the Erle of Rames and many other barons gate in by fyne force And whan the Sarasyns saw that the christens were within the citie they put themself so to flyght hyd them within the houses where as they might for to saue theyr lyues and alwayes Reynawde was at the gate for to keep the entre They that were vpon the greate towre of Dauid cryed fast to the other sarasyns that they should shet the gate saâ—â—g that yf the great lurden entred within they should be all lost And whaÌ„ Reinawde saw that a great parte of the christens were within Iherusalem he sayd to Mawgis Cosyn keep wel thys passage and I shall go at another gate for to make it open Cosyn sayd Mawgis goe your way hardelye and doubt nothyng I shall well keep this path Than departed Reinawde accompanyed with many valyaunt Christians and went vnto a nother gate whiche he founde well garnysshed with paynyms but Reynawde thoroughe his prowes put them anon to flyght and gat the gate open Thus as ye heare was doone for all the sarasyns lost theyr lyues and was recouered agayne the Citie of Iherusalem through the greate prowes of the noble Reynawde of Mountawban And whan the admyrall sawe this he wende to haue wexe mad all quicke and fared as he had be out of his witte and cursed his goddes mahowmet Appolyn pulled his heres of his berde and rent all hys raymentes and after he sayd By Apollo the souerayn God yf Thomas helpe me not to saue my lyfe I shall make hym to be slayne incontinent and than he sent for the kyng Thomas and sayd vnto hym Kynge Thomas yee muste chuse of two thinges th one that is that ye must saue my lyfe that I maye goo to percie agayne with two of my men in my felawship or els yee to be now cast out of these wyndowes downe Than sayde the kynge Thomas please you ye shal haue paciente that I may speake with my folke Go on said the admyral to theÌ„ at this wyndow For no ferther yee shal not go and delyuer you lyghtly Than went the kinge Thomas to the windowes saw Reynawde of Mountawban Mawgys come that cam al the formest for to sawte the towre of Dauyd where he was prysoner to the admirall And whaÌ„ he sawe Reynawde and Mawgys the formest of all he knewe them not looked ferther saw the erle of Rames behynde them whiche he knew not well and thaÌ„ he aspied Geffray of Nazareth wherof he was glad whan he saw him and than he begaÌ„ to crye Lorde of Nazareth looke vp to your king that is heere prysoner the admyrall Barbas sendeth you worde that if ye let him not goe sauf into his countrie and realme of pertie wyth two of his men with him he shall caste me nowe downe out of thys windowe Than answered to hym therle of Rames ha good kyng god saue you ye wot well that a good man ought not to make anye lye it is trouth that yesterdaye wee made our gouerner mayster of that lorde that ye see heere afore vs whiche is the best knyght of the worlde and to hym ye must shew your need for wtout hym we may doo nothyng And whan the kyng Thomas vnderstode this tidinge he wexed almoste oute of hys wit for sorow bycause he weÌ„d none other but he should die an euil death Than sayd he to the erle of Rames in great angre Ha erle of Rames haue ye betrayed me so that yee haue made a nother Lorde than me Syr sayde the Erle to hym agayne doubt nothyng for wee haue doone so your ryght and honour is alway saued in this behalfe nor ye shal not lese nothyng of your owne for the good knight hath ynough in frauÌ„ce and ye must know that he hath takeÌ„ this citie he and his felow and take no suspecciyon of hym nor of vs for I am sure he shall doo euyn as yee wil yourself for he is heere for none other cause but for to delyuer you for as soone as he shall haue vysit the holy sepulcre of our lorde he shal goe agayne to Fraunce Than sayd the kynge Thomas lordes how is the knyght named Syr sayd therle of Rames he is called Reynawde of Mountawban the sonne of the Duke Aymon and the best knyght of the worlde For he is suche a knyght that the great kyng Charlemayne might neuer greue hym and yet haue they mayntened the warre .xv. yeres and more the one against thother and so hath he doone so many noble great faytes of armes during the warre that the renoÌ„me therof is flowen ouer al the worlde Erle of Lames sayd the kynge I pray you that ye wyll tell hym in my behalfe this that I haue sayd to Geffray of nazareth syr said therle wyth a good wyll I shall doo so And than he went to Reynawde shewed to him al that the king had sayd Lordes sayd Reinawd we shal not doo so but let vs sawte the towre for at worst fall we shall alwayes wel haue that apoyntement that thadmyral asketh so I tell you yf we sawte wel the towre shal be lyghtly wonne by force of armes we shal deliuer the kinge Thomas at oure owne wyll so shal we slea barbas that thorough treason tooke the citie Syr sayd therle of Rames we shall doo your coÌ„maundement doubt not of it ThaÌ„ commauÌ„ded Reynawd that the towre should be sawted of al sidê made great pleÌ„tie of ladders to be ryghted agaynst it he hymselfe began fyrst to clime vp with his sheeld for to couer him with and after him went Mawgis than therle of Rames after them Geffray of Nazareth wel thyrty knightes mo and men with crosbowes other archers abode byneth for to shoot vpwarde where they saw sarasins looke oute whan thadmirall saw Reynawde that wolde haue come into the towre he was sore aferde so wyst he not what he should doo but ranne to the kinge Thomas caught hym by the necke sayd to hiÌ„ by apollo thou I shall lepe bothe at once out of this window Sir sayd the king kill not your self nor me also for I shall make the sawte to cesse I will wel that ye doo so sayd thadmiral but ye shal come with me So tooke hym by the neck had him to the wyndowe sayd al hye Reynawde of Mountawban I shall angre you for I shall caste the king Thomas downe if ye pardon me not I shall slea my self whim for I may wel die after such a king And whan the duke Riynawde saw that the kyng Thomas hynge thus the head downewarde all redy for to fall he had great pitie of hym said Ha good lorde what shal I doo for if I leue the sawte it shal be greate shame for the towre is almoste taken and of the other part it shal be great mysshape yf the good kinge Thomas take death for it Thê° as
Reynawd did vpoÌ„ the helmes of steele and vpon the sheeldes of the frensshemen And whan the frensshmen saw that the discomfiture tourned vpon them they began to call Rowlande and sayd to him Ha Rowland what doo ye Why come ye not and helpe youre folke For they beÌ„ dead but if ye succoure them Whan Rowland vnderstood that word wherof he was wrothe and right sory And whaÌ„ he saw his folke so sore handled He began to cry MouÌ„tioye saynt Denys And after spurred his horse and entred in to the medle And went heere there crying Reinawde where be you gonâ— see me heere I am all ready for to doo the battaile of my body ayenst yours that ye aske of me Whan Reynawd hearde Rowlande that called thus after him He put flamberge into his sheth And tooke a speare in his haÌ„d and came there as Rowland was said to him where are ye Rowlande be ye a fearde of me that ye haue taried so longe for beware youre selfe from me and you of me saide Rowlande And thenne they spurred their horses and dyd Iouste the one ayeull the other And whan the frensshmen and the Gascoignes sawe that they withdrewe themselfe fro eche other for to behold the Iousting of the two worthy knightes for to say the trouthe there were not two other such in all the world ANd whan Salamon of Bretayne and Hector the sonne of Oedon saw that the Iousting of Reinawd and of Rowlande was begon they set themself to weep ful tenderly came to the Duke Naimes to the bysshop Turpyn and to Olyuer and sayd to them Howe lordes may ye suffre that one of the best knightes of the worlde and him that we ought to loue best be slayne and dead before you Certes said the duke Naymes that shall be great sorowe to vs for to see And than he came to Oliuer saide to him I praye you that ye goe to Rowland and tel him from vs al that he ought not to fight with Reinawde with the swerde But let him take a speare and breake it vpon Reinawde for to acquite his faythe For yf he slea Reinawde We shal neuer loue him after Lordes sayd then Ogier let them alone ye knowe not Reynawde so well as I doo Reynawde is no childe to be made a ferd so lyghtlye as ye trowe Lette theim shyfte hardely they two togither For by the fayth that I owe to you Rowlande shall be all werye or euer he returne agayne And he shall be as fayne to leaue the batayle as shall Reynawd And ye shal see that Rowland wolde he had not gone there for the best citie that themperoure Charlemaine hath Ogier saide Ector ye speake of it as for enuye certes yf he should fight with Rowland ye should well saye otherwise And than he saide to Olyuer Good syr lette thys batayle be desterred yf ye may by anye wise Lordes saide Olyuer with a good wyll syth that ye will haue it so And than he went to Rowlande sayd to him al that the barons hadde sayde Felaw myn answered Rowland god confounde them for they take away this day the desyre of my vncle Charlemain And than he turned him toward Reynawd and sayd to hym Syr Reynawde ye haue assaied of my swerde and not of my spote Rowlande sayde Reynawde if ye haue youre swerde I shall conne you â—o thanke nor gramercye for it For I feare you not of nothyng but lâ—e vs make an ende of our bataylle And to whome god gyueth the victorye let him haue it Rowland wolde not doo 〈◊〉 but dyd lyke a curteous knighte and he dyd as the barons had sente him worde For he tooke a spere and ranne vpon Reinawde as much as he myght And whan Reinaude sawe he wold none otherwise doo he ranne also with a spere vpon Rowlande and rought eche other so wonderful hard that they made theyr speres to flee all in peeces and whan they had broken their speres they recountred eche other with theyr sheeldes so stronglye that both theyr horses that is to wit Bayard and Melantes stakered and were all astonied therwithal But with that stroke Rowland and Melantes were both felled to the grounde on a heape and Reinawd passed forth by theÌ„ cryinge with an high voyce Mountawban Wherby I tell you for certayne that Rowlande neuer felle downe for no stroke of spere but onely that tyme. but it was no meruaile For he could not holde hym selfe by the cloudes whan his horse had failled hym THan whan Rowlande sawe hymselfe thus ouerthrowen he was not wel contente and rose in continente and toke his swerd in hys hand and came to Melantes for to cutte of his head and began to say euyll courser who keepeth me that I kille the not not sith that thou hast let falle thy selfe throughe the stroke of a childe I shall neuer trust thee So helpe me god Rowlande sayde Reynawd ye doo to Melantes great wronge For it is longe sith that he eat any meat and therfore he can not trauayll lyke bayarde for he is more strong than is your horse and than Reynawde lyghted downe fro bayard by cause that Rowlande was a foote And whan bayarde sawe hys maister a foote he ran vpon Melantis the horse of Rowland smot him with his hinder feet so great strokes that he hadde almost broken his thy whan Rowlande sawe that he was wrothe for it and came towarde bayarde for to haue smyte of hys heade And whan Reinawde sawe that he sayd to Rowland What wyl ye doo it is no worshyppe to you to smyte a beast and yf ye wyl doo any fayte of armes come to me not to my horse for I shall gyue you strokes ynoughe so muche that ye shall be wery of it or we departe but keep wel that I slea not you leue Bayard in peace For there is not in all the worlde an other so good a beast For he did shew it well whan he â—oan the crowne of Charlemayne your vncle in youre presence and yf he doth helpe me he both but his deuoyre that a good horse ought to doo but turne your sheeld towarde me and ye shall see howe Flamberge cutteth Reynawde Reinawde sayd Rowlande threten not so much For before thys day be com at an ende ye shall see a thynge that shall not please you ouer much REynawde was not contente whan he vnderstoode the ylle wordes of Rowlande and shooke al for angre and incontinent ranne vp on Rowlande and gaue him suche a stroke vpon his helme that he all to brused it and the stroke slided vpon the sheelde so that he cut of it a great quarter and of the courset of steele also but he cut nothinge of the fleshe And whan Reynawde hadde gyuen Rowlande that stroke he sayde in maner of a mocke to Rowlande what saye ye by my swerde doo it cut well or no for I haue not missed at that stroke now keep you well fro me for I am not
telle it you with a good wyll Nowe wyt it that I am called Reynawd of Mountawban but Charlemayne hathe casted me therfrom wrongefully the Duke Aimon is my father and I am now come in to the holy londe for to serue our lord ayenst his enmies For thus hathe commaunded me to doo Charlemayne my souerayne lorde whan I made peace with him And that worse is I must needes come thus poorely arrayed as ye see beggyng my brede where so euer I goe or come where ayenst I wolde neuer goe for to haue peace Whan the erle of rames vnderstoode Reynawd he was gladde of him and heaued vp his handes towarde heauen and thanked God and after sayd O noble knight Reinawde of Mountawban the best knyghte of the worlde take heere my homage For I gyue my selfe vnto you and al my goodes And whan Reynawde sawe this he sayde to the earle of Rames Stand vp for ye profer me outrage By god sayd the erle I shall neuer aryse tyll ye haue graunted me a thynge Sir sayde Reynawde I graunt it you with a good wyll and with good herte Gramercye sayd the erle and than he stoode vp and sayde to Reynawde Is it trouthe that ye haue peace with the great king Charlemaine Alas where been youre bretheren the worthy knightes and Mawgys youre cosyn in whome ye haue so great trust your good horse bayard Sir said Reynawd wit that I had peace with the kinge Charlemaine of the warre that so longe hath lasted by suche maner as I shall tell you that it is that I must come heere in suche clothyng as ye see vpon me and heere is Mawgis my cosyn that is comen heere with his free wyll for he is not constrayned therto for the kynge Charlemayn weneth he be deade longe a goe and my bretherne been abyden with my wyfe and my chyldren For the kyng hath returned all oure lyuelode vnto theym again And whan the earle vnderstoode the trouthe of all he was ryghte gladde of it so that he beganne to crye with a hyghe voyce Ha duke Reynawde of Mountawban howe greately be you welcome heere to vs as the most valyaunte knight of the world blissed be the good lorde that hathe conduyte you hyther And I praye you for god that ye receyue myne homage so shall ye saue the worshyppe of the kynge thomas that is nowe prysoner there within the citie for and ye be oure capitayne and oure heade I put no doubt but we shall well soone take Iherusalem And thus shall the kynge Thomas be belyuered oute of the handes of the false sarasyns THere came all the barons of Surrye that were full glad of the coming of Reynawd of mountawban to whome they made greate reuerence and feasted hym ryghte hyghly And shortly to speake they al prayed him to be theyr lorde and head capitayne and that he wolde guyde them as the erle of Rames had doon afore And whan Reynawde sawe that all the barons of Surrye desyred and prayed him so sore for to receyue theyr homages he sayde vnto theym Lordes sith that it pleaseth you for to doo me this great honour I take it saufe alwaye the ryght of kynge Thomas whiche is your souerayne lorde Syr sayde the barons we will haue it thus And thenne he receyued their homagis and whan he hadde receyued theim the erle of Rames kneeled before him and sayd Syr I wil that ye giue me now that thinge that ye haue graunted me Sir sayde Reynawde saye what it is and ye shall haue it Syr sayde the erle of Rames it is that ye wyl vouchesaufe to be lodged in my pauyllion and thâ—t ye spende none other good but myne And if ye wyl gyue any thing I shall delyuer it to you and I shal gyue you syxe of my knightes for to serue you Good earle of Rames gramercye of the worship that ye doo to me â–ª than the erle tooke Reynawd by the hande and broughte so hym in to his pauyllion and made him to be serued as his souerayne lorde and whan all the barons hadde conueyed Reynawde to the pauyllion of the erle of Rames they tooke leaue of him and went again in to their pauyllioÌ„s and thanked God that he hadde sent theym suche a knyghte and so vallyaunte a manne to be their capitaine and theyr Lorde And than whan the erle of Rames sawe that all the barons were gon to theyr pauillioÌ„s he made to be broughte there manye good horses and fayre paifrays and ryche raymentes of dyuers coloures furred with ryche furres and all maner of good harneys for the warre curaces and ryche helmes and noble swerdes and greate plentye of plate bothe of fyne golde and of syluer and all thys he presented to Reynawde But he wolde take nothynge but onlie a complete harneys for his body and a swerde that he chose there amonge all and an horse And all the remenaunt he made to be dealed to the poore knyghtes that had mystre and need of it And whan the erle of Rames sawe that Reynawde hadde taken but one horse one harneys and one swerde he sayde vnto him Syr for God take on you a nother raymente for ye wot well it apperteyneth not to suche a man as ye be for to goe clothed as ye doo Sir said Reynawd pardonne me and it please you for I shall neuer were none other raymente but this that I haue nowe on tyll that I haue kyssed the holy sepulcre wherin God was put after that he was brought downe fro the crosse Sir said then the erle doo as ye wil and than he went to Mawgys and said to him I praye you put awaye this capye and this hood and take other raimentes syr said Mawgis than I pray you be not dyspleased yf I full fyll not youre desyre at this time for I tell you that I haue promysed that I shâ—ll were no other cloth as longe as I lyue but such as the same is Thenne whanne the erle sawe that Reynawde nor Mawgys wolde not take none other raymentes for no thinge that he coulde saye vnto them he was sory for it And than he made the tables redye for to goe to supper And whan they hadde supped the erle of rames called wallerauen of fayer and Geffray of Nazareth and sayde to them Now thinke for to doo well syth that god hath sent to vs suche succour And whan the baroÌ„s heard the erle speake thus they answered we shal doo oure best by the grace of God And than euery man went to his pauillion and made greate plentie of torches to be fyred so that it was merueylles of the light that was in the hoste and euery man began to daunce and disporte theymselfe aboute their tentes and pauyllions a longe while for Ioye of the comynge of Reinawde And whan turkes that kept the towre of Dauyd sawe the greate lyghte that was in the hoste of the christen they were all merueylled of it Than some of them went and shewed it to
theyr maister and lorde And whan the admyralle hearde the tydynges he began to crye hie and said O Machomet what â—illeth now that vnhappi folke that make so greate feast I beleue that they ben as the swanne is whan she shall die for I am sure they shal one of these daies be al slaine and therfore they make so great ioye And whan barbas the admirall had sayde this he sware by machomet afore all his barons that he should make an issue on the morow for to hewe al the christen in peeces Syr saide an olde paynym Beware your fleshe well of a greate kerle thae is there new come among them the whiche bereth a great forke in his hande for yf he hyt you ye are but dead I am well sure that all they of thoste make this Ioie for that lurden I know him not sayd thadmyral to the paynym but and I canne hye hym with my branke of steele I shall make him leue his great head behind him for a pledge till he commeth again for he is naked and therfore he may not endure ayenst me WHan the kynge Thomas that was there prisoner saw the great feast ioye that the christen made Wist not what he should thinke but sa it to himself Ha goddes what haue now my folkâ— that they make suche a noyse suche a sporte alas doo they not remembre me I beleue better ye than naye for the feaste that they make nowe is for somwhat Wyt it that they of rames and of Iaffes and of all the countrey aboute Iherusalem whan they saw the great light they wende that the citie had be set a fyre and some were sore aferde leste thoste had a doo Thus was all the countrey abasshed but they that were in thoste cared but litell for it And whan they had sported themselfe ynoughe they ordeined the watche and after went to rest And whan the day was come the barons rose and went to the pauillyon of Reinawde whiche was vp and redie and they salued him reuerently and after said vnto him thus sir what thinke ye that we must doo shal we assaille the citie or no Lordes saide the duke Reinawde me semeth that it were good for to giue to it a sawte For we haue great auauntage afore hande for he that shall dyein the sawtinge of the holye citie he shal be saued without doubte whiles that the barons deuised thus together for to giue a sawte to the citie the admyrall of Percie made to open the gate a force and yssued out of the town with ten thousande fightinge menne well armed And whan Reinawde and the barons of surry knewe it they ranne to their harneys Reinawd was armed incontinent tooke his helme and his swerde and lighted vpoÌ„ his horse that the erle of Rames had geuen him And whan reinawde was on horsebacke Mawgis armed him also and mounted on horsebacke and began to crie Barons of Surrye be not dysmayed in no wyse for I promyse god I shal neuer returne to be hermyt yf the turkes be not dyscomfyted and ouerthrowen And after he had sayde so he went to Geffraye of Nasareth and saide to hym Baron keep you by Reynawde for if all the other knyghtes in the felawshyp were suche as ye be Barbas shoulde be discomfited or noone and whan al the barons were wel armed and wel on horsebacke they ordeined theyr battailles as wel as they could And than came the admyrall barbas that smot in to thoste of the christen The fyrste barrailie of the sarasins was conduited by a king that had to name Margarys that was lord of the towre of Tailes whiche was ryght cruell and dare in his armes a dragon pyctured with an horryble fygure WHan the kyng Margaris sawe it was time to smite vpon the christen he spurred his horse with his spurres ran ayenst Reinawd And whan Reinawde saw him come he said to therle of rames Heere cometh one to seeke his death with great haste ye haue doon me great honoure but this king shal haue dyshonoure for your loue at the fyrst And whan Reinawd had saide this he spurred his horse and ranne ayenst Margarys so harde that nother sheelde nor quyras could not saue him but he shoued his spere thorough the brest and ouerthrew sterke dead to the grounde And whan Reinawde had gyuen that great stroke he saide Goe thy waye to helle the deuill spede thee and beare felawship to thy predecessours that went there afore thee And after he put hande to the swerde and smot another sarasin so harde throughe the helme that he cloue him to the teethe and forthe withall he taught another vnder the bauere so that he made his heade to flee from the shoulders and whan he had slain these three he cried Mountawban vpon these panyms And whan Mawgis hearde hym he put himselfe amonge the Turkes so couragyously that the first that he recouÌ„tred he sent him downe in to helle and than tooke his swerd in his hande and dyd merueylles of armes so that he slewe so many turkes that reinawde and the barons meruaylled greatly Than saide Reinawde to the earle of Rames What say you by my cosin Mawgis saw you euer so good an hermyte By my soule said therle he is to be commended blessed be the wombe that bare hym and thoure the ye ben come in to this londe for now I am well sure that Iherusalem shal be recouered the king Thomas delyuered out of prison with the grace of God Whan therle of Rames had sayde this to Reynawde he spurred his horse with the spurres and smote a turke such a stroke that he made the yren of his spere to apeece at the back of him that he fel dead to therth after he tooke his swerde in his hand began to crye Rames as hie as he coulde sayinge barons smite nowe a good for the persians shall be nowe vtterly dyscomfyted yf god keep the valliaunt Reynawd of MountawbaÌ„ his valiauÌ„t cosin Mawgis Now is the houre come that the traytoure Barbas shall finish his life that thê° betraied the holy citie of Iherusalem by his false wit Than did set on the barons of the londe whiche began to make merueiles of armes ayenst the sarasins Who had seene that tyme Reynawde and Mawgis how they made way to them that cam after theÌ„ he wolde haue meruailled greatly for I promise you none durst abide afore them were he neuer so hardy or valliaunt but he was slayne of them After Reinawde and Mawgys was therle of Rames Geffray of Nasareth and wallerauen of fayete with their folke and thei made merueilles of armes ayenst their enemies and whan the sarasins sawe that they could not abide the greate domage of that the christeÌ„ bare to them they put them selfe to flyght taward the citie WHan thadmirall Barbas sawe that his folke were dyscomfited he was angry for it said whoresoÌ„nes whi doo ye slee thus awai know you not thus
Reynawde was vpon the ladder thynkyng what he might best doo al the barons of the lande began to crye to Reynawde sweete syr suffre not that our kynge lese his lyfe so it were great shame to vs and to you also Lordes sayde Reynawde by the fayth that I owe to my bretherne and to my Cosyn Mawgys I wolde not that the kynge should take death for me and whan he had sayd so he came downe fro the ladder and after cryed to the admirall Leue the kyng Thomas doo hym no harme for ye shal be deliuered by suche a couenauÌ„t that yee and your two men shall go on foote into percie and ye shall leue here al your goods By mahouÌ„e sayd thadmiral I wyll not doo so but shall ryde on horsebacke I and my two men so shal ye gyue me saufconduyt vpon your fayth if ye wil not doo thus I shall let fall downe the kyng Thomas Admyrall sayd Reynawde the ye aske I graunt it to you vpon my fayth For ye haue with you suche a pledge that ye shal not be touched at this time for me Thadmirall was ryght glad whaÌ„ he heard Reynawde speake thus so drew he vp the kyng Thomas agayne and sayde to hym kyng Thomas ye shall go quite froÌ„ me and than he wente downe with the kyng opened the gate went our he his two men There was made great ioye betwene the kynge Thomas and Reynawde And after of all the other barons of surre and the great thankes that the kyng did to Reynawde and to Mawgis are not for to be named the langage the was betwene them are to longe to be recounted After this thadmyral tooke his saufconduyt and went his way towarde percie Heere of him is made none other mencion and after he was gone the king Thomas reynawde with all thother barons weÌ„t togyther into the towre whaÌ„ they were come vp the kynge Thomas kneeld afore Reynawde Syr sayde Reyaawde ye ought not to doo so Yes verely sayd the kynge whan Reynawde saw that he wexed red for shame and tooke vp the kyng thaÌ„ the kyng colled hym and sayd Blessed be our lorde that brought you in thys lande for ye haue succoured Iherusalem the holy citie brought miself out of the sarasins handes Now tell me and it please you if ye haue made peace with Charlemayn the great kynge of FrauÌ„ce that hath doon you so great hinderaunce Syr sayde Reynawde yea bycause of the peace I am come heere begging my bread poorely arayed and whaÌ„ the king Thomas heard him speake he had great pitie of him and swore by the holy Sepulcre that he should araye hym honourably as to hym apperteineth for to returne into Fraunce After that the kynge had sayd thys worde they came downe fro the towre of dauyd for to go to the holy sepulcre And ye ought to wit that they made great feast through out the Citie of that was so befall ThaÌ„ went they al to the holy sepulcre for to yeelde thaÌ„kes to our lorde of the citie that was recouered fro the handes of the sarasyns And whan all this was doone the barons of surre tooke leue of the kyng of Reynawde of mawgis after went euery man into hys place in theyr couÌ„trey the kiÌ„g toke Reynawde Mawgis and brought them to hys palays where he feasted them a hundred dayes honourablye And this hanging he shewed them all the crountrey aboute IherusaleÌ„ whaÌ„ Reynawde had sported him ynough with the king Thomas he wolde depart for to go agayne into the marches of frauÌ„ce And whan the kyng saw that he gaue to Reynawd many riche giftes as horses silkes gold syluer many other thynges in great plenti And ye ought to wit that Mawgis wolde take nothyng nor chaunge his hermites araye in no wyse but arayed hym agayne as a pylgrime and bare foote wherof Reynawde was sory The kynge made a ship be redy honourabli at the hauen of Iaphes Reynawde ful teÌ„derly weepyng tooke leue of the kyng of his barons and entred into the ship And wit it that by fortune of wedryng they were well eyght monethes vpon the sea at last they tooke lande at a towne called Palerne whan they had takeÌ„ land Reinawde commaunded that the ship should be vnlade al thus as they vnladed the ship the king of Palerne which was called Simon af puill loking out at a wyndow of his castel than he said to them that were aboute hym I see yonder in the hauen a shyp setteth her good a lande and it cannot be but there muste be some great man in it for I see horses that beÌ„ had out great riches I cannot say what it may be but it were pilgrimes thaÌ„ he commaunded an horse for to be made redy for he wolde sporte himselfe to the hauen syde THe valyauÌ„t kyng Symon of Puill wtout any more taryeng came to the sea syde with many a noble knyght in his companye And whan he was come to the hauen he founde Reynawde that was come a lande assone as the king saw him he knew hym well wherof he was ryght glad also Reynawde knew wel the good king Symon So thaÌ„ enbraced they eche with other and made great cheare th one to thother Reynawde sayd the kyng ye be ryght welcome I pray you come lodge in my castell for thadmyral barbas is entred in my lande wasteth it dayly I fought yesterday with him but he droue me out of the feelde shamefully dyd great harme to my folke I am sure he shal come to besyege me to morowe I had thought to haue sende for succours towarde Charlemayn but sith that god hath brought you heere I feare not the kyng nother his admiral of Percie Syr said Reynawd I make you sure I shall helpe you withal my power if thadmyrall come to morowe â—he shall not mysse of batayle for I shal neuer eat bread till I haue discomfited him Than the kinge Simon brought Reynawde to hys palays where he made him good cheere and thus as Simon feasted Reynawde came there a knight that was called Ymes that said to the king Simon Syr thadmyrall of Percie is come before Palerne with so great folke that all therth is couered withall Whan the kynge vnderstoode these tidinges he was sory for it and Reynawde glad Than sayd Reynawde to the kynge Syr I pray you be not abasshed of nothynge for this daye shall ye be aueÌ„ged and god before the holy sepulcre fro whens I came but late and whan the kyng hearde Reynawde speake so he made be cried that euery maÌ„ should arme hiâ— self and whan Reynawde saw that he sent for his herneys and armed hym and sware the body of God he should doo greet to thadmyral that dai sith that he had found hym agayne And whan Mawgys saw that Reynawde wolde arme him for to fight he sayd to hym My
shall take our way towarde Ardeyne for I counsel not that wee goe bi day and also it cannot be but the heremite shall haue some meate whiche we shall gyue vnto my wife and vnto my chyldren Brother said Alarde by my faythe ye speake well and wysely And than they put them selfe to the way and they had gone but a litle that they founde the heremitage but as they went al thoroughe the wood of the serpent they departed the one froÌ„ the other as wilde beastes eatyng the herbes and grasses as it had ben apples or Peres so great hungre they had And whan that Reynawde saw this he was sory and called them agayne and sayd Lordes ye doo not wel for to separe thus the one from the other For it might lightli turne vs to dommage I pray you that euerye man call other and gather your selfe together let vs goe into the hermytage For we shall fynde there Bernarde that shall make vs good cheere I wote it wel And whaÌ„ they were come there Reynawde knocked at the gate And whan Bernarde hearde it he came anon and saw Reynawde and hys folke wherof he was ryght glad came and kyssed Reynawde And after he sayd vnto him Fayre lorde ye be ryght welcome of whens come you and howe is it with you My freende Bernarde sayde than Reynawde Wyt it that I haue let myne herytaunce by fyne force of hungre and so I goe vnto Ardeyne For I can none otherwise doo at this time And I pray you that yf ye haue ani meat that ye for goddes sake wyll gyue it to my wyfe and to my chyldren For they ben so sore famysshed that they dye for hungre but yf they haue some meate WHan Bernarde vnderstoode these wordes of Reynawde he had of hym great piti for the distresse wherin he saw Reynawde and hys folke And of the other parte he was glad whan he wyste that they were scaped out of the daungers of Charlemayne and anon he wente to the duchesse and sayd to her madame ye be ryght welcome I pray you doubt nothing For ye be aryued in a good place to take your rest at your ease And than he wente into the Chambre and brought out bread and wine and all suche as god had sente hym And after he set hiÌ„ beside Reynawde and sayd to him Lorde take a worth suche vitayles as God hath gyuen to me there they ben I shal giue you meate in dispite of Charlemayne Gramercy sayd Reynawde heere beÌ„ good tidinges for vs but whan the nyght is come Wee shall goe to Ardeyne For I doubt sore that Charlemayne shall aperceyue that we beÌ„ departed For yf God graunt me that I may brynge me and my companye to Ardeyne I shal not set a roton apple for all the power of Charlemain for I shall well defende me agaynst hym Syr sayde the hermyte ye saye well I pray god that he wyll fulfil your wyll All that daye soiourned Reynawde and his folke wyth Bernarde the Heremite the whyche serued and comforted them with al hys power and also he gaue of the Otes of hys asse to Bayarde as muche as he myght eate And whan the nyght was come Reynawde wolde depart and bad fare well to the Heremite and whan the Heremyte sawe that they wolde goe away he founde the meanes that they had three horses wherof the duchesse had the one and the children had the other tweyne And thus Reynawde wyth hys felawshyp went on theyr way so loÌ„ge that they came to Ardeyne And whaÌ„ they of the Citie wyste that theyr Lorde was come that they had desyred so longe they were well glad came agaynst hym in fayre company and receyued hym honourably and conueyed him vnto the fortresse after they went made feast through all the towne lyke as god had desceÌ„ded there for greate Ioye that they had of theyr Lorde Reynawd And whan the Barons of the lande wyst that theyr Lorde Reynawde and his brethern were come to Ardeyne they were glad and came soone to se him and to hym they made reuerence ¶ But heere leaueth the historye to speake of Reynawde and of hys bretherne his wyfe and hys children that were in ardeyne wel at ease for their great hungre was ceased and shal returne to speake of Carlemayne and of his .xii. peeres for to shew howe he entred into Mountawban after that Reynawde was departed ⧠How Charlemayn after that he had besyeged Mountawban had famisshed Reinawde his brethern knew that they were gone had habandoned the place were gone to Ardeyn He wente there and besieged them a gayne but or euer he had pyght hys syege Reynawd his brethern made an issue vpon him his folke slew many of them And tooke prysoner Rycharde the duke of Normandye IN this party shewed the history that whan the kynge Charlemaine was at the siege before MouÌ„ntawban sore an angred that he coulde not take Reinawd nor his brethern Now it happed vpon a day that Charlemayne rode nighe the Castell for to wyt how they bare them self with in Mountawban And whan he was nigh he looked vp to the walles and saw no body that was there as thei were wonte for to be And whan he saw that he was abasshed of it came to the pauilyon and sente Incontinent for all hys barons And whan they were come he sayd to theÌ„ Lordes it is wel nyghe eyght dayes age that I saw no body vpon the wallâ—s of Mountawban wherefore I beleue that all they of it be dead Syr sayde the Duke Naymes it were good that men wyst the trouthe of it sende thether syr if it please you Whan Carlemayne hearde thys he lyghted anon on horsbacke and all hys Barons wyth hym wente to Mountawban And whan they were come vnto the gate they made semblaunte to giue a sawt to the Castell but Reynawde was to ferre for to defeÌ„de it And than Charlemayne wende verelye that Reynawde and all hys had ben dead for hungre great distresse he made to be brought thether a longe ladder and righted it to the walles And incontynent Rowlande mounted vp fyrst of all and after him Ogyer Oliuer and the Duke Naymes And whan they were vpon the walles thei behelde within and they saw nother man nor woman and so they wente downe from the walles and yede opened the gate and made Charlemayne to come in and all his folke But wyt it that Charlemayne weÌ„t in as angry as any man myght bee And whan he was within founde no body he was so sore merueyled that he wyst not what he should say nor doo So wente he vp to the dungeon and he founde there no bodye wherof he was more meruayled thaÌ„ he was afore and than he began to say By my soule Lordes heere is great meruayles and wel the deuylles werke Wyt it that Reynawde is gone and all hys brethern and all hys folke also And all this hath doon
wyth you Wherfore syr yf ye wyll beleue me for your honour and for your profit ye shal seÌ„d worde to Reynawde that he delyuer you agayne Rycharde of Normandye all armed vpon his horse and ye shall make peace wyth hym and I promyse you syr he shall doo it gladly wyth all that ye wyl commaunde hym and so shall all hys brethern also Rowland sayd than the king wil ye say any thing more Nay syr sayd Rowlande And I sweare you vpon my fayth that the foure Sonnes of Aymon shall neuer haue peace with me and so I tel you that I feare me not for Rycharde of NormaÌ„dy for Reynawde should rather put out bothe his owne eyen thaÌ„ that he durst doo to Rycharde any harme vpon his body And whan the barons heard Charlemayne speake so the teares began to fal downe froÌ„ theyr eyen for great feare that Richarde of Normandye theyr Peere should haue any harme After all these thynges Reynawde and his bretherne were wythin Ardeyne making great Ioy. And after they were all out of theyr harneys Reynawde ordeyned good watche vpon the walles of the Citie And than he made come the duke Richarde of Normandy afore hym sayde to him in thys maner Duke richard ye know wel that the king doth great wronge for to trouble vs so as he hath doone and yet dooth withoute any resonable cause And therfore I tell you for certayne but yf that ye make vs to haue peace thinke not to lyue onye lenger for I shall doo smyte of your head and your body to be hewed in foure quarters Sir said the duke Richarde of Normandye I am in your daunger so maye ye doo of me your pleasure Ye haue taken me by warre and none otherwyse yf ye doo to me otherwyse than ye ought of ryght of warre ye shall haue dysshonour for euer more And so I wyll wel that ye know that as long as I liue I shall not fayle Charlemayne for no feare of death Whan Reynawde hearde Richarde of Normandye speake thus he refrayned a lytle his wrathe and than he commauÌ„ded that he should be put in yrons within his chaÌ„bres and that he should be well kept and curteysly and that he be well serued of that apperteyneth to hys estate Than was the Duke Rycharde all thus in prison but he was well serued of all good meates and he had good companye for to playe to what game that he wolde And also the good Duchesse clare dyd vysite him often and recoÌ„forted hym with her fayre langage WHan Charlemaine had beseged the Citie rounde aboute and sawe that by no sawtynge he myght not get it he dyd doo make many great engynes for to cast stones in but what someuer that he dyd Reynawde and his brethern and also his folke yssued out often as well by night as by day vpon the folke of the king Charlemayne and did him great domage for Reynawde tooke no man but he kept him prisoner for to see yf he myght haue peace wyth Charlemayne by meanes of them And whyle that Charlemayne had layde his siege thus afore Ardeyne the king Yon of gascoygne fell sike a bed of a great sickenes shrofe hym of al his sinnes praying god to haue pitie and mercy on hym and after he had be longe sycke he died God pardon hys soule And wyt that Reynawde made hym be buryed worshypfully as to a kinge perteyneth but there was no man that wept for hym for all they of the Citie hated hym bycause of the greate treason that he had doone to the foure sonnes of Aymon ¶ Now leueth the hystorye to speake of this mater returneth to speake of Mawgis that was in his hermitage that serued our lorde with good herte so muche that he had forgoten Reynawde his brethern hys freendes ¶ How Mawgys he beynge in hys hermytage came in hym a wyll by a vysyon that he had by nyght in a slepe for to go see Reynawd his brethern And how he met with two marchauÌ„tes that .vii. theues had robbed in a wood of whyche theues the sayde Mawgys slew fyue delyuered to the Marchauntes all theyr good agayne And after this he went to Ardeyne for to see Reynawde and his brethern NOw sheweth the history that whan Mawgys was in his hermitage had watched so longe about hys prayers to God he fell a slepe and him semed in his slepe that he was at Mountawban and sawe Reynawde and his brethern that came agaynst him and made theyr complaynt to hym of Charlemayne that wolde take fro them the good horse Bayarde but Reynawde had hym fast by the brydle and wolde not let it goe And wit it that Mawgys had so great sorow in his dreame that he a woke withall al wrothe and arose on his feete incontinent And than he sware our Lorde he should neuer ceasse to goe tyll he had seen Reynawde and hys brethern his good cosyns And whan Mawgis had said so he made none other tarying but he shet the doore of hys chapell and tooke his weede and hys staffe and went on his waye also soone as he myght And about the houre of noone he founde hymselfe in a great wood where he founde two men makyng euyll cheere and great sorow whaÌ„ Mawgys sawe them he cam to theÌ„ and sayd God be with you And one of them answered and sayd certes god is not with vs but rather the deuyll for vnhappy was that houre that euer we came into this wood for we ben vndoone for euer Good Syrs sayde Mawgys what eyleth you that ye speake so Good man sayd the one of the two a litle before you are theues that hath robbed vs of our clothe and haue slayne one of our felawes bycause he speake to them angrely Whan Mawgys heard theese poore marchauÌ„tê speke thus he had great pitie of them and sayd to them My freendes come with me I shal pray the theeues in our Lordes behalfe that they wyll delyuer you agayne your goodes and yf they wil not doo it I shall be wrothe with theÌ„ so I shall fight with theÌ„ wel as I can with my staffe for to wit yf theyr heades ben soft or harde Whan the marchauÌ„tes hearde Mawgis say so they began to looke vpon hym if they could know him but they might not knowe what he was Then spake to hym one of theÌ„ in this maner and what deuyll is that ye say thou art but a man alone all naked and they ben all armed and also ye can scantlye heaue vp your staffe Let this foole alone sayd that other see ye not howe his eyen goe in his head And than they sayd to Mawgys Brother go thy wayes and let vs in peace or els I shal giue thee suche a stroke with this same stafe that thou shalt feele it well And whan Mawgys saw the marchaunt speke thus to him he sayde Brother thou dooste not wel to speake to me so for by force thou cannot get ought of
he shal not haue of me how be it that he is of my lignage and I tell you come no more heere nor no man of Charlemayne For I promyse you I shall stryke of the heades of as many as shal come fro him to me without any fayle WHan Ogyer the Dane saw Reynawde so angry that he answered so proudlye he meruailed sore aad drewe him selfe by Reynawde and said to him Fayre cosin I pray you that ye will shewe to vs Rycharde of Normandy to th ende that we may tell Charlemayne that we haue seene hym Ogyer I haue well vnderstande you sayde Reynawde but ye shall neuer see him afore that I haue hanged hym And yf Charlemayne be angry wyth me for it let him auenge it yf he can for I defie hym and all his powâ—r and goe you hens anon For by my soule if ye abide heere any lenger it shall repent you full sore And whan the barons saw that Reynawde was so feruently wrothe they durst no lenger tary there but tooke leue of him and went out of the Citie and went lightly to the hoste of Charlemayne that awayted after them Whan the kyng saw the Barons come he said vnto them Lordes ye be welcome what tidynges brynge you haue ye not seene Rycharde of Normandye Syr sayde the Duke Naymes Reynawde doth you to wit that as loge as he maye ryde vpon Bayarde yee shall not haue Mawgys for he hath lost him by you And for the vengeaunce to be taken of the same Reynawde seÌ„deth you worde by vs that he shall hange to morow Rycharde of Normandye vpon the great gate of his towne and thus shall he doo of all your meÌ„ that he shall take and yet he sayth more yf he had you as well as he hath Richarde of NormaÌ„die that if ye wolde not graunt him peace yee should leaue wyth hym your head for a pledge Whan Rowland heard the worde that the Duke Naymes had reported vnto hys vncle Charlemayne he sayde Syr be not displeased of that I shal tel you me semeth that ye shall neuer see the duke Richarde and al for your pride Syr we finde in holy scrypture that god curseth the fruite that neuer is ripe thus shall it be by you that neuer wyll rype nor condisceÌ„de to no peace with the foure soÌ„nes of Aymon the best knightes of the worlde that so many tymes haue prayed for it humbly and full piteously Wherfore I swere to you vpon all halowes that yf the duke Rycharde of NormaÌ„dy be hanged ye shall lose honour worshyp all your lyfe dayes Whan the kinge Charlemaine heard his neuew Rowlande speake thus that sayde that Rycharde of Normandy should be hanged he was so myscheuously an angred that he gnewe the nailes of his handes for great wrath ye ought to wit that Charlemayne was so angry at that tyme that yf he had had any maner of staffe in his haÌ„d he wolde haue gladly smitten Rowland but whan he sawe that he might not accomplisshe his wil he called his barons and sayde to them Lordes ye wene to make me a ferde with your wordes I am no childe for to be thê° abasshed and also I swere you by my fayth that if Reynawde were so hardy to doo anye harme vnto Rycharde of Normandy I should haÌ„g hym wyth myne owne handes he all his lygnage that none should be left a lyue RYght sore wrothe was the king Charlemayne whan he hearde tell that Reynawde wolde make Rycharde the duke of NormaÌ„die to be hanged But whan Ogyer hâ—â—â—de Charlemayne swere thus that he should hang all the linage of reinawde he coulde not absteyne hymself but that the teares fel downe fro his eyen and than he said to the bisshop Turpin Sir what thynke you by our kynge that sayth by his great pride that he shall hange vs all for al that he dooth procedeth but of enuye pryde but god sende me death yf I care for hys wrathe for yf Reynawde hath not lied to vs he shall doo be hanged to morowe Richarde of Normandy in such a place where as Charlemayne shall mow see him hange with his eyen This hanging the Duke Naymes saw that the king was angry and he sayd to him Sir wit that we all be sore abasshed that ye threre vs of one parte Reynawde of the other And I meruaile me not of Reynawde for he is so wroth rox bycause that ye haue make him lose Mawgys that no man might be more And I promyse you for greate angre he shal make Rycharde of normandy to be hanged and as to you namely he woulde stryke of your hed yf he had you in the case that he hath Rycharde nowe and yf he hangeth Richarde What may we doo therto that ye threten vs so muche therfore wherefore I counsell all my felawes that are of the lynage of Reynawde that we goe our wayes and that we let you shift of the warre of the foure sonnes of Aimon By god sayd that other peeres of fraunce Naimes speaketh well and he giueth vs good counsell THen whan Charlemayne saw his baroÌ„s so sore moue he wyst not what he should doo but gaue them leaue to withdraw them self vnto the morow that thei should returne to him and he hymself went to his bed but al night he could not fall a slepe but wâ—tied in his bed wtout any rest and wyste not what to doo And whan the day came he a rose from his bedde and sent for all hys barons Whan they were come he sayd to them Lordes what shall we doo of Reynawde that wyl hange the duke Richarde of Normandy afore mine eyen Sir said thaÌ„ the duke Naimes for nought seketh one couÌ„sell that wyll not put it to effect whi aske ye counsell sythe that ye wyll doo nothing but after your owne head but and ye wyll beleue me I swere you on my fayth that al good shal come therof Syr make peace with Reynawde and ye shall haue the Duke Rycharde and also ye shall haue the good loue of all your men for there is none but he is wery of the warre and they haue reason Naymes saide the king I wil not doo it holde your peace therof for that shal be the laste worde that euer I shal say Syr said Rowland by my soule ye doo great wronge yf ye suffre the good duke Richarde to be hanged that so muche loued you and doone great honour it shall be to you great shame and so I swere to you vpon all halowes that yf I see hange Rycharde of normandy I shal part out of your hoste fro your seruyce and I shall goe so ferre that ye shall neuer haue helpe of me Rowland sayd Olyuer ween not that I shall abide after that yee are gone for the kinge doothe great wronge to Reinawde our cosin Ful sore an angred was the kynge to heere these wordes but he helde thaÌ„ his peace and sayde neuer a worde And wyt it that al the
Reynawde and said to hym I am now whole for the good tydinges that ye haue brought to me And therfore I am dysposed to goe with you and doubt not we shall not dye for hungre for I am mayster for to begge breade And whan the good woman sawe that these two pylgrymes made so greate feaste the one to the other she thought it myght none otherwise be but they were of great lygnage and that they had had some greate a doo togyther and she sayde to theym Fayre lordes I see that ye kowe well eche other wherfore I praye you tel me what ye be and from whence ye come Good woman saide Mawgis syth that ye wyll knowe of our beyng I shall tell you a parte of it Wit it than that we been two poore gentylmen that are banyshed oute of fraunce So muste we goe in suche habyte as ye see in to the holye lande and we been cosins germain and we shall doo oure voyage togyther yf it please god And whan the lady that good womaÌ„ vnderstood these wordes she had greate Ioye Thenne made she to brynge theym meate ynoughe and wyne Mawgis that syth so longe hadde drunken no wyne dranke some wyne that nyghte for the loue of Reynawde Shortlye to speake none mighte say nor thinke how great feast made the two cosins to eche other And whan the day was come Reinawde and Mawgis arose and tooke leaue of the holy lady and put theimselfe to the waie And wyt that so muche went the two pylgrymes by their iourneies that they cam nighe the citie of Hierusalem and were but a litell myle from it so that they mighte see well the temple and the towre of Dauid and the most parte of Ierusalem And whein mawgis and Reinawde sawe that they were ryght gladde of it and yeelded graces vnto god that he had suffred them to come so nyghe the holye citie Whan they had doone thus theyr prayers they went on their waye for to haue gonne within Ierusalem But they were gon but a lytilâ— whan they sawe a greate hoste aboute the citie euyn a fore the torwe of Dauid where were many yauillions of the christen that were there for to fighte with the admiral of Percie that by force helde the citie of Iherusalem Reinawd did tarie whan he saw the hoste that was afore the cytie and saide to his cosin Mawgis Cosin what folke is yonder as ye thinke for it semeth a greate hoste afore Iherusalem are they Sarasyns or christen what say you Surelye saide Mawgys I can not tell and I am sore meruayled what it may be Thus as Reinawde and Mawgys spake togither there came an olde man rydyng that waye that came from the hoste And whan Reynawde sawe hym he went hym ayenste and sayde to him God saue you good maÌ„ tell me and it please you what be they afore the holy citie are they christen or Sarasins Pilgryme said the olde maÌ„ they ben christen that haue besieged Iherusalem and canne not take it but ye maye well goe without perill Now tel me said Reinawde who is within Iherusalem wyt it saide the olde man that the admyral of Percie hathe taken it by treason And how hathe he taken it by treason sayde Reinawd wyt sayde the olde man that the admyrall arrayed hym as a Pylgryme and manye of his folke with him went into the citie one after another and whan they were all within they blewe an horne ryght hyghe and set hande to their swerdes and fought strongly so that they were maysters of the citie or euer the king Thomas could be armed nor his folke the which coulde not saue them selfe with such fewe folke as was lefte hym alyue but he was taken prisoner and anon all the countrey rose vp and haue besyeged the citie as ye see and I truste with the grace of God that the citie shall be take shortly Nowe tell me said Reynawd if they of the citie come out often vpon the chrysten yea saide the olde man for they ben much folke within and the thing that most greueth vs is that oure folke haue no heade nor no Lord. And ye woâ— well that folke that haue no heade nor no Lorde canne doo but lytyll good And whan Reinawde hearde this word he began to smile and after be said Fare well good man we wyll goe there for to see what shall hap of it And whan he hadde said so he tooke on his waye with his cosyn Mawgys and ceased not tyll they were comine within the hoste And whan they were come there euery maÌ„ looked vpon Reynawd that was so fayre a pilgryme and so calle a man And Reinawd looked here and there and wist not where to put himselfe than he aduised him and sayde to Mawgis My cosin we must see that we haue a litelle reede or some other thing for to make vs a lodges there at one corner of the walle and whan Reinawd had sayd so Mawgis ceased not till he had made a litill lodge This hanginge that they made their lodge the admyrall of Percie yssued oute of Iherusalem with wel three thousande fyghtinge men and entred into the christen hoste toward saynt steuyns churche ANd whan the good erle of Raines and wallerauen of fayete and Geffray of Nasareth sawa that they came anone to theyr harneys And I tell you that there Iaffas of Rames was soone armed sooner thaÌ„ the other and incontynente he ranne vpon the turkes and beganne to crye Iaffa as hie as he could and smote vpon the Persians and dommaged them sore for he was a valiaunt maÌ„ in armes And whan all they of the hoste were armed than began there a bataylle of the one parte and of the other right cruell Than came there geffraye of Nasareth which entred amonge the thickest of the Sarasins and began fast to smyte theym deade to the erthe Shortly to speake thys battayll was ryght great and mortal for there were many speres broken and many sheeldes clouen and of the one parte and also of the other were manye menne ouerthrowen to the grounde And ye oughte to wyt that wallerauen of fayâ—e smot theâ—e dead manye a painym so that it was wonder to see his faires of armes for no persayn durst abyde afore him And whan the admyrall sawe this he said to himselfe that he shoulde neuer set nothinge by hymselfe but he shoulde auenge vpon Geffraye that so tourmented his folke And anon he tooke a spere in his hand and went ayenst Geffray And whan Geffraye sawe that he ranne asprely vpon him and they gaue eche other suche strokes in theyr sheeldes that bothe theyr speres flewe in many peces and with this cours was the admyralle ouerthrowen from his horse to the erthe but Geffray of Nasareth abode in the arsons of his sadle And whan the admyrall sawe him on the ground he was angry for it so rose he vp lyghtelye and set hand to his swerde and made greate semblaunt for to defend hym selfe
I am your lorde that shal defend you ayenst this vnhappy christeÌ„s Where is Margaris become that I see hym not Sir said one of the sarasins he is dead at the first Ioustinge that he made whan thadmiral hearde this he wend to haue gon out of his wyt and said who is the hath borne me so great harme as to slea the noble king margarys is it not the great earle with the forke yea sir said the folke for he is called the best knight of the world and also he hathe brought this daye to death many of your men with hys handes Muche sory was thadmiral for the death of Margaris and swore the god mahoune that he shoulde perse the herte in his bely And whan he had made this oth he gaue the spurres to the horse and put him selfe to the medle and the first that he recountred was wallerauen of fayete to whom he gaue such a stroke thorough the sheeld that he made his spere head to apere out at the backe of hym and slewe him dead to the erthe And whaÌ„ the admyrall had giuen that stroke he put hande to his swerde and shoued him amonge the thickest crying percie as hie as he coulde and saide barons smite vpon this vnhappy christens for now shal they be discomfyted And whan therle Iaffas Geffray of nasareth saw that thadmyrall fared so foule with the christens they put them in to the pâ—ece amonge the Sarasyns and there was greaâ—â— slaughter made of both partyes but at the last the christen had ben shrewdely handled if Reinawd and mawnys had not come lyghtly there Reinawde that sawe this harde batayll shoued him selfe amonge the thickest as a wolfe among a flocke of sheep and smot a persian that was cosin to thadmyrall that had to name Orrende and gaue him such a stroke with his swerde that he made his heade to slee wel a spere lengthe from his bodye with helme and all And after he smote a nother that was neuewe to Malbon so that he slewe both horse and man with one stroke To say the trouth Reinawd made there so great merueylles of armes that al the painymes were fore abashed for he had hys sheelde cast behynde his backe and held the â—eyne of hys horse about hys arme and helde his swerde in bothe his handes and habandonned his body smytyng merueyllous strokes on ether side vpon the sarasyns so that he smot no stroke but he slew a turke or paynim And whan thadmyrâ—â— sawe the great greef that Reinawd bare to his folke he sware his god appoâ—lyn he shoulde neuer eate meate till he had slaine the great villain Sir said than the king AlebroÌ„dye to him I pray you leaue this entrepryse for I tâ—ll you for very certaine that if ye goe afore him he shall kylle you with one stroke Than said thadmyrall â—o him yf I had nowe a good guysarn in my hande he should as lytil endure myn efforce as should a boy â–ª for and I bring him not downâ— I shall neuer require to beare any armes more nor to ryde vpon anye horse more MVche cruell and harde was the medlyng Mawgis was there that made great occysyon fro the one syde and fro the other And whan reinawde saw Mangis that did so wel he was glad and so smot he a turke vpon his helme suche a stroke that he cleued his head in two peeces and so he smot a nother at the sydes so that he cleued all his ribbes and cut al to gyther a sundre his bodye and after this he smot a nother so that he hewed his heade clene of one of his armes and whan he had slain these .iii. with one enpraint he cried mouÌ„tawban saying smite barons for the sarasins bothe turkes persians been dead ouerthrowen and thâ—nke to auenge your lord Thomas which is so excellent a king And whaÌ„ thadmiral barbas heard cry mountawban this worde abashed hym more than any other thinge for he anewe well than that he that his men called the great carie with the forke Was the valiaunt Reynawd of mountawban of whome he had heard speake of many tymes afore that and that he was the best knight of al the worlde and whaÌ„ he knewe this he wold ful fayne haue be again in percie than he tooke his way anon to ward the citye as a man discomfited and ouerthrowen and drewe to the gate fore for to haue gone in to it but the vallyaunte erle of Rames pursued him so nyghe that he suffered him not to goe at his wil. And than the admyrall sawe that he was so sore pursued he was aferde to be take and so he smote his horse with his spurres and gat in to the citie with great payne lefte all his folke behinde and saued hym selfe but the moste parte of his men were there slayne And whan Reynawde wyste that the admirall of percie was so scaped he was right sory for it and than he looked about him and saw there a great peece of tiÌ„bre that had .xv. foote of length he lyghted downe a foote and tooke the balke and trussed it vp afore hym vpon his horse necke as lyghtly as it had be some peece of welow ThaÌ„ he sayd to them that had victori as wel as he Lordes folow me yf it please you with a good will sayd the baroÌ„s for we shall neuer leue you nother for death nor for life NOw wyl I tel you why Reinawde did take that balke afore sayde Ye ought to wyt that Reynawde bethought well that the admirall barbas should not make the gate to be shet after him for loue hys folke should come in that were out therfore bare Reynawde the great balke or beme to the ende that if he found the gate open he should put it vnder the porte colisse that it should not be shit lyghtly agayne And after he had be thought hymselfe therof he went on his way with the christens as faste as they coulde runne towarde the gate of Iherusalem where the admyrall had saued hymseflfe whan he came there he sawe the gate open wherof he was glad so tooke he thaÌ„ his beme and put it vnder the port colisfe so that it myght not be lette downe nor the gate could not be shyt nother but ye may well know that Reynawde dyd not this wtout great trauayle for there was so many bodyes bothe quycke dead in his wai that he myght not well helpe hym self but one thyng helped hym wel for whan the Sarasyns saw hym they were so fearde of hym that they made him waye fled all afore him WHan the noble knyght Reynawde saw that the porte colisse was well faste vpon the beme that he had brought there without any tarying he put haÌ„d to his swerd and put hymself within IherusaleÌ„ And whan he was in he began to crye as hye as he myght Mountawban MouÌ„tawban the citie is woÌ„ne and made there so muche of armes the Mawgys
stroke that the traytour had gyuen hym he set his armes in maner of a crosse vpon his brest and sayd in this maner O good lorde Iesu Chryst haue mercye on my soule and wyll pardon them that hath brought me to my death and whan he had sayd these wordes the soule departed out of the bodye And whan the traytour had thus slayne Reynawde they put hym in to a great sacke that they had ordeyned therfore and than they laded the cart wherin they brought the stones with the body of hym and so caryed hym into the ryuer of Ryne wherin they cast him whā they had doone so they laded the carte with stones brought them to the church worke as they were wont to doo as they were by the way they met the mayster mason that sayd to thē By my fayth galantes I con you now thāke for ye mende your selfe For ye haue doone great diligence syth dyner that ye haue laden so many stones and that ye ben so ferre wyth them to the worke warde Mayster sayd the traytours mocke not wyth vs so but go to your purse and giue vs some drynkyng money SOre meruayled was the mayster of that he saw his labourers more dilygent than they were accustumed Than the labourers began to say to the mayster of the worke by maner of a mocke where is that great lurden that he helpeth not now I holde hym gone without leue by cause he might not labour no lēger for we heard say that he should neuer ceasse tyll he had founde hys wyfe agayne And whan the mayster mason heard that he was sory and said to them agayne By my fayth I beleue that ye haue chased hym away but I promyse you yf I can wyt that ye haue doone so it were better for you that ye were at Iherusalē Mayster sayd the labourers ye may well say to vs what ye wyll but we dyd neuer say ought to him that shoulde displease hym And whan the noble Reynawde was thus caste into the ryuer of Ryne by the labourers of the churche of saynt Peter ye must wyt that he went not to the botome of the water but went harde aboue the water a longe the streme And at that our Lorde shewed for hym a fayre myracle For all the fysshe of the ryuer gathered them aboute the corps and by the strength of the fisshes it was taried and went no ferther with the streme by the wyll of our lorde And the great fysshes put theymself vnder hym and bare hym vpon the water so that he apered to euery mans syght And there the fisshes bare him so vp vnto night And whan the night was come apered aboute the corps a great quantytie of torches by the vertue of our lorde aungelles that songe there so melodyously that they that heard it wolde neuer haue gone fro it And to saye trouth there was so greate lyght aboute the corps that all they that sawe it wende that all the water of the Ryne had be a fyre And whan the folke of the citie saw so great a miracle they ran all thyther bothe men and women and children And also the archebisshop of saynt Peter we◠thyther with al his college in a fayre processyon syngyng by great deuocion and taryed vpon the Ryne for they durste not goe no ferther and they saw the fisshes that bare vp the Corps aboue the water And whan they that were there saw that they were abasshed meruayled greatlye what it might be and began to saye the one to the other God what mai he be for whome our lorde sheweth so fayre a myracle Lordes sayd the archbysshop I shall tell you as myne auyse giueth me Wyt it that it is the bodye of some saynt that our Lorde wyll haue worshypped that is come heere from som where whiche God wyl not that he be lost nor drowned in the water See ye not how the fisshes holde hym aboue the water by the vertue of our lorde Than the bisshop commaunded that men should go see what it was and anon folke went there with botes they founde that it was the great man that was one of the labourers with the masons in the churche of saynt Peter And whā the mayster of the worke sawe this he was greatly abasshed and went to them that had slayne hym sayd to them in thys maner of wyse Ye horesons false traytours ye haue slayne the good man say ye the trouth for if ye deny it I shal proue it vpon you And whan the labourers heard the maister mason speke thus they begā to crye and sayd By God mayster we haue doone it without doubt for enuy that we had at hym And therfore let vs be drowned hāged or drawen or what iustice ye wyll For we haue well deserued for to be punysshed And whan the archebysshop hearde the traytours speake so he began for to weepe ful tenderly and al his colege also And the archebisshop was counselled that he should let go the murderers at theyr auenture for to do penaunce for theyr sinnes the whiche thynge the archebysshop dyd wyth a good wyll Than was the body of Reynawde brought to lande and was put vpon a carte for to beare hym to the church wher as he was had worshypfully wyth fayre procession And whan the corps was in the church the archebysshop made him redy for to syng the masse by great deuocion And whan that the seruice was doone the archebysshop wolde haue gone a processyon with the corps aboute the churche commaunded foure lordes that were there that they should bere the corps And than the barons wolde haue doone hys commaundement but whan they came therto they coulde not moue the corps by no strength that they could put therto Sore meruayled were the barons whan they saw that and sayd vnto eche other Now may we well knowe that we be not worthy for to touche this holy corps For we be wicked synners wherfore let vs go for to shriue vs put our selfe in good estate And while that they spake thus together the corps rose vp of hym selfe and was borne no man knoweth howe out of the churche into the carte whiche anon moued and went his wayes streyght out of the citie wherof they were al greatly meruayled and whan the carte was out of Coleyne he went a pace all the hye waye And whan the people saw that they begā all to wepe bycause the corps wolde not abyde Than sayd the archebysshop vnto them Syrs now may ye well see that this is a holy corps by the great myracles that our Lorde sheweth by him now and al this day afore vs all Wherfore let vs goe after him for to worship him For it were not very well doone for to let hym go thus alone My lorde sayd the people ye say wel than al the clergie and al the comyn people litle and great that myght go folowed the corps And ye ought to wit that in all the citie
of Coleyn abode nother maÌ„ nor woman but went with the corps and all the clergy folowed after singyng in great deuocion So muche went the carte that he came to a lytle towne that is called Croyne and there he abode styll And ye must wit that our lorde dyd shew there many fayre myracles for the loue of the holy body for al sycke people of what syckenes it was that came there for to worshyp the holye bodye Were whole incontinent This happed of the noble knight Reynawde of mouÌ„tawban as ye haue hearde And ye ought to wyt that the renome of the holy body was so spred all aboute that folke came to Croyne where it abode from ferre wayes for to seeke hym and he made there so fayre myracles that of all the Realme and of almayne folke drewe thether And so muche were worthe the offringes that were done there within a short while that of a litle chapell there as the bodye rested whiche was of our lady is now a royall churche and a great And whan the holy body was abyden in this lytle chapell as it is sayd where god made contynually miracles the archebysshop of Coleyn al the clergi came to the corps vncouered his visage that euerye body should see him that came there yf haply the ony man or woman myght know hym for to haue his name for none coulde name hym but the holy corps But there came no man that could know And whan the archebisshop saw that no body could say what he was he was sory for it for yf he had knowen his name he wold haue put him in a shrine of golde bicause of the great miracles that he made dayly for he made the defe to heare the blynde to see the lame to go ryght many that were dombe he made to speake often times apered tapres of wexe brennyng aboute the corps NOw shall ye heare howe the noble Reynawde was knowen Yee ought to wyt that the brethern of Reynawde that is to wyt Alarde Guicharde Richarde were on a daye vpon mountayne so sorye that they could heare no tidinges of theyr brother Reynawde Than cam a Pylgrime forth by that salued the barons Pylgrime sayde Alarde fro wheÌ„s come ye yf ye wot any tydinges tel it vs I pray you Lordes said the pilgrime with a good wyll I shall tell you that I know Wyt it that I come out of Almaine from a towne that is called Croyne by Coleyne vpon the ryne where I haue seen many great miracles doone of god for the loue of a man that came to the Citie but late ago the which was so great that euery body said there that he was a Giaunte And wyt ye that whan he came there that he sawe men make the churche of saynt Peter so dyd he present there hys seruyce to the mayster mason the whiche reteyned hym gladly Shortly for to say this great man dyd wonder of bearyng of stones and of morter For he bare more at ones than .xv. other of the labourers that were there with him and he was all day wtout meate saue at euyn he tooke a peny that he gate for no more he wolde haue for hys laboure a day and therwyth he bought hym a peny lose and dranke none other to it but water and thaÌ„ he went to his rest vpon a litle straw vnder a great vaute And ye muste wyt that this great man was well loued of the maysters masons of the sayd churche whyche wolde often haue gyuen him meate and wyne more money But he wolde neuer take nothyng but a peny onely by the day for to bye hym selfe a peny lofe as I told you afore He serued so wel all the masons there that they were more contente of hym alone then of the other labourers And whan the labourers saw that they were so lytle set by for the loue of this great maÌ„ they were sore an angred and tooke great enuy at hym and conspired togâ—ther for to slea hym shamefully So dyd they aspye hym where as he slept vnder the vaute whyle that the mayster masons were gone to theyr dyner and then one of theym came to hym with great hamer in his haÌ„d and brayned him then they put hym in a sacke and caryed him in a carte to the Ryuer of the Ryne where they cast hym And wyt it that whaÌ„ they had doone so our lorde shewed there a great myracle For al the fisshes of the Ryne assembled them aboute the corps and made it abyde in one place aboue the water And whan that the nyght was come aungelles were hearde there whyche songe melodiously the seruyce of the dead so hye that all they of the Citie might haue heard them and it semed that al the water about hym had ben in a fyre of the greate lyght that was seen there Than came the archebisshop of Coleyne wyth all his colege and made the corps to be taken and brought in a Carte to the Churche And whan he was there the Archebysshop songe masse for this was in the mornyng and whan that the seruyce was doone the Achebysshop sayd to foure Lordes whyche were there that they should take vp the corps for to haue him into his graue wyth fayre prosessyon But these foure barons coulde neuer moue hiÌ„ from the place where as he was But the corps incontynent to euery bodies sight that was there was brought into the carte agayne wyth the twynkelyng of an eye and sodeynly the carte departed and wente away alone out of the towne as good a pace as thoughe ten horses had drawen at it whyche was sore agaynst the wyll of the people that wept ful tenderly bycause that it wolde not a byde with them But all they of the Cytye bothe lytle and great went a processyon after it vnto a lytle town where the corps of the great man abode styll whyche is called Croyne in a lytle chapell of our lady where he doth now many a fayre myracle for I ensure you that al the sicke folkes that seeke him there be made whole returne to their home in good helth And so I haue left there the archebisshop of Coleyne and all the clergye that hath doo make of the offerynges that ben gyuen there vnto thys holy corps a fayre place and a roial churche there as the sayd chapell of oure lady was afore WHan Alarde Guicharde and Rycharde heard the pilgryme speake so they began all three to weepe ful sore for pitie that they had of theyr brother reynawde for well they knew it was he of whome the Pylgryme spake of Alas my brethern sayd Rycharde Now ben with well destroyed and vndoone for euer more For I know wel that it is out deere brother that we haue sought so longe Wyt it that the three brethern made there so great sorowe that it cannot be rehersed And whan they had made this greate sorowe they tooke leaue of the pilgrime and thaÌ„ked hym and went to make