste as I haue sayd vnto the tour on the corner which is vpon the vale of Iosaphat And fro thens vnto that other corner of the cyte whiche is on the pendaunt of the same vale toward the south thenne was it thynge euydente that the one half of the toun was wyth payne or vnnethe assieged ffor fro thens that I haue sayd vnto the yate named mount Syon· the Cyte was no thynge assieged The fyft daye after that thoost was lodged to fore the Cyte it was acorded comynly and cryed thurgh alle the lodgys that alle men shold be armed the best wyse they myght and come to thassault They cam alle and began moche strongly thassaylle aboute the toun· They hadde the hertes moche hardy and brennyng desyres and wylle to doo the werke of oure lord In theyr comyng on they toke the barbycaÌnes that were right ayest them And the turkes embatilled them within the grete wallys They of the toun were so effrayed of the grete hardynesse and prowesse that they sawe with oure peple and had ouer grete fere in suche wyse that they loste alle theyr hope for to deffende thâ toun And was wel knowen afterward that yf the talent of our men had endured and that they had had skalyng laddres castellys by whiche they myght haue approuched the walles of the toun· They had taken it certaynly but whan thassault had endured fro erly of the mornynge that same daye vnto one of the clok of the same daye at after none They apperceyued wel that with oute engynes they myght not doo grete hurte ne dommage to the touÌ therfor they withdrewe them abak· purppsed to come agayn to thassault whan theyr engyns shold be better ordeyned The barons toke counseyl emong them for taduyse how they myght fynde manere to make engyns for tassaylle the toun· ffor them semed that in alle the countree shold not be founde trees ne wode yno we for to make suche thynges as they sholde nede But a valyaunt man of the countre cam forth and told to them of a valeye· vj or vij· myle thens whiche was ful of trees and grete ynowghe for to make engyns They sente theder grete nombre of Carpenters And somme of the barons to conduyte them Eche of them hewe doun the tres and dyde do brynge them in charyottes Thenne made they come alle them of thoost that coude medle with suche thynge· and dyde do make engyns perierers Magonneauls castellys chattes and wayes couerd moche grete plente The pylgryms that coude werke toke none hyre ne wages yf they had as moch as they myght entretiene and kepe them self The other that were pour receyued theyr wages of the comyns ffor of all the barons of thoost ther was none that myght paye the costes of this werke sauf th erle of tholouse ffor he hym self allone susteined of his propre good all the werkemen without thaide of ony other also to many knyghtes that had despeÌded theyr good dyde he gyue many grete yeftes· whyles that the barons were thus besy that euery che dyde do make his engyns for hym self The other knyghtes the mene peple ran vnto busshes and hedges ffor to fetche stockes and roddes with grete dilygence for to make pynnes None was ydle but alle men heelp to this werke· Ther was noman had shame ne despyte to doo thynge that myght auaylle· ffor they sayd well that alle theyr trauaylle and despences that they had don made in alle theyr waye were nothyng worth yf this enterpryse for to take this toun were not wel accomplysshed How our peple were in grete meschyef at the sayd siege how the turkes deserted them by cause they myght entre and yssue in and out of the toun· cao. Clxxiiij iN thoost had they grete mesease of thurst ffor as I haue sayd to you the place where the cite stondeth in· is moch ayerye drye withoute fontaynes withoute wellys pyttes of water spryngynge ffor they of the toun whan they herd saye that oure peple cam they fylled somme pyttes that were withoute the toun nygh to the Cysternes where as was rayn water and they had couerd and stopped them· to th ende that the pylgryms sholde haue none ease of water But the cytezeyns of bethlehem and they of a lytil cyte called tecua that knewe the countre al aboute told and ensseygned to them somme fontaynes brokes pyttes and Cisternes· ther was grete prees and grete mesease suche tyme there was that whan the pour peple myght brynge theyr barellis vessellys ful of troubled water and thycke· They sold it rychely in thooste The fontayne of syââe of whiche I haue spoken to fore myght not suffyse them· ffor it spryngeth not alway· and yet that was not right good· Thanguysshe of thurste grewe moche of the heete that was in Iuyn And of the trauaylle that they suffred and for the duste that entred in theyr mowthes whan two or thre had founden ony water rennyng or welle alle ran theder in suche wyse that it faylled anon The men a foote were not in so grete disease as they that had horses ffor they ledde them somtyme thre or foure myle ferre for to watre them· yet vnnethe found they ynowgh there were many that lefte theyr horses and habandouned to goo where they wold and other beestys for defaulte of water ye shold haue seen mules· Asses Oxen. Kyen and horses goon withoute garde or kepar in the feldes Atte laâte whan the beestys had long languysshed they deyde wherof cam grete sâenche in thoost· wherof the ayer was corrupte ouer peryllously The peple was not in lasse anguysshe there for thurste than they had ben to fore at Anthyoche for hongre Oure men were acustomed for to seche pasture for theyr horse moche ferre fro the toun in vyllages ther about The turkes of the toun marked it and yssued where as the siege lay not and cam ayenst them and slewe many· and toke away theyr horse And brought them in to the Cyte· Many escaped that fledde vnto thooste· Euery daye lassed the nombre of the pylgryms· by many suche aduentures and by grâââ Infyrmyte and sekenesses that were in thooste and by many other causes· wherof many deyed And in the place of them cam none other But they in the toun encreced and grewe euery day ffor to them cam newe ayde grete refresshementeâ of men and vytaylle that myght entre and yssue by the yates beyng oute of the siege How the turkes enforced them to make merueylleous engyns ayenst the owres· And of the
Guylliam Ebryac â he made them to hastâ moche the werke and to amende it Thus was alle thoost occupyed in this werke four monethes aâ hool They had so moche exployted that eueryche of the barons had doo made right that whiche he had begonne and entreprysed· Therfor they counseylled emonge them ordeyned at a day sett· to goo to thassault But for as moch as th erle of tholouse and tancre had be grete Rancour and wrath and somme of the other Barons and knyghtes that loued not wel to gydre for dyuerse reasons The barons by the admonestacion of the bisshops wolde that of alle debate shold be good peas and that eche shold pardone other all euyll wyll and talente by cause that our lord shold helpe them the better in doynge and accomplysshyng his werke· And yf it happed them to dye the surer myght they attende the deth Of the fayr processions that oure pylgryms made to th ende that god shold gyue them vyctorye and how they pardonned eche other theyr mal talentes and euyll wylles cao. ·Clxxviij tHe daye was ordeyned and taken by comyn acorde of alle that procession shold be made the relyâuyes shold be borne suche as were had in thoost· They shold alle goo vnto the mount of Olyuet· And they shold mayntene them this day in fastyâg In repentaunce of theyr synnes and in orysons and prayer vnto our lord to th ende that he wold haue pyte of his peple and receyue in greâ theyr seruyse in suche wyse that by them his herytages myght be recouerd fro the haÌdes of his enemyes which helde it in their possession Peter theremyte on that one part and arnold the chappellayn of the Duc of Normandye whiche was a grete clerk and wyse of that other parte made the sermon to the peple They exhorted them by swete wordes to enterpryse vygorously the werke of oure lord wherin it were better to deye than to lyue· The mount of Olyuete is ayenst Iherusalem in the eestâ partye about a myle fer fro the toun ffor the vaal of Iosaphat is bytwene bothe thâre assembled our lord his discyples and sâyed and ascended vp to fore them alle in to heuen the day of thassension and wente vp in a clowde which toke hym whan alle the peple had ben there in grete wepynges and prayers and alle the debates ââpeased that were emong them they descended fro the hylle in to the chirche of mount syon whiche is by the Cyte as I haue sayd in the side toward the southe on the toppe of a tertre The sarasyns of the toun that were in the toures and vpon the walles of the toun merueylled moche what this myght be that oure men made there and where they myght see the presse nygh to them within shotte· They cessed not to shote arowes and quarellys in suche wyse that they hurted somme· Thenne adressyd they crosses vpon the walles and in despyte of our sauyour and in reproche of oure fayth spytte on them· and made other shames and fowle thynges whiche be not for to be sayd The peole of our lord· which were in holy wylle for to serue hym sawe wel thise thynges that the turkes made theyr desyre grewe and encreaced moche in theyr âertes for tauenge the shame of our lord Ihesu Criste whan they had made theyr orysons and prayers in the chirche of mount Syon The daye was to them ordeyned and named for to make thassault by comyn acorde Thenne they retourned to theyr lodgys yf ther was ony thyng to be made on theyr engyns anon it was accomplysshyd ffor euery man toke good hede aboute hym that no thyng faylled that shold be necessarye to make thassault ayenst theyr enemyes How oure men sodenly transported in the nyght theyr engyns vnto that other part of the toun for tassaylle on that side Capitulo Clxxixo. wHan the day approched that they had named for tassaylle the Cyte the nyght to fore the valyaunt duc godeffroy theâerle of fflaundres and the duc of normandye sawe that this partye of the Cyte that they had assieged was moche wel garnysshed of alle maner of engyns and the moost defensable men of the Cyte they had sette there Therfore they doubted more this part· than ony other The noble men had herupon counseyll They knewe wel that they myght not endommage the toun there And enterprysed a thynge of a right grete affayre and of moche grete trauaylle ffro alle thengynes that they had by them And the castel to fore the sydes were Ioyned to gydre· they barâ them alle· On that other syde whiche is bytwene the gate of seynâ stephen the tour of thaÌglâ that is toward the northeest ffor them sâmed it was trouth that by cause that the cyte had not be asâieged on that syde that ther shold be the lasse defence wherof it hâpped that they woke al the nyght as wel the barons as theyr pâplâ in suche wysâ that theyr engyns were alle ioyned and reysed vp by fore day or or the sonne aroos in the places where they ought to be The castel was so approuched the walle and was moche hyer in so moche that they that were therin were almoost as hye as one of the toures and knowe ye for certayn that this was noo lytil trauaylle ffor fro this place where they were fyrsâ lodged vnto the place where they sette theyr engyns was nygh half a myle And the thynges were so wel and so hooly ordeyned that to fore the sonne rysyng all thyng was redy at them on the mornyng the turkes byhelde on the walles and towres And merueylled what this myght be that our men had so trauaylled all the nyght they sawe that the lodgys of the Duc and of the other barons aboute hym were remeuyd They sought them about that other side of the toun And founde them there· where as they had sette no garde· whan they sawe thengyns and the castel dressyd they merueylled ouer moche how they myght doo this werke in so lytil tyme. ffor this cause they doubted moche the more them that had thus enterprysed and accomplysshed so sodenly in the nyght about that syde of the toun the barons that were lodged as ye haue herd to foâe were not ydle· but reysed theyr engyns eueryche in his parte And th erle of tholouse had made tapproche the walles a castel that he had made with moche grete trauaylle bytwene the chirche of mount Syon and the Cyte the other that were nyghâ the corner whiche is called the tour of tancre redressyd a castel of tree moche hye Thyse thre castellys that were about the toun were nyâe alle of one facion ffor they were alle square the sydes that were toward the toun were double in suche wyse that one of the panâs that was without myght be aualed vpon the walles and thenne it shold be lyke a brydge· But for alle that the side was not vnclosed ne discouerd But it was hool for to deffende
them that were in the castel How the day folowyng our peple made a merueyllous assault And how the turkes defended them subtylly and wel Capitulo Clxxxo. He daye begonne strongly to wexâ clâre Thenne as it waâ enterprysed and deuysed our men were alle· armed foâââpproche the walles· They alle were and had one purpoos That iâ to wâte or they wolde take the toun vpon thenemyâs of our lord And delyuer the ordures of the mescââauntes fro the holy places or ellys in the seruyse they wold rendre theyr sowles to hym that made them Ther were none that had wylle to drawe abacâ fro this werke the old men forgate theyr age the seke men theyr maladyes the wyues and childeren enterprysed in theyr âerteâ to doo grete thynges· Alle generally payned them to drawe forth the castelles to ioyne them to the walles in suche wyse that they myght approche them that defended it they of the toun âessyd not to drawe and shote Incessantly grete plente of arowes and quarellys And with theyr engyns caste grete stones the moyen peple with theyr handes threwe fro the walles and towres their entente was therwith to make oure men to withdrawen fro the walles The good cristen men that doubted nothyng to deye couerd them with targes sheldes thise other habyllemeÌs they sette to fore them for to kepe them fro the stones shotte they that were within the castellis of tree lefte not to shote caste stones vpoÌ the turkes Incessantly· And other had grete leuers and plente of ropes and Cordes with whiche they laboured and payned them to drawe forth the castellys they that were put for to throwe the stones and to occupye thengyns were not ydle· but had theyr thynges wel adressyd and threwe to them that defended the toun grete stones moche asprely and trauaylled moche for to do thynge that myght greue their enemyes But they that wold haue put forth the castellys myght not doo that they wold ffor ther was a dycâ moche depe to fore the barbycane ffor whiche they myght not make theyr engyns ioyne to the walles the strokes of the stones of that were throwen on the walles dyde not moche harme to the walles of the cyte· ffor the turkes had sackes ful of heye· of coton· And grete peces of tymbre bounden with cables of shippes whiche henge a longe by the walles and towres in suche wyse that whan the stones of thengyns smote thyse softe thynges the strokes were lost and made no hurte to the walles On that other syde the turkes within the toun had moo engyns adressyd than we had without more quantite of other artyllerye of Arbalestres wtthoute comparyson that we hadde by whiche they slewe many of our pilgrims· it myght not be but that our peple were fore aferd· Thus was thassault moche grete peryllous fro the mornyng vnto euensong tyme and duryng thassault it cessed neuer of Arowes and stones fleynge more thycke than was in a M· yere to fore There were so many that ofte the stones mette hytte eche other in thayer in suche wyse that they brak and flewe in pyeces Thassault was in thre places· And the barons payned them sore to greue the turkes men myght not wel knowe whiche partye had the better Oure pylgryms were put to grete payne to bere erthe for to fyll the dyche· to th ende that the castellys myght ioyne to the walles They within threwe fyre moche thycke in to the castellys men myght see many arowes brennyng brondes wâtes ful of sulphre of oylle and other thynges nourysshyng to fyre The stones to brak that the pyeces flewe thurgh out the sydes And it myght not be but that many were hurte that were aboue for tassaylle hit semed many tymes that alle shold falle to the ground but our men quenchyd the fyre with water and vyneger and had redy pynnes for to stoppe the holes and also for to holde to gydre theyr castellys moche Iustely in suche wyse that theyr contenaunces were in alle thynges good and hardy The nyght departed the sayd assault Our peple withdrewe them and how they watched wel theyr engyns and the turkes the toun Capitulo Clxxxjo. tHis grete assault perylloê° that so long endured the derk nyght departed· Our men retorned to theyr lodgys for to ete and reste they lefte grete watche aboute theyr engyns by cause the turkes shold not brenne them and they of the toun made grete watche to kepe theyr walles· ffor they doubâed moche that oure peple whom they had seen so vygorously assaylle and defende them myght by nyght come vp on the walles by laddâes and entre in to the toun· Therfor they peyned them to make good watche alle this nyght and to goo round about the walles and ferche the towres The stretes also made watche within the toun with grete nombre of people by cause of fere of trayson They sette beâoâ grete entente ffor it was for the sauacion of theyr lyues theyr wyues theyr childeren alle theyr goodes hoolly Our peple that were in the tentes and in the lodgys had not theyr hertes in reste but they remembryd of thassault that had be Euery man remembryd hym what hâ had doâ And hym ãâ¦ã âeft many thynges vndon· that he ought to haue do ⪠And moâhe desired they alle to come to the poynt for to doo prowesse· the dayâ taryed longer it cam as they thought ââem semed that they had no greef ne ennoye of the trauaylle that they had suffred that day They had grete hope in theyr hertes that assone as they shold come agayn to gydre for tassaylle· that they by the helpe of our lord they shold haue the better And they were in grete anguyssâe by cause them semed to be in more mesease in theyr lodgys than in thassault How our peple retorned agayn on the morn to thassault And of the sorceryes that they wold haue charmed one of our engyâs Capitulo Clxxxij o He sprynge of the daye appiered· the peple Incontinent were awaked Eche wente to the place where he had ben the daye to fore Thenne shold ye haue seen somme renne to thengynes and other goo vpon the castellys for to shote with bowes and arabalestres· And many abode vnder for to drawe the sayd castellys forth Nowe were they of the toun anon redy for to defende vygorously ayenst the assayllers There deyed ynowgh on bothe sydes as wel of stones as of quarellys but not for that· the other lefte not but gretely they dyde theyr deuoyr ne neuer was fouÌden lasse cowardyse in so peryllous affayre werke One thynge happed that ought not to be forgoten that is that our men had an Instrument called Caable so strong and so wel made· that it threwe thre grete stones attones And dyde moche hurte in the toun where it atteyned the turkes sawe wel that they coude not breke it ffor it threwe fro so ferre that their engins myght not come ther to therfor
they dyde do come vpon the walles .ij. old wytches or enchaunteresses whiche shold charme this engyne and they had with them iij maydens for to helpe to make theyr charme Alle they of oure hooste behelde them moche ententyfly ââor they made their enchantemeÌt vpon the walles they abode so longe there that thengyne threwe the stones atteyned the two old wytches and the thre maydens in such wise that they were smeten alle to pyeces and fyl doun deed fro the walles· of whom the sowles wente forth âo helle Thenne oure peple made an hu and a crye so grete And so grete ioye therof that eueryman of them was refresshyd of this good strook They of the toun were ouer sorowfull and moche abasshed in suche wyse that them seâed that they had loste alle theyr good âwr and fortune for the losse of thyse two old wytches that thus were slayn Of the despayr of our peple at the sayd assault· And how they were recomforted by a knyght vnknowen and euydent myracles· Capitulo Clxxxiijo. iN this poynt endured thassault vnto after myddaye that men knewe not whiche of them had the better Our men began to wexe wery And thassault tourned them to annoye and grief ffor they had longe don alle theyr power And the werke was not moche amended but were falle in a desperaunce in suche wyse that they had talente to leue the castell of tree whiche was nygh al to broken of the stones and shotte and wolde drawe abak the other engyns that smoked of the fyere that the turkâs had caste therin herfore wold they prolonge thassault til on the morn And herof to doo thus they had good wylle· Theyr enemyes apperceyued this that they lefte thassault thus were reysed in to grete pryde· They mocqued oure peple sayd to them many fowle and shamefull wordes and more asprely defended them self and hurted thengyns In moche feble poynt was the conduyt af oure pylgryms And yf ne had be the debonayrââ of oure lord whiche by myracle comforted them like as ye shal here· ffro the mount of olyuet appiered a knyght whiche was not knowen ne neuer myght be founden· This knyght began to shake and mene his shelde whiche was moche cleer and shynyng And made signe to our peple that they shold now retorne and come agayne to thassault The Duc godeffroy was in his estage of the castel· And eustace his broder with hym for to deuyse and ordeyne there that ought âe don to kepe that holde whiche moch was good aâsone as he ââwe this signe that this knyght made· he began to call all thet peple agayn with a moch hye voys cryed affermed that yf they wold retorne the toun shold be taken herof it happed that by the debonayrte of oure lord whiche put in the hertes hardynesse In suche wyse that they cam agayn with so grete ioye as that euery man had be in certayne of tâhe vyctorye· So grete hardynes was come in to their hertes that they were entierly refresshyd as they that in al that day had suffred no trauaylle and one thyng happed whiche was grete meruaylle ffor they that were hurte peryllously and laye in theyr beddes sprange vp anon and reprysed theyr harnoys and armes in suche wyse that more dylygently and of greter herte than the other began to assaylle The Barons of thoost that were Capytayns of the people for to gyue ensaÌple to other men put them self alway to fore whâre the grettest dauÌgiârs were were fouÌdeÌ the moost hye meÌ of thoost by whiche the mene peple were the more hardy The wymmen that myght bere no armes ran with theyr pottes ful of water thurgh thoost and gaf to all them that were wery of assayllyng to drynke And moche admonested them by fayr wordes for to doo wel And to serue our lord vygorously· Oure pylgryms had so grete ioye in theyr hertes that they laboured and toke the werke so hertely that within the space of half an hour they fylled the dyche· And a barbycan whiche was moche stronge in suche wyse that they brought the castel vnto the walle The turkes of the toun had haÌged as I haue sayd with cordes loÌg pyeces of tymbre a long the wall for to receyue the strokes of the stones Emong all other there were two grete pyeces of tymbre moche longe of whiche our men that were in the castel cutte the cordes in suche wyse that they fylle to the ground They that were vnder toke them with grete perylle and drewe them ner the castel for to helpe to staye and sette vnder the brydge of the castel whan it shold be aualed ffor the side of the castel that shold be lete falle vpon the walle was of feble tymbre in suche wyse that yf thyse two pyeces of tymbre had not be the men of Armes mocht not haue passed on it How th erle of tholouse assaylled vygorously toward the south of thardauÌt desire that eche man had to doo wel· ca o Clxxxiiij wHyles as they conteyned them thus vygorously in the partye toward the northeest the erle of thoââuse and the other that were with hym on the side toward the south assaylled there with grete streÌgthe they had fylled a dyche in whiche they had laboured I wote not how many dayes in suche wyse that by force that they had drawen theyr castel· so ferre forth that it was nyghe the walle In suche wyse that they that were aboue in the last stage myght smyte the turkes with their glayues that defended the tour· A man coude not thynke thardaunt desyre ne· so grete anguysshe as eueryche of the cristen men had in his herte for to do wel in this assault one thinge there was that gaf to them moche grete courage And merueyllously grete hardynesse ffor a man that was an heremyte on the mount of olyuete had promysed to them moche certaynly that that same daye· shold be taken the holy cyte of Iherusalem Ne they had not forgoten the demonstraunce that the knyght made to them whan he shoke his shelde ne neu after was seen· they had moch hope of the vyctorye by thise signefyaunces that were shewed to them· It semed that th assaultes were· bothe in one poynt in eyther syde that I haue named They dyde bothe right wel And certaynly it appâered wel that oure lord wold helpe his souldyours· and brynge theyr âylgremage to an ende whiche so longe had suffred so many maners oâ mesease for to doo to hym seruyse Of the pryse and takynge of Iherusalem And how the Duc godeffroy entred fyrst vpon the walles And who folowed ââter Capitulo Clxxxvo. tHe people of the duc godefroy and the other barons whiche were with hym as I haue sayd fought moche asâreây ayenst theyr enemyes on theyr syde delyud to them a moch merueyllous assault· They had don so moche that theyr enemyes wââed wery and weryly and slowly defended them Oure men were drawen forth· and the dyches fylled·
the· barbyâans taken and in suche wyse they cam playn to the walles ffor they within entremeted not moche but laânched and shotte vpon the walles The duc commaunded to his peple that were vpon the castel that they sette fire in the pokes of coton in the sackes of beye that benge on the walles They dyde his commaundement thenne aroos a smoke so blacke and so thycke that they myght nothynge see The wynde was northeeste and blewe vpon the Turkes that were at defence vpon the walles· in suche wyse that they myght not opene theyr eyen ne theyr mowthes· But by force they muste avoyde the place that was delyuerd to them to deffende The valyaunt Duc Godeffroye whiche soynously entended to the werke apperceyued first that they were departed theÌne be commaunded that they shold drawe diligently the· ii pâeces of tymbre that were falleÌ fro the wall as ye haue herd to fore this was don anon in suche wyse that the two endes of the two trees were leyd vâon the castel And the two other endes vpon the walle Thenne commaunded that the syde of the castel that myght be late doun shold be late doun vpon the two pyâces of tymbre And thus was the brydge made good and strong vpon the tymbre of theyr enemyes The fyrst that entred and passed by the brydge vpon the walles was the Duc Godeffroy of boloyne and Eustace his brother with hym After thyse tweyne cam two other knyghtes that were also bretheren whiche also were fyers noble hardy That one was named lutol and that other gâlbert· They were borne in tornay Anon ther siewed them grete nombre of knyghtes· and of peple a foote whiche ranne moche thycke· as moche as they myght susteyne Anon the turkes apperceyued that our men were entred in to the toun and sawe the baner of the duc vpon the wallys And were disconfyted and gaf ouer the toures and descended in to the toun· and put them in to the strayt and narowe stretes for to defende them Oure peple sawe that the duc and grete partye of the knyghtes were now entred and that they had taken I wote not how many towres they abode no commaundement but adressyd laddres to the walles and wente vp· It was commaunded a good whyle to fore that euery ij knyghtes shold haue a laddre Therfor ther were grete nombre in thoost whiche anon were adressyd vp· The duc ranne moche dylygently vpon the walles and sette the peple as they cam in the towres he moche hasted for to take the fortresse Anon after that the duc was entred· entred in the duc of Normandye· Th erle of fflaundres Tancre the valyaunt Th erle of seynt poul Bawdyn deltors Gace de barce Gaste de bedyers· Thomas de fere Gyralt de Roussylon Lowys de Monco Conam lybres Th erle Remboult of Orenge Conain de Montagu· Lambert his sone and many other knyghtes· whiche I can not name whan the valyaunt Duc knewe certaynly that they were in the toun he called them· and commaunded that they shold goo hastely to the yate named the yate of seynt Stephen And that they shold opene it whan it was open Alle the people cam in with mââhe grete prees· In suche wyse that there abode but fewe withâââ But alle were comen within the toun This was vpon a fâydaye aboute None It is a thynge for to be byleuyd that oure lord dyde this by grete sygnefyaunce ffor on this daye and about that hour suffred he deth on the crosse right cruel in the same place for the Redempcion of man Therfore wold the sweâe lord that the peple of his trewe pylgryms shold gete this tonâ and delyuer it oute of the seruage and thraldom of the hethen men and make it free vnto Cristen men that his seruyse myght be had therin and encreâed Of the mayntenyng of our peple entred in to the toun toward the northeest And th erle of tholouse herof alle ygnorant assaylled alle way ca o Clxxxvjo. He valyaunt duc godeffroy of buyllon the knyghtes ⪠and the other men· of armes that were with hym desceÌded fro the walles all armed in to the toun They wente to gydre thurgh the stretes with their swerdes in their haÌdes glayues alle them that they mette they slewe smote right doun men wymmen and childeren sparyng none· There myght no prayers ne cryeng of mercy auaylle They slewe so many in the stretes that there were heeps of dede bodyes and myght not goo ne passe but vpon them that so laye deed The foote men wente in the other partyes of the toun by grete rowtes holdyng in theyr handes grete polaxes· swerdes malles and other wepens sleyng alle the turkes that they coude fynde ffor thei were the men of the world whom our men had grettest hate vnto and gladlyest wold put to deth They were thenne comen vnto the mydle of the Cyte Th erle of tholouse ne his men knewe nothyng yet that the toun was taken but assaylled moche fyersly the toun ayenst syon The turkes that defended them ayenst hym apperceyued not that our peple were in the toun But whan the crye and the noyse of them that men slowe began to growe The turkes behelde and sawe fro the walles And knewe wel the baners and Armes of the cristen men And were moche abassââd They lefte alle theyr deffences fledde there where they supposed best to be saued· And by cause that the dongeon of the toun whiche was by and was the grettest strengthe of the cyte Alle they that myght entre entred therin And shetâe faste the doores on them The erle of tholouse made the brydge of his castel auale vpon the walles and entred there in the toun he hym self and the Erle of âye ysoar· remon pelet guyllem de sabram the bisshop of albareâ the other barons moche hastely wende that they on that part of the toun had be the first that had entred thenne they wente doun of the walles And alle the Turkes that they founde in the stretes and in the howses they brought to deth and shewe doun right ffro than forthân myght none escape ffor whan they that fledde to fore Duc Godeffroye and his rowte mette with other rowtes of oure peple whiche smote them doun and slewe them without mercy I may not reherce ne can not to you the faites of euery man by hym self But there was so moche blood shedde that the canellys and rumyssheauls ronne alle of blood and alle the stretes of the toun were couerd with dede men In suche wyse that it was grete pyte for to see· yf it had not be of thenemyes of our lord Ihesu Criste How .x M. turkes were slayn in the temple And of the grete tresour that Tancre founde in the sayd temple cao. Clxxxvijo. iN to thynner part of the temple were fledde moche grete peple of the toun by cause it was the moost seynorously and rial place of the toun And
the sayd place was fast shette and closed with good walles of towres and yates But this auaylled them but lytil· ffor incontinent Tancre which ladde a grete partye of thoost with hym ranne theder· and toke it by strengthe and slewe many therin And it was· sayd that Tancre founde therin grete hauoyr and gold syluer precious stones and cloth of sylk He made alle to be born a way· But after whan alle was sette in râste he rendryd all And made it al to be brought in to the comyn The. other barons that had enserched the toun and slayn alle the turkes that they encountred herd saye that within the cloysture of the temple were fled alle the remenaunt of theyr enemyes They alle cam to gydre theder And founde that it was trewe· Thenne commaunded they to theyr men that they shold entre in to the place and put them alle to deth And so they dyde It was wel couenable thyng that the hethen men and fals mysbyleuyd whiche had fowled and shamefully had maculated with theyr mahometry and fowle lawe of machomet shold abye there theyr fals rytes And that theyr blood shold also be shedd· where as they had spred the ordure of mescreaunce· It was an hydeouse thyng to see the multitude of peple which were slayn in this place· They them self that had slayn hem were sore eÌnoyed so for to beholde them· ffor fro the plaÌte of the foot vnto the heed was none other thyng but blood Ther was fouÌde that within the closyng of the temple were slayn .x M turkes withoute them that leye in the stretes and other places of the cyte· Thenne the mene peple of the pylgryms ran serchyng the lanes and narow stretes whan they fonde ony of the turkes that had hyd them· were it man or woman anon he was put to deth the barons had deuysed to fore that the toun was taken that euery man shold haue the how 's in the toun that he toke and fyrst seased and it shold be his with alle appertenauntes Wherfor it was so that the Barons sette vpon the howses that they had conquerd theyr baners The lasse knyghtes and men of Armes theyr sheldes the men a foote sette vp theyr hattes and theyr swerdes ffor to shewe the tokenes that the howses were theÌne taken and seased· to th ende that none other shold come in to it Of the fayr ordenaunces that the Cristen men made to fore they wente for to vnarme them after the toun was taken Capitulo Clxxxvâijo. wHan the holy Cyte was thus taken and alle the sarasyns that coude be founded were slayn the barons assembled them to gydre to fore they vnarmed them and commaunded to sette men in the towres for to make good watche and keâe the toun· And sette porters for to kepe the yates that noman from without shold come in to the toun without leue vnto the tyme that they had ordeyned and chosen a lord by comyn acorde that shold holde the toun and gouerne it at his wylle It was not merueylle if they doubted yet ffor alle the countre was ful of sarasyns And myght peraduenture assemble and sodenly come and smyte in to the toun yf ther were not good watche and hede taken· thenne departed the barons and disarmed them and toke of theyââarnoys in theyr hostellys and weesshe theyr handes and feeâe moche welâ and chaunged theyr clothes Thenne began they goo bare foot and in wepynges and teeres vnto the holy places of the Cyte where oure sauyour Ihesu Criste had ben bodyly they kyssed the place moche swetly where as his feet had touched the Crysten peple and the clergye of the toun to whom the turkes had many tymes dân grete shames for the name of Ihesu Criste cam with processionââ bare suche relyquyes as they had ayenst the barons and brought them yeldyng thankes to Almyghty God vnto the Sepulcre and there it was a pytous thyng to see how the peple wepte for ioye and pyte And how they fylle doun a crosse to fore the sepulcre It semed to eueryche of them that eche sawe there the bodye of our lord there deed there were so many teeres and wepynges that euery man thought certaynly oure lord was there whan they cam in one of the holy places they coude not departe but yf it were for thardaunt desire that they had for to goo in another· They had so moche ioye and gladnesse of this honour that our lord had gyuen them the grace to see the day that the holy Cyte was delyuerd fro thenemyes of Ihesu Cryste by theyr trauaylles in such wyfe that they rought not ne sette not by the remenaunt of theyr lyues· They offred and gaf largely to the chirches and to men of the chirche and made bowes to yeue yeftes in their countrees· whiche thenne sette lytil by temporal thynges ffor them thought that they were atte yates and entree of paradys ffor neuer in this world myght gretter ioye entre in to the herte of a man than was in them in sechyng and goyng to the holy places where our sauyour Ihesu Criste had ben· One shold haue had a moch harde herte and lytil pytous that had seen this syght and myght haue holde hym fro wepynge whan thyse barons and alle the other peple had made thus glad chiere of this that they had accomplysshyd theyr pylgremage The Bysshoppes and generally alle the peple of the chirche myght not departe fro the chirche of the sepulcre ne fro the other holy places· They prayd our lord moche deuoutly and ententyfly for the peple and rendred grete graces and thankynges vnto Ihesu Criste of this that he had suffred them to see thyse holy places where the fayth of Cristendom was fyrst gyuen In this daye happed certayn thynge that was seen of many men in the Cyte of Iherusalem· that was· the valyaunt man Aymart the bisshop of puy whiche was dede in Anthyoche lyke as ye haue herd to fore many noble men whom men ought to byleue affermed certaynly that they sawe hym first mouÌte and goo vpoÌ the walles of the toun that he called other to come aftir hym Of many other pilgryms also that were to fore by the waye deed It was certayne that they appiered to many men the daye whan they vysyted the chirches of the Cyte By thyse thynges may wel be knowen that our lord loueth this holy cyte aboue alle other And that this is the hyest pylgremage that may be whan deed men ben reysed by the wylle of oure lord for taccomplysshe theyr pylgremage whan oure lord Ihesu Criste aroos fro deth to lyf· the gospel sayth that the same day aroos many bodyes of them that had ben deed and appiered to many in the cyte This myraclâ was renewed this day by Ihesâ Criste· by this cyte whiche had ben longe holden in the seygnorye of the paynems whan it was vnder them that serued the lawe of machommet So grete noyse was thurgh the toun of the
ioye that was made· that they remembred not the grete trauaylle that they had suffred by alle theyr waye Thenne was accomplysshed alle euydently this that the prophete sayd Enioye ye with Iherusalem and make ye ioye within them that ye loue How the Cristen men that had charged their message for their delyueraunce to peter theremyte knewe hym cao. Clxxxixo. aS many pour cristen men as had dwellid in the toun which had seen Peter theremyte four or fyue yere to fore whan they delyuerd to hym lettres for to bere to our holy fader the pope and to the barons of ffraunce to th ende that they myght setâte remedye for theyr affayres they knewe hym emonge the other theÌne they cam to hym and fyl donn to his feet and wepte for ioye And moche gretely thanked hym of this that he had so wel performed his message ne they cessed not to yeue preysyng and lawde to our lord that had gyuen suche counseyl to the barons and to the peple by which they had performed such an hye werke which was aboue the hope of alle men· sauf by thayde of oure lord Alle the gree and thanke they gaf to Peter theremyte whiche so vygorously had enterprysed for to delyuere them by thelpe of our lord fro the caytyfnes and seruage dolorous in whiche they had ben so long holden by the cruelte of the sarasyns lyke as ye haue herd to fore The Patriarke of Iherusalem was goon in to Cypres for to demaunde Almesse and ayde of the cristen men there for to helpe and socoure the cristen men of Iherusalem to paye the cruel taillages that the turkes had sette vpon them ffor he doubted yf they faylled of their payment that they wold bete and throwe doun theyr chirches or put to deth the beste men of theyr peple lyke as they had don many tymes to fore· This good man the Patriarke knewe nothyng of this good auenture that oure lord had don of the delyueraunce of the toun But supposed to haue come and to haue founden it in suche seruage as it was whan he departed How they clensed the toun of the dede bodyes Of many other ordenaunces And how the turkes rendred the dongeon vnto the erle of tholouse· Capitulo Clxxxxo. wHan the barons and the other pylgryms had made theyr prayers and vysyted the holy chirches thurgh the Cyte of Iherusalem The hye men of the hoost assembled and sayd that it was a peryllous thynge yf the toun were not voyded of the dede bodyes and purged of the blood and ordure· ffor in short tyme the ayer shold be corrupt by which sekenesse and Infyrmytees myght ensiewe and folowe There were somme turkrs yet that were not slayn but were kepte in yrons· to them was commaunded this werke for to bere the bodyes out of the toun but by cause they were but fewe of them and myght not suffyse to doo it shortly· they toke the poure men of thoost and gaf to them good hyre for to helpe taccomplysshe this werke whan the barons had this deuysed thyse thynges they wente in to theyr howses and made moche grete ioye they gaf largeli to ete drynke ffor the toun was repleneshed of alle goodes in suche wise that they that were to fore poure fonde in the howses alle thyng that was nedefuf to them· wherof they had endured to fore grete anguysshe â and penurye· ffor they fonde the cysternes alle ful in alle the howses On the thyrd day was ordeyned that market shold be holden in the toun And that they shold bye and selle suche thynges as they had conquerd in the Cyte· They were moche refresshyd and rested ffor they abode now no trauayll· They forgate not our lord whiche had brought them in so grete honour· as for tacoomplysshe his werke by them And by comyn acord of the prelates· of the barons and of alle the people was ordeyned that this daye· in whiche Iherusalem was gotân and conquerd shold euermore after be holden feste and holy day in remembraunce of the cristen men to thanke and preyse our lord and also praye to our lord for the sowles of them that thyse thynges had accomplysshed A grete partye of the turkes that were in the dongeon of the toun named the tour dauid sawe wel that alle the cyte was takeâ And that they had none hope of rescows ne socour ayenst our men Therfor they requyred by messagers th erle of tholouse whiche was next to them And dyde do be sayd to hym· yf they myght departe with their wyues children and suche goodes as they had in the tour they wold go theyr waye and delyuere ouer the tour he agreed and acorded it to them And so they departed And he dyde them to be conduyted sauâly vnto Escalonne Thus was the tour yolden They that had the charge for to purge and voyde the dede bodyes oute of the toun dyde it ententyfly and dylygently in suche wyse that in shorte tyme this thynge was alle don· ffor they beryed them in depe pyttes withoute the toun the moost parte The remenaunt they brente in to asshes that the cendres with the wynde was blowen away· Thenne were our men in good sewrte and ease within the toun to goo and walke thurgh the stretes and other places and dyde dayly goo in pylgremages· that vnnethe myght they departe thens· They abode so gladly there· In this manere as ye haue herd was taken the holy cyte of Iherusalem In the yere of thyncarnacion of oure sauyour Ihesu criste M. lxxxxix the ·xv daye of the moneth of Iuyll on a fryday at the hour of none The iiâ yere after that the pylgryms had enterprysed this ⪠viage Tho was pope of Rome Vrban· And Henry Emperour of the Romayns· Alexis emperour of Constantynople· And phylyp kyng of ffraunce How the hye barons of thoost assembled for to chese a kynge of Iherusalem· And thoppynyon of the clergye vpon the same Capitulo· Clxxxxâo. lYke as ye haue herd the pylgryms whiche had grete nede of reste soiourned in the toun The barons deuysed the affaires of the cyte· In moche grete ioye were they there viâ dayes On the viij daye assembled alle the barons for to chese one of them· to whome the garde· gouernaunce and kepyng of the toun shold be delyuerd and the seygnorye of the holy cyte· and the charge of the Royamme entierly as it was reason and right· They made theyr prayers and orysons And with alle theyr herte called the holy ghooste that he wold counseylle them that daye and to yeue to them grace to chese suche a man as were worthy and couenable to susteyne the faytes of the Royamme ·whyles as they were in this affayre and moche entended with good fayth ther about An hepe of clerkes assembled whiche had not good entencion· but thought on malyce by pryde and couetyse They cam where as the barons were assembled And senâe to them for to speke to them a short word or
two They suffred them to come in· whan they were comen in One of them spak in this manere Fayr lordes we haue vnderstanden that ye be assembled here for to chese a kyng that shal gouerne this âonde whiche thyng pleââth vs moche And we holden it for right wel don yf ye doo it in the manere that ye ought to doo it ffor without doubte the spyrituel thynges be more digne and worthy than the temporall Therfore we saye to you that the moost hye thynges ought to goo to fore And thus wolde we that ye shold doo And thordenaunce shold not go forth other wyse than it ought to be Now theÌne we praye you and requyre you in the name of oure lord that ye entremete not you to make a kynge til that we haue chosen a patriarke in this toun that can gouerne the cristiente· yf it plese you that this be don fyrst it shal be good and wee l for you And we shal thenne holde hym âor kyng that ye shal gyue to vs· but if ye wylle do otherwyse we shal not holde it· for good ne wel don But we shal discorde And after that ye doo shal not be fârme This wordâ semed outward to haue somme apparence of wee l But it cam of euyl purpoos· Ther was therin but deceyt and trecherye Of this complot and barate was mayster capytayne a bisshop of Calabre horn of a cyte whiche was named lamane This bisshop acorded moche to one Arnold of whome I haue spoken to fore whiche was ful of desloyalte he was not yet subdeken· and was a preestes sone and of so euyl and fowl lyf that the boyes and garsons had made songes of hym thurgh thoost and yet not with stondynge alle this the bisshop of Calabre ayenst god and reson wolde haue made hym patriark ffor they knewe ouermoche euyl therfor were they both acorded to gydrâ They had made a bargain bytwene them that as sone as this Arnold shold be patriarke the sayd bisshop shold haue tharchebissoprych of bethlehem But oure lord ordeyned this thynge in another maner as ye shal here Ther were in thoost many clerkes of euyll contenaunce· that lytle entended to the seruyse of our lord· they litil preysed relygyonand honneste ffor syth the tyme that the valyauÌt bysshop of puy was dede which was legat of ãâ¦ã the bisshop william of Orenge was in his place whiche was a relygyous man· and moch doubted our lord but he abode not longe after but was deed in suche wyse lyke as ye haue· herd Thenne was the clergye without pastour and garde And lete them falle in euyl lyf The Bisshop of Albare conteyned hym holyly in this pylgremage· And somme other that were noble· But the comyn of the clerkes made it alle ylle How the duc Godeffroy was chosen kyng of Iherusalem and how he was presented to our lord in his chirche of the holy sepulcre capitulo Clxxxxijo. He wordes that the Clerkes had brought to the barons in theyr electyon was not moche preysed but ââetted it to grete folye ne therfore letted not to doo that they had bygonnen· To th ende thenne that they myght knowe the better the couynes of alle the barons· they ordeyned wyse men that shold enserche the lyf of eueryche of them and the maners They dyde do come to fore them suche men as were moost pryue of the barons and toke eche of them a parte by the leue of theyr lordes· And toke of them theyr othes to saye the trouthe of that they shold be examyned that was of the lyf and manere of theyr lordes withoute ââsyuge and fayllynge of the trouthe· Thus it was acorded emonge them It was a grete thynge whan the lordes abandouned tâem self âenserche theyr lyues ⪠But the wyse men that made this enquest were trewe men and helde alle thyng secrete that as ought not to be knowen Many thynges were sayd to them of whiche they toke but lytil hede· Emonge alle other thynges they that were moost pryuee of the duc Godeffroye whan thây were demaunded of his maners and his tetches· they answerd that he had one manere right greuous and ennoyous ffor whan he herd masse and the seruyse of oure lorde he coude not departe out of the chirche but sente after payntours glasyers vnto the clerkes gouernours of the chirches he herd gladly the ryngyng of the belles and entendeth mocheyf they discorded so longe that it displesyd moche to his felawship and seruauntes· And oftymes his mete appayred by cause of his long taryeng in the monasteryes and holy places whan the wysemen herd this and that this was the grettest vyce that coude be founden in the duc they had moche grete ioye ffor they thought wel that he dyde this for the loue of oure fayth and for thonour of our sauyour whan they had herd alle that they wold enquyre of the Barons they spak to gydre And grete partye of them were acorded vpon th erle of tholouse if it had not be for one thynge ffor alle they of his countre· that were moost pryue with hym· thought that yf he were chosen kyng that he shold abyde there and reteyne the peple of his countrey· And yf he were not chosen he shold sone retorne in to his countrey fro whens he cam and that desyred they moche· Thefore mân wâne that they were forsworn wyllyngly And sayde vpon hym somme euyl ãâã of whiche he had no blame Neuertheles he had neuer Intencion to retourne to his londe as it appered after ffor euer after he abode in the seruyse of our lord whiche he had enterprysed whan the barons herde all the tetches after many wordes they acorded al ⪠vpon Godeffroy of boloyne And named hym to be kyng and was lad with alle the peple with grete ioye vnto the chirche of the holy sepulcre And presented to oure lorde Euery man was glad grete and smal ffor he was the man that had the hertes of alle the comyn peple How the duc godeffroy after his election requyred th erle of tholouse that he shold delyuer to hym the tour dauid cao. Clxxxxiij iN this maner was the duc godeffroy chosen to be kyng· and lord of the holy Cyte of Iherusalem Th erle of tholouse helde the gâettest fortresse of the toun whiche was called the tour dauyd The turkes had delyuerd it to hym lyke as ye haue herd to fore It is sette in the hyest parte of the Cyte toward the weste strongly walled with square stones and ther on meÌ may see ouer al the Cyte entierly whan the Duc sawe that this tour was not in his power It semed to hym that he had not the seygnorye whan the grettest fortresse of alle the countre was not in his possession Therfor he demaunded th erle of tholouse in the presence of the barons· prayd hym debonayrly that he wold delyuer it to hym Th erle answerd that he had conquerd it· and thenemyes of
oure lord had yolden it to hym And therfor he helde it But he had concluded to goo in to his countre at ester And thenne he wold delyuer it with a good wylle· But in the mene whyle he wold kepe it This requyred he for to be more honoured and in the gretter surete· The duc answerd playnly that yf he had not the toure he wold leue all· ffor how myght he be lord of the countre whan another had gretter power and gretter strengthe in his londe than heâ Thus were they in debate· The Duc of Normandye and th erle of fflaundres helde with the duc godeffroy Of the other barons ther were that counseylled· that he shold doo his wil with th erle of tholouse They of therles countre attysed and counseylled hym that he shold not leue the tour by cause they wolde gyue hym occasion by this discorde to retorne in to his countre Atâe laste they acorded that the fortresse shold be put in the hande of the bisshop of Albare vnto the tyme that they were acorded what shold be doo therin whan he had it within a short tyme after he delyuerd it to the duc It was demaunded hym why he had so delyuerd it Thenne he answerd that it was taken from hym by force It was not knowen for trouthe whether it was taken from hym by constraynt or yf he delyuerd it with his grâe and wyll whan th erle of tholouse sawe this he was moche angry And hym semed that the barons were not wel content with hym lyke as they ought to be consyderyng that by the way he had don to them many grete bouÌtres and good seruyses whiche they remembryd not as it was sayd ffor desdayne herof· And by atysement that his knyghtes made to hym· he enterprysed to retourne in to his countre And descended vnto the fflome Iordan And there bayned hym After he ordeyned his affayre for to departe out of the londe Of a Patriark chosen and elect in Iherusalem And how ther was founden a part of the very crosse Capitulo Clxxxxiiij tHis euyl man of whom I haue spoken to fore the bisshop of maturane was ful of grete malyce and of desloyalte And payned hym moche in alle maners to sette discorde bytwene the Barons and the people ffor they sayde that the Barons wold not suffre that a patriark shold be chosen by cause they helde the rentes of the chirche And wold not delyuer them âe fondâ moche peple that byleuyd hym and acorded to hym in suche wyse that by thayde of them ayenst the wylle of other also by thayde of the duc of normandye to whom he was moche pryue had âe at his table in all this werk he chose for patriark this arnold that was his felaw in alle euyl condicions by force they sette hym in the seete of the patriarke in the chirche of the sepulcre This was ayenst reason ayenst alle right Therfore it happed ne fyll not wel to hym ne to that other Thenne it happed that a parte of the very Crosse was founden in therthe by the Chirche of the sepulcre in a secrete place ffor the cristen men that were in the ãâã to fore it was taken in so grete meschyef as ye haue âârd ⪠doubted that the turkes wold haue taken it fro them Therfore had they hyd it moche surely· and fewe knewe of it But a good man a suryen whiche that knewe it discouââd it to the bârons And whan they had doluen and dygged a good whyle they fonde it in a châste of syluer lyke as he had to them sayd and deuysed Thenne was the ioye moche grete and they bore it a âââcession in syngyng vnto the temple· all the peple weÌte after which ãâã for pyte As moch as if they had seen our sauyour ãâ¦ã yet hangynge on the crosse They alle helde them for moche recomforted of this grete ttesour that our lord had thus discoueryd How the duc godeffroy payned hym to amende the Royamme of his good constitucions and estatutes cao. Clxxxxvo. gRete ioye was it thurgh the londe of this· that the valyaunt duc godefroy was chosen kyng· Alle they obeyed hym with good herte· he amended dylygently alle the discordes thurgh the londe And alle the other thynges that had nede of amendement in suche wyse that his power grewe fro day to day moche appertely Of hym shal I saye in shorte wordes the very trouthe he regned not but one yere and that was moche grete dommage ffor he had the wylle wytte and power to doo grete good in the Royamme for tenfeble thenemyes of oure lord Ihesu Crist· and for tenhaunce and exalte the Cristen fayth But our lord called hym fro this world to hym to th ende that the malyce of it shold not chaunge his herte in thonour wherin he was he was born in the Royamme of Fraunce at boloyne vpon the see whiche was somtyme a Cyte And nowe it is but lytil more than a castel· he cam of hye and noble folke and good crysten peple his fader was named eustace noble puyssauÌt erle in that couÌtre· whiche had doon many hye werkes bouÌtees vnto our lord noble werkes vnto the world his moder was a noble lady of gentilesse more noble of herte than of hyenes of lygnage She was named yde· was suster to the duc of Loreyne whiche was named godeffroy boâce he deyde withoute heyer· Therfor he lofte alle the duchye and the Countreye to his neuewe whiche bare his name And adopted hym in to sone and heyr Therfore he was duc of Lorâyne whan his vncle was deed he had thre brethren whiche were moche wise men and good knyghtes and also moch fathful and trewe That one was Bawdwyn th erle of Rages whiche after hym was kyng of Iherusalem The second was named Eustace whiche bare the name of his fader· And was Erle of boloyne The kynge Stephen of Englond toke his doughter to wyf whiche was namde Maulde· The barons of Surye sente for this Eustace for to make hym kyng after the deth of his broder bawdwyn· whiche deyde withoute heyer But he wold not goo ffor he doubted the barats discordes of the londe whiche he knewe wel The fourth broder was william a good knyght and a trewe ne he discorded not in the bounte of his bretheren Bawdwyn and Eustace folowed theyr lord and broder in the pylgremage to Iherusalem· the fourth broder guylliam abode in his countre for to kepe the londe Alle the four bretheren were of moche grete valeur But the duc Godeffroye lyke he was the oldest· so bare he awaye the prys and auantage of the other as he that was ful of vertues· of bounââs and was moche noble and rightful withoute couetyse he dredde and louyd oure lord aboue alle thynge he honoured relygyous men and good he was moche ferme and constant of his worde he despysed merueyllously bobaunces pompes and dishonestââs and hated them
he was in almâsse large and plentyuous gladly he herd the seruyse of our lord and moche wel vnderstonde it· And in his prayers and orysons prayeng our lord he was right longe And fylle ofte in wepyng haboundantly teeriâ And vnto alle men he was pytous and amyable By this it semed wel that oure lord louyd hym wherof he was worthy to haue the grace of the world And so he had certaynly he was grete of body not of the grettest But of mene gretnesse more stronge than an other man his armes grete and wel quartred âhe breste moche brode and large· and vysage wel made and coloured his ãâã abouâ ne And in his harnoys and armes wel enducte and acustomed that it semed· that hit greued ne coste hym nothyng to were them Of the sayeng of the countesse of boloyne moder of the sayd duc that she sayde of her thre oldest sones was verified· Capitulo ·Clxxxxvj oNe thyng is sayd for trouthe· And it happed in the tyme of the yongthe of thyse four bretheren whiche ought not to be leste vnremembryd ne forgoten The Moder of thyse four bretheren of whom I haue spoken was an holy woman and entendable to good werkes It was nothynge merueylle though oure lord spak by her mouth a prophecye ffor it happed on a daye that her thre oldest sones whiche were yong and smale pleyde eche with other And as they chaced eche other in theyr playe alle thre fledde vnto theyr moder where she satte and hydde them vnder her mantel Theyr fader Eustace cam there where the lady was· And he sawe her mantel meue where the childeren playde vnder it he demaunded the lady what it was She answerd that she had thre grete prynces The fyrst of them shold be a duc· The second sholde be a kyng And the thyrde an Erle ffor Godeffroye was duc of Loreyne after his vncle· And had also after the Royamme of Iherusalem· But he was neuer crowned ne wold not be callyd kynge The second was bawdwyn whiche had after hym the sayd Royamme and was crowned The thyrde was Eustace which after the deth of his fader was erle of boloygne now late vs retorne for to speke of the valyaunt Duc Godeffroy ffor moche honour may be sayd of hym And also of the valyaunces don by hym Of the wagyng of a bataylle that was âytwene the duc godefroy and an hye baron of Almayne cao. Clxxxxvijo. eMong all other hye feetes that he dyde I shal recouÌte to you one withoute lesynge hit was so certaynly that one of the hyest barons of Allemayne a grete and strong knyght valyaunt and noble siewed the duc godeffroy whiche was his cosyn in plee in the court of themperour of Almayne to whom they were men both two This man demaunded of duc godefroy grete parte of his londe that he helde in the duchye of Loreyne And this baron sayd that it was his right apperteyned to hym So longe wente the plee forth by dayes respytes that they of the court iuged that it shold be determyned by wagynge of the bataylle named to them a day to fyght for it At the daye named they cam in to the felde Armed and apparaylled of that they ought to haue Thenne Bisshops and good men laboured moche And other Barons that were there payned them moche for to seke moyen and manere how the pees myght be made And shewde to them how they were ef one blood and lygnage And that they ought to deporte them tenterpryse thynge of whiche muste nedes falle to one of them shame dishonour· They payned them moche one other but in no manere coude they fynde the peas to be made bytwene them Thenne began the bataylle bytwene thyse two barons moche fiers and sharp ffor they were bothe good and strong knyghtes They smote to gydre right vygorously This bataylle endured so long that the valyaunt duc godeffroy smote that other so grete a strook with his swerde that it flewe in pyeces In suche wyse that there abode nomore in his hande therof but half a foote longe aboue the crosse of the swerde The barons that behelde the felde sawe how the duc had broke his swerde and had the werse were moche sory wroth therof And cam to themperour they prayd hym swetly that he wold suffre that they myght comene of the peas bytwene them he graunted it gladly The frendes spak to gydre and acorded vnto a peas whiche was ynowgh resonable But they lefte somwhat of the dukes right whan they brought this acorde and pees to them The Duc in no wyse wold here herof· But began the bataylle more cruel and fiers than it was to fore That other that had his swerd hool doubted ne· fered not moche the strokes of the duc whiche had but a trouchon but ranne vpon the duc and oppressid hym that he had no leyzer to reste hym· til the duc began to thynke and to take herte Thenne he dressyd hym on his steroppes And smote his aduersarye with the pommelle of his swerde that he helde vpon the lyfââ temple suche a strook thurgh the helme that he fyl doun astonyed· that it semed that he was deed ffor he remeuyd no foote ne hande Thenne the noble duc a lyght doun and descended fro his hors and threwe a way his trouchon of his swerde· And toke the swerde fro hym that he had beten doun· and mounted vpon his hors agayn Thenne called he the barons that had made and brought to hym to fore the peas and sayd to them ye lordes suche maner of peas as ye offred to me right now is now to me agreable· and am redy nowe to take and abide ffor though I haue the dommage and losse· Alte leste I haue no shame ne dishonour And it plesyth me wel to gyue departe of my right· to th ende that I slee not this whiche is my cosyn· whan the barons herd this alle they began to wepe The peas was made suche as he sayde he had more honoure and âoos for the pees to whiche he adressyd hym so swetly than of alle the prowesses that he had in this bataylle In whiche he dyde many Of a fayr feat of Armeâ that the duc dyde in a bataylle that the Emperour of Almayâe had ayenst them of Saxone Capitulo Clxxxxviijo. aN other feat of prowesse I shal recounte to you lyke as it happed without lesynge The peple of Saxone· whiche ben the mooste felle and moost cruell of alle them of Almayne had desdayne and despyte tobeye to themperour And sayde that they wold doo nothynge for themperour henry· But sayde that they wold haue a lord vpon them self whiche shold obeye to none other· And made an hye noble man of the countre whiche was emonge them an Erle named Raoul for to be kynge vpon them· by whom they wold be Iustised and gouerned whan themperour herd this he was moche wroth and
desired moche to be auenged of so grete oultrage Therfor sente he for alle the barons of th empyre and assembled moche grete court and made to be sayd and shewde in the presence of them alle the pryde and rebellyon of them of Saxone· wherof he demaunded debonayrly counseyl and theyr helpe They acorded alle that this thynge was for to be auenged asprely They habandouned bodye and power to themperour for thamendynge of this trespaas They departed and eche wente in to his countre· Themperour somoned his hooste as strongly as he myght at a castel on the marche of Saxone· whan they were entred in to the londe theyr enemyes sayde that they wolde fyghte ayenst them ffor they were prowd and fiers in suche wyse that they sette but lytil by the power of themperour whan they knewe that they must fyght they ordeyned theyr bataylles ffor they had moche peple And had ynowe Thenne demaunded themperour of whom they were acorded that shold bere thaygle which is the fawcon of th empyre They choos to fore alle other for to doo that the valyaunt duc of Loreyne worthy and moost sufficiant to do it They reputed it for a moche grete worship that he was thus chosen by comyn acord of them alle Neuertheles he with sayde it and refused as moche as he myghte But he muste nedes take it on hym This daye cam and that one partye approuched that other in suche wyse that they assembled fiersly ther were many men put to deth ffor they were merueillously wroth eche ayenst other whyles thus as the bataylle was grete and fyers in many places· the duc Godeffroye that conduyted the bataylle of Themperour espyed a grete Rowte of men wherin was this Raoul whiche was lorde of saxone ayenst them in the duc dyde do assemble the peple of themperour The duc knewe this Raoul· and smote the hors with his spores ayenst hym· And with the gonfanon that he bare Iusted ayenst hym in suche wyse that he bare hym thurgh the bodye and slewe hym that he fylle doun deed in the place And Incontinent he redressyd and reysed on heygthe his baner alle blody his peple sawe that they had loste theyr lord and anon were disconfyted Somme fledde· somme fylle doun vnto the feet of themperour and put them in his mercy Alle the gentilmen and other gaf good hostages for tobeye euer after to hym and be at his commauÌment Many other prowesses made the valyaunt duc godeffroye but it behoueth not to put them alle in this historye ffor my purpose now is for to recountre of the holy londe by yonde the see and not of them on this syde· but of them of whom ye may vnderstande that he was in his countre noble and a valyaunt knyght· Of his largesse ayenst oure lord I shal saye to you one thynge by whiche ye maye vnderstande the other In the duchye of Loreyne was a castel whiche was moost renommed and chyef of thonour of buyâlon And bare that name whan he shold meue to goo ãâã his pylgremage by yonde the see he gaf this castel as the mooste noble and hyest of his herytage vnto oure lord in Almesse in to the chirche of lyege for to abyde there for euermore How the valyaunt duc godeffroy augmented the holy chirche And how he wold neuer bere crowne· cao. Clxxxxââ sYth that he had thus by election the RoyaÌmâ like as a deuoute and a relygyous man as he was ãâã louid moch holy chirch the seruise of our lord by coÌseyl of the bisshops of other wise clerkes that were in thoost he ordeyned fyrst in the chirchâ of the sepulcre of our lord and in the temple clerkes for to serue· establysshed chanonnes gaf to them grete rentes large herytages of which they shold take theyr preâendes· he wold that the chirches in thoo partyes there shold be ordeyned after the establementis vses and custommes of the greâe chirches of fraunce He began moche hyly wel had accomplysshed yf our lord had gyuen to hym lenger lyf He had brought with hym oute of his countre relygyous Monkes whiche sayde and songe theyr ãâ¦ã and ãâã al a longe the waye as he cam· he gaf to them ãâã Abbâye in the vale of Iosaphat· and establysshed them therâ And endowed them there moche Rychely with good rentâs and reuennes And gaf to them grete pryueleges he was a very relygyous and deuoute man· And had his herte moche large vnto holy chirche· And gaf therto many grete thynges whan he was chosen to be kynge alle the barons requyred hym that he wold do hym be crowned and receyue thonour of the Royamme aâ hyly as the other kynges in Cristendom doo he answerde that in this holy cyte where our sauyour Ihesu Criste suffred deth and had born a crowne of thornes vpon his heed for hym and for the synners he wold neuer bere yf it playsyd god crowne of gold ne of precious stones but hym semed that it was ynowe of that coronacion that he had the daye of his passion for to honoure alle the kynges Cristen that shold be after hym in Iherusalem ffor this cause he refused the crowne Ther ben soÌme men that wyll not accompte hym emong the kynges of Iherusalem but me thynketh that therfore he ought not to be lassed ne dymynued of his honoure but the more and hyer exalted and enhaunced ffor he dyde not this for despysyng of the sacrament of holy chirche· but he dyde it for tesche we the bobaunce and pryde of the world and for the grete mekenes humylyte that he had in his herte wherfore thenne I saye not only that he was not kynge but he was gretter than ony kynge that holdeth ony Royamme syth that the holy londe of Iherusalem was conquerd How the turkes of Arabe and of Egypte made theyr somauÌce for to come in to Surye tassaylle our cristen men cao. CCo. nEwly whan the cyte was taken yet er that the Barons were departed cam tydynges in to the toun of Iherusalem trew they were that the Calyphe of Egypte which was the mooste puyssaunt and myghtiesâ of all the londe of thoryenâ had somoned alle his power· knyghtes gentilmen and alle otheâ that myght bere armes in suche wyse that he had assembled a grete hooste merueyllously· ffor he had grete desdayne and despyâe of this that so lytil peple whiche were of a straunge londe and ferre âountrây were so hardy and durst come in to this londe and Royamme and had taken the cyâe whiche he had âonquerd vpon his enemyes he made come to fore hym his conâstable whiche was prynce of his hoost· he was named Elafdales To this man he commaunded that he shold take all this peple with hym goo in to Surye And renne vygorously vpon this peple that were so folyssh and oultrageous that had torned his peas and made warre to his peple Therfor he commaunded hym that he shold efface and destroye
of· that is to saye of alle the beestes they had grete ioye and ioyously reseyd them that nyght but they that had the charge made good watche vpon thooste On the morn whan the sonne was rysen· the duc dyde do crye that euery man shold arme hym and goo to his bataylle and after wente forth a soft paas right theder where they thought tâ fynde theyr enemyes they had stedfaste hope in our lord to whom is a lyght thynge· to make that the lasse in nombre vaynquysshe the more gretter they of egypte· the other mescreauÌtes that were with them cam in moche grete desraye vnto the place that they sawe oure peple alle in the playne· whan they sawe and knewe that our men had noo talente to withdrawe them ne eschewe them but cam for to seche them they began moche to doubte whan they sawe that oure men had taken and pourprised so grete a place on the playns· wel supposed they that they had ben mochemore people and in greter nombre But the trouthe was suche as I hâue sayd Our men were but fewe on horsbak and a foote the gââte company of beestes as I haue sayd were with them whan tâey drewe forth on the beestes wente with them the turkes weÌde that they had ben alle men Armed and had ouer grete fere and drede the grettest men and they that men supposed shold best haue born the fayte of the bataylle· they began to withdrawe them lytil and lytil and lefte theyr bataylles the one after the other fledde all pryuely· whan the lasse knyghtes of the turkmans apperceyued this they neuer toke hope on them but torned their horses smote with their spores· fledde euery man where he supposed best to saue hym On this daye was he lost that had sette al his herte for to sowe pourchasse discordes ouer al where be was byleuyd Noman wote wher he becam this was the bisshop of maturane Somme men sayde that the duc had sente hym for to fetche the barons that were left in the cyte and whan he retorned Sarasins shold haue take hym slayn hym or brought hym in pryson what sommeuer cam of hym it was no grete harme so that he were effaced out of this holy company whan oure Barons sawe that our lord had foghten for them· And that he had put in the hertes of the turkes so grete fere drede that they were fled without smytynge of stroke· they had grete ioye and rendred graces and thankynges to oure lord deuoutly they had counseyl that they shold not fâlowe them withoute a raye thurgh the feldes ffor they were ouer grete nombre of peple vnto the regarde of them· And yf they happed to relye and gadre to gydre agayn they myght perauenture put oure men to the werse· Oure men rode alle in ordenauÌce vnto the tentes of the hethen men· ffor they that fledde loked neuer behynde them There founde oure men so grete plente of Gold of Syluer· of Robes of Iewellys and of vessell· that the leest of them had ynowgh Thus gadred they alle that they fonde there retorned and wente agayn to Iherusalem euery man laden and charged with despoylles· thankyng and preysing our lord by whom was comen to them this vyctorye honour anâ gayne· Thenne made they within the cyte moche ioye grete As doon the vaynquers and conquerours whan they departe theyr gayne How somme of our barons wolde retorne home after they had don theyr pylgremage ca o CCiijo. iN this maner they conteyned them in the Cyte of Iherusalem The two valyaunt men that had ben longe tyme in the seruyse of our lord and had perfourmed theyr pylgremage· that is to wyte the duc of Normandye And th erle of fflaunders they toke leue of the other barons and toke theyr waye for to retorne in to theyr countrey they cam by shippe to Constantinople Themperour alexys which had seen them to fore receyued them with moche fayr chiere gaf to them moche fayre yeftes at theyr deâartyng After they cam in to theyr countre hool and ioyous That one of them· that was the duc of Normandye founde the thynge alle chaunged otherwyse in his countre than he lefte it ffor whyles he was in mayntenyng this holy pylgremage lyke as ye haue herd· his oldest broder deyde without heyer of his body· wylliam Rous whiche was kyng of englond by right And after the customes of the countre the Royamme was fallen to this duc of normandye but his broder whiche was yonger named Henry cam to the barons of the countrey and made them to vnderstande thaâ the duc his broder was kyng of Iherusalem And had no talente ne purposed neuer to retorne on this syde the montaynes By this lesynge they made hym kynge of Englond and they becam his men· whan his broder retorned fro the holy londe· he demaunded of hym his herytage entierly And he wold not delyuer it to hym The duc made redy a grete nauye and gadryd as moche peple as he myght in normandye and other places and passed the seâ he arryued by force His broder that was kynge cam ayensâ hym with alle the power of the lande The batâylles were al redy for tassemble But the noble and wysemen sawe that it shold be ouer grete hurt damage yf thyse two bretheren shold fyght thus· Therfor they spak of peâs and made it in this manere that the sayd henry shold holde the Royamme but he sholde gyue euery yere to his brother a greet somme of good of whiche he made hym sure And thus retorned the duc agayn· and cam in to his londe after it happed that the kyng whiche had somme castellys in normandye to fore that he had the Royamme of Englond them wolde he kepe as his herytage The duc demaunded them· And he wold not delyue them thenne the duc assieged them and toke them by force· whan the kyng herd this he was moche angry he assemblid grete peple and passed ouer in to Normandye his brother cam ayenst hym And they fought to gydre at tynche bray ther was the duc disconfyted and taken his broder put hym in pryson wherin he deyde Thenne had this henry alle to gydre the Royamme of Englond and the duchye of Normandye Th erle of tholouse cam vnto the âyche in surye there lefte he his wyf the Countesse and wente vnto Constantynople And shold hastely retorne Themperour made to hym grete ioye and receyued hym moche wel and gaf to hym grete yeftes And after cam agayn to his wyf hoole sauf to his felawship in Surye· but it was two yere after as ye shal here The duc godeffroy was in Iherusalem wel gouerned he the Royamme whiche oure lord had gyuen to hym he reteyned with hym the Erle Garnyer of grece And other Barons suche as he myght haue· Tancre the valyaunt abode with hym· to whom the Duc gaf for to holde in herytage the cyte of
tabarye whiche stondeth on the laye of Geme· And with that alle the pryncipalyte of Galylee with the Cyte· whiche was woned to be named porphire And nowe named Cayphas· and alle thappertenaunces of thyse thynges Tancre helde thyse londes so wel and so wysely that he was alowed of god honoured of the world he fouÌded the chirches of this countrey moche rychely he gaf to them grete rentes and endowed them with Aournementes fayr and of grete valure· Specially the chirche of Nazareth of tabarye and that of mount Tabor· he lefte them in hye estate and in moche ryche poynt But the barons that after hym haue be lordes of the countrey haue taken from them ynowgh of their tenours This Tancre was wyse and trewe And delyted hym to doo wel to the chirches as it appereth after whan he was prynce of Anthyoche· ffor he enhaunced the chirche of seynt peter and the pryncipalyte and seygnorye of aÌthyoche made he moch teÌcrece enlarged as ye shal here How buymont and bawdwyn beyng certayn of the pryse and conqueste of Iherusalem wolde accomplysshe theyr pylgremage Capitulo CC·iiijo. wHyles that the Royamme of Iherusalem was in such estate Buymont the prynce of Anthyoche And Bawdwyn Erle of Rages broder of the duc godeffroy had herd certayn tydynges that the other barons that helde them to gydre as bretheren for the accompanye of theyr pylgremage had by thayde and helpe of our lord Ihesu Criste conquerd vpon the turkes and recouerd to oure fayth the holy Cyte of Iherusalem by whiche they had accomplysshyd theyr vowes and theyr pylgremages Therfor they assembled on a day named for to goo to the holy sepulcâe to th ende that· they were assaylled of theyr vowes And desired moche for to see the Duc and the other Barons to whom they wold gyue ayde yf they had nede ⪠that is to wete of their bodyes of theyr goodes and of theyr men that were vnder them Thyse two hye men were not at the takynge of the holy Cyte of Iherusalem ffor by the wylle of the pylgryms that one of them abode in Anthyoche And that other at Rages for to kepe soygnously and defende the turkes fro thyse two Cytees whiche were fer fro Cristiente· Eche man had to doo ynowgh in his countrey· But they lefte alle for to come to the other Buymont cam fyrst fro his cyte with a moche fayr company grete nombre of men of Armes on horsbak and a foote· he cam vnto a Cyte vpon the sâe named valerne on the castel of margat there he lodged hym maulgre them of the cyte· Bawdwyn cam fro his countrey sone after and so moch iourneied after that he ouertoke the prynce buymont to fore this Cyte And there they assembled In that same tyme were arryued pylgryms of ytalye at the lyche in surye Emong them was a good man wyse and wel lettred Relygyous and of grete honneste named daybart Archebisshop of Pyse Another was in his company Archebysshop of puylle of a Cyte named Acianâ Thyse men with theyr meyne cam in the companye of thyse two barons for to passe more surely vnto the Cyte of Iherusalem· Of them was moche encreced thoost of thyse two prynces in suche wyse that they were wel .xxv M· on horsbak and a foote· Thus thenne helde they theyr waye by suche manerâ that they fonde no Cyte but of theyr enemyes wherfore they passed with moch grete payne They suffred moche in theyr way for lack of vytaylles ffor they fonde none for ãâã hyâ· And suche as they brought fro theyr countrey was faylled They haâe grete cold and so grete rayne that nothyng myght endure it was so meâueylous· It was in the moneth of Iuyll· whiche is moche rayny customably in that countrey ffor this cause many deyed of âesease in that companye ffor in alle this longe waye they myght fynde none that wold selle to them ony vytaylle sauf they of Tryple ⪠and they of cesaire They had grete sarceâe of vytaylles for theyr horses Atte laste by the mercy of our lord they cam to Iherusalem There were they receyued with moche grete ioye· of god of the barons of the clergye and of alle the peple· They vysyted the holy places of the cyte in teâris and grete sorowes of herte they fylle doun flat and stratched in the chirches they kyssed and ete therthe that our lord had bought After they cam in to theyr hostel lys where alle they of the toun made to them grete ioye whan the hye feste of the natyuyte of our lord Ihesu Criste approuched Alle the prelates and barons yssued out of Iherusalem· wente to Bethlehem There helde they theyr Cristemas There behelde they gladly and moche ententyfly the holy crybbe wherin the sauyour of the world laye bytwene the beestes deuoutly made they theyr prayers orysons in the place whiche is as a lytil dyche where the swete lady that was moder and vyrgyne after that she had chylded wrapped her sone with lytil and smale clothys gaf hym souke of the Mylke of her pappes How our Cristen men chosen a very Patriarke in Iherusalem and assigned to hym rentes cao. CCv o vN to this tyme had the See of Iherusalem ben without pastour and patriark that duely and truly had entred It was wel theÌne v monethes that the cyte was conquerd Thenne assembled the Barons for to counseylle to haue suche a man that were worthy of honour myght to bere the faytes Ther were wordes ynowgh The somme wolde haue one and other wold haue another· Atte laste by the counseyl and good wyll of alle they chees this Daybart Archibisshop of pyse whiche was but newly come They constituted and sette hym in the siege of Patriark ffor he that had be made by this baratour arnold of whom I haue spoken to fore lyke as he was made ayenst right and reson In lyke wyse he retorned agayn to nought whan this good wyse man was sette in his dignyte The duc godeffroy and the prynce buymont cam to fore hym whiche had gyuen to hym this honour as for to be the vycayre of Ihesu Criste in that londe and thanked and preysed alle to gydre oure lord whan this was don they assygned rentes to the newe Patriark suche as his predecessour whiche was a greeke had holden· And other gretter aboue that in suche wyse that he myght honorably mayntene a good and honest company of peple Thenne bawdwyn and buymont toke leue of the duc and of the other barons and descended vnto flom Iordan and there bayned them ffro thens they wente by the Ryuer syde til they cam to tabarye Thenne passed by the londe named Fenyce And lefte cesayre on the right syde· After they cam to the Cyte named manbec After helde they the see syde and so moche exployted that they cam al hool and sound to Anchyâcâe How by thatysement of somme men a grete debate sourâed bytwene the duc and the patriarke of